Ramsey and Diaby to fight their demons – Jack back in ‘the hole’ – Nacho and Santi to power the left wing?
For tomorrow’s game against Stoke I am hoping for a strong performance in the following areas:
Composure and organisational discipline at the back;
Dominance in midfield;
Effective wings;
Composure and clinical finishing up-front.
I know the above is not rocket science, and I am sure you will agree that if Arsenal does well in those areas on Saturday, we shall win the game with relative ease. However, we know that Arsenal are nowhere near a settled team, and that despite all the qualities our squad possesses, we continue to struggle in the above mentioned areas.
Here are some worrying, but also fascinating, facts I copied of the BBC football website:
Opta statistics show that Arsenal have made more errors leading directly to a goal than any other team in the Premier League this season (13).
There have been 50 Premier League goals scored at the Emirates Stadium this season – more than at any other ground [Arsenal scored 32 goals at home, joined top with MU, but we also conceded 18 goals; 50% more than in our away games!].
If games began in the second half, Arsenal would be second in the table with 46 points, two points behind Manchester City.
Paradoxically, the above tells us Arsenal have a lot of work to do, and yet we are not that far away from being a lot more successful: we scored as many goals as MU and only conceded three more goals than them in the PL at home this season, but yet the Mancs won eleven games out of twelve, and we managed to win just six – hence the enormous gap between us and them in the league table.
Defence
With Vermaelen a doubt, it will probably be the BFG and Koz as our two CB’s. Sagna could do with a rest, but against the very physical site of the Orcs, Wenger will probably go for him again rather than Jenkinson.
At left back, it will either be Santos or our new signing: Nacho. It is a big decision for Wenger to make: does he give Santos another chance to prove himself, or will he be worried the Brazilian will mess up badly and the home crowd will go ballistic? Is it too soon to play Nacho; given the amount of change he had to deal with in the last 24 hours, and his unfamiliarity with his team-mates and Arsenal’s playing style? I reckon it is, but Wenger might feel he has no other choice. The heart says; let’s play Nacho, but the brain says; it will be Santos. Aah stuff it; it has to be Nacho on Saturday!
Midfield
The midfield is again interesting. It looks like Arteta might be back, although he will get a final test on Saturday morning. In a way, I would like both Ramsey and Diaby to start as our two deeper laying midfielders. I would like them to fight for the shirt; to give their all and boss the Stoke midfield physically, technically, and tactically. It would do their confidence a world of good and might help them to put their – mutual leg-break induced – inner demons to rest.
However, if Arteta is fit to play, Arsene is likely to reinstate him, and my gut-feeling tells me Diaby will play next to him, which means that Jack can be moved back into the hole position. I reckon that’s where Jack is at his best and the team plays a lot better with him there; as he conducts our football so well, and adds a real attacking thrust to our game.
It could give Arsene the opportunity to play Santi on the left once more; where he can help Nacho to settle into the team and form a smooth and effective partnership against Stoke. We need at least one wing functioning well on Saturday, and it would be good if we could release the pressure on Sagna a bit. Last season, the Sagna-Theo partnership was one of our best weapons, but with Theo moving towards the middle almost constantly, and Santi Cazorla regularly not helping out either, Sagna does often not get enough support to be really effective; despite trying his hardest to help our attack constantly.
Attack
I reckon we might see Santi move into the LW position and the Pod start on the bench for this game: Santi-Giroud-Theo. We need Giroud’s height, and Theo’s and Santi’s goal scoring and assist-producing abilities. And as said before, playing Santi on the left would enable him to support his former team mate Nacho as much as possible, during his first game for the club. The Pod would be perfect as a super-sub, if we were to need one against the Orcs.
Predicted Line-Up:
Arteta will play if declared fit; if not, it will be Ramsey
The line up is a strong one, and the bench will look good too: there is plenty of quality in our squad. But Saturday’s game is all about discipline and composure; about collective pressing and gelling; about taking our chances when they arise; about pride; and for once, about doing all of this for the entire duration of the game.
Arsenal face a tricky Liverpool team looking for redemption after their loss against Oldham at the weekend. Both teams sit outside the Champions League positions so a win is absolutely vital. It would not only catapult either of them up the table, but also fend off one of their rivals at the same time.
Gradually we are building up our momentum again after tight loses to Chelsea and City. However, Arsene’s biggest problem at the moment is sending out his troops ready and raring to go for both halves of football, not just the second. Liverpool will be baying for blood and will be keen to silence the crowd early through their three-pronged quick attack: Suarez, Sturridge, and Sterling (is it just me or do you feel like going up to him after a good game and saying “Sterling job today Raheem”? No? Okay…well how about Wisdom? Do you feel like saying “Andre, you played football today with the Wisdom of a 30yr old”? Moving on swiftly!).
Arsenal are undefeated against Liverpool in 9 of their last 10 matches in all competitions: a very good record against a tough adversary. Let’s get this show on the road and see how we are going to beat them once again.
Missing in Action:
Arsenal: Vermaelen should be fit again after suffering a knock from a Ramsey goal line clearance against West Ham. Arteta (calf) is ready to return, but is it too soon for the Spaniard? Ramsey is likely to continue in the position in which he’s performed so aptly. Coquelin (Hamstring) and Fabianski will also miss out.
Gerv misses this one due to Coupe d’Afrique des Nations duty.
Liverpool: Kelly (knee) and Flanagan miss the trip to the Emirates. Reina could return after Brad Jones’ error against Oldham at the weekend. Glen Johnson (Hamstring) faces a fitness test. Gerard should return to the starting line-up.
Predicted Line-up:
The best available players should line-up for Arsenal in this must win home fixture. Vermaelen will return, along with Gibbs, Wilshere, Santi, Sagna, and Walcott. Arsene faces a tough decision on who to play in the middle of the pitch with Wilshere, Santi, Diaby, Arteta, and Ramsey potentially all available. Diaby ran the show last time these two teams met so I think he will start once again. Santi has been rested but does he return to AM or does he relinquish it to Wilshere once again? Ramsey has performed well in the holding role but does he need a rest so Wilshere can play alongside Diaby in the midfield?
Decisions decisions decisions!! I’ll go with Diaby-Wilshere-Santi for my midfield combination. Another conundrum is which CB pairing to play? Per has been a bit out of sorts recently, but Verm and Kozzer are a bit too similar, not to mention they haven’t had a chance to form a solid partnership as yet. Suarez, Sterling and Sturridge create a problem because of their speed and trickery, for that reason I’m going with the Koz and Verm combination.
Previous Encounters:
Liverpool v Arsenal 0-2
Diaby shone in a relatively straight forward fixture. Games against Liverpool are normally always a battle (they always bring their ‘A’ game against the top teams, especially at Anfield) but this one was different. Great interchanges between new boys Santi and Podolski saw them score a goal each and cruise to victory!
Liverpool v Arsenal 1-2
Some guy scored in injury time to win us the match thanks to a brilliant pass from Song. Plaudits go out to Szczesny for this piece of brilliance (note Suarez’s lovely theatrical dive with a skin clutch to finish):
Form Guide: Arsenal: : WWLWL Liverpool: LWLWW
Arsenal come in to this game on a two-game winning streak. Brighton was a tough foe and a reminder that anything can happen in cup matches, regardless of who you are facing. Thanks to some Giroud magic and a Theo deflection we prevailed; booking a meeting with Blackburn in the next round.
After a 5-0 thrashing of Norwich, Liverpool were embarrassed by Oldham and knocked out of the FA Cup. Sturridge has shown to be a handy pickup scoring 3 in 4, whilst Henderson and Downing are coming in to some good form of their own.
THIS WEEK I’VE DIPPED INTO THE ARSENAL ARCHIVE AND PULLED OUT THIS VIDEO CLIP. MICKY DID IT!!!
One to Watch:
Now at first I wasn’t too sure who this was! Was it Suarez? Or just Joey Barton pulling a face? If it wasn’t for the QPR top it would definitely be a flip of a coin. Jokes and off-field matters aside, Suarez is a very dangerous player. Technically he is excellent and very elusive. 16 goals so far this season prove our CB pairing will need to be on their toes when Suarez runs at them with the ball at his feet.
