Robin van Persie has been a consistent bright light in the poo-coloured gloom of our end-of-season collapse.
The man who has endured more impact injuries than a crash test dummy has finally managed to have a campaign in which he has been largely fit to play.
And what a player he has turned out to be. He may not be a traditional centre forward; he may be better suited to a Bergkamp-style role; he’s not a ‘fox in the box’ – but a return of 17 goals in 18 Premier League starts tells its own story.
On this form he should be top of the shopping list for every ambitious club in Europe – and I would be amazed if he isn’t.
There are strong rumours that Fabregas will be leaving this summer and that Nasri may be off too, but we should also worry about someone trying to cherry pick our only world class striker.
In the current season, van Persie has a better strike rate than all of the forwards who have been the subject of big money transfers in the past year.
Our Dutch master has scored 21 goals in 32 appearances in all competitions (including seven as substitute), giving him a strike rate of 66%.
Compare that with this season’s strike rates for the following players (the figures include their goals for all clubs they played for in the 2010/2011 campaign):
Fernando Torres (Liverpool to Chelsea, £50m): 27%
David Villa (Valencia to Barcelona, £34.2): 53%
Darren Bent (Sunderland to Aston Villa, £24m): 51%
Luis Suarez (Ajax to Liverpool, £22.7m): 32%
Edin Dzeko (Wolfsburg to Man City, £27m): 37%
Andy Carroll (Newcastle to Liverpool, £35m): 50%
Of course this is a crude measure and does not take into account the respective difficulties of the different European leagues, the chances made per team, striker conversion rates and so on. But as a broad brush look at the performance of the most expensive forwards of the last 12 months it has some merit.
Based on these figures I would place van Persie’s transfer value in the £40m-£45m bracket – on a par with Fabregas or even higher.
David Villa at Barcelona is closest to him for strike rate (but still a long way behind) – and he plays in a team that is recognised as being the best attacking outfit in the world; a team that creates chances for fun.
The valuations of Carroll and Suarez partly reflect their youth and potential, but van Persie is 27 and still has several seasons at his peak ahead of him.
Of course a potential buyer might be put off paying those sorts of sums because of his famous chocolate legs. But Robin has always claimed his injuries have been down to bad luck rather than any inherent weakness and this season seems to bear that out.
I know I’ll be accused of being alarmist, but if we were to lose Fabregas and van Persie in the same summer it would be hard to see the club remaining competitive next season. Even if they were replaced by ‘star’ signings there is no guarantee such players would bed in quickly and effectively.
It’s true that Robin seems to love Arsenal and appears committed to winning things with us.
I’m just concerned that if he gets unsettled by some other big departures and the right offer comes in from Barcelona, Real Madrid or one of the Italian giants, he may just be tempted.
I would want him to resist, but maybe other Arsenal supporters feel differently. If we really were offered £40m+ for a player with such a bad injury record, I am sure there are some who would want us to take the money and run.
This is going to be a tense summer for Arsenal fans. There will be some disappointing departures (as well as some more welcome ones), and there will be arrivals – hopefully some exciting ones.
But we could be starting next season with a very different look to our team.
RockyLives
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
THATS A GOOD POST!
Everyones thinking about keeping fab n nasri our old boy suddenly might decide to leave!
A good different perspective than others good one there mate
Hi Rocky, 🙂
Oh, still in bed I see! 🙂
Interesting estimation of RVP’s worth to the Gunners.
You have rightly made it clear that a player’s worth is measured not just in monetary values, but in his intrinsic worth to the club in other ways.
Frankly, Arsenal must turn down any overtures for RVP, whatever the sums offered, because that would send out a terrible message to the players, the fans and the footie world at large.
If they did not, then my own cynicism towards Silent Stan as a commercial predator would be proven. 😦
there is no way any seriuos team would let a striker like ROBIN to leave otherwise Arsenal should sign another serious striker to help Van p to score more goals a striker like Benzema,falcao,cavahni,demba papisse such a player will help to deputise in abscence of the other.
Haven’t read the post yet but just wanted to convey a message from Bob Wilson on Twitter (i know who’d have thought it).
but its important and should give people some cause to reflect and consider, this is a man afterall who lives and breathes Arsenal Football Club, and is nothing short of a legend!
“Put into perspective Arsenal’s sad end to a season that could & perhaps should have brought title. A season of missed opportunity.
However a 14th consecutive year finishing in the top 4 while moving to a new ground with pressure & expense involved is a minor miracle.
Champions League place second only to being Champions in any domestic season…
…Sad that some fans do not see it that way. When it’s not there you’ll miss it believe me. Just ask Spurs fans!”
Now off to read some postage
£45m if he could do a full season.No team would take a gamble on him with his awful injury record
GiE,
Bob sums up my personal view perfectly.
It’s a pity that UEFA do not present each team that qualifies for the CL with a commemorative flag, our stadium would be bedecked with these “trophies”.
Well spotted GIE, and should be required reading for the ‘gimme what I want, and gimme now!’ mob.
The 45m valuation of van Persie is absolutely correct.Suarez came and had a good 10-15 games for liverpool and the media was all over him>but van persie who’s been the best player in the 2nd half of the season for me is given very little credit.This is also the same with Chamakh.He also scored 10-15 goals in the 1st half and as soon as his form dipped, fans turned against him.Chamakh along with van Persie are the only two great strikers we have(van persie being the better one of course!) and we shouldn’t think of even selling either of them.Van Persie’s record has been great and better than suarez,caroll,bent(obviously),dzeko and torress.Only David Villa is a better player than him as far as I’m concerned.
Great post, I’ll bet it sparks off some great threads of thought on this.
Something important to consider, We worry about not having Winners..He’s won the UEFA cup, he’s won the FA Cup, He’s won the Charity Shield (put that in for comedy value) and most of all he has played in a World Cup Final.
He’s grown with Arsenal and its clear he feels its in his DNA. He fights for every ball and will fight for 90 mins to win.
You’re right, I’m more worried about losing RvP, I think his impact up front this season has been bordering on incredible and has put us further up the table than we would have been without him.
I don’t think he will ever leave, but then, its always the quiet ones.
I hope he stays for another 5 years. He has a lot still to do for us.
WG
@ shubhamgoel27
Spot on, Chamakh’s form was awesome at the start of the season. The media just wanted him to drop in form because they wanted to start spouting about how we never spend money and just get in sub-standard players on the cheap.
Chamakh will be stronger next season and I hope he gets more opportunities with RvP up front.
WG
Thought provoking as ever Rocky.
I’ll admit I was firmly in the sell him camp for the last few years, as like you say he hasn’t played enough to be of value.
This season he has proved me wrong, he has scored goals, created goals and has been ultra committed to the cause. Selling him would be suicide in the current climate of fan discontent and pressure to strengthen.
I have also been commenting recently that his goals per shot ratio is quite poor, squandering early chances, having just checked the EPL numbers I apologise….Both Drogba and Nani have had more than 100 shots to achieve goals of 11 and 9 respectively, whereas Robin has managed his 17 from 82 shots (20%), whilst Hernandez and Berbatov have achieved 30%.
I know Nani is not a striker but it demonstrates why some of us are frustrated at the fans around us crying shoot, when players are over 25 yards out.
Comparing your transfers during the season under strike rates in the EPL are as follows
Torres – 13% (10 from 75)
Bent – 22% (17 from 75)
Dzeko – 5% (1 from 19)
Carroll – 18% (13 from 75)
I just found a new stats friend in the Telegraph stats pages 😀
Dont u think that wilshere has been a bit overplayed ?
Doesnt he look tired?
A lot of pressure on such a young player + the injuries we have had! Time for him to rest
Hey Rocky
Great post. It made me both feel great and apprehensive at the same time. A sign of things to come this Summer, with a million and one speculations about players leaving? I HOPE not.
