Arsene Wenger criticised his players for Arsenal’s troubles at the back. Robin van Persie is “frustrated” with at the Gunners inability to respond to poor performances. Rumours are swirling over a possible new defensive coach to sort out the problems.
Wenger said that his squad’s terrible defending this season is due to “a lack of concentration, a lack of communication, a lack of co-ordination and individual urgency.” (from The Sun)
What Wenger said was obvious to the rest of the world, but it is good to finally hear it from him. Arsene usually never criticises his players in public like this. He is famous for defending his boys at all costs, but Wenger decided now was the time to let out his growing frustrations.
He continued: “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.”
Wenger is correct. If the Gunners continue on the current course, we could be looking at a mid-table finish or worse. Something needs to change, whether it is the philosophy or the confidence does not matter. The Bolton match on Saturday at the Emirates is huge for our season.
Robin van Persie said he is “frustrated” with the team this season. He [...]
Arsene Wenger said that Arsenal were “terrible” in their 4-3 defeat at Ewood Park. Wenger said he is worried about the problems at the back after conceding two own goals.
Wenger was forced to scrap his normal post-match comments after witnessing the sad performance his squad put in. Arsene said (from ESPN): “It is terrible. It is just not good enough. Of course we are very frustrated – the spirit in the team is quite willing but if you look at the number of goals we have conceded that is not good enough.
“You cannot come here and concede four goals the way we did today. On the other hand I believe that the group will take off but it’s important that we get quick results.
“You cannot say you have no worry when you see the performance we have put in today. It’s just not defensively solid enough when you are 2-1 in front against Blackburn and you know if you are solid enough defensively you will score goals.
“It’s not all negative today. That’s, in fact, the frustrating thing as well. At the moment we do not have the capability to focus defensively to win games like that. It is important you do not give cheap goals away like that.”
There were flashes of brilliance from the Arsenal attack, but all that was washed away by the incoherent defending. When a team scores three goals, they expect to win, but this squad of Gunners should not expect to [...]
Arsene Wenger said yesterday that Arsenal have regained their confidence, while Swansea keeper Michel Vorm said that the Gunners play with no confidence whatsoever.
Arsenal earned their first win of the Premier League season yesterday by beating Swansea City 1-0 at the Emirates. The Gunners will travel to Germany to take on Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday. Arsene Wenger said he believes that his squad have bounced back from their rough start (from ESPN):
“The confidence is back now. [We] had not won yet in the league and that had played a big part in our head. In our job, momentum is vital. We just want to play to win.
“When you look back when we travelled to Udinese [for the Champions League play-off] everyone expected us to win the game and we did, we want the same against Dortmund.”
Saturday’s victory was made possible by a mistake from Swansea keeper Michel Vorm. The 27-year old Holland international rolled the ball to unsuspecting Swansea defender Angel Rangel. The ball deflected off the back of Rangel’s leg and sat nicely for Andre Arshavin. The little Russian scored the winner in the open net.
Michel Vorm had a lot to say about Arsenal on Sunday (from The Mirror): ”I think the stadium was scary. You come inside and think, ‘OK, 60,000 people’ and the atmosphere was great. But they play with no confidence and with new players it’s hard for them to fill in the places.
“I think Arteta did well, but although I think they [...]
Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood said that the Arsenal board are “happy enough” with manager Arsene Wenger. He called the Wenger-out rumours “utter rubbish.”
Hill-Wood told the Daily Star (about the rumours that the board was considering sacking Wenger) : “It’s complete and utter rubbish and absolute nonsense. I think he is happy enough and we are happy enough.
“We have brought some new players in and although I don’t know that much about many of them I think, generally speaking, they are going to improve the squad.”
Of course it is not the time to sack Arsene Wenger. He deserves more than three league matches to prove his worth. Wenger will be given time, but much importance will be placed on the performances of the new signings.
