Tuesday, September 13, 2011

It's All About The Baby Steps

I don't know about the rest of you Gooners, but after watching the Arsenal exodus this summer, I had real doubts about us competing for the Top Six in the League. I definitely had doubts about qualifying for Champions League and felt unsure about the intentions of our board and our manager to set the Gunner ship aright once again.


And then came the humiliation to end all humiliations at Old Trafford followed by a rather heart-stopping closing to the transfer window. Whew! And due to the lateness of five signings, the question of the team's ability to gel in time to rise from the relegation portion of the table and compete for the title was in question.

And parts of that question have been answered since Saturday. While winning against the newly promoted Swansea 1 -0 didn't leave us with tons of euphoria, I for one, exhaled in a bit of relief. We were better. Maybe we weren't astounding in our play - we could have been more efficient with a few more goals - but, we moved up the table from 17th to 11th, and I saw a small ray of light at the end of the bleak tunnel that breaks onto the Emirates. I saw an improved team that with more time together could provide the foundation for snagging fourth place this year and maybe a cup title.

I think it's of the utmost importance not put the cart before the horse. Let's not kid ourselves. We are NOT going to win the title. We probably won't beat out either Manchester team for points, and overcoming Chelsea could be impossible. Taking fourth place make require putting up with Liverpool and Spuds nipping at our heels and a cup title will probably be done to mostly the luck of who we draw, but it is doable and attainable if we continue to take tiny yet important baby steps forward with each game.

Robin is firing in goals again. History shows that our Captain usually needs about four to five games under his belt before he consistently finds the back of the net. Tonight was only his second Champions League appearance this season, and he scored, but the Swansea game was his fourth which means he should be making goals left and right starting Saturday.

Arshavin showed last weekend that he still has the chops to have unbelievable finishes and energy when his head is screwed on straight. We have been missing the magical moments he can provide regularly ever since Russia lost out on going to the World Cup 2010, and Andrey subsequently  lost his confidence.  Arsene thinks he's ready to go this season, he's set a personal goal of netting 15, and I think he could make a real difference.

Gervinho loves to run at defenders and attack the goal but needs to improve his final product. His lack of finishing was apparent at Newcastle, but improvement was easy to recognize at Udinese. He seems a quick study and although his finishing was not at the calibre we needed today, one has to remember he has not played for Arsenal for almost three weeks due to his ban, and the rust is probably just temporary.

Mikel Arteta is just excited to be at Arsenal and his urgency to help the side is apparent. His almost mythical reputation at converting free kicks hasn't come to fruition yet, but his tenacity and fight on the pitch is welcome. My favorite Mickey moment so far is when he went up fearlessly for a header today against a Dortmand player in the 57th minute and got his skull cracked for his effort. He left the pitch bleeding and came back on patched up and ready to go. He looks like a pretty boy, but I think he's tough as nails.

Song was back today picking player's pockets almost as effortlessly as a thief on busy New York sidewalk. No stupid tackles or lazy fouls. He just always seemed to come up with the ball. That kind of beast-like performance is what is needed from him every time he plays to help our team improve. If he now feels the pressure as a leader because there are so many new players, let's hope today's performance is a sign of how he will respond to that pressure.

Koz continues to improve. Today, I saw him as the leading center back even though he had a German giant alongside him. He made some mistakes the first half as Dortmund attacked, but he was smooth and calm the next 45 minutes. I had no idea why Wenger spent nearly 10 million pounds on him last year as he was so unproven, but if he continues to learn after being thrown in with sharks last year, he will provide competition to Mertesacker for a place and quality of depth once Vermie returns.

My only real concern is Theo. While small progress is being made by most of the players and the group as a whole, our pacy right winger worries me. He seems unhappy and petulant on the pitch. Against the Swans, he got dispossess while being tugged at the shoulder. He stopped to complain to the ref while the Swansea player left with the ball instead of fighting to get it back. He had a nice assist to Robin today, but with all the new wingers available to play at his spot, he needs to turn it around and quickly. He has voiced once again his desire to play centrally as a striker, and maybe playing on the wing again this season has brought out the bad performances, but he has too much at stake to allow disappointment to affect his game. We need him. And he needs good perforamces to keep his place in the England squad as well. Theo's has taken a lot of flak over the years about his supposed disappointing development. And he's taken it with grace while seemingly having his feet firmly planted on the ground. I hope he can return to that unaffected state of mind.

