Good Performance, Good Win

Hello everybody,

Good game last night eh.  From the offset we went at them with swift movement and quick passing.  They set up to defend and packed their area but we broke them down again and again and by the 25th minute we could have been 4 nil up with Arshavin, Rosicky and Fabregas forcing saves and Fabregas hammering a left foot volley against the bar.  Not to mention 3 corners or so. 

We started off with our Mannone in goal of course and Eboue coming in for Sagna, otherwise our regular back 4.  Diaby filled into midfield again with Fabregas and Song and Rosicky, not Eduardo, came in for Bendtner up front, with Arshavin going wide right and van Persie running down the middle. 

I thought that everyone was on their game last night, except for Arshavin who seemed rather sluggish at times, although there were times were he made some important interceptions and good runs forward.  It was good to see Cesc working the way he we're used to and Song was really playing well, especially considering he had to do mostly attacking.  He really isn't a bad dribbler you know. 

The first half kept going and kept going and we still couldn't manage to score.  We were getting good width at times to relieve the boys in the middle but we were really attacking down the middle very well.  Diaby was doing well off the ball, his runs from one wing to another and straight down the middle really made the difference at times as their defense was just never able to pick up all of our attackers, leaving 1 or 2 always open and available.  And with the ball almost constantly in within 35 yards of the Olympiacos area, Gallas was able to come forward and join in the attack.  The fullbacks were always pushed up as well with Eboue doing some very useful attacking.  His runs forward and his good dribbling really made a difference, I don't think we would have been as effective with Sagna in the side.  And Rosicky's craft and quality was outstanding as well, again, had Bendtner been on we wouldn't have been able to complete the penetrating moves that took us inside their box and brought us all those chances. 

But for all of our domination and excellent play, and it really  was excellent play, we couldn't manage to score.  Then, around 33 minutes or so they had an attacker free on the far post and he was found by a searching cross.  His header was thankfully straight at Mannone.  I wouldn't have been at all surprised had they gone in at half time 1 nil up, as is the case often when we completely hammer a team. 

It turned out that it was nil-nil at half time after van Persie had added a couple to our shots on target tally, once after turning Raul Bravo inside out 2/3 times before shooting instead of crossing. 

The second half saw more of the same with their keeper racking up the saves, saving shots, tipping away corners and punching free kicks, the old man was really on fire.  They were defending well and they owed a lot to their keeper but still we looked like scoring.  It was around 60 minutes when I decided to have some of the old faith in the team, the kind of faith that Henry and Bergkamp and Ray Parlour gave you.  The kind of faith that you had in knowing we would score eventually, rather than the creeping shadow of doubt we've accrued in recent years, due to unjust results and bad luck. 

5 minutes later Eduardo came on for Rosicky, who the manager still doesn't want to stretch out too far.  And it was  Eduardo who eventually set up the break through.  I thought we had scored about a minute before we actually did when Abou Diaby headed from Eduardo's cross.  It looked like it was going into the far corner but their old man keeper made an outstanding save to keep it out.  And I should mention that some time before that Olympiacos made a rare break and forced a corner, from which Melberg headed to the corner, but Mannone made a fantastic save before the ball would have hit Clichy on the line.  Had he not made the save the ball wouldn't have gone in but it was an outstanding save all the same, he really is coming good this kid. 

Then, a minute after Diaby's header and subsequent substitution for Carlos Vela, we made the break through.  A patented reverse pass from Cesc on the edge of the box saw Eduardo burst past his man to square low for van Persie who tapped into an open goal.  It was a very nicely worked goal and it took 78 minutes of battering to come.  I celebrated like a mad man because it was hugely relieving and certainly less than what we deserved. 

I was happy to see Carlos Vela who looked very eager, standing up when he could have easily gone down having been fouled on several occasions.  He attacked with speed and hunger and nearly set up a goal when it looked like he had held the ball too long.  he got stuck into challenges and played fairly well for the 12 minutes he had. 

Oh, and I forgot to mention their hand ball, which came about midway through the half.  After a corner, the ball was bouncing around the box and Diaby had flicked the ball at around waist height and it was going over his shoulder where I'd say his plan was to volley home.  As it was on the rise after his flick Dudu came flying in and shoved the ball down to the ground with his hand.  The replays show clear intent and had the ref spotted it, it would have been a penalty and he surely would have been off, that dirty little scum bag. 

It was inconsequential in the end as Arshavin made it safe on the 86th minute after Cesc played the ball across to him and he put the ball in with a sneaky little Cryuff turn flick and although he was offsides, it was a goal we definitely deserved. 

The game ended 2 nil when it could have been 6.  Had one of our chances in the first 20 minutes gone in we the game would have opened up very nicely and we could have put something of a thrashing on them, but as it happened we can't really take anything away from the performance.  We completely dominated and on another night it would have been 6.  We displayed skill, drive, craft and a whole shit load of speed.  We kept possession very well and attacked very thoughtfully and with drive and determination.  We're now on 6 points and after a draw in the other match we're in great position in the group.  Another win and a draw in the other match and we'll have qualified and as I've said, that can relieve the pressure and give us the freedom we'd like to continue our good league run. 

Highbury86

Olympiacos Tonight

We face Olympiacos tonight at the Grove. I really don't know anything about them except that they have Olof Melberg and Matt Derbyshire. I used be a closet fan of Matt Derbyshire but never understood the hype about Melberg. I suppose at the end of the day it's not really important since they're both really just OK.

We'll be without Fabianski, his knee still not having recovered, Almunia, still suffering from the gnarliest chest infection ever, Djourou, who'll of course be out for the bulk of the season, Sami Nasri is still out for at least another week with his leg break, Denilson is out with a slight back fracture, which is a shame because that's the type of injury that can really hamper a career later on, Theo won't play as he's short of match fitness and Bendtner crashed his Aston Martin and will miss the game.

Mannone will again deputize in the sticks. This'll be another chance for him to prove himself and you have to imagine that another great performance will allow him to hold his place for another game. He was fantastic in that entertaining match at Craven Cottage and should he have much to do we'll have to hope he does the same in the CL. Even if he doesn't hold his place, you have to imagine that with his performances and the imminent return of Fabianski, Almunia might get his finger out and get it together. Last season was certainly his best and he still wasn't that good and I really wouldn't mind Fabianski or even Mannone turning good and taking his place.

I expect our regular back 4, although I can see either one of the full backs being given a rest, maybe Clichy, as Sagna was recently given a break. Diaby will probably stand in the middle along side Song and Cesc again, hopefully he can have a good game and get some consistency down. You have to imagine that Eduardo will come in for Bendtner up front and with Theo out too, there may be room on the bench for Carlos Vela. I'd like to see him get going this season and this seems like a good opportunity, as it's a high profile match that doesn't seem too difficult or of great consequence.

