Portsmouth v Arsenal or Things I Think I Know
Is this really necessary?
Portsmouth comes into this tie with a lot of history against them. No Portsmouth side have beaten Arsenal since 1958. No Portsmouth side have beaten Arsenal at home since 1955. Also consider that Portsmouth haven’t scored an away goal in about 10 hours (8 or so matches). They’ve not won away in 2009 at all. Their last win against a big four opponent? A 2-1 win against Pool in 2007.
On the opposite coin you have an Arsenal side that has lost only once in the EPL in 2009 (jan through August). Are coming off of two very impressive wins. Have a second squad of players that could all be starters at Portsmouth. In the last 19 meetings (league and cup) Arsenal are an astounding 11 wins and 8 draws against Portsmouth. The Gunners, even the reserves will have loads of confidence coming into this match.
What’s all that mean? Well, if you believe the old gaming addage that you still have to play the games – true – you do. But realistically, this should be a match that poses little threat to the Gunners. It should also be a match that allows Arsene to rest some of his squad from last weekend and Tuesday’s CL tie. I expect the likes of Gibbs, Wilshere, Vela, and Eduardo to come out. I also expect to see Vermaelen and Gallas out there. I think Wenger will be eage to give them reps to continue to build a solid center tandem.
I am also eager to see on Portsmouth Niko Krancjar. I really like him. He plays the ball well and does a good job in the midfield. I know Arsene has been fond of him and even as late as last January he was a supposed target. I expect that as Portsmouth go under the likelihood of him leaving will grow. If Niko were to come to the Gunners, maybe this January or next summer.
An now for Things I Think I Know:
1. Yes Man City won against Blackburn but their defence was woeful and if not for Shay Given Blackburn could’ve easily walked away with a 2-1 or 3-1 win. City will not make the big four
2. Man U have 3 points out of 6. Last season after 5 matches they had 5 points out of 15. They went on to win the season. They should still be considered dangerous
3. Chelsea have had to comeback in both wins. While resiliency is good too, gifting goals to better teams is going to hurt some time
4. Arsenal are two games in and are better than last year, I am not ready to say they will win the league. Ask me again after 2 months
5. I love David Moyes ethic of standing by his decision to keep Joleon Lescott. Though by now, I think the lad is done. Should the board decide to sell him without Moyes input – Moyes will walk.
6. Liverpool are a freakin nightmare. They are putting the fun in dysfunction. Blame it squarely on the American owners and their inability to run the club or understanding of running a Premier League club.
7. Rafa Benetiz is the most annoying manager in the EPL – followed closely by Mark Hughes
8. Thomas Vermaelen is the real deal
9. Andrei Arshavin will be the best player in the EPL this season
10. EA Sports is ridiculous for not supporting its PC franchise as well as it does its console franchise. The platforms have plateaued in their abilities while PCs continue to crank up the performance of games
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I would have thought that Diaby..Song..Denilson would be the go. Wenger is normally relatively predictable, in as much that the players who are getting the game-time contine to get picked. It is as though there is a ‘pecking order’ in his head and it takes quite a lot for him to deviate from that order. That’s why guys like Bendtner, Walcott and Denilson have in recent times continued to get starting spots despite their on-field performances. While a guy like Vela pretty much sits out a season despite appearing worthy of more game-time.
All that to say, I expect Diaby..Song..Denilson to be our midfield. And you would think given the 2-0 lead, being at home, and wth the team confidence fairly strong, it should be enough. Although, if Celtic score first, we may get jitters, and we will need someone (Denilson?) to play the Fabregas-metronome role and keep our possession game ticking over.
This may be an opportunity for Arshavin to be more visable. He has had a quiet start. Yet we know along with Fabregas he has the best football brain (and skillset) in the team. The CL is the greatest platform for a player of his ilk to perform on. These type of big games turn on players like Arshavin, they love displaying their superior ability to the masses when the stakes are the highest.
Maybe Arshavin should assume the schemer role for Cesc vs. Celtic?
Diaby has only shown the consistency of holding the ball 1 touch too long.
