Arsenal News 24/7Writer: Nick Simmonett 
Date:Tuesday March 6 2007
Time: 7:46PM
UK time is: 10:24:09
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The Arsenal vs. PSV Eindhoven
Ashburton Grove
7th March 2007
19:45
On Sky
The Arsenal V PSV
Arsenal will be looking to save their season as they bid to overturn a 1-0 deficit against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday.
Champions League games are always important but this game has taken on a lot more importance after Arsenal exited both domestic cups in 4 days. First the young guns suffered a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea in the Carling Cup final (an undeserved defeat I might add), then something closer to Arsenal`s first team suffered an agonizing defeat away to Blackburn after they had dominated for 70 minutes.
I wouldn`t say it`s vital that Arsenal win some silverware in their first season at Ashburton Grove but to say it would be pleasing would be an understatement! It would be outstanding to win the Champions League for the first time in Arsenal`s trophy-laden history.
It`s certainly a clash of the tactician`s. PSV boss Ronald Koeman plotted the downfall of Manchester United and Liverpool during his time at Benfica. I don`t think I really need to explain that Arsene Wenger is a great tactician! You just have to look at what he has done with Arsenal to see that he is one of the best managers to have lived!
Vital Quotes:
Arsene Wenger doesn't expect PSV to play anything resembling an attacking game: "PSV are a cautious team who came out in the first game and beat us on the break," said Wenger. "They try to suck you in and counter-attack."
"I feel 1-0 is a tricky score. It is difficult — psychologically more than footballistically.
'But obviously we will have to strike the right balance and try and get one back as quickly as possible.
'I certainly think we can score against them but it is important for us to feed our strikers and give them some support.
'It's part of the learning process but we won't have the number of chances against PSV that we did against Reading. They came here with nothing to lose but PSV will be much more defensive. I don't expect them to attack us."
PSV Coach Ronald Koeman hinted he could play a more open game when his side visit the Grove tomorrow: 'Arsenal are not a typical English team.
'They play more a European system with fast players up front, a lot of talent in the midfield and a solid defence.
'It was important not to concede in Holland because we will get more space in London.'
The Arsenal Team News:
The great news is that skipper Thierry Henry is fit enough to start. Wenger confirmed at his press confrence that the French international striker has recovered enough to play but Le Boss also admitted that there could be a reaction that could set Henry back to square one in terms of his recovery.
Tomas Rosicky is definantly out, but we already knew that. The Czech international is recovering form a groin injury.
Justin Hoyte, Manu Eboue, Robin Van Persie and Mathieu Flamini
Player to watch: Thierry Henry
Henry is due a big performance. It'll take a performance of Bernabaue proportions if Arsenal are to progress.
PSV Eindhoven Team News:
PSV will be missing Manuel Da Costa and Jan Kronkamp for the trip to the Emirates with laryngitis and a hamstring complaint respectively. Eric Addo and Sun Xiang are likely to step in and deputise for the injured pair.
Koeman wil have tol make late checks on goalkeeper Gomes, skipper Phillip Cocu, defenders Alex and Carlos Salcido and midfielder Timmy Simons, who have been suffering from slight injuries, but are expected to be fit. Ibrahim Afellay is doubtful.
Player to watch: Jefferson Farfan
The pacey striker could be Arsenal's undoing. Going into the game 1-0 down Arsenal need to attack. PSV will look to catch us on the counter and he is certainly capable of hitting us hard!
Match Facts & Stats
Match Prediction:
It's not going to be Arsenal's day. PSV will come with no intention of attacking. Nine men behind the ball and bang long balls for Kone to chase. I think PSV will get a goal before half time before Henry scores late on. Arsenal to go out!
Next Fixtures:
Arsenal have a weekend off after their early FA Cup exit. Next up is Aston Villa away in the Premiership.
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Your Comments
we can take this one. i think we are designed for this trophy and if we get through it will make us stronger just like last year
mish
Is eboue out for sure?
thenry009
Apparently so TH009. Looks like Djourou at RB?
simmy8_2000
im hoping that the boys can pul through this one. the only worry is that PSV will cathc us out on the counter with Kone and Farfan. But with Cesc pulling the strings behind Henry and Baptista (i hope) i cant see why we cant get the win needed
Aussie Gooner
sorry to say this but i just like sim feel the we'll most get is a draw and we'll be looking at a exit champ league this year, but i SOO hope i'm wrong.
Youngest in Charge
I have to agree the outlook for this game looks bad...mainly because i cant see us keeping a clean sheet and therefore we have to score 3 goals, which is too much :(
AB_Arsenal
This is a bit of a playground game as far as I am concerned. First goal wins.
Little Dutch
Mind you, we always seem to play better at the Grove when we go a goal down, we start this game 0-1 down. Bonus! :-)
Little Dutch
let's have faith, they can do this. We need more of a champions spirit, never say die attitude. That's what wins titles, ask Manure and Chelski. They always believe. The invincibles were like that too. Let's get behind this team!
afri-gooner
Well, I'm nervous as hell about this match coz I know PSV are a dangerous team. I dont mean dangerous in the offensive, but in the sense that they can get a favourable result for themselves !! Playing Henry is a bit of a gamble by Arsene I feel , and I hope it doesnt backfire. Right back is a problem area and we arent going to get the offensive thrust from there, which puts more of the onus on Hleb at right wing. I see a lot of problems for this game, but at the same tme, I believe !!
prits
Tonights the night lads! 4-1 to the Arsenal! Yeah baby!
flv
PSV have problems at right back too, they will be playing Culina there who is a midfielder.
Little Dutch
Great preview! This very important game of the season will surely be accorded the focus and determination that is rightly due. As indicated by LD, the FIRST GOAL will be the telling barometer. I am sure the Gunners are well aware of this and they will pull up everything in them to be the first ones to score tastefully at home!
SWPACIFIC
Good luck to night, a team with the football you play deserves to be in the Champions league! Hopefully you will join us along with the money men at Chelsea
Eusebio
Agree with the 'first goal' idea too! For us this is a pivotal game after the Cup exits. If we find the mental strength to kill them off, I think we will finish the season on a high, and start the next one stronger after a summer of regrouping. If we lose, I think it will open up doubts and we may not be sufficiently prepared to challenge for the Prem next year. My money is on everyone to ruck in there and kick some Dutch ass! 2-0 to Arsene's boys!
Andy-bayor
I hate the way you refer to yourselves as "The Arsenal"
Jacky B
Jacky - i just love that :) !!
prits
The song "1-0 to the Arsenal", would sound a bit disjointed if we took 'the' out though Jacky B, dont you think? It'd be a bit like taking the, the's, out of the Waterboy's song, 'You saw whole of moon'. My word, don't you know anything about songwriting, sigh, tut, heehee 8-)
flv
we have a very small chance of progressing,we are just not getting the breaks,like chel$ki...great bit of goalkeeping from Helton last nite,do you think his bank balance has become fatter with oily rubles??? just a thought...anyway we have a big problem breaking down ronalds defences...and i can see us getting done on the away goal rule,we didnt score in holland and its going to cost us,we will probably go 2-0 up and concede near the end from a corner or some rubbish like that and go out...hope im wrong though....is going to be a good tense game
fran merida
and we are the arrogant ones? lol........ Actually, I do fancy myself as a bit of a songwriter
Jacky B
fran merida, making excuses even before the game?PSV is on the same level as porto.Go whine about the mancs, they were the ones who got an easy game.
k_chelski
Fran, look on the predictions league on the forum, your prediction is scarily similar to mine. (Except I also somehow predicted that Elvis Pressley will be charged with misconduct and Jens will end up punching Jesus). Jacky, "the" Arsenal was actually our name for a very short while after the first world war. Chapman hated it and demand it be changed, it looks as though that is the only part of his legacy which didn't survive!
