Arsenal played at home to Stoke yesterday afternoon in a Premier League game they simply had to win. It's never an easy task to get a result against a Stoke team that will do anything to stop the opposition. I expected them to be at their most negative and they certainly didn't disappoint.
Arsene Wenger made five changes from the team which came back to draw 2-2 at home to Liverpool on Wednesday night. Both Kieran Gibbs and Thomas Vermaelen missed out through injury with Aaron Ramsey, Santi Cazorla and Lukas Podolski all dropping to the bench. It meant Abou Diaby and Mikael Arteta came into the team in midfield and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain played in the wide left role.
Laurent Koscielny filled in for Vermaelen and in the big shock for me new boy Nacho Monreal played at left back. He was a very late purchase on transfer deadline day after the club learned Gibbs would be out for up to six weeks. His inclusion in the team can leave Santos with no doubt about his position in the pecking order at left back.
When Gibbs returns from injury the club will have three international left backs and somebody will have to make way. I would be surprised to see Santos at the club next season as he is surely going to be the one to miss out. Hopefully the club will be able to sell if he is surplus to requirements and he won't be left to rot like a few others.
Monreal had a solid debut and Gibbs is going to have a real battle on his hands when he returns. With Gibbs injury record Monreal has the chance to make that position all his own. It might be a bit harsh on Gibbs but the squad is certainly stronger with Monreal in it.
Stoke certainly didn't disappoint me in terms of how I thought they would play as they set their stall out to stop Arsenal by fair means or foul. They were helped by a referee who didn't seem willing to give free kicks to Arsenal players until they were properly kicked. Thankfully Andy Wilkinson kicked Theo Walcott hard enough for the referee to give the free kick that Arsenal scored from.
The goal was late in coming and I was very worried that it wouldn't come at all. The best chances Arsenal had before the goal were in the first half but a combination of poor finishing and good goalkeeping kept them out. Despite Stoke's huge defence Arsenal came closest to scoring from corners and crosses mainly.
Chamberlain really should have scored from four yards out but he hit it straight at Asmir Begovic in that first half. Begovic also made a good save from Chamberlain when he was clean through on the left. Olivier Giroud headed a corner down for nobody in particular when he really should have gone for goal and Koscielny had a good header well saved by Begovic.
It didn't look like a goal was ever going to come until substitute Podolski saw his free kick deflected past Begovic. There was more than s touch of luck about the goal but Arsenal deserved the luck on the day. It would have been s real shame if a team with no intention of actually playing football had got a point from the game.
Arsenal's goal celebrations were short lived at first when the linesman flagged for offside, but after consultation with the referee the goal was correctly allowed. With only 10 minutes left to play Stoke were unable to register any sort of response and Arsenal saw the game out with relative ease. It was far from a classic game but the three points were the important thing on the day.
The team started the new year badly but they have come back with seven points from their last three games and progressed to the last 16 of the FA Cup. Those three games were all at home and nine points would have been a better return, but the seven they took will have to do. Fourth place is still within their reach and other results went their way yesterday with Everton drawing and Chelsea losing.
Unfortunately the players will now go off with their respective countries for a round of pointless international friendlies. Most of them will probably play on Wednesday night and arrive back at the club only 48 hours before they are due to play away to Sunderland. It's not an easy task to play away from home so soon after international games but hopefully the players will be up to the task.
Things certainly look a lot better than they did a few weeks ago, but I am still concerned with huge lack of depth in attack. There are not enough real options in the attacking trio that Arsenal play and Chamberlain is the only player who can come in besides the first choice three of Podolski, Giroud and Walcott. An injury to Giroud would be a real blow to the team and he had to be given the chance to rest occasionally too. I don't see Walcott as a genuine alternative to him and Walcott is playing so well on his wide right role that he has to continue playing there.
It's a big risk for the team to try to compete on three different fronts with such limited options. Hopefully everyone can stay fit and the team can build on their recent results to put a real run of form together.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Showing posts with label Andre Santos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Andre Santos. Show all posts
Saturday, 2 February 2013
Arsenal's Premier League Game With Stoke Previewed
After the thrills and spills of Wednesday night's 2-2 draw with Liverpool it's straight back into another game for Arsenal today. Stoke are today's visitors and they will bring their own particular brand of football with them. It's not exactly an attractive game they play, but it has been effective for them.
Until recently Stoke had the best defensive record in the league, but the 15 goals conceded in their last five games have changed that. Arsenal haven't exactly been overly effective in defence either and both teams have conceded 29 goals in the league. The big difference between the teams comes in the goals for column where Arsenal have twice as many goals scored.
In fact Stoke are so goal shy that only the bottom two clubs have scored less goals than them. If they continue to conceded goals at their current rate they will find themselves sliding quickly down the table. It won't happen this season but it would be such a great thing to see them slide back into lower league obscurity.
Arsenal have reached the stage where they have to win the vast majority of their remaining games. The draw with Liverpool was a missed opportunity in their quest for a top four finish with Spurs drawing at Norwich on the same night. Arsenal cannot continue to pass up opportunities to close the gap on the teams ahead of them.
A four point gap isn't much with 14 games left, but there will be days where Arsenal lose ground . They need to take advantage of every slip by Spurs and Everton too. It could be a very close thing come the end of the season and every single point is very important.
In team news the injury Kieran Gibbs picked up against Liverpool will see him miss up to six weeks. He's always been injury prone and his latest injury was yet again one not involving a challenge. He pulled up while running and it's a worry that his body just seems unable to cope with the rigours of the game at times.
The prospect of Andre Santos playing as Arsenal's first choice left back for the next six weeks was a very worrying one. It's surely the reason why Arsene Wenger forked out a reported £10 million for Nacho Monreal just before the transfer window closed. Despite Arsenal supposedly attempting to sign some players before the window closed I don't think Monreal was one of them.
His signature looks like an immediate reaction to the Gibbs injury and Arsenal were very lucky the injury happened when it did. If it had happened against Stoke today there would be no opportunity to bring another player in and Santos would be the only fit left back available. I doubt in Monreal will start today, but I wonder if he will be on the bench.
The boss has spoken about how focused the players are and how that is possibly inhibiting them in games. I can't see how being too focused can prevent the players from performing and they certainly don't look focused enough in defence to me. How come that focus is a lot more evident in the second half of games and they are performing so well after the break.
It appears Arsenal are second in the table in the second half of games this season, but only thirteenth before the break. Whatever is being said or done at half time needs to be replicated before the game to give the players the focus that is needed. If they can show the same level of performance before the break they will surely improve.
Mikael Arteta is fit enough to return to the squad today after missing three weeks injured. He has been missed in the last three weeks, but I think he might stay on the bench just to be on the safe side. That will probably mean Aaron Ramsey will keep his place in the team.
The Stoke fans make a point of booing Ramsey because he didn't particularly want to accept the apology from Ryan Shawcross for shattering his leg three years ago. In their tiny warped brains they somehow imagine Shawcross to be the victim and not the player who had his leg hanging by a thread after a disgusting foul by Shawcross. I hope the Arsenal fans give Ramsey the support he deserves today and Shawcross the abuse he deserves.
Thomas Vermaelen has an ankle knock and faces a fitness test before deciding if he will play today. If he misses out Laurent Koscielny is a ready made replacement and the defence shouldn't suffer if he plays. To be honest the defence couldn't be much worse than Wednesday night no matter who is playing.
I do worry about Santos though and before going off on Wednesday Gibbs was the only defender not making individual errors. Those individual errors have to be stopped and if the players really are focused surely they will cut them out. Stoke may not have a Luis Suarez in their team, but they will take advantage if Arsenal hand them chances on a plate.
I expect the midfield and attack to stay the same as it was against Liverpool. They made plenty of chances in that game and they should do so against a Stoke team that are struggling in defence at the moment. Olivier Giroud has five goals in his last three games and hopefully he can keep up that form today.
Stoke are almost certain to set up with a defensive formation today and try to hit Arsenal from set pieces. Arsenal need to concentrate for every defensive free kick and corner and not hand Stoke anything on a plate. Arsenal will make chances and it would be a pleasant change for them to take a few of them before the opposition score.
If they can sort out their first half performances them a top four finish is well within their capabilities. Hopefully the first half toddy will be the start of things to come for the rest of the season. There's still 42 points to play for and Arsenal will need more than 30 of those points to have a hope of competing in next season's Champions League.
I'm predicting a 3-1 win for Arsenal today and I'm hoping to see them at their best. I have no doubt Stoke will take every chance possible to break up Arsenal's play and I expect to see plenty of fouls on Jack Wilshere. His ability to drive forward from midfield can be very dangerous and I wouldn't be surprised if Stoke took turns to foul him.
Unfortunately the majority of the Arsenal players will have to go off on international duty after today's game. There's a ridiculous round of international friendlies and hopefully the players can all come through them intact before a trip to Sunderland next Saturday.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Until recently Stoke had the best defensive record in the league, but the 15 goals conceded in their last five games have changed that. Arsenal haven't exactly been overly effective in defence either and both teams have conceded 29 goals in the league. The big difference between the teams comes in the goals for column where Arsenal have twice as many goals scored.
In fact Stoke are so goal shy that only the bottom two clubs have scored less goals than them. If they continue to conceded goals at their current rate they will find themselves sliding quickly down the table. It won't happen this season but it would be such a great thing to see them slide back into lower league obscurity.
Arsenal have reached the stage where they have to win the vast majority of their remaining games. The draw with Liverpool was a missed opportunity in their quest for a top four finish with Spurs drawing at Norwich on the same night. Arsenal cannot continue to pass up opportunities to close the gap on the teams ahead of them.
A four point gap isn't much with 14 games left, but there will be days where Arsenal lose ground . They need to take advantage of every slip by Spurs and Everton too. It could be a very close thing come the end of the season and every single point is very important.
In team news the injury Kieran Gibbs picked up against Liverpool will see him miss up to six weeks. He's always been injury prone and his latest injury was yet again one not involving a challenge. He pulled up while running and it's a worry that his body just seems unable to cope with the rigours of the game at times.
The prospect of Andre Santos playing as Arsenal's first choice left back for the next six weeks was a very worrying one. It's surely the reason why Arsene Wenger forked out a reported £10 million for Nacho Monreal just before the transfer window closed. Despite Arsenal supposedly attempting to sign some players before the window closed I don't think Monreal was one of them.
His signature looks like an immediate reaction to the Gibbs injury and Arsenal were very lucky the injury happened when it did. If it had happened against Stoke today there would be no opportunity to bring another player in and Santos would be the only fit left back available. I doubt in Monreal will start today, but I wonder if he will be on the bench.
The boss has spoken about how focused the players are and how that is possibly inhibiting them in games. I can't see how being too focused can prevent the players from performing and they certainly don't look focused enough in defence to me. How come that focus is a lot more evident in the second half of games and they are performing so well after the break.
It appears Arsenal are second in the table in the second half of games this season, but only thirteenth before the break. Whatever is being said or done at half time needs to be replicated before the game to give the players the focus that is needed. If they can show the same level of performance before the break they will surely improve.
Mikael Arteta is fit enough to return to the squad today after missing three weeks injured. He has been missed in the last three weeks, but I think he might stay on the bench just to be on the safe side. That will probably mean Aaron Ramsey will keep his place in the team.
The Stoke fans make a point of booing Ramsey because he didn't particularly want to accept the apology from Ryan Shawcross for shattering his leg three years ago. In their tiny warped brains they somehow imagine Shawcross to be the victim and not the player who had his leg hanging by a thread after a disgusting foul by Shawcross. I hope the Arsenal fans give Ramsey the support he deserves today and Shawcross the abuse he deserves.
Thomas Vermaelen has an ankle knock and faces a fitness test before deciding if he will play today. If he misses out Laurent Koscielny is a ready made replacement and the defence shouldn't suffer if he plays. To be honest the defence couldn't be much worse than Wednesday night no matter who is playing.
I do worry about Santos though and before going off on Wednesday Gibbs was the only defender not making individual errors. Those individual errors have to be stopped and if the players really are focused surely they will cut them out. Stoke may not have a Luis Suarez in their team, but they will take advantage if Arsenal hand them chances on a plate.
I expect the midfield and attack to stay the same as it was against Liverpool. They made plenty of chances in that game and they should do so against a Stoke team that are struggling in defence at the moment. Olivier Giroud has five goals in his last three games and hopefully he can keep up that form today.
Stoke are almost certain to set up with a defensive formation today and try to hit Arsenal from set pieces. Arsenal need to concentrate for every defensive free kick and corner and not hand Stoke anything on a plate. Arsenal will make chances and it would be a pleasant change for them to take a few of them before the opposition score.
If they can sort out their first half performances them a top four finish is well within their capabilities. Hopefully the first half toddy will be the start of things to come for the rest of the season. There's still 42 points to play for and Arsenal will need more than 30 of those points to have a hope of competing in next season's Champions League.
I'm predicting a 3-1 win for Arsenal today and I'm hoping to see them at their best. I have no doubt Stoke will take every chance possible to break up Arsenal's play and I expect to see plenty of fouls on Jack Wilshere. His ability to drive forward from midfield can be very dangerous and I wouldn't be surprised if Stoke took turns to foul him.
Unfortunately the majority of the Arsenal players will have to go off on international duty after today's game. There's a ridiculous round of international friendlies and hopefully the players can all come through them intact before a trip to Sunderland next Saturday.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Wednesday, 30 January 2013
Arsenal 2-2 Liverpool: Defensive Errors Prove Costly For Arsenal
What can you say about this Arsenal team. Time after time they make mistakes and yet they never seem to learn from them. It's very difficult to go chasing a game when your defenders have gifted the opposition goals.
Last night was yet another case of Arsenal pressing the self destruct button defensively, but at least this time they managed to rescue a point. The manner of the first goal they conceded was comical and the second one wasn't much better. When will the players learn to concentrate properly in defence and defend like they are actually professional footballers.
Arsene Wenger went with the expected starting 11 after resting a few players in the FA Cup victory over Brighton last Saturday. Thomas Vermaelen retuned from injury to play in defence in place of Laurent Koscielny with Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott, Bacary Sagna and Kieran Gibbs all returning after their rest on Saturday. It was probably Arsenal's strongest 11 available to them and they needed to take all three points.
It wasn't long before disaster struck with a catalogue of errors leading to Luis Suarez putting Liverpool 1-0 up. First of all Sagna slipped to allow Liverpool in on the left and then both Vermaelen and Aaron Ramsey made a mess of their attempts to clear. The ball fell to Suarez who finished with the help of a deflection off a defender.
That goal seemed to suck all the confidence out of the Arsenal defence and they continued to look very suspect for the rest of the match. The only defender not to play badly was Gibbs and he only lasted 37 minutes before injury got the better of him. His absence meant Andre Santos came on at left back and even the Liverpool fans cheered when they saw him enter the fray.
Arsenal made some good scoring chances in the first half but Liverpool were far more disciplined in defence than Arsenal had been. They dropped very deep and looked to hit Arsenal on the counter attack at every opportunity and it nearly worked far too often. They were helped by Arsenal's defenders passing the ball straight to them and Wojciech Szczesny doing his best to gift them a goal too.
In recent games in particular Arsenal have been far better in the second half and I hoped for more of the same after the break last night. After a slow start to the second half they really picked up the pace and it looked like an equaliser was inevitable. However, the next goal was at the wrong end and again the defence was found wanting.
Jordan Henderson burst forward on the hour mark and went past Per Mertesacker as if he wasn't there. As he closed in on goal Arsenal defenders piled back but somehow the ball was cleared against Santos and deflected back to Henderson with an open goal in front of him. Even he couldn't miss and Liverpool were now 2-0 up with 30 minutes remaining.
At that stage I would gladly have taken a point but that all changed within seven minutes. Arsenal continued to attack with purpose and their first goal came on the 65 minute mark. Walcott was hauled down by Glenn Johnson and Arsenal looked for the advantage as the ball fell to Sagna in the box.
The referee called it back for the free kick and Arsenal were none too happy. For a change the free kick delivery was perfect from Wilshere and Olivier Giroud headed his fifth goal in three games. It was exactly the type of goal Arsenal usually concede and I was delighted to see them score one for a change.
The comeback was on and Arsenal piled forward in search of an equaliser. It wasn't long in coming as they were level only two minutes later. The goal came from a flowing move and a great finish at the end of it.
The lay off from Giroud to Walcott in the Liverpool box was excellent, but nobody expected Walcott to score. He absolutely blasted the ball past Pepe Reina in the Liverpool goal from a very tight angle. It was hit so well that Reina didn't even have a chance to move.
There was a quarter of the match left and Arsenal were in the ascendancy now. They tried their best to find that winning goal, but it never quite happened. The closest they came was when Giroud failed to connect properly with a ball only a few yards out but he was unlucky as it was slightly deflected on it's way to him.
Right at the very end Arsenal tried their utmost to lose the game when Santos played an awful pass to Vermaelen on the halfway line. Liverpool intercepted the pass and only a very good save from Szczesny denied them the three points. It was a game Arsenal should have won, could have lost, but ended up drawing in true Arsenal style.
Their inability to defend defied belief at times last night, but some of their attacking play was very good too. The game summed up all that is right and wrong in the current Arsenal team and to know where Arsenal currently are you just need to watch it from first minute to last.
They missed the chance to close the gap on Spurs to only two points when Spurs were held to a draw at Norwich. Fourth place is still not beyond them but at what cost to their supporters. The very thought of Santos filling in for the injured Gibbs strikes fear into the heart of every reasonable Arsenal fan.
It's a home game against Stoke next on Saturday afternoon and who knows what will happen in that game. It will be entertaining though as it always is when a team is as unpredictable as Arsenal. That entertainment may only be for "car crash" value for some at this stage though.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Last night was yet another case of Arsenal pressing the self destruct button defensively, but at least this time they managed to rescue a point. The manner of the first goal they conceded was comical and the second one wasn't much better. When will the players learn to concentrate properly in defence and defend like they are actually professional footballers.
