Just how good enough is good enough? At what point does a player become Arsenal quality? Who decides whether he is world class or just a squad player? And are these judgements set in stone, or can a player move from one state to another? These questions are prompted by two things, the first being a vague conversation I became involved in yesterday about Jack Wilshere, the second in light of the reaction to the possible re-signing of Carols Vela.
I am fascinated by Jack for a whole variety of reasons, and it is possibly easiest just to list them.
- He is only 22
- He has on occasions been hailed as England and Arsenal’s saviour
- He is capable of the most sublime football
- There is a touch of the street fighter about him
- He is a fans’ favourite
- He scored the best team goal that anyone will ever see
- Arsene Wenger has described him as one of the most talented young players he has ever worked with
- He has spent the last three seasons either injured or returning from injury
- He is no longer a favourite of all the fans and some don’t see him as an automatic starter either for The Arsenal, or, more strangely, for England
Not so long ago there would have been little debate about his quality, which would have been seen as top, top, or world class. He was our very own Superjack, and when much else in The Arsenal world was slightly rocky, that at least was certain. But now it would seem it isn’t, or at least it wasn’t to the person I was talking to yesterday, nor indeed to Stuart Pearce who pronounced that Jack wouldn’t kick a ball in the World Cup. I happen to think they are wrong, and maintain my belief that he is an outstanding talent, but the point of this post is not to argue his, or any other’s case (that can safely be left to Twitter and the comments section)but rather to explore what lies behind the judgments that are made about a player’s ability.
Clearly the proof of the pudding is in the playing, but often it is more than that, especially as only a very small number get to see players play for a full 90 minutes with their own eyes. For those that watch whole matches on the TV their view tends to be determined by the shots the cameramen choose to take, and by and large those shots follow the ball. If, say, a quarter of the value of a player to his team is what he does when he isn’t directly and immediately involved in the play, then it is clear that judgments are not based on the full story. Given that even more of those judgements are based on recorded highlights, and that those highlights rely heavily on editorial decision making, with all the bias that such selections inevitably entail, then we can see that most fans’ view of a player is already compromised. Throw into the mix the comments of pundits, who may or may not have an axe to grind (old allegiances run deep, and few past players are totally in love with their modern successors) and suddenly the claim that player X is not world class can be seen to be distorted.
The judgements become even more tainted of course when assessing the value of a transfer target, or when the player in question is being debated in the school yard (yes, I know school yards no longer exist, but what is a comment on football without an appropriate cliché), because then a kind of macho one-upmanship comes into play. Signing Vela is of absolutely no use to that kind of fan. He will not cost nearly enough money (anything under £25m these days is seen as a “Lol, poverty”), he does not come from a well-known club, he has already been dismissed as a failure once in his Arsenal lifetime, his YouTube videos are a little underwhelming, and perhaps most crucially of all, he isn’t talked about in reverential terms by those pundits who are persuaded to talk so glowingly by the agents they spend so much time with. If the dismissal of Vela can be accompanied with a sneering comment about Wenger dithering about in the bargain basement again then so much the better, especially if the twitterliverer of that comment can at the same time proclaim that only he properly understands just what players Arsenal need to even get top 4 again.
So Vela has no chance, and I suspect that a little like Giroud, even if he does come he will spend his life being criticised for what and who he is not , rather than celebrated for what he is and what he does offer. It apparently doesn’t matter that he has improved significantly, because whilst it is apparently fine to say that a player has regressed or hasn’t lived up to his potential, it is not allowed for anyone to improve. And it is that aspect that I find saddest of all, because I believe the biggest obstacle anyone can have to living their life successfully is to settle for a fixed and pessimistic mind-set. The whole basis of coaching is to help a player unlock his potential and find improvement, the whole point of training is to make progress from where you were yesterday. The best coaches dare to see the potential in players, the outstanding ones know how to help them unlock it. Choosing to adopt a growth mind-set is the most positive difference you can make to your life, whether you are a professional footballer, or gainfully employed in some other walk of life or simply waiting to leave school and to find a job that really suits you – or even, like me, just a student of the game.
