Written by OneOfUs on Monday, 27 June 2011 12:34

It would appear that time is up for a few of Arsenal’s lesser lights this summer. And when news of their departure is finally reported on the Arsenal site, it seems unlikely that gooners will go into mourning or hold candle-lit vigils outside the stadium. 

These players were never the most popular. 

Many will point to Bendtner and Denilson’s inability to hold down a place in the first team as further proof that Wenger’s “project”, as it’s often described, has failed; the manager put a lot of faith in two youngsters who never produced the requisite consistency, never won over the bulk of the fans and, in submitting transfer requests this season, demonstrated that no modern footballer is loyal enough to make a development policy work. 

But it might be dangerous to make this assumption. 

To see why, let’s start by going back to February 2009. Arsenal wasn’t having a great season, but by late winter the team was starting to rally, stringing together a lengthy if unspectacular unbeaten run and slowly hauling in Aston Villa. We met Roma in the Champions League and put on a display of vibrant attacking football, winning 1-0, with only wayward finishing keeping the score so low.

It might seem funny now to think that Denilson, Diaby and Eboue all started that night, in key midfield positions. A fortnight later the same players put in a gutsy shift to take the tie to penalties, and not a single spot-kick was missed as Arsenal strode into the quarterfinals.

So here we had some of the most pilloried Arsenal of recent years holding their own on the biggest stage. 

That season Nicklas Bendtner managed to score 15 goals, as a bit-part player, with a significant proportion of his appearances from the bench. Denilson was a regular, and featured throughout the unbeaten run; a short-passing team player, always in space, always showing for the ball, but perhaps not the most incisive.

Fast forward two years and it’s clear that some of those players have reached the end of the road. Not good enough for Arsenal? Probably – but there are players like these getting games at all the best teams. 

In the days when top-flight clubs were expected to develop their own players you’d have a fresh batch of kind every couple of years or so. Some would make an instant impact and nail down a place in both the starting lineup and the hearts of the faithful; others would take a little longer to make a breakthrough, while some would flicker occasionally, divide opinion, but ultimately have to look elsewhere for first-team football.

Truth is they all have a part to play. It should be obvious, but you can’t fill your squad with expensive, highly paid, stars, unless you’re Chelsea and Man City (although FFP looks set to challenge that big-spending policy). A hierarchy is vital; it’s a simple truth that some players will have to get acquainted with those car seats in the dugout, and if you want a happy dressing room, youngsters make the best candidates. 

Time to make some generalisations to try to understand why this might be the case:

They’ll be both desperate to make their mark at the highest level and willing to wait for opportunities; when they do get game-time they’ll be unknown quantities for the opposition, at least for the first few months; they’ll have an infectious, wide-eyed enthusiasm for the game, and while they may not possess a seasoned pro’s tactical awareness, they’ll learn quickly and still offer plenty of energy on the pitch in the meantime.

And it’s even better if those youngsters have been at the club for a few years, or have graduated from the academy. These days we can guarantee that our youth products will be thoroughly conditioned for our kind of football, as there’s now a satisfying consistency throughout the club. Watch our u18s and reserves and you’ll know they’re Arsenal players - it’s not just the missed chances, defensive mistakes and red and white jerseys that give it away. 

They’re also low risk, costing little in transfer fees, comparatively less in wages and arrive in the squad without excessive expectation on their shoulders.

Some will prove more popular than others, but if you take any squad there’ll be players that fans grumble about. You can find them in Arsenal’s greatest teams. Whether they’re correct or not, many punters will just feel that they don’t quite belong. Importantly though, the majority is often wrong. 

We’re often told that we need players in the squad who are ready-made. Well that sounds like a good idea, but in practice it’s not quite so simple; our football depends on teamwork and familiarity. It can’t be manufactured over the space of one transfer window; it takes years to build up that kind of trust. Fill a squad with players who expect to play first-team football regularly and you risk disruption.

And you only have to look back at the end of last season to see what happens to our game when trust between players starts to falter; players stop taking risks, the combinations break down and we end up circulating the ball without penetration. 

Don’t underestimate the importance of a positive atmosphere. In 2007 we looked overloaded in central midfield, with Gilberto Silva, Flamini and Diarra all vying for one spot. Something had to give, and so it proved, with Diarra refusing to play games, and Gilberto telling the world that he was unhappy on the bench. 