I guess that's it for now.  While reading this report over, I'm reminded of many a season previews that I read a month ago. I didn't write with a preview in mind, but as far as my mindset goes, our NEW season started last Saturday. And after today's match, I am much hopeful now than in August. If we keep building week after week upon small improvements, we could end the season with our heads held much higher than thought possible. Remember, we're not going to get there in leaps and bounds, but with small, steady, consistent movement forward.

You know - baby steps.

That's it for tonight. Take care and enjoy the pitter patter of little bits of improvement. Cheers.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

The Ox Hits The Nail on The Head and We'll Have to Wait for the Verm and PerM Show


With the recent comings and goings of players around Arsenal the last couple of weeks, I have to admit to not paying much attention to our young signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.  I  knew he was considered one of the up and comers of English talent, and I have perused many a YouTube video, but I think his quotes regarding his chances of breaking into the first team gave me an idea of where his feet are when they're not pushing the ball around.  They seem firmly planted on the ground.  And I think it may have something to do with our new signings.  Alex gave an interview on the official website. 

"He's just told me I need to put pressure on him, impress him in training and that's all I can do," he told Arsenal.com.

"He's just bought some new players now and I understand it's going to be hard for me, but I'm a young lad coming into the Club and I understand I've got a lot of hard work to do to try and impress him."

The Ox nailed it, didn't he?  As opposed to the number of young players who have gotten used to competing against only other young players for a place in the squad, the signing of experienced (albeit perhaps injury-prone) players has signalled a new path from Reserve Player to Starter.  You are going to have to work and force your way in.  Many a fan's complaint last season was the lack of what we deem work rate amongst some of  our starters.  Competition for places against veterans like Arteta and Yossi can be as valuable indirectly as the play they produce on the pitch.  No matter the amount of talent, without hard work that talent can waste away and end up in...Sunderland?

Yes, dearly departed Bendy, I believe, is one of those whose failure to apply himself to the fullest ended in his confidence becoming somewhat of a self-parody.  And according to former Gunner Havard Nordtveit , Nick could have tried a bit harder - and been more open to constructive criticism.  I am not gasping in surprise of Nordveit's appraisal even though he probably only trained with the first-team a handful of times.  I'm sure Nicky made a strong impression of the negative kind.  So he's off, apparently never to return.  Perhaps once he sees how different Sunderland treats their players as opposed to the cushy lifestyle afforded by Arsenal, he'll kick up his effort and become that world-renown striker.  Maybe.

Speaking of new signings, it looks like our Per will not become partners in the center defense with My Vermie for a good couple of months.  Just our luck, Thomas is out for "a month" after having surgery on his "other" ankle.  Apparently the niggly he picked up in the Udinese game could have turned into something more serious akin to last season's achille's injury, so they removed the same tendon.  A month back to training means we won't in all likelihood get to see the Verm and PerM show until our game against the Neanderthal-ish Stoke.  And that's counting on no setbacks.  So, are we thinking December then?  You know, I didn't use to be this cynical.

Anyway, that's all for today.  I know that I am excited to see Arteta et al in action on Saturday.  Hopefully Swansea will be the tune-up game we need before frying some bigger, tastier fish.  Talk to you all later.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Finally We Have Signings But Did Americans Add To The Gridlocks?


Whew!  This transfer window closes around one of the busiest I have seen as a Gooner.  Granted, I have only been a fan since 2002-2003, but five signings in two days (plus Gervinho and The Ox earlier on), has left my head swirling and my blood pumping.  I am not sure that Arsenal meant to have their signings leave Gooners on the edge of their seats, and the last minute buys (Arteta especially) were fun in a stop-your-heart- kind of way, but was the last-minute buying necessary?  Manure was doing business back in June so - as all of you out in Goonerland have asked - why did we wait so long?

