Arsenal End Of Season Review

PHB · 08-03-2007 04:46PM

Youth is the only option they have.

First off, Arsenal do have the funds. The board have said it, Wenger has said it, but they don't seem to want to use it.
Secondly, it's not like Arsenal don't spend money on these players, a certain striker cost them 7.5 million

cson · 08-03-2007 05:47PM

Ok right maybe they do have funds to an extent, but out of the top 4 they have the least to spend with the cost of the new stadium.

If I could draw your attention to;
€18 Million Michael Carrick
€30 Million Rio Ferdinand
€20 Million Wayne Rooney
€11 Million Louis Saha
€12 Million Cristiano Ronaldo
€8 Million Patrice Evra
This is recent, not counting Veron at €28 million :eek:

I'm not even going to get started on Chelsea!

I think it's quite clear that Arsenal do not have the financial muscle to compete with Man Utd and Chelsea. We have spent a bit (Reyes, Ade, cost a bit) but we also recouped a large sum by selling on players (Ashley Cole for instance)

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, IMO what Arsenal need is;
1) Artur Boruc to replace Jens
2) A proven goalscorer in the Ruud Van Nistelrooy/Drogba mould. We need to score more direct goals, ones that may not be pretty (on the results sheets it doesn't say how many passes led to a goal, it just says goal.)
3) A finished article, experienced player to add a bit of bite, drive and determination to the team. To drag results out on poor days.
4) Set pieces. Defending and attacking of must improve. Henry and Ade are both over 6'2"....yet how many headers do they score?

There is serious potential in the squad though, a few tweaks and careful additions and they could be very dangerous. A bit of humility from Arsene wouldn't go astray the odd time either.

As for Freddie Ljungberg, he has been a great servant to the club, he was electric in the days when he used to get 10-12 goals a season (2002 title sticks in my mind), however he has declined hugely in the last 3 years and unfortunately I don't want passengers at the club.

Pepe LeFrits · 08-03-2007 06:48PM

Royale with Cheese wrote:

That's not saying much. They both need to go.

Hleb shouldn't go, he has been one of the better players this season. Poor in the last few games, but Arsenal are generally a poorer side without him. He doesn't score goals, but neither do Fabregas or Rosicky.

AthAnRi wrote:

Not trying to start an argument but this policy cost Arsenal their only chance of silverware this year. Bad move in my opinion.

finally for a team like Arsenal to have there season finished on the 7th of march is just not good enough. their going backwards.

It's a long term policy, so fielding the youngsters in the CC final may be a benefit in the long term. Who is to say the senior players would have done any better?

The league is the only true measuring stick, and they are doing better in that than last season. They aren't going backwards.

cson · 08-03-2007 07:09PM

Also if you cast your mind back to the sheer amount of games Arsenal have had to play in the last 3 weeks, 2 FA Cup Replays, A CC final, Champs League etc All the while Henrys been injured, RVP is injured, we've had players banned, Gallas is only coming back now. I'm not sure but I think its about the 3rd straight week we've had sat-wed-sat etc games.

I doubt anyone could cope with that amount of fixtures

Collie D · 08-03-2007 11:29PM

AthAnRi wrote:

Arsenals problem is they need to stop fannying about in the 18 yard box and shoot already. Watched their last 2 games and they just tried to walk it into the net.

In a nutshell exacly what I was gonna write. They are a joy to watch in full flow but will never challenge for trophies if they don't take their chances. A goal is a goal, whether it comes off a defender's arse or a beautiful four man attacking move followed by a twenty yard strike into the top corner.

gandalf · 08-03-2007 11:40PM

One bit of good news today, Merida signs professional for the Gooners.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/6432423.stm

This guy is meant to be as good as Cesc plus he seems to score more goals.

leninbenjamin · 09-03-2007 12:35AM

i think people are being a bit harsh on Arsenal here.... fact is when they come out to play they are the best team in the premiership.

i don't think they need another striker. fact is both van Persie and Henry are still 5th and 7th in the Prem top scorers. despite van Persie being out now for over a month, and Henry also having injury problems. having said that though if the oppertunity to get Eto'o in came up they should go for it without question.

their biggest problem is in motivation on the pitch. Henry isn't a captain. the extra responsibility seems too have affected his game, he plays more deep i think, he seems more negative than ever and doesn't motivate his team when they play bad, rather scorn at them and make them feel inferior from what i see. I also think he's one of the reasons Arsenal score so few from midfield these days. The relative newcomers like Hleb seem afraid to shoot for incurring his wrath should they miss. Captaincy should be handed to Touré without question. Also this trophyless past few years seems to have really affected Wenger's composure, and having him agonise on the bench when they are failing to take their chances only compounds things i feel. They also don't seem to have anyone bar Touré to fire them up for those unfashionable away games.

