A guest post this morning from Alex Anderson
We hear a lot about “ambition” in the modern Premiership. When it comes up in relation to AFC it’s usually a negative. A player like Robin van Persie, Ashley Cole or Samir Nasri announcing to all and sundry that he has to leave because the team does not match his “ambition” or he “wants to win trophies.”
It’s nonsense of course. Suggesting a professional sports team doesn’t want to win is like accusing Steve Jobs or Bill Gates of not wanting to make money. Damned straight they want to win. The manager wants to win; the players want to win even the accountants on the board want to win. After all, winning means more profile and increased brand power which in turn means more money. But professional sports franchises are businesses too and this is where it gets murky. Like Gates, they want to make money and they have to balance the amount they can invest today with their ability to at least break even tomorrow – preferably without dipping into the staff pension fund.
All the players referenced above claimed their concerns had nothing to do with the size of their personal weekly pay-cheques. In van Persie’s case I want to believe him. (I’m not sure I do, but I want to if for no other reason that he has shown a measure of respect and class.) The claims of the others I dismiss out of hand. Of course, even if we are kind to van Persie in this and accept that his position was not built on a foundation of personal avarice it is impossible to escape the fact that he was still talking about money. In his case “ambition” referred to squad investment.
In these terms it is not reasonable to compare the ambitions of AFC with the financial recklessness of Chelski, Manchester City, Paris St. Germain or any of the other teams that have been acquired as playthings for the mega-rich. That accepted, however, it is perfectly reasonable to expect to see appropriate investment in the squad. As supporters we have seen a lot of players leave Emirates over the past few seasons and the amount of money coming into the club through these sales dramatically outweighs the amount that has gone out on new players. This gives sad credence to those decrying Arsenal’s ambition and leaves the rest of us scratching our heads. Comments from club officials about aiming for the top four have been especially damaging to the club’s image.
Wenger has told us he doesn’t want to block the development of the young players he has coming through the ranks by bringing in big name players ahead of them. Clearly one of his ambitions was to build a squad from the youth team out that would play proper football and win everything a la Barcelona. This has led to a number of acquisitions that were at best dubious as he has expanded the squad with older, less skilled players rather than people who will challenge for genuine starting spots. It’s like he has been trying to bridge the gap to the time when the youngsters will be ready in a year or two. For example, is Squillaci merely holding a spot for Miquel? Is Santos doing the same for Meade?
If true, this is of course completely misguided. You should never be shopping for squad players. You shop for starters and your current starters either work harder – showing their own ambition – or they become the squad players, making substitute appearances and taking a reduced role in the rotation. Quality will shine through no matter what and the team will be better off.
Now that December is upon us we are already well into the Silly Season and the rags have been talking up the possible targets upon which Arsenal can demonstrate its ambition for weeks. Huntelaar, Zaha, and Goetze are just the tip of a very large rumour iceberg. Personally, I think we already have a lot of quality in the side, but we are shallow and the players have been under-performing.
Wenger has said he will buy new players. Without getting specific about names (other than Sagna and Walcott who need to be locked up for the next few years at least) let’s hope he brings in the kind of players who will challenge for starting spots and put aside the disheartening claims of those who have questioned the club’s desire in the past. It might be expensive in terms of upfront investment, but the residuals down the road will make the bean counters a lot happier than missing out on the Champion’s League will.
’til Tomorrow
Goal.com is silly but: http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2012/12/12/3597296/guardiola-tells-arsenal-youre-my-top-choice-in-england
Does anyone honestly believe that arsene actually looked in the mirror after lasts nights game and even contemplated the possibility that he might be part of the problem?
The one good thing that has happened this season is we have reversed 7 seasons of worsening defense. Steve Bould has to get at least part of the credit. Does anyone think arsene would have even considered making a coaching staff change this season if he had not be forced by pat rice retiring?
I think Arsene has lost the ability to accurately judge his own performance be it tactics, personnel decisions or squad motivation. He has made himself bigger then the club and there is no one who can question him. .
