Written by Wenger Boy on Tuesday, 22 November 2011 12:17

Alreet Gunnerizzles, how’s it going?

Five-straight-league-wins-in-a-row great, I presume? Ten-wins-and-a-draw-in-the-last-twelve-games-in-all-competitions super, I would guess? Slowly-but-surely-climbing-the-tabl-  ...ah, you get the picture.

Just a quick little piecelet for you today about the impact of two players – one we have and one we could have had - the first being gorgeous, greasy-haired pass-monkey Mikel Arteta, the second pint-sized nimblefoot Juan Mata. After choosing/being forced to ‘choose’ Chelsea over Arsenal, Mata now finds himself playing for a team in severe, 4th placed ‘crisis’, while after choosing Champion’s League football over continuous meh Arteta has found himself a key factor in bringing a similar ‘crisis’ to an end at AFC. Both however are fantastic players and both would have been welcomed at Arsenal fo sho (mo fo).

But, I think it’s fair to say, Mata more so. There was a period of a week or so when it genuinely seemed that Mata would be arriving at AFC, and the failure to lure him was pretty important in determining perceptions of our summer. We were all pretty much resigned to losing two key players by that point and Mata was seen as one of the only replacements who was a) obtainable and b) of a similar calibre, and losing out on him was therefore taken as an early indicator that our team this year would fall well below the standards that we saw at times last year.

This is why, at the time of Arteta’s signing many fans (myself included) were still looking at Mata and wondering what might have been. Arteta is quality player, but he’s not regarded as the potential world beater that Mata is – evidenced, perhaps, by the inclusion of one and not the other in the national team. Young Juan is a tricky, skilful little game changer you could consider building a team around and though our own Spaniard possesses some of that ability himself, his expertise has really shined through this season when keeping it simple. Also Arteta is a lot older than Mata, with a lot less room for progression, and he came as a last minute signing with a recent injury record, which is far from ideal.

But as our team has begun to gel in recent weeks, and our form has improved, the plaudits for Arteta have come ‘thick and fast’ - like both Chris Waddle’s perception of Theo Walcott and Waddle’s brain process in arriving at that conclusion. This fantastic piece from the ever-excellent Desi Gunner highlights Arteta’s fantastic contribution to the team, and various individual stats (most passes p/game in the PL, only PL player to feature in the top ten for most passes p/game across the five major leagues in Europe) all go to show how our team play has been enhanced by his subtle effectiveness.

So much so, in fact, that it’s not wrong to wonder just how well we would have coped without him. There is no-one at the club, besides the long-term injured Jack, who can even come close to playing the role so well, and our settled, fluid and often functional midfield has been crucial in keeping us going. Arteta’s stats aren’t just good, they are some of the best, and while we have some good midfielders in our squad the qualities they possess are in different areas. It is highly unlikely that they would have been able to provide us with the dependable base that Arteta has been so pivotal in constructing.

And with this in mind, it also seems quite alright to wonder if, maybe, Arteta was actually a better signing for us than Mata, at the time. This is not to say that Arteta is the better player, or even than Mata wouldn’t have significantly improved our team, but only that Arteta helped to fix our problems in a way that Mata might not have.

It’s like that famous Zidane quote from when Real sold Makalele and bought Beckham:

“Why put another layer of gold paint on the Bentley when you are losing the entire engine?”

This time around there was, of course, no Bentley (the pointlessly-groomed breeze merchant was rotting at Wham by this time) and we were buying, not losing, an engine, but the principle is much the same. It made much more sense to properly service our Fiat Cinquecento before shelling out for turbo boosters - the car may have gone faster if we had but at least now it seems less likely to break down again.

However, now that we are stable and appear to be functioning well there is a general feeling that we are still missing that extra little bit of quality to turn our seemingly reliable team into a genuine force. It is now that a Mata becomes necessary, if we want to move up to that next level. Our team is no longer in ‘crisis’  but we are still in seventh place, and a prediction of higher than third come season end seems optimistic in the extreme. Even our one-time title contenders of last season only managed fourth, and repeat of which would definitely be considered a success, but we still need to make the most of our solid foundations and take the chance to build upon what we have – a chance that we have failed to take too often in recent years.

