Carling Cup Semi-Finals (2nd Leg) Arsenal v Ipswich (0-1 agg); Match Preview
I love Woijiech Szczesny. Yeah it’s a man crush sort of thing. And yeah he is sort of younger than I am so yeah it is kind of sickening really isn’t it. But I will tell you what – this kid is no shrinking violet. Which only bodes well for Arsenal as they take on Ipswich in the second leg of the Carling Cup Semi-Finals.
Immediately after Ipswich’s 1-0 win at Portman Road, Tractors players were coming out and saying that when they were going to come into the Emirates, they would park the bus and defend against Arsenal because that is what Jose Mourinho said you do against Arsenal. Forget for the moment that comparing Ipswich Town to the Chelsea side managed by the Special One is ridiculous, Ipswich need to be warned – and that frankly is where my new man crush comes in.
Young master Szczesny in an interview on Monday came out and said – and I paraphrase here – they can bring buses or tractors for that matter all it is going to take is one goal on our part and you’ll have to play us at our game. I love it. There is no mamby pampy psycho babble. The young keeper basically challenged Ipswich to put up or shut up. Man that”s refreshing to see and hear.
For the most part, I think many of the players were thoughly embarrased by what happened 2 weeks ago. In case you need reminding, we never got off the bus. Well, that’s not exactly true, some players got off the bus, others (cough cough – Mr’s Arshavin, Bendtner, Denilson and Eboue) didn’t. Even the additions of the captain and Walcott, couldn’t do enough to change the outcome.
Wenger, is sticking to his rotation policy that much is certain. But recent comments are leading me to believe that we could see 3-5 changes over the Premier League side versus the 8 he made at Ipswich the first time. The mix Wenger had against Leeds was a fair mix of rotational players and play makers that would take the team over the top. I think you can expect that again during this leg. I still don’t mind seeing Arshavin or Chamakh because they are both players you know are going to come right at some point. And they should get these opportunities to do so. Chamakh looked refreshed in his cameo this weekend and was moving a lot better now that he had been rested. As for Andrei, and I have been a loud and vocal critic of his, I get the feeling that all it is going to take is a goal. Something that removes the monkey from his back. That being said, I am not sure Andrei can be given much more room to get right.
In the past some on here and in the past have said they admired how Chelsea went with the strongest side for every competition and only made subtle changes to the side. It’s a lesson that I think Wenger learned the hard way in the cup ties against Leeds and Ipswich. He showed that he learned and put out a changed side but not a drastically changed one. I believe that will be his policy for today.
Even with a mix of “a” and “b/c” players, I think we can expect a strong bench as well. Robin Van Persie and Nasri were rested in the last leg, I suspect at least RvP to be on the bench. Nasri may well be a starter. With Huddlesfield town next on the docket I am thinking Wenger posts a stronger squad and goes with more whole scale changes for the FA Cup tie.
Arsenal remain odds on favourites for this leg and still for the Carling Cup. I was surprised by this especially in light of our performance a fortnight ago. But I was reminded shortly after the loss byt a United friend of mine that two years back United went into the Carling Cup finals and lost to Wigan 1-0 in the first leg. They came back to OT and United thrashed them. And I am always of the mind that if United can do it so can we.
Probable Starting XI:
Szczesny, Sagna, Gibbs, Djourou, Koscielny, Denilson, Wilshere, Nasri, Chamakh, Arshavin, Bendtner
Match Officials:
Referee: Mark Halsey
Assistant referees: Simon Beck & Glenn Turner
Fourth official: Chris Foy
YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 3
Ipswich: 0
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Amazing Site
Final thought on the Carling Cup and the final vs B’ham City….
The greatest of all ironies would be for Alex Hleb to score against us….I’ll put a tenner on it (odds must be ASTRONOMICAL….) just to insure that it won’t happen….
(And with that, Coventry go a goal up against them through Marlon Harewood, with Ridgewell lying on the pitch….)
…..Time to bury this thread with a Huddersfield preview (4 am start in my timezone, tomorrow…..)
@highburyterracesteve, Aren’t you forgeting Bentley?
@highburyterracesteve, Didn’t realize it, but Big Time (David Bentley) is also in the Squad for Birmingham…..And he’s just gotten a goal back for City!
There goes another tenner….
Good job CK and Kiwi…I wish I was headed to London this year but I think I’ll have to wait until ‘012….
Chelsea have less than a half hour to get a goal at Everton and secure a replay in their FA cup defense….They’ve looked awfully pedestrian thus far and Everton are pressing for a 2nd….
The Merseyside Blues look decent but they’re playing their ENTIRE first team, while we will likely rotate 8 or 9 players from our FA cup match into our squad when we meet them 56 hours later….I’m really hoping Squill, Diaby and/or Rosicky can slot in and do a job and make a case for pressing into the top 14 so that we can at least sub out Cesc/Nasri/Kos/Djourou and not have our hearts in our throats….
@highburyterracesteve, Kalou equalizes with his first touch and a well placed dribbler….Probably a good outcome for the Arsenal supporter as Everton is deflated and Chelsea will have to play an additional match. (A tough one, hopefully….)
