So, after 9 years loyal service, Mr Frederik Ljungberg was finally shown the door this week. And shown the door he was. His bleatings of 'broken promises' and a 'lack of investment' are exactly the type of spiel you hear from players who've just been dumped. Essentially, 'well, I would have left anyway, because you're rubbish now'. No Freddie, if Arsene hadn't let you go, you would have stayed, quietly cashed your enormous wages, and rolled on the floor feigning injury for another two years.
And Arsene was absolutely right to sell him. £3million in the bank and £60k of the wage cap is no small chunk of change. Moreover, Freddie has been, on average, rubbish for the last two seasons.
Ok, we had the battling champions league performances as he marauded between the midfield and attack; ok, we had the wonderful goal against Bolton last season. And Ok, don't get me wrong Freddie is a complete legend. His goals against Liverpool away in 2001-2 and in the cup final against Chelsea are two of the most thrilling moments of my Arsenal watching career, instances which make fans believe that a team is on the cusp of greatness and silverware.
But, the simple facts don't lie. He didn't score in the league last season; he mustered less than 5 goals in the previous season. With Dennis gone, and his pace waning, Freddie was a spent force. A Giggs-esque revival was most definitely not on the cards. It was his time to go; the glue-factory awaited.
Much of the analysis regarding Freddie's transfer has,wrongly or rightly, focused on the end of The Invincibles. And whilst of that glorious 2004 side, only Kolo, Jens, Clichy and Gilberto remain, Arsene has been right to dismantle it.
Vieira and Henry had peaked at the club. They were either coasting or had already given their best years to us. Arsene was right to cash in.
Edu and Cole might have been kept if contracts had been better dealt with. However, this was not Arsene's fault, and, especially in Cole's case, he was presented with a near fait accompli regarding their departure.
Dennis retired; Bobby and Lauren were past it; Sol had mentally lost his way.
Arsene has been right to let these players leave. The invincibles of 2004 are dead. Let's move on.
Yet whilst Arsene can't be faulted for purging this collection of players from the club, he needs to strengthen the squad. At present, we have an exciting crop of talent. Yet more bodies are needed. One, if not two wingers need to come in. Players over the age of 23 need to bring their experience to the team. Our squad, as it stands, is one of the thinnest I can remember, positively anorexic in appearance. It's one or two injuries away from a crisis, especially given the propensity of some of our players to pick up niggles or worse.
So the departure of Freddie continues the destruction of the greatest Arsenal team ever constructed thusfar. Arsene has been correct to remove the deadweight; but he needs to add some new Invincibles. Fast.
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16 comments:
Do I detect a change of heart?
Get behind them at any cost?
If so I agree 100%.
I'm just sick of the morbidity.
Players age, and get over the hill. We need to look to the future, and hope Arsene can replace the class of 2004.
Angel hopes to wing his way to Arsenal
26/07/2007 - 23:24:59
Recently-crowned Argentina World Cup Under-20 winner Angel Di Maria claims negotiations with English Premier League club Arsenal are going well.
The 19-year-old midfielder claimed that his club Rosario Central was also keen on striking a deal with the London club.
Di Maria said: “They (Arsenal) were speaking with me and all is going well, not only on personal terms but also the talks with Rosario Central.
“It would be great, especially if it benefits my family and Rosario Central. I would like that all to be resolved as soon as possible because the Argentinian season begins in two weeks.”
Agree it all seems a bit lightweight at the moment, I think we need another year and a couple of additions before we are cooking on gas. I am prepared to wait, unlike others. It's an age thing.
Only fools live in the past.
This is a new era in football, where money is the main priority to players, the freddie's of this world loved and was loyal to their clubs for years, and definitley freddie Ljungberg would be hurt by your comments as would the other players you mentioned.
In my view, you are more disloyal to yur team and team of your past, a true supporter would never be disloyal, Freddie mainly left the club because feels the change going on, and maybe with henry leaving, thought it may be time to be loyal and move on too, to let new players in.
Im a hammers fan, we will show ljungberg loyalty, and he will become a Hammers hero, But he will always be an Arsenal player, and we understand that.
Shame on you.
