The English Revolution

For years now, mainly down to Arsène Wenger’s personal preference, Arsenal have been known as being a club full of foreign players. Before it became the norm for at least half a team to be filled with exotic flare from overseas, Arsenal were the butt of many jokes which regarded our predominantly non-English line ups, which sometimes even were so foreign, there wasn’t a single Englishman in them. However, when you think back to when Monsieur Wenger first took over, he had a strong, committed and quite frankly fearfully good, English defensive unit. The likes of Tony Adams, Lee Dixon and Martin Keown etc. were, I believe, half the reason Wenger was able to produce such a successful team in such a short period of time after joining Arsenal in 1996. This crop of nationally local players provided him with a base upon which to build. He did exactly that. Wenger added a lot of French players for example, players who he knew would work for him, even if they did not have the same inherent loyalty to the club itself. As we all know, Arsenal is held just as dear by a lot of foreign players as it is by English ones, with Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp being prime examples. But as we also know and as Wenger recently pointed out, many foreign players, no matter how talented, can be less willing to commit their future to a club so far from home. You only have to look at the way in which Cesc Fabregas left the club to justify Wenger’s point.

“We couldn’t keep the good core of young, foreign players” – Arsène Wenger

Wenger has now turned to his crop of young, talented English players to provide a new, solid base upon which he can once again build a successful team. These players are some of the brightest prospects in the country, with Jack Wilshere arguably set to become the best midfielder this nation has seen for a long while. The rest of this group include: Kieran Gibbs, Carl Jenkinson, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Aaron Ramsey (Welsh) and the man who’s ‘too-fast-to-tie-down’, Theo Walcott. Wenger truly believes that this group are the key to future success at Arsenal and, as I’m sure many of you do too, I agree.

Playing For One Another

I think one of the key reasons that Wenger’s ‘Noyau Anglais’ (English Core) is likely to lead to success is the fact that many of these players have played with one another for a while now, speak the same language, spend time with one-another off the pitch as well as on it, and have the same innate English loyalty and youthful desire to catch-eyes. Like Wenger has said himself, these boys have to play for each other, not just themselves for this Arsenal team to be consistently triumphant in the long-term.

“I believe as well that when a club gives a chance to young players the players must say ‘let’s do it together’ because if you educate players at some stage their fate is in their own hands.” – Arsène Wenger

Like at Barcelona Arsenal value themselves on their youth development and how they educate their young players in a particular way; teaching them fast, flowing, attractive football. But this style of football only works at its optimum level when there is good team morale, therefore part of this footballing education is the encouragement to bond with fellow teammates. Naturally, the more a team knows one another, the more understanding they will have on the football pitch. I can’t tell you definitively who is friends with who (only they know that!), but we can see, through social networking sites like Twitter and from interviews, that these English Arsenal players seemingly have a good relationship with one another. It’s this good team chemistry that I believe is an essential ingredient of any successful team, not least for a group of players who don’t have the experience of winning trophies, that other teams may have.

Loyalty

Another reason why I think this ‘English core’ is a sensible and effective way forward for Arsenal, is the apparent presence of something that most would be forgiven for thinking had been lost in modern football… Loyalty. These young English players seem to be the most committed bunch we’ve had at the club in a while, with maybe the exception of Theo Walcott (although, I remain hopeful he will agree an extension and stay at the club).

But this loyalty isn’t simply useful in tying down players for a long time (which I will talk about next), but it is also a demonstration of the passion that these young English players possess for the club. In my eyes, an abundance of passionate players is invaluable to any squad as it is arguably the driving force behind the beautiful game itself. What some of these players may lack in talent, at such a young age, they make up for in pure drive and enthusiasm. It’s refreshing for me as an Arsenal fan, given recent years, to see Wenger wanting to build a team around players who play for the badge on the front of the shirt, not just the name on the back.

Longevity

I believe that the combination of these English players’ age and passion for the club is a valuable one in terms of persuading them (or not having to persuade them) to commit their long-term furture to the club. We’ve seen this in effect already, with Wilshere, Gibbs, Jenkinson, The Ox and Aaron Ramsey all signing new bumper 5 year contract extensions. Five players signing five year deals all at once? That’s almost unprecedented at Arsenal, in recent years at least. As for Theo, I’ve said my bit on him and I don’t plan to delve into the depths of his situation during this article… I only have one more thing to say to Theo: … ‘SIGN DA TING!’.

I think that the recent news regarding these contract renewals is extremely encouraging. Us fans can now rest in the knowledge that we have a crop of young talented players that aren’t going anywhere in the immediate future. They’re a group that will only grow closer and get better the longer they stay together at the club. They’re ours, only ours and nobody else can take them away from us!!! *Phew*.

Further Additions?

Another key part of creating and also strengthening this core of young, English talent, that I think Wenger plans to employ, is the signing of more of the same. With the likes of Wilfried Zaha and Luke Shaw being linked to The Arsenal, it is easy to see that the gaffer is taking this new approach very seriously and not just settling for what he already has. What makes these transfer links even more satisfying to hear, is the fact that they both fit the mould of typical Arsenal players: intelligent, quick and skilful. Not only that, but Zaha is, as you probably already know, a self confessed Gooner. You only have to look as far as Carl Jenkinson to see what effect actually supporting the club you play for has on performance levels. I’m confident that Zaha will arrive at the club, but I also look forward to seeing whether we can secure some other bright, young, English talent in the coming year or so.

Of course there is also more promising English prospects waiting to roll off our academy production line. Players like Chuba Akpom and Chuks Aneke (who are having fantastic seasons in our U21′s and out on loan at Crewe respectively) are raring to break through into the first team squad and offer their marvellous ability and demonstrate their embedded commitment to the cause. The potential for promoting from with in seems almost endless and, to an extent, you can understand why Le Prof bangs on about it all the time.

However, if you find yourself thinking: “Yeah thats all very good, but we need more proven players.” Have no fear, because aside from promoting or adding more young, English players, Wenger’s plan seems to be to buy proven foreign talent to complement his crop of young lions. I think that, once again, Arsène has discovered a winning formula in this new plan of his. I look forward to seeing what signings he makes in January and even next summer, as I feel they will be definitive as to whether this very promising plan works out or not. Only time will tell, but at present i’m optimistic and excited about this new direction the club is taking. A new period of success may be around the corner and if it is, it will be thanks to the man who so many have relentlessly questioned and even (to my disgust) disrespected. Here’s hoping Wenger bows out as he began at Arsenal, a revolutionary genius.

21 Comments

1. 

   joshuad

   21 December, 12 at 17:23

   agree with kiwi and carib. had arsenal just accomplished something significant with these kids in the line-up (like win a trophy or beat barcelona), then it would make perfect sense. these kids have accomplished nothing scare no one. like stag, i don’t give a damn what their nationality is if they’re winning. this photo is a propaganda stunt that caters to the british audience but does nothing for this country boy.

   it’s clear that wenger believes the team’s chances of winning silverware improves with continuity. i’d go so far to say that’s a fact. does wenger believe this inexperienced lot is the answer to arsenal’s problems? if so, that’s troublesome the difference between these guys and the 98 double winners, like kiwi said, is they were all experienced players. of this group of five, only jack even makes that bench, let alone the invincibles squad.

   Reply
   • 

     Educated Gooner

     21 December, 12 at 22:28

     You sound like a conspiracy theorist. It’s funny that when we actually tie players down people still complain. I just find it incredibly fickle.

     Reply
     • 

       stag133

       22 December, 12 at 00:27

       why? are we supposed to applaud everything the club does? and have no opinion on it? The Boston Red Sox just signed 3 or 4 average players to inflated bad contracts… and the majority of supporters are IRATE… wasted money on mediocrity.
       why would we be happy if the feeling is that we are once again rewarding players that haven’t earned the rewards.

       Reply
       • 

         Educated Gooner

         22 December, 12 at 22:37

         I wouldn’t call any of those 5 mediocre. Ramsey is maybe struggling, but we’ve seen he has potential. I just think it’s impossible to please some fans. NO PLAYERS in this squad have won something with us. So by your theory, we shouldn’t tie any of them down.

         Reply
2. 

   Bob street

   21 December, 12 at 10:17

   Mate good article! I really enjoy reading your stuff! Your Spot on again the bloke is a genius and you have to be pretty UNeducated to think he aint!! I think with an english core and some proven international talent to add some experience and he can prove theese uneducated fucks wrong! i know its been a few games now but you can see Santi,Jacky & Arteta starting to click, and with Theo’s pace up front it will give them space to do what they do best…. Pass Play & Move!! Still I think depth is our main problem yeh theres a few players we need to buy to start every week but we need to get rid of at least 6 players that dont deserve to wear that cannon on there chest and buy 6 players that will try to get in the squad and add quality in depth! For example if we sign zaha we would have Theo,Oxo Chambo, Podolski,Santi,Jacky,Ramsey, Giroud, another striker?? and Zaha all pushing for the 3 places across the front?? i know ramsey cant play up front but he can play as a deep no 10! and i know Giroud cant play wide but what im saying is that to me sounds like some world class depth!!! Again mate really enjoy your tweets and articles keep it up1!!!!!!!

