Written by TotalArsenal

In the first TotalArsenal post for ‘ArsenalArsenal’, I focussed on the position of our manager and came to the conclusion we should let him complete his mission to turn us once again into the top team we all crave for. In the second TotalArsenal post, I focussed on the positives within our, young and quickly developing squad and why there is plenty to be upbeat about for next season. In this post, I will make a comparison between us and our competitors by focussing on the key areas of: squad, manager, transfer potential, and previous success/confidence levels. The comparisons below are of course not the pinnacle of scientific analysis, but should help to start a good debate about where we are compared to our competitors at this ‘early stage of the new season’.

 Manchester United

Squad: New goalkeeper required and doubts about Ferdinand and RB position. Centre of midfield is also an issue. They have strong attacking options with some dependency on (injury prone) Rooney as the ‘main man’.

Manager: Safe pair of hands (health permitting), with success both in the past and most recently.

Transfer Potential (available cash & attractiveness): Medium to good. Decent funds are available and they have a medium to high attractiveness to foreign and British players.

Success in last season & confidence levels: Won the PL, but doubts about away form (only won 5 games). They have a fantastic home form which is likely to continue next season. Confidence will be medium to high.

Candidate to win PL title?  Strong candidate to win title again, but squad needs further investment and changes will have to be successfully embedded. Away form needs to improve drastically.

Chelsea

Squad: Mature squad with strength in all areas, with the exception of creative central midfielders. Are former key players past their best (Terry, Lampard, Drogba, Essien)? Might need rejuvenating, which would take time to embed.

Manager: To be recruited. He will start with a clean sheet, but will need time to settle in, for which he will not have very long.

Transfer Potential (available cash & attractiveness): Good to great, depending on Abramovic’s desperation to splash the cash once again. Not all top players consider Chelsea as a ‘top club’.

Success in last season & confidence levels: Won nothing, but became 2^nd in PL. Confidence is relatively low and new manager will have to do a big job in making the players believe they can win the major trophies.

Candidate to win PL title? Medium to strong candidate to win the title. Even when some top players are added to team, it might take time for the new manager to integrate them all into the team, and put his stamp on it.

Manchester City

Squad: Large squad with potential, but not yet top class. Likely to lose their talisman Tevez who will be difficult to replace. Strength in depth though with a good average age.

Manager: Made enough progress this season to be given another year. Jury’s still out though. They have had some decent recent successes to build on further, but Mancini will feel the pressure this season more than ever.

Transfer Potential (available cash & attractiveness): Medium to good. Endless funds, but struggling to attract top-top quality players, but qualification for CL might change this.

Success in last season & confidence levels: Enough success (3^rd place & FA cup) to build up their confidence for next season. The next step for MC will be a lot bigger though, and expectations will be a lot higher next season.

Candidate to win PL title? Medium candidate. They will buy more players but has Mancini what it takes to make the final step up? Expectations will be high and the pressure will be more intense then ever for them.

Liverpool

Squad: Good squad with a possible need for more strength in depth (especially in defence).

Manager: Can he do it again after such a long absence in top management? Made great impact on team this season, but there was relatively little pressure on him.

Transfer Potential (available cash & attractiveness): Medium. New American owners are not regarded as big-big spenders. Liverpool has no CL so might find it difficult to attract top-top talent.

Success in last season & confidence levels: Won nothing, but had a good recovery and beat comprehensively both Chelsea and MU in recent months. Expectations will be high in Merseyside and they have it all to prove.

Candidate to win PL title? Low to medium candidate. Expectations will be high, but will they attract the right calibre of players, and has Dalglish what it takes to guide them to the title?

Tottenham Hotspur

Squad: Medium to good squad with some strength in depth, although question remains whether they have enough quality throughout the key areas.

Manager: Seems to over-deliver at small stage but under-deliver at the big one. The team has stagnated this year under his leadership (despite some success in CL).

Transfer Potential (available cash & attractiveness): Low to medium. No CL will make it difficult to attract top players and funds are not at top-level either.

Success in last season & confidence levels: Won nothing but did relatively well in CL on which they can build confidence.

Candidate to win PL title? Low. Seem a long way off to come anywhere near winning the PL and do not seem to have the funds to attract new quality players.

Arsenal

Squad: Good squad now that TV and Rambo have returned. We need to invest though in our strength of depth and to add some experience, both in defence and in attack (winger).

Manager: Safe pair of hands with successes in the past but not recently. Has been rebuilding the squad but team is struggling to make the final step to success under his leadership. Wenger will be under a lot of pressure again next season.

Transfer Potential (available cash & attractiveness): Medium. Funds should be better than previous seasons and Arsenal remain an attractive team for good-to-top players.

