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..feza.. · Site Admin Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Posts: 304

news and talk

Guest · Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2006 12:25 am Post subject:

Henry voted best foreigner ever
Arsenal skipper Thierry Henry has been voted the greatest foreigner to ever play in the Premiership in a poll of more than 1.5million votes.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger admitted even he was not aware of just what an impact the brilliant French forward would have when Henry, now 29, arrived from Juventus in 1999.

The Arsenal boss reflected: "It is one of the best signings - but no-one could predict he would be the success he would be.

"I always felt that between 28 and 32 the players are at their peak, they get everything together.

"When you are a striker you are served by all the others. When you are a goalkeeper, you watch all the games; when you are a midfielder you watch the game in a complete different way to a striker.

"Thierry is very intelligent and he can put himself in the position of all the other departments and analyse them."

The poll, conducted by Sky, saw former Leeds and Manchester United star Eric Cantona finish second.

Guest · Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 5:42 am Post subject:

Frustrated Henry puts principles first

Thierry Henry said after Arsenal's siege on Everton's goal that he would rather die than sacrifice his principles: that the game of football is about skill, expansiveness and entertainment.

A restless and fickle crowd at the Emirates Stadium had been haranguing their players, Henry in particular, to cut the intricacy and try to be more direct.

But David Moyes is nobody's fool and, having watched Aston Villa and Middlesbrough impede Arsenal's natural flow with a vigilant five-man midfield and a single, hard-running striker, the Everton manager tried it himself.

The Merseysiders, however, added the annoying tactic of delaying every goal-kick and slowing up every opposition free-kick so that the 90 minutes became 100 - and, for sarcastically pointing at his watch in injury-time, Moyes was sent off by Michael Riley. But he is likely to escape further action as the FA may well regard his banishment as sufficient punishment.

The go-slow ploy irritated Arsene Wenger. 'They defended very well and tactically were well organised,' the home manager conceded. 'But they tried to slow down our pace by things they need not do.

'They did that at any price, many times by standing in front of the ball. But only the referee can stop that. At the start of every season we're told that people standing in front of the ball will be punished, but they never are.'

To which Moyes countered: 'My job is to come here as Everton manager and find ways of winning the game. Some day I may come here with a team of Arsenal's ability, but I haven't got that. Part of my job as a coach is to find ways of getting a result against the better teams. Today we tried to do that but it might not happen all the time. The plan was to try to stifle Arsenal.

'With Cesc Fabregas and Tomas Rosicky they have top-quality attacking midfield players. You can't just keep on letting them run so we had to play as tight as we possibly could in the middle.'

By deploying Simon Davies and Lee Carsley in front of his back four there was a 'they shalt not pass' Maginot Line strung across Everton's half that proved very effective, breached only by a stunning Robin Van Persie free-kick, awarded somewhat controversially 19 minutes from time when Rosicky was brought down by Carsley 25 yards from goal.

Of course, the game Everton played was not pretty - acts of attrition rarely are - and, while he may have high-principled conviction, Henry and his attacking colleagues still need a strategy to overcome the sides going to the Emirates simply to defend.

The fans clearly feel a more direct approach could be the answer and Henry said: 'I keep hearing them shouting "shoot". I don't know what they're trying to say to do. But I think they're getting sucked in by what other people say about us.

'We scored some amazing goals at Reading and nobody was shouting "shoot" then. We created similar chances against Everton but the finishing wasn't what you expect.'

Nor was the defending. The fact is that Moyes has his defenders superbly organised and resilient. They are industrious, uncomplicated and uncompromising. They are also very difficult to break down.

Nobody marshaled them better than Alan Stubbs, demonstrating that, at 35, fine anticipation is still as useful as a turn of speed. 'That was a terrific team performance,' Stubbs ventured to suggest. 'Each player put his hand up and was prepared to put in a shift.

'We always tend to look at Arsenal as a team who want to score the perfect goal. But we did a great job in closing the holes they like to slide the ball through. The fact we have played here a lot of times and come away with our tails between our legs makes this a great result.'

What Arsenal also need to address with some urgency before they take part in the knockout stages of the Champions League, is their tendency to concede soft goals at set-pieces.

Tim Cahill, for all his courage, should not have been allowed to launch himself at the corner from which Everton took the lead and Henry admitted: 'We are shooting ourselves in the foot.

'They came with a plan, like Villa and Middlesbrough, and it seems we're going to have that all season here. They play 4-4-2 everywhere else they go, then play 4-5-1 here. We have to deal with that as a team. But we must also show concentration at the back.'

Wenger feels the same way. He said: 'We make it difficult for ourselves. If you look at Cahill's goal you see we had chances to clear the ball. If we had been more alert defensively at home, of the six points we have lost we would have had four of them.'

Arsenal have wonderfully gifted players and can be a joy to watch. But at times like this they allow their frustration to surface when things need to be worked out. For a team with title ambitions this was definitely two points lost.