Also Gallas and Terry were worked like dogs by Chelsea over the past two seasons, it's no surprise to me that they both have had injury problems this season.

PHB · 09-03-2007 12:50AM

If I could draw your attention to;
€18 Million Michael Carrick
€30 Million Rio Ferdinand
€20 Million Wayne Rooney
€11 Million Louis Saha
€12 Million Cristiano Ronaldo
€8 Million Patrice Evra (actually 5.5 million)
This is recent, not counting Veron at €28 million

I'm not even going to get started on Chelsea!

I think it's quite clear that Arsenal do not have the financial muscle to compete with Man Utd and Chelsea. We have spent a bit (Reyes, Ade, cost a bit) but we also recouped a large sum by selling on players (Ashley Cole for instance)

What an United havn't? What about the 24 million Beckham, or Veron to Chelsea for 15 million, or the 12 million we got for Mikel, or the 8ish milllion for Van Nist.

Lets just take a look at some of Arsenals spending,
Denilson - 3.4 million
Hleb - undisclosed, but estimated at the time to be about 10 million(incl. performances)
Adebayor - 7 mill
Walcott - 5 mill (maybe 12 depending on performances)
Rosicky - 6.8
Reyes - 10.5

Uniteds netspend last year was actually negative. I'm not saying United don't spend more than United do, but to suggest that Arsenal don't spend a ****load of money themselves is just silly.
Chelsea are 1st
Liverpool and United are joint second in spending
Arsenal are a close 4th

leninbenjamin · 09-03-2007 01:12AM

United spent on Rooney what Arsenal spent on about 4 or 5 of those players above. and Arsenal have gotten in a lot more players than United of late.

but yer right, i think it's more a case of Arsenal being a bit more shrewd in the market, buying players before the hype really beings to multiply, with the exception of Walcott i guess. They could probably match United's spending if they wished. Also considering what United have to fork over to service the Glazer's debt it's no wonder they aren't spending as much in the transfer market of late.

Pepe LeFrits · 09-03-2007 09:09AM

gandalf wrote:

One bit of good news today, Merida signs professional for the Gooners.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/6432423.stm

This guy is meant to be as good as Cesc plus he seems to score more goals.

Hype. He scores goals but he isn't as good as Cesc. I've seen him the odd time and by most accounts he is some way off the first team. Cesc had starred in a Carling Cup run by the time he was 17.

Pepe LeFrits · 09-03-2007 11:45AM

PHB wrote:

Uniteds netspend last year was actually negative. I'm not saying United don't spend more than United do, but to suggest that Arsenal don't spend a ****load of money themselves is just silly.
Chelsea are 1st
Liverpool and United are joint second in spending
Arsenal are a close 4th

I'd be surprised if that is the case. Arsenal's net spending over the past 5 years has been about 30-35 million.

Galvasean · 09-03-2007 02:00PM

Didn't Portsmouth and Tottenham have bigger transfer budgets this season than Arsenal?

My thoughts:

Since Lehmann will almost certainly leave at season's end I'd suggest moving for Given, Boruc, Buffon or Ak (CSKA Moskow's goalie).

Probably don't need to spend on an experienced defender since Gallas should return to full fitness for next season. Clichy, Toure, Gallas and Hoyte (with Eboue, Djourou, and Traore in reserve) is a formidable back line.

Central midfield is looking strong with Fabregas, Denilson, Gilberto and Diaby all competing.

Rosicky is a good choice for a winger since he's willing to take long shots. Hleb and Wallcott should be subs. Wallcott for when we need pace and Hleb when we need to wind time down. We should play Van Persie as a winger more often. He has proven that he can play well in this position. He is a good striker however his style is too much like Henry's and what we need up front is variety. That's why I think he should play on the wing.

Up front we need an Ian Wright style striker, ie: someone who although not the quickest or fanciest player but has great positioning and can score 'ugly' goals. Someone like this would compliment Henry. Adebayor is useful and I like his attitude, but I don't think he's good enough to be in the starting XI. I'd use him as a late sub to cause havoc among defenders for set pieces.

To get transfer funds i suggest not purchasing Baptista who despite his Cup goal record should have scored a lot more considering the chances he gets. He just lacks imagination, technical skill, pace, vision, passing, finishing, positioning.... etc.
Then we can hopefully get 8 or 9 million selling Reyes to one of the continental superclubs. Hopefully this will be enough to fund a goalkeeper and a decent 'fox in the box'.

iregk · 09-03-2007 02:17PM

I'm wondering. How do the Arsenal fans feel this yeaar that your season has ended before Spurs?

