Gambling is an integral part of football on the pitch. Players are constantly betting that they can force opponents into mistakes, create timely interceptions or make storming 60-yard runs to get on the end of crosses while leaving space behind them. On the downside there is the knowledge that if they’re wrong, they can leave the team open to be scored upon but with matches lasting ninety minutes, losing bets made early on can be recouped at a later stage.
Gambling off the pitch though is an entirely different proposition and Arsenal Football Club are currently making the two biggest wagers in their 120-year history – and they can’t afford to lose.
The first roll of the dice is Emirates Stadium. A fitting venue for one of the most forward thinking clubs in the world but it comes at a big, big price. The Ashburton Grove project has cost the North Londoners somewhere in the region of $730 million dollars. Simple economics dictate that it needs to be bursting at the seams every other weekend for the Premiership as well as enjoying deep long runs in cup competitions especially the Champions League.
In the Arsene Wenger era over the last decade the team has become used to incredible success, however unless that continues, empty seats will become a reality, as a fickle public will want to support winners…not losers! The financial pressure is intense and many a club in the past has buckled to this fact plummeting to the depths of painful, suffocating debt.
The question though is…can this team of kids assembled by the Frenchman become instant winners?
Aside from a stirring run in the Champions League and the surprising development of some of these kids, last season was undoubtedly a disappointment as they squeaked 4th place in the Premiership on the last day of the season. When you consider the fact that the EPL is generally considered to be the toughest learning environment in the world, it’s hard to see how the Gunners can expect to compete on a week-to-week basis.
Seven of the players who appeared on Saturday in the shock but somehow not unexpected loss to Manchester City were 23-years-old or younger. With a combined 122 EPL starts between Cesc Fabregas (56), Robin van Persie (26), Emmanuel Eboue (13), Emmanuel Adebayor (13), Johan Djourou (8), Justin Hoyte (6) and Theo Walcott (0) it would take a very brave punter to throw down some cash on them winning anything for at least two seasons. Obviously Wenger is betting that his youngsters can mature in the course of the campaign much like Sir Alex Ferguson and his fledglings did way back in 1996 when Manchester United won the title.
Die hard supporters will also claim that once the defensive injury crisis that currently bedevils the side becomes a distant memory, all this frailty nonsense will disappear however other than Lauren (152), inexperience defines the Arsenal back line as crocked Philippe Senderos (31), Gael Clichy (19) and Abou Diaby (9) have only 60 starts combined. This is why I believe the second roll of the dice by the Gunners will have season lasting ramifications.
The Ashley Cole saga is now in its ninth month and it has become a ‘must win’ situation for the Arsenal board. The poker they are playing with Chelsea over the valuation of the England international is reaching critical status and with the transfer window about to close funds are desperately needed to buy a top quality defender.
Supposedly the Gunners want close to $50 million dollars for their left back – in all honesty an extraordinary amount of money for a defender. The Blues though despite their riches are equally determined not to be taken to the cleaners and appear to have the ace card in that they do not need Cole after signing the versatile Dutch international, Khalid Boulahrouz as well as enjoying the benefits of a fit again, Wayne Bridge. There is a wild card in all this wheeling and dealing though and that is William Gallas.
The Frenchman has fallen foul with Jose Mourinho and it seems his Stamford Bridge career is coming to a close. I believe that it is imperative for Wenger and Arsenal to make a deal and bring the vastly experienced 29-year-old Gallas to North London while sending Cole to West London with a somewhat reduced fee.
A central partnership of Kolo Toure and Gallas is a sturdy proposition and with a few extra million lying around, the Professor can make his usual foray into the European transfer market and make those unknown signings he is so apt at doing.
Whatever the outcome though, in my mind Wenger and Arsenal are gambling for today in the hopes of a big payout tomorrow. It’s Vegas, North London style!
While I'm not a huge Arsenal fan my son is so I spend a lot of time watching and discussing them. Nick, great piece on the Gunners. My son (8yrs old and an unabashed Henry fan) said to me the other day,"Arsenal have lost more players than they have brought in." Is there that much faith in the youth program, dev. squad? They seem to be the only top 4 team that hasn't spent money this go around. Were they surprised by Reyes and Cole? If so drop some cash and bring in Ribery et al. I have to say I am a little worried for their season. Nick if you have any pull over there at Emirates Stadium you might want to tell them that only Henry has the ability to walk the ball into the net the others might want to shoot the second or third time they touch the ball in the box.
