UCL Match Day 4: Arsenal v Shaktar Donetsk; Match Preview
Yes folks, the UEFA Champion’s League Group stages are back. As if you needed any further evidence that this is a waste of time, you need not look any further than the Spurs v Inter match from yesterday. Spurs hailed it as their greatest night ever while Inter looked like a team that couldn’t be bothered. What should be interesting than is the approach of our Arsenal vs that of Shaktar Donetsk.
By all accounts and of course the requisite media punditry, the beating Shaktar took at the hands of Arsenal was an abberation. They’ve won 10 of their last 11 league matches and I believe held 9 of those to clean sheets. For their part Shaktar felt hard done in by the match and are fuming. Their manager, the mercurial Mircea Lucescu has gone on to say that it is the fault of the “Scandanavian ref.” Seems that Lucescu thinks Scandanavian refs won’t ever call a game against an English side. He goes on to say that in fact the refs have been kind to Arsenal throughout the group stages as the other 3 teams have multiple cards and Arsenal only have a few.
Either way Shaktar are sounding off to anyone that will listen that tonight in the Ukraine things will be different and Arsenal won’t be so fortunate to get 5 past them. There may be something to that as the Gunners don’t have a winning track record when the go off to the Ukraine. In all their travels to the former Soviet republic they have played 4 matches and lost 3 and drawn 1. Most recently, they were drubbed by Shaktar 3-0 in the 2000-2001 Champion’s League group stages.
Again this is a situation where the Gunners can’t be complacent with their success. They need to secure a win or draw to qualify for their 11th conesecutive trip to the knock out stages of Europe’s most lucrative club competition. They will do so while leaving some noticeable first teamers in London. Cesc Fabregas is staying home to give him some rest after a slight concern on his nagging thigh injury. Andrei Arshavin has an “infection” and Denilson and Song are also getting rests.
Our lads in red have been on their own run of form of late having beaten Shaktar, Man City, and Newcastle all rather soundly (13-1 total score in all three matches) and ground out a hard fought 1-0 win against a determined West Ham side. Even with those left at home, the Gunners have enough depth to provide a potent attacking option. The only decision is who comes in as the midfielder to replace Song? If it is a defencive choice, it could be Eastmond. If Arsene wants an all out attack he could add the impressive Henri Lansbury who was the star of the Carling Cup win over Tottenham. And while Marouane Chamakh has been a bear in the Champion’s League, I suspect he might come in from the bench which would make our front line: Walcott, Bendtner, and Nasri.
This match also marks the first time since the last match against Shaktar that Jack Wilshere can play. I suspect he will be raring to go with his new contract and a desire to prove he can with or without Cesc Fabregas on the pitch. Frankly, if he plays like he did against Chelsea, with purpose and directness, then I suspect Shaktar could have a long night of chasing the ball and chasing the Gunners.
This is a match Arsenal must absolutely put away early. Get two quick goals and take the Shaktar crowd out of it. Once you put it away, then play holding the ball all you want and rest on the fact you’ve secured your ticket to the next round.
How the Match Should Play Out:
While I would love this to be a sprint out of the blocks with the 2 goals I mentioned above, this will likely be one of those drawn out affairs where neither club scores till either late in the first or early in the 2nd half. Arsenal aren’t the best of travellers to regions like this and will likely take their time to get into the match. I suspect though the likes of Nasri or Wilshere in the lineup will be too much for Shaktar to handle. And the creativity they present should unlock another determined opponnent.
Players To Watch:
Arsenal: Theo Walcott hasn’t shown any signs that his early season form was a fluke. A similar performance today will only go further to showing that he has certainly turned a corner.
Shaktar: Eduardo He got a goal and a roaring applause from the Arsenal faitful after the win had been secured. Today he is on a mission to win.
Probable Starting XI:
Arsenal: Fabianski, Eboue, Clichy, Squillaci, Koscielny, Rosicky, Wilshere, Lansbury, Walcott, Nasri, Bendtner
Shaktar: Pyatov; Srna, Chygrynskiy, Rakitskiy, Rat; Stepanenko, Gai, Teixeira, Eduardo, Willian; Luiz Adriano.
Injuries/Suspensions:
Arsenal: Vermaelen (achilles) Van Persie (ankle) Ramsey (ankle) Frimpong (knee) Diaby (ankle)
Shaktar: Fernandinho (leg) Mkhitaryan (infection) Jadson (foot)
Broadcast:
US: FSC (replay) 8:00 pm EST, foxsoccer.tv (live) 3:45 pm EST
UK: Sky Sports 2 1945 BST
Feeds:
www.atdhe.net
GAMEDAY CHAT: It’s Open!!!!!! www.youaremyarsenal.com/gamedaychat
YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 2
Shaktar: 1
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Yes, the Sun and Mirror HAD – looks like they have been removed – stories about an allegged affair between Wenger and a french female rapper.
If it’s true we now know how Manuel Almunia was able to get a spot on tis team – he had the pictures.
lol….
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/feedarticle/9348133
Anyone have any idea what this is about??
Random musings:
Just watching the Tottenham game, Bale obv being man of the moment, a lot of attention on him and his runs down the left flank. I agree that Sagna is one of the first names that would come to mind when thinking of a RB to counter his threat (but then again, Maicon would be as well). It got me thinking about players with pace and how we have Walcott (who does do his share of tracking back for the most part).
Does anyone remember Henry, when he lost the ball on a dribble, he would sprint back to retrieve it (or foul the guy who dared to rob him?). It used to get me pumped every single time, watching his pace and determination! I really hope Walcott does that to Bale, I don’t care how fast he is he’s not faster than Theo. And as a football player, it’s complete humiliation to get dominated for pace the way Thierry used to do (or the way Bale did to Maicon). The opponent is left absolutely helpless and dreading the rest of the game.
Uhmm.. Ya that ‘s it. Dunno if I’m the only one who used to love that about Henry…
Yeah, I got up early to watch Bolton-Spurs and it’s been fairly enjoyable….4-2 it finishes with Gallas showing a trick he learned from Clichy to create the Penalty which led to the decisive third….And David Bentley finally gets into his first league match of the season….
Re: the #14s…TH14s ability to freeze defenders with the ball at his feet is something I’ve never even SEEN TW14 attempt. Theo’s pace, on the run, is spectacular, but if he could do it from a stand-still, with the ball…..well that would be something….
And on a personal note, comparing the performance of my fantasy team to our fearless leader (Ozi), I think I’m (momentarily) out-scoring him! (this week only–it can’t last….) It’s on the back of Kevin Davies brace vs Cahill conceding two….(And if only I’d thrown Petrov into my MF, but I knew he wouldn’t start….) No Spurs in my team either….(And I love that you’ve made Flappy your keeper….more guts than me….)
Bale IS a strong player but beyond him, Lennon and Defoe, Spurs are a slow team and his pace on the wing is less useful than it otherwise might be. And without Van der Vaart (who I think works well to help settle possession and, obviously, has been finishing well) Spurs do not look like they’ll be able to have fun in Europe and get back there next season. Of course, much of that depends on ManCity stopping their free-fall. But maybe the players there are stumping for a change in manager….Good times, but only if we take care of business vs Newcastle….
Now watching ManU-Wolves (who we play Wednesday)….
Hargreaves out of the match after 5 mins….reminds me of RVP….
I feel that our season and our general sense of progress will be measured by how we do against United. We’re likely to face them (once or twice) in the Carling Cup, twice in the league and probably in the other two cups as well. And we’re level on points at the moment….
Rooney’s getting his head (and body) straight in the States. Nani (rested today) and Chicharito have steadied the ship and Bebe and Obertan look speedy and useful (as Valencia did before his injury). Players like Fletcher, Park and Carrick (not to mention geriatric Giggs and Scholes), while unspectacular, seem to keep things together and get the job done.
Of course their defense, as old/experienced as ours is young/new, and equally thin in numbers, is always just an injury or bone-headed mistake (or two or three) from being the difference….
It won’t be easy, but if we could nose ahead of United and show some measure of demonstrable superiority….well, for me at least, it would be a pretty big deal….
Dammit…so close to Wolves taking points…Park gets both goals….
Brutal….
Uh huh. Andez’s man Park does it again. Ah well..
Midweek is NOT going to be an easy game. We better get the ball rolling with a good performance tomorrow
Yeah, Park (and Fletcher, I thought) played pretty well.
It was a remarkably clean game, played at a fairly slow pace. The only yellow given was to Chicharito for diving, showing again that he might be able to slot right in for Rooney….(winky face) And where was Berbatov?
Big match tomorrow as Newcastle will be pumped up from our CC match and their drubbing of Sunderland.
Ozi, were you the guy who called Barton, et al. to attempt a maiming tomorrow? Also, I’m still ahead of you on the day in the fantasy league (with 5 players played)! What’s with playing Carroll up front and Flappy in goal? Seems a contradiction….
I basically don’t care anymore with RVP. He’s an idiot, who’ll contrive to injure himself in some avoidable fashion pretty soon.
Looking at the situation objectively, the internationals seem to be coming at a good time. If it were this wednesday coming up, then too soon, but wednesday week should be perfect.
On the surface it appears that RvP is indicating to van Marwijk that he is ready to play…..but that may not be what RvP has indicated.
Maybe we should wait for more details.
I used to look forward to Arsenal matches especially following RvP…….but with all the injuries over the past 3 years, I admit the luster is dulling.
RvP reminds me of Rooney- their temperament (short fuse). Not the type of player that keeps his cool when its most needed.
What’s all the commotion about RvP playing for Holland?
If he’s back in training, then he needs to play somewhere at sometime to regain form and match fitness. We have a difficult 8 weeks ahead. If he gets hurt for Holland or against Wolves, what’s the difference, its his fate. HE IS ONE PLAYER and if the fate of our season hangs with his health, ARSENAL are in trouble.
If by playing and training for Holland gets him back to his competitive form sooner – then its a bonus for Arsenal and the player.
Training or playing football is a risk and as fans we must bite the bullet and accept the cards we’re dealt.
re: Clichy
did any of you catch the real madrid v. acMilan match? PePe (for Real) many would consider one of the top CB’s in the world…….committed a similar blunder in the 2nd half (at the time Real was leading 1-0); that
directly mirrored Clichy’s mistake – leading to a cross and goal being scored to tie the match. The Real keeper, Cassilles (whom many rate highly) made a contributing howler on the same play that led to a goal.
Later, another defensive blunder by keeper and CB to allow inzagni to score. We’ve seen Van der Sar and Reina drop catchable balls for no reason. If you watch enough football in every league – good players make mistakes.