Gibbs showed just how vital he is to the team at the weekend. Once he came on to the pitch at the 70th minute mark, we looked like a new team. He gives us so much drive down the left and definitely brings the best out of Podolski’s game. I just hope he can keep fit and continue to show everyone why he is England’s next great LB.
Key-Match up:
Giroud vs Martin Škrtel
Giroud is in red hot form at the moment coming off of consecutive braces against Brighton and West Ham. Standing in his way for this game is the uncompromising Slovakian Martin Škrtel. Škrtel plays exactly how he looks…tough and ugly as sin. Both are powerful footballers who should enjoy the physical battle with one another. If Giroud continues his momentum, we will go a long way to winning this encounter. If Škrtel locks down on Giroud with help from Agger we may need to find another avenue to goal. The good thing about Giroud though is his desire to fight on, it may not go his way but he will keep battling until the final whistle. He can just as easily turn provider for either Podolski or Walcott.
Pre-Match Finger:
This week’s finger goes out to all the footballers who dive repeatedly, week after week. Yes we know there are players like Young, Hazard, Bale, Suarez etc who do it often, but it’s spreading like wild fire in today’s game. If a player knows he’s going to lose the ball he hits the deck, if he is outnumbered and has no place to go…he hits the deck, and you catch my drift. I just want to watch a game of MEN giving it their all and battling it out fairly with the better team prevailing on the day. I don’t want to see a player rolling around on the ground, I don’t want to see Jack the lad yellow carded after a brilliant tackle because his opponent is screaming for the physio (when he clearly doesn’t need one), and I don’t want to see players waving around imaginary cards. Quit the lying, cheating, and diving…let’s just bloody get on with it!!!
Pre-Match pat on the back:
I think all the Arsenal supporters who have shown a bit of faith towards our players deserve a pat on the back. The press did their best (along with a few supporters) to slate Giroud before he even got a chance to place his hair gel on the shelf of his new Arsenal locker. It would have been a tough gig for anyone to step in for RVP after the year he had, but from Day 1 Giroud has put his head down and fought hard for the team. Some need to dial back their expectations with regards to some of our players, not everyone can hit the ground running. Even those that do, will go through rough patches in their career. Keep showing the faith to our players and they will do their best by giving everything they’ve got for us. Giroud is definitely playing for the name on the front of the shirt, now let’s all get behind him and remember his name on the back!
‘Ask the opposition’ returns again this week. It is designed to get some friendly banter from our opposition fans and get their insight for the match ahead. This week the answers were kindly provided by Tim from http://live4liverpool.com (twitter handle @timdibs) and Paul from http://www.tomkinstimes.com. Let’s see what they’ve written for us this week:
Do you think a spell down the table is just what Liverpool needed to get back to the top?
Tim: Yes and no. The no is obvious as no club wants to have to effectively start again. I have seen the clubs present state being described as Hicks and Gillett effectively dropping a nuclear bomb at the heart of the club and that we are still dealing with the fallout. The club never needed to get to this stage, had H&G been proper owners and actually backed Rafa then we would be sat here discussing at least one premier league title sat in our cabinet at Anfield, but instead they tried to profit at the clubs expense and wonderfully they failed and got diddlysquat. But since that day in court the club has had to go through what we went through to get where we are today. A failure to back Rafa and bring in the players to take the next step (instead selling our best) saw us tumble out of the champions league places (not helped by the Sheikhs at City) and try and maintain an aging squad on Champions League money. We have bid a sad farewell to Kuyt, Maxi and Bellamy, a not so fond farewell to Cole or Aquilani and a thanks for trying to Sahin which will see wage savings of at least approaching £500k a week. What this has allowed is for a freshening of the squad and an opportunity for some of our really top class youth players to come in. I think we have signed some very good young players and given time they will do well for us, but we need a couple more older heads and time. It took Fergie 4 years to win anything yet some here are calling for a manager’s head after 6 months. Absolutely barmy.
Paul: I don’t think so. To be a top club these days you need to be in the Champions League; you can afford and attract the best players, and build a bigger squad. Getting back into the top 4 has proved incredibly difficult, but having said that, our time should come again, sooner or later.
Who has been Liverpool’s best player so far this season? What is he capable of?
Tim: Without a shadow of a doubt our best and most consistent player this season has been the oft misunderstood Luis Suarez. Whether you love him or loathe him there is no denying his genius. Steven Gerrard has recently stated that he is the best player he has ever played with and behind Messi and Ronaldo the best player in the world, a non-too shabby compliment. Despite not being a natural finisher like a Fowler, the number of chances he creates for himself is incredible. He has that low centre of gravity and the unique ability to stick the ball to his feet and beat players with ease in the tightest of situations. I have lost count of the number of nutmegs he has done. Undoubtedly he will continue to divide opinion and create controversy such is the media obsession with him, but on his day he is unplayable and our biggest threat.
Paul: Luis Suarez, by a mile. He’s a one-man destruction army. He battles, he has bags of skill, he scores goals – he’s the perfect modern striker. Gerrard has picked up lately, and Glen Johnson has been superb this season. It’s also great to see Agger playing almost every minute in the league this season.
Downing, Henderson, Sturridge, how are they travelling?
Tim: I shall start with Sturridge, as this should be the easiest answer! Im not sure he could have asked for a better start as an individual in a red shirt, 3 goals in 4 games even if the team performances have been hit and miss. He has all the tools in his locker, pace, skill, finishing and that arrogance all top strikers have. The best strikers, like your own Henry, channel that arrogance and this is where Daniel has perhaps struggled at City and Chelsea where he wasn’t viewed as top dog. He offers the team something we have lacked, a player playing off the shoulder of the last defender. His goal against United was exactly the type of goal we haven’t been scoring. Brendan has backed his man to the hilt and lavished praise on him and we are seeing just what he can offer. His actions and comments since joining have endeared him to the Kop and we can only wonder how our season would have transpired had we got him in august.
As for Henderson and Downing, their futures looked bleak at the start of Rodgers regime. Downing has really struggled to settle into the team and often been anonymous whereas Henderson was often played out of position and therefore failing to shine. Personally I have always rated Henderson as a top professional with the desire and heart any team would want in a young lad. My assessment on Downing has been reserved as he really should have come in and had a bigger impact. Both will have had long conversations with Rodgers, Downing’s being made public, and both have responded very well indeed. We are currently seeing both shining in the side and that is credit to Rodgers man management. I’m still not convinced Downing has a future with us beyond the summer but am elated that Henderson is being given his chance and is taking it.
Paul: Downing started well last season, then faded away. He started okay this season, then faded away. He’s playing well at the moment, though. Henderson was almost inexplicably sold to Fulham for peanuts in the summer, despite playing very well in central midfield last season – although he spent most of his time on the right. Thankfully he’s won Rodgers over. And Sturridge has been very good in three of his four games so far, and looks a great buy – just a shame we didn’t take up the offer to buy him in the summer.
Brendan Rodgers…how do you think he is travelling at Liverpool?
Tim: I am of the opinion that in order for a club to succeed it needs stability and support from the owners. As a result I didn’t want Kenny Dalglish to go (and the fact it is Kenny Dalglish), despite our form post League Cup being dreadful, I was looking forward to a summer where he could add to the squad to setup his style of play. However this was not to be, and we had to go from ‘year zero’ with Rodgers. Personally speaking I am a big fan. I have been impressed with the way he has carried himself since arriving, impressed with how he has talked and when we get it right I have been very impressed with the way he has set up the team to play. Sensible fans realise that we have essentially had to start a fresh under Rodgers and that it is a bumpy road ahead that will see some tough days (WBA away and Villa at home spring to mind) but for once it is nice to see that the club appears to have a long term plan and are going with it. We are seeing a much younger side and seeing youth get its chance which will bode well for the future. From afar I have admired Wenger for his teams and the youth he puts out and want us to an extent follow this model, I have even written about this previously if you are interested http://live4liverpool.com/2012/11/view-from-the-kop/i-dream-of-arsenal
Paul: Mixed so far. A lot to like about him, and a lot to remain unconvinced about.
What position/player is your weakest link?
