Injuries Force Wenger To Walk The Plank

By JimC Published: 25th January 2010

SolCampbell

By JAMES CURTIS Picture Arsene Wenger walking the plank with his hands tied, ball and chain around his feet, being prodded nearer to his murky FA Cup fate. Wenger claimed there was barely anything he could do but name an under experienced side for the clash with Stoke, and as much as it hurts now, it could have ached even more had Arsenal started their stronger team only to see them limp off. It’s been the trend all season – now imagine watching Jay Emmanuel-Thomas against Richard Dunne, Rio Ferdinand and John Terry.

It isn’t that Wenger doesn’t care about the FA Cup; after all, his track record in the competition since arriving in England is good. The Frenchman has four titles to his name and only fell at the semi-final stages last season, so it would be quite damning to question his admiration for the worlds most famous domestic competition.

And before the patriotic English claim Wenger doesn’t share their passion for the FA Cup, perhaps they should take a look at record low attendances after the fourth round and point a finger back. That’s fine if ticket prices are extortionate for a visit by lower league opposition, and if that is indeed the case, then perhaps ‘devoted’ chairmen should reconsider the cost of a seat compared to the cost of maintaining our beloved cup.

Anyway, isn’t that what Arsenal FC did with ticket prices for League Cup matches? Some years £10 has been a rounded entry fee, but at £20 Arsenal fans still are not complaining. Because of it, Arsenal have boosted the profile of a tournament once labeled the ‘Mickey Mouse’ cup while treating the neutral fan to a mouth watering taster of their youth development program.

In the next three weeks, Arsenal play Aston Villa, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool, another justifiable reason for Wenger to rest some key players if the Gunners are to regain the Premiership crown after five blank years. With ten players sidelined through injury there would always be at least three fringe players making a run-out.

The fixture pile-up though, began last week when Arsenal played Bolton twice in four days after adverse weather conditions had postponed the home leg a week previously. Owing to 21st Century technology, the Emirates had no problems putting the game on; however, local council chooses to live in the Victorian ages and had the final say in calling the game off due to ice and risky travel circumstances.

Still, just because the likes of William Gallas, Thomas Vermaelen and Andrey Arshavin were rested doesn’t guarantee wins in Arsenal’s forthcoming games. Wenger’s reasons to name a very youthful side against Stoke though look understandable, and to be fair there seemed few groans from Arsenal fans who firstly enjoy seeing the academy’s progression and secondly have a belief they can show up lower Premiership opposition.

Unlike the comprehensive victory over Liverpool in the Carling Cup earlier in the season, Arsenal’s Young Guns couldn’t put on a repeat, outmuscle by Stoke from start to finish. Mostly, it was a mixture of naivety and hesitancy from the new blood, together with sloppiness from the more qualified for the day, who more was expected of.

Wenger was happy to name Mikael Silvestre in the back four and spoke about his experience alongside Sol Campbell as a strong platform for Francois Conquelin and Armand Traore. Silvestre rarely demonstrated any know-how, instead, wandered around like a player would with very little playing time under his belt, holding no bearing on the nervy teenagers around him.

Denilson, Theo Walcott and Carlos Vela all had tired games too and failed to stand out against Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Craig Eastmond (both 19-years-old). Arsenal had won plaudits for a brave battle yet lost out to Stoke’s fatigue late on when two goals from neat wing play sealed Arsenal’s cup fate.

On the plus side, Campbell looked as stalwart as I remember him, feasting on and dominating Stoke’s long ball game, passing the ball from defense with ease and looking surprisingly close to full fitness, all considered. A win would have been preferred but in a season where Arsenal’s priorities lie on league triumph, you sense this defeat will be quickly forgotten with three points at Villa Park come Wednesday. If so, Wenger will step back from the plank. All hands of deck, Arsenal.

