Morning all.
We have a strong and pretty deep squad but the one position we don’t have cover in is Santi Cazorla’s. Yes we have bodies, midfielder players, but none can do what the little Spaniard does and boy don’t we miss him. I guess Jack Wilshere is the closest player as far as similarities go but he’s enjoying life in Bournemouth. He’s playing week in week out and he’s fit which is great for the Dorset club but it’s not much help to us, other than in the long term when he dons a red and white shirt again. Aaron Ramsey could slot in there perhaps but his defensive work is not the best these days as the match against Utd proved. He left Monreal exposed time and time again and in the end, it cost us. Yes Walcott should have tracked Mata but the attack should have been halted long before then.
I think we pretty much agree on two things, Ramsey is not a left-winger and our left side has become a weakness which imo, has been the case since Alexis moved central. He’s a workhorse and a player who can seldom be accused of not tracking back to help his team-mate. Gibbs could help sure up that left side, especially when we face sides with oodles of pace. Traore caused us all sorts of problems down the left when we played Boro, but it seems nothing has been learned from that match.
Up front we have limited options with just Alexis and Ollie to choose from so it’s unlikely that Arsene will revert to playing the Chilean on the left, although when he did on Saturday, albeit for a short period of time, it paid dividends. But while playing both together is always an option, it’s a risk, especially with Lucas Perez, Danny Welbeck and Chuba Akpom all sidelined. Perez is scheduled to return early in December but before then, Arsenal have a few fixtures to get through starting on Wednesday with a crucial Champions League match against PSG.
When we faced the French club at their own ground, they absolutely battered us. A very early 1-0 goal lead for the home side looked like they were ready to take us to the cleaners and but for sloppy finishing and good goalkeeping they might have as we performed in a similar fashion to Saturday. Once they’d taken the lead, they sat back a bit and tried to hit us on the break which they did, but with no further success. We had a few attacking chances of our own that night and when Alexis sipped into equalise before the final whistle blew, the point earned was a very good result, especially when one looks at the quality in their squad. Giroud didn’t start that match, he didn’t finish either as having come on from the bench, he was sent off, as was Verratti after handbags between the two of them…
Since that draw, we’ve done well in the Champions League, having beaten Basel 2-0, Ludogorets Razgrad 6-0 at home and 3-2 away from home, leaving just this fixture and an away match against FC Basel to go. Win both and we top the group, it’s as simple as that but even coming second in the group this season might not be as bad as it’s been in seasons gone by, not when looking at the other groups and the clubs involved:
As it stands right now, the top two in the other groups are:
Group B – Napoli and Benfica.
Group C – Barcelona and Man City. (we can’t play City)
Group D – Atletico Madrid and Bayern Munich.
Group E – Monaco and Bayer Leverkusen. (Totts are one point behind in 3rd but we can’t play them even if they do sneak into second spot which I doubt)
Group F – Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid. (Don’t want either)
Group G – Leicester and FC Porto. (Can’t play Leicester)
Group H – Sevilla and Juventus.
I don’t think there’s an easy opposition out of any of the above. FC Porto, Sevilla or Benfica are perhaps on paper a better opposition to face but even they’ll be tough, certainly if we continue to play as we did at the weekend…
At right back, the manager has another option with Debuchy having returned to full fitness, but should he replace Carl Jenkinson at right-back? Is Gibbs a better option to Nacho Monreal or should they both play as it’s fair to say that if the manager doesn’t strengthen our left hand-side, it won’t only be Boro and Utd who take advantage of our weakness. Arsene Wenger simply has to make changes but how, well that’s his job.
Just as is it to look, see and make a difference as the game goes on……
Play Gibbs in front of Nacho.
Simple.
Morning all 🙂
Or AOC Scott?
Hi all
Good post. I like Scott’s idea, Gibbs in front of Monreal, and Xhaka for either Coq or Elneny when Santi is out. As for Ollie, he should start against PSG. I would play Sanchez on the right in place of Walcott. Ox and amsey havent done enough to merit a start. Debuchy against PSG would be suicide, as he has no pace at all…Jenks for this one and perhaps Debuchy to get a run out against Bournemouth.