A good performance and a win will again keep us moving in a run of very winnable matches that lead up our meeting with Tottenham on Oct. 31st, which should be a good test for us, but again a very winnable game. After that we have another series of games we should be winning and then we meet Chelsea at the end of November. There are 18 points to grab before November, which includes the Spurs match, and then another 6 before Chelsea. If we can take something like 22-24 points in that run we'll be in great position in the league and in good form to take on Drogba and co.. Another 3 points against Chelsea and we'll have pegged them back to 2 losses and have another 3 points in our bellies, which'll basically, you have to imagine, even out the league at the top.

In between those games we have a few others in the Carling Cup and Champions' League, which can go a long way to giving us momentum should we win them.

A win tonight will also put some daylight between us and the rest of the group, which'll relieve some pressure later on in the group stages and allow Wenger to rest some players and get some youngsters some Champions' League time. A draw in the other group game would go a long way to helping that. We'd be on 6 points, Olympiacos 3 and the others would have a point a piece. Another win and a draw in the other fixture would sew up qualification.

Now, onto the actual game, I think we shouldn't have a problem tonight at all, and I know I said that about the Liege game, but we shouldn't have had much of a problem there either. I think we'll have enough for a comfortable home win and hopefully we'll avoid any more injuries and our squad will stitch itself back together in a couple of weeks, with the exceptions of our long termers, who we'll just have to wait on.

Until tomorrow,

Highbury86

3 points from Fulham, Mannone the man

We played Fulham at Craven Cottage yesterday and we weren't all that great. We weren't all that terrible either, although we were quite frustrating. We were a little slow in the first half with our midfield 3 not really gelling. Cesc wasn't at his best, Song wasn't at his best and Diaby was very much Diaby, excellent at times, but in an instant awful. They really pressured us hard and used posession well and we really didn't put them under the kind of pressure they put on us. They moved the ball quickly in attack and really went at us down the middle and a little down the our left, which again was suspect. Clichy got caught up a few times and Arshavin gives him near no cover.

We never got much width in the first half and that was a major problem. We went down the middle too often and were just stuffed nearly every time we got the ball. I think that's were Diaby hurts us, his range of passing is very limited and while we did have Cesc, Bendtner never really offered anything wide on the right and Arshavin gave the ball up often.

Tactically they were sound, although you have to imagine with a little more craft and quality down the middle, which would have been offered by either Nasri or Rosicky we could have easily broken them down more often. Denilson would have been useful as well because we were giving away possession like it was the object of the game and he's better at keeping possession than anyone in the league. We were never too patient either, really trying to force our way through, which is what a 4 3 3 can do to you.

We had 2 good chances in the first half, Fabregas hitting over at the near post when he was going for the roof of the net and Arshavin was in on goal after some really nice play on the edge of the area but the ball bobbled at the worst moment. They had 2 excellent chances in the first half and I really think that if Almunia was in we may have conceded, but Mannone did the business with an awesome double save from the scummy Andy Johnson's header and then Dempsey's follow up. The cross for Johnson's header came from the left of course, as did most of their dangerous crosses, and there were quite a few through the night.

We started out the 2nd half really well and moved the ball around really well, with more urgency and flow, but again, we offered little width or patience. The game opened up and they came at us and we went at them and then after 7 minutes a crisp triangle on the half way line worked the ball well around the Fulham defense and then Cesc played the pass of the season so far and put the ball into the path of van Persie's good run. RVP's 1st touch was outstanding and then his finish was nice.

They came at us right afterwards and for the rest of the game and worked Mannone a few times more who came up with the goods with 3 more excellent saves. Late on we subbed Arshavin for Rosicky, which I think was correct despite the fact that I'm dying to see them play together, and Eboue came on for van Persie, which allowed Bendtner to take up his preferred position in the center.

The game opened up after that and Rosicky and Eboue brought some individual attacking quality we didn't have the entire game and we could have had a couple of goals with Bendtner forcing a save and Eboue screwing a shot wide when he should have certainly put a shot on target after being released by a wonderfully weighted and curled Fabregas pass.

Overall a draw probably would have been a fair result or maybe an Arsenal loss but we came through the game without having played particularly well and take away 3 much needed points. 3 good wins in a row now after our weird, but galvanizing come back win in the Champions' League and an easy win against Wigan (who beat Chelsea 3-1 yesterday). We're rolling now, we just need to get our performances together and win our next few games.

I think after injuries are recovered from in the next few weeks and our squad comes back together, with the exception of Djourou of course, we'll see the side shuffled around. I think Bendtner may lose his place with Theo on the comeback. His early season performances have dwindled off and he's just not performing. We could have used Walcott's pace in the last few games and he'll be a very welcomed addition. Eduardo should be used more often if he can stay fit for the next few weeks and same goes for Rosicky. We'll have more craft and quality and will be more dangerous. Come November we'll be something to be reckoned with and I'm excited.

Champions' League next week, our toughest game in the group will see us play Olympiacos. A win against them will have us in good position in the group. More on that later on.

Highbury86

Fulham Tomorrow

Well, Fulham away tomorrow, and we've got no real bad news ahead of the match, except for Almunia being out for a 10th day running with the longest chest infection ever contracted. So Wenger will decide between Mannone and Sz7yhfgnqxy to play in the sticks with Fabianski out with a knee injury until some time next month.

Arshavin is back and Theo is available, while van Persie is likely to play in recovery from a small injury. I think Arshavin will start with van Persie and Bendtner while Walcott will only be used if necessary.

There really isn't much else. This fixture has proved difficult for us in the past couple of seasons and so we'll have to be sharp and if we are we'll keep moving in our run of winnable games.

Fulham will play physically and try to play through the middle and on the break. Vermaelen should be more than a match for any big boys they throw up front and our midfield trio should be far too much for Danny Murphy and so I think we'll get the 3 points tomorrow. Hopefully our forwards will get some goals, van Persie will have to put away his chances to get his season really started and Eduardo'll have to be a bit more clinical than he has. Arshavin will likely be his assassin like self, hiding wide left to cut in and hammer in goals.

See you tomorrow,

Highbury86

Carling Cup Under Way, What's Sol Campbell doing?

Our latest League Cup campaign is under way and we've beaten West Brom 2 nil. We started with our typical mix of youngsters and out of favor seniors. Szjenxxy7p started in goal and made a few good saves. Gibbs played at left back, Karrea Gilbert played at right back and the Silvestre-Senderos super team held it down in the middle. I'm not sure what Karrea Gilbert has been up to but the last thing I remember seeing him do was set up a goal for Henry at Highbury. I think he went out on loan somewhere since then and evidently he's back. I'm not sure how he played as I only saw the highlights but I'm sure we'll see him in future rounds.

The middle 3 was made up of Coquelin, Ramsey and Wilshere and the front dudes were Sunu, Traore flanking Watt. From the highlights it seems like West Brom were doing quite well, creating chances and forcing a couple of saves out of young keeper. We were getting forward too and Watt hit the post when he maybe should have scored. Then Jerome Thomas shoved Wilshere in the face and was sent off. The ref really had no choice and it seems to me that it was all fairly innocuous and then Thomas really put his team in it when he pushed little Jack's face.