RvP has indeed an incredible scoring record this season, and he is a phenomenal player. Marco van Basten saw this in him from the start, and that meant/means something. I have never seen a more technically gifted striker than MvB and RvP is not far from him.
In my view, RvP is quickly becoming mister Arsenal. Despite all the team-setbacks recently, he has kept performing to the highest level. Nowadays, he seems so much more relaxed and has become not just a great striker but also a great person (having children often helps), and leader on the field. We need to keep him and pray he’ll stay injury free next season. He should be made our permanent captain and start playing in the hole, like DB10 used to do. He has got vision, drive, energy, a great long distance shot, and is just incredibly attack-minded. Just what we need to move forward. Whether we play 4-4-2/(1-1) or 4-2-3-1, RVP in the hole, slightly behind an A-typical striker would be bliss. In 4-4-2, I play either Song and Cesc, or Song and Rambo, or Song and Jack, possibly even Jack and Rambo (the pairing of the future, without doubt). On the left and right of midfield, I would play either Nasri or Wilshire (both reasonably fast, good controllers of the ball and decent crossers, can score goals and have a high workrate which is absolutely crucial in those roles), and I would like us to buy somebody like Affelay, who as expected, is wasted at Barca, and/or Malouda. Both would fit Arsenal very well and it would put pressure on Arshavin (if he stays) and Theo to fight for those places. I would keep Bendtner and Chamakh and give at least one of them a proper stint at playing in front of RvP.
£45m is a lot of money, but this is the one player I would not like us to let go: instead, we should build our team around him. Cesc leaving would be bad, very bad (next season this man will be on fire wherever he plays), but RvP leaving would be a disaster.
Hi GiE,
I happen to live in Norwich as well! I read a few months ago, I think it was the Guardian, that Bendtner has the second highest shot to goal conversion in Europe (1 in 3 shots on goal go in). Do you have any info on this?
What i meant to add to the end of my post in itself was that RvPs form in the latter half of the season has been a direct opposite to those players that were scoring early on. Nasri has the same conversion rate as Robin this season of 20% so where has he been hiding since January?
He has been the only one stepping up to the plate, and with a “long term contract” signed in 2009 we should assume that he is being kept until time for Arsene’s retirement plan to kick in (so at least until 2014 when he’ll be just over 30).
Barcelona don’t need a striker, Real Madrid do but they will certainly buy Tevez, Man City don’t need a striker even if they lose Tevez and lastly Chelsea don’t need a striker. So, with every single club that could afford RvP out of the picture we can relax with the safe knowledge that the Boy Wonder ain’t going no where.
A clever post as ever Rocky, to me RvP comes from a long line of Wenger signings that are almost but not quite perfect. He is not an out and out striker and I am going take some convicing that he could play the DB10 role but nevertheless he is our Mr Arsenal and he can do no wrong in the eyes of this gooner.
Rocky – great post, thank you!
Robin is going nowhere! He’s fantastic and he has that something that we often see in ManU players; that ‘nasty streak’, determination, mental strength. To me he is our best player, by far.
Total whilst NikB has a good goals per start ratio his goals per shot in the EPL is more like 12%, but if you added his FA and Carling Cup appearances where he has banged in a few hat-tricks it may go up to that level.
Also if you’re ever tripping to the Emirates and want a travelling companion Total by all means let me know on here, I’ll introduce you to the rest of this rabble for good measure…..i understand now that you will probably never come here again 😀
Too true London, he doesn’t appear to be as visionary as Bergkamp, but I think if, as all evidence/rumour suggests, we lose Cesc in the summer I would be happy to see RvP fill the role in behind a main striker.
Right need to do some work, 2 hours of my day gone and I’ve done naff all, so much for a day at home to catch up with office based stuff!
Another inspiring post Rocky.
RvP has the biggest Arsenal heart and I have felt for him this season – if only some of the other players had displayed half his spirit. He was beside himself when he scored the pen against pool but seconds later he was shattered by the equaliser due to our frailty at the back.
I agree with London, he’s not a No.9 and and not a No.10 in the DB mould, but he can play like Messi and Rooney and drop back to get the ball and basically be free to roam.
I don’t agree that the big club’s won’t be looking to buy strikers. I think chavski, city, spuds, RM, inter to name but a few will be in the market for goalscorers.
I think it is more important to keep hold of RvP than Cesc – does anyone now how much longer he has on his contract?
Very thought provoking Rocky.In my opinion there is ZERO chance of Van Persie being sold no matter how much is offered. The same for Cesc. Cast your minds back to last season, when it was a ‘done deal’ that Cesc was leaving … and he did’nt.
Van Persie is a shining example of Wenger’s model. Bring a talented player in young and give them the opportunity to flourish. He has that ‘fire in the belly’ that I also see in Cesc,Nasri, Vermaelen and Wilshere. It is more of that attribute that we require in the first team
Sounds good GiE, if I can ever get hold of a ticket, we’ll travel down together. I tend to go more to away games as it is easier to get tickets. But, would be good to see AA’ers in the flesh, as I have no idea what anybody looks like (or sounds like). I’m in the Rose tonight with a mate watching the Cardiff- Reading game, if you fancy a pint..
Okay back…work is boring….
Wonderman the question of fire in the belly is interesting, who would you say doesn’t have it?
Of the regular first team squad i’d say Sagna, Kozzer and Szczesny also have it as does IMO Clichy (although we seem to have seen less of it from him this season).
Hey Wonderman, there is ‘fire in the bellies’ of Song, Sagna, Djourou and Kos as well.
Total next time my wife doesn’t want to go and I’m going i’ll let you know, Ticket Exchange is the answer my friend. If you haven’t got Red Membership you can borrow her’s.
I don’t hold much fear that RVP will leave this summer. He seems to be one of the players who realises that when things go wrong you look at eachother and look for improvement; not at the exit door.
I think his value is in the £40m bracket but because of his injury record no one would spend that on him. Because of his importance to us we’d demand something around that value which means he won’t go anywhere soon.
One of my biggest frustrations this season has been the games we’ve chased where RVP drops deep and looks for openings. He often sprays it out wide where we should be looking to get the ball across to Chamakh or Bendtner. Chamakh looked lively on Sunday but why on earth do we persist with Bendtner on either wing? He gets so much stick yet he’s almost always wasted. I’m totally convinced that if he was given a go through the middle with RVP behind he’d get goals.
If we let Bendtner go he’ll go to a side that give him a run through the middle and we’ll see that he can score goals.
Fine post as always RL
We talk of the DB10 role, but when doing so should remember that Dennis was truly exceptional. We can say RvP is World Class but would he get into this season’s World X1? I don’t believe so, whereas DB would have for at least 4 of his AFC seasons.
Thinking DB. Did you know that whilst studying in the summer off-seasons, he picked up a First Class Honours Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Bath? A seriously intelligent man …
I find it difficult to believe that anyone, most of all Wenger, thinks that Bendtner is best suited to either wing. My guess as to why he is put there is because there is nowhere else for him to go when RvP and Chamakh are already on the field.
Playing NB on the left wing is a sign of desperation. BTW the criticism of him extends over here in Denmark. There is a definite backlash at his lack of progression which has been apparent at National level as well as at AFC.
That said, the man desperately needs a run int eh first team and because of this I hope he decides to leave in summer.
Being two goals behind at home is my idea of a desperate situation.
London. A positive from Sunday was that we now know that it is possible to be secure at the back with just 3 defenders and playing a 3-4-4 !
Oops a 1-2-4-4
Thanks for the offer GiE. I always found working from home a real challenge, so many distractions!
Agree RvP is less visionary than DB10 and does not have the same sublime first touch and ball control like DB use to have (but then who does?). However, with Cesc, Jack and Nasri, and to a certain extent Song, we have plenty of ‘visionary’ in the team (and Rambo ofcourse). RvP in the hole, would be more like Rooney at MU than DB10 at Arsenal: lots of drive, clever running, quick passing and the ability to score goals from all angles, inside and outside the box.
What RvP has in common with DB10, other than attacking instinct, is his ability to make clever runs, hold on to the ball well, and score goals from around the 20 meter area as well as in the box.
I watched this video again the other day with DB’s 10 best goals: just watch how many were scored from that area. Absolute bliss.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piYh2UfX-GY
I say forget 4-3-3, 4-5-1 or 4-4-2 i want a return to the glory days of attacking football
2-3-5 please…..
Just in case you were wondering I think this would be:
Sagna and Verminator
Kozzer, Song, and Wilshere
Nasri, Cesc, Cham, RvP and Theo
That’ll teach em all that defence isn’t the be all and end all…..
I wouldn’t have been too bothered if Nik went or stayed a few weeks ago, but in his recent cameo appearances he has looked dangerous and certainly given maximum effort. I’d like to see either him or Chamakh given a run of games up front with RvP behind playing in a 4:4:1:1
2-3-5 looks great GiE, you are a man with bold vision. I just would hide behind the sofa as soon as we would have a set-piece to defend..
Chocolate legs??? He only has one of them.
van Persie’s one of my favorite players along with Szczesny, Wilshere and Koscielny.Don’t know why but I just love tis season’s new comers.They’ve been awesome bar Squillaci.
Total,
Just make sure it is London’s sofa. He has a bar installed there!
Sorry Rocky,
Your post kind of pisses me off as I had one in mind on the subject of RvP. Very happy you got there first with the Rocky stamp of quality.
Micky89, London sounds posh..
Mini Bar, but he does stock all the essentials for the stressed out Gooner 🙂
If we hyave any semblance of ambition, RvP must be kept. He has been the one shining-light amidst all the gloom.
Much talk here of RvP in the hole role, and while I have long advocated him as a DB10, I think it is asking too much to expect AW to switch. We talk of adding three players, and if this is the case I would far rather go with the Subotic, Schweinsteiger and Hazard type of combo which would allow us to play both formations. With this in mind, we would be ruling out adding a striker, in which case I go along with the idea of giving Nic or MC a prolonged run in front of RvP. I am still undecided what/where I would do with Theo.
Just a thought, anyone agree that it might be worth sending Walcott out on loan?
M89, Wenger will have to do something… Agree on Theo. I like him most when we are 1-0 or 2-0 up and the opposition leaves us space for him to operate in. He is a superior weapon to have in our Arsenal. That would mean he starts on the bench on most if not all games, but am not sure if that is the best for him right now in his career.
Not a bad idea HCAA, but where should he go in order to improve?
HCAA,
Doesn’t that mean someone would have to pay his astronomical wages?
Your idea may just be genius if we could insist that he plays down the middle, that way we discover whether he has a future in a 4-4-2/4-1-1, because for me he can never be an out and out winger.
Maybe Bolton, or one of the newly-promoted clubs?
I have been doing some catching up, and noticed someone saying we are still owed £13m by Barca for deals on Hleb and Henry.
Next time I am shopping, maybe I’ll try that. Love the watch, here’s a tenner. Pay the rest in a few years!
HCAA,
Now you are just being nasty!
And we will throw a green dinosaur into the deal as well.
Bolton could work – maybe just till Christmas. Or perhaps, Italy: there would be additional advantages for him being away from home/England, as he could become a ‘man in full’ so to speak.
Micky89,
I’m sure many of us thought this year, after a good summer rest, would be Walcott’s year. As you rightly point out, he isn’t a winger, and it is make or break time. In footballing terms it would be a shame if he became another Jermaine Pennant.
The plus side of the Theo in the box role, is that it would give him less time to think, which I see as a massive advantage.
Work calls.
TA I have to agree with you and Micky on the Theo quandary, he is an impact player off the bench. Early in games when teams sit deeper he has no space to operate. I think that’s why Capello likes him for England international teams are more likely to be playing for a win than a draw and hence he is granted space in which to run.
He was bought with raw pace and a glimpse of talent, but this is a lad who is still learning how to best use the attributes at his disposal.
GiE & Total, sorry had to duck out for a couple of hours. I agree Song, Sagna , Clichy and Kosser have that ‘fire’. I think Djourou is trying to develop it but IMO you either have it or you dont, it cant be developed. The reason why I singled out Van P,Nasri, Vermy, Cesc and Jack is I see a nasty side to them that I think we desparately need. For all his sumptuous skill DB10 had a very nasty side, I hink we need more players with that edge to repel the cloggers
Agreed Wonderman, DB10 was definitely a spiteful git sometime, and players who faced up against him would know that he had an edge to his game and that he could not be kicked off the ball, that being said he was also too quick in mind and feet to be kicked that regularly.
Micky your quip about the £13m is where the Financial Fairplay rules have to improve, why should a club agree to pay the transfer fee over a longer period than they keep the player. The maximum time to pay should be the length of initial contract, and if the player is sold on the fee should be payable immediately. What incentive is there for the club to pay when the debt is on a player no longer there? We can’t exactly go and get the players back as they don’t own their registrations anymore.
26 will no more but I would hope the Financial Fair Play could put an end to some of this nonsense.
no =know ……. obviously d’uh!
GIE
Walcott, England, Capello, space, that made me think: in international games most teams don’t simply park the bus especially against England, most teams think they can win and attack from the outset, this creates space early on and Theo gobbles up as greedily as a fat kid eating chocolate. So it makes sense for Capello to play him from the outset. Back to Arsenal, most inferior teams park the bus rendering Walcott impotent and those that don’t usually have quality full backs capable of keeping him in their pockets.
Best bet: loan deal.
Wonderman, I understand what you mean about nastiness, and why you see it as a necessary strength. I can only agree. If a player is not nasty by nature, like for example Djourou or Theo, I would like to see desire/hunger and ‘give it your all’ and I cannot fault many Arsenal players of not having that, although recent games have shown that a few are clearly lacking it, which is unforgiveable and has upset so many fans.
Hi London,
I follow your reasoning, but can you think of any other instance when a player who has been a regular first teamer has been sent out on loan except when returning from long term injury?
I think Theo should be an impact sub unless AW wants to experiment with starting him from the centre. He is immature as a player so the loan spell would do him good but I just can’t see it happening.
London, thats what i meant to say I see now how my comment didn’t actually draw that conclusion:
” think that’s why Capello likes him for England international teams are more likely to be playing for a win”
should have read
“think that’s why Capello likes him for England international, opponents are more likely to be playing for a win”.
But this is where I think we fail to use him adequately, he should not start if we know the team is going to be parking the bus, he should be an impact sub to run against tired legs.
I think its too late in his career for a loan deal, that should have been 2 years ago, he needs to step up, but you cannot teach a footballing brain that quickly (if at all) and that is what he lacks more than any other in the Arsenal team.
Hey London (with the posh mini-bar), an ideal winger at Arsenal needs to have close control, ability to go past a player in a crowded defense, as well as speed and finishing ability. The likes of Ljunberg and Overmars, but also Nasri and Arshavin (if only he could give his all and everything for 95 minutes) have this skills-package, Theo does not. As a striker in front of RvP, the question is how does he deal with tight defenses with little or no space. Chamakh seems to fit this role a lot better than Theo imho.
As far as ‘nastiness’ is concerned, I would say that several of our players lack aggression. This can be measured by their success rate in 50/50 challenges. Those players we categorise as being the most committed and hard working are also the most aggressive – the two go hand in hand. Unfortunately Djourou seems a bit too nice to be a beast of a CB whereas the likes of Terry and Vidic are complete b***ards
Just reading the comments re: sending Theo on loan. I disagree I’m afraid.