I like Clichy’s attitude and drive. His overall play far outweighs his few blunders – but obviously not for others. Squillaci is a 30 yr old experienced CB: how many open headers should he be missing from 4 yds out? how many penalty kicks should rosicky, arshavin, and cesc be missing?
Sh*t happens.
Some of you only find joy in others misery.
If he gets hurt in Holland it’s his ‘fate’? So what’s happening to Arsenal is all pre-destined?
How about priorities? Those of us who root for Arsenal would much rather see RVP get healthy and play MEANINGFUL games for the team that pays him as opposed to risking his already perilously, historically fragile body playing a MEANINGLESS game for Holland?
That’s really such an unreasonable thing to ask?
RvP injured his ankle in league play. Nasri broke his leg in training with Arsenal. Frimpong damaged his knee in Arsenal training. Djourou injured on international call. Diaby and Eduardo injured in Arsenal competition; Rosicky injured in international call up. Bendtner injured in league play. Theo injured in both. Vermaelen – international duty injury. Look at Gibbs freak injury to his meta tarsal last fall (league play). Cesc out, as well as Diaby – so Wilshere gets the nod.
Who would have thought that Cesc would have injured his hamstring from blocking a Sunderland backs clearance?
If Bendtner were on the form of last spring and healthy AS WELL AS RVP……how much playing time would we have seen from Chamakh? Vermaelen out for 2 months: allowing the playing time that Djourou, Squillaci, and Koscielny have received and verified their selection by our manager.
Injuries can happen anywhere at anytime was my point.
There is no way for a manager or fans to speculate what is a safe contest for the player.
I totally support the idea that since the club is paying his salary, the club should have some influence over these playing options for its players.
Whether you or I like this or not, its not our decision, nor the clubs regarding international duty.
Playing for your country trumps club, in the players psyche.
All of these injuries are benefiting Arsenal, creating positional depth and competition among positions!
We all will agree that if RvP gets injured during his call up; he will be under tremendous criticism by EVERYONE……and deserved.
Session, I feel you regarding both player injuries and player mistakes.
Regarding van Persie’s injury, I think he’s been fit for a few weeks now but Wenger was just wrapping him in wool to ensure he was fully fit with no residual effects before playing him. If that’s the case, RvP needs to understand the boss’ intent. It’s tough for young jocks because they desperately want to be playing and believe if they can walk that they can play.
RvP has suffered two very serious injuries in meaningless friendlies that have led to us losing him essentially for two seasons. He’s yet to prove his fitness for the club but is potentially being put at risk in yet another meaningless friendly despite being seriously injured in his last friendly. All of the fuss is because there is no compensation to the club if a player is injured in a friendly match. Another factor is that van Persie is too good to not be playing for such long periods of time. Yet another factor is that van Marwijk already knows what van Persie is capable of and to risk a player that’s not fully fit in a friendly seems irresponsible. Hopefully, he has no intention of playing van Persie as this is only a preliminary squad. Dirk Kuyt and Mark van Bommel have also been called up and the two of them are also far from fit. We’ll see.
this policy is not newly installed……and we have been down this road b4 with dutch and vPersie.
So the issue is not van Marwijk or dutch federation; its common sense of player.
“van Marwijk already knows what van Persie is capable of and to risk a player that’s not fully fit in a friendly seems irresponsible.”
like the type of person that would allow his daughter to marry Mark van Bommel?
Dear RvP in the eye of the storm again.
He has been called up for Holland’s “meaningless” friendly and reports say that he will be joining up with them. Apparently, the Dutch coach has spoken directly to RvP.
If RvP is really committed to Arsenal, all he has to do is stand up and let the Dutch coach know that he is unavailable for this game. After all, it is only a friendly.
Isn’t it?
Before everyone goes annointing Bale the best thing since sliced bread.
I want to show you this stat:
Bale 2010 EPL 10 games played. 2 goals 0 assists.
He’s had two very good games against Inter sure. He looked good. But did you see him against a United side that aren’t that good this year? Very pedestrian. Actually, he’s looked very pedestrian in all his league matches.
I mean hell the press are comparing him to Messi. Personally I think its all part of the presses attempt to not make Fat ‘Arry look bad. I mean we couldn’t say that Bale is good but needs to be consistent could we? Not when he is being coached by the next great legend of English Football – Fat ‘Arry Redknapp.
That’s not fair on him DAG. He’s been immense. Not a “legend” that’s gonna make an all-time 11 yet, but he does have the potential. And in 2010, I think you would be hard pressed to find anyone who’s done better on the left wing.
His lack of assists is more to do with Tottenham’s shit forwards. The stats show he’s put in more crosses than any other player in the league..And plenty of times, he’s made sure that his teammates have more space by occupying 2 of the opponents. Decent defensive qualities for a winger as well.
@ Chicago:
When Bale skinned Maicon in the run-up for the third goal, I was thinking holy-shit, Gareth Bale is officially the fastest white guy in the world! :-D
Heh. Though miraculously, I remember Sol keeping up with him in a footrace last season. The power of behind a strong will I guess (or maybe the power behind African genes)…
With all of English football chattering about Gareth Bale I had to go watch some YouTube clips. The boy is good. Damn good. Thank god we have Sagna at RB. Hopefully he will be up to the task of guarding Bale in the upcoming NLD. Everton/Man U dealt with him effectively by doubling him; the opposite of this is Rafa. He proved again that he is an assclown of a coach by refusing to change his defensive strategy against Bale, despite conceding a 2nd-half hat-trick to him only a fortnight before this week’s game.
