There was widespread disdain from Arsenal supporters when Arsene Wenger substituted the dangerous Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the game against Manchester United on Sunday. Some will be calling for his head.
Thankfully, sense will probably prevail and the majority will still agree that the Frenchman has largely cemented the legacy of Arsenal football club. But the fact remains that, as a team, Arsenal have been in stasis for the last five years. They seem still to be paying off the cost of their fantastic stadium. Do the top teams really fear going there any more? I don’t think so.
They made a comparatively ordinary Manchester United side look like world beaters for large chunks of the game on Sunday.
Perhaps the biggest difference between Manchester United and Arsenal is in the quality of their respective talismen. Noone can refute the fact that Robin Van Persie is a great finisher. But in Wayne Rooney, Manchester United have a great player. Of course, Van Persie scored an excellent equaliser for Arsenal but, in the first half, you would be forgiven for questioning whether he was even on the pitch.
By contrast Wayne Rooney is a constant presence for Manchester United. If you take your eyes off the ball for five minutes in a Manchester United game and instead follow Rooney you will see that he is central to everything that they do in defence and attack. He solidifies the back line, creates from midfield and adds teeth to the offense. The perfect link man. What a player. He very nearly outshone the impossible Ryan Giggs today.
Van Persie is a great finisher, but Rooney is a great player. That is why Manchester Untied beat Arsenal on their own patch on Sunday.
g clarke
Jan 22, 2012 at 8:21 pm
worse supporters in prem
Richard
Jan 23, 2012 at 3:56 am
A F’in agreed
marford
Jan 22, 2012 at 8:23 pm
Wenger should be sacked ! Current Arsenal players/squad disolved.
Richard
Jan 23, 2012 at 4:05 am
And then what—you don’t pay crap so how do you compete with City, Chelsea,Inter, AC Milan, PSG, Madrid, Barca, all of the teams in Russia :), and the top teams in China. So who ‘you goin’ to get? Wenger has attracted the top players with the promise of playing some of the most attractive football outside of Barca. And yes he hasn’t won trophies in 6 years but he has kept you competitive and on the cusp (in Europe). So he goes and who do you get as a replacement?
Let’s face it if he goes so does RVP, and a host of others. You don’t get the top French players on the cheap any longer and so you become this team that everybody was fond of but slipped into the abyss.
Josh
Jan 22, 2012 at 9:33 pm
Keep in mind that the two player had different roles today. Rooney played behind welbeck, poor analyst. Rvp is much better than Rooney by far, face reality…
Charles George
Jan 22, 2012 at 9:39 pm
The reason Arsenal did’nt beat Utd was simply a lack of a (proper) playmaker + not a decent fullback fit in sight. Rosicky’s good on a good day & Rambo still has a lot to learn when you put average people around him. Rooney’s been whack most of the season & Robin’s been the best player in the league, way to go on the comparisons! Nice headline, hope your girlfriend’s as nice!
soccersweep
Jan 22, 2012 at 9:45 pm
But that’s the point. Rooney is a playmaker! oli@soccersweep
soccersweep
Jan 22, 2012 at 9:46 pm
and Rooney has scored 18 goals . Hardly whack!
stephen Agonor,Kano,Nig.
Jan 22, 2012 at 9:51 pm
The sacking of AW wouldnt solve arsenal problem. Bt i know if u bring in gud corch like Morinho, we ll win a trophy again. The only solution is for the board to tel Wenger to sel some players that never fit into any club that want to be in the top 4. E.g Sq. Dj, cha,Alm, abu D, Deni, bentn, & buy 1 gud Lb & hazard. Y always gambling with our heart? Do AW knows dat some fans BP shut up to 170/100 today. The board should pls intervain. Gooner 4 life
sue
Jan 22, 2012 at 9:54 pm
Totally agree with everything you have had to say James…….
Also the fact injuries have played a big part in our season……
DH
Jan 22, 2012 at 9:55 pm
LOL at the Rooney claims. He’s garbage and the reason you are not doing so well, in my opinion.. He’s a bad apple amid the crop, and Van Persie is 10x the player he is. Well done today though, you played well.
:(
Jan 22, 2012 at 10:14 pm
DOnt worry mancsm when you buy RVP on the cheap in the summer he will replace rooney
mate
Jan 22, 2012 at 10:23 pm
Idiot Wenger.wish he could b sacked.
John Gee
Jan 23, 2012 at 10:06 am
If you truly believe AW should go I suggest you take yourself to WHL.
Mark
Jan 22, 2012 at 10:34 pm
Rooney didnt win united the game today… Fact, Persi didnt lose Arsenal the game today… Fact
Your point is?
Robert waite
Jan 22, 2012 at 10:39 pm
I think his time at arsenal have gone and disappeared he should go and bring in new manager and sign one
rafi
Jan 22, 2012 at 11:10 pm
rooney is always the best player when United face a team with a weak defence. Give them a defensivley solid opposition, he becomes a liability.
phillip kazibwe
Jan 22, 2012 at 11:30 pm
i sme times think wenger does do betting on his own team. He wanted the Gunners to lose to night.
casty
Jan 22, 2012 at 11:55 pm
The job of a good coach is for them to read the game and make big decision when needed, alex ferguson made changes that made impact, There is no justification for wenger to take our best player oxlade off after passing the ball that scored the goal. He was full of energy, strong and causing problems for man utd defence,,..Y take him offf and bring an under perfomer and unconfindent player ashavin,,,…
Its time for WENGER TO GO……………………………..
Dave
Jan 23, 2012 at 1:16 am
Rooney the ‘great player’ with 5 assists, 1 less than the ‘great finisher’ Van Persie this season. Very odd story given Rooney was probably Utd’s worst player today, barely noticed him
soccersweep
Jan 23, 2012 at 1:29 am
18 goals this season dude
Dave
Jan 23, 2012 at 8:28 am
Yeah, 5 less than RVP
Richard
Jan 23, 2012 at 3:54 am
who really cares–we beat you again–we are in 2nd place 15, yes 15 points ahead of you. wake up you delusional clowns, you’re in a free fall. and it’s not all Wengers’ doing. But yes, please get rid of the best manager in football and I’m an United fan–and then what?
Daniel Wong
Jan 23, 2012 at 1:52 am
The problem is Wenger has been given too much power and is beholden to no one.No one questions him why
he has been underperming. His marathon passing was at one time a problem .Since the he has grown more direct.I am afraid it could be a question of too late.
No one ,not even the red faced ,is indispensable. You will be vulnerable when you start losing games ona regular basis.If Wenger fails to get the 4th place he should be of off. No ifs and buts. More than enough time has been given and he has failed to get Arsenal going.
ans would like to thank him for what he has achieved.If he doesn’t go,rsin or be axed,Arsenal could end up like Leeds in the worst scenario.
olu
Jan 23, 2012 at 2:07 am
We some people do not know what to say, they should shut the f…..k up. U might to keep in mind that Wenger said it will be foolish of us to lose point because of a defender. Now can you now see how foolish and dumb he is. A foolish man will not make that sub……..It is time for Wenger to leave us alone. Get yourself off, we do not want you anymore Wenger.
j
Jan 23, 2012 at 2:13 am
I agree with the writer, van persie scores goals but rooney is a complete player and can do everything, a much better all round player anyone that can’t see that is stupid, biased or blind. Vps work rate is terrible, at Arsenal there’s no such thing as defending from the front that’s why we lose so many games, his lack of pace an movement is a major hindrance to the team. We will never win anything with vps as the lone striker. I can’t wait for him to leave so we can change this formation.
Richard
Jan 23, 2012 at 3:50 am
Ordinary United –with more injuries than Arsenal and that takes some doing, yet United are 3 points back and Arsenal are 18 points back and 15 back of United…Imagine being so ordinary that once again we play you off the park. Just watched the game for the 2nd time and guess what this wasn’t even close, save the score line. Yes, Blame Wenger for substituting Oxylade-Chamberlaine (OC) and his replacement for not defending properly on the 2nd goal. Reallly? Did you watch this match? At least Arshavin attempted to defend and that’s a great deal more than OC…Let’s face it, he abandoned Djourou so often that I dubbed him Judas.
