Michael Essien: Arsenal ‘Pretty’ Ineffective
Michael Essien’s never been backward about coming forward with an opinion, usually predictions that make me cringe a bit at the time because I’ve come to learn – unlike the player himself – that they have a nasty habit of coming back to bite him on arse.
This time however, in an interview for the BBC’s Inside Sport programme, the Chelsea midfielder has made some comments about the opposition that I’m going to agree with. I admit that until I see them in the context of the whole interview, my general impression is that Michael Essien just might not be cut out for a career as a PR guru, even if he is bloody funny sometimes. But that still doesn’t stop me agreeing with what he’s had to say on this occasion.
If you forget the fact that like a lot of sides Arsenal are capable of raising their game against the top clubs, some of their results have been anything but ‘Championship winning’, so criticism is bound to follow. And according to our injured midfielder this is because they’re all style and no substance.
Essien says ‘Everybody likes to watch beautiful football, but to play beautiful football without points is… I don’t think it’s worth it. Arsenal is one of those teams that just plays beautiful football, but at the end of the day they don’t get the points that they want to.’
And the Chelsea man isn’t wrong is he? Yes, they’re good to watch, but how successful have they been in the last few years by playing this way? Are they winners or entertainers? Answers on the back of a stamp if you must.
Not that I’d rush in and suggest Chelsea are playing much better football and still getting the points – yet – because even Arsenal have bagged plenty of points in the early part of a season before, it’s sustaining the challenge that sees them fall by the wayside lately, as it could for us. And yet, I still think that when it comes to the long haul, Chelsea have something Arsenal’s pussies youngsters don’t and that’s versatility.
Or as Michael Essien puts it when asked about his priorities: ‘For me, I don’t care. To be rough and get three points, or play well and get three points - win ugly or beautifully - I don’t care.’
Sadly for Arsenal fans, their lot might well look good in the shop window but like all mannequins, they don’t actually do anymore than that.
Michael Essien’s full interview can be seen on BBC’s Inside Sport (BBC1), tonight 23:05.
Filed under: Current Players, Rants, Rivals
I think he has a valid point but Arsenal got 3 points playing football against Man U and Chelsea scraped a point. Chelsea lost to Liverpool, Arsenal might win by their creativity. No doubt Arsenal are weaker this season than last but they are faced with competing against sides with untold wealth and there seems very little merit in spending £30m (their reported budget) when others can spend that several times over to produce the miserable football that they do. Arsenal do not expect to win the league each year - they expect to entertain and to compete for it and overachieve on both relative to the investment in their squad compared to certain other clubs.
I came across this article as it was on Arsenal’s NewsNow page. I’m just trying to find the point in it but can’t find it. Admittedly Arsenal haven’t won anything in the past 3 years, but in the 7 or 8 years before that we won 2 doubles, another title, etc. playing beautiful football.
Ronaldo said that against Livepool and The Arsenal - look what happened there.
“how successful have they been in the last few years by playing this way?”
Well if I’m not mistaken mate we’ve won more titles playing this way in the last decade than you’ve won in the last fifties years (playing hoofball)…………..or did football history only start when the Russian took over. Making the historical rules up as you go along………..you lot get more like Man U fans everyday.
Mike - I’m sorry ‘mate’ but that question was obviously a little too difficult for you. “How successful have they been in the last FEW years?” I don’t recall talking in terms of decades but you obviously feel the need to stretch it a little in order to recall Arsenal’s successes yeh?
so waht exactly did chealshits rough and tumble style of football win last year? the same as us i do believe. other then the recent inection of cash fuelled success the chavs did nothing other then win the odd cup over 50 years.
as for who wins the day in terms of style i am glad that essien will be given an answer soon when the two teams meet. last year the matches were close but we led in both games and were unlucky in the second game. this year we will finish the job.
COME ON U GOONERS!!!
thenry - We were rubbish last season, Ive never tried to suggest otherwise. And of course spending money has assisted our success, maybe if your manager wasnt so tight Arsenal could have a return to their glory days and wouldn’t be quite so bitter?
Far be it from me to defender the retard that keeps posting on this site, but historically speaking Arsenal have always been the team of clumpers supported by the moneyed classes while Chelsea have been the stylish footballers with the high goalscoring and defensive ineptitude. From the Hughie Gallaghers to the Tommy Lawtons, the Jimy Greaves’, Bobby Tamblings, Peter Osgoods, Kerry Dixons. Traditionally, Arse have been cloggers, buying up players from other teams and leaving them in their reserves.
This is, i stress, just a personal opinion, but your a tosser. WHat kind of shit is this? Are you having a laugh. A crap team suddenly becomes the playing of a fickle billionaiire who buys you a couple of titles and you think that qualifies you to look down on teams that grafted to get where they are? Arsenal, Manu and Liverpool are teams that deserve respect. They have led the way through competent management and boards (Arsenal more than the others, Liverpool come last in that example) and play beautiful football and deserve to be at the top of the table through achievment not through being able to throw more money at players. We construct our squad, burture talent and youth and we dont pander to dirty money so you can take your false airs and graces and shove them up your arse.
Furthermore, if you are going to agree with someones opinion, do yourself a favour and agree with someone who has a greater iq than you have fingers, unless that is (and i suspect this may be the case) both you and Michael Essien’s Iq’s are on a level - if you lose count by the way you have 8 fingers and 2 thumbs - but i guess neither you or Essien have yet figured out what thumbs are for.
Get a life, beautiful football is what your own manager said he wanted you to play you plumb! SHame you cant do it as well as we do - are you jealous? is that the reason for your snidey little playground comments?
gooner - of course I’m jealous, I want Chelsea to be where you are in the PL obviously. And Chelsea were hardly a crap club when Abramovich came - would he really have been interested if that was the case? Oh, and I’m quite happy with some of the football we’ve played this season - its an improvement on the shite dished up for the past few years and its not one-dimensional either.
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