Another striker out for the season but “We don’t need to buy any more” 20 March, 2007
Posted by lasagnechef in Arsenal News, Transfers.trackback
Theo Walcott becomes the third top striker out for the season with a shoulder injury that needs surgery. He had this problem a while ago and Wenger thought about having it sorted out but with Van Persie injured and (at the time) Henry struggling he thought it would be best to keep as many strikers available as possible. The 19 year old fell badly on his shoulder in Sunday’s game against Everton and now it’s been confirmed that he’ll be out until August.
Not only is it a shame but it’s also stuck us in a bit of unavailability for attacking options. Hopefully Van Persie will be back before the end of the season but I’m not expecting to see him play a lot more football this season. We’ve got Adebayor, Baptista and Aliadiere but if anything happens to one of them we’re right in trouble. Ljungberg’s played there before, Rosicky might be able to do a job as a deep forward and then we’re into the reserves. However you stick Toure anywhere on the pitch he will play his heart out and do a decent job; Lehmann’s replacement? Could well be.
So now we’re right down to the bare bones as far as strikers go but Wenger has said we don’t need to buy any more. It’s pretty bad times when you think about it but by the End of the transfer window we’ll have Henry, Van Persie, Adebayor, Bendtner, maybe Baptista, Aliadiere and Walcott so if someone was brought in there’d be a lot of competition for places.
Wenger has also been talking about our tropheyless season saying he’s building a young squad so we’re going to have to accept a little less silverware at the present. I completely understand Arsene and have total faith in what he’s doing. He said he’s as frustrated as the fans not winning stuff but he’s completely right saying we went 25 years without a trophy so why are we complaining about just two years. That’s all for today on an unusually busy international weekday. Thanks for reading.
Wenger has become such an arrogant twat. He gives us fans absolutely no respect.
His silly comments about ‘the spirit and strength in the squad’ fly in the face of the spineless performances that have become the hallmark of Arsenal. He never takes into account the great strides the top two are making…noone is standing still waiting for the Arsenal babies to be all conquering.
His tone is as though..he is Arsenal. Everyone either likes it or lumps it. I have no doubt in my mind that by the end of yet another failure next season…even the biggest ‘Arsene knows’ arse kissers will see the light.
The tide is turning against him. his arrogance blinds him. It even shows up in his unacceptable conduct this season. with other managers and officials.
Pride comes before the fall Mr Wenger. Take note
I am sure you are right – there is no need to panic. I am truly amazed at the hysterical rants that have poured out this week, especially in the On-Line Gooner. The Everton performance was not too bad, apart from missed chances; the result was bad, however; I can’t really blame anybody for their goal, the ball went through the only ball-sized hole available – just unlucky. We have had much worse performances but they have not attracted the venom that this one seems to have done.
Bearing in mind that we are expecting to have Carlos Vela available next year too, that makes Henry, Van Persie, Adebayor, Aliadiere, Baptista, Walcott, Bendtner & Vela up front- maybe Arsene has a point about no space for another striker.
Given that Walcott clearly wasn’t fit on Sunday, I would have liked to have seen Jay Simpson on the bench. His finishing for his hat-trick at The Emirates showed a class of finishing that we have rarely seen this year from the first team.
David,
You really dont know too much about football – do you?
The tide might be turning in your walter mitty world Mr Dave, but those of us who go to the matches still chant Wenger’s name.
Why is Wenger arrogant? He is the manager he has his own strategy – if he followed fickle plastic fans where would the team be? Every player would get two games and sacked.
Perhaps he is Mr Arsenal – 10 seasons 11 trophies a new stadium, 3 footballers of the year. Beautiful football – invincibles – doubles. Carling Cup Final with youth. All this on a budget one tenth that Chelsea spent.
If you cant show respect why dont you support Chavs? They have no class and only think about buying players and not developing them – you should get on fine.
David, go and become a Chelsea fan.
Twat.
People who are calling for Wenger’s exit are clearly not seeing the whole picture. Simply put:
- A while ago it was decided we’d get a new stadium
- It was worked out we’d come to a point where money is low
- So Arsene started to build a young squad, buying great prospects
- This meant we would’ve have to buy in the future becasue we’d have these players coming through
- Now is the time we’re gonna be short on money for a bit and we’ve got some great players coming through
- Once the debt is a bit less we can start buying again
- SO the new signings + the amazing young players we’ll already have we’ll be an amazing team making up for all the silverware we haven’t won in the recent years
Have patience.
