Sitting on a Six Point Swing: Arsenal v Chelsea, Match Preview
The London Derby Part II
It hasn’t been pretty for the Gunners since ascending to the top of the league a fortnight ago. Coming into a run of games that would test their title credentials, the Gunners have been less then impressive, drawing at Villa and losing at home to Manchester United. If Arsenal are to maintain pace with the leaders they must get through a very strong Chelsea side. That opportunity comes up this Sunday as the Arsene Wenger’s side travel to Samford Bridge for the away leg of the London Derby.
Let’s start with a dose of reality shall we – ever since Roman Abramovich took over at the Bridge, the Blues have had an astounding record against the Gunners. That’s all the more impressive considering that before than Arsenal were 17-0 against them, pre-Abramovich. The gulf between the two has been more prevalent int he last two seasons with Chelsea dismantling Arsenal in the FA Cup semis-finals last season, and winning this season 3-0 at the Emirates.
The Chav’s win at the Emirates, was decisive in the score and in the fact that it exposed a lack of attacking options against stronger sides. Arsenal weren’t without their chances and for much of the match they wer ein the game. In retrospect you could argue it was Arsenal v Didier Drogba as it was the Ivorian striker who controlled Arsenal and less about what the rest of the Chavs did. In reality the Chavs weren’t that solid and if Drogba hadn’t placed them on their back that match could’ve easily been 0-0.
A lot has changed. Both the Chavs and Arsenal went on impressive runs though you could argue Arsenal’s was more impressive as it pulled them into range of league leading Chelsea. Imediately after the win against Arsenal, Chelsea were touted as the league winners – expect noone told the rest of the league and Carlo Ancelotti’s side had series of draws and even a loss to Man City.
Controversy is swirling over the Chavs as their captain John “Pants on the Ground” Terryhas been removed from his Captaincy of the national side comning off the news he had an affair with Wayne Bridge’s wife. That was piled on by news that he may have been selling out the box at Wembley he was given as Captain of the National side. The selling out of that box is strictly forbidden by the FA. This week was definitely not good for the Blue’s Captain.
This is relevant because you can expect that while Terry may be a little skewed, his teammates and the Chelsea faithful will circle the wagons around their embattled star. But JT has more pressing issues – can they win the league with a defense that is so questionable on set pieces?
For Arsenal, its more or less do or die. This game has a 6 point swing on it. Win and they are 3 behind – lose and they are 9 behind. Mathmatically, they would not be out of the title race. But the road is a little bumpier and little more difficult
I do caution anyone about writing them off even if they should lose at the Bridge. First they were written off in November and were a clear 11 points behind – they went on an impressive run and got into the title race. After the match at Stamford bridge the table becomes more favorable and they are still strong enough to put together a good run to keep the pressure on United and Chelsea – both of whom still have to play each other, and teams like Everton and Villa both in good form as of late. Arsenal’s two remaining tough fixtures after this are Liverpool and Man City.
Secondly, the point I have been arguing all season is this – it is less about what you do against the big four then it is what you do against lesser teams that will dictate how you finish the league. Last year United won the league off an abysmal form against the big four – 1W 3L 2D. By comparison Chelsea had their way with the big four last season and did not win the league – because they did not care of lesser teams. Chelsea have not been able to run away with the league because they have not put away lesser teams. Again they’ve been good against the big four but they struggle to close out lesser opponents.
The plan for Arsenal is simple – attack early and shoot the ball. Convert the chances that are given – and they will be given and this match will have a different tenor then the one at the Emirates. Most likely Niklas Bendtner will get the start against the Chavs which is a good thing. If he starts in the middle it puts a tall target in the middle of the box and fress Arshavin up to play to his strength – shredding opsosition on the wing. AA23 has been weak this season because he has been posted centrally – and while he is strong and dynamic he is not a central striker and when crowded out by taller defenders clogging the midle he has struggled. He has been effective when he brings the ball out wide and presses the wings in.
Nicky B wants to be the man for Arsenal and has been saying as much at every opportunity. I have not been a big fan of the man but if he wants to build an Arsenal legend – he could very well start today. Playing a pivotal role in the defeat of the Chavs would give him hero status. He will need to play like he was before his injury and where he was good was when he attacked forward and pushed the defender back. There is something about his game that is good and that is when he doesn’t try to be fancy and just presses forward. His size forces defenders back on their heals and in doing so he can hold the ball up and feed it to someone outside or press his way into the middle for a shooting chance.
With Nicky B in the middle and AA23 on the outside wing – I expect that Fabregas to have a little more space. Fabregas wasn’t poor against the Chavs last time but like his teammates he didn’t convert. He has been in impressive form lately and if he is given the space he can hurt teams. He is relishing this chance.
My lineup for tomorrow is below and it doesn’t take into account something radical I’d do if I were managing the team. Drogba’s game is less about speed and more about muscle. He simply over powers defenders and gets his shots. Plus he does have a pretty wicked foot. If I were managing I would make a wholesale change to the Arsenal line up for this match. I would remove Denilson (for all the reasons you know) and place Vermaelen in the midfield. It gives another defending option in the middle but also frees him up more to press for goals – he can score. I’d then put Sol Campbell in the middle with William Gallas. I can hear the cries of “ARE YOU CRAZY” now. Hear me out. I said Drogba’s game is about muscle not speed. Sol’s game is not about speed either, its about reading the game and putting himself in position to make plays. Frankly he did very well against a side that is much quicker than Chelsea and controlled the middle of the pitch against Villa very well. Muscle for muscle would be the plan and could work. Again Drogba is deadly so there would be some risk but did you know that Drogba has not scored on Arsenal when Campbell is on the field. I’m just saying.
The big intangible is the play of one Manuel Almunia, I clearly place the bulk of the loss to Chelsea last time on him. Outside of the TV5 own goal, Almunia was dreadful in that match. He did a poor job of talking with his defenders and in the run up to goals when he should’ve been calling out to them – he didn’t His lack of communication and coordination with his defencive pairing in front of him led to the confusion that resulted in TV5’s OG. He will need to stand on his head (because we know he won’t be benched) in order to beat the Chavs. To be honest I’m less concerned about any other position than I am about this. We could play fabulously but if he doesn’t deliver it could be all for nought. For a manager as “football” smart as Arsene Wenger, the fact he keeps Almunia in goal is a mystery to everyone and is one of his weak spots this season.
How It Should Play Out:
Expect Chelsea to play their sit back and wait style that has been their trademark – especially against Arsenal. They will let Arsenal in the match. Chelsea aren’t a shut down squad. Arsenal will have their chances, the key will be to convert them. If they convert their chances it nullifies the Chelsea strategy and forces them to stretch it out which leaves them vulnerable in the back. Chelsea’s biggest weakness is their back four. They were pretty damn lucky not to let Hull win in the midweek. The bigget place to assault Chelsea will be on set pieces and that is where Nicky B gives them a dimension they did not have in the last match – a tall target in the middle. Petr Cech has been wobbly on corners and a Nicky B is actually a good aerial player. Look for the game to be played as it always has. Let’s just hope the chances are converted and Arsenal change the dynamic.
Players to Watch:
Arsenal: Thomas Vermaelen. Vermaelen has shown himself to be an apt student – learning from previous mistakes match to match. No doubt he has looked at the last match and understands how Drogba plays. If we are to have a chance Vermaelen will need to be force he has been this season.
Chelsea” Dider Drogba. Who else. The man is an Arsenal killer.
Probable Starting XI:
Yeah I know Denilson starts.
Injuries:
Arsenal: Djourou (knee) Vela (knee) Eduardo (hamstring) Gibbs (foot) Merida (ankle) Van Persie (ankle)
Chelsea: Belletti (calf) Bosingwa (knee) Essien (knee)
Recent League Form:
Arsenal: LDWWD
Chelsea: DWWWD
Match Officials:
Referee: Mike Dean
Assistant Referees: Simon Beck & Richard West
Fourth Official: Peter Walton
TV Listings:
US: FSC 1100 AM EST
UK: Sky Sports 1 1600 BST
Gameday Chat will be open: www.youaremyarsenal.com/gamedaychat
Streams:
www.atdhe.net
YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal – 2
Chelsea – 2
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Hello People! Just wanted to tell you that I found tickets to the A Perfect Circle concert on May 20th. In this place you can find tickets for other dates too. It’s wonderful their performance on stage, this is my second time and I’m still so excited about listening them live! On this page you can see the section where you’re buying the ticket, so it’s very recommended!
Speaking of 4th place, Man City are now tied with Liverpool on points and with a game in hand.
which means they are also 5 points behind Arsenal, with a game in hand.
4th is not a given.
I will have te preview out later – I am in NYC with clients and haven’t had a moment. Thanks for keeping me on my toes
you do a neat job Mike.
Our fearless leader, DAG, is prolly tweeting with his media contacts or his Chelsea supporting “friends”….AND he has set himself a tough standard to maintain when it comes to match previews…but still, we’ve got less than 24 hours until our next big one, so rather then cursing our club for being stingy and only beating out the competition for M. Chamahk AFTER we could have actually used him…I’m ready to start thinking about Liverpool.
It’s a big one. We NEED 3 points. To keep any remote, intsy–teensy chance of winning the league alive (fat chance, I say) AND to maintain a healthy cushion above the fray of teams that aspire to unseat us for a CL spot. And 3rd is better than 4th…just ask Eduardo, villain extraordinaire from those pesky matches we had to play against Celtic.
Pool will be missing four of their better players: Torres, Aquilani (illness), Benayoun and Glen Johnson, although the latter actually scored for us when we beat them at Anfield. ‘Pool will also be missing that big Greek guy with the long hair (Kyrgiakos-suspension) who seems to have been helping them on their recent better run. Of course, they still have Steven Gerrard, who I’ve heard is a good player and who seems to be inspired by his team’s recent form. My impression that “Starfish Stevie” is just a cheating sack of shit, must be a tad harsh….(Who’s the ref? Hopefully not a Scouse Git, as I’m told they’re called over there…)
It’s a game we “should” win, but unless our players are buying into Wenger’s comments about dominating Chelsea, etc. (and they’d be the only ones) there could be a dearth of confidence. Add that to the tottering “home” support, many of whom have been waiting too long for silverware and are otherwise displeased with the “product” on the pitch, and the elements are in place for a severe booing, if not actual lynchings, if we fail to provide an entertaining spectacle AND a resounding result. It all spells: PRESSURE. And, if this recent run of big games is any indication, that’s not our long suit.
Still, I feel confident (or at least hopeful). Denilson was dropped for the Chelsea match, a move that proved to me that the manager (though perhaps senile) is not blind. Hopefully he also noticed that Theo Walcott didn’t really do the needed job in whatever role he was supposed to fill. Diaby gave a decent 90 minute effort at Stamford Bridge and Bendtner was, er…tall, in his shorter run-out. Perhaps the two of them will be that much closer to actually contributing in a meaningful way.
And by that I mean scoring or helping to score an un-deflected goal or three. Our last one of those against a team not named Bolton was on Jan. 3 in the FA cup match at West Ham. A little end product to go with the tippy-tap, please, deflected or not….
So, like we beat them in “pre-signing” Maroune Chamakh (whatever that means) let’s do it on the pitch. Or maybe it’d be better if we lost, because then, for sure, AW will be sacked and we’ll get a new manager and new players and it’ll show us all what fools we’ve been….
Just a general note of appreciation, guys. Far from a turgid bitch-fest, the last couple of days have actually be really entertaining and lively. I don’t regularly read any other Arse blogs, but I find it hard to believe there are any with a higher quality of writing than we have here.
And since I’m not running for anything, you’ll just have to accept that this is what I really think.
Bringing it down a few notches, this is old, but I just saw it on last night’s Daily Show.
http://ballhype.com/video/ice_cream_kid/
The quality of writing as well as the variety of views definitely make this place an excellent read!
Other blogs tend to be either overly host-driven or the posters comments are too banal….. it’s like eating sausage every night (…now where did that analogy come from!) ;-)
I agree Maz.
Myles Palmer coined the phrase “Wenger selling us the future” and it’s proving to be an incredibly accurate and succinct way of describing what has happened at Arsenal FC and looks likely to continue.
Like I said earlier in the thread, “fans have to decide whether they like what they’re getting. It’s 5 years now.”
Like you say Mazza, painfullying waiting for evolution to take place we watch each season drift by…… there’s no urgency to address weakness….. because there’s no pressure on Wenger. On those ocassions when it does come (from the media or fans) he rebukes them like a modern-day sagely holy man.
The public utterances are becoming more loopy again…..
Bring in Hiddink for 2 to 3 seasons to clean out the dross from the squad and instill the winning mentality. Then follow that up with a Bould/Bergkamp management team. The board won’t have the stomach to sack Wenger so I suggest an all expenses paid sabbatical to Africa and Asia to spread the good news. ;-)
Well, maybe if we play Chelsea or United in the CL next round, or better yet, Barcelona…
after the first leg away, we’re down about 4-0, and then 7,000 show up for the 2nd leg.
