Football is the best sport in the world.
The ability of one to combine speed as in the sprints, stamina as in the marathon, skills as in basketball (this time predominantly with the legs), and a technical sharpness as displayed in the martial arts brings beauty to the eye.
It will remain the most popular and followed sport only if...
Arsenal F.C. has over the years become synonymous with beautiful football. This is the result of a quick passing and attacking pattern of play. Usually, their play is guaranteed to be a spectacle.
Arsene Wenger is the man who brought the beautiful game to the English Premier League, and he has since been regarded as one of the best coaches in the world.
His philosophy of football is strictly adhered to as a way of giving both entertainment and value for money to the huge fan base that football and indeed Arsenal have.
In recent years the effect of an unprecedented injection of funds from all sorts has turned the beautiful game to a profit-oriented business venture.
Returns have to be derived on investment, usually doled out to individuals and consortiums. This in turn ensures that pressure is piled on managers and players to justify such investments in a short time.
Supporters talk about how much money their club has in the coffers or about how rich the club's owner is. Collecting a trophy has become more important than the talk of how good a game was played on the pitch.
In the new era of Wenger's building process, which has been in effect since 2005, the world has seen a group of young and exciting players come together.
They have produced football that catches the eye and keeps true to the Arsene Wenger philosophy. The drawback is an emptiness of the club's trophy cabinet.
Also, repaying the debt from the magnificent Emirates Stadium ensures he doesn't spend as much money as those doled out by the other clubs of same stature.
Many would point to the fact that he is not a spending manager as the figures would show. He has spent £52 million in the past five years as compared to over £120 million by Liverpool F.C., £170 million by Manchester United, and a staggering £250 miilion by Chelsea F.C.
Tottenham F.C. has even spent more than the Gunners in that period.
The line between success and failure for Arsenal has been very thin. Since winning their last trophy, the 2005 FA Cup, they have reached the Carling Cup Final once and semi finals twice, the FA Cup semi finals once and quarter finals once.
They have also finished second, third and fourth once each in the Premiership, Arsenal have also lost in the final and made two quarter final appearances in the Champions League.
These near misses have demonstrated the club has done a good job. However, a little extra is needed to complete this story. True football faithfuls would love to see a happy ending.
A few big names and top class rated acquisitions wouldn't hurt, while a show of thoroughness would complement the already beautiful game that is the hallmark of the Gunners.
I am totally in support of Wenger's philosophy and the Gunners cause, but for once I plead with The Boss to go get it big, so that all his good work would be justified and trophies would begin to roll into the cabinet.
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5 months ago
I think Arsenal are admired by most teams across Europe but would anyone duplicate their style? No i dont think so...
Teams like Liverpool, Chelsea, Inter Milan are known for the boring but effective style. If boring means Success, then thats the way to go..
5 months ago
It is true that Arsenal have, at times this season, produced some of the best football the Premier League has seen since its inception. Their fatal flaw, however, is their lack of a 'plan B'. Should their free-flowing football stumble or come against a resolutel defence, the lack of another style has all too often cost them valuable Premiership points and a place in the title race.
Adebayor has given them further options going forward, but his form has been streaky and without another top striker we could well see them continue to struggle.
5 months ago
I am so sick and tired of these Arsenal praise-fests about how they play football. Honestly, yea they play good looking football but if they don't know how to finish and don't know how to complete performances what is the use? Their fans pay to see results not dancing on the field. The players are payed to put the ball in the back of the net, not run half way down the field only to pass to a bloke who probably needs a wider net to score.
Get off it already, yes the Gunners play beautiful football but true sexy soccer is played by the South Americans.
I would rather pay to see functional football than sarcastic soccer.
from 5 months ago
I'm afraid I'm going to have to disagree with you there Shawn. The fans not only pay for results, but for entertainment. Just ask a Newcastle fan - whilst they were getting results under Sam Allardyce, the football was not being played in the 'Newcastle way' and so he had to go.
In steps Keegan, who proceeds to go on a 9 game winless run but the Geordies stick right behind him. Why? Because they know that his teams play attractive, attacking football and a change of footballing mentality takes time.
5 good performances later and the barren spell is a distant memory. Newcastle's 3 pronged attack has proven fruitful, Owen is scoring for fun and they sit on level points with Tottenham with three games to play.
Yes, Arsenal's style does not always produce results. Yes, they need to incorporate some more 'ugly' aspects of the game in order to win things. But the fans also want to be entertained for the exorbitant fees they pay for their tickets. Give me a 4-4 draw over a 1-0 win any day.
from 5 months ago
True say Jonathan. Thats the reason Jose was dismissed, wasn't it? He was getting results alright, but it wasn't entertaining which he would probably be the first to tell you..
Ultimately what fans are looking for is WIN first, then WIN IN STYLE...
from 5 months ago
touche.
You guys make a strong point, but would you, as a fan rather have 4 games of 4-4 draws or 4 games of 1-0 results?
It's a very qualitative argument and there is no wrong or tight answer, but for an avid fan...I'll have to say results over style any day.
That being said I am really happy Newcastle have picked up their game. There was a time I thought "OMG are they getting r*l*g*ted???"
from 5 months ago
you make a good argument Shawn. I guess this is an debate that could rage on and on!
5 months ago
Well, I definitely know that the Liverpool supporters want results, and not field dancing.
5 months ago
I guess some clubs just have a history/tradition of playing beatuiful football. Manchester United(and its fans) expect to see say, 70%-80% of the season played in a stylish way. But United can also dig in and grind out results.
Arsenal just lack a ruthlesness in front of goal and I think with a small bit of tweaking with that team and it could become the best in the world. SENDEROS HAS TO GO!!!!
People complain that Chelsea play ugly football, but everybody fears playing them because??
Yep, they are effective!! They dont have many 'flair' players but how many would you have in the team you support? Essien is one of the best midfielders in the world, Drogba is a CONSTANT 90minute danger and Im a huge admirer of Carvalho.
As Salomon said above....fans want to win first, then win in style.
And a team should always play to its strengths, so if United are better with stylish play and Chelsea are better off grinding out results then why change??
5 months ago
Salomon,Jonathan,Shawn,Safiq, and Keith, thanks for dropping off ur comments and thoughts on my write-up. I do agree with all of you and hope that we stop talking about this particular problem that the gunners have in the following seasons. Thanks again.
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