Take that chance, however, and we could well see a more comprehensively complete Arsenal team than we’ve seen in years. We’ve always had potential but this was often coupled with a fragile mentality and a level of naivety that seemed to counteract it when it mattered most. But now we have the experience and leadership, and calmness that goes with it, that should help to keep us in motion when the going gets rough. 

If we can find some Mata-level additions to enhance our Arteta-powered machine then we might just find we end up with exactly what we’ve been missing these past few years: a team with both the power to reach the front and the engine to last the distance.

WB

@WengerBoy1

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Comments (47)

• 22-Nov-2011 13:02 | | MeanLean
  

  Interesting points Sir WB.
  
  I must admit there is something niggly and a little uncomfortable about watching Juan Mata at Chelsea so far. He looks like the guy who turned up at the fancy dress party in a black suit while across London in the North, the Arsenal lads were having a smart sophisticated party. I didn't know much of Mata's game before he came to these shores but from what I have seen of him, he looks remarkably like an Arsenal player. He is currently trying to play quick interchanging pass and move football with people like Mikel, Lampard and Drogba. Good players in their own right but one dimensional players who are not on his wave length.
  
  The fact that he is the right age, right quality and the right price makes me kick the dust from the floor a little. Having said that, I do not think that losing out of Mata is as bad as perhaps it seemed at the time. The current player occupying the position that Mata could well have been filling is our Welsh super hero Aaron 'Rambo' Ramsey. At Stamford Bridge I believe that Aaron was the better player in the end although I thought Mata had a good first half.
  
  For the last four weeks or so Ramsey has joined the upwards curve of the team and has been improving a great deal. Perhaps not as strong against Norwich but he is imposing himself now where as at the start of the season he wasn't. Then we have a small Mata (see what I did there.. oh that's been done has it?) of a certain Sir Jack of Wilshere sitting at home with his PS3 play FIFA but more importantly with his protective boot off. The idea of Mata and Wilshere playing together just flashed in my head and I reckon they would have loved playing with each other, footballistically of course.
  
  Anyway I think my point was this. Mata = fine player, looks customed made for Arsenal but Jack and Ramsey are already at Arsenal and I believe that Wilshere will be better than Mata while Ramsey has the potential to hopefully be as good if not better.

• 22-Nov-2011 13:13 | | Matt
  

  Great post. But isn't the player you (and maybe the rest of us) yearn for already at Arsenal? Jack will fill that role surely?

• 22-Nov-2011 13:13 | | tommo
  

  good one

• 22-Nov-2011 13:16 | | MeanLean
  

  He has certainly performed in that role all through the youth teams and I see no reason why he will not do that for the first team. The only thing is that we may have to wait a few months before we see the best from him as the link player. I bloody miss the way Jack drops his shoulder and skips past people. Can't wait to have the fella back in an Arsenal shirt.

• 22-Nov-2011 13:17 | | rickthegooner  - I agree Arteta has been a sound bit of business.
  

  When we got Arteta at the eleventh hour, I like other gooners, hoped we were buying a ready made replacement to Cesc. He has however proved to be so much more than that. I can't wait to see how Whiltshire will fit into our midfield when he is fit. Will he raid forward in a totally free role, leaving Arteta in the disciplined role he is in now, or will Arteta sit in the "Bergkamp" hole, threading through pinpoint passes ???? I hope it will be a fluid combination of both, with each taking their turn.
  Mata is an Arsenal style player, but I don't think we will gain anything by asking " what If " He has gone.
  Let's turn our attentions to other possible targets " Hazard " or " Gotze "

• 22-Nov-2011 13:19 | | Vuja De  - One Chance, One Goal
  

  Another interesting article, Wenger Boy.
  
  To my mind, Arsenal don't necessarily need to purchase a Mata like player to take them up to the "next level", as I think they can provide the so called missing ingredient from within their existing squad.
  
  This missing ingredient, I believe, is the capacity to convert a higher percentage of the chances that the team creates into actual goals.
  