That’s possible.
Again, it takes Wenger a pain-stakingly tedious amount of time to improve the squad to a sufficient level. Chamakh comes in as Cesc goes out, and the net result is = nothing changes. We’re still not good enough.
Chamakh coming in also means Arsene plans on staying a while yet it seems. There goes my hope of him leaving in the summer.
Oh, if he fails to guide us to a CL qualifying position, he’ll be out on his ass.
It is by no means a forgone conclusion we’ll be Top 4, especially if we LOSE to Liverpool tomorrow.
When Cesc goes, all hell breaks loose.
Cesc leaving is possibly the only thing that will force a change.
heard he just signed a verbal contract with Barca, then he didn’t, then he did, then they deny it, …
it will be a rocky off-season…
but I think he’s going, we want the MONEY, and he doesn’t need Wenger’s hopeful non-sense much longer.
Arsenal FC will take the 40 Million and declare it a good piece of business.
We didn’t get Chamakh last Summer or in January, because that would mean we would have to cut into the Arsenal PROFITS to do so.
That simply can’t be done… especially if we can get him for FREE
in the Summer. We’ll just over-pay him on salary to make up for it!
Just another case of Arsenal being to interested in profits too compete for trophies…
IMO the whole “profit league” argument is the big one, the one that divides Arsenal fans into two main camps.
For some, profits are good…long term they allow us to do things like match the salaries offered to our best players, buy up and coming players, etc. and eventually compete on an equal footing with the biggest clubs in the world without courting (self-interested and perhaps fickle) “Sugar Daddy” owners.
For others, “Profit” is the dirtiest of dirty words, as the club is seen as the antagonist in a struggle between us (supporters who pay for everything) and them (the Club, which tries to give us the least possible product for the most possible money). If you see it this way, there is perhaps a moral obligation to vote with your feet….stop buying tickets/watching and maybe take up with another team that you feel gives you more “product.”
Personally, I feel it’s too simplistic to divide it along these lines and that it is possible to critique the club in a more subtle fashion–saying for example, that I can appreciate the long-term approach the club is taking but we sure as freak could’ve use a goddamned striker in January (!!!) and it pisses me off that we couldn’t give United or Chelsea a decent match.
I will stick by my feeling that profits are important and that long-term needs to outweigh short-term goals. As I’m sure others will stick by theirs.
Maybe Chamakh will be a revelation and will carry us to glory and maybe we got him because we didn’t waste our money on a Voronin a couple of years back. Of course, maybe he’s just a skinny, crappier version of (crocked) RVP (with worse hair?!).
wow couldnt agree more…
Also, Chamakh is not exactly a prolific goal scorer.
In his seven seasons at Bordeaux, he has crossed 10 goals only once – last season. Even then, his highest has been 13 from 34 games. In a league where only once in the last 22 seasons has the top scorer scored less than 20, this is by no means a great record.
I am not saying that he is not a good player or that he won’t fit in Arsenal. Just stating the facts about his record.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marouane_Chamakh.
Somehow, Bordeaux are now the dominant team in France–And thus we must plunder them! (I.e., Laurent Blanc was the answer to the new manager question Arthur was asking the other day in the GDC…)
Gorcuff plays opposite Chamakh and (from the little I have seen) is a beneficiary of the latter’s work (15 goals last season, 8 so far this year) despite being a Milan cast-off.
In truth, I really haven’t seen much of their play….just trying to be positive…
What really ought to stick in the craw of the doomers/realists/AW must go crew is that we could’ve/should’ve gotten Chamakh over the past summer, but we stuck to our valuation, hoped RVP/Bendtner/Vela would stay fit/come good, etc. Now we’ll get him on the cheap, ringing up further profits….Freakin’ Cheap Ass Arsenal…
I mean, if we force our supporters to pay more at the turnstiles, why can’t we shell out a few extra (million) quid to get a player a year sooner? And Chamakh ain’t getting no younger, having turned 26 a month ago….
Another point missed in the Chamakh saga is that he plays for Morocco. Which means he will miss a month every two years. Considering that Arsenal have mostly challenged for the title in the ACoN/Euro/World Cup years, the next time will most likely be 2011/12 and Chamakh (who may become a key player by then) will go missing in January. Just like Toure two years ago and Song this year.
Morocco failed to qualify for the recent ACN so they might not make it in 2012. And of course, players like Walcott, Vela, and Bendtner will be able to step in with ease, if Morocco does… ;-)
I don’t know that much about the history of that tournament, but, it seems to me they need to move it to (northern hemisphere) summer-time. This year would’ve been the perfect opportunity with the WC (skip it and start playing it in odd year summers.)
With the Togo shooting tragedy, etc, something needs to happen, and quick. Why should players like Ade risk their lives (and their EPL stats, needed to argue for their next contract) by playing down there in mid-season?
Steve,
ACoN should move THEIR tournament, their continental tournament, because the EPL or Europe doesn’t like when its played?
Seroiusly?
Why do they give a shit about what Europe’s leagues?
Does Europe pay the countries in the tournament anything?
You might not want to play football in Africa in their Summer… it gets a bit hot!
They aren’t changing for Europe, nor do I think they should.
Why doesn’t Europe take a Winter break during their tournament?
Uh, yes I was being serious….
And I do seriously believe it’s in the interest of football leagues and tournaments worldwide to try and coordinate around a workable schedule so that the sport can grow and people in their own country or continent AND worldwide get to see the best players and teams and the game played at the highest possible levels.
Also Angola (recently completed ACN) IS in the Southern Hemisphere, as is South Africa which (I pray) will actually have the security and infrastructure to host a major tournament (i.e., would be an ideal country to host future ACNs).
It is hot in equatorial Africa year-round, afternoon rains (often torrential) being the biggest downside to playing in whichever “Summer” the tournament happens to be played in.
When the teams in Africa benefit somehow from changing their tournament schedule, they might consider it, it has been asked before, and the response has been, too bad. It’s the biggest tournament in Africa, tough shit for Europe.
Commenting on a couple of things from above (overnight?)….
The news about Chamakh in the summer…I think it’s good. I haven’t seen much of him, nor of his team, but what I have seen is impressive. He seems like a quicker RVP, not huge and not a typical back to goal front man, but willing to run, handy with his feet and head, etc. The fact that it’s a year late….ugh….
I also take heart in that
Chamakh has been a key figure in a winning team, Bordeaux, which has overturned the dominance of Lyon AND stepped up big in multiple matches vs Juventus and Bayern to win their CL group. Perhaps we swoop next for Laurent Blanc as our next Manager, when AW takes his place “upstairs”….
Kiwi makes a couple of strong points. Chelsea, hateful as they might be, are a lot more than just Drogba and they’re a mature squad with depth throughout. They didn’t buy in January (or in any recent windows) because they really don’t need to. Their main weakness has been failure to get up for matches against the lesser teams. I’m very much hoping Jose and Inter can give them a pair of matches in the CL, but to me at least, they look tough. Also, finally it seems, they may have found a manager who lasts more than a season, which is all the more troubling (for us and the other teams that aspire to compete with them).
Kiwi also (rightfully) brings up our policy of giving big contracts to unproven players and ones with sometimes (severe) injury histories. It’s our policy and it flies in the face of the way things are normally done in Football. I would argue that it’s a progressive policy that “values” players a bit more than the traditional terms, and long-term at least, it will attract promising players to Arsenal over other clubs, other things being equal.
The injury question is tougher. Are injuries just down to luck or is there something more? Are some players happy to nurse injuries and draw their salary from the physio room, while others “play through the pain?” It’s hard to say. Are we attempting to get solid players on the cheap by nursing them through injuries and hoping they come good. Probably. Should we have reasonable alternatives for players who appear be losing the bulk of their careers to injuries? Yes.
Personally, I don’t think you can legislate for injuries to RVP, Bendtner, Vela, Walcott and Dudu all happening at the same time. Or Clichy and Gibbs out for months at a time. On the flip side, we’ve been extremely lucky with TV5 and Gallas (touch wood). But even they and the other stalwarts in the club (Cesc, Arshavin, Sagna) are being stretched to the breaking point. Even Nasri and Denilson were out for several months with bone breaks. People may say that it will happen over and over and over, if we stick with these players, but I say that we’ve seen rock bottom and up (or sideways?) is the only way to go from here.
IMO, we have actually overachieved quite a bit and we can go a long way to solidifying 3rd with a win tomorrow. Luckily we’ve got an easy first round in the CL elims. Will we be winning any silverware this season? IMO, No. But hopefully we’ve also seen rock-bottom in terms of our recent results and we can do something, build for the future, etc. If that’s not enough for some supporters, I understand. I, however, will keep watching….
Without Drogba – Chelsea are a shcll of a team. No other Chelsea field player had an impact on Sunday. Yes, their defense played smart. We can always question some of the officiating. For me, I thought Clichy hand cuffed Anelka, marked him out of the match.
Re: RvP4 – pre-season expectation
I was anxious to see Arshavin’s impact over the course of a full season.
Who was Vermaelen?
Would Song’s play continue to impress?
Eduardo and Rosicky were still fitness questions.
Then there was optimism for the further development and contribution from others.
REALISTICALLY – 3RD PLACE. (as we did not sign a GK)
To date I am not disappointed. Diaby, Song, Ramsey have stepped up their play. Vermalean has been a bright spot in defense. Eduardo is slowly regaining form. Rosicky’s recent play has been scintillating. Cesc has been amazing. There is a marked team improvement over last season.
The goalkeeping position is the most important position: last line of defense and starting attacks. Almunia has not shown improvement and as many of you have emphasized, confidence is not showing. I am not embedded in scouting, but I do like many things about the Russian GK – Igor Akinfeev.
I do see a problem in our defensive core in leadership. It is non existent from our GK. Gallas is not a leader. Despite his heart of play, he has problems communicating with anyone. Vermaelen is the new boy on the block, quietly playing his role and not in a position to impose any authority. For me, its important for next season that Arsene find a solution – someone to dictate defensive authority on set pieces. I think it’s very likely that Gallas is moving on – as I don’t believe he has signed a new contract.
Injuries happen and are a part of every sport. Unfortunately, our squad depth is young and their contribution – well, still a work in progress.
Our roster is set for the balance of the season. Rehashing yesterday is wasting the present.
We need to get behind the manager and team and see how they respond against Pool, balance of league play, and CL competition.
WHICH PLAYERS WILL RISE TO THE SURFACE AND RAISE THEIR GAME and then hope our manager will spend the resources to plug the gaps.
What is obvious today is seldom tomorrow’s result.
Go Gunners.
I agree, in that I tend to want to always be looking forward (at the next match, and longer term), but I disagree, in that I do think we need to analyze what’s gone bad (and good) in order to plot our way forward. No matter what, however, there is a need to ACCEPT the reality of the situation, i.e., where we are now, and realize that all progress (or regression) can only be incremental, no matter how great (or miserable) any single (or run of) result(s) might appear. As fans we get super high or low with each match, but if we aspire to comment upon the club with some level of intelligence we might want to show a little more balance.
Despite the openness (stumbles) at the very top of the league, I think United and Chelsea are a class apart. The ManCity money changes things in the battle for the other two CL spots and hopefully we can solidify ours with a good home victory tomorrow giving us a boost going into (what we hope might be a decent) CL run.
I believe that we have done very well this season given our injuries and the co-incident element of having to play hurt or non-match fit players. And obviously there are some positions where we have yet to find any solidity (GK, RW/CF and to a lesser extent, DM and LB). It’s hard to fathom that we were unable to stregthen at the positions in the January window.
Still, forward we go, with a big match tomorrow. I think we’ve got the class to beat ‘Pool thoroughly, but my fingers will be crossed that we get the good bounces, etc.
Drogba was away at the ACoN… how did Chelsea do in his absence?
Why don’t you check that out.
Who did they play ?
It was commonly reported that there schedule during this period was a gift – identical to their draws for the FA Cup. No real competition during the ACN.
so it was fixed for Chelsea?… the FA Cup and ACoN period?
Is this another conspiracy theory?
I don’t get it. You said the are a shell without Drogba, they win all the matches played when he is away… which is all they can do, they don’t make the schedule… and you say, who did they play?
Have you watched Chelsea this year besides them kicking the shit out of us twice?
They are a very good, very deep team, all over the pitch.
I will assume you feel United are a shell of themselves without Rooney…
and only Arsenal are a real team?
or are we a shell without Cesc?
BREAKING:
Trying to confirm this but word is floating around the Arsenal and Marouane Chamakh have come to a pre-contract agreement for the Summer
Yay? I feel a bit angry that he isn’t here already.
But on the plus side, Wenger’s eye for a striker has never been questioned and he doesn’t seem injury prone. Let’s see what he can do…
I feel kinda icky thinking about next bloody season in Feb. We’re not quite out of it yet. I’ll wait for one more GW before giving up hope in the league. And we still have an outside shot at the CL- it is a tourney.. some lucky bounces and who knows.
