If Wenger’s quitting, watch out for these signs

Punch drunk? The signs are growing

The body speaks a better language than the mouth. Just another way of saying actions speak louder than words.

This will be the case as regards Arsene Wenger, who is so many things to Arsenal football club. All through this season, which he described as a very important one for his ‘young’ team, he has watched as this bunch of players he’s probably invested the biggest amount of faith, have see-sawed between sublime football and implosion.

Arsene Charles Ernest Wenger – the wearer of many caps; the most successful manager of Arsenal football club; the builder of Emirates Stadium; the man behind the careers of scores and scores of fine players like George Weah, Jurgen Klinsmann, Victor Ikpeba and Glenn Hoddle to name just a few; the maker of Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and Dennis Bergkamp; the Titanium Man (ala Myles Palmer); the beginning and the end of Arsenal’s youth project.  All those accolades and much more belong to this 61 year-old Alsatian whose German parents migrated to Strasbourg in France at the end of World War II.

His story and football CV are all well documented. How he emerged from little-known Nancy, to take  unheralded Monaco to the French title in 1988 and later all the way to the semifinals of the Champions League by 1992. It’s like taking Bolton Wanderers to the semis of Europe’s richest showpiece.

This was after Wenger accused Marseille of bribing opponents to throw league games in order for it to win the French Ligue. Those days, Marseille was the be-all and end-all of French football and despite going on to lift the Champions League with the likes of Marcel Desailly, Ghanaian Abedi Pele and Didier Deschamps, Wenger persisted in his one-man crusade that eventually led to the indictment of Marseille, their suspension from Europe and relegation to the second division. It was a classic David- Goliath story in football terms.

Wenger has built a career on punching above his weight. Taking on the big guys and challenging the establishment. Marseille was the establishment. At least in France. Since their tainted Champions League win in 1993, no other team from France has won it. Only Monaco got to the finals in 2004 where they lost to a rising star, Jose Mourinho and his FC Porto.

Almost a pariah in France after the Marseille scandal, Wenger emigrated to Japan in 1995, where he became the manager of another under-achieving side, Nagoya Grampus. Once again, he weaved his magic and led them to the Emperor’s Cup – the Japanese equivalent of the the FA Cup.

It was while there that he became friends with David Dein, the Jewish-born British aristocrat who also happened to be Vice-Chairman of Arsenal FC. When in 1996, Bruce Rioch was fired from his job as Arsenal manager, Dein had only one candidate as replacement.

So returned Arsene to the mainstream of European soccer. To the newly-formed English Premier League which was about to take soccer by storm and change the face of the game forever.

Once again, the Alsatian was coming to an under-achieving side which was playing second and even third fiddle to establishment teams like Manchester United and Liverpool. A team that romantically shares first name with him. It was a match made by the gods.The rest as they say, is history.

Arsenal was transformed so rapidly and astutely that it became a colossus in England. Winning three premier league titles, playing a brand of football pleasing to the eye which delighted all purists of the game and maintaining an almost-permanent stranglehold on the title with Manchester United in a see-saw duopoly. The achievements of his Invincibles, who famously went on to complete an entire league season without defeat remains the crowning glory of his managerial abilities. It’s something that will probably never be repeated again in any of the big leagues across Europe for a long, long time to come.

Since then however, things have not exactly gone according to plan for the Titanium Man.

Yes, he delivered an impressive stadium in the heart of Europe’s largest city. Yes, he has made millions of pounds for the club, which today stands as the second richest in the world behind only Barcelona.

But it is on the pitch, not outside it, that his legacy as a coach will ultimately be judged. And it’s on that same pitch that things seem to be going pear-shaped. The famed youth project hasn’t metamorphosed into the dream squad he hoped it would. Players in whom he has invested years and years of patient training and careful nurturing have not matured into the gladiators he would have wanted.

People bang on about our lack of silverware year after year, but is it any wonder that Wenger still refuses to splash out and buy the experienced and capable players that will end that drought? Doing so will simply mean that the young players on whom he has staked his name and reputation have failed.

To help the growth of his ‘gunnerlings’, he bought Andrei Arshavin who at that time was the most sought-after European player. But the Russian, to say the least, has gone backwards since he came here more out of disillusion with the calibre of players that surround him.

