Arsenal Fans Go Nuts. Absolutely Nuts!
Having been monstered all day by raving Gooners, I feel obliged to re-enter the debate my article started.
Me thinks some of the Arsenal fans do protest a little too much. Did I strike one or two nerves with my post?
To be fair, most of the comments I have read have been intelligent and reasoned. Some have been nuts. Arsenal may be run by the professor but some of the fans seem to think that reading is a small town in Berkshire.
For goodness sakes, this is AbsolutelyUNITED, not the Online Gooner or any of a dozen Arsenal websites or fanzines. If some of you want to tickle yourselves with self reverential pieces saying how you’ll conquer the football world in a fortnight, you are well-catered for. But not here, as it says in the title at the top. You’ll have to stand for a little scepticism as regards the brilliance of the Wenger boys on this site.
For the record, I bigged up Clichy, Toure, Gallas, Fabregas, Mrs Rosicky, RVP and Adebayor and said that Fergie might be tempted to take three of this bunch. I say tempted because I feel some Arsenal fans need to be reminded that their team did not in fact win the league last year. United did. Therefore, the players at United are generally better, as the PFA team of the year revealed. Got that fellas!
Many of you took issue with my rating of Rio. Don’t believe the hype. The London press might have taken against him but everyone knows Rio can play. Isn’t he just the sort of player Wenger would have loved – ball playing, strong defender with an eye for goal?
Almost all of you would take Toure over Rio. Well, you are entitled to that opinion, except that outside north London, Toure is considered a successfully converted midfielder who isn’t a patch on the real centre halves in the Premiership despite his class. That’s why Rio remains a better defensive option because he’s a natural defender. It also explains in part, why Arsenal folded at home and abroad last season.
Some of you attack the choice of Hargreaves because he’s been a United player for a time shorter than your average fart. Then, with a curious lack of logic, at least one writer claimed Sagna is a better bet at right back than the estimable Gary Neville when he only arrived just before breakfast. Go figure!
As for RVP, well, he’s a smashing player, as I wrote. But c’mon lads, go to that corner of your brain where the truth still lurks. Is he really better than Wayne Rooney?
As the editor said in his piece earlier today, this is just my opinion. I’m glad some of you chose to share yours with me and other readers. As one poster said, let’s see what happens in November and ultimately at the end of the season.
I, for one, can’t wait.
Absolutely United
ISpy
READ about Arsenal in The Others
(On Sep 11th, 2007 at 12:50 am)
Are you that biased? RVP isn’t better than Rooney? Lol. My my my…I’d only expect that from United fans, ROONEY IS OVERRATED. Anyone would tell you this.
Who has more skill? Van Persie
Who can take free kicks? Van Persie
Who has better ball control? Van Persie
All Rooney has for the last season was more goals scored due to RVP’s injury…RVP got 11 up to January…Rooney got about 17 in total I think, so just do the maths.
How is Ferdinand better than Gallas or Toure? Toure was called the african cannavaro…was part of the invincible defensive wall during the premiership and the uefa champions league 05-06 season (RECORDS)
Cristiano Ronaldo would walk into any team, so there is no argument there, the two teams combined on paper look best as
Lehmann (once he gets out of his terrible rut)
Sagna-Toure-Vidic-Evra (for experience)
CR7-Fabregas-Gilberto-Giggs
RVP-Rooney
(On Sep 11th, 2007 at 1:07 am)
My Arsenal credentials? Stood on the North Bank as a kid cheering on the famous 1971 Double winners.My attitude towards Man U? I watched Bobby Charlton as a kid, gracing Highbury.The ‘rivalry’ with Man U is very recent history.I lost my voice on ‘that night’ in 1999 with all of you.You are a national institution,not just a club.
But Rio ‘better than Kolo’ get real.Rio so laid back,so good at reading attack,that his effortlessness is misread as laziness,GREAT player .BUT Kolo is a better dribbler, has greater pace and can return from attack to defence far more quickly,he also reads attack just as well as Rio.
Rooney vs V P. Well you have to remeber that it was LE BOSS who FIRST identified Rooney as the most exciting talent in English football.You had the money and Fergie caught whiff LONG after the proclamation of Wenger.Robin still has a better eye for goal,you have to remember that he was injured for A THIRD of last season and he still scored more goals than Rooney.
I really love Scholes,BUT come on, Cesc is only 20,his skill level is ALREADY as good as Scholes AT HIS PEAK.Listen hard,I don’t give a F**K what other Arsenal supporters say,I love Man U,I love their football,if you don’t love Man U you CANNOT like football.WE HAVE THE EDGE AND YOU KNOW IT.
(On Sep 11th, 2007 at 1:14 am)
My turn to weigh in. I don’t watch enough United matches to judge, but I know my Gunners.
