The Road to Redemption: Arsenal v Liverpool Match Preview
Let's just win this one.
No need to disect the last two matches. It has been reviewed argued and discussed ad nauseum. Simply put if Arsenal are to remain within sniffing distance of United and Chelsea, they will need to continue their run of success against visiting Liverpool.
Rafa Benietez, he who recently was the favourite punching bag of the media, brings his weakened side into the Emriates. Liverpool have a challenge ahead of them as Arsenal have not lost to the scousers in the last 11 league and cup matches on friendly soil.
Liverpool who were adrift recently have had a recent run of success not losing in their last 7 league matches. Hoever, the wins they have gotten have not been emphatic and they have had to claw just to remain in the lead. Additionally, as looks can be decieving this is a side that was dismantled by Reading in the FA Cup.
Rafa will want his boys to continue their ways and push Arsenal for the third spot. A win by Liverpool puts them 2 points behind Arsenal. Should the Gunners lose again they will once again find themselves being questioned of their top four credentials – especially with Man City now nipping at Liverpool’s heels.
Arsenal have not lost 3 successive league matches since 2007. They will need to show the same exact effort – but with different results – as they did against Chelsea. Additionally, Arsenal will need to solidfy the defence and provide support to still injured Gael Clichy. Clichy who is back playing is clearly not fully healed but has returned to try and help his squad. Whether this is sound considering the thrashing he has gotten in the last two weeks remains to be seen.
Again the weakest point on the team is the man between the sticks. And while there is no signal from Arsene Wenger that there will be a change the fact that he hasn’t come out with his usualy ringing endorsements of the spanish keeper makes me think we could finally see the change we are longing for. It’s just a hunch but who knows right?
Is the team fragile mentally? They certainly didn’t seem it on Sunday. They played their game they got taken advantage of and that is that. However, if not for the nimble feet and hands of Petr Cech Arsenal would’ve at least been in the game. But they it didn’t happen and they weren’t
If they come out with the same tenacity they did against Chelsea they should see a result. Pool do not have the defencive quality of Chelsea and while Reina is better than Almunia he has hardly been rock solid this season. Without Torres their attack is is limited to Kuyt. Gerrard is still nursing back from injury. In other words – if Arsenal want to get back on track this a pretty good opponent to do it on.
The last time Arsenal lost to Chelsea, they had lost their 2nd in a row and went on the most consistent run of all the teams. Hell, each time the team has lost they’ve lost two games and put on a solid run thereafter. No reason to believe that isn’t going to happen again.
How It Should Play Out:
Arsenal have everything to proove and everything to lose. Playing in front of a home crowd – albeit and impatient one – they will want to set the tone early. I expect to see them come out and try and take advantage early. Liverpool will have to rely on Gerrard and newly acquired Mexis to press for them – Aquliani is out and so is Torres and Benayoun – so look for Liverpool to try and catch Arsenal on the fast break – the problem I see is they aren’t a solid counterattacking team. If Arsenal can cuff Gerro and Kuyt then Liverpool will be primarily ineffective.
Players to Watch:
Arsenal: Andrei Arshavin – he likes Liverpool – he likes to score against Liverpool. He nearly did Chelsea in early and he has a way of stepping up to the plate in big games. Well, if this one now isn’t the biggest of the season I don’t know what is.
Liverpool: Steven Gerrard – he has been talking alot this week about beating Arsenal. Considering the injuries and suspensions Gerro is their man – they need him to be big if they are to win or draw.
Possible Starting XIs:
Arsenal: Fabianksi, Clichy, Gallas, Vermaelen, Sagna, Diaby, Fabregas, Song, Nasri, Bendtner, Arshavin
Liverpool: Reina, Carragher, Agger, Insua, Skertl, Kuyt, Lucas, Mascherano, Maxi, Ngog, Gerrard
Injuries/Suspensions:
Arsenal: Gibbs (foot), Eduardo (hamstring), Vela (knee), Djourou (knee), Merida (ankle) Van Persie (ankle)
Liverpool: Krygiakos (suspended), Aquilani (illness), Benayoun (broken rib), Johnson (knee), Torres (knee)
Match Form:
Arsenal: LLDWW
Liverpool: WWDWD
Match Officials:
Referee: Howard Webb
Assistant Referee: Darren Cann & Stephen Child
Fourth Official: Simon Bennett
TV Broadcast:
US: Setanta and Setanta-i 2:45 PM EST
UK: Sky Sports 2 1945 BST
Feeds:
www.atdhe.net
Game Day Chat Will Be Open: www.youaremyarsenal.com/gamedaychat
YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 2
Liverpool: 1
175 comments
Leave a reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Like I said, look at the challenges he suffered and tell me who wouldn’t be injured. You can’t compare those injuries sustained to someone falling down and dislocating a shoulder every time he falls.
Like I said, look at the challenges he suffered and tell me who wouldn’t be injured. You can’t compare those injuries sustained to someone falling down a
To consider van Persie injury-prone is a misnomer. Being injured and being injury-prone is not the same thing. Did you not see the challenges he suffered? Lichtenstein, or who ever it was, broke his knee. Certainly the game against Italy is a fresher image. No player is going to suffer those types of challenges and not be injured. If you forgot what those challenges looke like, youtube them.
All players get injured. Some players can only play for a few weeks and they’re out injured again. Those are players I consider injury prone. Diaby, Walcott, Rosicky, Ljunberg, etc. are injury-prone. They are guaranteed to be out injured after about a month in the side whether they suffer a bad challenge or getting out of bed.
Even if he were injury-prone, you persist with a guy like van Persie becuase he’s too good. You make exceptions for special talents. van Persie is the only player in our squad that has world POTY potential. As soon as we’d sell him, he’d never be injured again and go on to win the award. I’d rather have him in our team than have to play against him.
You can call it whatever you like… injury-prone, oft-injured, unlucky… whatever.
He can’t play more than 25 games in a season.
The more times he gets injured, the less likely he will ever get to reaching his potential.
At some point, injury after injury takes its toll on the body.
I don’t agree with you on the “talent” exception. If that were the case, we should have signed Michael Owen. Same story. Super talent, just can’t stay on the pitch.
I can’t be bothered with “talent” if they simply don’t play regularly.
Rosicky is a prime example.
If he can do it someplace else, and not get hurt, more power to them…
How can you say he cant play 25 games? How do you know he is not capable of playing 25 games? How do you measure capability? You make the most ridiculous arguments lol
Winning titles is not as black and white as you make it out to be. You have to look at what were our odds of winning the title throughout the year. Every team can get unlucky or lucky but you cannot let these factors be the ultimate decision maker when measuring the performance of a football club.
For me if RVP doesn’t get injured we have a very good chance at winning a couple of trophies this year. Two years ago if Eduardo doesn’t get injured we have a very good shot at the PL. I’m not saying we win but you can’t say the team isn’t good enough or the board and AW aren’t trying to win. That is just silly imo.
I believe the probability of finding someone that can do a better job then AW can is very low therefore firing wenger or wanting him to quit is well….stupid.
Again I would like to state 30 mil profit is not a lot of money when you take into consideration our 300 mil+ debt and how variable our profitability is depending on our cup successes.
“How can you say he cant play 25 games? How do you know he is not capable of playing 25 games? How do you measure capability?”
Are you really that literal? Unless English isn’t your first language, which I sincerely realize is possible, you almost certainly understand his meaning.
Anyway, it’s not stagg saying it. It’s 5 seasons of Arsenal history, in which RVP has averaged 21 appearances/per, with his highest number being 28. (Kiwi’s already published the thorough, definitve stats on an earlier thread.)
So, of course, anything is possible. But for many around here, 5 years straight of the same thing still isn’t enough evidence. And maybe it won’t be rainy in London next year because, hey, you never know, right?
I say arguing against a long history is closer to the ‘ridiculous’ end of the spectrum, as those who say ‘You never know for sure about the future…’ generally have an otherwise empty argument.
Hell, maybe if we gave George W a third term, he would have solved everything.
You just keep doing the same thing over and over and over and over…
and you expect different results.
that, is insanity.
there is no evidence to suggest RVP or Rosicky or Theo, etc… will ever be able to go through a season and play in… 25 games?
and that’s not even half a season’s worth with all the competitions we play in.
But Arsene knows.
So at the start of the season what do you do with RVP? Do you dump him and buy another star striker? Do you stay with 442? Do you move him out to the wing? Or do you give him a shot at being the main man?
In my opinion it was a worthwhile shot. He was on absolute fire at the start of the season and fit into the role perfectly. If he had stayed fit I think we look comfortable right now and no there was no guarantee he would stay fit but there never is. Just because a player has had a few accidents does not mean you shouldn’t take a shot with him being the main man. There was no way we could go out and buy another star striker and have one of them sit on the bench so I’m quite happy with the decision.
I gotta agree with what you’re saying and this really should have been a break-out year for RVP. He actually didn’t score for awhile but his work-rate and passing created a dynamic up front that we have lacked since. Injury-prone, or un-lucky, it’s not something to just toss aside.
Also, it seemed that Bendtner was trying to do a similar sort of thing on the right before his injury, and he at least has been very active in his appearances since coming back.