Arsene Wenger went with the expected starting 11 after resting a few players in the FA Cup victory over Brighton last Saturday. Thomas Vermaelen retuned from injury to play in defence in place of Laurent Koscielny with Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott, Bacary Sagna and Kieran Gibbs all returning after their rest on Saturday. It was probably Arsenal's strongest 11 available to them and they needed to take all three points.
It wasn't long before disaster struck with a catalogue of errors leading to Luis Suarez putting Liverpool 1-0 up. First of all Sagna slipped to allow Liverpool in on the left and then both Vermaelen and Aaron Ramsey made a mess of their attempts to clear. The ball fell to Suarez who finished with the help of a deflection off a defender.
That goal seemed to suck all the confidence out of the Arsenal defence and they continued to look very suspect for the rest of the match. The only defender not to play badly was Gibbs and he only lasted 37 minutes before injury got the better of him. His absence meant Andre Santos came on at left back and even the Liverpool fans cheered when they saw him enter the fray.
Arsenal made some good scoring chances in the first half but Liverpool were far more disciplined in defence than Arsenal had been. They dropped very deep and looked to hit Arsenal on the counter attack at every opportunity and it nearly worked far too often. They were helped by Arsenal's defenders passing the ball straight to them and Wojciech Szczesny doing his best to gift them a goal too.
In recent games in particular Arsenal have been far better in the second half and I hoped for more of the same after the break last night. After a slow start to the second half they really picked up the pace and it looked like an equaliser was inevitable. However, the next goal was at the wrong end and again the defence was found wanting.
Jordan Henderson burst forward on the hour mark and went past Per Mertesacker as if he wasn't there. As he closed in on goal Arsenal defenders piled back but somehow the ball was cleared against Santos and deflected back to Henderson with an open goal in front of him. Even he couldn't miss and Liverpool were now 2-0 up with 30 minutes remaining.
At that stage I would gladly have taken a point but that all changed within seven minutes. Arsenal continued to attack with purpose and their first goal came on the 65 minute mark. Walcott was hauled down by Glenn Johnson and Arsenal looked for the advantage as the ball fell to Sagna in the box.
The referee called it back for the free kick and Arsenal were none too happy. For a change the free kick delivery was perfect from Wilshere and Olivier Giroud headed his fifth goal in three games. It was exactly the type of goal Arsenal usually concede and I was delighted to see them score one for a change.
The comeback was on and Arsenal piled forward in search of an equaliser. It wasn't long in coming as they were level only two minutes later. The goal came from a flowing move and a great finish at the end of it.
The lay off from Giroud to Walcott in the Liverpool box was excellent, but nobody expected Walcott to score. He absolutely blasted the ball past Pepe Reina in the Liverpool goal from a very tight angle. It was hit so well that Reina didn't even have a chance to move.
There was a quarter of the match left and Arsenal were in the ascendancy now. They tried their best to find that winning goal, but it never quite happened. The closest they came was when Giroud failed to connect properly with a ball only a few yards out but he was unlucky as it was slightly deflected on it's way to him.
Right at the very end Arsenal tried their utmost to lose the game when Santos played an awful pass to Vermaelen on the halfway line. Liverpool intercepted the pass and only a very good save from Szczesny denied them the three points. It was a game Arsenal should have won, could have lost, but ended up drawing in true Arsenal style.
Their inability to defend defied belief at times last night, but some of their attacking play was very good too. The game summed up all that is right and wrong in the current Arsenal team and to know where Arsenal currently are you just need to watch it from first minute to last.
They missed the chance to close the gap on Spurs to only two points when Spurs were held to a draw at Norwich. Fourth place is still not beyond them but at what cost to their supporters. The very thought of Santos filling in for the injured Gibbs strikes fear into the heart of every reasonable Arsenal fan.
It's a home game against Stoke next on Saturday afternoon and who knows what will happen in that game. It will be entertaining though as it always is when a team is as unpredictable as Arsenal. That entertainment may only be for "car crash" value for some at this stage though.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Monday, 5 November 2012
Arsenal's Champions League Trip To Schalke Previewed
Just before the last international break Arsenal were looking in pretty good shape. They had bounced back from their league defeat to Chelsea and won away to West Ham. They had won their first two Champions League group games and were heading into back to back games against Schalke.
What a difference a month can make as Arsenal now find themselves in a real mess. They have lost two out if their last three league games and only barely managed to beat QPR 1-0 in the other one. They also lost 2-0 at home to Schalke to give up their spot at the top of their Champions League group.
The most worrying aspect in those games has been the teams inability to create goalscoring chances. Even in the defeat to Chelsea there were enough chances created for Arsenal to have got something from the game. Whatever has happened since the international break has seen the team lose virtually all of it's creativity.
With that in mind the team needs shaking up ahead of tonight's return trip to Schalke. The problem is there aren't too many options available to Arsene Wenger. He will have to make do with the players who have struggled so much in recent games.
In team news Aaron Ramsey has a groin injury and won't travel with Johan Djourou taking his place in the squad. Theo Walcott has been ill and may not be able to play as a result. There's absolutely no news on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain so I can only assume that he still hasn't recovered from his injury either.
How often have Arsenal told us that players will be back in two to three weeks only for the player to miss so many more games. If the club's original statements on injuries were right Chamberlain would be available tonight along with Kieran Gibbs, Abou Diaby and Wojciech Szczesny. They are four players who could really do something to shake up a very stale looking team.
I can't see too many changes from the defeat to United on Saturday as it's just not the manager's way. To be fair to him he doesn't have an awful lot of options at the moment either. It would be an ideal time for a player like Ryo Myiachi to get a chance but he's been loaned out.
Arsenal are noted for giving young players a chance, but sometimes I think it's a bit of a myth. Very few young players get a real go in the team and a chance to show what they can do on a weekly basis. Young Raheem Sterling has been given a real chance at Liverpool and he looks to be thriving to me.
I also think Arsenal's possession game can be stifling to for some of the younger players when they do get a chance. I would live to see Chamberlain in the team on a weekly basis with orders to run at the opposition with the ball. He has the skill to do hurt opponents, but too often the safe pass and slow game are what happens.
It has become very obvious over the last few weeks that other teams can work out how to stop Arsenal and Arsenal cannot or will not change their tactics to counter this. The only time they have done so recently was when the fringe team came from 4-0 down to beat Reading 7-5 in the Capital One Cup.
Schalke completely outplayed Arsenal two weeks ago at the Emirates and they have to be confident they can do so again tonight. It's up to the boss to find a way for Arsenal to counter Schalke and impose their own game on them. They need their experienced players to step up and take some responsibility on the pitch to give them a chance.
It seems Jack Wilshere is sure to play from the start again with Arsenal's midfield options so limited. He has been very busy since he returned from injury and he will deserve his enforced break next Saturday. Let's just hope he can channel his enthusiasm a little better tonight and stay on the referee's good side.
I hope Walcott is well enough to play and if he does I would love to see him have a real go at Schalke. I can only imagine Lukas Podolski will play on the other side of Arsenal's attacking trio. If he does he has to offer an awful lot more than he has done recently and help Andre Santos with his defensive duties more too.
Santos has become "persona not gratia" recently because of his performances at left back. To make matters worse he asked Robin van Persie for his shirt at half time in Saturday's match. He may not have been aware how offensive some Arsenal fans would find this, but that only shows what a cosseted world the players live in.
There may be cultural differences between Brazil and England as he has said, but the Brazilians are pretty passionate about their football. I don't know if a player in van Persie's position would be forgiven by the fans of his former team in Beazil, but I doubt it. If the players had any sense of the feelings of the fans they would have been kicking lumps out of van Persie and not swapping shirts.
I hope Santos can be an awful lot better tonight if he plays. I can't see him being left out as Thomas Vermaelen is the only other option in that position and he's not exactly on his game at the moment either. The left hand side of Arsenal's defence is certainly it's weak point and Schalke took advantage of that in the last game.
There have been accusations of a lack of tactical awareness by Wenger at times and inability to change the team when things are going wrong. If he allows Schalke to have another open day on the left hand side of the Arsenal defence those accusations will seem to be true. Arsenal have to be seen to have a way to protect Santos from the two on one situation he faced far too often in the last game.
I still believe this Arsenal team are good enough to win this game and top their group. I just hope the players can find that belief in themselves tonight. The malaise that has overtaken the team has to be stopped and the first ingredient in the remedy is hard work. Arsenal need to work harder than Schalke tonight and take the game to them.
If Schalke man mark any Arsenal player then Arsenal need to be ready to counter that move. The old fashioned way was for that player to pull his marker all over the pitch and create space for others to play in. It sounds simple but surely it can be effective.
There's still goals in this Arsenal team and Reading will vouch for that. They need to rediscover the ability to make and score those goals again and that's not easy when your confidence is shot to pieces. At a time like this a team needs it's leaders on the pitch.
Vermaelen inherited the captain's armband when van Persie left, but I'm not sure he's captain material. I captained every team I ever played for because I have a loud voice and I never stop telling players what they should be doing on the pitch. For me that's part of a captain's job and Arsenal need a captain who will do that.
Who that player is in the current squad is another matter and again I'm not sure of the answer. The shared leadership theory is all well and good, but when things go wrong the players need someone to look to.
I'm trying to be optimistic about tonight's game and I'm predicting a narrow victory for Arsenal. The first goal will be very important because it will dictate the pattern of the game. If Arsenal conceded that first goal I worry about their ability to find a way back into the game.
It's almost inconceivable for an Arsenal team under Wenger not to have a shot on target during a game. In the home game against Schalke and the defeat to United their first attempt on target was in injury time in both games. It quite simply has to be a whole lot better tonight or their progress from the group will become quite tricky.
A draw would be a good result tonight but a win would halt the rot and put their group destiny firmly in their own hands again. The thought of going to play Olympiacos in Greece in early December needing a result doesn't exactly fill me with joy or confidence.
The current run has to stop somewhere and where better than in Germany tonight. A win would surely help the team to regain their confidence ahead of home league games against Fulham and Spurs. Let's just hope the players can show the passion and commitment that the travelling Arsenal fans show week after week and get that much needed victory one way or another.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
What a difference a month can make as Arsenal now find themselves in a real mess. They have lost two out if their last three league games and only barely managed to beat QPR 1-0 in the other one. They also lost 2-0 at home to Schalke to give up their spot at the top of their Champions League group.
The most worrying aspect in those games has been the teams inability to create goalscoring chances. Even in the defeat to Chelsea there were enough chances created for Arsenal to have got something from the game. Whatever has happened since the international break has seen the team lose virtually all of it's creativity.
With that in mind the team needs shaking up ahead of tonight's return trip to Schalke. The problem is there aren't too many options available to Arsene Wenger. He will have to make do with the players who have struggled so much in recent games.
In team news Aaron Ramsey has a groin injury and won't travel with Johan Djourou taking his place in the squad. Theo Walcott has been ill and may not be able to play as a result. There's absolutely no news on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain so I can only assume that he still hasn't recovered from his injury either.
How often have Arsenal told us that players will be back in two to three weeks only for the player to miss so many more games. If the club's original statements on injuries were right Chamberlain would be available tonight along with Kieran Gibbs, Abou Diaby and Wojciech Szczesny. They are four players who could really do something to shake up a very stale looking team.
I can't see too many changes from the defeat to United on Saturday as it's just not the manager's way. To be fair to him he doesn't have an awful lot of options at the moment either. It would be an ideal time for a player like Ryo Myiachi to get a chance but he's been loaned out.
Arsenal are noted for giving young players a chance, but sometimes I think it's a bit of a myth. Very few young players get a real go in the team and a chance to show what they can do on a weekly basis. Young Raheem Sterling has been given a real chance at Liverpool and he looks to be thriving to me.
I also think Arsenal's possession game can be stifling to for some of the younger players when they do get a chance. I would live to see Chamberlain in the team on a weekly basis with orders to run at the opposition with the ball. He has the skill to do hurt opponents, but too often the safe pass and slow game are what happens.
It has become very obvious over the last few weeks that other teams can work out how to stop Arsenal and Arsenal cannot or will not change their tactics to counter this. The only time they have done so recently was when the fringe team came from 4-0 down to beat Reading 7-5 in the Capital One Cup.
Schalke completely outplayed Arsenal two weeks ago at the Emirates and they have to be confident they can do so again tonight. It's up to the boss to find a way for Arsenal to counter Schalke and impose their own game on them. They need their experienced players to step up and take some responsibility on the pitch to give them a chance.
It seems Jack Wilshere is sure to play from the start again with Arsenal's midfield options so limited. He has been very busy since he returned from injury and he will deserve his enforced break next Saturday. Let's just hope he can channel his enthusiasm a little better tonight and stay on the referee's good side.
I hope Walcott is well enough to play and if he does I would love to see him have a real go at Schalke. I can only imagine Lukas Podolski will play on the other side of Arsenal's attacking trio. If he does he has to offer an awful lot more than he has done recently and help Andre Santos with his defensive duties more too.
Santos has become "persona not gratia" recently because of his performances at left back. To make matters worse he asked Robin van Persie for his shirt at half time in Saturday's match. He may not have been aware how offensive some Arsenal fans would find this, but that only shows what a cosseted world the players live in.
There may be cultural differences between Brazil and England as he has said, but the Brazilians are pretty passionate about their football. I don't know if a player in van Persie's position would be forgiven by the fans of his former team in Beazil, but I doubt it. If the players had any sense of the feelings of the fans they would have been kicking lumps out of van Persie and not swapping shirts.
I hope Santos can be an awful lot better tonight if he plays. I can't see him being left out as Thomas Vermaelen is the only other option in that position and he's not exactly on his game at the moment either. The left hand side of Arsenal's defence is certainly it's weak point and Schalke took advantage of that in the last game.
There have been accusations of a lack of tactical awareness by Wenger at times and inability to change the team when things are going wrong. If he allows Schalke to have another open day on the left hand side of the Arsenal defence those accusations will seem to be true. Arsenal have to be seen to have a way to protect Santos from the two on one situation he faced far too often in the last game.
I still believe this Arsenal team are good enough to win this game and top their group. I just hope the players can find that belief in themselves tonight. The malaise that has overtaken the team has to be stopped and the first ingredient in the remedy is hard work. Arsenal need to work harder than Schalke tonight and take the game to them.
If Schalke man mark any Arsenal player then Arsenal need to be ready to counter that move. The old fashioned way was for that player to pull his marker all over the pitch and create space for others to play in. It sounds simple but surely it can be effective.
There's still goals in this Arsenal team and Reading will vouch for that. They need to rediscover the ability to make and score those goals again and that's not easy when your confidence is shot to pieces. At a time like this a team needs it's leaders on the pitch.
Vermaelen inherited the captain's armband when van Persie left, but I'm not sure he's captain material. I captained every team I ever played for because I have a loud voice and I never stop telling players what they should be doing on the pitch. For me that's part of a captain's job and Arsenal need a captain who will do that.
Who that player is in the current squad is another matter and again I'm not sure of the answer. The shared leadership theory is all well and good, but when things go wrong the players need someone to look to.
I'm trying to be optimistic about tonight's game and I'm predicting a narrow victory for Arsenal. The first goal will be very important because it will dictate the pattern of the game. If Arsenal conceded that first goal I worry about their ability to find a way back into the game.
It's almost inconceivable for an Arsenal team under Wenger not to have a shot on target during a game. In the home game against Schalke and the defeat to United their first attempt on target was in injury time in both games. It quite simply has to be a whole lot better tonight or their progress from the group will become quite tricky.
A draw would be a good result tonight but a win would halt the rot and put their group destiny firmly in their own hands again. The thought of going to play Olympiacos in Greece in early December needing a result doesn't exactly fill me with joy or confidence.
The current run has to stop somewhere and where better than in Germany tonight. A win would surely help the team to regain their confidence ahead of home league games against Fulham and Spurs. Let's just hope the players can show the passion and commitment that the travelling Arsenal fans show week after week and get that much needed victory one way or another.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Friday, 2 November 2012
Arsenal's Premier League Trip To Manchester United Previewed
It's been more than a year since Arsenal suffered the indignity of an 8-2 defeat in this fixture. The mere thought of that game still causes me pain which I wish I could forget and only a victory at United will help to ease that pain. It's not something that happens too often, but hopefully it can do tomorrow.
A second string Arsenal showed an awful lot of bottle to come from 4-0 behind and beat Reading 7-5 in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday night. The next night United fielded a similarly strong team and were beaten 5-4 by Chelsea. Those games were great for fans and TV viewers, but hardly ideal preparation for this game.
Arsene Wenger will make wholesale changes to that team and Theo Walcott is the only player who started against Reading who is likely to start against United. He is now Arsenal's top scorer this season and he deserves to play after the performance he put in. This United team will hardly sit back and defend and Walcott is likely to find the room to play in that he loves.
I had hoped to see Wojciech Szczesny and Kieran Gibbs return from injury, but they won't have recovered in time to play. It means Vito Mannone and Andre Santos will again deputise in goal and at left back respectively. There is a case for Thomas Vermaelen playing at left back, but his inclusion there would surely spell an end to Santos' Arsenal career.
The only other change I can see from the team that beat QPR last Saturday is the inclusion of Walcott at the expense of Aaron Ramsey on the right of the Arsenal attacking trio. It means Jack Wilshere is likely to start although he will do well to last more than an hour. Ramsey will probably be called upon to replace him at that stage in the game.
Arsenal have the best defensive record in the Premier League so far this season with only six goals conceded in nine games. However, United boast the most potent strike force in the league with 24 goals scored in nine games also.
A lot will depend on Arsenal's ability to stop United building up a head of steam and dominating the game in my opinion. United can be unstoppable at home at times and Arsenal need to be able to slow the game down when it suits them. There's no point in trying to match United blow for blow as last season showed what can happen when you do.
