A very difficult and sometimes hard to take season is over for Arsenal and their supporters. Considering how bleak things looked during the summer after the departure of Cesc Fabregas the final Premier League position has to be seen as a positive. At one stage Arsenal found themselves 17th in the league, but gradually they turned things around to finish in a very respectable third spot.
Of course Arsenal didn't exactly do things the easy way, and it's been quite a long time since they did.
There was a huge turnaround in the personell in the first team squad last summer with Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy also being sold. Denilson, Nicklas Bendtner and Carlos Vela were also sent out on loan, as Arsene Wenger made room for some new arrivals. With loads of money to spend the hope was that he would replace the quality of Cesc with players of the highest calibre.
The signs were promising early on when Gervinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Carl Jenkinson arrived, but there were no more significant arrivals until the transfer window was very close to slamming shut. In the last days and hours of the summer transfer window Arsenal brought in Andre Santos, Per Mertesacker, Ju-Young Park, Yossi Benayoun and Mikael Arteta, but none of them commanded a huge fee.
With both Cesc and Nasri gone it looked like the midfield strings would be pulled by Jack Wilshere, but Wenger could not have known he was going to miss the whole season through injury. The other midfielder who very rarely featured because of injury was Abu Diaby, and his constant injury problems must cast some serious doubt on his future at the club and in the game too. Their absences gave chances to other players who might have been expected to have had less opportunities in the first team.
The goalkeeping duties were taken over by Wojciech Szczesny, and he has shown himself to be a real star of the future. It's been a few years since Arsenal have had a goalkeeper who looks capable of playing at the very highest level, but Szczesny has shown enough to suggest he is that man. He's still only 22 years old, but if he continues to progress he could have the Arsenal goalkeeper's shirt for many years to come.
With Thomas Vermaelen available again after missing most of last season through injury there was some hope that the Arsenal defence would be a lot tighter than it had been the previous season. The additions of Mertesacker and Santos also looked to be very promising, and there was real hope of Arsenal having real cover in all four defensive positions.
Of course most of those arrivals were after Arsenal's first three league games of the season, and they only managed one point in those games. Worse still was what happened when they went to Old Trafford to play Manchester United just a few days before that window closed. The horror of that 8-2 defeat to United will be a memory which haunts Arsenal fans for many years to come.
Despite their terrible start to their league campaign Arsenal somehow found the strength within themselves to beat Udinese over two legs to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League. They were drawn with the champions of both Germany and Greece, as well as the runners up in the French League. It looked like Arsenal would have a tough task ahead of them, but they qualified for the knockout stages by winning their group with a game still left to play.
Arsenal managed to win four of their six games in September, as the new players seemed to be settling in very well. The only game Arsenal lost in September was away to Blackburn in the league, and it was in true Arsenal style. They were 2-1 up early in the second half when Bacary Sagna went off injured, and Blackburn ended up winning 4-3.
The fact that Arsenal put the ball through their own net twice didn't help, but the defending on display was nothing short of comical. When Arsenal eventually woke up they pounded the Blackburn goal, but they could only pull one goal back despite creating loads of chances. By early October Arsenal had seven points from seven games, and they were already 12 points behind the league leaders.
They had lost four league games which included defeats at home to Liverpool, as well as away to United and Spurs. They had at least progressed past Shrewsbury Town in the Carling Cup, as well as taking four points from their first two Champions League games. There were signs that things weren't all doom and gloom, but Arsenal needed to improve an awful lot in the league.
Arsenal then went on to win their next five league games, as they started to make up ground on the teams above them. The highlight of those five wins was the 5-3 victory away to Chelsea when Arsenal showed all of their attacking strengths and defensive weaknesses in the same game. The sight of John Terry lying flat on his face as Robin van Persie raced past him to score was one of the season's highlights for me.
The only Premier League defeat before the turn of the year after the loss away to Spurs was a 1-0 defeat away to league leaders Manchester City. Despite losing Arsenal played very well, and put up a performance to make their fans proud of their efforts. When the year ended Arsenal had 36 points from 19 league games which meant they had taken 29 points from their previous 12 games.
They were also through to the last 16 of the Champions League, and they faced the mouth-watering prospect of playing against AC Milan. There were some real reasons to be hopeful for Arsenal fans, and the prospect of a possible signing or two in the January transfer window were something to look forward to also. The injury crisis which the club had experienced in recent seasons had reared it's ugly head again, and the squad was looking a little threadbare.
Sagna had suffered a broken leg in the defeat to Spurs, and Santos picked up a bad injury in a meaningless Champions League game away to Olympiacos in Greece. With Kieran Gibbs and Jenkinson also injured Arsenal found themselves trying to cope without any recognised full backs in the team. They seemed to cope throughout December, but the question was would they continue to cope.
Arsenal had exited the Carling Cup at the hands of Manchester City, but they still had the FA Cup to look forward to. The prospect of qualifying for the next season's Champions League was still a very rel one, and there was also the matter of that last 16 tie with AC Milan. After an awful start to the season things were certainly starting to look a lot better at the half way mark.
The outstanding player in the first half of the season was undoubtedly RVP, as his goals were a primary factor in many of Arsenal's victories. He had returned from injury in the second half of the previous season, and scored so many goals in the calander year 2011. For the first time in his Arsenal career he was relatively injury free, and the club were feeling the benefits.
Besides RVP I thought the last minute capture of Arteta had a huge influence on Arsenal's recovery. He may not have been their first choice purchase for midfield, and he certainly wasn't a ready made replacement for Cesc. He brought a stability to the midfield which others had failed to do, and the whole team benefited from his arrival.
I'll go into my thoughts on the second half of the season next time, and then move on to an overall summary.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Showing posts with label Yossi Benayoun. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Yossi Benayoun. Show all posts
Saturday, 19 May 2012
Tuesday, 15 May 2012
Arsenal Beat West Brom 3-2 To Finish Third
Arsenal went into their final Premier League game of the season away to West Brom knowing a win would guarantee them third place. The reward for third place is a spot in the group stages of next season's Champions League, and it was a prize Arsenal dearly wanted. Any slip from Arsenal would more than likely have seen their local rivals Spurs overtake to claim that coveted third place.
Arsene Wenger made three changes from the team which drew 3-3 at home to Norwich last week. Carl Jenkinson was drafted in at right back for the injured Bacary Sagna, but the other two changes were a lot less expected. Andre Santos came in at left back for Kieran Gibbs, and Frances Coquelin replaced Aaron Ramsey in the heart of the midfield.
There was a place on the bench for the returning Theo Walcott who was held in reserve in case of emergency.
The game couldn't have got off to a better start for Arsenal with Yossi Benayoun putting them 1-0 up after less than four minutes. His goal was a simple tap into an empty net after a horrendous error from Albion keeper Marton Fulop. It was a gift which Arsenal were only too happy to accept, and it gave them the early advantage they craved.
Before Arsenal had scored their goal Spurs had already gone ahead of Fulham in their game, and it was vital that Arsenal kept their lead. However, that lead didn't last very long, as West Brom scored twice in the next 10 minutes to leave Arsenal's chances hanging by a thread. They needed to find something from somewhere, and shore up their leaky defence at the same time.
West Brom's first goal came from Shane Long, and there was a lot more than a hint of offside about it. When Long was played through on Wojceich Szczesny in the Arsenal goal he finished very well, but he was at least a yard offside. Only four minutes later Graham Dorrans put Albion ahead after some very poor defending from Arsenal, and Thomas Vermaelen in particular.
There were still 75 minutes to go, but Arsenal needed to get back into the game as son as possible. Just short of the half hour mark Arsenal got their lifeline, and Fulop again had a part to play in it.
Alex Song won the ball 25 yards from goal, and played it to Andre Santos who let fly with a very good left footed shot. Fulop got down to the ball, but he couldn't keep it from going in at the near post. Arsenal had an hour left to save their season.
Walcott replaced Tomas Rosicky at half time, as Arsenal looked to get more bodies forward in search of a winning goal. It didn't take too long for them to regain their early advantage, and yet again that man Fulop had a large hand in the goal.
Arsenal were awarded a corner when it probably should have been a goal kick to West Brom, and they took full advantage of their good fortune. Robin van Persie swung the ball onto the penalty area, but there seemed to be no threat from Arsenal as Fulop came to meet the ball. He could have caught the ball but he chose to punch it, and he got his punch horribly wrong.
The ball headed towards his own goal, and Laurent Koscielny was there to poke it home for Arsenal. They had the lead they wanted, and the Champions League spot was theirs to lose again. There were 30 minutes left, and Arsenal needed to defend as if their lives depended on it.
West Brom had a lot of corners, but real chances were few and far between really. There was one good save from Szczesny, but as the game entered the five added minutes Arsenal were still holding out. There was still enough time for some late drama, and both teams had good chances to score again.
First of all RVP was played through with only the keeper to beat, but his shot was off target and Arsenal missed their chance to seal the game. Within a minute West Brom had the chance they wanted to break Arsenal's hearts, and it took some heroics to stop them scoring.
Billy Jones was played in on the left, and as he drew his foot back to shoot my heart sank more than a little. I was sure he was about to get the goal which I feared had been coming for the last half hour, but Kieran Gibbs slid in to make a magnificent challenge. His timing was absolutely perfect, and the game ended not too long aterwards with Arsenal sitting pretty in third place.
I could pick the bones out of the Arsenal performance, and give some of the players who under performed a hard time. It doesn't really matter now though, as the result was all that was important on the day. With a few huge slices of luck Arsenal got that result, and will now take part in the group stages on next season's Champions League yet again.
The best player on the day for me was Benayoun, but the last ditch challenge from Gibbs was absolutely fantastic too. The players celebrated at the final whistle, as their said their farewells to Pat Rice after 38 years(never mind Watford) at the club.
I have bemoaned the apparent lack of fortune Arsenal have suffered from at times this season, but I cannot deny they were lucky to win. The performance of Fulop was the single biggest factor in their victory, and the injury Ben Foster picked up last week was a real gift to Arsenal.
Spurs will have to wait to see how the Champions League final finishes before they know if they will get to play in the Champions League next season or not. I actually think I want them to qualify, as it would mean Chelsea don't win the Champions League. I still want Arsenal to be the first London club to be champions of Europe.
An Arsenal season has rarely seen so many ups and downs as this one, but a third place finish is no mean achievement. Added to finishing third Arsenal also got to celebrate St. Totteringham's Day yet again, and Arsene Wenger has never seen his Arsenal team finish below them.
When you consider the money Linerpool and Chelsea have spent Arsenal have done very well to leave them trailing in their wake. They are the third best team in the Premier League, and they have funds available to strengthen the squad. Lukasz Podolski has already agreed to join the club, and hopefully some other top quality players will follow.
The biggest signing of the summer will of course be RVP if he can be convinced to extend his contract. He has been the best player in the Premier League this season, and it would be a huge blow if he left. If he does decide to leave the club will continue though, as it always does.
No player is bigger than any club, and Arsenal have recovered from selling better players in the past. I sincerely hope he stays, and Wenger gets to build a title winning team around him. It won;t be an easy task to prise the title from Manchester City, but at their best Arsenal aren't too far away.
Unfortunately when they're not at their best anything can happen, and it did far too often this season. The signs for next season are positive with the addition of Podolski, and the return of Jack Wilshere will be a welcome boost too. Hopefully the transfer dealings will be over and done with long before pre-season begins, and Arsenal can put the mistakes of last summer behind them.
That's it for today.
Here's the highlights from Sunday's game.
See you tomorrow.
Arsene Wenger made three changes from the team which drew 3-3 at home to Norwich last week. Carl Jenkinson was drafted in at right back for the injured Bacary Sagna, but the other two changes were a lot less expected. Andre Santos came in at left back for Kieran Gibbs, and Frances Coquelin replaced Aaron Ramsey in the heart of the midfield.
There was a place on the bench for the returning Theo Walcott who was held in reserve in case of emergency.
The game couldn't have got off to a better start for Arsenal with Yossi Benayoun putting them 1-0 up after less than four minutes. His goal was a simple tap into an empty net after a horrendous error from Albion keeper Marton Fulop. It was a gift which Arsenal were only too happy to accept, and it gave them the early advantage they craved.
Before Arsenal had scored their goal Spurs had already gone ahead of Fulham in their game, and it was vital that Arsenal kept their lead. However, that lead didn't last very long, as West Brom scored twice in the next 10 minutes to leave Arsenal's chances hanging by a thread. They needed to find something from somewhere, and shore up their leaky defence at the same time.
West Brom's first goal came from Shane Long, and there was a lot more than a hint of offside about it. When Long was played through on Wojceich Szczesny in the Arsenal goal he finished very well, but he was at least a yard offside. Only four minutes later Graham Dorrans put Albion ahead after some very poor defending from Arsenal, and Thomas Vermaelen in particular.
There were still 75 minutes to go, but Arsenal needed to get back into the game as son as possible. Just short of the half hour mark Arsenal got their lifeline, and Fulop again had a part to play in it.
Alex Song won the ball 25 yards from goal, and played it to Andre Santos who let fly with a very good left footed shot. Fulop got down to the ball, but he couldn't keep it from going in at the near post. Arsenal had an hour left to save their season.
Walcott replaced Tomas Rosicky at half time, as Arsenal looked to get more bodies forward in search of a winning goal. It didn't take too long for them to regain their early advantage, and yet again that man Fulop had a large hand in the goal.
Arsenal were awarded a corner when it probably should have been a goal kick to West Brom, and they took full advantage of their good fortune. Robin van Persie swung the ball onto the penalty area, but there seemed to be no threat from Arsenal as Fulop came to meet the ball. He could have caught the ball but he chose to punch it, and he got his punch horribly wrong.
The ball headed towards his own goal, and Laurent Koscielny was there to poke it home for Arsenal. They had the lead they wanted, and the Champions League spot was theirs to lose again. There were 30 minutes left, and Arsenal needed to defend as if their lives depended on it.
West Brom had a lot of corners, but real chances were few and far between really. There was one good save from Szczesny, but as the game entered the five added minutes Arsenal were still holding out. There was still enough time for some late drama, and both teams had good chances to score again.
First of all RVP was played through with only the keeper to beat, but his shot was off target and Arsenal missed their chance to seal the game. Within a minute West Brom had the chance they wanted to break Arsenal's hearts, and it took some heroics to stop them scoring.
Billy Jones was played in on the left, and as he drew his foot back to shoot my heart sank more than a little. I was sure he was about to get the goal which I feared had been coming for the last half hour, but Kieran Gibbs slid in to make a magnificent challenge. His timing was absolutely perfect, and the game ended not too long aterwards with Arsenal sitting pretty in third place.
I could pick the bones out of the Arsenal performance, and give some of the players who under performed a hard time. It doesn't really matter now though, as the result was all that was important on the day. With a few huge slices of luck Arsenal got that result, and will now take part in the group stages on next season's Champions League yet again.
The best player on the day for me was Benayoun, but the last ditch challenge from Gibbs was absolutely fantastic too. The players celebrated at the final whistle, as their said their farewells to Pat Rice after 38 years(never mind Watford) at the club.
I have bemoaned the apparent lack of fortune Arsenal have suffered from at times this season, but I cannot deny they were lucky to win. The performance of Fulop was the single biggest factor in their victory, and the injury Ben Foster picked up last week was a real gift to Arsenal.
Spurs will have to wait to see how the Champions League final finishes before they know if they will get to play in the Champions League next season or not. I actually think I want them to qualify, as it would mean Chelsea don't win the Champions League. I still want Arsenal to be the first London club to be champions of Europe.
An Arsenal season has rarely seen so many ups and downs as this one, but a third place finish is no mean achievement. Added to finishing third Arsenal also got to celebrate St. Totteringham's Day yet again, and Arsene Wenger has never seen his Arsenal team finish below them.
When you consider the money Linerpool and Chelsea have spent Arsenal have done very well to leave them trailing in their wake. They are the third best team in the Premier League, and they have funds available to strengthen the squad. Lukasz Podolski has already agreed to join the club, and hopefully some other top quality players will follow.
The biggest signing of the summer will of course be RVP if he can be convinced to extend his contract. He has been the best player in the Premier League this season, and it would be a huge blow if he left. If he does decide to leave the club will continue though, as it always does.
No player is bigger than any club, and Arsenal have recovered from selling better players in the past. I sincerely hope he stays, and Wenger gets to build a title winning team around him. It won;t be an easy task to prise the title from Manchester City, but at their best Arsenal aren't too far away.
Unfortunately when they're not at their best anything can happen, and it did far too often this season. The signs for next season are positive with the addition of Podolski, and the return of Jack Wilshere will be a welcome boost too. Hopefully the transfer dealings will be over and done with long before pre-season begins, and Arsenal can put the mistakes of last summer behind them.
That's it for today.
Here's the highlights from Sunday's game.
See you tomorrow.
Sunday, 6 May 2012
Arsenal Blow It In Typical Style Against Norwich
Arsenal went into yesterday's game at home to Norwich City with their fate in their own hands. All they had to do was beat Norwich and then beat West Brom next week to finish third in the Premier League. It was a very simple scenario, but Arsenal rarely do things the simple way.