So after all the false starts on the pitch and perpetual humiliation at the hands of the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United, methinks Wenger may have had it. Looking at him all season long, he conveys a feeling of enough is enough. A feeling of , “I can’t do this anymore”. A sense of resignation.

The childlike, unbridled joy that he always expresses when celebrating Arsenal goals are suddenly missing. It would be almost correct to say he doesn’t care anymore, but let’s spare the man that label.

Ivan Gazidis, Wenger’s hand-picked CEO of Arsenal must know, just like Gooners everywhere have known for years now that this team, these players, this style of play and this present structure under Wenger would not deliver success on the pitch for the next millennium. The league that Wenger came to meet in 1996 has changed. The Chelseas and Manchester Citys have redefined the landscape. They have re-drawn the map. They have raised the bar.

In our last 11 matches against Man Utd and Chelsea, we have lost 10 times! In that period, we only managed a draw, scored five goals and conceded 23! Not too long ago – pre-Mourinho days that is – the same Arsenal had never lost in 17 games to Chelsea!

Playing catch-up may have now worn Wenger out. You can almost see it in his body language.

Now, we are doomed to another punishment at the hands of Barcelona next February when the Champions League resumes and a repeat of our 6-3 humbling last season is again on the cards. Because nothing has changed with Wenger’s team since that defeat. Yes, four, five players have been added to the team but the balance is still not right and the attitude remains one of a defeat-always-waiting-to-happen.

To bring matters to a head, this might also be Cesc Fabregas’ last season. The apple of Wenger’s eyes. The most-promising product of his youth project. It surely must be all too much for one man to accept after years and years of logic-defying toil.

After fourteen years of rolling with the punches at Le Arsenal, even a polymath like Arsene Wenger has limits to his ability. No one knows when it will be, but whenever that limit is reached, watch out for the body language to tell us that the great man is about throwing in the towel. 

Arsenal 5 Shakhtar Donetsk 1



Left foot wonder...Jack Wilshire

 Billed as a top of the group clash between the two teams with perfect records. After 90 minutes at Emirates last night, it was almost a mismatch as the Gunners walked allover their guests from Ukraine.
The winner of this tie knew they would automatically vault to the top of the Group H and all things being equal, stay there for the rest of the first round.
We rightly dominated proceedings, starting with a 4-2-3-1 formation, as has been the case most of the season so far. Most of those who played Birmingham on Saturday were in the team again but the surprise of the night was the reappearance of Cesc Fabregas, since Septmeber 15 when he limped off against Sunderland.
Samir Nasri was up for it and it showed as he sprayed passes and teased the Shakhtar defence endlessly. In the 20th minute, all the hardwork bore fruit as Shakhtar goalie, Pyatov dropped what looked like a rountine cross. Lurking behind him was Djourou who toe-poked the dropped ball onto Song, who toepoked it further into the net.
Nasri got the goal his endeavour deserved with a sweet drive in the 42nd minute. Once again, the excellent Song was involved. He it was that got onto the end of an Eboue pass and lifted it across to Nasri. The lithe Frenchman juggled it at edge of the Shakthar box, deceiving the Shaktar captain and defender Dario Srna before blasting it past the goalie.
Fabregas announced his return with a penalty after the break, while the ever-improving Jack Wilshire scored his first Champions League goal in the 60th minute, before Marouane Chamakh rounded off the slaughter with a cool finish off a Nasri lob.
Ex-Gunner and crowd favourite, Eduardo scored their solitary goal with an accomplished strike - a goal he refused to celebrate and for which the crowd sang his name endlessly.
All in all, it was a creditable night’s work, which a smiling Arsene Wenger acknowledged during the post match interview.
Below are the ratings:


