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Home›Match Previews›EPL Match Day 31: Arsenal v Blackpool: Match Preview

EPL Match Day 31: Arsenal v Blackpool: Match Preview

By Michael Price
April 9, 2011
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I am giving up any type of prognosticaction on this team. Don’t read that as I have given up on this team – that I will never do. I always want Arsenal to win but right now it is very hard to do so. On paper everything points to an Arsenal mauling of Blackpool.  On the pitch – well not so much.

Let’s face it right now 2nd place is a little flattering to this club. Actually its flattering to the whole league. The whole damn league is poor this season. Everyone talks about the smaller teams catching up. I don’t think so. Its more the bigger clubs coming down. And Arsenal are one of those clubs who right now seem to continually come down to the level of their competition.

Sure, they are on a run of 13 unbeaten league matches but the last 3 have all been draws. Sure their defence has let in less goals than Man United’s (yes, that is a fact) but they are not closing out opponents they should be doing so. It is frustrating and frankly there is no logical explanation to it. Sorry, I don’t buy into the fact that they are not good enough. Van Persie, Fabregas, Walcott, Wilshere, Arshavin, Sagna, Song and Nasri could play for pretty much any club in Europe. The fact they are often linked to almost every club in Europe attests to that.

To me it all comes down to the mental aspect of the game. Arsenal simply cannot go into a game 0-0 at the half or down at the half. They simply have not shown the mental ability to dig down when they need. That’s not entirely true they have done it on a few occassions but not with any regularity. When they are stiffled by ten men behind the ball or can’t break a team down, self-doubt creeps in.

I read an interesting article that talked about the mental side of the game and it basically it looked at the fact that everyone agrees that sports is 90% mental but sports teams spend less than 10% of the time preparing their players for it. The focus on the mental aspect of individuyal sports is well known and proven. Tiger Woods before his debacle of a year – was known for as much of his mental preparation as he was for his physical game.  He simply was clutch because he was mentally prepared.

I hate United. But I respect them because even in a year when nearly everyone agreees this is one of the worst built United squads – they continue to achieve. I believe that is as much down to the way Fergueson has them prepared mentally to win as it is to their talents. It seems unconceviable to me that Wenger, a man who relies heavily on a a psychological evaluation of his younger talent doesn’t in some way employ the same preparation once his players get into the senior squad.

It is clear that there is plenty of talent on this club. If you deny that then you truly don’t have an objective bone in your body and you simply focus on the negative.  But talent can only get you so far. You need to have the mental edge to carry you over the barriers that pop up in the course of a season. The league is is a grind – it is filled with peaks and valleys. Fans can accept that – what they can’t accept is capitulating because of self-doubt that players portray when things don’t go right.

My biggest focal point on this is Andrei Arshavin. I’ve been very critical of Andrei’s continual inability to “care” about the match he is playing in. I am sure a lot of that is the mental aspect of the game for him. Andrei wants to succeed when he displays his “little engine” mentality that much is evident. But when it doesn’t go right for him he gives in to the negativity. He pouts, he doesn’t particpate and he disappears for 10-15 minutes per match.

Now look there are other issues that are going on with this club. I recognize that. But outside of anything else what is going wrong on the pitch is as much mental as it is physical. The wins over Chelsea and Barcelona were not deceptions. They clearly showed what this team is capable of. But the draw at Newcastle shows what happens when this team gets unfocused or lets doubt creep into their game. Once that happens it all goes wrong.

I know I have spent a lot of time talking about this. But it is very hard to focus in on the match when we talk about the same thing week in and week out. Arsenal’s destiny is clearly in their own hands. Where they finish the league depends on what they do on the pitch. They should beat the lesser opponents. But they aren’t – not right now at least. Like I said last week , this unbeaten run is very similar to United’s form in the early season,  you don’t lose, but you don’t win either. Our problem is this run of form comes in the most critical time of the season.

Och well.

