Written by Limpar Assist on Wednesday, 06 July 2011 13:20

I've said it before and I'll say it again, when Arsenal get clinical with their finishing we'll win the league.

We had more touches than any other Premier League side in the opposition box during 2010-11. 

We made more successful through balls than any other team in the Premier League last season, 49% more than the 2nd highest team.

We hit the woodwork a good deal more than anyone else in the league as I’m sure you’ll remember, 22 times - PINNNNG!  Here’s some of ‘em to infuriate yourself with:

Adobe Flash Player not installed or older than 9.0.115!

You’ll probably have seen that alternate league table too, the one where every shot to strike the woodwork counts as a goal – where Arsenal win the league by 12 clear points. 

So, while possession doesn’t win you trophies, as Arsène Wenger’s detractors are so fond of pointing out, it does seem to facilitate chances on goal. 

We’ve all seen this. We’ve all seen Arsenal produce the sublime and the ridiculous in font of goal these last few seasons. In tight situations, when the ball hits the net, that final pass is genius. When it doesn’t, it’s over-elaborate; self-indulgent ballet dancers afraid to have a pop at goal… consumed by a gnawing ambition to score Turneresque masterpieces thanks to the stubborn idealism of their aesthete French master. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

To my eye, recent developments in the über-catenaccio tactical dungeons of Blackburn, Sunderland, Birmingham et al have necessitated a bit of what some will call ‘over-playing’. Stuck in heavy traffic, engineering that opening with one final tweak is the way to pick the lock. That final pass is what many of our players (academy players especially) are brought up on. And when our quick passing game clicks, when we’re all on the same frequency – it does work.

A Frank Lampard blindfolded shy at the coconut stall will win a prize from time to time but if you’ve got the technique and you’ve got that understanding between attacking players, whittling the opening out to ‘unmissable’ is an incredibly effective weapon to have. Change the angle and change the percentage of the chance in your favour.

Nasri’s solo waltz through Fulham’s defence is a good example of the Arsenal way of bumping the percentages. He had three chances to shoot from the moment RVP laid it off and into his path. Each chance was a 50/50 glimpse at goal with an obstacle in the way. Instead of take a shy at that he takes a touch each time instead; round one defender, round another, and round the keeper to set himself up with a chance he knew he’d hit 9 times out of ten. It was beautiful, it was graceful, it may even have been genius – the speed at which it was executed; but he was also ‘simply’ ‘playing the percentages’. (I hate to use the word ‘percentages’ about football, but it’s true.)

Of course, “tippy-tappy bullshit”, as it’s known to some in the stands, isn’t the only way Arsenal score goals. The prolific Fàbregas/Van Persie link-up has added a new directness to the attack, and Andrey Arshavin has never been afraid to shoot – sometimes to a fault.

Interestingly, in the 09-10 season Arsenal scored more goals from outside the box than any other team. 19 of 73 goals were scored from outside the box. Denilson led the way then with strikes against Hull, West Ham, and Everton Home and Away. Tom Vermaelen was the second biggest threat from range, and he was also missed this season.

The short passing game is Arsenal’s meat and drink though. We have the highest pass completion rate in the league: 84% (groans from the gallery), we were the only team to average more than 60% possession in matches, we made a higher percentage of short passes than any other team, and, predictably, the fewest long passes. This is how we play. (Rotten fruit exchanges hands along the benches) 

I know, I know, but it’s not all going sideways. Arsenal had the best pass completion in the attacking third of the pitch too (75%). Remember all those touches in the opposition box? They led to chances, and, importantly, we hit the target with them more consistently than anyone else – registering the highest shooting accuracy in the league with 47.5%. The sharpest marksman in the league was one of ours: Samir Nasri hit the target with 65.4% of his chances.

Trust in the passing game that creates these chances. The chances are there for all to see. (With countless missed ones scorched into our mind’s eye to rue at will on Arsenal Rued Chances Anytime+.) Trust in the passing game that creates the chances and I think we can look forward to more of them ending up in the back of the net next season as the squad improves and matures and grows more ruthless. I think a summer spent training with Robin Van Persie, if nothing else, will inspire confidence in first-time shooting.

Arsenal’s game relies upon selflessness and the almost prescient instinct to pass around opponents until an opening is made. That same instinct that gets us into the box can be our undoing once we get there, as we all know. (PUT YOUR LACES THROUGH IT, DIABY!) Here we have the cannibalisation of the passing game. Not pretty, and we’ve all seen quite enough of it now, thanks.

This is the dichotomy of the Arsenal passing game then; to simultaneously teach a player to pass and pass for the good of the team - and at the same time teach him the kind of selfish ruthlessness a goal-scorer needs to put those chances away.

For me, the solution must come from midfield. It’s going to take a lot of hard work. When people say they wished Martin Keown was brought in to drill organisation at set-pieces, to be honest, I’d much rather Eduardo be drafted in to teach our midfielders ruthless, natural, scud-missile-to-bottom-corner finishing.

