We certainly have three, possibly more magical players but this is not what I am referring to. Three points? We got them today, and certainly needed them. But with Man City winning earlier in the day, all these three points did is keep us in third place.
Our magic three is three goals. So often this seems to be our line in the sand. Score three goals, we win. Fail to score three and we often seem vulnerable to an opposition comeback. That is not to say that this is applicable in all situations, there are plenty of instances where we have scored less than three and won comfortably but on occasions we have scored three or more, yet failed to win. But it just seems to me that three goals is a bit of a milestone for us, get three, we relax, and play with confidence. Score less than three and nerves permeate our players, leading to mistakes, leading to…
Not that we were particularly uncomfortable yesterday. Arsene made four changes to the side which performed so feebly on Wednesday at Portman Road. First eleven regulars Clichy, Song, Samir, and Robin returned to the starting lineup. Szczesny retained his place in goal and Eboue remained at right back.
We started quickly against a team that we huffed and puffed against a few months back and looked sharp in the first few minutes. We have seen recent quick starts peter out into a lethargic loss of focus and momentum. Fortunately, we were able to sustain our early pressure long enough to make a breakthrough.
Samir had already forced Green into an early save when Theo breezed past Bridge as if the latter was not even there, squaring Robin to finish decisively past Green. It was our number ten’s first open-play goal of this season (to go with his two set-piece efforts), and hopefully he is now “off the schneid” (as we say where I come from), with many more to follow. When Faubert was booked for an ugly, two footed touch-line lunge on Cesc just a couple of minutes later, we had a quick chance for another. Robin got the free-kick on target, but Green was able to punch it away.
Unfortunately, we lost our way a bit from there. West Ham tried to respond and put us under some pressure. Djourou, who had a poor first half and a fine second, slipped but recovered to clear from Spector. A few minutes later, the former put us into further trouble when his poor back pass sold Szczesny short putting Cole through on goal. Fortunately, our goalkeeper made excellent point-blank stop and Hines fired the rebound just over the bar. We were able to reassert control, and just after the half hour, Robin hit the post after Samir had teed him up.
We continued applying direct pressure and a goal looked inevitable. That duly arrived four minutes before the interval, when Robin took his turn to torment Bridge, gliding past the on-loan Man City defender to square for Theo, who finished emphatically from close range. Once again, though, we lost concentration shortly after, and an excellent cross from Sears gave Cole a simple chance that he contrived to fire wide. In first half stoppage time, Djourou had a chance to make it three. Doing his best Song imitation, he surged forward, and took a crack on goal, forcing a save from Green.
So 2-0 up at the half. We had a couple of nervy moments at the back, but looked far, far better than in recent weeks. For once we worked the keeper, and it paid off with two goals, and several saves from him. We started the second half positively, Robin forcing Green into another save within two minutes. We passed and probed, but this was much more direct than it had been in recent matches. West Ham built a little bit of momentum about ten minutes in without creating any clear chances but we soon regained control.
On 75 minutes, we wrapped things up. Theo surged past the hapless Bridge once again, with the former tripping him in the box. Robin stepped up to covert the penalty, and we were home and dry. We played out the final fifteen minutes comfortably, amid a series of substitutions (Denilson for Cesc on 81 and Gibbs and Arshavin on for Theo and Samir, respectively, on 87). Jack forced Green into another save two minutes from time, and that was pretty much it. West Ham were well beaten by then, and offered nothing as the game slowly wound down to the final whistle.
So three points, and a welcome win after the disappointments of the past three matches. The clean sheet was also welcome, although it must be said that West Ham threatened only sporadically. As poor as they were today, it should be noted that they were in decent form recently (albeit still in the relegation zone), had just won their first leg league cup semi-final tie versus Birmingham City, and this is the kind of fixture we have often come a cropper in.
The Hammers played as though they were affected by the constant speculation regarding Grant, set to be sacked at any time and Martin O’Neill installed in his place, so the stories say. Regardless of any internal problems with the opposition, we played very, very well. I thought a sharp Robin and rested Samir made a huge difference, both of them had a noticeable effect on our other players, particularly Cesc, who looked nothing like the forlorn, discouraged figure he cut on Wednesday evening.
