Arsenal v Everton or Here We Go Again!
A New Beginning or A New End
It seems the rite of summer for most Arsenal fans recently is lamenting the lack of momvement in the transfer window and wondering way glaring issues aren’t properly addressed. Well, arm-chair prognostication is still going to go on regardless but this Saturday, Arsene’s army gets rolled out again to end the 4 year silverware drought the team has experienced.
The nemisis of the day? None other than Everton. Annually they are cited as one of the two or three teams that could supplant the Gunners from their perch in the top 4 and every year they wind up 5th or 6th. The story is exactly the same this year.
Everton are an image of consistency amongst of a sea of change. Continually lacking the funds to make wholesale changes that could change the club’s fortunes, the team does well because it is coached well. David Moyes, is a gaffer to be respected for what he achieves with his team. Last year that consistency paid off with a trip to the FA Cup final losaing to Chelsea.
Moyes has put his boys through the paces and it looks like he will roll with a 4-5-1 formation. While he tested other, this one seemed to offer the squad the best chance for success.
Goodison park should be a rocking place and they will be firmly behind their boys as a fully fit squad get ready to square up against our boys. News out of the Emirates isn’t all great as the injry list is already growing – Rosicky, Nasri, Walcott, Fabianski, Djourou are all expected to be out of the lineup. The only good news is that recent transfer Thomas Vermaelen is fit and should feature in the back 4.
The new formation gets rolled out against Everton as Wenger shifts to a 4-3-3 to support the attacking options he has. I expect the front four to be Arshavin, Van Persie and Bendtner. The midfield anchored by captain Cesc Fabregas and supported by Song and Diaby. The back four Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen and Clichy. Almunia features in goal. On paper the squad doesn’t look bad but, Song and Diaby are still growing and their ability to hold the midfield and allow Fabregas to support the attack is still in question. Each has considerable talent but the fruits of it have yet to be fully recognized.
The attack is solid and features good support coming off the bench, Eduardo, Vela, Ramsey, adnd future star Wilshere. The midfield will still likely benefit from a more experienced holding midfielder and the back four has to be considered tighter with a fit Vermaelen. Though were the squad to add Hangeland at some point, the Gunners would have to be considered for a serious challenge on some silverware.
Overall, this a game that the away squad have to put an emphatic mark on. A resounding win with a ton of possession will likely go along way to making people believe we are on the right track. A draw or loss and the pitch forks are likely to be out and the prognasticators that predict a Man City usurption will grow more vocal.
The first month is beset with minefields both from a domestic front and in our bid for European glory. Any misstep this early in the season and the effect could be huge. We go against a strong Everton side, followed by Celtic in UCL, Portsmouth and Celtic again, then Man U and we kick September off again heady challengers, Man City. Realistically, a squad with our talent should figure for at least 2 wins, 1 draw and 1 loss domestically, and a draw and win in the UCL. Anything less than that and this could be a long season.
Well, here it is lads, we’re off an running!
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I am reading some of Ade’s post match comments from Saturday and it is funny with how he says the the Man City fans love him and that the Arsenal fans never did and he couldn’t understand that.
When you lout about on the pitch playing cherry pick footie and not giving your all then you are in for a fan shalacking. No doubt when the good olde Ade shows up for Man City – they will begin booing him much like the Arsenal faithful did.
And I suppose you Mr Mazza was in the dressing room absorbing all this poison, right? Mazza you were dissing him even during the 07/08 season when he was banging in goals you and theother haters complained about how many chances he missed amongst other things. He could never please you regardless. So no need to promote the ‘poison’ hearsay, you don’t know him or the dressing room to even make an educated.
Andez, Ade has always maintained that he didn’t say he would leave Arsenal. He simply wanted a more deserving contract considering the likes of Milan were offering him over 80,000 and he was on no more than 35 from all reports. Ade’ agent came and made a statement shortly before Wenger sold him saying ade would stay. According to Ade he heard the club had agreed terms with City while he was on holiday. Arsene had decided he would sell Ade somewhere near the end of last season if he got the right offer it seems. Once Ade has been told his club has agreed terms with another, you can be sure you are not wanted why hang around to witness the wroth of the fans. It would be a much wiser decision to increase his wages twofold and play for a team where the fans appreciate you.
