Wenger: Theo looks like he has moved forward
Dear Arsenal Supporter,
It is always difficult to win at Ewood Park but I felt that we had a good start on Saturday and scored a great goal.
Soon after our first goal, in my opinion, we were a bit too nervous in dealing with Blackburn's game. However, in the second half I felt we were calmer, put the ball on the ground well and controlled the game much better.
Of course, in the last 15 or 20 minutes you can always be tested and need a bit of luck, but we had the right resilience and commitment and the longer that we didn't score that third goal, we were always under threat with a team like Blackburn.
As you saw on Saturday, the players are all very committed. I also believe experience brings you calm in the box, defensively and offensively and that is where we have a little bit more experience, even if on one or two occasions on Saturday we were a bit lucky. But who would not be unsettled by the kind of game Blackburn gave us?
Theo Walcott scored our first goal after a hat-trick against Blackpool the week before and on Saturday it was another clinical finish. You judge a player by the numbers; the goals he scores, the assists when he is a striker and his numbers are already very, very good. It looks like he is more confident and has moved forward.
Cesc Fabregas made his first start of the season and he showed that he has class even though he is not completely match fit yet. I always planned to play him for an hour and I left him on for a little longer. By the time we play Bolton, Cesc should be ready to play.
Thanks for your support.
Arsène Wenger
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
2010-08-21: Arsenal 6 - 0 Blackpool
Wenger: Chamakh can be vital in the big games
Dear Arsenal Supporter,
We played well going forward on Saturday. In fairness when they had 11 players on the pitch, Blackpool looked like they could create chances. They tried to play in a positive way.
We looked very dangerous when we won the ball and I believe we have matured because, even though we were 3-0 up at half-time, we didn't become sloppy. We kept playing the way we wanted to play and overall it became a comfortable win.
Theo Walcott's hat-trick showed he is more electric than he has been to date because he is sharp at the moment. I like the fact he mixed the final ball and the finishing - that is always a sign of maturity. Let's not forget that what he does is at a very high pace so it's not always easy to make the right decisions. But against Blackpool he got many decisions in the final third right.
He had a good pre-season for the first time for a long, long time; without being interrupted by injury or without coming back late. You could see that. We have known for two or three weeks now that he is sharp because he had a very good preparation.
From where I was I thought Ian Evatt's foul on Marouane Chamakh was outside the area. The referee had no choice to show the red card unfortunately. It was not a malicious foul but it was clearly denying a goalscoring opportunity. I feel many times a yellow card would be enough in these situations.
I believe Chamakh is a player who is still adapting to our style but look at the impact he had on the game - he got the penalty, he got a goal and he was involved in the goal last week at Liverpool. He is an efficient player and I am very confident that his goals can be vital in big games.
He can play alongside Robin van Persie but that will be in a 4-4-2. We'll see, it depends a little bit, one can play on the flank and come in, but at the moment we have plenty of choice going forward - touch wood.
I am confident we will add at least one more signing before the end of the month, maybe one plus one. It is difficult to predict because the market is very quiet but I know that in the last five days of the month it gets crazy and then it gets completely mad.
Thanks for your support.
Arsène Wenger
Dear Arsenal Supporter,
We played well going forward on Saturday. In fairness when they had 11 players on the pitch, Blackpool looked like they could create chances. They tried to play in a positive way.
We looked very dangerous when we won the ball and I believe we have matured because, even though we were 3-0 up at half-time, we didn't become sloppy. We kept playing the way we wanted to play and overall it became a comfortable win.
Theo Walcott's hat-trick showed he is more electric than he has been to date because he is sharp at the moment. I like the fact he mixed the final ball and the finishing - that is always a sign of maturity. Let's not forget that what he does is at a very high pace so it's not always easy to make the right decisions. But against Blackpool he got many decisions in the final third right.
He had a good pre-season for the first time for a long, long time; without being interrupted by injury or without coming back late. You could see that. We have known for two or three weeks now that he is sharp because he had a very good preparation.
From where I was I thought Ian Evatt's foul on Marouane Chamakh was outside the area. The referee had no choice to show the red card unfortunately. It was not a malicious foul but it was clearly denying a goalscoring opportunity. I feel many times a yellow card would be enough in these situations.