He’s old enough now to be part of our side, the next season is a big one for him. He’s been good at times this season – Barca, Chelsea, Spurs,Newcastle (1st half)- but I agree he’s not at his best when we play against a parked bus.
This is no reason to get rid of him though, even on loan. We should maybe look to get him playing centrally a bit more or just rotate him when we anticipate a need for something other than pace.
Theo needs to learn a bit of intricacy but there are few teams in the world, fewer who would need Theo on loan, who face the sort of massed defences that we do. The best place for him to improve is in our side.
On an additional point, we need to play horses for courses a bit more. We resolutely play 4-2-3-1 every week, regardless. This goes back to my point about Bendtner; we need to use the players we have and adjust the shape accordingly rather than stubbornly sticking to something that doesn’t always work or shoe-horning players into roles they don’t fit into.
Nice one, Rocky.
I can’t see anyone bidding for RvP.
He just seems too settled.
On Sunday I thought Bendy looked far more lively on the left wing than from his customary position on the right. He seemed to be cutting inside and actually taking people on.
Perhaps 4-3-3 has failed in the latter part of the season because we haven’t had anyone running at the two banks of four? Difficult to go round, and difficult to pass through the middle, therefore beat your man, isolate a defender and slip the ball in when there’s less cover.
Fair point about JD Rasp. The triangle of TV, JD and Cszeszny is and exciting propsect and I can see enought nastiness combined with desire there to compete with MU or Chelsea.
I find this hard to believe.
You are all intelligent mature people having an enjoyable intelligent mature debate.
I have not been around much this a.m., so I wonder if there is any correlation.
Or do I mean a coefficient of correlation which is a mathematical measure of how much one number (a share price for example) can be expected to be influenced by changes in another number, (with the share price the equivalent could be the share index).
But after yesterday, perhaps not! 🙂
Hello All
I notice AW is being quoted as saying we don’t need to strengthen on the flanks because we have Theo, Arshavin, Nasri and Bendtner!
If that’s not an invitation for Bendy to leave I don’t know what is.
And of the others, we all agree that Theo is not a natural winger, nor Arshavin, nor Nasri. It makes it sound like he’s going to persevere with 4-3-3 next season (which I find a bit depressing, notwithstanding GiE’s comment yesterday that the 4-3-3 system got us to a strong position in all comps before our collapse).
Personally I’d like to see Theo given a run through the middle in a 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 with RvP behind him. Michael Owen was never that good a footballer, but he had blistering speed and great composure in front of goal. I think Theo has those attributes too.
On the RvP question – I don’t expect him to leave, but when looking at his goal scoring stats this season it made me think that a big bid from a top Italian or Spanish team would not be a surprise. Every team will always consider a new striker, however good their current squad is, if they feel he can add extra goals.
On the Theo debate, I think Wenger has to take this one on the chin.Theo is far too predictable. At the moment the whole world what he is going to do. He does’nt have a feint,step-over or anything else 1v1 other than raw
speed. Teams are currently doing 1 of 3 things against him doubling up, going tight on him 1v1 or stopping his supply. Most teams do a combination of the first 2, but Villa were succesful in stopping the supply. I have often sat there wondering , why on earth does he not change flanks sometimes mid game when he is not getting any joy ?
Hey Chas, you are spot with your last paragraph about beating your man. We have not seen enough of that. Yet Nasri and Arshavin have the skills for this.
TA
If Nasri and AA had played the second half of the season the way they played the first we would probably have won the league.
You could be right there RL. It would also be good if Nasri and Arshavin, or whoever play in these positions, have somebody other than RVP to aim at in the box (like a second striker).
Hello all. I agree with Chas and others, I can’t see anyone bidding for RvP this summer. Even if they did, I also think van Persie is very settled with us, and, having been the bad boy at Feyonoord, he may associate being with Arsenal with achieving a more settled outlook on life. But there’s still a good point underlying Rocky’s typically thoughtful post.
Yes, chocco legs has a good scoring record this season, and yes, he has oodles of talent. But his injury record renders a lot of that unreliable and irrelevant: we know we have to assume he will be available for no more than two-thirds of games, at best. Not quite Ledley King but getting there.
But more than that, and I know I’m almost a lone voice on this one, I am not convinced that van Persie is quite as good as some think. Don’t get me wrong, he is very good, and one of our best players, no doubt. But he also has the capacity to disappear when needed (the home game against City comes to mind as an example, as does the Blackburn game). And good as he is, I don’t see him in the same class as Henry, Bergkamp or Fabregas.
As for Theo, again I’m a bit contrary on this one. I am not as critical of him as others, I think a lot of attention gets focused on his failed runs without full credit being given for the good stuff he does (crossing, getting into the box, running the line and being that precious thing, the impact sub). I certainly wasn’t alone in saying Theo should not have been subbed in the game against United, because he scares defenders and creates space and opportunities in doing so, and pegs back full-backs.
So, no, I wouldn’t send him out on loan. He is a significant part of the squad and not having him available would weaken us.
Robin is priceless
For all the others there’s mastercard
I am surprised at the comments regarding Walcott. I agree that against “park the bus teams” he should not start but come on if or when we take the lead, however in comparison to the £40 million Gareth Bale his stats stack up well.
10 goals in 22 starts plus 10 as substitute in league and CL.
Bale 11 goals in 40 League & CL games.
The Premier League official stats credit Walcott with 8 assists and Bale 1
Geoff
Good points. I agree that Walcott’s contribution gets overlooked by many. I happen to think he has been delivering some fantastic crosses into the box this season, but usually there’s no-one there to get on the end of them.
Chamakh’s ‘goal’ against Villa is a case in point – if we have someone to get on the end, he can make goals for us.
GM, 🙂
It a shame that some of the arsenal fans took on that footballing brain insult. i bet you he by no means the dumbest footballer but he the one people refer to as having no footballing brain. Please stop it. its insulting. Sorry if I sound a little harsh, Its just annoying.
Im really glad that Theo is never going to go on any ridiculous loan.THats relegating him. I think this season he stepped up his game and will only get better. It a shame it might have gone unnoticed. I wonder what the boy has to do?
Hey vingt-six, it is a bit early to compare RvP with DB10 and TH14, but agree he is not (yet) at that level. The next few years, especially if he stays injury free, should be his best ones. Cesc is a brilliant player and so is RvP – there is not much between them in my view.
alan hansen started that “footballing brain” stuff. To thier credit Shearer and Lineker thought he was being a twat.
It is undeniably true that Theo can, and has, put in good crosses.
It is also undeniably true that he puts in a lot of poor miss hit crosses.
How do we balance the two in terms of relative worth?
The miss hits are worthless.
The well hit crosses are only of value if they find a team mate. Arsenal rarely flood the box with players, perhaps because they cannot keep up with Theo, therefore his ‘good’ crosses are frequently wasted.
There has to be more to his game for AW to persevere with him.
I have already previously said, it is a moot point talking about whether we should keep Theo or not, because, rightly or wrongly, Arsene will never let him go. So relax. 🙂
I don’t see how someone not having a footballing brain is an insult. He is an intelligent lad, published three or four books (children’s novels?) from memory. Talks well about the game etc.
But you don’t have to be intelligent to have a footballing brain, David Beckham and Paul Gascoigne are two that spring to mind. It refers to seeing where the space is, knowing how to open up defences, knowing where to be when the ball drops, knowing which way a defender is going to go instantly. Arsene Wenger recently discussed reaction times needed by top level players. That is the time between seeing the ball is coming to them and deciding what to do with it. I thnk he said forwards have about 0.2secs
His comment after the Chelsea game and the goal where he set up Cesc was something along the lines of
‘I broke through and it was a simple B across to Cesc’
The simple B referring to a button press on FIFA videogame. Now maybe he is being jokey
I do believe that Van Persie is more important to Arsenal then Cesc is.Now i would like to see Vertonghen and Van der Wiel,Falcao and Parker sign for Arsenal.