I'm a little concerned to more than likely see Santos at left back and I think he will need an awful lot of help from his team mates. Lukas Podolski, Thomas Vermaelen and Mikel Arteta need to be prepared to help when United throw both Antonio Valencia and Rafael da Silva forward. Santos's defending can leave a lot to be desired at times and he will need to be at his very best for every single minute.
Arsenal have got the players in midfield to dominate the game and they will try to get Santi Cazorla, Arteta and Wilshere on the ball as much as possible. I'm sure United will try to bypass the centre of the park as they look to utilise their wide players as much as possible. It will be interesting to see if United play with only one striker as they try to match Arsenal in midfield.
Walcott may not have been up against the best defence in the league on Tuesday night, but he showed a lot more to his game than he has done in a while. He used his pace to take defenders on and Reading found it hard to cope with him. He was in the right place at the right time quite often too and he took his hat trick very well.
Olivier Giroud led the line when he came on against Reading and he must surely be chosen as the central striker with Gervinho out for the next few weeks. If Arsenal can deliver good crosses to Giroud he has the aerial ability to cause United some real problems. I have a gut feeling Giroud will get his name on the scoresheet.
Of course the biggest talking point will be the reunion with former Arsenal hero Robin van Persie. This will be the first time Arsenal have played United since their captain deserted them in the summer. The traveling Arsenal fans are sure to have a real go at him.
Traditionally United fans have sung their dispicible song about the Arsenal manager, but the Arsenal fans have an equally contentious one lined up to sing to van Persie. I wonder what the media will make of the song considering the virtual wall of silence to the chants directed at Wenger. The atmosphere in the ground should be absolutely electric and the Arsenal fans will make themselves heard as always.
I think Arsenal have a real chance of getting something out of this game. I haven't been overly impressed with United's defending this season and I think Arsenal will score against them. It's a matter of whether Arsenal can do enough at the other end to keep United's chances to a minimum.
I'm predicting a 2-1 win for Arsenal which would put them right there in contention for a top four finish. Ideally Arsenal should be challenging for the title but they need to make up the ground on the leaders first. There would be no better boost for Arsenal than to win away to a United team containing van Persie.
I'm sure it will be a nerve wracking affair and it could be very close in the end. Hopefully United won't be handed the game by refereeing decisions like they were against Chelsea. It's hard enough trying to win at Old Trafford without having to take on 12 men.
It will be obvious from early on whether the referee can be unbiased or not. if all the small decisions start to go in United's favour and Arsenal don't get obvious free kicks they will know how many men they are up against. if this Arsenal team can play at their very best I think they can take all three points no matter how many men they are up against.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
A second string Arsenal showed an awful lot of bottle to come from 4-0 behind and beat Reading 7-5 in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday night. The next night United fielded a similarly strong team and were beaten 5-4 by Chelsea. Those games were great for fans and TV viewers, but hardly ideal preparation for this game.
Arsene Wenger will make wholesale changes to that team and Theo Walcott is the only player who started against Reading who is likely to start against United. He is now Arsenal's top scorer this season and he deserves to play after the performance he put in. This United team will hardly sit back and defend and Walcott is likely to find the room to play in that he loves.
I had hoped to see Wojciech Szczesny and Kieran Gibbs return from injury, but they won't have recovered in time to play. It means Vito Mannone and Andre Santos will again deputise in goal and at left back respectively. There is a case for Thomas Vermaelen playing at left back, but his inclusion there would surely spell an end to Santos' Arsenal career.
The only other change I can see from the team that beat QPR last Saturday is the inclusion of Walcott at the expense of Aaron Ramsey on the right of the Arsenal attacking trio. It means Jack Wilshere is likely to start although he will do well to last more than an hour. Ramsey will probably be called upon to replace him at that stage in the game.
Arsenal have the best defensive record in the Premier League so far this season with only six goals conceded in nine games. However, United boast the most potent strike force in the league with 24 goals scored in nine games also.
A lot will depend on Arsenal's ability to stop United building up a head of steam and dominating the game in my opinion. United can be unstoppable at home at times and Arsenal need to be able to slow the game down when it suits them. There's no point in trying to match United blow for blow as last season showed what can happen when you do.
I'm a little concerned to more than likely see Santos at left back and I think he will need an awful lot of help from his team mates. Lukas Podolski, Thomas Vermaelen and Mikel Arteta need to be prepared to help when United throw both Antonio Valencia and Rafael da Silva forward. Santos's defending can leave a lot to be desired at times and he will need to be at his very best for every single minute.
Arsenal have got the players in midfield to dominate the game and they will try to get Santi Cazorla, Arteta and Wilshere on the ball as much as possible. I'm sure United will try to bypass the centre of the park as they look to utilise their wide players as much as possible. It will be interesting to see if United play with only one striker as they try to match Arsenal in midfield.
Walcott may not have been up against the best defence in the league on Tuesday night, but he showed a lot more to his game than he has done in a while. He used his pace to take defenders on and Reading found it hard to cope with him. He was in the right place at the right time quite often too and he took his hat trick very well.
Olivier Giroud led the line when he came on against Reading and he must surely be chosen as the central striker with Gervinho out for the next few weeks. If Arsenal can deliver good crosses to Giroud he has the aerial ability to cause United some real problems. I have a gut feeling Giroud will get his name on the scoresheet.
Of course the biggest talking point will be the reunion with former Arsenal hero Robin van Persie. This will be the first time Arsenal have played United since their captain deserted them in the summer. The traveling Arsenal fans are sure to have a real go at him.
Traditionally United fans have sung their dispicible song about the Arsenal manager, but the Arsenal fans have an equally contentious one lined up to sing to van Persie. I wonder what the media will make of the song considering the virtual wall of silence to the chants directed at Wenger. The atmosphere in the ground should be absolutely electric and the Arsenal fans will make themselves heard as always.
I think Arsenal have a real chance of getting something out of this game. I haven't been overly impressed with United's defending this season and I think Arsenal will score against them. It's a matter of whether Arsenal can do enough at the other end to keep United's chances to a minimum.
I'm predicting a 2-1 win for Arsenal which would put them right there in contention for a top four finish. Ideally Arsenal should be challenging for the title but they need to make up the ground on the leaders first. There would be no better boost for Arsenal than to win away to a United team containing van Persie.
I'm sure it will be a nerve wracking affair and it could be very close in the end. Hopefully United won't be handed the game by refereeing decisions like they were against Chelsea. It's hard enough trying to win at Old Trafford without having to take on 12 men.
It will be obvious from early on whether the referee can be unbiased or not. if all the small decisions start to go in United's favour and Arsenal don't get obvious free kicks they will know how many men they are up against. if this Arsenal team can play at their very best I think they can take all three points no matter how many men they are up against.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Sunday, 28 October 2012
Arsenal Beat QPR 1-0 But Only Just
I was lucky enough to be able to make the trip to Arsenal on Saturday to watch Arsenal play QPR. After losing to Norwich in the Premier League and Schalke in the Champions League it was a game which Arsenal had to win.
When the team news came through I was a little surprised to see both Jack Wilshere and Bacary Sagna included in the Arsenal team. I thought it was a little too soon for either player to make their first appearances of the season after long spells out injured. Wilshere in particular had not played in 17 months and I felt there could be too much pressure on him to try to give the team the boost it needed.
The players to miss out due to the returning duo were Carl Jenkinson and Francis Coquelin. It meant Aaron Ramsey stayed on the right hand side of the attacking trio with Olivier Giroud returning to play the central striking role in place of Gervinho. I was happy to see Giroud in the team as I think he needs to start more often.
Arsenal did most of the attacking in the first half as QPR seemed content to defend in depth. Sagna looked back to his best already and the team benefitted from the inclusion of the best right back in the league. It's tough on Jenkinson who has been excellent so far this season, but Sagna has to play when he is fit.
Wilshere looked very good too as he was able to take the ball and make forward progress with it. Arsenal have been slow in the build up far too often this season but Wilshere looked to pick up the attacking pace whenever he could. His contribution was very encouraging and I expect to see him from the start away to Manchester United next week.
There were very few clear cut chances in the game but Arsenal thankfully managed to take one of them. Before the goal I just couldn't see where Arsenal were going to score. Julio Cesar was having an inspired game in goal for QPR and Santi Cazorla had missed a great chance for Arsenal.
I thought Cazorla looked tired on the pitch and it's possible the rigours of the Premier League are taking their toll on him. He looks like he needs a rest and at least he won't have to play in the Capital One Cup against Reading on Tuesday night. Hopefully he can use the slight break to get back to his best against United next week.
When the Arsenal goal came it was a little fortunate as Mikel Arteta was offside when he scored it. He put the rebound from his own header into the net after the initial effort hit the bar. He was definitely in an offside position just before the ball came to him for the header.
When Arsenal appeared to be running out of ideas they were helped by Stephane Mbia stupidly getting himself sent off. He was given a free kick after being pushed over by Thomas Vermaelen but got the red card after kicking out at Vermaelen while on the ground. It gave Arsenal the impetus they needed to get the all important goal with only a few minutes remaining.
Arsenal looked nervous after they scored and QPR nearly equalised twice. Esteban Granero shot wide after being played in behind the Arsenal defence and Jamie Mackie had his effort well saved by Vito Mannone. Mackie had run through the Arsenal defence as if it wasn't there and they were very lucky Mannone was on hand to save them.
From my vantage point in the upper tier behind the goal it was very obvious how poor a defender Andre Santos was on the day. He made a few good tackle and interceptions but his positioning was awful at times. He seemed to be content to leave the wide right player for QPR in acres of space as he tucked in beside Vermaelen.
It's hard to fathom how Steve Bould could be the defensive coach of a player who just didn't seem to know where to be on the pitch. The quicker Kieran Gibbs is back the better as far as I am concerned as Santos could be a real liability against United next week. I wouldn't be averse to seeing Sagna play at left back in that game with Jenkinson on the right if Gibbs hasn't recovered.
I don't think it's fair on Ramsey to play him on the right hand side of the attacking trio. He's no winger as he doesn't have the speed or guile needed to take full backs on and beat them. His positioning in that role isn't what it should be either but he did his best to be fair to him.
Arsenal didn't have a genuine wide player on either wing and their game was very narrow as a result. It meant there were very few crosses of any quality for Giroud who is so good in the air. The first decent cross he got was from Andrey Arshavin and it was his header from that cross which lead to the goal.
Cesar made yet another great save from that header but Arteta was on hand to score the winner. Arshavin had come on for Gervinho who had in turn come on for Lukas Podolski. Gervinho injured his ankle in winning a corner for Arsenal and he could be out for quite a while as a result.
The team was lacking in shape at times and it's an issue which had to be addressed. I would love to see Arsenal sign a genuine winger who can take players on and beat them. The option of using a player like that when the slow build up of their passing game has stalled would be a great addition to the team.
This weekend's game against United could be a really tough test for Arsenal and it's one they have to be ready for. United got so many refereeing decisions on their favour against Chelsea yesterday that hopefully they won't get their usual favouritism on Sunday. It's probably a forlorn hope but Arsenal will need anything and everything they can get in that game.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
When the team news came through I was a little surprised to see both Jack Wilshere and Bacary Sagna included in the Arsenal team. I thought it was a little too soon for either player to make their first appearances of the season after long spells out injured. Wilshere in particular had not played in 17 months and I felt there could be too much pressure on him to try to give the team the boost it needed.
The players to miss out due to the returning duo were Carl Jenkinson and Francis Coquelin. It meant Aaron Ramsey stayed on the right hand side of the attacking trio with Olivier Giroud returning to play the central striking role in place of Gervinho. I was happy to see Giroud in the team as I think he needs to start more often.
Arsenal did most of the attacking in the first half as QPR seemed content to defend in depth. Sagna looked back to his best already and the team benefitted from the inclusion of the best right back in the league. It's tough on Jenkinson who has been excellent so far this season, but Sagna has to play when he is fit.
Wilshere looked very good too as he was able to take the ball and make forward progress with it. Arsenal have been slow in the build up far too often this season but Wilshere looked to pick up the attacking pace whenever he could. His contribution was very encouraging and I expect to see him from the start away to Manchester United next week.
There were very few clear cut chances in the game but Arsenal thankfully managed to take one of them. Before the goal I just couldn't see where Arsenal were going to score. Julio Cesar was having an inspired game in goal for QPR and Santi Cazorla had missed a great chance for Arsenal.
I thought Cazorla looked tired on the pitch and it's possible the rigours of the Premier League are taking their toll on him. He looks like he needs a rest and at least he won't have to play in the Capital One Cup against Reading on Tuesday night. Hopefully he can use the slight break to get back to his best against United next week.
When the Arsenal goal came it was a little fortunate as Mikel Arteta was offside when he scored it. He put the rebound from his own header into the net after the initial effort hit the bar. He was definitely in an offside position just before the ball came to him for the header.
When Arsenal appeared to be running out of ideas they were helped by Stephane Mbia stupidly getting himself sent off. He was given a free kick after being pushed over by Thomas Vermaelen but got the red card after kicking out at Vermaelen while on the ground. It gave Arsenal the impetus they needed to get the all important goal with only a few minutes remaining.
Arsenal looked nervous after they scored and QPR nearly equalised twice. Esteban Granero shot wide after being played in behind the Arsenal defence and Jamie Mackie had his effort well saved by Vito Mannone. Mackie had run through the Arsenal defence as if it wasn't there and they were very lucky Mannone was on hand to save them.
From my vantage point in the upper tier behind the goal it was very obvious how poor a defender Andre Santos was on the day. He made a few good tackle and interceptions but his positioning was awful at times. He seemed to be content to leave the wide right player for QPR in acres of space as he tucked in beside Vermaelen.
It's hard to fathom how Steve Bould could be the defensive coach of a player who just didn't seem to know where to be on the pitch. The quicker Kieran Gibbs is back the better as far as I am concerned as Santos could be a real liability against United next week. I wouldn't be averse to seeing Sagna play at left back in that game with Jenkinson on the right if Gibbs hasn't recovered.
I don't think it's fair on Ramsey to play him on the right hand side of the attacking trio. He's no winger as he doesn't have the speed or guile needed to take full backs on and beat them. His positioning in that role isn't what it should be either but he did his best to be fair to him.
Arsenal didn't have a genuine wide player on either wing and their game was very narrow as a result. It meant there were very few crosses of any quality for Giroud who is so good in the air. The first decent cross he got was from Andrey Arshavin and it was his header from that cross which lead to the goal.
Cesar made yet another great save from that header but Arteta was on hand to score the winner. Arshavin had come on for Gervinho who had in turn come on for Lukas Podolski. Gervinho injured his ankle in winning a corner for Arsenal and he could be out for quite a while as a result.
The team was lacking in shape at times and it's an issue which had to be addressed. I would love to see Arsenal sign a genuine winger who can take players on and beat them. The option of using a player like that when the slow build up of their passing game has stalled would be a great addition to the team.
This weekend's game against United could be a really tough test for Arsenal and it's one they have to be ready for. United got so many refereeing decisions on their favour against Chelsea yesterday that hopefully they won't get their usual favouritism on Sunday. It's probably a forlorn hope but Arsenal will need anything and everything they can get in that game.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Wednesday, 24 October 2012
Arsenal Lose 2-0 At Home To Schalke
Arsenal went into last night's Champions League game with Schalke on top of their group with a 100% record. A win was required to put Arsenal within touching distance of qualification for the knockout stages. Arsenal have a very good home record in the Champions League and were firm favourites to take all three points.
Arsene Wenger made only one change from the team which played so badly in the 1-0 defeat to Norwich last Saturday evening. Francis Coquelin came into the midfield with Aaron Ramsey moving to a wide role and Olivier Giroud missing out. It meant Gervinho was the player to play in the central striker's role.
I am not fond of Gervinho in that re and I think it was very tough on Giroud. If the manager wanted to play four men in midfield he could surely have played Giroud and left Gervinho out. Gervinho may be Arsenal's top scorer so far this season, but I don't know a single Arsenal fan who rates him highly.
He is far too inconsistent with the ball and just as likely to fall over it as do something good. I thought his performance against Norwich was far worse than that of Giroud, but he seems to be the flavour of the moth for the boss. He is not a striker and I can only guess what it does to the confidence of Giroud to see him play there ahead of Giroud.
Arsenal dominated possession early on but they created nothing and Schalke looked dangerous on the break. As the half wore on the possession was shared but Schalke had by far the better chances. It looked like Norwich all over again for Arsenal, but Schalke are a better team than Norwich.
The second half started off no better for Arsenal and it didn't look good. Yet again Arsenal couldn't create a chance worthy of the name. Their inability to score goals this season is worrying and they have now failed to score in four of their 12 games.
With 15 minutes to Giroud came on for Gervinho and almost immediately Schalke took the lead. Arsenal cleared the ball and ran out to play the offside but Andre Santos was left behind. When the ball was played in again it left Klaas Huntelaar clear on Vito Mannone and he finished easily to make it 1-0.
Santos didn't have a good game and he should have moved out as quick as the rest of the defence. However, both Per Mertesacker and Thomas Vermaelen didn't exactly cover themselves in glory for the goal either. They seemed unaware of Huntelaar's position and the fact that Santos was playing him onside.
With Schalke going ahead Arsenal needed a reaction, but yet again like the Norwich game it just wasn't there. The team couldn't find anything to help them raise their game and it's very worrying. In recent seasons Arsenal have had no problems scoring goals and it was their defending which let them down.
It's unusual to see Arsenal struggle to create any decent chances in a game and it seems the team needs a shot in the arm. Maybe the return of Jack Wilshere will be what the team needs but he will take quite a while to get back to his best after 14 months out injured.
As the game drew towards it's inevitable end Schalke doubled their advantage with a late goal from Ibrahim Afellay. He was on hand to stroke the ball home at the back post after a quick break exposed an Arsenal team trying to push forward. Yet again Santos didn't do too well as Schalke found it far too easy to expose him.
