Arsenal talk great game before and after. Back to the Future
By Boris Mellor
December 14 2010
Let's not discuss the actual game, that would only upset the genuine Arsenal fan, I know it upsets me. What's important is that Wenger, and his men, talked one of the best games in a long time. They made it clear they are not scared of the big bad red nose and his team. They made it clear they have no mental block against big teams.
Arsenal fans were thrilled by Theo’s bravery in his pre match interview, he told fans the team were better equipped to play big teams, and that he was not scared of Evra. He didn’t mention if Evra was scared of him.
Meanwhile Eboue told us, “Arsenal can’t fear Manchester United when they visit Old Trafford tonight.
The Ivorian believes the team should not be scared of a side that has struggled to hit top gear this season and sees no reason why they can’t get a result if they play the football that saw them go top of the Premier League last weekend (Eboue didn’t tell what kind of football saw Arsenal go top).
Arsenal have won just once at United since February 2003 but Eboue was optimistic of turning that record around, citing the strong self-belief in the team after recent results.
“For me I always believe in ourselves,” said Eboue. “If we play our football and are not scared why can’t we do something? Indeed Mr Eboue.
Mr Wenger dismissed all the pre match hype, he stressed that “the interesting thing is what happens during the game." The fact that nothing of interest happened, if you are an Arsenal fan, doesn’t undermine the wisdom of his pre match talk.
Samir Nasri lauded Arsenal’s away form, and tried to explain why it’s better than the form at home. We are still waiting to hear why his form was so poor away on this occasion, but I am sure its a good reason.
Meanwhile Wenger demonstrated his power of prophecy with his comments on Park:
Arsène Wenger has likened Park Ji-Sung to Arsenal legend Freddie Ljungberg.
As Ljungberg did during his time at Highbury, Park has popped up with some crucial goals in big games since moving to Manchester United and has been on the score sheet in both of his team’s previous two trips to Emirates Stadium.
“He is a bit of a Ljungberg type,” said Wenger. “Of course he is a team player, a team worker. He can score goals as well.” Indeed he can Arsene. Did you have a bet on it?
Back to the Future
Just in case of defeat Wenger got his optimism in early:
Arsène Wenger admits that Arsenal may have to go ‘back to the 70s’ in order to win the title this season. The Frenchman won his first Premier League with just 78 points in 1998 and he believes that relatively low figure may be enough again this year.
To add some context, Arsenal won their last title in 2004 with 90 points and in the following season Chelsea set a Premier League record of 95. However Wenger argues that a similar tally is almost certainly out of reach right now.
“Unless one team goes on a fantastic run it won’t happen at the moment,” he told Arsenal.com” (Well it certainly won’t for Arsenal. Ed).
“If the record doesn’t improve then, yes, 78 or 80 could be enough. You don’t want to set any limit but the only thing you can say now is that, right now, that level could be the decider. "The teams have 32, 33 points now after 16 games. Multiply that by two then add the next six games so yes it could be 78 or 80 points.”
Slight problem with the theory Arsene, not just that DeLorean went bust, no its the math, it’s now seventeen games, and the Gunners lost, so now Arsenal are on track for 72 points and their biannual defeat by the Chavs.
Another great game
After the match Wenger was just as upbeat, in fact he talked a great game, he strongly denied that his team had failed to deliver, he pointed out that Arsenal had created a few chances and had been a little bit unlucky. You will also be pleased to know that he has every confidence in this squad. So the great thing is we can expect more of the same.
On Arsenal’s title chances…
However Wenger admitted it “is a big frustration and a big disappointment but what is important is that we bounce back in our next game. Overall on what I have seen tonight there is no reason not to believe and we know we can play better offensively.”
Well on that upbeat note I see no reason for all the moaning on 606 which I switched off after 10 minutes.
After all a team that has lost 5 times has as much chance of winning the league as an unbeaten team. It stands to reason – doesn’t it?
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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2010:12:20:10:40:46 by Padre Pio.
And i can only admire the eternal oprtimists on this very board.
Last night, exact same as most of the other big games we've lost over the past couple years. Just pass sideways and backwards all game. Hardly Chamakh or Van Persie tried to get in the centre, instead they were outside the area so they could get the ball and pass it sideways again.
Constant cycle. Very very easy for them. I can only recall one shot on target (which I did think was creeping past Van Der Sar but he got down well).
Another game where I didn't hear "One Arsene Wenger" go up even once.
One positive though, was the goalkeeper. Top save from Rooney as well. I was watching him in the first half, belting out instructions (and profanities!) at the two defenders, especially after Koscienly had some very poor headers, which didn't go further than 5 yards.
He's got to change something, but will he. People go on about how this team is only one or two signings away or they say that if we sort this defence out we'll win the league and how at the moment the others are just as bad as us.
But like we saw last night, Man United won't concede many goals, Ferguson will shore them up. Chelsea's bad run won't last forever and they'll tighten up at the back.
We've been the same for the past 4-5 years and it doesn't look like changing anytime soon.
So frustrating and I'm tired of it.
Didn't see anyone go into him or stand up to him.
Gutless team.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:12:14:12:41:06 by PKGooner.
For our pass and move game to be effective all our attacking players need to be more or less at 100% effectiveness, if one is having a bad day his misplaced pass will see an attacking move breaking down and most of our players out of position.