If Chamakh was signed in the summer, he would have settled by now and would have proved crucial in our current crisis.
One can only hope that next December, we are still in the title race because he will take that long to settle in.
It’s also assumed that nobody leaves in the summer, right? Otherwise, we’ll back on drawing board.
Refer to #2 above.
2. In the summer, we will sell 4 players, bring in 2 and be ’stronger’.
Stat Attack before Wednesday’s games.
Liverpool are on better form than Arsenal at the moment. 4W and 2D as opposed 2 WDL for Arsenal in the last 6. Surprisingly, Liverpool have kept 5 clean sheets in the last 6 games! Nevertheless, I expect Arsenal’s strong home record to prevail.
ManU travel to Villa. Perhaps one would expect ManU to drop points. I am afraid I don’t think so. ManU are top of the form table while Villa are struggling with only 1 win in 6. I expect ManU to beat Villa.
Chelsea travel to Goodison Park. Everton are in pretty good form with 4 wins out the last six, but have a pretty poor home record. At the same time, Chelsea have won only once away from home since the 3-0 win at the Emirates. This game could be close.
If you’re still in the believers camp – that’s 100% your call.
On Robin van Persie. Last season he started 24 games, was injured in the clutch, and as a consequence some of the later games he played were the type we know very well – as a returnee with a reduced performance level.
So 24 out of 38 games. 63% is hardly stella. If you check the stats you’ll see 24 games is by far the most games he’s ever started and he’s approaching 27. Unlucky? Depends how you define luck. Is Saha unlucky? Is Rosicky unlucky? On a personal level yes.
You need a level of dispassion to manage a football club. These guys cost a club an enormous amount every week. If they continually break down they can’t produce. You can’t build a successful side if you rely on these guys. No surprise then we aren’t successful. We have too many crocks and we tarry with them for too long. :-(
I disagree with anyone that says the aim is 3rd or 4th place. I look at the squad at the start of every season and feel we have at the very least an outside shot at the title.
This season I thought if we could keep fab and rvp healthy we would be in there with a very good shot and that applies to every team.
Pool are the obvious example as they need to keep torres and gerrard fit but critically chelsea struggled last season without drogba and i would love to see what manu can do without rooney.
Injuries can happen to any critical player and form is never permanent.
Some will say that rvp is injury prone but he seemed to turn a corner last season (exit adebayor) and the injury this season just seems to be plain unlucky.
There used to be the BIG 5 (Liverpool, Everton, Arsenal, Spurs and ManU)….. then ManU and Arsenal turned it in to a duolopoly for a time while Liverpool slumbered. Then Liverpool and a Chelsea on fiscal steroids made it a foursome or BIG 4.
_________________________________________________________________
and that is the point, teams don’t stay at the top forever we seem to be in a down period but that does not mean the support of the fans will disappear and from the board’s perspective I can see why they feel biding their time is the best option for the long term success of the club
I’m not sure how this supports what you are saying.
Where are Everton and Spurs?
ManU has maintained its position thanks to Fergie’s undiminished thirst for success.
Liverpool fell away post-Dalglish and have never really recovered.
That says to me that falling off the pace is incredibly dangerous.
If we win the title we’ll all be singing and be re-unified. Wouldn’t that be nice :-)
Nipuna rightly points out that we’ve enjoyed pleasing runs against the masses of the EPL. What I wonder though is how likely are we to repeat that in quite as convincingly a fashion given how tired our squad is and still blighted by injuries and returnees syndrome. The other relevant aspect is that many of those games will be against desperate and motivated teams seeking to avoid being drawn into the relegation mire. So the lower-placed teams will scrap like heck for points.
On Chelsea.
For many years I shared the opinion expoused by Mike and others like Tim on the 7am site that Chelsea are a particularly ugly side worthy of derision given their fiscal doping. However, time passes, the fiscal doping has not continued to any great level, and you have to ask yourself how long it is rational to hang on to old hates like a bitter old woman. The football they play is not bad, indeed it’s not bad at all. And after that initial infusion of Russian money they seem to have acted in a more restrained manner. And for all the moralising about the rightness of the infusion – their players have actually provided a return on that massive initial investment – trophies in 2005, 2006, 2007(2) & 2009. EPL placings – 1-1-2-2-3. That’s a good level of consistency in anybody’s book achieved against one of the most successful teams in EPL history.
Do I like them – no not at all. Can I stand back and affirm their achievement – yes. As for the moralising – frankly I have more issues with paying ludicrous sums to young players who have achieved nothing and returned nothing to our club and then offering them long-term extensions and even bigger remuneration levels than I do buying established pro’s who have proven themselves and then paying them very well to continue performing.
Our approach, flies in the face of any commonly held principle applied in business or other realms of society. We lavishly reward non-achievement in the hope it will bloom when Chelsea reward achievers and achievement.
Kiwi, very well stated.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/columns/story?id=736868&cc=4716&ver=global
This is a very interesting article. Holland, the inventors of total football, have never won a World Cup. Gullit, the captain of the Euro88 team, feels that they may have to sacrifice style for substance if they want to win WC 2010.
Pool are shit and we will beat them on Wed night.
Our defeats have come in twos and usually to big teams – City and Utd, Sunderland (who were just two points off the top four at that time) and Chelsea, and now Utd and Chelsea. Between those defeats, we have put together 7 and 10-game unbeaten runs , albeit against smaller teams, but that is exactly what we face now – smaller teams.
It is not unconceivable that we go on a 13-game unbeaten streak from now to the end of the season. Note that I said unbeaten; I didn’t say winning. Will that be enough to win the title, I doubt it. It will surely be enough for a solid third place, which is about our right place in this league.
Unfortunately, that kind of thing is precisely what will convince Arsene that this team is good enough and therefore we won’t see any major changes in the summer.
And then, something like this will follow
http://www.afc4life.co.uk/2010/02/08/a-prediction-how-the-20102011-season-will-go/
1. The club tell us Arsene has money to spend.
2. In the summer, we will sell 4 players, bring in 2 and be ’stronger’.
3. We are told by Arsene Wenger that Arsenal will mount a real title challenge this season, as our squad is more experienced and stronger.
4. The club are happy that we’ve made a profit.
5. After a positive start, we will lose a big player to injury before Xmas.
6. We don’t need to sign anyone, as players returning from injury are just like ‘new signings’.
7. We don’t bring in anyone in the January Transfer Window.
8. We throw away the FA Cup.
9. We’re told that challenging for the league is better than any FA Cup.
10. Our form suffers and we’re out of the title race by Spring.
11. We’re told a Top Three finish is better than any FA Cup.
12. We get to the Quarter/Semi Finals (delete as appropriate) of the Champions League, but go out.
13. We’re told a Top Four finish is better than any FA Cup.
14. ‘Real’ Arsenal fans tell us that we should be grateful for a Top Four position and all these expectations are unrealistic, we don’t really support the club and we’re spoilt, despite Number 3.
15. Arsene Wenger tells us finishing in the Top Four is like winning trophies.
16. Lather, rinse and repeat.
what do you say if Liverpool beat us tomorrow?
You know, they hoof the ball down the pitch, Almunia screws it up, and Kuyt rounds him, and scores.
We have all the possession, pass the ball around the box, and can’t finish… hit the post and bar… and lose.
What then?
Wenger says Liverpool don’t play proper football, we were the better team, we outplayed the opposition, so its not a fair result.
If you were Liverpool, and just watched the two matches against United and Chelsea, wouldn’t you think, we can take these clowns, they do the same exact thing every match…
So I guess the rest of the season isn’t worth playing. Cool I could use the time off.
Stag – who give s a flying eff about what Ballack says. Yes, Arsene needs to just accept a loss as a loss and move on but who gives a crap what that waste of freakin midfielder says.
I can’t believe the credence that is being paid to that “bought” team. Like they are suddenly football gods or something. Please.
The last I checked in that match – it was Didier Drogba and Petr Cech that did all the damage to Arsenal – Ballack was quieter than a church mouse as were most of the remaining players on the pitch.
DAG, it is a “response” to what JACKASS ARSENE said, and always says when we lose.
So, Ballack doesn’t say anything, if Wenger doesn’t try and downplay the loss, but saying the opposing team don’t play proper football. (said the same thing when we drew against Villa)
Bought team?
Who cares besides Arsenal supporters because their team can’t compete.
So the Yankees in baseball… meaningless, because they are a bought team?
I think not.
They don’t deduct points because owners have more money.
Bought team is the cry of LOSERS whining about not being able to compete on the pitch.
You have to be kidding that Drogba and Cech were the whole team.
You sound just like Arsene.
They absolutely SHIT on us, again.
Let us have possession, let us play pretty nice passes, and STUFFED us when it mattered.
How many times do you (and Arsene) have to watch that tactic play out, and Chelsea embarrass us, in order for Arsenal to get it?
The rest of the season?
Oh, you mean playing for 3rd or 4th place, which is far greater than winning the FA Cup?
Oh, that will be thrilling, no doubt.
We will score some pretty goals, probably run up the score on a few teams, and all will be well in Arsene’s world… if if if… if we didn’t have injuries, what might have been.
IF we beat Porto, and come up against Chelsea or United in the CL, how do you think we’ll do?
Exactly.
Embarrassed AGAIN.
Arsene is insulting. He is a PISS POOR loser, who insults the fans with his idiotic comments, and insults the teams that BEAT us on the pitch, because they won’t let him win.
If he said NOTHING, it would be much better.
ARSENE needs to SHUT UP.
He is making an ass of himself after losing badly to his
two biggest opponents…
He is on again about Chelsea not playing proper football, and
beautiful football, and they didn’t give us a lesson.
SHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT UP!
Here is the response from Ballack, it completely says it ALL.
What EVERY person who has a f’n brain can see, but Wenger
refuses to acknowledge…
Ballack says in response to Wenger’s IDIOTIC RANTINGS:
“Wenger always says things like this when he loses to find an excuse,” said the Germany captain.
“We knew the way Arsenal play. It is always the same style.”
The 33-year-old Ballack added: “Football is not possession of the ball and playing a nice pass – football is about winning games.
“That is what Manchester United showed when they played them and what we did.”
HELLO?
ARSENE?
SHUT UP… PLEASE!!!!!!
…. on a positive note. Nice to see we are pushing the Arsenal brand into China. A tangible outcome of appointing more professionals in the back office.
Anyone else identified the new form of punishment by Arsene on players offering crap performances?
They are the ones forced to talk up the teams chances.
It was Almunia and Denilson post ManU….
And now its Clichy and Walcott
LOL, honestly, the Arsenal PR machine is rather out of touch.
rvp4mvp, you refer to Spurs and question whether Arsenal fans are spoilt with our expectations. You aren’t alone, many media pundits and fans also spin the same line.
I think Vibe is right in saying you can’t compare a successful mega club to the myriad others. The Spurs and the Newcastles realy do have different aspirations. Whilst you can say they ‘want’ to win just like we do – they simply aren’t in a position to turn that into more than a want. So…. they survive on the hope of progress, decent cup runs, and critically interesting player signings. It has ALWAYS been this way – there have always been the few truly big clubs and the rest. You can further break down the rest into segments but for this analysis that is irrelevant. There used to be the BIG 5 (Liverpool, Everton, Arsenal, Spurs and ManU)….. then ManU and Arsenal turned it in to a duolopoly for a time while Liverpool slumbered. Then Liverpool and a Chelsea on fiscal steroids made it a foursome or BIG 4.
The point is, the thing that separates the big clubs (whoever that is at a given period) from the rest, is the genuine aspiration to compete. Their fans have a real sense of being competitive. I think we’re being sold a lie. We’re a seriously big club in England (and Europe) yet we’ve lowered our aspirations. We have all the infrastructure – the stadium the training ground – a wonderful history yet we aspire for 3rd. Our aspirations are inconsistent with everything else and this is the very reason we’re having this discussion and why fans are bickering and finger-pointing.
The Arsenal brand is currently way too connected to the Wenger brand. That was ok while Wenger produced successful teams – but he’s not. Now he’s trying to redefine success. 3rd or 4th is success. Sorry, no chance. 3rd or 4th are consolations or fall-back budget positions nothing more. The great brands like the Barca’s, Real’s, Bayern’s, AC Milans (whisper…. ManU’s) are great because they win and they are associated with style. They don’t aspire to 3rd or 4th. Their benchmark for success is 1st. Wenger has lost that perspective – that winning is critical. He is obssessed with his particular take on playing style and a quaint view that buying teenagers has a certain purity. It hasn’t.
What strikes me is the price we paid the day David Dein was fired from the Arsenal board. What value a board member who combines vision and business savvy head with a supporters heart?