Well, my travel arrangements have been made and I have got tickets for the Stoke game. Still awaiting the Wembley fixture but was told it probably won’t sell out and should wait for general admission which will be a lot less expensive.
I’m excited.
@Caribkid,
It will sell out Carib. The only way you will get a ticket on the day is from touts at extortionate rates you may be able to get some from one of those ticket websites online or may even AA in advance, I suggest you make as much enquiries as you can now.
We have an allocation of 31,000 tickets, a sold out 60,000 stadium with fans who haven’t had a trophy for 6 years, trust me the demand will be high.
I am waiting for someone to get back to me but it may be difficult for him to get me more than two tickets, at times like these people don’t need to be giving away tickets to people they don’t know so it is difficult and we may not be able to get the best of seats price or position wise.
If a miracle happens and I am able to get hold of a “spare” ticket I will email you.
Thanks for the advice Arthur, I can do some more checking myself as I have a few contacts in London.
for those thinking about going to Football in the UK, London… Wembley…
well, I was at the old Wembley, and … frankly, wasn’t that great an experience… Highbury was a far superior experience.
If you go to London, and are going for football… do yourself a favor and go to Craven Cottage… or Loftus Road (QPR), or even Charlton Athletic…
The experience of being in a small(er) stadium, that is literally IN A NEIGHBORHOOD… surrounded by houses… its part of what makes it so special… just my 2 cents.
I am sure even some Prem. Teams have that experience still… the smaller teams.
The Emirates is a big architectural nicety… its pretty… clean… and devoid of character and charm… its 180 degrees opposite of what Highbury was.
for those thinking about going to Football in the UK, London… Wembley…
well, I was at the old Wembley, and … frankly, wasn’t that great an experience… Highbury was a far superior experience.
If you go to London, and are going for football… do yourself a favor and go to Craven Cottage… or Loftus Road (QPR), or even Charlton Athletic…
The experience of being in a small(er) stadium, that is literally IN A NEIGHBORHOOD… surrounded by houses… its part of what makes it so special… just my 2 cents.
I am sure even some Prem. Teams have that experience still… the smaller teams.
The Emirates is a big architectural nicety… its pretty… clean… and devoid of character and charm… its 180 degrees opposite of what Highbury was.
OH. but you are going to Wembley for the Arsenal Carling Cup Final?
REALLY?
we’ve REALLY fallen far down now! LOL
@stag133,
It is funny I don’t see as that way Stag. Yes you are closer to the pitch all around the ground and particularly from the corner flags to behind the goal and of course if you are seated further out towards the edge of a 60,000 seater as opposed to the smaller Highbury, you would feel more dettached thats inevitable.
What I liked most about Highbury was the playing surface and I was proud of the fact we had undersoil heating. Of course it had history but climbing up those steep stairs into the upper stands was just as lifeless a experience as ascending into the Emirates stadium.
To be totally honest I always thought Highbury was beneath us, with its low capacity and gaps at the corners between the stands. I honestly believe White Hart Lane was a better stadium bar the pitch, undesoil heating and of course the air of class that comes from being associated with the Arsenal ;-)
The Emirates to me is a fantastic stadium and complex. It makes Highbury look basic. It is not a big as it looked on TV to me but is still a beautiful stadium. Highbury lost it’s atmosphere when it became an all seater, it lost a different class of fans.
Cesc has said via Twitter that he plays fantasy football (should’ve got em for our league) and that he has some Arsenal players on his team.
Studs Up comic has a humourous look at it:
http://www.studs-up.com/2011/01/the-fix-is-in/
@DaAdminGooner, all starting to make sense now :) I just wonder how many points he has.
Peter Hill-Wood has confirmed Arsenal are coming to the states.
Admits they are being United in terms of brand building.
@DaAdminGooner,
WHEN? and WHERE!
a dream comes true!
@stag133,
No information on Dates. Just Hill-Wood stating they are going to be doing it.
Looks like Arsenal has a new number 1 keeper:
“At the moment Wojciech is number one,” Wenger said.
“He has done nothing for me to take him out, but I can rotate the goalkeepers.
Also, yes I know I owe you lot a new article.
I have a similar question to CK.
I’ll be in Barcelona during this season and was looking at going to a game at the Nou Camp. Has anyone any experience doing this? Any tips on the best way to buy tickets?
Thanks guys….
@Kiwi,
In the past when I was still in Europe, I used to just use their stadium office, I called the ticket office like 3 weeks in advance or so and got relatively cheap ones ($20). I used to go once or twice every couple of months – I had a babe from Manresa (20 miles out of Barca) you see. This was back in the late 90s and early 2000s though. Now, I think that would be far less possible mostly because of the bandwagoners flooding the place.
The best bet might be to use a *cough* tout in front of the stadium (very unpredictable and a bit risky for a foreigner) or to try for the really low-profile games … like against Hercules, or some other bottom of the table or lower division side in the cup.
Failing that it will be much easier to go to an away game. (But then you dont enjoy the Camp Nou experience).
