What we’ve still got left to play for this season 10 March, 2007
Posted by lasagnechef in Arsenal News.trackback
Well as I’m sure you’re far too well aware it hasn’t been a great couple of weeks for Arsenal and now we’re got a rare free-weekend to reflect. The only competition we’re left in now is the Premiership and I’m not even going to go into the possibility of us winning that. So it’s set to be the second season in a row without any silverware. However, take a look at Man United, they’ve been in a very similar situation recently and now look where they are.
Many Gooners are saying the season is over for Arsenal, and it probably is. However there are a few things worth hanging around for. We’ve still got the North London Derby and Chelsea’s visit to the Grove to come. Also it would be quite an achievement if we could go our first season at the new stadium unbeaten. It might’ve seemed like we lost on Wednesday night but the unbeaten record is still there. Chelsea are the main threat to stop that record on the last home game of the season.
I’ve become patient with Arsenal since the Champions League exit. I’ve come to terms that I can’t expect Arsenal to win everything, every season. The move to this incredible new stadium was always going to result in a few years of not so good seasons. Wenger prepared for this well, he knew he wouldn’t have much to spend in the transfer windows. Therefore he bought talented youngsters that would come through in these times. Denilson, Fabregas, Van Persie, Diaby and all those sort of players have been brought in at an earlier stage so signings weren’t needed in the future. Some players like Fabregas and Denilson were probably not predicted to blossom so quickly but they’re examples of how well Arsene and his scouts have done. I think it’ll be about another 2 or 3 years before we start getting decent transfer budgets to spend. However the team that’s coming through is mouth-watering.
The good thing about football is there’s always next season and the season after that etc etc. I suppose we should be looking forward to the 07/08 season now but as I say there’s still a lot of exiting things to go through in the remaining two months of this one.
Thierry Henry will have to look forward to August too as he’s been ruled out for the rest of the season. The long rest should do him good. His body is in a bad way and hopefully the 5 month break will give him time to recover. Whether he comes back as the old Thierry we used to know remains to be seen but there’ll be no more Titi for this season.
The same can be said for Robin Van Persie. He might return for the last few weeks of the season but I don’t think Wenger will rush him back. That means we’re without our two best strikers for the rest of the season. Adebayor is quality but as Gilbertosilver points out this will be a time for Baptista and Aliadiere to prove themselves.
More tomorrow, have a good weekend.
Good Article and a very good point on how Manu have had 3/4 poor seasons prior to this and how they have slowly worked their way back to the top of the premiership!
I think its going to be a worthwhile break for Thierry to come back stronger after a well deserved break. It also gives Theo Walcott a massive oppurtunity up front as well as Baptista and Aliadiere!
The run in has a few tough games and i feel Arsenal will play alot better knowing they have nothing to lose now! Where as teams such as Chelsea have it all to play for, we can concetrate week in week out to take each game as it comes and make sure we secure 3rd spot!
The point about manure is a valid one but it is also because they have had few injuries this season unlike in previous seasons. If we had not been hit by so many players being injured we could well be nearer to top spot.
So many people have over-reacted to this whole situation. We’re not as far off United as people believe. 20 points with 2 games in hand. Best case scenario would be 14… Think about games like Villa, Everton, Man City, Boro, West Ham, Newcastle, Portsmouth, Bolton. We took 5 points from a possible 24 when arguably our performances merited much more. But we have not taken our chances. It’s not cause of the system which every hack journalist and shit ‘fan’ has been saying – we’ve created plenty of chances. Its cause of naivity and inexperience. Without the real Thierry, with Adebayor only just gone 22 and only here just over 12 months, and Baptista & Van P having stop-start seasons… we just haven’t had the fire-power. Players like Hleb, Rosicky and Fab have been guilty of wasting opportunities and should all be claiming more goals.
I’m not hugely concerned. Our performances have been good. With any luck, we’ll have a settled squad next year and I can see it hitting maturity. Not guaranteeing we’ll win the league, but I anticipate us being competitive come 12 months time.
Winning trophies with a dying team is an expensive victory. Man United have a lot of important players to replace. Not winning is very disappointing. But knowing you’re on the right track makes it a little less painful.
I would be surprised if that final match against Chelsea wasn’t to decide who takes the second automatic Champion’s League qualification spot. They look good to make the Champion’s League final and FA cup final, so they have a lot of distractions and little chance of catching Manure in the league unless Manure’s injuries somehow cost them points against teams that don’t usually come to play against them.
nelly, I think you’re forgetting about a certain team called Liverpool?
You still have to come to Anfield at the end of March and I think we will get the 3 pts to stop your lot from winning 4/4.