If Vela returns he will be exciting, as will Balotelli (and the thought of him coming just makes me smile – I don’t think he will, but it would be kind of fun to see what happens if he does, and there is, in truth, only one manager on the planet who I would trust to get the best out of him).
Eighteen months ago, when Jack Wilshere was driving The Arsenal forward to a Third Round Cup victory over Swansea few would have imagined it was Aaron Ramsey who would make the most progress over the next year or so – but he did, and it was due to his courage and determination, but also to the unshakeable and visionary faith of his manager. I would not offer you any odds at all on Arsene Wenger helping Jack, or any of the others he chooses to sign, unleashing that potential too. And while this may well come back to haunt me, I do want to finish by saying that fitness permitting, I believe that Jack Wilshere will be as good a player as we have ever seen at The Emirates.
Today’s post was penned by @foreverheady
Positively Arsenal 
They’re in a tough group which anyone could win but I thought England did well on the whole last night, good game to watch, too. But I’ve always maintained that for them to do really well consistently they need to feature at least two out of Jack, Oxo and Theo. Those three all have qualities which a) you need in international football and b) no-one else in the England squad has. Although Barkley is now good competition for Jack and Sterling could challenge The Ox or Walcott in a while.
I’m now really looking forward to Costa Rica v Eng, because that should give a few pointers as to how Joel Campbell will handle the English PL. Surely, surely by now he has played in Europe enough to get a work permit? I don’t know what the rules are, would appreciate it if someone could enlighten me.
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Happy fathers day to the boys who have children.
The Groaners were pissed when we bought Joel Campbell and now they’re asking why he’s not in the team? Effing hilarious. Um, do they realize that perhaps he’s this good because Wenger picked his loan arrangements in such a way to make him flourish? Nah, Wenger is just a clueless, old coot.
As far as the England NT is concerned, why would Woy take half the Liverpool team and play them out of position? Wayne Rooney is Luis Suarez.
Jack belongs behind the strikers. That goal against Norwich should be a clue as to where he belongs on the pitch. Ross Barkley may be very active, but Jack is unplayable when there’s little space. Just because he can make a blistering run through the middle, it doesn’t mean he belongs so deep.
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Kos and Giroud on the bench
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France are playing the best football of the competition so far.
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“Kos and Giroud on the bench” – that’s good as they have both had minor injuries so it’s better they are rested.
I didn’t see the first half, but for once I am seeing what all the fuss is about Benzema. But can he keep this up?
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My best guess would be that Koscielny lost his starting spot when he lost his cool against Ukraine, which is fair enough. No complaints here, rest is good!
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Fins: Honestly is Cissokho better than Kos? I doubt I am that blinded by my red tinted glasses.
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So Lionel
History has opened the book
Pick up the pen and write
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I must be the only person in the world that cannot abide that little toad Messi. All this BBC pundit butt kissing is turning my stomach.
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PASS
curiosity getting the best of me . Why do you dislike messi ? Personal or strictly due to association with barka?? I think overall he ranks pretty well and as one of top five players in the world.
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I must say France played well considering Honduras brutal tactics. Reminded me of the Neanderthal stokies
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Is it a case of France is saving their best ( OG & KOSHER ) for the strongest rivals in the group?
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Kam, it’s personal – you know how sometimes you just have this irrational dislike of certain individuals? Well he is one and that tax evasion issue just confirmed what I always suspected about him. He might be able to play a bit of football, but there is something about him that offends me.
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Passenal: things I can’t bear. The me, me, meness of Messi. The obscene tax allegations. The selfishness of his football. The look of him – I want the greats to look other worldly and God like, not Middle earthly and dwarfish. The way his name is pronounced so lovingly by commentators who can’t even manage Wilshere correctly. And, I suppose, the fact that he plays for two teams I detest. Which is not to say that he isn’t an all time great, but rather to point out the various reasons why supporting (or not) anybody is a complicated and irrational business.
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Good to have you back Dexter.
Fun G, yes the England/Costa Rica game should be enlightening. As a warm up I suggest u go view JC’s youtube compilations especially Olympiacos’ pre-season game vs Liverpool.
