Arsenal:When will this torture end?

Last night I had a dream about Arsenal. We we’re playing Chelsea and there were fans everywhere, I wasn’t at the game though. There we’re just loads and loads of Arsenal and Chelsea fans down in Poole, where I work. I realized the time and the game had started half an hour ago and I was running around everywhere dodging all these people trying to get to the pub. I got there and it was 1-0 to Chelsea at half time, but Alex Song scored two in the second half and we won…yay.

Don’t know why I’m telling you this but there you go.

alexandre song man united tevezAlex Song can be the new Peter Storey according to Frank McLintock. He’s had a good start to the season. He’s done his job well and been very efficient. Alex hasn’t made any headlines but then neither did Gilberto Silva, that’s just their style of play. He’s stamped his place in the first team in this early part of the season and he doesn’t really have anyone competing for it. It would be nice to have a bit of back up but he’s doing well there so lets hope he can continue.

There’s been some more ‘Arsenalization’ of the ground. It’s another player mural, this one featuring Dennis Bergkamp, Bob Wilson, Eddie Hapgood and Charlie George. I must admit I didn’t have a clue who Hapgood was… plastic fan I know, I know. He was a legendary left back who captained Arsenal and England in the 30’s. I feel a bit bad not knowing who he was but I do now so it’s all good…

Arsene Wenger’s been saying that he will not name the new Arsenal manager. I wouldn’t expect him too anyways. I think considering everything he’s done for the club we’d probably take his opinion on board but that would be it.

“If they consult me I will give an opinion but I certainly will not name the next manager because that’s not my job and I wouldn’t like to do anything other than my job.

When I leave this Club one day I would like to leave it in fantastic shape and give the [new] manager an opportunity to do better. [I want to] leave a team behind that has potential, not a team where nobody is there anymore.”

I don’t know how long Wenger’s going to stick around for to be honest. I think he would like to at least spend another two or three years bringing this current side through. There’s no indication yet of when he might call it a day, he’s just passed the 13 year mark but I don’t see him still being here on the 20th anniversary. I don’t know, we’ll see.

There’s really nothing else to talk about, it’s soooo boring around here. We have a game at the weekend but that just seems so long away. There’s another round of internationals this midweek so we won’t be able to start talking Premier League until about Thursday or Friday. It sucks.

I better go then. Thanks for reading.

source the canon

arsenal news:Wenger: Good Arsenal players make good international players

Arsene Wenger believes consistency at club level will enable his international contingent to perform well at the World Cup.

The vast majority of the Gunners squad have been away with their respective countries around the globe during the international break.

"I am keen for them to qualify, hopefully as quickly as possible as group winners, because that would preclude them from having to play a decisive play-off game in November," Wenger said.

"I am convinced it is important for the players to go to the World Cup, but as well I know that those who have a good World Cup are those who win with their clubs during the season.

"We have seen that before here [with France], and so the most important thing is that they do well with the club and it puts you in a strong position confidence-wise for what follows."

arsenal news:sene Wenger, “The partnership between Gallas and Vermaelen has gelled more quickly than I expected”

Arsenal defender William Gallas is enjoying a very solid season with the Gunners despite having to quickly adapt to a new partner at the back, after the departure of Kolo Toure.

Speaking of the Frenchman, manager Arsene Wenger highlighted how well the 32-year old is performing and also revealed he never expected the former captain to click so quickly with his new colleague.

Wenger said:

William Gallas has had a fine start to the season, which is down to both his attitude and the quality of the player.

it can happen that any player has highs and lows in his career, but I must say his form now is a consequence of the way he behaves every day.

He behaves 100 per cent as a professional and is highly focused in training.

The partnership between William and Thomas Vermaelen has gelled more quickly than I expected. This is for two reasons, first of all, Vermaelen adapted faster, and secondly William fits more comfortably on the right side of a central defence than on the left.

source arsenal mania

arsenal news:Arsenal legend likens Song to Storey

Arsenal Double-winning captain Frank McLintock has likened Alex Song to former teammate Peter Storey.

