Daily Bits and Bobs

Carvalho & Perrin In January? Top Four Battle Is On!

Posted on by rico

Morning all.

Gossip:

The Mail report that Arsene Wenger remains very interested in signing Defensive Midfielder William Carvalho. He’s a player who can drop back into defence if needed. He’s a player we apparently tried to sign in the summer.

The Mirror report that a shock move for St Etienne captain Loic Perrin is in the pipeline. The 29­-year-­old is valued at around £6 million – and it is his versatility that appeals to the Arsenal manager. Apparently he can play anywhere in defence or as a defensive midfielder. But at 5′ 10″, he’s surely not what we need…. Mind you, Claude Makelele is just 5′ 7″!

A short trip across London for the boys today for a 3pm kick-off. I’m surprised this one hasn’t been moved to suit one of BT or Sky Sports. They like a tricky Arsenal fixture and this one should be just that.

Sam Allardyce looked at the Festive fixture list and thought something like, ‘my side has little chance to get anything at Stamford Bridge, but when Arsenal turn up at Upton Park, we can batter them’….

So what did against Chelsea was to leave both Alex Song and Diafra Sakho on the bench to make sure they were fit and ready to face us today. Ok, they came on for thirty minutes at the end but regardless, they had a bit of a rest.

Arsene Wenger looked at Qpr, one of the worst performing sides in the league and what did he do? Not much really. He played pretty much the same old starting eleven, yet surely that game was the perfect opportunity to rest two or three.

Lukas Podolski, Joel Campbell and perhaps even Isaac Hayden or Semi Ajayi could have started and with it, ensure Alexis and Welbeck had a rest ahead of today. And what about Theo Walcott, he’s on the bench so he’s fit. Why not play him? And what exactly does Chuba Akpom have to do to get ten minutes at the end of a game….

It’s been while since facing West Ham has made me feel very nervous but to be honest, they defend better than us and they have a midfield which is together and well organised with Alex Song looking like a proper defence minded midfielder. Big Sam has a pretty good striker in Sakho, a man from Senegal!

I can remember us Arsenal fans signing loud and proud about a man from Senegal……. Those days are long gone aren’t they, today its mostly about a man from Chile….

Laurent Koscielny is expected to make a welcome return and we’ll need his experience against their two big strikers in Sakho and Carroll. We also need Mertesacker to start using his head rather than shying away from any ball which comes his way. I’m hoping Aaron Ramsey and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are back in contention for this fixture too and Theo Walcott finally gets a start.

Current Form:

West Ham

  • The Hammers have won six of their last seven Premier League home games.
  • They have kept four clean sheets and conceded just three goals in that run.
  • They are unbeaten at Upton Park since August, when they lost their opening two Premier League home matches.

Arsenal

  • Arsenal have failed to score in only one of their last 11 away matches in the Premier League – their 2-0 loss to Chelsea on 5 October.
  • The Gunners have conceded five times in their last two away league games – with all but one of those arriving before half-time.
  • With 10 goals and six assists, Alexis Sanchez has scored or assisted half of Arsenal’s 32 Premier League goals this season.
  • Ian Wright (14) is the only player to reach 10 Premier League goals in fewer games for Arsenal than Sanchez (17).

I fear the worst but three points today would be a darn good result and if Arsene Wenger wants his usual top four spot, they are much needed….

COYRRG’S!!

Have a good day all….

rico

179 thoughts on “Carvalho & Perrin In January? Top Four Battle Is On!”

  2. potter says:

    Why would be typical Wenger if he is fit now. After Gazidis spent all that money on the Diaby suite another incumbent would make it all seem worthwhile.

  4. Joaquim Moreira says:

    William Carvalho is from sporting…
    his performance this year, is very poor.
    My opinion: not a good deal.
    Come on Arsenal!

  5. babakrdaemi says:

    The issue we have with resting players is that we are already four or five down from the first 11. And in some areas, we are missing our immediate understudy.

    If we drop Sanchez, that is our entire first 11 midfield not playing. I’m sure when Ozil and Theo are back Sanchez will get rest.

    In the last few months we have missed six of our first 11, resting Sanchez means seven of our first 11 don’t play.

    Its too big a risk.

  7. rico says:

    babakrdaemi.

    I have to disagree, Alexis could have been rested on Boxing Day, Joel Campbell or Podolski could have played…

    What imo is more of a risk is playing him game after game after game…..

  8. Wavy says:

    Big Sam reckons we have a suspect defence! What’s he been smokin’?
    If we don’t beat the irons we are in the soft and smelly big style. A draw will not be good enough, only a win will do. A defeat would be the ultimate embarrassment and the calls won’t be for Sammy K it will be bring me the head of Arseno Wengero!
    We ought to win, we usually do, but it will depend on the tactics the great white haired coach insists his players stick to. It’s all down to his instructions! Well we shall see the plan unfurl, my own belief is tha, the only plan we have will be no plan!

    Morning all, blue skies and white ground cover here. A proper winter’s day.

  9. rico says:

    If Koscielny returns, we could have a chance, if he doesn’t, Carroll and Sakho will have a field day imo..

    Blue skies and chilly here too Wavy…

  11. Joaquim Moreira says:

    Sanogo on loan to Bordeuax?
    Podolsky wants to play, play and play… he is hunger for goal … great desire to play … put him to play to this succession of games!
    Then will see his future! (at the right time because then we will be in January)
    I have a strange feeling we win today if we put 2-3-4 fresh and new players…
    watching totts..

  16. allezkev says:

    Afternoon All…

    Outside my garage in Stratford, waiting for a mechanic, so out of the loop..,

    Just catching up..,,

    COYRRG

  17. rico says:

    Reggie I suspect Potter…

    Afternoon Ng – thanks and no, I wouldn’t take Alex Song back, we’ve been there and done that one and it’s clear AW couldn’t get him to do what Big Sam is doing… But I think he’s better than Flamini..

  20. rico says:

    Full team: Szczesny, Debuchy, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Flamini, Coquelin, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla, Alexis, Welbeck

    Subs: Ospina, Gibbs, Chambers, Campbell, Walcott, Podolski, Akpom

    Andrew, two games so soon together probably too much much for Tomas….

    Afternoon to you, Kev and all….

  22. Joaquim Moreira says:

    yes,too much for Tomas … but Podolski at the bench again.
    Watching Southampton…. Schnerderling is our man but impossible in January.

  26. dublingunner says:

    Afternoon, A belated merry xmas and a happy new year, to all. Just off out to watch, what i hope is another victory, still shooting ourselves in the foot, in these matches, that we should be winning easier, Jeez Rosicky finally gets his chance, and 2 games in, gets injured, Sums this team up really. Good to see Kos back, though , Cmon Arsenal.

  27. Hell Raising Devil says:

    Don’t worry about Morgan Schnederling JM…..we got Coquelin. 😀

    Good afternoon Foxes and Vixens.

    Are we going to batter Song and co today?

    I would love to. But is AW of the same wavelength? I doubt it.

  40. Hell Raising Devil says:

    So Coquelin makes a good tackle, gets the ball and is whistled for a foul.

    Like all the rest the ref is a joke.
    WH will only score if and only if……we commit a horror show, the ref awards them a pen or just plain luck.

    Any other way they will not score.

  63. Joaquim Moreira says:

    5-5 in attempts … maybe 6-6 in corners…
    Aw must make subs during the second half
    Schneiderling sent off!

  74. scottfromoz says:

    Ginge, its half time, we are up 2-0 and doing well.
    Make no mistake, Weat Ham are a decent side and playing decent football.
    We toughed it out and pinched two late.

  107. tsgh says:

    cheers Ng…

    Transfer window opens soon… more heart-ache to follow. lol
    I have been very far removed from football this season its difficult to second guess who is available or not…

  118. tsgh says:

    good festive period for us…

    we took 10 from 12 available points last year around this time;lets hope its 12 out of 12 this time around.

  120. Joaquim Moreira says:

    we won 1-2.
    We were 11-11 over the game in my opinion, much better in the 2nd half and in last 5-10 minutes AW invited WH for our penalty area. they had, maybe, 3-4 free kicks with eleven players in our area and in that period, we abdicates the attack.
    We can scored during the second half. Ox (tired) could be replaced by Tw or Podolsky (for me, him), and probably WH wee been in thier midfield and we had a attack stronger. Weel, 3 more points.

  121. scottfromoz says:

    Kev, no Schneiderlin….we will be winning.
    Ginge, today was down to the boys.
    I don’t worry as much as most do about tactics.
    I’ve always said if our guys work hard we just about win, and we worked hard.
    Still, Wengers tactics didn’t help late in the game, but hey, it’s hard to be tooooo critical when we win.
    I’m off for some more sleep so have a great day guys.

  124. rico says:

    Me too Kev.

    I know things aren’t great but I still want AW and the team to win and I still want the club to sign two top quality players next month which will make us stronger and much much better…

  127. Lee says:

    There’s an app in iTunes called “live media player” apparently supposed to be good for streaming…. I’ve not tried it but it’s supposed to be good.

  128. Judge me in May says:

    We missed plenty of opportunities.. But held on at the end..
    Apart from the hamsters disallowed goal and the penalty the ref gave us nothing, but I guess that what won us the game..
    At the end there were many tired legs and Arsene being Arsene overplaying some players risking injuries..
    It’s a dangerous game he is playing..
    Good 6 points nevertheless..

  132. Judge me in May says:

    The players did put a a good shift and koscielny was magnificent..
    Alexis never stopped running and terrified the hell of their ginormous defence.. What a player..
    Cazorla is the star of the Show at the moment..
    If only we have that midfield steel..
    Good game though… definitely worth watching a replay..
    Night gooners..

  134. Wavy says:

    Good result. The right result!
    But,
    Why having waited two days full of hope, more than expectation re the result, for the game to be played, we go 2-0 up and then concede in the 53 rd minute and I find myself hopping about like a cat on hot bricks wishing for the Ref to blow the final whistle as I know we defend like paper tigers!
    Something not quite right there, isn’t there?
    Still a good result and we are 5th looking at 4th after next week’s game at Soton! No Snickeditin, so we must have a chance surely?

  136. AndrewH says:

    Second match in a row left in a nervous wreck. At least QPR was able to see in pub on BT. Worse today watching Sky Sports News fearing every background cheer was a hammers goal. But very good 3 away points, certainly needed and a catch up of two points on all our rivals. Night all.

  138. allezkev says:

    At this time of the season, those clubs involved in Europe, are not disadvantaged.
    Therefore QPR and West Ham weren’t facing CL teams who had faced European ties whilst the ‘smaller fry’ had had a clear week to prepare…

    Maybe that shows the influence of fatigue and why Wenger isn’t too smart in going into seasons with squads that are minimally staffed…

  139. Adam says:

    Evening Rico. A win like that can do more for the team than a 3 or 4 goal stroll. A mate on his way back from the game who is an unhappy Hammer said that we should have wrapped it up in the second half really.

  141. rico says:

    Night Andrew..

    Evening Adam. I was concerned ahead of the game. Hammers on a roll, us in a bit of a pickle so the win there was darn good for me and yes, victories like that are good….. Hopefully, a real morale booster and a bit of confidence before facing a strong Southampton side….

  149. potter says:

    At least at the game you can vent your frustrations whereas in front of a dodgy stream it seems really weird to scream invectives at the lap top especially when the stream keeps freezing . Still 3 points and off to the south coast for another 3 hopefully.

  154. Hell Raising Devil says:

    I always enjoy seeing Alexis score, but I enjoy it much more when we win and he doesnt score. Dont get me wrong……….but I do not like being labelled a one man team. Its nice that he scores and gets assists however, I like it much more when others, especially DW23 gets on the score sheet.

  156. potter says:

    I think it’s where the cameras and microphones are sited . Certainly the groans and expletives are more than audible on the North Bank Lower. We all know that the club doesn’t like bad publicity and we also know that as the players are waiting for kick off you can hear the we are the Northbank/clock end chant and it aint the supporters that are signing it.

  157. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Rico, you should be here when my mate watches, he vents, but when at the game he’s like a mouse…..lol

  159. frednerk says:

    We worked very hard to day,
    wenger played his most experienced back four,
    has he learned anything?…..
    Its amazing why he now see’s it.Or has he?
    What he now needs to do is when infront,
    is use the width of the pitch,
    taking our two fastest players Danny and Oxo off,
    and replacing with two fullbacks,just keeps us,
    pinned down.

    Great win for me personally,
    the cockney boys are hiding from me,
    gone into the west end for a drink The R-Soles,
    Are the decorations coming down yet.

  161. Bt62 Gooner says:

    Night Rico, i’ll be in touch….

    I thought Theo would have come on to give us more pace…3pts in the bag….

  162. Lee says:

    Sorry about the heads up on Frank’s birthday! Was busy doing family shite all day…..don’t know about “big Frank” I think he’s 5’10”!!!!

  166. allezkev says:

    Sorry Adam, it went mental after my last comment…

    I’m in Belair Hse having a couple 😉

    Yeah, working tomorrow, just give me a bell Adam and we can hook up for a cuppa eh?

  171. scottfromoz says:

    What a Great result.
    It’s sunk in now, after some sleep lol.
    That’s a massive result against such a big (top 4) club hahahaha.
    Still, as i said during the game, West Ham are playing damn good football so let’s take it for what it is-a fantastic result against a good quality team.
    I thought our boys defended admirably under immense and sustained pressure, albeit pressure in no small way brought on by Wenger.
    At one stage off a corner, we broke quickly and were away only for Ox to run out of legs…. Theo scores easily.

  177. potter says:

    Little shower of rain at 7.00 am and it froze on the screen even de icer wouldnt touch it. Took 1/2 hour to get going with roads solid ice.

Leave your comment.

Discover more from Highbury House

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading