EPL Match Day 27: Arsenal v Wolverhampton Wanderers
So after a week away, I am wandering have we suitably beaten the dead horse that was that epic collapse to Newcastle? Are you ready to move on to the next match as am I? Frankly, after I my own hiatus to respect the mindlessness that useless international friendlies I am ready for some Arsenal football. And who better to take on than Mick McCarthy and those Wolverhampton Wanderers.
You may know those Wolves very well. They are the ones who made last weekends fall from grace a little more easy to take as the took 3 points from United and preserved Arsenal’s place in history as one of only two clubs to ever go unbeaten for an entire season. They also gifted Arsenal some breathing room as Arsenal were able to play like crap for 45 minutes and still manage to close the gap – albeit by one point – on United.
So what’s that mean? Well it basically means two things – 1 – don’t take Wolves lightly. They managed to handle United quite well and 2 – if there was ever a team to be up to play for it was this one.
This is a match that has a lt of meaning behind it. The main thing is it is the type of game that is going to show whether or not this Arsenal side have matured or not. One of things I admire about Fergie’s sides is their ability to rebound after a bad outting. They in a very business like manner put the bad match behind them and move. If Arsenal are going to really show their title credentials then they must completely erase any thought of last week’s match focus on the task at hand and do the deed against Wolves.
The good news is aplenty for Gunners as two players whom fans feared would be out for a while will feature in the match. First is Alex Song who missed the match against Newcastle with a thigh injury. He is back and will be holding down his role in the middle of the pitch.
Also set for a return is Johann Djourou. Djourou went off immediately after the start of the 2nd half against Newcastle with what was reported as a knee injury. It was quite unnerving for a while as there was no news on the prognosis and it left Gooners fearing the worst. Well, in the middle of the week. the Swiss FA came out an reported that essentiall JD had a received a kick to the knee that had caused swelling and bruising but nothing more. So the man who has proven to be our best defencive specialist this season is set to feature as well.
All this is good as that only leaves one gapping absence from our regular team and that is Samir Nasri. Filling in is Andrei Arshavin who is starting to show signs that he is knocking off his bad form and could be peaking at really the right time. He was the key to unlocking Newcastle early. And the week before his first goal in a while brought out a sheer smile on his face.
In my mind it is important for the Gunners to come out like they did against Newcastle and play a complete game of utter beautiful devastation. Get the game done with early so that it forces the match open and takes the impetus off of Wolves to close up shop and play rough ball. The last thing any one wants is for any of our prime players to go down ahead of the midweek tie against Barcelona. Get all the pent up frustration about last week’s match over with early and show the home fans that you are for real.
By the grace of all that is good Arsenal still find themselves a viable title contender in a season of wackiness and “parity.” They need to keep on it. With the Manchester Derby on tap for the day, Arsenal can at best find themselves level on points with United at worst . . . well I don’t want to go there.
How the Match Should Play Out:
I really expect Arsenal to come out flying. I don’t suspect any of the lads could hold their heads up after last week’s display. And I think they are looking to come out and put things right. I doubt they will score in the first minute of the match but they are going to apply the pressure often. And as good as Wolves are, they have shown that they simply are not a scoring team – especially on the road. Arsenal are going to get the first goal and force the match to open up for them at which point they will shred the Wolves. With a mature Song and healthy Djourou back, I do not expect a repeat of last week’s antics.
Players to Watch:
Arsenal: Johann Djourou. He has proved time and time again this season that is one of the pieces of the puzzle we have missed in our defencive set up. The statistics on goals against Arsenal when he is in the line up are amazing. He simply is a force to be reckoned with in the middle of the pitch and makes everyone around him better – just ask Koscielny.
Wolves: Honestly I don’t know much about their players. So I got nothing for ya here.
Probable Starting XI:
Arsenal 4-2-1-2-1 Wolves 4-5-1
Injuries and Suspensions:
Arsenal: Diaby (Suspension-3) Nasri (Hamstring) Fabianski (shoulder) Rosicky (groin) Frimpong (knee), Vermaelen (Achilles)
Wolves: Hunt (calf) Guedioura (broken leg) Kightly (knee) Mancienne (knee)
Leading Scorers:
Arsenal: Nasri 14 (9 league) Chamakh 10 (7 league) Walcott 11 (8 league)
Wolves: Fletcher 6 (4 league) Doyle 6 (3 league)
Last Meeting: (EPL)
Arsenal: 2
Wolves: 0
Last 5:
Arsenal: DWWWD
Wolves: WLLLW
Goals For:
Arsenal: 2.3 (home)
Wolves: 0.8 (away)
Goals Against:
Arsenal: 1.0 (home)
Wolves: 2.0 (away)
Goal Difference:
Arsenal: 27
Wolves: -17
Match Officials:
Referee: Chris Foy
Assistant referees: Darren Cann & Gary Beswick
Fourth official: Mick Russell
Broadcast Information:
US: ESPN2: 10:00 AM EST
UK: ?????? 1500 GMT
GAMEDAY CHAT: It’s Open!!!!!!
www.youaremyarsenal.com/gamedaychat
YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 3
Wolves: 0
____________________________________________________
And In Other News:
Well, this certainly has been a week to forget but it is ending on a very good note as stalwarts Johann Djourou and Alex Song have returned to the squad – hopefully they will stay healthy and be able to be our backbone against Barca on Wednesday. But the best part is that it looks like soon (barring any major injuries) we are going to go into March at complete full strength.
