Arsenal play at home to Premier League champions Manchester City tomorrow. It's a game that both teams badly need to take three points from. Arsenal need to win to close the gap on the teams above them in the race for fourth or even third place and City cannot afford to let United get any further ahead of them.
Arsenal have taken 13 points from their last five league games, but they have some very tough games coming up. Following after the City game they have to travel to Chelsea and play at home to both West Ham and Liverpool. There's the added distraction of an FA Cup third round replay at home to Swansea and a possible trip to Brighton in the fourth round. It should all make for a very interesting month for Arsenal players and fans alike.
In team news it looks as if Olivier Giroud should be fit to play after picking up a knock against Swansea last week. Whether Arsene Wenger chooses to play him or not is another matter entirely. I hope Giroud does play as I just don't see Theo Walcott getting a sniff against the City defence.
I can't see too many changes to the team as Arsenal don't have an awful lot of options open to them. I can't imagine Aaron Ramsey will be chosen on the left hand side of the attacking trio again which should mean Lukas Podolski plays from the start. If Giroud plays that would mean Walcott would play on the right and if not the place should go to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
In defence the boss has to decide whether to go with the central pairing which played last week or bring captain Thomas Vermaelen back into the team. It's a big call for him and I have a feeling Laurent Koscielny will miss out. Despite Arsenal's defence looking dodgy at times this season only City and Chelsea have conceded less goals than them.
When Arsenal drew 1-1 away to City earlier in the season they played very well. They will need to put in a performance of those proportions if they are going to come out with three points in this game. The boost which a win over the reigning champions could give the team cannot be underestimated.
City didn't travel too well last season and they have had their troubles away from home this season too. They have won five, drawn four and lost one in their 10 away games so far. Only Arsenal and Swansea have conceded less away goals than City though and they will be looking to maintain that defensive stability against Arsenal.
Arsenal will be without the services of Gervinho as he is on international duty at the African Cup of Nations. However, City will be without the services of a very important player for the same reason. When City are at their best Yaya Toure can usually be found on fine form, but they will have to do without him for the next few weeks at least.
Arsenal have struggled against massed defences this season, but I can't see City sitting back and defending. They need to take all three points and surely they will have to take the game to Arsenal. That could be just what Arsenal want and hopefully they can work it to their advantage.
Only United have scored more home goals than Arsenal and City haven't always found it easy to score away. An Arsenal team which is given a chance to play can be a challenge for any team. Their chances in this game could well depend on how much room they get in midfield.
I don't think there's going to be an awful lot of goals and I think Arsenal have the players to beat City. A lot will depend on how those players manage to gel on the day and if they can put in a good performance. Dr. Jekyll had better turn up today instead of Mr. Hyde.
I have no doubt that Arsenal need reinforcements in this transfer window, but whether they will get them or not is another matter. We have already been td Abu Diaby's return is like a new signing and I find that statement almost insulting to Arsenal fans. Since his terrible leg break about six years ago he has come back on countless occasions and there is absolutely no reason to believe he is back for good this time.
I genuinely wish and hope for both Diaby and Arsenal that all of his troubles are behind him, but I would be shocked if he lasts past the end of February. Plans have to be made for his exclusion from the squad and they have to be made now. Not to do so is bordering on negligent in my opinion when there is plenty of money available to spend.
Ask yourself this question - how good would Arsenal be if they hadn't sold both Alex Song and Robin van Persie last summer. Maybe they would have the goals they are struggling to get at times as well as the midfield options there are missing all too often. I have no doubt they would be in a much better position than they are now with the players who were bought last summer.
The thing is the money made from their sales is a little less than they have in their transfer kitty and maybe both players should have been made to stay. Arsenal's transfer dealings were done before they both left and their sales were done on a business basis. It made sound financial sense to sell them, but terrible football sense.
The money from their sales has not been reinvested in the squad and the team and fans are suffering as a result. It's about time Arsenal were treated as a football club again and not a business. My opinion may be niave but Arsenal's preparations for "financial fair play" will be of no avail if other clubs can find a way around them.
I have no fount that the owners of City and Chelsea pay their lawyers enough to find a way around anything they want. Money talks and their money pits are bottomless.
Back to the game though and I hope to see the good Arsenal triumph in a very tight match. I'm predicting a 1-0 win for Arsenal and I'm hoping to see Santi Cazorla run the show. David Silva may well be the more highly considered of these two Spanish players, but Cazorla has been the better player this season. Given the chance I'm hoping he can be the man to make the difference.
After this it's Swansea in midweek and then Chelsea and we'll see exactly where the team are after those three crucial games. The optimist in me is hoping for three resounding victories and the team to use them to kick on and find some consistently. Equally it could end with the team adrift of fourth place and with no chance of winning a trophy in the middle of January.
It's a real make or break week and it's impossible to have a clue what way it will go. It will certainly be interesting and very worrying too I have no doubt.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Showing posts with label Abu Diaby. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Abu Diaby. Show all posts
Saturday, 12 January 2013
Friday, 14 September 2012
Arsenal's Premier League Game With Southampton Previewed.
Arsenal's reasonable start to the season got a whole lot better with their 2-0 win away to Liverpool in their last game. Unfortunately the monster that is international football reared it's ugly head, and the majority of their players headed off to represent their countries just after that game. Almost two weeks later the players are back at the club, and back into Premier League action with a home game against Southampton.
It would seem that only Abu Diaby picked up a knock during those internationals, and Arsene Wenger has said he could be available for this game. I would be very surprised to see Diaby risked considering his continuous injury problems over the last six years. He has played very well so far this season, but Arsenal have to be sure he is fully fit before he plays.
His projected absence will probably give Aaron Ramsey a chance to get his first start of the season. Like Diaby he too has found life a bit difficult after a horrifying injury, and he has slipped down the pecking order at Arsenal. Prior to his injury against Stoke he was on the verge of being a first team regular, but now he looks to be more of a back up player despite all the departures from the club.
With another two weeks to recover under his belt I would imagine Wojciech Szczesny should be fit to resume in goal again. Vito Mannone has done very well in his absence, but Szczesny is the first choice and only injury will keep him out of the team. It was good to see Mannone step up and perform so admirably, and Szczesny must know he had to play well to remain first choice.
Otherwise I would expect to see the same team that beat Liverpool take to the pitch again. It will probably mean Laurent Koscielny will be on the bench again, as Per Mrertesacker has played too well to be dropped. It's a straight battle between them to partner Thomas Vermaelen in the centre of the defence, as he is going to play when fit seeming as he is captain.
The season starts to get really busy for Arsenal after this game with Champions League games on the horizon. Arsenal start their campaign away to French champions Montpellier on Tuesday night, and a return home for Olivier Giroud. Hopefully he can get his first goal for Arsenal against Southampton, but if not who would bet against him opening his account against his former club.
