Early Doors - Your morning briefing blog

Arsenal's future in safe hands?

Wed Nov 12 08:54AM

"The future is in safe hands" - Arsene Wenger, November 11 2008

Yesterday evening, Early Doors escaped its minders for long enough to tunnel out of its cage, hail a local rickshaw and make for the Emirates Stadium.

There, it saw an Arsenal team with an average age of 13.42 wipe the floor with a full-strength Wigan side.

It was a remarkable, thrilling spectacle - but Arsenal's Carling Cup team is the reason they will never win anything meaningful again.

Put simply, the teenagers are so good that they already merit first-team action. And, as he brings them through, Arsene Wenger will continue to flog established players.

When Emmanuel Adebayor comes to Wenger demanding a bumper new contract, why should his pay demands be met when there is Carlos Vela (pictured) waiting in the wings to replace him?

And when Milan and Barcelona bid each other into a frenzy over Cesc Fabregas, surely Wenger should just take the £30 million and run when he can replace him with any of Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Fran Merida and the only man in the Premier League who sounds like he has come fresh from a Swiss finishing school, Henri Lansbury?

Wenger has such faith in the future that he neglects the present.

He has already dismantled a team that went through a whole season unbeaten to make room for emerging players - and more recently he lost Mathieu Flamini on a free to Milan.

Patrick Vieira had to be sold in 2005 because there was a new midfield leader coming through, Fabregas.

The theory was that, in order for Fabregas to grow into the role, Vieira had to move on. All very well, except that at that time little Cesc still needed a note from his mum to stay out late on a school night.

Fabregas is brilliant, no argument. But surely he, and Arsenal, are better when he is playing alongside one of the greatest players in Premier League history, not the 20-year-old Denilson?

Vieira and Thierry Henry might have been past their best, but did Arsenal really improve when they left?

Since leaving Highbury, incidentally, Vieira has never failed to finish first in Serie A with either Juventus or Inter (admittedly Juve were stripped of two titles because of their frankly rubbish efforts to influence referees).

The Invincibles benefited hugely from having 30-somethings like Sol Campbell, Dennis Bergkamp and Jens Lehmann.

Now their most experienced player, William Gallas, appears to have all the maturity of a pre-school birthday party.

Wenger's trust in his youth system is so absolute and his refusal to sign star players so stubborn that, while he is obviously a genius, he is also compromising his team's progress. He is like a boxer beating up opponents with one hand tied behind his back.

To stretch the boxing analogy beyond breaking point, Arsenal can batter football's answers to Amir Khan and Audley Harrison with sublime ease and grace.

But when it comes to Joe Calzaghe or Floyd Mayweather, they simply lack the punching power to match up over the course of a 12-round season.

Yes, they beat Manchester United at the weekend, but does anybody really think they will win either of the two pieces of silverware that really matter - the Premier League and Champions League?

Wenger needs to be bound, gagged and thrown into an unlit broom cupboard while the Arsenal board - led by Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith, who has an even posher name than Henri Lansbury - spend £50 million on a couple of world class players.

Not even obscure ones - blindingly obvious signings, the like of which would utterly horrify Wenger.

We know that Gareth Barry has his price - pay it. And Gianluigi Buffon must be fed up of playing in front of half-empty stadia and finishing fourth with Juventus - surely he would fancy playing in front of a packed house and finishing fourth with Arsenal?

Sign Karim Benzema or Franck Ribery or Samuel Eto'o or Xabi Alonso or Lionel Messi or Zlatan Ibrahimovic or Wayne Rooney. Anyone, just as long as they are famous, expensive and good.

Only when these big names are in place can Wenger then be released from imprisonment and allowed to coach his improved side to glory. Then Arsenal's future really will be in safe hands.

- - -

LOOK AWAY NOW JOE COLE: Following in the grand tradition of Harry Kewell's missus and that one off Hollyoaks who used to go out with Cristiano Ronaldo, Joe Cole's WAG Carly Zucker has decided to prove she is more than a pretty face by spending several weeks in the company of Esther Rantzen and Robert Kilroy-Silk eating kangaroo penises.

The Sun's I'm A Celebrity preview describes Zucker thus: "Joe Cole's other half, she will be nipping to the jungle shower three or four times a day, while hidden ITV cameramen try to get a shot of her boobs." The Sun also asks of Ryan Gigss's ex Dani Behr: "Does a Behr s*** in the woods?"