Guest · Posted: Sat Nov 04, 2006 2:38 am Post subject:

Henry should have joined Barca

November 04, 2006

MICHEL PLATINI told Thierry Henry to his face: You should have joined Barcelona.

France legend Platini reckons the Arsenal skipper made one of the biggest mistakes of his career by snubbing the Catalan giants in the summer.

Hitman Henry, 29, was offered a £30million move to link up with Ronaldinho, Deco and Lionel Messi — but opted to stay with the Gunners.

Platini, 51, said: “I sincerely believe he made a mistake in not signing for Barcelona.

“I told him so and said the same to Barca president Joan Laporta.

“Henry would have grown a lot at Barcelona.

“Thierry Henry is a truly great player and is on the verge of overtaking me as a goalscorer for France.

“However, he hasn’t achieved the same category of other great stars.

“Why? Because he lacks playing in a great team and winning titles with his club like he has done with France, where he has been European and world champion.”

Instead of being surrounded by world football’s most talented players, Henry was in the company of a bunch of blankers in the midweek 0-0 Champions League draw with CSKA Moscow.

Also, Henry’s relationship with a section of Gunners fans has been awkward after he last week complained about them leaving games at the Emirates Stadium before the final whistle.

Platini added: “It would have been a spectacle without comparison to see Thierry together with Ronaldinho, Eto’o, Messi, Deco and company. Henry would have enjoyed all the beauty and Barcelona would have been an even better team without equals.”

Henry is just three goals short of equalling Platini as France’s all-time top-scorer.

The former Juventus midfield maestro hit 41 goals in 72 internationals, while Henry has 38 goals and 90 caps.

Arsenal lost 2-1 to Barcelona in last season’s Champions League final but their surprising Euro run convinced Henry he could achieve his club ambitions under Arsene Wenger at the Emirates Stadium.

He has won two Premiership titles and three FA Cups with Arsenal but still lacks a European triumph to underline his status.

But Platini admits Henry’s decision to stick with Arsenal was a mark of his commitment to put the club ahead of money and personal gain.

He added: “I profoundly respect his decision.

“For him his relationship with Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal directors, his team-mates, the fans and the weight of the opinion of his family was more important than just football matters.”

Guest · Posted: Sat Nov 11, 2006 8:19 pm Post subject:

Thierry: We're not robots

LET me be honest. Players who had a very long campaign in the Champions League and who played right up to the latter stages of the World Cup are not at the top of their game right now. It is only normal.

I know I’m not playing at my best.

When people hammer the likes of myself, Frank Lampard, David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney and Ronaldinho they have to understand that these players do not become bad overnight. They will never be able to play at their peak 365 days a year without feeling the fatigue.

None of us have had particularly great starts to the season, although I have still hit six goals and Frank has done well in the last couple of games. I think it is obvious to see that none of us are at our peak at the moment.

Speaking for myself, I played a full Premiership season culminating in the Champions League final. Then straight after that I joined the World Cup squad and then played every game of the tournament including the final that went to extra-time and penalties.

I had only a few days’ break before beginning another season so it will obviously have an effect on my performance levels.

I barely had a break before I was returning to training for Arsenal.

I’m not a robot. None of us are. I think that is the point that fans and critics need to understand. I have listed the names of world-class players up there that every manager would want in their team even half fit!

These players are all great players but will not always perform at the best of their ability all the time.

Seasons running into each other is something I have to live with, I know that. Critics will always be on our backs when things are not going well and will be singing our praises when we do something good. That is football.

It’s not the first time and it certainly won’t be the last.

You have to remember that last season, critics were questioning my loyalty to Arsenal and were saying: “He’s going to Barcelona, is he really going to fight for the team? It’s written on his forehead!”

Obviously, in the end, I decided to stay at Arsenal. And I’ll just take this opportunity to categorically say that contrary to what I read in the papers I am not unhappy at my decision to stay and at no stage have I ever regretted remaining at the club.

I must admit, it gives me something to laugh about — and it’s happened again this week — when I hear of stories saying I have told Arsene Wenger that I’m going to be leaving in January. Obviously, it’s all rubbish.

I accept it’s not been the greatest of starts to the season and losing at West Ham was tough. But as Chelsea proved a couple of hours later when losing to Spurs, this season is going to be incredibly open.

It will take until January, even February, before we have a really good idea of who will be going for the title.

If we are to get right up there, we have to become more consistent, although our Carling Cup win at Everton was a good result. Against West Ham last Sunday, we had a couple of chances to score but we didn’t — yet we should have had a penalty.

When players surround a ref, it is mentioned. But it’s not mentioned when players do not hassle the ref and get on with the game, like we did at Upton Park. We didn’t do anything because we respected the ref’s decision, even though I felt we should have been awarded the penalty.

While people have been going on about the pushing and shoving between Alan Pardew and Arsene Wenger, the one thing that did disappoint me was a fan throwing a coin at Robin van Persie. It also happened to Claus Jensen at Fulham 24 hours earlier.

