In the Aftermath: Arsenal v Birmingham – Match Review
Arshavin slots home the winner
Let me go on the record by saying – yet again – I hate the international break. Why? As an Arsenal fan it infuriates me that after each break it takes us 45 minutes into a game to get going or we remain sluggish throughout narrowly eeking out a result.
While that wasn’t exactly the script yesterday, the match did feature some moments of pure frustration. From the outset the addition of Walcott on the wing versus Arshavin added another gear to our pace. That showed from the outset as Arsenal were quick on the attack. Inside 5 minutes our pace resulted in a Rosicky shot form the left that narrowly missed to the right of the goal. Rosicky would go on to miss two more times before Arsenal would net. But it clearly showed – game on.
Prior to the meat of the match, Theo Walcott endured a rather heavy tackle from Brum defender Liam Ridgewell. Early in the match, the pacy winger was clearly too much for the Birmingham defence to contain. It’s unclear whether Ridgewell went for the ball or not. Either way Theo endured a long treatment on the sidelines and at the 33rd minute was finally substituted for Andrei Arshavin.
But before Theo’s departure Arsenal made quick work of the visitors. The first goal at the 16th minute really showed the class of a striker growing in stature. Alexander Song with the ball outside the penalty box fakes a shot and send the ball into the box where it looks like Robin Van Persie isn’t going to bel able to get a good shot. But the striker showed his strength, corralled the ball from a awkward pass and shot a beauty through to the far side. With everyone clamoring for RvP to get off the schnide and score, the lad has goals in 4 of the last league matches.
Arsenal weren’t done though as two minutes later, the much maligned Abou Diaby (Yes, I don’t like him either), took a left footed shot from the centre of the field just outside the box and beat Brum ‘keeper Joe Hart. The score was typical Arsenal and almost didn’t happen. Eboue gets a nice feed from Rosicky and takes it to the outside passing back to Rosicky who crosses in the middle where RvP and and Fabregas are moving to. Fabregas misses on his slide in and the ball lands at Diaby’s feet and he has an empty goal to shoot into.
Up 2-0 inside 18 minutes it surely looked like a mauling was in order. But somewhere on the way to three points the lads resorted to some old form and let off the gas pedal and gave Birmingham a lifeline. At 38 minutes Lee Bowyer netted a right footed shot from inside the 6 yard box. The lead up the shot isn’t as controversial as our young italian goalie would lead us to believe. With a James McFadden cross coming into the box Diaby headed the ball up backwards. Mannone goes into play the ball and is challenged in the air by a Brum player. Rather than punching the ball Mannone tried to corral it in. But he doesn’t get it and Bowyer is there for the gift which he nets in. In the replay Mannone doesn’t look like he was impeded and frankly would’ve been better off just punching the ball out.
Even though there were spouts of frustration, Arsenal were slowly gaining back the pressure they had for most of the first half. From the gifted “back pass” (which would’ve really been an injustice had we scored) to a beautifully missed shot by Arshavin, Arsenal still maintained their attack. It was in defending the ball that we need to lock things down. Vermaelen and Gallas were in good form and so was Alexander Song, but Gibbs looked nervous and while Eboue’s pace was welcome he wasn’t great defensively. Diaby played a typical Diaby like effort, playing some good defensive work and then some crappy work. It this inconsistency which is so infuriating about the lad.
Theo gets treatment
For much of the 2nd half you couldn’t blame Arsenal fans if they were thinking that Brum were close to a draw. We weren’t sinking our attempts and Brum seemed to be set for another goal and if not for a reedeming save by Don Vito Mannone they would’ve. It wasn’t until a a good break out from Arsenal and a sweet looking pass from Fabregas to Arshavin that the Gunners were clear with three points. Arshavin’s winner showed why the diminutive Russian is going to be an EPL star. When he received the ball and pushed into the box you knew he was going to score and he dared the Birmingham to come and get him. He was cool and collected as he pretty much strolled into the penalty box and score don the far side.
Overall, this match had everything to love and hate about Arsenal. Fantastic pace, sublime goals but frustrating defencive lapses that let opponents hang around too long. But a win is a win and as of this, Arsenal sit in fourth place in the table and maintain a 100% record at home. A loss or draw by Man City against Wigan puts us in fourth with a game in hand to the top three.
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Interesting to read Arsene’s recent comments on his future.
These are the most candid, unqualified and unambiguous thoughts he has aired on his future ever. For those who have followed Arsenal under Wenger’s tenure you will know he has always refused to be drawn on his future until near the end of his existing contract.
Now the words and motivation is clear – he wants to stay, to see this project emerge successful, to see this group of players cement the style of play that has seen Arsenal morph from – the English Big-5 club with a fine history but a reputation (largely deserved) for dour football – to London’s finest, on the cusp of fulfilling it’s carefully crafted destiny as a mega-club amongst the elite. That’s no mean feat in 13 years.
