Just gets worse and worse for Arsenal :)

[tommyg]

Civil war is the last thing they need at the moment...

[zimbo]

I'll find one.

I'm sure I've seen a head the ball out of the keepers hands...

An indirect free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if, in the
opinion of the referee, a player:
• plays in a dangerous manner
• impedes the progress of an opponent
• prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands

It was Gary Crosby of Forest who headed out of Andy Dibble's (Man City keeper) hands and knocked it in the net, only to be pulled back for a free kick. Best v Shilton was also a famous one.

Although I remember Kenny scoring once v West Brom away by sneaking up behind the goalie (Tony Godden?) as he dribbled it out to the edge of the area, nicking the ball off him and tapping it in. Goal was allowed on that occasion. I think the ball is still considered to be under the keeper's control, therefore unplayable by anyone else, as it travels from his hands to his feet. Once it's on the ground I think it is deemed to be in play.

[MrMichael]

RVP is a cocky little prick with a bad attitude, always has been and always will be.
As talanted as he is(on his day) i wouldn't want him anywhere near us.

[JohnDoe]

I honestly think they need a new manager.

Wenger has done well for them, but if he's too scared to make brave purchases of established players, he's taken them as far as he can.

You can't get away from blame every year by playing your U19 side in the Carling Cup and showing how awesome they'll be in a couple of years.

If they don't finish 4th this season, he deserves the sack.

[-V-]

Sorry but thats nonsense. You have to consider the fact that Arsenal are going through a transition phase where they are putting all their resources into a superb new stadium so to be keeping up with the rest of the top 4 is decent achievement.

Wenger doesn't have as much money to spend as the rest of the elite so cut him some slack. In the long run, they will have a top class stadium, be in great financial shape and have a good footballing team. In my opinion, Arsenal fans just have to accept this current situation is better for the long-term future. They can't risk throwing big money at big players because they have massive payments to make on their stadium.

Wenger is a top coach and is doing well considering the transition their situation. Short-term pain is nothing compared to how much they will benefit from this 10 years down the line

[dww]

I honestly think they need a new manager.

Wenger has done well for them, but if he's too scared to make brave purchases of established players, he's taken them as far as he can.

You can't get away from blame every year by playing your U19 side in the Carling Cup and showing how awesome they'll be in a couple of years.

If they don't finish 4th this season, he deserves the sack.

I don't quite agree with you but even if I did the thing is that Arsenal seem to have built a business model around his cheap team building. It would require a restructuring of the club top to bottom to allow a new manager I would suspect.

I do agree that Wenger has gone too far with his unwillingness to bring in experienced players. I however think that he can take them further if he is willing to change his habits slightly and/or is given time to develop the players he has. The likes of Fabregas have the right mentality in my opinion to become leaders with time, at least in the collective leadership style that Wenger prefers.

[Rich]

This season looks like Wenger's toughest. If he's as good as what people think he is then Arsenal should come out stronger at the other end.

If Arsene still thinks he can rid of so much experience and replace solely with young talent then he'll live to regret it.

[dom9]

It was Gary Crosby of Forest who headed out of Andy Dibble's (Man City keeper) hands and knocked it in the net, only to be pulled back for a free kick. Best v Shilton was also a famous one.

Although I remember Kenny scoring once v West Brom away by sneaking up behind the goalie (Tony Godden?) as he dribbled it out to the edge of the area, nicking the ball off him and tapping it in. Goal was allowed on that occasion. I think the ball is still considered to be under the keeper's control, therefore unplayable by anyone else, as it travels from his hands to his feet. Once it's on the ground I think it is deemed to be in play.

I'm pretty sure Crosby's one counted, from what I remember.

I certainly do remember the look on Dibble's face. It was classic.

[JohnDoe]

I don't quite agree with you but even if I did the thing is that Arsenal seem to have built a business model around his cheap team building. It would require a restructuring of the club top to bottom to allow a new manager I would suspect.

I do agree that Wenger has gone too far with his unwillingness to bring in experienced players. I however think that he can take them further if he is willing to change his habits slightly and/or is given time to develop the players he has. The likes of Fabregas have the right mentality in my opinion to become leaders with time, at least in the collective leadership style that Wenger prefers.

But by the time Fabregas matures to be a real leader on the pitch, he'll be off to Barca. The problem is that while Arsenal boast an excellent pool of talented youngsters, most of them see the club as an opportunity to develop into top players and move on. Arsenal has become a stepping stone instead of a last stop, and Wenger is too "comfortable" in his position to let it bother him. He's happy to keep things as they are since he's under no threat of losing his job even if they win **** all.

With Man City soon becoming a force to be reckoned with, and Aston Villa continuing their steady progress under excellent leadership, Arsenal are in serious trouble. If they lose their spot in the top 4, the CL revenue alone would make their cheap team building look like a terrible business decision.

[MrsB]

Arsenal remind me a bit of nuclear fusion power (it always takes 30 years until fusion reactors are ready to produce energy): It always takes three years until their team has developped its full potential.

[Rich]

Arsenal remind me a bit of nuclear fusion power (it always takes 30 years until fusion reactors are ready to produce energy): It always takes three years until their team has developped its full potential.

By then the next lot of kids will have excited him and he'll have flogged off the past it 24 year olds.

[Reece]

Fabregas is the new captain.

[The Erectile Banana]

No surprise there but it's a lot of responsibility to put on young shoulders especially on a player who currently seems to be struggling somewhat under the rather overwhelming weight of expectation. Seems a bit unfair on the lad. If anything I can see this hindering Fabregas' development - things don't seem right at Arsenal and placing him in the middle of the mess will only make his game suffer. I can see parallels with Torres during his time as captain of Athletico Madrid.

[Imy]

No surprise there but it's a lot of responsibility to put on young shoulders especially on a player who currently seems to be struggling somewhat under the rather overwhelming weight of expectation. Seems a bit unfair on the lad. If anything I can see this hindering Fabregas' development - things don't seem right at Arsenal and placing him in the middle of the mess will only make his game suffer. I can see parallels with Torres during his time as captain of Athletico Madrid.

I don't think there was much of an alternative, possibly Toure? It kind of shows what Arsenal lack which is top class experience, had they signed Xabi i think he would have been made captain.

[Pablo]

It was Gary Crosby of Forest who headed out of Andy Dibble's (Man City keeper) hands and knocked it in the net, only to be pulled back for a free kick. Best v Shilton was also a famous one.

Although I remember Kenny scoring once v West Brom away by sneaking up behind the goalie (Tony Godden?) as he dribbled it out to the edge of the area, nicking the ball off him and tapping it in. Goal was allowed on that occasion. I think the ball is still considered to be under the keeper's control, therefore unplayable by anyone else, as it travels from his hands to his feet. Once it's on the ground I think it is deemed to be in play.

IIRC our very Robbie Keane did exactly the same thing several years ago.