Arsene Wenger – A Victim Of His Own Success

Published in the March issue of 90 Minutes - India's very own football magazine.

“It was a complete shock to me. I couldn’t understand that at all. If you had read the newspapers in the last two weeks, you must say there is a mistake”, said Arsene Wenger, on receiving the Barclays Premier League Manager of the Month award for the month of February.

It was the kind of self-deprecating humour the Frenchman often employs these days with the media, to remain likeable, as well as to remind them of his true worth.

During Wenger’s most glittering years as an Arsenal manager, between 1998-2005, he seemed unflappable, and unbeatable. His knowledge of the game and his methods for mastering it impressed, inspired and seduced players, managers, and journalists, who couldn’t have enough of him. They wrote down every word he said, almost looking to learn as much as they reported.

Fast forward seven years, and they still love his media interactions as much, but it’s more Schadenfreude than seduction that draws them to his press conferences. He’s now one of the most regularly-agitated Premier League managers on the touchline, and in many pundits’ eyes, the most deluded. The media which revered him, now pities him.

We all know how it’s got to this stage, but is Wenger really to blame for all that’s wrong with Arsenal Football Club? Hasn’t he done an adequate, if not admirable job at the club since they moved to the Emirates Stadium?

Nick Hornby, author of Fever Pitch, a memoir of supporting Arsenal FC throughout his life, remarked some years back that while Manchester United won titles by virtue of being a giant institution, Arsenal won them by virtue of Wenger being their manager. He’s not entirely wrong. In the last four seasons before Wenger ‘s arrival, Arsenal finished 10th, 4th, 12th, and 5th, hardly the record of a team consistently challenging for top honours. To put that into perspective, teams like Fulham, Everton, or Aston Villa have a similar record over the past four years.

Along with the handful of diplomas and degrees, the Alsatian brought with him revolutionary (at least in England) methods of training, scouting, stretching, dieting, and of course, playing football. He was not your average Premier League manager, and in many ways, did more for the Premier League in just five years than even Sir Alex had in 15, despite the latter still being the master at churning out title-winning teams.

Wenger, as an economist, realizes the value of every penny earned, saved, and spent, perhaps a bit more than the rest. When he came to Arsenal he knew that the Gunners didn’t have the spending power or the wage budget of the country’s biggest teams, so he took a different route. He concentrated on exploiting the inefficiencies in the transfer market, and still tries to do that today.

While the Premier League concentrated on overpriced and overpaid Englishmen, Wenger turned to the continent, as well as Africa, to get equally-skilled players on the cheap. His plan worked. On a fraction of the budget the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool had, Wenger put together a squad of world-beaters, with his vision culminating in an unprecedented unbeaten season in 2003-04. The supposed downside of it was that his Arsenal squad had very few Englishmen.

He was a ‘gamechanger’ in the Premier League, and his methods, earlier mocked, were gradually followed by managers throughout the division. However, it wasn’t to be as easy anymore. While everyone looks to Arsenal’s new stadium to reason why Wenger hasn’t looked as dominant as he did earlier, the answer perhaps lies elsewhere.

Two reasons explain the dramatic ‘fall from grace’ of Arsenal since 2004. One, Wenger’s success. Ironic as it may sound, Arsene Wenger became a victim of his own success. His fitness regimes, his respect for statistical data, and his mastery of the transfer market all led to his own downfall, as the other big clubs across England began doing what he did. Players became as fit elsewhere, statistics were analysed as much, and the transfer market inefficiencies evaporated. Wenger’s first-mover advantage was gone, and to make things worse, his rivals had more money.

The second reason has a lot to do with the next ‘gamechanger’ in England, after Wenger – Roman Abramovich. The Russian oligarch’s takeover of Chelsea brought about a sea-change in the league, especially the finances of it. The Blues’ pit of money seemed endless, as they hoarded star names and offered them huge pay-packets. While the Emirates Stadium meant that the Gunners couldn’t spend extravagantly, the turn of events at Chelsea meant that they simply couldn’t compete at the top.

What’s followed is a barren, six-year (and counting) trophy-less spell for London’s most decorated club, and increasing criticism of the Frenchman. While finishing in the top four is something Arsenal should never be satisfied with, it’s impossible to overlook the resources Wenger has at his disposal.

Player wages have a telling effect on the outcome of a league season. The correlation is simple - bigger players want bigger salaries. It’s also why Arsenal loses its stars with alarming regularity. Arsenal’s is the fourth-highest wage bill in the Premier League, which means that logically, the Gunners should finish 4th. Wenger does that, almost by habit. He also guided the club to a 3rd-place finish in 2008 and 2010, reached the Carling Cup final in 2011, the FA Cup semis in 2009, and the Champions League semis the same year. It’s not all that bad. There have also been a couple of title tilts, especially in 2007-08, when they led the league for most of the season.

