Arsene Wenger sat with the media ahead of tomorrow’s AZ Alkmaar clash for a mere 15 minutes today and it seems to be the interview that launched 1000 news stories, so there’s lots to get to today. We’ve got Kroenke, injuries, Robin, AZ, Diaby, and an invitation from me to help write a bit.
Kroenke increases shares to 29.6%
Wenger was asked about Kroenke’s share-buying activity this week and in typical fashion deflected and suggested that the reporter ask Stan the Man himself about what his intentions are. When pressed by the reporter Wenger jokingly said that at the moment Kroenke “flirts” with the 30% mark, but has not gone all the way. Personally, it looks more like he’s gotten to 3rd base than just flirting.
All signs point to a shareholder who is consolidating his position rather than moving in for a hostile takeover. There’s good reason for Kroenke to purchase loose shares: to consolidate his and the board’s grip on the shares needed to keep control of the board, and to prevent his main boardroom competitor from getting a larger foothold in the club.
It cannot be stressed enough that even if he reaches the magical 30% threshold, the other shareholders are not obliged to sell to him. This means that it looks like a plurality of ownership will remain. His business model is a combination of co-ownership and outright ownership — with the bigger ticket items co-owned and the smaller, more risky, teams owned outright. Thus, Arsenal as a huge and safe bet fits right into his co-ownership model.
The Arsenal Supporter’s Trust released a statement today which outlines their position on any possible takeover and, having spoken with representatives of KSE and Stan himself, has stated directly that they do not feel a takeover is imminent:
The AST has repeatedly stated that we are generally opposed to a takeover and would fight any plans that require the club to incur debt to pay for a takeover as has happened at Manchester United and Liverpool.
Two red lines that cannot be crossed are the use of debt secured on the club’s assets to fund a takeover and an ownership structure which excludes small shareholders.
The AST’s own assessment of today’s development is that a takeover is not imminent and that today’s purchase is the consolidation of an existing position.
I agree with everything they have said.
Injuries
Wenger described Bendtner as “quite seriously injured” which won’t surprise anyone who saw the way he was holding his adductor on Saturday — I’m not calling it a groin pull, that sounds childish, it’s an adductor pull which sounds serious, or at least studious. Bendtner is out for “at least” 4 weeks.
As I know from T-Town Alex, who is French, French time is different from English time. If T-Town Alex says he’ll be there in 15 minutes, it actually means 30 minutes. So, Wenger’s “4 weeks” puts Bendtner back in the team in January.
The good news in that position is that Rosicky is back but will not get the start to cover on that right hand side. I like the idea of bringing Rosicky on late on the right against Alkmaar because his close control and dribbling will be essential for breaking AZ’s 10 man defense, especially when they have tired legs.
Clichy is the other big surprise injury and Wenger said he suffered a “stress fracture” in his back and will be out for “a few weeks.” A few weeks? I seriously doubt it. If this is a recurrence of his back problems of last year, we’ll be looking at more like “a few months” or maybe “the rest of the season.” I’m not trying to second guess or hype the injury but I’ve broken my back and it takes more than “a few weeks” to recover. Gibbs, future England number 3, will be called upon to step in and Traore will provide cover with Wenger joking that this club is fortunate to be gifted with left-backs. I was sort of joking about an England call up, but just today, Gibbs was talking about how he needed to prove something for Arsenal before he could even start thinking about the England side. I guess he’ll get his chance?
In the keeper spot Almunia is now and forever Arsenal number 1 and Mannone is backup: until Almunia makes a mistake.
Half Henry Bergkamp Half van Persie
Wenger wanted to clear up the notion that he claimed Robin van Persie is “Half Henry — Half Bergkamp” and did so in typical AW fashion:
He’s a little bit of a mixture of Thierry Henry and a little bit of Denis Bergkamp because he’s not purely a target player like Thierry was and he’s not a runner of the ball like Thierry was but he can play up front on his own. And he’s not a Denis Bergkamp because he’s not purely a passer of the ball, a final ball giver like Dennis. He’s a bit of both, he’s also a sexual tyrannosaur, half shark alligator half man, and a sprinkle of piranha, that’s why he’s van Persie.