Southampton have looked pretty good going forward in their three Premier League games so far, but their defending leaves a lot to be desired. They have played an attacking style in those games, and it had left them vulnerable at the back. If they come to Arsenal and play an open attacking they could find themselves in for a very tough afternoon.
As long as the Arsenal players have their minds on the game they are playing they have more than enough to cope with whatever Southampton have to offer. The Arsenal players have been very disciplined in their defensive duties so far, but they have struggled to create chances against defensive opposition. Both Sunderland and Stoke set themselves up to stop Arsenal scoring, and succeeded in getting 0-0 draws.
Arsenal showed their attacking abilities against a more open Liverpool team, and took a deserved 2-0 win from Anfield. I don't think Southampton have the players to try to stop Arsenal playing so there should be plenty of chances for them to score. It's an ideal opportunity for Arsenal to move a little closer to the top of the table before some very tough games later in the month.
Arsenal have been guilty in the past of lacking concentration in games like this, but all the signs point to a team with a lot more mental strength this season. Far too often in previous seasons Arsenal have pressed forward from the start only for their opponents to score on their first attack. The team as a whole are defending a lot better, and the players seem to have a proper idea of what their defensive duties are.
Santi Cazorla has really taken to the role he has been given just behind the main striker. He seems to know exactly what to do when he gets the ball, and he takes up perfect positions to receive it. His goal and assist against Liverpool were hopefully just the start of a very productive season for him in an Arsenal shirt.
Giroud has looked like he has settled in well too in those first three games except when it comes to taking his chances. Strikers are always judged on their goals scored, and hopefully the first goal he gets will open the floodgates. Both Denis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry opened their account for Arsenal against Southampton, and it would be great for Giroud to join such exalted company.
The changes at the club have been quite remarkable in the last couple of years. The team that beat Liverpool started with seven players who were signed since June 2011, and it takes time for so many players to settle. The signs are very promising so far, and hopefully this can be a very productive season for Arsenal.
I'm predicting a 3-1 win for Arsenal, but it will be far from easy for them to get the win. Southampton have shown enough against the two Manchester teams so far to suggest they might be the first team to score against Arsenal this season. I wouldn't be surprised to see one of the Arsenal defenders get their name on the scoresheet too.
Arsenal aren't exactly noted for scoring goals from set pieces, but I think that could change as the influence of Steve Bould grows. He was part of an Arsenal team which excelled at scoring headers from free kicks and corners, and hopefully he can depart some of his knowledge in that area to the current players.
It's unusual to see Arsenal play at the traditional kick off time of three o'clock on a Saturday afternoon. It's a great time for fans though, and I'm sure those at the game will appreciate the start time. It's never easy for fans to get to and from away games on a Sunday, and Arsenal have their fair share of Sunday games coming up.
It's great to have proper football back again, but unfortunately the next international break is only three weeks away. Arsenal have four Premier League games in that time, and they need to start them with three points against Southampton. I'm pretty confident they can do just that, and hopefully set themselves up nicely for the games ahead of them.
Here's a look at Bergkamp's first goal for Arsenal, and the rest of his highlights from that first season at the club.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
It would seem that only Abu Diaby picked up a knock during those internationals, and Arsene Wenger has said he could be available for this game. I would be very surprised to see Diaby risked considering his continuous injury problems over the last six years. He has played very well so far this season, but Arsenal have to be sure he is fully fit before he plays.
His projected absence will probably give Aaron Ramsey a chance to get his first start of the season. Like Diaby he too has found life a bit difficult after a horrifying injury, and he has slipped down the pecking order at Arsenal. Prior to his injury against Stoke he was on the verge of being a first team regular, but now he looks to be more of a back up player despite all the departures from the club.
With another two weeks to recover under his belt I would imagine Wojciech Szczesny should be fit to resume in goal again. Vito Mannone has done very well in his absence, but Szczesny is the first choice and only injury will keep him out of the team. It was good to see Mannone step up and perform so admirably, and Szczesny must know he had to play well to remain first choice.
Otherwise I would expect to see the same team that beat Liverpool take to the pitch again. It will probably mean Laurent Koscielny will be on the bench again, as Per Mrertesacker has played too well to be dropped. It's a straight battle between them to partner Thomas Vermaelen in the centre of the defence, as he is going to play when fit seeming as he is captain.
The season starts to get really busy for Arsenal after this game with Champions League games on the horizon. Arsenal start their campaign away to French champions Montpellier on Tuesday night, and a return home for Olivier Giroud. Hopefully he can get his first goal for Arsenal against Southampton, but if not who would bet against him opening his account against his former club.
Southampton have looked pretty good going forward in their three Premier League games so far, but their defending leaves a lot to be desired. They have played an attacking style in those games, and it had left them vulnerable at the back. If they come to Arsenal and play an open attacking they could find themselves in for a very tough afternoon.
As long as the Arsenal players have their minds on the game they are playing they have more than enough to cope with whatever Southampton have to offer. The Arsenal players have been very disciplined in their defensive duties so far, but they have struggled to create chances against defensive opposition. Both Sunderland and Stoke set themselves up to stop Arsenal scoring, and succeeded in getting 0-0 draws.
Arsenal showed their attacking abilities against a more open Liverpool team, and took a deserved 2-0 win from Anfield. I don't think Southampton have the players to try to stop Arsenal playing so there should be plenty of chances for them to score. It's an ideal opportunity for Arsenal to move a little closer to the top of the table before some very tough games later in the month.
Arsenal have been guilty in the past of lacking concentration in games like this, but all the signs point to a team with a lot more mental strength this season. Far too often in previous seasons Arsenal have pressed forward from the start only for their opponents to score on their first attack. The team as a whole are defending a lot better, and the players seem to have a proper idea of what their defensive duties are.
Santi Cazorla has really taken to the role he has been given just behind the main striker. He seems to know exactly what to do when he gets the ball, and he takes up perfect positions to receive it. His goal and assist against Liverpool were hopefully just the start of a very productive season for him in an Arsenal shirt.
Giroud has looked like he has settled in well too in those first three games except when it comes to taking his chances. Strikers are always judged on their goals scored, and hopefully the first goal he gets will open the floodgates. Both Denis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry opened their account for Arsenal against Southampton, and it would be great for Giroud to join such exalted company.
The changes at the club have been quite remarkable in the last couple of years. The team that beat Liverpool started with seven players who were signed since June 2011, and it takes time for so many players to settle. The signs are very promising so far, and hopefully this can be a very productive season for Arsenal.
I'm predicting a 3-1 win for Arsenal, but it will be far from easy for them to get the win. Southampton have shown enough against the two Manchester teams so far to suggest they might be the first team to score against Arsenal this season. I wouldn't be surprised to see one of the Arsenal defenders get their name on the scoresheet too.
