Arsenal-Mania

Euro 2008, dull Italians and Ashavin

By Joël Che on Tuesday, June 24, 2008

I'm not sure the Spanish coach really appreciates what Francesc Fabregas can do. It is always tricky for a coach to decide whether to pick his best players or the best team. Fabregas can do a lot for Torres and Villa but he still doesn't start.

He was brought in as a sub against Italy and Spain looked to have a little better penetration with him. Unfortunately, Torres had left the pitch. Then Aragones gave Cesc the 5th penalty!

The 5th penalty is the responsibility to win it or throw your team out. It's strange to give it to a player whom you don't believe is good enough to start – a bit like the one you would want to give the blame to.

When Cesc stepped up against Buffon, I recalled they had met a few times before and Cesc had got the better of him. Was the big guy going to get his day? No. Cesc converted the penalty with serious composure. He later said "I wasn't nervous." What a cool kid.

The Italians are cheating, diving, game-spoiling, opportunistic and dull. They cheated their way to the World Cup finals via diving, professional fouling and pressurising of referees and FIFA.

The Italian press played up an incident concerning Frings in a game that Italy was not involved in so much that FIFA bowed to pressure and banned him for the game between Germany and Italy in the World Cup, weakening Germany in that game.

Then Zidane was sent off by video evidence (in spite of FIFA denials later on). After the incident, the Italian players refused to continue playing and carried on protesting until 4th official mysteriously emerged and spoke to the referee and got Zidane sent off. Mind you he deserved to go but the gamesmanship of Italy was disgraceful.

They turned up for Euro 2008 and bored the hell out of everyone – they played for penalties against Spain and spoiled the game. They deserved to go and thank God nobody is going to have to watch another 90 minutes of a team that did nothing to justify their status as world champions. It's shame because Pirlo, Gattusso and Buffon are great gentlemen of football and don't deserve to be playing in such a philosophically backward set-up.

The French failed to get past the group stages. Nobody in France is blaming that on foreign players in the French league. That's what would have happened in England – scapegoat-hunting. The problem with having a scapegoat, especially one as a popular as foreigners, is that nobody ever has to look at the real problems. You could just work on 6+5 rules or try to impose closed market discriminatory rules against European law instead.

I'm in India this week and football is dying out for expression in many countries among young people. It was sickening to see young kids in India watching Italian negativity instead of full joyful expression of football. Governing bodies need to spend more of their millions building grass root football and encouraging the showcase of talents from wherever in the world to create role models instead of restricting movement of players and spending millions on big publicity stunt ideas.

Tournament football has always been more defensive and boring than league football. Then when money poured into football the stakes became very high and league teams copied tournament style defensive tactics. Benitez and Mourinho and a lot of other coaches succeeded with this and many mid table teams saw this as their only means of survival.

In the past 3 years, the number of quality players available to teams in Europe has grown. Quality in youth is difficult to bottle up in a defensive package. Arjen Robben wasn't fancied by Mourinho because he could not be controlled. But creativity should not be controlled.

Slowly, it is becoming impossible to control creativity if you have young skilful players on the pitch and it is increasingly impossible not to pick these players when they are so successful in their leagues, especially if you are not spoiled for choice. That is why Euro 2008 has been described as the most exciting international tournament for a long time by Arsène Wenger.

It is obviously difficult not to watch the championship from an Arsenal point of view. Many teams have reminded me of Arsenal in different ways. The Dutch with great football reminded me of Arsenal. When their game is flowing, they are unbeatable, when they cannot get it together they lose – their vulnerability to their own football reminded me of Arsenal.

Most of all, I think the successful teams this tournament had one ingredient that Arsenal lack – penetration. Penetration, in my view is when a team – usually through one or two players – can get behind an organised back four during attacks.

