Jack Wilshere's emergence this season echoes that of a seventeen year old Cesc Fabregas six years ago.
In Belgrade, when Wilshere provided an inventive assist for Arshavin's opening goal, he displayed the kind of vision and awareness that is particularly rare in English footballers. He is already becoming important for Arsenal, but he could be a huge figure for England.
That Champions League moment reminded me of Fabregas's wonderful reverse pass to set up Freddie Ljungberg in that bizarre 5-4 win at White Hart Lane in 2004. It was a moment that made you sit up and take note. Of course, Fabregas has been producing moments like that with increasing consistency in the years since, and has improved in almost every aspect of his game, and that is now the challenge for Wilshere- to show the maturity, the professionalism, and above all, the desire to be great.
That is an area in which many English players have struggled under Arsene Wenger. There was a not dissimilar buzz about David Bentley when he chipped in a lovely goal against Middlesbrough, I think it was, in the FA Cup during the unbeaten season. But it seems that he has lost himself in an unjustified self-love that has fatally stalled his development. He's more interested in hair styles than in becoming a better footballer.
Other players have lost their way in some manner or another. Jermaine Pennant was another wide player and wide boy, who got his head turned by extra-curricular activities. But he never had that much talent anyways. Walcott has his head screwed on, and although I have doubts about his ability, he has shown signs of improvement. The problem being, the next injury is never far away.
The early signs with Wilshere are good though. As mentioned before, he already looks a more seasoned central midfielder than Diaby or Denilson, despite being, at this level, a novice in the position. Since the first day at Liverpool, he's had the look of a lad that wants to learn, wants to improve, wants to earn a place. So the attitude is there. And he is more talented than Bentley, Walcott and Pennant put together.
England must surely, already, hold great hope in his future development. They have long lacked a player in midfield who can control a game. Paul Scholes should have been that man but he was often misused. Steven Gerrard is talked up as being that man but he's nothing of the sort. Wilshere is already showing signs that he could develop into that kind of player.
It is also a great relief for Arsenal that Fabregas's inevitably impending departure will not be the prelude to a mad scrabble for a direct replacement. Even if Aaron Ramsey's horror injury stalls his development, we have Nasri, a semi-rejuvenated Rosicky, and now, we have Wilshere.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Belated Thoughts about GroundDrog Day.
An improved performance after the West Brom debacle, but still not good enough.
It confirmed much of what we know: Chelsea are ruthless, Arsenal are profligate. Chelsea give nothing away and Arsenal are generous. Chelsea have a tried and tested way of beating Arsenal and Arsenal are no closer to finding an answer to it.
Scoring the first goal would have made things interesting but Koscielny wasted a sitter in the opening exchanges and the writing was on the wall. The game developed into a very similar pattern to the corresponding fixture from last season. Arsenal enjoyed (endured?) most of the possession- because Chelsea allowed them to. The blues kept men behind the ball, and when they won it they sprung forward into the space that Arsenal constantly leave in their own half. Arsenal struggled to make a clear chance despite the approach play being decent at times, while Chelsea always looked like scoring when they attacked. And it was no surprise that when they did, it was Drogba, the man Arsenal simply cannot handle. Also no surprise that Cole set it up because he has become another scouge of his old club. He provides a cutting edge that is beyond the remit of his regressing replacement and it was inevitable that he would lose Nasri at some point and provide a telling ball.
To be fair, Arsenal exerted a lot of pressure throughout the game, but by the end, after Alex's blockbuster finished the contest, it seemed as if all that was just part of Chelsea's plan. A grim inevitability, and familiarity, about the whole piece.
It confirmed much of what we know: Chelsea are ruthless, Arsenal are profligate. Chelsea give nothing away and Arsenal are generous. Chelsea have a tried and tested way of beating Arsenal and Arsenal are no closer to finding an answer to it.
Scoring the first goal would have made things interesting but Koscielny wasted a sitter in the opening exchanges and the writing was on the wall. The game developed into a very similar pattern to the corresponding fixture from last season. Arsenal enjoyed (endured?) most of the possession- because Chelsea allowed them to. The blues kept men behind the ball, and when they won it they sprung forward into the space that Arsenal constantly leave in their own half. Arsenal struggled to make a clear chance despite the approach play being decent at times, while Chelsea always looked like scoring when they attacked. And it was no surprise that when they did, it was Drogba, the man Arsenal simply cannot handle. Also no surprise that Cole set it up because he has become another scouge of his old club. He provides a cutting edge that is beyond the remit of his regressing replacement and it was inevitable that he would lose Nasri at some point and provide a telling ball.
