Arsenal Action

[Craigie]

I think along the way we've alienated ourselves from established British players. Apart from the fact we're in the Champions League I don't think we're very attractive to them. I don't think most British players would feel comfortable in a team that was so non-British, with a French manager playing a completely non-British game especially with all the misquotes and media spin of Wenger and Arsenal being mental about tackling. I can imagine the dressing room in a lot of northern clubs is very "WE ARE THE LADS" and I don't see ours being like that at all.

[Curt.B]

Legitimite British starting players per 'Big' club:

Chelsea:

Lampard
Terry
Cole

British Manager?: NO

Arsenal:

Wilshere
Walcott
Gibbs
(Ramsey?)

British Manager?: NO

Liverpool:

Cole
Gerrard
Carragher
Johnson

British Manager?: YES

Man City:

Milner
Barry

British Manager?: NO

Man United

Fletcher
Rooney
Ferdinand
Scholes
Giggs
(Probably a few more)

British Manager?: YES


The point is, we are no 'less British' than the majority of other big clubs in the Premier League. Also, our reserve teams and under 18 teams are mostly British and will give any other reserve/U18 team a spanking.

[stevedon]

Hey Curt,
I think if you showed the number of caps beside those names it would show it in a different light!

Also, ENGLAND -> British Manager? No

[Curt.B]

I think wenger has again been clever in allowing Pires to come back and train at the club. There are training photos of him and the guys on arsenal.com, and I think it's great having a guy like hi about to really help drive the team forward and instill ambition. they can ask him about his cup-winning exploits, and all the great things he did for the club, and it will really give them greater ambition to better.

Also, his timing of starting his fitness training is convenient.... I wouldn't be that surprised if he is signed on in the January transfer window, honestly. If Wenger is seeing something in him then why not? Of course it begs the question as to why Wenger sold him in the first place, but I think it's only good having a guy like him in and around the team. We have seen the value Scholes and Giggs give to United when they need them, there is no reason to believe Pires can't give us a good stint for 6 months.

Also, he is training in the number 30 jersey. This happens to be Traore's old number, which is now vacant. Any clues there?....

[Craigie]

I'm sure he could match Andrei's work rate. It would be nice to have a creative senior figure around but Villareal released him and it must've been for a reason. I think his legs are gone but he is a genius so maybe be can play through that. We are desperate for some experience.


I do sometimes forget how good he was. Played well every game, perfect passing range and always got goals from wide midfield and that is a very very rare attribute these days. Our game has changed from the days where he played. In his day we were pace on the break, but now a lot of the time we end up sitting on the edge of their box looking for ways through, maybe he could play a part in that even if it's just for 20 minutes when we're chasing a game.


Don't see it happening though. 37 is old. Maybe if he can "prove his fitness" but it's a big ask.

[hopefulgunner1]

id take him back soo much experience to offer for all our youngsters, then when he retired give him a job on the coaching staff.

[Gaffer]

Arsene Wenger has told press that he is unlikely to take on any coaching responsibility at Ligue 1 side Paris Saint Germain, but has hinted that he could take on an advisory role in the French capital when he calls time on his career at Arsenal.

Speaking to homeland publication Republican Lorrain, the 60-year-old tactician responded to suggestions that he could take on a role at the Parc des Princes.

"It's not impossible, but it would not be as a coach.

“Paris Saint Germain is the only club in the world with a pool of ten million inhabitants without knowing competition. It’s necessary to sit around a table with investors and endow the club with financial means.

The Arsenal boss signed a four year extension at the Emirates at the start of the season committing him to the Gunners until 2014.

http://www.sport.co.uk/news/Football/45 ... sible.aspx

[Sinbad]

Wenger tells the world just what i have been saying for years..

ARSENE WENGER has admitted to lying to the Press in order to protect his players.

But the Arsenal boss insists his conscience is clear as the porkies were for a "good cause".

He said: "If you ask me have I lied to the press to protect a player, I must honestly say yes.

"I didn't feel comfortable but I had a clear conscience because it was for a good cause.

"But when I lie to the Press I speak beforehand with the player and say: 'Listen, this is the story we're going to give."'

Wenger, who refused to say which players he has protected in the past, was speaking out after Wayne Rooney dismissed Alex Ferguson's claim that he had been resting his player because of an ankle injury.


Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... z12WYlTAdZ

[King Malta]

Wenger tells the world just what i have been saying for years..

ARSENE WENGER has admitted to lying to the Press in order to protect his players.

But the Arsenal boss insists his conscience is clear as the porkies were for a "good cause".

He said: "If you ask me have I lied to the press to protect a player, I must honestly say yes.

"I didn't feel comfortable but I had a clear conscience because it was for a good cause.

"But when I lie to the Press I speak beforehand with the player and say: 'Listen, this is the story we're going to give."'

Wenger, who refused to say which players he has protected in the past, was speaking out after Wayne Rooney dismissed Alex Ferguson's claim that he had been resting his player because of an ankle injury.


Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... z12WYlTAdZ

Big Deal.

all managers do it, they have to lie sometimes.

I've said it before, I've said it a million times, no manager owes us his honesty. Football is about strategy, on and off the field