Arsenal v FC Schalke 04; Champion’s League Match Preview
It’s not a very good time to be an Arsenal fan. There is a lot of soul searching going on within the fanbase and within the club itself it seems. Arsenal have been a shell of a team that started off the season in promising form and from the looks of it there is no easy answer to get the team to move beyond it.
Arsenal need a result. Pure and simple. There is no other way to look at this match. A win is the most preferable option but any result that isn’t considered a negative would be preferred. If Arsenal are going to rebuild any confidence in themselves and in the fans that this season isn’t completely lost, then they need to do it here.
There are no more excuses. There can be no more excuses. The team we have is the team we have and if Arsene Wenger is the manager everyone thinks him to be he needs to pull something out of his magic hat to start salvaging the season, both domestically and continentally.
Simply put the team is playing without any incisiveness, directness or attacking flair of any kind. For the supposed improvement in defence, individual mistakes in the back are killing Arsenal. Whether it’s LAurent Koscileny’s flubs vs Chelsea or Thomas Vermaelen’s lacklustre clearance against Manchester United, they are being killed for individual mistakes. And those mistakes are in my opinion and overarching sign that there is no leadership in the squad that is holding the players accountable.
One of the reasons that I believe Arsenal did so well last season to save its ass is not only Wenger’s continual belief and support in the players he had but the leadership from Robin Van Persie. Almost as much as the goals we are missing from him, we are missing his type of presence. For all the talk of Thomas Vermaelen being a leader, it has yet to show itself in any form whatsoever. That needs to happen and players need to start holding themselves and each other accountable.
Additionally, Wenger needs to be open to the idea that his beloved 4-3-3 formation variants aren’t working. Not with any sense of purpose. Clubs merely sit back let Arsenal have the ball and hit back on the counter. With so many players back Arsenal can’t or seem unable to break them down. There needs to be a plan B. It’s something we’ve been crying about now for so long, I know. It’s why I am in favor of looking at a 4-1-3-2 similar to the 2001-2005 era.
I particularly like this option with the likes of Theo and Giroud as our front two, Giroud slotted in behind Walcott, using his strength and holding ability to bring everyone in to play and Theo to use his speed and new found finishing touch to score. It would and could work.
But we know Wenger is as stubborn as they come and likely won’t change from his desured focus.
As for the match, the last one was hardly close. maybe for the first half but overall, I never really felt we showed up. Arsenal will need to show up. And show up now. They are without the services of Aaron Ramsey who suffered a groin injury over the weekend. Theo Walcott is also likely to be out because of illness. Gibbs remains a late test to see if he is ready but if not I suspect Santos will finally get the yank and make way to Vermaelen on the left and Koscielny slotting in next to Mertesacker.
This is huge for Arsenal. In order to get back to the top of the group, Arsenal need to beat Schalke by more than 2 in this match. Remember head-to-head results have a greater importance in the group stages and simply coming in and grabbing a draw, while moving the team closer to group stage qualification, still keeps them in second and staring at a date with one of the more dangerous European clubs.
Lacklusre performances can no longer be tolerated. Another, one and the questions that are being asked now (and rightly so) will only increase. Arsenal need a solid performance. Forget the past, if not, as they say you will only repeat it. It’s a cliche but its true – the season begins (or could end) today.
Players to watch:
Arsenal: Jack Wilshere. Since he is suspended this weekend, look for him to feature predominantly in this match. it was on the Champion’s League stage against Barcelona that Wilshere established he was the real deal.
Schalke: Lewis Holtby. Very impressive in the first tie. Showed his class and put on a good audition for all the English teams watching him
Projected Lineups:
Arsenal: Mannone; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Arteta, Wilshere, Cazorla; Podolski, Arshavin; Giroud
Schalke: Unnerstall; Uchida, Fuchs, Matip, Höwedes; Höger, Neustadter; Afellay, Holtby, Farfan; Huntelaar
Arsenal Injuries and Suspensions:
Szczęsny (ankle) Fabiański (back) Walcott (ill) Gibbs (thigh) Diaby (thigh) Rosický (tendon) Gervinho (ankle)
Leading Scorers (UCL):
Arsenal: Gervinho 2, Podolski 2
Schalke: Huntelaar 3
Head to Head Tournament Stats:
|
Arsenal |
Schalke 04 |
|
| Goals Scored |
5 |
6 |
| Attempts on Target |
10 |
13 |
| Attempts off Target |
12 |
32 |
| Corners |
15 |
17 |
| Offsides |
11 |
7 |
| Fouls Committed |
41 |
40 |
| Yellow Cards |
6 |
8 |
| Red Cards |
0 |
0 |
Match Official:
Referee: Nicola Rizzoli (ITA)
Assistant referees: Renato Faverani (ITA), Andrea Stefani (ITA)
Additional assistant referees: Antonio Damato (ITA), Paolo Valeri (ITA)
Fourth official: Mauro Tonolini (ITA)
Broadcast Information:
US: Fox Soccer Channel 9:00 PM EST (rebroadcast) FoxSoccer.Tv 2:35 PM EST
UK: SkySports 2 1945 BST
YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 0
Schalke 0
Manager’s Remarks:
Arsène Wenger
We are a bit concerned about our recent form. Our start to the season was very promising, but lately it has been difficult for us. We are not only concerned about the result against Manchester United but the manner in which we lost. Schalke are a very good team, we could see that in the first match. We did not have many chances, and while we did not allow them many, they made theirs count [in winning 2-0].