In today’s pre-match presser Wenger announced that Thomas Vermaelen (remember him) has made major improvements in his rehad and will now begin to start featuring for the Arsenal reserves. What this means is (also barring any major set backs) that the Verminator is about at the most 3 weeks away. If I am looking at my calendar right he could actually be back for the 2nd leg of the Champion’s league tie at the Nou Camp. That may be a little much but that’s about the right time.
As much as Koscielny has improved I’ve always maintained that our strongest back 4 would be one that featured Djourou and Vermaelen in the centre. Now, we shouldn’t expect much upon his return. His lasy meaningful play was in September and I worry that we could see some adjustment to refind his match fitness. Either way, it will be good to see Thomas back in his red and white kit.
Also on the news front is word out of Nou Camp that Carles Puyol is going to miss the match. As much as Messi and the lads up front make Barca go, Puyol at the back is the line of defence in front of Valdes. Sure, just Puyol being out doesn’t blunt the Barcelona attack, but it is something to remain a little hopeful on in terms of areas of exploit.
And finally, I am never one to miss an opportunity to laugh at Spurs and Friday was another one. First came news that Fat’Arry Redknapp was actually going to stand trial for tax evasion. Finally the man is going to pay for his role in the demise of the once proud Portsmouth football club. Just in time for him NOT to be named manager of England.
Then Spurs owner Daniel Levy wants to move his club from Tottenham to Stratford into the new Olympic stadium, except there was one problem, today the Olympic Legacy Committee gave the site to West Ham. What proceeded was a littany of voices from Lord Sugar to Jermaine Jenas and even Fat ‘Arry Redknapp saying how could they play a football match in a a stadium wtih track around it. Forget for a moment that they might actually be right to actually see them cry about it was like the kid who says “well I didn’t want it any way” when he doesn’t get the thing he wanted.
My twitter feed to the Spurs faithful after the news of their Olympic defeat – “Porn Kings beat Cocks”
Seriously, any day you can laugh at Spurs is a good day.
See on the flip side of the match.
UP THE ARSENAL!!!
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ZPTech white gold powdered products on sale right now! Fuzion
Another big-game choking performance from Ibra-cadabra. Nothing to see here.
Raul rolling back the times. Nice to see an old-schooler still in the game.
@Fred,
One of the things I noticed in the game was that Spurs’ attacking players tracked back throughout the game, where as Ibra, Robinho, and Pato were more than happy to leave the defending to the defenders.
WOW!! Post-game fight!
Early in the 2nd half, Gattuso pushed/hit Spurs asst. coach Joe Jordan in the neck/lower jaw area. Nothing is called. Later in the game Gattuso gets a yellow (finally), forcing him to miss Leg 2. After that Spurs go 1-0 up.
Then, after the game… Gattuso shakes ‘Arry’s hand over by the Spurs bench, then proceeds over to Joe Jordan, gets right in his face, give him a big shove… and then… head butts him! Obviously it wasn’t long before everyone from both teams was piling in.
I’m very happy ACM lost, even if it means a Spurs win. Gattuso was a rat the entire game- fouled Crouch all night, never even seeking to play football. And the traitor Flamini should have received a straight red for a very high, two-footed challange from behind that put Corluka on crutches for the rest of the night.
I hate anti-football. It has no place in the game. When I say anti-football, I don’t mean being very defesnive or negatively tactically. That is a legitimate strategy (e.g. Greece, 2004). What I mean by anti-football is consistently and inentionally bending and breaking the rules to gain an upper hand. The way those two ACM players played tonight reminded me of the way United used to foul and kick Arsenal.
@ChicagoGooner,
This happens ALL the time in Italy. The game there is absolutely rotten. It was always shady out there but in the last 10 years it has really degraded massively. Not surprised at all.
@Fred,
I’ve never been much a fan of Serie A or the Italian national team, b/c I’ve always kind of sensed this “rot” as you call it, in the Italian game, despite not knowing too much about it. England’s act was the worst of the worst in the 80s, but they cleaned it up. Two decades later and Italy has yet to follow.
Milan are playing so cynically and despicably that they are forcing me to do the unthinkable and pull for Spurs. And Spurs do play very attractive football to be fair. Flamini and Gattuso both could have easily been sent off by now, and if it weren’t at San Siro one of them probably would have been. I’m writing this in the 70th min…
this is, perhaps, one of the smartest things i’ve ever heard from wenger. maybe old dogs can learn new tricks.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/wenger-no-crazy-gamble-on-nasri-for-barca
In non-Arsenal news, the greatest striker of his generation, O Fenomeno, the “real” Ronaldo- has finally retired after calling it quits at Corinthians. In his heyday he was bigger, stronger, and faster version of Messi, who despite those attributes could match the Argentine in terms of finishing and insanely-close control while dribbling through hordes of defenders at a mad sprint.
I personally think we’d all be talking about the retirement of the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) were it not for Ronaldo’s absolutely crippling knee injuries at the height of his powers. For comparison’s sake, he and Messi share the single-season Barca scoring record of 47 goals, but Ronaldo did it in 49 versus 53 games. And it was his only season there, so he didn’t exactly have time to get to know the players alongside him. Nor was he nurtured there since the age of 13, and wasn’t surrounded by Xavi, Iniesta, Pedro, Alves, etc. Oh, and he has the all-time World Cup goals record.
@ChicagoGooner,
For me, Ronaldo IS the greatest player of all time. Absolutely phenomenal.
I agree when you say he was a bigger, faster, stronger version of Messi. He was the complete forward.
@ChicagoGooner,
i completely agree with fred. ronaldo was a legitimate badass; indeed the best striker i’ve ever seen play the game.