Mr Padro Pisso and l twat 5, you guys are obviously born losers.
You support Arsene…not Arsenal. If all those losses and piss poor excuses abt the other team defending and not allowing us to score 5 goals against them (boo hoo), the excuses abt lacking maturity yet buying more 15yr olds, the continuos sideways passing w/ no thought of scoring and the lame duck set piece defending do not bother you…you are compound losers
some people are just born to kiss ass.oh…and padro…I bet u I have spent much more time, money and effort following Arsenal …than you could ever dream of.
I am a born winner.Its fun..and something that should be aspired to..You loser twats should try it some time. Take note.
Every dog has its day. And Wenger has most certainly had his
Man U went 25 years without a trophy, yet that didn’t stop them winning championship after championship under Sir Alex.
Under Wenger, Arsenal haven’t been able to string just two together.
Winning one here and there does not make for great clubs and thus great legacies.
Under Wenger, Arsenal have won trophies sure; but on the whole, any sensible footballing person would have to say that, given the quality of personnel, we have underperformed
Making the finals of European cups is an achievement in itself, but if your tactical skills are lacking on the night, you will always be remembered for finishing second, not for ever having won.
If Wenger refuses to be ruthless with players in the same way that Sir Alex Ferguson is ruthless, if he continues to manage the club for himself and not for the supporters, if he is happy to rest on his laurels for a few years and bring no further trophies to the club …
Then you lot will get exactly what you deserve.
Wenger refuses to be ruthless with players?
What planet are you on? Just last year everyone was saying he should have been less ruthless with viera. then we beat Juve, then everyone said he was right. then we just squeaked into 4th place, and everyone said he was wrong again. then he got rid of pires too.
the truth is somewhere in between. wenger ain’t stupid. he knows he needed more strength in mid-field. he even said so. but what he doesn’t do is slag off players in the middle of the season. those of you expecting him to break down in tears and fess up that alialioxenfree ain’t that great and that arsen’s dad touched him in the dark when he was little…well, it ain’t gonna happen.
No, he’s plenty ruthless, and the only think freddie MIGHT stay is simply to have a little experience to balance the team out (but with that said, I say Fred’s gone next year). And if no one has noticed, Arsene’s brought a small trickle of quality players in with each transfer window. What team besides Chelsea buys 6 players at a time?
all you arsene haters are just talking out of your ass. go support Chelsea.
david … either a spurs or chelsea fan .. probably spurs. Wind up merchant. Dont bite.
I think the problem stems from a lot of the newbie “footie” fans who have jumped on the football bandwagon over the last few years and are used to non-stop Arsenal success. These are the type of people who are mute at The Grove and leave before the end if we are not 6-0 up.
Success takes time a la Ferguson at Utd. No team not even the chavs have a god given right to expect 3 trophies every season.
For those who can remember the 80′s and the endless 0-0 draws with heavyweights such as Notts County, Oldham and Stoke plus the dire end to the George Graham era can see the massive revolution under Arsene. We have had a poor season by his peerless standards but all bar Utd and the chavs would swap with us instantly.
I notice none of the doom merchants have any clue who is to replace Arsene. People should remember that maybe half a dozen managers have the presence and calibre to manage The Arsenal. We saw what happened when Bruce Rioch took on the mantle. Sam Allardyce Anyone???
The true fans will stay, get behind the team and behind Arsene who is unique among managers.
Come on you Reds.
David bravo!!! bravo!!! Arsene Wegner seems to have written the book on excuses. We are tired of it, particularly as Wegner make a habit of it. I am tired too of watching Arsenal ‘side pass’ their way through a match…”Building a team” You cannot build a team on youth and inexperience alone. We may have beaten Man U twice this season but they are strides ahead of us Mr Wegner…. We have heard all before, and far too often…We are a big club, and big clubs step up, and consistantly win trophies!!!!
Interesting to read some of these comments and I will just throw my lot in having followed home and away the gunners since I was 5, so I am speaking from 40years experience – no 5 minute wonder here!