Tim: I am not one to highlight individuals as being weak as it goes against my footballing beliefs. I happen to think we have a very talented, albeit small, squad of individuals, the trouble being as with any new, young team is combining that into a team, complementing skill sets. This season we have been quite Jekyll and Hyde, and have struggled against physicality. The likes of Lukaku, Benteke and Bobadilla have really troubled us up top, so I expect Giroud to be an important player for you. Also in the middle of the park if we set up wrong we can lose out, and it was Diaby that did the damage at Anfield earlier in the year. Our approach is all about tempo and pressing (something evidently missing from the Oldham game) and a failure to do so causes problems. We didn’t do this first half against United and let Carrick run the show. If we fail to do so against you Diaby will bully, Cazorla and Wilshere will boss it.
As of today, our weakest link is probably at Left Back, with Jose Enrique out we have no established cover, and by playing Johnson there we are losing a main attacking threat down the right. We have a good crop of youngsters like Wisdom and Robinson but for a game against a team like Arsenal you want your stop players.
Paul: Left-back is weakest position in terms of cover, and lack of an outstanding first choice on top of that – although Enrique had found his form before injury. He’s been either brilliant or dreadful since arriving from Newcastle.
Which arsenal player would you like to have and why?
Tim: Very tough question. I admire a number of Arsenal players and would love to bring them to Anfield. Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott, Wojciech Szczesny and a fully fit Abou Diaby. The thought of a Cazorla pulling the strings for Sturridge and Suarez is mouth-watering. Before Sturridge signed I would have said Walcott and looking to the future as Reina gets no younger, Szczesny is one of the best in the league, but I will go for Wilshere. I really rate Wilshere, and am a big proponent of British talent, and there are few better than him. He is committed, has vision, skills and could easily be the natural successor to Stevie. He has that ability to grab the game by the scruff of the neck and get something from it, as he did against Swansea in that recent cup replay. He also looks pretty good in a Liverpool goalie top!
Paul: I really rate about half of the Arsenal side, which is probably why you’re not looking as good as in the past, when the whole XI was strong. I really rate Vermaelen, and I’d have taken Walcott had he left you! Podolski scores goals, although I’m not sure he’s a great all-round player. Right now, though, either Cazorla and Wilshere would be my pick.
What is your prediction for the match?
Tim: I hate these sort of questions as always feel I am tempting fate. I will let me head rule my heart and will state that I would be happy with a draw. We are a very Jekyll and Hyde team at the moment and how we start a game can really effect the outcome. No matter the form of Arsenal they are always a difficult team to play anywhere, but especially at the Emirates, and for me this is exactly the kind of game that Arsenal pick up points in. You have a knack of getting results in crucial games and crucial times in the season and this is one of them. If we are to achieve top 4 this season then we need something from this game. If the shoe was on the other foot Arsene would.
Paul: I don’t do score predictions. All I’ll say is that if Liverpool are as open at the back as they have been under Rodgers, Arsenal could get a hatful of goals. But Liverpool could also score a few themselves, with some fine attacking play of our own, given that your defence doesn’t look water-tight either. Therefore, I’ll say 0-0!
Prediction:
I’m under no illusion that this will be an easy game. Liverpool and Arsenal need victory to climb into Champions League consideration, so expect both to give everything. Liverpool is always a tough encounter, therefore the Arsenal team will be fired and ready to battle. Our run should continue and I see a solid 2-0 victory for the good guys. The loss to Oldham will be too soon to get over and their confidence will be at an all-time low. Oh and ref…don’t fall for Suarez’s dives will you. He’s better than that (I like to think), you’re better than that (I’m not sure once again), and both sets of fans deserve a great game of football with a fair result for the better team on the day (us)!
For this week’s psychic prediction I went back on to the free site in search of my pre-match friend, however, she was unavailable. So this week I’ve got a new one…my bubbly African friend Yakman. Here are her responses:
Oz: Will Arsenal beat Liverpool on Wednesday? and by how much?
Yakman: Arsenal will win. 3-0
Oz: Will we make any transfers before the window closes?
Yakman: no
Oz: Will GLIC get over his mirror obsession? Is his playing kiss-chasey with himself dangerous?
Yakman: Haha sometimes the male spirit can be strong and egotistical, my suggestion is to tell him to move away and not be so self-involved. If he is doing that then there is no hope for your friend haha.
Oz: Thank you. I think deep down we all knew there was no hope for him!
What is your prediction?
Which three-pronged attack will prevail?
Will Škrtel stop Giroud in his tracks?
Which Liverpool player would you like in our team?
Today’s fourth-round FA cup game is a potential banana skin the size of Brighton Pier. Arsenal have just enjoyed a good, five-goal win against the Hammers. Often in the past, we followed such praiseworthy, high scoring games up with a lacklustre and over-confident performance in the next match. Let’s hope our boys are focussed and driven from the start this time round!
The Seagulls have absolutely nothing to lose, and their brand new AMEX stadium was built with the sheer hope of one day hosting games like these. The scalp of Newcastle has only just dried out, and the Brighton fans will be hoping to add, an even larger one this afternoon.
The fresh, new Brighton stadium is home to an equally exciting style of football, orchestrated by their up and coming manager: Gus Poyet. I reckon it will be a good game to watch, and no doubt The Seagulls will aim to chase us down from the start, and leave us as little time and space as possible to get into our passing game.
I don’t need to tell you we need to at least match their levels of energy, healthy aggression and chasing down opponents today, if we want to come through this encounter victoriously.
I have not watched the Seagulls much recently, so cannot give you an in-depth analysis of their style of football, and strengths and weaknesses.
Brighton and Hove Albion, to use the full name for once, are currently in seventh position in the Championship, and just four points away from a potential ticket to the Premier League next season. In their last game they played 4-1-3-2, and it will be interesting to see what they will do against us today.
I am looking forward to see what Lopez and Vincente are like up-front, and how their midfield will fair against ours. And I am hoping Kuszczak, the former MU goalkeeper who only managed to get 26 appearances in five years for the Mancs, will not have one of those days in which he successfully proofs he should still be performing in the PL every week; something that often seems to happen against us in these sort of games!
Predicted Line-up against The Seagulls:
Will we finally see little Mozart conducting our play again today?
I reckon their will be some rotation but not much and our bench is likely to be strong as well today. The FA Cup is a great competition and it would be fantastic for this team to win it. Losing today is not an option as the subsequent supporters/media negativity – given our recent painful cup-exit against Bradford – will be pretty much unbearable.
However, a few players need a rest and at best should start on the bench. Especially Sagna and Cazorla could do with a rest. The same goes for Wilshere, but we need some defensive midfield cover next to Ramsey, and Jack seems to be the best partner for him. Diaby appears to be available again, so maybe he will start instead of Wilshere, but my gut-feeling tells me the lanky Frenchman will start on the bench today.
This is a good game for Ox to play in, and I am pretty sure he’ll start on our right wing. Wenger will also like Giroud and Theo to further improve their partnership up-front, and I reckon the latter will start on the left wing this time, instead of the Pod. Don’t be surprised if Arsenal’s line-up looks more like 4-4-2 against Brighton today.
Apparently, Rosicky is available again, and surely, he will get a start today instead of Cazorla. The Spaniard really needs a rest and The Czech is desperate for a start; let’s hope we’ll see at least this rotation materialise against Brighton.
Our boys need to forget about everything and entirely focus on today’s game and give their all. If we do that, we’ll get through, if not we might get punished by The Seagulls. It is as simple as that!
Giroud at his very best: we need more of this Ollie!!
Tonight’s game against the Hammer is a massive one and an absolute must-win for Arsenal. We have no time to dwell in melancholy over last Sunday’s dismal first half display and loss, as today’s derby will be a big challenge for us once again. The Hammers have nothing to lose and surely will make it a physical contest again.
When Arsenal encountered West Ham earlier this season – also after losing against the Chavs by 2-1 – we probably played our best game of the season. It was the last match before a two-week international break, and all was looking well for us after we beaten the Hammers with an energetic, physical and clinical performance. Late goals by Theo and Cazorla clinched the game for us, but my best memory belongs to Giroud’s powerful equaliser, five minutes before the break.
We know that West Ham are not an exact copy of Fat Sam’s previous teams: they still like to play football on the ground and at times play some attractive stuff. However, no Sammi Allerdici team will be denied height and physical strength, and once again we have to be wary of high balls being pumped into the box. Let’s hope the BFG will have fitted some coils in his shoes tonight, as he will need to jump a few times I reckon.