Pepe LeFrits · 09-03-2007 04:20PM

Poor attempt at a troll.

Galvasean · 09-03-2007 04:55PM

iregk wrote:

I'm wondering. How do the Arsenal fans feel this yeaar that your season has ended before Spurs?

It feels good that most likely next season Arsenal will be playing Champions League football and Spurs won't. It also feels good to have beaten them twice already this season. But hey, best of luck to our neighbours in the UEFA Cup (and I say that with no sarcasm).

Vokes · 09-03-2007 06:15PM

BBC says Henry is out for the season !

Royale with Cheese · 09-03-2007 06:25PM

SofaKing wrote:

BBC says Henry is out for the season !

What season? Haven't you read the title of this thread? Arsenal's season is over

Raskolnikov · 09-03-2007 06:31PM

jank wrote:

Other youngsters. Clichy, Traroe, Walcott, Hoyte, Djourou, Eboue have the potential to become world class players.
Some might not become world class palyers. But they have proved they are good enough for the first team for Arsenal. They now need to establish consistency where by they put in top class performances week in week out and to drive the club forward.

I still maintain that unless Arsenal can bring in players to support the youth then they'll be stuck in the third/fourth tier of the Premier League for some time to come.

Buffon and Ribery to move to Arsenal? Both players would cost at least £20 million a pop and would demand massive salaries. That's money that Arsenal can only dream of at the moment (barring a the Henry cash cow being banked).

Vokes · 09-03-2007 06:31PM

Arsenal still have to qualify for CL, no?

Royale with Cheese · 09-03-2007 06:33PM

SofaKing wrote:

Arsenal still have to qualify for CL, no?

They're 5 points clear of 5th with 2 games in hand. It shoudn't be too much of an ask for them to finish 4th. I'm sure the aim is to finish 3rd anyway.

Pepe LeFrits · 09-03-2007 06:45PM

Adebayor gets an extra game added to his suspension too. The FA really are a bunch of ****s.

Crossing firmly into the realm of fantasy football here, but I'd love to see Wenger go with a 4-3-3 at home against the park-the-bus teams next season - personally I reckon several of the players at the club at the moment would be much better suited to it. It'd look like Lehmann?/Almunia, Clichy/Traore, Toure/Senderos, Gallas/Djourou, Eboue/Hoyte, Gilberto/Denilson, Fabregas/Diaby, Rosicky/Hleb, Henry/Walcott, Adebayor/Bendtner, Van Persie/Vela. Never going to happen though, but it's an interesting idea all the same.

Here's hoping Henry can come back injury free and rejuvenated next season, 'cos he'd be the difference between a title challenge and not.

PHB · 09-03-2007 07:48PM

They're 5 points clear of 5th with 2 games in hand. It shoudn't be too much of an ask for them to finish 4th. I'm sure the aim is to finish 3rd anyway.

It'll be without Henry now though. It should be interesting to see how it goes, especially after the complete collapse in all three cups over the past month.

Adebyour is out for 4 games now.
Whos up front now? Van Persie gone.
4 games ahead of Arsenal with who
Baptista and Aliadiere?
Doesn't exactly breed confidence

Toure is out for 3 games, who has been a rock in defence.
Nothing is guaranteed yet.

Fuzzy_Dunlop · 09-03-2007 08:13PM

PHB wrote:

It'll be without Henry now though. It should be interesting to see how it goes, especially after the complete collapse in all three cups over the past month.

Adebyour is out for 4 games now.
Whos up front now? Van Persie gone.
4 games ahead of Arsenal with who
Baptista and Aliadiere?
Doesn't exactly breed confidence

Toure is out for 3 games, who has been a rock in defence.
Nothing is guaranteed yet.

Well i believe they've already been out for two games so its only one more for toure and two for adebayor

Galvasean · 10-03-2007 12:14PM

To be honest the injuries/suspensions to Arsenal's strikers doesn't seem such a huge loss. Having Aliadiere, Baptista and Wallcott (and Adebayor back soon) to choose from, although not the optimum situation they can make a strike force nearly as good as their closest rivals (Liverpool).

jesus_thats_gre · 10-03-2007 12:47PM

Arsenal have a number of issues that once addressed will result them being in a very strong position for a number of seasons to come..

