Pranoy Thipaiah

My First Love

2010-02-18T05:29:00.000-08:00

My First Love

Pranoy Thipaiah

There was a bit of break at my school parent-teacher meeting as all the teachers seemed to be busy with other students, so I decided to just walk over to the balcony and take a look at the game. “Hey, Pranoy. Come here! What’s going on there on the football field?” asked one of my English teachers sarcastically. “Ah, football! His first love,” said the other, who had taught me for three years and was more than aware about the love I have for the game.

Her words got me thinking. On my way home, I started to reflect on the reasons why I began to adore ‘the beautiful game’ at such a young age.

It all started at the age of eight. In my school, the only two sports played were football, which most of us played, and basketball (which, call me judgemental, I consider a girl’s sport.) Everyday, during break, we would watch our then 12^th graders play- they’re probably the best batch of footballers our school has ever produced. There was this one fellow, named Hriday, who could do wonders with ball. It was pure joy watching him dip the ball over the best ‘keepers from 30+ yards. Any attempt to stop his thunderous shots was futile. We observed their every move closely and tried to reproduce them whenever and wherever we could.

Over the weekends, my brother and I used to watch the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea play on television. My fondest memory was probably my brother yelling “Beckham corner!” or “Beckham free-kick!” during United games: I remember running over to the TV and expecting a goal every single time. The former England captain’s long range efforts fascinated me. I couldn’t stop thinking about how much he would have had to practice when he was a kid.

David Beckham. He became every kid’s hero. Just watching him run around with his famous number 7 on the back of his shirt could make my day. The thing I loved about the man was that he never showed any emotion (unless he was being marked by Martin Keown, of course.) He had one face for everything- a goal, being on the wrong end of a bad tackle or even getting carded. I had seen him get flustered only on a handful of occasions.

And, as all siblings do, my brother and I began to fight amongst ourselves very often. I just had to do everything he hated and so, much to his anger, I decided that Arsenal would be my new club.

“There goes Beckham,” I thought to myself, who soon made way for Thierry Henry. I secretly still did admire Beckham; but I would never admit it.

Coming to international football- my father, who both played and watched more cricket and less football, used to record great football matches from the late 80’s to the 2002 World Cup on tape. His favourite side was the Forza Azzuri, Italy, and he told me about Roberto Baggio’s penalty miss in USA ’94 and about Batistuta in his prime.

I can still recall seeing Ronaldo showing off his hairstyle (or what he liked to think was one) to his beloved fans every time he hit the back of the net, two World Cups ago. The supporters were having a ball with their drums, girls and beer. It wasn’t Brazil’s football that attracted me into backing them, but it was their fan base. A win or a loss seemed to be the same to them. They cheered whenever Ronaldinho did a fancy flick or Marcos punched the ball away, like they had won the cup. In my opinion, what made Brazil champions are their fans.

From then on, this weekend hobby evolved into an obsession. ESPN replaced Cartoon Network and my favourite t-shirt soon became a red and white Arsenal jersey. Waking up on Wednesday and Thursday mornings ten minutes earlier than usual to check the Champions League games’ scores on the Internet became a tradition, as I wasn’t allowed to watch games past midnight.

My first true Gunner’s season was 2004- 2005, the season we beat United in the FA Cup finals on penalties. Patrick Vieira’s winning penalty is still saved as a favourite video on my computer, but it has embossed itself into my memory so clearly that I don’t need the video.

I had then started to play the game with more gravity and more meaning. Football being the only sport in school has nothing to do with the reason that I play it. I’m crazy and zealous; I want to be a good footballer, and more importantly, a great fan. I’m thrilled to be the person who people call for when they just can’t remember the name of Blackburn’s stadium or if they’re wondering whether Arshavin is fit for Russia’s upcoming friendly game. It’s my devotion for this game that’s made it my first love. Sorry, Helene!

Leading from the back

2009-12-06T20:09:00.000-08:00

A perfect Premier League goalkeeper
Pranoy Thipaiah

I got to thinking about goalkeeper’s qualities when a friend asked me which goalkeeper was best in the league. It was easy for me to quickly jot down a list of Premier League keepers that were above the rest in terms of skill and performance. I couldn’t identify just one of these keepers as the best though; from reflexes to build, their qualities are so unique, that the most I could do was to credit them with being the best at a certain skill.

