Thursday, March 28, 2024

Benayoun wants to keep his place despite uncertain future

On-loan Yossi Benayoun has urged Arsene Wenger to let him keep his place in the side after figuring heavily in the last two wins against Man City and Wolves.

Benayoun scored Arsenal’s third at Molineux and says his patience and hard work has been rewarded by Arsene Wenger. He hasn’t played as much as he would have liked since moving from Chelsea for the season, but is happy he’s being relied on now.

“When I came, I believed in myself that I could play more,” he said. “I knew there are a lot of quality players but I was ready. It is the job of the manager to decide who plays but because I was so patient and I always give 100 per cent it is now coming right for me.

“I came into the team and we beat Manchester City and last night we won and I scored. I really want to keep my place.”

And while a top-three position is on the cards, the Israeli knows Arsenal cannot afford to slack off.

“Five points is a big gap but we have to keep playing well and win some games. Next we have Wigan. They beat Manchester United so that is a warning for everyone.

“It will not be an easy game and after there is a match against Chelsea which I can’t play in. There are still a few hard games but I am sure that we will finish in the top three.”

Benayoun’s loan runs out in June, at which point he’ll return to Chelsea and from there his future will be decided. He spoke last month about how might be inclined to sign for a mid-table side to ensure more playing time, but no decision has been made yet.

“I think it is difficult to speak now about the future. It is better to concentrate on the five weeks that are left and do my best for the club. I am fully committed to Arsenal and after we will see.

“After June 30, I am going back to Chelsea and then the club and I need to decide,” he said. “Each one has to think what is best for them. I will not lie — I love Chelsea because I have a good relationship there. I didn’t play much because I had a big injury.

“I still have a lot of friends there I talk to every day. Of course I want them to do well but it is difficult.”

It remains unclear if Arsene Wenger is going to try and sign him on a permanent basis, Arseblog News would be quite surprised if that happened, but come May we can be thankful for his professionalism and the moments of quality which have served to strengthen the team and the squad this season.

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Vanpussy

Sign him up boss! I think he’s proven himself..

shrek2be

Excellent backup player but he does want more playing time . Hats off to him for his commitment for our cause . He could’ve easily done a Wayne Bridge but chose not to.

Gooner

“Next we have Wigan. They beat Manchester United so that is a warning for everyone” – GOOD

As for him signing, I want him to get the game time he wants but it’ll be difficult with the competition of current midfielders + Jack coming back next season + Diaby (knocks on wood). It’s just complicated & I’m not sure what I’m trying to say……

JB

Me heh-ed at this. Like heh and then one more.

Abhijith

I like Benny. Always have been rooting for him start games. Hope he does stay on with us.

Mooro

Spot on with the last paragraph.

Good luck to him whatever transpires.

Henry's beard

You beat me to it.

Ben Savage

Top quality professional who you can always rely on. Would love him to stay next year however the competition for places in midfield will be the highest we’ve had in a while.

I also admire his desire to play football, instead of just being happy to pick up his wages and sit on the bench. He would be an asset to any club.

D arsenal

there is that small matter length of the contract, which i think he will not be happy to get just one year. the best option is to thank him and let him go. he is a class though!

BC

Rosicky, Arteta, Benayoun… Such a refreshing change to have decent veterans for once

zed leppelin

No we cant sign him, he ain’t in our plans and le boss has to give game time to ramsey because that is what he needs most for his development. That’s why he keeps his place even though he hasn’t been particularly impressing. But if he’s good enough to impress Wenger and be named captain for his national team over players like gareth ‘the diving’ bale he’s good enough for me. As for Yossi, he always technically good and the year that pool came in second he was brilliant the whole season alongside Gerrard and Torres but he never really… Read more »

Huntersanti

I really like Benayoun, and would love to see him stay, but as pointed out, it’s a bit more complicated than that.

Since his move on deadline day, I thought he had something to offer, and was surprised to not see him feature as much. Glad he’s getting a few games now and showing us what he can add.

Mental Strength

I remember media and commentators saying again and again that our team does not have any depth. Players like Benayoun are the ones who add depth. Experienced, decent, playing his last few years and inexpensive. If he wants to leave at the end of the season to a mid table club as he has previously suggested for a more regular role in the 1st team, then I wish him luck and we should look for someone similar, but otherwise Wenger should definitely keep him.

argonaut

He said he wanted to go to a mid-table club.