And guess what, sack Wenger and perish. I see Wenger in the Executive office at PSG. The pipeline to the top French players dries up and you become a legitimate third rate club. I’m all for it.
Richard
Jan 23, 2012 at 4:09 am
No he’s right!!
Roland C Rozario
Jan 23, 2012 at 5:06 am
I am a retiree age 67 from Singapore.
I have always watched the EPL games only whe Arsenal play its because I like their type of play and the opportunity for the young ones in reserves with potential to take to the field in the first XI, who with exposure can and will outshine some of the current crops of XI!
Take Oxlade, Frimpong and give Ryo and the likes of Wellington have a run with the first XI!
I am a supporter for sometime now.
But the club needs a lethal strike cum effective all round player in that role!
They need also to shore up their defence / midfield with at least 2 quality and effective players!
Lets see if the Prof and the Club buys any during this winter transfer window otherwise Arsenal will never be in the top four and in the CL next season [Period!]
Roland C Rozario
Jan 23, 2012 at 5:10 am
I just cannot fathom the replacement of Alex Oxlade who was the outstanding and even the most effective player on the pitch!
Godwin
Jan 23, 2012 at 5:14 am
We can never win anything as long as that damn coach keeps non-performers in the team. Off with Wenger that is when sanity will come into that team….
Ayodeji
Jan 23, 2012 at 5:36 am
Wenger is our probelm i think he nid a mental health check up, for the past 6yrs his yet to find solution to arsenal problem stubon stingy liar,i think is time to organise occupy the groove protest to send wenger away or we will soon be like leeds
Keme
Jan 23, 2012 at 6:31 am
Wenger shuold just be Sacked. I dnt knw wat d board re still doing wit him. D man is no more at his rite senses. He just proved it against Man-U by removing Oxlade and bringing inn Dirty Arshavin and dat was were our game got ruined. So i tink dis is d rite time for Wenger to b given d hammer. As for RVP/RooNey comparison, i tink RVP is far better dan Rooney. How many goals have Rooney scored dis season? Rvp has 19 epl goals already. rooney has been in and out of form dis season. So i dnt uderstnd d Yardstick in which u use to compare players form.
odera otieno kapu
Jan 23, 2012 at 8:46 am
…..the arsenal now,never used to be..let Wenger offload and reload.Its terrible.
Chris M
Jan 23, 2012 at 9:02 am
Cant believe im hearing Wenger and Van Persie are to blame for arsenals slump. Never heard such ridiculous boll*x
I am a loyal arsenal fan, but i hate half of the arsenal fans, as they are brain dead. Never satisfied, and we wonder while opposing fans call the emirates the library. The only time the arsenal fans get loud is when they are complaining about the ref and linesman. The rest of the time they are grumbling to the person next to them about how arsenal are so bad.
Get behind your team for once and make a difference
kofi
Jan 23, 2012 at 9:02 am
Pitiful fans.
Fergie looses three on a row and he is still hailed.
Wenger looses three most under bizare circumstances and he shd be sacked.
I feel that there is nothing Wenger will do to please you. The worst player was the most expensive. Arshavin 15mil, walcot 12 mil, and rate them against rosicky 9mil, Kos
– before Arsenal had no English spine
– Too young to win
– arsenal cannot win anything with 4-3-3
– too dependent on Fabregas
– Kos not good
– Mertesacker not Good
– Song not good
– eboue not good
– Arsenal diving brats
[no comment on rooney’s antiques and diving ]
– Get cahil he is the best defender and plays for the worst defence
– now too dependent on vp
Even Mancini is complaining about officiating.
I agree wenger made a tactical mistake even you top coaches Mourinho, Daglish, Fergie , capello make them but are still around
Kayode kolawole
Jan 23, 2012 at 9:45 am
On a good day wenger made a teribulous error by bringing out oxlade and i will suggest dat arsenal need creative midfield,one more striker to partner rvp upfront and a defender as well
Rich
Jan 23, 2012 at 10:04 am
We would have won this game if Alex had been on the pitch for the whole 90 minutes.
Wenger is a joke for taking him off.
What was he thinking