Tag: Champions League

Slavia Prague v Arsenal: Who Will Play CF Tonight? Ooooooh oh oh oh oooh

TotalArsenal

The boys are in Prague, a beautiful city at any time of the year and certainly so in Autumn. Of course it is just a flying visit to the City of 100 Towers for the Gunners between two important PL away games in Burnley and Sunderland, but hopefully the boys get a few minutes to take in the sheer romantic beauty of a city that has housed greats like Jan Hus, Milan Kundera, Havel, Franz Kafka and of course our most beloved Czech who donned the red and white, Tomáš Rosický.

Tomáš embodied something at Arsenal that every football supporters loves: that desire to play the game beautifully and effectively at the highest possible level. Other teams might have dominated in the PL over the past twenty years, but no other team has had as many nr10-magicians as Arsenal had during that period, and Tomáš Rosický was certainly one of them.

Talking about magicians, we are still missing our current day one, Martin Odegaard. Eze is doing just fine of course, and what a great signing he is proving to be, but when it comes to finding the chinks in the defensive, lower blocks Martin remains our main man. In fact, we are missing an entire attacking lineup today of Jesus, Havertz, Madueke and Odegaard. All injured, and now Viktor (and Martinelli?) is/are also out. It is getting a little bit thin up-front. The risk of all these long injuries in the same area of the pitch is that we never really recover from it as players get overused, Gyo being being the prime example.

Luckily there is an international break soon, and hopefully a few will be available again after it. But Arsenal will have to grind out a couple of results before then, and Slavia Prague will no doubt give us a game. They drew twice to have two points out of 3 games, and other than that I don’t know anything about them.

I think we can predict our defence and midfield pretty accurately, and our attack is pretty straightforward too. The only real question is: who will play as CF? Will it be Leandro, Merino or a youngster – and if the latter, who will it be? I’ll go for Merino.

Well, all will be revealed in a few hours time. Remember it is an early kick-off for us tonight.

By TotalArsenal.

Viktory Through Gyö-Harmony

TotalArsenal

Arsenal 4(!) – 0 Atletico Madrid

My four points:
1. Gyö
Monkey’s off his back, at last. How could we not be happy? He’s the kind of guy you frown upon when he’s brought into your team and you can’t believe how heavy his first touches are. But just a few minutes into the training session, you start wondering if you ever were, or ever will be, as committed, relentless, sacrificial almost as he looks already – and you know you’ve never been, and never will be. Humility always goes along with that kind of attitude on the pitch, and his reaction after his first goal will remain one of the moments of the season – as though the big lad was apologizing for breaking the deadlock in such an ugly fashion. The look of a puppy sitting right in the middle of the mess he’s turned your place into, as you come home, was priceless. As for the reactions of his mates having to cheer him up and tell him how happy and proud he should be says a lot about how much he’s loved already. At the end of the season, who will care about how scrappy his goals were anyway? We’ve had our share of scorers of great goals lately, now we can do with a great scorer of goals (famous Charlie G. quote in reverse of course). Last remark: what I loved most was how his holdup play looked improved; Le Normand is De La Fuente’s first choice CB, but our Big boy almost drove him insane – he might have needed these first weeks, games, to be fully fit, half-fitness doesn’t sit well with his style.
2. We’re through to the Ro16; we’ll get nine more points against Slavia, Brugge, Kairat, that’s 18 and that’ll do the trick.
But … there’s a huge interest this season in the very best position possible. The first four will be seeded and will play the Ro16 – Ro8 return games at home, and the fist two will even play the semi-final return in front of their fans. Which is why: first, MA will pick what he thinks to be his strongest team of the moment ’til the very last game, secondly, we might be treated to goals galore the nights of the games against the three above-mentioned teams, finally the games against Bayern and Inter are bound to be actual showdowns for that very reason, since they are direct rivals for the top-spots.
(https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0296-1d21e9bdf7e4-808a7511165c-1000–2025-26-champions-league-teams-format-dates-draws-final/)
3. Set-Piece FC
There’s BigGab of course, whose reign o’er the box is so supreme it gets really funny – truth is he’s having great fun himself, on CKs he has the happy look of a doggy you can’t dribble past, who grabs the ball every time – could do it all day.
But … there’s the deliveries, too, and that’s where “A Terrible Beauty Is Born“ imo. I’ve started thinking Declan and Bukayo have been creating, inventing, a whole new skill that scouts will be demanded they are able to spot in players from now on. And guess what? We even have backups now; Martin Ø has always been quite good at steppin’ up for Bukayo when needed, but I’m pretty sure Eberechi has all it takes to do the same for Declan – it’ll just take a few personal sessions with Jover the Wizard …
4. My conclusion? Be ready, Big Ears!
North London Is Coming.

