Andrew Weber, from the popular Gunner blog, Arsenal FC Blog, has been big enough to have a quick chat with me following our 3-1 victory over them on Sunday.
Scott the Red: At the start of the season, did you think winning the league would be beyond United in light of Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure?
Andrew Weber: No, I didn’t. My prediction at the start of the season was that Arsenal and Manchester United would be up in the two spots with Chelsea third and Liverpool out of the Champions League places. I haven’t been far off, I have to say. United are always a threat for the league because they have a smart manager and a winning mentality. Most teams in England are still scared of them because of their recent history and it means they will generally get enough points to hover around the top, even if they lose the big games.
STR: We haven’t been brilliant in many of the big league games this year, losing away to both Liverpool and Chelsea, despite playing well against the latter. But our win over your lot this weekend was definitely our best performance in a big Premiership game this season. But why didn’t Wenger learn from the mistakes of last year’s CL semi?
AW: The game against United at Old Trafford earlier in this season suggested he had learnt his lesson. He played a possession game, we were far more secure at the back and only the most one-eyed United fans would say they deserved more than a draw out of that game. Why he decided to play an all-out attacking game at The Emirates is beyond me. It played to your strengths and meant that even with a lesser team than last season you were able to exploit our weaknesses.
STR: Over the past few years we’ve seen United get the results when they’ve mattered against Arsenal. There was the 4-0 in the FA Cup, our 2-1 towards the end of the 07-08 season, the Champions League semis last season, the point that won us the Premiership last season and now Sunday. Do you think Arsenal are missing big characters that would help you in these games?
AW: To be honest, I don’t feel we are. Cesc, Arshavin, Vermaelen, Song, van Persie and Bendtner are all players that I would consider big characters. They have more heart, soul and drive than a lot of our players have had inprevious seasons. They are the reason we’ve been able to grind out results and get near the top of the table despite a fairly horrid injury crisis. At the moment we are being let down by a small minority – Denilson and Almunia are struggling for confidence, Clichy is in a bit of a slump and if you have a couple of players underperforming it makes it hard to win the big games.
STR: I imagine Wenger brought Sol Campbell back to give you an old head at the back. You were “delighted” when Silvestre signed for the same reason, saying “He ticks all the right boxes – experienced, a Premiership player, a proven winner and of course French.” Are you as confident about Campbell, despite Silvestre’s lacking impact?
AW: I think Sol is a good signing. He appears psychologically revitalized since his break from the game and that is probably the most important thing. His opening two performances have been good and I wouldn’t have a problem with him playing a number of games before the end of the season. His pace isn’t great but if he plays alongside Gallas or Vermaelen, whoare both quite quick, it’s not too much of a problem.
STR: He hardly played a blinder in your FA Cup exit at the hands of Stoke. Regardless, I imagine the more important issue is hanging on to your best players rather than bringing in new faces. How long do you think you can hang on to Fabregas before he leaves for Barcelona?
AW: I really don’t think it’s as cut and dry as the media makes out. He is the Arsenal captain, a player who loves the club and will be around for awhile yet. I don’t think he would go anywhere until 26 or 27 if he does but if Arsenal are winning trophies by that point – which I suspect they will be – then he may not leave at all.
STR: Honestly, I think you are kidding yourself. There’s no doubt he feels a lot for the club, but you have to understand that Barcelona will always mean more to him. If you win things again, he can leave knowing that he has contributed to your success, and if you don’t win things, he can cite that as the reason for leaving. But with all the hype surrounding him, do you think he has been Arsenal’s best performer this season?
AW: You could pick any one of Song, Vermaelen or Fabregas. It feels like every single time I write a match report I make mention of how well that trio play. We’re still conceding goals at the back but Vermaelen’s no-nonsense approach has improved our defence, Song has provided us with a player whois able to assert himself physically in the midfield while Fabregas hashad his most productive season yet. The fans will surely vote Fabregas as the best but at this point in time Song would get my vote.
STR: You’ve told us about your great players, but which of ours do you think would get in to Arsenal’s starting XI?
AW: Evra and Rooney for sure. Vidic would be an amazing partner for Vermaelen. Whichever goalkeeper you want to give us! In midfield Fletcher would probably be a good addition alongside Cesc and Song while up front van Persie, Arshavin and Rooney would be my pick. I’ve picked five United and six Arsenal there so we must still be better team!
STR: Course you are. With this better team, fancy doing us a favour this weekend against Chelsea?