In the second half Wenger put on Vela and Randall and it seems that they turned the game. Vela did the exact same thing for Mexico as they won the Gold Cup in the summer. I'm glad to see him back as he'll be very useful in our new look formation.

On 68 minutes Vela spun his maker, sidestepped a couple of defenders and fired a shot from the edge of the box. Keily could only parry it to Watt who scored an easy goal. 8 minutes later Vela scored himself after an awesome chip by Randall, which seemed to come out of nowhere. A West Brom defender tried chest it down to Keily and completely fucked it up, letting Vela sneak in and hit home for our second.

We're on to our next round and will hopefully be embarking on a nice long run. In other slightly Arsenal related news Sol Campbell is leaving Knotts County after 1 game. Who knows what he was doing there in the first place, maybe he had an eye on management, but he's now wondering in the cold without a club. Who knows what's going on with him but he's had his personal problems in the past and I hope he sorts it all out. It's hard to feel bad for someone who's just walked away from 10 million pounds but he was a legend for us and is only now being somewhat replaced by Vermaelen.

Right then, catch you later

Highbury86

Adebayor Ban followed by easy win

Easy win yesterday, 3 points, a comfortable and goal scoring performance, all much needed and accomplished. Verminator is our top scorer and not a bad defender either. His partnership with Gallas is something we've been missing for a long time. **I just looked at the TV and AC Milan have a ginger guy playing for them. I don't think I've ever seen anyone with ginger hair play in Italy before, it's hilarious.**Right, anyway, Vermaelen got 2 good goals and played very well all around. Gallas had a very good game, as did Eboue and Clichy. Song and Cesc were OK, showing moments of magic and moments of lethargy. Eduardo wasn't at his best but chipped in with a goal, sort of, and van Persie is getting there. He missed a few chances but his form is on it's way.

If we score 5 against Fulham we'll be averaging 4 goals per game in the league after 6 games. I have a feeling the league will be tight at the top and all these goals may make a difference come the end of May. So, so far this week we've made a spirited come back from 2 nil down in the Champions' League and put Wigan to the sword at home, banging in 4 goals and could have had 6/7. I'd say that's defining getting on track. We've got a Carling Cup game mid week, our youngsters will be playing West Brom, it'll be a tough fixture but I think I'll put a quick 5er on our boys to win 3-1. Our big boys have a sterner test against Fulham at the weekend. If we can get a good win there we can really get rolling on our season.

Adebayor was given a 3 match ban for his stamp on van Persie. It's a frustrating situation, I'm glad he's been banned but what does it matter to us. I suppose his absence will hamper Man City and as they're sort of our rivals for league place it could benefit us that way, but he shouldn't have been on the park for that goal that ultimately beat us. He's likely to be banned again for his celebration but I can't imagine that being for more than 1 game.

Speaking of Man City, what a game today. I watched it streaming online and had a little trouble with the feed so I saw it up until 3-3 and figured that it ended that way. I've just seen the result and Michael Owen of all people finished off City after Ferdinand and Foster seemed to have given the game away.

While I watched that game I just fumed and hated Bellamy more and more, his constant crying to the ref while he fouls dirty and freely and then screams in the faces of those he's injured. He's ludicrous. I thought, 'I hope that Bellamy and Adebayor get killed in a car crash together'. I thought this very seriously as they're professional footballers and they have an important influence on kids who play the game. I thought, 'And if they killed Drogba and Ballack at the same time all the better'. Again, a serious thought. I took a breath and realized it was a little dramatic and maybe I'm just an angry guy. I came to a sense and realize that while they don't deserve to die, they certainly don't deserve to play football either. What's really horrifying is that 3 of those guys are the highest paid players in England. It's consistent with the rest of the world of business. It's often business masquerading as something else, something positive when most of what it is is price fixing and lack of quality, often dangerous lack of quality, being peddled and earned for. It's like really shitty movies that make billions, really shitty music that makes billions, really unhealthy and outright dangerous foods that make billions. It's like the government passing the patriot act and saying that it'll benefit the country's citizens, the fact that they've had the gall to call it the Patriot Act when it cuts out 4/5 constitutional rights is in congress with all that horrible shit. Control of the masses, their mindsets, their freedoms and their money, by the very few.

Now it's a slippery slope and I fear for football as it's one of the few things that remains a hope for integrity, endeavor, fight, passion, something for something's sake and having thought about it, it still is. No matter how much business you put into football, no matter how many pros dive and wine and complain and feign injury and fight the refs and stamp on faces and celebrate in front of their old fans and then make up stories in the press about how they've been abused, you can't avoid the fact that there is no football without the football. There is no business or scumbags without the honest boys, without the 11 on 11, man v man, team v team, tactics v tactics, talent v talent. And you'll never have pros without the kids in the streets, without kick ups in the living room, without dad's taking out their boys and girls, without parks, without balls without fun. We may not be able to take the pre madonnas and business out of football but they definitely can't take the football out of football.

Bad Day Turned Good

So, I had work at 3:30 Atlanta time yesterday and Fox Soccer Channel wasn't airing the game until 5 so I had set the DVR box to record it. I sat down with an hour to go until work time to watch some of the Liverpool game and about 8 minutes in the commentator blurts out: "Over in Belgium Arsenal trail Liege by 2 goals inside 5 minutes". My heart sunk, I was furious. I got online to find a stream of the game after being unable to find one I ventured over to UEFA.com to look at the line ups and see what was going on. We were 2 nil down and were playing Diaby on the left wing. "Goddammit!" I went up stairs to change for work, came down and the score was 4 nil, the commentator confirmed it in the Liverpool game, "Arsenal have fallen 4 goals behind inside just 20 minutes in Belgium." I was livid. My girlfriend was scared I was going to transform into a giant green thing and tear through all my clothes.

I got to work and took my requisite exam and started my 4th day of training. I was so angry I could hardly contain it, 4 nil down and I wasn't even supposed to know anything about the game until after work. 4 nil down in 20 minutes, how were we going to come back? No Arshavin, no van Persie, no Nasri, no Walcott, no Vela, all players who could turn the game. Diaby, Rosicky, Cesc and Eduardo are all capable as well but Rosicky has only just come back, Eduardo really needs to feed off of service, Cesc is out of form and Diaby is Diaby.

I left my phone in my pocket during my shift and my nuts were vibrating constantly throughout the night, no doubt the game was eventful. Just to kick me in the pants a little extra the girl who was training me was a turbo control freak who was just about trying to teach me how to breathe.

I got through the night without much event and after tasting some wines and hashing out my problems with my trainer, managed to calm down. My girlfriend picked me up and greeted me with the loving affection a fragile Arsenal fan often needs.