Fans and experts argue, quite correctly, that even with his limited resources, Wenger could have done a better job in these last seven years as Arsenal manager, which might be true. There are three areas, primarily, in which Le Professor could, and should have done a lot better, and all of them are core football management issues.

From a team that played power football, attacked with pace, used the width of the pitch, and had runners to run in behind the opposition defence, Arsene chose to switch to a possession-based passing game. That has probably been Wenger’s first mistake. While it might have helped the Gunners’ possession stats, it slowed their game, and reduced their efficiency in attack drastically. Gone were the days when the men in Red and White took teams apart from the very first minute. Instead, fans grew accustomed to increased sideways-passing, and a lot more focus on simply keeping the ball rather than doing something with it. Bottomline – Arsenal were a lot more attractive to watch six years back. Dennis Bergkamp was spot-on when he said that the team needs to develop more of a “winning mentality than a passing mentality”.

Secondly, Arsenal have had serious defensive issues for over five years. That is, in many ways, inexcusable. Any top-class manager would have realized, just as Wenger must have, way back in 2006-07 that the Gunners were struggling at the back, especially at setpieces. The same problems haunt the side till date, and they look set concede their highest number of goals in a Premier League season under Arsene Wenger this campaign. Surely the manager should have solved most of these issues by now, especially as the team’s defensive woes are more organization and tactical, rather than due to a lack of quality personnel at the back. Spending more money in the transfer market is a moot point, because as individuals, most of Arsenal’s first-choice defenders are top-class.

Thirdly, over the years there’s been a severe lack of motivation within the first-team. The mentality of the team has just not been right. Whether you term it a lack of character or a lack of professionalism, we’ve seen player after player coast through games, jogging when they’re supposed to run, rooted when they’ve had to leap, shrugging nonchalantly when they ought to be disappointed or angry. We’ve observed a real lack of fire amongst a lot of Arsene’s younglings, and at some level, he has to take the blame for not motivating them enough.

Does he deserve to stay, then? Given the situation the Gunners are in, there isn’t another manager in the world who could do Wenger’s job at the moment. The excess authority he’s had at the club in recent times means that he’s left his mark all over the club’s football operations, not just the first team, and making such a massive change in the middle of the season wouldn’t help Arsenal in any way. If anything, his position has to be looked at closely in the summer.

Plus, what’s most crucial is that Wenger is still motivated. He might annoy us all by saying that “third is a trophy”, but he desperately wants to win. Everything. His antics on the touchline and in press conferences are indicative of the fact that he hasn’t lost his appetite to win, but he very well realizes that he can only look to over-achieve. First can no longer be an expectation for Arsenal, at least in the immediate future. He might have achieved a lot more in recent years had he not made some of the above mistakes, but at the end of the day, he’s doing a decent job at the Emirates, at par with his resources.

Given the extent to which wages and transfer spending affect football in Europe, it’s not a surprise where Arsenal lie today. Arsene Wenger, more than anything else, needs to set some of the football aspects of his team right, as he’s handled the financial constraints put on him superbly (although he has been a bit too stingy for fans’ liking). He has to think long and hard this summer about some of the mistakes he’s made, and has to be prepared to correct them, even if it means adding another member to his coaching staff, which might undermine his authority. If he still refuses to set these wrongs right, the Arsenal board might have to take a tough call. Something must change, because with Wenger, over-achieving is almost an expectation.

If Arsenal had won a trophy in these last few years, it would be – as Nick Hornby put it – by virtue of Wenger being their manager. The fact that Arsenal haven’t, means that they’re doing pretty much what their business allows them to, and what their players are capable of. Wenger still tries to over-achieve every season, though. We just don’t know it.

My Take On Arsenal's Defeat At The Nou Camp

The last week has been quite the proverbial emotional rollercoaster for an Arsenal fan. A frustrating stalemate against Sunderland aside (Although we did manage to close the gap at the top ever so slightly), we went down 3-1 to Barcelona at the Nou Camp, convincingly so, but NewsNow just doesn't let one get over that game, still bombarding fans with news, reactions, opinions, counter-opinions, rants, ourbursts, and blogs (Err..) related to the defeat.

What really happened on Tuesday night?

Arsene Wenger has realized that his Arsenal side cannot match the movement of Barcelona. This doesn't necessary mean quality of passing. While some Arsenal players might be as good technically, the way Barcelona move and create angles due to which passes even in the tightest of situations can be made, is their biggest area of superiority. The Gunners just don't have that sort of movement, which is why Barca's pressing left them clueless when they did have the ball. They just did not take up good enough positions to receive the ball. THAT, is the difference between the two sides (Besides Xavi, Iniesta, Villa, and Messi. Oh well..).

