Match Preview: Arsenal v Fulham
Ravin' at the Craven!
Arenal are set to try and continue their winning ways tomorrow at the site of one last year’s most frustrating losses – Craven Cottage. The Gunners square off against Roy Hodgson’s Fulham side who at the start of this season, are a shadow of their selves from last season.
Fulham, notorious for a strong back four have started the season wrought with frustration as they have only managed 6 points from a possible 15 (thanks in part to wins over Pompey and Everton). In all competitions Fulham have one win from their last seven ties. One of those loses was a 120 minute well fought battle against a first team Manchester City squad. A revamped Fulham side played smart football and frustrated the likes of Carlos Tevez and crew until Kolo Toure knocked home the winner in the 111th minute.
Supporters of the West London side should be bouyed from their teams current form against the Gunners. Last season alone Fulham held Arsenal to just one point from six in their meetings. Only Aston Villa were able to match that feat. Additionally, the loss at Craven Cottage last season was Arsenal’s only derby defeat on the road last season. Overall, the Cottagers have beaten Arsenal at home in two out of the last three seasons.
In order to beat the Gunners this season, Hodgson will need all hands on deck. Simon Davies is out so the squad will need, Clint Dempsey, Bobbie Zamora, Andrew Johnson and Damien Duff to be in form against an improving Arsenal side. Brede Hangeland, rumored througout the summer to be an Arsenal target needs to replicate last season’s heroics if Fulham are to gain points from Arsenal.
The Gunners hope that they can keep the winning form they have shown lately going. In their last three matches they have come from behind against Standard Liege, displayed a solid thumping of Wigan and the young guns outpaced Championship leading West Brom. The league leading scorers have a total of 27 goals in all 9 matches played and have 17 of those in the EPL. That scoring prowess however has to be tempered with the fact that Arsenal have given up 8 goals.
Even with their two losses this season the effectiveness of the new 4-3-3 cannot be understated. The attack even in those losses has been effective scoring in every match and nearly drawing even in both trips at Manchester. The weak point has been on the defence where the position of goal keeper has been a particular pain. Prospective England Goalkeeper (I kid of course) Manual Almunia has only managed to save 53% of the shots he’s faced or better put he has let in half the shots he’s seen. Vito Mannone has featured in the UCL and EPL matches while the Polish wiz kid with the hard to pronounce name, Wojicech Szcznesy backstopped the defence in the recent Carling Cup tie. There is some speculation that the the pole will feature between the sticks since Vito has shown himself to be shaky.
One of the key components to the squads scoring sucess is Arsenal’s effectiveness on set-pieces. Last season their attempts were paltry and the were middle of the pack in scoring from them. This season, with the addition of Thomas Vermaelen and all of William Gallas’ body parts, Arsenal are leading the league in scoring from set pieces. This is important as squads back the bus up to block any Arsenal attack and take penalties or force corners.
However ashas been the case this season, the focus will be Arsenal’s attack options and they are only be bolstered by the return of Andrei Arshavin and Theo Walcott to the first team. Add them in with Fabregas, Rosicky and Eduardo and the options for Arsene Wenger seem endless. Finally, it is quite possible Arsenal fans will get to see the link up they have been craving for since last January – Rosicky to Arshavin. Rosicky and Arshavin are two creative players with the ball. Already in his return to the squad Rosicky is showing why he was signed. He has scored and his ability to feed the ball to players on the run is uncanny. Throw that in the Arshavin’s ability to make something out of nothing around the penalty box and this could be a very productive duo through the season.
How it will play out?
All in all, the match is likely to be typical of a London Derby and hard fought on all sides. Look for Fulham to tighten up in the back and force Arsenal to unlock them. Also look for Fulham to try and toughen the match up especially testing the midfield and force Arsenal off their game. Arsenal’s attack will be fit for the task as the trainer’s room is finally clearing out and the bench will feature players who should be starters in any club. In the end Arsenal should prove to have too many weapons and too much creativity to finish with a result similar to last year. While Fulham will likely be happy to escape with a point, Arsenal shall not as they look to stay with the leading pack. And they should.
Players to watch:
Arsenal: I am going to agree with everyone else and say Thomas Vermaelen. When fans clamored for a defender and a striker Arsene gave them the former Ajax captain. The Belgian has not disappointed leading the club with 4 goals in all competitions. Once chastised by the pundits for his lack of size, he has shown skill in positioning and an uncanny knack to get himself free on set pieces and win some very tasty headers.
Fulham: Brede Hangeland was an Arsenal killer scoring the lone goal last year during the tie. Linked this summer with a move to Ashbourton Grove, and thoroughly denied by the player he could be tempted to prove a point during the match.
Probable Starting XI:
Arsenal: Mannone/Szcznesy, Gallas, Vermaelen, Sagna, Clichy, Fabregas, Rosicky, Song, Eduardo, Arshavin, Van Persie
Fulham: Schwarzer, Hanglenad, Huges, Paintsil, Kelly, Murhpy, Etuhu, Duff, Dempsey, Johnson, Zamora
Final Score:
Arsenal: 3
Fulham: 0
Final Note: As always Game Day Chat will be open.
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http://www.oleole.com/blogs/arsenal-truth/posts/clueless-gooners-berate-fabregas
Danny’s article on a much discussed topic here. Good read.
We are set for a terrific season. From last year at this time, our roster has Eduardo, Rosicky, Arshavin, Vermaelen, Mannone, and Song as available starters!
Chemistry will evolve over time as everyone returns from injury.
Winning close matches on the road (St. Liege & Fulham) is essential to crafting a winning attitude.
