Amongst the pandemonium surrounding the protracted transfer sagas of Messers Cesc Fàbregas and Samir Nasri, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – or “The OC” as many fans are starting to refer him to as – joined the club last Monday as you may know.
Interestingly enough, in his first interview for the club, he mentioned how despite not following any particular club, he was a huge fan of Gunners legend Thierry Henry. He cited watching Match of the Day often in anticipation of what Henry and company would produce on a weekly basis. He’s also been to The Emirates numerous times. For Alex, moving to Arsenal was a dream.
Of course, despite the relative uproar his transfer attracted as result of his youth and inexperience accompanying his rather hefty fee and of course because a central defender has(d) not been bought, it’s worth noting that Alex joins what is slowly becoming a British “core” at Arsenal. Indeed, a far cry from the days when Alan Pardew amongst others rubbished Arsenal’s mid-noughties exploits on account of the team compositions’ passports; whereby English players were few and far between.
Interestingly, while Arsène Wenger has bought dual English-Finnish defender Carl Jenkinson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and with his prospective defensive recuit(s) expected to come from England, Alan Pardew has bought three Frenchmen. I digress.
Arsenal fans – and indeed many other clubs – have suffered as many foreignors that have gone through the tutelage of Wenger have continuously put the club through distressing times with regard to transfer sagas. Patrick Vieira flirted with Real Madrid’s courtship during his captaincy – he of course ended up at Juventus. Thierry Henry eventually succumbed to Barcelona’s and left in 2007. Thierry, though, proclaims to be a massive Gooner still.
Emmanuel Adebayor, Mathieu Flamini, Alexander Hleb and others were players the Arsenal boss would have undoubtedly wanted to keep. They of course saw playing elsewhere for one reason or another as a more attractive proposition than once more donning the famous red and white of the North London club.
It’s pleasing to note that new-boy Carl Jenkinson is a huge Arsenal fan. Jack Wilshere, Kieran Gibbs, Benik Afobe and Henri Lansbury have all progressed through the club’s academy and know what it means to play for the club. Speed merchant Theo Walcott and Wales captain Aaron Ramsey, too, are young, British and hungry to do well for the Gunners. The Ghanian-English Emmanuel Frimpong has also progressed through the club’s ranks and is a massive Arsenal fan.
All are precocious talents and while it is naïve to believe that none will eventually leave the club, one gets the feeling that the club is a lot closer to their hearts than some of their foreign predecessors.
Of course, Ashley Cole, although an Arsenal fan and also having progressed through the club’s ranks, left the club in rather acrimonious fashion. He has since severely disenchanted himself with the Gooner faithful. He left frustrated with the majority foreign contingent and, more importantly for him at least, for a better payday.
As the tone of my piece suggests, I’m delighted that Arsène considers this British troupe in higher regard than in his past sides and is developing his team around the likes of Jack Wilshere – who is in an arguably similar mould to one Tony Adams, if not in size and position at least in terms of esteem – and Aaron Ramsey.
This may be the famous boss’s last ever shot at building his dream team for future generations of Arsenal fans to enjoy, but at least he does so in the valiant hope that his charges will embody the ethos of the club better than those of the trophyless years of 2005 – present.
That typical British bulldog fighting spirit and “mental strength”, coupled with the weekly sumptuous displays that Arsenal fans are treated to and hopefully player loyalty to boot will surely bode well for the present and future of the famous North London club.
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Wenger is making a team with ‘ENGLISH’ spirit and passion for the club but for future….. After 3years arsenal will bcome dominant force again…. Guranteed!!! but in 3years what we the fans can expect from the club??
This is exactly the facts that many fans refuse to accept. There are many English clubs who have not even tested the top 4 for decades yet their fans are still loyal and supportive.It shall not be long Arsenal will dominate again.No other club in the EPL has the sort of young talents that we have @ Arsenal. Up arsenal
i doubt its 3 years, one or 2 senior english player would get us roaring. oh yeah, don’t forget rvp, he is in the mould of bergkamp. loyal and i hope wenger keep him until he is 34 or 35.His a leader, he suit the captaincy and tv should be vice.
England is hardly recognised amongst the worlds elite as a supplier of great technical players,and this is the type of player Wenger has brought to the club. Arsenal have developed these young guys you mentioned into what they are today,so Wengers plan MIGHT be coming to fruition,we shall see this season. I believe that the last 6 years may have been leading up to the team we will see now,and in the years to come. Keep in mind it will not end with this group,as the youth academy will continue to produce English with tecnical ability way suited to our style of play,and at a much lower cost than City,Utd and Chelsea spend. Top these guys up with a few signings each season,and positive wresults will follow. I guess I would lose most people with the word “positive”,though.
Pick core from one of the top ranked nations. AW core always French or African Ligue 1 players. It worked while France was competitive, since falling below England’s ranking, signings failed to make impact or flopped, e.g. Chamakh, Kos, Squillaci and I fear Gervinho too. AW overreliance on Ligue 1 scouts now a liability and will be his demise at the end of the season. Spanish talent comes from two clubs so no option, Mourinho’s shopping cart of e.g. Ghedira, Özil, Sahin suggest his flexible nose. Since Germany ditched power for pace and skill, Bundesliga talent pool impressive, as is Dutch pool. International glory matters and competition for caps really matters for players at club level especially if international glory is achieved at national level. Miyaichi likely to have rubbed shoulders with Dutch challengers of International glory and is well prepared for BPL. Else check out Juergen Klopp and Dortmund, who emulated Arsenal compatible philosophy, acheved success with a young and exiting squad on a budget similar to a mid-table BPL club so there is a good manager solution for Arsenal, I hope Kroenke gets it too.