Humble pie / Tony Adams was right / Wengerball

After I posted my previous article on here stating that the match against Juventus would be in the Italians' favour if they played their cards right, I received plenty of comments from Gooners (I hope!) criticising my lack of faith and confidence in the team.

I did not hope Arsenal would lose to Juventus. I stated quite the opposite at the start of the article.

Watching Arsenal last night, it filled me with immense pride the way the young players, in their youthful zest and exuberance, completely outran and outfoxed the battle-hardened Juventus players. I thought the efficiency and coordination of the most experienced defence in Serie A, backed up by the most expensive goalkeeper in football, would shut out an Arsenal attack that doesn't always finish its chances. I was wrong there – again. It could have been 5-0 to Arsenal.

I thought Fabregas would be dominated by Emerson and Vieira. Oh, how he wasn't.

I thought that Senderos wouldn't have been able to cope with the aggressiveness of Ibrahimovic, that Trezeguet would be a target man for Camaronesi and cause all sorts of problems in the Arsenal defence. I was wrong there – Senderos, and the Arsenal back four, stood up and made the Juventus attack look non-existent. In fact, THEY WERE NON-EXISTENT.

Where was Trezeguet? Where was Ibrahimovic? We know where Camaronesi went, but it was as if Premier League and Serie A swapped roles and Arsenal were showing Juventus how to put on a defensive performance. A performance that not only had the tackling, tactical awareness and positioning of Seaman, Bould, Adams, Dixon and Winterburn, but also with an attacking zest that would have been a perfect example of total football. Wengerball.

It wasn't only me that was eating humble pie last night. Did anyone see the look on Patrick Vieira's face?

He wasn't in favour of his mentor Arsène Wenger bringing in youth. He wanted to play with a team of established superstars. He wanted instant success. He was critical of Tony Adams when Adams said Vieira couldn't last 90 minutes. He will most likely get that success in Serie A, but how his words came back to bite him in the buttocks last night.

Arsenal's youth policy has almost nearly knocked Juventus out of the Champions League. The competition that Vieira wanted to win the most. Vieira couldn't wait for the youngsters to grow up. At his age, he wanted success there and then. Not bringing in international superstars was a lack of ambition, he's been quoted as saying. How the youth came of age last night and put the words back into his mouth.

When Tony Adams said that Patrick Vieira couldn't last a full 90 minutes anymore in English football, many of us thought that old Tony was back on the booze again. Was he talking about the same Patrick Vieira that has for the most part of nine years, carried Arsenal's midfield? Adams quoted his stats, the same stats that Wenger used to make his decision on whether to sell or hold on to Vieira.

Vieira just gave up midway through the second half last night. It was shocking. Here was the man who, with an injured knee, carried Arsenal through an FA Cup replay away to Stamford Bridge. A man who dominated the Chelsea midfield. But last night he just couldn't be bothered anymore.

So he fouled Reyes. Because he didn't fancy eating humble pie again in Turin. He didn't fancy playing against a flamboyant and youthful Arsenal side that could run rings around him for a whole game and more. He didn't want to be told that he was indeed past it, that Tony Adams was right, and Arsène Wenger was right.

There's no point having two of the world's best tackling midfielders when you can't get near enough to tackle anyone! And when you do, you draw the risk of drawing the foul because the little gremlin would have gotten away from you by then.

Vieira will rule in Serie A, no doubt about that, because the pace of the game is slower and the tackle doesn't come flying in the moment you receive the ball. He knew what he was doing when he fouled Reyes when he didn't need to. He wanted to miss the return leg, and it was sad to see that because the Vieira we knew stood up to anyone who wanted to bully Arsenal.

The job is only half done. Arsenal should have killed the tie last night, but again were wasteful in front of goal. But 2-0 is a good score to take to Turin. We have to score to make it difficult for them.

I have a little bit more confidence now. If there ever was an Arsenal team capable of humbling the Italian league leaders in their own backyard, it's this young Arsenal team, completely devoid of any "superstars".

User Comments

Brendy

Posted on 3 Apr, 2006 at 11:01 PM - Reply

I myself am very worried about Henry leaving. Every day I check to see if he's signed. All we can do is wait and pray he does. But if he does leave all is not lost our team although young have a great spirit and that comes from the manager. Wenger puts his faith in the players of the future this faith gives them confidence. He is gifted in ways only Fergie and Jose dream. Come on ye gooners have faith Arsene knows what hes doing.

