Arsenal FC could possibly end up winning nothing again this year and unless Wenger changes his transfer policy, they probably won’t win anything next season either.
I have determined that because they lack one key element.
Arrogance.
Arrogance is the difference between winning and losing and winning teams have it in abundance. Manchester United have shown it for many years and if you look at some of their players over the years you can see why they have been so successful.
Eric Cantona was a good example he oozed arrogance, George Best another, Ronaldo, Nani, Rooney, Keen and Neville to name just a few.
Our success came when we had players like Bergkamp, Henry, Charlie George, Paddy, Anelka, Adams, Keown and a few others over the years but although they had arrogance, they had something special to back it up, something which the likes of Bendtner hasn’t!
That special element is talent, bundles of it.
Certain players that have got these qualities can change a game in a blink of an eye, they show a kind of air about them that can easily change the mood of the team they play for, supreme confidence arrogance and of course the most important sublime skill.
Players like Cantona and Henry although now finished in the sport, are still worshiped by supporters, they are always used as examples to younger players starting out. Players like Bergkamp and George Best will live on in the hearts of supporters forever, because they had that little bit more than the players you never hear about.
You may think I’m being hard on young Nicky Bendtner but although he oozes arrogance and confidence, he cannot live up to the sublime skills of the others I have mentioned and after he has left us, his name will rarely be mentioned, he just isn’t blessed with ability the way great players are.
That’s not his fault though.
What these special players bring to a team is the ability to change a losing situation into a winning one and that in itself lifts the whole team. You can watch teams stroke the ball about as if they are untouchable, passes start to find their targets, players begin to up their performance and the arrogance/confidence spreads.
The more of this kind of player you have in your squad will usually determine just how successful that team will become. Players like that don’t come along to often.
We had Henry and Bergkamp in the same team, and that brought success, United had Rooney and Ronaldo the same success.
I was beginning to think we had another player in our team in Sami Nasri but sadly that seems to have been short lived. For a while this season the arrogance started to flow and the teams spirit started to rise but sadly it seems all that was just a flash in the pan. When his game went off we went back to our losing ways.
Players like Cantona and Henry had several seasons at the top and their presence showed in the teams they played for but the truth of the matter is, as you get older and slower the skill begins to fade and the aura these players one had, slowly disappears.
I think we are at that situation right now and until somebody special comes in we sit and wait, hopefully for not to long as those days were really special. Remember the lift to the side when Arshavin was signed?
I feel that I must add a word or two about goalkeepers, most successful teams have special keepers – ones that save many a game during a season.
Peter Schmeichel, Van de Sar, Pat Jennings, David Seaman all at the top of their game were outstanding players – the keepers we currently have will let us down over a season.
I would urge Arsenal to buy us a special one to keep goal and another special one in the outfield as together, they may just start to change our future. We know there are goal keepers out there, one in particular has said he wants to play for us.
What’s stopping you Arsene??
Written by Steve Palmer
Sheeeet – just read Robin was injured last night in the poxy friendly!!
And Fergie has said he is ready to buy big in the summer, Wenger best be ready too….
We have the two Poles to stick between the poles, so no need to buy any special one, both are special enough.
Agree though we have to get rid of the Diaby, bendtner, Denilson “class”, just one or two solid replacements will do. Especially, if they have commitment such as showwn by Wilshere and others.
In that matter, the three imentioned are crap.
How rude, morning all and good read Steve..
I see exactly where you are coming from with the post, when the going gets tough our lot bury their heads in the sand and accept what is going on around them, we need a few to ‘show the way’ with and without the ball…
I watched England v Scotland clips last night, 1996 – in goal Spunky, in front of him, Big Tony – the words from Ron Atkinson after their game..
Immense he said, both were magnificent….
Oh to have those two 20 years younger….
All your references are with the benefit of hindsight. Many of the current squad will be legends, Fabregas, Van Persie, Nasri, Walcott et al, wait and see. To listen to some you would not believe that we are second in the League with every chance of winning.
Get positive.
John (Surrey)
Hi Aziz – add a few youth to your three…
Morning all, quick visit but I will be back later.