Feet: Paul Robinson (Blackburn Rovers). The ex-England shot-stopper is equipped with two of the best feet in the league, and can feed players with pinpoint balls from over sixty yards. Back when Robbo was at Spurs, he was a key provider for a handful of goals. The move would start with a thump upfield from Robinson and end with some careful control and a neat finish from Robbie Keane!

Reflexes: Petr Cech (Chelsea). Czech Republic’s number one is not only a great one-on-one keeper; he has an octopus-like presence that makes him practically unbeatable from even just outside the six yard box. Saving headers from short distances are his specialty and this incredible quality can frustrate attackers from all over Europe. Cech’s lightning-quick reflexes are the reason that The Blues keep so many clean sheets on the bounce.

Experience and hands: Shay Given (Manchester City). After moving away from Newcastle, Given has looked like a completely different goalkeeper. With the aid of a fairly tight defense, he is able to play to his full potential and pull off some outstanding saves. Given has over three hundred Newcastle caps and more than one hundred caps for Ireland under his belt, and is vastly experienced. Although he his just six feet and one inch tall, he can spread himself across the goal with ease and has often come to City’s rescue with these stops. Shay also studies teams’ attackers before playing them and it often pays off, as he can determine which side to dive for penalties and free-kicks.

Build: Edwin Van Der Sar (Manchester United). This Dutchman’s mammoth frame makes the goal look small, and though he may look really lanky, when between the sticks, he rarely ever disappoints. His enormous height helps him reach shots headed straight for the top-corner. He still holds the record for the most number of minutes without conceding a goal in the league and is very rarely beaten from outside the box, with the exception of a few notable Arsenal wonder goals.

Voice: David James (Portsmouth). Pompey are probably heading for relegation, but David James still stands strong. He is the one who is seen shouting commands at his dejected back four and encourages their performances with a few great saves. Having played for six different English clubs, James is a veteran when it comes to goalkeeping. He is the loudest shot-stopper in the league and would be truly impressive if he joined a stronger side with a sturdy defense.

Christmas Trees and Catenaccio

2009-09-29T07:38:00.000-07:00

Christmas Trees and Catenaccio

Arsenal’s preferred eleven and their formation

A traditional 4-4-2, the old Christmas tree, Catenaccio or the attacking 4-3-3? What formation is most ‘Arsenal?’ Please note, I’m writing this assuming that, although seemingly impossible, all of our men will be fit, for at least ONE game.

With the news of Samir Nasri and Theo Walcott being injured for a couple of months, I wondered when I was going to see these two masterminds play alongside Tomas ‘Injured’ Rosicky.

What about the Arshavin- Rosicky or the Bendtner- Eduardo combinations? I thought about it and came up with, in my belief, a perfect arrangement.

Formation: 4-1-2-3.

Goalkeeper: Manuel Almunia. Although the shot-stopper has almost made me wee on many occasions, he is vastly experienced between the sticks and is a leader that our Young ‘uns need to urge them on. I would say that he filled he gap left by Mad Jens well, but good performances from Fabianski are keeping Almunia on his toes. He probably doesn’t have the lightning-quick reflexes of Petr Cech or the sideburns of Oliver Kahn, but he does have the Arsenal mentality- pushing the squad forward for quick breaks to catch the opponents off guard.

Left back: Gael Clichy. The Frenchman has been..well, alright, over the last couple of months. He is probably the fastest play on our side, and I’ve only seen Steven Pienaar of Everton beat him on the left flank. He hasn’t got the defending abilities of Cashley Cole, but has got the skill, pace and agility to irritate strikers. I don’t think he will ever score for us again after hundreds of desperate shots from distance. His only one being a late consolation goal at Stoke.

Left centre back: Thomas Vermaelen. “Thomas who?” I thought to myself, when I had initially read that Arsenal was linked with the centre-half. He hasn’t got the height, but definitely has the spring to get up there and clear the ball from the danger zone. He also has a left foot that open a can of beans. He can unquestionably replace Mr. I-score-once-in-twenty-attempts Toure as a long distance free kick taker, and more importantly, to keep our defence watertight. Doesn’t he remind you of Vidic?

Right centre back: William Gallas. The cry-baby of a centre half has most definitely improved. With the departure of Toure, he has taken the role of being the leader at the back and, now has so much belief in himself, that he does step-overs at Celtic on the right wing. (I pinched myself while watching this episode, which is believed to be rarer than seeing a Haley’s Comet.)

Right back: Bacary Sagna. The golden- haired wing-back has been in fine form. He not only has kept Emmanuel Eboue away from the pitch, but has added that cutting edge that The Gunners’ lacked. He has tremendous defending abilities and also the pace to burst up and down the right side to support the wingers.

