Morning all.
I never know whether looking back in life is a good thing or bad. Going back seldom works out as I’m sure many of us can vouch for whether it be in employment, relationships, right down to buying the same model of car which you once had five years ago as you can almost guarantee that something will have changed which is not always to one’s liking. Similar could be said about footballers returning to their old club, the one at which they really excelled. Thierry Henry, although his return on loan to Arsenal didn’t really the dizzy heights of his previous seven years at the the club, he did score one very important goal having come off the bench. With twelve minutes to go he broke the deadlock between Arsenal and Leeds with a goal which was enough to see us through to the next round. We didn’t go much further though as Sunderland sent us packing in the fifth round.
I mention Thierry Henry because as far as I can remember, he was the last player we had who would get the ball and run with great pace. Run and beat any player who stood in his way, with the ball often ending up tucked into the back of the net. His best perhaps was against Spurz, although the one against Liverpool during the invincible season wasn’t bad either. Two of many many great goals he scored for Arsenal.
Sadly, looking back to those days with Henry, Vieira, Adams, Bergkamp, Freddie, Pires, Anelka, Overmars Petit etc etc is the only way to find something cheerful about the club. The FA Cups have been good but only the victory over Chelsea last summer was the great one. Over the last ten years I mean.
I caught some of the under 18’s match on Monday night as much as I know it’s a very different level to first team football but watching Emile Smith-Rowe weave his way through the Blackpool players was quite pleasing on the eye. Ok, he didn’t finish the run with a goal but only because he was brought down in the box. He did though take the spot kick and get the goal he richly deserved.
“I was gutted that I got brought down,” he told Arsenal.com. “I just wanted to score. I’m so happy for the team though that we could get through. I just got the ball, saw space and then started to run through. Luckily I got the penalty and I was able to score, so I’m very happy.
Another player who caught my eye was Xavier Amaechi, just as Rick on here suggested before the match, he’s one to keep an eye on. As is Smith-Rowe and a number of others.
That victory takes the under 18’s into the FA Youth Cup Final against Chelsea. The first leg will be held at Stamford Bridge on April 27, the second leg at The Emirates Stadium on April 30.
The women’s team have also secured an FA Cup Final place after beating Everton 2-1 away from home. The Final takes place on May 5th at Wembley and like the under18’s, Chelsea is the team to beat. Victory on May 5th would see them lift the big cup for the 15th time.
Not to be outdone, the under 23’s still have a lot to play for too. On Friday evening they travel to West Ham needing a victory to be Champions. A draw would let Liverpool in but I think I’m right in saying they’d need a three clear goal victory to overtake us.
Finally, and back to the topic I began with, going back.
Danny Ballard was deemed not quite good enough and was released from Arsenal in 2016. He went on trial with Southampton where he suffered a broken ankle meaning they didn’t want him either so after he’d recovered, back he went to Stevenage to get fit again. Middlesbrough then wanted him and he was offered a scholarship but then Arsenal nipped in and the rest for him was easy. Ballard is now the FA Youth Cup captain and hasn’t missed a match in the competition all season. He scored against Blackpool too on Monday evening with a really strong header.
Maybe going back isn’t quite so bad after all.
How old is Tony Adams and Sol Campbell?
Enjoy the lovely sunshine and warm temperatures guys and gals, looks like Spring has truly sprung…
Good morning Rico et al….later perhaps.
Good article. This may be the future of Arsenal FC you’re talking about here. We do have some exciting young players. Hopefully they will blossom post Wenger, and given the chance to establish themselves as first team talent! That would save skinflint Stan a few bob!
Glad to see that the site is behaving properly again. Let’s hope the posters do too!
Sunny and warming up here. Lovely.
Morning Wavy. Good to hear re HH. Long may it continue.
It’s a tough one for the youngsters because a) they need time and the fans to be patient. B) With things having been poor for so long now, will they get the time they need?
I know the cream will always rise to the top but those clubs who win big trophies, seem to prefer to spend big money on experience, rather than bring youngsters through.
Interestingly, Man City under 23’s are mid table in their league and Utd’s look set to be relegated..
a properly balanced team can still provide a cup or two, even if the likes of henry r not in the team. when arsenal play 11 man team with one player in the name of lacazette expects all season only deflection balls like the one from ozil in cska europa league at emirates to bring cups, then arsenal aint playing football. wenger buys laca, yet he knows ozil and now ramsey all want number 10 position. laca has been number 10 his whole lyon time. steve bould has noticed it. henry has comment it that ozil cant play with laca or even give passes to laca. same from jack, iwobi or xaha, sanchez never passed to laca. away to cska welbeck only passed one box pass to lacazette. wenger from start of the season noticed ozil and sanchez not passing to lacazette at all until his only option was to sub laca to open up game each time. the number 10 factor will stop arsenal progressing beyond atlectico in europa. before looking back, correct what is at hand now. all players first to be resorted back to their playing position with no favours, then warned to play their position.
