Match Preview: Arsenal v Manchester City
OVERVIEW:
This weekend’s match featuring Arsenal and Citizens of Manchester City are as much a clash of philiosphies as it is players on the pitch. On one hand we have the neuveau riche of Manchester City who have spent enormously over the last two transfer windows in an attempt to change their fortunes. On the other, Arsene Wenger’s method of relying on the talent he has grown and nurtured rather than spend big. Which philosophy wins out only time will tell, but this Saturday goes a long way to see if either of these two teams is what they say they are.
Manchester City spent a record amount of money in bringing in a boatload of players, with former Arsenal stars, Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure featured among them. While Carlos Tevez was the signing to signal the club’s intent, Adebayor’s has been the one to show ready dividends. In three EPL clashes, the former Arsenal man has netted three times, and with the exception of a late goal by Steven Ireland, Adebayor has been the only Citizen to net in league matches.
City will be looking to extend their unbeaten run, having yet to concede a goal in three first three league matches. However such a good run is a little overstated as they have been anything but lights out against lesser opposition. If not for some goal stopping heroics of Shay Givens and timely placing of some woodwork both the Wolves and Pompey matches could’ve been draws as the City back four looked a little wobbly. The team showed when pressed they were susceptible to giving up quality shots. Against Wolves Kolo Toure nearly gifted the tie when an errant pass in the middle was intercepted. Had the pass been intercepted by a marksman like Arshavin, Rooney or Drogba, the result, I suspect would’ve likely been different.
Also disconcerting for the Citizens is the lack of effectiveness from the wing position. For instance in the match against Pompey , Mark Hughes’ side only managed 4 crosses from the wing. This play up the middle works to the strength of Emmanuel Adebayor but if Roque Santa Cruz were playing he thrives on outside in feeds. Keeping the field of play in the middle will surely play to the strengths of teams with stronger center backs.
Mark Hughes has clearly set sites on a big 4 position this year. And Arsenal are often the team associated with being the one usurped. While it is early and nothing really will be told as of yet, a win by the boys in blue will go a long way to silencing some critics. A loss and everyone will begin to chirp that City are not yet quite ready for Prime Time.
As for Arsenal, the London side will be returning to Manchester after their last visit a fort night ago. The result that time was the much suprising loss against top four rivals, Manchester United. In that match, the Gunners new formation thoroughly confounded the ManCs. If not for a poor played challenge by Almunia and a bad header by Diaby the game is Arsenal’s. For most of the 90 minutes the Champions did not have an answer to the Gunners new formation.
Even with the result at Old Trafford, the Gunners have been in excellent form controlling the play all of their previous matches. The defense has a new resolve and the pairing of Gallas and new boy Vermaelen has choked up the middle of the back quite nicely. The emergence of Song has impressed many and Cesc Fabregas while out for the tie at OT has been a man clearly on a mission.
A stat that is both reassuring and of a little concern to Gooners everywhere is that the bulk of the scoring this season HAS NOT come from the strikers. While effective at pressing the opposition and creative in creating scoring chances, only Arshavin and Eduardo have netted for the Gunners’ strikers. If Arsenal are going to make a sustained run for silverware, Bendtner and RvP will need to become goal producers – soon. Both players return to Ashbourton Grove after successful international trips that saw each of them score for their national sides. Arsene, and Arsenal fans are hoping that trend extends to the club.
In addition to improved form from the strikers, Manuel Almunia needs to bounce back from his poor decision at Old Trafford that led to Wayne “I don’t dive” Rooney’s equalizer. The Spanish keeper went largely untested against Everton, Pompey and Celtic (a testament to Arsenal’s new found defensive composure). However, against Old Trafford his decision to challenge Rooney for a ball that was clearly not playable on net, reinforced in some fans minds that he still has not shown himself to be a number one back stopper. While his skills on the line are solid, he at times tends to lose the script and shows a lack of sound judgment when playing certain balls in the air or off the line.
Overall, Arsenal need to bounce back over the disappointment from the Man United match. They need to get back to their form and forget the loss. A win goes a long way to showing everyone that the mighty Arsenal – that of fluid, goal scoring prowess – has returned and is to be feared. A loss and we will all wonder yet again, if this is another season without silverware.
THE PRODIGAL SONS RETURN
The most interesting subplot to this match is Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor versus their old club. We can fully expect that the away fans will shower Kolo Toure with the respect he deserves for his faithful service to the club. Kolo was a class act and loyal to the Gunners. However, the reception his City teammate Emmanuel Adebayor receives is likely to be different.
Emmanuel Adebayor treated Arsenal as a pawn. A means to getting what he wanted. When playing well he or is people played up links to clubs like AC Milan, Inter or Barcelona. And then when given a raise to keep him here, he played poorly often times not showing the same effort he did in previous seasons. Emmanuel Adebayor is a talented striker, his goal against Valencia will down in Arsenal lore but his attitude towards the club and fans was at best disrespectful.
It is something that he cannot let go of. While Arsenal seemingly have moved on, there are recurring stories of how Man City fans are showing him love by singing his name and cheering for him. So now he is more relaxed and ready to play.
“These sort of things stay in your heart and I will stay with me, not just for the rest of my career but the rest of my life,” he says in reference to Arsenal fan neglect. “It was strange, I was such a happy boy and always gave my best for the team.”
“I even remember a game two years ago, when the boss asked me to play even though I had a hamstring injury. So I played for the team, worked hard and scored, but afterwards people were only interested in my being linked with Barcelona.”
To validate his claim that Arsenal fans did not like him, he constantly points out that when Fabregas is linked to Real, Barcelona, etc, there is no uproar. That only when he was linked with moving away was there a general outcry. In fairness to Cesc Fabregas though, anytime there has been a link with him moving away, he has come out denied it and profess his love for the club. Something that never came from Adebayor. All the fans wanted was a stout acclimation of loyalty to the club. They never got it.
MATCH OUTLOOK:
If Arsenal can dictate the flow of the game and Vermaelen and Gallas control Adebayor,, then the game easily favors the Gunners. Let Adebayor into the box 1 v 1 on Almunia and I am taking Adebayor – though he will go offsides a lot. This is likely to be a cracker of a game with the Gunners looking to exert their mentality early. The City fans will be up for the match based on the Adebayor subplot and the current form of the team.
Overall I think the scoring ability of Arsenal as well as their ability to hold the ball will be to the detriment of City’s game plan. They Blues have let too many shots in on Shay Givens and against better teams many of those shots likely go in. This will be City’s first real test. I see it being a 2-1 Arsenal win.
INJURY REPORT:
Arsenal: Djourou, Nasri, Arshavin, and Fabianski are definitely out. Vela and Walcott are questionable.
Manchester City: Tevez, Santa Cruz, and Johnson are definitely out. Kompany and Robinho are questionable.
PROBABLE STARTING XI:
Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Denilson, Song, Bendtner, Diaby, Eboue, Van Persie
Manchester City: Given, Richards, Toure, Lescott, Bridge, Wright Phillips, Ireland, Barry, Bellamy, Adebayor, Benjani
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What is Belgian for “SPANK”?
We ROLL this group.
I think Wenger will try and dip Ramsay into the fire again and see how he holds up. Wenger’s made big promises to Ramsay and he’ll feel under pressure to give him game time, and this might allow him the chance.
The problem is Ramsay is miles away from being ready so if he plays, I anticipate problems for us. Liege are a hardworking high intensity team with a strong home record.
This could be like Kiev away last season as I don’t think Wenger will risk Rosicky, a player that could make it easier for us. There will be enough weak links in the team to make it uncertain and fraught at times.
You can’t actually expect Wenger to start Szczeny in a CL match. That would be totally out of character for Wenger. In reality, he hasn’t done anything to merit a CL start either.
We aren’t losing this match regardless, and I highly doubt we let in a few to this caliber of team.
We roll, which papers over our league form.
Szczeny is a fantastic young goalie from what I’ve seen. The next goal keeping superstar. Has the perfect balance between agility, reflexes, aura, and also presence.
Mannone is talented as well but Szczeny is special and I think he would be a better pick, even though he is ridicously young.
The pecking order will come into play though and I expect Mannone to get the call. If he does, I think we might concede a few.
I don’t really mind who, Mannone or Szczeny. I figure it couldn’t be far worse than Almunia anyway.
I don’t have the stats book with me, but I bet Almunia must have the worst shot-on-goals conceding ratio.
It felt like as soon as an opposition had a shot on target, there’s 50% chance it will go in. One way or other, the shot would find a way past Almunia.
at least that has been the case so far this season.
Wow! You read my mind.
Almunia out for CL tie. Mannone or Szczesny to debut !!
Denilson and RvP are also out for Liege.
I’m confident we can still perform to expectations.
go Gunners!
Maybe there is some nervousness attached to the confidence.
Every match that we should over power the opposition, we seem to struggle to get a result.
over power who?
we can finesse teams to death, but we aren’t over-powering anyone!
Stag, i think what aresession means here is not physcially overpowered anyone.
He meant completely dominated and outplayed the oppositions.
Which I agree with what he said. We usually win when we overpower the opposition.
In tight game situtation, we tended to lose our nerve.
@ Stag
I definitely need to reread my posts before clicking submit, as ‘over power’ certainly can be loosely interpreted.
For the matches that ‘on paper’ we look to have the superior squad, Arsenal seem to take the matches for granted, even over confident, maybe because the other club does not have our same pedigree of history and/or squad talent.
Instead, we DO NOT have the depth to rotate players for CL and league matches at all. It might be down to the arrogance of Arsene Wenger.
[Reply]
That depends how you define “arrogance”?
If it means he does not listen to people (who’s CV being – 5, 10, 20 years’ football “watching” experience)’s ADVICES…
Then yes, he’s arrogant.
Andez, I know you think Wenger is infallible, but he’s not, he’s human. He is arrogant, he is naive as well. You need to adapt and change, especially when you are wrong… because we all make mistakes. He won’t. He doesn’t. And because of that, Arsenal has suffered in the standings. Accept it.
how do I accept something I don’t agree?
Will you accept something you don’t agree?
I don’t even think Diaby is that physically gifted…he runs like he’s doing a triple jump. He jumps rather than runs really. He seems to have really weak legs, no power there at all to spring away from players in short spaces, which is why he needs alot of room and time to build up ahead of steam.
Playing against Standard Liege in the champions league is probably his level. Against any serious opposition he simply doesn’t have it.
I would agree on Diaby, he doesn’t have “IT”… at least not yet. Can he become that player? Well, knowing Arsene, we will surely find out… because he is going to play a lot.
I agree with your comments Andez.
I like the way Diaby surges upfield, very Vieira.
Whilst Vieira was oh so complete as a player and utterly unique and world class he did have the advantage of playing in a team with several players of a similar ilk. Henry & Bergkamp were also unique, rare and truly world class and even Ovemars and Pires were top draw. That doesn’t diminish Vieira’s standing, but it does mean he was able to demonstrate his skills amongst equal peers.
Contrast the team(s) Diaby has been trying to find his way in. Not to mention the terrible injury. I wholly accept that Vieira would still have shone brightly in this side, yet I think if we judge Diaby by a lesser standard he hasn’t had it easy.
I’ve said before I think Diaby is an odd player. That’s not a slur, more an observation that he doesn’t really fit the conventional CM mold in a Wenger 4-4-2. Yet I have liked him in this 4-3-3, I think it suits him so much more. It gives him freedom and I think he lkes to attack goal himself.
Anyway, Arsene likes him. If I can see aspects of his play to admire I’m reasonably happy. Ditto Song and Denilson. They are young and their greatest crime is probably getting too much game time too early. But that’s Arsene’s issue.
I’m probably more worried about the impact the attack will have on this season. We need to score liberally. That’s in our DNA. If we score liberally the defensive aspects of midfield and defence become lesser issues. So we need a high level of striking efficiency.
Have we got that? Probably no. That’s my worry. You can’t really point to any of the front 3 strikers and say they will give you a big goals season. RvP is trying to be the focal striker but this will take time assuming it even works. Eduardo will take time to be integrated assuming his fitness holds and Bendtner is hardly clinical in the Eto class. I’ve no problems with Arshavin, yet he should be the no.3 in our goal scoring expectations. Let’s hope the goals start rolling in for RvP, Bendtner and Eduardo – we need them.
I guess I am going to write a new article :-)
By the way – the EPL has decided to enforce the “homegrown rule” starting next season.
As of next year all EPL teams will be mandated that a minimum of 8 of their 25 first team players must be homegrown. Homegrown is defined as having been in their academy system for three years under the age of 21.
OF the 25 roster players no more than 17 can be over the age 21 and NOT home grown.
This will not be a nationality test at all. Its a drive to get clubs to invest in youth.
Additionally all 20 teams voted to adgere to new financial reporting rules. Annually clubs will be mandated to submit accounts and future financial information. Each club will be “tested” to make sure the club can fulfill its fixtures, pay off its crditors when they are due and meet the obligations to the EPLs contracts and partners.
If any club is believed to be at risk for not meeting those obligations, the board will step in and agree to a budget for running the club and could embargo any and all transfers.
The financial rules apply immediately!
AS for the homegrown rule all clubs already conform to the standard tho Chelsea and Pool only have the minimum 8.