Manchester United won the Double from penetration, not possession. Russia got the semi-finals from penetration, Holland thrashed France and Italy through penetration and Germany scored their open play goals from penetration. Possession is a phoney comfort zone that fools teams into believing that they are playing well. For 120 minutes against Italy, Spain had possession but no penetration since Italy parked the team in front of goal. For nearly half of last season, Arsenal had possession but no penetration.

Penetrative players like Ronaldo, Arshavin, Robben, Schweinsteiger and Podolski, Villa are important for any team to be able to convert possession into dangerous chances by getting behind the defence. The combination of a great penetrative player and a good striker is a winner for a team.

The most important thing about penetrative players is that when they get behind a defence, the resulting chance does not require a super striker to convert it. In fact, a good enough striker or a midfielder can score these chances. Arsenal does not have a penetrative player.

Obviously one cannot write about Euro 2008 without mentioning Ashavin. Some players blossom later – like Drogba did. I have never been so convinced that a particular player could turn Arsenal into a seriously winning side.

Ashavin is a penetrative player – something Arsenal really lack. He is a combination of all the players I miss at Arsenal when they were at their prime – Píres, Bergkamp and Ljungberg.

If Ashavin came to Arsenal, Arsenal will not have to rely on Fabregas so much and Arsenal would therefore have better variation.

If Ashavin came to Arsenal, many more midfielders would score goals and our strikers will score easier because they would get easier chances.

If Ashavin came to Arsenal, Arsenal would not have to replace Flamini – they could use Diaby or Denilson because their forward threat and decisive possession would be good enough as a defensive start and Fabregas would not need to go forward quite so often. Fabregas could be more like Pirlo who can influence games without completely sacrificing midfield efficiency.

If Ashavin came to Arsenal, Arsenal would not have to reply on Adebayor. In fact Adebayor and Hleb could leave and Eduardo and Vela would become a lethal strikers if paired with this guy. With van Persie and Bendtner, that would make a very reliable front line. Importantly, Ashavin can play with all of these different types of strikers.

If Ashavin came to Arsenal, Nasri or Walcott could start games when Rosicky is back and we could even risk starting them both at home.

If I could sell Adebayor and Hleb and buy Ashavin, I would. That's saying a lot for a player that I have only seen in 12 matches in total over the last year.

But Arsenal needs such a player and we could lose players in other attacking positions if get such a player. Our problems are not that big even without Adebayor and Hleb. We need a forward player that can share the burden with Fabregas and can attack with variation – even Deco at his age would do it. We need a small tweak to become a consistently winning team.

User Comments

32

ArsenalTillDeath

Posted on 27 Jun, 2008 at 12:14 PM - Reply

Dude...I dont think you know what you are talking about. you have come up with your conclusions in a narrow ninded evluation. I agree we lost the premiership and Champion's League but I dont think we need to make such a fuss over it. We lost it because we are still a team in workshop. Dude...All we lack is experience and that little piece of improvement that will put us one step ahead of our opposition's dimension of thinking.(Underline 'thinking'). I have been watching some videos of invincibles and all we lack from that is one vision of unseen run,one pass, one thought o putting the ball above the keeper instead of left or right or one act of pulling the trigger a fraction of second earlier...Nothing More..ALL HAIL ARSENAL....

31

Ifeanyi Osode

Posted on 25 Jun, 2008 at 06:07 PM - Reply

This article is the definition of what we need to do to win trophies i coming seasons. I wonder if Le Boss reads these....I sure hope he does!

30

anis

Posted on 25 Jun, 2008 at 04:49 PM - Reply

you are still forgetting that the weaker part of the
squad is the defence wich cost us the champions legue

29

spencer04

Posted on 25 Jun, 2008 at 03:07 PM - Reply

I wont jump on the Arshavin band wargon just yet.it dont look too good.agreed he's a very good player but were has he been all this while?dont someone think he might just be a one season pony?Nasri will give us a penetrative edge too.Instead of Arshavin,lets get a defender, a defensive midfielder and maybe david villa.we almost won the league last time out,we surely will next season.