Wenger knew after last season, and even after the first leg this time, that the Catalans would have most of the possession, so he relied on Arsenal's very own area of superiority - fitness. Quite paradoxical when you consider the number of players the Londoners have lost to injuries over the past five years, but still true.

In both home legs against Barca in the last year or so, Arsenal outlasted Guardiola's men, scoring all their goals in the second half against a visibly tired backline. Which is why Wenger tried to do the same at the Nou Camp, but the enigma that is Massimo Busacca meant that Wenger's plans were destroyed in South Park-esque fashion.

The Gunners tried to play whenever they did get the ball in the first half, but just couldn't. Fact. Barcelona dominated, and were brilliant with or without the ball. I doubt Wenger wanted to sit back and soak up the pressure, but yes, while defending, he definitely asked his team to be more compact. Also, with Fabregas apparently feeling a twinge in his hamstring in the 15th minute, the skipper sat deeper too, and played "safe".

It surprisingly worked very well for Wenger too, as Barcelona were restricted to very few shots on goal (Two, I think), with a committed Koscielny and a desperate Djourou doing their very best to deny the hosts any space inside the box. No goals up till half time would have fit in perfectly with Wenger's plans, who was banking on his players to take advantage of Barca's tiredness in the last 20 minutes of the second half. However, Fabregas' trying-to-be-cute backheel changed it all, as Iniesta played an absolutely stunning dinked pass to Messi, who finished cleverly past Almunia.

It was 1-0 at half time, but some tireless running and a decent corner kick later, Arsenal were level. Diaby's leap fooled them all into believing that he was actually trying to score, and Busquets headed into his own net. It was just the kind of luck Arsenal needed to clinch this tie. With the Gunners ahead on aggregate and level on away goals, Barcelona would have really had to work hard to break down what was a stubborn defence up till then, and at the same time deal with any counter attacks, especially towards the end.

But Busacca ruined it all in one moment of madness. No matter which way you look at this, Van Persie should not have been sent off. In fact, the yellow card he received at the end of the first half for a push on serial cheat Dani Alves, was harsh too, with the home crowd's reaction influencing Busacca as much as anything else.

Busacca literally turned offside into a yellow card offence.

Some thoughts on why he should not have been sent off:

1) RVP's first yellow was harsh, with Alves making the most of it. But yes, it was silly on the striker's part.

2) For the second yellow, he was hardly offside. He was nearly onside, and had every right to go ahead and shoot as long as he wasn't sure of the whistle.

3) Did he waste time in any way? His shot took the ball nearer to Valdes, than it would have if he had collected the pass and stopped!

4) The whistle went one second earlier. RVP didn't seem to stop, and kick the ball away in frustration or anything of the sort. He collected the ball, created space, and shot.

5) He didn't kick the ball into the stands, it was a proper shot on goal, not something you get sent off for, surely.

All in all, if that was a yellow card, we will see hundreds of yellow cards across Europe EVERY week for the same offence. Can football afford that? Strikers, even if they hear the whistle for sure, do take a shot and get the ball into the back of the net to find their rhythm and just get a bit of confidence. It happens all the time, even 5 seconds after the whistle has gone! And absolutely no one complains about it if they aren't booked.

Also, it's strange that the hosts' players were merrily allowed to grab Arsenal players by the throat, with not so much as a warning (It's usually a red card offence) by Busacca! Surely, if an Arsenal player had done that, you'd hear the home fans jump off their seats in a fit of rage, and Busacca doing the needful. And yes, I must acknowledge that Barca should have had a penalty as well in the first half.



Barcelona deserved to go through, definitely. They dominated the second leg completely, but that really isn't what football is about, is it? I've seen Arsenal dominate games from start to finish and end up losing on countless occasions, but somehow no pundit talks about how Arsenal deserved to win, once the game is over. Why? If Bendtner had scored that goal, the same pundits would be saying how Arsenal showed character and 'defended like heroes'.

Wenger tried to adapt slightly to the situation, which he hardly ever does. He did it because he was up against the best team in the world, as simple as that. The people that now say that he 'betrayed his philosophy', are the same people that say he should 'have a Plan B' when Arsenal lose playing the Arsenal way. Football's opinions have largely become a paraphrase of the scoreline, which is a real shame.

As far as Barca players are concerned, congratulations, but stop talking about how RVP deserved to see red. If you must, talk about your dominance, which saw you deservedly go through, but defending the ref only makes the slight suspicion grow, that Uefa does not want you to crash out of the Champions League so soon. Go through key decisions that have gone their way in the last three seasons in this competition, you'll know.

