Mark Lawrenson an apology - Exclusive
First Ever
By Boris Mellor
March 5 2008
Mark Lawrenson has contacted us to put right a few misconceptions about his reporting in the media: Some of you might have mistakenly thought I was running a campaign against William Gallas, and Arsenal last week. Nothing could be further from the truth, but I would like to thank Arsenal Times for the chance to put the record straight.
When I wrote, “William Gallas was a bad example at Birmingham last Saturday, and his behaviour suggested that Arsenal's season is about to implode.”, I actually intended to write, “that Arsenal's season is about to explode”, as only someone with my amazing forecasting skills could have predicted.
I knew they would whip Ac Milan’s butt.That is why I said under no circumstances should Wenger take the armband away from Gallas, and give it to someone like Kolo Toure, who is either playing abroad or injured. It was a highly-emotional day at St Andrews following Eduardo's injury. In that respect, you can understand why Gallas was so distraught at seeing his team concede an injury-time penalty. That’s why I said that no one should call Gallas a cry baby; but realise he is a warrior who would show his mettle by leading the first English Club to victory at the San Siro.What would have happened if Arsene had given into hysterical press calls to sack William?
Gallas is one of Arsenal's quickest and most aggressive defenders and he did more than anyone to keep a clean sheet at Milan. Great captains’ step up to the plate when the going gets tough Gallas gets going, and that's what he did against Milan. I won’t bore you with a list of great captains I have played alongside, for none were involved in a performance as great as this.
The great captains I played alongside were an extension of the manager. They were brave, strong and great leaders. The way Gallas got the team into a huddle at the start, and the way he marshaled his defence reminded me of those great men.
But I don’t want to be one of those old bores that moans on about how much better it was in my day. For none of it compares with this great achievement. It's time for Wenger to make a stand (He already has. Editor). A captain needs to be strong and Gallas showed weakness at Birmingham, but he is human, and humans make mistakes. Wenger must stick to his guns and ignore these ridiculous calls to sack his captain. These demands made by people more concerned about the damage to advertising hoardings, rather than the threat of losing a limb are not to be taken seriously.
People more concerned with collecting a stipend for little effort, repeating tired old phrases and clichés about “getting in Arsenal’s face”, and how they don’t like it oop North, or up em”, should be treated with the contempt they deserve, I know I will.
gun the gunnars down and then celebrate with them when they win and give them credit where credit is due
mark laurenson u blow my mind that sounds like me talking
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:03:05:18:00:21 by negotiator.
Quick feet, one-touch control, one-touch pass, then run into space to receive the return pass.
And those lumbering English kickers will just lunge into empty space as Arsenal player had moved away to receive the return pass.
And the key is Hleb holding the ball just outside the box and inside the box - daring opponents to dive in at him.
In fact, our season imploded at BRUM, but hey, funnily, this implosion resulted into leading premiership by one point instead of 5.....
And when we explode at Wigan.....
it will be a case of "Catch me if you can...."
Like 21-feb-2006, 04-March-208 is a defining moment in this team as it restored self-belief, confidence and spirit back into these youngsters.
And it strengthened the resolve in Gallas not to allow this team to drop its heads EVER AGAIN..like they did at BRUM and against VIlla.
In more way than one, Bendtner 94th minute strike is THE DEFINING MOMENT OF OUR SEASON.
And in more way than one, Bendtner had arrived to become an integral part of Team Arsenal Mark 4.....nothing like motivating younsgters as a member of a succesul team.
And hey, see that BIG SMILE of Nic face as well when Fabregas was rushing towards Wenger?.....
...
And that is the meaning of SPECIAL TOGETHERNESS when Fabregas ran to the bench after scoring that fabulous goal....
I do hope somebody can get hold of a photo showing THE WHOLE BENCH smiling.....I wil buy it and frame it up!!!!
Lawrenson would never be so hypocritical when it comes to Arsenal.
He would grudgingly offer small crumbs of praise while all the time finding reasons why all the other teams are better.
Arsenal's winning would be merely a blip on the radar of English football's "proper" teams, Liverpool & Manchester Utd.
Lawenson would rather say nothing than praise us.
Of course he will never praise us.
.
"It is born out of hypocrisy and fundamental insecurity. There have been two kids on the block for the past 12 years. Suddenly, there is a third and that one is threatening to be more successful than the others and they dont like it." P Kenyon.
"To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.” Saint Thomas Aquinas