Is this a good thing? I think so. It’s a natural progression for a man who is in the later stage of a managerial career. He knows what he wants to achieve with the remainder of his working life. He doesn’t need to play coe with anyone – his past achievements speak for themselves and there is enough of a glimpse that the pain of transition may be passing and success about to return. From a macro club management perspective he is a manager without peer. I honestly couldn’t name another manager with as well-tuned a sense of the economics of major club football.
The appointment of Gazidis and his appointment of a senior executive team give me greater hope that a sense of balance has returned post-Dein. Commercial opportunities can now be more aggressively pursued and the Arsenal brand can be developed – as it should be. And as Gazidis acquires influence hopefully he will balance Wenger’s romantic imbalance – when it manifests. Wenger’s focus can increasingly be on producing on-field results, retaining the best players and keeping a flow of talent via the scouting network.
Perhaps, an ex-player, someone trusted will join the management team and provide a youthful source of new ideas to assist Arsene.
We just need a trophy to kickstart this new era.
I agree. Fabregas will miss Rosicky as will the team. I can see Eboue being used which is utterly underwhelming. I’m still looking forward to it though, in the sense of observing how the team responds. When we lose a bit of team balance the result becomes much less predictable. I agree, that this should be an opportunity for someone like Jack Wilshere to show his talent, the midfield is still ok, it’s just we need to ensure the attacking element of our game has enough intelligent options – so that counts out Eboue. ;-)
What I like is the fact that Walcott is now in his rightful place – a young playing competing for a spot. An option, not a walk up starter. He is simply not good enough at this stage to command a starting role as of right at a team of Arsenal’s stature. That said, obviously Arsene has huge hopes for him. We all hope his hope is tangibly repaid. I did like the way he skipped past a defender (the FB?) against Birmingham.
Yet happily, with Arshavin and Rosicky, and the front-3 formation it means Walcott has a lot of work to do to get in the team.
If Rosicky & Eduardo are out we’ll be a bit thin on the ground up front tomorrow. RvP, Arshavin and……(the attacking outs being – Bendtner, Eduardo, Rosicky, Nasri, Walcott – that’s a lot).
This is where we see the beauty in having a player of Arshavin’s ilk. Things don’t look quite so bad when you still have a player of his calibre in the side. You know he has the nous to produce answers even when surrounded by players of lesser quality. You can’t say that about the younger brigade – if they aren’t in a solid team they can’t be expected to provide solutions.
I do have worries about our abiity to keep possession meaningfully tomorrow night without Rosicky (by that mean keep AZ on the back foot and play in their half).
Wenger won’t play the players best designated to replace Rosicky in terms of style – Merida and Wilshere – so I expect to see Ramsay or Eboue in there with Diaby and Song.
Koeman knows us well and without Rosicky, I don’t think we have the chemistry or class to render his tactics irrelevant.
I see a tough match tomorrow, reminiscient of the Kiev match last year, unless of course Wenger surprises us with team selection.
Mazza – we should do just fine against Alkmaar.
Rosicky was not even on the bench for most of the early matches: Everton, both Celtic matches, Portsmouth, etc.
As long as Gallas, Vermaelen, and Song are on the pitch, there should be sufficient defensive strength to keep pressure in their defensive third.
Hoping Vela will get a start up front.
I read an article on 606 which is pretty interesting. To sum up teams’ season so far in one word. Give it a try here:
Man U – 12-man
Chelsea – Old
Arsenal – Goals
Liverpool – Woe
Man City – Gold
Spurs – Wow
Stoke – Throw
Everton – Slow
Birmingham – Low
Villa – de javu
Sunderland – Underrated
Burnley – Surpise
Blackburn – Longball
Wigan – inconsistent
Bolton – Sameold
Hull – goodbye
West Ham – hammered
Pompey – disaster
Fulham – up
Wolves – down
I have to say… and this sounds bad….. that I’m not too disappointed Walcott is injured.
Merida might get a place on the bench now ;)
“That’s all we can ask for – getting BETTER, not getting perfect.”
I agree with that Andez.
The reality is that teams and individual players are always evolving, even a top player with a reputation for consistency will ebb and flow with his form. Ditto a team, and ditto a part of a team like defence.
That’s why I’m sanguine about Sagna. He’s a very good FB and I expect him to look better soon, particularly with the CB combo operating a lot better. With Clichy, mixed feelings, I rate him highly, yet there is an edge of calamity about him. Some players just seem to have the unwelcome knack of making fatal mistakes. I hope that aspect fades and he just commits the ‘normal’ amount of fatal errors. ;-)
It was interesting to hear Clichy speak of how Arsene lets players work out their own mistakes/flaws, Arsene has a hands-off approach to coaching & management which I think we know and sense again and again.
Certainly for me I feel a sense of renewed optimism at this stage of the season. Last season was like watching a bad dream unfold. You dreamt it would happen, and so it did. All you had to look forward to was 9 months of impotent frustration. Even the football was poor and aimless. But in this early season ‘better’ is Verme, Song, the renewal of Gallas, the formation that gives some logic to our squad, the return of Rosicky & Eduardo (albeit tentative), the removal of players emitting negative vibes, and GOALS. What is Wengerball without GOALS??? :-)
Exactly!
