Three Points the Non-Pretty Way

The start of a new season post a World Cup is usually fraught with uneven performances that themselves are dotted with lack of energy, inconsistency, and misreads.  I don't know why I was so surprised that those characteristics were so evident at our match against Crystal Palace on Saturday.  Throw in four new faces to the squad, and the fact that we had our first opening day win since 2009 ( which was a 6-1 thrashing of Everton), the fact that we came from behind to win in injury time can be taken as a very positive sign.  

Crystal Palace was manager-less but one could see the Pulis doctrine ingrained in them.  They were organized, employed rotational fouling, crowded us which made our crisp passing game difficult to play.  That and the fact that our passing was woeful had a direct impact on the lack of fluidity in our game.  

Some quick High's and Low's

Calum Chambers - He's only 19?  He's only 19 and he's ours.  His calmness on the ball, his reading of the game really belies his age and inexperience.  I remember thinking the same when I watched Cesc for the first time (sorry I brought up the "C" word).  Only this time, I don't think we have to worry about him going back home to Barcelona.  Wenger can't seem to make up his mind about where he's going to play him.  He seems as surprised as us that Cal is this good...more to come I hope.  Definitely a High.  Possible Low?  Wenger may think he doesn't have to get a CB or DM.

Koz scoring.  His was a brilliant run to find space when Calum provided a distraction to the defense.  I also loved how he celebrated Rambo's goal.  He seemed more excited than when he scored his own.  The Low?  He fell asleep for the Hangeland goal.

Olivier made a difference when he came on.  He provided more of a focal point than Yaya and held up the ball as we need him to do.  His part in the winning goal was pretty much what Ollie does well.  Unlike the Low of our baby giraffe.  Yaya may have started because he's fitter than Giroud, but one couldn't tell from his lack of energy.  He's now sporting a strained hamstring, which means Giroud will start against Besiktas. And that's good as far as I'm concerned.

Our right side combined well.  Debuchy and Sanchez played some great back heels and one-twos.  It was really fun to watch.  Sanchez didn't have his best game, he'll need time to settle, but in a game of misreads, it was refreshing to see two of the new guys get along so well.  And the Low?  Ox and Santi who have played together going on three seasons, had three misreads in a row.  I'm not sure who that was down to, but if I were to guess, I'd have to put the burden on Santi who had one of his bad days.  Baaaaad days.

Aaron Ramsey can't seem to stop scoring goals.  And he also did not have a good game. He himself admitted that in his post game interview.  But it's important to note that in the final closing of the minutes when Palace were tiring and our own players were showing a lack of fitness, Ramsey made sure he was in the right place at the right time and finished well.  There is no Low for Rambo (and yes, I made that rhyme on purpose).

So now we are off to Turkey for our first Champions League qualifying leg.  Koz may be hurt, Per may have to play prematurely, Yaya is out, but I think coming from behind and winning on Saturday will give us the boost we need to get a least a point from Besiktas.  See you here post match.

Come on you Gunners!  And take care you Gooners.

It's Time to Get Gunning

Title Challengers

Tomorrow's the big day.  Arsenal officially begin their season with a home game against a Pulis-less Crystal Palace, and I couldn't be more excited.  Even having a summer lull filled with some decent World Cup play, the real highlight has been our new signings, our decent preseason form (topped off with a 3-0 win over City), and the retention of that oh-so awesome-winning- feeling given to us by our FA Cup victory.  It's finally time folks.  It's time for Arsenal to go atop once more.  Most would have us challenging for only third but, there is actually one pundit that seems to share the optimism:

Everyone & their mom picking Chelsea for title. Chelsea & City favorites but going against grain again this season and saying AFC because:
— Kyle Martino (@kylemartino) August 15, 2014

1.Got rid of Trophy jinx (2 in last 2 games) 2.Alexis Walcott-ish speed threat & possible Giroud depth. 3.Injury issue addressed (Forsythe)
— Kyle Martino (@kylemartino) August 15, 2014

4.Özil WC winner confidence w PL season under belt. 5.Transferrific (class coming in instead of going out) & more to come 6.Ramsey 7.Wenger
— Kyle Martino (@kylemartino) August 15, 2014

There are still, of course, some worries.  We need a center back for sure.  Koz and the ever-supple Mertesacker cannot play 50+ games.  And Cutie Calum may be talented enough to cover at three positions, but we don't want a Phil Jones master-of-no positions on our hands.  My one overwhelming wish is that we get ourselves a central defender pronto.  And according to Phillipe Auclaire on today's Arsecast, the search and inquiries into that CD are serious, and expectations are that we are going to get our man/men.

So tomorrow launches the beginning of what I suspect will be a pivotal year for the club and some of the players.  Arsenal have come out from under the shadow of stadium debt, are now fully flush and able to spend (still responsibly, mind you) in the  market place for that oh,just so right player.  Aaron Ramsey has carried on where he left off after scoring the winner in the FA Cup.  Jack Wilshere looks healthy and ready to take that leap forward in his development, and Sanchez is scaring the ever-loving crapolla out of defenders with a cheekiness that belies his good looks.  I don't know when Ozil will be fit to play (I doubt it will be against Crystal), but I can't wait for him to feed Alexis the perfect pass off a perfect run.  Plus, we have the unpredictability of our favorite baby giraffe..aka Yaya...to throw off the most seasoned of defenders. Throw in some Santi creativity, maybe some Ox-like directness, and add a dash of Theo in September, and there you have it.   

Yea.  I think it's going to be a fun season.

So grab your cannons and hang on tight.  The new season begins in 14 hours against the Eagles on our beautiful home turf.  Let's go you rip roaring Reds.  Let's go.

Have a good one Gooners.

Hull City Preview, and I'm Laughing at Mourinho so Hard...

Oh Jose, you kill me!



Ah whew - excuse me the indulgence.  I don't normally like to give any opponent much attention, but when our least favorite referee sticks it to the most ego-centric instigator in the league, I gotta take a moment...or two hundred and enjoy it.  Anyway, onto the matter at hand...

 

 

Tomorrow brings a chance to turn up the heat on Man City and keep ahead of Everton as we travel to KC Stadium in search of three points from Steve Bruce and Hull.  While their strike force of Jelavic and Long are cup-tied when we meet up with them again in the FA Cup Final, they are eligible tomorrow and will be sure to trouble us as will Huddlestone, who will be looking to create plays for them and anyone running down their right flank.  Unfortunately, our main left backs are out injured which means TV5 will again have to deputize in that position.  He had a good game against West Ham at left back though.  Let's hope that run of form continues.

 

Other news is that Mesut Ozil is in contention for the returning to the squad.  He's been in training, posting Instagrams of himself on Twitter, and faces a late fitness test to see if he makes the bench.  I say bench in hopes that Wenger doesn't start him just returning from a long lay off.  I don't have much faith in Wenger's ability to control himself when it comes to not overplaying key players.  He's confessed to overplaying Jack, Ramsey, and now, Giroud:

 

"For a while he played maybe too many games… but he’s a strong guy, he can cope with it. Up front it’s difficult because every challenge he goes into is physical. He’s not a guy who moves away from people to get the ball. He’s a guy who fights with people to get the ball. When he comes out of the game he has 50 fights behind him. That is more demanding than the guy who just runs away."