Of all our young central midfielders, Diaby is without doubt the most physically gifted CM, and has the biggest upside, great room for improvement.
His does look a bit like Vieira. His build, his power, his dribbling skills, and hell, even the way he runs.
But what made Vieira stand out was – Paddy’s probably one of the most intelligent players coming out of Africa. Vieira rarely made bad decisions. And his off the ball movement was excellent, a quality tended to get overlooked.
Diaby in fact has improved the defensive side of his game, the way he holds his ground and nick the ball away from oppositions reminds me a lot of Vieira. Though he hasn’t been doing it successfully as often as Paddy.
His biggest weakness though, IMO, is his PASSING. He’s probbly the worst in our midfield. Song is not exactly a good passer neither, but he does understand the need to keep it simple, keeping it short. Diaby, on the other hand, reminds me a lot of Gilberto when comes to his passing.
His build is tailor made for the Premiership. If anyone has noticed – he almost always drew “double team” when he’s holding to the ball. Few defender could nick the ball away from him when it’s an one-on-one situation.
He got that trademark Vieira midfield charge – by running from deep and dribbling past defender through the middle.
One key difference is – with Vieira, he got the know-how to release the ball early. As Paddy always sucked the defenders to him when he made that surging run, inevitably one or two of his teammates would be left unmarked. Paddy would release a quick, sharp, early pass to his teammates, while kept on running forward himself. As a result, he either be able to set up an unmarked teammate; or to receive an one-two from his teammate which sent him through (the opposition defence).
That’s the KEY difference between Vieira and Diaby in terms of their attacking game. As Diaby, despite with the same dribbling skills, the same ability to suck the defenders to him, he has a tendency to keep holding on to the ball and eventually run himself into a dead end. Kinda like Walcott really, when you think of it.
Diaby is a decent player, but besides his size and look, he is not as good as Vieira in any aspect of the sport… physically or mentally. I’d have taken Vieira back THIS YEAR, no problem. He would have been an experienced player, that did not need to play every game… much like Bergy at the end. But that made too much sense for Wenger. Instead, we DO NOT have the depth to rotate players for CL and league matches at all. It might be down to the arrogance of Arsene Wenger.
Agree abt Diaby…..as I really saw some dominating qualities in his game for the past 2 years.
However, he is not progressing in his play over this period. At 23, you either have the skill sets and decision making abilities OR you don’t.
Stag – Vieira has no legs; even if utilized for 1 match a week, he would be a defensive liability in midfield. The speed of players in the EPL is significantly improved since he departed. Even for Inter, he’s only somewhat effective for 30 minutes.
We could use some experience in the middle, even for 30 minutes. I don’t see the downside, other than limiting Denilson’s minutes or Diaby’s… and that would be a PLUS, not a minus.
UEFA now look silly over the Eduardo ban. It was always unmeasured kneejerk stuff.
Happily Adebayor’s stage show has elevated him to EPL poster badboy, so with that and this reversal of the UEFA ban Eduardo can carry on and rehabilitate into the team.
Did anyone else see a sad similarity between Adebayor’s uber aggressive behaviour and facial contortions and that of a certain Chelsea striker….Messr Drogba? More fitting in a tribal war. If this is Mark Hughes idea of the ’emotion’ that we don’t want removed from the game, you know, come on Mark, lol.
Kiwi with all due respect I think you should consider keeping your African stereotypes to yourself as some people find it offensive.
Why did you not use Wayne Rooney or Michael Ballacks uber aggressive behaviour alongside Adebayors, rather than cite your “tribal war” stereotype.
I very much doubt you have been to a West African country to judge the type of people they are. But it seems you are way off the mark.
US Gunner, agree 100% on Clichy and the amount of space that ManC found to attack us on his flank. For me Clichy is a polarising player – there is so much to admire about his game and attitude and yet there are these defensive issues that crop up repeatedly and so often prove fatal to the result.
I also agree with ANR, it seems a tad nonsensical to have fast attacking fullbacks that can’t find a man with their finishing pass/cross. What’s their purpose in an offensive sense?
Diaby frustrated me last season, but not him alone. ;-)
This season as the team has functioned better, for me, he has applied himself and I’ve seen much to like. I like him in midfield with Song and Fabregas – it seems a good balance.
UEFA:
Eduardo ban is overturned.
Ah sweet justice at last….Or is it just another case of Arsenal being the darlings of the continental powers that be at UEFA?
as a point arsesession made before – if they let the ban to happen, in the end, the one in biggest troubles is not Arsenal… but UEFA. There would be no end of it, and clubs would just keep reporting who and who dives and costs them a game. Especially when CL advance into the playoff round, when every match counts.
I’m a little late to comment, but I have a few thoughts/observations from the weekend:
1. It seems like the left side our defense is too easily exposed. Clichy seems be caught out of position far too often. He either needs to hold his postion, or his teammates need to learn how to cover for him to keep the balance and shape of the team.
2. Bendtner and RvP badly need to be switched. Bendtner is a big, strong target player that needs to be causing havoc in the box. He does not have the speed or guile to get around players on the outside. RvP needs more space so that he can get control of the ball and look up. With the ball at his feet he has the skill/awareness to unlock defenses. He’s also a pretty good crosser of the ball.
3. How good was it to see Rosicky playing? His composure and intellegence makes me feel so much more confident. I can’t wait until he’s back to full speed and to watch him and Arshavin on the same pitch.
What can you say about the game? People are taking about Ade, the ref, the international break, etc. However, the bottom line is we had several mental let downs and Man City did well to finish their chances. We got beat. We have to be better. I believe we are talented enough, but the league is going to be very tough this year.
Excellent points, all three. #s 1 and 3 could be summed up as Clichy sucks, Rosicky doesn’t–it’s the difference between a talented player with a brain and a fast one who doesn’t seem quite so smart.
But the RVP-Nicky switch is the really interesting point. Do we really think Nicky can score enough of his chances to justify “leading the line”? Will RVP be effective coming so far back (as he already seems to do) and linking play a la Alex Hleb? To me it seemed what we sorely missed was the element of Arshavin as field general which frees up the rest of the attacking players to cover for each other and fill vacated spots on the pitch. Diaby seems almost uniquely clueless in this regard–even (old, tired, cagey?) Andrey knows that he needs to cover for Clichy when he makes his (aimless) runs forward.
The Bendtner question is a good one and I don’t know if I have a great answer for it. I think NB is good for 10-12 goals as a target man – I don’t think he’s good for any out wide. I don’t know if he’s strong enough to “lead the line.” But I think if you rotate him and Eduardo (a natural finisher/poacher) based on the situation/opposition you can get upwards of 25-30 goals out of that spot.
You make a good point about RvP coming back deep to receive the ball. To me, he does not look comfortable as a target man or does not receive the ball enough so he comes back to get it. I feel that he is much better with the ball at his feet facing the goal.
Everything is easier when Arshavin is on the field as he controls the game masterfully. I think the Diaby experiment is over, and don’t understand why AW persists with it.
Personally I like Diaby and I think he’s reasonably skilled and not as lazy as people make him out to be. It seems like he wants to be a “thinking” player but that sometimes inhibits him. Compare Diaby to a player like Eboue who “tries” hard (“headless chicken”) and shows toughness and/or guile (i.e., he goes to ground) when defenders hack him. Diaby loses his game when defenders play too physically and referees won’t call fouls. It’s no surprise that his best performances have been at the Emirates. He desperately needs a goal or ten to get the ManU own goal behind him. With that in mind, I fully expect AW to start him on Weds.
There is no doubting Diaby’s physical athleticism. I feel like he is missing awareness and/or mental fitness. He fails to have an impact in too many of the games he plays. Even when he does have an impact it is usually a few big plays and that’s it. He goes missing for spells too often. And youth is not an excuse anymore. Did you see how busy Anderson was against Tottenham? He was a constant presence in the game and ManU dominated.
Wow….I finally got through reading all the comments from the game…Glad to see we’re back on track with intelligence winning out over…whatever the hell that other stuff was.
Personally, I don’t want to get into the Ade thing, don’t want to get down on all the players who deserve it (and it’s a long list: Almunia, Denilson, Diaby, Clichy, Bendtner, more?), but I don’t know if I can resist it.
Beyond those guys, our stronger players had poor performances and looked not quite up for the fight after the international break. In particular Cesc looked like he wanted an easy opponent, more referee protection (an early yellow for Ade should have been given and not giving it changed the match) and more intelligent teammates. The implications of Arshavin playing for Russia at the expense of his club are toxic for players like Cesc or Bendtner (out of his favored position?) or the French contingent. Whereas I originally thought a World Cup year would work to our benefit (players wanting to impress their international selection committees/managers), I’m now concerned about complacency and their desire to survive the English season uninjured–in body AND spirit. Only RVP and Rosicky among the internationals, I felt, looked up for the challenge. And none of us, at this point, dare to count upon the latter. And the non-internationals: Almunia, Denilson (do Diaby or Clichy ever actually play for France?)…well you can see why they don’t get called up.
So count me among the concerned. Six points from this difficult opening league schedule is about what should have been expected but it adds pressure not to drop any points in this next “easy” stretch. And I fear the lesser teams getting emboldened if referees allow the rough stuff or if Manny can’t make the routine saves. (Switch these two elements in the ManCity game and it might have gone quite differently.)
Finally, even slower (Eduardo, Bendtner, RVP) and not particularly creative attackers (Diaby) should suffice over this next bunch of games, but we need some better minds and bodies in there (obviously Arshavin and Rosicky, but maybe also Vela and Nasri) before too long, just to keep Cesc from missing his Spanish mates too much. And maybe, just maybe, some of these CL and CC cup games will allow some opportunities for some of the promising youngsters (Wilshere, Merida?) to break through the “seniority-based” rotation. After the failures in Manchester we need to restore competition (for spots) and spirit in the team or it might be a very looong Winter.
I really have no idea what to expect from Standard liege and whether the likes of Merida and Wilshere could play in such a game.
In general with these group games, I find it difficult to know what to make of them, and the standard of the opposition we face.
Feels like we’re playing six champions league qualifying games.
You’re so right.
Do we have the depth in talent to give key players a spell?
Ade, many thanks for taking the spot light off the “dastardly Eduardo”.
You have now moved yourself into a category of a player that qualifies for extra scrutiny from every match official.
After calls go against you or maybe even you fall back to normal playing tendencies, you’ll find yourself rested (on the bench), as an attempt by City to diffuse your high negative profile. I’m sure you’ll spin the blame back to Arsenal fans.
Unfortunately, when you left Arsenal, you took yourself with you.
Yes, the climate in Spain and Italy is much better for your game.
I think Ade just not very intelligent as a person.
I mean, imagine had he choosen to play cool and not celebrated after his goals…. what the world would be saying today?
They would either be hailing his goals and his “class” (for not celebrating aganist his former club), OR spending all the time suggesting what a mistake Arsenal had let him go…
Either scenario would have been exactly what Adebayor was looking for.
Instead… he has the whole world now on his back. Every paper is making a meal out of his unprofessional behavior, and even non-Arsenal fans are casting him stones.
Once again, all his good works have undone by no one but HIMSELF.
What a fool.
Exactly.
Grade A bellend of the highest order.
Wouldn’t know the meaning of the word class if it came up and hit him square on the face, or if Arthur himself got down on one knee and popped the question in a fancy Italian restaurant. :)
I had to laugh a somewhat manic nervous kind of laugh when I saw the picture of Adebayor the Nutcase being ushered away from the Arsenal supporters area by Toure, Bellamy and wait for it….Given!! Yes that’s right. Goalkeeper Given had to come from his goal no less to rescue the demented one from himself.
Obviously Emmanuel isn’t the first player to leave a club under a cloud. The tribalistic nature of football, the rabid supporter base, the loopey wages, the contagious player disloyalty, the horrid agents, it all combines to make a warped environment where the concept of morality is a nonsense.
Yet, sadly, there are few players that seem to camp so absolutely in the space of delusion as Adebayor. When you observe his absolute inability to accept that he played a part in his own demise at Arsenal, and then how he continued to stir the pot of ill-feeling with continuous press engagements from the moment he left to join ManC till the pre-match build-up. And then as if that isn’t enough during the actual match, yes the one he intentionally stoked the feeling for, he violently stomps on Fabregas and van Persie (his face no less), and then he intentionally causes a near riot. What else could a player do? Attack Arsene perhaps?
What then? Well it repeats doesn’t it, we see again in his comments and demeanor that inability to accept his own integral part in this latest series of distasteful events.
I hope Hughes can pull him around, I really do, yet sadly that may be expecting too much of Mark. There isn’t a lot of leverage for a manager with a poisoned player on a multi-million pound contract. The more those close to him tell him he’s justified in his actions the deeper the character issues become for Adebayor.
In saying all this, the Arsenal fans who sung vile things represent another poison that blights football. Ditto the Arsenal websites that drag themselves through the gutter with endless profanities, as though Adebayors excess justifies their own.
Another thing is – the Arsenal AWAY fans usually are the most hardcore, supportive fans among all the Gooners.
From time to time,they were even more vocal, and sang louder when we were away than the entire Emriates crowd added together at home.
Even last season, we could still hear the Adebayor chants from time to time from the away Gooners.