  If and when we do that, I genuinely believe that we will simply blow most teams out of the water.
  
  But we don't necessarily need another new player to do that.
  
  I think that this - just like the recent improvement in our defending as a team when not in possession of the ball - is something that can be addressed during training sessions.

• 22-Nov-2011 13:21 | | byron  - Winger
  

  I see Mata mainly as a Winger and is a like for like replacement for Nasri( Far better player than the greed merchant)
  
  Arteta is a more central player and thats where we needed strengthening. Imagine our Defensive weakness if we swapped Arteta for Mata!
  
  Gervinho has replaced Nasri and offers more and he would need to be replaced by Mata.
  
  The suprising thing is sometimes the team that wins the league doesnt really seem that good! Man U last season seemed to be on of there weaker 11 of recent years. Maybe our grafters will suprise us all

• 22-Nov-2011 13:37 | | zangi asenali  - true, but.....
  

  Agree with WB and ML. But my take is: forget this one that got away. Let's campaign for, and pray that we buy Mario G. Has similar qualities, better power/strength.

• 22-Nov-2011 13:46 | | Passenal  - I'm agreeing with Vuja De once again!
  

  Why do people always think the answer is to buy another player? If we buy in January there is as much chance of that player not settling in time to make a difference this season as not. We also have players currently injured or on loan who may be able to fill those limited spaces in our team. I think Arsene has bought/is keeping some older players for the short-term in order to allow some of our young gunners time to mature out of the spotlight. Doesn't mean they are forgotten. There are only 25 places in the first team squad once they hit 21, so let's stop coveting every 'name' that is linked with ours in the media. It's an exercise in futility.

• 22-Nov-2011 13:48 | | MeanLean
  

  I agree with you on the chances VD.
  
  We should have beaten Norwich by 5 over the weekend. It seems to have been this way for a while now. I think it used to be because we had so many playmakers but not actual finishers but hopefully with Walcott in the side this may change a little. Gervinho needs improvement in that area.

• 22-Nov-2011 14:00 | | Wenger Boy
  

  The answer isn't always to buy another player, but with Diaby constantly injured, AOC and Ryo still young and Arshavin woefully out of form another quality addition makes sense to me.
  
  It doesn't have to be the superstar names that we are constantly linked with - I am in fact wary of signings of this type - but another player of genuine class who can provide us with another option to what we have now.
  
  Gervinho is going to the African nations as well which may affect his impact for the rest of the season (as it has done for others in the past) and with him gone we would be expecting inconsistent or yet-to-mature players to take his place and deliver immediately, which is a definite risk and something we can't guarantee will happen.

• 22-Nov-2011 14:01 | | theo vanramshere  - You can't say Arteta is injury-prone
  

  This injury record thing. It's all balls. Injuries are basically random. Some players have been lucky and some, unlucky! It doesn't predict the future. For example, we go into this year with everyone saying RvP is dodgy but Jack is a rock. And guess what...
  Then, TV5 is a tank but has achilles trouble (now fixed.) It's Random, random, random.
  And when someone comes back from injury, they are susceptible to smaller injuries for a while
  Note:
  (With the exception of someone like a Diaby where a serious injury is a precursor to lots of minor injuries, or a Fabregas, where you have the same prob with Hammies all the time)

• 22-Nov-2011 14:03 | | East Stand Alex  - That's the way to do it
  

  Think you're spot on that now we're back to being a solid outfit we could use that little extra to become title contenders again.
  
  What I feel is a shame is that had we made this year's signings the year before, we'd probably have won the league. It was there for us, had we been able to see out games like we seem to be able to at the moment. I don't think this year's team would have conceded late equalisers to Wigan, Liverpool or at whl.
  
  But on a brighter note, I can't think of another AM I'd rather have than Wilshere. He is an awesome player. With Jack running with the ball, and playing those cute little through passes to RVP, and Gervinho on his inside runs, I think we could be a strong attacking unit again - while still staying solid.

• 22-Nov-2011 14:05 | | Wenger Boy
  

  Me too. Jack is an unbelievable player. But even with him returning the team could still do with another addition, I feel.
  
