An Arsenal side with a fighting spirit will always get my support

TotalArsenal

 Are Arsenal doomed? Bollix to that!

Change of formation – cannot fly without wings – (almost) solid performance by our defence – ability to fight.

I only saw the game last night on a fuzzy stream that broke up a few times, which makes it difficult to analyse the game tactically. It is incredible that Gooners based outside the UK can watch our games on their TV-sets while we have to make do with streaming. But, it is what it is, and I was definitely able to get a general picture of our performance last night.

Change of formation to 4-4-2 only partly paid off.

We basically played 4-4-2 with Giroud and Theo up-front, and Ramsey – Arteta – Wilshere – Santi in midfield. This came as a big surprise and initially Arsene was rewarded handsomely for his willingness to adapt. Theo’s slightly fortuitous goal in the first minute was a direct result of Everton not being tactically prepared for our change of formation.

I can see why Arsene started with four in midfield: we needed the extra man in order not to be overrun. But even then, Everton were a force in midfield and their tactics to never let us settle on the ball worked well for them – as it did when other opponents followed the same strategy against us recently.

During the entire game we were seldom or never able to dictate the game or maintain our shape for long. Everton’s pressing and ability to hold on to the ball and pass it round was impressive, and in general better than Arsenal’s. The question that will remain unanswered is whether it would have been better to have started with our 4-2-1-3 system. We had the players for it and it is what they were getting used to, but I guess Arsene felt he needed to do something different in order to gain new impetus this season. It will be interesting to see whether the new formation will be a one-off or not.

It was also obvious that we were not used to playing in this formation, as we lacked the normal intuitive understanding and football automatisms which Everton, on the other hand, had in abundance last night. The result of all of this was that Everton were able to force mistakes on us, and luckily it only cost us once. Fellaini pounced on an enforced mistake by a number of Arsenal players to pass-shoot the ball past our goalkeeper.

We cannot fly without wings.

The 4-4-2 formation saw Wilshere play a lot deeper than usual and he did a good job defensively. However, because of this we were less dominant in the attacking part of midfield as Wilshere and Arteta often sat too deep, and Cazorla had to occupy one of the wings (Ramsey and Cazorla swapped occasionally). Theo and Giroud tried hard to cover the space and make the best of it, but it did not really work out for us.

Just like in the Villa game, we did not use our wings to the best ability. Theo was missed on the right and Ramsey and Gibbs did not get much out of our left wing. With a striker like Giroud in the centre of our attack, this is a real shame. We either use Giroud in a 4-3-3 system with proper wing play, or we go back to the early-Chamakh era of 4-5-1; with Giroud alone on top and five multi-disciplined midfielders behind him, who can play off the Frenchman. Last night, our formation made Giroud look mostly ineffectual in our 4-4-2 formation.

I hope last night’s formation was a one-off tactical adjustment by Arsene, and that we go back to 4-3-3 on Saturday. As per my previous post, we need Theo to play as a dedicated winger right now, and replace him adequately ASAP, if he does not want to play there anymore.

(Almost) solid performance by our defence.

Our defence held out really well last night and dealt with the pressure put on them more than adequately. They could have done better with Fellaini’s equaliser – they should have learned from Bale’s goal 10 days ago – but there was good coordination between them and they fought like lions for each other. Conceding only one goal in two tricky away fixtures is a sign of progress in defence.

Ability to fight.

As I could not make out individual shirt numbers on the stream and the picture was too fuzzy to recognise our players every time, I am not in a position to review individual players. What I can say though is that everybody worked their socks off last night and was up for the fight for 90+ minutes. The game was played by both teams like it was a cup-final, and it takes a lot to keep believing and fighting for a win in a hostile away environment.

And as an Arsenal supporter this will always be the most important thing for me: a team that works hard and fights for 90 minutes will ALWAYS get my support, regardless of the technical and tactical insufficiencies on display.

We are only five points away from third place, and we can get there in the next few weeks. That’s what we have to fight for now, and our team showed last night it can and will fight for it; and that’s why they will continue to get my full support.

 

Total Arsenal.

42 thoughts on “An Arsenal side with a fighting spirit will always get my support”

  • Well said TA, i agree, show some fight and the support will never waiver. For example, I could never slate Ramsey because he ALWAYS makes himself available and never stops trying.

    My biggest question (and has been for the last two seasons) is why do we not press all over the pitch? It just seems ridiculous to be honest. Do we ever sit then and say ‘the oppositions press is stuffing them up!’? No we don’t because whenever the opposition does it against us it makes us look very ineffectual. How can it not when we have less time on the ball!

    Two ways to beat a press:
    1) speed. A lot of our build up play is slow so can’t beat it.
    2) grade ‘A’ passing. Not as easy without Cesc and no1 does it better than he.

    It is very frustrating because i think the players are there, we are competitive, we are a stone’s throw away (other teams around us are crumbling and losing points regularly).