 

So not only is he admitting to not rotating Giroud properly (insert often trod frustration at lack of transfer business in January), he admits to doing it knowing the physical battles he endures every game.  Every year I think Wenger has the ability to self-reflect on the mistakes he's made.  He talks about them in the press, on the web site, in interviews.  What he seems incapable of doing is remembering the nasty consequences of those past choices, and makes the same ones.  Over.  And over. And over.  I have no idea why the club has spent tons of money on this GPS red zone tracking thingy if our manager ignores the results.  It's almost like he just can't help himself.

 

I helped my brother coach a softball little league time a few years ago.  I know the game.  I played the ir for years, coached many teams.  Being the third base coach means, among other things, I got to decide whether to send a runner home either on a hit, or a ball that got past the catcher.  I remember this one game where we were coming from behind in the last inning, our last at bat.  I was so hungry for the win, that I sent two runners home when really they were not fast enough to make it. We had one out left and we were one run from taking the opposition into extra innings.  I end up with one of the slowest girls on the team on third base.  My head told me "Lisa, do NOT send this girl home on a ball past the catcher, wait for a good hit."  Repeat - we were one run away.  The pitch came in, the catcher missed it, it went behind her and...I. Sent. The. Slow. Girl. Home.  And guess what?  She was out and we lost the game by one run.  I knew the right thing to do.  And I just couldn't help myself.  My brother is going to read this.  And he will know exactly what game I am talking about.  Ugh.

 

Unfortunately, Wenger doesn't manage a mere little league team.  If he can't learn to discipline himself, he needs to give someone the authority to pull the plug on playing exhausted players who are in the fabled Red Zone.  That should be mandated in is contract extension, if he gets one and takes it.

 

Anyway, I think that's all I have for now.  I figure we'll line up similarly as we did to West Ham.  Flamini may replace Arteta and maybe Ox will get a start.  Who knows?  I think we have enough weapons to beat Hull now that our confidence is on the upswing.  So, here's to three points and cheers to Mike Dean (that is sincere, by the way.  No sarcasm anywhere,  Heh.).

 

Have a good one Gooners.

 



Oldies But Goodies



Goal Solemnity



Arsenal leapt over Everton to reclaim fourth place on Tuesday with a decisive 3-1 victory over the Hammers.  After a rather slow start that resulted in us falling behind 1-0 in the 40th minute, Lukas Podolski equalized, allowing us to enter halftime 1-1.  The second half saw Giroud get on the scoresheet with a sublime touch and right footed finish and then yet another goal from Poldi sealed the deal for us in the 77th minute.  Some quick thoughts/observations.


I was astounded to learn (via Twitter) that the youngest person on the pitch was Giroud at 27 years old.  Arsene confirmed that it was his oldest team he had ever sent out to play.  The age factor could have played into what seemed to be a sluggish first half performance, or it could have just been down to fatigue from the 120 minutes of play on Sunday.  In the end, I think the experience of the oldies helped keep us calm and in the game.  Bringing on some younger, fresh legs as subs was no bad idea however.  Speaking of...


Having Aaron back is bliss.  After playing a 112 minutes in the FA Cup match on Sunday, no one I'm sure, expected Ramsey to get many minutes two days later.  But around the 50th minute I found my self chanting (in my head because I was at work, mind you) "Release the Rambo!"  One can easily forget a player's contribution to a side when that player has been sidelined for three months.  Aaron's energy, stamina, tackling, and eye for a good pass (watch him head down the cross into Poldi's path for his goal) is not just a breath of fresh air.  It's a gust, a squall, the first gulp of air you take after being underwater for too long...it's quite a strong and lovely feeling.  I guess I'm glad he's back.

Kallstrom will be useful.  He still had some waylaid passes, and one could see him getting fatigued around the 60 minute mark, but he had nice tackles, won some very nice headers in midfield, took two shots on goal, and does not panic on the ball when the defense is closing him down.  There was a nice moment between him and Rambo when he was trying to get the ball out of our half, but didn't just boot it long.  He plays it down the sideline to Aaron, fighting off two defenders while he does it.  He has a nice touch and is strong enough to not get knocked off the ball too easily.  He could definitely be important in these last four games.  Plus, how can you not like a guy who said he had "fun" on his first start for Arsenal?

Conceding the opening goal sapped our confidence.  Making goals boosted it right back up.  We played so much freer after Podolski equalized.  It was like the whole team received a adrenaline booster.  It's a cautionary tale - we are still very vulnerable and our confidence may not regain its prior strength we witnessed earlier in the season.  That's why it's so viatl we score early.  We feed on that energy.

Goal celebration was very muted.  I'm not sure if Podolski and Giroud's usually tame celebrations were due to recent performances, criticisms, or just general unhappiness.  I found Poldi's reactions particularly unnerving.  The first goal there was almost no acknowledgment of the fans, the second he fist pumped to them, but the cheesy, grinning, hopping into the air celebration we have come to expect from him were absent.  Even the outlying players on the pitch had reserved responses.  It was weird.  Either the team is so beat up mentally that they cannot celebrate, or the general unhappiness from the fans has penetrated the mood in the locker room.  I could be making something out of nothing.  Did anyone else notice this?

All in all, a satisfactory win that gave us a +2 in the GD column as well as lifting us up to fourth.  We have a game on Easter Sunday at Hull that hopefully will see the return of Ozil as well as Flamini.  But, more on that in a pre-match write up.  Enjoy being back in fourth, having some goals scored, and this sunny (at least in northern Indiana) day.  Have a good one Gooners.






Back On The Horse

Time to Get back On...



The downward spiral of Arsenal's performances have made it difficult to write.  The negatives of the team have been talked about so many times, as have the deficits caused by injuries and, in my opinion, poor managerial decisions.  But now having secured an FA Cup final spot in nail biting  fashion, it's time to get back to writing and back to the Premier League battle for fourth.

Today is West Ham at the Emirates.  Normally, Andy Carroll and company would not worry me too much and could even be seen as predictable.  But the end of this season is anything but normal.  Yes, we have fallen away in the past (though not so nearly catastrophically), and we have had to battle for fourth spot.  But we are sprinting to the finish after playing 120 minutes two days ago, with 11 injuries and one suspension to boot.  Podolski, Ox, Monreal, Koz, and TR7 all face late fitness tests and Flamini is  still paying the price of too many yellow cards.  That leaves us a real conundrum in the midfield.  I suspect Kallstrom will start for us and hope that at least two of the four pass their tests to help round everything out.  Monreal can play at left wing if Santi is needed behind the striker (Ollie or Yaya?), but I really hope Tommy is back in the squad.  His habit of pushing us upfield at opportune times, and his enforced rest, could be vital for us today.  Also, did anybody else notice that Bendy was back in the training pictures?  He has played right wing before.  Wenger could shift to a 4-4-2 like he did against Wigan if he wants a more offensive threat.  Still, that leaves the midfield a bit open, which might go against his overall game plan:


“The best way to [cope with Carroll] is to stop the source because you know once the ball is in the air you have a real problem to win it against him,” said the manager. “It is for us to have the ball first and, when we do not have the ball, to stop the source to him.”

Good in theory, but the personnel need to be available to achieve it.  West Ham will be looking to play wide and cross the ball in.  Our full backs and center backs will have to be on their toe4s and have help covering those gaps that Everton so successfully exploited a couple of weeks ago.  Having Koz in the side would just make me feel more at ease against the likes of Carroll and Nolan, who likes to be on the end of the striker's flick-ons.

