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In the 52nd minute at St. James’ Park, the inevitable happened. Arsenal scored. Not many would have banked on the rejuvenated Laurent Koscielny to break the deadlock in such a fine fashion, putting his team firmly in the driving seat after a well taken half-volley, but it was no surprise to see another Wenger team heading for the Champions League (with the qualification round in their path) for the umpteenth time in a row (16 to be exact). Once again, The Gunners had got one over their fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who, in spite of Gareth Bale’s efforts, were powerless to buck the trend and snatch North London bragging rights from the red contingent.
When the final whistle blew, Arsenal’s players jubilantly celebrated as if they had won some silverware that has long since eluded them. And who could blame them after spending a large chunk of the season languishing outside the top four? After all, since the loss of their talisman Robin Van Persie, many sceptics had written off Wenger’s troops believing them to have finally capitulated after a lack of investment in the transfer market. But, Tottenham being Tottenham, the prospects of a lillywhite festivity eventually sagged, and now Thursday nights on UK TV are back to haunt Andre Villas-Boas and co.
Having to marshal a team of capable players, glaringly absent of world-beaters, Wenger has fulfilled the minimum expectations of the board and the fans, and his achievement is not to be scoffed at with the battle for a Champions League spot now more arduous than ever. It goes without saying that this current Arsenal side are no match for their predecessors, with Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere the only genuine sprinkles of stardust in a line-up that does little to whet the appetite, now that all the major players have defected for meatier salaries and, more importantly, a stab at the big prizes.
Just over two months previously, when Tottenham emerged victorious in the derby on March 3rd, it seemed that the long awaited sea change had finally arrived. With their Welsh wizard smashing in goals from left right and centre, it looked for a moment that the perpetual also-rans were on their way to the promised land, with their foe seemingly incapable of a riposte. However, after a crushing defeat that left Arsenal seven points adrift and their task looking quite insurmountable, the players galvanised themselves, taking 26 points from a possible 30. And so, the chants of ‘Boring boring Arsenal’ filled the terraces again, with many a neutral disappointed to see Spurs throwing their dreams away in predictable fashion.
Now that the natural order of things is set in stone for another season at least, what can we expect from Wenger and his team next time around? Will they mount a serious challenge for European greatness, or will they, as is foreseeable, fail to bring in the necessary quality to compete&nbsp; with the top sides? Too many times have Arsenal bowed out meekly to the likes of Bayern Munich, Barcelona, and, perhaps most painfully, Manchester United. Since 2006, the year when they last reached the final, Arsenal have never realistically looked like getting their hands on the greatest trophy available in club football. That night they were unfortunate to lose to a pre-Messi Barcelona, then under the command of Frank Rijkaard, with Wenger’s men fighting gallantly after losing Jens Lehmann to a red card. Back then, Arsenal were still a force to be reckoned with, boasting a side that included Gilberto Silva, Robert Pires, Alexander Hleb, and the genius of Thierry Henry. Seven years after that pain and disappointment, they have quite simply failed to kick on and recapture the greatness of the famed Unbeatables.
One of the primary reasons for Arsenal’s slump is the board’s apparent unwillingness to replace big-name departures year after year, leaving the fans exasperated and understandably morbid about their team’s outlook for the new season. The customary forecast of a top-four finish is simply not enough to satisfy the long-serving sectors of the Emirates crowd, who have to shell out mind-boggling amounts of money just to watch their team fail to go that extra mile as the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City grow stronger and threaten to displace United’s reign of tyranny.
When Henry departed for Spain in 2007, Wenger had to patiently wait for Robin Van Persie to finally overcome his injury struggles and mature into a world-class centre-forward, with only Emmanuel Adebayor to rely on, who would then ditch the team for the riches of Manchester City after a period that reaped only one decent season out of four. Once Van Persie had established himself, there was little quality to support him and so the goalscoring burden was left solely to the Dutchman, with the likes Marouane Chamakh and Andre Arshavin providing little or no assistance when the going got tough.
Furthermore, the lack of urgency to the replace the losses of Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas only served to prove that those at the top of the hierarchy at Arsenal were not taking the team’s decline seriously enough, opting for prudence in order to recoup the funds spent on the new stadium. Though The Emirates was an expensive project to say the least, the club could possibly have acquired the necessary finances much more swiftly if they had taken a gamble in the transfer market and pushed the boat out to sign players of real quality, and in doing so seized the trophies that now look so far out of reach.
The chasm in Arsenal’s midfield which dates back to the farewell of Patrick Viera, combined with Wenger’s failure to establish a solid back four and snare a reliable goalkeeper, are just a few of a multiplicity of reasons as to why the team has been left punch-drunk in Europe and domestic competitions. Most recently in the Champions League, they were knocked out by the mighty force of Bayern Munich, who were embarrassingly superior at The Emirates, and despite a 2-0 victory at the Allianz Arena, the fightback came too little too late as Arsenal went out on away goals. In the aftermath, some fans phoned in to BBC Radio 5 Live and Talksport to applaud their teams efforts in Germany, claiming that the late surge justified their belief that Arsenal were not yet on the wain. In truth, the win was barley a small consolation from the letdown of yet another high-profile blow.
In the past eight years, the controlling forces at the club, including Wenger, have settled for too little, citing European qualification as a marker of accomplishment when it should in fact only be one objective amongst many when establishing the goals for the upcoming campaign. For a club of Arsenal’s size and reputation, ambitions need to be higher, and if they already are, the purse strings will have to loosen a little in order to back up the convictions. The fans deserve more; they have been left to wait for too long and the situation is starting to look dire. A place in the Champions League will not paper over the cracks; only the trophy will do.
In hindsight, if Tottenham had qualified for Europe, one is left to ponder whether Daniel Levy may have provided AVB with the coffers to mount a serious offense. In their one and only campaign since the inception of the tournament, Harry Redknapp took the team to the quarter-finals, before succumbing to the herculean force of Real Madrid. If Peter Crouch had not been sent off at the Bernabeu, the outcome of the tie may have turned out differently and who knows how far Spurs may have gone? If Arsenal fail to deliver for the 16th time in a row, the question of their earnestness on the main stage will be more poignant than ever.

