EPL MAtch Day 34: Arsenal vs Manchester United; Match Preview
In 1992 Queen Elizabeth used the term “Annus Horrobilis” to describe how bad the year was when she opened parliament that year. The term seems quite apropros for this current Arsenal season. What only two months ago looked like a season of promise has deteriorated into a morass of funk and junk that has left Arsenal supporters wondering whether its time that Arsene Wenger step aside.
That question and many more won’t be answered until the season is well and over. For now there is the matter of a visit to the Emirates of Manchester United, a team who look on course to win their 19th title. When these teams last met, Sir Alex Fergueson set up the team with 7 defenders and let Arsenal attack in waves and it nearly back fired as Edwin Van Der Saar put in the performance of a life-time to stop the Arsenal attack. It was Rafael and Hernandez on the counter that ultimately did the Gunners in and cemented the run of joy United have against the North London side.
For Arsenal this is an especially hard task on Sunday. Fergueson has found the way to beat Arsenal and in their last meetings have come away beating Arsenal 6 out of their last 7 visits. Throw in the Gunners bad form of late and this really does have the potential to be an ugly match.
Arsenal have to take a deep look at themselves, form the manager to the players and decide what it is they really are. Are they a conglomeration of also-rans that will be nothing better than the sum of the whole they are now or are they a team that can pick up from their bad form and put in a fight worthy of the epic match-ups between these two teams of old? Again it remains to be seen.
Arsenal have their full choice squad available to them with the exception of Diaby. No one is carrying any lingering injuries so there should be no reason why the preferred XI shouldn’t be on the pitch. Who Fergueson brings out remains a mystery. With a Champion’s League tie in the midweek and another title decider against Chelsea set for next week, there is a chance Fergie could rest key people. But I think he will want to make a statement and run out as strong a team as he can.
If Arsenal can find any hope for this match it is in the fact that United have only managed 5 away wins this season. Their form on the road is paltry and it has presented problems in terms of getting and holding leads. But to take advatange of this they will need to overcome their own frailties which extend to much more than bad form on the road. 8 points from their last 6 EPL Matches is an atrocious run of form for a team that had the table set for them in the run in. IN order to take something from United they will need a large dose of self-belief and they will need to overcome the strength of Van Der Saar in goal.
Arsenal will create their chances. But they have to do a couple things – first – they have to take the shot more. In this recent run of form we have resorted to our tried and true effort of trying to pass the ball into prime position. Someone on twitter suggested a new drinking game – drink for every time you shout SHOOT at the TV when Arsenal have the ball tippy-tapping around the box. Take the bloody shot. Let the ball hit off of someone if you are a mile out. Get a goal any way you can. Perfection is not necessary when you want a W. Just get the bloody win. In hockey, homage is always played to “junk goals” because hokcey players don’t care how they win, just that they win. Arsenal have to get this in their mind. Sure the beauty of their play is amazing, but it should not take a way from just trying to win the bloody game. Have I said bloody enough for you?
Secondly, use Walcott more. Theo has been a real threat even this bad run of form. Either use him to set up Robin Van Persie or find a way to get him behind the defenders. He is showing some maturation in play. He is taking shots and more are on target than off. The good thing ffor Theo is he is no longer hugging the touchline like he was so wont to do in the past. Now he at least tries to turn his defender by bringing them inside after testing them with pace along the wing. Its a good sign of his development, he just needs to add that finishing touch to his game and he will be the world beater everyone hoped it would be.
Arsenal now have a worry with Manchester City 5 points off and a game in hand. I don’t think Arsenal are in danger of falling out of the top 4. Not with Tottenham having to play Chelsea this saturday and then still play City. But if Arsenal are not careful they could find themselves with a shortened pre-season and more games then they had this season. While the title is all but technically lost – there is still something to play for and they need to show it.
How the Match Should Play Out:
United have been the model of how you just dig down and grind out a title. Last week’s win for them was a prime example. They are winning despite not playing well. It is the sign of their maturity and their calibre. But they have not played particulary well in the opening of matches and if they set off like that again, Arsenal should try and take advantage of it. For Arsenal they need to find the team that out hustled Chelsea and forced them into key errors that led to the Gunner’s win. They find the poise and resiliance that led them through the win against Barcelona on this same pitch. That means pressing the opponent.. It means bringing the ball out wide if the midfield gets clogged up or lumping it up forward to take an epmhasis off the midfield. But it really means is digging down deep and showing they have the intestinal fortitude to get it done.
