Our Defences Needs Sorting : Arsene Wenger

“It was a game we should have won but we paid for some lapses in concentration," opined Wenger of Arsenal's 2-1 defeat to Chelsea.

Long-Ball Chelsea

"It is difficult to swallow because we played quite well and were in control of the game. What was left to Chelsea was to play long balls and we did not deal well enough with it.
"The spirit was right and the mentality was fantastic. But we have some defensive problems which we need to sort out.”

Worst Form

The run of four points from five games is Arsenal's worst in nine years. And Wenger admitted that this has all played into the hands of Manchester United.

Five points off the pace several weeks ago, the Red Devils are now five points clear of second-placed Chelsea and six ahead of Arsenal. "The happiest man will be Alex Ferguson - this is a big setback for us," said Wenger. "When you add the four games we drew and this loss, we just have to come back and win games before we can dream of the title.”

What Is Happing To Arsenal

Arsenal fans tend to listen when Arsene Wenger speaks. Most recently, he said, "I feel the team fights, we came back again against ‘Boro and this team will fight until the end."

But for many, even the words of their esteemed manager will sound less than re-assuring when one analyses the fact that, barring Arsenal’s fantastic victory in the Champions League against AC Milan, there has been a real downturn in Arsenal’s results as of late.

Never mind that this run of games has seen the Gunners contrive to draw their last four Premiership games, in the process seeing a five point lead over Manchester United evaporate in to thin air. A more worrying prospect for the Arsenal fans will be the form their team is exhibiting as they enter the ‘business end’ of the season, with the team's next five fixtures undoubtedly determining whether the Gunners' three-season wait for a trophy is going to come to an end, or is to extend in agonising fashion.

The scale of the task facing the out-of-sorts Gunners over the next few weeks reads is massive. It starts next Sunday away to the team breathing down their necks in the table, Chelsea, followed by a long trip up North to face bogey team Bolton Wanderers, and then the first of three consecutive games against Liverpool, of which two Champions League Quarter Final games bookend Rafa Benitez’s side travelling to the Emirates for a vital league encounter.

Whilst this run of fixtures would unnerve even the most brazen of Arsenal supporters, the fact that there are worrying echoes of the Gunners' progress last season would seem to only exacerbate the anxiety of the Emirates faithful.

For it was at a similar stage last season when in the space of a few games Arsenal managed to crash out of the Champions League to PSV Eindhoven, a Benni McCarthy thunderbolt sent them out of the FA Cup, Chelsea beat them in the Carling Cup final, and consecutive away day defeats to Everton and Liverpool put the final nail in the coffin of their Premiership challenge for the season.

Whilst the stunning performance of Wenger’s men at the San Siro against AC Milan stands as an example of how Arsenal can equip themselves in a style befitting any title winning team, when one watches the type of displays put in by the Arsenal players in the league in recent weeks then the alarm bells should be ringing loud and clear.

Gone, it would seem, is the breathtaking fluidity that delighted all that had the pleasure to watch Arsenal play, with shining lights such as Cesc Fàbregas and Emmanuel Adebayor on league form alone looking like jaded imitations of the players that started the season in such exciting style.

Furthermore, the injuries to Eduardo da Silva and Tomáš Rosický have seemed to really set the Gunners back, with Arsenal’s trophy push being seriously derailed from the moment that the promising partnership that was developing between Emmanuel Adebayor and Eduardo Da Silva was broken up so horrifically against Birmingham City.

Uncharacteristic mistakes have also begun to creep in, with a case in point being left back Gael Clichy who by twice criminally dawdling in the penalty box against Manchester City and Birmingham City cost the team goals. There was also his last minute infraction against Birmingham City leading to yet another draw, and of course the embarrassing on-pitch implosion of captain William Gallas.

These types of displays would seem to point to the undeniable fact that this youthful Arsenal team are starting to tire at the most vital stage of the season. The cumulative fatigue exhibited by Arsenal contrasts vividly to that of their rivals Manchester United and Chelsea, who are able to boast squads of much more depth.

For example, players of the calibre of Michael Essien, Florent Malouda and Didier Drogba have found themselves on the bench in recent weeks for Chelsea, but the teams winning ways have prevailed.

With regards to Manchester United, the contrast between their squad strength and that of Arsenal’s was displayed in unequivocal fashion in the F.A Cup meeting between the two sides where both managers decided to rest key players. However, the Red Devils' second string simply annihilated their North London counterparts, knocking Arsenal out of the F.A. Cup, and in the process inflicting a 4-0 defeat that would have undoubtedly pleased Sir Alex Ferguson.

Chelsea and Manchester United have also been able to win regularly when not playing anywhere near their maximum. This has not been the case as often for Arsenal, with a review of this weekend’s Premiership fixtures seeing Chelsea and Manchester United winning away to Sunderland and Derby County when playing nowhere near their best, whilst Arsenal dropped two potentially vital points at home to Middlesbrough.

This ability to claim all three points whilst performing well below your previous high standards is a key component of any title push. Arsenal must begin to exhibit this monotonous ability to win to significantly increase their chances of holding aloft the Premiership crown come May.

However , regardless of the poor Premiership form that Arsenal have exhibited in recent weeks, it would be incredibly churlish to write off any team that can boast players of the calibre of Kolo Touré, Cesc Fàbregas, Emmanuel Adebayor et al. when it comes to deciding who will be collecting the silverware on offer come seasons end.

It is not like Arsenal have stopped creating chances over the last few weeks, and supporters will point to dubious refereeing decisions such as Emmanuel Adebayor’s disallowed goal against Middlesbrough and the highly debatable penalty given against Birmingham City as more pertinent reasons for the side’s downturn in results.

Indeed, this Sunday’s visit to Stamford Bridge could provide the team with the perfect opportunity to correct the team’s disappointing results, and get the club’s Premiership title challenge back on track in the most dramatic of fashions.