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   • 

     stag133

     22 December, 12 at 00:29

     yeah, uneducated f*cks…!
     pure genius… no trophies in 8 years, and none in sight.
     let’s reward “the genius”… never question Wenger.

     Reply
3. 

   highburyterracesteve

   21 December, 12 at 07:23

   Yes, I have to line up with the old and the cynical here. I think we’ve got a PR ploy to isolate Theo Walcott while continuing the process of rewarding potential. It seems structural for all the selling clubs, and Arsene’s Arsenal (I fear) will be remembered as the greatest selling club of them all in this new big money era, while having won a little something from before. Ironic that AW has only a bust, while Sir Alex got the full statue….Perhaps the club looked into the price of bronze and realized that the full length duvet would be too expensive. How too do you depict the throwing of an exploding water bottle onto the pitch? Maybe some sort of fountain centerpiece is the long term plan…..

   For the Arsenal observer (supporter, or fan….) we need some sort of standardization (standardisation?) about the facts and the figures. Here in Spain–I leave on Sunday :-( ….. the salaries are low (but so too–relatively–are the taxes) while the clubs can write in ridiculous buy-out clauses and keep contracts “incentive based”. Frankly, I haven’t done the research, but maybe somebody with more energy (like Educated Gooner–agree with CK about the the quality of the writing…..) could tell me how it all works. I also don’t get the 6+5 rules and roster limits and FFP rules in their entirety so I’m not quite clear on where Arsenal and English clubs are headed in the scheme of things. Given that yesterday was the CL draw I was expecting an article (or comments) on that topic. For me Munich is just about perfect. They will think they’ve got an easy one, but I believe we could spring a surprise and they might choke it away as they did last years’ final. Obviously, we need to be playing a whole lot better by that point. And, of course, going out in two quick ones (as long as we do likewise in the FA cup) makes our (CL) relegation battle that much simpler….

   But back to the topic at hand. Hope is good so I won’t begrudge the spots where anybody looks to find some. (Hell, kiwi wants the mohawk and the fro, CK wants Cavani–fantasy land, fo’ sho….) If people want to believe in the “Fab Five,” then why not? Ugh, did I just say Fab? Imagine if I had said, Fab(regas), Nasri, Diaby, Denilson and Song (or even Eboue…) and it was that group who had just signed longer terms. Two years down the road we would need try to renegotiate or send them out on loans or (when they suddenly can’t be arsed to play hard for us, or cut their own hamstrings….) we would need to SELL THEM (to the highest bidder or the club who is winning, makes them feel like a kid again, etc., etc.) My point–just as the Spanish, French, Brazilian (and perhaps even Cameroon, definitely Cote d’Voir….) national squads are better than the British ones, so too are that bunch of players (if we go head to head and ignore the fact that we’ve got fullbacks up against Midfielders….) If the pictured group is the “core” of the next generation at Arsenal, IMO, we should expect lower quality football. Whether or not there is a similar decline in our results depends on whether or not the other clubs decline in likewise fashion.

   Of course, old folks ALWAYS think things were better back in the good ol’ days. Still, who would have thought I’d be saying that about 2006…..

   Reply
4. 

   stag133

   21 December, 12 at 05:05

   well, you can have 11 British starters, and 5 British subs…
   and if you are good enough to win something, the better players will want to LEAVE.
   It is about creating a WINNING team… not the nationality of the players.

   When we were a mostly French team, winning trophies regularly, and going unbeaten, I did not give a shit at all their nationality…
   and great players wanted to COME TO ARSENAL, because we were winning, and played great football.

   That’s what it about at day’s end.
   Playing good football, winning… and spending on talent, to ensure you have a chance to win regularly.

   If they are trying to market themselves to the world of football, then only the British fans give a damn about the club’s make-up!
   If we have a British core, and lose, who gives a toss!

   Reply
5. 

   caribkid

   21 December, 12 at 01:58

   Excellent write up by the way, and while I agree with the concept of a young “British” core, this announcement raises more questions than answers.

   We all knew that Jenks was signed before but it was not officially announced. This was a carefully orchestrated PR stunt to try and soothe ruffled feathers and win back disgruntled fans. It took Arsene 7 years to recognize this? Wow, so we move on from one youth experiment to another. Will we have to wait another 7 years in order to win a trophy. Arsene is so brilliant and revolutionary it took him 7 years to figure that out.