Players to Watch:
Arsenal: Robin Van Persie. He has been on fire in the EPL. He has 15 goals in 16 matches. He is scoring just about from every place. He would likely have a lot more but the woodwork does a lot to stop him at times.
Man United. Javier Hernandez. This was hard, what with Edwin Van Saar showing everyone why he is the keeper he is. But Hernandez is likely the find of the season and has relegated Berbatov to second class citizen. He is a true poacher in every sense of the word and Djourou and Koscielny will have their hands full tracking him.
Projected Lineups:
Injuries and Suspensions:
Arsenal: Fabianksi (shoulder) Diaby (calf)
Man Utd: Scholes (Suspended -1) Fletcher (virus) Hargreaves (shoulder)
Last Meeting (FA Cup Quatrer Finals):
Arsenal: 0
United: 2
Current Form:
Arsenal: LDDWD
Man Utd: WDWWW
Goals For:
Arsenal (home): 1.8
Man Utd: (away) 1.6
Goals Against:
Arsenal: (home): 0.8
Man Utd: (away): 1.4
Goal Differential:
Arsenal: 31
Man Utd: 39
Leading Scorers:
Arsenal: Van Persie 19 (15 league) Nasri 15 (10 league)
Man Utd: Berbatov 22 (21 league), Hernandez 19 (12 league)
Match Officials:
Referee: Chris Foy
Assistant Referees: John Flynn & Andy Garratt
Fourth Official: Lee Mason
Broadcast Information:
US: FSC 9:00 AM EST
UK: Sky Sports 1 1405 BST
GAMEDAY CHAT: It’s Open!!!!!! www.youaremyarsenal.com/gamedaychat
YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 2
Man Utd: 2
Some Final Thoughts:
There is some good news to report with regard to the Gunners and the best of it is that Thomas Vermaelen is officially back with the squad having finished a full 90 minutes with the reserves on Thursday as they played against United at Old Trafford. From all accounts Vermaelen was solid and turned in a great performance. He seemed to be winning all the headers that came his way and was good at moving the ball from the central position.
Its a good sight to see the Belgian playing again and from all reports not having any ill effects from his long time away. As well as the pairing of Djourou and Koscielny have been at times, the leadership and steel that Vermalene brought to the team both in the back of the line and overall is surely missed. He has a firey personality and along with Van Persie strikes me as a someone of character that the team really needed this season. It’s good he is back.
In other news, Wenger this week said he believed the Arsenal captaincy has been a burden on Cesc Fabregas and that he has simply run out of gas trying to do it all for the club. I couldn’t agre more. Making a 23 year old Captain is too much of a heavy burden but at the time any player with any age to them was gone. The best thing to do for Arsenal is to remove that burden from him. Next season find a player who exemplifies leadership that is needed by the team. Release Fabregas from the burden of doing everything and let him try and find joy in his play again. Sure we are in for another silly season of will or won’t he (he won’t) but the boy should just be allowed to play football. Let him lead by example and not place too much on him.
Fabregas and Vice-Captain Van Persie are called on too much by their team to bail out the team when things aren’t going right. That is a sign of the players they but that and the added burden of the club Captaincy has seemed to weigh to heavy on the Spainaird. I think its time Wenger give the Captaincy who befits that role – much in the way Vierra did.
Finally, I just want to say I hate United. I don’t hate them because they win. Okay, that is part of it. I just hate United. I hate the cry baby that is Nani and the jackass that is Evra There is only three or four players on that team I have some respect for – Van Der Saar, Vidic, Ferdinand and Giggs. Other than that I have no love for the red side of Manchester in any way shape or form. To think I had Arsenal fans via twitter to tell me to stop hating on United. People please. There are two clubs I shall never stop hating on one of them is from the other side of North London – the other is United. If we aren’t going to win the season nothing would make me happier than to at least beat United at home and wipe the grin off their faces even for a little while.
Och well – till next time. Stay Goonerish!!!
[donate]
42 comments
Leave a reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Hello, Neat post. There is an issue along with your website in internet explorer, could check this? IE nonetheless is the marketplace leader and a good element of other folks will miss your fantastic writing due to this problem.
