Tag Archives: She Wore

The Premier League set to ruin your weekend

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Tomorrow the fixtures are out. This news is always met with a great deal of excitement from Arsenal fans (and fans of all clubs). The key dates people look out for include Spurs home & away, who we will play Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day. You always get that analyst who tries to show the Premier League computer is corrupt by highlighting how many (and how few) away games top sides play after Champions League ties.

This week the Premier League has also begun floating ideas in preparation for the next TV deal.

The ‘leak’ of information certainly feels political. When a party leaks a policy to garner public opinion to then decide whether to go ahead with it or not. Or they leak a more extreme version of the policy so that when the actual policy is announced, people think that’s not too bad even though it is still disastrous.

The Premier League is already planning to increase the amount of games sold to TV companies at home and abroad by around 25-30. This will leave them attempting to schedule more games in an already crowded weekend. With a ban on 3 o’clock Saturday games and the lunch time, early evening Saturday, and lunchtime and afternoon kick offs already talent up with various Premier League and Championship games, the schedulers will have to try and come up with new times and days to get everything scheduled.

The Friday night kick off proved to be very unpopular with a TV audience, and the Monday night kick offs fill match going fans (and the travelling faithful) with dread.

In recent days, the Premier League have floated / leaked two new options.

The first is to have an earlier kick off on a Sunday. Either an 11.30am kick off or noon. This will be horrid for away fans.

12.45 on a Saturday is already a nightmare. Especially if you have to travel the length of the country. I remember a game against Wigan resulted in a 6.30am start at Euston. The beer was flowing much to the horror of the general commuters. To then introduce an even earlier kick off on a Sunday morning – and perhaps over an hour earlier, simply does not take away fans into consideration.

Of course, we occasionally do get pre-noon kick offs on Saturday and Sunday. I remember Arsenal playing Spurs at 11.30 and noon previously. But these have always been local derby’s for security reasons. Not Newcastle travelling to Bournemouth for an 11.30am kick off.

If Arsenal were drawn away to Newcastle on a Sunday in August at 11.30am, it would be impossible to get a train from London to Newcastle. The first train in is at 11:38. Even for a noon kick off, this train is pushing it tight to walk up the hill to St James Park. This will be replicated up and down the country.

The Premier League could offset the issues by ensuring these kick offs involve local sides only. Arsenal playing Crystal Palace, or Manchester United against Everton. Southampton v Bournemouth. But they have never taken this into account previously and have always just given TV companies free reign over which games the pick for which TV slot, no matter the logistics of travel.

The early kick off would be for one reason, and one reason only. To increase the TV ratings abroad.

Noon would be 7pm in Bangkok, 8pm in Beijing, 4pm in Dubai. The early kick off will be to maximise profits in the East, ensuring they have at least 1 game on a Sunday in their prime time slots.

Now the foreign fans reading this will probably be thinking that’s brilliant, no more waking up at 2am to watch the EPL. Thank you much EPL. Well my response to the is F**K YOU. If you do not want to get up at 2am, support your local club. This will just be another move by the Premier League that shows they have 0 interest in the real fans, the local fans, and are simply just chasing the foreign billions.

The globalisation of football is ruining the game for the local fan.

Today we then have an announcement that the Premier League are also considering night games on a Saturday. 7.45 kick off.

This is the opposite of the early Sunday games. Instead of fans not being able to get to games, they will no longer be able to get a train home. Of course, this targets the lunchtime USA audience in the west.

The aim will be to attract a larger share of the TV audience in the UK, but it will be doomed to fail. Remember when BBC lost Match of the Day and ITV started broadcasting the highlights (I think it was called The Premiership? – Beautiful Day was the soundtrack). The show flopped. Why?

Because Saturday evening is family TV time. X-Factor. Britain’s Got Talent. Strictly Come Dancing. Beadles About. Noel’s House party. Light entertainment for all the family. The kids then go to bed. Watch the 10 o’clock news. Send the misses to bed and watch Match of the Day in peace.

7.45pm Saturday is simply not a popular time to attract big TV audiences for football.

All these floated ideas highlight is once again, the Premier League are more interested in the TV audience then the match day fans. Away sections will be empty for the early kick off Sunday games. Saturday evening will see grounds half empty as families decide to stay at home, as people have other things already arranged.

Match day fans are already stretched time wise. These moves could be the straw that breaks the camels back.

When we started SheWore.com in 2013 it was a risk. No one involved had ever ran their own website before. And with the Arsenal blogging world so over crowded, we wondered if it would really be worth it

Previously the articles and blogs ran alongside message boards creating a natural flow of traffic as people looked for a corner of the internet to discuss Arsenal. With the advent of Social Media, it became clear that message boards were about to die out, so the decision was made to create the blog as a stand alone to run alongside the Twitter and Facebook pages.

