Three Arsenal players are officially confirmed to be leaving the club at the end of their contracts this summer and a fourth could be on his way out should the team fail to secure a top-caliber squad.
Arsenal announced on their official website on Wednesday that Andrei Arshavin, Denilson, and Sebastien Squillaci will not longer with the team once their contract expires this summer.
This announcement should come as little surprise as each player had their own set of problems. Denilson has actually been on loan with Sao Paulo the last two seasons after making public his intention to return to Brazil back in May 2011.
Squillaci had a lot of potential but an error filled 2010-11 season left manager Arsene Wenger looking for another option at centre-back. When the club signed Per Mertesacker in 2011, that spelled the effective end for Squillaci. He only made seven appearances with the club after that point.
Arshavin said and did all the right things when he came to the club in 2009. After two strong campaigns with the club, his form has been fading over the last couple of season. That coupled with questions regarding his work rate led many to believe he would be leaving the squad this summer.
Another player that may be looking for the exit door at Arsenal is Laurent Koscielny. The centre-back was quoted by Eurosport on Tuesday saying that he wants "to have some titles. I hope the club will give itself the means. If that is not the case, I'll go take a look elsewhere."
Further explaining his reasoning, he said that he feels good playing at Arsenal and that if the squad is competitive, he wants "to continue the adventure." However, if the team continues to struggle just to make the top four, he is ready to move elsewhere in order to compete for trophies.
The Gunner's board has authorized Wenger to tap into funds acquired through various EPLsponsorship deals and spend £70 Million to improve the club. That amount would have been less had the team not made a return to the Champions League. Now the question remains whether the squad will show enough improvement to compete for trophies or will they continue to struggle as they have this past year.
Showing posts with label Andrei Arshavin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Andrei Arshavin. Show all posts
Friday, 7 June 2013
Thursday, 27 September 2012
Arsenal Beat Coventry City 6-1
Arsenal went into their Capital One Cup tie with Coventry City last night with a completely different team to the one which drew away to Manchester City on Sunday. It meant there were first team debuts for both Damian Martinez and Martin Angha from the start with Serge Gnabry coming off the bench to make his debut.
The team was pretty much as expected with Olivier Giroud playing the central strikers role to try to bag his first goal for the club. There was plenty of experience in the Arsenal team besides Giroud with Johan Djourou, Andrey Arshavin and Theo Walcott all playing from the start too.
The first half was a fairly scrappy affair with not too much between the teams, but it was Arsenal who made the breakthrough. Five minutes before half time Francis Coquelin slid in to prod the ball through to Giroud and he clipped it over the advancing keeper into the net. He had his first Arsenal goal at last and it actually took him a little less than four hours playing time to do so.
Arsenal picked up the pace in the second half and Arshavin earned a penalty five minutes in when he was taken down in the box. Giroud stepped up to take it, but his well struck effort was very well saved. Thankfully he had managed his first goal already or the miss could have been a real burden for him.
The second goal wasn't long coming when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain unleashed a swerving screamer from outside the box which beat the keeper. Chamberlain strikes the ball very well and I'm sure there are plenty of goals to come for him in his Arsenal career.
With 64 minutes gone Arsenal added a third goal and it was Arshavin who scored this time. He was played in by Giroud and finished neatly past the advancing keeper. Arshavin played well last night and he showed he might still have something to contribute to the team.
With 15 minutes left Walcott made it 4-0 when he came in from the right and stroked the ball past the keeper into the far corner. It was a timely reminder from him too that he can contribute to the team despite his contractual dispute.
With 10 minutes left Coventry got a consolation goal to cheer up their 8,000 traveling fans. A good ball across the Arsenal area was met by ? who finished it first time past the helpless Martinez. It was some reward for a Coventry team that had worked very hard, but tired noticeably in the second half.
Arsenal had rung the changes after their third goal with Emmanuel Frimpong making his comeback after a seven month absence through injury. He's another player who will be looking to make an impact on the first team this season. Arsenal's midfield options are increasing almost weekly at the moment and Jack Wilshere has to return yet as does Tomas Rosicky.
The other players to come on were the aforementioned Gnabry and Marouane Chamakh. It's was Chamakh's first action of the season, as he has become the forgotten man at Arsenal. He has slipped so far down the pecking order that surely his exit will come in January or next summer at the latest.
The fifth Arsenal goal came with 10 minutes left and it was young central defender Ignasi Miquel who scored it. He rose high to head home a cross from the left after he had hit the bar earlier in the game. His inclusion ahead of Sebastien Squillaci shows exactly where Squillaci has slipped to in the pecking order too.
In the final minute Walcott added a sixth goal for Arsenal. It was their second home game in a row managing that feat and he took his goal very well. He collected the ball just inside the Coventry half before beating a few players and finishing into the far corner from the left this time.
All in all it was a good display from Arsenal considering it was a completely different team to the one that played on Sunday. The six goals were well taken and the full house enjoyed the goal festival. A few players showed the manager what they can do and reminded him that they might still have a future at the club.
Arsenal are through to the last 16 of the competition, but the next round will pose a sterner test I would imagine. They play away to Reading who are now a Premier League club and will more than likely play the strongest team available to them. There is a possibility of a few injured players returning for Arsenal in that game, but that won't be known until closer to the actual game.
Here's the highlights of last night's game.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
The team was pretty much as expected with Olivier Giroud playing the central strikers role to try to bag his first goal for the club. There was plenty of experience in the Arsenal team besides Giroud with Johan Djourou, Andrey Arshavin and Theo Walcott all playing from the start too.
The first half was a fairly scrappy affair with not too much between the teams, but it was Arsenal who made the breakthrough. Five minutes before half time Francis Coquelin slid in to prod the ball through to Giroud and he clipped it over the advancing keeper into the net. He had his first Arsenal goal at last and it actually took him a little less than four hours playing time to do so.
Arsenal picked up the pace in the second half and Arshavin earned a penalty five minutes in when he was taken down in the box. Giroud stepped up to take it, but his well struck effort was very well saved. Thankfully he had managed his first goal already or the miss could have been a real burden for him.
The second goal wasn't long coming when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain unleashed a swerving screamer from outside the box which beat the keeper. Chamberlain strikes the ball very well and I'm sure there are plenty of goals to come for him in his Arsenal career.
With 64 minutes gone Arsenal added a third goal and it was Arshavin who scored this time. He was played in by Giroud and finished neatly past the advancing keeper. Arshavin played well last night and he showed he might still have something to contribute to the team.
With 15 minutes left Walcott made it 4-0 when he came in from the right and stroked the ball past the keeper into the far corner. It was a timely reminder from him too that he can contribute to the team despite his contractual dispute.
With 10 minutes left Coventry got a consolation goal to cheer up their 8,000 traveling fans. A good ball across the Arsenal area was met by ? who finished it first time past the helpless Martinez. It was some reward for a Coventry team that had worked very hard, but tired noticeably in the second half.
Arsenal had rung the changes after their third goal with Emmanuel Frimpong making his comeback after a seven month absence through injury. He's another player who will be looking to make an impact on the first team this season. Arsenal's midfield options are increasing almost weekly at the moment and Jack Wilshere has to return yet as does Tomas Rosicky.
The other players to come on were the aforementioned Gnabry and Marouane Chamakh. It's was Chamakh's first action of the season, as he has become the forgotten man at Arsenal. He has slipped so far down the pecking order that surely his exit will come in January or next summer at the latest.
The fifth Arsenal goal came with 10 minutes left and it was young central defender Ignasi Miquel who scored it. He rose high to head home a cross from the left after he had hit the bar earlier in the game. His inclusion ahead of Sebastien Squillaci shows exactly where Squillaci has slipped to in the pecking order too.
In the final minute Walcott added a sixth goal for Arsenal. It was their second home game in a row managing that feat and he took his goal very well. He collected the ball just inside the Coventry half before beating a few players and finishing into the far corner from the left this time.
All in all it was a good display from Arsenal considering it was a completely different team to the one that played on Sunday. The six goals were well taken and the full house enjoyed the goal festival. A few players showed the manager what they can do and reminded him that they might still have a future at the club.
Arsenal are through to the last 16 of the competition, but the next round will pose a sterner test I would imagine. They play away to Reading who are now a Premier League club and will more than likely play the strongest team available to them. There is a possibility of a few injured players returning for Arsenal in that game, but that won't be known until closer to the actual game.
Here's the highlights of last night's game.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Friday, 31 August 2012
Arsenal's Premier League Trip To Liverpool Previewed
Arsenal have started off the new Premier League season with two 0-0 draws against Sunderland and Stoke City. Both of those games were certainly winnable, and Arsenal dominated possession enough to have taken all three points on both occasions. Their defence looked very solid and was rarely troubled, but Arsenal have struggled in their attacking game.
With Robin van Persie packing his bags to join the "little boy" in him at Manchester United the goals will have to come from a different source this season. Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud were bought to score those goals, but they haven't quite settled into the team yet. With new boy Santi Cazorla pulling the strings in midfield they should get plenty of chances this season.
Both Sunderland and Stoke sat back and defended in depth against Arsenal, and Arsenal found it hard to break them down. I would be very surprised if Liverpool were to adopt such an approach, and an open game could be just what Arsenal need. It will of course mean Arsenal's new found defensive strength will get a much sterner test too.
Arsenal tend to dominate possession against most teams, but Liverpool will be looking to reverse that trend at home. In this fixture last season Arsenal had a very fortunate win thanks to a van Persie brace, and a similar result would be a welcome boost on Sunday. Hopefully the goals will come and the two new strikers can break their ducks too.
The squad should be very similar to the one against Stoke last week, but Laurent Koscielny will be available for selection after recovering from his injury. Wojciech Szczesny will have a fitness test the day before the game to see if he can return to play in goal. Vito Mannone did all that was required of him last week when he filled in for Szczesny, but I have no doubt a fit Szczesny will regain his spot in the team.
It's a very important game for Arsenal, as the result will determine how their season has started before entering yet another international break. A win will leave them unbeaten on five points, but a defeat without scoring would be a very bad result. It would leave Arsenal with only two points and no goals from their opening three games, and it's not a scenario I want to really consider.
Last season started very badly too, but the team eventually got things together and managed to finish third in the Premier League. The current squad can only hope to match that finish at best really unless there is some inward movement of players on transfer deadline day. I usually write a season preview before each new season, but I have decided to wait until the window closes and the Arsenal squad is complete.
Maybe I'm being a little over optimistic in hoping a couple of top quality players can be signed, but I really hope they are. It would be a real boost for the rest of the squad to see some new players arrive, and there has to be money available to purchase them. Arsenal are roughly €15 in profit so far in this transfer window, and they made a huge profit on transfers last summer besides the reserves they had put aside for transfers.
I expect to see a very similar team to the one which played against Stoke, but I have a feeling Theo Walcott might play now that he is staying at the club. He hasn't signed a new contract despite having less than 12 months left on his current one, but Arsene Wenger is hopeful that something will be worked out. It's a precarious position for the club, and they seem to have no other choice than trusting Walcott.
I've never been his biggest fan, but he can be good on his day and against a team who play in a style which suits him. His departure after both van Persie and Alex Song had left to earn more money elsewhere would have been a blow for the club. When Wenger stated Walcott was not obsessed by money I felt it was to let the fans know that the two other high profile departures were.
Despite Koscielny being ready to return against Liverpool I don't think he will play, as Per Mertesacker has been an integral part of a very steady defence so far. Koscielny was Arsenal's best central defender last season, but he might have to wait for Mertesacker to play poorly or pick up a knock. Thomas Vermaelen must surely be guaranteed his place, as the new captain for the current season.
Neither Jack Wilshere or Bacary Sagna will be involved just yet, but Wenger hopes to see them both return to full training soon after the international break. Their additions to the squad will be a really big boost, and hopefully there will be no setbacks for either of them. In the absence of Sagna young Carl Jenkinson has looked impressive at right back.
The Arsenal defence will have to be at their best against Liverpool on Sunday to build a solid base for the team to attack. The coaching influence of Steve Bould has been there for all to see in the first two games of the season, and now it's time for the influence of some attacking coaches to show.
The Arsenal midfield trio will be very important on the day, and their ability to keep possession will be crucial. The best way to take pressure off the defence is for the team to hold on to the ball as much as possible. I'm sure the two wide players will be called upon to put in a shift helping the midfield and defence too.
I'm sure Giroud will play the central striking role again, and hopefully he can find his touch in front of goal this time. He has looked very good helping the team out in his defensive duties, and he doesn't seem to have a problem with the physical aspect of English football. I think he's a much better prospect than Marouane Chamakh was when signed, and I'm hoping his first goal will come against Liverpool.
Arsenal have struggled at Anfield at times, but they are unbeaten there in the Premier League in the last five seasons. There have been two victories in that time, as well as three draws. The most memorable game for me was the 4-4 draw when Andrey Arshavin bagged all four goals for Arsenal.
Regular readers will know that I always predict a win for Arsenal, and this week is no different. I'm predicting a 2-1 win, but it certainly won't be an easy task. It would be great for Arsenal to send their players off to play for their countries with their first win of the season under their belts.
When the players come back they will be straight back into Premier League and Champions League action. Arsenal drew Schalke, Olympiakos and Montpellier in the Champions League yesterday, and they will play at home to Coventry in the next round of the Capital One Cup. With the transfer window closed the players can concentrate on the important matter of playing football and winning matches for Arsenal.
Here's a reminder of Arshavin's four goals against Liverpool.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
With Robin van Persie packing his bags to join the "little boy" in him at Manchester United the goals will have to come from a different source this season. Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud were bought to score those goals, but they haven't quite settled into the team yet. With new boy Santi Cazorla pulling the strings in midfield they should get plenty of chances this season.
Both Sunderland and Stoke sat back and defended in depth against Arsenal, and Arsenal found it hard to break them down. I would be very surprised if Liverpool were to adopt such an approach, and an open game could be just what Arsenal need. It will of course mean Arsenal's new found defensive strength will get a much sterner test too.
Arsenal tend to dominate possession against most teams, but Liverpool will be looking to reverse that trend at home. In this fixture last season Arsenal had a very fortunate win thanks to a van Persie brace, and a similar result would be a welcome boost on Sunday. Hopefully the goals will come and the two new strikers can break their ducks too.
The squad should be very similar to the one against Stoke last week, but Laurent Koscielny will be available for selection after recovering from his injury. Wojciech Szczesny will have a fitness test the day before the game to see if he can return to play in goal. Vito Mannone did all that was required of him last week when he filled in for Szczesny, but I have no doubt a fit Szczesny will regain his spot in the team.
It's a very important game for Arsenal, as the result will determine how their season has started before entering yet another international break. A win will leave them unbeaten on five points, but a defeat without scoring would be a very bad result. It would leave Arsenal with only two points and no goals from their opening three games, and it's not a scenario I want to really consider.
Last season started very badly too, but the team eventually got things together and managed to finish third in the Premier League. The current squad can only hope to match that finish at best really unless there is some inward movement of players on transfer deadline day. I usually write a season preview before each new season, but I have decided to wait until the window closes and the Arsenal squad is complete.
Maybe I'm being a little over optimistic in hoping a couple of top quality players can be signed, but I really hope they are. It would be a real boost for the rest of the squad to see some new players arrive, and there has to be money available to purchase them. Arsenal are roughly €15 in profit so far in this transfer window, and they made a huge profit on transfers last summer besides the reserves they had put aside for transfers.
I expect to see a very similar team to the one which played against Stoke, but I have a feeling Theo Walcott might play now that he is staying at the club. He hasn't signed a new contract despite having less than 12 months left on his current one, but Arsene Wenger is hopeful that something will be worked out. It's a precarious position for the club, and they seem to have no other choice than trusting Walcott.
I've never been his biggest fan, but he can be good on his day and against a team who play in a style which suits him. His departure after both van Persie and Alex Song had left to earn more money elsewhere would have been a blow for the club. When Wenger stated Walcott was not obsessed by money I felt it was to let the fans know that the two other high profile departures were.
Despite Koscielny being ready to return against Liverpool I don't think he will play, as Per Mertesacker has been an integral part of a very steady defence so far. Koscielny was Arsenal's best central defender last season, but he might have to wait for Mertesacker to play poorly or pick up a knock. Thomas Vermaelen must surely be guaranteed his place, as the new captain for the current season.
Neither Jack Wilshere or Bacary Sagna will be involved just yet, but Wenger hopes to see them both return to full training soon after the international break. Their additions to the squad will be a really big boost, and hopefully there will be no setbacks for either of them. In the absence of Sagna young Carl Jenkinson has looked impressive at right back.
The Arsenal defence will have to be at their best against Liverpool on Sunday to build a solid base for the team to attack. The coaching influence of Steve Bould has been there for all to see in the first two games of the season, and now it's time for the influence of some attacking coaches to show.
