Arsenal are a French team.

Stag · 2 May 2006 at 10:05

linky

Quotes from Robert Pires:

"As soon as we reached the semi-finals it was like having a France side there. I know people say there are not enough English players in our team but that's of little importance to me. I can see some people worrying about it, but not me."

"When I signed in the summer of 2000, there were lots of English players in the squad."

"But these days there are only two who play regularly in the first team — Ashley and Campbell."

"After that, there is only little Theo Walcott who joined us in January and he hasn't played at all."

"Arsenal have had a French identity for some time now. French is the language we speak in the changing-room, more so than English."

One more reason not to support them in the Champions League Final. :rolleyes:

Sem · 2 May 2006 at 10:54

I support Spurs all the way

we have been successful with home grown talent

5 England internationals and around 4 U21 players with promising careers

i really hope they lose the final and spurs take 4th

Yas786 · 2 May 2006 at 11:01

Personally i couldnt give a flying toss who is in the Arsenal team, they have got to the Champ League final and to me that counts for a lot. Whether they have a team full of french players or hell even iranian players..it makes no difference to me. Always supported them and always will

.

I just hope they beat Barca and knock the Spurs out of the champs league for next year as i dont think Spurs deserve to be there

.

Reesy · 2 May 2006 at 11:03

I hope Arsenal lose in the CL final. A team full of foreigners.

Hopefully Spurs will be playing CL football next season with English players.

Drawoh Tesremos · 2 May 2006 at 11:18

Interesting how things have changed. When Spurs won the double in 1960-61, they received criticism from many quarters for having five foreigners in their main team. Only six English players in the eleven who usually played was not enough for some people. The other five comprised three Scots, one Welshman, and one from Northern Ireland.

CliffyG · 2 May 2006 at 11:24

Which team who has won the champs league recently has done so without loads of foreigners? I can't remember 1. It's an international game now which although i dont fully agree with the price of average englishmen these days and the fact there aren't that many top class englishmen means the top teams have to look elsewhere.

Spurs have done well with the amount of englishmen they have, that can't be doubted but to be honest player for player there's not many, if any that would get into the Arsenal, Chelsea, Man U or Liverpool teams.

I'm quite confident Spurs will go out in the qualifying rounds if they make it into the champs league.

Vandle · 2 May 2006 at 11:27

Drawoh Tesremos said:
Interesting how things have changed. When Spurs won the double in 1960-61, they received criticism from many quarters for having five foreigners in their main team. Only six English players in the eleven who usually played was not enough for some people. The other five comprised three Scots, one Welshman, and one from Northern Ireland.

Pre-Sky doesnt count in here mate.

Drawoh Tesremos · 2 May 2006 at 11:31

Vandle said:
Pre-Sky doesnt count in here mate.

Sky

What's that.

JohnnyG · 2 May 2006 at 11:33

CliffyG said:
if any that would get into the Arsenal, Chelsea, Man U or Liverpool teams.

Lennon? Great little player

Stag · 2 May 2006 at 11:50

CliffyG said:
Which team who has won the champs league recently has done so without loads of foreigners? I can't remember 1. It's an international game now which although i dont fully agree with the price of average englishmen these days and the fact there aren't that many top class englishmen means the top teams have to look elsewhere.

Spurs have done well with the amount of englishmen they have, that can't be doubted but to be honest player for player there's not many, if any that would get into the Arsenal, Chelsea, Man U or Liverpool teams.

I'm quite confident Spurs will go out in the qualifying rounds if they make it into the champs league.

It's not the presence of foreigners which I have the problem with. It's 1066 part deux for Arsenal. French is the language in your dressing room, for me that is bizarre.

Also you're telling me you wouldn't want Robinson, King or Lennon at Arsenal?

If we do get into the qualifying rounds it really depends who we come up against if we get through, also the quality of player we bring in the summer.

Clipsey · 2 May 2006 at 11:50

oh dear!

Because the rest of the teams are just full of their own nationals right?? :confused:

If you want English players you have to pay criminal amounts!!