Central (anchor) midfield: Alexandre Song. The Cameroonian with a pineapple as a haircut has evolved into a no-nonsense, tough, ball-winner in the middle of the park. With Gallas and Verm bombing upfield, Alex plays a vital role in covering up at the back. He has been so good that I can barely remember that all of the Arsenal Faithful have forgotten what it was like to have Flamini.

Left wing: Tomas Rosicky. The lad adds a buccaneering verve that Diaby did not last term. His quick passes add to the free-flowing, attractive football that Arsenal play. Some have forgotten how devastating this man can be due to his long term lay-off, but he is still fresh in the memory of defenders who have had the pleasure of being ripped apart by our midfield maestro.

Right wing: Cesc Fabregas. El Capitán can pass the ball quicker than any rival can run with it and he is one of those players who you'd love to have on you side. Cesc's right foot is irreplaceable, and his free kicks may not be as tricky as Ronnie's, but they are dead-on accurate. It's the yard in the head that makes the Spaniard a midfield maestro.

Left striker: Andrei Arshavin. When this man arrived in January of last season, we thought we knew what to expect, but we had no idea. He took to the premier league like a fish to water and stamped his authority by scoring all four of arsenal’s goals at Anfield. Arshavin has stated that he’s comfortable playing on the left, and is going to be a great asset for us this season with his tricky runs and inch perfect passes. “Five goals in one game?!” I wouldn’t be surprised.

Central striker: Robin van Persie. Many have said that this central role should go to a classic ‘number 9’ type player, a clinical finisher, a fox in the box, in other words, Eduardo. But ‘Van the man’ has proved that scoring goals isn’t the only purpose of a player in that position, it is setting them up as well that counts. With burst of speed from the midfield and strikers on either side of him, van Persie has 5 options to feed the ball to. So as long as the goals are flowing, it doesn’t matter where they’re coming from and how (referring to Gallas’ arse).

Right striker: Nicklas Bendtner. It’s a strange sight watching 6ft 4in ‘Super Nik’ cross the ball to find 5ft 6in Arshavin in the box, but that doesn’t mean it’s not working. Bendtner not only crosses the ball, but makes terrific runs down the right, terrorising left backs. His touch is indeed improving and although he has said he would rather play down the middle, he’s showing his class by knuckling down and making the most of wherever he’s played.

The return of the injured and the departure of the hated

2009-07-25T07:40:00.001-07:00

The return of the injured and the departure of the hated

Pranoy Thipaiah and Ashraf Peeran

“We've lost a big striker but have gained two offensive players who were absent last season,” boasted a confident Arsene Wenger. Tomas Rosicky and Eduardo da Silva; two names that keep some of Europe’s top goalkeepers awake at night. The two Arsenal attackers have been out for about a year, because of injuries that had just refused to heal.

Rosicky, an experienced head, has been one of the only players in this young Arsenal squad who doesn’t think twice to have a crack from twenty, thirty or even forty yards. The Czech international could probably beat two goalkeepers in one go from the halfway line. Captain Fantastic, Cesc Fabregas, has been eagerly awaiting his arrival and has loved played alongside the Czech Republic’s midfielder and former captain. With the return of the Rosicky’s swift cross- field passes, there’s unquestionably going to be no shortage of creativity or lack of inspiration at The Emirates.

Coming to Eduardo, the Arsenal number nine has had only a handful of run-ins since his unpleasant injury last February, but the Croat did make the most out of those games, scoring with the very ankle that was broken. He has been a pleasure to watch. Eduardo could weave his way through top-notch defences and bury chances when given just an inch. He has scored some gems for AFC and is one of those nippy strikers who chase down every ball and breathe down the defenders’ necks until the ball is cleared; a perfect example of Arsenal-like football. He’s a clinical striker with a heart of gold.

All in all, the return of these two superb athletes could not have come at a better time; assists from Thomas plus finishing from Eduardo will without a doubt cause back lines all over Europe problems. The question is, will they be able to retain their top form? I think so.

The exit of The Offside King, Emmanuel Adebayor, I view as a blessing in disguise. Although he was probably the trendiest player we had, he wasn’t as energetic as his clothes suggested on the pitch. This bloke, who could wear a dustbin and make it look cool, had another aspect that has been as eye catching- his tendency to be caught offside. Statistics show that Adebayor alone had been flagged more often than 16 sides this season!