I guess you never saw Pele play ?
@Caribkid, yes, or perhaps they never saw Thierry Henry!
;)
@stag133
Henry is an Arsenal legend and we love him, but he is not anywhere close to being an “all-time” striker. Most neutral fans rate him simply dont rate him that highly.
Not a “big-moments” or big-game impact player. A faster version of Anelka.
@Caribkid,
carib, that’s a good guess. no, i never saw pele play except for video highlights.
Read this mail in the F365 mailbox, and thought it would be good to re-post it here. It makes some salient points, and there’s something in it for everyone from Hippies and AKB’s to doomers and gloomers.
“And then there were two.
So now, barring any collapses, it looks like Arsenal and United will be duking it out for Premier League glory. Whilst in Spain, Barcelona and Real Madrid dance around each other like deadly ninjas, destroying all who dare interfere with their personal duel, our title race is more like two fat guys drunkenly swinging for each other outside a chippy in Clacton at three in the morning, trying their level best not to hurt themselves.
Out of all of our prospective rivals, I would much rather we be squaring off against the Gunners than facing the nouveau riche Chelsea or City. This is not only because of Arsenal’s penchant for bottling it around mid-March, but because they seem to go about their business in a pretty respectable manner, the cradle-snatching aside (which all clubs do anyway). You only ever hear of players wanting to leave, rather than the bullying of teams into a sale, Arsenal transfer bids tend to err on the side of discretion and you get the impression that this is not just because they don’t have a lot of cash to throw around, although perhaps I’m being naive in that assumption. They play good football and are now finally bringing up some excellent English youngsters – well done chaps, I applaude you.
Having said this, Arsenal are still struggling to keep pace with a half-cocked Man United who play like they’re passing the ball through quicksand as soon as they leave Old Trafford. If you can’t pip United now you may as well just give up.
So Arsenal, it’s now or never – let’s see what you’re made of.
Smyth, MUFC”
I say in regard to the home win against the leagues worst road team:
“Virutally meaningless win in terms of our form.
3 Points were important in the standings.”
and a few of you need to adjust your glasses… or put them on…
Does that really need interpretation?
Does that mean I said the win was meaningless in your world?
or do you need me to break down “in terms of form” for you?
This bullshit the AKBers throw out about “not supporting the club” or “not caring about Arsenal” is utter non-sense.
Its a tired cliche’.
so please get over it… come up with something else that makes sense…
nobody that is on here regularly is NOT A FAN OF THE CLUB, or DOESN’T CARE ABOUT ARSENAL.
Seriously.
Get the feck off your high horses.
Support comes in many ways and shapes… some of us have a different vision for the success at Arsenal Football Club… that might include TROPHIES and trying to win titles regularly.
Just like the people of Egypt had a different view of the direction of their country, that was different than their dictator! ;-)
@stag133,
But Stag more often than not the tone of your comments seem like you want the club to fail, just so you can prove a point.
While you will throw up occasional denials such as the above email, this is just how it comes across. Hence the AKBs sitting on our “high horses”.
Still you’re not as vehement as Fred and Mazza, and I think Mazza would even admit that he/she would like us to fail so that Wenger (senile old fool) will leave the club.
@rocka,
Just as the tone of the Egyptian demonstrators seem to suggest they want Egypt to collapse. But they don’t. They just want Mubarak gone. No personal harm, no prison or anything more sinister, just a friendly exile or a “retirement” to an ocean view resort would be nice.
Just as a dictator is not the equivalent of the country he governs, Wenger is NOT Arsenal.
@rocka,
Mazza = he/she ….. LOL!
Sorry, I cant imagine Mazza being any other than a rotund, bespectacled, balding, slightly pot-belied dude from Enfield or Barnet, or wherever … sorry! :-D
@Fred,
I’ll give you the pot belly, but I’m 28 not 58! (no offence to our older brethen) ;)
@rocka,
I’m only a “she” on weekends.
@rocka, Want the club to fail?
You mean like we have FAILED MISERABLY the past 6 seasons?
NO. its 180 degrees OPPOSITE.
How the hell is wanting the club to actually ATTEMPT TO WIN trophies, by spending some of the MULTI-MILLIONS we make in profit every year ON THE TEAM, as opposed to going into the pockets of the board… wanting the team to LOSE or FAIL?!!!!!
Seriously.
I don’t get it.
I want the team to win as MUCH as ANYONE ON THE SITE, if NOT MORE…
Watching the INVINCIBLES team become this bunch of overpaid, spineless hopefuls… is MADDENING.
It simply DIDN’T and DOESN’T have to be this way.
How many years do I have to say it? How many times do we have to watch the same shit play out?
Yet. The “fans” line up, pay the highest prices in the WORLD to watch soccer… buy up all the merchandise, fill the coffers with the MOST profit in England…
and we watch the BEST players leave over and over and over again … and profess that they want to go to “greener pastures”…
and that’s OK?
Really?
Being pissed off at this “system” that allows this to happen, at the expense of us… the supporters… makes the AKBers “good supporters”…. and wanting to win MORE?
Seems to me you lot don’t mind losing… and care more about us making profit, as if you share in the money somehow.
But go on, delude yourself into thinking YOU want us to win, and I want us to lose.
Just ridiculous.
@stag133, But Stag if Arsenal were good, you would have nothing to moan about! ;-)
@rocka,
Anyone who was on AA circa 2004 knows that stagg was a Kool Aid gulper of the highest order. Many of us were.
