RSSA few thoughts on Henry, Cesc, Wenger and the new kit
A FEW thoughts:
Something is clearly afoot with Thierry Henry. Forget the mixed signals coming from the continent over the last few days - it’s the snippets in certain papers about Henry himself that are most revealing.
I, for one, really hopes he stays - but I fear anyone who dismisses the current speculation as mere paper talk is kidding themselves.
The Fabregas quotes are the kind you only ever get from players on international duty. Read one way, they look bad. Read another way, far less so.
And of course there is the line about Henry staying, as reported in Arseblog yesterday.
As for the Wenger situation, he has never ever rushed into signing new contracts, so let’s not get ahead of ourselves. For a guide as to what the situation is, there is little reason not to believe the following words from Steve Stammers in the Sunday Mirror:
Striker Van Persie is seen as Henry’s long-term replacement. Senior Arsenal figures believe he is blessed with stunning ability.
The board are keen to pin down Wenger to a deal that will keep him at Arsenal for the next four years. When his own position is decided, Wenger will turn to the prickly issue of Henry. The manager is unlikely to be splashing out huge sums on the experienced kind of players Henry wants to see at the club.
He may well decide the time is right for a parting of the ways while he competes with the likes of Bayern Munich for Marseille’s Franck Ribery. “
I’d make a couple of points of my own. The first is to remember Arsene Wenger doesn’t manage Arsenal as a favour to all of us. He does it because for him it is the best job in the world. He loves it. The second point is to ask whether Arsene would walk away from Arsenal while Mourinho and in particular Ferguson were still in place at Chelsea and United respectfully. I’d have thought not.
Moving onto the new white away kit, I’d be lying if I said I was particularly bothered. Yes, the Herbert Chapman line is cheap. And yes, yellow would be my choice. But it’s not the end of the world. And it doesn’t look anything like Spurs or Bolton or, even worse, England. If anything, what really troubles me is the thought of professional footballers on public transport.
Moving away from Arsenal, why is it that the perfectly normal majority of Liverpool fans are so reluctant to acknowledge the scum contingent that also follow the team? The sooner they do, the stronger their claims against the hopeless UEFA.
Secondly, people have been wondering why Frank Lampard has been targeted for boos while on England duty. Various theories have been put forward, but I don’t think any hold a torch to the simple fact that for one reason or another (and I’m not saying I agree), a great many people think the man an utter c**t. Simple really.
And that is just about your lot. I spoke to my cousin who has been following Arsenal for nigh on 50 years today. We agreed how much we were enjoying a bit of time off - and then promptly nattered away about transfers for the next 10 minutes.
6 June 2007 at 1:33 am
i don’t know why this isn’t being mentioned anywhere, and i don’t have any concrete links for it (probably all in korean).
but henry was in south korea the last few days, and in tv interviews, he said that he’ll stay at arsenal as long as arsene wenger is there.
he repeated that he’ll stay at arsenal at other functions as well.
the press just wants to rile things up, as always. i’m a little concerned, but not overly so. not just yet…
6 June 2007 at 1:36 am
My thoughts exactly re: the Cesc quotes.
6 June 2007 at 1:38 am
“If anything, what really troubles me is the thought of professional footballers on public transport.”
Genius! The background does look superimposed though…
Sammers’ article is a bit confusing. He says AW will not bring in big money signings but then mentions competing with Bayern for Ribery…
6 June 2007 at 1:45 am
Naw, that ain’t superimposed. It’s the tube station. Look at how grimy the floor is.
6 June 2007 at 2:15 am
“why is it that the perfectly normal majority of Liverpool fans are so reluctant to acknowledge the scum contingent that also follow the team?”
C’mon Goodplaya, it’s part of their identity, i.e. “everyone is against us” mentality.
Niehter Uefa or Liverpool have covered themselves in glory over this.
6 June 2007 at 2:22 am
Just out of interest…
Does anybody know how Van Persie’s recovery from injury is progressing? Apparently he is reporting for training earlier than most of the squad but any news apart from that?
6 June 2007 at 5:22 am
I also have been an arsenal fan for over 40 years. My concern is every season Henry is going or staying, maybe perhaps etc. This is so usettling to everyone involved. Naturally I admire the man for what he has done and achieved. However if he was too leave would it be so devastating? Yes we would need to replace him with a goal scorer, god knows we need 3 or 4 goal scorers. Van Persie will be back, with the money we get for Henry we could buy Eto and have change, 29 years Vs 26 years?? Walcott has to step up as does everyone else. We play the best football that we have no doubt but playing well and winning are not the same, this season has shown that again.