Hopefully the anger within the Arsenal dressing room galvanises the players for the matches ahead. The match against Manchester United could not have come at a better time. Win this, and the league could be ours.

Ferguson senses the danger, but can Wenger and his boys pull themselves together to take advantage?

What Have We Learned From India's Adventure At The Asian Cup?

Also published here.

Well, the Indian team is back from Doha after the group stage of the Asian Cup, having lost all three games against Australia, Bahrain, and South Korea, conceding 13 goals, and scoring thrice. However, realists all over the country won't be too displeased with our performances, and it indeed was a learning experience like no other for the current squad, in their entire careers.

But what have we, observers/fans/pseudo-pundits, learned after watching our team play?

I'll put my two cents' worth in:

(A Lack Of) Fitness

We've probably known this since forever, but never has the national team's below-par fitness level been exposed the way it was in Doha. In all three games, our opponents looked two or three notches above us in terms of pace, strength, and stamina. Looking at the positive side of it, at least we now know exactly how far behind we are physically, which will hopefully lead to steps being taken to ensure the kids of today reach the level required.

What Kind Of Football Do We Want To Play?

What has been a problem with the Indian team over the years, despite their successes in tournaments like the Nehru Cup and the AFC Challenge Cup, is the lack of identity when it comes to the way they play the game. Bob Houghton has done a good job with the national side, but even after five years at the helm, he hasn't been able to help the lads come up with a particular style of play which would suit their skills. This is not to suggest that we should try to play like Spain, not at all. The fans won't mind even if we play like a Stoke or Blackburn and climb up the rankings, but there has to be a certain style.

At the moment, one doesn't know what to expect while watching India. It seems they try and pass the ball for a while, and if it doesn't work a few times, they keep hoofing it to the likes of Yadav (Understandable, since he's a big lad), Chhetri and Bhutia (Ridiculous). To their credit, the latter two make the best of a bad situation, but really, we can't go on like this forever.

No Creativity In Midfield

While a few players stood out during the group stage at different moments - Renedy, Abhishek, and Gouramangi against Bahrain, Chhetri and Surkumar against South Korea, Nabi against Australia, and Subrata Paul overall, it's worth noticing that neither of our central midfielders had a decent game at the tournament.

Both Climax and Pradeep couldn't cope at that level, and misplaced one pass too many even when they were on the ball. The situation cries out for a change of some sort, with more importance being give to midfielders who are comfortable on the ball, are good passers, and look to go forward and create chances at every opportunity.

Time To Step Up

There were many younger players waiting in the wings back home, who would have loved to be there in Doha with the rest of the squad. Perhaps now is the time, after having given the older generation their moment in the big time, to groom these youngsters and give them opportunities at the international level.

And this doesn't just mean starting the likes of Mohammed Rafi and Sushil Kumar, but giving some new names a chance as well. Hopefully, preference will be given to fitter and faster players, who can pass the ball.

Never Say Die

One of the major positive aspects emerging from the Asian Cup, and perhaps which has kept all Indian football fans reasonably happy despite the three defeats, is the spirit and fight shown by the lads on the pitch. They kept their head down and continued battling despite going one, two, or three goals down, and defended India's pride.

The game against Korea comes in for special mention. Park Ji Sung and co were simply in another world when it came to technique, pace, and passing, but the back four and Subrata Paul worked their socks off to prevent a cricket score, especially in the second half. This is where Bob Houghton does deserve a lot of credit, and if we can maintain this mentality and couple it with better skills, we'll be on our way up sooner than you'd think.

Look For Skill, Not Height

Speaking of skills, this Asian Cup busted many an Indian's myth about our footballers. For years, we've heard declarations like, "The talent is there, but there's no money", or "Our players are skilful, but the pitches are bad", or "We are not behind the rest in terms of skill, but only on fitness".

Well, the truth was out there in front of our eyes, which made it overly evident that we were nowhere close to any of our opponents when it came to skill. Barring Chhetri, who showed some nice touches, and Renedy, whose delivery and finishing was superb, none of the players really showed much skill on the ball.

The kids of today must be encouraged to work in this direction. We are all talking about height at the moment, but what's the use of the extra inches if the player doesn't have the requisite skill to keep possession? Everyone knows Spain didn't win the World Cup because of their height, and while taller players must be preferred in the case of two equally-skilled players, no 'minimum height cut off' should come into play in younger age categories, as is being mooted for in some quarters.

Forget The World Cup, For Now.

This is a sad truth, but those who were hoping to see India challenge for a 2018 World Cup spot will have to realize that it is not going to happen. We are seriously off the pace even at the Asian level, and with training facilities and overall football infrastructure still not up to scratch, we will probably have to wait for well over a decade before we seriously stand a chance to be a part of the showcase event that celebrates the beautiful game.

You Were Special Eddy, For More Reasons Than One

Well, that's the end of the fairytale that never was. Eduardo Da Silva has left North London for pastures new, signing for Ukranian club Shakhtar Donetsk. He didn't want to leave Arsenal, Arsene Wenger didn't want him to move, the fans didn't want him to leave, but that's life.

Each and every Arsenal fan will only remember him fondly, and wish him nothing but the best for the rest of his footballing career, which could very well have blossomed in England under different circumstances.

In three years at the club, the Croatian scored 20 goals, and didn't really nail down a starting spot before or after injury, but his Arsenal story wasn't about numbers or performances. It was emotional, heart-wrenching, and at the end of it, quite tragic.

He came to England when he wasn't really a known name, but had quite a reputation in the Croatian league, where he starred for Dinamo Zagreb. Not the tallest or strongest, Eddy was a throwback to the old days, with regards to his abilities as a striker.

He was a classic 'poacher', an old-school footballer, one not relying on physical attributes to perform on the pitch. In many ways, he was one of the most 'natural' footballers you would see in the overly-professional business that is club football today.

Possessing a lethal left foot and the ability to make time stop when in front of goal, he began scoring for fun towards the end of 2007, and racked up 12 goals, all of them very well taken, until that fateful day at St.Andrew's.

Not much is left to be said about that game, the tackle, or the British media's reaction. The fact remains, that Martin 'Not-that-kind-of-player' Taylor's horror tackle put the brakes on Eddy's fledgling career, the scars of which will probably never vacate his mind.

The media's reaction was shameful and chauvinistic in its own way, in essence blaming Arsene Wenger and Arsenal for not being 'man enough' for the oft-glorified physical element of the Premier League. Eduardo missed roughly 9 months of football, and was never to be the same again.

Seeing him back on the pitch was like witnessing a fairytale in itself, especially after he scored twice in his comeback game. However, persistent niggles and minor injuries hampered the rest of his Arsenal career, as did the witch-hunt conducted by the Scottish federation and UEFA after his dive inside the penalty area against Celtic.

Okay, he dived. Who doesn't? Never a word is written in print about Spain's very own ballerina Andres Iniesta, neither are Fernando Torres, Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney, Sergio Busquets and so many more even criticized! It was a blatant case of the media venting their feelings about Arsenal's foreign contingent, and it made Eddy's stay in London that much more agonizing.

This post really isn't about me having a rant. After a poor last season where he could neither find peak form or fitness, he is now off to Donetsk where he can start from scratch, and hopefully put his life in England behind him. His personal message to the Arsenal fans was one the most genuine and honest statements I've seen a footballer make in recent times. It spoke volumes of him as a person.

On a personal level, Eduardo was a player I (like most other Arsenal fans) had an emotional connect with. There are three reasons I can think of immediately, apart from the incident at Birmingham.

One, he was a wonderful little player. No Henry-esque pace, not the technical brilliance of Bergkamp, no bull-like strength like The Drog, but just a regular guy who loves football, and is a natural at putting the ball past the keeper.

Two, he signed for Arsenal on July 3rd, 2007, which was my 20th birthday. It was just another reason for me to be fond of him, hoping that the date would bring him and Arsenal some good luck. Sadly, it's ended in a case of "If only..".

And three, my first ever blog post was the day he suffered that leg break at Birmingham. I always knew I wanted to write, but on that day, I was moved and affected enough to start.

Thank you Eddy, for being the footballer and person you are. You will be an Arsenal legend for Gooners all over the world. None of us will forget you, or your story.

You will always be Arsenal to each one of us. Cheerio!

Bhagat Must Credit 3 Idiots For Sales Of His Next Book

Let me just say something first up. I was quite surprised when I didn't see Chetan Bhagat's name appear in the opening credits of 3 Idiots. It did at the end in the rolling credits, but I felt he deserved his name to be put in the opening reels. However, after reading his shamelessly manipulative and petty blog post, I feel no empathy for him whatsoever.

In what is one of the most blatant attempts at gathering publicity in recent times, Bhagat has reached new lows for an author of such repute. Many have taken his 'side' during this whole fracas, and although some are right in saying that a spot in the rolling credits isn't enough for the man who wrote Five Point Someone, the delightful book on which 3i is based, Bhagat had negotiated for nothing more. All in all, it is a case of a man trying to stir and manipulate emotions of the public, only to veil his shortcomings as a businessman.

Three things.