To be fair, Arsenal exerted a lot of pressure throughout the game, but by the end, after Alex's blockbuster finished the contest, it seemed as if all that was just part of Chelsea's plan. A grim inevitability, and familiarity, about the whole piece.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Wenger Unwittingly Sums Up The Five Year Rot
"Last weekend did Drogba score at Manchester City? No, he didn't and he played against Kolo Touré. When Kolo played for us, you said he couldn't handle Drogba. Suddenly, when he moves to Man City, he's stronger."
It's called defending as a team and you're supposed to be coaching them to do it.
It's called defending as a team and you're supposed to be coaching them to do it.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Chelsea must be quaking in their boots...
What hope, then, this Sunday, in the continuing quest for a win in a match that matters?
Taking Liverpool out of the equation, as they no longer represent much of a force, Arsenal are gripped in a miserable run against the dual leading lights of English football. In their last two visits to "fortress" Emirates, Manchester United have racked up an aggregate scoreline of 6-2 in their favour; Chelsea, a frightening 7-1.
There is no way that this hasn't affected the Arsenal players. They surely suffer from an inferiority complex now and the only way to turn that around is with a positive result against one of those teams.
Fate has been cruel and left Arsenal looking a little patched-up heading into their latest daunting date with the Blues. The gaping wound that is the goalkeeping crisis is a self-inflicted one, but it seems a little unfair that the absence of Vermalen will most likely leave Drogba in the hands of Squillaci and Koscielny, a pairing fresh from getting humiliated by the great West Bromwich Albion. Then again, Drogba has battered every Arsenal opponent he's faced so far and so maybe it's no bad thing that we will be fielding a partnership that doesn't have to fight those psychological demons.
Scrabbling for positives, I happen upon the fact that Arsenal will also not have to settle for fielding a Russian midget in the centre forward role, as they did in both games against Chelsea and the home one against United last season. And Chamakh has, as stated before, started very well at Arsenal. He carries a threat in behind as well as in the air and his hold-up play tends to be good. His finishing looks a little... hesitant, shall we say but he does have a knack of falling over when touched rather than shooting, which leads to penalties, which means some other prick can miss the chance instead.
Which leads us to the problem of GOALS for this Arsenal team. I don't know if I'm blowing this out of proportion a little but I can see this team dominating games and not winning them. Fabregas may be the best finisher in the squad and you wouldn't call him a natural. He's had to work very hard at it- and he may well not be fit for Chelsea anyway. Arshavin still looks wasteful too often- when he trashed one in early on against Partisan, you got the feeling he'd turned the corner a bit, only for him to produce a woeful penalty that was easily saved later on. Beyond that? Rosicky's always been a three-goal a season man if his glass legs would allow even that. Nasri has had a spurt of late but as he has done in the past, maybe he's about to make the step up.... aaaaannnndddd that's all the straws I can clutch at for now.
Really, there is probably no need to go into this much depth when previewing a game against Chelsea. Even with the squad at full strength and in fine form, I would have grave doubts about their ability to deal with Chelsea's physicality and style. After they got bored to death by Mancini's purveyors of catennacio last weekend, Football365 opined: "Chelsea look all-conquering against Blackpool, Wigan et al, but when presented with a competent defence and a robust tactical game, they looked flat, uninspired and far from the swash-buckling champions elect". If true, that should provide encouragement for a lot of teams. But Arsenal have neither a competent defence nor the capacity to devise a canny tactical plan to stop Chelsea. They will most likely weave some pretty patterns, plant the flag of their principles, and watch it all get steamrolled by a real winning machine.
Taking Liverpool out of the equation, as they no longer represent much of a force, Arsenal are gripped in a miserable run against the dual leading lights of English football. In their last two visits to "fortress" Emirates, Manchester United have racked up an aggregate scoreline of 6-2 in their favour; Chelsea, a frightening 7-1.
There is no way that this hasn't affected the Arsenal players. They surely suffer from an inferiority complex now and the only way to turn that around is with a positive result against one of those teams.