Given the current state of things, if Arsenal cannot consistenly solve and beat Man Utd and Chelsea, they will not win the league or the CL. Didn’t realize how crucial the losses to Chelsea in the 2004 CL or Man Utd in the same week F.A Cup tie would prove to be. Those were the first signs. If Arsenal had overcome Chelsea in 2004, they would have faced Jose’s Porto in the final. The only saving grace was that lose in 2004 was not humiliating. Since then, Arsenal have endured so many painful defeats to the two. Chelsea have taken a Carling Cup and F.A Cup final spot away from Arsenal while Man Utd had that easy CL semi win. Then the league defeats have cost more than 3 points — shattered pride and exposed weakness.
Wenger likes to talk about Arsenal’s strength. I rather he fix Arsenal’s weakness. Arsenal may be the only team in the Europe whose weakness are open for everyone to exploit. Even last season, Hull found it easy to take down Arsenal. Stoke will surely look forward to a match with Arsenal. And Burnley might not be too afraid when hosting Arsenal. How many people used to fancy an Arsenal visit to Valencia during the time of the strong Arsenal team with PV, Henry and Pires?
GG’s comments were interesting but I think he may have even more harsher comments than those. He created an Arsenal team, which was boring alright, but was not weak. Since the spine he created evaporated, the weakness has been increasing and now here we are.
And now Arsenal have to worry about that useless 2 man team Liverpool for a 3rd or 4th place spot. Oh gawd. It is come down to this. Sure it could be worse. Atleast Arsenal are not Pompey. Heck, they will never be Pompey thanks to the profits that Wenger has ensured. I always wanted Arsenal to overtake Man Utd and Chelsea but I never thought the Arsenal’s board’s secret desire was to ensure they would never be a Pompey or Leeds. So on that standard, Arsenal are a success.
About Liverpool – Steven Gerrrd can talk all the shite he wants but that team has barely pulled out the wins it has without Torres. They were lucky to walk out of Everton with 3 points.
I am sorry Liverpool while having some good players do not pose the level of threat that Chelsea or United do. Not this season at least.
Throw in I can’t remember the last time Arsenal lost 3 in a row – and I would say its unlikely we will lose to Liverpool. A draw is still possible (given the mental state of the club) but not a loss.
I will say this about the Chelsea match now watching it for a 3rd time (glutton for punishment) – We lost to Didier Drogba and Peter Cech. If I am Cech I am bitching out his back four almost as much as our back four is bitching out Almunia. Cech did the proverbial standing on his head that hockey keepers do. I can’t say we didn’t take our chances – we did but Cech stopped them all.
Its hard to be impressed by Chelsea. I am absolutely impressed by Drogba – simply put – he is a beast and probably the best striker in the world. Though Ivory Coast fans have to be wondering why he couldn’t show up like this for them.
Its a shame we didn’t have suitable target for crosses – because Sagna and Fabregas had some real nice ones into the middle – but noone there to receive them.
The game is over – we move on to the next one. I can’t believe I’ve read that some Arsenal fans want us to lose. Bollocks – if you are a fan you should never want that – regardless of what our standing is. Hell I am a life long Raiders fan – I have gone from the Pinnacle to as low as you can go – but I never want them to lose – even to get a draft pick. I believe if you wish your team to lose – you are a step above those whim of the moment fans. Just my opinion.
If we win against Liverpool we have a good series of league matches to get back to winning. We need the next two league matches to get off on the right foot against Porto.
I don’t know what the season holds but I am going to relax and enjoy watching the football. I will leave the headier things to the rest.
I WAS impressed by Chelsea, feeling that once they got the lead they played to keep it. We made a couple of chances but they (esp. Cech) were up to the task. I’ve got plenty of respect for teams that look in control even if they don’t have possession, which is how Chelsea seemed yesterday. By the time (too late) that we made our subs, the remainder of the team seemed out of gas.
There are some definite positives to take from the match, but AW goes overboard saying we dominated the match and that Chelsea didn’t play football. Normally I’m not among those appalled by his remarks and think of him as a fairly honest and humble character, with the best interest of the club at heart. Yesterday’s remarks, combined with his recent ones about the failings in the transfer window and downplaying the domestic cups, were sure to generate a severe backlash.
Still, I prefer to look forward and hope we can build on yesterday’s performance, eliminate the mistakes and get solid results vs Liverpool and Porto. These are very big games and we need to right the ship, right now.
I think it would be quite funny if we got United or Chelsea in the event of beating Porto, in a sadistic sort of way.
Ha Ha….
Two legs would be the perfect opportunity to show that we can “dominate” our domestic rivals or not be undone by one-off poor performances….
Again, Ha, Ha…
(IF, and on current form, it’s a big IF, we can get past Porto, I pray that the little balls give us a more amenable quarter-final draw than United or Chelsea or Barca or Real or Bayern….
I guess I’m just looking to see something a little more result-oriented….
Or maybe it’s because it just occurred to me that it’s been over a month since we last scored an un-deflected goal against an opponent not named Bolton….
I dunno, the Kool-aid just seems a little under-strength at the moment….
Steve,
if you give me your mailing address, I’ll try and send you the “Untouchables” DVD… so you can see what REAL FOOTBALL was at the Arsenal.
stag133@aol.com
I actually think that Arsenal will certainly get one of them in the next round, provided Porto are taken care of.
DAG.
Why wouldn’t Liverpool or Gerrard talk shit. They’ve played poorly all season, have had injuries to their 3 best players, and if they beat us on Wednesday, they’ll be 2 points back.
I’d be trying to get Arsenal off their game too… well, they already are off their game, but why not keeping throwing gasoline on the fire.
Who on Arsenal are going to do anything about it?
I wouldn’t bet on an Arsenal win Wednesday … not with my own money.
and you don’t have to think Chelsea were “impressive”… it was just the response Ballack made in regard to Wenger’s idiotic rantings of a lunatic.
Its about WINNING, not about playing nice passes.
its hard for us kool-aid drinkers to say anything right now because it is just impossible to justify not purchasing a striker in january. I mean what can you say there is no way to defend it other then to say who knows maybe no one out there was willing to sell a striker that was good enough for a fair price but isn’t any striker better then no striker at all?
what can you say to that…lol
“If you think about it at the board level it would be crazy to change anything if things keep sailing smoothly.”
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At the top level professional sport is aspirational. It’s basic stuff – you need to keep the fans excited. Are Arsenal fans excited with the thought of competing for 3rd?
So whilst you need a sustainable business model you also need to maintain the interest/excitment.
That is understandable but look at other clubs…look at tottenham for example other then their little CC adventure they havent done much of anything for years yet they still pack the stadium year in and year out.
The real question will be is if Arsenal fc will have enough support to continue to fill the stadium for the next few years.
Professional sports is about aspirations but also about survival. When you have such a big debt all it takes is a couple of bad big name signings a year or two out of the CLs and all of a sudden everything can go tits up…
Spurs fans have a different set of expectations, as do most other clubs. It’s pretty useless drawing an analogy like that outside of the Big Four.
In that case maybe Arsenal fans are a bit spoilt to have such lofty expectations for the club.
Every time I think about us replacing AW all I can picture is when spurs got rid of Jol thinking he was not good enough for their own expectations(after back to back 5th place finishes).
I just feel it would be a disaster. Anyway to the point the question remains the same from the boards perspective if the stadiums are full and we stay in the CL why change a thing until the debt is substantially reduced?
Will the fans stop turning up? Personally I don’t see it happening as long as we continue to stay in the top four but anything can happen..
If an Arsenal match @ Emirates has indeed become just another corporate outing, like so many big-time sporting matches, Top Four probably will be enough for awhile longer. Those who attend in-person will make their investment on the day, and forget about it the next. So I would agree, short-term, no great harm to the Arsenal brand.
But long-term, ignoring the hardcore support, failing to win any silver, and falling for the idea that 3rd/4th is the new 1st, you’ll breed only fickle, fair-weather support. Who, like yourself, will eventually find something else to do with their time.
And, more crucially, their money.
By the time those chickens come home to roost, Wenger will be long gone.
____________________________
One question, stagg, (mazza, whomever) regarding the raucous Highbury support you mention. Wasn’t that more section specific? Having never been myself, the clock-end is certainly the stuff of legend. But watching on TV, overall, it did generally sound like the phrase the announcers often used: ‘The Library at Highbury’. Have home Arsenal fans not often been what we would describe as ‘Wine and Cheesers’?
Eh? I thought it was the North Bank that was the stuff of Legend (regarding home fans anyway). Or am I missing something here.. Anyone?
My understanding is the North and South ends were primarily where the crazy support came from (thus, ‘section specific’).
But there are plenty here who are going by more than ‘Fever Pitch’, et al. Looking forward to their answers.
Vibe
It was generally accepted that the North Bank and the Clock End were the stands with more atmosphere, while the West and East Stands attracted more of the prawn sandwichy brigade. Even more so when the North Bank and Clock End were terracing – that was an experience, even though I was pretty young at the time I went on them and only vaguely remember it. I was actually at the Newcastle game that it is shown in Fever Pitch – the same day as Hillsborough.
It’s true that Highbury was known as the library, but there was something about the place, even when it was ‘quiet’, that filled the gaps between the goals and chances and the roars that accompanied them. There was a buzz, something intangible that meant you never looked around during one of the drab periods in the game and thought “what sort of souless bowl is this”. Instead you looked around and took in the history.
At the Emirates you don’t get that same ambience and the saying “you don’t what you’ve got till it’s gone” definately rings true, cause I miss the old ground like hell, and I’m disappointed that the last time I went to watch a game was Arsenal – Valencia in 2003, which finished 0-0. Tickets were gold dust at highbury now.
There’s a different feel around matchdays the Emirates as well, which makes it all bit phoney. From the cheesy Elvis Song, to the countless charity adverts(although worthy causes) being played on the Jumbotron with Cesc and co dressed in animal attire, it all seems a bit nice and contrived. Not exactly things to build the crowd into a fervour, but one more likely to send you into apathy and waitng to be ‘entertained’.
So when Wenger and co complain about the crowd at times, they kind of have to look at themselves and the somewhat superficial environment they’ve created.
Having said all that, there was some atmosphere when I went to Fulham game in 07/08 and Hleb scored in the last minute, and when Cashley returned that same season. The view is also great, so it’s not all bad, it’s just that Highbury was something that special. I think even Wenger realises that too.
Thanks, Maz. Good stuff. I appreciate you further explaining the difference between the ‘library’ and the corporate grounds that is Emirates.
Impressed, too, that you resurrected Hleby for your personal highlight reel. ;-)
I’ve been reduced to subtle name drops to keep up the habit, although not subtle enough obviously ;)
I would agree with Mazza on Highbury… it was simply magical.
For a big game, there was amazing atmosphere throughout.
I went to see Chelsea at the Emirates this season, and it was pathetic, even when it was 0-0 for 40 minutes. It’s corporate.
The North Bank and Clock End would serenade each other all match…
“we’re the North Bank, the North Bank, the North Bank – Highbury…” and then the Clock End would sing it back…
Now, the only singing at the Emirates is from the away section.
When I go back, I will now go to away games.
Big game versus the pool coming up it will decide whether we fight it out with the lot of them for a CL place or if we hang on in the race for the title.
Both Manu and Chelsea have tough away fixtures so we could see ourselves climb back to within 6 points with a very good run-in remaining. ALthough its hard not to see this team ‘bottle’ it at some stage even if we got within a shot of the title.
but i shall keep the hope alive
UP THE ARSE lol
http://www.studs-up.com/
LMAO! aw needs a new prescription hahahahahaaa
good therapy ;-)
studs up is always good for a laugh when your down!…AWs face in the third picture is priceless he looks so relieved hahahaha
it’s excellent – thanks man!
http://www.studs-up.com/2009/11/get-em-while-theyre-hot/?page=2
This one is from right after we lost to chelsea in november…strange how nothing has changed…
Fair question. I’m not answering the question directly Stag, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if this years board meeting is not carefully stage-managed. Clearly Wenger and PHW were unprepared for the barbed public questioning judging by their snobbish and contemptuous responses which further alienated fans. I would think they’ll want to avoid that, and it isn’t hard to do – the club dictates how the meeting will run.
Fans have to decide whether they like what they’re getting. It’s 5 years now. You can see the product. The style of football. The priorities. The level we are at. The near contempt for the CC and FAC. The imbalance toward the long-term. The almost complete control by Wenger. You decide.
For the totally besotted, they’ll keep hoping and trying to defend the approach irrespective of the evidence. 5.. 6… 7 years. However judging by the increasing silence, there is a large contingent who have other interests in life and who quietly realign accordingly. Perhaps they’ll tune back in when it’s interesting again….. some will not, they’ll have found another equally interesting pass-time – cause that’s all it is. It’s not particularly noble, striving for peace, or the greater good, it’s Theo Walcott doing nothing and getting 60,000 pounds per week.
That last line is killer. So at least the quality of the bitching here remains high.
