Can Arsenal Really Aspire to be like Barcelona?
Thursday, 28 May 09, 09:38 AM · Comments(9)
In an article in the Guardian today, Richard Williams argues that Arsene Wenger can take heart from the fact that Barcelona won the European Cup playing exactly the way in which he is trying to direct Arsenal. Is it a bit of a leap of faith to expect us to even aspire to that level or is it a realistic potential future? Certainly the project that Arsene started with the transformation of our training ground, youth set up and new stadium have put the foundations in place for a similar future. The question is how do we take our current potential and convert it into something more practical in terms of winning trophies.
Arsene Wenger actually said (and forgive me if I don't get the quote exactly right) that the ultimate dream of his is to win the European Cup playing in the style of the great sides (by that I think he meant the Milan of Gullit & co or the Ajax of Cruyff). However, when he had a dominant side (2002,2004) they couldn't play that style well in Europe and now he has a side with style more suited to play in Europe (but will be beaten by all three English sides or one or two decent sides from Spain) but has none of the power, athleticism & mental ability to win the Premier League.
Somewhere there is a pragmatic blend and I think this is more to do with attitude (certain individuals & a the team as a whole) plus the need for 2 or 3 players who clearly know how to defend (and see it as an art). Take the case of Puyol last night, here is a player probably coming to the end of his career (and seen as a weak link before last night) but who fought for every ball and used all of his defensive experience to play a superb game. These are the players that Wenger seems to have difficulty in identifying.
On his arrival he was gifted a back 5 of unique experience and toughness. During his career at Arsenal he has got one or two of these players right (Sol Campbell, Lauren for example) but he seems to err towards their technical ability rather than their defensive ability. I still think there's a decent defender in Senderos but he doesn't posses the pace or technical skills Wenger wanted (as well as lacking confidence).
Maybe he should take another leaf out of Barcelona's book and look to the manager of the FA Youth Cup winning side (Guardiola was their youth coach) and promote Steve Bould to the first team set up to look at such things. If ever a player made the most of his talent through defensive ability and attitude it was Bouldie. Altogether now..
Stevie Bould, Stevie Bould
Stevie, Stevie, Stevie Bould
He's got no hair but we don't care
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BaselGooner
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9 Comments · Add yours
I think Bouldie would make a good assistant for the boss and maybe he could teach the players how to defend properly too.
Please someone explain Wenger's strategy to me?
When the entire universe (I think even people that have never watched a football match would agree) that Arsenal's problem is a lack of a strong experienced defensive unit, what do they do?
Sign 2 teenagers !?
Of course Arsenal can aspire to be like Barcelona - in the same way that Heather from Eastenders can harbour aspirations that she may one day look like Beyonce.
what arsenal need is a good defensive midfielder to play behind fabregas in order for fabregas to attack properly cause if u watch the season closely denilson or diaby always run foward and because of fabregas mentality he drops back to help the team but if we get a die hard defensive medfielder that would want to stay back then we can get the best out of fabregas then he can do what xavi and iniesta did to manchester uniter, in that case we need defensive midfielders like Lorik Cana,Xabi Alonso,Inler,senna,yaya toure.
and then if adebayor wants to leave let him and we can replace him with david villa,pavel Pogrebnyak,Eljero Elia,sergio aguero,Marouane Chamakh, and then defenders we should get micah richards and call back senderos
Me Again
I fink arsenal tactics for next season should be like this
4-2-3-1 (players to get in brackets)
Almunia
Sagna Toure Gallas Clichy
Denilson Song
Nasri Fabregas Arshavin
Van Persie
Sub
Fabianski
Senderos
Diaby
Vela
Walcot
Bendtner
Eduardo
But an improved arsenal garranted 2 win cups is
4-2-3-1
Almunia
Sagna Toure M.Richards Clichy
L.Cana X.Alonso
Nasri Fabregas Arshavin
D.Villa
Will deff win us at least 2 cups
and not dat much money wud be spent
jst sell adebayor and vanpersie and diaby
tell me wat u fink ppl???
or
4-4-2
Almunia
Sagna Toure M.Richards Clichy
Nasri Fabregas X.Alonso Arshavin
D.Villa Vanpersie
My dream team next season*:
Almunia(1)
Toure(5) R.Albiol(6) Gallas(10) Clichy(22)
Yaya Toure(19)
Nasri(8) Fabregas(4)C. Rosicky(7)
Walcott(14) Arshavin(23)
Van Persie(11)
Subs: Eduardo, Fabianski, Vela, Sagna, Denilson
my dream next season for arsenal
sagna(3)toure(5)gallas(10)clichy(22)
song(17)
nasri(8)fabregas(4)rosicky(7)
eduardo(9) arshavin(23)
Spooky, Baselgooner...
Anyway, for me Cesc is supposed to be the heartbeat of the team, he can't be that, playing behind the striker. He has to play central midfield. With the existing personnel, I'd like to see
Almunia
Sagna Djourou Gallas Clichy
Rosicky Song Fabregas Nasri
Arshavin
Eduardo
Which still leaves us a very strong bench.