All of you “so called” Arsenal fans who talk up the Arsene revolution and belittle what George Graham did should learn facts – George was never allowed the funds in any shape or form that Arsene has had at his disposal. George was constantly prevented from buying players that he wanted by a board who were no where near as flexible with paying out the cash to by in top players – they were the old school who were in charge! And if you think that this is bullshit and hearsay I can tell you that the reason I know it’s true is that George lived 2 doors away from me and I frequently had chats with him and he was forever complaining about how he could never buy the top players he wanted because the board blocked him either because of the fee or the players wage demand! The most famous was Kerry Dixon from Chelsea who was all but on his way but the board wouoldn’t pay the extra 500 a week….this ultimately cost us a championship win which would have more than paid the price! And if we equate this to what Arsene has now done…..hey the GG 0-0′s spoken about are not far off our drawing and losing to sides like we have this year (defeats v Sheff Utd, Man City, Everton,West Ham, Bolton etc non of them stunning performances especially of course the one at Fulham which I was at and it was dire!!!!! Our injury situation wasn’t that bad then was it???
With regard to the comment about Bruce Rioch, you obviously don’t know much about his time in charge, Bruce actually started the building of a new side but was given only 1 full season, in which time I may add, he had the brilliance to sign arguably the greatest player Arsenal have ever had in Dennis Bergkamp!!! I believe that given time Bruce might well have built a top side….but we will never know as David Dein had a hidden agenda to bring in Arsene Wenger!!
As for Arsene Wenger, sure he has done a great job when he has been able to build on a side that contained great experinced players, but they have all but gone, some by choice, some he has mistakenly let go …remember he let Vieira go at the same time as Edu thus in one stroke taking out the strong center midfield that held our team together. I also think that letting Pires go was a mistake, he also could have done a job for a couple more years! Arsene has now got a group of good potential young players, but he has also got a lot of very AVERAGE players in our squad…..too many for our side to become a EPL / CL challanger, and when I say average I mean the likes of………… Aliadiere, Senderos, Hoyte, Flamini, Hleb, Adebeyor, Almunia, Baptista, Walcott, Ljungberg (sad but he is not the player he was) …. yes I know Walcott is still young but I don’t see he has the same promise/ability as Fabregas & Denilson for example…..I may be proved wrong in future but I don’t see him making the grade especially as a striker. But apart from Walcott that is 9 players out of our squad who are AVERAGE, yes I know that some have had the odd good game…..but when you look at them all I would ask you to think logically and rationally and honestly say how many of them have performed poorly in the majority of match’s they have played in this season….and when I say poorly I mean on a par with players who perform for Newcastle, Everton, Blackburn Bolton etc., in all these cases if you are honest you will see that they would fit in quite well with these sides.
Which brings me to say that Arsene needs to prove quickly that he has the ability to create a side who will win things, I don’t want another 10 years to go by with potential, Man U rebuilt in 3 years…..so can we……otherwise we will be like Liverpool who thought that they had potential back in 1991….but now 16 years later not a single title to show since and no sign of it to come either….a great stadium yes, but it needs great teams to fill it now, not just great potential………it wins you nothing as does all the boring passing which ends up with no end product….good on a training ground but pointless literally in the EPL!!!!
Its ridiculous to moan about Arsene; he has taken the club to a new level, even if he does project an air of arrogance (he’s not French by any chance is he ??!).
The man has done wonders with the lowest budget of any team in the top 10, and has seen us move into an incredible new home and not go broke or become a team of also-rans. he deserves enormous credit.
But he has one major flaw in my view – he will never admit his mistakes. He will never admit that sticking with Aliadiere was dumb. He will try and buy Baptista, even though we can all see that his ball control is pathetic, and he will never ever be a great player. He will never admit he shouldn’t have discarded Sidwell. He will never admit that he should have recalled Bendtner from his loan spell in January. He should have offered Pires a 2 year deal despite his ‘old age’. He will always think a player over 30 is past it. He will persist with Almunia, despite the fact that he will never be a consistently good keeper.
Let’s be honest – he doesn’t make many mistakes – but it would be nice if, once in a while, he recognised a few dumb moves and wrong calls, and admitted he was wrong, and acted accordingly.
Please don’t sign Baptista permanently. Please let Aliadiere go – free if necessary. Please buy one more seriously good striker (Torres maybe). Please allow the odd player over 30 a 2 year contract, and admit your inflexible policy is wrong. Please let Almunia go back to Spain. Please.
