RSSOur lack of midfielders is our own fault
I AM very annoyed.
Granted, the absence of Cesc, Toure and Senderos alongside Diaby, Nasri, Rosicky and Eduardo is unfortunate.
But it is not unprecedented.
These things happen and that is why one has understudies.
And in defence, Djourou will partner Gallas and that, generally speaking, is cool.
On the wings, Walcott and Eboue are reasonable substitutes for Nasri and Rosicky. So given the injuries, that’s cool too.
But in midfield, we are well short. And with every due respect (and boy do I have a lot), the boss is to blame.
Of course, Diarra, Flamini and Gilberto all had their reasons to leave.
But even the most callous of chief execs would be proud of the “efficiencies” achieved in midfield over the past year.
It is a joke frankly. We have left ourselves utterly exposed for no good reason whatsoever. If signings were so tough, Gilberto should have been retained. Simple.
A full season preview will follow before West Brom. But for now I just hope we are OK tonight.
I’m a little nervous.
13 August 2008 at 12:33 am
Quite franky, it’s outrageous! If we go out of the CL at this stage, i shall blame the boss 100%. A club of our size shouldn’t be in this position, end of.
13 August 2008 at 12:33 am
Don’t worry mate.. Alonso had a medical yesterday and shall soon be signing..
13 August 2008 at 12:51 am
What’s going on (AW), one dosen’t have to be a strategic genius to work out that both the defence and midfield lack depth, quality and experiance.
If AW can’t see this I happily give him my glasses.
I’m fed-up of beautiful fooball and no cups, I would prefer good football and cups.
I’m already feeling uneasy aboth the forth coming season and can already envision a season of frustration.
GGG
13 August 2008 at 12:54 am
no way did alonso have a medical yesterday Anon 1
13 August 2008 at 12:59 am
let just hope we get through the CL game with Twente. Other wise it could be a costly error. I’m sure wenger is waiting to sign someone on August 31st when the price is cheap.
13 August 2008 at 1:15 am
i really love this football club but its a shame that wenger denies the young boys more experience players that no what it is and how it feels to win trophies. last season the boys (especially fabregas) towards the end of the season ran out of gas and there were no strong back up players which isn’t good. which means next season our top players frabregas, adebayor, van p. and others have to deliver week in week out or else……………..
also if any of them should get injured just like 5 of them have we will be destroyed by teams like man utd, chelsea, maybe spurs
all i want to understand is why does WENGER treat transfers money like it was his own…i mean he keeps on buying 15-16 years who may not break into the first team until they are 20something……………..
WE NEED PLAYERS or i dont see arsenal in the top four at the end of next season
and we may not even beat twente …. now no arsenal fan wants to see that cos that will just be well disgraceful
13 August 2008 at 1:18 am
i maean at the moment i kno every arsenal fan is fed up of the sexy football and no trophies
i will prefer we play like chelsea (most boring football) and win lots of titles…. i mean that will put a smile on evry arseanl fans face
13 August 2008 at 1:19 am
WE NEED MORE EXPERIENCE ARSENE WENGER
13 August 2008 at 1:21 am
at the moment the talented boys are playing sexy football and have won ZERO trophy in three years
13 August 2008 at 1:21 am
Its just plain stupid! I don’t get what is boss’s idea of giving youngster’s a chance when our whole champs league game is in the balance. Here we are relying on teens to run our midfield and then there is ManUre trying to sign yet another midfielder in david silva.
we lost teh title last season because of our lack of depth and here we go again in this season.
Where is the effin ambition in this club. We might as well become a youth club! I just hope we come out of the game unscathed..
13 August 2008 at 1:23 am
i agree with u robin2nd
13 August 2008 at 1:24 am
we just have to seat back and hope for a miracle
13 August 2008 at 1:24 am
fingers crossed we win somthing this season
13 August 2008 at 1:25 am
http://www.arsenalinsider.co.uk/?p=1639
13 August 2008 at 1:41 am
my god. You call yourselves Arsenal fans?? this club plays the best branded football in the world and all you can do is sledge it? I must concede we need another body.. although it does not need to be experienced.. Flamini was overly inexperienced last year and turned out to be one of our best players. past seasons show that Arsene will more than likely sign someone on the last day of the window. as for FC Twente… the young gunners will show no remorse and walk out comfortable winners. Please for the sake of Arsenal.. Have some faith.