My point is that with RVP and Bendtner’s injuries we’ve been essentially missing phyicality AND workrate at both positions (or two of the three forward positions). Arshavin, Nasri, Eduardo and Rosicky are all quality players who are especially adept at scoring goals out of nothing, but they all lack the physical presence and workrate to persistently trouble/occupy opposing defenses thereby creating opportunities for their fellow forwards. Trying to mold that group into a workable front-line, obviously, has met with limited success.
From the little I’ve seen of Chamakh he seems very mobile and particularly useful with his head. Thus I think he and RVP and Bendtner (and to a lesser extent Walcott, who certainly has the mobility, but not much else) will compete for two of the 3 forward positions while the other 4 above (plus Vela) will compete for the remaining one, or (at least some of them) maybe could move into MF slots. If everyone is healthy there will be some left out (Eduardo, Rosicky and Vela, IMO) but that doesn’t seem like a typical problem for us….
I just don’t see how everyone will fit in. To have Bendtner and RVP out at the same time for so long is quite unlucky and factor in Eduardo should be up to speed next season then we have no need for a striker. Unless AW feels Eduardo just won’t be the same player he was then I can see a case being made for a new striker coming in.
Also like you said maybe he has decided that playing RVP and Bendtner/Chamakh in order to have a more physical presence upfront in certain games will be useful? Guess that could be it…
Well, we don’t have a real star striker in the team, even with every player you mention…
and you can almost guarantee that Arsenal will sell players in the Summer, as we have to make some money.
With the collection of strikers we have, you need a lot of options, because nobody has been able to stay on the pitch for long.
Chamakh has NOT signed anything… at least that I can see. It’s never done, until the player is holding up the shirt at Emirates.
I’m not saying he is signed. I am simply stating that I don’t see how exactly he will fit in unless we our changing our philosophy a bit.
As Stag has said, I don’t think there is a deal.
Agree abt RvP & Bendtner – both took some time to adjust to upfront positions, but their activeness was dramatic; their ability to hold the ball and link, made us far more dangerous
in attack.
We have not heard anything about Merida (in a long time) nor about resigning Gallas. What will Wenger do with Sylvestre? Is Sol a band-aid through May?
Wilshere will be returning, to play where?
Ramsey was playing regularly – now he’s disappeared.
I thought this year would be a turning point for Vela – he’s a mystery.
Theo – I feel sorry for this kid. He’s not seeing enough playing time to get in a rhythm.
Lots of questions.
Chelsea get yet another home tie in the FA Cup. If Arsenal had beaten Stoke, it would have been City away and then Chelsea away. Hmm, is this supposed to be the romance of the FA Cup? Maybe Arsene knew this would happen and therefore chucked the Stoke game. ;)
The romance of the cup.
Did you watch any of the Crystal Palace v Aston Villa match?
That is the definition of what the tournament is about.
A smaller team, who just went into administration, giving a Premier League heavy weight… everything it can handle, and then some. (probably would have won if not for a bad refereeing decision)
The atmosphere and support for Palace was fantastic.
Now they get a replay at Villa, who have United in the Carling Cup 4 days later, and Villa have a decision to make about whether they rest players for the CC Final or not!
There is no conspiracy. Sometimes you get the home matches and lesser opponents, sometimes you don’t.
ManCity is not an easy match for Chelsea… if Stoke don’t take them down.
Ummm….I’m pretty sure Nip was joking here….(See the winky face?)
Still, it’s good to see that some folks appreciate the vagaries of the draw (Chelsea supporters certainly must!) and how it creates “opportunities” for some clubs (Palace NEED the money)….
Chamakh,
I can not find anything confirming the sale from either Arsenal or Bordeaux. Most of the commentary has come from the player.
Maybe someone has found more substantive confirmation of a deal?
Why do you care at this point about confirmation of a deal that doesn’t come into effect until next year?
If it happens, OK, but it doesn’t help us at all now, and it has no relevance to the current season.
I doubt its a done deal.
No wonder some are intimidated to add their comments to this sight.
Oh and I will have a new piece out tonight (hopefully).
Should release the Case For Arsene Wenger.
I am still looking for a writer to a Case Against Arsene Wenger
If anyone wants to write it – let me know – I ask one thing – don’t make it a bitch fest – make it a well thought out case.
The case for Arsene Wenger.
LOL
don’t need a case against him, the last 5 seasons are all there is to say against him…
NOTHING to show for all his bluster, except profit for the club.
Case Closed.
Just thought I would put this out there on an article about Theo Walcott:
leading coach, who has worked with Walcott, sums up the dilemma perfectly.
“No one doubts his talent, but you have to wonder about the end product. He’s like a shaken bottle of champagne. When you pop the cork, the stuff sprays everywhere. Most of it is wasted because there’s no control.”
Ironically, for someone hailed as a prodigy, the problem appears to be that the world’s most expensive teenager is a late developer.
Walcott didn’t play football seriously until the age of 12, the outer limit for a boy reliably to acquire technical skills. Most develop these from the age of seven, and plateau when they reach physical maturity.
His intelligence makes him a fast learner, but he needs game time to perfect his craft. Constant injury means he’s trapped in a cycle of renewal and rehabilitation.
As a result, he’s chasing the ghost of the player everyone assumed he would become.
His pace is frightening but, too often, he betrays his inexperience by making the wrong run or the wrong pass at the wrong time.
It’s not too late for his story to have a happy ending, but time is running out. Fast.
@ kiwi over RVP
If you read arseblog today you can understand what i mean about how he has been desperately unlucky about injuries. His injuries have been accident related unlike (as arseblogger points out) michael owen who has had consisten problems with hamstring etc. These types of injuries are plain unlucky. Personally I am surprised to see us signing another striker in the summer. Does that mean we will move back to 442? Or has one of out strikers run out of time? Maybe Vela to go out on loan?
You would have to think that one or more attacking players will leave.
RvP, Arsh, Sicky, Nasri, Chamakh, Dudu, Bendy, Theo and Vela can’t fit into three slots, how many ever games we play.
There aren’t 3 in that group that can stay healthy for a full season.
you dont need 3 to stay healthy for a full season thats why you have all of them…
Not buying it. It sounds as if arseblogger is conveniently ignoring that Owen has had major injuries including a broken bone in his foot and an injury to his ACL. Those two injuries alone kept him out for years (combined). His biggest issues haven’t been caused by a niggling hamstring.
I’ve said before, you can parse it all you like. The fact is RVP gets hurt, playing football, a lot. The notion that these are all accidents, well, it’s interesting that all playing the same, physical game, some players seems to have more ‘accidents’ on the job than others.
At some point, you need to stop alibiing ‘bad luck’ and acknowledge a trend.
If a person has five accidents in five years, he may be unlucky, but he is also accident prone. ;)
I do drink kool-aid sometimes. However, regardless how we stir them, it’s just colored and sweetened water. I am probably better off drinking plain water. ;)
Watching a little FA Cup this early Saturday Morning and wishing Arsenal was playing but guessing that with our injury troubles it’s probably for the best…
Reading (Kebe) just scored 9 seconds into their match against West Brom!!! It was like Cesc vs Spurs at the kickoff….
Earlier, “close” matches got blown open in the 2nd half at Stamford Bridge and down on the South Coast (Portsmouth over Southampton) and later Stoke will play in “our” spot at ManCity.
So….I’m still a noobie AND I still want to learn….I read a “guest” column on Timmy the Tooth’s blog 7amkickoff.com (which I know is a bit AKB for some who tend to only post here after we’ve been beaten by the “better” teams…) and it was all about what I called, way above, the “Plan, the evil plan” i.e., building the stadium, hoarding profits by trying to buy young and develop an academy, etc.
Here’s the link (and I ought to figure out how to do that tinyurl thing someday): http://www.7amkickoff.com/2010/thoughts-on-why-arsenal-chose-the-youth-experiment-by-guest-columnist-grimbo/
According to the columnist (who might be described as a bit long-winded and very supportive of it) The Plan has been in place since 1999 (which surprised me) and I wonder if some of the “more-seasoned” Arsenal supporters might confirm this. I also wonder if an “unknown” such as AW was hired specifically, in order to execute it (The “Plan”). The Board/David Dein (anti-stadium? pro-Sugar Daddy?) schism, to me, has always been interesting and I was wondering how that fits in.
Basically, since it appears that some here are losing interest in talking about the team match to match (and given that we’re out of the domestic cups, and maybe the league title hunt, and, of course, the Jan. window is closed) some of the “regulars” might want to inform us noobies/believers/etc. about the “Truth,” (which also happens to be the title of former poster Danny T’s blog, which I check once in a while….) or the real history of the past 11 or 12 years (the Wenger era?). I should note that some of my interest is piqued because I’ve been watching “The Untouchables” (Why not “invincibles”?) I’ve got my own impressions of what I’ve seen so far–I’m right at the CL quarter-final vs Chelsea :-( –but I’ll hold off on those for now…. (And a huge Thank you to Stag for sending me the DVD!!)