I understand he’s also a considerate lover.
On tomorrow’s match
As I pointed out in yesterday’s “10 match review” this Arsenal team have been bitten a few times from lack of concentration and focus in games. So far, this disease has been exclusively the domain of away games where our record in the EPL is 2-1-2 and our goal differential is a measly +3 which includes a 6-1 win over Everton. Since that opening win over Everton, Arsenal’s away GD is -2. A lot of people can point to what happened at AZ Alkmaar and rightly say that it wasn’t as much of a blip as a continuation of poor away form. So, while I agree with Arsene that this team needs to show focus and resolve tomorrow, I’m not worried that they won’t because our home form has been spectacular. In fact, in 9 home games in all competitions Arsenal have scored 32 goals (avg. 3.5) and allowed just 6 goals. Given the level of competition we saw from AZ in the last match, I’m just being honest, I suspect a 3 or even 4 to nil score line.
Winning tomorrow would basically qualify Arsenal for a 10th consecutive knockout stage berth, but Wenger wants more, he wants to win the group. I completely agree with this philosophy. Great teams don’t back into a tough competition, they go out and crush their enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of the women.
The Hollandaise press are making a big deal of Ronald Koeman “never losing to Arsene” and even going so far as to suggest that Koeman has Wenger’s number. Arsene just laughed about this and said that Koeman didn’t score the last minute equalizer at AZ. In a sense he’s right, but in a sense he’s wrong. Koeman has played a very specific tactic against Arsenal one that even a novice manager can see and it’s been pretty effective — if by effective you mean “securing a draw at all costs and sneaking a win.” Don’t be surprised if there’s a “park the bus” tactic for all 90 minutes followed by a brief flurry of activity as AZ try to steal a goal on a set play at the end.
Diaby
Put down your coffee…
Ok, ready?
When asked whether Diaby has proved himself in the absence of Denilson, Arsene Wenger said
I think he has done extremely well. He is a player who is good in the challenge, which we have been criticized for lacking in the past. He is good in the air. He has a high work-rate and he gives us a good balance in the midfield. He likes to play up front behind the strikers but because he’s so strong in the challenge, I see him, later, a bit deeper, in front of the defenders because he’s very good in the air, he’s very quick, very strong in the challenge, and when he wins the ball, he can accelerate the game.
This has to be the most egregious example of Arsene Wenger blowing smoke up our asses I have ever seen. I know that he protects his players, I know that he likes to talk about the positives, and I can think of a lot of positives to say about Abou Diaby but I can’t think of a single person on this earth who thinks that Abou Diaby is good in the air. He is very tall and he jumps very high but his timing is terrible. He’s more likely to put a ball off his shoulder than his head.
Incredibly, Wenger does then go on to criticize him, by saying that he’s “attracted like a magnet” to the goal and that we don’t need 7 players going forward. But… but… but… THAT’S HIS BEST QUALITY!
It’s really incredible stuff. Maybe he’s using this as an opportunity to try to mould this player into something different than he already is? Maybe by “good in the air” Wenger meant that while on the airplane from London to Europe he’s always very polite, unlike Sp*s who are utter cocks wherever they go? I don’t know, but it’s mind boggling to think that Wenger would actually say that Diaby is good in the air and not burst out laughing.
Oh, and if you were hoping for a January signing of a hard man in the middle of the field you might as well put that wish list away — Diaby looks like he’s going to be our man when Song is gone.
“Man” on the scene
And finally, I’d like to extend the offer to anyone who attends any game to help write a section of the Good, Bad, and Ugly which I am tentatively calling “‘Man’ on the scene. ” A lot of my readers are foreigners (as far flung as the Philippines and Thailand) and what we get on television is a watered down snippet of what happens when you actually get to a match. So, if you’re going to a match and you’re willing to write a few hundred words about the atmosphere before, during, and after the match or pretty much anything you want to write about (around match day) drop me an email:
7amkickoff at gmail dot com
I’d love to include some match reporting from the actual matches.