RA, I bet you have been brewing over which poem you would like to share with us today…
@GM: “alan hansen started that “footballing brain” stuff”. I thought that was Chris Twaddle? And he should know better, having been a misunderstood and abused winger himself, albeit the reverse of Walcott (Waddle having been no pace and all skill).
@goonerwife: completely agree, well said.
@RA: I agree, and it’s yet another reason we should revert to having two forwards. We seem to invest a lot of effort getting the ball out wide (not surprising when there’s a battalion of CBs and midfielders congesting the centre of the pitch) but too often there’s just no-one in the box to make use of the crosses. Why?
Footballing brains which happen to be mathematical brains according to this study:
http://www.insideworldsoccer.com/2011/03/top-soccer-players-good-at-maths-study.html
Redders, re your 9.43 – I wish you would stop peeping at me when I’m in bed.
Speed is often confused with insight. When I start running earlier than the others, I appear faster.
Johan Cruijff
It seems I am being a bit contrary today, but it is not intentional! 🙂 I just do not think RVP is quite in DB10’s class.
Why? Well, DB10 was predominantly rightfooted, but he always seemed beautifully balanced and could use his left foot to good effect.
RVP, on the other hand, is absolutely brilliant with his left foot and looks as if he could peel potatoes with it. But he never looks balanced, and I suspect that if he tied his right leg around his waist no one would notice! 🙂
RVP is brilliant but some how not complete.
GiE, Cruijff was brilliant at maths, as shown here in one of his famour quotes:
To win you have to score one more goal than your opponent.
Johan Cruijff
Thats a great quote TA, add to that one of my previous coaches (now Chelsea Academy Manager) who used to eulogise Cantona for getting a picture, its what Cesc does and DB10 did so well. that picture is to see where the players are now, and know where they’re going to be in 2 seconds without looking again.
Ahh Red A but he can swing that chocolate leg of his when he needs to….CC final for example.
Hi Rocky, 🙂
I was having a cup of Earl Grey and the surface of the tea shimmered and there you were, extracting the fluff from your navel by the look of things! 🙂
I have now given up Earl Grey!
Redders
Agreed that RvP is not quite in DB10’s class – but hardly any players in the history of football have been in DB10’s class. For me he’s in the Top 10 greatest players ever. (since you ask, Pele, Best, Cruyff, Maradona, Bergkamp, Beckenbauer, Hagi, Platini, Messi, van Basten. I didn’t see enough of Puskas, di Stefano etc).
But having said that, I think RvP is absolutely world class. If he was playing alongside a real goal-grabbing CF (and stayed fit) I would expect him to score hatloads and make hatloads. With the right partner we could have a striking duo that could bring in 45-50 goals a season.
And while I’m at it, I’ll take issue with your Theo theory – that’ll teach you to spy on me when I’m in the land of nod!
Crosses into the box aren’t guaranteed a goal – the margins between success and failure are small. But many, many times this season I’ve seen him put in good crosses, high and low, only for the attacker to miss the chance or for the defender to just get there in time. Yet Theo’s stats – as Geoff points out – stand up well for goals and assists. Certainly way better than the monkey man from down the road who has the media drooling every time he opens a banana with his feet.
Redders
You should try lapsang souchong – the smoky aroma is a balm to frayed nerves and a shield against fluff-related trauma. 🙂
Very true GIE, and it is only a question of degree. I am more than delighted RVP plays for us, but I was referring to the debate regarding his merits as opposed to those of DB10. 🙂
Did you know, that some years ago, there was a documentary about players and why some are better than others at ‘seeing things’. I think this where the ‘footballing brain’ comment may have originated.
Anyway, one of the test subjects was The Merse. He was fitted with technological bits and pieces, and it seems that he always had a picture in his head of exactly where he was postioned in relation to every other player.
He subconsciously iterated this process by glancing around every few seconds, and thereby could make instantaneous passes or knew where to shoot without looking up.
Fascinating stuff! He was deemed to have ‘football awareness’ i.e. a ‘football brain’, although he is without doubt one of the daftest people I have ever listened too.
Well reading through the posts, there goes my proposed post on Walcott.
Impact sub at 60K a week when we are winning…not for me.
I think all the hype about him at 16 and the laughable case of taking him to the WC has had an effect.
Speed has never been a doubt,but he can’t tackle to save his life…he is just to nice mentally and i have to say for what he cost which rises over a period of times, he doesn’t put in enough 90 minute performances for a top 4 team.
others will argue that he is still very young but overall IMO he is at this moment of time a failure.
Rocky,
You are not meant to rub the stuff on you know.
micky
aaah – that explains a lot!
Rocky,
I think we are not a million miles apart re Theo. My point was that he gets good crosses in but also mucks some up. But, and this is where we agree, thru no fault of his, many of his good crosses are wasted because no bugger gets into the box for them.
Theo just has to develop some trickery nwith his dribbling, and when he crosses he has to look up and see who is in the box, rather than just hitting and hoping. He is capable of doing this, but perhaps needs some coaching assistance. [Calling Mr Wonderman — shift your bum and go and help Theo!] 🙂
I enjoy Lapsong Suchong, it is dark, smoky and really a great drink. I also love the unsmoked Green Tea from my days in Japan. As you know, the Geishas go to great lengths with their teamaking rituals. I just bung it in a teapot and pour boiling water in. Tastes just the same! 🙂
Hi RL, surprised you did not put Zidane in your top 10, or not even TH14. Very flattered though to see 3 Dutchmen in there. Just shows you that winning lots of pots does not always leave you with a legacy.
Geishas Redders? You racy devil!
Hi TA
Thought hard about ZZ and TH14 – they’re just outside the top 10 for me, along with Cantona, Bobby Moore and many others.
But it’s all subjective and if you asked me in six months time I’d probably come up with a different 10.
I don’t suppose many people would put Georgi Hagi in their top 10, but I always loved watching the ‘Maradona of the Carpathians’ – such vision, passing range and control. If there is such a thing as a footballing brain that bloke had two of them!
Hi all, chocolate legs here 🙂
Interesting debate about the merits of Theo. London and I had a right old ding dong about Theo, crossing and the rest of the team at the beginning of last season and so it’s funny that none of that has been resolved.
The point of the debate was that Theo was putting fantastic crosses into the box but there was no-one there to aim at. I felt that the rest of the team should buck their ideas up and make sure they bloomin well were there, whereas London felt that Theo should look up first and do something different if no-one was there. That was in September 2009 – see how we’ve moved on? Not ………..
George Best?
Don’t pretend you haven’t seen me 😆
Great post Rocky – I absolutely love van Persie, when he returns from injury the team has a completely different feel about it. He works so hard and as Rasp said earlier really wears his Arsenal heart on his sleeve. We’re very very lucky he wouldn’t want to move.
Hi Peacher, 🙂
My 3:22 seems to tie in with what London was arguing.
great minds and all that! 🙂
Geishas!!!!!!!!!!!!! Maybe I should disappear again
Yes RA, that’s what reminded me.
Someone needs to give Theo a shedload of TH14 videos, he still hasn’t worked out how to do that ‘stopping/starting mid run thing’ that used to drive defenders mad or slipping the ball passed a player and then running onto it.
peaches,
I think we are on the same wavelength re Theo.my point was that if he played more centrally(his preferred position)he would be tackled a lot more and I don’t see an improvement in that department.
Peaches,
The Geishas are quite different from what many western people imagine. 🙂
They are like the perfect hostesses, who look after ‘guests’ in upmarket clubs and restaurants. Strictly no hanky panky!
They preside over the ritual tea ‘ceremony’, bring hot face towels for the weary businessman and so on.
It is a bit difficult to explain, as there are no western equivalents I can think of, and they are held in very high esteem, as they are well educated and extremely clever.
