Stand Up For Your Rights

October 18, 2012

In the last few weeks we have seen that our footballing family in Liverpool have finally been provided with the facts about Hillsborough. Firstly I want to applaud the various groups who have never given up in their fight for the truth.

We now know that crowd management failed, and that the ground was an accident waiting to happen yet the FA and Police saw no reason to move the game to a safer venue.

Something else occurred to me, the Taylor Report as a result of the tragedy recommended that standing areas be removed from all football grounds and seats installed in their place. We as football fans were subject to being tarred with a now known to be invisible brush.

Strangely the Taylor Report seemed to be critical of the Policing of the event, and disregarded many of the conspiracies of late tickets and alcohol consumption. Taylor also refers to the safety of the ground, the fact that this was the 9th such report in recent history on safety of fans in football grounds.

However the Government and Police Authorities of the time seemed to have performed a masterstroke by employing the Sun to publish a number of lies regarding the tragedy. This seemed to stick with the public in general and the loss of terracing was inevitable along with a general cleaning up of the game as recommended by the Taylor Report. It was not all bad it refers to the the squalor that some of us had to bear, the lack of toilets etc and suggested that there was apathy amongst owners to improve the lot of the fans.

So my question today is do the recent revelations mean that the Taylor report was flawed? Should they have banned terracing or just demanded improved safety measures?

Afterall the terracing itself did not cause this disaster, the fences, the pens, the poor signage the failure to operate the Leppings Lane End properly (fill up each pen at a time) led to the disaster, they are all mentioned in Taylor’s Report.

I sat down in protest on the North Bank after my last chance to stand on it, along with many others. I was only 16, I had graduated from standing at the front of the Junior Gunners section to standing at the back of the North Bank from about the age of 14. I always enjoyed when we went f***ing mental for no other reason than we all wanted to change position.

Did I ever feel unsafe? Not once.

In our Health and Safety culture I know we will not return to those terraces, but we only have to look to Germany and teams like Dortmund to see how good it can be. The safe standing areas can house 3 people where every seat is. They are still to my knowledge allocated a space, so tickets can still be sold in their current way. Currently we pay £35 for a seat behind the goal, the club could probably charge £15 each for standing,treble the capacity at both ends of the ground and increase revenue whilst making it cheaper for fans.

Before you vote I ask you to look at the Hoffenheim Stadium and see how the Safe Standing Terraces are implemented, the website linked is also very interesting read.

Unfortunately I don’t see this being implemented at the Emirates, the design probably does not allow it, and we will have issues attempting to raise the capacity of the ground.

So my question to you all, should a return to standing be allowed?

Written by Gooner in Exile

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Posted by Gööner In Exile

Wilshere to start on Saturday and International Report

October 17, 2012

Will he or won’t he? Of course he won’t. There is as much chance of Wilshere starting as there is of Spurs winning the PL in my lifetime (or yours). I do not understand the calls for Jack – too often have we seen the results of bringing a player back too early. My guess is that JW is in Mr Wenger’s face every day desperate to get on the pitch; his career has been in park mode when he should have been establishing himself as the best player of his generation. It remains to be seen what effect his year put will have on his development.

Is Jack the “Real Deal”? This is another question entirely. The press and fans always hype up a player and the level of Jack-hype is ridiculous. There was talk of inclusion into the England squad before he has played for Arsenal !!

Jack may be a Dad but he is still a little boy.

As to the Internationals. Last night saw differing fortunes for our lads. A ying and yang game for Per Mertesacker who played the whole game for Germany, scored a volley and then was central to his side conceding 4 goals. The BBC laid the blame for Sweden’s last at the feet (or head) of Per, but as usual it was lazy journalism.

Mr Giroud came on as sub for Benzema to score a lovely goal. On the pitch for just 10 minutes he was very active and involved. A Ribery cross was deftly guided (with some power) into the far corner of Casillas’s net. A good lesson for the Arsenal wide-men; put in a decent cross and Giroud with score. In my opinion, he could be the best attacking header of the ball we have seen since Alan Smith.