13 August 2008 at 1:42 am
We’re a joke. If Wenger reckons we have money to spend then how have we got ourselves into this situation.Stop being so tight and buy a couple of quality players. Alright injuries are unfortunate but we should have bought enough players by now to cover situations like this. We obviously don’t have a pot to piss with. If we miss out on the champions league and all its riches then we only have ourselves to blame.
13 August 2008 at 2:03 am
i think wenger knows what is doing.he is gonna surprise everybody.
13 August 2008 at 2:11 am
It is a very unfortunate situation and one that shouldn’t really happen, but it has. If we had just brought in those two players he was talking about, we’d still be in high spirits. Oh well, disappointing, but I still feel we have enough to cope for now.
Can’t just keep buying players just in case anyway, there has to be a limit to your squad size. Please come back soon though - To the injured nine.
13 August 2008 at 2:12 am
Damn, my name came out wrong.
13 August 2008 at 2:14 am
I’m with Lewy. The idea that others suggested of playing much more dull football and winning trophies (does dull football guarantee trophies for Bolton?) is not on. Let’s save all the whinging and whining till we actually have something to whinge about rather than second guessing Arsene’s decisions and Arsenal’s results.
13 August 2008 at 2:35 am
I think we are deluded if we think that just playing beautiful football is good enough. success is measured with trophies not the kind of football or how many young players are in the team.
I am proud that our team plays that brand of football but we need success to be considered a big club where players would want to stay and not consider Arsenal as a stepping stone to bigger things. We risk becoming the ajax of the prem league.
I am sure we will win against twente and WBA on sunday but the fact is we are taking undue risk (worth 20mill actually!) when we should be consolidating our qualification and revving up for a title run.
13 August 2008 at 2:38 am
The squad was not big enough last year - that is what eventually cost us in the last 8 weeks of the season. We have lost 4 players in the sunmmer. Replacements are one 21 yr old and 2 teenagers so far. We desperately need an experienced GK , a top commanding CH and an experienced tough tackling CM. Out of the top four teams, we always seem to have more players with long term injuries so our squad should be bigger than the other 3 not smaller. Cannot see us winning anything again and very concerned about our ability to emain in the top four.
13 August 2008 at 3:36 am
We’re just suffering from anxiety ahead of an impt game…
13 August 2008 at 3:39 am
Le Boss:
“We still have a very good team out tomorrow and hopefully we can get the result we want,” said Wenger.
“We always have a very young midfield and a very young team at the moment but that does not mean we do not have experience.”
“If you are a good football player you are a good football player whether it’s in the Champions League or in another game,” added Wenger.
“When you have the ball you make an intelligent decision.
“If you play against your friends on the beach or in a big game it’s exactly the same - if you are a good player you are a good player.”
13 August 2008 at 3:58 am
PATHETIC!
I’ve never heard so much whining in all my life!
If it’s all so easy you idiots would all be EPL managers!!
The club are trying to consolidate their financial position … that’s why they’ve been reluctant to spend the ridiculous amounts that are being asked for transfers. Remember what happened to Leeds Utd people! Balance the books or face the consequences. Or let some foreigner buy you out!
Sure I’d like to see some more bods brought in … and sure it’s nerve racking to be entering a new season (and a CL qualifier) short of cover in important positions …. but what do you want? How many squad players would make you guys happy? And if we had another world class GK, CH & DM how do you suggest we pay their wages?
I read the news and forums daily hoping to read that Wenger has made another astute purchase that not only strengthens the squad but doesn’t break the bank … and I’m sure he will before the window closes. Until he does I trust that he’s doing everything he can to make Arsenal FC as competitive as possible.
So if you guys are really Arsenal supporters, pull yer head in!
And if you can’t (or wont) bugger off and find a Spurs forum to post on.
