Match Preview: Arsenal v Swansea; Premier League Match Day 21

The euphoria of the FA Cup win is over. It’s been  some time since our last league match but at least to me the reality of the loss is still there. And it doesn’t get any easier this week with our away trip to Swansea.

Swansea have been a major revelation this season. They have been absolutely top drawer at home and have 6 clean sheets to their record. Only United have come into their home and walked away with a positive result.  In fact they have only conceded 4 goals at home. Like Arsenal they like to play a possession game and as one paper put it – it could be the largest game of 11v11 keep away you’ve seen.

The real problem Swansea will present to Arsenal is down the flanks. We are still without a proper fullbacks and they’ve got speed on the wings. They don’t play a narrow game and it is going to test whomever is deputizing in those spots this week. With our injury crisis at defence this could become a real problem in this match.

Swansea aren’t a scoring juggernaut but they do average just over one goal per game at home. So the likelihood of scoring a goal is a possibility. The problem for us will be scoring ourselves. We haven’t exactly been prolific of late. The real issue here is the lack of real fullbacks (there it is again). Our deputy FBs are all either CBs or midfielders and while we are better with midfielders in the role, Wenger prefers his defenders to fill in that role. This is where the problem lies. With Sagna, Jenkinson, Santos and Gibbs we have fullbacks who are also part of the offensive threat of this team.  They play are keys to our offensive buildup. This just isn’t happening as it should with the likes of Vermaelen, Djourou, or Miquel. Sure they CAN get forward but more than often they won’rt. And its hard to blame them. Its very hard for them to get past their CB mentality. And let’s be fair, they aren’t exactly the best crossers. Additionally, they very seldom bring the ball into the middle of the pitch as Sagna and Santos are often to do. In the end it all leaves us very predictable.

When we last faced Swansea we were a team in turmoil. It was the first game with all of our new signings. Arteta and Mertesacker taking the pitch for the first time.  The fans were crying for somebody – anybody’s head. And if it was not for a gift from surprise star keeper Vorm, Arsenal could’ve very well had another draw early on in the season.  But Vorm made his error and Arshavin (remember him) actually was there to put the chance away. Hopefully Andrei has a performance that reminds us why we got him the first place.

The good news for Arsenal in this match thought, they won’t be presented with a team that is going to sit back and park the bus. Swansea will come to play and the more open the pitch the more likely it is that we will get our chances. More importantly Robin Van Persie will get his chances, which can only be a good thing. The real important thing is finishing those chances. In Arsenal’s recent league run we’ve had ample enough chances. We’re in double digits often. The problem lies in everyone else’s finishing.

And that’s where Thierry Henry comes in. After his heroics on Monday people are hoping that our greatest player ever can be much more of a force than a lot of us were expecting. But I think the real value of Henry is his presence around the likes of Theo Walcott. Walcott for the most part hasn’t had an awful season. But it has been his usual stop and start self.  If he could learn how to have an effective final ball, his game wouldn’t be so one dimensional. My hope is that this presence Henry brings to the team rubs off on Theo and Alex Oxlade Chamberlain and they use it for what its worth – a major learning experience.

I don’t expect Henry to be our savior. To do that would be wrong and frankly looking at the team with blinders on. Arsenal still need a fullback, a striker and after what I saw against Fulham and Leeds a creative midfielder. The first two are well known. The last one is likely to be offset by the return of Jack Wilshere to some extent but we still don’t have that player whom when a pass is needed to unlock a stingy defence can do it.  Arteta has been great for us but even he doesn’t seem to be capable of that wonder pass that sets a forward in on goal. Songaldinho has been available for some very nice, Cesc-like passes but the last I checked his duties fall more to the defencive side of things than offencive. Ramsey may very well get there but he isn’t there yet. And as I mentioned Wilshere is due back in a few weeks but it would wrong to expect him to pick right where he left of last season. We need another option.

How the match should play out:

This is either going to be a match we all enjoy or one we all wind up screaming about. There will be loads of pass and move football and one team trying out possess the other. Swansea will test Arsenal’s resolve with their rather tricky wingers.  Arsenal will look to set Robin Van Persie loose within the 18 yard box.  Swansea aren’t going to run a score up on you so it is likely they will get at least one goal. Arsenal’s current form suggests just 1 goal in the game. I’d like to be wrong. But unless someone steps up and is an option to scoring other than Van Persie I am not sure a second goal is there.

Players to watch:

Arsenal: Andrei Arshavin.  With Gervinho gone the Russian should get a run of games. Its a chance to either find form and show us why we liked him once. or its a chance for Arsenal to finally decide that he needs to go back to Russia.

SCFC: Michael Vorm.  There haven’t been many keepers better than Vorm this season. he is particularly good at stopping PKs and looks better than the best supposed best keeper in the league, Joe Hart.

Projected Line Ups:

Injuries and Suspensions:
Arsenal: Diaby (muscle), Fabianski (knee), Gibbs (hernia), Jenkinson (back), Sagna (ankle), Santos (ankle), Wilshere (ankle), Coquelin (hamstring), Vermaelen (calf), Gervinho (unavailable), Chamakh (unavailable)

SCFC:  Bodde (knee), Tate (match fitness)

Leading Scorers:
Arsenal: Van Persie 22 (17 league)

SCFC: Graham 6 (6 league)

Goals For:
Arsenal (away): 2

SCFC (home): 1.2

Goals Against:
Arsenal (away): 2.2

SCFC: (home): 0.4

Last Meeting (EPL):
Arsenal: 1

SCFC: 0

Last Five:
Arsenal: LWDWL

SCFC: WDDLD

Goal Difference:
Arsenal: 8

SCFC: -3

Match Official:
Referee: Michael Oliver (Matches 10, R3 Y26)

Broadcast Information:
US: FSC 1100 AM EST

UK: SkySports 1 1600 BST

GAMEDAY CHAT: It’s Open!!!!!!

www.youaremyarsenal.com/gamedaychat

YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 1

SCFC: 1

The Final Word

There is a lot of speculation regarding reported transfers and with the need for a left back and a n additional forward two stories were the mainstay of the news this week. First was that Arsenal were in line for either a loan or deal for Lyon fullback Aly Cissokho. The reports are varied as to who wanted what but I do believe that Cissokho is the player Wenger wants. He was looked at this summer before we landed on Andre Santos. Why some people question whether or not a deal would make sense is he is 24. Should Wenger sign him on a permanent transfer rather than a loan it would represent the surest sign that the manager no longer has faith in Kieran Gibbs.

Well, if that is true than Arsene can join many of us fans, myself included who feel its time to move on the young fullback. The lad surely has a lot of promise but he also has ankles and feet made of glass. He is good for 1 match then 3 weeks out. Yes, its an overexaggeration but you get the picture. Its almost as if he sees the pitch and gets hurt. Andre Santos should be our first choice LB when he is healthy. But he should also have an heir apparent and not one whom we can’t trust to be healthy. At 24 Aly Cissokho could be that heir.

In truth though, I am no longer of the opinion that a LB deal is going to happen. Sagna, Vermaelen & possibly Gibbs are reportedly due back to the squad before the United match. I personally think Wenger has been biding time hoping that he can last until these players return to the club. Its all a bit misguided if you ask me but it is how it looks like things are developing at this point.

As for a forward there were reports from respected journalist Javier Perez that Arsenal and Anderlecht had agreed to deal for Matias Suarez. Both Anderlecht and Arsenal have refuted this. While it may be likely that no deal is in place, I think it is likely that Arsenal are actively looking for additional forward help. There seems to be interest in Marouane Chamakh from Serie A side Marouane Chamakh. And Arsenal were reportedly working on a deal that was contingent on how Chamakh performed in ACoN. Fiorentina have a concern about the Morrocan’s mental state and fitness. If there are promising signs early in ACoN, the deal would supposedly get rubber stamped. What this means is that while it is quiet now, the end of this transfer window could wind up being as active for us as the summer.

As for whether or not there will be transfer dealings the only thing I care to comment on is this – on Monday prior to the FA Cup match Arsene clearly confirmed that the club’s priority is Champion’s League football, cup competitions like the FA Cup were added bonuses. If the Champion’s League is the minimum requirement for Arsenal then securing it has to be done all out which to me means we have to improve the squad. I think the squad is good. The problem is you have to had the caveate – when healthy. Can anyone remember when we were last all healthy. I definitely think a line up like this – Szczesny, Sagna, Merte/Kos, Vermaelen, Santos, Song, Ramsey/Wilshere Arteta, Gervinho, Walcott, RvP is as good talent wise as any of the top teams. The problem is – we have yet to have that team on the pitch. Therefore we need the help. Arsene and Arsenal need to get busy.

And this . . .I was a guest this week on the Arsenal America Podcast. I sat on a round table with Arseblog columnist Tim Stillman. Right after an interview with Jeremy Wilson of the Telegraph.  You can find it here: http://www.arsenalamerica.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/AA011312.mp3

Until next time. . . Stay Goonerish!!

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