Arseblog, the arsenal blog
7:32 am May 8, 2013 posted by arseblog - 1217 arses

Puma deal changes the Arsenal landscape

Puma deal changes the Arsenal landscape

Morning all,

and the big news to kick us off comes from the Mirror and the story that our new kit deal is going to be with Puma. I heard about this last week, did some checking but couldn’t verify it, so left it be, but was told the money on offer was massive.

And that seems to be the case with a reported £30m per season plus bonuses which catapults the club to a new level financially. It kicks in when the Nike deal expires in 2014 but I’ve heard there might be an up front payment as part of the negotiation which could be available to us in the summer.

There were, of course, lots of people convinced it was going to be Adidas. They seemed the obvious candidate if we failed to renegotiate with Nike, with whom we’ve been associated for a long time and locked in since they gave us a chunk of money to help build the stadium, but that’s not the case and Puma seems to be something out of left-field.

You can see a list of the teams they already sponsor here, and Borussia Dortmund aside, I think it’s fair to say Arsenal would be their most high profile club deal. There are lots of player deals too. Olivier Giroud, for example, and a certain former captain is one of their blue chip clients – and that’s something that’s bound to set the transfer conspiracy theorists tails wagging.

It’s interesting to read and hear about people complaining about the deal from a fashion point of view. Frankly, who cares? The shirt will be red, the sleeves will be white, and while I don’t want to tempt fate, there’s little chance that they’ll get near some of the abominations Nike have foisted upon us down the years. This season’s away kit is one of the most hideous things we’ve ever worn and if your happiness is tied in with branded leisure wear I’d suggest you need to rethink your life a little bit.

This deal was about breaking us free from the shackles of the one we did with Nike under difficult circumstances. Although many complained about it as time went on, we went into that deal with our eyes open and in good faith, and the fact is we needed money for the stadium project. The problem was, of course, that short-term gain led to some long-term pain and when even the Mugsmashers were announcing £25m a season kit deals, we were left behind.

2014 was long posited as the time when things would change, when we could renegotiate and swell our coffers substantially. Obviously things have moved before that. There’s the £30m a season from the shirt sponsorship by Emirates, and now another £30m on top of that from Puma. The commercial team have faced plenty of criticism in recent times but this is why they were put in place and when you consider we can’t exactly be an easy sell at this moment in time, you have to give them plenty of credit.

These additional funds, on top of what we already have at our disposal, now make Arsenal far more powerful, both in terms of what we can do in the transfer market and how we can make the club a more attractive place to be for top players. I still don’t think we can (or should) compete with the mega-rich in terms of wages, those clubs that have owners with bottomless pockets will always find a way to pay more, but there’s no question this changes things for us.

But here’s the key: this money has to be invested in the team. There’s little point in us earning lots if the quality of the squad precludes us from competing for trophies. We’ve had to cut our cloth in recent seasons, look for bargains and alternatives, but as well as that we’ve had money at our disposal recently which hasn’t been used for one reason or another.

That’s got to change. This is a season in which we’ll finish around 20 points behind the champions and we have to bridge that gap. The first, and most obvious, way to do that is buying better players. Adding established quality and experience to the squad will make us more competitive. We all know where we’ve been lacking this season and if there’s some justification for not spending in January, there’s absolutely none come this summer.

Regardless of how we finish and where we end up in the table, I expect plenty of business to be done in the close season. While one, or two, may depart, it’s all about who we bring in and with new found financial clout to provide security, there’s got to be more Cazorlas on the menu, and nonsensical signings like Park should become a thing of the past.

The club have obviously been working hard for some time on these commercial deals, they’re complicated arrangements that take time to work out and secure, and we can only hope the diligence shown is replicated in the transfer market this summer. Arsene famously said some years ago that when you’re used to caviar it’s hard to go back to sausage. The last few years have been, in many ways, a sausage-fest.

These new deals might not see us dishing out the Beluga, but a bit of filet mignon would make a nice change. Over to you, Arsenal.

Now, where are Mah Poomas?!

