Arsene inaction adds up to a massive vote of confidence
Written by Paul Williams on Monday, September 8, 2008
Hands up who stayed up till well past midnight hoping to hear the news of a new signing arriving in N5? I know I did. Hands up who checked the internet when they woke, bleary eyed, this morning hoping against hope that we would have a new midfielder in the ranks ala Denilson in 2006? Yeah, me too.
So I type this feeling absolutely shattered and wishing that I had taken Arsène's "we are ready to stay up till midnight" claim with the pinch of salt it so richly deserved. But I didn't and reading around the various blogs and forums this morning, the feeling is one of disbelief.
Arsène spoke last week of waiting till late to make a move as the prices drop nearer to deadline, but does this not work the other way? You want to sign a player, you have little time to do it, aren't the sellers going to try and get as much as they can out of you? A general consensus appears to hold that perhaps this what did for Arsenal's late bid for Xabi Alonso. I don't claim to know the truth of that, or even if the bid existed. Anyhow, aside from the fact Alonso has Premiership experience, and isn't Abou Diaby, Alex Song, or Denilson, would he have been the right signing for us in any case? (I appreciate that this question could well read like the famous "What have the Romans ever done for us?")
Alonso is 26, with a varied range of passing, but not much in the way of dynamism, the dynamism that saw Mathieu Flamini become such an effective foil for the cerebral assassin playing just ahead of him. In a way, and not to belittle Alonso's talents because I've admired him for a while, it wouldn't have been buying a partner for Fabregas, it would have been buying a less mobile, inferior and older version of him. In my opinion, at least.
For me, the fact that Arsène has chosen to stick with Diaby, Denilson and Song in the middle is surely based in his faith in those 3 guys and not in any financial consideration- apart from a potential value for money issue. But then, what is value for money? Berbatov, though hugely overpriced, will be seen to be value for money if he helps United to retain even one of their two crowns. Robinho, at his transfer fee, will have his work cut out to prove his worth in the Manchester City side. I digress.
Abou Diaby is a frustrating player, I feel he has immense technical ability, he has the dynamism, he could be a perfect partner for Cesc. At least, until you consider the fact that for the amount of times he will slalom through a midfield as if he was really brazilian, he will almost always fail to do anything positive at the end of his run, whether he misplaces a pass, or forgets he is in the centre of of a battle and so is dispossessed. Has playing wide ironed out any of his concentration issues? Not from where I'm sitting. Denilson? He bossed a game at Tottenham with Cesc around 18 months ago, but has done little of note since. That said, he has recently shown an ability to create goals, whether scoring them or assisting even when not playing particularly well. To me, he has perhaps got a better chance of making it here than Diaby, but he needs to improve. Fast.
And then we come to Alex Song, given a run at centre back at the back end of last season he impressed, he has also impressed in small cameo appearances as this season has kicked off. He is stronger than the other two candidates and seems to have more purpose and crispness in his passing. I need to see more of him to judge, but at the moment, he would appear the more obvious choice to partner Cesc, bringing with him a physicality that the other two just don't have.
Either way, when you consider that Flamini has left without being replaced (Aaron Ramsay doesn't count, yet), Lassana Diarra and Gilberto were allowed to leave without being directly replaced, you can only surmise that Arsène believes the boys who are still at the club can do the job for him. Has he lost the plot? It's not impossible that this is the case, but then he signed Samir Nasri and that in itself is surely proof that the old grey matter is still working in his old, in no way Grecian 2000ed, grey hair. He sees these guys in training; he has said, the board has said, there is money to spend, so why not spend it? Go hog wild and blow £20m on a midfielder, go on Arsène, anyone you like... No? All in all it adds up to a huge vote of confidence in the qualities of these three that they will be able to carry all before them.
Unless that isn't his intention in the first place. Another theory for another blog, I reckon...
User Comments
31fabregasrox
Posted on 15 Sep, 2008 at 02:23 AM - Reply
blackburn is really no match for our arsenal gunners. Even at Ee wood park can still lose haha.Losers!
30Reza
Posted on 13 Sep, 2008 at 11:13 PM - Reply
yeah! I agree with you stephen... the young gunners have proved that they are the best when they gun down the Blackburn team by FOUR GOALS!!! so we must put our TRUST to OUR PLAYER if we claimed as a GUNNERS FAN... IN ARSENE WE TRUST!!! GO GUNNERS!!!