Arsene Wenger picked the same team that drew 1-1 away to Stoke last week, and it was a team with enough ability to get the job done. Unfortunately it would seem that yet again the Arsenal players felt the game was a foregone conclusion. The very same thing happened away to QPR and at home to Wigan when both of those games were lost.
The game couldn't have started better for Arsenal with Yossi Benayoun putting them 1-0 up after little more than a minute. He was found by a Tomas Rosicky pass just outside the box, and he curled home a lovely goal as the defenders backed off. It was the perfect start for Arsenal, but it soon became apparent they wouldn't have things all their own way.
Norwich showed the attitude and desire that the Arsenal players seemed to be missing and dominated the game. Arsenal were unable to shake off their lethargy, and Norwich took advantage with goals from Wes Hoolohan and Grant Holt. The manner in which Arsenal conceded those goals was nothing short of a shambles at best.
Hoolahan got the first of those goals with a first time shot from 10 yards that seemed to go right through Wojciech Szczesny in the Arsenal goal. Szczesny had the type of game yesterday that has seen other Arsenal goalkeepers get a very hard time from the fans. His distribution and kicking was very poor at best, but he wasn't the only Arsenal player who played badly.
The second goal from Holt had a huge slice of fortune about it, as it deflected over Kieran Gibbs and into the net. The fact that Gibbs was the man trying to stop Holt is another matter, as Norwich took Arsenal apart on the break time after time. Too many Arsenal players were simply unwilling to do what was expected of them, or unable to do so.
Holt was a huge problem for the Arsenal defence all day, as his ability to make any long pass stick to him frustrated them. Thomas Vermaelen had another awful game, and if Sebastien Squillaci played like that the fans would have given him a tough time too. The defence weren't helped by a midfield which went missing for the first hour of the game with Alex Song and Aaron Ramsey also having very bad games.
To make matters worse for Arsenal Bacary Sagna went off after just over 30 minutes with his second broken leg of the season. He won't be making the trip to Euro 2012 with France, and it was a sad day for him. With no direct replacement on the bench for Sagna it was left to Francis Coquelin to come on and play at right back.
I'm not sure how Sagna managed to break his leg, as he tried to take down a pass. There were no Norwich players anywhere near him at the time, and I don't know if it actually happened in a previous challenge.
The second half started in the very same manner with Arsenal struggling to find any cohesion, and Norwich looking very dangerous on the break. They could and should have had a penalty, and maybe both Ramsey and Laurent Koscielny could have had their marching orders too. The Arsenal team were going nowhere, and Wenger had to change something.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain came on for Ramsey, and Marouane Chamakh came on for Benayoun to try to change things around. Their impact seemed to change the pace of the Arsenal play, and Norwich started to tire a little too. All of a sudden Arsenal looked capable of getting the goals they needed, and the goals did come.
The equaliser was tucked home by Robin van Persie after a good ball over the defence from Song. Song had tried to play killer passes all through the game, and none of them were anywhere near their target until he made that goal. He may have made the goal, but the amount of possession he wasted by trying to play those passes too often was ridiculous.
The momentum was with Arsenal and the pushed forward looking for the all important third goal. With 10 minutes to go it was that man RVP who yet again got the goal after the ball deflected to him 10 yards out. The home fans were ecstatic, and the players only needed to be professional for the last 10 minutes.
It was obvious straight away that Arsenal were going to struggle, as Norwich set about them yet again. It was no surprise at all when the equaliser came for them with five minutes remaining. Steve Morison was played in behind the Arsenal defence, and he finished very well past Szczesny into the far corner.
The chance for Norwich came about after another poor pass from Song in midfield, and it left Arsenal with five minutes to save the game. RVP missed a great chance from six yards out with only the keeper to beat, and Song almost scored with a back-heeled attempt. Arsenal continued to pour forward, as the four added minutes counted down.
With very little time left the chance Arsenal wanted arrived when RVP closed in on a Chamberlain cross at the far post. It looked like he was certain to poke the ball home, but a push in the back from a Norwich defender saw him end up in the back of the net instead of the ball. It was an absolute stone wall penalty, but to be honest it should have been a free out first when a clearly offside Gervinho went for the ball.
At the final whistle the Arsenal players were clearly disappointed, but they had no one to blame other than themselves. The performances of a few of the players were absolutely awful, and some of those players need to take a long hard look at themselves in the mirror. The overall strength of the squad was shown up when players who have clearly being struggling recently had to be selected.
It looks like third place has been blown by Arsenal with Spurs in particular the most likely to take advantage. A win for them today away to struggling Aston Villa will see them having to win their final game at home to Fulhm to finish third, and there is nothing Arsenal can do about it. Even if Spurs don't win today there is every chance Arsenal will be just as bad against West Brom next week when they have to win again.
When the pressure was on the team far too many players were found wanting. It has to be asked whether there is a mindset at the club that is completely wrong. How can Arsenal fall apart in the run in yet again, as they have done for too many seasons in a row.
Where were the leaders on the pitch yesterday to take control of the team when they took a 3-2 lead with 10 minutes left. Where were the calm heads to settle others around them who were unsure of what to do. I don't think it's any surprise that Arsenal's collapse has coincided with the injury to Mikael Arteta.
He has been a huge influence in the team this season, but his purchase was hardly part of the long term plan for the club. Arsenal only looked to buy him with the summer transfer window a matter of hours away from closing, and it's probably just by chance that he has come to so influential. Maybe the Arsenal players are protected too much by the club, and when the going gets tough they are found wanting.
Arsenal might still finish third in the Premier League, but I doubt it. Even they do it will still not hide the problems the squad has, and they have to be addressed this summer. Besides players of real ability Arsenal need to bring in some players who have real mental strength, and can change the mindset of a team that crumble far too often in my opinion.
I'll be watching the games today in hope more than expectation that results go in Arsenal's favour. No matter what happens today Arsenal can still finish third, but after yesterday's game it's now out of their control. It's a scenario which never should have been allowed to happen, but it's a reality now.
That's it for today.
Here's the highlights from yesterday's game.
See you tomorrow.
Arsene Wenger picked the same team that drew 1-1 away to Stoke last week, and it was a team with enough ability to get the job done. Unfortunately it would seem that yet again the Arsenal players felt the game was a foregone conclusion. The very same thing happened away to QPR and at home to Wigan when both of those games were lost.
The game couldn't have started better for Arsenal with Yossi Benayoun putting them 1-0 up after little more than a minute. He was found by a Tomas Rosicky pass just outside the box, and he curled home a lovely goal as the defenders backed off. It was the perfect start for Arsenal, but it soon became apparent they wouldn't have things all their own way.
Norwich showed the attitude and desire that the Arsenal players seemed to be missing and dominated the game. Arsenal were unable to shake off their lethargy, and Norwich took advantage with goals from Wes Hoolohan and Grant Holt. The manner in which Arsenal conceded those goals was nothing short of a shambles at best.
Hoolahan got the first of those goals with a first time shot from 10 yards that seemed to go right through Wojciech Szczesny in the Arsenal goal. Szczesny had the type of game yesterday that has seen other Arsenal goalkeepers get a very hard time from the fans. His distribution and kicking was very poor at best, but he wasn't the only Arsenal player who played badly.
The second goal from Holt had a huge slice of fortune about it, as it deflected over Kieran Gibbs and into the net. The fact that Gibbs was the man trying to stop Holt is another matter, as Norwich took Arsenal apart on the break time after time. Too many Arsenal players were simply unwilling to do what was expected of them, or unable to do so.
Holt was a huge problem for the Arsenal defence all day, as his ability to make any long pass stick to him frustrated them. Thomas Vermaelen had another awful game, and if Sebastien Squillaci played like that the fans would have given him a tough time too. The defence weren't helped by a midfield which went missing for the first hour of the game with Alex Song and Aaron Ramsey also having very bad games.
To make matters worse for Arsenal Bacary Sagna went off after just over 30 minutes with his second broken leg of the season. He won't be making the trip to Euro 2012 with France, and it was a sad day for him. With no direct replacement on the bench for Sagna it was left to Francis Coquelin to come on and play at right back.
I'm not sure how Sagna managed to break his leg, as he tried to take down a pass. There were no Norwich players anywhere near him at the time, and I don't know if it actually happened in a previous challenge.
The second half started in the very same manner with Arsenal struggling to find any cohesion, and Norwich looking very dangerous on the break. They could and should have had a penalty, and maybe both Ramsey and Laurent Koscielny could have had their marching orders too. The Arsenal team were going nowhere, and Wenger had to change something.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain came on for Ramsey, and Marouane Chamakh came on for Benayoun to try to change things around. Their impact seemed to change the pace of the Arsenal play, and Norwich started to tire a little too. All of a sudden Arsenal looked capable of getting the goals they needed, and the goals did come.
The equaliser was tucked home by Robin van Persie after a good ball over the defence from Song. Song had tried to play killer passes all through the game, and none of them were anywhere near their target until he made that goal. He may have made the goal, but the amount of possession he wasted by trying to play those passes too often was ridiculous.
The momentum was with Arsenal and the pushed forward looking for the all important third goal. With 10 minutes to go it was that man RVP who yet again got the goal after the ball deflected to him 10 yards out. The home fans were ecstatic, and the players only needed to be professional for the last 10 minutes.
It was obvious straight away that Arsenal were going to struggle, as Norwich set about them yet again. It was no surprise at all when the equaliser came for them with five minutes remaining. Steve Morison was played in behind the Arsenal defence, and he finished very well past Szczesny into the far corner.
The chance for Norwich came about after another poor pass from Song in midfield, and it left Arsenal with five minutes to save the game. RVP missed a great chance from six yards out with only the keeper to beat, and Song almost scored with a back-heeled attempt. Arsenal continued to pour forward, as the four added minutes counted down.
With very little time left the chance Arsenal wanted arrived when RVP closed in on a Chamberlain cross at the far post. It looked like he was certain to poke the ball home, but a push in the back from a Norwich defender saw him end up in the back of the net instead of the ball. It was an absolute stone wall penalty, but to be honest it should have been a free out first when a clearly offside Gervinho went for the ball.
At the final whistle the Arsenal players were clearly disappointed, but they had no one to blame other than themselves. The performances of a few of the players were absolutely awful, and some of those players need to take a long hard look at themselves in the mirror. The overall strength of the squad was shown up when players who have clearly being struggling recently had to be selected.
It looks like third place has been blown by Arsenal with Spurs in particular the most likely to take advantage. A win for them today away to struggling Aston Villa will see them having to win their final game at home to Fulhm to finish third, and there is nothing Arsenal can do about it. Even if Spurs don't win today there is every chance Arsenal will be just as bad against West Brom next week when they have to win again.
When the pressure was on the team far too many players were found wanting. It has to be asked whether there is a mindset at the club that is completely wrong. How can Arsenal fall apart in the run in yet again, as they have done for too many seasons in a row.
Where were the leaders on the pitch yesterday to take control of the team when they took a 3-2 lead with 10 minutes left. Where were the calm heads to settle others around them who were unsure of what to do. I don't think it's any surprise that Arsenal's collapse has coincided with the injury to Mikael Arteta.
He has been a huge influence in the team this season, but his purchase was hardly part of the long term plan for the club. Arsenal only looked to buy him with the summer transfer window a matter of hours away from closing, and it's probably just by chance that he has come to so influential. Maybe the Arsenal players are protected too much by the club, and when the going gets tough they are found wanting.
Arsenal might still finish third in the Premier League, but I doubt it. Even they do it will still not hide the problems the squad has, and they have to be addressed this summer. Besides players of real ability Arsenal need to bring in some players who have real mental strength, and can change the mindset of a team that crumble far too often in my opinion.
I'll be watching the games today in hope more than expectation that results go in Arsenal's favour. No matter what happens today Arsenal can still finish third, but after yesterday's game it's now out of their control. It's a scenario which never should have been allowed to happen, but it's a reality now.
That's it for today.
Here's the highlights from yesterday's game.
See you tomorrow.
Friday, 4 May 2012
Arsenal's Premier League Game With Norwich City Previewed
There are only two Premier League games left to play for Arsenal this season, and on the face of it they should win them both. Since their disastrous start to the season the very best they could really have hoped for was a third placed finish. That target is still well within their sights with their fate still firmly in their own hands.
Of course in true Arsenal style they haven't made things easy for themselves, as they have stumbled towards the finishing line in recent weeks. Arsenal have only taken two points in their last three league games, and only scored two goals in the process. If they had even managed three more points in those games third place would be a much easier prospect for them now.
It's no coincidence that Mikael Arteta only managed to play for 10 minutes of those games before picking up a season-ending injury against Wigan. His influence on their midfield since his arrival on the August transfer deadline day cannot be overestimated. With Jack Wilshere missing the whole season injured Arteta brought the stability that Arsenal's transformation was built on.
They have struggled to impose themselves on opponents without him, but they must find a way in the next two games. The prize on offer is too good to turn down, and it's up to the players available to make sure Arsenal finish third. It is of course possible that fourth place will be good enough for a Champions League place next season, but it's a risk no team can afford to take.
If the unthinkable happens and Chelsea win the champions League final they will take the place of the team that finish fourth in the Premier League. Chelsea lost to Newcastle on Wednesday night, and that defeat means a top four finish is beyond them barring an incredible sequence of results in their favour. They still have an FA Cup final to play, but the Champions League final against Bayern Munich is their real priority.
Arsenal play their game this week on Saturday, and it gives them the opportunity to put some pressure on both Spurs and Newcastle who are chasing them. If Arsenal can beat Norwich it will leave them four points ahead of both of those teams before they play their games. Spurs play away to an Aston Villa team that probably need a point to ensure Premier League survival, and Newcastle are at home to title chasing Manchester City.
It's Arsenal's final home game of the season, and a chance for the players to give the fans a farewell they deserve. It hasn't been a great season for Arsenal fans, but three points on Saturday would put a smile on their faces as they face the prospect of three months without their favourite team. The summer months are never easy for fans, but at least there's the unending transfer rumours to look forward to.
Despite being far from their best at the moment Arsenal still have a far better team than Norwich. The players need to approach the game with the intensity that a must win game deserves, and attack Norwich as if their lives depend on it. There can be no let up for the entire 90 minutes, as the better the victory the tougher it will be for the chasing teams.
The only way Arsenal can tie up third place is if Spurs lose and Newcastle don't win along with an Arsenal win of course. I can see Newcastle not winning, but I think the most Arsenal can hope for is Villa to manage a point against Spurs. If that is the case Arsenal can make things a lot better by racking up a good scoreline against Norwich.
Norwich won't make it easy for Arsenal, as they have put up a fight against every team they have played this season. They create good goalscoring chances in every game they play, but they also give up an awful lot of chances too. Arsenal need to take advantage of the slack defending Norwich are guilty of far too often, and punish them as often as possible.
Robin van Persie needs to score two goals in his last two games to reach the magical 30 league goal mark for the season, and it would be great if he could do it against Norwich. He has won the player of the season awards from both the players and the football writers, and it would be a perfect way to celebrate his awards. Hopefully he will be around next season to try to retain his awards, and maybe even win a trophy with Arsenal.
I would imagine the Arsenal team will be very similar to the one that drew 1-1 away to Stoke last week. There's a possibility of Andre Santos or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain starting, but I think Arsene Wenger will opt for an unchanged side. The experience of players like Tomas Rosicky and Yossi Benayoun could be crucial on the day.
It could be a nervy affair for the players and fans if Arsenal don't score early on, but the team need the full backing of the crowd for every minute of the game. I have confidence in the ability of the players to get the result they need, and to put in the performance required. Now is the time for the players to show they have the same belief in themselves, and do all that is required of them.
It's as simple as giving their all in the final two games of the season, and delivering the results that will achieve Champions League qualification for next season. Arsenal are the only team with their fate in their own hands, and the other teams will be feeling just as much pressure.
I'm predicting a 3-1 win for Arsenal with RVP bagging the goals he needs to reach the 30 mark. It would be great if Arsenal could run up an emphatic scoreline, but once they win it doesn't really matter if it's a last minute 1-0 victory. As an Arsenal fan you learn to live with the tension, and it seems like the team don't like to make life too easy for their fans.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Of course in true Arsenal style they haven't made things easy for themselves, as they have stumbled towards the finishing line in recent weeks. Arsenal have only taken two points in their last three league games, and only scored two goals in the process. If they had even managed three more points in those games third place would be a much easier prospect for them now.
It's no coincidence that Mikael Arteta only managed to play for 10 minutes of those games before picking up a season-ending injury against Wigan. His influence on their midfield since his arrival on the August transfer deadline day cannot be overestimated. With Jack Wilshere missing the whole season injured Arteta brought the stability that Arsenal's transformation was built on.
They have struggled to impose themselves on opponents without him, but they must find a way in the next two games. The prize on offer is too good to turn down, and it's up to the players available to make sure Arsenal finish third. It is of course possible that fourth place will be good enough for a Champions League place next season, but it's a risk no team can afford to take.