The difference between now and then is that reality has changed and, for some of us, our thinking evolved with that. While some seem to be forever stuck in those amber glory days, and believe that thinking nice thoughts forever and ever Amen is being a ‘real supporter’.
It was sunny and 70 degrees yesterday. Today is a chilly 40-something. Shall I pretend that the weather is as nice today in support of yesterday, or can I just go ahead and say that I’m really looking forward to Spring? Calling a 40 degree
day a 40 degree isn’t being gloomy about the sunshine, it’s just having the common sense to recognize a change in the weather.
There seems to be positive energy amonst the Arsenal faithful heading into the CL tie. (If Fred is feeling it, then it must truly be there). Let’s hope some of it rubs off onto the players so they feel the positive energy too.
I noticed from looking at the fixture list that our next 4 matches are in 4 different competitions. How often does that happen? 4 consecutive matches, not one of which is part of the same competition. What doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger, so if we can get through it…
PS: DAG, one of my posts further down (the one about Nasri possibly playing this wednesday) says “Your comment is awaiting moderation.” at the bottom of it. Does this mean I’m the only one who can read it, or has it been posted? Don’t know what I would’ve wrote to warrant that.
@ChicagoGooner,
We are feeling it because our first team is fit …. and at the Emirates, we MIGHT still have some belief to start with.
That said I personally view the second leg far more negatively than the first.
Also, I guess, I should wait to see how the first 5 minutes play out. If some balls are lobbed Clichy’s way and “unfortunate” air head incidents occur ealy, then I recant completely!
well, 2-0. yet another brace from van persie. kiwi, you gotta love that. i know it’s been frustrating with his injuries but it’s not his fault that he’s suffered those horrible challenges. even with those injuries, you’ve got to make exceptions for exceptional talent. my opinion is that van persie is the most naturally talented player i’ve ever seen in an arsenal shirt. what’s even more important is he’s the one player who’s loyalty to the club has never waivered. he’s been with arsenal throughout this entire trophyless period. a player with his talent deserves to be winning silverware, yet rvp has turned down offers from juventus and chelsea to stay with arsenal. you’ve got to respect that.
mazza, i also remember you saying earlier in the season that if wilshere didn’t follow up a certain good game by immediately having another good game, then the first good game wouldn’t mean anything. well, he had a stinker that next game. i told you then that it was the bad game that didn’t mean anything. young players are going to be inconsistent and jack still has a lot to learn. however the talent is there for all to see. enjoy the ride, brother.
while i don’t remember if i declared djourou our best defender, i do remember saying he needed a few games to find his form and once he did, he’d push for a starting role in the team. with that, i don’t remember a single soul declaring him our best defender early in the season because he absolutely sucked back then. you’ve got to dig that one out of the archives, fred. what i do remember you saying is how bad koscielny would suck. in fairness, who knew koscienly would out-perform squillaci? i hadn’t seen koscielny so i made no bold declarations. likewise, i admitted that squillaci used to be very good but i hadn’t seen him in a few years. who knew?
my concerns for wednesday are two-fold. first, will wenger look to exploit the obvious mis-match we have with walcott against maxwell? wenger ignored the obvious mismatch back in ’06 with reyes vs. oleguer. not that ljunberg didn’t play well but jose antonio reyes would have absolutely destroyed oleguer. (does oleguer even play football anymore?) my second concern is song looked awful slow on saturday. if he plays like that on wednesday, barcelona may very well rip our asses. we’ll see.
@joshuad,
“while i don’t remember if i declared djourou our best defender, i do remember saying he needed a few games to find his form…”
I for one remember you saying around a month ago in GDC that you thought Djo/Kos were our two best defenders… that’s kind of sort of like saying Djo’s the best.
@ChicagoGooner,
sorry for the mixup. i meant i don’t remember if i declared djourou our best defender back in the summer. it was a while ago.
@ChicagoGooner,
Actually, I was the one who declared Djourou the best CB at the club. The ONLY one of our CBs who has the potential to be world-class IMO. And this was before he was properly fit.
@Fred, Liar!!!
@arfasheds,
YET, it was YOU I was arguing with when I repeated the claim, you fraudy git …. the chutzpah.
@Fred, :-D
@joshuad,
“my opinion is that van persie is the most naturally talented player i’ve ever seen in an arsenal shirt. what’s even more important is he’s the one player who’s loyalty to the club has never waivered. he’s been with arsenal throughout this entire trophyless period. a player with his talent deserves to be winning silverware, yet rvp has turned down offers from juventus and chelsea to stay with arsenal. you’ve got to respect that.””
I seriously doubt van Persie can hold Kanu’s boot (with regards to natural talent), let alone Bergkamp.
Lets not overrate his loyalty. Its easy to be loyal when you have never completed a season, yet keep a CENTRAL striker position and plum salary as first choice at a club that plays FOR him.
Feeling positive about the Barca game … we are going to stun them 3-1 …. crucial performances will have to come from (specifically) Arshavin, Fabregas, Walcott. These three are the keys to the kingdom and I think they are primed to deliver for various reasons.
All that said, if we stun them at the Emirates, the reprisal at the Nou Camp might just be a 6-0, 7-0 beatdown of epic proportions. But at least we’d have had our day in the sun.
Long term (in the domestics), this team will NEED our first team to remain completely fit and in form to come close to challenging for any of the trophies, so I still dont expect us to come close to winning anything other than the CC.
Winning CC, finishing 3rd, getting to FA cup semis, getting to CL quarters is the best I can expect considering.
@Fred,
I think the League will come down to the Utd game. If we consider ourselves as serious contenders then City and Chelsea are already out of it.
