Today I'm going to compare the starting line-ups.
| 06-07 Gunners | Position | Untouchables | Who's The Better Player? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lehmann | GK | Lehmann | Lehmann |
| Eboue | RB | Lauren | Lauren |
| Clichy | LB | Cole | Cole |
| Gallas | CB | Campbell | Campbell |
| Toure | CB | Toure | 06-07 Toure |
| Hleb | RM | Ljungberg | Untouchable Ljungberg |
| Rosicky | LM | Pires | Pires |
| Gilberto | CM | Gilberto | 06-07 Gilberto |
| Fabregas | CM | Vieira | Vieira |
| Henry | S | Henry | Untouchable Henry |
| van Persie | S | Bergkamp | Bergkamp |
Eight players from the Untouchables win my vote compared to only two from the current team. There is a lot of potential in this season's squad, but the players in the Untouchables were for the most part, the finished article. Clichy, Eboue, van Perise and Fabregas all have limitless potential and it will be wonderful to watch them evolve and mature in the Arsenal shirt.
| Player | Why is he better? |
|---|---|
| Lehmann | He has had no significant drop in form over the past few years and is still a commanding goalkeeper. I don't see there being a choice of the better player here as he has maintained his form throughout his time at Arsenal. |
| Lauren | He is the better right back because he's the more skilled and intelligent defender and an excellent tackler. Eboue may be the better athlete but he is still raw after only 8 months in the starting lineup. The Lauren-Ljungberg partnership was dangerous, but Hleb and Eboue are building a good relationship. |
| Cole | Clichy looks like a young Cole to me. Just as Cole did, Clichy looks great going forward, but needs to improve defensively. Clichy has the potential to be as good if not better than Cole. |
| Campbell | Campbell moved to Arsenal as a mature centre back just as Gallas has done. Both seemlessly slotted into the team and both were courted by top European clubs before the move to partner Toure in defence. I have chosen Campbell because he had a greater impact on the team and also because Gallas has played at left back at times this season. I concede that this shows his greater versatility but it has also reduced his playing time in his favoured position, so there has been less chance for me to see him in an Arsenal shirt. |
| 06-07 Toure | Toure is a better player this season. He's played with Gallas, Senderos and Djourou and been the rock in the heart of the defense. He is a vocal leader and one of the toughest but cleanest centre backs I've ever seen play. |
| Untouchable Ljungberg | Freddie influenced the Untouchables in so many ways. He created and scored goals, whilst tracking back to defend when required. Hleb doesn't make the same runs, he doesn't maintain his width on the wing. For me he is frustrating as I appreciate his work ethic, his intricate skill, but he is inherently an attacking central midfielder and being played out of position on the wing. |
| Pires | Pires was as close as Wenger has ever had to a 'fox-in-the-box'. He scored so many goals by following up on the back post and tapping in from 6 yards. He was a very unselfish player who loved to provide goals for his teammates and his goals and assists have been sorely missed. Rosicky is another player that I believe is being played out of position as he has previously played as an attacking central midfielder. Although Pires was a right footed left winger he played the position very well and his relationship with Cole was at times breathtaking. |
| 06-07 Gilberto | I believe this season's Gilberto is the better player as he has shouldered more responsibility as vice-captain and taken the majority of the defensive work in the centre of midfield on his shoulders. |
| Vieira | Patrick was always going to be irreplaceable. As testament to that statement, Wenger didn't replace him like-for-like. Instead he has put Fabregas into the other centre midfield position, but he is essentially a playmaker. |
| Untouchable Henry | He was unstoppable at times and this year he has struggled with injury, fitness and formation. |
| Bergkamp | Late on in his career Bergkamp's goals came less often but his assists were as essential to the way Arsenal played as the tackling of Vieira in midfield. Van Persie is finding his feet and may well reach 20 goals this season but he has big boots to fill as the number two striker. Once again he has the potential to score as many goals as Bergkamp but I'm not sure he has the ability to create as many as his Dutch compatriot. |
Next I'll compare the substitutes benches and team play. If you're feeling reminiscent, just put in the Untouchables DVD and enjoy!