Song is now perceived as a vital member of Arsène Wenger's first-team, especially now the manager has adopted a 4-3-3 formation.

"When they have three in the centre of midfield and they leave Van Persie up front, it's making us stronger in midfield," McLintock told Arsenal.com.

"We always played 4-4-2 with Peter Storey as the anchor man in midfield and he was very protective of the back four. Song is one of those players who can do the same kind of job as Peter Storey. Peter ended up with about 20 caps."

Arsenal:How do we replace Song

Only at Arsenal would you be wondering one season whether a kid of Alex Song's age should be on the pitch at all in such an important position, just to find yourself the next season wondering about who is going to replace a vital 22-year-old when he goes away for 6 weeks. So we look towards an even younger bench. Crazy isn't it?

Song has really grown so much. The little things have really made the difference with him. He knows on which side of a player to be in a defensive situation. That way he doesn't have to give away free-kicks and he will slow down the player even if he doesn't win the ball.

Small, but vital to killing the opposition fluency. 4-3-3 also gives Alex more options to pass the ball and space to recover in. In a crowded 4-4-2, he would run into his midfield partner. I remember we conceded a costly goal last season as Song and Abou Diaby ran into each other. Alex has his space and he has mastered that space.

The next improvement for Alex is to win and release in one move. Right now, he wins the ball, protects it and then looks to release. The improvement I have seen in him assures me that I only have to be patient and that too will come. Diaby, by the way, has the same problem. He needs to release quicker.

We have seen that Song can pass surprisingly accurate long and short. The importance of having Rosicky is that Arsenal now have Andrey Arshavin, Tomas Rosicky, Francesc Fabregas and sometimes Robin van Persie who can take the ball in a crowded place and still find an exit pass. That has improved Song's options and you can now see how he can make telling passes. However, it is also a HUGE shame that Song has no left foot because he cannot pass to Arshavin. That is a huge loss but you can't have everything.

So how will Arsenal replace Song when he goes to Africa?

Patrick Vieira has been mentioned. Vieira was a defensive midfielder when he played with Petit. Then Emmanuel Petit was sold and Vieira had a torrid time trying to hold midfield by himself. The blessing in that painful year was that Vieira learned how to play offensively. When Gilberto arrived, Vieira was an experienced offensive midfielder with massive defensive capabilities. Vieira cannot really be classed as a defensive midfielder so he is not ideal to replace Alex Song.

We also have to consider the mileage and the recovery speed that Song has to execute to cater for Arsenal playing in 4-3-3. That's no job for a 33-year-old. If Vieira comes in January, Wenger will have to use him on the bench and risk one of his kids or Diaby on 4-3-3. Afterall, Arsenal need to place their bets on their attack so there is more sense in keeping the system that is delivering goals.

If Arsenal are away from him or go into a second half needing to tighten up and nick a goal or protect a lead then Vieira can come in with a switch to 4-4-2. Vieira can contribute in 4-4-2. With Arshavin, Rosicky, Samir Nasri, van Persie, Eduardo, Theo Walcott, Carlos Vela and Nicklas Bendtner, Arsenal has limitless possibilities on how to balance the strike force in 4-4-2 for half a game.

Last season I would have been opposed to Vieira's return but now the team has its own life and its own structure and feeling so a big player like Vieira will not be able to upset it as easily. He will not be a leader – the team has their leaders and they have results that show they are good enough by themselves. But what he can do is contribute experience. In delicate games, he can help the talented squad do the right things at the right time. If Arsenal miss anything, it is the experience to do the right thing at the right time.

So I would welcome Vieira and he might be lucky enough to be the one Wenger player from the past that wins the Champions League with Arsenal. Thierry Henry would be jealous because I am sure Titi would have liked to win it at Arsenal instead of or in addition to winning it at Barcelona.

Written by Joel Che on Wednesday, October 14, 2009

source arsenal mania

Arsenal News:Why Arsenal should be lauded, not criticised

Why Arsenal should be lauded, not criticised

As the world's financial markets finally begin to bottom out, what can be learned from the experience of football?

