Arsenal v Manchester City; Premier League Match Preview

Too right Steve, the Man City result was predictable, Kosch’s sending off (I didn’t see it) only served as an excuse, but with Kos on or off we were highly likely to lose that game judging by the form and morale of both teams.

I haven’t been so disinterested in a big Arsenal game for a long time, I almost missed it. If it wasn’t for my dear wife I would have. It was about 15 mins into to the game when I switched on. It took me some time to realise we only had 10 men and then some time after that to realise it was Kosch and not Arteta that had been sent off. I was surprised to see Diaby out there, I lost interest before the end of the first half and only half listened to the 2nd half as I was in another room. That’s as low as it gets for a Hippie  .
It appears this squad does not have what it takes to really go toe to toe with the big spenders. I cannot see us coming out of those big games, Spuds, ManUre, Chelski and the two Pools without at least one defeat (but I have Hippie hope).
We needed a minor miracle last year to qualify for the Champions League last season and we are going to need one again unless we get the ‘special’ one or two in… will we get them… Theo will be like a new signing ;-)

As for RvP being excited about the Carzola signing and the details surrounding the Wenger Ferguson phone call, I don’t know anything about it. If you got any links, I think I would find it a good read. What I do know though is that Arsene’s “gamble” of selling RvP to ManUre is one of the biggest mistakes of his managerial career, whether he acknowledges it or not. Carzola RvP and Theo feeding each other could have won us a league title, we would must definitely have got 4th spot. If we fail to win anything and do not qualify for Europe how much will that set us back in the long run. Is that price worth 24 million? That is a real and true example of Wenger’s frugalness gone mad.

Great call on Freds re-emergence by the way, just not the kind of fire and brimstone I might have expected. I don’t follow NFL, these days anyway, but for some apparent reason I have developed a loathing for the Bills ;-)

I want to continue in my role as a Wenger apologist, but it’s getting tougher and tougher…. (This one’s for you Arthur. Thanks for reading!!)

Yesterday’s result was no real surprise, but the way it came about seemed particularly depressing. Under the kosh from the get-go, our defender (of the same name) forgot which type of football he was playing. Dzeko, who really isn’t very good, teased us with a penalty kick just about as weird as his undershirt message, but then the man advantage and slack defending and the fact that we’ve got nobody who can really lift this team led to the obvious conclusion that we had just about zero chance of getting something from the match. 80 minutes later and at least nobody got hurt and we almost sort of had a chance when Kompany got sent off not realizing that Jack is the kind of guy who WILL (get himself hurt, sooner than later, I fear….) going after balls he shouldn’t. 2-nil flatters us and we should be glad that Tevez isn’t worried about padding his stats ahead of his contract extension. Maybe he saw what Theo was up to at the other end and figured if that guy can do what he’s doing and get bumped up, why should I be running so hard?….

In truth, given our current model, it’s a match Arsenal would expect and can afford to lose. Likewise, we would be better off losing to Swansea in the cup replay and rotating for the match at Stamford Bridge as well as that pesky one where RVP comes with his new team. It might put a bit of pressure on our remaining league matches but if we can win all those (including the 6 pointers with the two Liverpool teams plus the BIG ONE at White Hart Lane) we’ll be on track to avoid our CL relegation. Oh poo, we’ve still got to bow out of THAT competition with a modicum of grace (so that we can keep focus on re-qualification)…..

Oh my, I think I’m succumbing to Stag-style sarcasm….

But why not? With all the discussion about ticket prices and long term plans we’re seriously supposed to take comfort in how well contract talks with Theo Walcott are going? If not there’s the idea that (someday) Cesc might come back?!?)…. In the meantime, here comes Abou Diaby (pipping both Coquelin and Ramsey for a spot in the first 11) to save the day. The big plus on the day was that he survived his outing and (but for a few misplaced passes, and lack of match fitness) looked sorta like Abou Diaby. Where’s Tomas Rosicky and what happens when (not if, sad to say….) Santi or Jack get hurt (or need a breather)?

What I’m suggesting (and should be evident) is that this squad (“the product on the pitch”), in terms of quality and depth, should be focused ONLY on trying to get up for 4th. Should fans pay good money (or waste precious time) following this drama? Rationality suggests no. If everything is market-based and supply and demand dictate all, the rational consumer would find better value almost anywhere else. (For example, CK becoming a Swansea fan or me trying to follow Granada CF in their efforts to stay in La Liga–big MNF game tonite….) We’re not rational, so we keep buying it, but the club should feel a hefty dose of shame given what they’re selling. Like I say, a little bit of grace would go down a treat….

We’ve got a serious problem and it’s not about (all) “profit.” (The bottom line will take a hit going out to Bayern AND failing to requalify, not to mention the early exit from the FA cup….) The “brand” (which is all we really are these days) has been morphed into the manager’s vision, one that is hyper-rational and seeks to mitigate risk, all the while heaping pressure onto bodies who simply cannot bear it. Arsene says we were intimidated yesterday leading to the early troubles and Koscielny’s foolishness. I agree. But when every player is a bargain and we cannot exceed the manager’s salary this is the level we should expect. Not every “cheap” player can outperform the “expensive” ones. For every Bacary Sagna (who will be leaving us shortly, hopefully flogged into oblivion, it seems, maybe so that his replacement, Jenks, looks OK by comparison….) there will be an Emmanuel Eboue or an Andre Santos. Is Lucas Poldoski playing well enough to be our highest remunerated player? Probably, and though he watched rather than stretched for the pass leading to their first goal and was subbed after an hour, he’s a clear step up from our last top earner (besides the manager, of course, one Andrey Arshavin…..) That there are not quality players in the transfer market (happy with these terms and wanting to come to our sinking ship) is no surprise either. It would be nice for the fans to indulge this ideology and be completely supportive and the last thing we need are for players to be making more than the manager and CARING less than he does. We’re caught between a rock and a hard place. Something’s got to give. Theo Walcott isn’t a great player but in the current market he probably deserves his 90k week. Old, injury prone, RVP, who gave a bunch to the cause last year, (stupid independence day letters notwithstanding) seems worth (at least) double. With the money we’re set to lose with CL relegation and as SOMETHING to give the (silly) fans who cannot stop watching, keeping him might’ve been a risk worth taking….(And reports suggest the Cazorla signing had him excited about staying….) Given the knife edge of our current competitive malaise are there other risks we need to take right now?

We didn’t, we won’t and the best one can do is (keep) lower(ing) expectations. Unlike some, I won’t start hoping that Arsenal lose matches, including this Wednesday’s replay with Swansea, even if I (too, though for different reasons) think it might be for the best….

Arsenal, eh…. what’s the point?