From Micheal Marten : Lord Wenger Spurs
So did Lord Wenger try to chuck the game?
Alexis and Theo coming on as subs and the smile at the end would indicate not.
It would show some class if you at least acknowledged in your post that the insult was proved to be unfounded.
From Raj : Unpredictability of Passion
Hi Myles,
I was looking forward to reading your thoughts after last night’s game and was really pleased (and surprised) to give the team credit for winning yesterday.
I generally read your blog because it’s 50/50 as to whether I agree with you or not, which makes reading your thoughts extremely compelling. With regards to your write-up of the derby, I completely agree with all your points.
I was a big fan of Flamini before he left Arsenal on a free all those years back, the axis he formed with Hleb and Cesc was very good, as noted by yourself many times in the past. He was a limited footballer back then and he still is now, plus he’s lost two yards of pace. I’ve noticed his ability to influence and motivate the team has dwindled over the last year, probably because it’s been harder for the team to listen to him when he’s been making a lot of mistakes himself.
That being said, the kind of motivation and determination the guy has is probably equal to that of Alexis Sanchez. It manifests itself differently, similar to the the kind of behaviour I remember from the likes of Keown and Adams.
So it was no surprise to me that the NLD yesterday was settled by two goals from the most passionate and motivated guy on the pitch. How else can you explain a 3rd choice DM scoring two goals that Robert Lewandowski would’ve been proud of?
That passion caused Flamini to do things yesterday that weren’t choreographed or rehearsed, and take up positions that were purely instinctive and driven by desire.
If Walcott, Giroud, Ramsey and Ozil had the same level of passion on the pitch, Arsenal could win trophies because we’d compliment Arsene’s predictability with the unpredictability of passion.