We will all remember tame shots trickling toward a grinning, untroubled goalkeeper at this point, and there lies the rub. We create more chances than anyone else, we hit the target more consistently with those chances than anyone else. Now it’s about conversion. Arsenal are a fine-tuning away from being an absolute goal machine. We train hard to pass quick enough to make openings happen. We train hard to hit the target with our shots when they do happen. Now we have to train hard to hit the back of the net, hit the corners, push the white lines.

I like to think of this Arsenal team as akin to Roger Federer in 2002. Beautiful to watch, but yet to find a killer instinct. Pushing white lines in training. 

Arsenal are already pushing white lines, as that woodwork montage testifies. Hitting the white lines is no accident, and it’s not bad luck. We train to hit the far reaches of the goal to beat the keeper. The radar isn’t there yet, but it’s very close. Now’s the summer to ratchet up the power, calibrate, zero-in, beat the keeper, beat the woodwork and take every chance.

Shooting practice, anyone? 

Thanks to Orbinho and Arsenalreport for the stats.

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Comments (72)

• 06-Jul-2011 14:09 | | Danish Gooner  - Hitting wood work.
  

  Nasri summed it up nicely against Bolton when through on goal,shooting straight at the keeper,we might have hit the wood work most times but could it because we have the worst and poorest finisher among the top four.

• 06-Jul-2011 14:12 | | Andre
  

  I like the Federer comparison. Although the Swiss maestro didn't have his rivals trying to buy his wrists, arms, legs, brain, heart while he was perfecting his art...

• 06-Jul-2011 14:12 | | MeanLean
  

  Great read Limpar,
  
  The margins in football are so slim, a few inches of one shot can make so much difference to a result, confidence and even a season.
  
  As we are built as an attacking outfit, I have said time and again that it was our offensive game that needed fixing rather than defensive problems.
  
  The amount of times we find our players running towards the opposition keeper only to prod the ball directly at the keeper left me with hands on my head time and again.
  
  Only really Theo consistently opens up his body and finds the white lines as you put it. Van Persie is a goal machine but apart from that, the rest of our attacking players are hit and miss so to speak.
  
  One memory that haunts me is Nasri clean through at Bolton to put us in the lead but he didn't trust his finishing and went for power.
  
  I would love someone like Henry or Dennis back at the club to coach these guys. To make finishing second nature rather than a panic that you have to do at the end of a move.
  
  Like you said, these players are learning and they will get there. We can turn these small margins in our favour in the end.

• 06-Jul-2011 14:13 | | MeanLean
  

  Now that is true.

• 06-Jul-2011 14:16 | | zzzzz
  

  "I like to think of this Arsenal team as akin to Roger Federer in 2002. Beautiful to watch, but yet to find a killer instinct. Pushing white lines in training. "
  
  
  NO WAY
  
  Arsenal are not that beautiful to watch, very unefficient, sloppy and frustrating, people need to see us for what we are, we're not beautful, Villa at home, Wigan away, newcastle home, WBA home & away, this is not beautiful

• 06-Jul-2011 14:24 | | Alex
  

  zzzz I suggest you sleep it off for a while before commenting further. Retarded comment.

• 06-Jul-2011 14:24 | | MeanLean
  

  Quick quick! Rubbish it. Why would we want to see us in a positive light?
  
  Quick throw cold water over it and lets get back to slagging off everything to do with the club.
  
  How about comment on the observations made by the author. Give it a try. See if you can handle doing that. It may take you out of your comfort zone but maybe use it as a learning exercise.

• 06-Jul-2011 14:26 | | Wenger Boy
  

  Fantastic read back up by every Arsenal fans' favourite tool - statistics.
  
  Van Persie himself is a woodwork machine. We should practice with 5% smaller goals so that when the target is bigger it's easier.

• 06-Jul-2011 14:27 | | A Gooner among others
  

  I agree that our players need to improve their finishing but if we are totally honest, during the last ten games of the season our game was so slow and lacked so much imagination that we didn't even create the chances.
  
  I think that's what needs to be rectified this summer : make sure that in almost every game we will be able to create at least 5 or 6 chances.
  (That and set-pieces of course).
  
  I'm always angry when I hear people say that we play well but don't win games. It's totally untrue. When we play well, 90 % of the time we win.
  We lose when we don't play well, when our game is boring.
  But that's a bit too complicated to understand for some pundits (and some fans, unfortunately).

• 06-Jul-2011 14:30 | | zzzzz
  

  No point being deluded? Our best players are leaving, those who created our best football...who will be doing this so called beautiful football next year then? Denilson? Squillachi? Eboue? Vela? Almunia? Bendtner? Arshavin? Walcott? Diaby?
  
  No....

• 06-Jul-2011 14:31 | | zzzzz
  

  Thank you "!A Gooner among others"
  
  at least you acknowledged that the last half of the season we wernt even creating chances....