I wouldn’t be surpised NOT EVERYONE of the Arsenal away fans at Man City hated Adebayor.
Yet with his own action, Adebayor probably had turned the rest of the non-haters into haters.
And he still doesn’t understand why Gooners hated him?
One more point is – his claims that Arsenal fans drove him out. But were Fabregas, van Persie Arsenal fans? Were they also involved driving him out?
They were his ex-teammates, yet that didn’t stop him stamping on Cesc’s ankle and van Persie’s face?
Said Ade was a good for nothing git two years ago.
So glad he’s out of the club.
Any trophies we would have won with him in the side would have been sullied by his very existence. I know that most players are morally vacuous, but there are some that just reek of it more than most, Ade being one of them.
If win something now, it would mean alot more with somewhat more likeable players at the club.
Most ironic part was how Wenger literally discouraged his players from crossing and heading. Thereby denying ourselves of a relatively easy way of actually scoring pressure-relieving goals at crucial times.
End result was that in a lot of games in Europe when we were a goal down, we would be playing the ball on the ground trying to work it in (and ofcourse failing as they would have all their men back)….. all because we playing pattern didnt involve crossing.
Even more ironic is that Cole, Lauren, Pires and Ljunberg were EXCELLENT crossers of the ball. Henry, now at Barcelona is FREQUENTLY going for headers and scoring a few.
The most hilarious part is how Wenger has SUDDENLY copied 4-3-3 after watching in envy as Barca (our alleged “real football” kindred spirits) used it with ease and great effect. Actually they have been using that same formation for over 30 years now.
He has even instructed ALL the youth teams to switch to 4-3-3
What this tells us though is that he is not exactly some “visionary” man who actually has a set plan. The ONLY set plan is to stick with his youth.
The most ironic part is that we should have switched to 4-3-3 years ago when Henry and Vieira was still here.
We might have had much better success in Europe then.
I remember posting in 2005 (shortly after Pizza-gate) and some Euro draws that it might be best to switch to a 4-3-3 …. but some argued that formations did “not matter” and it was just a 4-5-1 anyway.
Apparently it isnt. And formations do matter.
I argued back then that instead of wasting Edu on the bench we could have a 3 man starting midfield of Edu-Vieira-Gilberto … especially for Euro games and against Man U (who were our only challengers then).
I figured Edu could provide some “European” creative midfield play…with Vieira and Gilberto covering. It was obvious Vieira was getting a bit slower….but he was still very useful. Some extra help would have done him a LOT of good.
Ofcourse in hindsight Edu was not as creative as say Fabregas, but he did have a lot of discipline and wide range of passes. Infact in 05, he was excellent in that.
As for the front 3, I figured Henry and Pires on the wings, with Reyes and Bentley as backups. We would then need to buy a POACHER … (those are absolutely useful in Europe) who could play central and relieve the pressure. RvP and Aliadiere could then also be a backup for the new center man.
I remember the write-up with formation tables and all having Ljunberg (always injured), Flamini and Fabregas as backups for Vieira, Edu and Gilberto.
Had Wenger done what he is belatedly trying to do now we would not have disintegrated our team and probably would have won more trophies.
A 3 man midfield with Vieira AND Fabregas (not a choice between them) would have allowed the “invincible” dynasty to hold probably for a couple more years rather than a sudden and steep crash.
Not necessarily. Last season we lost our way early in the season against a number of ‘easy’ teams and regained ground temporarily by beating the heavyweights.
This isn’t simplistic. Putting together a ‘good season’ in the EPL normally involved a couple of good runs where momentum helps infuse confidence and lets you accumulate points to stay with the leaders. During these runs, your form may waver, good games and less good ones, yet the momentum thing keeps you going and getting results that you otherwise might drop. Then, critically, in the clutch (I love this expression of yours Stag – where does ‘the clutch’ come from?), the team shows the mental strength to go toe to toe with the other challengers.
Some of the persistant injury cases are showing promise (cringe). If they can come good and repay Arsene’s faith and the younglings can better apply the jedi arts they have learnt under the master we might make a season. If not…..we’ve said it all before. ;-)
I’m not so sure Mazza. ManC was a big test and we picked an unbalanced side. I mean 4 CM’s? There is a real danger that we see 4-3-3 as a silver bullet. That any combination of players will make it work. It won’t. Saturday proved that.
That said, Saturdays game was a classic match, it ebbed and flowed. We had several opportunities to take a winning lead after Rosicky came on and RvP scored yet we failed to convert. So I think a fair assessment would have to say that – yes we erred in picking 4 CM’s, we were unbalanced, yet we still managed to create enough to win it, but sadly the line-up lacked striking efficiency at the critical time. On that note, with 4-3-3, Barca’s awesome winning line-up was Henry/Eto/Messi, we tried to strike with a misformed Diaby/RvP/Bendtner. Arsene needs to think about this.
I mused on what Arsene could have done better. Perhaps Wilshere (rather than Denilson or Diaby) could have replaced Arshavin to create a better offensive balance. Rosicky could still have come on to replace the young lad, or someone else if Wilshere was going really well. Would we have fared worse with 50mins from Wilshere rather than say Denilson? I don’t think so. He would have been a creative outlet.
I have to agree it was interesting, the whole teams recent verve and intensity waxed and waned during the match. The old disease of slow pitter-patter football outside and across the opposition box manifested itself for the first time this season. If the opening games of the season have talk us anything it should be that we score most freely when we create attacks from turnovers against a less prepared defence. Yet that requires not only a team effort to press, but also clever insightful players like Fabregas and Arshavin (and Rosicky) to gel it all together.
We now have a lovely line-up of games, in theory it’s a golden opportunity to get a run going, regain confidence and form both individually and collectively. ;-)
of course, we’ll do well against some mediocre teams, and all will be bliss again for a while, until the next big match, where we are outclassed again.
The only real player that I thought made a point and actually was capable of pressurising the opposition high up the pitch was Arshavin. He did that very well in the first few games I thought.
What I had to laugh at was this observation that whole team ‘meant business’ this year.
The thought of Denilson, Eboue and Diaby ‘meaning business’ brings a big smile on my face, so utterly laughable is the concept.
People still keep repeating that any possible replacement must be ready to spend “only 20 mill” per year ….. the major problem being that Wenger has not even come close to spending such money.
And there IS that money. Afterall we bought Walcott for 12 million and Ramsey for 5 and are paying a LOT of our “kids” like Denilson 60k per week (as compared to say Darren Fletcher who earns about 25k/wk).
So the money is there. 20 million.
Yet last summer he sold Hleb for 12 and got Nasri for that amount. He got Ramsey for 5 and Arshavin for 15.
In other words he spent his 20 million for last summer with those 2.
For this summer he got 40 million from Ade and Toure plus the mythical 20 million but only bought Vermalean for 10.
Meaning the old miser is sitting on 50 million. While watching Song as the ONLY DM. While clearly seeing that Fabianski and Djorou were long term injuries and there were NO backups in DM, CB and GK positions.
Am sorry to say, the Wenger of 1998 would have strengthened ALL of these positions by buying cheap, competent players and spent less than 20 million.
The NEW Wenger does not even acknowledge there are problems.
The guy is doing exactly what he has done at every single club he has managed…..start well and end very badly.
I agree with the theme of what you’re saying Fred.
I have never believed that fiscal constraint is a total answer for Arsene’s current approach – it’s more ideology.
I reckon, if he was of a mind, he could adopt a more pragmatic approach, gear the scouting network to that, and buy in more Eduardo’s/Sagna/Vermaelen types to improve the likelihood of success sooner.
To suggest they are no longer out there or aren’t cost efficient is mischievious on Arsene’s part.
The truth is more along the lines that he is (overly) wed to his ideology, his youth project, and it either succeeds or things get messier.
The FA Cup semi-final exposed the truth about Arsene’s ideology. If we had won that game and the trophy (beating Everton in the final was clearly possible), we won’t be having this debate today.
I don’t care what Wenger did at other clubs. He has been fantastic here. But he is NOT going to change, and the board do NOT want him to go anywhere. He does a great job for the board and profit of the club. However, we should not be afraid to make a change, if we at some point decide we want to win trophies and compete with the elite teams in England and Europe. Its obvious, its not a priority.
test
One thing I have to laugh at is the lack of high voltage pressing from our team on Saturday. Where was the high energy pressing from this new regimented Arsenal side? It was all the pundits and fans could talk about after our first few games.
I called out bullshit on that one early doors, knew it wouldn’t last. Very much reminiscient of when we folded like pack of cards after the highly charged victories over Bolton and Blackburn away last season.
The left back position is fast joining the DM and goalkeeping positions as serious problem areas for the team.
Clichy seems like he is going backwards. He is still utterly useless offensively and he still very suspect defensively.
The 2nd and 3rd goals yesterday were directly because he was caught out completely. On the 3rd goal, after Clichy made an unnecessary lounge and lost the ball….you could clearly see Diaby standing still and looking …. despite the fact he was the ONLY DEFENSIVE midfielder on the pitch at that point.
He was just standing still as Richards placed the ball squarely on Adebayors head. Clichy couldnt make that cross in his dreams.
At this point it is probably best for Clichy to just stop going past the halfway line completely. He should just sit back and stay right beside the two centerbacks for 90 minutes.
No excuses for Clichy!
Objectively I can’t find much to cheer about Sagna’s play either. Sagna has not looked effective since Flamini and Hleb left. Yesterday, he was suckered into the yellow card, due to his poor positioning.
no one on Arsenal can cross! if we could, who are we sending the balls to in the middle? RvP? Denilson? Cesc?
we don’t even look dangerous for our corners!
whose fault?
@ Andez, great points.
I think Arsenal is too much in the spot light for the wrong footballing issues.
The season is lost if we can’t change the subject matter.
agree. if Ade does not get banned, I think the club should just let it go. Those stuff don’t help. And I won’t expect anything from the authority anyway. Ever since the Eduardo injury.
It’s a beautiful day here and I’m going to go enjoy some of it. I just wanted to say well done, guys. After yesterday’s venting/blood-letting, it’s gotten back to smart, sensible conversation. (After a fair enough chastising from LDE, though I think we would have gotten there eventually.)
My favorite football writers are all on this site.
Enjoy your Sunday, YARM. And thanks for the good reading.
I hope someday we will get to see how many comments we get here with each thread.
For obvious reason.. ;)
I wish Joshuad could find his way here. Perhaps someone should post a link on AA. Can’t do it myself, i’m banned.
222 and running on this thread Andez. Trying to find a way this can be displayed to all though.
now make it 223! got it, from the dashboard right? It’s a new “career-high” for YAMA here!
“I think it is too simple to say that if Wenger leaves we are crushed”
Not simple at all. You gotta bare in mind one thing – Arsenal under AW had at least finished 4th in each of his season. Not 14th.
True, some clubs had improved since changing managers. But it’s likely for a lower table side to improve than a top table side.
if a side finished 14th, with a new manager, the next season finish 7, it’s an IMPROVEMENT.
For a top 4 side, the ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT is much smaller than the lowly side.
Therefore once again come back to the heart of the problem – what would be your EXPECTATION to the new man? As 2nd to 4th place finish won’t make much a difference. So only to WIN THE LEAGUE would be deemed acceptable for the new man.
Historically speaking, whenever a top side changed their managers, didn’t matter they were sacked or quit, there’s far better chance for the side to go downhill than moving upward.
Newcastle under Keegan were their best period of time in modern days, when they finished 2nd. They had changed God knows how many managers since. Where are they now?
Liverpool, since King Kenny quit, had NEVER won the league regardless of how many new managers they had hired since.
Even Chelsea, they had won the FA Cups on a few occassions since the departure of Mourinho. Nothing else since.
Citing the example of McLaren is lame. As you simply cannot compare AW to McLaren. Besides, back to my original point, big Mac had failed to lead England to qualify for EURO, there was a HUGH room of improvement for the new man. Even Capello leads England qualified for WC through playoff, it’d still be seen as an IMPROVEMENT. He has not lead England to win the World Cup, yet.
Guardiola no doubt had done a good job with Barca. But if you were managed a side armed with such a resource, your job would have been easier as well. Again, will Arsenal offer the same resource?
Bottom line – AW here today is not only because of the backing of Arsenal board. He CHOSE to stay. He could have gone to Real Madrid the past summer, and his life for sure would have been easier.
Should AW walk out the door tomorrow, he never needs to worry about heading toward the employment center.
Arsenal, on the other hand, would find themselves in some soft of troubles.
Many people who been calling for his head – one reason behind it, let’s face it, it’s because they do not agree with his policy, be it the young policy, or the players he choose to play yet some fans don’t rate.
But let’s face it again – players like Denilson, Eboue, Bendtner etc, just because some fans don’t rate them doesn’t necessary mean they are bad players. Those are just OPINIONS. I’ve heard from time to time some of the TV commentators (former players or coaches) rated those guys themselves. OK, it’s also only their opinions. Just that…
You never know who the new manager is going to rate? What if he too rates Denilson, EBoue, Bendtner and playing them week in week out?
What then? To sack the new man too?
Awesome post Andez. Couldn’t have said it better. But then.. ur a koolaider too so your opinion doesn’t count ;)
Spot on mate!
thanks boys!
