Match Preview: Arsenal v Swansea; Still Something to Play For

As a blogger sometimes it’s hard to separate just being a fan from just trying to impart some impartial perspectives on the goings on around the club. In the whole blogosphere there is bit of everything for everyone. If you are a negative kind of persons or a positive kind of person there is an Arsenal blog just for you.

I’ve always tried to present the content on here in some sort of balanced view. There are things I am passionate about and things I don’t get so worked up about. I’ve written some overly positive and overly negative pieces over the 6 years YAMA has existed. But I’ve gotten into the habit now of not letting my feelings as a supporter negatively impact what I want to write.

Let me drop that for moment.

Saturday may have been the worst I’ve ever seen from any Arsenal side that I can remember. That’s saying a lot during a season that had the likes of City and Liverpool drubbings. Sure, Andre Marriner is twat and got the whole hand ball call wrong.

In case you missed it – Kieran Gibbs sent off in a mistake in identity for his twin brother Alex Oxlade-Chmaberlain even after Ox told him it was he who handled the ball. Of course had Marriner been aware of the rules then he wouldn’t have even issued the red card because Ox didn’t deny a clear goal scoring opportunity. The ball was going wide. Still would’ve been a PK for a handball in the box – it would’ve been only a yellow. Given that would’ve still likely put us 3 down – the match was out of reach ANYWAY.

Nothing can change the deplorable display from every area on the pitch prior to that. In every one of the big losses we’ve gotten away from that which makes us successful – possessing and passing the ball.

In both the Liverpool and Chelsea cases we had no reply for their high intensity pressure which they both employed to success. That pressure led to early mistakes which both teams capitalized on and hurt Arsenal.

Are we as poor as 6-0 and 5-1? Are Liverpool and Chelsea as good as that? On both cases I say no but on the face of the scorelines we can’t do anything but question why we simply can’t handle the pressing and why we fall apart to such extremes when confronted with it.

You’ll notice I don’t put City in the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool. It’s for good reason. While the score line was dreadful we at least fought for the whole match to stay in it. It was both the case Saturday and against Liverpool away that we didn’t. We capitulated and for that everyone is to blame.

I notice people singling out one of many individuals and while the Manager has to bear a lot he isn’t the only one to blame. Nor should he escape criticism. He has to have the team ready. He has to make sure that when they go out there he has an understanding of what it takes to beat his opponent.

Wenger is often criticized for not preparing for each individual opponent. Frankly, I don’t care about that. Every manager/coach is different and prepares there team in a different way. Wenger believes that focusing in on our style of play will result in wins. For the most part he is correct. However, there are teams you simply have to be prepared for what they are going to throw at you.

Chelsea is always going to sit back when they are away and are going to press like mad at home. So if you want to prepare by focusing in on our play – fine – focus in our play as it results to how these bigger teams want to play against us.

The players also have to take some responsibility. They have to accept that they were part of the problem. The manager has the responsibility in the build up to the match. But as the match unfolds there is little a manager can do. It has to be the players. They have to step up and execute and we didn’t

There is very little time to wallow over such performances though. Arsenal get right back at it today as they head back home to take on Swansea. Arsenal as an organization have to step up and answer the critics – and the supporters.

They simply can ill-afford another lack luster performance, especially with City coming to the Emirates this weekend.

Its not going to be easy. Laurent Koscielny is out. He has picked up an injury and is likely away for two weeks. We’re still missing big players like Ramsey, Walcott, Özil and Wilshere. But there is still enough talent to make a proper account of themselves.

Arsenal have been stellar at home.  They need to build on that and they need to turn things around or all the good will that was built up early in the season will evaporate (if it hasn’t already) for everyone.

Swansea are not the swashbuckling side that everyone was raving about. They’ve gone on to sack Michael Laudrup and haven’t won in their last 5 matches. They are letting in around 2 goals per match. In other words they may be the perfect remedy for Arsenal to take apart.

But we have to be careful. With a shock loss like Saturday’s the worry is that we’ll be gun shy, scared and scarred. We can’t be. Wenger has a big challenge on his hands getting this team ready for today. He needs to get them over the loss and prepare them for today, this weekend and for the foreseeable future.

We’ve done very well this year against teams like Swansea. The only blemishes being the Stoke and Villa losses.  Obviously the record against the top of the table needs rectifying. But I’ve always accepted that this season was one of change as we operated within our new “freedom.”

Still, there is enough talent here right now to do something. The continual building is something that we can discuss for another post. Right now Arsenal need to come out and take care of business and the business is winning.

While we are wounded and not looking very solid, I still think Arsenal are more than enough for the likes of Swansea.

And if you didn’t know, Ox and Gibbs are available as the FA overturned Marriner’s idiotic decisions from the weekend.

Probable Lineups:

Injuries & Suspensions:
Arsenal: Koscielny (calf) Ramsey (thigh) Wilshere (foot), Walcott (knee) Özil (hamstring) Diaby (his entire body)

Swansea: Bartley (hamstring)

Leading Scorer:
Arsenal: Giroud 12
Swansea: Bony 10

Assists Leader:
Arsenal: Özil 8
Swansea: Pablo 7

Last meeting (EPL):
Swansea 1 – 2 Arsenal

Goals For:
Arsenal (home): 1.9
Swansea (away): 0.9

Goals Conceded:
Arsenal (home): 0.5
Swansea (away): 1.5

Match Officials:
Referee: Lee Probert (14M 20Y 2R 3PK)
Assistant Referees: Ganfield, Hussin
Fourth Official: East

Broadcast Information:
UK: Arsenal Player (audio only) 19.45 GMT
US: NBCSports Extra 3:45PM EST

YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal 2 – 0 Swansea