• 06-Jul-2011 14:37 | | MeanLean
  

  That is a really good idea WB. Make the goals 5% smaller and get our players to find the corners as often as possible so when it comes to match day they will be able to tuck away chances with their eyes closed.

• 06-Jul-2011 14:44 | | MeanLean
  

  You're right to say that our football became too slow towards the end of the season. We have to be more decisive throughout the season and that is partly why we have bought Gervinho. We need players to run away from the ball instead of towards it.

• 06-Jul-2011 14:46 | | zzzzz
  

  Makes no sense buying gervinho but selling fabregas and nasri though? he is not a replacement for them, nor can operate without them

• 06-Jul-2011 14:59 | | team spirit
  

  Are our best players leaving?
  
  Speculation is different from reality!

• 06-Jul-2011 15:04 | | zzzzz
  

  anyone without deluded glasses on can see whats going to happen...why would they stay? ask yourself, would you? honestly? no..sunny spain playing for the best team in the world..or a team in decline..hmm

• 06-Jul-2011 15:11 | | Spectrum
  

  This blog writer loves his statistics. Takes after his mentor, Wenger. A couple of flaws with your habitually optimistic analysis of all things Arsenal.
  Firstly, with the likely loss of Fabregas ( our best passer last season according to the stats ), and Nasri, we might find it more difficult to reproduce those stats AGAIN next season, don't you think ?
  And secondly, you conveniently left out the obvious . Our awful defending. Wenger has not addressed this area ( again ). By the way, don't you think employing a defensive coach would come in handy, too ? Seems this hasn't been a consideration. Are we surprised ?
  This writer is as blind as his idol.
  "******************"

• 06-Jul-2011 15:14 | | MeanLean
  

  Hey Troll?
  
  You didn't respond to my comment a few days ago.

• 06-Jul-2011 15:17 | | MeanLean
  

  I have copied and pasted just for you..
  
  Spectrum,
  
  Out of interest, what exactly do you gain from going around saying 'In Arsene we rust'?
  
  I understand that views and opinions on where we are right now differ. I happen to think that we are not in a crisis whilst others like yourself may tend to get hysterical.
  
  But even if someone calls me deluded for supporting my team, players and manager, I can handle that because I am supporting my club. My team. I feel a loyalty to the club I love.
  
  But what do you have? What do you gain? Are you in limbo? You 'support' the club but hate everything about it. How does it feel having not one good thing to say about the club?
  
  It must be quite difficult I would imagine. It must be a waste of time. Do you look at Tottenham any different to your own club? Or is it worse or better?
  
  I am being deadly serious. What is the point? When will you stop? Is it when Wenger finally leaves? Does a certain type of manager have to come in? Or is it anyone but Wenger?
  
  What happens if your wish is granted and Wenger is say... sacked. Just to make you feel better. Your manager of your choice comes in and spends the amount of money that you want and the type of players you want come in. What then happens if we start to fall further backwards.
  
  You may not think so, but that is possible. Humour me. Say that did happen.
  
  How long would it be until 'In Hiddink we rust' comes out? Another question. Humour me again, but imagine if Arsene did not go against the grain and didn't sign what you wanted but instead of falling away at the end, we actually went on to become the best in the country.
  
  Imagine (big one I know) if Cesc stayed and stayed fit, Robin stayed fit for a large chunk of the season and we came good. What happens? Would it be an automatic stop of 'In Arsene we rust' or would you need a little more tin pots to stop?
  
  Was you around when previous managers did not win trophies? And if so did you say in Graham we rust to your pals in the pub?
  
  I would love an honest response but I cannot get inside the head of that type of 'support'

• 06-Jul-2011 15:19 | | zzzzz
  

  perhaps he realised how deluded you were and didnt waste his time..you need to see the good with the bad.. you seem to think theres nothing wrong with arsenal atm...this is our worst situation in the last 2 decades on our hands..

• 06-Jul-2011 15:40 | | zzzzz
  

  zzz

• 06-Jul-2011 15:44 | | mj_gunner  - mj_gunner@hotmail.com
  

  hey Limps, just saw its your article! Fine stuff indeed..

• 06-Jul-2011 16:01 | | Spectrum
  

  Mean Lean - O.K. I'll bite. I have answered why I use my catchphrase. If you read other blogs, and not just the ones that suit your A.K.B. point of view, you'd know. But for your sake, in short, it's because I believe it to be a statement of fact. If you had a more balanced and objective view, you would see that events have shown it to be correct, and more relevant than ever.
  As far as "not having one good thing to say about the club" ; if the club was being managed better OVERALL, not just transfers, then I would naturally be more positive. Given the board and managers neglect and incompetence over the last six years, there has been no incentive for me and other realists, to change my view. Has Wenger changed ? Of course not, and he won't. You simply can't, and WON'T see it. So yes, when he leaves, I'll be relieved and happy. It means we'll then be energised, with fresh enthusiasm and new ideas. And hopefully, a new philosophy of being serious about winning.
  If a new manager comes in, there's no guarantee we'd win trophies. But at least we'd have a much better chance, for many reasons. Unlike you, I'm willing to TAKE that chance. It's certainly preferable to the current state of inertia, complacency and repeated failure that we have now.
  Coming good under Wenger ? You're deluded if you think that's going to happen. I predicted the team would finish last season the way it did. How ? Did I have some mystical psychic abilities ? No. It was simply on past behaviour patterns. Based on Wenger's approach, ego, tactical flaws, and stubborn refusal to spend and strengthen the team. It was entirely PREDICTABLE, ( well to SOME of us, anyway ). How long are you prepared to give him ? Another six years ?
  There was life before Wenger, and there will be AFTER him. I know you can't conceive of that, though. Remember however - as much as it must hurt you - one day he will retire. What will you do then ? Jump off a cliff ? A.k.b.'s are afraid of change. That's what it boils down to.
  "******************"

