Patrick Vieira was one of the first players to be brought to Arsenal after Arsene Wenger took charge of the club back in 1996. When he left the club for Juventus nine years later, he took three Premier league winner's medals and four FA cup medals with him. He was also part of the invincibles side that went the whole of the 2003-2004 league season without losing a game.
The problem with the attacking midfield in my opinion is not the Arteta-Wilshere axis but the other forward midfield players. When Diaby was having his little surge, hopefully soon to return in reduced games, it was not just his defensive qualities but the fact he went beyond the main strikers on surging runs that made Arsenal so dangerous.
The former Arsenal manager George Graham is backing Arsene Wenger to prove his critics wrong and get the Gunners back to playing the exciting, flowing and attacking football that he made famous when he joined the club. Graham believes that Wenger needs to use another of his skills to do it, though.
It is no secret that Arsene Wenger intends to add to his Arsenal squad in January, and a combative midfielder is one of the most important roles for him to fill. Two new names seem to have found themselves on the list of possible signings according to newspaper reports.
20-year old Ghanaian Afriye Acquah is currently playing for the Serie A side Parma, and is being called the new Michael Essien.
There has been a lot of talk and criticism about the BSM march on Saturday, with some Arsenal fans saying that we are fickle supporters and don't remember the bad days, and to be careful what we wish for as Arsene Wenger has been more successful than anyone else, blah bah blah.
Arsenal were thought to be on the verge of signing a big, strong, tough tackling defensive midfielder in the summer, with Yann M'Vila and Etienne Capoue two of the favourites. The window opened and closed and Arsenal, despite having money to spend did not sign an enforcer.
Arsene Wenger had said that he would only buy a player who would improve the squad, so does that mean he thought there were no defensive midfielders good enough?
Gael Clichy spent eight seasons at Arsenal under the tutelage of Arsene Wenger before moving to Manchester City last July. He does not occupy the same pantomime villain role as Samir Nasri or Ashley Cole, however, because he is not gloating and disrespectful like those two. He seems to appreciate what Arsenal and Wenger did for him and his career.
Montpellier have had a terrible start to their defence of the first French title in the club's history, losing three of the first five. This has caused mass optimism in the Arsenal ranks but we should be wary of the French champions on their home soil tonight.
Many in the football press are attributing Montpellier's poor league form to the fact that they are concentrating on tonight's game.
Giroud praises the Gooners and Diaby by AM Olivier Giroud, in an interview to FIFA's official
website, has praised his French team mate Abou Diaby and has also shown his delight at playing for
the ‘Knowledgeable' Arsenal fans. The French international forward, who is yet to score his first
goal for the Gunners, has said [.
Chamberlain and Diaby receives national team call ups where as Miyaichi is ignored by AM Alex
Oxlade-Chamberlain will receive his a call up for the senior team after being left out of Stuart
Pearce's U-21 squad. Roy Hodgson will very soon announce his squad for the upcoming world cup
qualifier matches against Moldova and Ukraine.
Koscielny reveals by AH Laurent Koscielny has revealed to L'Equipe that he turned down other clubs
to sign a new contract with Arsenal this summer. The French defender said; "I am so happy to have
signed a new contract until 2017, it means a lot, notably that the club has a lot of trust in [...]
Recently we have been strongly linked with Rennes defensive midfielder Yann M'Vila, with reports
suggesting he is on the cusp of signing for our great club. A mainstay in the French team, M'Vila
has been described as "reading the game like Makelele, the presence of Partick Viera, and can pass
a ball like Yaya Toure".
Recently we have been strongly linked with Rennes defensive midfielder Yann M'Vila, with reports
suggesting he is on the cusp of signing for our great club. A mainstay in the French team, M'Vila
has been described as "reading the game like Makelele, the presence of Partick Viera, and can pass
a ball like Yaya Toure".
Man United have almost secured their 5th League title in six seasons.
Consistency, Efficiency and Determination are words often associated with ManU. If they go on to
win the title this season, they'll further enhance their reputation as the best team in
England.
There are Arsenal legends. And then again there are proper Arsenal legends. For most of us
Patrick Vieira sits comfortably in the second catergory. From Shite Hart Lane to (Very) Old
Trafford he was a steam engine of a player. Strength, passion, craft, guile, he had the lot and
regularly delievered these qualities as a red and white colossus.
As most of you know I like nothing better than looking for positives in an Arsenal performance,
I also like to give our players credit where it is due, unfortunately following the display
yesterday it is very difficult to do either. That is not to say that we had a strong side out, it
was probably the weakest eleven we have fielded at Old Trafford, maybe ever under Arsene
Wenger.
Samir Nasri Money Talks - originally posted on Soccerlens.com
Samir Nasri's departure means Arsenal lose another world class player after their prolific
captain Fabregas signed for Barcelona a week ago. However the difference is very clear. Fabregas
left after serving the club for 8 long years and he stayed for just 3 years.
The summer season is one really I don't appreciate in football. Agents are calling journalists
left and right to distribute bs about how much club x wants to pay his player a sum of y which my
sons would have a hard time believing in. How many of these players are really worth the sums that
are being talked about?