I believe Chamakh is a player who is still adapting to our style but look at the impact he had on the game - he got the penalty, he got a goal and he was involved in the goal last week at Liverpool. He is an efficient player and I am very confident that his goals can be vital in big games.
He can play alongside Robin van Persie but that will be in a 4-4-2. We'll see, it depends a little bit, one can play on the flank and come in, but at the moment we have plenty of choice going forward - touch wood.
I am confident we will add at least one more signing before the end of the month, maybe one plus one. It is difficult to predict because the market is very quiet but I know that in the last five days of the month it gets crazy and then it gets completely mad.
Thanks for your support.
Arsène Wenger
Monday, August 16, 2010
2010-08-15: Liverpool 1 - 1 Arsenal
Wenger: We lacked a bit of spark
Dear Arsenal Supporter,
I felt 1-1 was a fair result on Sunday.
It was a game where we had a lot of possession and in the first half we were in control. But in fairness Liverpool defended well, we had the ball in their half a lot but didn't find any openings.
I thought in the second half we could do that better after Joe Cole was sent off but they had a strong start and it was very difficult at 1-0 down against ten men who played very deep. They intelligently took the fluency out of the game. We just kept going and throwing more and more people forward and in the end we got a deserved equaliser.
I couldn't see us losing a game like that without being deeply hurt because we had a lot of possession. We lacked a bit of spark in the final third but overall my players have shown the right attitude.
I didn't see Cole's challenge on Laurent Koscielny at first because it was completely in the corner. He is usually a fair player, he is not someone who tries to hurt people, it is not his style. Maybe he was a bit rash in his tackle but Koscielny had a big knock on his shin and fortunately his shin pad protected him well. We were scared at first that his leg was broken.
What did I learn from my team at Anfield? That we are quite solid as a team, our passing is still decent and we need a bit more penetration in the final third to take advantage of our possession. That is normal because many players are just coming back from the World Cup and some from injuries. It is a positive that the spirit is there and the attitude was good.
As you will know I signed a new contract with Arsenal and I did that because I love the Club and I don't see myself going anywhere else.
I believe that signing a new deal is the only way to show my commitment to this Club. I don't know if it will be my last job but if I can finish these next four years well, I will already be happy. I am at an age where I do not plan in decades anymore, I plan month by month!
Going back to the team, we finished third last year and our ambition is to progress, to improve. I feel the two players who we bought have done well - I believe Marouane Chamakh and Koscielny had impressive performances on Sunday. But I also feel we are still a bit short defensively.
Thanks for your support.
Arsène Wenger
Dear Arsenal Supporter,
I felt 1-1 was a fair result on Sunday.
It was a game where we had a lot of possession and in the first half we were in control. But in fairness Liverpool defended well, we had the ball in their half a lot but didn't find any openings.
I thought in the second half we could do that better after Joe Cole was sent off but they had a strong start and it was very difficult at 1-0 down against ten men who played very deep. They intelligently took the fluency out of the game. We just kept going and throwing more and more people forward and in the end we got a deserved equaliser.
I couldn't see us losing a game like that without being deeply hurt because we had a lot of possession. We lacked a bit of spark in the final third but overall my players have shown the right attitude.
I didn't see Cole's challenge on Laurent Koscielny at first because it was completely in the corner. He is usually a fair player, he is not someone who tries to hurt people, it is not his style. Maybe he was a bit rash in his tackle but Koscielny had a big knock on his shin and fortunately his shin pad protected him well. We were scared at first that his leg was broken.
What did I learn from my team at Anfield? That we are quite solid as a team, our passing is still decent and we need a bit more penetration in the final third to take advantage of our possession. That is normal because many players are just coming back from the World Cup and some from injuries. It is a positive that the spirit is there and the attitude was good.
As you will know I signed a new contract with Arsenal and I did that because I love the Club and I don't see myself going anywhere else.
I believe that signing a new deal is the only way to show my commitment to this Club. I don't know if it will be my last job but if I can finish these next four years well, I will already be happy. I am at an age where I do not plan in decades anymore, I plan month by month!
Going back to the team, we finished third last year and our ambition is to progress, to improve. I feel the two players who we bought have done well - I believe Marouane Chamakh and Koscielny had impressive performances on Sunday. But I also feel we are still a bit short defensively.
Thanks for your support.
Arsène Wenger
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