Also, because of Ade’s height, Arsene’s Army often played the Peter Crouch game; knock the ball upfield to the tallest man and see what he can do. This did work on a few occasions, but a lot of times, the big lad made a mess out of it. In most of them- the referee blew the whistle, and his assistant signalled an offside. In addition, Ade has often seen strolling near opponents’ halves where he really should be snapping at the back four’s heals.

Perhaps the least relevant but most entertaining features of our ex-striker is his ability to be in perfect sync. I don’t mean in football, but in dance- Ade and Emmanuel Eboue certainly amuse all fans once music is playing. It’s just that now, Adebayor has literally busted a move.

The reason some Arsenal fans feel Adebayor will be missed is because of his expert ability to hold up play. The striker added something that previous strikers like Henry, Bergkamp and more recently van Persie lack to some extent, that is, to be able to slow down play when on a fast break. But is this a characteristic of Arsenal? Best known for our brilliance on the counter attack accompanied by lightning quick passes, our style has changed over the past couple of seasons to a one less appreciated by Gooners.

Hopefully, the ‘heartbreaking’ loss of Adebayor will reverse this process. Hold up play was Plan B for the Invincible team of ‘02, but now it has become first preference with Adebayor leading the line. Not only does this seem to be less effective, but it is also less ‘Arsenal’. Last season’s youth side which won 2 trophies has no such hold up player, they are very much in the same mould as ‘The Invincibles’.

But perhaps with the Togolese front- man leaving, Wenger will look to emulate his past squads by returning to the eye catching fast breaks which is truly ‘Arsenal’. One thing is for sure though; with Arshavin, van Persie, Theo and Rosicky, he has all the ingredients he needs to conjure up the vivacious counter attacking squad we all love to watch.

Arsenal’s Season Review

2009-07-18T10:44:00.000-07:00

Arsenal’s Season Review:
Highs and lows of this year’s football

Best goal: Samir Nasri’s second vs. Manchester United, Barclays Premier League
“Poised, patient and penetration,” described the TV commentator- the perfect way to put it. That goal was an explosive second from the young man. That far-post finish put Arsenal, who were on the shoulders of third place, back into the title race. A handful of quick passes, one inch-perfect through ball and powerful strike left the shot-shopper rooted and The Champions were undone.

Best save: Lukasz Fabianski vs. Wigan Athletic, Carling Cup
The young Pole started a bit shakily, but this spectacular double-save is considered one of the best in an Arsenal history. Fabianski first fisted away Daniel de Ridder’s effort, got himself back onto his feet and leaped to make a fine finger-tip save of the rebound, which eventually hit and crossbar and was finally cleared from the danger zone. I personally believe that that save should go down in Premier League history as one of the best.

Surprise package: Kieran Gibbs
One of the two only Englishman in the Arsenal squad, Gibbs is one of The Gunners’ brightest prospects and has shown that he has the right amount of skill, game-sense and composure to thrive in the Premier League and even Europe. Gael Clichy is still preferred to the 19-year old as left back, but Gibbs is keen to break into the first eleven. He played exceptionally well towards the end, keeping big starts like Cristiano Ronaldo quiet on various occasions. The lad cannot be blamed for the semi-final loss at The Emirates, as it is not improbable that a player lacking experience would make mistakes- even though he shows tremendous potential.

Worst game: Arsenal 1- 3 Manchester United, Champions League Semi-final (Second leg)
After going down 1-0 at Old Trafford, The Gunners had a huge mountain to climb and great showdown was anticipated. Ten minutes into the game, the away team already had an early advantage through two bizarre goals. Arsenal had to score four goals to reach the finals. For most of the match, it seemed like the talented youngsters from London didn’t show up. Ronaldo’s second and United’s third goal of the game was the icing on the cake for United fans. Arsenal’s best chance of silverware was done and dusted. This game made ‘embarrassing’ an understatement.

Worst player: Emmanuel Adebayor
The Togolese front man completely failed to live up to his expectations this season. After being promoted to the position of ‘Arsenal’s main striker’ following the departure of Thierry Henry, Adebayor had to perform. Surprisingly, the forward clearly stated that he wanted to leave the club last summer, as he said he wasn’t being paid enough. But he stayed, and the Arsenal supporters couldn’t deal with a want-away team member, leading to Ade being booed for a short spell.
Arsenal fans are now shamefaced as their hit man contributed nothing good to the team this year. He was lazy, arrogant and just not good enough; blatantly unsuccessful in scoring goals, every goalkeeper in England knows that Adebayor’s spaghetti legs aren’t scaring anymore. I’ll be glad to see him in a Manchester City shirt in exchange for about 25 million to add to Wenger’s shoestring kitty.