The next five matches are crucial though. 6 points in the league is required. Winning the CC and not being embarrassed against Barca is essential for our confidence. If we get knocked out of the FA Cup then no great dramas as long as all else goes to plan.
Let’s hope Tottenham away comes at a good time.
@rocka,
By the time the Spurs game gets around, Man U should have wrapped up the league comfortably.
@Fred,
LOL I hope to call you out on this one Fred, I might even copy and paste it for safe keeping ;-)
@Fred,
Fred a 8-3 mullering over the two legs is a Mongers idea of positivity is it? ;-)
I sense that we move through February on a little bit of a knife-edge.
There are things to like and admire balanced against a real fear that injury could leave us as open and vulnerable as a flesh wound in the tropics.
When we put out:
Arshavin, RvP, Nasri
Fabregas, Song, Wilshere
Clichy, Kos, Djourou, Sagna
Wozjig
……..it makes me feel rather optimistic.
Take one or two away and the loss of confidence is sharp to the south.
Funny how seasons morph. Chamakh had a great start and then the slog seemed to dilute his energy. Ditto Arshavin, although father-time might have more to do with his internal frustrations. RvP was his normal absent self, and then in recent months he reminds us all again that when he does play and is fit he actually does have talent (for you JoshuaD). Nasri and Wilshere have both reached new levels. The former looks a superstar NOW while the later looks a superstar-to-be. Song and Sagna have both played consistently well and with muscle – which is exactly what they bring. Clichy and Kos look calmer in a defence that looks better balanced (i.e. with Doujou & Wozjig).
Funny how the demise and absence of our 2 ‘top quality’ keepers has correlated to a more steady cadiovascular reading amongst team and supporters. Perhaps the opportunistic rise of Wozjig will prove to be the dawning of new success.
Mick McCarthy post match –
He said: ‘They’ve slapped us. They’ve murdered us, from one to 11. ‘They were better than us. Sometimes I have to accept that, and admire their performance, and aspire to getting somewhere near that.
Not totting my horn … but … I remember telling you lot in the summer of 09, summer of 2010 and in October, 2010 that Djorou is the best CB at the club – and thats counting even Vermaelen. Those comments were met with laughter.
Slowly and steadily, y’all are coming around to it hey? ;-)
I also called Song as DM way back in April 2008.
You have to give props to those who call it long before it becomes obvious to the masses.
@Fred,
Fred you make so many predictions that at least some of them are bound to come true!
@rocka,
But can you name one that has not been correct?
No you cant. :-)
95% of my predictions are SPOT ON!
@Fred,
Fred I think you believe you are right all the time, and conveniently forget the times you are wrong. Don’t worry It is a classic symptom of those who are full of themselves. ;-)
@rocka,
BUT …. can you name one recent prediction I have got wrong?
NO YOU CANT !!! Live with it! :-)
@Fred,
Nobody can be bothered to look them up Fred but I am sure there are plenty.
It was you that was bemoaning the fact that we were 7 points behind Chesea earlier in the season I maintained that Chelsea was not “all that” and would drop points. I think in your overly emotional ranting you would have declared we have NO CHANCE of the title and Chelsea would not be caught be this oh so poor Arsenal team.
I am sure if we look into the archive of this season alone we will find numerous fatalistic forecasts of doom and damnation. No indication if not a downright denial of our chances of fighting it out head to head with the likes of manU for the title.
And don’t try and kid the masses that you have backed Song all along because of a passing comment you made because of your hatred for the other “DM” option at the time, Denilson. You have been slating Song all season saying it was the lack of a proper DM (namely Song) that has been the cause of our defensive problems. I remember you expressing vehmently that he is not good enough.
@arfasheds,
Name ONE or shut the f^&k up, you absolutely hilarious git! :-)
Waiting ….
@arfasheds,
“It was you that was bemoaning the fact that we were 7 points behind Chesea earlier in the season I maintained that Chelsea was not “all that” and would drop points. I think in your overly emotional ranting you would have declared we have NO CHANCE of the title and Chelsea would not be caught be this oh so poor Arsenal team. ”
Not good enough for you but good enough for me dude…
Nobody on here believes you are a footballing guru Fred, who are trying to kid :-D Canyou even play the game?
@arfasheds,
Name ONE prediction I have got wrong, with quotes or SHUT THE F**K UP.
@arfasheds,
I cannot be bothered Fred! :-D
@Fred, amazing that you keep such detailed records that you can demonstrate achieving exactly a 95% hit/miss ratio, not 92%, not 87.4%, exactly 95%. what a coincidence that it would be a roundish number that is close, but not exactly “perfect”! thus i can, without hesitation, call BS.
i will grant however, that you probably do get it right more often than you get it wrong.
@Fred, no shit, fred. i don’t remember you calling djourou the best cb at the club last summer; especially as bad as he sucked during the pre-season. and the only one who ever called song anything other than a cm is arsene wenger. everyone else has always considered him a cm. funny thing is he’s not been playing as a dm but a box-to-box guy and wilshere has been our dm.
@Fred,
i don’t remember you declaring djourou our best cd in either of the past two summers. last summer, everyone was still kissing vermaelen’s ass.
likewise, no one has ever come out and verbally considered song anything other than a midfielder but arsene wenger. we’ve all thought of song as a cm. the funny thing is song hasn’t been a dm but more a box-to-box guy with wilshere playing the dm role.
@joshuad,
Thats what the archives are for ;-)
I was NEVER on the Vermaelen ass-kissing train … even though he is an old Ajax boy.