Arsenal had brought both Andrey Arshavin and Serge Gnabry on for Lukas Podolski and Carl Jenkinson shortly before the second goal. Gnabry looked good in the few minutes he played but his inexperience gave the ball away for the move that led to the second goal. Arshavin didn't really have enough game time to make an impact.
Arsenal have quite a few players out injured at the moment and it looks like the team are struggling as a result. It's very hard for the boss to shake up an under performing team when his best options are all unavailable. It also seems that the players who are being asked to play every game are suffering the effects.
The players looked tired last night and the sooner there are more decent options for the first team the better. Until Jack Wilshere, Abou Diaby and Tomas Risicky are available the midfield duo of Santi Cazorla and Mikael Arteta will have to play almost every minute.
Arsenal have now lost three of their last five games since Disby got injured against Chelsea. Perhaps his contribution in midfield was one of the main reasons Arsenal were looking so good just a few short weeks ago. With his injury record Arsenal simply cannot rely on Diaby to be a permanent member of the team.
By the time the final whistle went there way an awful lot of empty seats in the stadium. It had been nine years since Arsenal lost at home to continental opposition in the Champions League and the defeat was a bitter pill to swallow. The performance was the worst part of the night yet again and that has to change in the next game.
I'll be at that game against QPR on Saturday afternoon and I really hope the team can put on a better show. QPR may be relegation fodder at the moment, but Norwich showed on Saturday that no team can be taken for granted. Arsenal need to find their pace and drive again, as their game has become far too pedestrian.
Watching the highlights of other Champions League games last night I was reminded of how teams are meant to attack. Arsenal have become too slow and predictable in their build up and they need to change that. They need to pressurise defenders into mistakes and get behind the opposition.
I still think this team had the capability of doing something special this season, but they need to get out of this rut right now. They're already 10 points off the pace in the league and they have just made their Champions League so much harder for themselves. They're second in the group at the half-way stage with a very tough away trip to Schalke up next in two weeks.
I still think Arsenal can go there and get a win but even a draw would not be a bad result. I would prefer to see them win their group but I'll be happy once they qualify for the last 16. After that the draw can bring anybody, but winning the group obviously cuts out the chances of drawing the very top sides in the last 16.
At least the boss will be able to take his place in the dugout for the next game after his European ban ended last night. He'll have his work cut out to turn the group back in Arsenal's favour but six points from the first three games is not a bad return so far. The manner of last night's performance may have been hard to take but it has to be kept in perspective from a Champions League point of view at least.
English champions Manchester City would be thrilled to have Arsenal's six points rather than the one they have right now. I still think Arsenal will qualify for the knockout stages, but it could go down to the last game. That's far from an ideal scenario for the team, but at least they have a very good chance if still doing it.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Arsene Wenger made only one change from the team which played so badly in the 1-0 defeat to Norwich last Saturday evening. Francis Coquelin came into the midfield with Aaron Ramsey moving to a wide role and Olivier Giroud missing out. It meant Gervinho was the player to play in the central striker's role.
I am not fond of Gervinho in that re and I think it was very tough on Giroud. If the manager wanted to play four men in midfield he could surely have played Giroud and left Gervinho out. Gervinho may be Arsenal's top scorer so far this season, but I don't know a single Arsenal fan who rates him highly.
He is far too inconsistent with the ball and just as likely to fall over it as do something good. I thought his performance against Norwich was far worse than that of Giroud, but he seems to be the flavour of the moth for the boss. He is not a striker and I can only guess what it does to the confidence of Giroud to see him play there ahead of Giroud.
Arsenal dominated possession early on but they created nothing and Schalke looked dangerous on the break. As the half wore on the possession was shared but Schalke had by far the better chances. It looked like Norwich all over again for Arsenal, but Schalke are a better team than Norwich.
The second half started off no better for Arsenal and it didn't look good. Yet again Arsenal couldn't create a chance worthy of the name. Their inability to score goals this season is worrying and they have now failed to score in four of their 12 games.
With 15 minutes to Giroud came on for Gervinho and almost immediately Schalke took the lead. Arsenal cleared the ball and ran out to play the offside but Andre Santos was left behind. When the ball was played in again it left Klaas Huntelaar clear on Vito Mannone and he finished easily to make it 1-0.
Santos didn't have a good game and he should have moved out as quick as the rest of the defence. However, both Per Mertesacker and Thomas Vermaelen didn't exactly cover themselves in glory for the goal either. They seemed unaware of Huntelaar's position and the fact that Santos was playing him onside.
With Schalke going ahead Arsenal needed a reaction, but yet again like the Norwich game it just wasn't there. The team couldn't find anything to help them raise their game and it's very worrying. In recent seasons Arsenal have had no problems scoring goals and it was their defending which let them down.
It's unusual to see Arsenal struggle to create any decent chances in a game and it seems the team needs a shot in the arm. Maybe the return of Jack Wilshere will be what the team needs but he will take quite a while to get back to his best after 14 months out injured.
As the game drew towards it's inevitable end Schalke doubled their advantage with a late goal from Ibrahim Afellay. He was on hand to stroke the ball home at the back post after a quick break exposed an Arsenal team trying to push forward. Yet again Santos didn't do too well as Schalke found it far too easy to expose him.
Arsenal had brought both Andrey Arshavin and Serge Gnabry on for Lukas Podolski and Carl Jenkinson shortly before the second goal. Gnabry looked good in the few minutes he played but his inexperience gave the ball away for the move that led to the second goal. Arshavin didn't really have enough game time to make an impact.
Arsenal have quite a few players out injured at the moment and it looks like the team are struggling as a result. It's very hard for the boss to shake up an under performing team when his best options are all unavailable. It also seems that the players who are being asked to play every game are suffering the effects.
The players looked tired last night and the sooner there are more decent options for the first team the better. Until Jack Wilshere, Abou Diaby and Tomas Risicky are available the midfield duo of Santi Cazorla and Mikael Arteta will have to play almost every minute.
Arsenal have now lost three of their last five games since Disby got injured against Chelsea. Perhaps his contribution in midfield was one of the main reasons Arsenal were looking so good just a few short weeks ago. With his injury record Arsenal simply cannot rely on Diaby to be a permanent member of the team.
By the time the final whistle went there way an awful lot of empty seats in the stadium. It had been nine years since Arsenal lost at home to continental opposition in the Champions League and the defeat was a bitter pill to swallow. The performance was the worst part of the night yet again and that has to change in the next game.
I'll be at that game against QPR on Saturday afternoon and I really hope the team can put on a better show. QPR may be relegation fodder at the moment, but Norwich showed on Saturday that no team can be taken for granted. Arsenal need to find their pace and drive again, as their game has become far too pedestrian.
Watching the highlights of other Champions League games last night I was reminded of how teams are meant to attack. Arsenal have become too slow and predictable in their build up and they need to change that. They need to pressurise defenders into mistakes and get behind the opposition.
I still think this team had the capability of doing something special this season, but they need to get out of this rut right now. They're already 10 points off the pace in the league and they have just made their Champions League so much harder for themselves. They're second in the group at the half-way stage with a very tough away trip to Schalke up next in two weeks.
I still think Arsenal can go there and get a win but even a draw would not be a bad result. I would prefer to see them win their group but I'll be happy once they qualify for the last 16. After that the draw can bring anybody, but winning the group obviously cuts out the chances of drawing the very top sides in the last 16.
At least the boss will be able to take his place in the dugout for the next game after his European ban ended last night. He'll have his work cut out to turn the group back in Arsenal's favour but six points from the first three games is not a bad return so far. The manner of last night's performance may have been hard to take but it has to be kept in perspective from a Champions League point of view at least.
English champions Manchester City would be thrilled to have Arsenal's six points rather than the one they have right now. I still think Arsenal will qualify for the knockout stages, but it could go down to the last game. That's far from an ideal scenario for the team, but at least they have a very good chance if still doing it.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Friday, 19 October 2012
Arsenal's Premier League Trip To Norwich City Previewed.
Arsenal play away to Norwich in the evening kick off today. The players have come back from the latest international break with their real jobs of club football to concentrate on for the next few months. There are some annoying midweek international friendlies to come, but no more two week breaks before next March.
On the injury front only Theo Walcott fell victim to the curse of playing for his country when the San Marino goalkeeper thought he was playing for Germany against France in the 1982 World Cup. He has bruising to his lungs and he will be out until it has healed.
Unfortunately nine of the other injured players will be for enough to return against Norwich. Wojceich Szczesny is apparently two weeks away from coming back, but that's an Arsenal two weeks which can be a very long time. It means Vito Mannone will continue in goal for the foreseeable future.
The other option in goal might have been Lukasz Fabianski but he got injured in training and will need surgery on an ankle injury. It means he will be out for three months at the least and you have to feel sorry for him.
Kieran Gibbs hasn't recovered from the thigh strain which saw him withdrawn in Arsenal's last match. As a result Andre Santos will fill in at left back which should see Lukas Podolski having to track back a lot more than he is used to. I wouldn't be surprised to see Santos getting his name on the scoresheet at some time in the game.
Arsene Wenger has said there is a chance of Gibbs being fit for the midweek Champions League game at home to Schalke 04. If not he looks likely to be ready to return to the squad for next week's game at home to QPR. If Santos plays well enough he might just force his way back into the team permanently.
The official word on both Tomas Rosicky and Abou Diaby is they will be be out for up to three weeks, but again that's a timescale which means very little. There is of course the question of both Jack Wilshere and Bacary Sagna who both played in a behind closed doors game against Chelsea during the week. They are both very close to a return but I would be surprised to see them play today.
It looks like the Capital One Cup tie against Reading in a week and a half could see them both return to first team duty. After 14 months out Wilshere will take some time to get back to the level he was at before the injury. Sagna will take a while to get back to his best too after recovering from breaking his leg twice last season.
Sagna won't find it too easy to get back into the team though with the current form of Carl Jenkinson. Such had been the form of Jenkinson that Sagna's absence has been hardly noticed so far this season. As the senior professional in the position I expect Sagna to take his place back, but it's good to know how good his deputy is.
For me the biggest choice Wenger has to make is his central defensive partnership. In my opinion Per Mertesacker has to start and the choice is who to play with him. As captain Thomas Vermaelen is bound to get the nod to accompany him.
It could mean a spell on the sidelines for Laurent Koscielny but I can't see what other option the manager has. Any combination involving Mertesacker is the best one in my opinion and hopefully he sees it that way too. Koscielny will get a chance before too long due to an injury probably and he's good enough to take any chance that comes his way.
I can't see a midfield any different from the one which started against West Ham. Santi Cazorla and Mikael Artera are absolute certainties at the moment and Aaron Ramsey is the obvious choice to accompany them.
After playing so well against West Ham Olivier Giroud just has to keep his place. I really think he has a very bright future at Arsenal and he needs to start more often to show exactly what he can do. He will hopefully get plenty of chances and add to the goal he scored against West Ham.
That should leave Gervinho and Podolski to play in the two wide roles. There is always the chance of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain or Francis Coquelin playing, but I think they will be on the bench.
Norwich have conceded nine goals in their last two games against both Liverpool and Chelsea. They have defensive problems but they are capable of scoring against any team in the Premier League. They created plenty of chances in both of those games and score two against Liverpool and one away to a Chelsea team with the best defensive record in the league so far this season.
Sometimes I feel some Arsenal fans think the team should never allow so called "lesser" teams any chances in a game. I have no doubt Norwich will get chances no matter how well Arsenal play, but I am sure Arsenal will get more chances. If Arsenal can take enough of those chances the game is there for them to win.
Only Chelsea have conceded less goals than Arsenal so far despite Arsenal's apparent weakness from set pieces. Norwich will have to be the first team to dismantle that defence if they are going to get anything from the game.
I think the Arsenal midfield will be too good for Norwich and they will control possession yet again. The chances will come and hopefully Giroud can add to his midweek goal for France against World champions Spain. I'm predicting a 3-1 win for Arsenal, but it could be more if they have their shooting boots on.
They have to approach the game in the right manner though if they are going to win the right to play their football. They did that against West Ham and they continued to do so after going behind too. The strength the team has shown so far is very encouraging and it augers well for the rest of the season.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
On the injury front only Theo Walcott fell victim to the curse of playing for his country when the San Marino goalkeeper thought he was playing for Germany against France in the 1982 World Cup. He has bruising to his lungs and he will be out until it has healed.
Unfortunately nine of the other injured players will be for enough to return against Norwich. Wojceich Szczesny is apparently two weeks away from coming back, but that's an Arsenal two weeks which can be a very long time. It means Vito Mannone will continue in goal for the foreseeable future.
The other option in goal might have been Lukasz Fabianski but he got injured in training and will need surgery on an ankle injury. It means he will be out for three months at the least and you have to feel sorry for him.
Kieran Gibbs hasn't recovered from the thigh strain which saw him withdrawn in Arsenal's last match. As a result Andre Santos will fill in at left back which should see Lukas Podolski having to track back a lot more than he is used to. I wouldn't be surprised to see Santos getting his name on the scoresheet at some time in the game.
Arsene Wenger has said there is a chance of Gibbs being fit for the midweek Champions League game at home to Schalke 04. If not he looks likely to be ready to return to the squad for next week's game at home to QPR. If Santos plays well enough he might just force his way back into the team permanently.
The official word on both Tomas Rosicky and Abou Diaby is they will be be out for up to three weeks, but again that's a timescale which means very little. There is of course the question of both Jack Wilshere and Bacary Sagna who both played in a behind closed doors game against Chelsea during the week. They are both very close to a return but I would be surprised to see them play today.
It looks like the Capital One Cup tie against Reading in a week and a half could see them both return to first team duty. After 14 months out Wilshere will take some time to get back to the level he was at before the injury. Sagna will take a while to get back to his best too after recovering from breaking his leg twice last season.
Sagna won't find it too easy to get back into the team though with the current form of Carl Jenkinson. Such had been the form of Jenkinson that Sagna's absence has been hardly noticed so far this season. As the senior professional in the position I expect Sagna to take his place back, but it's good to know how good his deputy is.
For me the biggest choice Wenger has to make is his central defensive partnership. In my opinion Per Mertesacker has to start and the choice is who to play with him. As captain Thomas Vermaelen is bound to get the nod to accompany him.
It could mean a spell on the sidelines for Laurent Koscielny but I can't see what other option the manager has. Any combination involving Mertesacker is the best one in my opinion and hopefully he sees it that way too. Koscielny will get a chance before too long due to an injury probably and he's good enough to take any chance that comes his way.
I can't see a midfield any different from the one which started against West Ham. Santi Cazorla and Mikael Artera are absolute certainties at the moment and Aaron Ramsey is the obvious choice to accompany them.
After playing so well against West Ham Olivier Giroud just has to keep his place. I really think he has a very bright future at Arsenal and he needs to start more often to show exactly what he can do. He will hopefully get plenty of chances and add to the goal he scored against West Ham.
That should leave Gervinho and Podolski to play in the two wide roles. There is always the chance of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain or Francis Coquelin playing, but I think they will be on the bench.
Norwich have conceded nine goals in their last two games against both Liverpool and Chelsea. They have defensive problems but they are capable of scoring against any team in the Premier League. They created plenty of chances in both of those games and score two against Liverpool and one away to a Chelsea team with the best defensive record in the league so far this season.
Sometimes I feel some Arsenal fans think the team should never allow so called "lesser" teams any chances in a game. I have no doubt Norwich will get chances no matter how well Arsenal play, but I am sure Arsenal will get more chances. If Arsenal can take enough of those chances the game is there for them to win.
Only Chelsea have conceded less goals than Arsenal so far despite Arsenal's apparent weakness from set pieces. Norwich will have to be the first team to dismantle that defence if they are going to get anything from the game.
I think the Arsenal midfield will be too good for Norwich and they will control possession yet again. The chances will come and hopefully Giroud can add to his midweek goal for France against World champions Spain. I'm predicting a 3-1 win for Arsenal, but it could be more if they have their shooting boots on.
They have to approach the game in the right manner though if they are going to win the right to play their football. They did that against West Ham and they continued to do so after going behind too. The strength the team has shown so far is very encouraging and it augers well for the rest of the season.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Saturday, 19 May 2012
Arsenal Season Review Part One
A very difficult and sometimes hard to take season is over for Arsenal and their supporters. Considering how bleak things looked during the summer after the departure of Cesc Fabregas the final Premier League position has to be seen as a positive. At one stage Arsenal found themselves 17th in the league, but gradually they turned things around to finish in a very respectable third spot.
Of course Arsenal didn't exactly do things the easy way, and it's been quite a long time since they did.
There was a huge turnaround in the personell in the first team squad last summer with Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy also being sold. Denilson, Nicklas Bendtner and Carlos Vela were also sent out on loan, as Arsene Wenger made room for some new arrivals. With loads of money to spend the hope was that he would replace the quality of Cesc with players of the highest calibre.
The signs were promising early on when Gervinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Carl Jenkinson arrived, but there were no more significant arrivals until the transfer window was very close to slamming shut. In the last days and hours of the summer transfer window Arsenal brought in Andre Santos, Per Mertesacker, Ju-Young Park, Yossi Benayoun and Mikael Arteta, but none of them commanded a huge fee.
With both Cesc and Nasri gone it looked like the midfield strings would be pulled by Jack Wilshere, but Wenger could not have known he was going to miss the whole season through injury. The other midfielder who very rarely featured because of injury was Abu Diaby, and his constant injury problems must cast some serious doubt on his future at the club and in the game too. Their absences gave chances to other players who might have been expected to have had less opportunities in the first team.
The goalkeeping duties were taken over by Wojciech Szczesny, and he has shown himself to be a real star of the future. It's been a few years since Arsenal have had a goalkeeper who looks capable of playing at the very highest level, but Szczesny has shown enough to suggest he is that man. He's still only 22 years old, but if he continues to progress he could have the Arsenal goalkeeper's shirt for many years to come.
