It’s Over, So Don’t Cry Any More, ‘Cos International Week’s Been A Bore

So that’s it, the international break is over and we wait the return of the walking to see how wounded they are. It seems somewhat fitting in the modern era that England’s 2,000th international goal was scored by a foreign player beating the archetypal English midfielder to the ball, applying the proper technique to the finish.

England might have been undefeated in a year but they have not convinced this week with two stereotypical Italian wins. With players missing, there might be the expectation that performances will improve; it is just over six months away but I wonder if this time, the English press might be more restrained in their advancement of the team? No, I don’t believe it either. Still Theo Walcott seems to be averaging 7/10 for his performances recently and The Times this morning is rating Jack Wilshere’s rise to prominence as a positive for England which offers some hope for sanity.

That is in short supply when it comes to the game’s administrators. Sandro Rosell has been stung by Barcelona’s liquidity problems last season and is determined to milk the cow for all the cash there is. Starting with Uefa and Fifa. The clubs have a point; no other industry borrows key assets from businesses at the employers own risk and can return them in any condition, paying only lip service in real cash terms.

It is obvious that Rosell is taking a negotiating stance and as such does himself no favours in opining that a reduced Premier League would allow more dates for an expanded Champions League and friendlies. The clubs are looking at a rapacious public and believing it will never stop, wilfully propelling themselves toward oversaturation of the market. It is not going to take many years before stagnation of football’s revenues can only be avoided by price increases to an already squeezed matchday audience.

A favoured counterpoint of Rosell is a reduction in wages. It might happen at the lower echelons of the game but those such as Robin van Persie will not be taking paycuts for club owners to pocket. Bloated administrations could be surgically removed from the game but that is not likely. Equally, not paying agents is likely but it seems harsh especially when Mr van Persie’s has worked so hard to get this story into The Guardian this morning.

An entirely brighter point is Carl Jenkinson. A torrid debut has been put behind him and progress is being made on his quest to be a Premier League right back. The formidable Bacary Sagna is ahead of him at the moment but the youngsters industry and capacity to learn, aligned with a natural talent, offer promise for the future. England would do well to offer him an international route before the Finns nip in with an offer that is too good to turn down.

The transfer window is a mere 45 days away and the fires are being lit for a cracking New Year. First up today is Etienne Capoue, The Sun‘s French starlet tipped to be Arsène’s next gem. Pesumably they are buttering up the Arsenal manager to write a column when ‘Arry gets sent down, Redknapp’s idea of ‘A Scrubbers Diary‘ has not been well-received. Daily Star reporters are better informed, knowing Arsène is suffering from travel sickness and is not keen to leave these shores on scouting trips. Well, that’s the only reason I can think that they are watching Jack Butland. Either that or Fabianski and Almunia are off this Winter which will lead to flags and bunting being hung out in some quarters.

Marouane Chamakh has to change his mind and decide to return to Bordeaux if their utterly mental President‘s dream is to come true. The question is, which one of the hardy perennials is to be seriously linked with the club to be signed now? Hazard and Goetze are next Summer’s targets so whom will it be? Breath is being baited.

’til Tomorrow.

Book Review: Forward, Arsenal! by Bernard Joy

Another re-run ahead of the relaunched “Book Review” page for you to enjoy and add to your Christmas list if you don’t possess it already.

Forward, Arsenal! by Bernard Joy
Published by GCR Books

Originally published in 1952 and long out of publication, this essential book on the history of Arsenal is reprinted by GCR Books. Whilst every season spawns an updated version of the club’s history, this was for many years the definitive version of that story.

As a former player Bernard Joy had a level of access that gives this history a uniqueness that is unlikely to be matched again. His experience as journalist gives his narrative whilst his love of the club is never allowed to overspill into sycophancy, retaining a balanced view throughout.

Joy began his career at amateur side Casuals in 1931, winning the Amateur Cup and captaining the Great Britain team at the Berlin Olympics of 1936. He was registered with Southend United and Fulham in the early 1930s but in 1935, he joined Arsenal.

It is utterly inconceivable that an amateur player would ever follow this career path in the modern era, let alone represent the full England international side. Yet this is how Joy’s career unfolded, playing his one full international in a 2-3 defeat to Belgium. He was the last amateur to achieve this status, a record that will surely never be broken.

