Arsene’s obsession with the kids
I was out with Wrighty watching the Arsenal – Newcastle game on Saturday and we were discussing the upcoming Champions League fixtures and how the Villearreal game might not be as easy as some people are expecting.
Robert Pires came to my mind as a player that has done superbly for Villarreal and I questioned whether Arsene had let him go too soon. I know it’s easy for me to say after the event and Arsene has generally done well off loading your older players such as Lunjberg, Overmars and Petit but Pires certainly still had another couple of good seasons left.
How do you Gooners feel about Arsene’s obsession with having a young squad? For me it’s a good policy to follow but I think he could probably do with retaining a bit more of a balance where the average age of your squad is concerned. You do seem to be hitting form at the right time this season but I do think you have missed not having a few more senior players in your dressing room over the last couple of years.
I never really rated Gilberto Silva very highly as a Premiership footballer, but he did seem like a good character to have at your club. I was surprised by the decision to allow him to leave when you were already lacking in experienced players. He was a world cup winner and had a wealth of experience in both the Premiership and Champions League.
Arsenal’s season could yet turn out to be a very good one and with Fabregas to come back and Arshavin hitting form your destiny is certainly in your own hands, but I still feel Wenger needs to correct the age balance come the summer.
I think Arsene just has an obsession with kids. No more, no less.
Thing is that a lot of the players we’ve been bagging (bendy, Song, Denilson, diabY), are in their first or second seasons as first teamers. And they’re placing fourth. It’s not that bad, and improvement can be almost instantaneous. Remember coming from nowhere to almost stealing the Premier League last year? That could be us next year.
And Tottenham can finsih fourth.
under estimating Villareal is ridiculous
They seem to have a very nice blend of players, the italian kid from Man U seems to be finding his feet and that Corzola or whatever his name is looks a fantastic little player.
I don’t know too much about them defensively, but Senna seems to hold them together there and I have never seen any teams go to there gaff and outplay them.
and we mustn’t forget they have Pascal Cygan
a lot has been made of liverpool’s demolition of Real and how the english teams are far superior to anyone else – I don’t buy that, I think Rafa got his tactics spot on over two legs and I doubt you’ll ever see a team play so badly over two legs as Real did ever again.
I think arsenal will squeeze thorugh, but it might go all the way to penalties again for them.