With Thomas Vermaelen available again after missing most of last season through injury there was some hope that the Arsenal defence would be a lot tighter than it had been the previous season. The additions of Mertesacker and Santos also looked to be very promising, and there was real hope of Arsenal having real cover in all four defensive positions.
Of course most of those arrivals were after Arsenal's first three league games of the season, and they only managed one point in those games. Worse still was what happened when they went to Old Trafford to play Manchester United just a few days before that window closed. The horror of that 8-2 defeat to United will be a memory which haunts Arsenal fans for many years to come.
Despite their terrible start to their league campaign Arsenal somehow found the strength within themselves to beat Udinese over two legs to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League. They were drawn with the champions of both Germany and Greece, as well as the runners up in the French League. It looked like Arsenal would have a tough task ahead of them, but they qualified for the knockout stages by winning their group with a game still left to play.
Arsenal managed to win four of their six games in September, as the new players seemed to be settling in very well. The only game Arsenal lost in September was away to Blackburn in the league, and it was in true Arsenal style. They were 2-1 up early in the second half when Bacary Sagna went off injured, and Blackburn ended up winning 4-3.
The fact that Arsenal put the ball through their own net twice didn't help, but the defending on display was nothing short of comical. When Arsenal eventually woke up they pounded the Blackburn goal, but they could only pull one goal back despite creating loads of chances. By early October Arsenal had seven points from seven games, and they were already 12 points behind the league leaders.
They had lost four league games which included defeats at home to Liverpool, as well as away to United and Spurs. They had at least progressed past Shrewsbury Town in the Carling Cup, as well as taking four points from their first two Champions League games. There were signs that things weren't all doom and gloom, but Arsenal needed to improve an awful lot in the league.
Arsenal then went on to win their next five league games, as they started to make up ground on the teams above them. The highlight of those five wins was the 5-3 victory away to Chelsea when Arsenal showed all of their attacking strengths and defensive weaknesses in the same game. The sight of John Terry lying flat on his face as Robin van Persie raced past him to score was one of the season's highlights for me.
The only Premier League defeat before the turn of the year after the loss away to Spurs was a 1-0 defeat away to league leaders Manchester City. Despite losing Arsenal played very well, and put up a performance to make their fans proud of their efforts. When the year ended Arsenal had 36 points from 19 league games which meant they had taken 29 points from their previous 12 games.
They were also through to the last 16 of the Champions League, and they faced the mouth-watering prospect of playing against AC Milan. There were some real reasons to be hopeful for Arsenal fans, and the prospect of a possible signing or two in the January transfer window were something to look forward to also. The injury crisis which the club had experienced in recent seasons had reared it's ugly head again, and the squad was looking a little threadbare.
Sagna had suffered a broken leg in the defeat to Spurs, and Santos picked up a bad injury in a meaningless Champions League game away to Olympiacos in Greece. With Kieran Gibbs and Jenkinson also injured Arsenal found themselves trying to cope without any recognised full backs in the team. They seemed to cope throughout December, but the question was would they continue to cope.
Arsenal had exited the Carling Cup at the hands of Manchester City, but they still had the FA Cup to look forward to. The prospect of qualifying for the next season's Champions League was still a very rel one, and there was also the matter of that last 16 tie with AC Milan. After an awful start to the season things were certainly starting to look a lot better at the half way mark.
The outstanding player in the first half of the season was undoubtedly RVP, as his goals were a primary factor in many of Arsenal's victories. He had returned from injury in the second half of the previous season, and scored so many goals in the calander year 2011. For the first time in his Arsenal career he was relatively injury free, and the club were feeling the benefits.
Besides RVP I thought the last minute capture of Arteta had a huge influence on Arsenal's recovery. He may not have been their first choice purchase for midfield, and he certainly wasn't a ready made replacement for Cesc. He brought a stability to the midfield which others had failed to do, and the whole team benefited from his arrival.
I'll go into my thoughts on the second half of the season next time, and then move on to an overall summary.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Of course Arsenal didn't exactly do things the easy way, and it's been quite a long time since they did.
There was a huge turnaround in the personell in the first team squad last summer with Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy also being sold. Denilson, Nicklas Bendtner and Carlos Vela were also sent out on loan, as Arsene Wenger made room for some new arrivals. With loads of money to spend the hope was that he would replace the quality of Cesc with players of the highest calibre.
The signs were promising early on when Gervinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Carl Jenkinson arrived, but there were no more significant arrivals until the transfer window was very close to slamming shut. In the last days and hours of the summer transfer window Arsenal brought in Andre Santos, Per Mertesacker, Ju-Young Park, Yossi Benayoun and Mikael Arteta, but none of them commanded a huge fee.
With both Cesc and Nasri gone it looked like the midfield strings would be pulled by Jack Wilshere, but Wenger could not have known he was going to miss the whole season through injury. The other midfielder who very rarely featured because of injury was Abu Diaby, and his constant injury problems must cast some serious doubt on his future at the club and in the game too. Their absences gave chances to other players who might have been expected to have had less opportunities in the first team.
The goalkeeping duties were taken over by Wojciech Szczesny, and he has shown himself to be a real star of the future. It's been a few years since Arsenal have had a goalkeeper who looks capable of playing at the very highest level, but Szczesny has shown enough to suggest he is that man. He's still only 22 years old, but if he continues to progress he could have the Arsenal goalkeeper's shirt for many years to come.
With Thomas Vermaelen available again after missing most of last season through injury there was some hope that the Arsenal defence would be a lot tighter than it had been the previous season. The additions of Mertesacker and Santos also looked to be very promising, and there was real hope of Arsenal having real cover in all four defensive positions.
Of course most of those arrivals were after Arsenal's first three league games of the season, and they only managed one point in those games. Worse still was what happened when they went to Old Trafford to play Manchester United just a few days before that window closed. The horror of that 8-2 defeat to United will be a memory which haunts Arsenal fans for many years to come.
Despite their terrible start to their league campaign Arsenal somehow found the strength within themselves to beat Udinese over two legs to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League. They were drawn with the champions of both Germany and Greece, as well as the runners up in the French League. It looked like Arsenal would have a tough task ahead of them, but they qualified for the knockout stages by winning their group with a game still left to play.
Arsenal managed to win four of their six games in September, as the new players seemed to be settling in very well. The only game Arsenal lost in September was away to Blackburn in the league, and it was in true Arsenal style. They were 2-1 up early in the second half when Bacary Sagna went off injured, and Blackburn ended up winning 4-3.
The fact that Arsenal put the ball through their own net twice didn't help, but the defending on display was nothing short of comical. When Arsenal eventually woke up they pounded the Blackburn goal, but they could only pull one goal back despite creating loads of chances. By early October Arsenal had seven points from seven games, and they were already 12 points behind the league leaders.
They had lost four league games which included defeats at home to Liverpool, as well as away to United and Spurs. They had at least progressed past Shrewsbury Town in the Carling Cup, as well as taking four points from their first two Champions League games. There were signs that things weren't all doom and gloom, but Arsenal needed to improve an awful lot in the league.
Arsenal then went on to win their next five league games, as they started to make up ground on the teams above them. The highlight of those five wins was the 5-3 victory away to Chelsea when Arsenal showed all of their attacking strengths and defensive weaknesses in the same game. The sight of John Terry lying flat on his face as Robin van Persie raced past him to score was one of the season's highlights for me.
The only Premier League defeat before the turn of the year after the loss away to Spurs was a 1-0 defeat away to league leaders Manchester City. Despite losing Arsenal played very well, and put up a performance to make their fans proud of their efforts. When the year ended Arsenal had 36 points from 19 league games which meant they had taken 29 points from their previous 12 games.
They were also through to the last 16 of the Champions League, and they faced the mouth-watering prospect of playing against AC Milan. There were some real reasons to be hopeful for Arsenal fans, and the prospect of a possible signing or two in the January transfer window were something to look forward to also. The injury crisis which the club had experienced in recent seasons had reared it's ugly head again, and the squad was looking a little threadbare.
Sagna had suffered a broken leg in the defeat to Spurs, and Santos picked up a bad injury in a meaningless Champions League game away to Olympiacos in Greece. With Kieran Gibbs and Jenkinson also injured Arsenal found themselves trying to cope without any recognised full backs in the team. They seemed to cope throughout December, but the question was would they continue to cope.
Arsenal had exited the Carling Cup at the hands of Manchester City, but they still had the FA Cup to look forward to. The prospect of qualifying for the next season's Champions League was still a very rel one, and there was also the matter of that last 16 tie with AC Milan. After an awful start to the season things were certainly starting to look a lot better at the half way mark.
The outstanding player in the first half of the season was undoubtedly RVP, as his goals were a primary factor in many of Arsenal's victories. He had returned from injury in the second half of the previous season, and scored so many goals in the calander year 2011. For the first time in his Arsenal career he was relatively injury free, and the club were feeling the benefits.
Besides RVP I thought the last minute capture of Arteta had a huge influence on Arsenal's recovery. He may not have been their first choice purchase for midfield, and he certainly wasn't a ready made replacement for Cesc. He brought a stability to the midfield which others had failed to do, and the whole team benefited from his arrival.
I'll go into my thoughts on the second half of the season next time, and then move on to an overall summary.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Tuesday, 15 May 2012
Arsenal Beat West Brom 3-2 To Finish Third
Arsenal went into their final Premier League game of the season away to West Brom knowing a win would guarantee them third place. The reward for third place is a spot in the group stages of next season's Champions League, and it was a prize Arsenal dearly wanted. Any slip from Arsenal would more than likely have seen their local rivals Spurs overtake to claim that coveted third place.
Arsene Wenger made three changes from the team which drew 3-3 at home to Norwich last week. Carl Jenkinson was drafted in at right back for the injured Bacary Sagna, but the other two changes were a lot less expected. Andre Santos came in at left back for Kieran Gibbs, and Frances Coquelin replaced Aaron Ramsey in the heart of the midfield.
There was a place on the bench for the returning Theo Walcott who was held in reserve in case of emergency.
The game couldn't have got off to a better start for Arsenal with Yossi Benayoun putting them 1-0 up after less than four minutes. His goal was a simple tap into an empty net after a horrendous error from Albion keeper Marton Fulop. It was a gift which Arsenal were only too happy to accept, and it gave them the early advantage they craved.
Before Arsenal had scored their goal Spurs had already gone ahead of Fulham in their game, and it was vital that Arsenal kept their lead. However, that lead didn't last very long, as West Brom scored twice in the next 10 minutes to leave Arsenal's chances hanging by a thread. They needed to find something from somewhere, and shore up their leaky defence at the same time.
West Brom's first goal came from Shane Long, and there was a lot more than a hint of offside about it. When Long was played through on Wojceich Szczesny in the Arsenal goal he finished very well, but he was at least a yard offside. Only four minutes later Graham Dorrans put Albion ahead after some very poor defending from Arsenal, and Thomas Vermaelen in particular.
There were still 75 minutes to go, but Arsenal needed to get back into the game as son as possible. Just short of the half hour mark Arsenal got their lifeline, and Fulop again had a part to play in it.
Alex Song won the ball 25 yards from goal, and played it to Andre Santos who let fly with a very good left footed shot. Fulop got down to the ball, but he couldn't keep it from going in at the near post. Arsenal had an hour left to save their season.
Walcott replaced Tomas Rosicky at half time, as Arsenal looked to get more bodies forward in search of a winning goal. It didn't take too long for them to regain their early advantage, and yet again that man Fulop had a large hand in the goal.
Arsenal were awarded a corner when it probably should have been a goal kick to West Brom, and they took full advantage of their good fortune. Robin van Persie swung the ball onto the penalty area, but there seemed to be no threat from Arsenal as Fulop came to meet the ball. He could have caught the ball but he chose to punch it, and he got his punch horribly wrong.
The ball headed towards his own goal, and Laurent Koscielny was there to poke it home for Arsenal. They had the lead they wanted, and the Champions League spot was theirs to lose again. There were 30 minutes left, and Arsenal needed to defend as if their lives depended on it.
West Brom had a lot of corners, but real chances were few and far between really. There was one good save from Szczesny, but as the game entered the five added minutes Arsenal were still holding out. There was still enough time for some late drama, and both teams had good chances to score again.
First of all RVP was played through with only the keeper to beat, but his shot was off target and Arsenal missed their chance to seal the game. Within a minute West Brom had the chance they wanted to break Arsenal's hearts, and it took some heroics to stop them scoring.
Billy Jones was played in on the left, and as he drew his foot back to shoot my heart sank more than a little. I was sure he was about to get the goal which I feared had been coming for the last half hour, but Kieran Gibbs slid in to make a magnificent challenge. His timing was absolutely perfect, and the game ended not too long aterwards with Arsenal sitting pretty in third place.
I could pick the bones out of the Arsenal performance, and give some of the players who under performed a hard time. It doesn't really matter now though, as the result was all that was important on the day. With a few huge slices of luck Arsenal got that result, and will now take part in the group stages on next season's Champions League yet again.
The best player on the day for me was Benayoun, but the last ditch challenge from Gibbs was absolutely fantastic too. The players celebrated at the final whistle, as their said their farewells to Pat Rice after 38 years(never mind Watford) at the club.
I have bemoaned the apparent lack of fortune Arsenal have suffered from at times this season, but I cannot deny they were lucky to win. The performance of Fulop was the single biggest factor in their victory, and the injury Ben Foster picked up last week was a real gift to Arsenal.
Spurs will have to wait to see how the Champions League final finishes before they know if they will get to play in the Champions League next season or not. I actually think I want them to qualify, as it would mean Chelsea don't win the Champions League. I still want Arsenal to be the first London club to be champions of Europe.
An Arsenal season has rarely seen so many ups and downs as this one, but a third place finish is no mean achievement. Added to finishing third Arsenal also got to celebrate St. Totteringham's Day yet again, and Arsene Wenger has never seen his Arsenal team finish below them.
When you consider the money Linerpool and Chelsea have spent Arsenal have done very well to leave them trailing in their wake. They are the third best team in the Premier League, and they have funds available to strengthen the squad. Lukasz Podolski has already agreed to join the club, and hopefully some other top quality players will follow.
The biggest signing of the summer will of course be RVP if he can be convinced to extend his contract. He has been the best player in the Premier League this season, and it would be a huge blow if he left. If he does decide to leave the club will continue though, as it always does.
No player is bigger than any club, and Arsenal have recovered from selling better players in the past. I sincerely hope he stays, and Wenger gets to build a title winning team around him. It won;t be an easy task to prise the title from Manchester City, but at their best Arsenal aren't too far away.
Unfortunately when they're not at their best anything can happen, and it did far too often this season. The signs for next season are positive with the addition of Podolski, and the return of Jack Wilshere will be a welcome boost too. Hopefully the transfer dealings will be over and done with long before pre-season begins, and Arsenal can put the mistakes of last summer behind them.
That's it for today.
Here's the highlights from Sunday's game.
See you tomorrow.
Arsene Wenger made three changes from the team which drew 3-3 at home to Norwich last week. Carl Jenkinson was drafted in at right back for the injured Bacary Sagna, but the other two changes were a lot less expected. Andre Santos came in at left back for Kieran Gibbs, and Frances Coquelin replaced Aaron Ramsey in the heart of the midfield.
There was a place on the bench for the returning Theo Walcott who was held in reserve in case of emergency.
The game couldn't have got off to a better start for Arsenal with Yossi Benayoun putting them 1-0 up after less than four minutes. His goal was a simple tap into an empty net after a horrendous error from Albion keeper Marton Fulop. It was a gift which Arsenal were only too happy to accept, and it gave them the early advantage they craved.
Before Arsenal had scored their goal Spurs had already gone ahead of Fulham in their game, and it was vital that Arsenal kept their lead. However, that lead didn't last very long, as West Brom scored twice in the next 10 minutes to leave Arsenal's chances hanging by a thread. They needed to find something from somewhere, and shore up their leaky defence at the same time.
West Brom's first goal came from Shane Long, and there was a lot more than a hint of offside about it. When Long was played through on Wojceich Szczesny in the Arsenal goal he finished very well, but he was at least a yard offside. Only four minutes later Graham Dorrans put Albion ahead after some very poor defending from Arsenal, and Thomas Vermaelen in particular.
There were still 75 minutes to go, but Arsenal needed to get back into the game as son as possible. Just short of the half hour mark Arsenal got their lifeline, and Fulop again had a part to play in it.
Alex Song won the ball 25 yards from goal, and played it to Andre Santos who let fly with a very good left footed shot. Fulop got down to the ball, but he couldn't keep it from going in at the near post. Arsenal had an hour left to save their season.
Walcott replaced Tomas Rosicky at half time, as Arsenal looked to get more bodies forward in search of a winning goal. It didn't take too long for them to regain their early advantage, and yet again that man Fulop had a large hand in the goal.
Arsenal were awarded a corner when it probably should have been a goal kick to West Brom, and they took full advantage of their good fortune. Robin van Persie swung the ball onto the penalty area, but there seemed to be no threat from Arsenal as Fulop came to meet the ball. He could have caught the ball but he chose to punch it, and he got his punch horribly wrong.
The ball headed towards his own goal, and Laurent Koscielny was there to poke it home for Arsenal. They had the lead they wanted, and the Champions League spot was theirs to lose again. There were 30 minutes left, and Arsenal needed to defend as if their lives depended on it.
West Brom had a lot of corners, but real chances were few and far between really. There was one good save from Szczesny, but as the game entered the five added minutes Arsenal were still holding out. There was still enough time for some late drama, and both teams had good chances to score again.
First of all RVP was played through with only the keeper to beat, but his shot was off target and Arsenal missed their chance to seal the game. Within a minute West Brom had the chance they wanted to break Arsenal's hearts, and it took some heroics to stop them scoring.
Billy Jones was played in on the left, and as he drew his foot back to shoot my heart sank more than a little. I was sure he was about to get the goal which I feared had been coming for the last half hour, but Kieran Gibbs slid in to make a magnificent challenge. His timing was absolutely perfect, and the game ended not too long aterwards with Arsenal sitting pretty in third place.
