EPL Match Day 20: Arsenal v Wigan; Match Preview
If Monday was the biggest mental test of the season then these next two matches are the biggest matches of the season. Going on the road after such an emphatic and “message” sending tie will mean nothing unless Arsenal can capitalize on it when playing lesser teams. And today’s team, Wigan, are prime for the taking – all Arsenal need to do is realize the moment and opportunity they have and seize it.
On the surface this seems like an easy tasky. But, as we have discussed all season long, nothing is easy for this club. In a season where at the half way point the leading team has 38 points and teams are dropping points all over the place, Arsenal have had ample opportunities to stamp their authority in this season and failed to do so. Monday’s win against Chelsea will be all for nought if Arsenal don’t beat Wigan and then Birmingham.
Earlier in the season there were ties against, West Brom and Newcastle that had they been won would’ve put pressure on the league and frankly would’ve put the team as league leaders even with United’s unbeaten run (kind of hard to believe).
So it all comes down to seizing the moment. Realizing what is before them and if Monday was all about removing mental blocks and belief in themselves, then they need to take that belief to another level and show that they really are title contenders.
Can the happy times continue?
The time is never better. A solid, all around win against Chelsea was followed up by United dropping points to Birmingham. Instead of a 5 point gap, the gap is now 3 points. United, City and Arsenal could be all drawn on points at the end of the day. Arsenal have a game in hand over City and United have 2 games in hand. With a lot of games left to play, the adage of where the table is at January is the table at the end of the season – could never be sweeter as the season is setting up nicely for the Gunners.
The one component to this run of 4 games over 10 days is the depth of the squad. In my opinion Arsenal have the deepest squad of any of the title hunters. Look at Monday with a bench that had Arshavin, Rosicky, and Chamakh on it while Chelsea could only manage to have academy players there. United have shown that they get into trouble when injuries to their first team mount. City and Spurs may be the closest in depth but they have their own problems (Spurs keep getting players sent off).
This Christmas time congestion is a big test of a club’s stamina and Arsenal should be able to rotate players with some ease. As I mentioned Monday, this is the healthiest I can remember the squad being with only 3 people off on the trainer’s table with the rest set to come back in at some point in January. It is imperative that Arsenal take advantage of that depth and health and use their players to get through this tight schedule.
Finally this should be a game of redemption for the Gunners. It was during this tie last season at the DW when with ten minutes to go, the Gunners, on some really shoddy goal keeping, coughed 3 goals in succession. It was the low of lows for the Gunners and effectively ended any hopes of a title run.
The team as well as that goal keeper – one Lukasz Fabianski will be looking for some revenge as we’ll look to carry the momentum of Monday’s win into today. And while Roberto Martinez has tried to do some good things, Wigan are clearly a side that can be had. All that matters now is to go for the juglar of the league and show once and for all that the team has “manned” up and that they are United’s true challenger for the title.
How the Match Should Play Out:
I’d really like to see the Gunners come out with the same pressing defence they did against Chelsea. If they play that way, a team like Wigan that aspires to “total football” will open up like a flimsy can. I suspect even with the fact the game is so close to Monday’s that the Gunners are going to come out flying high and pressing early. They will need to capitalize on that because the longer it takes for them to take control of the match the more belief that the opposition will have that they can survive. Look for Samir Nasri to be that can opener as Wigan are hardly a defencive juggernaut. Arsenal have been the league’s best away team and I don’t see that ending at the DW.
Players to Watch:
Arsenal: Tomas Rosicky. Has been showing signs that his form is coming back. Sure he isn’t making the goals but his decision making, passing skills and speed are really coming to light in the games he has played. With Fabregas out on 5 yellows, he will be the central point of the attack.
Wigan: Hugo Rodaellga. On a team that is having trouble scoring he is it’s leading scorer with 5 tallies on the season.
