Arsenal: Trophy needed therefore lets get down and dirty

Football FanCast columnist Rob Facey asks whether, in light of Emmanuel Adebayor’ s comments, Arsenal are capable of winning dirty and whether this is the difference between another third place finish or a stab at the title.

Emmanuel Adebayor has broken ranks at Arsenal and told his team-mates that they must learn to win dirty.

The Togo striker, who recently committed himself to the club, for another season at least, used Wednesday’s victory over Steve McClaren’s FC Twente as an example of how they must play this season.

Their attractive play is undoubtedly the best in the Premier League when the whole team is on the same page, slicing teams apart with their fluid movement and skill, but the fact is they have not won a trophy since 2005. Ironically, that one trophy – the FA Cup – came in which a game that was dominated by Man United, yet Arsenal emerged victors.

"A lot of people talk about the good football we play at Arsenal but we are all in this game to win trophies and we haven't done that," he said, as reported in The Sun.

"It's difficult because when I signed for Arsenal from Monaco I knew I had the chance to win a lot of things. But I've been here for almost three years and I still haven't won anything.

"So now we have to realise that while it's good to play nice football, there are times when you need to be dirty to win a game.”

Pardon? An Arsenal player saying this!? Wanting to win dirty? Not in a million years, the team are simply incapable of doing such a thing.

Hearing Fabregas talk about the way the club play football, regardless of the result, you would think that the rules have changed and points are awarded for artistic merit rather than scoring goals.

"We have learned a lot recently. One of the lessons is that sometimes you have to be tough when you are on the pitch – that is part of football. We don't have to be beautiful all the time.”

One thing is for certain, there is no way this was an Arsene Wenger approved team talk.

After seasons of claiming playing pretty football and finishing trophyless, this must surely be music to Arsenal fans’ ears?

Arsenal kick off the Premier League tomorrow lunch time hosting new boys West Brom at the Emirates and may need to put this new attitude into effect straight away.

If Arsenal can grind out victories, nullify opponents and start to resemble a club who is in the business of winning games rather than being attractive sparring partners, then they could challenge either United or Chelsea for the league.

But, in reality, the club has Wenger’s slick style of play so entrenched in their ethos, that they can not change a day before the season starts.

With this in mind, is third the best Arsenal can hope for this season?

Can they really break into the top two? It seems as if the Big Four has a very definite divide that seems to be getting wider every season.

It is important that Liverpool and Arsenal stay in touch and winning dirty this season could be the difference between another third place finish and a genuine stab at the title.

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