29Joe Bloggs
Posted on 13 Sep, 2008 at 04:21 PM - Reply
What’s actually going on here? Every closed season we have the same debate and the same worries and Asense proves all the doubting “Gunners fans” and the rest of football wrong by producing stars of the future. Look at when he brought Henry a move him from the wing into a striker, when he brought Toure and produce a world class defender from a midfielder, the way he kept Flamini chomping at the bite until he felt it was the right time to release him and he’ll do the same with Walcott too.
Asene Wenger is football, he plays football as it was intended and refuses to spend £30 million on a player purely because of reputation. Does the price tag make a player? Or is it the performance.
Wenger is changing the face of football and every other manager in the world has to keep an eye on him to determine their next move. Football is a progressive game, ever changing and to keep up with those changes you have to be a visionary. Look at the unbeaten Arsenal side which included the like’s of Pires, Henry and those boys. They were a quick slick passing footballing side; no other team could get near them with their quick incisive passing and movement, on the counter. But Wenger saw the change and had to quickly change his team style of football, hence getting rid of all of those players and replacing them with a younger crop of players. Look at Gilberto over the last 2 seasons, he’s been an absolute model professional for Arsenal, but he doesn’t suddenly become a bad player, but you could see that he was never up to the pace and style of this new generation, he knew it and Wenger knew but through respect Wenger kept him around until he was ready to move on. All comfortable on the ball, all able to carry the ball and beat their opponent of need be, all young and athletic and interchangeable in their positions. These are the qualities of the new breed of player. Young, Strong, Athletic, Flexible and Willing to bust a gut for 90 minutes or however long it takes for the manager who gave them that break. In the pass a player was considered to be seasoned at 26, 27 years old, with the quality and experience that these young player possess, a seasoned player is more like 22, 23 these days and 27 seen as old.
C’mon Gooners Asene Wenger is footballing genius have faith he’ll deliver
28stephen
Posted on 12 Sep, 2008 at 09:30 PM - Reply
im fed up at listen to these remarks putting this arsenal team down.. ye call yer selves gooner fans. ye sound more like man united/chelsea/spurs fans. yes they are young but they have experience..if arsenal play bad this season it will be over the negative support from the fans and over what they are saying.. remember the term ;in wenger we trust; well its true. we must trust him and stop this negative talk and get behind our players and cheer them to victory and that trophey cabinet will start filling up even more . and just one more point i want to make. toure can be our defensive midfielder.he is strong and has the pace to cover the area. silvestre can play next to gallas because they know how to play with each due to playing side by side in the past for france... so to all gooner fans lets get behind our team and push them all the way to rome and the premiership title.
27goooonneeerrss
Posted on 12 Sep, 2008 at 02:25 PM - Reply
Cant belive you lot are still sayin Wenger doesnt no everybody doubted him when he brought thierry and now he loves to prooves critics wrong and it will happen ill be happy just to win the carling cup this year IT MEANS WE ARE BACK TO WINNING TITLES!
26Okey
Posted on 12 Sep, 2008 at 09:34 AM - Reply
I swear Arsene doesn't know what he's doing. He didn't sign anybody because he wants to feel like the wise old one. Wait till December and u'll all realize this! by then Bolton, Blackburn Sunderland,Porto etc would have kicked us down d tables!
25Toju Apo
Posted on 12 Sep, 2008 at 08:59 AM - Reply
All this talk about Arsene losing the plot and being out of touch with reality is understandable. I find myself thinking that way sometimes. We're all forgetting our new signing. Bischoff is currently injured but Arsene says the boy has talent. Let's not forget that the infamous flamini wasn't a first team regular in his former club before he signed for the gunners and eventually he distinguished himself.
Arsene knows...
24Prabu
Posted on 12 Sep, 2008 at 02:58 AM - Reply
AW should learn silence is golden.The amount he talks is disproportionate to his achievements and ambition.And he is missing the Statesman part in ELDER STATESMAN for a while now in his pronouncements which are mostly irrelevant & uncalled for.like Barbetov handling by Tottenham.foreign investment,Robinho and Ronaldo transfer saga etc. AW myob.Your laziness is magnified by your utterings.