We need to appreciate the player mix at our club and accept the fact that we will not win
all of our matches; accept player mistakes, but take notice which players are growing.
I am curious about how we’ll play tomorrow night.
With so many key players not available (Bendtner, Rosicky, Eduardo, Nasri, Denilson) will we still show flair, the ability to threaten at any time in the match,
look composed in defense……
take 3 points and survive no injuries?
Nasri and Fabianski take on Wolves Reserves on Tuesday.
“The defence is happy – that’s a big step forward. Verme and Gallas look good, not perfect, but a darn sight better than Gallas/Toure ever did. Verme has that Mr Nasty look – you gotta love that.”
Yes kiwi, I think the key thing to judge a team is whether they are getting BETTER or worse.
Too often, I got an impression people are looking for a PERFECT team. As a result, no matter how good the team been doing, you still heard stuff like “yeah they did ok… BUT…”
Always a big BUT followed.
Do we have a PERFECT defence now? Of course not. But is there any team really have a PERFECT defence out there? I look at Chelsea, a team who’s supposed to have the strongest defence in the league, the way they conceded their last 3 goals (from setpieces), if that happened at Arsenal, our defence would get torn into pieces by the critics.
It just show u that even the strongest defence ain’t PERFECT.
Important thing is – despite we do not have a perfect defence, we are getting STRONGER than last season. That’s all we can ask for – getting BETTER, not getting perfect.
I saw the criticism on our full backs. Sagna, he was knocked for his mistakes, yet nobody seem to mention those last ditch tackles that saved our ass from Sagna (in matches like Fulham).
Clichy. Is he really a lesser player than the previous seasons? I don’t think so. He still got his weaknesses, but he’s the same Clichy I watched from previous seasons. His weaknesses are still the same, at times too careless, at time too easily to get caught out of position etc.
He’s by no mean a perfect left back. But if we make him available for sales right now, I bet there must be 17 teams in the Premiership would love to have him as their left back.
Since we’re talking about being content…..
My wish list to Santa has only one entry:
a versatile experienced defensive player who can slot in as a back up for Song, Vermaelen, and Sagna.
it is not important that arrival be by Dec 25th…….a delayed arrival by January 2nd is okay.
You can see Ridgewell’s tackle on Theo here. On one of the angles, you can see his knee buckle. Nothing at all Theo could do about it.
http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/3683542/
Walcott is out 3-4 weeks with ligament damage to the knee.
No word on why Rosicky is out.
From the official site:
Tomas Rosicky has also been ruled out of Tuesday’s game with a knee problem but Wenger expects him to be fit in “a few days”.
Thats it then for the season for Mozart.
Clichy is back. Walcott is out. Rosicky is out. The Arsenal web site gives no reason for TR7’s exclusion from the Group H match tomorrow. Will try and find out before I do my write up.
Arsenal squad to face AZ Alkmaar:
Vito Mannone
Manuel Almunia
Carlos Vela
Robin van Persie
William Gallas
Bacary Sagna
Kieran Gibbs
Thomas Vermaelen
Mikael Silvestre
Gael Clichy
Andrey Arshavin
Fran Merida
Jack Wilshere
Aaron Ramsey
Cesc Fabregas
Emmanuel Eboue
Abou Diaby
Alex Song
I think we’re seeing as much progress in this early-season as we could expect. No area of the team looks as though it is at its best yet, but generally we’ve been good enough to deliver. The Manchester episode was sad yet you have to be philosophical and admit that every team drops points.
The attack is slowly showing a bit more cohesiveness, despite the fristrating disruption with injuries. Thankfully the fragility concern over Perse looks to be abating and Rosicky really does look like he’s going to be back. Those two factors are enormously important given these are two of our experienced attacking leaders. Eduardo’s on-field rehab might take a large chunk of this season but at least he’s about.
The midfield is also morphing to this new formation. Song is doing a Flamini. Fabregas is free to play his best role. It just looks a lot better way to utilise the variety of midfield players we have available.
The defence is happy – that’s a big step forward. Verme and Gallas look good, not perfect, but a darn sight better than Gallas/Toure ever did. Verme has that Mr Nasty look – you gotta love that. The FB’s haven’t played that well, yet when your CB combo plays better that mitigates the importance of the FB’s. I also expect both Clichy and Sagna to up their performances as the season progresses.
The smiles on all the teams faces say “we’re enjoying this”. That’s huge.
As the injured return – Nasri, Walcott, Eduardo – they will add welcome options to the line-up. Each offers something different, yet in this formation I sense their contribution can be used. We will need them, cause as Stag says it’s a long long season.
Let’s have another 2 professional performances against AZ Alkmaar and West Ham. Both very achievable, that will then set us up for the Spurs derby.
I do enjoy your posts Kiwi when you have no glasses on – red tinted or er the dark black ;)
The team has gelled nicely, give or take a few persisting problems with defence. As long we are a high scoring team, we are okay. But – and it’s the Kim Kardashian of big buts – the test for Wenger teams for the past five years has been the crunch games. So far, we’ve always caved in the semis or lesser finals.
