Wednesday, January 4, 2012

I've Decided Not to Panic

I have come to the realization that the last five seasons or so of The Arsenal coming close to winning the league only to implode has left scars.  The mistrust of Wenger's decisions to let youth play without experience has left doubt in the back of my mind.  The crazy travails of the summer and early defeats of the season leave a shadow lurking in the recesses of my subconscious.  So when our squad, who has practically played their hearts out every game and shown team unity that has been lacking in recent seasons, begins to show fatigue, I can feel the onset of dread. When we realize that their is NO backup for Robin VanTastic, when certain players show some inconsistencies, it is easy for me to indulge in that doubt and that darkness.  When signing 34 year-old Thierry Henry in the January transfer window seems to be the only business conducted by Wenger, panic at not claiming the Top Four spot can ensue.  But here's the thing...I have made a conscious decision to stay cool.  I am going to purposefully engage in not giving up hope.  Because not only do I truly love how hard the team is working, I think - for the most part - the league positions are up for grabs.

Arsenal are not the only team that is facing trials.  Arsenal suffers because we have a thin squad and injuries, or players are leaving for a month long tournament on another continent. Other clubs are failing because of similar and dissimilar issues.  There are suspensions and a lack of motivation for many.  Manchester Untied lost tonight to Newcastle 3-0.  Three to zero.  Liverpool lost to Manchester City 3-0.  In the last weeks, mid-table and lower table teams have upset the big boys on a regular basis.  In other words, we will not be the only team to drop points at inopportune moments or to seemingly lesser teams.  And talk about staying cool?  Here's Ferguson's reaction to being shut out by the Magpies:

"The story of the game was they had two fantastic strikes which put them in the driving seat. The second one was a killer for us, it was a marvellous strike.

"But we didn't make enough of our possession of the ball anyway. It was one of those nights."


See?  Calm and cool.  Don't think I enjoy quoting Fergie - but I like his attitude here and want to emulate it.  We have an a little over three weeks before the transfer window closes (mostly likely sans Podolski).  Chamakh has a chance to play regular football for a few weeks and could return to London with the same confidence he displayed in the beginning of last season.  Arshavin, in Gervinho's absence, could get a good run of games and rediscover that magic that gave him four goals against Liverpool in his first season and  the winining goal against Barcelona last year.  And his teammates could get used to his style of thinking and playing again, which can be unpredictable but dazzling. 

I also think that Theo will return to form after recovering the weight loss suffered in his illness and getting some more rest.  The Ox can be slowly blooded now that we have missing, exhausted midfielders and have FA Cup and Champion League games on the horizon.  And don't forget.

Jack Wilshere is coming back.

Nope.  I'm not going to give into the negativism just yet.  It lingers on the periphery just waiting to pounce.  I just see too many good things that coming our way in the near future.  Do we need the teams above and below us to continue assisting us?  Absolutely.  But this season, the upsets are more common than not.  And I think when we play the big teams in our stadium, it will be our turn to upset them.

I just have a feeling.

I guess that's it for today.  Tomorrow I'll try and have some team news, or transfer speculation for you.  Right now I just wanted to share some optimism.  I want to encourage you to try and push back the panic. Stem the tide.  Keep your chin up.  Cheer on the boys.  You know - be a fan.

Have a good one Gooners.

Monday, January 2, 2012

We Just Can't Get Over the Hump


Sisyphus Just Couldn't Win Either
Well that rather sucked didn't it. Coming off the high of winning while those above us lost, Arsenal began the New Year with a loss of its own at Craven Cottage. Arsenal went into the game after having just played Saturday,as did Fulham, hoping to take advantage of the Top Three dropping points. After rising to fourth place on Monday, winning would have put us only six points behind the League Leaders. But, alas it was not to be. Like the sinner Sisyphus from Greek mythology who was condemned to Hades and punished by being made to roll a boulder up a mountain only to have it roll back down again, we seem unable to get past a certain apex. We're missing that final thrust that would catapult us permanently over the edge into the Top Four.

I'm not sure if it's a combination of lower table teams being more competitive or higher level teams being less so. All the top four have had upsets including the supposedly meteoric Manchester City. For us though, I suspect one cannot ignore the lack of offensive prowess the last few weeks. The December 3rd match against Wigan was the last time we won comfortably. That was a stroll in the park. Four different Arsenal players scored that day: Vermalean, Gervinho, Van Persie and Arteta. In that game both Arteta and Theo had assists as did RVP. Theo's form the last three games has been poor. He is wasting chances, missing sitters, and mistiming runs. Add the fact that Arteta looked dead-legged the whole second half and I think some of the explanation comes to light. Some still say Arsenal is a one-man squad. I disagree just by noting that if only two of the key players are not up to par, our game suffers.