The Arsenal midfield trio will be very important on the day, and their ability to keep possession will be crucial. The best way to take pressure off the defence is for the team to hold on to the ball as much as possible. I'm sure the two wide players will be called upon to put in a shift helping the midfield and defence too.
I'm sure Giroud will play the central striking role again, and hopefully he can find his touch in front of goal this time. He has looked very good helping the team out in his defensive duties, and he doesn't seem to have a problem with the physical aspect of English football. I think he's a much better prospect than Marouane Chamakh was when signed, and I'm hoping his first goal will come against Liverpool.
Arsenal have struggled at Anfield at times, but they are unbeaten there in the Premier League in the last five seasons. There have been two victories in that time, as well as three draws. The most memorable game for me was the 4-4 draw when Andrey Arshavin bagged all four goals for Arsenal.
Regular readers will know that I always predict a win for Arsenal, and this week is no different. I'm predicting a 2-1 win, but it certainly won't be an easy task. It would be great for Arsenal to send their players off to play for their countries with their first win of the season under their belts.
When the players come back they will be straight back into Premier League and Champions League action. Arsenal drew Schalke, Olympiakos and Montpellier in the Champions League yesterday, and they will play at home to Coventry in the next round of the Capital One Cup. With the transfer window closed the players can concentrate on the important matter of playing football and winning matches for Arsenal.
Here's a reminder of Arshavin's four goals against Liverpool.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Friday, 3 August 2012
That Old Familiar Arsenal Feeling
The start of the new season is drawing ever closer, and still Arsenal have far too many players they need to offload. The only player they have managed to sell so far is Carlos Vela, and they have to sell more to make room in their first team squad.
They faced a similar situation last summer, and ended up loaning out some of the players they couldn't offload. The big obstacle in their attempts to sell these players seems to be the wages paid to them by Arsenal. Unfortunately Arsenal have had to pay very high wages to promising players to ensure they stayed at the club, and these players don't always make the grade.
As a result Arsenal have had real difficulty in selling players like Nicklas Bentner, Denilson, Marouane Chamakh, Sebastien Squillaci, Andrey Arshavin, and Ju Young Park. Their combined wages and transfer fees would probably be enough to bring in the two players Arsene Wenger is still keen to sign. It does look like he will make those two signings anyway with Santi Cazorla and Nuri Sahin looking to be the most likely players to arrive.
Those who are supposedly "in the know" have being telling Arsenal fans for weeks that these two players signings are imminent. The chances are they will eventually be right, but nobody is truly in the know in my opinion. The only people who actually know what is happening are those involved in the negotiations in both clubs, and I would imagine the players too.
I think Cazorla would be a fantastic signing for Arsenal, and he could be the creative spark their midfield has being missing for quite a while now. With Jack Wilshere out of action until October I think the midfield needs some genuine quality added, and he certainly fits the bill. I just hope all of the rumours are right, and he dons the red Arsenal shirt very soon.
Of course the saga of Robin van Persie's expected departure continues, and it's effect on the other players and the fans is hard to judge. The players are continuing their preparation for the new season, but it cannot be easy for them to work with a player every day who would rather be elsewhere. I don't care what has been said about his supposed professionalism, as his statement from last month showed exactly how little of that he has.
For a club captain to undermine his own club in such a manner was quite incredible, and he will never be the same player again for me. Even if he stays for next season and sees out his contract I will find it hard to cheer him when he plays. The best solution for Arsenal is to be rid of him s soon as possible, and get on with the business of building a team with players who want to play for them.
As an Arsenal fan I have become used to players looking to leave the club, and the club have survived when better players than RVP have left. The most frustrating thing about the saga is how it is hanging over Arsenal's start to the new season. They have only one pre season game left before they face Sunderland in just over two weeks, and it's time for some action to be taken.
I know there is very little the club can do to get other clubs to increase their offers, but they have to think of what is best for the club as a whole. A disruptive influence cannot be allowed to fester at the club, and they need to cash in as soon as possible.
My ideal scenario would be for Arsenal to start the new season with all the above players I mentioned at new clubs, and a few new arrivals to bolster the squad. I can't see all of that happening in the next two weeks, but I hope it doesn't all come down to deadline day yet again. Last summer was a disastrous one for the club, and the transfer mayhem directly affected the team's start to the season.
It cannot be allowed to happen again, and I cannot imagine that it will. All the signs are that RVP will be sold, as new boy Lukasz Podolski has not been issued with a shirt number yet. I'm sure he would love to have RVP's number 10 shirt, but there is also the possibility of Park's number 9 being available very soon.
Finally for today I have to mention that my blog is four years old today. On this very day in 2008 I posted my first Arsenal blog on Oleole, and I have continued it on a very regular basis ever since. It's not always easy, but it certainly helps me to deal with my feelings for Arsenal by sharing them with others.
Hopefully I'll still be writing about Arsenal in another four years, and I'll have a few trophies to write about too.
Finally, finally for today don't forget to join my Fantasy Premier league for the new season with prizes for the top three teams. To join up just go to the site and use the code 17031-6252 to join my league when your team is set up. If you were in my league last season you should automatically be given a choice to rejoin it once your team is set up. There are over 400 teams in my league at the moment, and I'm hoping to match last season's total of over 1,000 teams.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
They faced a similar situation last summer, and ended up loaning out some of the players they couldn't offload. The big obstacle in their attempts to sell these players seems to be the wages paid to them by Arsenal. Unfortunately Arsenal have had to pay very high wages to promising players to ensure they stayed at the club, and these players don't always make the grade.
As a result Arsenal have had real difficulty in selling players like Nicklas Bentner, Denilson, Marouane Chamakh, Sebastien Squillaci, Andrey Arshavin, and Ju Young Park. Their combined wages and transfer fees would probably be enough to bring in the two players Arsene Wenger is still keen to sign. It does look like he will make those two signings anyway with Santi Cazorla and Nuri Sahin looking to be the most likely players to arrive.
Those who are supposedly "in the know" have being telling Arsenal fans for weeks that these two players signings are imminent. The chances are they will eventually be right, but nobody is truly in the know in my opinion. The only people who actually know what is happening are those involved in the negotiations in both clubs, and I would imagine the players too.
I think Cazorla would be a fantastic signing for Arsenal, and he could be the creative spark their midfield has being missing for quite a while now. With Jack Wilshere out of action until October I think the midfield needs some genuine quality added, and he certainly fits the bill. I just hope all of the rumours are right, and he dons the red Arsenal shirt very soon.
Of course the saga of Robin van Persie's expected departure continues, and it's effect on the other players and the fans is hard to judge. The players are continuing their preparation for the new season, but it cannot be easy for them to work with a player every day who would rather be elsewhere. I don't care what has been said about his supposed professionalism, as his statement from last month showed exactly how little of that he has.
For a club captain to undermine his own club in such a manner was quite incredible, and he will never be the same player again for me. Even if he stays for next season and sees out his contract I will find it hard to cheer him when he plays. The best solution for Arsenal is to be rid of him s soon as possible, and get on with the business of building a team with players who want to play for them.
As an Arsenal fan I have become used to players looking to leave the club, and the club have survived when better players than RVP have left. The most frustrating thing about the saga is how it is hanging over Arsenal's start to the new season. They have only one pre season game left before they face Sunderland in just over two weeks, and it's time for some action to be taken.
I know there is very little the club can do to get other clubs to increase their offers, but they have to think of what is best for the club as a whole. A disruptive influence cannot be allowed to fester at the club, and they need to cash in as soon as possible.
My ideal scenario would be for Arsenal to start the new season with all the above players I mentioned at new clubs, and a few new arrivals to bolster the squad. I can't see all of that happening in the next two weeks, but I hope it doesn't all come down to deadline day yet again. Last summer was a disastrous one for the club, and the transfer mayhem directly affected the team's start to the season.
It cannot be allowed to happen again, and I cannot imagine that it will. All the signs are that RVP will be sold, as new boy Lukasz Podolski has not been issued with a shirt number yet. I'm sure he would love to have RVP's number 10 shirt, but there is also the possibility of Park's number 9 being available very soon.
Finally for today I have to mention that my blog is four years old today. On this very day in 2008 I posted my first Arsenal blog on Oleole, and I have continued it on a very regular basis ever since. It's not always easy, but it certainly helps me to deal with my feelings for Arsenal by sharing them with others.
Hopefully I'll still be writing about Arsenal in another four years, and I'll have a few trophies to write about too.
Finally, finally for today don't forget to join my Fantasy Premier league for the new season with prizes for the top three teams. To join up just go to the site and use the code 17031-6252 to join my league when your team is set up. If you were in my league last season you should automatically be given a choice to rejoin it once your team is set up. There are over 400 teams in my league at the moment, and I'm hoping to match last season's total of over 1,000 teams.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Sunday, 17 June 2012
Arsenal Players Progress Report At Euro 2012
With the second round of group games now complete at Euro 2012 the tournament is well and truly in full swing. So far the football on display has been very good for the most part, and a few Arsenal players have played a role in making the tournament a success. I'll attempt to give my views on which Arsenal players have impressed the most so far.
Group A
Wojciech Szczesny started the tournament as Poland's first choice goalkeeper, but he didn't fare too well in their first game. Greece's equaliser was partly his fault, and he then received a red card in the incident which saw Greece gain a penalty. The chances are Greece would have scored and won if Szczesny hadn't given away the penalty, and his red card may just have saved them a point.
Unfortunately for Szczesny his replacement saved the penalty, and played quite well in the next game when Szczesny was obviously suspended. Szczesny didn't regain the keeper's shirt for Poland's final group game, and their defeat to the Czech Republic saw them exit the competition at the group stages. The tournament could have gone better for Szczesny, but I am still sure he has a very bright future in football for both Arsenal and poland..
Tomas Rosicky had played the attacking midfield role for the Czech Republic in their first two games, and he has continued the form he showed for Arsenal in the second half of last season. He made their goal in their 4-1 defeat to Russia, and he played an important role in their 2-1 win over Greece too.He missed the win over Poland due to injury, but I have no doubt he will play in the quarter finals if he is fit to do so.
Rosicky is one of three Arsenal players wearing the coveted number 10 shirt for his country, and he has performed very well as their creative force in midfield.Their next game will be against the runners-up of group B, and it will be a very tough test for them. A fully fit Rosicky would certainly be a welcome boost for the Czech's in their attempt to progress to the last four.
Andrey Arshavin is still an Arsenal player despite being on loan to Zenit St. Petersburg, and he is also the captain of Russia. He played a huge role in their 4-1 victory over the Czechs in their first game, as the Arshavin of old shone. He took players on and beat them at will, and he created plenty of goalscoring opportunities for his team mates.
A win in Russia's second game against Poland would have seen them qualify for the last eight with a game in hand, and Arshavin was seen as the man who could make that happen. When the going got tough against Poland Arshavin faded from the game, and his inconsistencies were there for all to see yet again. At times he looks like the world class player Arsenal signed a few years ago, but he can also appear lazy and disinterested too.
His defensive duties are very limited for his national team, and he can save all of his energies for attacking. He still has the incredibly annoying habit of losing interest when his passes go astray or his team's attacks break up.Despite putting in a reasonable performance in Russia's final group game Arshavin was unable to prevent their defeat to Greece and their elimination at the group stages.
Unfortunately for Arsenal that means Arshavin won't get another chance to put himself in the shop window for potential new employers. I am almost certain Arsenal will sell him this summer with Zenit being the most likely destination for his talents.
Group B
Arsenal new boy Lukasz Podolski has played in both of Germany's victories so far, as they look destined for a very good tournament. Despite winning their first two games their qualification for the last eight is not certain yet in a very open group. Podolski hasn't scored yet, but he performed a little better in the second game than the first one.
He looks to be a permanent fixture in their starting 11, and hopefully his influence will increase as the Germans progress through the tournament. At the moment it's very hard to see exactly what player Arsenal have signed for next season, but he must have plenty to offer to be a first choice in such a strong team.
Robin van Persie has led the Dutch attack in their two defeats, but they can still make the quarter finals if results go their way. The defeats to Denmark and Germany were severe blows to the hopes of a Dutch team who were seen as one of the pre-tournament favourites. If they are to make the quarter finals they quite simply have to beat Portugal and beat them well.
RVP missed a few chances in those two games, but he managed to get their only goal so far in the 2-1 defeat against Germany. If The Dutch can somehow make it out of the group they will have to play a lot better to progress, and RVP could still be the man to bag their goals.
Another Arsenal player who spent last season out on loan is Nicklas Bendtner, and he has had a good start to the tournament with Denmark. He didn't manage to score in the victory over Holland, but he got both goals in the 3-2 defeat against Portugal. Hopefully they can get the right result against Germany to make it through to the quarter finals, and add a few pounds to Bendther's price tag when Arsenal eventually manage to sell him.
Group D
AlexOxlade-Chamberlain was chosen to play in England's first game against France, and he had a pretty good game. He was left out of the next game, as Roy Hodgson decided to play with two strikers. He did manage to come on for the last few minutes, and there is every possibility he will get another chance before the tournament is over.
Chamberlain is still only 18 years old, and his future looks incredibly bright. His experiences as part of the England squad will hopefully help him to become an even better player for Arsenal. It certainly won't be easy for Arsene Wenger to leave him out of the team quite so often next season after his experiences at Euro 2012.
Theo Walcott only managed a couple of minutes as a substitute in England's first game, but he got a longer run out against Sweden. He came on in the second half with England 2-1 down, and managed to be the impetus they needed to turn the game. He scored the equaliser for them before setting Danny Welbeck up to score England's winning goal.
England now look bound for the last eight, and surely Walcott will get more game time after his display against Sweden. There are other players under-performing in the England team, and I would be very surprised to see Walcott on the bench in their final group game.
There are a few other Arsenal players in the tournament, but at the moment they have all being confined to warming the benches for their countries. Perhaps Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker will get their opportunities before the tournament is over, but they look destined to remain squad players for their countries in my opinion.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Group A
Wojciech Szczesny started the tournament as Poland's first choice goalkeeper, but he didn't fare too well in their first game. Greece's equaliser was partly his fault, and he then received a red card in the incident which saw Greece gain a penalty. The chances are Greece would have scored and won if Szczesny hadn't given away the penalty, and his red card may just have saved them a point.
Unfortunately for Szczesny his replacement saved the penalty, and played quite well in the next game when Szczesny was obviously suspended. Szczesny didn't regain the keeper's shirt for Poland's final group game, and their defeat to the Czech Republic saw them exit the competition at the group stages. The tournament could have gone better for Szczesny, but I am still sure he has a very bright future in football for both Arsenal and poland..
Tomas Rosicky had played the attacking midfield role for the Czech Republic in their first two games, and he has continued the form he showed for Arsenal in the second half of last season. He made their goal in their 4-1 defeat to Russia, and he played an important role in their 2-1 win over Greece too.He missed the win over Poland due to injury, but I have no doubt he will play in the quarter finals if he is fit to do so.
Rosicky is one of three Arsenal players wearing the coveted number 10 shirt for his country, and he has performed very well as their creative force in midfield.Their next game will be against the runners-up of group B, and it will be a very tough test for them. A fully fit Rosicky would certainly be a welcome boost for the Czech's in their attempt to progress to the last four.
Andrey Arshavin is still an Arsenal player despite being on loan to Zenit St. Petersburg, and he is also the captain of Russia. He played a huge role in their 4-1 victory over the Czechs in their first game, as the Arshavin of old shone. He took players on and beat them at will, and he created plenty of goalscoring opportunities for his team mates.
A win in Russia's second game against Poland would have seen them qualify for the last eight with a game in hand, and Arshavin was seen as the man who could make that happen. When the going got tough against Poland Arshavin faded from the game, and his inconsistencies were there for all to see yet again. At times he looks like the world class player Arsenal signed a few years ago, but he can also appear lazy and disinterested too.
His defensive duties are very limited for his national team, and he can save all of his energies for attacking. He still has the incredibly annoying habit of losing interest when his passes go astray or his team's attacks break up.Despite putting in a reasonable performance in Russia's final group game Arshavin was unable to prevent their defeat to Greece and their elimination at the group stages.
Unfortunately for Arsenal that means Arshavin won't get another chance to put himself in the shop window for potential new employers. I am almost certain Arsenal will sell him this summer with Zenit being the most likely destination for his talents.
Group B
Arsenal new boy Lukasz Podolski has played in both of Germany's victories so far, as they look destined for a very good tournament. Despite winning their first two games their qualification for the last eight is not certain yet in a very open group. Podolski hasn't scored yet, but he performed a little better in the second game than the first one.
He looks to be a permanent fixture in their starting 11, and hopefully his influence will increase as the Germans progress through the tournament. At the moment it's very hard to see exactly what player Arsenal have signed for next season, but he must have plenty to offer to be a first choice in such a strong team.
