3-0: An end to sentiment
688 comments August 9th, 2006
Arsenal played their first competetive game of the season last night, and with this landmark came the end of a period of significant sentiment. Two remarkably similiar yet brilliant strikes from Cesc Fabregas sandwiched a Robin van Persie goal as a young but forceful Arsenal side came through the first leg of a tricky tie with a slightly flatterring scoreline.
Cesc was the undoubted star, and Arsene and I both feel that he definitely has goals in his locker. He was the Golden Boot winner at Youth World Cup a few years back: it’s only a matter of time until he starts banging them in at senior level. To be honest though, it was a good team performance – even the more inexperienced players such as Hoyte and Djourou showed real gritt and determination.
One surprise name on the team-sheet was Tomas Rosicky, who Arsene had been very firm in saying would start on the bench. Instead, he was drafted into the first eleven, with Jose Antonio Reyes sitting on the substitutes bench. Wenger’s decision to exclude Reyes was made all the more obvious when Matthieu Flamini and Jeremie Aliadiere were brought on at left-wing and centre-forward respectively.
Unsurprisingly, having avoided being cup-tied, Reyes now looks even more likely to join Real Madrid. Indeed, the bleating whinger himself wants the deal sorted “as soon as possible”. Arsene insisted he was left out due to being “unsettled” by the rumours, but I think the manager played a rather cleverer game. By declaring his intention to play Reyes, he has forced Madrid’s hand: reports from Spain indicate that talks over the transfer opened today.
Perhaps the long-term plan is to replace the Spaniard with Franck Ribery, as I suggested last month. However, as yet Arsene claims he has made no bid. Personally, I’m a fan of Ribery. He is quite similiar to Freddie Ljungberg: full of running with the potential for goals. What is unthinkable is to sell Reyes and Cole and not bring anybody in. Thierry Henry is understandably concerned.
Reyes is a good player and a decent lad, but as I said earlier, now is a time for an end to the sentiment which clouded the club for so much of last season. Saying goodbye to Highbury and Dennis Bergkamp was an understandable distraction, and now we must move on with a group of players who want to do the business for the club where it matters: on the pitch.
If this means losing the dead weight of unhappy players like Campbell, Cole, and Reyes then so be it. The way in which we conducted our business on the field last night should be continued throughout the club. Enough sentiment, enough transition: now is the time to win.