How the Match Should Play Out:
Oh who knows. You’ve got a Blackpool squad with zero confidence and an Arsenal squad with zero confidence. What does that mean? Who knows? An attack of Nasri, Van Persie and Arshavin should be enought to counter anything Blackpool has. And you have to think that maybe getting away from the Emriates might relax the boys so it is likely that Arsenal will play with a little more flair. Finally, and I can’t stress this enough – Blackpool should not be talken of lightly as some minnow – they are getting big scalps. They should be recognized for a club who is in a dogfight and should be treated as such by the fans and by the  players.

Players to Watch:
Arsenal: Samir Nasri. Even with his dip in form, Nasri made the short list of PFA Player of the Year. Our lack of form these last three games are down to his. Arsenal need him to fire as much as they need Van Persie.

Blackpool:  Charlie Adam. He is on a metoric rise to the top. Will likely be at one of the big clubs next season.

Probable Starting XI:

 

Injuries and Suspensions:
Arsenal:  Denilson (toe) Djourou (shoulder) Fabianksi (shoulder) Szczesny (finger) Vermaelen (achilles) Walcott (D – ankle) Sagna (D – knee)

Blackpool:Gilks (knee) Basham (knee) Clarke (knee)

Last Meeting (EPL):
Arsenal: 6
Blackpool: 0

Current Form:
Arsenal: DDDWW
Blackpool: LDLLW

Goals For:
Arsenal (away): 2.1
Blackpool (home):1.6

Goals Against:
Arsenal (away):1.2
Blackpool (home): 1.9

Goal Differential:
Arsenal: 30
Blackpool: -18

Leading Scorers:
Arsenal: Van Persie 15 (11 league)  Nasri 14 (9 league)

Blackpool: 10  (10 league) Adam: 10 (9 league)

Match Officials:
Referee: Lee Mason
Assistant Referees: Andy Halliday & Mick McDonough
Fourth Official: Mark Halsey

Broadcast Information:
US: Foxsoccer.tv 0830 AM EST

UK: Sky Sports 1 1330 BST

GAMEDAY CHAT: It’s Open!!!!!! www.youaremyarsenal.com/gamedaychat

YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 1

Blackpool: 1

SOME FINAL THOUGHTS:
If you believe hat where’s there is smoke there’s fire than you have to lend some credibility to the story the Daily Mail ran on Saturday of the possible Arsenal Summer Clearing Sale. Sure, papers get it wrong from time to time (don’t I know it) but in a lot of cases even if the story doesn’t happen, a lot of these stories come from inside the club – which means to me at least – at some level it has been talked about.  The Mail isn’t always the best soource. They’ve been actually known to rip off “exclusives” from our friends over at Young Guns without attribution but they’ve been getting a few right lately.

This all dovetails into what we’ve been saying and what moutpieces for the club (Bob Wilson and Martin Keown) have been saying and that is Wenger plans to clear out the club this summer – the end of the five year plan hasn’t worked and he sees it.  Now, all that is well and good but as most of my readers can attest to – seeing is beliving.

Also, I wanted to touch briefly on comments made by Peter Hill-Wood in response to fan criticism leveled at Wenger. I’ve been big on placing blame at the board’s feet and frankly the comments he made about AST today are actually astounding and go to the level of myopic visison that exists within the club. In a utshell Hill-Wood has threatened to remove any privleges the AST continues to have if it goes with its continued criticism. And while I am sure it won’t be any skin off the club’s back – it will likely only raise the din if the board decide to go through with it.

They have to know that and I think this is just a public slap to AST who is being told to “know your role” by the Chairman of the Board. Frankly, Hill-Wood should never speak again he only makes the situation worse. Wenger went on an impassioned interview where he defended himself, the club and it’s policies. Some of it seemed well, a little unhinged and that is coming from me a supporter of his.

But I am reserving my rights on that support. I am going to take a wait and see approach. If I see an effort to shift the dead weight and I mean absolute clonker players – I am looking at you Denilson – then I may take a glimer of hope that the issues are going to get resolved. I don’t need to see big money spends. I need to see an effort to refocus and support a team that has talent to compete but continues to fall short.