@ Arthur
I totally agree with your analysis of Diaby, Song, and Denilson. Song is not afraid to take a chance, beat his man with the dribble or make the low percentage / high result pass. This is not in Denilson’s DNA. This does not mean Denilson does not contribute.
I believe Arsene is trying to make a decision with Diaby. Since Cesc’s early injury and then Denilsons, he has pushed Diaby into the starting line up at every occasion. In his mind, he envisions Diaby as a new version of Vieira, but has commented that Diaby has not realized his defensive duties.
When Denilson & Nasri return, Diaby is going back on the bench and be traded
OR Diaby will have a epiphany and accept being a role player.
I think for the first time this season, the usual cliches did not hold true – we were the better team, we had more possession, we created more chances, etc. Fulham dominated us and but for Mannone, would have run out as easy winners. But I’ll take the win any day.
I agree that Cesc is looking jaded. But hey, Cesc can produce that one killer pass which won us the game, while Diaby will only produce once in a blue moon against Derby or Portsmouth at home. The fact that he looks decent only after changing our formation says a lot about how good he really is.
Clichy was struggling. Fulham were bombarding our left side and most of the good crosses came from there. Maybe he needs a rest. The 4-3-3 doesn’t give much support to the full backs. Same reason why Sagna is also looking not so great. Something to ponder about.
Yesterday was the first game where Cesc, Rosicky and Arshavin were all fit. Fingers crossed, they stay fit and start more games. We need them. I can’t wait for the day we start with Cesc, Rosicky, Arshavin, Eduardo and v Persie.
As far as I’m concerned, people would always knock us down if they want to.
When we won big, they said hey, Arsenal couldn’t win ugly.
When we won ugly, hey, Arsenal got a big problem, they couldn’t control a game.
Like you, I enjoy this victory very much. One-Nil to Arsenal. When was the last time this happened?
I don’t worry a bit we got outplayed by Fulham. Cos everyone knows it, whether they like to admit it or not, Arsenal will only get outplayed once a blue moon.
our biggest weakness is never the fear of being OUTPLAYED.
our biggest weakness is when we dominated the game and ended up losing.
that’s what made defeat like Vs Man Utd so hard to take.
I honestly would rather they OUTPLAYED us that day, and that would at least put my mind at peace.
Anyway, for as many problems as people believe we have, the FACT, yes, the FACT is we have suffered only one more defeat than the top of table Man U and Chelsea.
It’s a FACT, cos it shows on the league table.
So if we are having so many PROBLEMS, the likes of Chelsea, Man U, Liverpool aren’t problems-free neither.
Rafa Benitez would be proud Andez.
And that is facht! :)
Another former Arsenal LEGEND Tony Adams been spending years telling AW did this wrong, that wrong….
When he landed a job as manager himself and had to actually walks his talk. Didn’t even last half a season.
Don’t tell me because Pompey was a small club with no money to spend. They didn’t ask for much anyway. All they wanted just for Tony to deliver a few wins and saved them from relegation. How many Wins Tony delivered?
And Tony wasn’t the only one. Paul Merson was the same, kept saying this and that about Wenger’s Arsenal, and couldn’t even hold a job (as manager) at Walsall.
That tells you how much those LEGENDS know about football management.
Fair point Andez, Mazza are we in agreement?
Yes, we agree to disagree ;)
Tony Adams was a fucking drunkard and low intelligence man. So him failing was always going to happen.
I predicted it long before he took the Wycombe and Pompey jobs.
“Passion” players always make useless managers. Just like Roy Keane is finding out. Just the same way John Terry would be found out if he tried.
On the other hand Senderos might make a decent manager.
“I don’t think Song or Denilson has been guilty of any of the above criticisms more than any of the favourites i.e Fabregas this season.”
When Fabregas has a bad day and Diaby has a bad day, who is better? When Denilson has a bad day and Fabregas has one, who is better? When all of them have a good day, who is better?
All this ‘scape-goating’ talk is complete nonsense and misses the point; point being that our midfield unit is not good enough as it stands. For some reason Wenger didn’t feel the need to buy a central midfielder as “he didn’t have anywhere to fit them”, but nevertheless, it’s clear where our weakest department is.
RVP, Arshavin, Fabregas, have all indicated strongly that we needed more players. These guys know that Wenger’s little kiddies are no where near good enough. Denilson would not get into the Stoke team.
Mazza you cannot disagree with that statement: “I don’t think Song or Denilson has been guilty of any of the above criticisms more than any of the favourites i.e Fabregas this season,” and be telling the truth, as I presume you have two eyes in your head. 0-) ?
However I will agree with you Fab is better at his best than Diaby. Nobody here is arguing that point. But you are being subjective when the POINT Andez and I was making was an objective one. How can you criticise a performance of players you did not even see?
Denilson has done nothing worthy of derision and like Song have been quite good when thay have played. The scapegoating talk is not nonsense but it is fact, happens all the time through all walks of life unfortunately. It doesn’t miss the point, but was rather central to the arguement as to why certain players are victimised by supporters… some of whom haven’t even seen the game they are scapegoated for. That was the POINT, don’t get it twisted.
As for the need for a new CM/DM that is an entirely different discussion that we have all thrashed to death and we generally have consensus on. No point in bringing that one up again until Jan when we can do something about it unless you’re a Doom Monger of course ;-)
Arsenal legend Franck McLintock:
He told the Independent on Sunday: “I can’t believe they’re not going out and buying at least two players. I know they’ve been trying to get the lad from Bordeaux but didn’t want to pay the money. They might get him in January, but the season could be over by January. They’ve got 40-odd million [for Kolo Touré and Emmanuel Adebayor] and spent 10. I didn’t know we were a selling club, I thought we were a big club.”
Any suggestion that Arsene Wenger is less than infallible can, of course, be taken badly even from such a revered figure as McLintock.