Three points is a must here, of course.  Everton play Crystal Palace next.  And while Tony Puk-is has them looking good, Martinez' side will be confident that they too can get the win.  Playing well in front of a home crowd is so important as well.  Hearing on Twitter and Arsecast about fellow Gooners breaking into fights at Wembley is embarrassing, and is a sign of the level of frustration at fan level.  Playing well could help alleviate the emotional frenzy that seem to blind some to levels of appropriate behavior.  We all know it's okay to agree to disagree, right?

That's it for now.  I'll be back with a post-match reaction which hopefully will have us looking forward to our randomly rescheduled game against Hull on Sunday.  Take care you Gooners.

No Idea Really

I just don't know what to expect





 

It's been awhile since I have not looked forward to a game.  Getting skinned by Man City, Liverpool, and Chelsea all least all occurred away from the Emirates.  The beatings took place in front of our stalwart away fans who usually make the best out of the worst situations.  Fans at Emirates, as we discovered at halftime during the Swansea game can be less forgiving and more impatient.

 

 

Some fans on Twitter have talked about protesting before and during the match Saturday.  I always have wondered how that kind of thing affects players.  Knowing fans are that unhappy with possibly your performances, the club, and their manager can't be inspiring.  I'd think it'd be depressing and hard upon which to build any momentum.  People are upset though, and rarely in those times does good sense prevail.

 

Tuesday's draw wasn't one due to a bad performance, per se.  The squad performed similar to the way we have after our Liverpool and Manchester City losses.  We played cautious with a little left over feeling from being shell-shocked.  We actually showed some determination against the Swans with coming from behind to be winning 2-1.  It was a gaff in front of goal that provided our opponents a draw.  Some say the ghost of Birmingham made an appearance. I don't entirely agree.  The cup final loss was due to a miscommunication between a green Koz and a green Szcz.  Flamini's own goal really was a fluke, with its fault lying at the fact that our fullbacks were all the way  upfield and isolated due to the substitutions (what happened to "bring on the fullbacks"?). Poor tactics and positional discipline were at fault because they allowed the counterattack to occur in the first place.

 

So, what can we expect today?  If the pattern continues its run, we should have a win.  However, there are some other factors present today that were not when we won against West Ham and then Liverpool in the FA Cup.  Eight injuries to important players is incredibly impactful.  Our bench will consist of promoted reservists and recalled players who were out on loan.  Our striker is running with lead legs and feet.  I saw desire from Ollie on Tuesday.  His body is just no longer complying with his will.  And lastly, I think our boss and club are seriously considering their futures together.  If the squad has any grit left in their weary bodies, that alone should inspire them to play their hearts out.  For many, Wenger has made them into the players they are.  For others, he has given second chances to play at the top flight of European football.

 

All in all, it makes it difficult to not want to watch the game without my scarf in front of my eyes.

 

But, I will watch.  Like all of you.  A good performance today is imperative to build confidence for a FA Cup semi-final win.  That trophy is exponentially growing in its importance, isn't it?

 

That's it for now.  Let's Go You Gunners.  I'll see you all on the other side, and have a good one Gooners.

 



No Apologies - Just Performance Please

The sun still rises in the morning even after the demolition that Arsenal went through on Saturday.  Goonerdom and Twitter imploded, the club went into lockdown, and the media speculated over the future of Arsene.  None of the after effects shocked me.  There are those Gooners who get abusive, the media needs to sell papers, the club needed some quiet, and time needed to pass.

 

Two days later, many are still critical, but less over-the-top.  The media have posted stories of Arsene retiring in two years, rather than at the end of the season, and the club are talking again.  Although, apologies from Arteta and quotes like this from Arsene make me wish they had chosen to maintain radio silence:



 

"An accident has happened, that doesn't mean that you're not a good driver," he told Arsenal Player.
"It just means that we have played about 40 games this season and it's not what happened on Saturday that reflects the quality of this team. We have 62 points that we earned hard with quality games and that's what we want to focus on, to get back to that quality. We go back to basics."

If by accident, Arsene is referring to a 40 car pile-up on the interstate, than I agree.  Otherwise, I'm just going to assume he is protecting the players and the privacy of what was said behind closed doors.  That assumption is for my own sanity because I refuse to believe he's that out of touch.

Really all we want as fans is to see our team look like they want to challenge each and every opponent - squashing those who get in our path.  And we want the manager to make decisions that reflect his tactical nous - not his tactical no.

What it comes down to for now is the next game - Swansea on Tuesday.  Because we're The Arsenal and luck usually shows us her backside, Koz is out with a calf injury.  Hector Bellerin has been promoted to fill in for him (on the bench) while Vermie has a chance to shine in the next few games as the on-field replacement. 

Gibbs will start at left-back as both he and Ox are available.  Ox's red-card has been rescinded.  Whether the FA has just decided to give Ox a break as an apology for the embarrassing mistake or they truly believe he did not deny a clear goal-scoring opportunity, who knows.  And who care.  We have both back, and I think Ox should start.  Get him back on the horse - but on it's wing (apparently the horse is Pegasus).  We need some sort of speedy outlet for our midfield, and if he starts to give the ball away, at least it will be in less dangerous areas.  Santi, if he's not too fatigued from running his dogs off on Saturday, can pull those strings in the middle.  Let's not forget Serge or Kallstrom, neither have seen much/any playing time recently.  Swansea might be the game for them coming off the bench.

The most important thing is winning those three points, not to battle for first, but to make sure we lock down a Champions League spot, and get some of our confidence back as well as the goodwill of the fans.  Wenger has a lot of buying to do in the summer, and having the opportunity to play in Europe is, as we know, a draw for world class footballers.  And we need this squad really to face Man City on the weekend.  That's it for now.  See you in the funny papers.

Have a good one you Gooners.

Not So Ready for Prime Time Players Crash and Burn at Stamford Bridge

 

I really hate having to write a report after we lose in such devastating fashion.  It's the same feeling I had writing after Manchester City and Liverpool defeats.  This is worse though in that Mourinho has no class, we needed to win to stay within fighting range of the title, and Wenger's 1,000 match was suppose to be a positive milestone.  Instead, Wenger was treated to a thrashing that highlighted the deficits in our team and manager.  Without Theo out wide and Ozil or Ramsey in the middle, our offensive threat is greatly diminished.  Starting without Flamini against a team with outstanding midfielders was a mistake, and Oxlade-Chamberlain had one of his worse performances in an Arsenal shirt, giving away passes (there were warning signs in previous games), and ultimately taking us down to ten men with an outrageous and thick-headed handball. 

We played slow and could not handle the  pressure that Chelsea, nor the immensity of the game itself ,brought on.  I think the latter is a mindset that isn't going to be fixed on the training ground.  This team for many years is unfortunately, used to losing and only winning something is going to flip that around. 

Team selection was wrong.  There's just no way around that.  Arteta was completely overrun in midfield with the likes of Oscar, Hazard, and Schurrle on the pitch at the same time.  If Wenger wanted to include both Ox and Tommy, he should have sacrificed Podolski, and put Ox on the wing.  There is no speed or outlet when Ox is in the middle, and his defensive awareness is still developing.  The Flamini/Arteta axis should have been deployed from the start.