• 06-Jul-2011 16:07 | | NON SPECTRUM
  

  Worst situation in 2 decades eh?

• 06-Jul-2011 16:09 | | NON SPECTRUM
  

  Also it is best if you don't feed the trolls. Mr. SPECTRUM waits for positivity to come out of someones mouth, then quickly brings on the doom and gloom that he has picked up from the few trophy-less seasons we have indured.

• 06-Jul-2011 16:12 | | NON SPECTRUM
  

  Also, (i don't want to speak conclusively, so i'll say MOST) AKB's are not afraid of change. Many "AKB's" acknowledge that some things need to change in regards to the squad.
  
  We realize that Wenger is a top top manager and we wish to keep him around for as long as possible.

• 06-Jul-2011 16:13 | | Sid
  

  Rectum is a clap ridden blog whore, trawling thru all da blogz chattin shit and makin a kunt of herself. its sad that dried up old prunes like her exist, we shud feel sorry 4 da bitch, but she makes it fukkin difficult

• 06-Jul-2011 16:16 | | Spectrum
  

  Believe it or not, we DID win trophies before 1996. Yes, that's BEFORE Wenger started with us. Hard to believe, isn't it ?
  "******************"

• 06-Jul-2011 16:18 | | zzzzz
  

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

• 06-Jul-2011 16:20 | | I AM A RECTUM
  

  Wow Arsenal won trophies before Wenger became manager? Thanks for indulging me SPECTRUM.
  
  
  "In Arsene we have won 7 trophies"

• 06-Jul-2011 16:22 | | Spectrum
  

  Sid - I wouldn' t normally waste time on you, but how about using logic to put forth your ( no doubt limited, views ) instead of spewing abuse ? Have you anything useful at all to contribute ?
  "******************"

• 06-Jul-2011 16:26 | | Willy young
  

  I am sorry but Zzz ( knob name) has a point some of our football can be very dull and excruciating to watch so predictable with no results / goals
  
  The press state in lazy journslism how great we are to watch not always sadly. Blackpool loonies but good to watch!!
  
  
  We need more dynamism and players who will take responsibility to try to score
  
  Please stop this pathetic if you have a criticism you are not loyal we are not in Nazi Germany ( was he from Alsace? )
  
  Ps earlier comment it's inefficient not unefficent sorry pedantic

• 06-Jul-2011 16:31 | | mj_gunner
  

  What makes you think your posts are 'useful' ?

• 06-Jul-2011 16:34 | | Spectrum
  

  Love the CLUB, not the manager - that's a crime in your book, then ? In that case, I plead guilty.
  " ******************"

• 06-Jul-2011 16:52 | | Sid
  

  How funny that Rectum wants valid points, even tho the dumb ass bitch duz nuttin but trawl every blog pastin the same tired old shit! Wot a thick kunt, with 2 much time on her handz.
  
  Your comments deserve nuttin but abuse. any1 who thinks ending every post with the same lame bollocks is in any way clever is more deluded than the akb's u r always bitchin about.

• 06-Jul-2011 17:18 | | Luke
  

  If you're one of those people who STILL doesn't realise that going around football message boards using the word 'deluded' makes you look completely retarded then you must be an absolute lost cause.

• 06-Jul-2011 17:24 | | John  - dumb
  

  well, have you any valid points, you retard.?

• 06-Jul-2011 17:26 | | Nasir Jones-Nasri
  

  Job well done, LimparAssist. That's some meaty stuff, my friend. Some interesting stats on the attack that show just highlight just how close we are to dominating the whole fucking landscape. If only Super Nic Bendtner put that goal away against Barca....

• 06-Jul-2011 17:34 | | Nasir Jones-Nasri
  

  Gah. O well

• 06-Jul-2011 17:55 | | MeanLean
  

  Firstly,
  
  It is very difficult to take some serious who can happily generalise a large chunk of people into your tag and it is also very difficult to take someone serious who goes around with a catchphrase. Do you not find it a little strange? I am guessing you don't as you wouldn't do it. It is a little like finishing with "In Koscielny, he tackles really well" at the end of every comment. Each to their own though.
  