Let's not forget we have NO FULLBACKS at the moment. Arsenal employ specialists full backs. Our left and right back positions carry the weight of not only preventing the opponent from crossing and penetrating into their final third, but they are given the task also of providing width and speed to our offense. They play the one-two's with the wings, put crosses into the box, and win corners. For the first time today (not that I always pay attention), Djourou played a one-two with Theo and provided space for Theo to make a run in because Djourou's man went with him. It's all about the movement. And as fantastic as Coco was today (my new nickname for Coquelin as my brother told me I can't call him The Coq anymore), I'd rather see him in the midfield giving Mickey a break. I think it all begs for people coming back from injury, shoring up the gaps in positions, perhaps losing some more dead weight, and keeping the momentum going.

Speaking of filling the gaps, as an endnote, here's the link to an article from the Guardian which quotes Podolski's agent as saying Lukas is not interested in a mid-season move. Mind you, the player himself is not quoted in the article, only his representative. The reasons given, though, are somewhat sound as as Schramm states Podolski does not want to jeopardize his place on Germany's 2012 Euro team by playing second fiddle to an in-form Van Persie. The article also discusses brings to light the fact that Arsenal's supposed 10 million pound offer is not enough because the club's sponsor get a slice of the pie, lessening Podolski's fee and the club's profit. This all could be a scheme to drive up Podolski's price tag, but my hopes are dimmer than before.

Anyway, we do get a whole week off before the FA Cup game on January 9th. Arsene would normally make a massive rotation in the squad for a Cup Match, but after a week's rest, and not another League game for six more days after that, he may play his Starting XI. The FA Cup is a competition we could win, and I don't mind him taking it seriously if our starters have gotten a good rest. After securing only seven points from four games this Holiday Season, progressing in the Cup could provide the impetus we need to get back on track.

That's it for today. I really was hoping for a better result since it's my brother Chris' birthday and all, but that boulder is heavier than it looks. Take care Gooners and talk to you tomorrow

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Manchester City Lend a Helping Hand - Fulham Preview

King Henry Returns?

*This photo appeared on the Arsenal official webiste accompnying an article.  Minutes late it was taken down and replaced by a picture of Henry in training gear.  One can hope that Arsenal realized they may have jumped the gun publishing the pic and are still hopeful of the deal with the NY Red Bulls will be finalized.*

Hello there fellow Gooners.  I hope all had a great New Year's Eve and are recovering equally great this New Year's Day.  If for any reason one had a rough go of it today, their spirits were lifted, I'm sure, by the gift gaffed to us by Manchester City.  Having them drop three points today to Sunderland must have been the cure- all for anyone experiencing a hangover.  Arsenal know from experience that Sunderland are very tough at home, but what a lovely cherry to have top the weekend with Chelsea adding the whipped cream of their loss and Spuds providing ice cream from their draw.  All in all, it has been a veritable sundae of soccer.

Tomorrow's game at Fulham can make that sundae even sweeter by us gaining a win and three more points.  We will remain in fourth place due to goal differential with Tottenham *gag*, but we will have moved within six points of the leaders until they play on Tuesday.  Closing the gap may only last a day, but wouldn't it be nice to put some pressure on the sheik?

With only a day's rest in between matches, having fresh legs at available for Craven Cottage will be challenging.  Wenger has to assess, in particular, RVP to mitigate the chances of him becoming injured due to fatigue.  Now that Robin is no longer chasing a goal-scoring record, does he put in Chamakh before he's off to the ACN with Van Persie on the bench just in case?  Or does he start the Captain and hope for an opportunity to take him off after we establish a big enough lead?  These decisions are the big ones that Arsene is paid the big bucks to make.  And I sure am glad I ain't him (sorry - a little Hoosier-speak snuck in there).

Who starts at full back has already been addressed by Wenger who states Miquel will be at the left back position.  I think Wenger will still include Coquelin on the bench in case Djourou strains something at right back.  He came back very quickly from his groin strain perhaps too quickly.  The full back position requires extended times of sprinting.  Bacary Sagna has a body that seems able to absorb that kind of rigourous and arduous movement.  Djourou does not. Even if Johann makes it through the match unscathed, Francis will be a vital backup for our midfielders  should Arteta or even Rambo tire.  I would not be surprised to see Arteta having a rest this match.  He also has a background of injury at Everton that hasn't reared its ugly head yet at Arsenal.  Again I'm glad I don't make those decisions.  I'm sure Arsene is consulting with his staff and the GPS data.

No matter what the makeup of the sqauad is, Fulham will prove to be a tough match.  They drew us at home with the help of a Vermaelan own goal.  The dangerous Bobby Zamora is out injured along with Fulham's starting goalie Mark Schwarzer.  But they still have my favorite US squad member Clint Dempsey starting, and they will be organized in defense with their home crowd behind them. We will have to do what we have attempted to accomplish the last few games.  Take LOTS of chances on goal, and catch Fulham on the break.  Our defense will need to improve on its clean sheet record.  Considering how difficult it can be to beat Fulham at Crrven Cottage, a win -whether hard fought or comfortably gained - will definately set the tone for this New Year.

I guess that's it.  I actually get to watch the game on televison rather than sitting in front of my computer trying to click a link to a working stream whilst I tab-surf between stalled screens, Twitter, and live blogs.  My viewing pleasure will be a piece of cake.  I hope Arsenal beating Fulham will follow suit.  Take care Gooners...COME ON YOU REDS!!!