Of course – history proves it is possible. We won 2-1 last season at Stamford Bridge and we can do it again. The main thing is that we get our passing into a groove, don’t push forward too recklessly and a few of our big players fire. Bendtner will surely be starting too and although he polarizes opinion, my view on him is that he is a very dangerous player who will prove that if given a good run in the side.
STR: You’ve had to play United and Chelsea in one week, but who do you think will win the league?
AW: You could really pick any of the top three at this stage, although the argument for Arsenal has probably weakened since the weekend. As I said before, United will always pick up points because of their character while Chelsea appear to be the best group of players in the Premiership. At this stage if I had to stick my nose out I’d probably say Chelsea out of the two of you, yet it could all change very quickly. In terms of Arsenal, things are certainly not over. If we get a result against Chelsea and are within 5 or 6 points of the top of the table after the Liverpool game then we stand a good chance. Our run-in is ridiculously easy compared to United and Chelsea and our recent run of results, prior to the weekend, shows we have the squad capable of putting a good run together. Bendtner will be back, reports are van Persie will be back in March and we will finish strongly.
STR: You’d drawn two of the past four in the run up to playing United but you’re right, things do change very quickly in the league. But if Arsenal are trophyless again this season, how long will Wenger have? It’s hard to believe that the last time you won a trophy was when we were robbed in the 2005 FA Cup final. It feels like forever ago though, given that we have won three league titles, the European Cup and two League Cups since then. It is interesting to note that since winning his first trophy in 1990, Fergie hasn’t ever gone longer than one season without winning something. How many seasons will Wenger get?
AW: The thing about Wenger – which I think United fans would understand abovemany others – is that his impact cannot really be measured simply by trophies. Sure, we want to win. Sure, we don’t want to be a feeder club or just a club that is worried about finances or blooding young players. But in a long-term way that is what the club and Wenger have decided to do and the fans must be patient with him to ensure he gets sufficient time to see his plan come to fruition. For me it’s not really about trophies, it’s about developing squads of players to their peak every three or so years and having a really good run at the title. That was what was so disappointing about last season. We were so close to the league in 2007/08 that to see us lose key players and basically have a year of no progress last season was disappointing. If we’d hung on to Flamini and Adebayor hadn’t had his head turned then we would have had a chance. As it is this season is pretty much what I expected last season and perhaps the next one will be our best shot at the league.
STR: I suppose that has to be the worry for Wenger. He will keep bringing through talented players, only for them to leave for a bigger a club/a club which provides them with a greater chance of winning something. But at least you’re not massively in debt eh?
Good read . Agree with him on nearly everything.
Arsenal need spanking from time to time just to Shut their Big Mouths off..No wonder the Arse from the Arseblog is still hurting..Boo Hoo Hoo..
UNITEDD…UNITED…We would spank you whenever we wanted…
Good read. Still gutted.
Good article / interview….good questions with honest answers of just one Gunner. My answer would have included a question for you ie; how well do you think Fergie would have done over the years with the money that Arsene has (not) had? Would he have built more than a very average side if his spending had been limited to £10 mill per season and that only after selling at least one top player?
Also what would he have done about the almost impossible injury list which has been non stop for nearly two years now at AFC? ie; since the start of this season AW has not been able to play our first 11 more than once, and has had an average of 8 first team squad players out for very long periods on average 3/9 months at a time.
Seems like a decent fella. He’s a bit like some United fans with Ronaldo, he said he wanted to stay but deep down you knew he always wanted a chance to play for his boyhood favourite team. I think the main reason Fabregas will maybe stay at Arsenal is partly to do with him wanting to achieve something at Arsenal and also the worry he could become a bit part play at Barca whereas now he is the first on the team sheet.
I’ve always said that if United didn’t win the league I would always prefer Arsenal to win it. Even though it pains me to say it. Deep down I have respect for Arsenal and the way they choose to play, their only downfall is not adpating to a physical game when needed.
I do miss the years when it was United and Arsenal going for the title rather then the Chelsea scum
good piece. at least Andrew Weber isnt going on about how in a few years time, the raw talent at Arsenal will be world beaters, something that a lot of arsenal fans tend to find solace in. tho i still cant believe that they bought that error prone, lumbering, ugly mug silvestre!!
Hi guys, thanks for the kind words so far.
If you’ve got any other questions ask me and I’ll answer them in the comments.
GunnerPete:
I think we might find out the answer to your first question, in the next few years, with the way the Glazers are running the club.
You mean like United have had this year which has been widely reported. Our two center backs only play 4 games together all season. Fletcher was out for a month, Rooney had a spell on the sidelines as has Berbatov, giggs and scholes. I think whoever has the least injuries in a season will always have the best chance of winning the league. I do believe if we hadn’t had so much disruption in our back line we would be in the lead by a few points.