Another thing is I believe you have witnessed a permanent change in Adebayor. He seems to feel he has arrived and you will never see him run around using up all his energy like the humble eager to impress Adebayor of old. It was a good sale if our strikers can deliver. Although I do think we would be a better team with him than without him, the hunger and desire that we showed against Everton may well be part due to his departure. Similar to when Henry left our team seemed to dig deep to show we could cope without out him, everyone took on greater responsibility. Hopefully this time we can finish a couple of places higher this season.
I am wishing am wishing all he best I don’t thinkhe will achieve as much with City as he would have with us but I hope his wage increase will be some consulation ;-)
Arthur;
I noticed his lax attitude even then, in his supposedly golden season, while you were too easily ingratiated with his goals to even acknowledge it. I bet you can’t even remember the Newcastle or Villa game, it’s probably a blur or haze because Ade the Dade scored and that’s “what he’s paid to do”. If you looked at the Newcastle or Villa game again, you’ll see that his performance followed the exact pattern that Kiwi described in the Blackburn match.
I said that season and last season, that Adebayor’s best season as a team player was in 2006/07. That’s when he provoked compliments from the likes of Terry and Ferdinand.
Ade is a git, a complacent git, and thank god I don’t have to see his dopey face ever again in an Arsenal shirt.
I watched the last 25 mins of Ade & Toure as they played for Manchester City. Now, let it be said, that Adebayor scored the critical first goal of the match and the season for City, and what a strike, so any comment that follows must acknowledge same. But….
My boy Adebayor was trotting around like his job was done. I watched him closely, wondering if the new environment would see a renewed vigour. Not so in the period I watched. It was only 1-0. Yet he refused to close down the opposing defenders in possession, didn’t tackle, and perhaps most disappointingly looked half-arsed in attack. To be fair it was only game 1, yet a little more ‘intensity’ would have been appropriate.
We might not see as many African players in future Arsenal squads.
He’s been like that for two years Kiwi, which is one of the reasons I’ve wanted him gone since the end of the 07/08 season.
His performances in the Villa and Newcastle games that season, away, were a disgrace. Scored early goals in both games, but then proceeded to spend the rest of it ruining very single move and generally giving the impression of someone thinking “my work is done’.
We may not have been sparkling up front last season when he didn’t play but his sheer presence was a poison in the dressing room.
It’s an interesting case study if we look at the CashelyCole saga and the Adebayorgate.
Both expressed their desire to leave one season before they were sold.
Naturally it upset fans.
But one difference is – few Gooners wanted to see Cashely left until the following summer when he once again asked for the move.
Adebayor, on the other hand, didn’t really come out and said he want to leave back in the summer. But the majority Arsenal fans wanted to “see him off to the door”.
It shows me that the decisive factor that turned Arsenal fans against Adebayor was his ATTITUDE, especially on the pitch.
Cashley Cole in his last season with us didn’t play much due to injury, but whenever he’s on the pitch, nobody complained about his “lack of effort”.
Adebayor, on the other hand, had turned many of his originally backers, including myself, against him with his laziness on the pitch.
It didn’t help that this guy was once one of the most hardworking striker I ever seen wearing an Arsenal shirt.. until he got his payrise. The sharp contrast of the BEFORE and AFTER (his 30 goals season) just made you can’t help but questioning his professionalism.
Make no mistake, he’s not useless. He will continue to score goals. His game is tailor made for the Premiership. (if he moved to AC Milan there might be another story) but from the TEAM (Arsenal)’s point of view, it may turn out to be a blessing.
it may sound weird to suggesting the departure of one of our key players will IMPROVE our team. But that’s the magic of football.
The Sun sums it up pretty nicely:
“And all that from an Arsenal side which, to be honest, will probably play better and only draw this season – which tells you exactly how bad Everton really were.”
Yes, we had two complete free headers. But the first goal showed a huge difference from the last few seasons. It was a first-time placed shot from difference (also from Denilson, which is another story.) There was no over-passing, or trying to walk the ball into the net.
Just pass, pass, bang – an opportunity seized with precision.
Arsenal did score the more away goals in the Prem last season – 37, I think. But how many games did we have too much possession with no end results.
The other good news is that Vermaelen is up for the fight – no jitters, as far as I could see. We had some scares – clearing off the line etc. But we were never caught napping. Even Gallas seemed composed.
The other plus is the slow, but steady emergence of Song. If Diaby shows no signs of improving, Song certainly does. He’s got a quiet, unfussy style, but he is definitely my pick to fill the old Gilberto/Flamini role. Turning an interception into attack with a minimum of fuss.
Of course, 90mins against Celtic could make me change my mind entirely! But I’m encouraged.
Didn’t get to see alot of the game which is incredibly annoying, especially as someone who likes to air an opinion or two, but we looked solid, pragmatic, and intelligent. A distinct lack of naivety, which has as much of a brandmark as our passing football in recent years.
No Ade the Dade and jitter bug Toure, and we looked a stream lined focus machine. Maybe the passing and movement is not quite on the fancy dan levels of 2007/08, but maybe we needed to move away from that and show a bit more efficiency, taper down our indulgent nature a touch.
Great result for Arsenal & Arsene.
‘Most of us’ believed (not hoped) this starting line up could control the match. Yesterday, Arsenal played to expectation.
If we have no injuries to our key players, then this is the type of performance Arsenal can repeat.
But this is where the issue is for all of us. ‘NO INJURIES’ IS NOT REALITY.
62 more matches, Arsenal need another dominating CB and a “strong” holding midfielder.
It was positive to see the smile on Gallas’s face after his score! Ditto for Eduardo. (usually he is non-emotional). THE TEAM SPIRIT LOOKS FANTASTIC.
I am not sure if we need another dominating CB. As I have a feeling Gallas will be very happy playing alongside Vermaelen. Probably the most Terry-like CB he ever had since leaving Chelsea.
A new CB means that either Gallas or Vermaelen would have to go to bench. None of them would be happy. If we are talking about to buy a “backup” CB, then there’s no guarantee he would be better than Djourou.
As for a new DM. That would very much kill Alex Song. And I do not think Song deserves this. As he’s probably the most-improved youngster in our side.
If a young player who works hard and keeps improving, yet his reward is to go back to the bench, that would send a terrible message to the rest of the kids who’s working hard to breakthrough – what’s the point of working hard? You would excuse them for thinking it this way.
When i write this, I don’t mean I do not believe we NEED a CB who could dominate in the air. It surely won’t hurt. That Denilson goalmouth clearance had shown that we are still vulunerable on setpieces.
Yet in football you can’t have it both way. Yet I always believe there’s one intangible element which can be even more crucial in football – a HARMONY squad.
One difference between Arsenal 09 and Arsenal this season (at the beginning of the season) is we no longer have as much uncertainly like we had last season. When the Flamini departure had caught AW out cold. And Adebayor’s desire to leave.
Yes it’s only one game so far, but you do have a feeling our team are looking more FOCUSED than last season this time around.
To choose between the addtion of a new CB and DM while unsettled a couple of our first teamers, OR a squad with a spirit of togetherness fighting for a same cause, I would opt of the latter anytime.
Gallas is in the last year of his contract. There is no sign that he will sign a new one. Getting a new CB is not a bad idea. Someone who is willing to sit on the bench this season, but ready to start next season.
Yeah, well, we have only ONE DM….so what happens when Song is injured or goes off the African Cup?
We have a very tough schedule in January, February…..and NO, Denilson will NOT do as a DM.
We will be killed if he returns to DM.
The success of the 4-3-3 is based mostly on having a strong, tackling DM.
Having just ONE option is irresponsible.
Andes & others:
re: posting an article
DAG must set up you up for posting. I sent Michael and email & it was done pronto.
After he acknowledges your set up, go to the top of the latest blog, on the right column: click on – site adm
on the top right of the new page, you enter the title of your post & below it the article.
re: DM & CB
look at ManU right now & their list of injured players; If we are to be successful domestically and in Europe, we must be strong off the bench. 60+ matches – two players at a position will see plenty of playing time.
We can’t find ourselves starting a back 4 of Eboue, Silvestre, Djourou, and Gibbs!
4th place is not our target.
Lifting the League and CL Trophy is our aim!
thanks for the info arsession on posting, yeah i just saw that site admin section.
A great performanceby the lads. The pressing game made all the difference we did not allow them to settle on the ball, no time and space. That is what the more adventurous teams (the ones who don’t just “park the bus”) do to us. I have complained about us not closing down quick enough for many a season now, is this a new pattern/stategy? or will we revert now that the first game is over? We will need to be consistent with it or we will probably fade back to mediocrity.
Everton were not bad until they were breached the first time. Song was my MOTM. I seems when the rest of the team is pressing he has more opportunity to steal the ball and have positive impact on the game. Fits in with my theory that when the team is not functioning well as a team it makes the individuals look bad, ala the Dade last season.
Denilson played well throughout bar the odd mistake prior to his goal. I think the Denilson of the Carling Cup may well show up this season, might even shut Fred up for a while ;-)
If the Dade was here he would have scored a hat trick right Mazz? Fantastic debut goal for City be the way I hope he scores many more this season shut those haters up.
good to see u here arthur
Good to see you too Andez.
I hope you Sachin, LDE etc will starting posting a few articles too. I recall the admin giving you the go ahead.
Nice to see Kiwi here too, I wonder if Stag will finally come and join us? I would be sure he knows we are here.
Who else is missing?
How can I forget? JoshuaD! Ctpa posts regularly on 7amkickoff, TimmyTooth’s site.
Yes almost everybody is here now, bar Josh and Stag, as far as I can recall. Fred’s recent link (in AA) turned out to be quite useful! I got the link from vibe4 a while ago.
I don’t know how to post an article yet. I can’t find a post submission option.
Anyway, it feels good to have us starting the season with a bang! If anything, at least it offers us a HOPE.
Who knows? perhaps a change of scene of the old regulars of AA to this current site may bring Arsenal some luck!
I know it’s totally irrelevant. But when comes to football, I m quite superstitious! ;)
LOL
Yeah quite a bang indeed, if we can only keep that spirit up. Our attitude looked different from the off we were harrassing them like we did AC Milan a couple seasons ago.
Did you notice we only let in the goal at a period when we were being quite negative and passing the ball around in our own half.
Vermaelen looks really promising, I think he has the Keown type mentality we need. He made acouple of errors one nearly led to a goal but I do not think we have a Senderos type problem here. Mentally I think he is far stronger than Senderos so I can not seem him making to many calamitous errors.
I am looking forwaard to seeing up against Drogba, then I can really assess what we have.
Ask arsesession how to submit. I am not sure what you are supposed to be seeing but you are set up as a contributor.
thks I will try to figure it out.
Does Almunia get an assist for Fabregas’ second goal? ;)
When Andez said that Arsenal will surprise this season, I don’t think he had this in mind. :-)
Great start !!! Let us keep it going.
If I said I had expected that, I would be a liar! :)
The first game of the season normally speaking players were supposed to be “rusty”…
Yet we ended up breaking the Premiership’s record for the biggest opening day victory! Not bad for a team which were wildy tipped by the media to be kicked out of top 4 by City!
Though 6-1 or 1-0 it’s still 3 points for the winner, I sure hell perfer a 6-1 win than an 1-0 win!
“I hope we blast Everton and get away to a good start.”
My hope realised!!
What more could we ask for from the first game?
There was a lot to like, our passing looked in tune, Arshavin was relatively quiet and yet his touches showed his vision, just to have a guy on that level of thinking is akin to having a guy like Bergkamp back in the side.
I liked my first look at the Gallas/Verme axis. Early days, but they both looked focused. I liked Song too, he looked good in front of the CB’s.
Two goals for Fabregas was a lovely way to start his season. If we get off to a good start it will be good for Fab, as a young captain he doesn’t want the sense of having to drag around a half-dead carcass all season. We need a sense of vitality at the start and this was a great way to start.
Denilson with a goal? Oh my. Great result! i was hoping for a 7-0 to kick the season off, but 6-1? WOW.
