Well we have a few very big games coming up over the next few weeks….. After a solid enough display on Saturday and after scoring a very well taken goal do we look to keep Theo up front or do we bring Giroud back in?
It’s a question that probably has more questions than answers to be honest, Theo gives us pace and in front of goal is pretty decent, he lacks an aerial threat and also lacks the strength to really hold up the ball and brings others around him into the game.
We have said it many times but for me it’s all about the opposition, if they sit deep and allow us not space that negates Theo’s threat, if they push up then it allows Theo to get in behind and for us to play him in on goal. If we know that though so do the opposition which means surely when teams sit deeper we should revert to Giroud up front with Theo on the right and Alexis on the left..?
That allows OG to offer us the aerial option and also to play into his feet and then to bring the others into play, it also allows Theo and Alexis to provide service for OG and to get in behind the defenders if the opportunity arises.
In Zagreb Wednesday night I think we should start with OG up front, Maybe Ox on the right and have Theo on the bench as i think Saturday we should start with Theo at the Bridge, yes they will most likely sit deep but his pace will scare them and keeping them on the back foot means less chance for them to attack..! The squad will be tested over the next few weeks and we’re about to find out if the transfer window is going to bite us in the backside or not.
I think we have a good squad but is it a very good squad… time will tell.
If we are about to lose Jack Wilshere for a longer period of time as many are suggesting then that does limit us a bit and so does not having Rosicky available. The flip side is does this offer opportunities for Iwobe and Adelaide maybe to come in and shine..?
Again, time will tell.
Have a good day.
Afternoon………….
Hiya Wath.
Morning all.
Evening Scott, how ya doing..?
Good mate.
All’s well here.
How about you?
It’s all happening in the Australian Liberal Party…
Coup d’état ?
Good post Wath…
Wenger isn’t exactly spoiled for choice, is he?
Hi Wath,
Walcott is making all the right noises in that he wants to start games and believes that he can score more goals.
As you say, whether he starts, depends on the opposition and whether they defend deep or push up.
My worries are that against teams like Stoke, where scoring opportunities were in abundance, we (he and Giroud) are not clinical enough or is it calm enough with the goal at their mercy. Against better teams, goal scoring opportunities will be less, and we need to be able to take the chance when it is presented.
Be good if some of the younger players pushing for a place, can get 15 minutes at the end of a game when we are winning. Although saying that, we normally need to protect the lead in the last 15 minutes so Arsene will bring on a defensive minded player…
Kev, filthy politics, and filthy politicians.
What a shock Hahahahaha
You would have thought that Wenger might have learnt his lesson Wath, after the fiasco of a few years ago and Asharvin playing centre-forward….
But obviously not…
Yes Scott, I was stunned to be honest with you…
Whatever next? 🙂
Kev, an entire nation is flabbergasted lol
We need To play them all sanchez-giroud-Theo we have choice,we missed a lot of of our chances.let them help each other.
sorry afternoon all
Scottfromoz for President……………
Spot on Marinello, when chances are at a premium will we hit or miss…?
I think Theo is way more of a goalscorer than Ox so Ox just gives us better dribbling if he plays wide but his final ball is still quite poor, I agree Drake Alexis, OG and Theo up front is pretty potent and hopefully the more they play the more clinical they will get.
Time will tell, that Iwobe & Adelaide will be getting their chances… Probably in Zagreb…
I guess, Wenger won’t give up either Zagreb or Chelsea game… So, we might see lot of changes… As for me, the following can be a good starting XI against Zagreb… Ospina, Debuchy, Mertesacker/Gabriel, Chambers, Gibbs, Flamini, Arteta & Cazorla as Midfield trio, Campbell/Iwobe in left side, Ox in the right side and Giroud upfront… Cazorla can be substituted with Ramsey in half-time… If we can win with this team (I think we can), then we will have a fresh set of players for the Chelsea game (The same players started against Stoke) except Cazorla & Ramsey… We can bring in Arteta for Cazorla, Giroud for Walcot & Ox for Ramsey to infuse some stability after 70 mins… If we can continue our fine creating abilities and shots in Chelsea game with little better finishing, we can win…
BTW, Good read Wath…
Thanx Madhav……… Yes I think we can win in Zagreb and at the chavs I just don’t see the Boss making lots of changes for either game..!