I could pick the bones out of the Arsenal performance, and give some of the players who under performed a hard time. It doesn't really matter now though, as the result was all that was important on the day. With a few huge slices of luck Arsenal got that result, and will now take part in the group stages on next season's Champions League yet again.
The best player on the day for me was Benayoun, but the last ditch challenge from Gibbs was absolutely fantastic too. The players celebrated at the final whistle, as their said their farewells to Pat Rice after 38 years(never mind Watford) at the club.
I have bemoaned the apparent lack of fortune Arsenal have suffered from at times this season, but I cannot deny they were lucky to win. The performance of Fulop was the single biggest factor in their victory, and the injury Ben Foster picked up last week was a real gift to Arsenal.
Spurs will have to wait to see how the Champions League final finishes before they know if they will get to play in the Champions League next season or not. I actually think I want them to qualify, as it would mean Chelsea don't win the Champions League. I still want Arsenal to be the first London club to be champions of Europe.
An Arsenal season has rarely seen so many ups and downs as this one, but a third place finish is no mean achievement. Added to finishing third Arsenal also got to celebrate St. Totteringham's Day yet again, and Arsene Wenger has never seen his Arsenal team finish below them.
When you consider the money Linerpool and Chelsea have spent Arsenal have done very well to leave them trailing in their wake. They are the third best team in the Premier League, and they have funds available to strengthen the squad. Lukasz Podolski has already agreed to join the club, and hopefully some other top quality players will follow.
The biggest signing of the summer will of course be RVP if he can be convinced to extend his contract. He has been the best player in the Premier League this season, and it would be a huge blow if he left. If he does decide to leave the club will continue though, as it always does.
No player is bigger than any club, and Arsenal have recovered from selling better players in the past. I sincerely hope he stays, and Wenger gets to build a title winning team around him. It won;t be an easy task to prise the title from Manchester City, but at their best Arsenal aren't too far away.
Unfortunately when they're not at their best anything can happen, and it did far too often this season. The signs for next season are positive with the addition of Podolski, and the return of Jack Wilshere will be a welcome boost too. Hopefully the transfer dealings will be over and done with long before pre-season begins, and Arsenal can put the mistakes of last summer behind them.
That's it for today.
Here's the highlights from Sunday's game.
See you tomorrow.
Friday, 4 May 2012
Arsenal's Premier League Game With Norwich City Previewed
There are only two Premier League games left to play for Arsenal this season, and on the face of it they should win them both. Since their disastrous start to the season the very best they could really have hoped for was a third placed finish. That target is still well within their sights with their fate still firmly in their own hands.
Of course in true Arsenal style they haven't made things easy for themselves, as they have stumbled towards the finishing line in recent weeks. Arsenal have only taken two points in their last three league games, and only scored two goals in the process. If they had even managed three more points in those games third place would be a much easier prospect for them now.
It's no coincidence that Mikael Arteta only managed to play for 10 minutes of those games before picking up a season-ending injury against Wigan. His influence on their midfield since his arrival on the August transfer deadline day cannot be overestimated. With Jack Wilshere missing the whole season injured Arteta brought the stability that Arsenal's transformation was built on.
They have struggled to impose themselves on opponents without him, but they must find a way in the next two games. The prize on offer is too good to turn down, and it's up to the players available to make sure Arsenal finish third. It is of course possible that fourth place will be good enough for a Champions League place next season, but it's a risk no team can afford to take.
If the unthinkable happens and Chelsea win the champions League final they will take the place of the team that finish fourth in the Premier League. Chelsea lost to Newcastle on Wednesday night, and that defeat means a top four finish is beyond them barring an incredible sequence of results in their favour. They still have an FA Cup final to play, but the Champions League final against Bayern Munich is their real priority.
Arsenal play their game this week on Saturday, and it gives them the opportunity to put some pressure on both Spurs and Newcastle who are chasing them. If Arsenal can beat Norwich it will leave them four points ahead of both of those teams before they play their games. Spurs play away to an Aston Villa team that probably need a point to ensure Premier League survival, and Newcastle are at home to title chasing Manchester City.
It's Arsenal's final home game of the season, and a chance for the players to give the fans a farewell they deserve. It hasn't been a great season for Arsenal fans, but three points on Saturday would put a smile on their faces as they face the prospect of three months without their favourite team. The summer months are never easy for fans, but at least there's the unending transfer rumours to look forward to.
Despite being far from their best at the moment Arsenal still have a far better team than Norwich. The players need to approach the game with the intensity that a must win game deserves, and attack Norwich as if their lives depend on it. There can be no let up for the entire 90 minutes, as the better the victory the tougher it will be for the chasing teams.
The only way Arsenal can tie up third place is if Spurs lose and Newcastle don't win along with an Arsenal win of course. I can see Newcastle not winning, but I think the most Arsenal can hope for is Villa to manage a point against Spurs. If that is the case Arsenal can make things a lot better by racking up a good scoreline against Norwich.
Norwich won't make it easy for Arsenal, as they have put up a fight against every team they have played this season. They create good goalscoring chances in every game they play, but they also give up an awful lot of chances too. Arsenal need to take advantage of the slack defending Norwich are guilty of far too often, and punish them as often as possible.
Robin van Persie needs to score two goals in his last two games to reach the magical 30 league goal mark for the season, and it would be great if he could do it against Norwich. He has won the player of the season awards from both the players and the football writers, and it would be a perfect way to celebrate his awards. Hopefully he will be around next season to try to retain his awards, and maybe even win a trophy with Arsenal.
I would imagine the Arsenal team will be very similar to the one that drew 1-1 away to Stoke last week. There's a possibility of Andre Santos or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain starting, but I think Arsene Wenger will opt for an unchanged side. The experience of players like Tomas Rosicky and Yossi Benayoun could be crucial on the day.
It could be a nervy affair for the players and fans if Arsenal don't score early on, but the team need the full backing of the crowd for every minute of the game. I have confidence in the ability of the players to get the result they need, and to put in the performance required. Now is the time for the players to show they have the same belief in themselves, and do all that is required of them.
It's as simple as giving their all in the final two games of the season, and delivering the results that will achieve Champions League qualification for next season. Arsenal are the only team with their fate in their own hands, and the other teams will be feeling just as much pressure.
I'm predicting a 3-1 win for Arsenal with RVP bagging the goals he needs to reach the 30 mark. It would be great if Arsenal could run up an emphatic scoreline, but once they win it doesn't really matter if it's a last minute 1-0 victory. As an Arsenal fan you learn to live with the tension, and it seems like the team don't like to make life too easy for their fans.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Of course in true Arsenal style they haven't made things easy for themselves, as they have stumbled towards the finishing line in recent weeks. Arsenal have only taken two points in their last three league games, and only scored two goals in the process. If they had even managed three more points in those games third place would be a much easier prospect for them now.
It's no coincidence that Mikael Arteta only managed to play for 10 minutes of those games before picking up a season-ending injury against Wigan. His influence on their midfield since his arrival on the August transfer deadline day cannot be overestimated. With Jack Wilshere missing the whole season injured Arteta brought the stability that Arsenal's transformation was built on.
They have struggled to impose themselves on opponents without him, but they must find a way in the next two games. The prize on offer is too good to turn down, and it's up to the players available to make sure Arsenal finish third. It is of course possible that fourth place will be good enough for a Champions League place next season, but it's a risk no team can afford to take.
If the unthinkable happens and Chelsea win the champions League final they will take the place of the team that finish fourth in the Premier League. Chelsea lost to Newcastle on Wednesday night, and that defeat means a top four finish is beyond them barring an incredible sequence of results in their favour. They still have an FA Cup final to play, but the Champions League final against Bayern Munich is their real priority.
Arsenal play their game this week on Saturday, and it gives them the opportunity to put some pressure on both Spurs and Newcastle who are chasing them. If Arsenal can beat Norwich it will leave them four points ahead of both of those teams before they play their games. Spurs play away to an Aston Villa team that probably need a point to ensure Premier League survival, and Newcastle are at home to title chasing Manchester City.
It's Arsenal's final home game of the season, and a chance for the players to give the fans a farewell they deserve. It hasn't been a great season for Arsenal fans, but three points on Saturday would put a smile on their faces as they face the prospect of three months without their favourite team. The summer months are never easy for fans, but at least there's the unending transfer rumours to look forward to.
Despite being far from their best at the moment Arsenal still have a far better team than Norwich. The players need to approach the game with the intensity that a must win game deserves, and attack Norwich as if their lives depend on it. There can be no let up for the entire 90 minutes, as the better the victory the tougher it will be for the chasing teams.
The only way Arsenal can tie up third place is if Spurs lose and Newcastle don't win along with an Arsenal win of course. I can see Newcastle not winning, but I think the most Arsenal can hope for is Villa to manage a point against Spurs. If that is the case Arsenal can make things a lot better by racking up a good scoreline against Norwich.
Norwich won't make it easy for Arsenal, as they have put up a fight against every team they have played this season. They create good goalscoring chances in every game they play, but they also give up an awful lot of chances too. Arsenal need to take advantage of the slack defending Norwich are guilty of far too often, and punish them as often as possible.
Robin van Persie needs to score two goals in his last two games to reach the magical 30 league goal mark for the season, and it would be great if he could do it against Norwich. He has won the player of the season awards from both the players and the football writers, and it would be a perfect way to celebrate his awards. Hopefully he will be around next season to try to retain his awards, and maybe even win a trophy with Arsenal.
I would imagine the Arsenal team will be very similar to the one that drew 1-1 away to Stoke last week. There's a possibility of Andre Santos or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain starting, but I think Arsene Wenger will opt for an unchanged side. The experience of players like Tomas Rosicky and Yossi Benayoun could be crucial on the day.
It could be a nervy affair for the players and fans if Arsenal don't score early on, but the team need the full backing of the crowd for every minute of the game. I have confidence in the ability of the players to get the result they need, and to put in the performance required. Now is the time for the players to show they have the same belief in themselves, and do all that is required of them.
It's as simple as giving their all in the final two games of the season, and delivering the results that will achieve Champions League qualification for next season. Arsenal are the only team with their fate in their own hands, and the other teams will be feeling just as much pressure.
I'm predicting a 3-1 win for Arsenal with RVP bagging the goals he needs to reach the 30 mark. It would be great if Arsenal could run up an emphatic scoreline, but once they win it doesn't really matter if it's a last minute 1-0 victory. As an Arsenal fan you learn to live with the tension, and it seems like the team don't like to make life too easy for their fans.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Sunday, 22 April 2012
Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea: A Point Closer To Third Place
Arsenal played at home to Chelsea yesterday knowing that a win would virtually end Chelsea's chances of finishing in the top four. Chelsea were in the middle of a very tough schedule of FA Cup and Champions League games, and their team selection reflected that. Some of their better players were left on the bench, as they looked to shackle Arsenal and hope to snatch a win with a breakaway attack.
Arsene Wenger had a few decisions to make in his own team selection, and Aaron Ramsey was given the chance to replace the injured Mikael Arteta. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain came in on the left hand side of the Arsenal attacking trio with Gervinho on the bench. The biggest surprise was probably the inclusion of Kieran Gibbs at left back which meant Andre Santos was left on the bench.
The most important change in the Arsenal team was the return from suspension of Laurent Koscielny to bolster a defence which had looked a shambles at times in the defeat to Wigan last Monday night. It meant Johan Djourou dropped to the bench, and Arsenal had their first choice central defensive pairing back together again. Koscielny has been Arsenal's best defender this season, and the team is always stronger with him in it.
Chelsea set their stall out early on, and Arsenal found it hard to find their flowing football. Far too often Arsenal players were caught in possession, as Chelsea packed the midfield and defended in numbers. Despite not really clicking again Arsenal had some very good chances to get the goal that would have opened the game up.
Unfortunately Robin van Persie has hit a barren patch at the moment, and he failed to put away the best of those chances. He managed to hit the outside of the post from only a yard or so out when he met a Theo Walcott free kick early on on the game. There were other chances for him too, but none of them were as easy as that one.
Koscielny hit the bar not too long after that with a free header from a RVP free kick, but there was no Arsenal player following up to take advantage. Chelsea made a couple of very good blocks late on in the game, but far too often Arsenal's final ball wasn't up to standard and they created very little as a result.
At the other end Chelsea looked dangerous on the break quite a few times, but they never actually looked like scoring. Wojciech Szczesny came off his line quickly on a few occasions to mop up at the back, and Koscielny made one fantastic last ditch challenge to deny Chelsea also. Szczesny was a little lucky to keep his goal intact at one stage when Bacary Sagna was on hand to save him when a Solomon Kalou looked to have gone around him just outside the penalty area.
Tomas Rosicky had been sick during the week, and he wasn't quite at his best for the hour that he played. Abu Diaby came on for him, but he looked very rusty after yet another long spell out through injury. Gervinho and Santos both came on as well, and they had a much more positive influence on the Arsenal team.
I have been unimpressed with Gervinho since his return from the African Cup of Nations, but he looked a lot better yesterday. Santos came on for Chanberlain in an attacking role, and he gave his all in an attempt to get the three points for Arsenal. He got stuck in all over the pitch, and showed some of the fight and skill which others seemed to be missing.
The result was far from a disaster for Arsenal, and they are still the firm favourites to finish third with only three games left to play. Newcastle are their closest challengers now after they won yet again yesterday, but they have some very tough games to come. Spurs were beaten by QPR, and their chances of a top four finish are fading badly.
Chelsea seemed more than happy with their point, but they will probably have to win their last four matches to secure a place in next season's Champions League. I think Arsenal can probably finish in the tip three if they can win two of their remaining three games. The first of those is a trip to Stoke next week, and it's never been an easy venue for Arsenal.
The three teams Arsenal have left to play have little to play for, as they are all secure in mid-table positions. Hopefully Arsenal's need for points will give them more drive than their opponents in those games, and they can get the victories they need. It would an absolute disaster for the team to finish outside the top four after all of their hard work to get back in the frame.
Arsenal will have to play those games without Walcott who went off with a hamstring injury yesterday. It looks like his season has ended, and he will join Arteta in the stands for the rest of it. Arsenal's injuries seem to building up yet again, and the squad is starting to look very thin at this stage.
The team have a week to work on training to try to get some drive back into their play. Hooefully the played can rise to the challenge in those last three games, and get the results the team needs. It would be nice for the team not to have to play in the final qualifying round for the Champions League next August for a change.
That's it for today.
Here's the highlights of yesterday's game.
See you tomorrow.
Arsene Wenger had a few decisions to make in his own team selection, and Aaron Ramsey was given the chance to replace the injured Mikael Arteta. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain came in on the left hand side of the Arsenal attacking trio with Gervinho on the bench. The biggest surprise was probably the inclusion of Kieran Gibbs at left back which meant Andre Santos was left on the bench.
The most important change in the Arsenal team was the return from suspension of Laurent Koscielny to bolster a defence which had looked a shambles at times in the defeat to Wigan last Monday night. It meant Johan Djourou dropped to the bench, and Arsenal had their first choice central defensive pairing back together again. Koscielny has been Arsenal's best defender this season, and the team is always stronger with him in it.
Chelsea set their stall out early on, and Arsenal found it hard to find their flowing football. Far too often Arsenal players were caught in possession, as Chelsea packed the midfield and defended in numbers. Despite not really clicking again Arsenal had some very good chances to get the goal that would have opened the game up.
Unfortunately Robin van Persie has hit a barren patch at the moment, and he failed to put away the best of those chances. He managed to hit the outside of the post from only a yard or so out when he met a Theo Walcott free kick early on on the game. There were other chances for him too, but none of them were as easy as that one.
Koscielny hit the bar not too long after that with a free header from a RVP free kick, but there was no Arsenal player following up to take advantage. Chelsea made a couple of very good blocks late on in the game, but far too often Arsenal's final ball wasn't up to standard and they created very little as a result.
At the other end Chelsea looked dangerous on the break quite a few times, but they never actually looked like scoring. Wojciech Szczesny came off his line quickly on a few occasions to mop up at the back, and Koscielny made one fantastic last ditch challenge to deny Chelsea also. Szczesny was a little lucky to keep his goal intact at one stage when Bacary Sagna was on hand to save him when a Solomon Kalou looked to have gone around him just outside the penalty area.
Tomas Rosicky had been sick during the week, and he wasn't quite at his best for the hour that he played. Abu Diaby came on for him, but he looked very rusty after yet another long spell out through injury. Gervinho and Santos both came on as well, and they had a much more positive influence on the Arsenal team.
I have been unimpressed with Gervinho since his return from the African Cup of Nations, but he looked a lot better yesterday. Santos came on for Chanberlain in an attacking role, and he gave his all in an attempt to get the three points for Arsenal. He got stuck in all over the pitch, and showed some of the fight and skill which others seemed to be missing.
The result was far from a disaster for Arsenal, and they are still the firm favourites to finish third with only three games left to play. Newcastle are their closest challengers now after they won yet again yesterday, but they have some very tough games to come. Spurs were beaten by QPR, and their chances of a top four finish are fading badly.
Chelsea seemed more than happy with their point, but they will probably have to win their last four matches to secure a place in next season's Champions League. I think Arsenal can probably finish in the tip three if they can win two of their remaining three games. The first of those is a trip to Stoke next week, and it's never been an easy venue for Arsenal.
The three teams Arsenal have left to play have little to play for, as they are all secure in mid-table positions. Hopefully Arsenal's need for points will give them more drive than their opponents in those games, and they can get the victories they need. It would an absolute disaster for the team to finish outside the top four after all of their hard work to get back in the frame.
Arsenal will have to play those games without Walcott who went off with a hamstring injury yesterday. It looks like his season has ended, and he will join Arteta in the stands for the rest of it. Arsenal's injuries seem to building up yet again, and the squad is starting to look very thin at this stage.