Look at your transfer fiasco.And your excuses for not getting the right players are at best creative.It is time to learn from Capello & Alex.Understand how Capello can inspire confidence into Theo in 10 days and How Alex can get his man in and not LET OUT the fulcrum of the team Ronaldo no matter what(c f with your letting go Diarra,Flamini,Gilberto in one go when all it needed was deft managerial handling).Learn fast.Mind your OWN business carefully to the best of your ability.That is what Arsenal Fans require of you NOW.
23mos
Posted on 12 Sep, 2008 at 01:01 AM - Reply
Does anybody know when Diaby is going to be fit?? He can be a big player if he can stay fit!!
22goh
Posted on 11 Sep, 2008 at 06:51 PM - Reply
i feel that we will lost every away game like 2006/07 season. blackburn will kill us 1-0 this weekend. wenger, buy someone is good, as cover, ok?
21Marvin
Posted on 11 Sep, 2008 at 02:13 PM - Reply
Arsenal has always been the koko (Nigerian praise for the main thing)in football. It doesnt bother me one bit for us not buying a midfielder, my question is do we buy cos everyone wants us to buy even if it means just buying some idiot flat footed MF for 16mil pound? or for the master (Arsene)be allowed to establish his players well and unleash them on bothe Champions league and the Premiership? I think the latter is the obvious choice. So go on Arsene
20Marvin
Posted on 11 Sep, 2008 at 02:10 PM - Reply
Arsenal has always been the koko (Nigerian praise for the main thing)in football. It doesnt bother me one bit for us not buying a midfielder, my question is do we buy cos everyone wants us to buy even if it means just buying some idiot flat footed MF for 16mil pound? or for the master (Arsene)be allowed to establish his players well and unleash them on bothe Champions league and the Premiership? I think the latter is the obvious choice. So go on Arsene
19indiangunner
Posted on 11 Sep, 2008 at 01:40 PM - Reply
damn rite bro but one thing.. all these are of no use if half of the players love the hospital so much..
18Pherain
Posted on 11 Sep, 2008 at 09:35 AM - Reply
Lets break down our first team:
Al- Strong, quick, gets down well and plays well in big games. Ability to become next Seaman
Sanga- One of the best RB in the EPL. good in attack and great in defence, high energy, gives 100%
Toure- Should be captian, great leader, covers well, can improve on partnership with Gallas though.
Gallas- Passionate, rash at times, experienced,and should try to compliment Toure better.
Clichy- One of my favuorites, Quick, energetic, attacks like a MF, covers well.
Nasri- Already proved himself, creates gaps, passes well, not afraid to attack directly(which is exactly what we needed).
Cesc- The Don, we all know his talents, too long to list, the heart of arsenal.
Diaby/Song- Diaby is reminiscent of viera, can work on tackling and fitness- Song(my choice) will be able to compliment Cesc better, has ability to boss the game, needs to work on fitness and overall gameplay.
Walcott- Pacey, Ability to score goals, need to work on confidence and needs to be more selfish.
Van Persie- Ridiculous talent, needs to have a proper run of games, improve on cofidence, he will be the next Henry(mark my words)
Ade-Has all the skills and talents to become a Striker worthy of the golden boot. Needs to work on striking as he misses more than he scores
Subs:
Ro(sicky)- Great talent, should be in first team, needs to shut the f**k up and be a man.Eduardo- Hope he recovers soon, A player we could use, talents we need.
Ramsey- ......
Wilshire- Look like an interesting prospect, amazing in pre-season
So how can all u so called ''gooners'' have doubts? I have all the faith in the world in this team and , with luck, (as even the best need) we could lift a major trophy this season. Arsene built a good team and i take my hat off to the man
17John
Posted on 10 Sep, 2008 at 11:32 AM - Reply
I was praying like so many of you that Arsene would buy another central midfielder. But after having thought about it for a week, I've come to the conclusion that 1. Song will be one of the best midfielders in the world at the end of this season and that Appiah will be a great backup to him.
2. Eboue still has potential although I have never seen any of it. But also that we are short on the right side, we can play Eduardo, RVP, Vela, Nasri and if it's needed Diaby to the left. But on the right we only have Walcott and Eboue and that is a problem which will be exploited by the other teams. So either we are getting a new winger in the January window or we'll get punished like last season. In any case I'm certain that Wenger has a muc clearer and correct picture than any of us have. So lead the way Wenger!
16The Fabulous Game
Posted on 9 Sep, 2008 at 02:42 PM - Reply
It's totally disrespectful to critisize Mr Wenger.