Play your best team in both.We need to qualify first in the group and risking dropping early points is a non runner. Goes without saying that we need our best at the bridge of sighs on the weekend.
I think we can rotate one or two players Potter prob max 3 but as you say keep the main players for both games, a big week indeed and could actually have a huge baring on our season..!
I dnt think people realise that Theo is also more effective when the opposition sit back as he is small enough to pop up in little holes and predatory enough to shoot at tight angles. When team sit back Giroud is even more in effective as he is big and clumsy. His hold up play generally isnt much to write home about either.
Afternoon all
We must have 2 strong teams in both games. If we win wednesday, we will get 3 points in our pocket and start to consolidate our position in the group. Then, begin vital, our home games.
We know the fixtures before. If the squad in not deep enough, is only AW fault and his responsability
Hi all, good post Wath.
To those saying we need our two best teams in both, I say we need our 2 freshest teams in both. You cant play your best team Sat-Wed-Sat and expect the same players to be fresh with the same intensity.
I think Madhav has it about right… should be enough there.
I would agree with you potter, if we play games with sufficient time gaps… But if you check our next six matches, practically we can’t play our best team in all games…
1) Zagreb on 16th (A) – CL
2) Chelsea on 19th (A) – PL
3) Tottenham on 23rd (A) – CO cup
4) Leicester on 26th (A) – PL
5) Olympiacos on 29th (H) – CL
6) Man U on 4th Oct (H) – PL
Knowing that we’re gonna play 6 games in a gap of 19 days (A match in an average gap of 3 days), we should be rotating players very much, keeping the caution of fatigue in mind…
Last year Mourino did this mistake of playing his best players in almost all matches, keeping limited squard rotation regardless of whether it is a PL, CL, FA cup or CO cup… Their form dipped towards the end of last season but they somehow kept winning some matches and became champions and you very well know what is happening to them now…
I hope we don’t do Chavs mistake this year…
Both ourselves and Bayern will be looking to get maximum points from Olympiacos and Zagreb . We know that we can on a one off game beat Bayern , so the group could go to head to head results and even goal difference . If we want to qualify we have to win the lot.
Sure rest players when possible , but not wholesale restings , the Spurs match 3 maybe 4 , Leicester a couple ,and rotate O.G and Theo . If you want to thrust Iwobi and Adelaide into the limelight then its at WHL but even there we need to go through to give further games as the season progresses.
kismy…. I have to disagree with you, Theo seems to me to struggle way more when there is zero space….! He doesn’t find enough pockets of space anywhere near enough and he certainly cannot hold the ball up he gets bullied off the ball way to easily. Thing is it would all be really boring if we all agreed with each other lol
Potter thing you’re right and yes goal difference could be vital so it’s important we are clinical and make the most of our chances and if we batter Zagreb or Olympiacos it’s vital not to settle for 2 or 3 nil if we can get 4 or 5…!
We cannot go to the shit hole and just put out a team that may do a job, it’s them after all and we need to play a team that goes there and can win…! I agree potter a few changes here and there to rest players properly but nothing wholesale for any one particular game.
Sorry Roger, Just seen your comment now, for some reason your comment went into spam not even moderation….
Wath 5.13pm: They should feed spam to Theo, beef him up a bit…
Afternoon Wath and the house
Nice post
We need to put out a strong team against the scum, a win at the shit hole will lift the club big time
Marinello, surely more like raw beef…?
Evening Wath and the House.
A good match report yesterday Wath and todays is a good read.
For what its worth I think Arsene will field his strongest team with just Giroud playing in place
of Theo. I gather that our BFG will stay at home and it will be Gabby and Kossey
I have read that Gabby has played in 11 games for us and we have won 10 and drawn 1 and have only conceded 4 goals in those games. He has got to be first choice now.
As the U19’s are also playing Zagrabe on Weds I cannot see Iwobi included in the first team he will be playing with the Youngsters. As for Adelaide it looks like he picked up a serious injury
last friday and could be out for some time.
Kev ,Fred it looks like Harry Donovan is leaving.
I thought something was up as he along with Joe Willick and O conner have hardly played
this season. Is there someone at the acadamy that has a down on Essex bo9ys
Rick, yes there is a bit of a shake-up going on at the Academy…
I can’t understand why O’Connor isn’t getting a game?