*Fabianski (6/10) – Once again, the Pole continues to enjoy a new lease of life between the sticks. Dealt comfortably with everything that came his way and seems to inspire confidence in the back four as well. Looks very much he is Wenger’s new number one now.
* Clichy (6/10) – A very normal day at the office for Gael. Nothing spectacular. Did all that was required of him and kept the left side of our defence sealed and safe.
*Djourou (7/10) – Surprised to see him start two games in a row now. But he acquitted himself well and surely needs games to lay claim to a starting shirt. Brought about the penalty that led to the third goal by constituting himself into a nuisance in the Shakhtar area.
*Squillaci (7/10) – Commanded his area well and marshalled his troops with calm. Though he wasn’t wearing the armband this time, he still exudes admirable authority and it helped to ease any nerves at the back. Nothing he could do to prevent Eduardo’s smart goal though. Good buy, this one.
* Eboue (7/10) – Helped snuff out any threat that the visitors could muster on the right. Did well all night and his energy levels never dropped. Was involved in the second goal as he linked well with Song. Was also involved in our fifth goal. Good overlapping runs all night.
* Song (8/10) – He was everywhere on the pitch. For stamina, you have to envy this guy. Got us off to a great start with his alertness that brought the goal and fed Nasri with a perfect pass for the second. Alex has certainly come on in leaps and bounds over the past two seasons and last night, he showed once more what he brings to the team.
* Wilshire (8/10) – Partnered Song in the middle and both of them in my opinion, were the men of the match. That they both scored was academical considering their work rate. Jack will miss the next three games for us, but last night, he seemed determined to leave his calling card with driving runs, passes and postioning. Got a fitting goal to crown his night’s work.
* Fabregas (6/10) – The skipper returned a month after scoring that fluke goal against Sunderland and as expected he had a quiet night. Scored the penalty that brought the third goal, which he celebrated with a birthday message for his Mum. He must now be relishing a start against Manchester City, Sunday.
* Nasri (8/10) – A great performance by our little Frenchman. Clearly, he is reborn and has found his groove in this team. Never stopped running. Never stopped probing. Was at the heart of all the good things we did and the fact that he scored a cracker of a goal was due reward for all his endeavour. Watch out for this bloke, this season.
* Rosicky (6/10) – A surprise starter, considering that Abou Diaby was left on the bench. Did alot of running and supported Fabregas and Nasri. Supplied the crucial pass that led to Wilshire’s goal. Nice touches between those two.
* Chamakh (7/10) – This man has definitely got goals in him and his record of scoring in six straight Champions League games, surely confirms that. He rounded off our onslaught for the night and it puts him in a nice frame to come face to face with the man he was bought to replace – a certain Emmanuel Adebayor – next Sunday.


Substitutes
• Denilson (6/10) – Came on for a tiring Fabregas in the 60th minute and was involved in the build up to the Chamakh goal. With the emergence of Wilshire though and the abundance of midfielders available to Wenger, it must be said that the Brazilian is now definitely a squad member.
• Walcott (6/10) Starred in a late cameo role as we saw out the game and conserved energy for the battle against Mancehrster City on Sunday. He is being eased back gradually and will get a chance to rediscover his early season form sooner than later.
• Arshavin (6/10) – He replaced Nasri and did no more than was expected of him.

Arsenal 4 Bolton 1…….ratings

After this game on Saturday, Arsene Wenger gloatingly declared that beating first Blackburn and next Bolton would have been beyond his side in the past. Considering the physicality of both opponents, he deemed his side to have matured this season with the way they dispatched the two teams near-effortlessly.

It is early days yet, but Wenger might have a point there.
Blackburn and Bolton belong to the same school of hard knock-playing sides like the Stoke Citys and Wolverhampton Wanderers of this world. They all might be unfashionable but they have in common, hard-grafting, English managers who put their trust in players of average skills but tutored to intimidate opponents. And in Arsenal, they all share the collective, flawed wisdom that the Gunners are a soft touch.
Such thinking has helped them try to knock us off our stride in the past and all have succeeded to a certain degree in this abominable task.
Last Saturday was one of those days as Bolton turned up at the Emirates.
Ten minutes into the game, they left their calling card when the belligerent Kevin Davies launched two-footed into Jack Wilshire. He got a talking-to as well as a yellow card for his troubles but being Bolton, the tone of the game was set.
We went ahead in the 28th minute as new-kid-on-the-block and birthday boy, Laurent Koscielny bundled home a Wilshire cross after Fabregas helped the ball along its way. It was to be the first of four assists by Fabregas on the afternoon.
By and by, an eventful game unfolded that saw a red card to new England debutant, Gary Cahill; swinging the match decisively the Gunners’ way as we ran out 4-1 winners.
After Manchester United’s injury-time capitulation to Everton at Goodison Park in the earlier kick-off, this was a golden chance to put daylight between us and them; and how gratefully we took it.

