He shone at Real when given the chance, and he had his moments for us, but he never justified the price tag or the hype, and much like someone like Saviola, has never really gone as far in his career as he should.

I guess with Reyes I’m just left with thoughts of what might have been.

Why do you think Reyes was a failure?

He was an integral member of the ‘Invicibles’; made assists galore; scored important goals to keep the run going; and for me was the reason we won our
last bit of silverware the FA cup.

He worked so hard in that game and kept us in it even though he recived a harsh red card considering the abuse he had suffered at Old Trafford.

It’s a real shame Henry did not take to him as I don’t think Reyes had the mental strength to put up with the negativity that was obivously directed at him.

Reyes helped Real Madrid to win the title in his loan year (his goal in the last game of the season was vital) but even there he does not appear to have been appreciated.

Wishful thinking on my part but I wish Torres had signed for Arsenal rather than L’pool with him Reyes, Cesc in our team!

jar0909, Reyes is still the failed signing that disappointed me the most, based purely on how excited I was when he arrived. As for the rotation, I’d like to see it too, and I think we will when we have big league games around the CL.

blazon, thanks for coming over from Arsenal FC Blog! Interesting thoughts on the full backs, if I were to keep one it’d be Sagna, as he makes fewer defensive mistakes, which allows him a little more leniency going forward, but in reality I really rate them both. It is surprising that after so long neither can cross a ball, I have no idea why that is.

here’s an outlandish suggestion to make a good team better…our 2 full backs risk much and contribute very little end product going forward…neither can cross or shoot…they have had ample time to learn, nothing has happened…sell them both in january, start eboue and gibbs on a regular basis with good back ups waiting in the wings..

i maintain that would make us a significantly better team…and a more productive one…

Sagna and Clichy ar too good to sit on the bench…they should be sold in January and the good sized pot of money realised put into a de jong type holding midfielder, another CB or whatever needs dictate at that time.

Nice post.

It’s a real shame Reyes didn’t stick around (the only thing I hold against Henry!) as he would have been an integral part of this new Arsenal team.

Regarding your comment about Blackburn players jumping into our players the worst example was Dunn’s on Mannone. I was annoyed by David Platt’s comment on Sky that he shouldn’t have come out of the area. Dunn looked like he was out to hurt him – just like Diouf on Almunia last season.

There does appear to be an evident self-belief in the squad that they will win regardless if the opposition score first or it’s 70 minutes gone on the clock.

I would like to see a bit more rotation for coming games from Wenger perhaps with Gibbs (at LB), Traore (at LM) and other “fringe” players getting more playing time.