Cesc: To Beat Kaka Would Be Fab

Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas spoke about the Milan game, and what it would mean to him if they were to beat Milan. He also stated that he wants to spend the rest of his career at the North London club.

Very Happy Here

Speaking in an exclusive interview with CNN, the Spanish international revealed that he has not yet entered discussions about extending his contract beyond its current expiry date but will only leave if he is no longer wanted at the club.

"I am very happy, everything is going well, I have got friends in the club," said the 20-year-old .
"I like the life and I am comfortable with the fans. If they don't want me here, then of course I would like to go back to Spain.

"But if the club wants me and the boss thinks I still can give a lot to the club, then I will stay here. I will be here for as long as they want me."

Wenger Ties Me To Arsenal

Fabregas, who was snatched from Barcelona's youth program in 2003, also said that manager Arsene Wenger was one of the main reasons for him wanting to stay.

"He has an eye to catch young players that he wants in the future, and that is something special," said Fabregas. "I have always been grateful for what he has done for me, what he has done for the club and I feel very lucky to be working under him."

Football Faster Than In Spain

In addition to this, he also highlighted the atmospheres of Premier League stadiums and the fast, attacking nature of the football as crucial factors in his love of the English game.

"Whenever you watch a football game here you can see the passion," he said.
"Even if the two lowest teams in the league are playing you can feel the passion. They always try to go forward, even if the game maybe technically is not the best you can feel they go to win.
"In Spain everything is slower and sometimes it takes 20 minutes to see something happen. But of course technically the Spanish league is very, very good."

Title Challenge

As for the Premier League title, Fabregas sounded a note of caution.
"We have to try to play nice football - not beautiful football, but football that really enables us to win. The fans believe in us and we are quite confident we can do it, but there is still a long way to go."

Beating Kaka And Pirlo Would Be Special

Inevitably, also spoke about this week's Champions League clash against holders AC Milan.
"We are all looking forward to it because it will be a very difficult game," he admitted.
"Everybody says they are not doing well in the league, but this kind of team can kill you in one second. They have massive players like Kaka and Andrea Pirlo - we have to be careful, but I still think we have a good chance."

"To beat a team that contains Kaka and Pirlo would be special for me," he continued.
"They are two of the best players in the world. We must pay close attention to them as they can hurt us. It’s important to cancel them out. If we do this, Milan will have problems.”

Kaka Looks Foward To "Beautiful" Game Against Arsenal

The contest pits the Milanese old guard against Arsene Wenger’s young guns. Kaka, whose real name is Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite, recognises that Arsenal will offer a stern test of Milan’s credentials. Nevertheless, he backs the Rossoneri to dump the English side out of the competition and add to the club’s seven European triumphs.

"People have called this tie against Arsenal a match between an ageing team and a new young, up-and-coming side,” the reigning Fifa world player of the year said. “It is a fair comparison, because the average age in the first team here in Milan is 32, but that doesn't mean we'll struggle against them. Experience counts for everything at this stage of the Champions League.”

“This is a game we can enjoy. It can be beautiful.”

Despite Milan’s determination to succeed, Kaka does not underestimate the threat posed by Wenger’s team. Arsenal enjoy a five point lead in the Premiership over closest rivals Manchester United. However, the Gunners crashed out of the English FA Cup 4 –0 last Saturday against United. Many observers believe the Gunners boss decision not to play his strongest team showed that he had given priority to the match against the 2007 Champions League winners.

"This tie against Arsenal will be open and more interesting than if Milan had been drawn against Liverpool or Chelsea, teams that play more in the traditional English style," Kaka conceded. “They play football the way we like it to see it in Brazil, with style, changing position all the time, moving the ball among themselves so quickly.

“They have won Premier League titles, they were in the Champions League final a few years ago and they have real quality."

Wednesday’s Champions League match is seen as crucial to the Milan team which has not hit its best form this season and lies 21 points behind city rivals Internazionale in Serie A. Kaka sees the Champions League game as a chance for Milan to ignite their season.

"We were inconsistent in the first half of the season," said Kaka. "But we have recovered since the turn of the year and have lost only once in Italy since then, even if the top is still a long way off.

“That means the Champions League is the most important competition we're in - win that and your names are etched down in history, far more so than if you win the domestic league. We are too far behind in Serie A, so the priority is completely to win the Champions League again."

Del Piero Delighted,Palladino Going To Arsenal?

Alessandro Del Piero was delighted with Juventus’ comeback win against Udinese yesterday afternoon, but Raffaele Palladino is not so happy and could be on his way to Arsenal in the summer.

Things were not looking good for the Old Lady as they trailed 1-0 at the Stadio Friuli after a first half completely dominated by the home side.

Juve were much improved though after the break and goals from Mauro Camoranesi and Vincenzo Iaquinta earned them a crucial 2-1 victory.

“We got a very important win against an excellent Udinese side who showed why they are having such a good campaign by taking a first-half lead,” Del Piero stated on his personal website.

“But in the second period we reacted in a way that enabled us to take control of the game.

“We chased down every ball and put pressure on them with a more aggressive approach. In the end we got two very good goals that allowed us to take all three points.

Del Piero’s team-mate Raffaele Palladino is not so happy as he was granted just 20 minutes as a substitute.

The Neapolitan would have been expecting to start the match after a superb performance for Italy in the midweek friendly win over Portugal.

Palladino has been complaining about his lack of action and for having to play out of position, and even hinted of a summer exit.
This possibility is growing as reports are strengthening that Arsenal are set to launch a summer bid for the star.

Gunners manager Arsene Wenger is a huge admirer of the 23-year-old and has attempted unsuccessfully to sign him in the past.

Premiership Between Top Three According To Wenger

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes that the Premiership title will be decided by the head-to-head played between the current top-three.

