After yesterday’s 3:0 thumping of the oilers of Manchester by the financially invigorated Arsenal, both the commercial media and the army of “wannabes” on twitter are having a hard time putting a spin on the event without losing hold of a comfortable narrative they already sewed.
Pre-game, the consensus was to grudgingly admit that Arsenal now had money to spend but they didn’t acquire the right players. These were the exact words of Robbie Earle, ex-pro, now doing punditry for NBC Sports Network in the US. According to experts like him, Arsenal had simply replaced Sagna with Debuchy, added a back-up right back with Calum Chambers and Alexis Sanchez is simply a luxury purchase who is not the big clinical central striker needed by the club.
Other pundits have a slightly different variation from the theme. Their spin is, it is good and well to spend on a striker but Arsenal will not win the title if they fail to bring in a “monster” defensive midfielder to sit in front of the back-four. Pointedly they claim Mikel Arteta is too old, slow and lightweight to do the job. To support their argument they reprise with glee those big losses last season to Chelsea, Liverpool and City, conveniently glossing over the fact that Arteta didn’t play in the City game and that he was instrumental in helping the club win two of three games against Liverpool.
As usual Wenger and Mikel failed to read the script. After a masterful performance vs City, dominating as the deepest lying central-midfielder, our handsome Spaniard was named team captain for the 2014-15 season.
The table was therefore well set for the weekend’s narrative; should Arsenal win the game it would be inconsequential as it was pre-season and most of City’s top players were missing, and if we lost it would be further proof of our inability to beat any of the teams in the top-three which by the way was the only reason we failed to win the title last year, not the injuries to our top players i.e. Ramsey then Walcott.
Unfortunately for the pundits, they have a long track record of underestimating the modern Arsenal. Eighteen (18) years ago they ridiculed the appointment as manager of the bespectacled Frenchman with the famous headline by the Evening Standard “Arsene Who?” Before the 2002-03 season, Arsene-Who had the temerity to suggest “Nobody will finish above us in the league. It wouldn’t surprise me if we were to go unbeaten for the whole of the season.” We all know how that went in 2003-04.
I would therefore suggest the best man to give a proper assessment of our performance is Wenger himself:
“I felt we had a complete performance in the first half as long as we had the legs to sustain what we wanted to do. In the second half our togetherness and the third goal got us through. We defended well, we lost a bit more of the ball than in the first half and our movements were less fluent but we kept the spirit and organisation.”
In terms of forecasting the season he opined:
“I have more attacking options than I had for a long time – that’s for sure. Three, four, five years ago, every year we lost a big player. In the last two years, we added players like Ozil and this season like Alexis so of course that strengthens the squad. I am of course very ambitious but I’m a bit cautious because I have quite a good experience. I look around and see the other teams have strengthened as well so it will be interesting to watch the Premier League because it looks like all the big teams will be very strong.”
As for Crystal Palace:
“To win today gives us a positive platform to prepare but now the Premier League starts and we have to start well at home because it’s a derby, it’s a very uncomfortable team [we face in Crystal Palace]. It will be a different kind of game as well.”
In terms of additional transfers:
“What it does in my head is [make me think that] Chambers is among the best three and if I can find another one I will do it. But to find another one of that quality will not be easy because… Vermaelen left us and had the choice between two massive clubs. That means these clubs have looked everywhere as well and that means it’s not easy to find.”
Can Wenger be any clearer? How much more can the spin doctors, moaners and mischief makers cloudy the water as we enter into the new season. Stay tuned.
Positively Arsenal 
your article was pin point….tv pundits may keep ruling us for the title(i see u gary neville),but unlike previous seasons,we av a really strong squad…and i think by this time next year,Arsenal would av added to our trophy cabinet!!….up gunners!!!!…#keepTheFaith
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Who is this Masked Man/Woman who writes so well and despatches the bad guys with one shot of his/her trusty sidearm ?
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A good piece by the mystery author, thanks.
I’m trying hard to resist the temptation that Arsenal is treated differently than other clubs by the media, but I think they are. I still haven’t recovered from Barney Ronay’s conclusion in yesterday’s Guardian “Far sterner tests await, though, than this weakened City, who had 58% possession and more shots on goal overall but still looked like a team simply stretching their legs”. I couldn’t be bothered to list my objections to his comment. Or put another way “I couldn’t fucking be bothered!”
