Jack Wilshere May Be The Future But It’s a History Lesson Arsenal Need Most
by Jon WestFiled under: Arsenal, Champions League, Premier League, Football
Jack Wilshere reckons the criticism levelled at Arsene Wenger is "a joke" but for many Arsenal's demise is no laughing matter.
Two wins out of seven in the Premier League have intensified discussions among those of an Emirates persuasion on the subject of whether the Frenchman has taken the Gunners as far as he can.
"We haven't won anything for six years and that's not good enough," Wilshere admitted to the Evening Standard. "But the criticism we get is harsh, though, especially on the boss. He has been great for Arsenal. The criticism Arsene gets is just a joke."
You would expect Wilshere to be full square behind his manager as the teenager is a real rarity at Wenger's Arsenal: a local lad deemed good enough for the first team while still a teenager.
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But inadvertently Wilshere also hit the nail on the head. Wenger has indeed been great for Arsenal but increasingly everything he has achieved is moving into the past tense. Those glory days are fading away into history, game by game, season by season.
And no-one knows that more than Alex Fynn and Kevin Whitcher, whose updated version of their 2008 book Arsenal: The Making of a Modern Superclub makes pertinent reading in the era of Per Mertesacker, Carl Jenkinson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, even though all three were signed after it had been sent off to the printers.
The book as a whole is a story known to all football fans: unknown foreigner (or at least unknown on these shores) enjoys instant success with a decent but dull side he had inherited and goes on to create another that was much, much better before, slowly but surely, starting to lose his way.
And it is the added chapters which outline just how far Arsenal have fallen behind their rivals, and by that we don't just mean the 12 extra points that both Manchester clubs currently possess in the Premier League table, and how much Wenger, with his insistence on doing everything himself behind the scenes and picking potential over experience on the pitch, is the reason.
How many of the post-2004 personnel would have forced their way into the Invincibles side asks financial expert Fynn and fanzine editor Whitcher, who come up with the answer of Bacary Sagna (but only because Lauren wasn't that hot at right-back), Cesc Fabregas and perhaps Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie.
"How in 2010-11 could the manager believe he had a potential title-winning squad which depended upon a spine of (Manuel) Almunia, (Sebastien) Squillaci and Denilson?" they ask before pointing to statistics that show that the midfielders do not score enough (reason: Wenger's insistence on a 'tippy-tappy passing game means moves are over-elaborate) and the defence lets in too many, especially from set-pieces.
"Since when did an uncapped or immature goalkeeper and a less-than-world-class central defensive pairing anchor a championship-winning side?" they ask. Quite.
And their prediction for the future? That Wenger will never change, and, in all probability, not be forced out any time soon either, although failure to qualify for the Champions League might just prompt another few hastily-added chapters next summer.
So long as Wenger continues to keep Arsenal at the top table by not spending half as much money as their rivals then the chances are he will be allowed to carry on leading a club which has become synonymous with a brand of entertaining football similar to the Hungary side of the 1950s, the Netherlands in the 1970s and the Brazil of the 1980s.
None of whom won anything either, the book duly notes...
Arsenal: The Making of a Modern Superclub by Alex Fynn and Kevin Whitcher, published by Vision Sports Publishing at £8.99
Gareth Bale’s Assessment of Arsenal’s Woes Makes Painful Reading For Arsene Wenger
by Ian WinrowFiled under: Arsenal, Tottenham, Premier League, Football
Arsene Wenger isn't known for his willingness to embrace the advice of others so it is highly unlikely he will welcome Gareth Bale's contribution to the debate about Arsenal's decline.
As if it wasn't bad enough that the Tottenham midfielder could savour a derby win, Bale reacted to his side's victory by also offering his own analysis of the problems that have afflicted Wenger's side this season.
"Arsenal have lost a few players, which makes them more beatable I think as that has damaged the way they play," he told the London Evening Standard. "We exposed that. I think keeping your best players is a massive thing. They are used to how you play and what you do. It is vitally important to do that and build your team around them."
Bale was making the comparison between Spurs' success in holding onto Luka Modric in the face of interest from Chelsea and Arsenal's inability to keep Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri at the club.
"It is important that we have kept him [Modric], and Arsenal were unlucky not to keep theirs," he added, before offering encouragement to Tottenham's closest rivals. "But they are still a great team. They haven't had the best of starts but I am sure they will improve.
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"They have a lot of young players who are going to grow up in the next season or two and learn a lot. I am sure they will be fine."
Losing to Spurs is painful in its own right, being forced to listen to soothing words of encouragement from the young winger must be agony for Wenger and his players. If anything is going to fire up their season, it will surely be that.
Bale has a point though, although the reason the two teams appear to be following different trajectories goes beyond the movements of Fabregas, Nasri and Modric.
Tottenham's victory was built on the midfield platform provided by Scott Parker who is maintaining the form he showed for West Ham last season. Wenger could have pursued Parker this summer but decided against it, giving Redknapp a clearer run at the player. On the evidence of the game at White Hart Lane, there was no doubt whose judgement appeared the better advised.
Equally, the performance of Emmanuel Adebayor emphasised Redknapp's knack of buying players who will make an impact on his side.
Wenger's signings have, in more recent times, been slow burners, frequently young players who will take time to mature. His batch of summer recruits include several more experienced players who have come into the team but they have so far failed to match the deficit created by the departure of Fabregas and Nasri.
Redknapp frequently claims the key to success is the players at a manager's disposal. And right now, it is hard to dispute the inference that it is the Tottenham manager who has accumulated a stronger, more stable collection of players than Wenger.
Tottenham v Arsenal Preview: Emmanuel Adebayor Faces Former Club
by Mike McGrathFiled under: Arsenal, Tottenham, Premier League, Football, Match Previews
PREMIER LEAGUE: WHITE HART LANE, SUNDAY OCTOBER 2, 2011. KICK-OFF 1600 BST
Last year it was William Gallas, but this season the focus will be on Emmanuel Adebayor when Tottenham face their bitter rivals Arsenal.