Which is why we need Sagna so badly against Spurs. When it comes to defensive strategy and “Plan B’s” Aresne has proven time and again that neither of those are his forte. He is more likely to do as Inter did than as Everton/Man U did. Fortunately, I can think of few if any RB’s I’d rather have on my team than Sagna.
Totally agree
Sagna is not enough. He will need help from … midfield.
But then again Arsenal is a “special” club with superhuman defenders who absolutely do not need any protection from their midfield ;-)
Is Jose still keen on taking Clichy to Real Mad?
He might be. Perhaps Clichy would regain his form of old under a coaching staff that emphasizes defensive tactics and organization. Some of his calamities may still occur, but I feel like a majority of them could be eliminated with the practice and discipline that would be imparted on him by a different sort of coaching staff.
I think Clichy Sagna and Theo have become my favorite players.
:)
stag133 Reply:
November 4th, 2010 at 22:52
who’d you rather have at LB?
Gibbs is injured…
The TEAM played like RUBBISH for the most part…
As noted, Clichy actually played well at times…
You can hate on him all you like, but he’s one of our better players.
If he were to get injured now, you’d realize just how important he is.
—————————-
Played well at times? Are you fucking joking? Played well by what barometer?? Clichy was shit.
If you “play well” (which in this game means being useless offensively and defensively) and commit a few blunders that LOSE your team the game you have “not been one of the better players”. Sorry.
If that is the standard, then Almunia and Fabianski were excellent GKs last season no?
And no, having an injured backup LB doesnt make the starting LB a good player.
Get a towel and wipe the egg off your face. :-)
Defend Calamity any more and he will make sure to send a few more eggs flying your way at the weekend ;-)
best LB in the league behind Ash.
What the hell happened to Harvard Nordveit? And why isn’t Wenger playing him more?
Last season he was starting for Nuremberg as a DM … he played regularly enough, they wanted to buy him after the loan, Wenger declined and brought him back … now, he is not even making the squad in a team that has Eastmond starting as a DM.
I now understand why Szczesny is refusing the sign a new contract.
————————————————–
Guys, it is not our forwards fault our attack sometimes lacks width or fluidity. The only problem our attack has is the FULL BACKS. In a 4-3-3 they are absolutely crucial for the attack.
I assure you if we had full-backs that were actually any good, could reach the byline intelligently and could put in dangerous, accurate crosses, our bevy of centrist midgets would be click.
And no, its not the job of Arshavin or Walcott or Nasri to cover for the full backs. In a 4-3-3 – they are too high up the pitch – it is the DM and CM’s job. The wing forwards then drop deeper to take up the vacated midfielders roles if needed.
But then again, Arsenal is a mighty team and doesnt really need a DM. The sole DM at the club wants to be Fabregas, the other that might be able to attempt doing the job is left to rot in the reserves and a Denilson clone is brought in for laughs.
We need an additional DM and a very good LB. Wenger would never do that. Hence we wont win squat.
This one thing I’ve always felt Danny T talks shit about it. He’s always going on about width to come across like some tactical genius when our problems have nothing to with playing too centrally or not using width enough. Last night for example Nasri went wide and passed to Clichy when Wilshere had ghosted into a central area and would have been free if Nasri had spotted him. Playing centrally and then bottling the penetrative/key central pass is always our problem.
Also a feature of our play has been our awful full back crosses. That suggests we use width quite often.
As you said, it’s all about execution and decision-making.
Our problems are threefold:
1) Lack of penetration and execution in the final third.
2) Stupid goal keeping.
3)Stupid defensive lapses.
This has been our story for the past 5 seasons.
Mazza,
By width, I mean a STRONG productivity (or threat) from the flanks. With a substantial threat of the full backs getting behind the defensive line and possibly getting to the byline, the opposition’s defense HAS to spread out – thereby causing space in the middle. THAT is what “width” is all about.
If you know for sure that the oppo’s fullbacks will not get behind you and if they did will not put in an accurate cross or do anything substantial with it THEN you can clog up the middle …
We NEED fullbacks that opponents fear. Ones that get behind the line and do enough damage, that even when they dont make runs, they are anticipated.
If you are a leftback playing Barca, you know have to watch for Alves or you might be done. You are going to move closer towards the sideline than towards your own CBs. That means more space in the middle for Messi and co. Width does NOT mean always passing to the wingbacks all the time like retards, the way Arsenal do it.
When you have a multitude of central creative midfielders, does it not make sense to actually have very good fullbacks to allow the AMs flourish?
We basically agree. It’s a personnel problem largely with the full backs not providing width high enough up the pitch or decent cut backs. Danny T does criticise the crossing of the full backs but he also vaguely lumps it under Wenger’s ‘tactics’, which is cliched, lazy analysis, and not really true.
Agree with everything you (CK) are saying here except about it being an important CL away game…If we win our remaining matches we go through top on goal differential. Yes, it would have been nice to have those matches available for (deep) squad rotation, but with the length of the trip, etc., I don’t think it’s bad to have rested Cesc, Arshavin and Song. Denilson and Diaby, we have to assume, are actually injured….(but who knows….)