I turned on the game and watched as we conceded a needless corner, Mannone, who looks just like that guy from the eHarmony commercials, didn't give Song a shout and Song put the Liege cross needlessly out for a corner. We cleared the corner and then Eduardo, the mad Brazilian that he is, tried to back heel the ball out of the air to Cesc on the edge of our own box. Their giant center back fended off Fabregas' challenge and sent his shot low and hard to the near post bottom corner. You could argue that a keeper shouldn't really be beaten at his near post but it's hard to argue that any of our keepers would have saved that shot. Under ordinary circumstances I wouldn't be too worried, we made an early mistake and conceded a goal, but knowing that we went on to concede 3 more in the next 18 minutes I wasn't at all happy.

We went at them right away with total immoderation and immaturity and opened ourselves up at the back by leaving huge spaces with poor passing. They countered with Jovanavic dribbling at our defense. Gallas came in with a challenge as the attacker cut the ball back and their toes seemed to graze each other about 3 inches outside the box, which was only evident after the replay. In real time it looked like there wasn't any contact. Such is life that the penalty was given. The penalty wasn't good but Mannone went the wrong way even though the replays showed that Jovanovic made it about as obvious as a ten year old would have that he was going to the keepers right. 2-0 down inside 5 minutes.

The game went on and we kept the ball for the rest of the half, which was uneventful. We did keep the ball, but not well at all. Passes were all over the place, we kept no real possession only tried to fly forward, which allowed them to sit back and soak up our lame pressure. We had a few free kicks that Fabregas hit very poorly. The game wasn't helped at all by the pathetic, conversational, boring commentary. It wasn't near as bad as Max Bretos or that inexplicably, horrendously bad commentator from Fox Soccer Channel whose name I forget, you know the guy I'm talking about. He's always popping in with these obnoxious Spanish sayings and annectdotes and commentating on the game like like he knows better than the managers down on the touchline. Jesus Christ he's awful. Brazil could be playing Spain in the World Cup Finals being played on a floating pitch in space and I wouldn't watch it if that guy was commentating.

40 minutes on the clock and it was still 2 nil. There was a cock up, UEFA.com fucked it up and the Liverpool match commentator fell for it too, as you would. It was relieving I have to say but I was still skeptical. That was until Diaby pulled a good run out of his had, burning past two defenders before sliding in for Bendtner to run onto and finish very neatly under the keeper. The whistle went and we went in 2-1 down after Bendtner scored a crucial goal. A pleasantly stark contrast to 4-0 at 20 minutes.

The half time report was that we were very poor. They were committed, but even so, we were bad. Clichy wasn't particularly good, neither were Cesc, Song, Diaby, or Eduardo. Bendtner was working hard but I think we just have to accept that he just doesn't have the quality we all want him to have. Gallas and Vermaelen could hold their heads high and Mannone, although he missed timed a couple of clearances, did a fine job with everything else that was asked of him. He looked very composed.

We started the second half by conceded a corner, which we broke away from with Rosicky flying past a Liege player and then sending a wonderful 60 yard pass long and high down the middle to Bendtner who controlled it perfectly and would have scored was it now for one of the best tackles I've ever seen by Mangelar, the scorer of the first goal.

The game went on and we continued to boss the ball but did nothing with it. We went forward and ran into a red wall again and again. They just sat behind the half way line, as soon as we entered their half they pressed and we had to start again, as our passing continued to be poor. We were playing straight into their adjusted game plan, adjusted because they surely didn't expect to be 2-1 up at this stage.

We eventually began to keep the ball better higher up the park and our possession was rewarded with a few free kicks in good positions. The problem with our free kicks was that without van Persie, Cesc was left with the responsibility and his deliveries were consistently bad.

But it was looking up, slightly. And just as it did, the chocolate eating, lace weaving Belgiums came flying at us and got a few players in behind. Their Brazilian Belgium crossed low across the box and it was missed by Diaby, Vermaelen and Mannone and if it wasn't for Eboue's excellent clearance over the bar from 4 yards out, it would have been 3-1. Eboue has his bad moments, he had several horrendous ones last season, but be that as it may, he seems to get no credit for his good work. It seems that it takes 90 minutes of blistering play and outstanding quality (like at Celtic) for him to get any credit.

Just after that the game seemed to open up for about 5 minutes but we couldn't quite take advantage with 1-2's not quite coming off, or slips on the ball or some kind of mini disaster occurring at the worst possible moment. And on occasion their forwards would get in behind our midfield and try to expose our defenders and Gallas and Vermaelen were always on hand to make timely tackles and interceptions and they were monstrous in the air. They really are forming some kind of good partnership.

The 70th minute saw Rosicky come off for Ramsey. Rosicky's first start in 20 months was good, he played well, worked hard and while he was a little out of context, slightly out of flow with some of his teammates, he showed the kind of quality he can bring at times. He was the only player playing with some real urgency. Almost immediately we got our 2nd shot on target. It was easily saved and wasn't that great of a shot but it was progress. 73 minutes saw another shot on target, another baby step. Then on 76 minutes Eduardo did really well to beat 2 players on the dribble and was fouled in the process. Cesc finally played a good ball in and it was flicked on by Eduardo to the very offsides Alex Song who handballed it and poked it to the also offsides Vermaelen who poked it home. Square at 2 all after 78minutes. Much better than 4 nil down on 20.

Football can be funny, we get unlucky a few times in Manchester and karmic retribution lands on the poor Belgian minnows. The rich get richer and the little Belgians see a wonderful night on their Champions' League debut slipping away.

Then under a minute after our equalizer we could have been 3-2 up. Bendtner came very deep for the ball, played it on into the box and after a couple of 1-2's Cesc played it to Eduardo who hit the ball with his right to the far post, producing a great save from Bolat. From the resulting corner Vermaelen hit an outrageous back heal straight out of the air, which was cleared off the line by the man on the post. We were a slightly new Arsenal. We played with urgency and some quality. Eduardo almost got in on goal from a long ball out of the back but was tackled well. Then from the corner he scored the winner with his knee. The ball swung in and Sagna cleverly ducked under the ball as he looked to head. This seemed to confuse everyone in the box except Eduardo who was Johnny on the spot, getting his knee in front of his marker. The man who was supposed to have been banned, who had a terrible first half, making the mistake that led to their first goal, who was supposed to be subbed just before we scored our second, set up a crazy offsides, handball equalizer with a flick and scored the winner in the middle of a crowded box with his knee.

So we were bad, but we won. We had a young goal keeper who had little to do but pick the ball out of his net twice and pick up a couple of loose balls in the box. We had a few additional injuries to our already lengthy injury list and we managed to come back from 2-0 down after 5 minutes to win 3-2. A potential disaster turned into a greatly spirited, if lacking in quality, performance. We'll put the performance behind us but we'll remember the spirit and the result and will be able to use this to galvanize our team and put together what we all hope to be a good string of good results.

WE LOVE YOU ARSENAL WE DO!...