Saying Denilson, Eboue and Bendtner are not very good players is NOT opinion LOL.
It is fact!
Compare them with their peers.
Sure you can give excuses for Denilson and Bendtner because they are still 21.
But Eboue is 26, married with kids and has played a sh%t load of games for the last 5 years.
Clichy is no spring chicken either.
As for the manager issue, I’ve explained it a million times. Diaby, Denilson, Eboue, Clichy(which slowly most fans are starting to catch onto), Djourou, will continue act as an anchor on the ankles of this team as long as they are part of the squad, and we continue to struggle to raise our heads above water.
Although none of them are first choice, they will still play a significant role in every season due to injuries and Wenger’s general love of their existence, as they symbolise ‘Wenger Youth’. He needs to give them minutes so he can go on about how young the team is – it’s an inbuilt excuse mechanism you see as we can always ‘lack little bit maturity and sharpness’.
So, Wenger will never sell them. He’s said this himself many times with comments like “we’ll see in May whether I’m right or not” and “judge me in May”, notice he doesn’t specify what year ;)
So, you can list as many possible downfalls you like of getting rid of Wenger, and they are all viable as well, but I would rather take a chance on a new manager who doesn’t have a fetish for slow, emotional fragile puppies looking for a haven.
Even with a ‘perfect’ squad, with no explicit weakness, there is stil no guarantee of winning things. Even if we signed another central defender, or central midfielder, or goal keeper, things could still conspire against us. But with OBVIOUS flaws from the get go, you’ve got no chance.
And this season we might not have the luxury of piss easy cup draws to paper over the cracks.
The million dollar question I have always asked is what exactly does Denilson do for the team?
What is the point of his existence???
As for the game, notice how Adebayor beat Eboue 3 times in 5 minutes after failing to get past Sagna once the whole game! LOL.
The funniest part is that Eboue and Sagna are of around the same age!
“Once you fail to have the offensive dynamic to your game your defence comes under too much pressure – your offence relieves defensive pressure.
And this is why I said from the moment Hleb left that he would be a far greater loss than Flamini. If you do not have offensive clarity, either deeper in the offensive third like Hleb, or higher in the offensive third like Arshavin, then you are fucked as a side, especially a team that likes to play as we do.
We watched the Rangers game in pre-season, got excited when players who actually have a brain and some spark – like Merida and Wilshere – ran rings around Rangers, and looked ahead to an exciting season at the very least.
But no, ONCE AGAIN, the season starts and it is back to Diaby on the left wing, Denilson sleep walking in midfield, and Song being played into the ground Fabregas stylee.
On one of the points Vibe and Arthur discussed about – No one heard of AW when GG was on the way out, so who can say it for sure there won’t be another bright young unknown manager out there?
But we must remember the circumstances back then and now are quite different.
In the mid 90s, Premiership was still very much an English game. Clubs generally did not trust foreign managers. David Dein in fact arranged an interview for AW and Peter Hill-Woods to meet as GG’s replacement. Hill-Wood decided to go for Bruce Rioch instead. As Arsenal had always been a rather conservative club. Hill-Woods did not really buy the idea that foreign managers could lead us to success. And his menaltiy was not alone among other Premiership chairmen.
And remember, until AW’s arrival, there was NO other foreign managers who had lead their clubs to EPL title before. Arsene Wenger as a manager, in a sense, is like Cantona, Klinsmann, Bergkamp the likes as players, had helped to open the door for the foreigners into the Premiership.
Because of the general perception that foreign managers weren’t going to help back in those days, so it’s more likely for a quality young manager like Wenger back then being left unnoticed.
And another factor is – the internet. In the mid 90s, there were many people probably not even heard of internet. In college, I was still learning the DOS. And most of my friends did not own any cell phone (we were using pagers, something kids today probably have no clue of what it was), let alone i phone.
The information technology has leaped a giant step forward the past 15 years or so. A bright young coach would be far less likely for anyone to miss. He’s not going to be hided in middle of no where without anyone noticed his existence.
A manager like Tony Adams for example, 15 or 20 years ago, if he took charge of Wycombe, nobody outside of UK would have a clue how he did. But today if you wanna find out his stats and record all you need is just a click of Google search. There’s no where to hide.
The Board made a decision to back Arsene again this season despite the first clear signs of fan-base displeasure at the season gone. It’s too soon to read much in to the season aside from a good start has been followed by two defeats away against quality teams.
If we bounce back and get close to the leaders over the next two months these two results will be seen in a different light. If we don’t, if we flump, if the EPL season fizzes out early again, Arsene will have some explaining to do, and everyone knows it. He said at the end of last season that he would bolster the squad, he hasn’t, in fact it’s hard not to argue that in terms of numbers and experience we’ve slipped backwards a bit.
The next two months should provide a clearer picture as to whether we have progressed or not.
When you write like this, it comes across so professional, like a writer for the Telegraph or another “posh” paper, measured and balanced no hype.
On point as as well.
The next two month will tell if we do have the fabled mental strength Arsene proclaims.
I agree. Though I can’t say I agree with everything Kiwi wrote, I admire how balanced and matter-of-fact a manner Kiwi had written.
Good points without fuss.
I think it is too simple to say that if Wenger leaves we are crushed. It may be true, but let us face it. Some day, he will leave. What then? He can’t keep coaching until our debt is free, that would take 15 or more years.
Sometimes a change is required. Barca got rid of Riijkaard and Guardiola took the same set of players to the treble. Capello took the same players under shitty McLaren and is now unbeatable.
I am NOT saying that Wenger should be fired. But yes, I wouldn’t be supportive of giving him a new contract just yet. Let us wait till the end of the season. God knows, something might change.
Nevertheless, if I am in the Arsenal board, I would start planning for life after him. All said and done, he can’t go on forever, that is a fact of life. If we don’t plan well, we will only have ourselves to blame.
That’s a fair comment Nipuna. But I have heard of the debt free in two years plan,I don’t know how that would work out but that is what I have heard from the rumour factory.
There is no way to pay that level of debt in two years. Lets just stick to facts stated on financial sheets rather than rumors.
Nipuna, I completely agree with you.
We probably cant fire him (too humiliating for him) but his contract ends in 2011.
We MUST NOT renew it.
Nipuna, why the hell would the board change the manager? He brings in a ton of money with transfers, doesn’t spend much on incoming players, and has kept us in the top 4. We win the PROFIT league! We don’t care about winning trophies, its about profit.
Regarding performances, it is clear that once the offence doesn’t function well, the defence is under tremendous pressure. Suddenly, mediocre players like Almunia, Clichy and Diaby are found out.
Our offence is in deep shit right now. Eduardo is just back from an injury. Rosicky ditto. Nasri is out. Arshainv is out and has never been fully fit this season. Bendtner is struggling in his new role. Ditto for RvP. Vela and Walcott are injured (again). God, how are we going to manage? I know we can’t control injuries, but at least, we could have strengthened defence, if we knew that our offence will go through a tough time.
The way Micah Richards went past Song for the second goal was just too easy. Song is young and will learn, but all the while, Arsenal and the fans are paying the price, by losing points and games. By the time, Song reaches the top, some other player would have left and the vicious cycle will continue all over again. I am really begin to doubt we will win anything this way. Sorry, but I am losing hope.
Arshavin is key. He will do for the attack what Fab does for the midfield.
Dude, this is exactly what I have been saying…..by the time this “kids” get up to scratch, some would have left (Arshavin, Rosicky, Eduardo, Fabregas) and they will be replaced by kids….and so we will still be in the EXACT same position 3 or 4 years from now.
It is incredible really.
And all because Wenger does not want to spend that extra cash to bring in just TWO Arshavin quality players to really complete the team.
I did not want to say anything right after the game cause I was terribly pissed at the way we played. But after a good night’s sleep, I don’t feel any better. :(
It is a pity that after a comprehensive defeat, the focus is more on Ade than the shortcomings of our own team. We play well, we lose. We play badly, we get thrashed. Well, we have a long way to go.
People can say that we played well, there were chances, we were in the game, blah, blah. What does it matter? Nobody remembers who was leading at half time or after 60 min. People only remember who won the game and who will be on top in May.
With already two defeats and a game behind, we have put ourselves under tremendous pressure. And we all know how well we respond to pressure.
It is going to be YET ANOTHER long hard season.
Yeah, it is a shame we couldn’t respond better after ManU. Two defeats aren’t good, and undoubtedly disrupts the momentum and confidence.
I supported Ade last season perhaps against the tide of often heated opinion. I felt he had talent, had delivered, and that an element of supporters were too quick to lambast him. Sadly, he has let himself down. His actions in recent weeks and today suggest that he is, as well as talented, stupid and a tad nasty (both in incidents with Fab & Robin).
Why the never-ending discussions with the press saying again and again how badly done-by he has been? There is never a hint of balance in his comments. Just the ranting of a guy determined to get even. And his refusal to acknowledge the part he and his agents played in attracting controversy (vis Barca and Milan) makes him look a tad thick in the head.
A wise player would keep his hurt to himself, punish his detractors on the field, and let the scribes right the wrongs.
Oh wow, a balanced, sensible opinion….Dont let Arthur read this.
Too late :-D
He is not wise Kiwi, he is uneducated and most definately lacks “class” and wisdom. I don’t expect him or anyone else to live by my standards or cultural norms all I would expect is simple respect. Unfortunatly Arsenal fans ain’t going to get that from him.
He is hurt and angry and always speaks his mind. His lack of good English may contribute to him being misunderstood somewhat.
Some fans like to deride players and expect not to receive it back. Some of them will talk about how he lacks “class” but still sing the F’ Adebayor song. I say those who live by the sword should be prepared to die by it.
I have not looked at the Cesc challenge but he did apologise straight away. As for th challenge on Perse, it was nasty. But I think RVP is wrong and unwise to suggest that he came into the game with the intention to hurt someone. It is also quite ironic as it appears RVP is trying to swipe Ade legs from under him prior to the retribution. It seems there is no way he could have expected to have got to the ball without taking Ade out first. That doesn’t make Ade retribution anyless nasty though.
Like most, I felt a large amount of emotional turbulance when the score got to 4-1. That type of scoreline is just not nice to sit through at any time.
And I accept at the end of the day the result is the result, and yes, Arsene will rightly be judged by the results that unfold. That said…..
The first half was poor, we certainly looked relatively tight yet the offensive side of our game was a re-run of last years impotent performances where goal opportunities looked just too hard to come by. I put that down to the lack of the necessary creative edge in the attack/midfield. Even 4-3-3 needs the right balane of players and we clearly didn’t have it. Perhaps it’s simplistic but the loss of Arshavin, replaced by Diaby or Denilson, just robbed us of the right balance. Once you fail to have the offensive dynamic to your game your defence comes under too much pressure – your offence relieves defensive pressure.
Credit to Arsene, Rosicky came on at the 52min mark, our game improved immediately. The right sub. We looked threatening. The goal came 10mins after Rosicky’s entry. After the goal we looked far superior to ManC. They looked tired. We had multiple chances to go 2-1 up. We failed to convert – that was the game. I’ve said before Robin takes quite a while to adjust his scoring sights at the start of a season. I’m not sure what Bendtner offers quite honestly. He’s tidy enough, but not overtly lethal or creative.
I wasn’t as convinced with Song’s removal, his role has taken on a significant importance. I liked Diaby’s contribution.
Is this a re-run of last seasons disappointment? Too early to tell. If it is, Arsene is in trouble. He had grace last season, he refused to take any meaningful xfer action despite the evidence and despite saying he would. He needs his players to repay his faith, otherwise the criticism will return in a heigthened way – louder, meaner.
“Is this a re-run of last seasons disappointment? Too early to tell. If it is, Arsene is in trouble. He had grace last season, he refused to take any meaningful xfer action despite the evidence and despite saying he would. He needs his players to repay his faith, otherwise the criticism will return in a heigthened way – louder, meaner.”
So, so true, but despite the defeats I think we are more competitive than we were last season if we can maintain this right attitude then we could bring in some siverware yet. However the lack of squad depth appears negligent whether Arsene gets away with or not, it is still bad decison making in my eyes.
I agree. I hope the nucleus of younger players in the 21-23 age bracket have enough experience now to repay Arsene.
And that the likes of RvP, Rosicky and Eduardo repay his faith in their worth. It may not be too great a statement to say that Arsene has risked his very reputation at Arsenal by backing them to regain fitness and be the backbone of the side.
Seriously, next time if anyone wants to suggest let’s sack Wenger, do please come up with the name of the new manager you are certain he will do a better job first.
But bare in mind he MUST be able to meet the following requirements:
(1)A manager with roughly 20 mil to spend every season.
(2)He will not be able to sign TOP STARS as Arsenal’s wage structure will never be able to meet their demand.
(3)MINIMUM expectation is to WIN THE LEAGUE. Top 4 finish is not good enough.
Then of course, he has to be the one who’s AVAILABLE. No point saying Capello or Mourinho, those guys are unlikely to leave their current post. Even if they do, they are more likely going to a club with more money to spend. That means Man City, Man Utd the likes. NOT Arsenal.
If you can’t come up with a NAME. And just keep saying sack Wenger after every defeat. What’s the point?