Still no hanky panky! Sorry guys! 🙂
I love Robin too. I had an argument on another site about the merits of Robin over rooney. I’d have Robin any day. About 3 years ago rednose was asked who he would sign if he could have any player in the world and he said Robin.
Red arse. I can assure you there are some naughty ones. They aren’t kosher though.
Ah ha, the tea ceremony, or Tiffin Time as I call it.
Did you spend a lot of time in Japan RA?
I have until 5 o’clock to come up with my choice of new CB for Arsenal (personally I would spend the cash elsewhere), but some quick ideas please. I am stuck on Subotic, 6’4″ and 23 yrs.
GM. You have our own private Geisha …. lucky man
I don’t like green tea thogh Raddy!
MIcky
Isn’t that TV? He’s like a new signing.
Sorry I’ll get my coat.
Why is it that “sorry I’ll get me coat” makes me laugh every time 🙂
Because it’s usually funnier than what preceded it Micky
GM,
Three visits of about 4 months on each visit, spread over nearly three years, and with trips to South Korea for 2 to 3 weeks each. (I will never eat the pickled cabbage, Kimchi, ever again!) 🙂
Enjoyable part of my life, but very hard work, and just as hard trying to avoid being entertained.
The drinking culture over there was something to behold, and I am more interested in quality and not quantity.
My hosts liked excellent quality AND quantity, and thought I was a lanky wuss, who could not sing! 🙂
Great people tho’, and their culture was very appealing to me.
I love it too RA. I can’t sing but I was talked into yodelling after a hairshow to 700 hairdressers by the German singer. She wanted to embarrass the Englishman. I’m going in Septemebr. Never been to Korea and I don’t like kimchi. My wife’s faminy are split between the drink a lot and can’t drin at all groups.
GM,
Forgot to say, you are right, of course, some of the mama sans were not really geishas!
Not that i would know ….. obviously.
I may have told you, I met a whole bunch of American guys and gals who stayed in the same hotel. They worked for Disney and were training local Japanese to be Mickey Mouse, Goofy and to do the shows with the Disney scripted ‘jokes’ in Japanese.
I have never laughed so much in my life during the three weeks they were there. They were all extroverts, especially the girls, and dying to perform their routines and their songs for me and my buddy every night. (still no hanky panky tho’! 🙂
The Mickey and Goofy guys had ‘silent parts’ but they were superb singers, and I loved the sheer quality of their voices when they did their show routines. Fabulous!
I bet you wished you had not asked me now!! 🙂
RA
Is your wife reading 🙂
Manchester City coach David Platt has told the club’s supporters to get over their hatred of Manchester United and focus on winning trophies.
Full story: Daily Mirror (full link to follow)
Do the fans win the trophies? Can’t hatred be a motivator? Nothing would stop me hating them.
Damn, just lost a fiver. How can Jagielka be a better bet than Subotic?
GM,
Is your wife Japanese or Korean? Either way you are a lucky so and so! 🙂
My trips were all long ago now, and my life has been a blur of countries. But during my times in Seoul, there was a midnight curfew every night, so genuine guests, as well as the naughty ones had to be out of the hotels and home before the rigorously policed curfew.
One night, my buddy played a joke, and ordered 3 naughty ladies, without telling me. They showed up at our table just before midnight in the revolving restaurant. It really was revolving, but so was my head after some very convivial drinking.
He then managed to disappear before midnight leaving me with three ‘stranded’ girls.
What to do? I had a brainwave, I popped down to reception and claimed to be my friend ‘X’, got his key and deposited the ladies in his room, with instructions to stay there until I got back.
Returning to my room just down the corridor, I heard him come back laughing with yet another lady, and then the squeals of surprise and ‘delight’ when they went into his room and saw the other three.
I left it half an hour, and then ‘phoned the reception and complained about the noise in his room.
I saw him for breakfast in the morning, and nothing was said, other than he had to pay the hotel manager for some ‘relatives’ who had unexpectedly shown up.
That larned him!! 🙂
He got his own back, eventually, but that’s a different story! 🙂
My wife is Japanese RA. You are very cunning. I wouldn’t want to cross you. Mind you 3 naughty ladies in my room…
GM,
Girlfriend – and no! 🙂
The correlation between this guy, ‘Red Arse’, and the ‘real’ me is something that no one who knows me would ever believe anyway! 🙂
Ah, the wonderful byways of AA blogging… what a picture you conjure Redders!
Being somewhat housebound for quite a time now, blogging over the last six months has been a real boon, and I have been fortunate to find some great people on here! 🙂
The same cannot be said for one or two other sites I have blogged on.
That’s what you think 👿
Micky,
I would not mind Taschi, with whom we were linked last January, 6′ 3″ and with a cute smile! 🙂
To my ‘ex’ 🙂 🙂
I’d like copies of all your bank statements for the last 5 years
Redders 🙂 😉 😀 😛 😆 you do brighten my day
I would love to have spent some time as a singleton in Japan. Perhaps in my next life (or when my current wife gets rid of me!)
As to new players, I am sure we could all write a post on whom we would like to se in the team next season and whom we would like to see sold.
Peaches. What do you think?
Now I know it’s going to be like throwing cold water on a lovely day’s blogging but I have to say that although we have a post for tomorrow we have nothing for the rest of the week.
GM,
I don’t know if you met your wife thru’ business, but one thing that used to curl me up with laughter was a particular trait of the Japanese businesses I dealt with.
Japanese companies do not deal with ‘foreigners’ directly, but go thru’ huge trading companies such as Marubeni.
So, going into meetings with my opposite number really meant at least 3 (opposite numbers) from Marubeni (say) and three more from the textile company that my company was buying from. Hence the ratio was 6:1.
I took a colleague with me on a couple of trips, and suddenly the room was stuffed with 2 of us and 12 from the Japanese trader. One day, I got another local English guy (who spoke Japanese) to accompany us, without telling them.
Consternation in the meeting room, with much earnest chat between them, and coffee was immediately ordered before we even started.
On our return, there were an additional 6 people in the room, comprising 3 of us and 18 Japanese, 16 of whom never said a single word. It was hilarious!
The English guy said, later, that the upshot of their conversation was that you just could not trust these foreigners. (or words to that effect).
I got into trouble for that back at Head Office, especially as I had told the Japanese that I had found a cunning way of offsetting the exchange rate fluctuation for my company by importing via Germany, but that the method was a secret. (and also untrue). 🙂
They had implored my boss, by ‘phone, to tell them how it was done, and he had no idea what they were talking about, which convinced them he was a lying b*stard.
So there you have it. An accountant with a wierd sense of humour. We do exist! 🙂
Raddy – we might need peeps to volunteer ……..
I might be a bully but I’m not that cruel 😉
Red Arse’s ex girlfriend’s solicitor says:
May 17, 2011 at 5:34 pm
I’d like copies of all your bank statements for the last 5 years
Brilliant 🙂
What is going on here?? If I didn’t know any better I’d think it is some chat site for dirty men!
Red Arse – you are a philanderer 🙂 I didn’t get over the haddock and waitress’s bum story yet, and you have already moved to tea with geisha. Smooth operator
Micky,
When I said I would really be happy with Taschi the Stuttgart CB, it was not just because his name sounds like facial hirsuteness (?) but I think with his international pedigree and experience he could be just what we need.
With that, I will leave you proper bloggers to chew the fat! Night!
Evonne,
I am innocent of all charges. Micky framed me!! 🙂
Red Arse – what do you mean ‘Night’? You not off to bed with that geisha, are you??
Evonne. Ever since you wrote your 5.50 I can’t get Sade out of my head.
Coincidently, she played here last Monday. Tickets were extremely expensive and I have seen her many times, so I gave it a miss.
Do you believe in fate, I have today bought my wife a car, The number plate reads, AK11 what more proof do we need. Scary Eh 🙂
This guy looks like a manger with a future – perhaps at AFC??