This season, we have cut our own throats against Man U. And completely caved when faced with (admittedly illegal) intimidation at Man City. The words fragility and Wenger team may as well be glued together these past five years.
Having romping wins over Everton etc. don’t really answer the fundamental question about this team – have we got the grit/composure/bottle/graft etc. to win when a decent team has deliberately set out to rattle us, or simply turned on the class.
B’ham had a go and put in some tackles, and two years ago we would have let a 2-0 lead turn into a 2-2 draw after gifting them a goal. But we have more experience now, and a better balance.
But I still don’t know how this team is going to do when he get in the trenches with Chelsea or Sp*ds away. I got so sick of reading about us being flat-track bullies, I had to look up the phrase to find its origins, and discovered most sports writers are misusing it.
(Flat track bully. Cricketing term – a batsman high in the batting order who is very good only when the pitch is not giving the bowlers much help.)
What’s the opposite? A team who thrives when the chips are down? That’s the missing piece of Wenger’s youth project. I see it emerging – but I drank the Kool-Aid long ago, so I see it every year!
Anyway, so far, so good, all things considered.
How exactly was there illegal intimidation at ManCity?
They took us to the woodshed. Nothing illegal about scoring 4 goals against us.
I think he’s talking about trying to break ankles and stepping on people’s faces. Pretty sure that’s in the rule book.
Oh please! You have to be fecking joking?
Arsenal are intimidatd by Adebayor?
That is just ridiculous.
It goes right back to my point of having a player willing to stand up for his teammates.
Patrick Vieira would have knocked Ade on his f’n ass!!!
But instead we are crying about illegal intimidation?!?!
What are we a bunch of women?
I never said we were a bunch of women, but hte fact remains that physically, Adebayor is a hell of a lot bigger than most of the Arsenal midgets, and yes, if a player is allowed to get away with things like that, then it does play on the minds of players. What has to happen to get a card or a foul if he can get away with that stuff right in front of the ref? Does someone have to lose a limb?
And stop barking about Vieira. Yes, he would have knocked Ade on his ass, and he would have done it in a way that earned him a red card which would hardly help.
They outplayed us, not argument there. I meant the
Adebayor tackles, which were deemed to be illegal – but only after the game.
My point is that we WERE intimidated by him and let it get to us.
The lack of draws is a good thing. City have lost one game less than Arsenal but we are still leading them by a point, because we haven’t drawn any games while City have drawn two.
the lack of draws is a good thing when you WIN instead of draw!
its not so good when you LOSE instead of draw…
;)
My point was that one win and one loss is better than two draws. :)
This season is amazing – the leading teams are drawing very very few games.
yes and no Nipuna!
I’d rather draw against a major rival, than lose and win a game agaisnt a lower rung team.
A draw against ManU or Chelsea, etc… takes 2 points off their total.
I’d rather draw against Chelsea and ManU… than lose to both of them, and beat Stoke and Wigan.
I am going to say as I have all season – City are really vulnerable at the back. Toure gives them some solidty back there but if he gets injured for long periods of time, Richards is hardly an able sub. Additionally, even with Toure, they are volnerable(sp?) on crosses and set pieces in the box.
That said, the season is going to be the tightest in a while. It will really come down to health of the teams in the hunt.
If we lose players like Fabregas, Rosicky or Arshavin for long periods of time we could have some issues.
However, I have to say, I really like this squad. Yes, there are some issues, I won’t rehash them all, but overall there is a better sense of purpose about this squad. Yes it is reminiscent of 07/08 but there is I think more cohesiveness to the squad.
I think the North London Derby while going to be good affair won’t be as frightful without Defoe leading the way. Defoe will be out for three matches following his Red Card on Saturday.
It is normal to doubt anyone that isn’t in the big 4.
Until they prove they are real for a whole season, there will be skeptics.
You can guarantee they will address any issue in January.
Actually you can’t guarantee anything.
As much as City improved, people still don’t want to play for them.
Why is that? I would say it is history, they haven’t won anything and right now the EPL is not the most attractive league – especially with it’s 50% tax on celebrities.
I am certain that City will go after people, I am less certain that they will get anyone.
And frankly, I don’t see anyone in the EPL selling to them again.
People don’t want to play for them?
Robinho, Adebayor, Toure, Tevez, Barry, Santa Cruz, Bellamy, Sylvinho, etc…
Who doesn’t want to play for them?
If you have enough money, and you have a team with a chance for the CL and trophies, they will come to ManCity.
They will DEFINITELY get players to come.
You can doubt and hate, but it doesn’t change the fact that they are a very good team. They have brought in some talented players, and experienced… and players that have WON.
There are players that don’t want to play for Arsenal too!
Robinho has one foot out the door. If Adebayor has even a half way decent season, I expect interest from “Beyonce” to come up again.
Toure while solid is on a down slide in performance and he has been victimized already.
Santa Cruz can’t stay healthy and neither can Bellamy. And Bellamy is a slap away from a suspension.
Sylvinho has nothing left in the gas tank.
I will tell you that they will not prise anyone out of Spain or Italy.
Get it into you Man City loving head the 50% tax is going to make England an unattractive place to come and play.
