Friday, October 30, 2009
Arsenal Tottenham
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Good Result in Great Carling Cup Battle
Morning everyone, hope this finds you well. I'm still fairly exhausted myself, that air mattress isn't doing me any favors and I feel like Jenn's just hamming up her flu now. Nobody has the deathly flu like this for this long, it's like she's 6 years old or something. I need a juice, will you make me soup, will you sit with me while I fall asleep, jeez man, I'm starting to wear thin.
Anyway, the game yesterday wasn't televised over here so you had to watch it streaming online somewhere and the quality of my stream wasn't great. But I could gather through the stop start, pixelated, 3:4 inch display that it was a cracker of a game. It was end to end and fast, the pace and the quality were excellent with great play going forward from both sides, everyone had something to prove last night it seemed. And the game produced 3 great goals.
After a few chances each way early on, Liverpool may have been ahead but spurned their opportunities, one golden one with Degan hitting just wide when Senderos was sucked out of the middle. But on 18 minutes my man Fran Merida put away a great goal in the near post top corner, striking first time from 20 yards after the fat and bootleg Manu Petit gave away the ball.
They responded 8 minutes later with a wondergoal of their own. I suppose it was a wondergoal, had it gone in either corner it certainly would have, but I guess that it fit in that small gap between the keeper and the crossbar right in the middle makes it impressive none the less. Babel cushioned a great header down for the on rushing Ensua and Bendtner was far behind him as he controlled and volleyed from 30 yards beating Fabianski who was perfectly positioned under the circumstance.
From then on it could have gone either way, we rushed forward, they rushed forward and there was some real quality. We probably should have scored in the goal mouth scramble from one of our corners but in the end Bendtner could only shoot straight into the keeper after his original shot was hacked off the line.
5 minutes into the 2nd half Bentner scored a good goal after some fine play from the midfield. Merida was wide on the left, he cut inside and played the ball inside to Ramsey and after a moment of confusion with Bendtner, the Dane came away with the ball, held off his defender as he dribbled at goal and smashed the ball into the roof of the net, a very good forwards goal.
Liverpool had two great chances when the fat and bootleg Manu Petit played 3 1-2s with Degan and then shot just wide; the other when they came forward and took apart our defense but Babel couldn't make contact with the squared ball with the goal at his mercy.
Eduardo made a chance for himself with an excellent turn just inside their half and then a great turn of pace took him in on goal, but he hit wide. Liverpool had a good case for handball late on with Acquilani tried on an overhead kick and it came off Senderos arm, which was extended away from his body. We didn't get ours agains West Ham and Liverpool didn't get theirs last night so football karma has evened out in the strange way that it does.
And that was it for the game. We came out on top in a fairly even contest. It was entertaining and exciting and some of our boys put in great performances, Gibbs and Gilbert in particular but so too Merida and the brave returning Sami Nasri, who we're all very happy to see back, my girlfriend especially.
Wenger spoke about Merida, who I admit to having a great soft spot for. He said:
I kept him because I felt he had the quality to break through, but when you look at all the players who did not play, of course the competition for players is very difficult. Fran came to us at a very young age, but our school is in line with the way he was educated. He suits perfectly the way we want to play football. It is always difficult to convince people we do not need players, but when you see them tonight, you understand why.
So we're off to the quarter finals of the Carling Cup. I'm not sure when the draw is but Man U, Chelsea and Tottenham all await.
There's some stuff in the news about Gibbs being on Capellos radar for the World Cup. There's not really too much to this, I'd be very surprised to see Gibbs go to South Africa. There's some other stuff about Almunia coming in to reclaim his place against Tottenham. This is an interesting situation, Fabianski is back and while he didn't exactly impress against Liverpool, he didn't make any mistakes to speak of and looked fairly comfortable over all. His displays in the last part of last season won't do him any favors but Wenger rates him highly anyway. Mannone was on form for a few games but I think it's obvious that he isn't turning out to be any new kind of wonder kid and with a few half mistakes under his belt and the overall feeling you get that something disastrous could happen any second will likely keep him out should Almunia come back in. Almunia doesn't seem too happy about being left out but maybe with Fabianski pushing him compounding the time he spent on the bench, he'll pull out some performances and get back on form. My feeling is that Almunia will get injured or be dropped at some point and Fabianski will come in as number 1 around March after some good performances in the FA cup.
That's about that really.
Until next time,
Highbury86
Anyway, the game yesterday wasn't televised over here so you had to watch it streaming online somewhere and the quality of my stream wasn't great. But I could gather through the stop start, pixelated, 3:4 inch display that it was a cracker of a game. It was end to end and fast, the pace and the quality were excellent with great play going forward from both sides, everyone had something to prove last night it seemed. And the game produced 3 great goals.
They responded 8 minutes later with a wondergoal of their own. I suppose it was a wondergoal, had it gone in either corner it certainly would have, but I guess that it fit in that small gap between the keeper and the crossbar right in the middle makes it impressive none the less. Babel cushioned a great header down for the on rushing Ensua and Bendtner was far behind him as he controlled and volleyed from 30 yards beating Fabianski who was perfectly positioned under the circumstance.
From then on it could have gone either way, we rushed forward, they rushed forward and there was some real quality. We probably should have scored in the goal mouth scramble from one of our corners but in the end Bendtner could only shoot straight into the keeper after his original shot was hacked off the line.
5 minutes into the 2nd half Bentner scored a good goal after some fine play from the midfield. Merida was wide on the left, he cut inside and played the ball inside to Ramsey and after a moment of confusion with Bendtner, the Dane came away with the ball, held off his defender as he dribbled at goal and smashed the ball into the roof of the net, a very good forwards goal.
Liverpool had two great chances when the fat and bootleg Manu Petit played 3 1-2s with Degan and then shot just wide; the other when they came forward and took apart our defense but Babel couldn't make contact with the squared ball with the goal at his mercy.
Eduardo made a chance for himself with an excellent turn just inside their half and then a great turn of pace took him in on goal, but he hit wide. Liverpool had a good case for handball late on with Acquilani tried on an overhead kick and it came off Senderos arm, which was extended away from his body. We didn't get ours agains West Ham and Liverpool didn't get theirs last night so football karma has evened out in the strange way that it does.
And that was it for the game. We came out on top in a fairly even contest. It was entertaining and exciting and some of our boys put in great performances, Gibbs and Gilbert in particular but so too Merida and the brave returning Sami Nasri, who we're all very happy to see back, my girlfriend especially.
Wenger spoke about Merida, who I admit to having a great soft spot for. He said:
I kept him because I felt he had the quality to break through, but when you look at all the players who did not play, of course the competition for players is very difficult. Fran came to us at a very young age, but our school is in line with the way he was educated. He suits perfectly the way we want to play football. It is always difficult to convince people we do not need players, but when you see them tonight, you understand why.
So we're off to the quarter finals of the Carling Cup. I'm not sure when the draw is but Man U, Chelsea and Tottenham all await.
There's some stuff in the news about Gibbs being on Capellos radar for the World Cup. There's not really too much to this, I'd be very surprised to see Gibbs go to South Africa. There's some other stuff about Almunia coming in to reclaim his place against Tottenham. This is an interesting situation, Fabianski is back and while he didn't exactly impress against Liverpool, he didn't make any mistakes to speak of and looked fairly comfortable over all. His displays in the last part of last season won't do him any favors but Wenger rates him highly anyway. Mannone was on form for a few games but I think it's obvious that he isn't turning out to be any new kind of wonder kid and with a few half mistakes under his belt and the overall feeling you get that something disastrous could happen any second will likely keep him out should Almunia come back in. Almunia doesn't seem too happy about being left out but maybe with Fabianski pushing him compounding the time he spent on the bench, he'll pull out some performances and get back on form. My feeling is that Almunia will get injured or be dropped at some point and Fabianski will come in as number 1 around March after some good performances in the FA cup.
That's about that really.
Until next time,
Highbury86
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Carling Cup Preview
Halloo and good morning. This may be a tired blog this morning, I've been sleeping on a small air mattress next to my bed where Jenny's sleeping with the worst flu on earth. I'm working hard not to get it but it seems inevitable.
Anyway, we've got Liverpool this afternoon and it looks like nobody's airing it in the States, so we've been reduced to scrambling around trying to find a stream online, unless we have the Arsenal subscription, in which case we're fine.
Some good news today as Nasri and Fabianski are back in town. Fabianski will start in the sticks in what I imagine will be a pretty strong and experienced team. Senderos and Silvestre will surely start in the middle at the back with Gibbs likely to play on the right. It looks like Gilbert will start at right back with Hoyte not in the squad. Ramsey will likely start but after that it gets fuzzy. Eduardo and Bentner will play but I'm not sure they'll start, Nasri will play but again I'm not sure he'll start. We're missing Jack Wilshere, which is very unfortunate and it looks like Carlos Vela isn't playing either. Hopefully Merida will play and we can all get a glimpse of what he can do.
Whatever team we play I'm sure we'll be better than Liverpool, who'll probably play their youth team as well and as we all know, they're not exactly famous for producing great players, Gerrard being the last player worth sticks that their academy produced. We'll see how the game unfolds but I think our boys will have a nice spark with the return of some injured players mixed with players who'll want to displace them.
I think we always look forward to Carling Cup games because they're so exciting for us. We get to see our future playing in knock out cup tie games and don't they always impress. What likely makes it even more exciting now is seeing the players this competition has helped produce with Fabregas being one of the best in the world, Alex Song patrolling the midfield, Eboue having turned into a nice utility man, Diaby coming to bear some fruit, Bendtner becoming a goalscoring international, Clichy becoming one of the best wingbacks in the world, then loosing form and now getting some of it back again. Not to mention the players who've left the club having looked excellent in this competition, Adebayor, Kolo Toure and Flamini to name a few.
And while other clubs take this contest a bit more seriously, fielding strong teams, particularly towards the semis and finals, we confidently stride through the entire competition fielding our exciting youth. Were we terribly serious about winning the Carling Cup we'd play our first team but as it stands we use it as a means to strengthen our perpetually competitive team to compete for the big trophies while holding onto some success in the cup itself, making us the effective masters of the Carling Cup. Don't worry about the fact that we haven't won it in years.
There's some news floating around but nothing too worth getting into. Wenger talks a bit about Nasri's position and about Merida but all in all it's quiet but for the game. Kick off is in a couple hours, I'm looking forward to it.
Highbury86
Anyway, we've got Liverpool this afternoon and it looks like nobody's airing it in the States, so we've been reduced to scrambling around trying to find a stream online, unless we have the Arsenal subscription, in which case we're fine.
Some good news today as Nasri and Fabianski are back in town. Fabianski will start in the sticks in what I imagine will be a pretty strong and experienced team. Senderos and Silvestre will surely start in the middle at the back with Gibbs likely to play on the right. It looks like Gilbert will start at right back with Hoyte not in the squad. Ramsey will likely start but after that it gets fuzzy. Eduardo and Bentner will play but I'm not sure they'll start, Nasri will play but again I'm not sure he'll start. We're missing Jack Wilshere, which is very unfortunate and it looks like Carlos Vela isn't playing either. Hopefully Merida will play and we can all get a glimpse of what he can do.
Whatever team we play I'm sure we'll be better than Liverpool, who'll probably play their youth team as well and as we all know, they're not exactly famous for producing great players, Gerrard being the last player worth sticks that their academy produced. We'll see how the game unfolds but I think our boys will have a nice spark with the return of some injured players mixed with players who'll want to displace them.
I think we always look forward to Carling Cup games because they're so exciting for us. We get to see our future playing in knock out cup tie games and don't they always impress. What likely makes it even more exciting now is seeing the players this competition has helped produce with Fabregas being one of the best in the world, Alex Song patrolling the midfield, Eboue having turned into a nice utility man, Diaby coming to bear some fruit, Bendtner becoming a goalscoring international, Clichy becoming one of the best wingbacks in the world, then loosing form and now getting some of it back again. Not to mention the players who've left the club having looked excellent in this competition, Adebayor, Kolo Toure and Flamini to name a few.
And while other clubs take this contest a bit more seriously, fielding strong teams, particularly towards the semis and finals, we confidently stride through the entire competition fielding our exciting youth. Were we terribly serious about winning the Carling Cup we'd play our first team but as it stands we use it as a means to strengthen our perpetually competitive team to compete for the big trophies while holding onto some success in the cup itself, making us the effective masters of the Carling Cup. Don't worry about the fact that we haven't won it in years.
There's some news floating around but nothing too worth getting into. Wenger talks a bit about Nasri's position and about Merida but all in all it's quiet but for the game. Kick off is in a couple hours, I'm looking forward to it.
Highbury86
Monday, October 26, 2009
West Ham Review
Sorry for the no preview and late review, I've had a busy weekend. Anyway, we faced West Ham yesterday in 4th place, Tottenham lost in front of us and so did Man U, a win would have put us in 3rd place, 1 point behind Man U and 3 behind Chelsea and off the top with a game in hand and a far superior goal difference.
We started out well and could have been ahead in the 2nd minute when Song dinked a great little curler over the defense onto van Persie's head. He flicked it on and Arshavin probably should have scored but only managed to poke the ball across goal. van Persie could only back heel off his other shin for a goal kick. Then in another attack we flew forward down the left and after he was released, van Persie hammered a good shot from a tight angle but Green saved at his near post fairly easily.
