Arsene creates Stokescreen ahead of quest for home comforts
IF we’re honest, Arsene’s condemnation of Stoke’s tactics ain’t dignified.
Yes, there were fouls. Yes, the fact the worst foul of the game was off the pitch should not have absolved it of punishment.
But no, Stoke were not dirty. And they were certainly a lot less dirty than some of our players were uncommitted.
If it’s an attempt to shift attention from his own players, it looks clumsy. If it’s an attempt to create an us against the world mentality, I’m not sure picking on Stoke is the way to go about it.
I also can’t help thinking that his words will only encourage other opponents to get in our faces.
Moving on and the folks employed to change the residents parking signs within a mile or so’s radius of the Emirates to update the date of the “next match” are in for a busy time.
We have four home games in just 11 days and I think we’ll all be hoping for some home comforts.
I’ve decided I’m not going to go on about the deficiencies in the squad much longer. Were there any great debate I would, but almost everybody is agreed we’re bereft in midfield and light in central defence. To what extent we lack leadership sparks more debate, but even then the arguments have been rehearsed over and over.
I will say RVP owes us a serious performance tomorrow night.
4 November 2008 at 11:14 pm
errr…this may be a little over the top. the post that is. he can only respond to the questions posed to him….look at the transcript of the presser again
4 November 2008 at 11:19 pm
”I read that my team were not brave,” said Wenger. “All I can say is they are brave and, for me, you need to have more courage to play football when you know that someone is tackling you from behind without any intention to play the ball.
”The only intention is to hurt you and I can show some tackles where I can prove what I say. The one who is tackling is not the brave one. For me the brave one is the player who is trying to play football.
”It happened at the weekend. Do you think Delap tried to play the ball when he tackled Walcott? Or that Shawcross tried to play the ball when he tackled Adebayor off the pitch. All the players have been injured deliberately.
”I am not ready to listen to things that are completely untrue and make people who are cowards, for me, look brave.”
4 November 2008 at 11:19 pm
”Do you want me to tell you the players we have lost here? Diaby, deliberate foul from behind, Rosicky, deliberate foul, Eduardo, deliberate foul. Now we lose Walcott, deliberate foul, and we have lost Sagna - deliberate foul on him.
”There is only one intention when he is tackled and that is the ankle. And you want me on top of that to sit here and say, ‘Yes, sorry we are not brave’?”
4 November 2008 at 11:30 pm
Stoke’s Chairman refutes these comments by AW, he says only Arsenal received a red card.. Deserved as it was by Van Persie the keepers reaction was terrible. Remember the reaction when Mad Jens carried on like that. Yes we had one red card and three serious injuries , how many did Stoke have ?
Too many ex-pros with nothing worth saying get paid to sit in studios and tell the world it’s ok to kick Arsenal. Arsene is correct, if you continue to attempt to play the game at all times then you are braver than the cowards who’s only quality is to stop you illegaly.. There were no complaints when Hull beat Arsenal by closing space and actually playing football when they had the ball.
The Premier League is the best because of Wenger and people like him, not because of hatchet men and anti-football teams.
4 November 2008 at 11:54 pm
Gerry Thompson. I agree completely. Somewhere along the way it was decided that it’s okay to kick the other team. It’s not. Cynicial fouls should be punished with yellow cards, without consideration as to location, point of game, score, previously issued yellows, etc. Wenger is right.
4 November 2008 at 11:56 pm
It wasnt an attempt to shift blame, he was asked by a reporter and gave an honest answer. I agree with him, the tackle on ade was worse than what RVP did to the goalkeeper imo. The ball was ‘out of play’ in both cases, but whereas rvp stupidly barged the keeper its never going to cause injury. The Stoke player took ade from behind, and is a tackle that can causeinjury and in this case it did.
We played bad, but that doesnt mean that the bad challenges by Stoke are somehow less awful.
5 November 2008 at 12:56 am
The point is the team put out on the weekend was SO WRONG AND UNBALANCED.
NIC and ADE are the same player….they may play the odd good game together.