So thanks in advance for the history lesson(s), though I’m also happy to hear anything anybody might know about our next opponent (Porto), or injury news about Arshavin or Song (or anybody else), etc…..
Man….nobody wants a chance to re-write history….
In the FA Cup Stoke force a replay with ManCity on a Delap to Fuller long throw-in….Former Arsenal stars (Ade, Viera, Kolo) unable to make the difference in that match.
Earlier Birmingham City come from a goal down to beat Derby.
Thinking about our run in…Stoke, Hull, B’ham City, Spurs, Wigan and Blackburn are our away matches. Most likely, no more than one of those teams will be going down (I’d say none of them actually), mostly because of their home-form. Hmmm…. And of course, our stadium could turn rather “un-supportive” with any misstep…So each upcoming match (for me at least) seems HUGE…
We were called the “Invincibles”…by most,
but for some reason, the DVD was called the Untouchables.
Untouchable, Invincible, Unbelievable, all good, or really, all GREAT.
If “that” team, could play “this” team… it would be a fecking BLOWOUT, every day of the week.
The teams could not be further from each other in make-up, talent, and style.
so let me get this straight, the “PLAN” from 1999 on, was to build one of the best teams ever assembled… become one of the best teams in Europe, and groom star players…
so we could TEAR it all down, tear down an iconic stadium, sell off all the star players, make a ton of profit, and build a team of finesse midgets that have a disregard for defense, build a massive stadium with no character, fill it with a different set of 60,000 each match, so there is no atmosphere, and price out and piss off the CORE base of season ticket holders who’ve been there for 25+ years.
BRILLIANT plan.
It’s working perfectly.
;)
Like the group of about 20 supporters that were a few rows in front of me at “the corporate palace known as the Emirates”…
I’ll be screaming … “I WANT MY ARSENAL BACK”!
Stop perpetuating LIES. We havent made A TON OF PROFIT. When you make 30 million and have debt load well over 300 million saddle to a club that itself admits that their profits are highly variable due to our ability to go deep into the CL then it is not HARD to see why the club wants to MINIMIZE costs as much as possible.
there is no lie that we win the profit league every year… it is not something the club deny.
Stop fooling yourself.
Yes the plan is working PERFECTLY it was NEVER meant to be a 5 year plan whether AW wants to admit that or not is a different story.
What they are trying to do is create Barcelona in England and that is not something you can do overnight (and yes 5-10 years is OVERNIGHT for such an AMBITIOUS plan).
Seriously just try to look at the big picture its not hard to see that building the Emirates was the only route for this club to be a part of Europe’s Elite.
During that process the whole financial game changed who was going to predict in 1998-1999 that some russian billionaire would come in and buy up a super team?
Or Americans would buy up clubs saddle them with huge debt and spend money left, right and centre?
How were they to know the real estate market was going to crash just as sales of the highbury apartments were to begin?
These things changed the game it was a brave new world. They couldnt plan for these things and imo AW and the board have done a tremendous job keeping the club right up there…
Watching MOTD..
On DIaby’s goal- I feel a tiny bit sorry for him. After scoring the goal, he was overjoyed and just wanted to run and let all that adrenaline out and all he got was hauled down and tackled to the ground first by Walcott and then by Cesc. He was left twitching and trying to celebrate pinned flat on the floor. Heh.. Brings a smile to my face.
Anyone remember that celebration a few years back where Toure got his leg stuck under a bundle of players at a weird angle and none would listen to his appeals??
Anyway, kind of a useless comments. Just feeling happy reliving the goal and the win…
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=740896&sec=europe&cc=4716
Hiddink to leave Russia in the summer.
… will he be coming to Arsenal? ;)
I doubt Abramovich would allow that. Abramovich is why he didn’t go to City.
Is Hiddink working for Abramovich or something?
DAG, there hasn’t been any news coverage of Chamakh signing for Arsenal!
The Mirror broke the story via John Cross and now its starting to get picked up.
The Sun has it now, Four Four Two is carrying it and its starting to get play on others.
yawn.
more interested in who’ll be going OUT… in the off-season.
because we have to pay for the new contract by selling off players.
hey DAG i have written up a little something something that I was hoping you might want to post. Can i have your email address?
daadmingooner at youaremyarsenal dot com
http://www.express.co.uk/football/view/157199/Harry-Redknapp-takes-aim-at-shot-Gunners-
LOL this is what he said before the midweek games….hahahaha
good ol ‘arry…another classic for the spuds
Re the lack of posting, this site is dominated by a few who post a lot. It just gets hard to contribute when everything is covered so in-depth by others before them. Also it’s a bit tiresome hearing the same people say the same things over and over, and personally I get turned off reading words like “f*cktard” and “brainfart”.
When I post, I try to come up with something new and insightful. Hence why I don’t post very often. :-)
I consider myself a cross between the hippie optimist kool aid drinker and the pragmatist. But after the Utd and Chelsea games, I just couldn’t bring myself to read the comments. Like most (but it must be said, unlike SOME) I have a deep emotional connection to the team, and it hurts when we lose. The last thing i want to hear is “I told you so”, or some variation thereof.
I also had a moment where I thought that everything the NNs had been saying about Wenger might actually be true. That he’s lost it and he won’t win anything again.
My take is that he lacks pragmatism.
He never plays the opposition team, believing that his way will always prevail. Everything in the club, from the purchase of the players, to the training drills, to the set up of the team is all geared to get the players playing Wengerball to the best of their ability. For that you have to admire his single-mindedness. But this is why I admire Fergie so much – he can do both.
So while Wenger’s way may have worked 10 years ago pre-Abramovich, it is a lot harder to achieve these days.
I love the kool-aid, because all of a sudden I believe again. The gap is not insurmountable and our run home is relatively easy. My head is telling me no. But my heart still believes.
UP THE ARSE!!
that’s a really good, concise, and understandable response.
well done.
up the arse indeed
I’ll tell you why it’s been quiet. Arsene Wenger beat Liverpool, Almunia kept a clean sheet, Clichy and Eboue had good games, and Denilson didn’t play. A handful of posters talk almost exclusively about how bad those people are and how Arsenal need to get rid of them. When those players play well and Wenger wins against a top team, it’s dangerous for them to post because they’re afraid their ego might be bruised. So, they remain in hiding.
With twelve games to go, Arsenal are only six points back and neither of those 12 games are against big four teams. It’s an exciting time to be an Arsenal fan but people are more concerned about their ego. Stag is an exception.
I work 14 hour days at a job where I don’t sit at a desk. I’m also working on a second degree. Me spending twenty minutes on YAMA, reading the posts and writing one of my own is all I have time for.
I don’t really agree Josh…
firstly ARSENE WENGER didn’t beat anyone. He manages. Arsenal beat Liverpool.
I think Almunia SUCKS, but I like Clichy and Denilson would be a good squad player.
When you come into a 4 game stretch that virtually everyone said would define the season, against Villa, United, Chelsea and Liverpool…
and get 4 points out of 12, there isn’t much positive to say, other than we are not an elite team, and Chelsea and United are clearly better than us.
There is no danger, any more so than the kool-aiders who dissapear regularly when they tout Arsenal is going to win against the better teams, and we get our asses kicked repeatedly.
As noted above, there is not a great deal to say about Arsenal, because you have recurring facts every year.
a) we are not quite good enough to compete against the best
b) Wenger is delusional when it comes to the teams short-comings
c) we aren’t going to spend the money no matter how much profit we make
d) transfer windows can not be more frustrating
so as supporters we can watch and comment on “what might have been”… or watch players we believe aren’t good enough, and comment on why they aren’t.
you reap what you sow, and Arsene is sowing the seeds of regular dissapointment.
The team is chosen. Arsenal play the matches. Reality: we win, lose, or draw; but for some, the last two aren’t digestible.
Arsene should have done it differently – so what. Its his decision. We are only fans. If you think he is doing such a bad job or there are players that suck, GO TO THE EMIRATES, HOLD UP A SIGN PROCLAIMING & LISTING YOUR DISAPPROVAL.
We played poorly against ManU; Drogba (again) was the difference with Chelsea; I like the fight we took to Pool. Was I happy with only 4 points from the last 4 matches, NO.
Tomorrow will offer other opportunities.
Football is just entertainment. Like watching American Idol and seeing your favorite make it to the next round or be eliminated, life goes on. Brow beating the manager and players, what is the purpose?
“watch players we believe aren’t good enough, and comment on why they aren’t.”
I have been following this site long enough to read posts emphasizing the limitations of: Bendtner, RvP, Rosicky, Eduardo, Song, Diaby, Traore, Clichy, Gallas, Almunia, Fabianski, Mannone, Theo, Denilson, Vela, Merida, Ramsey, AND Mr. Eboue.
This pretty much covers THE ENTIRE TEAM. May I suggest Fantasy Football.
Our players are real people, who have feelings, careers, and families – not just a jersey number. They make mistakes, have poor matches, but that mirrors life and I like to compare fans to family, there to support in times of duress. Arsenal players are ‘good’ citizens.
Arsenal are not entitled to trophies every season. Its up the the manager and players to achieve AND up the fans to cheer them on. The longer the drought the greater the appreciation!