Its like as Wenger says if we loose the ball were in trouble.Hes trying to employ the same type of game as Barca, pass the oppostion to death, squeeze them into their half with a very high line and try pick our way through with a hollywood pass.
Most of the time being at 60-70% effective at this type of game will be enough to beat most average teams because they give us time and space and cant deal with the movenment.
However as we saw last night a good opponent will not allow our full backs or our creative players in the midfield trio time or space to get passing movements going.This was evident by how much Chamack and later RvP had to drop back to get the ball.We also played deeper than usual which meant our build ups were even more slow and laboured than usual, by which time United defensive unit were set.
While I never give any credence to what Wenger says after a game, one comment was telling where he stated United played a simple game i.e they didnt employ their usual tactics and changed to counter us. If were either not in the form to pass our way through United's massed ranks or my in opinion not good enough, we have to alter our style of play to whats put infornt of us.
Thing is though this team only knows one way to play, its not fair or realistic to espect Theo to make us more direct with twenty minutes to go the directness has to be from the start.
I want to write some sort of conclusion to this but its only Decemeber and a lot can happen but after last night I feel a lot less optimisic about our chances.
ALL I CAN SAY THAT EVRA HAD THE LAST LAUGH!!!!
FOR ALL THE TALK ABOUT THE THWART NOT BEING RESPECTFUL TO ARSENAL; I ASK?? WHY SHOULD HE RESPECT A TEAM THEY HAVE BEATEN TIMES WITHOUT NUMBER IN RECENT YEARS....Can We Now Trust The Process 🤔🤷🏿♀️ or Should We Still Remain Cautious 🙇🏿♀️
Agreed good.
Lets not argue about whether this is the worst Arsenal team since 1998, but perhaps we can agree that on paper it appeared more talented in midfield and attack. Now games are not decided on paper are they - but we will ignore that.
Surely this was the time to beat Man U, so what was the difference between the two teams? The defence? Funny enough not that bad, they conceded one, a bit unlucky. The pen wasnt a pen, but Clichy still an idiot.
Was it the attack? Possibly, they sneaked a goal, we never looked close.
Is that the main reason? Almost, but I dont think so. Its because as Merlion says Wenger develops spineless french speaking poodles down at the Colney creche.
Dogs take after their masters, teams after their managers. Thats why we are gutless, and red nose's team is gutsy.
Wenger is a busted flush, I wont campaign against him, I wont be offensive to those who support him, we are all entitled to a view, and I could be very wrong, oh how I hope I am wrong.
What I cant do is pretend I believe in this project anymore, its all jam tomorrow and nothing today.
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
We arent playing well, whatever anyone says, we dont even have that many injuries. Theres no master plan just some very average, over the hill, young, or disgruntled players that Wenger sends out and tells to play the same way every week without any regard for who we are playing. Its got to the stage where we all look silly picking over the reasons we lost to United or Chelsea. Do you think Blackburn fans have a big post mortem when it happens? No.
How Wenger could possibly think putting Rosicky Wilshere and Song out against a red and white wall of United midfielders last night was going to achieve anything, I really dont know. Denilson is one of our so called midfielders so why wasnt he playing (dont worry I know the answer).
Its just arrogance lack of preparation and self delusion as far as wenger is concerned nowadays. Ive got very littlea time for him any more and it just needs fans who are sick of his myopia and what looks increasingly like self delusion to have the courage to stand up and make themselves heard.
Far as I can see its as a result of them being told their world beaters and getting rewarded with long term lucrative contracts based on average performaces.The model has been to sign them young, tie them down and hope they develop into world class players. Id argue many of them seem to be in the comfort zone with us, poor performances will not result in them being dropped, rather their told to forget all about what happended in the nasty match before and to focus on the next game and so on.
Twitter updates from Arsenal players and interviews on the official illustrate how much of a trance Wenger has them under.Words like mental strength, focus, team spirt, belief are constantly mentioned as if Wenger is in the backround with a cueboard.
Now Iam all for the use of psychology in sport were only begininig to scratch the surface of whats possible in this area.However I remember somebody talking about polishing turds on here before and I think it fits in nicely here.You can tell players as many times as you like there world beaters and their style of play will win out no matter what.
Their seems to be utter bemusement on the faces of our players when we go a goal down or lose its as if..Hang on this isnt the way the boss told us it would be... and their unable to respond the the changing circumstances and continue to play the same way its like lemmings jumping of a cliff.Then after the game Wenger will have an excuse for the media while he keeps telling the players their wonderfull, forget about any lessons that can be learned from a defeat, its okay they have the mental strength and focus to win the next 1.
Blah Iam doing some serious ranting I know but this team/manager has me in a foul humour today!
He has gathered a team of good to average players,most of whom beleive their own trumpeting,as my old mum says,self praise is little recomendation.
We are not nor have not for the last six seasons been good enough or have the nous to win the prizes.
Clichy is stupid,he has not learned from his many catalogued mistakes and should never pull an AFC shirt on again.
The GK situation has been evident for three seasons and we haggle over Mark fookin Shwartass.I like many others take my hat off to Wenger,I will never call for his head,but I do not have to support him in his Emperors new clothes regime nor will I.The team and club will receive my support blindly and loyally,but he has iMO had his day.
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.