Arsène Wenger's men don't have any excuses left for their performance on Saturday. Even when down
to 10 men they should never have let a 4 goal lead slip. Any other team would have parked the bus
and spent the second half booting the ball out of their own half. And there is no shame in doing
that.
Benny was confused. Had Rafa not seen how good his wife looks!?It's not so much a changing of the
tide anymore - the dam has been broken. For the two North London clubs, the direction of the
rivalry has largely been one way over the past 15 or so years but no longer. Spurs beat Arsenal 2-1
on a blazing hot Sunday afternoon at White Hart Lane and they didn't do it by raising their game
and Arsenal lowering theirs: this Spurs display was worse than it has been in recent weeks and
Arsenal rolled out their best work in the same amount of time.
Much like the government, a lot of the talk round Downing Street has echoed that of what has
been spoken about round the Emirates in recent months; Youth policy. What are we going to do with
the kids?
Since the arrival of Wenger, Arsenal have placed youth policy high on the agenda.
SOURCE: REPUBLICAKATHMANDU, June 29: Nepal´s national football team coach Graham
Roberts on Tuesday said that his side was all ready for the first leg encounter against East Timor
in the Asian Qualifiers of 2014 Brazil World Cup to be held on Wednesday. "We are ready to go and
the players are 100 percent fit," said the pentagenarian Briton, who turns 52 on Sunday, during a
pre-match conference.
The FIFA World Cup Qualification had just announced the draw for the Asians football teams.
Timor Leste were put against Nepal, the Himalayas Nation. Nepal whose rank only 172 ; meanwhile,
Timor Leste only rank 201.
The first leg of this tournament will be at in Kathmandu, Nepal which have 42 degrees in
temperature.
This transfer window so far has been fascinating! With the expected rumors that naturally come
with a world cup year, so far there has been little substance to it. Of course Manchester City and
Barcelona are knee deep in the market pursuing whoever they choose, but they could well be buying
for the sake of it.
I'm reflecting on the scathing post that I put up yesterday and am wondering now if I was too
harsh in my assessment. Clearly, we put on a second rate display (at best). But is it fair and
realistic to expect the players that took the field to perform at the standard that we're used to
expecting from our first team?
While the SPL rages on around us it's often easy to forget those less fortunate than ourselves.
So glance south, dear friends, and consider the English Premier League. Spare this footballing
backwater a thought.
If only they could sell their souls to the kind of broadcaster that turns a meaningless
mid-table clash into THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOTBALL MATCH SINCE THE LAST ONE they might just be able
to carve out a slightly higher profile for their impecunious league.
After defeat to bitter rivals Spurs effectively sealed a fifth consecutive trophyless season at the
Emirates, is it finally time for Arsene Wenger to admit he has taken the side as far as he can?
Should Arsenal consider bringing in a new face with all it's attendant risks or should supporters
stick with the man who has won them three Premier League titles and four FA Cups?
Chelsea take on Manchester City at Stamford Bridge tomorrow in a game that has been overshadowed by
the John Terry v Wayne Bridge story that has dominated the press in recent weeks . Its a shame
really as because of Bridge's statement yesterday, it has only hightened tension of the situation
and the public feeling towards John Terry.
Brazil's U20s get their campaign in Peru underway against Paraguay this evening. Much is
expected from Ney Franco's talented side that includes the likes of Neymar and FIFA player to watch
in 2011 Lucas Moura.
The sight of Arsene Wenger slamming a bottle of water to the ground in frustration (giving Pat Rice
a soaking in the process) is perhaps one of the images of the weekend.
It was also the only sign of passion or fight emanating from the Arsenal camp in a game against
Spurs they should never have lost.
04.08.2010 - CalÃgula - QuerÃa retirarse campeón. Se decidió el año pasado
(2009) luego de ganar la Copa Libertadores con Estudiantes. Pero lo tentaron para viajar a Abu
Dhabi y retirarse como campeón del Mundo (clubes). Se arrepintió de su elección porque lo
dejaron colgado en el banco como una estampita de colección.
Como es posible que Grana se haga el loco en las piñas cuando durante el partido no fue capaz de
trabar fuerte y de ir al frente mientas sus compañeros se pelaban el alma para tratar de
ganar.
Como ZubeldÃa entiende que faltando 5 min el cambio es delantero por delantero y no delantero por
central o defensor.
Just posted this on TiFF but might as well c+p here:
I have just read a coaching book by Allen Wade, who was (I believe) one of Roy Hodgson's
teachers at the FA in 1970.
Wade describes two types of team: one that allows individuals to come up with solutions, use
their skills to beat opponents (an "expressionist" team), and another, described as a "functional"
team, where the team does exactly what the coach tells it, accepts predictability because if the
right things are done often enough they should eventually pay off.
I have a confession to make; a terrible, shameful confession. I was born in N1. Not an awful lot
I could have done about it obviously, but I still feel the shame. Thankfully my Dad was an
enlightened soul and supported THFC. As a kid he would escort me to the odd game with a season
ticket borrowed from my wealthy uncle in Enfield.