Robin van Persie has led the Dutch attack in their two defeats, but they can still make the quarter finals if results go their way. The defeats to Denmark and Germany were severe blows to the hopes of a Dutch team who were seen as one of the pre-tournament favourites. If they are to make the quarter finals they quite simply have to beat Portugal and beat them well.
RVP missed a few chances in those two games, but he managed to get their only goal so far in the 2-1 defeat against Germany. If The Dutch can somehow make it out of the group they will have to play a lot better to progress, and RVP could still be the man to bag their goals.
Another Arsenal player who spent last season out on loan is Nicklas Bendtner, and he has had a good start to the tournament with Denmark. He didn't manage to score in the victory over Holland, but he got both goals in the 3-2 defeat against Portugal. Hopefully they can get the right result against Germany to make it through to the quarter finals, and add a few pounds to Bendther's price tag when Arsenal eventually manage to sell him.
Group D
AlexOxlade-Chamberlain was chosen to play in England's first game against France, and he had a pretty good game. He was left out of the next game, as Roy Hodgson decided to play with two strikers. He did manage to come on for the last few minutes, and there is every possibility he will get another chance before the tournament is over.
Chamberlain is still only 18 years old, and his future looks incredibly bright. His experiences as part of the England squad will hopefully help him to become an even better player for Arsenal. It certainly won't be easy for Arsene Wenger to leave him out of the team quite so often next season after his experiences at Euro 2012.
Theo Walcott only managed a couple of minutes as a substitute in England's first game, but he got a longer run out against Sweden. He came on in the second half with England 2-1 down, and managed to be the impetus they needed to turn the game. He scored the equaliser for them before setting Danny Welbeck up to score England's winning goal.
England now look bound for the last eight, and surely Walcott will get more game time after his display against Sweden. There are other players under-performing in the England team, and I would be very surprised to see Walcott on the bench in their final group game.
There are a few other Arsenal players in the tournament, but at the moment they have all being confined to warming the benches for their countries. Perhaps Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker will get their opportunities before the tournament is over, but they look destined to remain squad players for their countries in my opinion.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Tuesday, 3 April 2012
Arsenal: A Little Perspective
Only a few weeks ago Arsenal were 2-0 down at home to fierce rivals Spurs and their season looked as good as over. They faced the prospect of trailing Spurs by 13 points, and being out of the running to finish in the top three. All that was left for them was to fight with Chelsea and a couple of others for the hope of a play-off to qualify for next season's Champions League.
Arsenal's sensational comeback in that game has been well documented, as has their seven game winning streak in the Premier League. All good things come to an end at some stage, and unfortunately Queens Park Rangers were the team to stop Arsenal in their tracks. On Saturday afternoon they did enough to get a 2-1 win at home to Arsenal, but they were helped by a display from Arsenal which simply wasn't up to standard.
It leaves Arsenal still in third place in the Premier League, but unfortunately the three teams directly behind them all managed to win their games. The gap to Spurs is now almost as narrow as it can get with no points and only one goal separating them on goal difference. Both Chelsea and Newcastle are a further five points back, but ready to pounce if Arsenal should falter again.
If Arsenal fans were offered the current scenario after 40 minutes of that game at home to Spurs I don't think there would be a single one of them that would have turned it down. However, now that Arsenal are third in the table some fans feel the need to have a real go at the team after the result aggainst QPR. Surely a little bit of perspective is what's needed, as the situation is infinitely superior to what the fans feared when they trailed Spurs 2-0.
It doesn't take a genius to realise the performance against QPR wasn't good enough, and some of the players need to look at how they performed on the day. Thomas Vermaelen made two crucial mistakes that led to both goals, but he was also let down by other players not doing their jobs. When he was beaten on both occasions he should rightly have expected others to be there to help him out.
For the first goal I felt Kieran Gibbs was too far forward considering Arsenal were not in possession. If he had been in the correct position he might have been able to put enough pressure on Abel Taarabt to stop him scoring. I've never been overly impressed by Gibbs' defensive abilities, and Andre Santos is waiting in the wings for his chance to impress since his recovery from injury.
Gibbs may have been slightly at fault for that goal, but the dereliction of duty by the mudfield for QPR's winning goal was far more serious in my opinion. When Vermaelen slipped on the edge of the area there was every chance Arsenal could still prevent a goal if others did their jobs. However, Samba Diakite was able to stroll forward from midfield and stroke the ball home. The Arsenal midfielders just stood back and watched as Diakte made his way forward, and none of them showed any interest in tracking back.
I have no doubt that Arsene Wenger will be letting the players know that their performance wasn't up to the expected standard. They have a really big game at home to Manchester City on Sunday afternoon, and the players will have to perform a whole lot better in that game. Maybe the players had their minds on the City game rather than the matter in hand when they were playing QPR.
Of course Wenger made at least one mistake of his own with the inclusion of Aaron Ramsey on the left side of the Arsenal midfield. Ramsey has lost his place in the team to the born-again Tomas Rosicky in recent weeks, and if he is to play it should be in his preferred role in the team. It's not fair on Ramsey to play him on the left, and the team suffers along with him when he plays there.
I think he was included to give the team some more defensive stability, but since when do Arsenal worry about defensive stability. Surely the thought of having to defend against Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain would have been a far more worrying one for the QPR players. I know Arsenal included Ramsey in that position in the team in their last away victory at Everton, but he was hardly impressive then either.
Arsenal pride themselves on their attacking flair and their ability to hold on to the ball. For the team to do so it has to be balanced, and the team against QPR didn't have that balance. During their seven game winning run Arsenal won three games away from home, but they were all won by the odd goal.
It only took one below par performance for the balance to shift in the other direction, and Arsenal to lose. The players now have to show that they have the mental resolve to bounce back and get a result against City on Sunday. They have shown plenty of mental strength in recent weeks, and now is not the time for them to be found wanting.
City's title challenge is faltering and their away form is nothing short of disastrous for a title chasing team. Arsenal have the opportunity to finally end their chances of winning the league on Sunday, and if they can show enough mental resolve City are there for the taking. It will take a much better performance than the one shown against QPR on Saturday though.
The defeat against QPR was not the end of the world, and it was by no means Arsenal's worst performance of the season. It's been a roller coaster ride for Arsenal all season long, and the players have to ensure that the current drop is only a very short one.
Maybe the result will show those who believe the current squad is good enough that changes still need to be made this summer. The money available to Wenger needs to be wisely invested in players who can make a real difference to both the team and the squad. If they are added to those players Arsenal possess there is every posdibility that they will be genuine contenders next season which is surely what all Arsenal fans want.
I'm far from down over one poor result in a season which has seen an awful lot worse, and I have no doubt it will be a fight to the bitter end for Arsenal to try to finish third in the Premier League. Even if they don't manage to take that third place I will still be happy with a top four finish. It would be tough to finish behind Spurs, but I've seen worse before and no doubt I will again.
Supporting your team is all about being there for them through thick and thin, and Arsenal fans are just on a little bit of a diet at the moment. I've been through seasons when relegation was a real possibility or when Arsenal had to wait 18 years for a league title. Even if it takes that long again I know there never will be any other club for me no matter what.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Arsenal's sensational comeback in that game has been well documented, as has their seven game winning streak in the Premier League. All good things come to an end at some stage, and unfortunately Queens Park Rangers were the team to stop Arsenal in their tracks. On Saturday afternoon they did enough to get a 2-1 win at home to Arsenal, but they were helped by a display from Arsenal which simply wasn't up to standard.
It leaves Arsenal still in third place in the Premier League, but unfortunately the three teams directly behind them all managed to win their games. The gap to Spurs is now almost as narrow as it can get with no points and only one goal separating them on goal difference. Both Chelsea and Newcastle are a further five points back, but ready to pounce if Arsenal should falter again.
If Arsenal fans were offered the current scenario after 40 minutes of that game at home to Spurs I don't think there would be a single one of them that would have turned it down. However, now that Arsenal are third in the table some fans feel the need to have a real go at the team after the result aggainst QPR. Surely a little bit of perspective is what's needed, as the situation is infinitely superior to what the fans feared when they trailed Spurs 2-0.
It doesn't take a genius to realise the performance against QPR wasn't good enough, and some of the players need to look at how they performed on the day. Thomas Vermaelen made two crucial mistakes that led to both goals, but he was also let down by other players not doing their jobs. When he was beaten on both occasions he should rightly have expected others to be there to help him out.
For the first goal I felt Kieran Gibbs was too far forward considering Arsenal were not in possession. If he had been in the correct position he might have been able to put enough pressure on Abel Taarabt to stop him scoring. I've never been overly impressed by Gibbs' defensive abilities, and Andre Santos is waiting in the wings for his chance to impress since his recovery from injury.
Gibbs may have been slightly at fault for that goal, but the dereliction of duty by the mudfield for QPR's winning goal was far more serious in my opinion. When Vermaelen slipped on the edge of the area there was every chance Arsenal could still prevent a goal if others did their jobs. However, Samba Diakite was able to stroll forward from midfield and stroke the ball home. The Arsenal midfielders just stood back and watched as Diakte made his way forward, and none of them showed any interest in tracking back.
I have no doubt that Arsene Wenger will be letting the players know that their performance wasn't up to the expected standard. They have a really big game at home to Manchester City on Sunday afternoon, and the players will have to perform a whole lot better in that game. Maybe the players had their minds on the City game rather than the matter in hand when they were playing QPR.
Of course Wenger made at least one mistake of his own with the inclusion of Aaron Ramsey on the left side of the Arsenal midfield. Ramsey has lost his place in the team to the born-again Tomas Rosicky in recent weeks, and if he is to play it should be in his preferred role in the team. It's not fair on Ramsey to play him on the left, and the team suffers along with him when he plays there.
I think he was included to give the team some more defensive stability, but since when do Arsenal worry about defensive stability. Surely the thought of having to defend against Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain would have been a far more worrying one for the QPR players. I know Arsenal included Ramsey in that position in the team in their last away victory at Everton, but he was hardly impressive then either.
Arsenal pride themselves on their attacking flair and their ability to hold on to the ball. For the team to do so it has to be balanced, and the team against QPR didn't have that balance. During their seven game winning run Arsenal won three games away from home, but they were all won by the odd goal.
It only took one below par performance for the balance to shift in the other direction, and Arsenal to lose. The players now have to show that they have the mental resolve to bounce back and get a result against City on Sunday. They have shown plenty of mental strength in recent weeks, and now is not the time for them to be found wanting.
City's title challenge is faltering and their away form is nothing short of disastrous for a title chasing team. Arsenal have the opportunity to finally end their chances of winning the league on Sunday, and if they can show enough mental resolve City are there for the taking. It will take a much better performance than the one shown against QPR on Saturday though.
The defeat against QPR was not the end of the world, and it was by no means Arsenal's worst performance of the season. It's been a roller coaster ride for Arsenal all season long, and the players have to ensure that the current drop is only a very short one.
Maybe the result will show those who believe the current squad is good enough that changes still need to be made this summer. The money available to Wenger needs to be wisely invested in players who can make a real difference to both the team and the squad. If they are added to those players Arsenal possess there is every posdibility that they will be genuine contenders next season which is surely what all Arsenal fans want.
I'm far from down over one poor result in a season which has seen an awful lot worse, and I have no doubt it will be a fight to the bitter end for Arsenal to try to finish third in the Premier League. Even if they don't manage to take that third place I will still be happy with a top four finish. It would be tough to finish behind Spurs, but I've seen worse before and no doubt I will again.
Supporting your team is all about being there for them through thick and thin, and Arsenal fans are just on a little bit of a diet at the moment. I've been through seasons when relegation was a real possibility or when Arsenal had to wait 18 years for a league title. Even if it takes that long again I know there never will be any other club for me no matter what.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Saturday, 25 February 2012
Arsenal's Premier League Game With Tottenham Hotspur Previewed
After their exit from the FA Cup and their almost certain exit from the Champions League in the space of four days Arsenal are back to Premier League action. As far as Premier League games go for Arsenal they don't get much bigger than a north London derby against bitter rivals Spurs. To add more spice to the game Spurs are currently 10 points ahead of Arsenal with 13 games left to play.
Since Arsene Wenger took the reins at Arsenal in 1996 they have finished ahead of Spurs in the Premier League on every single occasion. The Arsenal fans famously sing "You won the league in black and white" to the Spurs fans in reference to Spurs wait of over 50 years to add to their two league titles. Since Spurs won their "famous" double in 1961 Arsenal have managed that feat three times, and won six league titles.
Even if Spurs were to win against Arsenal they will still not win the Premier League this season. The fact that they are ahead of Arsenal in the league is more a measure of how badly Arsenal's season has gone than how well it has gone for Spurs. If the sum total of their ambition is to finish above Arsenal it doesn't really show them in a great light.
There is no doubt that this season has been a very testing one for Arsenal fans after the sales of both Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri in the summer. Arsenal banked an awful lot of money from their transfer dealings in the summer, and the players they brought in have not improved the squad from last season. It has to be remembered that Arsenal weren't good enough last season, but they have only weakened their squad instead of strengthening it.
There was an opportunity for Wenger to bring in some players in the January transfer window, but only Thierry Henry arrived on loan. His loan was quite successful all things considered, but he has now departed to play in America again. To make matters worse Arsenal decided to loan Andrey Arshavin to Zenit St. Petersburg yesterday, and he won't play again this season for Arsenal.
I can only assume Arsenal will sell Arshavin in the summer, and his time at the club is over. When he arrived in the transfer window in 2009 he was a revelation and he saved Arsenal's season, but he has failed to live up to the expectations he set in that magnificent spell. As the seasons went by he has become less and less effective, and his chances have been very limited this season.
I'm sure he wanted to play first team football with Euro 2012 coming up, as he is the captain and playmaker in the Russian national team. It's a role he wanted to play for Arsenal, but he never got the chance to do so. I thought the chance might come his way when Cesc was sold last summer, but it wasn't to be.
Arsenal have their injury worries ahead of the Spurs game, but hopefully both Kieran Gibbs and Laurent Koscielny will be passed fit to play. Without both of them the Arsenal defence will look very unbalanced, as Alex Song Will probably have to play in it. I know Gibbs is a long way from proving himself in the Arsenal team, but he has been at the club long enough to know what this game means.
Besides the injury concerns Wenger has a few decisions to make in his team selection, and he needs to get them right. As long as Gibbs and Koscielny play I think he will opt for Aaron Ramsey in midfield with Song and Mikael Arteta. That will mean Tomas Rosicky will miss out, but I don't think he has enough to offer in terms of actual impact despite how hard he tries.
The other decision he has to make is which two players will play in the wide roles on either side of Robin van Persie. I think Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are the most likely candidates to get the nod, as they might also have a better idea of the significance of the game. I thought Gervinho was simply not up to the physical challenge Sunderland put up to Arsenal last week, but he wasn't the only one.
Spurs are winning plaudits for the way they are playing this season, but I can't say I actually watch them play too often. I can think of a lot of better things I could do with my days than watching Spurs play such as having a nap or watching paint dry. I have seen enough of them to know Arsenal will have to be at their very best to get a result from the game.
Thankfully Arsenal managed to halt the league slump from January and win their last two league games, but this game will be a different proposition. The players have been found wanting far too often over the last few seasons, and they cannot afford to give anything less than their all in this game. There can be no excuses after the game if Arsenal lose, and Spurs beat them for the second time this season.
Arsenal's home record has been pretty good so far this season with eight wins in 12 games, but they lost the two biggest games they played at home in the league. Both Liverpool and Manchester United came to Arsenal and left with all three points, but Spurs cannot be allowed to do the same. If the Arsenal players want to get the fans behind them there is no better way than giving their all against Spurs.
Wenger said fourth place would be Arsenal's trophy for this season when they went out of the FA Cup, but personally I find that a little insulting. I'm not a fan who demands a trophy every season, but equally I'm not happy with my club foregoing a whole season because they got their planning so wrong last summer. The Arsenal squad need a lot of strengthening last summer, but instead it was weakened even further.
Top quality players were sold and replaced with players who were not as good as them, and when Arsenal's usual injuries kicked in the team struggled. Those struggles are still continuing, and besides the 7-1 victory over Blackburn Arsenal have rarely looked convincing this season. The team is hurting, and the fans feel that pain more than anyone else.
Arsenal were set up to play with Cesc as their creative midfielder, but since he left that have nobody to play that role. Possibly Jack Wilshire might have stepped up to play there, but he hasn't played at all this season because of injury. The failure to even attempt to replace Cesc while the club made a huge profit from transfers is a sin the fans are finding it hard to forgive.
Maybe Arsenal should switch their formation to suit their personnel a little better, but the current style is hard to keep to without a playmaker. They also need to get their tempo back into their game, and stop passing at a snail's pace. When Arsenal play the game at a high tempo they are capable of putting any team under real pressure.
