Morning all.
When Man City rocked up at The Emirates a few months ago with their star studded squad, they were sent packing with nothing. Two goals were enough that day to earn all three points against a side heavily tipped to win the league. Walcott and Giroud struck in the first half which proved enough and despite Toure pulling one back late in the second half, Arsenal held on.
Just how though I don’t know as City threw everything but the kitchen sink at Arsenal in the last ten minutes. To be honest they had a few decent chances throughout the game, as did Arsenal but thankfully, on that day, City’s shooting boots were worse than ours.
Alexis Sanchez, Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin were all out injured back then but today, all three are available, the only slight doubt would be the little Spaniard who has only just returned from injury. We didn’t have Elneny for the home fixture either so Arsene has decisions to make when it comes to team selection. Will he be bold and bench the out of form Ramsey and Giroud? I hope so but I doubt it.
Manuel Pellegrini has selection problems too but of a very different kind. His captain Kompany is out injured and will miss the Euro’s, David Silva, Pablo Zabaleta and Aleksandar Kolarov are also missing today because of injury which is all good news for Arsenal, if they can take advantage.
Arsene Wenger has been talking to the official site about his plans for next season.
We had a problem at home and dropped too many points against teams that played deep. We didn’t manage to score enough goals and our deficit is there. Our defensive record is strange because we had 15 clean sheets which is good.
But when we conceded we really conceded. In the big games away from home we conceded three at Liverpool, three at Manchester United and three at West Ham. It was nearly always in positions where we were in the lead, which makes it difficult to win the league then.
We have to add something defensively as a team to be more ruthless. Once you are two up at West Ham United and you finish 3-3, you question the team defensively.
We also gave cheap goals away against Manchester United because we were not strong enough defensively and were punished for it. I don’t think we are soft but yes, we need to toughen up. In some games we were caught, but a lot of the teams have the same problem.
Well at least he’s identified the problem I guess although it’s about six years too late but the interesting thing will be what the manager does about it over the summer and pre-season because he’s failed to rectify the defensive issues for a long time now. Against West Ham in particular this season, defending a big striker like Carroll was non-existent as he blasted a hat-trick passed David Ospina and today it’s highly likely Wilfried Bony will try and do the same if he plays. Then there’s the pace and trickery of Sergio Aguero and de Bruyne, who will stop them I wonder. Then there’s Toure, Fernando and Fernadinho. I think I’ll stop there… lol
But back to the defensive thing the manager talks about and in particular his ‘Once you are two up at West Ham United and you finish 3-3, you question the team defensively’ statement. As the manager it’s his job to rectify the defence errors during training, it’s his job to ensure the players know what their job is and stick to it and all the time certain midfield players want to bomb forward at every given opportunity, nothing will ever change. He shouldn’t be allowing Ramsey to do what he likes when his playing central midfield as this leave his team-mates alongside and behind him vulnerable. If he starts today, he has to be disciplined and get stuck in, not get to the end of ninety minutes having not made a single tackle..
And the reality is, if the manager is questioning the team defending as a whole then either he’s getting the coaching wrong, or he’s got the wrong players in his squad.
So maybe he’ll put both right during the summer and finally address our need of a goal scorer and there’s plenty of stories suggesting that player could be Daniel Sturridge. Maybe he and Walcott will swap clubs?
Anyway, until then, six points from the last two games would be ideal, or four, as that’ll secure Champions League football. After all, that’s what it’s all about isn’t it?
Good Morning Lovelies and Hunkies.
A Theo for Sturridge swap??? yes I will go for that one. I would like speed with sense up front.
NN also suggests we are in for Bolton Holding….a 20 year old CB. And he is English. So Theo to go and maybe Sturridge and Holding to come in. Two Englishmen.
And why not try a punt on Andre Gray??? He is only 24 and has a good scoring record. Plus he is English as well. And I am sure he is better than Sirnogoals
Morning Rico, good post…
I knew you’d be disappointed (relieved) that we didn’t all show up… ?
But I can never say no to Singapore spicy noodles, as Adam knows so well…
Maybe we’ll just turn up and surprise you. ?
Groggy seems to be the way to go for a few days…
Bolton Holding Devil? Is his surname Holding and he’s from Bolton? 😉
A swap deal involving Walcott and Sturridge is a possibility, but personally I’d rather see Arsenal deal with the devil than Liverpool. We all know those Scouse wankers will try and stripe us up…
Morning Kev, I’ll forgive you this once. I do like noodles myself so I understand… 😉
Aye Rico. There were a couple of reports stating that AW is willing to get him.