Arsenal aren't exactly noted for scoring goals from set pieces, but I think that could change as the influence of Steve Bould grows. He was part of an Arsenal team which excelled at scoring headers from free kicks and corners, and hopefully he can depart some of his knowledge in that area to the current players.
It's unusual to see Arsenal play at the traditional kick off time of three o'clock on a Saturday afternoon. It's a great time for fans though, and I'm sure those at the game will appreciate the start time. It's never easy for fans to get to and from away games on a Sunday, and Arsenal have their fair share of Sunday games coming up.
It's great to have proper football back again, but unfortunately the next international break is only three weeks away. Arsenal have four Premier League games in that time, and they need to start them with three points against Southampton. I'm pretty confident they can do just that, and hopefully set themselves up nicely for the games ahead of them.
Here's a look at Bergkamp's first goal for Arsenal, and the rest of his highlights from that first season at the club.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Monday, 3 September 2012
Arsenal Win 2-0 Away To Liverpool
Arsenal made the trip to Liverpool yesterday knowing that they needed a win to kick start their Premier League campaign. They had drawn their first two games 0-0 against teams that set out to frustrate them and succeeded. This game promised to be different though, as Liverpool were hardly going to sit back and defend at home.
Liverpool had been impressive at home to Manchester City last week when they should have won, but defensive errors meant they had to settle for a point. It promised to be a tough game for Arsenal, and their new found defensive strength was sure to get it's sternest test so far.
The only change in the Arsenal team was the inclusion of Alec Oxlade-Chamberlain on the left hand side of the attacking trio instead of Gervinho. With Wojciech Szczesny still injured Vito Mannone got the chance to play in goal again. It also meant Per Merresacker kept his place in the centre of the Arsenal defence despite Laurent Koscielny being fit again.
With a little more space to play in Arsenal were on their game, and dominated for most of the 90 minutes. The Arsenal midfield trio of Mikael Arteta, Abu Diaby and Santi Cazorla were in control with Diaby in particular having a great game. His career up to know has been blighted by injury, but he could become a huge player for the club if he can stay fit.
The defence was again well marshaled with Thomas Vermaelen seemingly relishing his role of captain. Arsenal had not kept three clean sheets at the start of the season in 88 years before yesterday. Despite Liverpool being the home team they rarely looked likely to really score though.
When the Arsenal goals came they were scored by two of the new boys. Both Lukas Podolski and Cazorla got their names on the scoresheet with well taken goals, but unfortunately Olivier Giroud couldn't do the same thing when he got the chance. It takes players time to settle into a new team, and I'm sure Giroud will get his first goal very soon.
The first goal came on the half hour mark when a poor Steven Gerrard pass was intercepted and Arsenal broke quickly. Podolski played the ball to Cazorla who has dropped off the Liverpool defence to accept the pass. He turned and ran at them with the ball, as Podolski sprinted to join in the attack.
As Podolski ran outside Cazorla he was found with a perfectly weighted pass which allowed him to slot the ball past Pepe Reina into the far corner. It was a very well worked goal, and it showed how clinical this Arsenal team can be on the break. It was up to Liverpool to try to make the play and get themselves back into the game.
Liverpool rarely threatened though and they were unable to get in behind the Arsenal defence. The best chances fell to Arsenal with both Kieran Gibbs and Cazorla going close, as well as Giroud missing a great chance similar to the one he missed against Sunderland.
The second Arsenal goal came midway through the second half with both Podolski and Cazorla involved again. This time it was Podolski who played Cazorla into a very similar position on the left and he made no mistake from close range. Reina got a hand to the shot but he could only help the ball into the net rather than keep it out.
Liverpool huffed and puffed a little towards the end, but they never really threatened the Arsenal goal. It's been a long time since Arsenal looked so comfortable defensively against one of the so called bigger teams. If this is the influence of Steve Bould long may it continue.
There were so many positives from the game for Arsenal, but the performance of Diaby was probably the biggest of all. Since his horrific injury over six years ago he has been plagued by repetitive injuries, and he has never recovered fully. He missed almost all of last season, and there were genuine fears his football career was over.
It's only three games into the new campaign and it's far too early to say he has finally recovered, but the signs are promising. Far too often players returning from injury are described as "being like a new signing", but surely a fully fit Diaby would actually be such a player. He has also been inconsistent at best in the past, but there is no doubting his ability.
If he can come through the international break intact I am hoping he can continue with his impressive start to the season. His form will give Arsene Wenger some real headaches when Jack Wilshere returns, but I'm sure the Arsenal fans won't mind him being spoiled for choice.
It's a little frustrating that should a good performance by Arsenal will now be followed by an international break. The players managed to click yesterday in attack as well as defence, but Wenger won't be able to work with them again for almost two weeks. Thankfully the first game back is at home, and hopefully the players can take up where they left off against Liverpool.
Here's the highlights from yesterday's game.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Liverpool had been impressive at home to Manchester City last week when they should have won, but defensive errors meant they had to settle for a point. It promised to be a tough game for Arsenal, and their new found defensive strength was sure to get it's sternest test so far.
The only change in the Arsenal team was the inclusion of Alec Oxlade-Chamberlain on the left hand side of the attacking trio instead of Gervinho. With Wojciech Szczesny still injured Vito Mannone got the chance to play in goal again. It also meant Per Merresacker kept his place in the centre of the Arsenal defence despite Laurent Koscielny being fit again.
With a little more space to play in Arsenal were on their game, and dominated for most of the 90 minutes. The Arsenal midfield trio of Mikael Arteta, Abu Diaby and Santi Cazorla were in control with Diaby in particular having a great game. His career up to know has been blighted by injury, but he could become a huge player for the club if he can stay fit.
The defence was again well marshaled with Thomas Vermaelen seemingly relishing his role of captain. Arsenal had not kept three clean sheets at the start of the season in 88 years before yesterday. Despite Liverpool being the home team they rarely looked likely to really score though.
When the Arsenal goals came they were scored by two of the new boys. Both Lukas Podolski and Cazorla got their names on the scoresheet with well taken goals, but unfortunately Olivier Giroud couldn't do the same thing when he got the chance. It takes players time to settle into a new team, and I'm sure Giroud will get his first goal very soon.
The first goal came on the half hour mark when a poor Steven Gerrard pass was intercepted and Arsenal broke quickly. Podolski played the ball to Cazorla who has dropped off the Liverpool defence to accept the pass. He turned and ran at them with the ball, as Podolski sprinted to join in the attack.
As Podolski ran outside Cazorla he was found with a perfectly weighted pass which allowed him to slot the ball past Pepe Reina into the far corner. It was a very well worked goal, and it showed how clinical this Arsenal team can be on the break. It was up to Liverpool to try to make the play and get themselves back into the game.