Fourth Place Is Not Enough For Arsenal

Fourth Place Is Not Enough For Arsenal  - World Soccer Talk

<a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/editorial/arsene-wenger-manager/image/8354844?term=Arsene+Wenger" target="_blank"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://view1.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/8354844/arsene-wenger-manager/arsene-wenger-manager.jpg?size=500&amp;imageId=8354844" border="0" width="500" height="440" alt="A Dejected Arsene Wenger Manager after Birmingham City injury time goal Arsenal 2009/10 Birmingham City V Arsenal (1-1) 27/03/10 The Premier League Photo Robin Parker Fotosports International Photo via Newscom"></figure></div></a> 
While their young stars will go globetrotting with their national sides this weekend, there will still be a sense of disappointment in the Arsenal squad. Sunday’s defeat at Chelsea was a familiar story for the Gunners, as once again they failed to get a result against their London rivals. Will this result be the story of another disappointing season for Arsene Wenger’s men?
For the last few seasons pundits have been claiming that Wenger’s side needed time to develop in to a force. Always threatening to challenge for honours but just coming up short became a regular disappointment for Arsenal fans.
The same can be said for the game against Chelsea. The Gunners dominated possession for long periods but were not able to convert their dominance in to goals. Laurent Koscielny and Marouane Chamakh both missed excellent chances and Arsenal were cruelly punished for those misses.
I can’t help but feel that Arsenal’s season will play out a similar story. While their quality and class is undoubted, big questions remain over their substance. The Arsenal side that went unbeaten in the 2003-2004 season was able to convert dominance in to goals, as well as making sure they didn’t throw games away. Unfortunately that side seems like a light-year away from this current Arsenal team.
It must be said that Wenger has had some real bad luck with injuries. Missing out on Sunday’s clash were key men Cesc Fabregas,&nbsp; Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott, and for a side that doesn’t go and splash out on big signings missing players of this quality always causes problems.
What has made things worse for Wenger is that the trio have all had regular injury problems over the last few seasons and have never really been able to show their qualities on a consistent basis without injury striking.
So yes Wenger does deserve more luck, but as I have mentioned in previous articles I really think he may need to realise that this squad just doesn’t have the winning quality and maybe the mentality that is needed for a challenge on success. If he doesn’t the wait for a trophy may continue for the foreseeable future.