Certainly it was a winnable match and with Eastmond over his head (but still extremely young)and Frimpong out for the season we are exceptionally short in all positions that are remotely defensive. There has been some notion of Djourou playing at DM, where he’s played before, I believe.. It’s not what I want to see as I don’t find him totally convincing as a CB and I think he could use more experience to solidify his positioning (better last night). Given the personnel on hand, however, perhaps playing Koscielny with Djourou at DM might’ve given Jack and Nasri more freedom to get forward where we needed them while chasing the game.
No particular thoughts on Eboue’s “performance”…..?
And finally, congrats on adding “Calamity” to the lexicon….(although it would be nice if it were to fade away). I’m pretty sure I came up with “Perma-Crock”, another term I’d like to use/see less….
It’s still the same close but no cigar squad of previous seasons, filled with a mixture of class, clowns, and calamities. We will win f-all(of real importance) for that reason.
All top sides have average players, but our worst players are also incredibly idiosyncratic as well. They’ve all harnessed their own form of tom-foolery and like multiple ticking time bombs, explode sporadically throughout the season.
Meanwhile, Wenger comes out with the classic “we’ve learned that you need to focus to win at the top level” clap trap for the hundredth time. With a straight face.
The three C’s, very nice….(and I’m definitely glomming onto “Tubby Tourist”, for the muchacho from Cancun….)
At the moment we cannot field a team without at least one of the latter two Cs (clowns and calamities) at fullback. In the off-season it SEEMED a position of decent strength (or at least experience) but now it’s our very worst.
I know you want a whole new regime, but it is what it is (as the world’s most stupid saying goes), and I just hope for our class players to be healthy and in form at the right moments. Another hope is that our “squad” players can improve (theoretically possible) and actually learn from their mistakes. Maybe they’ll never be true “can’t drop” first teamers, but good enough to slot into a quorum of classier mates in times of need. A few to me (I’m thinking of a clown….) need to show me something…and quick.
There ARE lessons to be learned and I can think of at least one player with real class who would like a do-over on an open shot from the top of the box which would have given us a result. (Jack Wilshere)
Personally, I thought AW was fairly tough on the team after the match… http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/9157916.stm But, if you hate the man, I can see how every word grates…
‘Hate’ is probably too strong a word, but yes, he does annoy me immensely I have to say. I know you started following us in 06/07 so his ‘unique’ approach and wise words still carry novel value, but I’m frankly sick of him. Especially when I see him gesticulating on the touchline like the events unfolding in front of him are some sort of new thing that has plagued our game suddenly.
Of course, there are plenty who still love him, and instead of getting angry they take comfort in his stern reaction and words, like it’s something new and with the promise of ushering in a new switched on Arsenal. Again, not new, and ‘Angry Arsene’ has been angry for a while, and still we get no nearer(imo) in our efforts to attain this much feted maturity.
I’ve got great hopes for Wilshere, but like Vermaelen, and Sagna a few years before, it won’t be enough. The clowns will pull off too many party tricks.
@Highbury
1) The game was important in that if we drew we could rest major players with our heavy upcoming schedule, allow some of the injured to recuperate properly and give the young boys a chance to shine or end up in a pile of shit.
2) Eboue? did he play :) Not one of his better games, but like many others, did nothing to speak about, good or bad.
Actually Eboue did LOTS of bad.
Yep CK, Eboue was poor, 2nd half at least.
Just an off day I hope. He played as bad as Clichy does when he comes back from injury but with a lot less adventure.
Yes, Theo scored a great goal, and yes, he is always a threat. However, I have been saying for years that he can’t play a complete game and like yesterday, simply gets lost for 10-20 minutes at a time. What does that mean? It means we are playing with 10 men for long periods of time.
Even if you are not up front and scoring, you need to interchange, track back and assist, or do anything, except hang out on the wing by the half line hoping you will get a ball. Very frustrating from someone with so much potential.
NB? Well, as usual he makes great cameos when coming on as a substitute but I find it hard pressed to remember him substantially influencing a game as a starter. He may be decent, but not yet fit to clean Chamakh’s shoes at this time.
Starting Eastmond, an 18 year old with limited game time, in an important CL away game against a good team in a hostile environment is just plain stupid. Don’t blame the kid for that one, blame Arsene. We certainly had other options as we could have gone with Wilshere as DM and any combination of Lansbury, Nasri, Rosicky and Eboue as his partners. Which we eventually did in the 2nd stanza.
Clichy? Well, to all the rose tinted glass wearers, you have now seen why I coined his nickname “CALAMITY”. Every game he has 2 or 3 brain farts which sometimes goes unpunished against inferior opposition.
What pissed me off most of all was that apart from Wilshere, Nasri and Rosicky no one had a sense of urgency, especially when we fell behind.
It was not a bad or telling loss, just a stupid loss which could easily have been avoided.
BTW, Fabianski once again turned in a good shift, just hope Clichey’s “brain fart-eritis” disease is not contagious.
Walcott has improved on his strengths but with him in the team we will never be classed as a great side or one on the same level as Barcelona. Whatever you gain with pace and penetration you lose with shoddy combination play.
Alot of our early momentum in the game was ruined by his old weaknesses rearing their ugly head. Giving the ball away and giving encouragment to Shaktar.
