While we've been away they've been acting their usual self.
From ArseMania:
I can't believe how few injuries they have had this season.
Nearly all their most influential players have had no injuries and yet we have had loads to our best players.
I don't know about signing players, I think we should sign their physio staff
Somehow Wenger managed to top it tonight:
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says rivals influence TV schedules
Ars?¿ne Wenger has claimed that some rival Premier League clubs are obtaining an unfair advantage in the fixture schedule because of the influence they exert on television companies.
Arsenal were annoyed this week that their FA Cup fourth-round tie against Aston Villa had been scheduled for Sunday, Jan 29 to be screened live by ESPN, meaning there is then one day less between their next two Premier League fixtures . Arsenal also had only 48 hours between recent Premier League fixtures against QPR and Fulham, with Wenger claiming yesterday that his club were repeat victims.
ÔÇ£I donÔÇÖt believe the Premier League has played in the last months or the last year a very fair role in the distribution of the fixtures,ÔÇØ he said. ÔÇ£They are sold to television and television is influenced by some clubs to choose the fixtures. And some clubs get advantaged by television, if itÔÇÖs Sky or ESPN, because they have an influence there from the clubs directly.ÔÇØ
Wenger called on the Premier League to provide ÔÇ£a much bigger barrierÔÇØ, arguing that televisionÔÇÖs role in the current system offers a temptation for clubs to make unfair requests.
ÔÇ£If you do not master any more the fixtures you have no control of your league,ÔÇØ he said. ÔÇ£ThatÔÇÖs what is wrong. Because if, tomorrow, you buy a club and your best friend is the owner of Sky TV, you donÔÇÖt think you will tell him, 'Look, you put us on Friday nightÔÇÖ. Or, 'You put us on Sunday nightÔÇÖ. ThatÔÇÖs not fair. You donÔÇÖt think that is a temptation? Of course it is.ÔÇØ
Although there is no suggestion that Tottenham have been trying to influence the television companies, it will not have escaped WengerÔÇÖs notice that their FA Cup fourth-round tie against Watford has been selected by ESPN for Friday, Jan 27. It means Tottenham will have an extra day to prepare for their next Premier League match the following Tuesday against Wigan. After that, Tottenham then have another five clear days before playing Liverpool in a Premier League game televised by Sky Sports on Feb 6.
Wenger refused to make any accusations against specific clubs but did claim his concerns were shared by other managers. ÔÇ£If things are repeated then itÔÇÖs not a coincidence any more,ÔÇØ he said. ÔÇ£In England itÔÇÖs always very difficult to say what you feel about that but IÔÇÖm not the only manager who thinks that. ThereÔÇÖs a real problem.
ÔÇ£You cannot have decisive games with one team playing Friday and Tuesday, and another on Sunday and Tuesday. If I fight with you in a 100 metres run and you have to run the semi-final on Sunday morning and run against me on Sunday afternoon and I have a run on Friday morning, I donÔÇÖt need to accuse anyone. I just say, 'Is that fair or not?ÔÇÖ And itÔÇÖs not.ÔÇØ
When it was put to him that it was a big accusation to say certain clubs have an influence on Premier League fixtures, Wenger said: ÔÇ£It is the truth. I accuse nobody specifically. It is a problem that is happening every year and the guy that speaks about it looks like heÔÇÖs crazy.
ÔÇ£IÔÇÖve been working for 30 years in football, and it is not right. Of course it happens to many clubs. It happens less to some than others. If the Premier League doesnÔÇÖt decide, it is the television that decides. That means that television can be influenced and the Premier League has nothing to say. We have sold our soul and we do not control our games, our fixtures, any more. The Premier League should master the fixtures.ÔÇØ
There was no official response to WengerÔÇÖs claims, either from the Premier League or Sky Sports and ESPN. Privately, though, there is a feeling that it would be impossible for clubs to influence fixtures as Wenger suggests, with the date of each match subject to numerous extenuating circumstances, including the wishes of police, the local authorities, the schedules of other competitions and rules governing how often each club can be selected for live broadcast.
Clubs must also agree to schedule their matches for television, with Arsenal signing off the FA Cup match against Aston Villa on Jan 29 that will be screened on ESPN. Clubs are well remunerated when they appear live on television, receiving ?ú127,000 for an FA Cup game and ?ú500,000 for Premier League matches.
'Television is GHod,ÔÇÖ admits Ferguson
Ars?¿ne Wenger estimated that Arsenal had suffered ÔÇ£50 timesÔÇØ due to the fixture schedule. His grievances include:
Playing Aston Villa, Bolton and Blackburn in the space of seven days this January and February. TottenhamÔÇÖs equivalent fixtures are spread over 11 days.
Playing QPR and Fulham in the space of three days during the festive period when others had more time between matches.
Playing Stoke City four days before the final of last seasonÔÇÖs Carling Cup. Birmingham, their opponents, had a potential midweek match against Everton postponed.
Other leading managers have also complained this season. Sir Alex Ferguson said: ÔÇ£When you shake hands with the devil you have to pay the price. Television is GHod at the moment.ÔÇØ Roberto Mancini said: ÔÇ£Having to play twice in two days when others play every three days is not correct.ÔÇØ
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...schedules.html
From ArseMania:
I can't believe how few injuries they have had this season.