Columnists
7:01 pm May 7, 2013 posted by Anam Hassan - 6 arses

Tactics column: Table, Rosicky and Sagna

Tactics column: Table, Rosicky and Sagna

They say that the league table never lies, yet it’s conceivable that Arsenal will end the season having scored more goals than the last and conceded less and still fall outside the top four places. As such, measuring progress can be difficult.

If it’s not improvement that Arsenal have made this season, then it’s certainly been a season of acclimatisation as a fairly new team gets to grips with playing with each other. Indeed, a comment made by Chelsea’s César Azpilicueta in an interview with the Guardian concurs in which he says that “a team is constructed with time and automatismos, habits, mechanisms” so as such, progress will occur gradually. That is surely the case with Arsenal.

You only have to look at Arsenal’s good run of form – which stretched to 9 games unbeaten following the 1-0 win over QPR on Saturday – to see what he means. Because it’s not been fluid attacking play – the hallmark of all good Wenger sides – which the run has been perpetuated by, but through resilience instead. There’s some that say that the extra focus on clean sheets has had an (adverse) effect on Arsenal going forward, and certainly there is some basis in that.

Yet Arsenal’s defensive approach is not so inherently dogmatic that it should affect their scoring in such a way. Indeed, what this just goes to confirm is what Azpilicueta said at the beginning: that it’s harder to coach synchronicity in attack than in defence because there are far more nuances.

Key to Arsenal’s upturn of results has been the availability of Tomas Rosicky. Similarly to last season, he has found fitness and form at a crucial time – playing an important part in the Gunner’s fine Premier League form and setting a fast tempo from his advanced midfield position. Against Manchester United the previous weekend, Rosicky was instantly effective, delivering the assist for Arsenal’s only goal. He was involved again straight away last weekend when, following a bad clearance from Armand Traore, he seized on the space behind and suddenly upped the tempo by spinning away from his marker. His cross found Aaron Ramsey who cushioned a header to Mikel Arteta and he fed Theo Walcott to score.

The majority of Rosicky’s passes are in the attacking third yet the graphic below shows the other – less glamorous – part of his game which highlights why he’s so important to the side. Because it’s Rosicky’s energy at the tip of the midfield which sets the tempo for Arsenal’s pressing game, and against both Manchester United and QPR, Rosicky recovered the ball 14 times – a figure which would put many a Premier League holding midfield to shame.

rosicky_tactics1

Key: Triangle = interceptions, Cross = tackles, Circle = clearances

Rosicky’s know-how means he just about he pips Santi Cazorla to the playmaker role. It’s a sacrifice Arsene Wenger has had to make to bring balance to the side – a decision which hasn’t gone down too well with some, arguing it affects Arsenal’s potency. It’s true to a degree because Cazorla has been less effective from the left but I guess Wenger’s thinking ties in with what was said at the beginning; that having Rosicky in the side probably alleviates some of the vagaries of a new team might have. Besides, it’s not as if it has restricted Cazorla from roaming around the pitch and he often interchanges positions with Rosicky anyway. And at the very least, it in some ways lessens the reliance on Cazorla to create as there are more players in the line-up who can deliver the final pass.

Bacary Sagna’s position at the club will come under review at the end of the season. That’s unfortunate because he has been one of Arsenal’s best players for a long time. Yet, there is a belief that his powers are on the wane. Wenger seemed to indicate so after his mistake saw him haul down Robin van Persie in the 1-1 draw with Manchester United. “He has saved us so many times that unfortunately it happened (or rather, had to happen!) today,” the manager said.

One can feel a lot of sympathy for Sagna. Certainly his performances have been below-par recently and he has been culpable for a few of the goals Arsenal have conceded this season. But over the years, he’s created this image of dependability that often, Wenger entrusts him with a lot of responsibility – too much at times.