;-)
However judging by the increasing silence, there is a large contingent who have other interests in life and who quietly realign accordingly. Perhaps they’ll tune back in when it’s interesting again
____________________
I’ve never really thought about that but its very true in my case. I usually lose interest once I know we’ve all but lost hope and focus my attention elsewhere. It might explain why I don’t get as worked up as others do and why I still have patience for AW’s formula for success.
when did you become a fan of Arsenal?
My first season was 98-99 right after the world cup. I use to only watch the WC but after i saw this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc1H2hOHu_s&feature=related
I had to watch the man play more!
Now I kind of float in and out. I miss a few games here and there but always keep track of whats going on.
How do you think Arsene Wenger and the Board would respond
to the following (type) of question at the year end AISA meeting?
(AISA is the Arsenal Independent Supporters Association)
Arsene, since you don’t really value the FA Cup competition, and
feel it is a bigger accomplishment to finish 3rd or 4th in the league than actually win the FA Cup… why should our fans show up for the
FA Cup matches and pay the exhorbitant prices to see matches that you
don’t really care about winning?
its not about not valuing the FA cup but what is he going to do? If he goes and plays the first team and someone gets injured just before the biggest four games of the season he looks silly.
In hindsight its easy to say what we should have done but he tried to find a balance and it didnt work for him.
Its damned if you do and damned if you don’t
actually RVP, it isn’t at all.
Wenger needs to SHUT THE FECK UP.
All he has to do is NOT SAY IDIOTIC THINGS that INSULT the supporters intelligence… like getting 3rd or 4th is a bigger accomplishment than winning the FA Cup.
Do you realize how insulting that is for supporters traveling to away matches in mid-Winter or paying HUGE prices for tickets at home matches?
Well Mike, we’ve been through what can happen/needs to happen repeatedly for several years. None of it ever happens because Arsene is so well enscounced and intractable in his thinking. Arsenal as an institution is filled from top to bottom with people he is happy with and who won’t question him. If you genuinely think Arsene is untouchable for the foreseeable future (and you may be right) I hope you like what he’s delivering.
As for a new defensive-oriented 2IC – what makes you think that will happen? I read today Lee Dixon saying Wenger never coached the back 4. At the time you could explain it away, that the back 4 was already well coached. Now? There is more evidence to suggest he just doesn’t see defensive drills as his idea of football.
I’m finding that after the ocassional false dawn I get even more indifferent about this side and Arsene.
What is fascinating is the lack of comment after 2 such huge games and with Liverpool coming up. It’s as though with each disappointment the reaction reduces, the expectations lower, reflecting the growing disillusion.
On the impact of Nick. I think there was a momentary improvement however after 5-10 min’s it was neutralised by Chelsea. Nick isn’t a saviour, he’s a young striker with a big ego who has done nothing to suggest he’s anything more than very average. Maybe at 24 he’ll make a breakthrough – yet we’re always being sold the future aren’t we.
I wonder how many of us would buy a season ticket if we lived in London? I wouldn’t. Although in normal circumstances I would (even more than one so I could take my kids).
Kiwi, unless you are fairly wealthy, you could not afford a season ticket to Arsenal.
I know 2 LIFETIME Arsenal supporters who have had season tickets for 25 years +… that have to either share or sell at least half their tickets to go to matches now.
This is exactly what Arsenal want… a different bunch of “fans” each week, out for a match once or twice a year… buying scarves and shirts for their kids… and little passion in the stadium, little noise made by the home supporters.
I traveled to London to see the Arsenal every single year, sometimes twice a year for about 10 straight seasons… because the atmosphere was like nothing I had ever experienced… it was magical, in a magical stadium called Highbury… where the hair would stand up on the back of your neck.
Arsenal went corporate… there is no trace of passion in the new building, and the club bare little resemblance to the teams that played in Highbury as well.
No passion on the field, no players with any grit, and few down for the cause…
Utterly disheartening to watch.
…your first line is true. However the question remains valid whatever the answer. How many would pay a high amount to watch this side?
That really is the question because I get the feeling as long as they keep selling out (or close to it) nothing will change because…
What is the goal? To bide their time while the debt is paid off without risking the clubs future
If you think about it at the board level it would be crazy to change anything if things keep sailing smoothly. The club has a lot of debt and they need to keep themselves in the CL without spending too much money. AW can do those things and it is very unlikely that they can bring in another manager who can do the same so why would they risk changing the status quo when it is accomplishing all their goals and without a doubt no matter what anyone says about AW it is very difficult to stay in that top 4 especially now.
In 2005, Arsenal sold Patrick Vieira to Juventus for 13 million quid. For me, that’s the day it all came off the rails. I, literally, COULD NOT believe it. For me, that’s also the day stag133 stopped drinking the so-called kool-aid. He bitched like never before and hasn’t stopped since. In fairness, I was equally pissed.
Vieira’s arguably my favorite player ever. There were a few years I thought he was the best player in the world. No other player could do EVERYTHING that well. The fact that Arsenal sold him left me gutted. Not only was my favorite player leaving my favorite team, but I couldn’t see Arsenal winning a championship without him.
Wenger often get’s credit for making Vieira a star but I think he gets too much. I’ve often referred to Vieira as a hybrid. He had so many good qualities, all inspired of different sources. Sure Wenger played a role but there was more. I think Adams, Petit, and Keown had an even more profound affect on him. Their mentorship seems to have given him a toughness; the fabled British resolve he didn’t seem have in the Atlanta Olympics.
That’s the problem with Wenger’s current team. They are a bunch of young, talented players, much like Vieira, Anelka, and Henry. But with the big dogs gone, who’s going to give them the leadership they need to succeed in the BPL? They might figure it out on their own but it will take much longer and there’s simply no guarantee of success.
yes. true. with Vieira’s departure, so departed the heart of the team… Wenger never even attempted to replace it.
Vieira’s game declined, like most players games do as they get older. But again, I point to Giggs and Scholes at ManU… they still contribute on and off the pitch, to a Championship team. Lesser roles, but invaluable none-the-less.
Wenger sells virtually any player that gets to 30, or lets them know they are on 1 year deals only.
He has collected a bunch of players that are devoid of the grit, physicality, determination, and heart that Vieira had… and it shows in the way the team plays, and how they react to stress on the pitch. They capitulate.
When the going gets tough, or the game is a big one, we almost always lose.
Yes, you are 100% correct that many of the younger players learned a LOT from the older players… Bergy, Parlour, Keown, Adams, Winterburn, Dixon…
who is passing it down to these kids? Arsene? That’s folly. We don’t have anyone that’s ever won shit in the team… and it shows when the games matter most.
If everyone stops bitching (about the likes of Clichy, Denilson and Walcott, as above), this place will be as active as AA. Not a lot to be happy about right now, so kool-aid ad sales are bound to be down.
I don’t think anyone believes Wenger will be fired. Many hope he will resign, but I’m not sure how many believe that will happen, either. A lot of venting going on.
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For DirecTV customers, Grant Wahl and others are saying FSC HD + will be live as of Wednesday. As Arsenal/’pool is scheduled to be on Setanta, that could prove interesting.
Hello kids you guys done bitching?
Lots in here from both sides of the coin. No I didn’t bother to read it all – pretty much most of the comments were predictable.
It was Arsene’s fault, the team didn’t get beat outright, etc.
They are not going to fire Arsene Wenger. Sports is a business now. It has less to do with what the fans want then the business of making profit. I would argue you could make more revenue if you actually won something but if you are competitive you make money. The board is happy being competitive and making money – so there will be no changes.
And no Stag Cesc will only go to Barca when Wenger, steps aside. If anything most of his players are loyal to him because he is loyal to them. There are exceptions but for the most part this is true.
Obviously Clichy and Almunia need to go as does Walcott (I will take that back if he actually shows something for the rest of the season).
Our attack changed and was a little more forceful with Nicky B on – he needs to start against Pool in the middle with Arshavin on the wing.
Chech gave Almunia a clinic on stopping balls while Almunia gave a clinic on how not to get his face battered in. Or how not to run into the post trying to stop a ball. In both goals they were quite stoppable – again Almunia stops nothing. I got collenders in my cupard that stop more than Almunia.
So if Arsene isn’t going to be fired what can be done? Mainly a solid number two man. A defensive oriented coach who can bring out the best of a back four of Sagna Gallas, Vermaelen and Gibbs. That is needed among all things.
I don’t think those two goals were as stoppable as you think. Maybe stopable but not savable by Almunia. He could have gotten lucky on the second one.
No one is going to come in and tell Wenger how to coach his team. He won’t have it.
I hold Clichy at fault for the first goal because he should have been on the post. The second goal was Vermealen’s fault. He was close enough to touch Drogba when the fast break started but he left Drogba. Not only that, he was the one keeping Drogba onsides as he was deeper than the rest of the backline. He’s been good this year but he was bad on that play.
Clichy actually left the post, and ran forward because there was a gaping hole that no defender ran into in the middle of the box…
the whole play was a defensive screw-up, that Clichy was only partly responsible for.
Vermaelen is solid, but he does make mistakes and we have no keeper that will ever cover up an error by the defense.
DAG, no… I’m not done bitching by a long shot… its all I have left because the team is just brutal to watch against good competition.
I think if the fans STOP showing up and completely filling the stadium, it will force the club to address Wenger and the problems on the pitch, so it is in fact, down to the supporters to not be SHEEP… and SUCKERS for showing up to Cup matches, when Wenger has zero interest in winning the competition.
Cesc will leave. Maybe this Summer. Maybe next Summer, but he’s not stupid enough to stick around for this SHIT. How does it help his career? He can make more money (adverts too!) and actually play for trophies in his home city that he adores. It’s simply a matter of time.
WHY NOT SELL HIM? That way Arsenal can make a shit-load of profit when he is a top commodity…
If we aren’t really trying to win trophies, what do we need star players for?
And I agree with Josh, Wenger will never give any assistant a say in the team, he’s too stubborn, too smart for everyone else, and too arrogant to think other people’s opinions are valuable.
I was thinking…
Arsene Wenger would be a really good manager for Paris St.Germain…
maybe he can awaken that sluggish Parisian giant from its slumber.
What number do you think Cesc will wear when he’s at Barcelona, and
do you think he’ll be OK with winning trophies, having star players on
his team, and a slightly reduced role?
Where will Manny Almunia be in 2 years time? Will he be out of football, or have to play a few years for lesser sides before somehow
getting a chance at a big team again… like Alex Manninger?
When George Graham does run into Arsene Wenger at some point, and he asks him “why did you change such a magnificent team, when it wasn’t broken”… will Arsene walk away in a huff because he doesn’t think GG has the credentials to question him?
Manninger was 20 when he joined Arsenal and 24 when he left.
He was never half as bad as Almunia. NEVER!
Even Stuart Taylor was quite solid.
Now Manninger is 32 and quite decent keeper.
Almunia on the other hand is 34. I assure you if not for Wenger he would never play in a top division team of any major league.
well, that’s true, I guess this is his high-point in his career… unfortunately, its lasted more than the 15 minutes he should have gotten.
Last week the crticism was that we did not want to win
No complaints about that yesterday.
The application and the desire was awesome from the guys. And I would like to applaud it. We played with a desire, that you would generally associate with sides from the lower division, a la Leeds.
The fact that we lost was a bit down to the naiviety of our manager, and the quality that drogba possesses. Make no mistake, both the goals could have been prevented, but if we look from that point of view, almost all goals in the world every week can be prevented.
I believe what is hard to take is seeing us starting a match as rank outsiders and living upto the label. I hope we turn that around. As great managers say, it is only a win, titles and the taste of glory that can make it happen. And certainly League Cup is not that glory. It is just local whisky. We need to win something. Arsene is missing seeing this.
This outsiders tag might also be because it was Chelsea. They are what Bolton and Blackburn were for the 2002-03 team. We were always likely to lose points against them, despite the obvious gulf in class then. They are our Achilles’ heel. Dosen’t automatically make them the best in the world. Just that their strengths very well negate ours and to top that our weaknesses complement very well with their strengths. We do not have the personnel to exploit their weaknesses. If we play like Barca, then I would like to remind, that even Barca were pretty toothless and spineless against Chelsea. Chelsea had the best attempts on goal in both the legs, they played the same counterattacking game, had Barca stifled and suffocated for space, Chelsea were unlucky not to get penalties, and luckily Barca scored from their only shot on goal over the two legs.
We were rather favourites against ManYOO, because their style dosent possess the same limitations. Just that we were poor and started with ten men. I think long ago someone bugged Wenger’s dream, where he was given the role of Morpheus, took Denilson to the Oracle ( which was SAF in disguise), and she told him that Denilson was “The One”. Rather nine, coz Almunia loves to get scored against Rooney. And I agree with all screams and howls and accusations against Wenger for sticking with them. I would love to see people disguised as Wenger, on Emirates stands, kneeling with banners saying “SORRY FOR PLAYING ALMUNIA and DENILSON”.
But that dosen’t prove he has lost the plot. A lot of managers make mistakes which are obvious to fans. Like Ferguson refusing to sign Tevez and sticking with Berba.