Clichy is the dog’s bollocks. Fantastic player. Don’t know about Evra, so he might be the cat’s testicles, but when you have Clichy as left back you say all right then that’s settled and close the book.
Toure had a pretty shitty season last year. Don’t know why nobody noticed. Up to now this year he has been excellent, but I have no problem with this Rio chap possibly being better than him. At the very least he’s taller, though he seems like he enjoys the nightlife too much to make it at Arsenal.
At the other centre back, nobody’s really done the business for us, including Gallas, so if this Vidic character is any good, that might be your position as well.
Right back, well, Sagna hasn’t been here long enough, but he definitely looks the business. I would pick him over Neville any day in my team, though he still has to prove himself long term.
Fàbregas over Carrick or whoever you got, no need to say more.
Ronaldo over Rosicky or Hleb, yup, easy one as well, though both are excellent.
Hleb or Rosicky over Nani, haven’t seen the lad play to be honest but I can’t imagine he’s got anything over these two yet, maybe in two years but not this season. You guys would be bigging him up way more if he was that good.
Gilberto over Hargreaves is easy as hell. Sorry guys, Gilberto is da man. Fantastic player. As good as they make them in that position.
Up front, Rooney is better than RVP, no problem. Wenger would take the little cunt any day.
At the other striker, honestly, nobody’s done the business for Arsenal or for United, as far as I can tell, so call it a wash.
Keeper, at this point I guess we have to leave it to Van der Sar, but that guy will make you lose any final you play in, so I don’t see why you bother with him. He’s a born loser. If it’s going to penalties he might as well be English, that’s how much of a choker he is.
So to sum up: I wouldn’t take a single United player. They’re all scum, by definition. Our boys are the salt of the Earth and will lead all Gooners to the promised land.
Onwards to Zion!
Have a nice one,
goonermtl
(On Sep 11th, 2007 at 2:47 am)
Firstly, don’t believe most of the drivel you read from Arsenal “fans” on the Internet, most of them are from obscure parts of the world and know nothing about football, let alone Arsenal.
I don’t really take any issues with your somewhat biased squad assessments (except Hargreaves over Gilberto, definitely had your manc tinted glasses on for that decision sir!)
But one thing I found quite amusing was your description of Rio Ferdinand having “an eye for goal”. According to the BBC stats on him, 4 goals in 222 games. A goal every 56 games hardly warrants you saying he has an eye for goal. What’s next, Emile Heskey is a prolific goal scorer and Jens Lehmann is a consistent goalkeeper?
(On Sep 11th, 2007 at 4:38 am)
It’s all a matter of opinion. Both teams have great players. I just don’t like the personality’s the united players display on the pitch. Rooney, Rio, Ronaldo, Neville… They just make me sick. The only Arsenal players who comes close displaying this sort of bad conduct is Van Persie and Lehman.
Going back to the actual comparison I would just like to say that I’d have Hleb or Rosicky over Giggs or Nani any day. Clichy is better than Evra going forward but Evra has the edge defensively. From watching Sagna a few games last season and seeing him now I would rather have him than Gary Neville. Toure and Gallas are excellent players but not made to play together so I would partner either of them with Vidic. Fabregas over Scholes is an obvious choice. Gilberto over Hargreaves as well. As for the forward line I really rate Rooney, Saha and Tevez. Van Persie is a cracking player and he’s up there. Adebayor is sensational as a target player and runs the opposition to pieces and creates space for his teammates. But he has a lot of flaws as well and is not quite up there with the names mentioned earlier. After seeing Eduardo play for Croatia I am certain that he will be a force to be reckoned with. Bendtner is a good player but far from a finished product. So I’d give that round to United! Now to the goalkeeper situation. Both Van Der Sar and Lehmann are amazing keepers on a good day but terrible on their bad. I would say it’s a draw!
All in all it comes down to taste in players.
(On Sep 11th, 2007 at 10:11 am)
Ronaldo is class. if Arsenal had him we’d win the league and if united did not they would finish about fourth.
(On Sep 11th, 2007 at 10:18 am)
You don’t get it.
Lehmann vs Van der Sar. Van der Sar on current form. Lifetime: lehmann
Sagna/Eboue vs Neville: Either Sagna or Eboue. Neville? You’re having a laugh?
Toure vs Ferdinand: Tough. Maybe Ferdinand for being a natural defender. Otherwise achievement-wise as a footballer: Toure.
Gallas vs Vidic: Gallas. Much more experience, much more accomplishement as a footballer.
Clichy vs Evra: Clichy. By a country mile.
Rosicky vs Giggs: Answer 4 years ago would have been Giggs by a lunar mile. Today it is Rosicky by a Mancunian mile.