He’ll be staying at Chelsea then.

TAMCK

BANTS.

kc

Or back to liverpool.

Midfield Corporal

He was outstanding last night, just closing down and nicking balls. As soon as he had the ball he was looking for something to happen. I think he has proved the value of having experience in the squad when it comes to the business end of the season.

StrongTackleBacarySagna

I didn’t see one other player slide around in the City match as much as Yossi did. It seemed like he was in every frame the cameras showed us. In the States, at HT, there was an All State insurance commercial where he slid in and saved small child from being hit by a car being driven by a texting teenager. He said, “You are in good hands with the All State,” and then ran off. His work rate is incredible. I’m with a few of you here in wondering where his place will be in the team. We also… Read more »

TAMCK

I like the idea of Yossi Benayoun with Dannis Haysbert’s voice.

StrongTackleBacarySagna

Ha! Wow, yes, that would be remarkable.

Sean

Depends how much Chelsea would want.

And whether Yossi would take a cut from his £70,000 a week wages.

Iceman

If some of our players in the last few seasons had his level of professionalism we’d have a couple of trophies by now. All class.

Michael

His goal yesterday was pretty good, but his tackle to stop a great goal-scoring opportunity against Man City, that was awesome.

Alex

I would love to see a benayoon, atreta, rosicky midfield. Ramsay needs to stay on the bench. Been awful as of late, in fact i have not been a big fan of aaron’s all year.

Ace McGoldrick

At least get their names right.

goontang

Maybe that would work on football manager… But this is real life son. Although rosicky could plat defensive mid with the way he’s Been chasing down and making crucial tackles in midfield haha

SmokinGunner

I say keep him, what harm is there in having another proven player with bags of EPL experience?

feygooner

Wages for one, and another would be the 25 squad limit 😀

I’ve always liked Benayoun a lot, back to his Liverpool days, but he will not play much next year with, best for everyone if he captains a mid-table side, like say, Liverpool.

George

He’s been a great back up and has behaved fantastically in terms of effort despite lack of playing time this season. We’ve been a good stepping stone for him coming back from injury and getting a much higher standard of football than at Chelski, they should feel priveleged to have him should they decide to keep him next season. Chelsea might just be that mid table club he’s after….

Trevor

Only if the price is right. Let’s assume the same team for the time being for the beginning of next season + Wilshere. I just don’t see where his playing time would come from barring an injury.

Rad Carrot

Do like Benny, but I just don’t think we’d play him as much as he’d like. He’d do well at a mid-table side playing regularly rather than with us, getting a few games here and there. Not to say he’s not a good player – he really is – but it’s not fair on him if we’re only going to use him every third game. With Wilshere and Diaby back next season, I don’t see him getting regular playing time. Having said that, if he wants to stay and the price is right, then, fantastic, sign him up. Whatever happens,… Read more »

nikhil

The lad is first class I say sign the boy.

Comedian

Great professional.
No wonder chelsea fans are crying right now for letting him go on loan.

Md Matin

On the contrary man, some Chelsea fans I know think that they were right to send him out on loan cos he’s crap! Just shows how much they know about football, the oil diggers!

Pearson

After he has been at The ARSENAL for a few months Chelsea will want him back.
After he has been at The Arsenal for a few months he will be a far better Chelsea player than he was when he left due to our superior way of doing business.
Which Chelsea player would you put in the Arsenal first team right now? Benayoun, that’s it. He’s Chelsea’s best player ha ha LOL. Hope we keep him.

TrueGooner

I say convince to be a squad player and sign him. I’m sure at his age he knows he’s not gonna be a starter, not even at chelski cause i sure they will be buying this summer… He can start some and come in as sub in some games. We have too many games to play and him in the squad is good. I have the feeling he will grab the opportunity.

TrueGooner

I am wondering if he will be as effective as he is with us at Chelsea… I think the way we play brings out the best in players with decent technical ability… not sure if chelsea will bring out the best in him.

Pearson

Chelsea don’t bring out the best in anybody.

Glory Hunter

Its a tough one, if we sign him on a permannt basis, then great.
If we decide not to, its understandable.
I wasnt convinced when we signed him but he has won me over, the guys a brilliant,professional and humble human being and a great example to the younger players.