By the way, ponder the development of Diaby and Song over the past 12 months; if it continues we will have the most dynamic midfield in our sport!
so do fans of American Idol spend THOUSANDS of dollars a year to go to matches, on merchandise, etc?
That entitles us to express our opinion.
GO to a match in the UK, the fans HAVE A SAY, there is an Arsenal supporters group, as there are for ALL teams, and the club have to answer to their supporters.
They realize without supporters, there is NOT football.
We as fans, pay the wages…
if we decide not to watch anymore, or not go to matches, it all crumbles like a house of cards.
“May I suggest fantasy football”.
NO.
Frankly it is not what we are talking about here. We are talking about REAL supporters spending REAL money watching REAL players.
Arsenal are not “entitled” to trophies, but the fans are ENTITLED to the club TRYING TO WIN, not just to make profits.
Diaby and Song.
Both are good. Neither are great. No evidence that they ever will be, or that either will be players to build a winning team around.
But that’s just MY OPINION.
If we aren’t taking opinions here, just shut down this site too!
the club is TRYING TO WIN..winning is not just about today or tomorrow it is about WINNING IN THE LONG TERM and that is exactly what the board and AW are doing…
but thats just MY OPINION lol
they are not doing what is necessary to compete with Chelsea and United.
They are NOT even spending profit made on selling off players to compete.
Long term, if your fans have lost interest, because you don’t try to win, and your ticket prices are the highest in Europe, is BAD BUSINESS.
Wenger and the board are MAKING PROFIT.
That’s all they are doing.
Spending money (1k’s of $’s); it is your choice; not a prerequisite to be a fan OR
does it entitle you to be a better fan than those that don’t or can’t spend the $’s.
Yes, in a way we are talking about fantasy football. There is NO level playing field for how Pool, Chelsea, and ManU operate their team vs. Arsenal.
Chelsea has a sugar daddy owner (like City); Chelsea have been gifted $500m pounds (US$784 mil) by their owner. ManU is in debt by about US$1.1 billion. Pool in debt by abt US$470 mil THIS IS NOT HOW ARSENAL WILL RUN THEIR CLUB. So when these other teams are recklessly spending on players, they now have lost control of their club – the banks dictate all aspects of their operations.
More importantly, the profits on turnover do NOT cover their yearly interest. If they fail to qualify for CL, the impact is exponential.
No one has argued the club is sacrificing winning at the expense of profits. See my last paragraph above to reinforce the point. Our manager is keeping us in CL competition & top 4 of the league. In latest European ratings we are 6th (behind Barca, ManU, Bayern M, Chelsea, Real).
For the Arsenal board and Arsene – there is a RESPONSIBLE balance between all out winning that incorporates paying big transfer fees and operating within your means. Some of the transfer profits maybe reserved for paying player raises, as Cesc. At some point we must trust the judgment for their decisions.
I did not say Diaby or Song were great. I said look at their progression over the past 12 months. They are only 22 or 23 yrs old. Their improvement is what most of our roster hopefully reflects, DEVELOPING TALENT: Bendtner, Theo, Ramsey, Nasri, Vela, Wilshere, Gibbs, Traore, Fabianski, Mannone, Czszney (?), Djourou.
I certainly don’t question your love and support for Arsenal. Just understand the environment we are caught in.
well, that’s where we disagree completely…
and if we don’t win something this year, and its unlikely at this point, I hope the fans show up at the year end meeting like the villagers looking for Frankenstein… pitchforks and torches, wanting ANSWERS not bullshit.
Your group of “developing talent” wouldn’t have a prayer of playing at Chelsea or United.
That’s the difference… we collect flotsam and jetsum…
and STILL have the highest prices for tickets.
It is simply unacceptable, and there will be an uprising by the fans.
You watch and see.
Josh,
no need to throw kerosene on the fire!
I also believe commentary would take a milder tone if we had all met – say, at a pub watching Arsenal!
Then I hereby invite you all to come out to Seattle and enjoy a pint (or two, or three) and a game at the George & Dragon.
May we select a date that avoids your rainy season?
Just when Diaby had dislodged Deni from the team, Song goes and gets himself injured!
BREAKING NEWS:
Bourdeaux President Jean-Louis Triad – has confirmed that the deal for Marouane Chamakh and Arsenal has been done. Chamakh will come to Arsenal beginning this summer making around £50K per week.
Now Arsene can use his full transfer budget on improving other areas on the pitch. ;)
that’s good… that’ll be too late for this season, and when he’s holding the shirt, I’ll gauge whether he off-sets who we sell!
;)
Now this is what I like to see from Fabregas –
A captain needs to be vocal and challlenge his teammates:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1250495/Cesc-Fabregas-aims-young-Gunners-Age-excuse-lack-trophies.html
Though I think someone could spin this as Cesc setting the table for his departure. Who is taking that route?
Clichy is the best option we have. I think Denilson was and Almunia is a bigger worry. Clichy needs to get his head straight and get back that form of 2 seasons ago.
For England, I think Baines should get the spot. I think he was the best LB in the league last season. His form admittedly was shody for the first part of the season (along with the rest of Everton), but he seems to be finding it again. Not as good as Cole at his best but a solid option and by far the best available to England IMO.
BTW, on Cole getting injured.. When an opposition player gets injured my reaction usually is either “I feel sorry for him, hope he gets well soon” or “I feel sorry for him but he’s so good that I hope he stays out till after we play team X”. Almost never do I feel properly happy that a player is injured.
Oh and too bad Gibbs isn’t healthy – with Cole going down that left back slot is wide open and I prefer Gibbs to Bridge any day of the week.]
Though it only adds to the drama – JT and Bridge both on the first team, both on the same side of the pitch.
I don’t get the love affair for Gibbs.
It sounds like the same love affair that happened when Cole left for Chelsea.
At that point, we had Clichy, and he was better than Cole anyway, he does the same things, he’s faster, etc.
Gibbs hasn’t even played a full season of matches for the first team, so I wouldn’t even categorize him as very good.
He has “potential”, but you have to actually do it over a period of time.
Don’t get me wrong, he’s a nice player to have in the team, but I don’t think he’s as good as Clichy…
I never pegged you for a Clichy fan.
I think he’s quick, athletic, and would be really good with a good winger in front of him, who tracked back on occasion, so he could go forward.
I don’t think Gibbs is as good as Clichy was two seasons ago. However, Clichy has failed to reproduce his one season of form and has now been endowed with the moniker “CALAMITY CLICHY”, and rightly so.
Forget about injury or fitness for a moment. Did you see his brain dead move against Chelsea when he left the post to converse with Nasri, then ran out in the middle of nowhere and conceded his space to Drogba, who gracefully obliged with a tap in.
If my son did that when he was a 15 year old I would have benched him for eternity. It’s the kind of brain freeze which could only have come on from drugs, old age or senility.
That instance, along with a host of other misdemeanors can onl;y lead me to conclude he needs a new Doctor or a new prescription.
Yes, I did see the play against Chelsea, and I still don’t know for sure if it was his fault.
He rushed to a GAPING HOLE in the middle of the box… waving his arm, probably asking, WHO HAS “so and so”… that’s why he left the post.
You don’t just walk away from that post without a reason.
He is not a stupid player.
He certainly is not a calamity, and it has been noted he came back early from injury, because we have no good options, and is playing injured.
Would you prefer we play Silvestre there, and just let Gael wait until he’s healthy?
I wouldn’t.
Thought the same thing.
Agree that Clichy’s play has been inconsistent. Don’t intend to make excuses for him, but labeling him a calamity is a poor choice of words and off the mark.
“If my son did that when he was a 15 year old I would have benched him for eternity.”
Do you coach youngsters?
@arsesession
Yes, I have coached extensively. U-12 thru U-17, high school and travel teams.
I was over elaborating on my choice of words, including “eternity”. However, as a former sweeper I consider it very important to stress formation, organization and tactical discipline. Whether it be a corner or a free kick, everyone has a role and should stick to it. Yes, sometimes you get beaten, that’s life.
Obviously, I have never played in the EPL, but that mistake was extremely elementary and belongs in a Sunday rec league.
“over elaborating”
answer I was hoping for…….
I agree it seems like we all do say the same thing. Also I think a lot of comments that would appear – disappear because the GDC crew is leaving their comments there.
And while it looks like comments have subsided – readership continues to go up. YAMA experiences a constant stream of visitors with a weekly increase of views of 3-5%.
I don’t think they comment because you lot scare the crap out of them.
If we could chart it I reckon you’d see it has nothing to do with the tone of the comments.
I think, over the last 2-3 years there has been a gradual decline in commenting (AA and then YAMA). There was a little resurgence when there were signs of improvement this season, alas, when the team performances started to resemble prior disappointments and Arsene’s promises to sign didn’t eventuate the inertia kicked back in.
…..it’s the we’ve seen it all before type of thing…..
It is what it is. If people were excited and energised by this side they’d be commenting and analysing regularly. So…. Arsenal have to take it on the chin. It’s like the decline in the levels of interest in buying tickets. :-(
” I don’t think they comment because you lot scare the crap out of them.”
worthy of repeating…..
