may 7th
08.59 – I was going to write something about AW’s claims that Arsenal are still the best team in England. I wanted to say something about how the league table doesn’t lie, but I wanted to qualify that by saying how if AW believes that and is saying that, then maybe it’s a way of keeping the players up for the Cup Final when we’ve got two meaningless games inbetween. I dunno. I find it very difficult to be critical of him when I think about what he’s done for the club, but as has been pointed out elsewhere, a more gracious appreciation of United’s achievement would certainly give him the moral high ground, if nothing else.
We know too well how often the press distort his comments – one of the things Arsenal fans have been bombarded with is this ‘We’ll go the whole season unbeaten‘ quote. Of course, he never actually said that. He was probably too honest with a reporter who asked him if it was his ambition to go through the season unbeaten, to which he replied positively. Isn’t it every manager’s ambition, no matter what division their team is in, from the Conference to the Sunday League pub teams, to go all season without losing a game?
In fact, I remember after United did the treble, Roy Keane said something very similar, unprompted as well. He said the next challenge for United was to go a whole season unbeaten. Fair enough – he was called ambitious and a great leader. When Arsene Wenger says it, he’s arrogant. It’s a fine line. Obviously I reckon we’re the best. I’m an Arsenal fan, you don’t expect me to say any different do you? What I will say is that United have been better than us for the last 3 months of the season and they deserve their title – and that’s the end of my graciousness now.
Despite the gulf in finances, it seems Arsenal will battle it out with United over the signature of defender Philippe Mexes. Fergie has been after the French starlet for 5 years now – AW is set to nip in and steal him from under his big red nose. And Arsenal defence will get another fillip with another Philippe, with the player all the big clubs were after, Philippe Senderos joining on June 1st. Wenger talks about Matthew Upson here, and reveals that youngsters Ryan Garry and Jermaine Pennant will play against Southampton tonight.
Patrick Vieira is staying report all the websites this morning. He says “It’s worth reiterating how happy I am here at Arsenal and how committed I am to the team. I’m looking forward to sitting down with the boss and reflecting on this season and talking about how we can use these experiences to plot a successful 2003-04.”
Don’t know about you, but I’d be happier if I heard him talking about the seasons to come. He stil has to sign a new deal, and le Boss has warned that the club need to find the money to keep players like Pires and Vieira. “Even if they love you a lot, you have to pay them the right price and that means the wage bill becomes higher. You can only keep the players if you do that.” I think with a number of players likely to leave Highbury at the end of the season, and the focus on young long term signings and youth players coming through, there’ll be a few extra quid to throw around for wages.
To understand how important Vieira is, listen to Thierry Henry who claims Arsenal are a one man team, and he’s not talking about himself. “It has not been the same since Pat was no longer there. That is not an excuse. It is a fact that without him it is not Arsenal any more.”
Speaking about Robert Pires, AW says “I do not need to convince Pires to stay. What has been reported is not the deep expression of how he feels.” Good, keeping Bob is important. People seem to have overlooked he’s our second highest scorer this season, despite only starting his campaign in October. Bob himself has spoken about the big game to come in Cardiff “We have to keep a smile and rally round for the FA Cup final. It is important that we do not end the season without a trophy.”
Finally for today, you can vote in the Arseblog player of the season poll over on the forum – you will have to register to vote. Looks like a landslide for TH14 so far. The winner will be presented with a shiny golden arse, well, they won’t actually – hmmmm, I wonder if we could get a trophy of an arse made somewhere? Any trophologists amongst us?