Thanks George, I’d leave Walcott in for Psg, we need his pace going forward and at least he’s defending these days…
Even simpler, not all games can Sanchez be a CF. Look at how deep he had to come against United, in affect we had no CF. Play Giroud as CF. Alex as a winger, with his movement he will end up forward most of the time anyway. Sit Monreal start Gibbs.
True Rico but he left Jenks exposed against Martial and then Rashford and we rode our luck on Sunday. Walcott to come on as a sub perhaps later on in the game when PSG are camped in our half and can hit them on the break??
We forget but Alexis played his best ball for us when Ozil was hurt and he was in the #10 role. Sometimes Ozil needs to sit also. AR and Alexis can play the role. The frustration many of us have is not that we want to beat up on AW, of course not he’s our manager, the problem is we have all this options and he is not using them.
Alternatively, just tell Ramsey to defend more and better and stop giving way sloppy free kicks..
Harsh on Theo George.. 😉
Well Rico, i am being harsh on Theo not because he is playing poorly but with his wife about to drop no2, his mind wasnt really there on Saturday and i doubt he will be skipping past Serge Aurier on Wednesday…That was Wengers choice to persisit, Coming back from a flight had no bearing on Valencias’ focus and Maureen got that bang on. Telling Ramsey to defend more- i like that Rico..only will he listen?
As Obi mentions , we have options we are not using, and players should be involved on form not reputation or price.
Walcott has been better this season but last 2 games he has gone missing.
I didn’t realise his wife is that close to having their second child George. I think it wasn’t only Theo who didn’t have his mind on the game, there were plenty so perhaps that why singling him out on his own is difficult for me.
My concerns are more with what Wenger is doing, or not which seems to be more of the case…
Simplest solution for PSG is Alexis on the left, he will support Nacho. Then Giroud on top and please do not let Rmsey on the field before minute 85. get Xhaka and Coq in the middle.
Rico, Is Debuchy even in training? I know he has been replaced in the FX finance ads by walcott recently which prompts me to think his time is up.
Same as Obi suggested crispen…
Sanchez coming deep vs ManUre, could have been a legitimate tactic as it left the Manc centre-backs with no one to mark, allowing Walcott the space to run into.
It didn’t work for Walcott, but the Mancs totally lost Giroud for the equaliser, maybe symptomatic of their centre-backs being out of the game?
Afternoon Rico, good post again…
Are you getting your mojo back? ?
I only saw brief highlights of the game, so how did Jenkinson play?
Did he do enough, given how long he’s been out, to keep his place?
How about AOC at right-back in one of our next three games?
Could be that that is his position…
I wouldn’t use Debuchy yet, I mean does he even care?
I’d play him against Southampton, but having him on the bench and giving him a run out would be useful…
Did anyone see Ramsey laughing at Mourinho when he went into one over the penalty they didn’t get…
It was hilarious…
Ramsey is being asked to fill in, I can’t remember when he last played in his favourite position. So maybe we are all guilty of being too critical of him
I mean, Ozil didn’t set the world alight when Wenger played him wide, did he?
It’s good to read everyone bigging up Santiago…
He’s a genius, and my favourite player, but I really have no idea who could eventually replace him – personally I’d give him a 3 year deal and keep him. We don’t wanna be looking back in a year or so and regretting his departure a la Bobby Pires….
Afternoon Kev, thanks..
Not sure re my mojo, don’t think I’ve ever really had one.. 😉
I saw that with Ramsey, loved it as much as I detest Mourinho..