Before we get too far into the game, we had Bendtner back fit and Nasri on the bench for the first time this season, which was a great sign, particularly with the team struggling to find an urgent spark. Mannone kept his place in goal and then the regular team we've been putting out was fielded with the preferred back four, Song, Cesc and Diaby in the middle and RvP, Arshavin and Eboue up front.
So, moving back to the game, after our very bright start the game settled down and West Ham were keeping possession well, working hard throughout the game, while we defended rather well and took every chance we had to get going forward. Cesc turned on the half way line around 3 defenders and played Song into the West Ham half, Arshavin joined in and van Persie shot from the edge of the area striking Upson's outstretched arm. It was a good penalty shout but I guess it could have gone either way. Neither team was really dominating but we looked the more likely to score. And we did in the 15the minute.
A great 1-2 down the right saw Sagna put in a killer cross that would have found van Persie had Green not gone for it, so he did go for it and only pushed it onto RvP's left with the goal open wide. 1 nil to the Arsenal and 5 in 6 for van Persie.
The rest of the half was reasonably the same, they possessed fairly well, we went forward and didn't quite break through. We were a little more dominant towards the end of the half and kept possession very well, leaving them with very limited chances to get forward and around 35 minutes in Cesc won a corner with a shot from outside. van Persie sent it to the far post and the French half of the most free scoring center back partnership of all time headed home. 2 nil and cruising.
The 2nd half was a little frustrating early on. Again, they possessed well but couldn't get near our final third and we pressed forward but could never quite break through. Cesc fired a great shot from 30 yards that went just wide. Then we started to dominate play but still we were missing that second to last ball and just couldn't do it. Then West Ham were awarded a very soft free kick when Hines wrestled Diaby to the ground after he was tackled. Diamante took it and Mannone made a fairly good save to his right but pushed the ball right into the middle of the goal mouth for Carlton Cole to finish.
2-1 down and they were right back in it and you just had that bad feeling. 6 minutes later it happened. First Parker drove threw several of our defenders before he lost track of his dribble and went down a few feet before Gallas nearly touched him. It was never a penalty but their shouts were huge. Then from a throw in on their right side Carlton Cole controlled the ball and with absolutely minimal contact, this again, was never a penalty but the ref gave it and they scored.
2-2 after we totally dominant and heading for 3 points. We played narrow, keeping the game in the thick and dense of it where we seem to thrive at opening up defenses. Even so we never let the game open up for them to get any clear cut chances and we took advantage of a couple of chances we had. We could have pressed more and added a couple extra goals but didn't and they got back in the game and then equalized in the 80th.
A few minutes later Scott Parker was sent off for a handball after he had tackled Cesc. Shortly after we should have scored when Sagna's excellent cross found van Persie for a free header he headed too close to the middle of the goal and Green got a leg to it. And that was all we had, we couldn't even go on to dominate the last 5 minutes of the game, they looked more likely to score. It ended 2-2 and despite the bad luck on the penalty, we really just threw the game away.
Wenger had this to say:
It is, of course, a major missed opportunity. In our job, you do not have this luxury. You need to get points when you deserve to get points and sometimes when you don't deserve to get the points. We never got them when we deserved them - and that means we have not made the maximum of what we should have done.
Can't argue with that, we really could have used the 3 points, with Man City drawing too, this would have been a great chance to push on and put ourselves right at the top. Oh well.
We started out well and could have been ahead in the 2nd minute when Song dinked a great little curler over the defense onto van Persie's head. He flicked it on and Arshavin probably should have scored but only managed to poke the ball across goal. van Persie could only back heel off his other shin for a goal kick. Then in another attack we flew forward down the left and after he was released, van Persie hammered a good shot from a tight angle but Green saved at his near post fairly easily.
Before we get too far into the game, we had Bendtner back fit and Nasri on the bench for the first time this season, which was a great sign, particularly with the team struggling to find an urgent spark. Mannone kept his place in goal and then the regular team we've been putting out was fielded with the preferred back four, Song, Cesc and Diaby in the middle and RvP, Arshavin and Eboue up front.
So, moving back to the game, after our very bright start the game settled down and West Ham were keeping possession well, working hard throughout the game, while we defended rather well and took every chance we had to get going forward. Cesc turned on the half way line around 3 defenders and played Song into the West Ham half, Arshavin joined in and van Persie shot from the edge of the area striking Upson's outstretched arm. It was a good penalty shout but I guess it could have gone either way. Neither team was really dominating but we looked the more likely to score. And we did in the 15the minute.
A great 1-2 down the right saw Sagna put in a killer cross that would have found van Persie had Green not gone for it, so he did go for it and only pushed it onto RvP's left with the goal open wide. 1 nil to the Arsenal and 5 in 6 for van Persie.
The rest of the half was reasonably the same, they possessed fairly well, we went forward and didn't quite break through. We were a little more dominant towards the end of the half and kept possession very well, leaving them with very limited chances to get forward and around 35 minutes in Cesc won a corner with a shot from outside. van Persie sent it to the far post and the French half of the most free scoring center back partnership of all time headed home. 2 nil and cruising.
The 2nd half was a little frustrating early on. Again, they possessed well but couldn't get near our final third and we pressed forward but could never quite break through. Cesc fired a great shot from 30 yards that went just wide. Then we started to dominate play but still we were missing that second to last ball and just couldn't do it. Then West Ham were awarded a very soft free kick when Hines wrestled Diaby to the ground after he was tackled. Diamante took it and Mannone made a fairly good save to his right but pushed the ball right into the middle of the goal mouth for Carlton Cole to finish.
2-1 down and they were right back in it and you just had that bad feeling. 6 minutes later it happened. First Parker drove threw several of our defenders before he lost track of his dribble and went down a few feet before Gallas nearly touched him. It was never a penalty but their shouts were huge. Then from a throw in on their right side Carlton Cole controlled the ball and with absolutely minimal contact, this again, was never a penalty but the ref gave it and they scored.
2-2 after we totally dominant and heading for 3 points. We played narrow, keeping the game in the thick and dense of it where we seem to thrive at opening up defenses. Even so we never let the game open up for them to get any clear cut chances and we took advantage of a couple of chances we had. We could have pressed more and added a couple extra goals but didn't and they got back in the game and then equalized in the 80th.
A few minutes later Scott Parker was sent off for a handball after he had tackled Cesc. Shortly after we should have scored when Sagna's excellent cross found van Persie for a free header he headed too close to the middle of the goal and Green got a leg to it. And that was all we had, we couldn't even go on to dominate the last 5 minutes of the game, they looked more likely to score. It ended 2-2 and despite the bad luck on the penalty, we really just threw the game away.
Wenger had this to say:
It is, of course, a major missed opportunity. In our job, you do not have this luxury. You need to get points when you deserve to get points and sometimes when you don't deserve to get the points. We never got them when we deserved them - and that means we have not made the maximum of what we should have done.
Can't argue with that, we really could have used the 3 points, with Man City drawing too, this would have been a great chance to push on and put ourselves right at the top. Oh well.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARSENE WENGER
Anyway, Happy Birthday to our super boss.
Last night I had a dream that I had a dream that Arsenal beat Man U in the Champions' League semis, so I went and bet on the game and won tons of money. It was fantastic, I married my girlfriend, made a poker parlor in my basement and spent my days watching football, playing poker and having hot tub sex with my smoking girlfriend. Anyway, if we end up beating Man U in the CL semifinals and this blog stops, you'll know why.
Robin van Persie has been in the press warning his teammates against the mistakes we made last season, which is good I suppose, that's his job now as a senior player and vice captain. He's right too, last season we cocked up against lower table opposition and had to go on a hell of a run to slide into fourth. The season before we were storming through the league and had a bad run of draws towards the end and lost our chance of winning the league. 
Kroenke, having beefed up his shares to just 1 percent away from an obligatory take over offer has been keeping quiet about his position on what to do with his shares and if he's going to try and get in with a take over. I think we all hate Usmanov, he's a slimy character rather reminiscent of really evil film characters, but I'm not sure that a take over from the quiet Kroenke would be all that good either. I'll have more on this as it unfolds.Nasri played an hour against Wolves reserves and could be back in the next few games, which would be great as he'd give us what's missing when Rosicky is absent. With Almunia and Vela back fit Walcotts return will give us a big boost along with Nasri's. We can't seem to shake these injuries, I wonder if we'll ever have a fully fit squad.
Right, now to the last order. Starting this coming Tuesday, we'll be having guest posts. Have something to say? Say it here on ArseblogUSA, just write up your blog entry, try and keep it down to a page on word, email it to Arseblogusa@gmail.com and I'll pick my favorite and post it on Tuesday.
Right then, until later,
Highbury86
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Just About the Most Boring Game In Years
Yesterday in a preview of the game on Fox Soccer Channel, Warren Barton said that we would play a 4-4-2, sit back and try to hit them on the counter and I said aloud in my living room, Go Fuck Yourself, we're going to play 4-3-3 and attack and batter them. I was right about one thing, we played a 4-3-3.
We started with the Godfather in goal and our 1st choice back 4, our current 1st choice middle 3 of Cesc, Song and Diaby and RvP, Arshavin and Eboue up front. We were missing plenty of players but still have such outstanding depth in attacking positions that we could still show quite a good side. They started with who knows who these people are wearing Red and White all over the place. Right from the first minute nothing we did clicked. They broke up our play fairly well by fouling and closing down and being aggressive and not a single player on our side had what it took on the occasion to make something happen. We defended well, even when they countered and looked to have 3v3 or 4v3 situations we managed to get plenty of players back and close them out of our defensive 3rd entirely.
In possession we could never find the far side and played down small channels our players created with small triangles and rectangles. Then in the 8th minute we counter attacked with a 4v3 led by Arshavin with Diaby to his left and Fabregas and RvP on his right. He played in Diaby whose cross seemed to miss Cesc in the middle but fell straight into the lap of an off-screen van Persie who cut inside 2 oncoming defenders but hit his curler far too close to the keeper. When Arshavin ran into their half I felt we would score, but it didn't happen when it should have, a small flash of last seasons Arsenal. It was only the 8th minute however, and there was still some time to turn on the style.
They carried on pressing us hard and we carried on being much like American movie makers, very much out of ideas. In the 12th minute Arshavin slid in to intercept a pass about on the half way line and cleared it out for a corner to them, unbelievable, more signs of some of the old Arsenal. But when Diaby didn't hand ball it and get sent off to lead to a penalty that went in, I figured we were looking OK and that we'd certainly go on to win. But still, the half wore on and more of the same. AZ keeping possession in the middle 3rd, us gobbling them up in the final 3rd, moving forward and loosing the ball because of lack of quality and vision and invention and then it'd start all over again.
At some point in the first half Arshavin got the ball on the left corner of the box, cut inside his man and hit a quick curler that the way he does so well, but fell onto the roof of the net. And that was about all we had. Fortunately that was all they had too, hardly a sniff of a sniff of a chance as we defended as well as I've seen us do, although they really didn't have much invention either, although I'm inclined to say our defending had a hand in that where as in our situation, we were just fairly poor.
Then it came, on 34 minutes Arshavin, the king of offensive interceptions, nipped in to take the ball of their center back when he mis-controlled a simple ball. He drove on, released van Persie who had made a scissor run with Cesc down the left of the box. van Persie looked odds on to score but hit a perfect curling cross over to Fabregas who side footed in with ease. It was a very well taken goal that was made easier than it looked, there were times that some of our boys wouldn't have scored that and it's a good testament to the quality our team has developed to have.
The half finished off the same way it had gone on but we were somewhat satisfied with 1 nil up away to the Dutch league winners.
The 2nd half was much the same. van Persie made a crazy, needless, reckless tackle with both feed studs up on the half way line about 45 seconds into the half and probably should have been sent off but escaped with a yellow and until Diaby was almost very unlucky to score an own goal when a corner was swung in and fell just over Song's head right onto Diaby's shoulder and went over the bar. Then there was the free kick that van Persie took that was saved.
We had a series of corners and free kicks too but due to poor balls in they were never threatening. Late on van Persie was subbed for Vela who played right up the middle and I think that this was a turning point in the game. It was great to see Vela play, especially as he came on looking all smiley, but without van Persie we had no height or physicality up front, so when balls were played long out of the back, we never really had any chance of keeping possession as he was just towered over in the air. Although he did win a very blatant penalty that wasn't given, which of course is that dash of bad luck you get in away performances like that sometimes. Assuming we'd score the penalty, with RvP off I imagine that Vela would have taken it himself, it would have been 2 and their goal wouldn't have mattered.
Ramsey came on for Eboue and this was a game changer too. It moved Diaby up front and I don't think any of us like him there, and Ramsey in the middle just wasn't cutting the mustard defensively and off the ball like Diaby was. These two substitutions took away 2 vitals tools in relieving pressure and winning possession back. Eboue wins the ball well up the park and also dribbles well and right at defenses, releaving the pressure nicely and Diaby was doing great work to get behind the ball and for the last 10 minutes it showed.