And if everyone wants to come here why did Kaka go to Real? City offered him more money. It was lack of history.
They are not a very a good team. Yes, they are an improved team. But the team is lacking and Sparky isn’t a manager to get them over the hump.
I too get the feeling that Arsene is giving Diaby regular game time to train him for the DM position. Denilson would have been Arsene’s automatic choice but with him injured, more internal solutions are needed. I really doubt Arsene will sign a new player in that position.
As for Diaby, he does look good in games against inferior opposition (Portsmouth and Birmingham), but we may have to wait a little longer to see if he can really do the job. The North London derby would be a good test.
Arshavin provides two things which have been missing at Arsenal since Henry left.
Firstly, remember all the beautiful football without any end product? AA23 provides us the edge in finishing.
Secondly, we haven’t had a match winner in the side since Henry left. Someone who can settle the game by himself. Remember the 4-4 draw at Anfield?
The victory against Birmingham was a good win on many levels.
As noted, we didn’t play great, and Birmingham had the chance to draw.
In recent years, we might have given this game away, and NOT come away with a win.
We won, and most of our closest rivals either lost or drew.
So that makes the win very important.
We finished well. The goals were well taken.
As far as Arshavin’s goal… where it was taken, and how it was taken… to me … I thought HENRY. Lower right corner from the left side of box. And it was a strikers goal.
Many of our other players would be thinking PASS!
Arshavin thinks SHOOT!
We DO need that in the team. He helps the balance.
I’d like Mannone to continue starting games, but I think Wenger will switch back to Almunia. Mannone has earned a chance for about?? 10 games straight, to see what he can do.
I’d like to see a “true” number one in our net, but he seems to be the best we have right now.
Song going to the ANC for possibly 8 matches… has the chance to be a PROBLEM. Yes, we can slot a different player in there, but we don’t have a direct replacement for him. If he got injured, it would be the same situation… and that would be a shame, with the way we are currently playing.
One injury to a key player, Cesc or Song or Vermaelen, and we could be screwed. That’s the depth we lack, and its the chance Wenger loves to take every season.
I hope we are in a great position in January, and he actually goes from strenght TO strength and brings in someone in Janaury to improve the depth of the squad. It’s a long harsh Winter, with lots of matches in rapid fire… depth and experience would be nice in January.
I doubt Wenger will do it, but I can hope and dream.
And for Tuesday… I hope we rotate some players.
Let’s not burn anyone out now…
Exactly Stag. How quickly we forget those frustrated calls of “just shoot the bl**dy thing!!”
Arshavin’s game is to naturally run at the opposition not allowing them time to set up ranked lines in defence.
“Look at our roster, who are the options?
Nasri, Denilson, Diaby, Senderos, Gallas ????????”
Gallas is 1st choice CB and Arsene won’t jeopardise the sanctity of his partnership with Verme. Senderos???? Yikes, where did that come from?
What Song contributes that Nasri, Denilson and Diaby don’t is a defenders mindset. So whilst they all could play in the role to varying degrees of effectiveness, none of them present as being naturally inclined to the role. Of course, that won’t stop Arsene picking them. ;-)
I’m not forecasting doom, yet if the results start going against us at that time, we risk loosing shape and confidence quickly. Song isn’t flash, yet by carrying out his role without fuss he allows the offensive 5 to play wih greater surety. Fabregas, Diaby, Rosicky, Arshavin et al all have less to worry about defensively when Song is shielding the back 4. And the key is that the role comes naturally to Song – he doesn’t need to try and do it – it’s just what he does.
The ACON runs from 10-31 Jan. I assume players assemble perhaps a week before. So they are away on duty for most of January.
During this time we play perhaps 8 games: 2 x League Cup semi’s (which Song would likely not play in anyway) + 2 x FA Cup games which he would by likely to play in.
Critically in the EPL:
Everton (H) on 9 Jan
Bolton (A)
Villa (A)
ManU (H) – on 30 Jan
What is also material are the games immediately following:
Chelsea (A) – 6 Feb
Liverpool (H) – 9 Feb
So you can see that if our form(ation) gets a bit wobbly over January we have a seriously challenging 4 games against our 3 main title rivals and a competitive aspirant during a 2 weeks period to navigate.
All this to say, that January presents as being a serious period of inspection for our aspirations this season. If we go wobbly during this period, even in the cup encounters, that run of 4 key EPL games in late Jan/early Feb, could sink our challenge (assuming it stays intact over Oct/Nov/Dec).
Kiwi, they say that great minds think alike….or something…
Trusting that Arsene Knows Best, I’m not gonna get too worked up about the ACN and those guys are more likely to injure themselves playing in England (although didn’t Kolo pick up a tropical disease at the last ACN?)
I think your most telling comment is the parenthetical one (“assuming it stays intact over the next 3 months…”) It’s a cliche, but we need to play them “one at a time”….
And true true, the next two against Chelsea (with their own hung over Africans) and ‘Pool desperate for any way back into the top 4 are big ones as well. Frankly I think the ACN is far worse on the former and, as for the latter, how nice is it to watch that story unfold from our lofty perch? (Of course, if they spank even our academy team in the CC, it’ll all be different)….