We want to respond and the best way to do so is by coming out with a good performance tomorrow. We are still in a good position in the group, but now we need a result after losing at home. We are still confident in defence, we have one of the best defences in the league. So if we look at the number of goals we concede, that’s not really our problem. We don’t have to focus too much on that.
We need to get back to what we are good at. Our game is about creating chances, finding opportunities and finding the offensive attacking drive we have been lacking.
I have a team of great players but at the moment they seem to have forgotten how good they are. We have to find our enthusiasm again, the joy of playing and I don’t want them to go out on the pitch and worry too much about not conceding.
Huub Stevens
I don’t know exactly in which formation Arsenal will start. I don’t know who is injured there. We have to focus on ourselves. We will have to think about who will start for us. We have three keepers and one of them will stand between the posts, but I will not answer now who that will be. We changed our formation for the [3-0 German Cup win] against Sandhausen. I don’t know yet if we will change it again. We are not thinking about this weekend’s defeat at Hoffenheim anymore.
We might change the team to bring in some fresher players. We have left the last Bundesliga game behind us and are focusing on this Champions League match. I have no idea why Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is scoring in the Champions League on a regular basis and not in the Bundesliga – you have to ask him that question.
We have to learn from our experiences. The match in Hoffenheim is something we have to learn from.
Match Facts:
- Schalke are making their fifth UEFA Champions League appearance and when they were last involved, in 2010/11, they recovered from a opening defeat at Olympique Lyonnais to win seven of their next nine fixtures, including all five at home. The German club have lost only two of their last 12 home fixtures in the competition, qualifying included.
- Arsenal are in the group stage for the 15th campaign in a row. In 2011/12 Wenger’s side departed in the round of 16 for the second season running. It was the 12th successive time they had made it through the group and only the second campaign since 2006/07 that they had failed to reach the quarter-finals or better.
- The matchday one win at Montpellier was only Arsenal’s third in 13 away matches in the competition proper, a run that includes eight defeats.
All match statistics, manager quotes and facts courtesy UEFA Press Kit and UEFA.com
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I’ve got no real arguments with anybody (even Stag!) and I especially salute CK’s approach. We could use some better weather ourselves here in Southern Spain….
I did the pub trudge for CL football (and early reports on the election back home). Nobody was there to see Arsenal (the brand is down….) but Dortmund appeared to have some serious swagger on the bigger screens against Real, while City waited just a little too long vs Ajax and some interesting refereeing….
My takeaway is that we got plenty lucky to take a point AND that we’re down to bare bones. The manager says our pace slowed in the 2nd half yet he makes no subs until the 90th minute!!! I think we escaped with no further injuries, but Wilshere is banned for the Fulham match. Meanwhile, our captain (as josh describes) is playing out of position and in a state of confusion (I blame the “Steve Bould effect”…..too bad that he’s undroppable….) while Poldoski looks hurt (not running freely) and is the latest to insist that HE should be playing in the middle. Luckily (I think) Giroud’s hamstring injury was just another round of drama from the big fella…..
The game was interesting in that both teams weren’t ever able to really get control in MF, and the goals (and chances) came quickly and (mostly) from mistakes. Cazorla’s defense and ball retention in our half is a worry which (for me) gets worse as he’s the absolute center of everything and he’s looking leggier with each successive 90+ minute match. Personally, I didn’t see a slip there at halt-time, rather a thought that contact was coming and that he could get the whistle and the half would be over….Oops…. Unlike Cesc (who never gets a full 90 with Spain or Barca), Santi’s game is all bursts and long balls, and it takes a toll. Somehow, he and Mikel and Jack (or whoever, plus the fullbacks) need to find a way to get a simpler, more possession oriented passing game going rather than always looking for the longer defense splitters. At 2-0 we should’ve been able to kill the game rather than pressing for a third–no matter how big Giroud was looking in the center, with his confidence up after his goal…. The current group is very susceptible to MF pressure so somehow, the players (or the manager, some would argue) need to figure a way to do better. Likewise, as nice as it is when Theo breaks open defenses with a good first touch or move (and/or finishes them…..), it’s the exact opposite when they don’t come off–Schalke had plenty of breaks our way and (like United at the weekend) could have scored a bunch more than 2….