Liverpool rarely threatened though and they were unable to get in behind the Arsenal defence. The best chances fell to Arsenal with both Kieran Gibbs and Cazorla going close, as well as Giroud missing a great chance similar to the one he missed against Sunderland.
The second Arsenal goal came midway through the second half with both Podolski and Cazorla involved again. This time it was Podolski who played Cazorla into a very similar position on the left and he made no mistake from close range. Reina got a hand to the shot but he could only help the ball into the net rather than keep it out.
Liverpool huffed and puffed a little towards the end, but they never really threatened the Arsenal goal. It's been a long time since Arsenal looked so comfortable defensively against one of the so called bigger teams. If this is the influence of Steve Bould long may it continue.
There were so many positives from the game for Arsenal, but the performance of Diaby was probably the biggest of all. Since his horrific injury over six years ago he has been plagued by repetitive injuries, and he has never recovered fully. He missed almost all of last season, and there were genuine fears his football career was over.
It's only three games into the new campaign and it's far too early to say he has finally recovered, but the signs are promising. Far too often players returning from injury are described as "being like a new signing", but surely a fully fit Diaby would actually be such a player. He has also been inconsistent at best in the past, but there is no doubting his ability.
If he can come through the international break intact I am hoping he can continue with his impressive start to the season. His form will give Arsene Wenger some real headaches when Jack Wilshere returns, but I'm sure the Arsenal fans won't mind him being spoiled for choice.
It's a little frustrating that should a good performance by Arsenal will now be followed by an international break. The players managed to click yesterday in attack as well as defence, but Wenger won't be able to work with them again for almost two weeks. Thankfully the first game back is at home, and hopefully the players can take up where they left off against Liverpool.
Here's the highlights from yesterday's game.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Tuesday, 21 August 2012
Arsenal Sell Alex Song To Barcelona
The news emerged yesterday that the sale of Alex Song from Arsenal to Barcelona had been finalised. He has joined Barcelona for a fee in the region of £15 million if the quoted figures are to be believed. His departure is hardly as high profile as that of Robin van Persie, but he was voted the second best player at the club by Arsenal fans last season.
I have never been overly impressed with Song, and I think he was over rated at times. I have no doubt that he will see this move as a huge boost for his career, but I can't see him making an impression at Barcelona. His style bordered on lethargic at times, and I was never impressed with his passing skills either.
He may have led the way with assists among Arsenal's midfielders last season, but that was only after the sale of Cesc Fabregas. Song was very fond of lofting the ball over opposition defences last season, and van Persie was on hand to finish off on quite a few occasions. Many times though he just aimlessly played those passes far too long, and they ended up harmless going out of play.
Song was meant to play the defensive role in the Arsenal midfield, but I felt he left the defence exposed far too often. Maybe his instructions were to get further forward, but I doubt it. He will have to work an awful lot harder if he is to be a success at his new club.
Arsenal have sold many players to Barcelona since Arsene Wenger became Arsenal manager, and very few of them have made the grade there. Cesc has fitted in nicely, but he grew up as part of the club and knows what is expected of him. Some might say Thierry Henry did well there, but there is no doubt that he played the best football of his career at Arsenal.
The list of players who failed to make a real impact when moving from Arsenal to Barcelona is a long one. Alex Hleb was probably the biggest flop of all, but Emmanuel Perit, Marc Overnars and Giovanni van Bronkhurst hardly covered themselves in glory either. I would be very surprised if Song is anything other than a failure at Barcelona.
I have read that Song had become disruptive at Arsenal, and he wanted to leave as soon as he knew Barcelona were interested. Arsenal can't afford to have players who aren't committed to the cause in their squad, and those who want to leave should be sold if the price is right. At least Song had the decency to keep his mouth shut before the move took place.
I suppose Song may have been searching for a new challenge, or maybe to live in a warmer climate. I can't help feeling that he will regret the decision to turn his back on the manager who made him the player he is today. I also can't help feeling he will be left searching for the remains of a once promising career in a year or two.
There is no doubt that the loss of van Persie was a blow to Arsenal, ad players of his quality are few and far between. The loss of Song is no such thing, and Arsenal should find it relative easy to replace him with a better player before too long. Whether they decide to replace him with a similar style of player or not is another question, and only Wenger knows the answer.
With the transfer window closing in only 10 days there isn't an awful lot of time to add to the squad available to Wenger. The three additions so far have been very welcome, but the players most fans wanted to see leave are still at the club. Arsenal have actually made a profit on their dealings so far this summer yet again, and it's something which has to be redressed.
There is no doubt that the return from injury of both Bacary Sagna and Jack Wilshere will strengthen the team. Sagna could be back by the time the Champions League groups kick off, but Wilshere will take longer. He will have to be eased slowly back into action, as he has suffered so many set backs in his recovery already.
It still looks highly likely that Nuri Sahin will arrive on loan from Real Madrid, and it's a move I hope to see happen. The team cannot depend on a midfield that contains Abu Diaby and Tomas Rosicky, as both of them are so injury prone. If both of them are out at the same time before Wilshere returns fully it will leave the manager with very few choices.
During my three trips to Arsenal last season the two most popular songs were probably in praise of both van Persie and Song. It looks like the choice of songs at the Emirates and on away trips will need a little bit of adjusting. I have no doubt new heroes will be found to sing about though.
Finally for today don't forget to join my Fantasy Premier league for the new season with prizes for the top three teams. To join up just go to the site and use the code 17031-6252 to join my league when your team is set up. If you were in my league last season you should automatically be given a choice to rejoin it once your team is set up. There are over 600 teams in my league at the moment, and I'm hoping to match last season's total of over 1,000 teams.
I'm also running my predictions league again, and it's open to anyone who wants to join too. It's an easy game to play with points awarded for predicting the outcomes of every Premier League game. To sign up just go to the site , http://predictor.talksport.co.uk/landing.htm and use the code FD047-YLG to join my league once you have registered.
See you tomorrow.
I have never been overly impressed with Song, and I think he was over rated at times. I have no doubt that he will see this move as a huge boost for his career, but I can't see him making an impression at Barcelona. His style bordered on lethargic at times, and I was never impressed with his passing skills either.
He may have led the way with assists among Arsenal's midfielders last season, but that was only after the sale of Cesc Fabregas. Song was very fond of lofting the ball over opposition defences last season, and van Persie was on hand to finish off on quite a few occasions. Many times though he just aimlessly played those passes far too long, and they ended up harmless going out of play.
Song was meant to play the defensive role in the Arsenal midfield, but I felt he left the defence exposed far too often. Maybe his instructions were to get further forward, but I doubt it. He will have to work an awful lot harder if he is to be a success at his new club.
Arsenal have sold many players to Barcelona since Arsene Wenger became Arsenal manager, and very few of them have made the grade there. Cesc has fitted in nicely, but he grew up as part of the club and knows what is expected of him. Some might say Thierry Henry did well there, but there is no doubt that he played the best football of his career at Arsenal.
