What I noticed in this 2022/23 iteration is the maturity in the manner they celebrate goals . . . a champion team’s innate understanding that this moment, no matter how glorious, is just a small step in a longer game and much longer season. Continue reading Arsenal’s Prescient or Exaggerated Start
Arsène Wenger comes in for a lot of criticism about his stinginess. “It’s not even his money,” his critics say as they chastise him again and again for refusing to spend incredible sums of money for the next big thing, the next savior for the team. But it has always seemed apparent to me that this debate simply indicated a difference in managing philosophy, itself suggesting a profound difference in worldview. Put simply, for Wenger, it is not the result; it is the journey. It is not winning at all costs, but how you win. It is not about a … Continue reading A Football Manager’s Philosophy: Jürgen Klopp Channeling His Inner Arsenal
Following football passionately as I have recently, it is somewhat unsettling to see the venomous, fickle criticism leveled at players by pundits and fans alike. People who are unlikely to have the heart, dedication and perseverance to walk in the shoes of their targets. It is so much easier to write, or talk, than to do. What is most remarkable is that the criticism, often hyperbolic, is quite unfair and mean-spirited, it’s central purpose to sell papers, or advertising, or a brand. It’s the time we live in. Yaya Touré really seemed to suffer an extraordinarily bad year last season … Continue reading Sometimes People Have To Understand We Are Human Beings
Arsenal would be a disaster without Alexis Sanchez. He runs and runs and runs, as if he has something to prove. If all the Arsenal players had the heart and work rate of Alexis, the team would be invincible. Özil, after a second major injury in as many years, decided that he had to grow up a bit and came back a completely different player. He’s put on heft, and sometimes you have to look closely to confirm that it’s him you see chasing down the ball. Özil realized that he had to play the game in a different, more … Continue reading Player of the Season: Francis Coquelin
Before Özil, there was Theo — for me. Two games, four goals. This last one, taken with the weaker foot, was a pure delight, and won Arsenal’s most important game of the season. There’ll always be Theo, I so do hope. Awfully good to have you back. ©TW Matters™ 2022 Continue reading Good to Have You Back, Theo
Sense and Nonsense 