I think there will be an internal battle within Wenger’s mind on who should replace Fabregas. I think he wants to use Ramsay there and see’s him more of a like for like replacement, however he rightly sees it as a big gamble. Ramsay can be good or he can be very, very bad.
The Diaby, Song, and Denilson midfield is the ‘safe’option. The three should have enough to do the job.
Without Fabregas though things could get very shaky. Celtic will be bhoyed(pardon the pun) by his absence and be alot more threateing than they were at Celtic Park.
I think your midfield selection of Diaby, Song, & Denilson will be the lineup against Celtic, but not what I’d prefer.
Your point about Ramsey’s inconsistency, justified by the way he performed last season……but in preseason and Saturday, I see more strength / confidence in his play, which strongly influences my slotting him into Cesc’s spot.
There is a rumor that Rosicky is healthy and off the injured list. If so, I’d give strong consideration for Tomas to slot in for Cesc – at least for the first half.
If Ramsey, Diaby, Theo, and Vela could develop this year like Song improved last season, oh, my, what depth for our squad.
Musing on what we have seen over the first 3 games of the season I think we can see the benefit of Song, in the first 2 games, a player who has a certain affinity to playing the defensive midfield role. As opposed to Diaby, who I guess you would describe as more of an midfield alrounder.
When Song plays, it allows Fabregas to be free, and Denilson’s impact becomes less critical. When Song doesn’t play, no-one is sitting in front of the CB’s, no-one is predisposed to harry and chase the opposing midfield, to break up play before the CB’s are drawn in. When Song plays we have a 3-man central defence with 1 (Song) slightly advanced, when he doesn’t you’re asking one of 3 midfielders to do something that isn’t natural at all.
The position of Denilson in the starting line-up is really interesting. For me, currently, the lad is a tidy player without any oustanding aspect to his play. On the other hand, Fabregas, Song and Diaby all offer something specific and special. In fact, it would be interesting to see the 3 play together. Song providing the defensive security, Fabregas the teams metronome, and Diaby the more ‘dynamic’ attacking guy (accepting that Diaby offers both dynamic and laconic in one package!!).
Denilson to me is a tidy backup – and at 21 that’s ok, many (most) successful teams have guys in the squad that are ‘steady performers’. The great Liverpool side had guys like Whelan, Nicol and Houghton who provided an element of balance to the more eye-catching, creative or spectacular skills of Aldridge, Barnes and Beardsley.
It is fascinating the Wenger still hints that he doesn’t see Song as necessarily staying at DM – more a CB.
good observations for each……
Here is Wenger’s comments after the match with Pompey.
On Abou Diaby’s similarities to Patrick Vieira…
“Abou is a more offensive player but if he decides to play defensively he is exactly like Vieira. At some stage when Gallas moved out I put Denilson centre back and put Diaby central midfield in a defensive role. And he looks completely similar to Patrick to win the ball back. But he is a guy who has a quick transition from defence to offence, from box to box, that is his fantastic strength, to change quickly. Nobody can go with him when he has that, when we are on the counter-attack. He is fantastic.”
I don’t see Diaby wanting to be the holding midfielder (ever). He is more likely to adapt to Denilson’s spot, where Song is doing all the dirty work to win the ball and support the attack.
sorry for the meltdown above, the last remark should end,
and Diaby only support the attack.
With Cesc ruled out, at least for the Celtic match, it should be interesting how AW lines up the midfield. So far he’s suggesting that Ramsey is Cesc’s direct replacement, but that would seem to indicate that one of the the holy trinity (Denilson, Diaby, Song) will start on the bench. Whatever combo is used, it should be pretty interesting. Cesc has been truly outstanding thus far (the weighting and variety of his passes especially) and I wonder if our creativity will suffer without him.
Of course nobody knows the extent of Cesc’s tender hammy, but there’s the argument that if we sit him for Celtic and then United on Saturday (aren’t those the teams that Rod Stewart used to sing about?) then we could lean on the Spanish National team to rest him during the international break. I love having him out there, but it’s not the worst idea, IMO
I would not be surprised if Song, Denilson and Diaby start with Ramsey on the bench.
ditto on Cesc….he’s been playing at a new level; work rate has been outstanding!
my idea for the Celtic rematch.
