ARSENE AMNESIA: ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT FORGETFUL? Nick, 01/09/11
Since the sale of Cesc Fabregas to
Barcelona and Samir Nasri to the Etihad corporation's Manchester
branch, and the subsequent lacklustre performances, people have been
quick to get on poor Arsène Wenger's back. Do they forget the
unbeaten season? Do they forget the nurture of rare talents like
Vieira, Henry and Ashley Cole as well as Cesc and Samir? They must
have forgotten the way legends such as Bergkamp, Overmars, Ljungberg
and Pires tore defences apart and the way Campbell and Toure formed
the unbreakable core of 'The Invincibles'. Off the pitch too
Wenger is capable of changing lives, let alone football matches. He
was able to get the best out of a young Nicolas Anelka, tame
troublesome Ray Parlour and famously his arrival was hugely
influential in helping Tony Adams overcome his alcoholism.
Wenger has been one of the Premier League's greatest assets since it's formation. He has spent 15 years at Arsenal and has treated us to the best style of football of any other team. He has made teams from scratch and brought players from nowhere to stardom. He even adds a touch of comedy, intentionally or not, with his petty claims, stubborn interviews and extremely red-tainted vision.
However, in spite of Arsène's credentials, there are still those predicting his departure and the instatement a Mourinho or Rijkaard figure by Christmas. People say he has lost it. The 8-2 loss at Old Trafford was a lesson of tactical humiliation from the Wackford Squeers character that was the cruel Manchester United. A lack of trophies since 2005 does not reflect well on the Frenchmen. But do people actually have no confidence? "He must be blind!" is what they say of Arsène, but they seem equally so to the possibility he'll pull something out of the bag. When Ian Wright and the JVC generation were rusting, Bergkamp and Henry stepped up. Even once the Invincibles had begun to perish, Arsenal continued to play the best brand of football in the league with the Emirates era of Fabregas, Nasri and Van Persie.
Yet as the transfer window slid to a dramatic close, Arsène pulled his finger out plucking Mikel Arteta from Everton. Such a move was totally unpredicted, taking the back page and leaving David Moyes and Everton as exposed as those on the third. No doubt the underrated Arteta will prove a fantastic signing. Wenger knows of Arteta's talent and his Premier League experience is a massive bonus to the team. Add to this the experience of Per Mertesacker at the back and Arsenal seem to be shaping up once more. Arsène goes about transfers in his own way. He won't bring in an overpriced Downing or bid wildly to entice those already at the top. However, what has proved just as effective is to bring in those with promise. At times it's like he has been on the real world version of the Football Manager forums. New full-back Andre Santos could develop into a Dani Alves figure and who would bet against Chu Young Park, another buy from Wenger's favourites Monaco, being an Emirates superstar.
Before the rutting of 'Deadline Day,' Arsenal had in fact already brought in the promising and pacey Alex Oxlade-English-fat-Ronaldo-Chamberlain, showing Arsène's side becoming a refined and respected Rockefeller next to City and United's Empire States. Do not be foolish and forget also that Arsène has an array of talent queuing up, such as Jon Toral. Arsène has recently brought Jack Wilshere through the youth setup to become one of England's most cherished sons. He would not be giving such game time to the likes of Ignasi Miguel and Emmanuel Frimpong if he doubted their potential to do the same.
Yes, Arsenal have lots of questions that have needed answering for as long some of philosophies finest. Where is the defence? If we want to challenge in Europe, where is the world-class goalkeeper? Yet what Wenger can establish, if not silverware, is a team; a unit, and a unit that can play some exhilarating football at that. Where Mancini's mercenaries are moaning about Manchester and Kenny's critters are counting their cash, Arsenal's team will be clawing their way up the Premier League under Arsène's articulate leadership. Ably led by Van Persie and backed by an increasingly solid Szczęsny, whilst Wenger is still there, Arsenal will enjoy their football and engineer enjoyment to all who wish to remain faithful. If this is allowed to continue, the wolf should be scared from the door and will find Arsenal will again find their purple (or off-maroon) patch of silverware. Expect to see them in the Champions League again next season and expect Arsène to be lifting an Arsenal trophy by the time Miguel hits puberty.
Wenger has been one of the Premier League's greatest assets since it's formation. He has spent 15 years at Arsenal and has treated us to the best style of football of any other team. He has made teams from scratch and brought players from nowhere to stardom. He even adds a touch of comedy, intentionally or not, with his petty claims, stubborn interviews and extremely red-tainted vision.
However, in spite of Arsène's credentials, there are still those predicting his departure and the instatement a Mourinho or Rijkaard figure by Christmas. People say he has lost it. The 8-2 loss at Old Trafford was a lesson of tactical humiliation from the Wackford Squeers character that was the cruel Manchester United. A lack of trophies since 2005 does not reflect well on the Frenchmen. But do people actually have no confidence? "He must be blind!" is what they say of Arsène, but they seem equally so to the possibility he'll pull something out of the bag. When Ian Wright and the JVC generation were rusting, Bergkamp and Henry stepped up. Even once the Invincibles had begun to perish, Arsenal continued to play the best brand of football in the league with the Emirates era of Fabregas, Nasri and Van Persie.
Yet as the transfer window slid to a dramatic close, Arsène pulled his finger out plucking Mikel Arteta from Everton. Such a move was totally unpredicted, taking the back page and leaving David Moyes and Everton as exposed as those on the third. No doubt the underrated Arteta will prove a fantastic signing. Wenger knows of Arteta's talent and his Premier League experience is a massive bonus to the team. Add to this the experience of Per Mertesacker at the back and Arsenal seem to be shaping up once more. Arsène goes about transfers in his own way. He won't bring in an overpriced Downing or bid wildly to entice those already at the top. However, what has proved just as effective is to bring in those with promise. At times it's like he has been on the real world version of the Football Manager forums. New full-back Andre Santos could develop into a Dani Alves figure and who would bet against Chu Young Park, another buy from Wenger's favourites Monaco, being an Emirates superstar.
Before the rutting of 'Deadline Day,' Arsenal had in fact already brought in the promising and pacey Alex Oxlade-English-fat-Ronaldo-Chamberlain, showing Arsène's side becoming a refined and respected Rockefeller next to City and United's Empire States. Do not be foolish and forget also that Arsène has an array of talent queuing up, such as Jon Toral. Arsène has recently brought Jack Wilshere through the youth setup to become one of England's most cherished sons. He would not be giving such game time to the likes of Ignasi Miguel and Emmanuel Frimpong if he doubted their potential to do the same.
Yes, Arsenal have lots of questions that have needed answering for as long some of philosophies finest. Where is the defence? If we want to challenge in Europe, where is the world-class goalkeeper? Yet what Wenger can establish, if not silverware, is a team; a unit, and a unit that can play some exhilarating football at that. Where Mancini's mercenaries are moaning about Manchester and Kenny's critters are counting their cash, Arsenal's team will be clawing their way up the Premier League under Arsène's articulate leadership. Ably led by Van Persie and backed by an increasingly solid Szczęsny, whilst Wenger is still there, Arsenal will enjoy their football and engineer enjoyment to all who wish to remain faithful. If this is allowed to continue, the wolf should be scared from the door and will find Arsenal will again find their purple (or off-maroon) patch of silverware. Expect to see them in the Champions League again next season and expect Arsène to be lifting an Arsenal trophy by the time Miguel hits puberty.
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