Finally, as for GK, who’s your pick and who would you buy? Maybe I don’t see enough world football, but who could you even try to spend money on, knowing it would be a major improvement?
Mate, I’m not sure which GK I would buy. Perhaps I’ve just tuned out – having observed and accepted Arsene’s refusal to address this area after 13 years of avid following! ;-)
Given would have been a smart and relatively affordable option.
10 January – 31 January = Dates of the ACN
Arsenal Fixtures during this period
09 Sat Barclays Premier League H Everton
16 Sat Barclays Premier League A Bolton Wanderers
20 Wed Carling Cup N Semi-Final 2L
23 Sat The FA Cup N Round 4
27 Wed Barclays Premier League A Aston Villa
30 Sat Barclays Premier League H Manchester United
Obviously, the final two seem the most difficult/important, but Song and/or Eboue could be back by then. Of course they both could be transferred to other clubs, or injured or ???? ;-)
There are a lot of games to be played between now and Jan 10 (the actual beginning of the ACN, so perhaps one or both, plus our other African January transfers could be available for the Everton match.
Agree with Andez that we’ll have to wait and see….
And interesting stuff from Kiwi about the fullbacks…at this point only they and Song haven’t scored any goals (Eboue v Celtic, but that doesn’t count). Clichy and Gibbs have got a bit of big match “scar tissue” on the left and I think Sagna is twice the defender that Ebway is, even if his crosses leave a bit to be desired. At least we’ve got healthy competition in both positions and, because of it, I expect improved contributions over the coming spell of games. And hopefully the same will be manifest at our HUGE GLARING WEAK-SPOT, that nobody seems to be talking about…..
C’mon people, who should be/will emerge as our #1 keeper?
Steve, I wrote the comment below at the same time as you wrote this…obviously our line of thinking was the same!! :-)
Sadly, goalie has never been a position that Arsene spends much on, EVER. So we get what we pay for, an eternal search for a cheap solution.
This has been an excellent start to the EPL & CL campaigns.
Like I hoped, the Manchester disappointment has been placed in proper context with the good run that eventuated.
We are very well placed.
Van Persie has started to fire, which is good given the central (and pivotal) role Arsene wants for him. I’ve pointed this out previously, RvP seems to be a slow starter to the season, he takes a while to warm up to his task. Yet the way he controlled and dispatched the 1st goal on Saturday was classic Perse.
So nice to see Rosicky hum through matches. He is a peach of a player. Fabregas must love having him in the side – they think alike.
The fullbacks are interesting. Clichy hasn’t started well and didn’t have a great season last time around. Clichy, Eboue and Sagna are all rather limited – in the sense they don’t climax in attack. Even when they get into good positions they tend to do little. Gibbs, for me, seems to be the most intelligent in this regard. I’m not overly concerned re this, yet we do rely on our fullbacks to provide width and support. Hmmm.
Kudos to Eboue, the player is applying himself and containing his unlikable antics – competing for the RB role is his proper place.
I’ve got an inkling that Nasri might slip into Diaby’s role. That wouldn’t be a bad thing to have those two competing with each other.
The other interesting question is who will cover for Song. I hope by the time Song leaves for the ACoN we still have good momentum that helps us ride his absence. There isn’t anyone that immediately comes to mind.
“The other interesting question is who will cover for Song. I hope by the time Song leaves for the ACoN we still have good momentum that helps us ride his absence. There isn’t anyone that immediately comes to mind.”
The more things change, the more they stay the same ;)
It wouldn’t be normal if there wasn’t at least one position in the squad that was woefully undermanned.
Don’t you believe Song’s departure for ACN has been on Arsene’s mind?
Look at our roster, who are the options?
Nasri, Denilson, Diaby, Senderos, Gallas ????????
yes, that’s why he’ll bring in Patrick Vieira in January!
;)
I think the ANC has been too much a focus (that Song’s departure).
Football is a funny game. Chance is that we won’t be affected much during that period of time when Song’s away.
If we are going to slip up, we would probably slip up when we least EXPECTED.
That was the case 2 years ago. Everybody was saying Arsenal’s gonna f*ck up during ANC. Yet we weren’t really affected much. Yet one moment of concentration slip by Clichy (in that Birmingham draw), everything changed afterward, having full team available or not.
As for van Persie, I agree, he’s always been a late warmer.
No one is saying we are going to slip up at the ANC, we are asking who will replace our only DM, Song in the line up.
There is nobody in the team to do the job hence the worry.
Maybe Diaby but who knows.
I agree with Fred on Arshavin’s directness. It is the quality that our team desparately needed. When Arshavin is on the pitch we rarely revert to the mindnumbing eternal passing that was our want in recent seasons. He is not a mega goal scorer, yet he will score goals and vital ones at that. He also places that vital element of uncertainty in the mind of the opposition. He brings a confidence to this young squad that must be as refreshing for the players as it is for the fans.