And in the same way, young players will only be happy to bide their time for so long before they lose the qualities that made them valuable to the squad in the first place. Two or three years on the bench and they’ll become impatient, lose some of that verve, and start to think about opportunities at other clubs. 

The key is to manage the squad to make sure that all the players are pulling in the right direction. It’s a tightrope walk, with constant dialogue needed between coach and player, as well as a clear roadmap to manage expectations and a certain degree of prescience on the part of the manager. 

Perhaps we didn’t get it quite right last season; we had a few too many individuals losing their verve and getting ready to move on 

Still, in most cases the best replacements will come from within. It’s a cycle that happens at any club with a decent academy, and long may it continue at Arsenal.

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Comments (31)

• 27-Jun-2011 12:56 | | angelic beardy
  

  Why not give Henri Lansbury a good run in the team. He looks a lot better than Henderson who cost £20 million. He runs box to box is a good runner and will score a few goals from midfield.

• 27-Jun-2011 13:09 | | Patrick  - Youngsters
  

  But do we have to pay Bendtner, Denilson and Almunia 50k a week, Eboue, Rosicky and Diaby 60k a week as bench warmers while Modric at Spurs collects 40k/wk?
  
  Those monies could have been paid to good players. No wonder, no club is interested in buying them because they are so expensive to maintain even though crap.

• 27-Jun-2011 13:12 | | iksz
  

  DId you seriously write an article talking about 08/09 as something positive? I stopped reading there. We almost fall out of the top4 that season, and you praise Denilson and co.? Oh my...

• 27-Jun-2011 13:15 | | sapman
  

  yeah he seriously wrote an article about his team and players
  
  instead of mocking him like a spoilt brat why dont you try explaining in your own words which parts you disagree with and give us all the opportunity to mock you instead

• 27-Jun-2011 13:23 | | Maria
  

  Where Fredde, Edu Wiltord, Parlour Kanu and co. all world-class no. Did they win trophies with Arsenal yes. As I've. Ss

• 27-Jun-2011 13:23 | | MeanLean
  

  Very good post OOU,
  
  It does appear that fans expect Arsenal to have a squad full of players all in top shape and form at all times otherwise they get beaten with the scapegoat stick.
  
  Having a performing player on the top of his game requires so many things to go right and it is not always just about ability.
  
  Are Denilson and Bendtner both surplus to requirements? Very possibly but in other circumstances I wouldn't be surprised if they were fans favourites, players who were very important to the side.
  
  Those two players for example have had bit part roles in the team for the last few seasons due to a mixture of injury and players taking their place.
  
  If Denilson continued improving from the 2008/09 season and did not suffer back problems then who knows where he would be today.
  
  Bendtner has had groin problems which has set him back for some time. The last time he had a run of games he scored plenty of goals.
  
  Younger players need games to improve and develop into top players. Most of the players at the club are at the club because they have strong qualities that need to be developed. Not all will make it but I don't think it is always a case of player x not being good enough for Arsenal.

• 27-Jun-2011 13:26 | | Dr Doolittle Did a Dainty Doo
  

  Because he doesn't come from some lowly French team. He should be given a chance and he will play a few games. Then he will be gone. Shame really.

• 27-Jun-2011 13:28 | | Maria
  

  The amount of 'average' players that won the league last season with United would be to many to count. I've said it to before, I think that instead of consideating on what our 'worse' players are doing we should look at what the best are. Tbh our best hasnt been fit and consistent in the last few years and without that happening we wont win another title. So lay off the dry Denilson eBay jokes and pay more attention to our 'stars' and what they aren't doing.

• 27-Jun-2011 13:29 | | Maria
  

  Nice work 1ofUs btw!

• 27-Jun-2011 13:33 | | FunGunner
  

  Great post, OOU. Agree with it - these are the practicalities of managing a football club in real life.

• 27-Jun-2011 13:48 | | OOU
  

  Yeah, I think I'd have players like Lansbury and Coquelin in mind for next year. I suppose that depends on preseason (which I think Coquelin might be missing).

• 27-Jun-2011 13:48 | | TrueGooner  - Ban the word "PUTO" from international matches
  

  The word "PUTO" needs to be ban from any international match by FIFA and CONCACAF. I witness it first hand at a Mexico V. Cuba match, but when I heard it over the tele during the Mexico V. Holland u-17 match, I thought it was unacceptable and unsportsmanlike behavior on the part of the Mexican fans. Such words shouldn't be used at the youth international level, so I believe that it is now time these words be ban. The national team should be held responsible if such words are used repeatedly. A strong PSA should be sent out before the tourney to every participating teams to warn their supporters not to used such words at the venues or else the team will be fine.

