Arsene Wenger

How will you address a team in the half time with a goal down and playing really bad and lacking confidence (due to its recent losses), some managers will encourage and talk about the positives, some will indulge in new tackles talk, some will talk about the influence of the result for the club but Arsene Wenger said this “You Are not fit to wear the Arsenal shirt” in the half time talk after a very luke luster display of his players in the super sundays clash against Liverpool at Anfield. Those words are really a kind of encouraging words as Arsene meant that the players have let down the club prestige and the other legends who wore Arsenel shirt. This words triggered the zest in the players as they came out and passed better, won possession and won the match 2-1 thanks to the stunning strike from none other than the 5′6″ center forward Andrei Arshavin. I dont know what is there in Anfield for Arshavin, he comes up with some brilliant goals. Now that Arsenal’s title race is on for the one who have wrote off gunners.

Aaron Ramsey

Name : Aaron James Ramsey

D.O.B : 26 Dec 1990 (age 18)

Height : 180 cms

Birth Place : Caerphilly, Wales

Playing Positions : CM, AM, RM

Premier League Caps : 18

International Caps : 11

He Tackles, he passes, he scores and he is Aaron Ramsey of arsenal. The 18 year old has started making name for himself in his second year at Arsenal. I like the way he plays, he is energetic, committed, confident and what more he is a brilliant tackler, he tackles with perfection and confidence. I really dont know why he was in the bench while Fabregas was out the last season, he would have done a great job providing all the creativity needs in the midfield area, may be he wasn’t ready that time and we all know that Arsene Wenger knows the best. Arsene is the best in transforming teenage sensations to super stars. He has transformed Fabregas, Theo walcott, Gael Clichy and now it is Aaron Ramsey. He knows when to play them, how to play them and how to train them mentally, physically and tactically. He is the one who should credited for transforming these “one for the future” kind of players into super stars. I strongly believe that Aaron Ramsey would develop to the ranks of Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard in the near future and want him to stay at Arsenal for life.

My first post after a very long time was About the Arsenal Injury news, now i’m writing this less than a week with still more players getting injured.The recent one is William Gallas, and Gibbs who came back from injury got injured again. For Injuries we can’t blame any one, it happens, it’s part and parcel of Football, but why you need to play Gallas all the time, that to we play against a weaker time, i’m not asking Arsene Wenger to underestimate any one, i’m asking him to be realistic. And for Gibbs, why we need to rush him back, there is Armand Traore, who need some match practice sitting in the bench, now see Gibbs is out for 3 months, and Clichy is already out and we dont have a recognized left back for the biggest game of the season.

RVP, Bendtner, Clichy, Gibbs injury

Just when every one is tipping Arsenal to go the distance, their injury problems are back again. They don’t have a regular Striker or left back to start, Robin Van Persie, Nicklas Bendtner are injured so are Gael Clichy, Kieran Gibbs. So who is gonna replace then in the starting line up? So this is the unanswered question each and every Arsenal fan like me will be asking in the recent days. So i have come up this two players to start

1. Eduardo – Even though he isn’t tall enough to be a striker he is a tremendous finisher and more over Arsene isn’t left with any other choice, though he can use the just returned Vela as a sub. This a great opportunity for Eduardo to show is worth and get regular first team appearances.

2. Armand Traore – He a decent enough left back, he had a good loan spell at Portsmouth where he started 19 games and scored 1 goal. Again a big opportunity for some one who didn’t even start this season.

Lets support this guys, hope they relish their big time opportunities.