Havent been there since 2007 so cant give you much help on current situations, but I think your best bet is to actually call their ticket office and pretend you are some rich johnny foreigner – preferably American and certainly not British!
Last advice, be very careful walking around the stadium …. very shady. Pick pockets and more brazen thieves abound – worse than Liverpool! lol. I laughed when I heard Redknapp got mugged out there (not in Barca though). Typical.
@Fred, Thanks man, appreciate you sharing from your experience.
@Kiwi, Also if you go, a tour of the Nou Camp (check on the website for closure dates) is worth it, especially getting the musuem ticket as well. There are some amazing works of art all related to soccer. A few paintings by Salvador Dali and Picasso all with soccer themes were unique. Not sure if those paintings were temp exhibits or not. Oh cover your eyes when you go across the trophies and title winning listings as God forbid you might then want your team to win trophies :)
@sachin, I thoroughly enjoy the works of Picasso, but Dali is my all time favorite.
If you are a Dali lover, there is a museum dedicated to him in the Tampa/Clearwater area of Florida. If you are ever close, make sure you go. They say it’s the largest collection of his works in the world and it’s totally mind blowing.
@Caribkid, thanks. I had no idea there was a collection in Tampa. I went to the one in Paris which featured a lot of his earlier works. But his works have enchanted me for a while.
After reading Tim @ 7am kickoff, I have gotten the fever and am planning to go watch the game at Wembley from the friendly confines of the stadium.
If anyone on this blog has any contacts for tickets the info would be appreciated.
my email is meteormonster@gmail.com
Thanks in advance guys.
@Caribkid,
I’ve mused on this myself CK.
Don’t muse man, just do it. While I can scramble the $, with my fledgling business it’s very difficult to find the time.
However, I just said “fuck it”.
And if you do go Kiwi, let’s make certain we enjoy a pint together.
@Kiwi,
I agree go for it.
Am planning a jaunt thru Europe myself. Would probably like to catch a couple of Arsenal games and one Ajax, Barca and Dortmund game each – all home games and all spread between 3 weeks.
Now to actually make it happen ….
I am still waiting for someone to explain to me how we are going to survive our schedule with so few players.
Not just so few players in the first team but literally EVERY good reserve player is on loan. The ONLY reserve player we have is Eastmond and he is a poor man’s Denilshit.
Even the GK position is extremely light.
In the past we had five or six more players in the first team AND a relatively strong reserves.
A few extremely predictable injuries or nigglies coupled with some suspensions/red cards and we are done.
That is why I am concentrating solely on the Carlings Cup. I dont expect us to survive past mid-March – our players would be hardly able to run by then.
@Fred, ARSENE KNOWS.
That’s how we’ll survive.
Eastmond is now going out on loan to his original club, so that lowers the depth once again.
Basically we will have a squad of about 20 players.
1st eleven
CZ, Sagna, DJ, Koz, Clichy, Song, Wilshere, Cesc, Walcott, RVP, Nasri
Subs: Almunia/fabianski, Eboue, Gibbs, Squid, Denilson, Bendtner, Chamakh, Diaby, Rosicky
It’s a strong squad although it’s lacking at CB and DM.
@Caribkid,
How on EARTH is 20 players (including the GKs) a strong squad???
(Arshavin should be in there but surely one can NOT list Diaby. That still makes 20.)
Twenty is not enough to make two teams. And that is even completely ignoring the fact THREE of the 20 are complete garbage players (Eboue, Denilshit, Squid) and that FIVE of the rest (DJ, Walcott, RvP, Gibbs, Rosicky) are CERTIFIED and injury prone!
BUT forget all of that …. we just dont have the numbers.
Even in the last six barren years we always had a first team of at least 25 players with players like Wilshere, Merida, Lansbury, Coquelin, Frimpong, Simpson, Szczesny, Harvard, etc in the reserves.
Sure, folks like me would still moan about the quality of half the first team and the reserves but at least the numbers were there. But in comparison, it is far more dicey right now … we have absolutely NOBODY in reserves that is not currently out on loan. Its incredible really.
Any small and PREDICTABLE mini-injury crisis and we are completely done even before we take the pitch.
If the stingy Wenger is not going to buy (and he is not!) he NEEDS to recall Lansbury, Coquelin, Bartley, JET and keep hold of Vela and even the woeful Almunia. That wont help us win squat but at least we wont have the problem of not being able to fulfill fixtures in early April!
And 17-18 of these 20 players will have to shuttle out for up to FOUR international weeks in between our congested schedule.
This sh&t will end in tears, it is so predictable its like watching a dreadful accident in slow motion.
Wenger should really give this team a fighting chance …
Calm down Fred. Based on your observation we now have 21 and Ramsey is only out on loan for a month.
Normally, going into the final half of the season 21 would suffice. however, we are definitely short in terms of team balance as we have no real subs for CB, DM and CF.
At this point, all we can do is pray and hope that DJ/Koz, Song and RVP don’t get hurt.
