SCROOGE ARSENE WENGER IN TROUBLE
Selling Lassana Diarra was a massive mistake
THE ghost of Christmas past still haunts Arsene Wenger.
This time last year Lassana Diarra was an Arsenal player. How the Gunners could do with Diarra now that Cesc Fabregas is out - and, come the summer, maybe off.
The situation makes the decision to sell Diarra to Portsmouth last January one of Wenger's worst as Arsenal manager.
Having helped Pompey to FA Cup success, Diarra has joined Real Madrid for £20million.
Meanwhile, the Gunners desperately need at least one top-class midfield enforcer to toughen up a young squad.
A rugged centre-half and a goal-poacher wouldn't go amiss.
There is so much to admire about what Wenger has done for Arsenal but his parsimonious policy in the transfer marker has become an obsession.
A year ago Arsenal did not need the dough for Diarra, not long arrived from Chelsea.
Do you agree with Shep? He'll be online from midday on Sunday (December 7) to answer your points, so add your comments below to tell him what you think of his views on Arsene Wenger.
Instead of telling a frustrated player his chance would come, Wenger caved in. Within a few weeks both Fabregas and the now departed Mathieu Flamini had spells out of the team.
Arsenal faltered in the title race and were knocked out of Europe because they lacked a powerful, physical presence to step in and run the show. A player like Diarra. They still do.
To re-boot their season Wenger must bring in new players who can hit the ground running.
West Ham's Mark Noble or ex-Gunner Edu, available from Valencia, would be better choices than Swiss Gokhan Inler or the Russian Andrei Arsharvin.
Wenger's preference for nurturing talent is admirable but pointless if future stars are sold on before winning anything.
The time has come for Wenger to stop picking fights with opposing managers or blaming referees and look at the real reasons Arsenal are struggling.
He'll need a mirror for that.
If he can't see Scrooge staring back, he has a problem which new chief executive Ivan Gazidis may see more clearly.
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PENNANT BLOWS IT
JERMAINE PENNANT turned down a dream move to Real Madrid because the Spanish club quite rightly refused to double the £30,000-a-week wages he picks up as a Liverpool reserve.
Now Pennant is instead contemplating loan moves to Wigan or Stoke. He may already be a very rich young man but with such a lack of ambition he will never be a great footballer.
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This article has 15 comments
diarra never played that well for us, Chelsea clearly weren't too bothered. We didn't need him and he wanted out.
He played well for portsmouth in a box to box position for a defensive team. not £20m well.
Will he be a big player at Real? doubt it.
If you ever watched him in an Arsenal shirt he was too greedy and not intelligent or disciplined enough. Exactly what we dont need now. We need creative players.
By mike.. Posted January 4 2009 at 3:31 PM.
Arsenal just need 3 new signings, no we will not win the league but in with a chance winning 2 cups
By ok2play2.. Posted December 29 2008 at 4:02 PM.
It really saddens my heart that ARSENAL are involved in Dogfight for 4th place. How on earth should we remain the laughing stock for many a LONDON CLUBS?...
Wenger is just sometimes too mean,moreover to me, ADEBAYOR is lazy and not forceful. i wouldn't be suprised if he's sold. The most annoying fact for most ARSENAL FANS is too much passes and silky football and yet no shooting when we're infront of GOAL. We easily get roughed up and its really a joke these days to SEE ARSENAL loose points against the so called lesser teams and funny enough beat Man U and CHELSEA. wenger, pls get ur acts together. FLOREAT ARSENAL.
By Benjamin Korle.. Posted December 29 2008 at 12:14 AM.
i think a time comes when one has to move on. Wenger should move on or he may have to accept the position of the youth trainer at Arsenal. We have had enough excuses. if you cant deliver,get out .
By bobby.. Posted December 28 2008 at 9:32 PM.
Down Shep, as Noakesy used to say.
I can see what Graham Taylor meant now, Rob you are looking on the down side, best not attend Msr Wenger's next post match rant.
Mind you, you were right about that game with Taylor, so who knows? Perhaps Arsenal should inject a little fiscal stimulus after Christmas....
Owen?
By Damien .. Posted December 28 2008 at 7:30 PM.
Louise,
Yes maybe Diarra was a bit of a problem in the dressing room. But many top players have been head strong.
It's down to the manager to handle them. At the time he wasn't needed at Chelsea but was by Arsenal last year and certainly.
Themanager who starts to believe he can be the solution to every problem rather than the player is the manager who is losing his touch ......this is the concern about Wenger.
Yes, we miss Jose don't we ?
By shep.. Posted December 28 2008 at 12:05 PM.
Arsnal fan.
Yes Wenger seems to be picking fights to divert attention from his own shortcomings
By shep.. Posted December 28 2008 at 11:54 AM.
Vladimir,
Maybe but he would be a regular in the Arsenal side right now .....and a big influence
By shep.. Posted December 28 2008 at 11:53 AM.
Akwasi : Yes, we tend to forget Gilberto was shown the door well before his sell by date.
Shep
By shep.. Posted December 28 2008 at 11:51 AM.
I have been saying since Arsene failed to appoint Gilberto as captain that was a terrible mistake. the mistake is still hunting Arsenal and us the supporters. Look at the goals been scored against us. With Gilberto the organisation would have better. We may need a good defender, and a couple of good midfielders. Dimilson and Diaby a good but they need experience to help if we want to finish 4th and compete properly next.
By AKWASI.. Posted December 28 2008 at 10:53 AM.
Lassana Diara is overrated player, bought in typical style from Real Madrid. They are buying anything. Can't see him longer than a season on Bernabau. Not a mistake from Wenger.
By Vladimir Kostov.. Posted December 28 2008 at 10:07 AM.
I am an Arsenal fans.I think the problems that arsenal is passing throug as for the present squard is{1} full back centre defence,{2}wigan and a commited attacking midfider
By Dada Oladipupo.. Posted December 28 2008 at 6:13 AM.
its pathetic the state we are in and wenger picking fights with other managers is embarrassing
By arsenal fan.. Posted December 28 2008 at 2:35 AM.
It's easy to criticise from the outside but there must be a reason both Mourinho and Wenger let Diarra go. Maybe he's dressing room poison?
The over-rated Wenger inherited a great side and knows as much about defensive coaching as Mark Lawrenson (Newcastle).
The much smarter Mourinho showed him up and he's won nothing since.
Oh well, at least his youthful, beautiful football keeps him warm at night (if his trophy cabinet empty).
By Louise.. Posted December 28 2008 at 2:03 AM.
hi shepp what are you going on about pal nobody is running away with the league this year i dont know what your point about diarra is he was rubbish at chelsea and arsenal due to his attitude and ego in thinking he was billy big time like so many players who go to big clubs and do nothing thats why he ended up at portsmouth no other club would touch him with a bargepole some players are mentally fragile shawn wright phillips being a classic example when he went to chelsea and ended up bench warming and now his back in the comfort zone at city lets hope diarra takes his chance at madrid and makes the most of it he has had plenty of chances at big clubs but failed due to his attitude as for wenger and this arsenal team they are only gonna get better the future is very bright but the pundits who talk the usuall nonsense should really be asking themselves if they think this is the weakest arsenal team wenger has ever had then what does that say about martin o,neil and david moyes if they cant pip arsenal to 4th place after all moyes has been at everton for 6 years and won nothing and the same applies to o,neil he has won diddly squat yet ppl have dreamt up there candidates to win the league its laughable he will not even manage a top 4 position this year after all the money he has spent mark my words
By jimmy.. Posted December 28 2008 at 12:58 AM.