Gervinho had a troubled night in Senegal. From what I saw he had a very good game and played wide left. Senegal played a pressing game and The Swerve  was Ivory Coast’s main outlet. Sadly, the game ended badly after the Senegal fans rioted.

Ramsey’s Wales won and lost. The Ox is benched for tonight’s match in Poland. Podolski was a German sub. Cazorla came on as sub for Spain – some nice touches but not particularly influential. Koscielny gave a way a dreadful penalty which Fabregas missed.

As far as I can find out, no-one was injured though Theo will be out for at least 3 games.

Written very hastily by Big Raddy

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Posted by Erik the Red

The Midfield Conundrum.

October 16, 2012

Sherlock Holmes said that whatever is left once you have removed the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.

What has this to do with our midfield? Well,  ….. the impossible is that we will have a fully fit midfield  to choose from, we have physical fragility in spades – Diaby, Wilshere, Rosicky, Ramsey, Frimpong, Coquelin and Arteta have all suffered long term injuries over the past few seasons and there is no reason to think this will change.

And what is improbable? That less than half of them will be fit at any one time. Add in the as yet to be damaged Ox, Arshavin and Cazorla and we have lots of choice, some might say, too much choice. At a time when all three of our Goalkeepers are under the age of 23 and two of them are crocked, it could be said that we lack squad balance – but that is another story and another post.

I would need RA mathematical qualities to work out the possible combinations of our midfield, all I know as there are too many to count on my fingers. Even if we take Cazorla and Arteta as starters  there are 8 possible partners for them. But should they be automatic starters? Is a midfield of Diaby, Wilshere and Coquelin worse? Or  Ramsey, Ox and Rosicky? etc etc etc

Should Oxlade- Chamberlain be considered as a future midfield linch-pin or a prettier Peter Beardsley?

My point is that what is left is the truth and the truth is we have too many midfield players. The skill sets of Ramsey, Rosicky, Coquelin, Wilshere, and Ox are similar – not identical but similar. I would be happy for any of them to start against any opposition, Cazorla is exceptional. We have no player who can replicate the skills of Arteta but should he be injured we will change the balance of the midfield to be either more attacking or more defensive.

What do you think will be our best midfield assuming all are fit? And what do you think it will look like in 2014? My take is:

2012   Diaby    Cazorla     Arteta

2014     O-C   Wilshere  Cazorla   Arteta

Because I believe to maximize the potential in this squad we have to play  4-3-1-2 with Ox being the 1.

The difficulty will be juggling the fantastic talent we will have behind the first eleven. Wages can be a recompense – it works for Nasri, Kolo, Cahill, Malouda, Nani etc but a truly ambitious player will want first team action and many of our squad players are highly talented lads who have yet to fulfill their potential, something I feel sure they will agitate for.

Lost in the Midfield

For the first time  I can recall we have an area of the pitch which is flooded with exceptional talent.  How would you sort it out ? I have no idea but then I am not paid £6m a year.

( pic c/o Didit )

Written very quickly by Big Raddy

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Posted by Erik the Red

Arsenal’s Worst Injury News Ever

October 15, 2012

Following Theo Walcott’s worrying injury against San Marino (who knew you could bruise a lung?) this seems like a good time to ask what has been the most damaging injury we have ever suffered.

I don’t mean damaging to the player (because surely Ramsey and Eduardo would jointly walk away with that one… well, hop away at any rate).

I mean damaging to Arsenal’s fortunes at the time.

Yes I know it’s a downbeat subject, but I’m feeling downbeat during this ridiculous two-week interlull*.

I know we’re supposed to be all “Cry God for Harry, England and Saint George” when Ingurland are on international duty, but I really couldn’t give a Gareth Bale’s uncle.

And so to the injuries which, given our abysmal history in recent years, should be a topic close to the hearts of most of us.