I never thought I couldn’t find a blog like this online. Anyway, I found a great article here and I will surely keeps on blog hopping!
wut up, folk? sorry i’ve been away but such is the hand that life has dealt me. don’t have time to go back and read all the posts from the previous threads. however, i can imagine what was said.
i did watch the bolton game. when cohen scored their winner, it gave me the same sensation as when viduka scored against us at the end of the 02-03 season. despite being 8 points clear, arsenal really blew it that year (like the undefeated patriots). wenger made one change that summer, buying lehmann, and arsenal went unbeaten the following year. i hope arsenal can do something similar next season.
i was saving this for the summer but the season’s almost over. van persie’s been dynamite, putting up 15 goals and 7 assists in 18 league starts. only two other players are putting up better numbers and they’ve both won world player of the year honors in recent years. big up to rvp. the problem for arsenal is robin is not a #9.
throughout the wenger era, we’ve had ian wright, nico anelka, titi henry and ade as proper #9’s. i think this type of player is essential for arsenal to pose a more legitimate threat from open play. everyone suddenly has space and scores goals. watch the bolton game again and notice how much space was created for everyone else immediately after chamakh came on. chamakh, though limited, is a legit #9.
earlier in the season, when van persie, cesc, and bendtner were all injured, chamakh led the line and arsenal’s world cup rejects were scoring goals (pre-season is a beautiful thing). despite our world cup superstars being out, arsenal were able to keep pace with “playstation” chelsea. perhaps wenger repeating the trick by purchasing a single player at the other end of the pitch can open the door to silverware. the question would then be who get’s dropped? we’ll see. gotta run, boys. tschuss.
Below is a portion of the email sent out to AISA Members regarding their interactions with Ivan Gazidis. Interesting times indeed:
—————–
AISA has already issued a public statement expressing disappointment at the announcement by the Club that they are increasing ticket prices by 6.5% for the 2011-12 season. Inevitably this will mean that some loyal and long-standing supporters will be forced to give up their season tickets, as they will not be able to afford the new prices.
We really regret this; we fully understand and agree with the Club about the need to constantly recruit and attract new supporters. All members – red, silver, gold and platinum – must be catered for by the Club but we believe an intrinsic part of football, and especially of Arsenal, is loyalty, tradition and belonging.
Arsenal regularly say they understand this but sometimes their actions seem not to match their words. The move to The Emirates Stadium, for which AISA campaigned so vigorously, was about increasing opportunities for all Arsenal fans to watch live football, an aspiration that should continue to inform all of the Club’s decisions.
————————-
The AISA will be taking information and feedback from its Members, and will be meeting with IVAN in August to discuss a number of ongoing concerns.
so, tell me why Manchester United…
who is just RIDDLED with all that massive DEBT…
can do something so smart as to raise ticket prices by
ONE BRITISH POUND?
Now that makes sense. Its a quid. Its 1 pound.
Its like saying we have to raise a bit more money… but we understand the situation.
Yet, we are TEAM PROFITABILITY. and we have to raise prices much more than that.
Yes, I just don’t get it, I guess. :goat:
@stag133,
Why? Because Man U make more money from their commercial endeavours then we do. They are less reliant on gate receipts to run the club than Arsenal.
and the beat goes on at ARSENAL FC, LLC, PLC LTD.
Disregarding what the SUPPORTERS say… disregarding an economic climate that is terrible… disregarding the fact that Arsenal have won SHITE for 6 years straight…
They’ve decided they WILL RAISE TICKET PRICES, against the wishes and complaints of the AST … (Arsenal Supporters Trust).
Stan needs to step up, and STEP IN, and make a statement… that he recognizes the situation, and that ANY ADDITIONAL MONEY MADE by the rise in ticket prices will be SPENT ON NEW PLAYERS.
… instead of going into the POCKETS of the board and investors.
The once great club is now becoming increasingly difficult to support… pricing out its own longtime supporters, and putting CA$H ahead of winning, and its fans… ad nauseum… DISGUSTING GREED.
@stag133, they will continue to raise prices until demand < supply. those are the facts. you might not like. i might not like it, but that's the way it is. ranting about it in YAMA style will not change it. writing a well thought out letter AST style will not change it. only voting with your wallet will change it, maybe…
Wenger is the perfect father figure. Wouldn’t you lave to have a dad who doesn’t kick the living daylight out of you when you F**k*p ;) I would.
