Tag: quotes

Arsenal sticking to formation

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal

Samir Nasri remains convinced that the 4-3-3 formation can help Arsenal in their quest for Premier League glory.

The French international was brought to the Emirates from Marseille in 2008 and recently made his 50th appearance for the club, with his time in North London hit by a number of injury problems.

He is looking to remain at Arsenal for many years and feels he can offer a lot to the side in the future. The Gunners currently sit fourth in the Premier League table and are 11 points behind leaders Chelsea after the West London side beat them 3-0 at the Emirates at the weekend.

Nasri claims the 4-3-3 formation that Arsene Wenger has been using this season suits the players which he has at his disposal and can be used efficiently to beat teams this season.

“I think that the 4-3-3 has worked because of the quality here,” he said. “It enables not just me but everyone to express themselves. I think that at the end of last season we adopted this style against Chelsea and some of the others, but it suits me as I can play on the left, on the right or in the middle and is something I’m well suited to.”

Wenger came out earlier this week and insisted that Arsenal were still capable of winning the title despite lagging behind in the table.

According to the Frenchman, Chelsea can drop points over the rest of the season and his side need to continue picking up wins to make up ground.

What are Arsène Wenger’s best quotes as Arsenal boss?

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal20 Comments
What are Arsene Wenger’s best quotes as Arsenal boss?
To my mind, Arsene Wenger has brought a huge amount to the Premier
League. He introduced strict training regimes, promoted the importance
of a club’s youth policy, nurtured some of the world’s best players
and entertained us with Arsenal’s passing football.
Amongst all this though, he has provided the media with some fantastic
quotations over the years. Whether he is being deadly serious,
humorous, having a rant or commenting on the England national team, it
is always of interest.
Here are some of my personal favourites, but please comment with some
of yours as well. There are plenty out there!
“Is the title over or not? I don’t believe so. If everyone is right
about the championship, then let’s stop, give them the trophy and then
start again.”
“At a young age winning is not the most important thing… the
important thing is to develop creative and skilled players with good
confidence.”
“We didn’t think he (Reyes) would play on Sunday because he was
suspended – that makes me think he has all the qualities to join
Arsenal!”
“I’m ready to take the blame for all the problems of English football
if that is what he (Ferguson) wants.”
“We do not buy superstars. We make them.”
There you go then, a few to get you going. What are your favourite
Wenger quotes? Do you think he should speak his mind as much as he
does? Leave a comment to let me know what you think.
Excellent win last night by the way. It was a really professional
display where Arsenal had to be patient, but eventually got the goals
that their performance deserved. To have Arshavin playing in the
Champions League is such a bonus and he is turning into one of
Wenger’s most influential players.
Should be another victory against Blackburn at home this weekend, but
in the mean time – let me hear your favourite Wenger quotes!To my mind, Arsene Wenger has brought a huge amount to the Premier

To my mind, Arsène Wenger has brought a huge amount to the Premier League. He introduced strict training regimes, promoted the importance of a club’s youth policy, nurtured some of the world’s best players, and entertained us with Arsenal’s passing football.

Amongst all this though, he has provided the media with some fantastic quotations over the years. Whether he is being deadly serious, humorous, having a rant or commenting on the England national team, it is always of interest.

Here are some of my personal favourites, but please comment with some of yours as well. There are plenty out there!

“Is the title over or not? I don’t believe so. If everyone is right about the championship, then let’s stop, give them the trophy and then start again.”

“At a young age winning is not the most important thing…the important thing is to develop creative and skilled players with good confidence.”

“We didn’t think he (Reyes) would play on Sunday because he was suspended – that makes me think he has all the qualities to join Arsenal!”

“I’m ready to take the blame for all the problems of English football if that is what he (Ferguson) wants.”

“We do not buy superstars. We make them.”

There you go then, a few to get you going. What are your favourite Wenger quotes? Do you think he should speak his mind as much as he does?

Excellent win last night by the way. It was a really professional display where Arsenal had to be patient, but eventually got the goals that their performance deserved. To have Arshavin playing in the Champions League is such a bonus and he is turning into one of Wenger’s most influential players.

If you’re interested in Wenger before Arsenal, read about Arsene at Monaco and watch a fascinating Wenger video interview from 1984.

Toure stays positive as Arsenal look to get back to winning ways

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal

This is a guest post by sports writer Thomas Rooney

To say that tomorrow’s game against Manchester United is crucial would probably rank as the biggest understatement of the season. After three games in all competitions without a win, it is vital that Arsenal at least avoid defeat against the Premier League champions.

If this fails to be achieved, then the confidence will be at an all-time low and the chance of Arsene Wenger’s side launching a title challenge would seem all the more unlikely. A nine point gap, even at this stage of the season, would probably be too much.

Speaking ahead of the game, Arsenal defender Kolo Toure has revealed that he and his team-mates are viewing the Manchester United game as a potential turning point for their season. The 27-year-old has said that a win would be ‘really fantastic’ and would prove to the critics that Arsenal ‘would be there for the title’.

Sometimes these type of comments have to be taken with a pinch of salt – what else is Toure going to say other than a win is important? However, this time around, the Arsenal man is bang on the money. A victory tomorrow would do wonders for the belief in the dressing room could be the start of a long unbeaten run for the team.