I’ve been musing further on our depth. It’s almost February and we’re still in all 4 competitions – yet we know that in our DNA is the capacity to allow a setback to become a landslide. One loss has triggered a run of underwhelming performances. That was even a weakness in our successful Wenger teams. It was like we had a glass jaw. Take a hit the wrong way and we would wobble really badly – even go down for the count.
I’m ok with the starting midfield, the threesome + Nasri gel. There’s enough industry and chemistry to be effective against most teams most days. But our reliance on Song worries me. With anyone else in midfield we can apply a patch (for a time), with Song whose the patch? The double-D’s scare me. Diaby and Denilson are just too lazy/inconsistent. Diaby can have a stormer but is a bit like Walcott – good performances are too infrequent. The difference between Diaby and Walcott is the roles they play. A bad performance from Diaby is often mission-critical whilst one by Walcott can often be compensated. Song may look a bit clunky as he lumbers around the midfield yet he’s developing in to a pretty robust looking DM. He has this look about hm with his size and he is putting it about by letting opposing players bounce off him in a way that reminds me of Essien. Is it a coincidence that we look a bit more robust with Song in midfield and (the tall) Djourou in defence? I think not. Both can play ‘our’ way yet have size.
Defence is looking ok too. Although I don’t like the backup being Song (read previous paragraph). If this defence can stay fit and develop its partnerships it might just make a EPL challenge in this funny season. The problem of course is CB and the lack of cover given Vermaelen looks highly doubtful for the remainder of the season. If we had Djourou, Kos and Verme returned we’d be tight but perhaps ok. If we only have Djourou, Kos and Squil it looks really squeaky.
Attack is probably my biggest worry. So much here depends on confidence. I have zero confidence in RvPs robustness, Arshavin is low on C, and I’m a little concerned that Chamakh looks a bit burnt out after carrying the first half season. But confidence is a funny thing. We’ve been scoring goals, and if we slam in a few more we might just jump start the right feeling within the striking unit.
@Kiwi, interestingly I was also thinking now would be a perfect time for wenger to go out and do an un-Wenger like thing and get a competent player just to boost numbers and even spirit that this year is time for winning. I would be happy if he got a player only on loan. That loan should not “kill” any current players but it would be a serious show of intent. Yes the cc cup is the first thing but a bigger worry is Man Utd winning the title unbeaten. Arsenal’s chance to stop them comes a bit late but I rather Arsenal keep winning every game before that to prevent Man Utd from drawing their way to an unbeaten title.
After the 2-2 Villa draw, I feared a Man Utd unbeaten season but I thought was way off. Not so much anymore. I was hoping for a 1-0 Blackpool win but as soon as they went up 2-0 and that too before halftime I knew they were down. God knows how Fergie threatens his players, maybe he just holds up a boot and that is enough for the team to avoid defeat.
@Sachin I meant blackpool were done not down.
The 3 major differences being employed which has upped our game since the dismal showings against Leeds and Ipswich are:
1) We have upped the tempo. Instead of all these slow and lazy diagonal passes we are doing more one touch passing upfield and splaying the ball around. We seem to have a sense of urgency over 90 minutes rather than after conceding a goal.
2) We are now employing the aerial cross field diagonal pass to our wingers and wing backs with bodies flooding the box, a la Barca.
3) Also, a la Barca, we are team pressing rather than individual man pressing.
My only complaint here is why it took us so many years to implement these basic game tactics.
You don’t really need speed to employ these tactics, what you need are players with a high footballing IQ and awareness. Song is a perfect example of that. AA is very quick, he has just lost his confidence. Denilson on the other hand, is slow and does not have the IQ or awareness to excel at that type of game.
Glad to see a few doubters getting their hopes raised, just a bit, by the latest results and performances….I too would’ve preferred a London derby for the final rather than another clash with the leg-breakers, but so it goes…At least, no matter how bad the pitch is at Wembley it won’t be as bad as B’ham prefer it….
Speaking of which, with these past two matches I think we’re finally starting to build a little home form, which we maybe can build on in the upcoming matches vs Huddersfield and Everton before the big European night.
I’m seeing some real class in our midfielders, esp. Cesc and Wilshere and how their positioning allows others to pass ahead of them into space with well weighted balls that can be run onto at pace so they can scan the pitch as they receive them. Song was in on it in the first hafl of the Wigan match as well….A reason it was so very eye-catching, despite the lack of goals. Oh and by the way, I don’t think the term “denfensive mid-fielder” is used at the Club; it’s a 3 man, rotating or flowing set-up….Sorry…..
A side-effect of such lovely play is that those who are stuck at a more basic level, like Denilson and Eboue, stand out like sore thumbs. A funny moment the other night was when Eboue hit a pass too hard at young jack who, after making a mighty effort to control it, yelled back at the (older, more experience) joker, asking WTF or something along those lines.
Overall, I thought the pace and commitment of the squad has been excellent and I’ve noted how often AW and some of the players have been saying that we need to “push the tempo” or similar things. It tends to strand the players without pace (Bendtner, Chamakh, Denilson) or who’ve lost that little bit of quickness (Arshavin). Still, understanding seems to be growing over a slightly larger group, which is nothing but good.