Wouldn’t you like a father figure who gives you room for freedom of expression while paying you vastly inflated pocket money for doing mundane task? I would.
Hey, what’s everyone making of a lot of our players coming out to support Wenger and, in particular, emphasizing that Wenger should not take all the blame. The way I see it, I don’t think it’s a pre-scripted PR thing by Arsenal, rather it’s the players banding together to support Wenger after he took the blame for our collapse.
Whatever the case (not really too concerned), the consequence of this is, as far as I can see, 2-fold, one good, the other, not so much.
1 – The players might (finally?!?!?!) get some heart and put in the work required to put in shifts the way they did on Sunday. Rally around the manager, so to speak. Yes that may have been a fairly no pressure game, but irregardless, the work we put in was immense. And hard work (particularly out of possession) plus the squad we have should theoretically equal success.
2 – Wenger will take the comments, along with our Sunday performance, put 2 + 2 together in the Wengerulator and decide that yes, these current players are the players to take us to the next step. Some small but large changes are needed and I hope this doesn’t deviate him from making changes (not just personnel, but also playing mentality etc.)
Mixed bag of feeling after that game. On one hand, awesome performance. Something about Arshavin marshalling the wing sliding into tackles really gets me pumping. It was good pressure throughout.
But all in all, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sadness at what could have been if, as a team, we had a pair big enough to put in such performances week in week out.
Ah well, always next season eh?
It’s gone awfully quiet here, which is fine. We could all use a little break before the next series of disappointments and the handing out of trophies….
2nd leg Barca-Real today and I’m not sure I can be bothered to even set the DVR…..Do I really want to see Dani Alves celebrating the triumph of his pivotal dive from the first leg? Will Barca’s cup run be tainted by such antics and the hapless refereeing? I can’t say I’m excited about seeing the guy who sent RVP off overseeing the final…..
In other matters, I’m gonna throw my support towards Chelsea for the big match at the weekend. 1) They’re from London, 2) They’re old and will need a big turnover to carry on next season and 3) a Chelsea victory would keep us (mathematically, at least) alive a little longer, assuming that we can win at Stoke City.
That’s a very big if, of course. Stoke are actually in fine form. By the law of transitivity, given that Stoke beat Bolton 5-nil (in the FA cup semi) and Bolton beat us 2-1, we’ll be lucky to keep them out of double digits, or something…..we SHOULD go up there and find vengeance for the leg-breaking and all that, and it would be nice if Stoke actually tried to cement their growing reputation as a “decent footballing side” by playing a pleasant match and giving up a goal or three to us. With (their best player?) Ethrington out hurt, however, I fear they’ll play for the throw-ins and crunching tackles….
Finally, in the most exciting part of the table, who is going down? I need to check all the remaining fixtures, but my picks are Wolves, West Ham and Blackpool. I’m sad for the latter two clubs as I’ve always had a soft spot for the East London club and they’ve got some good players (Demba Ba, anyone? Or maybe Freddie Sears, who seems like maybe a Cockney Eden Hazard…. Sorry no Scott Parker nor Carlton Cole for me…..) and Blackpool are just plain, good fun….
So, not a whole lot to be excited about, but maybe we could start a some small discussions about the topics above. Certainly I wouldn’t want to incite the regulars by noting that a win against ManU makes the site go (deathly) quiet…..At least, thank god, nobody has come on to argue how the result shows that the French T**t was right all along…..
@highburyterracesteve, Real v Barca is always an interesting match… and the drama just adds to the … drama!
ManU v Chelsea for all the marbles is high entertainment…
How about Twente v Ajax for the Dutch title…
Good football out there…. just have to sit back and enjoy.
I mean, none of those teams will pass the ball around laterally and backward like we do, and fail to take open shots at goal, but one mans hell is anothers heaven, right?
I’d take Scott Parker in a minute… Demba Ba doesn’t do much for me… and I’d take Cole too, but not interested in Freddie Sears!