They put the pressure on our box and eventually threw big balls down the middle. Cesc gave away a needless free kick in the 3rd minute of stoppage time as the game looked to be wrapping up. They launched it into the box, Diaby made an awful challenge in the air getting only just up to his markers shoulder about a yard behind him. Their player cushioned a header down for the unmarked onrushing whatshisname and he volleyed into the top corner, Mannone never had a chance. Although late on with big free kicks like that, a more experienced keeper would have come far off his line to cut it out as soon as possible. Either way it was a poor goal to give up and a poor and boring affair. It ends our winning streak, which annoys and gives us just the 1 point, while Olympiacos won and are now just a point behind. I don't doubt we'll win the group, I just wanted us to run away with it.
We played without invention or much forward drive. It was a great defensive display until the last seconds of the game and it's all cost us. Had we played the way we can play and opened up the game we could have gone more than a goal ahead and that last goal wouldn't have mattered. As things stood had we played the scrappy game we did without attacking shape or creativity and just not given away that free kick, 3 points would have been 3points. But we didn't and it wasn't.
Diaby says we'll learn our leassons.
Wenger's annoyed about it too.
Oh well, I guess, I'm sure we'll have a better showing at home in a couple weeks.
Right then, more news tomorrow.
Highbury86
We started with the Godfather in goal and our 1st choice back 4, our current 1st choice middle 3 of Cesc, Song and Diaby and RvP, Arshavin and Eboue up front. We were missing plenty of players but still have such outstanding depth in attacking positions that we could still show quite a good side. They started with who knows who these people are wearing Red and White all over the place. Right from the first minute nothing we did clicked. They broke up our play fairly well by fouling and closing down and being aggressive and not a single player on our side had what it took on the occasion to make something happen. We defended well, even when they countered and looked to have 3v3 or 4v3 situations we managed to get plenty of players back and close them out of our defensive 3rd entirely.
In possession we could never find the far side and played down small channels our players created with small triangles and rectangles. Then in the 8th minute we counter attacked with a 4v3 led by Arshavin with Diaby to his left and Fabregas and RvP on his right. He played in Diaby whose cross seemed to miss Cesc in the middle but fell straight into the lap of an off-screen van Persie who cut inside 2 oncoming defenders but hit his curler far too close to the keeper. When Arshavin ran into their half I felt we would score, but it didn't happen when it should have, a small flash of last seasons Arsenal. It was only the 8th minute however, and there was still some time to turn on the style.
They carried on pressing us hard and we carried on being much like American movie makers, very much out of ideas. In the 12th minute Arshavin slid in to intercept a pass about on the half way line and cleared it out for a corner to them, unbelievable, more signs of some of the old Arsenal. But when Diaby didn't hand ball it and get sent off to lead to a penalty that went in, I figured we were looking OK and that we'd certainly go on to win. But still, the half wore on and more of the same. AZ keeping possession in the middle 3rd, us gobbling them up in the final 3rd, moving forward and loosing the ball because of lack of quality and vision and invention and then it'd start all over again.
At some point in the first half Arshavin got the ball on the left corner of the box, cut inside his man and hit a quick curler that the way he does so well, but fell onto the roof of the net. And that was about all we had. Fortunately that was all they had too, hardly a sniff of a sniff of a chance as we defended as well as I've seen us do, although they really didn't have much invention either, although I'm inclined to say our defending had a hand in that where as in our situation, we were just fairly poor.
The half finished off the same way it had gone on but we were somewhat satisfied with 1 nil up away to the Dutch league winners.
The 2nd half was much the same. van Persie made a crazy, needless, reckless tackle with both feed studs up on the half way line about 45 seconds into the half and probably should have been sent off but escaped with a yellow and until Diaby was almost very unlucky to score an own goal when a corner was swung in and fell just over Song's head right onto Diaby's shoulder and went over the bar. Then there was the free kick that van Persie took that was saved.
We had a series of corners and free kicks too but due to poor balls in they were never threatening. Late on van Persie was subbed for Vela who played right up the middle and I think that this was a turning point in the game. It was great to see Vela play, especially as he came on looking all smiley, but without van Persie we had no height or physicality up front, so when balls were played long out of the back, we never really had any chance of keeping possession as he was just towered over in the air. Although he did win a very blatant penalty that wasn't given, which of course is that dash of bad luck you get in away performances like that sometimes. Assuming we'd score the penalty, with RvP off I imagine that Vela would have taken it himself, it would have been 2 and their goal wouldn't have mattered.
Ramsey came on for Eboue and this was a game changer too. It moved Diaby up front and I don't think any of us like him there, and Ramsey in the middle just wasn't cutting the mustard defensively and off the ball like Diaby was. These two substitutions took away 2 vitals tools in relieving pressure and winning possession back. Eboue wins the ball well up the park and also dribbles well and right at defenses, releaving the pressure nicely and Diaby was doing great work to get behind the ball and for the last 10 minutes it showed.
We played without invention or much forward drive. It was a great defensive display until the last seconds of the game and it's all cost us. Had we played the way we can play and opened up the game we could have gone more than a goal ahead and that last goal wouldn't have mattered. As things stood had we played the scrappy game we did without attacking shape or creativity and just not given away that free kick, 3 points would have been 3points. But we didn't and it wasn't.
Diaby says we'll learn our leassons.
Wenger's annoyed about it too.
Oh well, I guess, I'm sure we'll have a better showing at home in a couple weeks.
Right then, more news tomorrow.
Highbury86
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
AZ CL Preview
Evening, I figured after I wrote a super late posting this morning, I would post a super early one this evening. I'm sitting watching King of the Hill and read that we'll have up to 8 players missing tomorrow. This prompted me to get to writing a preview.
The preview goes like this: AZ Alkmaar have been poor this season. Koeman did Valencia no favors and it seems he's done the same to his current club by taking the Dutch League winners to loosing half their games 10 into the season.
We're in good form and this lot lost to the Greek lot that we battered but got just 2 goals in our last European game. Despite the fact that we're going to be missing Djourou and Denilson in the long term department, Nasri and Fabianski for another week and Rosicky, Bendtner and Eduardo and Clichy being doubtful, I can't see us having too much of a problem.
I said this same thing about the Liege game and it should have been true there, but I think tomorrow will be a little more to our liking. The squad is as follows: Mannone, Almunia, Sagna, Gibbs, Gallas, Vermaelen, Silvestre, Clichy, Silvestre, Arshavin, Merida, Wilshere, Ramsey, Fabregas, Eboue, Diaby and Song plus Vela and van Persie.
I'm not sure if Mannone's mistake on Saturday will put Almunia back in goal, but I have to imagine that Mannone will keep his place for the match. The back 4 will likely be Gibbs, Gallas, Vermaelen and Sagna with a middle 3 of Song, Fabregas and Diaby with Arshavin, van Persie and Eboue starting up front. 8 players missing and not a bad team to put out at all, and it's got some exciting depth to it too with Wilshere, Merida and Vela waiting to make a difference and all of them capable. This is a great occasion for some of those kids to make an impact. The only weak spot in the squad traveling is in reserves for center back and I suppose maybe Mannone if he plays like he did against Birmingham.
9 points from 9 possible in our group and a draw in the other game will essentially wrap it up and give Wenger a chance to either rest some players in the upcoming games or really press forward and continue our momentum, which of course has been excellent. I'm expecting a reasonably lively performance and a goal for Eboue. Don't ask me why, I just see it coming.
Highbury86
The preview goes like this: AZ Alkmaar have been poor this season. Koeman did Valencia no favors and it seems he's done the same to his current club by taking the Dutch League winners to loosing half their games 10 into the season.
We're in good form and this lot lost to the Greek lot that we battered but got just 2 goals in our last European game. Despite the fact that we're going to be missing Djourou and Denilson in the long term department, Nasri and Fabianski for another week and Rosicky, Bendtner and Eduardo and Clichy being doubtful, I can't see us having too much of a problem.
I said this same thing about the Liege game and it should have been true there, but I think tomorrow will be a little more to our liking. The squad is as follows: Mannone, Almunia, Sagna, Gibbs, Gallas, Vermaelen, Silvestre, Clichy, Silvestre, Arshavin, Merida, Wilshere, Ramsey, Fabregas, Eboue, Diaby and Song plus Vela and van Persie.
I'm not sure if Mannone's mistake on Saturday will put Almunia back in goal, but I have to imagine that Mannone will keep his place for the match. The back 4 will likely be Gibbs, Gallas, Vermaelen and Sagna with a middle 3 of Song, Fabregas and Diaby with Arshavin, van Persie and Eboue starting up front. 8 players missing and not a bad team to put out at all, and it's got some exciting depth to it too with Wilshere, Merida and Vela waiting to make a difference and all of them capable. This is a great occasion for some of those kids to make an impact. The only weak spot in the squad traveling is in reserves for center back and I suppose maybe Mannone if he plays like he did against Birmingham.
9 points from 9 possible in our group and a draw in the other game will essentially wrap it up and give Wenger a chance to either rest some players in the upcoming games or really press forward and continue our momentum, which of course has been excellent. I'm expecting a reasonably lively performance and a goal for Eboue. Don't ask me why, I just see it coming.
Highbury86
Monday, October 19, 2009
Late Portsmouth Review
I'll go right ahead,
We lined up against Birmingham at home with Mannone keeping his place over the healthy again Almunia, Gibbs deputizing for the slightly injured Clichy and Sagna on the bench for a rest while Edoue slotted in at right back. Vermaelen and Gallas continued to partner in the center of defense and our current midfield trio of Song, Fabregas and Diaby lined up in the middle. Up front Walcott started his first game of the season on the outside of van Persie, while Rosicky played on the other side of the front three.
After a couple of good chances for the increasingly important Rosicky that went begging because of an unusual flaw in his technique, Theo was clattered hard in a challenge from Liam Ridgewell. It wasn't a terribly unfair tackle but I doubt it would have been made against a Blackburn Rovers player. It's the kind of tackle our boys have to take on all the time in every game and it's put Theo back out of commission, although we don't quite know for how long. Before it did though, Theo came on some after treatment and sped past Ridgewell and down to the corner of the box after controlling a searching pass from Fabregas hit a great curler over to the far post the keeper did well to tip over.
We continued to dominate, they didn't really have much of a chance against our awesome passing, again we were playing super narrow with the occasional wing play from Walcott on the right. He limped around the right side until he was replaced by Arshavin in the 33rd, a shame really, hopefully he's not gone too long. Before he went off we got our first 2 goals.
We had been putting on the pressure and they played a poor clearance straight to Alex Song who dribbled forward nicely very well past a couple of defenders and played a ball just behind van Persie who controlled expertly to put the ball in front of him and finish low in the far corner for his 4th of the season.
2 minutes later Diaby put us 2 ahead after Eboue played Rosicky in on the right side of the box, he hit the ball low across the box and Diaby came in late and smashed into the top corner. At that point it looked like we would go on to score another 5, as Birmingham could hardly touch us.
But it wasn't to be, towards the end of the half an innocuous cross was headed straight upwards by Vermaelen and then Mannone was super weak coming out and dropped the ball for Bowyer to put away and make it 2-1. Theo had gone off by then and Arshavin almost put us 3-1 up but Harte saved well at his near post. Birmingham played with more verve and urgency but still couldn't do us much damage.
The second half wasn't the reclaiming of the game performance we had hoped for. van Persie hit the bar from an indirect free kick 10 yards out and that was about it until Arshavin scored a nicely taken cheeky curler. We could have made it 4 but Harte made a great save from Diaby's close range shot and that was that. Another 3 points. Our 7th win in a row and we've climbed into 4th place, 1 point behind Spurs with a game in hand that'll put us into 2nd, a point behind United, should we win it.
Again we played rather narrow and high up the park. All the play came through Fabregas who was very good, and some through Diaby and Song who were both in decent form. Gibbs and Eboue played well enough, although I would have liked to have seen some more forages forward from Gibbs. He was at his best last season when he was climbing up the park with quick and mazy dribbles forward.
Our forwards are scoring goals and Diaby has pitched in with a few from midfield, perhaps balancing out the contrast between he and Denilson. Where Denilson rarely gives away possession and makes interception after interception, he doesn't score as many goals or get us forward as much as we'd all like. Diaby gets us forward enough with some good and powerful dribbling but he gives away possession like nobody's business, so popping in with a few goals is a serious counterbalance.
I've just discovered that Theo will be out for 4-3 weeks, which with Theo could mean anywhere between 3 and 8 weeks. It sucks for him, he's pushing for a World Cup spot and we're pushing for trophies and we need Theo back for both but the boy's targeted every game and can hardly get a break. This could still be his true break out season but he'll have to stay fit for longer than a week at a time for that to happen.
There's some other stuff about Wenger not signing Barry or Alonso and he explains his buying senior players kills youth players stuff, and that's all really.
Liverpool's crazy beach ball incident has put them in a bad position indeed. You have to think that 1/2 more losses and they're out of the thing for sure, maybe even out of the top 4 and you can't see them avoiding defeats the way they're playing this season. Chelsea's loss puts them on 2 losses like us, Man U's and Man City's ability to hang onto draws has kept them going but still they've dropped points where we've been picking them up. We're on a good roll and have 5 games until Spurs. Our league games are very winnable, as are our Champions' League games, our only really tricky fixture between now and then is Liverpool in the league cup. I'm guessing they may put out a more experienced side in order to try and win some silverware and so we'll have to see how our younglings do.