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A masked blogger… what a great idea.
We do have a PL winning team that’s for sure. But we had one last season as well but fate took a hand in injuries that derailked us. Defence is looking decidedly weak at the moment and if it’s true that Kos is injured for the first few games then whey ho, make to square one. Chambers looks like a good prospect to cover at CB but with a few weeks left of the TW Wenger does need to get someone else in. I have confidence he will do that if someone can be found.
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“the defence is looking decidedly weak at the moment” NB ?
Dyathink so !
I don’t see it like that.
We have two top notch keepers. We have good full backs and good back ups on both sides. We have Kosc and Per in the centre and, apparently, Chambers can come in to back up the German if he were to be missing. I concede that if Kosc is injured that the cover for him is not immediately obvious ( though presumably Per/Chambers could shuffle around) but that is a distance from “decidedly weak” imo.
Look on the bright side though – with the ABSURD sums paid for Luiz and Mangala, and even a second choice Tommy is worth £15 million, just thank Stan that he has not thought about cashing in on Kosc.
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Andrew
We are looking weak in defence… Verm gone and a young inexperienced Chambers to cover for CB. Aw has already said he is looking for another CB so why contradict him.
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I thought it was you I was contradicting NB and it was your “weak in defence”accusation !!
If Arsene says we are weak in defence then it bears carefully scrutiny. With the departure of Tommy I expect him to get another body on board but I would be surprised if it was a high profile signing. I have been rattling on about Dan Burn the 6’8” Fulham youngster for months to general apathy.
Just don’t say the words “Ashley Williams” I wont have it.
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Ashley Williams
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Aaaaaaghhhhhhhh
Bastard !
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You may think that but I couldn’t possibly comment.
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Is Ashley Williams a possible target for CB. Who oes he play for?
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Hi George. That piece was by poor old me. You old codger, you don’t even recognize my email address. I am just as demented cause I tried sending you a DM but failed. Sorry to burst your bubble guys. The secret blogger is unmasked.
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Well done Shotts – have your people phone my people – we can work on the Masked Blogger script
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Gotta find an agent first Andrew.
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The masked blogger has been un-masked………. very disappointing
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Somebody tell Alabama Gooner and Hoboken GoonerI was inspired to write that piece after reading their response to the Robbie Earle punditry on twitter.
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NB @ 11:09am: I long outgrew the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew mysteries of yore. Do kids still read that stuff?
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Shotta
Unfortunately I had to google ‘the Hardy Boys’ and ‘Nancy Drew’… is that sad or what?
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NB: Maybe they were of American origin? I didn’t discriminate in my reading habits, then.
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They seek him here, they seek him there…
but shottagunna’s positively here.
Great piece. Is it totaly ridiculous to suggest that between them Miquel, Hayden, Bellerin, Coquelin could all do a job should injury really strike down the first choicers. It can’t have been complete coincidnece that Monreal has had a couple of run-outs centrally either.
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Given the performance that Bellerin put in against Benfica it is hard to believe he will not get a runout at some point in the first team this season FH. While his defensive qualities were not much tested he tore the right hand side of the Benfica defence apart.
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FH
With AW using the youngsters in that role do you think it means he may have a problem getting in another CB to cover for the TV5 loss?
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Thank you, Maskman
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NB: obviously your guess is as good as mine, but I think he would have been thinking about it for many months now, so the fact that so far he has only signed Chambers and let Jenkinson go on loan is at best interesting, at worst negligent.
I am genuinely fascinated to see what he will do, but I do think he rates Monreal more highly than most supporters seem to.
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FH
I’ve really not seen enough of Monreal at CB to make a judgement. AW is clearly in the position to make that call.
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Robbie Earle! Haha. Joe Kinnear would be proud.
Arsenal have been linked with over a hundred players? Too much agentspeak for my tastes. They might sign more players, they might not. When you have such a strong addiction born out of necessity to deadline day haggles anything is possible!
Hayden’s orange non-card in the Gazprom league cup game gave me hope that many would see him as some kind of embryonic mutant monster. But I don’t know.
–
“How much more can the spin doctors, moaners and mischief makers cloudy the water as we enter into the new season.”