Right, that’s it for today. Tomorrow’s match kicks off at 11:45 am PST and I know for a fact that Doyle’s in Tacoma is playing it live. I also know that I cannot watch the match live but my good friend Russ at Doyle’s is taping the match for me and I’ll get to watch it after work. Drop me a line if you want to get together tomorrow afternoon and watch the match.
I’ll probably do a brief blog tomorrow followed by a full on internet blackout (by me) until after the match. So, see you tomorrow, and UP THE ARSE!
Arsenal News 24/7
Maybe by “good in the air” Wenger meant that while on the airplane from London to Europe he’s always very polite – This really cracked me up. Good work Tim as always.
fantastic post.
very informative and hilarious to boot, great work!
There was no reference to an injury to Vela? I don’t get why there is nearly never a mention of him during injury reports and our best teen striker wasn’t even in the squad for the carling cup match last week. ATVO had an interview with him before that match yet no one decides to comment on his status whatsoever. Anyone heard anything? You would think he could be on the bench to challenge for one of those front three spots, I’d much rather see him come on than Eboue.
November 3rd, 2009 at 9:31 am
@JoaquinLAGooner, I checked the press photos of the training session today and as far as I can tell, Vela is not in them:
http://www.daylife.com/search/photos/1/grid?q=Arsenal+colney
November 3rd, 2009 at 9:39 am
good looking out Tim, you would think someone from atvo would ask about him dont you think?
November 3rd, 2009 at 10:08 am
@JoaquinLAGooner, according to PhysioRoom (with whose reliability i am not familiar, so they might be pulling this out of their ass for all i know) he should be back in contention this weekend.
http://www.physioroom.com/news/english_premier_league/epl_injury_table.php
Diaby.
Believe the hype.
Diaby is good in the air, extremely good in the air, in fact, he is usually the other teams best aerial option. Just ask United.
He also claims to be more “technical” than Vieira, of course, in the part of France he comes from “technical” means utterly useless, so… I guess he has a point.
Diaby is all hype. The potential is all there, the strength, the ability, the finishing, the “Shaft” hair-do. But he’s about as smart as Robbie Keane.
So having Diaby in midfield is a bit like having a Ferrari and not knowing how to drive.
Agree with the post about Vela. What the hell happened to the boy? With Bedntner out injured we really need the mexican magician, I hope he’ll be fit soon…
Great read once again. Fast becoming one of my favourite Arsenal blogs. Keep up the good work!!!
p.s. Vela was reported injured just before the Carling Cup match and was also mentioned after. Not sure how long.. but it’s true that there seems to be little news about him.
What about Carlos Vela News.. if they don’t know.. who does?
They can be contacted via email at:-
carlosvelanews@gmail.com
Going back to the sp*ds game, I still dont understand why bendtner’s sub took so long. It might have aggravated the pull, plus an attack on his side almost ended with them scoring. Just picture that scenario. 0-1 at home with an early injured player. Given the still maturing mental strenght of our team, we dont know what could’ve been the final score. Plus, given the way that Nick was holding it, it is almost 100% certain that it is an adductor, an injury that takes at least a month to heal(been there), and then you start the recovery. I still have faith in Diaby, he just need to reach that elusive next level in his playing.
thanks raj, but they didnt have anything posted.
Yan, I too was livid with the amount of time it took for us to get Bendtner off the pitch. We lacked the maturity to kick it out of play and regroup. And we almost paid the price. Anyone understand the reluctance?
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:16 am
Since it was Eduardo who came on, Wenger may have just wanted to make sure he got enough of a warmup before putting him out there and risking another injury to him. Even with Bentdner hobbled, the team should have been able to adjust to not allow him to be a liablility for those few minutes. Maybe it would have been better to just have him come off and play with 10 until the sub could be made?
November 3rd, 2009 at 11:55 am
@Nathan, Absolutely agree with the temporary 10 men solution. These circumstances should be addressed and planned.
November 3rd, 2009 at 12:30 pm
@drukgooner,
Arsenal do not under any circumstance ever “play it safe” and “anywhere will do” football is hugely frowned upon by Wenger. I’ve heard if they boot it out instead of making “fluid” football, he puts them in solitary confinement and feeds them nothing but escargot for a week.