Can a win in the FA Cup help turn that tide, or does that have to happen with a new manager?After this most recent performance, a win in our semi-final against Wigan seems a bit shaky now.  Our confidence is low, and in addition, we now have the added pressure of being the favorites, and responding positively to pressure is the issue for us, isn't it. If we don't win the Cup, I wouldn't be surprised if Wenger does not extend his contract.  He is intelligent, loyal, and really loves Arsenal.  If he thinks he is no longer the man for the job, I think that he will help the club find a suitable replacement, and try to make a graceful exit.  Actually, after today, even if we win the Cup, I can see him doing the same thing.

I've been saying for the past few games that I thought Fabianski's form earned him a run in goal ahead of Szczesny.  Today made me wonder again.  Half of the goals were not his fault, but he fumbled two chances that could have resulted in more goals, and I wonder if Fabianski could have kept out the penalty.  He's a better shot stopper than Szcz, and maybe would have had a better time against Oscar's goals.  Of course, those came after we were already down three so I could be nitpicking here.


What hope is there for the rest of the season?  We have Swansea on Tuesday.  If patterns continue, we should see a more cautious Arsenal grind out a win, focusing on reestablishing the defensive side of our game in time for Manchester City.  As for that game, I don't hold much certainty that we won't get turned over - at least the match is at home.  After that, all our games are incredibly winnable, but I don't see us finishing third unless someone above us stumbles worse than us.  Manchester United have looked to be getting back on form with two decisive wins in a row.  Even though the skunk is out the rest of the season with injury, could they (or Everton) mount a run for fourth place?  The thought frightens me a little bit to be honest.

That's it for now.  I'll be back with a preview on Swansea.  The weekend is ruined for me, but I will try to make due like the rest of you.  Take care you Gooners.

It's North London Derby Day!

Adebayor, Lennon, and Dawson

I love Derby Day.  I don't consider playing Chelsea, West Ham, or Fulham as real derbies.  To me, this one is the one that counts.  I don't know if all overseas fans absorb the rivalry as I have.  I have a special I Hate Tottenham scarf at my disposal.  I take a vacation day off of work to celebrate St. Tottenham day,  and losing to them is like losing a trophy.  The one thing that is different over here is that there is a lack of a Spurs contingent, so I don't have co-workers or even family with whom I could exchange banter.  I thought that might change when NBC picked that "rabble down the road" as the team to highlight in their PR video with Jason Sudeikis - but fortunately we Americans are rather band-wagon-ish when it comes to picking teams.  Spurs' performances this season have tanked whatever overseas following they were hoping to get.  Thank God.  I can't imagine seeing Spurs jerseys over here, although that would allow for some enjoyable jeering and pointing.

Anyway, the trip to the Lane is earmarked by injuries to some of our best midfield players.  Ozil, Ramsey, and Jack are all out of contention with Rambo still feeling reoccurring pain in his thigh which is worrisome - so much so that the manager is looking to investigate what is causing this late season pile-up of injuries.  In the meantime, we have our Magic Spaniard and our Little Mozart both of whom can fill in for Mesut.  Podolski can go on the left to pick up his scoring record against the Spuds again and the Ox certainly needs to start whether on the right or in the middle, depending on whether Flamini starts with Arteta or not.

Wenger tactics are difficult for me to figure out.  Anyone who reads my prematch reports will note that my starting lineups are usually off by a few players.  If Wenger expects Sherwood to revert back to his open/attacking style of play that he invoked after first taking over managing the club, then I could see Arteta/Flamini axis being called in to stop their attacking threat and then maybe look to exploit their high line on a counter.  But if Sherwood sits deeper as he has been the past few matches, then I think one or the other will get a rest.  And let's not forget our miracle from January who may turn out to be a shrewd signing with all the injuries.  Kallstrom is fit, and according to Wenger, looking good:

“I think he can play an important part in the end of our season," said Wenger. "We are all absolutely delighted to have him with us because on a daily basis he is a joy to watch.
“He is a fantastic guy. His motivation and attitude has been spot-on. His readiness to put the effort in has been spot-on."

The fact that his heart seems to be in it is good to hear.  I'm sure he is somewhat aware of all the guff that was caused by him joining Arsenal while injured.  If he has any competitive bones left in his body, he will work hard to rectify the situation.  The whole transfer was so bizarre, having a meaningful contribution from him would go a little way in healing some of the disbelief disappointment incurred during January's window.  A little bit.  I hear there are 20/1 odds offered for tomorrow's match that Kim scores the winner in injury time.  I'm saving my best Kim prediction for April 14th. 

Anyway, even though Spuds have been playing somewhat boring, mediocre football, they are a mere six points below us in the table (we have a game in hand), and we know derbies are unpredictable - like a cup game.  Adebayor is encouraging his teammates to get physical and pressure us - knowing we don't like that kind of play.  He's somewhat right about that.  We have panicked at times when pressured, but I'm not sure Spurs are solid enough defensively in the back to hold us off if we get past pressing that's higher up the pitch.  Nor do I think they have the camaraderie needed to defend as a team.  Just a feeling. 

That's it for now.  Three points is a must tomorrow to pull away from those commoners and to gain traction in the title race yet again.  Chelsea dropped three points today to Aston Villa - anything is possible people.  Remember that.  If we play at our best from the get-go, I know we'll get the win.  Here's to making mash out of those 'taters.

Have a good one Gooners.

Arsenal 1 - 1 Bayern Munich - A Solid Performance Can't Undo Squad Issues

Ala Robben



Good morning all.  So much for sunshine.  I'm home and off of work thanks to Winter Storm Vulcan.  Vulcan?  That's not a Name.  It's a planet and a species - and fictitious at that.  Won't it be refreshing when I am no longer opening blog posts with weather comments?     Anyway...

So, we are out of the Champions League tournament.  We didn't play as open as I thought we would, but overall, it was a not- quite- spectacular- but -solid performance, and one where we can hold our heads high as we go into Sunday's match against our bitterest of rivals.  And while I have no real issue with individual players' performances against such a convincing team like Bayern, I don't think this year's CL was lost last night.  There are contributing factors to our going out that have occurred for years, and they have not being fully addressed... yet.

We can't take on Champions League Teams with a bench including the likes of Ryo Miyaichi.  Forgetting the fact that we probably looked like amateurs when it was announced Ryo was ineligible because he wasn't registered to play in Champions League, he's a guy that should not make it on the plane in the first place.  Yaya and Nikolas may have both gotten late injuries, but there's not better back up than Ryo?  It comes down to the most consistent issue:

Squad depth up front is lacking.  Even with Yaya healthy, he's still not a proper backup for a Champions League match against the best team in the world.  And look, I fully admit that I am not the expert when it comes to January transfers.  There very well may or may not have been clubs willing to sell and/or players willing to leave those clubs.  But, the drought days instigated by the building of the Emirates are over.  We now have the cash and a summer window approaching that will require us not only to buy a proper striker (or two), but defensive cover as well.  What we need is the back room and Arsene to get on the same page and do what needs to be done.  Otherwise, we'll be that little train that could, but never did, make it to another Champions League Final.  We may, in fact, keep setting ourselves up for failure by continuing to finish second in our group, thus forcing us to play these mega-giants year after year.