No Diaby – No Diame
We lack height in the team, and it looks like Diaby will not get a start tonight. This is what Arsene had to say about the lanky Frenchman: “Diaby is one of the guys I will have to check. You could see he was not completely physically fresh from the start on Sunday and he did dig deep to do what he did. He has played four games on the trot after being out for three months, so I will have to check him.”
Having watched our game against the Chavs again, I noticed how Diaby was our weakest link in midfield throughout most of the game, and it would be best to give him a rest.
The big question is whether our midfield will play against Mohamed Diame tonight. By the time we kick-off he might even be a Gunner! Apparently, he has a buy-out clause of only £3.5m and we could do with a beast of a DM right now. He appears to be unhappy with the way his buy-out clause is being handled and is now threatening to report his club to FIFA.
I am not sure Diame is the sort of character Arsene will want at the club, but let’s hope he won’t be playing against us tonight anyway.
Frimpong and Wilshere to be reunited?
With Coquelin and Arteta out injured, it looks like we might see the return of our own DM-Beast: the raw, energetic and passionate Frimpong. He was on the bench against the Chavs and I reckon he will play; and Jack will move out of the hole into the lynchpin role next to Frimmers tonight.
Jack and Emmanuel have played together a lot in the past, albeit at a lower level, and I reckon they will get the best out of each other tonight. There will be no lack of passion or drive, but the obvious risk is that either of them will go too far tonight and end up with a sending off.
Ox and Pod to start – Theo or Giroud, or both?
Apparently both Ox and Pod are available again, and we could do with some fresh pairs of legs tonight. However, if we are to play both Ox and Pod, it will mean Arsene has to either leave Giroud or Theo on the bench, or he will have to play 4-4-2, with Giroud and Theo starting together again, and Cazorla getting a well-earned rest.
I have no doubt Giroud will start tonight: we need his height in attack, and especially during set-pieces against us. I also feel that Arsene will need to play Theo again tonight; he is after all our top-scorer. Therefore, I reckon Ox will not get a start but Podolski will.
Predicted Line-up:
Let’s hope we’ll start strongly and keep it up for 90 minutes and for no further injuries (especially in midfield). A win tonight brings us close to the top-four and will give us some much needed momentum.
Come on boys: show us what you are made off and what it means to you to play for the mighty Arsenal! And not for 45 minutes but for 95 minutes ffs! 😈
It was once the toughest away fixture in the Premier league, with Chelsea holding the greatest sequence of unbeaten home matches: 86, from March 2004 – October 2008. But hey, Roman Abramovich’s millions can buy you almost anything these days…yes it can even help you win the Champions League title.
In the present, they do not hold that psychological advantage over their opposition, so we should travel across London on Sunday showing no fear. The only person who should be holding any sort of fear should be Rafa Benitez. In what is perhaps the most demanding managerial position in football today, the pressure is persistently mounting on him. It’s only a matter of time before he joins the long list of Chelsea casualties; we shall see who is next through the revolving door soon enough.
Last time around, we were beaten thanks to some set piece problems and a few important players missing. This time we have almost a full squad to choose from with Szcz, Sagna, and Wilshere available for the return fixture. Chelsea won’t know what hit them this time, because these three are perhaps our most important players in our starting line-up.
Let’s begin now shall we!
Missing in Action:
Arsenal: Rosicky (calf) remains on the sidelines (not sure he left to be honest), which is unfortunate because he could provide a much needed rest to either Santi or Jack. Arteta (calf) and Fabianski will also miss out.
Kozzer returns from his one-match suspension. Gerv misses this one due to Coupe d’Afrique des Nations duty.
Chelsea: Romeu is out with a knee injury. Everyone’s favourite defender Terry returns after a two month absence. He appeared as a sub midweek, so I would not be surprised if he comes back in to the starting line-up for this one.
Chelsea are also devoid of both Mikel and Moses because of ACoN.
Predicted Line-up:
I would not change the line-up from the one we saw midweek. As far as I’m concerned I think that is our best possible line-up. I like Coquelin over Arteta because he is faster and more tenacious, and his attacking link up work is also very underrated. Santi gives us the width that Ramsey doesn’t, but can also wander in field and create opportunities. Diaby is unplayable at times, and without Mikel he really has a chance to boss the midfield. Let’s give it a go again!!!
Expect to see Terry back at CB and Ivanovic to return at RB. Now Lampard has signed a pre-contract with LA Galaxy, it will be interesting to see if he keeps his starting position, or whether he relinquishes it to Ramires and Luiz. Chelsea will most likely use a 4-2-1-3 formation with Torres up top, Mata and Hazard on the wings, Oscar at AM, Ramires and Lampard central, and a back four of Tumbling Terry, Cahill, Ivanovic, and some traitorous swine known as Cole.
Previous Encounters:
Arsenal 1 – Chelsea 2
On September 29th Arsenal faced a Chelsea team that was sitting on top of the ladder and in red hot form. Diaby tested Cech from long range early on and subsequently injured himself in the process; an injury that looked rather innocuous at the time but kept him on the sidelines until last weekend. Chelsea responded with a goal thanks to a bit of skill by Torres from a set piece…however, it was the poor marking from Kozzer that allowed the expensive flop Torres to score. Gervinho levelled the score before half time with a rather impressive turn and shot (his only real involvement of the game it has to be said). Mata finished off the tie with a great free kick that took a slight deflection of Kozzer. Not Kozzer’s best game but I still maintain that he is our best defender when fully confident. Nevertheless, Chelsea got it done when it Mata’d…I’ll get my coat.
Arsenal 0 – Chelsea 0
Two great saves from Cech and some wasteful efforts from another traitorous swine meant Arsenal could not breakdown a robust Chelsea team.
Form Guide:Arsenal: WLDDW Chelsea: DWLWL
Despite dropping points against the Manchester Oilers a lot of positives could be drawn from our second half performance. Although we only beat Swansea 1-0 midweek we played all over them for the entire match and could quite easily have belted them all the way back to Wales. The signs are positive, we must continue to build on the momentum we have.
Chelsea haven’t had too much luck recently (they did beat Stoke away 0-4 which is not to be scoffed at) losing out to QPR, Swansea, and drawing against Southampton in their last three home fixtures. Let us hope the nightmare continues.
This week I’ve dipped into the Arsenal Archive and pulled out this video clip. It is a highlights package from our 2-0 win over Chelsea in the 2002 FA Cup final. Oh To, Oh To Be, Oh To Be A Gooner!!!
One to Watch:
Theo Walcott: He finally signed the thing! Hallelujah we can all breathe again. Now it’s time to get fully behind him and let’s see what he can produce under Arsene’s tutelage. His stats are undeniable, his speed is blistering, and his finishing is top notch. It’s time for him to put his money where his mouth is, and I have complete faith in him doing so!
Demba Ba…again! We had to deal with him not long ago at the Emirates and he managed to put two past us on that occasion. The man is a quality poacher and scores whenever given a sniff. If I was Torres I would be worried because Ba can deliver (as he showed midweek against Southampton) and is eyeing his starting position. It’s unlike Chelsea to do a shrewd bit of business, but I feel this time they’ve struck gold for a fraction of the cost.
Mata will also be one to keep our eye on; last time around he was afforded too much room, and we can’t let it happen again!
Key-Match up:
Francis Coquelin vs Juan Mata
Our young midfield enforcer against Chelsea’s most dangerous player and creator Juan Mata (8 assists, 7 goals). Now that Walcott has signed his contract. all that remains for most Arsenal supporters is the need for a midfield enforcer/beast/monster/barbarian/troglodyte/cannibal, in other words a snarling midfielder who can protect the back four and boss the midfield. Nigel De Jong is only 174cm and 72kgs, Gattuso is 177cm and 77kgs, Flamini is 178 cm and 67kgs, M’Vila is 182cm and 80kgs, Francis Coquelin is 182 cm and 75kgs and still developing. So you don’t have to be a brute to be a great defensive midfielder! Coquelin has his chance to usurp Arteta’s position (tough, given our winning % without Arteta is 14.28%) in the starting line-up (similar to how Flamini did to Gilberto) by putting together more strong performances like the one against Swansea. He and Diaby complemented one another brilliantly; what a partnership they could forge for both Arsenal and France!