If the unthinkable happens and Chelsea win the champions League final they will take the place of the team that finish fourth in the Premier League. Chelsea lost to Newcastle on Wednesday night, and that defeat means a top four finish is beyond them barring an incredible sequence of results in their favour. They still have an FA Cup final to play, but the Champions League final against Bayern Munich is their real priority.
Arsenal play their game this week on Saturday, and it gives them the opportunity to put some pressure on both Spurs and Newcastle who are chasing them. If Arsenal can beat Norwich it will leave them four points ahead of both of those teams before they play their games. Spurs play away to an Aston Villa team that probably need a point to ensure Premier League survival, and Newcastle are at home to title chasing Manchester City.
It's Arsenal's final home game of the season, and a chance for the players to give the fans a farewell they deserve. It hasn't been a great season for Arsenal fans, but three points on Saturday would put a smile on their faces as they face the prospect of three months without their favourite team. The summer months are never easy for fans, but at least there's the unending transfer rumours to look forward to.
Despite being far from their best at the moment Arsenal still have a far better team than Norwich. The players need to approach the game with the intensity that a must win game deserves, and attack Norwich as if their lives depend on it. There can be no let up for the entire 90 minutes, as the better the victory the tougher it will be for the chasing teams.
The only way Arsenal can tie up third place is if Spurs lose and Newcastle don't win along with an Arsenal win of course. I can see Newcastle not winning, but I think the most Arsenal can hope for is Villa to manage a point against Spurs. If that is the case Arsenal can make things a lot better by racking up a good scoreline against Norwich.
Norwich won't make it easy for Arsenal, as they have put up a fight against every team they have played this season. They create good goalscoring chances in every game they play, but they also give up an awful lot of chances too. Arsenal need to take advantage of the slack defending Norwich are guilty of far too often, and punish them as often as possible.
Robin van Persie needs to score two goals in his last two games to reach the magical 30 league goal mark for the season, and it would be great if he could do it against Norwich. He has won the player of the season awards from both the players and the football writers, and it would be a perfect way to celebrate his awards. Hopefully he will be around next season to try to retain his awards, and maybe even win a trophy with Arsenal.
I would imagine the Arsenal team will be very similar to the one that drew 1-1 away to Stoke last week. There's a possibility of Andre Santos or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain starting, but I think Arsene Wenger will opt for an unchanged side. The experience of players like Tomas Rosicky and Yossi Benayoun could be crucial on the day.
It could be a nervy affair for the players and fans if Arsenal don't score early on, but the team need the full backing of the crowd for every minute of the game. I have confidence in the ability of the players to get the result they need, and to put in the performance required. Now is the time for the players to show they have the same belief in themselves, and do all that is required of them.
It's as simple as giving their all in the final two games of the season, and delivering the results that will achieve Champions League qualification for next season. Arsenal are the only team with their fate in their own hands, and the other teams will be feeling just as much pressure.
I'm predicting a 3-1 win for Arsenal with RVP bagging the goals he needs to reach the 30 mark. It would be great if Arsenal could run up an emphatic scoreline, but once they win it doesn't really matter if it's a last minute 1-0 victory. As an Arsenal fan you learn to live with the tension, and it seems like the team don't like to make life too easy for their fans.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Friday, 20 April 2012
Arsenal's Premier League Game With Chelsea Previewed
Arsenal play Chelsea in the early kick off tomorrow in a game they just cannot afford to lose. They had the chance to open up a substantial gap over the chasing pack on Monday night, but they were turned over at home by Wigan. It was a costly defeat for Arsenal in more ways than one.
Besides the setback to their chances of finishing third in the league Mikael Arteta also suffered an ankle injury which will keep him out of Arsenal's remaining four games. Arteta has been the driving force in Arsenal's midfield since he signed from Everton late last August. Others may have been more spectacular in that time, but Arteta has been the player around who Arsenal's stability has been built.
At least Laurent Koiscielny will return from suspension to strengthen the Arsenal defence. He has had a very good season and he has been the best defender at the club by a long way. Bacary Sagna could possibly challenge him for that accolade, but for his three month absence through injury.
Sagna had a bad night against Wigan on Monday, and he found Victor Moses very hard to deal with. He didn't get as much help as he needed at times, and both Theo Walcott and Johan Djourou were found wanting I thought. I am sure the return of Koscielny will strengthen the defence, and Sagna surely cannot play so badly again.
There is a possibility of Kieran Gibbs returning in place of Andre Santos, but I think Santos will retain his place unless he picks up an injury or has a real off day. He was no worse than any of the other players against Wigan with the exception of the few players who did play well. I'm not too sure about the defensive abilities of either player, but Santos probably has more to offer going forward.
The real problem for Arsenal against Chelsea could be their midfield with Arteta injured. The chances are Aaron Ramsey will replace him, but they are far from similar in their playing style. I'm not sure if Ramsey can play the role Arteta does, as he is more likely to be seen pushing further forward.
There are not too many other options for Arsene Wenger in that position at the moment though. Jack Wilshere is still injured, and Abu Diaby has only just returned from his injury. Francis Coquelin is another possibility, but I can't see him making the team as he hasn't been in the squad for quite a while now.
Yossi Benayoun might have been the player to play there, but he cannot play as he is on loan from Chelsea. There is also a possibility of Alex Oclade-Chamberlain playing a central role like he did in the 3-0 win at home to Milan. I can't see Chamberlain being risked there though, but he might just get a chance in a wide role.
Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott are sure to start in the attacking trio, and Wenger has to decide who should play on the left. The chances are Gervinho will get the nod, but I have been wholly unimpressed by him since his return from the African Cup of Nations. His shoot-out penalty miss in the final looks like it may have had a serious effect on his form for Arsenal.
I'm sure the game will be a very tense affair, and the players will have to get really stuck in at times. I just don't think Gervinho has the heart for such a fight at the moment. Hopefully he can put it all behind him in the summer, and return to the team a better player next season.
Chelsea have had a tough week, but the victories over both Spurs and Barcelona must have given them a lot of confidence. They face a tough trip away to Barcelona on Tuesday night, and the strength of their squad will be stretched to the limit I'm sure. There is a chance they will rest some of their better players with that game in mind, and Arsenal need to take advantage if they do.
One of the biggest problems for Arsenal in recent games has been the absence of a real alternative for RVP. He has only managed one goal in his last six games, and that was from the penalty. He has had an absolutely fantastic season, but he has gone off the boil in recent games, and there is nobody else to look to when that happens.
I'm certainly not trying to knock RVP because his form this season has exceeded all expectations. He has also managed to stay injury free for a full season for the first time in his Arsenal career, and the team has reaped the benefits. The sight of John Terry lying flat on his face as RVP raced through to score in Arsenal's 5-3 victory away to Chelsea was one of the highlights of the season for Arsenal fans.
I hope Arsenal can rediscover their form of the last few months, and Wigan was just another QPR style blip for them. There is no doubt that an Arsenal team playing at their best can get the victory they so badly want with or without Arteta. As long as the players have the confidence to play their own game they will create chances against a Chelsea team that have struggled this season.
Arsenal haven't always been at their best either, but I think they can get the win they want if they show enough desire and comittment. I'm predicting a 2-1 win for Arsenal, and I'm hoping RVP gets his shooting boots back on again too. His hat trick in the reverse fixture was a thing of beauty, and another match winning performance against Chelsea would be fantastic for the player, the team and the fans.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Besides the setback to their chances of finishing third in the league Mikael Arteta also suffered an ankle injury which will keep him out of Arsenal's remaining four games. Arteta has been the driving force in Arsenal's midfield since he signed from Everton late last August. Others may have been more spectacular in that time, but Arteta has been the player around who Arsenal's stability has been built.
At least Laurent Koiscielny will return from suspension to strengthen the Arsenal defence. He has had a very good season and he has been the best defender at the club by a long way. Bacary Sagna could possibly challenge him for that accolade, but for his three month absence through injury.
Sagna had a bad night against Wigan on Monday, and he found Victor Moses very hard to deal with. He didn't get as much help as he needed at times, and both Theo Walcott and Johan Djourou were found wanting I thought. I am sure the return of Koscielny will strengthen the defence, and Sagna surely cannot play so badly again.
There is a possibility of Kieran Gibbs returning in place of Andre Santos, but I think Santos will retain his place unless he picks up an injury or has a real off day. He was no worse than any of the other players against Wigan with the exception of the few players who did play well. I'm not too sure about the defensive abilities of either player, but Santos probably has more to offer going forward.
The real problem for Arsenal against Chelsea could be their midfield with Arteta injured. The chances are Aaron Ramsey will replace him, but they are far from similar in their playing style. I'm not sure if Ramsey can play the role Arteta does, as he is more likely to be seen pushing further forward.
There are not too many other options for Arsene Wenger in that position at the moment though. Jack Wilshere is still injured, and Abu Diaby has only just returned from his injury. Francis Coquelin is another possibility, but I can't see him making the team as he hasn't been in the squad for quite a while now.
Yossi Benayoun might have been the player to play there, but he cannot play as he is on loan from Chelsea. There is also a possibility of Alex Oclade-Chamberlain playing a central role like he did in the 3-0 win at home to Milan. I can't see Chamberlain being risked there though, but he might just get a chance in a wide role.
Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott are sure to start in the attacking trio, and Wenger has to decide who should play on the left. The chances are Gervinho will get the nod, but I have been wholly unimpressed by him since his return from the African Cup of Nations. His shoot-out penalty miss in the final looks like it may have had a serious effect on his form for Arsenal.
I'm sure the game will be a very tense affair, and the players will have to get really stuck in at times. I just don't think Gervinho has the heart for such a fight at the moment. Hopefully he can put it all behind him in the summer, and return to the team a better player next season.
Chelsea have had a tough week, but the victories over both Spurs and Barcelona must have given them a lot of confidence. They face a tough trip away to Barcelona on Tuesday night, and the strength of their squad will be stretched to the limit I'm sure. There is a chance they will rest some of their better players with that game in mind, and Arsenal need to take advantage if they do.
One of the biggest problems for Arsenal in recent games has been the absence of a real alternative for RVP. He has only managed one goal in his last six games, and that was from the penalty. He has had an absolutely fantastic season, but he has gone off the boil in recent games, and there is nobody else to look to when that happens.
I'm certainly not trying to knock RVP because his form this season has exceeded all expectations. He has also managed to stay injury free for a full season for the first time in his Arsenal career, and the team has reaped the benefits. The sight of John Terry lying flat on his face as RVP raced through to score in Arsenal's 5-3 victory away to Chelsea was one of the highlights of the season for Arsenal fans.
I hope Arsenal can rediscover their form of the last few months, and Wigan was just another QPR style blip for them. There is no doubt that an Arsenal team playing at their best can get the victory they so badly want with or without Arteta. As long as the players have the confidence to play their own game they will create chances against a Chelsea team that have struggled this season.
Arsenal haven't always been at their best either, but I think they can get the win they want if they show enough desire and comittment. I'm predicting a 2-1 win for Arsenal, and I'm hoping RVP gets his shooting boots back on again too. His hat trick in the reverse fixture was a thing of beauty, and another match winning performance against Chelsea would be fantastic for the player, the team and the fans.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Monday, 16 April 2012
Arsenal's Premier League Game With Wigan Previewed
Arsenal managed to put the recent blip with QPR behind them by bouncing back to beat Manchester City and Wolves in the space of a few days. They have now won nine of their last 10 games in the league, and have some daylight between themselves and the other teams chasing for third place. With none of those teams playing this week Arsenal have the opportunity to widen the gap by beating Wigan tonight.
The team should be fairly similar to the one which beat Wolves with one possible exception. I think Tomas Rosicky will return to play a creative role in midfield at the expense of Aaron Ramsey. Rosicky didn't play against Wolves, but he probably needed a rest after starting so many games in recent months.
Rosicky has been in great form during that time, and the team has really benefited from his exertions. He finally looks like the player Arsenal signed almost six years ago, and hopefully he can continue that form into next season. I know he has had an awful time with injuries during his time at Arsenal, but six years is still a long time to wait for a player to show why he was signed in the first place.
Kieran Gibbs will probably be fit again, but I expect Andre Santos to keep his place at left back. It looks like Arsene Wenger considers the players to be fairly equal, and whoever has the shirt will probably hold it. Gibbs has done well since his return from injury, but now Santos has his chance to shine thanks to Gibbs having to limp off against Manchester City last week.
The battle between the two of them can only be good for the team in my opinion, and hopefully it can improve both players overall. I would imagine Santos will now be the first choice left-back for the rest of the season unless he performs badly, or picks up an injury.
With Laurent Koscielny still suspended Johan Djourou will again play alongside Thomas Vermaelen in the centre of the Arsenal defence. Djourou hasn't always looked particularly secure when he has played this season, but he was excellent last season until he picked up an injury against United in the FA Cup. No matter how well he might play tonight I cannot see him retaining his place for Saturday's game at home to Chelsea.
The only other decision Wenger has to make is who to include on the left side of his attacking trio. Yossi Benayoun has done very well there in the last few games, and I think he will probably get the nod yet again. Ramsey will hope to play I'm sure, and Gervinho looks like he might be ready to return from injury too.
It means Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will again be on the bench despite how much talent and potential he has. I have no doubt that Wenger is slowly introducing him into the team, but it must be frustrating for him to be on the bench unless others are injured. I wonder if he is being used so sparingly to ensure he doesn't go to Euro 2012 with England this summer.
Wigan got a very good result at home to United last Wednesday night, and they have now won three of their last four Premier League games. Their only setback in those four games was their defeat at Chelsea, but that was thanks to inept refereeing more than anything else. They have shown more than enough in those games to deserve to stay up this season, and Arsenal have to take them very seriously tonight.
The results against City and especially Wolves would seem to show Arsenal have learned from the mistakes they made against QPR. The players were always going to be up for the game against City, but they almost managed a comfortable win away to the bottom club in the league by beating Wolves. Any complacency in that game could have proved costly, but Arsenal were always in control and should have won by more than three goals.
Arsenal have come out of the blocks at top speed in their last two games, and I expect more of the same tonight. The possibility of opening up an eight point lead over Spurs and Newcastle, and a 10 point lead over Chelsea is one Arsenal cannot afford to miss out on. They will have played a game more than those clubs, but points in the bag area lot better than games in hand.
There are so few games left now that a lead of those proportions would be almost too much for the following pack to overhaul. It's vital for the players to concentrate from the first minute to the last, and take every chance they can to make Wigan suffer. It would be great if Arsenal can tie up third spot before traveling to West Brom for their final game of the season.
If Arsenal can win their last five games they will finish on 79 points, and that would be an impressive haul from such an eventful season. Even four wins would see them average two points a game for the season, and that's always what I consider to be the bare minimum requirement. Any team that averages more than two points a game over a season usually puts in a real challenge for the title too.
If Arsenal can do what is expected of them tonight they play again next Saturday at home to Chelsea in another must win game. It's hardly fair on Chelsea to have played their FA Cup semi final against Spurs yesterday evening, and to have to play at home to Barcelona in the last four of the Champions League on Wednesday night. The considerations of television have certainly made Chelsea's task harder, but as an Arsenal fan I'm not complaining.
A win tonight and then another win against Chelsea would probably be enough for Arsenal to seal third place, but Saturday's game must be put out of the players minds. I thought one of the reasons they were so poor against QPR was because the players may have been thinking of their upcoming game against City. The fans have been told that the lessons were learned from that game, and the players have the opportunity to show how well they were learned tonight.
Despite Wigan looking impressive recently they are no match for an Arsenal team in full flow. I'm predicting a 2-0 win for Arsenal with Robin van Persie again getting his name on the scoresheet. He needs to get three goals in the remaining five games to reach 30 league goals for the season, and I sincerely hope he manages the feat.
It's at the stage of the season where a win is all important for Arsenal, and I don't really care how they get it. Much has been made of refereeing decisions which have cost teams goals or not in recent weeks, but Arsenal are due a few decisions in their favour in my opinion. They have conceded three penalties this season to dives which Ashley Young would have been proud of, and surely these things are meant to balance out over a season.
I'm not suggesting for a moment that Arsenal players should dive, but I wouldn't be unhappy if the referees got a call or two wrong in their favour either. it's not only teams that are looking to retain their league title taht need all the help they can get from friendly referees. Seriously though I'll be perfectly happy if the officials do their job properly tonight, and get their calls right too.
I'm sure the crowd will be right behind the team tonight, as there always seems to be a better atmosphere at night games. I'm not sure why that is, but hopefully it will help to spur the players on to yet another win.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
The team should be fairly similar to the one which beat Wolves with one possible exception. I think Tomas Rosicky will return to play a creative role in midfield at the expense of Aaron Ramsey. Rosicky didn't play against Wolves, but he probably needed a rest after starting so many games in recent months.
Rosicky has been in great form during that time, and the team has really benefited from his exertions. He finally looks like the player Arsenal signed almost six years ago, and hopefully he can continue that form into next season. I know he has had an awful time with injuries during his time at Arsenal, but six years is still a long time to wait for a player to show why he was signed in the first place.