Fate has been cruel and left Arsenal looking a little patched-up heading into their latest daunting date with the Blues. The gaping wound that is the goalkeeping crisis is a self-inflicted one, but it seems a little unfair that the absence of Vermalen will most likely leave Drogba in the hands of Squillaci and Koscielny, a pairing fresh from getting humiliated by the great West Bromwich Albion. Then again, Drogba has battered every Arsenal opponent he's faced so far and so maybe it's no bad thing that we will be fielding a partnership that doesn't have to fight those psychological demons.
Scrabbling for positives, I happen upon the fact that Arsenal will also not have to settle for fielding a Russian midget in the centre forward role, as they did in both games against Chelsea and the home one against United last season. And Chamakh has, as stated before, started very well at Arsenal. He carries a threat in behind as well as in the air and his hold-up play tends to be good. His finishing looks a little... hesitant, shall we say but he does have a knack of falling over when touched rather than shooting, which leads to penalties, which means some other prick can miss the chance instead.
Which leads us to the problem of GOALS for this Arsenal team. I don't know if I'm blowing this out of proportion a little but I can see this team dominating games and not winning them. Fabregas may be the best finisher in the squad and you wouldn't call him a natural. He's had to work very hard at it- and he may well not be fit for Chelsea anyway. Arshavin still looks wasteful too often- when he trashed one in early on against Partisan, you got the feeling he'd turned the corner a bit, only for him to produce a woeful penalty that was easily saved later on. Beyond that? Rosicky's always been a three-goal a season man if his glass legs would allow even that. Nasri has had a spurt of late but as he has done in the past, maybe he's about to make the step up.... aaaaannnndddd that's all the straws I can clutch at for now.
Really, there is probably no need to go into this much depth when previewing a game against Chelsea. Even with the squad at full strength and in fine form, I would have grave doubts about their ability to deal with Chelsea's physicality and style. After they got bored to death by Mancini's purveyors of catennacio last weekend, Football365 opined: "Chelsea look all-conquering against Blackpool, Wigan et al, but when presented with a competent defence and a robust tactical game, they looked flat, uninspired and far from the swash-buckling champions elect". If true, that should provide encouragement for a lot of teams. But Arsenal have neither a competent defence nor the capacity to devise a canny tactical plan to stop Chelsea. They will most likely weave some pretty patterns, plant the flag of their principles, and watch it all get steamrolled by a real winning machine.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Failings so Familiar: Arsenal 2-3 West Brom
It's the worst-kept secret in football: Arsenal operate without a competent goalkeeper. Almunia is very, very poor. His understudy is laughable- he makes a mistake in every game he plays.
Arsene Wenger deserves flak now. He deserved it when the transfer window shut with Arsenal still essentially keeperless (and there was SOME uproar) but many stored up their sense of rage, maybe in the blind hope that Almunia would somehow transform himself into Lev Yashin, or even just Mark Fucking Schwarzer.
At the same time, the problems run much, much deeper than the mere lack of a decent keeper. All of Arsenal's great flaws were simultaneously on show against West Brom. Some act as if signing a goalkeeper would solve it all- bullshit. Arsene Wenger, as Myles Palmer is fond of stating, does jot coach defence. If we were talking Brazil 1970, that may not be such a problem, but as I've been saying for a few long and often painfulk years now, this Arsenal team is not half as good as it thinks it is. They are an arrogant bunch despite having collectively achieved nothing, and their attitude often stinks, especially in home games against teams like West Brom, where they assume they just have to turn up.
Here was a performance that had all the negatives. Lethargic, lazy start. Lack of tempo. Shambolic ball-watching at the back, making Brom look like Barca. Ridiculous mistake from goalkeeper.
Injuries have also left the team looking toothless up top. Fabregas is vital now in terms of his goal tally as well as his penchant for running midfield- and with he and RVP absent, goals could become a problem. Chamakh has been impressive but does not look confident in front of goal. Arshavin remains an erratic enigma. Judging from his goals and the minute-by-minute report I read, Nasri was carrying the fight alone at times and deserves some credit.
What has become most irritating to me about this team's character deficit is the players' insistence on offering quotes every Groundhog Season testifying to how they've changed and matured. It's on the pitch they need to prove that- enough of the fucking soundbytes.
How must Cesc Fabregas feel? Another year of this?