Scholes vs Cesc: Tough one. In the end I’ll take a rapidly improving 20 year old who is already good enough to be compared to Scholes over old man Scholes who has 1 or 2 good seasons left. On current form (last 3 seasons Cesc has been a much better player)
Gilberto vs Hargrieves: Gilberto of course. A regular for Brazil, World Cup winner, great fighter, leader. Gilberto takes this one.
Hleb vs Ronaldo: Here we get to the one Man U player that can make the Arsenal team with no contest. Ronaldo.
Rooney vs RVP: Van Persie. A much more exciting player. Much more accomplished in football. A better record as a goalscorer.
Adebayor vs Saha: Adebayor on current form. Saha otherwise.
(On Sep 11th, 2007 at 3:05 pm)
It is so funny reading what you gooners have to say!
I wonder if Scholes, Hargreaves, Neville and even Rooney (who is not up to RVP’s level by Gunners’ standards) were playing for the Arse and Cesc and co were playing for the Champs, would you still select Cesc and RVP over our guys? I doubt it…highly doubt it!
Well written ISpy!
(On Sep 11th, 2007 at 11:15 pm)
listen, u manchester united gumps first off none of u can even argue that arsenal is the most entertaining side in england. Yes van der sar is a better goalie than jens and he’s proved it as for the defence gary neville is nothing but an average rite back but on the other hand sagna looks the business he’s strong as shit nd like all arsenal players fast as shit. for center baks theres no person who knows shit bout football that will tell u that rio is better than kholo, rio is english so of course he’s real good (not quite) vidic is good in the air but apart from that is he really good not as good as gallas for a fact. Clichy is definately been better than evra this season but i would say cause of experience ill give it to evra. Midfield Ronaldo is easily the best winger but rosicky isnt far off so i would say Rosicky one side and CR on the other in the middle cesc is easily the best and i would have to Owen hargraeves with him. Scholes WAS a better player than cesc but not nymore gilberto is more experienced than hargraeves but does not have an engine like his. Rooney has been a dissapointment and i dont care wat any Man u fan says after that Euro england thought they had a zidane not really he’s class but incosistent nd does not score enough, RVP is not no thierry but he’s class himself hasnt really started that good for arsenal this season although pre-season he was killin it nd dont forget he was top scorer last season for arsenal which isnt easy when henry is around. Tevez which noone seems to talk about maybe the best striker between both teams u idiots are jus lookin at 5 games tevez is definately more talented than rooney but rooney is english dont forget so in conclusion i would say that arsenal have a better team on paper but i hope they can stay consistent and try to not over due things although thats how we roll cause were beast like that im out bitches
(On Sep 11th, 2007 at 3:55 pm)
Another essay that simply says the Arse are better than the champs…with no real evidence, or league to show for it.
However, I agree with you in that Tevez will show his class so will Nani and Anderson not to mention Wes, Carrick and (I cant believe I’m saying it) Silvestre. Any one of those guys can come in and do a great job…Just ask Viera about Fletcher :D
And to dismiss Rooney like that?? Common! His mere presence on the pitch transforms any team, let alone his brilliance!
Although, I wonder how strong is Sanga if he’s as strong as shit? He’s a good player IMHO.
It is not that hard really…just admit that we’re the better team. After all, we’re the champs and you’re not.
(On Sep 11th, 2007 at 7:34 pm)
It’s simple, really. Man United are dependent on Rooney. Totally. 100%. They have no pace, no depth, no fluidity, no shape without Rooney. He’s a bulldog. Man United are toothless without him. They can’t create chances. They stroll around the pitch, passing the bal laterally time and time again. Scholes is desperate without Rooney, who asks for the ball all the time. It’s the same with Chelsea, really. They are completely dependent on Lampard’s infiltrations and support. They don’t pose a danger without him.
Yeah, you’ve beaten Sunderland 1-0. At home. Phenomenal. Yes, you’ve beaten Tottenham, who hit the bar 20 seconds into the game and should’ve had a clear penalty - and I’m an Arsenal fan.
So, who’s the better team? The team that has transformed into a fighting, rugged side and has kept all of its technical and creative verve after the departure of an eight-year talisman, or the team which has bought £50 million of kids and is totally dependent on a 21-year old Englishman?
(On Sep 11th, 2007 at 2:52 am)
the better team is the team with the league title :D
(On Sep 11th, 2007 at 12:47 pm)
lets not get it twisted man u are the champs and deservd to be last season. Arsenal have not had the consistency that Manchester has had in the past two but on our day we are some force. Manchester know all about that as we did the double on them last year not to mention we outplayed them in old trafford. If u want to hear that manchester is better than im sorry but ur not gonna hear that arsenal has been in the transitioning stage for the last 2 seasons. LPool and Arsenal have lacked in consistency although our squad is just as good as anyone elses. Manchester are the champs and are a good team but dont tell me that Fletcher is quality cause he is nothing but a average player if that. I dont even have to use one of our starter denilson and Diaby would destroy that kid.