Before that question can be answered it is worth looking at the financial climate in football first. With this brings the question; has football at the top level known there's been a recession at all?

Aston Villa have found new wealth and been keen to spend it, not often a sign of a recession, nor is the spending of Manchester City; Mark Hughes is rapidly resembling a child let loose on Football Manager with the unlimited money cheat.

His work is put in the shade by Real Madrid, whose £200 million plus spending goes strangely unmentioned by Sepp Blatter. Interestingly, but hardly surprisingly their total debt has risen to £200 million in the last year alone.

The selling of Ronaldo apart, Manchester United continue to add to their squad, with 2 new Serbians, Antonio Valencia and Berbatov amongst the recent, expensively assembled additions.

Everton are a club that plead poverty, and their fans regularly ask for greater investment. Their spending over the last 18 months has climbed to over £30 million. Similarly their neighbours Liverpool have a manager who is keen to point to how well he is doing with such 'limited' resources. These limited resources have seen him spend an average net outlay of £11 million a season. Second only to Chelsea in the Abramovich era, and higher that Manchester United.

The £7 million spent for what was essentially a 6 month, 19 game loan for Robbie Keane was a highlight, and indeed Tottenham could take credit for such business, were it not conducted at the same time as they bought back Jermaine Defoe for a 300% mark up on what they sold him to Portsmouth for a year earlier.

Newcastle United, so routinely hammered by the media for their fiscal frivolities, seem too easy a target to point out. In short football at the top level acts as if the world is in a golden age, all whilst clubs at the bottom level are crippled by debt from lower attendances.

All this happens yet Arsenal are routinely chastised for not spending beyond their means. The world's crisis was caused by, amongst other things, short selling and people taking on credit they couldn't afford, something Arsenal have refused to do.

With footballer's as today's heroes and the clubs as modern churches is it not fair to expect them to deal as though they have some influence on those that follow them? Young people increasingly use football, not simply as an escape, but as something to look up to.

The message from football is clear; the only way to make it to the top and stay there is to gamble everything you've already achieved and earned and hope a few results go your way. The kind of thinking that got the world into this mess in the first place.

During all the chaos Arsenal continue to operate in a way that shows success is achievable through developing your resources, investing wisely and not spending beyond means, all whilst living an exciting and entertaining life.

Let's hope young people, and more importantly the banks, take note

Written by Lewis Wright on Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Arsenal transfer news:Arsenal can beat Chelsea for Anderlecht superkid Lukaka

Arsenal can beat Chelsea for Anderlecht superkid Lukaka

13.10.09 tribalfootball.com

Arsenal are planning a move for Anderlecht's teenage sensation Romelu Lukaka.

Lukaka has been a long-term target for Chelsea and actually turned down a move to Stamford Bridge before turning pro with Anderlecht last year.

The People says with Chelsea now facing a FIFA transfer ban, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is set to steal a march on their London rivals for the exciting teenager.

Arsena transfer news:Wenger keen on keeping Merida at Arsenal

Wenger keen on keeping Merida at Arsenal

13/10/2009 tribalfootball

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is keen to keep young midfielder Fran Merida at the club.

The 19-year old Spaniard has been linked with a return to his homeland to join either Atletico Madrid or Sevilla but Wenger wants to sign him on a five-year deal.

Merida was sent out on loan to Real Sociedad in 2008 and has featured just three times in the Gunners’ first team since 2007 but Wenger sees him as a good long-term prospect.

Arsenal Transfer News:Arsenal kicked Chelsea into action over Kalou deal

Arsenal kicked Chelsea into action over Kalou deal

13/10/2009

Chelsea chief Ron Gourlay oversaw Salomon Kalou's new contract yesterday.

The Independent says Kalou's contract was set to expire at the end of the season. This was the first deal renegotiation conducted by new chief executive Gourlay.

Chelsea are prevented from signing any new players for the next two transfer windows after being found guilty of inducing teenager Gael Kakuta to breach his contract with Lens two years ago.

The fact that Arsenal boss Arsène Wenger has been interested in taking the player in the past suggests that others might covet his services.

source Tribalfootball