FYI _ when I say you “scare the crap out of them” I mean it in as much an endearing term as I can muster through writing.
You guys do have some of the best level of discourse on the blogs there. Pros and Cons are well articulated and well argued. We do have a lot of registrants and a lot of viewers – I would not want to jump into a conversation here for fear of being wrong on a point.
You guys make this blog. And I mean that not as a way to get kudos (you guys give me more than enough) I really mean it. YAMA has developed much as I had hoped it would.
But I have to admit Steve just scares me!!! Ha Ha
My take on the posting volume:
Basically there are three type of Arsenal fans here: kool-aiders; the Doom & Gloomers; and those
that stay out of the kitchen, preferring to be amused from a distance.
Based on Arsenal’s result “which supports their position”, responses evolve in direct proportion.
I’ve noticed that when Arsenal win (regardless of style) their is a toning down of criticism.
Heaven forbid (here) at “YAMA” if we win the league cup or CL from an injury time goal from Denilson OR a fantastic save from Almunia!
Whilst not disagreeing with your take on this, I think there has been a general decline in commenting. Even the Liverpool win hasn’t brought the koolies out. :-(
week day matches are not easy to catch, by those that attend work…..
as someone spoke above…….did not see the match, so handicapped in commentary.
its all about WINNING.
I wouldn’t care if we won because of a deflection off a beach-ball on the pitch!
;)
Unlike Arsene, I’m not under any illusion that style points count in the standings.
whoops, when I said “I think a growing number of people are simply less interesting….” I meant interested!! Maybe both apply ;-)
I agree with both the sentiments expressed above.
It’s the same thing recurring and what is there left to say?
You either believe Arsene’s spin or not.
I can’t recall quite as seesaw a title race for a long long time.
Everyone seems to drop games AND there are very few draws by the top teams. Indeed, what separates the sides still in with a mathematical shout for the title and those who aren’t is the low number of draws.
The lack of posts has been happening for a while…. I commented in the last few weeks. I think a growing number of people are simply less interesting….. we can all speculate on why.
Lack of posts could also be due to the frustration of fans who keep seeing the same shit happening every day for years.
I haven’t been posting as much because it’s the same stuff that is said match after match… why? because it’s the same result match after match. We will always win at home against teams besides Chelsea/Manu teams, we will even do pretty well away. But we will always lose to the big teams. I feel like I’ve run out of stuff to say, especially when you also throw in the fact that the term “transfer speculation” might as well not be in Arsenal fans’ vocabulary.
Off Topic:
Just saw that Ashley Cole out for 3 months with ankle fracture caused by Landon Donnovan. Interesting strategy for the US MNT to send him over before the World Cup to beat up on England squad. Maybe it will give them a better chance in the group stages… ;)
that’s a big loss for Chelsea and England…
still feel he’s the best LB in the league.
Barcelona is an interesting case, like most Spanish clubs they are owned by their members (people who pay an annual fee or subscription.
It’s easy to classify them as ‘money bags’ and ‘bigspending airheads’ however that glosses over some important aspects of what makes Barca the mega-force they are today. Firstly, run your finger through their first team squad – they have been doing what Wenger lectures about for many years. They have a functioning academy that teaches young players in their way and many of these players now fill their 1st team squad ranks. It is very impressive.
So….. it’s inaccurate to categorise them as merely a buying club. They mix buying and developing very well. The beauty of this is that the club has a sense of it being really theirs via the academy (with many Spanish Catalan boys) and then they get the excitment of some of the worlds best international stars coming on board as well.
Also, they want to WIN. Not just play pretty football (which they also do). It seems pretty clear that the Barcelona model reflects many aspects of what Wenger envisions for Arsenal.
Another one from John Cross – Not defending Arsene Wenger but defending Gael Clichy:
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/columnists/john-cross/Why-it-s-hard-to-defend-Arsenal-boss-Arsene-Wenger-this-week-but-I-will-defend-Gael-Clichy-John-Cross-column-article319639.html
I’ve been harping on about understanding the difficulty of playing while still hurt and it’s nice to see it laid out by an insider. Stress fractures (only remedy is rest, but how much?) seem really tough. That’s what put out Clichy and Denilson (and might have put out Arshavin if he wasn’t hard as nails and self-medicating with vodka…)
Hopefully we can have a fuller squad at our disposal from here on out and be able to get results from the matches AND play our younger/less experienced guys in situations that are not overly stressful, where they can learn positive things like winning and/or dominating individual match-ups. The greater number of confident guys chomping to get pitch-time (rather than being reluctantly run out while still hurt) the better….
In fact maybe we could’ve used a body or two in the transfer window (No, no….blinders on, keep looking forward….)
Great articlke from John Cross on the whole Cesc fabregas speculation.
http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/columnists/john-cross/Why-Arsenal-can-t-afford-to-lose-Cesc-Fabregas-not-even-for-40million-john-Cross-column-article319659.html
good article…
and I think he’s right on the money with Wenger and Clichy articles as well.
Its clearly evident that the Cesc to barca stories are being fulled from both the Barca presidential candidates and the Spanish press.
Right now there is no room at the inn for Fab – while he would play – would he play coming off the bench for Xavi and Iniesta? Because right now if he left this summer that is likely what he would do. If either of them go then its a different story.
What people don’t realize about cesc is that he has been at Arsenal now longer than he ever was at the Barca system. So pretty much the player he has become has less to to do with what he learned at the Catalan club – more to do with his own talent and what he learned via the Arsenal academy.
I don’t doubt he will go back to Barca – he would never go to Real – no Catalan would. the question is when – I believe that is a question to be answered in the next 2-3 years.
You MAKE ROOM for star players.
This notion that there is “no room” on their team… is ridiculous!
They play in 4 competitions just like we do…
That’s like saying we don’t have room for Mascherano in our team, we have Song in that slot.
Great players don’t grow on trees. If you have a chance to get one, you do.
(and in Arsenal’s case, you sell him for great profit, like Vieira & Henry!)
;)
What’s the 4th cup? They won the treble last year (CL, La Liga, Copa del Rey), which one did they lose? (Like I said above…I want to learn….)
Oh wait, maybe you mean that Club World Cup thingy…maybe it’s time to switch to decaf….
Wikipedia
” Barça went on to win the 2009 Supercopa de España against Athletic Bilbao (5–1 on aggregate)[17] and the 2009 UEFA Super Cup against FC Shakhtar Donetsk (1–0),[18] becoming the first European club to win both domestic and European Super Cups following a treble. In December 2009, Barça won the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates,[19] thus become the first team ever to accomplish the ‘Sextuple’.”
“I think Arsenal Football Club is above everything, every single player in its history and their fans, and the club, and myself – I think we deserve a little bit more respect.” – Cesc Fabregas on denying any rumour linking him back to Barca when he was interviewed by Sky Sports post match.
What does almost every highly-coveted player say immediately before leaving his current club?
“I am not going anywhere.”
I imagine we’ll have him at least another season, but not because of anything he says to the press.
I saw the interview and its clear he is getting tired of the constant speculation.
yes, I am sure he just hates it, as he’s a “lifelong” Catalan… it can only increase his value, and Arsenal will have to either match his ambitions, pay him more, or sell him.
The speculation is not going to stop, only intensify, so he better get used to it.
Watch. All the media attention will be what’s blamed for driving him away from Arsenal.
Anyway, if he doesn’t want people speculating about his next move, the easiest thing would be to transfer to the MLS.
BTW, all the media attention is why Brad and Angelina will break up, too. Or so I read.
Let’s talk about Cesc…(as the song goes)…
Discussing the acquisition of Chamakh (which I THINK is a done deal) some of the not-so-keen-on-Wenger crowd retorted with, “yeah but we’re losing Cesc….” And I’m the noob… ;-)
It seems to me that Cesc will leave for Barca when either AW steps down (or is fired). Given the obvious approach of the club, this will happen when we finally win something (or enough) or when we lose our “perpetual trophy” (a spot in the CL–group AND elimination stages).
Everything Cesc says indicates that he has bought in to the “plan,” and his various (well-twisted) comments about it being about “more than money” would indicate that he wants to conquer England (winning with Arsenal) and to return to Barca from that platform.
Slinking off to Barca now doesn’t make sense. Xavi (just 30) and Iniesta (25) are not going to give up their first team places and younger players like Busquets, YaYa Toure and more recently Pedro are demanding pitch time at Barca. Of course if Spain can win big in South Africa and Cesc can star, the Spanish/Barca Midfield pecking order might get a tweaking.
And, of course, our other trophy (“the profit league”) make it possible to match any wage offers that Cesc might get from the Spanish Giant…. ;-)
so getting Chamakh, 4 months too late to help this season… somehow will signal to Cesc that we are challenging for the title?
I believe Cesc has said that we needed strengthening to compete in the past.
If he has a good World Cup, it will just mean it is even more important that Barca get him.
It will just mean the club make more money on the sale, as his value will be even higher, with Madrid bidding crazy as well.
You think Arsenal can match Barcelona’s wage offers?
LOL. A hearty LOL.
If it isn’t this Summer, it will be next… just a matter of time.