Some positives from last night.  Alex Oxlade-Chamberlein continues to be fearless no matter who the opponent is.  He was our one direct threat, got kicked to ground three times pretty fiercely from which only one yellow was given if I'm remembering correctly, and is always gutted to lose.  Check out his post-match interview.  It's professional, but you can see the sadness.  He's one of the reasons I want us to spend on strengthening the squad.  He deserves a reward for all his hard work.  And that reward needs to be a trophy.

I've talked about Fabianski's improvement and blossomed maturity in goal already.  I think he was very unlucky to  get injured last season while deputizing for the out-of-form Szczesny.  Chezzers is still capable of making errors of judgment (I still think he made one against the Diver in the first leg) which will in all likelihood diminish as he also matures.  This penalty save last night was phenomenal and so brave that it highlights again a case for his starting in league matches, in my opinion.  Lukasz is most likely gone in the summer, and the club who signs him is lucky indeed.  I just hope we don't have to face him in the BPL.

Ozil's injury is lamentable, was probably preventable, and made him a target for knee-jerk journalism.  I am not going to give links to the paper articles written by John Cross of the Mirror or Neil Ashton of the Daily Mail because I don't want to give them more page hits, but both were that of character assassination.  If they had waited to write or publish those articles until after the post-match press conference, they would have learned that Ozil was injured in the opening 20 minutes of the match which, duh, affected his performance.  Now he has a hamstring injury that "looks quite serious".  This means surgery and probably 5-6 weeks out.  So now our most creative and expensive player is on the sidelines for our run-in.  Wenger's lack of man management skills drives me bonkers.  Mesut did not get a break playing through the winter like his body is used to.  Resting him a couple of games the last few weeks apparently did not help.  He should have been rested through the holidays - his form went down as soon as he got fatigued.  It's not rocket science.  If a middle-aged woman from Indiana can figure it out, why can't Wenger?

Overall, our players' spirits should be in good shape for the derby on Sunday.  Having Ramsey back training should also provide a lift for them.  I'd be surprised if he makes an appearance, but I fully admit, Wenger appalls surprises me with those kinds of decisions, so who knows?  I'll be back for a fuller match preview on Friday.  Until then, have a good one Gooners.

Bring on Bayern



Bring On Bayern - and the Sunshine





It's amazing what a little bit of sunshine and warmer temps can do for people.  The grumpy-pants are now walking around with smiles and friendliness.  Of course, we do have more of the s-word on the way.  But fret not.  In addition to all this (temporary) buoyancy, we have what I think is a very exciting match coming up against Bayern.  Make no mistake, these big guns will offer an even bigger challenge than last year, in my opinion.  We yet again have to overturn a deficit at the Allianz, but the Bavarians will have last year's close call at the back of their minds.  I think they will have a point to prove to their home fans.

On the other hand, we are coming off of an exhilarating, fun win in the FA Cup and are feeling pretty confident right now.  I think that feeling will serve us well on Tuesday.  Bayern are way too serious for their own good, don't you think?  We go in as total underdogs at this point which is fine with me.  I think that status will allow us to play with more freedom and with little to prove.  The big question, as always, is the squad.  Will Wenger start our less-experienced striker like the first leg and bring Giroud on as an impact sub, or will he start the now in-form and rested Olivier?  I think Yaya starting in the first leg was a move to provide Giroud some physical and mental rest.  He now looks to me hungry and confident.  I think starting Giroud is the way to go - let's keep those goals a comin'.
(UPDATE:  Yaya is listed as having an ankle injury - did Bendtner make the trip?)

Gibbsy is out with a thigh injury along with Monreal which means a makeshift leftback is in order.  Vermalean is the logical choice which means he'll need someone on the left that will help provide cover, as he doesn't have the speed nor stamina of either of our fullbacks.  Between Poldi and Santi, I think Santi provided a bit more defensive grit against Everton and that, along with his great partnership with Ozil, would make him the better candidate in my eyes.

If we start with the Arteta/Flamini axis, Wenger will have to choose between Tommy and Ox on the right wing, both of whom deserve a start.  Ox gives energy and excitement and hustle - almost a younger version of the Little Mozart except he is faster and more of a threat in the final third.  Quite the conundrum for Le Boss.

That's all for the squad except, of course, we have Fabianski in goal instead of Sir Szczesny.  Fab has played really well with the run of games given him, so I feel pretty confident with him between the sticks.

That's about it for now.  Here's hoping for an early goal, a solid defensive display, and a performance we can be proud of.  To me, the latter will do if the result is not what we want.  Pride will go a long way the rest of the season.  I'll be back with a post-match report.  Until then, take care you Gooners.

We're Going to Wembley..for the Semi (that rhymes you know)

Mr. Cool





I have to admit to experiencing a ton of trepidation in anticipation of this game.  In light of our attitude and ineptitude against Stoke last week, I don't think it was an unreasonable reaction.  But, we again proved that we can survive and thrive after a setback.  We played a positive and attacking game against a team who did the same, and we came out unequivocal winners.  What fun it was, too.

 

I'm glad Fabianski started.  I know that there were many fans who wanted Szczesny between the sticks for such an important game, but Fabianski has done a really nice job in our cup matches, and because of Woj's red card, he's our goalie against Bayern .  Playing back to back games is important for a goalie, and I knew he'd be fine - which is really saying something about his current form.  I think his maturity level has helped him.  He's my pick for the FA Cup semi has well.  Wenger is all about keeping players' confidence high.  I would be very surprised if he pulls Fabianski from any future cup games.

We do better coming out of the blocks right away.  I don't understand why we don't do it more often.  Everton pressed us, too, but because of the positivity of our start, Ozil scored fairly early which revved our engines even more.  It does leave us more open to the opposition's counterattack, but we have a very reliable defense now that can handle most of that pressure.  And while Everton did bother us on the counter, they were fairly ineffective but for their opening goal.

 

We didn't crumble after Everton equalised. When Lukaku scored, I held my breath for the rest of the half.  This season, our defense has been way more stable than season's past, but there has been enough inconsistency in our team performances that I just wondered if we could push our way through the mistakes that led to that goal.  And I was wondering if Flamini could be effective the rest of the game while being on that stupid yellow card.  But he was, and we did.  Talk about a confidence builder.

Santi and Mesut are a dream team.  Many have questioned whether having two such prolific and  creative midfielders playing on the pitch at the same time would be a magic blend or too much of a good thing.  Yesterday's game highlighted their individual achievements and their combined ones.  Santi's ability to create an extra yard of space allowed him two shots on goal, and his nimbleness of foot allowed him to get around an opponent, pass to himself, and set up Ozil with a perfectly weighted pass for his goal.  Ozil, in return, crossed a perfect pass that landed right on Santi's foot allowing him to shoot on the volley, and of course he was the final one-touch pass to Giroud for his goal.  Now that Ozil seems rested and rejuvenated along with Santi who looks to be fully recovered from his early season injury, I think the verdict is that these two players are combining to create and finish some beautiful team goals.  Delightful stuff.

I honestly don't think Mikel gets enough credit.  He's mostly noted for his aging legs and an inability to play every three days.  His contract should be winding down soon, and I'm not sure what, if any, kind of extension he will be offered.  All I know is that when he is not on the pitch, we miss him.  We miss his ability to help us keep possession, his calmness on the ball, his experience, and his aggression going into a tackle.  And the coolness with which he took that second penalty speaks volumes.  I just love him for that alone.