Glad to see all of our goals came from open play.
Does anyone know who has the Celtic game? Is it FSC?
Yes, it’s on FSC
Actually, two of the goals were from set pieces, and both of them were headers by center-backs.
It’s on FSC, but delayed until 5. I’m not sure where it will be live, though I know people going to a local bar with the belief that someone has it.
I now see three channels on DTV that claim to be showing tomorrow’s match Live. 466, 630 and 635. FYIs.
Didn’t get a chance to see the game live (thank you TiVo) I will be watching tonight and will write up a Players Scores tonight (hopefully).
Glad to see the defense got into the scoring. Overall more than I expected or wanted out of the first game.
Delighted with performance. roll on Celtic game.
Was hoping for 7 points from first four games, on target for that!
Masterful performance.
1st 3 goals scored by the heart of the defense. Fantastic! Imagine, 6-1 with no goals from RVP, Bendtner, Arshavin, Walcott. If we can stay healthy the sky’s the limit. Let’s have similar results away to Celtic, ManCity and ManUre and we’ll really be flying!
Words you never thought you’d read… This from the Guaridan’s min by min:
Fabregas will of course be everybody’s man of the match, having been so instrumental in so many goals, but Song’s been excellent as well. Arsenal have a pretty awesome midfield.
– – –
Super encouraging start. And keeping up the spirit of the old site, I have not shortage of grumbles… Denilson – you’re supposed to be crap? What’s gotten into you? Forwards, you’re supposed to be too lazy to shut down and harry? Why are you suddenly working hard?
CBs – you’re supposed to be indecisive, not commanding.
That said, Everton were increasingly abject. Cesc runs the length of the pitch unchallenged. Shocking. But fun! Roll on, Celtic and a real challenge to show off our new 4-3-3 system.
The changing to 433 this season, the key for it to work is to have your front 3 defending high up the pitch – that means our forwards need to work hard and closing down the oppositions in their own final third.
It’s important as if u don’t do that and allowing oppositions to pass their way upfront, our defence would be shorthanded.
And van Persie, Bendtner and Arshavin did just that today. Especially Arshavin, he worked extremely hard trying to close down the defender.
the key, of course, is to keep up the effort all season long.
Arshavin worked really hard at defending. For a superstar, his work rate is amazing.
Did he? It was hard to notice he was even on the pitch.
Am always wary when Arsenal scores more than 3 goals……they usually let it get to their head and cock up the next game….
However, I refuse to let worry about that now….good we are certainly top of the table for now.
We will actually fall behind in games because the Bolton game is off due to the CL. However next game is Pompey at home. If we do the business like we should against a really poor side, we can go into the Man U game with good confidence.
PS: We had a RECORD low number of off-sides today!
There are the two Celtic games in between. Celtic haven’t lost at home in the CL to the likes of ManU and Milan. Only Barca have beaten them in recent times. It is going to be a tough game. And a big prize at stake. A big test for the youngsters.
;-)
Good start of the season. Celtic is next.
Well I was wrong about Denilson and Bendtner, and happy to admit it. A great game. Nice to see Eduardo get a goal too. One of his games I remember most was that 4-0 or 4-1 win over Everton in either Dec 07 or Jan 09, where Dudu had 2 goals.
Jan 08 that should say.
Everton’s defense had been ridiculous. There were, what? Three, four nutmegs on Fab’s goal?
Nice to start the campaign with a laugher.
After watching Aston Villa get booed by their fans with 5 minutes to go, I had a feeling arsenal would thrash Everton 4-0. With the exception of Stoke and Chelsea, the away teams have won all the other games so far and Arsenal are on their way to continuing that trend.
Delighted to see Arsenal get 2 headed goals from indirect free kicks. Hopefully the team can continue that so that when the kicking does come at Blackburn and Bolton, Arsenal can punish the kickers.
and..Ade got a nice goal today. I didn’t see him kiss his Man City badge or did I miss that?
A mighty 1st half performance from our new central half. Although it’s only 45 mins so far, I am deeply impressed with Vermaelan. Not his goal. But his “approach”. Very positive. Doesn’t wait for things to happen, and took initiative attacking every ball coming his way.