The team have a week to work on training to try to get some drive back into their play. Hooefully the played can rise to the challenge in those last three games, and get the results the team needs. It would be nice for the team not to have to play in the final qualifying round for the Champions League next August for a change.
That's it for today.
Here's the highlights of yesterday's game.
See you tomorrow.
Friday, 20 April 2012
Arsenal's Premier League Game With Chelsea Previewed
Arsenal play Chelsea in the early kick off tomorrow in a game they just cannot afford to lose. They had the chance to open up a substantial gap over the chasing pack on Monday night, but they were turned over at home by Wigan. It was a costly defeat for Arsenal in more ways than one.
Besides the setback to their chances of finishing third in the league Mikael Arteta also suffered an ankle injury which will keep him out of Arsenal's remaining four games. Arteta has been the driving force in Arsenal's midfield since he signed from Everton late last August. Others may have been more spectacular in that time, but Arteta has been the player around who Arsenal's stability has been built.
At least Laurent Koiscielny will return from suspension to strengthen the Arsenal defence. He has had a very good season and he has been the best defender at the club by a long way. Bacary Sagna could possibly challenge him for that accolade, but for his three month absence through injury.
Sagna had a bad night against Wigan on Monday, and he found Victor Moses very hard to deal with. He didn't get as much help as he needed at times, and both Theo Walcott and Johan Djourou were found wanting I thought. I am sure the return of Koscielny will strengthen the defence, and Sagna surely cannot play so badly again.
There is a possibility of Kieran Gibbs returning in place of Andre Santos, but I think Santos will retain his place unless he picks up an injury or has a real off day. He was no worse than any of the other players against Wigan with the exception of the few players who did play well. I'm not too sure about the defensive abilities of either player, but Santos probably has more to offer going forward.
The real problem for Arsenal against Chelsea could be their midfield with Arteta injured. The chances are Aaron Ramsey will replace him, but they are far from similar in their playing style. I'm not sure if Ramsey can play the role Arteta does, as he is more likely to be seen pushing further forward.
There are not too many other options for Arsene Wenger in that position at the moment though. Jack Wilshere is still injured, and Abu Diaby has only just returned from his injury. Francis Coquelin is another possibility, but I can't see him making the team as he hasn't been in the squad for quite a while now.
Yossi Benayoun might have been the player to play there, but he cannot play as he is on loan from Chelsea. There is also a possibility of Alex Oclade-Chamberlain playing a central role like he did in the 3-0 win at home to Milan. I can't see Chamberlain being risked there though, but he might just get a chance in a wide role.
Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott are sure to start in the attacking trio, and Wenger has to decide who should play on the left. The chances are Gervinho will get the nod, but I have been wholly unimpressed by him since his return from the African Cup of Nations. His shoot-out penalty miss in the final looks like it may have had a serious effect on his form for Arsenal.
I'm sure the game will be a very tense affair, and the players will have to get really stuck in at times. I just don't think Gervinho has the heart for such a fight at the moment. Hopefully he can put it all behind him in the summer, and return to the team a better player next season.
Chelsea have had a tough week, but the victories over both Spurs and Barcelona must have given them a lot of confidence. They face a tough trip away to Barcelona on Tuesday night, and the strength of their squad will be stretched to the limit I'm sure. There is a chance they will rest some of their better players with that game in mind, and Arsenal need to take advantage if they do.
One of the biggest problems for Arsenal in recent games has been the absence of a real alternative for RVP. He has only managed one goal in his last six games, and that was from the penalty. He has had an absolutely fantastic season, but he has gone off the boil in recent games, and there is nobody else to look to when that happens.
I'm certainly not trying to knock RVP because his form this season has exceeded all expectations. He has also managed to stay injury free for a full season for the first time in his Arsenal career, and the team has reaped the benefits. The sight of John Terry lying flat on his face as RVP raced through to score in Arsenal's 5-3 victory away to Chelsea was one of the highlights of the season for Arsenal fans.
I hope Arsenal can rediscover their form of the last few months, and Wigan was just another QPR style blip for them. There is no doubt that an Arsenal team playing at their best can get the victory they so badly want with or without Arteta. As long as the players have the confidence to play their own game they will create chances against a Chelsea team that have struggled this season.
Arsenal haven't always been at their best either, but I think they can get the win they want if they show enough desire and comittment. I'm predicting a 2-1 win for Arsenal, and I'm hoping RVP gets his shooting boots back on again too. His hat trick in the reverse fixture was a thing of beauty, and another match winning performance against Chelsea would be fantastic for the player, the team and the fans.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Besides the setback to their chances of finishing third in the league Mikael Arteta also suffered an ankle injury which will keep him out of Arsenal's remaining four games. Arteta has been the driving force in Arsenal's midfield since he signed from Everton late last August. Others may have been more spectacular in that time, but Arteta has been the player around who Arsenal's stability has been built.
At least Laurent Koiscielny will return from suspension to strengthen the Arsenal defence. He has had a very good season and he has been the best defender at the club by a long way. Bacary Sagna could possibly challenge him for that accolade, but for his three month absence through injury.
Sagna had a bad night against Wigan on Monday, and he found Victor Moses very hard to deal with. He didn't get as much help as he needed at times, and both Theo Walcott and Johan Djourou were found wanting I thought. I am sure the return of Koscielny will strengthen the defence, and Sagna surely cannot play so badly again.
There is a possibility of Kieran Gibbs returning in place of Andre Santos, but I think Santos will retain his place unless he picks up an injury or has a real off day. He was no worse than any of the other players against Wigan with the exception of the few players who did play well. I'm not too sure about the defensive abilities of either player, but Santos probably has more to offer going forward.
The real problem for Arsenal against Chelsea could be their midfield with Arteta injured. The chances are Aaron Ramsey will replace him, but they are far from similar in their playing style. I'm not sure if Ramsey can play the role Arteta does, as he is more likely to be seen pushing further forward.
There are not too many other options for Arsene Wenger in that position at the moment though. Jack Wilshere is still injured, and Abu Diaby has only just returned from his injury. Francis Coquelin is another possibility, but I can't see him making the team as he hasn't been in the squad for quite a while now.
Yossi Benayoun might have been the player to play there, but he cannot play as he is on loan from Chelsea. There is also a possibility of Alex Oclade-Chamberlain playing a central role like he did in the 3-0 win at home to Milan. I can't see Chamberlain being risked there though, but he might just get a chance in a wide role.
Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott are sure to start in the attacking trio, and Wenger has to decide who should play on the left. The chances are Gervinho will get the nod, but I have been wholly unimpressed by him since his return from the African Cup of Nations. His shoot-out penalty miss in the final looks like it may have had a serious effect on his form for Arsenal.
I'm sure the game will be a very tense affair, and the players will have to get really stuck in at times. I just don't think Gervinho has the heart for such a fight at the moment. Hopefully he can put it all behind him in the summer, and return to the team a better player next season.
Chelsea have had a tough week, but the victories over both Spurs and Barcelona must have given them a lot of confidence. They face a tough trip away to Barcelona on Tuesday night, and the strength of their squad will be stretched to the limit I'm sure. There is a chance they will rest some of their better players with that game in mind, and Arsenal need to take advantage if they do.
One of the biggest problems for Arsenal in recent games has been the absence of a real alternative for RVP. He has only managed one goal in his last six games, and that was from the penalty. He has had an absolutely fantastic season, but he has gone off the boil in recent games, and there is nobody else to look to when that happens.
I'm certainly not trying to knock RVP because his form this season has exceeded all expectations. He has also managed to stay injury free for a full season for the first time in his Arsenal career, and the team has reaped the benefits. The sight of John Terry lying flat on his face as RVP raced through to score in Arsenal's 5-3 victory away to Chelsea was one of the highlights of the season for Arsenal fans.
I hope Arsenal can rediscover their form of the last few months, and Wigan was just another QPR style blip for them. There is no doubt that an Arsenal team playing at their best can get the victory they so badly want with or without Arteta. As long as the players have the confidence to play their own game they will create chances against a Chelsea team that have struggled this season.
Arsenal haven't always been at their best either, but I think they can get the win they want if they show enough desire and comittment. I'm predicting a 2-1 win for Arsenal, and I'm hoping RVP gets his shooting boots back on again too. His hat trick in the reverse fixture was a thing of beauty, and another match winning performance against Chelsea would be fantastic for the player, the team and the fans.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Monday, 16 April 2012
Arsenal's Premier League Game With Wigan Previewed
Arsenal managed to put the recent blip with QPR behind them by bouncing back to beat Manchester City and Wolves in the space of a few days. They have now won nine of their last 10 games in the league, and have some daylight between themselves and the other teams chasing for third place. With none of those teams playing this week Arsenal have the opportunity to widen the gap by beating Wigan tonight.
The team should be fairly similar to the one which beat Wolves with one possible exception. I think Tomas Rosicky will return to play a creative role in midfield at the expense of Aaron Ramsey. Rosicky didn't play against Wolves, but he probably needed a rest after starting so many games in recent months.
Rosicky has been in great form during that time, and the team has really benefited from his exertions. He finally looks like the player Arsenal signed almost six years ago, and hopefully he can continue that form into next season. I know he has had an awful time with injuries during his time at Arsenal, but six years is still a long time to wait for a player to show why he was signed in the first place.
Kieran Gibbs will probably be fit again, but I expect Andre Santos to keep his place at left back. It looks like Arsene Wenger considers the players to be fairly equal, and whoever has the shirt will probably hold it. Gibbs has done well since his return from injury, but now Santos has his chance to shine thanks to Gibbs having to limp off against Manchester City last week.
The battle between the two of them can only be good for the team in my opinion, and hopefully it can improve both players overall. I would imagine Santos will now be the first choice left-back for the rest of the season unless he performs badly, or picks up an injury.
With Laurent Koscielny still suspended Johan Djourou will again play alongside Thomas Vermaelen in the centre of the Arsenal defence. Djourou hasn't always looked particularly secure when he has played this season, but he was excellent last season until he picked up an injury against United in the FA Cup. No matter how well he might play tonight I cannot see him retaining his place for Saturday's game at home to Chelsea.
The only other decision Wenger has to make is who to include on the left side of his attacking trio. Yossi Benayoun has done very well there in the last few games, and I think he will probably get the nod yet again. Ramsey will hope to play I'm sure, and Gervinho looks like he might be ready to return from injury too.
It means Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will again be on the bench despite how much talent and potential he has. I have no doubt that Wenger is slowly introducing him into the team, but it must be frustrating for him to be on the bench unless others are injured. I wonder if he is being used so sparingly to ensure he doesn't go to Euro 2012 with England this summer.
Wigan got a very good result at home to United last Wednesday night, and they have now won three of their last four Premier League games. Their only setback in those four games was their defeat at Chelsea, but that was thanks to inept refereeing more than anything else. They have shown more than enough in those games to deserve to stay up this season, and Arsenal have to take them very seriously tonight.
The results against City and especially Wolves would seem to show Arsenal have learned from the mistakes they made against QPR. The players were always going to be up for the game against City, but they almost managed a comfortable win away to the bottom club in the league by beating Wolves. Any complacency in that game could have proved costly, but Arsenal were always in control and should have won by more than three goals.
Arsenal have come out of the blocks at top speed in their last two games, and I expect more of the same tonight. The possibility of opening up an eight point lead over Spurs and Newcastle, and a 10 point lead over Chelsea is one Arsenal cannot afford to miss out on. They will have played a game more than those clubs, but points in the bag area lot better than games in hand.
There are so few games left now that a lead of those proportions would be almost too much for the following pack to overhaul. It's vital for the players to concentrate from the first minute to the last, and take every chance they can to make Wigan suffer. It would be great if Arsenal can tie up third spot before traveling to West Brom for their final game of the season.
If Arsenal can win their last five games they will finish on 79 points, and that would be an impressive haul from such an eventful season. Even four wins would see them average two points a game for the season, and that's always what I consider to be the bare minimum requirement. Any team that averages more than two points a game over a season usually puts in a real challenge for the title too.
If Arsenal can do what is expected of them tonight they play again next Saturday at home to Chelsea in another must win game. It's hardly fair on Chelsea to have played their FA Cup semi final against Spurs yesterday evening, and to have to play at home to Barcelona in the last four of the Champions League on Wednesday night. The considerations of television have certainly made Chelsea's task harder, but as an Arsenal fan I'm not complaining.
A win tonight and then another win against Chelsea would probably be enough for Arsenal to seal third place, but Saturday's game must be put out of the players minds. I thought one of the reasons they were so poor against QPR was because the players may have been thinking of their upcoming game against City. The fans have been told that the lessons were learned from that game, and the players have the opportunity to show how well they were learned tonight.
Despite Wigan looking impressive recently they are no match for an Arsenal team in full flow. I'm predicting a 2-0 win for Arsenal with Robin van Persie again getting his name on the scoresheet. He needs to get three goals in the remaining five games to reach 30 league goals for the season, and I sincerely hope he manages the feat.
It's at the stage of the season where a win is all important for Arsenal, and I don't really care how they get it. Much has been made of refereeing decisions which have cost teams goals or not in recent weeks, but Arsenal are due a few decisions in their favour in my opinion. They have conceded three penalties this season to dives which Ashley Young would have been proud of, and surely these things are meant to balance out over a season.
I'm not suggesting for a moment that Arsenal players should dive, but I wouldn't be unhappy if the referees got a call or two wrong in their favour either. it's not only teams that are looking to retain their league title taht need all the help they can get from friendly referees. Seriously though I'll be perfectly happy if the officials do their job properly tonight, and get their calls right too.
I'm sure the crowd will be right behind the team tonight, as there always seems to be a better atmosphere at night games. I'm not sure why that is, but hopefully it will help to spur the players on to yet another win.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
The team should be fairly similar to the one which beat Wolves with one possible exception. I think Tomas Rosicky will return to play a creative role in midfield at the expense of Aaron Ramsey. Rosicky didn't play against Wolves, but he probably needed a rest after starting so many games in recent months.
Rosicky has been in great form during that time, and the team has really benefited from his exertions. He finally looks like the player Arsenal signed almost six years ago, and hopefully he can continue that form into next season. I know he has had an awful time with injuries during his time at Arsenal, but six years is still a long time to wait for a player to show why he was signed in the first place.
Kieran Gibbs will probably be fit again, but I expect Andre Santos to keep his place at left back. It looks like Arsene Wenger considers the players to be fairly equal, and whoever has the shirt will probably hold it. Gibbs has done well since his return from injury, but now Santos has his chance to shine thanks to Gibbs having to limp off against Manchester City last week.
The battle between the two of them can only be good for the team in my opinion, and hopefully it can improve both players overall. I would imagine Santos will now be the first choice left-back for the rest of the season unless he performs badly, or picks up an injury.
With Laurent Koscielny still suspended Johan Djourou will again play alongside Thomas Vermaelen in the centre of the Arsenal defence. Djourou hasn't always looked particularly secure when he has played this season, but he was excellent last season until he picked up an injury against United in the FA Cup. No matter how well he might play tonight I cannot see him retaining his place for Saturday's game at home to Chelsea.
The only other decision Wenger has to make is who to include on the left side of his attacking trio. Yossi Benayoun has done very well there in the last few games, and I think he will probably get the nod yet again. Ramsey will hope to play I'm sure, and Gervinho looks like he might be ready to return from injury too.
It means Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will again be on the bench despite how much talent and potential he has. I have no doubt that Wenger is slowly introducing him into the team, but it must be frustrating for him to be on the bench unless others are injured. I wonder if he is being used so sparingly to ensure he doesn't go to Euro 2012 with England this summer.
Wigan got a very good result at home to United last Wednesday night, and they have now won three of their last four Premier League games. Their only setback in those four games was their defeat at Chelsea, but that was thanks to inept refereeing more than anything else. They have shown more than enough in those games to deserve to stay up this season, and Arsenal have to take them very seriously tonight.
The results against City and especially Wolves would seem to show Arsenal have learned from the mistakes they made against QPR. The players were always going to be up for the game against City, but they almost managed a comfortable win away to the bottom club in the league by beating Wolves. Any complacency in that game could have proved costly, but Arsenal were always in control and should have won by more than three goals.
Arsenal have come out of the blocks at top speed in their last two games, and I expect more of the same tonight. The possibility of opening up an eight point lead over Spurs and Newcastle, and a 10 point lead over Chelsea is one Arsenal cannot afford to miss out on. They will have played a game more than those clubs, but points in the bag area lot better than games in hand.
There are so few games left now that a lead of those proportions would be almost too much for the following pack to overhaul. It's vital for the players to concentrate from the first minute to the last, and take every chance they can to make Wigan suffer. It would be great if Arsenal can tie up third spot before traveling to West Brom for their final game of the season.
If Arsenal can win their last five games they will finish on 79 points, and that would be an impressive haul from such an eventful season. Even four wins would see them average two points a game for the season, and that's always what I consider to be the bare minimum requirement. Any team that averages more than two points a game over a season usually puts in a real challenge for the title too.
If Arsenal can do what is expected of them tonight they play again next Saturday at home to Chelsea in another must win game. It's hardly fair on Chelsea to have played their FA Cup semi final against Spurs yesterday evening, and to have to play at home to Barcelona in the last four of the Champions League on Wednesday night. The considerations of television have certainly made Chelsea's task harder, but as an Arsenal fan I'm not complaining.
A win tonight and then another win against Chelsea would probably be enough for Arsenal to seal third place, but Saturday's game must be put out of the players minds. I thought one of the reasons they were so poor against QPR was because the players may have been thinking of their upcoming game against City. The fans have been told that the lessons were learned from that game, and the players have the opportunity to show how well they were learned tonight.
Despite Wigan looking impressive recently they are no match for an Arsenal team in full flow. I'm predicting a 2-0 win for Arsenal with Robin van Persie again getting his name on the scoresheet. He needs to get three goals in the remaining five games to reach 30 league goals for the season, and I sincerely hope he manages the feat.
