Thugs arrive

By Boris Mellor
December 4 2009

The press has been particularly virulent about Wenger, even going as far as to suggest he is on the edge of a nervous breakdown. The main reason they have gone that far is because he refused to shake hands with Mark Hughes. Well that seems to me the sanest thing he has done all week. Certainly saner than his post Chelsea press conference.

I watched the match concerned and Wenger and Hughes had already fallen out at 0-0. Hughes appeared to encroach into Wenger's technical area and then mouth obscenities at him when Arsene objected.

As Wenger says he has shook hands 497 times out of 500 so why all the fuss. Wenger went onto say I never comment about opposing managers and I am not going to change the habit of a lifetime for that bar steward.

 Meanwhile every manager, the world, and his wife are being asked what they think of the incident. Surely a media that's so obsessed with such a trifling event is more evidence of insanity than any action, or inaction, by Wenger.

Actually after the game Wenger was gracious about the Man City team and was clear that his team was outplayed. Meanwhile Hughes acted as if he had beaten a major team rather than a mixture of youth and reserves. His team has drawn the last seven games in a row, such good value for all those millions. We will have to see whether Wenger's gift of putting out a team that Citeh could beat easily enough will give them the confidence to beat a real team on Saturday.

500 up

Tomorrow is Wenger's 500^th premiership game with the Gunners, and Arsenal's 100^th competitive game at the new stadium. To celebrate the league computer has dished up a team that has a better away record than the Arsenal, having scored 4 and conceded 8 they have only lost two compared to Arsenal's three.

They are surprisingly in 9^th place just below Sunderland, and are physically strong and are no walk over. Arsenal without RvP, Nik, and Diaby and the suspended Song will look quite small next to them.

Best strike force until two games ago.

Since the International break Arsenal have failed to score, partly due to burn out and partly due to not being able to readjust to being without RvP and Nik. So from being lauded as the first possible 100 goal Premiership Team, the Gunners are denigrated as midgets firing blanks on the edge of a crisis. A situation Liverpool was in only a few weeks ago (being on the brink of a crisis, not being midgets that is).

It is true that Arsenal has now got a shortage of tall strikers, and is probably why they can't score. It took the strikers awhile to adjust to 4-3-3, but whilst doing that the midfield and defenders kept scoring. At one stage Vermaelen was leading scorer, and some pundits were saying RvP was useless and would never adapt. It was as even seen as a problem that the midfield was scoring so often.

Then RvP started scoring and he was the best thing since sliced bread, then it was discovered that Arsenal was a one man team and that without him they would never score. Given time, which they certainly have lots of, the players coming in should adapt.

Whilst awaiting the next exciting discovery about his team I suggest that Wenger tells Sagna to earn his money by defending, and Vermaelen to go up field a bit more often(perhaps put him at striker, joking). He can also tell Arshavin to stop whining and get on with doing what he was brought to the club for, creating assists and scoring crucial goals. Meanwhile captain Fab will need to lead by scoring a bit more often.

Meanwhile a change of keeper might help.

Its ok for Hughes but not for Wenger 497 out of 500

Discussion started by Arsenal Times , 04/12/2009 16:37

Arsenal Times
04/12/2009 16:37

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:12:06:10:36:38 by Padre Pio.

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AJ The Gunner
04/12/2009 18:02

You nailed it when you wrote:Whilst awaiting the next exciting discovery about his team I suggest that Wenger tells Sagna to earn his money by defending, He can also tell Arshavin to stop whining and get on with doing what he was brought to the club for, creating assists and scoring crucial goals. Meanwhile captain Fab will need to lead by scoring a bit more often.
Meanwhile a change of keeper might help.

Very spot on!!!


As for Wenger refusing to shake hughes hands,I will not waist my time on that cos that is not an issue and only someone who lacks sense will make such a force over it.

Can We Now Trust The Process 🤔🤷��♀� or Should We Still Remain Cautious 🙇��♀�

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eduardo
04/12/2009 22:22

funny how Mark Hughes did not want to speak about it today, not now that his insults to Wenger have been revealed, would still bet Wenger will be Arsenal manager when Hughes is sacked at city for wasting £250M


Its looking likely that we will not have one outfield player of six foot or more tomorrow, like you padre I do hope Almunia is replaced by Fabianski for the game as at least he will come for those delap throws and for the high ball

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Padre Pio
04/12/2009 22:31

Almunnia has gone wooden, he is rooted to the spot. He doesnt even bother to blame the defence anymore.

You have to hand it to Hughes its a great achievement, before he spent £250 mill Man City could not beat our youth team

"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.

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eduardo
04/12/2009 22:45

I disagree with you on almunia having gone wooden, his biggest problem is he takes a couple of steps to come and then goes back leaving everyone in no mans land, even on the drogba freekick he takes two steps the wrong way and by time he goes back its too late, he is now second guessing all attacks, he puts all his balance on the way he thinks it will go and if it goes other side of him he can not readjust to save it, the soft goal at home to AZ in the CL a prime example

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Padre Pio
05/12/2009 00:13

He doesnt always come out for crosses, he doesnt come out to the CB. He doesnt communicate with defenders. He doesnt move at freekicks or corners.
If there is a better word than wooden I am only to happy to use it

"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.

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