Little Dutch
LD. I agree with him. lol. on a historical note.... I spose you know that our Uefa opponents, Braga are nicknamed the Arsenalistas. Did you know that it's cos their manager came to watch you in the 30's, liked what he saw, and demanded that they change their colours from green to red and white? they even wear yellow away! gotta beat em even more now!
Jacky B
i wonder if there will ever be a team that adopts the nickname tottenhamistas, or spurtistas! somehow doubt it...
afri-gooner
three nil to the arsenal!!
kingdennis
afri gooner.......... I doubt it too, but at least we can show them how wrong they were by knocking them out.
Jacky B
If we net from our 1st clear cut chance I fancy we will go through. Miss that chance and the fear of missing could spread through the team like a bad lasagne in may.
iceman10
I feel the same iceman... do you reckon the players get anywhere as nervous as we do? I mean, I can see half of us are nervous wrecks already!
Andy-bayor
I hope they are nervous and full of adrenalin! Important to stay tight at the back aswell, Toure and Gallas must repel the pace they have in attack. If we are struggling to break them down I reckon Wenger will switch Djourou and Toure so 'The Magnificent' Toure can use his energy in attack.
iceman10
Jacky B why are you even here? this isn't your league. go and talk about the tini tots cup that you're playing in..
luckys_10
you dun belong here. come and be a part of a Champions League forum if your team ever plays in it..
luckys_10
Henry should start up front wit ADE then bring Aliadiere or Baptista for the last 20-30 minutes. Hopefully we could have got a couple of goals by then.
Play Galls at right back purely for his experience,rather than young Djourou out of position. Let him partner Toure at the centre of the defence and Cliyh at left back.
Hleb,Gilberto,Fab and Diaby in the midfield.
Denilson, Aliadiere, Beast, Walcott, Almunia, Ljunberg on the bench.
Youngest in Charge
nice point Iceman. King Kolo will give us a lot of width on the right side if he plays at RB..
luckys_10
fortunately Jacky is the only spuddy I have listened to in recent years, who has a realistic and quite balanced view of where his team is at! i.e.. 10 pts behind us
TR7
the match is not going to be broadcasted here !! :( does ne1 noe ne way of seeing da match (except a gamecast...? )
HENRY`14
here in youtube , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTQZpdL4HP0
k_chelski
u immature lil pain !... no searously...!! ne1 noe ne wer 2 c it..?
HENRY`14
Alright alright alright, stop crying already. www.sopcast.com
k_chelski
thanks a ton !! !!!
HENRY`14
If we score the first goal it is going to be 3-0, else everything is in henry's hands :)
questforavalon
i'm SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO nervous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! COM ON ARSENALLLLLL WE BELIEVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IN THE ARSENAL!!!!!!!!!!!1
Youngest in Charge
It's a shooting gallery...too bad we can't put anything on goal! HENRY'14, you can also try Setanta Broadband - www.setanta.com
SUX2BU
Ljumberg was a waste of space in the first half...take him off!
SUX2BU
my sopcast player crashed and I cant seem to get it back. Any updates? Is the first half done?
questforavalon
from what i saw until first 30 min, if we manage to loose I will be SOOO pi*#@d off
questforavalon
10 shots, only 1 on goal.....PSV had 2 off target....60% poss for Arsenal. Kone taken off injured at 40'. Lot's of Arsenal chances, but nothing went in. 2nd half starting with Henry still on the bench.
SUX2BU
we gotta do somethng !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HENRY`14
thx SUX2BU
questforavalon
YEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH
mish
1-0 Arsenal from a PSV og
SUX2BU
GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Youngest in Charge
grt! now knock in 2 more!
questforavalon
Henry and Diaby are in...
SUX2BU
Were done.
Youngest in Charge
No! Dumb foul by Hleb, 1-1
SUX2BU
we wasted our chances and once again we have had 2 pay :(
HENRY`14
some ol us' what a shame
49ers
why is it always spot kicks that avail us, we must sort this out.
gunner-minesh
is it done?
questforavalon
we have 2 manage 2 stop concedin goals ! if we want silverware we need cleansheets !!!
HENRY`14
are we finished?..just put me out of my misery.
questforavalon
done
SUX2BU
So next season now...Too sad for words.I am going off to fume alone.
questforavalon
I AM SSOOO PI*Sed RITE NOW !!!!...playing beatutiful football,dominating pocession,creating chances... mean nothng ! if we fail 2 win matches !!!
HENRY`14
That'll teach some of you arrogant ******ers to keep ya mouths shut.Did ya want that address for the INTERTOTO !! :)
HATEtheGOONS
WHY DONT WE JUST FINISH TEAMS OFF
mish
that one is difficult to take
G4L
Fu** off!! u spud ! even tho dis is a disopointin season 4 us we will still manage 2 cum 3rd in da league ! while ul r stuck sumwer mid table....(hhhaaaa!! 2 thnk dat last year ul all wantd champions league football!!!
HENRY`14
lol, fvl, what about that football lesson you were going to give us?Not gonna happen eh?See mate, that's what cocky atitude brings, it brings bad luck.Now, you've got to say goodbye to the arsenal.
k_chelski
Hatethegoons, any predictions against us? ;p
k_chelski
What!?
HATEtheGOONS
Aren't you gonna say, spuds is gonna defeat chelsea, or something like that?C'mon, give me something to laugh at cha later.
k_chelski
we better not lose any players because of this!
gunner-minesh
Nah,i would'nt be so arrogant as to say we'd beat you at your place.But we did ok last time! :)
HATEtheGOONS
It just makes me laugh, even if you manage to get third in the prem it doesn't make it a great season. Arsenal are having a poor season by their very high standards!!! Out of all cups and stand no realistic chance of winning the premiership. If you want to see a team from North London in the final of any of the European cups you can always go to Glasgow and watch Spurs in the final of the UEFA cup because that's as close to a final as you would get.
OneAaronLennon
listen at the sad spud sc*m and their pathetic existence, they're already taking it as a given that they're in the uefa cup final....pride comes before a fall boys! and they accuse us of being arrogant!!
TR7
ohhh!!!! da prestiges uefa cup !!!! (shld be renamed `da mid table cup`.......n lets get real ,u will NEVER win even dat crappy cup.....da next cup ul will win is da championship (once ul get relegated)
HENRY`14
lol, i don't know if you spuds know this, but, the guy who scored psv's wiinning goal, is.....wait for it.........wait.....HE'S A CHELSEA PLAYER!Oh btw, are you spuds gonna bring the fifth of november t-shirts?I would like to see what it looks like on tv.haha
k_chelski
It continues to amaze me that spuds and chelski fans use our forums as a dating service...what's the matter, afraid to come out of the closet on your own forums?
SUX2BU
lol, what do you have against gay people?We are supportive with retards(silly billy).Why do you have to act like this?Show some grace.
k_chelski
Any club, including Arsenal in the position that they are in, would be proud of winning the UEFA cup. I am not being arrogant when i say Spurs are going to the final, i just don't think there are many teams that can stop us from getting there, apart from Sevilla, Werder Bremen and Benfica. And i still believe that given our form in Europe this season, we can beat them. I think the best chance Spurs have of progressing to the semi's of the FA cup is to go to Stamford Bridge and get a replay, bring them bach to White Hart Lane and try to do the business there.