13 August 2008 at 4:01 am
Admiring Joe Haverty, Georgie Armstrong or George Eastham doing their thing was all the “attractive” football ingredient I and other fans in those days required to keep them excited, while the rest of the team focused on their own honest and direct approach to the game which ensured the win (which after all, was, and still is, the ultimate goal) I certainly admire Arsene Wenger’s philosophy. His teams have been more successful in terms of game results than the older Highbury lads, BUT there comes a point when the youth policy, now many years old, developes into a current team of overwhelming mature professionals. Or else the policy is a failed one - unless Arsene did not let us in on his joke and all the time his aim is to field un unstoppable reserve team, or he has a five year plan for the first team to be world beaters but he is stuck in year one of the plan for the third year in a row. The continued fascination with buying under 17’s - who, in his mind, are still apprentices - to be further groomed, developed and shaped over the next few years, a la Walcott, before they can be released into a man’s world, certainly speaks well of his patience but does nothing for the realisation of a consistent, strong team now that will beat allcomers for the next decade.
13 August 2008 at 4:06 am
All will be well…have faith gooner faithful!
Look at Liverpool. They haven’t won the league in what? 20years!! We’ll be fine. No one expected us to do anything last season and it looks as if its more of the same this season already. Arsenal fans were suprised last year, just wait and see. All of these injuries are minor besides Rosicky and Dudu. We’ll beat Twente and WBA and then we’ll be good to go.
13 August 2008 at 5:47 am
get a life most of u whiners…if we beat twenty by 4 goals i can see u kissing wenger’s ass…hv some faith else support some other clubs…we dun need u
13 August 2008 at 5:57 am
don’t get carried away boys…..
it’s only ramsey and djourou that can’t be called first time regulars. what’s the desperation about? we all know that a midfielder will come soon (be it Inler, Cana, Annan etc.). the majority of bloggers/fans/journos have been saying we need a dmf and possibly a cb - but judging from the sentiments on here it seems we need at least half a team in transfers. eboue will be more than capable against a team as twente, denilson has proved himself before as has walcott and ramsay hasn’t exactly stunk during pre-season
13 August 2008 at 6:37 am
RELAX. WE’LL BE OK 2NITE
13 August 2008 at 7:03 am
I really wish arsenal does not make top four this season so that AW can wake up and give up on this effin youth policy. Rather than play sexy football and finish second or third with no silverware….AGAIN
13 August 2008 at 7:04 am
Arsene behaves like he is brain dead. Apparently we will finish the season without a trophy again for the players who left have not been adequately replaced. It is so annoying to see Wenger blocking his ears to fans’cries for good and experienced signings. He has lost the plot and I don’t care about what he has done in the past for the club, I demand present success. It is a shame a big club like Arsenal to go four season without a trophy only we get are ridiculous “be patient” excuses.
13 August 2008 at 7:06 am
Lets just watch the game and then bring out the big sledgehammer ey? I mean the boys have had a terrific preseason, and in my opinion denilson and ramsey are a better choice then fabregas who only had ONE game after the EC.
We are so much stronger on the flanks and up front, twente is not Sevilla or Man U….
13 August 2008 at 7:11 am
I’ve never seen people whine so much about a man who has actually MADE the club one of the best and richest in the world in just ten years. And all this while maintaining a constant presence in the Champions League. Honestly, I’m disappointed. Wenger has acknowledged that he is one player short in midfield. He couldn’t have foreseen all these injuries and if you are suggesting he should sign a player every time another gets injured then I’m flabbergasted because he has said most of these are short term. Aren’t you the same people who said we were too overloaded in the centre of midfield at the beginning of last season? I cannot believe that people can be so fickle and unsupportive. Like I said on another blog, Man U are looking for a replacement for SAF. Perhaps we should all, including the “supporters” petition Wenger to sign up for the post. The Glazers would love it. Then maybe Arsenal can go back to “1-0 to the Arsenal”.
13 August 2008 at 7:31 am
Posting #31. That’s a perverse wish.
