Why did we lose the way?

Dear Fellow Gunners,

Why did we lose our way this season? Many people gave many views and dimension on how we lost the plot. Some say Henry some say Fab while others were mumbling about crazy Lehmann and/or our youngsters' inexperience.

So What happened?

1) The youngsters' inexperience. We knew about this before the season started, but the Gaffar placed his faith in the team and felt that the older ones were able to lead them through. However, due to some unlucky injuries, Henry, Gallas, Ljungberg and Gilberto took turns being out of the team. While the most experience one (i.e Lehmann) remained crazy with his antics resulting in sometimes brilliance and sometimes despair.....

2) Major injuries to our goal getters. Between Henry and RVP, i figured we lost about 4/5 of our possible goals scored if they are out. And how long they are out? probably 1/2 or more of the season. You do the maths. The basic rule is if you dont score goals, you dont win games.

3) Lack of confidence. A lot of our players thrived on confidence. The more games we win, the more confidence we have and the more likely that we would steamroll the opposition. Take a look at Hleb and Rosicky. These 2 players are really on song once they score a goal or provided an assist. The look, the swagger and the cross over dribbles are out of this world once they have the confidence. Ditto the reverse.

4) Overworked playmaker. Cesc Fabregas is only 19. He is the team's official playmaker but he has played more games than his body can take it. In fact, it seems that he has played more games than any other Gunner in the team for the past 2 years. He has also played in the World Cup games.

5) NO big signings. I know this is very debatable for many people but somehow a big signing seems to lift the team to greater heights. There is no one in the past 2 years. Wenger has refused to pay big money for a big player. And when he does get interested, there is always a United or Chelski that had more money to pay...

That in a nutshell is why we failed this season...

Lets wait for the next one...

Go Gunners!

Arsenal vs West Ham - the aftermath

The after math:.....
I am now very sure that Robert Green prays to some God up there. Not sure which God, but this God was very powerful today.

We had shots from all angles. We had a sure goal header by Adebayor saved by Green's left hand, a long range screamer by Fabregas that beat Green but somehow hit the cross bar. In addition, we had Gilberto screwing a shot somehow onto the post when it was easier to score (related to Green's God?) and Aliadiere had the whole post to shoot but he opted to shoot the ball at the side netting. (related to Green's God?)

It was an amazing show of shooting profligacy! In total, there was 30 shots from our team with no goals to show for it. To rub salt into injury, there was a couple of lousy shots from the Hammers. In all, Lehmann make one proper save and was beaten by an offside goal. Even my grandma with her poor eyeside could read that offside.

In conclusion, the Hammers really had someone looking after them from above. After this, they will go on and beat the drop.

What a dismay result.....

Who will qualify for the Uefa Cup from the FA Cup?

If Watford and Blackburn lose their respective semi finals to manure and chelski, which team will qualify to the UEFA cup?

Will Watford and Blackburn have a play off?

Some one pls advise. Thanks....

Top signings suggestions

As the season draws to an end, I guess many of us are thinking of who will sign and who will go and who will retire or who will be loan out again etc etc.... What will the team look like in the new season? Will we be disappointed or delighted?

Lets talk about possible signings first...
1) Franck Ribery ending our wide-man woes. He is the man to be the next Pires. Besides the fact that he is French, i guess he can score more goals than our misfiring bunch of midfielders. Ribery has already show us what he can do in the World Cup. So Lets take up the check book and sign the guy!


2) Upfront: Carlos Tevez
Why? Because we need to sign one OUTSTANDING player...

Julio Baptista best position will be an attacking midfielder. He does not have the first touch to lead the front line but he can be a good come from midfield player to snap up the chances.

Sad to say Jeremie Aliadiere is a disappointment...

Walcott is still young and I hope to see him more in a winger position so that he can develop confidence to take on players and see the whole picture in midfield. He is a raw diamond in the making... no doubt a good one..

