Mikel shows the Arteta of scoring from long-range in last season’s corresponding fixture
The day’s early kick-off affords Arsenal the opportunity to drop down the chimney of the top three albeit that the stay might be brief with the routine fixtures facing Tottenham and Chelsea this weekend likely to see them reascend to the perches. Whilst putting pressure on the two London clubs is enough motivation, any failure today by Arsenal could see a six point gap emerge by the time kick-off against Newcastle arrives one week today. Postponing the Boxing Day clash with West Ham alleviates some of the pressure that the proximity of the next fixture at this time of year brings, the side-effect of a bad result with no immediate recourse can be damaging, presentationally at least. And with most of Arsenal’s problems this season apparently being inside the heads of the players, adding pressure might not be the best course of action.
For the new members of the squad, the intensity of the festive fixture list must have left them scratching their heads wondering how they were supposed to fit their Winter break into three days. Not that Santi Cazorla was bothered by it,
I do think it [a winter break] is beneficial because you are able to disconnect mentally, psychologically. There are times when you become saturated with games, you are unclear about things, and the break that happens in Spain makes you more relaxed mentally.
But I think that the Premier League overall is already tough with regards to the number of matches that you have to play in a row, so I do not think the month of December is very different from the rest of the months.
You wait until he sees the snow-covered pitches in February. One man who would be able to guide him through that maze is Roberto Martinez, Wigan’s likeable manager, who praised the consistency of his compatriot’s performances. Another who is being praised is Theo Walcott. Damned in equal measure too, The Times this morning quantifying the distance between player and club as £22k in weekly wages. The piece has the appearance of a Team Walcott briefing and backfires somewhat by bringing it down to money. Walcott, if the piece is to be believed, is “disenchanted” with the attempts of Arsène to bounce him into signing a new deal. That’s not in any way, shape or form, the same as a player bullying the club into offering more money. No, you should not read it that way at all. And it pretty much sets out how this negotiation is going to play out.
Walcott is apparently angered by being punished, his – and everyone else’s perception – of being reduced to substitute in the early part of the season. The ploy by the manager worked, the team produced bright performances and results. It backfired when the results and performances faded. Given the chance to prove his exclusion was wrong, Walcott has done so with his reward being a guaranteed return to the first team. Reading offered him the chance to play centrally, his long stated desire, and he did nothing to destroy that ambition. Whether he improved his chances is another matter, the result of that will only be known over time. His speed is certainly suited to playing on the counter-attack, to the extent that you wonder if this time Arsène will play him there in cup-ties, something many of us have wondered in the past?
The style of play is how Wenger sees his legacy as being defined, amongst other things. The infrastructure will probably outlast that, to be honest. Expecting victory in style is always held as being the ‘perfection’ sought by supporters but in modern football, it is not necessarily the case. With the majority owner, it is likely to be more a case of not damaging his increased wealth via the share price that counts for more. Style of play rarely surives a manager. The past clearly indicates this and there is still something in the psyche of older supporters at least, that yearns for a tight defence. Certainly there is enjoyment of the passing game but is The Arsenal Way to have an outstanding back four. It is not unique to Arsenal either; every side which wins a title or trophy is able to defend, to restrict the opposition. Despite Arsène’s attempts, he has proven it is not possible to win the title by attacking football alone.
Reports yesterday suggested Arsenal were to offer him a new deal, something of a surprise although not unusual. His current contract expires in 2014 and the board know from previous experience, an extension to his current tenure will not be resolved quickly. The manager is talking more about what happens when he is gone, something which might unnerve the self-styled custodians in the oak-panelled rooms, but given his age and the current tensions, it is hardly surprising. Wenger has steadfastly maintained that he could not see himself working in football into his 70s but it is an addiction that many at the top are unable to cure themselves of; managers who have nothing left to prove continue on in spite of themselves. Will he do the same? He believes that the younger players must prepare themselves for a new manager, a new ‘father figure’ at the club. Perhaps that is more to do with being stung by a paternal relationship over recent years as a number of complimentary comments are followed with the words “but I want to win trophies” as transfer cheques are banked. Whilst it is utterly naive to believe that Wenger has not sanctioned the sales, it is equally naive to think he is not affected personally by it all. Will he sign a new deal? Right now, I would be inclined to err on the side of a negative answer t0 that question. Rediscover the joy of winning trophies? I don’t think we’ve had an octogenerian manager at the club…
Enjoy the match wherever you are watching it. ’til Tomorrow.
