Here It Comes
Tuesday, 07 April 09, 07:19 AM · Comments(6)
There is, as you might imagine, a bit of a love in going on between Arsène Wenger and Robert Pires ahead of the Champions League quarter final tonight. The picture above, in our great manager's opinion, tells us more about Robert Pires than the eloquent words of Wenger ever could. Which is some accolade. The picture reminds me that fate has intervened so cruelly at various stages of Robert's career- the red hot form of 2002 cut short only by a horrible knee injury. The farewell appearance (not that we knew it then) in the Champions League final cut short by a red card for Mad Jens and the boss' belief (correct in my view) that if anyone in that midfield had to be sacrificed, it was the player who had served him so intelligently, so beautifully and so effectively. A sad, and ill fitting end to a glorious 6 years in North London.
Despite that substitution, the manager says that he never wanted Pires to go, comparing him to Dennis Bergkamp, but understood that the player wanted a longer contract than was on offer and also wanted to play (more than he would have, I think). Whilst Pires says now that he is "not angry" with Arsène for that fateful Paris decision, but will thank him for all that he has learnt from him and I think that is the correct response from an intelligent and good man.Regardless, and I don't know about you, but I'm hoping for more cruel fate for Super Rob over the coming week. Certainly next week at the Grove is going to be an emotional night, on a par with the welcome afforded to Patrick Vieira in 2006. But I won't be there, I'll be in an Amsterdam pub. Fretting, no doubt.
More immediately, Robin van Persie will miss the game tonight but the manager is backing his youngish side to show the "mental strength" that has seen them turn a season that appeared to be nosediving into the north London ground at high speed into one that still, in the first week of April, holds all kinds of possibilities for the club. Ivan Gazidis spoke last week of the importance of keeping a group of growing players together and it's a theme echoed by the manager. Whilst I think it's a little early to say he has been vindicated- especially as we could be out of both cups by next Saturday- the available evidence suggests that the manager does know what he is doing and that (don't say it, don't say it... fuck it, I'm going to) a spectacular pay off to that his patience and hard work will come not too far into the future.
I think, for the game tonight, we'll see Nasri replace the ineligible Arshavin. I hope that is the only change. Eboue may offer defensive stability, but Theo Walcott's pace scares the crap out of most defences. I don't see Villarreal's being any different.
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JamrockRover said:I worry when I hear 6 weeks for RVP because that is the usual time given for pl...
JamrockRover said:I had heard nothing of his injury until I turned on my computer this morning an...
RocktheCasbah said:Looks like he'll be getting a chance over the next few weeks now though. Didn't...
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RocktheCasbah
London, GB
Truth, justice and the Arsenal way
6 Comments · Add yours
Will it be Carlsberg tonight with Red Action?
awesome article..
UP the Gunners!!
Plz suggest a good pub to chk out the match 2night in Asmterdam!
Arsene got a huge round of applause and cheers after the press conference. I suspect a few Arsenal fans managed to sneak in, lol.
Reply to JamrockRover:
It'll be a cup of rosy and a few chocolate biscuits here, lol.
Reply to chow:
Chow- Thanks, I'll be heading to O'Reillys (probably) for the second leg, but no idea if it's any good...
No Jamrock, I'll be at home with Budvar, Jo and Tom the comedy cat. You/
Good to hear about Arsene's applause, he deserves them. Hope he's still being applauded post match!
Hey, this is a really good Arsenal blog, only discovered it this week, will forward it to my Arsenal supporting work colleagues.
You should do a weekly podcast too!
J