Arsenal Week In Review 8.14.2011

Well, the first week of the Premier League season is gone and in the books. The match itself and the activities before and after were all the rage for everyone to talk about. So let’s get right into it.

The Match – Newcastle 0 – Arsenal 0

This had “meh” match written all over it. First, it was never going to match the scorcher that was last season’s 4-4 epic.  It is why I predicted a 2-1 score. I just didn’t see either club coming out the way it did last season. But it still wasn’t without its own controversy.

Overall it was a typical Arsenal match of recent memory. Tons of possession and waves of attack but a failure to take quality chances in the final third.  We played too “tippy tappy” around the box and again we’re looking for the perfect pass rather than than theright pass. We lacked any overall creativity except for a few moments of possibility.

Arshavin when he rotated to the middle had some nice chances to set Robin Van Persie free. There was an especially a loop over the top that the dutchman couldn’t get on his foot with any ease. Additionally, Rosicky, if he finds his passing range might be worth keeping another season. He had two real nice chances to set someone free but the pass was slightly off. One was more due to the fact that Van Persie had both center backs all over him and he had to hit the ball hard as to not get blacked by them

The defence wasn’t woeful. I never got the sense of panic or foreboding that we’d concede.  I still think another CB is needed. As I still don’t think we are a dominating force there. And we are an injury or two away from Djourou and/or Squillaci being on the pitch.  I also think a good aerial CB is needed to partner with Vermaelen. Honestly, I think Koscielny is going to be a really good defender for Arsenal. But I think he needs the cover of an experienced CB in front of him.

Now, thats an odd thing to say as Koscielny now has a full season under his  belt and has shown that through last season he steadily improved game over game. Positionally, he reads the play really well and he has played some of his better football against some of the biggest names in football. When former Arsenel defending greats laud you then you know you are something.

In the defence I think you have to mention the confidence with which our young goal keeper plays. When he goes up for a ball he is assured and strong. There are no flapping arms or indecisive actions. He knows what he wants to do and he commits to it. It cannot be underestimated what a solid goal keeper will do for the defence. And. . . he is only going to get better.

Up until he got sent off, I thought Gervinho represented our most direct attacking option. He was always looking to take players on and had some really nice crosses that got either were met by a defender or misplayed by an Arsenal attacker. I think he is going to be an outstanding buy and give us something new on our attack.

I don’t think Ramsey and Rosicky represent our midfield at its best. I think the better combination is still Wilshere and Ramsey. Together they posses more guile, heart and skill then the other pairing. Rosicky, is a shell of his former self and I would’ve preferred if we found a way for him to go to Germany. But it didn’t happen or hasn’t happened and frankly he is only fit enough in my opinion to be a back up.

Still, it is one match. There are sterner tests to come shortly. If they handle them well, hopefully some of the outlook on this team will change. If we falter in the next weeks, the din of dissatisfaction will be loud.

The incident

As for the Gervinho red. To me, play that drove Barton bat shit was a penalty. No dive. Tiote steps on his foot and goes down. If its not a penalty than Walton has to stop play to warn Gervinho on diving. In both cases by allowing play to play on, Walton gets it wrong. Where he really gets it wrong is the red and yellow for Gervinho and Barton respectively. Its either two reds or two yellows. Not one of each.

If the rule is you are not to put a hand on another player, than Barton picking up Gervinho is a red card offence. It is also an act of instigation which to me is also another punishable offence. Gervinho deserved to get carded because he over reacted to the situation and let it get the best of him. Barton though deserved a red as well and Walton blew it.

Barton is a talented player. But his on the field antics will always over shadow any promise he has. He will never make an England squad or move some place where his talent may be fully recognized because noone wants that crap. To make matters worse for Barton is the fact that feels the need to take on the world and make himself seem more like an idiot as his post game twitter antics showed.

It only got worse for him after he watched MOTD and took to the air waves to say he had been wrong about Gervinho’s dive and that he completely overreacted and was only upset that the stamp by Song had gone unnoticed.

Its Over!

Regardless of what you think of the Cesc Fabregas transfer saga and how it has been handled, it is now over. Cesc will be unveiled as a Barcelona player today. We’ve accepted a fee reported to be €40 million. Well below what I thought I was fair value for the player (had there been a market for him).  But he’s gone and now the club can move on.

There is nothing more to be said except to thank Cesc for his 8 years of service and wishing him best on his new venture at Barcelona. Now, Arsene and Ivan do as you’ve promised and reinvest the funds.

Next Up

This could be the header for multiple topics – next up to leave, next up to play against, next up to be linked with a move to the Emirates. I think we’ll give you this nugget the Galatarasay Web site is reporting that the team have entered into negotiations on the transfer of Emmanuel Eboue from Arsenal to the Turkish club.

It was evident this weekend he was a goner when Gervinho showed up on the squad list with the number 27 – Eboue’s number. Eboue also was not even mentioned on the list.

While Eboue didn’t posesses the quality we all expect from an Arsenal player, he clearly had the attitude that I wish more of our players had. Two years ago when he was soundly booed by supporters, Eboue went out of his way to work harder. He never got better but his you could not fault his effort.  And the fans for the most part got behind him giving him cult like status. Sure everyone knew he wasn’t the greatest player but he played with heart. If only more players played like he did with that attribute then there wouldn’t be an issue would there.

Well, the teams best cheerleader is likely gone for the Turkish shores and we wish him luck.

In the next up match category is the visit by Udinese for the CL qualifier. Very hard to give it a read as both teams are in a state of flux. It is definitely a match that can be won by Arsenal. Conversely, they could do a lot to cock it up as well. We’ll have a full match preview out on Tuesday before the match.

We’re keeping an eye on the Nasri saga as some reports are saying this could be resolved in the coming week. As far as I have been able to tell there has been no official bid lodged for him and I wonder now that Cesc has gone does that do anything with the relationship between him and the club. But the club, from all indications is tired of his antics, so I wonder if we’ve passed a point of no return.

As always I remain bullish on Arsenal.

Until tomorrow – stay goonerish!!!