;)
@highburyterracesteve, it’s probably because anyone attempting to say “job well done” or anything positive about the team will immediately be confronted by the anti-AKB (??!?) gestapo and be told:
1) you are wrong and your opinion is of no value
2) explicity or implicity that you are a moron, idiot, or fool (sic AKB)
3) the match meant nothing in the grand scheme of things
4) winning prevents the club from moving forward
5) it was the other team’s failure rather than our players who won
6) this was the last game for CF, SN, GC, AA, RvP etc
7) the sky is falling
repeat until you beg for mercy and accept the “truth”
@jroybower,
Awwww ….
Or maybe …. most AKBs have realised EVERY time they come out to “brag” the team humiliates them in the VERY NEXT match.
With Stoke away coming up, I would shut up if I were you! :-)
Other than that, I guess the facts of the players actually confessing that they won because there was no pressure means nothing to a rabid Wenger lover ;-)
Nice to see Ramsay lookingsomething like the player he was, and the perfect game for him really. A pointless ‘big game’, which will give him confidence to kick on.
Always good to beat United as well, regardless of circumstance. Those stats were becoming embarrassing, along with the actual games as well.
@Mazza,
I was very happy for him. Truly, a bright spot. And how often do you see someone do such a big ‘LOOK AT ME!!! I’M OPEN!!!” gesture, then actually put the chance away? That was awesome.
Of course, the really telling stats are here. Has there ever been less posting after a victory over United? Hell, I was barely interested in watching the match. So even my genuine happiness for JR is tempered by what an overall bummer this season has been.
@vibe4arsenal, you just don’t get it Vibe & Mazza!
We are in the TOP 4… AGAIN.
Absolutely spectacular feat, considering we don’t cheat or … I mean spend lavishly on players… like United, Chelsea, City…
Anyone can do things that way.
We’ve lowered the debt, filled the stadium EVERY match, and we were … ahem…. ummm… “entertaining”… which is all the really matters to those who know football.
We are spoiled by the great success of Wenger, and winning trophies is HIGHLY over-rated… Arsene knows… believe… keep the faith… kiss his rings… and don’t… ever… doubt the master.
Another glorious year in the life of an Arsenal fan…
Thank god we have Arsene Wenger.
@vibe4arsenal, JR? Not being a smartass, really want to know…
@OziKenyan,
Ha, my bad, OZ. I had it in my head to say what a nice match Jack had, also. Something about them both being bright spots.
But while I decided to leave that out, I still took Jack’s first initial and combined it with Aaron’s last.
@vibe4arsenal, Jack Ramsey, he be some player that lad!
@OziKenyan,
Free transfer, too.
Great result… shame it couldn’t have come four weeks ago.
ManUre were well off their game, which is fine by me. But the only thing more unpleasant than seeing them win the Prem is watching Chelsea win it. So – barring a miracle in May – urgh.
Still, we won. We hung there. We snapped up a decent half-chance with a first-time shot (more of those would help our game no end).
We didn’t exactly tear them apart. Our keeper wound up having to make more saves than Van de Saar. But it does lift the psychological hold ManUre has had on us for the last 11 or so games.
I recall some Van P. bashing on this site not too long ago. I don’t understand that at all. He’s been our most consistent performer in the title run-in.
@macmac007,
“most consistent performer in the title run-in”.
What title run-in?
RvP is a good forward, but he is not “world-class” as some crow.
Our system NEEDS an explosive forward … a fast and powerful central forward … i.e. Adebayor with brains, who stays onside.
At the minimum we need a presence in the box. Or at least a poacher type.
RvP is NONE of those. He is not fast, he is not powerful, he cant hold the ball up, he has no presence in the box, he roams around the place randomly.
He is good …. his goals despite his shortcomings prove that … but we need POWER down the middle to give us shape. Something to build around. A striker that will not just cause fear to CBs but can actually physically exhaust them. Allowing our little playmakers some operating room.
We will never really have that with RvP.
@Fred, RVP is a SCORER. He makes goals out of nothing. You need that in our team. YOu want POWER down the middle? Then maybe we should sign Drogba.
@stag133,
Eduardo is also a scorer. An even more instinctive scorer than RvP. That does not make him ideal for our system of play.
Our system needs pace and power down the middle.
Drogba is too old.
@Fred,
We defiinately need a Milito type, someone strong and powerful who will consistently look to run in behind. Walcott cannot do this. He just physically hits a wall every game after sixty minutes, and his technique becomes even more of a joke.