  Several members of our first team squad cannot be relied on consistently (for various reasons) and we look a bit light on the wings at present, in my opinion. We could do with a wide-forward who can move centrally if required, to rotate with Gervinho/Walcott and possibly provide cover for Ramsey - who at his age is more likely to tire or lose form at some stage.
  
  Wilshere could be seen as that sort of player, but then someone to rotate with Arteta is required. Either way an addition makes sense to me.

• 22-Nov-2011 14:09 | | Wenger Boy
  

  A lot of our quality will come from within, but equally some of that (Ryo, AOC) is more long term. Even Jack and Ramsey are still learning and cannot necessarily be expected to deliver week in, week out all season.
  
  We are obviously not a one man team, but if others don't learn to put their chances away and Robin gets injured then we may get frustated and lose confidence. Realstically, I think we should be looking to bring in a player we are confident has the quality to deliver from the get go in order to release the burden both on Robin and the rest of the team.

• 22-Nov-2011 14:09 | | Wenger Boy
  

  I hope you're right. And you still may be.

• 22-Nov-2011 14:15 | | E L
  

  All i think now is we need a clinical striker as a back up for RVP, Van cannot play the whole season. The team creats a lot chances, so i think our midfield problem is solved. RVP need to be rested in some games, so as to keep him fit. Podolski or Benzema will do. Forget Mata he's gone so we don't need him.

• 22-Nov-2011 14:18 | | Wenger Boy
  

  I agree in part, but at later stages in a player's career it can affect them more. If they are out for a long time it can take them longer to regain form and any injuries are generally more likely to impact their body.
  
  Also, not all injuries are random. Diaby's consistent injuries are as a result of one big injury, which has affected him negatively ever since. You couldn't have predicted the initial one, but everything else since you could have.
  
  You would be foolish to not even consider injuries when signings players, but you need to look at what type and why to make a sound judgement. Arteta was an older player who had recently been out for a significant length of time, and there was suggestions that he wasn't the player he was before he got injured, so I think it's fair to say the situation wasn't 'ideal'.

• 22-Nov-2011 14:20 | | MeanLean
  

  What about Park? I get the feeling that too many people are judging him from this adaptation period.
  
  We have seen players go through this and look way off the pace and then it clicks for them and they are adjusted to how we play and our league.
  
  Park's movement, touch and finishing has looked good and I back him to show his quality once he has settled. I think judgements can only really be made once he has settled down and played games.
  
  If we keep creating chances like we did at Norwich then I back any decent striker to score goals.

• 22-Nov-2011 14:54 | | Lanre  - Chill
  

  To be honest, i hate it when people talk about buying. Leave the job to the one who knows better than us fans. he's been doing this for years, leave him to it. Real football isnt Championship manager. Besides, where do you put up n coming players of the club? I know for sure that if we lose a particular player due to lack of playing time, you fans will crucify Le Prof later.
  I for one would prefer Wilshere over Mata any day. Sides, Mata looks to me as a winger as compared to Jack's central play.
  I also believe we have able strikers in Chamack and Park. Hell! I'll score more goals than Torres if i play for arsenal who creates loads of chances

• 22-Nov-2011 14:56 | | Alex
  

  Park? Inamoto mark II if you ask me. Brought in to sell shirts to the far east, but clearly out of his depth at this level. Against Marseille it was like playing with 10 men. He didn't touch the ball, yet, wasn't he playing in France against the likes of Marseille when we bought him.
  
  Gotze would be fantastic. Not sure how we'd fit him into the team, as he'd likely play where Rambo is right now, or even on the wing cutting in like Nasri did. But he's top quality so we'd fit him in and put players around him. For £30m though, will Arsenal really go out and do this? Very un-Arsenal, especially when we have players in his position (Jack, Rambo, even the Ox) and they're also very young.

• 22-Nov-2011 15:02 | | psekatawa2@gmail.com  - WHY MATA?
  