For the weekend, (our last match in January) I’d love to see Rosicky get in amongst that group as well as getting some pitch time for the various transfers that we’re bringing in to shore up our bare bones defense…..
LOL maniacally, followed by massive wood touching….(please, please Kos/Djourou/Sagna/Sneezy/Song stay healthy, please….)
Great victory, I must get me a couple of tickets for Wembly :-D
I always thought that this tie was going to be harder than people were making out when the draw was made but we showed that over the two games as predicted we would be too strong for them.
Still raving over Nicky Barndoor’s goal, fantastic. For a player with such a poor first touch he took that ball down beautifully, Henry-esque control. Although he was given a lot of space he used it perfectly. Lovely bit of skill to shift it to his right boot and a calm and collected right foot curler just inside the post. The stuff of dreams, worthy of a cup final winner…. Out of the blue not long after I was moaning at Arsene for keeping Nicky and Arshavin on the pitch… they both deliver.
That’s why you can never discount Arsh’s value to the team and why he even gets any playing time in his current form, he always has the ability to do something perfectly and get an assist or two and even a goal.
Well done lads COYGs.
@arthur3sheds,
COYG’s ? What does that mean. Sounds spurish..
@OziKenyan, \
Come On You Gunners!
@OziKenyan,
It is Spudish. COYS, come on you Spuds is the original accronym COYG is from the pretty side of North London.
As things appear at present there will soon only be one team in NL and another team in East, Stratford Hotspuds LOL
This is perhaps the 3rd ocassion during these Wenger wilderness years when an iteration of his reformed side have the opportunity to make their mark. The team with Ade/Hleb/Fab/Flam had a shot but the callow nature of the squad extinguished their flame in the clutch. Then came the season a couple of years back when a side with Song as the DM seemed to have something but the good start proved the foundations to be built on sandy ground. So now? Is this it? Well I don’t know. We can all speculate in the glow of a Wembly Final. I think it fair to say we make a little bit of progress each season after weighing the plus/minus.
Chamakh, despite the critics is a good professional, the type we need if we are to back the crocky RvP horse.
Nasri, has broken through and is world class in the Wenger wide role.
Wilshere, is worthy of his spot despite his youth. He is a wonderful complement to Song & Fab.
Fab/Wilshere/Song are a midfield answer.
Djourou, has impressed. Time will tell if he maintains this level and whether he is robust enough.
Walcott, is being useful more often although one still wonders as to how & where he ultimately fits in this Wenger style.
Sagna, has his mojo
Clichy, has fewer brain-farts (CK) touch wood
Kos, looks a bit better beside Djourou and we know CB is about partnerships so…..
Cheesey, I like
So there you go. On a good day there are things to like and applaud, but…. it’s about whether the collective is enough. And I just don’t know. The CC would be a fantastic boost. And then…… you get Hillwoods latest attempt to extinguish supporter hope and you think maybe this wilderness experience is destined to continue until Arsenal Football Club gets a visionary member at the top level (as a key owner and board member).
Agreed with just about all your points Kiwi and they are well taken.
This version of Arsenal reminds me of an ex girlfriend. Beautiful to look at, intimately seductive at times, a ballerina in movement, intelligent, well behaved but very fragile mentally.
Maybe, just maybe, if we win the CC it will remove this aura of fragility and produce a glorious run for many years to come. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen with my ex so who the fricking hell knows what to expect.
@Caribkid,
Nice analogy :-)
I think there is a good chance the CC could be a catalyst for bigger things. All teams feed off confidence. Winning begets winning. This team has (an annoying seemingly misplaced) confidence bordering arrogance. Wenger nurtures it with his references to ‘their style’ & ‘their superior techincal ability’ etc. It’s why Fabregas feels entitled to publicly lecture opposing managers (no less) for failing to play ‘right’. Of course, as yet, it presents as a little bit of nonsense because we’ve won zippo. But…… if we win something, if these guys taste the glory of holding up a (League) cup and passing it around….. suddenly they’ll have some reason, some evidence, to support their inner belief that they are superior.
But I agree CK, who knows, as Arsesession said in recent weeks, until you win you don’t look like a winner (because you aren’t).
One of the issues going into February and beyond is depth. It’s not about having a clone to replace a starter. It’s about the team still functioning despite a starter or 2 or 3 being removed. That’s about the squad still being able to find answers. It’s about being 1-0 down and being able to pull 2 back and hold on for the win. This is where guys like Chamakh and Rosicky and Walcott (even) have the potential to play really useful roles. They may not be a starter (per se) but they may be able to come in and immediately plug a gap or score a key goal. In the past, our challenges have petered out. Like a car running out of gas, we simply didn’t have answers to unlock the really hard do-or-die matches that happen every week in the clutch. Whether we have now is to be proven.
I’ve dissed Rosicky for being sicky. Yet, to be fair, he’s actually managed to play a useful role (imo) this season. He’s not the guy he was (like Dudu and Diaby) but Rosicky can add value by using his footballing maturity and plugging holes for Wenger. He might not score many goals now but he can keep our football ticking over. Walcott too has the ability to score unpredictable goals. If he does this regularly he could be a vital asset. I won’t say more.