Rosicky signs extension as he's a must-have at 33 years old.  There's not many clubs who have someone of TR7's age and quality, and still-fresh legs.  Whether he comes off the bench or starts, he's a necessity.  His pass to Ozil in the set-up of our final goal was perfectly weighted and allowed the German to touch and pass the goal in stride.  He looks to be enjoying his football now more than ever.

Theo being out has allowed Ox to shine.  Ox having to compete with Theo for the right wing position and Wilshere/Ramsey for a a middle one all season could have robbed us of the revelation he has become in their absences.  Coming back from his own injury, Ox looked to me as if he had slimmed down and sped up.  He has a passion and fire when he plays now that may be the result on missing so much football, and now he has given the manager a real argument for starting in two different positions every game.  I like that he was subbed off during this match.  Wenger sometimes has overplayed guys coming back from injury, resulting in longer-term ones (Theo anyone?), and we need Ox in perfect shape for the next three months.

March can be another resurgence for us.  The teams we have left to play are probably going to be more challenging than last year's run-in, but we have important players returning, and we are a better squad as well.  If all the pistons are firing, and with the right players peaking, I am much more optimistic about our chances of winning a trophy than I was a week ago.

That's it for now.  We have Bayern on Tuesday so I'll be back with a pre-match report for that game.  I apologize for not having one for this week, but I was experiencing so many internet issues, I almost threw my computer out the window.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

And take care you Gooners.


Arsenal Fail To Show Up and Title Hopes Are Damaged

Orc Victory



I hate playing Stoke.  I hate their narrow pitch and their "physical" players, their ignorant Ramsey -hating fans, and their managers whether Pulis or Hughes, who often display moments of classlessness.  Continually drawing with them is bad enough, but to play so poorly after having a week between games and a couple of days off from the manager puts into question the reality of having title winning aspirations.  I'm not sure this squad is up for it or built for it. 

How can we maintain a serious title challenge when our offensive backup is a 21-year old kid who misses a wide open shot from 12 yards out?  How can we challenge for yesterday's very important three points when only making 14 tackles the entire game against a very physical opponent?  Even I, with my constantly buffering stream,  saw Jack skip out on two chances for tackles.  He's suppose to be one of our most spirited players.  Unless he's carrying some sort of injury, that's not excusable.  And even then, why is he on the pitch injured when we have so many midfield players who could fill in?

Giroud spent most of the game allowing himself to be bullied by Shawcross and Wilson.  He's a strong guy, and should not accept being manhandled. Whining to the ref doesn't accomplish that. I fully realize that this ref didn't call much in terms of physicality and allowed  Giroud to get beat up and stamped on, but I would rather have seen him go a bit "Flamini" on someone and  potentially earn a yellow, rather than complain.   He was more of the show-pony than mustang we needed him to be yesterday.

The one not-so-dim spot was that we improved greatly when Ox came on.  He helped create more in the last 20 minutes (along with Ozil) then the starting XI did for the first 70.  Our game is most effective when we have width and some pace.  Although the starters did well against a very poor Sunderland, they did not provide either attribute against Stoke on their narrow pitch.  I really think Ox should be a regular starter if he is physically ready for it. 

There are nine league games left, and I could be overly negative here because mathematically, we are still in the hunt.  But even Wenger was realistic about how yesterday's result affects our chances:

It is not slightly worrying, it's a big worry for us to lose a game like that. It is a massive setback of course.

March is here.  The push is on.  This team has shown resilience before along with grit.  It remains to be seen if those qualities reappear for our next set of challenging matches.  Everton is up next in a tournament in which we have a realistic chance of winning, but only if the fighters within our squad make an appearance.  Otherwise, I think this temporary momentum switch can very well become permanent, and this season will end up like the last decade's worth.

That's it for now.  Take care you Gooners.

 

Next Up - Arsenal Venture Into Mordor

What a weird start to the day.  I woke up with one sock on and different top for my pj's.  One sock.  I know I went to sleep with both on because of the stoopid polar vortex reoccurance-thingy makes it impossible to stay warm without them.  Apparently I got so warm during the night, I took off a sock and changed my top.  No idea. 

 

Onto Arsenal and things that make more sense.

 

We journey up to Britannia Stadium tomorrow to play the "pre-Neanderthals" (ala Tuesay Club) in a match from which we should be able to get three points.  However, playing there in the past has been notoriously difficult resulting in two draws in the last two seasons.  A 1-1 and 0-0 scoreline does not provide much confidence, but I don't think many would argue that we are not the same team as last year nor the year before.  Plus, our boss has rotated well over the past couple of games, there has been a full week since we have last played and handedly won.  I think our boys will be well rest and not the least bit jaded.  Especially since the boss gave the them a couple of days off - which seemed to send the media into some sort of frenzy parodied well on this Friday's Arsecast (we all know Wenger is damned-if- he-does and damned- if- he-doesn't, yes?).

So I'm looking for our best to start to guarantee the win and inject even more confidence into the club.  We'll have a full week off again before facing Everton in the FA Cup so rotation for this game would probably only exist in circumstances due to injury.  Such as...

Monreal.  He is still out with his ankle/foot issue as is Gibbs.  So does Wenger start the newly returned Vermie on the left or Flamini?  Stoke are not known for the offensive prowess even though Hughes has tried to get them to play a more open style of footie, so  I'm not sure we have to launch the Arteta/Flamini axis.  Whomever starts on the left will probably be going against Odemwingie, so quickness and reading the game well will be important.  If we are feeling comfortable in the second half, Vermie could get an appearance for left wing or Koz. 

Everyone but Ramsey (did you see that Stoke fans?  Ramsey is not going to be at your stadium), are back to provide midfield options.  I'd really like to see Ozil back in and provide him with players who are going to make runs.  I don't think Hughes will play a high line against us, but crossing into the middle from the wings will be difficult as well.  All of Stoke's back four are well over six foot tall and are going to give Ollie a hard time with headers.  Our striker is excellent in the air, but the scouting report on the Arsenal site (yes, I read those), credit Stoke with winning the most aerial duels in the league.  I think keeping the game on the ground will be key.  Luckily, our cup overfloweth with those types of players.  Wenger can choose between Podolski, Santi, Wilshere , Rosicky, Ox, and Serge for the most winning combination.  Unfortunately, Stoke also claim the  spot for the worst disciplinary record in the league.  Whoever does get to start is going to have to play tough as nails cuz they're gonna get kicked pillar to post by these guys.  If I were going to make a prediction on who is not going to start based solely on the defensive record, I'd say Rosicky  - because we need him in good health for upcoming cup competitions- and Serge because he's young, and we don't want him to have nightmares for weeks after. 

One thing we can't do is have a slow start and give Stoke confidence.  I like how we pressed Sunderland and got a goal early in the game.  Stoke have to be forced to change their style of play, and scoring early will accomplish that.

That's it for now.  Chelsea play at Fulham  the same time as us and Liverpool play after.  Three points is a must to keep the pressure on.  C'mon You Gunners!

And have a good one Gooners.


 

 

 

Arsenal Make Easy Work of Black Cats as a Legend Looks On

The Moment That Was Made Immortal in Bronze



After suffering the agonizing defeat at the hands of Bayern on Wednesday, watching Arsenal comfortably win against Sunderland 4-1 was a relief.  Arsenal fans have been angst-ridden (overly so, in my opinion) and angry the last few days, so today's win, and Bergkamp statue unveiling beforehand, was a much needed ray of sunshine and bodes well for next week's match at Stoke.