Will This Be Another Season Where Arsenal Come Up Short?

Will This Be Another Season Where Arsenal Come Up Short? - World Soccer Talk

<div style="text-align: center"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/news/marouane-chamakh-arsenal/image/9508353?term=arsenal" target="_blank"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://view2.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9508353/marouane-chamakh-arsenal/marouane-chamakh-arsenal.jpg?size=500&amp;imageId=9508353" border="0" alt="Marouane Chamakh Arsenal 2010/11 Arsenal V Celtic (3-2) 01/08/10 The Emirates Cup 2010 Photo Robin Parker Fotosports International Photo via Newscom" width="500" height="367"></figure></div></a></div>
After a long, hot summer filled with plenty of football, we now stand between what’s left of the work week before the Premier League returns with guns blazing, before Arsenal look like world beaters for four months on all those pristine green pitches before the weather turns, and before your least favorite post, Premier League Footballer of the Week returns with an unabashed arrival.
If you’re an Arsenal fan or don’t understand self-deprecating humor, then you’ve probably already stopped reading. If you have a sense of humor and a halfway open mind, here are four top four players I’ll be keeping a watchful eye on (and why) this season for one reason or another. Liverpool fans, maybe next time.

Daniel Sturridge – Chelsea: Having joined Chelsea from Manchester City in 2009, Sturridge looks set to have a break through season at Stamford Bridge after impressing last season for Chelsea in the FA Cup and more recently in the FA Community Shield v Manchester United last Sunday. Upon his arrival in the Community Shield, Sturridge injected pace into Chelsea’s attack with his probing runs, movement and positioning in front of goal, a welcome arrival to a stuttering Chelsea attack.
Although he’s still struggling with a niggling ankle injury that kept him from appearing for the Blues on their recent pre season trip to Germany, the England U21 insists he’s constantly improving. The talented Sturridge still has work to do to break into the first team at Chelsea. At only 20, Sturridge has Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka in front of him in the Chelsea pecking order. But if he can take his early chances and impress Carlo Ancelotti, Sturridge could have the break out season his potential says he can have. If he fails to impress right off the bat, he’ll likely be relegated to Cup duty but could still be one for the future.
David Bentley – Tottenham Hotspur: Spurs look set to build upon their fantastic season last year as they’re favored to advance to the Champions League group stages for the first time in the club’s history. As Gareth Bale last season made more than good on his potential, another young Spur hopes to do the same. Arguably yet to really break through into regular first team action at Tottenham, Bentley had shown flashes of brilliant play for the past two seasons, but has equally showed some dull moments in attack.
As Spurs approach a season where they’ll potentially have an extra load of Champions League fixtures, Harry Redknapp will have to use the majority of his squad to assure Spurs don’t burn out or neglect other competitions. Used to playing second fiddle to Aaron Lennon on the right wing, Bentley will get his chance to re-gain a starting spot and to impress for Spurs in the upcoming and most important of seasons.
Marouane Chamakh – Arsenal: The silky smooth French striker (but playing internationally for Morocco) acquired from Bordeaux will be a welcome addition to Arsene Wenger’s squad as Arsenal look to capture some silverware this season. Upon hearing about Chamakh’s move to Arsenal some months ago, I immediately realized the 26 year old could potentially be that piece up front that Arsenal have lacked in seasons past. Whether through injury to Robin van Persie, the inconsistency of Niklas Bendtner, or the massive hole left upon the departure of Thierry Henry, Arsenal have lacked a consistent goal scorer not named&nbsp;Fabregas over the past few seasons.
Equally as good with his right foot or with his head, Chamakh will score goals for Arsenal this season. He’s just come off a sub-par&nbsp;campaign in Ligue 1 finishing sixth&nbsp;with Bordeaux&nbsp;but also helped Les Girondins&nbsp;finish first in their group&nbsp;and reach the quarter finals of the Champions League. Chamakh has recently stated he ‘already plays the Arsenal way’ and that his move to the Gunners was a ‘dream’. Also dreaming: Arsenal fans hoping Chamakh will come good and help bring trophies to the Emirates. Chamakh, sure to impress.
Paul Scholes/Ryan Giggs – Manchester United: As young players and new additions to the Premier League such as Daniel Sturridge and Marouane Chamakh (respectively) interest me, so too do the old guard, the experienced, and the living legends of the Premier League tractor beam my peering eyes to their performance.
Not much really needs to be written about the brilliance and timelessness of Scholes and Giggs that hasn’t been written before. As fans loose track of and attempt to count just how many seasons the dynamic duo has represented United at the senior level, the talented midfielders quietly go about their business.&nbsp;Training,&nbsp;acquiring match fitness, already a sharp knife, Giggs and Scholes will ready themselves for yet another campaign&nbsp;and look set to methodically&nbsp;use their&nbsp;skills on the pitch: spreading the ball with accurate passes, linking with forward players, scoring important goals and leading the team by example.
Just how much longer can the two effictively&nbsp;push on is yet to be known. What is known is that until the two hang up their boots, they’ll impress United fans by keeping them on their toes wondering what they’ll come up with next.