Arsenal have essentially replaced Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri with Mikel Arteta and Yossi Benayoun. Most Arsenal supporters were relieved (as I was) to hear that Wenger added two experienced midfielders on transfer deadline day. But the truth is, the squad is still worse than it was last season.
The most successful manager in Arsenal history will look to earn his first victory of the season against Swansea at the weekend. It would appear to be an easy fixture for the Gunners, but that it what makes it dangerous. If Arsenal fail to gain the three points at the Emirates, the pressure on Wenger may rise to another level.
Bolton chairman Phil Gartside attacked Arsene Wenger on Twitter for the Gunners’ reportedly low bid for Gary Cahill. Arsene Wenger denied that the £6 million bid had taken place, and then said that he is “ready to confront” Gartside.
On Friday, we learned that the Gunners offered Bolton £6m for centre-back Gary Cahill. Bolton rejected the bid without a second thought, but chairman Phil Gartside was still furious. He re-tweeted this message on his Twitter account:
“Arsenal are you taking the p— 6million for Garry Cahill f— right off!!! £wengerisabell.”
This message was not writted by Gartside, but he put it up on his Twitter page. He later took down the comment, probably because he saw how much of a stir it created.
Arsene Wenger responded to the comments by saying: “If that is his problem, he can endorse what he wants. I can tell you it [the £6 million figure] is not true. You can believe Gartside or you can believe me but you are free to do what you want. It’s not the truth and if Gartside can say that I am lying I am ready to confront him.”
Wenger has a right to be outraged by Gartside’s behavior. Here is the Bolton chairman and a FA board member openly promoting a hideous attack on Arsene Wenger. Gartside should act professional, and he should be punished for his comments on Twitter.
Owen Coyle also felt that the Cahill bid came up short, but he did not air his feelings in [...]
Arsene Wenger said on Friday that Arsenal need to buy three more players. The Gunners want to buy a striker, defender, and midfielder before the end of the month.
Arsene Wenger told Arsenal.com: “It is important [to strengthen] because we will lose players in January with players going to the African Nations Cup.”
“We lose Gervinho and Chamakh together so, first of all, it is important to strengthen up front. It is important that we find one midfielder and one defender as well. So we are still short of three bodies. “My time has been taken up [by players going out] and it was a very difficult summer on that front because we had to face adversity, negativity, but it had to be done. Overall, we tried to do as well as we could.”
Wenger is finally being honest with us. Arsenal do need to bring in three more quality players before the end of the transfer period. The whole at the back is widening with the injuries to Vermaelen, Gibbs, and Koscielny. Johan Djourou has recovered from an ailment already, but he usually doesn’t hold up long.
When Chamakh (Morroco) and Gervinho (Ivory Coast) leave for the African Cup of Nations, Arsene Wenger will be left with Robin van Persie as his only experienced striker. The Dutchman is known to suffer long mid-season injuries, so it would be best to add depth up top.
The Gunners need to add some creativity in midfield. Alex Song and Emmaneul Frimpong are enough to cover the [...]
Nasri will surely be hated among Gooners for his move to City.
Arsenal have reached an agreement with Manchester City for the transfer of Samir Nasri. Arsene Wenger, Jack Wilshere, and Emmanuel Frimpong all reacted to the departure of the French midfielder.
According to The Telegraph, Manchester City will pay the Gunners £23 million for Nasri. The French midfielder will sign a five-year contract for £170,000 a week at the Eastlands. Arsenal were only willing to offer Nasri £90,000 per week. Expect Nasri to tell the press that he left the Emirates to win trophies.
Here is what Arsene Wenger had to say to Arsenal.com about the move: “I don’t question Samir Nasri’s commitment or professionalism. If I told him ‘you come with us and play’, he would have played like he did on Saturday but you wonder what kind of a commitment you can have.
“Football rules are made like that, that the player can be worth a lot of money today and nothing in six months so it doesn’t look completely logical but, at the end of the day, of course, we are forced into a decision like that for psychological and financial reasons.