Giroud looked back on his game.  Having "rested" for two games looks to have done Ollie a world of good.  Two goals and two assists in one game is a reminder of his previous form.  His second goal may be written off as a mistake by Sunderland, but if you watch the play, Giroud anticipates the back pass and finishes the shot at a very tight angle.  Whether he was benched because of fatigue or as a disciplinary action, the effect is encouraging.

Ozil injured?  I'd be surprised if any of us expected Ozil to play today.  After having made 32 appearances for the club this season, adjusting to a more rigorous playing schedule, and suffering from his penalty miss, taking a rest was warranted and deserved.  Wenger, though, I think surprised everyone when he explained Ozil's absence as him having a "thigh injury' from a kick.  Weird.  Was he actually considering playing him if he didn't come up injured? 

Substitutions were made mostly due to injuries.  It's not like we aren't used to having injuries, but to have to use two substitutions in the middle of a game for injured players is a tad unusual.  Thankfully we were in control of the match, otherwise, needed tactical changes may have been made impossible.  There are concerns of course.  Monreal is our backup for the injured Gibbs and our backup centerback isn't due back until March 1st.  (Update:  It looks like all of the injured players from today will be back for next week's match.)  Thankfully, Corporal Jenkinson and Flamini were able to deputize on the flanks while Sagna moved to the middle to cover for Lolo.  Which leads me to my next point.

Sagna is as versatile a player as Arsenal have had.  Give him what he wants!  This guy can bomb forward with endless energy, shove someone off the ball, cross with his weak foot, has amazing hops, and wins headers.   I know I am being repetitive here, but if AFC can't see the wisdom in upping his salary and breaking their "players over 30 only get a two year extension" rule, I will question their footballing brains more than the press questioned Theo's.  C'mon!

Szczesny made a couple of great saves.  Here and here.  I wonder, though, if Sunderland would have scored their one goal, if he had caught this free kick instead of punching it away.  I realize we were winning 4-0, but considering winning the title may come down to the Goal Differential column and the team in first place is three goals ahead of us in that department, little mistakes like that are costly.

Sunderland were pretty awful - especially in the first half  I enjoyed our complete dominance and it seemed like some of the Sunderland players were maybe focused on not getting hurt for their big game next Sunday.  They gave us oodles of space and made almost no tackles (although they made 15 by the end of the match) and had no shots of goal. Poyet must have screamed at them in the locker room at halftime because they came and pressed us higher up the pitch.  Still - pretty bad stuff.  They seemed to be in an upward trend before today, and I hope they can get back on track with that by winning the Cup and beating Chelsea in April - for Vito's sake as well as ours.

I think that's all for now.  We have a whole week before we play again.  On one hand, I'm glad the players get a break, on the other I know I'm going to be terrifically bored midweek and scrounging for scraps of team news.  I'll be back for a Stoke preview. 

Until then, have a good one Gooners.

Back to Business - Sunderland Preview

Veeeetoooh



It's back to the Premier League tomorrow and a chance to get back to the top of the table depending on how Chelsea do against Everton before us.   And considering we ran ourselves into the ground against Bayern, I expect more rotation from the boss.

Coming off our defeat, we'll have to be shake off the disappointment.  There could be no better way to do that than to stick it the relegation doomed Sunderland side.  What I hope doesn't happen is a sluggish approach that underestimates the opposition.  Sunderland have been a different side since Poyet has taken over.  Yes, they are still third from the bottom, but they have a belief to them now that makes them dangerous.  They have made it to the final of the Capital One Cup which is next weekend so that could cause some distraction.  Wenger on Sunderland: 

“Poyet has done well. He has bought a style of play and a confidence back in the team. They have become a good side so let's not be fooled by their position in the table. They are a strong team if you look at their recent results, it is a dangerous team.”

They have taken 12 points from their last six matches which is not the mark for bottom table team.  It speaks of a team that could be on the rise.

And part of that rise could be due to our old friend Vito Mannone.  His saves in the penalty shoot-out against Manchester United have solidified his starting status for the Black Cats and Wenger couldn't be more pleased for him.

"I'm very proud of what he's doing because I kept him here when he had a trial at the age of 16 because I saw something in him. That's coming out now which is of course very satisfying. He is a football man, he loves the game and I was always convinced that he would be a great goalkeeper.”

Having the two Poles ahead of him meant that Vito, barring injuries, would not get playing time.  I'm glad he's doing well too, and I'm sure he'll have a great game against us as is our luck with ex-players.

AS far as the line-up goes, I hope Wenger rotates.  Ozil definitely needs a rest.  Sanogo has played two games in a row after coming off a four month lay-off so playing him again could be risky.  Plus, I think there would be mutiny involved if Giroud doesn't get another chance.  He's rested two games now and is due a start.  I'd like to see Podolski get a start today.  With Ozil rested, Santi or TR7 could slot in freeing up the wing for Lukas.  Gibbs is out with a hamstring injury so Monreal regains his starting spot.  Here's an interesting question.  Does Fabianski's good form earn him a start over Szcz?

That's it for now.  Here's hoping Chelsea drop points and we grab three.  Doesn't seem unreasonable, does it?

Have a good one Gooners.

All Is Not Lost Arsenal 0-2 Bayern Munich



Before I write too much, I have to admit I was unable to watch the match.  I listened to it on Arsenal Player as much as I could while at work, and followed @arseblog's live blog so I have a jist of how the game went, but the some of the nuances may be lost on me.  And I know I could subscribe to FoxSoccer to have access to these and FA Cup games, but I refuse to give money to a company who employs Eric Wynada as a commentator.  He absolutely ruins the game for me. 

Anyway, speaking of the game, here are my impressions.

The starting forward raised a few eyebrows.  Yaya was chosen over Giroud to lead the line against the best football team in the world last night.  I wonder what thoughts raced through his mind when he learned he was starting? 
"Wow - I'm starting against Bayern?!"
"Crap!  I'm starting against Bayern!"
"Ollie's gonna kill me - they'll find my body in the dumpster out behind the training ground"

For most Gooners, the selection was perplexing.  Giroud had a rest at the FC Cup.  Sanogo has noooooo European experience.  Wenger's explanation:
"It was just a decision based on performance. When I play Giroud in every game, people reproach me from playing him in every game. When I rest him, people reproach me for rested him. Tonight I rested him so you should be happy. It was not punishment, it was just a decision tonight."
It makes sense in a way.  Giroud's performances have been lagging.  Part of that is because he is tired.  Maybe part of it is because he doesn't have enough competition.  The really sad fact is that our backup for Giroud is this raw kid.  That's not on Giroud or Yaya.  That's on the management.

We started really well, pressing up high on the pitch.  We had a chance too with Yaya forcing Neuer into a save in the 2nd minute.  And then in the 27th minute, Mesut pulled the ball back in the penalty area, and with a clear shot on goal, was tripped up by Boeteng.  Boeteng was given a yellow and Mesut a penalty - which he missed.  What a lost opportunity.  Ox was then set up by Yaya in the 27th minute but Neuer came out and nicked it out just in time.  Exciting stuff.  Even when the air went out of our tires a bit with the missed penalty, we kept going.

Szczesny's red card killed us.  That's not an insightful comment.  Of course it did.  Szcz misread the ball and the real question is did he have to come out for it? Robben's touch had the ball going out to the left and Sagna was almost there to help out.  A judgment error in my opinion made by our keeper and the referee.  If Ozil had a clear shot on goal and no red card was given to Boeteng, then why the red card on Wojciech?    Was it a foul?  Yes.  Was it a clear goal scoring opportunity?  Maybe.  The ball was going away from goal.  The penalty was given.  The red card seems very harsh.

Going a man down tired us and made substitutions difficult.  Again - this is not difficult stuff to figure out.  But Twitter was fill of comments and rage about Wenger not subbing off Ozil who was clearly exhausted (running the third most distance in the match).  But after having to take off Cazorla for Fabianski, Wenger also had to sub Gibbs for Monreal after it looked like he pulled his hamstring.  With only one substitution left, Wenger saved it for the Ox who apparently was carrying an injury in the second half (according to @arseblog).

What does this mean for the second leg in Munich?  Well, we still have to make up a two goal difference, but their away goal tally is one less than last year.  I think the squad will feel hard done by.  Wondering "what if" things had gone differently which really can give them momentum.  It will also depend on who is available and rested.  Will Giroud earn his spot back?  Will Gibbs return from his hamstring injury?  Will we have won against Everton in the FA Cup that previous Saturday and carry that confidence into the match?  There are many factors to consider, but all in all, I think we have a better shot than last year, to be honest.  Flamini seems to feel the same way.

Lastly, we will have to rotate for the Sunderland game.  Playing with only 10 men for over 50 minutes requires it.  Giroud will likely start (unless Bendtner makes an appearance.  Honestly, Wenger has me guessing).  Ozil really needs a break so look TR7 or Santi to start there, freeing up a the wing for  Podolski to come in.  I would love to see us take some frustration out on the Black Cats.

That's it.  Longer post than I anticipated considering how little of the actual match I got to see.  I'll be back to preview Saturday's game.  Have a good one Gooners.

A Visit from the German Juggernauts

Good Morning!  Spring is finally in the air here in Northwest Indiana - at least for a few days anyway - so my spirits are up and ready to take on the Giants from Deutschland in a challenging matchup today at the Emirates.  I think I hear the message "Arsenal beat Bayern" in the actual birdy tweets today.

This will be a very short post indeed as my plate is and has been quite full for the last few days.  But here's what I have to offer:

Arsenal's rested legs will start today along with Flamini who will be filling in for the suspended Arteta.  Assene has saved Rosicky probably for just this occasion as he has experience a plenty, but I bet he is toying with the idea of starting Ox considering how much of an impact he has made since coming back from injury.  It probably depends on what the overall goal/strategy is for today's match.  We really put ourselves in a hole last year with trying to compete with them goal for goal which resulted in them having three away goals.  I suspect that Wenger will play it tight tonight, which means that TR7 has the edge over Ox.

On the left is another conundrum.  Santi was rested, but he is not any more defensively minded than Podolski who scored on the weekend and is our best finisher.  Considering how much the manager seems to disfavor the German, I think Santi will get the start.

On the Bayern side, Ribery is a doubt due to having butt surgery and Schweinsteiger has an ankle issue.  But their bench is deep.  I can assure you that having to play Muller instead is not any kind of hindrance for them.  He's an outstanding player who has not gotten the playing time he is used to.  He will probably have a point to prove.

The game is going to be tough.  I think the atmosphere at the Emirates will hopefully rival that of the Barcelona game which will be just what the players need from the crowd.  Ending up with a result similar to that epic match would be icing on the cake...with sprinkles.

That's all I got.  I told you it was going to be short.  Have a good one Gooners.

The Scousers are Silenced and the Toffees are Next

MOTM Fabianski



Good morning boys and girls.  My week is starting off very well.  I have the day off of work (President's Day), and The Arsenal beat the Scousers on their way to the FA Cup quarterfinals.  It was an intense match with loads of free kicks in dangerous areas, corners, and attacking play.  The most notable aspect from a Gunners' perspective, is that our defensive held those attacks, allowing only one goal which was earned on penalty.  Much different result than the one experienced the previous weekend.

 

The starting lineup was a shock for many, myself included.  Arsene made seven changes from the squad who played against Manure on Wednesday, opting for mass rotation rather than the safety of his usual starting XI.  I'll admit, I called this one wrong, and was nervous when I saw Yaya Sanogo's name on the sheet ahead of Bendtner, but Wenger's gamble paid off.  One could read either faith in his substitutes or the placing of importance of CL over FA Cup in his selection.  Maybe it was both, which would lessen my concern about our manager's ability to man-manage.

 

I have to say that all who started played well.  There were not many performances for one to nit-pick apart.  I do think that Fabianski's shot stopping extravaganza, much like the No. 1 keeper in front of him, kept us in the game.  Liverpool had seven shots on goal, and the only one Lukasz allowed in was Gerrard's penalty.  I think this was his best match in an Arsenal shirt.  It's a shame he's leaving in the summer as he's a terrific backup, but at least we are getting cream of the crop performances from him before he departs.  Starting Podolski and Ox on the wings was the ticket to provide more of the outlets that Ozil needs to bring out his creative qualities.  Not only did he look happier and play with more verve, but he got in a couple of nice tackles as well.  Perhaps his dip in form is done.

 

Watching Yaya was a glimpse into the Arsenal's attacking future.  He is, of course,  an ametastable allotrope of carbon in the rough, and it is only one match, but oh...one can see from this performance why Arsene rated him so highly this last summer:

 

"He's a young striker who is promising. He has some talent. BIG talent."

 

Okay - I confess.  I added the all-caps there at the end.  Still, this could be fun if his injury rate subsides.  We have to have patience as with any young player and keep appropriate expectations, and then he may end up in the LANS category.

 

More thoughts on The Ox.  When Theo went down, we were wondering who could replace him on the right.  Although the wing is not Alex's favorite position, and he is not as fast as Theo, he has made the most of that position since coming back from injury.  I think he times his burst well instead of relying on an all out sprint to beat the opposition.  And, when called upon for playing in the middle against Crystal Palace, he scored twice.  Wenger rested Rosicky yesterday probably in anticipation of the upcoming Bayern match.  Ox is making a case for ousting Tommy from either position (I would still pick TR7 at least for the home match because of his defensive prowess). But, more on that in my CL match preview tomorrow). 

 

It's funny to hear Liverpool complain about the refereeing.  Yes, Suarez was fouled in the box both times and was granted only one penalty.  But he is his own worst enemy, and created a reputation for himself as a diver, so I feel no sympathy for him.  Perhaps if he didn't flop around like a guppy just taken out of it's fishbowl, he would have gotten the call.  But he did this instead.  Plus, we did not get a penalty call on the other end, so fair's fair in my book.  If you read any of my blogs on a regular basis, you'll know I write more about playing above the refereeing rather than bemoaning it.  Really I have no pity for Liverpool - especially with the amount of chances they had.

 

All in all, it was a very satisfactory, if not somewhat bite- my- nails, performance.  We now advance into the Sweet Sixteen of the FA Cup, having drawn Everton for the weekend of March8/9th.  And we are at home once more.  Between then, though, we have the German juggernaut visiting on Wednesday as well as a couple of league matches.  And thanks to Wenger's rotation, we'll have some rested legs on which to challenge.  More on that tomorrow.

 

Have a good one Gooners.