Unbeaten in the League winning the Portugese title 6 weeks before season’s end, mentored by Bobby Robson, English speaking.
http://www.goal.com/en/news/1717/editorial/2011/05/16/2487310/the-six-signs-andre-villas-boas-is-another-special-one
DD. That is some gift. I tend to draw the line at flowers – perhaps that is where I go wrong.
RA
My wife works for me. (standing behind me right now) So we met at work. She’s my 2nd Japanese wife.
I can get by in Japanese and once I sat opposite 2 Japanese girs on a train (in Kent)who were discussing my sexuality. One said I was gay one said I wasn’t. I wanted to practice my Japanese so I said hello to them . They were so embarrassed they pretended to be a sleep. One of them was so cute too!
She is one in a million Raddy, would be cheap at twice the price. One fault only, she is an unhappy Hammer.
dandan,
I hope it is a red Reliant Robin 😉
dandan,
AK11. Andrei Kanchelskis or a Machine Gun?
Gooner mike Think we could probably have fun swapping Japanese stories, 20 years plus with a Japanese multinational means like you, I know a few. 🙂
GM,
What the hell do you do to all these women?
I mean to keep losing them or breaking them
Arsene knows his 11, couldnt be plainer guys. 🙂
Raddy – ha, ha, ha 🙂 Yes, I like her too, I’ve never seen her life, but I am sure she’s great
And there was me wondering whether Kaka had a first name. Like Andy.
Mickey. 🙂
Hey, there’s a thought. If nobody has the reddies for Cesc in Catalonia, how about to Madrid with Andy coming our way. Might work.
Evening all, the problem with missing an entire day is that there is too many comments to catch up on……..
Firstly Rocky, thought provoking as usual…..
I was actually discussing Robin at the Tavern on Sunday with Peaches and others, I personally believe that RVP is tne most valuable player we have currently ie in value and worth to the team, if he had stayed fit for the last 3 or 4 seasons we probably would have bagged a trophy…..
If it was a straight swap on attitude Cesc or RVP, I would keep RVP everytime………
When we mention playing him in the DB10 role we invariably compare, which is unfair to any player, there is only one Dennis Bergkamp, best player ever in the PL, bar none………
When he dropped back against Stoke and at the weekend against Villa, he really controlled proceedings, he holds well, sees a pass (forget DB vision, no one can see ahead like he could), strikes a ball and as i have seen he has a fire in his belly……
I caught sight by someone asking who has fire in their belly, i think most do, its as a collective we struggle….
There are the odd ones who lack fire, will name at the end of the season in my review, there are some that are too nice……..
Last season so many wanted RVP sold, imagine if we didnt have him this season??????
Value: £50-60million, then I might be tempted, but realistically, never……
Harry – did you forward my congrats to Reese?
Yes Evonne, thanks, he is so excited…….He wants to stay in bed all week so he doesnt get injured!!
I’ve just caught up looking through this afternoon’s comments.
It’s such good fun reading AA. 🙂
I almost enjoy reading the non-Arsenal bits more than I do the current Arsenal bits. Is that wrong? Perhaps I’ve got endofseasonitis. 🙂
I’ve got to go now. See you all later. Any chance of stoke getting a point save us from 4th?
chas. It’s just those final day blues. Take a few weeks off, do your pre-season training and you will be back raring to go for the new season. Full of hope and expectation.
Same as every year
Hope both MC and Stoke lose.
Rioch didnt buy DB to play in that role to be honest.He played at Ajax and Inter as a CF. It was Arsene that convert him from traditional second striker to what we call as a ‘Bergkamp’ role.
If Wenger can do that with Bergkamp, why not with RVP?
Go on Stoke, get your revenge on Money Shitty, you can do it!
I feel so dirty now.
Ok, I’ve been out of the loop for a few hours but have just caught up. What the hell has been going on??! I blame Red Arse, a bad influence that one…..
26 you encouraged me on Saturday to have a look at the FairPlay rules…..86 pages of legal/accountant speak. That’s practically torture!
🙂 GM!
Ahhhh (said fondly) Tokyo
The girls, the eighties, a full head of hair, happy days.
Exile, not GM, Exile.
God, what a dumb arse I am, that GhostFace was right, I’m a right thicko. A thousand apologies Exile.
“If Wenger can do that with Bergkamp, why not with RVP?”
Now that comment has merit.
By the way, I love that picture above of RvP turning away after having scored.
I hate Stoke
I swear Pulis tries to lose games to screw us up, it’s the only rational explanation.
“If Wenger can do that with Bergkamp, why not with RVP?”
Of course he can play there, just for me as brilliant as RVP is, he aint DB, so lets just call it the support striker role……
Still, good to see Brian McDermott, an Arsenal old boy, about to take Reading into the play-off final.
26M, I just looked at the score, hadnt bothered all night, nailed on victory for them…..
Chuffed reading beat cardiff, should be a good play off final…..
I have just watched a bit of Cardiff v Reading game; is Jay Emanuel Thomas one of our lads? The name rings a bell
Evonne, JET is indeed one of ours, and one I have high hopes for. Not that that was really supported by what I saw of his performance tonight.
26 – thanks, I thought he was. Missed two sitters:(
@Harry: Agreed, it’ll be a good game. Plus Swansea v Reading means there will be a third decent footballing side coming up with QPR and Norwich.
Harry – that is soooo funny, staying in bed in case he picks up an injury:) Perhaps RvP should take a leaf out of Reese’s book and stay in bed more
We’re 4th 😦
Evening all! Great post Rocky. The strongest image from the current season I have is of RvP and Cesc coming on as subs and grinning like wolves descending on a flock of sheep. I can’t remember what game it was (around the middle of the season soon after RvP was fit again) but the image has stayed with me because I too felt they were coming on to take apart the opposition with the pure joy of our (at the time) beautiful flowing football. It’s those kind of thoughts and images that remind me of the good parts of this season and to be fair there have been many- just maybe not enough!
Really enjoyed the discussion on here today- took some time to get here and read through them all and now I have to skidaddle again…
Sadly we are fourth gm – but at least we can’t fall any further than that 😦
JET missed two sitters? He’ll fit right in
I’m afraid I really don’t get JET, he’s just a lumbering leggy lolloping what exactly?
I wouldn’t call the half chances JET had ‘sitters’, but they were decent enough and in both cases he did not hit the target. Not a good night for him.
JET had great loans at Blackpool and Doncaster, and at times has done well at Cardiff. And in reserve team football, he has looked fantastic. Principally, he plays as an advanced midfielder (something like Steven Gerrard) or off the right wing, where despite being a lanky bugger, he does amazingly well, as he has excellent feet.
One of his problems is his versatility: he can play CB, DM, striker, winger and AM. Some people have said he has attitude problems, based on not much more than his twitter account. Personally, I wouldn’t make that judgment, but making the transition to the big time and showing that he won’t be just another “What if” story is his big challenge.
The kid’s alright, in fact he could be a major player.
Thank god the spuds are sh*t. we could have been in the Europa.
@peaches 10.12pm: Agreed, very disappointing to be in this position now. But then perhaps the players will see this as their just punishment for not earning their wages for three months.
Can we get Bayern or Valencia ion the playoffs or are we seeded? At the beginning of the season I thought 4th was a realistic target. In the middle of the season I thought we were going to win the league. I really hope the players that are staying learn from this.
GM
The qualifying rounds are seeded, meaning the top five teams in the final qualifying round would be drawn against one of the bottom five. Villarreal and Bayern are definitely going into the draw in that round, along with the fourth placed teams in England and Italy and the third placed team in France plus the five survivors from the previous qualifying rounds.