Arsenal earned themselves a narrow gap at the top of the table on the strength of last weekend's resilts, and now find themselves two points above Manchester United and six points ahead of Chelsea. Considering that the nearest challengers after that are a full 16 points back, it is no controversy that Wenger effectively ruled out the Liverpool sides by way of his analysis.

"The mental aspect of the game will be important but so will the direct confrontations," said Wenger through the club's official website. "They have a major part to play.

"I don't rule out Chelsea because they have to play at home against Man United and Arsenal.

"They have already put wins together when they have had players out. I don't think we can rule them out, it will be amongst these three."

All three teams still have to play each other again before the end of the season, with he next potential title-decider will take place on March 23, when Wenger's Arsenal travel to take on London rivals Chelsea

Wenger: Becks Still Had It In Training

Arsene Wenger admitted he was 'amazed by how good' David Beckham was during his recent month-long training stint with Arsenal.

The Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder spent four weeks with the Gunners in a bid to retain his fitness following the conclusion of the Major League Soccer season.


The 32-year-old has not played a competitive game since England's defeat against Croatia in November but was determined to prove his fitness to Fabio Capello as he prepared to name his first squad as national team manager for next week's game with Switzerland.


However, Beckham was the headline omission from the England squad with Capello citing the former national team skipper's lack of match fitness as he sought to win his 100th cap.


Wenger, though, admitted he had been very impressed by the former Real Madrid and Manchester United player.


He told Arsenal TV Online: 'He worked with us for four weeks.


'We gave him the first two weeks exclusively on fitness work with (fitness coach) Tony Colbert.


'After (that) he was with us in and out but in the third week he was a lot with us


'And we were all amazed how good he was.'


The Arsenal manager also believes that because Beckham is so important for England that he will return to win his century of caps.


'I believe the English national team still needs Beckham because he can still make decisions and his experience will be needed in the big games and that is why I am sure he will get his 100th cap.'


Wenger also paid tribute to the fight and resilience Beckham has shown throughout his career and which convinces the Gunners chief he will return to the England team.


He continued: 'First of all Capello picks on the performances - that is what I rate and what I pick is right.


'I believe that what is in Beckham's mind is that I would like to get the 100th cap on performance and on merit not on sentiment.


'Having worked with Beckham here I must say one thing. He has worked extremely hard, that this guy will not give up and will continue to fight.


'The second thing I believe as well is that it would be unfair to Beckham to give Beckham the 100th cap just because you have done well, let's give you one.


'This guy deserves a lot of credit, every day he was first out, last in and give him competitive games with LA Galaxy and he will fight for his 100th cap.'

FA CUP UPDATE : Arsenal 3 Vs Newcastle 0

Normal service has been resumed.

While this straightforward victory over Newcastle in the FA Cup Fourth Round may not obliterate the memory of that 5-1 beating at Tottenham in midweek, it will at least help Arsène Wenger's side settle into their old and familiar winning groove.

Newcastle arrived at Emirates Stadium with ambition, determined to take advantage of any Carling Cup hangover. Their industrious game-plan worked to an extent and this lively tie was well-balanced until Emmanuel Adebayor rifled home the opening goal five minutes into the second period.

But after that Arsenal took over and the Togolese frontman secured a berth in the Fifth Round with a second seven minutes from time. Then, just before the end, Nicky Butt touched Cesc Fabregas' free-kick into his own net.

The scoreline was harsh on Newcastle who played a full part in proceedings.
But, at full time, the home side's now traditional huddle was back in evidence ­as was Arsenal's efficiency.

Wenger's men move onwards and upwards ­ not only in the FA Cup but from Tuesday night.

The manager retained four players from midweek ­ Abou Diaby, Justin Hoyte, Theo Walcott and Willaim Gallas. Philippe Senderos returned at centre back, Mathieu Flamini and Fabregas were restored to central midfield with Tomas Rosicky on the left while Emmanuel Adebayor was back up front. Jens Lehmann took over the No 1 spot at the expense of Lukasz Fabianski.

Well that is the way Arsenal started anyway. Within 10 minutes Rosicky was forced off with an injury and Eduardo came on. The Croatian joined Adebayor up front and Walcott dropped to the right flank.

It was a not massive change. The game had barely settled down. Newcastle had caused slight consternation from a corner and the stretching Fabregas had nearly touched Gael Clichy's chipped through-ball past Shay Given. But that was about it. Still, there was drive and ambition in abundance from both sides.

Keegan's return had not been triumphant last weekend against Bolton. Gary Megson's underrated outfit had held them to drab goalless draw at St James' Park. Today they were much more vibrant.

In the 14th minute, Charles N'Zogbia's run won a corner. He took it himself and Alan Smith's first time shot was headed off the line by Gael Clichy. A couple of minutes later Stephen Carr and Smith combined on the right only for the resulting cross to flash across the area with Michael Owen in close attendance.

The game was starting to sparkle. Clichy's shot was batted away by Given and then Diaby cracked an effort well wide.

In the 23rd minute, Diaby's attempted pass was half-blocked. The bounce fooled Steven Taylor and Eduardo pounced to lash a shot goalwards. Given saved spectacularly. In the minutes that followed the Irishman made a more mundane save and an unmarked Eduardo miscued his header at the near post.

Arsenal's response had been heartening and it was shaping up to be a wonderful FA Cup tie. While Havant & Waterlooville were doing their best to play out the classic David and Goliath scenario this was more like Clash of the Titans.

On the half-hour, Fabregas cleverly sent Walcott through on the right of the area but the winger's teasing cross trickled unconverted across the face of goal.

Duff's tenacity won a corner at the other end as Newcastle threatened once more but Arsenal's response saw Adebayor nudge a header just wide. It was end-to-end stuff.