Have the club even offered Santi a new contract? I hope he stays too but his injuries are now a big worry. We could do with another like hi the squad…
Our last match result against Manu wasn’t that bad considering the fact that Old Trafford has never been a good hunting ground for us. Having said that, Arsene Wenger’s selection for that game left many people baffled. Since when has Elneny starts playing ahead of Xhaka?. And since when has Ramsey become a left sided winger? As for the right back position ,Jekinson is definitely not up for it .Debuchy or even Le Coq or the Ox would do a better job. If that same selection that start against Manu start against PSG on Wednesday,we shall be taken to the cleaners, with those deadly wingers of theirs . Arsene Wenger should better start using Girould as our main striker as he is on top form and shouldn’t sit on the bench. Alexis is good, but is definitely not a striker. What was Ozil doing or not doing against Manu?
All ladies have a mojo Rico. Ask le,Coq, he’s an expert!
In defence of walnut, rather like his return to the England team, he was ignored, he hardly had a ball to chase. The little bit of ball he saw was one twos with Jenks,or le Coq (again!) etc, or making runs for undelivered balls. He was willing and waiting, but nothing ever happened for him.
Giroud? Impact sub. “The hidden claw!” (TS Eliot) let the others soften up the opposition and then introduce le quiff in the 66th minute. With his silky skills he’ll win us the game!
At full back pace beats ponderousness. Jenks before Debauchery!
Afternoon all. It’s turned out nice again I see!
Yesterday LC suggested that OX should played as RB and some thought it was funny. But Saturday was not the first time AW has played him there. Granted on the two previous occasions I saw him there we were chasing the game but I really don’t think is far fetch. Looking around Europe most RB are not go tacklers, they are speeders holding up plays until the cavalry arrives.
Bellerin has just announced that he has signed a new long term contract to stay at Arsenal. Hurrah! Another two significant signings required and we’ll be about done…..for now!
Good news usually comes in threes, too. One down two to go.
Thanks Rico .
We dont even have to beat Basel to win the group if we beat PSG, so strong team if we want to win group and weak one if we `re not bothered for as you say and which I have pointed out on numerous ocassions….there are just as many tough 2nd placed teams at the moment as there are 1st placed one`s. It really is pot luck when we play in the last 16…………..do we really want the posssibility to face maybe, B Munich/ R Madrid or Juventus if we win the group ?…………..1st or 2nd….make no ends !
If it was me, I would rest players for the more important game against Jason Bourne`s mouth !…………….but we know Wenger doesn`t always think with common sense and if I had a penny for every intelligent person I`ve met with no common sense I`d buy Kroenke out ! 🙂
Shame all our quickies are right footed..Walcott, Ox, Bellerin……..if only we had the mirror image on the left side, only Gibbs is quickish, but I dont rate him, he aint no Bellerin !. We need to buy a quick decent LB/winger/wingback as both Gibbs and Monreal get roasted too often and other teams know it !.
Afternoon guys,
Great news on Hector Wavy, maybe now I’ll get my mojo back… lol
Good point LC, as we’d be top after a better head to head against Psg, mind you, can you see us beating them? I’m not so sure..
Ox at rb? Not sure that thought fills me with enthusiasm… Saturday it worked but Rashford was hardly a tricky opponent to get by for the cross…not that I’m taking anything away from what he did of course…
PL over CL for me too LC and to be honest, many of our lot looked knackered after the international break, especially Ozil who actually did have a break…
Perez is a leftie isn’t he? He’s quick too… just injured…
Afternoon all,
Can’t lump it all on Ramsey but can’t help thinking if he put in as much effort on the pitch as he does on his hair we’d have a half decent player on our books.
Have to look at Ozil as well, 80 odd caps for Germany, World Cup winner, bags of medals, top assists every other season and doesn’t turn up for us the weekend…..Ronald McDonald would have had a bigger impact than him last Saturday but as usual Arsene bottled that one as well !
The CL is what Arsenal business wants and I understand that, but for 20 years of competing in it our record is dismal. I can honestly say the group stages dont excite me one bit and knock out stage has only been exciting when we have performed well, but that`s once in a blue moon……………I have become conditioned to being disappointed !…………now the FA Cup, that`s a proper cup with emotion………..the image of Theo being stretchered off and taunting the Spuds whilst gaining some usefull coinage for the parking meter !. hahaha
Hi Micko, it’s a tough one with Ozil as in a flash he can produce a moment of magic, but playing Ramsey on the left proved to be a bad decision. Hindsight eh…
As said before, if only Arsene was more proactive and changed things during a game, especially when it’s clear to all bar him that something isn’t ticking in a way it could.