@stag133, Drogba would be a beast at Arsenal, as he is at Chelsea…
Scooby Dooby Doo!!!!
We beat United (and Chelsea and Barca) at home! (Unfortunately we lost there to Newcastle, Spurs and West Brom and drew there to Man City, Sunderland, Blackburn, and Liverpool and Leeds United….) Maybe we’re turning a corner or something…..
Doubtful. This was a zero pressure match against a United side playing for a draw and we barely took it. Luckily, we held on and the refs didn’t make a bad call (on Clichy late) to match the one they missed on Vidic. A nice win but until this team can cope with real pressure, it means little except to make the ManU–Chelsea match more interesting.
Where was Cesc? Injured in training or trying to track down Pippa Middleton at a wedding reception? (The Mail reports that Cesc and Carla are splitsville and that Charlize Theron was at the match…Perhaps looking for the newly single “play-maker”…..I’d link to the articles, but then my post wouldn’t go through….) Is it a “transfer request” or (as Jroy suggested in the GDC) a sign that our boy wants to enjoy Swinging London, sort of like a modern day Austin Powers?….
It WAS good for the team to win w/o Cesc and Nasri (in the 2nd period). (Now we’ll sell them both, for sure, of course…..) Very happy for Ramsey, who still looks to lack pace but seems to have been watching Cesc during his time off. Calling RVP off his (poor angle) shot and then placing it in the corner with a single touch was classy…..
Personally, I didn’t expect either team to score. United was letting us cross at will, but with no targets (and getting to use their hands….) what’s the risk? They too tried to play wide but with Rooney doing all his diving from a deeper (Quarterback?) position, they looked toothless as well….
And the defense did better, Koscielny and Sagna, esp., and we even survived with Squill and Eboue on the pitch. (Note how he didn’t run anybody down when the late FK bounced off the wall…..) Song also did much better staying well back and tracking the few runners that United sent forward. Sneezy is a big fellow and played mistake free.
In the end a moral victory only, but a blow to the protesters (freedom fighters?)….. Those sorts will just have to shout louder….. In the meantime, the rational observers will feel the usual frustration and will have to hope that we make some better moves over the summer. (And for me, if we’re looking at picking up a West Ham player, I’ll take Demba Ba over Scott Parker, thank you very much….)
Happy May Day….
@highburyterracesteve,
“blow to the protesters”.
LOL …. If this game had even just the tiniest bit of pressure on it, the team would have lost 3-0. Not even the staunchest AKBs would deny that.
We always win in May – when its all over bar the shouting.
@highburyterracesteve, Arsenal don’t want to reveal the real reason regarding Cesc’s injury. In training Ramsey hit a pass too hard and Cesc injured himself trying to reach it. The similarity of this to Fabianski’s injury via Szczesny’s shot would be a bit too much to reveal and might unearth the second reason for Arsenal’s injuries. Internationals are still the #1 cause but Arsenal players also get mysteriously injured in training when a player accidentally hits a ball too hard thereby injuring a fellow player. This #2 reason cannot be revealed because if this was ever known then it could be combined with internationals training to cause Arsenal endless grief. Nasri, Sagna and Diaby might not survive Evra’s shots during training for the French national team. Provided those players still get selected, with the quota and all :)
All these injuries in training is making me suspicious of the times when certain players come down with a flu in training. Given their rivalry few years ago, I wouldn’t put it past Jens to sneeze into Almunia’s meal before a game. Maybe Jens was trying to toughen up Almunia by giving him his mentally strong Jens germs but Almunia couldn’t handle that.
And going back to your question. Who is to say that Cesc didn’t find Pippa? That is something that can never officially be revealed for royal reasons. Plus, it would break the heart of many new found fans who have been commenting quite a bit via twitter/facebook about the sister who stole the show. Accidentally of course :)
@sachin, Interesting…..So Ramsey injures Cesc (to take his spot in the line-up) just as Sneezy did flappy, much as Pippa did Kate….
“To Pipp” (after Wally Pipp, who lost his starting job to Lou Gehrig who then played 2,130 consecutive games) has become a verb, as perhaps (to) Pippa will…..
At least we’re starting to see a (very strange form of) “competition for places”……
Next year, fo’ sho…..