As Toure rightly points out, the season is ‘not in the second half yet’ and therefore it is important not to panic. However, I think he knows as much as anyone that defeat at the Emirates tomorrow really could have a detrimental effect.  Arsenal will continue to ‘fight for the title’ regardless of the result, but this fight would be made a hell of a lot easier should they pick up the three points.

In terms of the team news for tomorrow’s clash, Arsenal have been hit with a number of injury problems. Theo Walcott, Bacary Sagna and William Gallas are doubtful, while Emmanuel Adebayor, Robin van Persie and Emmanuel Eboue are definitely out of the game.

These injuries mean that Nicklas Bendtner and Carlos Vela are going to be charged with the responsibility of breaking down Manchester United’s defence and getting the goals that win Arsenal the game. Neither of these youngsters will hold any fear going into this match, so perhaps their raw talent can prosper.

Overall, it is going to be a game where Arsenal fans arrive in hope rather than expectation. However, should the team pull together and produce a winning performance; it really could be the start of the turnaround.

Silvestre talks after Arsenal debut

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal, Transfers

Yesterday on ArseSpeak we mentioned that Silvestre had played his first game – for the Reserves. Silvestre started at centre-back as they beat Stoke City 3 – 2 at home.

Read the match report here at Young Guns.

Silvestre came through his first apperance well
Silvestre came through his first apperance well

After making his first apperance Silvestre told the press:

“I feel good, I got through the 90 minutes without any discomfort or pain and physically I felt at the same level as my team-mates so it felt good.

“The boss asked me if I wanted to play because it was a long time since I last played competitively, back in August or July with United. Before I get back with the first team it was good for me to play and get something other than training.

“It was a perfect run-out before playing with the first team. It is a good level in the Reserve League and getting to know my young team-mates was a good experience.

“It is not a surprise [to see how good the young players are] because most of the first team are 20, 21-year-olds so the quality is always there. I expected the same quality in the Reserves and most of them train with the first team so I knew them already.

“It is the way the Club is set up, everything is done to play good attacking football so the players enjoy it and you just have to make sure you give 100 per cent in the challenge because if you don’t get the ball you can’t play the nice football.”

It’s good to see SIlvestre back in action. He is a quality player – and although he’s getting on a bit – he has class and experience which may be important to the Arsenal team this year.

I believe that our chances of winning the League this year are diminishing – but there’s no way we are out of the race. Players like SIlvestre could make all the difference.

Read more ArseSpeak news – click here!

Wenger thinks the title will be ‘tight’ this year

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal, Transfers

Arsene Wenger believes that this year will be one of the toughest in the history of the Premiership. I would agree with him, Chelsea look much stronger and teams like Man City and Spurs have spent a lot this summer.Last year was hard, but this year may be even harder.

“This season you will need a high number of points and you will have to be consistent, I don’t know how many we’ll need, ask me again in January then we will have a better idea.

“Last season, I feel we did not get enough credit for what we did. We were very close. We made 83 points in the League and I have won the title with 78 before. But the competition was very high last season and looks like it will be the same this season.”

“But you might have a surprising team coming in to challenge like Man City, Tottenham and maybe Portsmouth. It will certainly be very tight and very interesting.

“Manchester City have an advantage because they do pay a lot of money.

Man City especially have an unimaginable amount of cash behind them, and it will be used – they managed to get Robinho, I think they could sign almost anyone!

Wenger commented on the January transfer window:

“This year, for the first time, the January transfer window opens when we will have only played 19 games.

“I have played seasons here when there were 24 games before then – the second part of the season is longer now.

“Teams can get that little bit more balance by buying players in the transfer window.”

Wenger seems happy that the window is opening after fewer games, it gives us the chance to bring in much needed support for the long haul. It is a bit worrying how much money Man City have, the new owners seem to be determined to create some sort of ‘super-team’ like the way Real Madrid are ‘Galacticos’.

Whatever happens, expect Wenger to be on the look-out in the next window, and a lot of action from the likes of Man City!

Arsene: “We need a defensive midfielder”

On By jamesgillespIn Arsenal, Transfers13 Comments

After the sale of Flamini and Gilberto this summer, Wenger is still searching for a replacement to play the defensive midfield role which these two have in the past.

We have options at the club already, most notably Diaby, who has played the role during pre-season. I have blogged before about Diaby and I think he has talent, but he doesn’t seem to be able to fulfil his potential.

There are other players in the squad, such as Song, who can play in central midfield, but Diaby is the only real option which makes sense.

The problem for me is that last year the squad did not have the strength and depth which is appropriate for title challengers. We have now let two first teamers go, and no-one has replaced them.

Wenger wants to bring in another midfielder, who is more experienced, and this makes the most sense, after Members’ Day he said:

“If we have everybody on board and nobody injured then [OK] but maybe we could do to take one more experienced player.”

This is true – we could manage this season with our current squad if no-one gets injured and use Diaby in central midfield. He is a good player and we have a strong first team. But there is not enough cover for Diaby, and it would be too easy for that to go wrong.

If we really are challenging next year the best option is, as Wenger says, to bring in an experienced player, and then Diaby would be used as back up. That would be the perfect outcome – but if we can’t find the right guy then we may go ahead with a weakened squad.

So keep looking Arsene, I just hope you find the right guy before time runs out!