OneAaronLennon
HATEtheGOONS, i'll take ***** taking from a chelski fan or a spud fan who knows what he or she is talking about, but you are just a know-nothing ©ünt, so take your opinions and stick them up your fü©king arse, you have the audacity to give us crap, but your *****ehole mob are second best, and so far behind us in the league, considering you are the 'new force in north london'. we only see you on here every fifth game, as your limp existence seems to only bring you here if we have a draw/loss/involvement in a controversy. concentrate on your own team more. you are nothing short of a ©oçksucker. »»ARsene Knows««
Wingston75
you ain't gonna beat sevilla so dream on
legrandesaucisse
if you think a team in 8th position in the prem can feasibly beat a top of the league team like sevilla big man then fair enough, every team has their day, but i think you're getting a bit carried away, you've hardly been tested in either competition (FA/UEFA) and when u were tested in the carling cup you crumbled miserably,(who was that to again...?) I reiterate, Pride comes before a fall
TR7
HA HA Keep it up Wingy your turning me on! >>Arseneknows*****<<
HATEtheGOONS
'''we have 2 manage 2 stop concedin goals ! if we want silverware we need cleansheets !!! HENRY`14''.................................... Common miscomseption the greatest of teams let in goals we need too score more goals. You let in a goal you score 2 more that's how Arsenal used too operate too. They have the possession during the game they need too score the goals too prevent lucky come backs.
Gunners
Oh I find it funny how the spuds come into gloat I guess they have right too brag though they are moving in the next round of the champions league............... No you can't finish top four, Uefa is becomming a dream rather than too be expected for you. You would do best too keep your dirty mouth shut.
Gunners
Once again a match dominated by us but 'failed to take our chances', this phrase kinda sums up our season. But cheer up, we got a clean slate from next season and lets hope for some trophies and with a bit of ruthlessness in front of goal and clynical finsihing, I think we can win a lot of trophies to come. But however I don't think many people will be as forgiving next season if the same happens again. And you gotta love the chavs from north and west comming on here and giving it their all. And as for a spud thinking they can beat Sevilla, cheered me right up after that defeat!
Firebrand_Gooner
Wow, 3 cup defeats in the last 10 days. You guys are really top English quality! See you in April ****s.
WhiteHartSpur
Whiteheart, we knocked your ass out the league cup and made it too the final. You are in the cup below the champions league which you might not qualify for next year, you will most likely loose too Seville, you will most likely loose too Chelsea. Yeah you probably won't get knocked out 3 cups because you aren't in the running for three cups. It actually brings laughter too my heart when a Spurs fan gloats too Arsenal over losses in the champions league. To me the only fans who have something too say are the ones who are actually you know kicking a ball in the champions league.
Gunners
Hard luck Arsenal, If it's any consolation, when your kids have more experience, your going to have some team. good luck next season.
JohnDoe
Gunners that wasn't the point I was making. Except for Chelski, you should have beaten the other 2 teams but you didn't. Why because without Terrific Thierry being terrific Thierry, you are just a london version of Wigan!
WhiteHartSpur
Without Terrfic Thiery we merked you, I guess that is nothing too boast about. We beat Bolton without Thiery and we pushed Chelsea. Without Thiery we beat Manu at Old trafford these are teams worth metioning. I shouldn't have used spurs as an example of teams we beat without Henry, spurs are Trash nothing is praise worthy in beating them................................................................................. So if we are the London version of Wigam, just what are you? Point is we still hold our own in the champions leauge. I also think for the past 7 years we have qualified for the champions leauge. Spurs hasn't even sniffed the grass of the qualifying stages.
Gunners
jus came back for a long walk on a beautiful, didn't care thoui way to depressed and i come on vital to discuss the match and see turds flock on our page to gloat as if they're the ones that beat us. I guess thats expected from scum.
It wasn't to be, we got a away with two penalties ( one i don't how the ref didn't call) N that alex cat is monsta. Magnificent Toure was what MAGNIFICENT. Now we just have as hig is possible on the table and look forward to a fresh start for next season.
Youngest in Charge
We are realy short of quality finishers with henry and v.persie injured. Any chance of recalling Nicklas Bendtner from birmingham because Baptista just isn't cutting.
gunnergooner
Kinda to late to recall anyone now, don't ya think.
Youngest in Charge
Well we need to sign some exprienced players otherwise there's no chance of winning ANY silverware next season...Credit to Alex he was immense. Any chance of us signing him or is he realy a chelsea playa. Wenger was certainly impressed by him
gunnergooner
Youngest in Charge, the moment Spurs have the slightest poor result you lot stampede onto our page like a herd of Bison looking to mock and gloat. Its pretty pathetic that you then choose to call us Scum when we do the same ... before you open your purile mouth take a look in the mirror - you lot stop doing it and eventually we will as well
Sir_Harry
I suppose Spurs can now claim their first piece of silverware this year - The Schadenfreude Shield.
Harry's right. Lot of stupid crap coming from both sides. Sorts out NOWT. Haven't been over in a donkey's, can't be arsed really. Wish it were so for everyone else. Before the internet evolved, chatting with a bloke over a pint never got this ridiculous. Unless it was our tenth each. Goodbye and try not to devour yourselves.
greatwhitenorf
Diffrence is when an Arsenal fan disses spurs it is logical we are a better team. No matter how you put it you are doing a lot worse than Arsenal so you are in no position too laugh at our results.
Gunners
I'm gutted. How many chances do we have to create to score?
afri-gooner
k-chel, we're still gonna give you that football lesson old plum! We're just gonna have to put it on ice until next season that's all. The gods have granted you a safe passage this time 8-). Cocky attitude, no mate you'll find that most of my comments are in good humour. Gutted we're out, but that's the way it goes.
flv
It never fails to amaze me the Spuddies coming over here, or even Chelsea (R.I.P btw, the way Roman stormed off at half time, he'll pull the plug on the life support machine soon enough and your football club will be dead). Honestly, Tottenham fans, in this "rivalry" of ours, we've got more material over you than Bill Hicks. So before you come here, your trousers soaked in glee, remember, WE HAVE WON THE LEAGUE ON YOUR GROUND TWICE, YOU HAVE NOT BEATEN US THIS CENTURY (MILLENNIUM REALLY), YOU LOST TO OUR RESERVES LESS THAN SIX WEEKS AGO, THE ONLY TIME IN THE LAST DECADE YOU'VE COME CLOSE TO ANYTHING RESEMBLING SUCCESS YOU LITERALLY, LITERALLY **** YOUR PANTS, WE TOOK YOUR CAPTAIN ON A FREE TRANSFER, 1987, 1993, 2001. No amount of Gascoigne replays will ever be able to fully envelope the misery that is your lowly existence in comparison to us. 13-2 to the Arsenal.
Little Dutch
Blimey bit tetchy today are we,anyway it's not a question of trying to score point's regarding who's won what,it's the arrogance & unsporting behaviour that run's thru the Arse & most of there fans that grind's.I mean the ONLY player in yor current squad who seem's to play with any dignity is Gilberto,you shud make him full-time captain and hopefully yor team (& fans) wud gain some humility.
HATEtheGOONS
Of course HTG, Spuds are the absolute paradigm of sporting behaviour. Not only did you demand to have a game replayed on fraudulent grounds, you blamed an innocent hotel chain and refused to apologise when it was proved that your cases of the ****s was self inflicted (note to Robbie Keane, wash your hands when you take a dump). You also shunned that particular hotel on your next visit to East London. There is also a fan on this board who claims the Spuds will be in the WAFFA Cup Final (I hear they're showing still photos of the game with an hour delay on Channel 5 news), so of course, no such arrogance or unsporting behaviour exists in your mediocre club. And if this is not about scoring points blah, blah, blah etc, let me ask you one simple question. Why are you here?
Little Dutch
It's also very fortunate you are not interested in scoring points or who's won what. Because Spurs don't score many points and don't win much either.
Little Dutch
HTG, do we care if any other supporter or club likes arsenal??? NO, so whats your point?? You can come hear laughing at us all you want, it still wont hide the fact your pathetic club will never achieve anything & your only pleasure in life will be to laugh when arsenal lose & cry when they win!!....Not much of a life really, is it!!