But the stories and speculation will grow daily.
Of course, I AM a Noob-tard, and I don’t understand anything….
So, yes, tell me about Barca’s financial structure. How do they do it? Publicly owned, a huge stadium (ticket prices like ours?) or is it TV revenues around the world? How do they just buy and buy and pay huge wages? Hell, they even donate their shirt sponsorship to UNICEF.
So if Cesc comes in and makes 40-50 million (Pounds/ Euros/Dollars over x years) and they pay us a similar amount to get him and he plays behind those other guys, how much are THEY making (or will they be wanting to make)? Seriously, I don’t get it, and I don’t understand where all the money comes from. So, explain it to me…I want to learn…or send me the DVD ;-)
And I think I said, if you read my comment carefully, that the situation WILL intensify if Cesc were to pip Xavi or Iniesta for glory at the WC.
And yes, I seriously believe given all the superstars on the Barca team who will require more money than Cesc, AND given our MASSIVE PROFITS, that we can match their offer.
However, all things in this world seem to have a price, so you never know, you might be right. Luckily, you weren’t right about us finishing worse than 4th last season or more recently, losing to Liverpool. In the meantime, I’ll probably go on thinking about Cesc leaving for Barca as I do, and you’ll do likewise. And I’ll hope he does better than he has over the past three matches while you worry (or is hope?) that he leaves and “all hell breaks loose”….
Oh and also, I never said anything about Chamahk signaling anything to Cesc…IMO Cesc is already on board…with the plan, the evil plan….
And one more thing…The FedEX truck just pulled up!!! Thanks!
Contrary to popular belief, Barca’s salary structure is way less than than RM, Inter, AC and the top EPL sides.
Example: Busquettes was on around Euro 50K a week last season before they upped his contract.
Many of their players come through the ranks and are on relatively low wages. Only a few special ones like Messi earn big bucks and he just got his humongous increase this season.
Secondly, because of the tax laws, public subsidies, etc. in Spain it basically means that a player would have to be paid almost double in the EPL to match their net.
Also, many of the top players share in merchandising revenue which is huge. It has been said that merchandising of Ronaldo, Zidane, Beckham and a few others actually paid their salaries and made a profit.
Their core team is mainly made up of Catalans who would rather play for no other team if they got the chance.
Cesc would probably have to take a pay cut in order to play for Barca now, seeing that he is still in the pecking order behind Xavi and Iniesta. He should be with us for another 3-4 years unless we become a “selling” team once again.
Combine that with the
we ARE a selling team… that’s not even debatable.
he can deny all he wants, but the rumors are not going to subside, they will increase.
where there is smoke there is sometimes fire…
I think it would be the perfect time for him to go to Barcelona, as a player… (not perfect for Arsenal, except that we’ll make lots of money from the sale)
I will ask this… if after the season, Cesc says… I want to go home to Barcelona, its my dream…
What will the supporters say?
Will he be “judas”?
Will he be a turn-coat, who wasn’t that great anyway, and the club is bigger than any player?
Just my opinion, but I think he’s leaving either this Summer or the next.
And I think Arsenal will cash in on him, like they do all their star players.
Interesting Stat:
If you removed all the Own Goals that Man United Benefited from the table would now look like this at the top:
Chelsea 58 pts
Arsenal 51 pts
United 50 pts
Good crossing = own goals
Perhaps Evra, Nani Valencia, etc., crossing to Rooney, etc, > Sagna, Clichy, etc., crossing to Arshavin, etc…..
I am surprised there aren’t many comments after this crucial win. I didn’t see the game and was out today. Just saw 2-min highlights of the key games.
Diaby’s goal was very well taken. Why can’t we score more of these? Will Diaby and Bendtner staying fit help?
Hope Diaby stays fit so that another midfield can stay on the bench. ;)
Cesc’s handball was a close call. He should jump and head the ball. With our rotten luck, it could easily be a penalty next time.
Saha’s two goals were all class. We need a striker like him. Is Bendtner the answer or Chamakh?
Like I said earlier, this team is capable of going on an unbeaten run till the end of the season. Will it be enough to win the title? Time will tell!
I’m not Nip. It’s easier for us to criticize and bitch when things go wrong.
It’s much harder to praise success because that is what we expect from our team.
DAG, if it is a routine win over Bolton or Wigan, I perfectly understand fewer comments, it is what we expect from our team.
But a win over Liverpool, direct rivals for 4th place, on the back of terrible results is a crucial result.
I can’t speak for anyone else, but the game was on around noon on the west coast and some of us work so I couldn’t watch it. Hard to comment on a game you didn’t see.
Yeah…More comments…Please…
I missed the first half hour of the match and when I tuned in it was Highbury Library with very little urgency on the pitch….Watching the replay, we maybe had the better performance and possession but it was all pretty nervy and low-key. Definitely not enough to warrant any proclamations from the Kool-Aid Brigade about turning the corner, back in the title race, etc.
Still, with Denilson out and Bendtner, Diaby and Song back we are a bigger, more physically imposing team, which helps defensively and at set pieces. (Cesc’s deliveries, however, continue to frustrate.)
Arshavin’s mobility (even before the hamstring pull!) is pretty poor and the pace/physicality of Nasri and Rosicky will worry nobody. The few times we got unexpected possession in MF there were few good outlets for forward or even sideways passes. As many have pointed out, we are not much of a counter-attacking side these days. And we didn’t even have much in the way of tippy-tappy workings at the top of the box.
Like I said, it was a scruffy win and just barely deserved. Still, I’m gonna take it, but I’m not as optimistic as you about going unbeaten until the end of the season (at the moment). We need to re-build our confidence match by match before I’ll start thinking in that manner.
Thanks again Nip, for “Guaranteeing” the victory….it made the “squeaky bum” moments easier to take….
RvP was always a better Corner taker.
Cesc Free Kicks have suffered lately too.
By the way does anyone think that Denilson has finally fallen down the pecking order?
Two games in a row where he has not gotten a sniff of playing time. Two important games.
Definitely…but he still got his bench seat ahead of Ramsey….What’s up with that?
Nip, to answer your question waaaaay up there:
I felt as defeated as the Gunners themselves were after the consecutive losses to # 1 and # 2. Those combined with the failure to strengthen the side in January, left me further feeling like our fate has been sealed for the year, once again. That and Wenger’s shit-talking after the Chelsea match, left me overall pretty disheartened.
Losing to Liverpool, at home, our third loss in a row, seemed like an unimaginable disaster. Under the circumstances, I expected we’d win.
That we did, and just about proved we’re a distant third best in the League, didn’t feel like a lot to get excited about, buddy.
Yay, we’re a little better than Liverpool? Just wasn’t feeling it.
I’m gonna have to agree with….Stag (of all people)….in that I’ll take the victory, no matter how scruffy it might be.
In more normal circumstances a home win over a severely weakened Liverpool team should have been dispensed with far more easily, but coming on the heels of the confidence bruising matches vs United and Chelsea, ANY win is a good win….
And make no doubt about it, it was a close one. Almunia got less of a hand to Babel’s shot than Cesc did to Gerrard’s late free kick, and both of those events happened to fall our way. It proves that it is a game of inches (huge ones) and refereeing decisions (also huge) and, on the night, we were lucky.
To me, we played very nervously, Bendtner was industrious but snatched at his couple of opportunities and chose to dive rather than pursue a nice ball into the box. Rosicky made a spectacular hash of his through ball on goal. Fortunately they both combined very nicely in the build-up to the goal. Hopefully both Nasri and Arshavin’s injuries are minor, but it might not be a bad thing that neither were on the pitch when we finally scored. They are both automatic first 11 at the moment, but haven’t been taking their chances or finding their teammates at the level we need them to.
At the other end, Gallas wiped up (spectacularly) when Vermaelen got caught too far forward (as is his wont, sometimes) and Almunia shanked no back passes, didn’t endanger his teammates with bad distribution or unexpected ventures off his line, AND he handled his few moments of stress (corners and Babel’s swerving rocket shot) with just enough aplomb to keep the clean sheet. It wasn’t a great goal-keeping performance, but it might be enough to turn the corner (confidence-wise at least) on what’s been a shocking season.
So now a week off and then CL in Porto. This run of games has rubbed some of the luster off “Saviour” Cesc, who, IMO, still lacks the physical elements to really impose himself on the strongest teams when they’ve set out to contain him. Maybe in Europe, with slightly more referee protection and defenders playing a step off in respect of his reputation (Barca offering 40-50 million Euros each week) Cesc will get back to “pulling the strings,” etc.
Let’s hope so. We’re at that point where each match will build towards the next and we need to be nearly flawless if we want to cling to our (extremely thin) hopes for the two remaining (big) prizes.
Special mention has to go to Diaby. He’s been great over the past few months when he’s been fit. I’ve mentioned a few times that if he can stay fit, he’ll make a dramatic impact in our season, as well as for France at the World Cup. I’ve always thought him talented but never enough for praise before this season. He seems to have matured. His link up with other players is significantly better than it’s ever been. Let’s see how this works out.
Ditto.I think we all knew he had the talent and physical skills, we were just worried about the mental ability.
Josh, agree with your points. Whatever the friction between the back five; that was always Arsene’s to resolve.
As a fan, its easy to stereotype a player after substandard performances. Growth and development come from perseverance and faith from your manager.
Up to this season, the play of Song and Diaby were sporadic and lambasted by some. With enough playing time in their natural position, we are witnessing why the players are at Arsenal.
Diaby’s progression this season might (hopefully) be entitled “A Tale of Two Headers”….
Early season he completely undermined a solid Arsenal performance at Old Trafford with an inexplicable, unchallenged, headed, own-goal. One of the largest brain-farts I’ve ever seen in high level football.
Last night’s (also, unchallenged) header was emphatic and perfectly executed and showed absolutely no trace of doubt or self-consciousness.
If Diaby can continue to play instinctively and decisively he will be a huge part of Arsenal’s success. Keeping fit, of course, is his other big struggle. If he can get himself onto the pitch and just “let” himself play, (an element likely inhibited by AW constantly moving him from one position to another) he’s got the size, skill-set and work-rate to trouble opposing teams at all levels. IMO, he’s a real bright spot, last night and going forward….
I think Diaby is a good player. GOOD. He disappears at times, and I don’t think “great” over any period of time in his career.
I like the player, but let’s not get carried away.
I think the only thing keeping him from being great is himself. As you said, he tends to disappear at times, but when he is motivated he has all the skills to be great. Maybe nowthat he’s not considered the next Vieira he can concentrate on being the best Diaby.
his game is not similar to Vieira… only his height and body type.
Vieira dominated midfield, was a very good tackler, and led the team on the pitch.
Diaby doesn’t do any of those things.
I couldn’t see Liverpool beating us at the Emirates. Sure, they’ve gone on a winning run but it was down to mostly luck and not them playing good football.
Stag, I gotta bring it up again. It’s more important to have Bendtner for the rest of the season than risk him getting hurt by rushing him back for the Chelsea game. It was only one game. We’ve still got a lot of points to play for and Chelsea have been dropping points all season. The Chelsea loss was bad but not necessarily the end of our season, not to mention there’s the Champions League. We’ll need a proper center forward.
Was it me or did the back five seem to be united in defense? That’s right, I said back FIVE. They defended well as a team. Gallas was absolutely fantastic. Clichy, prophetically, was going to improve. Some people, in their myopia, simply don’t respect that recovery from an injury takes time. Almunia played well. Someone said the other day that Stuart Taylor was a better keeper than Almunia. I read an interview last year where Taylor said both Lehmann and Almunia were clearly better than him, although very different keepers. Taylor probably knows better than we do. Almunia’s had a bad year but hopefully he finds his form from the previous two seasons.
Perhaps the back five had a sit-down this week and worked some things out between them. There weren’t any mean looks at Almunia last night; only knuckle-touches and high fives all game. If this sit-down happened, it’s led to Almunia looking more relaxed confident in this game than he has all season. He wouldn’t have saved Babel’s shot last week. That’s the difference between one point and three. Hopefully, he’s turned a corner because we need him to play well if we’re going to win anything.
I would rather have beaten Chelsea and lost to Liverpool, so I would have played Bendtner. If he can come off the bench, he can start and go off for a sub… what’s the difference what part of the match he plays?
The back 4 was good, I don’t think Almunia did anything special, Liverpool didn’t create much…
and I would rather Fabianski started the rest of the season, at least we’ll get to see what he has going forward.
Almunia is simply NOT AN OPTION in the future of Arsenal, if we ever expect to win anything ever again.
yeah stag thats it and like i was saying on the gdc its a crucial period for chelsea as they play 4 out of the next 6 away from home (including everton) so dont lose hope just yet ;)
File this under:
HOME COOKING, or … TRAVEL WOES…
Only 4 teams in the EPL have winning road records:
(chelsea, united, arsenal, and villa)
AND… 10 TEAMS have only 2 wins on the road or less!
Only 4 teams in the EPL have losing home records:
(wolves, wigan, bolton, and portsmouth)
So EVERYBODY is struggling on the road, even the top teams…
and almost everybody wins more at home than they lose.
Home field advantage is alive and well in the EPL.
The thing I think I noticed the most – and agreeing with Stag – Nicky B wasn’t GREAT – but he did a couple of things we’d seriously been lacking since he and RvP went down.
He was able to get the ball, hold it up and dish it out. Something that is central for a good central forward.
(did I say central enough)
Song is slowly coming back to his pre-ACoN form. Clichy still looks like he is playing hurt though he did have his bursts of speed back.
Cesc could not seem to get his passes right.
I like that Eboue got some chance – he brings a little bit more directness to our wing attack. Though someone really needs to teach the lad how to cross the ball. He had one real good crossing chance – and he completely muffed.
Bit my nails, closed my eyes and crossed my fingers and toes – for every set piece and corner.
I would give a toss up for MOTM to Gallas and Diaby – Diaby seemed like he picked it up the most in the 2nd half and he had a couple of his good lumbering runs and put some decent pressure on a very weak defense (especially when Degen came in.)
Overall the table sets nicely for Arsenal – no more big four matches. And United and Chelsea still have to play each other and Liverpool.
I think the big four will stay as is. As bleak as Liverpool looked (Maxi pad and Ngog were awful)there is just too much talent on that team to fall apart completely.
I don’t take anything for granted – as Sunderland taught us. Let’s go out play the matches – hope Almunia develops a chest cold – pray Ncky B becomes the reincarnation of Bergkamp and Drogba and company forget how to score.
Well, we certainly didn’t dominate, as the teams were pretty
evenly matched, but we FINISHED the chance on the goal well,
and Liverpool didn’t finish any of their half chances.
To be honest, we didn’t allow them clear chances… and we had a
couple of chances that were decent (Bendtner’s miss comes to mind)…
but it was not a dominant win.
WHO CARES… not me?!
I don’t care if we have all the possession, we don’t need it.
We can’t run a proper counter-attack, because we lack team speed.
And Liverpool tried to hit us on the counter, and Gallas saved our
ass on their best opportunity.
Obviously a good win… and nice to take care of business at home
against one of the big 4 teams. We will need a few more of those performances in the next few months. It was nice to see.
I was… RELIEVED.
To have a little cushion for 3rd if very important.
The back 4 played well, even Clichy was OK today… Eboue as well.
Cesc was relatively quiet… and our lack of speed was just obvious.
Nobody to run on the wings.
Bendtner at least poses a different type of threat as a striker, even if his touch still is lacking, and he missed a few good half-chances, to even make the keeper make a save.
I’ll always be happy with a clean sheet… and all the better when
Almunia does not have to make many saves.
The United match was also being shown… they went down a man in the first half, when Nani jumped in with studs up, and while they also
created more chances than Villa, even with 10 men, it was too much
to overcome.
Everton are starting to play good football, and it is NOT easy to win
on the road in the EPL, (unless its Chelsea or ManU at the Emirates!)
But we can relax a bit now, solidly in 3rd place… (which is apparently even better than winning the FA Cup!)
Wheeeeeeeew.
Amen.
Rosicky had a good chance, too.
yes, but he didn’t even get a shot off, WTF was that?!
The kind of magic that helps earn a long-term contract at Arsenal.
Is Nasri injured?
He went off, and Rosicky came on in the first half… didn’t look serious, but who knows.
He got knocked on the head early in the game – was complaining of vision problems. Mid way through the match they confirmed he had suffered a mild concussion.
I told you guys that we will win. I also said that Chelsea might drop points at Everton. I did not see ManU dropping points at VIlla, but hey, I can’t get every thing right. ;)
Right, I am off hiking. Enjoy!
Did not see the match – only read the Telegraph’s article.
Beating Pool 3 times in a season is good for rebuilding our confidence!
Oh and that is win number 300 for Arsene Wenger – second to only Ol Red Nose Himself
1-0 to Arsenal, Man U ties and Chelsea is losing to Everton. Every time we think it’s over the universe starts fucking with us.
Manu Draw
Chelsea Lose
Spurs Lose
Pool Lose
Arsenal win –
What a better day.
Yup. Good result all around.
Less the Universe, than the averageness.
Starting XI: Almunia, Vermaelen, Gallas, Clichy, Eboue, Song, Diaby, Fabregas, Arshavin, Bendtner, Nasri
Subs: Campbell, Rosicky, Sagna, Walcott, Denilson, Fabianski, Traore
Walcott blows his chance and Denilson sits for a second match. Sagna gets a rest.
Oh, and I know there are a lot of folks who can’t see
the good in other teams… or refuse to.
And I know there is hate for Man City, because they have most of
our cast-offs!
But did you see the goal yesterday … Vieira with a really nice
pass to Adebayor… he chests it and drills it, like he did in the
CL last year for us. It was a beautiful goal, no matter who you support.
for those who love the sport as well as the Arsenal, check it out.
(no, I don’t have a link, but you can find it)
http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/4714794/
So, we won’t sign players over 30 to 2 year deals.
Sounds… familiar.
If I were Gallas, I’d say “feck off”, who you going to play there,
Silvestre?