While Gallas left the Emirates Stadium and was signed by Harry Redknapp for the next campaign, Adebayor has joined Spurs via a spell at Manchester City and a loan at Real Madrid.
But that will not have softened the attitude of Gunners supporters after he ran the length of the pitch to taunt them with his celebration after scoring for City against his old club two years ago.
He felt fans had made him a scapegoat for his club's failings. And it got worse since he left. Still no trophies and now a start to the season where Arsene Wenger's methods have come under intense scrutiny.
Victory over Bolton has not masked the problems at Arsenal, who are short of confidence and have lost to Blackburn and Liverpool as well as getting thrashed at Manchester United.
Form is usually irrelevant when it comes to derby matches. And Arsenal will be looking for revenge after letting two-goal leads slip against their rivals twice last season.
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Key Match-up: Emmanuel Adebayor v Per Mertesacker: Adebayor has made an instant impact since arriving from City on loan. So far it is three goals from as many games and he has set up plenty of other chances with his powerful displays. Mertesacker arrived from Werder Bremen just before the transfer deadline passed and is still adjusting to life in the Premier League. Not been helped by joining a defence short on confidence.
Form Guide: Spurs have won three Premier League matches in a row and have improved after a poor start. Arsenal have recorded a trio of victories in all competitions but are still short of confidence and have not hit anything like their top form.
Odds: Tottenham 11/10, Arsenal 23/10, Draw 5/2
TOTTENHAM:
Tottenham manager Redknapp rested his key players in the Europa League this week to make sure they are ready to face Arsenal. He has backed Adebayor to rise to the occasion of facing his former club.
"It is another great opportunity for Emmanuel Adebayor to play for Tottenham," Redknapp said. "He has been playing well for us, the crowd love him and he has been a big bonus for us so far. His performances have been fantastic. Let's hope he can keep that up.
"There is always aggravation when players leave clubs but he will get on and hopefully play well. William Gallas played against Arsenal last year and for me was the man of the match.
"He showed his character last year in that game and I am sure Manu will do the same on Sunday."
Redknapp believes Arsenal will still mount a challenge for a top-four place this season, despite their poor start.
He added: "I would not write Arsenal off. And if you write Arsenal off in your newspaper you could be made to eat all those words. They are a good side with a great manager. Liverpool will be up there and so will Tottenham and I would not write any of us off.
"We keep talking about finishing fourth - who knows, we might not. We may finish third or second - it's not impossible."
Redknapp believes Ledley King could be important. The Spurs skipper will be asked how his knee feels on the eve of the game.
"He has been great since he played this season," Redknapp said. "He made a big impact in the last three league games and has been a top class player.
"He won't train again as usual and will come out on Saturday morning and hopefully have a little 15 minutes, do okay, and play on Sunday again. I'm sure he will be great for us."
Strategy: Gareth Bale will be asked to attack at pace, as will Aaron Lennon if he is passed fit. Adebayor then provides a more direct route to goal.
Injury Update: Gallas is struggling with a calf injury. Michael Dawson and Tom Huddlestone are out. Lennon is hoping to be fit after problems with his groin.
ARSENAL:
While Spurs have Adebayor, Robin van Persie will be the focal point of Arsenal's attack. He approaching his best, with five goals already this season.
"I am very demanding with Robin and he does as well as I expect him to," said Wenger. "He plays well with the team, with the other players, he finishes well, his finishing record is absolutely fantastic and he is not only a finisher.
On Van Persie's future and signing a new contract, Wenger added: "That depends on us and on him. On our side we are quite clear so that is no problem.
"I do not say there is no problem because it does not depend only on us but we are clear with our intention. After that you have to respect that he has nearly two years to go so let's not make an immediate issue of something like that. Two years in football is a very, very long time."
Wenger is hoping the win against Olympiacos in midweek will help build confidence.
He said: "Any victory will help us. I have always been optimistic because I feel that the players are mentally strong, focused, I am impressed by the quality of all the players we brought in, not only on the football pitch that I knew but also their mental attitude is absolutely fantastic.
"That's why even before the Bolton game I was very positive about our future. But that is what's at stake for us - to show we can deliver week-in week-out."
Strategy: They will attempt to dictate the pace of the game with their passing style. Van Persie will lead the attack and Mikel Arteta will pull the strings in midfield.
Injury Update: Wenger needs to check on Laurent Koscielny, Theo Walcott and Gervinho.
Kevin Doyle Has His Best Years Ahead of Him at Wolverhampton
by John PercyFiled under: Arsenal, Liverpool, Wolverhampton, Premier League, Football
Mick McCarthy has been in real need of a lift after a difficult few weeks at Molineux and persuading Kevin Doyle to sign a new deal is a massive boost in his bid for Premier League survival.
Doyle is the undoubted talisman at Wolves and epitomises the whole-hearted spirited approach of McCarthy's squad and will now be committing his best years to McCarthy after agreeing a new four-year deal.
The likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and even Juventus have been huge admirers of the Republic of Ireland international without ever firming up their interest but this news will kill off any fears of a raid for at least another season.
It also shows that, despite struggling annually to stave off relegation, Doyle clearly believes McCarthy is making progress and Wolves are a club on the up.
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Doyle is one of football's deep thinkers and will not have signed this contract without giving the matter considerable thought.
McCarthy's mission this season may he humble, in that midtable mediocrity will be a huge step forward. But Doyle obviously feels at home and prefers being a big fish in a small pond, as opposed to battling it out at somewhere like the Emirates where there would be no cast iron guarantees of first-team football.
He said: "We know that this league is very tough and that we have to make sure we stay in the division, first and foremost.
"There are exciting plans here for the next four years. There will be setbacks along the way - sometimes we may take two steps forward and then one back - but the club is going to get better.
"Hopefully in four years' time we will see Wolves as a club that is consolidated in the top division but we know that will take a lot of hard work to continue what has already been started. There's a real feeling this club is going places."
Doyle's lack of goals has always been levelled at him and he only has one to his name so far this season. There were only five Premier League goals last term, too, which may explain why a manager like Arsene Wenger was cautious to make his move.
