Big Phil might yet be an Arsenal legend
I’m aware it is a ridiculous statement to make considering he has just moved to Everton on loan. Until the end of the season. Perhaps, not so ridiculous a thing to suggest then.
3 months ago I wrote a post comparing Senderos and Upson in his Arsenal days. Both had similarities in that they struggled to cope with the pressure of being a defender in an expansive Arsenal side. At that point I hoped Big Phil would have more opportunities to prove the doubters wrong. In the end he only played two league cup games (West Brom and Liverpool).
I think we expected Senderos to not play in the League much as long as Gallas and Vermaelen were fit. The moment we realised that the Swiss defender was clearly not in Arsene’s plans was in that match in Greece where he didn’t even make the squad.
Since then not only did Bartley start ahead of him but we have also seen the return of Sol. Who I think was a direct replacement for the Swiss International and I know how bizarre that sounds. However, Campbell has only signed until the end of the season.
Moreover, the contracts of Silvestre and Gallas have not yet been renewed and Arsene already expressed his fear at losing Silvestre. In a worse case scenario Senderos might yet still be retained as an Arsenal player along with Djourou, Vermaelen and one of Gallas/Silvestre/Sol.
Losing Senderos on loan is not surprising as he needs games ahead of the World Cup in June. It is surprising though that the move has come now meaning he has wasted half of his season in the reserves. Unless the story about him being injured was true. Time will tell.
I hope he does well at Everton. He isn’t the kind of player we should be barracking.
On a side note, did you see another example of Wenger’s reluctance to part with defenders on permanent basis? Last week Kerrea Gilbert moved to Peterborough for another loan spell. By the time he is back he will be a seasoned pro. Not many mentioned about this departure. Thought I’d freshen the memory.
I may be wrong but isn’t his contract up at the end of the season?
I like Senderos but it’s obvious he doesn’t want to be at Arsenal and hasn’t wanted to be there for a while. I think we should cut our losses on him for now and let him go, a shame but these things happen sometimes.
Bretty if this is true, I think there has been a major lack of planning with regards to renewing defender’s contracts.
I don’t know how true it is that he doesn’t want to be at Arsenal but it is obvious if you don’t get games when you feel you should do, especially in a World Cup season, you would want to leave.
SENDEROS MAY WELL BECOME AN ARSENAL LEGEND……..IF HE FOLLOWS MARTIN KEOWN, WHO LEFT US FOR EVERTON FOR A SPELL. WHAT HAPPENED ON HIS RETURN IS STILL LEGENDARY.
This is a good observation nicky. And if Sol can come back to join us in another decade, why couldn’t Senderos?
NO CHANCE.HES RUBBISH
What is the inside story concerning Senderos, how come he dropped so deep in the pecking order,having lost over a year already in his carreer the guy is still only 24! very young for a CD , people like to rubish anything and anybody if they get a chance, but Senderos seemed so promising playing for us a year after his arrival, a year later he was part of fantastic long run of clean sheets , the great run in europe, was talked of as a future captain, all this at the age of 21!. Did he loose it all in one day just because twice being exposed by Drogba at his peak, like anyone else on the planet (including Vermaelen btw!). It is possible that he does not fit the high line we play now, ( nor does old Cample as we so all to clearkt this weekend!), People remember all the terrible mistakes, but that cannot be it for such a young player. I would love to hear the whole story. I would love him to play and play well for Everton. Afer what happened to him I do not believe he can return to us, I wish hima great Career though!
Well the word is that he was meant to play the FA Cup game vs West Ham but he was reluctant to due to an injury. there was talk before the season as well that he wanted to join Milan but they didn’t make a bid. So he was left to stay with us.
Maybe all of this kinda pissed off Arsene who kept him in the reserves or maybe Senderos was really injured most of the time. But it isn’t the first time Arsene has been ruthless with regards to CB’s. There was Upson. Then he dropped Gallas. And he even made Sol sit a couple I think after that walkout vs West Ham few years back.
I love would to know more though. He certainly isn’t as bad as people make him out to be and you are right, there is no shame in getting done by Drogba, Torres. It isn’t as if he is struggling against Ricardo Fuller like our team at the weekend. Good luck to him though.