There's a difference between being disloyal to the players of your past and wanting the best for your club.
Freddie is a legend, but it was time for him to leave. Even he accepted that. I was hurt about the -erroneous- comments he made at his leaving press conference about the club.
Freddie didn't decide to move on benevolently: he was booted out by Arsene and taken by West Ham as the y promised to pay him shedloads of cash. That's modern footballing loyalty for you.
Source, anon?
We've been through these hoaxes before.
Pretty sure it's this:
Angel hopes to wing his way to Arsenal
Ireland On-Line
23:27 26-Jul-07
Out with the old, in with the new.
I think you need to put character limits on comments Goonerboy ;).
I don't know how! What the hell was that about? Chapters of Spanish history?!?
1954: Three continents see eclipse of sun
Millions of people have witnessed a total eclipse of the sun as the moon cast its shadow from America through Europe and on to Asia.
For people in Britain it was the first time they could see this natural phenomenon since 1927.
From Greenwich to Glasgow, thousands of skywatchers using smoked glass or overexposed film could see at least 75% of the sun obscured.
But the view from the most northerly island of Britain - the Shetland isle of Unst, and the only point of totality in Britain - was largely obscured by cloud and drizzle.
When the sun was totally eclipsed by the moon, the skies turned dark for a few seconds, the temperature dropped and birds flew back to their nests.
There will not be another total eclipse visible from Britain until August 1999.
Shadow across the world
The shadow was first spotted in Nebraska, North America, at 1208 BST today. It then passed over Labrador and across the Atlantic at a speed of about 1,800 mph (2,897 km/h).
The eclipse was seen in Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.
In India, 400,000 Hindu pilgrims bathed in holy water at Kurukhestan in the Punjab. They believe that the eclipse is caused by two gods, Rahu and Ketu, trying to swallow the Sun and Moon.
The longest duration of totality was two minutes 35 seconds.
In Sweden about 400 scientists from all over the world gathered to observe the eclipse which cast an 80-mile (128-km) shadow across the country.
It is hoped data from observing the corona - the outer atmosphere of the sun, that is highlighted by such an eclipse - will teach us more about the shape of the Earth, positions of the moon and the rays of the sun.
1954: Three continents see eclipse of sun
Millions of people have witnessed a total eclipse of the sun as the moon cast its shadow from America through Europe and on to Asia.
For people in Britain it was the first time they could see this natural phenomenon since 1927.
From Greenwich to Glasgow, thousands of skywatchers using smoked glass or overexposed film could see at least 75% of the sun obscured.
But the view from the most northerly island of Britain - the Shetland isle of Unst, and the only point of totality in Britain - was largely obscured by cloud and drizzle.
When the sun was totally eclipsed by the moon, the skies turned dark for a few seconds, the temperature dropped and birds flew back to their nests.
There will not be another total eclipse visible from Britain until August 1999.
Shadow across the world
The shadow was first spotted in Nebraska, North America, at 1208 BST today. It then passed over Labrador and across the Atlantic at a speed of about 1,800 mph (2,897 km/h).
The eclipse was seen in Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.
In India, 400,000 Hindu pilgrims bathed in holy water at Kurukhestan in the Punjab. They believe that the eclipse is caused by two gods, Rahu and Ketu, trying to swallow the Sun and Moon.
The longest duration of totality was two minutes 35 seconds.
In Sweden about 400 scientists from all over the world gathered to observe the eclipse which cast an 80-mile (128-km) shadow across the country.
It is hoped data from observing the corona - the outer atmosphere of the sun, that is highlighted by such an eclipse - will teach us more about the shape of the Earth, positions of the moon and the rays of the sun.
1954: Three continents see eclipse of sun
Millions of people have witnessed a total eclipse of the sun as the moon cast its shadow from America through Europe and on to Asia.
For people in Britain it was the first time they could see this natural phenomenon since 1927.
From Greenwich to Glasgow, thousands of skywatchers using smoked glass or overexposed film could see at least 75% of the sun obscured.
But the view from the most northerly island of Britain - the Shetland isle of Unst, and the only point of totality in Britain - was largely obscured by cloud and drizzle.