GunnerPete
SAF has built United from the time he arrived in 1986 when United was nowhere near the club it is today. That time he operated on a very limited budget and made smart signings like schmeichel,cantona, solskjaer that turned out to be extremely vital.over the 90s and now after the millenium Uniteds popularity ahs grown with sucess adn the amount of money available to SAF has increased. He also proved people wrong when they said ‘you dont win anything with kids’, why cant wenger?. Also Wenger belief in youth at times is too much. i agree that there should be good young players in a team but you also need to have experienced players. It must be a blend of both. Wnger has money to spend, it is just he dosent want to on experienced players who are a little older.
@Andrew Webber
Very honest and unbiased opinions mate. The Arsenal fans are much better to have banter or sensible discussions with compared to the scumbags from Man city.
One thing though.I read your match report yesterday of Sunday’s game and you thought Rooney wasnt that good. I disagree with that. i think he was really good and caused your defence lot of problems,especially with his movement
@ aig alex – It wasn’t that I didn’t think he was good, it was that I didn’t think he destroyed us the way the media makes it out. I think there was an overreaction to his performance simply because he is Wayne Rooney.
Not that he isn’t having a killer season…
Also – get rid of that second ‘b’. I don’t want to be associated with Andrew Llloyd
GunnerPete – Since the Premiership began, Ferguson has an average net spend of £7.7m per season. That is less than Villa, Spurs, Liverpool, Chelsea and City. There’s a difference in just £2m a season between us and Sunderland since 92 and they’ve spent half their time in the division below! Yes, we have spent more money than Arsenal, but if it was a case of more money means more success, then we would have been finishing 6th in the league every season since 93, not within the top three every season since 93.
Stats: http://www.transferleague.co.uk/
In a period of 20 years, for Ferguson to have never gone longer than ONE SEASON without a trophy is a fucking fantastic record, with the 6th biggest spending record in the country or not.
When Ferguson took over, we were in the relegation zone. Where were Arsenal when Wenger got the job? Top 6?
Decent read thanks for having one of our lot on your site Scott.
On the Ronaldo issue I actually think that has more of a similarity to Henry leaving us. Henry had become too much of a dominant ego at Arsenal and it was the best time for him to go, we all remember him as a great player for us. Ronaldo depsite being younger when he left had become a dominant presence and you got the impression that this wasn’t best for squad morale also Ferguson will never tolerate a player becoming too big. Selling Ronaldo for the price you did was great business and it’s allowed Rooney to shine.
Also, I don’t think there is any point in us monaing about our ‘injury crisis’ it makes us sound like Tottenham fans. A football clubs performance is not just down to the 11 players on the pitch it should also take into account the training staff, the medical team and obviously the manager. I’m a fan of Wenger but certain players – Van Persie, Rosicky, Walcott, Diaby are constantly injured. To go into the season with the idea that Van Persie, for example,would stay fit throughout, based on previous experience, was a mistake.
@Andrew Weber
Fair enough. Agree that it was a team effort from us and a lot of other players had good games. The english media is always like that though. Whenever an english player has a good game they go ga ga over it.
One more question.I am sure you must have written an article about this at some stage. dont you think Wenger needs to sign more experienced players. I mean players who are around 26-27 and have the experience of having played in the big games?. Its good that he has an eye for talent but i think he has to change his view a bit and try to have a blend of youth and experience
I agree with Andrew Weber. I thought Rooney was fantastic on Sunday but I can’t say it was his performance alone that made us win. He just showed he is now a world class forward and is in good form
I thought it was a very good team performance where all players where on form. Well apart from Brown, I actually thought he looked out of sorts. The media just find it very easy to single Rooney out.
@GunnerPete
Ive heard conflickting stories about wat wenger has to spend, some people say 30 million, other people say he doesn’t have much to spend, wats the truth.
@Scott The Red
I agree with you mate, Ferguson is incredible and I think that because he has been around so long that people start to take his achievements for granted. United have been abe to spend more money on transfers than us, Ferdinand and Rooney spring to mind, but the fact that Fergie is able to keep his team hungry and motivated and able to win back to back titles is pretty amazing. One of my big regrets over Arsenal is that we have never been able to win the title back to back, I think some people underestimate how hard that it.
It’s can’t be denied that Wenger is an excellent manager and a clever lad, though his philosophy on the game is flawed, in my opinion. Like AIG wrote, there needs to be a blend or as I’d describe it, a balance. Wenger has a blinkered approach to the game, where young, fast and creative players are sought to fill every space in the team.