  Well, here is my take on the subject:
  Mata is surely a fantastic player, but certainly not the missing link as my friends seem to suggest. First, he's predominantly a winger and we have Gervinho, whose pace, directness and intricate movement on and off the ball doesn't make the team miss Mata's qualities. Besides, there's Miyaichi, the young Japanese sensation, who I closely followed and watched in Holland, and who I'm sure will take the league by storm when he recovers from those niggling injuries and takes to the pitch.
  
  As for the creativity, I think we are creating enough chances, in fact more than enough, only that we have not put away all of them. Realistically speaking' it is good news that we now have Diaby back. With Song and Arteta playing deep, Diaby will be a real force marauding forward, whose drive and long-range shooting will help us a great deal, provided he stays free of the injuries that have hampered his undoubted talent. He may have messed a little bit last season-like in the 4-4 game vs Newcastle, but that was when he was deployed in the anchorman role, which is not his natural position.
  
  For me, if we are to go into the market, I want Wenger to get another striker to help out on RVP, not midfielders, since Wilshere and Chamberlain will soon join the fight for places with the players currently starting games.

• 22-Nov-2011 15:11 | | Wenger Boy
  

  Why do you hate it when people talk about buying? Do you hate it when people talk about tactics? Both are aspects that owe cannot control but I see no harm in putting forward an opinion on either.
  
  You say you would prefer Jack to Mata, but then say Mata plays in a different position, so surely you can have include both, neither at the others expense?
  
  Contrary to popular belief, I actually believe new signings help, as opposed to hinder, existing players. Competition is important, and often brings the best out of players, and also those coming through can be rotated and rested so as to give them the maximum chance of playing to their full ability.

• 22-Nov-2011 15:13 | | Wenger Boy
  

  Just to clarify to all, Mata was only the subject of this piece due to our failure to sign him and our subsequent signing of Arteta (I doubt we would have signed both in one summer) - hence the signings were relatively comparable.
  
  I appreciate that both are different players.
  
  I am not therefore saying that we need Mata, I am saying we need a player of his quality to augment our existing squad. The exact nature of this player is up for debate.

• 22-Nov-2011 15:20 | | Wenger Boy
  

  I'm still quite excited about Park. I think he's severely underestimated.

• 22-Nov-2011 15:44 | | gunneral  - great post
  

  I think we need proper cover for RVP, Gervhino and song will be shipping out for the most ludicrasly timed event of the year maybe Frimpong too, so Jacks first role when back will be to cover that area me thinks, ashavin it may be time to buy your leave, and the shmrock too. So it would nice to have m'villa, but cant see him in mid term. We could get martin/lille, or goite and the chap from Villarreal (i'm sorry for all the typo's i can spell but my eyes are move uncontrollaby due to me fitting currently- yes you can concentrate on dr aw ) for the but maybye wallcat can switch and the ox come in. Dunno but Aywe a possabilitey too. cant see us getting the striker at dortmund, on fire at the mome

• 22-Nov-2011 16:08 | | East Stand Alex  - Buying talk
  

  I'd also like to see Park play a little more before RVP's backup becomes the latest moan of the month.
  
  He was excellent against Bolton, who were playing premiership experienced players; whether they're any good is a different question. Against Marseille, he couldn't get a shot but he was touching the ball and mostly getting it to a team mate. Though he didn't have a good game. But it's far too early for the jury to be deliberating.
  
  If we were fantasising about a replacement for the loss of Mata, my vote would be for Stevan Jovetic, of Fiorentina. He looks even better than Mata to me.

• 22-Nov-2011 16:24 | | Wenger Boy
  

  Agree with all of that. Some calmer, experienced - arguably more professional - heads would have helped to a) prevent things collapsing as they did in the first place and b) get back on track should a run of bad results begin to affect the squad.
  
  Also agree on JW. The kid is just too exciting. The idea of him developing here is mouthwatering. We don't even know the half of it yet.

• 22-Nov-2011 16:26 | | Wenger Boy
  

  Wise words again. Writing off Park at this stage is laughable. May as well have written off half of the Invincibles, given their respective starts.
  
  I don't know much about Jovetic but from what I've heard he sounds exciting. There are definitely players still out there that would be excellent additions to our squad.