13 August 2008 at 7:33 am
Im also losing patience with wenger,i used to trust him but now if i think of chelsea middle field and that of Man U,i get terrified.guys there are better managers than wenger out there,that croatian coach would be an ideal one for arsenal.
13 August 2008 at 7:46 am
Bloody hell.
Im well fed up with all this whining. Im so much more proud of arsenal now than i was in the 80s and early 90s (b4 Wenger).
wheres the joy in watching shevchenko score? damn mercenary doesnt give a toss about chelsea. Let me keep my heart with cesc’s tired legs losing in the 1/4 final any day. It means something to him!!
13 August 2008 at 7:49 am
And by the way, Lpool just spent £20 million on a 28 year old who will be worthless in 3 years time, and probably wont get them a finish above us (Like the money they wasted on Pennant, Crouch, Sissoko, etc) Our club is fantastic, and chucking money at some of the idiot suggestions we’ve had above will ruin it.
13 August 2008 at 7:52 am
lewy please tell us what we have won recently excluding the amsterdam and emirates cup if your happy to finish top four a lot of us are not
13 August 2008 at 7:59 am
If Arsenal doesn’t win something this season, all our best gunners like Fabregas, RVP, Ade, Bentdner will leave. It’s not to be doubted.
13 August 2008 at 8:22 am
We’ll likely be ok against twente, but as for the overall season we won’t win anything, with or without a new dm. To all the whingers whinging about whinging, I guess you’ve yet to realize that a manager like a player inevitably ends up past it. Wenger has done a job, but he’s not the club, it’s time for fresh ideas. Too many of Wenger’s signings, though inexpensive, have not worked out. It’s usually the fans with a discerning eye (not the myth generating Wenger boot-lickers) that first spots a need for change, we certainly can’t count on our inept board. Wenger should walk before he tarnishes his legacy.
13 August 2008 at 8:30 am
Interesting comments but this is liek a trail… and guilty before any evidence is submitted. Ok on paper we look thin on experience and like most loyal Arsenal supporters we would have wanted to see a more experienced line up but to be fair, this game is over 2 legs.. the 2nd leg being at home when more players will be available… we have 2 exciting and energictic full backs… speed of Theo… Gallas will lead from the heart of defence and the only unknown at this level is ramsey who i’m sure will be allowed to rome whislt Denilson plays a more holding role. With Ade and RSP upfront (Prob RSP playing a deeper more Bergy type role to help pack out the midfield)with the energitic Vela and Bendt as subs… I don’t see we have too much to worry about in this game or the up and coming game agaisnt West brom Sat.
Agreed we need a DM and CB and yes agreed good calls for an experienced cover for Almunia but its only August the 13th over 2 weeks to go until end of transfer window. Lets wait on 2 counts…
1) See where we are in the league end of the month
2)See who Wenger brings in…
Then you can all rant to your hearts content if not good. Until then.. chill and get behind and support our team!!
13 August 2008 at 8:38 am
Wait, ok, maybe i’m being harsh on Wenger, but did we really move stadiums to be in a worse financial condition. A new stadium that generates far more revenues to service the new debts? We pay the highest ticket prices and we have no transer funds? Wenger’s refusal to kill some obviously underperforming youth is beginning to kill the fans. The youth policy has become a euphamism for ‘good enough is good enough’. Sexy football or no, a club with dwindling ambitions is a sad sight.
13 August 2008 at 8:47 am
Yes agreed Fran, the time to make good the investment would seemingly be about now but unless we unearth a couple of real gems this season anything less than First place in the League I think has to go down as a failed season for Wenger and although I do have a lot of faith in ‘le boss’ being realistic ur only as good as ur last season so yes the jury is out.
George Graham was a boring manager football wise but his results and famously ‘1 - nil to the arsenal’ brought a lot of success and gloating.
If we fail again then I think Wenger’s policies , ideas need to be questioned. Personally I think after we lost the 49 unbeaton run and Reyes was affectively kicked out of the Premiership that we needed to reinforce at the end of that season… knowing the likes of Viera, Pires, Bergy, Freddie were coming to the end. We didn’t buy experience back then and I think we’ve suffered for that choice ever since.
