Archive for July, 2010

Eduardo: The fairytale that’s yet to end

12 comments July 25th, 2010

He was due to be the missing piece in the jigsaw. For years Arsenal’s attractive approach play had lacked a clinical finish. The signing of Eduardo had seemingly ended Arsenal’s search for a ‘Fox in the box’. How ironic then that Martin Taylor effectively ended Eduardo’s Arsenal career in a manner as emphatic and clinical as the Croatian’s goalscoring prowess.

That, I’m afraid, is the sad truth of it. Eduardo was never the same player after that tackle. He came back and showed flashes of brilliance, and for a time it seemed as if a miraculous recovery was on the cards. But niggling injuries stalled his progress. Not only that, but when through on goal, the moment’s hesitation that was previously so remarkably absent from his game proved costly. Scoring goals had always come naturally to Eduardo. Now, he thought about it. He delayed his finish, he anticipated the keeper’s lunge, he even ducked out of the odd tight spot.

None of this was insurmountable. A run of games might have given him back the confidence he needed. Once the first goal went in, others would surely follow. But Arsenal and Arsene were involved in a title-race. Bedding Eduardo back in was a luxury that we couldn’t afford.

Arsenal had taken Eduardo’s rehabilitation as far as we possibly could. This is a competitive football club, not a clinic. Arsenal did the right thing by Eduardo by sticking with him in his darkest hour – handing him a new contract, and offering him all the support we could until he could stand on his own two feet again. And run. And play the game he loves.

Now is the time for the Crozilian to take matters in to his own hands. He could have stayed in London, but the arrival of Marouane Chamakh has only pushed him further down the pecking order. Eduardo has been frank in his assessment of his own chances. He is 27 years old, and he needs game-time. He’s moving to a Champions League club, closer to his adopted Croatia, where he will be an undisputed star. The fairytale recovery we thought we might see is still possible. We’ll just be watching from a greater distance.

Goodbye Eduardo

There is other Arsenal news about, but not masses of it.

The Daily Mail have a couple of spurious transfer links: one saying we’re due to increase a bid for Phil Jagielka; another saying we’ve turned down the opportunity to sign David James.

A more exciting story, albeit one equally unlikely to come fruition, is Russian Number 1 Igor Akinfeev’s interest in joining Andrey Arshavin in North London:

“I have spoken with Arshavin about Arsenal and London life. He has only had good things to say about the club and the city. He said some very nice things about me going on to be the best goalkeeper in the world – and that he would like me to reach that goal at Arsenal with him. Juventus have also expressed an interest in me – but Arshavin has sold England to me very well.”

Good job, Andrey.  The dwarfy playmaker cites Akinfeev as the best player in the Russian side, and he’s clearly a talent worth getting excited about.  Unfortunately, he would cost big money, and I just can’t see Arsene splashing out on a goalkeeper.  There is no precedent.

And finally, Andres Iniesta seems to have got the message about Cesc Fabregas.  One can only hope he pulls his mate Xavi aside for a quiet word.

Tomorrow I’ll be bringing you a big overview on that state of play in the transfer market, and don’t forget next week there are still several more in the Ready Or Not series to come.  For now though, enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Ready Or Not: Jay Simpson

934 comments July 23rd, 2010

Hello all, and welcome to the latest installment of Ready Or Not – a look at striker Jay Simpson.  A couple of pre-season goals against Barnet brought him back in to contention, but having since been left out of the squad for Austria, things look a little bleak for Jay.

Simpson burst on to the scene with a couple of Carling Cup goals against West Brom – a team he went on to join on loan, as he spent half the 08/09 battling relegation from the Premier League.

Last year, he left West Brom but still joined them in The Championship, joining the turbulent scenes at QPR.  I spoke to Clive Whittingham from QPR site Loftforwords to see how he got on.

How big an impact did Jay Simpson make at QPR?

Well he was our top scorer with 13 goals, so that’s a considerable impact in its own right, and without those goals we’d have been in deep trouble at the bottom of the league – we flirted with relegation after Christmas as it was. Like the rest of the team he peaked when Jim Magilton was in charge around September/October time when the team was scoring for fun (12 goals in three games in seven days at one point). At that stage he was playing as a lone striker with support from Taarabt, Routledge and Buzsaky which is a pretty awesome line up as Championship attacks go.

Sadly for us Magilton couldn’t stop messing with a winning side, and completely lost the plot whenever we lost, which resulted in a dramatic dip in form, Magilton allegedly headbutting Akos Buzsaky and getting the sack. After that we were never really the same with Oaul Hart’s awful long ball football, Mick Harford’s all round cluelessness and Neil Warnock then trying to steady the ship and keep us up. Simpson scored consistently until Warnock was appointed and then for whatever reason couldn’t hit the target at all.