It would be great to see Arsenal go at Spurs from the first minute, and put their players under pressure every time they are in possession. Whether the players have the belief and the desire to do that or not is another matter altogether. In former days the team had enough character to overcome almost any obstacle, but that character seems to be missing all too often this season.
Despite my negativity about the team I still believe they can and will beat Spurs, but I think it will be a very tight game. Spurs have some very good players who can cause Arsenal real problems, but they don't have the best player in the Premier League. RVP has scored 22 league goals already this season, and hopefully he can add to his tally against Spurs.
The game will also see the return of Emmanuel Adebayor to Arsenal in a Spurs shirt, and he's a player the Arsenal fans love to hate. They have had their run-ins with him in the past, but hopefully the abuse will stick to acceptable levels this time. He's on loan at Spurs from Manchester City this season, but he won't be joining them next season as they can't afford to pay his wages.
He left Arsenal under a cloud when his performances slipped and his greed got the better of him. There is no way he will be taking a pay cut to join Spurs or any other club, and it doesn't leave him with many options for next season. I'm sure he would love to score against Arsenal, but I'm equally sure the Arsenal fans would love to see him on a losing side.
My prediction for the game is for Arsenal to win 3-2, and if they do so they will be level in fourth place at worst. They have games against two of the teams just behind them coming up in the next few weeks, and it's a real testing time for the team. Hopefully the players can find the character that seems to be missing at times, and come through those games with all guns blazing.
Fourth place may not sound like a trophy, but with the season Arsenal have had I would settle for it right now.
That's it for today.
Here's a goal from a man who always loved scoring against Spurs.
See you tomorrow.
Since Arsene Wenger took the reins at Arsenal in 1996 they have finished ahead of Spurs in the Premier League on every single occasion. The Arsenal fans famously sing "You won the league in black and white" to the Spurs fans in reference to Spurs wait of over 50 years to add to their two league titles. Since Spurs won their "famous" double in 1961 Arsenal have managed that feat three times, and won six league titles.
Even if Spurs were to win against Arsenal they will still not win the Premier League this season. The fact that they are ahead of Arsenal in the league is more a measure of how badly Arsenal's season has gone than how well it has gone for Spurs. If the sum total of their ambition is to finish above Arsenal it doesn't really show them in a great light.
There is no doubt that this season has been a very testing one for Arsenal fans after the sales of both Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri in the summer. Arsenal banked an awful lot of money from their transfer dealings in the summer, and the players they brought in have not improved the squad from last season. It has to be remembered that Arsenal weren't good enough last season, but they have only weakened their squad instead of strengthening it.
There was an opportunity for Wenger to bring in some players in the January transfer window, but only Thierry Henry arrived on loan. His loan was quite successful all things considered, but he has now departed to play in America again. To make matters worse Arsenal decided to loan Andrey Arshavin to Zenit St. Petersburg yesterday, and he won't play again this season for Arsenal.
I can only assume Arsenal will sell Arshavin in the summer, and his time at the club is over. When he arrived in the transfer window in 2009 he was a revelation and he saved Arsenal's season, but he has failed to live up to the expectations he set in that magnificent spell. As the seasons went by he has become less and less effective, and his chances have been very limited this season.
I'm sure he wanted to play first team football with Euro 2012 coming up, as he is the captain and playmaker in the Russian national team. It's a role he wanted to play for Arsenal, but he never got the chance to do so. I thought the chance might come his way when Cesc was sold last summer, but it wasn't to be.
Arsenal have their injury worries ahead of the Spurs game, but hopefully both Kieran Gibbs and Laurent Koscielny will be passed fit to play. Without both of them the Arsenal defence will look very unbalanced, as Alex Song Will probably have to play in it. I know Gibbs is a long way from proving himself in the Arsenal team, but he has been at the club long enough to know what this game means.
Besides the injury concerns Wenger has a few decisions to make in his team selection, and he needs to get them right. As long as Gibbs and Koscielny play I think he will opt for Aaron Ramsey in midfield with Song and Mikael Arteta. That will mean Tomas Rosicky will miss out, but I don't think he has enough to offer in terms of actual impact despite how hard he tries.
The other decision he has to make is which two players will play in the wide roles on either side of Robin van Persie. I think Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are the most likely candidates to get the nod, as they might also have a better idea of the significance of the game. I thought Gervinho was simply not up to the physical challenge Sunderland put up to Arsenal last week, but he wasn't the only one.
Spurs are winning plaudits for the way they are playing this season, but I can't say I actually watch them play too often. I can think of a lot of better things I could do with my days than watching Spurs play such as having a nap or watching paint dry. I have seen enough of them to know Arsenal will have to be at their very best to get a result from the game.
Thankfully Arsenal managed to halt the league slump from January and win their last two league games, but this game will be a different proposition. The players have been found wanting far too often over the last few seasons, and they cannot afford to give anything less than their all in this game. There can be no excuses after the game if Arsenal lose, and Spurs beat them for the second time this season.
Arsenal's home record has been pretty good so far this season with eight wins in 12 games, but they lost the two biggest games they played at home in the league. Both Liverpool and Manchester United came to Arsenal and left with all three points, but Spurs cannot be allowed to do the same. If the Arsenal players want to get the fans behind them there is no better way than giving their all against Spurs.
Wenger said fourth place would be Arsenal's trophy for this season when they went out of the FA Cup, but personally I find that a little insulting. I'm not a fan who demands a trophy every season, but equally I'm not happy with my club foregoing a whole season because they got their planning so wrong last summer. The Arsenal squad need a lot of strengthening last summer, but instead it was weakened even further.
Top quality players were sold and replaced with players who were not as good as them, and when Arsenal's usual injuries kicked in the team struggled. Those struggles are still continuing, and besides the 7-1 victory over Blackburn Arsenal have rarely looked convincing this season. The team is hurting, and the fans feel that pain more than anyone else.
Arsenal were set up to play with Cesc as their creative midfielder, but since he left that have nobody to play that role. Possibly Jack Wilshire might have stepped up to play there, but he hasn't played at all this season because of injury. The failure to even attempt to replace Cesc while the club made a huge profit from transfers is a sin the fans are finding it hard to forgive.
Maybe Arsenal should switch their formation to suit their personnel a little better, but the current style is hard to keep to without a playmaker. They also need to get their tempo back into their game, and stop passing at a snail's pace. When Arsenal play the game at a high tempo they are capable of putting any team under real pressure.
It would be great to see Arsenal go at Spurs from the first minute, and put their players under pressure every time they are in possession. Whether the players have the belief and the desire to do that or not is another matter altogether. In former days the team had enough character to overcome almost any obstacle, but that character seems to be missing all too often this season.
Despite my negativity about the team I still believe they can and will beat Spurs, but I think it will be a very tight game. Spurs have some very good players who can cause Arsenal real problems, but they don't have the best player in the Premier League. RVP has scored 22 league goals already this season, and hopefully he can add to his tally against Spurs.
The game will also see the return of Emmanuel Adebayor to Arsenal in a Spurs shirt, and he's a player the Arsenal fans love to hate. They have had their run-ins with him in the past, but hopefully the abuse will stick to acceptable levels this time. He's on loan at Spurs from Manchester City this season, but he won't be joining them next season as they can't afford to pay his wages.
He left Arsenal under a cloud when his performances slipped and his greed got the better of him. There is no way he will be taking a pay cut to join Spurs or any other club, and it doesn't leave him with many options for next season. I'm sure he would love to score against Arsenal, but I'm equally sure the Arsenal fans would love to see him on a losing side.
My prediction for the game is for Arsenal to win 3-2, and if they do so they will be level in fourth place at worst. They have games against two of the teams just behind them coming up in the next few weeks, and it's a real testing time for the team. Hopefully the players can find the character that seems to be missing at times, and come through those games with all guns blazing.
Fourth place may not sound like a trophy, but with the season Arsenal have had I would settle for it right now.
That's it for today.
Here's a goal from a man who always loved scoring against Spurs.
See you tomorrow.
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
Arsenal's Champions League Trip To AC Milan Previewed
It seems like such a short time ago that Arsenal topped their Champions League group to qualify for the last 16. It was a pretty good achievement for Arsenal considering that they had the champions of Germany and Greece in their group, as well as the runners-up from the French league. Other Premier League teams fell at that stage of the competition, and now face the prospect of Thursday night football in the Europa League.
Arsenal probably got the toughest draw possible for them in the last 16 with a trip to Italian league leaders AC Milan. Milan came through a group with current champions Barcelona, and they performed very well in their games against the best team in the world. It won't be an easy task for Arsenal to triumph over the current Italian champions over two legs, and they need to get a good result from the first leg to have a good chance.
The only injury Arsenal picked up on Saturday against Sunderland wax the one Per Mertesacker got, and he looks certain to miss this game. Arsene Wenger has a choice to make in his defence with Mertesacker injured, and it could be a very important one for the team. Thomas Vermaelen has been deployed at left-back recently, but it looks like he might move to a central defensive role.
If Vermaelen moves into a central role Wenger has to pick either Kieran Gibbs or Francis Coquelin as the other full-back to play with Bacary Sagna. Gibbs hasn't played since his injury a couple of months ago, and it would be a surprise if he made his comeback in such a big game. Coquelin is not a full-back though, and it would be a risk to play him too.
There is always the option of switching Sagna to left-back, and playing Coquelin at right-back I suppose. It's a decision that could have a profound effect on the game, and it's very hard to know which way the manager will go. Whoever he chooses will need a lot of help from the rest of the team, and I'm sure he will get it too.
In midfield I would expect to see Aaron Ramsey return in place of Tomas Rosicky who has played quite well in the last two games. I thought Ramsey needed a rest, and the time he spent on the bench recently will hopefully have done him some good. He came on for the last 20 minutes on Saturday, and scored the crucial equalising goal for Arsenal before they went on to win.
The other big decisions for Wenger will be who he chooses to play in the two wide roles on either side of Robin van Persie. Both Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain struggled against a very tight Sunderland defence on Saturday, but surely Milan will show more ambition than Sunderland did. I suspect that he will play the two of them from the start again, but if he decides not to then Andrey Arshavin will step up.
Arshavin has not been at his best for a long time for Arsenal, but his assist for Thierry Henry's winning goal on Saturday was a glimpse of the class he still possesses. I wish that would produce that magic a lot more often for Arsenal, but it just doesn't seem to happen. The other option for Wenger is to start Henry, but I would imagine he will be limited to another cameo role from the bench.
The last time Arsenal went to Milan they had a fantastic 2-0 win, and a similar result would be absolutely fantastic for them. They played Milan off the pitch that night, but they won't have it all their own way this time. Arsenal are not as strong now as they were then, but they do have a togetherness that could stand to them.
I'm sure they will have to withstand a lot of Milan pressure from Milan at certain times in the game, but the further they push forward the more vulnerable they might be. Walcott is at his best when there is space for him to run into, and if Milan push too far forward he might just get a little joy. On the other side Oxlade-Chamberlain is a relative unknown player to them, and it's a chance for him to shine on a really big stage.
If Oxlade-Chamberlain is going to do enough to make it into the England squad for Euro 2012 then this is the type of game where he could get noticed. He has bags of talent and he would be a great addition to the England squad in my opinion.
Even if Arsenal's wide players don't get a lot of joy they still have RVP to lead their attack, and he is having his best season ever for them. He has 28 goals in all competitions this season for Arsenal, and four of them came in four Champions League starts. I'm sure Milan will be watching him very closely, but I'm equally sure that he's capable of scoring against any team.
Mikael Arteta has been an excellent signing for Arsenal this season, and he's the player that keeps the midfield ticking. He's finally getting a chance to play at the top level in football, and he is doing all he can to make sure he is a success. I would imagine that he will be the Arsenal player who completes most passes by the time the game is over as usual.
It's a tough task for the team, but the wins they got in their last two Premier League games will be a real boost for them. The 7-1 win over Blackburn was great for morale, but the win over Sunderland might have been even more important. The team were facing down the barrel of a gun with 20 minutes left against the most in-form team in the league, and they dug deep to pull out a well deserved victory.
They will need that fighting spirit against a Milan team that have only conceded five goals at home in the Italian league in 11 games so far this season. I think Arsenal have the ability and the courage to get a result from the game, as long as they believe in themselves. I'm predicting a 2-1 win for Arsenal, and I'm hoping for a performance to silence all the doubters.
Even if Arsenal don't get a win I hope they can do enough to keep themselves in the tie for the return game in three weeks time. They have some tough games in between the games against Milan, but they will also be fascinating games to watch for all Arsenal fans.
I would imagine Gervinho will return to the squad in the next few days after his trials and tribulations at the African Cup of Nations. He missed the crucial penalty in the shootout which handed the trophy to Zambia, and it was clear that he didn't want to take the penalty either. Hopefully it won't effect his game when he returns, and maybe the return to his club will be what he needs to take his mind off it.
That's it for today.
Here's the highlights of that 2-0 win for Arsenal away to AC Milan in March 2008.
See you tomorrow.
Arsenal probably got the toughest draw possible for them in the last 16 with a trip to Italian league leaders AC Milan. Milan came through a group with current champions Barcelona, and they performed very well in their games against the best team in the world. It won't be an easy task for Arsenal to triumph over the current Italian champions over two legs, and they need to get a good result from the first leg to have a good chance.
The only injury Arsenal picked up on Saturday against Sunderland wax the one Per Mertesacker got, and he looks certain to miss this game. Arsene Wenger has a choice to make in his defence with Mertesacker injured, and it could be a very important one for the team. Thomas Vermaelen has been deployed at left-back recently, but it looks like he might move to a central defensive role.
If Vermaelen moves into a central role Wenger has to pick either Kieran Gibbs or Francis Coquelin as the other full-back to play with Bacary Sagna. Gibbs hasn't played since his injury a couple of months ago, and it would be a surprise if he made his comeback in such a big game. Coquelin is not a full-back though, and it would be a risk to play him too.
There is always the option of switching Sagna to left-back, and playing Coquelin at right-back I suppose. It's a decision that could have a profound effect on the game, and it's very hard to know which way the manager will go. Whoever he chooses will need a lot of help from the rest of the team, and I'm sure he will get it too.
In midfield I would expect to see Aaron Ramsey return in place of Tomas Rosicky who has played quite well in the last two games. I thought Ramsey needed a rest, and the time he spent on the bench recently will hopefully have done him some good. He came on for the last 20 minutes on Saturday, and scored the crucial equalising goal for Arsenal before they went on to win.
The other big decisions for Wenger will be who he chooses to play in the two wide roles on either side of Robin van Persie. Both Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain struggled against a very tight Sunderland defence on Saturday, but surely Milan will show more ambition than Sunderland did. I suspect that he will play the two of them from the start again, but if he decides not to then Andrey Arshavin will step up.
Arshavin has not been at his best for a long time for Arsenal, but his assist for Thierry Henry's winning goal on Saturday was a glimpse of the class he still possesses. I wish that would produce that magic a lot more often for Arsenal, but it just doesn't seem to happen. The other option for Wenger is to start Henry, but I would imagine he will be limited to another cameo role from the bench.
The last time Arsenal went to Milan they had a fantastic 2-0 win, and a similar result would be absolutely fantastic for them. They played Milan off the pitch that night, but they won't have it all their own way this time. Arsenal are not as strong now as they were then, but they do have a togetherness that could stand to them.
I'm sure they will have to withstand a lot of Milan pressure from Milan at certain times in the game, but the further they push forward the more vulnerable they might be. Walcott is at his best when there is space for him to run into, and if Milan push too far forward he might just get a little joy. On the other side Oxlade-Chamberlain is a relative unknown player to them, and it's a chance for him to shine on a really big stage.
If Oxlade-Chamberlain is going to do enough to make it into the England squad for Euro 2012 then this is the type of game where he could get noticed. He has bags of talent and he would be a great addition to the England squad in my opinion.
Even if Arsenal's wide players don't get a lot of joy they still have RVP to lead their attack, and he is having his best season ever for them. He has 28 goals in all competitions this season for Arsenal, and four of them came in four Champions League starts. I'm sure Milan will be watching him very closely, but I'm equally sure that he's capable of scoring against any team.
Mikael Arteta has been an excellent signing for Arsenal this season, and he's the player that keeps the midfield ticking. He's finally getting a chance to play at the top level in football, and he is doing all he can to make sure he is a success. I would imagine that he will be the Arsenal player who completes most passes by the time the game is over as usual.
It's a tough task for the team, but the wins they got in their last two Premier League games will be a real boost for them. The 7-1 win over Blackburn was great for morale, but the win over Sunderland might have been even more important. The team were facing down the barrel of a gun with 20 minutes left against the most in-form team in the league, and they dug deep to pull out a well deserved victory.
They will need that fighting spirit against a Milan team that have only conceded five goals at home in the Italian league in 11 games so far this season. I think Arsenal have the ability and the courage to get a result from the game, as long as they believe in themselves. I'm predicting a 2-1 win for Arsenal, and I'm hoping for a performance to silence all the doubters.
Even if Arsenal don't get a win I hope they can do enough to keep themselves in the tie for the return game in three weeks time. They have some tough games in between the games against Milan, but they will also be fascinating games to watch for all Arsenal fans.
I would imagine Gervinho will return to the squad in the next few days after his trials and tribulations at the African Cup of Nations. He missed the crucial penalty in the shootout which handed the trophy to Zambia, and it was clear that he didn't want to take the penalty either. Hopefully it won't effect his game when he returns, and maybe the return to his club will be what he needs to take his mind off it.
That's it for today.
Here's the highlights of that 2-0 win for Arsenal away to AC Milan in March 2008.
See you tomorrow.
Monday, 13 February 2012
Arsenal Player Ratings Against Sunderlnd
This is the first time I've attempted to rate the performances of the Arsenal players in a game, and I'll do my best to be as fair as possible. It's always that bit easier to rate players when they have won a game, and thankfully Arsenal managed to get a last gasp winner. The man to score that goal was the legendary Thierry Henry, and it was fitting for him to do so in his last game for them in the Premier League.
The average score out of 10 for a player is six in my rating, and I'll try to be as fair as possible in my assessment.
Wojciech Szczesny:
Wojciech Szczesny had very little to do in the first half of the game, but when he was called upon in the second half he wasn't found wanting. He made two excellent saves from Craig Gardner at a time when Sunderland were on top, and they proved to be crucial. Despite playing so well there was absolutely nothing he could do about James McLean's superb finish for Sunderland's goal.
The average score out of 10 for a player is six in my rating, and I'll try to be as fair as possible in my assessment.
Wojciech Szczesny:
Wojciech Szczesny had very little to do in the first half of the game, but when he was called upon in the second half he wasn't found wanting. He made two excellent saves from Craig Gardner at a time when Sunderland were on top, and they proved to be crucial. Despite playing so well there was absolutely nothing he could do about James McLean's superb finish for Sunderland's goal.
Overall I was impressed with Szczesny's performance, and the score I have given him reflects that.
Szczesny 8/10
Thomas Vermaelen:
Szczesny 8/10
Thomas Vermaelen:
Thomas Vermaelen has been asked to play at left-back for Arsenal for a while now, and he has performed admirably. He does play in that position for Belgium, but normally he would prefer to play as a central defender. Defensively Vermaelen was as strong as he always is, and he tried as much as he could to join in with the attack too.
He's not a natural wide player, but he did as much as he could to support Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, as Arsenal tried to get behind a resolute Sunderland team. When Sunderland looked dangerous in attack it was never on Vermaelen's side, and he can be happy with his performance on the day.
Vermaelen 7/10
Bacary Sagna:
He's not a natural wide player, but he did as much as he could to support Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, as Arsenal tried to get behind a resolute Sunderland team. When Sunderland looked dangerous in attack it was never on Vermaelen's side, and he can be happy with his performance on the day.
Vermaelen 7/10
Bacary Sagna:
Bacary Sagna has been missed by Arsenal for the last few months as he recovered from a broken leg. This was his first full game back in the Premier League, and his contribution was one of the factors in Arsenal's strong defensive display. Sunderland never looked like opening up either of Arsenal's full-backs, and it was great to see Sagna back in the team doing what he does best.
He tried as much as he could to support Theo Walcott when Arsenal attacked, but it wasn't easy to penetrate a packed Sunderland defence. I'm sure his attacking instincts will return over the next few weeks, but it was most important that he got his defending right.
Sagna 7/10
Laurent Koscielny:
He tried as much as he could to support Theo Walcott when Arsenal attacked, but it wasn't easy to penetrate a packed Sunderland defence. I'm sure his attacking instincts will return over the next few weeks, but it was most important that he got his defending right.
Sagna 7/10
Laurent Koscielny:
Laurent Koscielny seems to get better week by week in the Arsenal team. He is rarely troubled by the opposition, and he was at his best again against Sunderland. Fraizer Campbell has looked very good since his return from injury, but Koscielny marshaled him so well that he never got a chance to score.
Koscielny also tried to support the team as they went forward, but again his defending was the most important part of his game.
When he resumes a central defensive partnership with Vermaelen, Arsenal will have a formidable pairing to match any team in the Premier League.
7/10
Per Mertesacker:
Koscielny also tried to support the team as they went forward, but again his defending was the most important part of his game.
When he resumes a central defensive partnership with Vermaelen, Arsenal will have a formidable pairing to match any team in the Premier League.
7/10
Per Mertesacker:
Per Mertesacker was having a good game when disaster struck for him with 20 minutes to go. He tried to take the ball under control when there was absolutely no danger, but he went down in agony with an ankle injury.
Unfortunately for Mertesacker and Arsenal, McLean took advantage of his injury to put Sunderland ahead.
The goal was by no means Mertesacker's fault, and he will probably be out for quite a while with his injury. Besides that goal, Mertesacker was solid on the day and rarely troubled by a Sunderland team that showed very little adventure.
6/10
Alex Song:
Unfortunately for Mertesacker and Arsenal, McLean took advantage of his injury to put Sunderland ahead.
The goal was by no means Mertesacker's fault, and he will probably be out for quite a while with his injury. Besides that goal, Mertesacker was solid on the day and rarely troubled by a Sunderland team that showed very little adventure.
6/10
Alex Song:
Alex Song played the defensive role in front of Arsenal's back four as he usually does. He rarely looked troubled by a Sunderland team that was intent on stopping Arsenal from scoring, and trying to hit them on the break.
Song's passing was a little sloppy at times, as his concentration seemed to wane a little.
He is the first-choice player for Arsenal in his role and he might just need to feel some pressure on his place for him to perform a little better. He dropped back to a central defensive role when Mertesacker went off injured, and he looked comfortable in the role.
6/10
Mikael Arteta:
Song's passing was a little sloppy at times, as his concentration seemed to wane a little.
He is the first-choice player for Arsenal in his role and he might just need to feel some pressure on his place for him to perform a little better. He dropped back to a central defensive role when Mertesacker went off injured, and he looked comfortable in the role.
6/10
Mikael Arteta:
Mikael Arteta is Mr. Dependable for Arsenal, as he keeps the whole team ticking over. He plays the pivotal role in midfield, and he is always looking to get on the ball. His passing range is excellent and he never gave up trying to drive Arsenal forward against Sunderland.
It was his deflected shot which led to Aaron Ramsey equalising for Arsenal, and from there on, they were favourites to win. Even with time running out, Arteta never stopped doing the right things and Arsenal got their reward in the end.
7/10
Tomas Rosicky:
It was his deflected shot which led to Aaron Ramsey equalising for Arsenal, and from there on, they were favourites to win. Even with time running out, Arteta never stopped doing the right things and Arsenal got their reward in the end.
7/10
Tomas Rosicky:
Tomas Rosicky has had to wait for his chance in the Arsenal team this season, but he has started their last two games in place of Aaron Ramsey. He was always looking to get on the ball and drive the team forward, but his passing was a little wayward at times.
Despite getting into good positions, he was unable to pick out any killer passes and he hasn't scored in so long that he seems to have forgotten how to do so.
He still played very well in a game in which Arsenal struggled to create chances against a defensively minded team. I'm sure he will see plenty of game time between now and the end of the season.
6/10
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain:
Despite getting into good positions, he was unable to pick out any killer passes and he hasn't scored in so long that he seems to have forgotten how to do so.
He still played very well in a game in which Arsenal struggled to create chances against a defensively minded team. I'm sure he will see plenty of game time between now and the end of the season.
6/10
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain:
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has eventually gotten his chance in the Arsenal team over the last few weeks, and he has looked up to the task. He found it hard to get any space against a defensively minded Sunderland team, but at least he never stopped trying.
I'm sure he will play an awful lot better in plenty of other games for Arsenal this season and in the future too.
The game will have been a good lesson for him in how difficult life in the Premier League can be no matter how good a player is. Chamberlain got very little space to operate in, and he has to learn how to deal with tight marking in the future.
5/10
Theo Walcott:
I'm sure he will play an awful lot better in plenty of other games for Arsenal this season and in the future too.
The game will have been a good lesson for him in how difficult life in the Premier League can be no matter how good a player is. Chamberlain got very little space to operate in, and he has to learn how to deal with tight marking in the future.
5/10
Theo Walcott:
Like Oxlade-Chamberlain on the other side, Walcott found it hard to get into a match where he was denied space. He is at his best when opponents push up and he can use his incredible speed to run behind their defences.
With Sunderland sitting deep, there was very little opportunity for him to make a break.
He did have one good shooting opportunity in the first half, but his effort was wide of the far post from an acute angle. I was a little surprised that he was kept on for so long, but his replacement was the man who managed to make the winning goal for Arsenal.
5/10
Robin van Persie:
With Sunderland sitting deep, there was very little opportunity for him to make a break.
He did have one good shooting opportunity in the first half, but his effort was wide of the far post from an acute angle. I was a little surprised that he was kept on for so long, but his replacement was the man who managed to make the winning goal for Arsenal.
5/10
Robin van Persie:
Robin van Persie is the leading scorer in the Premier League so far this season and he's in superb form at the moment. He found it hard to find space against a packed Sunderland defence, and his attempts on goal were very limited. He did have one header late on, but it was straight at Simon Mignolet and the keeper wasn't troubled by it.
As always, RVP gave all he had for the Arsenal cause, but it wasn't one of his better games. I'm sure he will score plenty of goals before the season ends, but he never looked like doing so yesterday.
He scores so many of his goals from cutbacks, but the Arsenal wide players never managed to penetrate the Sunderland defence to make those chances for him.
6/10
Thierry Henry:
As always, RVP gave all he had for the Arsenal cause, but it wasn't one of his better games. I'm sure he will score plenty of goals before the season ends, but he never looked like doing so yesterday.
He scores so many of his goals from cutbacks, but the Arsenal wide players never managed to penetrate the Sunderland defence to make those chances for him.
6/10
Thierry Henry:
I was a little unsure about Thierry Henry returning to Arsenal on loan from the New York Red Bulls. I didn't know if he would have anything to offer the team, but I am delighted to say that he really proved his worth.
In just over 90 minutes of action for Arsenal, he scored three goals—and two of them were game-winning goals.
He came on for Oxlade-Chamberlain against Sunderland to play in a wide role, but he moved to a central role as Arsenal looked to find a winning goal. When Andrey Arshavin played a fantastic cross in injury time, Henry was where any good striker should be to poke the ball home. He celebrated with the Arsenal fans after the goal and at the full-time whistle too.
It's difficult to judge what influence he had in the dressing room during his few weeks on loan at Arsenal, but his influence on their season could be immense.
The victory over Sunderland was a very important one for Arsenal, and it was Henry who got the crucial goal. The rating I have given him reflects every single goal he scored for the team.
229/10
Aaron Ramsey:
In just over 90 minutes of action for Arsenal, he scored three goals—and two of them were game-winning goals.
He came on for Oxlade-Chamberlain against Sunderland to play in a wide role, but he moved to a central role as Arsenal looked to find a winning goal. When Andrey Arshavin played a fantastic cross in injury time, Henry was where any good striker should be to poke the ball home. He celebrated with the Arsenal fans after the goal and at the full-time whistle too.
It's difficult to judge what influence he had in the dressing room during his few weeks on loan at Arsenal, but his influence on their season could be immense.
The victory over Sunderland was a very important one for Arsenal, and it was Henry who got the crucial goal. The rating I have given him reflects every single goal he scored for the team.
229/10
Aaron Ramsey:
Aaron Ramsey had looked tired in recent games and he was left out of the team last week against Blackburn. I was a little surprised that he didn't return to the starting 11 against Sunderland, but when he came on, he had an immediate impact. He latched on a blocked shot from Arteta to score from the edge of the box for Arsenal's equaliser.
He may have only been on the pitch for 20 minutes, but he had a huge impact, and I think he will start against AC Milan on Wednesday night. As Arsenal tried to grind Sunderland down in the closing minutes, Ramsey showed plenty of enthusiasm and energy, and the break looks to have helped him.
7/10
Andrey Arshavin:
He may have only been on the pitch for 20 minutes, but he had a huge impact, and I think he will start against AC Milan on Wednesday night. As Arsenal tried to grind Sunderland down in the closing minutes, Ramsey showed plenty of enthusiasm and energy, and the break looks to have helped him.
7/10
Andrey Arshavin:
Andrey Arshavin has had a poor season by his standards so far this season for Arsenal, and when he came on with three minutes lef,t I didn't expect too much from him.
However, his contribution was telling in the few minutes he played and his cross for the winning goal was quite superb. He had two Sunderland players on him, but he managed to get in a cross that went over the defender's head and straight on to the boot of Henry.
Hopefully, that assist will be the boost Arshavin needs and he can return to the form he showed in his first season at Arsenal. He was one of three substitutes who turned the game around for Arsenal, and showed the advantage of having a strong bench.
It's not easy to rate a player on a few minutes of play, but his contribution in that time helped.
7/10
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
However, his contribution was telling in the few minutes he played and his cross for the winning goal was quite superb. He had two Sunderland players on him, but he managed to get in a cross that went over the defender's head and straight on to the boot of Henry.
Hopefully, that assist will be the boost Arshavin needs and he can return to the form he showed in his first season at Arsenal. He was one of three substitutes who turned the game around for Arsenal, and showed the advantage of having a strong bench.
It's not easy to rate a player on a few minutes of play, but his contribution in that time helped.
7/10
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Sunday, 12 February 2012
Arsenal Beat Sunderland To Move Into Fourth Place In The Premier League
Arsenal made the tough trip to an in form Sunderland yesterday knowing that they needed all three points to help them in their battle for fourth place. Earlier in the day Liverpool had lost to Manchester United, and that gave Arsenal an opportunity to open a four point gap on them. Both Chelsea and Newcastle had tough away games too, and a win for Arsenal would have been a huge boost for them.
Arsene Wenger made only one change from the team that beat Blackburn 7-1 last week, as Bacary Sagna returned at right-back in place of Francis Coquelin. The Arsenal bench looked stronger than it had done in a while, and Wenger had some really good options available to him in case of emergency.
From the start it was obvious that Sunderland were going to get as many men as possible behind the ball at all times. They tried their best to deny Arsenal space, and prevent them from attacking from the wings too. It meant that Arsenal had a lot of possession in front of the Sunderland penalty area, but they created very little.
There were very few goalscoring opportunities in the first half, and neither goalkeeper was really extended too much. Arsenal had the better of that first half, but Sunderland did look dangerous on the break a couple of times. Arsenal needed to up the tempo of their game in the second half if they were going to take the three points.
I had hoped Sunderland would tire in the second half after their midweek FA Cup exertions, and Arsenal might be able to take advantage of it. Arsenal seemed to be on top at the start of the second half, but slowly Sunderland made their way into the game. Wojciech Szczesny had to make two very good saves from Craig Gardner in quick succession to keep Arsenal in the game.
Arsenal brought Thierry Henry on for the ineffectual Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain midway through the second half, but they found themselves trailing soon afterwards. Laurent Koscielny played an innocuous pass to Per Mertescaker just outside the Arsenal box, but Mertesacker fell over as he attempted to control the ball. James McLean raced on to the slip, and finished excellently into the far corner past the despairing Szczesny.
The pitch at Sunderland was in poor condition, and it looked like Mertesacker caught his studs in the turf before going down. He was stretchered off, and it looks like he might have some ligament damage in his ankle. I would imagine he will be out for a while which could see a return to a central defensive role for Thomas Vermaelen.
Wenger brought Aaron Ramsey on for the injured Mertesacker, and Alex Song dropped back to play in the centre of defence. It wasn't long before Ramsey had an impact on the game, as he scored Arsenal's equaliser. Mikael Arteta's shot was deflected his way, and he scored from just outside the penalty area via both posts.
There were 15 minutes left to play, and Arsenal now looked the most likely team to win. Sunderland dropped deeper and deeper as they began to tire, and Arsenal went in search of a precious winner. Robin van Persie had a chance from a header towards the end, but it was straight at Simon Mignolet in the Sunderland goal.
With only three minutes left Andrey Arshavin came on for Theo Walcott, and he was to make a telling contribution. The game went into the four minutes of added time, and Arshavin swung in a magnificent cross from the Arsenal right. Henry was in the six-yard box where any good striker should be, and he prodded the ball home.
Sunderland tried to respond, but Arsenal managed to see out the last few minutes, and take all three points. It was a very hard fought victory, but it could prove to be very beneficial by the end of the season. When the other results came in Arsenal found themselves sitting in the coveted fourth place that they desire so much.
Both Walcott and Chamberlain were very well marshaled by the Sunderland defence, but thankfully Arsenal were able to utilise the skill and experience on their bench. The value of having a strong bench was never more evident for Arsenal than in this game, and the players who came on changed the game for them. Both Ramsey and Henry scored, and the much maligned Arshavin made the winning goal.