Is this going to be another year of if Henry stays and Van Persie is back it is the same as 2 new signings. No!! We need new established stars, look at Man U, already they have 3 new super signings, Ribery looks like he is off to Munich (good job!!)we still have Sendros-Freddie-Flamini and co. Just once it would be nice to hear we have signed a player (not a bloody goal keeper)
60,000 at each home game needs to be appreciated and the only way to keep this number is to start to be positive and start producing results. We need to look down the middle (simple game football)Centre Back-Midfielder-Striker. 3 players we have the rest to build around them.
6 June 2007 at 6:31 am
finley u are spot on. henry’s leaving would not mean the end of arse. i can never forgive him for costing us the champions league last year. wenger, let the 30 year-old go,get fresher players more ready to die for the arsenal.
6 June 2007 at 6:58 am
If it weren’t for his work and goals we wouldn’t have been in the final in the first place. Obviously i was devastated, but saying he cost us the final is overstating it - he DID set up our only goal.
6 June 2007 at 7:05 am
I think the new kit is nice!
I will print it with number 10 BERGKAMP and wear it with pride!
Like every year :-)
Best wishes from Germany
6 June 2007 at 7:05 am
All our best players have promised to leave as soon as Wenger does. We”l be screwed..Why???
6 June 2007 at 8:14 am
The white shirt looks like part of a football kit. Unlike that ugly red and white monstrosity from 04-05 just before the redcurrent shirt, the one we won the FA cup in against Man United. Now that was horrible.
6 June 2007 at 8:16 am
Maybe the caption for the Tube Station photo should be ‘Mind the Gap.’
6 June 2007 at 8:17 am
Great all our players play for Wenger FC not Arsenal FC.
Great commitment to the man that brought them all here but you need to how commitment to the club as well, thats why we lose to he bottom teams, not enough heart for the club.
If fabregas were to leave if wenger left, i wouldn’t care, cause i support Arsenal FC not wenger FC.
6 June 2007 at 8:29 am
After going through my collection of matches for the past two years. There is a major misconception of Henry’s performances. Whilst i love the guy, I doubt he has got the fire in his gut like he had 4 seasons ago.
One key game for me was the loss at Fulham. Henry just did not want to play, everyone blamed the inclussion of Song, but if you watch the video you will see for 90 minutes, he did not make a single decent run.
Interestingly Wenger dropped him after that game.
We all want the Henry of 4 seasons ago, that Henry I am afraid is gone for good.
6 June 2007 at 8:48 am
I think we want the Henry of the season before last…
6 June 2007 at 8:54 am
Personally, i will prefer the one of three season’s ago.
My other worry is the Team dynamics have changed so much. A cesc led mid-field requires a different kind of forward from Henry.
Preferably one that will stay high up and make runs and that is just not Henry’s game.
6 June 2007 at 9:04 am
As predicted, the summer is going to be another frustrating time. We all want signings but realistically we won’t be going mad like other teams. I love this team to bits, but i am a realist and what i see is upsetting (regardless of my points i am still a fan & will never leave stop being a gunner)
1. I worry about the clubs old fashioned, dinosaur views on spending money. We are told over & over again that we are in a strong financial position & yet we show a lack of finacial muscle. We all know that we have money. True we have spent loads on a new stadium, but the club have quoted the stadium will not effect Wengers transfer kitty!!
2. MY BIGGEST WORRY: I fear we are building a team on broken glass. To have players Henry/Fabregas constantly saying “Our futures are entwined with Wengers” We will leave if he does, really makes me mad!! Infact its infuriating!! These players should show more love for the fans and the actual club, 60,000 fans chant their names and then they have the nerve to say we will only stay if the manager does!! I say get lost!! The players also say Arsenal need to invest, but its flippin Wenger that doesn’t want spend the money, so they love the man which is holding back our progression.
One final point (gotta start work) Why buy Spanish palyers!? Please, this is not me being racist, i love Cesc, i even loved Reyes, but they all dream of playing for Real Madrid or Barcelona, so why build the future on players which have publically said they will one day return!!
I would like Gallas, Cesc to shut up and stop stirring up the hate-o-meter!!!
6 June 2007 at 9:15 am
Has anyone read gunnerblog recently? holy crap those people are whinging little gits. here’s the thing on fabregas:
he’s catalan. he’s from one of the most beautiful countries in the world. he’s a footballing genius. he plays at 100% for arsenal every game. look at how he burned himself out this year. so if anyone begrudges him the fact that he WILL be playing for Barcelona when he’s 26 or 27, then they’re an idiot.
when he leaves, we will get a pretty penny for him. but that’s what a good team and manager prepare for. That’s why merida’s here. and denilson. so that when cesc moves on, they’ll step in.
so could all the idiots stop whining about how cesc is betraying arsenal? be a good gooner and cheer the team that plays the most beautiful game around. ARSEnal!
6 June 2007 at 9:27 am
Gunnerusa: You make good points.
I will be betting £30 on us two of the major throphy available next season.
(I may be deranged but also feel the odds will be very good now.)
6 June 2007 at 9:39 am
Of course they’ll say ‘im leaving if Wenger does’, because that urges the board and even Arsene himself to do everything possible to stay. Henry isnt going any where, you expect rumours like this when you have no trophies for 2 years and a squad made up of some of the best players in the World. Never fear…
6 June 2007 at 10:18 am
glad to see us linked with Malouda again. it had all gone quiet on him in the last couple of days, but he is the one I really rate and this team needs a player like him. also it would keep Henry happy. but lets not count any chickens.
6 June 2007 at 10:31 am
Why is everybody so opposed to the white kit?
I think it looks quite nice!
And besides - we played in a white away strip a long time before we played in yellow!
6 June 2007 at 11:46 am
I respect the views posted on this blog but the doubts expressed over Henry’s ability and performace are unfair.
I agree with some of what William says above but remember Henry was fatigued and probably injured all of last season. He played through the pain barrier. I think he need to draw a line under last season.
Also, people seem to disregard that Henry is not impervious to change. In the last couple of seasons he has lost Vieira, Pires, Bergkamp even Cole as teamates. Their individual playing styles were very much in harmony. You can’t expect Henry to adapt to new players straight away. Without his goals in the 2005-06 season Arsenal would not have made the Champions League Final nor finished 4th in the league.
One poor season when he was constantly injured - give the bloke the benefit of the doubt.
6 June 2007 at 1:42 pm
saminator Says:
6 June 2007 at 6:31 am
“i can never forgive him for costing us the champions league last year”
henry alone did not cost us the champions league mate, he missed a one on one, it happens.
on signings i would like to see malouda and that renato bloke from flamengo, although he would probably need to go to spain for 9 years to gain a work permit by which time john smith who currently plays for arsenal under 10’s will be ready to make the step up to the 1st team so we’ll end up selling renato at a loss… thats what i think’s gonna happen anyway!
6 June 2007 at 1:52 pm
O’h gunnerusa!!
No one is begrudging young Cesc for one day wanting to go back to Barcelona, the fact he has stated it early i respect him, i’m not even questioning his commitment on the pitch. But the club are planning for the future this is true and yes once he has become the finished article we could sell him for good money = Good business!!, Do you honestly think we would spend that money tho!? or would we look for a bargain, another rough diamond!! Sounds like an expensive feeder club.. And to lose a player when they are 26-27 is madness, coming into their prime, which brings up another point
1. Wengers policy on one year deals for older players or relunctance to buy seasoned professionals good business or losing vital experience!?
1. Teddy Sherringham - best years were at Man Utd @ the old age of 30+
2. Gary McAllister liverpool, signed for Liverpool in his final years and was a complete legend.
I would be more worried if Arsenal fans were not moaning!! And i am a good bloody gooner..
To sell a player w
6 June 2007 at 2:58 pm
TH14 is not leaving… …he has just enrolled his daughter in a new school… …is that the action of a man ready to move to realbarcamilan?
6 June 2007 at 3:39 pm
As a usually very concerned Gooner, for some reason I am fairly worry-free right now and not convinced that Henry, Wenger or Cesc have any intention of leaving AFC. For me, I hear what Arsene is saying when he goes on about not really needing to strenthen the squad. Admittedly there are areas where we could do with some cover, but lets consider the areas that are spoken about. A winger - if you look at it realistically, this is the one area you could argue can be strengthened. You do have Rosicky, Hleb, Walcott, Ljungberg and even RVP… although for me, I would rather see someone like RVP play out wide (on the right and cutting in on his left foot)and bring in another striker (ideally an Anelka, McCarthy or if we had some big bucks, Torres). The defence picks itself and we have cover for all areas and I am not one of those that thinks Sanderos is not good enough… i remember thinking that about one Tony Adams when he was similar in age and look how he matured and got better over time. Fabianski remains a ? for me as I would have liked to have spent big on a new, superstar Goalie… but I guess he has another year with Jens and can always dip into the market again next summer if Fabianski ends up being more Taibi than Seaman… we have some great kids coming through and expected to make the grade next year (Mereida, Bendtner, Traore)… other that are already knocking on the door (Hoyte, Denilson, Djourou, Walcott) and getting back a fully-fit and healthy Henry, RVP and Diaby (who started the season injured and returned after 9 months out mid-way through), all does not look bad. In Henry, Cesc and Toure we have arguably the best players in the Prem League in their positions as the backbone of the team and if Arsene remains at the helm, we have great times ahead.
Do not believe everything you read, fellow Gooners (including stories about those coming in as well as out) and know that a fit and healthy squad next year will push the Top 2 all the way…
Would Man UTD have won the league last season if they were missing Rooney and Ronaldo for over half of it? I think not !!
6 June 2007 at 4:16 pm
Good analysis Mill Hill Gooner but the bottom line is that our midfield does not score enough goals. With Pires gone and Freddie dead on his legs, it all went pear shaped last year. Rosicky is only ever going to get 5-10 goals max. Fabregas is the passing engine of the team and hardly ever scores either. Gilberto is a cover for the back four (OK he got 10 goals but only because TH14 was injured so he got to take the penalties). You’ve got to say that the difference between us and ManU/Chelsea was them having Ronaldo and Lampard types scoring from behind the strikers. Our squad has no chance of challenging for trophies next year unless AW sells Freddie and brings in a free-scoring midfielder.
6 June 2007 at 5:09 pm
Great article. Absolutely spot on for the Fat Frank summation. Been saying it for year to any who’ll listen and to those who won’t. I don’t reckon we’ll ever spend big; I certainly don’t think that we’re ever going to get Eto’o swap or cash notwithstanding.
7 June 2007 at 11:59 am
Gunnerusa - Agreed. More supporters need to give guys like Cesc and Henry a break. They should remember what words like speculation and rumour mean.
7 June 2007 at 12:32 pm
Spanish can you get into Gunnerblog?
7 June 2007 at 12:40 pm
Theo could be so much more if Pat Rice didnt constantly bum rape him, and you can take that to the bank.
Cant the dirty old bastard concentrate on someone else, maybe Clichy, just for a couple of months. Its got to the point that Theo cant even run properly cos of his constant clenched bum cheeks.
Have you noticed as well he’s developed a fear of the corner flags? That dirty old bugger has a lot to answer for I say
7 June 2007 at 1:10 pm
blog head,
no one can get on gunner blog - think the site’s crashed or something but click on my link for the next best arsenal blog site!!
8 June 2007 at 7:53 am
i have an exclusive on my blog page about a world class player arsene is about to sign… just click my name!
8 June 2007 at 8:14 am
Dear mr goodplaya man sir,
as i just said to that nice chap over at east lower, just in case your taking offence to my constant publicizing of my own blog i would like to point out that mine isn’t no where near good enough to rival your own outstanding blog, so there fore you have no need to panic… YET!!! :)
8 June 2007 at 2:28 pm
Not this again. Every season - Anelka, Overmars, Petit, Vieira, Cole, Henry. And how many turned out to be true? Personally, unless Henry is 100% committed to Arsenal (and that means not talking out of turn, and quashing false rumours) then we should sell him, and pronto. We held on to Vieira for way too long when it was painfully obvious he wanted away. Cost us, too, moneywise. For me, Henry has always been too moody and if we could get £20 - £25m for him and spread it around the team then would Arsenal be an overall better team? Surely yes?!
8 June 2007 at 2:44 pm
but you dont sell the best player in the world lightly. its impossible to replace TH since we wont buy Kaka. i am frustrated with his comments but we should not over react. if we sell him due to a couple of dodgy comments who will you blame when we cant score any goals next season?
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8 June 2007 at 9:50 pm
Some ARSEHOLES are writning into football365.com, i think they are mostly spuds in disguise:
http://www.football365.com/mailbox/story/0,17033,8744_2175422,00.html
11 June 2007 at 4:33 pm
Goodplaya, professional footballers travelling by public transport? I well remember seeing George Eastham (one of the true greats), Joe Baker and a couple of others meeting up at Southgate Underground Station on a Saturday morning to travel by tube to Highbury for that afternoon’s match! By gum, them were the good old days!
11 June 2007 at 8:33 pm
paper writers or whatever you call them, with so much of nothing going on right now, seems there’s no work (meaning reports) to do, so its not surprising is some resort to “creative” writing by inventing stories instead. just a thought.
12 June 2007 at 8:42 am
Alan - I don’t doubt it. It’s just the current lot…
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