{jcomments on}

JimC

IndianGunner

James,you are absolutely right.Even if we had won the match,we would have been facing man City Away in the next round,that would have made our life very difficult ahead of the CL match against Porto.I was totally puzzled with the inclusion of Cesc in the match.Of all our players he was the one who needed rest.
David Calvert

[quote name=IndianGunner]I was totally puzzled with the inclusion of Cesc in the match.Of all our players he was the one who needed rest.[/quote] Hasn’t Cesc only played one game this year? He needs games, not rest.
anandamide

my biggest disappointment wasn’t the loss, or the play of the youngsters (thought coquelin and eastmond were good; emanuelle-thomas promising, but a little lost).

i was disappointed by the play of the players who are on the fringes of the first team: vela, walcott and traore were all terrible in my opinion. traore was on a good run for a while but in the past three games has been a liability. i’m beginning to wonder whether walcott is ever going to come good. i know he’s been injured, but i keep waiting for the anticipated magic to happen and am just not seeing it.
Lord Venky

PREMIER LEAGUE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN DOMESTIC CUPS NO DOUBT,BUT DOESN’T IT LOOK LIKE PUTTING ALL THE EGGS IN ONE BASKET?,FOR ME,IT CERTAINLY IS.WITH MANU AND LIVERFOOLS OUT,THE OPPORTUNITY WAS GOLDEN BUT NOT ANY MORE.WENGER HIMSELF HAS SAID THAT WINNING THE FIRST TROPHY IS THE TOUGHEST SO WHY NOT GIVE YOURSELVES A CHANCE TO DO IT?.WHY DIDN’T HE SEND THE FIRST TEAM TO PUT THE GAME TO BED AND TAKE THEM AFTER JOB DONE, INSTEAD OF CHASING THE GAME WITH THOSE SAME PLAYERS?.LOSE TWO GAMES OF THE NEXT FOUR, PREMIERSHIP IS GONE,PARTICULARLY CONSIDERING THE FIXTURES CHELSEA HAS DURING THE SAME PERIOD.THEY WOULD BE ABOUT 10 POINTS AHEAD,ALTHOUGH THE LATTER STRETCH IS EASY FOR US CATCHING THEM IS HIGHLY UNLIKELY AT THAT END OF THE SEASON.ANYWAYS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY BLOWN AWAY FANTASTIC!!!
Not over the hill

I believe too little has been said about the quality of same EPL pitches. Our young players are being taught on good playing surfaces. Would Stanley Mathews have progressed on a pitch such as the one on Sunday? Or a manager in the Allardyce style! As for Walcott it would appear that his injuries have sent him back to first principles – watch and learn. Why hire an ex Manure player, it must be to study “Whisky nose’s” methods because this player is not fit for purpose! The game and result on Sunday reminds me of Burnley last season, poor pitch and lack of mettle.
Berg10

If it comes down to a straight choice between the EPL and the FA Cup there’s no contest, for me the league is more prestigious and profitable as well as a better lure for prospective future purchases.
Joe 71

It is not injuries that forced him to walk the plank, it is his stubborness in the transfer market, it is also his refusal to buy strong quality experienced players who do not get injured that easily. Wenger is no where near as good as he used to be: Viera, Lauren and Henry never used to get injured as much in their heydays – because they were strong. Players like Denilson are far too young and far to weak to cut it with the big boys at this level, even if it is only Stoke.
JJ

remember 16 Feb, 2008? no? that was the same blablabla. that our priority lies somewhere and somewhen else but not here and not now. always tomorrow but never today.
db10

[quote name=David Calvert]
Hasn’t Cesc only played one game this year? He needs games, not rest.[/quote]
are you joking!??
db10

CAMEROON ARE OUT!! egypt win 3-1 after extra time. despite cameroon being far better in the second half egypt managed to take it to Extra time and then some funny goals put them through. song is on his way…

annoying that he had to paly through extra time though.
db10

i think wilshere was due to play but he had to pull out because he was ill. he he weren’t i think cesc would have been on the bench. i think he denilson and eastmond were the only fully fit midfielders in the whole arsenal squad!!
Jim

haha i think i heard some sarcasm in davids tone, but still, i can tell you that cesc has played only one more game than gerrard and cesc and rvp together have played less games than gerrard and torres. liverpool lol
Jim

i fully agree and wished i had more time to make a stronger case for that in my piece anan. i touch on it but the truth was that those who have seen more than enough minutes in an arsenal shirt still looked to remain playing in their typical passenger form.