In 1937-38, the regular Arsenal centre half, Herbie Roberts suffered a broken leg and Bernard Joy replaced him, winning a League Champions medal that season. As a result of his injury, Roberts retired and Joy remained first choice in his position through to the outbreak of the Second World War, picking up a Charity Shield winners medal in 1938.

Joy’s war was spent as an RAF Intelligence Officer which enabled him to continue playing football. He was to make more than 200 appearances for Arsenal during this time, continuing his career once war was over. However, like many, he lost those years from his career and at 35, he retired in December 1946 although he was to continue playing for Casuals until 1948. It is incredible to think that such a pivotal player for those seasons was an amateur. On retiring, Joy entered journalism as Evening Standard and later Sunday Express football correspondent.

Forward, Arsenal! is a superb history of the club. Contributions were directly received from a veritable Who’s Who of players and managers including Tom Whitaker, George Allison, Alex James and Charles Buchan, rather than relying upon the press of that time for the information. The detailed analysis puts modern histories to shame.

This book has long been sought after on eBay in its original form. GCR Books has made a fine reprint, one that every Arsenal fan should own. Having started with The Arsenal Stadium Mystery, Greg is planning an outstanding library of reprinted books about Arsenal, which can be viewed on their website en route to buying Forward, Arsenal!

No Room For The Laughing Cavaliers At Arsenal

International week concludes its business this evening with a host of pointless friendlies joined by a host of pointless second legs in the Euro2012 Play-offs with most settled already, the only debatable outcome is Bosnia and Portugal. Even then, if the latter do not progress to the finals that will constitute a major shock.

Not quite a shocking as the English media this morning deciding anything Marca carries is vaguely newsworthy. I was going to add truthful to that but since when has the truth had anything to do with the print media? Certainly the reliance upon verifiable facts is in decline, preferring to attribute spurious stories to ‘sources close to the club‘. Here’s a newsflash: those sources are supposed to be executives at the club not the Madrid Evening Post seller whose stand happens to be on the street corner opposite the Bernabeu.

Arsène is not worrying about that, instead focussing on keeping the players focussed on improving. Having endured all manner of opprobrium and ridicule following the poor start to the season, the climb to seventh place is a recovery with the top four within touching distance. Indeed, a heavy win at Carrow Road could see the club reach stratospheric heights by this season’s standards albeit for a fleeting moment.

Three points though will be the first objective and that will be achieved by the continued adherence to a more direct approach,

I would say we are a bit more controlled and less cavalier. We are less adventurous when the job is done, I must say. You can feel that there is some reserve there if needed…Overall I would say it is a more mature attitude. We were more functional. We did the job properly, with quality and, I must say, with seriousness.

There’s a lot saying going on there, I must say. The dynamic has changed beyond doubt, new signings in midfield are not direct replacements for those departed which leads to an adjustment of the playing style. When Jack Wilshere returns, that style will adjust again. It is not a philosophical change as such, more an adaptation to circumstance.

And that adaptation process is going well. The results might have been as expected, teams who should be beaten, beaten. That should not be used as a stick with which to beat the squad though. Many times in the past, those matches perceived as straightforward have been the undoing of title hopes. It is equally not a time to go overboard.

This is a hard squad to judge. They showed mental strength in overcoming Chelsea, retrieving deficits and punishing their supposedly stronger opponents on the counter-attack. They have relentlessly pursued victories, keeping clean sheets as well. They have ridden their luck and I suppose that the only real test they have to face is how they handle defeat. It will come and given that was the fundmental failing at the tail end of last season, this time around will be telling.

Recovering from defeats this season has probably been easier thus far. Liverpool’s win could be pinned on a red card, Old Trafford a freak result in a season of freak results. Blackburn? Profligacy in front of goal whilst Spurs is a derby that could go either way. Those defeats at the hands of close rivals are probably easier to deal with mentally, knowing that matches could go either way.

It is those like Blackburn that seem to take a bigger toll and that is what Wenger must deal with when the moment arises. It has been a weakness in the past but one that this squad seem more prepared to overcome. Perhaps it is the experience of older heads such as Arteta, Mertesacker and Benayoun. Maybe it is losing the emotional or sulky responses of others who have left. In all likelihood, it is a combination of both.