So like I said earlier give Wenger until August 31st see where we are but if its much of the same then maybe it is the end of an era and the time is right for someone new?
13 August 2008 at 9:07 am
It’s just pre-season angst. Some people, including fans, have taken this summer to forget how good we are (hint: we’re very good). The experienced players in other positions will be more than enough to see the (young but capable) centre midfielders through.
I think everyone’s worried and complaining about nothing. I know it’s a typically British/English trait but really, once the football actually starts a lot of concerns will surely ebb away.
13 August 2008 at 9:08 am
Not to mention when the transfer window actually closes.
13 August 2008 at 9:30 am
agreed and acknowledged, we’ll all be behind the team living and dying with their results over the campaign, I just don’t like going grey prematurely, that is with what little hair i have. Wenger’s left is awfully late and come out with statements on both sides of so many issues. That said, i think we’ll be fine tonight and we can do third this year in epl which isn’t catastrophe, but things change and afc needs to adapt or be left behind.
13 August 2008 at 11:15 am
Please Wenger dont try to keep us real gunners fustrared due to ur tightness in releasing cash for various important players to should have added more hope to our squard.I hope the same dont occure with us like last season with too much injuries and no proper cover up.Today game is very important and it will be very embarassing to drop at this stage.
As the creole’s in Sierra Leone always say’s “Lonta”….
13 August 2008 at 11:39 am
I am quietly confident that over two legs this team will do enough to beat Twente. However AW’s attitude is becoming more difficult to justify. I am no longer convinced that this long rumored central midfield signing will arrive.
So - let’s just concentrate on what we have and get behind the team. Some fans will be disappointed but for some reason AW has an aversion to investment. I just hope that reason becomes apparent.
13 August 2008 at 11:57 am
fran “Wait, ok, maybe i’m being harsh on Wenger, but did we really move stadiums to be in a worse financial condition”
we arent. we are now financially more secure because our debt is based on improving the infrastructure of the club.
yes, its a worrying situation especially as the investment plan clearly includes champions league income, but keep the reaction in perspective. we still have many world-class players on the field tonight and twente have sold their 2 main playmakers and their leading striker is suspended for both legs.
and “I just don’t like going grey prematurely, that is with what little hair i have.”
true there! but it could be worse. i remember hearing about sampdoria years ago. they narrowly avoided relagation one season which also happened to see an unprecedented level of stomach ulcers in the male population of the city!
13 August 2008 at 12:28 pm
what no-one has mentioned is that david dein has never been replaced. you are all expecting wenger to do everything - this is a £200m turnover business - fiszman/edelman as was do the finances but it seems its up to wenger to do the rest. he has to develop and coach the team and prepare for matches, he does all the press plus he does an awful lot of watching football worldwide on his giant screen in totteridge. he sweet-talks youngsters and their parents to get them into the club. but the hard-bitten tapping up, persistence, contacts and negotiating skills to reel in a top signing were david dein’s speciality and 92 year old ken friar is not exactly an adequate replacement. That’s our problem. wenger refuses to compromise and get in someone he knows is not good enough, but for sure he woulsd have bought modric, arshavin, villa, barry, alonso, but he hasn’t got the time to put in 50 calls a day to various agents and managers ot make these signings happen. And Dein would keep an eye on current players too, so that when he was there we would not have had the flamini and adebayor debacles. If you want to blame anyone blame the board for not bringing in someone else with anything remotely approaching dein’s abilities.
13 August 2008 at 12:43 pm
Arsene Wenger on Aaron Ramsey: “If you are a good football player you are a good football player whether it’s in the Champions League or in another game.
“When you have the ball you make an intelligent decision.
“If you play against your friends on the beach or in a big game it’s exactly the same - if you are a good player you are a good player.”
13 August 2008 at 12:57 pm
Losing to FC Twente because of a light midfield will be tough to bear.
Come on AW!! Make a signing! This is unacceptable.
13 August 2008 at 1:24 pm
Failure to qualify for the group stages would be unacceptable and, I’m afraid, represent gross negligence on the part of Wenger.