John, it is hard to be positive when you see the same crap players being picked and the same story every summer “we need no one” and “the kids are getting more experienced”
Until we replace players like Diaby, Denilson and Martin Hayes, sorry I mean Nik B, we will win nothing. And to make it worse, the players you mentioned will leave because of the dross they have to play with.
john, they maybe in time, but i see what steve is saying, we need something special now, we have been waiting long enough….
Hi Will…
And anyone thinking mad jens is ready to take over from almunia if he gets injured is a mad as jens 😉
hola…cahill looked good last night, sort it wenger!
Morning all.good read steve but don’t forget nasri has just got to that level.he is 23 and unless you’re a messiesque talent you can’t be expected to play like a worldclass veteran at such a young age.he has even surpassed lots of expectations too.
Wenger to go – as soon as possible please. No spine and no ambition – we will never win anything if he stays. But then again the board are such a gutless bunch if money grabbing yes men he will stay until the time that HE decides to leave.
Afellay looked tasty yesterday.shame barca are wasting his talents by benching him.
Phew, I thought for a moment you were suggesting the appointment of Jose Mourinho “The self proclaimed Special One”.
I’m sure any of these would give us a wonderous lift, any 1 or 2 or 3 would make me very pleased with progress!
SC – Benzema-Gameiro
WNG – Hazard
DMC/MC – Van bommel
CB – Mertesacker-Cahill
GK – Reina-Buffon-Stekelenberg-Neuer
I think I’ll keep dreaming on.
Hi Lee, i would love to see Cahill in our back four, he is the future of the England defence and is just what we need imho….
Wenger wont be dropping a penny in the summer.
Hi KT & Leon…
Leon, one more transfer window for me, then if little change, we need a change at the helm… Think most just want the 1996 – 2005 manager back
Kt, i don’t know why he bothered going there….
I may be in the minority camp but i don’t rate cahill.he has never convinced me at all.
Jimi, i think a few will dream too but its got to change and he’s already living on borrowed time…
We knew in 2005 we needed to strengthen our squad, the day we got battered by the mancs in the fa cup final but robbed them on penalties…
Danish – i’m hoping you are wrong….
Kt, i don’t think it will matter, wenger won’t pay out what it would take to get him in any case..
Watch his career take off once he gets to a bigger club though, i honestly believe he is going to be the mutts…
My bet is Fergie gets him…
arsenal is ok.is just mother luck they need,they do what other teams never do b4.were is the big spenders? manc,chelsea,vila,spurs,pool,but look at my guners the way they play,second best in the world,if anyday i will meet wenga i will hug him and never let him go,wenga is our joy no mater we never won any 4long.God bless wenga and the team managment..in u we trust arsen wenga.
K-TR7 is this Stekelenberg any good?
this Danish Gooner need to stop feeling sorry for himself. He’s has literally never had a good word to say.
And how special where those specials when they were 22 years old, mr Palmer?
How special was TH at that age? It will come. Just look what a pain the ass Cesc is becoming when he is playing.
goonerwife –
its tough right now to remain positive, we have seen AW ignore what we can all see is happening for the last five seasons.
Can you say you are truly happy with all that is going on at afc, are you really happy seeing the lack of effort put in by some of our players??
If you are then, i am amazed because i sure as heck am not….
Lee, some suggest he single handidly took holland to the WC Final last summer, a couple of blips but yes, he’s good….
Morning……….
KT, Cahill is solid good in the air good in the tackle and reliable, he’s nothing spectacular but thats exactly what we need, we have enough flair and fancy players we need solid and tough, The more I watch him the more I think he’d be good for us.
I’d also take Buffon over stekelenberg all day long, Buffon will bring the best out of Chez…!
Th was looking special at 22 so to PV4 and DB10 was special, they all had an aura as well and that will to win, it’s what we lack now bar a few in the team.
walter,
when henry came to us, just think about who was already there – already special ones??
we could afford the time with him, who is already special at arsenal??
Robin?
Cesc?
Hi WATH, i guess Buffoon is getting on a bit now and wouldn’t get in the way of Chesney too much…
I like the dutch fella though 😉
To be honest is got to the stage where i honestly no longer trust Wengers judgement. For the past few season us loyal supports have put up with hes useless bargain bucket purchases and it always comes back to haunt us. why the hell didnt he byy a defender in january eg Chris Samba, now we only ave crapp Squilachi and suspect kochielny. Im not even gonna metion the GK situatiuon.