The list of players who failed to make a real impact when moving from Arsenal to Barcelona is a long one. Alex Hleb was probably the biggest flop of all, but Emmanuel Perit, Marc Overnars and Giovanni van Bronkhurst hardly covered themselves in glory either. I would be very surprised if Song is anything other than a failure at Barcelona.
I have read that Song had become disruptive at Arsenal, and he wanted to leave as soon as he knew Barcelona were interested. Arsenal can't afford to have players who aren't committed to the cause in their squad, and those who want to leave should be sold if the price is right. At least Song had the decency to keep his mouth shut before the move took place.
I suppose Song may have been searching for a new challenge, or maybe to live in a warmer climate. I can't help feeling that he will regret the decision to turn his back on the manager who made him the player he is today. I also can't help feeling he will be left searching for the remains of a once promising career in a year or two.
There is no doubt that the loss of van Persie was a blow to Arsenal, ad players of his quality are few and far between. The loss of Song is no such thing, and Arsenal should find it relative easy to replace him with a better player before too long. Whether they decide to replace him with a similar style of player or not is another question, and only Wenger knows the answer.
With the transfer window closing in only 10 days there isn't an awful lot of time to add to the squad available to Wenger. The three additions so far have been very welcome, but the players most fans wanted to see leave are still at the club. Arsenal have actually made a profit on their dealings so far this summer yet again, and it's something which has to be redressed.
There is no doubt that the return from injury of both Bacary Sagna and Jack Wilshere will strengthen the team. Sagna could be back by the time the Champions League groups kick off, but Wilshere will take longer. He will have to be eased slowly back into action, as he has suffered so many set backs in his recovery already.
It still looks highly likely that Nuri Sahin will arrive on loan from Real Madrid, and it's a move I hope to see happen. The team cannot depend on a midfield that contains Abu Diaby and Tomas Rosicky, as both of them are so injury prone. If both of them are out at the same time before Wilshere returns fully it will leave the manager with very few choices.
During my three trips to Arsenal last season the two most popular songs were probably in praise of both van Persie and Song. It looks like the choice of songs at the Emirates and on away trips will need a little bit of adjusting. I have no doubt new heroes will be found to sing about though.
Finally for today don't forget to join my Fantasy Premier league for the new season with prizes for the top three teams. To join up just go to the site and use the code 17031-6252 to join my league when your team is set up. If you were in my league last season you should automatically be given a choice to rejoin it once your team is set up. There are over 600 teams in my league at the moment, and I'm hoping to match last season's total of over 1,000 teams.
I'm also running my predictions league again, and it's open to anyone who wants to join too. It's an easy game to play with points awarded for predicting the outcomes of every Premier League game. To sign up just go to the site , http://predictor.talksport.co.uk/landing.htm and use the code FD047-YLG to join my league once you have registered.
See you tomorrow.
Sunday, 19 August 2012
Arsenal 0-0 Sunderland: An Opportunity Spurned
Arsenal played Sunderland yesterday afternoon in their first Premier League fixture of the new season. After the high profile departure of Robin van Persie it was an opportunity for the Arsenal players to show how good they can be without their former captain. Sunderland were always going to try to make things difficult for Arsenal, and it was up to Arsenal to open the game up.
I managed to find a pub on my holidays in Spain which was showing the game live, and I settled back with a few pints of Peroni to watch yet another new Arsenal era unfold. The other screens in the pub were showing West Ham against Aston Villa, and a botoxed looking Jeff Stelling on Sky Sports News.
Sunderland showed some adventure in the first 20 minutes, but their game plan soon became apparent. They were perfectly happy to settle for a 0-0 draw, and it was up to Arsenal to dictate the pace of the game. It was a hot afternoon in north London, and I hoped for Arsenal to stretch Sunderland and tire them out.
Fans of many different Premier League teams gathered in the pub to watch the afternoons proceedings, and there was even a Sunderland fan among them. He was wearing their away shirt with a number 40 and "Wozza" on the back, but he was in the minority. As the games progressed there were some fascinating scorelines emerging, but I was only interested in the Arsenal game.
I was impressed with the first half performances of Santi Carzola and Per Mertesacker in particular, but Arsenal needed to pick up the pace in the second half. Arsene Wenger chose to leave Oliver Giroud on the bench, as he played Lukas Podolski in the central striker's role. It meant there was a starting role for Gervinho, and he looked like he might be the Arsenal player to unlock the Sunderland defence.
There were a couple of half chances for Sunderland in the first 20 minutes, but Arsenal assumed complete control as the game wore on. When Giroud made his entrance in the second half I hoped he could get the opening goal which would probably have won the game for Arsenal.
He had a fantastic opportunity in the last 10 minutes when Carzola played him in, but unfortunately he put it wide. It was the ideal opportunity for Arsenal to show that they were still a force to be reckoned with after the departure of van Persie, but it wasn't to be. Better players have missed easier chances on numerous occasions, but I have no doubt the press focus will be on his miss.
There was no Alex Song in the Arsenal team, as it looks like he will be departing the club very soon. It meant Abu Diaby played in midfield, but he will have to do a lot more to convince me he is up to the task. Hopefully Arsenal can bring in Nuri Sahin on loan before Song leaves, as they will need his defensive abilities against better teams than Sunderland.
While a point from their first game is far from disastrous for Arsenal there is no doubt that three points were required on the day. The players were a little laboured in their approach at times, and the lack of proper pre season games showed in my opinion. Hopefully the coaching staff can get some good work in during the next week before they travel to Stoke.
Goals change games in football, and I have no doubt that an Arsenal goal at some stage yesterday would have opened the game up. Sunderland didn't have an awful lot to offer, but they stuck to their defensive duties very well. All too often last season Arsenal managed to win games like that through the brilliance of van Persie.
He is no more than a distant memory now of a player who could have been an Arsenal great. The team have to play more as a unit without him, and hope they can gel enough to get the results they need. There were some very encouraging signs against Sunderland, but only time will tell if they can do it.
There are still some very good players in the Arsenal team, and more to return from injury too. To write them off after a scoreless draw at home to Sunderland would be foolish, but I have no doubt the "so called" experts had them written off before the season started. It's up to the players and management to show they have what it takes to make a genuine challenge in the Premier League starting with next weeks daunting trip to Stoke's school of hard knocks.
I still have belief in the players, and I was encouraged by yesterday's game despite the result. There's a long way to go this season, and many twists and turns before the trophies are handed out. As long Arsenal stick to their principles they have a real chance of landing a trophy.
Finally for today don't forget to join my Fantasy Premier league for the new season with prizes for the top three teams. To join up just go to the site and use the code 17031-6252 to join my league when your team is set up. If you were in my league last season you should automatically be given a choice to rejoin it once your team is set up. There are over 400 teams in my league at the moment, and I'm hoping to match last season's total of over 1,000 teams.