I'm excited for the 31st!
We're climbing up the table and scoring goals for fun. Come on you Arsenal.
Highbury86
We lined up against Birmingham at home with Mannone keeping his place over the healthy again Almunia, Gibbs deputizing for the slightly injured Clichy and Sagna on the bench for a rest while Edoue slotted in at right back. Vermaelen and Gallas continued to partner in the center of defense and our current midfield trio of Song, Fabregas and Diaby lined up in the middle. Up front Walcott started his first game of the season on the outside of van Persie, while Rosicky played on the other side of the front three.
After a couple of good chances for the increasingly important Rosicky that went begging because of an unusual flaw in his technique, Theo was clattered hard in a challenge from Liam Ridgewell. It wasn't a terribly unfair tackle but I doubt it would have been made against a Blackburn Rovers player. It's the kind of tackle our boys have to take on all the time in every game and it's put Theo back out of commission, although we don't quite know for how long. Before it did though, Theo came on some after treatment and sped past Ridgewell and down to the corner of the box after controlling a searching pass from Fabregas hit a great curler over to the far post the keeper did well to tip over.
We continued to dominate, they didn't really have much of a chance against our awesome passing, again we were playing super narrow with the occasional wing play from Walcott on the right. He limped around the right side until he was replaced by Arshavin in the 33rd, a shame really, hopefully he's not gone too long. Before he went off we got our first 2 goals.
We had been putting on the pressure and they played a poor clearance straight to Alex Song who dribbled forward nicely very well past a couple of defenders and played a ball just behind van Persie who controlled expertly to put the ball in front of him and finish low in the far corner for his 4th of the season.
2 minutes later Diaby put us 2 ahead after Eboue played Rosicky in on the right side of the box, he hit the ball low across the box and Diaby came in late and smashed into the top corner. At that point it looked like we would go on to score another 5, as Birmingham could hardly touch us.
But it wasn't to be, towards the end of the half an innocuous cross was headed straight upwards by Vermaelen and then Mannone was super weak coming out and dropped the ball for Bowyer to put away and make it 2-1. Theo had gone off by then and Arshavin almost put us 3-1 up but Harte saved well at his near post. Birmingham played with more verve and urgency but still couldn't do us much damage.
The second half wasn't the reclaiming of the game performance we had hoped for. van Persie hit the bar from an indirect free kick 10 yards out and that was about it until Arshavin scored a nicely taken cheeky curler. We could have made it 4 but Harte made a great save from Diaby's close range shot and that was that. Another 3 points. Our 7th win in a row and we've climbed into 4th place, 1 point behind Spurs with a game in hand that'll put us into 2nd, a point behind United, should we win it.
Again we played rather narrow and high up the park. All the play came through Fabregas who was very good, and some through Diaby and Song who were both in decent form. Gibbs and Eboue played well enough, although I would have liked to have seen some more forages forward from Gibbs. He was at his best last season when he was climbing up the park with quick and mazy dribbles forward.
Our forwards are scoring goals and Diaby has pitched in with a few from midfield, perhaps balancing out the contrast between he and Denilson. Where Denilson rarely gives away possession and makes interception after interception, he doesn't score as many goals or get us forward as much as we'd all like. Diaby gets us forward enough with some good and powerful dribbling but he gives away possession like nobody's business, so popping in with a few goals is a serious counterbalance.
I've just discovered that Theo will be out for 4-3 weeks, which with Theo could mean anywhere between 3 and 8 weeks. It sucks for him, he's pushing for a World Cup spot and we're pushing for trophies and we need Theo back for both but the boy's targeted every game and can hardly get a break. This could still be his true break out season but he'll have to stay fit for longer than a week at a time for that to happen.
There's some other stuff about Wenger not signing Barry or Alonso and he explains his buying senior players kills youth players stuff, and that's all really.
Liverpool's crazy beach ball incident has put them in a bad position indeed. You have to think that 1/2 more losses and they're out of the thing for sure, maybe even out of the top 4 and you can't see them avoiding defeats the way they're playing this season. Chelsea's loss puts them on 2 losses like us, Man U's and Man City's ability to hang onto draws has kept them going but still they've dropped points where we've been picking them up. We're on a good roll and have 5 games until Spurs. Our league games are very winnable, as are our Champions' League games, our only really tricky fixture between now and then is Liverpool in the league cup. I'm guessing they may put out a more experienced side in order to try and win some silverware and so we'll have to see how our younglings do.
I'm excited for the 31st!
We're climbing up the table and scoring goals for fun. Come on you Arsenal.
Highbury86
Friday, October 16, 2009
It's well and truly over, Birmingham tomorrow
Hey Hey Hey,
The interlull has finally rolled over and died. The World Cup in Europe is just about settled, after the playoff round, there's a couple of friendlies and then no more internationals for the rest of the season.
In some board room news Kroenke bought an extra 90 shares and is slowly accumulating shares in the club, which will hopefully block Usmanov in any take over attempt. We've also been revealed as the 3rd richest club in the world.
Now for game news and of course we've picked up a few injuries over the international week and will be missing some players on Saturday. Eduardo is definitely out with a thigh strain. Diaby was injured but has recovered on time. Nasri won't be available until Wednesday night, Almunia is 50:50, which means he won't play and Clichy is a doubt but may be available. I think we could probably afford to rest him with Gibbs and Traore waiting in the wings. Fabianski may be back in contention but I really can't see him or Almunia playing tomorrow.
Bar any colossal cock up, we should easily put away the 3 points and make it 7 wins on the trot. Hopefully we'll get a lot of goals and add to our outrageous goal tally. It's the first time we'll have played Birmingham since Eduardo's leg was smashed and this may be playing a hand in Eduardo's absence.
Brewhouse is playing the game at 9:55 ET, hope to see you there.
Highbury86
The interlull has finally rolled over and died. The World Cup in Europe is just about settled, after the playoff round, there's a couple of friendlies and then no more internationals for the rest of the season.
In some board room news Kroenke bought an extra 90 shares and is slowly accumulating shares in the club, which will hopefully block Usmanov in any take over attempt. We've also been revealed as the 3rd richest club in the world.
Now for game news and of course we've picked up a few injuries over the international week and will be missing some players on Saturday. Eduardo is definitely out with a thigh strain. Diaby was injured but has recovered on time. Nasri won't be available until Wednesday night, Almunia is 50:50, which means he won't play and Clichy is a doubt but may be available. I think we could probably afford to rest him with Gibbs and Traore waiting in the wings. Fabianski may be back in contention but I really can't see him or Almunia playing tomorrow.
Brewhouse is playing the game at 9:55 ET, hope to see you there.
Highbury86
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Finally, 2 days to go
Well, this is it, the final day before the preview of the next Arsenal game. Thank god it's over. England qualified a while ago so I really had nothing to watch this week, for all of you Russia, Portugal, Germany, Denmark and so on fans, I'm sure the interlull wasn't quite so boring. Anyway, with nothing else of not to discuss, all I'm going to do is post this rather darling crayola poster my girlfriend Jennifer made as I watched extended highlights of Arsenal-Tottenham 2004.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Internationals Week, Day 8, Season Review
Halloo everyone, it's Monday morning and we're deep into enemy interlull territory. It'll take us another 6 days to get out, so in the mean time we'll do a little review of the season so far.
I think it can be said that we began the season with the fans in good cheer. We were all very excited for the competition to start after a very comprehensive pre-season that saw us beat Rangers, Atletico Madrid and a host of other teams, after drawing our opener with Barnet. Some youngsters got their feet wet, including the very exciting Jack Wilshere, the next great hope for England and Arsenal and some first teamers got back to the team while some were rested and some were injured.
The Everton game was set to be a big clash. Nobody really likes seeing Everton away on the first day of the fixture list and with only 1 signing we'd been written off our top four place by just about everyone in wake of Man City's outrageous spending spree, which saw the Adebayor and Kolo Toure out of the club. I think we all agree that it was good to see the back of Adebayor, especially for 25 million, but it was sad to see King Kolo go, even if we did get 16 million for someone we paid 250,000 for.
While we only signed 1 central defender, we got another back from loan and two players back from serious long term injuries in Eduardo and Rosicky, but lost Nasri, Fabianski and Djourou to long term injuries in the process. And then more bad news, Rosicky was set to miss the first month of the season too. So we started the game a little light in midfield and with additional injuries to Walcott and Vela, a little light up front and of course without our number 3 at center back and our number 2 in goal, we were light in those positions too. Typical, we start a crucial season with some potentially crucial injuries and we've got Everton away followed by Celtic in the Champions' League qualifier.
We start the Everton game well and play some nice stuff and then Denilson comes through with an excellent opener and a fantastically happy celebration. Then Everton go to sleep on a couple of free kicks and Vermaelen scores on his debut and Gallas heads home too. Cesc gets his first of the season just after the break and we're flying. Then Cesc gets his second with a great individual goal, Eduardo poaches one in the last minute and we've hit them for 6 with 5 different scorers including a center mid who could use some goals, a forward just back to league play from a long long injury and, a debutant center back and the 3rd top scoring defender in premier league history.
We couldn't keep the shut out but we scored 6 away to a good side on the opening day with a very complete and clinical performance and really zipped the mouths of our critics. It was a happy day all around with Bendtner standing out as an ample fixture up front and will provide great competition for the returning Walcott, Vela and Rosicky.
Next were Celtic in a deadly important Champions' League qualifier. It wasn't exactly the fixture we wanted but we were certainly the favorites. Kick off came and we were on fire again. We pressed them hard and high and our new 4-3-3 formation was working a charm. We could all see that it suits our players and even with Bendtner out on the right and van Persie central we were playing great football.
It was all coming together and while we weren't breaking through we were really on top of the Scotts. Song was outstanding, Gallas and Vermaelen were forming a great partnership with the Belgian standing out with great tackles and excellent aerial aggression. We came through the game winning 2-0 with just about the jammiest opener you'll ever see after Cesc free kick cannoned off Gallas back and wrong footed Boruc in the Celtic goal. We pressed on for a second and got it in the 70th minute or so after good work from Diaby led to a Celtic own goal. The press said it was lucky but there was nothing lucky about it. It was a fine build up and a killer ball, had the defender not gone for it Bendtner was lurking for a tap in. 2-0 away, job essentially done.
We played Portsmouth in our first home game of the season the following weekend. With Portsmouth struggling we rested a number of starters, except for Cesc who for some reason played. We never got out of gear during this game and played at training pace but still scored 4. Diaby got the first 2 in a good performance from him and they were great goals. Gallas got the 3rd and Ramsey finished nicely late on for the 4th. We could have had a couple more but didn't finish. The game finished 4-1 and we well and truly moving early in the season.
Then came the Celtic second leg and along with it some serious controversy. Well, some silly controversy but it was controversial. Eduardo dived to win a penalty on about 25 minutes and then dispatched it calmly after the hullabaloo afterwards. We played well again and went at them but with less urgency than the 1st leg. Eboue scored a nice goal and then Arshavin scored a very similar one not long after. Eboue and Eduardo were fantastic, which were great signs that both of them had turned corners. Eduardo was well and truly over his injury and Eboue was well and truly over being Eboue and was ready to be a professional.
In the end the penalty was meaningless as we really hammered them over the 2 legs, they never stood a chance and were never really in for a sniff. Over the 2 legs they had 2 shots on target, 1 of them going in in the last minute of the second leg. Still Eduardo was suspended in a flame of UEFA inefficiency. They had opened a can of worms they never had a chance to contain and so they overturned the suspension, which proved vital later on.
We were well and truly rolling and had built some nice momentum to take to Old Trafford, although we had lost Cesc to injury, something that for me proved vital. The game against Man U started off OK. For the most part we were canceling each other out with neither midfield able to really hold the ball too well. We were the most attacking of the 2 teams and began to boss the game towards the end of the half but again found it difficult to use the width to create space. Fletcher was on a rampage throwing tackles all over the place, including nowhere near the ball on several occasions with Michael Carrick following suit. Of course Alex Song was booked for his first offense and that was the way the game went. They got away with murder in around the 35th minute or something like that when Fletcher went flying into a tackle on Arshavin, getting nowhere near the ball and completely taking out the Russian before scooping the ball up with his arm and running off with it. No penalty, the ref completely fluffed it. Arshavin got the ball about 30 seconds later and drove forward and with nobody to close him down let fly from 30 yards and smashed the netting in the near post top corner.
1-0 up at half time and we deserved our lead. The 2nd half was much like the end of the 1st. We were dominating possession and looked dangerous but were caught on the break by a great pass in behind Gallas for Rooney who charged into the box. Almunia came when he didn't need to and Rooney went to ground a good two yards before the keeper got to him. The penalty was awarded and it was much the same as Eduardo. Almunia was booked and Rooney scored the penalty. It was 1-1 but I wasn't all that worried as we looked the better team. Then came Diaby's crazy own goal and we just couldn't break them down until the last second when RvP scored a goal that was disallowed. Cue the super retardo moron ref show and Wenger was sent to the stands for kicking a water bottle in frustration. He ended up being planted on top of the tunnel where he was ranked and screamed at abusively by the United fans for the remaining minute or so. The ref was bad throughout and what he did to Wenger was disgraceful. We lost a game we deserved a lot more out of and our momentum came to a screaming halt.