However as the game neared half time, the visitors' end came under more pressure. Fabregas fired an angled shot wide and, on the whistle, Given tipped over from Diaby's piledriver.

The interval had come at the wrong time for Arsenal. They were just building up a head of steam and, if anything, Newcastle had enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges when the home side took the lead in the 51st minute.

Eduardo received the ball in space on the edge of the area and cleverly opened up his body to curl an effort against the base of the post. The ball rebounded to Adebayor who cut inside his marker and rifled a shot into the far corner of the net.

The Togolese striker has had a tough week, his sliding knee celebration had all the hallmarks of a relieved man.

It was also Arsenal's 100th goal at Emirates Stadium.

Adebayor nearly added another second soon afterwards but, after collecting Diaby's pass in the area, he was dispossessed at the vital second.

The goal had seemingly dented Newcastle's self-belief and they spent the next 10 minutes on the back foot. Once they had gathered themselves Damian Duff continued to menace the Arsenal defence. However there was now an ominous air about the home side.

In the 69th minute Fabregas touched on a Clichy cross and the swivelling Eduardo had a goalbound shot blocked. Newcastle were now spent force. They had played their part in a lively tie but the latter stages of the game were dictated by Arsenal's pursuit of a second goal.

It arrived six minutes from time when Adebayor skipped past a couple of Newcastle defenders and drilled a low shot past Given.

As full time approached, Nicky Butt nodded a Fabregas free-kick past his own keeper.
That was harsh on the Keegan's side.

But, as Tuesday night had proved, the scoreline does not always entirely reflect the nature of the game.

Arsenal All-Time Best XI

With Arsenal challenging Manchester United and Chelsea for the Premier League title again this season, Arsene Wenger has his sights set on a fourth championship as manager of the Gunners, with an entirely different team from the one that went unbeaten throughout the 2003-04 League season. But who would make it into an Arsenal all-time best XI? Graham Lister considers the candidates and makes his selection...

North London club Arsenal have seen a host of top-class players wearing the famous red and white shirts throughout an illustrious history, so there is a large, high quality field from which to choose an all-time best Gunners XI.

Founded in 1886, the first 40 years of Arsenal's existence were largely unremarkable and yielded no major trophies. But once visionary manager Herbert Chapman was appointed in 1925, things started to happen. The club broke its duck by winning the FA Cup in 1930, and then the honours came thick and fast.

In the last decade before the Second World War, the Gunners' dominance of English football was unprecedented, though Liverpool in the 1970s and 1980s, and Manchester United in the 1990s and early 2000s, were no less dominant in their eras.

Several Arsenal players from the 1930s are still icons in the club's history and would have walked into any best XI at the time. Indeed, in 1934 the Gunners provided no fewer than seven members of the England team for an international against Italy.

Arsenal also enjoyed much success in the late 1940s and early 1950s, the early and late 1970s, the early 1990s and of course, since 1996, the Wenger years.

But football has evolved dramatically over the years in terms of formations and tactics, speed and players' fitness. There is a valid argument that talented players from any era would still shine today, given the benefits of contemporary training methods, equipment and coaching ideas.

Comparing players from different eras is a fascinating exercise even if it throws up insoluble arguments. In the following selection the players concerned have been judged in the context of the team and the time in which they played. Whether, at their peak, they would all have clicked as a unit on the pitch at the same time we'll never know, but it's interesting to speculate....

Goalkeeper

Among the most outstanding goalkeepers in Arsenal history are the indomitable Jack Kelsey (1950-62), the Welshman who throughout the 1950s was the one genuine world-class star on their books, and who in several indifferent seasons was primarily the reason the Gunners preserved their top-flight status; the brave and agile Bob Wilson (1963-74), whose speciality was the suicidal headlong dive to pluck the ball off an onrushing forward's feet; and the unflappable David Seaman (1990-2003), who was the reliable anchor to which three title-winning campaigns were tied.

But the best of them all was PAT JENNINGS (1977-1985). When Spurs decided to sell the quiet 32-year-old Ulsterman to their arch-rivals they never imagined he would go on to make 326 appearances as a Gunner, play in four major cup finals in three years and become as big a crowd favourite at Highbury as he had been at White Hart Lane.

Jennings had unrivalled positional sense, provided an intimidating barrier in one-on-one situations, could pluck crosses out of the air all day long and still possessed the reflexes of a much younger man, making difficult saves look easy and pulling off the near-impossible stops with calm assurance of a master.

He was renowned for one-handed saves, but then each of his hands was enormous. He spread confidence among the defenders in front of him and would rank among the world's best goalkeepers of any era. After returning to Spurs at the age of 40 as first-team cover, Jennings went on to serve Northern Ireland again in the 1986 World Cup finals, and set a record of 119 caps. That was later exceeded by Peter Shilton, above whom many rated Jennings in terms of raw ability.

Right-Back
Leading right-backs in Arsenal's history would include reliable England international George Male (1929-48), who was converted by Chapman from left-half with outstanding success, and Laurie Scott (1937-51), who shone in the early post-war years. A very strong contender for the title of best player in this position is Pat Rice (1964-80), who was not blessed with outstanding natural talent, but was so determined to make the grade that he worked and worked on his game through hour after hour of extra training until he forced his way into the team and remained there for a decade.

Local boy Rice, who has been Arsene Wenger's assistant manager throughout the Frenchman's tenure, and who has spent all but four of the last 44 years with the Gunners in various capacities, was an integral part of the team that won the Double in 1970-71. He appeared in five FA Cup finals for Arsenal and lifted the trophy in 1979, one of three years he spent as captain. After Rice, Viv Anderson (1984-1987) and Lauren (2000-2007) , were distinguished right-backs.