Fabregas Fractured

In the 2009-10 season Cesc Fabregas is proving to be an inspirational player. As the final day of March arrives, we are entertaining his DNA buddies from Barcelona in the Champions League quarter final (first leg); we are also sitting just four points behind Manchester United in the EPL, with six games to go. The Barca game finishes a 2-2 draw, with Captain Fabregas grabbing a memorable equalizer.

Unfortunately it emerges afterwards that even as he hit that goal to send the Emirates into ecstasy, he was suffering a leg fracture. Cesc misses the rest of the season and, without him, our form slumps. We lose the second leg in Barcelona and in the EPL we win only two of our remaining six matches to finish the season in third place, 11 points behind United.

If Fabregas had stayed fit, might we have ousted Barca and pushed on to CL and league glory? The answer to the first question is almost certainly “no” and to the second… “maybe.”

Van Persie (1)

Same season, 2009-10, and Robin van Persie is in fine form. He is named Player of the Month for October after a string of goals and assists. On November 14th he turns out for Holland in a “friendly’ against Italy.

A nasty tackle by the Italian defender Chiellini leaves him with an injured ankle and, supposedly, a six week lay-off. Clearly not wanting to become another of the “Disappeared Ones” in the Arsenal treatment centre, Robin pops over to Europe for some treatment with horse placenta and – Bingo! – six weeks out becomes five months.

Would a fit Robin have potentially sent us into the final run-in several points AHEAD of United rather than behind them? With the form he was in – very possibly.

Eduardo Horror Tackle

We probably all remember that day at Birmingham a bit too well. Arsenal are top of the league, the team are looking strong and, surely, glory awaits. Then, within minutes of the kick off, a lumbering Brummie oaf – Martin Taylor – dives in on our in-form Crozillian striker Eduardo and snaps his ankle in two.

The team are traumatised; captain William Gallas sits in the centre circle crying at the end of the game and, subsequently, our form drops quicker then a Towie girl’s knickers on a night out in Basildon.

Could we have won the league in 2008 but for Eduardo’s break? Most definitely YES.

Snap! Ramsey Horror Tackle

It is unbelievable when our boys have to experience an almost identical assault on another of their team mates, Aaron Ramsey, two years (almost to the day) later. In this case the offender is the Orc’s Orc, Ryan Shawcross, and the venue is the Britannia Ground where those classy Stoke fans boo young Aaron as he’s stretchered off to hospital.

In fairness, the team’s reaction was stronger this time round but we still had a disappointing finish to the 2009-10 season.

Did Aaron’s injury make a crucial difference? Given his youth and inexperience, probably not – but with the subsequent loss of Fabregas a month later it certainly didn’t help our midfield options.

Van Persie (2)

Come to think about it, this whole Post could have been about Brave Sir Robin, but I’ll keep it to two. In 2007-08, following the departure of Thierry Henry, it’s BSR’s turn to step into the limelight. He starts just as we would have hoped, with seven goals in 10 games. Then – yes, you’ve guessed – he goes off on international duty and comes back crocked. His involvement for the rest of the season is sporadic, to say the least.

Notwithstanding the trauma following the Eduardo injury, Robin’s full time presence in 2007-08 might well have given us the edge to find our way to silverware.

Ashley Cole

Football’s most charming man misses most of the 2005-06 season through injury, before following the smell of Maureen’s filthy lucre over to West London. We finish third that year, just ahead of the Spuds.

Flamini does a good job filling in in an unfamiliar position, but we undoubtedly lose something with not having Cole’s defensive solidity and attacking threat.

Could we have won silverware with him? A long shot, but it’s a possibility.

Those are the most telling ones from recent memory. There must have been devastating injuries from previous eras but I can’t seem to recall them.

Players just didn’t seem to get injured so much in the pre-Premier League age. Or maybe they did, but they were just pumped full of cortisone and sent out to get on with it: “Bruised lung? You’re havin’ a larf. Here, hold still while I give you this jab… that’s it – now get out there and kick someone.”

For what it’s worth, I believe the Eduardo injury was the most damaging of the ones I have listed.

The team was cooking on gas and I – and many Gooners – really felt the title was there for the taking.