I’ve been creaming about JC for a while now and predicted he would have a fantastic career starting with this WC.
AW really really knows! My view is @ 1m JC is world class material. TW, Ox, Gnabry & hopefully Ryo are going to learn from, improve, and all grow having such a player alongside ’em.
Ditto for JW and Rambo.
Add Vela to this team and we don’t need to plonk on a mega CF to win shinies.
In a year’s time,we’ll be swamped with quality CFs seeking the Arse.
If Cesc was truly committed to AW he could have waited a year for TR7 to retire, and Arteta+Flamini to be downgraded. But Damien Dein would never had allowed that. Nor would the Femme de nuTitty.
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We need look no further than Honduras for our next transfer target. I’m sure Costly is exactly the sort of player many Arsenal fans would want us to buy.
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FOUR newbies should be enough for next season.
RB: Aurier
CB/DM: N’koulou
CF: Vela
GK: Marshall/Stekelenburg/Pantilimon
Afobe & Akpom alternate as 4th CF.
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I love the blessed Lee – Ow – Nell – he brings joy to the game of football – unique talent
Never have I seen a player run that fast, with the ball entirely under control that close to his feet – never, ever, not once.
He scores solo goals, dribbling from the half way line, as a poacher in the 6 yard box, he cracks a 25 yarder from open play, and bends in a free kick if required. He even scores goals with his head.
That is pure football
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Aman, remember if Joal comes back you already have OG, YS, JC so Carlos would make four already
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Shotta
Sakho? No, he’s no where near as good as Koscielny! Just trying to understand Deschamps selection, if it’s not on ability then I guess that red card against Ukraine cost him his place?
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@ goonerkam June 16, 2014 at 3:07 am
I must say France played well considering Honduras brutal tactics. Reminded me of the Neanderthal stokies
ha ha! Snap! That is exactly what I said when I was watching the game. They are overly physical, and yet go down like delicate flowers if touched, they pride themselves on being physical yet get offended if anyone points it out and – bizarrely – some of them can actually play football when they put their minds to it.
@ Aman
Vela’s not coming, we now know.
But basically, yeah to what you said.
I reckon 2-3 players to go into the first team and about 3 or 4 young players as backups.
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Really, its been confirmed Vela’s not coming?
By who?
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fungunner, joel campbell already got his work permit last season if i’m right. he has already played the required number of games for his country to qualify him to work in england. arsenal applied for the permit last season.
he might have been loaned out because wenger didnt believe he was ready for the premier league. otherwise he would have atleast allowed him to be part of the trip to asia. but i’m sure he will be part of us this season.
i guess kos was serving his one match suspension for the red card. otherwise there is no reason why they will bench a player who is among the top three defenders in premier league for two bench warmer.
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germany’s penalty almost like brazil’s. correct but soft.
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george must be happy watching this game. ozil is actually showing why we dont need cesc.
pepe got what he really deserves. he does it always in madrid, but this is world cup dear mr pepe.
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A good hour from Mesut, after a shakey set of warm up games the Germans revert to their usual engineered superiority – feel the weight of those doors.
Congratulations to Pepe – a more or less perfect contribution – sums up what he is all about
He will be a great loss to us afficiandos of the World Cup ( my arse)
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Germany started with Gotze and Özil either side of Muller with three CMs, no notional AM? Khedira, Kroos & Lahm.
An easy game for them in the end, the usual from the BFG, Podolski with some minutes on for Muller. They won’t want to lose Hummels for too long, not if they want to keep Lahm in midfield.
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@ layksite June 16, 2014 at 4:40 pm
Thanks for the info.
@ Aman
Sorry can’t remember exactly who confirmed it, but Arsenal sold their buy-back clause back to RS, and there is talk of bringing in a promising RB to compete with Bellerin and Jenks to an extent I presume.
I am staggered – I thought USA had that came totally wrapped up. Very pleased for Ghana though. I watched up to 80 mins, fell asleep and missed the excitement at the end. Poor final crosses/passes in the first half but they just kept on attacking. They must be so fit, too.