Ashburton Gooner
HEY LD. and the rest of you. This is football. It is allowed and fully expected to enjoy your rivals misfortune. even if we were in the conference and you lost in the CL final, i would still come on here gloating. granted, your team is more successful than ours, so it makes it all the more important (and sweet) when we get a rare chance to mock.
Jacky B
if we go out of both cups in the next week, i'd be dissapointed if you didn't do the same to me/us
Jacky B
Also LD, championing the fact that your games are on sky (mocking us about channel 5) is a bit out of character for you, from what i have learn't about your views up till now.
Jacky B
Just offering some friendly advice,i thought now that Thierry's out for 4-5 wks he'd have a chance to have a look on VA.
As for winning things (sigh) EuroCup's 3-2 to the Tottenham.
HATEtheGOONS
I understand that JackyB, but if you dish it out, you've gotta take it as well, and as Arsenal fans we have plenty to give back! The Channel 5 thing is a popular chant that goes up round our way when little boys riding their bikes with training wheels think they can try and knock big boys off their Harley's. I won't mock you if you go out of the F.A Cup because a) you got further than us and b) I'm not really fond of Chelsea. I won't mock you if you go out of the UEFA Cup because I will probably have no idea what your result is, just like I've got no idea who the current tiddlywinks World Champion is. HTG, your record winning Europe's minor cups is because you don't ever play in the big boys cup, which is much harder to win. It's a bit like Notts County fans gloating to Forest fans about having won the old Fourth Division more times than them.
Little Dutch
Surely not another analogy Mr Dutch! :)
HATEtheGOONS
I have heard that channel 5 song, are you gonna adapt it to "ITV, Wednesday night" for next week?
And as i said the other day, i hope one day you end up in the Uefa cup (you have come close) .....will you still not watch it then?
Jacky B
I will JackyB, I was out in Lens and Bremen a few years back. But it won't stop me feeling incredibly embarassed. Same as if we were in the Championship, I would literally rather not be in Europe at all than be in the WAFFA Cup. For a club like Arsenal it's not worth it with the way the fixtures are structured. Following Arsenal in the CL in the last few years has allowed me to take in Rome, Prague, Amsterdam, Athens, Munich, Paris, Moscow etc. I don't think I could swap that for Braga or Vilnius without feeling incredibly sad.
Little Dutch
Gutted, completely gutted at the result, not coz we went out to a better team, but we just couldnt take our chances !!
prits
I'm surprised you have the cognitive faculties to recognise an analogy when you see one HTG. It seems I underestimated you, now if you keep demonstrating that kind of intellectual acumen, you might just make the grade of halfwit. Then again, the sun shines on a dog's arse at least once a day!
Little Dutch
LD, yes that would be a shame. should it ever happen, i will lend you my hanky!
Jacky B
oh... and would you seriously, compare dropping into the Uefa cup to being relegated?
Jacky B
What a wonderous command of the english language you possess Dutchie,keep it up and that Pulitzer/Nibbie award that you crave is yours.3-2.
HATEtheGOONS
The noble prize for Mathematics will escape you HTG, because that 3 should be a 13. 13-2. Reminds me of that offspring lyric, "he's getting a tatoo, he's getting it done, he asked for a 13 but they drew a 31."
Little Dutch
Just have to support the other English Teams now the Arsenal have fallen.
col8
LD... To adapt Black rebel motorcycle club... "its easy to get knocked out, when you get knocked out, you know you're done"
been singing that to myself all day.
Jacky B
Not too difficult .. for many years I've not considered you lot an English team ... including the very sad for English football when Real had more English players turning out than you did ...
Sir_Harry
Surely 'Pass the Dutchie-pipe on the left-hand side' wud be more appropriate.
HATEtheGOONS
Sir Harry, whether or not you consider us an English team is about as interesting and hurtful to me as wiping the remnants of a particularly unpleasant turd from my arse. Your team should know all about that.
Little Dutch
Sir Harry, do you not consider it a sad day for English football when the Football Association pulls the plug on a superb youth training facility so that they can put an arch on Wembley stadium? Of course you don't, because your copy of the Daily Mail didn't tell you to think that.
Little Dutch
but sometimes an unpleasant turd can be hurtful, no?
Jacky B
That's it,the Pulitzer's in the post! :)
HATEtheGOONS
Maybe JackyB, but if the wiping is hurtful, consult a doctor because you've probably got haemerrhoids. Then you can prepare a fraudulent lawsuit against a hotel in the Docklands.
Little Dutch
or i have had a particularly fiery curry.... tends to make the ring a little bit tender, either that or my other pass time..... er oh ...... oops
Jacky B
It's all so clear now, JackyB, is actually, Ashley C! Cheap shot I know, but I'll take what I can get this morning.
Little Dutch
Maybe Wenger should've done a Jol & cried to UEFA that we needed a bye because our players were tired!! Playing over 40 matches a season is too much for the spuds untalented group!!
Ashburton Gooner
Suck on that you *****en ugly gooners! Jol didnt say a word to uefa about our bye, they made the decision before the draw was even made i think you'll find di(k!
Arse end of season party tonight then yeah?
guy7yug
"Real had more English players turning out than you did" they still do, up until this week. Real 1 in the XI (becks) Arse 0. Sad very sad. I can only imagine the feeling that you gooners must get being englishmen, and your local team doesnt field a single english player. Id be ashamed quite frankly.
guy7yug
guy7, so you didn't see or hear Jol on sky saying "we should have a bye & compensation". You're a total muppet that knows nothing & have just proved it. How the hell could Feyernoord already have been kicked out before the draw was made if the spuds got them in the draw???. He was crying about needing a bye because his untalented bunch of british rubbish was tired....................Who cares about English players?? England last won a major trophy around the same time as spurs, so that should tell you all you need to know about English players.
Ashburton Gooner
this morning is a sad day, and even sadder are the chelsea and spud gloaters.. or floaters, never get that right ! spuds, you haven't won anything yet, your not even in a final yet, so stop bragging. chelsea your in the qtr final, yet there alot of good teams to play and you haven't got anywhere yet, milan would be the easiest draw for you. i don't see our loss as so huge when you consider, that Barce , Real madrid and Inter went out, also muched fancied Lyon aswell... so there is no HUGE shame in our loss, but if it makes a few sad muppet spuds happy then so be it.. and let me say, if we finish 3rd this season, by my maths, than is a 1 place improvement on last season, so in fact, we have improved domestically ! europe is an added bonus, we got to the final last year, very few teams reach a final 2 years running, infact NO team has ever won the CL and defended it, NOR has the losing team gone to the final the following year either, so there is NOTHING to be ashamed of.. we finish 3rd, i will consider it progress.. we have already been to a final this year, something the spuds cannot claim, and we will be in europe next year, something you little scums cannot claim either.
PUREGOLD
Ashburton..... yeah, Jol is callin the shots at Uefa. Actually my friend, Jol joked that he'd like a bye, but the chairman would prob think otherwise.
LD... Surely you are not stooping to homophobic jibes about someone who has done the dirty on you? Sol Campbell anyone?
Jacky B
guy7yug, you'd probably be ashamed becuase you are a deplorable little racist. When evolution reaches your incest ridden caravan park, let me know how those thumbs work out for you. 71 2004.
Little Dutch
JackyB, you assume inserting mobile phones into one's rectum is an act exclusively for homosexuals? I never made any reference to sexuality, that was your inference not mine.