———Almunia———
Sagna—Gallas—Vermaelen—Clichy
——-Song——————–
——————Diaby——–
—–Ramsey——————–
Arshavin——————Eduardo
———-Bendtner————–
I thought about having Diaby take Cesc’s spot and include Denilson (leaving
Ramsey out); but I believe Ramsey is better for the team in the schemer role
vs Diaby or Denilson. Also, I see Ramsey stronger holding the ball & winning balls
vs. Denilson. In this lineup – I would let Diaby roam forward and have Ramsey lay
back to help cover with Song.
The upfront arrangement is not significant.
That said, I would prefer Almunia not
punt the ball so often, but find an open field player for throwing the distribution
for Arsenal controlling possession and forcing Celtic to chase.
I’d like to see us up a couple of goals by halftime; so Arshavin could be rested as much as possible.
Agree about our hopes for this match. Obviously we want to see if we can absorb pressure and keep a clean sheet. Song should be in as he was rested and he’s a key player whenever this is our clear objective.
Ramsey and Denilson are both being groomed to be as Cesc-like as possible, while, as I think you pointed out, Diaby is more of an attacker, or, to think of it less positively, doesn’t seem too bothered with his defensive positioning. (One of the beauties of Cesc is that he always remains aware of his positioning relative to teammates–a big reason he had such a poor season re:goals/assists last year.) We need more players who think about defense even when we’re going forward and if we can’t teach ’em, then we should buy ’em (Matuidi?).
A joke when you consider so many football experts predicting this was going to be Liverpool’s year (just because they came close to win it LAST term) back in the summmer.
If it’s Man U or Chelsea who lost 2 games in their first 3 matches, I still wouldn’t dare to write them off. Knowing that those sides got a strong character to bounce back. Liverpool, I m not so sure.
Their biggest problem IMO is the relationship between their manager and the board. You never feel they are in a same wavelength.
And Liverpool’s finanical situation is probably more serious than outsides thought.
While Arsenal also carrying a debt, yet we have a new stadium to show for with the debt. And the new stadium is keep generating income.
Liverpool, on the other hand, their debt is used to pay off the money their owners borrowed to buy their club.
If Wenger is being always careful in the transfer market not wanting to pay overprice for a transfer target, Rafa simply does not have money to spend.
And on occassions he did spend, his successful rate on the transfer dealings has been less than impressive. Who on earth would have spent so much bringing in Robbie Keane than offloaded him six months later, suffering a loss in the process?
If Liverpool fail to make it to top 4, they would be in deep shit.
And if Rafa is gone, look at the players they got now, it would take them many more years to REBUILD. The Liverpool academy, once upon a time, was proud to produce young British talents, have virtually no one coming through in recent years.
Their last academy graduates whose in their first team now are Steven G. and Jamie C. how old are them now?
Pool down 0-2 to Villa at halftime. On Espn2
Completely off topic – read this rather funny joke today
“what does a Liverpool fan do once they win the EPL? Turn off the playstation and go to bed.”
Thank I am here all week – try the veal.
Re: The Transfer Market
Does anyone else feel we are likely to make a move this week? My only reason, it is very quiet. Remember the Arshavin signing, everyone else was talking except Wenger. He didn’t talk until the very last moment.
This time it’s even quieter. THe papers are talking lightly about something but there is not a peep coming the Emirates.
Anyone?
I agree…..and HOPE.
But Arsene is so unpredictable! It looks as if Ramsey maybe thrown into the fire on Wednesday & Saturday.
Anyone hear rumors that Rosicky maybe returning shortly?
Could it be that the “new signing” is Rosicky return from treatment table? :)
I’ll stick up for Van P. too. Along with the dead ball stuff, he’s threaded a few killer through balls already this season – not least for Ramsay’s goal.
He’s even fought his way through inside the box to fire off a few shots and crosses. Admittedly, this close quarters jinking is not his key talent, but he is adjusting to the new role of hold-up target man.