Four Top Four Players to Watch This Premier League Season

Four Top Four Players to Watch This Premier League Season - World Soccer Talk

One of the least talked about ties in the Round of 16, Bordeaux’s match-up with Olympiacos, could turn out to be one of the most important in shaping the face of the Champions League as well as French football. Lyon’s ouster of Real Madrid last week combined with a potential advancement by Les Girondins would put two Ligue 1 clubs in the quarter-finals, which last occurred when Monaco reached the finals back in the 2003-2004 season.
Looking at the domestic form of Les Girondins does not fill one with confidence. They club has failed to win any of their last three games in a run that has threatened their Ligue 1 title defence. Over the course of the last ten days Bordeaux have been held by Montpellier, defeated by Auxerre and held to a scoreless draw by Monaco. It must be said that Bordeaux manager Laurent Blanc has taken the opportunity to rest some key players such as star players Yoann Gourcuff and Marouane Chamakh.
Bordeaux hold a narrow one goal advantage from the first-leg but it is an away goal so Olympiacos will need to win by at least a 2-1 or 2-0 scoreline to advance. Olympiacos has had a domestic dynasty in recent seasons, having won the last five Greek Super League championships, and having been crowned champions in nine of the last 10 seasons overall, they currently lie third behind Panathinaikos and PAOK (Panthessalonikian Athletic Club of Constantinopolitans). They still have two games to play against leaders Panathinaikos (who hold a 7-point lead) so they still have a chance albeit a slight one.
Making this an even more uphill battle, Olympiacos have not won away from home in the Champions League proper since a 2-1 group-stage triumph at Lazio in November of 2007. That was their second away success in three games, having had to wait 31 matches for their first, but they have lost three of their four matches since that Lazio victory with the other result being a draw. Kostas Mitroglou will need to lead the line for Olympiacos and hope that he can add to his team-leading haul of 3 Champions League goals.
I foresee a Bordeaux win and a historic night for French football.

Bordeaux To Bolster Ligue 1 Status

Bordeaux To Bolster Ligue 1 Status - World Soccer Talk

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