Best game: Arsenal 2-1 Manchester United, Barclays Premier League
This nail-biting performance is not only unforgettable because it was against bitter rivals, but also because our make-shift side worked exceptionally hard for those three points. It was a do or die situation for Wenger’s men, who screw by screw patiently dismantled The Champion’s defence. Samir Nasri, who secured two stunning finishes, was forced to play in an unorthodox position as the second striker. The Frenchman blended in brilliantly, banged in two scorchers and eventually proved to be a great Summer signing.

Best player: Andrei Arshavin
Although he was a late arrival, this wiz kid proved to be an instant impact. The last minute signing was expected to take a couple of games to get used to the speed of the English League, but Arshavin established a permanent place in the starting eleven. The 14th of March, 2009 is probably the Russian’s most memorable performance in a red and white shirt. Arshavin scored all four of Arsenal’s goals that night against the Scousers at Anfield. The match which ended as a 4-4 draw is branded as “Liverpool 4- Arshavin 4.”

The Emirates...Library?

2009-01-27T08:38:00.000-08:00

The Emirates Stadium in North London is home to Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal squad. Sides that have travelled to this magnificent arena and played for a draw, or even a loss, know that breaking the home side’s resilience and scoring a winner is improbable.

It’s common knowledge that this season, the mighty Arsenal line-up have slumped to fifth position, on the shoulders of Champions League bound Aston Villa. The Gunners have suffered five crushing defeats (including two at home) and their armour appears to be dented. Everyone thought the fans would back their Red and White Army to steady their ship and get back in the title race.

The Arsenal faithful are now under fire for not giving their team any vocal support. This season, the once feared Emirates Stadium has often been compared to a library; lack of form, togetherness and exit-bound players are explanations for the fans’ behaviour.

There are persistent rumours of players wanting to walk out the door and move on to other clubs, where winning trophies and individual awards look more likely. Kolo Toure, the only remaining member of Arsenal’s 2003 “Invincibles” squad, had recently sent in a transfer request which was declined. Front man Adebayor had declared clearly that he wanted to move on and was linked to a possible switch to Barcelona in the summer. This led to him being jeered at by fans repeatedly at the start of the campaign.

Another reason could be that the fans were frustrated, or even humiliated, when William Gallas publicly attacked the team and was unmistakably stripped of his captaincy. He stated that the side lacked courage, togetherness and spine to succeed. Furthermore, he was dropped from the squad that travelled to Manchester, who got a 3-0 drubbing from City.

Dull and unexciting games at home and on the road in which The Red and White Army are unable to break the deadlock until the dying embers of the game continue to haunt their followers. The side was known for electrifying and eye-catching contests where a handful of goals were guaranteed. Constant blunders and minor errors bring about dropping of points and affect their title chase.

For instance, when The Arsenal hosted their rivals Tottenham in an all-London derby, goals came quickly and Wenger’s men seemed to have gotten their act together and pulled a few goals back after going one nil down. It was obvious that it was going to be yet another classic derby.

At 86 minutes, Arsenal were in dreamland, leading 4-2, and the two goal cushion seemed to be enough to take all three points. Gael Clichy tried some extravagant moves and lost out Jenas, who slotted it passed Almunia in goal. Tottenham Hotspurs were soon level. 4-4 the final score. Gallas, in his infamous press conference had said that there was an argument among the squad in red and white at half-time during this particular game.
The Arsenal fans were silenced and that last gasp point felt like a win for the visitors. The home side was dejected and it worsened as similar results followed in the coming weeks, and ‘Le Prof’ was desperate to rally his troops and give it their all in their upcoming fixtures.

Shock victories against Manchester United and Chelsea have got them within six points of the leaders United and have kept this season from turning into a three-horse race.

A relatively new story regarding the Arsenal supporters is their sledging and possibly even racial abuse Emmanuel Eboue. Wenger who spotted this replaced the miserable young lad, but was outraged and demanded an apology.

Arsenal fans have been in the news lately for all the wrong reasons. Jeering and taunting their favourite club isn’t going to rake in any silverware. They need to vocally and mentally get behind The Gunners as much as possible and hope to succeed.

Wenger’s Wish List

2008-12-22T04:31:00.000-08:00

This winter, the thing that all Arsenal fans are itching to know is who is going to be added to the squad by Arsene Wenger. The man in charge has said that he has enough money at his disposal if he wishes to bring in some quality players. Following the departures of Aleksandr Hleb, Justin Hoyte and Giberto Silva, openings have been created for one, if not a few more quality athletes.