Projected Starting XI:
Arsenal 4-2-1-2-1 Wigan 4-3-3
Injuries and Suspensions:
Arsenal: Fabregas (Suspended -1) Almunia (ankle) Frimpong (knee), Vermaelen (Achilles)
Wigan: Boyce (leg) Di Santo (ankle) Moses (shoulder) McCarthy (leg)
Leading Scorers:
Arsenal: Nasri12 (8 league) Chamakh 10 (7 league) Walcott 9 (6 league)
Wigan: Rodallega 5 (5 league) N’Zogbia 4 (3 league)
Last Meeting: (Carling Cup)
Arsenal: 2
Wigan: 0
Last 5:
Arsenal: LWWLW
Wigan: LLDDW
Goals For:
Arsenal: 1.7 (away)
Wigan: 0.9 (home)
Goals Against:
Arsenal: 1.0 (away)
Wigan: 1.7 (away)
Goal Difference:
Arsenal: 17
Wigan: -14
Match Officials:
Referee: Lee Probert
Assistant Referees: Ceri Richards & Billy Smallwood
Fourth Official: Mike Dean
Broadcast Information:
US: FoxSoccer.Tv 2:45 EST
UK: ?????? 1945 GMT
Feeds:
www.atdhe.net
www.iraqgoals.net
www.jason.tv
www.myp2p.com
GAMEDAY CHAT: It’s Open!!!!!!
www.youaremyarsenal.com/gamedaychat
YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 2
Wigan: 0
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One of the major outstanding issues is eliminate the handling of records in the left treeview.
The records management in administration, eg for list pages, articles in ecommerce, users and more should be in grid format in the right side.
Wishing everyone a Happy New Year, one filled with good health.
“Havard Nordtveit has left Arsenal to join Borussia Monchengladbach for an undisclosed fee. ”
http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_6623423,00.html
@ChicagoGooner,
He didnt get even ONE chance to prove himself – unlike the promising Denilsons, Eboues and Eastmonds.
Like Merida before him a crying shame.
I am beginning to think Vermaelen is most likely not going to play again this season – isnt his current problem similar to what laid Rosicky out for two years? I am almost sure in January, the club will announce that Vermaelen is going to go to Belgium for an operation – which rules him out for the season.
That will leave us with young Djorou and our two French twats for the rest of the season.
Despite all this, who wants to bet right now that Wenger will NOT buy a new Center Back this January? Not even a stop-gap loan.
@Fred,
God I hope you’re wrong.
But I suspect you may be right.
Do not, I repeat, do not expect any movement by Arsenal in the transfer window.
Then again, since Arsene said he is going to stick with this team we may just end up with a new signing, since we have run out of “like a new” signings. OOOOPS, I forgot, Ramsey will fill that void. :inlove:
@Fred, I thought Tomas’s injury was hamstring (tendon) related where Vermaelen is achilles heel (tendon).
Cesc nailed it in the head with this question posted on his twitter – Fabregas wrote: “What’s the difference between this handball and my one versus Spurs?”
Moreover, it is a dead-ball situation, not like the ref was out of his breathe trying to catch up with the fast pace actions and thus failed to spot the handball.
FIFA is Foul Play.
And the refs are still a joke.
@AndezII,
Football refereeing is CRAP. Growing up watching American sports, I still can’t get over how dodgy it is. And even more to my surprise, despite this dodginess, no one ever does anything to try and change it.
The refereeing is terrible, but it’s not the refs’ faults if you ask me. How can 1 main ref and 2 additional refs with limited jurisdiction be expected to monitor 22 players running around a HUGE playing area. I think the best thing football could do would be to have more refs.
Think about it: in American football (same # of players as ‘soccer’, same size playing area) there are SIX refs! In basketball there are THREE to watch only 10 players on a court not much bigger than the 18-yard box. Yes, there are ref controversies in those sports to: there always will be when dealing with something that is inherently subjective. But the overall standard of officiating is of a significantly higher and more consistent quality in those 2 sports than it is in football, IMO.
@ChicagoGooner,
I follow the NFL, CG. People bitch about the quality of the officiating constantly. Even with replay. Just this week, I heard former Vice President of Officiating Mike Pereira (now a commentator for Fox) say he thought the first half of the current season was among the worst he’s seen. (Though he said he thought it’s been better the second half.)
Two things you can count on in any officiated sport. There will be people complaining about the officials. And those people’s team isn’t do as well as they’d hope or want.
Complaining about officials is a distraction. When everyone does their job perfectly, I’ll focus on the officials. For now, they’re like the weather. Everyone’s playing under the same conditions.
@vibe4arsenal,
(Edit button gone again, FYI, DAG.)
@vibe4arsenal,
I know they bitch about the refs in the NFL. Like I said, there will always be room for disagreement with something subjective. But in my personal opinion, football refereeing is far less consistent than in American football or basketball.