Finally for those of us that are eternal optmists and need some lifting up – remember this:

Arsenal are still the best squad on the road with 7 (W) 5 (D) and 2 (L). Only Chelsea and Man City have conceded less goals than Arsenal. And only Chelsea and Man City again – have more clean sheets than Arsenal.

And now for inspiration I give you an Arsenal video voiced over by Al Pacino in his classic motivation speech in Any Given Sunday. Given that we now play all but one match on Sunday and after you listen to the speech it can certainly apply to Arsenal – here it is.

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40 comments

  1. Mazza 11 April, 2011 at 19:45 Log in to Reply

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1375870/Arsenals-Robin-van-Persie-Abou-Diaby-embroiled-blazing-dressing-room-bust-Blackpool.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

    Well done Robin.

    Seems like a few of the more switched on players are starting to identify the dozy idiots who consistently sabotage our season with their precious ‘me me me’ attitude.

    • joshuad 11 April, 2011 at 21:38 Log in to Reply

      @Mazza, agreed, that is very nice to see. i mentioned in the gdc that he needed to be policed by his teammates. that internal leadership is what the team needs. when diaby behaves like that, he can’t be afforded any hiding place. adams or vieira would have caved his chest in. especially after a similar moment of petulance on his part recently served as the catalyst to the greatest comeback in premier league history. once again, well done by the co-captain.

      with that, i think diaby had a very decent game; a productive game, no doubt. he’s the one player on everyone’s sack list that i’m not ready to see leave. he’s a decent player. we just need him to stay fit.

    • joshuad 11 April, 2011 at 21:38 Log in to Reply

      @Mazza, agreed, that is very nice to see. i mentioned in the gdc that he needed to be policed by his teammates. that internal leadership is what the team needs. he can’t be afforded any hiding place. adams or vieira would have caved his chest in. especially after a similar moment of petulance on his part recently served as the catalyst to the greatest comeback in premier league history. once again, well done by the co-captain.

      with that, i think diaby had a very decent game; a productive game, no doubt. he’s the one player on everyone’s sack list that i’m not ready to see leave. he’s a decent player. we just need him to stay fit.

  2. Sachin 11 April, 2011 at 19:29 Log in to Reply

    Atleast this Sunday Arsenal play their league game before Man Utd, who play on tue, so Wenger can get his wish about exerting pressure although it would have been interesting if Arsenal had played 2 league games before Man Utd’s game vs Newcastle.

    Also the idea of Madrid playing Barca 4 times in just under 3 weeks in 3 competitions is fun. Enough to like and dislike about both teams so will be nice to see which egos get bruised.

  3. vibe4arsenal 11 April, 2011 at 14:30 Log in to Reply

    “The whole damn league is poor this season. Everyone talks about the smaller teams catching up. I don’t think so. Its more the bigger clubs coming down. And Arsenal are one of those clubs who right now seem to continually come down to the level of their competition.”

    Spot effin’ on. There was plenty of nonsense on here early in the season about ‘parity’. The new model excuse as to why Arsenal is underachieving. Utter bs, as should be obvious to everyone by now.

    Well, except to Wenger. Who insists this spunky little band of overachievers has shocked everyone by not finishing 5th.

    • highburyterracesteve 11 April, 2011 at 15:41 Log in to Reply

      @vibe4arsenal, I agree with you here Vibe (at some point I’ll explain what I was trying to get at on the last thread about AKBs, etc….) but I think your distaste for AW may be clouding your view…. (Thanks however for not calling him names offensive to French people and/or women.) The original quote is from whom?

      In my opinion the two dominant clubs of the past 6+ years (Chelsea, United) have gotten crotchety w/o substantial purchases (until this past January–Chelsea) and or have followed the Arsenal model and become a selling club (United–weaker w/o C. Ronaldo, fo sho, and Tevez, maybe…..) At the same time ManCity and Tottenham, sensing an opportunity, have pushed their spending envelopes (in different ways, of course) while Liverpool recover from the excesses of the Rafa Benitez era….Just my view and I’m sure somebody here will be keen to shout down my idiocy….