Little Dutch
You tw4t cashburton. The uefa inquest started against feyenoord straight after the crowd trouble, which was ages ago. They had to keep feyenoord in the draw because they hadnt made their formal decision, but everyone knew they were gonna get kicked out, and also they knew they could appeal to the CAS. Who wouldnt want a bye you muppet? he said it'd be nice, because we were playing so many games. The only one crying is you and your scum mates. Who cares about english players? any self respecting englishman maybe? You probably followed france in the world cup didnt you? f u ckin scum
guy7yug
LD.... You assume that the hobby i was talking about initially involved mobile phones? You are also neglecting that the "alleged story" regarding Ashley Cole (towards whom you turned the banter) did not refer to his "activities" with Cheryl tweedy. That was the basis for my inference
Jacky B
im not rascist in the least, in fact my girlfriend isnt even white, so dont give me that *********.
i just think your team has played a major part in stalling the progress of english football as a whole. You cant argue with that
guy7yug
Quite right guy7yug .. its not a debate about the merits of English v overeas players but it should be noted that Arsenal were the only team in the last 16 not to have a single player from the national football association they represent in their starting XI ... its a pity those who think this is good can't be stripped of their citizenship and deported rather than play at being pretend Englishmen .. and again it is pitiful that Jol joking about it nice having a bye being twisted into him squealing for UEFA to let Spurs have one - anyone would have thought it was Wenger making the observation and commenting considering the lack of accuracy.
Sir_Harry
you cannot blame arsenal for holding back England's progress, I think the FA do a very fine job all my their sad little selves, first with Sven and now with Mclaren. Also maybe you could bring the government onto this subject too, non-competitive sports in schools is not what I call giving our country the best start, its not just football, but cricket and rugby too ! it starts in schools and if Arsenal decides he can get a player for far less money and more talent, I have no problem with it.
PUREGOLD
No offence but I remember last year when you won nothing, you said this was the one where you'd be winning stuff, it's been even worse aint it....what's gonna help you next year? Diaby? Denilson?..No..you need an Englishman or 2, Scoot parker, someone like that.
JCFC
No offence but I remember last year when you won nothing, you said this was the one where you'd be winning stuff, it's been even worse aint it....what's gonna help you next year? Diaby? Denilson?..No..you need an Englishman or 2, Scott parker, someone like that.
JCFC
PG, i'm blown away.I thought young british people loved football more than us.That doesn't happen(this is not a sarcastic comment)?
k_chelski
Sir Hrary, once more, and this time clean your eyes and read you ignorant, odious little *****. THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION PULLED THE PLUG ON A YOUTH CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE TO PUT AN ARCH ON WEMBLEY STADIUM, how is that Arsenal's fault. I AM NOT AN IGNORANT ***** LIKE YOU SO I DO NOT CARE WHERE MY FRIENDS/FAMILY OR THE PLAYERS IN MY TEAM COME FROM. And this one you can never, ever answer ARSENAL HAD A TOTAL OF TWELVE PLAYERS IN THE ENGLAND U-21, U-19, U-18 AND U-16 SIDES IN FEBRUARY, TOTTENHAM HAD A TOAL OF THREE. who is really safegurding the future of the national team here? IT IS A DEBATE ABOUT OVERSEAS v ENGLISH PLAYERS, THE FACT IS OVERSEAS PLAYERS ARE IN GENERAL, BETTER VALUE AND BETTER SUITED TO THE TECHNICAL GAME WE PLAY. God, you are such a sickening Little Englander, what does it ******** matter? England is the place where my parents shagged and where my stuff is, that's all. Trying to formulate some idea that everything has to be English or else it is no good is the kind of attitude that is seeing people killed the world over. Thomas Paine once said, "the world is my country, all mankind is my brethren and to do good is my religion." If you can deconsstruct that withoutnreverting to samll minded buzz words, good luck. Moron.
Little Dutch
lol, little dutch, he thinks he's better than anyone because he came out of his mother ****** in london. ;p.
k_chelski
Anyone who has ever read Sir_Harrys post of VitalSp*rs will know he doesnt give a s*@t about English football. Every other post is a scouting report from from europe about which players he would sign or getting Defoe out of the team and replacing him with Mido or Keane (An Irishman and an Egyptian). He wants Laudrup to be the next Sp*rs manager and his thought process shuns up and coming English coaches like Paul Simpson at Preston or the British Billy Davies at Derby (Perhaps he thinks its because they are not good enough but surely being British they deserve a chance?). No point biting on his xenophobic posts because deep down he doesnt even believe in what he is writing.
iceman10
LD, that was awesome!
flv
the fact of the matter is...
arsenals gonna win f00k all!
guy7yug
well said LD....
fran merida
It's not even possible to have any kind of reasoned debate regarding local/overseas contingents in any team when people like "Sir" Harry wade in with semi-fascist boots on. Although LD gave you a sterling reply, I wonder if it was wasted on you.
Andy-bayor
It's really sad to hear Little Dutch make such dismissive comments about Spurs. Because of work, I'm often on the Spurs vital site in the wee bleary hours. And guess who regularly shows up trolling the site for hours at a time. That's right, you Little Dutch. And you're on hear obviously at all hours of the day. Sure, Spurs fans jump in to wind you all up. If Spurs are the sort of team you claim they are, why are you prowling about on that site? By your estimation of us, that makes you some turd-sniffing freak? Of course, if your club were what you claim they are, why would another club even exist today elsewhere in norf London? Do you go to Star Trek conventions in the close season?
greatwhitenorf
greatwhitenorf, I haven't been on your turd infested site for weeks. Go on, look at all the articles there now and see if you can find a comment from me. As for your other assertion, I have to get for work in the morning at 5.30am, so I am never on this site after 10pm. Greatwhitenorf, only one club exists in North London. That club has won 13 league titles (2 at WHL), 10 F.A Cups hasn't lost to its local rivals (Barnet) in eons and beat some side called Totteringham in the semi finals of the Carling Cup with its reserve team. Go home little boy, you might think you're waving, but I can see that you're drowning.
Little Dutch
I surprises me the inability of certain contibutors - Iceman10, Little Dutch - to understand the most basic of English. None of my comments have been rascist or xenophobic .. it has been pointed out that Arsenal were the only team in the top16 in Europe not to have a mix of national and international players in the starting XI. And it is this EXTREME which has compelled the EC/UEFA/FIFA to start to take action. You can harp on all you like about the decision to invest in a new Wembley which I'm sure you won't complain about considering the frequency of your visits, or the number of players you have in the England age groups. How many graduate at Arsenal? Numerous pundits of been surprised at Wenger's inability to find young English players and bring them through .. is he, in fact, overrated and its the overseas players first coaches who deserve the credit, Fabregas at Barca, Denilson at San Paolo etc? And yes I have recommended top European youngsters along with top English youngsters who are given a proper and decent chance. Its not about being 100% one way or another its about getting a healthy mix for the benefit of club and national football. And Iceman10, I am flattered you read my posts .. please tell me the nationalities of Matty Taylor, Gareth Barry, Lee Holmes, Lukas Jutkewicz, Luke Summerfield, Dan Gosling and Giles Barnes. Oh and I advocated getting rid of Defoe and replacing him with Dean Ashton and/or Craig Beattie. I think if you check their passports you'll find ... At one point I read the articles you contributed with interest as they were intelligent and well thought out, but your pathetic, abusive and inaccurate comments have simply revealed your true colours. Disappointing
Sir_Harry
Oh and Thomas Paine was an ********* who nailed himself to any colours that would assist him in getting out of his legal difficulties. Someone who thinks individuals should be executed because of their social status determined at birth (French Revolution). Impressive hero.