There was a problem with the Willocks a year or so ago, where it was rumoured that ManUre were trying to unsettle them and get them to move to Old Bog with their elder brother, if I recall correctly…
No doubt these lads have an agent and we all know about them!
Chris has signed and is progressing well but the younger of the three, Joe, seems to be being sidelined, and this could be because of his advisors and their interference?
I’m not sure, but it wouldn’t surprise me if they didn’t all eventually leave Arsenal…
As for Donavon, I was reliably told that he was on the point of leaving over a year ago.
So his departure isn’t a massive shock to me. Even if it’s a shame…
Maybe he’ll join his old Arsenal team mate at West Ham?
Rick, thatnks mate, I agree with you I think OG could be the change for Wednesday but i would then go back to Theo for the chavs. I saw the Adelaide injury, do we know how bad it is or is it still just rumour it’s a bad one..?
As for the academy, is is also maybe a thing of getting ris of the upstarts and the ego’s who think they already made it maybe…? just a thought….
Yeah Wath, I’d go with Giroud in Zagreb, save Theo for the Chavs and their slow defenders…
Debuchy and Gibbs could get a game in Croatia, their inclusion wouldn’t weaken the defence at all imo…
I agree Kev…!
I saw a rumour that Jonkers is none too popular with some at Colney. Could be that he is shaking things up and sorting the possible professionals from the showboaters.
Stick or twist….we always bust in the Champions League Wath.
Rick, isn’t it common knowledge that Thierry will be the U-18’s assistant coach at Arsenal whilst doing his badges.
Dimitri Payet is a very good player
Lee, have I been right twice now?
Aaron…..and now Gabriel??
Not too shabby for 5 years of work Hahahahaha
I said from day one he’d be a superb buy for us, and I reckon he’s already proving how good he is.
What a ripper defender.
Damn, Newcastle are one poor side at present.
They have to be to be sitting below Chelski on the table.
🙂
And just in case you forgot Mick, Ajax are playing Celtic this Wednesday…
Yaya Sanogo to sink the Bouys…?
Yaya to score a hat trick 🙂
potter, I think you may be right there, Jonker may not be to popular amongst some but it seems he is indeed weeding out the showboaters and the ones who think they the real deal but ain’t. Seems he’s sorting out the ones that really want it and the ones that think they already there.
Scott, you right about something…. give over we know thats a load of cobblers…!
Micko, we always bust mate it’s just a matter of when but yep you got it in one…. Name that tune and all…!
Night you lot.
Just a quick note to get you started, if we beat Chavski and the bottom 3 win, which is not impossible looking at their fixtures then Mourne goes bottom.
Would ‘nt that be nice.
Morning,
potter, if that happened I think the majority of football fans would have a big smile on their face not just us…!
I never disagreed about Gabriel, in fact what he did to Costa in La Liga he was always going to make it in the PL imo.
As for Ramsey he’s still not playing as well as he can.
Potter we got to beat the chavs first.
Rumour that Terry was rumping Eva………. now that would be out of character for that nasty piece of work, wouldn’t it?!?! 😉
Lee, If she lowered herself to Terry’s level then she gets all she deserves….!
Lee, lets hope he sorts Costa out at the weekend as well, battle of the brylcreem boys..! 😉
Morning Wath and all…
Wath your post today must surely be better and longer than yesterday’s… 🙂
Micko- It seems you can’t get ‘the staff’ anymore… whether they drink special brew or GG.
Potter- by the time we have played BM we would have played Fc Hollywood more times in the UCL than any club has faced each other…
Agreed BM will be looking for a clean sweep.
Also interesting how the media rate Pogba so highly and thought he was the reason Juve were juve, but since Vidal and pensioner Pirlo left the old lady’s results is relegation material…
Eva’s a bit too old for Terry! Just saying!
Morning all
Ts, I shall try my very best to put something up that meets with your approval, one line of drivel good enough..?
Wavy, Any port in a storm for Terry…………..!!
Paulista has always been able to look after himself on the field but I think a lot has been made about the clash between Gabriel and Costa by the media.