We have tempo players like Fabregas and Rosicky and soon hopefully Nasri, so there is no need for Arshavin to duplicate their strength. What he adds is high-class thrust and directness at vital times.
Every big team needs an uber-attacking player to boast about – so it’s nice for us to have Arshavin.
apparently… Birmingham fans chanting the name of Martin Taylor as Arsenal forward Theo Walcott lay clutching his injured knee during the 3-1 win at Emirates Stadium.
Football fans sometimes can be so ass. Are they PROUD of the fact Taylor breaking Eduardo’s leg?
The encouraging things so far:
(1) No Draw in the league
(2) Diaby, Fabregas, Vermaelen, Rosicky, Eduardo, Gallas, van Persie, Vela, Walcott, Denilson, Ramsey, Arshavin, Eboue, Bendtner… What do they have in common? They all got onto the scoresheet. (along with young Watt)
Remember the cliche not long ago “Arsenal midfield do not score”?
(3) We played 13 games in all competitions so far, 7 of them we scored 3 goals or more.
What more could we ask for a start like this?
Will we be able to keep it up? Who knows? The fun part of football is you never know what’s gonna happen next. Yes, we may fall apart somewhere down the road. But we may also go on to win all the fixtures remained!
Why not?! Impossible is nothing! :)
As I remember the 07/08 season, it was a tale of two seasons.
First half (through New Years) we played sensationally – the talk of everyone.
Second half:
Lost Rosicky and Eduardo,
Hleb and Flamini were involved in distracting contract negotiations,
RvP was always in and out of the line (due to niggles)
Sagna had flame out and missed the last month.
Gallas also missed abt a month – at the end due to injuries.
Anyway, Hleb was integral to the teams success! I’m not praising his goal scoring, nor would I attempt
to compare to Arshavin.
Well, Hleb has moved on and so has Arsenal. Arsene has done a terrific job with the additions of Arshavin,
Nasri, Vermaelen, and showing patience for Song’s development, on-going patience with Diaby; and sticking with Gallas.
If our team can stay healthy, we control our own destiny!
Unlike at any point last year, I fully feel that way this year. I like where we are, and I like how the team carries themselves. And unlike 2 years ago, I don’t feel like our title hopes are balanced on a knife’s edge. Not sure why I feel differently this year, considering our GK troubles and injury concerns (again), but I do.
And Manchester City held to a draw at Wigan today…
If you assume 3 points from the matches in hand that City, Aston Villa, and Arsenal all have, the table looks like this:
Man U…..22
Arsenal…21
Chesea….21
Man C…..20
Spurs…..19
Villa…..19
About a quarter of the way through the season, and the top 6 would all be separated by 3 points. This has so far been the most competitive league season in a long while, and I am thoroughly enjoying it… thank God we have the best goal differential in the league as well.
And meanwhile, Liverpool are in 8th place, with no games in hand.
I was impressed with Eboue yesterday. He looked really good going forward. He can’t finish to save his life. But he consistently gets in dangerous positions, hits excellent crosses and played a great little ball to Rosicky for the goal. His intelligence, in terms of movement and awareness is excellent. (His intelligence in terms of combativeness and sensibility is what usually lets him down…but that seems to have improved a bit this year) This allows him to link up well with Rosicky down the right. And he looked especially good in relation to the way Sagna has been playing. I am still a bit skeptical though. Eboue wasn’t required to play too much defense yesterday. But I like using him against some lower quality Prem teams and in Europe. Hopefully this pushes Sagna to raise his game. And props to Eboue for turning it around after last year’s debacle. He is a very useful squad player this season.
I saw Diaby make 3 or 4 really solid and clean tackles and recoveries and I was quite impressed.
It gives me real hope that if ordered to sit in front of the defense he could play the DM role well enough.
In January when Song is gone to the ANC, a Diaby, Nasri, Fabregas midfield would be quite nice if Diaby can stick.
A long term midfield of:
Nasri ——– Fabregas
(Merida)——-(Ramsey)
——–Song———–
——-(Diaby)———
With Wilshere and Coquelin being the extra men, would be pretty decent.
I think this season will be quite similar to 07/08.
IMO: RvP will hit at least 20 league goals. And four other players will score more than 10. Probably, Arshavin, Bendter, Eduardo and maybe even Fabregas.
The big difference for us this season is that instead of the pussyfooting Hlebmeister we’ve now got Arshavin. And that is a BIG difference to winning a trophy vs. just showing up to the party in a pretty dress.
In the last B’ham fixture, with the score at 2-1, Hleb passed the ball to his lesser colleagues when face to face with the goalie.
Arshavin doesnt play that pussying around game. He settles games.
In the Hleb era, we play better and draw 2-2. In the AA era we play a bit worse but win 3-1. And that difference is what gives me just a little bit of hope for this season.
Also we are also much improved, numbers wise up front. Before we had just the strikers and Rosicky, Hleb, Walcott … now Nasri replaces Hleb and in addition there is Arshavin and Vela.
Now if only injuries could leave the team alone for a bit and limit themselves to the likes of Denilson, Silvestre and Almunia, I think we have a 10% title chance – with Man U and Chelsea splitting the other 90%.