Kieran Gibbs will probably be fit again, but I expect Andre Santos to keep his place at left back. It looks like Arsene Wenger considers the players to be fairly equal, and whoever has the shirt will probably hold it. Gibbs has done well since his return from injury, but now Santos has his chance to shine thanks to Gibbs having to limp off against Manchester City last week.
The battle between the two of them can only be good for the team in my opinion, and hopefully it can improve both players overall. I would imagine Santos will now be the first choice left-back for the rest of the season unless he performs badly, or picks up an injury.
With Laurent Koscielny still suspended Johan Djourou will again play alongside Thomas Vermaelen in the centre of the Arsenal defence. Djourou hasn't always looked particularly secure when he has played this season, but he was excellent last season until he picked up an injury against United in the FA Cup. No matter how well he might play tonight I cannot see him retaining his place for Saturday's game at home to Chelsea.
The only other decision Wenger has to make is who to include on the left side of his attacking trio. Yossi Benayoun has done very well there in the last few games, and I think he will probably get the nod yet again. Ramsey will hope to play I'm sure, and Gervinho looks like he might be ready to return from injury too.
It means Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will again be on the bench despite how much talent and potential he has. I have no doubt that Wenger is slowly introducing him into the team, but it must be frustrating for him to be on the bench unless others are injured. I wonder if he is being used so sparingly to ensure he doesn't go to Euro 2012 with England this summer.
Wigan got a very good result at home to United last Wednesday night, and they have now won three of their last four Premier League games. Their only setback in those four games was their defeat at Chelsea, but that was thanks to inept refereeing more than anything else. They have shown more than enough in those games to deserve to stay up this season, and Arsenal have to take them very seriously tonight.
The results against City and especially Wolves would seem to show Arsenal have learned from the mistakes they made against QPR. The players were always going to be up for the game against City, but they almost managed a comfortable win away to the bottom club in the league by beating Wolves. Any complacency in that game could have proved costly, but Arsenal were always in control and should have won by more than three goals.
Arsenal have come out of the blocks at top speed in their last two games, and I expect more of the same tonight. The possibility of opening up an eight point lead over Spurs and Newcastle, and a 10 point lead over Chelsea is one Arsenal cannot afford to miss out on. They will have played a game more than those clubs, but points in the bag area lot better than games in hand.
There are so few games left now that a lead of those proportions would be almost too much for the following pack to overhaul. It's vital for the players to concentrate from the first minute to the last, and take every chance they can to make Wigan suffer. It would be great if Arsenal can tie up third spot before traveling to West Brom for their final game of the season.
If Arsenal can win their last five games they will finish on 79 points, and that would be an impressive haul from such an eventful season. Even four wins would see them average two points a game for the season, and that's always what I consider to be the bare minimum requirement. Any team that averages more than two points a game over a season usually puts in a real challenge for the title too.
If Arsenal can do what is expected of them tonight they play again next Saturday at home to Chelsea in another must win game. It's hardly fair on Chelsea to have played their FA Cup semi final against Spurs yesterday evening, and to have to play at home to Barcelona in the last four of the Champions League on Wednesday night. The considerations of television have certainly made Chelsea's task harder, but as an Arsenal fan I'm not complaining.
A win tonight and then another win against Chelsea would probably be enough for Arsenal to seal third place, but Saturday's game must be put out of the players minds. I thought one of the reasons they were so poor against QPR was because the players may have been thinking of their upcoming game against City. The fans have been told that the lessons were learned from that game, and the players have the opportunity to show how well they were learned tonight.
Despite Wigan looking impressive recently they are no match for an Arsenal team in full flow. I'm predicting a 2-0 win for Arsenal with Robin van Persie again getting his name on the scoresheet. He needs to get three goals in the remaining five games to reach 30 league goals for the season, and I sincerely hope he manages the feat.
It's at the stage of the season where a win is all important for Arsenal, and I don't really care how they get it. Much has been made of refereeing decisions which have cost teams goals or not in recent weeks, but Arsenal are due a few decisions in their favour in my opinion. They have conceded three penalties this season to dives which Ashley Young would have been proud of, and surely these things are meant to balance out over a season.
I'm not suggesting for a moment that Arsenal players should dive, but I wouldn't be unhappy if the referees got a call or two wrong in their favour either. it's not only teams that are looking to retain their league title taht need all the help they can get from friendly referees. Seriously though I'll be perfectly happy if the officials do their job properly tonight, and get their calls right too.
I'm sure the crowd will be right behind the team tonight, as there always seems to be a better atmosphere at night games. I'm not sure why that is, but hopefully it will help to spur the players on to yet another win.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Thursday, 12 April 2012
Arsenal Close In On A Third place Finish By Beating Wolves 3-0
Arsenal made the trip to Wolves last night to play against a team that look to doomed relegation from the Premier League this season. With both Spurs and Chelsea dropping points there was a real opportunity for Arsenal to open up a gap in the fight for third place.
Arsene Wenger made three changes from the team that beat Manchester City 1-0 on Sunday. With Kieran Gibbs injured and Laurent Koscielny suspended it meant Andre Santos and Johan Djourou played from the start in defence. The other change was the inclusion of Aaron Ramsey in midfield, as Tomas Rosicky was left on the bench.
I can only imagine Rosicky was a little fatigued after his efforts against City on Sunday. The Arsenal team was still more than strong enough to play against a team that had lost their last six games, and conceded 70 Premier League goals so far this season. The slim chance for Wolves to stay in the Premier League is fading fast, and they needed to take all three points from Arsenal.
It didn't take long for Arsenal to take the lead, and the first goal killed the game as a contest too. Robin van Persie played Theo Walcott in, and he was hauled down from behind by Sebastien Bassong. The referee gave Arsenal a penalty, and Bassong was given a red card too.
I thought the red card was a little harsh, but it was definitely a penalty. RVP stepped up to cheekily clip the ball straight down the middle with Wayne Hennessey committed to his dive. With less than 10 minutes gone Arsenal had a 1-0 lead, and 10 man Wolves had a mountain to climb.
Only a couple of minutes later Arsenal increased their lead through another combination between RVP and Walcott. They played an excellent one-two, and Walcott raced through to finish well past Hennessey. It looked like Wolves could be on the end of a real hammering, but they managed to hold on until half time.
Arsenal did manage to add a third goal in the second half when Yossi Benayoun finished from just outside the box with 20 minutes left after an Alex Song pull back. Wolves were never going to come back from 3-0 down, but they tried their best for the rest of the game. Arsenal probably should have scored more, and Ramsey missed the best of their chances.
I was very impressed with the performance of Wojciech Szczesny, as he made two very good saves in the match. It may not sound like a lot, but he had little else to do and still managed to keep his concentration. All too often in the recent past Arsenal goalkeepers have shut off when they have had little to do, but Szczesny was on top of his game when he needed to be.
The result leaves Arsenal five points clear of both Spurs and Newcastle with five games left to play. Chelsea are a further two points back, and Arsenal will play again before any of them do. That game for Arsenal is next Monday night at home to relegation threatened Wigan, but it will be far from easy.
Wigan have looked very good in recent weeks, and they beat league leaders Manchester United 1-0 last night. It was a thoroughly deserved victory, and they will be full of confidence coming to Arsenal next week. I admire the way Roberto Martinez has Wigan playing and I hope they avoid relegation, but hopefully Arsenal can get another three points.
If they can take the three points I think third place will be almost sewn up, as they will have an eight point lead over their nearest challengers. Arsenal's home form has been excellent in the past few months, and a continuation of that form will surely be enough for them.
It's been a topsy turvy season for Arsenal, but it seems more than likely that it will finish well for them. Third place would guarantee automatic qualification for the group stages of next season's Champions League, and after the season Arsenal have had I consider that an achievement. It might have been nice to have had a real run in the FA Cup too, but I'll settle for a top three finish.
The current squad has an awful lot of potential, and a couple of top class additions could be what the club needs to make a real challenge next season. There's money available to spend on those players, as long as the club can identify the players they need. It may not be easy to convince them to join, but a Champions League place will surely make it easier.
The future looks bright at the moment, and very few people would have imagined that when Arsenal made such a poor start to the season.
That's it for today.
Here's the highlights from last night's game.
See you tomorrow.
Arsene Wenger made three changes from the team that beat Manchester City 1-0 on Sunday. With Kieran Gibbs injured and Laurent Koscielny suspended it meant Andre Santos and Johan Djourou played from the start in defence. The other change was the inclusion of Aaron Ramsey in midfield, as Tomas Rosicky was left on the bench.
I can only imagine Rosicky was a little fatigued after his efforts against City on Sunday. The Arsenal team was still more than strong enough to play against a team that had lost their last six games, and conceded 70 Premier League goals so far this season. The slim chance for Wolves to stay in the Premier League is fading fast, and they needed to take all three points from Arsenal.
It didn't take long for Arsenal to take the lead, and the first goal killed the game as a contest too. Robin van Persie played Theo Walcott in, and he was hauled down from behind by Sebastien Bassong. The referee gave Arsenal a penalty, and Bassong was given a red card too.
I thought the red card was a little harsh, but it was definitely a penalty. RVP stepped up to cheekily clip the ball straight down the middle with Wayne Hennessey committed to his dive. With less than 10 minutes gone Arsenal had a 1-0 lead, and 10 man Wolves had a mountain to climb.
Only a couple of minutes later Arsenal increased their lead through another combination between RVP and Walcott. They played an excellent one-two, and Walcott raced through to finish well past Hennessey. It looked like Wolves could be on the end of a real hammering, but they managed to hold on until half time.
Arsenal did manage to add a third goal in the second half when Yossi Benayoun finished from just outside the box with 20 minutes left after an Alex Song pull back. Wolves were never going to come back from 3-0 down, but they tried their best for the rest of the game. Arsenal probably should have scored more, and Ramsey missed the best of their chances.
I was very impressed with the performance of Wojciech Szczesny, as he made two very good saves in the match. It may not sound like a lot, but he had little else to do and still managed to keep his concentration. All too often in the recent past Arsenal goalkeepers have shut off when they have had little to do, but Szczesny was on top of his game when he needed to be.
The result leaves Arsenal five points clear of both Spurs and Newcastle with five games left to play. Chelsea are a further two points back, and Arsenal will play again before any of them do. That game for Arsenal is next Monday night at home to relegation threatened Wigan, but it will be far from easy.
Wigan have looked very good in recent weeks, and they beat league leaders Manchester United 1-0 last night. It was a thoroughly deserved victory, and they will be full of confidence coming to Arsenal next week. I admire the way Roberto Martinez has Wigan playing and I hope they avoid relegation, but hopefully Arsenal can get another three points.
If they can take the three points I think third place will be almost sewn up, as they will have an eight point lead over their nearest challengers. Arsenal's home form has been excellent in the past few months, and a continuation of that form will surely be enough for them.
It's been a topsy turvy season for Arsenal, but it seems more than likely that it will finish well for them. Third place would guarantee automatic qualification for the group stages of next season's Champions League, and after the season Arsenal have had I consider that an achievement. It might have been nice to have had a real run in the FA Cup too, but I'll settle for a top three finish.
The current squad has an awful lot of potential, and a couple of top class additions could be what the club needs to make a real challenge next season. There's money available to spend on those players, as long as the club can identify the players they need. It may not be easy to convince them to join, but a Champions League place will surely make it easier.
The future looks bright at the moment, and very few people would have imagined that when Arsenal made such a poor start to the season.
That's it for today.
Here's the highlights from last night's game.
See you tomorrow.
Wednesday, 11 April 2012
Arsenal's Premier League Trip To Wolverhampton Wanderers Previewed
There is a real opportunity for Arsenal to put some distance between themselves and the chasing pack at the moment. Spurs continued their recent slump with a draw away to Sunderland at the weekend, and their defeat at home to Norwich on Monday was a real blow to their Champions League chances. Chelsea fared a little better by beating Wigan on Saturday before dropping two points when Fulham got a late equaliser against them on Monday night.
Spurs and Chelsea play each other in the FA Cup at the weekend, and it means there will be no Premier League action for either club. Arsenal play away against Wolves tonight, and then they have a home game against Wigan next Monday. Arsenal currently lead Spurs by two points and Chelsea by four with a game in hand on both teams. By the time both of those clubs play in the league again Arsenal will have played a game more than each of them, and their lead could be increased by six points too.
Those two games for Arsenal are against teams in the relegation zone, and the recent defeat to QPR showed how dangerous they can be. Arsenal didn't approach that game in the right manner, and they ended up in the wrong side of a 2-1 result. Hopefully the lessons of complacency were learned in that defeat, and Arsenal will have the correct approach against both of their struggling opponents.
The first hurdle for them is the trip to Wolves, and it's a game Arsenal really should win. Since Wolves sacked Mick McCarthy they have gone into free fall, and relegation looks to be almost a certainty for them now. They are six points adrift of safety with only six games left, and vastly inferior goal difference.
Wolves have lost their last six games in the Premier League, and conceded more goals than any other team so far this season. Their last clean sheet was 29 games ago, and they seem destined for life in the Championship next season. Even when they have taken the lead in recent games they have been quickly pegged back before going on to lose.
Arsenal have won eight of their last nine games, and the rewards for a victory are clear for them to see. If the lessons of the defeat to QPR really have been learned then Arsenal should take full points from both Wolves and Wigan, and it should hopefully put enough points between them and the chasing pack to ensure third place in the league. The next game after both of those games is at home to Chelsea, and a victory could seal the top four finish Arsenal crave.
Chelsea are coming to a stage of the season where they are playing twice a week every week, and every game is a very big one for them. Their games against Barcelona, Spurs and Arsenal will be huge for them in terms of their future and their final status this season. I can't see them finishing third or beating Barcelona which only leaves the FA Cup as a real target for them.
The best scenario for Arsenal is a draw and a replay between Chelsea and Spurs in the FA cup semi final. If that happens the pressure of games on Chelsea could prove to be too much, and they might end up achieving none of their targets.
Newcastle have to be considered in the run in too, as they have won their last five games and are level on points with Spurs. It would be quite fantastic if Arsenal finished third and Newcastle claimed the final Champions League place, but they do have a few tough games before the season ends.
I'm predicting a 4-1 win for Arsenal tonight with Robin van Persie ending his mini-drought by getting on the scoresheet again. I think the Wolves player Arsenal have to watch out for is Michael Kightly who has done well in a wide right role, and scored in their last two games. Even if Wolves do manage to score I just cannot see their defence standing up to what Arsenal will hopefully throw at them.
In team news the Arsenal defence will have to change because Kieran Gibbs is injured, and Laurent Koscielny suspended. It should see the inclusion of Andre Santos and Johan Djourou, but hopefully it won't affect the recent defensive stability. Koscielny will miss the game against Wigan too after receiving his tenth yellow card of the season against City on Sunday.
There is every possibility of the six players ahead of the defence remaining the same, but equally Aaron Ramsey or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could come in for Yossi Benayoun. Whoever plays I'm sure Arsenal will still have enough to get the three points, and I have a feeling it will be Ramsey as Arsenal are away from home. He has played on the left in the last two away games, and he will probably get the nod again despite his performances in those games.
It would be fantastic to be sitting here next Monday night with some real space between Arsenal and the other teams challenging for third place. The ability to do so will surely show that the team really are learning their lessons, and acting on the lessons learned. Hopefully classes will start tonight with a stirring performance, and a few goals to match it.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Spurs and Chelsea play each other in the FA Cup at the weekend, and it means there will be no Premier League action for either club. Arsenal play away against Wolves tonight, and then they have a home game against Wigan next Monday. Arsenal currently lead Spurs by two points and Chelsea by four with a game in hand on both teams. By the time both of those clubs play in the league again Arsenal will have played a game more than each of them, and their lead could be increased by six points too.
Those two games for Arsenal are against teams in the relegation zone, and the recent defeat to QPR showed how dangerous they can be. Arsenal didn't approach that game in the right manner, and they ended up in the wrong side of a 2-1 result. Hopefully the lessons of complacency were learned in that defeat, and Arsenal will have the correct approach against both of their struggling opponents.
The first hurdle for them is the trip to Wolves, and it's a game Arsenal really should win. Since Wolves sacked Mick McCarthy they have gone into free fall, and relegation looks to be almost a certainty for them now. They are six points adrift of safety with only six games left, and vastly inferior goal difference.
Wolves have lost their last six games in the Premier League, and conceded more goals than any other team so far this season. Their last clean sheet was 29 games ago, and they seem destined for life in the Championship next season. Even when they have taken the lead in recent games they have been quickly pegged back before going on to lose.
Arsenal have won eight of their last nine games, and the rewards for a victory are clear for them to see. If the lessons of the defeat to QPR really have been learned then Arsenal should take full points from both Wolves and Wigan, and it should hopefully put enough points between them and the chasing pack to ensure third place in the league. The next game after both of those games is at home to Chelsea, and a victory could seal the top four finish Arsenal crave.
Chelsea are coming to a stage of the season where they are playing twice a week every week, and every game is a very big one for them. Their games against Barcelona, Spurs and Arsenal will be huge for them in terms of their future and their final status this season. I can't see them finishing third or beating Barcelona which only leaves the FA Cup as a real target for them.