4 Central midfielders starting was just ridiculous.
5 November 2008 at 1:20 am
you’re totally wrong this time goodplaya, wenger is correct and stoke should have had 2 red cards, the refereeing in the premier league is fucking awful
5 November 2008 at 1:25 am
“We are not Cowards” says Wenger
“I am not ready to listen to things that are completely untrue and make people who are cowards, for me, look brave.” said sour grapes Wenger on the back of another spineless display. Stoke City chairman Peter Coates believes Wenger’s reaction may have been prompted by an an unexpected defeat at Stoke on the back of surrendering a two-goal lead to Tottenham. He added: “Perhaps he (Wenger) has had a difficult few days with his results. There is a lot of pressure in football and I think it could be a manifestation of that. In other news.. looks like Wenger might need a lawyer!! cant make this stuff up muwahhhhhhhh!! Arsène Wenger has accused opponents of trying deliberately to injure his players and added that he was willing to risk being charged by the FA for stating his opinions. The Arsenal manager’s comments were provoked by several tackles from Stoke City players in the 2-1 defeat at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday in which three members of his team suffered injuries. “All the players have been injured deliberately,” Wenger said. The FA is considering Wenger’s comments and the Frenchman could be charged with bringing the game into disrepute. Wenger said that referees have a duty to protect players, but he believes nothing will change. “I don’t think I’m surprised by what happened or that I’m scandalised,” he said. Wenger continued.. “I have to swallow that Sagna and Walcott are not brave,” “Have you seen in slow motion where Van Persie touched him?” Wenger said. “ muhwahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! COYS
5 November 2008 at 2:01 am
It doesn’t matter that we didn’t deserve anything from the game and that some of our players deserved a bollocking - it doesn’t mean they deserve getting injured. Some of the tackles were either intentional or recklessly dangerous - and there’s no reason for risking players’ health, be them our players or others. The good thing about referees in England, is that they don’t stop the game every two seconds. However, they’re terrible at protecting players and some of them make the silliest mistakes. I felt cheated by the ref on Saturday, not because I thought he had any influence on the scoreline - but because I felt he was shirking from his responsibility.
RVP shouldn’t have received a red card for his foul (unless it is given now for stupidity too). Giving a red card for his barge while ignoring the DANGEROUS fouls on Adebayor and Sagna shows the ref’s priorities are very wrong.
5 November 2008 at 3:32 am
So why didn’t he complain on Saturday night?
I watched the game and Stoke were not dirty.
5 November 2008 at 3:56 am
I agree with twotouchmiracle.
Each year Wenger is lambasted for having a go at the refs for not protecting our players. Yet our injury list speaks for itself.
The refereeing this year has been diabolical. They would rather give a red card for Rvp for lightly touching a goalkeeper(it was stupid) than send someone off who is deliberately trying to injure someone. Apparently Deco got sent off last night for trying to take a free-kick, what is up with that. Referees should focus on allowing football to be played and not on small incident like taking a free kick or touching a goalkeeper if they want to earn any respect.
5 November 2008 at 4:46 am
Wenger is right
Fact: Bad tackles by Stoke players were not punished by Rob Styles who was petrified of making another hash of refereeing a game, and he copped out of making the right decisions.
Totally disagree with Goodplaya, even if I agree that the Arsenal team was shite that day.
The commentator’s comments after each bad tackle (on Sagna and Adebayor) that the Stoke player “got plenty of the player but also plenty of the ball” is sick.
5 November 2008 at 6:11 am
Wenger is on a mission impossible to revolutionised rugby-thuggish-like-that-they-call-football . Protecting talented players from getting injured is the last priority in EPL . Wenger have to live with that. Im OK with the high intensity game but bad tackles are not OK , lack of class and lack of quality . Do you honestly think other great leagues will be stopped every 10 seconds if somehow the EPL refs will be less forgiven and transfered there ? No . English football is not the best in the world ,and current EPL successes were down to the fact more foreigners in the league , go figure.
5 November 2008 at 7:10 am
Are you guys beginning to see that the epl is a physical league only now?? How many times do you people need to be told before you understand the epl is a physical league or that certain of our players are not up for it as you apparently can’t see it for yourselves? Are you unable to see that we have built a side that is badly skewed to a passing game that is not only not equipped to deal with the rough and tumble but absolutely has no answer for it leaving us terribly exposed. ‘TO STOP ARSENAL YOU HAVE TO KICK ARSENAL’ has been Wenger’s mantra for years now. Wenger, that’s great, building a team that isn’t equipped to compete physically and letting the opposition know how they can beat us. Why build a team as slight and skinny AND YOUNG across the board in a league like the epl and then make excuses about their inability to counter phyisical teams? IT’S ABOUT BALANCE. Arsene will always leap to the defense of his team even if it utterly defies logic and honesty and underestimates/insults fans who can think clearly and plainly and prefer clear and plain statements from the club’s leadership. MAKE SENSE AND STOP INSULTING US WITH EXCUSES FOR YOUR OWN MISTAKES.
5 November 2008 at 7:18 am
I’m still ok with Arsene, but he’s now facing a real problem that can no longer be brushed aside with excuses that make no sense. To borrow a phrase from Spinal Tap we have built a midfield ‘that is in danger of being trampled by dwarves’.
5 November 2008 at 7:35 am
Guys, be fair and honest, five years ago with a balanced team were we blaming the refs this much for allowing physical play. Get real, other teams were blaming us for being too physical.
5 November 2008 at 7:43 am
Wenger, a question, did we get rid of Flam(by not offering market rate wages) because he was not brave as he tackled too much????????? You wan’t it both ways, whenever it’s convenient, whatever…sorry guys, i’m pulling my hair out here. off now…
5 November 2008 at 8:14 am
“So why didn’t he complain on Saturday night?”
Because he wasn’t provoked into defending his players against accusations of cowardice? And it would have looked like sour grapes then.
Wenger is surely right to draw attention to the cynical fouls inflicted on Arsenal players, especially when they end up injured and out. Someone has to! Credit to the man for not going on constantly about it.