Come on Potter, you haven’t got time to blog, get out into that garden you’ve got chores to do.
Hi Rico, good post.
Yep, we need patience with the youngsters, but that’s in short supply in this modern era.
There used to be a pride among Arsenal fans when ‘one of our own’ came from the youth team all the way into the 1st team.
Although I think that parachuting 16 year olds from foreign academies into ours has diluted that pride to a certain degree.
How can we claim that Hector Bellerin is a product of our academy when he joined us from Barcelona at 16, it’s ridiculous?
Also the fact that it’s impossible to actually watch our reserves and youths anymore as the pitch at the Emirates has to be protected – mish…
I still get a kick out of seeing one of our kids come through, but I fear that the old tradition among our fans is eroding as they become more intolerant… ?
Hi Kev, thanks.
Agree, this is the wrong era for the youngsters at top clubs. Still, if Wenger stays he’ll take us further down the table and before we know it, our youngsters will be in the first team.
As said, I know the level of football is very different to the PL but some of our youngsters look far superior to the level they’re playing at..
Spot on re Bellerin and co, they aren’t our success in fact most get worse the longer they stay at Arsenal..
Good afternoon rico and all..
Nice warming article I thought and the weather ain’t bad either. .??
Talking about academy products, reports say that our own JW is set to leave the club after he rejected the club offer and no further negotiations planned from both parties. .
he will be a free agent and Everton is looking to sign him up..
It’s a shame that he is leaving, but I suppose it’s the right thing to do for both him and the club. .
he could have been the player we all thought he would be ..but i guess it’s a combination of bad management and very unfortunate injuries that stifled his career .
The Lacazette problem is not one of personalities , It’s the style and the way that players are trained to keep possession . When a forward makes a run to space frequently the man on the ball is not looking up to see it as they are taking the next pass in the rotation . How many times have we heard Wenger blame the speed of our passing for their shortcomings when in fact it’s the quality of the pass that’s wrong. Whilst not every pass needs to be the defence splitting one that opens up the game but even if Henry was taking his runs from 35 yards out chances are that the ball would be played square . Our midfield is safe and steady rather than visionary , when did we last play a ball over the top like the ones that caught us out last week ? the answer is never because it’s below us and we are too good for that …….Apparently
Back to the mattock in the sunshine.
Can it really be true that we haven’t scored a single counter attack goal this season?
Or is it more Internet bullshit?
I saw that myself Adam,,
Arseblog posted this written on February 1st , we have had March and April as well to work on it but don’t seem to be getting far.
https://news.arseblog.com/2018/02/arsenal-away-record-errors-and-turnovers-by-the-numbers/
whoopps I forgot to link it.
The dippers are the kings of counter attacks. .we have been on the receiving end of few of them!
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/wenger-has-been-seduced-by-the-idea-that-he-is-infallible-just-like-blair-99wgx0kwn?shareToken=b5d80fb5d851745afec9f11dd0245434
I don’t know what to make of that!
Evening all. In the absence of firm evidence to the contrary, I would say the Syed’s piece has the nasty ring of truth to a lot of it.
Morning all.
I notice Wenger has been talking gibberish again. So long as all the seats are sold being empty doesn’t matter! Clearly it’s not his fault! He just can’t seem to put his finger on the reason why so many people are staying away!
We all know why though, don’t we?
He also suggested that the ropey cup was the priority and that West Ham are 80% safe from relegation. I think that is his default position, or a pre excuse when we don’t beat the mighty Hammers this weekend. But, we all know it won’t be his fault! Weakened team, too many young players, they wanted it more, we’ve played too many games and are very very tired or, his favourite, we played a little with the handbrake on!
It’s time they put him out to pasture with a feeble,old donkey for company. They’ll be able to bray at each other all day long! Not that it’ll matter. Asses both of them!
Bright, sunny and very warm here. Lovely almost as good as living in Cornwall?
Running motor accessory shop today for a friend whose dragged me out of retirement.Better than lifting paving slabs in this heat.Should have done it last week while it was cooler.
Arsenal are in denial with a thrombosis at the helm.
Definition of thrombosis ……a clot that doesn’t move.
Afternoon Wavy, Potter and all.
What a beautiful day it is, or rather was until I read Wenger’s Press Conference. What a chump that man is. I’m amazed someone doesn’t tell him that what he says is really boring..
I like that Potter, apt.
New post up now.