It's at the stage of the season where a win is all important for Arsenal, and I don't really care how they get it. Much has been made of refereeing decisions which have cost teams goals or not in recent weeks, but Arsenal are due a few decisions in their favour in my opinion. They have conceded three penalties this season to dives which Ashley Young would have been proud of, and surely these things are meant to balance out over a season.
I'm not suggesting for a moment that Arsenal players should dive, but I wouldn't be unhappy if the referees got a call or two wrong in their favour either. it's not only teams that are looking to retain their league title taht need all the help they can get from friendly referees. Seriously though I'll be perfectly happy if the officials do their job properly tonight, and get their calls right too.
I'm sure the crowd will be right behind the team tonight, as there always seems to be a better atmosphere at night games. I'm not sure why that is, but hopefully it will help to spur the players on to yet another win.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Wednesday, 11 April 2012
Arsenal's Premier League Trip To Wolverhampton Wanderers Previewed
There is a real opportunity for Arsenal to put some distance between themselves and the chasing pack at the moment. Spurs continued their recent slump with a draw away to Sunderland at the weekend, and their defeat at home to Norwich on Monday was a real blow to their Champions League chances. Chelsea fared a little better by beating Wigan on Saturday before dropping two points when Fulham got a late equaliser against them on Monday night.
Spurs and Chelsea play each other in the FA Cup at the weekend, and it means there will be no Premier League action for either club. Arsenal play away against Wolves tonight, and then they have a home game against Wigan next Monday. Arsenal currently lead Spurs by two points and Chelsea by four with a game in hand on both teams. By the time both of those clubs play in the league again Arsenal will have played a game more than each of them, and their lead could be increased by six points too.
Those two games for Arsenal are against teams in the relegation zone, and the recent defeat to QPR showed how dangerous they can be. Arsenal didn't approach that game in the right manner, and they ended up in the wrong side of a 2-1 result. Hopefully the lessons of complacency were learned in that defeat, and Arsenal will have the correct approach against both of their struggling opponents.
The first hurdle for them is the trip to Wolves, and it's a game Arsenal really should win. Since Wolves sacked Mick McCarthy they have gone into free fall, and relegation looks to be almost a certainty for them now. They are six points adrift of safety with only six games left, and vastly inferior goal difference.
Wolves have lost their last six games in the Premier League, and conceded more goals than any other team so far this season. Their last clean sheet was 29 games ago, and they seem destined for life in the Championship next season. Even when they have taken the lead in recent games they have been quickly pegged back before going on to lose.
Arsenal have won eight of their last nine games, and the rewards for a victory are clear for them to see. If the lessons of the defeat to QPR really have been learned then Arsenal should take full points from both Wolves and Wigan, and it should hopefully put enough points between them and the chasing pack to ensure third place in the league. The next game after both of those games is at home to Chelsea, and a victory could seal the top four finish Arsenal crave.
Chelsea are coming to a stage of the season where they are playing twice a week every week, and every game is a very big one for them. Their games against Barcelona, Spurs and Arsenal will be huge for them in terms of their future and their final status this season. I can't see them finishing third or beating Barcelona which only leaves the FA Cup as a real target for them.
The best scenario for Arsenal is a draw and a replay between Chelsea and Spurs in the FA cup semi final. If that happens the pressure of games on Chelsea could prove to be too much, and they might end up achieving none of their targets.
Newcastle have to be considered in the run in too, as they have won their last five games and are level on points with Spurs. It would be quite fantastic if Arsenal finished third and Newcastle claimed the final Champions League place, but they do have a few tough games before the season ends.
I'm predicting a 4-1 win for Arsenal tonight with Robin van Persie ending his mini-drought by getting on the scoresheet again. I think the Wolves player Arsenal have to watch out for is Michael Kightly who has done well in a wide right role, and scored in their last two games. Even if Wolves do manage to score I just cannot see their defence standing up to what Arsenal will hopefully throw at them.
In team news the Arsenal defence will have to change because Kieran Gibbs is injured, and Laurent Koscielny suspended. It should see the inclusion of Andre Santos and Johan Djourou, but hopefully it won't affect the recent defensive stability. Koscielny will miss the game against Wigan too after receiving his tenth yellow card of the season against City on Sunday.
There is every possibility of the six players ahead of the defence remaining the same, but equally Aaron Ramsey or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could come in for Yossi Benayoun. Whoever plays I'm sure Arsenal will still have enough to get the three points, and I have a feeling it will be Ramsey as Arsenal are away from home. He has played on the left in the last two away games, and he will probably get the nod again despite his performances in those games.
It would be fantastic to be sitting here next Monday night with some real space between Arsenal and the other teams challenging for third place. The ability to do so will surely show that the team really are learning their lessons, and acting on the lessons learned. Hopefully classes will start tonight with a stirring performance, and a few goals to match it.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Spurs and Chelsea play each other in the FA Cup at the weekend, and it means there will be no Premier League action for either club. Arsenal play away against Wolves tonight, and then they have a home game against Wigan next Monday. Arsenal currently lead Spurs by two points and Chelsea by four with a game in hand on both teams. By the time both of those clubs play in the league again Arsenal will have played a game more than each of them, and their lead could be increased by six points too.
Those two games for Arsenal are against teams in the relegation zone, and the recent defeat to QPR showed how dangerous they can be. Arsenal didn't approach that game in the right manner, and they ended up in the wrong side of a 2-1 result. Hopefully the lessons of complacency were learned in that defeat, and Arsenal will have the correct approach against both of their struggling opponents.
The first hurdle for them is the trip to Wolves, and it's a game Arsenal really should win. Since Wolves sacked Mick McCarthy they have gone into free fall, and relegation looks to be almost a certainty for them now. They are six points adrift of safety with only six games left, and vastly inferior goal difference.
Wolves have lost their last six games in the Premier League, and conceded more goals than any other team so far this season. Their last clean sheet was 29 games ago, and they seem destined for life in the Championship next season. Even when they have taken the lead in recent games they have been quickly pegged back before going on to lose.
Arsenal have won eight of their last nine games, and the rewards for a victory are clear for them to see. If the lessons of the defeat to QPR really have been learned then Arsenal should take full points from both Wolves and Wigan, and it should hopefully put enough points between them and the chasing pack to ensure third place in the league. The next game after both of those games is at home to Chelsea, and a victory could seal the top four finish Arsenal crave.
Chelsea are coming to a stage of the season where they are playing twice a week every week, and every game is a very big one for them. Their games against Barcelona, Spurs and Arsenal will be huge for them in terms of their future and their final status this season. I can't see them finishing third or beating Barcelona which only leaves the FA Cup as a real target for them.
The best scenario for Arsenal is a draw and a replay between Chelsea and Spurs in the FA cup semi final. If that happens the pressure of games on Chelsea could prove to be too much, and they might end up achieving none of their targets.
Newcastle have to be considered in the run in too, as they have won their last five games and are level on points with Spurs. It would be quite fantastic if Arsenal finished third and Newcastle claimed the final Champions League place, but they do have a few tough games before the season ends.
I'm predicting a 4-1 win for Arsenal tonight with Robin van Persie ending his mini-drought by getting on the scoresheet again. I think the Wolves player Arsenal have to watch out for is Michael Kightly who has done well in a wide right role, and scored in their last two games. Even if Wolves do manage to score I just cannot see their defence standing up to what Arsenal will hopefully throw at them.
In team news the Arsenal defence will have to change because Kieran Gibbs is injured, and Laurent Koscielny suspended. It should see the inclusion of Andre Santos and Johan Djourou, but hopefully it won't affect the recent defensive stability. Koscielny will miss the game against Wigan too after receiving his tenth yellow card of the season against City on Sunday.
There is every possibility of the six players ahead of the defence remaining the same, but equally Aaron Ramsey or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could come in for Yossi Benayoun. Whoever plays I'm sure Arsenal will still have enough to get the three points, and I have a feeling it will be Ramsey as Arsenal are away from home. He has played on the left in the last two away games, and he will probably get the nod again despite his performances in those games.
It would be fantastic to be sitting here next Monday night with some real space between Arsenal and the other teams challenging for third place. The ability to do so will surely show that the team really are learning their lessons, and acting on the lessons learned. Hopefully classes will start tonight with a stirring performance, and a few goals to match it.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Saturday, 24 March 2012
Arsenal's Premier League Game With Aston Villa Previewed
Arsenal have won six Premier League games in a row, and they have now risen to third in the table. What looked like being a long hard struggle to claw back Spurs was suddenly overcome in a few short weeks. They are now favourites for an automatic Champions League spot, and hopefully they can live up to the billing.
Later today they face a home game against an Aston Villa team who have only won three times away from home so far this season.. On the face of it Arsenal should be able to dispose of Villa in a run of the mill fashion, but football is rarely so easy. Villa may only have won three away games so far, but they have only lost three also.
In fact the only team to lose less away games than Villa are the leaders Manchester United, and it means Arsenal cannot take Villa for granted. Villa are the draw specialists on the road with eight draws so far, and they would be perfectly happy to increase that number to nine. I have no doubt their game plan will be to prevent Arsenal playing, and hope for a lucky break at the other end.
The Villa fans were less than happy when Alex McLeish was given the manager's job at their club last summer. Not only had he come from their fierce local rivals Birmingham, but his Birmingham team had just been relegated to the Championship. He may have led them to Carling Cup glory against Arsenal last February, but he had failed where it really mattered in the league.
McLeish's teams play an unattractive brand of football at the best of times, and their main aim is usually to stop the opposition scoring. If they can somehow manage to score a goal on the break or from a set piece they are more than happy with their days work. It doesn't make for attractive viewing, but hopefully Arsenal will be the ones doing the entertaining today.
Arsenal played on Wednesday night and managed to come away from Everton with a hard fought 1-0 victory. Villa's game with Bolton was postponed because of the events surrounding Fabrice Muamba, and it means they have had a week off. They should be a lot fresher than Arsenal considering how much work Arsenal had to put in to get the three points against Everton.
While Arsenal have been on their fantastic run of six wins in a row Villa managed to win their first game in five by beating Fulham last weekend. They have only scored three goals in those five games, and they have conceded four. If Arsenal don't score early on it could be a very long afternoon for their players and fans too.
I'll be lucky enough to be among those fans in the stadium for the game, as I make my third trip of the season to see Arsenal play. So far I have been at the victories over both Sunderland and Everton, and hopefully I can make it three out of three. I'll be meeting plenty of fellow Arsenal fans before and after the game in the local watering holes.
Arsene Wenger said there were no new injuries to report after the win over Everton besides the usual bumps and bruises. It means he has a very strong squad to pick from, and he might be tempted to make a change or two to freshen the players up a little.
I would be surprised if he tampered with the defence, but Andre Santos is ready to return and Kieran Gibbs is very brittle. In midfield I think he has to stick with the same three players who have served him so well in recent games. The big choices will come for him when he decides on his attacking trio.
Both Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott are certainties to start in my opinion, but he has to decide who to play on the left. Aaron Ramsey played well on Wednesday night, but Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is a player who can really make things happen in a game. I think Chamberlain should be the one to play, but who am I to tell Wenger who he should pick.
Whatever team he does pick should be good enough to get the three points, as long as they approach the game in the right manner. The effort and determination in the last six games has been exceptional, and now is not the time for them to ease up. The mental strength of the players has been questioned very often over the last few years, but at the moment it cannot be questioned.
Besides scoring 14 goals in their last three home league games Arsenal have also won three very tough away games. Sunderland, Liverpool and Everton are no mugs at home, but Arsenal managed to beat them all. The mental strength needed to ride out those games was impressive, and very welcome too.
I think Villa will do all they can to frustrate Arsenal today, but Arsenal's quality will eventually get them a win. I'm predicting a 3-1 win, but I would settle for any win at all. If Arsenal can score early enough to draw Villa out of their shell they might have a much better day.
In late January Villa came to Arsenal in the FA Cup and took a 2-0 lead into half time before Arsenal emerged after the break to tear them apart. Some more of the intensity from the first 10 minutes of that second half would be very welcome, and very hard for Villa to cope with too. Villa did win away to Arsenal towards the end of last season, but Arsenal were in free fall at the time.
Before the Arsenal game kicks off Chelsea will play at home to Spurs, and it's a game of great interest to Arsenal. They are the two teams directly behind Arsenal in the table, and at least one of them will drop points in that game. I think a draw would be a great result for Arsenal in that game, and it would offer Arsenal a real opportunity to open a bigger gap on the two of them.
After today's game Arsenal have only one midweek game left this season, and there should be no more issues with player fatigue. Hopefully the players will be able to stay fit too as they won't be giving it their all every three days. I'm looking forward to looking t the Premier League table tonight, and seeing Arsenal in a very stable third spot.
At the end of the transfer window in August I had hoped that Arsenal might be able to finish third, and it's in their own hands now with eight games to go. Hopefully they can keep their hands firmly on their own destiny, and finish the season on a high. The real work to return Arsenal to genuine title contenders will begin then, and Wenger has said he will be looking for quality not quantity.
It won't be easy to find the players Arsenal need, and to convince them to join the club either. Finishing third would certainly be a help for him to lure players to the club, and to keep RVP too. If Arsenal can get a win today they will be well on the road to that goal.
That's it for today.
Here's a little bit of RVP at his best.
See you tomorrow
Later today they face a home game against an Aston Villa team who have only won three times away from home so far this season.. On the face of it Arsenal should be able to dispose of Villa in a run of the mill fashion, but football is rarely so easy. Villa may only have won three away games so far, but they have only lost three also.
In fact the only team to lose less away games than Villa are the leaders Manchester United, and it means Arsenal cannot take Villa for granted. Villa are the draw specialists on the road with eight draws so far, and they would be perfectly happy to increase that number to nine. I have no doubt their game plan will be to prevent Arsenal playing, and hope for a lucky break at the other end.
The Villa fans were less than happy when Alex McLeish was given the manager's job at their club last summer. Not only had he come from their fierce local rivals Birmingham, but his Birmingham team had just been relegated to the Championship. He may have led them to Carling Cup glory against Arsenal last February, but he had failed where it really mattered in the league.
McLeish's teams play an unattractive brand of football at the best of times, and their main aim is usually to stop the opposition scoring. If they can somehow manage to score a goal on the break or from a set piece they are more than happy with their days work. It doesn't make for attractive viewing, but hopefully Arsenal will be the ones doing the entertaining today.
Arsenal played on Wednesday night and managed to come away from Everton with a hard fought 1-0 victory. Villa's game with Bolton was postponed because of the events surrounding Fabrice Muamba, and it means they have had a week off. They should be a lot fresher than Arsenal considering how much work Arsenal had to put in to get the three points against Everton.
While Arsenal have been on their fantastic run of six wins in a row Villa managed to win their first game in five by beating Fulham last weekend. They have only scored three goals in those five games, and they have conceded four. If Arsenal don't score early on it could be a very long afternoon for their players and fans too.
I'll be lucky enough to be among those fans in the stadium for the game, as I make my third trip of the season to see Arsenal play. So far I have been at the victories over both Sunderland and Everton, and hopefully I can make it three out of three. I'll be meeting plenty of fellow Arsenal fans before and after the game in the local watering holes.
Arsene Wenger said there were no new injuries to report after the win over Everton besides the usual bumps and bruises. It means he has a very strong squad to pick from, and he might be tempted to make a change or two to freshen the players up a little.
I would be surprised if he tampered with the defence, but Andre Santos is ready to return and Kieran Gibbs is very brittle. In midfield I think he has to stick with the same three players who have served him so well in recent games. The big choices will come for him when he decides on his attacking trio.
Both Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott are certainties to start in my opinion, but he has to decide who to play on the left. Aaron Ramsey played well on Wednesday night, but Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is a player who can really make things happen in a game. I think Chamberlain should be the one to play, but who am I to tell Wenger who he should pick.
Whatever team he does pick should be good enough to get the three points, as long as they approach the game in the right manner. The effort and determination in the last six games has been exceptional, and now is not the time for them to ease up. The mental strength of the players has been questioned very often over the last few years, but at the moment it cannot be questioned.
Besides scoring 14 goals in their last three home league games Arsenal have also won three very tough away games. Sunderland, Liverpool and Everton are no mugs at home, but Arsenal managed to beat them all. The mental strength needed to ride out those games was impressive, and very welcome too.
I think Villa will do all they can to frustrate Arsenal today, but Arsenal's quality will eventually get them a win. I'm predicting a 3-1 win, but I would settle for any win at all. If Arsenal can score early enough to draw Villa out of their shell they might have a much better day.
In late January Villa came to Arsenal in the FA Cup and took a 2-0 lead into half time before Arsenal emerged after the break to tear them apart. Some more of the intensity from the first 10 minutes of that second half would be very welcome, and very hard for Villa to cope with too. Villa did win away to Arsenal towards the end of last season, but Arsenal were in free fall at the time.
Before the Arsenal game kicks off Chelsea will play at home to Spurs, and it's a game of great interest to Arsenal. They are the two teams directly behind Arsenal in the table, and at least one of them will drop points in that game. I think a draw would be a great result for Arsenal in that game, and it would offer Arsenal a real opportunity to open a bigger gap on the two of them.
After today's game Arsenal have only one midweek game left this season, and there should be no more issues with player fatigue. Hopefully the players will be able to stay fit too as they won't be giving it their all every three days. I'm looking forward to looking t the Premier League table tonight, and seeing Arsenal in a very stable third spot.
At the end of the transfer window in August I had hoped that Arsenal might be able to finish third, and it's in their own hands now with eight games to go. Hopefully they can keep their hands firmly on their own destiny, and finish the season on a high. The real work to return Arsenal to genuine title contenders will begin then, and Wenger has said he will be looking for quality not quantity.
It won't be easy to find the players Arsenal need, and to convince them to join the club either. Finishing third would certainly be a help for him to lure players to the club, and to keep RVP too. If Arsenal can get a win today they will be well on the road to that goal.
That's it for today.
Here's a little bit of RVP at his best.
See you tomorrow
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