Arsene Wenger deserves flak now. He deserved it when the transfer window shut with Arsenal still essentially keeperless (and there was SOME uproar) but many stored up their sense of rage, maybe in the blind hope that Almunia would somehow transform himself into Lev Yashin, or even just Mark Fucking Schwarzer.
At the same time, the problems run much, much deeper than the mere lack of a decent keeper. All of Arsenal's great flaws were simultaneously on show against West Brom. Some act as if signing a goalkeeper would solve it all- bullshit. Arsene Wenger, as Myles Palmer is fond of stating, does jot coach defence. If we were talking Brazil 1970, that may not be such a problem, but as I've been saying for a few long and often painfulk years now, this Arsenal team is not half as good as it thinks it is. They are an arrogant bunch despite having collectively achieved nothing, and their attitude often stinks, especially in home games against teams like West Brom, where they assume they just have to turn up.
Here was a performance that had all the negatives. Lethargic, lazy start. Lack of tempo. Shambolic ball-watching at the back, making Brom look like Barca. Ridiculous mistake from goalkeeper.
Injuries have also left the team looking toothless up top. Fabregas is vital now in terms of his goal tally as well as his penchant for running midfield- and with he and RVP absent, goals could become a problem. Chamakh has been impressive but does not look confident in front of goal. Arshavin remains an erratic enigma. Judging from his goals and the minute-by-minute report I read, Nasri was carrying the fight alone at times and deserves some credit.
What has become most irritating to me about this team's character deficit is the players' insistence on offering quotes every Groundhog Season testifying to how they've changed and matured. It's on the pitch they need to prove that- enough of the fucking soundbytes.
How must Cesc Fabregas feel? Another year of this?
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
The Story So Far
It would be an exaggeration to say Chelsea have the league sewn up in September, but their impressive form coupled with the stuttering starts of Manchesters United and City has established Ancelotti's team as clear favourites even at this early stage.
United will doubtless improve as the season progresses- they always do- but the concession of stoppage time equalisers in their last two away games betrays a fragility that has never in memory been a United trait. It's particularly unusual to see them lose a two-goal lead- let alone a two-goal lead they carried into stoppage time.
Remember, too, that Chelsea were Champions last season despite the absence for many months of Michael Essien. If Fabregas is, technique-wise, the league's best midfielder, Essien is probably the most effective. If he stays fit this time, Chelsea may well romp home.
I can't take an Arsenal challenge seriously because Wenger has again insulted the supporters with his ridiculous refusal to sign a proper goalkeeper. They have started well but the results are less impressive when you consider that 3 out of the 4 opponents so far have been reduced to 10 men with the scores still close. Injuries are biting already and I'm expecting a familiar collapse at some point this season. Arsenal may well spend chunks of this season, like the last, close to the top, but does anyone truly believe they can win the league? The sad thing is, as has been the case for years, they are not THAT far away. A couple of necessary signings might make all the difference. GROUNDHOG DAY.
Chamakh, while not a natural finisher by any means, is mobile and links the play well. He could blossom into Adebayor circa 07/08, only with a first touch and a better attitude. BUT, he has to stay fit for the next couple of months or we are, AGAIN, strikerless.
United will doubtless improve as the season progresses- they always do- but the concession of stoppage time equalisers in their last two away games betrays a fragility that has never in memory been a United trait. It's particularly unusual to see them lose a two-goal lead- let alone a two-goal lead they carried into stoppage time.
Remember, too, that Chelsea were Champions last season despite the absence for many months of Michael Essien. If Fabregas is, technique-wise, the league's best midfielder, Essien is probably the most effective. If he stays fit this time, Chelsea may well romp home.
I can't take an Arsenal challenge seriously because Wenger has again insulted the supporters with his ridiculous refusal to sign a proper goalkeeper. They have started well but the results are less impressive when you consider that 3 out of the 4 opponents so far have been reduced to 10 men with the scores still close. Injuries are biting already and I'm expecting a familiar collapse at some point this season. Arsenal may well spend chunks of this season, like the last, close to the top, but does anyone truly believe they can win the league? The sad thing is, as has been the case for years, they are not THAT far away. A couple of necessary signings might make all the difference. GROUNDHOG DAY.
Chamakh, while not a natural finisher by any means, is mobile and links the play well. He could blossom into Adebayor circa 07/08, only with a first touch and a better attitude. BUT, he has to stay fit for the next couple of months or we are, AGAIN, strikerless.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
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