   Firstly, Walcott is showing just how much loyalty means to a British player. Having invested 15 Mill 7 years ago he now wants superstar money while not even being in that category. If he was so loyal, at least extend the contract with a “sale’ clause so AFC could bet back some of their investment. There may be a few exceptions to the rule, and nationality has nothing to do with it, but most players and their agent’s think about themselves first and everybody else second.If in 4 years time we have not won anything of significance and one of the big clubs come calling for JW or Ox, think they are not going to leave. Think again.

   Everybody wants to go to Manu, Bayern, City, Manu and Real Madrid because they are winners. IF Arsenal wins, players will flock here in droves. Simple as that. There is no substitute for winning.

   We will win when we start buying world class players. We will win when we stop paying inflated wages to dross. We will win when we have a manager who can develop and train different styles and tactics to stymie our opponents. We will win when we stop running our players into the ground because of poor squad depth. We will win when we vary our in game substitutions to match the run of play rather than some predetermined rule of thumb. We will win when we stop allowing stupid defensive errors. We will win when we learn how to defend set pieces, and on, and on, and on.

   Winning is the panacea, it fixes everything. Coming 4th in the EPL and reaching the last 16 of the CL is not winning, not matter what spin is put on it.

   Pardon me for my rant, for I do dearly love The Arsenal. Merely tired of individuals using it to test their footballing theories so they can be proclaimed a genius.

   PS. Name me one world class manager who has not won a trophy in 7 years outside of AW.

   Reply
   • 

     stag133

     21 December, 12 at 04:53

     if you are a professional athlete, and your agent is thinking about anything other than making sure you make the MOST money you can … its time to get a new agent!

     Reply
6. 

   Kiwi

   20 December, 12 at 22:03

   You can be as optimistic and hopeful as you want about Arsenal and a British core having 5 or 6 young British players in the first team squad… probably good for your health and general disposition… but it’s hardly a robust basis for suggesting that Wenger has refound a winning formulae.

   Wenger’s early teams didn’t win because they had an English defence, they won because they had a seasoned battle-hardened defence that had been schooled in defending first.

   I’m in agreement, and have said previously, that having a core of British players seems very sensible to me. And if we win, it is likely to be a core that wlll stay at the club longer. But of itself it won’t enable us to win any more than the foreign young core of Fabregas, Bendtner, Denilson, Diaby, et al.

   You need to judge players on their merits not their passports and of the 5 (or 6) only Wilshere looks ‘special’ and merits the media fanfare. Oxlade Chamberlain has moments but has failed to impose himself fully on a game let alone over a period. Gibbs is looking good, when he plays, but has serious injury issues. I like what I’ve seen of Jenkinson but it’s early days. Ramsey is very meh. Walcott is playing with the club and is likely to go – and in any event he is one of the best examples of why Wenger’s longrun strategies are inappropriate for Arsenal and better suited to an Auxerre size club. With Wenger it’s always the long slow boat ride to China.

   What this article demonstrates is how quickly the fanbase will buy in to Wenger nonsense and how incapable people are of maintaining a rational distance and holding together mentally the various parts that must be present to make a winning team. All Wenger has done is substitute a theory of foreign youth for British youth. It’s a brilliant piece of marketing, club in poo, fanbase slipping, English club, 5 young British players, re-sign together, photo, happy boys happy manager, fanbase sucked in.

   My guess, and it is a guess, is that Wenger observed and wanted to emulate the success Fergie had with his team that had the celebrated group of young United players – mainly British. The Beckhams, Scholes, Neville’s and Giggs. And yet what Fergie did was integrate these players into a winning team and supplemented that team when necessary with major signings. Gaps in the team were addressed immediately – and meaningfully.

   Wenger doesn’t address gaps. He is an evolutionist, he wants solutions to evolve, he expressly and increasingly does not turn to the checkbook and therein lies his folly. This new reference to a British core is just another form of evolutionism Wenger-style.

   Reply
   • 

     Mazza

     20 December, 12 at 23:13

     It’s laughable. It really is.

     A ‘new direction’.

     Why, because they all signed on the same day?

     They’ve all been here for a good wee while and as you said Wilshere is the only one that has star appeal and quality. Chamberlain at the moment is a barrel-chested lard arse that needs to be able to make runs for ninety minutes, rather than just standing there on the spot seemingly spent (Cazorla pass the other night meant for Ox prime example) and in general he seems unable to weld together all the different elements in his game, resulting in a whole lot of nothingness bar the odd spurt. Gibbs willing and decent but injury prone and fairly mediocre overall. Ramsey and Jenkinson? Well for various reason they do not set the pulses racing and Ramsey seems to be getting worse not better.