1) They are too good at keeping possession. They can comfortably keep hold of the ball for 20 mins and do **** all with it. The underlying ability that they have if positive of course.

2) They do not have anyone on the bench that can come on an change things. Peter Crouch is not exactly the best example in the world but you get my point. All their players are in the same mould and a substituion just means more of the same thing.

3) Not enough experience. Only time can solve this one.

Regarding the argument. Arsenal are spending plenty of money. They are spending up to 10 million on 17 or 18 year old strikers for the future whereas other clubs are spending less than that on mature first team strikers. Arsenal are able to do this as they are a very stable club and Wenger has been at the healm for many years. The same applies to United.

When a club is settled after 5 or so years of moulding a first team, the manager can spend money on talent for the future while also making 2/3 big money additions that add genuine quality to the first team.

As a Liverpool supporter, I envy Arsenal for being in a position like this and look forward to being in a similar position within a year or two.

I also feel that Arsenal should cash in on Henry now and get 20 or 30 million for him. If they do not, he certainly should not be their captain IMO.

Just a thought, Arsenal could do with a strong skillful player like Berbatov leading the line with Henry and Adebayor or VanPersie coming onto him as part of a 4-3-3. Something like (allowing for rumours):

Eboue----Woodgate----Gallas----Toure

Gilberto

Fabregas

Rosicky

--Adebayor

Henry--

Berbatov

I have included Woodgate as it seems to be a pretty persistant rumour. I think it may happen as I do not see Real paying the money that Arsenal want for Reyes. So Arsenal might push for a swap deal for Baptista and Woodgate for Reyes or something like that. Put Toure on the left as I thinkt it would be a shame for him to be dropped but Woodgate and Gallas would be very impressive.

Pepe LeFrits · 10-03-2007 03:19PM

jesus_thats_gre wrote:

I have included Woodgate as it seems to be a pretty persistant rumour. I think it may happen as I do not see Real paying the money that Arsenal want for Reyes. So Arsenal might push for a swap deal for Baptista and Woodgate for Reyes or something like that. Put Toure on the left as I thinkt it would be a shame for him to be dropped but Woodgate and Gallas would be very impressive.

Wenger doesn't seem to like 4-3-3 at all, the closest he has ever gone to using a 4-3-3 has been the 4-1-4-1 last season. I think it could be useful though. If Woodgate did arrive, I think the most likely outcome would be Gallas or Toure playing at RB instead of Eboue. Clichy's position at LB is more secure than Eboue's at RB. Clichy isn't quite as good going forward, but he's better defensively and he's a model pro, unlike Eboue.

Van Persie on the right and Henry on the left flanking a central striker like Adebayor, Bendtner or Eto'o

is a nice prospect.

jesus_thats_gre · 10-03-2007 06:43PM

Well my thinking revolves around that fact that Henry has a habit of drifting out for the left anyway. Most goals he scores also seem to involve him coming from deep.. He is rarely leading the charge if you get me. IIRC, Van Persie seems to like drifting out to the right too?

I would doubt Gallas would be too happy with being played out of position again too.

cson · 11-03-2007 06:54PM

jesus_thats_gre wrote:

Put Toure on the left as I thinkt it would be a shame for him to be dropped but Woodgate and Gallas would be very impressive.

It would be a shame to say the least!

IMO you are way wide of the mark with the Woodgate-Gallas CB combo. Jonathon Woodgate is a talented player, he's playing well this season, however remember that in buying him you take on a huge injury liability.

Toure-Gallas have the potential to become one of Europes most feared CB partnerships.

Aside from all this, I think Kolo has been Arsenals best player this season, he has a real drive and determination for the club, you can see he cares. He is also one of the most talented and strong CBs in world football.

Entertaining thoughts of dropping Kolo? He should be given the captaincy.

jesus_thats_gre · 11-03-2007 07:37PM

I really rate him as a player myself but if I am not mistaken he is still very young. He has also made quite a few mistake this season also? I am not nessecarily advocating that he be dropped, I just think that a Arsenal should have 3 really good centre backs that can be changed depending on the opposition. Anything that would relegate Senderos to 4th or even 5th choice.

You will note that Liverpool will regulalrly swap Agger and Hypia depending on the opposition. Not that Liverpool are the definitive solution for everything

cson · 11-03-2007 09:49PM

Nope, kolo is one of the 'elder'

statesmen at arsenal at 26 years old. As far as mistakes are concerned, only one sticks in my mind > At West Ham away Bobby Zamora I think turned him and scored.

Senderos is a disaster, an up and coming Pascal Cygan if ever there was one.

Arsenal End Of Season Review

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