As per Song. I am talking about STARTING. And I am talking about “best starting DM at the club”. But I guess it isnt that hard when the competition is Denilshit and Abou Dhabi Doo.
Song (at least for the last few months) is the deepest lying midfielder, so I dont get your last sentence.
@Fred,
Fred how is Song the deepest lying MF? Just watch the Wolves game again and tell me you are mistaken or that you are a liar. Song was most often the furthest forward of our CM trio in that game!!!
As I pointed out to you a couple of season ago and earlier in the season, Carib has told you at least this season, HTS told you, Josh told you but you still choose to ignore, WE DO NOT PLAY WITH AN OUT AND OUT DM. Arsene declared it himself as did Song in a recent interview, he is instructed to join the attack and DF as do the other two CMs.
“LIVE WITH IT!!”
@arfasheds,
Song is the deepest lying midfielder in the team. Deeper lying than Wilshere.
No, worries, son, I dont expect you to understand simple english.
@Fred,
BS Fred. Look at the Wolves game again and tell me Song was always the deepest lying MF. No he wasn’t because that is not his role. How many people will have to tell you that. Even the manager has said that is not his role, they interchange sharing DF duties.
“Nuff said”
@arfasheds,
He tried being box-to-box for a spell up to December and failed spectacularly. Now he is sitting like he should.
Look at their positioning during game “resets” like goalkicks and freekicks.
Keep on being completely fact-free! It is in keeping with tradition for you.
@arfasheds,
Stop bull shitting FRED, who are you trying to kid? Song is not sitting, he has “sat” one game all season.
@arfasheds,
Oh, you dig thru the archives, I argued with YOU. No way am going thru a site without a search function for a clown like you.
I am certain you remember being on Koz’s D and I smacked you back with facts (DJ better than Koz, DJ best CB at the club) and you went ape-shit. Remember? Sure you do.
@joshuad,
I agree Josh. You will go as far as saying Fred is a liar in an attempt to get him to drag that out of the archives. He may have said he can be world class, that isn’t hard to call, but our best DF? no I don’t believe Fred has ever said that.
The only person I have heard say that he was our best defender was you on game day chat. I remember you saying that he was better than Vermaelen included and I was thinking ummh that is a very bold statement. You may well be correct.
I would love to see if they could partner each other effectively.
@arfasheds,
Arthur, you are the clown, I was arguing with …. YET you are the one on here denying it …. the absolute chutzpah !!!!
I said he was the best, YOU argued against that for days!!
Incredible. Maybe you knocked your head recently, thats why you are now talking smack, losing memory and calling yourself “Arfa”.
LOL.
@Fred,
Bring it out from the archives and then when I read it I will believe you.
if you said it in the summer or anytime prior to Djourou good form this season I would have slated you Fredrick!
@arfasheds,
See above, no need to repeat myself.
@arfasheds,
See above, no need to repeat myself.
@Fred,
i don’t remember you declaring djourou our best cd in either of the past two summers. last summer, everyone was still kissing vermaelen’s ass.
likewise, no one has ever come out and verbally considered song anything other than a midfielder but arsene wenger. we’ve all thought of song as a cm. the funny thing is song hasn’t been a dm but more a box-to-box guy with wilshere playing the dm role.
@Arthur
….from the previous thread, “..Kiwi I thought only Jesus is “the way”…”
________________________________
LOL, indeed, so some of us believe.
@MacMac 007
I’ve liked Wilshere alot since the moment he started playing in the 1st team. He just fits, and like Arthur and others state there is a tremendous upside that looks sure to eventuate. I compare him to Rooney, they play different positions yet there was that same certainty about Rooney, he looked at home in the EPL from day 1.
Djourou, man this guy looks good. If his body is strong enough to last a season (plural) we’ve got quite a player. He’s big, tall, fast and looks to have the smarts. If Vermaelen comes back and we have Djourou/Kos/Verme we’ve got a nice little trio and more than enough games to keep them all busy.
Arshavin, you can see he’s working his socks off, doing everything he can to recapture his mojo. He’s having something akin to a mid-life crisis. As Stevo pointed out in recent months his body (which was never aerodynamic) is probably not doing what he wants. He’s lost a little bit of the acceleration that was a vital part of his toolkit. Thing is, he was never super-quick. He needs to tweak his game, use his remaining skills and his experience to still be productive. Can he? I think so. He’s not the first player to lose a little bit of pace. Bergkamp, the legend the master, lost pace like a slow leak. Yet he was a craftsman and he served the team beautifully. Arshavin is working under a manager who will allow him to age gracefully. I hope he refinds his mojo.
@Kiwi,
Kiwi I just hope Arsh doesn’t want out. With the fans heckling a bit these days he might take that option, he doesn’t believe in this team anyway, he may just choose to walk away.
Wenger says Nasri has an outside shot at playing in the first leg against Barca:
http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8689_6748883,00.html
(It’s a ways down, most of the article is about something else.)
Very good news on the whole, but I just hope to god that if Wenger brings him back it’s b/c he’s actually ready. What we don’t need is a repeat of last year’s first leg against Barca, when Cesc played despite being nowhere near ready and it ended his season. If that happens with Samir I’ll be furious.
And here’s what we don’t need: http://www.football365.com/story/0,17033,8652_6749964,00.html
Bendtner opening his yap ahead of the Barca game. Fred you always call out your least favorite players like Denilson and Diaby when they do this, so you better not give a pass to your boy Bendtner. Nic is rather far down the list of Gunners who should be talking ahead of this game (not that any of them are really in a position to do so).