To be fair Shotts if the drones were happy to believe that the manager who once signed Wiltord on a whim (I like to think!), who poached Pires from Madrid etc. had become a miserly scrooge who “doesn’t do tactics”, then, well, they’ll believe any old manure that can be shovelled down their throats. The smellier the better! Such as Cazorla wanting to leave the club*…
*I’d better not be wrong here! Took me long enough to change my gravatar thingy. Can’t top the true gr*t shown against the likes of Probert in May, to have rebuilt the squad so well in the last few seasons…
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Another post for you coming this evening George.
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There are only 6 listed first team Defenders in the squad on Arsenal.com
http://www.arsenal.com/first-team/players
I know we have youngsters waiting for their chance – but God forbid if Kos get’s injured or more likely suspended.
A Journeyman Centreback is a must, someone happy to sit on the bench except for cup games. So that’s not going to be Hummels.
Alternatively an extra hybrid CB/DM might be useful.
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I think AW dreams of signing Pogba… I know he’d probably be out of our price range. But he has the possibility to be transformed into a defensive midfielder, a CB or just carry on as a box to box attacking midfielder. I fucking love the guy…. wouldn’t that be nice if AW managed in his best French to persuade him to come to the Ems. Plus a good few million euros of course.
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Big up, Shotta.
I was about to declare I’m not the mystery blogger, but whoever he or she is – they’d stolen the words out of my head. But even that would be a lie. I should’ve recognised the writing.
And damn, I liked Robbie Earl, especially after his goal for Jamaica in ’98, followed by his “Hinglish salute”. I was in New Kingston at the time. And Earle seemed reasonable as a pundit for ITV. Well, in comparison to the rest. Now, out of England, he’s coming up with that crap. Tut and chuups!
Meanwhile – It’s coming home:
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Brilliant post from the now unmasked Masked man. Methinks there’s grounds to patent that.
This team hv the capabilities to go all the way in the PL. If that’s priority ofcoz. The belief and respect this team have in themselves currently, and in Arsene Wenger right now is so immense. It just rubs off on me and I’m sure on those many glass half full Gooners. And that belief and respect trumps the narratives of the naysayers, the disaster vultures and premature grave dancers hands down.
I want Arsenal putting the marker down this coming Saturday at the Emirates.
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Nice won Shotta.
Hayden can cover for any of Kos, Per & CC till Sept 1 if we need him.
Methinks AW’s definitely looking to add a multitasking defender.
If Etihad are FFP-squeezed enough to generously loan/sell Nastasic, why not?
Only his wages could be a problem Methinks.
For a 21 yr old, he is quality, PL battle-tested, and much taller than Gary Medel!
His Serbian Warrior genes are also a highly valued accessory in the land of Ultimate Defenders….I wouldn’t say no.
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Adding a top CB also allows CC to moonlight as DM like AW seemed to suggest “a few days ago” . (Wish I could verify where I read this)
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Well played Shotta.
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Kostas Manolas
Olympiakos, 6ft 1″, 23 yrs old, 13 intl caps for Greece.
8m should do it they say…..
Hmmm?
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NB: “We are looking weak in defence… Verm gone and a young inexperienced Chambers to cover for CB. Aw has already said he is looking for another CB so why contradict him.”
Arsene said he wouldn’t mind bringing in another CB for cover, but also said that finding a top drawer defender will be difficult. This is why Barcelona engaged in a bidding war with Manchester United for our crocked ex-captain and City allowed themselves to be taken ever so softly by Porto by paying £30m for a player who wasn’t a starter for them.
As far as the team looking weak in defence, what pre-season game have you seen which has given you this idea? Surely you didn’t come to this conclusion after having watched Chambers give a man of the match performance against City. And he’s a back up CB. Unlike Chelsea and City, who will have to pull Ivanovic and Sagna out of their regular positions, we have three dedicated CBs of very high quality.
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Manolas is a good defender… he grew up thinking his team played 8-8-4
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bu2QyvRCQAA1ir5.jpg:small
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Shotta, I responded to this on Twitter. Great stuff – good summary of my own assessment of the narrative set by the media. It’s surprising that NBC pundits regurgitate what the English media come up with. I have reached a point where I don’t understand the hate and don’t care. There’s a good chance that Telemundo (Spanish) might air all of the Arsenal games – I prefer listening to the match commentary in a language that I don’t understand rather than listen to the shite that comes out of Stewart Robson’s mouth.
