A Bergkamp Wonderland

By Scott Andrews (@Scottpoland)

Scott Andrews is a 32 year old novelist and gooner who resides in the beautiful city of Warsaw, Poland. His debut novel ‘Existence Is Futile’ was published last July.

I am writing this on the back of Arsenal’s defeat at home to Borussia Dortmund. This is not a kneejerk reaction as I was already playing with the idea for the post on the morning of the game.

So let me begin. My name is Scott Andrews. I am an Arsenal fan. I want Arsene Wenger to be fired. I think Aaron Ramsey is a shit footballer. I think Wojciech Szczęsny is the worst goalkeeper I have ever seen in the Premier League. Need I go on?

The day I realised I wanted to Wenger out was the day Arsenal sold Thierry Henry to Barcelona. The failure to adequately replace Petit, Overmars and Vieira had left me with a bitter taste in my mouth. It was apparent that the club’s priorities weren’t just about not spending, but trimming the wage bill. The substandard shit which was brought into replace these players was enough to make me fear that we would fall out of the title picture for the remainder of my days. Of course it is easy to say with hindsight. So let me try to explain my hatred of Wenger more explicitly.

The first crime I would charge him with is tactical ineptitude. Since switching to this 4-5-1/4-3-3 variation he has never brought in the players that could perform in this formation. He has in essence been trying to put square pegs into round holes. Whether it be the succession of wide men that cannot cross, the shoehorning of midfielders into defensive positions which they are not suited to, or the recent deployment of 6 central midfielders into various positions. Wenger has steadfastly stuck to a formation that does not fit our personnel. The glory days, when Arsenal used to challenge for the title, Wenger would throw caution to the wind and we would often finish playing a 4-2-4. Somewhere down the road he has lost his gamble, and we seldom finish games with two strikers even when we are chasing. It is a case in point of a man left behind by the evolution of football.

The second charge I will bring against him is his transfer record. Wenger fans point to Viera, Henry and Pires as great examples of his acumen. Whilst consistently overlooking Almunia, Stepanovs, Gervinho, Denilson, Hleb, Wreh, Diawara, Garde, Grimandi, Walcott, Ramsey, Santos, Diaby, Adebayor, Eboue and many many others. Wenger’s transfer successes coincided with the glory days of Clairfontaine, the French national footballing academy. In the time since it closed he discovered Fabregas and Van Persie. And that’s it.

The third and final charge I want to lay at his door his blindness. Arsene Wenger has total blindness in regards to a number of his own players through different periods. In recent years we have had to witness the consistent selection of Szczęsny, Denilson, Almunia, Ramsey, Gervinho and Bendtner when they have been playing awful football. Ultimately Wenger refuses to see the flaws in his own players.

The reality is that we have a paper thin squad consisting of far too many players that would not get into a top four side in any of the major leagues in Europe. The successes we have had this season have not been down to the acquisition of Ozil, but rather the return of Flamini. Tactically Ozil’s preference for remaining higher up the field leaves space for Ramsey as a consequence. Ramsey’s steadfast refusal to ever try and track back is hidden from view. Flamini in essence carries the formation. Tonight’s appalling performance only goes to show that. Largely Arteta was lonelier than a mad old woman whose cat had just died. Wenger’s tactical ineptitude was less inconspicuous than a man masturbating on a train and the sheer inadequacy of putting square pegs in round holes was perfectly highlighted by Wilshere’s abject display.

The fact is that every year the wheels come off at some time. Reality comes crashing down when teams figure out how to beat Wenger’s tactically inflexible approach. In my heart of hearts I truly hope that this is nothing more than a wobble. However seeing how badly we missed one man I suspect it isn’t. Especially when he is one yellow card away from a suspension.

In Wenger we rust…

You can abuse him on twitter : Scott Andrews (@Scottpoland)

By Vikram Vijaay (@VVijaay)

The end of last season saw a lot of debate amongst Arsenal fans over which of the linked players would be best for Arsenal. Higuain or Jovetic (remember when he was having his “medical”?). Luis Gustavo or Bender and so on. Would a defensive rock be better than a DLP in the mould of Arteta? Fast forward a few months and this is the debate I find myself seeing everywhere.

I just never thought that the choice would be Flamini or Arteta. Flamini’s career path isn’t one I need to remind you off, he left on a free essentially because he wanted more money. Arsene Wenger picked him up on a free when there was huge levels of discontent among the fans. He has, however, been a major but “underrated” part of our early season form.

On a side note, how many times do you have to be called “underrated” before it no longer applies?- Whatever the answer, Flamini has reached it, so can we please stop with it!?

