THE FOOTBALL THREAD Vol 2
- Thread starter fgl
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loldude333
New member
Funnily enough, that is equally relevan to Arsenal too. Lolz.
fgl
Well-known member
Wenger - The truth about Toure's request
By Richard Clarke
Kolo Toure did put in a transfer request but has since withdrawn it.
Arsène Wenger revealed the news at his press conference ahead of the FA Cup tie with Plymouth. It confirmed media reports that had emerged this week but the manager refuted the suggestion that Toure’s actions had been prompted by an irrevocable falling out with William Gallas.
Despite rumoured interest from Manchester City, it seems the Ivorian will be staying at Emirates Stadium.
“The situation is that he is a player who has a two-and–a-half year contract and will remain with us,” said Wenger.
“I am happy with players who are committed and Kolo is a big example for that. There was a minor incident that you could multiply by 20. It happens every day in every club and is sorted out now. Kolo is happy here.”
Later, the manager was asked if Toure had asked to leave.
“Yes,” replied Wenger. “But we spoke about it with him and I think he has changed his mind.
The Frenchman was then asked if the centre back had actually withdrawn his request.
“Yes,” he replied.
Toure has found it difficult to get in the Arsenal side in recent months because Wenger has been reluctant to pair Gallas and Toure together at centre back.
Before Johan Djourou’s 11th-hour injury forced the latter’s inclusion at Aston Villa on Boxing Day, the duo had not featured in tandem in the Premier League since October 4. However the manager says that is down to their height not their personalities.
“It’s not a question of Kolo Toure or William Gallas,” said Wenger. “It is that the two together are a bit short in the air. We needed to add some size centrally.
“I think they get on, personally. They get on much better than people think and if you lived with us every day you would see that. Anyway nobody can prove fantastic friendships help you to win football games.
“Kolo did have a little problem when he came back from the African Nations Cup [earlier this year]. He wasn’t exactly the same sharpness any more. Now, he has come back to his best level and he works very hard in training.
“He is a fantastic guy, Kolo Toure.”
By Richard Clarke
Kolo Toure did put in a transfer request but has since withdrawn it.
Arsène Wenger revealed the news at his press conference ahead of the FA Cup tie with Plymouth. It confirmed media reports that had emerged this week but the manager refuted the suggestion that Toure’s actions had been prompted by an irrevocable falling out with William Gallas.
Despite rumoured interest from Manchester City, it seems the Ivorian will be staying at Emirates Stadium.
“The situation is that he is a player who has a two-and–a-half year contract and will remain with us,” said Wenger.
“I am happy with players who are committed and Kolo is a big example for that. There was a minor incident that you could multiply by 20. It happens every day in every club and is sorted out now. Kolo is happy here.”
Later, the manager was asked if Toure had asked to leave.
“Yes,” replied Wenger. “But we spoke about it with him and I think he has changed his mind.
The Frenchman was then asked if the centre back had actually withdrawn his request.
“Yes,” he replied.
Toure has found it difficult to get in the Arsenal side in recent months because Wenger has been reluctant to pair Gallas and Toure together at centre back.
Before Johan Djourou’s 11th-hour injury forced the latter’s inclusion at Aston Villa on Boxing Day, the duo had not featured in tandem in the Premier League since October 4. However the manager says that is down to their height not their personalities.
“It’s not a question of Kolo Toure or William Gallas,” said Wenger. “It is that the two together are a bit short in the air. We needed to add some size centrally.
“I think they get on, personally. They get on much better than people think and if you lived with us every day you would see that. Anyway nobody can prove fantastic friendships help you to win football games.
“Kolo did have a little problem when he came back from the African Nations Cup [earlier this year]. He wasn’t exactly the same sharpness any more. Now, he has come back to his best level and he works very hard in training.
“He is a fantastic guy, Kolo Toure.”
fgl
Well-known member
Arsenal
Plymouth
official
- Referee
M J Jones
By Richard Clarke
The FA Cup is, most certainly, a priority for Arsène Wenger this season.
The Arsenal manager goes into campaigns with the Premier League and Champions League joint-top of his annual ‘To-Do’ list. The Carling Cup is fourth, albeit with a heavy educational slant. That leaves the FA Cup safe in third.
That order will not change this term. But, speaking ahead of the Third Round tie with Plymouth at Emirates Stadium on Saturday, the Arsenal manager was more willing to bracket this year’s competition with the top two on his list than the bottom one. It was a subtle but interesting shift of emphasis.
“The FA Cup is one of three trophies that we go for with regular players,” said Wenger at Friday’s pre-match press conference. “The Carling Cup is one we go for with young, upcoming players so yes it is one of the major priorities of the season.
“I believe that my team are on a good run and they are looking stronger and stronger. They have matured mentality-wise and this competition is a good opportunity to show it. The gap between the Premier League and Championship has been reduced and so I believe at the moment we are not in a position to lose - we just want to win.”
Wenger has lost Denilson (back) and Kolo Toure (groin) through injury while Aaron Ramsey and new-appointed ‘Cup keeper’ Lukasz Fabianski will come in. But apart from that, the Arsenal side will be very familiar.
Plymouth come into this tie in 15th place in their division and have registered just one win in their last eight League games. Manager Paul Sturrock returned for his second spell in charge at Home Park just over a year ago. The Scotsman took the Pilgrims to within touching distance of a Play-Off spot last term but this year has been more a struggle.
That said, they are optimistic enough to be bringing 9,000 fans to Emirates Stadium.
And, for his part, Wenger is taking them as seriously as any other opponent.
“I watched them twice on tape and we have had our scouts at every single game since the draw was made,” he said.
“I know the manager and I know their players however they have changed a lot so it is very difficult to know how they’ll play but their system remains relatively stable.
“They play a 4-5-1, try to make it difficult for us and are very strong on set pieces. Also I hear they have a lot of fans coming to Emirates Stadium. So I feel it is important for us to stay well-focussed because this will be a typical cup game."
Wenger’s concern is his own supporters right now. Arsenal are gradually recovering after five early-season defeats but they remain 10 points off top spot in the Premier League and three adrift of the fourth and final Champions League spot.
Even the manager admits he is on the market to strengthen his squad in the transfer window but, he adds, only “special talent” can augment the ability already present in his young squad.
Over the past decade his policy has been to patiently push the foundation stones of the next great Arsenal team into position. Adding players aimlessly would weaken that long-term work so, he argues, the fans must resist the temptation of wastefully spending in the January sales.
“I am just telling them not to be infected by all the negative publicity around the Club,” he said. “That is because in the last three and a half years maybe we have not got enough credit but in 10 years people will realise it was good work.
“If we can add an extra talent [in January] we will do it but it has to be a special talent because we have good players.
“First of all you have to find the player, identify him, convince him to come here and at the moment that is not easy. We have located a few though.”
Optimistically, the manager was asked to reveal their identities.
“Well,” he smiled, “as for naming them now, I feel we have to make a big resolution not to change that in 2009.”
No disrespect to Plymouth, but you’d hope the home team’s resolve will not be tested too hard on Saturday.
The FA Cup may now be firmly on Wenger’s hit list but bigger tests in bigger competitions lie just around the corner.
And, of course, if there is negative publicity around Arsenal now then I'd hate to see the media reaction if Emirates Stadium played host to a Third Round shock.
That, in itself, should be incentive enough for Wenger’s men.
fgl
Well-known member
3
Arsenal
1
Plymouth
- Van Persie 47, 84,
- Gray 49 (og)
- Duguid 52
Robin van Persie celebrated his first game as Arsenal captain with a crucial brace as Arsène Wenger’s side beat Plymouth 3-1 and stormed into the FA Cup Fourth Round.
The Dutchman nodded home just after the break and completed the scoring five minutes from time.
In between those goals David Gray put through his own net only for Karl Duguid to reply immediately to give the Pilgrims some hope of progression.
The scoreline may suggest an Arsenal cakewalk but it was anything but. In fact they were only truly safe when the skipper, who took the armband in place of Cesc Fabergas and Manuel Almunia, blasted home just before the final whistle.
However Arsenal’s job this afternoon was a) to avoid a giant-killing and b) get the job done first time.
They achieved both those aims and can now look forward to Sunday’s draw with interest.
Ahead of the game, Wenger had suggested he would play 90 per cent of a first-choice team. That is what happened.
Lukasz Fabianski started in goal – the manager had said the Pole is the Club’s Cup keeper this season – while Aaron Ramsey was added to the midfield. Van Persie returned up front and led the team out for the first time. As a result, Emmanuel Adebayor dropped to the bench.
Denilson was absent because of a back injury while Alex Song was suspended. Gael Clichy was rested so Mikael Silvestre moved to left back to accommodate the returning Johan Djourou.
For the record, Arsenal’s ongoing injury list reads: Kolo Toure (groin) Theo Walcott (shoulder), Cesc Fabregas (knee), Tomas Rosicky (hamstring tendon) and Eduardo (match fitness).
Third Round day is always ringed in red on the footballing calendar. That’s why Plymouth brought a vocal 9,000 fans to Emirates Stadium this afternoon despite some highly indifferent form back in the Championship.
It was a bright, cold and crisp day – perfect cup shock weather – and those thousands of visiting fans could sense weakness in the home side.
A couple of crunching early challenges by visiting captain Duguid also suggested the Pilgrims were not going to hero-worship this afternoon.
That said, Arsenal started brightly and might have taken the lead in the sixth minute when Ramsey’s miscued shot bobbled into the path of Van Persie who could not beat keeper Romain Larrieu with either of his two attempts.
Almost immediately, Jamie MacKie’s pacy goalbound volley was blocked at the other end. It drew a huge cheer from the visiting fans but the tide was already turning against them. On the quarter-hour, Eboue exchanged passes with Nasri and drew a fine save from Larrieu.
Fabianski needed assistance from his defence after Chris Clark worked his way to the left-hand side and sent a low cross to the near post. But Sagna’s cross over-stretched Larrieu and, when Arsenal worked the ball back into the area from the left, Bendtner slid a header wide.
Just before the half-hour, Arsenal’s persistent pressure won a corner. Initially it was cleared but Eboue cleverly clipped a ball to Gallas on the right of the area. The Frenchman’s shot was low, hard and heading for goal. It deflected off defender Chris Barker and nestled with Larrieu. The keeper did well to spread himself but he had still been fortunate.
Larrieu was starting to earn overtime. He beat away Bendtner’s shot just before Silvestre was replaced by Kieran Gibbs. Presumably the former Manchester United had picked up a knock but he had shown few signs before he went off.
For a time though, Arsenal were down to 10 men because, while the change was being made, Gallas disappeared down the tunnel. He emerged a few minutes later and carried on without any problems.
By now Plymouth were starting to gain a little confidence. Paul Gallagher’s dipping shot was hurriedly tipped over by Fabianski.
However before the half-time whistle, Eboue’s rolled shot and Bendtner’s diving header went wide while Ramsey had a shot blocked.
Plymouth had had their moments in the first half but, at the break, it seemed a question of when not if Arsenal would score.
However while the scores were 0-0, the visitors always had hope – and that means a lot on Third Round day.
That commodity began to evaporate within two minutes of the restart and should have been destroyed shortly afterwards. However there would be a sting in the tail.
Arsenal took the lead just after the break from a corner on the left-hand side. Nasri swung it into the area where an unmarked Van Persie stooped low to nod home. A very simple goal.
Within three minutes the lead was doubled. Eboue sent Van Persie free on the right of the area and Bendtner turned home his cross from close range. Though Plymouth defender David Gray may have got the last touch.
If he did, redemption was close at hand. In the 52nd minute, Luke Summerfield sent a free-kick into the area, it was half-cleared to Gray, who scooted around the right of area before sending a probing ball low into the area. Duguid stabbed it home from close range and celebrated enthusiastically in front of the visiting fans.
It was game on again.
However the goal only served to inhibit Arsenal. Suddenly they wanted to keep what they had. Carlos Vela came on for Eboue and took up his now familiar position on the left.
Rory Fallon did ripple the top of the net from distance late on, but a couple of minutes later, Ramsey did the same thing at the other end.
With eight minutes left, Gibbs pressured Larrieu into a weak clearance and Nasri’s long range shot was cleared off the line by Marcel Seip with the keeper stranded.
A couple of minutes later, Gibbs, who was enjoying an eye-catching cameo, fired just wide.
However a third was not far away. Nasri sent Van Persie racing through the middle. The Dutchman flicked the ball over Larrieu and crashed in his shot off the bar.
Plymouth nearly scrambled home a second in injury time but Arsenal managed to clear their lines just in time.
In fact the hosts would come closer top adding a third themselves. Nasri’s deflected shot came back off the bar and Ramsey forced a low save from Larrieu, who had been Plymouth’s Man of the Match.
The visitors applauded their fantastic support at full time and, as they trudged off, received an ovation from the home fans too.
This was one of those games when both teams could leave the field with their heads held high.
fgl
Well-known member
Arsène Wenger admits he has been forced to put his ‘flair-play’ campaign on hold for now.
The Arsenal manager has long been the curator of the Premier League’s most enchanting exhibitors of the beautiful game. But with a midfield shorn of Theo Walcott, Cesc Fabregas and Tomas Rosicky for some months to come, Wenger accepts his fifth-place side must now start to close the 10-point gap on leaders Liverpool by the sweat of their brow.
“Recently I believe we have been more workmanlike than creative or sparky,” he said at Friday’s press conference. “But that will come back with the quality we have.
“We had one or two disappointments early this season and needed first to come back to grind out some results, then we can come back to the rest of our game later.
“Of course, we would like it to return now but I believe Walcott will come back, Rosicky I don't know when he will come back while Fabregas will come back in March hopefully. So yes at the moment we have lost something on the creative side of the game.
“But we are in a good way right now and have created a momentum. It is down to us to show consistency, we want to be super-consistent because in top-level sport you always have a chance if you can show you can improve.
“I admit we were not consistent at the start of the season but in the last six weeks this team are different animals and are really ready to have a go. That is what is our target - to show we can be consistent.”
As Wenger implies, injuries have been a problem all season. Rosicky and Eduardo have yet to feature at all, Fabregas and Walcott have been lost for the medium term while, this week, William Gallas (hamstring) and Mikael Silvestre (thigh) have picked up problems that might sideline them for the next three weeks. At least Denilson (back) and Kolo Toure (groin) have recovered.
Perhaps the acceptance of this industrious policy has been prompted by the visit of Bolton on Saturday. The Sam Allardyce version hustled and muscled their way to some fractious, costly victories a few years ago. Gary Megson’s tenure has knocked off a few of the rougher edges but if the mountainous Kevin Davies is still up front the overall tactic can not have changed that much. Wenger believes the re-modelled Arsenal can cope.
“What people forget is that Bolton always has good players,” he said. “If you look at the players who played there in the last 10 years, you will find some very good ones.
“It’s always a tricky tie. They are a strong team, well-organised and they play in a very committed way - that’s why for us the focus will be very important. I am confident we will have great focus and be ready for the game.
“I believe that overall we have improved in the domains where we were a bit less convincing. That means in the air and on the set-pieces.
“We feel much stronger today defensively than we did three months ago. For us it is to find a good balance between playing the football we love, the attractive game we love, and being efficient defensively. I believe we are on a good way and 2009 will show that.”
Wenger knows this weekend is an opportunity for his side. Bolton have lost five of their last six games while Arsenal are unbeaten in their past half-dozen. Fourth-place Aston Villa have a derby game against in-form West Brom on Saturday lunchtime while, on Sunday, Manchester United are hosting Chelsea. It guarantees that one title rival will drop points. Fingers crossed it will be two.
“A positive result would be for us to win our game,” the Arsenal manager concluded.
“As for the rest [Man United v Chelsea] is an opportunity to get closer to one of the two and if possible, two of the two. The draw would be the best result for us.
“But first we have to win our game.”
doggieshaman
New member
I STILL DONT LIKE BENDTNER! OMG he's just not worth having on the field given the amount of goals he score! I mean, when he was about to come on I went like
OMG NOO NOO NOO DONT BRING HIM ON. Ok so he scored, but really someone with his height and all, no point bringing him on if he hides on the right wing isn't it? Then who will head in Sagna's crosses? and finish everything off
fgl
Well-known member
Arsenal
Bolton Wanderers
- Bendtner 84
Substitute Nicklas Bendtner ended Arsenal’s frosty frustration with an 84th-minute winner at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
All afternoon Arsène Wenger’s side had banged on Bolton’s back door – but it remained stubbornly shut.
Gary Megson’s injury-hit outfit arrived with only four substitutes in his squad, so perhaps you can forgive the visitors’ reluctance to break out of their defensive shackles.
Arsenal had all the possession and all the chances – most notably when Robin van Persie hit the post midway through the second half – but Bolton would not be budged.
That was until six minutes from time. Gael Clichy’s perception freed the Dutchman on the left and his far-post cross was converted by the sliding Bendtner. It was beautiful end to an ugly game – but was enough for Arsenal.
Once again, 1-0 is peculiarly satisfying scoreline for Wenger’s men at the moment. They are now unbeaten in six Premier League games and half of those have home victories by a single goal. They have helped the team stay on the coat-tails of the title race.