Nikki B was a handful for Everton in the first half. Just look at the amount of fouls he drew. Everton couldn’t handle him.
yeah, I guess there was a reason he was captain for Ajax. He doesn’t look a 23 year old and his headed goal was very nicely placed. I hope to see more from him in this manner.
“Although it’s only 45 mins so far, I am deeply impressed with Vermaelan. Not his goal. But his “approach”. Very positive. ”
Could not agree more (including the ‘only 45 minutes’ disclaimer). Though I don’t believe he looks so comfortable, so quickly because he’s “watched a lot of Premier League on TV” as the idiot announcer on our broadcast suggested.
haha, yeah I couldn’t believe that announcer said that neither! some logic!
Everton getting booed off the pitch at the end of the first half, of the first match. Nice start.
Ha! Nice move by Bendy, and beautiful finish by Denilson! (With Fab in the middle!)
Denilson and Bendtner in the starting XI. Fuck you Arsene.
Bendtner is a great right winger – he is much better running at defenders, than playing with his back to goal.
Surprised that Van Persie played the lone role upfront so well, I thought he would be too slow.
With 4-3-3, do Nasri and Rosicky play in the front 3 or back 3? Nice choice to have…
Ade scores at the 3′ mark.
Blackburn has 14 shots within the first 45
Drogba got an ugly hair (probably the ugliest in the Prem), but he scored a beauty today, deep in the injury time. damn.
and Phil “image-is-everything” Brown still got his stupid earpiece on.
It would’ve been a beauty if it wasn’t a really bad cross.
For all the possession Chelski had their lack of chances was suprising.
I also think it was an attempt at a cross but ofcourse, he won’t admit that.
Still, the end product looked beautiful.
He did admit it in an interview after the match, it was intebded for Kalou
Reading Moyes’ recent outbrust, I think that Mark hughes has been playing a dangerous game.
As Moyes rightly pointed out – you should at least RESPECT your fellow manager when comes to transfer dealing. Instead of going out and bullying around just because u got ton of cash to throw around.
One thing Mark Hughes gotta realize is (if he’s clever enough) that – by no mean his own job is safe. If City fail to win 5 games in a row to start their new season, chance is that it wouldn’t take long for Hughes’ head to be called.
Like what I said last season, Ramos wouldn’t have been axed so early had he never spent as much in the summer. How much City have spent this summer? With that much money being spent, the new City sugardaddy ain’t gonna be happy to wait until his side to jell. A few defeats early in the season, Hughes could kiss his job goodbye. Worst still, the oppositions now would take on City like playing against a top 4 side. That’s what a big profile spending spree could bring you – unnecessary pressure.
When Hughes get sacked (and I believe he will), By then there’s a good chance he would land himself a middle table side with probably lesser money to spend than Everton. What goes around comes around, things aren’t going to be pretty for the former United star striker should things turn out this way.
The prophet has spoken. ;)
http://www.arsenalnewsreview.co.uk/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=1365&cntnt01returnid=42
I can believe that we need the CL to buy players. Earlier, we had simple qualifying rounds. This year, it is SO different. Cannot imagine not going through. Fingers crossed.
Interesting to read the rare indepth articles from the Daily Mail and The Times with Arsene.
I found myself, feeling pleased and warmed by the insight into the depth of Arsene’s feeling for the club (which of course we knew), and then perhaps a little saddened that after the glow dimmed, I was still left with the reality that he seems wed a little too deeply to his ideology. I don’t accept for a minute that adding, say, 2 quality performers would inhibit the progress of the remaining existing players one dot. It’s a nonsense. In fact it would likely enhance the squads ability to develop from a sounder base.
The reference to Barca was interesting. He obviously loves their style and romance. And it is undeniable that under Arsene we have morphed from ‘boring’ to ‘stylish’. He has changed our culture and public image. No small achievement, kudos Arsene you deserve it.
On to Everton. The injuries are jarring but hardly unpredictable. We have some seriously fragile senior players. Added to which, a few injuries can always happen at any time. So, we’re starting from a shakey base.
