Arshavin the New Alan Ball?
A Winner?
By Boris Mellor
February 7 2009
Alan Ball was the best Xmas present I ever had. I couldn't believe that my Arsenal had purchased a World Cup winner, and he was at the peak of his career. Arsenal had just won the double; it had to be a marriage made in heaven. Surely an already great team would go on to win it all. Now Arsene has bought another great player for my birthday.
He might not be exactly what we need at this stage, but if you love football then you cannot fail to be excited by the prospect of watching the Russian. A man who has told us to trust him and Arsenal.
Now I don't know enough about Arshavin to know if he plays like Alan Ball. Ball was a one touch player who could play an attacking role across the whole width of the midfield, Wenger says the same of Arshavin. The skill and pace of Ball prompted Alf Ramsey to abolish the winger, and it worked. No doubt the skill of Arshavin will mean that Wenger will not be buying any wingers this side of 2012.
Like Arshavin, Ball scored a goal once in every four games, pity our current midfielders do not do as well. However these are not the reasons why I am asking if Arshavin is the new Alan Ball. It is something else I have in mind. Alan Ball spent six years at Arsenal, but unfortunately never gained a medal in that time. Not because he didn't play well, he did. Nor could anyone have tried harder, players like Brady benefited from his presence. Indeed without Bally Arsenal might have been relegated. He almost singlehandedly kept them up with his goal scoring exploits.
However, when he left neither his nor Arsenal's reputation had been enhanced. I just hope that the Arshavin story proves to be different, that he can inspire the team to greater things. Ball was unable to spark the Arsenal team of the mid seventies into glory, not because of a lack of effort, but because the team increasingly lacked players of ability.
Just as Wenger quickly broke up the Invincibles, and for the most part replaced them with mediocrities, so also did Bertie Mee who let players such as Charlie George, Frank McClintock, and Ray Kennedy go far too early.
Arshavin will be important, but only if he can work with players of a high standard. That does not include midfielders such as Eboue or Song. If he can work with Eduardo, Fabregas, and Rosicky then we may well see something spectacular. However that is to assume that they all return soon, and are as good as they used to be.
Unfortunately that won't be in time for tomorrow's game against Spurs. True Arshavin might play a few minutes in the NLD, but I would be astounded if that proves to be a key role. I will be very happy to be proved wrong.
Spurs think that this is a good time to play us, fine the more confident they are a bigger mess they will make of it. Arsenal fans will be gutted to hear that Bentley is suspended. Wenger may not have his strongest squad available, but he has created a resilience in this team since the 4-4 fiasco earlier in the season. A match which Arsenal should have won 5-2.
Arsenal have been to more difficult places than White Hart lane this season and got good results. I do hope the spuds are busy deluding themselves.
For them it is a relegation battle, for us a chance to catch up on Chelsea. If they want to go on all out attack to get those precious points they will leave themselves wide open to RvP, Nasri and Adebayor.
Possible Squad: Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Toure, Clichy, Nasri, Denilson, Song, Eboue, Adebayor, Van Persie, Fabianski, Djourou, Gibbs, Wilshere, Vela, Bendtner, Ramsey, Arshavin.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:02:10:23:36:12 by Padre Pio.
now lets hope the birthday gift will be match fit so ride the tide with us.