Success in last season & confidence levels: Won nothing and then there were the disastrous final month of last season, which have harmed confidence levels of the team. Wenger and coaching staff have a big job to do in preparing us mentally for next season.

Candidate to win PL title? Medium to strong. The basics are in place with a talented squad that keeps improving. The squad is expected to be strengthened with a few new additions, but expectations will be high and confidence will remain brittle until we win something. 

I have translated the above comparisons into a points table (1-5: 1 = low and 5 = high):

To me the table shows we are in a decent-to-good position compared to our competitors at this stage of the season. Once again, MU will be our strongest competitor, but Chelsea and MC are equal threats. If we can get a few quality additions to the team, and Wenger and his staff can rebuild our brittle confidence levels again over the summer, we will be competing again for next year’s PL title.

TotalArsenal, 30 May 2011.

How many times do we read of the size of Mr Wenger’s wage packet? Some have said that our leader benefits from the profitability of the club which they proclaim accounts for his penchant to buy small and his insistence of selling big. Thankfully, this nonsense has been rebutted and rarely raises it’s ugly head, even in the most anti-AW sites.

We know that Mr Wenger is paid £6m a year. A huge wage. Is he deserving of it? Does this affect his performance insomuch as he is guaranteed his wage whether the team performs or not? What is your opinion?

Here is mine. Let us assume that Arsène has been earning an average of  £3m a year throughout his AFC tenure (probably conservative). 13 years adds up to almost £40m. Take away a lump in tax, say 50% = £20m in cash, in the bank. This is without the inevitable increases a man of his financial abilities will promote. Furthermore, a few years as Head Coach in a League winning Monaco team and a couple of years in the highly paid J League  – both of which were tax-free – would mean he was a wealthy man even prior to his AFC calling.

In other words, this is a man with a probable bank balance of in excess of £25m. A rich man, no let me amend that, an enormously rich man.

What would you do if you were 61 years old and had more money than you could ever spend? Would you go through the frustrations of trying to satisfy an insatiable Arsenal fanbase? Would you take the insults aimed at you from the blogs and terraces? Or would you say, “Enough. It is pipe and slippers time”?

My point is that it is totally irrelevant how much AW earns at the moment. It has no impact whatsoever upon his efficiency as Arsenal manager. He does it because he loves AFC and believes he is the best man for the job.

In my opinion, to suggest that Mr Wenger stays at Arsenal for the money is a nonsense, but if you know better …………

Written by Big Raddy

With the last game out of the way and a football-free summer upon us (unless you get turned on by the Under 21s), I thought it might be a good idea to examine our season through the prism of the headlines that have accompanied the daily post here on Arsenal Arsenal.

With a new post every day and a long season, I’m breaking it up into sections, starting today with August, September and October. The remaining months will be covered in two more posts over the coming week or so.

It’s an interesting exercise: some headlines now seem prophetic (“As the Transfer Deadline Approaches Are We Really Strong Enough?”), others seem full of pathos (“West Bromwich Preview: Unbeaten & On The Way To Invincible”) while others still are plain bonkers, which accurately reflects a certain portion of the AA DNA (“I Am An Arsenal Supporter and Windows 7 Was My Idea”)..

You can also always spot an international break – that’s when the nostalgia pieces start coming out!

Read on if you can bear it, and relive our Season 2010/2011 (and of course, feel free to link on any of the pieces and dip back into the excellent prose that has kept AA such an enjoyable destination all season long)…

August

Pool – Arsenal in at the Deep End

Losing Would Have Been a Very Bad Start

Sack Wenger; Win Something

Almunia: Dead Man Walking? ….. and the Real Stats

Money to Burn

Exploited Gooners – the Final Fanshare Straw?

Blackpool Rocks….

Arsenal Crush Blackpool 6-0

The Arsenal Transfer Mystery?

Arsenal’s Dodgy Centre Halves

Tomas Rosicky – Little Mozart Is Playing The Right Tune

Doomer vs AKB: Decoded

UEFA’s New Financial Rules Will Benefit Arsenal

Blackburn ….. Would You Risk Cesc?

Arsenal Were Stronger, Blackburn were Blackburn

As the Transfer Deadline Approaches, Is Our Squad Really Strong Enough ?

Today’s the Day

September

Almunia Stays As Number One So Let’s Move On

Szczesny, Come on Down and Save Our Season

Peter Simpson Remembered

Arsenal Programmes Before Programs

Arsenal Players We’ve Missed – and Some We Haven’t

September 6th, a Landmark Day in Arsenal’s History

Jagielka, Cahill and Hart ….. a Glimpse of What Might Have Been?