Experience; this is what he is likely to look for during the holiday break, to replace the “immaturity and inexperience” that some claim his youthful squad have. Recently, an article was posted on the Telegraph's website (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) about Arsene Wenger’s Top 10 probable targets in January. I thought this article a good one to expand upon to illustrate possible transfers into the Arsenal team.

With rumours of William Gallas, ex-captain and Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner leaving the club, Arsene Wenger will definitely look for replacements to reinforce his crew. A few likely signings might be;

1. Matthew Upson (West Ham, 29): He played under Wenger once, before being sold to Birmingham. His recent good form and inclusion in the England side has put him sever clubs’ radars. He’s a powerful, commanding centre-back who can win headers and put in crucial tackles. He would be a perfect partner for Kolo Toure and would unquestionably bolster the Gunners’ backline. Lack of exposure in big leagues and trophies could encourage him to move on.

2. Slyvain Distin (Portsmouth, 30): This footballer's style is quite like Upson's, but much stronger and quicker. Controls the ball magnificently and is a natural leader. He also can help offensively, with his heading abilities. Can play either in the centre or on the wing. Distin has not made an impact at Pompey, rarely finding a place in the starting eleven, which could convince him to leave the club.

3. Micah Richards (Manchester City, 20): Another defensive probable who has shown his ability to lead squad by captaining his side, Manchester City at the age of just 19. The Englishman is young, swift and dominant and has even represented his country in the Under-21 category and in the senior side. With the recent takeover at City and Mark Hughes aiming to sign big stars, Richards might just look for a transfer.

4. Gareth Barry (Aston Villa, 27): Barry has been top priority on Liverpool’s list since this summer and will continue to attract interest from clubs. He can play in midfield, defence, in the centre or even on sides. He and Fabregas could be an ideal pair, with both of them being able to pass and cross accurately. Tough tackling and guidance could help defensively. With Barry clearly stating that he wanted to leave the club for a right asking price, Villa manager O’Neill might let him walk out the door.

5. Arda Turan (Galatasaray, 21): A quick, nippy winger or attacking midfielder known for his assists more than scoring goals. Has played in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) and is quite similar to ex-Gunner Alex Hleb. He was also ranked 8th in Spanish Magazine Don Balon’s “100 Best Young Football Players in the World” in July 2008. A cheap price tag on Turan could lead to the attraction from big clubs.

6. Yaya Toure (Barcelona, 25): The Ivorian is a defensive midfielder but can help on the attack, with his terrific energy, shots from distance and terrific pinpoint aerial balls. Before the 2006/06 season, Yaya was on trial with Arsenal, but was unable to convince Wenger to bid for him. Since then, he has improved vastly and now is hot property in Europe. His brother, Kolo and manager Arsene Wenger may possibly persuade him to join the side, with him eager to regain form and get some first team appearances under his belt.

7. Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus, 29): Experienced, good and in the air and has got quite the shot on him. He would build an extraordinary striking partnership with Togo national, Adebayor. Or if Arsenal need him on the wing, Iaquinta is competent of doing so. Missed out on the European Championship with an injury, but is eager to get a regular place in a big team. With big stars such as David Trezeguet and Allesandro Del Piero also fighting for a place in the Juventus side, he would want to move on.

8. Mamadou Niang (Marseille, 29): A Senegalese forward, who can fend off defenders with ease and put the ball in the back of the net without thinking twice. The manager has kept an eye on him for a while now, travelling to Marseille to watch him play a few times. Niang is athletically built, and is a constant threat to all defences with great aerial abilities and a strong shot. Former team-mate Samir Nasri and Wenger might just be able to win him over and Marseille could do with the money.

9. Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich, 30): Golden Boot winner at the last World Cup and the German is known for his calmness and composure in front of goal, not to mention his aptitude to help and guide young members of the squad, with as his skill and knowledge of the game. Although he might have lost the speed that he displayed years ago, he still has the striker’s natural extinct and an eye for a spectacular goal. He could set his sights on a move as he’s another victim of not-enough-appearances.

10. Lukas Podolski (Bayern Munich, 23): Quick, skilful and well-built, the German would blend into this Arsenal superbly, trying to regain his lost form that he had when he had taken part in the 2004 and 2008 Euro’s and the 2006 World Cup. He stated that he is completely discouraged with the lack of starts for Munich, the young German recuperate his place in the national side. Even a six-month loan deal would be ideal for both parties.

Other possibilites (mainly from the Premier League):

Defence: Zat Knight and Martin Laursen (Aston Villa), David Wheater and Emmanuel Pogatetz (Middlesbrough), Alex (Chelsea), Steve Finnan (Espanyol), Victor Zapata (Velez Sarsfield), Brede Hangeland (Fulham),Steven Taylor and Jonas Gutierrez (Newcastle)

Midfield: James Milner (Aston Villa), Charles N’Zogbia (Newcastle), Stephen Ireland and Michael Johnson (Manchester City), Nigel Reo-Coker (Aston Villa), Mark Noble (West Ham Utd.), Tom Huddlestone and Aaron Lennon (Tottenham), Xabi Alonso (Liverpool), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), George Boateng (Hull City)

Attack: Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Bafe Gomis (Saint-Etienne), Obafemi Martins (Newcastle Utd.), Hatem Ben Arfa (Marseille), Jermaine Defoe and Peter Crouch (Portsmouth), Adriano (Inter Milan), James McFadden (Birmingham City), Alex Pato (AC Milan), Rolando Bianchi (Torino), Mauro Zarate (Lazio)

Ave it!

2008-12-19T21:54:00.000-08:00

“Here’s Nasri with the ball, across to the young Theo Walcott, who skips past two defenders and passes to Adebayor. The Togolese hit man flicks it back to the captain, Cesc Fabregas., who finally lost possession near the six-yard box, where he should’ve taken a shot at target instead of faking his opponent.” Similar comments such as this one can be heard numerous times if one watches the whole ninety minutes of an Arsenal game.
Arsene Wenger’s young Arsenal side have often been criticised for their style of football when they drop points against sides, against whom an easy victory was predicted. They’ve been accused of trying to pass the ball into the back of the net instead of testing the goalkeeper from outside the box.

Alternatively, Arsenal's quick, one-touch, “beautiful” football is also known to completely dismantle the best of defences to bits and pieces. They are credited to be one of the best attacking-forces in all of Europe. Gunners’ games are known to be easy on the eye; this style of football may be pleasurable to watch, but poor results simply agitate fans.

The Emirates stadium is the home of many speedy wingers and wing-backs, from Tomas Rosicky, Theo Walcott and Samir Nasri to Bacari Sagna and of course Gael Clichy. These players can easily side-step and ‘dummy’ their way past opposition and advance into the other box. Often, when they must execute swift passes to the men in front - who are known to have a crack on goal - they instead choose to roll the ball to a close-by team-mate. Arsenal fans rarely, if ever, see their players take a shot on goal from outside the ‘D’ area.

Central midfielders such as Nevez Denilson and captain Cesc Fabregas, both known to have a remarkable shot, only ever shoot when the squad is in a comfortable position or are desperate for a goal. Cries of “Shoot!” and “Ave it!” echoing through the North London stadium seem to have no effect upon these stars.

Coming to Jack Wilshere, the highly rated sixteen year old (who has played mostly in the Carling Cup); he’s known for his pinpoint passes and through balls, however is sometimes careless when it comes down to testing the keeper himself, rather than depending on strikers do to the job.
I think that a key player in this young Arsenal side- Samir Nasri, who has scored on frequent occasions in a Marseille shirt before being transferred to the Gunners, should start in a more advanced position, maybe playing off the central striker where he could cause more of a threat to the other side, instead of playing on the flanks. Such variations in positioning of the team members could also be thought over by the manager, Arsene Wenger.

The Red and White Army play football in style- they are completely capable of scoring a handful of goals while constantly upsetting defences. On their off days, they trouble defenders, but are unable to score crucial goals. This has lead to Arsenal’s title slump- there are far too many draws and losses in their recent history. Arsenal will have to change their style of football if not make sure that their quick, enjoyable style manages in getting them results in order to have a chance for this year’s Barclays Premier League trophy.

‘Ave it!’ edited by Iravati Guha

Invincibles to outsiders

2008-11-11T06:10:00.000-08:00

Our story begins at a large stadium in North London.
The Arsenal fans have to look back to the FA Cup final in May 2005 for the last time they had had a celebratory, trophy-winning drink. You have to go back a further year for Arsenal's last league success - in four years the Gunners have gone from the Invincibles to the outsiders.
In the 2007- 08 season, The Gunners were on top of the Premier League table for most of the first half of the season. At the start of the second half of the season, their fans were shocked at several results. Draws with Wigan, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and losses to Chelsea and Manchester United ended Arsenal’s title dreams. The reasons for this dramatic turnaround?
At the end of last season, the man in charge, Arsene Wenger was forced to let go of vital players. Mathieu Flamini, Aleksandr Hleb walked out the door claiming that the manager refused to increase their salaries. Justin Hoyte and Gilberto Silva followed, seeking first- team appearances and departed to Middlesbrough and Panathinaikos respectively.
Even though Hoyte and Gilberto didn’t take part a great deal, Flamini and Hleb were particularly critical to The Gunner’s midfield area, making huge contributions in attack and defence. Flamini’s extraordinary partnership with fellow central- midfielder, Cesc Fabregas, helped in setting up a good number of their squad’s goals. Hleb, too was credited as one of the best wingers and play-makers in the Premier League. The Frenchman Flamini had said that the Arsenal lineup was too young and inexperienced to ever win any trophies. His statements were backed up by football pundits, managers and other such critics which put Arsene Wenger under severe pressure to succeed and deal with keeping his Young ‘uns.
Great premiership winning teams do have a few slip ups. Many reasons such as injuries, fatigue or even an off day can lead to a draw or an occasional loss. When Chelsea won the title in 2005-2006, they had five losses on their record but only four draws, collecting a total of 91 points.
The average age of Arsenal’s youthful side is one of the lowest in Europe, let alone England. Teenagers Theo Walcott and Nevez Denilson, both 19, frequently break into the first eleven and bring down the average drastically. The oldest player in the Arsenal side is goalkeeper Manuel Almunia who is 31. This has been disapproved of by, again, other experts and managers. These critics believe that the squad is far too inexperienced to even think of challenging for the title.
Others think that the quick, one- touch ‘beautiful’ football that Wenger teaches should be looked at again. When Arsenal are in good shape, their side can rip the best defences in Europe to shreds. On the other hand, bad form and unexpected results with smaller sides puzzle their fans.
They also lack consistency. If Wenger has faith in youth, the fans believe that they just aren’t good enough. Other (young) players can fill up the gaps and maybe even answer all the questions. As Wenger is known for his talent scouting at a young age, there are a few P.L. players he could pick up. Youthful sportspersons like David Wheater, 21, Emanuel Pogatetz, 25, Ashley Young, 23, who have all represented their country, could make a big difference tot the side.
Fans also question the leadership of their captain, William Gallas. The first thought that comes to their minds when anyone mentions the Arsenal skipper’s guidance goes back to the Birmingham game at St. Andrews in February. Arsenal were cruising with 2-1 lead until injury time. Gael Clichy cheaply gave away the ball to a Birmingham attacker and in desperation, brought him down in the box. Penalty.
Millions could see that the pressure had gotten to William Gallas as the Scot McFadden lined up to take a 94th minute penalty to put Birmingham level. As the referee signalled for the kick to be taken, the captain was no where to be seen.
Gallas instead chose to stand alone in the Birmingham half, some sixty yards away from the action, sitting down on the St. Andrews pitch with his back facing his own net. When McFadden put his penalty powerfully passed the goalkeeper, the thousands of Gunners fans were shocked at what they saw.
The captain of one of the biggest clubs in the world decided to kick the advertisement hoardings in hysterically and remained seated whilst his team-mates trudged off the field with their title hopes having suffered a big blow.
Another cause is that both of Arsenal’s central defenders Kolo Toure and the chief Gallas can’t perform well together. Their communication isn’t good in handling set pieces, dealing with air balls and even simple through balls and passes.
Wenger is also criticised for having sold many young players who have now turned out to be fantastic footballers. Matthew Upson, David Bentley and Jermaine Pennant are examples of this, who have all broken into the England side.
The manager needs to sit down and take a another look at his side (with their individual ages next to their names) and should realise that there isn’t enough experience in his squad. Or even he does continue to bring in ‘kids,’ he should take a decision on who to bring in because a lot of teenagers in Europe have got a lot of first team appearances under their belts, which will bolster The Arsenal Football Club’s team. Even if means spending more money. This will lead to reliability and more faith from the fans.
If Arsenal keep suffering from a Jekyll and Hyde multiple personality disorder (as said by journalist Joe Guarr) on the pitch, their silverware drought will continue. If they hope to banish the Mr. Hyde that showed up at the end of last season, The Gunners need to find consistency and they need to do it quickly.
They have to get their act together or Arsenal's wait for silverware, any silverware, might go on a little while longer.