• 27-Jun-2011 13:52 | | OOU
  

  They do it when when the GK takes his run up, right? i noticed it as well and thought it a bit unseemly for a youth tournament.

• 27-Jun-2011 14:05 | | OOU
  

  Yeah, just thinking back specifically, didn't Luis Boa Morte and Stephen Hughes get a fair few games in AW first double-winning season? They didn't stay on, but they did make a contribution to our success that year.
  
  As for players improving on the job - I agree, but very often these guys perform at a high level without being acknowledged, while mistakes are pounced on in without second thought.
  
  In 08-09 for instance, I think Alex Song had been performing for months before he got the recognition he deserved.

• 27-Jun-2011 14:11 | | TrueGooner
  

  Yep. I didn't expect to hear it at that level.

• 27-Jun-2011 14:12 | | OOU
  

  Not bigging up my post, but I think it's all a bit more complicated than that.

• 27-Jun-2011 14:25 | | Anonymous
  

  Brilliant article. The fact is, for the role in the squad he plays, you won't be able to finda 'big name' player to replace someone like Denilson. I think you need almost like a converbelt of young understudy players to compliment a strong group of players who play the baulk of games. By the age of around 22, they'll either be ready to take up a place in the first-team or need to move on, at which point another young player can take their place. For that reason, I'd be happy for players like Frimpong and Lansbury to be a part of the first-team squad next season

• 27-Jun-2011 14:56 | | Iron Man
  

  I don't think anyone minds an average, bit part player if they come in and show that they care about the team they are playing for. To use your two examples, it isn't simply lack of ability that frustrates people but the glaring lack of effort. When Denilson is jogging at snails pace and being left for dead by players no better than he is, that's what irks fans. When Nik B strolls onto the pitch chewing gum and not even bothering to even try and retrieve yet another misplaced pass, it is for this reason he gets so much grief. If you look back to the team pre-wenger, there was very little skill but you couldn't doubt the heart of the players.
  
  Prime example, someone like Ray Parlour was never blessed with great ability and it took him many years to get any sort of recognition from a lot of Arsenal fans but you could always guarantee he would put in a shift when called upon. It's exactly the same at Manchester United. Darren Fletcher, Ji Sung Park, John O'Shea, Wes Brown etc are hardly world beaters but when they put on that United shirt, they play like their life depends on it and, despite their limitations as players, they more often than not reap the rewards. You can hardly say that about anyone in the current Arsenal squad.
  
  The only one you could even come close to saying that about is Eboue who took his much-publicised criticism and began to apply himself week in, week out. He didn't get any better as a player, mind, but fans respected the fact he was at least trying.

• 27-Jun-2011 15:20 | | Gunner4Ever
  

  I am willing to be patient with some players and I don't expect all players to play at their best all the time and am willing to be patient to allow players to grow. However what I will not tolerate as an Arsenal fan is players putting on the Red & White shirt and stepping onto the pitch and NOT giving it 100% - Every time!
  
  As a player it is not acceptable to allow opposition players to run past you whilst you are simply jogging back! Give it everything or don't dare put on the Arsenal shirt!
  
  All players (whether brought in or developed from the acadamy) must realise what it means to play for The Arsenal!

• 27-Jun-2011 18:59 | | dkgooner  - Puto
  

  Did they really use that word? I'm deeply shocked.
  
  PS. What does it mean?

• 28-Jun-2011 06:15 | | Adam
  

  Good article. You can only have 11 players in a starting line up. But you need 25 in a squad.
  
  The rest are by definition not good enough and allowing for some rotation and injuries, the 'bottom' say 8 players are going to be clearly not as good players or they will want to go elsewhere. If you are first team quality, why would you want to sit on the bench?