The international break came after and we had time to collect ourselves before facing Man City. This was another crazy affair in Manchester where inept refereeing hurt our chances. We were on top of them from the 1st whistle to the last and managed to lose 4-2. We were slightly unlucky on the 1st goal as it came off the post and back off Almunia, but really the keeper should have had it before it hit the post. The free kick was questionable in the first place and Richards was at least a yard and a half offside.
We brought it back to 1-1 with RvP scoring his first of the season after he was set up by the excellent Rosicky, making his first appearance of the season. Throughout the game Adebayor was out to hurt our boys and stood on Cesc and wasn't even booked, slapped and kicked Song and stamped on van Persie's face. At 1-1 we looked like the only team that would score as we pressed and pressed and they scored on the break, a poor goal to give up after Song should have tackled easily and Almunia maybe should have done better from Bellamy's shot.
We pressed on and again looked like scoring and were caught on the break again and Adebayor scored an unmarked header and was finally booked after he ran 100 yards to celebrate in front of our fans. Scum. Then they scored another to rub salt in the wounds as we were pressing again. We hit the post, had 2 cleared off the line, Given saved 3/4 times and really we could have come back to make it 3-3 had we not been scored on. We finally scored and made if 4-2 and realistically could have made it 4-4 even but didn't and lost. Another game we should have won where we were victims of terrible reffing, really really genuinely awful reffing.
2 losses in 4 league games wasn't good, especially after our explosive start and we had the Champions' League to pick up some momentum again. Almunia got ill and so we had to throw Vito Mannone into the action with Fabianski injured. We all saw him in pre-season and weren't exactly impressed so I think we were all a little worried.
There was nothing the young Don could do about our terrible start in Belgium. We fell 2 goals behind inside 5 minutes. Eduardo made a terrible mistake on the edge of our area and Cesc feeble attempt at a tackle saw them score the 1st. They got a slightly fortunate penalty 3 minutes later and scored a truly bad penalty, had he gone the right way surely Mannone would have saved.
We didn't come back very well, we were playing poorly but for 1 good moment from Diaby where he powered past 2 defenders and slid in Bendtner who took his chance well. It was a crucial goal as it got us back in the game at half time.
Then Eduardo made amends for his mistake and set up the equalizer from Cesc only good free kick of the night (there were many bad ones) with a nice flick for Vermaelen to score after a crazy offsides handball goal mouth sramble and scored the winner himself. We turned a potentially disastrous result into a great galvanizing come back win away in the Champions League.
Then, in a rather bland game against Wigan, we put away 4 again with Vermaelen scoring the opening 2. The 1st a powerful header from a corner, the second an awesome top corner curler from the top of the box after a 1-2 with Eboue. We didn't get into gear again but they couldn't touch us. Oddly enough we could have scored about 10 in this game but the 4 did enough.
Then our youngsters played West Brom in the Carling Cup and we were fairly fortunate to win the game 2-0 as we weren't looking all that good until they had a man sent off for slapping Jack Wilshere. We scored 2 goals late on and saw Vela play and score for the 1st time this season.
Then there was Fulham away. This has proved a tough fixture the past couple of seasons and with Almunia still out we had to rely on Mannone to come good. And come good he did. He was awesome. He kept us in the game with 5/6 fantastic saves. We didn't play particularly well but weren't all that poor either. A draw may have been a fair result through the course of the game, but when you compare chances then Fulham were certainly on top. van Persie scored a great goal with a great touch and finish from Cesc sublime pass at the beginning of the 2nd half and that was enough after Mannone's heroics.
Olympiacos in the Champions' League was next. We battered them from the 1st minute on and could have won 24 nil but they threw 11 men behind the ball and kept us out until late on, but van Persie finished well in the 77th after a nice team move and Arshavin scored a great little Cryuff flick to finish them off. Mannone came up with a couple of good stops in this 1 too as they threatened once or twice. We were really superior and are looking well set to progress top of the group as the other teams keep drawing.
Then there was Blackburn. What can you say about this game. It was our most complete performance of the season. Although we were a bit shakey at the back for the 1st two, they were certainly avoidable and with some work goals like those will be cut out. We attacked superbly and finished clinically and Vermaelen's goal was outstanding. And then there was Cesc Fabregas. He put in the most complete center mids performance I've ever seen from anybody at any level in any game. If he continues to play like that for the rest of the year he'll win the world player of the year award. He set up 4, hit the bar, had one cleared off the line, force 2 good saves and scored a peach of a left foot volley before he was subbed. Bendtner finished off the scoring with a stonker from 20 yards and we're rolling again.
Nasri is back in training, Denilson has been out and will continue to be for another month or so, which is a big loss considering his form, but one we can cope with. Fabianski and Almunia are both back to give Mannone a run for the #1 spot which is well and truly up for grabs at the moment and we're as close to having a complete squad as we've been for years, minus Djourou or course.
van Persie has hit his stride, Rosicky is in top form and the central defenders have formed a great and effective partnership. If we can keep this momentum going and win the north London derby at the end of the month we'll be in good poise to continue through November and roll well and fast into our game against Chelsea. Should we win that the title race will be well and truly on and tight.
So, minus a couple of hickups so far, so great for the Arsenal. It's as good a start to the season we could have asked for without being selfish.
Come on you Arsenal.
Highbury86
I think it can be said that we began the season with the fans in good cheer. We were all very excited for the competition to start after a very comprehensive pre-season that saw us beat Rangers, Atletico Madrid and a host of other teams, after drawing our opener with Barnet. Some youngsters got their feet wet, including the very exciting Jack Wilshere, the next great hope for England and Arsenal and some first teamers got back to the team while some were rested and some were injured.
The Everton game was set to be a big clash. Nobody really likes seeing Everton away on the first day of the fixture list and with only 1 signing we'd been written off our top four place by just about everyone in wake of Man City's outrageous spending spree, which saw the Adebayor and Kolo Toure out of the club. I think we all agree that it was good to see the back of Adebayor, especially for 25 million, but it was sad to see King Kolo go, even if we did get 16 million for someone we paid 250,000 for.
While we only signed 1 central defender, we got another back from loan and two players back from serious long term injuries in Eduardo and Rosicky, but lost Nasri, Fabianski and Djourou to long term injuries in the process. And then more bad news, Rosicky was set to miss the first month of the season too. So we started the game a little light in midfield and with additional injuries to Walcott and Vela, a little light up front and of course without our number 3 at center back and our number 2 in goal, we were light in those positions too. Typical, we start a crucial season with some potentially crucial injuries and we've got Everton away followed by Celtic in the Champions' League qualifier.
We start the Everton game well and play some nice stuff and then Denilson comes through with an excellent opener and a fantastically happy celebration. Then Everton go to sleep on a couple of free kicks and Vermaelen scores on his debut and Gallas heads home too. Cesc gets his first of the season just after the break and we're flying. Then Cesc gets his second with a great individual goal, Eduardo poaches one in the last minute and we've hit them for 6 with 5 different scorers including a center mid who could use some goals, a forward just back to league play from a long long injury and, a debutant center back and the 3rd top scoring defender in premier league history.
We couldn't keep the shut out but we scored 6 away to a good side on the opening day with a very complete and clinical performance and really zipped the mouths of our critics. It was a happy day all around with Bendtner standing out as an ample fixture up front and will provide great competition for the returning Walcott, Vela and Rosicky.
Next were Celtic in a deadly important Champions' League qualifier. It wasn't exactly the fixture we wanted but we were certainly the favorites. Kick off came and we were on fire again. We pressed them hard and high and our new 4-3-3 formation was working a charm. We could all see that it suits our players and even with Bendtner out on the right and van Persie central we were playing great football.
It was all coming together and while we weren't breaking through we were really on top of the Scotts. Song was outstanding, Gallas and Vermaelen were forming a great partnership with the Belgian standing out with great tackles and excellent aerial aggression. We came through the game winning 2-0 with just about the jammiest opener you'll ever see after Cesc free kick cannoned off Gallas back and wrong footed Boruc in the Celtic goal. We pressed on for a second and got it in the 70th minute or so after good work from Diaby led to a Celtic own goal. The press said it was lucky but there was nothing lucky about it. It was a fine build up and a killer ball, had the defender not gone for it Bendtner was lurking for a tap in. 2-0 away, job essentially done.
We played Portsmouth in our first home game of the season the following weekend. With Portsmouth struggling we rested a number of starters, except for Cesc who for some reason played. We never got out of gear during this game and played at training pace but still scored 4. Diaby got the first 2 in a good performance from him and they were great goals. Gallas got the 3rd and Ramsey finished nicely late on for the 4th. We could have had a couple more but didn't finish. The game finished 4-1 and we well and truly moving early in the season.
Then came the Celtic second leg and along with it some serious controversy. Well, some silly controversy but it was controversial. Eduardo dived to win a penalty on about 25 minutes and then dispatched it calmly after the hullabaloo afterwards. We played well again and went at them but with less urgency than the 1st leg. Eboue scored a nice goal and then Arshavin scored a very similar one not long after. Eboue and Eduardo were fantastic, which were great signs that both of them had turned corners. Eduardo was well and truly over his injury and Eboue was well and truly over being Eboue and was ready to be a professional.
In the end the penalty was meaningless as we really hammered them over the 2 legs, they never stood a chance and were never really in for a sniff. Over the 2 legs they had 2 shots on target, 1 of them going in in the last minute of the second leg. Still Eduardo was suspended in a flame of UEFA inefficiency. They had opened a can of worms they never had a chance to contain and so they overturned the suspension, which proved vital later on.
We were well and truly rolling and had built some nice momentum to take to Old Trafford, although we had lost Cesc to injury, something that for me proved vital. The game against Man U started off OK. For the most part we were canceling each other out with neither midfield able to really hold the ball too well. We were the most attacking of the 2 teams and began to boss the game towards the end of the half but again found it difficult to use the width to create space. Fletcher was on a rampage throwing tackles all over the place, including nowhere near the ball on several occasions with Michael Carrick following suit. Of course Alex Song was booked for his first offense and that was the way the game went. They got away with murder in around the 35th minute or something like that when Fletcher went flying into a tackle on Arshavin, getting nowhere near the ball and completely taking out the Russian before scooping the ball up with his arm and running off with it. No penalty, the ref completely fluffed it. Arshavin got the ball about 30 seconds later and drove forward and with nobody to close him down let fly from 30 yards and smashed the netting in the near post top corner.
1-0 up at half time and we deserved our lead. The 2nd half was much like the end of the 1st. We were dominating possession and looked dangerous but were caught on the break by a great pass in behind Gallas for Rooney who charged into the box. Almunia came when he didn't need to and Rooney went to ground a good two yards before the keeper got to him. The penalty was awarded and it was much the same as Eduardo. Almunia was booked and Rooney scored the penalty. It was 1-1 but I wasn't all that worried as we looked the better team. Then came Diaby's crazy own goal and we just couldn't break them down until the last second when RvP scored a goal that was disallowed. Cue the super retardo moron ref show and Wenger was sent to the stands for kicking a water bottle in frustration. He ended up being planted on top of the tunnel where he was ranked and screamed at abusively by the United fans for the remaining minute or so. The ref was bad throughout and what he did to Wenger was disgraceful. We lost a game we deserved a lot more out of and our momentum came to a screaming halt.
The international break came after and we had time to collect ourselves before facing Man City. This was another crazy affair in Manchester where inept refereeing hurt our chances. We were on top of them from the 1st whistle to the last and managed to lose 4-2. We were slightly unlucky on the 1st goal as it came off the post and back off Almunia, but really the keeper should have had it before it hit the post. The free kick was questionable in the first place and Richards was at least a yard and a half offside.
We brought it back to 1-1 with RvP scoring his first of the season after he was set up by the excellent Rosicky, making his first appearance of the season. Throughout the game Adebayor was out to hurt our boys and stood on Cesc and wasn't even booked, slapped and kicked Song and stamped on van Persie's face. At 1-1 we looked like the only team that would score as we pressed and pressed and they scored on the break, a poor goal to give up after Song should have tackled easily and Almunia maybe should have done better from Bellamy's shot.
We pressed on and again looked like scoring and were caught on the break again and Adebayor scored an unmarked header and was finally booked after he ran 100 yards to celebrate in front of our fans. Scum. Then they scored another to rub salt in the wounds as we were pressing again. We hit the post, had 2 cleared off the line, Given saved 3/4 times and really we could have come back to make it 3-3 had we not been scored on. We finally scored and made if 4-2 and realistically could have made it 4-4 even but didn't and lost. Another game we should have won where we were victims of terrible reffing, really really genuinely awful reffing.
2 losses in 4 league games wasn't good, especially after our explosive start and we had the Champions' League to pick up some momentum again. Almunia got ill and so we had to throw Vito Mannone into the action with Fabianski injured. We all saw him in pre-season and weren't exactly impressed so I think we were all a little worried.
