Statues of Chapman, Adams and Henry the right choice
THE reports this afternoon say the three statues to be revealed at the Emirates are those of Herbert Chapman, Tony Adams and Thierry Henry.
Hard to argue if you ask me.
Only Arsene Wenger among Arsenal managers can match Chapman for his success and influence at both Arsenal and his wider impact on the game. Arsene already has a bust and a statue may follow one day.
The idea that George Graham merits one is for me, wrong. Yes, the man brought us significant and long craved for success. But not on Wenger’s scale and not with Wenger’s style and lest we forget he was sacked from the club for basically helping himself to £400,000 which he was never entitled to. I remember the reaction of my now late father who by dint of being someone who was never an Arsenal fan himself but did spend his money on taking his obsessed sons to the game could detach himself emotionally from Graham’s behaviour.
He was livid.
I think I’m right in saying no Arsenal player has won more silverware with the club than Tony Adams and to have captained the side for so long means that he, above say Frank McLintock, stands out as our greatest ever captain. A worthy choice.
And then there is Henry, who I think if one separates oneself from one’s own personal favourite players, most people would acknowledge delivered on a scale, in a style and with a consistency that was unmatched. Ian Wright was a terrific striker but he neither scored as many as Henry (thought admittedly his rate, bolstered by many in the Carling Cup, was fractionally better) and while he did it with a lot of style, it wasn’t on a Henry level.
Sentimentally, many will feel Dennis Bergkamp could be up there. He could. But I do think Henry trumps him.
Chapman & Adams, no brainer. Henry as well. I still get misty to this day seeing the clip of him kneeling to kiss the pitch at Highbury. Pure class, as was Dennis. Tough call not having him up there, but they made the right choices, I feel. Nice post, Sir Goodplaya.
People also need to remember Pat Rice. Nobody have been involved with as much success with the club as him. The fact it was as both as a player and a coach means his statue won’t be far off…
Finances have dictated that this is my first visit to the Grove in over a year. Good one to pick. Dying to see them now. No arguments at all over those 3 choices.
Toby, you can’t have a statue of someone who’s still working at the club…..I think Pat’s boss might be in line for one too ! :-)
Arsenal through. city and Utd out.
Clubs in crisis in the papers tomorrow?
no, just plucky City and United suffering bad luck with good grace and ready to fight another day.
Sensible choices I reckon. I wondered if they surprise us with a googly and choose Rocky simply because it would have struck a chord with a huge number of fans. But then again I suppose there are plenty of younger fans who might not even know who he was.
Playa, I looked for you in the tolly but ….. there were a few tall dark haired fellas there ;-)
Fabianski, Stepanovs, Gus Caesar, Cygan, Dickov and Eboue will feel it’s a bit harsh that they were overlooked for a statue.
@melc sorry to miss you! There were a few of us!
Late response but I agree that Dennis Bergkamp deserves a statue.
The Donkey was a great captain, TH14 was an icon but DB was Arsenal’s finest player in living memory.
Have to agree with Les, it was Dennis that took us to another level.
Best player I have seen in an Arsenal shirt.
I think calls for a statue of Dennis are justified, but with such a thing you need a hook, Henry – Top Goal Scorer, Adams – Most successful captain, Chapman – Visionary and essentially build the foundation of the success the club had achieved in his life time and beyond.
Not sure what Dennis’ hook is. Brilliant.
No quarrels with the 3 choices. But I would love to see a fourth erected for Dennis as well in the future.
@Gilf
DB10′s ‘hook’ was he was the 1st major world class and in his prime foreign signing the club made in the 90′s which paved the way for all of the success thereafter.
Put it this way, although AW (who came after) may have been able to attract certain players it wasn’t a given that the likes of Overmars would have came over.
Then there are 2 of the greatest goals of all time (Leiceister hat trick goal and Newcastle away) and lots of other fantastic memories.
Oh and Henry may not have had 1/2 the goals he did if Bergkamp never sliced open the defence over and over and over again!
Dennis should definitely have a statue.
@GD
According to arseblogger, Bergkamp created a sum total of…12 goals for Henry. Yes, only 12 goals. I think the impression of DB10 being the creator of most of TH14′s goals was created because they worked well together but not really because DB10 assisted for the goals.
Where’s Kanu? Hat-trick at stamford bridge in the last 10 minutes of the game………..!! Deserves a statue in my eyes…
lest we forget:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=4VNPVAUOai4#t=351s
Deep thought! Thanks for cotnrbiuntig.
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