I'm also running my predictions league again, and it's open to anyone who wants to join too. It's an easy game to play with points awarded for predicting the outcomes of every Premier League game. To sign up just go to the site , http://predictor.talksport.co.uk/landing.htm and use the code FD047-YLG to join my league once you have registered.
See you tomorrow.
I managed to find a pub on my holidays in Spain which was showing the game live, and I settled back with a few pints of Peroni to watch yet another new Arsenal era unfold. The other screens in the pub were showing West Ham against Aston Villa, and a botoxed looking Jeff Stelling on Sky Sports News.
Sunderland showed some adventure in the first 20 minutes, but their game plan soon became apparent. They were perfectly happy to settle for a 0-0 draw, and it was up to Arsenal to dictate the pace of the game. It was a hot afternoon in north London, and I hoped for Arsenal to stretch Sunderland and tire them out.
Fans of many different Premier League teams gathered in the pub to watch the afternoons proceedings, and there was even a Sunderland fan among them. He was wearing their away shirt with a number 40 and "Wozza" on the back, but he was in the minority. As the games progressed there were some fascinating scorelines emerging, but I was only interested in the Arsenal game.
I was impressed with the first half performances of Santi Carzola and Per Mertesacker in particular, but Arsenal needed to pick up the pace in the second half. Arsene Wenger chose to leave Oliver Giroud on the bench, as he played Lukas Podolski in the central striker's role. It meant there was a starting role for Gervinho, and he looked like he might be the Arsenal player to unlock the Sunderland defence.
There were a couple of half chances for Sunderland in the first 20 minutes, but Arsenal assumed complete control as the game wore on. When Giroud made his entrance in the second half I hoped he could get the opening goal which would probably have won the game for Arsenal.
He had a fantastic opportunity in the last 10 minutes when Carzola played him in, but unfortunately he put it wide. It was the ideal opportunity for Arsenal to show that they were still a force to be reckoned with after the departure of van Persie, but it wasn't to be. Better players have missed easier chances on numerous occasions, but I have no doubt the press focus will be on his miss.
There was no Alex Song in the Arsenal team, as it looks like he will be departing the club very soon. It meant Abu Diaby played in midfield, but he will have to do a lot more to convince me he is up to the task. Hopefully Arsenal can bring in Nuri Sahin on loan before Song leaves, as they will need his defensive abilities against better teams than Sunderland.
While a point from their first game is far from disastrous for Arsenal there is no doubt that three points were required on the day. The players were a little laboured in their approach at times, and the lack of proper pre season games showed in my opinion. Hopefully the coaching staff can get some good work in during the next week before they travel to Stoke.
Goals change games in football, and I have no doubt that an Arsenal goal at some stage yesterday would have opened the game up. Sunderland didn't have an awful lot to offer, but they stuck to their defensive duties very well. All too often last season Arsenal managed to win games like that through the brilliance of van Persie.
He is no more than a distant memory now of a player who could have been an Arsenal great. The team have to play more as a unit without him, and hope they can gel enough to get the results they need. There were some very encouraging signs against Sunderland, but only time will tell if they can do it.
There are still some very good players in the Arsenal team, and more to return from injury too. To write them off after a scoreless draw at home to Sunderland would be foolish, but I have no doubt the "so called" experts had them written off before the season started. It's up to the players and management to show they have what it takes to make a genuine challenge in the Premier League starting with next weeks daunting trip to Stoke's school of hard knocks.
I still have belief in the players, and I was encouraged by yesterday's game despite the result. There's a long way to go this season, and many twists and turns before the trophies are handed out. As long Arsenal stick to their principles they have a real chance of landing a trophy.
Finally for today don't forget to join my Fantasy Premier league for the new season with prizes for the top three teams. To join up just go to the site and use the code 17031-6252 to join my league when your team is set up. If you were in my league last season you should automatically be given a choice to rejoin it once your team is set up. There are over 400 teams in my league at the moment, and I'm hoping to match last season's total of over 1,000 teams.
I'm also running my predictions league again, and it's open to anyone who wants to join too. It's an easy game to play with points awarded for predicting the outcomes of every Premier League game. To sign up just go to the site , http://predictor.talksport.co.uk/landing.htm and use the code FD047-YLG to join my league once you have registered.
See you tomorrow.
Saturday, 2 June 2012
Can Arsenal Do Their Transfer Dealings Sooner Rather Than Later?
The start of Euro 2012 is less than a week away now, and still Arsenal have only managed to sign Lukasz Podolski so far. With so many players competing for their countries over the next few weeks the chances are transfers will be few and far between until July. With pre-season training beginning in July it could leave very little time for any new signings to arrive.
Last summer Arsenal left most of their transfer dealings until deadline day, and it greatly affected their start to the season. By the time the new players had bedded in Arsenal had only taken seven points from their first seven games. Of course they rallied after that, and eventually managed to finish third with a few hic-ups along the way.
After the sales of both Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri nobody could have predicted Jack Wilshere wouldn't kick a ball in anger all season long. Added to the loss of Wilshere Abu Diaby's injury woes took a turn for the worse, and he never managed to start a game all season long either. It meant Arsenal's midfield duties were not shared out evenly, and the strain showed on some players towards the end of the season.
Arsene Wenger stated last summer that he would not be selling both Cesc and Nasri, as it would not be good for the club. When push came to shove he had no option though, as both players obviously made it clear that they wanted to play elsewhere. It's not a new scenario for Arsenal fans to see their best players touted around supposedly wealthier clubs.
It happened in the past with so many Arsenal players even when Arsenal were at their prime under Wenger, and winning plenty of trophies. It seems that the captain's armband at Arsenal has become a signal that a player is going to leave the club. The current captain is Robin van Persie, and the previous three captain's were all sold while still wearing the armband.
At the moment RVP is considering his options with only one year left on his contract, and he holds all the aces. He can choose to see out his contract and walk away on a free transfer next summer, or insist on leaving this summer. Whatever he decides to do I can't see what the club can do to stop him.
I was a huge fan of Cesc and I felt a real sadness when he left the club, but no matter what players come or go I will always support Arsenal. Withdrawing support is not an option for a real fan in my opinion even if some of the fans are unhappy with how the club is being run. I have no doubt that fans of the majority of other clubs feel exactly the same way at times as well.
The long drawn out summer transfer window can be a very frustrating time for football fans, and Arsenal fans are no exception. In an ideal world the club would go out and get the players they have targeted as soon as the window opens, but that's not how football works. Very few transfers are straight forward any more, and they tend to take a long time to complete.
Any player Arsenal show an interest in is bound to be touted to other clubs with more money to spend by their agent. If Arsenal show an interest in a player the chances are other clubs with a lot more money to spend will consider the players too. The inequality in the transfer market caused by clubs with vast amounts of oil money has made buying players very hard for any club working within a budget.