  Ok, there are plenty of holes (as expected) in your response, but thank you for responding all the same. Firstly you are not a realist. That term pisses me off no end. You have a view and an opinion that doesn't mean that you are a realist. I would say that I am much more of a realist than you are because I obviously agree with my own opinion.
  
  Judging by your comments, you fail to add any context whatsoever. Everything seems very black and white in your world.
  
  'We are not winning trophies, it has been six years, we are a failure' etc etc. To suit your own agenda, you conveniently miss out some vital facts.
  
  I will ask you the questions to make it easier.
  
  Since we last won a trophy, has it been an even playing field? Have we had the same resources as Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and now Manchester City?
  
  Have our rivals been able to spend more money on players than Arsene Wenger? If not then don't you think Arsene Wenger has had to punch above his weight?
  
  I would hazard the guess that you think Arsene Wenger is tight fisted and doesn't want to spend 'our' money? That is just an assumption, correct me if I am wrong but that is what I am going with.
  
  Arsene Wenger is given a budget that includes player wages. He has continuously said publicly that he can only spend what he has. People like yourself skip that and continue to act as if he is stuffing the notes under his mattress.
  
  Whilst I, like yourself want trophies, I know that Wenger has had a far tougher job of trying to make our club win trophies. Manchester United the club were happy to borrow debt to hand over to Ferguson to spend big money on Rooney, Ferdinand, Carrick, Veron, Anderson, Nani and other greats like Bebe and Obertan. Arsene Wenger has had to balance the books while the club want the stadium debt paid off asap. That is not down to our manager, it is down to the strategy of the club.
  
  This is all a little irrelevant anyway because that wasn't my question to you. It was, what are you going to do in the meantime? Wenger will not get sacked because you write "In Arsene we rust" 79 times a day. So as this is Arsenal FC and not Arsene FC as your friends like to say. What is your purpose? What happened to the club you claim to support?
  
  Do you spend your days mocking and ridiculing until Arsene Wenger leaves? Isn't that a little sad and pointless?
  
  Why not contribute to a fine piece of writing from the author and agree or disagree with the points made instead of this AKB vs so called realists which to me is another word for 'excuse to slag the club off'
  
  And like I said, what happens if another manager comes in and doesn't do as well, especially if his resources are not increased to match that of our rivals. How long until 'In Hiddink we rust'?
  
  Am I afraid of change? Yes in a way I am. Why? because I have yet to see a manager in the world compete with a vastly lower budget. Three clubs already top our wage structure so yes that is a scary prospect.
  
  You seem to think that whoever comes in will automatically make the club better, that might be the case. It is not impossible but don't think a massive decline isn't possible. It is.

• 06-Jul-2011 18:31 | | Johnny  - Still blinkered
  

  Ml , if your response to Spectrum is not condescending, then i dont know what is. By the way, you repeat yourself continuosly in your responses
  
  I replied to your post, but you failed to reply, so ill cut and paste it here so you can read it and respond in your usual way.
  
  
  Ml i stand by everything i said and most Arsenal fans believe it also. How did i ignore the fact that Arsenal were always a conservative club, when the whole point of my article was about the need to change from this greedy stance and spend.
  Arsene Wenger is involved in every way with the transfer money ML, did you listen to Ivan at the AST meeting when he said that Arsene is involved from start to end in all transfer dealings. Did you choose to ignore this fact. If Arsene asked the board for £60m to buy 3 quality signings to compete seriously for the league and cl, they would give it to him, or do you choose to ignore this also. Arsene is obsessed with his project youth and cheap signings to keep his obsession on track and wont buy quality experienced players who will disagree with this direction and unable to control them. You know this is true, but again, chose to ignore this . His golden boys of cesc, nasri and clichy have now smelt the coffee ML.
  Your reference to Fergie and Ferdinand and Wigan is laughable. Fergie gets what he wants , no matter what the cost , Period.
  
  you said
  
  "Instead of slagging off everyone at the club and praising our rivals. I slag off our rivals and back our team because I hope that the people in charge can make the improvements needed"
  Well Ml, tell us what improvements you think are needed as a proud supporter of AFC who supports the manager who
  " has enough experience of winning trophies at Arsenal to know how to fix it eventually, even with less resources than others" Eventually you said, has 6 years not been long enough Ml , or is it adinfinitum with you and your parrot Richie. Do you support Arsene and the board regardless of what they do, or dont do. Tell me also what benefit are the Fans receiving from the self-sustaining model you, the board and Arsene seem to be proud of. Are we benefiting from the 6.5 rise in ticket prices and the silver membership. what ambition is this ML. dont spin the less resources than others crap. you know the money is there to buy what is needed for Arsenal FC to win trophies again, or do you choose to ignore this fact.

• 06-Jul-2011 20:09 | | Muppet  - Top top class.
  

  Cheers LA. Great read.

• 06-Jul-2011 20:38 | | Man United Killer
  

  Same garbage.different day.Everyone who is against Wenger sees in black and white.What is wrong with you?This is starting to lose it's humor!