Jack Wilshere’s Five-month Lay-off is a Major Blow For Arsene Wenger
by Matt ButlerFiled under: Arsenal, Champions League, Premier League, Football
Just days after Arsene Wenger actually appeared to enjoy an afternoon at the game, the manager has been forced to confront the fact he will be without Jack Wilshere for five months.
The midfielder has had surgery for an ankle problem that provoked only minor concern when he was forced out of the pre-season friendly with New York Red Bulls back in July, but was subsequently diagnosed as a stress fracture.
That means he could be missing for around 20 more Premier League games and may not play until the Champions League last 16 ties.
Wilshere's absence is a setback for Arsenal, who have made an inauspicious start to the season and who would have loved the England man to slot into the space left by Cesc Fabregas to soften the blow of their captain leaving.
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Consequently, the fact his injury has not responded to a rest cure is frustrating. Manager Arsene Wenger had acknowledged earlier this season that Wilshere had been played too much and said after Wilshere had been out two weeks that he had a "hot spot" on his ankle that may have been "a consequence of overuse last year".
The hope was that a period of inaction during which Wilshere wore a protective boot would help the injury to heal. It didn't, and a decision was made to undergo surgery.
The timing could have been worse - had this happened in the wake of the 8-2 defeat at Manchester United it would have been another devastating blow to morale - but not much worse.
Wenger's side may have shown signs of a return to form in the second half against Bolton last weekend but Wilshere's absence has only served to underline just how important he is to the team. Without him, the task of reviving a stuttering campaign becomes an awful lot harder.
England will suffer too, although a consequence of this lay-off is that, assuming Fabio Capello's side qualify, Wilshere should head to the Euro 2012 finals fit and fresh.
At least the player is showing no signs of being weighed down by the latest disappointment. His Twitter followers were treated to a picture of the player laid up in a hospital bed smiling, while he admitted he kept falling asleep because of the drugs.
The club announced on Monday afternoon: "Under the care of two world renowned surgeons, Jack has had the stress fracture of his right ankle repaired. The initial indications are that the surgery has been successful and Jack will now undergo a prolonged period of rehabilitation.
"It is envisaged that Jack's rehabilitation will take a period of four to five months."
Wilshere himself over-used the exclamation mark key - not to mention risking censure from hospital staff on the lookout for patients breaking the inevitable "no mobile phones" rule - as he tweeted: "Had my operation and all went well!
"I am feeling good will spend the night in hospital to monitor me but apart from that I am happy! I am lying in my hospital bed recovering. still a bit drowsy so awake one minute asleep the next!"
Now that he has had his ankle cut open, the rehabilitation will be less uncertain.
In months to come, Wenger and his medical staff will face the tricky decision of when to re-integrate Wilshere into the team - and that's another decision with little margin for error.
Arsenal Must Act Quickly to Extend Robin Van Persie’s Contract
by John PercyFiled under: Arsenal, Premier League, Football
Life is never straightforward at Arsenal these days, and even Robin Van Persie managed to add to the uncertainty at a time when it should have all been about easing the pressure on Arsene Wenger.
Van Persie underlined his importance to the Gunners by notching his 100th goal for the club in the vital victory over Bolton but the topic of debate on Monday didn't centre exclusively on that impressive achievement.
Headlines proclaiming the Netherlands international's contract talks have been put on hold will hardly be further palatable reading for Wenger, who will have been staggered to see one newspaper on Saturday printing a poll over whether he should stay or go.
The situation with Van Persie is no immediate concern, with his current deal having another two years left to run.
But the recent messy departure of Samir Nasri after hesistancy from the Gunners board, could leave Wenger with another potential headache if he does indeed stick around for the long-term.
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Nasri was vulnerable because he had been allowed to reach the final year of his contract, forcing the board to balance any offer with the possibility he could leave for nothing in 12 months time, and history cannot be repeated if the club is to make any forward strides.
Van Persie told The Mirror: "I still have almost two years until 2013. So for the moment that's fine, but I don't know. We will have to look.
"I'm happy with my contract, I'm good. That's how it is, I can't say much more. I can't look into the future.
"The main thing for me is the team and that we play well. I do believe you have to look for a right moment to sit down and speak about your own stuff. It's not only about me, it's about the team.
"I don't want to give the wrong message to speak about my own stuff while the others are a bit more important. I can't say we are talking now because we are so busy - we have games every three or four days."
Wenger is desperate to tie down one of his few remaining prized assets and will want to accelerate talks to prevent another high-profile departure.
The inference is fairly clear from Van Persie, however. He will want an indication that Arsenal are going places before committing himself to a longer deal.
Arsene Wenger Admits He is Powerless to Stop Arsenal Talent Exodus
by Jon WestFiled under: Arsenal, Champions League, Premier League, Football
It's easy to criticise Arsene Wenger. He's stubborn, irritatingly one-eyed when it comes to his players' on-field indiscretions and glacially slow in the transfer market, but the majority of Gunners fans would take all that for a repeat of the success they used to enjoy just a few seasons ago.
Except that those glory days are more unlikely than ever to be returning to the red half of north London, and for one good reason. And it's not Arsene Wenger, who has received yet more bad news on the injury front by confirmation that Jack Wilshere requires an operation on his damaged ankle and will not be available for selection before Christmas.
Robin van Persie, Theo Walcott, Thomas Vermaelen, Andrei Arshavin and Johan Djourou are nearing the final season of their contracts and the Gunners board are not among the top wage payers in world football.
Which means the players in question could very well follow Samir Nasri's path out if the Emirates Stadium exit door rather than sign new deals, forcing Arsenal to sell before they become free agents in 2013.
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Of course, many fans would be delighted to wave good-bye to error-prone defender Djourou and frustratingly inconsistent forward Arshavin. But losing van Persie, captain and the undisputed jewel in the Gunners' crown now that Cesc Fabregas has left, would be a huge blow. Walcott's pace makes him all but impossible to replace and the injury-hit Vermaelen is missed at the back every time Arsenal have to take the field without him.