I once took a coin to the side of my head during a game against Chelsea. I still have the scar to prove it. At Valencia I was spat at and had lighters thrown at me. I showed them to the ref and he said ‘What do you expect me to do?’

I was watching a German Cup game two weeks ago. The ref had something thrown at his head and both sides left the pitch and the home team forfeited the game.

Now, I’m not saying that is the answer. And you can’t stop people from coming to a game without money. You just have to hope people realise they are making idiots out of themselves and spoiling the game for the genuine fans.

At the moment, there’s also a big discussion about referees. But people are failing to realise how difficult it is for them. Players and refs need to talk to each other and have a better understanding.

The game is quicker and more difficult and we all make mistakes, which takes us back to the West Ham game. Managers, chairmen and players all get things wrong. We need to accept the criticism.

If I play badly, I get hammered. If refs make bad decisions, they have to expect the same.

But we do have to appreciate their job. Certainly, I would never want to be a ref. Never in a million years, in fact.

As for playing Liverpool on Sunday, we desperately need a win. We have the chance to be four points ahead of them with a game in hand. Obviously, there are teams way out in front of us but we can get closer.

In this League, if you go on a good run, you can soon get up to the top.

We went on a bad run last year through the first half of the season and we have to make sure we can be stronger at home this time.

Because, believe me, we still have a chance of catching Chelsea and Manchester United.

Guest · Posted: Mon Nov 13, 2006 7:48 pm Post subject:

I'm Gunner be here for life

November 13, 2006

THIERRY HENRY has pledged to finish his career with Arsenal.

Henry, 29, is contracted to the club until 2010 and the Frenchman insists he has no desire to play anywhere else.

The Gunners skipper said: "My intention is to stay with Arsenal for the rest of my career.

"I am happy here and could never play for another English side.

"If by chance Barcelona wanted to sign me, the answer would still be no.

"Signing a new contract with Arsenal was one of the last big decisions of my career and I have absolutely no regrets.

"In England players are used to staying with their clubs for several years. Once the supporters get behind you they are fans for life."

Henry admits his form has been inconsistent so far this season but he is confident the Gunners have plenty to play for.

He added: "We are still in the hunt in the Premiership and in the Champions League.

"The fans expect more of me and I expect more of myself."

Guest · Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 10:49 pm Post subject:

Arsene takes Henry gamble

January 02, 2007

ARSENAL are ready to gamble on Thierry Henry as Arsene Wenger faces a striking crisis for tonight’s clash with Charlton.

The Gunners skipper will undergo a fitness test today after missing the last eight games with back and hamstring problems.

Wenger is already without Emmanuel Adebayor and Julio Baptista for tonight’s match while Robin van Persie is a major doubt.

Now the Arsenal boss is hoping Henry will get the all-clear to make his return ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup showdown with Liverpool.

Wenger admitted: “At the moment it is difficult to say who will be available for the Charlton game.

“Adebayor will be out, Van Persie got a knock on his ankle at Sheffield United and Baptista will definitely be out. He had a kick and has a bad ankle.

“Alex Hleb certainly has a chance of returning, but I don’t know about Henry. We have to assess the situation as late as possible.”

The Gunners had gone seven games unbeaten without Henry until Saturday’s shock defeat at Bramall Lane.

Wenger knows it is essential to get back to winning ways against struggling Charlton at the Emirates Stadium.

Tonight’s match will be Wenger’s first meeting with new Charlton boss Alan Pardew since their infamous touchline bust-up at West Ham two months ago.

Wenger was fined £10,000 for that row while Pardew is still contesting his FA charge of improper conduct.

But the Arsenal chief will not be drawn into another row and insisted: “I have not spoken to Pardew since that game and I have nothing more to say about that.”

Charlton have picked up four points from their two games since Pardew took over from Les Reed last week but Wenger is not convinced changing managers mid-season is always a great idea.

He said: “It can work if the managers being replaced are not competent.

“But I don’t think that was the case with Charlton. Iain Dowie was competent and so was Les Reed so I don’t know if any good will come of it.

“Statistically, a change of manager doesn’t usually produce a change of convincing results. But maybe it can at Charlton.

“It is down to the chairman and directors to make the right decisions but our business is quite fragile so all the decisions are subjective. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.”

Wenger is more concerned about his own team’s shortcomings following the 1-0 defeat at Bramall Lane.

He said: “We were beaten in the challenges on Saturday and could not dictate our game. We had early chances and could not take them.

“Then we made a massive mistake on the goal and were punished for it.

“We have lost too many games which we could have won. Saturday was another one. But I will not use injuries as an excuse.

"When you play at Arsenal Football Club you have to face a physical challenge no matter where you go. Injuries would be a bit of a cheap excuse.”

Yet Wenger is adamant he will not be taking advantage of the January transfer market and insists he is happy with his current squad.

He said: “We will not buy anybody. We already have too many players.

“Three years ago I said the same thing and then I bought Jose Reyes. But those were totally different circumstances.

“This time I am not even after anybody.”