• 22-Nov-2011 17:07 | | Mohamed Zubairu
  

  Great perspective! I don't understand why people think that we must buy every good player in the market. If you bought every good car available, you would be wasting money and won't get to ride in all of them. Arteta, from your article, was more necessary at the time. Whatever Mata can offer, we should be able to get from Ramsey and Wilshire in the central position and AOC, Miyaichi and Gervinho on the wings. Information says that Ozughan Ozyakup is another fantastic one coming through. We certainly have some dead woods but I think with patience, what we ave now will do for us.

• 22-Nov-2011 17:10 | | Mohamed Zubairu
  

  Arteta has played every game or so for us since he arrived and he is yet to get injured. Why do we consider him injury prone?

• 22-Nov-2011 17:17 | | Mohamed Zubairu
  

  It is just fortunate/unfortunate tha RVP is in the form of his life and we play with only one top striker therefore, not affording Park the opportunity to showcase his talent. If he has played only 3 times and score 1 (beautiful) goal, then I see no reason why we discount him. Wenger can't justify not playing RVP on his present form.
  Park has been scoring for fun for his country and we are talking about the same football. There is no reason why he won't do well for us after his adjustment. Apart from him, we have one Joel Campbell whose goals on Youtube are like the rebirth of Henry.

• 22-Nov-2011 17:22 | | Mohamed Zubairu
  

  If we bought Mara a winger, what do we do with AOC and Miyaichi? These guys are almost ready and are very bright prospects. I prefer to see either of them than Mata in our line up.

• 22-Nov-2011 19:54 | | dkgooner  - Not Song
  

  Alex stays in London - Cameroon screwed up and failed to qualify for ACN finals.

• 22-Nov-2011 19:57 | | dkgooner  - Me for example
  

  @WB: There are definitely players still out there that would be excellent additions to our squad.

• 23-Nov-2011 00:51 | | richie
  

  ESA Your second point re the returning JW in the attacking mid role with Arteta and Song is a line up that I feel Gooners are impatiently salivating over. As to your 1st point realistically we wouldn't have been able to have our cake and at the same time enjoy its flavour, i.e. with the clubs current structure we wouldn't have been in a position to add this years signings without this years sales first.
  
  The clubs set up is that all wages come out of the season ticket sales budget therefore players have to leave before others can sign, other clubs are certainly run different but our books balance. Personally I can't imagine Arsenal being allowed the type of debt that Manu'er run up, not without the Sugar Daddy's of Chelski and Money man City.

• 23-Nov-2011 01:08 | | MeanLean
  

  Hello Richie,
  
  How is your good self? I trust you are well. How are you feeling about the game tomorrow? Should be a very offensive game of football from both teams trying to win I would guess. Slightly weary about this one I must say.
  
  Anyway, my bed is calling. Catch you later

• 23-Nov-2011 08:15 | | East Stand Alex
  

  Hi Richie,
  
  It's a fair point you make. I find it an interesting one as to the thinking of our club. So I'll try and consider it a bit. Even though this thread won't probably be read - he says, in anticipation of a new, excellent article being posted today.
  
  However, could we have recreated this year's signings the previous year to give us a squad with greater mental security? Basically I'm thinking that Mertesacker, Arteta and Benayoun have added mental stability and determination to our game - as WB puts better, above.
  
  If they weren't available to us, similar would have been as it's not like they are our best players, technically.
  
  Of course, as certain players hadn't yet disappointed Wenger, he wouldn't have been looking to replace them. However, certain warning signs that some players seemed to not see the importance of effort (I don't mean Arshavin, I think he is over-maligned for this, as it's not his designated role) had been there for a couple of years and maybe could have been heeded. Loan deals for one or two could have freed some wages.
  
  But even if we hadn't, I still have a problem with this thinking that running a little debt is such a big problem. I mean 'this thinking' from the board. Especially if it will facilitate success. Not sugar daddy or uncle Ridsdale debt, but a little. After all, all that happened to Liverpool or Chelsea when they ran aground was someone even richer came and bailed them out. And then spent more money...
  