Arteta and Flamini are two completely different players. One is a converted attacking midfielder who spent the majority of his career in a creative capacity. The other you sense would rather lunge two footed at whichever unfortunate player happens to be dribbling towards him.

The obvious answer, and the consensus is to play Flamini against tougher opponents/away from home, Arteta when we have the majority of the possession and both in situations like Napoli away. Let’s consider this solution for a second. The logic behind this is that Flamini- the more defensive minded of thetwo, would be beneficial in away games where we find ourselves under the cosh. At home, Arteta’s superior passing allows us to keep possession and build attacks.

Arteta however, to my mind has one major defensive flaw- fouling. While we all joke about the Flamini yellow card sweepstake, the simple fact is that if a man looks to have beaten him at the half way line and has a clear run at the defence, he will bring him down. Arteta is far more likely to keep chasing and then bring him down, conceding a FK in a far more dangerous position.

Considering that these counter attacks are far more likely to occur against weaker teams or at home when we’redominating, Flamini seems the more astute pick. The second consideration is that Arteta will allow us to build attacks better through his superior passing ability. While it is glaringly obvious that Arteta is superior in this aspect, Flamini is aware of his limitations, he plays it off to a teammate instead of trying to play an incisive pass.

Additionally, he is far more content to sit back and thus allow the others to play with greater freedom. At a time when Aaron Ramsey is in the form of his life, and Mesut Özil just wanders around standing is space higher up the pitch, Flamini’s defensive minded approach has proved hugely beneficial to Arsenal. On the other hand, in away games when we’re playing on the counter to a larger extent, Arteta’s greater passing range would be better suited, allowing us to transition better and break with greater speed.

In games such as this where the need for him to sit is much more clear cut, he is unlikely to be caught out higher up the pitch. His tackling and intercepting ability is, to my mind, on a par, if not better than Flamini in these situations.

In truth, I have a little bias towards Flamini. I really think he’s a fantastic player and suits us down to the ground, I wouldn’t be against the notion of making him the first choice in that position. His leadership on the pitch when we are without the ball is refreshing and decisive.

Arteta has been vital to Arsenal for the last couple of years; that is not up for debate. I would never suggest casting him out. He can clearly offer a lot, and the thing which is often over looked in these debates is that any team that seriously wants to challenge must rotate.However, if you really pushed me to give an answer in absolute terms to “Arteta or Flamini?”, I would have to side with Flamini.

Follow me on Twitter : Vikram Vijaay (@VVijaay)

By Jack Crutcher (@NorthernjGooner)

Earlier this week I found myself having to defend a tweet I made back in August. The general point of the tweet was that Arsenal fans should protest against Wenger before and after our next home game if signings were not made. Back in the fiery depths of August this tweet did not seem so controversial.

Tactics seemed lacking, no money had been spent, and the rhetoric remained the same from the clubs hierarchy. However considering our recent turn-around in fortunes, it and tweets like it from thousands of others are continually used to create division and to even prove a point by those Gooners who stoically stood by Arsene Wenger throughout the summer.

Ultimately I was partly wrong about Wenger. He did adapt his philosophy to suit the modern game – finally taking the plunge and signing big. Even the most ardent pessimist would give up porn and look at pictures of Mesut Özil in an Arsenal jersey for a week. And look at what said signing has done to our glorious club.

Along with the change in fortunes of Ramsey and Giroud (whom I supported wholeheartedly throughout…minus the odd match day jibe), we now look like a genuine force and yes, under the guidance of Le Prof. But having said and done all of this, I still stand buy the stance I begrudgingly took in the summer (and at times before).

I do not for one moment believe I, as an individual red member who lives up north had anything to do with our change in fortunes. But what I strongly believe is that those who over the past few years, have spoken out against the way the club has often done its business are, as a collective, largely responsible for the club adapting and changing for the better.

The power of fan pressure can be seen through the successes of groups like the Black Scarf movement, who work tirelessly and effectively against the Corporatisation of our club – especially the extortionate prices hard working people have to pay just to watch their team. Thanks to the Black scarf movements’ efforts the Arsenal fan base has secured victories ranging from cheaper seating for Young Gunners members with their own section at the Emirates, meaning kids can watch the club they love for a better price in a child-friendly atmosphere, to an away-game ticket price subsidy for travelling fans – our famous twelfth man.

Not forgetting the response of Ivan Gazidis to the fans’ suggestions on an online blog regarding how we could improve the match day experience at the Emirates stadium. The much vaunted ‘Arsenalisation’ of our home was a bi-product of fan activism, not blind deference. Or what about Red Action Gooners, the fan group/ twitter campaign responsible for some of our best match day banners and the genius behind the idea of introducing flags to the Emirates on match day.

