Next week Arsene Wenger celebrates 10 years in charge of the Gunners and captain Thierry Henry has been speaking about the impact he’s made on the club. He says:
The way he sees the game and the way he wants his players to play. He is unique. It’s like when you used to see Ajax, they had this tradition of passing the ball and that’s what Arsene has brought here.
There’s no question the perception of the club, well at least our football, has changed under Wenger’s reign. A chant that was the opposition’s favourite was taken over by our fans and we chanted ‘Boring, boring Arsenal’ while taking another team to the cleaners. I know I’m biased but I think the football we played during our unbeaten season and a little before and after was probably the best club football I have ever witnessed.
Big players have come and gone and he’s now building what has the potential to be another great side. Sure, there have been teething problems and as frustrating as some of it has been you have to admire his principles. He wanted to go with youth, he went with youth. This season will tell us a lot but there’s no question these have been the ten most consistently successful years of Arsenal Football Club.
Team news ahead of tomorrow’s game against Sheffield United sees the return of Thierry and more than likely Robin van Persie too. Theo Walcott looks set to miss out because of a shoulder injury he picked up in the reserves.
Also close to a return is Philippe Senderos who knows he’s going to have to fight for his place with Johann Djourou playing so well and the arrival of William Gallas. He says:
I expect to get the green light to resume training next week. It has been a test of my mental strength but I will come back stronger than ever. Now it’s down to me to win my place back in the Arsenal defence.
You really can’t fault his attitude and the return of him, Clichy and Lauren will provide the competition for places amongst the defence that is vital.
The Sun has this week been serialising Rio Ferdinand’s biography. It is, as you would imagine, completely shite. On Tuesday he talked about that sex tape he made with Fat Frank and Kieron Dyer while on holiday in Cyprus and spoke about all the ‘birds’ that love footballers and the ‘birds’ that he knows and ‘birds’ this and ‘birds’ that. He’s a classy bloke. Well, today he says this about Robert Pires when discussing the rivalry between Arsenal and United:
Robert Pires is a bit of diver and if someone gives him a proper hard tackle he starts crying.
Now, although I think Pires’ reputation as a diver is somewhat exaggerated, I can understand why people talk about it. However, it’s a bit fucking rich coming from a player who played with Ruud van Nistelrooy for years. He was the biggest bitch of them all. Falling, cheating, moaning, crying and leaping through the air like a common salmon. Just though that needed to be said.
Not sure where to watch tomorrow’s game. I’m half thinking Frazers again. Is anyone else going? I’d feel safer. Let me know in the arses. Cheers!