All this is not going to the manager’s head. In this case, he is a better man than I for having to endure the gratuitous “I know better than you” attitude of his critics, he is not going to stoop to their level,

At the moment I feel we are more focused – saying ‘look I am right’ is less important for me than trying to continue the quality of our team and our results

The Yardbirds summed it all up, Mister, you’re a better man than I.

’til Tomorrow

Book Review: The Arsenal Stadium Mystery by Leonard Gribble

The Arsenal Stadium Mystery by Leonard Gribble

I know what you are thinking, it is not a new book to review. It is the return of the book reviews section on the blog. GCR books do an outstanding service in reprinting historic Arsenal books. This week will see original reviews re-posted and then appearing on their own page.

For those who do not know, the story is set against the backdrop of a fictional match between Arsenal and an amateur team called The Trojans. As Mick Jones sang, ‘Somebody Got Murdered‘ and Inspector Slade is called in to save the day, which he duly does. Or rather, solve the case, for it would not be much of a ‘whodunnit’ if you were still wondering the identity of the culprit at the end of the book.

Set eighty years ago, it is almost inconceivable that such a book could be written in today’s football climate with the natural suspicion that clubs, players, managers and staff hold the media. If Gribble did not have access behind the scenes, he possessed an astute eye for observing characters, descriptions of the playing staff and their personalities entirely plausible.

Where the book excels in football literature is capturing the emotions surrounding the game, both on and off the pitch. Anyone who stood on terraces at Highbury will relate entirely to Gribble’s depiction of the stadium emptying and queues for the tube station.

Compared to today’s crime writing, the absence of car chases, swearing and sex scenes is a refreshing change. It concentrates purely on the crime, characters and their lives. Even so, the pace is consistent throughout and an enjoyable read it is too.

GCR Books are looking at other Arsenal titles so let us hope that they are able to reprint those as a decent job has been made of this one. The Arsenal Stadium Mystery can be purchased directly from GCR Books and with Christmas around the corner, a recommended stocking filler for all.

Cesc On Jack & RvP. A Pain In The Arsenal…?

You knew it was coming, Fábregas away on international duty and questions about his future emerge. No, wait, they were about Robin van Persie’s future. But they weren’t questions, more statements by the former Arsenal captain whose Mr20% is the son of a former Arsenal chairman. There’s a lot of formers in this one.

I’m not bothered by Cesc’s opinions since they were largely the truth. At 28, it is probably van Persie’s last chance at switching to another big club if he holds such treacherous intent. But, and I have no inside knowledge or information on this, I do not think that is his outlook at the moment, simply an option that cannot be discarded.

There is no point in concerning yourself with such matters. To me the former player’s opinion is worth no more than any other former player’s opinion. He might be close to van Persie, he might not be. During the course of his interviews after Saturday’s match, he made it clear that he considers himself to be amongst friends at Barcelona. Fair play, it was a move he wanted and I am glad for him that, at the moment, it is working out well. But no more than I would be happy for anyone else; it is spiteful and pointless to wish ill.

Laugh when they are on the subs bench by all means, not able to get into even the Carling Cup side but let’s not sink to their levels beforehand.

There was something very familiar about the Spanish players comments following their defeat to England. The utterances about a negative style of play echo those of Arsenal players when beaten by stifling midfielders. Tellingly, Spain’s weaknesses were Barcelona’s strengths, all 5’6 of them. A shame he has Argentine blood flowing through his veins. A shame for del Bosque, that is.

Criticism of Capello and his tactics is short-sighted. He knows the limitations of his players and chose to negate them with strengths. It also overlooks the absence of crucial players. No, not John Terry; Jack Wilshere. If the opposition are underlining his importance, no doubt the Italian knows it as well.

Fábregas observed,

Normally England don’t play like that when Wayne Rooney and Jack Wilshere are available.“But unfortunately they were without a few players and maybe it was an obligation to play like that.

Overall, England are a very solid team and if they have Jack back it will make a massive difference. He has the talent to make things happen.

Arsenal will notice that as well. There is a very solid team ethic building at the moment, one that has been perhaps missing or less effective than is currently witnessed. The upcoming fixture at Carrow Road will be testing for the players. Not because Norwich are exceptional opponents – undeniably they are a hard-working side – but under Wenger’s reign Arsenal have always been sluggish immediately after the international break.