That said, the way we play is our greatest strength and our biggest weakness.
Thank goodness we dont have Dida as GK.
Carlos Vela is still stuck in the summer – I’ve been checking it – useless prats.
Poor Clichy, lucky Gibbsie. Sorry, people, but I’m putting him in my dream team – I like him so much and he’s very, very cheap! I’ve had Cesc since August and he’s been OK, so hopefully it won’t jinx Gibbs, but if it does, I promise to replace him with Cashley.)
When I last looked, Chelsea still hadn’t scored and United were one down; Bayern also one down and Real drawing with Milan. Pretty satisfactory.
Have been looking for info about Vela and there’s nothing, anywhere, but very funny piece on upforgrapsnow about today’s training video plus the video itself.
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:30 pm
@Mia, Mia, I share your love of Carlos and hope he can get some game time with Bendtner and Walcott both hurt. He was so fantastic in the summer with Mexico (admittedly against poorer competition) working in a lot of stuff I think he learned from Cesc.
80 minutes plus and still 1-1 at the San Siro, United have pulled back a goal in the 84th but still trail by a goal, And Chelsea have just equalized against Atletico in Madrid. All these teams will go through, so no big deal….Tomorrow’s Liverpool game is more important.
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:31 pm
@17highburyterrace, Crapzilla, Drogba just scored a second, shedding his defender like he was and insect…United still trailing in the 90th…
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:37 pm
@17highburyterrace, Valencia (ManU) equalizes off a deflection in the 92nd. Probably an own goal, i.e., off target. Ankinfeev had it easily covered but had no chance off his defender. Ends 3-3. Poop.
Missed it, but Atletico has equalized as well late in the match. Finishes 2-2.
Milan-Madrid finishes even as well.
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:40 pm
@17highburyterrace, Bayern lose at home, Maroune Chamahk gets the goal to end it…
November 3rd, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Shame, but at least neither United nor Chelsea won – which they should have done. Chamakh scored for Bordeaux.
Sorry, woeful typing, the site I mentioned above is up for grabs now, not graps! I recommend that video, it’s hilarious.
Sexual Tyrannosaur! So weird, Predator is on right now!
RE: The Diaby Quote.
I get a sense Arsene said that specifically for the player, because, well, that’s pretty much a list of all the points of his game that need improvement.
Re: Diaby
Arsene sees big potential with this player. Last 2 seasons he showed very little out on the wing…..but in the last few matches partnering with Cesc and Song:
he is linking well with his teammates
using better judgment to pass v. try and dribble by every defender
I can see him understanding his role and accepting it.
Tim is right, all of this playing time is to prepare Diaby for holding midfielder when Song departs.
Lets not forget all the criticism Song received in prior seasons, maybe stronger remarks; and yet look at Song’s value to the team now.
Yes there is room for Diaby to improve his heading and tackling. We have no choice but to
wait & watch.
Re: Vela
There is too much mystery about this player.
I see the Merida to Athletico rumours are rampant this morning. How could he possibly want to go to a club that makes Newcastle look well managed and sane? Athletico have some wonderful players but they’re doing badly in the league and their owners are nothing short of a nightmare. OK, the big-bellied brothel owner who threatened to feed the players to his pet crocodile has gone – died, I believe – but the present lot according to the Guardian are scarcely an improvement. Besides, Merida only has to look at what happens to players who thought the grass was greener elsewhere – Reyes, Vieira, Bentley, Flamini and Hleb spring to mind, among recent examples – and consider that Athletico’s current stars will probably be sold to the Premiership in Jan or the summer, which could mean he’d be playing for a club in the second division. I reckon it’s the usual behaviour on the part of the agent but Merida himself won’t want to go.
Have just read the Daily Mail quote from the agent: ‘Merida has an illness for Athletico’. Eh?
Probably a mis-traslation, or a bad choice of words by the agent, In spanish “enfermo”(ill)is meant to express strong feelings towards something.