Nearly all their most influential players have had no injuries and yet we have had loads to our best players.
I don't know about signing players, I think we should sign their physio staff
Somehow Wenger managed to top it tonight:
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says rivals influence TV schedules
Ars?¿ne Wenger has claimed that some rival Premier League clubs are obtaining an unfair advantage in the fixture schedule because of the influence they exert on television companies.
Arsenal were annoyed this week that their FA Cup fourth-round tie against Aston Villa had been scheduled for Sunday, Jan 29 to be screened live by ESPN, meaning there is then one day less between their next two Premier League fixtures . Arsenal also had only 48 hours between recent Premier League fixtures against QPR and Fulham, with Wenger claiming yesterday that his club were repeat victims.
ÔÇ£I donÔÇÖt believe the Premier League has played in the last months or the last year a very fair role in the distribution of the fixtures,ÔÇØ he said. ÔÇ£They are sold to television and television is influenced by some clubs to choose the fixtures. And some clubs get advantaged by television, if itÔÇÖs Sky or ESPN, because they have an influence there from the clubs directly.ÔÇØ
Wenger called on the Premier League to provide ÔÇ£a much bigger barrierÔÇØ, arguing that televisionÔÇÖs role in the current system offers a temptation for clubs to make unfair requests.
ÔÇ£If you do not master any more the fixtures you have no control of your league,ÔÇØ he said. ÔÇ£ThatÔÇÖs what is wrong. Because if, tomorrow, you buy a club and your best friend is the owner of Sky TV, you donÔÇÖt think you will tell him, 'Look, you put us on Friday nightÔÇÖ. Or, 'You put us on Sunday nightÔÇÖ. ThatÔÇÖs not fair. You donÔÇÖt think that is a temptation? Of course it is.ÔÇØ
Although there is no suggestion that Tottenham have been trying to influence the television companies, it will not have escaped WengerÔÇÖs notice that their FA Cup fourth-round tie against Watford has been selected by ESPN for Friday, Jan 27. It means Tottenham will have an extra day to prepare for their next Premier League match the following Tuesday against Wigan. After that, Tottenham then have another five clear days before playing Liverpool in a Premier League game televised by Sky Sports on Feb 6.
Wenger refused to make any accusations against specific clubs but did claim his concerns were shared by other managers. ÔÇ£If things are repeated then itÔÇÖs not a coincidence any more,ÔÇØ he said. ÔÇ£In England itÔÇÖs always very difficult to say what you feel about that but IÔÇÖm not the only manager who thinks that. ThereÔÇÖs a real problem.
ÔÇ£You cannot have decisive games with one team playing Friday and Tuesday, and another on Sunday and Tuesday. If I fight with you in a 100 metres run and you have to run the semi-final on Sunday morning and run against me on Sunday afternoon and I have a run on Friday morning, I donÔÇÖt need to accuse anyone. I just say, 'Is that fair or not?ÔÇÖ And itÔÇÖs not.ÔÇØ
When it was put to him that it was a big accusation to say certain clubs have an influence on Premier League fixtures, Wenger said: ÔÇ£It is the truth. I accuse nobody specifically. It is a problem that is happening every year and the guy that speaks about it looks like heÔÇÖs crazy.
ÔÇ£IÔÇÖve been working for 30 years in football, and it is not right. Of course it happens to many clubs. It happens less to some than others. If the Premier League doesnÔÇÖt decide, it is the television that decides. That means that television can be influenced and the Premier League has nothing to say. We have sold our soul and we do not control our games, our fixtures, any more. The Premier League should master the fixtures.ÔÇØ
There was no official response to WengerÔÇÖs claims, either from the Premier League or Sky Sports and ESPN. Privately, though, there is a feeling that it would be impossible for clubs to influence fixtures as Wenger suggests, with the date of each match subject to numerous extenuating circumstances, including the wishes of police, the local authorities, the schedules of other competitions and rules governing how often each club can be selected for live broadcast.
Clubs must also agree to schedule their matches for television, with Arsenal signing off the FA Cup match against Aston Villa on Jan 29 that will be screened on ESPN. Clubs are well remunerated when they appear live on television, receiving ?ú127,000 for an FA Cup game and ?ú500,000 for Premier League matches.
'Television is GHod,ÔÇÖ admits Ferguson
Ars?¿ne Wenger estimated that Arsenal had suffered ÔÇ£50 timesÔÇØ due to the fixture schedule. His grievances include:
Playing Aston Villa, Bolton and Blackburn in the space of seven days this January and February. TottenhamÔÇÖs equivalent fixtures are spread over 11 days.
Playing QPR and Fulham in the space of three days during the festive period when others had more time between matches.
Playing Stoke City four days before the final of last seasonÔÇÖs Carling Cup. Birmingham, their opponents, had a potential midweek match against Everton postponed.
Other leading managers have also complained this season. Sir Alex Ferguson said: ÔÇ£When you shake hands with the devil you have to pay the price. Television is GHod at the moment.ÔÇØ Roberto Mancini said: ÔÇ£Having to play twice in two days when others play every three days is not correct.ÔÇØ
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/foo...schedules.html