And Wenger's hands are tied by his employers' wage ceiling policy.
"We will try to sign them but we have tried before," Wenger admitted. "The gap on that front has become bigger for us. I cannot say that if we go to our maximum wage we are sure to sign the players.
"We will try to convince them. Our desire is there and we are ready to sit down with them. After that we will see where we go."
Of course, much will depend on how Arsenal fare over the next few months in the Champions League as well as the Premier League, where they began the weekend fourth from bottom.
Keeping van Persie would be every fan's priority and the Netherlands international is understood to be on around £80,000 a week at the moment. The Arsenal hierarchy would no doubt be willing to raise that figure but have so far shied away from trying to compete with the real big spenders in the game, the clubs Wenger bitterly accuses of being guilty of financial doping.
He has a point but even if he wins his crusade to enforce a fairer financial playing field the victory will probably come too late to stop Arsenal's current stars from having picked up one big pay day elsewhere.
And that will leave him with no option but to have another crack at defying the odds with talented youngsters. One last crack perhaps. No wonder, then, that Wenger is feeling protective - and grumpy.
"When you have heavy criticism of a young player I am more worried about it," he said. "I am supposed to take the bullets and absorb them. Like a bear. A polar bear.
"In fairness, it does not hurt too much. You worry more about the young player who gets in the team at the moment and gets slaughtered, it's much more difficult. When I was 19 that was much more difficult to take for me.
"I'm a human being and I prefer it when you say I am not an idiot. But I know that it is an emotional game and I have to deal with that. That is why it is important that we do well for the club. That we try to get our fans happy again."
No-one thinks Wenger is an idiot. How could they with his track record? But he will find it increasingly difficult to please the fans as for as long as the board is content with being also-rans financially then the team is likely to be just the same on the pitch.
Owner Stan Kroenke is not short of cash but so far the American has shown Gunners fans precious little of it. Now might be a good time to change that, too.
Arsenal v Bolton Preview: Title Race Not Over, Insists Arsene Wenger
by Darren WitcoopFiled under: Arsenal, Bolton, Premier League, Football, Match Previews
PREMIER LEAGUE: EMIRATES STADIUM, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBERB 24, 2011. KICK-OFF: 1500 BST
Another quiet week in an uneventful season for Arsenal. If only.
The midweek Carling Cup victory over Shrewsbury was greeted with relief and spared Arsene Wenger further discomfort but, having been publicly backed by Ivan Gazidis, the club's chief executive, before the game, the manager's position was again the focus of debate.
Wenger insists he accepts criticism as part of the job but is increasingly frustrated at the speed which judgements are formed about the performance of himself and his players. He has also made it clear he is realistic enough to know it will be results that settle any arguments about whether the club is moving in the right direction.
On that count, it would be hard to make a case for progress with only one win in five league game, increasing the pressure on this meeting with a Bolton side currently bereft of confidence and without a point since the opening day.
The presence of Gary Cahill in the Wanderers line-up will also concentrate minds on Wenger's transfer policy this summer. Arsenal's late bid for the England centre back was dismissed by Bolton as derisory and Wenger then opted to bring in Per Mertesacker from Werder Bremen.
The Germany international has so far failed to plug the gaps in the Gunners' defence and an impressive performance from Cahill is likely to encourage Wenger to revive his interest in January.
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Key Match-up: Robin van Persie v Gary Cahill: Attention has been trained on Arsenal's defensive problems but they have hardly been in shining form up front where Van Persie has too often laboured alone. Cahill has the pace to match the Holland forward but must avoid a lapse of concentration if he is to win this personal battle.
Form Guide: The last home league game against Swansea produced Arsenal only win of the Premier League season and was quickly eclipsed by last weekend's defeat at Blackburn. Bolton have lost, not unexpectedly, to both Manchester clubs and Liverpool but last weekend's home defeat to Norwich was particularly painful.
Odds: Arsenal 4/9, Bolton 13/2, draw 10/3
ARSENAL:
As disappointing as Arsenal's start has been, Wenger refuses to concede his side is already out of the running for the Premier League title despite already lying eleven points behind leaders Manchester United.
He accepts, though, that his side's current standing in the race is causing him concern. "Of course I am worried," he told a media briefing. "It is absolutely not realistic not to be worried when you have a team like Manchester United in front of you.
"The only thing we can do is focus on our performances, win our games and hope they will drop some points at some stage. For us, at the moment, we have to be realistic. Let's not look too much at Manchester United and win our next game."
And he added: "What is important for us is to give absolutely everything to do it. At the moment it is too early to speak about that. Let's come back to a better distance with the top teams before we speak about that. If the team gets momentum, we can be very strong."
The Premier League aside, Wenger believes his side has suffered because of the demands already placed on them by the Champions League.
"I still believe we paid a very heavy price for the Udinese game, where we didn't get any credit at all," he said. "Today, they are top of the league. We had to give absolutely everything at Dortmund and in the second half at Blackburn you could see that.
"Our start of the season was disturbed by the transfers and by the fact that we had to qualify for the Champions League. We lost a lot of energy in these games."
Strategy: Bolton are well practised at unsettling Arsenal and Mertesacker will face his most testing examination yet against Kevin Davies. Wanderers have been poor this season, however, and if Arsenal fail to establish midfield superiority over Coyle's side, Wenger's mood will darken further.
Injury Update: Aaron Ramsey and Bacary Sagna trained on Friday morning while Tomas Rosicky is fit again. Yossi Benayoun, Johan Djourou, Thomas Vermaelen and Abou Diaby are out.
BOLTON WANDERERS:
Owen Coyle, who called his struggling Bolton team in for extra training the aftermath of their Premier League loss to Norwich, reckons hard work is the only way his side can fight their way out of the current slump.
Bolton have failed to enjoy a win since the opening-day and lie just foot place off the foot of the table.
But the Bolton manager said: "Regardless of who it is, no-one in football enjoys losing games or under-performing for whatever reason.
"When you lose a game, you have to go away and look extensively at everything.