Yesterday we passed through the 2,500,000 views.

We would like to thank every contributor, every reader, everyone who has shared the blogs on social media, or emailed them to their friends (or in one case printed it off and bought it to the pub to show their mates

A special thanks to all those who have ever contributed to The Arsenal and Me. A brilliant collection of stories from old and young, around the world, male and female.

In 2013, even a hundred thousand viewers seemed a lot. We now get over a hundred thousand views a month. 2.5m views is an incredible considering we are not experts, not wannabe journalists, just a bunch of simple Arsenal fans who want to share their view.

We will as always strive to be better, increase the quality, and not stoop low with click bait headlines chasing the hits.

As we look forward to hitting 5m, the offer is always open to anyone who wants to share their view on the club, whether you be Wenger In, Wenger Out, or are simply Arsenal and have a story or view you wish to share. We want your blogs.

Thanks again to everyone. Up the Arsenal.

Keenos

What does the future hold for 3 Arsenal stars?

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Aaron Ramsey

Has anyone had such an up and down career as Aaron Ramsey?

He is now 26 and been at Arsenal and next season will be his tenth at Arsenal. His career has certainly been one of peaks and troughs.

Breaking through on the scene back in 2008 having signed for Arsenal a goal against Fenerbache saw him become the fifth youngest goal scorer in Champions League history. In that game, his overall performance was exceptional. A ball with the outside of his foot especially sticks in the mind.

The next season saw him continue to grow, becoming a first team regular at just 19, leading many to declare him as a future Arsenal captain. That season was cruelly cut short in February 2010 when Ryan Shawcross through himself recklessly into a challenge, breaking Ramsey’s leg into 3.

A slow period of rehabilitation in 2010/11 saw him loaned out to Nottingham Forest and Cardiff. Whilst he was out, Arsenal saw one of their own break through in Jack Wilshire. The teenage Englishman putting in performances that defied his age.

Upon Ramsey’s return in 2011/12, the injury had clearly affected him as he had a fairly poor season. It was made to seem even worse after Wilshere’s excellent season previously. With Wilshere now out, the spotlight was back on Ramsey. And he shrinked.

2011 did have a high for Ramsey. Despite his poor season for Arsenal, he was names Wales captain. He was just 20 years 90 days. He finished the year staring for Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics.

The next year saw his form continue to stagnate. With Wilshere returning, Ramsey looked well behind his English counterpart. Poor form led him to lose the Wales captaincy as new manager – Chris Coleman – went for the experience “Welshman” Ashley Williams.

The 2nd half of 2012/13 saw him put in solid performances defensively. His work rate was becoming a key asset, but he continually let himself down when it came to passing, and he simply did not score enough.

Then he had a high. The first half of 2013/14 saw him in exceptional form with 8 goals in the 1st 9 games. He continued this good form until December, when a familiar enemy to Ramsey reared its ugly head once more. Injury. This would rule him out until April.

Ramsey played just 7 games in the 2nd half of the season, but he finished it on one of the most ridiculous highs, scoring the winning goal in the FA Cup Final.

Since the high, Ramsey has had 3 tough years.

Often in and out of the team with injury, his form average, his decision making poor. It has lead to many fans getting on his back, often far too quickly.

A poor season in 2016 saw him go to the Euro’s in France and show that he was one of the best midfielders in Europe. But then once more, he got injured, ruling him out for 3 months.

His return from injury, he looked slow, off the pace, shot. Unable to score, unable to pass, unable to tackle. Was Aaron Ramsey’s time at Arsenal coming to an end?

The back end of 2016/17 saw him regain some form. In the new 3-4-3 formation, he was able to get forward more, get in the opponents box where he excels with his late runs. He once more looked a threat. And in the last game of 2016/17, another year interrupted with injury, he scored another FA Cup Final winner.

Last night for Wales against Serbia Ramsey showed what a good player he can be when he plays unrestricted, relaxed. Not trying too much, keeping it simple, running the game. He was easily the best player on the field – now before you say it was only Serbia, look at their line up: Matic, Ivanovic, Tadic, Kolarov, Mitrovic & Nastasic.

The thing for Ramsey now is he turned 27 in December. He is at the peak of his powers. This season is perhaps the most important of his career. He could still become Arsenal captain. Be a key player in the middle of the park in Islington for the next 5 years.

But he needs less troughs and more peaks. He needs to stay fit. He needs some consistency.