Bare bones at Liege

We're back in Europe today as we take on Liege. The most I know about them is that they almost beat Liverpool a couple years ago and that Marouane Fellaini came from there. So they like afros and giving big teams a run for their money. No doubt they'll be up for the match. We're down to bare bones with van Persie, Denilson and Almunia adding to our injury troubles. van Persie's knee is bother him and his injury really makes Eduardo's appeal important, without him we'd be really bare up there with Bendtner the only real recognized forward. Sanchez Watt is in the squad but he's not all that recognized is he. I'm sure we'll come to though as he's a good young player with the worst hair do ever. I thought that there was something wrong with Denilson during the Man City game and it turns out that he has Diptheria, a nasty disease that affects less than 5 people per year in the 1st world. It's one of those things that you hear of and laugh about like lock jaw or hemroids, which my unfortunate Tottenham fan friend suffers from on occasion, missing important Men's League matches. Denilson must have had some company from Brazil over because being part of that statistic is seriously unlucky, especially for a professional athlete. I don't know how bad his case is but people are often hospitalized for a long time with Diptheria.

Almunia's injury isn't well timed at all. He's in terrible form and isn't very good in the first place but he's the best we've got. It would have been a good time for Fabianski to try to step up and prove himself but that little bastard's out too. That leaves Mannone between the sticks. Hopefully he won't have much to deal with but knowing our luck he and that Polish dude (our other keeper) will hurt themselves in a sleepover pillow fight and we'll have to put Eboue in goal.

So we'll likely start with the our regular back 4 with Cesc, Song and Diaby in midfield and Bendtner, Eduardo and Eboue up top. That's not at all that bad a team as long as nobody has a howler. We should have enough for a win and with Rosicky on the bench and a bare squad we may get injections from the Czech and Wilshere, who'll hopefully get some time.

We have a very winnable group and a very winnable run of fixtures coming up and this is the start. A good performance paired with a win tonight will get us on track. It'll be particularly galvanizing with our thin squad. I might add that it's a shame that Fran Merida isn't in the squad. I like him a lot and would really like to see him given some chances this season.

Right then, kick off isn't far away and if you're in Atlanta go on down to the Brew House Cafe to catch the game at 5PM, it's an Arsenal bar and always has an atmosphere. It's the closest you'll get to home outside of London.

Highbury86

A Lot to Discuss

Well, hello everyone, it's been a long weekend and it's high time we reflected on what happened. Saturday was heart wrenching. I know we all know the events of the game and how Adebayor has ingrained himself in dickhead folk lore by stamping on Cesc, kicking and slapping Song, raking van Persie's face and celebrating his goal in front of our boys in the stands. He's looking at a ban which will see him miss a couple of important games and surely the City fans will see that he's only out for himself. His interview was awful, he said that he is human and made a mistake and will be better for it tomorrow, but I think we all know that tomorrow he'll still be a cunt. He also claims to have apologized to van Persie for treading on his face, which our Dutchman categorically denies. I'm inclined to believe Robin. Mark Hughes has said that it his celebration was understandable because of what he's been through in the past 18 months. I'm still wondering what that is exactly. It seems to me that all he's gone through is a pay raise and the realization that he's a twat who deserves all the scorn he claims to get.

Besides Adebayor the game was strange and frustrating. We never really got going despite the fact that for large parts of the game we were running things. We moved the ball slowly and had little urgency when off it. Still, we had the first chance of the game when Gallas couldn't quite make good enough contact with a corner that was swinging slightly behind him. Had that gone in the game would have been in the bag.

Denilson was off the pace entirely, which prompts me to believe that there was something wrong, maybe his girl left him or his grandmother is ill or he had the flu or something because whatever you think of him nobody with eyes could ever accuse him of not trying. He wasn't hustling to balls or making tackles at all, I don't think he went to ground once and it seems like it's his favorite thing to do.

Song wasn't having a great game and Cesc looked miles away. Up front our boys were very slow and lacked any craft what so ever. Diaby was a terrible choice out on the left and I can only imagine was picked in order to recover some confidence from the United game.

We sorely missed Arshavin, Nasri, Walcott and Vela and until his introduction Rosicky. We could have really used some craft and guile and urgency and all of those players are capable of giving those things and something a little extra.

At the back we weren't particularly good. Clichy was having one of those games where he goes away for a while for longs spells, maybe eating a mental sandwich or fantasizing about a girl in the crowd. Gallas and Vermaelen weren't as vivacious as we've come to expect and were split too easily on several occasions, although they can't take all the blame as our midfield and forward line weren't putting any effort in off the ball.

The first goal we let in was odd and Almunia was slow to react to an offsides Micah Richards' header. On one hand I think he should have been a bit braver and saved it, but on the other hand, had he hit the post and injured himself we would be in big trouble until he returns.

Our equalizer didn't come until Rosicky put some verve in our side and then as we piled forward poor play on our part led to 3 of their goals. 3. 3 goals. I won't get into details but each goal could have been avoided far up the park. It took until we were 4-1 down to react after being 2-1 down. We hit the post, had shots blocked, Given made a very good save and a save he knew nothing about. We could have been level by the end of the game had we put away half the chances we had in the last 10 minutes.

It was a gutting loss and Adebayor made it that much worse. I haven't even mentioned the ref. He was awful. We were up against it again. We were being whistled and carded and they were allowed to kick at us wildly, Adebayor in particular.

We have to regroup now and have a long list of fixtures that should let us do that. We have about odds on 10 winnable games coming up and should we do that it'll get us back on track. Even if we drop a couple points here or there a good run should get us moving again.

Champions' League play starts tomorrow and we've got Eduardo back. In the total farce that was his charge, trial and condemnation, which cost god knows how much money, UEFA bit off a lot more than they could chew. They've realized it and turned over the ban. They're a moronic bureaucracy and I hope for the sake of football that something over there changes.

So it's Standard Liege and we'll have Eduardo to help us to a standard win. They're missing their best player and we despite all of our injuries we should certainly have enough to put them away.

Talk to you then,

Highbury86

Man City Preview

Hello and good morning. Yesterday I wrote a little blog about how today's game is just another fixture on the list and that the media have blown it up but it has special circumstances because of Toure and Adebayor and because everyone is touting them and we've been written off. I'd like to scratch that. I've realized in a dream that without these types of moments football isn't football. What makes football the best thing in the world is how it brings everyone on earth together. Black, white, Chinese, Indian, whatever you are, we all love football. Rich, poor, ugly, beautiful, football equalizes us all. You could be the most popular kid at your school, the most handsome dude that ever walked the halls, girls ogle you, teachers love you, other kids parents remark: "My, what a handsome young man.", but if you don't have the mustard on the pitch then in those moments it doesn't matter. It's an equalizer, like sitting down according to Churchill: "Ah, sitting down," he said, "the great equalizer of all men alike." Well, so is lining up before a game. What makes this game so equalizing, so uniting, so inviting, so wonderful and amazing? The passion, the grit, the studs up two foot slide tackles over the ball, the aerial clashes of giant men, the team work, the fight, the 120 mile an hour shots, the flying saves, the crowds, the managers screaming, the people on their couches and in the pubs shouting at the television hoping they make a difference, the shirts with the names and numbers on the back, polishing your boots on Friday night for Saturday morning, doing kick ups for hours in your living room while your yelled at by your mother, Jens Lehman's penalty save in the final minute of the Champions' League semi final to put us through to the finals, that's what makes football special, that's what makes this game today special. Let's all get behind our boys and buy into the media shite, lets go to the pubs and bars wearing our Arsenal shirts, shave our heads, dawn our tattoos, look fucking mean because we're out for blood today. Come on you Arsenal, we hate you city, let all that psychotic rage you've been itching to take out on your mother one day come out on Adebayor, fuck him and his mother, come on you Arsenal. Today we play Man City and we will win!

