From John : Carling Cup captain
I haven’t seen anyone highlight the fact that Yossi Benayoun was Arsenal captain on Tuesday night.
A man employed by Chelsea, who has made nine appearances for the club, was the standard-bearer for Arsenal. Wenger’s (dis)regard for the concept of captaincy has hit a new low.
From PJ : Captain choice (again)
Another thing to mention about the Carling Cup game was the odd choice of captain for the game.
It’s nothing new with Wenger in appointing the wrong guy (or boy) for the arm band, but what kind of signal does it give to the other players when the Chelsea-reject Benayoun, who is on loan, gets the nod?
I think it gave another clear message to Arshavin, who Wenger has destroyed, who was sat on the bench again.
From Jason Gill :Average – No!
Myles,
In response to that last post, I’d say that the team/squad has a good feel about it now.
Some good players have emerged, there seems a real philosophy around teamwork and we so much coming through.
Is there a better spine in the Prem ?
A year ago we were critical of our spine, but now with have a good keeper, a fit TV5, Kos looks fantastic, Song has got stronger, Ramsey/Arteta looks good and we still have Jack to come back and RVP is the top man.
Even Theo has improved and Gervinho will improve under Wenger. The depth is also good, with up front the exception to that. He needs to sign a striker. Sign a good striker in Jan and it could secure top 4, maybe better.
It strikes me that City will either win the league or finish top 4.
As for the rest nobody is nailed-on. Manure have a rotating back 4 and a midfield any side seems to be able to pass through. Yes they are good up front, but are being increasingly exposed. Fergie needs a couple of players who can run the game in the middle of the park.
Chelski are in transition big time, Liverpool are improving and will have some good victories, but don’t as yet seem to have a style of play.
Spurs look good, but let’s see if they can keep it going. Fitness allowing, I’m quite confident about top and maybe a trophy too. I also think we are well-positioned for the future.
From Simon : The “new” Arsenal and the “old”
Let’s be clear, Fabregas becoming kingpin of old Arsenal was not some random bit of luck.
Wenger embarked on an ambituous youth/blended with talent project that kept failing but got close enough to keep making him believe in it until finally his main man had had enough and forced his way out of his stubborn mentor’s clutches.
Wenger did power football in 2002-2005, Jose copied it and went one better in construction, but Wenger had done that and wanted more from his team.
Now he’s just gone plain functional, as he knows his job now is to fight Liverpool, Chelsea and Spurs for fourth and that £35m champion league cheque that makes you either a top team or mere fixture fodder.
It’s a whole different ball-game and football landscape now to 2005, 2008 or even 2010 with City and Spurs changing the dynamic and finally Wenger’s been forced to react to that.
Personally, I’m pleased, as Fabregas and the flaky no-hopers got on my nerves and I like having some hard men with guts back in our team, as at least you can be proud of them.
From Naz : Norrie
I simply got lost in the eloquence of Norrie’s post. It was beautifully articulated.
From CharrdWood : Norrie’s post
I think Norrie has largely hit the nail on the head.
But I think it’s more instructive to consider the why, rather than the wherefores with regard to the quality and type of signings Wenger has made.
When Wenger first started he didn’t concern himself with the possibility that someone’s nose would be put out of joint by the arrival of another player, and he happened to inherit one of the all-time greats in Dennis Bergkamp.
Was Bergkamp ever going to be cowed or intimidated or- shudder- “killed” as a player if Wenger brought in Anelka, or Henry, or Pires?! Like fuck he would be!
Once upon a time Wenger brought in warriors, and they weren’t going to be killed by anyone.
Which brings me to my second point. As I’ve written to you before, after Wenger’s early experiences in the Champions League with Arsenal and, most especially, after the trauma of La Coruna, Wenger decided to ditch the idea of bringing in gladiators.
He’d decided that he needed to bring in ball merchants. It has worked, to some degree, but, lord, do I miss the cut-and-thrust of those early Wenger teams.
From goonergerry: A few points
Cesc is a vastly different player at Barca- he is on the end of moves not dictating them. He is not the difference in that team.
Messi is- without question the best player of his generation. Cesc is the icing on the cake- a luxury- not the main meal.
Cesc has already changed his appearance – within a year Arsenal will be a faded memory and he will be the poorer for it- because he does not have the speed or the reflexes to run things in this Barcelona team.
Arsenal are far less predictable and defend better without the ball in midfield since Cesc has gone.
It’s so easy to defend when you know what a team will do before they do it. Gervinho is a good player- and he makes Arsenal unpredictable- but Arsenal desperately need a striker- they don’t have one- and need a decent player who won’t cost the earth. They will never spend big.
Arsenal could beat City home or away- but they won’t because there is not enough forward power or defensive capability.
From goonergerry : City game
What a great post- the best summary of the City game I have read by far- shows you still have it old boy.
From Pete Reid : Norrie the dull
I must counter the dull observations of Norrie and state categorically as a watcher of every minute of every Arsenal game, that this side is better balanced already than last season’s.
In every area of the pitch we are a better side than last season’s and if Norrie can’t see that he’d be advised to turn his balaclava around!
From Aly : Norrie
Transfers. He wrote … “There has been a gradual decline in the calibre of signings since Vieira left, to the extent that it is difficult to recall a player better than the one he replaced. ”
Apart from Bergkamp, has there ever been a signing that was a better that his replacement?
Wright, Arsenal’s top scorer was replaced by a kid, who it turned out could actually score against Man Utd (whereas Wright never could).
That kid was so good, Real Madrid bought him. He was replaced by a winger from Juventus who looked pretty average and didn’t score for 10 games when he arrived at Arsenal.
From Rory Fairfax : Spine
Myles,
I wrote to you about 3 months ago with this:
“I’m pretty sure if you decided to rave about the strong SPINE of Van Persie, Wilshere, Song and Vermaelen or the plethora of young talent at our club then perhaps this cloud of gloom that hangs over us readers would be lifted, if only a little. At least this would make reading Arsenal News Review an enjoyable thing to do.”
Your reply was unsurprisingly blunt but honest.
However, 3 months down the line it seems your tone has changed.
Today you wrote:
“Instead, RVP has improved, found more focus, more authority. He’s more of specialist now.
He does fewer things but scores more goals. Those goals mean more now because Vermaelen and Szczesny give Arsenal a much stronger SPINE than they had last season.”
It seems we’re now reading from the same sheet.
I’m enjoying your blog more, the fans have found some perspective (myself included) and our expectations have changed.
I for one, would be satisfied with 4th place and a good cup run.
You will continue to be an excellent blogger if you take the attitude that Arsenal are no longer in the same league as City or Utd.
From Damian McCaffrey : The Arsenal
There you have it, Myles !
Rhys Jagger ! Talking sense.