Why Arsenal would be a better team without Hleb (15/5)

[gooner.ed]

http://www.onlinegooner.com/exclusive/index.php?id=630

Usual thread starter… I think if Hleb does go, I will reflect on the fact that, good a player as he is, he didn’t actually win anything in three seasons with the club, and although I don’t hold him solely responsible for that, it does indicate that he wasn’t quite up to the standard of some of his predecessors. Hopefully, Arsene will replace him with a player whose return is more tangible.

And despite Arsene's words, I can't see him staying.

[meatflowers]

http://www.onlinegooner.com/exclusive/index.php?id=630

Usual thread starter… I think if Hleb does go, I will reflect on the fact that, good a player as he is, he didn’t actually win anything in three seasons with the club, and although I don’t hold him solely responsible for that, it does indicate that he wasn’t quite up to the standard of some of his predecessors. Hopefully, Arsene will replace him with a player whose return is more tangible.

The number of medals in his cabinet doesn't mean anything.

I don't think we'll miss him much as good as he is, but you can't seriously think the fact he hasn't won anything with Arsenal means he isn't that great. Henry didn't win anything since the FA Cup and if he'd stayed we probably still wouldn't have won anything. Does that mean over that period of time he's not been as good as before? Well it might be true, but to credit team trophies with individual quality in this case is completely unfair I think. Look at Okocha at Bolton. He must have won shit all with them despite being a phenomenal player at his best who any team would have loved to have.

I really think it's better to look at his individual return and talk about that than the team success.

[gooner.ed]

hmmm.... well they say football's all about opinions don't they. i'll just leave it at this.

arsene wenger says this is the best group of players he has ever worked with.

i don't think that's true.

[QuartzGooner]

I get your point Gooner.ed, as good as Hleb is, in their primes, Pires, Ovemars, and Ljungberg gave us more goals.

Hleb is a very very good player, I am a big fan of his, and who knows, if Eduardo or RvP had stayed fit we might have seen a lot more from Hleb this season as he linked with them.

If Hleb goes, we can replace him.

Maybe not with someone so technically briliant, but someone who can score a few more.

[Red Gunner]

hmmm.... well they say football's all about opinions don't they. i'll just leave it at this.

arsene wenger says this is the best group of players he has ever worked with.

i don't think that's true.

I don't think it's true as well but I think Arsene Wenger means that this group players is potentially the best he's ever been with. The Unbeatables squad was just the best. It was complete. Goal-scoring wingers, class strikers, full-backs who knew what they did (our current are as good I think), towering centre-backs and a proper captain

[northbankbren]

What a brilliant article!!!! Hat Off to ya.

I have to say i think hleb is a very talented player, but the flaws you have spotted are spot on. I would prefer to see a player who can hold on to a ball the way he does staying in the squad and seeing him improve. BUT. If he wants to leave he should do so sooner rather than later. And If its over money i hope he chokes on his few extra thousand euros a week.

[QuartzGooner]

hmmm.... well they say football's all about opinions don't they. i'll just leave it at this.

arsene wenger says this is the best group of players he has ever worked with.

i don't think that's true.

I don't think it's true as well but I think Arsene Wenger means that this group players is potentially the best he's ever been with. The Unbeatables squad was just the best. It was complete. Goal-scoring wingers, class strikers, full-backs who knew what they did (our current are as good I think), towering centre-backs and a proper captain

I think 2001-2002 was better than 2003-2004.

Pires and Ljungberg were even better then.
Parlour was better.
Vieira was better.
Bergkamp was better.