But its on NN…..so take it with a pinch of salt.
Holding is only 20…..but is their player of the year. He was not played yesterday as the directors told the coach not to play him……due to interest being shown from an elite premier club believed to be Arsenal
I knew you would Rico… ?
They won’t sell to us anyway would they?
Coach, maybe Arsenal will offer Bolton a part-exchange involving Wellington Silva as he is well thought of up there at the Reebok – or whatever they call it now…
Rob Holding Devil. I don’t think we need another young defender, not unless Chambers is off. We need experienced players this summer, winners…
🙂 Kev.
Holding might wanna stay up north Rico, so if Liverpool or the Mancs get involved we won’t get him anyway…
I think the relationship between Bolton and Arsenal is quite cordial now, since Fat Sam left…
Did we not loan them Wilshere a few years back, and Wellington is there now.
Everton have made an offer for him apparently Kev..
I’m off for a few hours, the sunshine is calling me…
Catch up later..
Arsenal certainly have a lack of promising young centre-backs at the club, there is nobody of note coming through the Academy and certainly nobody who is English/British/Irish with that mentality that you need in the EPL…
So if Holding is of the required quality, to me it’s a good move, if it comes off.
Get the left-back from Leicester too…
I’m all for scouting in our own backyard, the lower divisions etc.
Some players with the right mentality, like they have at the Champions!
As long as experienced players aren’t neglected Kev, then yes….
Everton looking at Holding, are they preparing to sell Stones and is he as good as his hype.?
I am not sure.
I would go for him Kev. Imagine AW getting Holding CB (Bolton), Chilwell LB (Leicester), Gray CF (Burnley). That is three Englishmen. Plus there is the chavs U21 RB Ola Aina who is English and is refusing to sign a contranct plus he will be free in June.
Rico…..it will not be necessary for Chambers to go. Because I have a feeling it will be Kos and Gabi next season. Per will go. So it will be Chambers and Holding as the sub CB.
Theo is a Liverpool fan – so possible, but do we really want to swap one lazy player for another. Sturridge spends most games looking like he can’t be arsed. Still, they could take their bench seats with them too, then they would feel more comfy.
Mornig All !
Another good performance for Sesc
Afternoon guys..
Poor old Totts lost. Shame our goal tally is so poor, two wins and we could have got second…
Ramsey & Giroud start again!
Ozil injured and misses out…
Tottenham Hotspurs, the gift that keeps on giving…. ?
If only I felt confident enough that this Arsenal team and manager were good enough to take advantage…
COYG
http://www.footballfancast.com/premier-league/arsenal/gaffer-confirms-english-prodigy-was-dropped-due-to-arsenal-transfer-bid
City have started brightly, Arsenal however….
Hi Kev..
Bollox!
Aguero…
As Kos watches the shot go just by his side…..
Ollie scores, good man…. Really good header..
Lol I don’t believe it Giroud actually scored…
Clichy nearly did too Kel, for us… Lol
Can anyone hear what the fans are singing about Arsene?
I wish someone would put a good fuckin tackle in on aguero.
The one player who would is on the bench…
That’s true rico… although he’d probably go overboard and get a red… lol
Doesn’t look good for Danny boy..
Not looking good for danny
Ha ha Kel, only against the Totts…
Wilshere on for Welbeck….
Danny probably out until January or something like that..
Yep, euros over for him I guess.
Cech having a Ches moment!
Cech lol
Come on boys
Chez has had a chez season IMHO…
Cech has had a chez season…even…
Ramsey made a tackle – hoorah 🙂
Great tackle from Ramsey…
What a tackle…
Wales in Euros quartets.lol
And then he does that
It’s not looking good for Danny Welbeck…
Make a quick decision for a change, get him operated on now so he’ll be fit for August…
But don’t ask me what August… ?
Boy wonder can tackle when he feels like.Rico.lol
2 seasons ago 4th highest tackler…lol
We’re getting killed down the left…
The only quarters Ramsey and Wales will see are in McDonalds Ts…
Agree re two seasons ago Ts, since then he’s been really off…
Alexis isn’t in this game either, he can’t do anything right at the moment..
What a dreadful free kick.
Rico, it sounds on the radio like two dysfunctional teams playing a game that should have been a title decider instead of an end of season jaunt…
Kev- how does Rico know about McDonald’s quarter pounders?