Speaking of injuries next Sunday could see the return of Nasri.
Arshavin has alot stronger supporting cast. Way more depth.
Newsflash: Without Hleb in 2007/08 we don’t make the top four. Not alot of goal threat and shit in general play as well.
But somehow you twist it to make it out he was the problem.. Yes, after January we would have been just dandy with Walcott and Eboue on the flanks. LOL, as you would say.
You are full of BS. Who would have kicked us out of top 4 in 07/08 without the precious Hleb??? None of the other pretenders were anywhere close to the top 4 in that season, so I dont see why you wanna rewrite history. LOOL!
As for supporting cast, Hleb had Rosicky, RvP, Ade, Flamini and Fabregas around him. Arshavin had RvP, Rosicky, Fabregas, Song and Diaby. In other words, Song replacing Flamini and Diaby replacing Adebayor. That is not “alot stronger” supporting cast, Mazza. But then again, Hleb had a REALLY strong supporting cast at Barca without EVER providing the goods, so we BOTH know “supporting cast” isnt his problem anyway.
Hleb wasnt a problem, its just that if he hadnt left we would never have bought Nasri and Arshavin and as such would not even have HOPE of winning anything. You cant deny that.
Hleb needs to be the main player of a team … the problem ofcourse is that a big club cant win silver with him as the playmaker. If he could accept a bit part role that would have been great for all sides, but he cant, and that is why being the main man of a mediocre German/Dutch team is his proper level. Stuttgart fits him just fine.
PS: What happened to you silly prediction that Arsenal cant play good football without Hleb??? LOOOL! Despite my numerous attempts to point out we played good football BEFORE Hleb you continued with that arguement. And dont say its because of AA or Rosicky. AA is to far upfield and we played some good footie even before Rosicky came back recently.
“What happened to you silly prediction that Arsenal cant play good football without Hleb??? LOOOL!”
Last season happened. Most boring team in Wenger’s reign. We were so dependant on him to bind it all together and bring some creativity to the side, that we were simply lost without him.
“Hleb wasnt a problem, its just that if he hadnt left we would never have bought Nasri and Arshavin and as such would not even have HOPE of winning anything. You cant deny that.”
As you’ve conceded, Hleb wasn’t a problem. That’s the issue I had with your original post.
I’m not really bothered about Nasri. Decent player, still young, but he doesn’t excite me. Arshavin is great and would have been mighty working in tandem with Fabregas and Hleb in 07/08.
It’s similar to what you were saying recently about people blaming Fabregas when the likes of Denilson got praised and got made allowances for. The problem in 2007/08 was midfield retards like Walcott and Eboue being our only options to Rosicky….not the guy who played left flank, right flank, and centre for over fifty games tirelessly. Blame WENGER, the guy who had delusions of grandeur about several duds in our squad.
Either way, its for the best that Hleb is gone. He and and especially, us can all move on happily.
And speaking of keepers…Given failed to hold onto a shot which led to the Wigan goal, much as Mannone couldn’t hold the ball that (gratefully) Gallas was able to clear.
The “reactions” and shot stopping ability of keepers is somewhat innate and perhaps is at its peak early in their careers. It’s the decision making, when to punch vs catch, when to leave the line vs stay, etc. that gets honed with time and experience. Among the young keepers we’ve got, Fabianski seems the most naturally talented (haven’t seen the other vowel-less Pole, Szczesny? except on crap streams in pre-season). Perhaps we’ll see ALL of them over the next two weeks?
Good write up of the game, DAG, and the gameday chat was fun…Seemed to me that Mannone was fouled by the normal standards I’ve seen and he certainly should have been able to catch it given the minimal contact that was made. (Protecting the keeper on high balls seems one of the only things the English refs get mostly right). The “make-up” call or brain-fart at the other end was much worse (Perfect goal-saving tackles aren’t backpasses, in my book, but what does the rule book say?) At least nobody got sent off for kicking any water bottles….
All feels right in the world today.
City’s defense were exposed without Kolo and Ade seemed to be back to his usual self.
I think had we played our game in hand in current form we would be in third at the moment. Again, pure conjecture but we do look to be taking care of business against lesser teams this year.
Clichy said it best, United won the season not dropping points to lesser teams. Their record was average against the big four.
Didn’t Kolo start the match? I missed some parts of the match, but I thought they started with Bridge, Lescott, Toure and Zabaleta across the back, but later Richards and Kompany were on. What happened?
As it is I wouldn’t trade any of that lot for any of our regulars. Now Shay Given….that’s another story….
Lescott and Richards started. When Zabaleta was sent off, Kompany came on. Toure did not play.
Toure had an ankle knock – not sure if form the interlull or the match against Villa.
Cheers for the info, I thought I saw Kolo make a classic looking gesture to one of his midfielders early on (arm waving, “You want me to pass it there?!”) but it must have been Richards. They might be missing Kolo, but us? not so much….
Man City draw at Wigan. Overall, a great weekend for Arsenal.
With Ade limping off….
It has been said, that “the table doesn’t lie,” but how do you incorporate games in hand?