Mata caused us all sorts of troubles at the Emirates (1 goal and an assist), so Coquelin must be watching him like a hawk the entire game. Not give him an inch, and he and the team must be careful not to commit any fouls around the box because he is deadly! Shackle Mata and we go a long way to winning this match.
Pre-Match Finger:
This week’s finger goes to the Bori! They are a secret coven of demons responsible for the possession of bad luck. Searching the Encyclopaedia of Demons was the only next logical step to curing Diaby of his injury curse. He is a magnificent player who always slips so seamlessly into the line-up. He has a powerful shot, amazing dribbling skills, fluid movement across the pitch, long legs that allow him to dispossess opposition players easily…he is our Paddy V version 2. The only problem is he cannot stay off the treatment table for too long. Arsene has been very patient but how much longer can it last? He is commanding a good salary and potentially holding back another player in the squad.
Now rumour has it that to get rid of this demon one must say the word ‘iron’ repeatedly…I’m suspect though. because Jack is made of iron and surely that’d be enough to exorcise the demon from Diaby! The only other solution is a special dance; now Sagna, BFG, and Podolski tried it in the pre-season…
But, it clearly wasn’t enough because it only worked on Diaby temporarily. At the next home game we need everyone at the Emirates to perform the same dance once Diaby comes on to the pitch! Let’s vanquish this demon so we can unleash our own in the centre of the pitch!
Pre-Match pat on the back:
This week’s pat on the back goes to Jack Wilshere. Not because he is a future Arsenal hall of famer (he will be!), not because he’s going to be one of the best in the world (he will be!), not because every Arsenal male fan has a man crush on him (they do!); it is because he’s everything we love in a player. Not because he scored the winner against Swansea (it was darn good though!), but because the kid has a wise head on his shoulders. He has come back strong from a serious injury and does the little things on the field that others don’t. Against Swansea, towards the end of the game, he made a simple gesture to his team mates to ‘think about what you are doing’. We had the lead and the game was drawing to a close and he was making sure we didn’t lose our heads once again. Keep the lid on it he’s still young you say…sorry, that lid blew off when he scored this pearler at the tender age of 16.
see 1.19 mins
‘Ask the opposition’ returns again, this week. It is designed to get some friendly banter from our opposition fans and get their insight for the match ahead. This week the answers were kindly provided by CD from http://www.chelseadaft.org, and Blue Champion from http://www.bluechampions.com or his twitter handle @bluechampion. Let’s see what they’ve written for us this week:
1) What happens with Torres now Ba is scoring for fun?
CD: Torres is still the clubs number one striker. He has been good at times this season but badly needed a rest. I expected a better reaction from him the other week against Swansea after watching Demba Ba score two on his debut at Southampton but he didn’t seem bothered for the first time and the fans turned on him including me.
BlueChampion:Torres goes to the bench. And in the summer (if not this month) leaves the club and saves about £9m per year in salaries. Earlier his results were poor and now his efforts are also poor. Barring a miracle, he’s a goner.
2) Who has been Chelsea’s best player so far this season? What is he capable of?
CD: Juan Mata once again is our best player with Eden Hazard a close second. Mata finds space and can hurt you. You have seen at the Emirates that he can take a set piece, he can score goals and create them. He is a perfect number 10.
BlueChampion:Juan Mata. He’s the magician that pulls the strings for Chelsea. All attacks go through him and he has such chemistry with all forward players that he is a threat all the time. What’s he capable of? Wait until Sunday.
3) What’s your take on the Frank Lampard situation?
CD: Frank Lampard deserves another contract in my book. He is still fit, still performing and scoring goals in the Premier League. People forget he missed half a season through injury two years ago and remains an important part of our squad. You need experience in the squad to bring out the best in people and if he leaves this summer, Chelsea would have made a mistake.
BlueChampion:He’s 35 this summer. I’m with the club. Happy for one-year extensions with pay cuts. We already have a crowded midfield with young talents – Ramires, Luiz, Romeu, Oscar, McEachran (on loan) and Kevin de Bruyne (on loan). Looking forward to his Bobby Tambling record. After that he should stay at club’s terms or go.
4) Benitez…how much longer will he last?
CD: I hope Benitez goes sooner rather than the summer but I can’t see it happening. He is too slow to react to situations that are happening in front of him on the pitch. Look at Wenger or Mourinho. If things aren’t going well, they make instant changes to try and affect the game from the bench, positive changes. He has had chances to do that in our last four three home games, hasn’t done it quick enough and we haven’t won the game. Apparently, he told the team at half time on Wednesday being 2-0 up against Southampton at home “wasn’t safe” and we needed a third goal! Who on earth would say that to a Chelsea team 2-0 up and cruising against Southampton! (No disrespect to them of course!).
BlueChampion:Certainly until the end of the season. Remember his contract is for 18 months with an option to review at the end of the season. So if we don’t find a more permanent manager (which he is clearly not), he can continue his contract which runs till end of 2013/14 season.
5) What position/player is your weakest link?
CD: At the moment it seems that at right back is our weakest link. “Dave”( César Azpilicueta) has done well there but has been skinned twice in three league games against QPR and Southampton and we have conceded twice. I am hoping Branislav Ivanovic moves back out there with JT coming into the middle for Sunday.
BlueChampion:Our weakest link could be the double pivot (two of Lampard/Ramires/Luiz). All these are basically attack minded players in the supposedly defensive double pivot. You would find acres of space in the middle of the park to exploit and you can easily win the midfield battle. If only you had Arteta!
6) Which Arsenal player would you like to have and why?
CD: Theo Walcott. For the life of me, I have never understood why Arsene Wenger has never played Walcott through the middle as a striker until it has got to the stage of him leaving? He is a readymade Thierry Henry replacement with his pace alone. Of course he still needs work playing there but his raw pace and ability should justify him starting week in, week out. I see he is about to sign a new deal but if it falls through, I would love Roman to bring him to Stamford Bridge!
BlueChampion:Theo Walcott. Because he brings in a new dimension to the Chelsea squad. He can be a great plan B. We have too many ballers now but we need players like Walcott who can threaten you with sheer pace and he is a good finisher too. He can be a striker option as well as a wide forward player. Hope he doesn’t sign that extension of yours (oops too late!).
7) What is your prediction for the match?
CD: God knows to be honest. At home at the moment Chelsea are a nightmare. We have attacking flair, expressive players playing expansive football until we reach the final third and then find it hard to break sides down. Benitez talks of missed chances against Southampton, but there were hardly any real clear cut opportunities. Out of 18 attempts on goal just three were on target. If Arsenal come here and set their stall out to defend and hit us on the counter, we could have real problems. In saying that, if we can get at the Arsenal, we can cause you all sorts of problems too. Whoever defends better wins the game and it’s as simple as that.
BlueChampion:My prediction is a 2-1 win for Chelsea. Will be an open match. Arsenal’s defence (minusKoscielny) would just suit our bunch very well. We are a much better team now than we had met you last at the Emirates stadium. Even John Terry would be back. But you’re losing Arteta and Kosielny. On paper, Chelsea do look a stronger team with a greater possibility of a win.
Prediction:
Chelsea have only won one in their last seven home games, and I expect the bad run to continue. We will be choc-full of confidence after the Swansea game and the signing of Theo. It should be enough to see us get over the line on our way to a 1-2 victory. Now I wasn’t too sure about my prediction this week so I signed up to a free psychic website and asked a lady with 20-25 years of experience in the field a couple of questions:
Oz: Will Arsenal beat Chelsea this weekend? And by how much?
Jetember: More than likely yes. 1-0
Oz: Will John Terry fall over again?
Jetember:I’m seeing no
Oz:Bugger! My mate TMHT has had some bad luck in his life can you help?
Jetember:I can say a special prayer for your friend (she begins swinging a chain with a cross attached and speaking in another language. 2 minutes later…)
Oz:Thank you. Will we win the Champions League?
Jetember:Unfortunately no
That ended the conversation as I concluded that she knew nothing. I should have known considering she had rap music playing in the back ground. I’ll stick with my prediction! 1-2 to the good guys.