28

Danju

Posted on 25 Jun, 2008 at 02:53 PM - Reply

Good analysis, food for thought for arsenal.

27

David

Posted on 25 Jun, 2008 at 02:04 PM - Reply

Firstly, i agree with all you guys on comments of italian football. Secondly, we do need a replacement for Hleb, but i will never trade Hleb with Arshavin. The russian is 27 already and he might need time to adapt to life in London. Plus he sometimes holds the ball too long which will not be feasible in EPL, where English defenders will just foul him before he reaches the area. As for Adebayor, he may have scored 30 last season, but most of them were against teams ranked 10-20. Should Barca or Milan come with an offer over 25m, i'd be more than happy to sell him for David Villa or Silva, who can make excellent partnership with Fabregas also. With a fit RVP, Eduardo, and an improved Walcott, Bendtner, maybe a talented Vela, we are wellcovered up front. Song may be turned into a defender by Wenger, trust me, so prefessor will not buy any defensive players this summer. However i do not trust Almunia as first choice goalie.

26

Danju

Posted on 25 Jun, 2008 at 12:57 PM - Reply

That is a good analysis. Arsenal should by all means to get Ashaven.

25

Danju

Posted on 25 Jun, 2008 at 12:52 PM - Reply

That is a good analysis. Arsenal should by all means to get Ashaven.

24

Dan

Posted on 25 Jun, 2008 at 11:48 AM - Reply

Agree with the comments about Arshavin being a great play-maker, although to replace Hleb? I don't know. I think Hleb can penetrate quite as easily as Arshavin, at times Hleb can cut 4/5 players with a run (Liverpool where he should have had a pen) or with a pass. Right now Hleb is our very underestimated cutting-edge, and when Rosicky, Fabregas and Hleb all were fit at the start of the season we looked a class above.

Arshavin and Nasri would make one of those three surplus to requirements which will ultimately force one or more of them out, as they are all too good to be on the sidelines. I'm happy with the simple addition of Nasri and I think we are already good enough for the title. We were very close last year, and were it not for the Birmingham game we would have won the title. It was bad luck; we will probably never get two awful decisions for converted set-pieces and a broken leg to our in-form striker again in one match. However, that was the day we blew it.

I'm confident about next season although I'd still like to see another defender as we were running pretty short towards the latter end of the season. As much as I would like Arshavin right now, I don't feel he would be a necessary purchase- just a luxury.

23

simon from vienna

Posted on 24 Jun, 2008 at 09:07 PM - Reply

no it's francesc. cesc is just his nickname.

22

Epic Fail

Posted on 24 Jun, 2008 at 07:00 PM - Reply

I usually like reading your articles as they have some truth to them. But this time all you did was state the obvious in the case of Italy and then an epic fail in analysing Arsenal's squad and what players are needed. First of all, Arsenal do have a penetration player and his name is Rosicky - easy to forget i know =) Second, if Arshavin would come to Arsenal, he would need to change his style to fit in. Arshavin keeps the ball and runs with it. He is not a pass and move player. He is so far from the current Arsenal as Frank Lampard is. In fact, the only way he would be able to fit in is in a 4-5-1, where he would play in the hole, behind the striker. Considering we have 4 stikers you can rest assured this is not what Wenger is planning.

And last but not least. Losing Hleb would be disastrous. When he is on form Arsenal win. If Hleb is not on form or God forbid he is not on the pitch - we're dire. Hleb carries the current team. I'm really not impressed by people who criticise him for his lack of scoring as what they do only shows how little they understand football. If Hleb were to leave that would put Arsenal in another transition period, taking the club 2 years back. If Hleb were to leave, everyone should forget about winning titles next season. No player in the world right now can do what he does. The closest thing is propably Rafael van der Vaart, however he would also need an year ot two to find his feet.