Nicklas Bendtner is also highly promising but I am not sure he will be able to make the grade next season. He is doing well out on loan at Birmingham this season but the fact that he is in a division with the likes of Jamie Cureton, Gregorz Rasiak, Stevie Howard, Chris Iwelumo, Alan Lee etc... he might still need one more season to be able to contribute positively in the Premier League.


That is why we need Carlos Tevez. He has taken his time to settle down at West Ham, but now that he is settled in, he is showing why he is so highly rated. He has already scored and created a few goals to give the Hammers a ray of hope in the relegation fight.

Tevez captained Corinthians to the Brazilian title and won the 2004 Olympic Golden Boot with six goals in four games. Tevez is quite a tough character and is clearly taking over leadership to bring the Hammers to safety. He Has HEART.. and clearly this is what we need in the Gunner's team now. if we get him now, we can nurture him to be the next SUPER star in the soccer world.

3) Ronaldino - No more need to explain why we need him. :)

4) One great Keeper ( To be identified...)

With this 4 new additions and our defence staying fit, we will win at least a couple of title next year...

:)
GO Gunners!!

Ronaldino for Arsenal

A local newspaper has reported that Ronaldino is interested to play for Wenger in a bid to improve himself as a player. He sees the Professor as the man to guide his career to the next stage.

Although Dino (nickname for him from his loyal fans) maintains that he is happy and enjoying himself at Barcelona, there remains a lingering flame to join the EPL to prove that his tricks are not just for show. Dino wants to be able to rub shoulders with players like Henry and Gilberto as they are good friends via their Nike commitments and National duties respectively. He also wants to be show that he is able to handle the cold, hard defending of the British style and run rings around John Terry or Rio Ferdinard.

However, there are whispers that things are not so positive for the talented playmaker. Rumor has it that the Barcelona camp is divided by jealousy. Dino is not happy with certain team mates performance and vice versa. Being a person who is all about friendship and fun, the pressure is making it an unpleasant place for him to stay.

This is good news for the Gunners as we desperately need a STAR player to share the weight of expectations with Henry. With Gilberto ,Toure and Gallas providing support and some of the younger ones (RVP, Theo, Fabregas and Djourou) coming of age, the Gunners might finally be able to challenge for the league title.

Unhappy Flamini

Mathieu Flamini has admitted a lack of first-team opportunities could force him to buy out the final year of his contract and leave Arsenal. He is unhappy that he is playing so few games even though there is a string of injuries to the starting line up. The defensive midfielder was recruited by the Gunners from Marseille in the summer of 2004, but has failed to secure a regular place in the club's starting eleven.

The 23-year-old is now in competition with a clutch of young midfield talent brought through by manager Arsene Wenger, such as Cesc Fabregas, Abou Diaby and Denilson. 'The next three years will be important for me,' Flamini told L'Equipe. 'I want to play, to go to the next level. The Arsenal team is young, it has quality, but I am not playing as much at the moment. It isn't easy to live like this and I am in a situation where all players ask themselves questions.' 'I am coming to the end of the cycle. I have just spent three years at Arsenal and my lawyer has told me that I could leave in June. For that, I must pay the final year's salary to the club.'

Flamini's stock rose earlier this season when he was drafted into the France squad by coach Raymond Domenech for February's friendly against Argentina. His versatility came to Arsenal's rescue last season when he played at left-back in the absence of the injured Ashley Cole and Gael Clichy. He proved a key player for Wenger in the Gunners' run to the Champions League final. However, he lost his place to Cole for the showpiece against Barcelona, who ended up winning 2-1. To add insult to injury, Cole left the Gunners for Chelsea. Flamini was then reported to be fuming over his exclusion in preference to Cole. This is despite his previous contribution.

Personally, I hope Flamini stays and prove his worth. We already need whatever experience possible. If we lose him, the team is even younger than before.

Go Gunners!

1-4 lost to Pool

What a disappointing result.....

Is that the best we can do? No doubt we hit the post twice but surely we could have gotten a draw or at least restricted the scoreline. Its amazing how we allow a half fit Crouch score with his left, right and head. A delightful hattrick for him and a disgrace for us....

Disillusioned.....
sigh....