By argallh

Arsenal v Real Preview and Line-up: A Night Made for Odegaard

TotalArsenal

So, we are just a few hours away from the biggest game of the season, so far. The boys truly rocked the Blancos at home, and now comes a test of nerves, tactics and belief. The Galacticos are not used to being outplayed, and in the second half they really and truly were. So their pride is hurt and they do not want to embarrass themselves again at the Bernabeu, that’s for sure.

But Arsenal are a pretty complete team when it comes to playing tactical variants, these days. Gone are the Wenger days of the one-style-needs-to-beat-all. Arteta can play Mourinho-ball, Ferguson-ball and Wenger-ball; he will adept to what gives us optimal outcomes. Sitting back, absorbing, and then pouncing on the rebound/counter is the most likely approach. With Odegaard, Merinho, Rice, Partey, Saka and Martinelli, and fast wing-backs, Arsenal can hurt RM badly, tonight. Our opponents will be weary of this, yet they must attack, attack, attack. The crowd will demand it and the large deficit does not leave them much else to do.

But then Arteta may decided to attack RM from the start and dominate midfield. Of course this is not without danger, as RM have the sort of players who love to run into space with and without the ball. But this could lead to an early goal for us after which we can sit back and absorb pressure. A fourth goal for us over the two ties should normally settle it. However, playing with a high block carries another danger for us: the risk of hauling somebody down and getting a yellow or even a red card. Playing with 10 men with say 70 minutes on the clock would be a nightmare.

I think Arteta and his fellow managers, and the captain, MO, will have a detailed plan that will see different approaches during different phases of the game. Arsenal have a great midfield and RM will truly miss the hard-as-nails (and probably their best midfielder), Camavinga. This is such an opportunity to boss this pivotal area, even at the Bernabeu. Once-Twice-Baby is puffed up with confidence and Martin will have been dreaming of this game ever since he joined us from the Spanish capital. Partey, if indeed fit as is reported, will also want to play his socks off; his friends from Atletico will have jeered him up to no end.

I have high hopes that this will be the night that Odegaard truly announces himself to Europe – the Frenkie De Jong/Modric of Arsenal.

Big games will need to be played by the full backs and their supporting wingers. They will want to get behind our defence from the flanks and the likes of Vinicius, Rodrygo, Mbappe and Bellingham are capable of the the best wing-play in the business. The beauty of Saka and Martinelli is that they are excellent at supporting the defence and then also spring a counter-attack with great close control, energy and thrust. They will get kicked, and I hope the referee understands that they will need protection. A fair referee is of course crucial, and from what the Duke of Normandie has told us I think we should not worry about this part of the game.

This is very likely to be a tense game for 90+ minutes, unless we can put one or two in the net in the first half. Don’t count this out, and I will put my money on Martin netting at his former stomping ground.

I guess our biggest area of attention will have to be our left side of defence. Kiwior and, most likely, MLS will play there, or is Calafiori earmarked for this one? There is no update on him on Arsenal.com… It also seems that Ben White is available again. If fit this would be a great addition to our defence.

Desired (not necessarily predicted) line-up (subject to actual fitness levels):

Raya

White-Saliba-Kiwior-Timber

Partey-Odegaard-Rice

Saka-Merino-Martinelli

It is a real shame that Jorginho is not available for this one, as Arteta could do with the tactical variant(s) he offers. I love MLS but I fear he will be earmarked for a sending off. However, a cameo in the second half could give the team a wonderful boost. Same goes for insomniac Trossard, and yes, Sterling, who has the maturity to finally make a difference for us.

I believe in these boys and as long as they keep cool heads and take one or two of their own chances, I think we will go through.

Ooh to BE.

By TotalArsenal.

Arsenal v Real Madrid 3-0: A Superb Team Performance Has Red North-London Dreaming

TotalArsenal

You know, just when you finally come to terms with it, that it isn’t going to be your season, that everyone, the media, Sky, TNT, MotD, the tv pundits, PGMOL, the Premier Lge, Lady Luck et al are against you whilst everything is going right for your main rival and you just want to see the season end. Our much maligned but brilliant manager, his coaching staff and our wonderful, wonderful players drag us back in and hope springs eternal again…

I never saw last night coming, I was expecting a draw or a narrow 1-0 win at best, just to keep us involved for another week.

At half-time I was anxious, Mbappe, Vinicius and Rodrygo had shown us glimpses of their power and speed on the break, allied to the fact that we had missed the few decent chances we’d created, I’d seen this many times before play out, a hopeful 45 crushed by the quality and efficiency of a foreign rival with far more experience of these scenarios and an underlying confidence you couldn’t quite put your finger on, but it was in their swagger. Was it expectations?

I was waiting for the referee to give Madrid a decisive decision in their favour based on the fact that, they are Madrid. But our Bosnian friend and his capable VAR assistant showed a capacity for honesty and common sense far far beyond the capabilities of any of Howard Webbs mob of jokers.

I don’t know what Arteta said at half-time, maybe it was planned but we went for it in the 2nd 45, Bukayo and Declan in particular drove us forward like men on a mission. Declan has a love affair with European football and Bakayo is just a wonderful human being and footballer.

The Gunners drove into the heart of Madrid and showed why they’re so interested in William Saliba, because the Madrid defence crumbled.

Courtois was immense, making a string of saves; and although I’ve seen him criticised for his wall positioning at the free kicks, I think that takes away from the quality of Declan’s strikes and is almost like the pundits trying to find something to be pedantic about.

The walls covered the goal just fine but the swerve and dip Declan put on his strikes made them redundant and left one of the best goalkeepers in the world grasping for thin air, he wasn’t even close to either free kick that’s how good they were. In fact, I’m struggling to recall a better pair of free kicks in all my many years as an Arsenal fan. I think both were simply unsaveable: they were perfect.

Declan’s first was a work of art, the pace, the bend, the accuracy. We knew that Declan is a fine striker of a dead ball but this was majestic, it took your breath away, and the Madrid players looked perplexed and a little concerned after it exploded into their net. Arsenal should have made it 2-0 from open play as they ramped up the pressure but a succession of goal line clearances saved the day for the greys. Courtois must have made half a dozen top saves in this match, Raya made maybe one or two at a stretch.

Nobody noticed or commented on Kiwior, he quietly went about his work alongside the ever improving Myles, that boy is a dream.

Another dazzling dribble by Bakayo was brought to an abrupt halt by a foul but this was further out and more to the left of the goal, Courtois was favourite to deal with any shot on goal from here.

As Declan addressed the ball I know we were all thinking ‘surely he can’t do it again’ I know I was.

Well Superman Rice ran up and connected with the ball as perfectly as you could ever wish to, and it flew like a cruise missile right into the top corner of the net. Courtois was miles away, it was accurate, it was on target and it broke Madrid hearts. They just shook their heads and despite a late rally in the last 10 minutes when I was dreading a consolation goal to give them hope and an edge in Spain, we held out, all our defenders were heroes: Big Bill, Jakub, Jurrien, Myles, Benjamin and Kieran, not forgetting Raya, those guys were the foundations of this performance.

But wait a moment, just when we thought it couldn’t get any better it did. A slick move between Trossard and Myles saw the ball presented on a platter to Merino. Now what I like about our part-time striker is his calmness in front of goal, no Odegaard style miskicks over the bar for him, he simply took a couple of steps back anticipating a Myles pass and Myles duly delivered an accurate pull back with just the right pace for Mikel to run onto which he just slide-ruled it into the corner of the net.
Party time, Saliba was waving his arms as he ran towards the crowd, that boy knows how to celebrate, Myles had the biggest smile in football, everyone was dancing and laughing, it was as if a season of frustrations had been exorcised.

Can it get any better from here?
I don’t know, we should be confident of doing a job in Spain next week, after that it’s in the hands of the Gods and maybe Stu needs to have a word?

This season has been for the most part an anticlimax after pushing City all the way two years running. Questions have been asked of the manager and the club, some of them rightly, many just hyperbole, but we’ve also experienced some exquisite performances by this team, mainly in Europe.

Anyway, we can at least dream for another week and possibly beyond that, roll on next Wednesday.

By Allezkev

Arsenal v Real Madrid: A Big Night for Now And the Future of Arteta’s Super Talented Team

TotalArsenal

A big night for club, manager, team and supporters: Real Madrid are in town and Arsenal need a game for the ages. There is tremendous potential in our team and manager, this we all know. This season should be our first league win in decades, but too many draws (11 already), injuries to key players, and Liverpool just being more consistent than us, will cost us the title. Nevertheless, I am proud of this team and believe that the most important thing for us is building a base from which the team can continue to perform at the highest level for many seasons to come. This is exactly what Arteta and Co have established, and I cannot see any of the other top teams having established such a strong base right now.

The one thing that is still missing is the much needed “over our dead body will we not win today” approach to games. I am missing the ruthless leadership required to win silverware. We are too systemic, too organised, too professional, too calculated far too often. Some how the boys do not go for the kill enough.

For example, not winning at Goodison Park, and at Old Trafford recently, are a direct consequence of this. How do we get this sort of mentality into the team? Is it a matter of experience, of growing up in a team? Or do Arsenal need to buy a few players with this sort of attitude? I like to think that Declan, Martin, Bukayo, Ben, Big Gab, Rayo, Tequila, MLS, Jurrien, etc all have this in them. Maybe Arteta needs to give these players a bit more freedom to express themselves rather than stuffing them up with too many tactical instructions? Maybe he needs to tell the likes of Declan, Martin and Will to go out there and lead the troops and die for the team on the pitch a bit more?

I don’t think we need to worry about this for tonight’s game, though. The boys are always at their best physically and mentally for the big ones. But maybe a win tonight will just give the team the confidence, the balls, the chutzpah to push on and start turning the many PL draws into wins, as well as creating the belief that they can eliminate the reigning CL champions over both legs.

Arsenal may, or may not, prevail against RM. There are many factors that decide such encounters, such as luck, the quality/fairness of refereeing, injuries, etc. If the team can come out of these two legs with the strong belief that they are as good or better than Real Madrid, then that for me would be the biggest bonus for our young, fast-developing and mega-talented team.

Come On You Rip Roaring Gunners!

By TotalArsenal.

Arsenal are on their way, but is the best yet to come?

TotalArsenal

It is Monday and we are more than half way through the second interlull of the season. I wonder how many club football fans would vote in favour of abolishing international games during the club-football season; I would imagine it to be close to 100%. I like watching the international games, but only if they are played at high intensity levels and any injuries would not have such an impact on Arsenal’s fortunes in the PL. This is clearly incompatible during the club-season, and as a result we are watching slow tempo, no risk and low intensity games, and it sucks. And yet we still have our star players returning home injured, with Saka the latest victim whilst Odegaard has missed many key games already.

In a past post I have suggested that the club-football season should not be interrupted and that all international games should be played after it. There would be plenty of time for all international games to be played during a now longer break period: all players can give their all without them and their clubs worrying too much about injuries, so there then would be the required focus and intensity during all the international games.

Anyway, we are where we are and we hope that Bukayo’s injury is not too bad. Saka has been immense with nine assists/goals in the PL already; that’s just one less than Haaland, and that without Ode and Ben in many of these games. I will never tire of watching Bukayo’s off and with the ball actions, and I don’t think I have ever watched a more efficient AND effective winger strut their stuff in the PL. I guess Mikel did bring Raheem Sterling in to deal with a possible Saka absence, and first signs have been good. Well, let’s see what will happen next.

The absence of Odegaard and, until recently, Mikel Merino, did not hurt us too much until now, and I am excited about what our team will be able to do once all are fit and available. I doff my hat to Thomas Partey who has carried our midfield over the last two months and has been quietly sensational. IF, and it is a big if, Thomas can stay fit throughout most of the season, Arsenal will have such a chance to make it all the way. And there is more to come from our midfield: Declan is not purring as yet, Merino has yet to settle into the team, and our captain’s return, whenever that may be (hopefully soon), will lift the whole team.

It’s this imminently strengthening of our midfield that makes me believe we are yet to see what this Arteta-Arsenal team is really capable of. The defence is solid, our full backs have become all-round monsters, our attack is starting to reach full fire-power; and with an ever stronger, more versatile, and fully-fit midfield, I think we can continue, and even improve, on our excellent start to the season.

Key in all of this is developing a style of play that suits the team and is as effective at home and away. In our away games we tend to sit back more and lean on our defence qualities, whereas at home we push up much more and aim to dominate teams in their own half. The former seems our more natural style of play and the latter is not working as well as as it should do. We are simply conceding too many goals at home, and leave ourselves with too much to do to get maximum points: sooner or later it is going to cost us. And for me this is the nr1 goal for our midfield: get the balance right between making us a defensive fortress and a ferocious attacking machine, home and away. Will Rice, Partey, Odegaard and Merino be able to do just that: what do you think?

By TotalArsenal.

Just go for it Arsene: Xhaka deep, Ox box to box, Perez, Iwobi, Alexis and Ollie in Attack.

TotalArsenal

Arsenal – Bayern Preview

What can we say about this game? We should be excited to welcome one of Europe’s best teams, currently as well as historically, to the home of football. But we are not. The season held a lot of promise but it has almost all fizzled out, and a big reason for this is the second half humiliating drumming by the Germans a few weeks ago.

We have a more than decent defence and plenty of excellent attackers but Arsene cannot get the midfield right, and this seems a structural problem. Would a fit Cazorla have made all the difference? Should we have kept Jack Wilshere? Would Rambo have turned our season round if he had played without recurring injuries? Who knows. Fact is that we are weakest in our midfield and that is where we are losing the battles with the big teams, and sometimes the smaller teams too. It sucks like a drain.

What is Wenger going to do tonight? Try and avoid further humiliation by defending deep and play on the counter? Attack, attack, attack from the start and go for it? Or a balance between secure and adventurous? Je ne le sais pas. But I reckon Wenger has not much choice in the matter… his midfield options are very, very limited without Santi, Elneny and a surely not fit enough (read too rusty) Rambo. Other than a youngster in the centre of midfield, which is not a good idea, he can only play two out of Coq, Xhaka and Ox. The first two are too similar in terms of wanting to be the anchor of midfield, so it has to be one of the them. That is Xhaka for me. So Xhaka and Ox, our attacking (b)ox to (b)ox for the night, is the duo to go for imo.

The rest is a matter of individual confidence and hunger, and I reckon Wenger will pick the strongest team, even though he knows the game is up for us, and possibly him. The game will still be watched all over the world and pride (and avoiding further humiliation) is at stake.

Predicted Team for tonight:

———Ospina———–

Bellerin – Mustafi – Koz – Nacho

—– Xhaka—————-

————Ox to Ox——-

Perez——Iwobi——-Alexis

——-Giroud————-

Theo or Welbeck could start instead of Perez or Giroud, or come on later to make a difference. Rambo could replace the Ox in second half to put new energy into the midfield.

Let’s go and attack them and just go for it. Entertain the fans and regain some pride, even if it means risking another drumming. Es gibt viel zu tun, packen wir es an.

COYGs

By TotalArsenal.

Ludogorets 2 – 3 Arsenal: Blood, Sweat and Tears until Ozil’s foot-ballet

TotalArsenal

The Ludogorets Arena will always be remembered for that Ozil display of foot-ballet. Yes there was also a mighty comeback, and the best ones are always those when a team are 2-0 down and then win 3-2; yet this was somehow to be expected. But without any doubt, Mesut’s demonstration of total control of time and space whilst caressing the ball with his feet, will become immortalized in many a Gunner’s red and white brain.

You do not want to make this Arsenal side angry, as Sunderland and Ludogorets have now experienced in the space of just a few days. It took the new team, without the normal ‘midwingers’ Theo, Iwobi/Ox and second choice full backs, Xhaka restored to the double DM-pivot and Ollie as our CF, a while to get into the groove. It looked more like 4-5-1 than anything else; as a result we had an army of central midfielders trying to dominate proceedings.

Before we could take proper control of the game, we were two goals behind. That’s football!

Did Arsene make too many changes to the team? Was playing with OG up-front too much of a tactical change for in-form Arsenal? I reckon we needed to rest Ox and Iwobi who looked tired against Sunderland on Saturday. Playing Alexis on the left meant we could start the super-fresh legs of Ollie and Rambo in the front three, so it was a one-off compromise to me. And having Nacho and Bellerin back fresh and focussed on Sunday will also help our cause in defeating the Spuddies; so playing the limited Jenkinson and Gibbs was another compromise we got away with.

A teasing cross, from a wrongly awarded free-kick, kept Ospina rooted in goal and our defenders struggled to cover the attackers. A clumsy goal to concede but there you go. Soon after that it was 2-0 to the Bulzilians: Gibbs got skinned and a cross was put into the box from close range; Koz went to block it but was too late and Mustafi, not for the first time in recent games, allowed an attacker to squeeze between him and his fellow CB and beat Ospina on his left. Upsidaisy, that was not part of the script.

To Arsenal’s credit, the boys did not panic and started to attack with more intensity. There was still a lot of miscommunication and bad passing of the ball, but with so much individual quality in the team we had a good chance to get back into the game. And soon we did. Ozil, who at the start at the game had missed a glorious opportunity to give us an early lead, crossed the ball to the edge of the box from the by-line and there was Xhaka to score ala Giroud on Saturday with a finely placed left foot shot. 1-2 and game on.

Ludogorets kept defending really well in numbers around their box but it was a simple floated cross by Rambo from the flank and an easy header past the goalkeeper by Ollie that undid them. They had prepared for the Sanchez-as-CF Arsenal but forgot to practice the classical Giroud areal threat… to devastating effect.

Equalising before the break was just what we needed and the last thing the Bulgarians had wanted.

The second half was a lot of hard work by both teams and it looked like we were going to settle for a point in the end. But there was Mesut Ozil who felt it was time to show us all how good he is again. Giroud steels the ball of a midfielder and it ends up with Elneny. The Egyptian has no hesitation in putting the ball brilliantly over the top to the German maestro. Mesut’s first, deft touch is exquisite: it keeps to momentum of the ball going but it is now under the spell of the magician. The keeper, Borjan, does well to spot the danger and comes running out; Mesut spots Borjan and then eliminates him instantly with an out-of-this-world half circle scoop only the very best are able to produce. But he is not there yet as a few eager defenders have made their way back to block any of Mesut’s attempts to shoot on goal. The German spots the danger and decides to ballet-dance his way to goal with the ball magnetised to his feet, fooling the defenders who subsequently end up on the floor and then slotting the ball home with total composure. 2-3 to the good guys!

Mesut Ozil lobs goalkeeper Milan Borjan.

More CL football in 2017 for the mighty Arsenal, even though we have two more group games to come. A job well done, decorated by one of the finest goals we have ever seen. Ooh to be…

By TotalArsenal.

Rambo and Xhaka DMs, Iwobi and Ox on Wings, Gabriel for Kos? Match Preview | Predicted Line-up

TotalArsenal

ludogorets-arena

Tomorrow Arsenal play a crucial game against Ludogorets Razgrad in the CL. A win and qualification for the next round should become a formality, if it will not be in the bag already; a draw or a loss and we will be up against it with hard games against PSG (at home) and Basle (away) to come. Add to this that Arsenal will have tough fixtures in November, and it becomes obvious that Arsene would love to secure early next round CL qualification tomorrow evening.

Wenger also seldom or never plays a weakened team in CL games, especially not when there is still something to play for. From what we saw in the home fixture, Arsenal should be able to win tomorrow, but this will not just happen by itself. The home crowd (about 9000 seats only) will be behind their team, and they will want to revenge the dreadful 6-0 defeat a few weeks ago. And if we play with a low tempo and lack of intensity and aggression, it could become quite difficult for us to secure the three points. They definitely have players that can hurt us and are pretty strong in midfield to give us a game.

I reckon we have too many ambitious and proud Gunners in the squad to be at risk of underestimating the challenge, and Wenger will select the right team to achieve victory. But he also needs to guard for fatigue and keep an eye on Sunday’s big NLD encounter.

As always, predicting the exact line up is not easy, but a mixture of what I reckon will work and what Wenger is likely to do leads me to the following starting eleven:

Predicted starting 11:

submit football lineup

Ospina in goal is more or less a given. Gibbs to continue on the left and Jenkinson on the right in defence as Bellerin is ruled for tomorrow’s game. Mustafi starting once more and I reckon Koscielny could do with a rest and Gabriel with a game, so I am going for a MusGab central defence duo.

There are a lot of training pictures of Xhaka on Arsenal.com and this seems a great game to reintroduce him. I also feel that Rambo will get a start which will allow us to rest Coquelin and Elneny, who will be desperately needed on Sunday.