But the accolade goes to Mancunian (and Manchester City fan) LEE DIXON (1988-2002), signed by George Graham, who'd monitored his steady progress at the footballing outposts of Burnley, Chester, Bury and Stoke, then took him to Highbury where his career flourished. A former winger, Dixon never lost his attacking instincts, his two-footed ball control and crossing ability or, until later years, his impressive pace. (He was 38 when he retired in May 2002, having just won the FA Cup again). But those skills were complemented by a clever defender's brain based on positional sense and sharp tackling.

Right Centre-Back

Herbert Chapman introduced the tactical change of converting centre-half into a dedicated defensive position to counteract a change on the offside law, and he made Herbie Roberts (1926-37) the original 'stopper' centre-half, so effective they dubbed him the 'Policeman.' The likes of Les Compton (1931-52), Ray Daniel (1946-53) earned their places in the Arsenal Hall of Fame, while Irish international David O'Leary (1973-93) made his debut as a 17-year-old in 1975 and went on to make 722 competitive first team appearances for the Gunners - still a club record - as arguably the most elegant centre-half they've had.

One of the most popular - and effective - was Steve Bould (1988-1999), who saw off the challenge for younger challengers for years and is now a coach at the Arsenal Academy. One of those challengers was Martin Keown (1981-86 & 1993-2004), who was versatile, rugged and peerless as a man-marker. And there is little doubt that the superbly athletic and aware Kolo Toure (2002 to date) will soon be an automatic pick for a selection such as this.

For now though, the honour still goes to one of the greatest captains in Arsenal's history, FRANK McLINTOCK (1964-1973). The Glaswegian joined Arsenal from Leicester City as a swashbuckling, attacking wing-half in October 1964 and filled that role effectively until, during an injury crisis in 1969-70, assistant manager Don Howe switched him to a reluctant centre-half and his career moved onto a higher plane altogether. His assured reading of the game, instinctive timing and incisive forward runs revealed an apparently seasoned central defender; but his leadership qualities were second to none and gained full expression from the middle of the back four.

Always one of the most committed, defiant and passionate characters on any pitch, he commanded respect from his team-mates and led the Gunners by example to the European Fairs Cup triumph of 1970 that ended a 17-year trophy drought at Highbury. That was the springboard for the following season's superb League/FA Cup 'Double,' in which McLintock - voted Footballer of the Year in 1971 - was again the inspirational leader.

Left Centre-Back

McLintock's partner in manager Bertie Mee's Double-winning side was Norfolk boy Peter Simpson (1960-78), a quiet, unassuming defender who liked a cigarette but loathed the limelight. Nicknamed Stan after the undemonstrative one in Laurel & Hardy, Simpson was seriously underrated and denied England honours only by the excellence of Bobby Moore. He was a clean-tackling, cultured performer, masterful in distribution and a byword for consistency. Sol Campbell (2001-06) was a commanding physical presence in the Arsenal back-four, and current captain William Gallas (2006 to date) may yet earn a place in Arsenal folklore.

But it is hard to imagine anyone having the credentials or the character to oust TONY ADAMS (1982-2002) from any all-time Arsenal best XI. Possibly no one player has epitomised the club more completely than Adams did for nearly two decades in the first team. Only O'Leary played more times for the Gunners, who were the only club the Romford boy (now assistant manager to Harry Redknapp at Portsmouth) ever played for - or wanted to play for.

His loyalty and commitment to Arsenal were legendary and helped make him both the most successful and popular captain in the club's history. The fact that he successfully overcame a brief imprisonment (for drink-driving) and self-confessed alcoholism only added to his stature. Apart from being a top class defender who earned 66 England caps and captained his country, Adams was a physically brave, rock-solid motivator who inspired respect and unreserved admiration from both George Graham and Arsene Wenger. Above all, Adams was a born winner.

Left-Back

There is a dynasty of excellent Arsenal left-backs stretching in an almost unbroken line of succession from a prince of the Chapman team, Eddie Hapgood (1927-45), to the ever-improving Gael Clichy (2003 to date). It includes such luminaries as Walley Barnes (1943-55), Joe Wade (1944-56), Dennis Evans (1951-63), the tireless and dynamic master-organiser Bob McNab (1966-75), Sammy Nelson (1966-81), the combative, adventurous and enduringly popular Nigel Winterburn (1987-2000), bubbly Brazilian Sylvinho (1999-2001) and Ashley Cole (1997-2006).

Selected ahead of them, though, is KENNY SANSOM (1980-1988), one of manager Terry Neill's shrewdest acquisitions for the club. The transfer that brought the stylish Sansom to Highbury stunned the football world. Recently signed striker Clive Allen - who never had time to play a competitive game for Arsenal - and reserve keeper Paul Barron both moved to Crystal Palace as part of the deal that saw Sansom become a Gunner as Nelson's long-term replacement. He possessed an awesome burst of pace, the anticipation to effect telling interceptions, prodigious aerial ability for his relatively short physique, and passed the ball with enviable precision. England's left-back throughout the 1980s, he made just under 400 appearances for the Gunners and was skipper when they lifted the Littlewoods (League) Cup in 1987 at the end of George Graham's first season as manager. Graham's purchase of Winterburn later that year signalled the beginning of the end of Sansom's Arsenal career, but this polished performer was genuinely a class act.

Wide Right Midfield

Joe Hulme (1926-38), Alf Kirchen (1935-43) and Danny Clapton (1953-62) gave sterling service to Arsenal on the right-wing, but as tactics evolved, more became demanded of the position, and in the modern era, outstanding performers for the Gunners on the right of midfield included the much-loved David Rocastle (1982-92), who offered superb balance, dazzling dribbling skills and a hammer-like shot, and who died at the tragically young age of 33 from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, an aggressive form of cancer. Also prominent on the right were workaholic Ray Parlour (1988-2004), who brought balance and dynamism to Wenger's midfield, and the versatile Freddie Ljungberg (1998-2007), who had few peers when it came to making penetrative runs beyond or across the opposition's back line, and also weighed in with 72 goals. Alexander Hleb in the current Arsenal side is one of the most skilful players in the Premier League whose superb close control and astute passing are proving to be potent weapons for the Gunners.