Again, was a Manager who just washed out of the Japan league’s a NAME when he came to N5?
No one is indispensable, and no one is bigger than the club. Not being able to come up with a name doesn’t prove anything.
It may not prove anything, but it does does mean something. It means that we do not know of anyone better who will be willing to fill the great void that the magnificent Arsene will have left.
If you look past the established managers what you have is a big risk, it would be more likely for us to drop out of the top 4 with an unproven manager.
It means if we cannot find a sensible, viable and possible alternative then maybe we should consider that Arsene is the right man for the job at least until we are debt free.
Right. As if anyone on here would have come up with the name Arsene Wenger when Graham was on his way out.
Of course you are right but there is only one Arsene Wenger would we be lucky enough to find a equivalent good enough?
Post George Graham/ Bruce Rioch we were not in the financial climate we are in today, we need someone who can be astute financially also. I disagree with some of the decisions Arsene makes, but I know I am not always right anyway. But Despite the mistakes Arsene makes as will any manager I do not see a better one for the job who will work under Arsenals financial constraints. The club may well have set a goal to be debt free within two years as has been rumoured. Wenger will probably be the best man to deliver on this goal, obviously he believes we can that and win trophies with this squad. We may disagree with him but I do not se a viable alternative.
Not sure why anyone would “expect” anything different.
When you keep doing the same thing over and over, and expect a different result, isn’t that insanity?
Wenger keeps selling players, making profit, and not bringing in proper replacements. The team keeps getting younger and less experienced…
and somehow there are people that think we are moving in the right direction?
Who did you expect to stand up when it got ugly?
We lost Adebayor and Toure… both of them have big time experience in big matches, and we brought in … who to replace them?
I like Vermaelen a lot… he’s been good… but we are NOT better than we were last year with subtraction.
This is why I see no point in investing any hope in the season.
Spurs, City and Villa… all will be coming for that 4th spot. Make no mistake at all, we are in BIG trouble this year.
Wenger did it again… watched the world go by in the transfer window, collected HUGE profits, and put it in the pockets of the board. No wonder they love him.
When are they reducing ticket prices? That’s what I want to know.
Unfortunately, we will not progress until either Wenger changes/adapts his insane plans of going with kids to the death and ignoring depth issues… or Wenger has to go. His time may have come for him to leave at season’s end. We’re fecked this year, at least until the window in January. But what are the chances he reacts?
I am SURE we are going to have a good run of matches… and we’ll play some exciting football and score some great goals. But again (and again and again)… we aren’t winning shit.
Stag we have only played 4 games let’s not write our boys off yet.
Seriously Arthur, I don’t think Bendtner’s challenge was funny at all. He played as a right sided AM, chasing all the way back to cover at virtually a RB position to help out his teammate. If anything, I applause his effort.
He’s not a defender, naturally he’s not good at tackling. Kinda like if Clichy takes a long range shot and the ball flows straight to corner flag. Nobody would find it funny. It’s understandable.
Why explain to him. He is a far bigger fan of Adebayor than of Arsenal.
Adebayor, Adebayoo-oor,
Give him the ball
and he will score!!
:-D :-D :-D
come on sing along with me Fred:
Adebayor, Adebay….
u need to coo that in his ears next time ur with him.
Personally I do not think that was a realistic attempt by Bendter to get the ball. There was angst in that challenge it seemed he tried to use more force than was necessary to get the ball out of touch if he was anyway near it.
Maybe he felt justified after the “face stomp”, or maybe I am wrong.
HA! you know what I find really funny looking back at it. Bendtner’s two wild challenges in the penalty box against Ade after he left Eboue on his backside. :lol: , no seriously they are so funny, the second one would have got him sent off and cost us a penalty, but it looked so pathetic in its futility I really cannot contain the laughter. Maybe the number 52 represents anti-Ade ;-)
I know it is not the same for you guys but for me there is a rainbow at the end of my storm today Ade vindicated! :-D shame about the stamp and a shame we did not win the game. Well I suppose a ban was the only way we were going to stop him, Dade Blue is on fire.
I counted one Bendtner tackle. Are you seeing double?
You still havent explained the “Blue” in your daddys name.
Yeah I suppose the meek swipe of the leg by the left touchline was not technically a tackle, but who cares apart from you :-D
you brought a topic up and then say “who cares apart from you” ?
You must still be confused.
LOL :-D , true to form you are always missing the point!
The point: it is only you that cares whether it was one tackle or two. I simply found the incident funny.
You said two tackles when there was one and now you are saying only I care if there were two???
You must still be f&ck drunk.
Well by all indications it looks like Adebayor could face some sanction for his actions today – one writer is thinking at least 3 matches.
If thats the case City will be down, Adebayor, Robinho, and Tevez for three matches or more.
While I would’ve liked us to win to quell City’s ambitions. Losing three of their primary weapons for 3 EPL matches might go a long way to doing what we couldn’t.
You know, I only now actually read the comments Adebayor made yesterday about Arsenal fans being fickle Americans and Jamaicans!
You know thinking about it, is it possible he came across Arsenal America??????
That must account for his dislike!
“CaribKid” must be the reason he isnt into Jamaican fans either LOOOL!
When did Carib Kid disrespect Adebayor? Maybe he should be allowed to speak for his self on this one
Well, I would imagine Ade doesnt read much. He just browsed thru and figured it was full of “disrespect”-full Americans and Jamaicans. LOOL!
PS: You use the word “disrespect” a LOOOT!
You make it seem like you are personally involved with the man.
No it is because I RESPECT the player. I use the word disrespect so I don’t have to be too specific and write an essay about you haters.
Funny, you talk about respect, but you clearly dont “respect” a lot of players at the club.
Like who?
The loss today and at OT are ugly reminders for the teams lack of experienced depth.
Ade’s total performance today exceeded anything for Arsenal last season. I wish him the best of luck, but have no regrets for his departure. Sorry Arthur, the cleats on RvP face were deliberate and the FA may have no choice but to give him 3 match ban.
I thought Cesc had a mediocre performance. Diaby does not fit our system. Basically having him on the pitch today, we were a man down. We lost too many 50/50 balls in midfield, its a wonder the scoring margin was only 2 goals.
I thought Wenger erred in judgment in the 2nd half. AW should have brought Eduardo on for Diaby not Song! I have lost faith that Eboue can defend. Eduardo came on too late to make any difference.
Honestly, if there is anything good we can take from this match, its being reminded of the skill of TOMAS ROSICKY. He will be steroids for our midfield and attack.
Spurs looked like crap today; totally outplayed by ManU.
I am not the biggest RvP fan but he earns class marks in my book for the following statement post game:
Robin van Persie has issued the following statement following an incident with Emmanuel Adebayor at Saturday’s game:
“I am sad and disappointed by my former team-mate Emmanuel Adebayor’s mindless and malicious stamp on me during today’s match.
“We are both professional footballers and I know that the game is physical, I too have made hard and sometimes mis-timed challenges but never with the intention of hurting an opponent. He set out to hurt me today.
“I knew he was aiming for a collision because he changed the angle of his body to allow contact to be made. He moved backwards when his natural momentum would have taken him forward. I find that deeply disrespectful. He has shown a real lack of class today, to me and the fans.
“I do feel lucky that I have not suffered a greater injury. The contact was only centimetres from my eye. I have not received an apology from him, there were no words exchanged afterwards. He had his own agenda today and that is bad for football. It’s bad for the game we all love.
“I want to make it clear that this has nothing to do with the result of today’s match. We do not hide from that disappointment but I need to speak out about his behaviour.”
Arthur out in full force to defend his daddy in 3…2…1….
I think I was the first to say it was intentional :-D and the FA will do something about it as the referee missed it.
Grow up Fred… I am starting to think you are probably in your teens, in that case I should expect no better.
I suppose this will be welcomed fuel to all the haters.
Oh and as not to disapoint you, RVPs tackle on him was one of his wild ones, wasn’t it.
…….hence the need to blind your former teammate with your studs! He must really do you good for you to be so blinkered against your own team (allegedly).
I want go on and say yet again I don’t consider myself a hater.
But here is what riles the majority of Arsenal fans –
After the 30 goal season when the likes of Barca, Milan and Inter were flirting with him he did nothing to quel the rumors. As fans we want our players to be loyal (as loyal as they can be in the name of big bucks).
While not quelling the rumors of an exit he gets a pay raise and then proceeds to play like crap for most of the season. He was continually offsides – the touch was gone. Only occasionally did he show the brilliance of a year before.
In fairness to the fans it is their quid that are going to pay that raise and by not putting forth the work effort – they are absolutely in their right to boo him.
They booed Eboue and what did the lad do – he went out worked harder and the cheers came.
Arthur I think what I find questionable about your support of Ade is that you question our right to criticize. It is your right to support him but it is our right to give him crap for his perceived disloyalty to the club that gave him his EPL shot. Let’s face it he wasn’t busting out of Marseille. But AW saw something in him to dedicate the time and this is how he repays the club.
Throw in the non-stop talk and his lack of understanding that he fuelled alot of it and now ontop of what seemed to be a game where he was intent on hurting someone –
Cesc foot stomp
RvPs face stomp
Forearm to the back of Gallas’ head (inside the penalty box early in the game)
I don’t know what Mark Hughes is preaching but Ade was well up for it against his old team.
I have never questioned your right to criticise any player. But I will criticise you for it when I believe that criticism is unjust/unwarranted, that’s my perogative.
Why should Ade quell the rumours about his supposed departure when he is looking for a better contract. However I do remember reading a report of him saying he is not leaving Arsenal, but that was lost amongst the other talk he may or may not have said prior and after that statement. But I think anyone would be stupid to keep pointing out your desire to stay at the club when you want a new contract. But like he has stated over and over again he never said he wanted to leave.
Yeah he lacks understanding and talks too much, but he is still underserving of the treatment the fans gave him.
DAG, let’s not be naïve: “AW saw something in him to dedicate the time and this is how he repays the club.” Arsene Wenger was not trying to do Ade any favours, he wanted to sign another cheap African who could do a job for him. Ade says he did not get a penny more than he was getting at Monaco. He only got a pay raise when ManU came sniffing around him. His wages went up from £15 – £35 grand reportedly. The club has been repayed by his sweat and big transfer fee. Arsenal was looking after their own interests when they bought him and was looking after it when they sold him.
While you were counting Ade’ indescretions did you count any of our player’ or the indescretions against him? No of course not there is no balance because bias does not allow balance. Cesc “foot stomp”! LOL, heat of the battle accident. Gallas head slap looked insignificant to me. RVP was a cold and nasty instant reaction to RVP wild challenge against him. But it “seemed to be a game where he was intent on hurting someone” to you. why did it seem that way to you because of your bias i presume.
actually a3s i made mention the stamping incident first, but what’s two minutes among friends…
the fact that it was Ade adds some fuel to the fire for many, but anyone involved in the game should be digusted by what happened. i’d be just as pissed if it was bellamey or anyone else. just no place in the game for it period.
Ah ha that was before I refreshed the page and saw your comment though. therefore technically those two minutes don’t count ;-)
ManU beat Spurs despite being down to 10 men in the second half.
Will you guys shut up? Its a big pain when you see such rubbish being spouted by grown up men on a message board. You can go at each other and respect each other. There is no need to drag people’s families into it and spout abuse at one another. How does that help anything..at all? What is gained by it?
Oh wait… how about someone come and tell me that this is a message board and I should leave if I don’t like it? Well yes it is… but try and understand that yelling and throwing tantrums on a board does nothing to contribute to any kind of discussion about a match or Arsenal. Which is why this board is there in the first place.
Yes I’m no moral policeman.. but on behalf of maintaining a healthy yet boisterous environment on this board I appeal to the good sense of each member to stop this ridiculously immature cat fight.
Wow, I sign off for a bit and all hell breaks lose.
I need to say this – I don’t mind the slagging each other off, I even don’t mind the profanity -to a certain level. I won’t be deleting anything. Just keep in mind that others read your posts outside of the “regulars”
As for the match – I am thoroughly disappointed. I am not sure we were ever really in this game. The verve and swerve of the first 3 EPL matches was gone from the outset. We didn’t attack and swarm on the ball. Even in our loss to ManU we looked more threatening than today. Chalk it up to the international break, whatever, we simply did not seem to come ready to play.
I am a fan of AW but I chalk that up to him. I chalk it also up to our Captain. He needs to be a voice beyond what AW is. We weren’t there and we weren’t there until minute 47.
City simply put everyone back in the box to break down our attack – when we did penetrate I will give us credit that we weren’t looking for the beautiful goal just a goal.
Yes, City won. Yes, I think the turning point was the face stomp and the subsequent second goal. We were out at that point. Before any says Vermamelen was to blame the second goal was on Song for not being in good position to break down the easy pass. He is behind the man with his hand on his trying for the reach around. While Song has improved he has some way to go.
Yes, Ade scored. But I will argue with anyone and the Man City papers that he wasn’t a threat all day. Gallas and Vermamelen were locked into him. The only time he showed some skill was when he schooled Eboue on the right. I understand the need for Eboue on for some added speed but on for Sagna? Come one take out Diaby damnit.