I’d like to see – Arshavin/Eduardo/RvP – in front. That’s our quality. The defence picks itself if fit. The midfield is Arsene’s lookout. He picked them, he refuses to reinforce the area, so if they flump, his problem.
I hope we blast Everton and get away to a good start.
‘Nonsense’ is right. At this point, we might as well call it Arsenesense. It barely seems worth the effort to critique anymore, though you’ve done a fair (and balanced) job.
What enthusiasm I have this year still rests at the feet of a healthy and in-form DuDu. Just about everything else fills me with dread.
Well it looks like there’s a pretty broad consensus on how the back 4 will line up, but as to who the front 6 will be made up of and how they will be positioned, there seems to be some question marks. I don’t know for sure what Arsene will do, but I pray to god that I do not see Bendtner in the starting XI tomorrow. Arshavin and RVP will most likely be in for sure, which leaves Bendtner, Vela, or Eduardo in the last spot of the front line in a 4-3-3. Bendtner sucks compared to those two, and you can’t call it an unfair comparison b/c of his age, since Vela is no older.
Looks like Fran Merida’s loan is off:
http://www.arsenalnews.co.uk/Arsenal-News/no-loan-move-for-fran-merida-according-to-agent-as-he-could-be-needed-at-arsenal/
I don’t know but I am delighting in the fact that both Adebayor and Toure could be out of Man City’s match tomorrow.
Also I would like to announce – YAMA is now on Twitter. – search for YouAreMyArsenal
Cheers
Facebook group!
For tomorrow Wilshere will not part of the squad.
Also, here is something I am wondering – all these articles about Arsene, protecting the players by admitting he sees bad plays and then supports his players – why such surprise? Isn’t a coach/manager supposed to do that?
Over to you, Mazza… How do we get him back?
Former Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb admits he regrets leaving Arsenal to join Barcelona last summer.
The Belarusian has since returned to former club Stuttgart after failing to pin down a first team place at the Nou Camp.
Despite being part of a squad that won the treble last season, he played little part in it which has given the midfielder cause to rue ever departing North London.
“Of course I regret leaving Arsenal,” he said. “I was playing every week for one of the most exciting sides in Europe, a team which was always in the top four in the Premier League and were Champions League contenders.
“I was being guided by one of the best coaches in the world in Arsene Wenger. I owe him a great deal.
“I developed a better all-round game under him and I became more robust physically, learnt to look up more and play better passes and improved greatly as a team player. No player ever gets worse under Wenger.
“I still look out for Arsenal each week and I hope they can do well this time. I think they will be in the top four again and could even push for the title if they don’t have the terrible injuries of last season.
“People forget the long unbeaten run they had after Christmas last season, which was a good sign for this season.
“For me, leaving Arsenal was not a good move. A footballer only exists when he takes to the field and makes a proper contribution to the team.
“Even though I was part of a Barca squad that was almost unstoppable, it was hard not to feel detached from all the happiness and celebration at the end.
“Barca were my dream club as a kid, but I couldn’t continue with them if the chance to play was not coming. I’m 28 and who knows how much time I have left in the game?
“I needed to move on and the chance to go back to a place that I feel happy in was the best solution.”
Your opening up old wounds here macmac….
Tch. And here I thought you were letting go.
He’s saying come and get me!
lol lol lol
Talking of Groundhog Day, how about this –
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/blackburn_rovers/8201006.stm
“It’s important we do our best and kick lumps out of them – fairly of course,” Dunn said.
“We must be strong and organised. The main thing is we will have to be really aggressive and knock them about a bit.”
He added: “That’s what the manager will be asking from our lads. We have to make Ewood Park a place no-one wants to come to again.
It may be a new season, but what has really changed? Not much, I suppose.
Exactly why we need some more steel on the pitch for teams like these.
Both Vermaelen and Diaby are coming off injuries so it’s doubtful they will be in the starting eleven. With Walcott, Rosicky, Nasri and Djourou on the injury list and Vela just returning to camp from an extended Caribbean romp, our perennial optimist’s echoing of “deep” squad all of a sudden doesn’t seem quite so deep.