The collapse in the team’s morale after the injury was disappointing (whatever happened to “let’s win it for Stumpy”?) but I do feel that we might have celebrated a 14th league title if it hadn’t happened.

What do you think?

And what injury blows have I missed off?

RockyLives

* © Arseblog

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Posted by RockyLives

Box to Box Supporters

October 14, 2012

In the wake of some Club Financials, I am going to assume that future commercial deals are in good hands. That leaves the biggest threat to our business being the renewal/take-up of Corporate Boxes, and the massive contribution to match day income (someone can correct me, but I believe it represents something around 30% of match day revenue). I have noticed some spaces up there, and this is worrying. What’s to be done?

Well, let’s begin by studying these creatures.

I have only been in a box once. While very generous of my host, and I did have a great evening sitting with real die hard Arsenalistas in our compartment, I have to say that the boxes surrounding us were filled with decidedly uninterested looking sorts. Their mobile telephones were very busy and I could only think that it was an okay evening out. Nothing more.

Firstly, I must point out that I have nothing against Corporations or Big Business, although sitting amongst them does not rock my boat. However, we at The Arsenal do need to show them a good time, and I’m not convinced we are doing a very good job. I think the most fundamental error is in assuming these people are here primarily for the football. I don’t think so. It’s to impress someone, meet someone, tick a box, its free, and ok some like a game but probably follow some other team, while overall I would imagine only a tiny percentage are serious Arsenal Fans.

In the name of research, I have just visited The Arsenal site and unearthed this picture. Let’s be honest, if we were comparing to hotels, then these boxes are at the Travelodge end of the market. I also downloaded these prices for the next home game.

Executive Box Package
10 Seater @ £4,500 + vat
12 Seater @ £5,400 + vat
15 Seater @ £6,750 + vat

Right, so £450 a pop including lunch and nibbles. Just had a look around options on the same day, and you can get best tickets to see someone called Cheryl for £100, or Swan Lake at The Royal Opera House for the same price. Alright, so no chicken legs included and no welcoming glass of fizz, but still.

Look, 90% of Corporate are male, and we know what generally constitutes a good night out. Think Stag Party, belching, farting, and throwing up. I know what I would do…ban women, improve the waitresses, cut the quality of the booze and vastly increase the quatity, and turn a blind eye to smoking and inhaling. Re-instate the 3rd floor as THE place to be for rich, fertile and highly obnoxious City high flyers, and turn this tier into a sea of vice.

I do understand that you may have other suggestions.

Written by MickyDidIt89

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Posted by Rasp

Arsenal Defaced

October 13, 2012

……Can you name them all?

The interminable interlull is upon us.

Trying to come up with an interesting topic for discussion was beyond me, so I wondered if you fancied attempting to name all 24 of the following Arsenal players from the past and the present. All are distorted in some way. Some have clues left in, others not.

Looking back it seems pretty easy, but I suppose all picture quizzes are easy when you set them. Hopefully you enjoy spending a little time trying to get them all. Some go back quite a long way, so apologies to the younger Gooners amongst us.

Disclaimer

No Arsenal players were hurt in the making of this quiz and it certainly wasn’t my intention to tarnish the reputation of any of them (except perhaps one!).

Written by chas

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Posted by peachesgÖÖner

Mannone Is Becoming The Man

October 12, 2012

Have you ever gone looking for one thing and found something else instead?

You know, like when you’re trying to find a screwdriver in the back of the drawer (to fix that shelf and keep your wife from nagging) but instead you come across some old Arsenal match day programmes.

One thing leads to another and before you know it the wonky shelf is forgotten and you’re lost in the delights of Terry Neill’s “Manager’s Notebook” for the game against Sunderland in 1981.

Well, that happened to me yesterday in relation to our current stand-in goalkeeper, Don Vito Corleone Di Tortellini Degli Mannone.

After watching our away win at West Ham (hah! we shoved THOSE bubble where the sun don’t shine) I was left with the feeling that the West Ham players had gone out of their way to harm Don Vito.

I became convinced this must have been a deliberate ploy by Fat Sam to try and intimidate a young and relatively inexperienced ‘keeper.

The most heinous incident was when the Hammers’ winger Ricardo Vas Deferens deliberately trailed his boot into Mannone’s face while ostensibly jumping over him.

It should have been a red card for Vas Oline but the hopelessly inept Phil Dowd missed it (just like he missed the penalty on Aaron Ramsey). Fortunately fate had other ideas and evened up the score by causing the Portuguese to break his collarbone on landing.

I had also noticed some other moments in which the Don received some rough treatment.

I am a busy man, with a job to do, three kids to provide for and a wife to defuse and render harmless (still working on it), so when faced with such idle speculation about the malevolent motives of the Walrus I took the only responsible course of action: I dropped everything and watched the entire match again on Arsenal Player.

To my surprise, I had to admit that there was not a deliberate campaign to rough up our young Italian. He took a whack in the face from Carroll’s shoulder when clearing a high ball in the 32nd minute.

He had Kevin Nolan (anangram: An Evil Nonk) all over him at a corner and was whacked by Winston Reid in the same incident. But really there was nothing untoward. If anything, I was struck by how honestly and fairly Andy Carroll competed for the high balls throughout the game. His eyes were always on the ball and when his arms were raised it was always for elevation and with none of the elbow-stabbing movement for which certain other players are notorious (yes Kevin Davies – I’m looking at you).

I had had a vague idea of writing a Post headlined “Did Fat Sam Send His Players Out To Harm Mannone”, but the facts – on second viewing – did not support the thesis.

However, what I did find during this second viewing – like a 1980s match day programme at the back of a drawer – was a really, really strong performance from Il Custodiante. Better than I had appreciated on first viewing.

Mannone had one dodgy moment in the entire match – coming for the ball in the 66th minute but being beaten in the air by Carroll whose header, thankfully, looped wide.

And even in that case there is an argument that he would not have had to come if either of our central defenders had thought to mark the big Geordie in the penalty area.

But aside from that he looked composed and confident all game long. He made a couple of smart saves (including one low down to his left with the game still finely balanced at 1-2). And his kicking was outstanding. Even when he was given the ball under pressure, he managed to clear it such a long way into the Hammers’ half that we could all breath a sigh of relief.

I also spotted him organising defenders and talking to team mates to tell them where to stand at corners and so on.

It’s too early to say whether Don Vito could turn out to be our Number One ‘keeper. I have read many comments suggesting he is not as commanding or imposing as Wojcech Szczesny.

But on the weekend’s evidence his shot stopping is very good, his kicking is excellent and his decision making was as good as the Pole’s has been.

I feel his horror moment in the Champions League against Olympiakos last season (when he amusingly leapfrogged a goal-bound ball that he could easily have caught) has tarnished his reputation in the eyes of many Arsenal fans.

Now, even when he has a good game, they say things like “he doesn’t really convince” and “you always feel he’s going to make at least one gaffe every game.” I know: I have done it myself.

He just doesn’t get cut the same sort of slack that Szczesny does – even though Wojcech has also had his share of moments more suited to “Funniest Home Videos” than to “Match of the Day.”

Maybe it’s time to start watching Vito’s performances without prejudice and give our Italian rapscallion a fair crack of the whip.

His loan spell at Hull City was deemed a great success by the Tigers’ fans and it may just be that Mannone is growing into the job of being Arsenal’s goalkeeper. With Szczesny rumoured to be out for several weeks yet, the Don will at least get the chance to show us if he is up to the task.

All we need to do is support him.

RockyLives

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Posted by RockyLives

Anti-Arsenal Agenda? ….. a supporter’s guide

October 11, 2012

Your cut out and keep guide to avoiding internet dross from hacks about Arsenal

Like most of us who should know better your humble scribe was as guilty as the next gooner of trawling the web looking for stories of Arsenal salvation in the form of megastar signings in the last two weeks of August.

What is more apparent in the hit-whore dominated sports websites of nowadays is that stock phrases that are supposed to entice the Arsenal surfer to click on a link are instead beginning to wind me up.

Such give away signs that reveal you should give the “story” a wide berth include:

1. “Carlos Kickabout snubs Arsenal to stay at Real Spanish club” – the image the hacks who use this phrase are trying to conjure up is that of Wenger and his side kick Stan, humbly approaching said Senor Kickabout (ok it doesn’t have to be a Spanish player, just any player with an agent trying to bump up his sale price) cap in hand asking for him to join only to be rejected causing said Arsenal duo to hold their heads in their hands and, with much wailing and gnashing of teeth, wend a “Trail of tears”- like passage back to Highbury House.

Yeah, of course, that’s exactly what happens because a hack has said so, nothing to do with a player using our clubs name to encourage interest and inflate the selling fee and thereby his agents fee.

2. “Player X is said to be unhappy at AFC” – “is said to be” !! Said to be by whom? By an unnamed anonymous(and probably made up source) by a reporter who can’t think of any actual reporting to do rather just fit in the name of any player they think of to their template for an AFC player angling for a move.

3. “It’s being reported that….” – so the hack with this opening line now has no news of their own they are actually just presenting the reporting of news as actual news. That smacks of a journalistic version of regurgitation and subsequent ingestion.

4. “Arsenal fight to be top 4” – now how many times have we heard every so called expert confidently predict that we would drop out of the top 4 – I’m thinking especially of a certain ex footballer who, on a audience discussion programme on the short lived Setanta UK channel. When asked by gooners in the front row if they would be in the Champions League the next season replied with relish “No chance, no chance at all”. If you think that is a recent phenomenon think again – it was at the beginning of the 2007-08 season. And who was the early purveyor of such agenda driven, inane detritus ? Step forward Stanley Victor Collymore, the gracious expert who saw fit to mimic Wenger on the radio in a manner he wouldn’t dare to for a certain Caledonian ex Aberdeen manager with a burgundy proboscis.

And finally.

5. Anything by Mihir Bose (not cricket related)

There are many examples of key phrases which flag up the bullshittometer’s red zone and I’m sure there’ll be great examples in the comments below.

Charybdis1966 (on twitter and you tube)

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Posted by ChärybdÏß1966

Arteta For Spain Call Up

October 10, 2012

This may annoy fellow supporters, but I would really, really like to see Mikel Arteta get a call-up to the Spanish national team.

I understand all the reasons why – in theory – we should NOT want that to happen.

He is one of our few automatic starters and a mainstay of this year’s exciting, new-look Arsenal, so the last thing we want is him going off on international duty and getting kicked up in the air by Olaf Ankelschnapper in a meaningless friendly.

Then there’s the fact that when the rest of the squad goes off to play for their national sides, he gets a nice long break (which is important when we want him, ideally, to start every important game).  While others are having to mingle with pond life like Ashley Cole and Sergio Biscuits, our Mikel can wander round London Colney like a king, attaching jokey notes to other players’ lockers and maybe even finding time to take grapes and flowers to Abou Diaby in the sick bay.

But I have been so impressed with Arteta’s professionalism, intelligence and application since he signed for us that I just feel he deserves national recognition as a reward for what he has brought to the game.

In a sport awash with overpaid, greedy scumbags he stands out as one of the good guys. He is still held in high esteem by his erstwhile fans at Everton and he took a pay cut to join Arsenal. Contrast that with players who almost crash their cars when offered “only” £55,000 a week, or racially abuse their colleagues or spend more time on the front pages of the tabloids than on the back.

Mikel may have impeccably groomed eyebrows and Action Man’s hair, but he is a reminder that there are still players in the game with moral standing.

As Arsene Wenger has pointed out, if Mikel had been born in a different era – or in this era but in a different country – he would probably have close to 100 caps by now.

Certainly England would have loved a player with his class and technique over the last decade.

Spain is currently fortunate to have a group of some of the best midfielders ever to step onto a football pitch. Xavi, Iniesta, Alonso, Busquets and Silva are all literally world class.