Highbury86

Quicky

Hello, quick one today, I've just watched one of the most boring movies ever made and am in no mood to sit still any longer. We've got a big game tomorrow as we travel again to Manchester. The only reason this is a big game is because the media have made it so. We've been tipped to fall out of the top four and to be replaced by tomorrow's opponents. Sky sports even dropped us from their premier league preview photo, which has traditionally consisted of a player from each of the top four teams, and has replaced our man with a Man City player, I think it's even Adebayor. Are Man City a real threat to our standing in the league? I suppose you could argue that due to their good start to the season and mass of expensive players with premier league experience that they are. That is not to say that they are not a threat to the other teams towards the top either. Nobody has been talking about Liverpool dropping out of the top four despite the fact that they have little depth and lost a very important player. Nobody talks about United falling out of the top four because they are United, they've lost two very serious players, one who is never injured and scores tons of goals, and another who was capable of changing games when brought on.

The media have made our fixture tomorrow into a gladiator type of affair: kill or be killed. They'll be wielding an axe, we'll have a sword, meanwhile we'll both be fending off the lions while the crowds shout and the lords and ladies eat grapes and applaud. The truth is that this is just another fixture on the schedule. They're a good side with good players and so are we. But the players will have something to prove and there will be a special atmosphere as our boys will be torn between slagging off Adebayor and giving ovations to the former King Kolo. Our boys will want to shove it to the media and I'll love it when they do.

So in summation, it's a fixture like any other with special circumstances. A win will get us back on track after a disappointing and frustrating loss to United and a loss will have news papers going nuts.

Preview tomorrow.

Highbury86

UPDATE

Arshavin is injured, Wenger isn't happy.

Comence real footer

Hello and good morning, hope you all had a wonderful international week. I know England fans did, or maybe did, it was still boring but we are through to the world cup finals! A good win too, good performance and Walcott didn't get injured to boot! Of course he didn't play but I don't think that would stop him getting injured on international duty.

Anyway, our boys who did play did rather well this week, Arshavin played a great pass through a crowded box for a forward to run onto and score. In the same game Aaron Ramsey set up Wales' goal with a nice corner and scored for the U21s against Italy. Van Persie got a goal, Bendtner got 2 and Eduardo scored against England and of course a bearded Cesc opened the scoring against Estonia in Spain's qualifier after they should have scored about 30 times. I really don't know who'll be able to beat Spain during the world cup. They are just awesome, they pass and move like a they've played together since they were 6, they are all oozing with talent and they have depth everywhere, except for left back. Maybe that's how to do it, kick Capdevila early on and then put on 3 right wingers.

So far so good on the injury front, Rosicky has played, Arshavin and Cesc have recovered and Walcott may be in contention for the bench on Saturday. We'll have to wait for the official report but I think we may be in the clear aside from the Djourou business.

Big game on saturday and lets hope we have as many of our boys as possible. So far this season we've had a boot, a cast (plaster), 2 surgeries, and 3/4 other minor/potentially fatal injuries. Hopefully we're getting them all out of the way now so that when we hit the fixture thickness like when you're about half way through a milk shake and you've come to the slightly frozen core, we'll be prepared.

Anyway, nothing much else is doing. I start my new job in my new city today, woohoo, I'm very excited. My girlfriend has breathed a huge sigh of relief as I won't be asking her for 5 dollars here, 3 dollars there anymore. Lucky girl. Righto, I'm off, catch you later.

Highbury86

Djourou, Bendtner's goal, Cesc and Shrek

Hello again and again there isn't much Arsenal news to be had. The biggest news is that Djourou is out until March after a knee operation in Geneva. He's had the operation to get rid of his niggling knee injury. It's quite poorly timed it has to be said after the sale of King Kolo. It seems to make sense of the Senderos story, I'm not certain but I'm guessing that Wenger wouldn't sell with the likelihood of Djourou's surgery. What I am certain of is that now that Djourou's had surgery and will be out for 6 months, Gallas will break his leg in a car accident, Vermaelen will get stranded on Elba and Senderos will be confused with some war crimes fugitive and get sentenced to death by hanging and it'll take until March to clear his name. Wenger will be forced to clone Silvestre and play the original with his deformed clone. But we'll still win the league because our attack is so good.

Anyway, in all seriousness Djourou's injury really sucks and we're in danger of being fairly fucked should Gallas or Vermaelen pick up any serious injury. A second injury at center half will leave us with just 2 and a 3rd will force Song back there. This is all very speculative of course but we're the Arsenal and are almost certain to pick up injuries to our center backs.

Cesc played for Spain as they beat the pants off Vermaelen's Belgium 5 nil. Spain are through to the World Cup and I see no reason for Fabregas to play on Wednesday. Rosicky wasn't named in Czech Republic's squad so he may be behind in his recovery. Arseblog said he must have broken in half getting off the bus, and I suppose I wouldn't be surprised.

Bendtner scored a really good goal against Portugal, which is good to see. It really was a good goal too, a cross was swung in to the area, about 15 yards from goal, he climbed over 3 defenders, chested the ball down and smashed the thing into the top corner with his left foot. Awesome goal!

In news not too directly related to Arsenal did any of you see that England game yesterday? Now we weren't too good, but you can't argue that Slovenia ever really looked too threatening, England were always in control despite performing so lamely, they passed the ball with no urgency, the ball trickled from player to player. It was a friendly and I understand the lack of gusto in the game, but when you watch Spain or Brazil play their friendlies it's easy to see that they love playing football, friendly or not they go at the game and play well and have fun. England were dull and disinterested and it was disheartening to say the least. They're already a bunch of scummy frat boys, they could at least make it seem like they still love football.

We won the game 2 nil after a Fat Frank Lampard scored a penalty and Jermaine Defoe came off the bench to hit a shot off a defender and in. What I really wanted to discuss was the penalty. You can see the highlights on footytube.com. It was a ridiculous passage of play. Gerrard clipped in a cross with the outside of his right boot and it curled across the face of the 6 yard box. Rooney was the intended target. He was running with his marker and as the ball came across him he pulled on the defenders shirt and then slide tackled him high on the ankle, thus ending the game for the defender. When you watch replays it's clear that Rooney should be sent off. It was a double whammy foul, firstly it was a dive, he was intending to get a penalty, second, he made an outrageous high tackle on a player while the ball was 3 feet over their heads. Had Rooney made a similar tackle on a guy dribbling the ball he would have been booked at least. This happened the day after Terry gave an interview where he exclaimed that English players don't dive at all, that they have too much integrity. He obviously has never watched Aaron Lenon, Steven Gerrard, Ashley Cole or Wayne Rooney play. Rooney has repeatedly shown that he has no football integrity, he's a scummy little troll who takes dives and shouts at refs. He's such a good player, it's a shame he's such a fuck head. Again, this highlights the chasm in reasonability applied to English players and foreigners. Eduardo's incident will linger on for his entire career, he'll be labeled a diver and be boo'd at every away game for years. Rooney will go on being Rooney and will likely be knighted or something absurd like that later on in life.