"I'm totally understanding of where we are as a football club and I certainly don't want to be second bottom in the league.
"I think because of the tough start we had, everyone would have perceived that Norwich would have been a great three points. If we had got them, we would be quite content with six points from the first five games.
"But we didn't. And how do you react to that? You get back and work hard."
In the opposite dugout, Arsene Wenger's position at Arsenal has also come under some scrutiny after the Gunners' worst start to a season for 58 years.
But Coyle is at a loss to explain why Wenger has come under such heavy fire.
He added: "We understand how football works but for me, it's absolutely ridiculous.
"He's one of the best managers football has ever been lucky enough to have.
"But we know the nature of the game and Arsene will as well. But if he left Arsenal then I'd suggest there would be nobody else out there better to do the job.
"He's an outstanding manager and he's shown that year after year with his players and in the way they play."
Strategy: Expect Coyle to pack his midfield and revert to a 4-5-1 formation in a bid to stop the rot. He will look to grind out at least a point and an early goal would help them achieve that - as well as heap the pressure on the Arsenal players given their poor start to the season.
Injury Update: Coyle may opt to rest Stuart Holden, who has just returned after six months out, while Sam Ricketts and Sean Davis are among the long-term absentees. Ivan Klasnic is suspended.
Stoke v Man United Preview: Ferguson Defends Staff After Owen Hargreaves Outburst
by John PercyFiled under: Manchester United, Stoke City, Premier League, Football, Match Previews
PREMIER LEAGUE: BRITANNIA STADIUM, SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 24th 2011. KICK-OFF: 1730 BST
While Sir Alex Ferguson has seen bitter rivals including Arsene Wenger and Kenny Dalglish struggle against Stoke, he has found encounters with Tony Pulis a breeze.
Six consecutive Premier League matches against Stoke's renowned party poopers have all ended in United victories and while other managers have emerged from this unforgiving venue with their noses bloodied, Ferguson is yet to see what the fuss is about.
United have not been beaten in any league encounter against the Potters since 1984 and could not be heading into their latest assignment in a better frame of mind.
Unbeaten in all competitions, including a stirring win over Chelsea last weekend and a regulation stroll against deadly enemies Leeds on Tuesday, United's season could receive yet another lift with the return of Rio Ferdinand.
The England international is pencilled in to make only his third appearance of the season here, providing Ferguson with even more options as United buck the trend with an excellent start to the campaign.
Stoke have made progress year on year since returning to the top flight, though, and this meeting surely represents their best chance yet of breaking the run of defeats.
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Key Match-Up: Peter Crouch v Rio Ferdinand. Crouch will be under more pressure to score now after the loss of Kenwyne Jones through injury and will be desperate to record his first goal against such illustrious opponents. Ferdinand will undoubtedly be rusty after such limited opportunities and view coming up against Crouch as an ideal way to bed himself back in.
Form Guide: Stoke's nine-match unbeaten run came to an end at Sunderland last weekend in emphatic fashion but they restored confidence by beating Spurs in the Carling Cup on penalties. United's draw against Benfica is the only blot on their campaign so far, with the other six games ending in victories.
Odds: Stoke 11/2, United 8/15, Draw 3/1
STOKE
Ryan Shawcross is on a mission to upset former club United's 100% start to the Premier League season and finally end Stoke's agonising 27-year wait for a win.
Stoke have lost six consecutive games to Ferguson since promotion to the top flight and not beaten United in the league since 1984.
But Pulis's Potters have only lost once at the Britannia Stadium this year and are determined to bounce back from their thrashing at Sunderland last weekend.
And Shawcross, who spent six years at Old Trafford, is desperate to end Ferguson's hoodoo over his club on Saturday.
He said: "The result and the performance at Sunderland were disappointing, but we move on now and we set our sights on another unbeaten run like the one we have just had.
"It will be hard to start that off against Manchester United because they are a top team, but everyone is beatable, and we know if we have the fans right behind us and we perform in a way we know we can, then we do have a chance.
"Last weekend was probably a bit of a reality check for us to be honest, especially having been on a nine-game unbeaten run to start the new season.
"Good runs have to come to an end, but it was disappointing for it to end in that fashion at Sunderland."
Strategy: Extra time and penalties were the last thing Pulis wanted ahead of this game, especially after fielding such a strong team against Spurs. The preparations and rehabilitation for this match will be meticulous as Pulis bids to keep his players refreshed for such a substantial challenge.
Stoke's record against United in the past could either work as an incentive or a mental hindrance.
Injury Update: Jones is facing three weeks on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury against Spurs. Shawcross will return to the team after he was rested in midweek. Danny Higginbotham (knee), Ricardo Fuller and Mamady Sidibe (both Achilles) are still out.
London Clubs in Manchester’s Shadow as Battle to Finish Top in the Capital Hots Up
by Mike McGrathFiled under: Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Premier League, Football
Mini-battles have started in the Premier League already, starting at the top where Manchester United and Manchester City have already shared 38 goals in their first five games.
Other teams will get sucked into a relegation battle, some have Champions League qualification ambitions. Everybody will have something to play for when the campaign heads into 2012.
With Manchester dominating the top, there is new contest to see who will finish top in the capital. It looks like Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham will running a close race to see who will be London's leader.
"If we keep doing well on the pitch, then we are a match for any team," said Spurs defender Younes Kaboul in the Evening Standard. "Can we finish as the top club in London? Yes, we can."
The odds are that United and City will remain in the top two places. They have the strongest squads in the league and it is theirs to lose.
Looking at the benches, even Chelsea are short of the Manchester clubs in terms of quality in depth. And has a team ever won a title with a player in such wretched form as Fernando Torres?
It would take the most dramatic surges of self-confidence for the Spaniard to inspire a championship charge and shake off his tag of being a £50 million misfit.
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"It's right that people are excited because of the amount of goals (United and City have scored)," said Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas. "Chelsea started 6-0, 6-0 last season and then it didn't happen. The impact on the rest of the season can be decisive or not."
Spurs did nothing in their first two games of the season, against United and City, to suggest they will be title challengers, even if their victory over Liverpool revived their hopes of finishing in the top four.