I have to admit that l was livid after my beloved gunners once again had bee the architect of their own downfall, but once again l put myself in Wenger’s shoes and try to analyse the stats and the performance l realized that the Frenchman for the umpteenth time was destined for yet another great laugh after all had been said and done .When l looked at the physical presence in the man city team l realized that it was as good as any other in the premiership with big chaps like Dabo, Vassel,Barton and Sinclare .The stats of 17 shots on goal with 9 on target , 8corners and 60% possession clearly showed that we dominated the game in tremendous fashion and the young guys in the team where beginning to get physical with the big guys. The creativity in the squad was amazing and just like any young squad if your best player is not in form you tend not to get a lot of things to perfection of which the only thing lacking was shooting and finishing which should not be a problem if you look at the goal scoring position we anticipate. At first l singled out hoyte as our cause for the defeat but again l looked at the team ethic and saw that we had dedicated ourselves to winning by means of attack and not defending. On the game against man city the young lad got a lot of confidence in their ability against a defensive physical side. Once we start moving l can not see anyone stopping us. We tend to get a lot of stick for not attacking goal mouth and when you do not have a lot of points as expected the over passing theory becomes hugely pronounced but in our two games we have had 36 shots on
continuation......
goal with 20 on target and when l looked at Chelsea l discovered that they had created two goal scoring chances this season with 13 shot on goal including their goals , Liverpool had 12 shots on goal including the goal and 4 clearly cut chances, Man u had 21 shots on goal in three matches including their 10 goals which clearly shows that we are going to be unstoppable once we get going in scoring department.
I then decided to take three of my friends who have dedicated their lives to supporting Manu, Chelsea and Liverpool respectively and assessed how they had played their games putting all the stats and facts together and there was a anonymous agreement that they dreaded the day they faced the gunners. To verify my recent discovery l went to the forums of the respective and saw that 78% of them thought that once we got our act together we would be unstoppable. Shocked
I have been a gunner supporter for over 40 years, through some great times and some bad, however I have to tell you that I can't remember a more unsettled side. Even during the Graham Rix years there were 8 or 9 solid spots that no one would consider changing. Now I'm not sure that Arsene can find five spots we would consider "iron clad locks" at their chosen spots. I long for the days of Alan Ball,Frank McClintock and Liam Brady. If only Kenny Sampson could roll back the clock. Lean times ahead I fear.
Although i like the signings Arsene Wenger has made lately, but i think hes missing something. all the kids he's brought in in the past few years have all been attacking players. they've all been strikers or attacking mid-fielders. now that Vieira is gone, Gilberto is the only "hardman" the gunners have left and hes getting a little old in the tooth and certainly cant control the whole pitch while all the kids are up running towards the goal. i think the great frenchman needs to send his brilliant scouts out and find another absolutely quality unknown holding mid-fielder. i think once he does that, the Gunners will be back to there winning ways. i also agree with you Nick, in regards to Arsenal needing to get Gallas in exchange for Ashley Cole. i think Cole is a brilliant player, and the best left back in the world, but if he must go then bring in another frenchman! i think Arsenals left side will be fine once Clichy gets healthy and gets a lenghty run in the team. but thats all from me, COME ON YOU GUNNERS!!!!
Have no fear. I really believe Arsenal is in a funk right now on the pitch. They have the players and skill to overcome their worst start in the Premiership.
They'll pick up their rhythm again in their next match, against Boro at the Emirates Stadium. After that, they have a tricky away match in the Champions League against Hamburg. And then after that, gulp, they play Man United at Old Trafford.
Nick,
I've been a Yank Gooner since 1994 (through marriage!) and have been to Highbury many times. I'll always be a Gooner (in fact my 7-year old son's middle name is Overmars), however nothing will EVER take the place of seeing Wrighty, Bergkamp, Merson, Viera, Petit, Overmars, Dixon, Adams, Keown, Seaman and Winterburn beating up Spurs on a snowy Sunday afternoon, then going to the chip shop after. Now that was football. You're right, about Viera. Once he left, there was no link to the greatness that is Arsenal FC. Bless Kanu for a great game at Portsmouth. We certainly miss him. When my son was born, his middle name was almost Kwankwo!