It looks virtually impossible for us to meet Bayern – as of last August, we were the 4th highest seeded side in Europe and Bayern were 4th. Villarreal looks more of a threat, though is probably also unlikely – I just can’t be sure as they weren’t in any CL qualification competition this season, so weren’t seeded. I think Paris St Germain are in third place in France right now, so they could be in the mix, making the Emirates Cup potentially interesting. But much more likely if we do indeed have to go through qualification, we’d get drawn against someone from a lesser league.
*Bayern were 5th, sorry.
When you say Qualifying Rounds does that mean we have to play more than one?
I’d prefer it to be against a stronger team, Wenger loves to field a side that should beat poorer teams but it has bitten us on the arse before.
Anyone notice on Arsenal.com this gem from Arsene?
“Personally I feel we played too many games in December, January and February,” he said. “At the end of the day, it took a little bit out of us.
“I went for the Carling Cup thinking that winning the Carling Cup would ease the pressure on the players and then we will play more relaxed. [But] it worked against us, completely against us. From then on it became more difficult.”
Despite that, Wenger has no plans to change his policy regarding cup competitions next season.
“No, because you can do the same next year and win the Carling Cup in the last minute. We have to accept that is the beauty of the game and the cruelty of the game.”
Great minds and all that ……… Apart from the last sentence…..damn you Arsene….sack him now!! 😉
[…] £45m for Robin van Persie? Robin van Persie has been a consistent bright light in the poo-coloured gloom of our end-of-season collapse. […]
Morning,
I honestly dont understand the Walcott Bashing.
One could argue that our season came tumbling down when he got injured at Stoke City.
It certainly didnt help us at all when we didnt have him at the Camp Nou.
I dont understand calls for a loan spell because Theo is actually one of the few players that constantly moves.
3rd highest goal scorer on the team and 3rd in assists as well.
Ghost Face,
I have been critical of his decision making, however, I am in the lets try him down the middle camp. He is certainly nowhere near my exit list.
Ghost Face
The reason you don’t understand the scepticism surrounding Walcott is because you do not attend the games, this means you only get to see what the TV director wants you to see the result of which leaves you relying on stats.
A loan spell probably wouldn’t work for the reasons Rasp states in his 1:37pm above.
London. May I repectfully disagree.
Having spent time in both camps (active and passive support), I believe a balanced view can be taken from purely television viewing, perhaps even a better view. At the game my attention wanders, I follow a particular player and miss events elsewhere on the pitch, and I certainly do not get the close up view that the TV watcher gets.
The camera tends to take a wide angle view for much of the game and it is possible to see the movement of the players.
However, I do agree that the attending fan gets a different viewpoint and often a better overall picture.
In Theo’s case, you have been uncertain as to his contribution for sometime. I happen to disagree and believe he brings much to the team, not over the past couple of months but then who has?
London, I do attend the games and, while I understand the criticisms, I find a lot of people are over critical of Walcott. Ghost rightly draws attention to figures confirming Theo’s value, and I seem to remember, for example, Lionel Messi saying Theo is the player he fears.
Walcott’s not perfect but he is valuable.
Morning 26.
Exile, the fourth placed English team enters the final qualifying round, so the worst case scenario is we have one tie to play….. And win.
Morning to you too, Raddy. I trust all is well in the kingdom of Denmark.
BR,
When I had the pleasure of sitting next to yourself, I do remember pointing out the timinig of the Theo run. To my mind, he all too often sets off a second or so too late. The other day I was asking on here for a stats website as I working on a post idea that centred around our offside figures. Could not find them, but I would certainly like Theo to walking a finer line in this respect, thus utilising his pace. He times that move better, and he is away.
That it is as I prepare for a short jaunt to Italy (and miss the final game!!)
lAs I recall the last time we had to got this, we played Celtic and had all that Eduardo dived nonsense. Strange how Alves who actually got a player sent off through his “simulation” received no punishment!
Mourinho is right about Barca receiving preferential treatment. There is certainly enough evidence to prove his point.
Micky. Do you think it is possible to teach Theo such a skill?
There are one or two rather defeatest notes in the air. It is not impossible for Bolton to scramble a draw against City on saturday. Last home game in the sun, party atmosphere and no pressure et al.
Micky interesting on Theo and offside/timing run.
Maybe with his pace ge is told not to go early as he could be onside but by the time linesman looks up he could be ten yards past the back line and flagged everytime.
What I have noticed from not just him but the whole forward line is the failure to bend their runs, instead running straight lines. This results in players standing on the shoulder of defenders, rather than running off them.
I would also like to see more runs from deep passing the defensive line, unfortunately this is hard when the parked bus leaves no space in behind.
GIE.
I have not thought about the problems Theo’s pace must cause a linesman who has to be level with the last player. There must be much guesswork involved in their decisions as there is no way a lino can keep up with him.
GiE,
Stop trying to undermine my theory 🙂
I have kept my eye on this aspect of the Walcott game at the last three games I attended, and it is nu surprise that the qick thinking Cesc does more often play the perfect ball to RvP or AA, and yet rarely Theo. This is because at the critical moment, the former two have begun their runs, whereas Theo waits for the ball to be played, then moves. Even when he is lying two yards deeper than his marker.
BR,
The linesman has a far too simple job with Theo. Not offside enough is the problem!
These are the stats I was looking for. My money says that RvP and AA are offside considerably more than Theo. Thus closer to gaining the advantage, and of course with Theo’s speed, this advantage would be magnified.
26
I respect the fact that you rate Theo more highly than I do, if you think that a player at his age can learn close ball control then so be it but as a solicitor I expected something a little more convincing than “Messi said he fears him”
Since when did Messi do any defending?
Morning all,
Do you think that Alan Hansen might be right in saying that Theo is a great athlete but has no footballing brain?
Hi Everyone, exciting news!
We’ve got a bit of Lee Dixon for a video interview and I’m looking for great questions so pop along and comment your questions
I’m giving all you folks priority as you’re mostly all sensible folks
http://www.wigangooner.co.uk/?p=497
WG
Evonne. No. Just to see some of his assists shows he has awareness. I think the problem lies in his pace – it is so much harder to assess options when running at full speed.
It was so much easier for Hansen (who was a great player). He was a defender who wasn’t required to be creative.
Morning all,
If I can just add my twopennyworth to the Theo debate.
I do believe that the TV audience get a different perspective to those at games. The camera follows the ball not individual players. Being the geek I am, I will focus on just one player for a couple of minutes at every game. I have done this with Theo and I can confrim what micky says about the timing of his runs but also how ineffective he is when we don’t have possession. He doesn’t close down space or anticipate an opponents pass = make an interception. My main problem with him is his lack of aggression and victim mentality when he gets tackled. He needs to ‘man up’.
…. and my twopenny’th before I put up the new post…….
On Sunday there were a few occasions when RvP was looking for a pass and Theo was holding himself back so as not to be off-side – too intelligent?
Morning Peeps, 🙂
Well, nailing my colours to the mast, on the Theo ‘close control’ front I am with London; and on the Theo not anticipating thru’ balls — I think Micky done did it, and I’m on his team! 🙂
That probably comes as a relief to GIE, 26, and BR! 🙂
New Post
The last thing about watching Theo is the high ‘groan factor’. I know it is not constructive or desirable to let a player know when he’s messed up, but it is a human response and difficult to express at times. Theo seems to inspire more groans than most players because he receives the ball and everyone thinks now run at the fullback, or cut inside and have a shot and often the move just breaks down lamely.
On the plus side, we do fail to play to his strenghts and he is one of the better crossers of the ball in the side (not saying much 😦 )
I am now also on Rasper’s team! 🙂
I agree about Theo too, he plays football by numbers. He knows he should track his man, thats #1. He knows he should try and run at the full back and get a cross in #2
I guess its easy to get wrapped up in his potential, but he does need to continue improving and at a faster rate than ever before.
WG
Am a die hard fun for arsenal.am not happy the way things are happening. The club needs new signings.from kenya.
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