This year we have shown quite a few times our ability to fight back. I am sure we can do that again. The composure of the guys, their ability to link, and play well, oblivious to the scoreline, is admirable. The brief spell of 20-25 mins in the 2nd half, we were very threatening. Unfortunately, we do not have anything to show for it. Which makes the task easy for defenders and also for the doom-mongers.
I am sure we will blip again, but we will be in the race. Our quality and lessened pressure will allow us to perform without the handbrakes.
And last time someone asked what is style of this Mk3 team. I think it is an organism. It relies on the growing together. The triangles, the one-twos, the constant possession, the slow movement coupled with sudden rapid attacks, which the entire forward line is able to judge, these are things which we take for granted now, but is part of the culture and uniqueness of this team. I think under Wenger it has always been about the team. Even earlier, if one or two components did not work well, we looked bare, bar occasional brilliance of Henry or a sudden magic from Bergkamp ( which occured more often when we were leading). In this team components are more easily replaceable. That team was lucky to get 5-6 years on injury free TH14.
We have had six losses for the season and four draws. We can at max afford one more loss and one more draw. With that as the target, I continue to hope again. And I would love your support until the end of the campaign.
+1
No humor from Arsenality yet … :(
How about this?
A Message From Arsene Wenger
Dear F365,
I am extremely disappointed by the negative football displayed by Chelsea tonight, which was almost a carbon copy of the extremely negative tactics shown by the supposed champions, Manchester United, last week.
Despite my attempts to show people how beautiful this game can be, the other top teams insist on spoiling it by using antiquated formations and tactics.
For example, Chelsea’s rear wingers were routinely allowed to remain in their own half, almost fully back, which made it quite straight forward for them to close out our magnificent wide play. Did they not observe how thrilling the game can be when, in both games, our very own Gael Clichy heroically allowed his man to simply stroll into the area that he might have defended and hence score very straight-forward, exciting counter-attacking goals?
And while we are on that subject, the fans have paid to see exciting attacking football involving lots of passing and movement. How will they feel when, instead of holding the ball up on the centre circle for 30 seconds to allow the opposition to regroup and the chess match to begin, they simply spray incisive balls into space for Rooney, Drogba et al to finish off in a matter of seconds? They won’t be back in a hurry I can tell you! There’s just no value for money.
And finally, despite the protests of Bob Wilson, we have pioneered the development of the ultimate sweeper at last man whose job is to receive tricky passes on the goal line and distribute the ball super-quick using his trademark long throws. Imagine how we felt when we found these two tactical dinosaurs (Ferguson and Ancelotti) had told their man to use his special abilities to prevent goals in any way possible – sometimes even stopping attacks before players were allowed to shoot! (I always tell Manuel that, if he must try and save it, he should at least hold his arms by his side and stand completely off-balance to even up the odds.) It should be noted that both sets of fans paid to see goals and, because of the selfishness of these managers, one set of fans have gone home disappointed tonight.
It’s on days like this that I could almost question my own effort and vision in trying to improve the game of football for all right minded football people, but then I imagine that perfect final league table: 200 goals scored, 150 conceded, Arsenal are champions, everyone is happy and all teams play with my revolutionary 0-0-11 formation – just like back at school!
Arsene Wenger
Clearly Carlo didn’t get the memo. He said –
“Maybe Arsenal had more possession than us but that is not football. Football is about results.”
Sadly, our man does not see it that way.
0-0-11 formation is awesome. That might explain why Mooney always start. With him in goal, it’s like starting match without the goalkeeper anyway :)
“It is difficult to swallow a defeat like that when we felt we were the better team”
Somebody remind Arsene that everyone thinks they have the prettiest wife at home.
Really, I don’t know who he thinks he’s fooling. And, frankly, shame on anyone as deluded as he.
2-10 against Chelsea and United this season. Zero wins.
As CK said, it’s been a waste of time listening to Wenger for some time now. But he’s getting borderline insulting.
For those who are concerned about players being shown respect on here, how about the lack of respect the Manager is showing Arsenal supporters in 1. devaluing competitions they pay hard earned money for? 2. telling us when don’t know what we’re seeing?
On the other hand, keep talking. He’s talking himself into a nice little corner.
I really want to see us loosing against Liverpool for some reason. I think that could be a good thing for us this season. Hell, I want to see us play in the Europa League next season.
But what ever.
….. there will likely be a sense of creeping silence over YAMA and the rest of the Arsenal blog world.
Like what is there left to say? How many times do we arrive at the same juncture in the road and say the same things? Only for it to repeat.
I can’t even be bothered analysing or discussing who played better or worse. Does it matter? Really? It’s like we’re just waiting for there to be enough ‘yes’ votes so that we can move on and become a football club again.
Notice how Wenger is positioning everyone (executive, media and fans) for yet more underachievement by suggesting that 3rd place (or 4th – cause there’s no material difference) is a really really special target and cause for mass celebration in the streets. Book the bus, cut the streamers, it’s party time. Silly things like cups are an illusion and fans need to readjust their expectations to this new reality. The guy is nuts.
We’re at the stage where it is pointless to analyse games in isolation anymore. Those who do are missing the point.
For instance today. I fully expected a so called “improved performance” because that’s generally what happens when we go into a game with little expectation of a result. We got an improved performance, and if you took the game in isolation, you could probably say we were unlucky. But then, as I said, you would be missing the point ie. trends and patterns over the last few seasons which lead us to this point.
Unsurprisingly, Wenger has gone the delusional route again. Ignored the ground hog day element, and again focused on the performance, or possession statistics, to seek refuge. And I’m sure, in his head, project tight arse is vindicated and well on course, again.
I stopped believing in Wenger some 18 months ago.
You are right, nothing we say will suddenly make him see the light and do what’s necessary to make us an elite team again.
That has to come from Gazidis and PHW, and it wont happen until they start losing revenue.
I have to say, I half watched…
the match was on TV… I drank coffee, and read the paper,
peeping over the Sunday Globe to see how Chelsea’s goals went.
The 2nd half, I made some chili for the SuperBowl, with the volume
up high, so I could hear the TV, and watched a bit here and there.
If anyone is surprised at all about the outcome, get your head out
of your ass, seriously. It was so predictable… I could have written
the script myself. Why would Chelsea EVER do ANYTHING different, until
Arsenal change what it is doing?
They could play us 10 days in a row, and NEVER LOSE a match.
Make no mistake, we are in a FIGHT for 4th place now.
I agree with the above from… Fred? That Liverpool will probably
beat us on Wednesday. If I “HAD” to bet… if it were life or death
on the outcome, I couldn’t bet Arsenal. Not based on what I see.
Sorry.
For all the shit written about how bad Liverpool is, they beat us, and they will be 2 points behind us, with their BEST players in and out of the line-up all season. What does that say about our club?
Just what some of us have been saying all year… we aren’t close to winning the league, and if we want to actually be a contender to win, then unfortunately, Arsene Wenger has to go… as he will never change the way he does things, regardless of what happens on the pitch.
Sometimes … even the greatest of managers… outlive their welcome.
The game has passed him by as Arsenal’s manager… he can not cope with what is happening on and off the pitch. He is out of touch and delusional.
Does it mean he is dumb? NO.
Does it mean he doesn’t want to win? NO.
Does it mean we all know more about football? NO.
But good and great managers have been fired before. Sometimes you can’t
see the forest thru the trees, and that is currently the case with
Arsene Wenger at the Arsenal Football Club.
If you are OK with the current level of the team, and what has happened every season over the previous 5… then by all means, keep Arsene on, and the team will make money… and finish near or around the top 4 every season.
If you believe we should be trying to win the league, the FA Cup or at least trying to win a trophy, there is no defense for Arsene to remain.
I ask you this… if we don’t finish in the top 4 this season… what would your response be? (because it is a distinct possibility)
I ask you this as well… if we are cash-strapped… and are not really capable of challenging for the league because of the new stadium or that we want to remain a profit making machine…
why not SELL Cesc Fabregas in the off-season to Barcelona for 40 Million GBP or more? Why keep him?
Nobody is bigger than the team… and we aren’t going to win without buying legitimate players in key positions, so lets sell Cesc and maybe even Arshavin, and take the 60 million plus… spend 15 or 20 on youngsters with promise, and continue to do what we have been doing
for the last 5 seasons. Make Money & sell Star players for big profits.
“It is difficult to swallow a defeat like that when we felt we were the better team”
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The man is delusional. There have been moments this season when folk have said he is finally waking up – I was never convinced of that and it is not so. Chelsea played an excellent match. We played better than we did last week yet so what? We were truely awful then, today we were just wholly outplayed yet tried hard. Yet in Wenger’s eyes he sees us as being the better team. What exactly was better? The fact they blasted two goals past us early meant they could manage the remainder of the game, and they did, let’s not forget they played midweek we didn’t. Their passing was more accurate and purposeful, their execution continues to be more clinical, they know their game and how to stifle ours, their whole team has a shape that you know is effective. We’re just not there.
So how jolly arrogant of Wenger after 5 years to still be grudging in his comments and withholding of praise. No one, bar the clinging are fooled. He really does see football as some sort of gymnastics competition where you get scores for artistic merit. And even on that front when did good football comprise – negligent defending, metronomic telegraphed passing and toothless attacking? Wake up Wenger.
In my view Wenger is done and dusted. If he doesnt take us into the CL final at the least he should leave or be sacked.
I’m a bit more concerned about getting past Porto first….after that, it’s all about those little balls….(i.e. the draw)
No way in hell we’re getting past any serious team over two legs….
You guys are just way too optimistic…. ;-)
Glad you clarified the ‘little balls’, as that could have applied to members of the squad, as well. ;-)
You have heard that one right?
We see a lot of the ball, but don’t have any to show.
;)
Wow, I haven’t seen any post match comments. That is bad.
Chelsea beat us comprehensively. Perhaps if we could magically switch keepers or if that beautiful ball over the top from Fabs to Arshavin had gone in (for 1-1), it might’ve been a little different.
Frankly, I think Chelsea are a whole class above us, dropped points between our matches notwithstanding.
It is the job of the manager to foster positivity in the ranks, and there were a few today that we might try and carry into our “big match” with a more equal rival (Liverpool). Still, it undermines that objective to fail to acknowledge an opponent who was technically, tactically and clinically superior.
Wenger’s comments are really rich. Heady stuff.
“You have to congratulate Chelsea. We didn’t get a demonstration of football but they were efficient and, at the end of the day, that is what has made the difference.”
…. didn’t get a demonstration of football. How condescending, Wenger rights the rules on football you know. But also how totally wrong.
On Drogba last time ….”doesn’t do much”. Really off the wall stuff. Just makes him and us look ridiculous.
Drogba doesn’t do much, other than being a goal scoring machine, especially against Arsenal.
He is too physical for any Arsenal player to deal with, they literally bounce off him… and he KNOWS he is going to score, and so do we…
It was most definitely … again… a footballing demonstration. They SCHOOL US, and we don’t change or adapt, so the result is always the same.
But Arsene knows… what he knows, is becoming highly debatable.
Well, he missed that Hat Trick.
It really is a joke. As you say, he’s making himself a laughingstock.
0-5. That’s all they need respond.
Striker is a bit like GK – you’re an events guy. When called upon you do your stuff. The legends stand tall. Drogba is, Henry is, Seaman is …. it’s not just what you do but how you do it. You can’t tell me there isn’t a beauty in the way Drogba monsters in for his goals.
Did Henry do much? Not really. Just notched 30 goals a season.
It looks like there will be no salvation for Wenger or Arsenal.
Both Manchester United and Chelsea have reasserted a strong points lead and look to be gathering momentum when they need to. Nothing too unfamiliar about that.
All the press-talk by Wenger and the players about being ready for the task has again proven to be talk without substance. The small hope is that we can pick up points against the dross and that both heavyweights drop more points than we will. Small hope.
The real issue has been increasingly apparent for several years. Is there any balance at Arsenal to Wenger? Or is his authority complete? I think it is complete, we see that, every window for the last 3 years (+) fans chant the mantra that Arsene knows and he will address things. We know what happens. Anyone still harbouring this notion is irrational. Absolute power is never a good thing even if it starts out producing pleasing outcomes. So sadly this will likely end in tears. A shame a manager of his achievement will have his legacy sullied.
We now know that we don’t compete for domestic cups. There you go. Wenger decides it so that’s what has happened to our club. We compete for the EPL and CL, with a team that is only capable of competing for the FAC and CC. It’s arse about. If this extreme approach stood any hope it needed the bolstering impact of a trophy or two. But no, Wenger knows better. That is arrogant as well as self defeating.
He should resign.
Wow, tough assessment.