Arsenal's next three Premier League games will all be crucial in their attempts to hold on to that coveted fourth spot. They play against AC Milan and Sunderland again in the Champions League and FA Cup respectively in the next week before returning to league action. They then play at home to Spurs, away to Liverpool, and at home to Newcastle with the return leg against Milan thrown in too.
It's a really tough schedule for the team, and they will need to show the determination that they showed against Sunderland to progress in all competitions. They have now won two league games in a row, and the three defeats of January seem like a distant memory. If they can come through the next three league games unbeaten then they will probably be favourites to finish fourth.
One player who won't be able to help them do so any more is Henry, as he will be returning to the New York Red Bulls after Wednesday night's game in Milan. His contribution may not have been much in terms of minutes played, but he scored two vitally important goals. He got them through the third round of the FA Cup with the only goal of the game against Leeds before getting that dramatic winner against Sunderland as well.
He did manage to score the seventh goal against Blackburn last week, but there was a little less importance attached to that goal. I don't know if he will get the chance to play against Milan on Wednesday night, but I'm sure he will again take the opportunity to say farewell to the traveling Arsenal fans after the game. He extended his record as Arsenal's highest scorer of all time during his few weeks on loan, and lived up to his reputation as a living legend.
I wasn't so sure how things would work out for him on loan at Arsenal for those few weeks, but they were a resounding success. Let's just hope the team can keep a hold of the momentum he has helped them to build, and finish this season on a high for a change. The FA Cup is a real target in terms of trophies, and Champions League qualification is within their grasp too.
If the team hold on to fourth place and win the FA Cup I will be a very happy fan considering how the season started. I still can't see the Champions League as a genuine target for them to win, but hopefully they can at least turn over Milan and reach the last eight. I'll preview that game in the next couple of days, but for the moment it's time to wallow in the sweet smell of a Thierry Henry inspired win.
That's it for today.
Here's the highlights from yesterday's game.
See you tomorrow.
Arsene Wenger made only one change from the team that beat Blackburn 7-1 last week, as Bacary Sagna returned at right-back in place of Francis Coquelin. The Arsenal bench looked stronger than it had done in a while, and Wenger had some really good options available to him in case of emergency.
From the start it was obvious that Sunderland were going to get as many men as possible behind the ball at all times. They tried their best to deny Arsenal space, and prevent them from attacking from the wings too. It meant that Arsenal had a lot of possession in front of the Sunderland penalty area, but they created very little.
There were very few goalscoring opportunities in the first half, and neither goalkeeper was really extended too much. Arsenal had the better of that first half, but Sunderland did look dangerous on the break a couple of times. Arsenal needed to up the tempo of their game in the second half if they were going to take the three points.
I had hoped Sunderland would tire in the second half after their midweek FA Cup exertions, and Arsenal might be able to take advantage of it. Arsenal seemed to be on top at the start of the second half, but slowly Sunderland made their way into the game. Wojciech Szczesny had to make two very good saves from Craig Gardner in quick succession to keep Arsenal in the game.
Arsenal brought Thierry Henry on for the ineffectual Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain midway through the second half, but they found themselves trailing soon afterwards. Laurent Koscielny played an innocuous pass to Per Mertescaker just outside the Arsenal box, but Mertesacker fell over as he attempted to control the ball. James McLean raced on to the slip, and finished excellently into the far corner past the despairing Szczesny.
The pitch at Sunderland was in poor condition, and it looked like Mertesacker caught his studs in the turf before going down. He was stretchered off, and it looks like he might have some ligament damage in his ankle. I would imagine he will be out for a while which could see a return to a central defensive role for Thomas Vermaelen.
Wenger brought Aaron Ramsey on for the injured Mertesacker, and Alex Song dropped back to play in the centre of defence. It wasn't long before Ramsey had an impact on the game, as he scored Arsenal's equaliser. Mikael Arteta's shot was deflected his way, and he scored from just outside the penalty area via both posts.
There were 15 minutes left to play, and Arsenal now looked the most likely team to win. Sunderland dropped deeper and deeper as they began to tire, and Arsenal went in search of a precious winner. Robin van Persie had a chance from a header towards the end, but it was straight at Simon Mignolet in the Sunderland goal.
With only three minutes left Andrey Arshavin came on for Theo Walcott, and he was to make a telling contribution. The game went into the four minutes of added time, and Arshavin swung in a magnificent cross from the Arsenal right. Henry was in the six-yard box where any good striker should be, and he prodded the ball home.
Sunderland tried to respond, but Arsenal managed to see out the last few minutes, and take all three points. It was a very hard fought victory, but it could prove to be very beneficial by the end of the season. When the other results came in Arsenal found themselves sitting in the coveted fourth place that they desire so much.
Both Walcott and Chamberlain were very well marshaled by the Sunderland defence, but thankfully Arsenal were able to utilise the skill and experience on their bench. The value of having a strong bench was never more evident for Arsenal than in this game, and the players who came on changed the game for them. Both Ramsey and Henry scored, and the much maligned Arshavin made the winning goal.
Arsenal's next three Premier League games will all be crucial in their attempts to hold on to that coveted fourth spot. They play against AC Milan and Sunderland again in the Champions League and FA Cup respectively in the next week before returning to league action. They then play at home to Spurs, away to Liverpool, and at home to Newcastle with the return leg against Milan thrown in too.
It's a really tough schedule for the team, and they will need to show the determination that they showed against Sunderland to progress in all competitions. They have now won two league games in a row, and the three defeats of January seem like a distant memory. If they can come through the next three league games unbeaten then they will probably be favourites to finish fourth.
One player who won't be able to help them do so any more is Henry, as he will be returning to the New York Red Bulls after Wednesday night's game in Milan. His contribution may not have been much in terms of minutes played, but he scored two vitally important goals. He got them through the third round of the FA Cup with the only goal of the game against Leeds before getting that dramatic winner against Sunderland as well.
He did manage to score the seventh goal against Blackburn last week, but there was a little less importance attached to that goal. I don't know if he will get the chance to play against Milan on Wednesday night, but I'm sure he will again take the opportunity to say farewell to the traveling Arsenal fans after the game. He extended his record as Arsenal's highest scorer of all time during his few weeks on loan, and lived up to his reputation as a living legend.
I wasn't so sure how things would work out for him on loan at Arsenal for those few weeks, but they were a resounding success. Let's just hope the team can keep a hold of the momentum he has helped them to build, and finish this season on a high for a change. The FA Cup is a real target in terms of trophies, and Champions League qualification is within their grasp too.
If the team hold on to fourth place and win the FA Cup I will be a very happy fan considering how the season started. I still can't see the Champions League as a genuine target for them to win, but hopefully they can at least turn over Milan and reach the last eight. I'll preview that game in the next couple of days, but for the moment it's time to wallow in the sweet smell of a Thierry Henry inspired win.
That's it for today.
Here's the highlights from yesterday's game.
See you tomorrow.
Saturday, 28 January 2012
Arsenal's FA Cup Game With Aston Villa Previewed
Arsenal have a long and glorious history in the FA Cup, and only Manchester United have won the competition more often than them. It's been almost seven years since Arsenal last won the FA Cup, and it was also the last trophy they won. The way Arsenal's season is panning out I think the FA Cup has to be seen as their best chance of glory this season.
The draw has been fairly kind to Arsenal so far with two home games against teams they would be expected to beat. In the last round they beat Championship side Leeds United thanks to a goal from the returning Thierry Henry. It was a night that will be remembered for a long time by the Arsenal faithful, but only because of that Henry goal.
Besides that goal Arsenal struggled to beat a team which they should have easily beaten. Since the turn of the year Arsenal have being really struggling, and they followed up that victory over Leeds with three successive Premier League defeats. Their chances of having a say in the title race may be gone, but there is still hope that they can finish in the top four and qualify for next season's Champions League.
For them to do that they need to start getting some of their injured players back into the squad. It looks like those players are finally starting to return, and Bacary Sagna, Mikael Arteta, Thierry Henry and Francis Coquelin are all possibilities for the Villa game. However, Arsenal also play away to Bolton Wanderers in the Premier League three days later, and that may mean Arsene Wenger will be a little cautious in his choices.
With Johan Djourou still carrying a slight knock I think Nico Yennaris might well get a start at right back, but otherwise the defence will be the same as it was against Manchester United last week. In midfield it would be great to see Arteta return and bring some shape to the team, but I don't think he will be risked until Wednesday. I would like to see Tomas Rosicky start again too, and maybe Aaron Ramsey should be the player to make way for him.
Ramsey has looked very tired in recent games, and I think he needs a little break. It has been almost two years since his horrific leg break against Stoke City, and he has done remarkably well to have come so far considering the injury. Only three Arsenal players have started more games than him this season, and it looks to be taking it's toll.
If Arsenal had the use of the services of both Jack Wilshere and Abu Diaby I'm sure Ramsey wouldn't have played quite so often. The injuries to both of those players have made the workload on Ramsey a little too much, and his recent performances have shown that. Of course he's not the only Arsenal player to be performing below his best at the moment.
In attack I would imagine Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will play from the start again, and it's a straight choice between Theo Walcott and Andrey Arshavin to play on the other side. Both of them are going through very poor runs at the moment, but I think Arshavin is more of a liability than Walcott. The central role is a different matter with Wenger having the option of playing either Henry or Ju Young Park in place of Robin van Persie.
If RVP plays it will show that Arsenal really are taking the FA Cup seriously this season. I would like to see them do so, but Premier League points are very precious at the moment too. The Champions League will be back in a few weeks, and Arsenal have a really tough schedule coming up.
All of the players due to return from injury will be needed if Arsenal are to have any hope of reaching their two main goals. If they finish the season in the top four, reach the last eight of the Champions League and win the FA Cup I think it will be a very successful season. The players have to find a way to put their recent form behind them, and very quickly too.
The workload on the midfield players has been immense so far this season without Wilshere and Diaby. There was bad news about Wilshere, as he suffered a setback in his recovery from his injury and Arsenal might have to do without his services for a while yet. Diaby is a different matter, and it seems nobody knows when or if he will ever return.
Arsenal have had a pretty impressive record at home this season, and their defence has been strong in those games. They may not have played with their old style and strength, but they have continued to get results most of the time.
Villa will see Arsenal as vulnerable at the moment and who can blame them. Robbie Keane scored two quite magnificent goals for them last week, and his loan move from the MLS looks to have been a smart move for them. I hope that Arsenal's loanee can make a similar impact over the next few weeks to help the team he supports.
Villa are the draw specialists of the Premier League so far this season, and I'm sure they would be happy with a draw in this game. Their best chance probably lies in going for a win, but hopefully they won't do so. Their wide players aren't of the same calibre as United's were last week, and Arsenal will hopefully be a little stronger at the back as a result.
The outcome of the game could well rest on how strong a team Arsenal play and what part RVP plays in proceedings too. He's the best striker in the Premier League by a mile this season, and if he plays at some stage Villa will be nervous of him. I hope he gets a 30 minute cameo at the end of the game and does enough to earn Arsenal a trip to the fifth round.
The draw for the fifth round will take place before Arsenal play which means the route to the last eight will be laid out for the players. A win over Villa and a favourable draw could be just the boost the players and fans alike need, and I'm predicting that they will get it. It will be a close game, but I hope the class of a few of the Arsenal players will shine through and get them the victory they so badly need.
I'm looking forward to Chamberlain growing in confidence and influence, as he gets more chances in the team. A goal for him against Villa which wins the game for Arsenal could be just what he needs to show Wenger that he has to be given more game time. He is a player that can make things happen, and Arsenal need more of them in my opinion.
That's it for today.
Here's the penalty shootout from the last time Arsenal won the FA Cup in 2005.
It's not too late to join the over 1,000 other teams in my fantasy league. There are prizes for the top three teams at the end of the season. Just go to the site and use the code 125540-42785 to join my league when your team is set up.
To join the predictions league, just go to the site and set up your predictions. Then use the code F688F-JCO to join my league. I'll update the league table in my predictions every week.
Don't forget you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook too.
I'm also a member of a very good and very active Arsenal group on Facebook, which you can join here.
See you tomorrow.
The draw has been fairly kind to Arsenal so far with two home games against teams they would be expected to beat. In the last round they beat Championship side Leeds United thanks to a goal from the returning Thierry Henry. It was a night that will be remembered for a long time by the Arsenal faithful, but only because of that Henry goal.
Besides that goal Arsenal struggled to beat a team which they should have easily beaten. Since the turn of the year Arsenal have being really struggling, and they followed up that victory over Leeds with three successive Premier League defeats. Their chances of having a say in the title race may be gone, but there is still hope that they can finish in the top four and qualify for next season's Champions League.
For them to do that they need to start getting some of their injured players back into the squad. It looks like those players are finally starting to return, and Bacary Sagna, Mikael Arteta, Thierry Henry and Francis Coquelin are all possibilities for the Villa game. However, Arsenal also play away to Bolton Wanderers in the Premier League three days later, and that may mean Arsene Wenger will be a little cautious in his choices.
With Johan Djourou still carrying a slight knock I think Nico Yennaris might well get a start at right back, but otherwise the defence will be the same as it was against Manchester United last week. In midfield it would be great to see Arteta return and bring some shape to the team, but I don't think he will be risked until Wednesday. I would like to see Tomas Rosicky start again too, and maybe Aaron Ramsey should be the player to make way for him.
Ramsey has looked very tired in recent games, and I think he needs a little break. It has been almost two years since his horrific leg break against Stoke City, and he has done remarkably well to have come so far considering the injury. Only three Arsenal players have started more games than him this season, and it looks to be taking it's toll.
If Arsenal had the use of the services of both Jack Wilshere and Abu Diaby I'm sure Ramsey wouldn't have played quite so often. The injuries to both of those players have made the workload on Ramsey a little too much, and his recent performances have shown that. Of course he's not the only Arsenal player to be performing below his best at the moment.
In attack I would imagine Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will play from the start again, and it's a straight choice between Theo Walcott and Andrey Arshavin to play on the other side. Both of them are going through very poor runs at the moment, but I think Arshavin is more of a liability than Walcott. The central role is a different matter with Wenger having the option of playing either Henry or Ju Young Park in place of Robin van Persie.
If RVP plays it will show that Arsenal really are taking the FA Cup seriously this season. I would like to see them do so, but Premier League points are very precious at the moment too. The Champions League will be back in a few weeks, and Arsenal have a really tough schedule coming up.
All of the players due to return from injury will be needed if Arsenal are to have any hope of reaching their two main goals. If they finish the season in the top four, reach the last eight of the Champions League and win the FA Cup I think it will be a very successful season. The players have to find a way to put their recent form behind them, and very quickly too.
The workload on the midfield players has been immense so far this season without Wilshere and Diaby. There was bad news about Wilshere, as he suffered a setback in his recovery from his injury and Arsenal might have to do without his services for a while yet. Diaby is a different matter, and it seems nobody knows when or if he will ever return.
Arsenal have had a pretty impressive record at home this season, and their defence has been strong in those games. They may not have played with their old style and strength, but they have continued to get results most of the time.
Villa will see Arsenal as vulnerable at the moment and who can blame them. Robbie Keane scored two quite magnificent goals for them last week, and his loan move from the MLS looks to have been a smart move for them. I hope that Arsenal's loanee can make a similar impact over the next few weeks to help the team he supports.
Villa are the draw specialists of the Premier League so far this season, and I'm sure they would be happy with a draw in this game. Their best chance probably lies in going for a win, but hopefully they won't do so. Their wide players aren't of the same calibre as United's were last week, and Arsenal will hopefully be a little stronger at the back as a result.
The outcome of the game could well rest on how strong a team Arsenal play and what part RVP plays in proceedings too. He's the best striker in the Premier League by a mile this season, and if he plays at some stage Villa will be nervous of him. I hope he gets a 30 minute cameo at the end of the game and does enough to earn Arsenal a trip to the fifth round.
The draw for the fifth round will take place before Arsenal play which means the route to the last eight will be laid out for the players. A win over Villa and a favourable draw could be just the boost the players and fans alike need, and I'm predicting that they will get it. It will be a close game, but I hope the class of a few of the Arsenal players will shine through and get them the victory they so badly need.
I'm looking forward to Chamberlain growing in confidence and influence, as he gets more chances in the team. A goal for him against Villa which wins the game for Arsenal could be just what he needs to show Wenger that he has to be given more game time. He is a player that can make things happen, and Arsenal need more of them in my opinion.
That's it for today.
Here's the penalty shootout from the last time Arsenal won the FA Cup in 2005.
It's not too late to join the over 1,000 other teams in my fantasy league. There are prizes for the top three teams at the end of the season. Just go to the site and use the code 125540-42785 to join my league when your team is set up.