I don’t understand people who say we should have kept Pires. I’m as big a fan of Bobby as anyone and we surely miss his goal-scoring… but then again, even if he’d stayed we would be missing it! He would just be another Freddie, a player we all love but can see is not the same anymore. SURELY must have noticed that he played his FIRST game in La Liga this weekend because of another torn cruciate ligament? It just goes to show that Arsene’s policies on older players are based on a scientific view of things. The body just ain’t at 34 what it used to be at 24. It may be cruel, and hard to face for we fans, but there it is.
I agree wholeheartedly with large tracts of Matt’s response. Bruce Rioch was never given enough credit for encouraging the back four to play football plus the signing of possibly the greatest ever in DB10. I believe he made it easier for the transition we had from George to Arsene. My point was that he never looked totally comfortable in the role and struggled to deal with some of the bigger stars.
George may have had financial constraints but he refused to look at flair players and misused the ones we had, Charlie, Limpar, et al. He bought some stinkers at the end of his reign, Kiwomya, Helder etc. How long did we cry out for a creative midfielder and he found John Jensen. I may be wrong but the percieved notion was that the biggest ego and paypacket in the club had to be George’s.Rumour has it he turned down John Barnes!
A happy medium would be 10-15% of the GG realism and grit allied to the flair and total football of Arsene.
Having seen both I know which one I prefer.
As for so called Arsenal fans- I was at York!!!!!
I only ever campaigned to get rid of one manager, and we got rid-it was Billy Wright. Graham did fine in his day and his achievements should nevr be forgotten, but by the end he was no longer a top four team manager.
Ferguson went years before he won a trophy at Man U and when it came it was a cup not the league. It was a good job the Man U board ignored the Fergy Out Brigade or he would never have got started. Only two season ago they were at it again jeering him.
I am just amazed at those who ignore the circumstances Wenger operates under, a tight budget, he has never had the money to strenghthen his team even after winning the league. Yet Chelsea and Man U have never gone a season unbeaten with all their spending. Its about time Wenger was given credit for it.
I love the idea about all these average players Wenger has try Henry, Gilberto, RvP, Walcott, Gallas, Toure, Clichy, Fabregas, Rosicky, Lehmann all average. Three World cup winners, European Goalie of the year, Young European Footballer of the Year.
Yes I know unless you win a trophy every year you are a loser. But fortunately Wenger wont throw out all the toys from his pram, like some would have him, instead he will continue to develop the players. Just like Bertie Mee did in 1966, but 1970 he won an European Trophy and the next year the double.
Anyone with patience is a born loser – thats Sky talk, and you are welcome to it. Of course we could change managers every year like Real and be winners – err what have they won lately?
Having been a season ticket holder for almost 40 years and coming from the family that started the suppoprts club many years before that (I think that qualifies me as a “real” supporter) I agree with those that have the patience and foresight to recognise that Wenger does a superb job in an increasingly difficult environment.
Those that say that Man U are ahead of us forget that its taken some trophyless seasons to get there. Their team has an average age that is going to cause them problems in the next few years. Chelsea is all about buying success as we all know (coupled with an excellent if irritating manager).
Yes, Wenger whines and complains a lot. If he didn’t we’d all be accusing him of “not being a true Arsenal man”. He can’t win can he?!
For those of us that remember most of the dross served up at Arsenal in the 60′s, 70′s and 80′s (even when we won the odd trophy) it is clear that this IS a golden age for Arsenal and its largely down to the board and one man………..name not required.
pk
Well they cant buy another until the end of the season, so, first of all, they cant, second, they dont need to
Those of you questionning the plans and theories of Arsene Wenger should be castigating yourself for the short-sightedness and lack of respect your showing.
Remember Arsenal has been a smaller club than Manchester City, Newcastle and Sunderland for some time, only now can it begin to generate the type of financial clout the likes of Manchester United, Barca etc generate through the turnstiles.
During a period in which clubs of equivalent size and arguably history, Leeds United have gone to the wall and plummetted Arsene has led the Arsenal team to a European Cup Final, a League Cup Final and consistently top four finishes with little fuss.
Sometimes you don’t know how good you have it. You should be proud that Arsene is so indoctrinated in the club and the club in him. He’s exerted control over every aspect of the club related to performance and created a legacy of excellence and entertainment that goes far beyond the current team or its collection of trophies.
Sure, the top two are pulling away but Chelsea is an exceptional arrangement and even they are being more prudent in the market. Man Utd have hit a purple patch but it will still be interesting to see if the current crop of veterans Giggs, Scholes, Neville, VanDer Sar can be replaced effectively.