"We're certainly going to be challenging," said Spurs manager Harry Redknapp. "There's no doubt about that. I like the look of us. We've players coming back as well and we'll be strong. It will be tight. Stoke, Everton, Sunderland, whoever, they'll be pushing but I think there's probably six pushing for the top four and we'll certainly be one of those."
If Redknapp got the signings he wanted over the summer - including Giuseppe Rossi from Villarreal - then Spurs may have been challenging City and United. For now they are battling to get back in the Champions League, while Arsenal are fighting to stay there after their terrible start to the campaign.
"Arsenal have lost many players and it seems like they are having a bad time in the Premier League, although we never know with teams like that when they will wake up," Kaboul said.
Redknapp added: "Arsenal will improve, key players will come back like Jack Wilshere and Thomas Vermaelen, who make a big difference.
"Sometimes everything goes wrong and against Blackburn everything that could go wrong did go wrong - two own goals and missing a lot of chances."
They would settle for a top-four place at the moment. But the bottom line is that a title battle is remote. "I can understand that people are unhappy and criticise, but you know as well as I know people are very quick to go overboard," explained Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
It will be seven years without a trophy if they go empty handed again. But finishing top in London at least gives them something to work towards as they get back on track. The chances are it will be the only thing left to play for as United and City wrestle for the top.
With Friends Like These Arsene Wenger Makes It Clear He Prefers Enemies
by Jon WestFiled under: Arsenal, Carling Cup, Premier League, Football
A vote of confidence AND a clamour to get someone else in to sort out his defence? No wonder Arsene Wenger, currently presiding over Arsenal's worst start to a season in 58 years, was at his tetchiest after the 3-1 defeat of Shrewsbury.
Which had seen the League Two side take the lead and go close to doubling it in front of swathes of empty seats at the Emirates Stadium...
Of course the Gunners - a completely changed side from the one that had shipped four goals at Blackburn - came through in the end and Wenger will be hoping the game was a 90-minute premonition of the season as a whole: a bad start over-turned comfortably enough in the end.
Certainly there was much to cheer those who did comprise the Emirates Stadium's lowest attendance - and let's not forget there were more than 46,000 of them, a figure, like Arsenal's Champions League qualification record, that so many other clubs can only dream of.
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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain scored a fine goal on his full debut and midfielder Francis Coquelin, having been thrown in at the deep end in the 8-2 thrasing at Manchester United, was impressive enough to suggest he will be given plenty more opportunities in the Premier League.
But with chief executive Ivan Gazidis having given him vocal backing that was inevitably going to be translated into football-speak as 'the dreaded vote of confidence' Wenger wasn't happy.
"There is no issue about Arsene leaving," Gazidis said. "We are in a culture where things are easily discarded, and if this club were to give up the fundamentals that have made it so strong we would do ourselves more damage."
Former Highbury favourite and now Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson was very clear on exactly why the Gunners would not fire Wenger. "You don't sack someone who makes you money," he declared, referring not only to the Champions League cash but the amounts banked for the sales of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri as well.
Wenger doesn't mind pundits having their say so long as he can ignore it but when your chief executive starts spouting opinions however well-meaning then inevitably it was time for some typically withering Gallic scorn.
"My record? I have just managed 14 years at this club and I have kept them 14 years in the Champions League and I wish it lasts another 14 years," Wenger said.
"Whether I work here for the next ten years for the club or the next day I will let others assess the situation. I focus on doing well for the club. And I must tell you something, I'm not bothered at all by all this speculation, not at all.
"I am completely focused on doing well. I can understand that people are unhappy and criticise but you know as well as I know people are very quick to go overboard.
"I accept critics and I do not say it doesn't matter that people criticises us, I prefer it like anybody else when they say I am good. But you cannot complain when you lose a game and you are criticised.
"When we do well we take all the plaudits so we have to take as well all the blame when it doesn't go as well. But we have as well on both sides take some distance.
"When it goes well we must not completely believe what people say and when it does not go as well, we must not completely believe it."
Yes, but how about bringing in Tony Adams or Martin Keown as a defensive coach then Arsene?
"I've just completed 32 years of coaching," snapped Wenger in response. "I don't want to answer this kind of question."
Somebody certainly needs to provide an answer though, don't they Arsene?
Arsene Wenger Enters Dangerous Territory with Attack on Arsenal Players
by Matt ButlerFiled under: Arsenal, Premier League, Football
Football managers have a life cycle with four distinct stages - and there is a familiar sequence of events when it comes to the point when they are in trouble. First they defend their players. Then they express anger at criticism from outside. Then when things are looking increasingly bleak, they turn on their own squad.
Arsene Wenger is a manager in trouble and he has now entered the third stage. And with good reason, after their comedy of errors against Blackburn. After watching his players twice throw away a lead against Blackburn - who hadn't won this season before facing the Gunners - he lost his patience.
And the Arsenal manager, who is renowned for not seeing things as they are, spelled things out in a way he has seldom done. Or to pur it another way, he went Def Con four - by doing what managers with little to lose do. They become like fans and explain the shortcomings within the team.
Wenger said: "When you score an own goal, you have to look at yourself. It is never completely out of your reach where you have no chance at all.
"Our season depends now on how well we respond to this disappointment and how quickly we can cut out the mistakes we made on Saturday by giving away goals that we should never give away.
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"The Blackburn game was very disappointing and frustrating. I must say that the disappointments and frustrations are huge. We feel we gave that game away, not that we have lost the game. There is nothing worse in our job than having that feeling."
With these words - and with the run of results Arsenal has had - Wenger is clearly in phase three of a managerial life cycle. The unfortunate thing for him is that there are actually four phases. And the fourth ends with the board thanking him for his contribution and wishing him well.
Yes, he is edging closer to the unthinkable. Where he leaves Arsenal under "mutual consent". Or to use a more familiar term, he gets fired.
We are not jumping the gun yet, because until this season, Wenger has looked unsackable. We are just pointing out that his actions and words are looking familiar - to every manager that has found themselves in a sticky situation. So don't be surprised if he doesn't stay much longer.