“Arsène’s done a great job, I think he’s a great manager, but the trouble is if you ever make a valid point about Arsène and the club, it’s like criticising the Pope. Everybody gets up in arms. There are certain players at Arsenal who Arsène’s talked about coming through, who if they play to 30 won’t be good enough for Arsenal in my opinion”
That’s why he will forever only be a “legend”.
Never made it as a manager.
Mazza with all you Doom Mongering ;-) you still haven’t come up with a name to adequately replace Arsene yet.
Or the answer to the original question for that matter ;)
Dario Gradi.
But why him? That just a name you pulled out or there actually is something he’s done which makes you think he can take AFC even beyond what AW has done?
Plus Wikipedia says he is nudging 70.
I would happily take Steve Bould or Dennis Bergkamp.
If at all AW goes sometime it must be a coach who plays the Arsenal way. I am not sure about DB10 yet.. he hasn’t coached a single team yet.. the aura can take you only that far you know.. as Andez pointed out in that legends discussion a while back.
I have watched Felipe Melo play several times this year. He would make a huge impact on our midfield. I won’t begin to estimate what they were asking for him. But I can be sure that he could have been purchased and Arsenal still would have made a profit this summer.
@arthur, once again I agree with u on the analysis of Diaby.
Among the 3 young CMs, Denilson is the one who has more sense of discipline. He’s not a good DM, but he has that sense of discipline to drop back when he’s teammates pushing up.
Ideally, this role should go to Song. But Song from time to time would push too high up the pitch. He’s a better DM than Denilson, but he doesn’t play as an “anchor man” in our team.
Diaby is the worst among the 3. What made Fulham created so many chances yesterday one major part was Dibay’s position. He was so high up the pitch, and like you, I didn’t see him doing enough work to protect our defence.
I too agree Denilson’s absence could be one reason we struggled to get a foothold of the match. He’s a much better passer than Song and Diaby.
Meanwhile, I think it’s such a waste playing Arshavin down the wing. This guy needs to be more involved in our buildup play. As he had shown in EURO 2008, he got that rare ability to actually DOMINATE a match on his own. And he would be more likely to do so playing central than out wide.
If the design was to let Diaby push up, and for Cesc and Song to hold the game, we might as well play Arsahvin in the middle in place of Diaby, and playing either Eduardo / Rosicky down the left.
But I do understand where AW’s coming from. Perhaps he was expecting a physical game from Fulham. And indeed they were. AW probably thought given Diaby’s strength, he would offer us more muscle in the midfield.
Well that’s it, Diaby offers very little strength once he runs out of puff, which is very early in the game.
Wenger also put Diaby in midfield against Chelsea for strength in the f.a cup semi final. Didn’t work too well then either.
We agree on Diaby but our assessments of Denilson and Song differ.
To me Song is by the far the most DF minded and therefore more disciplined in that DM position. However I believe it is a question of tactics taht sees Song go so far up the pitch, you will see him play the archetypal DM for Cameroon.
Arsene has always liked his DF players to be attack minded and encourages the fluidity that allows us to be unpredictable. With such an outlook it is expected that other players are to cover gaps that Gallas, Vermaelen or even Song would leave behind.
I think as Denilson is more cautious that’s why more sideways and easy passes are typicl of his game. His cautiousness IMO is the reason why he is ever willing to cover when Songaldhino makes an apperance. Neither do I think Denilson is a better passer of the ball. Song has made a number of DF splitting passes since being DM/CM Denison rarely goes for the adventurous these days. Also I have watched Songs passing intently this season, and I remember watching some of his performances for Charlton. Their manager praised his passing ability in particular. This season his passing has been very good, quick and precise. There has been the odd occasion where he has hit a bad ball and/or his team mate has failed to read the pass. However most of those have been adventerous passes as opposed to Denilson’ tidy ones.
As for Diaby he just cannot be counted to be DM I think due to his lack of get go. His best position would be an AM/ACM, playing him out wide as he has been for most of his career does him no favours. But you never know maybe all of a sudden he will do a Flamini and break out, but I doubt it though.
Is it too early to sing the praises of Rosicky yet?
Once Nasri comes back, then all the players that the “Negative Nicks” like to slate will again become squad players.
And Eboue, Denilson and to a lesser extent Diaby are very good squad players for Arsenal.
I don’t understand the slating of Song either, he has developed into an excellent defensive midfielder.
Mazza and Fred – question for you. Do you think that Denilson, Song, and Eboue have not steadily become better players over the past two seasons?
I agree the jury is still out on Diaby… I think he should have been sold in the summer and replaced with a 15 million pound midfielder. I do love watching him play though when he is in form.
Not yet convinced about 4-3-3.
Good post Rocka.
It is not too early to sing praises for Rosicky. We have seen enough of him since he signed for the club and his performances so far including the Emirates Cup tells us he is hungry and up for the challenge. If Fab is injuried Arsene should put him in that position he will be more than adequate.
4-3-3? I suppose the jury will be out but I think it can be successful if it is fluid and adapted when necessary on the field. I also think it is more effective when players are played in their preferred position, i.e Bendtner in the centre.
We can sing the praises of Rosicky now. He is a breath of fresh air in this midfield. But it is going to take some serious kool aid to think that he is going to be fit enough to contribute consistently.
Sorry. Correct me if I am wrong. Shouldn’t a top class player be able to MAKE HIS TEAMMATES BETTER? Instead of letting his teammates to MAKE HIM BETTER? Be it he has a physcial presence or not.
The excuse that he’s not playing with teammates who are good enough is so lame. It’s not like Cesc’s playing for a side like Hull or Wolves.