Rodders1971

Whether Benni stays,returns to the small club from fulham or goes elsewhere,good luck to him,a real class act-if only all our players had his work ethic & professionalism our trophy ‘drought’ would be over.

Pearson

We seem to have a lot of players like him right now. Busy energetic, and some of them are real Gooners.
Cesc’s head used to go down when adversity struck. We have shown a lot more bottle this season and are able to win from deficits.

millsN7

I know Cesc is not an Arsenal player any more, but to say that his head went down in adversity is just a little too revisionist in my book. When the chips were down, it was “quick, pass to Cesc and let him do it”. The problems that Arsenal have had in the last few seasons were not due to Cesc’s deficiencies. If they were anything to do with him, it was down to his quality, and the fact that other players could hide behind him, or felt more compelled to pass to him. Remember the game at Villa where… Read more »

kiss my arsenal

…the goal he scored against our noisy neighbours on the final day of the 05/06 season to destroy their champions league dreams…ive had a soft spot for him ever since!

rvp

I know cesc left us but that man gave everything to our team unfair to say anything bad about him..remember the pen against barca with a broken leg!

grumpy_gunner

Didn’t Yossi come from two mid-table clubs (Liverpoor and Chelski respectively)? Why would he want to go back?

wandarah

Well, you can’t argue with his professionalism.

He’s getting on though, and hopefully there’ll be crazy competition for places next season. I just can’t see him being a regular starter – and would he be happy with a bit-part role? Unlikely.

I wouldn’t say no, of course though.

atid

I would rather us go for hoilett than yossi. we will have to pay £4m for yossi and £70k a week hoilett will be £500k and £40k a week yossi is 10 years older too. We have to consider as it stands we have 32 players that will be classed as over 21 under the 25 man rule. so that is 8 plwyers that either need to be sold or loaned out just to make way for podolski. then it will be like last summer one out one in. i think podolski is the replacement for arshavin the other 7… Read more »

JohnnyRed

Feel a lot of respect for Benny. Excellent workrate, pure dedication, great technical ability as well. And according to reports, a genuinly friendly guy, a great role model for the youngsters. However… “love Chelsea”, “friends there”?? Hope to God he is talking about Lampard and

JohnnyRed

Feel a lot of respect for Benny. Excellent workrate, pure dedication, great technical ability as well. And according to reports, a genuinly friendly guy, a great role model for the youngsters. However… “love Chelsea”, “friends there”?? Hope to God he is talking about Lampard and Torres, only. It’s a bit like saying “Oh, I love Hell… It’s nice and warm and, you know, I have been here for a while now, so I guess I have deluded myself in to thinking it’s home”. You’re suffering from Stockholme Syndrome, Yoss! Join us permanently next season, have a nice long

JohnnyRed

Feel a lot of respect for Benny. Excellent workrate, pure dedication, great technical ability as well. And according to reports, a genuinly friendly guy, a great role model for the youngsters. However… “love Chelsea”, “friends there”?? Hope to God he is talking about Lampard and Torres, only. It’s a bit like saying “Oh, I love Hell… It’s nice and warm and, you know, I have been here for a while now, so I guess I have deluded myself in to thinking it’s home”. You’re suffering from Stockholme Syndrome, Yoss! Join us permanently next season, have a nice long chat with… Read more »

waitressinthesky

Yeah, he is buddies with Torres. Seen those two mugging for photos together. I don’t mind Torres so much. For some reason, I don’t see him out on the town carousing with JT. I honestly think Yossi wants to stay with Arsenal, but he’s a professional and handles himself as such. One more reason why I like the guy.

waitressinthesky

I hope we keep him. Honestly, he has the right attitude and is very skilled at dribbling, passing AND defending… definitely the type of hard-working utility player we can use. I love seeing him start… inspires much more confidence than when we start several other players I won’t name now. After all, we still have NO idea when Wilshire will be back. Every time I hear an update on the Wilshire situation, it’s, oh, one more month. He’s got two goals for us in EPL games, and more in other fixtures. That’s a pretty decent return, given his limited playing… Read more »

[…] on and Yossi Benayoun says he’s not sure where he’s going to end up next season but says he’s fully […]

Fatcunt

If benayoun stays, then who will tend to our wounded soldiers back in israel.??

[…] on and Yossi Benayoun says he’s not sure where he’s going to end up next season but says he’s fully […]

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