@highburyterracesteve,
Although I felt bad even joking about Cesc’s injury by using Ramsey’s name especially given what happened to Ramsey last year but I could not have used Jack’s name because it was Ramsey who was expected by some to slot in after Cesc left.
Ideally, there should always be healthy competition for places if players were dropped after indifferent performances if competent players were fit to take their place. Of course, that lack of competition has been the story of the last few years, expect in a few cases.
Well at least Man U might not win the title now. Chelsea are 3 pts back w/ the same GD and they play each other next week. To think its still *possible* (but unlikely) that Man U could go trophyless this season.
Well Well Well.
I think we’ve all been waiting for a match like today ALL SEASON LONG, and unfortunately, it comes too late.
Where was Cesc?
I’d have to say I sort of agree with HTS’s view. I think he’s DONE with Arsenal, and Wenger just wasn’t going to play him if he’s leaving … or maybe Cesc didn’t want to risk injury when he knows he’s gone.
Either way… You have to like Ramsey & Wilshire in the middle.
We played a good match… United didn’t look very good, and they could blow the title next week with a loss to Chelsea.
Amazing. As we could have walked to this Title…
Sell Cesc… bring in Scott Parker… sell off the dead weight… and let the kids go with it… we aren’t spending any money on proven talent, so just tell the fans the truth… and go with the youth full on.
just reduce ticket prices, and we’ll all be happy.
Well done today.
Good match be Sneezy, confident… and Koscy played well also.
Wow @$#%#%#%
I would have been happy if Rooney or Park didn’t score but a WIN is much much better. And that too, 1-0. I quite enjoy saying One-nill to the Arsenal because in this day and age that scoreline is very unlikely and that too against Man Utd. Surprized that Man Utd did not get 6+ minutes of stoppage time.
Arsenal wasted their chance this season to take the title but atleast they give Fergie a bit more of a headache and this should make Man Utd vs Chelsea next week very interesting indeed. Carlo might even send Wenger a nice bottle of wine.
Starting XI: Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Djourou, Clichy, Song, Wilshere, Walcott, Ramsey, Nasri, Van Persie
@DaAdminGooner, P*t* M*dr*, as I’ve seen el Capitan say, occasion….
Cesc, my fantasy league captain, injured in training the day before the match? Sorry, but I’m not buying it–after too many protective statements (lies) about fitness from the manager/club. I mean WTF could happen the day before the match?…..
Unfortunately I fear that this is the equivalent of a transfer request and that we will not be seeing Cesc again this season and likely ever again in Arsenal red. Maybe I’m over-reacting and I would love to hear some more information…..
So, if Aaron Ramsey can lead the team to a result today we can push forward w/o Cesc. If not (or even if so…..), and we still have to go forward without him, then what would the evaluation of the season be…..Not So Good, I fear…..
I’m in the GDC to discuss further….
What makes you respect Ferdinand*? He’s an A-grade c*nt like most of them. Utd players that don’t make me want to spew: Giggs, Hernandez (love his attitude to the game), Owen, VDS, Park.
*I presume we’re not talking of footballing respect. That, I think the whole team would get just for the fact they bloody win..
haven’t care so little about an Arsenal v ManU match since I started following the club… the remaining matches are meaningless, and I just hope none of our better players get injured.
I don’t want Vermaelen playing again this season… there is no point at all… he could get re-injured…
I don’t care if we are 3rd or 4th, both are FAILURE…
looking forward to the Summer, and either excitement about changes being made at the club, incoming and outgoing players, or … if all remains the same, not thinking about Arsenal for a few months.
Good writeup as usual DAG.
I have very little expectations for the game tomorrow and think the likeliest outcome will be a draw as Manu look to protect their points advantage rather than go for the win and possibly lose.
They will defend with 8 behind the ball and wait for Nani, Chcarito and Rooney to produce that one moment of brilliance against our somewhat error prone back line.
If anything, as DAG iterated in his post, we could attack from the outset, put them on the back foot and if we nick an early goal, could well go on to win this one.
The 2 most important factors in our favor is that we are now unencumbered from pressure and Manure doesn’t need to win.
2-1 to the Arse.
There is a slight error – I report that Arsenal have gotten 8 points from their last 6 matches. It is indeed 7 points from their last think.
Please thank the Guardian for that.