@Caribkid, Man I had a girlfriend like that once as well!
Fred I don’t agree with your comments on the number of the squad. Apart from the well documented CB issue, the squad has 2 players for every position. Sure Diaby has been injured, but it is not unlikely to expect him to feature 5-10 times before the end of the season.
Quality wise, there may be problems, but many of the usual suspects (Denilson, Bendtner, Arshavin, Eboue etc) would be welcomed in many other teams and squads.
Birmingham don’t do a lot for me. They kind of represent the crude element of EPL footballing culture, even their shirts are horrid. I’m disappointed for West ham that they didn’t make it and for Grant who always acts in a dignified manner (albeit looking as though someone just stole his lunch and kicked sand in his face for the 5th day in a row).
Anyway, that’s it. Birmingham it is. In a sense it’s good, since I don’t like them I’m hoping we inflict a good 4-0 spanking, with a hat-trick to Arshavin to quieten down the internal lynch mob in their pointy white hoods. Wada ya reckon can van Persie stay fit and make the final ?:-)
Yipee-yi-yipee bring it on. Sure beats “celebrating the annual report” – I loved that line.
Brum it is in the final.
It’s ours to lose!
@Macmac007, I’d have preferred West Ham personally but meh.. Still ours to lose
I find it very difficult to understand the total lack of football knowledge by both British referees and commentators.
Ball hits the Ref and deflects to an arsenal player and he blows the whistle and calls for a drop ball with Arsenal to give the ball back to Ipswich. Wrong on both accounts. The rule specifically states that the Ref is a part of the game and any advantage gained is considered to be in the run of general play.
EG: If the ball were to hit the Ref from a shot and carom into the goal the goal should be allowed.
Then to make it worse, he wants the team who last had possession to give the ball to the other team.
How F***ing dumb can you get.
Now, from worse to just plain dumb, the esteemed British commentators sided with the Ref and said he had no choice but to do what he did. Do these guys ever take the time to study the rules of the game since they are getting mucho dinero for disseminating the game worldwide to ignorant Yanks and other “non-footballing” countries.
Did any of these guys actually play the game or did they learn the game at the private, men only Gentlemen’s club where they could take liberties with females who don’t understand the offside rule.
To think you guys actually invented the game. Hard to believe when you have so many ignorant and biased British officials whether they are referees, members of the FA or commentators.
:reallypissed: :reallypissed:
@CaribKid,
Post of the Year!
@CaribKid,
CK I don’t know what commentary you heard, but the BBC commentary although not siding with the ref did not make a big deal of it. I was as amazed and animated as Fabregas even my wife appeared to perceive a major injustice. But the commentary overlooked it but to be fair I think they were confused as to what he had actually blown for. Alan Shearer concluded that the ref had blown by mistake and had to give a drop ball because he had stopped play. Of course that theory doesn’t take into account that the ref was asking Cesc to play the ball back to Birmingham. I also watched the coverage on ATVO with Stuart Robson as commentator, although a self proclaimed non Arsenal fan he used to play for us. He seemed to miss the point in his zeal for “impartiality” I presume and was more concerned that Cesc should have got a yellow card for arguing with the ref as the ref had made his “decision.”
I remember growing up in the era of commentary when the buzz word “impartiality” was seen as prerequisite to journalistic professionalism in Britain. Those standards have completely been undermined by the desire to be quirky, interesting and different by much of the modern British media. Anyone can say what they like and if they have a bias it can be aired consistently without any retribution. As for the referees well it seems we get these clowns wherever we go, home or abroad. The game against Porto away where the ref blocks Campbells path before hurriedly blowing the whistle so Porto would pass the ball into the unguarded net springs to mind.
Whether people want to believe in an anti Arsenal conspiracy or simply believe these are individual biases perpertuated randomly against our club or none of the above, it is poor to biased commentary and refereeing that give give birth to the mistrust in the first place. I thought this ref showed his bias towards the underdogs from the get-go personally and that “decision” rubber stamped it in my mind.
Nicky my boy saves the day (without that breakthrough goal who knows how long we would have taken to score the tie equalizer and thats if we ever scored it).
Plus the technique for the take-down, cut and shot was of such a high quality that if Robin “God” van Persie had done it, the world would have been calling him the greatest ever! lol.
I would love for Chamakh to ONE DAY have the sort of physical presence or dynamism.
It’s official: Man U are a legitimate threat to Arsenal’s invincible run. Luckily Arsenal themselves can still prevent this if no one else can- that if they have the balls.
Manchester United show why dissing them is a little silly.
Two goals down turns into a 3-2 win. That’s champion challenging quality. Their place atop the EPL was being threatened, they go 2 down and yet they have the squad character to come back. We need to exhibit that type of quality if we want to win the EPL.
Adebayor to Real. Proves a few things….
1. Like him or not, he’s got talent. Mourinho doesn’t buy crap.
2. Yet despite his talent, he’s got character issues that blight what he could become. A bit like Anelka and Diarra – all uber-talented and perhaps ironically ended up at RM, yet sadly if you can’t – keep your character in check, stay focused on the job you’re paid to do, have a modicum of professionalism toward your club and contract, and get along with people – it tends to mess things up. So character is a factor when you’re seeking a long-term squad addition.
