i genuinely do. I remember the days when UTD v Arsenal was a title decider. It was 2 teams going hell for leather all out attack. What usually followed was red cards, penalties, drama, great goals and amazing matches.
Then Mourinho arrived and brought the 1-0 chelsea winning formula. No longer could teams afford to draw too many games and still win the title. Long went the lose 5 games and you could still win the title theory.
What happened next involved the creation of the now ever present away team 4-5-1, ten men behind the ball when they didnt have possession.
The plus of this made english teams formidable in Europe where recently they had toiled against poorer but tactically superior opponents.
After a couple of years Fergie got his United team to sacrifice their attacking exploits and develop the meanest defence in Europe. This culminated in last seasons poor attacking display but eventual league success due to a very diligent defence.
However, Arsenal didnt evolve. Arsene stuck to his policy and beliefs.
His teams results over the last few years would of made them serious contenders however the now more defence focussed league has left them behind.
When i remember the 4 - 2 @ highbury i smile and remember when the premier league was played the right way.
style before results.
its sad.
I feel sorry for Arsenal
posted on 9/10/11
Vidicschin
That's a fair point you make there, but Arsenal of that era were a very dominant team that did mass up a big trophy haul domestically. And to be fair, they were actually the better side in the Champions League final against Barcelona.
posted on 9/10/11
Quite simply put, it was a combination of a great inherited defence and Wenger's ability to bring in top quality attacking players that made them so potent. When he had to bring in his own defenders, Wenger has generally been sadly lacking - all managers have weaknesses, but Wenger has failed to address his in this area. And let us view the 'invincibles' for what they were - a good team that won the league, but not with a record number of points, and not with any European success, so just how great were they. Whether you win the league with no defeats or a few defeats, it is still ONE league title at the end of the day.
Mourinho does what clubs want - brings them success, and whilst I don't like the way his teams play, he raised the bar in terms of reaching higher standards, and others have had to respond to that.
I don't feel that sorry for Arsenal - they have made their decisions to do things a certain way, but the potential problems have been there for a few seasons now - it is not just down to money that these problems have not been solved, but also Wenger's choices, both in the way they play and the players they have brought in.
posted on 9/10/11
Bossman
I got what you were saying, to be honest.
The Arsenal team of then had a solid backbone of British players mixed with some continental flair.
When the going got tough you had Adams, Keown, Dixon,and Winterburn and one of the top keepers of the era in David Seaman
posted on 9/10/11
Wenger inherited Graham's defence, once he had to build his own it all ended in tears, he has not bought one decent defender and even ex-Arsenal players have noticed how little emphasis he puts on the defensive side of the game.
posted on 9/10/11
Disagree there, the unbeaten Arsenal team had none of the old Arsenal defense of George Graham bar Keown.
They had a team full of strong minded winning foreigners with Cole, Campbell, Keown and Parlour to balance it up.
The back 5 they had that season was Lehman, Cole, Campbell, Lauren, Toure and other physical defensive minded players like Gilberto, Edu.
I'd give Wenger his dues, he did build one great Arsenal team on his own.
The myth of him never having his own defense is false.
posted on 9/10/11
Bossman
Seaman -03
Adams and Dixon 02
Winterburn 00
You were talking about the Arsenal team of late 90's to 05.
The invincibles (I still laugh at that one) did not win much at all. In fact, the year they won the league (unbeaten in the league) they lost more games than United when United won the treble.
posted on 9/10/11
Vidicschin
Fair point, but truth be told in the record books will always state "undefeated Arsenal League Premiership Campaign 2003-2004".
I'm not an Arsenal fan or a Wenger fan but that is an achievement
that deserves credit.
Another poster stated that Wenger never made his own defense, that season clearly shows he did.
posted on 9/10/11
arsenal are a great club,but their fans are all badly dressed know nothing ballbags with no exceptions,so i don't feel sorry for them in the slightest.
posted on 9/10/11
I don't feel sorry for Arsenal at all. But i do miss the great tear-up's between our clubs.
Henry goal against Bartez from the edge of the penalty box.
Martin Keown dracular attack on VNS, when he missed that pen.
Keane vs Viera .. Just never knew when that would kick-off.
The mind games between the AW & SAF.
... Good old days ay, can't beat'em
posted on 9/10/11
That's pretty much what I meant with the original post. Nowadays its all pantomime moneybags villains.