Lets be honest, HLEB, FLAMINI--- these two players are good but did they win anything? NO. Adebayor wanted to leave too but could he? Wenger knows how to deal with his own team that he created, if we are smarter than that then Why dont we manage a squad?
Xabi could be a good signing but CANA is what we need... Tackler, a NIGHTMARE in the central... but we still have some young ones that are being loyal to Arsenal and working hard to get a game... it would not be fair for someone to come and earn that spot right away with MONEY. . .
I just want THE BEAUTIFUL GAME ... any trophy is just a bonus.
Cheers!
15phil London
Posted on 9 Sep, 2008 at 02:38 PM - Reply
Cant wait for Eduardo return he is class much better than I though he would be - the Birmingham game killed us last season especially that last minute goal - That was the killer game in moer ways than one
DIaby might come good
Denilson might come good but suffering confidecen crisis at the momentSong lacks height IMO not sure yet
Hleb will be soarly missed I though was best player last year due to attitude - energy - ability to use and keep the ball effectivelyEboue - Sorry one trik pony I want him replaced
Gallas - I cant wait till he is replaced he will screw us over again I am sure - HE makes me puke watching him constantly blame everyone for everything.
Hes is the worst of FranceClichy - F*&^ing Gold mate ! Best of French
Sagna - F*&^ing Gold mate ! Best of French
Toure - Arsenal through and throughVan Persie - Please come back As you were b4 injury
Ade I would have taken the money - we need a TorresWalcott I am slowly falling in love with
14Matt
Posted on 9 Sep, 2008 at 01:31 PM - Reply
I wanted a signing! Somebody who was known but not a player wanting mega money to come to the club, just a player who would be willing to cover the centra midfield spots if we got short like we did at times last season! Thats what cost us last season, not having enough players to fill in when the likes of Cesc, Diaby and Denilson were out along with Eduardo and Van Persie. We could still get somebody in yet, with Appiah appearing to be available and interested in a move to the Emirates. I had a funny feeling leading up to the last few days of the transfer window we could see Patrick vieira return if he wasn't wanted by Mourinho at Inter or Freddie sign back on as cover being a free-agent with a hefty pay packet, but oh well! Wenger knows!
13Arsenor
Posted on 9 Sep, 2008 at 08:17 AM - Reply
Attack is the best form of defence,is the saying.well i think that is AW philosiphy this term,we will always concead a goal everyone does,the simple maths,score more than you let in,witch for the last two seasons we have lacked at times due to the one dimentional attack we mainly played,or lack of varible options we had to choose from,this term however i see goals and assists all over the park,Clichy/Nasri from the left,Sagna/Eboue on the right,Cesc in the middle+whoever partners him.Theres Vela,Walcott,Eduardo,Rosicky even Wilshere to come on all with dynamic flair to change a game in an instant,not forgetting the main front two with Ade and Van the man persie to terrorise any defence in the world,with nick as back up.So to tell you the truth i dont give a monkeys arse what all these pesamists bark on about with the DM postion,i have complete faith in who we got to go there(Song being my first choice)and the defensive pairing of Gallas and Toure.that looks like they they`ve been told to attack more often(like when AW encouraged Tony Adams to once do)i feel optermistic,in fact i feel super optermistic,when we win the league this year not only will it be a great victory, it will be a for english football to know it can be won without spending excessive amounts dosh.That also,is what i think Wenger is trying to achive Arsenor
12Subh
Posted on 9 Sep, 2008 at 07:07 AM - Reply
I agree with Joe. I always maintain that this guy writes sensibly. Alonso is good and I think he would have been good for Cesc but not not great as Flamini. Alonso is a better passer but poorer tackler/runner than Flamini. Its just his style. But I think 14m is also too much for him. How many matches he play for Liverpool.
I am sure Arsene knows that he needs experienced players may not be older for Arsenal to succeed in near future. Even though for last 3 seasons he has been talking abt future, I still believe he was always right. But players left as they want immidetae success.
I think what we have in midfield denilson/song/diaby are good enough. DIaby is the best of three to partner Cesc IF AND ONLY IF he is injury free. Otherwise Denilson is the better option than SOng.
DIABY is like FLAMINI/VIERA
SONG is like GILBERTO
Denilson is like CESC.SO it should be Diaby without injury. I remebr him playing so well against Liverpool 1st Leg in last year's CL. I though I was watching Viera again.