This time might be different. Key players have not been away or have been used more sparingly than previously. Koscielny represents the other side of the coin, he might be ‘buzzing’ following his international debut. A rest or confidence must surely be a boost for Arsène?

Wilshere provides a headache of the nicest kind for Wenger. Arteta, Song and Ramsey – barring injuries – will have built a strong partnership by the time the England international returns. I believe he provides a different attacking option than that trio and it is hard to say who would lose out. It is unlikely to be Song. Arteta’s experience gives him an edge over Ramsey but the Welshman is more mobile, something Wenger rates highly.

I suspect that it is the latter who will give way. The option of Wilshere occupying the attacking left-side role with Gervinho moving to the right cannot be discounted but that again offers more problems than solutions. Whatever the case may be, there is a long way to go until Wilshere’s return and if past seasons are anything to go by, an injury or suspension will solve the problem initially.

Elsewhere, Lukasz Fabianski felt like a number of small businesses when his attempt to obtain a loan was turned down. I suspect that his future is tied into that of Manuel Almunia. If the Spaniard goes in January, Fabianski will not be able to get a move, somthing that will cause disgruntlement as he has obviously been told he will not get to Euro2012 as first choice Polish ‘keeper unless he is occupying that spot at Arsenal. His international manager is obviously more decisive than the late Ron Greenwood was over Shilton and Clemence.

Finally, a reminder that Fun Gunner is interviewing a current player plying his trade on foreign shores, who was a youth player at an EPL club. Questions of more originality than “Who are you?” should be emailed to fungunner@hotmail.co.uk.

’til Tomorrow.

Sunday Morning International Blues

International weekend is almost over and one injury target is down. Robin van Persie is not out, no, just at home being wrapped in cotton wool so that he can emerge unscathed for training next week. The Dutch believe his blood shows immense fatigue which is better than showing his blood type as 5%ABV. It is entirely keeping with the jingoistic nature of the past seven days that the language surrounding this is akin to Arsène emerging victorious from a bloody conflict or that RvP will be on a life support machine within minutes. No histrionics, eh? And it’s VAN not Ven.

Still that will give him plenty of time to stew in his own juices about his contract renewal, won’t it Pete?

On which subject, there must be some sore backs this morning with the amount of flip-flopping that has gone on surrounding the England team. They won 1-0, a win which some believe is a backward step, others a giant leap forward. The result is more positive than negative. The performance England put in is encouraging for several reasons. Firstly, the absence of Terry and Rooney. I cannot think of a positive about the former in any circumstances and it is hard to deny that the latter is talented. But in the same way Arsenal will naturally incline towards van Persie, England do so with Rooney, stifling the team ethic in the process.

Secondly, with young players hungry – maybe they should have had a pasty or pasties beforehand – to prove themselves, teamwork was more apparent than is normal for England. Observations have been made about how the lack of technique made the result embarrassing. I find that logic hard to follow. Football is about playing to your strengths and England did that; hard work. They took their chance and rode their luck, like many teams facing Arsenal. They stole a win, so what? If it had been Arsenal doing that, would there be any embarrassment or complaint?

By the same token, claiming England could do well at a tournament playing like that is taking patriotic fervour too far, somewhat bizarre given the individual in question chose the Republic of Ireland as his country for football purposes. Surely Andy O’Townsend is not disowning his roots? It was a friendly and should be treated as such, the positives should be taken forward rather than taken for granted. We well remember England’s last match against a good side in a tournament. There is still work to be done.

And don’t get me on the subject of Scott Parker. The media’s love-in was nauseating to watch, read and hear. I guess with Harry looking to get a new suit with hoops or arrows on it, someone at Tottenham had to fill the void. I wonder if Redknapp Senior has ordered a room with a view from the Scrubs Hotel?

Watching the match with the Birthday Boy, his observation that ‘Cesc’s let himself go‘ mirrored the thoughts of Wojciech Szczesny. It was the haircut that got to him and what seemed to be an increase in the number of tattoos. His observation that if that was what happened to young people when they lived in Spain, he was staying in England, went down well with the Catalan side of the family.