3. Wenger can (often) pick talent
Can Mourinho get something out of him? I think yes in the short term. In the longer term (i.e. next season, lol) I’m not sure if Mourinho will be at Real let alone Adebayor.
I have always contended that Ade has the talent and could have been an AFC legend . If only he wasn’t such a sensitive and emotionally needy chap.
He will come good one day, just like Anelka. How I cussed Wenger when he did not go after Anelka, after Anelka said he would love to come back to Arsenal.
@CaribKid,
I agree with the sentiment CK, although I’d punt that his career may never reach great heights due to his tendency to fall-out and move-on pretty regularly. A bit like Diarra and Anelka. There are lots of folks in all walks of life who never achieve as much as they could because of self management and relational issues.
The only thing that really matters is that we won and are in the finals.
Final conclusions:
Denilson does not even belong on the bench. I would rather have Lansbury or Frimpong deputizing.
NB rescued us by scoring a well taken goal. still don’t see him as arsenal quality.
Clichy hasn’t had a brain fart in 5 games, which makes him the best LB in the EPL for now.
Unlike Denilson, at least we know AA once had the mojo.
RVP continues to astound with his proclivity for hitting the woodwork.
Without Song and Nasri in the game we lack the cutting edge.
Maybe, just maybe, the FA will get their act together and produce a good Wembley pitch for the finals.
Maybe, just maybe, the Gunners have realized at last they need to play 90 minutes of every game regardless of the perceived opposition.
@CaribKid, I thought Denilson was just fine in this game. Neat and tidy and no real mistakes.
Nice game from Wenger – we’re through to the final with a convincing performance. Bendtner shows some real class, Arshavin gets an assist, and Song and Nasri get a well earned rest.
@rocka,
Denilson was completely pointless. It wont have made a difference if he got a red-card in the 5th minute.
@Rocka, exactly my point, neat and tidy with few errors. We don’t need that. we need dynamism and creativity all across the park. Secondly, his defending stinks (could have been red carded in the game), finds it difficult to retain possession under pressure and gets knocked off the ball too easily.
Shite, I was a CB and DM in my day and my passing and tackling was way superior to him (maybe not my control though).
@CaribKid,
Why isnt NB Arsenal quality? He is superior technically to doofuses like Walcott yet Walcott is considered Arsenal quality.
Granted he needs some consistency … but it would help if he was actually played in his correct position and supplied correctly. Not every striker should be roaming around the place – certainly not NB.
Agree completely about Denilshit.
@Fred, NB does not have a good first touch and is inconsistent. He scores great goals and misses the simple ones. I hope I eat my words Fred because I thought he had a lot of potential and I actually like his self-confidence and perceived arrogance. Traits of a great striker.
Walcott on the other hand is short on quality but long on speed and provides a threat at any given moment. He also forces opponents to set up defensive rotations with him in mind and therefore frees up other forwards.
Very nice result. We kept at it and didn’t panic, lifting the tempo in the second half and securing that vital third goal to totally deflate the opposition for the last 10mins.
Bendtner did great, which is not a sentence I use often.
And we kept yet another clear sheet. This CB pairing is shaping nicely until Van the M. returns.
Even Arshavin looked a tad less depressed, setting up Cesc neatly for the third goal.
The only blip was ManUre winning at the death.
Took longer than we hoped but in the end we scored 3 and kept them scoreless. An efficient result. Very well done.
Fantastic to be in a final again. I’ve never understood the apathy some have toward the CC. For me, a cup final is a cup final. An ocassion, an event, a time to celebrate, the chance of glory, drama and tension and all those things that make watching sport super exciting. The fact we’ll be (overwhelming) favourites just adds to the nervous tension.
I’m assuming we’ll field the strongest team we have. This season Wenger’s clearly sensed the pressure to win something and this is reflected in the strong teams he puts out in the domestic cups. It’s possible there may be an annoying selection or two in the line-up (like Denilson and Bendtner today) but…. the chance to reduce the intense doubt that surrounds his project will force his hand.
What was really interesting is the genuine enthusiasim by the players that greeted the goals. You could see they wanted the win and the final. A final in a month – fantastic. It might be another spur that this team dearly needs.
On a more macro perspective, another game scoring 3 goals. Sure the opposition hasn’t been flash, but these comfortable wins and the opportunity to forge a bit of momentum can be crucial. We may look back on this January as a seminal moment in this teams evolution. Five wins all scoring 3 goals, 2 draws and 1 (non-costly) loss. 16 goals for and 3 against. A lot of the teams have been ‘poor’ but they’ve come thick and fast and could easily have tripped us up.
So….. let’s wait and see. Hudderfield and 3 ‘meat and vege’ EPL games await then the big one against Pep’s iconic Barcelona side. If we can negotiate the next few games and arrive at the Barcelona tie in reasonable confidence and without injury gaps it might be an interesting match against the team that we aspire to surpass.
