Arsenal Banter Archive April 11 2015

11 Apr 2015 19:51:42
In days gone by we win or lose that game 3 1 as we go all out for a second goal, same old Arsenal? I don't THINK SO.
A very professional performance imo

11 Apr 2015 22:18:31
Very professional indeedy.

We didn't go looking for a 2nd, thus leaving ourselves wide open.

But, we kept it tight.

12 Apr 2015 10:05:48
Very professional and so was the discipline from Coq to set up the goal. The mentality of a great CDM. Win the ball and give it to the danger man then get back into position in case of a counter

He was awesome all game

11 Apr 2015 19:23:37
Very leggy, tired performance.

But, a terrific win and a massive 3 points.

Happy Dags.

11 Apr 2015 21:43:41
Job done in a very mature fashion Dags

11 Apr 2015 17:17:01
Our financial restrictions have been done to death but people from other pages coming on here and having a pop at us for not being competitive are missing the point.

First, we are the most competitive we have been for about a decade - this timeframe is not a coincidence.

Are we competitive enough? Not yet.

Are we happy with that? No, but certainly happier than we have been.

Are we heading in the right direction? Of course we are.

Are we going to be competitive again? Wenger said when he signed his 3-year extension that we would win the title during that term. He also said once that his team could go unbeaten..

Second, under Wenger, we had the best team in the country up to 2004, but by then the new stadium was already under construction and the board knew that sacrifices in forthcoming years would have to be made. One of those sacrifices was to sell virtually one, sometimes two, star players every year and limit inward investment and therefore quality. Our once great side was being diluted on an annual basis yet we still finished in the top four. People can laugh at this achievement as not achieving anything other than mediocrity but look how Spurs, Liverpool, United and possibly City this season have struggled to reach that level. And whereas we achieved it with very limited investment, they all failed with significant investment.

Investment is about limited funds and making choices including infrastructure and players. The decision the club made to build new training facilities and the stadium was to take one step back in the short term to ensure a more positive long term. The club knew it was going to be a prolonged period of hardship but couldn't publicise it because of the impact on ticket sales and attracting players to an uncompetitive club. We didn't win because winners signed for other clubs instead and even our winners left us. But players' careers are short so we can't necessarily blame them.

Wenger agreed to steer the club through those very choppy waters and take the flak. And take it he did. All those battles with Mourinho with one hand tied behind his back must have been very difficult to live with. I don't see any other manager sacrificing his career for the long term good of the club and stay true to the cause while all those on the outside and some on the inside ridiculed him.

That said, I've not always been Wenger's biggest fan but it was impossible to form a fair opinion based on the truth because we didn't know the truth - was he a stubborn git who refused to spend or were the financial constraints more severe than we were being told. With Ozil and Sanchez, we now have our answer.

We have been a club of hope and excuses for 10 years but we will look back on that period and fully appreciate why we had to go through it as well as Wenger's significant role in overseeing it. Let's see how competitive Spurs and Liverpool will be as they make significant changes to their stadiums. I suspect both will fall away to a degree and Wenger's 4th place trophy will be viewed in a new light.

We have now turned a corner and the cycle of failure that CTR talks about, although very valid in the past, is no longer relevant. We can't say we're going to win this, that and the other because the sides around us are all capable and will strengthen this summer too, but things for us have changed and I'm looking forward to seeing us take on Mourinho and the rest on a more equal footing.

No more excuses, no more constraints - our best team against the rest. Then we'll see how good Wenger is or not. I suspect he'll get another contract extension after his current deal expires and people will remember him for his very successful early years, a long period of personal and professional sacrifice, and successful finale.

11 Apr 2015 22:13:28
Absolutely fantastic post Barn.

11 Apr 2015 23:31:38
Best post I've seen here. Loved it!

12 Apr 2015 09:13:16
Fantastic post mate. Cannot add nor subtract from that. Brilliant!

12 Apr 2015 10:12:55
Great post TB, a tiny bit of tinkering in the summer with no big names leaving and I've got a good feeling for next season. Arsene has took us through the highs & lows but I'd have to say if he left who is out there to take us forward? Arsene bleeds red & white for our club! Whisper it Gooners.....The double is still on! COYG

12 Apr 2015 12:20:06
Great post Barn, seeing some of CTR's posts on here in the past few weeks about our recent success had me thinking about posting something on the same lines.

You said it better than I could though and I agree with every word. Top post.

When you take all this into consideration it makes me think just how unfair all that criticism he got was, and just how much of a top man he is for taking it on the chin. I'm sure times like the present make it all worthwhile for him, 8 wins in a row, won 16 of last 18, second in the league 2 matches away from retaining the Fa cup. Times are definitely looking better.

Like you say let's see what we can really achieve without being held back.

11 Apr 2015 15:53:28
Diarby

Benteke has scored at the lane, your take on that

11 Apr 2015 17:03:00
I could score at the lane, they're not very good....

11 Apr 2015 17:28:32
Haha fair edit, editors

11 Apr 2015 18:58:49
I love benteke big fan. If I'm spurs I'd get rid of loldado and ade. Get benteke and Kane up there

11 Apr 2015 22:15:19
Jeez Derby,

First, you sign 100's of players for Arsenal, and now Spurs.

You love shopping don't you?
You should be a woman, lol.

11 Apr 2015 23:19:55
Hes a great striker dags. I always look at teams and think ye he should go ther . Charlie Austin to new newcastle btw

11 Apr 2015 15:06:42
A horse called Mertesacker was a non runner in the 1.30 at aintree :-) you couldn't make it up :-)

11 Apr 2015 18:19:28
Could of been worse it could of lost by a head(er) ;-)

11 Apr 2015 09:44:20
John Terrys player of the year. Coutinho. he's knows who worry's defences

10 Apr 2015 22:09:10
Hi Ed

Just curious about Bellarin, do you think AW can turn him into a right winger, just like Bale, who was a left back. considering his pace and an eye for scoring goals. He can score from both from left or right foot. He can transform into a big player.
May be this be the reason we are looking for an experienced right back. What do u think Ed?

{Ed002's Note - He has emerged as a versatile player this season. I have no feeling for how Arsenal plan to use him, but I am sure others will have an opinion to share.}

11 Apr 2015 08:51:14
He scored two goals, Id hardly call that an eye for goal. Although his pace and delivery would make him a good RM.

11 Apr 2015 09:41:35
Bellerin was a right winger when he arrived from Barcelona and Wenger turned him into a full back. I must admit, when I first saw him play the defensive side of his game was extremely weak, but he improved immensely and looks like he has huge potential, as a full back, for the future, assuming he doesn't rejoin Barca....

11 Apr 2015 10:31:02
Hi Detroit good to hear from you mate, I think better to be an amazing full back than a decent winger, his defending isn't bad now and if he devopes that side as well as the attacking side he could be a world star in a few years time.

11 Apr 2015 02:14:41
I'm interested that we are still being linked with defenders in the summer window.
We appear to have sufficient cover with 4 decent full backs, 3 quality centre backs, plus Chambers who can play at RB & CB. I see him more as a CB in the future. I can't see Wenger selling any of our defenders, so an additional signing seems highly unlikely, unless it is for a young player for the future.

11 Apr 2015 07:43:48
Guess it would depend on if someone is leaving - and no one seems to be?

11 Apr 2015 08:50:23
I don't think AW will be in the market for a CH.

As you say, we have Chambers as cover too.