There was me thinking she only liked Linda McCartney lentil sausages? 😛
Look at the way our forward play is so tight, there’s about six players all in the middle not far from each other.. No width at all…
It’s like schoolboy football…
Kev, that’s pretty much right, it’s awful really…
I reckon most Arsenal players are wondering thinking about what colour bikini they should pack for their summer holiday….
Kev/Rico- it’s Aw vs Aw of south america.
Not sure about Quarter Pounders Ginge, but I suspect that Rico is into KFC in a big way… ?
Great first half Giroud scored, Ramsey made a tackle we’re being spoiled today. . 🙂
Ha ha ha lol.so true.
Aw and og12 are speedo wearers…
Who in an team do you reckon wears bikinis?
It sounds boring on the radio Rico, it must be like having teeth pulled to watch… ?
Next season could be one long yawn if this is anything to go on…
Why whilshere was on? Another one, who doesn’t like to defend…
Wilshere, Awoby…
AW have two options: Coquelin for secure better or Gibbs because the left side without Welbeck is very unbalanced.
It is Kev, I’m quite tempted to switch off… Lol
Couldn’t agree more Jm.
JM, why the fcuk didn’t Coquelin start, that’s what I wanna know?
Think outside the box Ts…. Lol
Rico, we’re gluttons for punishment…
The garden in the sunshine with a couple or three cold beers sounds far more inviting…
Me too Kev, darn stupid to leave him on the bench….
I did just that earlier Kev, not the beer though as far too early, even for me…. 😉
bugger!
Tbh their is only one team trying to actually win this game… 4th looms.. or worse.
Funny though, they go ahead just after we should have had a penalty… Untold will have something to say about that…
We’ll beat Villa Kel, 4th is secure, honest.,. Lol
Haha… I wouldn’t be so sure… We’re pretty shit tbh
Come on Theo, put a shift in and get a couple of goals….
If theo wants on that plane to the euros… now is the time…
🙂 Kel…
Get in there Alexis!!!
Good stuff from Ollie too…
Brilliant Sanchez…
Nice.
What a ly off by og12.
Lay off was superb ts
Lay*
Kel- i am happy to see og12 turn up in a big game.
I actually think Walcott has made a difference. Bit of pace up front….
I’m happy to see Ollie turn up in any game… Lol
Coquelin coming on, for Ramsey I hope.
Nope, Elneny off…
Lol Rico…
3 mins to hold on. Come on boys….
Good point at the Etihad…. Now smash Villa on the last day…
Pep must be worried…. Lol
We need win next game for be 2th or 3thr… else … maybe 3th,4th, 5th…
We would have taken a point at the beginning of the season. Shame about the mess ups earlier in the season. We did look more potent without Ozil.
west Ham should beat Utd in the week Jm, we should be safe… Lol
Jan onwards cost us big time.
True Potter.
Without ozil,the team normally varies play.
I think that’s 3rd in the bag now Rico, no bloody qualifiers…
Even a draw with Villa will be enough I reckon…
Now Wenger can play Rosicky and maybe give a run out to Arteta from the bench, maybe even Flamini, so they can get a send off from the crowd…
I’d actually start Walcott up front, he’ll want to impress Hodgson and be well motivated, especially with Welbeck looking doubtful now…
Could be a great opportunity Rico/Ginge, to give Chris Willock a start against Villa, or from the bench, as he’s been training regularilly with the seniors, much in the same way that Wenger integrated Iwobi before he broke through.
I reckon so Kev and I think we’ll beat Villa at home for the fans… Would be a nice touch to give those leaving some playing time but only as subs as we don’t want Flamini getting sent off… Lol
Thought Walcott looked quite lively today, not brilliant but certainly keen to impress…. Roy…
Hope West Ham beat Utd midweek…
Kev- I would be good to see Chris play against villa
Catch up tomorrow guys, night all…
Night Rico
Morning Rico and all. A cooler start to the day in London. I am wondering how many fouls Fernandinho committed yesterday. It seemed like a lot to me.
Morning Adam and all. Very muggy here, light rain and storms expected…
I thought City were quite rough all over really.
They were quick and physical but not overly so. I thought that we played them quite well again but that we lacked the guile to break them down,would have liked to see Cazorla play in the Ozil place.
Wish we could say the same about Arsenal each week – ‘quick and physical’
New post up now.