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Oh well, no more “take a bow son” Andy Gray. End of an era.
Should be comfortable tonight, although I anticipate some moment of comedy at some stage.
If Arshavin carries on with his poor form in this one then he’s a lost cause.
@Mazza,
Really sorry to read about ole Andy. One of my favorites.
Moments of comedy? I can only ‘watch’ on the Gamecast today, which takes a more straightforward approach than the English papers to the online play by play commentary. Still, this made me smile…
40′ Nicklas Bendtner crosses the ball.
Outcome: out of play
@vibe4arsenal, Nicky broke the nil-nil with a classy take, touch and shoot, from a Cesctacular pass from young Jack….
I think they were chanting, “Super Nick, Super Nick, slow as shit, but (still our) Super Nick,” or something….
Onto Wembley….
Meh….(someone had to say it….)
@vibe4arsenal,
Wojeich mistakening Sagna’s head for a football wins the prize today, although for long periods the match was far from comedic. I thought we were getting knocked out.
STarting XI:
Szczesny; Sagna, Djourou, Koscielny, Clichy; Fabregas, Denilson, Wilshere; Bendtner, van Persie, Arshavin
Just incase everyone in the world didnt already know, Ipswich have already come out to say that they will park the bus – which is extremely sensible from their point of view.
They are just going to put 10 men behind the ball with one striker being fed by balls over the top of our CBs – just like the first leg. Nothing should catch us off-guard right?
Knowing how this team will play, can we PLEASE not do our one striker routine? We need to attack, score goals and NOT leave it up in the air going into the 80th minute.
This is a piss-poor team at the bottom of the Championship, there is NO reason for us to have THREE CMs (when they would only be playing long balls anyway) or not having TWO central strikers when it is clear they will park the bus and we need early goals.
Note, even if we score two, they just need to score one to take it to extra time.
——————————
My team:
GK: Sczcesny
D: Sagna – Koz – DJ – Gibbs
CM: Song – Fabregas
Wingers: Arshavin – Walcott
Strikers: Bendtner – Chamakh
Bench: Nasri, RvP, Clichy, Eboue, Wilshere, Denilshit
@Fred,
That side would crush Ipswich. I absolutely agree with it.
Except can we keep Denilshit away from the squad please.
@Fred,
I agree with it as well, but I can’t see AW playing 4-4-2 ever again with Arsenal… even though it is perfect for teams like this who are just waiting to be overpowered.
@Fred, Lol at Wenger playing 4-4-2 Ye right!
Since that’s not gonna happen, I’d like our players to use the freedom that Wenger bestows them with and modify their 4-3-3 so that we play more of a 3-4-3/2-5-3 with our wingbacks pushed right up, our DM providing protection to our CBs in case they have to push out wide to cover our wing backs and MOST importantly, 3 strikers playing as strikers, guys who get in the box.
Seeing Bendtner on the wing makes me feel like we’re trying to do damage by using a rock to hurl the slingshot.
Btw, wats the rule with away goals? Do they count like champs league?
DaAdminGooner Reply:
January 25th, 2011 at 11:16
@Fred,
Ah Fred you never fail to disappoint – had we lost you would’ve immediately come out and said “How could we not dominate one of the weakest teams in the league.”
Anyway, what was impressive about the win was this (and I say this because it is shared by many outside this blog and many in the field of professional football punditry) is that with the exception of 5 minutes in the second half it was one of the most lop-sided performances in this entire season.
If not for the stellar performance of Al Habsi this game would’ve been over within the first twenty minutes. As it was, the keeper (and some timely defencive blocks) kept his team in it, when the rest of the Wigan team were sorely lacking any sort of presence.
Yes, these are teams we are supposed to beat. Good for us. It is impressive because it was from top to bottom complete domination without this team getting off the pedal. Which is something we’ve complained about this team not doing at all
————————————————————-
“Total domination” counts for absolutely nothing more than the 3 points. Again there is absolutely NOTHING impressive about dominating the worst team in the league at home. And this is a Wigan that doesnt play long-balls or go in for hard tackles. Its not as if we have never played well and beaten teams before in the last 6 years. Crowing about this is just ridiculous – and is the kind of event that often leads us to dropping points in the next game. Should Man U also be crowing about demolishing B’ham 5-0 at home? What about Chelsea destroying Bolton away?
We trounce Ipswich and Huddersfield then get THREE points against Everton then the positive petes can talk.
@Fred,
Um we played Wigan. And United fans are certainly crowing as are Chelsea fans (and players – I can’t read anything without John Terry saying they are back in the title race).
I get your point though.
Hmmm. Is this going to tighter than we think or even an upset?
We’ve certainly played bad enough at the Emirates this season for that to happen.
Can they hold out for 90mins? On current form, no. We should tighten the screws and run them ragged. With the odd scare.
I’m going for 3-1. Arshavin to re-awaken at last!
Interestingly:
Take 2007 which was Arshavin’s most phenomenal year with 15/27 goals/assists (in all competitions).
This season Arshavin has so far 7/12 goals/assists, meaning he has a good chance of coming very close to matching these fantastic numbers.