Still, at least we have the CL to keep us occupied for now.
Dont forget Walcott may get a lot of chances as a striker for Arsenal for the rest of the season.
I agree with all ur comments but for me Adebayor need to play alot better to be any where near the premerships top strikers. His first touch is poop, his skills are poop and his striking of the ball is poop. All the arsenal fans at the stadium sing his name like he’s some star player. What cause he one goal against manu he’s now some god that where all supposed to worship. Yeah it sound good around the stadium but until he starts scoring 20+ goals a season u’s lot shut the f*** up. u’s r pissing me off and ur making Arsenal fans look like fools. Ade-ba-yor Ade-ba-yor thats all i hear and he dont do shit, yes he works hard but in the prem thats not enough u need some quality. The same thing goes for Lungberg. Henry’s got it, Persie’s got it and Theo’s got the potential to have it. For me Adebayor is nowhere near having it so pls before chanting his name think about this. U’s at the stadium are going on like u just started watchin football yesterday, or maybe its true what they say. there just a bunch of toffs that dont know the game and are not even real arsenal fans.
I’m wondering if Henry would’ve still been sidelined for the season if we had won the PSV tie.
With our top three strikers out, the hated Baptista will get even more chances to play. I hope he stinks it up so Wenger has no reason to keep him on.
I think a top four finish is almost a surety. Our games in hand will pull us though. Besides, we’ll beat the crap out of Liverpool the next time we play them.
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Aliediere needs games and shit he’s not gonna get it the way its going…. Baptista ahead of him in the pecking order is just shite and i’m so disillusioned with that…. he’s quick, has good dribbling skills, can shoot the only thing might be immaturity but thats from lack of games…. and in any case he actually does have a first touch unlike the beast… yes fred cannot be allowed to play in the team anymore…. either play aliediere up front or on the left for goodness sake
Gary – haven’t forgot about you lot. But…
Liverpool have the Champions League to contend with, and your players are worse than ours when it comes to taking their eye off the premiership ball. If you ultimately go out, your players won’t have done so earlier than their expectations, and to a weaker team (on paper anyway) like PSV, and won’t feel the need to prove anything to themselves/the fans/the manager/the owners. Hopefully the arsenal do feel that need. I’m suggesting though that arsenal put a run together and get a head of steam before you lot bow out of the Champions League (if you do) and take 3rd spot easily, maybe second. Alternatively, the third spot goes down to the wire.
Lay off Adebayor! I agree he has no first touch and sometimes his positioning is poor. On the plus side he offers workrate, strength, commitment for 90 minutes, opens up spaces for others to run into and chases every cause be it live or lost. His touch can improve with practice.
The Beast is too slow. It is his first season ehre and Ljungberg and Pires were not great in their fiorst season so let’s give hi a chance but I just feel he is too slow to be a Premier league player.
Alaidiere is just that bit off in all departments. Yet he has never had a consistent run in the team and now he gets a chance..if he can ban g in a few goals between now and mid May he deserves another year.
Arsenalist I’m wondering if Henry would’ve still been sidelined for the season if we had won the PSV tie.
Are you for real – the bloke is injured full stop what part of that don’t you understand?
Justin why cant Freddie be allowed to play in the team any more? – in case you haven’t noticed he runs his socks off for the team, think you truly need to get down to Specsavers.
People who claim to support the club need to get off of the players backs or piss off down the road and support the scum. We don’t need or want moaners like you at the ground. I bet your the sort that leave 10 mins before the end of the game as well. People need to get behind the team not be critical all the darn time!
I thank the Lord that I was brought up the right side of the Seven Sisters Road.
What’s all this abuse of Adebayor’s first touch? He had a bad game last Wednesday but that doesn’t mean he has a bad first touch or lacks technical ability. The very best example? Him setting up Thierry’s equaliser against Spurs last season.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=E1zckRcVwG0
Also… a bad touch would not have let him score at OT this season. Touch had to be right and it was. Same for his goal at Wigan. You all forget with Ade and so many other Arsenal players that comparing them to 28 year olds ir ridiculous – he was 22 in the last couple of weeks. He is no where near finished developing. I personally feel his touch and ability are very good but he lacks composure still, but another year in the Premiership and the CL should bring that out in him.
im not denying fred doesnt work his socks off… if thats how u view players, maybe i could play for the club (even though im shite) cuz i wouldnt mind running ard like a mad cunt for 90 minutes if it meant i could put on an arsenal jersey but that doesnt mean ill do anything for the team? fair enough freds a decent player but decent just wont cut it for a top team… oh and aliediere wont score goals because he wont be given a chance.
oh and ive never left a game or turned the telly off before the games over mind u
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