It is clear to me that fan’s should speak out and become an activist body when they feel a grievance towards their club. We all put hundreds if not thousands of pounds into this club every few years – our love for it has both personal and financial consequences. For me this all came to a head on the pitch – over recent years things have been far from perfect. Often tactics have looked threadbare and our teams have lacked conviction.

This season the team looks like a whole new beast, and we can all speculate why that is, from personnel change to more experience – but either way, something was not right. On top of this the money Arsenal did spend was used in an ineffective way.

We signed Gervinho, Park, Chamakh, Santos and Squillaci, yet passed up opportunities to sign Gary Cahill for 5 million or for only a few million more than all those players previously mentioned, we could have captured Juan Mata for 23.5 million. The questions regarding how our money was spent did not stop there. How can we pay 40,000 per week to Park or 70,000 per week to Gervinho (roughly), yet refuse to pay the wages asked for by Samir Nasri. Whether he would have been worth it or not is irrelevant – it is the principle that is under the microscope.

Arsenal is finally starting to look and more importantly act, like the Arsenal of the late nineties and the early naughties, the Arsenal of the late 80’s and the Arsenal of the 70’s. From more fan-friendly club policies implemented by the board to Arsene Wenger’s brave decision to change his own philosophy and spend huge, whilst also adopting the new tactics we see the team play this year (we’re way more efficient without the ball for example).

A mixture of the genius of Wenger’s football brain and the fans after that Villa game, the hard-working fee paying fans, making their feelings blatantly known, had a huge effect on the fortunes of our team. But my overall point is that fan action works, and that those of us who spoke out against issues on and off the pitch were not anti Arsenal, far from it.

Not one of us hoped to be proven right long term, but we were proven wise short term – and look at where Arsenal is heading now. Fans are what make a club great, and we have the best fans in the world. Be proud and stick together.

Follow me on Twitter : (@NorthernjGooner)

By Highbury Fin (@HighburyFin)

Ever since 11pm on 2nd September, when I found out we weren’t signing another striker to be Giroud’s backup, I’ve been exited to see The Great Dane return for Arsenal – B52 himself, Nicklas Bendtner.

Yes, I’m sure you’ll all wondering why my opinion differs to 99% of all other Arsenal fans, who never wanted to see him wear the famous red and white (or yellow and blue) again. Yes he’s an idiotic, money grabbing, drinking, self-loving, vain moron; however, on the pitch he has certainly delivered over the years.

May I remind you of his importance to us over the years:

• Our opener in the Camp Nou vs Barcelona
• Last minute winner vs Wolves
• Winner vs Ipswich in the Carling Cup semi final
• Winning goal vs Spurs with his first touch.

There’s no doubting that there’s talent there, he just needs to reignite the form that got him more goals than Van Persie at Euro 2012 and all of those others over the years.

Another thing, as Arsenal’s longest serving player, he’s an experienced head who’s played in international tournaments. He also has been with us long enough to know what out fans do/don’t like. One of those things he knows we don’t like is Spurs and having scored in two North London Derbies, I’m sure he wants that sucess again.

Imagine, it’s 1-1 at the lane with 5 minutes to go and we get a corner…

Last night saw Bendtner’s return for Arsenal against West Brom with a dodgy haircut, a new number and a fantastic beard. Considering he was significantly out of shape and with a lot of pressure on him, he did well. He held the ball up as well as always looking to make runs in behind. He fantastically set up Eisfeld for our opener and sent the keeper the wrong way in the shoot out.

He did fluff up a one-on-one which could have won us the game. However, as stupid as it may sound, I think he missed due to the fact that he was nervous and cared. If he didn’t care he’d have no nerves and would have scored. He’s coming to terms with the fact that Arsenal made him who he is (not who he thought he was) and is becoming grateful.

His reaction to the winning penalty was absolute extacy and looked like someone who really cared.

After the game, those of you who follow Bendtner on Instagram will know that he wrote a paragraph to the fans (along with a picture if him looking like sex-offending version of Harry Potter) highlighting the fact that he’s grateful to be back and that when he heard his song “his heart skipped a beat”. The signs are there that he really is sorry and wants to forget the past and move on.

Could his number change (from the #52 that caused a stir) show that he wants to forget his past? Only he knows. But what we do know is that he’s back and could be here to stay. I think it’s too early to say if he warrants a new contract, however, if he knuckles down and scores some goals I don’t see which he doesn’t get one (on a much lower salary).

Thanks for reading and I hope he proves me right! Up the Arsenal!

Follow me on Twitter : (@HighburyFin)