Gradually, Arsenal are grinding their way back into form.
Wenger changed half his side for their first Premier League fixture of 2009.
William Gallas (hamstring) and Mikael Silvestre (thigh) were injured while Nicklas Bendtner, Lukasz Fabianski and Aaron Ramsey dropped to the bench. Their replacements were Gael Clichy, Emmanuel Adebayor, Denilson, Kolo Toure and Manuel Almunia.
Bolton were without three of the players most responsible for their relative success this season – Kevin Nolan (suspension), Gretar Steinsson (suspension) and Gary Cahill (back). Partly as a result of that, manager Megson named only four substitutes. One was nearly used before kick-off with rumours running around the press box that keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen had injured himself in the warm-up. They turned out to be false.
England was in the midst of a cold snap. The overnight frost had put paid to the Premier League fixtures at Portsmouth and Fulham. That was never going to happen with the undersoil heating at Emirates Stadium but it was a bitterly cold afternoon in North London and the spectators were not afforded the same luxury as the pitch. It was hat, coat, gloves, scarf and thermal long-johns weather.
Bolton’s billing as Arsenal’s nightmare had become a bit of a misnomer in recent years. Wenger’s men had won the last five Premier League fixtures between the pair and the Lancashire side had not tasted victory in this part of the capital for 47 years.
Bolton’s attitude in the opening stages did nothing to suggest that would change. The visitors seemed happy to sit back and afford the home side enough space to set up camp just outside their area.
It was a dangerous tactic and Van Persie would profit with a couple of early opportunities – a snap shot on the turn from Samir Nasri’s pacy pass and a header that stretched Jaaskelainen.
The Frenchman then fired over himself and Van Persie had justifiable claims for a penalty in the 19th minute when a grounded Jlloyd Samuel appeared to nudge the ball with his arm.
Arsenal were keeping up the pressure but not doing that much with it. You felt that although it was one-way traffic, the cars just were not moving very fast.
Just to add to the surreal feeling, some of the floodlights failed midway through the half. Fortunately, there was enough daylight to carry on and the problem was rectified quickly.
Adebayor’s right-wing cross was nodded out by Danny Shittu and Van Persie volleyed over from the edge of the area. Clichy even had a dig from distance.
Bolton lost in-form striker Johan Elmander eight minutes before the break. Mustapha Riga came on but the change left Kevin Davies ploughing a lonely furrow up front.
Still, at the break, Bolton were in possession of the point they had clearly come for. It was Arsenal’s job to break them down and they had got nowhere near to achieving it in the first 45 minutes.
The home fans did their best to rouse the team at the start of the second half. They cheered optimistically for handball when Samuel chested down a left-wing cross but held their breath when Matt Taylor guided a header towards the far post. Fortunately Almunia held on.
As the game passed the hour mark, Arsenal were losing their momentum. Therefore it was no surprise to see substitute Carlos Vela, the catalyst for change against Portsmouth, replace Diaby.
Just before the change, Adebayor had seen a swivelling shot saved by Jaaskelainen. Just after it, he would spurn the chance of the match. Vela worked the ball in-field and Nasri threaded an expert ball to the far side of the area where the unmarked striker collected. He had time to steady himself but he took too long. By the time he got his shot off, Andy O’Brien had sprinted across. His outstretched leg stopped a near-certain goal.
The chance served to spur on Arsenal. Bolton had enjoyed a small pocket of possession at the start of the half but that was long gone now. The home side were now hogging the ball and peppering the Bolton area with chances.
In the 70th minute, Adebayor set up Van Persie on the edge of the box. The Dutchman shimmied past a couple of defenders and poked a shot past a static Jaaskelainen. Agonisingly, the bobbling ball bounced back off the post and Denilson’s follow-up was blocked.
A couple of minutes later, Toure’s long-range effort forced a sprawling save from the Bolton keeper.
Bendtner came off the bench and nearly powered home Nasri’s free-kick with his first touch. Unfortunately the ball nestled in Jaaskelainen’s midriff.
The Dane was also denied eight minutes from time following a marauding run up the right wing by Toure.
Bendtner would not be denied a third time and relief was palpable when he slid home Van Persie’s shot.
But Bolton responded with their best chance of the game when Chris Basham set up Davies. Fortunately Almunia held on.
A welcome whistle rang out a couple of minutes later.
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