Tag Archive for Champions League

Arsène Arsenal’s Greatest Ever Manager?

May 11, 2013 Arsenal 5 comments

Many things got me thinking about what makes someone worthy of the title “the greatest ever” and I guess there is some irony that I had this post all planned out in my head days before Sir Alex Ferguson announced his retirement.

I don’t want to dwell on his retirement and I know quite a few readers will be offended by my use of Sir as most of us prefer Slur Ferguson or just plain good old Rednose however I think it would be foolish not to recognise his achievements and respect him for what he is because had things been different and the Arsenal board willing to wait until after the World Cup in Mexico Ferguson may well have been our manager for the past 27 years and I’m sure very few would complain if we’d had their level of sustained success.

Ferguson is already hailed as the greatest ever manager in premier league history and will probably remain so and may even be hailed as the greatest ever manager in English football history and it is this word “great” that got me thinking. Read more

CAM Role Beckons Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain?

May 1, 2013 Arsenal, Guest Bloggers 10 comments

Today on NLIR I am pleased to introduce a new guest blogger Manas Saraswat (@ManasAFC) . Manas is an Engineering student from Delhi and has a deep love for everything Arsenal. Take it away Manas…..

Much has been made about Arsenal’s midfield this season. From general team balance, tactics and player positions we have seen a lot of different things being tried as Arsène Wenger tries to accommodate his players and build a solid squad capable of playing his brand of elegant and easy-on-the-eye football. If the last few weeks are any indication then we have finally recaptured that balance, mainly in midfield which has been the reason for our improved defensive solidarity over the last 10 games.

But as much as I’d like to dissect and analyse the mechanics of the Arsenal midfield, I’m not here to talk about tactics and formations as I’m sure you’ve read about a lot already. I’m here to talk about a player, whose improvement in recent weeks has gone rather unnoticed by many, to discuss his role in the team and the impact he’s had recently and also a possible relocation in the squad to where he might be a better fit. In recent weeks there have been suggestions from fans that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain might be better suited as playing in an attacking midfielder role in the centre of midfield and I am of a similar opinion. Read more

Update For RvP – Parody

April 27, 2013 Arsenal 4 comments

This is an update for Robin van Persie about our current situation. We have kept quiet all this time out of respect and loyalty for the club and as agreed with Mr. Wenger, but since there is so much speculation in the media, we think it is fair for you to know what’s really going on at the moment.

As announced earlier this week, your new club have won the league title which is what you claimed you left Arsenal for.  As is customary you and your new club are due a guard of honour at the Emirates this weekend. Mr. Wenger has called for respect and this was discussed at a recent Arsenal supporters meeting. Wishing you well and respecting your achievement was not discussed, since that is not our priority at all.

You personally have had a great season but our goal has been to win trophies with a loyal team and to bring the club back to its glory days. Out of our huge respect for Mr. Wenger, the players and the club we don’t want to go into any details, but unfortunately in this meeting it has again become clear to us that we in many aspects disagree on the way your despicable, conniving, disloyal, snide face should be received at the Emirates this weekend.

We’ve thought long and hard about it, but have decided not to extend our respect or guard of honour to you, just you. You Robin, the asshat, have of course the right to disagree with our views and decisions and we will always treat you with the same contempt and petulance that the little boy inside you treated us with. Read more

Wenger Still Has Fire In His Belly

April 25, 2013 Arsenal, Guest Bloggers 14 comments

On NLIR today I am delighted to welcome Martijn Stolze (@hahostolze) . Martijn is a Dutch history student with a love for Britain and has been a Gooner since 1997. Martijn has written an extremely emotive piece and I’m sure you’re going to love it. Grab a beverage and strap in for an epic ride.Take it away Martijn…..

You can’t blame Arsène Wenger if over the last two or three seasons he has looked glum, burnt out and tired. You can’t blame him if he has felt despondent and absolutely lost. This is a man whose love for Arsenal FC is absolute and unequivocal.  But also a man who has seen his hard work, on one of his finest generations, fail and falter at the last hurdle too many times, and seen the lure of money and glory rip apart the teams he set about to mould in his image. A man who was on par with the greatest manager in PL history when the influx of money set the PL alight. Yet during recent weeks Arsène Wenger seems a man repossessed. The fire in his belly that drove his incessant desire for perfection, for better, for prettier, seems to be roaring at its fullest again. And just when we needed it.

Very few things are as harsh on a person as their position in history. In the last few days the glory of Sir Alex Ferguson has been sung by all those who love him, need to suck up to him or those who respect the man’s achievements. Looking through the Guardian’s review of the titles he won it makes it very obvious that the only man who consistently got close to his all conquering teams was Arsène Wenger. But Arsène Wenger is not a man en vogue today. He is not popular. His legacy isn’t being remembered the way it should. Not even with some of the fans of the club he has helped into one of the biggest and most valuable in footballing history. That has got to sting. I know it stings me. Read more

Why Ramsey Is My Player Of The Season

April 23, 2013 Arsenal, Guest Bloggers 63 comments

Today I welcome a man who blogs for NLIR almost as much as I do. I’m delighted to have him and you’re going to love his writing, put your proverbial hands together for Mr Billy Dunmore (@EducatedGooner)  Take it away Billy…..

The subject of Aaron Ramsey has been blogged to death this year, but I felt unashamedly compelled to justify why I think that the young Welshman deserves the title of Arsenal’s player of the season. I expect many will disagree, many may even disregard this view, but I hope that some readers will appreciate where I’m coming from, whether they end up agreeing or not…

Firstly, I’d like to state that within the constraints of conventional parameters with which we measure how well a player has performed throughout the season, I understand why most fans will most likely opt to choose a player such as Santi Cazorla. I won’t attempt to argue against Santi as the probable popular choice for our player of the season, but rather I will put forward the reasons why Ramsey will almost definitely be my choice. At the end of the day, the way you judge my opinion is up to you, but I respectfully ask that you read on with an open mind and don’t assume that I am blind to the achievements and performances of other players in the squad, because I’m not. Read more

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