• 06-Jul-2011 20:39 | | Man United Killer
  

  7 trophies in how many years????Rbbish..you are rectum indeed!Wengers Rectum I suppose!

• 06-Jul-2011 20:41 | | Man United Killer
  

  True Gooner!! I see you are still wasting your time trying to show the blind the way...first get them a stick or else you are working in vain.

• 06-Jul-2011 20:49 | | Man United Killer  - Delusion Galore
  

  Delusion is the order of the day on this site.This a haven for the deluded AKB's.They fear change.Wenger has grown stale.No ideas as far as everything goes...The problem is,even if we sign the best players in the world, this tippy tappy bull will win us nothing.We need a total change.Wenger out!!!

• 06-Jul-2011 21:17 | | MeanLean
  

  "Ml i stand by everything i said and most Arsenal fans believe it also"
  
  I didn't know you stood for most fans, how did you gather that data? I think it is very presumptuous to say that you speak for most.
  
  "the whole point of my article was about the need to change from this greedy stance and spend"
  
  My point was that you were pushing the blame on our manager for not spending big money on players. My point was that it is not down to our manager to give himself a budget to spend. That is the job of the board and not the manager.
  
  "Arsene Wenger is involved in every way with the transfer money ML, did you listen to Ivan at the AST meeting when he said that Arsene is involved from start to end in all transfer dealings"
  
  I did listen to the AST meeting, and it is obvious that Arsene would be involved in the dealings. Ivan also said that the manager is the one who knows the value of the players because he is the manager, he is the one who identifies the players.
  
  Arsene cannot say to Ivan 'Listen Ivan give me £200m to spend this summer because I am ambitious' Ivan would turn to him and say the club are not willing to fork out that amount of money. End of story. Managers do not dictate to their bosses how much they are going to spend, they work with the people who pay their wages.
  
  "If Arsene asked the board for £60m to buy 3 quality signings to compete seriously for the league and cl, they would give it to him"
  
  If the club did not have that money available then they wouldn't give it to him. You must be confusing us with Manchester City. Wenger can spend what he wants to from the transfer fund.
  
  According to the Swiss Ramble who is a respected blogger who does massive research, Wenger has around £45m to in the transfer kitty to spend and this also includes wages over their full contract. Check the article yourself.
  
  http://swissramble.blogspot.com/2011/05/arsenals-transfer-budget.html? utm_source=BP_recent
  
  So if Wenger said to the board, give me £60m to spend on three players then the board would say no.
  
  'Arsene is obsessed with his project youth and cheap signings to keep his obsession on track and wont buy quality experienced players who will disagree with this direction and unable to control them'
  
  That is fabricated nonsense that gets regurgitated and spat into the next fans head to do the same. When has anyone at the club ever said that Arsene is obsessed with a youth project? It was a plan put together to help the club get through the stadium move. A move to you that means probably very little. You don't have to give it a second thought but in real life it required massive amount of work. Wenger had no money to spend so he had to plan another way to bring through top players.
  
  Are you complaining about 'Arsene's obsession' with players like Cesc, Van Persie, Wilshere. Song, Ramsey and co gracing the Emirates? I didn't think so.
  
  "Your reference to Fergie and Ferdinand and Wigan is laughable. Fergie gets what he wants , no matter what the cost , Period."
  
  Why is that laughable? Answer the question. If Ferguson was the manager of Wigan would he be able to force the club to give him the money to buy Ferdinand and Rooney? He is a winner after all. No, because it is not down to the manager to magic money out of thin air, it is down to the club and the board.
  
  These are the net spends of the two managers since during their time the two clubs.
  
  Arsene Wenger Net Spend: £25,276,000
  Alex Ferguson Net Spend: £139,160,000
  
  Ok, Ferguson has been at the Mancs for longer but this takes into consideration the amount of money for players sold (Ronaldo £80m for example)
  
  As you can see the difference is massive (£114m difference)
  
  To your last point, how long do I back Wenger? Well like I said to Spectrum. Find another manager who can do better than Arsene with a far lower budget than the Manc duo and Chelsea, play attacking football and win trophies having had to punch above their weight then bring him in. The question is, who is that man?
  
  While the players are still young and not at their peak with scope to improve then I shall remain patient and support the club win, lose or draw. You may want to show ambition on blogs by losing your mind then that is up to you.

• 06-Jul-2011 21:19 | | MeanLean
  

  Not interested in the article then MUK? Nothing of any interest for you?
  
  You would rather this AKB, Wenger out stuff?
  
  Interesting.

• 06-Jul-2011 21:51 | | johnny  - impossible
  

  Ml, im sorry but it is impossible for you to see beyond this self-sustaining model that Arsene and the board continue to delude you with, and is therefore totally pointless trying to have a debate with you.
  
  Lets see what happens between now and start of season and ill get back to you.

• 06-Jul-2011 22:02 | | MeanLean
  

  Haha so you didn't want to get into the facts then. Fair enough.