      That’s the top 6….The bottom 14, however HAS improved, at least in terms of their capacity to provide entertainment (Best Battle at the Bottom–Evah!) and I credit, at least a teeny bit, our own Arsene Wenger and his stubborn philosophies about attacking football, etc. Sure Roy Hodgson and Alan Pardew have stepped in with the traditional “keep ’em up,” standard fare, and Tony Pulis is a caveman of the worst variety, but at least Fat Sam has gone away while the likes of Martinez at Wigan, Coyle at Bolton and, as we saw yesterday (you do still watch the matches, right?….), the crazy fez people, among others, actually go into matches trying for all 3 points.

      A final “leveling” factor is that the lower teams are becoming farm squads for the big ones through the loan process (in addition to transfers). Witness the exploits of Sturridge at Bolton this season—He may be the go-to guy at Chelsea next season while Drogba and Torres count their money and pull splinters out of their asses….

      Quality, maybe it isn’t. Parity, however, seems self-evident, at least by dint of points in the table and a little shake-up of normal placements….All good fun for the “neutral,” whoever that guy is…..

      • vibe4arsenal 11 April, 2011 at 17:32 Log in to Reply

        @highburyterracesteve,

        Steve,

        The original quote is DAG’s (above). Dude’s a little long-winded, so you may not have waded in. ;-)

        I think your second graph is more facts than opinions, most of which I believe are correct. But I read you essentially agreeing that United/Chelsea (and, by extension, Arsenal) are not having traditionally great seasons, though all are (more or less) in their usual places. So you also agree, then, with the central idea that the top teams have come down more than the lower teams have come up.

        Which is Point A. above. Arsenal isn’t losing to/drawing teams such as Newcastle or West Brom, much less Leyton Orient, Ipswich or Leeds, because of some mythical ‘parity’. And yet there were (let’s call them) optimists on here earlier this year saying ‘parity’ is why Arsenal were underachieving. If you can be underachieving and in second place, that’s not parity. That’s a league wide funk.

        Which is why the rest of it seems like an argument about semantics. You’re not arguing even quality (smaller teams playing better), but parity (more teams playing at the same level). But if they’re all sharing a level of mediocrity, saying that are more ‘entertaining’ doesn’t contradict the premise that league is down…in terms of quality.

        I don’t know that Arsene is responsible for a revolution in the style of play in Prem. I watch much more of Arsenal than anyone else. I sure as hell know a lot of the smaller clubs have looked damned entertaining against *us” this year. So in that way, Arsene may be responsible.

        And that’s really the only place here that my frustration with Wenger enters into this particular discussion. ;)

  4. highburyterracesteve 11 April, 2011 at 10:47 Log in to Reply

    Two things: We won a game (!) and we have a new owner(!!!)….Somehow I wonder if the latter event was ready weeks ago, just waiting on the former…..

    The match hardly bears comment as nothing new was learned. We should always beat teams like Blackpool, our (threadbare) defense is (very) shaky and our attack is very muted (RVP squandering chances, Nasri glued to the touchline and then snakebit when he wandered in, Theo with no brains and the same old moves, and AA23….did he play yesterday? I can’t recall….)

    Three new (old) faces sparked things a bit: Abou Diaby starting two goals and finishing one of them and showing some of his (becoming) typical frustration, but with only a yellow card this time; (Mad) Jens yelling at his backline and trying to get sent off himself in a reprise of his biggest match from 5 years ago. And AHH-BOO-EE–finishing like Arshavin, and defending like him too….Good times….

    (I should also say that CF4 looked to survive the match and made some very nice passes….IMO we play better when he’s on the pitch….)

    But much more importantly…. We’ve got our own American Sugar Daddy, who (it seems) had 300 million pounds just lying around to ward off the fat gas man (and ManU fan) from the Ukraine….