Nasri over Cazorla? No thanks.
Nasri over Gervinho? Every time.
Is George, still figuring out how much we will pay Wilshere when he matures? Let’s say Wilshere was the best player in the league right now. How much do you think we would have to pay him to keep him?
Poodle .Why do you believe those things?
Because someone told you? You read it on the internet?
You are clairvoyant?
What facts do you have that makes you believe that?
So you wanted us to make RVP our highest ever earner BEFORE he was fit and doing it? Really?
You want the club to hire a clairvoyant then?
nasri was great aginst was it Porto that time? he would have become alot better player if he had stayed at Arsenal. I dont think he will ever be more than good now, but he could have reached greatness in this club.
@ george why do you not belive those things?
Poodle, I got the point you were making, and I agree to a large extent. But, I try to stay away from having too much of a srtong opinion about the way the club handles contracts and negotiations because no one really knows what is going on behind the scenes.
If I had all of the facts then I would have some pretty strong stances. Without them all I can do is trust that the board is keeping the best interests of Arsenal at heart, and hope they manage things in a way that makes sure our future is secure and that we can compete.
George
“So Duke if you were going to sign Santi and Theo ,you would offer Theo a bigger wage than Santi?
Really?”
What santi signed for is totally irrelevant. Santi will get a raise when it’s his time to get a new contract. That’s the way professional football works and always has. Santi understands that as well as anyone. Using your logic we can’t sign any new players with a higher wage then santi until his contract is upgraded, that completely eliminates any realistic chance to upgrade the team.
Such intelligent questions George. Surely there is someone helping you out today.
and please tell me where you get all your good info if it is not from the internet or from the papers of from any journalist.
We all read stuff and make up our own minds about the info we accumulate. Your support of the board is comendable, but it does not make them immune to criticism. they are not perfect. And for the last three season we have really lacked planning imo.
i belive the signing of these 5 yongsters on long term contracts proves that the club has learned and are eager to change. A good example is Ramsey, hes not exactly shon this year but the club stands by him and has given him a decent contract.
They could have done the same to RvP last november if they wanted. he would also have had a lower salary tag then as he had not scored for fun the entiere year yet. But we chose to wait to see if he broke down. Im not saying that was neither here nor there, but the fact remains he is singel handedly winning United the title this year.
Unless he breaks down now before easter we have done one of the worst deals in the history of the club by selling him.
planning, planning and plannin that is the difference between the best and the rest
@viceologist i agree… for all i know maybe we planned to get rid of nasri, rvp and the rest over two years so we could start out fresh. maybe we just thought they were not wort it. who knows….
@george
what happend to your diplomatic ways today? Has ateeb and dukey rubbed you the wrong way for to long? its not like you to get into an argument over petty believes.
know that i do mostly agree with you but aargh you are stubborn as a mule sometimes
Poodle,
I definitely appreciate your stance, and some of the inherent frustration that comes along with losing so many important players. But, I think to assume there was no strong plan is a bit of a stretch.
I think the problem lies in the fact that we had a very coherent plan and strategy, and then the rules of the game got flipped on their fuckin head when these clubs with damn-near inifinite resources burst on the scene.
Our success was always going to be defined by how quickly we adjusted our plan given the change in the footballing landscape. If anything, criticize the fact that we have not adapted our plan quickly enough, but assuming there was no strong plan in place is a bit much.
Vice:
“If I had all of the facts then I would have some pretty strong stances. Without them all I can do is trust that the board is keeping the best interests of Arsenal at heart, and hope they manage things in a way that makes sure our future is secure and that we can compete.”
You have one heck of a lot more faith then I do. How you can watch what’s happened over the last few years and say that is hard (for me at least) to understand. I think arsene and the board have become so obsessed being a the best run and most business savvy club in the world and they have lost track of the importance of what happens on the pitch.
