Arsenal Alumni Watch

I'm sure we can all admit to watching our former players. Some we despise for leaving, and others we wish the best for.

Vito Mannone played his first game for Sunderland this weekend, and kept a clean sheet against Man City!

I had that game running in the background today, and felt really pleased for him.
He's one to whom I too wish all the best.

Robert Pires and Freddie Ljungberg will be playing in the Indian Super League starting this coming January.

Is Ljungberg still our Ambassador or something like that?

Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger believes his defence during the “invisibles” era completely gets overlooked as one of the best defences in the EPL.

Arsenal’s back four of Lauren, Kolo Toure, Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole formed an outstanding defensive partnership that saw the Gunners go unbeaten throughout the 2003/2004 season, enroute to Wenger’s 3rd Premier League title.

Since then, the club had struggled to assemble another defence capable of matching that of the invisibles era but all that seems to be changing, with the current back four of Bacary Sagna, Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny and Kieran Gibbs now getting deserved praise and recognition in England and across Europe, following a string of consistent performances since March.

Although this pleases the Arsenal boss, he still has a soft spot for his immortal 03/04 defence.

“People always speak of the defence I inherited when I arrived here, it was an exceptional defence and a bit similar to now,” said Wenger. “Adams and Bould were similar and Keown was a bit different. On the flanks I had two real resilient, tough, intelligent English full backs.

“But after that people forget a lot about the defence that was unbeaten. They never speak about that and it’s unbelievable that that defence never gets any credit.

“It was Lauren, Kolo Toure, Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole. They were absolutely exceptional. They didn’t lose a game and yet no-one speaks about them.

“It was a more powerful centre than it is today because Kolo and Sol were absolutely both very pacy players with unbelievable physical power. When a striker went beyond any of them you knew they would come back and catch them up. They were less calculating but much more physical.

The 64 year old Frenchman would now be relying on his current back four to keep their third clean sheet in a row since September 2012, when they take on Manchester United at Old Trafford after 2 shut-outs against high-flying duo, Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund.

http://goonerhead.com/my-invisibles-defence-was-underrated-wenger/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=my-invisibles-defence-was-underrated-wenger

Figured as they are four alumni it could go here.

How's this for invincible?
(poor guy)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlWZdBsUYJA#t=26

rea.nolan wrote:How's this for invincible?
(poor guy)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlWZdBsUYJA#t=26

Indeed. The poor guy. Lol

Watched a bit of Eboue for Galatasaray against Real Madrid.

5 minutes in, he decides to dribble through the middle into 3 Real players and injures himself (temporarily). He does some stupid things.

He did create a few nice chances though.

Carlos Vela scored 4 goals for Real Sociedad to win 4-3 against Celta Vigo on the weekend!

Vela is quite often on the score sheet and for a good team.

7 goals in 17 games so far this season. 6 from 12 in the league. Hopefully his 4 goals gives him confidence to score more.

2 goals in 2 games for Chamahk for Crystal Palace..

He has now scored 3 goals from 4 shots on target. And that one shot on target that he didn't score was against us and forced an excellent save from Szczesny.

Did Almunia throw in another howler? Thought I saw a gif but wasn't too sure, certainly looked like him...
If it was I feel so sorry for him. Oh how the mighty have fallen.

Marko Maksimović wrote:Did Almunia throw in another howler? Thought I saw a gif but wasn't too sure, certainly looked like him...
If it was I feel so sorry for him. Oh how the mighty have fallen.

From single handedly keeping Barcelona at bay for 40 minutes a few years ago...

And the penalty save against Spurs.

Gervinho has insisted that he retains fond memories of north London, but revels in a particular reunion at AS Roma.

The Ivorian arrived at the Emirates for £10.8 million in July 2011 to great expectations, fresh off a double-winning campaign with Lille in Ligue 1.

His Premier League career got off to an inauspicious start when he was sent off on his debut for slapping renowned wind-up artist Joey Barton – banned three games for violent conduct.

Inconsistency and a perceived lack of ability to live up to his promise saw the forward become an object of criticism for Gunners supporters, widely viewing him as a flop.

After just two seasons with Arsenal the 26-year-old would move on to Roma this past summer, personally requested by his former boss at Lille, Rudi Garcia.

But Gervinho has maintained that he still holds a certain reverence for his former club, even if his time under Arsene Wenger didn’t pan out as he’d hoped.

“I think my adventure in London was positive,” he told L’Equipe. “I have always dreamed of playing for Arsenal, and I had good times there.

“It’s just a shame I didn’t get to play more.

“But it’s not a failure.

“All leagues correspond to my qualities, I just need confidence.”

The Ivory coast international said earlier in the season that he had felt Wenger had lost belief in him, suggesting that the Frenchman played a role in his underperformance.

Garcia, however, went to lengths to bring his former charge to the Stadio Olimpico upon taking up the helm in the summer – later revealing that director of sport Walter Sabatini wasn’t keen on the signing, only agreeing at the new coach’s insistence.

And according to Gervinho, it’s this faith from the man he first plied his trade under at Le Mans that has seen him become a fan favourite in the Italian capital – where he was initially met with scepticism – in just six months.

“He [Garcia] knows me completely and knows how to give me confidence,” he added.

“He’s a person who gives me a lot both on and off the pitch.

“If I could play my whole career with him, that would suit me.

“I feel at ease, calm and liberated by his side.”

http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2014/02/04/ic-gervinho-i-wasnt-a-failure-at-arsenal/

I don't think the majority of fans would agree with you...

rea.nolan wrote:How's this for invincible?
(poor guy)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlWZdBsUYJA#t=26

truly have to 'feel' for him with that one...