Given all these issues, at the end of the day it was probably a (very) good point. Now we need 3 against Fulham but I have serious worries given the quick turnaround. Also, Berbs can finish better than Huntelaar, if we cannot keep the ball…. Maybe the manager has some bodies ready to come in and save the day. Add my voice to those astounded that we find ourselves NEEDING players like Gibbs, Diaby and Rosicky to be healthy when they have zero track record in this regard. As goofy as Ramsey and his right footed circling can be, at least (usually) he can do it all day long…. Maybe he’ll catch the miracle cure…. In truth, I think it could be the moment for Le Coq to step up and reprise his solid outing in the 6-1 over Southampton rather than the 4 goals (let in) at Reading….Didn’t he have a good stint at LB last season?….(But then, I guess, you’d have to drop the captain, which suggests he shouldn’t be the captain…. ARGHH…..)
On top of ALL THAT there’s no TV for the match, it appears. Is this where the rubber meets the road? Should I stump up for Arsenal Player or do I find something better to do with my money and my time? With each match a must-win–and us with hardly the squad to win them, is it too exciting to miss?–or too depressing to watch? As the Arsenal Turns or (maybe Survivor or Big Brother or Highbury Shore)….? Maybe Arsenal (the brand) is to Chelsea/City/United as soap operas or reality TV are to higher production (better) shows. Or maybe I’m forced to watch on a stream because (slowly but surely) my show is getting cancelled….
Theo in 2012 in all competitions for Arsenal:
4 Starts – 9 on as a Sub:
8 GOALS – 4 ASSISTS
Best Offensive Player in the team.
don’t know what’s going on with wenger and theo but i agree with adams. it was a mistake to allow theo to enter the final year of his contract. all of england wants to see this kid do well. arsene’s decision to drop theo when chamberlain was fit was okay but to play ramsey out wide with theo on the bench is stupid. you can’t allow ego to supersede results on the pitch. arsenal have sucked with ramsey out wide. don’t know what’s going on between those two but arsene needs to take the lead and get it right.
no worries, stag. people have been busy. well, at least i have.
good job by the boys to get the point on the road. you have to give credit where it’s due. schalke are a good team. for me, they’re a lot like tottenham as i’m a dortmund fan; big rivalry. my wife is from that area her family are all schalke 04 fans. they also know that i’m an arsenal fan so my wife’s cousin had a bit to say after schalke won in london.
anyway, on to the game. it’s a shame arsenal went up 2-0 and still didn’t win. schalke’s first goal was a “klaasy” finish from huntelaar. cazorla lost his footing and lost the ball. shit happens. for the second arsenal conceded, i wasn’t upset about the own goal (once again, shit happens). but i was upset about how narrow vermaelen defended the initial cross. if he’s the fullback, he’s got to keep that back door shut, meaning he can’t leave farfan out there by himself. everyone over the age of 12 knows that. it’s okay for a fullback to rotate in if there’s a play that he can make. sagna does it all the time to great effect. however, there was no play for vermaelen to make. arsenal had plenty of bodies in the middle, plus a keeper. there was no reason for vermaelen to get so narrow. he fixated on the ball and allowed himself to be sucked in.
this has always been my concern with vermaelen. he looked damn good next to gallas but when gallas went down in his last season, barcelona exposed him in a big way. the other day i said it was his poor reading of the game but that’s a bit disrespectful. what’s probably more accurate is his strong desire to be involved in every play. he’s got to learn to be patient, do his part, and trust his team mates to do theirs. there are times when he can do more but he’s got to be clever in knowing when. he’s also got to respect there’s a price to pay if he gambles and gets it wrong. everyone else in the back and in midfield played farily well yesterday but vermaelen’s over-agressiveness resulted in arsenal dropping points. poor tactical nous will get exposed in the champions league. he makes too many silly mistakes at the back to be the senior guy. here’s hoping he gets that straight.
no ramsey and the team actually had continuity. anyone else tracking this trend? they certainly looked better last night than they did against norwich and man united.
I’m getting bored with months and months of trying to post here and failing 80% of the time.
a lot of interest in this club, aye?
no comments at all, other than my own.
I’m dancing with myself…
Congratulations Arsenal… nobody cares… not even your own supporters.
Why would I want to comment on the same old shite while I am in Negril, Jamaica, enjoying 7 miles of white sand beach, the blazing Caribbean sun (82 F), real Red Stripe beer and good company.
Arsenal has lost interest in it’s common fans and I have lost interest in a corporation striving to make money off their customers without providing quality entertainment.
I celebrated Barack’s victory yesterday and all is well until I return to the isles of reality :)
a draw is a very good result @ Schalke.
not having led by 2 goals, but 1 point away, is good for this current team.
we aren’t that good.
Does.
Not.
Look.
Good.
Today.
LOSS @ Schalke.