So Mazza you are at it again. Give the poor lad a break from the over zealous expectation.
Do you really believe that if we win the title that it will be down to “the one player” not only do you burden the lad with too much responsibility but you also belittle his team mates. If we manage to scrape past the finish line first we will need at lot more than Jack in his present stage of development.
I said the last time you overstated one of Jacks modest performances that we have not seen anything yet from this lad, I will say it again. One of his best performances so far if not the best, but trust me there is a lot more to come.
He has obviously grown in confidence in the first team, the confidence he expressed so regularly in the youth/reserve set up. He is starting to take the initiative more often and get in the mix where he is most devastating, the attack. But there is more to come and when it comes you will see goals as he is a very good finisher too.
I think saturdays performance will give Jack confidence and just as crucially he will see that he needs to be more confident infront of goal. Still I don’t expect him to win us the title. He was good against Newc in the first half but utterly lost after the Diaby departure. That is what we should expect from a developing 18 yr old a degree of inconsistency especially under pressure.
I also don’t agree about the IQ of the team shooting up with Jack instead of Diaby or Denilson. I do not it is intelligence that sets him apart from those two because I think that they are all intelligent players but Denilson lacks concentration and balance and Diaby lacks the mentality and heart.
Anyway here is a toast to the first fruits of Arsene’ labour in developing our academy from grass roots up and nuturing “special special talent” in the form of Jack, Keiran, JET and more to come.Let us take time to celebrate the wonderful work of the manager of the decade shall we ;-)
@ArfaSheds,
Ha ha! Have to stick JET in there don’t you? A couple of years ago I picked Jack for superstardom while you picked JET. One looks destined to patrol our midfield for years while the other is a positionless show pony, getting slated by Cardiff fans as not up to Championship standard. Do you have a penchant for one dimensional Mandingo footballers who only wake up when they’re on the ball ? ;)
Wilshere has ALREADY fulfilled the expectations that I set out for him at the start of the season, so you can ditch the platitudes about “putting too much pressure” on young shoulders etc.
Was Wilshere playing during our pathetic limp home displays against West Brom or our collapse against Spurs? Nope, apart from coming when the game was over against West Brom. Did he not change the game when he came on for Diaby against Wigan? Noticing a trend here?
You can sit on the fence all you want but once again the future – starting with Barca – will show that Jackie O will be the belle of the ball.
@Mazza,
Lol at Mazza… “Wilshere has ALREADY fulfilled the expectations that I set out for him at the start of the season”.
Did you agree these expectations with Jack himself, or just tell him straight? ;-)
@Mazza,
Mazza you said that JET vs Jack nonsense the last time I called you out on your Hleb like infatuation for our Jack. Maybe you are that balding, spectacled, pot bellied old geezer that Fred thinks you are and you are slowly losing your marbles ;-)
All in jest my… “friend” but I will repeat like I did then. There has never been a Jay vs Jack compo in my eyes. i have been watching the youths for a long time. As such I knew about Jack Wilshere and saw what he could do along time before you. When you was raving about him after one of the Youth Cup games i think it was, he was already the highlight of the academy he had been banging in goals regularly from MF! he was no new revelation to me. I brought up Jay at that time because he also had a sparkling performance but was totally overlooked because of the praise being heaped on Jack.
I have never ever doubted Jack would make it at Arsenal he is the golden boy of the academy. He jumped the pecking order ahead of Landsbury but he was even more talented and prolific than Henri ever was and trust me Henri was good!
However I did express my doubts that JET would make at at Arsenal because I believe he is best suited as a CM, a position that was already congested. But i have never doubted the boys talent he is also an exceptional talent very skilled footballer with intellegence, strength and a killer pass, long and short, he is also very big and strong. What he lacks however is stamina and he has not got blistering pace either. I think since his loan spell to Blackpool etc he has matured a lot as a footballer and if he is patient he will make it at Arsenal too, definitely.
By the way Mazza what is a Mandingo footballer is that Mandingo like Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry or something else?
@Mazza,
Did Jack play in our collapse against Newcastle?
Are you implying that everytime Jack plays we win and when he doesn’t play we lose? Are you saying that everytime he has played this season he has played well?
Do you see how love makes you blind?
How nice to watch a routine home win for a change — routine as in we totally dominated and squandered a dozen chances. Clinical finishing, where the fuck art thou?
We don’t so much kill off teams as perform gentle Swiss clinic euthanasia. Which is fine, except when the victim comes back to life a la Freddie Kruger and throttles us with a four-goal fightback.
Major plus of yesterday, as Mazza points out, is the continued emergence of Wilshere. He just has that ‘it’ factor like Cesc – a mature footballing intelligence. Theo may be the natural athlete, but he still thinks (overthinks) with his front brain. Wilshere is pure educated instinct.
Arshavin is improving at least. Our current first choice CBs didn’t get injured. And I love our keeper — a tall confident goalie with a calm temperment and a sense of humor, what a novel concept.
That said, our options on the bench are pretty meagre — either to shore up a lead or rescue a game.
Here’s hoping Barca have serious jetlag on Wednesday.
http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/news/_/id/6112900/fifa-facing-further-dissatisfaction-europe
Interesting article on Soccernet about how some people with real clout in the football world are starting to stand up to Blatter and his moronic, corrupt reign over FIFA. The European Professional Football Leagues (which contains delegates from the English, Spanish, Italian, German, French, and Russian leagues) is calling FIFA out on a number of issues. I know they are acting on the behalf of rich clubs’ interests, and not necessarily on what is best for the game of football, but at least somebody is standing up to Blatter.