5 November 2008 at 8:15 am
I agree with Wenger, especially with the tackle on Ade! That was a bad tackle and it deserved a red card!
5 November 2008 at 10:08 am
I agree with the sentiment behind AW comments; he has to defend our players and himself but he’s no fool, I’m sure he’s watched the video of that game over and over and can see he his mistakes (every other f**ker did!).
I like the idea that AW is taking the focus away from our players and by launching a scathing attack on Stoke he has certainly done that.
5 November 2008 at 10:23 am
I disagree with Goodplaya’s analysis - although the Delap foul was technically perhaps just a yellow card, if you take someone out from behind (lets be honest, he knew he wouldn’t get the ball) - then you are responsible if that player then gets injured, simple as that.
5 November 2008 at 10:59 am
“Guys, be fair and honest, five years ago with a balanced team were we blaming the refs this much for allowing physical play. Get real, other teams were blaming us for being too physical” - That’s the problem, when we were physical a few years ago we were continually getting players sent off and in fact still have that reputation now because of it (hence all the headlines in the papers every time we get a player sent off, 852nd player to be sent off in Wenger’s reign and all that shit). At one stage Vieira seemed to be getting sent off every other week and yet I can’t remember him ever seriously injuring an opposition player. It seems to be the rules nowadays that you can foul Arsenal players as much as you like but as soon as ours commit as much as a shoulder charge out comes the red card.
For fucks sake the Shawcross attack on Greedybayor occurred off the pitch, can you imagine the outcry in the papers if an Arsenal player had committed that act.
5 November 2008 at 1:18 pm
CMO, my goodness, now the vieira era was a problem that justifies our joke of a midfield? The invincibles weren’t good enough for you? What’s next? Rvp made a smart play that contributed to our team for that game and the next two. Mate, instead of excuses for idiotic plays how about fighting to the end so we can increase our chances of getting an equaliser? Oh, did I say fight? nah I must have dreaming.
5 November 2008 at 2:33 pm
danny- no one is JUSTIFYING our performances or lack thereof so what the f)%k are you on about.
5 November 2008 at 3:19 pm
Cant agree Playa.
Not one, not two, but THREE players taken off injured all directly as a result of Stoke’s tackling and you say they weren’t dirty?
Shawcross took out Ade when he was off the pitch. How is that justified? Delap hacked down Theo FROM BEHIND(= illegal) in the 93rd minute when his side were 2-0 up and comfortable. All part of the game? I dont think so.
5 November 2008 at 3:44 pm
goodplaya…he didnt say anything on saturday cos he wasnt asked then. What he said about Stoke was a direct response to a question.
5 November 2008 at 4:44 pm
“So why didn’t he complain on Saturday night?”
Oh c’mon, goodplaya! I usually like your blog but this time you’ve got it wrong. Have you seen the ENTIRE press conference?
TO UNDERSTAND ARSENE’S COMMENTS YOU NEED TO HAVE LISTENED TO THE ENTIRE PRESS CONFERENCE (on the official site).
Reporters asked him about the Stoke game, which led to Arsene mentioning newspapers calling his players cowards. He repeatedly mentions the “newspapers” saying his players are not brave. He repeatedly uses the words “my players” in a passionate defense against attacks on their supposed “cowardice.”
IT IS THE MEDIA’S ATTACKS ON HIS PLAYERS’ SUPPOSED “COWARDICE” THAT ARSENE IS ADDRESSING.
He is NOT talking about why Arsenal lost to Stoke at all.
And he is exactly right: Arsenal lost THREE players to serious injuries in one game, all left on a stretcher. English football culture admires thuggery and bullying which values reckless or deliberate tackles from behind aimed at ankles and shins — if they get the ball too that just means they can give the excuse “he got the ball.” Yeah, you can get the ball and also aim deliberately at an opponent’s ankle or shin to deliberately injure him. ARSENE IS ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. It is players who PLAY FOOTBALL knowing they’re targeted for deliberate fouls aimed to injure them who are brave, not the talentless cowards who cynically foul them
5 November 2008 at 6:19 pm
The Invincibles were all built like brick outhouses and were never intimidated by thuggery.
Imagine trying to push the likes of Lauren or Vieira or Campbell or even Ljungberg around the pitch? I don’t think so.
The current squad is smallframed and lightweight and cannot stand up to the sort of foul play that English referees weakly allow to go unpunished.
5 November 2008 at 10:05 pm
twotouchmiracle, read it again
5 November 2008 at 11:43 pm
Has anyone bothered to realize that rvp is less mature than my five year old daughter and that walcott sustained an injury to his shoulder?
6 November 2008 at 1:48 am
Danny - walcott sustained an injury to his shoulder/elbow because he fell. He fell because he was tackled from behind by delap
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“CMO, my goodness, now the vieira era was a problem that justifies our joke of a midfield? The invincibles weren’t good enough for you? ……” - Danny, you need to re-read my post as you don’t seem to understand it. Theoretically speaking, if you don’t understand the question there is no point in just answering an easier/different/more convenient one !
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