I am a fan and like all fans I wear my clubs badge on my heart and a loss especially this loss is gut wrenching. However, I have to agree we are 4 games in – and we have a game in hand over everyone ahead of us. I will write off the EPL title when we are 5 losess or more. Which I personally don’t see happening.
I think City were exposed today. Lescott is very weak and it seems to me Wenger’s plan was to continue to attack him. Everyone of our good chances and our goals came with Lescott as the primary defender.
But I think we were exposed as well – Almunia simply is not a number one. I do not see how a class goal keeper lets that easy one in. I guess it winked at him and threw him off. How he keeps getting linked to the England squad is beyond me – I would take James over him in a heartbeat.
I agree with whoever said a good tonic will be a thrashing of Std Liege and a win next weekend. That is unless Almunia and Diaby keep trying to one up themselves on own goals.
Final note on Ade – I don’t classify myself as a hater. I think Ade is a skillfull striker but had he put in the work ethic last season he is doing this season there would be no doubt AW wouldn’t have felt compelled to sell him. I don’t buy that he didn’t ask for a transfer – his agent tried to set up a last minute Chelsea deal before the move to Citeh. His run down to the Arsenal supporters was deplorable and shows the lack of class that he has. And yes, I thought Henry’s run against Spurs was deplorable too.
The own goal was a bit of a fluky thing really , went off his head. Having said that he got his feet stuck in the wrong position to begin with.
Oh and did anyone look at what Petr Cech did today. Now that’s worth a LOL.. albeit a weak one.
His agent tried to set up a last minute move to ManU or Chelsea after the fee had been agreed with City i.e after Arsene had agreed to sell him. It is virtually undisputed that Ade did not ask for a transfer request. But the haters choose to ignore anything said in his favour to statisfy their bias.
You do realize there are live audio recordings of him flirting with OTHER clubs not only in summer 08 but also thru the end of last season. His sale was a fait-a-compli when he was “rested” for the last 4 or 5 games of the season.
Even then all he had to do was take his higher paycheck and shut up. But no.
When next you are with daddy, ask him why Toure still gets his name chanted while he will probably get killed if he stepped into N. London anytime soon.
Give my the link to these live audio rcordings and I will gladly listen to them and give you my honest opinion. Until then I will presume they are a figment of your youthful imagination.
Killed who is going to kill him, I grew up in North London, raving lunatics do not walk the street in numbers. Anyway I doubt Adebayor has any sleepless nights about North London. I am sure he is currently extremely happy in Manchester, I hope he enjoys it as lng as it lasts.
At least some referee (Mariner) has the balls to caution and send off ManU players.
Wow, this is so childish it’s hilarious. Reminds me of the old days of AA, which is not neccesarily a bad thing at times, although imagine Dave’s reaction if we posted this on AM this season :)
I still stand by what I’ve said for a while – I think Wenger should be fired/leave. He simply refuses to act on what he sees(and he does see, the old fool is not as stupid as some of his decisions make him look) because he’s invested his reputation and time in these bunch of floppy legged losers that he has reared at Colney, he will simply keep driving Edward Kennedy style across a rail-less bridge.
The likes of Fabregas will be out of the window before they drown in the sea of mediocrity.
Mazza, I bet you already knew what I’d say to reply to your points,just like I already knew what you are going to write before you did! So I’ll save my reply ;)
I think that’s one good way to maintain a certain degree of respect to each other while at the same time disagree with each other!
without necessary to cause any bad feeling! :) :)
If Wenger is fired or leaves us now we will drop even further and deeper into mediocrity if that is where you think we are currently at.
I remember Charlton fans compalining about Alan Curbishley the man who took them to and sustained them in the premier league. They were 10th at the time, now that their wish has been granted look where Charlton F.C are. Wenger should only be allowed to leave if or when we are debt free or there abouts. I doubt if there is a manger in the world that can get us to compete with the best in the country with as little funds. Yeah you can say he has funds but does not want to spend it, but he has not got the kinda dosh i.e Spurs has to spend from season to season. If another manager came he may not be able to hold onto the Wenger loyalists. Therefore he would have to have ALOT of cash to rebuild.
It is has become so childish, because Fred is a big kid who needs to be disciplined… severely IMO
If AW is fired, the outcome is unthinkable.
Imagine the past few years, without AW, without our finance, who would be able to keep us as a regular CL side?
One thing ppl forgot is – despite he didn’t spend much, whoever he bought (especially major signing) he always got it right.
it’s extremely crucial. As if you only had 10-20 mil to spend in ONE key player each season, if you get it wrong, you will have to wait until next season to improve the side.
Is there really any manager out there could achieve that? Ferguson? Mourinho?
remember, he got to have a close to 100% hit rate (on major first team signing, i m not talking about kids).
NO manager has as good a successful rate as AW when comes to making the right buy in transfer market.
bottom line – it’s far EASIER to call for a manager to be sacked than to think of a new manager who would do a better job.
I have to agree there isn’t a manager I could see replacing him at this point because frankly the others available are all shite.
I mean if Fabio is willing to leave the England job then by all means let go of AW and bring in Fabio. Maybe Gus Hiddink he wants to return and he knows Arshavin but really who else out there could replace AW?
yes another thing is – if AW is going to get sacked after qualified for CL 14 straight years in a row, meaning that any new man in charge his MINIMUM EXPECTATON is to win the league. (or why would they get rid of AW at the first place?)
I m not sure even Capello or Hiddink be able to achieve that instantly. Afterall, whoever in charge, there are still Man U, Chelsea, Liverpool, mega rich Man City he had to take on.
The new man will need TIME to build the side. AW’s current side is not far away from the finishing product. If we are willing to give TIME to the new man, yet not willing to wait anymore with a manager who’s turned down so many big offers and staying with us.
Logically, it doesn’t make too much a sense.
Give the new man time to get rid of spineless losers like Denilson, Diaby, and Eboue. Players Wenger will NEVER sell.
This is the crux of it. We will always be ‘close’ to the finished product but never actually be it, because of this.
Wenger simply can’t cut loose the kiddies bought in 2006.
Do you really think getting rid of those three would fix all our problems? Especially when two of those are back up really. By the way who would you replace them with?
Arthur boy:
I am VERY sure we can find a lot of competent people to replace “great talent” like Denilson, Diaby and Eboue.
Fred boy: Name them name, name the price then think about whether they will come to us and ACTUALLY be good enough to make us champions.
You always missing the point. The point I was making is that replacing those three is insignificant.
The big difference btw Charlton and Arsenal is that Arsenal have always been a TOP 3 or 4 English team way before Wenger.
Lets take this summer for example. We had 30 million. But we were too miserly to spend 10 million on a CM.
But Wengers head is too far up his ass.
PS: Arthur, you seem to have a “discipline” fetish. TMI!
“Arsenal have always been a TOP 3 or 4 English team way before Wenger. ”
Really? When? Back in 1991 you meant?
The season before AW joined we finished 5th.
The season before that, we finished 12. Six points above relegation zone.
And we finished fifth the year before he came either. it’s not as if we were fighting relegation.
If we had lost two away games in succession in the 1995-6 season, Rioch would be getting shit as would any other manager.
I don’t buy all these doomsday scenarios if Wenger leaves. We’re going down hill anyway.
Mazza stop bitching and give us some solution to the problem.
Replace Wenger with who?
I am not sure if we are going downhill at all just not sure whether we are going uphill either. We have played two of the most difficult away games we are going to play this season. We could have won or drawn both.
What bothers me is that we still look vulnerable defensively against pace in particular. Vermaelen is not a quick fix solution.
Song is far more than decent in the CM/DM role he has been good every game so far despite being shamed by Bellamy today. But neither he or anybody else that occupies that position can be expected to carry the whole team.
United show how it is to be done. Well, at least, Spurs are losing.
Both team losing would be awesome :)
Between these two evils, MU to lose. We’ll stuff Spurs when we meet them to kick off their downfall.
Hard to laugh at others when you fail to win yourself.
Arthur: Ade got his wang out your ass long enough for you to see that?
PS: I know he is your “daddy” but where does the Blue come from?
Art’s balls?
What does that mean boy?
You can talk big over the internet Fred.
But if you were face to face with me, you would shit your pants boy :-D
That’s twice you’ve said that now.
What is it, exactly, about your face that makes people want to shit?
As I said above.
If you don’t see the fight in my stature you will see it in my eyes. I believe Fred is a straight coward, they are the type that use personal insults when they cannot face retribution.
So who are you? Fred’s buddy? or you his brief?
this is the kind of b.s. going back and forth that turned me of the “original” AA site sometimes.
glad to see people here and talking, but can we talk footie instead of seeing who can shout the loudest insult??
no wonder Dave kicked everyone off :) sheesh.
JRoy is right.
I will not delete comments but I will ask you to try and manage yourselves.
Again I ask you to remember that people other than the regulars come here
Fred started this rubbish, allways wants to take his negativity to another level.
So what if I respect Adebayor and am happy for him. When the ignorant slate him, I don’t tell them to f’ off or talk about their mothers. But I will be darned if I don’t respond.
Arthur I understand. I am not belittling anyone’s attempt to slag anyone. I won’t shut anyone up unless the ugliness is such that it warrants it.
I am just asking you and Fred to be mindful that other people are reading this site outside of the regulars who post.
Slag each other as much as you want. Seriously, swear if you feel the need – just watch how personal it becomes and watch the ratchetting up of the swearing its all I will ask.
As fans it is our right to bitch, moan, argue, laugh, cry, celebrate, etc with each other.
I will continue to promote that but I will also stomp on anyones head who takes things to a level of discourse that is beyond even general slagging.
Dade Blue must get a charge from the FA for the face stomp it looked intentional to me but the ref didn’t see.
I thought we were okay really. The second goal was a killer I think. We didn’t close the shot down after the cross, Gallas I think is to blame here as Vermaelen drifts towards the attacker after Richards cut inside.
Terrible terrible marking on the 3rd..free header. Ade’s celebration well.. its a little sour at first to digest.. and I’m guessing both sets (Ade and the fans) have a part to play in this. Ade for putting in substandard performances and the fans for the stupid booing which never makes sense. Not nice to see though.
@Arthur: Your celebration IMO though is a little over the top. Almost sounds you’re relieved Ade paid us back.
4th goal is a counter attack..can happen to anyone. No problem.
On a positive note RVP showed a lot of guts and fight to keep going after that nasty nasty stamp.. there is clear intent there, its not a trailing foot. Unlucky on the Barry handball and RVP off the post late but the game was probably lost by then.
So good to see Rosicky back though.. so good. Him in place of Denilson (and that’s not a black mark on the Brazilian) is such a big upgrade. I just hope him, Nasri and AA23 can stay fit for the season. The season depends on them. Yes its not over ..yet.
Almunia too slow off the blocks. Its probably good to throw Fabianski in and give Al a break but he too is injured..freaky really.
Don’t let the scoreline fool you though, its a bad defeat no doubt but the performances have been good. We need a nice 2-0 or 3-0 against Liege and a win the next week to calm things down and get back on track. Does Dudu’s ban stand BTW?
A retarded quadroplegic with prosthetic limbs is an upgrade on Denilshit.
As usual you show that you hold our players in high regard. What a wonderful supporter you are.
This coming from the RETARD that celebrates a goal against Arsenal.
Big Baby! grow up dude :-D
Your dad should a give a little more belt when you were growing, maybe you wouldn’t be such a moany biatch
I make no bones about it, I am not relieved simply happy for Ade he deserved to give it to those disgusting haters.
I did not want us to lose or draw, but I was very open pre-season in saying I wanted him to score a lot of goals.
I would have been happy for him to score against us as long as we won the game.
Yeah you have to give RVP respect for his efforts.
And it is true we were not that bad, but this will dent our confidence massively we have already lost two games this season.
If Fabianski goes in goal we will have a lot more to complain about. Like I said last year summer we need a top class keeper to aleast challenge Al, I don’t think Fab is it, unless he has improved massively since last season.
Relax boys only four games in have a bit of patience…
Oh shit, did anyone just see Defoe’s goal, damn!!
As for us, Gallas, Verm and Song are the ONLY 3 defensive players we have at the WHOLE club! And Song is a 21 year old.
Seriously! We could use some defensive security. But no, Wenger does not believe in depth when it comes to DM and CBs.
What we have to do now, is handle the business against the bottom 14 teams. We can NOT afford mistakes. Not this season!
Spurs and City are really, really frightening me at this point.
For the first time in a LONG while Spurs look structurally strong! Even when they almost knicked 4th from us in 2006, I still thought they werent very solid and figured they were fluking. But for now they really look well formed.
For me they are a definite top 4 contender.
Man City will NOT be like Aston Villa of last year. They have depth. They have physical strength and they have speed.
We are really in for it this season. We will need a Lord of the Ring’s style EPIC battle just to get into fourth place.
Oh…. And don’t forget they have Adebayor
Ade and your mother got it going on, we get it. Sod off.
If I could only have you in touching distance, the beating I would give you! :-D
Arsehole with a lot of talk! LOL :-D
Like the “beating” you just got from Ade?
You are the one with the talk. You could always move over to a Man City fan site anytime you want.
that’s too much Fred. I know it’s none of my busniess, but do you have to insult someone to make a point?
Like I care.
Fred, good you can still LOL after a defeat.
I can’t.
What is there not to “LOL” about.