With recent transfer rumors, I have decided to come up with a formation that could suite Arsenal next season. I have taken into account the possible and most likely player transfers. Thomas Vermaelen the only player who have signed for the gunners so far can get company by the expect the arrival of Felipe Melo and Karim Benzema, I see his transfer as 50 -50 chance Between Arsenal and Real Madrid even though Real Madrid is the clear favorite to sign the 21 year old, I think he would sign for Arsenal due to his desire to play under Arsene Wenger and get regular first team appearances. Felipe Melo has been strongly linked with the gunners in the recent weeks, I guess his signing would be the one of the most important and fairly easiest signing of Mr. Wenger since there aren’t any big club rival bids for Melo. Even though Wenger has bid for Frank Ribery, I can’t see it happening, I guess he would move to Chelsea who have reportedly increased their bid to buy the French winger for 50 million pounds.

The players who are likely to move from Emirates are Emmanuel Adebayor with both the Milans and Chelsea are ready to acquire the services of the Togo forward, Emmanuel Eboue is ready to part ways with the club and most likely to move to Serie A, William Gallas is also another player who wants to leave the club for all the things that happened last season and Nicholas Bendtner should leave the club for fans sake. Even though Manchester City have bid 12 million pounds for 28 years old Kolo Toure, he won’t leave the club unless Wenger wants to sell him, he is so dedicated to the club. And also Real Madrid have shown interest in Gael Clichy, one of the best left back at the movement, he is one of the long serving gunners I guess he won’t leave the club for any thing cheap, any ways he has replacement in the squad, Kieran Gibbs and Armand Traore have shown some quality of the late. Francesc Fabregas won’t leave the club, even though many Spanish and Italian clubs has shown interest to sigh the 22 year Spanish playmaker. So with all the possible player transfers, this is how Arsenal formation for next season could look like.

Arsenal Team Lign Up For Next Season | Arsenal Formation | 4 5 1 Formation

I have gone for 4 5 1 formation, I thought it suites better with the new players. Manuel Almunia is the goalie, I wish he stays fit for the complete season, Thomas Vermaelen will partner Kolo Toure as central stoppers with French internationals Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy completing as the back four. Felipe Melo is the defensive midfielder, hope he fits in the Arsenal most problematic position of the last season. Andrei Arshavin and Gunners skipper Cesc Fabregas play along side in the central midfield, both have shown how good assisting players they are over the years with accurate passing and creativity. Robin Van Persie and Theo Wolcott are the left and right wingers with Karim Benzema playing the lone striker. The reason why I have gone for 4 5 1 formation is that the position of these three players are such that they all play in forward position. The reason why Barcelona was successful last season was due the three man formidable attack force of Thierry Henry, Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto’o. I desperately hope that RVP, Wolcott and Benzema will recreate them.

Arsene wenger wants to win Silverware this season

It’s obvious that every football manager wants to win silverware every season but at what cost is the important point. With Arsene Wenger bids of 40 and 25 million pounds for Frank Ribery and Karim Benzema denotes that he wants to win at all costs. Wenger is well known for his policy of not paying huge sums to acquire players rather signing young and talented players who are the one for the future kind. It’s a strange and uncharacteristic bids from MR. Wenger, may be he feels that we have to win something this time around or to retain this tag “FAB FOUR” as there any many teams catching up.

Wenger is the kind of manager who believes in traditional ways in running a club, that’s nothing but having some portions of last season profits as transfer budgets and pumping in extra money through sale of players. Recently in an interview he even stated that modern day football is driven by “ARTIFICIAL MONEY”, clubs like Manchester City, Chelsea F C owned by Billionaires allot huge sums like 100 million pounds as their transfer budget. These clubs are just killing the players loyalty which we were used see in the years before. Gone are the days when a clubs say there star player as “NOT FOR SALE” or “PRICELESS”, every one has a price. I guess every one will accept this by the recent transfers of Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Coming again to bids for Ribery and Benzema, if Wenger signs both of them some how, Arsenal would have 8 French International in team squad of a English Premier League, which could stings some difficulties for the club like lack of local fans which could reduce the stadium audiences and merchandise sales and lack of interest for young English footballers to be a “Gunner”. Even now many football pundits tag Arsenal F C as “French Premier League Team” with a French Manager.