Trust Wenger we at Arsenal always held our head high with HONOUR, PRIDE & DIGNITY...
11stev
Posted on 8 Sep, 2008 at 10:53 PM - Reply
there's said enough about this by now. the season wil (unfortunally) prove that the selection is not broad enough, in the midfield.
10elninio
Posted on 8 Sep, 2008 at 06:06 PM - Reply
If we do nothing in the next transfer window and win nothing at the end of the season will Wenger still insist that this squad is good enough? It was nearly good enough last season and we have lost 3 (if not key then definitely worthwhile and experienced) players. How this team could have a better chance than last year is beyond me. Those players mentioned in the article should have made more of a noise by now if they were ever going to step up and be counted. I feel it should have happened already...especially for Diaby who was earmarked as a Vieira replacement when he first arrived. If we don't compare ourselves to other squads we should atleast compare our team from previous seasons. And if we do that and say that its getting harder to win the PL or CL then the answers are there for us to see. WE ARE NOT AS GOOD AS PAST ARSENAL TEAMS WHICH MEANS WE HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO CHANCE OF CHALLENGING AGAINST THE OTHER TOP 3 CLUBS or in Europe.
9vee
Posted on 8 Sep, 2008 at 04:38 PM - Reply
aj,you raise some interesting points. Diarra was a replacement of Flamini and Gilberto hardly played last season...so how are we going to miss his presence?
If Wenger went ahead and brought in 2 or so midfielders, that would have left Diaby, Denilson and Song stranded. then they'd leave in the January window, and we'd then complain that we are failing to hold on to our players!
Arsenal is not a feeder club, so we must have faith in our youngsters and let them play. If they dont play, they'll leave, then we'll forever be rebuilding. Wenger at the end of last season said that his priority was to keep the squad together and not to buy. So what we failed to hang on to Hleb and Flamini? Gallas has probably scored more goals than Hleb did during his time with us.....an attacking midfielder scoring 10 goals in over 100 apearances?
8Hericoni
Posted on 8 Sep, 2008 at 04:18 PM - Reply
I'm sure most of us are really disappointed by our failure to sign another quality midfielder but please don't blame Wenger on this. He actually tried to sign someone but it just didn't happen (Marcos Senna, Inler, Ashavin, Alonso & I heard he even asked about Barry). Yes! Wenger went to the market with a token cash because he has to make sure he pays his 24million pounds yearly mortgage debt to keep the club away from Os*m* B*n L*d*en group of investment or some Russian Mafya Oil looters (with no dis-respect to any one please). So, should we hold Wenger responsible for this? I don't think so.
What I can't believe is Inler rejecting Arsenal (am sure he has one h**ker over there that he F**ks & he didn't want to be horny in England just like Reyes). Modric did the same to Arsenal sometime ago & see where he is now. Struggling with our fellow Spuds for relegation survival. Inler should pray against same not to befall him.
Anyway, am a little worried that if something should happen to Fabrigas (God Forbid) then our rhythm will be lost & we won't be able to play the Arsenal way again. Or worst still, we may lose to teams like Sunderland, West Ham etc. But I have faith in the ones we have unless Wenger makes another bad selection again. Imagine Eboue & Denilson playing the central role together. Thats the worst central combination I have ever witness from Wenger. Why not use Ramsy & Eboue or Denilson & Nasri or Vise-Visa if Diaby & Fabrigas are out. These two players creativity comes alive if paired with someone more creative than them but not both paired together.
Its just like Gallas & Toure's pairing (they are sh*t together) the worst backline combination in EPL top four teams. But Wenger didn't want to offend anyone of them so he keeps them like that when we all know that Senderos & Toure, Toure & Djourou, Gallas & Djourou or anyone except both are far better off. Well, I will keep supporting my team come rain or shine and I hope Rosicky (hospital fancy), Bishoff, Diaby & Eduardo comes back and stay for as long as we could need them. If we have our full squad, even without any more signings, then we will beat any team in the world. Don't forget we now have fantastic players like Wilshere, Vela, Gibbs & Randall. These players I know will perform well when called upon. Please don't put any pressure on them like we did to Walcott...Trust me if we did, it may backfire.