The balance applies to all areas of the club. You need a team balanced by youth and experience / flair and graft / attack and defense / creativity and predictability / speed and calm. The balance also applies to the players you bring in to the club against the players you bring through the system / the money you spend and the products you develop. It keeps things fresh at the club, creates energy and competition for places from all angles. It also creates a flexible team, capable of adapting to a number of situations.
I thought Wenger would have been all over balance like a cheap suit, but it looks like Fergie is truly the master of Zen.
Quite right GunnerPete.
Football has changed and money is now dominating the game. I cannot think of any other manager in today’s game and in today’s climate who could put together a side on a shoestring an continually make the top 4 in the league and QF’s of the European Cup.
Quite simply success for one club would not constitute success for another club and it irritates me that there are football supporters (both Arsenal and non-Arsenal) who simply site winning trophies as success. In my opinion Arsenal have been successful in the past 5 years because an awful lot of money has been spent on a new stadium which, consequently, meant that Wenger has had to build a side on the very cheap. Its says wonders that Arsenal are still considered a top 4 (3) team, regularly reach the latter stages of the European Cup and basically kept Arsenal on the radar.
However, Wenger now has to realise that its time to move onto the next phase in the redevelopment of Arsenal Football Club i.e. to spend the money the new stadium is generating and win some trophies. (Oh, and to fix the horrendous injury problems Arsenal have sustained in the past 3 years.)
And, by the way, ManU were the better team on Sunday but I think Chelsea will win the title.
At least we can laugh at Liverpool right?!
@willierednut
Wenger’s line on transfers is that he and the club changed their transfer policy when Abramovich bought Chelsea, every player they bid for Chelsea were outbidding them so they made a decision to spend less money on youth players and develop them. Some of these players would reach the first team and others would be sold on at a profit. You would think that by now Wenger might have a little kitty so spend on players, either way it would be business suicide to let the public know how much money they have to spend on players wouldn’t it?
I don’t want this to turn into some sort of love-in, but I have to say I agree with Briggsy on rather seeing them lift the trophy than the ‘dippers, bitters or rentboys (if we weren’t to win it ourselves).
Good interview though.
As for a United/Arsenal team, I’d disagree. For me it’d go: VdS, Sagna, Vidic, Vermaelen, Evra, Arshavin, Fletch (ideally Hargreaves), Fabregas, Nani/Valencia, RvP and Rooney.
Cut’n'thrust counter-attacking is the idea behind that one, rather than tiki-taka (Barca/Spain style) possession-based football (not that that team *couldn’t, I just prefer the United way, obviously
! )
@jig3000
Your right, Wenger’s a flawed idealist. This goes beyond football, one of his views is that as a global population and with the world becoming a smaller place that the people from richer countries will no longer tolerate the amount of povery they see and the 3rd world and do something to spread the wealth. It’s a very optimistic idea and he may be right, but when you take into account the general corruption of govts and people it does make you sceptical. I’ve always got a soft spot for a dreaming idealist though….
@ Jig3000 – I’m going to be frank. I think Wenger is a little bit headf*cked when it comes to playing Manchester United. His comments about Fletcher which were essentially correct if a little over the top, has meant that he is running the risk of being called a hypocrite if he changes his style from all-out attacking football to something more measured.
We have the players and team to beat Manchester United on games like this but Wenger’s approach tends to be wrong. I think he got it right earlier in the season when we happened to lose and right in the 2006/07 win at Old Trafford. Possession football is what works against you guys, not playing attacking, pacy football that opens us up to being punished on the break.
Agree with you Gooner77 on the back to back titles. This year to me had the feeling of a few players which had won 3 leagues on the trot and the desire was not fully there. But since the Leeds scum defeat and the also the defeat against City in league cup first round I’ve seen the team find a new hunger which will hopefully drive them on to the title.
AIG – I agree, the Arsenal lads who come on here are a lot more level headed than the Chelsea and certainly the City fans! Good points AB. Gunner Pete, if you’re going to bring the Sir Alex has had more cash argument, you obviously disagree with AB as regards how the club is run. AB suggests he is happy with how the club is being run financially and this must include the transfer budget (or lack of). I don’t know the ins and outs of it at Arsenal, but I often hear gooners complaining that Wenger does have the money but refuses to spend it? Maybe you could shed light on this? I think the the problem with Wenger is that he does build good teams, but fails to build on the success. Sir Alex has broken apart and reinvented teams when they’ve reached their end, keeping only the vital components and adding much needed upgrades when appropriate, I don’t think Wenger has done this. Gunner Pete, I think the injury excuse is a little blinkered. Both United and Liverpool have had terrible luck with injuries this season. First choice back four present in only 4 games! Lost our keeper for crucial matches, still missing one of our more influential midfielders, and the likes of Berbatov and Evans playing with injuries. I don;t think there has been much in it on the injury front to be honest.