The latest transfer gossip surfacing in the all the football portals and tabloids is that Arsene Wenger has entered in the race for acquiring the services of French Internationals Karim Benzema for 25 Million pounds and Franck Ribery for 40 million pounds. Karim Benzema is reportedly is keen on working with the French manager and also frequent first team appearances in eye for the 2010 FIFA world cup, Manchester United and Real Madrid have bid for the Lyon Striker but Benzema has intended to stay at Lyon since he sensed he wouldn’t get regular first team appearances. Well if he signs for Arsenal it would do great wonders for the club and him personally, since gunners need a creative, strong and determined striker as a replacement to Emmanuel Adebayor who is set leave the emirates as clubs like A C Milan, Inter Milan, Chelsea have shown interest in the African Player of the year. Karim Benzema can also bring back the glorious days of Arsenal as a successor to Thierry Henry. If I’m the France Football Team manager I would suggest Benzema to join Arsenal since there are lots of French internationals in the team than in Olympique Lyonnais, Is there any other regular first team French International other than Benzema in Lyon? William Gallas, Mikael Silvestre, Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy, Samir Nasri and Diaby all are at Arsenal F C, so its would be like playing for France with a French Manager and also Benzema would feel he is not in an alien world.

Karim Benzema to Arsenal for 25 millions

The other player for whom Arsene Wenger bid for is the Bayern Munich’s French winger Franck Ribery. The rumors say the Wenger has offered 30 Million pounds + 10 million pounds rated Nicholas Bendtner for Ribery. But according to me Arsenal Don’t need Ribery, they already have Samir Nasri, Andrei Arshavin have Theo Walcott in that position. All they need is a Defensive Midfielder. The other player who has been recently linked with gunners is the Brazil International Felipe Melo. Reports also have suggested that Arsene Wenger has offered 15 million pounds for Melo but the Brazilian is set to asses his career after the FIFA Confederations Cup tournament, Well the tournament is over and Brazil have won it and many football pundits singing praises for the 26 years old has increased the players reputations and many club have started scouting the Brazilian. Gilberto Silva who have left Arsenal last season has suggested Felipe Melo to join his ex-club and stated the “he is all Gunners need”.

Felipe melo to Arsenal's rescue

In my previous post I Have mentioned that all Arsenal need is Joleon Lescott and Xabi Alonso, but its clear now that both won’t be at Emirates next season. Arsene Wenger has now gone for other similar players. He has signed Ajax’s captain Thomas Vermaelen, may say it’s too much for the 23 years old, but remember he is versatile player and prolific scorer so Arsene has found player similar to Lescott. And Wenger has offered 15 million for Felipe Melo who many suggest can fill in as Xabi Alonso.

So, Arsenal needs to pump in 40 Million Pound for their recent sensible transfer targets. Adebayor’s sale could fetch anything between 20-25 million pounds, so Arsene could swap this money to land in Karim Benzema or he could sell the Bendtner (some German and Italian clubs has shown interest in the 6 foot 3 inches forward) and get extra mills. Wenger needs few more mills for Phillip Mello, so he can use Denilson as swap player which would reduce 7 – 10 million in the total sum for acquiring Mello. And there are few other player who he sell and cash in like Emmanuel Eboue, Abou Diaby and other young players who are not that good enough to be a gunner. My suggestions would not only help Wenger to win something but also a profitable transfer season.

Robin Van Persie for O2 Player of the season

Robin Van Persie should the O2 Arsenal Player Of the season. All the stats favor him will 17 goals this season in which 11 of those of in the premier league and top assisting player in the premier league with 11 assists shows that he had his best season in his footballing career.  RVP is the stand out winner for O2 Player of the season.