The best scenario for Arsenal is a draw and a replay between Chelsea and Spurs in the FA cup semi final. If that happens the pressure of games on Chelsea could prove to be too much, and they might end up achieving none of their targets.
Newcastle have to be considered in the run in too, as they have won their last five games and are level on points with Spurs. It would be quite fantastic if Arsenal finished third and Newcastle claimed the final Champions League place, but they do have a few tough games before the season ends.
I'm predicting a 4-1 win for Arsenal tonight with Robin van Persie ending his mini-drought by getting on the scoresheet again. I think the Wolves player Arsenal have to watch out for is Michael Kightly who has done well in a wide right role, and scored in their last two games. Even if Wolves do manage to score I just cannot see their defence standing up to what Arsenal will hopefully throw at them.
In team news the Arsenal defence will have to change because Kieran Gibbs is injured, and Laurent Koscielny suspended. It should see the inclusion of Andre Santos and Johan Djourou, but hopefully it won't affect the recent defensive stability. Koscielny will miss the game against Wigan too after receiving his tenth yellow card of the season against City on Sunday.
There is every possibility of the six players ahead of the defence remaining the same, but equally Aaron Ramsey or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could come in for Yossi Benayoun. Whoever plays I'm sure Arsenal will still have enough to get the three points, and I have a feeling it will be Ramsey as Arsenal are away from home. He has played on the left in the last two away games, and he will probably get the nod again despite his performances in those games.
It would be fantastic to be sitting here next Monday night with some real space between Arsenal and the other teams challenging for third place. The ability to do so will surely show that the team really are learning their lessons, and acting on the lessons learned. Hopefully classes will start tonight with a stirring performance, and a few goals to match it.
That's it for today.
See you tomorrow.
Saturday, 4 February 2012
Arsenal's Premier League Game With Blackburn Rovers Previewed
Arsenal are on an awful run at the moment and they need to get some points on the board very quickly. They have taken only one point in their last four Premier League games, and that came on Wednesday night when they drew 0-0 away to Bolton. It was a match that could have gone either way, and Arsenal were a little unlucky to see Robin van Persie hit the woodwork twice.
The only consolation during that run for them has been their progress to the fifth round of the FA Cup. Realistically the FA Cup is Arsenal's best chance of a trophy this season despite the fact that they are also in the last 16 of the Champions League. In the next two weeks Arsenal will play in both of those competitions, as well as playing twice in the Premier League.
The first of those games is against Blackburn Rovers, and it's a game Arsenal quite simply have to win. Blackburn are in the relegation and they have only won once away from home so far this season in 11 Premier League games. They have managed to draw six of those games, and they have scored in every one of their away games too.
Blackburn lost at home to Newcastle on Wednesday night despite having 23 attempts at goal. They managed 12 attempts on target, and that included a missed penalty from David Dunn. They are more than capable of making chances, but thankfully Yakubu is suspended for them at the moment.
In the reverse fixture in September Arsenal lost 4-3 at Blackburn, and Yakubu got two of their goals. The other two goals were own goals from Alex Song and Laurent Koscielny, and it was an awful day for Arsenal. They had led 2-1 at half-time, but they were 4-2 down by the middle of the second half.
Arsenal did throw everything they had at Blackburn for the last 20 minutes, but they could only manage a goal from Marouane Chamakh. In that game Arsenal had 16 shots on target to Blackburn's five, but somehow they managed to lose the game. For a 20 minute spell in the second half Arsenal fell apart and lost all of their control on the pitch.
Things got a little better after that, as Arsenal put together a decent run and looked capable of taking a place in the top four. When the transfer dealings were over at the end of August I hoped Arsenal could manage a top four finish, as well as having a chance of winning the FA Cup. At the moment it seems that top four finish is disappearing very quickly despite the fact that they're only five points off fourth placed Chelsea.
It's very hard to stay positive about Arsenal at the moment, as they seemingly lurch from one crisis to another. Their defence is letting in far too many goals this season, but at the same time Arsenal are missing far too many excellent scoring chances. It's a combination which will hurt any team, and it is certainly hurting Arsenal at the moment.
The point against Bolton wouldn't have been so bad if it hadn't have come after three successive defeats. The first two of those defeats were really bad from Arsenal's perspective, as they led both games and ended up losing to Fulham and Swansea. Wins in those games would have left Arsenal level with Chelsea and ahead of Liverpool and Newcastle, but they seventh in the league instead.
There's still plenty of time for them to turn things around and finish in the top four, but that turnaround has to start very soon. Chelsea aren't exactly setting the league alight either, but Liverpool seem to be improving thanks to their cup exploits. There are 15 games to go still, and enough points to be won for Arsenal to comfortably qualify for next season's Champions League.
There has been far too much talk from the players and management this season about how Arsenal are going to step up and perform at their best. I couldn't care less if I never heard another word from any of the Arsenal players this season, as long as they start doing the business on the pitch. It doesn't matter how good a game the players can talk if they can't back it up with performances.
Much has been made of the injury situation at Arsenal, and it has certainly affected the performances of the team at times over the last two months. It's great to see Bacary Sagna back in the team, and hopefully Kieran Gibbs will follow him very soon. Arsene Wenger has said he probably needs to give him a reserve outing before including him in the first team panel.
Thomas Vermaelen hasn't done too badly at left back, but he's areal loss to the team when he isn't playing in the centre of defence. He is not only a very good defender in that role, but he also offers an awful lot going forward from the centre of defence. Neither Per Mertesacker or Koscielny get themselves involved in attacking as much as Vermaelen does, but Koscielny has tried to get involved recently.
Even when Gibbs is back the majority of Arsenal fans will feel it's only a matter of time before he gets injured again. He hasn't been around as long as Abu Diaby, but he seems to be just as injury prone. Hopefully he will put all of those problems behind him, and prove all the doubters wrong.
I expect Arsenal to open Blackburn up and make plenty of chances yet again. It would be magnificent if they could put away a decent percentage of those chances, and give Blackburn a little payback for that dreadful day in September. With Yakubu suspended and Christopher Samba out of favour Arsenal should be capable of winning well.
There is a chance Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain may miss out on the game with a jarred knee, but hopefully he will be fit to play. He has looked Arsenal's most potent attacking force besides RVP over the last few weeks, and I'm sure the goals will start to flow for him soon. I'd love to see him paired with Gervinho on either side of RVP when the Ivorian returns from the African Cup of Nations.
Wenger has said there's a possibility he will rest RVP for this game, but I would be very surprised if he did. Arsenal don't play again until the trip to Sunderland next Saturday, and they need their star player and captain against Blackburn. There will be plenty of time for RVP to rest before things get really hectic next week.
If anybody is to be rested I think Aaron Ramsey and Alex Song look like they need a rest. That would probably mean Tomas Rosicky and Francis Coquelin get to play from the start, but there is always a possibility that Yossi Benayoun could play. I would be very surprised if Thierry Henry started, as he doesn't look particularly sharp despite his goal against Leeds in the FA Cup.
I'm predicting a win for Arsenal, and I think RVP will play from the start and get a couple of goals too. The Blackburn defence is weak, and if Arsenal take their chances they can run up a very good scare. I'm going for 4-1 to Arsenal, but I would settle for a 1-0 win as long as Arsenal get the three points.
Blackburn have only won four games in the league this season, and they have scored at least three goals in each of their wins. It seems they need to score a few to win a game, and they're more likely to concede a few against Arsenal.
In my preview of the Bolton game I wanted Arsenal to play with tempo and attitude, and they did that at times. They couldn't keep it up for the whole game though, and in the end Bolton nearly managed to sneak all three points. There can be no place for anything like that against Blackburn.
As long as Arsenal get the three points I'm not too concerned about how they play, as they simply need to get back to winning ways. Four of the teams above Arsenal are playing each other this weekend, and an Arsenal win will see them make up ground on at least two teams. It's too good an opportunity for Arsenal to turn down, and failure to take all three points will be nothing short of a disaster.
If they can take the three points it will help to boost the players' confidence, and help them to rediscover some good form. Despite the injuries and the players that were sold Arsenal still have a good enough team to finish in the top four. It's about time that they showed how good they can be.
That's it for today.
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 only consolation during that run for them has been their progress to the fifth round of the FA Cup. Realistically the FA Cup is Arsenal's best chance of a trophy this season despite the fact that they are also in the last 16 of the Champions League. In the next two weeks Arsenal will play in both of those competitions, as well as playing twice in the Premier League.
The first of those games is against Blackburn Rovers, and it's a game Arsenal quite simply have to win. Blackburn are in the relegation and they have only won once away from home so far this season in 11 Premier League games. They have managed to draw six of those games, and they have scored in every one of their away games too.
Blackburn lost at home to Newcastle on Wednesday night despite having 23 attempts at goal. They managed 12 attempts on target, and that included a missed penalty from David Dunn. They are more than capable of making chances, but thankfully Yakubu is suspended for them at the moment.
In the reverse fixture in September Arsenal lost 4-3 at Blackburn, and Yakubu got two of their goals. The other two goals were own goals from Alex Song and Laurent Koscielny, and it was an awful day for Arsenal. They had led 2-1 at half-time, but they were 4-2 down by the middle of the second half.
Arsenal did throw everything they had at Blackburn for the last 20 minutes, but they could only manage a goal from Marouane Chamakh. In that game Arsenal had 16 shots on target to Blackburn's five, but somehow they managed to lose the game. For a 20 minute spell in the second half Arsenal fell apart and lost all of their control on the pitch.
Things got a little better after that, as Arsenal put together a decent run and looked capable of taking a place in the top four. When the transfer dealings were over at the end of August I hoped Arsenal could manage a top four finish, as well as having a chance of winning the FA Cup. At the moment it seems that top four finish is disappearing very quickly despite the fact that they're only five points off fourth placed Chelsea.
It's very hard to stay positive about Arsenal at the moment, as they seemingly lurch from one crisis to another. Their defence is letting in far too many goals this season, but at the same time Arsenal are missing far too many excellent scoring chances. It's a combination which will hurt any team, and it is certainly hurting Arsenal at the moment.
The point against Bolton wouldn't have been so bad if it hadn't have come after three successive defeats. The first two of those defeats were really bad from Arsenal's perspective, as they led both games and ended up losing to Fulham and Swansea. Wins in those games would have left Arsenal level with Chelsea and ahead of Liverpool and Newcastle, but they seventh in the league instead.
There's still plenty of time for them to turn things around and finish in the top four, but that turnaround has to start very soon. Chelsea aren't exactly setting the league alight either, but Liverpool seem to be improving thanks to their cup exploits. There are 15 games to go still, and enough points to be won for Arsenal to comfortably qualify for next season's Champions League.
There has been far too much talk from the players and management this season about how Arsenal are going to step up and perform at their best. I couldn't care less if I never heard another word from any of the Arsenal players this season, as long as they start doing the business on the pitch. It doesn't matter how good a game the players can talk if they can't back it up with performances.
Much has been made of the injury situation at Arsenal, and it has certainly affected the performances of the team at times over the last two months. It's great to see Bacary Sagna back in the team, and hopefully Kieran Gibbs will follow him very soon. Arsene Wenger has said he probably needs to give him a reserve outing before including him in the first team panel.
Thomas Vermaelen hasn't done too badly at left back, but he's areal loss to the team when he isn't playing in the centre of defence. He is not only a very good defender in that role, but he also offers an awful lot going forward from the centre of defence. Neither Per Mertesacker or Koscielny get themselves involved in attacking as much as Vermaelen does, but Koscielny has tried to get involved recently.
Even when Gibbs is back the majority of Arsenal fans will feel it's only a matter of time before he gets injured again. He hasn't been around as long as Abu Diaby, but he seems to be just as injury prone. Hopefully he will put all of those problems behind him, and prove all the doubters wrong.
I expect Arsenal to open Blackburn up and make plenty of chances yet again. It would be magnificent if they could put away a decent percentage of those chances, and give Blackburn a little payback for that dreadful day in September. With Yakubu suspended and Christopher Samba out of favour Arsenal should be capable of winning well.
There is a chance Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain may miss out on the game with a jarred knee, but hopefully he will be fit to play. He has looked Arsenal's most potent attacking force besides RVP over the last few weeks, and I'm sure the goals will start to flow for him soon. I'd love to see him paired with Gervinho on either side of RVP when the Ivorian returns from the African Cup of Nations.
Wenger has said there's a possibility he will rest RVP for this game, but I would be very surprised if he did. Arsenal don't play again until the trip to Sunderland next Saturday, and they need their star player and captain against Blackburn. There will be plenty of time for RVP to rest before things get really hectic next week.
If anybody is to be rested I think Aaron Ramsey and Alex Song look like they need a rest. That would probably mean Tomas Rosicky and Francis Coquelin get to play from the start, but there is always a possibility that Yossi Benayoun could play. I would be very surprised if Thierry Henry started, as he doesn't look particularly sharp despite his goal against Leeds in the FA Cup.
I'm predicting a win for Arsenal, and I think RVP will play from the start and get a couple of goals too. The Blackburn defence is weak, and if Arsenal take their chances they can run up a very good scare. I'm going for 4-1 to Arsenal, but I would settle for a 1-0 win as long as Arsenal get the three points.
Blackburn have only won four games in the league this season, and they have scored at least three goals in each of their wins. It seems they need to score a few to win a game, and they're more likely to concede a few against Arsenal.
In my preview of the Bolton game I wanted Arsenal to play with tempo and attitude, and they did that at times. They couldn't keep it up for the whole game though, and in the end Bolton nearly managed to sneak all three points. There can be no place for anything like that against Blackburn.
As long as Arsenal get the three points I'm not too concerned about how they play, as they simply need to get back to winning ways. Four of the teams above Arsenal are playing each other this weekend, and an Arsenal win will see them make up ground on at least two teams. It's too good an opportunity for Arsenal to turn down, and failure to take all three points will be nothing short of a disaster.
If they can take the three points it will help to boost the players' confidence, and help them to rediscover some good form. Despite the injuries and the players that were sold Arsenal still have a good enough team to finish in the top four. It's about time that they showed how good they can be.
That's it for today.
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.
Saturday, 21 January 2012
Arsenal's Premier League Game With Manchester United Previewed
Arsenal face a home game against Manchester United this Sunday in the Premier League. The reverse fixture at the end of last August was a very painful game for Arsenal fans, as the club was in crisis going into the game. The fans feared wht might happen in that game, and those fears were realised when they were beaten 8-2.
It was a game that will live long in the memories of Arsenal fans for all the wrong reasons. Arsenal were missing an awful lot of players on the day, but the team that played should have been good enough to perform a lot better. Besides the performance of the team Arsene Wenger made some bad tactical decisions on the day too.
Francis Coquelin started in the defensive midfield role, but he was replaced by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with 30 minutes left and the score at 3-1. I found it impossible to fathom how Wenger took off a defensive midfielder, and replaced him with a player who is listed as a striker on the club site. The collapse arrived soon afterwards, and the memories are still painful.
Despite the obvious talent Chamberlain has he was overlooked in every single Premier League game after that until last Sunday. He got to play the last 15 minutes against Swansea last Sunday, as Arsenal desperately tried to claw back a 3-2 deficit. His efforts were in vain, and Arsenal were beaten for the second league game in a row.
Going into Sunday's game Arsenal have even more absent players this time, as their squad is ravaged by injuries. It was hoped that both Mikael Arteta and Thomas Vermaelen would be available, but Arteta is definitely out and Vermaelen is highly doubtful. Added to that Thierry Henry has picked up a knock, and he might not be available either.
I find myself wondering if Arsenal have built their new stadium on an ancient burial ground, as they suffer a series of devastating injuries season after season. Besides the current list of injuries Arsenal are also missing both Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh who are both on international duty. By my estimation Arsenal are missing six of their strongest team, and the team has no balance as a result.
Of course the defensive injuries are worst of all, and the injuries to all of the club's full-backs are almost unbelievable. Even the players who have attempted to fill in for the full-backs are falling like flies at the moment. All of those injuries will probably mean Arsenal have to play a very similar team to the one that lost to Swansea last week.
I can't see the defence being any different unless Vermaelen makes a miraculous recovery, and the chances are the front three will be the same again too. That means the only change in personell might come in midfield where Tomas Rosicky looks likely to start for Yossi Benayoun who seemed unable to get into the game last week.
Aaron Ramsey got quite a lot of stick from some Arsenal fans after last week's game, but I thought he tried harder than most of the other Arsenal players. It was not his fault that the referee gave a penalty against him when he was actually the player fouled. He may have done very little right in the game, but he cannot be blamed for that penalty.
Arsenal have had a bad run of very debatable decisions go against them recently, but surely these things are meant to even out over a season. If that's the case I think Arsenal can expect to get half a dozen penalties in their favour very soon, as well as getting away with a few blatant ones against them. I won't be holding my breath for that scenario though.
United have a few injury worries of their own, but they can put out an almost full strength team. Their biggest loss is Nemanja Vidic, and I always feel their defence is weaker without him. Hopefully Arsenal will be able to take advantage of United missing their best defender.