So Far So Good Part 1. The Defence

So Far So Good Part 2. Midfield and Attack

Arsenal Supporters, Look to the Cookie … and Other Things I’ve Learned

Coyle’s Conundrum

Thunderbirds Are Go

The Magic of Highbury …. Lest We Forget

Cahill’s Ban Should Be Extended

You Know We Will Win, But….

Six of the Best ….. the Cesc and Jack Show

Van Persie on the Bench for the Champions League Final

Cesc Happy with Cattermole’s Ban. Sunderland Preview

Wenger is Asking Too Much of Wilshere.

Goodbye Denilson

Into the House of Darkness – WHL

Arsenal 4 – 1 Them Lot: Spurs Are Such Nice Hosts Aren’t They?

Arsène Outwits ‘Arry

Wenger is Not Very Clever……..

West Bromwich Preview – Unbeaten & on the Way to Invincible

One Day Chicken, Next Day Feathers

2010 Arsenal Embarrassed ……. What Went Wrong in 2005?

Partizan. Fabianski to Have a Quiet But impressive Game

Arsenal Back To Winning Ways

Song’s Position In Question

RockyLives

Written by Gooner in Exile

On Monday 27th December Arsenal took on and beat Chelsea at home. I was very content as finally I had seen our team in blistering form, moving through the gears during a ninety minute display against a major rival that many of us had not witnessed for some time.

Many fans including me proclaimed thanks that finally Arsene had identified his first team, who could argue, with Jack and Alex holding down centre midfield, Theo, Cesc and Samir causing all kinds of problems and Robin up front our team was looking frightening going forward. With the defence coming together also things were looking rosy for the second half of the season.

Following that game we travelled to Wigan away, Arsene proclaimed that there was little to be gained from rotating one or two players but that rotating seven or eight is okay as it causes less disruption (another piece of Arsene logic that I think is best left undiscussed). The side that ran out to play at the JJB was a shadow of the team that played against Chelsea. At the time I defended our manager for his decision, knowing we were amidst a busy festive schedule and approaching a succession of cup games in the near future, I felt he was right to send out the team he did and that the team should have been able to win that game, it failed.

Arsene instead of making eight changes in that game could have made two or three, and then for the next match two or three again.

I admit I have changed my mind, I hope Arsene does too, it has been clear to most of us that a gulf in quality has emerged this season between the first team regulars and the squad players. Sending the likes of Eboue, Denilson, Gibbs, Rosicky and Diaby out to play together does nothing for any of them, they are all capable players, they are not our best players and for me they would benefit more from starting alongside the majority of the first team regulars, rather than amongst players of similar quality.

Also by making these wholesale changes Arsene is inviting the opposition to up their game, by making eight changes Martinez was given an easy job for a team talk “who do this lot think we are, they think they can send out their reserves and beat us….lets show them who we are make them respect us”. I imagine both Leeds and Leyton Orient managers would have given very similar team talks.

Most of our “poor” performances in January and February featured many of these squad players, I believe that these results with the accompanied dissatisfaction from the fans had a significant effect on the confidence of these players. So much effect in fact that they all became virtually unusable as the season reached the business end. Partly due to reaction to their selection from pundits and fans and also because the players themselves have been on an apparent downward spiral.

I will leave you with a brief comparison.

In the last nineteen games of the season Arsenal started 25 different players, 15 of those players started 5 or more games, 11 started more than 10 games.

In the same nineteen games Manchester United started 24 different players, 20 of those started 5 or more games, 8 started more than 10 games.

There is a subtle difference, their squad players were brought in and out during the run in, as a result the whole squad feel part of the team, I fear that the squad players at Arsenal have become like the last kid to be picked in the playground, only wanted because there is no one else. With that mindset and the reality that they will be dropped when the absent player is fit or back from suspension why would they give all they can on the pitch or try and prove the manager wrong.

So enough of the wholesale changes, two or three players every week, to freshen up the side and legs. We as fans may have to be patient too, no hissy fits because X or Y is in the team, rotation works, if Carrick, Evans, Gibson, and O’Shea have been able to win Premier League winners medals it must do!

Written by GunnerN5

Part 1.

Home Crowd – When, oh when, will they learn just how important it is for our players to have their supporters fully behind them?  Our home crowd seem to be stuck in the thinking that the team needs to entertain them in order for them to show their real support, whereas I believe that if they gave unabashed support throughout the game then maybe the team would react positively instead of reacting negatively to the silence followed by moans and groans and boos.  Oh, how I dislike hearing the moans and groans and especially hearing the boo boys!