There was nothing the young Don could do about our terrible start in Belgium. We fell 2 goals behind inside 5 minutes. Eduardo made a terrible mistake on the edge of our area and Cesc feeble attempt at a tackle saw them score the 1st. They got a slightly fortunate penalty 3 minutes later and scored a truly bad penalty, had he gone the right way surely Mannone would have saved.
We didn't come back very well, we were playing poorly but for 1 good moment from Diaby where he powered past 2 defenders and slid in Bendtner who took his chance well. It was a crucial goal as it got us back in the game at half time.
Then Eduardo made amends for his mistake and set up the equalizer from Cesc only good free kick of the night (there were many bad ones) with a nice flick for Vermaelen to score after a crazy offsides handball goal mouth sramble and scored the winner himself. We turned a potentially disastrous result into a great galvanizing come back win away in the Champions League.
Then, in a rather bland game against Wigan, we put away 4 again with Vermaelen scoring the opening 2. The 1st a powerful header from a corner, the second an awesome top corner curler from the top of the box after a 1-2 with Eboue. We didn't get into gear again but they couldn't touch us. Oddly enough we could have scored about 10 in this game but the 4 did enough.
Then our youngsters played West Brom in the Carling Cup and we were fairly fortunate to win the game 2-0 as we weren't looking all that good until they had a man sent off for slapping Jack Wilshere. We scored 2 goals late on and saw Vela play and score for the 1st time this season.
Then there was Fulham away. This has proved a tough fixture the past couple of seasons and with Almunia still out we had to rely on Mannone to come good. And come good he did. He was awesome. He kept us in the game with 5/6 fantastic saves. We didn't play particularly well but weren't all that poor either. A draw may have been a fair result through the course of the game, but when you compare chances then Fulham were certainly on top. van Persie scored a great goal with a great touch and finish from Cesc sublime pass at the beginning of the 2nd half and that was enough after Mannone's heroics.
Olympiacos in the Champions' League was next. We battered them from the 1st minute on and could have won 24 nil but they threw 11 men behind the ball and kept us out until late on, but van Persie finished well in the 77th after a nice team move and Arshavin scored a great little Cryuff flick to finish them off. Mannone came up with a couple of good stops in this 1 too as they threatened once or twice. We were really superior and are looking well set to progress top of the group as the other teams keep drawing.
Then there was Blackburn. What can you say about this game. It was our most complete performance of the season. Although we were a bit shakey at the back for the 1st two, they were certainly avoidable and with some work goals like those will be cut out. We attacked superbly and finished clinically and Vermaelen's goal was outstanding. And then there was Cesc Fabregas. He put in the most complete center mids performance I've ever seen from anybody at any level in any game. If he continues to play like that for the rest of the year he'll win the world player of the year award. He set up 4, hit the bar, had one cleared off the line, force 2 good saves and scored a peach of a left foot volley before he was subbed. Bendtner finished off the scoring with a stonker from 20 yards and we're rolling again.
Nasri is back in training, Denilson has been out and will continue to be for another month or so, which is a big loss considering his form, but one we can cope with. Fabianski and Almunia are both back to give Mannone a run for the #1 spot which is well and truly up for grabs at the moment and we're as close to having a complete squad as we've been for years, minus Djourou or course.
van Persie has hit his stride, Rosicky is in top form and the central defenders have formed a great and effective partnership. If we can keep this momentum going and win the north London derby at the end of the month we'll be in good poise to continue through November and roll well and fast into our game against Chelsea. Should we win that the title race will be well and truly on and tight.
So, minus a couple of hickups so far, so great for the Arsenal. It's as good a start to the season we could have asked for without being selfish.
Come on you Arsenal.
Highbury86
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Internationals Week, Day 7, Arsenal boys going to World Cup
Morning everyone, I know we all hate the interlull because it deprives us of the Arsenal but there were some exciting World Cup qualifiers yesterday it has to be said. England's was fun to watch, there was nothing Green could do about the sending off and with us down to 10 the game was well matched. We were on top of the match for most of it but they were breaking well and we couldn't really break them down with Rooney being as selfish a player as I've ever seen and on one of the few occasions he wasn't Super Fat Frank missed his chance. We've already qualified but Ukrain's win has hurt Eduardo's chances of appearing this summer.
Congratulations to Nik Bendtner who will be going to the World Cup after Denmark beat Sweden, good for him, I'm looking forward to seeing him there.
It looks like Tomas Rosicky isn't going anywhere this summer as Czech Republic don't really stand a chance, sitting in 3rd in their group. It's a shame for him, he had a stonking World Cup last time out and then missed out on the Euro's because of his injury and now the World Cup because with his help through all the qualifiers Czech just couldn't manage.
Arshavin and Russia were unlucky to lose to 10 man Germany, as they should have had a penalty late on. They've clinched a play off spot though and will be seeded high so they'll have a good chance of being there.
Gallas scored for France they smashed 5 past the Faroe Islands and won a play off spot so bar any cock up or injuries we'll see Sagna, Clichy, Diaby, Gallas, Theirry Henry and maybe even Nasri in the summer. With their players they really ought to be a lot better.
Alex Song and Camaroon beat Adebayor 3-0 to top their group and kill Togo's chances of traveling this summer. Go fuck yourself Adebayor.
Eboue has qualified with the Ivory Coast.
For the U21's Theo set up Gibbs for England's first against Macedonia and Jack Wilshere took the corner that led to the second. Gibbs scored an own goal as well, but never mind that, England won 6-3.
In some other news, it's not surprising to hear that Real Madrid are trying to poach two of our youngsters. They're apparently going to try and sign Gael Clichy in the summer and like the looks of Fran Merida, who says he's flattered. Who knows if there's any merit to any of this but I really can't see Clichy leaving. I don't think any of us would like to see him go. As for Fran Merida, I wouldn't like to see him go either. He's an excellent prospect and has been touted as better than Fabregas at the same age, but as Fabregas is in his way and he's behind Rosicky and Aaron Ramsey in the pecking order. He's much more likely to go but Madrid have a lot of center mids too and I can't really see him breaking in there before he does at Arsenal.
That's all there is, here's another video,
Highbury86
Congratulations to Nik Bendtner who will be going to the World Cup after Denmark beat Sweden, good for him, I'm looking forward to seeing him there.
It looks like Tomas Rosicky isn't going anywhere this summer as Czech Republic don't really stand a chance, sitting in 3rd in their group. It's a shame for him, he had a stonking World Cup last time out and then missed out on the Euro's because of his injury and now the World Cup because with his help through all the qualifiers Czech just couldn't manage.
Arshavin and Russia were unlucky to lose to 10 man Germany, as they should have had a penalty late on. They've clinched a play off spot though and will be seeded high so they'll have a good chance of being there.
Gallas scored for France they smashed 5 past the Faroe Islands and won a play off spot so bar any cock up or injuries we'll see Sagna, Clichy, Diaby, Gallas, Theirry Henry and maybe even Nasri in the summer. With their players they really ought to be a lot better.
Eboue has qualified with the Ivory Coast.
For the U21's Theo set up Gibbs for England's first against Macedonia and Jack Wilshere took the corner that led to the second. Gibbs scored an own goal as well, but never mind that, England won 6-3.
In some other news, it's not surprising to hear that Real Madrid are trying to poach two of our youngsters. They're apparently going to try and sign Gael Clichy in the summer and like the looks of Fran Merida, who says he's flattered. Who knows if there's any merit to any of this but I really can't see Clichy leaving. I don't think any of us would like to see him go. As for Fran Merida, I wouldn't like to see him go either. He's an excellent prospect and has been touted as better than Fabregas at the same age, but as Fabregas is in his way and he's behind Rosicky and Aaron Ramsey in the pecking order. He's much more likely to go but Madrid have a lot of center mids too and I can't really see him breaking in there before he does at Arsenal.
That's all there is, here's another video,
Highbury86
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Internationals Week, Day 6, When Will It End
We all know when it'll end of course, but still, man, when will it end? The craziest thing last night at work, I had to deal with a party of 20 of the drunkest computer nerds you've ever seen. They were celebrating something they did at work and there people from all over, Germany, California, France, Israel and Ireland, including some lady in her late 30's doing her best to take me back to her hotel. Nothing like drunken middle aged ladies rubbing your wrists and looking you in the eye intensely while they tell you, "We have a connection, you know that" to make you feel super uncomfortable.
Anyway, one of the guys from Ireland said that he's a huge Arsenal fan. At this point he was about 9 bottles of cabernet and 6 bottles of champagne in and was talking rather close. He was a dead nice guy and it just goes to show how far and wide our excellent brand of football goes. If computer nerds from Ireland living in San Francisco watch Arsenal then...well I don't what then, but it gave me something to feel good about at 1AM as I cleaned up glasses and wiped down tables.
So little news today that the press are making up news stories about transfers already. We've got the Vieira speculation again, something about how we're the only club for him if he wants to make it to the world cup and that Wenger can get the best out of him should we sign him in January. It's hard to disagree it has to be said, his influence on the boys in the team could go a long way to seeing us win those games we don't likely to and to get good consistent runs during the run in. It could also help Song, Denilson and Diaby perfect their professions and he'd provide some half decent cover while Song's away at the ACN. I've said before that I'd rather not see him come back but I don't think it's bad idea anymore.
Then there's some stuff about how we're going to duke it out with Inter for Gokan Inler in the summer. And there's some other stuff about how we've been warned to keep our mitts off of Blaise Matuidi by St. Etienne, like we're some unkempt, stubbly, nameless tobacco chewing cowboy and their Clint Eastwood in a pancho. At this rate, by next August we're going to have 36 holding mids at the club.
Don Vito has been in the press too. He says,
I am really happy with my five games...I have shown I can play...I have learned and hope people can see I have improved too. I did my job and now it is up to the boss.
Pretty standard for someone in his situation and you can't really argue. He's been there when we've needed him. He's come up with a few fantastic saves and hasn't really been at fault for anything. You can argue that he should have been on his line a bit better or come for the ball on Blackburn's first goal or that he maybe shouldn't have been beaten at his near post against Standard Liege but neither goal counted against us in the end and he more than made up for them with his performance against Fulham. With Fabianski and Almunia back Wenger has a real head ache. You have to imagine though that Almunia will be back in the sticks come league play.
Not much else to say, I'll wish all the Arsenal boys well in their qualifiers today, I'd really like to see as many of them as possible in the World Cup. Playing in the World Cup can really turn a players career, it can give them that confidence and that extra bit of gusto that can push a player from class to world class. I'm thinking about Nik Bendtner, Eduardo and Song.
Right then, here's a video,
Until tomorrow,
Highbury86
So little news today that the press are making up news stories about transfers already. We've got the Vieira speculation again, something about how we're the only club for him if he wants to make it to the world cup and that Wenger can get the best out of him should we sign him in January. It's hard to disagree it has to be said, his influence on the boys in the team could go a long way to seeing us win those games we don't likely to and to get good consistent runs during the run in. It could also help Song, Denilson and Diaby perfect their professions and he'd provide some half decent cover while Song's away at the ACN. I've said before that I'd rather not see him come back but I don't think it's bad idea anymore.
Then there's some stuff about how we're going to duke it out with Inter for Gokan Inler in the summer. And there's some other stuff about how we've been warned to keep our mitts off of Blaise Matuidi by St. Etienne, like we're some unkempt, stubbly, nameless tobacco chewing cowboy and their Clint Eastwood in a pancho. At this rate, by next August we're going to have 36 holding mids at the club.
Don Vito has been in the press too. He says,
I am really happy with my five games...I have shown I can play...I have learned and hope people can see I have improved too. I did my job and now it is up to the boss.
Pretty standard for someone in his situation and you can't really argue. He's been there when we've needed him. He's come up with a few fantastic saves and hasn't really been at fault for anything. You can argue that he should have been on his line a bit better or come for the ball on Blackburn's first goal or that he maybe shouldn't have been beaten at his near post against Standard Liege but neither goal counted against us in the end and he more than made up for them with his performance against Fulham. With Fabianski and Almunia back Wenger has a real head ache. You have to imagine though that Almunia will be back in the sticks come league play.
Not much else to say, I'll wish all the Arsenal boys well in their qualifiers today, I'd really like to see as many of them as possible in the World Cup. Playing in the World Cup can really turn a players career, it can give them that confidence and that extra bit of gusto that can push a player from class to world class. I'm thinking about Nik Bendtner, Eduardo and Song.
Right then, here's a video,
Until tomorrow,
Highbury86
Friday, October 9, 2009
The most boring interlul in history, international week day 5
Man, I'm bored off my ass entirely. A friend of mine started a blog about the restaurant he works in and that's just about all I've been doing. There's no news whatsoever, Gavin Hoyte is going on loan and some asshole thinks that Wenger needs to take more risks.
There's some stuff around about how Rooney doesn't want Ronaldo in the World Cup, something about winking and some shite like that. As if Rooney has any room to speak, the diving Shrek fucker.
Here's a video,
Highbury86
There's some stuff around about how Rooney doesn't want Ronaldo in the World Cup, something about winking and some shite like that. As if Rooney has any room to speak, the diving Shrek fucker.
Here's a video,
Highbury86
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Scrounged News on Internation week day 4
Another boring day sees me scrounging for Arsenal news after a huge pancake brunch with my special lady. We had ricotta pancakes with blueberries and corn pancakes with eggs, black beans, salsa and sour cream. They were awesome, if you're in Atlanta I'd recommend going to the Highland Bakery for some breakfast if you get the chance.
