EPL Match Day 12: Arsenal v Wolverhampton; Match Preview
A little redemption. . . please!!
I’m going to get right to it. It’s a midweek fixture and for the love of pete Arsenal need to beat Wolves into obliteration – okay they need to win – to gain some sense of redemption following yet another lacklustre loss at home.
The current form at home suggests there are issues with the squad and its make up. But I wonder if that is really the case or is it simply that the injuries and the fact we are “all in for all cups” is taking its toll on this team. I watched the video of the Newcastle match and it is evident that we had spurts of energy but for the most part we looked gassed.
Movement with and without the ball was not crisp. Passes were off. All in all as Jack Wilshere called it – a bad day at the office. Its not something Arsenal fans like to see or hear but the club had another off day. Could it be that playing first teamers in the Carling Cup and the fact that no rotatation could take place because of injuries certain players are just having issues in terms of fitness?
In my opinion Andrei Arshavin looks out of shape, slower and frankly like he can’t be bothered. Sure he is capable of those moments of absolute brilliance that take your breath away but they are few and far between right now. It is said that he is being considered for a new Arsenal deal – frankly, that would be a mistake. I don’t think he has shown enough consistency in terms of being able to play with the same level as is needed. He is special but not that special.
I also think Cesc Fabregas needs more time to either get match fit or healthy. By all accounts he has recovered completely from his thight injury. But the Fabregas on the pitch this past Sunday was not one we are all accustomed to seeing and if it is because of wear and tear or that he simply wasn’t completely match fit then he needs to be a super sub until he is ready. Jack Wilshere has shown enough capability to run the midfield with effect that Cesc can sit a spell.
There is also a lot of talk about Marounae Chamakh and unlike some of my readers I rate this as a highly good signing. Forget for the moment he was free – he is also very skillful in holding up play and allowing the midfield to come into play. Something we lost (to some extent) with Ade. Additionally, why do you think he draws so many penalties (possibility of diving aside) – he is direct in his attack and puts pressure in the box as a big man. I personally think the issues with Chamakh of the last games are too many games in succession without relief. Bendtner is only just back as is Robin Van Persie for almost 1/3 of the season Chamakh has been our lone attack option up front – that’s 1/3 in all competitions – without relief. He is tired and that much is clear.
Finally, comes the case of Laurent Koscielny. Another good signing in my opinion. He wins almost every header he goes up for. For pretty much the entire match against Chelsea he successfully handcuffed and handled Didier Drogba (I don’t care what you say that goal of his was pure luck). The problem is, I never thought Wenger meant for him to be the full time CB partner. Koosh was signed when it still looked like Sol Campbell would stay. My thought is that Campbell and Koosh would rotate as a partnership with Vermaelen, with Koosh gaining excellent insight from both Vermaelen and Campbell. Not a bad internship if you ask me. But Sol didn’t stay – Squilacci gets signed and then Vermaelen goes down. In no way do I think Koosh was ready to be a full time CB in the league but injury have necessitated that and frankly in a few games his mistakes have cost us. I do think when TV5 is back and healthy, a rotation of Squilacci and Koosh will help the youngsters development and in the end he will come right with Vermaelen as a regular pairing in the back.
Oh, I would be remiss if I didn’t single out Wenger for some criticism (see I can do it too). His removal of Jack Wilshere in the Newcastle match perplexes me. I am not sure what he was seeing but from my vantage point (that of armchair manager) Jack seemed to be our most direct threat. He actually got a lot of pressure going up. Frankly if it were me I would’ve pulled Fabregas off for Van Persie, moved Nasri back to the midfield and had an upfront line of of RvP, Chamakh and Walcott being fed by Nasri and Wilshere with Song holding. I thought our whole attack fizzled when Jack went off. Not one of Wenger’s best moves of the day.
All that aside we simply need to win on Wednesday. Wolves have been in good form lately narrowly losing out to United in the last minute. But they have played and played well with some of the bigger clubs of the league so another performance like Sunday and well it could be ugly. Regardless, of what anyone says this is still a talented squad and if we all get healthy (yes that is one big if) we can certainly expect good things from these players.
It’s been our MO of late to go on long extended runs after particular bad spells. Now would be as good a time as any for Wengers’ squad to do some course correction and set us a path. This league is going to be a wooly one. Like I’ve said in the past I start each match with optimism that my club – Arsenal – will win every match they go in to. If it turns out that way great, if not then I get frustrated and depressed and start all over with each new match. I’ve been doing it that way since ’89 when I started following the team. I think and still believe that the league is there for the taking. I, along with other pundits think Chelsea are due for a dose of reality. I also think United are weak in the back and are actually conceding goals with exceedingly regularity. City are improved but the demands of all that money and succeeding because of it (along with all those egos) are going to be their downfall. Fat’Arry has shown he can win a CL match or two but can’t get the same performance from Lionel Bale and crew in the league and Liverpool – well they are just Liverpool aren’t they. All that means is that at this point in the league none of these clubs are out of (though Spurs and Pool seem to be the harder pressed of the squads) it. I am up for the game and will like to see my boys do there part to take it.
How the Match Should Play Out:
I am not going to even bother today. They need to attack. It’s that bloody simple.
Players to Watch:
Arsenal: The whole bloody team needs to step up a notch.
Wolves: Karl Henry. Wolves own version of Ryan “I’m not that kind of guy” Shawcross.
Probable Starting XI:
Injuries and Suspensions:
Arsenal: Koscielny (suspended -2) Almunia (elbow) Vermaelen (achilles) Ramsey (ankle) Frimpong (knee) Gibbs (knee) Diaby (ankle)
Wolves: Craddock (thigh), Guedioura (leg), Kightly (knee), Zubar (ankle)
Last Meeting (EPL):
Arsenal: 4
Newcastle: 1
Last 5:
Arsenal: LWWWL
Wolves: LDLWL
Leading Scorers:
Arsenal: Nasri 7 (4 league) Walcott 7 (5 league) Chamakh 6 (3 league) Arshavin 5 (2 League)
Wolves: Ebanks-Blake 3 goals (3 league) Fletcher 3 goals (2 league) Milijas 3 goals (1 league)
Match Officials:
Referee: Mark Halsey
Assistant Referees: Dean Mohareb & Ceri Richards
Fourth Official: Kevin Friend
Broadcast Information:
US:Foxsoccer.tv/ESPN 3 3:00 PM EST
UK: ????? 2000 BST
Feeds:
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GAMEDAY CHAT: It’s Open!!!!!!
www.youaremyarsenal.com/gamedaychat
YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 2
Wolves: 1
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