My goodness, all you hear from the attending dissenters is that it’s the person sitting next to them that’s  the problem and not them – or it’s Elvis or the acoustics or the stewards etc, etc, – BS at it’s worst – let’s blame it on anything or anybody but me!

Then they show their true colours (black) by demonstrating and threatening not to renew their season tickets as we don’t win trophies – frankly who gives a  damn.

Fair weather fans for sure and “supporters” we can do without.

If you are a home attendee then please understand that YOU are the problem and not someone else –   if you believe you are NOT a part of the problem then at least (next season) spread your passion to the people around you – maybe the atmosphere can be changed one seat at a time.

Whatever happened to the supporters of old who would freeze their nuts off to stand in rain and snow just to watch their beloved Arsenal, I guess now they sink into their red seats and wait for something exciting to happen.  |God forbid they make a noise in case they wake up the person sleeping next to them.

It’s embarrassing to say this (in fact, I hate saying it) but the 16, 000 home fans of Stoke City show more passion than our mob, who have been spoilt by the good times brought to us by Arsene Wenger.  Stoke fans show an unreserved love for their team (and they show it) while ours only love positive results, blaming others or, of course – silverware.

Away Supporters – It’s a joy to both see and hear the level of support shown, they are vocal and passionate and show just what it means to truly support the Gunners and they are among the highly valued minority who cheer at the Emirates.

The only thing black about them is the black looks they give to the home “supporters”

Part 2.

 Captaincy –   Does anyone else remember the picture of Tony Adams standing over and glowering down at Alan Smith, Smith was lying in a heap on the ground after being felled by Adams, he was an 18/19 year old cocky upstart with Leeds United and earlier he made a bad tackle on Adams – Tony put him in his place.

My friends, Tony Adams, (Mr. Arsenal) was a Captain personified and he created the textbook for future Captains, sadly it’s very apparent that only Patrick Vieira read the book the rest have been mere pretenders.

We need a Captain that takes no prisoner’s, who has nothing but a winning mentality, whose heart is so big that it won’t fit inside his chest and someone that refuses to rationalize the reason for losses and ties – in his mind they are simply unacceptable.

He has to be the vocal on field General, organiser and motivator; he needs a dynamo for his engine, he needs to show by example how to play the game and he will never – ever give up.

Stand up Thomas Vermaelen.

 To come..

Part 3 – Heart, Desire, Commitment, Passion, Pride

Part 4 – Entitlement vs. Reality

Part 5 – Size and Physicality

Part 6 – The team

Part 7 – The Management

Part 8 –  2011/12

Part 9 – Arsenal through the decades

Today marks the anniversary of our amazing 2-0 win at Liverpool in 1989 which secured the title and led to great celebrations amongst Gooners. Last year we published an article written by BigRaddy to mark the occasion, it’s a timeless masterpiece, read and enjoy https://arsenalarsenal.wordpress.com/2010/05/30/a-belated-happy-birthday-and-the-renaissance-of-football/

Happy 26th May to all.

With no-one volunteering to write a match report following yesterday’s last game of the season at Craven Cottage it seems the disinterest in the final moments of our season have been cemented in silence. To finish fourth after being second for most of the season is hard to swallow.

The 2010/2011 season is over, we can file it away as another trophy less one and hopefully move on to the next with hope in our hearts. We do need some changes in our team in order to feel any kind of positivity and although the spin is 50/50 at the moment whether Arsene Wenger will spend money or not we have to hope that the shortcomings will be addressed sooner rather than later.

The question of Cesc staying or going needs to be solved early – if he goes there will be money to spend but if he stays how will that permeate through the team? Many of us said last summer that having him was stay was better than letting him go but we have felt all season that he may have not really had his heart in it. If he stays should he be captain? How will his team-mates feel about another summer of will he/won’t he? Could all be academic of course.

The management must be worried about how poorly the team have faired in the last ten games, dropping points as if it really didn’t matter. The worry that this team could not be motivated to succeed when it mattered must be sorted.

Hopefully some new blood will help to get the mojo back into our squad and we have many weeks to debate and get excited about who we would like those players to be. In addition there’ll be much drawing up of wish lists of who should be moved on.

The transfer window doesn’t open until the 1st July and we know that we’re at the back of the queue as far as spending serious amounts of money goes and that’s why I feel it would be good to know about Cesc early on, if we can get £35-40m for him that’s money to spend.

It would be nice to think that Arsene will treat himself to a holiday but we know from the worry lines on his face that probably even that might not help.

Hopefully we’ll have some good news to cheer us up quite soon but until then feel free to be as positive or negative as the mood takes you.

See you in the comments

Peachesgooner