United have the best away record in the Premier League with seven victories and only one defeat in 10 games so far. They have only conceded six goals in those games too, but their last away game was a 3-0 defeat against Newcastle United. Another performance like that one from United would be ideal for Arsenal.
On the other hand Arsenal have a pretty good home record so far this season, and their only defeat came against Liverpool when they were down to 10 men. Only Manchester City have conceded less goals than Arsenal at home too, and it's a record for the team to be proud of. That record will be put to a severe test by United I would imagine.
On the face of it the team Arsenal will play is very weak at the back, and the game is there for United to go out and win. When teams have attacked Arsenal this season they have opened up their defence too easily, and that should be United's best tactic in this game. Whether they decide to do that or not is another matter altogether.
Added to that Arsenal are missing too many very good goalscoring chances in almost every game, and they will need to be clinical against United. Their chances to score could be few and far between, but if they take the good ones they can get a result in my opinion. If Robin van Persie is at his best he can cause United some real problems.
Unite have Nani and Antonio Valencia in their wide roles, and they can both cause real problems to the fill in full-backs for Arsenal. Both Theo Walcott and Andrey Arshavin will have to help their full-backs as much as possible, and I hope the two of them can work as hard as they are needed to.
In my opinion Arsenal need to keep the game as tight as possible, and look to frustrate United. Every single Arsenal player has to work as hard as they can, and fight for the cause. A draw would be a good result for Arsenal, but it probably wouldn't be for United considering the team Arsenal have to play.
If United play two players up front they will be leaving themselves short in midfield, and that could play into Arsenal's hands. I would like to see Paul Scholes start for them, as I think he is well past his best and could struggle if Arsenal put him under pressure. He has a nasty side to him, and it would be nice to see him punished by the referee if that side is put on show.
I think Arsenal have a chance of getting a result if they can keep to their game plan, and every player does all that is asked of them. That certainly hasn't been the case in recent games, but surely the players will know how important it is in this game. I'm predicting a 2-1 win for Arsenal, but then again regular readers will know I always predict an Arsenal win.
That's it for today.
Here's the goal from Aaron Ramsey that won this game for Arsenal last season.
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.
It was a game that will live long in the memories of Arsenal fans for all the wrong reasons. Arsenal were missing an awful lot of players on the day, but the team that played should have been good enough to perform a lot better. Besides the performance of the team Arsene Wenger made some bad tactical decisions on the day too.
Francis Coquelin started in the defensive midfield role, but he was replaced by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with 30 minutes left and the score at 3-1. I found it impossible to fathom how Wenger took off a defensive midfielder, and replaced him with a player who is listed as a striker on the club site. The collapse arrived soon afterwards, and the memories are still painful.
Despite the obvious talent Chamberlain has he was overlooked in every single Premier League game after that until last Sunday. He got to play the last 15 minutes against Swansea last Sunday, as Arsenal desperately tried to claw back a 3-2 deficit. His efforts were in vain, and Arsenal were beaten for the second league game in a row.
Going into Sunday's game Arsenal have even more absent players this time, as their squad is ravaged by injuries. It was hoped that both Mikael Arteta and Thomas Vermaelen would be available, but Arteta is definitely out and Vermaelen is highly doubtful. Added to that Thierry Henry has picked up a knock, and he might not be available either.
I find myself wondering if Arsenal have built their new stadium on an ancient burial ground, as they suffer a series of devastating injuries season after season. Besides the current list of injuries Arsenal are also missing both Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh who are both on international duty. By my estimation Arsenal are missing six of their strongest team, and the team has no balance as a result.
Of course the defensive injuries are worst of all, and the injuries to all of the club's full-backs are almost unbelievable. Even the players who have attempted to fill in for the full-backs are falling like flies at the moment. All of those injuries will probably mean Arsenal have to play a very similar team to the one that lost to Swansea last week.
I can't see the defence being any different unless Vermaelen makes a miraculous recovery, and the chances are the front three will be the same again too. That means the only change in personell might come in midfield where Tomas Rosicky looks likely to start for Yossi Benayoun who seemed unable to get into the game last week.
Aaron Ramsey got quite a lot of stick from some Arsenal fans after last week's game, but I thought he tried harder than most of the other Arsenal players. It was not his fault that the referee gave a penalty against him when he was actually the player fouled. He may have done very little right in the game, but he cannot be blamed for that penalty.
Arsenal have had a bad run of very debatable decisions go against them recently, but surely these things are meant to even out over a season. If that's the case I think Arsenal can expect to get half a dozen penalties in their favour very soon, as well as getting away with a few blatant ones against them. I won't be holding my breath for that scenario though.
United have a few injury worries of their own, but they can put out an almost full strength team. Their biggest loss is Nemanja Vidic, and I always feel their defence is weaker without him. Hopefully Arsenal will be able to take advantage of United missing their best defender.
United have the best away record in the Premier League with seven victories and only one defeat in 10 games so far. They have only conceded six goals in those games too, but their last away game was a 3-0 defeat against Newcastle United. Another performance like that one from United would be ideal for Arsenal.
On the other hand Arsenal have a pretty good home record so far this season, and their only defeat came against Liverpool when they were down to 10 men. Only Manchester City have conceded less goals than Arsenal at home too, and it's a record for the team to be proud of. That record will be put to a severe test by United I would imagine.
On the face of it the team Arsenal will play is very weak at the back, and the game is there for United to go out and win. When teams have attacked Arsenal this season they have opened up their defence too easily, and that should be United's best tactic in this game. Whether they decide to do that or not is another matter altogether.
Added to that Arsenal are missing too many very good goalscoring chances in almost every game, and they will need to be clinical against United. Their chances to score could be few and far between, but if they take the good ones they can get a result in my opinion. If Robin van Persie is at his best he can cause United some real problems.
Unite have Nani and Antonio Valencia in their wide roles, and they can both cause real problems to the fill in full-backs for Arsenal. Both Theo Walcott and Andrey Arshavin will have to help their full-backs as much as possible, and I hope the two of them can work as hard as they are needed to.
In my opinion Arsenal need to keep the game as tight as possible, and look to frustrate United. Every single Arsenal player has to work as hard as they can, and fight for the cause. A draw would be a good result for Arsenal, but it probably wouldn't be for United considering the team Arsenal have to play.
If United play two players up front they will be leaving themselves short in midfield, and that could play into Arsenal's hands. I would like to see Paul Scholes start for them, as I think he is well past his best and could struggle if Arsenal put him under pressure. He has a nasty side to him, and it would be nice to see him punished by the referee if that side is put on show.
I think Arsenal have a chance of getting a result if they can keep to their game plan, and every player does all that is asked of them. That certainly hasn't been the case in recent games, but surely the players will know how important it is in this game. I'm predicting a 2-1 win for Arsenal, but then again regular readers will know I always predict an Arsenal win.
That's it for today.
Here's the goal from Aaron Ramsey that won this game for Arsenal last season.
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.
Wednesday, 28 December 2011
Arsenal Denied All Three Points By Wolves
Arsenal went into yesterday's home game with Wolves knowing that a win would put them into the top four for the first time this season. Wolves had lost their last six away games, and were sitting just one place above the relegation zone. Both Chelsea and Liverpool had dropped points at home to lowly opposition the previous day, and it opened the way for Arsenal to take advantage.
The team showed a few changes from the 2-1 win over Aston Villa. First of all Johan Djourou returned from injury to play at right back in place of Francis Coquelin, and Alex Song returned from suspension to replace Emmanuel Frimpong. Both Tomas Rosicky and Yossi Benayoun were included in the team too, as Aaron Ramsey was rested and Theo Walcott was ill. The lack of width was obvious yet again, as all four full backs were out injured.
Wolves started quite well, but Arsenal took the lead on the break after only eight minutes. Rosicky did well to break quickly forward, and he played a good pass to Benayoun who played Gervinho in on the keeper. For once Gervinho kept his head when faced with a one-on-one, and he worked the space to finish well.
Arsenal needed to build on that lead, but another goal didn't come quickly and there was a lull in the team's performance as half time approached. It's a problem that the team suffered from all too often last season, but they seemed to have eliminated it this season. Wolves took advantage and Steven Fletcher managed to score with a header after the ball fell to him six yards out.
I wasn't particularly happy with some of the defending that led to the goal, and neither Rosicky or Song covered themselves in glory. Rosicky was beaten all too easily on the edge of the box by Stephen Hunt, and Song played Fletcher onside as he strolled out. The lapses in concentration were worrying, and I'm sure Arsene Wenger will let them know before the next game against QPR on Saturday.
Arsenal came out looking for another goal in the second half, but they found Wayne Hennessey in inspired form in the Wolves goal. He made excellent saves from Robin van Persie, Per Mertesacker and Thomas Vermaelen as well as plenty of other saves too. Whenever Arsenal drop points at home to supposedly lesser teams it seems that their keepers are the man of the match.
The result felt even worse last night when Spurs won away to Norwich to open up a five point gap on Arsenal with a game in hand too. There's still a long way to go, but Arsenal cannot afford to drop points at home to teams when they have 17 attempts on target in a game. They need to keep the pressure on the teams above them, and that will be done by winning games that they dominate.
Wenger brought Ramsey, Andrey Arshavin and Marouane Chamakh on as the game progressed, but the goal the team needed just wouldn't come. It was a frustrating game for Arsenal players and fans alike, but it will be quickly forgotten if QPR can be dispatched on Saturday.
Wolves were reduced to ten men with 15 minutes left when Nenad Milijas was given a straight red card for a crude challenge on Mikael Arteta. He over-ran the ball and slid in as he chased it, with his leading foot connecting with Arteta. I'm not sure that there was any real intent in it, but he could have badly hurt Arteta. Wolves packed their defence as much as possible, and they were delighted with the result at the final whistle.
RVP will need a hat trick in that game against QPR to break the record he has come so close to, but in the greater scheme of things the record means nothing. The most important thing is for Arsenal to beat QPR and it doesn't matter who scores the goals.
Arsenal are struggling to score goals at home at the moment, and they need to start putting teams to the sword. They managed to beat Everton 1-0, but drew 1-1 at home to both Fulham and Wolves in games that really should have been won. They need to find their goalscoring touch at home very soon before it costs them too much.
That's it for today.
Here's the highlights from yesterday's game.
See You Tomorrow.
The team showed a few changes from the 2-1 win over Aston Villa. First of all Johan Djourou returned from injury to play at right back in place of Francis Coquelin, and Alex Song returned from suspension to replace Emmanuel Frimpong. Both Tomas Rosicky and Yossi Benayoun were included in the team too, as Aaron Ramsey was rested and Theo Walcott was ill. The lack of width was obvious yet again, as all four full backs were out injured.
Wolves started quite well, but Arsenal took the lead on the break after only eight minutes. Rosicky did well to break quickly forward, and he played a good pass to Benayoun who played Gervinho in on the keeper. For once Gervinho kept his head when faced with a one-on-one, and he worked the space to finish well.
Arsenal needed to build on that lead, but another goal didn't come quickly and there was a lull in the team's performance as half time approached. It's a problem that the team suffered from all too often last season, but they seemed to have eliminated it this season. Wolves took advantage and Steven Fletcher managed to score with a header after the ball fell to him six yards out.
I wasn't particularly happy with some of the defending that led to the goal, and neither Rosicky or Song covered themselves in glory. Rosicky was beaten all too easily on the edge of the box by Stephen Hunt, and Song played Fletcher onside as he strolled out. The lapses in concentration were worrying, and I'm sure Arsene Wenger will let them know before the next game against QPR on Saturday.
Arsenal came out looking for another goal in the second half, but they found Wayne Hennessey in inspired form in the Wolves goal. He made excellent saves from Robin van Persie, Per Mertesacker and Thomas Vermaelen as well as plenty of other saves too. Whenever Arsenal drop points at home to supposedly lesser teams it seems that their keepers are the man of the match.
The result felt even worse last night when Spurs won away to Norwich to open up a five point gap on Arsenal with a game in hand too. There's still a long way to go, but Arsenal cannot afford to drop points at home to teams when they have 17 attempts on target in a game. They need to keep the pressure on the teams above them, and that will be done by winning games that they dominate.
Wenger brought Ramsey, Andrey Arshavin and Marouane Chamakh on as the game progressed, but the goal the team needed just wouldn't come. It was a frustrating game for Arsenal players and fans alike, but it will be quickly forgotten if QPR can be dispatched on Saturday.
Wolves were reduced to ten men with 15 minutes left when Nenad Milijas was given a straight red card for a crude challenge on Mikael Arteta. He over-ran the ball and slid in as he chased it, with his leading foot connecting with Arteta. I'm not sure that there was any real intent in it, but he could have badly hurt Arteta. Wolves packed their defence as much as possible, and they were delighted with the result at the final whistle.
RVP will need a hat trick in that game against QPR to break the record he has come so close to, but in the greater scheme of things the record means nothing. The most important thing is for Arsenal to beat QPR and it doesn't matter who scores the goals.
Arsenal are struggling to score goals at home at the moment, and they need to start putting teams to the sword. They managed to beat Everton 1-0, but drew 1-1 at home to both Fulham and Wolves in games that really should have been won. They need to find their goalscoring touch at home very soon before it costs them too much.
That's it for today.
Here's the highlights from yesterday's game.
See You Tomorrow.
Thursday, 22 December 2011
Arsenal Leave It Late To Beat Aston Villa 2-1
Arsenal played Aston Villa last night in the first of four quick games they can hopefully win over the Christmas period. Villa had being playing very badly in recent weeks, and Arsenal needed to take advantage of their poor form.
Arsenal had to make a couple of changes from the team that lost 1-0 to Manchester City on Sunday, as Johan Djourou wasinjured and Alex Song suspended. Arsene Wenger brought Emmanuel Frimpong in for Song in the defensive midfield role, and Francis Coquelin for Djourou at right back. The rest of the team was the same as the one that started against City.
Arsenal didn't start too well and Villa had the best of proceedings early on, with Wojciech Szczesny making a good save from a Gabriel Agbonlahor header. Arsenal scored from their first real chance in the 17th minute, and it was Robin van Persie who got the goal. Theo Walcott was held back when he burst into the Villa penalty area, and RVP stepped up to blast the penalty home.
There were no more goals in the first half, but Arsenal were still well below their best. After only nine minutes of the second half Villa equalised through Marc Albrighton, and Thomas Vermaelen will want to forget his part in the goal. He headed a long ball towards Per Mertesacker, but he didn't get enough on the ball.
Albrighton nipped in to knock the ball past Mertesacker, who had to let him go as he was on a yellow card already. He slipped the ball past the advancing Szczesny, and score the 20,000th goal in Premier League history.
Things didn't look good for Arsenal at that stage, but the players upped their game and went at Villa. Arsenal began to turn the screw, and the introduction of Tomas Rosicky for Frimpong put Villa under more pressure. Mertesacker almost scored after a corner fell to him, but the keeper did well to save his effort. RVP was booked for diving when he was clearly brought down, and hopefully the yellow card will be rescinded.
Andrey Arshavin and Yossi Benayoun replaced Gervinho and Aaron Ramsey with 10 minutes left, as Wenger went in search of a vital winning goal. Arshavin came close with a shot which was deflected over the bar, but it looked like Arsenal would have to settle for a point as the game entered the last few minutes.
I had mentioned in my preview that Villa were conceding a lot of goals from set pieces, and they did so yet again with only three minutes remaining. RVP swung in a corner from Arsenal's right, and it somehow made it's way to Benayoun who stooped to head it home. The delight among the Arsenal players was evident, and Villa had very little time to do anything about the goal.
There was just about time for the idiotic Alan Hutton to get himself sent off though, as he got two yellow cards very late on. He deserved his fate and he only had himself to blame for his dismissal. The challenge on Vermaelen for the second yellow could have injured the Arsenal player, but thankfully he seemed to be alright.
Arsenal didn't play particularly well, but they got the three points and that was the most important thing. With both Manchester clubs winning easily Arsenal needed to win, and it moved them two points ahead of Liverpool who were held at Wigan. With Spurs playing Chelsea tonight Arsenal will be in a healthier position after this round of games than they were before them.
I had hoped for Benayoun or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to be given a chance from the bench ahead of Arshavin, and I was delighted to see Benayoun take his chance. I hope that he will get a few more chances to show what he can do, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him start against Wolves in Arsenal's next game. A few of the Arsenal players looked a little tired, and it wouldn't be a bad idea to vary the attacking players just a little for that game.
That game with Wolves was to be played on December 26th, but it has been switched to the next day because of a one-day tube strike in London. Wolves have only taken eight points from their last 14 games, and Arsenal need to take all three points from them. It's important for the Arsenal players to be as fresh as possible to do that, and a couple of changes would not be a bad idea.
Besides Albrighton scoring the 20,000th Premier League goal last night, another record was also set. RVP equaled Thierry Henry's record of 34 Premier League goals in a calender year, and he has two home games left to beat that record now. He is also two goals short of Alan Shearer's Premier League record of 36 goals in a calender year, and that has to be within his sights too.