“I am a realist so I have no illusions. It’s part of the modern life of a professional football player. It’s not that by coincidence that everybody suddenly lands at Man City.
“We did not want to lose Fabregas, but we were forced into a situation we didn’t want. Nasri is a situation where the [...]
UEFA decided to hand Arsene Wenger a two-match touchline ban on Monday. Arsenal are angry at UEFA for holding up their chance to appeal the ruling.
Wenger, while on a touchline ban, used to assistant Boro Primorac to contact Pat Rice on the pitch during Arsenal 1-0 Champions League victory over Udinese last Tuesday. UEFA informed Wenger that he was not allowed to relay messages to the bench, but Primorac continued to use his mobile phone throughout the match.
Arsenal will also be fined €10,000 for the incident.
Arsene expressed his confusion over the UEFA rules last week, but that did not stop the football governing body from handing down this suspension. Here is some of UEFA’s official statement on the matter:
“Today’s decision was taken in relation to the Arsenal manager not abiding by the decision of the Control and Disciplinary Body during the English club’s UEFA Champions League play-off game against Udinese Calcio last Tuesday, 16 August. Wenger is therefore suspended for Arsenal’s second-leg match against Udinese in Italy on Wednesday and then the next UEFA competition fixture for which he would be eligible.
“The Control and Disciplinary Body has also decided to fine Arsenal €10,000 for improper conduct by its officials. An appeal may be lodged against these decisions within three days of the dispatch of the reasoned decision.”
According to Daily Mail and other sources, Arsenal are irate that the appeal process has been slowed by UEFA. As of Monday night, Arsenal still have not received the appeal [...]
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini threatened to end the Samir Nasri talks with Arsenal. Arsene Wenger said that no club is close to signing Nasri. He also said that Manchester United still have interest in his French star.
Manchester City may turn away from Samir Nasri if the midfielder plays in Arsenal’s mid-week contest against Udinese. Roberto Mancini said it would present a hurdle in a potential deal: “If Nasri plays against Udinese, it could be possible [to pursue other targets], yes. I think we can close [the deal] in the next two days, but if he plays in the Champions League, it will be a big a problem. A big problem.
“It’s a big problem because we have followed Nasri for 40 days and I have hoped (it would be completed) in two days or in three days. I don’t know why we didn’t close it, but for Nasri, it will be important to play all the Champions League with us.”
Arsene Wenger said he would not hesistate to play Nasri in Italy. If the Frenchman plays, he would not be allowed to compete for Manchester City in the Champions League this season. Wenger said that his main goal is to qualify for the group stages of the competition.
Mancini continued talking about Nasri: “I am sure we can close this in 24 or 48 hours, but I don’t know why it hasn’t been closed.
Arsene Wenger is confused about the UEFA rules regarding a touchline suspension. Wenger said he tried to respect the rules, but the the guidelines were not made clear to him.
During Tuesday’s match against Udinese, Arsene Wenger seemed to be using his assistant coach, Boro Primorac, to send messages down to Pat Rice. Primorac was busy using his mobile phone throughout the match.
Wenger told Arsenal Player: ”It was difficult because you didn’t really know what the rules were. They told us first we could communicate through my assistant and at half-time it was not like that. It was a bit confusing.
“It is a real concern because up to what level can you stop someone doing their job?
“I did not feel I had done a lot. We tried to respect the rules as they are set by UEFA but, of course, it is very difficult to see how you can stop someone having an influence.
“What is true is that you can’t go to the dressing rooms but I did not do that.”
Apparently, Wenger was told by UEFA that he was allowed to use Primorac to contact the bench, but at half-time, he was told to stop. UEFA need to sort out the regulations and make them clear to the managers before they impose this sort of ban.
It must be hard for Wenger to sit in the stands and watch his squad play. Every minute he must be thinking about something he could have said to the players; how he could have made [...]