Elsewhere on this quiet Sunday, Alex Song is apparently going to Barcelona which was entirely at odds with the headline that screamed he was going to Internazionale. Both moves are taking place this coming January. It didn’t take long for Song’s association with Darren Dein to start bearing fruit for the Cameroonean. I am not sure who Eden Hazard’s Mr20% but he has to be one of the hardest working in the business. Having sorted out a move to Real Madrid, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and AC Milan, he has looked around and become concerned at the lack of options for his client, the deal struck with Barcelona now means that only the Bundesliga remains of Europe’s major leagues to cover off.

Right, that’s it. Round Two of Super Birthday Weekend begins in an hour or so. Enjoy your Sunday. ’til Tomorrow.

Olympic Ideals Or Reality Bites: Tough Choice For Ramsey

As the middle of November approaches, it is like animals waking from hibernation; the first bleary-eyed steps are being taken towards the full bloom of the winter’s transfer nonsense. Some of it will of course prove to be prophetic when viewed with hindsight and to be honest, most of this morning’s concerns players whose careers at Arsenal are destined to be on the periphery at best. There will always be the exception to prove the rule as Mr20%s test the waters to try to strengthen their negotiating hands.

Daily Heil reports this morning suggest that Manuel Almunia and Sebastien Squillaci have tested the patience of their manager once too often and are on their way out of the club. Given that the Spaniard was on loan at West Ham and available in the Summer, it is hardly surprising. That Squillaci has had Almunia-esque injuries, there is no amazement either. Yet we are still supposed to be in awe at this knowledge, gasping as if Aliens in Toy Story.

They suggest Maruoane Chamakh is available for a loan or permanent offer which suggests someone has been spending far too much time reading the social media sites rather than talking to anyone at Arsenal. That the African Cup of Nations takes place next Winter and thus makes him of little interest to teams who may be inclined to make an offer, has escaped the hacks attention. And he may be there for the full tournament with some of the nations who might have expected to challenge for the trophy, failing to qualify.

As for Andrey Arshavin. Schalke? Really? Somebody has been in the gossip kitchen, taken a pinch of mistranslated Russian media interviews and added to a smidgen of fine-bottled international not in the club starting line-up to come up with a alcohol-free codswallop cocktail. OK George?

Elsewhere, rabid nationalism is the order of the day. No, not poppies; it was a farcical row that had a simple solution which the simpletons couldn’t find quickly enough allowing the oxygen of publicity to those who should never get it. I’m talking Team GB. Again.

Aaron Ramsey gave an interesting insight into what has been happening with regard to the players. The Welshman said,

I don’t regret what I was doing [modelling the Team GB kit]. Gareth and I are contracted to Adidas and it was a shoot for them. My view hasn’t changed. If it doesn’t affect Wales’ identity then I still want to play.

His international Lords and Masters beg to differ with their perception being that the Dragon will be subsumed into a permanent Team GB. It won’t but the power in the corridors that the Celtic nations hold, might be diminished. That is likely to happen any way as part of Fifa’s desire to move toward the fully democratic Utopia.

More disconcerting is the hint of bullying,

It is up to the players [whether they play for Team GB]. The PFA haven’t given us any reason why we can’t play in the Olympics. Maybe we’ll have a meeting, but I am not sure. It is still a long way away, so a lot can happen.

In the sense that the FAW and their cohorts should not be able to metaphorical gun to the players heads, Ramsey is correct. But the truth is that the decision is with the clubs. It is a Fifa sanctioned tournament but organised by the IOC and therefore the clubs have no obligation to release players.

For Ramsey it is tough. Wales are no closer to qualifying for a major tournament than at any time since 1958. Some might argue they are further away and it is hard not to have sympathy with this thinking. Yet he may like to consider what has happened at Arsenal in recent seasons.

Diaby was lined up as Vieira’s successor, was injured against Valencia pre-season and lost out to Flamini. Diarra did not wait for Flamini to go and was gone, allowing Diaby back into the frame before injury struck and Wilshere moved into midfield prominence. Injury to those two and Ramsey is in situ. A fluid part of the side at the best of times, Ramsey might like to consider more deeply whether he will be able to force himself into the midfield starting line-up if he misses a month of pre-season with the team. It only takes one player to strike a rich vein of form and the pecking order changes.

Anyway, that’s next Summer. International weekend means that the break is past its halfway point. Just time to see England get taught a lesson about loving the ball and caressing it, rather than trapping it as if it were a bag of wet cement.

’til Tomorrow.