Just 6 days until Arsenal,

Highbury86

Yo Yo Yo

What up folks,

nothing much doing again. Amazon.com has taken off Man U's chants CD with the paedophile chant on it, the original Arseblog has the skinny on that. Bendtner talks about being stoked about his new deal and how Wenger is responsible for his maturing as a player and a young man. He of course signed a new contract along with Denilson and after van Persie, Gibbs, Ramsey and Walcott. Van Persie the only player over 21 in that bunch and so it seems that our future is being tightly secured, more good Wenger business. In an economic climate that involves complex scummary at every level, including governing bodies and their slimy limbs the future of food and trade lies in self sustaining agriculture, minimizing the need for expensive transport and massive amounts of costly irrigation for food that often goes up to 20% wasted. Likewise in football the future of football clubs will be self sustaining business models where youth and talented management rule over outside investment and outrageous debt.

Looking around the league at other clubs, their transfer records and their success rates it's easy to see how important and excellent Wenger really is and not just for Arsenal either, but the game as a whole. Aston Villa have spent 40 million on Stuart Downing, Stephen Warnock and a few other, while recouping about 15m with the sales of Gareth Barry and Zat Knight. Chelsea have spent around 20m pounds without selling any players of value. Stoke have spent 27 million, Birmingham have spent near 20m and Man Citeh of course have spent 800jabillion pounds. Since January we've spent 25 million and recouped 41, and we looked to have improved beyond any other premier league team. This summer we've signed 1 unknown and sold 2 established stars. So far this season we've gone from favorites to fall from the top four to favorites to win the title. We've scored tons of goals and played excellent football, had we not imploded at Old Traford and won the game as we should have, we'd really be on song. As it stands we didn't but it's clear that everyone saw we were the better team. This isn't an odd summer either. Under Wenger we've hardly ever spent more than we've made on players and have challenged on all levels for 12 years. We've certainly spent far less than any of the other top four clubs and have continued to play better football than any team in Europe bar Barcelona in the past few years. The past few seasons have been a bit painful as the cost of our new stadium has made it difficult to sign established players, meanwhile many established players have left so our balance has been tilted. Wenger's work is bearing fruit so far this season and if we continue as we have we're sure to challenge on all fronts, just as we did a couple of years ago. Our progress was halted after 07/08 with the departures of a lot of players in the same position, which won't happen this year. Even if we finish 2nd or 3rd in the league and get to the 1/4 finals of the champions league, semis of the FA Cup and the finals of the League Cup and win nothing, we won't lose 3/4 midfielders or 2 established players to bad injuries. We will carry on and do better the next season. A trophy with this squad is only a matter of time, in Wenger we have to trust and I think we'll all see over the next few years how terrific this Wenger project is.

Higbury86

Senderos, Merida, Denilson, Bendtner, Eduardo, etc.

Halloo people,

Not a lot of news but still enough for a blog. My internet is back and so I'll be able to resume blogging as usual. I may have already said this already, but having internet in your own home is so exciting I'll have to say it again. Anyway, Denilson and Bendtner have signed new deals and I think we can all be happy about that. Denilson has really come into form. He was very good last year and totally underrated and this season he's improved beyond that and is looking increasingly like the player we've all hoped he'd become. Except that I guess not since we all thought he was some Brazilian magician, the next Ronaldinho, when he was still good. He's turned out to be a hard worker with great intelligence and still has the skill and execution of a Brazilian. Bendtner has come a long way. Last season was his best and this season he'll have even more opportunities and will hopefully score some goals. I'd love to see him get 20 or more in all competitions. If we can get 100 goals between 6 strikers in all competitions we'll really be in business and if we are to do that Bendtner will have to get on the score sheet a little more often.

Fran Merida gave an interview to Arsenal.com about being what it means to him to be called up to the first team, which is strange because I could have sworn he signed a loan deal and he was going to Levante. The Spanish league has started and he's still here. I'm not complaining though, he's an excellent center mid, a great replacement for Fabregas, should he carry on impressive as he has been he may usurp the disappointing Aaron Ramsey as our play making central midfielder off the bench.

Senderos is apparently upset about staying at the club. Everton went for Distin instead. I'm not sure why this happened but it has and Big Phil isn't happy. It seems that it'll hurt his chances of making the Swiss world cup squad and you have to feel for him. The more thought I give to the situation the more I realize that Senderos staying at the club may not even solve our center back trouble. There's no telling whether or not l'Boss will make him 4th choice or stick with Silvestre. In which case keeping him is a terrible shame. If he's not going to be playing at all he surely won't make it into the world cup squad for Switzerland and missing out on a world cup would be devastating. Although Switzerland may not even qualify so who knows about any of this.

Eduardo's ban has been given and he's set to miss two matches. It's a really stupid decision that won't set any precedent. I doubt that any more dives will be looked at retrospectively this season, particularly those that are seen by the ref. There are so many contradictions in Eduardo's witch hunt situation that it's not even worth discussing as it'll take hours to pick apart. UEFA fucked up, they're the bureaucracy and we're the people. They are the automated phone service and we are the annoyed customers. However, unlike annoyed customers, unlike the people, we have a legitimate chance of fighting back. We have a real chance of getting our own in with a good long run in the Champions' League, where Eduardo will start every match that he isn't banned from and finish top scorer. Stick that in your ass Platini you fat little lunatic.

And now something from last week. I went to the pub after missing the second leg with Celtic to watch the Champions' League highlights as my television service hadn't been installed yet. The internet programming schedule for Fox Soccer Channel was wrong and I ended up having to watch the fucking Champions' League draw. An absurdly boring bit of television that really has no place being aired, but I guess they have to so there's no though of fixing match ups.

During the draw they show nominations and award players with a position specific trophy. There are 3 nominated players for each category, Edwin van der Saar, Petr Cech and Victor Valdes were nominated for best goalkeeper, John Terry, Nemanja Vidic and Gerrard Pique were nominated for best defender, Xavi, Lampard and Ryan Giggs (I think) were nominated for best midfielder and I didn't see who was nominated for best forward as it simply cut over to Lio Messi picking up the trophy.

Notice anything about the nominated players? What do they all have in common? I think it's that they were all Champions' League semi finalists. They all came from the same 3 teams. Does it seem as though there was a lot of consideration as to who may win these awards, did a panel watch all the matches from the Champions' League and pick out the outstanding performers or did some old lazy gits decide they were going to nominate players from the semi finalist teams. I think the latter. And of the semi finalist teams there is only one without any representation: Arsenal.

Did we have any Champions' League performers who deserved to be up there? Was Bacary Sagna better than Pique was last season. It's certainly debatable. I only saw a handful of Barca games and all the Arsenal ones but from what I saw Sagna was certainly better. And what about Almunia, his performances against Man U were excellent, despite the scores and he was constantly in form throughout the competition. Victor Valdes is a disaster of a person and a goalkeeper, he's lucky to be in that team and I'd pick Almunia over him any day of the year. It's us against them.

Another thing on the subject, UEFA's ineptitude was highlighted when John Terry won best defender over Vidic. Vidic was the best defender on the planet last year and anyone who thinks Terry performed better in one of his worst seasons at Chelsea is a moron plain and simple.

Right, moving on. I was watching Fox Soccer Report, which is great when Bobby Mcmahon is on, but mediocre at best when he's not, and they were previewing the upcoming Brazil v Argentina world cup qualifier. Firstly Argentina is mental to let Maradonna coach that team. He's a legend no doubt, clearly the most famous person ever to live in the country, but he's clearly a crazy, fat mental case. Argentina are in 4th place in their group, while boasting one of the best squads in the world.

Anyway, I'm watching the preview and they are discussing tactics and why certain players are being rested and all that good stuff when they cut to an interview with a Brazil player. I look up from my computer and see Liverpool's Lucas on the screen, wearing a Brazil training kit! Now if that awful fucker is being selected for Brazil I see no reason that Denilson shouldn't be captain. Denilson is 10 times the player Lucas is, and I mean no exaggeration. It would take 10 Lucas's to do the work Denilson does in a game. In happier news Gilberto is included in the team to play against Argentina, hopefully he'll get on the pitch.

Until next time,

Highbury86

Double post

Double post today, we'll start with the one that I meant to put up yesterday and move on to todays.




Well, it's transfer deadline day, the deadline is in about an hour and a half and there's nothing doing. It doesn't surprise me that nobody's coming in, it does surprise me, however, that Senderos seems to be staying. Big Phil remaining at the club eradicates any need for cover at center back as he makes it 5. He'll likely duke it out with Djourou for 3rd choice, but considering the way he's been handled by the club it seems likely that Djourou will hold down his spot as first off the bench at the back.

Chamack isn't coming in and so it's like the old days, the invincible days, where we would let a couple players go and bring in 1 or none. In the past year we've brought in Sami Nasri, Andrei Arshavin and Thomas Vermaelen. We've let go of Gilberto Silva, Mathieu Flamini, Alex Hleb, Emanuel Adebayor and the former King Kolo Toure. In stepped Song and Denilson, Bendtner and Vela too. We look good and deep with attacking riches and a wealth of defenders, 5 center backs, 3 left backs and 2 right backs. We have a room full of midfielders too and have a small army of left footers, probably more than any team in Europe with Vermaelen, Silvestre, Clichy, Gibbs, Traore, Merida, Eduardo, RvP, Carlos Vela and Jack Wilshere and if I remember correctly Fabianski too. We could have a team made entirely of left footers, it'd be great to see against some shit team like Portsmouth or something wouldn't it, surely there have been teams made up of entirely right footed players, how would it look if there was a team of left footers? Hilarious I would imagine.

Our only area of possible concern is that there is no real cover for Song. He'll be gone in January for the African Cup of Nations and will miss key matches, with only Denilson as a possible replacement. We all know that they are two very different players and rather compliment each other, as opposed to being like for like. Should he get injured then we're in real trouble. Should he miss 5/6 league and cup games in January and miss 5/6 other games through suspension and injury, we're looking at 10/12 games he could be missing. That's around 1/3rd of the league campaign. Missing Song in the big games could be the difference this season so we'll have to hope he stays fit and that Camaroon go out early in the ACN. Likewise we'll be missing Eboue during the same stint so we'll have to hope for Sagna to go injury free in that spell, although you have to imagine that one of our center backs could cope at right back if needed.

Right then, let's hope that nobody picks up an injury playing for their country this week so we can come back on the 12th and do the business at Eastlands.

See ya,

Highbury86


Right then, that was that, now to today's ever more relevant blog. The previous blog is trite and so I'll examine the squad slightly further. Our goalkeeper situation is what it is. Almunia is no world beater as I've said before, but I suppose he's sufficient enough to win trophies, if Victor Valdes can win the treble, we can at least win a little something. In reality there aren't too many world class keepers around. Van Der Saar is excellent, as are Buffon and Casillas and that young Russian keeper is quite good if I remember correctly, but other than those guys and probably a few others I've left out, I can't really think of any. This would make bringing one in super expensive and we all know that we'll never splash cash on a goal keeper.

Our fullbacks are looking good. When you look at the collection we have, Gibbs/Traore, Clichy, Sagna and Eboue, we've got to have the best full backs in the league, possibly Europe.

Gallas and Vermaelen are looking excellent in the center of defense. I watched the full Celtic second leg last night as it was aired again and bloody hell was Gallas good. Vermaelen was excellent as well but Gallas was just outrageous. It's awesome to see him on that kind of form, the kind of form that made him a top 5 world defender at Chelsea.

If Vermaelen and Gallas can keep this up and show up in the big games as they already have against Celtic and Man U, they'll be one of the best center half partners in the league. Behind them are Djourou, Senderos and Silvestre. I think Djourou is very capable and will deputize well when needed, and he's sure to be between injuries and suspensions.

Our attacking midfielders need no scrutiny. Song and Denilson, who is somewhat in between defensive and attacking, are doing a great job protecting the back four, but behind them there's nothing doing. We have no player to come in for Song, Denilson could against the bulk of the league but in big games you have to think We'll miss him.

Upfront likewise doesn't need to be checked out too much. We are potentially fucking deadly. We have endless combinations with endless dynamics. And we have tons of pace. I think a front 3 of Vela, Eduardo and Walcott is even faster than Henry, Messi and Eto'o. Perhaps the fastest ever front line.

Fantastic as they are they're going to have to start scoring some goals.

Are we good enough to win the league? Yes of course we are. We've seen that we're looking much better than Man. U, despite the loss. We've built some good momentum and look a different team, a title challenging team. We have as good a chance as any of the big four.

OK, that's the squad, now onto other things. Cesc looks set to play for Spain even though they only need a point from two matches against Estonia and Belgium to finish at the top of their group. That's a little annoying for me. I understand wanting to play for your national team, represent the country, rack up the caps and all that, but I don't understand playing on the tail end of an injury when there are important league games to be played.

Rosicky might be playing for Czech Republic, he says that he's 100% fit, so hopefully he'll play in that game and get through it without another injury. When he and Nasri come back we'll have depth and quality in depth that will really go a long way to helping our cause. We all know Rosicky's quality, the potential of which we'd like to see more of when he returns. Nasri should have improved over the course of the year and will hopefully be comfortable enough in the league and it's pace to dribble like he did in France.

Well, that'll be that I guess. Talk to you soon,

Highbury86