In that game Costa ‘nutmegged’ Gabriel and as with how Costa plays against most of his country men including his old team mate Miranda and even Luiz its all a bit of Drogba vs Lehman gimmick imho…
I think it looked worst on still pictures than it actually looked…
Costa’ and Luiz is another story even though they claim they are good friends until Luiz called Costa a tritor for opting to play for Spain instead of Brazil…
😀 Wath…
You don’t want goonie having a fit wherever he is….
Wavy- Doe Eva swing that way?
Good morning everyone…
I accidentally read an article in Daily Mail (Due to the Article headline of course)…
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3232717/Chelsea-boss-Jose-Mourinho-manage-Arsenal-leaves-club-tells-Piers-Morgan-wants-stay-London.html?ito=external_sport_news^highbury-house.com
What do you guys think about this article?
I personally think, it’s Shit!!!
Morning all.
I wonder how long Ayew will be at Swansea for…
On a free he would have done a super job for us …
Madhav- Piers Morgan imho is clueless…
morning comrade Scott. 😛
Hiya Ginge.
Who the hell is Piers Morgan?
Low bred wanker.
Has to be a Spuds fan In Disguise.
I like a nice, cup of tea, in the morning.
Just to start the day, you see…
And at half past eleven, my idea of heaven, is a nice cup of tea…
If we have 3 points in the champions league
4 points from the to away matches Chelsea and the foxes
Lose or win against Spurs (I’m really not that fussed about the mickey mouse cup no matter who we play logic needs to prevail so we can be successful in the more important matches and the foxes away I would trade 3 points for a lose in the cup we’ll win the FA cup anyway 😉 )
Wenger normally rotas I’m not too worried especially in the mickey mouse cup he has always played weaker teams against Spurs as well if we have the above by the 2nd round of champions league fixtures we’ll beat UTD at home (we’re due a win against them at home) then we can really push on and show what we’re about besides the Spurs lose I think we’ll by in a tricky situation if we lose any of the other games… pains me to say
Afternoon all, my 2 pence worth on the 6 fixtures.
Play Giroud as a lone striker in Zagreb, 451, rotate Cech, Monreal and Bellerin.Rest Ozil and Cazorla. Play Chambers and Arteta as holding midfielders, Campbelll left Walcott Right and have sanchez joining in the attacks in a no10 role.Rest Rambo to give him a wake up call.
Against the Chavs, play the strongest team, Walcott to start and giroud to come on later.Recall Ramsey and Coquelin.
Against the Spuds , Ospina to come in , and the youth players to get a go with the older heads flamster and arteta in for ozil and cazorla, perhaps give campbell another run out.
Against Leicester the strongest team again.
Against olympiacos , the fastest team as they are slower than Chelsea and at home we should have enough. Walcott Bellerin Sanchez
Against the Mancs the strongest team but drop walcott for OG.Ensure We have Sanchez Left Ox right and Ozil behind OG.Coq and Cazorla in middle. BFG and Koz at the back. Maybe bring back Gibbs to rest Monreal.
Scott- The low Bred wanker claims his father took him to the shite hart lane in his youth.. 😉
I thought I had banned any talk of that tosspot mongran on here….. what a watse of decent oxygen that man is..!
Oh well that’s Jack out for the season then……
You lot will have to put up with yesterday post all day today cos I cannot be arsed writing one………… In other words been a bit busy and apart from the Jack news i’ll save it all for a super effort 2moro…! That means 2 lines Ts… happy now..?
Wait til Micko comes and craps all over me….! moan moan moan…!
Micko- as you know, people can’t get the right calibre of staff anymore..
the lady turns her back for 2 minutes and things turn to anarchy. I bet the chicken haven’t been fed either.. 😉
I fed the chickens Ts, just can’t be arsed writing a post for 5 ppl to discuss… lol
lol Wath…;
It is quite quiet these days…
I was going to say it’s boring as f**k but I won’t………….. Seems I just did…!
The international break don’t help but yes news is of a premium…! Jack is now officially the new Diaby it seems… Jack Wilchair…..! Sad but true.
Keep your spirits up Wath, I appreciate your posts..