    You are right Giroud is being wasted with these tactics. All the calls for Huntelaar won’t change a thing either if we can’t get it to him. Mot to mention he isn’t all that different to Giroud. TACTICS TACTICS TACTICS for dennis sake!!!!!!!

  • Exactly TA. The effort was there and for that reason alone the team deserves our support.

    From what i saw our new shape did not realy improve our general play. However it did result in our goal. With the freedom afforded to walcott he found himself in the inside left position and put it away.

    I think we defended ok, but addmittedly rode our luck a bit. Offensivly, we stiil have a problem in creating chances. It was not Girouds game last night and at times we looked toothless.

    I would like to see wenger try this formation against swansea, but with a more attcking emphasis with maybe Ox replacing Ramsey.

    Lets march on to were we want to be.

  • Fine thoughts Total……As you say, we should all get behind our boys, especially as they showed effort at a difficult venue. We must remember Everton have not lost at home yet. Take the draw and move on. I can understand many Gooners getting frustrated ( as I am sometimes) because they see that if Wenger would just go that extra mile we could have picked up three points last night.

    6 games undefeated, lets keep this up. Swansea at home this week end, COYG

  • Afternoon Vag Bandits 😆

    Totals, you had a fuzzy screen and I had the back of my sofa !. hahaha

    I have to sgree with Oz. There is a recurring statement from every recent match ( probably for a few seasons ) that we dont dictate and that is, the opposition dont give us any time on the ball, they were/are in our faces !.
    This seems very simple to me and as football is a simple game, I will put it in simple East End language, ” Lets get stuck into the f**king c**ts ” !.
    Back to technical football language now. I remember that game against the Chavs at home a while back, 3-1 we won, we played a high tempo pressing game and I thought right we`ve cracked it, play fully comitted like that in every game and we will be challenging !.
    Alas, we have lost a lot of super players since that game, have we the personnel to do it now ?.

    A lot of you are currently in , ” Rose Tint ” mode. I however, aswell as being a handsome bastard, have handsome feet aswell, that are well and truly planted on the ground !.

    A reality check:

    1) Our worst start to a season under Wenger ( do you notice that I call him Arsene when I`m happy and Wenger when I`m peed off ! hahaha ).

    2) We have 21 points from 14 games, thats 1.5 points a game. If we carry on as so, thats a final total of 57 points !.

    3) Since the EPL went to 38 games an average of 67.352941 points have been needed to get 4th spot, with a high of 76 points to a low of 60 points. So I think it`s fair to say we`re going to need at least 67.352941 points !. hahaha

    4) So with 24 games remaing, we need to average 1.9313725 points per game !. So as we are currently only averaging 1.5 points per game, we need a good kick up the f**king arse !.

    So as you can see, things are not as rosey as you think !.

    It brings me back to my agreement of Oz. Stop letting teams press us into submission and lets press them instead and that will tie in with Totals fine view that we will love them if they give a 110% !.

    I still think the futures as Stretch portrays, but this season could well be a blip, lucky we`ve got all that money to sort it out ! hahaha

  • Just seen on NewsNow. A Black Hole so massive that it defies current scientific explanation, has been dicovered in a relatively tiny Galaxy. I`m just wondering whether their Telescope was alligned wrong and was looking through Ashley Coles bathroom instead of the heavens !. hahaha

  • Afternoon gents of goonerdom! 🙂

    Thanks for some fine comments.

    Agreed on the press Oz – but I think we need to return to 4-5-1 for proper pressing football, or maybe persevere with 4-4-2 of last night, although I feel we desperately need a beast of a DM for that formation.

    Glic, fine stats, but you are worrying far too early for me. We are 5 points from third, and we played away 8 times out of 14 and have almost done the whole of the NW this season. We never get many points from there, but we only lost to red nose’s Mancs.

    Our two mean competitors for third position are Spuds and Chavs and they both played only 6 away games. We’ll catch them up before you have finished your advent calenders! 🙂

    Everton and WB are doing well, but we really are a better team long term.

    VCC, agreed we need to buy a couple of players, but I will also say there is no football supporters in the UK who will not say the same. A team is almost always two players away from being an unbeatable, winning one. Let’s get a winger for Theo and a DM and an experienced back up GK ,and maybe an LB to make you happy Victorious 😛 . But in the meantime let’s get the best out of this team with a winning run whilst building confidence and further progress with the gelling process.

  • Total

    It`s what I do concerning Arsenal, I worry !. We could be playing Launceston Town at home in the FA Cup and I would worry !. hahaha
    You think I`m joking when I say, I hide behind the sofa !. hahaha

  • GLiC 15:43…… You may have handsome feet, but you sure aint got a handsome thumb. he he he he he he ( Henrys around)

  • My predictions for 1 UMF league this weekend are…..and in no particular order……:

    W Ham vs Chavs Draw

    Fulham vs Scum Draw

    Bin Dippers vs Soton Draw

    Q.P.u R awfull vs Aston Vanilla Draw

    W Brom vs Orc City Draw

    As you can see I`m going for the draws. two reasons for this.: 1 ) Every game starts off as a draw !. 2 ) Over the years this Handsome Bastard has been quite skillfull at gettting into Drawers, so why change the habit of a life time !. hahaha

  • Glic. …thank you, first one in this week.

    VCC = entries for this week ends 1UMF League are

    Arsenal v Swansea………HOME

    Fulham v Spurs”…………..HOME

    QPR v AV……………………HOME

    WBA v Stoke………………..HOME

    WHU v Chavs……………….DRAW

  • Total’s predictions:

    Liverpool – Southampton: HOME Burglar
    QPR – Aston Villa: a Twitchy DRAW
    Man City – Everton: An oil-slick HOME win
    Fulham – Spuds: A feast of a red cards DRAW
    West Ham – Chelsea: Draw

  • Hi All. Too much Herb is not good for people.
    Just to point out, 9pts last season have become just 2pts this season from the games at Norwich, Everton and Villa.
    My weekend selections:
    Liverpool to beat Southampton.
    Manchester City to beat Everton.
    QPR and Villa to draw.
    MU to win at Reading.
    Newcastle to beat Wigan.

  • Hi Herb 😆

    What do you think of my stats @ 15:43, not looking good is it !. We have to rely on others to drop points to help us out , a bit like last season !. hahaha

  • Nonsense Herbie Baby. Your just what a man that lives in a Loft with only a piegon to talk too needs. hahahahaha

    Terrys Doomed 5

    Arsenal win 5-0
    Fulham win
    Man City win
    QPR win
    Man Utd away win

  • So Stretch has got Kirsty Alsopp and Sarah Beeny helping sort out his Telescope in the loft in a new C4 Series called, ” Terry Mancini Loft Extention ” !. hahaha

  • When i was a kid i used to dream of shacking up in a lovely converted Loft wirh a georgeous Bird.

    Be careful what you wish for. hahahaha

  • BREAKING NEWS…..BREAKING NEWS……BREAKING NEWS…..

    The Pigeon in Stretche`s loft is pregnant !……….You desperate bastard !……..Pigeon Racing….he caught it…..he charmed it…….he wine and dined it……it even laughed at his jokes……he shagged it !.

  • Terry,s feathered friends…..

    Why live with pigeons? There’s danger you know,
    Can’t adopt just one, the craving will grow.
    There’s no doubt they’re addictive, wherein lies the danger,
    While living with lots, you’ll grow poorer (and stranger?).

    One pigeon is so funny, and two are no trouble,
    The more, the merrier, they’re all so delightful.
    The third is a honey, the fourth one’s a breeze,
    You can live in a house full, with the greatest of ease.

    So how ’bout another — or two if you must?
    They’re really quite easy, but oh Lord, the dust.
    With pigeons on furniture, and pigeons in bed,
    And their toys and things, “It’s no bother,” you’ve said.

    So, invite some more pigeons, you can always find room,
    And a little more time, for the dust cloth and broom.
    There’s hardly a limit, to the pigeons you add,
    The thought of a cutback, sure makes you sad.

    Each one is so special, so unique and so funny,
    Food and care bills grow larger, you spend much more money.
    Your folks never visit, few friends come to stay,
    Except other bird folks, who live the same way.

    Is it worth it you wonder? Are you caught in a trap?
    Then your pigeon pals fly over, and into your lap.
    Their coos say your special, and you know that you will,
    Keep your feathered friends, in spite of the bill.

  • While the saints are splashing around in The Pool I’m expecting The Dippers subs
    To raid the changing room and steal their clothes.

    Quick Call Rednapp he knows how to splash the cash and our owners minted! Yeah but he hasn’t been there long enough to know where all the dosh is kept. Never mind at least he’ll know enough to stop The Villains breaking down the door, and he’ll keep whatever his dog sniffs out for himself. Status quo.

    I think in the long run Oil will prove to be stickier than Toffee. But wouldn’t I just love a little bit of Belgium chocolate toffee to melt onto Mancini’s seat and cause him no end of discomfiture.

    A Daniel Levy grudge match, between two of the Spud peeling chairman’s failures. I expect Jol to insult Levy AVB, the match officials and anyone else, not bringing him fresh Herrings. I’ve got a soft spot for “the brash one” who twice got the tiny totts to the lofty heights of 5th. Anyone who calls a linesman a (Cee You Next Tuesday) on live TV can’t be all bad even if he soiled himself in associating with the swamp dwellers, against my better judgement, and more in hope. The cottagers to nick it.

    The Irons to fail to venture out of their half, but nail the door firmly shut on the Chav’s shed.

  • The 1 UMF League is still waiting for entries from =

    OZ
    Rocky
    Herb.

    Please submit before ko Saturday. Many thanks chaps, and I hope your still having fun.

    We will have a November winner posted soon.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *