I was looking at the report I posted for the home game against W.B.A. Needless to say, I, like many fans, was angry after match.
I also said we could forget about the league title if we lost the next game to Chelsea... I really hope I'm wrong!
We'll start with the injuries. Vermaelen's season is over which is disappointing but looking at it, it was very optimistic of me to expect him to slot back into the team for the last few games and dominate everyone. Djourou is out for six weeks so I don't think we'll see his best again this season. Diaby has returned to his normal level of fitness (injured). And then Walcott, Song and Fabregas are out too.
At the time of writing, the team was announced:
Almunia, Sagna, Koscielny, Squillaci, Clichy, Wilshere, Denilson, Nasri, Ramsey, Arshavin, Van Persie
Ramsey!!!!!!!! In all seriousness though, I'd be surprised if he finished the match but I was afraid Rosicky would start in front of him today.
Also before I go into predictions, Arshavin has returned to best in the press as you'll find in the Daily Express (that's where I read it anyway). Sell him, Arsene.
As for the match, I'm nervous. West Brom have players capable of hurting us. They won't lie down and with Hodgson in charge, they'll defend stoutly and look to punish us on the break.
We need big performances from Wilshere, Nasri and Van Persie. It'd be unfair to expect too much from Ramsey and Denilson is lacking in confidence so as long as he doesn't make a major mistake, I'll be happy with him. Arshavin will be Arshavin. He'll either be lazy and give the ball away cheaply or he'll rip the West Brom backline to pieces. The former is the more plausible outcome nowadays.
I think we'll win. I don't think it'll be comfortable with the way things have been going lately but I'll take a 2-1 where the winner goes in off the back of the West Brom 'keeper's head. I don't care about style, just the three points today please.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
Mediocrity Must Go
The last time I blogged was the Braga game. After that, I lost interest for a bit.
But I'm back now to report on the end of the season. In layman terms, we're in a big hole. The backline has now been completely ravaged and there's a lot of players who aren't performing. Nasri's good run has come to an abrupt stop and Van Persie doesn't look fit. Add that to the Fabregas and Walcott injuries and we're looking a bit stretched to finding goals at the moment.
But none of those problems would bother me as much if it weren't for the total lack of effort shown by our other players. Denilson has taken three or four steps back in his development. Diaby looks like he's hit the ceiling regarding the improvements he can make as a player (although injuries and suspension have hampered him in recent weeks). Rosicky looks twice Giggs' age; he isn't scoring and he isn't creating so what else can he offer us? And the only words that come to mind when I think of Arshavin is: 'Not fit to wear the shirt.'
All of these need to be sold in the summer. They're not good enough. Rosicky and Arshavin are gone past it. And how much more football do people need to see Denilson and Diaby play before they cop on and realise that they're never going to make it? You might say that they're good as squad players but they don't have the required work ethic to fulfil this role either.
And that's something that is seriously wrong with this side. There is no willingness to hunt down the ball and win it back. Wilshere is the only player that I've seen do it consistently. The rest jog around and 'look busy'.
Look to the Nou Camp game last week. Barcelona didn't pass us off the pitch, they tackled us off of it. They chased and harried Arsenal and won the ball back at a canter. That is something that needs to be embedded in this team. It is crucial to any success in the future. This team will never win anything unless they are all prepared to put a shift in.
However, it's too late to fix those things now. That must all be filed away until the summer. And it isn't all doom and gloom either. We play West Brom away this weekend and then there's an international break. Beat them and we'll end the little slump we've hit and we'll enter the break on a high note. Plus when the team returns, it should have its two most important assets, in Walcott and Fabregas, back. Also Ramsey is back! And he looked good for the time he was on the pitch against United.
The Alex Song injury appears to be a mystery. He won't be back for the game on Saturday and whether he'll return after the interlull is unknown. We need him fit because we are incredibly short in the backs at the moment and there may come a game or two where he'll be playing CB.
Vermaelen is working to be fit for the last six games. And if you look on the Arsenal website there's a few crackers in those in which his services will be much appreciated. But that's ages away yet so don't get your hopes up.
Now time for some special treatment for some players. First of all, Jack Wilshere is our player of the season. Commitment, desire and serious ability. The man has been carrying the torch for the team in the last two weeks and while his efforts bore little fruit, it is still greatly appreciated.
The other man is Bendtner. In my last post, I gave him a rollicking and he's done nothing to lift himself from this rollicked state. He missed a sitter against Barce and now seems destined for a new club. Good riddens. His touch on the ball is as soft as a cinder block and he's fooling himself if he thinks he can become as great as he claims.
If have anymore thoughts, I'll post them during the week sometime but I hope to get in a proper match preview of the West Brom game. Until then.
But I'm back now to report on the end of the season. In layman terms, we're in a big hole. The backline has now been completely ravaged and there's a lot of players who aren't performing. Nasri's good run has come to an abrupt stop and Van Persie doesn't look fit. Add that to the Fabregas and Walcott injuries and we're looking a bit stretched to finding goals at the moment.
But none of those problems would bother me as much if it weren't for the total lack of effort shown by our other players. Denilson has taken three or four steps back in his development. Diaby looks like he's hit the ceiling regarding the improvements he can make as a player (although injuries and suspension have hampered him in recent weeks). Rosicky looks twice Giggs' age; he isn't scoring and he isn't creating so what else can he offer us? And the only words that come to mind when I think of Arshavin is: 'Not fit to wear the shirt.'
All of these need to be sold in the summer. They're not good enough. Rosicky and Arshavin are gone past it. And how much more football do people need to see Denilson and Diaby play before they cop on and realise that they're never going to make it? You might say that they're good as squad players but they don't have the required work ethic to fulfil this role either.
And that's something that is seriously wrong with this side. There is no willingness to hunt down the ball and win it back. Wilshere is the only player that I've seen do it consistently. The rest jog around and 'look busy'.
Look to the Nou Camp game last week. Barcelona didn't pass us off the pitch, they tackled us off of it. They chased and harried Arsenal and won the ball back at a canter. That is something that needs to be embedded in this team. It is crucial to any success in the future. This team will never win anything unless they are all prepared to put a shift in.
However, it's too late to fix those things now. That must all be filed away until the summer. And it isn't all doom and gloom either. We play West Brom away this weekend and then there's an international break. Beat them and we'll end the little slump we've hit and we'll enter the break on a high note. Plus when the team returns, it should have its two most important assets, in Walcott and Fabregas, back. Also Ramsey is back! And he looked good for the time he was on the pitch against United.
The Alex Song injury appears to be a mystery. He won't be back for the game on Saturday and whether he'll return after the interlull is unknown. We need him fit because we are incredibly short in the backs at the moment and there may come a game or two where he'll be playing CB.
Vermaelen is working to be fit for the last six games. And if you look on the Arsenal website there's a few crackers in those in which his services will be much appreciated. But that's ages away yet so don't get your hopes up.
Now time for some special treatment for some players. First of all, Jack Wilshere is our player of the season. Commitment, desire and serious ability. The man has been carrying the torch for the team in the last two weeks and while his efforts bore little fruit, it is still greatly appreciated.
The other man is Bendtner. In my last post, I gave him a rollicking and he's done nothing to lift himself from this rollicked state. He missed a sitter against Barce and now seems destined for a new club. Good riddens. His touch on the ball is as soft as a cinder block and he's fooling himself if he thinks he can become as great as he claims.
If have anymore thoughts, I'll post them during the week sometime but I hope to get in a proper match preview of the West Brom game. Until then.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Finger Ready For The Panic Button
Braga 2 Arsenal 0
I'm angry, but this is definitely a hangover from the disaster on Saturday. The goals were sloppy and it was amazing that we get caught on the counter-attack, at nil-nil, with ten men.
'How is it amazing?,' you say.
Well why is everyone pushing forward when all we need is a draw and we've been reduced to ten men because of Eboue's injury? I mean surely, when you don't 100% need to win with ten men, you should be defending. And it was only a long ball too! And why the fuck is our backline at the halfway line when we don't need to score!?
The Vela yellow card was ludicrous. It was a stonewall penalty and the ref, who was right in front of it, books him for diving. If we get that penalty and convert it the match is over. However that isn't an excuse for what happened after. We needed to be solid and it never looked like happening.
I want to pick out one player for criticism (a rollicking). Nicklas Bendtner bitched and moaned to the media about not getting his place in the team. Then when Wenger picks him, he does nothing. He was shite and looked like a man who has made up his mind on his future. He's a pathetic excuse for a professional footballer if thinks he can walk into this team. I mean, for fucksake, Chamakh came on and did more in twenty minutes than Bendtner did seventy! How can he expect to play in front of a player that actually looks bothered?
Villa away is a match that doesn't necessarily define our season but another defeat would be castastrophic for confidence. There's a lot of work to be done until then though so get cracking Arsene!
I'm angry, but this is definitely a hangover from the disaster on Saturday. The goals were sloppy and it was amazing that we get caught on the counter-attack, at nil-nil, with ten men.
'How is it amazing?,' you say.
Well why is everyone pushing forward when all we need is a draw and we've been reduced to ten men because of Eboue's injury? I mean surely, when you don't 100% need to win with ten men, you should be defending. And it was only a long ball too! And why the fuck is our backline at the halfway line when we don't need to score!?
The Vela yellow card was ludicrous. It was a stonewall penalty and the ref, who was right in front of it, books him for diving. If we get that penalty and convert it the match is over. However that isn't an excuse for what happened after. We needed to be solid and it never looked like happening.
I want to pick out one player for criticism (a rollicking). Nicklas Bendtner bitched and moaned to the media about not getting his place in the team. Then when Wenger picks him, he does nothing. He was shite and looked like a man who has made up his mind on his future. He's a pathetic excuse for a professional footballer if thinks he can walk into this team. I mean, for fucksake, Chamakh came on and did more in twenty minutes than Bendtner did seventy! How can he expect to play in front of a player that actually looks bothered?
Villa away is a match that doesn't necessarily define our season but another defeat would be castastrophic for confidence. There's a lot of work to be done until then though so get cracking Arsene!
Monday, November 22, 2010
You're Killing Us.
It's turning into a bit of a cycle. One minute I start thinking 'we can actually do this', then the team commits the most heinous of sins and loses to the unmentionables.
It's amazing, though, how much ability is there in this group of players, not the forever-tomorrow potential that the Boss loves so much but actual clear-as-day, right-here-right-now ability. Nasri, Fabregas, Arshavin, Van Persie... these are all world-class performers, not legends of the game by any means yet, but players who would make it into any matchday squad in the world. How can these players turn up and capitulate like that to 'them'?
I have an opinion but, like it or not, there is no definitive answer.
This team has developed technically and physically over the past three years. The core group of players Wenger wanted has been kept and these have been supplemented with some astute purchases on the transfer market.
If this were a team of machines, we'd win the league every year. But it isn't, and like all-things human, there's the mental factor as well. And it has weighed this team down for years.
Wenger harps on about it all the time, this 'mental strength' we must show and how he believes the players have it.
No they don't.
That is a lie the Boss tells all the time.
And I call it a lie because there's no way in hell that genius of a man would delude himself into thinking that. He's just protecting his players and I admire him for it, even if it does grind my gears at times.
And in reality, the team collapses. Regularly. It's not something that's going to go away overnight and we'll probably still be talking about it at the end of the season. But mental weakness is taking away from this team's success and if it's not dealt with we'll be stuck in this limbo, between first and fifth, for five more years and I don't want that, I want this team to achieve what it is capable of.
This is Wenger's biggest challenge ever. In the past the mental strength was there with the likes of Adams, Keown, Henry and Vieira. But no one has showed they can provide it in this team. And I don't know who will.
It's amazing, though, how much ability is there in this group of players, not the forever-tomorrow potential that the Boss loves so much but actual clear-as-day, right-here-right-now ability. Nasri, Fabregas, Arshavin, Van Persie... these are all world-class performers, not legends of the game by any means yet, but players who would make it into any matchday squad in the world. How can these players turn up and capitulate like that to 'them'?
I have an opinion but, like it or not, there is no definitive answer.
This team has developed technically and physically over the past three years. The core group of players Wenger wanted has been kept and these have been supplemented with some astute purchases on the transfer market.
If this were a team of machines, we'd win the league every year. But it isn't, and like all-things human, there's the mental factor as well. And it has weighed this team down for years.
Wenger harps on about it all the time, this 'mental strength' we must show and how he believes the players have it.
No they don't.
That is a lie the Boss tells all the time.
And I call it a lie because there's no way in hell that genius of a man would delude himself into thinking that. He's just protecting his players and I admire him for it, even if it does grind my gears at times.
And in reality, the team collapses. Regularly. It's not something that's going to go away overnight and we'll probably still be talking about it at the end of the season. But mental weakness is taking away from this team's success and if it's not dealt with we'll be stuck in this limbo, between first and fifth, for five more years and I don't want that, I want this team to achieve what it is capable of.
This is Wenger's biggest challenge ever. In the past the mental strength was there with the likes of Adams, Keown, Henry and Vieira. But no one has showed they can provide it in this team. And I don't know who will.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Arsenal Winning Me Over.... And I'm Loving It.
Everton 1 Arsenal 2
This match right here was it. It was a championship-winning performance. 100% of what Arsenal fans deserve. Every single player on the pitch showed what they're made of today.
They showed pride in the great Arsenal jersey. Commitment to the cause. Everything you want from your team.
This is the proudest I've been all season! They really were tremendous. Sagna and Fabregas scored excellent goals. Song was having a nightmare with his passing but he never once stopped running. And Arshavin had one of the hardest-working games of his Arsenal career.
I know what I said about this team not having the fight but two games later I'm singing their praises. Does that make me hypocritical? No it makes me a football fan.
But it is only two games. It's a good response from the team but they could just as easily collapse again. But I believe we can continue this.
C'mon The Arsenal!!
This match right here was it. It was a championship-winning performance. 100% of what Arsenal fans deserve. Every single player on the pitch showed what they're made of today.
They showed pride in the great Arsenal jersey. Commitment to the cause. Everything you want from your team.
This is the proudest I've been all season! They really were tremendous. Sagna and Fabregas scored excellent goals. Song was having a nightmare with his passing but he never once stopped running. And Arshavin had one of the hardest-working games of his Arsenal career.
I know what I said about this team not having the fight but two games later I'm singing their praises. Does that make me hypocritical? No it makes me a football fan.
But it is only two games. It's a good response from the team but they could just as easily collapse again. But I believe we can continue this.
C'mon The Arsenal!!
Sunday, November 7, 2010
No Way In Hell.
Arsenal 0 Newcastle 1
That was our worst performance in years. Forget West Brom because we had one player perform on that day. But today, there was no one. And Fabregas lead the shit brigade that was this Arsenal team.
They were useless. Couldn't pass. Couldn't shoot. Couldn't defend. Not one Arsenal player did anything of note in the whole game. Our best moment was Walcott hitting the crossbar from an impossible angle, after that there wasn't one decent chance created.
The goal was an indictment of the Arsenal defense. Fabianski comes out when there is no need and the defenders stare with their tongues out as Carroll jumps unmarked and ploughs the ball into the empty net.
Wenger brought on Arshavin and Van Persie to try and save things but the problems we had couldn't be solved with strikers. Our midfield was a joke. Song and Fabregas gave the ball away time and again. Wilshere, god love him, was physically out of his depth and kept quiet throughout. But the worry at the moment is Fabregas. Last week against West Ham he was poor and today he was even worse. Every pass forward he made was wrong. In truth Wenger should have showed some bottle and taken him off. For anyone. Even Djourou would have made a better go of it. He was truely that bad.
I'm not going to pull the wool over anyone's eyes and say:
'It was only one match.'
'We're still in it.'
We're not, it's over, we're out. Unless Chelsea and Manchester United implode, I mean literally collapse inwards, we will not win the league. The most we'll get is third. And even that will be a struggle if Man City find form.
It's a sad moment in our history. We have a team of players more concerned with their next club or their next international friendly than playing for Arsenal. Our players and Wenger failed us today.
That was our worst performance in years. Forget West Brom because we had one player perform on that day. But today, there was no one. And Fabregas lead the shit brigade that was this Arsenal team.
They were useless. Couldn't pass. Couldn't shoot. Couldn't defend. Not one Arsenal player did anything of note in the whole game. Our best moment was Walcott hitting the crossbar from an impossible angle, after that there wasn't one decent chance created.
The goal was an indictment of the Arsenal defense. Fabianski comes out when there is no need and the defenders stare with their tongues out as Carroll jumps unmarked and ploughs the ball into the empty net.
Wenger brought on Arshavin and Van Persie to try and save things but the problems we had couldn't be solved with strikers. Our midfield was a joke. Song and Fabregas gave the ball away time and again. Wilshere, god love him, was physically out of his depth and kept quiet throughout. But the worry at the moment is Fabregas. Last week against West Ham he was poor and today he was even worse. Every pass forward he made was wrong. In truth Wenger should have showed some bottle and taken him off. For anyone. Even Djourou would have made a better go of it. He was truely that bad.
I'm not going to pull the wool over anyone's eyes and say:
'It was only one match.'
'We're still in it.'
We're not, it's over, we're out. Unless Chelsea and Manchester United implode, I mean literally collapse inwards, we will not win the league. The most we'll get is third. And even that will be a struggle if Man City find form.
It's a sad moment in our history. We have a team of players more concerned with their next club or their next international friendly than playing for Arsenal. Our players and Wenger failed us today.
The Toon.
Newcastle will come today with one thing in mind: spoil. I'd be surprised if Andy Caroll is partnered by Ameobi today because Newcastle will leave themselves very open in midfield. So I expect a five-man midfield from them with the likes of Alan Smith and Joey barton asked to 'disrupt' our passing movements.
But, in reality, there isn't much they'll be able to do if we come out and play with full commitment. Fabregas will dominate and the likes of Walcott and Nasri will support him and should rip their backline to shreads.
I say 'should' because there is an uncertainty about how this team will come out and play. In our last two games, we've been average at best and if we don't lift the performances, a long day is in store. But I think with Fabregas back in the side, it's unlikely to happen.
Next on my agenda is the Van Persie call-up. It's a farce and I'm fuming about it. The Dutch coach, Van Marwijk, says he talked to our striker and then decided to call him up. If this is the truth then what the fuck is Van Persie playing at? He's been out for over two months while on our wage-bill and he has the cuntishness to declare himself fit for a pointless friendly. For me, it's the height of disrespect for Arsenal Football Club and he really should know better.
In other news, I read a few headlines about Wenger's 'affair' with some French rapper and that there was a club statement over it. In truth, I don't really care about it. The one thing I would say is that it's a shit excuse for a bad performance today.
I like the sound of 3-0. It's a pretty recurrent scoreline in this fixture and I think Walcott will continue his good run of goalscoring. Chelsea play Liverpool at Anfield today and despite their horrendous form the Scousers might pull one out of the bag. So, by tonight, there could possibly be only two points between us and Chelsea despite their far superior start to the season. Sound!
But, in reality, there isn't much they'll be able to do if we come out and play with full commitment. Fabregas will dominate and the likes of Walcott and Nasri will support him and should rip their backline to shreads.
I say 'should' because there is an uncertainty about how this team will come out and play. In our last two games, we've been average at best and if we don't lift the performances, a long day is in store. But I think with Fabregas back in the side, it's unlikely to happen.
Next on my agenda is the Van Persie call-up. It's a farce and I'm fuming about it. The Dutch coach, Van Marwijk, says he talked to our striker and then decided to call him up. If this is the truth then what the fuck is Van Persie playing at? He's been out for over two months while on our wage-bill and he has the cuntishness to declare himself fit for a pointless friendly. For me, it's the height of disrespect for Arsenal Football Club and he really should know better.
In other news, I read a few headlines about Wenger's 'affair' with some French rapper and that there was a club statement over it. In truth, I don't really care about it. The one thing I would say is that it's a shit excuse for a bad performance today.
I like the sound of 3-0. It's a pretty recurrent scoreline in this fixture and I think Walcott will continue his good run of goalscoring. Chelsea play Liverpool at Anfield today and despite their horrendous form the Scousers might pull one out of the bag. So, by tonight, there could possibly be only two points between us and Chelsea despite their far superior start to the season. Sound!
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