Wenger ever needs to start behaving like he’s managing a Big club and buy big players or PISS OFF!
If needs be Wenger out and Rijkard in.
You are absolutely spot on.During the great days leading up to the invincibles season we produced many a mediocre performance but were invariably pulled out of the mire by the Henry magic which papered over the cracks.Too many to go through here but as an example the hat trick against Liverpool at Highbury turning a shaky looking half time deficit into a convincing win.
tut tut Rico, so transparent!!;)
Rico, not sure if Stekelenberg controls the area like Buffon does and as you say he not a long term threat for Chez to get pissed off and to want to leave but someone who he can be pushed by and to make himself the best keeper possible, i think it would be a shrewd buy to get Buffon.
Add Cahil to the back line and a decent left back seeing as ours is going to leave also Felliani and Drogba and we sorted 😉
She’s at it again Lee………
😳
He won’t get Cahill WATH, Mexes is ready to walk on a free, just watch him join us….. I thought the same last summer, i’d have rather Mexes last summer than Squilli…
I’d rather neither really…..
Stekelenberg looks good lee but i wouldn’t call him world class just yet.
WATH, clichy going u think? Every day now WATH…
Keefy, one more transfer window, i think this one’s the biggest in his career yet…..
brian, i think everything was pretty darn good pre 05, then it’s just gone down hill from there….
I have come to realise that Wenger is not in charge of this team. why? the board is not putting him under pressure to deliver and no word you hear about sign a good player to challenge for honours. This means the Board is running Arsenal but Wenger is just a frontman or scapegoat for any failure that may come away. For 6yrs now, no one has asked AW what is going on? why are you not winning trophies when we need them? simple answer – I’m developing players for the future. for 6 yrs without a trophy is really disturbing to us Arsenal Faithfuls.
I pray that soon the board must do something. just to add on this. you’ll see again next season Arsene will go to France to get 2 players. why? nobody knows…
Enjoy the rest of the day Gooners
South African Gooner
follow this:
http://www.youtube.com
Arsenal-March 2011, Down But Not Out
“Either we heal now as a team, or we will die as individuals”
Lee, no idea mate but all I’ll say and this covers anyone and everyone, if they don’t wanna be there then piss off and shut the door behind you, noone is bigger than the club never have been never will be and that includes you Arsene….! plenty players who would love to wear the shirt Lee so ones that don’t wanna, thanx and bye……!
Hi kharadonha
We have been saying the same here for a while, wenger seems accountable to no-one and until that changes, things will probably stay the same….
JM – nice video, maybe wenger needs to play that to the team….
some have it in them to step up, the others i hope say in the dressing room
Dont agree at all with this article. Messi is a great- not arrogant. Gerrard is a great- not arrogant. But a great goalkeeper is needed, thats 4 sure. There is a distinct lack of character and i wont call it arrogance… its more a lack of spirit!
fuck the special one !!!
we don’t need hem…
we just need the good back 4 and 1 goalkeeper…
we will win anything..!!
Ashgun, no-one has mentioned those two?
Gerrard ain’t arrogant………….. lol really..? I think the author is using the word as an affect, they have an arrogance about them knowing that they are special and that good arroagant – aura – determined all very similar when your trying to describe that winning mentality and the mentality when you know you have something about you.
Indra, we are not talking about Moanrinho 😉
Morning all,
mixed reaction i see,thats what i like about this blog, lots of experienced supporters with memories i’de kill for.
Look i am not saying that the youngsters we have will not turn out to be Henry type players, but if we dont clear out the chaff we will be in trouble, bringing youngsters through is very comendable, but has proven, that while they get the experience they need, we stay in the doldrums, i am not happy with that prospect. Wenger could have brought Cahill $ Adams at Christmas for 5mill each probably Parker for around the same try and buy them in the summer for that price you would double that now if not more incompetance thats what Arsenal stand for at the moment, youngsters will not win you cups Experienced players do, with a sprinkling Of young talent is a good way to start, But Wenger as usual has missed the bus again.
we are talking about the special two: Villas-Boas…
Anyone have an idea about Steven Defour, 22, Standard Liege cap, central midfield, following by the most important european teams? (Benfica, MU, Liverpool,…)
He is free in the end of this season
Good article Steve…… Special players bring special qualities and they don’t hinder the progress of any player if the young players is good enough they simply compliment one another, totally agree the deadwood needs to got rid of and so to fringe players that are simple never going to make it, cut the huge wage bill that rewards mediocrity and buy 3/4 quality players that will be the final pieces to make this team great…!
Defour is a good player JM, very technical good feet good vision but also quite small and an attacking midfielder so very similar to what we already have. Alex Witsel is the one to watch… he is also an Arsenal supporter by all accounts.
I wonder if arrogance is the right word to describe the missing ingredient….
I’d rather say that we’re missing a combination of words like “guile, determination, relentlessness, tenacity, all paired up with the good old winners, confidence and talent”
I think we could do with some people that get under the skin, make the most of opportunity and that never say die attitude……… Van Bommel and Carlos Tevez spring to mind as examples of the character traits the team is missing.
Having said that, Jack Wilshere has all of it in bundles, we are so lucky to have this lad!
Denilson on the other hand does not, I’m Sorry to say but Denilson has had long enough to prove he did. I believe its the turn of Aaron Ramsey and Jack’s midfield mate Emmanuel Frimpong.
So the young talent is there still to come through the ranks but Wenger needs to pair them up with experienced leaders/veterans to make the most of the combination of gaining results and youth progress!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6FCjKrJT38
Morning Ashgun,
Gerrard not arrogant, well, the only time i would use him is when i want a change of music at the disco, the mans an arsehole.
Jimi,
Wenger as usual missed a trick a few seasons back…. We could of got Lucio and Van Bommel on free’s and can you imagine the experience and the fighting mentality them two would have given the team ??? to learn from them and to see their attitude, exactly what youngsters need when learning their trade.
MorningWath cheers mate were on the same wavelength there, Jimmi, morning, i used that word, others would use yours, but i think were on the same lines.
Morning Steve, good topic today and a good read, i think you are spot on too…
and with the gerrard comment, how he got away with that i’ll never know….
Half the trouble Wath, i believe is Wenger authority, players you have mentiond are quite outspoken, probably not the type to speak the Wenger language,he apears to like yes men
We’re never likely to know abt the yes men Steve nor why wenger won’t buy what we need but def seems that he doesnt like to be questioned thats for sure..!
Morning ricolicious, thank you as usual, keep that op and i’ll warm your side up
Cheeky 😉
I was reading Q&Answers in the Sky Mag about Robert Pires, after being subbed in his last game in our colours, after 12 minutes, after Jens got sent off Pires said ‘I could have killed him’ I wish he had
All I want to know is why.
Why will Wenger not but what is plainly needed
Why does he say have have no money
Why do the board say we have loads
the likes of cesc, andrey, Van, Theo, JACK, Vermaelen, Sagna and Nasri are special. our back up isn’t we need to sort our bench out over the summer, but we are still in the title race and uniteds crocked back four have no reason to be arrogant and aren’t special atm. The Hammers will do us a favour at the weekend if they sdarw at Upton Park and we win it cuts the lead back down to three. if the hammers win it’ll be 2, so stop complaining We Are Arsenal!!!!!! C’MON YOU REDS!!!
Steve, that hurt most gooners as much as it hurt him i think, why he took him off i’ll never know, nor will i ever understand why he wasn’t given a two year extension on his contract….
one of a few wenger naffed up….
Elk, i don’t want us to always rely on others to do us a favour, they have been doing that all season and we have failed to take advantage. I want us to have the side to win things on their own merit..
Even if the Hammers do us a favour, have we got the bottle or balls to make sure we win against Blackburn, thats my concern right now…
Rico, he stated that, that game made his mind up to go to Villareal
Will, wenger never says he doesnt have money……! The board says he has money wengers says nothing and as I wrote last week when asked in an interview a while back what he would do if the board gave him 10million wenger replied ” I’d give it back to them ” says it all really…!
Something is going on behind the scenes Wath. Everyone from the top football guy down to us wage paying saps know we need 4 players to win everything so, why are those players not now at The Arsenal?
I agree
It seems the “yes men” have some winning to do, as we the fans (the other half of the Arsenal team) hope they can. But until they do convincingly we’ll never be entirely happy at the way Arsene has managed the last 5 years.
I have utmost respect for Arsene, but I have so much feeling that Arsene isn’t using all at his disposal. I also believe the team is a direct reflection of him, the ideas are there, the talent is there…… the ruthlessness is absent.
It makes me wonder ever since he subbed Pires in that champions league final, and was never forgiven by him until he left Arsenal, that Arsene developed a major fear of upsetting people.
He played Cesc when he was clearly unfit this year round against Barca 2nd leg, was it a vein hope that Cesc would play well….. or down to fear of upsetting him for being left out when he should have been? I fear it was the latter.
Im not calling for Wengers head at all, I just think he needs to look at his own faults and man up (he is the boss after all) and face the music when its ringing. Be it unhappy players, cocky, arrogant players or just too selfish for the teams good players.
Then he’d be a “Special” manager, one that can handle the personalities of these missing ingredients. The ingredients to form a conquering team!
The manager that would stop trying to keep Denilson happy.
I know Steve, i read an article about him in the afc magazine a while back… he’s one of many favs of mine, him and his duck feet 😉
I know it sounds stupid, but i wonder if Wenger is doing this intentionally, were pretty good judges to our needs at all times, we knew we never had the players to finnish the job at Christmas, and knew the right players were available at a reasonable price. he decided no one was needed, was he worried that had we not succeeded, he would have spent this years profit with nothing to show for it. This way, we may still win somthing without the expence, win the league and this season has been a success. at the time we had the chance of four comps, he must have thought The Carling cup was in the bag.
Jimi, good comment, he needs to stop pampering them, being a daddy to them and do a fergie – tell them how it is, they should be man enough to take it – if they can’t that’s not his problem, he can always replace them….
They are footballers, they are not 3-5 year olds in a nursery
He is just stubborn, he knows what we need but having gone on for so many years about ‘i believe in my youth project, i believe in my squad and players’ etc etc, he would end up with egg on his face to go and suddenly spend loads….
He needs to wake up, he doesn’t need to spend loads he just needs to bring in a few experienced players who his project youth can learn from….
My concern present day, is that the clubs finances are at the forefront, and not the team. Maybe we are not so solvent as they make us believe. A new Manager at this stage, would demand money for the new season, who wouldnt, and they wouldn’t want bargain buys. but Wenger will give the same old story about how Dennilson and Diaby Eboue and every other tosser we have, how they have improved and are ready to give their all in the next campaign god help us.
I think we have plenty of money to be fair Steve, its wenger who won’t spend it…
On the other topic of introducing experience:
Would you guys trade Clichy for Buffon?
As I believe there’s a contract renewal issue with Gael, Buffon’s agent says he could leave Juve and they are after a left back.
Would Gibbs and the returning Armand Traore be good enough at left back for us?
Would Juve take Almunia……? hehehe
jimi, i think so….
Got to pop off for a bit, later all…..
Jimi, I’d def take Buffon no question, I don’t think Gibbs is ready yet but he will be but he’s also decent cover to play left midfield if we get a decent left back, I’d also prefer one taller than 4ft 6…!
Pizza hut won’t take Almunia Jimi… 😉
RVP is out or ok for Saturday ?
Juve wants to change the goalkeeper, Buffon for Stekelenberg. what’s the reason? The experience ? Obviously not. So what else? I try the answer: All the qualities that a goalkeeper should have and that are lost with age: speed, not afraid to go to shock, throw himself into the ground, flying, going to balls and play less with the “glance” throw at the feet, quickly out of goal, etc.. If there’s a chance to pick (and it seems that’s will!) a keeper up the middle, because it is thought to Buffon with 36 or 37 years? (and part of the season injured …)
WATH imagine how many pissed off punters there’d be with Al’s safe hands dropping pizzas left and right!!:)
I think you are right there JM. I would for for the defenders from Ajax.
JM Buffon is only 34 I think……! Juve have big money problems maybe they want his wages gone and to have a keeper who expects less wages is good for them..?
RVP there is no news yet if he is ok or not for Saturday.
He’d get the sack from there as well Lee…. 🙂
If they’re anything like TV it’s a no-brainer!!
Good one, Steve! Robin has it in him. If only he weren’t so easily injured. And Nasri will come good. He’s a star! And we’ve all talked ad nauseam about our need for a great keeper while Chesney learns… Now if only our club would listen.