     As for more loyalty from the British contingent, did someone not send Theodore the memo on that one?

     Reply
     • 

       Kiwi

       21 December, 12 at 01:04

       Mazza, you highlight an intrinsic danger in the British theory. Irrational exuberance. Everyone; clubs, fans and media go positively giddy when a player from the British Isles exhibits a modicum of skill. Walcott is perhaps the zenith of this behaviour. And the fact he still has such a hopeful following after all these years of utter mehness cements it. Even the player himself obviously has an impression of himself well above any evidence.

       We see Wenger upping the quality of this bunch, but that’s hardly an independent valuation of their capacity is it? But just watch the many who will fall over themselves lauding a new era.

       We need a new broom, not another five years (or is it 6..7…8) waiting to see this unfold. Sadly, with Stan viewing Arsenal as an important element in his sports business empire and committed to buying up land, all we can hope for is an aggressive assault from a certain Ukrainian.

       I have a confession to make. When the sale of a strategic share of the club’s ownership looked set to be a tussle between the billionaires Kroenke and Usmanov, I, like many, batted for Kroenke. How utterly kneejerk, shallow and reactionary that was. Now we’re simply a piece in a sporting empire, like Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith recently said – “he has no passion for the club”.

       Conversely Usmanov, hailing from the old Soviet block and as such forever tainted by what has taken place in the transition didn’t look so noble a choice. Easy to dismiss him as undesirable. I did. Yet, what’s he done since? Overall he’s kept his own counsel staying relatively quiet and acted in a dignified manner. What he does say seems to simply echo the concerns of the masses. He wants to resource the team and back the manager to win – and has an expectation that Arsenal can and should compete to win not just participate and aim for more participation. He also quietly buys shares where he can.

       Maybe Usmanov would have been the better owner after all.

       Reply
7. 

   Nir

   20 December, 12 at 18:41

   Spot on Billy, Lovin’ it. These are the (some of many) highlights for me:
   -Wenger has now turned to his crop of young, talented English players to provide a new, solid base upon which he can once again build a successful team.
   -Naturally, the more a team knows one another, the more understanding they will have on the football pitch.
   -It’s refreshing for me as an Arsenal fan, given recent years, to see Wenger wanting to build a team around players who play for the badge on the front of the shirt, not just the name on the back.
   -They’re a group that will only grow closer and get better the longer they stay together at the club.
   -You only have to look as far as Carl Jenkinson to see what effect actually supporting the club you play for has on performance levels.
   -Here’s hoping Wenger bows out as he began at Arsenal, a revolutionary genius.

   And finally: Theo, please “sign da thing”

   Reply
8. 

   topchii (@Yoiii)

   20 December, 12 at 16:22

   I wonder if Cesc’s departure taught him this lesson.

   Reply
   • 

     Educated Gooner

     20 December, 12 at 17:16

     Well, I think thats what he mean’t when he said that they couldn’t keep a crop of young, talented, foreign players together. So it probably was catalyst for change.

     Reply
9. 

   wenkev02

   20 December, 12 at 15:59

   Like what you rit!!! I think Zaha would be a great signing,reminds me of a young Henrey .sorry about spelling I’m 72!!!! An English CH would be good too.Have good one,!!!

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   • 

     Educated Gooner

     20 December, 12 at 17:17

     Don’t worry mate! Glad you liked it! I think Zaha will be amazing, whether he emulates Henry or not!

     Reply
10. 

    stag133

    20 December, 12 at 13:38

    I have no problem at all with signing a young core of British talent to build around… THEO should be in the image and plan as well.
    But you still need SIGNIFICANT upgrades in key positions in order to compete and complete the plan.

    By the way.
    No shot in the CL after that draw.
    Successful CL campaign, because we made this stage, so the club will
    reap the benefit of a few additional matches for revenue…
    yaaaaay. We made the last 16.
    That, my friends, is a TROPHY!
    Final 16 of the Champions League, is a trophy…

    Let’s all celebrate.

    Reply
11. 

    hugobossdre

    20 December, 12 at 13:29

    Good post mate! Also a fellow blogger here :) http://www.dailyarse.com Really agree with the staying loyal topic, its crucial to our future.

    Reply
    • 

      Educated Gooner

      20 December, 12 at 14:08

      Thanks mate, glad you agree. Will look out for your blog.

      Reply