Wenger: We have quality defenders
Written by Jonathan Chong on Monday, May 11, 2009
Despite two conceding 12 goals in the space of less than a month, manager Arsène Wenger insists that there are good defenders within his team.
The Frenchman indicated that he would not be replacing his entire backline, but that he would be looking to adjust the balance of his squad during the summer transfer window.
Wenger said: "We conceded four at Liverpool, four against Man United and four today. We have to improve the way we defend.
"You wouldn't like to come out when you lose 4-1and say 'listen, we are going to buy four defenders'.
"I believe we have quality defenders and it's more a case of balancing the team defensively than the quality of our defenders.
"If you look at the second goal we could have done much better in midfield than at the back.
"I don't think the squad needs major investment."
User Comments
26kino_arsenal
Posted on 14 May, 2009 at 05:53 AM - Reply
arsenal need changes at defender and midfield.....
need to proof....
25billp79
Posted on 13 May, 2009 at 10:47 PM - Reply
he is right we have a good squad...we just need more quality and depth... to provide coverage and compitition in the squad for starting positions...
raul albiol- valencia defender 23 with caps
eler baneca- boca jrs.- defender 19 highly rated
chris zapata- udenese- defender 21 height and quickness
urby emanualson- ajax- left back 21
24GOONER
Posted on 12 May, 2009 at 11:10 PM - Reply
This man sholud leave this club, both him and HILL-WOOD does not have the interest of this club at heart, they are just doing business. Now they would sell Fab for 30 millions this season, agian he will say another excuses.
Wenger is not a good coach, he is good in managing money, not players, do you ever heard him to say we need to buy players for once? no, all he says is about money, we don't have to spend, we don't have to spent. Next season will be tough for arsenal, MAN U, CHELSEA, LIVERPOOL, SPURS EVEN ASTON VILLA will be ahead of us next season, because i can't see any changes that this manger will make, he is a looser and slave of money. Mr Alex carry on, although i don't like him, but he is a winner, not like our own manager who is a looser.
23Gooner Man
Posted on 12 May, 2009 at 10:47 PM - Reply
listen men, I swear, if i have my way i will kick Wenger in the face and dance to the music. What a hell is wrong with him, oh, may be he thought Arsenal football club belong to his family. I just don't want to heard or read any of his words, because all what he has been said are jaggons.
How could someone that called himself a manager do not know who is good and who is not, don't you see this man has gone mad, he is mad indeed.
He said we have a strong deffenders, even my five years old son said to me during arsenal match against chelsea, dad what is wrong with arsenal, he said arsenal back are not good daddy. That was a five years old boy that said that, talkless of the manager of the same club telling us, we are strong deffensively, what a shame Wenger.
The people that pampering him are to be blame, if they have nerves i think they would have say something, they are all hungry bastard, expecially the so call Hill-Wood, men let these fools leave our club, they are sorrow to our beloved club, stupid set of people. If Wenger refuse to leave, what will send him packing is awaiting him, and he will cover his face with shame when the time comes, unless he do what we fans expected of him by stop his so called stupid policy.
Wenger a word is enough for the wise. And you can not eat all your cakes and have them, Mr proffessor
22SensationalSilvestre
Posted on 12 May, 2009 at 03:42 PM - Reply
We need to make a few changes in the squad.We can sell players like Fabregas,Nasri, Arshavin etc. and buy players like Berbatov, Maldini, Favalli, Brocchi, Shevchenkho , Viera , Figo , Ronaldo (Brazil) .
We need such experienced players.We must honour Silvestre with a new 4 year contract with wages 80,000 pounds for his excellent contributions this season.
21joe
Posted on 12 May, 2009 at 03:34 PM - Reply
aw lets face the fact we need new central defenders and a new experienced defensive mdfielder we cant hold it aainst the big ones its really clear i know u cant come out critisizing your players but dont pretend it wont work
20MikE
Posted on 12 May, 2009 at 01:58 PM - Reply
and another experienced goalie too! Fabianski needs to play every week at this stage of his development and with that in mind should be loaned out to a well-run Championship club for a year to see if he can make the grade or (sadly) not.
And we need to move a few players on as well even if they only bring in a few million.
At least one of the midfielders, one or two of the defenders (!) and one of the forwards.
No, two of the forwards - and a large fee for him!
19rizan
Posted on 12 May, 2009 at 12:31 PM - Reply
Wenger missed the younger brother of Kolo, Yaya. He should have signed him when he had a try with us. He can cope with Drogba/Anelka during Barca v Chelski that night. He is strong, and will be a good partner for Cesc.