And football is the sport that needs the most consistent officiating b/c certain calls in that sport have a much bigger impact on the game (and thus the season). In Am. Football there is such a high degree of control over the minutiae of each game that 1-2 officiating mistakes don’t really amount to much by comparison. And in basketball the sheer number of scoring opportunities will likely make bad calls a non-factor.
But in football, a ref makes 2 questionable calls, and suddenly you have a PK against Arsenal when it wasn’t deserved, and no PK for Arsenal when it was deserved. Result? Likely a 2-goal swing, almost for sure at least a 1 goal swing.
@vibe4arsenal, agree that in some matches a call will go against you – that is part of any sport and human error……complaining about officials is a distraction from the teams execution.
In the Birmingham v. ManU match I believe the ref and linesman made that one bad call; unfortunately, it allowed Birmingham the draw. The balance of the match, the officials were consistent in their interpretation of the laws. Good example of your point.
In our match with Wigan, the referee exhibited inconsistencies all evening – in every aspect and I think that is what caught my attention and probably where CG was going in his reply.
not only made a poor call for the PK (against Kos) as the initial contact was outside the PA;
then there was the Wigan handball in their Penalty area that was not called (both referenced by CG)
to add to the shopping list:
vP was definitely tripped (more so that the PK awarded to Wigan player) in the PA (or even on the edge) and no foul given.
Through out the match, Wigan were allowed to make poor tackles/fouls against our players, and yet no foul being given; then for the same contact by our player on theirs, fouls were awarded.
Jack stepped inside N’Zognia to deny him the ball and was called for the foul. You can watch the replay over and over – it is not a foul on Jack. Then the same Wigan player head butts jack – funny how Mr. Probert , nor either linesman did not see; only the 4th official Mike Dean had the courage to intervene.
This type of bias officiating performance that deliberates influences a match.
All this said, Arsenal still must find a way to overcome this bias. We must learn to put games away earlier and not allow officials to impose their subjectivity of the laws.
What can you say about that one? It’s truly getting hard to take….
We needed to make changes from the Chelsea match but dropping Djourou, Clichy and Song (the latter completely) seemed a bit much, and given that the match was away from home (and the ref called it as such) a clean sheet seemed a very long shot….
But they got their goal too early and we responded and all seemed good….(but also maybe too early?)….
The problem for me is that we don’t seem to have a plan. In the GDC the question came up about whether our defensive pressure in the Chelsea match was intentional or whether it just happened. Thinking about it more, I think it was unplanned and just a function of the personnel. In that match RVP was ineffective offensively but moved intelligently and quickly to harass the opposition. Nasri and Cesc are both combative types who are up for a challenge if one comes their way and Theo is stunningly quick (see his takeaway for the 3rd goal ). Compare that to the defensive work of yesterday’s line-up and the slow loops of Bendy and Makh, Arshavin standing stock-still, and all you’re left with is Sicky who enjoys a tackle but also lays deeper (as he should). As such, it’s easy to see why an attacking team like Wigan was able to play a lot more in our half and continue to pressure us as the game wore on. And, if we’re not going to pressure from the front, those attackers should be well ready to counter if we re-gain possession. Except for the nice move that saw Arshavin blocked, I didn’t see that on offer either….
My point is that, while we need to exploit the good depth in our squad, we also need to create and develop a method or a personality or a style that players can slot into. I thought Denilson and Rosicky did their best to cover for Song and Cesc and the back four weren’t horrible, though Sagna had more than his usual mop up work to do. Long term I think we’ll do (much) better at set pieces if we get the bean Pole (Sneezy) between the sticks, but that’s a pecking order issue. Amazingly we’re still in the title race (as are Chelsea and even Spurs), but with the new year it will be about who can put together long runs of wins (home AND away) against the lower 15 teams, while balancing European and domestic cup ties. Looking at the squads, we SHOULD have the depth advantage, but yesterday shows how that argument doesn’t necessarily hold…
At least it’s just a couple of days until our next chance to right the ship at B’ham….Beware, however, a more organized, defensively oriented team and the poorest pitch in the league….
@highburyterracesteve,
“Looking at the squads, we SHOULD have the depth advantage, but yesterday shows how that argument doesn’t necessarily hold…”
For some of us realists we didnt need yesterday to show that talk about quality depth was complete, utter bullocks. We’ve known it all along – reconfirmed every year for 6 years running and hence not really shocking.