Sir_Harry
At what point did I say Thomas Paine was my hero? I smply used a line of his which eloquently summed up how I feel about the subject. I find your moral posturing quite amusing given your comment, "its a pity those who think this is good can't be stripped of their citizenship and deported rather than play at being pretend Englishmen." So this is your model for England is it? Land of freedom and democracy, do as we tell you, think as we tell you or ***** off. You have the right to do what we tell you, very nice. Your comments are very implicitly xenophobic, do you really expect me to believe you just happened to be pointing out the patriation of our squad off the cuff? Oh I was just saying mister. The fact is, it is not worth mentioning, because it is not bloody important. If you have half a brain cell, you don't look at people that way. I remember the first time we put out a non English sixteen, I had absolutely no idea until the next day when it was splashed all over the papers."Not too difficult .. for many years I've not considered you lot an English team ... including the very sad for English football when Real had more English players turning out than you did ..." Another one of your ignorant posts. Quite frankly Sir Harry, your disappointment in me means absolutely nothing to me, you are an ignorant Little Englander and I have no interest in hearing your opinions. If you have something relevant to football to say, please do, but when you start harping on about the nationalistic make up of our squad, you are taking the discussion somewhere else that has nothing to do with the merits of football or a love of the game and everything to do with ignorance, small mindedness and petty fear. UEFA want to bring in the quota because international football is awful and they want to drag down the quality of club football. Do you honestly believe giving young English players a smooth path into the first team without having to fight for it is going to help. Great, Sidwell gets picked ahead of Fabregas based on Aryan ideology, gets in England side, England play Sapin, Sidwell comes up against Cesc, he has to outshine him at some point and giving him a place in the first team on a technicality will not help England. What will help England is a strong, well funded youth set up which will coach English kids properly to be as good as their overseas counterparts. But no, the F,A want an arch and they blame Arsenal. If the football association don't take the development of young English players seriously, then what hope anyone else?
Little Dutch
if real madrid is considered an english club because they had more english players than Arsenal, then the preson suggesting this idea needs some stern talking to.
49ers
And continually sticking the likes of Cygan ahead of Upson is an example of fair treatment of English players?. Hell, Senderos has shown no more ability than Upson. And Bentley, I have yet to see the huge strides that RVP has made to suggest he would automatically start. When Seaman got injured, Stewart Taylor came in and did really well, so you sign that clown Alumina who was a reserve in Spain. And even Wenger has spoken of his admiration for Sidwell and considering how poorly you shot from central midfield on Tuesday you might still be in the CL. Or is the coach of Valencia a moron for expressing an interest in him. The point which is being conciously ignored is how on earth do Arsenal fail to bring through so few national players into their team? Regarding the Real issue as it was a remark made by a number of journalists, respected pundits and fans who care both about their club team and national side, exactly how is it ignorant? The Champions League is not about the best 32 teams in Europe, its about the top 3-4 teams from each nation representing their country as ambassadors in this competition. I don't support Arsenal v Barcelona as for me, neither side does anything for English football which I support after my club team. Opportunities aren't provided for English youngsters to hone their skills at the highest club level and hopefully benefit the national team. If England were playing Brazil who would you support ... or wouldn't you bother to watch? Whilst it is Arsenal's right not to play any English players, it is extraordinary that such an allegedly strong coaching set up cannot find one English player to fill their first XI - how is every other team in the last 16 is able to do so - that question has not been answered yet? Additionally you play in an English league run by that country's national association - it is not without question that a team unwilling to play even one player capable of playing for that national associations football side should not be allowed to represent them - its not about playing 11 Englishmen, its about not being rascist or xenophobic in denying talented young English players such as Bentley and Sidwell the chance at a competitive level. Bentley was given 1 game in 5 years, Sidwell none. This is an equal opportunity? Rascism and Xenophobia by certain organisations cuts both ways .. Your ability to immediately resort to personal abuse both on this posts and others today means any personal and abusive criticisim you try to level at me, which I can consistently shown to be based on a wholly false and inaccurate premise is merely water off a ducks back
Sir_Harry
Man U had a truly special thing with the Nevilles, Scholes etc. That is a freak occurence. Liverpool have Gerrard and Carragher. Chelsea have John Terry. Spurs have Ledley King. Tell me, how many other top drawer English players have these clubs produced? It ain't that many let me tell you, the rest are all imported for stupid stupid money. The best club for English talent is West Ham (and look where they are).
There are loads of ex Arsenal English players now playing for other clubs, the likes of Cole, Bentley, Sidwell, Campbell Upson and Pennant (who I admit were bought), with others such as Muamba on loan. Cole had the makings of an Arsenal legend but we all know what happened there. Campbell walked out on the team, never offered an apology for it and begged to be released from his contract to play abroad.....in Portsmouth. The list of Pennant's indescresions goes on and on and on. See a pattern here? Bentley and Sidwell grew impatient and you can't blame them for wanting to play. No way they were getting in the team ahead of Vieira, Bergkamp etc who were monumental players of the modern game. The fact is most of our English players turned out to be c o c k s who expected everything on a plate. They've moved on, had their say in the papers but really they got an awesome football education. I'm happy most of them have gone (Sidwell excluded and we have first refusal on him).
You can complain all you like Sir Harry but Wenger looks out for Arsenal - its his job. He has his resources and he has to do the best he can with them. He has paid big money and it not worked out - Jeffers and Reyes. He has paid big money and helped hone the best player in the world - Henry (not on this season's showing admittedly).
Generally speaking he is a transfer wizard - his net spending well below Man U, Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs, Newcastle and probably Boro as well and until Roman came along we were the only club to consistently challenge Utd and did it on a relative shoestring. That means not paying the exorbitant fees for English players. £80 million for Carrick, Rooney and Ferdinand?!? Should I reel off the list of players Wenger bought for that? Ain't got the space. You may have a lot of British talent in your squad Sir Harry but only King would get a look in with us.
Anyways my hands are cramping up cos I typed so damn much. So much rubbish being bandied about I had to have my 5 cents worth.
legrandesaucisse
1ST of all hello all, been a lurker for a long time but reading all the cack written by the usual suspects has forced of out of lurk-hood to make a few points... 1st up it was always my impression that a football team should represent its local community, now i lived on stroud green road for 12 years, my local grocer was a turk-cypriot, landlord greek, anyone walking up from the station can't fail to notice the multitude of african beauty shops, the old carribean gents playing dominoes on a hot summers day, the halal butchers next to the indian super markets... truely a multicultural slice of cosmopolitan london at its finest, something that makes me proud 2 be a londoner and proud to be a Gooner as my team truely reflects the diversity of the area it represents...
KaoTeK
2nd of all if english players are so good, how come sp*rs are once again languishing in their traditional mid table place despite of all that english 'talent' at their desposal, and they are only there cos of some important goals scored by your foreign mercenaries- but for them you'd be battling with those other bastions of english football west ham for a relegation place... At the end of the day i dont give
a flying fu(k about the national team, bunch of over hyped, under performing shower of ****e that they are. i dont care one jot about the development of the national side, especially at the detriment of the club i love. if the day comes when we are forced to play sub standard english players just because the (unts at fifa force it on us, will be the day i give up on football altogether (unless a european super league is formed)
KaoTeK
Finally do you really think the Arsenal would have the global following they have (especially in africa) if they had a team full of mediocre english 'talent' like the spuds? that popularity brings significant revenue through selling the rights to show the matches... and lets really end the hypocrisy; how many of you own am english made.... car, hi fi, computer, mobile, console,tv the list goes on and on... well don't you know that not buying english is stunting the development of english businesses because they cant compete with cheaper, higher quality imports? shame on you!
KaoTeK
Sir Harry, here's the crux, Bentley and Upson asked to leave. Neither tried at any point to fight for their place, Wenger typically sells players that are injury prone anyway, nothing Upson has done convinces me he is good enough to play for us (when he can get it together to play that is). Stuart Taylor is an awful goalie, who played horribly for us, the fact that he is currently second choice to Sorensen- the second worse keeeper in the Prem says it all. Bentley is not good enough to play for us, he's not even on the same planet as Hleb and Rosicky and besides which, it's irrelevant because he demanded a transfer two weeks after returning from a loan spell. One game in five years is a mindless, moronic thing to say, he left us at the age of 20, should we have been playing him at 15? Besiddes which, he played more games than that. Sidwell is good, but not as good as Cesc, Denilson, Diaby, Song. If you listen to the man himself he is effusive in his praise for Wenger. The CL is not about representing a country, that's what international tournaments are for, this is about representing your club. I feel absolutely fine about that, if you think we should be representing England, that's your hard luck, because we are not. Do you not see a pattern in the appalling attitudes of Cole, Bentley, Pennant, Bothroyd (who was sacked)? In the last ten years English players have in general turned into big time charlies, with young Spanish and African kids showing more commitment and desire. Wenger is looking to change this, the infrastructure of our youth development has changed and we are blooding Englsih talent.