Anyway, there is a little bit of Arsenal news, some of it very good. Firstly Vermaelen has been given the captaincy in the Belgium national team, well done to him. He's a natural leader and a gun ho defender, a classic captain and should they qualify for the next World Cup, I'm looking forward to his performances there. In the mean time let's hope he keeps up the good form for the Arsenal for the next 4 years.
In even more positive news, Nasri and Fabianski are back in training. Although they'll have difficult times getting back into the team, having them back is nothing short of excellent. Nasri will offer us another option in the midfield. With everyone fit you have to imagine that Rosicky would fit in as the 3rd midfielder with a combination of 3 of Walcott, RVP, Arshavin, Eduardo or Bendtner up front, but Nasri really offers a new dimension as he can come on in midfield and push Rosicky forward. He has craft and defensive responsibility and has a very good quality about him. He can finish with either foot and could be used as an outside forward if need be too. He and Diaby will scrap it out and with added competition we'll only get better. I think we all have a soft spot for Nasri and probably like him ahead of Diaby, but we'll have to see how it pans out.
Fabianski being back is good as it'll give Mannone a bit of competition, which'll hopefully put a flame behind him and let him produce more of the same as he has. Almunia has surely recovered from his who knows what it is and the competition for goalkeeper will be good and maybe Almunia can come through and be a real keeper. Who knows though, this could see the end of the Spaniard should Wenger keep him benched and Fabianski show some of his promise. Should Mannone carry one, we'll have a good keeper situation, even with Almunia out.
And finally, we're being linked with Puyol again. I'm not really sure about this one. I doubt it's at all true and I'm guessing he'll be somewhere in Italy next year if not at Barcelona. Of course I'd bite your hand off if you offered Puyol on a free and it saw Silvestre out, but that just seems a little too good to be true. He'd be looking for 1st team football and with Vermaelen and Gallas forming such a good partnership, I can't really see him getting it, although Gallas may leave himself should he not be offered a new contract. With his current performances I hope he is, but that's a story for another day.
Until next time,
Highbury86
And finally, we're being linked with Puyol again. I'm not really sure about this one. I doubt it's at all true and I'm guessing he'll be somewhere in Italy next year if not at Barcelona. Of course I'd bite your hand off if you offered Puyol on a free and it saw Silvestre out, but that just seems a little too good to be true. He'd be looking for 1st team football and with Vermaelen and Gallas forming such a good partnership, I can't really see him getting it, although Gallas may leave himself should he not be offered a new contract. With his current performances I hope he is, but that's a story for another day.
Until next time,
Highbury86
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Internationals Week, Day 2
Morning tutto la gente. It's a dead day for Arsenal news today. We've got 20 players in the squad away on international duty, including 3 in the U21s or U20s, Traore, Gibbs and Sxvc40;ny are all away for their country's youth teams. Fran Merida comes home from Egypt along with Gavin Hoyte after Spain and England were knocked out of the U20's world cup. Clichy, Sagna, Gallas are all away with France and they'll have to watch out for Diaby in practice, as he has a knack for injuring Arsenal players in training. Rosicky, Arshavin, Bendtner, Fabregas, Vermaelen, Eduardo, Vela, Ramsey, and Eboue are all away with their respective countries in games that really don't mean much for me. I'd like them all to win as I'd love to see a bunch as many Arsenal players as possible in the World Cup. Song however is in a giant clash for Camaroon against Togo. He takes on Adebayor and I really hope that Ade breaks both his arms trying to stamp on Song's face.
Other than internationals there really isn't anything doing at all. Silvestre says that we haven't seen the best of him yet and I agree, as the only good thing he can possibly do is advise the young players and unless you're at training or in the dressing room I don't think you'd be privy.
We've been linked with Carlos Puyol as he's on a free next summer. It's silly speculation but and although I don't rate him like most, seeing Silvestre out and Puyol in on a free would be fantastic business.
We're also going to let Sol Campbell train while he finds a team, which is all well and fine. And that's that, here's another video.
I'll leave you with another video to pass the time.
Later on,
Highbury86
Other than internationals there really isn't anything doing at all. Silvestre says that we haven't seen the best of him yet and I agree, as the only good thing he can possibly do is advise the young players and unless you're at training or in the dressing room I don't think you'd be privy.
We've been linked with Carlos Puyol as he's on a free next summer. It's silly speculation but and although I don't rate him like most, seeing Silvestre out and Puyol in on a free would be fantastic business.
We're also going to let Sol Campbell train while he finds a team, which is all well and fine. And that's that, here's another video.
I'll leave you with another video to pass the time.
Later on,
Highbury86
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Internationals Week, Day 1
Nothing's doing as I'm sure you all expect. I'm sure a lot of our players will be away on international duty, including our entire back 4, which is slightly worrying, as we'd really like to avoid injuring the middle two. In fact with the entire team clicking so well it would really be a shame if any of them got hurt, as November gives us a chance to have a complete squad for the first time in about 30.
One player who won't be making a trip is Mr. van Persie who is expecting his second mini van Persie this week. Congratulations to him.
RvP's always getting injured with Holland so I'm extra happy he's not going.
Theo's been in the news a bit, mostly talking about his teammates but also because he's been selected for the U21s, which Wenger is happy about. It's good too as he's been overlooked by Capello for senior duty, which makes sense as he's only played about 20 minutes this season.
U21s will give him a good chance to gain some fitness and get him ready for his return to club football.
Cesc talks a bit about what it would mean to him to win the league. And that's all there is. Just to keep you from going into a coma I'll give you a link to this Guy Ritchie Arsenal/Nike video.
Later on,
Highbury86
RvP's always getting injured with Holland so I'm extra happy he's not going.
Theo's been in the news a bit, mostly talking about his teammates but also because he's been selected for the U21s, which Wenger is happy about. It's good too as he's been overlooked by Capello for senior duty, which makes sense as he's only played about 20 minutes this season.
U21s will give him a good chance to gain some fitness and get him ready for his return to club football.
Later on,
Highbury86
Monday, October 5, 2009
Blackburn Review and a little more
Morning all, and what can we say about Blackburn. They weren't very good, we were. We were outstanding in fact. I walked into the BrewHouseCafe about 5 minutes late for kick off and saw that we were down 1 nil. Fuck, I thought, It's going to be one of those games. Then when I tried ordering an 8AM beer the waiter bluntly said, 12:30. I responded, What? It's Sunday bro, can't have beer until 12:30. Goddammit, I thought, it really is going to be one of those days. So I ordered a hot chocolate, a decision I later told my girlfriend was mine and not the laws, and sat to watch the game to find that it wasn't going to be one of those days because every time we got on the ball, which was all the time, we looked like scoring.
I saw the replay of their goal and it was just a kind of jammy goal that happens every once in a while. It was a huge kick forward by the huge kicking Paul Robinson and then N'zonzi got his head to it ahead of Vermaelen and it looped over Mannone, who wasn't ideally positioned.
We almost responded immediately, Diaby played the ball to one of our players for once and then van Persie played it out wide to Arshavine to continue the flowing move. The little Russian chipped the ball to the back post for Cesc whose looping header was helped onto the bar by Robinson and we had nobody following up and they hoofed clear, as they did for the rest of the game. Then on 17 minutes they tried to pass the ball forward and the Vermanator came storming through to intercept and was fouled in the process. The Belgian kept his balance and stormed on where he was clipped over harshly. He rolled over, picked himself up when Drogba would have been on the ground for 5 minutes, and ran on. Diaby collected the ball and passed to Cesc, who dinked it back to Vermaelen who teed himself up to unleash a 25 yard rasper past Robinson and into the side netting to make it 1-1.
It really was a very good goal and it was born out of Vermaelen's stern determination. He won the ball in the first place and despite being fouled twice ran on and got his goal, a brick wall wouldn't have stopped him. It was his 5th of the season, so he remains our top scorer, and at this rate he'll win the golden boot.
Then, in about the 30th minute Cesc had the ball on the edge of the box and tried to curl a low shot into the far post but Robinson saved well. Again we didn't have a poacher in on the rebound, something that Eduardo is better than anyone at, and so the slimy Diouf cleared and for once cleared well as he played a great pass to the breaking Brett Emerton. He raced forward and we were caught in a 3 v 2. Clichy wasn't working too hard to get back and neither was anyone else really.
The ball made it's way to the excellent Dunn who cut inside and shot against Gallas shin, wrong footing Don Vito, and into the net. The boys in the pub said it was lucky but there's nothing really lucky about a team scoring on a 3 v 2 break. We just got caught up the field and amazingly were down 2-1.
2 minutes later, in a move that Fabregas started by winning then taking a free kick in the center circle, van Persie finished Cesc' great splitting pass. Cesc slid him in between 2 defenders on the left side of the area and as Robinson moved to cover his near post van Persie hit low into the far post. 2-2 after 33 minutes. It was RvP's 9th goal in 8 games against Blackburn, they must hate him over there.
4 minutes later and we were up for the first time in the game. A long free kick from Mannone, whose kicking is very inconsistent, was poorly headed by a Blackburn player under aerial challenge from Diaby. The ball fell to Cesc who fed Arshavin much the same way he fed van Persie and he finished much the same too. Low with the left and we were up 3-2.
It took us 7 minutes to turn the game around from 2-1 down and we kept going too. We kept possession well, we kept going forward and they had no answer what so ever. We played very narrow, rarely using the width and when we did it was usually on the right side. Like towards the end of the half when we could have made it 4. Song played the ball out of the middle to van Persie who toyed with the fullback before dropping the ball to Rosicky. He cut inside and with the outside of his right foot curled an irresistible ball to the far post for Cesc to head, which he did but Robinson got down at his near post very well. Too bad, it would have been some goal, a goal Cesc deserved too.
So we went in at half time 3-2 up and more than good value for our lead. Then right at the beginning of the second half Gallas lost out on a 50-50 to dos Santos and the ball was poked out into space. Dunn beat lazy Song and dribbled into the box. He was lucky to break Gallas' tackle and unlucky not to win a penalty as Vermaelen got none of the ball with an outstretched leg that brought Dunn down until the attacker was on the floor. Despite the fact it was probably a penalty it was never stone wall and it sure as shit was never a red card. And Dunn probably shouldn't have been playing anyway after his ridiculous challenge on Mannone where he lashed a kung fu kick on the boys chin when the ball was around waste height.
Not long afterwards Blackburn were given a soft free kick when the 200 pound Emerton was supposedly bowled over by the 150 pound Clichy. It was cleared by Cesc to about 40 yards where Olsenn hit a thundering volley that was heading for the side netting, but the Godfather made a great save to his left. Again, a save that I'm reluctant to say Almunia would have made.
From then on it was all us. Around the 56th minute Arshavin stormed up the right inside channel and tried feeding van Persie, who was excellent throughout. The ball was scrambled clear down the line by Chimbonda, but only as far as Arshavin who found Fabregas on the D. He tried putting Rosicky through but a sliding interception popped the ball in the air. Rosicky's overhead kick found Fabregas who chested the ball down and half volleyed a left footer into the top corner from the edge of the area. A really great goal and a terrifically assuring celebration from Fabregas, which, for some ridiculous reason, the papers are claiming means he's leaving in the summer.
Then on near 70 minutes Theo came on for his first appearance of the season for the outstanding Rosicky, who I'm sure was frustrated at not getting in the goal action, although he had come close with a blaster from the edge of the box that just missed the top corner.
Just after Walcott's introduction Vermaelen made an outrageous diving header block which pushed a Blackburn shot onto the post, although Mannone may have had it covered. Blackburn came forward again and were in the box on this rare occasion when Gallas cleared. The ball found it's way to Arshavin who broke with considerable speed down the left and on came the Arsenal sprint break away relay squad. van Persie made a great run across the box to open up space for Cesc just inside the area. He helped the ball onto Walcott who, without breaking stride, side footed into the far corner for 5. We may have been playing narrow, and that may have been our downfall in a few games but it was working yesterday. A great welcome back for Theo who was very pleased about his goal.
Fabregas went off shortly afterwards to a deafening rapture of applause and rightfully so. It was the old Cesc, he took over the entire game and brought the ball from back to front with style, authority and command. It was a true captains performance, which showed leadership, hard work and unparalleled quality. 4 assists, 1 goal, 1 Cesc Fabregas.
Ramsey came on for him and Bendtner for Arshavin. Ramsey did quite well and had some good ideas, although a few of his attempted passes were just off the mark, with some more game time he'll be a very clever passer indeed. What he does do that seems a little silly, is dribble in circles when he's completely unchallenged. Check this out around 11:11.
Bendtner worked very hard for a goal and was frustrated a few times, missing a couple of chances that should certainly have been put to better use. Especially van Persie's outrageous backheal on the edge of the box, that deserved a goal.
We got a corner from one of those chances and Song's header was saved very well by Robinson and then Gallas follow up should have produced a penalty as n'Zonzi brought him down rather violently. It proved academic of course as moments later Ramsey's big ball found Bendtner who dribbled inside and got his goal in superb fashion, cutting inside 3 defenders before unleashing a great shot off the far post.