Starting 11 should read:
Almunia
Sagna, Gallas, Senderos/Silvestre, Clichy
Denilson/Eboue, Song, Fabregas,
RVP, Bendtner, Arshavin
Let’s all pray that Almunia stays healthy unless we want to see Mannone being used as fodder between the sticks. With Jo, Saha and Fellaini all available for Everton it should be interesting to see how our CB’s stand up to their aerial presence.
We need to get off to a good start so the young guns can build their confidence as the season progresses.
I still maintain this squad as it stands today is not good enough to contend for the EPL championship and could be in a dogfight for 3-6. We enter this season with the same question marks as the least (SIGH).
off-topic: I think Man City should not waste any more time and dish out 15-20 million pounds to get this player right away.
Yup indeed, off and running. While there may be plenty of excuses (who schedules friendlies and qualifiers a few days before a season’s kick off) but none of that will matter now. 3 points at stake.
Here are my three rules for Arsenal this weekend:
1) Avoid losing 1-0.
2) Avoid losing 1-0.
3) Do not give up a headed goal via a corner or a free kick.
Although a real improvement would be getting a win and not a 1-1 draw. But hey, since Arsene asked to be judged at the end of one or two years, one game doesn’t matter, does it? :) When a team is looking at the big picture in terms of 5 year plans, 3 little points can hardly be something to worry about.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/arsenal/article6795542.ece
Great in-depth Wenger interview. Makes me believe all over again…
The common denominator of successful teams is that the players are intelligent. That does not always mean educated. They can analyse a problem and find a solution. The common denominator of a top-level person is that they can objectively assess their performance. You speak to a player after the game and ask him to rate his performance and if he analyses well, you know he is the sort who will drive home thinking, “I did this wrong, I did that wrong”. His assessment will be correct and, next time, he will rectify it. That player has a chance. The one who has a crap game and says he was fant
The common denominator of successful teams is that the players are intelligent. That does not always mean educated. They can analyse a problem and find a solution. The common denominator of a top-level person is that they can objectively assess their performance. You speak to a player after the game and ask him to rate his performance and if he analyses well, you know he is the sort who will drive home thinking, “I did this wrong, I did that wrong”. His assessment will be correct and, next time, he will rectify it. That player has a chance. The one who has a crap game and says he was fant
I think that last paragraph applied completely to a lot of Arsenal players from 2002-04. Which is why I had no worries when those bunch of players lost a game, because I knew they would make up for it the next time around. Although, that changed when the 49 game unbeaten run ended and since then, a lot of the players who have come in don’t seen to have that ability to analyze their performances. In recent years, it has appeared that the team needs a string of good results to keep their spirits up otherwise they would find it hard to come back. One could start attributing that to experience and leadership as well.
On a separate note, I always associated Wenger to be like the German film-maker Werner Herzog — quiet and intelligent. And when Herzog talks, you listen and likewise, I used to pay attention to most things Wenger said until the last year or so. Not sure which game it started with but Wenger’s post game talks started defying reality.
Good summary!
Everton & August:
Anxiously nervous best summarizes how I feel about the start of this campaign!
With the lineup that DAG lists above, I’m comfortable with these starting 11. But for this match & the balance of August, depth is missing as there is no Rosicky, Theo, Djourou, & Nasri to come off the bench or start. For me, everyone else is a crap shoot, except Eduardo.
If our manager had gone out and signed the holding midfielder and CB that were obvious needs for the team, I would stand by Arsene regardless of how the season played out,
‘silverware or not’.
By not addressing these main weaknesses, Arsene will have thrown himself back into the frying pan of criticism for any early hiccups. The team does not need to play under this added distraction and pressure. Waiting until Sept 1st (to save some money) will only add fuel to
the fire of criticism.
Here is how I’d like to see the team line up, call it what ever system you perceive:
——–Almunia——–
Sagna —Gallas—Vermaelen—Clichy
———-Song———
—————Ramsey——
——–Cesc—————-
RvP———————-Arshavin
———-Eduardo———–
Bendtner could be inserted for Eduardo.
Vela, Gibbs, & Wilshere are the only field players I would consider using as subs.
I would start Ramsey or Wilshere over Denilson and Diaby.
Go Gunners!