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "In the last week I have been left out of two games. I don't know why and I think Manchester City fans have a right to know. That's why I'm here publicly saying to the fans, and people at the club who like me, that I'm very unhappy and sad. When I am playing I know what he [Mark Hughes] wants but when I come off there is nothing from him." Understand, City fans - Elano is only pulling a massive hissy fit for your benefit.

FOREIGN VIEW: 'Crisis', 'Shame', 'What's going on?' - The Madrid press agree that Real Madrid's Copa del Rey exit at the hands of third-tier Real Union Irun was less than impressive.

COMING UP: More Carling Cup action including Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham among others. Follow all three games live from 19:45 UK time.

Comments1 - 30 of 664
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Arse-anal aint never winning no silver ware again.
MANU 4 life
From harsh20483 on Wed Nov 12 09:00AM
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BTW 1st for 2nd tym
From harsh20483 on Wed Nov 12 09:00AM
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Care free whereever you may be, we are the famous CFC.....All the time the Arse aren't winning anything, they will lose their best players and so it continues....
From jjury on Wed Nov 12 09:03AM
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"Does a Behr s*** in the woods?" from what I've heard she'll s*** anywhere you want her to if there's a chance to be on the TV.
From sikka316 on Wed Nov 12 09:07AM
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Wenger doesn't buy established players because it would increase the pressure on him, a different pressure and how many kids does he bring through???? They arrive age 15 from all corners of the globe and get in the team a year or 2 later! Arsenal have no youth system or experienced players. Lets face it the Arsenal "Youth" is a con. They take worlds best youngsters because the clubs cannot keep them!!!! Arsenal are worse than Chelsea and Man Utd put together, at least they pay full whack for the players who have already given their club a few years service and take the full pressure of that star failing. Arsenal pay 5million for a 14-15 yo and if he doesn't make it nobody notices, so no pressure on wenger. Most of wengers biggest singings have been rubbish too........
From brap999 on Wed Nov 12 09:16AM
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Arsenal should replace its premiership side with its cadet side so that we can all have our peace or better still let Arsene Wenger switch positions with the cadet team coach since it has become very obvious where his true interest lies.
From aopeepeepee on Wed Nov 12 09:22AM
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Morning Simon
From fitbutfrustrated on Wed Nov 12 09:23AM
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Wenger has shown that he is fit for cadet football...only
From aopeepeepee on Wed Nov 12 09:25AM
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Morning all. Good article today ED.
From danny_saks on Wed Nov 12 09:25AM
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aopeepeepee I don't know what you were trying to say but it doesn't matter we don't have to talk or understand each other
And Arsene is a @#$%
From lanceclarkey on Wed Nov 12 09:25AM
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Great article; perceptive and true. I didn't think you boys had it in you.
Wilshere looked a brilliant prospect and, although he used both feet, he looks like a left sided player who is english and good. Wayne's youngest England player record could be in danger.
Good, solid performance from the mighty Potters keeping my fingers crossed for a home tie against Derby.
From chrisnewman950 on Wed Nov 12 09:26AM
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Morning FBF
From sikka316 on Wed Nov 12 09:27AM
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Let Arsenal win the champions league with its cadet team b4 we all start cheering, to me there is nothing to cheer about a coach or team that has not won anything in 4 years
From aopeepeepee on Wed Nov 12 09:27AM
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11 yup sexy Anne will be pleased. And Leeds lost!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA1
From danny_saks on Wed Nov 12 09:30AM
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Morning all
Gooners suck !
Wishing you all sunshine and happiness