He didn’t score in his last 16 or 17 matches for us and looked a player very low on confidence by the end of the season. He went through on the keeper in the last match against Newcastle and hit the ball straight at Tim Krul when earlier in the year chances like that were easy for him. In his defence we did flog Routledge in January and he was top of the assists chart, and we were somewhat less successful and attacking once Magilton left – in fact we were in freefall for three months of the season.

What are his main strengths and weaknesses as a player?

Well for two thirds of the season his finishing was spot on, and he was a threat whenever the ball dropped in the penalty area. That waned as the season went on though. He’s not very quick, but his touch is sound and he holds the ball well and brings others into play. Not the bravest.

What is his best position?

He played his best football for us as a lone striker. QPR never really had a partner to play with him last season so I don’t know what he’d be like playing off a target man, although there was a suggestion that that would improve him. Hart and Harford (being idiots) both tried him out wide, as I believe West Brom did the season before, and he’s certainly not a winger by any stretch of the imagination.

Which top flight players does he remind you of?

Hard to say because I just don’t think he’s good enough for the top flight. In height and looks he’s a bit like Agbonlahor, but about half as quick. His hold up and lay game is a bit Kevin Davies like – but nowhere near as good, and he’s not as good in the air. I suppose Martyn Waghorn at Sunderland is the nearest comparison – similar age, on the cusp of the first team, regularly loaned out to lower leagues, not quite clear whether he’s a top end Championship striker or bottom end Premiership player but in both cases I’d suggest the former.

Do you think he could be an Arsenal player?

No. He seems like a nice lad and an honest player, he’s certainly got ability but I’m not convinced he’s good enpough for Arsenal, or the Premiership at all, and at 21 I’m not convinced he will ever become so. The QPR fans are split on whether we’d even want him back, although I’m certainly in the ‘yes please’ camp on that one. He just doesn’t have enough pace to play in the Premiership for me. In the Championship he’d get into double figures most season just through the amount of mistakes and balls dropping in the penalty area, but you don’t get that in the Premiership. I can see him doing reasonably well at somewhere like QPR, Leicester, Swansea, Palace – but not Arsenal.

There you have it.  A fairly clear verdict from Clive – but do you agree?

Is Jay Ready?
Ready
Not

Ready Or Not: Henri Lansbury

889 comments July 21st, 2010

As a sixteen-year old, creative midfielder Henri Lansbury was one of the most talked about players in the Arsenal academy.  However, whilst we’ve got used to seeing youngsters like Mark Randall and Craig Eastmond on the fringes of the first team, Lansbury has spent the majority of his time out on loan.  In 2008/09 he spent half the season at Scunthorpe, and last year he spent the entire campaign at Watford.

He was handed a new deal at Arsenal just six months ago, so it’s clear the club are keen to hang on to him – but is that just to sell him for a decent fee, or to make him part of a new-look squad?

Thanks to Watford fan Patrick ‘Lloyd Doyley’ McNicholas for answering the now familiar set of questions.

How big an impact did Henri make at Watford?

Despite being very quiet for the first two or three home games I watched (and as a season ticket holder, I’ve seen all his home matches), I don’t think I’d be alone in saying that, once he found his feet, he was arguably our player of the season behind Tom Cleverley.

It could be said that his assists and goals (most noticeably in his performance of the season v Sheff Wed at home, scoring two and setting up two) were the reason for our survival. Had Malky Mackay not scooped up Lansbury and instead used a youth player in his position, the outcome to the season could have been very different.

What are his main strengths and weaknesses as a player?

He’s undoubtedly a pacey player, with a very good eye when it comes to short/long passing, and scoring key goals.  However he can also get a bit ‘cocky’ with his game play, occasionally unnecessarily trying to out-skill an opposing player, which will backfire, or opting to go it alone instead of picking out more suitable passes.

What is his best position?

He was a key midfielder, especially out on the right, though he did have a tendency to sneak into a strikers role for brief periods of the game.

Which top flight player does he remind you of?

I know this sounds very “stereotypical Watford fan”, but he really does remind me of Ashley Young. His quick pace, keen eye and good shot, be it via a set piece or in open play, really brought back memories of the Villa midfielder.

Do you think he could make it at Arsenal?

I’ve only seen a first hand viewing of him at Championship level, and after two failed premiership campaigns as a Watford fan, I can tell you that there is a very big difference between the two leagues. So I can’t promise he’ll be a fundamental midfielder…yet. Give him time and he may be the next Ronaldo, who knows! But judging on his performances against the likes of West Brom and Newcastle for us this year, and his 14-minute Arsenal debut against Fulham, I’d say he is going to emerge as a very good player- be it for Arsenal, or another top flight team.