Cos if this is to be the excuse for Cesc. Song, Diaby, Denilson the likes could also claim because Cesc’s “not good enough” so it makes us looking bad.
Bare in mind, we had an unbeaten league record when Cesc was out for a few months the 2nd half of last season, if his midfield teammates are as bad as you described, NO WAY the team could have achieved that.
Fred I understand your point, you don’t expect Cesc to dominate the MF physically he should only be a creative influence and that should be Diaby’s role. YOu hav e a good point, but that is a collective target, to dominate MF and it is not only achieved by physique and muscle. Neither was it Diaby’ job out “wide” to provide that Df cover for Fab, that was Song’ he did that quite well IMO.
Probably the biggest key (but not the only one) to dominanting the MF is keeping good possession. Fab being our star player did not stand out in keeping possession as he was guitly of “Mazza’s 3 sins” (detailed above) on occasion throughout that match. However his creative output was personified in that goal. He will always warrant a place. As Andez pointed out Cesc did not stand out like the star that he is reported to be like say Gerrard.
It just a question of favourites why some players are scapegoated and their faults are jumped upon yet the poor performances of are overlooked and blamed on the scapegoats. Andez has a solid arguement.
I think it is unfair and disrespectful when people give Vermaelen the praise for Gallas’ good performance and blame Denilson of Diaby for Fabregas’ as well as their own.
To put it more plainly, Fabregas is far more like the Italian/Spanish league style creative midfielder.
They are not meant to stand out. Their job is to unlock a tight defense in just one second, with one pass and salvage a game.
Most players like that are usually small and unanimous during the majority of games. Fact.
It was Wengers decision for us to go towards using such a player in our team so why blame a Spanish linker for not being a British style monster?
Andez, why do you pretend NOT to understand football just to prove your point???
How can a GOAL SEARCHING PASSER improve his fellow teammates??? Answer that?
You can ONLY improve your fellow midfielders by being PHYSICALLY ROBUST and physically creating SPACE for them to breathe easier.
Fabregas is NEVER going to be able to physically create space. Never! So your argument is a bit ridiculous.
He looks for “assist” making passes. That is it. That is his strength. And he is top class at that.
Yesterday he was poor yet still made MORE than 10 excellent through balls.
Arguing that he is not riding tackles and bossing the midfield is utterly ridiculous if you have ever watched him play.
I think arthur made a great point. A point most of ppl overlooked, or perhaps spending too much time blaming everything in the “usual suspects”.
This is – the performance of our MAIN MAN Cesc Fabregas so far.
Now he hasn’t been poor, and his pass yesterday was top draw.
But my point is – every team has their MAIN MAN, and naturally you expect MORE from the main man. Like Gerard and Torres, without them, Liverpool are nothing. Drogba for Chelsea, Rooney (to a lesser extend) for Man U.
Yesterday, while Diaby was guility of kept giving away the ball. Cesc was no better, especially in the first half. Had the number on his back being “15” instead of “4”, he would have been tore to pieces by the fans afterward.
But because of his name is Cesc Fabregas, he got away from that. It’s easy to make Diaby the scapegoat. But football is a TEAM game, when a midfield failed to control the midfield, you can’t possibly just blaming on one man.
If the rest of his teammates are not good enough, from what I actully SAW on the game, Cesc was none better than his midfield teammates in our attempt to control the game neither.
You take Gerrard for example, he isn’t really surrounded by world class midfield teammates neither, but he always looks like a STAND OUT in the Liverpool side, doesn’t matter who he’s playing with. And he always made a key impact to change the game.
Or take Patrick Vieira. When he first arrived at Arsenal, he wasn’t surrounded by world-class midfield partners neither. But his IMPACT was for everyone to see, regardless who he’s playing alongside.
As I said, Cesc hasn’t exactly been poor. But his hype seems to have proceeded his actual performance in the recent 2 seasons.
and his pass (LEAD TO THE GOAL) yesterday was top draw.
where’s the “edit” button?!
Edit button’s back Andez.
Am sorry, you can NOT compare the physique of Fabregas to Vieira or Gerrard. They are VERY different types of CMs.
Fabregas job is not to physically dominate the middle. His is to find the pass that unlocks defense. Thats it.
And he does his job VERY well considering the teammates.
I counted well over TEN times he tried to play a striker in through the middle. NOBODY else on our team can do that.
That is why his teammates especially his fellow CMs need to be physically strong and good defensively.
There is no point having a weak Fabregas and partnering him with a weak Denilson or someone who refuses to use his brain like Diaby.
It was stressful watching but thank God for Vito!!! I never thought I would be saying those words, especially since there is another Vito. Though that other Vito is fiction but Mannone one appears to be the real deal. In a way I am glad that there is someone out there who would give Almunia something to think about. Almunia was in the position where he could make as many mistakes and still have no fear that he would be ever displaced. He had no incentive to improve. Now if there is a chance that Almunia is no longer #1 for Arsenal, then how can dream of playing for England? ;)
Although I do think even if Vito keeps putting in match saving (and winning) performances like this week in week out, the day Almunia gets over his cold, he will be back in between the posts.
But for now. yah for 3 points.
It was a fantastic performance by Vito. And I have heard of periods of time when he has been outstanding in the reserves, but I have not seen them.
When he played first team footabll on loan I cannot remember which club, he was catastrophic I mean CATASTRPROHIC. I remeber seeing a couple of howlers you would not believe in that loan spell and countless more in the reserves as well as more recently at the Emirates cup.
Although I wish the boy well I have less faith in him to be consistent than I have in Fabianski at the moment. I have more belief that Big Al will have sorted his head out and returned back to the “I am as good as if not better than Jens Lehman” form that saw the back of the German when he returns.