Last edited by GoonerPhil on August 28th at 11:57 PM.
Henry14, when your team is down you start looking for the answers to why. The only stat in the game that matters is the SCORE. Who cares if you posses the ball 60% of the time. If you don't put the ball in the net that stat makes you look even more inept! I don't want to sound like I'm attacking you---Arsenal is fun to watch. Who doesn't like Henry? Just score!SHOOT!SHOOT!SHOOT! How many times do you score off of rebounds and missed played balls? If you don't take the first try then there never will be a second shot.
Last edited by neophyte on August 29th at 8:52 AM.
I have to say they is more to football than goals and it will take an extremely brave man or a stupid one to bet against arsenal improving from this predicament, but just like every fan you have to consider the positives from a bad result and l do not think l am the only one who does it
Alan Hansen said "you can't win with kids" and Manchester United went on to humiliate him however I just don't see Arsene's kids turning it around that quickly. The EPL is a different game to what it was 10 years ago.
l feel that the word kid is misinterpreted, you can not doubt the talent in Rvp,cesc,eboue,djouru,walcott and hansen is one of the poorest football pundits, who is very biased,yes they are young but do not forgert that they passed through madrid,and juventus and nick can you find hansen 's qoutes during that time and it show how disorganized this fellow was because he was comparing them to fergie's youngsters
the problem with pundits is that they change like weather what will be your judgement of the gunner if we beat manu at OT and win over Boro, so you probably write a coloumn praising the gunners spirit
Now's the time to activate/sign Henry for your prem fantasy team.
He's due. Big Time.
Hey Webster - did Arsene drop any hints on Cole / Reyes when you met him for that photo op in Germany? Baptista would be a huge score - add some physicality to the Gunner's finesse - but I don't think he wants to go, else he probably would have went long ago.
Good Sunday morning everyone, Nick, my man, I miss your game bloggin! It maybe too early for you out there on the left coast but brasil is putting on quite a show against those dastardly argies, the cheats!
Once again, I heard a daft (English word for nuts, I guess) announcer trumpet that soccer is the # 1 game in the world !! Really now ! But, I might agree watching these players drag around their hands uselessly for some daft reason, that this funny bandy legged sport would be #1 in the world if that world was composed entirely of double amputees (as in "look ma, no hands"...can you dig it ? As for me, I want to see the diving catch, the mighty swing of the bat (held in those poison hands by the way), or the (perish the thought) the dunking of the ball, but no hands ?...I ask you ...why ?
Well Nick, I think many thousands of humble pies have been sold this Sunday in Manchester (or rather Southern England where most of the ManU supporters come from), no?
I would much rather have Arsenal play the fluid, Attacking football and finish 4th every year, rather than play the boring tripe that the Classless One insists his Blues play. You’d think that with 350 million pounds he’d be able to have a team that plays with style, eh? Or, for that matter, that old George Graham’s “Boring, boring Arsenal” played.
Anyway, the “you can’t win with kids’ attitude is ridiculous. Ajax won the CL with a squad in which the oldest player was 25 or so. We got to the CL final (something Chelsea will never do, IMO) last year (Dream Final, it was called) with a bunch of kids. And they proved their worth against the best team in the world (yeah, I know we lost, but even Barca fans were saying that we played better…) Yesterday’s well deserved win against the Mancs proved this. IMO, either mad Jens or Rosicky were MOM, but Cesc put in a goo peroformance. Not quite his best, but still good. He shows maturity beyond his years…and Cashle Cole needs to stay shut. Plus, Fabregas evidently threw the pizaa at SAF, what a legend, eh?
One last thing, never listen to Alan Hansen. I hear he was a great player for the ‘pool, (before my time), but he is just part of the pro-Scouse brigade at the BBC. He dismissed the great Arsenal v. United game (the way football should be played) amd instead said that Liverpool is doing fine. He said about them making chances but not capitalizing. Guess what? Th
Last edited by extraordinaryrvanp on September 18th at 6:53 PM.
Who will break into the 'B4' and who will avoid the drop. So many questions will be answered over the next nine months because it's back - the greatest show on earth - The Barclays Premier League.