21

zzz

Posted on 24 Jun, 2008 at 06:39 PM - Reply

my like only arda

20

a fan from italy

Posted on 24 Jun, 2008 at 06:12 PM - Reply

I will appreciate it if you don't show REALLY EXTREME BIAS against my country.

19

Peter Zemerski

Posted on 24 Jun, 2008 at 06:05 PM - Reply

Interesting how the writer feels it necessary to disparage the Italian team for their World Cup win...I thought Euro 2008 was the latest tournament.
Of course the real crux of the piece is to put down Italy. Well they are the world champions Joel so you'll have to live with it.

18

Scott

Posted on 24 Jun, 2008 at 05:42 PM - Reply

Ashavin? Forget it, he will be too expensive. We cannot sign Villa even after he admits to WANTING to come to the Emirates. I agree in that Ashavin would provide the missing piece but it will not happen any time soon.

17

truth_hurts

Posted on 24 Jun, 2008 at 05:33 PM - Reply

brilliant article and i agree 100% with all of it. Italys conduct is disgusting not only as a national team but as a football association and the currupt leagues shows exactly what they are about.

Fabregas matures game by game and really is looking the real deal and i agree 100% that Arshavin would be the perfect buy for arsenal.

16

Por Favour

Posted on 24 Jun, 2008 at 03:06 PM - Reply

Its Cesc, not Francesc. Cheers.

15

Amir

Posted on 24 Jun, 2008 at 03:02 PM - Reply

Completely agree re: Arshavin. Though apparently he'd prefer to play in Spain. And is probably too expensive anyway.

14

Swino

Posted on 24 Jun, 2008 at 02:35 PM - Reply

If he is that good, spell his name right - Arshavin

13

Alexander

Posted on 24 Jun, 2008 at 02:25 PM - Reply

There's a typo in the headline (and occasionally in the body) - the player name is ARshavin...

Cheers!

12

Koko

Posted on 24 Jun, 2008 at 02:18 PM - Reply

I agree that Arshavin is very good, but I won't go so far to say that a promising and consistently improving player like Adebayor should be sold to buy him. Arshavin is a footballer like every other footballer and mortal like me. He'll need another season to adapt to Arsenal and English football before we can get the best of him and to sacrifice nearly finished products for that is just unwise.
Ade has come out to say that he is going nowhere and I believe that if he's sold, it will be the greed of the club for money offered. But Arsenal has never been like that, else we would have sold Henry when Chelsea was touted to have offered 50million Pounds in his penultimate season in Arsenal (and he was already rubbish then).
Hleb on the other hand can leave as he has made no categorical statements on his position. In my books, his not a pivotal player in arsenal. He's just a good player... like anybody else.
If we can get Arshvin for reasonable money, that would be good. Otherwise, other players can combine to do what he can for Arsenal economically.
Finally, I still feel we're overlooking some of the talents in our academy who are nearly there and can step up to the plate... Cesc did it at 17 or so.

11

Jesper

Posted on 24 Jun, 2008 at 02:04 PM - Reply

I fear he will not come to Arsenal as Abramovitch will not allow us financially. He will drive up the price. And he said he wanted to go to Spain, and with Barca selling their stars, they have the money. Also, if Ronaldo joins Real, Man U will have more money too..

But, why is keeper Gomes talking to Spurs not Arsenal? We need a goalkeeper, buy him!!

10

sulazu

Posted on 24 Jun, 2008 at 01:50 PM - Reply

Spot on Che! I`d missed your incisive analysis on matters that concern Arsenal and football in general. Your analysis of Arshavin seem as if you had spotted me discussing same with my friends. Truly, Arsenal lacked a penetrative player in our past campaigns after the exit of Pires and retirement of Bergkamp. But in Arshavin, if Wenger/ management could monster the courage to pressure and persuade him to come to the Emirates at any cost, we could just be back to those glorious days at the Highbury. Most posters on this site often suggest Nasri as the right replacement for Hleb(should he leave), but I bet to disagree though not taking anything from Nasri. Hleb is like a work -in- progress that has refused to finish but Arshavin will be that finished version of Hleb that we`d all longed for.