I can fly..Notice the similar pair of boots worn by Koscielny and mate, Squillaci (behind)

Below are the ratings for the game:
• Almunia (6/10) – Solid and professional throughout all the 90 minutes. Organised all before him well and dealt with everything that came his way. Not at fault for the Bolton goal as he was left exposed by Koscielny’s mistake. Largely untroubled in the second half as Bolton failed to come forward, preferring instead to concentrate on damage-limitation.
• Koscielny (7/10) – He really looks like he has adjusted to the pace of the premiership. Covers the ground very well and struck a good understanding at the back with new partner Squillaci. The way he strode forward to score the opener would have made the absent Thomas Vermaelen very proud. Muddied things a bit by his tame back header that opened the door for Bolton’s equaliser . All in all, he is looking every inch an impressive presence at the back.
• Squillaci (7/10) – He deserves high praise for the calm, composure and experience he brought to the back line. His debut passed almost effortlessly because he hardly put a foot wrong and dealt with all the high balls and intimidation manufactured by the likes of Davies and Elmander. Slotted in well for TV and looks like another shrewd piece of business by Wenger.
• Gibbs (6/10) – Deputised admirably for Clichy. It was his debut game of the season and kudos to Wenger for giving the young Englishman a taste of action. Kieran looks to have come a long way with his sense of positional play, tackling, awareness and distribution. Picked up a caution but had a very comfortable outing as he kept the Bolton wingers quiet and subdued.
• Eboue (6/10) – Started brightly with overlapping runs and good interchanges with the forward men. Lost his way sort of in the second half after some rough treatment from the Bolton defence. Substituted later in the second half. The Ivorien still looks a handy squad player though.
• Song (8/10) – Fabregas aside, I will tick him off as my MVP. Did all that was asked of him in the DM position and snuffed out all signs of danger with increasing authority and confidence. Looking at him now, I still shake my head how far he has come. Got the crucial third goal that settled the tie and triggered the oles from the home crowd as the result was put beyond doubt. He is gradually becoming a legend for us. Going a bit further, he is becoming the best thing since Patrick Vieira. Some accolade, ay?
• Wilshire (5/10) – Started the game and ignited the first goal with a very incisive lob over the Bolton defence. He looked fired up as if to show Bolton what they missed by handing him back to Arsenal after last season’s loan move there. Looked jaded and faded from the game in the second period before being substituted.
• Fabregas (8/10) – His best game so far this season. He laid on all the assists for all our four goals and was his mercurial old self (if you could call a 22 year-old that!). After all the unnecessary distraction created by the Barcelona attempts to sign him, he looks to have put all that behind him and gotten on with the business. My pick of his balls was the beauty he lifted into the path of Vela for the fourth goal. Sheer class!
• Rosicky (7/10) – Another one who had a good afternoon. Seems to have found his lost mojo from somewhere. His vision was apparent as he dissected Bolton’s defence thrice in the first half with incisive balls to Arshavin and Chamakh. Tired though as the game wore on.
• Arshavin (6/10) – Should have opened the scoring as early as the 5th minute when Rosicky’s through ball put him one-on-one with the Bolton goalie, Adam Bogdan. He was to get two more bites at the cherry in the same half all of which he failed to bury. Looks a bit isolated on the left where he often opts to take on defenders with little success.
• Chamakh (7/10) – The big Moroccan held the line well and never stops trying. Got his reward early in the second period with a fine headed goal off a Fabregas ball from the corner flag. He is quite capable in the air and even when things aren’t going his way, he always persists. Good work on the afternoon.


Subs
• Diaby (4/10) – Came in for Wilshire but almost immediately got himself kicked on the shin by Bolton’s Robinson. Never recovered from the knock as he hobbled around and eventually was forced off after only 12minutes.
• Denilson (5/10) – Another one making his debut this season. Came on for the injured Diaby and slotted in beside Song. Apart from an attempted shot on goal that was blocked, nothing spectacular from the little Brazilian who looked bulkier than before.
• Vela (6/10) – The Mexican came on to replace Chamakh and opened his account for the season with a sublime goal after being fed by Fabregas. Great things are expected of him this season and with the absence of regulars Van Persie and Bendtner, he has started on a very positive note indeed.
Next up is Braga from Portugal as we launch our latest foray into the Champions League, Wednesday night.