• 06-Jul-2011 22:06 | | podge
  

  But we are more than likely not selling Nasri or Fabregas you see their departures as fact despite only hearing misquotes and blatant lies. Do you understand how the media works in relation to football?? They write what you will read regardless of truth.

• 06-Jul-2011 22:08 | | podge
  

  I see you didn't follow Arsenal in 1995

• 06-Jul-2011 22:18 | | podge
  

  Err 15 almost a trophy every 2 years on average. There is one thing I'd like to point out people(cunts) keep saying we are in decline when if anything we are stagnant finishing either 3rd or 4th with the odd final appearance for 6 years now

• 06-Jul-2011 22:23 | | Man United Killer
  

  ML..you my friend,are a funny man...I am very much interested in your articles ML because they illustrate Wenger-myopism.
  By the way let me ask you.what do you make of Clichy's departure?

• 06-Jul-2011 22:32 | | podge
  

  Now that's a constructive criticism, no the world is ending just identifying a problem in the team and suggesting a solution and also relates to the article. I think the players are coached to hit the target and there isn't a focus on placing shots it's something that can be helped a great deal on the training pitch.
  I support Arsenal and Arsene Wenger I think if he was fired the team would fall regardless of who replaced Wenger. I am not happy with the trophy drought but I understand we have been close in the last 6 years and but for a bit of luck could have a champions league and 2 carling cups in that time not to mention 07/08 when we were 5 points from winning the league 5 points we were robbed of by incompetent referees. Last season the team collapsed and I mean COLLAPSED it wasn't a lack of quality or mentality something happened at the club we didn't hear anything about it is not normal or even extraordinary what happened it was a downright (anti?)miracle. I expect Nasri and Fabregas to stay, Fabregas returning to pre season early seems to have slowed down the "he's off" mentality among the public.Nasri is to return on Thursday wouldn't surprise me if he signed a new contract on Friday actually it would a little bit.

• 06-Jul-2011 22:45 | | MeanLean
  

  Saddened about Clichy's departure. He always gave his best, always spoke highly of the club and always remained professional.
  
  Having said that, you can understand that he may want a change at this stage. Wenger obviously could have fought harder to keep him but chose not to.
  
  We can improve offensively with a new player but although Clichy has made mistakes, I think he is underestimated defensively and his team play.
  
  What do you make of it?

• 07-Jul-2011 02:30 | | richie  - Our attack cost us the league
  

  Spot on ML!
  Our defense certainly wasn't the famed back 5 but it didn't need to be.
  The problem yet again was our finishing, we create chance after chance, yet our ratio of goals scored to chances created was abysmal. If we'd have taken our chances at anywhere near the ratio of Taggarts boys we'd have won the prem in March.
  
  Way too many of our own screamed that we'd been let down by our defence.
  (I think that, that view point comes directly from having had the famed back 5)
  When you have expirenced a great defense and then see only an adequate one naturally you see glaring faults.
  
  But I think the question should've been turned on its head.
  If RvP = Bergkamp
  Who = Henry?
  RvP is a class act but where is his strike partner?
  IF RvP gets 20 goals in an Injury beset season
  Where's the next hitman that should've topped that?
  
  Goals from the mid should be the icing on the cake, the attack should be the main course.

• 07-Jul-2011 03:00 | | richie
  

  Please note Muk didn't answer

• 07-Jul-2011 06:01 | | gunner down under  - awesome article
  

  Loved it, its TRUE,we play around passing around the box looking for an opening. Take a shot! If our attackers are in the box there's more likely to be a deflection or block from the keeper, even a fumble. Our guys have ta jump on it and finish. We need a partner for VP. In the last few games of the season, we may have lost but vp managed to score. A striker who can finish would be prime.
  
  We need take a shot once in a while test the keeper, if anything opposing keepers know that we will play the ball around and try to walk the ball across the line.
  
  Also if players leave and new ones are brought in, they need to learn the aesenal way. Time playing together does that. Chemistry that's built between players over time. Its good to get new players, but its better if those players ate used effectively, fit into our flow...for a win ;)

• 07-Jul-2011 08:30 | | rajanbhatt  - Spot on.......just within the post
  

  I haven't read a more accurate analysis of Arsenal's football than this one. Kudos mate........and yeah the golden adage is so very true "Statistics reveal more than they hide".
  
  We just need one clinical finish to combine with RVP and we would be a guaranteed goal machine. Just one time I wish Wenger splashes the cash and brings in a Benzema. End of trouble. Who needs defensive fixing then....we would always score more than the opponents. Even in our bad games - games when our passing game is a bit off - we still create enough decent chances. But somehow we always find tragic ways of not converting them chances..........

• 07-Jul-2011 12:19 | | Andy Mack
  

  "while possession doesn’t win you trophies, as Arsène Wenger’s detractors are so fond of pointing out",
  They seem to forget that when Barca is mentioned!

