Cesc Fabregas produced a masterclass in midfield play against Blackburn last Sunday. Having assisted Arsenal's first three goals he decided to cut out the middle man and simply put the ball in the back of the net himself.
The ensuing celebration was notable for one main reason: it contained the ever popular badge kissing from a player who's been linked with a transfer to pastures greener, in this case, Barcelona.
The more cynical Arsenal fans might have cast their minds back to the beginning of last season, when Emmanuel Adebayor scored a pre-season goal for the Gunners and decided to show his loyalty to the club by kissing the badge in front of the Arsenal supporters. Fast forward to 12th September 2009, when Adebayor decided to taunt Arsenal supporters by celebrating a goal he scored for Manchester City right in front of them.
What then of Cesc's celebration? Is his kiss of the Arsenal badge the kiss of death for his career at the club? Or to put it another way, like Judas, has he betrayed them with a kiss? Unlike Adebayor, Fabregas is loved by the supporters of Arsenal football club, and so if he decides to leave at the end of the season it will surely be on good terms. After all, he has been at Arsenal for seven seasons, which is almost as long a service as recent legends Viera and Henry, the latter of which was a witness of Cesc's demolition of Blackburn and received generous applause from the Emirates crowd prior to the game.
However, unlike Thierry Henry and Patrick Viera, Cesc Fabregas has yet to lead Arsenal to a piece of prime silverware. The fans will feel that he still owes them some trophies, and so they must remain in hope that the latest Gunner to kiss the badge is not planning on kissing the club good-bye any time soon.
However, should he pack his bags next summer he will still be remembered fondly by Arsenal fans as a wonderful playmaker, whose commitment to the club on the field was rarely if ever in question. But he will also be remembered as someone who failed to bring the club the glory it so desperately craves. Can he live with that? Perhaps he won't have to if he continues to play like he did on Sunday, because in that kind of form Arsenal will surely be walking away with a trophy or two come next May.
Showing posts with label adebayor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label adebayor. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Too Many Kiss-related Puns?
Cesc Fabregas produced a masterclass in midfield play against Blackburn last Sunday. Having assisted Arsenal's first three goals he decided to cut out the middle man and simply put the ball in the back of the net himself.
The ensuing celebration was notable for one main reason: it contained the ever popular badge kissing from a player who's been linked with a transfer to pastures greener, in this case, Barcelona.
The more cynical Arsenal fans might have cast their minds back to the beginning of last season, when Emmanuel Adebayor scored a pre-season goal for the Gunners and decided to show his loyalty to the club by kissing the badge in front of the Arsenal supporters. Fast forward to 12th September 2009, when Adebayor decided to taunt Arsenal supporters by celebrating a goal he scored for Manchester City right in front of them.
What then of Cesc's celebration? Is his kiss of the Arsenal badge the kiss of death for his career at the club? Or to put it another way, like Judas, has he betrayed them with a kiss? Unlike Adebayor, Fabregas is loved by the supporters of Arsenal football club, and so if he decides to leave at the end of the season it will surely be on good terms. After all, he has been at Arsenal for seven seasons, which is almost as long a service as recent legends Viera and Henry, the latter of which was a witness of Cesc's demolition of Blackburn and received generous applause from the Emirates crowd prior to the game.
However, unlike Thierry Henry and Patrick Viera, Cesc Fabregas has yet to lead Arsenal to a piece of prime silverware. The fans will feel that he still owes them some trophies, and so they must remain in hope that the latest Gunner to kiss the badge is not planning on kissing the club good-bye any time soon.
However, should he pack his bags next summer he will still be remembered fondly by Arsenal fans as a wonderful playmaker, whose commitment to the club on the field was rarely if ever in question. But he will also be remembered as someone who failed to bring the club the glory it so desperately craves. Can he live with that? Perhaps he won't have to if he continues to play like he did on Sunday, because in that kind of form Arsenal will surely be walking away with a trophy or two come next May.
The ensuing celebration was notable for one main reason: it contained the ever popular badge kissing from a player who's been linked with a transfer to pastures greener, in this case, Barcelona.
The more cynical Arsenal fans might have cast their minds back to the beginning of last season, when Emmanuel Adebayor scored a pre-season goal for the Gunners and decided to show his loyalty to the club by kissing the badge in front of the Arsenal supporters. Fast forward to 12th September 2009, when Adebayor decided to taunt Arsenal supporters by celebrating a goal he scored for Manchester City right in front of them.
What then of Cesc's celebration? Is his kiss of the Arsenal badge the kiss of death for his career at the club? Or to put it another way, like Judas, has he betrayed them with a kiss? Unlike Adebayor, Fabregas is loved by the supporters of Arsenal football club, and so if he decides to leave at the end of the season it will surely be on good terms. After all, he has been at Arsenal for seven seasons, which is almost as long a service as recent legends Viera and Henry, the latter of which was a witness of Cesc's demolition of Blackburn and received generous applause from the Emirates crowd prior to the game.