First, Bhagat has accused VVC and his production house of copying, or literally stealing his story. Nothing could be more inaccurate than that. The rights of the book were bought well in advance by the makers of 3i, with them being free to twist, turn, deform, expand, or even annihilate the original story in the book thereafter, and they did change the book as much as they retained certain bits of it. There is no denying that 3 Idiots is certainly inspired by Five Point Someone. But they had the right to do it, as they'd procured the rights, paying a good Rs.11 Lakhs to Bhagat for it, although the sum now seems dwarfed by the movie's collections.

Second, Bhagat feels that due credit was not given to him in the film. Due credit? The only credit that was 'due' to the millionaire writer, was the obligation that his name was to appear in the rolling credits of the movie, saying:

Based On The Novel
FIVE POINT SOMEONE
By Chetan Bhagat

And that's what I, and the rest of the world saw at the end of the movie. And if you missed it, then it's just Bhagat's bad luck-cum-stupidity, isn't it? He signed the contract which explicitly mentioned how credit was to be given to him, and the makers did what they had to according to it. What does Bhagat want? Does he want VVC and Hirani to go to town singing his name in each interview? They're smarter than that.

Third, Bhagat, in very clear terms, says that he asked to be shown the script, but wasn't. He's dug himself a hole here, as a month or so earlier, in an interview, he said, and I quote, "Raju narrated the script to me 2-3 times, and I said it is nice". Hirani too, has come out and stated that he narrated the script to Bhagat, after which he was made to sign a non-disclosure agreement, which interestingly, has Bhagat's signature on it. Is he lying now? Memory loss? Selective memory loss? Memory loss as per convenience? Take your pick.

I loved Five Point Someone, and Bhagat's right when he calls it a cult book. I loved 3 Idiots too, but the movie had Raju Hirani's stamp all over it, not Chetan Bhagat. Even though quite a few bits of the book were unchanged in the movie, Hirani altered the story as much as was required, and has created a pan-Indian, memorable film, whose flaws are heavily and easily overshadowed by the sheer joy one experiences during those three hours.

The Producer of 3 Idiots, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, is as mentioned, a producer at the end of the day. Both him and Hirani realized that they had to distance the movie from the book as much as they could, so that people don't compare it with the novel, and they did just that. They wanted the best for their movie, and they've gotten it, as 3 Idiots has now become the biggest grosser in the history of Bollywood.

As for Bhagat, he realized, after witnessing the popularity of the film, that 11 Lakhs and a spot in the rolling credits was way too little, something I would agree with, by the way. Which is why, even though throughout the making of this movie it had been touted as a motion picture based on 3 Idiots, Bhagat felt that his name had been missed out somewhere. Being a writer, I know that credit is important, but there's a fine line between credit and publicity, and it's the latter which he's missing. He wanted to be paraded along with the makers and the cast of 3 Idiots all over the country on their 'victory lap', but alas, that ain't going to happen.

So instead, he goes and posts a soppy, whiny post on his blog for the public to see, and begins a war of words with VVC and co, in order to become a household name. And he has succeeded, too. He knows now, that there will be even more curiosity for every book of his hereafter, for which he will, maybe not in print, but in his mind, credit 3 Idiots. At least he should.

Many are seeing through his pathetic charade, and rightly so, although this public mudslinging is taking away a lot of the positive energy this movie and the book had emanated, and must come to a stop. Chetan Bhagat tried to turn the tables on the makers of 3 Idiots, who got away with a very good deal, but has failed miserably.

Or I'd rather say, iska toh 'chamatkar' ho gaya.

P.S. CB claims to be a big 'bhakt' of Lord Krishna. In fact, during recent interviews, he couldn't answer even one question without referring to him. So, just for him, here's one of the Bhagwad Gita's most famous teachings:

"Karm kar, phal ki chinta mat kar."

A Match Both Teams Deserved To Lose, But United Have More To Think About

Chelsea and Manchester United bored us to death on Sunday evening. What was touted as a showdown between the Premier League's two best sides, a title-decider if you will, turned out to be the poorest game on show this weekend, a classic anti-climax to a game hyped up like no other throughout the week.

Chelsea have been top dogs in the league so far, with all their players having been together for a number of years now. Players like Terry, Lampard, Anelka, Drogba, Cole etc are all at their peak, and with Ancelotti's much talked-about Diamond formation firmly in place, the Blues have banished the disappointments of last season, and moved forward.

United, on the other hand, were written off by many after they sold off Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez in the transfer window, without really replacing the quality and magic they brought to the side. They're always in the hunt for the title, at least when Fergie's around, but when pundits remark that "United might fancy a draw, or even nick a win", you know that this isn't the strongest Red Devils side you will see.