Laurent Koscielny

“I have a contract with Arsenal, I even signed an extension last November until 2020,” Koscielny said.

“I feel very good over there.

“I have always said that I was a Marseille fan when I was younger. When a mythical club like Marseille contact you, it is good. But will I sign for them? I have no idea at all.”

That was Koscielny’s response to a question on an appearance on Telefoot when he was asked whether he would consider a move to the newly-monied Marseille.

Now it is clear to me that he is made it clear that he is committed to Arsenal. But there will be some journalists out there who, chasing the hits and advertising revenue, will focus on the 2nd half of his quotes. That he is a Marseille fan and he thinks it is good that he has been linked with them.

My theory is simple. With a contract through to 2020, Koscielny will set out this deal with Arsenal. Come 2020, and after the Euro’s, he will be 34 and join his boyhood club on a free transfer.

At that point he would have spent 10 or so years at Arsenal, been a loyal servant to the club, but be no longer guaranteed a place in the first XI. He will return to France to see out his career at his boyhood club in an easier league. And good luck to him.

In the short term, Koscielny is going no where.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Rumours are circulating that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will sign a new contract. Hopefully leading the way for Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil to also stay at the club long term.

What is becoming key for Oxlade-Chamberlain is his versatility. Currently pencilled in at right wing back, the fact that he can play left wing back, and on the wings highlights how important he is for Arsenal’s squad depth.

There is also a possibility that if Sanchez or Ozil does go, he might end up playing further up the field, behind a striker.

Like Ramsey, he has had a turbulent career at Arsenal. And like Ramsey, a lot of that is to do with injury.

If he stays fit, stays consistent, he might finally fulfil his potential.

 

Have a good week all!

Keenos

Serge Gnabry joins Bayern Munich – Why did Arsenal let him leave?

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Former Arsenal youngster Serge Gnabry has joined Bayern Munich, and valid points are being made by many Arsenal fans.

Just why did we let him go? Why have we not re-signed him? Is this Arsene Wenger’s Pogba moment? Well to have a proper discussion on the matter, we need to look at the full picture.

Why did Serge Gnabry leave Arsenal?

The key question in the Segre Gnabry scenario is just why did Arsenal let him join Werder Bremen? For your answer, you have to roll back not to last summer when he left The Gunners, but to 2014.

March 2014, Gnabry picked up a knee injury against, ironically, Bayern Munich. Arsenal took their time rehabilitating the then 18 year old. The injury ruled him out for pretty much an entire year as the clubs medical staff rebuilt his knee.

That meant 2014/15 was a write off for the youngster. It was supposed to be his break through season. Instead he spent it in rehabilitation. Ensuring that the knee injury would not plague him throughout his career.

By the time 2015/16 came around, Gnabry was fit and ready to go, but he lacked match practise. He needed game time. So a decision was made to loan him out to WBA for the season. He was just 20 so a year playing Premier League football for a mid table Premier League team would see him come back to Arsenal stronger, fitter, and ready to continue his career.

What followed was a year of frustration for Gnabry. For some reason, having bought Gnabry in on loan,Tony Pulis gave Gnabry just 12 minutes of Premier League football. The loan deal was a complete and utter failure.

Upon returning to Arsenal, Gnabry was in a position where he had played no football for 2 years, was coming up to his 21st birthday, and had a single year left on his contract.

Gnabry was offered a new deal but, having barely played for 2 years, he wanted assurances of first team football.

It was impossible for Arsene Wenger to guarantee first team football to Gnabry with him having Theo Walcott, Alexis Sanchez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain ahead of him in the pecking order. Add in a returning Danny Welbeck and up and coming Alex Iwobi, Gnabry might not have even been guaranteed a place in the Arsenal 1st team squad.

Gnabry turned down the contract, and engineered a move back to Germany where Werder Bremen could provide him the 1st team football he desired.

You could not blame Gnabry for wanting 1st team football, and you could not blame Arsenal for not being able to give him what he wanted. The two parted ways in mutual consent.

Were Arsenal proved correct?

Last season Serge Gnabry scored 11 goals in 27 games for Werder Bremen. He also netted a hat trick on his debut for Germany – although this was against San Marino.

This hat trick had man Arsenal fans screaming about the mistake Wenger had made in letting Gnabry go.

But then let’s look closer to home.

Gnabry is a right winger. And whilst his return of 11 goals in 27 games was exceptional, Theo Walcott quietly netted 19 goals in 33 games.

Walcott is massively underrated at Arsenal. 19 in 33 last season. So whilst Arsenal fans were screaming at the error in letting Gnabry go, they were ignoring the fact that on the right side of Arsenal’s midfield, Theo Walcott was having an exceptional season, and outperforming Gnabry.