7General
Posted on 8 Sep, 2008 at 03:30 PM - Reply
Arsene always maintained we were a body short in midfield so using his inaction to prove his confidence in the squad doesn’t make a good argument. Leaving things to chance, knowing very well it could either go badly wrong ala 05/06 or brilliantly ala first part of 07/08 makes many fans including myself uncomfortable. To go into a new season having instability hang over your engine room, one of the most important areas on the pitch, is always a recipe for disaster. Arsene knows but we all know Arsene’s prowess doesn’t stretch as far as preventing injuries or suspensions, two factors that could easily be mitigated by bringing in extra bodies.
6leon corriea
Posted on 8 Sep, 2008 at 02:11 PM - Reply
very well written article....i agree that people are too quick to judge Arsene....give that man a break for Gods sake!!!
He's done as much as it was possible for him....you have to remember that he's still working without a director of football...everything will be all right...you people worry to much...:)
5gooninside
Posted on 8 Sep, 2008 at 11:32 AM - Reply
Look out for news that we are trialling a brazilian DM today for a possible free transfer.
4jake
Posted on 8 Sep, 2008 at 11:08 AM - Reply
Lets dissect the whole scenario -
I am very clear in my understading that Alex Helb was a good support player, but never had the finished product. He dint score, neither was effective in big games..Flamini was a one night show, (a season will not tell you how good the player is, he need to be consistent..) Arsene has a clear view, a player who have high workrate is the key. Look at Gattuso, he clocks around 12 km in the 90 mins while other players have 8-9 kms. Is Song ready for that..?
To be honest, it was not flamini's passes that was helpful, but more of his tackels (cutting of the
supply of the opponent). Diaby is not there, Denilson is not there.. Song, I have to see.. A kid on the block will be the best (with stamina).. Can Ramsey do it...? will be great to see..Using Eboue for quick runs is key, he has pace. On a day he clicks, any average striker will get 3 -4 chances.
My major problem is the central defender.. I am sorry to say that Gallas and Toure hasnt clicked since last 6 months.. If you see most goals are from set peices,.
moreover both Gallas & Toure want to be leaders.. which is contradictory...we need to see Silvester in full energy..I will be hapy to give him the armband after 5 mtches.We need Fabregas & Nasiri to be at their best , while Eboue & Glichy having fast breaks..
I am happy to see a slanky Cforward but, Van Persi will have to build up his game.. he is too sensitive with hardgame.. I would love to see Vela, Walcott
putting pressure on the strikers.Our team might be young,.. but if they have the focus and mental strength.. we will see a major trophy this season..
Dont forget,.. we still have eduoardo and Rosicky to play..
3alexalex
Posted on 8 Sep, 2008 at 10:45 AM - Reply
I do agree with u that Abou Diaby, Alex Song, and Denilson are capable to challenge the league but at a point these guys will definately be injured and then WHO WILL BE THE REPLACEMENT????? Bringing in a player like Appiah will definately help protect the midfield. Abou Diaby, Alex Song, AND Denilson WILL ACT AS SUB for all the guys in the middle of the PARK!!!
2aj
Posted on 8 Sep, 2008 at 10:36 AM - Reply
A good, reasoned article, if I may say so.
I am dismayed at times by the lack of respect that Arsenal supporters have for Arsene Wenger, after all that he has done for the club. People write that he has lied to us, let us down etc. but none of that is true.
He never promised that he would buy a midfielder; all he said was that we were, perhaps, a bit light in that area and, if the opportunity arose, he would try to bring somebody in. He has said many times that he won't buy players for their names and that anybody he brings in would have to improve the squad, not just make up numbers. He clearly had deals in negotiation, when he said that he expected to bring somebody in before the Twente game, but they clearly did not come to fruition.
That is not lying. We complain when the club tells us nothing about what is going on and we complain when they try to inform us but the plans don't bear fruit.
When Marcos Senna signed an extension to his contract at Villrreal, he said that he had turned down an offer from Arsenal. Aquilani said much the same and we know that discussions with Inler went on for some time. Then there is Barry, who O'Neil admitted that we had asked about and, of course, Alonso. So, it is not like Arsene was sitting on his hands, counting his money. He was trying to find that player he thought we needed.
Incidentally, it is wrong to say that, because Diarra and Flamini left, we are two light in central midfield. Arsene has said that he bought Diarra because he thought that Flamini might leave and Diarra was planned as his replacement.We lost Gilberto but he hardly played last year and, when he did, I always had my heart in my mouth.
1Rahul
Posted on 8 Sep, 2008 at 10:36 AM - Reply
hmm Interesting...
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