That usually means checking his runs, reining his naturally game to allow Theo Walcott to play with freedom. In that regards, Sagna hasn’t fully fulfilled his side of the bargain because he can tend to push up too hurriedly that it leaves Arsenal open at the back. But then again, he feels as if he must push up because he is very responsible for Arsenal’s passing game. Below, one can see how involved he is in Arsenal’s build-up play – considerably more so than Nacho Monreal (and the graphics are similar when Kieran Gibbs is playing).

sagna_tactics1

In that sense, Arsenal are lucky that not more teams expose their tendency to attack down the right-hand side (The Gunners average 37% of their attacks down that side). Perhaps it is because of Sagna’s ability to handle tight situations that not more teams are able to exploit them, especially because Per Mertesacker plays to the right and his first pass is usually to Sagna. Or that they’re more concerned with stopping the pass to the middle. But that only serves to highlight the importance of having a good passer on that side if teams try to stop Arsenal playing through the middle and Carl Jenkinson is not that player just yet.

It seems as if Sagna may still have a lot to offer.

Arseblog, the arsenal blog
7:33 am May 7, 2013 posted by arseblog - 202 arses

Stuff about SZCZ

Stuff about SZCZ

Morning all, I hope your bank holiday weekend went well. If you didn’t have a bank holiday weekend … well … er … yeah.

Lots around this morning about Wojciech Szczesny and his supposed taunting of Sp*rs. I had a look at the interview on Arsenal Player and didn’t see hear the quotes in question. Maybe it was in there initially then hastily edited out when that one small part of it was picked up. In general I thought he talked quite well, focusing on the team’s defensive improvement rather than his own crucial save, and as for the remark about them, well, meh frankly.

It strikes me it’s just something to get angry about in the absence of anything to really get angry about. While performances haven’t been entirely convincing, it’s a team with just one defeat in the last 14 Premier League games, and our form has been better at this point of the season than at any other. Of course it doesn’t mean there can’t be frustration that what came beforehand, both in terms of how we played and the points we dropped, but right now it’s hard to be too critical of results.

As for Szczesny’s comments motivating that lot, if they’re not already up for the challenge and the potential rewards that Champions League football brings then there’s something quite wrong with them indeed. They shouldn’t need to use some off the cuff remarks from a rival to make them determined to get the results they need. And look, this is sport. This kind of thing happens all the time. For example, when we lost to Sp*rs at White Hart Lane, Andre Vilas Boas said:

It can have a direct effect on Arsenal’s motivation. They are on a downward spiral in terms of results and we are on an upwards spiral. It is extremely difficult to get out of that negative spiral.

So difficult that Arsenal went on to beat Bayern Munich then take 23 of the next 27 Premier League points; in the same period they’ve taken 11 points from 21 and crashed out of the Europa League to Basel. Spiral schmiral. The pressure’s on, we’ve just got to keep winning our games, and hope that the other slip up. Hardly ideal, certainly not enjoyable, but nothing Szczesny says is going to have any significant impact on the situation at all.

Arsene Wenger, meanwhile, has praised the Pole for his response to being dropped, saying:

I must give him credit because in this competition [from Fabianski], he responded very well, worked hard and when he came back, he was sharper when I left him out, from the first game on. He has responded very well. That’s what you’ve seen with people like Seaman, with Lehmann when I took him out. They always came back stronger. He does that well. He’s in good form now.

I don’t really remember it happening with Seaman, I have to say. My recollection is that he played regardless of the form of other keepers, and perhaps even went on a season or two too long, but in this case obviously Wenger wanted to send Szczesny a message. Dropping him for Fabianksi, a player who has been open about his desire to leave and who hadn’t played a first team game for over a year, certainly provided a short, sharp shock.

It could have backfired quite easily. A rusty Fabianski might have made mistakes and had points been dropped because of them then the criticism of the manager would have reached epic levels, but fair play, it worked out. Now that another injury has opened the door for Szczesny again he seems to have had his eyes opened. It’s a show of faith in your talent and potential to be made number 1 at Arsenal at such a young age, but I think he needed a message to be sent that just because you’ve got the shirt you shouldn’t expect to play unless your standards remain high.

I don’t think he made anywhere close to the kind of mistakes that others made. Fabianski and Almunia were much less decisive and far more error prone, but I think there’s a potential in Szczesny that’s not present in the other two. Maybe the manager wanted to ensure that it was realised and waking him up to the need for consistency and shaking him out of any complacency was the way to do it.