But the all-time Arsenal great in this position is GEORGE ARMSTRONG (1961-77). 'Geordie' was an orthodox winger whose work-rte was so prodigious that was both an auxiliary defender, tirelessly tracking back and regaining possession, and one of the most prolific providers of 'assists' in the game. Assists were not formally recorded in his era, but it has been calculated that he played a part in more than half of Arsenal's goals during their 1970-71 'Double' triumph. Equally effective on either wing, his perpetual motion made him tough to mark for opposing defenders, and his willingness to fight for the cause often frustrated opponents' attempts to build attacks of their own in his vicinity. He had impressive ball skills and punishing pace, but his greatest asset was an ability to cross the ball at speed with consistent accuracy to his intended target - more often than not John Radford, Ray Kennedy or George Graham. He also notched up 68 goals of his own in an Arsenal career spanning 621 appearances. He later returned to Arsenal in a coaching role, managing the reserve team. He collapsed and died on the training pitch in the autumn of 2000 from a brain haemorrhage, but remains one of the true greats in Arsenal's history.

Central Midfield - Holding

The holding or defensive midfield role has evolved over time from hard-tackling wing-half to box-to-box all-rounder. The Gunners' leading exponents of the former version include the likes of 'iron' Wilf Copping (1934-39), the original Arsenal hard man, the two Scots Archie Macaulay (1947-50) and Alex Forbes (1948-56), who were key figures in Tom Whittaker's successful post-war teams, and the genial, bandy-legged captain of those Whittaker teams, Joe Mercer (1946-54). Since tactical innovations gave birth to the concept of a clearly-defined 'midfield', Arsenal have been strongly represented in that area of the pitch by the uncompromising Peter Storey (1961-77), Eddie Kelly (1966-76), enthusiastic workhorse Brian Talbot (1979-85), combative but articulate Emanuel Petit (1997-2000) and solidly reliable Gilberto Silva (2002 to date).

But there really can only be one selection in this position for a best all-time Arsenal XI, and that is the peerless PATRICK VIEIRA (1996-2005). From the moment he set foot on the Highbury turf in September 1996 as a 20-year-old first-half substitute for Parlour against Sheffield Wednesday, Arsenal fans knew Wenger - who had not yet formally joined the club - had delivered them someone special. Over the next nine seasons - the last three of them as an inspirational captain - Vieira proved himself to be one of the best midfielders in the world, constantly courted by the biggest clubs in Spain and Italy. Wenger eventually sold him to Juventus, but only after he had acquired legendary status among Gooners everywhere as an imperious enforcer who combined razor sharp tackling with the finesse on the ball of a juggler; visionary passing with the power and athleticism of a thoroughbred racehorse. Notoriously combustible on the pitch, a soft-spoken giant off it, Vieira's place in Arsenal's Hall of Fame is guaranteed. Now with Inter Milan, he has made it clear that his heart is still in North London.

Central Midfield - Creative

The lineage of outstanding Arsenal players who have filled this role is impressive, beginning in the Chapman era with the legendary Alex James (1929-37) and continuing with another crowd-pleasing Scottish schemer, Jimmy Logie (1939-55). Jimmy Bloomfield (1954-60) provided the creative spark in a distinctly average team, but left when Arsenal signed George Eastham (1960-1966) in his position. The frail-looking Eastham was one of the most intelligent players to wear the Arsenal shirt, with the awareness to spot an opening and the footwork to thread the ball through the eye of a needle to exploit it. Alan Ball (1971-76) was more robust but equally adept at passing and an energetic bundle of commitment. Paul Davis (1978-95) was cultured and precise. And Cesc Fabregas (2003 to date) could yet become the greatest of them all given his rate of progress and what he has achieved at the age of 20. He literally has the world at his feet.

However, this pivotal role in the team goes to LIAM BRADY (1971-80), who enthralled a generation, many of whom say he was the best they ever saw in Arsenal colours. The slightly-built Dubliner was a waif with a magic wand of a left foot, a sublimely gifted playmaker with the skill and vision to dictate the pattern of a game through his own inventiveness. Arsenal as a team were just short of greatness during Brady's time at Highbury - one FA Cup triumph, three losing cup finals but no sustained challenge for the League title; yet for many, just watching Brady at work was a reward in itself. He was superbly entertaining with a mesmerising array of attributes - great balance, exceptional close control, an infinite range of passes and the ability to disguise his intentions until the ball was played. His decision to move to Juventus at the end of the 1979-80 season left a cloud over Highbury that took years to disperse, but he was a great success in Italy, also playing for Sampdoria, Inter Milan and Ascoli with distinction. He returned to Arsenal in 1996 as head of the club's academy, a role he continues to fill.

Wide Left-Midfield

As an old-style left-winger, Cliff Bastin (1929-46) joined the Gunners at 17, had won every major honour in the English game by the time he was 20 and finished his Arsenal career with 396 appearances to his name and 178 goals - the latter a club record that stood until Ian Wright broke it half-a-century later in 1997. Others who filled that role to good effect included Don Roper (1947-57), the mercurial Swede Anders Limpar (1990-94), devastating in the club's 1990-91 Championship triumph, and flying Dutchman Marc Overmars (1997-2000), who made a huge impact in the 1997-98 Double season.

