Man United and Arsenal

[ThatGuy]

I hope whatever idiot thought Man United were in the **** because a "crap" player like Gary Neville was made captain. Neville was the best player out there, and is as solid a right-full as you will find.

Definitely the worst standard of football I have seen between the sides since Wenger took over.

[Karlos]

You're right...It hasn't. Yet, he persists with it, and that to me is a major flaw in his ability.

Persists with it? I've seen him play five across the middle twice in about two and a half years He's consistantly played 4-4-1-1 at all other times including against Chelsea, Liverpool and in Europe. For whatever reason he's played it twice against United and not conceeded a goal which at least on one of the those occassions was the idea. While it didn't work offensively in Cardiff, he obviously saw a difference between conceeded 4 goals against them in 4-4-1-1 or conceeding none in 4-5-1. A major flaw is persisiting in a way against a team that won't work! While i'm by no means a fan of the sytem, I've no complaints with the two results got while using it.

[pete]

Arsenal are a spent force & only an injury to Henry away from mid table obscurity. Stokes has no chance at first team if can't make Carling Cup squad. Another Graham Barret is suspect.

[Karlos]

Arsenal are a spent force & only an injury to Henry away from mid table obscurity.

Interesting considering they missed Henry for final 8 games of run-in last season, scored 16 goals, picked up a trophy and jumped over United to finish 2nd. In the previous 8 games before his injury they only scored 12 and lost one of those games away to Bayern.

This season he missed 7 games in a row with Arsenal scoring 9 goals this time but losing two games. They also lost 2 games in the following 8 games after he returned.

The point I'm making is that generally the form of the team has been the same with or without Henry. There is more to the team than Theirry Henry, something which the daily rags, sky sports and many others fail to recognise. There's no doubt they are more attractive to watch with Henry playing but statistically the performances are no better. It's easy to use Henry as a reason to write off Arsenal flippantly.

Stokes has no chance at first team if can't make Carling Cup squad. Another Graham Barret is suspect

The only reason Sokes didn't make the
most recent squad is through the form of Lupoli and Bendtner who joined the likes of
firstteamers Quincy and Van Persie in the squad. Tony is a year younger than all of these and should really be playing for the youth team rather than the reserves but his progress has been so quick, he's moved up and has played Carling Cup football this year.

I watched him last night in the reserve game against Ipswich and he did quite well, invloved in both moves for Lupoli's goals. He was excellent in the reserve game at Tottenham aswell, playing wide right, cutting in and causing loads of problems. Looks a real talent everytime I've seen him but won't leap over Lupoli and Bendter for a srtiker spot. Could push through as a winger though.

[Karlos]

Arsenal stengtened today with two good signings in problem area's in the from of Vieira lookalike Diaby from Auxerre and giant Striker Emanuel Adebayor. Don't know much about Diaby except that he was voted player of the tournamnent in Belfast at the U19 World (or was it European) Championships as was one Cesc Fabregas in the U17 CHampionships before signing for Arsenal. Diaby capatined the French to glory.

I have seen a fair deal of Adebayor at Monaco ovre the last two years and he will be a great asset to this Arsenal team who are short on real ariel presence. He's also quick and mobile which will help with the style of Arsenal's game. He scored 11 goals in 13 International games for Togo but will head off to the African Nations Cup immediately before making his debut for Arsenal. Wenger confirmed that both players were bought as first team players and no transfer fees were disclosed.

Good news for all the Gooners and great to see Arsene addressing the issues within the current playing staff. If rumours are to be believed, Theo Walcott of Southampton could be the next promising youngster to come through the marble halls (a source I know in the media tells me that Walcott himself was at the training ground yesterday along with Lowe and Woodward although none of the papers seem to have run with this today stating only Lowe and Woodward were there). Wenger today stated his interest but that a deal had not been struck. He's definetly one I'd like to see him add to the current squad.

Henry leaving, Cole leaving and not a hope of a single signing according to all the usual suspects - What a difference a couple of days make

Let there be no panic - "Arsene Knows!"