It was still a game that interested fans and neutrals alike, but by the time the final whistle blew, you had endured one of the most painfully boring matches played between these two teams in a long time. Even the Blackburn Rovers - Portsmouth game saw more absorbing moments, if you talk about attacking football, and that's really saying something. The top two of English football failed to create anything memorable on the pitch, with the most entertaining moment being that of Johnny Evans bringing down Ricardo Carvalho, which resulted in kind of a coming-together of both teams near the center circle. What a shame.

Chelsea will be delighted with the result, although realizing at the same time that they will need to play better against the big teams to get their hands on silverware this season. Ancelotti's four-man midfield of Deco, Lampard, Ballack, and Essien hardly got into their groove, as United packed the midfield with five men, three of them more industrious than creative. Carletto will know that the the three points are a huge bonus, as his side did nothing to warrant them, and sneaked through thanks to a setpiece.

The Blues possess a far more potent attack than Manchester United. On their day, that midfield, combined with the pace of Anelka, and brute strength of Didier Drogba, can destroy opponents, but United kept them at bay. Deco was stifled, Lampard couldn't create any openings, while Evans and Brown did a good job on Drogba. However, to say that United put in an excellent performance, is stretching it a bit too far.

If football was all about defending, then yes, United were excellent. If it was about trying to keep a clean sheet, then yes, they were excellent. If it was about earning a point at your title rival's home ground, then yes, they indeed were excellent. However, the way I see it, that's not what Manchester United are about, and that's not what they should be about either.

The fact of the matter is, neither Chelsea nor Manchester United deserved to win this game. And if at all it were possible, both should have lost. While Chelsea's otherwise dangerous attacking force was neutralized by United's midfield, Fergie's wards were completely toothless in attack, something United fans are sadly coming to terms with.

With no Ronaldo and Tevez, United are now heavily reliant on Ryan Giggs to turn back the clock every game, especially when up against a decent side. Giggs did just that against Arsenal and City, but misfired here, and there went United's hopes of conjuring anything of note in the final third. Valencia comes off as a very mediocre winger by United's standards, and even though he has done well in fits and starts this season, he's a far cry from his predecessor in that role.

Anderson, Carrick, and Fletcher ran all over the pitch, not allowing Chelsea to play their game, and did a wonderful job. Amidst all this, was one man, Wayne Rooney, who worked his socks off like never before, and was the best player on the park. However, even the opportunities that he created for himself or his teammates were mostly from outside the box, and more half-chances than anything else.

So while many pundits have been bandying about how United put in a "stellar" performance, and were "robbed" of a draw, Sir Alex will know that he has other problems, real problems. He knows deep inside that it wasn't the kind of attacking performance expected of his team, something which, worryingly, has become more and more of a habit in the last few weeks.

Ferguson has once again turned all the focus to the referee, as he always does, but United cannot complain too much. Would Wes Brown, who went down a little too easily, have prevented the goal if he was on his feet? Highly doubtful. Was Van Der Sar really distracted by Drogba? He seemed to have given up the moment the ball deflected off Terry's head. The foul wasn't one, although it was clumsy, but United should have tried to create a goal before or after Chelsea went up rather than focus on the referee.

I've always believed one thing. You cannot complain about losing a football match if you don't score a goal. Or at least, you cannot complain about losing if you haven't created a single clear-cut chance all game. Maybe they can look at it as bad luck catching up with them, after how they beat Arsenal and Manchester City earlier in the season.

Chelsea were poor too, but they know that they can step it up against sides who don't defend as well as United do, and they have done that in recent weeks. Chelsea were untroubled in defence, and the fans were so relaxed, that one gentleman was brushing his teeth in the front row as Salomon Kalou was coming on to the pitch (Do catch that video on the internet)!

As for United, they have to dig deep to find a way to increase their attacking threat. It's all too dependent on Rooney and Giggs at the moment. Maybe Owen needs to be given a few more starts, maybe Anderson needs to play a more attacking role. Or maybe, Obertan is the man who can provide that "spark" to their season.

That's the difference between Manchester United of last season and this. It was belief last term. This season, it's hope.

Ten Things Different About Arsenal This Season

Also published here.

1) Half Vidic, Half Keown

Ver-ma-what? Twenty three years old? 5'11" ? All questions of the past, as the Belgian has taken to the Premier League like that old duck took to water. Not only has he formed an impressive partnership with a rejuvenated William Gallas, but is also topping the Arsenal goalscoring charts. Many have likened the "Verminator" to Manchester United center half Nemanja Vidic, more for his appearance, or even his "stare", but overall, the lad's more like a modern, Belgian Martin Keown. Not the best defender technically, but like Keown, more than makes up for it with a lot of heart and "bottle", as the English call it.

