Interesting article in The Mirror http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opi...amir-Nasri-Manchester-City-article790444.html Do you think our win in Udine showed that we have improved and learned from past mistakes or do you think we will be brushed aside come Sunday? Was the win over Udinese just a win over a poor quality side or did we genuinely show that we have character and belief, and this team still has quality?
The wins over Udinese proved very little as they are not a great side. The games against Necastle and Liverpool are a better barometer of progress or otherwise and the match on Sunday will be more telling. We have been going backwards since 2007 and it is no coincidence that this was when Wenger embarked on his 'youth only' strategy. He can no longer claim he does not have the money to bring in quality experienced players, so we will know in a week's time, if does not buy, that he doesn't want to spend to improve the team. It is only two weeks ago he said that 'if you sell your best players you cannot convince people that you are ambitious', now we shall see.
I've heard Robbie Savage compliment Arsenal before and he has done it again in the article. He speaks of Theo Walcott's abilities and suggests that better positioning would see both player and club thrive. Savage tells us nothing new about our defensive weaknesses. At Udinese we were nearly undone by the home side's determined attacks. While we all rejoice at our success midweek, the cold hard facts of the Premiership await us this weekend. We go to Old Trafford with an already depleted team which is not further helped by no less than three suspensions. If ever the need for reinforcements to be brought in as far back as January was obvious, the lineup we take to United bears certain evidence of the dire urgency for more able bodies. Yet with less than a week to the close of the summer transfer window we still await those key signings that have become so vital to our continued enjoyment of a Top 4 place, never mind opportunities for trophies. So yes Robbie Savage made sense in his piece and if we are to have a piece of the action this year then we had better get out act together and bring in players to cover our key positions. I can wholeheartedly understand Mr Toughie's concerns. It was reported this afternoon that Arsene has also identified the need for a striker too. That's good news and one hope for even greater news of definite contracts in the coming week. As for this Sunday, while we do have a chance of scoring and as is often said, you never know what happens in football, it does have the makings of a David and Goliath confrontation. Thus I'll take all the sympathy Sir Alex has shown us of late and hope that in his desire to be generous towards our feelings or indeed those of Arsene, he may have omitted to cover one or two pieces of play which would give us some hope of a decent showing let alone victory.
The sad thing is no one is talking about the game on Sunday.... Back to the game in midweek, I think the boys showed tremendous character rescuing our Champions League aspiration inspite of all the doom and gloom... I also think Udinese were a dangerous opponent and they like most pundits must have smelt blood... We really have nothing to lose as regards the game at old trafford, hope Manure expect an easy 3points and the lads manage to shock them ala david v Goliath, I think most gooners expect us to come away with nothing, we have gone there with teams a tad better than this one and we have come away empty handed..... But to say Udinese are a poor quality side is just half the story, I think the occasion was bigger than the game itself, to lose there and be dumped out of the CL could have severely de-railed our season, I feel we should look forward to the season with renewed optimism, the framework for a good season is there, just a couple of experienced additions required!
Whatever !!!!! Without several first choices we won. Another year in CL. 6 Matches against European teams and a money-spinner. With the departures and unrest it is not surprising the start has not been good.