This Arsenal team has made a habit of grinding out wins when they haven't played too well, and it's a great habit to have. Benayoun and Rosicky both showed they have something to offer the team last night, and it's good that players are looking to make an impression when they get a chance. The manager will probably take advantage of utilising some of his attacking options against Wolves, but it's a different matter with the defence.
Coquelin didn't look comfortable at right back all night, but he gave his all and didn't do too badly. Vermaelen looked a little suspect at left back too, and Arsenal's lack of full backs is a serious concern for them. The sooner that Bacary Sagna returns and Arsenal sign a left back, the better it will be for their chances of continuing to compete on all three fronts.
With two home games against teams that are struggling within five days of each other there is a real chance for Arsenal to take six points before the year ends. It's very important that both of those games are approached in the right manner, and Arsenal end the calender year putting pressure on the teams above them. If they can win both of those games I think RVP might just get the goals he needs to set a new record, as long as he isn't one of the players that is rested.
That's it for today.
Here's the highlights from last night'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.
Arsenal had to make a couple of changes from the team that lost 1-0 to Manchester City on Sunday, as Johan Djourou wasinjured and Alex Song suspended. Arsene Wenger brought Emmanuel Frimpong in for Song in the defensive midfield role, and Francis Coquelin for Djourou at right back. The rest of the team was the same as the one that started against City.
Arsenal didn't start too well and Villa had the best of proceedings early on, with Wojciech Szczesny making a good save from a Gabriel Agbonlahor header. Arsenal scored from their first real chance in the 17th minute, and it was Robin van Persie who got the goal. Theo Walcott was held back when he burst into the Villa penalty area, and RVP stepped up to blast the penalty home.
There were no more goals in the first half, but Arsenal were still well below their best. After only nine minutes of the second half Villa equalised through Marc Albrighton, and Thomas Vermaelen will want to forget his part in the goal. He headed a long ball towards Per Mertesacker, but he didn't get enough on the ball.
Albrighton nipped in to knock the ball past Mertesacker, who had to let him go as he was on a yellow card already. He slipped the ball past the advancing Szczesny, and score the 20,000th goal in Premier League history.
Things didn't look good for Arsenal at that stage, but the players upped their game and went at Villa. Arsenal began to turn the screw, and the introduction of Tomas Rosicky for Frimpong put Villa under more pressure. Mertesacker almost scored after a corner fell to him, but the keeper did well to save his effort. RVP was booked for diving when he was clearly brought down, and hopefully the yellow card will be rescinded.
Andrey Arshavin and Yossi Benayoun replaced Gervinho and Aaron Ramsey with 10 minutes left, as Wenger went in search of a vital winning goal. Arshavin came close with a shot which was deflected over the bar, but it looked like Arsenal would have to settle for a point as the game entered the last few minutes.
I had mentioned in my preview that Villa were conceding a lot of goals from set pieces, and they did so yet again with only three minutes remaining. RVP swung in a corner from Arsenal's right, and it somehow made it's way to Benayoun who stooped to head it home. The delight among the Arsenal players was evident, and Villa had very little time to do anything about the goal.
There was just about time for the idiotic Alan Hutton to get himself sent off though, as he got two yellow cards very late on. He deserved his fate and he only had himself to blame for his dismissal. The challenge on Vermaelen for the second yellow could have injured the Arsenal player, but thankfully he seemed to be alright.
Arsenal didn't play particularly well, but they got the three points and that was the most important thing. With both Manchester clubs winning easily Arsenal needed to win, and it moved them two points ahead of Liverpool who were held at Wigan. With Spurs playing Chelsea tonight Arsenal will be in a healthier position after this round of games than they were before them.
I had hoped for Benayoun or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to be given a chance from the bench ahead of Arshavin, and I was delighted to see Benayoun take his chance. I hope that he will get a few more chances to show what he can do, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him start against Wolves in Arsenal's next game. A few of the Arsenal players looked a little tired, and it wouldn't be a bad idea to vary the attacking players just a little for that game.
That game with Wolves was to be played on December 26th, but it has been switched to the next day because of a one-day tube strike in London. Wolves have only taken eight points from their last 14 games, and Arsenal need to take all three points from them. It's important for the Arsenal players to be as fresh as possible to do that, and a couple of changes would not be a bad idea.
Besides Albrighton scoring the 20,000th Premier League goal last night, another record was also set. RVP equaled Thierry Henry's record of 34 Premier League goals in a calender year, and he has two home games left to beat that record now. He is also two goals short of Alan Shearer's Premier League record of 36 goals in a calender year, and that has to be within his sights too.
This Arsenal team has made a habit of grinding out wins when they haven't played too well, and it's a great habit to have. Benayoun and Rosicky both showed they have something to offer the team last night, and it's good that players are looking to make an impression when they get a chance. The manager will probably take advantage of utilising some of his attacking options against Wolves, but it's a different matter with the defence.
Coquelin didn't look comfortable at right back all night, but he gave his all and didn't do too badly. Vermaelen looked a little suspect at left back too, and Arsenal's lack of full backs is a serious concern for them. The sooner that Bacary Sagna returns and Arsenal sign a left back, the better it will be for their chances of continuing to compete on all three fronts.
With two home games against teams that are struggling within five days of each other there is a real chance for Arsenal to take six points before the year ends. It's very important that both of those games are approached in the right manner, and Arsenal end the calender year putting pressure on the teams above them. If they can win both of those games I think RVP might just get the goals he needs to set a new record, as long as he isn't one of the players that is rested.
That's it for today.
Here's the highlights from last night'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.
Wednesday, 21 December 2011
Arsenal's Premier League Trip To Aston Villa Previewed.
Arsenal's great run of 25 points from nine matches came to an end last Sunday when Manchester City beat them 1-0. It was a tight game with both teams playing very well and having a few good chances each, but City had the better of them and managed to take one. The most important thing for Arsenal now is their ability to bounce back from that defeat.
Arsenal started off very poorly away from home this season, but before City beat them they had won three in a row on the road. They scored 11 goals in those games too, and only City have scored more goals on their travels than Arsenal. Their problem away from home has been their inability to stop the opposition scoring, but that is improving too.
Arsenal have four league games in the next 13 days, and the best way they can bounce back from the City defeat is by winning all of those games. It won't be an easy task, but if the team can play like they did against City they have every chance of doing so. Those four games start with a trip to Villa tonight, and it's a must win game in my opinion.
Arsenal are currently fifth in the table, and the two teams directly above them meet each other tomorrow night. If Arsenal can take all three points off Villa they will definitely make up ground on either Chelsea or Spurs, and maybe even both of them. For the moment the most important task for Arsenal is to move into the top four, and then they have to keep that position.
Johan Djourou had to be replaced early in the second half on Sunday after he picked up a knock, and he won't be available for a few weeks. It was hoped that Kieran Gibbs might be on the bench tonight, but he suffered a setback and he will see a specialist very soon. It means Arsenal's defensive options are even more limited, and it's a very worrying situation.
Arsene Wenger admitted that the club are looking at bringing in a full back on loan in January if there is bad news from Gibbs' scan. I think that a full back is an absolute must for Arsenal in January with Santos out for three months, and Gibbs so injury prone. The good news was that Bacary Sagna has started to run again, and hopefully he will be available before the end of January.
It means that Arsenal will have to start with the defence which finished the game against City on Sunday. The full backs will be Laurent Koscielny and Ignasi Miquel with Thomas Vermaelen and Per Mertesacker in central defence. I would imagine that Sebastien Squillaci will be on the bench, as he is the only other defender available to the manager.
I think the rest of the team will again be as it was at the start of the game against City, with the exception of the suspended Alex Song. Emmanuel Frimpong has been on the bench for the last two games, and I think he is the most likely player to replace Song. I would prefer to see Francis Coquelin get the nod, but he hasn't been in the squad for the last two games.
I can't imagine that either Andrey Arshavin or Marouane Chamakh will get a chance to start, as they had virtually no influence on the game when they came on against City. If Arsenal are going to use their substitutes I would prefer to see Yossi Benayoun get a chance to show what he can do. I would like to see Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the squad, but I suspect that Coquelin and Squillaci will take the two places available.
I've seen Villa play at home to both Manchester United and Liverpool recently, and I was completely unimpressed by them. They have sold some of their best players in the last two summers, and failed to replace them with players of anywhere near the same quality. Their only player to have acquitted himself well so far this season has been Gabriel Agbonlahor, but he was suspended against Liverpool last Sunday.
Arsenal may have a few problems from Agbonlahor because of their lack of actual full backs, but they should hopefully be able to deal with him. Darren Bent has enjoyed scoring against Arsenal in the past, but it looks like he will miss tonight's game due to injury.
Villa have become very defensive since Alex McLeish took over as their manager in the summer, and they have become a real bore to watch. They offered virtually nothing in attack against either United or Liverpool, even when they were losing both games. I think McLeish will look to keep things tight tonight, and try to score from set pieces.
Arsenal have improved their defending from set pieces recently, and it's actually Villa who have being conceding from them. Hopefully Arsenal can put Villa's defence under enough pressure from their own set pieces to get a goal or two. I have no doubt that Arsenal will create chances from open play too.
If Arsenal can be clinical enough in front of goal I think Villa are there for the taking, and there's a possibility of them getting well beaten. Their only win in their last five games was away to strugglers Bolton, and their inability to score is a real hindrance for them.
I'm predicting a 3-1 win for Arsenal, and I think Robin van Persie is very likely to score. He had one real good chance to score against City, and he wasn't happy with himself for missing it. I think he will set out to right that wrong, and Villa will pay the price for it.
After today's game the players will play again on Monday at home to Wolves, and I'll probably preview that game on Saturday afternoon for obvious reasons. My usual Premier League predictions will probably be on Friday this week, but nothing is certain because of the time of year.
That's it for today.
Here's a look at what Arshavin used to be able to do.
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.
Arsenal started off very poorly away from home this season, but before City beat them they had won three in a row on the road. They scored 11 goals in those games too, and only City have scored more goals on their travels than Arsenal. Their problem away from home has been their inability to stop the opposition scoring, but that is improving too.
Arsenal have four league games in the next 13 days, and the best way they can bounce back from the City defeat is by winning all of those games. It won't be an easy task, but if the team can play like they did against City they have every chance of doing so. Those four games start with a trip to Villa tonight, and it's a must win game in my opinion.
Arsenal are currently fifth in the table, and the two teams directly above them meet each other tomorrow night. If Arsenal can take all three points off Villa they will definitely make up ground on either Chelsea or Spurs, and maybe even both of them. For the moment the most important task for Arsenal is to move into the top four, and then they have to keep that position.
Johan Djourou had to be replaced early in the second half on Sunday after he picked up a knock, and he won't be available for a few weeks. It was hoped that Kieran Gibbs might be on the bench tonight, but he suffered a setback and he will see a specialist very soon. It means Arsenal's defensive options are even more limited, and it's a very worrying situation.
Arsene Wenger admitted that the club are looking at bringing in a full back on loan in January if there is bad news from Gibbs' scan. I think that a full back is an absolute must for Arsenal in January with Santos out for three months, and Gibbs so injury prone. The good news was that Bacary Sagna has started to run again, and hopefully he will be available before the end of January.
It means that Arsenal will have to start with the defence which finished the game against City on Sunday. The full backs will be Laurent Koscielny and Ignasi Miquel with Thomas Vermaelen and Per Mertesacker in central defence. I would imagine that Sebastien Squillaci will be on the bench, as he is the only other defender available to the manager.
I think the rest of the team will again be as it was at the start of the game against City, with the exception of the suspended Alex Song. Emmanuel Frimpong has been on the bench for the last two games, and I think he is the most likely player to replace Song. I would prefer to see Francis Coquelin get the nod, but he hasn't been in the squad for the last two games.
I can't imagine that either Andrey Arshavin or Marouane Chamakh will get a chance to start, as they had virtually no influence on the game when they came on against City. If Arsenal are going to use their substitutes I would prefer to see Yossi Benayoun get a chance to show what he can do. I would like to see Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the squad, but I suspect that Coquelin and Squillaci will take the two places available.
I've seen Villa play at home to both Manchester United and Liverpool recently, and I was completely unimpressed by them. They have sold some of their best players in the last two summers, and failed to replace them with players of anywhere near the same quality. Their only player to have acquitted himself well so far this season has been Gabriel Agbonlahor, but he was suspended against Liverpool last Sunday.
Arsenal may have a few problems from Agbonlahor because of their lack of actual full backs, but they should hopefully be able to deal with him. Darren Bent has enjoyed scoring against Arsenal in the past, but it looks like he will miss tonight's game due to injury.
Villa have become very defensive since Alex McLeish took over as their manager in the summer, and they have become a real bore to watch. They offered virtually nothing in attack against either United or Liverpool, even when they were losing both games. I think McLeish will look to keep things tight tonight, and try to score from set pieces.
Arsenal have improved their defending from set pieces recently, and it's actually Villa who have being conceding from them. Hopefully Arsenal can put Villa's defence under enough pressure from their own set pieces to get a goal or two. I have no doubt that Arsenal will create chances from open play too.
If Arsenal can be clinical enough in front of goal I think Villa are there for the taking, and there's a possibility of them getting well beaten. Their only win in their last five games was away to strugglers Bolton, and their inability to score is a real hindrance for them.
I'm predicting a 3-1 win for Arsenal, and I think Robin van Persie is very likely to score. He had one real good chance to score against City, and he wasn't happy with himself for missing it. I think he will set out to right that wrong, and Villa will pay the price for it.
After today's game the players will play again on Monday at home to Wolves, and I'll probably preview that game on Saturday afternoon for obvious reasons. My usual Premier League predictions will probably be on Friday this week, but nothing is certain because of the time of year.
That's it for today.
Here's a look at what Arshavin used to be able to do.
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, 19 December 2011
Arsenal Defeated But Not Disgraced By Manchester City
Arsenal went to Manchester City yesterday afternoon in a Premier League game that was always going to be very tough for them. City had dropped to second in the table before kick off, after Manchester United had managed to beat Queens Park Rangers earlier in the day. City needed a point to go back to the summit of the table, and Arsenal needed a win to keep the pressure on fourth placed Chelsea.
Arsene Wenger picked the same team that beat Everton 1-0 last week, as Arsenal looked to continue their recent exceleent run in the Premier League. The continued absence due to injuries of all four full backs from Arsenal's first team squad was a real worry for them, but City didn't pick players to take advantage of it. Thomas Vermaelen and Johan Djourou were asked to fill in, and Arsenal's defence looked a little narrow at times as a result.
The game itself was a real thriller with both sides playing good football, and looking to win the game. City took the three points thanks to a close range finish from David Silva, but both teams had plenty of chances to add to that scoreline. Arsenal will probably feel that they could easily have taken a point from the game, but it wasn't to be in a hard fought encounter.
Arsenal's injury woes continued when Djourou had to limp off early in the second half, and it meant Ignasi Miquel came on to play at left back. That switch also saw Vermaelen switch to a central defensive role, and he showed some real attacking ambition from that position.
Very soon after Djourou's departure City scored when Mario Balotelli was given far too much space on Arsenal's right hand side. Laurent Koscielny had been moved to right back, but his natural inclination to play in a central role left Balotelli with far too much space. He cut in towards the goal and Wojciech Szczesny could only parry his shot across the goalmouth.
The ball popped up for Sergio Aguero and his touch fell to Silva who finished from very close range. It was a bad blow for Arsenal, but they showed the courage and commitment that was missing in previous seasons at times. They did all they could to find an equaliser, but a combination of poor finishing and good goalkeeping by Joe Hart won City all three points.
City had their chances to add to their lead of course, but that was to be expected as Arsenal tried to push forward. Arsenal's most potent attacking player during the closing stages was Vermaelen, as he showed the determination that has been missing from other players in the past. I think Vermaelen's influence on the team will grow as the season progresses, and he has an awful lot to offer the team.
Wenger introduced Andrey Arshavin for Theo Walcott just before the 70th minute, and Walcott wasn't too happy to be taken off. The performance by Arshavin showed exactly why Walcott wasn't exactly happy to be replaced, as he again was completely ineffectual at best. Walcott didn't have a great game, but at least he kept trying and if he was to be replaced I thought Yossi Benayoun should have been given a chance.
Ideally I would have liked Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to have come on, but he wasn't even in the squad. Arsenal have a lot of games coming up over the next few weeks, and I think Chamberlain has to be considered for a place in the squad ahead of Arshavin. He gives his all when he gets a chance to play, and he surely has to be better than Arshavin is at the moment.
The booking picked up by Alex Song means he will miss Arsenal's next game which is away to Aston Villa on Wednesday night. It should mean that either Emmanuel Frimpong or Francis Coquelin will play his role in that game, and whoever gets to play will get his chance to show what he can do. With so many other defensive injuries Arsenal will probably have to start with the defence which finished the game against City.
I wrote in my preview of the game that the most important thing for Arsenal was how they reacted to a defeat if that was the outcome. After watching yesterday's game I'm not worried about how the team will perform, and I expect them to make Villa suffer on Wednesday night. They have four Premier League games in 10 days, and 12 points to be won from those games.