Hi Agag, if your still on,
Its not that i dont rate Czez and Fab, but an experienced goaly Takes it in his stride,keepers like Van da Sar and Chec do make the odd mistake but very rare, but it appears that all the young keepers have a tendancy to mess up quite a bit, even Gomez is looking safer these days.
Nasri, had a spell this year where he was electric, but a lot of what he did was on his own, dribble and shoot, sadly that spark went with his injury, but he needs talent around him, to much to do on your own,fancy being backed up by Denilson even Messi would cry
Boo, afternoon all 🙂
Chesney has much to learn, for sure. I’m not perfectly convinced either. But I def want Almunia out. And Fabianski gets too nervous, he ca be painful to watch. I agree about an experienced keeper, Gigi Buffon ma indeed be it!
Hey, rico. Howdy?
Hi agag, i’m tip top thanks how’s you?
I’m not totally convinced by Fabianski and Chesney is still one for the future, at 33, Buffoon is a good age and won’t really get in the way of chesney…
however, the ruthless part of me says blow them all, we need a keeper to win us games now and if an 18 year old cannot accept that he has to be patient then so be it – he could have twenty years left at the top and he’ll still play his part in the cups and if Buffoon gets injured….
I’m good, rico. Busy planning good things. 😀
Stekelenburg’s young-ish though. I can see Chesney getting impatient were we to sign him. I thought he was excellent at the WC. 🙂
Wenger for me has been the stumbling block. He has had the chance to rectify our deficencies this year. Sqilly has struggled all season, a good Manager would have admitted he made a mistake and rectified that January. He’s watched players underperform all season and persisted to play them, he has played injured players in important games, and persisted with inexperienced Goalkeepers, the only experienced keeper we have has always been the worst, and we still have him, recruiting Jens Leyman is the last straw for me, Alidere as well, probably our new signing for next year. He never fixes problems, just makes more, i hate saying it, but time for a change.
Well-said, Steve! Squillaci’s been a poor buy! I cannot see what makes AW say that he does not worry about the former. 🙁 I still want AW to be in charge though. But he should loosen the purse strings. Sell, sell, sell. We have too many average players. But then again, who’d buy our deadwood?
Thats why i tend to agree with WATH about Buffoon, don’t tell him though agag 😉
Steve – Wolves are looking at Alialialialidere 😉
Don’t worry, rico, I wont’ tell Gigi a thing. 😛
Someone please, please, please sign Aliadiere! Not AFC though!
agag, i think many side would love to have Denilson, Diaby and Almunia in their side…
Barnet, Stockport and Burton to name just a few 😉
😆 agag….
Barnet, Stockport and Burton have just released their respective statements disclaiming interest in D&D and Almunia. 😉
Shame, rico. I thought you might be on to something there.
I see Jens lived up to expectations last night against Wigan, just four mistakes, first being a copy of Paul Robinsons bobble, some people never let you down, and he’s our stand in bloody Nora
We are becoming the joke of the premier
Rico No, wolves and i said the other day i like MM
😆 agag
He was awful steve, he makes almunia look good….
thats what the rumour is Steve, MM is looking to get the Ali boy… Good, keep him away from wenger,…
Just somebody buy him, before AW offers him a deal, Steve. 😉
I noticed that the French National team are looking to throw a spanner in the works for our post season tour to Eastern Europe, by having three games in six days, but it will only involve 5 of our players. looks like another start to the season with injuries then
I am now contemplating Mourhinio as Wengers successor as the Board have said theres money available, Jose will know how to spend it, he wont give it back, He’ll ask for more
I saw that too Steve, i hope wenger stands by us for a change and takes the whole team to Asia – bollox to France, we pay the wages, not them…..
Perhaps he’s saveing the players for France, certainly not getting the best out of them for us
Sleepy! Nightnight! Be good.
Thats intersting Steve as I am coming round to the idea of Moanriho to suceed Wenger, not wuite there yet but…
Nighty night agag, rest well…
Are the French games friendlies??
Nte Agag,
me too i’m afraid NCIS looms nte all and the luvly rico
Night Steve, I won’t be far behind you, well, not literally 😉
All quiet here so i’m going to bid HH goodnight…
Be good all and see you tomorrow…..
Nighty
morning….
New Post up…..
Morning Rico
I can’t wait for the end of the season and I have hardly said that.