I am really looking forward to watching Arsenal next season. For the first time in 10 years I genuinely think you can mount a serious, serious challenge for the title. Where I think you might fall down though, is on the mental side of things. How many of Arsenal's current squad could be classed as a leader or winner? Maybe 4 at the most. I count
Alexis
Ramsey
Cech
Coquelin (I know I will get shot down for this entry on the list but it's my own personal opinion)
If you compare that to Chelsea's squad
Courtois
Terry
Ivanovic
Cesc (sorry if this one hurts you, but look at what he's won)
Matic
Diego Costa (everyone hates him but at the end of the day he's a winner)
Hazard
I think you may just fall short, save for a signing or two. I think what might count most for Arsenal next season is players like Gibbs, Ozil, Welbeck and even Chamberlain wanting to stand up and be counted. Time will tell and perhaps, just perhaps Arsenal will be champions of England once again.
Mentality The Key
posted on 11/7/15
I'm not trying to dismiss the role of mental fortitude, but I sometimes think there's too much emphasis on mentality on these boards.
Not that I don't appreciate what you're saying, but I think the trouble is that we're not really privy to what goes on behind the scenes, so it really is difficult to say one way or another.
I also find people (not directing this at you) tend to create an unfalsifiable stance where they just elevate someone to the positon of 'leader' or 'winner' when they win something.
For example, everyone used to write Spain off - even in the build up to Euro 2008 - on the basis that 'they always bottle it', 'no leaders', 'they don't have a winning mentality'....and then they won something, and suddenly all the pundits changed their tune and retrospectively decided that the likes of Senna, Puyol, Casillas et al were, in fact, great leaders, and that's why they were able to overcome their trophy drought.
I would argue the reason Spain were finally able to win something was that they had arguably the best team in the world, and a well-balanced system that suited their players.
Similarly, the reason I think we currently fall short of Chelsea's standards is that our squad isn't as good/balanced.
posted on 11/7/15
comment by Kings Road (U1762)
posted 20 minutes ago
Sorry but that's rubbish about Costa, he likes to make his presence known yes but no way is he mentally weak.
Would you say Drogba was mentally weak for getting sent off in a CL final or missing a pen in an ACON final?
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No, because he practically willed Chelsea to win the CL final. He is a big game player, and he never was sent off in a game (he was sent off post-game in a very controversial result for Barcelona) for lashing out. Do you think Costa would have lasted in that game against Barcelona? You would have been down to 10 men before half time.
posted on 11/7/15
I guess there is two types of mentality we are talking about.
The 'fighter' and the 'leader'. Costa is a fighter, Coq and Sanchez are our only proper fighters. We have lots of leaders though.
posted on 11/7/15
comment by GHAGooner (U19228)
posted 27 minutes ago
comment by Kings Road (U1762)
posted 20 minutes ago
Sorry but that's rubbish about Costa, he likes to make his presence known yes but no way is he mentally weak.
Would you say Drogba was mentally weak for getting sent off in a CL final or missing a pen in an ACON final?
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No, because he practically willed Chelsea to win the CL final. He is a big game player, and he never was sent off in a game (he was sent off post-game in a very controversial result for Barcelona) for lashing out. Do you think Costa would have lasted in that game against Barcelona? You would have been down to 10 men before half time.
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Sorry mate but come on what about Drogba in the Moscow final?? Sent off for slapping Vidic? Is that not lashing out?!
posted on 11/7/15
I don't know about leaders, but I know there are a handful of players who will do their best every game. Even when having a bad game, these players will do their best to force things to happen, rather than bottle it and hide.
These players are: Ramsey, Wilshere, Sanchez, Coquelin, Giroud, Debuchy.
If we really were talking about leaders, I'd say we really only have Arteta and Mertesacker.
A big list of trophies won does not make you a leader. I think the "look at what he's won argument" is a pretty poor one.
posted on 11/7/15
comment by DaStuDogg (U9291)
posted 1 hour, 38 minutes ago
I'm not trying to dismiss the role of mental fortitude, but I sometimes think there's too much emphasis on mentality on these boards.
Not that I don't appreciate what you're saying, but I think the trouble is that we're not really privy to what goes on behind the scenes, so it really is difficult to say one way or another.
I also find people (not directing this at you) tend to create an unfalsifiable stance where they just elevate someone to the positon of 'leader' or 'winner' when they win something.
For example, everyone used to write Spain off - even in the build up to Euro 2008 - on the basis that 'they always bottle it', 'no leaders', 'they don't have a winning mentality'....and then they won something, and suddenly all the pundits changed their tune and retrospectively decided that the likes of Senna, Puyol, Casillas et al were, in fact, great leaders, and that's why they were able to overcome their trophy drought.
I would argue the reason Spain were finally able to win something was that they had arguably the best team in the world, and a well-balanced system that suited their players.
Similarly, the reason I think we currently fall short of Chelsea's standards is that our squad isn't as good/balanced.
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Agree with pretty much all of this.
Although I'd like to add Chelsea have a better coach in Mourinho than we have in Wenger. This is also a reason why we will fall short next season.
posted on 11/7/15
comment by Tu Meke Santi (U3732)
posted 3 hours, 53 minutes ago
comment by DaStuDogg (U9291)
posted 1 hour, 38 minutes ago
I'm not trying to dismiss the role of mental fortitude, but I sometimes think there's too much emphasis on mentality on these boards.
Not that I don't appreciate what you're saying, but I think the trouble is that we're not really privy to what goes on behind the scenes, so it really is difficult to say one way or another.
I also find people (not directing this at you) tend to create an unfalsifiable stance where they just elevate someone to the positon of 'leader' or 'winner' when they win something.
For example, everyone used to write Spain off - even in the build up to Euro 2008 - on the basis that 'they always bottle it', 'no leaders', 'they don't have a winning mentality'....and then they won something, and suddenly all the pundits changed their tune and retrospectively decided that the likes of Senna, Puyol, Casillas et al were, in fact, great leaders, and that's why they were able to overcome their trophy drought.
I would argue the reason Spain were finally able to win something was that they had arguably the best team in the world, and a well-balanced system that suited their players.
Similarly, the reason I think we currently fall short of Chelsea's standards is that our squad isn't as good/balanced.
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Agree with pretty much all of this.
Although I'd like to add Chelsea have a better coach in Mourinho than we have in Wenger. This is also a reason why we will fall short next season.
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Good point
posted on 12/7/15
http://www.ja606.co.uk/articles/viewArticle/310559
DaStuDogg , while you're here, we need your wisdom on this thread mate
posted on 12/7/15
comment by Tu Meke Santi (U3732)
posted 21 hours, 40 minutes ago
http://www.ja606.co.uk/articles/viewArticle/310559
DaStuDogg , while you're here, we need your wisdom on this thread mate
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Cool, will join now
posted on 29/8/15
comment by Kings Road (U1762)
posted on 11/7/15
Arsenal won't win the league again while Wengers in charge, in fact while the managers our rivals have got are still around, I fancy us to win the league a fair bit for the foreseeable.