Morning all.
According to Ray Parlour, the midfield of any football team is the most important area of the pitch:
When you look at teams like Barcelona, their midfield has always been the most important part of their game so hopefully Arsenal will be very similar.
Having a lethal goal scorer at the end of an attack is pretty darn important too. Also a top class goal-keeper with a strong four in front of him.
However, the midfield is the link between all things attack and all things in defence and if any side has the right balance right now, we have. Well, according to our old English workhorse:
It’s looking very strong, no matter who starts. There is so much depth in the midfield with Mikel Arteta, Mathieu Flamini – who has been a great signing – Ozil, Jack Wilshere, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Cazorla – so it’s a real headache for the manager.
When everybody is fit it will be interesting to see what sort of side the manager puts out.
Thankfully, that’s a job for Arsene Wenger and right now, he seems to be getting his selection spot-on.
He took a bit of criticism for the way we set up against West Brom but I honestly believe that the manager set us up not to lose. It’s quite possible that having seen a strong West Brom side blow Manchester United side away at Old Trafford, he was quite concerned that they would try, maybe even succeed in doing the same to us, especially as they were performing in front of their home fans.
Another thought for me was did the impending break play it’s part in his selection, after all, these breaks are bad enough, but going into one after a defeat makes them even worse and it feels like we have to wait forever for the domestic game to return.
It really is a horrid feeling for me and I doubt it’s any different for you all.
If ever there was a good international break, this one was just that for us. We had been playing well, we’re on an unbeaten run and players needed a break and that’s what many have been able to do. Just playing two games in thirteen days will have been a break, some of course like Wilshere, Mertesacker and Koscielny haven’t even played that.
Then of course there is the walking wounded who would have missed two more fixtures for us had this break not come along. Cazorla, Walcott, Sanogo and even Podolski are very very close to returning and I really wouldn’t be surprised to see Sagna back in the squad for the Norwich game.
In fact I think we’ll see a couple more return too, maybe only from the bench but a run out ready for the visit of Borussia Dortmund…
Last night gave us a bit of a fright when Mesut Ozil limed off down the tunnel having just scored on his 25th birthday but reports this morning suggest he’s just a bit bruised and should be fine for Saturday. Phew. Germany came out 5-3 winners and thankfully, Per Mertesacker was a spectator from the bench so he’s had a nice rest.
In other internationals, apparently Aaron Ramsey was the star of the show for Wales as he nabbed an equaliser for his side against Belgium. Thomas Vermaelen played the full 90 minutes.
Laurent Koscielny played 90 minutes for France in their 3-0 victory over Finland, Giroud also played for most of the game.
Carl Jenkinson played just 30 minutes for the England under 21’s and Jack Wilshere came on for the big boys towards the end of a game which saw Wojciech Szczesny beaten twice to ensure England earned a place at next years World Cup.
All I can say after that game is I hope Lewandowski plays as poorly for Dortmund against us as he did last night….
Great result for England though and I actually thought it was a good performance by Roy Hodgson’s men…..
Thank goodness that break is over, annoyingly though there is another very soon.
Right after the trip to Old Trafford on the 10th November….
That’s your lot for this Wednesday….
A good international squad summing up thanks, As for Szczesny though despite being beaten twice I thought he had a great game and probably stopped another four or five. Competition seems to push him on both for club and country.
Thanks potter, I too thought Szczesny played very well, little he could do for the Rooney header, other than blame his defence and the second was sheer determination by Gerrard…
Thought the game was pretty good…
Good morning, good post rico, the injury news dosen’t look that bad thank goodness.
Thanks Gdna, no, things are starting to look a lot brighter on the injury front, just needs Diaby to get back to fitness now. The rest seem to be not too far away..
good game last night, England showed fight and deservedly won through. Agree with Rico, thought Chez was solid and did well to keep the score at 2 – glad that’s over and really looking forward to the real deal teams so we can see where we are this year.
Morning all,
Only saw the highlights but Schez was immense.
I’m really impressed with Townsend (spud i know) but Walcott looks like he has serious competition there.
I really enjoyed the Germany vs Sweden game, especially because it was a dead rubber but still competitive.
Morning All…
Morning Rico, a real feel-good post, great work…
Several seasons ago ManUre would go into a season with four strikers, not just forwards, strikers.
Ferguson played a pair at a time and rotated them to keep them fresh.
Fast-forward to today and I reckon two strikers is all you need.
With one man at the apex and an array of talented, interchangeable, goal scoring/making midfielders behind the apex, seems the way to go…
Some of those midfielders can fill in as a striker if need be (Podolski, Walcott etc)…
The success we are enjoying this season, seems to have been built on those tactics…
Oz, thought Wellbeck was poop in front of goal, but boy did he get back and defend well…
Brad – thought similar through the game, really can’t see TW walking back into the England side, Townsend was very very good..
Then again, I can’t see TW walking back into our side either, tough one for AW as Gnabry is doing well…
Afternoon rico, Cant wait for saturday for real football to return, I think on the injury front we are good, as for england confirming qualification I was nervous until stevie scored ..RIO HERE WE COME.
they have a real abundance of riches up front United don’t they? – I think this year might still be a washout for them. I see them struggling to make the top four TBH – They will buy in January to appease the fans but no sure Moyes will get the right names.
Morning Kev, thanks..
Good comment, just hoping AW doesn’t see Sanogo as our second striker. Not yet anyway…
Morning Tim. You and me both, the game was so open, and Hart made a crucial save to keep it at 1-0…
I can’t wait for Cazorla to return, have our own Xavi and Iniesta.
Is RvP still injured Oz?
From the highlights looked like us when RVP played. Poland thought just get the ball to Lewandowski and no width or others trying to score.
he’s back now I think Rico
I would imagine we’ll rest Ozil this weekend with Dortmund on the horizon? Especially with the kick he took to the knee
There was another player who was good on the ball and tested Hart I think, can’t remember his name, ended in ‘ski’ though 😉
Shame Oz …
I don’t think so myself Oz, my cunning theory is we’ll start with our strongest, most attacking side and then as we get to 60-70 mins, AW will rest players like Ozil, Ramsey and Giroud, IF we are a few goals up….
But hey, what do I know 😉
A very good summary of the international break…
Brad, re Poland their failure in this qualifier can be attributed to the bad blood between captain B’ski and his BVB club mate Lew…
One reason why I am not too keen on the Benzema link to us especially if rumours of the non-relation between OG12 and KB is true…
There were times when you could tell that a good working/professional relationship could have made them very deadly.
I wonder how Klopp has managed to keep their simmering differences under control without it affecting their performances?
Some BVB fans claim that was one reason BVB struggled last season in the Bundesliga.
Hi all btw…
you could well be right Rico, be interesting to see, all depends on how bad ‘the knock’ is i suppose?
Park to Wigan could be off. Funny enough, his wages are the stumbling block..
Thanks Ts.
I don’t believe all this stuff about player fall-outs, of course there will be times that players don’t get on with some as well as they do others but that’s life..
True professionals just get on with it…
Suggestion is it’s nothing much Oz, but we should know more from AW tomorrow in his pre-match i/v
HH, watch Suarez outrageous dive winning a penalty against Argentina last night. I don’t want him at AFC anymore, he is sick.
Do you have a link Gdna?
everyone dives Gdna even Arsenal players, although some do it more than others that is true
here you go Rico
http://www.joe.ie/football/football-news/video-luis-suarez-won-a-penalty-for-uruguay-last-night-with-a-pretty-appalling-dive/?
Thanks Gdna
Rico re Sanogo ,last week Wenger said it would take 6 months to strengthen him up to play in the premiership , so I can’t see him depending on him just yet.
Oh dear, that will keep his bad reputation alive….
I couldn’t see that clearly but to me it looked like he wasn’t even touched…
Thanks potter, that is of course if Sanogo can get fit, and stay fit. I’m quite surprised he was never loaned out…
Maybe he will be once fit..
Maybe he will get swapped for Joel Campbell who should be a year or two in front of him.
Rosicky must be close now as well?
I’m not sure we’ll eve see Joel Campbell in an Arsenal shirt…
Think Tomas is fine Oz, just didn’t go off for Czech because a) they couldn’t qualify and b) he was only just back from an injury…
ok thanks Rico
Goodmorning all,
Watched a couple of internationals yesterday and I must say the best was Uruguay v Argentina. It was a cracker(end-end stuff). Suarez did what he knows best ‘Win at all cost’. He took an embarrassing dive to get a penalty decision but other than that he was immense. Hopefully Madrid goes for Falcao next summer and we go in for Suarez. I am sure if the dippers don’t make it into the top 4 at the end of the season he will ‘hand in a transfer’
Rambo was immense for Wales yesterday as he played the 10role(behind the striker). He put in another MOTM performance despite belgium having an array of midfielders which could have overwhelmed him. They just couldn’t stop him. Vermaelen was solid as well.
I kept an eye on the france match and Giroud was superb again. His aerial prowess and Linking up play was superb. He looks quicker on the ball( he doesn’t run like a duck anymore). it will be difficult for Benzema to get his place back if he continues with this form. I thought he was awarded the second goal as he headed the ball goalward but the ball was deflected into the net by a finnish player. On replay it was the correct decision, so an assist for our french man.
Hummels proved once more that it will be difficult to pair him with Boateng/Mertesacker. Thank goodness Ozil is alright and everyone returns OK
Chris Coleman should have done us a favour. He should have taken Ramsey off in the 2nd half as he tired a bit but still had the energy to be in a position to score the equaliser late on
Hi Emma,
hummels definitely needs to move… he has stagnated imo..
Coleman trying to save his job… it was pathetic playing AR16 for another 90 minutes. Saying that AR16 and Bellamy combined to score in the 88 min so I guess Coleman was right to keep him on…
8 goals for Ramsey now for Wales… Impressive I would say.
You need to get out more emma 😉
rico – 😉 😉
It’s pissing down here in the dippers city. The rain is not letting up 😉
Morning Rico. Ruby’s opera cake was a disaster wasn’t it?
Emma, I am organising a stag do for my mate.. we have Cardiff or Liverpool in mind.. any suggestion on good places in the dipperland?
ts – Don’t know much about good places for a stag but there are loads of good pubs at the city centre where you can have it or the albert dock
It’s the same here emma, quite dark and horrid….
Afternoon Adam. I haven’t seen it yet, that’s our Wednesday evening viewing… 🙂
Isn’t it funny the pundits have forgotten about Theo and Ox after ‘stumbling’ onto Townsend?lol
Cheers Emma- Rico is right you then. 😛
It’s gripping stuff Rico. The tempering of the chocolate had me on the edge of my seat. 🙂
Good to hear that Adam, we love the programme so no doubt we’ll enjoy it 🙂
Back in a bit, it’s stopped raining so Fido can have a quick run…
Well when it comes to Stritchly Come Dancing, I gotta say that my support is 100% behind the Hairy Biker…
🙂 Kev, the public will save him each week…
Kev. I agree. The elegance with which that man moves across the floor is unnerving. It has got me back into ballroom dancing which, as you know, has always been my first love.
I admire him for going on there in the first place, he’s hardly built for speed and finesse…
Good day all.
Thanks for the international run through Rico. My apathy for internationals continues so I took no notice of the happenings last night. Glad to see Jack has had a rest! Hopefully he’ll kick on for us to prove he’s a better option than Welbeck, thats go to hurt!
Just watched a video of Ricky Alvarez who we looked at a few years back, he looks pretty nifty, missed out on that one me thinks!!
Always a pleasure Lewis 😉
Ten mins each game for Jack, he’ll be well rested …
Ramsey, Ozil, Giroud and TV are the only one’s who have played both I think…
England are set to play Germany in a friendly before the world cup, now that will be worth watching.
Adam, I kinda knew, that all it needed, was someone, with the poise and lightness of foot that the Hairy Biker brings to his craft, is all it would take, for you to dig out your spats and foxtrot your way across the floor… 😉
Does that mean that Bridge if Sighs is on the back burner now? 🙁
Rico, I guess that your still in shock over Vanessa Feltz’s exit…
I gotta say that I was stunned… 🙂
Kev, no, she was not at her best last Saturday 😉
Not really watched the Great British a Bake-Off this year…
Am I missing much???
What with X-Factor and the Kardashians I hardly have any time left for MotD…. 😉
Yeah Rico, I saw it, I was gutted for Vanessa… 😉
I was too Kev, thought the designer would go out 😉
Off to get dinner now….
Cazorla, Sagna, Sanogo and Podolski must all be close for this weekend or Borussia Dortmund…?!
Can’t wait to see Santi and Ozil in the same team…
Somebody is gonna get a right old hammering.
Let’s hope it’s Norwich, we owe them for last season…
Hi Kev. No, Bridge Of Sighs is still being played as is Little Wing. Remind me to show you the pics from my ballroom days. I was one half of the Adam and Eve Latin pair. 🙂
Ditto Kev re both Ozil and Santi playing, stuff dreams are made of….
Well it’s all quiet here so I’m off…
Night Kev, Adam and anyone else reading…
Morning all..
Walcott, Cazorla and Ozil could all be in the squad for Saturday.
Also, 6 weeks ago, AW said Alex Oxlad-Chamberlain was a month and a half away from a return so he must be due back real soon, as should Podolski….
Off out this morning, new post will be up around 9.35.
Catch you later.
Yeah Adam, I can just imagine you and Eve doing a quick-step do some Russ Conway number…
You never lose it mate… 😉
Morning All.
Morning Rico and bye Rico…
Always in a hurry… 🙂
Walcott back will be like a new signing.
Plenty of fresh legs to take us into November…
Ramsey or Wilshere vs Norwich..??
With Dortmund’s visit on Tuesday and following the internationals I wonder if Wenger is thinking of resting Aaron?
Arteta, Rosicky and Flamini have had a nice rest over the Interlull.
Wenger could start all of them this Saturday??
Morning all,
You got to love the Roy a_ _ kissing going on after we qualified. lol
Ramsey resting against Norwich will be ideal but I think AW will give him a rest a during the CoC match next Tuesday instead…
I will rather rest Ozil against Tettey; Ozil vs Sahin and Ramsey vs Bender; absolute wow.
Hi fellow Gooners,
We are totally safe…no threat at all…but bushfires surround us and we have a lot of friends and family who are under massive threat, and plenty if whom have evacuated already, so spare a thought and say a quick prayer.
Go you mighty Gunners!!!!
AW will definitely start TR07 against his former club imo if he is fit…
TR07 has to show the likes of Marco who the real La Mozart is…lol
Oh shite Scott… the bush fire season has started …
Hope you guess are staying safe?
Hi btw
Hiya Ginge, my home will be about the last in Oz to cop a bushfire, but plenty we know are in huge trouble.
Most bushfires are lit by fucking arsonists!!!
morning rico,morning everyone, Wojo,jekinson,koss,per,gibbs,flamini,wilshere,walcot,ozil,carzola,giroud,I think norwich deserve a beating.
After a record hot September, it was expected by most, even though they are mostly started by mankind…
I still wonder how fire buys upside down ‘down under’. lol
Just spoke to a workmate who has been evacuated and near certain to lose the house overnight.
Praying for a miracle.