I would love this young man to be the answer to our GK woes. But I think if Big Al don’t sort himself out then we will be vulnerable until Jan at least in that position.
Almunia needs to have the chest cold for another 8 months.
Mannone – keeps his cool & we get a clean sheet. As others above have noted…….I kept expecting Fulham to score in extra time. This win is a victory for Arsenal on many fronts.
Diaby’s game is not up to Arsenal standards; I wonder how many MORE matches it will take before Arsene realizes there are better options on the roster.
I’d like to see Eduardo (or Vela) on the left wing and insert Arshavin for Diaby.
I think Arsene believes he will get it together. He will with some matches under his belt, like Flamini will flourish.
I disagree, I think Flamini although he lacks the technical ability and debatably the physical strength of Diaby his mental strength is far greater. Diaby is intelligent, doubt it not, but prehaps he lacks speed of thought. His preoccupation with holding onto the ball often disrupts our movement and general as well counter attacking efficiency.
I have noted in couple of games Diaby could have made a easy pass to a team mate and run forward to receive it back of simply throw the Df into disarray. But instead it seems he was peoccuppied with holding the man off. On one occasion he ended up passing to the same player he should have passed to in the first place but after delaying enough to allow the DF to regroup and effectively block our once open attacking options. He is not the only person guilty of this on occasion this can happen in any side with someone who has his head down at an incorrect moment. But Diaby is a far too persistent offender and they are often so glaring. I cannot believe the coaching staff have not identified this as something that needs to erradicated out of his game.
I cannot remember seeing Diaby closing players down persistently either this game. He has times when he happens to be in the right place at the right time but all I can remember is him characteristically dropping off and leaving responsibility to Song.I will have to rerun to the game to be really objective about his performance though.
As I have maintained Song needs his team mates to press to be at his most effective, although Diaby and company were there to finish up the clear up job on occasion, generally I think the team would have been better served with Denilson.
How many more matches? How many more seasons might be more likely.
Diaby is here to stay, for better or worse.
Hmmmh I am afraid so, but them again he did give up on Senderos…
temporarily
I got the distinct impression from this game that we are about the same level as Fulham in terms of overall quality. They are better organized and a bit smarter tactically. We are more technical and have a bit more pace. But overall, we are pretty even. I know Fulham play much better at home. But I can’t help but feel that Arsenal are somewhere in the middle of the “also ran” category. And by “also ran”, I mean for the top four spots. We have no chance at the title. And it will take a healthy dose of good fortune for us to finish in the top 4.
Song is a squad player. He seems to have improved over the past season. But I can’t help but feel that he is peaking. He would be a decent squad player on many of the past Arsenal teams. But no better than 15 appearances in a season during selected games. This year he is his first choice defensive midfield. That is not a good sing for this team.
Diaby is a awful. So much natural talent wasted. Great physical gifts and a wonderful first touch. But he is a moron on of the highest order. Not a shred of intelligence in his brain.
Denilson didn’t play today. But no one can deny that he is so terribly average…or below average. Not a medal winner in this league.
Clichy is consistent. He consistently gets worse all the time. Gets worse defensively all the time and offers nothing going forward.
Bendtner is is incredibly average as well. As much as I want him to succeed, I know it is not going to happen. His selfishness impedes his technical gifts. And his athletic limitations will never allow him to be a great player.
Had to get that off my chest…. and that didn’t include the fact that Fabreags and Arshavin are muted when surrounded by such muppets. Van Persie looks a bit off. Sagna defends well but hasn’t been dangerous getting forward in two years. He seriously hasn’t hit a good cross since midway through his first year. Nasri, Rosicky and Eduardo are constantly on the trainer’s table. And we are one Gallas or Vermaelen injury from Senderos or Silvestre.
On the bright side. Mannone was awesome today. I hope he keeps that up.
Woah, hold up there!
When did you join the negative nicks??!
I always pictured you as a hippie optimist :-D
Mazza, roll out the welcome mat!
LOL! again and again LOL! :lol:
You definitely seemed to have enrolled one there Fred, Mazza will be delighted. Brendan seems to have turned into Dafader (don’t know how to spell it), amazing! :-D
You seem to have lost Kiwi though he ain’t a HO, he seems to have stepped into his new realm of impartiality with maybe be a justifiable tinge of Nickism ;-)
The ceremony will be arranged soon.
Brendan, welcome into the family.
LOL! :lol:
Hey Fred,
How about new catch phrases:
Realistic Rob/Blinkered Bob?
Or KoolAid Ade ;)
I get the negative nicks every time I watch this team play. I desperately want the team to do well and to have to eat my words. But I really think they will only succeed with a ton of luck and good health from Van Persie, Rosicky, Eduardo, Fabregas, Arshavin and Nasri. (already not happening) Unfortunately that is extremely doubtful.
On the bright side, my favorite part of the season so far is that all of my favorite posters have made it over here. I love reading what this gang has to say. Thanks to DaAdmin for setting this up. You have done a fantastic job.
PS: Anybody know where Joshuad and DannyT are?
DannyT has his blog at ArsenalTruth. Rarely comes on here. As for Josh who knows.. someone mentioned he posts on another site.. I think he’s the only one left to come over here..
We lost 1-0 to Fulham away on the 23rd of August 2008. We beat them 1-0 today. That is progress.
Just saw the League cup draw … oh dear!!!
Lets just put the FIRST team out and take out Liverpool.
The League cup is EXTREMELY important for us. It is the ONLY trophy we realistically have a chance of winning … so no need trying to “blood in” random folks like er… Senderos and Sylvestre.
Sure, Gibbs, Wilshere and the polish goalie should have a run out … but Arshavin, Fabregas, Eduardo, Bendtner, Vela, Rosicky, Song, Gallas and Vermalean should be on the roster.