You want something fun to do go to YouTube and watch some of the videos of this Japanese kid on loan to Feynoord – Ryo Miyahiuchi (or however you spell it).
Wow. The kid is quick, beats people easily one on one, has a good touch and can score. Feynoord aren’t going to want him to go.
I said at the start of the season that the only thing that could possibly make this season different from the last – apart from the obvious RVP injury saga – would be the emergence of Jack Wilshere, and how quickly he would be able to express himself sufficiently enough to combine with the likes of Fabregas, and thus creating a synergy ala 07/08 in terms of pass and move.
it seems in the last month or so that Wilshere is starting to show why I placed such faith in the effect he could have on our fortunes. At Newcastle I thought he was very impressive, and today he was superb. His inclusion in the team – at the expense of a Diaby or a Denilson – instantly raises the IQ of our team by about 30 points, and fills our team with joie de vivre. A potent combination.
He is the one reason why I am convinced this season’s clashes with Barca will actually live up to the tag that outsiders thought last season’s would be, and also the one player that could provide something tangible in terms of the destination of the title.
@Mazza,
I know that the Barca matches are going to be hard for us. When they are on their game there are none better – but I am going to be interested in seeing what Wilshere brings to the match.
Also I am going to be interested in seeing what a smart goal keeper – not a reflexive one can do against Barca.
Oh, I also forgot to add, that for all our (rightful) griping about the ref last week, perhaps the universe has evened out as Djourou may have gotten away with one inside the box today.
Team played well today, but as usual the finishing was lacking. Young Jack made his presence felt. Theo was all over the pitch, but his primary weakness-his first touch- really showed itself today. But he set up RVP for the second goal, so he had a worthwhile game in the end.
And how ’bout that fucking goal?! What a pass from Cesc! That’s how to counter-attack: 7 of our 10 outfield players touched the ball between Sagna (?) winning it at the back and our most clinical finisher, RVP, putting it in the net- and most of that was one-touch passing.
Arsenal MOTM: RVP
Overall MOTM: Hennessey
As for Barca:
No, I don’t see us winning the tie, but we have a chance. For us to win, I think we MUST do the following.
1) Win the first match at the Emirates by 2 goals.
2) Hold Barca to 1 goal in that match.
3) Have Nasri back for the second game.
4) Score once at Camp Nou.
5) Press like we did against Chelsea for BOTH games.
6) Clichy not to have a brain-fart against Dani Alves (to be fair, he hasn’t had a bad one in a very long time, but that’s partially why I’m afraid… Well that and Alves’s insane pace and timing.)
Stag, if you think the win is “meaningless,” then what would it have meant if we lost? If a loss would’ve been bad, then logically the win (and the 3 pts) must mean something- they are good, not meaningless. They keep us in the hunt. Maybe it’s a fool’s hunt but we are in it.
In fact, before you dismiss the victory, were you aware that Wolves have beaten 5 of the top 7 teams in the table this year? For whatever reason they play very well against the good teams.
In fact, here’s one for all the stat-geeks out there: of the 24 pts Wolves have earned thus far, 19 have come from matches against the top half of the table, versus only 5 from the bottom half. And I thought Arsenal were a rollercoaster. Now that would be infuriating.
@ChicagoGooner, how many have they won on the road?
I said, “IN TERMS OF FORM” its meaningless…
beating Wolves at home … when they are the WORST road team in the league, doesn’t give a good indication of how we are playing, when the next match is against the BEST TEAM IN THE WORLD.
in terms of 3 points, it is positive, obviously.
Wolves have the worst road record in the league, and they played like it…
We should have scored about 6 or 7 goals, but in classic Arsenal style, we mananged to miss many sitters and try to literally pass the ball into the net.
Virutally meaningless win in terms of our form.
3 Points were important in the standings.
Barcelona will wipe the floor with us, just like last season.
It could be embarrassing.
But don’t worrry. Arsene knows.
@stag133,
Meanwhile the team that is supposed to mop the floor winds up rescuing a draw against low end of the table Sporting Gijon.
Maybe its a meaningless match for you. Because your beloved City lost their derby today. But the match was necessary for positive momentum on Wednesday as well maintaining our chase on United.
If we get mopped up by Barca there isn’t a team in Europe they couldn’t do it to. They did it in devesatating style to Madrid. I personally don’t think there are many teams – if any that can play with them when they are in form. However, the draw is the draw and I don’t suspect Arsenal care who they have to play. They play who they play.
And no, I don’t think it will be embarassing. Not when they don’t have Puyol or Abiol in their defence.
@DaAdminGooner,
“But the match was necessary for positive momentum…”
And how about the 3 points? I don’t know how people on here can call the taking of 3 points “meaningless.”
@ChicagoGooner,
Because they could care less about Arsenal
@DaAdminGooner, classic.
I care as much about the club as ANY of you lot…
but because some folks wish to go along with anything the club do, and anything Wenger says and does… you are better fans.
that’s great stuff.
RE-READ what I typed.
MEANINGLESS in terms of form.
but 3 points important in terms of STANDINGS.
I know that is apparently difficult for you to decipher, but let me know if I need to break it down for you in more depth.
@stag133, predictible. yawn.
Nasri is likely to be on the bench against Barca according to Wenger’s post match interview.
Nice write up DAG. Nice victory, nice warm up for Barca.
An important victory despite what some would have us believe, Wolves are no push overs high on confidence especially after seeing Arsenals referee inspired collapse they must have thought they were in with a shout.
We looked assured although not fantastic and I feel we will do better than last year against Barca, so bring on the Catalans.