@Andrew Weber
I don’t know about you, but I would love it if we had a Fletcher type player
in our side. Previous Wenger teams always had a few more grizzly players – Parlour, Keown and even Grimandi did a job that better players in that side were unable to do.
Gooner 77 – I don’t know about anyone else, but we could use a Fabregas player to unlock those stubborn defences we’ve had trouble with this season. It seems that we have what you need and you have what we need. How about a compromise, we’ll give you Gibson and you give us Fabregas. When/if Hargreaves comes back we’ll have 2 quality players in the Fletcher mould.
It makes for a nice read. I would agree to most of the points.
It really is weird reading all these calm and composed comments interchange between Arsenal and United fans. Last i remembered, i hated the site of “Cheat” Henry and Viera, it made be boil with rage esp remembering the bashing Rudd Van Nistelroy got. How things have changed since that oil-drilling-scum of a club have come into contention.
I cannot believe myself saying that i would be rooting for Arsenal doing us a favor at Bridge.
@mikekelly
Hahaha Your alright thanks, although feel free to have Denilson….we’ll pay you to take him. Hargreaves? Good player but until you mentioned him I forgot he existed, besides our treatment room is full up there would be no space for him
To Manchester United fans,
I know you all really hope that we beat Chelsea on Sunday but don’t get your hopes up. We NEVER beat Chelsea when Drogba plays. I’m hoping it will be different this time but history tells it’s own story.
Arsenal fan here,thought you played well on sunday and exploited our weakness nani was for me mom.I think we missed diaby(we have lost/struggled) all games he hasn’t played in.what is your unbiased opinion on him?anyways goodluck for rest of season well played SAF.hope we get a result at terry’s bridge.
@Gonner77
lol.. the treatment room here at United was full too.
For god’s sake we played with giggs, carrick, fletcher and i guess brown as a make shift defense.
Well history does tell a story but still we hope u rob Chelski of some points.
@ Gunnerpete – SAF is better than Wenger in every department. To turn it around. If SAF was in charge of Arsenal, do you think your lot would have 5 trophiless years?? Yip, didn’t think so!!
@ Andrew – It sounds like you ‘rate’ Bendtner.. Do you seriously think he is your answer to Ade? I couldn’t imagine him walking into any of the top 7 teams, let alone mid-table…
a ques for u weber…..
please give us ur thoughts on wengers refusal to buy players who are past 25……building a young team is good but it should also have some experience campainers….but arsene’s mentality is different and the club has to suffer for that…..
we all know how good of a player cesc is…..but i think he lacks in support from the rest of the guys barring arshavin……
plz give ur thoughts on this and also the players u should buy to be real tilte favourates….
regards and best of luck to ur team for there clash against chelsea….
K-TR7 – On Diaby, yeah, I think he would have had an impact in the midfield on Sunday and from afar I would think he has been one of your consistant performers this year (I had im in my dream team before his latest injury) He is more poised in front of goal than Song also, so might have done better with those efforts? AB – I’ve never really got Bendtner, what does he bring to your team? Gooner 77 – Lets just hope Drogba is a little jaded from the ACON.
@Andrew Weber ( Arsenal FC blog)
Has Arsene Wenger ever asked you to put your hand in his pocket and find some sweeties ?
Off topic slightly – Just looking at the resurgence of Nani in the last few games and it brings me back to an article I read a while back about our beloved Ralph Milne (Older fans will remember him as K stand Milne as thats where his crosses often ended up!). However, in the article he mentions that at Dundee Utd he played as a right winger and centre forward. For United he played every game on the left wing. It makes me wonder whether Nani might have befallen the same fate had Sir Alex not given him his opportunity on the right. Also, can anyone confirm that this change of heart was due to a conversation between Carlos Quiroz and Sir Alex in which Quiroz pleaded with Sir Alex to play Nani on the right as he had put in 3 Man of the Match performances on the bounce for Portugal in that position. Just what I heard?