However, unlike Thierry Henry and Patrick Viera, Cesc Fabregas has yet to lead Arsenal to a piece of prime silverware. The fans will feel that he still owes them some trophies, and so they must remain in hope that the latest Gunner to kiss the badge is not planning on kissing the club good-bye any time soon.
However, should he pack his bags next summer he will still be remembered fondly by Arsenal fans as a wonderful playmaker, whose commitment to the club on the field was rarely if ever in question. But he will also be remembered as someone who failed to bring the club the glory it so desperately craves. Can he live with that? Perhaps he won't have to if he continues to play like he did on Sunday, because in that kind of form Arsenal will surely be walking away with a trophy or two come next May.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Goals Masking Flaws
Is it just me or does anyone else find it incredibly hypocritical of Emmanuel Adebayor to say that Arsenal need to win a trophy this year, when he himself hasn't really looked like he has given a crap about winning anything since August?
If ever there was a case to be built that scoring goals can mask serious flaws, then Adebayor (and Anelka) would surely make for good test subjects. Though Premier League Fantasy Football is hardly the definitive measuring stick of success in a season, one would imagine it reflects a players worth pretty accurately. Adebayor proves this isn't always the case, what with him being the 5th most potent striker (points wise) in the league, only 13 points off top spot and only 5 points adrift of partner in crime Robin van Persie (who has been streets ahead of the Togo international in terms of value this season).
I wrote in to F365 during those long summer months of 2008 saying that Arsenal should swipe the hand off A.C. Milan if their interest in Abedayor was legitimate, and it appears it was...or at least someone's interest was. Figures nearing £30m were being talked about, which would have been fantastic business from an Arsenal perspective, and this after a season in which Adebayor scored over 30 goals (I think; I couldn't be bothered checking the exact number). For me, he simply has too many fundamental flaws to be worthy of a place in a side that at least in theory should be aiming to win the league.
I won't go into a prolonged discourse about Adebayor's shortcomings, but suffice to say that he isn't clinical enough, he doesn't defend from the front very well, and he is always offside. He has some value to Arsenal mind, what with his towering presence and his unpredictability. He gives the team a different option (i.e. hoof it up to Adebayor) which can be the game breaker when playing the likes of Bolton etc. But then so does Bendtner. And Bendtner at least tries.
Adebayor, in his recent interview which I elluded to earlier, said "I don't care if I stop on 12 goals if we win something with the club". This is actually inadvertently good advice from the big man. Wenger should stop Adebayor from scoring goals by benching him, thus giving Arsenal a higher chance of winning something this season. In Eduardo, Arshavin, van Persie, and Bendtner I think Arsenal possess more than enough potency up front without having to accomodate their 12-goals-and-yet-still-disappointing striker.
If ever there was a case to be built that scoring goals can mask serious flaws, then Adebayor (and Anelka) would surely make for good test subjects. Though Premier League Fantasy Football is hardly the definitive measuring stick of success in a season, one would imagine it reflects a players worth pretty accurately. Adebayor proves this isn't always the case, what with him being the 5th most potent striker (points wise) in the league, only 13 points off top spot and only 5 points adrift of partner in crime Robin van Persie (who has been streets ahead of the Togo international in terms of value this season).
I wrote in to F365 during those long summer months of 2008 saying that Arsenal should swipe the hand off A.C. Milan if their interest in Abedayor was legitimate, and it appears it was...or at least someone's interest was. Figures nearing £30m were being talked about, which would have been fantastic business from an Arsenal perspective, and this after a season in which Adebayor scored over 30 goals (I think; I couldn't be bothered checking the exact number). For me, he simply has too many fundamental flaws to be worthy of a place in a side that at least in theory should be aiming to win the league.
I won't go into a prolonged discourse about Adebayor's shortcomings, but suffice to say that he isn't clinical enough, he doesn't defend from the front very well, and he is always offside. He has some value to Arsenal mind, what with his towering presence and his unpredictability. He gives the team a different option (i.e. hoof it up to Adebayor) which can be the game breaker when playing the likes of Bolton etc. But then so does Bendtner. And Bendtner at least tries.
Adebayor, in his recent interview which I elluded to earlier, said "I don't care if I stop on 12 goals if we win something with the club". This is actually inadvertently good advice from the big man. Wenger should stop Adebayor from scoring goals by benching him, thus giving Arsenal a higher chance of winning something this season. In Eduardo, Arshavin, van Persie, and Bendtner I think Arsenal possess more than enough potency up front without having to accomodate their 12-goals-and-yet-still-disappointing striker.
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