Eboue = amazing right back. what a find!!! price £150k !!!
Arsene has done this with huge amounts of players and must have mad a killing!!

Lennon has come in to good form as of late but will shall see if he carries on - hope he does

mad_allan · 2 May 2006 at 12:01

CliffyG said:
Spurs have done well with the amount of englishmen they have, that can't be doubted but to be honest player for player there's not many, if any that would get into the Arsenal, Chelsea, Man U or Liverpool teams.

I'm quite confident Spurs will go out in the qualifying rounds if they make it into the champs league.

Lennon, King, Carrick, Defoe (although he is out of form) wouldn't get into the other top teams? I know you are slightly biased, as am I) but those 4 names would.

Was it not last season Wenger was sniffing around Carrick? Man U and Pool sniffing around Defoe?

Clipsey · 2 May 2006 at 12:04

Robinson, King or Lennon at Arsenal?

King for sure - Robo awesome in goal but then you cant lehman has been nothing but a hero this season. Lennon good but dont think he would cut straight into the Arseanl team just yet.

I think thats bull about the language being french. I mean proper starting 11 theres only 2 maybe 3 french players! Henry is the only sure fired starter - then you have Pires (prob leaving at end of season) Flamini, and lately Diaby

Davey_Pitch · 2 May 2006 at 12:23

Spawn said:
I just hope they beat Barca and knock the Spurs out of the champs league for next year as i dont think Spurs deserve to be there .

How can you say Spurs don't deserve to be there? Just like Everton last season, they've been 4th since before Christmas and are there are results alone, and if they finish there, they've deserved it as much as we did last year (well maybe not quite, we were 2nd on Christmas Day for example

).

mad_allan · 2 May 2006 at 12:48

Davey_Pitch said:
How can you say Spurs don't deserve to be there? Just like Everton last season, they've been 4th since before Christmas and are there are results alone, and if they finish there, they've deserved it as much as we did last year (well maybe not quite, we were 2nd on Christmas Day for example ).

Missed Spawns quote!

There's always one that will say we don't deserve, sure we've had some lucky results along the way but we are there on merit!

Stretch · 2 May 2006 at 13:01

Davey_Pitch said:
How can you say Spurs don't deserve to be there? Just like Everton last season, they've been 4th since before Christmas and are there are results alone, and if they finish there, they've deserved it as much as we did last year (well maybe not quite, we were 2nd on Christmas Day for example ).

But we all know what will happen to spurs champions league aspirations if Arsenal wins in. Just as should have happened to Everton last season.

red11 · 2 May 2006 at 13:17

Rooney = £27million
Rio Ferdinand = £29million :eek:

You really do pay the price for home-grown talent. Ferdinand's fee is disgraceful. I don't blame any club for looking elsewhere to make a squad. Any interest shown in an English player and their price shoots straight up. Rooney is worth every penny though.

Hlebio · 2 May 2006 at 15:09

Personally I see this as quite a clever move by Pires... considering we are playing the final in France..

anksta · 2 May 2006 at 15:18

Arsenal always seem to be the team with the most foreigners and much as it pains me to say, they only have a few more than anyother team.

Think they should bring back the 5 foreigner rule for Europe back?

I think so, United would be just as screwed as anyone else, if anyone Chelsea would be the most knackered as they only have 3 or 4 home grown players in their squad never mind starting 11.

United have 5 in their preferred starting line up (if you count Wesley, which I do) so I reckon they could contend, not like Barca and Real are full of Spaniards is it.

red11 · 2 May 2006 at 15:47

anksta said:
Arsenal always seem to be the team with the most foreigners and much as it pains me to say, they only have a few more than anyother team.

Think they should bring back the 5 foreigner rule for Europe back?

I think so, United would be just as screwed as anyone else, if anyone Chelsea would be the most knackered as they only have 3 or 4 home grown players in their squad never mind starting 11.

United have 5 in their preferred starting line up (if you count Wesley, which I do) so I reckon they could contend, not like Barca and Real are full of Spaniards is it.

You mean the 3 foreigner rule?

NEVAAAAA

Arsenal are a French team.

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