    If it’s true that his share purchases will not be debt financed, that $40 million pounds (per year–or about the same as Denilson’s contract….) that we gain on United…..

    Like everybody else, I doubt much will change in the short term and I would guess that Stan will remain silent until the close season action (or inaction….) speaks for him. In the meantime we probably should be heaping vitriol on Lady Nina (she’s no lady, she’s a f**king ****) or on Danny Fizman (the dying ****) for their profit taking. Who knows, maybe they’ll show their love for the team by using their windfall and buying us a Torres or getting Ade back in the fold, but I wouldn’t hold my breath….. (Question: which of those two has more goals this season? And is that total more than Marouane Chamakh has scored?…..)

    You have to look back in our history pretty far to find the last league win (Stoke, Feb. 23)….and even farther to find our last big change in ownership…..I can’t say we learned or know much more about the team or the club after yesterday, but at least things are changing….fingers crossed it’s for the better….

    • ChicagoGooner 11 April, 2011 at 11:39 Log in to Reply

      @highburyterracesteve,
      Yeah, the two owners milked the Arsenal cash cow for years and made out like bandits in the end. That’s the way of the world I suppose…. (and what’s with the title “Lady”? What does that mean and how did she get it? Must just be one of those goofy British things that doesn’t make sense to anyone else.)

      • highburyterracesteve 11 April, 2011 at 11:52 Log in to Reply

        @ChicagoGooner, I think it’s like Lord and Lady and all that…..Landed aristocracy, I imagine….

        I guess the next move will be to see if Usmanov sells off to Kronke. If so, he’ll make a decent profit, with David Dein surely to make a percentage. (Perhaps if I get bored enough I’ll research the numbers….)

        Dein has been lauded as “Arsenal through and through” and a genius (after all, he brought Wenger to the club, wink, wink…..) more often than as a profiteer….Maybe he’ll show his true colors and throw some money into the transfer kitty….(I need a very, very large winky face and rolly eyed emoticon here….)

        Looking forward to the DAGs upcoming thread on the ownership….

  5. DaAdminGooner 11 April, 2011 at 07:07 Log in to Reply

    To illustrate my point – some of Stan’s comments to the stock exchange:

    ‘Arsenal is a fantastic club with a special history and tradition and a wonderful manager in Arsene Wenger.

    ‘We intend to build on this rich heritage and take the club to new success. I am delighted that Peter Hill-Wood has agreed to support us by continuing as chairman.”

  6. DaAdminGooner 11 April, 2011 at 01:33 Log in to Reply

    Am I the only one who thinks Stan buying isn’t going to signal much in the way change except in the fact that there is a single majority owner?

    I’ve spent the afternoon reading up on Stan his modus operandi is to leave the running of the club to the people who run the club. He doesn’t get involved. Which is either a good thing or a bad thing.

    On the good side of the coin it means he trusts the people who run things to do their jobs.

    On the bad side – and this relates to Arsenal – of he doesn’t get involved – nothing changes.

    Alot of people applaud Stan for being part of what Gazidis to the club as the CEO (or whatever his official title is) – Every fan I questioned today said that – to a T. Sorry but if you are holding that up as a succesful Stan influence, than I am really worried about his buying the club.

    Ivan Gazidis is one of the problems of this club. He doesn’t set any tone for the club to be run by. If Stan buys and Ivan is running things. Wenger will not change because Ivan don’t have the balls to do anything.

    Additionally, Stan likes continuity. Didn’t the Nuggets manager just retire after like 20+ years in charge? Something obscene like that (may be another team – I am thinking of.)

    Everyone thinks this means some monumental change. I don’t see it. And not because I don’t want to. I want there to be change – I just don’t see it coming with Stan.

    There is a reason PHW invited him on the board as opposed to the Russian. I think it has to do with his supporting the way the club is run. If Usmanov were to get the club then PHW would lose any influence and the club would be run much in the same way other sugar daddies run it – as their own fantasy football league. No, the whole Kroenke on the board is because of the need to dull Usmanov’s blade.