The Fabregas saga is somewhat explainable in my mind.  Barcelona, being the cheating, manipulating, tapping up, lying scum that they are waited until the last minute to put in an acceptable bid.  Yes, we should have given them a deadline, but I venture to guess that the Arsenal staff (certainly Arsene) like many of us Gooners have a soft spot for Cesc and did not want to indirectly put his back up against a wall.  The most likely explanation is that the indebted Spanish club needed time to scrounge around under the seats of their Bentleys for change in order to come up with the fee and thus drew out the transfer.

But Nasri?  As he put in one of his ill-advised interviews:  He had expected the move to happen in June - as did his new teammates.  Arsene may have not wanted to lose two big players in one season, but he should have been able to see the writing on the wall, taken the money, and RAN to the nearest footballer shopping mall.

But the other transfers?  Mata, M'Villa, these all had the feel of negotiations that had been botched.  When asked about transfers after the thrashing from United, Wenger noted that there were 20 people working behind the scenes which I translated as he stating "It's not me...someone else is holding things up".  And I have a theory on who might be at the root of the transfer window traffic jam.  I think it might be my fellow countrymen who screwed things up.  That's right.  I'm talking about Richard Law and Stan Kroenke himself.  The Americans.

As an American, I can see how Stan and Dick might not get how quickly and ruthlessly things have to work in English football.  In fact, they may not get how passionate football in England is regarded at all.  Stan owns two sport franchises that make up two thirds of the Big Three American Sports:  The Denver Nuggets (basketball) and the St. Louis Rams (American Football).  He also owns an NHL team and, of course, the Colorado Rapids - Arsenal's sister team in the States.  Soccer recently has bypassed Hockey on the list of  most loved American Sports, but all the same, it has not pulled on the passion or imagination yet of the everyday American Sports fan.  I think this includes Kroenke.  In other words, I'm not sure that Stan gets it,  and I don't think he can develop the fervor of a supporter with his interests being shared by his other sport franchises.  And I do think he needs to be a supporter of the Gunners, not just their Director.  In my limited amount of time as an Arsenal fan, I've realized that fandom is all consuming.  My other interests have faded in comparison.  Can Stan say the same?

And Richard Law?   He's been in charge of Arsenal's transfer negotiations for two years now.  Before that, he acted more as a consultant for Arsenal's South and Central America scouting network.  I worry though, that perhaps he doesn't know how to play hardball.  According to Gunnerblog Joel Campbell and his agent/father didn't even show for their initial meeting with Law, perhaps using their own style of hardball tactics.  But we ended up  signing him anyway?  That kind of flagrant disrespect should have put us off permanently from offering a contract.  Campbell is relatively unknown kid from Costa Rica upon whom we are taking a risk.  Instead of ending the deal by saying "We're The Arsenal.  Take your time wasting tactics somewhere else", we agree to sign him 10 days later.  Even if we came out on top of the deal somehow, I think the message conveyed here is one of weakness and desperation.  Plus, with the luck that only Arsenal can possess, the kid can't even get a work permit, so he's been loaned out.  You know, I have looked for pictures of Mr. Law online and cannot find any, but I have a sinking suspicion he does not have much of a chin...

Anyway, I am not saying Arsene has not had some hand in the jumbling of transfers as he does have to sign off on them and request players.  I am sure he balked at M"Villa's 30 million pound price tag and hung onto Nasri for sentimental reasons or stubbornness too long.  But his exasperation seemed apparent in his post-match interview at Old Trafford.

I suppose we will never really know why things happened the way they did.  Ivan will in all likelihood hem and haw his way around these type of questions that Arsenal supporters and certainly journalists will ask at the next opportunity.  Arsene will play out the scene in silence as well as that befits the discretion he so adheres to.

I think for the club to prevent a near transfer tragedy in the coming seasons, the people behind the scenes and at the top of the heap need to remember that working at Arsenal isn't just a job.  Like the footballing architects who first built the club 125 years ago, they need to be Gooners at heart.

And with that said, this Gooner signs off...until next time, take care.