For me, I was pleased to see Denilson dropped. Whether or not that was Wenger’s idea is open to question. ;-)
Unlike some, I felt the result was to be expected, so we should’ve played without pressure, which I thought would help (can’t say that it did). Chelsea, as I said after the November match, are the best team around–a mature team, who play quality football. If anything I think they have trouble getting “up” for the lesser teams. Today’s performance was tactically perfect and clinical. Also, reports of the demise of Petr Cech are a bit premature. Switch keepers and we might’ve had a shout…. I’ll reiterate my thought that Chelsea will claim multiple trophies this season.
Unfortunately, now the ‘Pool match becomes a high pressure one, with little positive to carry into it. If we get outplayed and/or give them a result, the boos will ring loudly.
And then Porto…our whole season is about the CL now, so even more pressure, and our boys don’t seem to handle pressure well at all. At least we won’t have an FA Cup match to play on the weekend in between…. ;-)
I’ve said along that the football this lot play has been overrated to the extreme all season and that the 06/07 one was better, never mind the 07/08 one. Against those teams, playing football against them was indeed suicidal, but not against this lot, even though the cliche lives on.
This team play at a level below those teams, and ‘Wengerball'(hate that term really)looks even more laboured and predictable when the overall level is lower.
Hey I can chime in on this, seeing those seasons myself ;-)…
You’re correct, of course. Our MF and attack options are pretty sparse with Walcott (no ball skills) and Diaby, Nasri and Song with OK ones but all are still a bit weedy (as they say). With Arshavin and Cesc easily frustrated that the youngsters don’t read their touches perfectly….Well, we never even had a sniff of the match…esp. when we wait until so late to bring on subs (Rosicky for Walcott in the 25th minute would’ve been about right…)
Still, I come away feeling positive, in that, Denilson was dropped….
The squad is probably better now and we have a certain directness and goal scoring threat that serves us well against poor sides, but the first team is a cohesion-free zone in comparison to 07/08 starting eleven.
You truly have been saying this for years. It would nice if some of the kool-aiders would finally come out and admit that they’ve gotten some things wrong. I guess their silence will have to serve.
Overall I don’t think the performance was THAT bad. Definitely an improvement over Utd although as some have suggested that may be because after they took the lead they were happy to sit back and absorb the pressure. We lacked cutting edge up front and it’s cost us big. The confidence is ebbing away and we need to regain it QUICK! We get the confidence back, get our heads straight and our run-in should at the very least see us finish 3rd.
“Drog brace stuns Gunners in derby TEAMtalk – Chelsea 07:28”
_______________________________
That headline is a nonsense.
No one not even the players could be stunned by the manner of the game. It was 100% within the realms of the likely.
Goal one. Not even a fullback on the line by the post?
Goal two. Didn’t ManU do this to us? A re-run of their breakaway goal.
Then ….. much huff and puff yet I doubt I’m alone in having almost no expectation of a goal let alone a comeback.
One point out of nine. We’re closer to be dragged back into a battle for 3rd and 4th than challenging. Like Evra said, “men against boys” and we get way too much credit for our football.
We are actually WORSE off now than after we lost to Chelsea last time.
After the last game we were 11 behind BUT with a game in hand. Now we are 9 behind with no games behind.
PLUS we have FEWER games to make up on points.
We are no longer in the title race, we are now in a BIG fight for fourth place.
PS: Why were we going all out attack at Stamford Bridge????
Wenger is not just a stubborn fucker, he is really a tactical amateur.
Benitez will destroy him on Wednesday.
The game was completely predictable. So predictable I dont even flinch when we concede anymore.
Almunia and Clichy combined to wreck with early blunder type moves.
Calamity Clichy was clueless for the first and was several miles away from HIS position for the second. Ofcourse Almunia was a static gorilla throughout.
Liverpool will DEFINITELY get a draw and most likely beat us this Wednesday. No question.
They will just defend very deep, target Clichy and Almunia, and hit on the break. With Gerrard, Torres and Kuyt they have the perfect players to achieve that.
Wenger is a CRIMINAL for not buying a striker and goalier this transfer window. A big IDIOT and MORON. He should just leave this summer.
If we are losing at home midweek, I fully expect the fans to really start calling Wenger out openly and loudly.
“I dont even flinch when we concede anymore.” – Sadly has applied to me for a few seasons now. Problem is, before this, I was always sure that we’d do something at the other end as well.
Torres is missing I believe. Thank god for that, because their backup strikers are way worse.
“Calamity Clichy” implies that bad things happen to him (not always his fault)…”Clueless Clichy” might be a more apt descritor. Gibbs injury looms larger than initially thought…
I’ve been telling folk our play is telegraphed and laboured for a while, Chelsea who supposedly don’t play quality football looked sharp in their passing and efficient. Don’t be fooled by the stat’s like ‘shots on goal’ Chelsea knew the job was done at the 7 minute mark, they know our blunt toothless style and are happy to lap it up.
The last we played beautiful football was 07-08.
Hell, Chels played good defense and counter-attack the Mk-II were so good at.
Drogba’s a beautiful player, and Wenger disses him, go figure.
Drogba is a great player…He’s also a cheating sack of poo, but I guess that’s part of the game…
Our players are not saints either ;)
Our corners were absolutely wasted. Why does Fab continually play the ball into the 6 yard-box? The keeper is always going to claim those. You’ve got to play the ball between the 6-yard box and the penalty spot. You want the keeper unsure. If you play it in the 6-yard box, he’s going to claim it 99% of the time.
Because we don’t practice them?
Maybe he’s taught that way, who knows what happens on training ground.
Evra was right.
Arsenal play too slow to have a small team. Nasri holds the ball too long and Walcott gives us nothing. Chelsea were so disciplined in getting behind the ball. We either needed a dribbler, someone willing to take a shot from distance, or to play the ball quickly.
We will need a new coach to get those kind of players.
We’ve never been fast since Mk-II was dismantled.
Didn’t take long to disabuse you of the notion “we have enough quality to beat Chelsea.”
(Only counting today, of course.)
Same as it ever was.
I knew we were f&cked when Almunia, Denilson and Walcott line up during the week to “motivate” the team with their “morale-boosting” statements.
Atleast Denilson would have taken a shot. He could have scored us another deflected goal.
Everyone knew where Drogba’s free kick was going except Almunia.
Everyone knows how good Almunia is except Arsene.
Yeah, he MIGHT have had a deflected shot (when has he ever done that against a top team?) but we would SURELY have lost 5-0 instead.
At least with Diaby we won the midfield battle early on.
You take yourself too seriously.
So says the guy who talks about his coaching credentials.
I dont know much but I know Denilson is utter shit and I have been saying that for 2 years.
To be fair on that one, it was one hell of a strike. He should have moved, but no way he was getting that.
Stagg,
You can delete this one of off your DVR. It looks exactly as you imagined it would.
Come on, Vibe. We have improved!
We only lost 0-2.
Fair enough, nip. Based on the pattern, I’ve set my DVR for our second match against them next season…a triumphant 0-0 draw. Which will be like winning 4 League Cups, 3 FA Cups and a Truck Driver’s Bowling Tournament.
Same old, same old !!
Arsh and Nasri miss our best chances, Chelsea take theirs.
That is boys vs men.
Don’t worry, we will beat Pool on Wed and go on an unbeaten run until the end of the season. And remember, trophies are not all they seem to be.
Today, we won two small trophies – Arsh won a header and Mooney actually used his head on a clearance.
We will be just fine. There is always next season.
Mazza, we and the team need your half-time rants. Wouldn’t mind hair-dryer and boot-throwing treatment either …
Any chance of seeing Denilson in 2nd half? :P
Deni to save our arses ;)
Arsene was right about one thing.
This team is traumatized !!
Did you tweet from GDC?
I can already imagine what he will say after this match is done.
Stag has been right so far.
One crucial miss by Arsh. Otherwise, same old, same old !!
Let’s do a 5-0. Might as well.
For anyone who would be critical of Drogba being left alone by the back post, please keep in mind: yesterday was the 76th anniversary (plus one month) of Herbert Chapman’s death. That was bound to effect our confidence.
lol
how many times has diaby come off an injury and played well?
…
oh im nervous
Diaby almost can’t help looking better than Denilson (if he’s not actually in a wheelchair/on crutches).
He still needs to stay fit/play better than Vieira and Flamini if he wants the French/Arsenal WC spot….
If Diaby can stay fit for the rest of the season, and I know it’s a big if, he can really have a major impact on our season. He’s shown his best form this season. I was impressed how quickly he regained form after his last injury. I’ll go so far as to say that if he’s fit come the end of the season, he’ll be one of the best players at the World Cup. If France do well, he’ll be the difference. He’s really impressed me this season. This would be a fine match for him to lay down a marker.
Okay Walcott is playing. Not quite as shocking as Denilson, but not far behind. Not liking that forward line at all to be honest.
Agreed. Believe it or not, I think Eboue would have a good game if he were to get the nod. Perhaps Wenger’s taking on Fred’s idea that Walcott’s presence will keep Ashley a bit more honest today. Lord knows he killed us in the last game. I hope Theo showed the boss something this week in training. We’ll soon see. I’ll be at the GDC at kickoff. I’ve got to finish reading this chapter.
Indeed, a shame that our internal solution at striker (Bendtner) is still a week (month, season?) or two from full fitness….
And we couldn’t find better striker than injured Bendtner during Jan transfer window … :(
Can’t remember being this nervous about a match
Arsenal Starting XI: Almunia, Sagna, Vermaelen, Gallas, Clichy, Song, Fabregas, Diaby, Walcott, Arshavin, Nasri
Subs: Fabianski, Bendtner, Rosicky, Sol . . . (rest to come)
Cheslea Starting XI: Cech, Ivanovic, Carvalho, Terr, A Cole, Ballack, Mikel, Lampard, Anelka, Malouda, Dogba
THERE IS A GOD – DENILSON SITS!!!!!!!
OMG….Wenger breaks the pecking order/drops Denilson!!! (Of course, hopefully Diaby can actually run AND he remembers which goal he’s trying to head into…)
As Nigel Tufnel (Spinal Tap) might say….We’re playing with Eleven!!!…. That’s for Vibe and, maybe Fred ;-)
Chelsea drop Deco for Mikel from their match at Hull…
Unfortunately, no warm fuzzy parallels to be taken from the Birmingham Derby as the blue side (City) have scored two goals through ancient Kevin Phillips and now lead 2-1…
AW and Deni read your blog, DAG ;)
Other Arsenal Subs: Eboue, Denilson, Ramsey
Big match today, lots on the line, and not a whole lot to pin any hopes onto. Maybe our best thought (expressed by several above) is that Chelsea need to win today, so they’ll be trying to play “their” game, rather than just soaking up our pressure and punishing us with quick crosses and Drogba’s strength and floppy antics in the box (as they did at the Emirates).
What I’ve noticed watching Chelsea in matches that they think they should win is that they seem to have an incredible belief in their technical superiority, esp. when it comes to the speed of their passing and turning with the ball. They don’t really run that hard, but they sure pass the ball with extraordinary speed and then try to break the game by receiving the passes with quick, turning moves, esp., when defenders have over-committed, and tried and failed to pick off the fast passes.
If we can get back to harrassing their players on the ball, AND not over-commit when they make their speedy passes I think we can, maybe, get under their skin a bit and turn the game our way.
Obviously they’ve got a ton of quality and Drogba, for one at least, is not afraid to play a little dirty. Still, if we put in a solid, disciplined effort to break up or at least anticipate and harass their bread and butter passing game, I won’t be overly disappointed, no matter what the result. If we just lay off and let them pick us apart….
Upset still brewing in the Birmingham Derby (Wolves up a goal in the the 70th minute.) I think I’ll go sit in the GDC if anybody’s looking for a little pre-match chat….
Down 0-2 at the half. AA23 channels Kanu ’99. “Arsh you kidding me?” read the headlines in the paper.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqKi_yOYvOw
Well, one can dream….
About Mazza’s 3rd point above. I think there is a lot in that, particularly with how it affects our play. During our bright start to the season, noone expected much of us and I think that led to ALL our players harrying the opposition and working really hard, pressing from high up the pitch. I think the underdog feeling today should see us resort to that physical hard work once again and that gives me hope that we can pull off an upset.
Arsenal in a smash and grab 2-1 win. Put a bet on us winning as well.. Not that I think we’re favourites but I think we are better than the 4.7:1 odds on offer.
COMEONNN ARSENAL!
Nice Ozi….I’m not a betting guy but occasionally I notice some big opportunities (like Stoke at better than 3-1 when we played them in the FA Cup).
No line-ups out yet and I haven’t heard anything on Diaby’s late fitness test, so I think it might be a chance for the starting 11 from last week to redeem themselves. What’s frightening are the number of (easier) chances that United spurned (against that group) on top of their 3 goals. Still, a little better (well, actually much better) defending and the “smash and grab” (Arshavin maybe can come up with the quick, lethal strikes that RVP scored from last time at the Bridge) and we might be in with a chance.
But there I go again, getting hopeful when I know that low expectations are the key….
In the other derby (Birmingham, City-Wolves) the underdog (Wolves) lead by a goal at the interval…so you never know….