Gooner

Posted on 1 Apr, 2006 at 01:51 PM - Reply

Personaly, I think that there is only one thing that can prevent TH14 from leaving. And that's if Arsenal win the Champions League.

nico

Posted on 30 Mar, 2006 at 09:34 AM - Reply

make no mistake, without the influence of henry this team would not be what it is today... Henry has been very influencial to the boys. He has been more than just a stricker this season.in fact, he's been the co-ordinator and the driving force behind the hole team. his passion for the game and his beleive has made him more of a role model than just a team mate for the boys. he's just been phenomenal. if he was playing in italy or in spain, nobody would be disputing that he is the best striker in the world at the moment.

wengerboy

Posted on 30 Mar, 2006 at 09:02 AM - Reply

mate you are the one eating Humble pie after the last article

mr.arsenal

Posted on 30 Mar, 2006 at 08:58 AM - Reply

where were you the last nine years when vieira saved us many times, he wasnt he only one against our youth policy most of the arsenal fans were too, he is for arsenal not against. show a little respect to a arsenal legend

NornIron Gunner

Posted on 29 Mar, 2006 at 06:52 PM - Reply

Look you ejits the author was being ironic. The author is well aware that Henry is a superstar, he is just making fun of the fact that Vieira left Arsenal for Juvé because there weren't any superstars coming in. Great article.

CopyNinja

Posted on 29 Mar, 2006 at 02:30 PM - Reply

Absolutely Fabulous or should I say absolutely Fabregas?!

Trev H

Posted on 29 Mar, 2006 at 02:08 PM - Reply

Anyone think Mr Lauren is a worried man right now? No point me saying how good Cesc, Toure, Henry and Pires (yes Pires!!) were last night, too obvious. But how good was Eboue, again?? He seems to fear noway, irrespective of size, pace or reputation. As well as being a powerful defender in the Toure mould, he's added another dimension to our game going forward, the same way Ashley Cole does down the left. I for one think he should stay in on merit even if lauren was fit. Arsene's doing it again. Something growing, somethings building. Doesn't mean we'll win the CL this season, but how good does the future look now?? Come on Thierry, you've got a good 5 years left at the top. Best to spend that 5 years surrounded by the best group of players in Europe - look around, no need to look too far!! Maybe not this year but we are going to be seriously good in the not too distant future.

Gavin Pillay

Posted on 29 Mar, 2006 at 12:59 PM - Reply

Henry must stop dilly-dallying and sign the contract. There's something to be said for loyalty and pride. (Just ask Paulo Maldini)

hugh

Posted on 29 Mar, 2006 at 12:29 PM - Reply

I dont like your attitude towards Vieira. He gave 9 great years to Arsenal and didn't even want to leave last year but instead it was us who showed him the door. Yes he was quiet last night but wasnt the whole Juventus team? He can't carry 10 other players himself. He isn't superman. If the rest of the team don't perform how can you expect Vieira to also. It wasn't just him that seemed to give up, besides when did any of them turn up in the first place. Juventus dissapeared after the first 15 minutes. It's also ridiculous to say he purposefully got booked so he didnt have to face us again in Turin!

Rae

Posted on 29 Mar, 2006 at 11:57 AM - Reply

To be fair the comment about 'superstars' was a shot at Vieira & his reason for leaving, I think all & sundry know wer have the best player in the world.

ian7

Posted on 29 Mar, 2006 at 11:53 AM - Reply

Great night. you're right, after madrid and juve, players, fans and managers all over the world will recognise how good we really are. its about time too! I remember a comment by Inter's Kily Gonzalez in the 2003-04 season round the time Inter beat us 3-0 at home about how teams just laugh at/about Arsenal cos we aint really that good. bet they aint laughing now. Inter couldnt do anything against Juve this season so what if Inter make it to the semis, they'll be the ones being laughed at while we give them another 5-1 spanking, maybe 5-0(in the 1st leg). Arsenal R da FUTURE. If we win it this year id back us to win it again within the next two years(Especially with Adebayor back in Champs League). Arsenal v Barcelona-The Final EVERYBODY wants to see.

ashburrn

Posted on 29 Mar, 2006 at 11:51 AM - Reply

If you'll notice, the word superstars is in quotes. The author was probably referring to Vieira's comments that he wanted to play in a team of superstars but it was the superstars who were well beaten last night.

TaoZhe

Posted on 29 Mar, 2006 at 11:27 AM - Reply

Devoid of stuperstars may be too strong a phrase to use. Henry is a well known striker that any team would love to have - even when people called him a big game choker - he played extremely well in this big game. Good one Henry. Fabulous Fab played very well with Henry as well.

ian

Posted on 29 Mar, 2006 at 11:20 AM - Reply

no supertars??? only the best player in the world

Esoteric

Posted on 29 Mar, 2006 at 11:08 AM - Reply

Magnificant article.

reyes_a83

Posted on 29 Mar, 2006 at 09:43 AM - Reply

It's Fabregas....

Dan

Posted on 29 Mar, 2006 at 09:41 AM - Reply

If Henry doesn't count as a superstar then who does one wonders

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