We made our bed now we must lie in it.
We made a 30 million PROFIT this summer but decided that RE-ENFORCING our central midfield, defense and keeper was not what it.
Infact, Andez I remember you saying buying a new CM will kill Song. Now that deserves a LOL at least, dont you agree?
I am here to talk about Arsenal. To me, it’s NEVER about you or me, or anyone else.
I make opinion based on my own belief.
But I got upset when we are beaten. And do not see there’s anything to LOL about.
P.S: if you rate a player and I don’t, that player had a poor game and we lost, you never seen me LOL at you?
What upset me is NOT about you or me has been proven right or wrong, it’s about Arsenal just get BEATEN. Understand?
So I can not type LOL in my own post again??????? Are you kidding me??????
You want us to slash our wrist because Arsenal lost????
Dont be hilarious!
Of course you can. I am not DaveK, not like I would delete your message anyway ;)
You can write anything you as you wish. It’s your computer afterall! So go ahead! My bad. I should have known better!
To be honest, this defeat doesnt bother me (at least it wouldnt have it wasnt against City).
I am definitely not Wenger’s fan when it comes to tactics and positions, but I really dont see what else could have been done in this game.
We played like mediocre-ly in the first half, but stepped up a bit in the second.
Rosicky makes one feel safe to be honest. Happy he is back. When we pair him with Arshavin we will really be in good shape!
Remember even last season AND the season before City were even money to beat us. Why? Because they have a LOT of pace. Unfortunately our wingbacks suffer against such. And we dont have enough defensive steel. Song is just too young. Sorry.
Last season we lost 3-0 over there. This time we improved!
How is that for optimism?! LOL
Not buying a central midfielder was utterly unforgiveable. Song is DECENT, nothing more. Nowhere near good enough to have pinned down as a first choice.
I have been saying this season the beginning of last season.
WIthout strength in the CENTER we are fucked.
It would be interesting to hear Wenger’s pathetic excuse when we fail to make top 4 in May. (And the way City and Spurs are going that is a 75% chance).
Geez Arthur, why don’t you just bend Ade over next time you see him and get it over with?
Had Arsenal awarded point for every Ade’s countless offsides last season, we’d have been champion.
I’m glad he’s gone and getting good money.
LOL :-D ,
Mazz I am straight and married, we don’t interact like that with males.
Is that how you bond with males you admire? :-O
You’ NAAAASSSTY!!
“Mazz I am straight and married,”
Ofcourse that is what you will say.
For all we know you are in line in front of Adebayors shower with the other groupies.
We have not had a clean sheet all season. People seemed to think Toure was the source of all our defensive woes despite him being a regular when we had all those clean sheets in our unbeaten run last season.
Who is to blame now? Vermaelen (as much as I love his mentality) was rated as pretty average by supporters in Holland but comes to Arsenal and is rated as highly as Vidic after a mere 3 games. I even read a couple of comments claiming that it is Vermaelen that is responsible for the perceived improvement in Gallas’ game, damn! The bias of some supporters is just incredible.
If we do not value our own players when they are with us, it is better that they move on and and get the repect they deserve elsewhere.
I am dissapointed with the result, but happy Ade is able to stick up his fingers at the haters. It would be interesting to see how many offsides he has done/ will do this season.
So to your retarded brain Toure-Gallas was a good fit?
And when Toure and Ade demanded a transfer we should still have kept them?
“I am dissapointed with the result….”
The most hilarious shit that has dropped from you mouth.
Fool, they didn’t request transfers this summer! Arsene accepted offers for them.
The Toure Gallas combo was never the problem, they proved they can work well together in our unbeaten run, the problem was all about how we defended as team. The lack of like for like replacement for Flamini and a team of players that never really pressed the opposition. If we pressed opponents as a team we would have collectively made up for the loss of Flamini.
Toure was never to blame unless his form dipped, which happens to every player at sometime including Vidic and as you will come to see Vermaelen. But critics used to claim there was something intrinsically wrong with the partnership, that was a fallacy.
I am glad I am making you laugh Fred :-D I will continue giving you more hilarious shit, I am happy when you are happy :-)
Still making the argument that two similar CBs work?
Name ONE other team that that has worked for? Idiot.
You are happy when Adebayor is done with you and “happy” ;-)
That I grant you!
It’s a disappointing result. The scoreline doesn’t matter to me. As when you were trailing, you were bounced to get exposed at the back anyway.
I am deeply disappointed at Arsenal once again failed to show the character to bounce back from a defeat.
Oh well, the souffle collapses once again. 4-1 and counting.
We’re just not good enough. We’re just not good enough. We’re just not good enough.
How many different ways to say it?
Apparently, it doesn’t translate to French.
Nice one Tom, that’s why I love you son
Absolutely dreadful! can I watch anymore?
The haters can sing their stupid songs as much as they like. Dade Blue will have the last laugh today
Oh fuck off!
Obviously the cap fits you Fred (truth can kinda burn, right)!
Three cheers for Dade Blue!
Hip, hip….
Hip, hip…
Hip, hip… (here is were you are supposed to say hurray Fred) :-D
So you imbecile are coming onto an Arsenal fan site and riling against Arsenal?
If you love Adebayor that much then go support him on a Man City website, idiot.
Again, FUCK OFF!
OOOH :lol:
I am riling against haters like you Fred.
To be honest I did not put you in the hater camp, but since you have stood up.
I bet you wouldn’t tell me that to my face, I think you would shit your pants :-D
Do people normally shit their pants when they see your face? Poor guy. Are you one of those Elephant Men?
No bro, I am a fighter and I am proud of the fact I can defend myself.
If you don’t see the fight in my stature you will see it in my eyes. I believe Fred is a straight coward, they are the type that use personal insults when they cannot face retribution.
So what are you? Fred’s buddy?
I watched football for a long time. But I had NEVER NEVER NEVER saw a F*CKER who, after scoring a goal, would run all the way to the away stand (where his former club’s supporters were) to celebrate a goal. UNBELIEVABLE. What is this guy made of??
And check out the replay of his STAMP at van Persie. Look carefully, he wasn’t lost his balance. His foot CHANGED direction slightly. That was an INTENTIONAL foul.
It’s been two years since we’ve seen him run as hard as he did to rub shit in the Arsenal supporters faces. He’s a fucking prick.
Nice for Tomas.
If I were him I would have done the same, they deserved it.
Have you forgotten Henry running the whole pitch to the Spurs fans?
Remind me when it was Henry played for Spurs…
Taking his side on this is ridiculous, Art. It was absolutely classless. I’m betting the FA agrees.
I am taking my side on this, as I would have done the same but with far less class.
I would have probably shown them my arse too, biatches!
FA ain’t gonna do shiat! Players being doing that for ever! Take stick from fans you give them back some, only they have to be ready to take the yellow. I am sure Ade thinks it was worth it.
I remember Arsenal fans used to sing a derogatory song to Teddy Sheringham about winning nothing at ManU after he won the treble for ManU he let our supporters know about it. No Arsenal fan could really blame him.
Whether Henry played for Spurs or not is not of consequence in my eyes.
Your eyes need to have a conversation with your brain, if you don’t understand the difference between a player showing up a rival’s supporters and a player showing up the supporters of his immediately former club.
I wish it were possible to bet you as to whether or not the FA has something to say about your boy’s performance today.
Even more so fool! They were a bunch of haters gave him more stick than opposing fans why don’t you get it dude? damn or are lacking intelligence.
When those who are supposed to be on your side betray you, it hurts even more, so justice is even more sweet.
“When those who are supposed to be on your side betray you, it hurts even more, so justice is even more sweet.”
It sounds like your watching EastEnders. I’m watching football. Bit of a man’s game.
Once you start making millions, you’ve got a bit more responsibility than the boys in the park. Or the girls, as it sounds like you’re describing.
The bottom line here is – HAD Adebayor worked as hard as that when he’s playing for us, would Arsenal fans had turned against him AT THE FIRST PLACE?
Right fecking on.
Yes! Even when he was scoring the likes of 30 goals a season you had the likes of Mazza on his back.
Bendtner never works that hard, no one calls him lazy.
Everyone expects him to be running around the pitch aimlessly like a demented workhorse for a team whose fans constantly deride him. Even when he worked as hard as anyone else in the team he would be singled out as the lazy one.
Fans can make or break a player confidence is paramount, Gooners broke him City fans are building him up again.
“{Gooners broke him City fans are building him up again.”
You’re saying some dumb things on here, but this is an early contender for dumbest.
By your logic, Arsenal supporters must have been responsible for the 30 goals, too.
The flipping irony, :-D me dumb or you dumber.
When the hell, did Ade’ underperform? after the fans openly deride him in the stands post 30 goals, post rumour factory.
My point is no matter whow well he performed he had vocal detractors taking pleasure in making him feel uncomfortable. No matter what he was to do after this point there would be some who will continue with their derision because they did not like him from the off. Bitches complaining about the amount of chances he missed even when he was scoring 30+
Boy, I will make my opinion known whether you like it or not. Have you not noticedthat I don’t give a fuch how many you want to disagree with me.
Nope. I remember Henry did run a whole length to the Highbury West Stand, not the Clock End (where Spurs fans were).
No Andez, I have the picture where he is facing the Spurs fans and obviously they are not too pleased in the background.
I doubt if the Spurs fans gave Henry the abuse Ade got from his own fans.
that missed call was the turning point in the match. we were level pressing and playing well. if the ref spots the stomp (which it ABSOLUTLEY was) Ade is off and we get a minimum of one point and probably go on to collect all 3…
Yep, so much for this ‘new’ Arsenal.
Play absolute useless imbeciles like Denilson and Diaby and that prick Wenger deserves everything the gets.
After this one, he’s going to need something other than, “I thought we were the stronger side today.”
“Judge us in January …” ?
Make that two years from now.
Well, well, well. This is what the haters have done, turned our favourite sun against us, not a good idea
The Dade just made Bendtner look like a fool, oh dear.
Signing off in disgust
Just what we need King Eboue! the answer to all our problems LOL!
Looked like a little retribution from Dade Blue there. Seemed like he was looking down when he tried to stamp Perse’s face off.
Oops did I say 1-3!!
absolutley disgusting by Adebayor, hope retroactive punishment by the FA occurs.
Just minutes after watching him spin around in one of those circles Mazza loves, RVP…finally.
To get a goal back and then collapse? Not good.
No. No heart. No brains. And still lacking some crucial skill.
Hey, but we’re loads better than Everton.
Nothing geriatric about that. Van P. turns it on – angled drive into the corner. 1-1. Let’s see if we can a) not let in a goal immediately and b) push on to Bahgdad and finish the job.
Go Gunners.
Hopefully Rosicky will make all the difference. Here’s to 1-3 to the Arsenal
@ HTS
did not intend to ‘insinuate’ Almunia was responsible for the Diaby own goal against MANU. The point was Almunia’s lack of anticipation. Good keepers would have shown some reaction regardless of expectation.
First half v. City
Back line is doing fine. Song is having another strong match.
Diaby is playing out of position (not an outside forward) and the flow of any attack is breaking down with him. Put in Eduardo.
On paper, I can see why AW is playing RvP in the center, but its just not working. I’d switch him with Bendtner. If score is unchanged at the 70 minute mark, I would sub Rosicky for RvP.
The official is allowing typical contact to the home team’s advantage, so our players need to accept this fact and make quicker decisions.
Arsenal players need to pull the trigger earlier, outside the 18 – Especially Song, Denilson, or Gallas following the play.
Ade looks like the best striker on the pitch I am sad to say. We need to sort it out 2nd half
Our players have to change their mentality to win this game, revert to the in your face football, forcing them to make mistakes and catch them on the back foot.
Song has looked good again and so has Fab, Bendtner and Perse need to step up in particular. City is not the kind of side to be taking risks while chasing the game. People like SWP and Bellamy can create something for Dade Blue with their pace and creativity.
If there is not a marked change in our mentality 2nd half we will be lucky to get a draw.
By the way, welcome Stag133 :-)
I have told you have been telling you guys from 2 season ago, Almunia is a joke of a keeper.
Ah well, good luck to Wenger if he hopes to win anything at all with that plank between the sticks.
PS: I cant think of anything more IDIOTIC than Bendtner on the right wing providing good crosses for RvP and Fabregas in the center.
That is frankly the definition of STUPIDITY at its peak.
RvP plays on the RIGHT WING of a 4-3-3 for Netherlands, and SCORES frequently!
Bendtner plays central for Denmark and SCORES frequently!
YET Wenger incredibly and inexplicably forms a disjointed attack. Why? Because the more senior player must play in the middle. That is Wenger’s number 1 rule.
Re; Almunia…I wish it was possible to post pictures here. Right now, the main image on ESPN soccernet is Almunia with his eyes closed, mid-dive, the ball having just bounced off his head and into the net. A thousand words.
Classic picture. It is on BBC front page too.
LDE, are you watching?
Not much attack from either team–They’re playing 4-5-1 we’ve got a 4-6-0 going….Except we’re chasing the game!
Diaby looks like he needs out of England as he’s slow and can’t take a bump. Bendtner on the touchline and RVP at midfield gives us nothing.
Gallas should’ve scored his free header, Richards, no way. Gotta get Diving Dudu on or even Eboue for Diaby….