But then again, who knows? All may change following a Carling Cup trouncing of Shrewsbury on Tuesday.
Blackburn 4 Arsenal 3: Yakubu Double Turns Heat on Arsene Wenger
by Neil JohnstonFiled under: Arsenal, Blackburn Rovers, Premier League, Football, Match Reports
Yakubu scored two goals to ease the pressure on Blackburn manager Steve Kean - and turn up the heat on Arsene Wenger.
Rovers fans marched before kick-off demanding the removal of Kean after a poor run of form.
But they were celebrating as Blackburn twice came from behind to win for the first time this season. Yakubu, a transfer deadline day signing from Everton, cancelled out Gervinho's opener before Mikel Arteta sent Arsenal into a 2-1 interval lead.
But an own goal by Alex Song, Yakubu's second of the game and another own goal by Laurent Koscielny sealed a stunning Rovers comeback as Arsenal failed to win away from home in the league for the seventh successive game.
THE GOALS
10mins: That's the 51st goal in 20 Premier League games that Paul Robinson has conceded against Arsenal. Song is allowed far too much time to wander up field and slip the ball to Gervinho who finishes well. (0-1)
25mins: Unbelievable. Blackburn should be dead and buried but against the run of play Yakubu equalises with a composed finish following Junior Hoilett's great pass. (1-1)
34 mins: Exquisite finish by Arteta as the Spaniard strokes home from 15-yards after Aaron Ramsey darts down the right before a perfect cut-back for the former Everton man to open his Arsenal goal account. (1-2)
50mins: Ruben Rochina's free-kick into the danger area hits Song's knee and rolls into the net with no Rovers players near him. (2-2)
59mins: Yakubu is in the right place at the right time to turn Steven Nzonzi's ball across goal from a corner over the line. (3-2)
69mins: Arsenal's defensive horror show is complete as substitute Martin Olsson's pull-back beats the keeper then hits Koscielny and bounces over the line. (4-2)
85mins: Marouane Chamakh's bullet header sets up a grandstand finish - but it's too little too late for poor Arsenal. (4-3)
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OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
8mins: Bacary Sagna's deep cross from right finds Robin Van Persie, whose goalbound header is hacked clear as Arsenal show early intent.
19mins: Free header for Chris Samba but the Blackburn defender somehow fails to find the target from close range after non-existent defending from Arsenal.
21mins: Robinson makes a vital save to prevent Andrey Arshavin from making it 2-0 after the Russian had been allowed space to shoot from 20-yards.
24mins: Blackburn's defence is all over the place. Sagna is allowed a free ride down the right and easily finds Gervinho who is wasteful as he fires high and wide. It proves a costly miss as Blackburn equalise soon after.
90mins: Chamakh's steers a close range header wide - and there goes Arsenal's last chance of salvaging a point.
REACTION:
Wenger vowed to carry on despite labelling Arsenal's start to the season as "terrible" following another defeat:
"Speculation is part of modern life. My future is focuing on what I do well which is give my best to the club. What can I do? Not talk too much."
On four points from five games:
"It's terrible. It's just not good enough and of course we are very frustrated. The number of goals we have conceded is just not good enough. On the other hand I believe the group will take off. But it's important we get good results."
On his side's defending:
"At the moment we are not capable of focusing for 90 minutes from a defensive point of view. When you are 2-1 up with the quality that we have, it is important that you don't give cheap goals away like we did."
Blackburn manager Kean said he was disappointed with the fans who took part in the protest before the game:
"I was disappointed with that. But even the people who did decide to demonstrate were fully behind the team when they came into the ground. I think 99% of fans decided not to protest. Hopefully the 1 per cent of fans who did will go home happy after seeing what the lads are trying to do.
On Blackburn's performance:
"I thought we were excellent and caused Arsenal all sorts of problems. The desire to win got us the points. Our second half performance showed what we've got in that dressing room, which is 100 per cent team spirit. The boys were really working hard for each other.
"We've got character in the side. We've been unfortunate not to have more points but we've got character and we showed that last season. To play against Arsenal is so difficult. You have to run for the ball and they gave everything. But the most important thing was to get three points and it's a very good feeling. I think we deserved to win."
WHAT IT MEANS:
Arsenal are in deep trouble. Incapable of defending, more than capable of blowing a lead. This was meant to be an ideal fixture to bury the 8-2 disaster at Manchester United. Instead the result has only added to Wenger's away day problems. Blackburn's season is up and running but Kean's task now is to ensure they do not go on another long run without a win. They managed just one victory in 12 attempts after defeating Liverpool last season. Kean will hope they don't experience a similar run.
BLACKBURN 4 (Yakubu 25, 59, Song og 50, Koscielny 69) ARSENAL 3 (Gervinho 10, Arteta 34, Chamakh 85)
PLAYER MARKING:
Blackburn (4-2-3-1): Robinson 7; Salgado 5 (Petrovic 18, 7), Samba 7, Dann 7, Givet 7; Hoilett 7, Lowe 7; Nzonzi 7, Rochina 7 (Olsson 56, 7), Formica 7 (Vukcevic 65, 6); Yakubu 8.
Subs (not used): Bunn, Grella, Roberts, Hanley.
Arsenal (4-1-4-1): Szczesny 5; Sagna 5 (Djourou 53, 5), Mertesacker 5, Koscielny 5, Santos 5; Song 6 (Chamakh 76, 5); Arshavin 5 (Walcott 64, 6), Arteta 6, Ramsey 6, Gervinho 6; Van Persie 5.
Subs (not used): Fabianski, Gibbs, Benayoun, Coquelin.
REFEREE: Andre Marriner
ATTENDANCE: 22,637
NEXT UP:
- Blackburn v Leyton Orient (home), Carling Cup Third Round, 20/09, 2000 BST
- Arsenal v Shrewsbury (home), Carling Cup Third Round, 20/09, 1945 BST
Blackburn v Arsenal Preview: Pressure Continues to Build on Steve Kean
by Darren WitcoopFiled under: Arsenal, Blackburn Rovers, Premier League, Football, Match Previews
PREMIER LEAGUE: EWOOD PARK. SATURDAY, SEPETEMBER 17, 2011. KICK-OFF: 1245 BST
For once, attention will not be focused solely on Arsene Wenger and his under-performing Arsenal side.