If we can get through this game and maybe win the cup, then for the first time in 5 years Wenger would be able to say his team has “belief” without deserving a slap.
“The only trophy we realistically have a chance of winning”
What planet do you live on? No matter what our chances over the last few years, Wenger has never played anything other than reserves and youth in that competition. The best you can hope to see is Senderos and Silvestre at the back (rather than Bartley or another kid) and Vela, Walcott and Eduardo in attack because they are not getting enough games.
When you quoted that line I thought you were going to argue that it wasnt the only trophy we had a realistic chance of winning.
To be honest I would rather Bartley and another kid than Senderos/Silvestre.
Those two are tried and trusted failures and when given a chance they are sure to single-handedly throw away all the good work those in front of them do.
An attack of Vela, Eduardo, Walcott is actually quite decent. But it must have Gallas-Vermalaen and Song.
Maybe Silvestre-Sendy can start the CL game close to that match while Gallas-Verm start the League cup game.
Make no mistake though, we really NEED this trophy. At least it will shut up all the people counting the years since we last won anything.
Oddly when I saw that Carling Cup draw, my first thought was that Arsenal had better chance to progress if the youth team played :) I thought of the 6-3 League Cup win at Anfield although it wasn’t a pure young team that day. This was the lineup 2.5 years ago at anfield:
Almunia,Hoyte, Toure, Djourou, Traore, Walcott, Cesc, Song , Denilson,Baptista ,Aliadiere
Your last line made me think of what the late Bobby Robson had adviced Wenger prior to the Carling Cup final vs Chelsea. He had told Wenger to play his strongest team to win atleast a trophy but I think you know the answer to that one :)
Very pleased to get the result today and actually didn’t bite my nails down to the quick. Almunia will be back but at least Vito is breathing down the back of his idiot hair-doo….
Interesting stuff above about impressions/prejudices and listening to the game…As a hopeless hippie optimist, I wonder what I would have thought had I only had an audio track. As it was, I watched and we had just enough quality in attack to get the job done. I was surprised that we didn’t bring Eduardo in to get a second goal.
Like many I thought Diaby was hopeless. It has come to the point where he should only play cup ties (and CL group stage) or come in when we’re 2+ goals ahead. With players like Eduardo and Vela left unplayed in a tight game I’m getting convinced that AW has a big blind spot going. I’d like to think otherwise, but it seems time for Abou to build confidence (and his youtube video) so we can sell him to a continental team.
Song on the other hand continues to impress although I think he’s almost got too good an eye for the “best” outlet. His touches are far more attacking than Denilson’s but we needed the latter’s more possession oriented (backward/sideways) play against such a spirited opponent. Never thought I would say that….
Overall, I thought it was a solid game and it shows why the English league presents the greatest entertainment value in the world. The doomers will say that we need to crush these lesser teams, but there are no easy games on the road (I’m currently watching a replay of Chelsea go down at an empty JJB stadium–Wigan finally winning against a big 4 team). This result (along w/the comeback at Liege) should be heartening, but I know it’s hard for some of us….
I dont think anybody in the world has ever said we should “crush” a team AWAY from home.
But I like the way you think regarding Wenger building up Diaby’s youtube video to sell him off.
If Diaby and Eboue could both build up a 5 minute video we could get up to 7 million for each and Wenger could have some extra profit to play with.
It was great to see Van P. slot one home – well taken. Hope it ignites a run of form for him.
Bendtner was full of running, but three times he blasted at goal when he could have laid it off to Arshavin who was free.
Diaby obviously was a no-show today, getting patrolled out of the game by Murphy. And Clichy got caught out more times than I’d care to count.
But, hey, we won. We kept them at bag, especially the keeper.
Yeah we need the Perse on fire. I always get my seasons mixed up but the season… I think it may have been Henry’s last season, when Perse scored that wonder volley against Charlton, he was on fire. Banging them in game after game but then the injury etc, etc. I think he would have been our leading scorer at the time his free kicks were always at least close as well back then. That was why I was disappointed with him last season, he missed so many chances but I know what he is capable of. I am hopeful he will be back to that kind of form this season. The problem is I am not sure if with him being often isolated at the centre of the attack he will be supported by the team dynamic that helped him produce such good results.
“wonder volley against Charlton”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbTSkIJQvwg
One of my all-time favorites. I saved it on the DVR for weeks. Even non-footie fans were impressed.
great goal, but what language is that announcer using???
As for Mannone, definitely won us the game.
He does not have the “assume it is going out” attitude that Almunia has when crosses and shots come in. He just GOES for it.
He seems to have improved his coming out for crosses too, but he is still poor in the ball distribution.
If he can improve the distribution aspect, we should just give him the number one jersey till January, make Wociej number 2, and abandon Almunia in a thick forest in Spain.
And in January we MUST get a PROPER FREAKING GOALKEEPER.
As for Mannone, definitely won us the game.
He does not have the “assume it is going out” attitude that Almunia has when crosses and shots come in. He just GOES for it.
————————————————-
Yes, I definitely agree. I can’t say how he’s going to do in a long term. But from what i saw yesterday, I love his approach, very positive, very DECISIVE.
Fabianski is a daredevil, at times, he looked too gung ho to me. Mannone though, looks far clamer. And his “go for it” attitude on attacking the crosses sure hell made his defenders’ job far easier when dealing with high ball.
he hurt himself twice in the process. but that’s what a goalkeeper needs – to be BRAVE.
there’s no chicken among the goalkeepers. They are the bravest men among all of the footballers. a chicken who shy away from every physical contact is better off to play golf.
Big, big points today. Was almost certain we would concede at the end. So was shocked when we didnt.