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Gains
I didn’t say what I’d seen suggested we were weak in defence, my observation was in numbers if we were to suffer a long term injury to either Kos or the BFG. And as you confirmed in this phrase:
“Arsene said he wouldn’t mind bringing in another CB for cover, but also said that finding a top drawer defender will be difficult”
Wenger clearly thinks that we need another CB.
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Fair enough, but there is more to the defence than CB’s. We are very strong it all the other defensive positions.
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Fantastic stuff from my old mucker.
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I agree George, very well covered in the other defensive positions.
Debuchy/Bellerin/chambers
Gibbs/Monreal/
But at CB…. Kos/BFG/Chambers……… that is the weak link. Lose one to injury and one to a red card, looks very dodgy.
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Check this out about Chambers…….. Gains, I also had him as MOTM on Sunday
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It must be really hard to persuade someone to come to you to be cover for a pairing like Kosper (and not even guaranteed bench cover if you have Swiss Army Knife Chambers to call on) unless you can pay them silly money to do so. And if they are willing to come on that basis then are they what we want – and are they guaranteed better than Hayden and Miquel?
I’m with NB on this one and suspect the summer for AW has been all about Pogba. I have been told off for being so silly as to think this, but at least I have managed to force the narrative to suggest that our realistic hunt for Pogba is why Vidal has not gone to the Mancs, and why Khedira did not join up with us on Monday.
AW and the club know that this is likely to be pretty much his last team, and I am sure that there would be enough in the kitty for him to pursue a player like that.
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Thanks for the kind words everyone. With the new season upon us, just felt we all need to give George a hand.
As for my bwoy Mel, he is so busy watching the ladies of London, it is a rare privilege to hear from him. So pleased.
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Cracking post Shotta. Hopefully there will be some serious backpeddling and egged faces. Every year there is a slight U-turn from the ‘experts’ when we undoubtedly end up with Champions League qualification. It’ll be f’ing glorious if we win the title. Not just for the obvious reasons but to see the pundits squirm and lie to save face.
foreverheady
August 12, 2014 at 12:05 pm
They seek him here, they seek him there…
but shottagunna’s positively here.
Great piece. Is it totaly ridiculous to suggest that between them Miquel, Hayden, Bellerin, Coquelin…
I’m always up for that. Some great youth there. For me Hayden has leap-frogged Miquel. I think the team is not lacking anywhere. Not perfect but serious improvement once again.
I don’t do these ‘box to box’ ‘DM’ ‘Double Pivot’ handles. It smacks of football manager to me, what I would say is we need height and aggression adding to the middle of the pitch. Other than that what could we possibly need. Anything else is sheer luxury. We really are looking hot to trot.
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Thanks Shotta, I cant tell you how much help it is when people send in posts. It was never my intention to be the main writer, its something I never wanted.
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Pogba really? I think in the next 12 months we may bid for him and also Rues (to replace Prince Poldi), but not just yet. This player that Wenger is waiting on I assumed was Khedira. I’m thinking they are looking for Real to lower transfer fee so that they can add that to wages. Just my take on it.
On the defence front and I think I know that the answer to this is a resounding no. But… could the defensive addition be in the shape of Micah Richards. He’s flirted with us. Can cover a range of positions. Possibly not the biggest fee or wage. Homegrown and would perhaps be happy with a bit part role (I’m sure we could give him more games than City). He’s probably not massively fit, but he can work on that and Wenger has spoken about him positively when he was a youngster.
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gunner_getcha – “we need height and aggression adding to the middle of the pitch”
Paul Pogba. If the club can afford to spend £35m and if we can get another £35m from YouSpendWeSpend, we can get him into our squad this season.
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I tend to think that Arsene’s primary target before August 31st is an experienced central defender to replace Vermalen. It would be someone who can easily slot in should Per or Kos go down with a serious injury. While the yutes can slot in short-term it would be unfair to expect them to do the job medium term. The Boss said “…if I can find another one I will do it.” Thats good enough for me.
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