As for Kolo, he need to have a good partner as well and Silvestre is not good enough. Sol was the past and we should find somebody like Chelski's Alex. Wenger is not very good in finding a good defenders and he need helps. Obviously, we need an assistant coach for our defenders, may be Tony Adams is perfect (unless a club signs him now).
Just my 2 cents...
18arsenal for ever
Posted on 12 May, 2009 at 11:29 AM - Reply
Ande i agree with silvestre is good for nothing. his positioning and defending especiall in aneka's goal on sunday was terrible. i had a doubt if he was an arsenal def or chelsea att! first sell him and buy a new cd{ bring in mexes}
17julius
Posted on 12 May, 2009 at 09:29 AM - Reply
We have quality defenders indeed.Djourou,Gibbs,and washed up Sylvestre.Arsene is in a different world than where the results are coming from.Can he compare the defence he has now to the one that played the season unbeaten?It's bad that even when good English playas abound,Wenger's mind is in another cloud somewhere.Next season will still be all about many moans and sighs about Keeping faith with the team and building a team for the future while at the same time selling and making profits.
16simon_84
Posted on 12 May, 2009 at 07:11 AM - Reply
good defenders my foot! the whole back line has no protection from their midfielders. time to get a solid ball-winner and bullish center back!
15brown
Posted on 11 May, 2009 at 06:07 PM - Reply
If somehow AW could convert his rhetorics into defensive art,there would be no better techniques one could imagine. Also the youth policy must be a sacred cow,winning?A miracle!Loosing,oh what do people expect,they are still in their teens!What a win-win formula!Defensive requirements?Nah,snap,quick,and precisive interplays would negate the need for strong or ariel skills. All very well conceived till injuries and half-minded players are put together. Not to mention unwarranted dribblings and diving to get a penalty mentality takes over. The games slowed down,because maintaining top form requires a big squad,and that costs money,passing out of tune and the do or die fighting spirit that is required in big games,non-existent with most players,cause the manager said trophies are not everything,fine by most! Pear-shaped to the team?no problem.The club is happy with the balance sheet,carry on! So why do we worry????Buying defenders?Only under duress!
14CD
Posted on 11 May, 2009 at 05:52 PM - Reply
How many times have you seen Arsenal score from set pieces this season? and how many times since Henry left? and how many goals have we conceded from set pieces year after year? It's plain to see that Wenger don't have a clue how to train these players, especially defenders. Shame on him, he hasn't resigned by now!
13Majik
Posted on 11 May, 2009 at 05:48 PM - Reply
Jakobsson, you're liking or opinion should count for nothing if you seriously think joey barton would be a good player to bring to arsenal. we have enough cheats a la adebayor and eboue already. seriously mate, sort it out.
12Ande
Posted on 11 May, 2009 at 05:34 PM - Reply
The weakness in defence is in the middle. Toure does not have what it takes to defend the middle. He has become all hustle and no brains. Silvestre is no longer capable of defending in the EPL. His lack of pace and positioning is dreadful. What was he doing Sunday for Anelka's goal? Terrible! Our outside backs are fine. Sagna, Clichy, and even Gibbs are very good for me. In the midfield I am satisfied as well. with the exception that Cesc must have a partner in the center with a massive presence because lately he looks incapable of defending. Up front, Ade should go. Bentner may be young and has missed so many chances to score, but his desire and commitment are always good on the field. Arshavin will be great for us. Van Persie has struggled to impress. Many may disagree, but I think Gallas is a better leader without the armband than he was with it. His absence from the side is what rocked us most.
11sulazu
Posted on 11 May, 2009 at 05:07 PM - Reply
We would all now agree with Mourinhos comment sometimes ago that Wenger is the most comfortable football coach. Comfortable in the sense that year in year out, he dont have to be questioned even when he is not getting the result. I laughed when some Arsenal fans began to panic when news of Wenger going to Madrid filtered in before he came out to deny the story. I laughed not because i thought it was only a rumour, but because i know for sure that Wenger cannot leave his comfort zone (Arsenal FC) for a club that will humiliate him out of coaching job should he get them the type of result he is getting us now- even in just 6 months, they are going to call for his head. To the issue at hand, the only way Arsenal can get out of this sh*t is for one of USMANOV or KREONKE to fully take over ownership & get rid of HILL-WOOD. That is when nomalcy can be restored at Arsenal Football Club.