Little Dutch
Just like to add: a xenophobe is somone who is sacred of a foreign culture where as a racist is somone who thinks another race is somehow inferior, or judges a person accuse of their nationality. i would go as far as to say most of the people who bang on about Arsenal have views that are racist and not xenophobic... honestly im so tired of the same old cr@p its the same nonsense that got spouted 50 odd years ago 'those dirty foreigners are taking all ous jobs' all of you can fu(k off back to the holes you crawled from, cos suprise club football is a business and given the distinct lack of decent english players, its only natural to look in the global market instead, like or not club football is about furthering the club not the national team... oh yea and big ups to ld,iceman,winston et all, nice one lads...
KaoTeK
Furthering the p[oint about Senderos, he played every game when we kept ten consecutive clean sheets in the CL. He was the fulcrum of a Switzerland side that did not concede a goal in the World Cup. Senderos has produced at the very highest level of the game and he is a year younger than I am. Upson played fitfully for a Birmingham side that was relegated comfortably. The compariosn does not stand up. It's interesting Sir Harry that you answer so few of the questions I pose, probably because they threaten your nationalistic agenda and expose your ignorance, so I'm probably wasting my time asking this, but what English players has the Spurs youth academy produced since Ledley King came onto the scene in 1999?
Little Dutch
KaoTek also makes a very good point about the local area. I don't know if you've been to Finsbury Park/Holloway Sir Harry, but white middle class daily mail reading it ain't. I don't know how old you are or how your health is Sir Harry, but I hope you're around in twenty years and you remember this conversation, because it will embarass you. Just as people who chided Arsenal for fielding Irish players now look ridiculous, just as people who slated Arsenal/West Brom for playing black players now look ridiculous. Now why not go home, sit on your Swedish furniture, crack open a nice can of Belgian lager, kick of your shoes made in Portugal, turn on your Korean tv, jerk off to some German hardcore porn, stick a Bob Marley album on and thank God you're English.
Little Dutch
Sir_Harry, the premiership is not just about 'local' football anymore, i feel. the global audience is huge and I, for one, am not english, much less belong to London, yet I'm proud to be a gooner. It is this same global nature of the league thats bringing in the TV money that will benefit all premiership clubs next season. Arsene IS doing his bit for english football, like LD pointed out, with the england youth teams which u dont seem to aknowledge.
prits
oh and I'm a reader of the Independent, not the fascist Daily Mail thank you
Sir_Harry
The point being made is that whilst we live in an international city and in an international community, it is still very surprising that a leading team cannot field one player from the country in which they are based in their starting XI. 15 of the last 16 European teams can but only one cannot. A team of XI Englishmen is extreme, a team of no Englishmen is extreme especially considering how talented a coach Wenger is alleged to be. That is what people find surprising. There are loads of bad eggs across Europe so don't think its an English disease. Bentley asked to leave but wouldn't any player who was given one game in 5 years and then constantly had players bought in his position. Its called ambition and maybe an impression that you are never going to be given a chance ... whilst exaggerated there are murmurings of cultural cliques at Arsenal. It is not xenophobic or rascist. It is not a fear of other cultures ... there is nothing better than a mix of cultures but shouldn't one be our own? Oh and Kaotek, according to Deloitte Consulting who published net transfer expenditure for 2006 (Jan-Dec) in the Premiership, Arsenal were the 2nd highest NET spenders in the Premiership in this calendar year spending a NET amount of £26+m. Chelsea were the highest at £38+m, ManU and Liverpool spent around the NET amount of £15-16m, Spurs spent a net amount in 2006 of £250,000 which is disgraceful. So pleading poverty holds as much water as your average sieve.
Sir_Harry
Once again, and this time please read because you are becoming a very irritating bore. Where does the Bentley once in five years thing come from? He spent a year at Norwich and asked to leave within two weeks of his return. At the time, Bergkamp, Hleb, Pires, Reyes, RVP all stood in his way because they are better players. Bentley is nowhere near good enough to play for us. On the "why doesn't Wenger find Englishmen" point, he does. He cultivated Cole, Hoyte is getting a fair crack in the first team and he is putting his time (not to mention £12m) into Theo Walcott. The thing is, Wenger does not care where the player is from, he wants the very best. The truth is, English players don't typically figure in "the very best" due to the frankly third world infrastructure of our youth coaching. Wenger has stated he would have loved to bring Rooney to Arsenal, but he couldn't afford to (another case in point). It's a big world, Wenger looks all through it for talent without prejudice or favouritism, the fact is Enoch that England is a small part of the world. Players like Hoyte, Cole and Walcott prove that there is no agenda as you are suggesting, if you work hard enough and you are good enough, you will make it. That's his only premise, the fact that English players are too expensive and that there is a current trend for their popstar status to go their head is another point you are neatly sidestepping. Ashley Young is a half decent young English prospect, £9.75m based on half a season in the Prem playing for the bottom club. That's £2m more expensive than the frankly better Tomas Rosicky. Economics and a blindness to passports are two of Wenger's motivating factors. You might ask why Wenger has no players from Kuala Lumpur, the answer is, you can't get blood from a stone. England is not blessed with talent at the moment, what little of it there is is either too expensive or too vein.
Little Dutch
Never mentioned anything about dosh harry me ol fruit jube... just attempting 2 point out the racism and shear hypocrisy that tend to in hand in hand with the so called 'issues' u and your scabby lot attempt to 'debate' us with...
KaoTeK
Arsene Wenger has been at Arsenal for 10 years Sir Harry. Some transfer windows he spends in and some he doesn't. Try averaging out what he has spent over the decade he's been at the club and you'll get a true reflection of Arsenal's expenditure under Wenger , as opposed to picking up on the selective 6 month period that suits you. For example, if you were asked to try and estimate somebody's annual shopping expenditure, you wouldn't just look at their December purchases of the previous year and times that by 12, would you?
flv
Again, which English player have Spurs brought through their academy since King?
Little Dutch
LD, i agree with you in alot of things, but , third world infrastructure has nothing to do with english players being good or not.There's good players from all around the world, especially in third world countries, africa is growing alot in football, and i would definitely love to see an african team win the world cup.What i do think (please correct me if i am wrong) , is that the premiership changed it's style, if you look back at the 1993 games, and 1994 , you'll see alot of crosses, headers, and raw power.Now, it's a bit more balanced, it still has all those things, but there's more technical quality, it could've affected the generation of today.I think in the next few years, alot of english players will come good.
k_chelski
k_chelski, African football has the raw talent, but better coaching and it could be on a par with Europe. You're right about the style of play element, the problem is the English F.A are sitting waiting for English players to catch up and blaming Arsenal when they don't. Something has to be done, the kick and rush, biggest players=best players idea has to go. The technical aspect of our coaching is ignored and England continue to lag behind.