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http://vimeo.com/98380161
Highlights Mesut Ozil against Portugal
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http://arsenalist.com/f/other/joel-campbell-vs-uruguay-compilation.html
Joel Campbell against Uruguay
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woooohooooooooo…ibiza!!!!!
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cruyff, maradona, zidanne, bergkamp, and now pirlo…everybody else is simply not fit to lace their boots..fuck messi and fuck the portuguese tosser …PIRLO !!! at 35 and gets better and better. GOD.
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…………………………BUFFON……………..
.CAFU……SAMMER…MALDINI….CARLOS
………………..VIEIRA….PIRLO………………..
……R.BAGGIO..BERGKAMP..ZIDANNE
………………….MARADONA…………………….
THE END.
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‘The tragedy in Manaus was that the English players, and probably even Roy Hodgson decided he was untouchable when actually we needed to get close to him, kick his backside, nutmeg him a few times and bring him back down to earth. He’d soon have come off with a strained calf or broken bootlace. We respected Pirlo far too much on Saturday, when it should have been our chance to put him in his place after that disrespectful chipped penalty in the shoot-out at Euro 2012.’
DURHAM…… OH BOY…..
hahaha….you ..bring pirlo down to earth? lol..how exactly? with what players? rooney and gerrard? ..ahahahah
put him at his place? lol….after the disrpectful chipped penalty? lmao……love durham!!! king of trolls
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‘The English obsession with all things foreign takes over yet again.
Oh, if only we could produce a precious Pirlo.
The sad thing is English football did produce a Pirlo. His name is Michael Carrick …’
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAHAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAHHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAHAHAHAHHHHHHHHHHHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHA
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“probably the only 2 players on earth who have better technique than Pirlo are beckham and scholes”
pmsl……..
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Robbie Savage tries to make Thierry Henry agree with him that Arsenal didnt like it up em. Watch, Henry’s classic response and put down.
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Marc Wilmots is not surprisingly my pre-tournament nomination for flop of the tournament, though Hodgson’s decision to not drop certain players whilst dropping Gibbs from the squad puts him in the running.
What was the thought process that led to Wilmot starting Van B. over Tommy V., I don’t want to know.
Then there’s the selection of the pant pulling Vertonghan, who, not surprisingly gives away the penalty.
Having written the above Belgium will probably go on to win this game.
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Corr!
…for dropping Gibbs and Carrick from the squad…
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Belgium is on its way to laying the biggest egg of the tournament.
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Wow. Just seen the replay. That was truly awful Defence from the Tottenham man, as predicted by little ole me before the tournament began. Wilmots is a bit of a plonker, isn’t he?
Poor old Tommy V, you have to feel for him being benched when two out of the back four shouldn’t be playing in his place. Or anyone else’s place!
So: is FB the key position in this tournament?
Are Germany playing conservative FBs behind Ozil and Goetze as a part of some cunning plan?
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Germany are going to pay for playing Lahm through the middle. Yesterday he got caught in possession twice and gave the Portuguese their only chances.
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I’m kind of sad Vela isn’t going to play with us. On the bright side, however, the club has made thirteen million simply for not activating the buy back clauses on his and Cesc’s contracts.
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Gains,
With Hummels out they’ll probably have to drop Lahm back and move one of Boateng or the other dude to CB?
If that’s what they do then it’ll be interesting to see what they do if and when Hummels returns.
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I don’t understand playing the best FB in the world out of position.
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Yup. Belgium have the lead.
–
No idea George. I blame Guardiola!
Maybe they think he’s lost a yard? But then Boateng and the other FB are not the quickest. No idea.
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That’s a shame. I was hoping that Algeria would hold on for the win.
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Fin, Pep can get away with playing Lahm in the middle because he doesn’t have Khedira messing things up in that area. Löw is playing with a line of four centre backs, why does he need to rely n both Khedira and Lahm?
Did you check out the way Mascherano has turned not Xavi all of a sudden? Against Bosnia he was passing it around like a magician. I guess all that time at Barça has rubbed off on him.
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Oh and he’s playing Özil out wide too. Why the hell isn’t he n the middle, for eff’s sake?
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Brasil playing hoofball. Hahahahahaha
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