And so far the rest of the team is picking up the goal-scoring slack.
RvP is in a forward position that the fans are expecting to see a different style of play from him.
RvP greatest asset (imo) is his vision & technical ability to serve up the right pass to exploit the defense. Check back to the # of assists he had last year. If you give it some thought, he has same technical and tactical qualities as Bergkamp!
RvP is excellent on controlling the long pass when marked by 1 defender (some cases 2); but when the bus is parked in the goal box – the aisle is even narrower (for any striker).
RvP is MOST EFFECTIVE when he tracks back into the midfield, finds a gap, receives the ball, turns, (while allowing teammates time to make runs from behind) where he can play the ball to the space behind the defender.
With so many agile and skillful midfielders on our roster, we should accept this scenario to be the norm for this season. Even the play of our outside forwards (Bendtner or Arshavin), they are performing the same tactics.
And, it explains why the goal production is not coming from our forwards. BEFORE THE BUS IS BACKED INTO THE GARAGE, create numerical superiority in attack and exploit the space.
Holding midfielder options:
IMO, we do have a strong backup for Song.
It’s Vermaelen.
What are the qualities Arsenal need for the holding midfielder?
Excellent reader of the game – good anticipation. (Flamini’s strengths)
Stamina
Strong in the air.
Effective at breaking up the play/strong tackler;
Technical and tactical skills to initiate a counter attack.
Maybe some of you see shortcomings in his game that would restrict this option, so far, I can’t.
It would mean Wenger would definitely need another CB, but that is a given anyway.
As for the season so far, it’s all going well. But it’s going well for a few teams like….cough….the spuds, and Chelsea.
To say next weekend’s game will be revealing is the understatements of understatements.
The kinks in our game, both defensive and offensive, will be thoroughly tested at old Trafford and let’s hope our strengths, some new found, are enough to offset that against TOP opposition.
Looking forward to Vermaelen showing who’s boss again to the likes of Shrek and Vidic.
I think we need to appreicate more the role van Persie is playing this season.
He’s the one whose leading the line up front for us. That means – playing with his back against goal, trying to hold the ball up and link up with his teammates. While at the same time the “focus point” of opposition defenders. He will always find himself surrounded by markers.
van Persie is a skillful footballers. And any skillful attackers do not fancy to take up this role – playing with his back against goal.
To players like Adebayor, it’s a natural position for him, as he can’t nor has the required skills to play anywhere else.
For van Persie, if he can has his own choice, I bet he would perfer a deep dropping role. To use his skills to take on defenders.
The thing is, since the departure of Adebayor, van Persie is our best choice to play this role. Better than Bendtner. As I said long ago Bendtner is not effective playing as the out and out striker, as his hold up game is poor.
van Persie’s ability to hold the ball up, as well as his vision to spot his teammates coming from deep, allowing him to turn into an assist man creating chances for his teammates.
It’s not easy for an out and out striker to shake away his markers to score goals. As he’s always tightly marked by one, and often two or three defenders.
Any defender can tell you it’s easier to mark a striker who’s positioning himself level up with them.
To mark a deep dropping attackers is a far difficult task. As if you were a central half, you don’t know whether you should stay back to hold your line or to come out marking the deep dropping attacker and leaving your backline exposed.
IMO, van Persie is playing the most important role this season, unless Wenger shifts back to 442. While at the same time the least appreciated role. And he will always be the focus point of opposition’s marking, making life far difficult for himself.
But I have no doubt it’s a matter of time before he starts finding net. Last match he was very close in a few occassions with some skillfully taken strikes, only to be denied by David James’ brilliant display on the day.
I’m not RVP’s biggest fan, and I do think this is his best position. He’s at his best when he’s almost forced to play close to the oppositions’s goal and be decisive either in taking shots or flicking people in.
Of course, RVP is a player with limitations, so regardess of where he plays he’s got problems. You say he’s at his best taking people on but I think he’s terrible in this area, he just ends up running into players and complaining to the ref when he doesn’t get a free kick after he gets felled.
He’s a good player though, little doubt about that and brings alot to the table in a dead ball, efficient sense.
yes i totally agree – he’s at his best when he’s close to the oppposition’s goal.
I am not a big fan of him neither. To sum it up with 3 words – style over substance.
Use Martin Tyler’s words when he once describled Paul Merson – “He’s a GREAT GOAL scorer, but not a great GOAL SCORER”.
but I appreciate the role he’s taking in this season. Whether he’s better suited to play as an out and out striker or deep dropping striker there’s very much debatable. But I do believe he himself does not enjoy playing there. Yet so far he’s doing a professional job playing in a role he may not fancy.
“Use Martin Tyler’s words when he once describled Paul Merson – “He’s a GREAT GOAL scorer, but not a great GOAL SCORER”.”
You mean scorer of great goals?
;)
Sorry, just realised, your original quote made perfect sense :)
Not to take away the positives, but there were a few “concerning” aspects in our game
* Almunia
* RvP (how many chances he missed; I lost count)
* the # of chances that Portsmouth created
* the indifferent attitude of Arsenal players once we took a 2 goal lead (instead of sticking in 5/6)
Of course, in the context of the whole game, these are irrelevant (except #1), because we were always in control. The next two away games at Manchester will tell more.
Terrific start! Arsenal are playing with verve. Our attacking flow is back!
However, last year’s criticism’s may still manifest.
Each week (maybe I should say match) – another significant player queues up to the trainer’s room. Our roster on paper lacks EXPERIENCED depth for CB, holding midfielder and for the moment, a backup for Cesc. ( and GK)
Last year’s frustrations were not with the players, but the manager’s decision about our roster depth. Parity in the EPL is obvious, as Pool and ManU have lost already. Each week every team has casualties on the battlefield.
Let’s hope Cesc’s niggle responds immediately to treatment AND that Arsene has an epiphany – for seeing the necessity for adding experience to the roster!
We’re not the only ones who feel that way.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/storyid=669905&sec=transfers&cc=5901
Again what I thought was good about this game was the going for the juggular. Pompey gets the one goal and in the past we may have actually allowed them to come back into it.
This time we kep the attack going.
I fully expect difficult times against better opposition, but when a lesser team gets a sniff it is an imperative that we completely snuff it out. Beautiful football and a killer instinct will go a long way to winning some silverware.
Again, I thought Gibbs looked a little outclassed today. Almunia was the biggest fault on the goal. I agree the defenders likely relaxed thinking Almunia had an easy play on the ball.
In three games we have 8 different goal scorers and only one of them is a striker.
Good weekend coming up!!!
Well, quite a game, for reasons other than
4-1 is a good result, and well done to the team, with changes, maintaining the momentum, collecting the points and scoring goals. Those goals are particularly important to a team with our DNA.
I was a bit underwhelmed by our return to an iteration of 4-4-2. I thought we weren’t as ‘solid’, perhaps it was the omission of Song, Sagna and Clichy. We just seemed a bit more loose. And the aerial vulnerability was more apparent.
Diaby with his goals and involement stood out, well done.
Eduardo looked clever & dangerous, but obviously will benefit from game-time.
RvP, as said recently, same as last seasons early period, he struggles, his radar is out of alignment.
Interesting, I thought Bendy looked really ponderous and slow.
That said, at times we treated Portsmouth with contempt, we were simply on another level.
Another good performance, very encouraging.
Cesc has been great so far this season, he really impressed me with his workrate against Celtic but his passing today was quite flawless really creative he is use of the chipped ball is devasting when it comes off.
Diaby also impressed today but still has the sometimes anoying tendency to hold onto the ball too long, maybe a more exuberant team will not have given him the chance to look so good. No one can deny his nouse in attack it, is his workrate, decision making and consistancy that is in question.
I thought Bendtner looked bright when he came on, Eduardo did not diappoint but I am waiting for Mr Arshavin to hit top form.
Also worthy to note we coped quite well without Song albeit against inferior opposition. Is the DM cover still so necessary? I still think so but maybe Arsene will bide his time if he cannot get his “Mr Right” and wait for the likes of Colequin to come through.
4-1. Fine by me. Ramsay’s goal was very coolly taken. And goal number two was a classic Arsene counterattack.
But our attack fizzles out once Bendtner arrives. He’s just not fast enough or tricky enough to open up defences. He just runs into trouble or underhits his killer ball. Arshavin and Dudu both unlock defences with bursts of brilliance – lovely to watch.
But our defensive midfield is a loophole waiting to be exploited by a real team. No Song makes a big difference. Couldn’t believe how many times Pompey opened us. They should have had three goals.
Fave moment when the Setenta color commentator says, “He’s never going to beat Almunia at the near post.” Cough, cough.
Our mental
Bendtner’s game is not intended to match that of Eduardo or Arshavin. Bendtner’s touch on the ball is excellent for his size, and his play this season has been positive.
If there was criticism to assign (today), RvP struggled in most aspects……except for this through ball to Ramsey.
You are so right about our midfield today.
Almunia does not have the natural instincts & technical level to be an Arsenal keeper. With all of the matches he’s started over the past 2 years, I don’t see his development.
Exactly!
Absolutely NOTHING has changed since he blundered in that 2-0 loss to Man U over 3 years ago and Lehmann had to be called back.
He still makes comedic mistakes (eg. diving under the ball CL final, and his blunder today)
He still doesnt have an idea about ANGLES.
He still is woeful aerially.
His distribution is horrible and his goalkicks ALWAYS go to the opposition.
A lot of close long-rangers still whizz right by the post with Almunia way too far away – poor judgement.
So Gallas now our top goalscorer, 3 goals in 3 games. When u got the lucky star shinning above you, who needs skills to score goals!! – his shot bounced off his own chin before hitting the post and rolled into the net! Kinda comical really. But no complain here!
Ha! James wanted no more of that. Can’t blame him.
Ramsey! Sweet.
Completely off topic. As a sign of the times – My ESPN home page now has EPL scores running across the top.
Missed the game but the highlight was just on ESPNHD. Awesome result (though that goal shouldn’t have been conceded).
Would’ve been great if Arsenal game was on ESPNHD instead of MU.
Gallas with another Goal. Someone on a mission this season?
Well, this is promising – give up a goal and come back and score another. Way to fight back
Gallas’ goal highlight reel (so far) this season should be soundtracked by the Benny Hill theme.
Fabregas is off with a knock and Ramsey comes on.
Report is a hamstring tweak.
Neither Denilson nor Diaby have Song’s tackling strength. Both end up only shadowing the Pompey player with the ball, whereas Song would disrupt movement.
Hope RvP gets himself into a higher gear for the 2nd half. We’re getting great playmaking from Eboue, Eduardo,Cesc, & Arshavin.
Never in my life have I seen a player out jump a keeper with outstretched hands.
Almunia is a nonsensical keeper. How he is starting for a club that is not in the Spanish 2nd division is beyond me.
i saw once – Maradona, but then he was using his famous “hand of God”! ;)
Another good performance, very encouraging.
Cesc has been great so far this season, he really impressed me with his workrate against Celtic but his passing today was quite flawless really creative he is use of the chipped ball is devasting when it comes off.
Diaby also impressed today but still has the sometimes anoying tendency to hold onto the ball too long, maybe a more exuberant team will not have given him the chance to look so good. No one can deny his nouse in attack it, is his workrate, decision making and consistancy that is in question.
I thought Bendtner looked bright when he came on, Eduardo did not diappoint but I am waiting for Mr Arshavin to hit top form.
Also worthy to note we coped quite well without Song albeit against inferior opposition. Is the DM cover still so necessary/ I still think so.
We did NOT cope well without a DM.
How many times did they come one on one with our keeper??? I counted four.
How many times did one of our CBs have to make a last ditch sliding tackle as their striker was about to pull the trigger. I counted four as well.
Pompey is a nonsensical team that is completely down in the gutters without any morale.
A slightly better team, away from home….playing like this and we would have gone behind 2-3! And then started panicking!
All just because we do not have a defensive midfielder.
Denilson and Diaby, FOLLOW runners ….they NEVER stop them.
A defensive midfielder who can actually win tackles is absolutely necessary to win ANYTHING at all.
It is crucial for “bigger” teams….and it is exceptionally crucial for a team like Arsenal.
So Big Al coped with four one on ones aye Fred? Maybe he is not so bad afterall ;-)
One thing that gives ‘keeper an edge over any other players when dealing with high ball is because – they can jump with their hands up.
When u jump with your hands up and still lose out that’s just a freaking joke.
not just about his leap, but he gave me an impression he was “waiting” the ball to come to him so that he could collect it, instead of attacking the high ball.
another Almunia classic.
This is one of the things we both agree on.
Everybody keeps on saying Almunia has “improved” and that he is very consistent and one of the top keepers in the country.
Its like I see a completely different person from what everybody else sees. In my view he is STILL in the bottom five of premiership keepers.
Forget about his blunder today. You need to look at his positioning for a lot of close shots. He is NEVER ever close to those.
His aerial challenge is a joke.
In my view, Almunia is a joke keeper.
And a bad joke at that.
And the clown wants to play for England.
good points abt the keeper technique;
Secondly, an Arsenal player should have obstructed path to ball
for me, I see Almunia losing his determination, easily drift into complacency.
Waiting, is exactly right. He was just standing there, oblivious to the man in his front pocket.
You hit the nail on the head Andez. Al was waiting to collect the ball rather than attacking it. A big mistake.
Arsession you make a good point that no defenders reacted. Kaboul was effectively unmarked and crucially he was unobstructed. I think the defenders took it for granted that it was an easy ball for Al to collect.
Fred, Al has improved immensely since coming to Arsenal. However judging from his preseason performance also, he may be due in for a bad season. I hope he can get his focus back and snap out of it. we’ll just have to wait and see.
yes arthur i also felt that our defenders probably thought it’s just an “routine catch” for the ‘keeper. At least that’s how I thought when the cross coming in. “You gotta be kidding me” was the first thought cross my mind when I saw they score.
This game could get ugly.
Maybe not. That Pompey goal was all Almunia not jumping high enough.
Well, that was ugly, so…
So far, Pompey is lucky to have both keepers in this match.
On a depressing note – Ade scored again for City.
What exactly is “depressing” about an ex player scoring for his new club???
I am an Adebayor hater of course Fred. :-)
DIABY with a brace in 2 minutes.
Beatiful counter attack
WHAT A SWEET MOVE BY DUDU!!!! Excellent finishing by Diaby!!!
You can catch a stream of the game here:
http://www.atdhe.net/
The depth of our roster keeps shrinking. Theo and Vela queue up with Rosicky, Nasri, Djourou, and Fabianski. Based on our promising early form, AW must find a way to keep Arshavin, Cesc, and Song fresh.
Against the weaker clubs is the time to utilize the bench and allow them to seed their experience.
What I’d like to see today:
———Almunia———–
Eboue – Gallas-Vermaelen-Clichy
——–Diaby—-Denilson—-
———-Cesc————
Wilshere—————Eduardo
——–Bendtner————
Bench: Sagna-Song-Arshavin-RvP-Ramsey-Gibbs
Optimistically – jump out to a 2 or 3 goal lead & insert Ramsey for Cesc;
Gibbs for Clichy
3 points – no injuries……
Match pointers
• Arsenal have kept eight clean sheets in their last 10 Premier League home games
• Portsmouth have failed to beat Arsenal in their last 17 meetings in all competition dating back to March 1958
• Arsenal have not lost any of the 13 league games in which Andrey Arshavin has been in the starting lineup
• Portsmouth have failed to score in any of their last six away games and have managed just 17 in 20 league games since the turn of the year
• Arsenal have lost just one league game in 2009 – fewer than any other side
Clichy knows.
“We needed someone like [Vermaelen], really hard and commanding, and that’s what we’ve got,” added Clichy. “He can bring the best out of William [Gallas] too. William’s game is a lot to do with positioning, and he’s an amazing defender one against one, but maybe he needs someone really strong alongside him.
“We have that now, but it is early yet. Two years ago we had an amazing seven months and were playing fantastically, but in the end we didn’t win anything. We will have to keep focused, try our best game after game to win points and be at the top at the end of the season.”
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As for Pompey. I see us trotting out 3-0 winners at the rate we’re going. Cesc will play an hour, at which point it will be all over hopefully. Want to see Dudu upfront somewhere too.
I only disagree w/ you on point #7… Sir Purple Nose willforever and always be the most annoying personality – be it player, manager, referee, chairman, etc. -in the entire EPL.
I don’t think the team will be anything near what you predict, that is Carling Cup side. I would like to see Cesc rested though.
Viera all of a sudden makes a lot of sense, esp with our new 4-3-3 formation, and the good form of Song and Denilson. That is if he still has the legs. Good back up to Song, and can also cover Denilson and Cesc. Will be a great mentor, and won’t get in Ramsey’s way too much.
Djourou and Vela are both injured for about a month.
oh yeah and whats up with vela? did he fall off the planet or something lol
18m is alot for lescott but it would be the equivalent of everton losing laursen for villa. I think it would be a huge blow and yes 18m sounds like alot but what does it really buy you in this market 2-3 players? no guarantee of success and more pressure on your team. I can completely understand moyes standing firm. It does not exactly send the right message to the rest of the team if they sell either.
I disagree with you guys about arshavin. I don’t think he is anywhere near a substitution for hleb. It would have been amazing to have them both! Arshavin Cesc Hleb Eduardo Van P unstoppable lol but obviously arshavin provides something we desperately needed ‘danger’ in the final third which is great to FINALLY see again.
I think we will still struggle in big games against ManU and Chelsea. I feel we were quite lucky last season in those games. Hopefully now that ManU is struggling a bit we can take advantage would be massive to win at OT and would really signal our intent on the title.
Agree about Arshavin. The more that time goes on the less he brings in terms of playmaking and the more he retreats back into what he knows.
DAG, I too admire David Moyes’ stance on Lescott. I also agree that Everton should sell him. The report price tag is crazy – 18 to 22 mil. He doesn’t worth half as much.
From experience, the big spending clubs armed with a new sugar daddy would only spend like crazy during their first few seasons. Meaning that, there’s no better time to sell players to them than right NOW.
I recall Fred suggested he would take 10 mil for selling Adebayor. At that time, I thought a 18 mil price would be reasonable. And we sold him for 25!!
Kolo Toure, as solid a professional he was, he does not worth 15 mil, probably not even half of that price. Consider Wenger bought him for under 500k, that’s probably the sale of the decade! (and best of all, we have UPGRADED our defence with the purchase of Vermaelen whom IMO is much better a defender than Kolo. now you wonder had Man City’s scouts did their job, or their owners wouldn’t be as obsessed with NAMES, they could have saved themselves 5 mil and bought themselves a better defender in Vermaelen)
Back to our match, after 2 hard away matches we came away with good results. And following Man Utd’s early slip. It would be a crime if we don’t take advantage of it and grab ourselves the 3 points at home against a side which are early favourite for the drop.
Totally agree about Krancjar. Solid player, underrated and frustrated at Pompey. With all of midfielders in the revolving door to the trainer’s room, he would make a good addition – back up for Song and Denilson.
ManU – can’t see them winning anything this year. Loss of Ronaldo & Tevez too overwhelming for the other ‘role players’. Ferdinand out another month; rumors of Vidic leaving next season – THESE ARE ALL BAD OMENS that will disrupt their focus and confidence.
Liverpool – Benetiz is overrated manager and with Alonso departure, they will not sustain the level of play from last year.
Our flow of football from ’07/’08 season is resurfacing. Song is an upgrade to Flamini; Arshavin is same for Hleb; back four are playing with more confidence that I can remember. Our attacking options aren’t handicapped any more from mr. offsides.
I hope Cesc, Arshavin, and RvP can rest on Saturday; as next week is crucial to maintaining our momentum.