9

wengerdedieu

Posted on 24 Jun, 2008 at 01:31 PM - Reply

At least you admit you're ignorant about this player. You can't even consistently spell his name right! You've seen him in 12 games and you recommend that we sell our highest goal scorer and one of our key players to get him. We don't have Nasri yet, RVP has never played a full season, Eduardo is seriously injured, Vela is an unknown quantity and Bendtner and Walcott are still learning the trade and this is the sort of team that would win silverware? Simply because ARSHAVIN would add some penetration? I wonder how you reach your conclusions? And how would signing Arshavin mean we don't have to replace Flamini, I reckoned Arshavin was a creative player not a ball-winning midfield dynamo.
I can't believe you mentioned Deco, Fab is better, Denilson could be better and he's over the hill. He couldn't cope with our tempo either.
You want Arsenal to buy a player based on his performances in one tournament and sell important first team members to accomodate him. I'd like to remind you that Arsenal was only two victories away from the EPL title last year. Radical changes are not in the best interest of the team. We could Arshavin to provide the depth we lacked last season but we don't NEED him. He's nothing fantastic.

8

simon from vienna

Posted on 24 Jun, 2008 at 01:24 PM - Reply

...and villa. i'd love to see villa in an arsenal-jersey...but i fear that will never happen...

7

simon from vienna

Posted on 24 Jun, 2008 at 01:08 PM - Reply

true, Arshavin is a great player, who would perfectly fit in. i believe all your points were well thought and true, but i see 3 major problems:

1.he said he would love to play in spain.
2.i believe, that if he comes to the premier league, it would be chelski. the reasons would obviously be abrahmovich and his money.
3. his wages. i remember reading that he earns 3 million euros at zenit. i don't think he would not suit in wengers wages policy, because he would surely demand more, if he left zenit.

however, i, personally, would prefer david silva, because he is younger and is able to improve a lot, while already being a classy player. he put the most pressure on the italian defenders and was the biggest threat to their goal.

6

Adetayo

Posted on 24 Jun, 2008 at 12:52 PM - Reply

Lovely one Joel,lovely one.Would you describe Van Persie as a penetrative player?What about Rosicky?or Nasri?

5

Troy, Sydney

Posted on 24 Jun, 2008 at 12:04 PM - Reply

Well said, here here...

4

gunpowder

Posted on 24 Jun, 2008 at 12:02 PM - Reply

That's true but penetrative players aren't just the ones who can run through defence, the ones who can split the defence with a pass are also penetrative, we have fabregas so i disagree that we do not have penetrative players. also hleb is your type of penetrative player and walcott. with nasri set to sign we could have another. we've got a lot of penetrative power.

3

Matt

Posted on 24 Jun, 2008 at 11:37 AM - Reply

His name is Arshavin. Maybe you should reconsider how much you would sacrifice to get him at Arsenal if you don't know his name. From what I know of him i'd like him at Arsenal, provided Ade stays, they would work well together.

2

George

Posted on 24 Jun, 2008 at 10:57 AM - Reply

Good article.
I hate watching italy play football (no offence to italians). it's slow and defensive and extremely negative, effective but negative.
I'm impressed by ashavin but im not sure id be willing to sell ade for it, specially as i havn't seen enough of ashavin. i've only seen him play in the Euros so i can't really say.

1

Gooner

Posted on 24 Jun, 2008 at 10:25 AM - Reply

Yeah agree with how you think. I would give up Adebayor and Hleb also for Ashavin. Adebayor might have scored 30 goals last season but if you watched every Arsenal game you would realize the 1 on 1 chances with keeper that he missed would be more than that. He is not as great as a striker for me because I still prefer a all-rounder striker like Henry. With Ashavin penetrating abilities plus Walcott, Arsenal could be better. They still have Eduardo finishing ability.