It means Arsenal have to try to get players well before their prime, or try to pick up players other clubs aren't overly interested in. In recent years Arsenal have spent big money on very promising talent such as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Aaron Ramsey and Theo Walcott with varying degrees of success. If those players become as good as Arsenal hope they will they will be worth far more than Arsenal can afford to pay.
It's a risk for Arsenal to buy these players, and there are no guarantees of how good they will become. The hope was that Arsenal's youth team would provide a very strong team for years to come, but far too many of the youth players have failed to make the final step to become top class players. The current Arsenal first team squad doesn't contain too many players who have come all the way through the youth ranks at the club.
Even when Arsenal have tried to buy some younger players they have seen those players touted to other clubs and lost out on them. It happened with both Chris Smalling and Phil Jones, but the wishes of the players also had an effect on their eventual destinations.
I hope the vast amounts of money spent on the youth set up at Arsenal create a super team for the future, but there are no guarantees. The club have very little choice though, as they simply cannot afford to compete financially with the Manchester Citys and Chelseas of the football world.
There is no doubt Arsenal showed some real promise at times last season, and some additions to the squad right now could help them to become properly competitive again. Sometimes I feel the Arsenal squad would be good enough to compete for the Premier League, but only if all of their key players stay injury free all season long. Realistically that's not going to happen, and Wenger needs to be a little more pesimistic when considering his options for the new season.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Last summer Arsenal left most of their transfer dealings until deadline day, and it greatly affected their start to the season. By the time the new players had bedded in Arsenal had only taken seven points from their first seven games. Of course they rallied after that, and eventually managed to finish third with a few hic-ups along the way.
After the sales of both Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri nobody could have predicted Jack Wilshere wouldn't kick a ball in anger all season long. Added to the loss of Wilshere Abu Diaby's injury woes took a turn for the worse, and he never managed to start a game all season long either. It meant Arsenal's midfield duties were not shared out evenly, and the strain showed on some players towards the end of the season.
Arsene Wenger stated last summer that he would not be selling both Cesc and Nasri, as it would not be good for the club. When push came to shove he had no option though, as both players obviously made it clear that they wanted to play elsewhere. It's not a new scenario for Arsenal fans to see their best players touted around supposedly wealthier clubs.
It happened in the past with so many Arsenal players even when Arsenal were at their prime under Wenger, and winning plenty of trophies. It seems that the captain's armband at Arsenal has become a signal that a player is going to leave the club. The current captain is Robin van Persie, and the previous three captain's were all sold while still wearing the armband.
At the moment RVP is considering his options with only one year left on his contract, and he holds all the aces. He can choose to see out his contract and walk away on a free transfer next summer, or insist on leaving this summer. Whatever he decides to do I can't see what the club can do to stop him.
I was a huge fan of Cesc and I felt a real sadness when he left the club, but no matter what players come or go I will always support Arsenal. Withdrawing support is not an option for a real fan in my opinion even if some of the fans are unhappy with how the club is being run. I have no doubt that fans of the majority of other clubs feel exactly the same way at times as well.
The long drawn out summer transfer window can be a very frustrating time for football fans, and Arsenal fans are no exception. In an ideal world the club would go out and get the players they have targeted as soon as the window opens, but that's not how football works. Very few transfers are straight forward any more, and they tend to take a long time to complete.
Any player Arsenal show an interest in is bound to be touted to other clubs with more money to spend by their agent. If Arsenal show an interest in a player the chances are other clubs with a lot more money to spend will consider the players too. The inequality in the transfer market caused by clubs with vast amounts of oil money has made buying players very hard for any club working within a budget.
It means Arsenal have to try to get players well before their prime, or try to pick up players other clubs aren't overly interested in. In recent years Arsenal have spent big money on very promising talent such as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Aaron Ramsey and Theo Walcott with varying degrees of success. If those players become as good as Arsenal hope they will they will be worth far more than Arsenal can afford to pay.
It's a risk for Arsenal to buy these players, and there are no guarantees of how good they will become. The hope was that Arsenal's youth team would provide a very strong team for years to come, but far too many of the youth players have failed to make the final step to become top class players. The current Arsenal first team squad doesn't contain too many players who have come all the way through the youth ranks at the club.
Even when Arsenal have tried to buy some younger players they have seen those players touted to other clubs and lost out on them. It happened with both Chris Smalling and Phil Jones, but the wishes of the players also had an effect on their eventual destinations.
I hope the vast amounts of money spent on the youth set up at Arsenal create a super team for the future, but there are no guarantees. The club have very little choice though, as they simply cannot afford to compete financially with the Manchester Citys and Chelseas of the football world.
There is no doubt Arsenal showed some real promise at times last season, and some additions to the squad right now could help them to become properly competitive again. Sometimes I feel the Arsenal squad would be good enough to compete for the Premier League, but only if all of their key players stay injury free all season long. Realistically that's not going to happen, and Wenger needs to be a little more pesimistic when considering his options for the new season.
Whatever
happens during the current transfer window I can't imagine things could be
quite as chaotic as they were for Arsenal last summer. Ideally the players
needed will be added in the very near future, and space will be found for them
by offloading some of the players who are no longer required. I won't be
holding my breath for such a scenario, but surely I can live in
hope.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Saturday, 31 March 2012
Arsenal's Premier League Trip To Queens Park Rangers Previewed
Arsenal are in tremendous form at the moment, and their seven straight Premier League wins have seen them rise to third place in the table. It's the highest position they have held this season, and with only eight games remaining it's a very good place for them to be. To be honest third place was probably the height of their possibilities this season, and it would be good for them to reach that when all is done and dusted.
I'm by no means counting any chickens, as only a few weeks ago it looked like fourth place would be as good as they could manage this season. In the time Arsenal won those seven games their closet rivals managed only six points to greatly help their cause. The recent collapse of Spurs has been nothing short of hilarious for Arsenal fans.
The "Mind The Gap" shirts worn by Spurs for their game at Arsenal look like they will come back to haunt them, but they also show how quickly things can change in football. St. Totteringham's Day draws ever closer, but I won't be calling it until it is a mathematical certainty.
The illustration below shows the real gap between the clubs. I saw it first on Gunning From Sussex, but I don't know who is responsible for the original.
It's still possible that Arsenal will have a slip of their own and struggle for the rest of the season, but I don't believe it. The current team has had it's problems and disappointments, but they are displaying a mental strength I thought I might never again see in an Arsenal team. It has seen them become the first team to come from behind and win four Premier League games in a row.
Of course it would be much better if they didn't have to come from behind quite so often, but in the last two games they have taken the lead and kept it. They have also managed clean sheets in both of those games, as the defensive understanding continues to grow in the side. The bad days of a team full of central defenders seem so far away now, as the injury crisis has eventually faded.