What will be interesting is how we deal with this situation in the summer. A keeper is an absolute necessity, no doubt about it, the question is what kind? Another young guy to properly compete or somebody older, more mature, who can fill in when needed and who can act as a kind of mentor to Szczesny. It’s not an easy one because although he’s had some less than convincing moments I think he’s got the potential to be a very good goalkeeper and he’s still just 23, extremely young in the life of a goalkeeper, and it’d be a shame if that potential were realised elsewhere.

Anyway, that’s one for when the season ends and a decision the manager will have to make. And I’ve said this before, but I do wonder if, perhaps, a look at why all our goalkeepers tend to have the same flaws in their game might be a benefit too.

Right, that’s yer lot, back to the grind. Till tomorrow.

Arseblog, the arsenal blog
8:39 am May 6, 2013 posted by arseblog - 219 arses

Bank holiday nonsense

Bank holiday nonsense

Bank holiday *boilk* – oh Old Fashioneds, you delicious bastards.

I suppose a drink or two was understandable having sat through Man United v Chelsea. One of the worst games of football I’ve ever seen spoiled by a Chelsea goal at the end. Nice timing, United. It’s the first time they haven’t scored a goal at home in the league since 2009 and as for van Persie, well don’t get me started.

Now look, you’ve gone and got me started. Scores all season long, then the one time we want him to score he completely refuses to do so. On purpose, I bet. After deliberately scoring a penalty against us last week, now this. It’s one thing leaving a club, but another entirely to play badly against other teams to twist the knife a bit further. I bet he used to fry ants with a magnifying glass. No, I bet he still does that.

It means that rather than looking for both teams to drop points on Wednesday, it would be far better for us if Chelsea were to win. That means John Terry will be happy. That’s what van Persie is doing to us. Making us want John Terry to be happy. Is there no end to his peccability? It would not surprise me in the least if, somehow, our Champions League hopes became dependent on listening to Phil Collins for a prolonged period.

Although at this point it nearly seems the better option. Listen to ‘Sussudio’ on repeat for 8 hours or endure another two matches this season?

There’s a Gerv that’s been on my miiiiiiind
all the time
Ge-ge-gervinho, wooooooaaaaah

Oh man. It’s not an easy choice. Of course it’s all our own fault. If we’d played with this kind of consistency all season this would hardly be an issue. But here we are, and there’s not much we can do but get on with it while van Persie burns ants and £20 notes in front of indigent people to light cigarettes he immediately stubs out on the faces of the homeless.

Arsene Wenger has been speaking about Wojciech Szczesny’s save in the final 10 minutes against QPR, saying:

It was a very great save, yes. When I saw him dive I thought he would not get there, but he extended his final resource very well and he got there. It shows the importance of a goalkeeper.

Indeed, and I suppose we can only look back and wonder how different things might have been if we’d played a goalkeeper all season long. Wenger’s decision to use a cardboard cut-out of Bob Wilson proved fatal after the first few games and when he chose to deploy a scarecrow it gave Thomas Vermaelen such nightmares that he’s now suffering from PTSD and they say he may never be the same again.

I’m told, and I understand, that it is believed only desperate entreaties from Steve Bould persuaded the manager to use a real human being in there, and I think we can see the benefits of it. Without Szczesny’s intervention that would have been an equaliser. There’s no way a scarecrow would have got there. They’re simply too strawy and lack the reflexes required to be top level goalkeepers. I’m glad Wenger has seen the light, at last.

In other interesting behind the scenes at the training ground kind of thing news, they were doing some speed tests the other week and the staff were astounded that Nacho Monreal knew to the precise decimal point exactly how fast he was. Naturally, Theo Walcott was the fastest with a top speed of ‘A bit less than a cheetah’ but Monreal turned around after his first run and said ’22.74665 kmh.’

After his next one he said ’22.7444401 kmh’ and on his final run he announced ’21.095775 kmh’ (he was a bit more tired then, you see). The fitness coach was astonished.

“How in hell’s sweaty balls did you know that, Nacho?”, he asked.

“Easy,” he replied, “it’s my taco-meter.”

I apologise.

Till tomorrow.