Mesut Ozil struck his first professional hat-trick as Arsenal thrashed Ludogorets

Either Iwobi or Ox should get a rest as they both looked knackered after playing 60 minutes on Saturday. However, Wenger has not got too many options right now with both Welbeck and Perez injured and Theo not fully fit either. So I reckon both Ox and Iwobi will have to start even though it is unlikely they will play the full 90 minutes. Ozil in the hole and Alexis up front for at least 70 minutes, but maybe Arsene will start with Giroud instead. I have no doubt that Ollie will play at least 20 minutes tomorrow and let’s hope he can add another goal, or two, to his impressive tally.

Come on You Rip Roaring Gunners!!

By TotalArsenal

 

Theo the Panther, Iwobi the Polar Bear, Alexis the Pack of Woles: Arsenal are Full of Deadly Animals

TotalArsenal

Two games, 3-0 and 2-0 to the Arsenal, five goals, clean sheet and mesmerizing football for two times 45 minutes. It is good to be a Gunner this week! 🙂

Make your Mystic Meg predictions here! 🙂

We expected it to be hard to break the Swiss defence down, and previous Basel games on British soil proved very hard for our PL colleagues. We were warned. So what is the best thing to do: bamboozle – or bambasel – them with high pressure, run around the emmental holes  like crazy killer animals and pounce as soon as possible.

Arsenal’s first half against Basel was as good as football gets. We could have scored five in that half alone, but two was still a fine reward for the attacking football we unleashed on the Basel players. Just as against the Chavs, the job was done after 45 minutes, and Arsenal once again put on the handbrake in the second half to see out the game and spare our opponents. This may sound easier than it was, as it still requires discipline and concentration. The fact that we were able to see out the two last games with such composure and maturity is also very welcome.

Eight Positives from Arsenal v Basel:

  1. Theo the panther: Walcott loves space to hunt down his pray and pounce instinctively on any opportunity that comes his way. Theo does not overthink things and sometimes this shows but often he is victorious as a result of it. His second goal was a typical Theo finish: beautifully executed. But his first goal was even better: as a desperate panther he pounced on Alexis’ fine cross and left the Swiss defence for melted, fondue-ready Gruyere. What a fine brace by the reborn one;
  2. Alexis the pack of wolves ‘in one’: flipping heck I love this Alexis even more than the previous seasons’ one. What an engine this guy has, and what a desire to play football, enjoying the dirty work as much as the lofty stuff. Desperately unlucky not to score himself but he won the game for us with two selfless and clever assists. Burnley are you hearing that sound of howling wolves coming your way?!
  3. Ozil the enabling chameleon: Mezut is just so adaptive and flexible, always aiming to add maximum attacking value to the team whatever it requires. He still does not have an assist this season, yet we score about 2.5 goals per game now – wow. He has two PL goals already, though, after missing the first few games and could have had one or two more on Wednesday. The link up play with his fellow attackers is such a joy to watch and more is still to come.
  4. Iwobi the polar bear: Alex is fast when he attacks and already has an artic cool head when it comes to decision making. He also has stamina to run and run  between the defence and attack lines, and sniffs out danger with his footie nose. A really good team serving performance on Wednesday and looking a bit better after the Cheese than during the weekend. Monreal appreciated it;
  5. Xhaka the black bear: you don’t mess with Granit. He protects the forest behind him and will pounce on you if you leave him any space. A very disciplined performance based around his excellent positioning and presence on the pitch – gave his fellow countrymen no chance.
  6. Santi the puffin: Is there a more colourful and joy-inducing animal on the British shores? Cazorla brings joy and creativity to the team with a constant and positive energy and a fabulous ability to spot and pounce on openings. What a well spotted pre-assist for our first goal.
  7. Ospina, Koz and Mustafi the triangle of doom gorillas: they did not have too much to do, but every time they had to get involved they formed a triangle of morale sapping doom. They are fast, they are hard (but fair), they don’t give up till you are well outside their domain, and if you do not get the hint you will come to regret it. A vey mature and focussed performance.
  8. Bellerin and Monreal the hyena-leopards: is there one animal that sums up our fantastic full backs? For me they have the never give up attitude of the hyena and speed and pounce of the leopard. The final part of the hunt still needs improving a bit as we need more key passes and assists from them, but they are vital animals within our team.

By TotalArsenal