2) We Like Eboue-Boue, We Like Eboue-Boue!

That's not me speaking on behalf of Goal.com, it's a new chant doing the rounds at the Emirates, to the tune of "I like to move it move it"! Emmanuel Eboue has seen it all during his Arsenal career, from being touted as one of the best up-and-coming defenders in the world, to being booed, called a misfit, and a cheater. However, after a string of impressive performances in 2009, Eboue has become a cult figure of sorts in North London, and is hugely popular among his teammates as well, and if you notice, is always involved in every Arsenal goal celebration when he's on the pitch.

3) Arsenalization

Yes, it's exactly what it sounds like. The complaint for the last three seasons was that while the Emirates Stadium was a fantastic, modern structure, it wasn't "home" enough for the Arsenal fans, like Highbury was. So under the stewardship of CEO Ivan Gazidis, the stadium was "Arsenalized". The idea is to decorate the exterior and interior of the ground with past moments of glory, and with players who did the club proud. The question is, when will and of the current squad get up on the walls of the stadium?

4) Ro-sick-y Steps Out Of The Treatment Room

It must have been like one of those scenes where a convict sees daylight after 15 years in prison, when Tomas Rosicky finally got off the treatment table, and made it to the ground. Rosicky is a class act in midfield, and his quality and experience is what Arsenal have missed immensely over the last year and a half. One of the "old" players at Arsenal at 29, his experience will come in handy this season for the Gunners.

5) Senderos Isn't Sent Away

Phillipe Senderos means a lot more to Arsenal than just another center back. He's their official translator. And by official, I mean unofficial. On a more serious note, he speaks six languages. That's right, six! English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, and Portuguese, and according to a few highly placed sources at the club, he's learning Bengali to keep up with the other translators in this fast, unforgiving world. Maybe he could help someone like a Subrata Paul settle in at Arsenal, soon?

6) Formation Working Wonders

Arsene Wenger thought long and hard during the summer on what to change about his squad. He never liked spending money, and didn't want to bring seasoned campaigners to play ahead of his kids, so he changed the whole darn system. It has almost proved to be a masterstroke, in the sense that Arsenal are finally recreating some of their magic up front, which we haven't seen since 2006. Some of their play against Blackburn was their best in the last two or three seasons. The only danger remains injuries in defensive positions, and if Cesc goes missing.

7) Cesc Is All Smiles

Fabregas looked a shadow of himself last season. He hardly shaved throughout the campaign, and looked morose most of the times. Not surprising, if most of your best friends leave the club after a season in which you almost won the league title. Moreover, he seemed slightly burdened with captaincy, and looked a little lonely. Although the stubble's still there, the Spaniard looks a lot happier with his role in midfield this time around, and with players like Arshavin, Rosicky, and Vermaelen playing regularly, he looks happy and is back to his best, notching up a staggering four assists in a single game against Blackburn. And yes, he scored in that game too.

8) Don Vito Makes An Offer You Can't Resist

Well, it's not just about Vito Mannone, but more about two young 'keepers, Mannone and Szczesny, making their mark at the club, giving Wenger a plethora of options in goal. Almunia has been disappointing since the season began, and with Fabianski injured, the two young lads have come in and put in some great performances, none more so than Mannone at Craven Cottage, where he single-handedly won Arsenal the game. When was the last time Arsenal's goalkeeper won them a match on his own? That question makes you think, and eventually realize that Almunia, despite being a solid and steady goalie, isn't the kind who will win his team matches.

9) "Sylvester" Can't Get A Game

Probably one of the biggest factors in Arsenal's good form this season. Mikael Silvestre was a disaster at the Emirates last term, so much so that one shareholder described him as "geriatric" at the end of the season at the AGM. Many Arsenal fans are still living in the fear of him starting a league or Champions League game for the club, which hasn't happened thus far as Vermaelen and Gallas have done well. With the taller, quicker, but equally error-prone Senderos waiting in the wings as well, it'll be interesting to see who Wenger calls on when injury strikes.

10) A Big Squad!

Probably the most surprising of all, Wenger has amazing depth in his squad this season, barring just one position, that in defensive midfield. With three playing up front, he can choose from any of Van Persie, Bendtner, Eduardo, Arshavin, Rosicky, Walcott, Nasri, Vela, Wilshere and even Eboue at times. Both fullbacks, centre backs, and the goalkeeper have sufficient cover, whereas two out of the three midfielders can be any of Fabregas, Denilson, Diaby, Rosicky, Nasri, and Ramsey. Which leaves us to the lonely Alex Song, who is living a charmed life at the moment. If he is unfit, Wenger will have problems, which means that he will have to buy in January, when Song merrily trots off to Africa for the African Cup of Nations.