Steve Kean's current plight is providing one of the first sagas of the season with the Blackburn manager already under intense pressure just four games into the campaign.
Having sent an open letter demanding Kean's dismissal to Venky's, the club's Indian-based owners, the campaign by disgruntled supporters has since gathered pace following the launch of an online petition supporting their cause.
Now a pre-match demonstration, expected to attract up to 1,000 discontented supporters, has been organised, adding to the growing sense of crisis at the club.
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Kean has come out fighting, insisting he will win those fans over by winning games, but that seems an increasingly tall order.
His side are bereft of confidence and are struggling to score goals - plus their looming fixture list doesn't make easy reading.
Arsenal, strengthened by a clutch of new signings, will be no easy task as they look to overcome a stuttering start to the Premier League season.
And it doesn't get any easier in the weeks ahead, with Manchester City, Tottenham to come.
Whether Kean will still be in the hot-seat by then is another matter altogether.
Key Match-up: Chris Samba v Robin van Persie: Samba was heavily linked with a move to Arsenal but Wenger looked elsewhere. The giant Blackburn defender will want to show the Frenchman he was wrong in doing so and that means keeping van Persie quiet. No easy task given the form the Holland forward has displayed so far this season.
Form Guide: Blackburn sit bottom of the table after collecting one point from their opening four games. Arsenal have suffered themselves but picked up their first league win last time out against Swansea.
Odds: Blackburn 4/5, Arsenal 7/2, Draw 5/2
BLACKBURN ROVERS:
Kean has pleaded with the fans to get off his back and behind the team.
Nothing less than victory will save the manager from further scrutiny and should they fall to their fourth defeat here from their opening five games, the reaction will be unforgiving.
But Kean, who insists he is not feeling the pressure, says everyone should be united as his struggling players need the fans' backing to move off the bottom of the table.
He said: "I can understand their frustrations. I've been frustrated myself as have the players too.
"We feel that we have played well enough to have more points so we all share that frustration.
"What we need is for everyone to stick with us and give us their backing.
"There have been a couple of frustrating results, although the performances have been good in parts and we've just got to put it together for 90 minutes.
"We are all anxious and anticipating the points to go with our performances."
Blackburn captain Samba added: "We need the fans with us as they can be a 12th man for us.
"I think we need one win and the team will be lifted and you will see the confidence flow back."
Strategy: Kean needs his supporters with him so a fast-tempo start must be his side's approach. The last thing they need is to fall behind to a side of Arsenal's quality, who given space can pick teams off at will. But Arsenal used to hate coming to Ewood Park when Mark Hughes and Sam Allardyce were in charge of Blackburn and Rovers must adopt a similarly robust approach if they are to come away with a much-needed win.
Injury Update: David Dunn (calf) and Morten Gamst Pedersen (hamstring) face late fitness tests. Ryan Nelsen (knee) is out but Junior Hoilett has been passed fit after a bout of concussion.
Signs of Recovery for Arsenal Despite Champions League Setback in Germany
by Mike McGrathFiled under: Arsenal, Champions League, Premier League, Football
Conceding an equaliser two minutes from full-time feels like a defeat in normal circumstances, especially away from home and being on the brink of a morale-boosting Champions League victory.
But Arsenal have to look at the positives as they start the rebuilding process from their watershed defeat at Manchester United last month. Kicking Arsene Wenger's team when they are so far down would amount to cruelty.
They did not win against Borussia Dortmund but there were signs of recovery, despite the despondency after conceding a late goal to the German side.
Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas, the former Arsenal striker, suggested Wenger's team last season may have lost the game. The ingredients were there for a defeat. Wenger in the stands serving a touchline ban from UEFA, and opponents putting pressure on Wojciech Szczesny's goal.
Wenger's side have had a tendency of conceding when they are put under sustained pressure, while genuine champions manage to get through those tricky times unscathed. This time they conceded but it was only an equaliser and not a crushing winner.
"We expected them to try everything, they pressed and pressed and in the end scored a lovely goal, but we still have to be happy with a point," said Arsenal midfielder Yossi Benayoun on Sky Sports News. "There is a lot of quality in this squad and I'm sure we will show it game after game."
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Ivan Perisic's volley was also a freak goal, a stunning effort from the edge of the area. "It's a great strike but he won't do that again in a long time, said Szczesny. "We should be happy with our defensive performance."
It needs to be acknowledged that Arsenal were playing high-quality opposition. Bundesliga experts have predicted Dortmund to be a surprise package in the Champions League this season following their title win last season.
Dortmund may not be brimming with household names but the form book suggested they would be a match for Wenger's team. It was not merely two points dropped against European minnows.
So there is some good news for Wenger after a fortnight of scrutiny. His signings are settling in, and the new arrivals are setting their targets high.
Mikel Arteta told the London Evening Standard: "With a club like Arsenal, you are going to be under pressure and you need to handle it and try your best. At every club I have been at, I have had pressure and this is not going to be any different.
"The challenge here is to win trophies and at Everton I didn't have the chance to do that. Hopefully, we are going to have it here.
"The difference between winning trophies and not can sometimes be very small details. The important thing is to get there because, when you do, you have a chance. We have to make sure we are close."
Arteta has effectively stepped into the boots of Cesc Fabregas, who gave the new Arsenal player advice after his arrival from Everton.
"I talked to him the day after I signed the contract and he helped me on two or three things. He was really nice to me," he added.
"He advised me on the areas to live, about the team-mates, about the club and how good they are, the people at the club. It was very good."
If it goes Wenger's way, Arteta will be succeeding where Fabregas failed in the last six years - by guiding the club to a trophy. It may have seemed far-fetched when the final whistle blew at Old Trafford, but they are starting to turn things around.