You tore us a new one on sunday through counterattacking at its best which we dont seem to have anymore since henry and pires days.before we played you we were overhyped by the media and performed poorly.i tend to like the underdogs tag is when we play and hopefully beginning on sunday.lets hope for a good performance and not end up losing like you did there despite your superiority.man drogba really hates us 9 goals in 8 matches against us is all i need to say…
@Vivek
Wengers refusal to buy players over the age of twenty five? Arshavin, Rosicky, Campbell and Sylvester – all over the age of 25 when signed!!!
@mikekelly12
A lot of Gooners even up to a couple of months ago couldn’t stand Diaby. I even heard him being described as no better than Carlton Palmer (is there any worse put down than that?). I really rate him as a player and in between injuries he has been great and is also a lethal finisher. We can’t blame losing to you on Sunday on him being out of the side though.
@Vivek
To further elaborate, the ‘youth’ thing applied to our team is exaggerated. Yes we have got a lot of young players but the likes of Gallas, Sagna, Almunia, Arshavin, Eboue, Rosicky and even Fabregas when you consider how long he’s been in our first team do have experience. I honestly believe the problem we have is more down to elementary problems than needing a massive overhaul in the playing staff, for example watch Denilson fail to track Rooney’s run for your second goal on Sunday. You don’t have to be a world beater to do that, you just need to be able to do what your paid for week in week out. This is one of Wenger’s faults.
Gooner77 – You mean Carlton Palmer, Englands midfield lynch pin!!!!! Yeah, pretty disrespectful comment, although he does appear to have found his calling in life with those Paddy Power adverts!!! You suprise me though, I thought he’s done a good job for you (Own goal aside of course).
Andrew almost always gets it right. This one being no exception. Arsenal chances for the league are no more in their hands now. But a victory over Chelsea in a week’s time will do them no harm. There after they have a rather easy set of fixtures, with the players getting back from injury, if they can stitch together a consistent run, then who knows. Keep the faith fellow Gooners..
Exactly!diaby has been class every game but he has been crucified for his OG at OT.I can see there are sensible bloggers here.i think rafael is improving rapidly(defensively).whats up with berba?i think technically he is superior to rooney,he looked good at the lillies.i think you are facing the same dilemma as barca with ibra who is superior to etoo but doesnt score enough.you’ve got to admit that even though rooney and rvp may lack the pace of torres,their intelligence and movement is unmatched and is amazing to watch.losing rvp though was hard to take…
The website http://www.transferleague.co.uk/ is interesting one.
However, the ManUtd figure is horribly skewed because of the sale of Ronaldo. If we were to take the figures from last summer, before the sale of Ronaldo (and, indeed, just after the last time any trophies were awarded) I suspect the Manutd figure would be considerably higher. Can anyone get the figures from last summer?
Pete and Scott good Q&A and manage to rise above most of the BS. Pete what do you think the truth of the Arsenal finances are. Is Arsene really sticking to his principles or is he being forced to by the lack of cash. I respect that despite building and funding the stadium Arsenal have manage to look competitive that last 4-5 years (without actually winning anything).
He’s a bit of a cocky sort aint he?
Scotty – I don’t see why it should be used against us that our manager turned a £12m player in to an £80m player. Do you discount the profit made from Nicolas Anelka?
The same year we bought Ronaldo, Arsene Wenger spent more money buying Jose Antonio Reyes. Lol. Wenger spent over £20m on players that year but didn’t go for Ronaldo. Oops.
So our stats aren’t skewed. They’re just reflective of the players Sir Alex Ferguson has bought and sold, just like everyone else’s stats reflect the players their manager has bought and sold.
Scott the red – I 100% agree with your points.
However, the last round of trophies given out was the summer of 2009. I wanted to see the figures for that particular date in time, then we could see just how much ’success’ had, or had not cost.
And did you have to mention Reyes?!
By summer of 2009 I meant League title, Champions league and FA Cup.
If we were to measure success in trophies won (which is what you are – and I have no problem with that) then it is illogical to look at the transfer league in mid-season because the stats have changed since the last set of trophies were won.
It is, therefore, logical to look at the transfer league figure post 2009 season, when, indeed, the last set of trophies were won. And, I can assure you, Manchester United would be than 6th in the transfer league…
*And, I can assure you, Manchester United would be higher than 6th in the transfer league…
you should have interviewed me,id have told the truth, the whole team would get in our team lol except for that fucking cunt carrick, thats cescs spot!
i would take denilson out of the team ,put him on charity duty collecting money at the turnstyles,put darren fletcher in the team and we would be world beaters
—————VDS ——————-
Sagna – Vidic – Vermaelen – Evra
——- Fletcher—Song———-
—Park—-Fabregas—Arshavin–
————–Rooney—————
6-5 United.