Getting the vote, though, is ROBERT PIRES (2000-06), the pigeon-toed Frenchman with the shuffling gate that is deceptively fast. He was an integral and inspirational figure in the 2001-02 Double season, despite suffering a serious cruciate knee injury in March of that campaign, came back to score the winner in the 2003 FA Cup final, then made another outstanding contribution as the Gunners won the Premier League again in 2003-04, this time unbeaten. Distinguished by his prompting and probing runs, the quality of his passing was superb, and Pires could set up or score goals from either flank. He favoured drifting inside from the left wing to provide a telling assist or finish a move, and developed a potent understanding with Thierry Henry on the left. Pires racked up 84 goals in his six seasons as a Gunner, a terrific return for a midfielder, and provided magnificent entertainment.

Strikers

In the Arsenal pantheon as at most clubs, the great goalscorers have been revered down the years. If the criterion for selection was simply most goals scored, the top two all-time scorers would be automatic choices; but that might not tell the whole story. The stand-out scorers for Arsenal down the years include David Jack (1928-34), who was once Britain's costliest player and scored 124 goals in 208 Arsenal appearances; the courageous, swashbuckling Ted Drake (1934-45), 139 goals in 184 games; David Herd (1954-61) 107 goals in 180 games; and the hugely popular Joe Baker (1962-66), 100 goals in 156 games.

As tactics and formations evolved, defences became more sophisticated and goals were harder to come by. Centre-forwards became strikers and target men, often deeper lying and with responsibilities to bring others into play. Arsenal featured such stars as the irrepressible and extravagantly talented Charlie George (1966-75), who scored 49 goals in 179 appearances and set up many others; John Radford (1962-76), the archetypal leader of the line in the Sixties and Seventies, who racked up 149 goals in 482 games; and Frank Stapleton (1972-81), a master craftsman with 108 goals in 300 games. Alan Smith (1987-95) also led the line with great intelligence, a deft touch and clinical finishing that yielded 115 goals in 347 appearances.

Then there was the exuberant, theatrical phenomenon that was Ian Wright (1991-98), a goal-poacher supreme who played with a swagger and a smile but also a burning desire to get the ball into the back of the net as often as possible. Were it not for the two strikers selected, Wright, with 185 goals in 288 competitive first team appearances, would walk into this team.

But he loses out to two forwards whose credentials are even more compelling.

DENNIS BERGKAMP (1995-2006) was without doubt one of the most naturally gifted footballers ever to represent Arsenal, a footballing genius with exquisite touch, the wit and imagination to see things before others ever did, the audacity to attempt them and the subtle technique to accomplish them in style. Though given to occasional moments of petulance, the Dutchman was the epitome of cool, a master assessing the options in a fraction of a second and making the killer intervention with deft precision or punishing power. In 424 appearances he scored 120 Arsenal goals, many of them master-pieces, but also contributed countless assists. Indeed he often seemed to relish setting up a goal for a team-mate as much as scoring himself.

Lucky for Arsenal fans, then, that Bergkamp’s time at the club coincided for the most part with that of THIERRY HENRY (1999-2007), because the pair seemed pre-ordained to dovetail on a football pitch. Although injuries also played a significant role, it is no coincidence that Henry's least productive and unhappiest season with Arsenal was his last one, the first without Bergkamp who'd retired that summer (2006). But fortunately, before that there were seven seasons of sensational scoring feats. Henry, with 226 goals to his name in 369 appearances as a Gunner, was by a distance the club's all-time leading scorer by the time he left for Barcelona. But merely citing the prodigious quantity of his goals does scant justice to their quality. A more selfish striker (an Ian Wright, for example), would have accumulated even more, but Henry like Bergkamp provided numerous assists (82, in fact), so that critics said he was not so much a great goalscorer as a scorer of great goals. To most Arsenal fans, he was surely the most accomplished, artistic, audacious and adventurous goalscorer they ever saw, or expect to see again. He looked for invention and improvisation all the time: the manner of his goals was as important to him as the mere fact of scoring. Blistering pace and peerless technical ability make Henry one of the all-time greats in his position, a model of class and consistency with the ability to take your breath away time after time. Football is ultimately entertainment and Henry at Arsenal was the supreme entertainer.

To recap, then, here is the selection for the best all-time Arsenal XI:
Jennings

Dixon McLintock Adams Sansom

Armstrong Vieira Brady Pires

Bergkamp Henry

Manager: Arsene Wenger

Second XI:
Seaman

Rice Toure Simpson Winterburn

Rocastle Petit Fabregas Overmars

Drake Wright

Manager: Herbert Chapman

DIARRA JOINS POMPEY...AND ALREADY WANTS TO LEAVE

Lassana Diarra will never be a diplomat. Whereas most players commemorate their unveiling at a new club with worn-out clichés of loyalty and ambition, the midfielder marked his first day at Portsmouth by issuing what amounted to a transfer request.


Apparently disregarding the fact that in the last six months he has successfully agitated his way out of Chelski and Arsenal, Diarra snubbed convention by putting pen to paper on a three-year deal on the south coast and then immediately declaring he was ready to leave.


"The people at Portsmouth know that I will not spend my life at the club," he confirmed. "I was able to add a clause to my contract. If I shine, if a really big club wants me, I already know that everything will go well. I don't want any more battles."


With Pompey short of players due to African Nations Cup commitment and Diarra desperate to play first-team football in order to secure a starting spot for France during the forthcoming Euro 2008 championships, their marriage is one of convenience. Yet it remains to be seen just how sympathetically the Fratton Park public will regard the 22-year-old's extraordinary pronouncements.


Another curiosity of the Diarra deal is the size of it. Having been acquired from Chelski by Arsenal on the last day of the August transfer window for a fee of around £2m, the Gunners have managed to persuade Pompey to spend £5.5m despite Diarra playing less than eight hours of football over the past five months.

Arsenal Mid-Season Review: Exciting Times Are Back

The 2007/8 season promised to be an interesting spectacle for Arsenal supporters and critics alike, long before the first match even kicked off.