Anicoll, the point I’m trying to make is that with the current owner(& the potential owner) we are in limbo as a club and it kind of looks like we are as a team as well,uncertainty breeds uncertainty, marching and moaning won’t make a blind bit of difference-I think we’ll agree on that but the current soap opera at our club will play itself out and as fans we’ll just have to be patient which is bloody hard going, like I said ; support the manager support the team, anyway stan up front wouldn’t work as his syrup would fall off at far post headers,as for the Bond villain the only kit we have that would fit him is gunnerasauras’ , we’ll be alright, it’s just gonna take time and hard work.
Miami I’d take a one man attack at this stage! As long as it is a recognised centre-forward.
Us having no recognised striker is not a new thing. We played for months with Arshavin at centre-forward! He did a job and got us though it but to be in that situation again WILLINGLY is crazy. Giroud couldn’t play, Chamakh is not an impact player and not trusted to start evidently so we are short at centre-forward. January window needs to adress that. And no, Henry will not fill the gap.
Hello all.
No post today? Can’t say I blame YW.
The idea of playing Gerv as a striker has proven the mistake that it always looked like being.
I scarcely understood Wenger’s assertion that Gerv was suitable to play there to start with and initially this season it looked as though Gerv might prove me wrong but he has continued to show almost zero aptitude for the role. In fact I can think of few players who have exhibited such an remarkable ability to miss easy opportunities.
When he swiped at air from two yards (again leading with the wrong foot) I just put my head in my hands. I don’t blame Gerv – he shouldn’t have been put in that position to start with – let alone again and again.
How many times do we have to suffer watching this torture until the obvious is accepted?
Gerv has scored just 9 goals since we signed him.
He has attributes that are useful and strengths that should be played to but ‘final touch’ is probably the least of them.
We saw that for the umpteenth time last night.
I’d sooner play Chamakh there – he’s not much of a finisher either but at least he has the distinction of having experience playing as a CF.
Maybe – when Giroud is absent – it is time to let Poldi have a go up front and play Ox on the wings?
As most people with sense have been saying since before a ball was kicked – we require another option up front and – after last night – no one should be under any illusions that Gerv is, or ever was, the answer.
Surely arsenal will make top 4 at the end of the season.Then everyone here would start praising the professor for taken us from 10th position to 4th position. Now, all get behind him and stop complaining.Right now there is nothing anybody could do with the way things are going in now which I like so much.In Arsene I trust.
Chamakh was my man of the match yesterday considering the number of times he has seen action this season. I trust Wenger.
You also can’t have a striker who isn’t ‘up’ for taking a penalty in a shoot out. It’s your fucking job!
Gunnerlife – if Chamakh was the best player how can you trust Wenger?!
Anyway any fol could see JW10 was the best player on the park – 2 games running now we have seen the old Jack. We just need a few more with that attitude.
Coquelin looked good yesterday too.
Jonny
Give me a break, it isn’t even 8am! And I have yet to see the game so here’s some thoughts from the Chairman
http://www.aclfarsenal.co.uk/arsenal/chairmans-notes-for-the-love-of-arsenal/
The biggest problem not really the players skill but a long standing and slowly worsen atrophy of our cajones.
That said if we are going to add in January we need goal scorers. We need players who can actually hit the target. Right now Walcott isn’t playing and probably won’t anymore. Podolski is inconsistent and has not been effective other then an occasional goal. Giroud hasn’t scored without a good cross from the wing. Their back ups are Ox who hasn’t scored a league goal this season, gervinho who I think can officially be labeled a bust, Ramsey who is not a goal scorer and Chamakh. How in the world does anyone think we can consistently score with those as our options?
Abosulte bull crap bull crap team is not motivated.
Yep, it is pure rubbish to suggest that the team is not motivated. The team played motivated on Saturday and now all of a sudden they are not motivated?
Zinc @ 9:15 am
you bring up pertinent points about Gervinho. If his other skills were as mastered as his dribbling, he’d be a sensational player.
His shooting technique is very poor. At his age, I don’t believe he can improve enough to meet fan expectation.
I say that because Theo has been at Arsenal almost 7 years. His obvious issues (for me), all brought up before, are still present in his performances. This is just as much the fault of manager and coaching staff.
Consequently, it doesn’t appear that weaknesses in a player(s) game are not addressed pre or post training or that the player is not committed.