    As to that – the impetus for this purchase is Danny Fiszman’s detoriorating health related to cancer. The fear was that Usmanov would swoop in to buy those should he pass away. Stan went in for the double buy and got both Lady NB-S and Fiszman’s.

    • DaAdminGooner 11 April, 2011 at 01:34 Log in to Reply

      @DaAdminGooner,

      A lot of my perspective on Stan has come from reading a couple Denver Sports blogs and a piece on him from 2008 by Forbes – in case you are wondering where I get my perspective on him from.

      • ChicagoGooner 11 April, 2011 at 11:29 Log in to Reply

        @DaAdminGooner,
        The coach who retired after 20+ years was Jerry Sloan of Utah, not Denver. It’s easy to confuse those teams though if you don’t follow the sport.

    • jroybower 11 April, 2011 at 06:28 Log in to Reply

      @DaAdminGooner, i guess it really is ArsenalAmerica now….

    • vibe4arsenal 11 April, 2011 at 09:56 Log in to Reply

      @DaAdminGooner,

      “Am I the only one who thinks Stan buying isn’t going to signal much in the way change except in the fact that there is a single majority owner?”

      No. As I said last night, I expect he will initially talk about the importance of continuity, including Wenger. It seems kind of common sense when you come into an established, successful brand that you wouldn’t want to make people nervous by shaking things up. (No matter how much some of us that would like it.)

      It’ll take a few years until we’re able to get a real sense of what he’s like as an owner. At least with the Rams, he showed he wasn’t afraid to spend money. Of course, AFC isn’t the Rams, so…

  7. stag133 10 April, 2011 at 23:53 Log in to Reply

    yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaah.

    STAN is going ALL IN.
    He’s going to have 60%… double the 30% needed to take control on the club.

    This means ARSENAL will be in the US in the Summer, and Wenger can go FUCK himself if he doesn’t like it.

    The AST is actually SUPPORTING the move, saying Stan K. is open to talking with the AST and their opinions on the club.

    Woooooo hooooooooo.
    This could be the catalyst to drive Wenger OUT.

    And for those of you who don’t like Stan K. taking over…
    You can always go support someone else!
    YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!

    • vibe4arsenal 11 April, 2011 at 00:30 Log in to Reply

      @stag133,

      I think Kroenke will be holding on to Wenger, at least for the near term. I expect he’d say something about continuity being important, Wenger’s a key part, etc.

      It might mean that Wenger would leave earlier that he would have otherwise, but it feels way too early to jump to *any* conclusions.

      • stag133 11 April, 2011 at 00:41 Log in to Reply

        @vibe4arsenal, I don’t really disagree… but this signals CHANGE… and Arsenal need CHANGE.

        I’ll say this much. If you OWN the team, and you want the club to train in Colorado, where your “sister team”… The Colorado Rapids play… then that’s where they are going to train in the Summer.

        Wenger likes to do HIS thing… train in freaking Austria… for whatever the reason…. I can see certain things being a sticking point for Wenger, if “ownership” wants some things changed.

        Liverpool v Arsenal @ Fenway Park would be nice!
        :)

        • vibe4arsenal 11 April, 2011 at 00:49

          @stag133,

          I am with you 100% on the concept of MAJOR change. The status quo has gone from stale to rotting. Shaking the foundations is in order.

          And I do think Wenger’s arrogance and ego could certainly come into play here. Obviously, if it led to his departure, I’d be fine with that. I’m just wary of premature exultation. THE Newcastle and Spud results this season reinforced that.

  8. DaAdminGooner 10 April, 2011 at 18:06 Log in to Reply

    This will surely get toungues wagging – this little ditty is from ESPNSoccernet:

    Stan is set to make a formal bid for the team (Supposedly): http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/905446/stan-kroenke-set-to-launch-arsenal-takeover-?cc=5901

  9. macmac007 10 April, 2011 at 13:23 Log in to Reply

    3-1. A sweet counter-attacking goal to clinch the game. Diaby shrugging off a challenge to turn defence into attack; a brilliant Cesc pivot pass, Theo’s pace and pinpoint cross, and Van P. slots it home.

    Their defence was shocking — playing a dementedly high line with no one tracking runners etc.

    And yet we were still lucky not to lose. They should have had a penalty; Lehmann was lucky not to get a red card. And we once again contrived to turn a coasting 2-0 lead into another fiasco.

    If they had got the penalty, the place would have been rocking Newcastle-style and we probably would have buckled.

    We’re still in with a shout mathematically, but anything less than our first 11 and we’re going to stumble at Sp*ds and ManUre will most likely stifle us at the Emirates – a game they merely have to not lose.

    I’m already looking ahead to some summer shopping.

  10. DaAdminGooner 10 April, 2011 at 09:23 Log in to Reply

    Yes folks – Jens Lehmann IS in fact starting today as Manny has taken “ill”

  11. DaAdminGooner 10 April, 2011 at 09:13 Log in to Reply

    HOLY CRAP – The Twitterverse has blown up. And I Shit you not on this – supposedly Almunia has hurt himself warming up – LEHMANN starts!!!!

  12. DaAdminGooner 10 April, 2011 at 09:04 Log in to Reply

    Someone on twitter asked me if Denilson’s “toe” injury was career threatening – I said he didn’t need a toe injury to do that – he was doing it all with his own performances on the pitch.

  13. DaAdminGooner 10 April, 2011 at 08:57 Log in to Reply

    Arsenal Starting XI:

    See above. I nailed it.

  14. Arsenal v Blackpool – Premier League 10-04-2011 : Multimedia Stars 10 April, 2011 at 02:58 Log in to Reply

    […] EPL Match Day 31: Arsenal v Blackpool: Match Preview | You Are My … […]

  15. Fred 10 April, 2011 at 00:27 Log in to Reply

    Watching the Wenger comments (rather than just reading it) is just freaking scary.

    The guy is a freaking nasty egomaniac!

    At ANY other club in the world, he would have been FIRED today, just for making those derisory comments. Guardiola or Mourinho couldnt survive such. But not at Arsenal LLC!

    Meanwhile, the fans are the source of 100% of Arsenal’s income. 100% of Wenger’s wages. Yet they hold us in such contempt.

    I am now fairly certain, that Wenger will absolutely DOUBLE DOWN this summer. NO ONE of our failed players (other than Almunia) will leave … and we would buy absolutely no one.

  16. macmac007 9 April, 2011 at 19:04 Log in to Reply

    This game has FRUSTRATION written all over it. We’re spluttering as a team now without the mental strength or cool-headed experience to find a way through.

    We have no plan b, and without the urgency to step up plan a) – which only works when he play it fast and more direct – we wind up being held to a draw or picked off because we play too high up the pitch.

    Only once we have mathematically lost the title, we will play brilliantly again.

  17. Mazza 9 April, 2011 at 16:34 Log in to Reply

    This match has a Wigan feel about it. By “Wigan” I mean that old corker last year where we took a 2-0 lead – thought normal service was resumed(albeit too late as usual) – and we managed to make ourselves look even bigger mugs by chucking that lead away.

    I wouldn’t be hugely surprised to see the same shambles tomorrow and the comedy value watching that twat on the touchline squirm will make it worth it, should it happen.

  18. News Arsenal Soccer - EPL Match Day 31: Arsenal v Blackpool: Match Preview 9 April, 2011 at 15:14 Log in to Reply

    […] Visit Youaremyarsenal.com for more informations and other articles Share this article with your friends: […]

  19. DaAdminGooner 9 April, 2011 at 13:47 Log in to Reply

    This statement has just been released from the club via the AST:

    “We have always had a uniquely strong working relationship with AST and other supporters’ groups & this is important to us”

    “Our fans are at the heart of what we are here to do and that will always be the case”.

    Did PHW just get bitch slapped by someone in the PR wing of the club? Or did we suddenly wake up and smell the coffee

  20. Fred 9 April, 2011 at 13:30 Log in to Reply

    If there is ever a time to just play a full on 4-4-2, this is IT.

    Blackpool are a shit team who will just come in to defend. WE ALL KNOW THAT.

    There is absolutely NO point playing three midfielders.

    Just get in there, play direct, with purpose, score early, score regularly.

    If there is any team who needs a big win it is the Wenger Babes. And they need it now!

    Needless to say, I fully expect Wenger to foolishly go 4-3-3 with Denilson in there!

    • DaAdminGooner 9 April, 2011 at 13:41 Log in to Reply

      @Fred,

      Fred I agree with you.

      I would rather have – RvP, Chamkah/Bendy Arshavin, Nasri, Fabregas, Wilshere, and our defenders

  21. stag133 9 April, 2011 at 13:30 Log in to Reply

    I think Wenger and especially Peter Hill Wood’s comments SAY IT ALL about the current regime @ The Arsenal Football Club.

    Fucking CLUELESS.
    So, Hill-Wood says that Arsenal could remove privileges from the Arsenal Supporters Trust, if the AST continue to criticize the club?
    REALLY?
    So, you can have privileges, as long as you toe the company line?
    The fans are “silly”?
    REALLY?

    The fecking fans MAKE THE CLUB.
    Without the supporters showing up 60,000 strong, every fecking week… Arsenal Football Club ceases to EXIST!!!!!!!!!!!
    without fans, you have fuck-all… you have a Sunday kick-about in the park, with nobody watching.

    Its this attitude by the board and Wenger, that will drive support AWAY from the club, (along with putting ca$h ahead of winning)…
    and will make the noise LOUDER.

    At the moment, I wouldn’t fly over to see Ar$enal play … if the flight was FREE. Not with this lot running things.

    • vibe4arsenal 9 April, 2011 at 15:44 Log in to Reply

      @stag133,

      Groupthink at its finest.

      As defined by Janis, “A mode of thinking that people engage in when they are deeply involved in a cohesive in-group, when the members’ strivings for unanimity override their motivation to realistically appraise alternative courses of action”

  22. stag133 9 April, 2011 at 13:30 Log in to Reply

    I think Wenger and especially Peter Hill Wood’s comments SAY IT ALL about the current regime @ The Arsenal Football Club.

    Fucking CLUELESS.
    So, Hill-Wood says that Arsenal could remove privileges from the Arsenal Supporters Trust, if the AST continue to criticize the club?
    REALLY?
    So, you can have privileges, as long as you toe the company line?
    The fans are “silly”?
    REALLY?

    The fecking fans MAKE THE CLUB.
    Without the supporters showing up 60,000 strong, every fecking week… Arsenal Football Club ceases to EXIST!!!!!!!!!!!
    without fans, you have fuck-all… you have a Sunday kick-about in the park, with nobody watching.

    Its this attitude by the board and Wenger, that will drive support AWAY from the club, (along with putting ca$h ahead of winning)…
    and will make the noise LOUDER.

    At the moment, I wouldn’t fly over to see Ar$enal play … if the flight was FREE. Not with this lot running things.

  23. DaAdminGooner 9 April, 2011 at 11:29 Log in to Reply

    “Either we heal now as a team, or die as individuals.” Al Pacinio – Any Given Sunday.

    • vibe4arsenal 9 April, 2011 at 13:10 Log in to Reply

      @DaAdminGooner,

      “Who put this thing together? Me, that’s who! Who do I trust? Me! ”

      Al Pacino, Scarface

      (But I don’t blame anyone who thought it was Wenger.)

      • Mazza 9 April, 2011 at 16:28 Log in to Reply

        @vibe4arsenal,

        I think Wenger is saving that one for next year. Although he’ll probably mess it up and say “who do I trust? mental stwength!, er I mean me, I trust me!”

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