Forget CM or CB – we need a freaking keeper in the January transfer window.
The way things going, HOW our outfield players play starts becoming irrelevant.
When there’s setpieces, corner, throw ins…. let’s just PRAY.
the goal was like going in in a slow motion. I thought it was going wide, I bet Almunia must be feeling the same. Only difference is I am the fan, when I made mistake, Arsenal wouldn’t pay for it.
We seriously need some PACE up front. Diaby had only ONE good game (Vs Derby) playing on the left.
2nd half – Eduardo/Walcott for Diaby or for Denilson (shifting Diaby into middle) to give us some pace down the flank, some power down the middle.
Richards had a FREE header! At least it won’t be Toure to be the blamed this time.
We look like we have regressed in two weeks, no pressure and closing down, just a flat performance with little creativity. No spark up front at all.
It wasnt a free header, it was a fluke header.
The ball was so slow anyway that the keeper should have gathered easily.
RVP playing like a pensioner as usual.
Finally Big Al scores for Arsenal. It has been a while buddy.
Who is next in line. Denilson maybe? 2 own goals in 2. Not bad for a title contender.
A retaliation to Diaby, perhaps?
“See… My own goal is better …” :)
GODDAMN ALMUNIA!!! What the hell.
Bendtner tells Adebayor hello with a firm tackle
Another feed for today’s match:
http://www.iraqgoals.net/ch3.html In English
Song is a guaranteed starter for away games and will take a break for some home games as he cannot play 40 games in the EPL.
Oh man, I’m ready for some Arsenal football. Line-ups are out and it appears we’re playing the holy trinity of Diaby Denilson and Song at the expense of Eduardo and Eboue. Actually, it seems Song is an automatic at DM these days so maybe it’s Bendtner for Eboue instead, which makes perfect sense.
City has tremendous pace up front in Wright-Phillips and Bellamy (and Ade is pretty fast as well, though it always seems like his body out-runs his head…). Will we be able to play a high back line and have Ade suck the life out of his mates with a few off-sides calls?
And then there’s the MF match-ups: Their more experienced hired guns (Barry 28, De Jong 24) and Ireland (only 23, but still older than our captain) vs our diaper (nappy?) wearers. In many ways the MF is where we test the two respective credos of the teams–Buy, Buy (Bye?) vs AW’s youth project. The game may turn on the emotion/production of our ex-players but I’m hoping we can win the MF battle convincingly, create lots of chances and come away superior in performance and result. Go On….
Starting XI
Arsenal: (4-3-3) Almunia, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Denilson, Song, Fabregas, Bendtner, Diaby, Van Persie
City: (4-4-2) Given, Toure, Lescott, Bridge, Richards, De Jong, Ireland, Barry, Phillips, Adebayor, Bellamy
Subs:
Arsenal: Silveste, Rosicky, Eboue, Eduardo, Mannone, Ramsey, Gibbs
City: Sylvinho, Taylor, Petrov, Onuoha, Zabaleta, Weiss, Vidal
No Robinho at all.
van Persie will score. It’s about time.
Agreed. I am thinking either Rosicky nets 1 due to the adrenaline rush (he did look good in the Czech Republiuc match) or Eduardo does it to shut everyone up. If so its a neat flick ala Burnley.
re: Almunia
Last season our team performed like an unreliable auto. Transmission problems in the fall, battery was the next issue, flat tires, engine warning light repeatedly on, etc.
From the end of last spring and during the summer, Arsene played mechanic. Arshavin was secured to improve our transmission. Song is settled in at holding midfielder, Vermaelen was brought in to solidify the CB position, and AW patiently waited for his radial tires to return from repair (Eduardo & Rosicky).
We have taken the car on a test drive (up till now) and the car is performing to our expectations.
I believe Almunia has been given the benefit of the doubt during this work in progress. However, with the team’s performance raised to a higher level, as we have exhibited against EVERY opponent this season, Almunia’s errors in judgment will come under magnified scrutiny.
Part of goal keeping training & development is improving reaction time. The better keepers are always expecting the unexpected, which includes deflections from your own teammates.
The own goal by Diaby is just another example of weaknesses in his fundamentals. There was no pressure on Diaby and yet Almunia just assumed the ball would be cleared away. There was no reaction to show anticipation.
Now, maybe I’m too critical, but we have seen Almunia:
– give up too many goals at the near post (unforgivable)
– is uncomfortable & inconsistent for clearing high balls/crosses into the box
– appears uncomfortable coming off his line
– and his distribution reflects tactical deficiencies
He is not 25 years old. He has had the time to work on these area’s.
I believe as the season progresses, Almunia will have to show dramatic improvement, because
just being a good shot blocker isn’t good enough for the Arsenal level of EXPECTATION.
Sesh:You’ve made a good breakdown of Almunia’s weaknesses, but to suggest that he could be at fault for the own goal is too much. Personally I really think that Diaby forgot if he was on O or D–my 7 year old boy knows better, but he doesn’t really get a lot of free headers….
We will test Shay Given today and I’m eager to see how he does. I haven’t watched him all that much but he seems to have outstanding reactive and shot blocking abilities. I’m curious how he will look in terms of “commanding his box.” (He’s not really very big.)
At our end Almunia needs a good game and, ideally, a clean sheet. With Manny spared international duty we would hope he’s been training diligently. He seems to come back pretty well after his various blunders but another big one and we’d be looking to the bench and of course we’ve got none. I was surprised that there wasn’t a little more outcry for AW to spend money on a keeper to challenge Almunia (and cover for Fabs) during the transfer window.
I guess the problem is that there just aren’t too many obviously up and coming keepers out there–ones who can make the more difficult saves AND never make mistakes–or if they do, they don’t make them again until even us fans with great memories forget. Certainly keeper seems one position where money might just be the key.
Stream for the match:
http://www.atdhe.net/ – 10 AM EST Kickoff
I don’t understand what Adebayor is upset about really? I am sure he got a much better pay at City than he was with Arsenal. So in a way, he should have thanks Arsenal fans for getting him yet another pay rise.
Let’s face it – had Arsenal fans not “driving him out” like he claimed, it’s only a matter of time he himself will be asking for a move. Once again, he should have thanks Arsenal fans for giving him an easy way out rather than to have forced his way out himself.
His claim that “he’s planning to stay at Arsenal FOR LIFE”… Umm, does he think we are all 3-year-old?
IMO, he’s just been doing what Cashley Gold been doing years ago – trying to play victim.
I have read elsewhere even NON-Arsenal fans are hoping Arsenal to beat the c8ap of him and his Man City.
Nobody likes traitor. Doesn’t matter who a player playing for (why England fans were booing Lescott the other days?) And nobody likes a traitor who has no brain and talk with his a$$. The more he talks about it, the more it’s going to make him looks like a FOOL.
What made it worse is – he’s a coward as well. He’s been talking so big only that because it’s Man City at HOME. Imagine when the return leg comes, I wonder if he has the same nerve to talk so big in the eve of the match? I wouldn’t even be surprised he’s going to suffer an injury or something right before the match at Emirates, just like what Cashley Gold did.
There is a plethora of Adebayor articles out there today. This one deals with the feud between him and Nicky B. Seems it all started over shoes:
http://bit.ly/1Lnt8y
Interesting article on Ade’s hate of the Arsenal fans.
Seems if you are from the US or Jamaica – you are not a true Arsenal fan. According to Adebayor tomorrow we will all be Liverpool fans.
Also according to him if we boo him then we can’t be true fans because true fans don’t boo.
Personally, I think Ade needs to let it go. His latest statements make me think the lad is more unhinged than thought. He just can’t seem to stop talking about the Arsenal fans. Frankly, if that what he is concerned about, than I suspect he will have a crappy game.
The full article is here:
http://bit.ly/4tlF5f
Don’t see how any Arsenal fan can be surprised by his comments. Here is an individual that ‘needs to be in the spotlight’, all the time.
This is more a reflection of HIS insecurity than anything else.
I already got a mail from a ManU friend about this article.
I told him that if he believes in what Ade says, then he must be that ManU fan who was a Liverpool fan yesterday, an Arsenal fan the day before and possibly a Chelsea fan tomorrow. :)
Despite all the domination at ManU, our only goal came from a piece of magic by Arshavin, who will be missing today.
One of RvP, Bendtner or Eduardo has to step up today. All said and done, goals win you games and for all our control/possession, unless someone puts the ball into the net, we are doomed. Fabregas seems to have hit form with two goals for Arsenal and one for Spain (a bit like two years).
My feeling is that the game will depend on that. We will have enough possession and chances. How many times will we score? We need two goals. Despite Vermaelen strengthening the defense, we haven’t kept a clean sheet so far.
It will be a very interesting game.
Nip I don’t think you can blame the goals on our defense. – Serisouly in each case Almunia or Diaby have figured into the goals. For what its worth, our defense has played stellar. The back four owned Man United.
Can’t help that Almunia doesn’t know when to stay rooted and that Diaby has directional issues. Another goal – I think against Celtic was one where Gallas came off the cross because it was an easy jump ball for Almunia – who of course didn’t play it properly.
I’m less concerned about our defense giving up a goal than I am about Almunia being an ass and giving up one.
Here is what I like about our back four – quick on the outside and strong up the middle. Ade will have a hard time today. Not saying he won’t be effective but I think he will have his first test of a strong back four.
DAG, I am not blaming Gallas or Vermaelen. They have been rock solid. The point I was trying to make is that we tend to concede (stupidly or otherwise), so the strike force has to score twice to win a game.
I agree. I just think the one stupidly conceding goals is always Almunia. Or Silvestre if he plays.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/mancity/6175361/Manchester-Citys-Emmanuel-Adebayor-lifts-the-lid-on-his-feud-with-Nicklas-Bendtner.html
Hysterical insight into the mind of a TOTAL DIVA! Well worth a look. We really better win after this.
I think if we don’t make any silly mistakes, we will win. The overall quality of our team, despite all the injuries, are better than them. And in terms of performance, we have been in fine form.
If I were AW, I would put on a few extra setpieces section to work the lads, in a hope to exploit their weakness in the heart of their defence – the Given/Toure/Lescott triangle. They will be vulnerable in the air.
Adebayor will be their key man. His sheer physical presence will be a threat. If we push up, he got the pace to punish us. If we drop deep, he got the size and aerial power.
Therefore our back 4 must work the offside trap to perfection if we play a high line defence. As you know Almunia isn’t going to come out should Adebayor breaks the trap.
During setpieces and corners, Vermalen and Gallas will have to do the best to clear everything in the air. As you know Almunia won’t be coming out to attack the cross. If we let Adebayor gets to the cross first, we are in trouble.
Bellamy as well. He always caused us troubles with his pace.
I can see your a big fan of Almunia Andez :)
lol yes, I think he controlled his six yard box very well! ;)
Good stuff DAG.
However, I don’t see City with Arsenal organization and chemistry. Arsenal will be in full control for the 90 minutes.
City v Arsenal
Both squads will have key players unavailable:
City: Tevez, Robinho, Santa Cruz
Arsenal: Arshavin, Theo, Nasri
some players & battles that merit scrutiny:
1 – Ade will play at a higher level to prove a point to both fan bases. I will be watching to see how he is supported, specifically what kind of service he receives and how frequent.
2- Can our back 4 and Song maintain the same consistency and organization as we’ve displayed so far? If so, then their play should allow our midfield to create sufficient opportunities.
3-Cesc and Rosicky appear match available. Will Arsene take the conservative high road and limit their play? Their participation will be essential for our confidence and effectiveness.
4- Eduardo’s performance. Along with Arshavin, he is proving to be our most dangerous attacking threat. If he is constantly involved with frequent service, then our midfield play is
keeping City back peddling.
5- Who among Arsenal role players will step up their game?
6- As DAG points out, we need for RvP and Bendtner to be integral in our goals – whether by their own scoring or in assists.
Line up (for me)
—————-Almunia——————–
Sagna—-Gallas—–Vermaelen—-Clichy
————————–Song—————
———-Denilson—————————
————————-Cesc—————–
RvP———————————Eduardo
—————Bendtner———————
Go Gunners.
Yeah yeah Yeah – I got a litle tablodish with Adebayor. But hey, he’s all over the tabloids anyway.
What’s this tabloid filth I’ve stumbled upon?!
Just kidding ;)
This will be a messy, scrappy game and I can see alot of Denilson and Song falling over at inappropriate moments and the likes of SWP and Ireland trying to feed off that.
Fabregas’s star will have to shine bright if we are to prevail, as we seem to be lacking mobility and craft up top without Arshaving.
I don’t think Toure and Lescott will make a good pair so I’m hopeful our attacking game, no matter how ad hoc it may appear at times, will manage to penetrate.
Going for a draw as well.
Nice preview.
It is a big match for both teams. It could catapult either team to the heights for a little while, or dump a team down a peg. A loss by Arsenal, and we will be reeling a bit, and the 2 good wins to start the season will be meaningless. If ManCity lose, then their matches prior to this one were against nobody… and there will be questions if they are ready for prime time. An important game… that could be influenced by a bad break, bounce or call. I think it will be a close game, but any outcome wouldn’t be a surprise.
1-1 is my prediction.