Diaby and Eboue are players I really wish we got rid off this last summer. Eboue comes on, does a nice run and you think wow!, then afterwards he plays like a fucking retard. There is no teaching the guy. At 27, there is no point anyway.
I would rather we used his minutes on players like Merida or Wilshere.
As for Diaby, at this point it is fair to say he is a big time waste. Simple as that. Not only is he lazy offensively he is dangerous from a defensive point of view.
I dont think players like Diaby or Eboue ever learn from their mistakes because they keep making the SAME mistakes year after year. No improvement whatsoever.
Anyway, we got the points and these 3 points were our most hard won this season. Hopefully we can take the 3 points next week and move on from there.
btw there’s no such thing as FACT, especially when it’s coming out from us. Fans only got OPINIONS.
Take Adebayor, remember you were so sure he’s useless as well? If that’s the case, why on earth he’s still keep on scoring?
It’s pure novelty with Adebayor, trying to prove a point. He’ll go back to being a donkey soon enough.
He has never been a donkey, Mazza and he has proven so up until now for ManC.
He has not worked any harder than last season IMO but has notched up a fair few quality goals to date.
People seem to forget he was not supported by an in form team last year. We were still trying to come to terms with the loss of…. Flamini ;-) last year.
Adebayor scored four less than our top scorer penalty taker and injury free top scorer, RvP.
I repeat he was never a donkey, just a bit of a bird brain at times.
Diaby was totally anonymous. Not surprising really. He shows up once in a blue moon and that will be against Derby or Portsmouth.
Eboue came on for RvP and I was like – there we go again, a defensive substitution. But he almost made me eat my words by scoring immediately. Well, almost. After that, it was business as usual. Running into blind alleys, giving away the ball, shooting wildly when scoring was easier. Just how he was supposed to make the game safe, I am not sure.
Mazza is spot on. We need the likes of Cesc, Arsh, Rosicky, etc., to be consistently fit so that players like Diaby, Eboue, etc, are not exposed too much. Sadly, that doesn’t seem very likely. :(
But the three points were HUGE. Once against, all credit to Mannone.
Eboue these days is never a defensive substitution for one.
Secondly Eboue was on because all the attacks came from Konchesky on the left.
What a weird game..what a weird weird game. But we won. And Chelsea lost so if we win our game in hand it’s just 3 points.I still think Almunia needs to come back.. a young goalie is not going to do that week in week out. 1 mistake is all it will take for the “realists” to start the Mannone is crap chant.
But seriously this game can do two things to this team – One it can give them the confidence that they won away on the road against a tough opponent or it might make them nervy whenever its 1-0 late on.
Apart from Mannone I thought Song was absolutely immense as the game wore on as well. Diaby apart from his little stepovers did nothing, I’d take Denilson any day 9 out of 10 games. AA looks half dead these days – he was puffing in the 40th minute :O which is strange for a very fit Arsenal side. Maybe it was lack of match fitness. Bendtner bar his late misses was excellent with his energy and drive and RVP improved as the game went on.
Still.. big chance that we’d have lost without Vito. Will take the 3 points though. Its about time a goalie had a MOTM performance for Arsenal.
I would play Mannone even Almunia is fit.
cos goalkeeper is all about “confidence”. Mannone’s confidence is definitely on a high right now. It would be foolish to bench him again as soon as Almunia is fit.
No, i don’t think Mannone is ready to be a long term regular yet. When he starts conceding goals, it will be the real test of his character.
But until then, it would be wise to start a keeper who’s on form than a keeper who’s clearly being shaky with his self-belief at the moment.
I just hope Mannone holds out till Fabianski gets fit. And he doesn’t inspire me either , although he’s more promising than Big Al. The best thing if for Almunia to come back and have a season as good as last year.
Actually Almunia was WHACK last season as well.
Actually he wasn’t. He played very well many of the games and kept us in ties singlehandedly.
I agree with Diaby. He could have cost us a win again with that needless dribble attempt from our own final third and giving away a FK.
And overall, he lost possessions more than anyone else.
Eboue, on the other hand, have been very impressive this season.
The subs move made a lot of sense. We had to defend at that time.
But I gotta say Fulham had cost us more troubles than anyone else we played so far this season.
City scored 4 past us one major reason was we had to push everyone up to chase the game and left our defence wide open.
Fulham on the other hand, had STOPPED us from playing all game long. And forced us to play a high tempo game. At times even we wanted to slow the passing down, we couldn’t. cos their players were everywhere.
We were never in control in this game.
What’s worrying is that teams like Chelsea and United often get dominated by these teams in the first half, then they run out of gas and Chelsea and United go on to completely run the show.
That never happened. Either the Fulham players were on steroids or are players are just simply not good enough. I know for a fact players like Diaby and Denilson are not and Wenger’s decision to leave that £30 million in the bank was utter stupidity. But completely expected at the same time.
You don’t need 11 flashy players really. The only reason I like Denilson is his ability to keep it simple most times. If we were ever going to buy it would have been last season – this season it was never going to happen. Fulham did this all season last year.. not sure they’re not on steroids.
We’ll get a better picture of this game in a few months time.
Every team has a poor performance every now and then and gets out of jail, hopefully this was that performance and we go on to be more convincing in future games.
With Denilson, Diaby, Song in the team though, I just see more of the same.
Hoping Merida makes breaks through soon and dislodges one of them.
It’s a silly comment Mazza, especially when you admitted you didn’t even watch the game.
Different match comes with a different dynamic, different flow.
We trashed Wigan 4-0, Chelsea lost to them 1-3, does that mean we are better than them?
Denilson didn’t even play today, so what had he done wrong to deserve yet another criticism?
crazy.