Theo was a constant threat and took his goal very well, he has quietly reached double figures (10) in league goals this season. Regardless of the opposition, the focus, energy and application were all present from our players today. If they can replicate those things consistently, we will win more than we lose.
Arsene was understandably in a buoyant mood following the win. I would caution him and us supporters not to get too far ahead of ourselves. Certainly, a 3-0 away win and a clean sheet are welcome tonic following our most recent ten days but I cannot agree with his assessment that we are on a “strong run” at the moment. This was an excellent result, no doubt but we have to build on it for this to be considered a strong run.
The two cup ties are too recent to be dismissed as old history – yet. Arsene also suggested the title race will go to the end and our fate in is our hands. Again, I disagree, I see the point he was making, that most of our big remaining games (Spuddies excepted) are at home. The problem is, our home form has not necessarily been the greatest and I think results against teams other than title rivals will decide this. Yes, we have United at home but we are done with Chelsea and Man City. We still have to play at the three sides that have beaten us at home. So yes, I get his point but I think as long as we trail United and City and the former have games in hand on us, it is not at all in our hands. At least not yet.
The best way to grab the initiative is go on a prolonged winning run and overhaul the two sides in front of us. It can be done but we need to show the consistency that has been conspicuously absent for most of this season. The challenge is no different from what it was at the start of the season, win our games, climb the table and then hold on to the top spot.
So far this season, we have been found wanting, consistency being our biggest problem. This is a result to build on but that will require focus, effort and application each and every time out. No matter who lines up for us, no matter who the opponents are, no matter what the immediate situation is, if we can do that consistently, who knows what we will accomplish…
Written by oliver
Morning
Another top write up oliver, thank you…
Hi all.another great post oliver keep ’em coming.our four headed monster Theo van nasregas seems to be gelling very well.rvp is showing signs of getting back into the groove but why does he have to hit the woodwork in every game he plays?nasri had adapted to playing on the right but im sure its only a matter of time before he becomes a nuisance on the left.all in all our front 6 is fantastic!
Morning again.
You are right, it is not in our hands, Man Utd hold all the cards.
As for the game yesterday, I have two small bugbears.
1) We need to be more clinical in front of goal. I know we scored 33 but we have god knows how many shots on target and I want to see us converting at least 50% of those chances.
Sound harsh? Let’s be honest, most of our chances are one on one’s in the box (we hardly have a 25 yard boot at goal). Watch a game and see how many one one one’s we miss. If we started converting half of these chances, we wouldn’t care about the defence. Memo to Arsenal strikers, shoot in the corners not at the keeper in the middle.
2) We made 3 or 4 defensive mistakes that if against top class strikers, would probably have been scored and that still worries me and we still have a propensity to let the ball bounce and then try to control it. I would like our centre backs to think, I am the last person between here and our goal, if I let it bounce it becomes a footrace and a 50/50.
Surely they can practice in training, head the ball to the wing where one of our players can have moved to or, if at the halfway line, put a towering header back deep into the oppositions half and work from there.
I am fed up beyond belief when I see a hopeful punt over our defence results in a goal chance for the opposition.
Apart from those small points, we controlled the midfield and played some nice, quick one touch passing and had some great movement.
Just one last thing. Can someone tell Walcott that he is the fastest player in the league. When faced with a defender high up the pitch, kick it past him and go.
Thanks.
Hi KT, thought you’d left us 😉
I thought the attacking unit was awesome yesterday, another lucky post, a couple of ‘rushed’ chances missed and 2/3 quality saves from Green again kept the score down…..
He has to play that side against Leeds but replace Eboue with Sagna.. If he can’t then as near to it as possible….
Hola People Oliver great write up
Hi Will
I thought our defence was all over the shop at times, and it showed just how much we need another CH or two.. JD, well that was his worst performance in a long while, that actually could be down to being jaded. Didn’t Wenger say his fitness is not up to playing in every game??
Go get Samba and this week…
‘Can someone tell Walcott that he is the fastest player in the league. When faced with a defender high up the pitch, kick it past him and go.’
Wenger needs to drum this into him, maybe Henry was watching and he can have a word in his ear….
RVP was awesome JD was tired but still held tight bring on Sagna and the Squad is complete mind you TV is out for the season in my book 🙂
Howdy Erick, long time no hear 🙁
That was the best i’ve seen from Robin for a few seasons, let’s pray he doesn’t pick up an injury, his persistance for the Walcott goal was tops…
Theo’s finish was top draw to, nipped in and nicked it and ‘Back of the net’….
Walcott seems to look inside to play a one two. He doesn’t need to, knock it 10 yards down the line forcing the defender to turn and go. Who would catch him?
This is annoying news. It is being reported we arre not going for Cahill as Bolton are Asking for £20m but the Spuds are offering £25m for Caroll. Wenger needs to splash our cash on players it is obvious we need.
I am not saying Cahill is that player but we neever get the player we need because of price. Are we not bigger and richer than they are?
Back to Walcott, don’t we want to be seeing him doing this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjhGlt_9a9k
Rico my dear,why would i leave?i’ve read all comments in all your posts since i disappeared for a while.fantastic blog you have here.hi erick…
I don’t think anyone will disagree with you Will, Theo possibly has everything in his locker – he jsut needs someone to give him the key…
To be fair to him though, during his i’v yetserday before the game he said that this is now when he really wants to kick on and make great progress in his career and I think he will…
He’s 21 years old, he will work it out….
Rvp needs to stay fit now rico.he is class.
Just missed you KT 😉
KT, I’ll put my hands up and a few weeks ago he frustrated the heck out of me but I now see it was rustiness, yesterday he was different class and great to sse him use his right foot 🙂
We need to place RvP in cotton wool.
I still think we need a striker whose only thought is to score.
Could you imagine Ian in the box with the chances we create?
Talking of which, Andy Carroll is going for £25M, that is crazy money, all because he’s English…..
Rico yap its been a while computer crashed and my phone been refusing to comment so 🙁
I agree but it more the fact they are willing and able to pay it. If we are to get the players we all know we are lacking (and it is really only a couple of players) we need to loosen the purse strings.
I think we are on the brink of something really big, I don’t want to look back in 5 years and think what could of.
No worries Erick, hope your studies are going well and not getting in the way of Arsenal 😉
He is a powerful player Rico but we have Chamaka and B52
Will, if we have a bit of a shake up in the summer we could generate the kind of money we need to buy – Suarez is reported to be interested in moving to the PL and De Boer has said he won’t stand in his way…
He’d cost less than Carroll and he’s pretty good isn’t he.. 😉
Just don’t let him near the goal we are defending 😉
Carroll is £30M, i got that wrong…..
Am through with my studies Rico so its Arsenal 24/7 My Man KT whats up umepotea mtu wangu
Sadly though Erick, Nikki is going backwards, I can’t see him being with us much longer..
Maybe to many disturbed nights caused by his new born son.. 😉
Will we don’t need one man in the box to score goals.all those chances come about because rvp drops deep dragging defenders with him.this gives our midfield runners space to score.simply tasking one man to score isn’t as effective nowadays as teams field dms and 2 cbs that could easily nullify 1 man.nowadays we have so many players advancing in the box making us unpredictable.also if your number 9 has a bad day in the office you’ll struggle.just look at pool and Torres.
Erick we ndio umepotea.
Rico even suarez drops deep especially to the flanks to escape tight marking.due to modern defensive tactics old fashioned number 9s are a dying breed.
Trouble for us though KT is we have Chamakh and Nikki who right now cannot buy a goal so we are suffering a bit, neither have that self belief that they can score from anywhere…
So we are going through what the dippers are in a way, the difference being we have so many others who are scoring…
What happens then though is at some stage RvP, Theo, Nasri, Jack and Cesc, Song need a break and thats when we struggle to win…
And we know Wenger will rest them all together and against Leeds no doubt. I really hope he plays the same side in the FA Cup replay, barring Eboue…
But you, I, we all know he won’t…..
KT, you have mistaken what I am saying. I am saying we need a striker whose only thought is to score. we have loads of strikers who love to assist, what we need is a striker who doesn’t give a monkey’s toss about assisting and just wants to shoot and knows how to miss the keeper.
I am not saying we only need one striker and make him the main man. We don’t play that way and as you said, defenders will just swamp him but we do need a goal scoring striker. Maybe Chamakh is that player.
As for Suarez, it is being rumoured that Liverpool are in for him.
I accept that KT, we all chatted about that the other day but wouldn’t it be great to have a ruthless forward within our squad – a player who just scores for fun and get 20-25 goals a season, add that to our midfield contributions we would be much stronger in attack…
Maybe the ‘assists’ should be removed from stats 😉
I think it is great that we have so many talented strikers who can assist in making goals but we really could do with a striker whose sole purpose is to sccore.
I would live Torres in our squad.
Rico/will we have 45 goals which is the highest PL tally.i get your point about a goal getter but nowadays they are just old fashioned number 9s.its very rare to get a false nine with qualities of a predator.that is what makes messi a phenomenon.he plays as their main forward but he is rarely in the box but barca score for fun.rvp was doing everything well apart from scoring but now he is doing that.if he can get messiesque consistency to score he’ll be one to look out for in the 2nd half of the season.when chamakh/bendy play upfront we create very few chances unlike when rvp does.all we need is wonder boy to stay fit and to keep scoring.
I would too Will but Wenger wouldn’t, he should have got David Villa when he could…
Oliver makes a great point in the post, three goals and the game usually gets won but anything less, the team and us fans have niggly doubts…
Two goals should usually be enough so what does that tell us about our defensive unit..
Its just not good enough……
I get your point KT, I really do, I just think if we had a player who could convert half of these 50/50’s we would score 4 a game at least and we would not be hanging on for the last 10 minutes in a lot of games.
KT, forget ‘old fashioned number 9’ for a moment, i understand those days are gone, just imagine a Nikki or Chamakh who could be ruthless with their chances rather than fluffing thei lines when on goal…
Thats all I mean and wish for 😉
Wigan and Leeds spring to mind…
How many chances did we miss, a ruthless finisher and we would be resting all our players this week….
Exactly Rico, nothing to do with a traditional number 9. Just wanting a striker who knows how to hit the corners of the goal and I have to say, we only have RvP who does that on a regular basis.
Nasri is playing with a swagger about him.he has this swagger that henry and pires had ‘f*ck you all.im the best player’ confidence has done wonders for him.
I have seen that KT and I love it and I can see him and Cesc creating a truly top class midfield partnership.
I am just thinking about Nasri, Cesc and RvP as a wonderful triumvate (sp)
Rico/will i get your point now.i thought you meant we buy an old fashioned no.9.i thought you wanted rvp replaced by such a player.
Will you forgot theo.its more like Theo van nasregas…
Nooooooooooooo. Just a striker whose sole thought is to score. He doesn’t care about making the cute round the corner pass because it would look good. he basically screams “give me the ball, I want to score”
Theo doesn’t need a brain waddle.he has 10 goals this season despite missing 2 months through injury.even nasri was out for a month after undergoing knee surgery.
KT, I would like to see Theo coming in to reap the rewards of the other three’s clever play.
I know I have said it but Imagine Wrighty in the box feeding off of Nasri, Cesc and Robin.
Will we miss so many chances i agree.we should improve that aspect especially our midfielders.diaby may have his critics but he must be one of the best finishers at the club.most of his goals are either smashed/placed in the top/bottom corner.
I agree but where do we play Diaby. He is a weird player and doesn’t seem to have a best position and seems to lack certain parts of his play to nail down either striker, attacking midfielder or centre midfielder.
Theo is doing for us what pedro does for barca.he is our direct player and his main role is to supplement the attack through direct running and clinical finishing.pedro/theo don’t need to be involved in the build up.theo also ensures we have a speedy outlet that helps reduce lethargic passing.
KT, never, RvP’s the maker, we just need the taker now ….
Re Diaby, we should try him as second striker when the big boys need a break…
I wish two things for Theo
As I said this morning, he needs to stop constantly turning in, looking for a one two to get the ball behind his defender, knock it past and run Theo.
Two, he needs to make more angled runs across the fullback without the ball one, to push the fullback back and open up space and also to get into the box and two, to make their defence worry about stepping up, one wrong decision and it is a chance.
Will i think diaby is one of the main reasons we are playing with a mobile midfield 3.if cesc is struggling diaby can become the Am where his dribbling and finishing can be of great help in tight games.he can also drop deep some games against lesser opposition to learn his trade as a CM.he was excellent at this at the start of the season before he got injured.his late runs from deep have also resulted into a couple of goals.
Diaby does make me laugh though. He will intercept a pass and head off live Vieira of old. He will beat 5 players like Messi can only imagine how and then, when finally through, stop and think about what he will have for dinner.
Will i think theo makes lots of angled runs between the FB and the CB as illustrated by how he tortured Terry and cashley.i also remember in 08/09 against the mancs at home where he made such a run that took out vidic giving nasri acres of space to score.
To do what Henry did so well, stick on the shoulder of the last man, whether that be on the left, right or down the middle – also, if he makes those runs accross the defender, many will do exactly what Bridge did yesterday….
yeah, until he doesnt track back.
I’ve always said that Diaby has a great footballing brain and great footwork – however his problem is getting them to work together…
The other thing is, I think he has a serious injury just waiting to come out…..
who goonerwife??
KT, you have mentioned two examples, I want 20 a game. I want him to make their defence sit back on their 18 or try for offsides at the halfway.
Maybe I am being too harsh on Theo but I can see he has everything to be Messi and everything to scare the living hell out of any defender on the planet.
Boo! oliver, another excellent match report!
How’s everyone? rico, sorry, been MIA. Been reading of course, just dizzybusy. 🙁
hola, KT, weeds, will. 🙂
I just love our first 11.since we played this team we have played 4 games:3 wins (b’ham/city/hammers) and 1 draw (city).9 scored and 1 conceded.3 cleansheets in a row too.
Lovely agag…long time indeed.hope you’re fine.
Will theo just needs to improve his control in tight spaces and maybe learn a few tricks.combine this with his explosive pace and expert finishing he’ll become a handful to defenders.
I still say Nik b can leave on a free.
You are right KT, he has it all at his feet.
Boo agag, good to see you – pleased with the win?
He can go Will, but let’s get some money for him… Fulham offered £5M if you believe reports….
We need the spuds to beat the mancs but as we all know that even if the spuds are given a 3 goal lead the game will end 5-3…oh wait…
I would rip their hands off for £5m.
Also, I want the game to be a 0-0 draw with several sending’s off for ultra violent conduct and season long bans.
Bet Webb is the ref KT….
0-0 would do me too but something would be nice about the mancs being stopped in their so called ‘invinsible season’ –
red cards all round would be good too….
Walkies time for me, I want to be home for ‘that’ match later….
Back in a hour or so…
Love it.
http://www.onlinesocialmedia.net/20110116/ex-arsenals-paul-merson-hits-back-at-glen-johnsons-tweeting/?
Afternoon all’ Nice one Oliver.
wouldnt get to excited over this game WH hardly had a defensive wall up against us, and we only scored two in open play, we still can’t penetrate walls, but i’m as happy as Oly three will do me.
I am very pleased indeed, with the win, rico. RvP was truly outstanding; and were it not for the upright, he’d have netted a hattrick. Theo was causing the Hammers defense all sorts of problems, too. He really is at his best when acting instinctively; too much time on the ball, and he almost invariably passes on time too many. I thought Clichy did well. But then as to the last, I am a bit biased.
KT, I am fine. I hop you are, too. 🙂 I am very happy for Robin. Glad his shooting boots are back on. 🙂
I agree Steve, we were hardly against a top team and yet we still managed to waste half a dozen gilt edged chances and give up two or three chances to the opposition.
Mind you Will,
I feel a lot better when we win mate.
AgAg – We played well but we were not pushed hard so it was more like a tough training session.
Oh so do I but it wasn’t really a test and I still think we need to the ruthless striker, let’s say Torres.
Hi, Steve and Will. Agreed, the Hammers were hardly up for it, and we really should have had the game closed by HT, but having said that, a win, in whatever manner secured, was the only way our team would have gone some way in redressing the last two Cup game debacles, and they did just that, so I am a very happy girl.
Plus, Sagna is returning at last. Eboue makes me laugh, but then he also makes the opponents laugh… and that’s never a good thing. 😉
Come on Everton, knock these bin dippers further down the league 🙂
Thats him out for the season then 🙁 🙁
Arsenal centre-back Thomas Vermaelen has confirmed to Belgian website Sporza.be that he needs surgery on his persistent Achilles problem and has tentatively set a return date for March.
The Belgian stopper has not featured for the Gunners since injuring himself on international duty in August leaving Arsene Wenger with trio Laurent Koscielny, Sebastian Squillaci and Johan Djourou as his only other options in the centre of defence.
If that is true Rico, Wenger needs to ho out and get two top class centre backs now.
Just thinking the same Will, JD looked jaded yesterday and he seems to be our backbone right now – we cannot afford to use Song there as he is the big man in the midfield…
Wenger needs to work some magic, if he gets samba and another cheapie, I’d be reasonably happy, if he gets no-one, we are seriously in trouble….
Time to stop being cheap and go get the defenders that win us the first of many league titles.
Will, I looooove Torres. I’d have him in a flash, alas, he seems beyond our meager budget, and tightfisted management. 🙁
rico, you’re back. Terrible about TV… 😥 I was hoping he’d be back to face the Catalans.
I don’t think he is beyond our budget. Think about it, we made £50m profit in one year and hardly spent last year either. I estimate there is at least £60m-£70m for Wenger to spend.
Torres has been on my wish list forever; at every given opportunity, I say Torres is exactly my kind of guy… err.. buy. 😉 Plus, we already know he looks good in red. 😀
Did anyone see Dzeko play last night? He. Is. Excellent. I wish our purchases were of that nature; instead we get kids for whom we can’t even sort out Visas. 🙁
Will, he won’t spend big, he should, but he won’t – Bartley and Miquel will be in the frame next season…
agag, i’d love Torres in an AFC shirt, he looks much better today, but we know wenger won’t spend that money on one player… sadly but to be honest, right now what money we have we need to spend on two defenders…. I was hoping he’s be back too, but just knew he wouldn’t sadly….
Exactly, Wenger seems fixated on the future and while I can see how planning for it is a good thing, football is about the here and now as much as the future and the thing is, if you slip down, your future goes down as well as players won’t come.
I didn’t see Dzeko agag, was he really that good…
I think you were right the first time, Torres is your kind of guy 😉
Two players would have made a huge difference to our strike force, either would have done, both are Spanish and look good in red…
Villa and Torres…..
I still think deep down our defender will be Mexes…. cheap and french…
Agag loves torres while rico loves villa.if i was Aw id sort you lovely ladies out but im not.im watching the merseyside derby right now and i must say torres is showing signs of genius.
rico, Dzeko was really good. Holds play up, gets into dangerous positions, stays on his feet, tackles, attacks… To think it was only his first game. 🙁
I wonder how Torres would feel about missing out on another CL season… I just don’t see Liverpool challenging for a spot in the top four.
liverpool have had 10 shots at goal in th first half
and they have torres so why havent they scored 10 yet??
if only they had a more clinical striker eh??? 😉
hey guys, good post again oliver..
are we ready for a nice little draw between mancs and pommes?
You and I know very well JJ, that shots on goal isn’t the definite way to judge but ask yourself, how many times are we through on the kepper and shoot straight at him?
😆 KT, wish you were Wenger….
He’s certainly looking a lot sharper than he has done in a long while, but, i want the dippers to get battered….
agag, that is not what i hope you would say 😉
jj, trust you… 🙂
Wonder if Beckford would look good in red 😆
im totally with ktr on the striker debate
if we wanted a clinical striker we should just go sign defoe..but he wouldnt fit our system at all we would score less goals..
id take torres tomorrow but the only place he would play is in the theo role
but theo is starting to develop at a rate of knots if he keeps this up he’ll get 20 this season
i think its one of those things we can debate all day jj and never all agree, one thing we do know though is we have what we have and i just hope Nik and AA can start taking a few more of chances they get, same could be said for those who played yesterday too, but the difference was it didn’t cost us..
games like leeds, wigan, ipswich, those misses cost us dearly….
good job we didn’t sell Theo jj, i recall a few folk calling for his head 😉 😉
i may have mentioned that before 🙂
KT, go get that job at AFC. 🙂 And don’t forget we eed another CH and a DM.
JJ, Torres is a clinical striker… he’s always at the clinic for one injury or another, isn’t he? 😉 But, really, how fearsome would our team be with a stiker of his caliber??
rico, sorry to disappoint about Dzeko. Already, I don’t like him 😉
😉 rico
Hi jj.rvp makes our system tick and with him we average 3+ goals a game.when he starts scoring regularly we’ll score for fun.
haha agag i liked that one
torres would be a good acusition thats for sure..
get rid of nikki and AA and bring in torress and hazard
but the torres deal is highly improbable we could never afford him
I think my problem is with the back-ups.
Rico maybe theo read my post the other day.once he attains magnetic ball control and a few tricks he’ll have exponential potential.
Jacky boy is now an undisputed first 11 player.he always seems to have space when he receives the ball which is very difficult to have let alone a 19 year old.once ramsey and diaby are fit denilson won’t even make the bench.
agag 😆 re the clinic
KT, maybe, i did have a word in his ear …. lets not forget he’s only 21 and he has many years ahead of him…
As for LJ, he’s one of those players who will put his body on the line too, he’s a real Arsenal boy….
will everyones problem is the backups…
but unless we are citeh we cant have 40 world class backups
the season we went unbeaten henry and co (our first team) played the entire season almost..
we need robin and co to do the same..
jacks first touch is better than cescs..
and he creates about 10 yards of space for him to run into before he touches the ball with that turn he does..
and hes a tenacious little sod as well..
hes like a young paul scholes and he’s only going to get better..
im talking paul gascoigne the kids that good
I agree JJ but it would be nice to have a couple of quality back-ups but as KT said, our midfield will look strong within the next few weeks (with no mis-haps).
If AA can regain his ability, look at who we have
Cesc
Nasri
Song
Jack
Rambo
Theo
Diaby
Will i agree with jj.back ups will always be inferior to the best 11.just last week barca played levante and won 2-1 without messi.in that game they looked toothless sort of us without rvp.levante had in their previous game played madrid who smacked them 8 nil with Benzema who has been disappointing netting a hattrick.our B team isn’t bad but when wholesale changes are made they end up looking poor as they have no chemistry.
JJ you are right about jack’s turn, just buys himself a few yards.
You are right about the mass changes KT, if you are going to rest Cesc, leave Jack and Nasri in.
I agree jj.jack’s first touch is almost similar to iniesta’s and thats why i think he’ll play cesc’s role in future while ramsey will play deeper as he has better vision and physique.he is also excellent at running with the ball but am sure jack will catch up on the aforementioned aspects and we’ll have a midfield to last us the next decade or so.
Will, the problem is the gulf between the strongest eleven and the so called second string – i don’t think anyone expects us to have 22 fantastic players, heck, we don’t have eleven but the standard drops once we go beyond yesterdays eleven (bar fabianski, TV, Gibbs, Frimpong and Sagna)
AA on his day is a world beater, but his day seldom comes right now….
we do have alot of options will
the problem at the minute is that the likes of AA and rosicky and chamakh have totally lost the plot
nikkis got a problem with his ego but you cant put a brain in a turnip and velas not getting a chance
we just need em to produce the goods when called upon
Jack’s turns are almost rvp-esque.he performs the cruyff turn almost effortlessly.
I forgot about Rosicky. So that means even without the youth coming through. We would have a first team midfield of:
Arshavin
Cesc
Rosicky
Jack
Diaby
Nasri
Rambo
Song
And that doesn’t include Theo who is more an attacker now.
I would say our midfield is set, we now have to get at least one top class “starting” CB to relive JD (I really want JD and TV to start when fit)
And we need to get shot of Nik b and give JET a go.
Hurrah, we are not that badly off really.
If Jack doesn’t get young player of the season, I’ll eat my hat but you just know Carroll will get it as he doesn’t play for us and he’s been in the nick…..
At the club i think rvp and mozart have the best first touch and turns.its sad rosicky is struggling at the moment as he has all the raw qualities.maybe a 35 yard scorcher against barca may be just what he needs…
i think chamakhs problem is that of a confidence one
he was doing brilliantly in the first half of the season..
then rvp and nikki return to fitness and chamakhs found himself down the pecking order..
i think he always knew that would be the case but its affected his game..
i want to see him bounce back
Rico i won’t be surprised if they gave it to bale if he fails to bag the PFA Player of the year.