Cesc signed a verbal deal with Barcelona? or no, he didn’t… you know
those rumors will be crazy for the remainder of the season… and I think it would be GREAT BUSINESS to sell him for 40 Million. What did we buy him for? Think of the profit on that turnover.
I just don’t see us winning against anyone of note.
Liverpool win, they’ll be 2 points back of us, and City are 5 points
back with a game in hand.
There is a LOT of pressure on us today to win… and we have seen
how we react to pressure.
I don’t trust Almunia in any match, and Liverpool are in better form.
I hope for a draw… as Liverpool will be employing the exact same
tactics as United and Chelsea. Why wouldn’t they, they know we won’t
ever adapt and change.
I’ll go for 0-0, or a 1-0 loss.
I hope we score 5 goals, and kill off Liverpool’s 3rd place hopes,
but Liverpool are going to play a style that won’t allow that type of
game or score. A point will be a good result for them.
The road to perdition, sorry….. redemption. Here’s hoping ;)
“With the following line in today’s papers Mr Wenger, in his unquestionable wisdom, made me realise how we all had been misinterpreting football for the past century:
“If somebody can prove to me that the purpose in football is not to try to pass the ball, then OK, I will believe it.”
I think as of today the Premier League should be awarded to the team that makes the most passes and not the team who score more goals than their opposition, with the eventual aim of accumulating more points than any other team in the league over the course of the season.
How stupid I feel for not realising this all along.”
Did Wenger really say that?
I don’t mean this in anyway to defend Arsene because most of the time I just wish he would accept the loss and get over it. Though really what manager doesn’t bitch? Hell every time Manure lose Fergie believe’s it is always the refs fault and had nothing to do with his team.
But I digress – I wonder if Arsene – who while he speaks English well uses English words out of context and thus things get lost in translation. Am I making sense?
In an article yesterday he went on to say he knows well enough the goal is to win and win trophies but he also felt that the need to play a flowing moving game was just as important (I am paraphrasing here).
He doesn’t have a grasp of the language?
No, sorry DAG, not buying it.
Try, he’s an arrogant, stubborn, whiner.
He should say little after matches, instead of belittling the opposition that just beat him.
But he’s not man enough to accept it without crying in his soup. It’s sad.
So are Rafa, Mourinho and SAF and pretty much all the managers arrogant and whining when the claim they lost because of a refs bad call?
Seriously, name me one manager who comes out and says – you know what we got beat by a better side.
9 out of 10 managers draw from the same script.
I refuse to chastise AW for doing what all the other managers do. So some of things he says are off the wall – all of them say off the wall things.
Yes, some complain, I agree…
to blame the refs, is one thing…
To come out and say consistently, the other team didn’t play proper football, anti-football, or whatever shit he wants to call it, is RIDICULOUS.
I have never heard Rafa, Mourinho, or Fergie blame the other team for “not playing” the way they should.
So, to me, there is a difference.
To say repeatedly, when we lose or draw, that we outplayed the other team, the better team didn’t win, etc…
is CHILDISH.
It’s tiring.
It is not what I would want my manager to be saying.
Accept defeat, say the other team were better on the day, and move on.
I’m not sure I care who he blames it on. Honestly I don’t see a difference between continually whingeing about the refs or that the “better team” didn’t win.
And frankly I think you could correlate saying the “ref cost us the win” is the same thing as saying “the better team didn’t win.”
Stag in principle I don’t disagree with you that I really wish that he woulod just come out and say we didn’t play well. Sort of like he did against United 2 weeks ago. But honestly I find that to be a contagion that exists across the entire EPL spectrum. There is no such thing as graceful losing – especially amongst the bigger teams.
I thought that we played Manu at the perfect time (due to their injuries and it being a home game) and was more than surprised when they soundly trounced us.
Once again, logic tells me this is the perfect situation against Pool. Four of their stalwarts are out and they will miss the power and clinical finishing of Torres, midfield creativity in Benayoun and Aquilani, the daunting runs of Johnson and his pin point crosses, and finally, it’s a home game.
This game should really show the squad’s mettle. Will they come out full throttle and play hard in order to avenge this dismal string of mediocrity or will they hang their heads like meek lambs and succumb without a fight. Win or lose, this game will tell us a lot about the team.
Conversely, one only hopes that Arsene is brave or cognizant enough to put a capable eleven on the field and not hamper their chances by woeful player selection. In other words, Almunia, Clichy, Walcott and Ramsey should be warming their asses on the bench with Denilson in street clothes watching from the stands.
It AINT GONNA HAPPEN, but I would replace Almunia with Fabianski, Clichy with Traore, have Eboue partner Song and Fab in MF, with Diaby, Bendtner and Arshavin up front.
At the very least, I would be somewhat satisfied if Denilson and Almunia somehow got a sudden case of Alzheimers, forgot their route to the Emirates and ended up in their Chunnel on their way to France, never to be heard from again (wishful thinking).
Dear Lord, my prayer for the day is simple, please let us go out and blow away these scousers.
http://goal.com/en/news/11/transfer-zone/2010/02/10/1784401/peter-hill-wood-hints-at-one-year-deal-for-arsenal-defender
The grand old man of Arsenal says Arsene is not going to offer Gallas a two year deal. Let us hope it is not true, but if it is, is anyone surprised?
After Gilberto, Flamini and Diarra all left within six months and no replacement was signed, I don’t think anything will come as a surprise.
I do hope this is just the press playing naughty.
Funny enough, they signed Silvestre to an initial 2 year deal. What’s the difference?
That is why I think this is just a press story. But at the same time, I wouldn’t be surprised it were true.
By the way, the answer you question “What’s the difference?” is – Arsene Knows! :)
Well, re-read the article, Gallas hasn’t been offered a contract yet. PHW just reaffirms the policy of not extending multiple year deals to players over 30.
He goes on to say he does not see why that would change – “it worked for Dennis Bergakamp” – if Arsene wanted to offer Willie G an extended contract the board would support that decision.
It’s an interesting insight and I think it says more about the board’s involvement in budgetting then it does about extending William Gallas. To me it kind of confirms that the board are keeping an eye on the purse strings.
But it certainly begs the question why Gallas hasn’t been offered a contract yet.
True – could be Gallas.
Would you want to spend another year playing in front of Almunia?
Certainly would not be surprised to see Gallas, Silvestre, Campbell and Sendy all leave at the same time and no replacement signed (I have total faith in Djourou blah blah).
Been there and seen that.
Oh and I’m very much looking forward to seeing the matchup of Cesc vs Mascherano. I think Mikel greatly diminished Cesc’s play and Mascherano is even better. Should be a good test and indicator of how far he’s come. Bring him onn!!
That’s one player I would love. Mascherano. Miles better than Song as a defensive midfielder.
it’d be nice to have both of them… then we have an actual option…
I reckon this game will shape the form for the rest of the season. Win and the tiniest glimmer of hope should see us play the rest of our ‘easier’ games with some hunger, and with actual higher quality players than the opposition. Draw or lose and I fear we may struggle and drop points under the upsurge of pressure from the 4th place chasing pack on our toes.
I expect a very workmanlike strategy from Pool today. It is hard work, defensive solidity that has seen them grind their way back into this season and I expect it to continue. Gerrard’s comments already reflect their game-plan. Luckily, their finishers don’t include anyone near the class of Rooney and the Drog (thank god Torres is out). They don’t have too much pace either and unless Aquillani starts in CM their creativity there is a bit limited there as well. Ngog or Kuyt will start up-front, both of which I expect to be dealt with comfortably enough by Gallas.TV5.
Set-pieces I think will be their biggest threat of scoring. Outside of that, I am a bit concerned about Insua’s crosses from their left wing (they’re pretty good, and our keeper with high balls…). Also, Gerrard, when he drifts to the right is going to be up against Clichy (and we just know he will…).
As for our offence,I think it plays well into Liverpool’s defensive style. I think they are less comfortable with playing against our style of play vs more direct football (such as Everton). We’ll still need to be sharp as they should have 10 behind the ball most of the time. But we have Arshavin, and we all know how he loves playing Pool (first time he’s playing them outside of Anfield btw…)
I think we’ll win narrowly or draw in a dominant fashion (is there such a thing?) All that being said, this is Arsenal, and nothing we serve up will be truly a surprise.
Good write up DAG. Agree with your line up, except I believe Rosicky will start up front.
I purchased a crystal ball earlier in the week, from a garage sale. After some cleaning up and quick refresh of the instructions, it’s predicting a comfortable win for Arsenal today.
Plus: a great run of form for Arsenal to finish out the season.
Go Gunners.
We will win. I am confident of that. If we can’t beat Pool without Torres (and three others) at home, then we may just give up.
I won’t be watching this game. It is at 1 am and I am going hiking at 6:30 am tomorrow. :)
As Arsenal fans, it’s like we’ve been to the dentist and have a numb mouth full of injections. It’s jolly uncomfortable, there’s a lot of dribble, yet you can’t really feel much.
Redemption = trophy. If the strategy has any substance it’s time to front up and deliver. If not, let’s move on.
I’ll pick you up on the impatient fans comment Mike. It’s not true.