Well.. There goes that wager..
i think it is going to be a 4-4-2
manu
sagna gallas varmaelen clichy
eboue song fabregas nasri (denilson)
rosicky(nasri) arshavin
walcott can replace sagna and bendtner can replace hope-he-gets-a-last-minute-calf-strain-denilSOB or rosicky if we are required to come back
Wow! Arsene is on a roll.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/wenger-goalkeeper-is-the-toughest-position?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+arsenal-news+%28News+Feed%29
“I think he [Almunia] puts a lot of pressure on his shoulders, too much.”
The manager added that a nervous backline, not just a nervous goalkeeper, can impact on the rest of the team.
“I believe as well the defender has the same problem,” he said. “When you feel a defender is nervous it spreads as well. If he kicks the ball into the stand instead of clearing it five metres to a midfielder, the midfielder thinks ‘what is happening here’. It spreads through the team.”
He’s right about the lack of confidence spreading. Too bad he doesn’t see that happening to midfielders as well otherwise we may have seen Denilson dropped. His comments about keeper mean Manny will be within the posts once again. Oh well, we can’t fight it, might as well hope that he does well.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/-euro-trauma-affected-us-against-man-united-?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+arsenal-news+%28News+Feed%29
Yet another classic from Arsene.
It has been ten months, but we are still affected by that Euro defeat to ManU !!! What does that say of the team and Arsene?
If we lose tonight, which Chelsea game are we traumatized about? The 3-0 home defeat, the 4-1 home defeat or the FA Cup exit? We can go as long back as the Drogba inspired defeat in 2005. Take your pick – we are certainly not short of options.
The 2-1 Carling Cup defeat in 2007 would be a good candidate for excuse …
I would not play Sol. He will be killed by the power of Drogba and the pace of Anelka.
By the way, why are we changing the defence? It is not like Song is out. The problem areas are not CB or DM. It is GK, LB and Deni. I know Fab is not great, but is he really worse than Mooney? One can hope that Clichy is recovering from injury and will do better tonight. As for Deni, no need to say much. Everyone knows.
Offence is also a problem. Cesc and Arsh are ok. Nasri and Sicky were very poor last Sunday. One hopes Diaby will be back, but how good will he be in his first game after (yet another) injury.
Still, I believe we can draw this game.
Agree about the Sol vs their strikers matchup. We need TV5 there. Anyone know how Diaby’s late fitness test went? If not so well, I hope we get ROsicky or Nasri back instead. I’d like Nasri, he was one of the few who was bursting his gut to get back during those Man U counters. Gives me hope that he will have a bit of defensive discipline. Maybe he can slyly kick Drogba as well.. Ref can then book Drogba for diving based on reputation (jk btw, I don’t like seeing underhanded play like that coming from our own)..
Chelsea didn’t create so much in our last game to suggest we should overhaul our tactics. Considering the players we had available, Wenger’s tactics were fine. We simply didn’t execute. In the last game, Chelsea scored once from a free kick and twice from dynamite crosses from Cole. We need to keep Cole out of our defensive third. If our approach gets too defensive, there’s now way we’ll score with just four attackers.
Sol’s not a better CB option than Gallas or Vermaelen. He’s not the same Campbell from 6 years ago. He’s much slower and atleast 20 pounds heavier. Drogba and Anelka are far from slow and either would destroy Campbell; especially Anelka. Also, from a technical perspective, while we may all love Vermaelen, playing DM and playing CB are not the same thing. If you haven’t been playing there, you can’t just walk into that position and play well. It took Alex Song the whole of last season to get it right. I don’t think Vermaelen’s ever played there.
Lastly, we created chances in the last game but didn’t have a fit center forward. If Bendtner can give us a good 45 minutes, I’ll be happy. I don’t know if he’s fit enough to start but if we can keep keep it tight in the first half, I like our chances.
0-2, Arsenal.
you like our chances? shocking?
based on what, I have no idea.
we got humiliated at home against BOTH United and Chelsea, so absolutely NOTHING points to us beating Chelsea on the road, where they are DOMINANT.
it would be a shock win, and United would be right back in the mix to win the league, as even favorites with Chelsea…
Stag, we’ve talked about this for years. You know how this goes. Every game has it’s own story. Anything can happen. That’s why you play the game.
Do you honestly think Arsenal aren’t good enough to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge even though we did it last season? I think we’re stronger this year than last.
So yes, I believe if we don’t play too defensive and finish our chances, we have enough quality to beat Chelsea.
DAG – agree with your assessment & that of Mazza
But we need to tweak the lineup & I had already removed Denilson; replaced with Vermaelen; using
Sol to mark Drogba.
But I wouldn’t use a 4-3-3
Sagna – Gallas – Sol – Clichy
—-Song—-TV——-
——–Cesc———
Rosicky———Arshavin
——-Bendtner——-
With this line up – you allow either DM (Song or Vermaelen) to push forward
when they can seize the opportunity.
Anyway, that’s my take.
so look who are in 4th place!
with all the shite thats happened with injuries to their best players,
and the piss poor way they’ve played for much of the season…
LIVERPOOL are in 4th place.
If we lose or draw tomorrow… and they beat us on Wednesday…
They COULD be 2 or 3 points behind us…
THAT IS AMAZING.
ManCity could catch or surpass them with their games in hand to
take 4th, but they lost to Hull… its proving difficult to win
on the road for any team this season.
The match against Liverpool takes on massive meaning if we lose or draw to Chelsea, as we’d be dragged back into the fight for 4th place!
scary, but not unexpected.
We still have enough in the squad to beat Chelsea… If we play out of our socks. Unlikely I know, and our confidence is shot. I’m really happy that Hull’s draw came at a time where it might dent theirs a bit and give us a bit more fight.
I personally would never be able to record and watch a game if I could watch it live. Even if it’s a one in a million shot that we will win. It would just make victory all the more sweeter.
But like Steve said: “low expectations are the route to happiness”. I’m happy to go by that and enjoy the game today (provided we don’t get ripped a new one.
What’s going on with Hull City? They took two points from Chelsea and beat Man City today. Jozy got his first goal. The way the team celebrated that goal with him, he looks a popular character in the dressing room. Good on him. Vieira looked less than stellar. We’ll see how he does.
The onus is on Chelsea to win a game that they’re supposed to win. It will be interesting to see if the turmoil in Terry’s personal life affects his game. I’m hoping Almunia will have a good game tomorrow.
Hull seems to be showing some real belief that if they put in a solid effort good things can happen. And they’ve taken their goals nicely in these past two matches. They were actually watchable (I thought)….
So Josh….Have you got any defense of Denilson these days? To me he seems bereft of confidence, unable to do the “simple” things (like bringing down a high ball which led to United’s 3rd goal). Lack of confidence seems to be leading to poor decisions (almost heading in an OG early, playing matador vs Nani on the 1st goal, failing to track back in earnest on the 2nd, etc.) But maybe I’m missing something….
Nope.
For me, he’s been poor as of late. Typically, he’s smart with the ball and sound with passing but he’s been jamming that up. We need him being smart again.
Also, he seems to be trying to develop a robust side to his game. It’s led to a penalty against Bolton but it also lead to Rosicky’s goal right before halftime in the same game. He’s still young. We’ll see how he develops.
Funny thing about Man U – do you know who their second leading scorer behind Shrek is? Some guy named OG.
Okay, I’m gonna try and list the positives leading up the match tomorrow which might give us hope to get a result ( I know, I know, I’m already positive to a fault as it is):
1) Andrey Arshavin. Okay so he missed a few chances last week and in general his decision-making has gone a bit skewed in recent times, especially in comparison to when he first arrived, however he seems to be getting fitter in general and more able to take players on and not always release the ball as soon as he gets it- something he’s started to do far too much recently. If he starts up front tomorrow, I think he could have a stormer.
2)No Essien. The loss of Essien is a big one. Remember last season when we scored the second goal, waited for the Chelsea come back, and their midfield just sagged? That was their midfield without Essien. If we can keep it tight for the first half and start of the second half, our passing can gradually wear these down and we can get at their back four. If Essien was there, it would be the opposite. We would have to get at them early, when he’s usually at his worst.
3) Everyone expects us to lose. Look back through our games against these teams, when we’re expected to win we lose and when we’re expected to lose we usually surprise a few. Our character has never been in question, only our ability to be front runners. Tomorrow falls into the ‘character’ category.
So, while I don’t think we stand a hope in hell of winning title, in this particular match we should have a decent chance of getting a draw.*
* If Denilson plays, ignore all of the above.
I agree on all points – Especially Denilson.
Agree with what you’re saying about Essien (in particular). Watching Chelsea against Hull, Deco, though unhurried, made lots of giveaways and Ballack has never impressed. The whole team, to me, looked like they thought they could just show up, be technically superior and the result would follow. Reminded me a little of Arsenal….
Another “positive” was that Anelka looked a bit the sulker, having to relinquish center stage back to Drogba and being pushed wide right (mostly). Fortunately for him, having Calamity Clichy out there should re-ignite his passions.
Team selection wise, Diaby faces a late fitness test and Bendtner is still a week or two from being fully fit, so I fear that we’ll be seeing the exact 11 that looked so crap against United.
And Denilson…what can you add about him as an automatic starter in our squad? At least Nasri was there on the line when he tried to score a headed own goal in the first minutes vs United….
I find comfort only in that I’ve been told that “low expectations are the route to happiness”….
Liverpool beat Everton today. They seem to do well in that derby game.
Hull beat Man City. Vieira came on in the second half. Mostly anonymous but still managed to get a yellow card.
ManU thrashed Pompey and improved their GD. They have now score more than us and conceded 8 less.
Yes I would take our back four over theirs. I would have Gibbs in place of Clichy. With the exception of Cole their defence isn’t all that menacing. I would argue that the GA stat has more to do with a GK who allows about 50% of the shots he sees in the net.
You’d be surprised that our back 4 has the 2nd least amount of shots allowed on net. A stat that is made worse by Mooney’s inability in net.
Look you can sit here and refute the fact that to win the league you can be woeful against the big 4 but the fact remains – it’s true.
I would take their back 4 every day of the week.
More experienced… more proven, especially in big matches.
For me, its a “can’t watch it” match.
I am taping it… I don’t want to see the car crash any more…
I HOPE we win, but based on what I have seen from this team,
I can’t see it happening.
Yes, anything is possible… but the chances are slim that Almunia
will play a good match, in a big game… its more likely he will cost
us a goal.
DAG… if Chelsea’s back 4 is their weakness… what is our back 4?
So you’d take our back 4 over theres? really?
They’ve let in 8 goals less than we have, so what’s that say?
Yes, their weakness IS set-pieces, much like ours was in recent years,
but we don’t really take advantage of those much.
I think it will play out as usual… I’d say 2-0 or 3-0, Chelsea.
But on the bright side… it doesn’t matter much in the “long run”,
because we still will be only 9 points back… so we can still win
the league. I think that means 95% of the league can “still win the league” as well… but whatever.
Praying for divine intervention… a fluke goal or bounce… or
something unusual to happen to change the balance on the pitch, because we’ve shown that we can NOT play with Chelsea over the past few years especially… WHEN IT COUNTS.
Enjoy the match people…
So, by the new Wenger math, is beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge better than three League Cups and Two FA Cups? Who has the conversion table?
If you can’t win trophies, invent some of your own.
LOL. Well said Vibe… but Wenger has always “seen” or “didn’t see” whatever he wants to.
With statements like that, I hope attendance at Arsenal’s next FA Cup match is ZERO… that nobody shows up, because the match is meaningless to Arsene.
Either that, or how about tickets for 10GBP?
Think the club will ever do that?
Surely he’ll cue up whatever story he needs to … depending on the outcome. It’s growing into a very tiresome act.
“how about tickets for 10GBP?”
Exactly right. That’s certainly what my letter to the Front Office would say.
This is the kind of shite talk that might actually rattle the Board a little. He’s talking down the value of the product. Not smart from an economic perspective, especially at this point in either Arsenal or world history.
And if Wenger ignoring economic implications is not evidence of at least some loss of the plot, what is?
This game would be a prime candidate for a formation change. Go to a 4-4-1-1 with Bendter as Striker, Arshavin lurking behind, with Fab, Song, and the remaining 2 MF’s coming from Roscicky,Diaby, Eboue and Nasr1.
This is a more defensive formation but if we escape with an away draw to Chelski it would not be the end of the world. This would allow our MF to compete favorably with Chelsea and would provide better defensive coverage for the wing backs, especially “Calamity” Clichy. If nothing else, it will totally negate their game plan which will be based on our typical 4-3-3 and force them to adapt on the fly early in the match.
Having said that, IT AINT GONNA HAPPEN.
If Denilson starts, Arsene has to be the prime candidate for the EPL “Most Stupid Team Selection Of The Year” award.
Another option is to start Walcott – only because of speed – which will nullify Cole and force him to play defense