With another humiliating defeat against a top club (now Chelsea then Manchester United), Arsene Wenger will be targeting a solid and experienced defender. The last two games at the Emirates stadium saw Gunners conceding 7 goals. Arsenal defense is the major led down in the recent years, just compare the back four a few years back and now you will feel the drastic difference. The well known William Gallas controversy is also a reason for the defensive depletion and also he is aging, so replace him with a guy who can fill him as a central defender a prolific scorer in dead ball situations, only Joleon Lescott come to my mind, he was the highest scoring defender in 2007 2008 season with eight goals and this season he has scored some crucial goals for Everton. Arsene just go for him, but it would cost 10 million pounds. If Arsenal F C not willing to pay that much for a defender then trade Gallas to A C Milan who are reported to be interested in his service and get some funds to get Lescott.

Joleon Lescott | Joleon Lescott For Arsenal

Another area where Arsenal can be strengthened is in the central midfield. They need a good solid experienced defensive midfielder. I’m not satisfied with the inconsistent display by Alex Song, may be he is too young to be a defensive midfielder of such a attacking side. According to me Xabi Alanso will be perfect to live up to the most difficult and most important job in Football and also he will combine well with Fabregas and release him as an attacking midfielder, few matches ago we saw how effective Fabregas could be as a attacker rather than holding back. Rest of the midfield is unchangeable with the likes Andrei Arshavin, Theo Walcott, Samir Nasri and Denilson in the squad.

Xabi Alonso and Cesc Fabregas

Arsenal doesn’t need strikes they have all kinds of attackers they have strong Adebayor, technical Robin Van Persie, natural finisher Eduardo and swift Carlos Vela. Note I didn’t mention Bendtner, I don’t want him in the team he is not a gunner. His goal tally of 15 this season will help Wenger to trade him to a good price. I completely accept with Wenger who recently said that Arsenal don’t need strikers and also he said “We are unstable at the back”, so the two players I have mentioned would be the ideal targets for the next season 2009-2010.

Andrei Arshavin on Tuesday 21 April 09 scored four goals against Liverpool and become the only the 14th footballer to score four or more goals in a match in the English premier league and the second Arsenal player to score four goals four goals next to Thierry Henry. Here is the instance of EPL players scoring four or more goals

1. Efan Ekoku of Norwich City scored 4 goals against Everton
2. Andrew Cole of Manchester United scored 5 goals against Ipswich
3. Robbie Fowler of Liverpool F C scored 4 goals against Bolton
4. Robbie Fowler of Liverpool F C Scored 4 goals against Middlesbrough
5. Gianluca Vialli of Chelsea F C scored 4 goals against Barnsley
6. Jurgen Klinsmann of Tottenham Hotspur scored 4 goals against Wimbledon
7. Michael Owen of Liverpool F C scored 4 goals against Nottingham Forest
8. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer of Manchester United scored 4 goals against Nottingham Forest
9. Andrew Cole of Manchester United scored 4 goals against Newcastle United
10. Alan Shearer of Newcastle United scored 5 goals against Sheffield Wednesday
11. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer of Manchester United scored 4 goals against Everton
12. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink of Chelsea F C scored 4 goals against Coventry
13. Mark Viduka of Leeds United scored 4 goals against Liverpool F C
14. Michael Owen of Liverpool F C scored 4 goals against WBA
15. Thierry Henry of Arsenal F C scored 4 goals against Leeds United
16. Yakubu Aiyegbeni of Portsmouth scored 4 goals against Middlesbrough
17. Dimitar Berbatov of Tottenham Hotspurs scored 4 goals against Reading
18. Frank Lampard of Chelsea F C scored 4 goals against Derby
19. Andrei Arshavin of Arsenal F C scored 4 goals against Liverpool F C

Andrei Arshavin Strange Celebrations

Its also good to see in the list that arsenal have never been in the recieving end!

The other thing that made me to write this post is the strange celebration of Andrei Arshavin, i think he is signaling his critics to be silent. He also signaled 3 fingerst after scoring three goals and four after scoring four goals, may be thats the best way to communicate with his new english fans!