Real Union Irun Rock
Baah!
From arttidesco on Wed Nov 12 09:30AM
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WOOHOO ALL THE SUCKERS ARE STILL HERE! BUT THEY'VE FOUND A NEW KING.
QUOTE: Morning Simon - LOSER BOY IS BACK! THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT YOUR FRIENDS MR FIT (200 POUNDS) AND FRUSTRATED (CONFUSED ABOUT WHAT HE LIKES)!
UR A PATHETIC JERK!!! LITTLE CAESAR HAS MORE CHARM THAN U!!!
NEWSFLASH - UR AN IDIOT!
From tot.jelly on Wed Nov 12 09:30AM
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Rather than have an extremely effective 2nd team, why not loan out the youngsters to get some proper competitive games under their belt more regularly and then push for first team places? If they are as good as everyone says then some of the better teams should be sniffing around them and prepared to take them on loan.
From sikka316 on Wed Nov 12 09:30AM
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AOPEEPEE - CADET? JEEZ! U LIMEYS R SO 80S
From tot.jelly on Wed Nov 12 09:33AM
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aopeepeepee keep the Arsenal bashing up it turns me on
From lanceclarkey on Wed Nov 12 09:35AM
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AWW ARTI IS BACK TOO!! UR FAVRITE SINGING SMILING @#$% EATING GRIN TOTING HOKUM SPOUTING TRASH EATING GERMAN ARTIST
U A REAL FILM PRODUCER ART MAN? ANY OF UR BLOCKBUSTERS AT THE MULTIPLEX NOW?
JERKOFF
From tot.jelly on Wed Nov 12 09:35AM
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17 - Thats not a bad idea. But when your 2nd team is arguably better that your 1st at the moment they are possiblky best kept in house!
From danny_saks on Wed Nov 12 09:38AM
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And I thought it was the yanks who are still into Big Hair and shoulder pads on the soccer pitch ?
From arttidesco on Wed Nov 12 09:39AM
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Man Utd...you were beaten by a team of kid...Chelsea...dirty playing style...and sitll Man Utd..although you won the Champions League..you still beaten 2-1 by a team of kid..and you need a kid to score a goal for you...not fancy CR or old grumpy Giggs or Neville..you need a KID...A KID..and when Man Utd beat Arsenal 4-0 in the last FA Cup..Man Utd line up kids not old grumpy players...so?? think wisely Man Utd fans...if it is true Arsene sign only the best youth in this world..why he doesn't sign Messi,Aguero,CR,Bojan,Dos Santos or even Rooney in the first place?? And Arsene reject CR because of solo playing style..no teamwork..tq....
From sanza_roughheart on Wed Nov 12 09:42AM
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DESTROYED? GIVE ME A BREAK!
U ANOTHER ID FOR THE FAT@SS NO FRIENDS WEB TROLL?
U STILL NOT GOT ANY FRSH AIR? NO ONE TO SEE UR GRIMY TEE SHIRT AND SWEATY JOGGERS?
STILL NEED A MIRROR TO SEE UR @#$% UNDER THE ROLLS OF FAT?
BING! UR MICORWAVE BURRITOS R READY!
LAP IT UP FATS
From tot.jelly on Wed Nov 12 09:45AM
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TOT JELLY NEW KING WTF? I AM KING OF NOTHING MERELY A CONTRIBUTOR
YOU HOWEVER ARE A TOTALCUNT AND ARE THE MOST DESPISED BLOGGER ON HERE NO QUESTION
From fitbutfrustrated on Wed Nov 12 09:46AM
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tot.jelly i sense anger
From some_steam on Wed Nov 12 09:46AM
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TOTALLYTV - AWW SWEEET! U WRITE THAT ALL ON UR OWN? BLESS!!!!!
LIKE THE RYHME SMELLY AND JELLY - VERY GOOD! GOLD STAR 4 U LITTLE BOY!
WHY SHUD I CARE THAT 1.8 MILLION LIMEY SKANKS R JOBLESS?
GIVES EM MORE TIME TO SORT THEIR TEETH OUT
NEWSFLASH - U SUCK DONKEYS BALLS!!
From tot.jelly on Wed Nov 12 09:48AM
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THE ARTISIT - BIG HAIR? U BEEN WATCHING RE-RUNS OR DALLAS? BET THAT'S THE BEST THING ON GERMAN TV - APART FROM UR ART FILMS OF COURSE
BET THEYR A HOOT!
From tot.jelly on Wed Nov 12 09:49AM
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say fairy-arsenal team will not win even the Carling cup this season.
From aopeepeepee on Wed Nov 12 09:49AM
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What a load of ?x?x?x I have read on these pages if only you sickdiggers knew how to play football but still keep watching those so talented youngsters half who were british under the guidance of THE PROF make your teams look stupid.
Arsene knows and in Arsene we trust.
from ManUre
From colinennew21149 on Wed Nov 12 09:49AM
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