To join the predictions league, just go to the site and set up your predictions. Then use the code F688F-JCO to join my league. I'll update the league table in my predictions every week.
Don't forget you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook too.
I'm also a member of a very good and very active Arsenal group on Facebook, which you can join here.
See you tomorrow.
Monday, 23 January 2012
Arsenal Lose For The Third Game In A Row
Arsenal played at home to Manchester United yesterday in a game that they really needed to take something from. Chelsea had only drawn with Norwich on Saturday, and Spurs were beaten by Manchester City earlier on Sunday. A win would put Arsenal a lot closer to fourth place, but even a draw would have been a good result.
Arsenal had lost their previous two games in the Premier League despite taking the lead in both games. The injuries to all of their full-backs were really harming the overall performance of the team, and the recent injury to Mikael Arteta had made things even worse.
There was some good news when the teams were announced, as Thomas Vermaelen returned from injury to play at left back. He's Arsenal's best centre back, but with Andre Santos and Kieran Gibbs both out he's their current best bet at left-back. Thierry Henry failed his fitness, and wasn't included in the squad.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain made his full Premier League debut, as Andrey Arshavin was left on the bench. Tomas Rosicky played in the centre of midfield in the absence of Arteta, as Yossi Benayoun didn't do well in the role last week.
It was a weak looking Arsenal team for a game against the reigning Premier League champions. In fact the Arsenal team on the day wasn't really any stronger than the team which was humiliated by United back in August. I feared what might happen if United played to their best, but I hoped that Arsenal could put in a performance to make their fans proud.
Arsenal were dreadful in the first half, and they never once looked like scoring. Time and again United looked to expose Arsenal's makeshift full-backs, and Johan Djourou had a torrid time at right-back. He was left exposed by the rest of the team far too often, and it was clear that he was very uncomfortable in that role.
United eventually made their pressure count in the last minute of the first half when they took the lead.
Djourou stood off Giggs and let him cross the ball where it was met by Antonio Valencia to head home. Vermaelen had his positioning wrong which enabled Valencia to get a run on him and win the header.
Arsenal needed to do something at half time to get themselves back into the game, and Arsene Wenger brought Nico Yennaris for his Premier League debut in place of Djourou. Apparently Djourou picked up a knock, but I suspect he was withdrawn to save him from further punishment. Yennaris definitely did better than Djourou, but he also had a lot more help from his team-mates.
Arsenal gradually got back into the game and should have equalised, but Robin van Persie missed a great chance to do so. United made a mistake at the back when Chris Smalling slipped, and Rosicky pounced on his error. I thought he should have shot himself, but when he passed to RVP it looked easier for Arsenal to score than miss.
Arsenal were still vulnerable at the back, but they were now making chances at the other end too. The equaliser arrived with 20 minutes left when Chamberlain played a pass to RVP in the box, and he turned and shot across the keeper into the far corner. An unlikely victory for Arsenal looked like it might just be on the cards if they could continue to play well.
Soon after the goal Wenger brought Arshavin on for Chamberlain, and the Arsenal fans were far from happy with the decision. Wenger said after the game that Chamberlain wasn't used to playing 90 minutes at this level, and he needed to be taken off. It was a move that was to have consequences later in the game.
With nine minutes left Arshavin turned his back as Valencia feigned to cross the ball, and Valencia went past him into the box. He cut the ball back for Danny Wellbeck to make it 2-1 for United despite Arshavin doing his best to catch Valencia. It was a huge blow for Arsenal, and they didn't look capable of recovering from it.
A few minutes later the ineffectual Aaron Ramsey was withdrawn and he was replaced by Ju Young Park who was also making his Premier League debut. Arsenal pushed Per Mertesacker up to play as an emergency centre forward for the last few minutes, but despite a few crosses into the box they couldn't find the net. The game ended soon afterwards, and Arsenal had lost their third Premier League game in row.
It's easy to make scapegoats of certain players, but very few Arsenal players emerged from the game with credit. I was impressed with Chamberlain, and I think he has to be given his chance ahead of Arshavin until Gervinho returns at least. RVP took his goal really well, but it's hard to fathom how he missed the other great chance he had.
Arshavin did nothing when he came on, and his part in United's winning goal was telling. He looks disinterested at best, and I can;t see a place for him in the team at all. I think Arsenal should cut their losses, and sell Arshavin if they can.
At the back Laurent Koscielny looked impressive yet again, but it's unfair to judge both Djourou and Vermaelen on their performances out of position. Ramsey and Theo Walcott were ineffectual at best, and the team looks completely devoid of confidence at the moment. The injured players can't return quickly enough, but if they're not back soon Arsenal's chances of a trophy this season could be gone.
They play Aston Villa in the FA Cup next weekend, and the only player who might be back by then is Arteta. His return would be welcome, but others are needed, and needed urgently. It looks very unlikely that Arsenal will add to the squad in the current transfer window either, and the players they have will have to do the business for them.
United were most definitely the best team on the day, and they deserved their three points. There were no dodgy refereeing decisions against Arsenal for a change, and the referee didn't even buy a dive from Wayne Rooney in the first half. The fact that he chose not to give Rooney a yellow card is another matter, but at least he didn't give him a penalty.
Arsenal have a week to work as a team ahead of the Villa game, and the FA Cup is their only realistic chance of a trophy this season in my opinion. I hope they can put the disappointments of their last three games behind them, but it's only a hope at the moment. After Villa there's two Premier League games in four days, and there's a chance Arsenal will have real full-backs available for those games.
They quite simply have to win away to Bolton and at home to Blackburn in those games, or they could see themselves dropping to seventh rather than chasing for fourth. I would love to see a player to make a genuine difference to the team arrive before any of those games, but I don't think it will happen. I think the arrival of a quality player could be the boost the squad needs at the moment, and might help them to rebound.
It's not a good time to be an Arsenal fan or an Arsenal player either, but hopefully the fans can help the team to turn the corner.
That's it for today.
Here's Robin van Persie's goal from yesterday.
It's not too late to join the over 1,000 other teams in my fantasy league. There are prizes for the top three teams at the end of the season. Just go to the site and use the code 125540-42785 to join my league when your team is set up.
To join the predictions league, just go to the site and set up your predictions. Then use the code F688F-JCO to join my league. I'll update the league table in my predictions every week.
Don't forget you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook too.
I'm also a member of a very good and very active Arsenal group on Facebook, which you can join here.
See you tomorrow.
Arsenal had lost their previous two games in the Premier League despite taking the lead in both games. The injuries to all of their full-backs were really harming the overall performance of the team, and the recent injury to Mikael Arteta had made things even worse.
There was some good news when the teams were announced, as Thomas Vermaelen returned from injury to play at left back. He's Arsenal's best centre back, but with Andre Santos and Kieran Gibbs both out he's their current best bet at left-back. Thierry Henry failed his fitness, and wasn't included in the squad.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain made his full Premier League debut, as Andrey Arshavin was left on the bench. Tomas Rosicky played in the centre of midfield in the absence of Arteta, as Yossi Benayoun didn't do well in the role last week.
It was a weak looking Arsenal team for a game against the reigning Premier League champions. In fact the Arsenal team on the day wasn't really any stronger than the team which was humiliated by United back in August. I feared what might happen if United played to their best, but I hoped that Arsenal could put in a performance to make their fans proud.
Arsenal were dreadful in the first half, and they never once looked like scoring. Time and again United looked to expose Arsenal's makeshift full-backs, and Johan Djourou had a torrid time at right-back. He was left exposed by the rest of the team far too often, and it was clear that he was very uncomfortable in that role.
United eventually made their pressure count in the last minute of the first half when they took the lead.
Djourou stood off Giggs and let him cross the ball where it was met by Antonio Valencia to head home. Vermaelen had his positioning wrong which enabled Valencia to get a run on him and win the header.
Arsenal needed to do something at half time to get themselves back into the game, and Arsene Wenger brought Nico Yennaris for his Premier League debut in place of Djourou. Apparently Djourou picked up a knock, but I suspect he was withdrawn to save him from further punishment. Yennaris definitely did better than Djourou, but he also had a lot more help from his team-mates.
Arsenal gradually got back into the game and should have equalised, but Robin van Persie missed a great chance to do so. United made a mistake at the back when Chris Smalling slipped, and Rosicky pounced on his error. I thought he should have shot himself, but when he passed to RVP it looked easier for Arsenal to score than miss.
Arsenal were still vulnerable at the back, but they were now making chances at the other end too. The equaliser arrived with 20 minutes left when Chamberlain played a pass to RVP in the box, and he turned and shot across the keeper into the far corner. An unlikely victory for Arsenal looked like it might just be on the cards if they could continue to play well.
Soon after the goal Wenger brought Arshavin on for Chamberlain, and the Arsenal fans were far from happy with the decision. Wenger said after the game that Chamberlain wasn't used to playing 90 minutes at this level, and he needed to be taken off. It was a move that was to have consequences later in the game.
With nine minutes left Arshavin turned his back as Valencia feigned to cross the ball, and Valencia went past him into the box. He cut the ball back for Danny Wellbeck to make it 2-1 for United despite Arshavin doing his best to catch Valencia. It was a huge blow for Arsenal, and they didn't look capable of recovering from it.
A few minutes later the ineffectual Aaron Ramsey was withdrawn and he was replaced by Ju Young Park who was also making his Premier League debut. Arsenal pushed Per Mertesacker up to play as an emergency centre forward for the last few minutes, but despite a few crosses into the box they couldn't find the net. The game ended soon afterwards, and Arsenal had lost their third Premier League game in row.
It's easy to make scapegoats of certain players, but very few Arsenal players emerged from the game with credit. I was impressed with Chamberlain, and I think he has to be given his chance ahead of Arshavin until Gervinho returns at least. RVP took his goal really well, but it's hard to fathom how he missed the other great chance he had.
Arshavin did nothing when he came on, and his part in United's winning goal was telling. He looks disinterested at best, and I can;t see a place for him in the team at all. I think Arsenal should cut their losses, and sell Arshavin if they can.
At the back Laurent Koscielny looked impressive yet again, but it's unfair to judge both Djourou and Vermaelen on their performances out of position. Ramsey and Theo Walcott were ineffectual at best, and the team looks completely devoid of confidence at the moment. The injured players can't return quickly enough, but if they're not back soon Arsenal's chances of a trophy this season could be gone.
They play Aston Villa in the FA Cup next weekend, and the only player who might be back by then is Arteta. His return would be welcome, but others are needed, and needed urgently. It looks very unlikely that Arsenal will add to the squad in the current transfer window either, and the players they have will have to do the business for them.
United were most definitely the best team on the day, and they deserved their three points. There were no dodgy refereeing decisions against Arsenal for a change, and the referee didn't even buy a dive from Wayne Rooney in the first half. The fact that he chose not to give Rooney a yellow card is another matter, but at least he didn't give him a penalty.
Arsenal have a week to work as a team ahead of the Villa game, and the FA Cup is their only realistic chance of a trophy this season in my opinion. I hope they can put the disappointments of their last three games behind them, but it's only a hope at the moment. After Villa there's two Premier League games in four days, and there's a chance Arsenal will have real full-backs available for those games.
They quite simply have to win away to Bolton and at home to Blackburn in those games, or they could see themselves dropping to seventh rather than chasing for fourth. I would love to see a player to make a genuine difference to the team arrive before any of those games, but I don't think it will happen. I think the arrival of a quality player could be the boost the squad needs at the moment, and might help them to rebound.
It's not a good time to be an Arsenal fan or an Arsenal player either, but hopefully the fans can help the team to turn the corner.
That's it for today.
Here's Robin van Persie's goal from yesterday.
It's not too late to join the over 1,000 other teams in my fantasy league. There are prizes for the top three teams at the end of the season. Just go to the site and use the code 125540-42785 to join my league when your team is set up.
To join the predictions league, just go to the site and set up your predictions. Then use the code F688F-JCO to join my league. I'll update the league table in my predictions every week.
Don't forget you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook too.
I'm also a member of a very good and very active Arsenal group on Facebook, which you can join here.
See you tomorrow.
Monday, 16 January 2012
Arsenal Lose To Swansea As Their Defending Lets Them Down Again
Arsenal went to Swansea City yesterday afternoon knowing that a win would put them one point behind fourth placed Chelsea. It would also have opened up a gap of four points over Liverpool who had failed to beat Stoke City the day before.
Early in the day there were rumours that Mikael Arteta had picked up an injury an wouldn't play. When the teams were announced the rumours proved to be true, and Yossi Benayoun took his place im midfield. Johan Djourou returned from injury, and Per Mertesacker played again after his bout of illness.
The only other changes for Arsenal from the team that beat Leeds United on Monday night were the inclusions of Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott. It was probably the strongest team available to Arsene Wenger, but there were 11 players unavailable through injury and international duty. Arsenal's squad is stretched to the limit at the moment, and with it Wenger's options are limited too.
The game started with Swansea on the attack from the off, but Arsenal scored from their first real attack. Andrey Arshavin played RVP in, and he finished excellently with his right foot. There were only five mi nutes on the clock, but Arsenal had the lead they wanted.
Swansea continued to press forward and dominate possession, as Arsenal looked to hit them on the break again. In the 16th minute Swansea got their chance to get back into the game when Nathan Dyer fooled the referee into giving him a penalty, and Scott Sinclair drilled it home. It was a terrible decision by the referee, and he was right beside Dyer when he dived.
The standard of refereeing seems to be at an all-time low, and it's not only Arsenal who are suffering from it at the moment. Red cards are being given for challenges in one game when similar challenges go completely unpunished in other games. Poor refereeing decisions seem to have influenced the outcome of almost every Premier League game this weekend.
From an Arsenal perspective it was very disappointing to concede a penalty that should not have been given when Arsenal have had so many legitimate appeals turned down recently. The sooner the better the football authorities wake up and introduce video replays similar to those used in rugby. I would also like to see each manager given a chance to appeal two refereeing decisions per game, similar to the system used in American football.
There might be a slight delay while decisions are made, but at least there would be lot more correct decisions for all teams. The excuse that these systems cannot be implemented in the lower regions of the game is an old one, and it has become boring at this stage. In the lower regions of the game there is only a referee in charge in some cases, but that doesn't seem to bother the authorities at all.
The game was still tied at 1-1 at half-time, but Swansea were looking the better team. RVP did have a great chance to put Arsenal ahead a few minutes before the break, but his effort was well save by Michel Vorm. He was again set up by Arshavin, and I really expected him to score with only the keeper to beat.
Swansea took the lead 12 minutes into the second half when Aaron Ramsey was dispossessed, and the ball was played to Dyer who finished very well. Arsenal quickly brought on Thierry Henry and Tomas Rosicky for Arshavin and Benayoun, but they still struggled to get a foothold in the game.
They did equalise in the 69th minute when a great ball from Djourou played Walcott in on the right, and he finished excellently over the advancing Vorm. The stage looked set for a strong finish from Arsenal, and the three points seemed to be there for the taking. However, within a minute of equalising Arsenal were behind yet again.
A quick ball behind the Arsenal defence caught out Laurent Koscielny who was trying to play offside, and Danny Graham finished very well past Wojciech Szczesny. He was helped a little by Szczesny advancing and retreating which meant he didn't get his angles quite right. Arsenal now had to battle to try to take a point, and arrest their recent slide.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was brought on for Mertesacker soon after the third Swansea goal, but try as they might Arsenal could not equalise. They had good chances, but failed to put them away which meant they fell to their seventh Premier League defeat of the season. A few weeks ago the team looked to be in a very promising position, but now their lack of form is becoming a real worry.
In their last four Premier League games Arsenal have dropped eight points from winning positions, and that simply isn't good enough. The injuries to all of the full-backs in the first team squad are affecting the teams performance in defence as well as attack. It seems Arsenal are no closer to signing even one full-back on loan, and they face the reigning champions next Sunday.
I think at least one full-back should have been signed on January 1st, and even if he was unfit he would be able to play now. Wenger has money in the bank, and the squad simply isn't strong enough to cope with the trials and tribulations of a full season. The simple solution is to use some of that money to attempt to halt the slide.
When the transfer window closed at the end of August I hoped Arsenal's new players could do enough to get the team through to the January window in a healthy state. They just about managed to do so, but now the opportunity is there to add to the squad, and it has to be take. There is no use in hoping the squad can muddle through until all the players are fit again.
Injuries are a fact of life in football, and the club has to ensure they have enough quality to cope when players are missing. At the moment Arsenal do not have that quality in depth, and it is costing them points. If it also costs them an FA Cup exit to Villa the chances of a trophy will be gone for yet another season in my opinion.
I was particularly unhappy with the awarding of the man of the match award to Dyer yesterday, as I felt it was a reward for him cheating. Surely the TV pundits have enough brains to know you cannot condone players conning a referee. I like to watch Swansea play, but Dyer is one player who will be added to my list of dislikes.