Yet Walcott was far more effective than Bendtner and has been in fantastic goalscoring form. The boy has been in great form, he has only just returned from injury yet you choose to critise him instead of the your other saviour Bendtner, who despite his size never seems to be able to hold the ball up.
If we never seen as the same level as Barca it will have nothing to do with Walcott, why you seem to want to put all arsenal’s definciencies on his shoulders in this instance I don’t know.
I have been one of Theo’s greatest critics, but I don’t think now is the time for criticism for a young guy who seems to have improved a lot and tken his game to the next level.
And Bendtner was ‘effective’ against City and Newcastle. Don’t really get your point.
Bendtner played shit I agree and I also think we can never be classed as a top side with him up front. But then I would say the same for Chamakh as well, and Diaby, and Song, and Clichy, and Djourou, AND Denilson. Plenty of time left in the season to give the squad a nice collective slating Art ;)
I am convinced you do get my point. I just think it is unfair for Theo to get so much derision in this instance when Bendtner played far worse.
I will brace myself from the collective squad bashing later on in the season, but then again Wenger might shut you up by winning the league or something. With the weakness of the opposition i still have Hippie Hope® :-D
Off-topic. Jose is The Man. I can’t tell him and the puppet apart anymore, but they’re both awesome. Picture worth a thousands words.
How you like me now, Milan?
http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/blog/dirty-tackle/post/Jose-Mourinho-reminds-booing-AC-Milan-fans-who-w?urn=sow-282326
As Fred notes above, the battle with Newcastle is far more significant. If allowing key players some rest, that contributes to our good play and 3 points on Sunday; so be it. We will all forget the match yesterday quickly.
Shaktar is a good squad. Pressure, tackle, speed and strength, pass well and their play reminds me of Birmingham’s effective style last season. No disgrace to lose at this away fixture, but the ways we gave away the goals were preventable.
Agree with most of HTS’s comments above, especially about Eboue. His last few matches at RB have been good shifts, so I was amazed that for 90 minutes we had the Eboue 1.0 version back with us.
some additional thoughts:
– eboue (see above)
– jack and samir seemed to be missing for large segments of the match and their creative talents are essential if Arsenal are to be successful against any opponent. I thought Shaktar were effective in limiting jack from going forward and cutting off Nasri.
– theo brilliant goal; and some good movement to create other strikes; but he too was missing for large pockets of time; he needs to learn to hold the ball better and craft a better short passing game.
– eastmond; he should go out on loan and work on upper body strength. Not sure he should have been the one to mark Czycrgyzdtczzy on the free kick. I believe his recovery was slow when Clichy lost the ball; just a half step late in intercepting the cross to Eduardo.
on a positive take:
– fabianski had another good performance.
– Djourou and Squillaci (under much pressure) gave good accounts of themselves.
– Bendtner and Theo only need more playing time
– FOR A CHANGE, vela looked industrious……hustling on defense and offense. His quick turn and shot (though at the keeper) was a spontaneous reaction we need from our strikers.
– other starters received some well deserved time off
Clichy did make a poor decision in not clearing the ball. When Eduardo scored I was thinking that the Eduardo of last year would have missed that goal. Wish him the best.
For this season, Clichy is playing well and for the other 90 minutes Arsenal missed their chances.
Well, what can I add? Not much. I think AW said it well, that the team got complacent after the goal and Chicago’s quote above about our pathetic fullbacks speaks volumes….Additionally, I think we need to acknowledge that we put out an awfully weak squad and we got about the result we deserved. It’s just that it’s extra frustrating after going up a goal….
Positives: Sicky working hard, Jack looking very Cesc-like with his head up while smartly running onto balls and then presenting a stunning range of passes. Theo IS the fastest player in the sport and getting very confident with his right footed finishes. And Flappy really does have some quick reactions and our 2nd choice Central Defenders, I thought, were reasonably positioned and covered decently for (woeful) Eboue, Eastmond and Clichy.
But then the negatives. Clichy’s mistake was so glaring that maybe it’ll get him re-focused. Eboue, however, looks as if actually getting time on the pitch is not really his bag. He’s a whacko, for sure, and he appears to be just going through the motions, at best searching for opportunities to do the only things he can do: dive or make saving/reckless tackles. Has he gained a little weight? He seems to be caught standing A LOT and then tries, sort of, to catch players with his memory of a pace that is no longer there. With Gibbs out we are supremely screwed if Sagna or Clichy get hurt. I’m very surprised that we didn’t bring Nordtveit on this trip and I’m wondering what the Manager is thinking about our defense. Six healthy players for 4 positions (and can our CBs play FB and visa versa?) does not seem enough, esp, when one really just wants to be the team mascot….
Further forward, Bendtner cannot lead the line Makh style and I found myself really missing RVP. Jack, Sicky and Nasri made some nice passes in to Nicky B, but he just doesn’t have the pace/quickness to gather himself to make a protective or incisive first touch. In truth, he’s more of an opportunistic forward with decent size and skills than a real work-horse. Theo is similar, but with the opposite attributes, and really does not help us establish or maintain possession. If the ball breaks nicely for these guys and they are able to have a good first touch things can happen, otherwise, not so much….
And when the subs came on (pushing timid Nasri back) it was all too much individual effort (Vela’s snap-shot, for me, being the highlight) and too many giveaways with big efforts to stop Shaktar’s counter. We put a decent number of balls on target, but weakly and often right at the keeper. Frankly, it could have been worse, and if Jack and Nasri had really gone for it offensively, we might have given up more at the other end.