When your “depth” is the likes of Denilson, Diaby, Eboue, our two French twat defenders, etc – it is the opposite of quality.
Yes…….we all wanted and expected to take 3 points from Wigan. Poor team effort or blaming the manager is not how I’d interpret the result.
If you recall the 07/08 season and how Arsenal disintegrated over the 2nd half of the season – injuries to key players. Ditto for 08/09 & 09/10.
(then add into the mix the inconsistency in goal)
Its a running record – a roster that is lack of experienced depth.
With as many fixtures over the next 2-1/2 weeks (7 matches?), our key players must be rested OR we face the same ground hog days.
In the Wigan match, we had too many players that were fit to play but “not match fit”. Diaby, Denilson, Bendtner, *Arshavin – on the pitch at the same time. The latter three were less effective in the 2nd half – which I reason was from fatigue.
We all agreed that one of the key factors influencing our win over Chelsea was the defensive pressure we applied in midfield by our midfield and attackers. In the 2nd half, it wasn’t happening for us.
If you want to have a bench that is able to contribute to our expected level of play’ then at some time these back up players must acquire their match fitness.
Our defense is a work in progress – new CB’s and new keeper. If anyone thought the new CB’s would adapt immediately to PL play…..its not reality. Fabianski is still learning and his stature or Szczesny’s will take matches to build confidence and understanding.
What caught my eye from this match……
Though he didn’t play, Djourou has developed into another critical starting player like Song. He is a lock for one of the CB spots.
Denilson is showing far more grit defensively. I’d like to see him with more starts paired with Song.
Push Wilshere up front on either wing (opposite of Nasri). That interprets ahead of Arshavin. Wilshere, I keep forgetting he’s only 18. Can any of you remember Cesc at 18?
Rosicky’s performance was solid. His linking play, dribbling to beat defenders, DEFENDING, and passing that exploited the Wigan defense……all match.
If Arsenal are to take any silverware, we must have someone up front to do dirty work and create physical problems for the opponents CB’s. Forget his attitude……this kid when in form can score in the clutch. We need him to see more playing time.
I was disappointed to see Diaby injured. Every team needs a player like him – a wild card with the ball at his feet.
Sagna has evolved into a terrific player.
It is a shame that Probert had so much influence on the match. That is the case week end and week out in the PL. For a league that markets itself as the best in the world, the officiating is sub-standard.
Half-way through this season and Arsenal fans have much to be excited about.
@Arsession,
“If Arsenal are to take any silverware, we must have someone up front to do dirty work and create physical problems for the opponents CB’s. Forget his attitude……this kid when in form can score in the clutch. We need him to see more playing time.”
I believe you are referring to the Bendtmeister … and I concur.
@Fred, I just now reread my post & thanks for your catching my editing failure.
re: Bendtner
Maybe its just me, but I like his game. Maybe he comes off cocky (off the pitch), but I see things about his movement, and skill that rate him Arsenal calibre.
More playing time and this kid will be as valuable as Song and Djourou…..maybe never the 25 goal /season player, but a 15 goal and 15 assist type player. imo.
What a shame aye? We actually played some sublime football in the game some of the best passing movements I have seen all season after Wilshere was introduced, but again we failed to kill the game off.
I was impressed by Denilson and Wilshere in particular, Sagna was his usual dependable self but no other performances of note apart from Arshavins flash of brilliance.
Our CB pairing looked out of sorts especially without Song protecting them although I put the goal down to Fabianskis poor positioning, Kosch and Squilla’ (in particular) performances had us looking vulnerable throughout.
I think N’Zogbia getting sent off was the worst thing that happened to us in that game apart from the equalising goal. When he went off Wigan became more determined as If they felt an injustice had to be remedied. It was obvious to me that they upped their game. The black guy with the Mohican went marauding down our wing straight away as if he was called Theo Walcott and got a corner I cannot remember him having any attacking input prior to the sending off.
Wenger should have changed something it seems… he did but it was not adequate and as usual the chamge in tactics was to ensure defensive stability which we have commented on in the past never works for us. In the 2nd half we came on with a more defensive approach, you may have noticed that Bendtner switched sides with Arsh’ I presume to give Eboue more protection as opposed to Arsh. I think the best form of defence would have been to press for that 3rd goal. We had our chances anyway but did not take them, Arsh and Chamankh the two I can remember.
