Clichy Laments Lack Of Depth
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Arsene Wenger led his side into a new era after watching Thierry Henry leave for Barcelona this summer, and his side began firing to an even greater degree than he could have imagined.
They were on top and looking like one of the best teams in Europe - certainly in England - but that now all seems so long ago, as their late season collapse has left their season almost looking rank average on paper.
For a top side as they are, to go a fourth year without a trophy, and only managing to get as far as the quarterfinals in the Champions League, almost signals a lack of progression. This, from a group of players who have come on leaps and bounds in a short space of time.
Great Team
While Wenger was keen to point out the Gunners' creditable points tally for the season, Gael Clichy highlighted the team's quality, and rued their lack of fortune. With injuries hitting key players, the full-back asserted that the Gunners did not have a squad as big as their rivals to cope quite as well.
“I think there are two ways of seeing our season,” Clichy told Setantasports.com.
“Everybody has seen that we have a great team, we have qualities and we can play great football and we had some great results.
“But on the other side we haven’t won anything for three years now so we can’t say that the season has been positive but we can’t say it has been negative.
“Some people say Arsenal don’t deserve what they’ve got, some say the contrary, it’s up to anyone to have their own opinion.
“It has been negative in terms of trophies.
“Being at the top of the Premier League for seven months is quite impressive.
“We have shown everyone that we can play to a high standard in the whole season.
“Unfortunately we had some bad injuries including Eduardo [da Silva], we lost Robin [van Persie], Abou [Diaby] and Tomas Rosicky.
“That kind of player can make the difference anytime in a game.
“That was a big shame for us, a big blow to lose them, but once again you cannot hide behind injuries or being unlucky, we didn’t win anything and that is what matters in football.”
Progress
The Frenchman was pleased with his own season, in which he made the most appearances of all his team-mates, which pleased him in particular, due to his history of injuries.
“Just talking about myself, I haven’t been injured, which was the most important thing for me after all the injuries I had in the last couple of seasons," he explained.
“I think I improved a lot. I think I have room to progress.
“I work hard every day at training to do that. For me the season has been good but it could have been perfect if we had won something.”
Big Blow
Clichy added that he believes the lack of squad depth may have hurt the Gunners' prospects over the course of the season.
“I think the main reason is when you have a short team like we have got at Arsenal it’s good because everyone has the chance to play some games," he noted.
“So the atmosphere is great but also when you miss players, like five of those, including Tomas Rosicky, one of the best midfielders in Europe, Robin van Persie one of the best strikers, Eduardo, that’s big blow and you can’t do anything about that.
“Look at Chelsea and Man United, you take Ronaldo, Rooney and Tevez out, and Chelsea you take Terry, Carvalho and Drogba out, it’s not the same team.
“So it’s really unlucky, I don’t know if we would have won the league with those players but for sure we’d have had more chances of doing it.
“We’ve got five players injured and it’s really difficult to cope with that and we tried, we tried really hard, and of course when you make the mistakes we made against Birmingham and Liverpool away, it’s difficult.
“We have plenty of quality and next season will be better.”
Turning Point
Many view the turning point in Arsenal's season as the 2-2 draw against Birmingham City. That game saw Eduardo da Silva stretchered off with his horrific leg break, and also saw the Gunners' concede a last-minute penalty - Clichy the offender - and the first of four successive league draws.
Replays revealed that the youngster got the ball. Captain William Gallas' infamous histrionics will have done his confidence few favours, but he believes it was Eduardo's injury that changed the season, and did not even address the controversial spot-kick.
“Personally I think that Birmingham was the turning point because we lost Eduardo when he was performing at his best," he opined.
“It took him six months to settle in English football and he scored some great goals. I think with him in the team we could have done something good.
“And as well we lost two points at the last minute so that was the turning point, I think.”he's so mature..not moaning like others and threaten to leave Arsenal. kudos to him
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tis guy deserve a gd long term contract....
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I tot clichy is the one without depth? He just runs like a mad dog in every match. Even cashley cole is better than him in his younger days.
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Originally posted by FirePig:
I tot clichy is the one without depth? He just runs like a mad dog in every match. Even cashley cole is better than him in his younger days.
Mad dog ? There is no left backs better than him in the EPL . He is by far the most consistent performer in Arsenal this season .
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Originally posted by FirePig:
I tot clichy is the one without depth? He just runs like a mad dog in every match. Even cashley cole is better than him in his younger days.
without him and sagna, Arsenal would not even be able to smell 4th spot let alone challenge for the title
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Originally posted by glacer:
without him and sagna, Arsenal would not even be able to smell 4th spot let alone challenge for the title
oh really? I see you like to exaggerate stuff. -
i see u like to slur insults
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Sagna and clichy are the of the best left and right back
except for two glaring mistake clichy made during two matches, where he dunno why stoned at the edge of penalty box, allowing opponents to take e ball from him
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Originally posted by Trump_Card:
Mad dog ? There is no left backs better than him in the EPL . He is by far the most consistent performer in Arsenal this season .
yup... hes current one of the best in epl beside cashley and wayne bridge... -
let's not forget clichy n sagna r best left n right back for team for bpl 2008 eleven.
furthermore they also play like left n right wingers as well when eboue cmi and other midfielders r injuries prone.
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Originally posted by 798:
let's not forget clichy n sagna r best left n right back for team for bpl 2008 eleven.
furthermore they also play like left n right wingers as well when eboue cmi and other midfielders r injuries prone.
eboue is 4ever cmi.... -
i believe wat clichy said is true. we have the best squad but we r really unlucky to hit out by injuries, bias refereeing and mind game by english media who trying ways to dissow harmony in our squad.
but nonetheless, we play well tis season wif least defeats (except losing to teams we hate).
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Originally posted by FirePig:
oh really? I see you like to exaggerate stuff.without them, we are wingless and ade would be greatly weaken as there will be no crosses coming in
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We need world class left winger and right winger if Helb left.
Plus a excellent central defender to back up. If possible buy a backup left winger too cos currently we have none.
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Clichy is legend. Unlike some pussycunt wearing that blue jersey.
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Originally posted by felirox:
Clichy is legend. Unlike some pussycunt wearing that blue jersey.
u mean cashley?