Oh well….Hopefully some lessons learned and some key players rested….Newcastle will be VERY fired up for our next match after we drubbed them in the CC and they piled it on Sunderland in their next one. We’ll need to be extra composed in the first 20 mins of that match or we could suffer. I expect confrontations on many levels (Joey Barton vs. Cesc, round II….) and Ameobe and Carroll will be a handful for our defenders. We need to outplay them in MF, control possesion and, when they get frustrated, bait them into getting sent off, rather than the other way around….It’s a lot to ask of a team whose own maturity is still a (giant) question mark….
I saw the second half of our game and the whole of the Milan vs Real game (replays both). One thing amazed me.
The amount of play acting and time wasting. It is unbelievable.
Something needs to be done and fast.
Yes, that’s one reason I much prefer the English game. Sure, there are many play acting in EPL as well these days. But comparing to Series A, La Liga or the majority of leagues elsewhere, the play acting in the Prem is kindergarten stuff.
Just look at that Shaktar captain last night, he was a f*cking joke. He’s the captain for pete’s sake, I thought captain is supposed to be tough, determined, a real man. That Shaktar captain was worse than a p*ssy, rolling around on the floor after a slight touch every time. That’s what they called “lead by example” I supposed.
That is exactly why I have almost completely given up on watching Serie A and the Spanish Liga (other than select Barca, Madrid games) live on TV.
Its just a frustrating waste of time.
In Serie A especially, I saw a stat showing that only 56 minutes of “real” football is played on average as compared to low 80s in the EPL and low 70s in the Spanish Liga.
So watching a Serie A game is pretty much like watching an hour of defensive teams slug it out and 30 minutes of exaggerated rolls, hand gestures and gimmicks.
If I were Wenger, I would give Clichy a 3-word advice, just 3, no more, no less – “Keep it simple”. Especially when you are under pressure and in dangerous area.
I like Clichy. He is one of the few players in our current squad who has a real battling heart. The West Ham match for example, when the majority of our players on the pitch were seemingly like going through motion in the first half, Clichy was the only one who played with a sense of urgency and intensity.
Nevertheless, he does need to cut down those silly, yet crucial mistakes he has a tendency to make from time to time.
I wouldn’t say that mistake he committed last night was due to lack of concentration, more like poor decision-making to me. I understand why he wanted to shield the ball and let it run out of touchline for a throw in, but you gotta take a look of the size and strength of your opponent before deciding what is the better option. Conceding a throw in is not the end of the world, we are not talking about Stoke City here.
I still haven’t seen the goals or the first half, but I think Clichy was impressive in the second half he won a fair few balls and looked useful going forward.
Like Fred said he should be learning from his mistakes. It is not the first time he has been shamed whilst trying to let the ball run out of play or trying to prevent the ball going out of play.
Rosicky impressed me the most with some fantastic through balls that Cesc would have been proud of, it is a pity our strikers were not able to reward his endeavour with a goal. Also I noticed he looked very mobile and bright wasn’t afraid to run with the ball, twisting and turning the full repertoire, looks like Rosicky maybe back to his best.
In contrast Eboue looked really tentative and negative most of the half, got caught woefully out of position on a couple of occasions, disappointed with his performance. But hey it may have just been a off day not going to slate him.
I may have been complacency that cost in the first half, thought it was going to be a walk in the park after the first goal, I don’t know but loss against Shaktar away from home is nothing for the Mongers to get excited about :snicker:
http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/shakhtar-donetsk-arsenal-7425317/
Thanks Nip I will look at them later and watch the whole half sometime this week.
Arthur, I told you two years ago Clichy was a mistake-prone clown who had to be jettisoned immediately. Here we are now, two years later, and the penny finally drops for Art. Take heed of the Mazzaratti ;)
Mazza Clichy’s errors are there for all to see. But on form he is still a very good LB unfortunately his form hasn’t been up to scratch for sometime now and the mistakes are becoming just as frequent as when he first started at LB. I remember implying that we would be in big trouble when Ashley left. After his first season as number 1 LB he proved me wrong.
It is just the lifecycle of a footballer , good form bad form. Still s a Arsenal player I will respect him and support him.
Well spotted Mazzarati ;-)
Just saw the goals.
Walcott’s goal was so Henry-esque. Quick break and quick strike.
Clichy’s calamity would have been hilarious, if it wasn’t so pissing off.
I did not wake up at 3 am to watch this game. I am not surprised by the result. The former Soviet Union is a tough place to go, Arsenal have a poor record in Ukraine and we were missing a few players. With our goal difference, this result should not affect our topping the group. But it may mean that we have to win our next two games and therefore take them seriously.
I hope the key players are sufficiently rested and fresh for the next three games which are key for our title chase – Newcastle, Wolves and Everton.
PS: I am off on vacation and will be missing the next three games. I hope to come back and see that we have taken 9 points out of 9.
Stag, where are you?? Any new sassy comments to make about your boy, Calamity? LOL!
Both fullbacks, Eboue and Clichy are as thick as rocks … making the same mistakes for years and never learning. But Clichy takes it to a whole new level.
This game like all CL group games are meaningless. Nobody really cares about a loss here … but if we had won 4-0, the hippies would have come out telling us about how the team has “turned the corner” and is now “more mature”.
