EPL Talk - Latest Comments in Gut check time for Arsenal

Re: Gut check time for Arsenal

Ferd — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 09:37:23 -0000

I really want to like Eboue because I think he is a useful player but sometimes his dramatics on the pitch make it difficult to support him. It will not hurt my feelings too much if they offload him this summer. This maybe would not be so much of an issue if Rosicky could manage to stay in the lineup!

Re: Gut check time for Arsenal

dragonki2012 — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 09:32:31 -0000

If we(Arsenal) get a chance to offload Eboue to Milan in the summer, cuz there are rumors around that issue, then I think AW won't hesitate.

But Eboue is the comic relief in the locker room, so they say, and he's important for the chemistry, but doesn't show it on the pitch, imo.

Re: Gut check time for Arsenal

Ferd — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 08:37:23 -0000

Arsenal did look much better yesterday and maybe I was a bit too harsh in my character assessment. I still believe that it is a duty to at least put forth your best effort every time you take the field. That is what these guys are paid to do and I deliberately singled out Eboue because I do in fact feel he has some character issues that have been a pattern on the field for the last few seasons. Sorry Todd I was not trying to be cute but instead brief.

Re: Gut check time for Arsenal

Todd — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 04:33:36 -0000

please dont call us man u

Re: Gut check time for Arsenal

jm — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 18:54:30 -0000

I disagree with your assessment as I generally think "character" games are nonsense. When Arsenal were winning tons of matches late, they were hailed as a team of great character (and then came the no-Henry explanations for that, etc. etc.). When they play terribly, it is their character. I dunno. I think I can explain away both of those with more at least equally plausible explanations - Arsenal are a team with great talent and fitness, and not all teams with great talent perform greatly all the time. Even in big matches.

The problem with "character" hypotheses is that from the outsiders' perspective (which we share), it has prima facie explanatory value but we can only offer it on insufficient evidence. Thus, we use performance as evidence, and assume it is the right explanation because of its explanatory power. That's not a terribly good inference.

Arsenal played awful against Man U. They apparently played better today (at work during the match, will have to catch a replay before I can comment). If they continue to play better, they could win the league. If they play like they did against Man U, they will not. That's all I think the evidence warrants saying at the moment.

Re: Gut check time for Arsenal

BillE Shears — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:24:48 -0000

I don't read anything into it all. I think it is classic Wenger if they get a tough draw in a domestic cup to field a weakened team, see how it goes, and start trying if there is a chance of winning.