Following on from yesterday’s great win against Liverpool, Yossi Benayoun got his wish of another match and said, prior to the game at Anfield, that he would like more first-team opportunities for the Gunners:
The Israeli stated:
‘The bottom line is that I’m not playing enough games. I haven’t been given enough opportunities.
‘I scored the winner at Aston Villa and made a goal in the next game. But for some reason I didn’t get opportunities after that, even though the team had a string of disappointing results.
‘But I still believe in myself and that I will play much more.’
He added:
‘To play 88 minutes, especially in a derby, is a great pleasure, I enjoyed every minute of it, but I still don’t know what will be next week because at Arsenal you are at the top and the competition is tough.’
I think its more frustration from Benayoun’s point of view that he doesn’t play enough games, but, in my opinion, I’m not entirely sure that he has done enough to warrant more time on the pitch. Let’s not forget we have other players in the squad who need games too.
[ad_pod id=’dfp-mpu’ align=’right’]
With Andrey Arshavin joining Zenit on loan a few days ago, it’s possible that Benayoun will get a few more opportunities to impress, as he has done in the last two matches. However, much will depend on the return of Jack Wilshere, who is likely to be back fairly soon.
Right now Arsenal just need to take their great form from game to game and keep winning. If the Spuds lose this afternoon to United then Arsenal will just be four points behind them and with Chelsea losing to West Brom yesterday, it could turn out to be a fantastic weekend for us.
Arsenal finishing fourth or better at the end of the campaign may actually become a reality, which would be an amazing achievement considering how we started off the season.
If he continues to work hard and pull out good performances in the upcoming weeks then there is no reason why Arsene Wenger should grant the 30-year-old midfielder more first-team opportunities.
Does Yossi deserve more opportunities in the side?
Give us your thoughts on the matter
Like what you read? Then follow me on Twitter – http://twitter.com/UKVampire
Visit and Join our Facebook page, click HERE to do so.
Gunnersphere is currently looking for new writers to join the squad. Contact via twitter or at Gunnersphere@snack-media.com for further details.
I think Yossi offers something that Arteta and Ramsey cannot or rather do not, he offers guile and a cleverness that can forge a defence breaking pass or dribble. His creativity can be a great asset to Arsenal. When he and Rosicky are both out on the pitch together we seem a bit more dangerous.
Arsene must have seen something he liked when he signed him, so yes give him more time to prove his worth.
he is a very good squad player and we need his type as part of the first team squad.
Watching Benayoun yesterday I not only thought him ineffective, but pretty uncommitted also.
Not his best game.
I doubt he’ll be with us next season.
I didnt see too much from yossi yesterday, but every other time he had an opportunity he has impressed especially with his work rate. I agree he is a perfect guy to have on the squad. Hustles, helps on defence, has experience and brains. I would love to have him back next season if he would accept this role
yossi is great guy and i have always this confidence in him because of his experience so i belive he dersive more playing time to get him back on track.
h’mm good player but a bit inconsistent, capable of something special but capable too of anonymity, Arshavin-lite.
Benayoun must not start v Milan.
The best chance we have is pace.
The Ox and Theo flanking RVP. But probably Gervinho & Theo.
Could be 20mins of Chamakh in a 4-4-2 switch if we still have a shot in the last quarter of the game.
Nice guy maybe. 1st team player not. Frimpong, Coquelin better players and ones that need more playing time Benayoun.
He’s good but we really need better if we are to win anything
Of course he should grant him more game time. The problem is Wenger changes his opinions very very slowly. Who could Benayoun have replaced ? Well Arshavin for a start. Or Ramsey sometimes.
But it is difficult while Wenger insists on playing two wide wingers with RVP isolated down the middle. That’s OK in some matches .. like at home against a packed defence and a team which only came for a 0 .. 0 draw. It’s not OK against a bettter team when are outnumbered in midfield – and Benayoun sits on the bench.