10pozdny
Posted on 11 May, 2009 at 04:02 PM - Reply
we missed gallas badly in those games.... he's world class.... you can say watever you want, he's still world class!!! (And he loves arsenal)
9bettats
Posted on 11 May, 2009 at 01:20 PM - Reply
i give up i think its time for wenger to leave,i cant belive he cant see we got the shitest defense in whole of EPl
8David
Posted on 11 May, 2009 at 12:51 PM - Reply
Cut the bullshit Wenger, spend some money! Toure was responsible for all the Chelski goals as always, and he must be sold this summer, so as Djourou, who always made costly mistakes in big games and always left space for opponents when man-marking. Silvester is a sub only with his experience. In the middle we should bring back Flamini, and sell Song, Diaby. Up front we should cash in on Adebyebye and buy a quality striker. I can't stand with such an average team pretending to be contenders each year, whilst in deed Wenger was only trying to get into Top four for Champions league cash as his priority.
7Mannix,
Posted on 11 May, 2009 at 11:47 AM - Reply
Starting Diaby in any crucial game is a total blunder & catastrophe. But must now wake up & stop being sturbon & comes term to term with reality. We can't afford to lose in tht big margine against our big rival & assume everythng is ok. No Wenger is not God who cannot be questioned on his performance. Someone need to do somethng to rescue ths team frm further humility.
6deyg
Posted on 11 May, 2009 at 10:46 AM - Reply
wenger needs to shut up and face d reality....some people like silvestre, diaby, adebayor e.t.c must all go
5Danny
Posted on 11 May, 2009 at 10:13 AM - Reply
He's right, our defenders are quite good (but 1 quality beck is still needed), the major problem is in midfield
4GunnerPete
Posted on 11 May, 2009 at 10:04 AM - Reply
Arsene I have been a most loyal supporter of yours and will remain so because I do know that you know best...BUT....please do not say such stupid things as above. It is beyond me that a man of such knowledge and genious could utter the above.
Four years ago to the week I (like thousands of other Gunners) emailed you suggesting that the time was iminent for buying replacements for our fab back six...you decided we were wrong and brought in Cygan and others who were second grade. We accepted that it was a one off mistake by you and assumed you would correct it before the next season. Well four seasons later it is so obvious now that you have a major flaw in your ability and that is, defensively you do not have a clue. We urged you to hire George Graham ( and sod what Hill Wood thinks) to travel the UK to find the best (as he did so often in his reign) UK defenders and then coach them into units like only he can. You All ignored that too, and this month has seen the result of stuborn ignorance of that policy.
Your words above prove beyond a doubt that we are right and you are wrong....we do not have quality defenders and very few quality midfielders.
Finally...Recently (as per last year and the year before ) our goalies almost threw goals in. Our full backs made shocking errors all season costing us approx 10 points. The central defenders are really a bunch of defensive midfielders who cant head a ball etc. Even worse is we 'The Arsenal suporters can watch defenders from lower leagues look more solid and even clubs like Fulham can find better?
I would love to hear your reply but inside I know you would not even read this if it was put on your desk.
3harlex
Posted on 11 May, 2009 at 09:32 AM - Reply
u dont have to be told about Arsenal defenders,they have quality to deal with some teams BUT NOT with big teams,4 against liverpool,3 against man u and 4 against chelsea,is tha quality defending,why cant he admit his policies cant work,why not buy experienced players.
2Alan
Posted on 11 May, 2009 at 09:28 AM - Reply
Wenger needs to be replaced.
We only won silverware with him in charge because he inherited George Graham's defence and then managed to get hold of Sol Campbell for a few years but couldn't keep him.
Wenger has no idea about stopping the other team scoring. about how to buy defenders nor how to improve defenders.
Look at Sagna. Brilliant last season, limited this season.
Wenger's time is up. Go.
1Jakobsson
Posted on 11 May, 2009 at 09:18 AM - Reply
Kolo looks out of it since the transfer to man city was on the cards. He seems to be lacking confidence and maybe the time is right for a change for both player and club. Stephen Taylor from Newcatle would be a good choice as would Upson-some steel in the heart of defence!
In midfield, A Mascherano type player-Barton ;) Maybe AW is the one who can control his wild ways lol. Nasri is not the one to play in the centre-it hasnt worked, we need a fighter to let Cesc do his stuff.
If Adebayor goes, maybe Tevez would be a good one to get in, though the price may put AW off. Santa Cruz is too injured for my liking and we already have the most over-used physios!
Quote
You wouldn't like to come out when you lose 4-1and say 'listen, we are going to buy four defenders'.
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