Of course, a case could be made that Gnabry could have played left wing ahead of Alex Iwobi.

Last season for Werder Bremen, Gnabry played througout the front 4 position. Left, right, behind the striker, up front. Doing that job at Arsenal was a man called Alexis Sanchez.

Anyone who sits there and claims Gnabry should have started ahead of Sanchez is an idiot.

The fact that Joel Campbell was also allowed to leave (on loan) and Lucas Perez played so little games, highlights just how little game time would have been available to Gnabry.

And we have not even spoken about Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Should Arsenal have re-signed Gnabry?

On paper, a deal should have been obvious. We reportedly had a first option clause inserted int he deal with Werder Bremen, enabling us to have an offer accepted by Bremen if we equalled what other teams have offered. Arsenal could have put in a bid for Gnabry in the last couple of weeks but it ignores the fact that:

a) Gnabry would have had to have agreed to join Arsenal
b) Arsenal would have had space for Gnabry

On the first, reports from Germany are that Gnabry himself engineered a move away from Werder Bremen.

Werder Bremen chairman Klaus Filbry has been highly critical of the young German

“I would have hoped for some more perseverance from Serge,” Filbry told Werderstube. “Maybe he opted for the easiest way. I think it’s a pity, but I wish him all the best.

“I was hoping that he could imagine a longer stay at Bremen – and the talks we had also suggested that was an option. But then he did not really get going again after his injury. Maybe that made him change his mind.

“The decision made by the coach [to drop Gnabry] were absolutely understandable. We were successful and won.”

It seems Gnabry had decided to leave to join Bayern Munich before Munich had even put in a bid for him. Had Arsenal also come in for him, Gnabry would probably have picked Bayern Munich.

We then have the fact that, like last summer, Arsenal do not have a place for Serge Gnabry.

In the new 3-4-3 formation we are playing, the likes of Theo Walcott and Alex Iwobi have seen their game time cut. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has had to recreate himself as a wing back. Gnabry would have struggled for game time at Arsenal, and would have found himself as an understudy to Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil.

Of course, had either Ozil or Sanchez left, Gnabry could have replaced them. But would you, as a ready and a fan, been happy with selling Sanchez and replacing him with Gnabry? No you wouldn’t be.

Since joint Weder Bremen, Gnabry has recently seen a recurrence of his injury issues, picking up both back, knee and muscular problems in the last 3 months.

Arsenal simply do not have space for Gnabry. We need to be buying better than what we have, Gnabry is not that.

But what then for the question of him not being good enough for Arsenal but being good enough for Bayern Munich.

Gnabry future at Byaern Munich

So Serge Gnabry, not good enough for Arsenal, not even good enough for WBA, now finds himself at the German champions. Surely that shows his class. The mistakes made by others?

The deal actually reminds me of when Chelsea bought Shaun Wright-Phillips from Manchester City for £21m.

At the time, Wright-Phillips was being heavily linked with Arsenal. In came Chelsea who overpaid for the Englishman, sticking him on a big money contract. He ended up as a massive flop, scored just 3 league goals, and was sold back to Manchester City just 3 seasons later.

Chelsea did not sign Wright-Phillips because they needed him, or because he was good enough for them, they signed him to stop an opponent getting him.

Bayern Munich have a record of doing similar in Germany.

Over the years they have signed countless players from other German sides to either weaken an opponent or to simply stop an opponent signing them.

Had Gnabry gone to Borussia Dortmund or RB Leipzeg, he would have improved both outfits. So Bayern Munich went in for the kill. They signed a player who is not as good as Arjen Robben, Frank Ribeiry, Douglas Costa or Kingsley Coman, purely to stop him going to an opponent.

With their pursuit of Alexis Sanchez, they have clearly not signed Serge Gnabry because they believe him to be good enough for them, but because they want to stop an opponent getting better.

If is fairly ironic that Gnabry did not signed a new contract at Arsenal due to a lack of 1st team football, to a year later join Bayern Munich where he will not get 1st team football.

 

I was disappointed when Serge Gnabry left Arsenal. I felt at the time we should have tried our best to keep him. I saw his talent, his ability.

It was a mistake letting him leave last summer, but it certainly was not a Sir Alex Ferguson / Paul Pogba error.

He could have been a good back up / competition to the wingers last year, and this year could have been good back up for Sanchez and Ozil. But he clearly did not want to be back up. He wanted 1st team football.

I wonder why, 12 months later when joining Bayern Munich, 1st team football is no longer as important to him?

Keenos