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Arsene Wenger |
Wenger could fire the Gunners to greatest achievement of career
IF anybody was else in charge, anybody but Arsene Wenger, Arsenal fans might begin to wonder what is happening at their club.
It wasn’t that long ago that the start of a new season would generate genuine hope of a tilt at the title. This time around, the big kick off brings a growing fear that the Gunners are drifting off the pace, still hamstrung by the cost of moving stadiums two years ago.
It is only their trust in Wenger, who has so many times proven himself a masterful tactician and often with limited means, which keeps the unlikely dream alive that a team that struggled to match the big sides last season can somehow outrun the same opponents this term.
The weight on the Frenchman’s shoulders must be feeling heavier as each trophyless season passes.
It would surely be one of his greatest feats yet if he could turn a squad who just about scraped into the qualifying rounds of the Champions League into Premier League winners without bringing many new faces into the fold.
In fact, Wenger appears to have fewer options available after letting Emmanuel Adebayor, an occasional genius who had lost the faith of the fans, and Kolo Toure, a warhorse from battles past, go to Manchester City.
The only signing to note is the arrival of defender Thomas Vermaelen, the former Ajax captain, who will be asked to bring some calm to the often erratic Gunners’ backline. Wenger wants a rearguard that won’t surrender leads in the final 15 minutes of matches.
Other chases for new players have so far proved fruitless. Regardless of what anybody outside of Islington says about his condition and lasting ability, how the Arsenal fans would have loved to have seen Patrick Vieira “come home”. The potential for a deal looked lost this week. Wenger has also been foiled in attempts to bring in tough-tackling Brazilian midfielder Felipe Melo – just the kind of player we need, you can hear the Arsenal supporters chanting – and striker Marouane Chamakh from Bordeaux. So, their faith in Wenger is pretty much all the Arsenal fans have left as they prepare for match one, away at Everton, tomorrow (Saturday) evening.
His perceptive know-how is the magic ingredient. Can he harness the raw but indisputable talent of young gun-slingers Jack Wilshere and Carlos Vela? Can he push Samir Nasri and Abou Diaby on, encouraging them to find the runs of purple patch form that they have often threatened to enjoy? Can he get Nicklas Bendtner to repay the faith placed in him and match the Anelkas and Rooneys in the race for the golden boot? Can he get the best out of Theo Walcott? And can he retain the services of Cesc Fabregas?
Arsenal are at a crossroads, with a million questions being asked. The man with the answers is Wenger.
If he was to somehow produce a significant trophy without throwing money at the problem, without chucking around the millions, it would probably be his greatest achievement. It would also be an antidote to the current thinking at the top of the table that you need to pay players obscene wages and shovel money in all directions to have success.
Arsenal FC Premier League
fixtures for 2009/10 season
AUGUST
15: EVERTON (A) 17.30
18: CELTIC, UEFA Champions League Qualifying Round (A) 19.45
22: PORTSMOUTH (H) 15.00
26: CELTIC, UEFA Champions League Qualifying Round (H) 19.45
29: MANCHESTER UNITED (A) 17.15
SEPTEMBER
12: MANCHESTER CITY (A) 15.00
15/16: UEFA Champions League Group Stage Match 1, 19.45
19: WIGAN ATHLETIC (H) 15.00
23: Carling Cup, Third Round
26: FULHAM (A) 17.30
29/30: UEFA Champions League Group Stage Match 2, 19.45
OCTOBER
4: BLACKBURN ROVERS (H) 13.30
17: BIRMINGHAM CITY (H) 15.00
20/21: UEFA Champions League Group Stage Match 3, 19.45
25: WEST HAM UNITED (A) 16.15
28: Carling Cup, Fourth Round
31: TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (H) 12.45
NOVEMBER
3/4: UEFA Champions League Group Stage Match 4, 19.45
7: WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS (A) 17.30
21: SUNDERLAND (A) 15.00
24/25: UEFA Champions League Group Stage Match 5, 19.45
29: CHELSEA (H) 16.00
DECEMBER
2: Carling Cup Quarter Final
5: STOKE CITY (H) 15.00
8/9: UEFA Champions League Group Stage Match 6, 19.45
12: LIVERPOOL (A) 15.00
15: BURNLEY (A) 19.45
19: HULL CITY (H) 15.00
26: ASTON VILLA (H) 15.00
28: PORTSMOUTH (A) 15.00
JANUARY
2: FA Cup Third Round
6: Carling Cup, Semi Final First Leg
9: EVERTON (H) 15.00
16: BOLTON WANDERERS (A) 15.00
20: Carling Cup Semi Final Second Leg
23: FA Cup Fourth Round
27: ASTON VILLA (A) 19.45
30: MANCHESTER UNITED (H) 15.00
FEBRUARY
6: CHELSEA (A) 15.00
9: LIVERPOOL (H) 19.45
13: FA Cup Fifth Round
16/17/23/34: UEFA Champions League Second Round First Leg 19.45
20: SUNDERLAND (H) 15.00
27: STOKE CITY (A) 15.00
28: Carling Cup Final
MARCH
6: BURNLEY (H) 15.00/FA Cup Quarter Final
9/10/16/17: Champion League Second Round Second Leg 19.45
13: HULL CITY (A) 15.00
20: WEST HAM UNITED (H) 15.00
27: BIRMINGHAM CITY (A) 15.00
30/31: UEFA Champions League Quarter Final, First Leg 19:45
APRIL
3: WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS (H) 15.00
6/7: UEFA Champions League, Quarter Final, Second Leg 19:45
10: TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR (A)/FA Cup Semi Final
17: WIGAN ATHLETIC (A) 15.00
20/21: UEFA Champions League Semi Final First Leg 19.45
24: MANCHESTER CITY (H) 15.00
27/28: UEFA Champions League Semi Final Second Leg 19.45
MAY
1: BLACKBURN ROVERS (A) 15.00
9: FULHAM (H) 15.00
15: FA Cup Final 15.00
22: UEFA Champions League Final 19.45
Fixture date to be confirmed:
BOLTON WANDERERS (H)
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