As for Jack , we never were gonna rely on him tbh…
Internationals are a real killer as well…
Who owns Arsenal’s revenues:
http://www.cityam.com/224373/arsenal-owner-stan-kroenke-net-worth-rises-76bn-sports-empire-valued-41bn
That’s why Arsene cannot get the players he wants
Dave if wenger didn’t agree with clubs policy why is he still at the club
Why did he sign a contract extension
Evening Wath and the house
Cheers George…. You must be bored mate lol
Evening Wavy,
Dave, you think if Arsene threw his toys Stan would not buy the players Arsene wanted…? Arsene is his cash cow…
Fifth lower leg fracture in the last few years for jack. Obviously something seriously wrong for that to keep happening.
Osteoporosis? Usually a female affliction that generally affects the middle aged. Jack’s not drinking enough milk, obviously!
He does seem to snap very easily, doesn’t he?
Will the team miss him? Yes, I think they will. For all that he is criticised for dribbling too much and encouraging irrational swipes by defending players that more often than not require him to receive on field treatment, he is none the less, a regular game changer.
I hope he recovers quickly although I don’t suppose we’ll see him play again this season, in that someone has to keep Diaby’s seat in the sick bay warm! And it s Jack’s mission this season!
Luke shaw just had leg snapped?! Ramsey style. Horrible.
Wath 3.43, never put off till tomorrow what you can do the day after, can’t say I approve but admire your honestly matey !
Wavy, where was Jack when they were giving out free milk at school……probably in the bike sheds having a crafty fag, moral of the story, listen to your mum, she knows best, it always catches up with you in the end.
Man City and Man Ure losing… 😀
Like the old saying goes Kev, money can’t buy you love or the Champions League either !
The Irish nation having to put up with Harry Redknapp and Graeme Souness talking shite on CL nites for the coming season, talk about a right pair of cupid stunts.
Lewis, wasn’t very pretty was it, here’s to a speedy recovery for Shaw !
Nite folks.
Unlike Shawcross he had no choice but to go in and he did take the ball first. Nasty follow through though. Wonder if he will be back before Jack.
Malaga gooner – wenger actually cares about Arsenal’s future unlike other board members, he knows the bigger picture for the club is not to win trophies but to make Stan money, and the risks of a niave manager being appointed thinking that his job is just to be a football manager
Wath – Wenger points out which player he wants whilst other board members have to seal the deal for buying players which involves negotiations, this is where wenger’s role is limited. More often than not Arsenal cannot seal the deals because those board members are not good at their jobs, unlike David Dein who made sure the players Arsene wanted were signed
I hear what you’re saying Dave but you know this how exactly…?
Stan makes money purely on his asset value increasing and not having to invest a penny. That has no bearing directly on the cash that comes into the company to be spend on players from tv rights attendances merchandise etc etc… Wenger can spend what he wnats he chooses not to, just my opinion of course.
Night All.
Jack Wheelchair……are you Diaby in disguise? Get him fit and sell him!
Micko- I don’t like ratting but did you not say you idolised ‘arry and his dog? 😉
Scott- another night showing English football is over rated…
Speedy recovery to shaw…
Morning Wath and all…
we thought King Abou was bad but JW has now accumulated 24 injuries since he made his debut for us…
My views on JW after our lose to Bradford still stands…
A weakened Juve dispatch Citeh!
Indeed Lee still the media will make folks believe Pogba was able to make 71 tackles as if that is possible in a 90 minute game…
Intelligenceof footballers at UCL level is crucial…
The gungho or reactive view of needing Oxens in the centre of the pack to break up play last worked at European level with Greece in 2004
Our old boy Noidvert had a decent game against Krychowiak, Banega and Nzonzi last night even though Mong’bach lost away to Sevilla as expected…
Nordviet yet another player that reached the glass ceiling between youth and senior football. They can be developed so far and then you lose them because they have nowhere to go.
Agree there Potter
Morning you lot….
A few good games last night…! Few good results as well lol
Morning all.
Whats happening?
Not much to say really Scott , just waiting for news of tonight’s game. Everything else is quiet and frankly boring. I watched a bit of United ‘s game. It is a horrible injury but I don’t think it was a malicious tackle, he was caught by the follow through rather than studs , the ball was won long before.
I haven’t seen video footage of the tackle, Potter, but your version of events coincide with most.
Some say it was a malicious but mates of mine who follow the game closely say the guy doesn’t have that in him.
Either way, it’s all about the kid and his recovery.
In case you not noticed there is a new post up lol