I must admit to being in two minds about our game against the Jacks tonight: one of anticipation and one of apprehension. As per yesterday’s post, Arsenal have a number of seemingly structural problems; every time we believe the team has made significant progress, they let us down again with the same problems resurfacing once more.
I am repeating a paragraph in yesterday’s post to sum it all up:
What is more worrying is the lack of form and shape to the team; the inability to organise our defence and get a run of solid defensive team performances; the lack of balance in midfield and inability to totally dominate this area anymore; the unsettledness, and unpredictable level of performances, by our strike-force; and most importantly, the lack of cohesion, leadership and collective fighting spirit throughout the team.
If Arsenal are to beat Swansea tonight, it will have to show a significant improvement in all the above areas, in my view. And that is where my apprehension is coming from: there is a lot that needs sorting and I am not sure we can do it all at the moment.
Swansea have nothing to lose tonight and will play their well-drilled game of absorbing pressure and try to catch us on the break.
It has worked against many teams, notably most recently against the Chavs, and why would they change it?! So, that is the tactics done again: Vermaelen to devour Michu and our team to play at a tempo that will not allow the Jacks to settle; oh and taking our chances when they arrive. Simples! 🙂
Rosicky For Sale?
What is going on with regards to Tomas Rosicky? He had a fantastic first half game against Olympiacos and then he got substituted and we have not seen him on the pitch ever since (if I remember correctly). I cannot get my head around the fact he was not played at all during the busy festive season, as the likes of Wilshere, Cazorla and Podolski could have done with a break.
Tomas is Arsenal through and through, signed a new contract not that long ago, he knows how Wenger wants to play better than anybody else, and he gives us shape and purpose?
So, why has he not played at all? The only answer I can give you is that Arsenal are planning to sell him during this transfer window, and for that they would have to keep him fully fit. Not playing him might also make him more keen for a move, as Tomas is the kind of guy who loves to play football rather than sit on the bench and collect his pay cheques.
Apparently, he has a slight muscular problem and won’t be fit for tonight….
Giroud must play.
Theo alone up-front is a work in progress and Arsenal cannot afford to play the same strike-force again against Swansea: the risk of another disjointed performance in attack is far too high. Swansea will also allow us little space which makes playing a fluid-three – Pod, Theo, Ox – up-front not our best option, in my view. Tonight, we need a strong pivot in attack.
I hope we start with Giroud in the centre and either Theo on the wing, or next to him in a 4-4-2 formation.
If we are to beat Swansea tonight, we need to get behind them as much as possible via our wings; and a lot will be asked from the most likely wing-combos of Sagna and Ox (or Theo) and Gibbs and Pod. Chelsea failed to use the wings enough against the Jacks last week, and they paid for it. On top of that, we need a strong target man, which Giroud clearly is. All other attackers should be able to benefit from Giroud presence in the box and I hope we’ll see goals by him and/or Pod, Ox, Cazorla (and Theo?).
Is this Coquelin’s chance or will it be Diaby again?
Enough has been said about Diaby’s rustiness in the ‘Arteta’ role and whether it is his best position in the first place. There appears to be a continuous reluctance by Wenger to play Coquelin in the Arteta role, and although I have doubts myself about his readiness, I feel Arsene needs to start him tonight. This should be the sort of game in which he can make his mark and we all need to know how ready he is for regular first team football.
Arsenal have a fully fit squad and nothing is happening in the Transfer Window, and on Sunday we face last year’s champions in a crucial match. A win against MC, followed by a win against the Hammers (our game in hand) means we would only be five points behind second spot in the league; lose it, and we are unlikely to catch up with the Northern Oilers this season.
But, it is not just these sort of mathematics which are at stake on Sunday. Arsenal are desperate for a performance of high merit; a victory that will tell anyone how good this team really can be. This encounter with Manchester City will also be a good opportunity for our players to prove to themselves that they can fight for top prices this season, as I am sure a win on Sunday will be a huge boost to morale and collective self-belief.
Arsenal really need to perform on Sunday and fire from all cylinders. There is a lot of dissatisfaction out there, as a poisonous cocktail is brewing as a result of a relatively low league position and continuous lack of activity in the transfer window. Arsene’s mixed messages regarding buying players in this transfer window are not helping either.
I dread to think what the atmosphere would be like if we are beaten on Sunday, and I hope Arsene and the players realise this is a must-win game for us. A draw would not necessarily be the end of the world, but in order to gather proper momentum this season and to get the fans once again fully behind the team, we really need a victory.
Arsenal played arguably their best game of the season until now against Man City during the away fixture, and we need a similar performance against them on Sunday, with an added deadliness in front of goal.
Possible Line-Up:
As Giroud is only 50:50 fit, and Arsene is unlikely to play him and Theo both again against MC anyway – as it forces him to play something close to 4-4-2 which he has abandoned many years ago, and does not seem to be willing to return to anytime soon – I reckon we will start with TOP in attack: Theo in the centre and Ox and Pod on the wings.
In defence, Arsene has to decide what to do with his captain: will he start again with the same back-four as against Swansea? I reckon he will, despite the errors made during that game. Mertesacker always gets better the more games he plays and we need his intelligence and organisational skills. Koscielny is a fantastic CB who also gets better with every game he plays; and the German and Frenchman form our best CB-couple. I reckon Sagna and Gibbs will start on the right and left.
As per some posts I wrote recently, it is the midfield where we need to make a change. Arteta and Santi have been overused and look jaded at times as a result of this. However, I cannot see Arsene leaving Arteta out against MC, and he will be equally reluctant to leave Cazorla out. The whole team had a rest for a week, so we should expect to see an unchanged midfield on Sunday.
But, Arsene needs to do something, and with Diaby and Rosicky fit again, he has some fine options. I am sure Diaby will not start against MC, but my gut feeling tells me that he will include Rosicky in the line-up for either Santi or Jack.
Predicted line-up:
———–Szczesny————
Sagna—BFG—Koz—Gibbs
——-Arteta—Jack———–
———–Rosicky————-
Ox———Theo———-Pod
I would also not be surprised if we see Cazorla start on the wing instead of Ox or Pod.
I cannot wait till the game on Sunday. All our players have to press MC continuously, and they need to play a compact game, and support each other all over the pitch. Most importantly, chances need to be taken when they arrive and all our attackers must be firing from all cylinders. Let’s also hope our defence will perform at their very best on Sunday.
Let’s forget about everything else and just focus on this crucial match: it will tell us so much about our team, and how our season is likely to pen out.
Regular readers of Bergkampesque will have noticed my glass half full attitude towards Arsenal and Arsene Wenger. I remain confident in Wenger’s ability to turn things round for us this season, and I also believe in the squad of players we have (give or take a couple of necessary new signings). However, it is about time that Arsenal show what they are made of now, after a disappointing performance against Southampton this week; and I expect nothing else but a committed, full-blooded performance for 90+ minutes.
Swansea will be up for this and will be full of confidence after their recent win at Ashburton Grove. Arsenal will have to come out of the blocks with only one thing in mind: to take this game to Swansea with a high tempo and a strong focus on attack. To be fair, as we saw during our last encounter with the Swans, they are happy to sit back and absorb the pressure we will put on them; only to pounce back on the break as much as possible.
It is therefore important that we play a lot more cohesive tomorrow than we have done recently; with lots of ball retention, constant pressure on the Swansea team, and defending, creating and attacking collectively, rather than the disjointed efforts we saw against Wigan and Southampton recently.
Sagna or Jenkinson?
From the moment Sagna’s inexplicable defensive clearance led to us conceding a goal against Southampton, our right back turned into a shadow of his former self for the rest of the game. Until then, he and Ox had been our main attacking option as virtually all attacks came from the right. But his confidence was totally shot and he made mistake after mistake after his bad error that led to the goal.
So what to do tomorrow; play Sagna again or give Jenkinson a game? I reckon it will be dreadful for Sagna’s confidence if he is not played again tomorrow, and Wenger will probably play him for that reason alone. I hope he comes good again, as Sagna always gives his all. With Jenkinson having signed a new contract and Bacary hoping to get a new contract offer soon, it could be that the Frenchman is justifiably worried about his future, which in return might be affecting his confidence at the moment.
Rosicky or Santi?
We continue to struggle with the shape of our team and with that the purpose/directness of our football. I have written about the need for a more all-round DM, who should free up Jack to support the attack more regularly. At the moment Jack needs to help out too much defensively, and Santi is often isolated as a result. I believe Santi is at his best when he can play close to our CF and we need Wilshere to get closer to him in order to make this happen.
Rosicky always gives the team a good shape and real purpose and I wonder whether it is now time to give him a start instead of Cazorla. Cazorla could start on the wing, maybe instead of Ox or Pod. Alternatively, Jack could get a well-earned rest, and Rosicky could play next to Arteta, and with Cazorla in his normal position. But whatever it is, I reckon we need to play Rosicky tomorrow: he can give us the much needed impetus against the Swans.
Theo or Giroud?
Another big selection dilemma for Arsene. My personal view, as per recent posts and comments, is to play them both together in a 4-4-1-1. Giroud can be the pivot for our attacking play, who gets the midfield higher up the pitch with his ball retention skills, and also launches Theo into promising positions. Theo can move around and combine wing-play with centre forward play. However, I would eat my foot if Arsene was to start with both Giroud and Theo up-front and with four in midfield, so a choice has to be made between the Frenchman and the contract hugger.
Given the fact that Swansea play very compact and well-organised at the back, and the need for Theo to have space at his disposal, I reckon will start with Giroud in the middle, and possibly with Theo on the wing for tomorrow’s game.
Predicted Line-Up:
—————Szczesny——————
Sagna – BFG – Vermaelen – Gibbs
———Arteta——-Wilshere———
—————-Rosicky——————-
Theo/Ox——-Giroud———-Santi
At times during the match tomorrow, Santi and Rosicky could move to the wings in midfield and Theo and Giroud could play closer together. Let’s see what happens tomorrow. We need a great performance and a convincing win: it is time to kick-start the season properly now!
I’ve always had a soft spot for Newcastle United: they have a great loyal supporter base, are good to watch, and Bergkamp scored the best goal ever against them!
I’d like to start by apologising to Tim Krul for some of the words I said about him last time we met. For those who can’t remember this is what happened:
Yes, he did start time wasting very early on; yes, I hate when keepers do it, but I just wish he had of belted up Brave Sir Robin after the game. Then again, perhaps I should be more respectful when talking about Robin because according to Fergie he died during the Swansea game (thank you Ashley Williams).
(Just for those who missed it or need a good laugh. I did notice his accidental slip and todger grab also)
Anyway, back to the game!
Replacing Chris Hughton, after he had just brought Newcastle back in to the league, was always going to be a tough task, but until recently Alan Pardew had done it with perfection. They started last season like a house on fire: ‘who cares we all thought’, ‘they’ll drop off soon’. Well they did not, they finished 5th on the table, ahead of Chelsea, which is to be commended. Pardew has a bit of Arsene in him, with his eye for talented bargains; just look who he has signed since he’s joined the club:
Ba, Cabaye, Ben Arfa, Cisse, and Santon: that list is definitely not to be scoffed at.
Newcastle are an organised bunch who like to sit back defensively and hit you on the counter. I know what you’re thinking ‘yak, our least favourite tactic to play against’. It worked well against Man U and Liverpool, not to mention all last season, however, they are missing key personnel who contribute enormously to this tactic.
Missing in Action:
Arsenal: Rosicky returns, Diaby (thigh) is apparently back next week, Santos returns, leaving only Fabianski (ankle) on the long term injury list.
Newcastle: Ben Arfa (hamstring), Cabaye (groin), Gutierrez (leg), Ryan and Steven Taylor. Williamson may not come up for this one. Tiote returns from his one match ban.
An opposition with a bigger injury list than ours…yep it’s true I just pinched myself and their troubles remain. It is a shame, though, because it really has wreaked their season, then again it has done worse to ours in the past.
Predicted Line-up:
Optimistically, I am hoping we do not see Theo start in the middle again. He’s been okay the last two games, but we need better than okay. To me he walks around like Henry, you know; with a bit of a swagger. He doesn’t bust a lung, he doesn’t chase, and most of all he has not earned that right! He tends to time his runs too soon leaving the midfielders with no outlet and he gets muscled off the ball too easily. I’m hoping Giroud slips back in to test the average Williamson (Santi and Ox should try their best to attack him at all costs); just like Bendtner did a couple of seasons back.
The rest of the team picks itself really.
Previous Encounters:
Arsenal 2 – Newcastle 1
Some guy scored for us and then Vermaelen scored a ripper of a goal with seconds remaining on the clock. Some guy got in a tussle afterwards, the noise coming from the fans was immense.
Newcastle 0 – Arsenal 0
Joey Barton dived and made an arse of himself (what’s new), Gerv got sent off, Song got banned for stupidly stamping on him, but hugged him afterwards anyway. Poor game, and not the start we wanted for the season.
Not going to go into the 4-4 draw.
Form Guide (all competitions):Arsenal: WWLWL Newcastle: LWLLL
Despite our Cup blip, we are coming off our third premier league win on the trot. If we are a serious team with grand aspirations we must continue to perform. Teams around us won’t continually slip up leaving the door ajar for us to climb up the ladder; ‘Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect’, and I feel this is the case for us: let’s make our own future, I don’t give a stuff about other teams, I don’t want to watch other teams praying to Dennis that they slip up! Time to go on a tear, and have another unbeaten run!
Newcastle took the lead at Old Trafford not once, not twice, but three times yet did not leave with a solitary point for all their effort. They put up a prodigious showing, but in true Man United fashion they were out scraped by the final whistle. Despite their valiant showing they sit on a paltry 20 points (5 off relegation zone) and have lost 7 of their last 9 matches. Interesting to note that Newcastle have not won their previous 15 away games.
One to Watch:
Jack the Lad: He recently signed a long term deal with the club and really is a joy to watch. He isn’t afraid to do the dirty things no one else wants to, and cops it from the opposition week in and week out. That’s okay though, not even a kick to the plums could keep him down! If he continues on the right path this bloke is easily going to be a legend in the making. The best thing of all is, I couldn’t care less if he has a stinker, because if he does I can rest easy knowing he still gave 110%. Look for him to take control of the midfield in this one.
I will be keeping a watchful eye on Ba throughout the match. Not only because he is a dangerous forward who could trouble our defence, but because he may be joining Arsenal in the future. He would definitely add to our squad (that I’m sure of), I just hope he has a stinker and doesn’t touch the ball in this fixture!
Key-Match up:
The Demba Senegalese duo:
Demba Ba:
12/13: 11 goals in 18 (1) games (only behind Michu and BSR)
Papiss Demba Cisse
Only scored 3 goals this season thus far but managed to score 13 goals in 13 matches last season for Newcastle.
Both are top notch strikers and capable of brilliance (Cisse’s goal last season against Chelsea was amazing!), but unfortunately for Newcastle they do not really know how to work together. Last season Ba was on fire, he could do no wrong -> He jetted off to the African Cup of Nations -> In came Cisse -> He went on a tear -> Ba came back -> Cisse continued his form, Ba didn’t and went quiet -> Season ends -> Ba kicks in to gear again, Cisse does not -> What can Pardew do? It’s the same sort of position I feel Arsenal would have been in if we brought in Huntelaar. He’s too similar to Giroud, separate they are class players, together…not so much.
Let’s hope these two don’t click against us. If they do, Vermaelen and Mertesacker will have to be on their toes. The loss of Ben Arfa will definitely help quell their influence.
Pre-Match Finger:
The Media! The transfer window hasn’t begun yet but already we are being linked with every striker on the planet. It has gotten to the point where every defender, keeper, striker, winger, attacking and defensive midfielder, and some kids have been linked with us at one time or another. Loose sources, friends of friends, twisted quotes, money hungry players, ‘Arsenals bazillion dollar war-chest’, and of course the Theo Walcott Saga. It really is enough to drive a man bonkers. The sad thing is I’ll still be there every morning and night scouring the Arsenal/transfer news sites sitting and hoping (or swearing at Theo). Damn you media…damn you to hell!
Pre-Match pat on the back:
This week’s pat on the back is a two parter.
Firstly I’d like to thank the tube strike for being responsible for postponing our match against West Ham. Yes it was terrible not having a Boxing Day match to watch but it has been a welcome break for the team, and after the food I consumed on Christmas a bear-like hibernation period was needed. It allowed our first teamers a chance to freshen over a normally busy fixture period. We go in to the match fresh as a daisy (still think we should rotate the squad more often so we are fresher more often) whereas Newcastle come in after a 4-3 slog in the wet against Man United…big benefit!
Secondly (I can’t believe I’m saying this) I’d like to give a pat on the back to the Medical team. It’s been a long, LONG time since we have had such an empty sick bay (not to jinx it of course). I’m not going to get too carried away though because unfortunately the ghost of Diaby haunts the area and I’m sure he will be getting withdrawal symptoms soon enough! Here’s to good health…long may it prosper!
Heck I’m going with one more. Alan Pardew deserves one too; I like how he goes about it!
‘Ask the opposition’ returns again this week. It is designed to get some friendly banter from our opposition fans and get their insight for the match ahead. This week the answers were kindly provided by Paul from www.nufcblog.org , and Kev from http://www.newcastleunited-mad.co.uk.
1) What are your thoughts on the Demba Ba situation?
Paul:Most of the stuff in the media about it is just wild speculation; hence I don’t pay much attention to it. However, the basic situation is that while Mike Ashley (the owner of Newcastle United) wants top players, he wants them for 50% off like the cheap tat in his Sports Direct shops and that includes their wages too. This is how the whole Demba Ba situation has come about, and why Ba and his advisors cling on to his release clause. His knee problem is the complicating factor for a move however, and if it wasn’t for that he’d probably be long gone by now. Then again, if it wasn’t for his knee problem he almost certainly wouldn’t be at Newcastle United in the first place.
Ba knows that his career may be limited by a few years and he wants to make the most of it financially but there isn’t much chance of that at Newcastle, but although a lot of other clubs will undoubtedly show keen interest in such a good striker, they will cool off when they look at the medical reports and try to insure him etc. This is probably why the situation has dragged on for so long and if he does move for a much higher weekly wage, he would almost certainly have to take some kind of “quid pro quo” which will involve little compensation if he was injured and out of the game for good.
Kev: His agent is after £2m on any transfer, and he is the one pulling the strings.
Great player, superb skills as an individual – but not a team player – and not the brightest button in the box.
2) Who has been Newcastle’s best player so far this season? What is he capable of?
Paul:Hatem Ben Arfa who scored an excellent goal against your lot last time. He’s capable of unlocking teams on his own with his amazing dribbling, the vision of his passing, his excellent long shots and so on. However, he won’t be playing so I’ll also pick Demba Ba for this game. This is because he has been feeding on crumbs this season because of the lack of creativity in the side (from the manager not the players). Despite this he is still one of the highest scorers in the Premier League which is a bit of a miracle, and a tribute to his superb finishing.
Kev:Probably Ba in my opinion. Loads have under-achieved being played out of position because of Pardew’s weird system.
3) What formations and tactics are you most likely to employ in this match?
Paul:That’s a good question with Newcastle at the moment. Alan Pardew had had us playing some awful “route one” football for most of the season so far, the kind of football he’s used to. The tactics were mostly a 4-4-2 where we had no midfield and were soaking up pressure in our own half looking to dispossess the opposition, only to launch huge “hit and hope” balls over a midfield void to the strikers which usually fell back to the opposition anyway. However, there seems to have been some kind of player revolt recently and although there have still been defeats in the last few games, two of these have been against the Manchester giants and performances and style of play have improved markedly for the most part. So now you can probably expect to see a 4-3-3 formation with a far more subtle and patient approach through the midfield. In the unlikely event that we go a couple of goals up though, expect Pardew to revert to type.
Kev:Depends who is available. Tactics change weekly with Pardew.
4) What position/player is your weakness link?
Paul:If I must, then James Perch might be filling in for an injured Willamson at Centre Back. Now don’t get me wrong, the lad’s done very well from humble beginnings, especially in the defensive midfield. However he might be a little vulnerable in the air in the centre of defence, though this might benefit teams like Stoke more than Arsenal.
Kev:Everywhere. Injuries have halted any hope of a regular team/formation.
5) What has happened to Newcastle this season?
Paul:See the rant at question 3! Though there have also been issues like Mike Ashley not investing in the squad for European football, along with injuries and such, I still think that the main factor has been Alan Pardew’s Reading circa 1990 tactics. He is one of those managers like many before him who has a good season then gets found out, like he did at West Ham.
Kev: We have been clueless in so many matches. Players playing out of position, and kids not good enough.
Ba and Cisse don’t work as a team; defence is like the days of Titus Bramble.
6) Which Arsenal player would you love in your team and why?
Paul:Santi Cazorla for similar reasons to Ben Arfa. Both are great visionary playmakers and although I’ll just give the dribbling to Benny (his control is amazing), on the other hand one thing about Cazorla is that even though he’s only about 5′ 6″ he’ll muck in and defend more than Benny when the team are up against it. Both are fantastic, world class players.
Kev: Aboutnine or ten of them – different class to us.
7) What is your match prediction?
Paul:I would say that Arsenal are favourites and will probably win, but as I’ve been so negative in parts above, I’ll be optimistic and say that if we perform as well as we have in patches of recent games then we just might get a draw, so I’ll go for a Desmond 2-2 (though my head says 2-1 or 3-1 to Arsenal).
Kev: 2-0 Arsenal.
Prediction:
Newcastle is a tough team to break down. Their defence is strong and Krul is a very good, up and coming keeper, with something to prove after our last encounter. Nevertheless, they are a shadow of their former selves, injuries have blighted their squad and the Ba/Cisse duo isn’t firing. We will have to fight tooth and nail in this one, but I expect a resurgent and rested Arsenal to run over the top off a flat and soggy Newcastle.
Tomorrow, we will find out whether Arsenal’s vastly improved performance against Reading can be sustained, as Wigan will provide us with a nearly identical challenge as we had against The Royals on Monday.
Where surrounding clubs, Blackpool, Bolton and Blackburn, have recently failed to stay in the Premier League, Wigan continue to defy gravity. The Latics are in their eighth consecutive PL campaign and that is pretty remarkable, given the recent change in economic circumstances and the relatively small fan base.
What is not to like about Roberto Martinez? He is a gentleman similar to the late Bobby Robson, and is able to stage PL survivals on the basis of playing attractive football. However, with the limited resources available to him, Martinez once again is struggling to stay away from the relegation zone, as Wigan are currently in 18th position.
They are only three points away from 14th though, so there is everything to play for; and I am sure to be preaching to the converted, when I say Arsenal should not underestimate this game for one moment tomorrow.
Just like Reading, Wigan concede a lot of goals; and this season they almost let in two goals on average at home. They also like to play football, which means they will attack us as much Reading tried to do, and allow us the so hallowed space to attack them in. The likes of Theo, Santi, Ox and Pod should have plenty of opportunities to find the net tomorrow.
So the big question is will Arsene field an unchanged team against Wigan Athletic? For me, the answer is an emphatic ‘yes’. As I have posted on many occasions over the last few weeks, the main stumbling block for our team is finding our shape and identity again this season. Against Reading, despite the weaknesses of our opponents and a few costly lapses of concentration, we witnessed a team with a clear shape, structure and plan; and we need to build on that now.
The team has had a good break since Monday and I cannot see Wenger, who often prefers to keep the same team after a win anyway, to make more than one, if any changes at all.
Predicted Line-up (and preferred Line-up as well this time):
Szczesny
Sagna – BFG – TV – Gibbs
——-Arteta——Jack——-
Ox——————-Podolski
————-Santi————-
————-Theo————-
Can we make it three PL wins in a row? If we do, Arsenal will at least temporarily be in third place, would you believe it?!
So, time for the Gunners to strengthen the muscles of their under-bellies and put in a determined, never-say-die and professional performance, and to come home with all three points.
This will be our last away fixture in the North-West this season, so let’s finish off in style what has been a decent run of results up there!
I will be meeting up with the fantastic Wigan Gooner to watch the game at the DW Stadium and cannot wait for it. If you have a minute, make sure you take a look at Wigan Gooner’s fantastic website:
Bergkampesque 