An awful lot can happen in a week in football, and the possible returns of Thomas Vermaelen and Arteta would certainly make Arsenal stronger against United. I worry about that game though, because Swansea's wide players were a handful for our makeshift defence. Imagine what the likes of Nani or Antonio Valencia could do if they get a chance.
I feel Arsenal are very vulnerable to any team that attacks them at the moment, and Swansea showed that yesterday. If United come to Arsenal next Sunday and decide to attack it could be a very tough day for the team and the fans. As long as the team continue to let in a much higher rates of shots against them than they score at the other end Arsenal are going to suffer.
Time after time the opposition score from very few chances while Arsenal miss chance after chance at the other end. It's alright to miss chances as long as the team take a few of them, but only if they can defend properly. With the complete inability to defend properly that the team has at the moment opponents are actually relishing playing Arsenal, and who can blame them.
That's it for today.
Here's the highlights of yesterday's game.
It's not too late to join the over 1,000 other teams in my fantasy league, and there are prizes for the top three teams at the end of the season. Just go to the site and use the code 125540-42785 to join my league when your team is set up.
To join the predictions league, just go to the site and set up your predictions. Then use the code F688F-JCO to join my league. I'll update the league table in my predictions every week.
Don't forget you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook too.
I'm also a member of a very good and very active Arsenal group on Facebook, which you can join here.
See you tomorrow.
Early in the day there were rumours that Mikael Arteta had picked up an injury an wouldn't play. When the teams were announced the rumours proved to be true, and Yossi Benayoun took his place im midfield. Johan Djourou returned from injury, and Per Mertesacker played again after his bout of illness.
The only other changes for Arsenal from the team that beat Leeds United on Monday night were the inclusions of Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott. It was probably the strongest team available to Arsene Wenger, but there were 11 players unavailable through injury and international duty. Arsenal's squad is stretched to the limit at the moment, and with it Wenger's options are limited too.
The game started with Swansea on the attack from the off, but Arsenal scored from their first real attack. Andrey Arshavin played RVP in, and he finished excellently with his right foot. There were only five mi nutes on the clock, but Arsenal had the lead they wanted.
Swansea continued to press forward and dominate possession, as Arsenal looked to hit them on the break again. In the 16th minute Swansea got their chance to get back into the game when Nathan Dyer fooled the referee into giving him a penalty, and Scott Sinclair drilled it home. It was a terrible decision by the referee, and he was right beside Dyer when he dived.
The standard of refereeing seems to be at an all-time low, and it's not only Arsenal who are suffering from it at the moment. Red cards are being given for challenges in one game when similar challenges go completely unpunished in other games. Poor refereeing decisions seem to have influenced the outcome of almost every Premier League game this weekend.
From an Arsenal perspective it was very disappointing to concede a penalty that should not have been given when Arsenal have had so many legitimate appeals turned down recently. The sooner the better the football authorities wake up and introduce video replays similar to those used in rugby. I would also like to see each manager given a chance to appeal two refereeing decisions per game, similar to the system used in American football.
There might be a slight delay while decisions are made, but at least there would be lot more correct decisions for all teams. The excuse that these systems cannot be implemented in the lower regions of the game is an old one, and it has become boring at this stage. In the lower regions of the game there is only a referee in charge in some cases, but that doesn't seem to bother the authorities at all.
The game was still tied at 1-1 at half-time, but Swansea were looking the better team. RVP did have a great chance to put Arsenal ahead a few minutes before the break, but his effort was well save by Michel Vorm. He was again set up by Arshavin, and I really expected him to score with only the keeper to beat.
Swansea took the lead 12 minutes into the second half when Aaron Ramsey was dispossessed, and the ball was played to Dyer who finished very well. Arsenal quickly brought on Thierry Henry and Tomas Rosicky for Arshavin and Benayoun, but they still struggled to get a foothold in the game.
They did equalise in the 69th minute when a great ball from Djourou played Walcott in on the right, and he finished excellently over the advancing Vorm. The stage looked set for a strong finish from Arsenal, and the three points seemed to be there for the taking. However, within a minute of equalising Arsenal were behind yet again.
A quick ball behind the Arsenal defence caught out Laurent Koscielny who was trying to play offside, and Danny Graham finished very well past Wojciech Szczesny. He was helped a little by Szczesny advancing and retreating which meant he didn't get his angles quite right. Arsenal now had to battle to try to take a point, and arrest their recent slide.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was brought on for Mertesacker soon after the third Swansea goal, but try as they might Arsenal could not equalise. They had good chances, but failed to put them away which meant they fell to their seventh Premier League defeat of the season. A few weeks ago the team looked to be in a very promising position, but now their lack of form is becoming a real worry.
In their last four Premier League games Arsenal have dropped eight points from winning positions, and that simply isn't good enough. The injuries to all of the full-backs in the first team squad are affecting the teams performance in defence as well as attack. It seems Arsenal are no closer to signing even one full-back on loan, and they face the reigning champions next Sunday.
I think at least one full-back should have been signed on January 1st, and even if he was unfit he would be able to play now. Wenger has money in the bank, and the squad simply isn't strong enough to cope with the trials and tribulations of a full season. The simple solution is to use some of that money to attempt to halt the slide.
When the transfer window closed at the end of August I hoped Arsenal's new players could do enough to get the team through to the January window in a healthy state. They just about managed to do so, but now the opportunity is there to add to the squad, and it has to be take. There is no use in hoping the squad can muddle through until all the players are fit again.
Injuries are a fact of life in football, and the club has to ensure they have enough quality to cope when players are missing. At the moment Arsenal do not have that quality in depth, and it is costing them points. If it also costs them an FA Cup exit to Villa the chances of a trophy will be gone for yet another season in my opinion.
I was particularly unhappy with the awarding of the man of the match award to Dyer yesterday, as I felt it was a reward for him cheating. Surely the TV pundits have enough brains to know you cannot condone players conning a referee. I like to watch Swansea play, but Dyer is one player who will be added to my list of dislikes.
An awful lot can happen in a week in football, and the possible returns of Thomas Vermaelen and Arteta would certainly make Arsenal stronger against United. I worry about that game though, because Swansea's wide players were a handful for our makeshift defence. Imagine what the likes of Nani or Antonio Valencia could do if they get a chance.
I feel Arsenal are very vulnerable to any team that attacks them at the moment, and Swansea showed that yesterday. If United come to Arsenal next Sunday and decide to attack it could be a very tough day for the team and the fans. As long as the team continue to let in a much higher rates of shots against them than they score at the other end Arsenal are going to suffer.
Time after time the opposition score from very few chances while Arsenal miss chance after chance at the other end. It's alright to miss chances as long as the team take a few of them, but only if they can defend properly. With the complete inability to defend properly that the team has at the moment opponents are actually relishing playing Arsenal, and who can blame them.
That's it for today.
Here's the highlights of yesterday's game.
It's not too late to join the over 1,000 other teams in my fantasy league, and there are prizes for the top three teams at the end of the season. Just go to the site and use the code 125540-42785 to join my league when your team is set up.
To join the predictions league, just go to the site and set up your predictions. Then use the code F688F-JCO to join my league. I'll update the league table in my predictions every week.
Don't forget you can follow me on Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook too.
I'm also a member of a very good and very active Arsenal group on Facebook, which you can join here.
See you tomorrow.
Monday, 26 December 2011
Arsenal's Premier League Game With Wolverhampton Wanderers Previewed.
Arsenal were due to take on Wolves today in the Premier League, but thanks to a tube strike in London the game has been postponed until tomorrow. It's the first of three games in seven days which Arsenal will be expected to win. Nine points in those games are an absolute must in my opinion if Arsenal are going to continue their challenge for a Champions League place this season.
The bad start they had to the season is well and truly behind them, and the recent defeat to Manchester City was dispelled by beating Aston Villa in their last game. The victory may not have been overly convincing at times, but their ability to keep fighting until the last minute saw them home. In the next three games that ability should only really be needed for the trip to Fulham in a week.
Wolves had a better start to their season than Arsenal did, and they took seven points from their first three games. Since then they have only taken eight points from 14 games, and all of those points have come in their home games. They have lost six away games in a row, and it's the form of a team heading for the relegation zone.
Wolves' next game is away to Bolton on Saturday, and it's a game that's probably a lot more important for their season. Bolton are one of only three teams below them in the league, and Wplves will feel they have to get something from that game. They will still try their best to get a result against Arsenal of course, as they always do no matter who they are playing.
Arsenal's injury woes are still showing no signs of abating, and Arsene Wenger will have to pick from the same players who were available against Villa. There is a slight chance of Johan Djourou returning to the squad, but it would still leave Arsenal with no full backs in their team. Wenger admitted that the lack of full backs has meant Arsenal have had to have a new approach in recent games.
I have commented a few times on how the lack of proper attacking full backs has limited the team at times, and the return of all four of them cannot come quickly enough. It looks like Bacary Sagna and Kieran Gibbs might be ready to play by the end of January, and Carl Jenkinson soon after that. Andre Santos will be another couple of months at least, and the possibility of signing a left back has to be foremost in Wenger's plans for the January transfer window.
Arsenal will lose both Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh in January, as they will be playing for their countries in the African Cup of Nations. There are players capable of replacing Gervinho in the team, and the Chamakh of this season is no loss to the squad. However, their losses along with the list of injuries will mean the squad will be stretched to it's limits.
Wenger has considered signing Thierry Henry on a temporary loan for a couple of months, and I would imagine his decision will be made very soon. Despite Henry no longer being the player he was in his prime, I still think he might have something to offer to Arsenal. His inclusion in the squad might just take some of the pressure off Robin van Persie, and that cannot be a bad thing for the team.
RVP has to score three goals in the next two games to beat the record set by Alan Shearer for the most Premier League goals in calender year. I've seen Wolves play a few times recently, and I think their defence will give him enough opportunities to get all of those goals against them. If he doesn't manage the task against them I'm sure he will start against QPR on Saturday to try to do it then.
Arsenal's next game after the QPR game will be only two days later, as they take on Fulham at Craven Cottage. I would be very surprised to see RVP start that game if has played against both QPR and Wolves. I don't know if the paperwork to take on Henry on loan could be completed by then, but it would be a great sight to see him in red and white yet again in that game.
Wolves have a couple of wide players who could cause Arsenal's stand in full backs the odd problem, but without the ball that won't be an easy task. Arsenal have the ability to take this Wolves team apart, and really put them to the sword if they so choose. They are long overdue to really destroy a team at home, and I hope Wolves are that team.
I know it's never a good thing to predict an Arsenal clean sheet, but they have only conceded five goals in eight home games this season. Two of those goals came late on at home to Liverpool when Arsenal were down to ten men, and only leaders Manchester City have taken more home points than Arsenal. However, Arsenal have been a little goal shy at home by their own high standards, and that's something which will hopefully change.
Alex Song will return to the team after his suspension for the Villa game, and the big decision for Wenger will be who he plays at right back. Francis Coquelin played there against Villa, but I think Laurent Koscielny might get the job against Wolves. That would mean Ignasi Miquel would play at left back, and Thomas Vermaelen alongside Per Mertesacker in the centre of defence.
I love to see Vermaelen marauding forward from his central role, and I think he is far less effective when he fills in a t left back. I fancy him to score a goal against Wolves, and I fancy RVP to edge closer to the record too of course. There is a possibility of a few changes in the team's attacking players, but RVP will not be one of them.
Over the next week I would expect to see Yossi Benayoun, Andrey Arshavin and Aex Oxlade-Chamberlain get a few chances to play. It will be very interesting to see which ones of them step up and impress when their chances arrive. I am pretty sure both Chamberlain and Benayoun will do all they can to create an impression, but I'm not so sure about Arshavin.
Rumours of an exit for him in the January transfer window are widespread, and his influence in the team has diminished over the past few years. When he arrived three years ago he was sensational at times, but he very rarely shows his class now. His work rate is questioned by the fans, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him in leave in January or next summer.
My prediction for the Wolves game is a 3-0 win for Arsenal, and RVP moving ever closer to that record. I think he will get the goals he needs between the Wolves and QPR games, and Arsenal will have another record breaker on their hands.
That's it for today.
Here's the goals from an Arsenal victory over Wolves a few years ago featuring another record goalscorer.
See You Tomorrow.
The bad start they had to the season is well and truly behind them, and the recent defeat to Manchester City was dispelled by beating Aston Villa in their last game. The victory may not have been overly convincing at times, but their ability to keep fighting until the last minute saw them home. In the next three games that ability should only really be needed for the trip to Fulham in a week.
Wolves had a better start to their season than Arsenal did, and they took seven points from their first three games. Since then they have only taken eight points from 14 games, and all of those points have come in their home games. They have lost six away games in a row, and it's the form of a team heading for the relegation zone.
Wolves' next game is away to Bolton on Saturday, and it's a game that's probably a lot more important for their season. Bolton are one of only three teams below them in the league, and Wplves will feel they have to get something from that game. They will still try their best to get a result against Arsenal of course, as they always do no matter who they are playing.
Arsenal's injury woes are still showing no signs of abating, and Arsene Wenger will have to pick from the same players who were available against Villa. There is a slight chance of Johan Djourou returning to the squad, but it would still leave Arsenal with no full backs in their team. Wenger admitted that the lack of full backs has meant Arsenal have had to have a new approach in recent games.
I have commented a few times on how the lack of proper attacking full backs has limited the team at times, and the return of all four of them cannot come quickly enough. It looks like Bacary Sagna and Kieran Gibbs might be ready to play by the end of January, and Carl Jenkinson soon after that. Andre Santos will be another couple of months at least, and the possibility of signing a left back has to be foremost in Wenger's plans for the January transfer window.
Arsenal will lose both Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh in January, as they will be playing for their countries in the African Cup of Nations. There are players capable of replacing Gervinho in the team, and the Chamakh of this season is no loss to the squad. However, their losses along with the list of injuries will mean the squad will be stretched to it's limits.
Wenger has considered signing Thierry Henry on a temporary loan for a couple of months, and I would imagine his decision will be made very soon. Despite Henry no longer being the player he was in his prime, I still think he might have something to offer to Arsenal. His inclusion in the squad might just take some of the pressure off Robin van Persie, and that cannot be a bad thing for the team.
RVP has to score three goals in the next two games to beat the record set by Alan Shearer for the most Premier League goals in calender year. I've seen Wolves play a few times recently, and I think their defence will give him enough opportunities to get all of those goals against them. If he doesn't manage the task against them I'm sure he will start against QPR on Saturday to try to do it then.
Arsenal's next game after the QPR game will be only two days later, as they take on Fulham at Craven Cottage. I would be very surprised to see RVP start that game if has played against both QPR and Wolves. I don't know if the paperwork to take on Henry on loan could be completed by then, but it would be a great sight to see him in red and white yet again in that game.
Wolves have a couple of wide players who could cause Arsenal's stand in full backs the odd problem, but without the ball that won't be an easy task. Arsenal have the ability to take this Wolves team apart, and really put them to the sword if they so choose. They are long overdue to really destroy a team at home, and I hope Wolves are that team.
I know it's never a good thing to predict an Arsenal clean sheet, but they have only conceded five goals in eight home games this season. Two of those goals came late on at home to Liverpool when Arsenal were down to ten men, and only leaders Manchester City have taken more home points than Arsenal. However, Arsenal have been a little goal shy at home by their own high standards, and that's something which will hopefully change.
Alex Song will return to the team after his suspension for the Villa game, and the big decision for Wenger will be who he plays at right back. Francis Coquelin played there against Villa, but I think Laurent Koscielny might get the job against Wolves. That would mean Ignasi Miquel would play at left back, and Thomas Vermaelen alongside Per Mertesacker in the centre of defence.
I love to see Vermaelen marauding forward from his central role, and I think he is far less effective when he fills in a t left back. I fancy him to score a goal against Wolves, and I fancy RVP to edge closer to the record too of course. There is a possibility of a few changes in the team's attacking players, but RVP will not be one of them.
Over the next week I would expect to see Yossi Benayoun, Andrey Arshavin and Aex Oxlade-Chamberlain get a few chances to play. It will be very interesting to see which ones of them step up and impress when their chances arrive. I am pretty sure both Chamberlain and Benayoun will do all they can to create an impression, but I'm not so sure about Arshavin.
Rumours of an exit for him in the January transfer window are widespread, and his influence in the team has diminished over the past few years. When he arrived three years ago he was sensational at times, but he very rarely shows his class now. His work rate is questioned by the fans, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him in leave in January or next summer.
My prediction for the Wolves game is a 3-0 win for Arsenal, and RVP moving ever closer to that record. I think he will get the goals he needs between the Wolves and QPR games, and Arsenal will have another record breaker on their hands.
That's it for today.
Here's the goals from an Arsenal victory over Wolves a few years ago featuring another record goalscorer.
See You Tomorrow.
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