I know I will get slated for this but In my opinion losing Cesc Fabregas was more damaging to your club coupled with the injuries to Jack and Diaby.Cesc was by some distance the best creative midfielder in the premiership and even up to today Arsenal struggle to break down teams in the absence of the Spaniard.
Yes van Persie scored 37 goals last season and in games were Arsenal were on the back foot(At Anfield) the genius of the Dutchman was the difference that allowed Arsenal to take the 3 points but lets be honest for most of the season Arsenal were always chasing a top 4 spot, never comfortable but that would never happen when Cesc was at the club.
In my opinion letting Cesc go was more damaging to Arsene and that’s why he is now prepared to rebuild the team and when you think about it, there is no point rebuilding the team around van Persie given his age.
When you think about it Robin is not the type of striker that Arsene has built his teams around in the past. He is the type of player who thrives on a team that dominates possession like Arsenal used to when Cesc and Nasri were at the club but if the team has to do more off the ball he is not that type of player irrespective of the 37 goals he scored in what was a magnificent season.
I hope he goes to Barca, he will be exceptional there and I believe he will allow Messi and Cesc to play off and around him.
It may be embarrassing for Arsenal given the apparent lack of ambition they have shown as a club irrespective of what garzadis says but I think Arsene is theye for the long haul and will rebuild this team starting from the back with the likes of Kolcienley,Vermalaen.
The club definitely needs to find a creative force in midfield, maybe Jack is the guy, who knows, but I believe Podolski and Giroud will score enough goals to ensure Top 4 next season considering the rebuilding that will have to take place at Anfield and White Hart Lane.
I think in terms of Ambition the new Top 2 is Manchester City and Chelsea.Arsenal, Man united,Liverpool and Tottenham have quite some rebuilding to do for the next few seasons.
Van Persie is not such a huge loss
posted on 5/7/12
To be fair people can't slate you for this article, all of it is true, United will always challenge with the FA and luck on their side and the experience they have.
RVP will be missed but hopefully with a good pre season and Wilshere showing his creativity or a playmaker being signed Giroud and Podolski can get the goals RVP got last season.
Agree with BO$$, most of his goals where scored in the area which any half decent striker should score.
Anyone that slates this article should probably not bother commenting on on Ja606 anymore.
posted on 5/7/12
I think he'll be a massive loss, I think we may slightly underestimated his achievements last season, he was expectional not only the goals the ones he created and the way he carried us.To think Poldolski and Giroud can perform to such levels is beyond me, it's there first season in what is arguberly the best league and scoring goals is never easy! I hope I'm proved wrong! But I think we should all be greatful for what RvP has done for Arsenal, it's not his fault he has more ambition than the muppets that run our club!!!!!!!
posted on 5/7/12
There's no doubt he was the reason we finished 3rd last season but 2 players doing one players job, fair enough it's their first season but they are good enough players to get 15+ goals each a season. Probably will be a slow start for them but if Arteta and wilshere play as well as we know they can along with the pace of Walcott/Chamberlain then the goals should come.
Me like most Arsenal fans are grateful for what he did for us last season and i understand why he would want to leave if more money and a chance at trophies came up.
But i believe with the midfield playing well and Giroud and Podolski upfront we can still atleast get champions league qualification and hopefully with some more good signings challenge for the title.
posted on 5/7/12
It will be very difficult for any player not used to the life at a high pressure club to replicate what RVP did last season. Replacing RVP with a Higuain or a Llorente would be the ideal. Because to a great extent they are used to the expectation.
But most supporters expect Arsenal to continue their cheap ways till there is a second takeover so I suspect we will buy someone like Ibrahim Ba to replace RVP.
posted on 5/7/12
I think Arsene is theye for the long haul and will rebuild this team starting from the back with the likes of Kolcienley,Vermalaen.
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Agreed with most of your article apart from the above.
Wenger will not extend his contract and will be gone in 2 years.
I think he is far too loyal to leave just now but in a way, also wish the board show more ambitions.
And thinking that Pep or Mourinho will do better with the same bugdet and philosophy is completely madness.
I am afraid but the future is not looking good at the moment. It is not the players or manager that we need to change, it is our board!
posted on 5/7/12
Ibrahim Ba to replace RVP.
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hasnt he retired now or is he still playing? i remeber him playing for AC Milan bk in the day.
Surely we can do better than a 40Year old
posted on 5/7/12
But I think we should all be greatful for what RvP has done for Arsenal, it's not his fault he has more ambition than the muppets that run our club!!!!!!!
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The only muppets are the people whom despite being told over and over again that we CANNOT AFFORD to follow the same financial model as City/Chelsea/Utd and slate Wenger and the board for not hocking the club with ridiculous transfer fees. Don't you watch the news? In case you hadn't noticed finances everywhere are right in the toilet. Keeping the club solvent and healthily in the black is more important than signing someone for 50 million who won't neccessarily guarantee a trophy.
It is not a lack of ambition, it's a practical and realistic financial policy that guarantees the financial future of AFC. Suppose you'd rather spend 100 mil on two super-signings and then have the club plunged into financial chaos. Unlike man U, there'd be no bunch of bankers forming a financial saviours package for us.
No football fan, manager or board should ever forget what happened to Leeds some years ago. It's a perfect example of why you don't build a team via the transfer market unless you have a sugar owner with infinite funs to plough into the club. Stop with the we've got no ambition because we won't threaten the club's financial future and sign players for 50 mil. It's not like you aint been told as a fan many times over the last 7 years that we just are not going to do that. Go support Chelsea if you're so desperate for transfer market ambition.
posted on 5/7/12
Good article.
posted on 5/7/12
The only muppets are the people whom despite being told over and over again that we CANNOT AFFORD to follow the same financial model as City/Chelsea/Utd and slate Wenger and the board for not hocking the club with ridiculous transfer fees. Don't you watch the news? In case you hadn't noticed finances everywhere are right in the toilet. Keeping the club solvent and healthily in the black is more important than signing someone for 50 million who won't neccessarily guarantee a trophy.
It is not a lack of ambition, it's a practical and realistic financial policy that guarantees the financial future of AFC. Suppose you'd rather spend 100 mil on two super-signings and then have the club plunged into financial chaos. Unlike man U, there'd be no bunch of bankers forming a financial saviours package for us.
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I think some of our fans should go and have a chat with some of the Rangers fans and ask them how they are feeling at the moment! Will bring them back to earth!
posted on 5/7/12
Surely we can do better than a 40Year old
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Demba Ba! All these Bas are rather confusing.
But the way things are going with Kroenke it might well be Ibrahim