Little Dutch
Little Dutch, the pathetic immaturity of your comments never ceases to amaze me .. you seem incapable of engaging in a mature conversation; are you an adult or a pathetic, spotty teenager? ..Swedish furniture, Korean TV, Belgian lager, German porn, what exactly is the point of this pathetic nonsense and what exactly does it have to do with a discussion on football. You still have answered the XI question? ManU, Liverpool and Chelsea all fielded a balanced mix of players in their team including players from their domestic nations. And they progressed in some cases against teams regarded as superior. The successful clubs have a spine of national players, the emphasis here being on spine, something that a spineless little child like you seems to be incapable of understanding. I can imagine you are the sort of individual who requires porn to get it up based on your remarks on the posts over the last couple of days
Sir_Harry
Sir Harry, this has been debated and discussed in numerous occasions especially after that excuse of a club that you support has managed to get a few results. When you answer the question about the contribution of your mid-table club along with the Russian one and the American two, to the English U-16 to U-21 in comparison with the Arsenal's, maybe then you will realise how pointless and plain stupid your argument is. Try that. Should not be that hard.
G4L
And I also urge you to support Jol to keep fielding 'extraordinary' English talent such as Jenas and Robinson - it is bound to keep you where you are for a number of years. Mid-fecking-table.
G4L
G4L ... from the FA website and the latest squads U16 to U21, ManU contribute 9 players, Chelsea 8, Spurs 7, Arsenal 6 and Liverpool only 2 ... now my question is how much of an opportunity will these guys been given? Hoyte has only just got in, and Walcott was bought .. but based on the last 10years the likes of Lansbury will get a few games in the Carling Cup, no opportunity at all with Arsenal in the Premiership and then sold .. to be replaced by someone no worse, but no better .. Regarding your remarks concerning Robinson, Lehmann aged 28 had an absolute shocker of a season with Milan, yet like all good keepers eventually game good - it is well known that keepers reach their peak 30+ and after a few pretty decent seasons, Robbo was likely to have a poor one. Regarding Jenas, I will defer to your Arsene Wenger who said that he was a very good player, not worth the price Newcastle were originally quoting (£15m) - as he cost us less than half that, and as a 24 year old he's finally settling into one position rather than being moved all over the field, he represents a valuable addition to ANY Premiership squad. Only the myopic and stupid would suggest otherwise
Sir_Harry
Dear S.Harry I doubt you would be preaching us about English players if you had none in your team. No, I dont think we'd see you for dust if circumstance gave you no Brits but trophies and titles galore. The discussion on English/foreign players is an ideological one whereas the supporting of a club is an emotional one, and I believe these separate issues are totally incompatible.
To blame Arsenal for England's below par standards is extreme arrogance at a time when the English game needs to look at itself in the mirror and make more honest conclusions about attitude and culture. We as a club are subject to the same capitalist and globalisation influences as anyone else, so you dont need to wag your finger as us as if you occupied a moral high ground because you happen to have a few English players in your team today. In fact you were the ones that raised the bar 25 years ago by signing Ardiles and Villa. See? And they were both white! I mean have you got anything against blacks, lol? (Calm down, I said 'lol' alright.)
Andy-bayor
Actually Andy-bayor it would leave a slightly bad taste if we couldnt find space in our first XI for not one English player. Fortunately as the last 16 of the Champions League proved you are very much the exception to the rule across Europe. And its not a suggestion that any club should be expected to have over 50% in their team .. but not even being able to develop one suggests a huge flaw. In many ways Justin Hoyte has been great this season but the moment Eboue is available, Hoyte is dropped ... why? Its not about colour as we have a raft of talented black youngsters and of course the great Ledley King. Its disappointing when asking a perfectly valid question is implied as some form of extremism;- if I'd suggested all 11 then you'd have a point as you would if I suggested 10,9,8,7 but I mean, 1,!?
Sir_Harry
Harry: the point LD and I are trying to make regarding korean TVs etc is that you matey boy are being a fu(king hypocrite, on the one hand cussing our team (a business) for bringing in more talented players at a lower price from overseas, whilst undoubtably you base most of your own consumption of goods based on cost v quality most of which is without doubt produced outside england (or even the uk...) therefore you cause the same problem to english businesses as Arsenal allegedly cause english football... its all business in a global market so where is the difference? plus you bang on about bringing in a foreign coach and players which is hardly conducive to furthering the english cause is it? mate get of your soapbox and concentrate on your own clubs numerous problems before coming here with your holier than thou attitude...
KaoTeK
Kaotek, I actually look to drink Real Ale brewed in England, I don't watch porn as my lady deals with all of those needs, I drive a car built in Oxford, watch a TV with parts made in Wales but assembled in Europe ....... oh and the funiture was also made in the UK .... so I'm not quite sure why you think its clever to tar everyone with your brush. And yes if I was to purchase something, and I knew one of the products was made in the UK, that would be part of the consideration .. not about being a little Englander, its about supporting my fellow fans of all ilk who work in manufacturing or the service sector and rely on their fellow citizens for support in helping them maintain their jobs. And it something I am proud to do.
Sir_Harry
So your tv is partially made in wales( another country last time i checked...) with parts made in europe... so tell me where is the difference between your telly and buying - say - a french player? do u have a car?bet all the parts are made outside of england and if u are very,very lucky the best you're gonna get is it being fabricated in england (more likely wales or scotland- see above point) how about your pc? microwave? fridge? DvD? hi fi? your mobile swedish, finnish, yank or asian? etc etc... aint taring u with 'the same brush' just pointing out your double standards.... i remember when you more or less posted decent comments, balanced and to the point... but since your lot have won a couple of games you've started spouting the usual insipid cack that most spuds seem to think is something you have over us, but honestly if the 'english debate' is all you have its a pretty sad state of affairs eh? please, i know from your past posts u aint a brainless spud so answer of this: what obligation does a club, given its a business, have to further the national team? surely thats the fa's job not my club (nor yours)
KaoTeK
My bad... said tv when you were on about your car am posting from a mobi so forgive me on that one but the point is still valid...yea the uk economy is service based but at they end of the day no foreign products bye bye service industry... besides you'll find more of those jobs are getting out- sourced to india where it is cheaper and of a higher quality...
KaoTeK
Sir Harry, not one of your comments has had anyhting to do with football, more on your own small mindedness. I've constantly answered your Lord Tebitt line of questioning and posed some of my own which you have dodged, ironically enough, in the manner of a Tory politician. Why will Hoyte be dropped when Eboue comes back? Because Eboue is better than Hoyte, that is why. Not becuase he's African, not because he speaks French, or not because he's got a peachy arse, because he's better. Let's look at why United and Chelsea get a mixture of English and foreign players (ignoring the fact that Chelsea ruined the prospects of Parker, Johnson and SWP and that United haven't produced a player for the national team since 96). Lampard £11m, Cole £8m, Rooney £30m, Rio £30m, Carrick £18m, Pennant £7m. The Nevilles, Scholes, Carragher and Gerrard came through ten years ago. In that time we've brought through Hoyte and Cole, which makes us comparable to United and Liverpool and in excess of yourselves (King) and Chelsea (Terry). The fact that NOBODY seems to be able to bring through young English talent seems to suggest there's not a lot of it out there. I know your horribly blinkered, little Englander world view will not like that, but that's a fact. If you compare players bought into first teams from academies since the turn of the century, Arsenal field Hoyte, Chelsea Terry, Liverpool nobody and Spurs nobody and United O'Shea (who is Irish). Now compare the prices above to Cesc free, Toure £200k, Senderos £200k, Clichy £500k. Djourou £200k, Walcott £12m. Do you see a pattern here Mr. Powell? This argument may be alien to you, because it uses logic and pure facts, rather than prioritising English over anything based on where your parents conceived you. In closing, name me a player, let alone an English player, that Wenger has sold and been made to regret it.
Little Dutch
P.S, you got Jenas for £7m? We got Denilson for £3m and he made Jenas look an absolute arse (which he is) at the Grove.
Little Dutch
At the end of the day the table don't lie, so for all the spuds 'brit grit' it aint saying too much about english talent... oh yea and a fat lot of good u lot are doing the england team....what u training them to be even more mediocre than the already are?
KaoTeK
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