Countless column-inches of feverish conjecture devoted to Thierry Henry’s sudden departure, the scant spending on new signings compared to many other Premier League clubs, doubts over Arsene Wenger’s future, and questions about the experience of the young Arsenal squad preceded the campaign and dominated the summer transfer window.

Wenger, however, remained characteristically optimistic. “If you ask me if we have the potential to achieve success this year then I say ‘yes, without a doubt’. It is important not to relate only success with money,” he said with a playful swipe at his West London rival.



The Gunners’ attractive, free-flowing style of football has certainly won them many supporters; Pele recently declared himself a fan, and Reading’s Dave Kitson, despite being a Spurs fan, said effusively: “They are without doubt the best footballing team on the planet right now.” In last season’s campaign, though, style triumphed over substance and failed to win trophies.

On August 12th, the first match of the season, Fulham visited the Emirates and it seemed like history could be repeating itself. Just two minutes in, Jens Lehmann gifted David Healy an early goal-scoring opportunity, which he just couldn’t miss.

Despite Van Persie leading a fluid counter-attack, Arsenal’s opener remained elusive. An 84th minute penalty restored the balance and now revitalised, Arsenal pushed forward. In the dying seconds of normal time a decisive shot from the silky Hleb sealed the win.



Where Arsenal had looked uncomfortable at home last season, this was just what was required – the perfect tonic – snatching victory from the jaws of defeat. “Cut out the fancy stuff and shoot!” a frustrated fan had been heard to shout early on in the match; the season now looked a lot more interesting as Arsenal had proved that they could.

Like December’s 4-1 away win over Everton, the victory at Fulham showed the current squad’s self-belief and hunger for success. A willingness to adapt the style of play and to go long when necessary showed a ruthless edge that Arsenal had previously been lacking. Above all it showed a growing realisation that beautiful football alone does not get results.

The Champions League results also mirrored much of what was happening at home. The 3-0 home victory over Seville, 1-0 away win at Steaua Bucharest and 7-0 home demolition of Slavia Prague complemented the domestic league results. Arsenal’s unbeaten run now extended to 28 matches in all competitions – a club record – and reflected the rising confidence of Wenger’s young side.



November, historically Arsenal’s worst month, started with a scoreless draw in Prague, which sealed a place in the knockout stage of the competition, but wasn’t enough to take the top spot in Group H. In Seville at the end of the month, Wenger took the gamble of rotating the team in order to rest players for a tough December.

At first it appeared to be paying off, as Eduardo controlled Bendtner’s probing cross and prodded it home from close range. After Keita’s equaliser midway through the first half, though, Arsenal looked rattled and the perennial problem of defensive composure under pressure reared its head again. Seville’s eventual 3-1 win left Arsenal with the runner-up spot, even despite their subsequent 2-1 victory over Steaua Bucharest at the Emirates.



The unbeaten Premiership run finally came to an end with a 2-1 defeat by Middlesbrough on December 9th. A wrong turn by the team’s coach driver led to a late arrival at the Riverside and little time for preparation. It seemed to be an apt metaphor for what was to follow. Without Fabregas, Flamini, Hleb and Van Persie, all of Arsenal’s chances seemed to be heading in the wrong direction, until Rosicky’s 93rd minute consolation goal hit the target. Shrugging off suggestions of a crisis in depth and experience, Arsenal went on to take 10 points out of 12 in the next four matches.



Now at the mid-point of the season, Arsenal are two points clear of Manchester United at the top of the table; through to the knockout stages of the Champions League, and with hopes very much alive in the two domestic cup competitions many of the pre-season criticisms appear to have been answered. Arsene Wenger’s optimism, it seems, could be well founded.

Throughout all of the ups and downs he has uncompromisingly and unapologetically stuck to his system of play. The method he has developed at Arsenal is based on the collective harnessing of individual talent into a cohesive team effort, to the extent that players who frequently feature for their home country often have difficulty making it into Wenger’s starting XI – a strategy which can lead to some bruised egos. Germany’s national keeper Jens Lehmann has often voiced his feelings at being left on the bench in place of the un-capped Manuel Almunia.



Yet the Spaniard has repaid his manager’s faith with a display of solid form this season. While many of his contemporaries have a tendency to parry the ball away – regularly leading to dangerous situations in front of the goal – Almunia’s preference for catching and holding onto it makes him an effective shot-stopper. In a few short months, he has become one of the Premier League’s top-performing goalkeepers.

French international Lassana Diarra, who arrived from Chelsea on the August 2007 transfer deadline day, has also expressed his frustration at not being included in the starting XI more often; however many feel that more time is needed for him to adapt his skills into Wenger’s style of play.

Entering the New Year with the first half of an already-turbulent season behind them, the Gunners appear to be in a strong position. The 2006/7 financial results place them firmly among the world’s richest clubs; the 2-2 grudge match with Manchester United, watched by an estimated 1.5 billion people, may not have produced the most beautiful or inspiring football, but it reaffirmed Arsenal’s position as a truly global football phenomenon, and demonstrated their ability to grind out a result when needed. Even Sir Alex Ferguson admitted that the North London outfit have a “massive chance” at the title.



But there are many more hurdles to overcome before Arsenal take their first title since 2004. Key defender Kolo Toure, the only player to be on the pitch every minute of every Premiership game, could miss up to eight fixtures for the Gunners if his native Ivory Coast go all the way in the African Nations Cup, which is a worry for a team that has had more than one defensive wobble this season.

The Champions League tie against AC Milan will also be a challenge, and the Gunners still have to face Manchester United and Chelsea at their respective home grounds. “We have belief, we have talent, we are ready to fight,” Wenger has said. All of the necessary components are in place, but only time and performances on the pitch will tell if this young Arsenal team has the mettle to lift the Premier League trophy in May.