Don’t need to watch the game Andez. When Diaby, Song and Denilson play, I KNOW what’s going to happen in terms lacksadaisical pressing, poor mobility, poor decision making. It’s just about us taking chances and hoping for the best.
As for Denilson, his inclusion would have made no difference. He would have struggled with the intensity, like he always does.
I don’t think Song or Denilson has been guilty of any of the above criticisms more than any of the favourites i.e Fabregas this season.
Song had a good game. Denilson IMO would have been and is more often than not a better option than Diaby at present.
Like Andez said, you didn’t watch the game and Denilson didn’t even play, so in reality you “KNOW” squat diddly.
Your opinion of these players are set in stone so you will always pick out “lacksadaisical pressing, poor mobility, poor decision making” as their faults even when you have not even seen their performance.
As ‘Dez said: “crazy”.
Arthur, you’re so right
It is always worrying for a DOOM MONGER it’s your very nature. You didn’t even see the game and your worried :lol:
Chelsea lost 3-1 to Wigan and you use them as an example of doing things to such teams that we cannot do, how ironic.
Lighten up dude :-D
I disagree with you on this one Mazz. Fulham are consistently one of the best sides against the big four. Last season, the drew against Pool, Beat united, beat us and a last minute corker from Chelsea won it for them.
Don’t forget they finished 7th and could’ve finished as high as fifth. They were a very good team last year and frankly I am surprised at their start this season.
Fulham is one of those teams when they aren’t playing you, you vote for because they are always a determined side.
Good on to the Arsenal for the win. This tie worried me as much as the Man City tie and I’m glad we’ve come through it with the 3 points we needed.
Listening to the radio is not good for the heart. Don’t know how I did it back in the nineties.
BIG three points.
The performance doesn’t surprise me, because with Diaby and Song in the team you can’t get beyond a certain point in terms of passing and quality of possession. So players like Fabregas and Arshavin have to be excellent in order to make a game comfortable. When they’re not, which is very often, you get an average technical performance.
Number one rule, NEVER listen on the radio….you could die of apprehension.
Man, I think it’s fair to say Mannone has singlehandly won us the 3 points today.
A faultless performance. Literally.
MOM – Mannone, absolutely brilliant performance from the kid.
Won the game for us single handedly.
What a performance by Mannone the first half! That’s what you want from your keeper, to save the shots which he had no right to save.
As long as we don’t concede a goal in the 2nd half, we will beat Fulham. NO way they could keep up with that remarkable pressing game for a full 90 mins.
You know Andez – there is so much bitterness and cynical comments I honestly don’t know if you are serious or jaded. LOL
;-)
of course i m serious! man, we could have lost 1-3 or 1-4 today had not because of his performance.
Oh and we are in game day chat
http://www.youaremyarsenal.com/gamedaychat
Looks like Phil Brown won’t be doing any singing anymore.
Shite. Spoke to soon. Berbatov scores.
Wigan handing it to 10-men Chelsea so far. Cech has been bounced. (Sorry, couldn’t resist.)
Now if Stoke can somehow do the same to United…
Not sure how I feel about the CC draw yet.
Am I the only one who thinks that Manny is being held out? I mean its 3 weeks of a “chest cold.”
If so can anyone tell me who was the youngest goalie to start EPL games and be a true successful number 1? What about youngest GK for Arsenal?
A good question. I don’t know the answers. But one thing I do know is – among the top 4 sides, NO young goalkeeper who started as a trainee and be able to establish himself as the club’s regular number 1. None at Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool.
At least I can’t remember a single one in the past 20 years.
The closest being David James at Liverpool, yet he’s hardly a “success” during his time with Liverpool.
Goalkeeper is the only position I don’t believe we should go for youngsters. The pressure just simply being too high. And a few mistakes would have killed their confidence. Every mistake of them would be highlighted by the media.
Look at Ben Foster. He looked promising… when he was not playing for Man Utd.
This guy will never make it at Man Utd. And he’s not even young (26).
The most promising young keeper I ever seen at Arsenal was Alex Manninger. Yet he too couldn’t make it.
Bob Wilson once claimed Stuart Taylor would be England’s number 1. Hell, he couldn’t even make it as Villa’s number 1.
Really interesting question about Almunia. Even pneumonia would have cleared up by now.
Very good as always, DAG. No lineup as of yet. We’ve drawn Liverpool at home for the next round of the Carling Cup.
I was out of town/away from the computer early week so it’s seemed like a slow one to me. At this point I’m having a hard time believing that everyone is truly as healthy as we’d all like (Arshavin listed as “doubtful”, Walcott as “very doubtful” on that physioroom.com site I look at, and what of Cesc’s “angry” stumbling around at the end of the Wigan match?) so I expect AW to use some of our “lesser lights” (Diaby, Bendtner, Eboue) rather than a line-up that the fans would prefer (AA, Rosicky, Eduardo). I’d rather see Szczesny in goal instead of Mannone as it sounds like he did well in midweek vs West Brom.
Certainly this is a match where a good start seems key. Fulham are a decent, well disciplined team with goal scorers who can take their chances. Given their recent results against us you’d think they’d fancy another one. If we make an inspired effort to dominate possession and press when we lose it we should be able to quiet the derby atmosphere and grind them down. I’m yet to be convinced that this current squad enters games with that sort of attitude, however. It still seems that we go into matches thinking they are already won, given our “superior” quality.
So that’s what I’ll be looking for in this match. A year ago, as we chased this match, we looked just horrible (recurring instances of Denilson telegraphing passes for easy interceptions continue to haunt me). Hopefully, a year on from that nadir we’ll bring a better spirit, no easy giveaways, domination at set pieces, etc. Go on….