Wow, this is the smartest banter I have read. Great discourse.
Anyone who wonders how loud the chorus of dissent is growing against Wenger should read this.
Leading dissenter in the Wenger out brigade
http://www.arsenalnewsreview.co.uk/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=1513&cntnt01origid=30&cntnt01returnid=42
Rather have some beautiful football to rival us than the boring blocky play of Chelski and Liverpool. I want Wenger to win something actually…. just not at our expense.
Arsenal deserve respect – The way the first 20 minutes went – the match could have gone on a yo-yo score.
Truth is though that we have learnt to play them – sad then that we couldn’t put Barca to bed in the CL final
You can’t see an ageing Chelsea compete with Arsenal in years to come – it will be interesting to see if Arsenal can get over their mental block against them on Sunday
Well that’s we wish for anyway : )
@ arsene wenger
I know you come on here alot , imo a little bit too much, now you have called our player, Michael Carrick a fucking cunt.
This is a player who has won more medals than your whole team has won put together.
If you get a chance, maybe you should watch the game again and come back to me when you realise where your precious cesc was for the majority of the game.
I’ll give you a clue. It rhymes with Tarricks Rocket.
Show some respect next time.
I felt sorry for carrick on sunday, trying to play football with fabregas in his pocket.
I note on transferleague.com that Arsenal let Michael Jordan go for free in te 06/07 season.
@ willierednut
nice one ha ha
jansdad i have respect for michael carrick, its nothing personal , and its true he has won more medals than our whole team put together (nearly), he plays in a great team and even though i dont rate him he would still start if he was at arsenal and id be happy , and yep cesc didnt have his best game but he was still our best player probably but we have quite a few poor players who get exposed on this type of occasion so you cant expect oneman to carry the deadweight ,to beat man united every player has to play well and also claim a piece of luckbut we had at least 5 players that are not even good enough for us in my opinion, if the premier league is a 3 tier league only two teams are in tier number 1 and arsenal aint one of them, it didnt take this result for this to dawn on me, we have a good foundation withing our team to build on but the good is surrounded by crap, thats the difference between man utd chelsea and the rest of the league and most of europe ,again i apologise for upsetting you when i called michael carrick a fucking cunt, i dont even dislike the fella like most ex spuds or horible fucking cunts like terrygerrard totti kevin davies sam alardyce lazybayor bellamy cashley hull hansen, he just is a fucking cunt for havin a good game against us,credit to him
@ arsene wenger
fair enough, it did seem from your previous comment that you were underestimating Carrick’s ability , from your explanation you have shown your appreciation for him, Michael Carrick is not a Spud anymore.
He has the medals to prove it.
I understand you were trying to be jovial but calling him a fucking cunt wasn’t needed.
deluded.. carick better than fab?? hahahah.. u r effin funny
jansdad, you know what it is, its when you write something it can be misunderstood, especially when the author has a name chosen like mine, but fair dues man united were very pleasing to the eye at the weekend but carrick really made them tick, proper footballing lesson, if we cant learn from that (the second time because this is twice in 6 months) then we might as well give up trying to be a minimum pleasing on the eye showpiece type of team and just become a more direct well financed bolton wanderers(chelsea)
@s y am
He was on sunday, ya heard.
@ READ CAREFULLY WHAT I said – What’s the point in answering Scott’s questions if people like you are going to be a child about it.
Idiot.
After our performance against Arsenal at home, I thought we were in for a pounding against them at the weekend, how wrong was I? He’s bang on, we didn’t deserve a draw at all let alone a win!! Arsenal might have an easy run but they do drop easy points at times, I think this could be where their title challenge ends, I really do hope we go on to win the league.
@Mic
In reality we have never been on the race. We had a good run and may still have one but most of us know in our hearts that we are not better than you or Chelsea, the games against both sides have proved that. Remember at the beginning of the season everyone said we were gonna fall out of the top four? Now it’s that our title challenge is over when no one said we would even be close. I think we’re the 3rd best team in the country and that’s where we will probably finish.
A good read…
agree with lots. at least unlike the cocky fabregas
I think the piece with Andrew demonstrates that when football fans with a decent knowledge of the game and a real passion for their team get together, an interesting conversation is there to be had, obviously people will still be partisan, but they will also be a degree of honesty and mutual respect for the other side.
Here’s hoping Arsenal have a blinder against Chelsea and we knock the hell out of Portsmouth.
sir, no i am wrong. lord alex ferguson is so great, his ideals are so good that next season he should sign up of being the next manager of angels fc located in heaven. lord alex, u will alwayz be in our heart
@Andrew Weber
Just a couple of q’s I’d like you to a;
You mentioned that your combined XI would be 6-5 in favour of Arsenal.