Then there are the midfield geniuses of Arsenal Past and Arsenal Present: Cesc Fabregas and Santi Cazorla.

What a collection of talent! And most of them not even tall enough to be allowed on the Nemesis ride at Alton Towers.

However, even with this legion of impossibly gifted Spanish midfielders, surely there must be scope for Mikel to gain a cap or two.

Now that he has cemented the deep-lying “pivot” role for himself at Arsenal, you would think he could do a similar job at national level if, for example, his good friend Xabi Alonso was unavailable.

With his passing accuracy, his composure and his eye for a great ball he would slot seamlessly into the Spanish national side. Indeed, among Europe’s top leagues he is second only to Xavi in his pass completion rate so far this season (Xavi is on 96.3%, Arteta on 93.8%).

Would there be any knock-on benefit to Arsenal if Mikel finally got the call-up? I doubt it. He is such a good professional that he gives his all for us anyway and getting an extra boost of pride from being capped is unlikely to change things.

At 30 a call-up might seem unlikely, but I would not rule it out. If Arsenal have a very good season and compete well in the Premier League and the Champions League, more attention will fall on our Spanish metronome and it would not be completely surprising to see him drafted into the national squad.

Putting my Arsenal-skewed self interest aside I sincerely hope that it happens because he deserves it as a player and as a man. Yes, there would be a risk he would come back to us injured or tired – but we have that risk with the vast majority of our players anyway. And it would be a crying shame for such a fine player to end his days uncapped.

Do you agree?

And can you think of previous Arsenal greats who never got capped by their country (Geordie Armstrong springs to mind, and I’m pretty sure that Nigel Winterburn only got a single England cap).

RockyLives

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Posted by RockyLives

The 2012/13 bench is stronger than the Invincibles’

October 9, 2012

According to many the reason we will not win the title is due to a lack of squad depth. Can this really be true? Is it my imagination or do we not have the best squad  for a very long time – perhaps ever?

So let’s look at who is behind the first 11 ……

Against Chelsea we had a bench with the current French International centre forward, the Welsh Captain, a current  England winger, a German with almost 100 caps, a 19 y.o established England player who continually gets rave reviews, a Brazilian International defender and a Swiss CH with 33 caps. Oh, and a goalkeeper who is still in pampers.

Add to that the reserves and our injured players: The midfield great white hope of England, the Czech national captain, an ex Russian captain, the current Moroccan captain, one of the best right backs in the world, the Polish no.2 keeper, a few outstanding youngsters in Coquelin, Frimpong, Jenkinson  …… and Squillaci.

That is our 2012/13 squad.

When looking for comparisons, why not compare with the best  …… The Invincibles. That team had an exceptional first eleven, this is indisputable. But squad?

Behind Messrs Henry, Campbell etc were:

In defence:

An ageing Martin Keown (38yo), Pascal Cygan, a very young Clichy (18 yo),  Justin Hoyte (19 yo),  our bench GK was Graham Stack!

Compare with Fabianski, Jenks, BFG, JD and Santos.

You are already getting a feeling as to where this is going!!

In midfield:

Invincibles – Parlour (31 yo), Edu and Bentley, That’s it.

AFC 2012. Ramsey, Arshavin, Wilshere,  Rosicky, Frimps, Le Coq.

Attack:

Invincibles – Kanu (who is apparently 36 this year !!), Reyes, Aladiere, and a very grumpy Wiltord who only started 8 games.

AFC 2012: Walcott,  Chamakh,  Giroud,  Ox.

The first thing which strikes me is how physically strong the Invincibles first team were; 10 players played over 30 PL games through the season. Kanu got just 3 starts. Reyes 7 and Keown 3.

Secondly, the massive difference in the quality of the bench compared to the first team in 2004.

You can decide how many of the “04 squad members would make our bench today, but I think very few. Is it true we have a thin squad? Clearly not, it is a fiction put about by people who know nothing about The Arsenal other than what they watch on Match of the Day.

(for comparison’s sake all the Invincibles started at least one PL game).

Written by Big Raddy

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Posted by Erik the Red

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