Many of the fans so lightly accused of fickleness here do not expect (or want) superstar signings, nor automatic success in terms of the big trophies.
What we DO expect, for the privilege of paying some of the highest ticket prices in the world, is a first-team squad adequate in numbers and experience to be highly competitive. The squad is patently inadequate to meet that goal at the moment, and the fault lies with one man alone.
13 August 2008 at 2:05 pm
we all fed up with arsene wanker.
am die hard arsenal fan, luv arsenal and its quite a pain in the arse we don’t buy. We are as big as man u, chelea, liverpl, real madrid, barcelona but we don’t buy. This is because of stupid adiologies and policies of wenger. Wenger and arsenal board are too greedy.
They had flamini free in 2004 but were not ever ready to pay him well knowing dat they missed the plot to tie him to long contract.
Long life ARSENAL.
13 August 2008 at 2:51 pm
“Gentlemen, I believe this will be our finest hour.” (Eugene Kranz, NASA Mission Director Apollo 13).
13 August 2008 at 3:26 pm
Stew Says:
13 August 2008 at 3:58 am
stew, this is the point of blogs so that both points of view can be shared. would you rather everyone come on here and said everything is rosy and that we´re gonna win everything this year? (talk bollox basically). i know i wouldn´t.
we are gonna have big problems this year. our squad is lighter and less experienced than last year and come the winter time when the sick notes take their annual leave of absence we are gonna struggle big time.
even if wenger does keep his word and adds a CM it aint gonna make a whole load of difference in my opinion.
Dont bother telling me to fuck off to a spurs blog either, i love arsenal ( have done for 25 odd years) but its annoying to see the club in the state we are now.
13 August 2008 at 3:29 pm
P.S
We were told that when we moved to the new stadium that it wouldn´t interfere with wengers spending budget but look at the last 3 years of transfers and you´ll see we´re in profit.
13 August 2008 at 4:28 pm
Can’t help being anxious at this pre season stage. Will Walcott and Denilson explode and play to their full potential, all year? Can Aluminia dominate his area giving his back line full confidence to focus on their responsibilities? Will Sagna escape any serious injury? Will Adebayor and RVP combine together to corkscrew all opposition into knotted statues so causing desparate goalies to drop to their knees screaming for Mummy to take them home?
Will Dick Barton rescue Snowy, again?
Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood. The games afoot. Upon this charge, cry, ” God for Arsenal, England and the Euro Championship Cup!”
13 August 2008 at 8:44 pm
Half way through the match, and we’re lucky not to be two goals down. Oh god…
13 August 2008 at 9:09 pm
One goal up and the match to win.
13 August 2008 at 9:40 pm
Ah! That’s Bisto.
14 August 2008 at 7:27 am
post 35 LB says “I’ve never seen people whine so much about a man who has actually MADE the club one of the best and richest in the world in just ten years. And all this while maintaining a constant presence in the Champions League. Honestly, I’m disappointed.”
I remember Manchester united going two seasons without a trophy and fans calling for Fergies head. Is it that Wengers job is too secure that he feels he can experiment all he wants at the clubs expense
14 August 2008 at 11:25 pm
Clockenders are you Stuart Hall?
16 August 2008 at 5:16 am
80s Gooner
No I’m not. I’m a blitz baby from the West End whose first book gift was, ” The Tommy Lawton Year Book”. I became a 50’s to 70’s Arsenal stalwart migrating from the Highbury terraces to season ticket holder until leaving for the USA in ‘76. I still firmly believe Essex begins at White Hart Lane, as it is inconceivable Spurs geographically shares in the greatness of being a North Londoner. Also the Gunners should buy and operate West Ham as an Arsenal subsidiary. Like a big brother. Only because - it is not a knock on the club - the Hammers lack the right governance to create a successful team. Arsenal would see to it that West Ham are worthy runners-up to us in the Premier every year, even to also reach the Euro semis and maybe win the occasional Carling Cup.
I will be watching tomorrow’s lunchtime game live here at 7:45 am.