Comparing Manchester United and Arsenal, Part Three

Dear all,

Please forgive me.

I shouldn´t have been lazy.

I shouldn´t have tested the fates.

I should have finished my article comparing the Arsenal and Manchester United squads.

I said last week that I would be doing a squad comparison because there was no competitive Arsenal football and therefore not really much to talk about.

Way to tempt the fates, Adam. Especially with Holland playing fucking Italy. Robin playing those smelly defensive bastards.

Now we've got something to talk about don´t we! So apologies. I´m sorry guys. I´ll take the blame for this one if you like.

Robin´s Inury

It was an unlucky one, I don´t think there was any malice. I was just one of those "footbally" injuries. They happen all the time.

I had a similar incident a couple of weeks back when I was playing Gaelic football in Holland (although I was luckier, and the other guy was more idiotic as sliding tackles are generally not allowed ever in Gaelic football [especially when I had already beat my man and the ball was in my hands and not on the floor]).

You just get a big knock right into the side of your foot/ankle, your fankle if you will, my ligaments stayed together for the most part, whereas Robin's have apparently ripped a little bit.

Now I don't expect you guys have to even an iota of sympathy for me (I've since recovered only two weeks later and although I would love it, Arsenal's title hopes do not partially rest on my left peg).

But I suppose I'm just stating that I know how the injury feels (it fucking hurts) but if he doesn't require surgery then its a good sign and he might be back quicker than we thought.

If it was anyone it was probably going to be Robin, although an injury like this isn't really an injury one picks up if they are injury prone. It is just an impact injury that can happen to anyone. Unfortunately it happened to one of our best players. LINK

Step up Eddie, Step up Nicky B, get off the bench Carlos V, get off the bench... ummmm... Wally (Theo) We need you to lead the line with presence and pizzazz.

Other International News 

We had some other players playing in some other matches this weekend. Gallas and Sagna contributed to Ireland's demise which I wasn't really pleased about.

Neither of them had a particularly good game, but they did what needed to be done to beat the resilient Irish.

Needless to say (but I'm going to say it anyway) we're pretty fucked for this tie. It would be a miracle if we managed to score in France, and not concede.

There is a lot of talk after the performance of Aaron Ramsey against Scotland. Apparently he was full of creativity and genius in the first half. Lot of talk about him being the Second Cesc (say that 5 times fast) and while that would be lovely, I think he's a little different than Cesc.

He's got more pace and power than Cesc had when he was 18, and probably a little less Cesc composure. Dare I say it, but I see a little Gerrard in the lad.

His goal was a good one, I didn't notice but the commentator makes an keen observation that Ramsey beats his man at the edge of the box without touching the ball by just changing the angle of his body. That is silky stuff. LOOKY

Verm scored against Hungary...from a set piece.

What a beast. LOOKY  

Andrey played against Slovenia and his team won 2-1 at home. It is a good result, but not a great one.

I wouldn't be surprised if Slovenia managed a 1-0 win at home and went through. I know fuck all about their team but they did well to get past Poland and Czech in their group (granted both teams are in decline, but still).

Anyway, Everton signing Bilyaletdinov stole the show there scoring both goals [Hmmmm...I wonder how much he is in fantasy football].

So today, I'm going to talk about the wide players for Manchester United and Arsenal, and tomorrow finish off with our strikers.

I want to get this squad comparison out of the way before Wednesday in case I cast a hex on any more of our players, by not evaluating them BEFORE they could potentially get injured. 

SQUAD COMPARISON PART 3

Wide Players

Arshavin/ Nasri/ Theo/ Vela/ Wilshire v. Giggs/ Valencia/ Nani/ Obertan/ Ji-Sung Park

Arsenal

First and foremost, Andrey; He's a fucking fantastic talent. He would be in my Premiership 11. I think he would probably be in most people's Premiership 11. Simply put. He is the best on the left in the league.

He's pacey, has exceptional balance, a fantastic eye for goal, and is capable of hitting a 40 yard pass on the money, smashing a ball into the top corner from outside the box with either foot, or dancing and dangling past his man and placing the ball into the roof of the net.

What a guy! He talks a lot, but I like it. It's always very entertaining and I think generally spot fucking on.

Nasri had a good debut season for Arsenal and didn't really require much time to adapt to the English game becoming the third Arsenal player to score on his debut under Arsene Wenger (I hope that's right).

He chipped in with his fair share of goals and I think was exciting when played on the left and determined when played centrally. There was talk last year about playing him as a DM but I think/ hope that this idea is dead and buried.

He's just too skillful and too much of a goal threat to be running around the centre of the park trying to break up play. I think on the right he'd do a job for us. A very good job in fact.

Every now and then, he could switch it up with Arshavin and as we saw last year...he's not afraid to track back and do the defensive work, too.

Theo is an enigma. I like him. I really do. You just can't dislike someone with that much raw pace. He's definitely the quickest player on team and arguably the quickest player in the league (although Mr. Lennon [Aaron not John] might have something to say about that), and from what I've seen, he is a tidy little finisher.

Think Hatrick v. Croatia. Think Carling Cup final against Chelsea.

Unfortunately he's spent most of the last 12 months pretty injured. It's very unfortunate in fact, I thought last season before he did his shoulder he was one of our best players.

He always looked dangerous, his touch and final ball had improved significantly. And most importantly he was growing in confidence (although not in stature...short little fecker).

Vela...I'm putting him out wide. He's probably not really a winger. But he's also very rarely played through the middle in the last three seasons, having played wide left for Osasuna, and played very rarely at ALL for Arsenal in the last two seasons.

We all know what he can do when given a chance against lesser opposition, but during his substitute Champions League appearances and limited league action he's done very little.