The players in that XI from Arsenal from what you said would be Sagna, Vermaelen, Fabregas, Song, Arshavin and van Persie.
Despite the cordial banter I think a bit of perspective is needed.
Sagna had a decent debut season and has been decidedly average since. Vermaelen has admittedly somewhat impressed in just over half a season but would you put him in ahead of Ferdinand or Vidic? Really? Arsenal have continued to leak goals at a steady pace and have looked poor defensively in the big games. I would have four United centre halves in front of him, Rio, Brown, Vidic and Evans. Maybe a slight bias but I’d take a years wait on this – I can’t see how, in your right mind, you could choose any Arsenal central defender over Rio or Vida – and Evans was not only exceptional last season but he has been good when fit this season and out of he and Vermaelen on Sunday; despite the goal, it was clear who was the better defender. I’m not using this is a direct comparison but Bruce used to score loads of goals; but he could defend and the proof was in the trophy count and the defensive record. Has Vermaelen really made a noticeable impact to your back line? Not when it really matters, so far. In my opinion. I notice O’Shea hasn’t been mentioned. Scoff. He’s not the most fashionable. Consider though in the cold light of day; who has been the better right back in the last 3 years between O’Shea, Brown and Sagna. It’s a toss-up between O’Shea and Brown, O’Shea performing in a record breaking and title winning team, Brown being the regular in a Champions League winning side, one thing’s for certain, Sagna’s a distinct third.
Onto midfield – Song, again, (like Diaby) is having a decent season, but if we’re talking a combined team we can’t really base the selection on 5 months of performances against smaller (with all respect) teams. The Fabregas conundrum is one that does interest me. A player who excels against smaller teams in a 3 man midfield but who 9 times out of 10 goes missing in a 2 man. A player lauded as one of the best midfielders in the world but who hasn’t really dominated an important game since Arsenal made the CL Final almost 4 years ago. I’m not doubting his obvious talent; maybe it’s a management thing, but in recent head-to-heads in that 4 year spell I can recall O’Shea, Anderson, Fletcher and Carrick now all doing an effective job on him. That’s not to say I don’t rate him and wouldn’t pick him in such a side. I would; but then again it would depend on the criteria we’re selecting on. In a strongest 4-3-3 yes I would just edging out Hargreaves.
Onto the forwards; Arshavin? Really? Berbatov takes a battering but he has at least been as consistent; one could argue that Berbatov’s trophy count makes the difference. Aside from two cracking games at Anfield (Well, the second game was just the goal) I didn’t think he’d done anything at all in the English game. Before this season everyone was throwing their hat on him for player of the season. How woefully misguided. However; my preferred choice of formation with the combined side would be a 4-3-3 (that being one that gets the best of each player and team). Arshavin would be my choice because Berbatov doesn’t fit; but I don’t know if I would pick him in front of Nani – not just based on the last three games, but the potential and his performances in 07/08, fortunately Ryan Giggs negates that choice.
And van Persie? The only reason I could assume that you omitted Ferdinand was due to injury and on that count I would presume you would discount van Persie – however I’ll just think for the sake of argument that you’re doing it based on ability. I couldn’t really argue too much with his selection because I think he’s deadly but in terms of a combined XI and thinking really Rooney has to play you would think about the combination (I assume we’d be thinking about a practical side that would be effective).
With this in mind this would be my choice :
4-3-3
van der Sar
O’Shea – Ferdinand- Vidic – Evra
Fletcher
Fabregas – Anderson
Valencia – Rooney – Giggs
Subs : Kuszczak, Evans, Brown, Clichy, Song, Scholes, van Persie
Benefits are the experienced and winning back line, a midfield with energy in Fletcher and Anderson and intelligence through Fabregas and Giggs. Exploit the pace of Valencia; the football between Fabregas/Rooney/Giggs would be worth the entrance fee, Fabregas playing as the free midfielder would give Rooney support too.
So it’s only one player from Arsenal- controversial choice I suppose, the selection of Anderson another, but in terms of trophy achievement and big game performance I can’t really see how you could argue with it. And, it shows how much we would benefit from a Scholes in his pomp – I’m pretty sure the way Fergie wanted us to play in 2002 was something like this.
There are a couple of issues in there I’m sure you’ll like to disagree with; just one other, who in your mind is Arsenal’s best ever player, having undoubtedbly been priviledged to see the very best selection?