When the sun was totally eclipsed by the moon, the skies turned dark for a few seconds, the temperature dropped and birds flew back to their nests.
There will not be another total eclipse visible from Britain until August 1999.
Shadow across the world
The shadow was first spotted in Nebraska, North America, at 1208 BST today. It then passed over Labrador and across the Atlantic at a speed of about 1,800 mph (2,897 km/h).
The eclipse was seen in Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.
In India, 400,000 Hindu pilgrims bathed in holy water at Kurukhestan in the Punjab. They believe that the eclipse is caused by two gods, Rahu and Ketu, trying to swallow the Sun and Moon.
The longest duration of totality was two minutes 35 seconds.
In Sweden about 400 scientists from all over the world gathered to observe the eclipse which cast an 80-mile (128-km) shadow across the country.
It is hoped data from observing the corona - the outer atmosphere of the sun, that is highlighted by such an eclipse - will teach us more about the shape of the Earth, positions of the moon and the rays of the sun.
1954: Three continents see eclipse of sun
Millions of people have witnessed a total eclipse of the sun as the moon cast its shadow from America through Europe and on to Asia.
For people in Britain it was the first time they could see this natural phenomenon since 1927.
From Greenwich to Glasgow, thousands of skywatchers using smoked glass or overexposed film could see at least 75% of the sun obscured.
But the view from the most northerly island of Britain - the Shetland isle of Unst, and the only point of totality in Britain - was largely obscured by cloud and drizzle.
When the sun was totally eclipsed by the moon, the skies turned dark for a few seconds, the temperature dropped and birds flew back to their nests.
There will not be another total eclipse visible from Britain until August 1999.
Shadow across the world
The shadow was first spotted in Nebraska, North America, at 1208 BST today. It then passed over Labrador and across the Atlantic at a speed of about 1,800 mph (2,897 km/h).
The eclipse was seen in Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.
In India, 400,000 Hindu pilgrims bathed in holy water at Kurukhestan in the Punjab. They believe that the eclipse is caused by two gods, Rahu and Ketu, trying to swallow the Sun and Moon.
The longest duration of totality was two minutes 35 seconds.
In Sweden about 400 scientists from all over the world gathered to observe the eclipse which cast an 80-mile (128-km) shadow across the country.
It is hoped data from observing the corona - the outer atmosphere of the sun, that is highlighted by such an eclipse - will teach us more about the shape of the Earth, positions of the moon and the rays of the sun.
1954: Three continents see eclipse of sun
Millions of people have witnessed a total eclipse of the sun as the moon cast its shadow from America through Europe and on to Asia.
For people in Britain it was the first time they could see this natural phenomenon since 1927.
From Greenwich to Glasgow, thousands of skywatchers using smoked glass or overexposed film could see at least 75% of the sun obscured.
But the view from the most northerly island of Britain - the Shetland isle of Unst, and the only point of totality in Britain - was largely obscured by cloud and drizzle.
When the sun was totally eclipsed by the moon, the skies turned dark for a few seconds, the temperature dropped and birds flew back to their nests.
There will not be another total eclipse visible from Britain until August 1999.
Shadow across the world
The shadow was first spotted in Nebraska, North America, at 1208 BST today. It then passed over Labrador and across the Atlantic at a speed of about 1,800 mph (2,897 km/h).
The eclipse was seen in Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Belarus, Ukraine, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.
In India, 400,000 Hindu pilgrims bathed in holy water at Kurukhestan in the Punjab. They believe that the eclipse is caused by two gods, Rahu and Ketu, trying to swallow the Sun and Moon.
The longest duration of totality was two minutes 35 seconds.
In Sweden about 400 scientists from all over the world gathered to observe the eclipse which cast an 80-mile (128-km) shadow across the country.
It is hoped data from observing the corona - the outer atmosphere of the sun, that is highlighted by such an eclipse - will teach us more about the shape of the Earth, positions of the moon and the rays of the sun.des
Man i totally agree, it was time for freddie to go. There was a time when i thought he was one of the most under-rated mids ever...haha not anymore, true he was great and i rate he'll be legend but his comments wer totally uncalled for... thats just sour milk
oh wats up with the huge eclipse message??
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