I think the ability is there for everyone to see, and particularly after Robin's ankle injury we are all hoping that Mr. Sail (Vela is Spanish for Sail) can make a quick recovery and give us some fucking Spicy Salsa football at the Emirates...Mexican God that he is.

Jack Wilshire - Jack the Lad - English Messi - The Jack Attack - The Stevenage Savage - Most of those nicknames are made up, but I think most of them could also be fitting descriptions of a player who will SURELY make his mark on English football.

Sometimes you just see a player with vision, a turn of pace, and just that little bit of magic that people can only dream of. I'm just soooo thankful we have this player on our team and that he has come through OUR youth ranks.

I don't usually like to comment about players who are out of action, or who haven't done much of anything, but Wilshire is just too exciting not to tip for great things. I mean seriously, he was the best fucking player on the pitch in both Emirates Cup games this pre-season.

He was a little genius - I think he might be Jesus in disguise, but I don't want to put too much expectation on the young lad's shoulders.

The question on the tip of everyone's tongue is... Why isn't Wenger playing him more?

I don't disagree with Wenger's decision actually. Normally when I see a special player who is young I say, throw him in there and just let him play. Play him even when he plays poorly, it's the only way the lad is going to learn.

But Jack is only 17 and this is a World Cup year. I think the last thing Wenger wants is another Walcott situation. I have to say here and now that I think the WC 2006 was a bad thing for Theo Walcott.

Everyone was tipping him as the next Michael Owen and he wasn't even given a chance in Deutschland. Not even against Trinidad. Apparently that's HOW BAD he was in training, and apparently the other England potentials weren't happy about his inclusion.

I'm not saying this will happen to Jack. I don't think Capello would call him up anyway, but I think with someone AS YOUNG and Special as Jack it is important that we harvest every ounce of potential for this potentially brilliant boy.

ANYWAY...Where was I again? OHHHH Ya, comparing Arsenal to the Cuntbags.

Manchester United

Giggs is a god. If you're not a frequent reader, check out the Day 31 blog about Ryan "Jesus" Giggs. He's been great again this season for Manchester United. I think earlier in the year he had something like 5 assists and 2 goals in 3 games. And how old is he? 84?

Ok he's not running down the left wing beating 5 of our players and smashing the ball into the roof of the net in the FA Cup Semi final anymore. Fucking hairy chested motherfucker.

But he's has changed his game and used his developed footballing brain to continue to play at the highest level. Just slower.

Valencia is a player who I'm not too fond of. I think he's decent, but I don't think he's good enough to be a Manchester United player. I think he's just an old-fashioned winger.

He'll do a trick, drop the shoulder, beat his man to the line and put in a decent cross, but he doesn't give you a goal threat and I don't think he changes the dynamic of the game.

Furthermore, he has some pretty fucking huge boots to fill and thus far he has been distinctly average.

United fans will say he needs time to adapt to the team, but It's three months into the season and he's been playing in England in a 4-4-2 for three years. I'm sure one of the reasons Ferguson bought him was so that he could make a quick transition into the United team and that he wouldn't need 6 months to a year to get up to speed with English football.

I would be disappointed with Valencia for 18 million as a United fan. Good thing I'm a Gooner and I can chuckle to myself saying we got AA for the same price.

Nani: He is shit. That will be all.

Obertan: He looks tricky, he looks exciting, and he looks confident. Once again I don't want to start talking about Obertan taking the EPL by storm after two fucking appearances, but he's definitely got some magic in those feet, and he looks like he is ready to take his opportunity for Manchester United.

HOWEVER, he also doesn't look like he is trying to force the issue like Mr. Granny. He knows when to make the five-yard lateral pass and when to take on his man.

It looks like he knows that every time he touches the ball, he doesn't need to show Alex the Rednosed Scotsman that he's a talented player.

Ji-Sung Park: I like him. I think he's good in big matches. He never stops running, and while I can't remember him scoring (at least not intentionally) I think his contribution to United's football matches is a positive one.

He was bought to sell T-shirts, but I think he has given Manchester United more than just COMMERCIAL value.

Verdict:

Arsenal, and it's not very close. Manchester United's best winger is 35 and can't play twice a week.

He will play a big part in Manchester United's season, but he won't start every match, and his net contribution to his team for this season will probably be less than Arshavin's.

Looking past the best winger for each team, I also think that Arsenal have got more exciting options in their creative positions. I think Nasri is better than Valencia. I think he's more of a goal threat, I think he does more work for the team.

I think he's classier. And I know that he is younger. I also think that Nasri can switch wings, or drop into the middle of the park if we need, whereas I think Valencia is pretty going to hug that righthand touchline until 2013.

Theo is an exciting player, and I think him and Obertan and both filled with oodles of potential.

But while Walcott has made 80 runs and beaten four men to set up a fantastic goal in the CL quarter-final against Liverpool. Obertan has made two appearances for United and was hardly instrumental in the title-winning season for Bordeaux last year.

Nani is shit and probably scores United negative points in this category because if you play with him in your team you have already resigned yourself to the fact that at least 3-7 times that game Nani is going to blast the ball into Row Z or the goalkeeper's hands from 25-45 yards out.

Wilshire is a phenom and United don't have anyone in their reserves half as exciting as him.

Vela is unproven at the highest level, but has demonstrated in the Carling Cup that his capable of some special things.

Ji-Sung is a good player, and I think his net impact on a game is generally positive rather than negative. However he isn't going to win you many matches, and is certainly not going to win you the league.

Let me know what your thoughts are?

Today's Question?

Pretty simple, I couldn't put my finger on who the best Right Winger in the Premiership was when I was comparing these two squads today.

I think all of us can agree than when CR7/9 was in England he was hands down the best player, nevermind best right-sided player. However, since he's swapped red for white, who do you think takes the cake?