Arsenal look well placed to emerge with a fresh, committed, well tutored, ambitious team in the next two years with young professionals like Toure, Fabregas and Eboue providing experience despite their own youth.
I’d be very happy as an Arsenal fan.
I speak as the fan of a team twice European champions and now proud to get a point at Scunthorpe.
You never know how good you have it until its gone.
Oh yeh. And he didn’t spend to help finance a move to the new ground without cripling debt.
Something Liverpool have now embraced!
So many injuries strike Arsenal it is unbeliavable.
Wallcot is out because pat rice split his ring.
Thats the most badly kept secret in the premiership.
Mr Rice is a dirty fuck.
Padre Pio,
You speak the most sense mate! Glad to see there’s people who can see, the bigger picture.
I’m as gutted as any Gooner at the moment, TRUST ME, but after everything that Wenger has done, for out beloved club… YOU WANT TO THROW HIM OUT, LIKE HE’S YESTERDAY’S PAPER?!
GET A FUCKING GRIP, THE LOT OF YA!
Wenger has come back from adversity before, and won another double & gone an entire season unbeaten… have we all forgot about that, already?
What about last season? 15 minutes away, from being European Champions…! If we had held out, would you mugs still be on here, calling for his head?
I read someone say, that we are a big club & we should be winning trophies every year!!! THAT IS FUCKING BOLLOCKS! NO TEAM, HAS A DEVINE RIGHT TO WIN TROPHIES EVERY YEAR! NO TEAM!! (As someone touched on, does that mean Real Madrid are a small club now, then?)
WE DON’T NEED ANYMORE FANS LIKE YOU!! We need people who will scream the heart out for our club, WIN, LOSE OR DRAW…
BUT, If we are in the situation, this time, next season (23 points, off the leaders) then maybe it’s time to start asking QUESTIONS (NOT SACKING HIM!!!), but until then, go back to playing Championship Manager or fuck off n’ support the chavs, coz they need all the pathetic glory seeking shit cunt fans, they can get….!
But what about Pat Rice? I’m sure young Theo’s parents and the old bill would like to ask him a few ‘questions’.
Alot of daft comments on here. My favourites include:
(1) Maximus: “Man U went 25 years without a trophy, yet that didn’t stop them winning championship after championship under Sir Alex.
Under Wenger, Arsenal haven’t been able to string just two together.
Winning one here and there does not make for great clubs and thus great legacies” Man United didn’t win a league until Ferguson’s SEVENTH SEASON. So comparing his twenty years to Wenger’s first ten is a little misleading. And it wasn’t a case of them being in worse shape – we had just come out of the Rioch era. Furthermore – at 3 leagues in his time, Wenger actually is up there as a great club – only Man United and Liverpool have done as much since the War. So it’s not the best but 99% of fans would kill for it. So get some perspective.
(2) Matt (amogst other daft reactionary cooments): “yes I know Walcott is still young but I don’t see he has the same promise/ability as Fabregas & Denilson for example…” I take you’ve never dislocated a shoulder. I did once (just once) and it hurt like a motherfucker. He has been doing it regularly for months and playing through chronic pain as a 17 year old for this club. he even postponed surgery until Adebayor was back from suspension. It’s ludicrous to judge him on that basis. I think Fabregas might just struggle in similar circumstances. Like most humans of flesh and bone.
(3) Matt (again): “Man U rebuilt in 3 years…..so can we……otherwise we will be like Liverpool who thought that they had potential back in 1991….but now 16 years later not a single title to show since and no sign of it to come either….a great stadium yes, but it needs great teams to fill it now, not just great potential…” Well. It would help if you compare like with like. Liverpool were a crumbling empire. Their players were at the wrong end of their great careers. Danglish, Hansen, Rush, Barnes, Houghton, Whealan… and they didn’t have new players coming in. We are acting much faster than that. Also as for not filling the stadium, there are plenty of dickheads in it now with the ‘entertain me i paid for this’ attitude. They can fuck off as there are plenty of genuine people i would love to see in the grove with me.
All that said, there are plenty of people here being calm, rational, balanced, etc. Thank God.
Pabz,
I know what you mean. I hate the daftness of blog sites. I’m all for the calm, rational, balanced talk.
Oh fuck !!!!, I just pissed my pants
Please Arsene, try to know how you make changes when ever we are playing matches. Because of what happened against Everton and please Baptista try and proove your self if you want Arsenal to sign you parmanently. Thanks
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