Those four games are all winnable and the defeat against City will be quickly forgotten with a few good results. There may be a 10 point gap to United and 12 points to City, but both Chelsea and Spurs are well within Arsenal's sights. There's plenty to play for and I'm looking forward to the team bouncing right back.
That's it for today.
Here's the highlights from 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.
Arsene Wenger picked the same team that beat Everton 1-0 last week, as Arsenal looked to continue their recent exceleent run in the Premier League. The continued absence due to injuries of all four full backs from Arsenal's first team squad was a real worry for them, but City didn't pick players to take advantage of it. Thomas Vermaelen and Johan Djourou were asked to fill in, and Arsenal's defence looked a little narrow at times as a result.
The game itself was a real thriller with both sides playing good football, and looking to win the game. City took the three points thanks to a close range finish from David Silva, but both teams had plenty of chances to add to that scoreline. Arsenal will probably feel that they could easily have taken a point from the game, but it wasn't to be in a hard fought encounter.
Arsenal's injury woes continued when Djourou had to limp off early in the second half, and it meant Ignasi Miquel came on to play at left back. That switch also saw Vermaelen switch to a central defensive role, and he showed some real attacking ambition from that position.
Very soon after Djourou's departure City scored when Mario Balotelli was given far too much space on Arsenal's right hand side. Laurent Koscielny had been moved to right back, but his natural inclination to play in a central role left Balotelli with far too much space. He cut in towards the goal and Wojciech Szczesny could only parry his shot across the goalmouth.
The ball popped up for Sergio Aguero and his touch fell to Silva who finished from very close range. It was a bad blow for Arsenal, but they showed the courage and commitment that was missing in previous seasons at times. They did all they could to find an equaliser, but a combination of poor finishing and good goalkeeping by Joe Hart won City all three points.
City had their chances to add to their lead of course, but that was to be expected as Arsenal tried to push forward. Arsenal's most potent attacking player during the closing stages was Vermaelen, as he showed the determination that has been missing from other players in the past. I think Vermaelen's influence on the team will grow as the season progresses, and he has an awful lot to offer the team.
Wenger introduced Andrey Arshavin for Theo Walcott just before the 70th minute, and Walcott wasn't too happy to be taken off. The performance by Arshavin showed exactly why Walcott wasn't exactly happy to be replaced, as he again was completely ineffectual at best. Walcott didn't have a great game, but at least he kept trying and if he was to be replaced I thought Yossi Benayoun should have been given a chance.
Ideally I would have liked Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to have come on, but he wasn't even in the squad. Arsenal have a lot of games coming up over the next few weeks, and I think Chamberlain has to be considered for a place in the squad ahead of Arshavin. He gives his all when he gets a chance to play, and he surely has to be better than Arshavin is at the moment.
The booking picked up by Alex Song means he will miss Arsenal's next game which is away to Aston Villa on Wednesday night. It should mean that either Emmanuel Frimpong or Francis Coquelin will play his role in that game, and whoever gets to play will get his chance to show what he can do. With so many other defensive injuries Arsenal will probably have to start with the defence which finished the game against City.
I wrote in my preview of the game that the most important thing for Arsenal was how they reacted to a defeat if that was the outcome. After watching yesterday's game I'm not worried about how the team will perform, and I expect them to make Villa suffer on Wednesday night. They have four Premier League games in 10 days, and 12 points to be won from those games.
Those four games are all winnable and the defeat against City will be quickly forgotten with a few good results. There may be a 10 point gap to United and 12 points to City, but both Chelsea and Spurs are well within Arsenal's sights. There's plenty to play for and I'm looking forward to the team bouncing right back.
That's it for today.
Here's the highlights from 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.
Wednesday, 7 December 2011
Arsenal's Second String Lose 3-1 To Olympiacos
Arsenal made the trip to Olympiacos last night with a squad which only contained two of the players who started the 4-0 defeat of Wigan last Saturday. Those two players were Thomas Vermaelen and Andre Santos, but I didn't expect either of them to start the game. I was rather surprised to see their names on the team sheet, but I suppose Arsene Wenger wanted to make his defence as strong s possible.
The rest of the team was more or less as expected, and Andrey Arshavin got his chance to play in his favoured role just behind the main striker. It meant Arsenal were playing a mixture of youth and fringe players against a team that needed to win to have any chance of qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League. Arsenal were in the enviable position of having won the group already, and the game was rather meaningless to them.
In an ideal world I'm sure Wenger would have preferred to have stayed at home and trained with the rest of the first team squad. Those players should be very well rested for next Saturday's Premier League home game against Everton. The most important thing on the night for Arsenal was to keep Vermaelen and Santos free of injury for the weekend.
Olympiacos knew they had to win to have any chance of making it through to the last 16, and they played like a team that wanted desperately to qualify. As long as Marseille didn't win away to Borussia Dortmund they would finish second in the group if they could take all three points.
Arsenal started off quite well and Marouane Chamakh played Arshavin in early on, but his effort was blocked by the keeper. Olympiacos were working very hard to close Arsenal down, and Arsenal found it hard to find time and space on the ball. They looked far from secure at the back, but they also looked capable of making more chances themselves.
After only 16 minutes the first goal arrived, and it came from Olympiacos. Arshavin lost the ball as Arsenal broke forward, and it got played in behind the Arsenal defence via two deflections. Lukasz Fabianski advanced from his goal line, but he was easily rounded by Rafik Djebbour who slotted the ball into an empty net.
Arsenal
continued to look unstable at the back, and the old "flappy" Fabianski returned. He didn't last long though, as a collision with Vermaelen led to him being stretchered off and Vito Mannone coming on after 25 minutes. I hope the very vocal Mannone would give some solidity to the Arsenal defence, but it wasn't to be.
After 36 minutes David Fuster added to Olympiacos lead with a goal that was of true comic proportions. I have no doubt that their second goal will appear in a "what happened next" clip on
A Question of Sport" one day. It was hard to believe how Olympiacos managed to score the goal, but it will live with Mannone for quite a while I'm sure.
He advanced from the penalty area to head the ball clear as Olympiacos broke, and Fuster shot as he retreated into his area. Mannone obviously lost his bearings and decided to try to clear the ball with his feet despite being in his penalty area. He missed the ball and it bounced three times before rolling into an empty net.
Mannone was completely at fault for the goal, but he was helped by his defenders either. When he advanced to clear the ball one of them should have dropped back to cover the goal line just in case he was lobbed. Nobody did what every amateur central defender knows is a basic requirement when the goalkeeper leaves his penalty area.
It left Arsenal 2-0 down with halftime approaching, and Olympiacos looking highly likely to finish second in the group. There was some hope for Arsenal though, as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was giving the left side of the Olympiacos defence a lot of trouble. Every time he got the ball he was shadowed by two or more players, but he still did all he could to inject some urgency into the Arsenal attack.
The second half started off with Olympiacos keeping up the pressure on Arsenal, and Arsenal looking highly unlikely to do anything to change the outcome. That changed after 57 minutes when Chamakh chested down a good ball into the box for Yossi Benayoun to volley home, and give Arsenal some hope. Olympiacos tried to get another goal to guarantee victory, but they gradually tired and I though Arsenal might just sneak a draw.
Arsenal continued to make mistakes at the back, but Olympiacos didn't take advantage of them, and they looked a little nervous. In the last minute they guaranteed the three points, and looked to have sealed a place in the last 16 too.
A free kick from the right was headed against the post by Olof Mellberg, and when the ball rebounded out Francois Modesto was on hand to put it into an empty net. Arsenal called for offside, but Benayoun among others had played at least three players onside, and the goal stood. The final whistle was quickly approaching, but the Greek fans soon stopped celebrating.
News came through from the other game in the group that Marseille had come back from 2-0 down to beat Dortmund 3-2 with two goals in the last five minutes. It put Marseille through to the last 16, and left Olympiacos to play in the Europa League knockout stages along with the other also-rans.
On the night Arsenal looked to suffer from their inexperience, and their inability to impose their own game on Olympiacos. I think a full strength Arsenal team would have had a lot of joy against a team that pressurised them so much, and would have scored plenty of goals on the break. The game was good experience for some of the younger players, as it was played in front of such a noisy and partisan crowd.
It's not often that younger players get an opportunity to play in the Champions League, and in such an intimidating venue too. I'm sure they will have learned something from the game, and hopefully it will stand to them in the future.
There were some negatives for Arsenal too, and the performances of their second and third choice goalkeepers weren't exactly inspiring. I can only hope that Wojciech Szczesny doesn't pick up an injury at any stage this season, because the thought of Fabianski or Mannone playing in the team fills me with dread. If neither of them were to play the next options Manuel Almunia, and tht doesn't bear thinking about in my opinion.
I was particularly unhappy with the performance of Arshavin who got the chance to show what he can do in his favoured role. He missed a great chance early on, and he did very little for the rest of the game. When he lost the ball he looked disinterested in regaining it, and his days at Arsenal look numbered to me.
I wouldn't be surprised to see him sold in January, as he looks like he has little interest in playing for the club any more. His career at Arsenal started off so well, but it's been a while now since he has made any real impact.
Chamakh had another night where very little went right for him, but at least he kept trying for the whole game. It can't be easy for him knowing he will always be second fiddle to Robin van Persie, but he needs to make a better impression when he does play. He did well in the build up to the goal, but he was far too slow to shoot when Emmanuel Frimpong played him in earlier in the game.
Squillaci looked out of his depth again, and he's another player who won't be around for too long I would imagine. He's the fifth choice central defender at the club at best, and the chances are he will see very little action as long as he stays at the club.
I wasn't happy with the risk Arsene Wenger took in playing both Vermaelen and Santos, and it looks like it may have backfired. Santos went off injured six minutes into the second half, and it looks like he might be out for a while. He is currently the only fit full back at the club, and if he is injured it means either Ignasi Miquel or Vermaelen will have to play at left back.
Hopefully he can recover quickly, and both Carl Jenkinson and Kieran Gibbs can return before too long too. When Bacary Sagna returns I think the defence will look an awful lot more stable, as he is the best right back in the Premier League and has been sorely missed.
Thankfully the Olympiacos game can now be forgotten about and consigned to the record books, as it had no significance on Arsenal's progress. The club can now concentrate on playing Everton on Saturday afternoon, and celebrating it's 125th anniversary. I'll be at the game along with a few fellow Irish Arsenal fans, and it promises to be a great day.
There will be more about that before the weekend from the club I'm sure, and I'll preview the game before my very early morning flight on Saturday.
That's it for today.
Here's the highlights from last night's game.
It's not too late to join the almost 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.
The rest of the team was more or less as expected, and Andrey Arshavin got his chance to play in his favoured role just behind the main striker. It meant Arsenal were playing a mixture of youth and fringe players against a team that needed to win to have any chance of qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions League. Arsenal were in the enviable position of having won the group already, and the game was rather meaningless to them.
In an ideal world I'm sure Wenger would have preferred to have stayed at home and trained with the rest of the first team squad. Those players should be very well rested for next Saturday's Premier League home game against Everton. The most important thing on the night for Arsenal was to keep Vermaelen and Santos free of injury for the weekend.
Olympiacos knew they had to win to have any chance of making it through to the last 16, and they played like a team that wanted desperately to qualify. As long as Marseille didn't win away to Borussia Dortmund they would finish second in the group if they could take all three points.
Arsenal started off quite well and Marouane Chamakh played Arshavin in early on, but his effort was blocked by the keeper. Olympiacos were working very hard to close Arsenal down, and Arsenal found it hard to find time and space on the ball. They looked far from secure at the back, but they also looked capable of making more chances themselves.
After only 16 minutes the first goal arrived, and it came from Olympiacos. Arshavin lost the ball as Arsenal broke forward, and it got played in behind the Arsenal defence via two deflections. Lukasz Fabianski advanced from his goal line, but he was easily rounded by Rafik Djebbour who slotted the ball into an empty net.
Arsenal
continued to look unstable at the back, and the old "flappy" Fabianski returned. He didn't last long though, as a collision with Vermaelen led to him being stretchered off and Vito Mannone coming on after 25 minutes. I hope the very vocal Mannone would give some solidity to the Arsenal defence, but it wasn't to be.
After 36 minutes David Fuster added to Olympiacos lead with a goal that was of true comic proportions. I have no doubt that their second goal will appear in a "what happened next" clip on
A Question of Sport" one day. It was hard to believe how Olympiacos managed to score the goal, but it will live with Mannone for quite a while I'm sure.
He advanced from the penalty area to head the ball clear as Olympiacos broke, and Fuster shot as he retreated into his area. Mannone obviously lost his bearings and decided to try to clear the ball with his feet despite being in his penalty area. He missed the ball and it bounced three times before rolling into an empty net.
Mannone was completely at fault for the goal, but he was helped by his defenders either. When he advanced to clear the ball one of them should have dropped back to cover the goal line just in case he was lobbed. Nobody did what every amateur central defender knows is a basic requirement when the goalkeeper leaves his penalty area.
It left Arsenal 2-0 down with halftime approaching, and Olympiacos looking highly likely to finish second in the group. There was some hope for Arsenal though, as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was giving the left side of the Olympiacos defence a lot of trouble. Every time he got the ball he was shadowed by two or more players, but he still did all he could to inject some urgency into the Arsenal attack.
The second half started off with Olympiacos keeping up the pressure on Arsenal, and Arsenal looking highly unlikely to do anything to change the outcome. That changed after 57 minutes when Chamakh chested down a good ball into the box for Yossi Benayoun to volley home, and give Arsenal some hope. Olympiacos tried to get another goal to guarantee victory, but they gradually tired and I though Arsenal might just sneak a draw.
Arsenal continued to make mistakes at the back, but Olympiacos didn't take advantage of them, and they looked a little nervous. In the last minute they guaranteed the three points, and looked to have sealed a place in the last 16 too.
A free kick from the right was headed against the post by Olof Mellberg, and when the ball rebounded out Francois Modesto was on hand to put it into an empty net. Arsenal called for offside, but Benayoun among others had played at least three players onside, and the goal stood. The final whistle was quickly approaching, but the Greek fans soon stopped celebrating.
News came through from the other game in the group that Marseille had come back from 2-0 down to beat Dortmund 3-2 with two goals in the last five minutes. It put Marseille through to the last 16, and left Olympiacos to play in the Europa League knockout stages along with the other also-rans.
On the night Arsenal looked to suffer from their inexperience, and their inability to impose their own game on Olympiacos. I think a full strength Arsenal team would have had a lot of joy against a team that pressurised them so much, and would have scored plenty of goals on the break. The game was good experience for some of the younger players, as it was played in front of such a noisy and partisan crowd.
It's not often that younger players get an opportunity to play in the Champions League, and in such an intimidating venue too. I'm sure they will have learned something from the game, and hopefully it will stand to them in the future.
There were some negatives for Arsenal too, and the performances of their second and third choice goalkeepers weren't exactly inspiring. I can only hope that Wojciech Szczesny doesn't pick up an injury at any stage this season, because the thought of Fabianski or Mannone playing in the team fills me with dread. If neither of them were to play the next options Manuel Almunia, and tht doesn't bear thinking about in my opinion.
I was particularly unhappy with the performance of Arshavin who got the chance to show what he can do in his favoured role. He missed a great chance early on, and he did very little for the rest of the game. When he lost the ball he looked disinterested in regaining it, and his days at Arsenal look numbered to me.
I wouldn't be surprised to see him sold in January, as he looks like he has little interest in playing for the club any more. His career at Arsenal started off so well, but it's been a while now since he has made any real impact.
Chamakh had another night where very little went right for him, but at least he kept trying for the whole game. It can't be easy for him knowing he will always be second fiddle to Robin van Persie, but he needs to make a better impression when he does play. He did well in the build up to the goal, but he was far too slow to shoot when Emmanuel Frimpong played him in earlier in the game.
Squillaci looked out of his depth again, and he's another player who won't be around for too long I would imagine. He's the fifth choice central defender at the club at best, and the chances are he will see very little action as long as he stays at the club.
I wasn't happy with the risk Arsene Wenger took in playing both Vermaelen and Santos, and it looks like it may have backfired. Santos went off injured six minutes into the second half, and it looks like he might be out for a while. He is currently the only fit full back at the club, and if he is injured it means either Ignasi Miquel or Vermaelen will have to play at left back.
Hopefully he can recover quickly, and both Carl Jenkinson and Kieran Gibbs can return before too long too. When Bacary Sagna returns I think the defence will look an awful lot more stable, as he is the best right back in the Premier League and has been sorely missed.
Thankfully the Olympiacos game can now be forgotten about and consigned to the record books, as it had no significance on Arsenal's progress. The club can now concentrate on playing Everton on Saturday afternoon, and celebrating it's 125th anniversary. I'll be at the game along with a few fellow Irish Arsenal fans, and it promises to be a great day.
There will be more about that before the weekend from the club I'm sure, and I'll preview the game before my very early morning flight on Saturday.
That's it for today.
Here's the highlights from last night's game.
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