Over Confidence

[Justin-the-Gooner]

I have never doubted Arsene"s confidence in his young Guns but I wonder if it is fair to say that Arsene has too much confidence in the young guns. I mean if we went with the first choice team and sneaked a win last night then we would not need a result in Sevilla to top the group and because Arsene played them we did not win. I understand why he could have done it with first place guarenteed and in the Carling Cup but not in a game like last nights. Who agrees?

[All_Arsenal_1886]

Arsene Wenger put out a team to do a job. Ok they didn't win but they got the point that was needed and we are though to the knock out stages, im sure we will pick up enough points away to Sevilla and home to Bucherest to finnish top.

[Justin-the-Gooner]

Well I do agree with that.

[Belfast Boy]

Remember Justin you could certainly look at it as a gamble, just as our flirting with fourth place for a couple of years was as well, even tho there was money to spend, but to AW it's a calculated risk and what he was doing last nite was givin some of the less experienced squad players a taste of 90 mins of CL football against a team who we knew were out to salvage some sort of pride due to the 7-0 destruction a fortnight ago, and in the process rest EIGHT of our first teamers for Prem duty, which in itself is still a good sign no matter what way you look at it, and what would everyone be sayin now if he had played a full strength side to make sure of the 3 points and especially due to the previous result someone like Cesc, Hleb or Kolo got sidelined for 8 weeks or somethin due to one of the Czechs making a point???

[patricetastygoal]

I think a lot of things conspired against us. They learned from the thrashing we gave them a couple of weeks ago and AW did what he said he would do, namely rotating because there is still an awful long way and a lot of games to go. it ain't over yet!

[green gooner]

It has to be seen as a measure of our success that a draw in the CL away from home with a below strength team is now seen as a bad result

The conditions dictated that it was never going to be a classic but the "kids" got the job done I have followed Arsenal for a number of years now and am savouring the brand of football we now play and obviously our expectations have soared from what they used to be

I just can't wait to get over to the Grove again and see at first hand the team and philosophy in which we all are only too glad to support

Although I freely admit that I am not a serious contributor to this fine forum I love to read daily the views of you folks and take great interest in the differing opinions on show.

I think this young Arsenal squad stand on the verge of something truely historic

[26may1989]

I have never doubted Arsene"s confidence in his young Guns but I wonder if it is fair to say that Arsene has too much confidence in the young guns.

Justin, I think that first sentence in your post is what is called an oxymoron - the second bit contradicts the first bit. But that's just me being pedantic.

On the narrow point of the selection for the game in Prague, I have no problem with AW's choice. He wanted to rest other players after our most intense run of games this season, and use it as a League Cup-like opportunity to play the youngsters. It was a calculated gamble but he knew there was a good chance even the kids would get the point we needed, and he was right.

And whilst I would want us to win the CL group, quite frankly it's often not that big a deal, since a lot of very good teams have finished second in their group, so even if we do win the group (as I'm sure we will) we could still end up playing a good side in the knock-outs.

As for too much confidence in the kids, that's just the old debate about AW's policies on recruitment dressed up another way. My opinion: although I'd like one or two proven signings to balance the kids in the squad, AW is a god and he's decided to do it this way, come hell or high water, so we may as well just get on with enjoying it. And so far, this season has been very, very enjoyable.