Don’t think anyone had an exceptional game really… Mustafi was strong in the air though… lol
CL is about one thing for the club and that’s the money. Under AW we’ll never win it imo, in fact I doubt we’ll get through the first knockout match regardless of who we draw…
The players like to compete in it though it seems….
Cocker, the major difference this time is that we’d have the 2nd leg at home if we won the group…
Would that make any difference if we were playing Bayern or Porto or Dortmund, who knows?
I used to like mojos and fruit salad, and the flying saucers with sherbert in them…
All you could eat for a tanner.
I think the players are more interested in money more than CL, Rico. The myth was that players joined clubs to play CL, but that has been proved bollox in the last few years with Chavs and Manshafter missing out on CL !……twice now for Manshafter, yet somehow they can sellthe Europa League dream to Pogba and Ibro`…………….how do they manage to do that ? 😉
££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££
True Kev…….forgot about that advantage !………………………………..I still buy Flying Saucers !…………………..I remember you could get 4 for a penny or was it 8 ?
I always like playing the second leg away Kev, then if the scores are level and we nick a goal, they have to get two…. ??
They are these days LC but before then things were a bit different, maybe they liked being on show when itching for a move… lol
Afternoon. Great news re Bellerin. Just watched the official video, what an example he sets to all other young players. Actually some older ones as well should take note of what he says!
Hi Andrew, doesn’t he just. Thank goodness he didn’t follow the example of Fabregas
Sanchez is the next one I want to see. Not discounting Ozil, but even when everything doesn’t go Alexis’s way, he’s still giving 100% every time and I love him for that. Stories I read at Barca, getting back quickly from injury with his own regime just add to his enthusiasm.
Ditto re both, have to keep them and build…
Bellerin signing though convinces me even more that Wenger is staying. Why would he commit to the club without knowing who his manager was going to be….
Mojos 4 for 1d! Ah, those were the days! Flying saucers, didn’t like them too much, they played havoc with my tongue, made it tingle!! Understood the tingle when I got a bit bigger!
Any silverware will do me. Well, I’m not so bothered about the milk cup, but the CL would be a bit of icing on the cake, especially if we won the EPL in the same season. Now that would be a result! Can’t see it happening though, no matter how hard I wish.
Yep Wavy, there’s nothing better than a tingle on your tongue…
It’s makes me laugh Cocker, now there’s special shops with jars of all the old sweets at a lot more than a penny for four…
All of a sudden cough candy, pineapple cubes and lemon sherberts are in vogue!
I used to like merrymaids and chocolate nut crunch… ?
Great news on Bellerin, I had advanced info from my ITK… ?
Surely not Kev.. 😉
Catch up tomorrow guys, night all..
I use to and still do like Cola Cubes, Strawberry Sherberts, Rosy Apples, Acid Drops and of course Flying Saucers……..mainly the sour tingly ones ! 🙂
🙂
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/563933/Alex-Oxlade-Chamberlain-right-back-Arsenal-news
Hello rico & all,
I must admit 87th minute I was lamenting about Arsene Wenger, then by the 89th minute I was feeling pretty good actually. In the scheme of things, that point could be very valuable come the run in during May.
Morning GG and all…
Morning Rico and all.
Morning Adam, what a horrid one it is too. Weather wise.
New post up now..
We were too defensive Sunday with Coquelin and Elneny. We miss the creativity of Cazorla and his link-up play. As for L/R back, Gibbs has not demonstrated enough for me, nor Debuchy. We are stuck with Jenkinson, this is where I wish there was better depth. Ox C has not merited much and he may end up being a bust…the jury is out on whether Xhaka will become a more creative midfielder. Look at how far back Sanchez kept going to get on the ball. We need our midfield to bring it up and create movement.