it would have been really impressive if theo, denilson and vela had taken on more of a senior role yesterday. but maybe im being harsh, perhaps they are not developed yet
goonamerica

coquelin was eaten alive in the first 25 minutes. maybe he settled but from what I saw his movements and passing was very poor at the start. E-T could not get hold of the ball did he ever turn and really take anyone one? Traore. is that experiment over yet. very sorry but he does not have it. scary thing about cesc in the side was he had a giant target painted on him and he put up with alot of physical abuse. I thought the addition of ramsay to midfield might seize the initiative from stoke but if the entire back line and by that I mostly mean our lb and rb are not clogging the space then you give players time to run at you.

if AW could contemplate the next rounds opponent then he might be inclined to put out a stronger team. instead he has to shoot a bit blind. with the draw finding stoke now playing mancity at manchester, his decision was excellent!

the benefits, 3 players 2 of which had never really faced premiership quality (term used loosely) opposition and might now know how far they still must go to be to the standard necessary.

and now we have squad relief knowing that song and eboue will be back by midweek and maybe available to play next weekend?
Jim

venky, usually id feel you pain, but this year we are so close to winning the premiership, nearer than we have been in 5 years, that i cant fault wengers decision to field the team he did. and i dunno, without the early error we might have been in the game more. for this year i am gonna let it slide. villa cant come quick enough
Jim

its quite clear that there is nothing on the market right now. i wanted wenger to invest but look at the action as a whole and there is not a great deal going on. because of the financial mess some teams find themselves in im sure prices are being bumped up.

anyway joe, arsenal have just proven themselves against tough sides. bolton twice. our first team could have seen off stoke im sure. denilson though, IM HEAR YA,fack he drives me mad. proper tredding water getting back on sidibe for the second goal. and i thought campbell was the one out for 8 months??
Jim

dunno when exactly when song will be back goon – couldnt care about eboue, wenger will probably play him right shoulder – but talking about ramsey, anybody could see in 1 minute of him being on the pitch how much more talented than denilson he is. i expect him to take his place soon enough
harper

Jim, how can you not care about Eboue? Granted, Song is more important but given that Sagna has been having shoulder injury problems, Eboue’s a good RB alternative. Plus, given that we have 10 players out injured, Eboue’s a decent squad player to have on the bench.
Jim

yea its not that, its more where wenger uses him. i cant stand him playing right mid and tbh i ran out of patience with eboue when he got sent off against spurs and started beging on his hands and knees. his red card at the african cup shows he is still a liability. clearly im not his biggest fan. eastmond second choice right back?
goonamerica

you know I don’t completely rate eboue. but but but if sagna can’t play or is carrying this shoulder injury who else can we play there in the odd game? that can do the job? I can’t think of anyone myself except eboue.
so song comes back goes straight back into squad and plays in front of the back 4 as he so successfully has done this season (fingers crossed ACN does not create a blip) and eboue is there as backup to sagna at rb. (and/or in right side of mf if we are that stretched for midfielders) he is not my first second or maybe even third choice to play in midfield but if we are that far down the pecking order … ?
db10

ramsey is obviously better than denilson in the more forward role of midfield but i doubt that ramsey would do very well in the dm role that denilson was playing in when song first went. once song comes back and if ramsey cesc and diaby are fit then i can’t see denilson getting much playing time at all. we must remember that if diaby cesc and ramsey had been able to stay fit denilson wouldn’t have played that much and we would be thinking of him as a useful squad player. its just that over the last two years he is always available and hardly ever gets injured. not that this is a bad thing its just that we now think “he’s not good enough to be a first team regular” (which he isn’t) rather than him being good to have on the bench when we need a more defensive minded midfielder.
benchod

Hurray!Cameroon are out of Nation Cup!

Song is coming home!
goonamerica

eboue and sending off v thfc last year. yes he reacted but having watched that game last year a number of times it seems it was missed that modric had in fact kicked eboue off the ball two times in the lead up to eboue’s challenge. congrats mr. eboue you earned yourself a red card but modric and usual scum cheating led to the situation. and what did they get out of it? after playing 10 man Arsenal for most the game? a draw. typical under achievers can’t even cheat and win. laughing at them being forced into a replay at Leeds after giving up an injury time equalizer!! scum!