The team news ahead of the game against QPR is quite good with no new injuries to add to the few players that are unavailable. Laurent Koscielny looks like he will be passed fit to play, but Abu Diaby will miss out as a precautionary measure. It should mean the squad is the same as the one used in the game against Villa last week.
I would be very surprised if Arsene Wenger didn't pick the same team that started against Villa, as the team played so well in that game. I know Villa offered very little against Arsenal, but that was because of the way Arsenal played as well as Villa's inability. I've seen QPR play and they are there for the taking as long as Arsenal perform to their best again.
QPR have only won twice in their last 18 Premier League games, and they are looking destined for a return to the Championship. The arrival of Mark Hughes as their new manager in January was meant to save them from the drop, but they continued to plummet the table despite all the money he spent. His best signing was Djibril Cisse, but he will miss their next four games after receiving his second red card in 344 minutes of football for them.
QPR still have a little to threaten Arsenal with Bobby Zamora leading their attacking line, but their problems lie in their defence. They have only managed to win three of their 15 home games so far, and they have conceded 24 goals in the process. Arsenal have scored 27 goals away from home so far, and their defence has really improved on the road too.
Since Arsenal lost 2-1 away to Spurs on October 2nd they have matched the points tally of Manchester City, and they're only three points off the tally of United. It would be a good achievement if they could keep pace with the teams above them for the rest of the season. They have also matched the amount of goals City have scored in those games, and outscored United too.
Of course Arsenal's terrible start to the season was down to a lot of different factors, and hopefully they are completely behind the team now. If they can add the players that are needed to the squad there is every chance they can put in a genuine title challenge next season. Their return of 51 points from the last 23 games offers real promise for the future.
It can sometimes be tricky playing against relegation threatened teams, and Arsenal have to be careful with QPR. Their confidence is low and Arsenal cannot afford to let them build up a head of steam in the game. They showed how dangerous they can be when they came from 2-0 down to beat Liverpool a couple of weeks ago.
As long as Arsenal play on the front foot and press QPR they will create plenty of good goalscoring chances. Robin van Persie is going through his worst drought of the season, as he hasn't scored in his last two games. He has eight games left to score the four goals he needs to pass the magical 30 mark in the league this season.
I think RVP will have some joy today, and Arsenal will get themselves another valuable three points. I'm predicting a 3-1 win, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Arsenal get their third clean sheet in a row either. If they get the three points it will put real pressure on Spurs ahead of their game at home to Swansea on Sunday.
Thankfully I'll be able to watch the game as it's being shown live on TV in Ireland. I'll be settling down with a couple of beers in my new Arsenal shirt to cheer on my team. Hopefully I will be cheering them all the way to three points, and a firmer grip on third place too.
That's it for today.
Here's the highlights of the "Mind The Gap" game against Spurs.
See you tomorrow.
I'm by no means counting any chickens, as only a few weeks ago it looked like fourth place would be as good as they could manage this season. In the time Arsenal won those seven games their closet rivals managed only six points to greatly help their cause. The recent collapse of Spurs has been nothing short of hilarious for Arsenal fans.
The "Mind The Gap" shirts worn by Spurs for their game at Arsenal look like they will come back to haunt them, but they also show how quickly things can change in football. St. Totteringham's Day draws ever closer, but I won't be calling it until it is a mathematical certainty.
The illustration below shows the real gap between the clubs. I saw it first on Gunning From Sussex, but I don't know who is responsible for the original.
It's still possible that Arsenal will have a slip of their own and struggle for the rest of the season, but I don't believe it. The current team has had it's problems and disappointments, but they are displaying a mental strength I thought I might never again see in an Arsenal team. It has seen them become the first team to come from behind and win four Premier League games in a row.
Of course it would be much better if they didn't have to come from behind quite so often, but in the last two games they have taken the lead and kept it. They have also managed clean sheets in both of those games, as the defensive understanding continues to grow in the side. The bad days of a team full of central defenders seem so far away now, as the injury crisis has eventually faded.
The team news ahead of the game against QPR is quite good with no new injuries to add to the few players that are unavailable. Laurent Koscielny looks like he will be passed fit to play, but Abu Diaby will miss out as a precautionary measure. It should mean the squad is the same as the one used in the game against Villa last week.
I would be very surprised if Arsene Wenger didn't pick the same team that started against Villa, as the team played so well in that game. I know Villa offered very little against Arsenal, but that was because of the way Arsenal played as well as Villa's inability. I've seen QPR play and they are there for the taking as long as Arsenal perform to their best again.
QPR have only won twice in their last 18 Premier League games, and they are looking destined for a return to the Championship. The arrival of Mark Hughes as their new manager in January was meant to save them from the drop, but they continued to plummet the table despite all the money he spent. His best signing was Djibril Cisse, but he will miss their next four games after receiving his second red card in 344 minutes of football for them.
QPR still have a little to threaten Arsenal with Bobby Zamora leading their attacking line, but their problems lie in their defence. They have only managed to win three of their 15 home games so far, and they have conceded 24 goals in the process. Arsenal have scored 27 goals away from home so far, and their defence has really improved on the road too.
Since Arsenal lost 2-1 away to Spurs on October 2nd they have matched the points tally of Manchester City, and they're only three points off the tally of United. It would be a good achievement if they could keep pace with the teams above them for the rest of the season. They have also matched the amount of goals City have scored in those games, and outscored United too.
Of course Arsenal's terrible start to the season was down to a lot of different factors, and hopefully they are completely behind the team now. If they can add the players that are needed to the squad there is every chance they can put in a genuine title challenge next season. Their return of 51 points from the last 23 games offers real promise for the future.
It can sometimes be tricky playing against relegation threatened teams, and Arsenal have to be careful with QPR. Their confidence is low and Arsenal cannot afford to let them build up a head of steam in the game. They showed how dangerous they can be when they came from 2-0 down to beat Liverpool a couple of weeks ago.
As long as Arsenal play on the front foot and press QPR they will create plenty of good goalscoring chances. Robin van Persie is going through his worst drought of the season, as he hasn't scored in his last two games. He has eight games left to score the four goals he needs to pass the magical 30 mark in the league this season.
I think RVP will have some joy today, and Arsenal will get themselves another valuable three points. I'm predicting a 3-1 win, but I wouldn't be surprised to see Arsenal get their third clean sheet in a row either. If they get the three points it will put real pressure on Spurs ahead of their game at home to Swansea on Sunday.
Thankfully I'll be able to watch the game as it's being shown live on TV in Ireland. I'll be settling down with a couple of beers in my new Arsenal shirt to cheer on my team. Hopefully I will be cheering them all the way to three points, and a firmer grip on third place too.
That's it for today.
Here's the highlights of the "Mind The Gap" game against Spurs.
See you tomorrow.
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