• 28-Jun-2011 14:45 | | Reg
  

  2008/09 was a shite season.We were in a fight all season to finish 4th FFS.And that was only achieved because of the signing of Arshavin.We were out off the title race after Hull beat us in september.In the CL we were battered home and away in the CL by Utd in the semi final.Eboue Denilson and Bender would be crap players in any era of Arsenals history.As would Squillaci Diaby and Vela.A joke article

• 28-Jun-2011 15:42 | | OneOfUs
  

  Ah, unlucky Reg, you just missed the point. Let's see if I can summarize quickly:
  
  In every Arsenal squad (even the invincibles) there will be players that you don't like, but they're part of a larger entity. Nowadays I doubt you'd expect Arsenal to finish 4th and reach the semis of the CL with the players you mentioned getting significant gametime, but that's what happened in 08-09. This indicates that even the ones you despise can make a contribution before the time comes for them to move on.

• 29-Jun-2011 12:18 | | mr h
  

  translate.google

• 30-Jun-2011 16:58 | | Segun  - Is FFP for Arsenal alone?
  

  I asked this question 'cos, it seems u expecting this FFP to be a panacea to eveything wrong with Arsenal! Also NO fan would always expect 25 expensive/first teamers, but when u have too many average players u get average results.

• 30-Jun-2011 22:46 | | Man United Killa
  

  bad word bad word bad word!!!

• 30-Jun-2011 22:47 | | Man United Killa
  

  who are you kidding?why are you shocked if you dont know what it means?

• 01-Jul-2011 11:53 | | sapman
  

  i will just focus on your second paragrap, where you critisise our team and/or manager for not being as aggressive or as demanding as ferguson is at united.
  
  first of all...united is way bigger a club than arsenal. and thats ahistoric fact whether we like it or not.
  
  secondly united has had a jumpstart on what we are doing of about 20 years.
  
  thirdly and more importantly, united, having built an empire are at the stage where they have to keep themselves there NO MATTER WHAT. immediately this means that the demands playing for a club like united that MUST win trophies to keep their hierarchy are a lot different than a club that has just been through stadium and facilities investment and is on a completely different football and business path than united.
  
  fourthly, united spends significant money and buys the best that is around. therefore , for the fees they pay,,they demand a return in perfomances and trophies. in just one year they went out and bought two of porrugals brightest stars (nani and anderson) at 17 million a piece, a teenager for 35 a bulgarian for 32. the expenditures united makes and the expenditures arsenal make INDICATE even to blind people that the targets and priorities are different.
  
  fifthly, arsene wenger is an educated person, cultivated id say, well mannered, basically he is a person who is way too advanced as a human being in his thinking to even get involved in a brutal barbaric sport like football. wenger is no dictator to bark orders to his players. wenger is a technocrat, and tehcnocrats create the best conditions for talents to flourish and from there on its up to the personal ambition of the player. what hurts is that in his early tenor he had massive players with massive personalities that would bail him out. all managers need such players. these are the players who implement his philosophy and understand on their own what is needed without having to tell them anything. whereas now he is doing something compeltley different. he aint got the players he used to have. he is creating new ones. as such not all of them will become a weah a henry a vieira, but whats important is to continue bringing up players one after the other so as to provide continuation and a soul for the club which will be coming directly form the academies.
  
  i dont see why wenger shoudl be faulted just because his players are way too young to handle pressure situations in an environment as hostile as the epl. if anything i believe the manager deserves recognition for even being competitive with a bunch of kids who have just learned how to shave. also its not easy being a 22 year old foreigner trying to dominate lampard who is 32 ..terry who is 31 and rio pointing his finger like a bully after he has operated sagna with his studs.
  
  it is in fact quite natural for youngsters to flop when the big occasion arrives ..the real problem and concern would be if arsenal couldnt even get into positions of flirting with titles...but sucha thing does not happen...arsenal and wenger DO flirt with titles even in this period of trnasition even with these young inexpereinced players.
  
  if the team was a long long way from reachign the source i would understand your complaints ...but the team does get to the source and loses the title or titles on technical details which are rectified with time and experience. the ability is there. the character ..they need to develop it..and they are still developing it as personalities.

• 01-Jul-2011 12:05 | | sapman
  

  with these average players ..wenger does get results though ...he is one of the top teams in england and in europe and he is fielding average players ...as you say ...
  
  that takes some doing

• 01-Jul-2011 12:25 | | Malotaib  - Sack Wenger
  

  Now city want clichy, man u want nasri, and fabregas is going to barca,
  i have an excellent idea for wenger... why dont you sell van persie to milan and give song to inter, and then build a new team again
  wenger you are a joke

• 02-Jul-2011 00:22 | | noleosn
  

  well said

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