So there we have it.  Something of a surprising comparison with Ashley Young there, but it’s clear that Lansbury has matured from his scrawnier teenage form in to quite the athlete.  With Aaron Ramsey out for another few months (at least), this is as good an opportunity as he’ll have to seize a place in the squad.

Is Henri Ready?
Ready
Not

An impressive performance in today’s friendly with Sturm Graz could make all the difference.

The number 10 finds its rightful home

1 comment July 20th, 2010

“At the start we gave Robin Dennis Bergkamp as a role model and he is growing into that role very well. Just look at the numbers. He is more of a goalscorer than Dennis and I think he has developed his vision and passing well.

Robin respected Dennis and listened to his advice. He arrived when Dennis was already 33, 34 so he accepted to play that kind of master advice [role]. It was not anymore about him [Van Persie] taking his place. He wanted to help him.”
Arsene Wenger, 2009

As of today, the apprentice inherits the sorcerer’s shirt. Robin van Persie will wear the number ten shirt next season – and one gets the impression he could barely wait before snatching if from the departing William Gallas.

Robin’s old number 11 shirt will be worn by Carlos Vela, who seems set to stay at the club.  It’s something of an indictment of Eduardo, set to join Shakhtar, that at this stage Vela is considered a better bet.

The Arsenal.com squad page has had Gallas and Silvestre removed, although Sol Campbell remains amid speculation about an impending move to Sunderland.

27 squad members are currently in Austria – injuries have forced Denilson and Bendtner to stay behind, whilst Van Persie and Cesc Fabregas are still on holiday.

Pop along tomorrow the latest in our Ready Or Not series – a look at Watford loanee Henri Lansbury…

Ready Or Not: Jack Wilshere

387 comments July 20th, 2010

Jack Wilshere

Welcome to the second installment of Ready Or Not.  Yesterday we took a look at Jay Emmanuel-Thomas – today is the turn of Jack Wilshere.

Fate has handed this blog a bonus – as I sit down to write it I’m digesting both a chicken dhansak and the news that Joe Cole has opted to sign for Liverpool.  Of those, only the latter has any relevance – but it’s significant.  Arsenal were definitely interested in Cole, but only at the right price – and, crucially, with the right length of contract.

Cole has decided to take the lucrative Liverpool offer, and who can blame him – his four-year deal will earn him almost £20m.  For Arsenal, however, it may be a blessing in disguise.  Cole and Wilshere are similar players – short, stocky and creative.  The former Chelsea man’s absence from the squad will create a spot which Wilshere might just be primed to fill.

Jack spent the first half of last season wrapped up in cotton wool, making the odd Carling Cup appearance and a solitary cameo in the league.  In January, he moved to Owen Coyle’s Bolton on loan – and if Coyle gets his way, he’ll be returning this season.  Bolton originally deployed him as a drifting left-winger, but he ended the season partnering another youngster with Arsenal in his blood, Fabrice Muamba, in central midfield.

I spoke to boltonboris of The-Wanderer.co.uk to see just how he fared in his time ‘oop north’.

Wilshere and Coyle
How big an impact did JW make at Bolton?

Not a huge one by any means, but he improved our passing game by always being available for a pass, using his intelligence and his obvious confidence.

What are his main strengths and weaknesses as a player?

He’s confident (as mentioned), he has a great low centre of gravity making him harder to shrug off the ball than you’d expect. He’s got good technique and an eye for a pass. One bad point is his tackling – they obviously don’t practice getting the ball off opponents legally at your training ground. With Arsenal players it’s usually either a horror tackle or a complete miss, and Wilshere’s no exception.

What is his best position?

Middle of a midfield five – not much defensive responsibility – just let him roam, looking for gaps. He’ll keep plugging away without always succeeding.

Which top flight players does he remind you of?

Scholes of yesteryear, popping up all over the place always wanting the ball and making late runs into the box. He’s nowhere near as gifted as Scholes mind, and despite his youth, I can’t see him getting to that standard (no bad thing – Scholes is one of the true greats).

Do you think he could make it at Arsenal?

Definitely – unless he gets back into training and snaps everyone in sight. “I learnt that off Super Kev Davies,” he’ll say. Wenger will be horrified and demand Diaby break his leg immediately.

Gags aside, it’s clear Jack was well received up at Bolton.  I’ve seen Wilshere play a fair few times both for us and Bolton, and I’d actually go further than boltonboris: he does have the potential to reach Scholes’ level.  What he needs are the same opportunities that Scholes was afforded.  He already has the ability.  Could this be Jack’s year?

Is Jack Ready?
Ready
Not

*thanks to Tangodancer of the-wanders for the Wilshere/Coyle image.

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