How Nik B is ahead of anyone is beyond me.
our squads huge will..
too huge as it is unbalanced
more songs please..
and when hazard comes in the summer it will make it more unbalanced 😉
If Hazard comes in, expect Rosicky or AA gone.
niks ahead of himself.. in his head 😉
nikkis got to remember hes a backup man..hes not 1st choice and he never will be so time to stop whinging and time to start putting his 6’4 frame around like he was last season..
when he starts doing that again he’ll become useful until then hes no good to anyone
need a draw here today
a draw puts spurs 6 points behind and the mancs only two ahead
draw draw draw..
I would be happy to see him go.
good point KT, i forgot Bale…
I think Chamakh had too many games too soon because of RvP’s injury – I think Wenger see’s the two of them as the perfect strike force… well, so he said in an i/v
Exactly JJ, we need this to be a draw with at least 4 red cards.
Will
AA is gone in the summer for free in any case, still think he may sneak out this month…
What a gaff by Crouch…..
i dont know whats going on with AA anymore rico
latcher reckons hes got another 2 years left on his arsenal deal but AA said last year that latcher aint his agent anymore, yet now all of a sudden he is..????????????????
fuck knows whats going on someones lying somewhere but what do u expect from the dodgy russians?? 😉
If he doesn’t regain his ability, he can go.
Thank the lord we don’t have Crouch.
How is rafael still on the pitch?studs up=red card.
i thought it was a bad one at first but looking at the reply ktr it wasnt a lunge as such and he only went in with one foot..
and he did win the ball….
it wasnt even a booking in my opinion but valencia made it a foul with the way he rolled around
KT, do you really have to ask?
jj, someone (Will i think) put an article up the other day which i think said that Latcher is still his agent for now but AA wants to find a new one… I don’t get it all either..
But why would Latcher make such a comment if he is no longer his agent, like you, i’m bloomin confused, not that it take a lot 😉
We could do with VdV getting injured on 89 mins with the scores level – that will halt the buggers…..
Latcher stated that he is still his agent for another 2 months, after that who knows, so if he goes in this window Latcher would probably benefit
Hi Steve, i don’t like agents… oi, check your email 😉
my manutd mate on FB just had me in tears of laughter…
get this…hes moaning about the ref lol
he reckons utd should have had a pen..????????
hes got used to it hasnt he…lol
where was the pen?? cos i must be watching the wrong game
he’s used to Webb giving them jj……
Did you see Gibbs running in on 70 min AA look and learn
I ment Giggs
Love him or hate him vidic is a superb defender.
I would like Traore given a chance at left wing, from the few times I saw him, he is pretty quick and can put in a decent cross.
Rafael is off!
Thats his position Will, he is no defender, but a ‘winger’ more likely but i don’t think he’ll come back now….
I would like him to be given a go. from what I can remember, he is Theo quick.
He’s quick, but wenger will let him go, i’m sure, crazy really when you what dross he keeps….
Yep, keep Denilson but get rid of Traore
exactly, makes so much sense eh… not! to be fair, they dont play in the same position but I get what you are saying Will…
Traore and Clichy/Gibbs could dovetail perfectly and really give our left side some menace.
nice..
and a red card
😉
Well, best result for us from that game…. what a strange day, four matches, four draws…..
when do we play the manure??
just checked, ages yet – we could do with VdV getting a RvP injury…… he is the one player that keeps the TT’s ticking…..
Don’t know, they have two injuries by the look of it.
Yet again spurs were a total let down but at least were 2pts closer
Steve, it is the result we wanted.
i wanted utd to lose but i’ll suffer it Will
I can understand why Steve, I’d hate them to go a whole season, but right now this is best for us and we can stop their run and if they play like they did today and we play like we did yesterday…
We will…..
Fair point rico
Nte Nte all
Yes but now they are close and the Spuds are further away.
I’m off too all, looking forward to wenger getting our CH this week…
Be good, have a great evening all and see you tomorrow…
Spuddies lose ground and we are closing in on the top, that’s what matters…….
Morning…
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