George – You should know you can’t win this one. You are arrayed against anarchists who believe the club should simply give Theo what he wants. Except none of them know what he truly desires. Is it 100K per week or a guarantee to play center forward. None of these are conditions any properly run club should simply accede. Should the tail should wag the dog. Doesn’t work in nature.
Bill,
I do think that Arsene has always had the best interest of Arsenal at heart, and has made the best possible decisions he could given the cards he has been dealt.
Am I happy with the way a lot of things went down? The answer is absolutely not. Do I think Wenger over-estimated the loyalty and character of players he nurtured for several years? Yes, I do.
I have never had a doubt that the best interests of Arsenal have been at the core of everything he does. I have had issues with some of his tactical decisions, and apparent lack of flexibility with player selection. But that is a completely separate topic.
@ vice when i say no plan i mean it could have been handled better. There is ofc a strategy, but maybe we have been a bit naieve? maybe the club thought it was bigger and more competitive than it was? without realizing that City just dont care about money at all.
Maybe they were not prepared for City blowing them so insanley out of the waters as they did when it came to renewing contracts etc. after all everyone knows that Nasri is not worth what he is getting. But that is the kind of money City is prepared to give solid players. We did earn alot of money on him though, just as we did on RVP. which was used to pay down debt.
Im sure the new renewals of the 5 young brits is a result of the changing world outside. the added security of having long term contracts to keep the moneybags away. People can still be bought but atlest it will be on our terms…
Im not sure they would have done this say 3 years ago.
You still sound like you’re at war, Shotta. What’s up with all that? Didn’t you hear, the war’s fucking over, solider!
@shotta what other”top clubs” in the PL are properly run xcept for ours?
So, if Wilshere was one of the top three players in the world right now, how much do you think we’ll have to pay him right now, Shotta, to keep him?
Are we being properly run, poodle? I thought otherwise. Look at all the talent we’re leaking all over Europe! Surely not properly run:p Cunningly run, in my belief.
Sturridge to undergo a medical at Liverpool!? Does that mean Theo to Chelsea or Falcao to Chelsea?! I want both here!
Poodle,
Fair enough. I think the core of what we are talking about is very similar. It appears that the club’s speed in adjusting its policies was a bit slow, and as a result we got screwed in several circumstances over the past few seasons.
I get the feeling that the club finally realizes the gravity of the need to fix these problems. We need to start building a solid platform for success in light of all of the new developments in world football. Hopefully the recent signings are a sign of things to come.
I remain hopeful because I prefer that mental state to being a pessimistic cynical supporter (not that I am saying you are).
Well, despite our differing start to the season and yet having to hit a decent patch of form, we find ourselves in a very decent lge position.
@ateeb, we are a properly run buisness that is for sure… if foorball is buisness then we are very solidly run, if football is fairytale then no we are not properly ran. that is the department of City and Chelsea…
we are trying to find the inbetween thing i belive, though its hard to compare with fairytale clubs when we ourselves have to live in the real world…
its like having prince harry challenging you in a random bar on who could get the hottet chick . in the end harry would always get the princess…. you have to be a strong character to chose the ordinary over the fairytale i guess. and lets not kid ourselves. earning a staggering 150k a week for playing footy is some fairytale!
@goonerandy
its only one thing to say
we rock! wooohooooooo!!!!!
WOW! A third win in a row, sitting in third place (for now at least), a nice break for the players coming up due to the W. Ham game being postponed and the debate is still should we or should we not have sold RVP etc. A tad disheartening I have to admit. I watched the game and also had the pleasure of watching Reading almost hold out against the reigning champions, only to succumb in extra time. The same Reading team we knocked 5 past only to be told that result was meaningless because they are shite. The same Reading team that had Utd on the ropes for large periods of that game.
Pretty disappointing that even with the holiday season going on, 3 wins in a row and sitting in third, that I find the same old crap being rehashed for the thousandth time. And people wonder why so many of the old posters have left.
It begs the question, what would it be like if we had lost the last 3 games?
Enjoy the win boys and girls, and leave off the negativity for a while at least.
COYG!!
I am off as well…have a great holiday everyone! Till next time…
Exactly, Irish well said that man, rvp its old news a far as arsenal is concerned he is where he wanted to be apparently
Would have been good to have hooked up on the mercantile when you r I were in dublin.
Lion Rouge- LOL mate. Personally I always went to Slattery’s on Capel Street to watch Arsenal games. Always a good crowd and one of the best pints of Guinness in the world, let alone Dublin! Good food too and they open at 7a.m. I spent many a day in there watching one game after another, wolfing down a traditional breakfast to get the day started, while trying not to laugh at their confusion when I turned down the free coffee/tea that came with it, as I headed off to the bar to order the first of many pint’s of the the Dark Lady that would be consumed that day. I honestly think it is the only way to have a decent drinking session in Dublin these days, without having to put up with all the tourists. By the time they show up, I am usually back home, having dinner with the family before I lay out on the sofa and annoy the hell out of everyone with my snoring
Good times!
Ahh now that’s a contentious statement re: the best pint, oh so many places to sample so many blurred memories, but I do rate toners. Not much good for football tho.
The merc not really a good pint and food not great shakes either but base of dublin supporters club & great place to hear fellow fans berate players used to make me laugh.
Lion – Ah but I said “one of the best”
Yea the Merc is great craic with all the banter, many a night spent in there and like you said blurred memories all round. I do not see myself getting back to Dublin until summer, no footie I am afraid to say. But I will be spending next Christmas in the Auld Sod, so will definitely watching a few games then. I was really looking forward t o watching the game against W Ham, but I guess I will just have to settle for watching the spuds lose instead, hopefully the Chavs too 
Too funny!!
Cbob @ 5:20pm,
Of course you’re entitled to read and perceive as you wish without my aid in pointing fingers. Maybe a more grown up way to address my comments!?
Perhaps
Too right IRISH. Some of the fellows on here can’t forget their agenda even after a win and seem perpetually stuck In a negative mode and in the past. I guess old wounds do have a tendency to open up again and again when we hear The disloyal and selfish prick open his mouth for a comment or when he puts the goals away for manure. Here is hoping for a SWANSEA AND VILLA VICTORY tomorrow.
We are duly on third but the chasing pack makes it imperative we approach each game as must win from here on. We can’t afford any slip UPS. And I think catching man chitty isn’t a bridge too far. Very doable.
UP THE GUNNERS OF ARSENALS!!!!!!
irishgray
December 23, 2012 at 4:26 am
“Too funny!!”
Thanks for posting this. Proper funny. I’m going to learn the “Call me Szczesny” one lol
enjoy the win and the wknd..
enjoy the win and the wknd..
Well well well. Excellent result in very tricky conditions. Some real bonds being formed on the pitch especially in defence.
Jack was brilliant first half and that tackle should never have been yellow carded. The 4 Wigan players who appealled to the ref should have have received cards instead.
Very happy with that and well done Oxo. Keep it going,son.
Irish, the fates as against us! I’m in NYC and the WH game is postponed! Anyway, I am very happy our boys have won two more league games since I went off the grid sailing in the Caribbean, so I can deal with the disappointment of enjoying an Arsenal match at the Pig, I suppose.
The fates are against us, that is!
Well thank you, Dgob.
It’s been a long time since someone spotted the boy within me.
Most just see the grumpy old git.
good result
fair play to wigan they made it difficult but we deserved the goal and the win..
jack went to war when he needed to le ox was fantastic and theo starts playing up top and we go on our longest winning streak of the season..
up your offer ivan..
so..
theo can play 3 positions
winger
wide striker
cf
hes been here 6 years he one of our most marketable players and also our most dangerous attacker..
but he doesnt deserve to be a high earner because the tippy tap players might complain??
well thats funny. because without theo the tippy tap players would be having their wages cut next year when they missed out on cl..
the emirates will be taking some of their money back as well..
so up your offer ivan..
Two down, three to go.
@JonJon at 9:59 am
“would be having their wages cut next year when they missed out on cl..”
That’s a myth JJ. It was discussed a couple of Monday’s ago with Tom Watt and John Cross on the Fan’s Forum. I called and raised it as an issue after Myles Palmer claimed that Theo is refusing to sign because this ‘clause’ that players take a pay cut if Arsenal don’t qualify of the CL.
http://www.aclfarsenal.co.uk/?p=10258
Today’s post