The Newcastle game on Sunday is about 4 to 5 times more important.
——————————————
Eastmond is pretty much a clone of Denilson – explaining why Wenger seems to prefer him to Landsbury and Coquelin before him – even if the latter duo are far more hardworking and have more husstle.
You can be sure Eastmond will get more chances to fail than Vela, JET or Lansbury.
Another lackadaisical, immobile, “technical” player who doesnt follow his man, cant head and cant tackle. Just great.
who’d you rather have at LB?
Gibbs is injured…
The TEAM played like RUBBISH for the most part…
As noted, Clichy actually played well at times…
You can hate on him all you like, but he’s one of our better players.
If he were to get injured now, you’d realize just how important he is.
Played well at times? Are you fucking joking? Played well by what barometer?? Clichy was shit.
If you “play well” (which in this game means being useless offensively and defensively) and commit a few blunders that LOSE your team the game you have “not been one of the better players”. Sorry.
If that is the standard, then Almunia and Fabianski were excellent GKs last season no?
And no, having an injured backup LB doesnt make the starting LB a good player.
Get a towel and wipe the egg off your face. :-)
Defend Calamity any more and he will make sure to send a few more eggs flying your way at the weekend ;-)
Thoroughly uninspiring performance, but Arthur is right it isn’t mission critical.
I’m sorry but Clichy is a prime-time liability. Even in the 2nd half he was casual at times and played in a typically undisciplined manner (and you can’t even blame Arshavin for not covering! :-) ). Watch the goal. I’ve watched him closely recently trying to pinpoint why he is so often a trigger for a calamitous event. Well, with Clichy goals often happen because he’s caught out of position (hardly a unique observation I know!). His speed, which should be an asset, is his mental undoing. He thinks his speed will allow him to recover (for his roaming and sloppy positioning) but it doesn’t. At this level when your caught badly out of position the opposition use the ball quickly before you have the chance to recover and close it down. This added to his lack of upper-body strength means when he’s out of position he gets easily brushed aside. It happened today – it happens often.
I agree on Bendtner. He’s scored a couple of well taken goals but when seen starting in a competitive away game we see all the things that limit Nick. He is slow. At this stage he isn’t a patch on Chamakh. But Arsene was right to start Nick, Chamakh needed a rest and Bendtner should have been adequate – although ultimately he wasn’t (not for the first time).
I didn’t think Rosicky was particularly noteworthy and Vela’s cameo was underwhelming, he looks inconsequential. Carlos seemed to think his close ball skills were better than they are – Shaktar continually dispossessed him.
Who did I like? Walcott and Wilshere in particular. I think we needed Fabregas, with his passing acumen in combination with Wilshere we would have released (and supported) Walcott more often.
Depth = answers. Today we didn’t have them.
It should be said that at times Shaktar looked very very good.
I would have liked to have seen Chamakh and JET introduced together with 25 min’s to go – bringing some size and variety. Bendtner and the midgets just weren’t doing it.
Missed the first half and Clichy’s error but he was pretty good in the 2nd.
We looked like an understrength team away playing a hard game far away from home against a decent side. We have a great depth in our squad but it was not good enough to turn around what I presume was a poor first half performance.
I thought we looked bright for periods in the 2nd half Rosicky being the stand out creative player although apart from the odd stray pass
Wilshere looked bright too. I was particularly impressed with Nasri as once again he continued to hold onto the ball too long.
I didn’t see Walcotts goal but he looks dangerous with his newfound confidence, shame about Bendtner looked like his old sluggish self with that old dodgy first touch. Sometimes I think it is a mental thing with him, because I know he can turn it on when he is up for it.
Not such an important game though really we could afford to lose this one and still go through, so don’t worry be Hippie :-D
Headline at F365:
“Pair Of Pathetic Full Backs Give Donetsk Timely Win.”
I am at work and could not watch the match; the best I could do was a live text commentary.
Calamity strikes again
I’m in GDC – where are you lot?
Confirmed Starting XI:
Fabianski, Eboue, Djourou, Squillaci, Clichy, Eastmond, Wilshere, Nasri, Rosicky, Walcott, Bendtner
Subs: Chesney, Sagna, Koscielny, Vela, Chamakh, JET, Lansbury
Eduardo starts up front for Shaktar
Denilson, Fabregas, Song and Arshavin are not making the trip so the biggest question is who will occupy the 3 MF spots. Either Nasri or Rosicky will fill in for El Kapitan as the playmaker, with the other one going to the wing. Wilshere will be the DM with either Diaby, Eastmond or Lansbury taking the third position. I really can’t see either Lansbury or Eastmond starting a CL game away to an excellent Shaktar team so we will most likely see a MF trio of Nasri, Wilshere and Diaby (if healthy enough).
That leaves us with Vela, Chamakh, Rosicky, Walcott and NB contending for the 3 forward spots.
My team is:
Fabianski
Eboue, Squillaci/DJ, Koz, Clichey
Diaby, Nasri, Wilshere
Walcott, Bendtner, Rosicky
1-1 sounds like a good score to me.
Is Sagna injured?
I was wondering the same thing. Maybe they’re just resting him. He could use it, and this would be a good time.
I think he is traveling but most likely will be rested.
I am sure he travelled but I started Eboue because in these group stages it has been typical to give Sagna a break.