The referee was really poor too I must add, he let too many fouls go in the name of keeping the game flowing. Noy sure how he could possibly have missed that handball yet given N’ Zogbia’ dive as a penalty.
Speaking of NZogbia, he is a player I have always rated from his ‘castle days, but yesterday he almost tore us apart singlehandedly. What will Messi do to us if he is on form :shock:
Yeah, no matter how much you try they always drag you into the optimistic side for a lil bit.
When Man U drew yesterday, I was thinking “holy shit” we can might just be able to do it THIS SEASON!
I expected us to stumble against Birmingham … but against Wigan really??
Ah well, whatever.
If I were bothered enough to care about this current team, I’d probably be pissed off…
but, I shrug… whatever.
not a big surprise…. cue up whatever excuses U want Arsene, its always someone elses fault.
yawn.
we could win the league if we fired Wenger in January, and bought a few key components.
Surprise, Surprise. The stupid fu*k Wenger sits on his backside..AGAIN…at the DDW when we’re being dominated, and doesn’t make any pro-active subs. Only when they equalise does he make them, just like last year.
What an utter, utter c*nt.
Another day, same old shit. I just can’t be bothered to invest my time in this schizophrenic, mal-adjusted bevy of scumbags pretending to be members of AFC. :-* :devil: :reallypissed: :pissedoff:
@Caribkid,
no matter how much one tries, it is easy to get sucked in and start dreaming again. I have cut my emotional ties for a while now but every now and then I get dragged back into the thick of things and start dreaming of the good old days when titles were possible. Sigh…
I know the feeling Sachin, isn’t that a bitch.
Outside of Sagna, and Song to some extent, (omitting Vermaelen for obvious reasons), this team just does not show me true grit.
@Caribkid, and this is something that keeps coming up year after year. A glimmer of hope appears and then as soon as it shows up, the same old weakness surface. The hope then proves to be yet another false sign.
And today fatigue can’t be blamed either. Even the pitch looked fine to me.
and so ends 2010…
@Mazza,
People asked why the site wasn’t on-fire after the Chelsea win?
For me, a result like this is the answer.
Big wins are nice. But with the well established inability for Arsenal to maintain any consistency, the joy is always fleeting. The balloon is half-filled, then the air comes rushing out again.
In the end, doesn’t seem worth wasting breath over.
Deep sigh….
My boys, Andrei and Nicklas respond to the haters emphatically. :-)
Fabianski, Koscielny, Squillaci, Eboue, Sagna, Diaby, Denilson, Arshavin, Bendtner, Chamakh, Rosicky (4-4-2)
Subs:
Clichy, Nasri, Djourou, Walcott, Vela, Wilshere, Szczesny
Sachin you should be on you way back to those mountains by now ;-)
Actually if you cycle instead of drive it will do our goal difference a world of good. Go on, for the love of Arsenal ;-)
@arthur3sheds,
I did my bit Arthur. I drove through a damn blizzard with close to zero visibility and still that was not enough. Ofcourse, if was foolish to think it would make a difference. If prayers have not made a difference in the past, then my feeble attempt would not have been close.
But after today’s nerve racking drive even with winter tires, I ain’t heading back to the mountains till summer. So Arthur, Arsenal have to do it without me from now on :)
And can someone please beat Man Utd? I will breathe easier once Man Utd lose. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, if they win the title unbeaten, then they would vanquish Arsenal and Liverpool in one go and Fergie will officially be called the greatest ever EPL manager.
Now I have the tough task to actually sit down and watch Arsenal’s game….
@sachin,
You will just have to try harder Sachin, blizzards,snow and sub zero tempretures are simply not good enough, only Mountain drives will do!!
Well at least I have found a decent scapegoat ;-)
@arthur3sheds, actually the blizzard and snows were all encountered while driving through the mountains. So it was a mountain drive and then some…
So no I can’t be a scapegoat as I drove similar terrain to the Chelsea game but this Arsenal team has shown that they are not willing to play ball with my butterfly effect plan but are more interested in being consistent in their inconsistency :) Or more like they are consistent in their defensive lapses.
Or..it’s just the Wigan effect. Before it was Chelsea, now we may be living under Wigan’s shadow…gasp…
We have the ability to win this game; the question is whether or not we will play to our potential. They’ve had 2 days off versus our 1, but if DAG’s projected line-up proves correct, then 6 of our starters will be players who didn’t start on monday- that should help negate the effects of short rest.