• 08-Jul-2011 11:26 | | Spectrum
  

  johnny - Mean Lean is an honours graduate from the Wenger School Of Business. Wenger was his personal tutor and mentor. Finance is a higher priority for him than footballing success.
  Oh. And the comparison of Wenger's net spend to Ferguson's ? Well being a business whiz, Mean Lean, you'd be smarter to back Ferguson. His return on investment has resulted in FAR more trophies than us, in any period you'd care to study. We have the highest ticket prices in the Premier League. How much of that, and other revenue sources, is ploughed back into the team ? You say that Wenger can't force the board to give him the money he needs. That may be so, but the board are just as culpable as Wenger on that score. Apparently our debt repayments for the stadium are structured over a long period. Surely if they genuinely wanted to put the interests of the club and supporters first ( for a change ), they could have diverted more of their revenue into team building, to make us more competitive ? It's called prioritising.
  But even if they did so, Wenger's mentality wouldn't allow him to spend what's required. He's had funds made available to him for the last two seasons at least, and CHOSEN, repeat CHOSEN not to spend them.
  Everyone knew, and STILL know, that we needed a new goalkeeper, a tough defensive midfielder, and a quality centre back. Wenger CHOSE to gamble with what he had. Any prudent and responsible manager should have planned for injuries to occur during the season. Vermaelen and Van Persie , both key players, predictably got injured. Yet Wenger blamed that on bad luck. Bad luck ? No, bad planning. Sheer neglect - that could easily have been avoided, given some foresight. And it cost us dearly ( again ).
  "******************"

• 08-Jul-2011 11:37 | | Spectrum
  

  Man United Killer - Yep, and while you're at it, ask Mean Lean what he makes of Fabregas, our own captain, no less, going public with his frustrations ? " The club needs to decide if it wants to develop youth, or win things", he said. And what of Nasri ? He stated that he wants to "win things." And Clichy, too. You think that other players in our squad aren't thinking the same thing, yet have chosen ( so far ) to stay quiet ? You don't think that Van Persie isn't feeling that his footballing life is passing him by ? You think that he will be as "patient" as you, the management and your A.K.B.'s are content to be ? The team is breaking up. Wenger has lost the confidence of the players. They're sick of being sold the future, only to see their trust in Wenger's assurances to them, betrayed.
  "******************"

• 08-Jul-2011 11:41 | | Spectrum
  

  podge - "Stagnant" or rusting ? Thanks for confirming !
  "******************"

• 08-Jul-2011 11:44 | | Spectrum
  

  Man United Killer - True, mate. What's that saying ...... "There's none so blind that will not see."
  "******************"

• 08-Jul-2011 11:47 | | MeanLean
  

  Your posts are very insightful Spectrum. Keep it up you may get people to join you in spreading negativity.

• 08-Jul-2011 21:38 | | CHGooner  - All getting a bit nasty....
  

  I think it is reasonable to assume that all contributors to this site share one thing, and that is a love for Arsenal Football Club. Personally I think we are seeing the end of the Wenger era and that is where the bile comes from. Those who feel he deserved support for all the good things v's those who have grown increasingly exasperated and now want to triumph their opinion. I will be very surprised if he is still in charge next year, so everybody should calm down a bit and support the club through a transition period. Let's not tear ourselves apart over who was right and wrong, truth is we all want a successful Arsenal with players we love and enjoy watching beat our rivals. More interesting to debate who we would like as our new manager and what he could do for the mighty Arsenal.

• 09-Jul-2011 02:11 | | richie  - There's a thin line between love and hate
  

  CHG I couldn't agree more except for one massive elephant in the room. Arsene Wenger is still our manager! When he's no longer our manager then we can engage in all manner of debate, until that moment arrives it would be disrespectful to engage in such speculation.
  
  After all I remember you told us all before the begining of last season that Arsene and Arsenal had already done a deal with Barca and Cesc was no longer our player. So I'm none to keen to on your predictions, I think your crystal ball reflects only your own face. Maybe in your crystal ball you see a Brit as the premature successor, I seem to recall your keen on a bit of home grown.

• 09-Jul-2011 05:41 | | MeanLean
  

  The only thing I find embarrassing is fans in trolls clothing who do nothing but try and paint my team in nothing but a negative light. Some people don't even acknowledge the post written just to spread rubbish about our manager. It's awfully boring now.

• 09-Jul-2011 16:11 | | richie
  

  ML There's only one comment I can make to that. SNAP!

• 10-Jul-2011 12:54 | | Don
  

  Excuses excuses.If we could defend set pieces we would have won the league.If we had a decent keeper before Szczesny came in.If RVP could stay fit.If our manager had a Plan B and made substiutions before 70 mins.And Finally if we signed quality players instead of selling them.Excuses excuses the list goes on

• 10-Jul-2011 13:05 | | Don
  

  FFS Havent you noticed Barcelona do something with their possssion.And they win trophies
  I was at Stoke when we had 65% possesion but we only had one shot on target.Its no good having tons of possesion if there is no end product.5 yards sideways passes 40 yards from goal are food and drink to our opponents

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