  Arsenal have had the someone richer come and buy us, with no help for the actual playing staff. Had we been in a little short term debt, the board would have had their pockets lined slightly less deeply when they sold up... And the fans may have been celebrating a trophy, or at least a closer challenge.
  
  Not that I'm averse to our self-sustaining model. It's just I'm not sure it can work against the current climate; or would ever have done. The most successful clubs have always been bankrolled to a certain degree.
  
  But we have what we have, so here's hoping. Starting with tonight.

• 23-Nov-2011 08:14 | | MeanLean
  

  Who said it wouldn't be read?
  
  You've made some excellent contributions btw. Hope to read more from you in future comment sections.

• 23-Nov-2011 12:17 | | richie
  

  I understand your thinking ESA but, it should be remembered we currently have the 5th highest club debt in the prem so your call would've meant that Kroenke would've either had to put his hand in his pocket to pay whichever players we signed wages or returned to the banks for yet more credit.
  
  Kroenke has invested big into buying Arsenal shares but he ain't invested a cent in something he can't immediately re-sell. No finacial genious (not even those creative Americans responsable for the global reccession) have figured out how to make money out of paying wages. So my guess is that, that bird wouldn't have flown for Kroenke. A longterm finacial invester he might be but an Abromovich sugar daddy style football fan he ain't.
  
  Like you I like the idea of self sustainment, and in princable of course its right. I don't agree that a self sustained model of a football team can't compete with teams stuffed with money like Chelski & Money Citeh. I actually think that Wengers only counter to the finacial doping of the prem was/is to get together a young group of players that click & keep them together until they mature, until their understanding of each others play becomes their strength.
  Unfortunately each time he put the team in place a key component left.
  
  Cashley, Flamini, Sol (the 1st time) on top of that some of those youngsters who everybody though would go on developing didn't and amongst them were the mental defectives the likes of Upson & Bentley. Keeping players after they've developed has been a constant problem.

• 23-Nov-2011 12:19 | | Wenger Boy
  

  Who considers him injury prone?

• 23-Nov-2011 12:50 | | richie
  

  ML Sorry for this really late reply but I could hardly keep my eye'e open. I sent my post and switched off the PC. I didn't think there would actually be other lunatic's still up
  Like you I could hear my pillow screaming out my head.
  
  Tonights game is gonna be interesting because Borrussia D can't realistically qualify not with their Goal Diff. I mean even if Olympiacos could overturn Marseille they'd need to win by 3 and BD would have to beat us by 4 just to have the same 0, GD. But when teams have nothing to lose that does allow them a certain freedom, and their confidence will be high as they are 2nd in their league and have just beaten league leaders Bayern. I don't know what their mind set will be? Knowing they are in the Europa. Play for pride? Take no risks? Or go out fighting?
  
  I'm still expecting us to beat them and top the group though.

• 23-Nov-2011 12:58 | | richie  - Injury prone?
  

  That tag comes from him being out longterm for the toffee's. Does anyone actually know how many times Arteta was out injured for Everton? I mean like stats?

• 23-Nov-2011 13:11 | | richie  - Arteta - Wiltshire Desi G's Stats
  

  WB Like you I love Desi G and some of his recent stats analysis has been excellent! Especially in helping to understand where we can improve as a team and with relevance to Arteta why we have improved so much thus far.

• 25-Dec-2011 23:15 | | bob  - mata
  

  im a chelsea fan reading random articles what i understand is that all you arsenal fans think mata suits your team and doesn't suit chelsea, but chelsea are in transition, but at least we arent reluctant to pay a few million extra!

• 26-Dec-2011 07:20 | | MeanLean
  

  Bob, not all of us are propped up by a sugar daddy. Are you suffering from memory loss?

• 26-Dec-2011 10:58 | | richie
  

  You as a club aren't reluctant to pay a few million extra? You as a club have never paid! Its Putin's Father Xmas who buys you presents, your club could never have afforded a few million extra, your club was broke before the Russian mafia moved in. Same thing will happen if ever Roman gets fed up with propping up Chelsea, or if the Russian league improves enough, for him to go back to supporting the first team he supported, his original home town team.

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