Overall it was a great performance with some style and superb finishing. We weren't at full throttle either. Cesc was amazing and the rest of the team performed very well, except for Diaby who was generally not that good and gave away the ball far too much. The onlooking Thierry Henry saw that we're coming into great form and the also watching potato look a like Ronald Koemen will have seen that AZ Alkemaar will have a tough time in our upcoming Champions' League fixtures.
Wenger had some good words you can find here. We've got a long interlull coming and let's hope none of our boys get injured as our squad is coming together. We should have Nasri back soon, Fabianski and Almunia, provided he doesn't die of a chest infection. We'll have to wait another 6 weeks on Denilson but I think we can cope in the mean time with Rosicky and Nasri coming back and Theo and Vela already there. In two weeks when Eduardo's fit we'll be a serious force. I can't wait!
Highbury86
I saw the replay of their goal and it was just a kind of jammy goal that happens every once in a while. It was a huge kick forward by the huge kicking Paul Robinson and then N'zonzi got his head to it ahead of Vermaelen and it looped over Mannone, who wasn't ideally positioned.
We almost responded immediately, Diaby played the ball to one of our players for once and then van Persie played it out wide to Arshavine to continue the flowing move. The little Russian chipped the ball to the back post for Cesc whose looping header was helped onto the bar by Robinson and we had nobody following up and they hoofed clear, as they did for the rest of the game. Then on 17 minutes they tried to pass the ball forward and the Vermanator came storming through to intercept and was fouled in the process. The Belgian kept his balance and stormed on where he was clipped over harshly. He rolled over, picked himself up when Drogba would have been on the ground for 5 minutes, and ran on. Diaby collected the ball and passed to Cesc, who dinked it back to Vermaelen who teed himself up to unleash a 25 yard rasper past Robinson and into the side netting to make it 1-1.
It really was a very good goal and it was born out of Vermaelen's stern determination. He won the ball in the first place and despite being fouled twice ran on and got his goal, a brick wall wouldn't have stopped him. It was his 5th of the season, so he remains our top scorer, and at this rate he'll win the golden boot.
Then, in about the 30th minute Cesc had the ball on the edge of the box and tried to curl a low shot into the far post but Robinson saved well. Again we didn't have a poacher in on the rebound, something that Eduardo is better than anyone at, and so the slimy Diouf cleared and for once cleared well as he played a great pass to the breaking Brett Emerton. He raced forward and we were caught in a 3 v 2. Clichy wasn't working too hard to get back and neither was anyone else really.
The ball made it's way to the excellent Dunn who cut inside and shot against Gallas shin, wrong footing Don Vito, and into the net. The boys in the pub said it was lucky but there's nothing really lucky about a team scoring on a 3 v 2 break. We just got caught up the field and amazingly were down 2-1.
2 minutes later, in a move that Fabregas started by winning then taking a free kick in the center circle, van Persie finished Cesc' great splitting pass. Cesc slid him in between 2 defenders on the left side of the area and as Robinson moved to cover his near post van Persie hit low into the far post. 2-2 after 33 minutes. It was RvP's 9th goal in 8 games against Blackburn, they must hate him over there.
4 minutes later and we were up for the first time in the game. A long free kick from Mannone, whose kicking is very inconsistent, was poorly headed by a Blackburn player under aerial challenge from Diaby. The ball fell to Cesc who fed Arshavin much the same way he fed van Persie and he finished much the same too. Low with the left and we were up 3-2.
It took us 7 minutes to turn the game around from 2-1 down and we kept going too. We kept possession well, we kept going forward and they had no answer what so ever. We played very narrow, rarely using the width and when we did it was usually on the right side. Like towards the end of the half when we could have made it 4. Song played the ball out of the middle to van Persie who toyed with the fullback before dropping the ball to Rosicky. He cut inside and with the outside of his right foot curled an irresistible ball to the far post for Cesc to head, which he did but Robinson got down at his near post very well. Too bad, it would have been some goal, a goal Cesc deserved too.
So we went in at half time 3-2 up and more than good value for our lead. Then right at the beginning of the second half Gallas lost out on a 50-50 to dos Santos and the ball was poked out into space. Dunn beat lazy Song and dribbled into the box. He was lucky to break Gallas' tackle and unlucky not to win a penalty as Vermaelen got none of the ball with an outstretched leg that brought Dunn down until the attacker was on the floor. Despite the fact it was probably a penalty it was never stone wall and it sure as shit was never a red card. And Dunn probably shouldn't have been playing anyway after his ridiculous challenge on Mannone where he lashed a kung fu kick on the boys chin when the ball was around waste height.
Not long afterwards Blackburn were given a soft free kick when the 200 pound Emerton was supposedly bowled over by the 150 pound Clichy. It was cleared by Cesc to about 40 yards where Olsenn hit a thundering volley that was heading for the side netting, but the Godfather made a great save to his left. Again, a save that I'm reluctant to say Almunia would have made.
From then on it was all us. Around the 56th minute Arshavin stormed up the right inside channel and tried feeding van Persie, who was excellent throughout. The ball was scrambled clear down the line by Chimbonda, but only as far as Arshavin who found Fabregas on the D. He tried putting Rosicky through but a sliding interception popped the ball in the air. Rosicky's overhead kick found Fabregas who chested the ball down and half volleyed a left footer into the top corner from the edge of the area. A really great goal and a terrifically assuring celebration from Fabregas, which, for some ridiculous reason, the papers are claiming means he's leaving in the summer. Then on near 70 minutes Theo came on for his first appearance of the season for the outstanding Rosicky, who I'm sure was frustrated at not getting in the goal action, although he had come close with a blaster from the edge of the box that just missed the top corner.
Just after Walcott's introduction Vermaelen made an outrageous diving header block which pushed a Blackburn shot onto the post, although Mannone may have had it covered. Blackburn came forward again and were in the box on this rare occasion when Gallas cleared. The ball found it's way to Arshavin who broke with considerable speed down the left and on came the Arsenal sprint break away relay squad. van Persie made a great run across the box to open up space for Cesc just inside the area. He helped the ball onto Walcott who, without breaking stride, side footed into the far corner for 5. We may have been playing narrow, and that may have been our downfall in a few games but it was working yesterday. A great welcome back for Theo who was very pleased about his goal.
Fabregas went off shortly afterwards to a deafening rapture of applause and rightfully so. It was the old Cesc, he took over the entire game and brought the ball from back to front with style, authority and command. It was a true captains performance, which showed leadership, hard work and unparalleled quality. 4 assists, 1 goal, 1 Cesc Fabregas.
Ramsey came on for him and Bendtner for Arshavin. Ramsey did quite well and had some good ideas, although a few of his attempted passes were just off the mark, with some more game time he'll be a very clever passer indeed. What he does do that seems a little silly, is dribble in circles when he's completely unchallenged. Check this out around 11:11.
Bendtner worked very hard for a goal and was frustrated a few times, missing a couple of chances that should certainly have been put to better use. Especially van Persie's outrageous backheal on the edge of the box, that deserved a goal.
We got a corner from one of those chances and Song's header was saved very well by Robinson and then Gallas follow up should have produced a penalty as n'Zonzi brought him down rather violently. It proved academic of course as moments later Ramsey's big ball found Bendtner who dribbled inside and got his goal in superb fashion, cutting inside 3 defenders before unleashing a great shot off the far post.
Overall it was a great performance with some style and superb finishing. We weren't at full throttle either. Cesc was amazing and the rest of the team performed very well, except for Diaby who was generally not that good and gave away the ball far too much. The onlooking Thierry Henry saw that we're coming into great form and the also watching potato look a like Ronald Koemen will have seen that AZ Alkemaar will have a tough time in our upcoming Champions' League fixtures.
Wenger had some good words you can find here. We've got a long interlull coming and let's hope none of our boys get injured as our squad is coming together. We should have Nasri back soon, Fabianski and Almunia, provided he doesn't die of a chest infection. We'll have to wait another 6 weeks on Denilson but I think we can cope in the mean time with Rosicky and Nasri coming back and Theo and Vela already there. In two weeks when Eduardo's fit we'll be a serious force. I can't wait!
Highbury86
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Quick Blackburn Preview
Hey sorry for the late blog as kick off is in about 40 minutes, very late night at work last night and then a small tiff with the missus so I didn't have time yesterday. Anyway, here we go.
Blackburn today and we know they're going to physical and direct. They'll be sending balls straight down the middle and Vermaelen is going to have to battle it out with Samba in the air on the edge of our box for 90 minutes. Of course their battles won't be too consistent as we'll have most of the possession. But when it does happen, it'll be rough. I can see either Gallas or Vermaelen getting one of those 2-6 week injuries today and I'd really like to see them stay healthy for the rest of the season, but at least through the Chelsea game at the end of the next month. It seems to me that Silvestre remains 3rd choice as Senderos isn't on the bench very often and I don't think any of us want to see him have an extended run in the side. There's always Song but then Denilson's out for 2 months so we're pretty fucked either way.
They'll have Diouf on one of the wings I'm sure so either Clichy or Sagna will have to be weary and although we have ample replacements at fullback, their fitness could make the difference in some of the coming games, which'll see us work our way through the group stages of the Champions' League and a string of games that should bear good results and hopefully shoot us up the table and give us some momentum.
Eduardo is the only additional injury and with Bendtner coming back and Theo available he's the only one of our strike force who'll be sidelined. This'll set him back a little while, because when you're recovering from injury a 2 week spell in the physios means another 2 weeks of cautious treatment. With at least another month of that ahead, we won't see Eduardo playing a full 90 until late November or December.
Theo and Vela will be on the bench with Bendtner, RVP and Arshavin the likely starters up front. I'd love to see Vela get in on the action and do something useful to endear himself to the fans and maybe edge himself inside Wenger's periphery somewhat. I'm sure we'll see Theo for around 20 minutes unless the game is a bit too rough in which case he'll likely remain on the bench.
We're obviously well capable of bagging the 3 points today, we just have to hope we don't get kicked down to a thinner squad. We've already got Almunia out with what must be the Bubonic Plague, Denilson, Fabianski, Djourou, Eduardo and Nasri and with Theo only just on the mend and Vela having just taken off his boot, we're thin enough as it is.
Hopefully I'll see some of you at the Brew House,
Later on,
Highbury86
Blackburn today and we know they're going to physical and direct. They'll be sending balls straight down the middle and Vermaelen is going to have to battle it out with Samba in the air on the edge of our box for 90 minutes. Of course their battles won't be too consistent as we'll have most of the possession. But when it does happen, it'll be rough. I can see either Gallas or Vermaelen getting one of those 2-6 week injuries today and I'd really like to see them stay healthy for the rest of the season, but at least through the Chelsea game at the end of the next month. It seems to me that Silvestre remains 3rd choice as Senderos isn't on the bench very often and I don't think any of us want to see him have an extended run in the side. There's always Song but then Denilson's out for 2 months so we're pretty fucked either way.
They'll have Diouf on one of the wings I'm sure so either Clichy or Sagna will have to be weary and although we have ample replacements at fullback, their fitness could make the difference in some of the coming games, which'll see us work our way through the group stages of the Champions' League and a string of games that should bear good results and hopefully shoot us up the table and give us some momentum.
Eduardo is the only additional injury and with Bendtner coming back and Theo available he's the only one of our strike force who'll be sidelined. This'll set him back a little while, because when you're recovering from injury a 2 week spell in the physios means another 2 weeks of cautious treatment. With at least another month of that ahead, we won't see Eduardo playing a full 90 until late November or December.
Theo and Vela will be on the bench with Bendtner, RVP and Arshavin the likely starters up front. I'd love to see Vela get in on the action and do something useful to endear himself to the fans and maybe edge himself inside Wenger's periphery somewhat. I'm sure we'll see Theo for around 20 minutes unless the game is a bit too rough in which case he'll likely remain on the bench.
We're obviously well capable of bagging the 3 points today, we just have to hope we don't get kicked down to a thinner squad. We've already got Almunia out with what must be the Bubonic Plague, Denilson, Fabianski, Djourou, Eduardo and Nasri and with Theo only just on the mend and Vela having just taken off his boot, we're thin enough as it is.
Hopefully I'll see some of you at the Brew House,
Later on,
Highbury86
Friday, October 2, 2009
Weekend Coming, Adebayor 'Suspended Ban' and 13 Years of Wenger
Good morning everybody, it's Friday and while all the other Arsenal Blogs do something special, I'll be doing the same old same old. I'll have to work out some kind of Friday thing but in the mean time here's the blog.
We'll start with the Adebayor business. He's been given a 25,000 pound fine and a 'suspended ban' of 2 matches because the FA are full of inept morons who couldn't tell the difference between Adebayor's spin heavy interviews and the truth, or their assholes from their ear holes. 25,000 pounds won't be going anywhere useful either, surely into the pockets of the board. They've sighted the fact that they want to cut out abusive chants so they don't feel an immediate ban is necessary. Idiots.
We've got the Anti-football Walrus and Blackburn on Sunday but we'll have more on that in the next couple of days. If you're in Atlanta like me, hopefully I'll see you at the BrewHouseCafe, the best football pub in the country, it's an Arsenal pub too, there's a link to the right.
And now onto Wenger becoming our longest serving manager a couple of days ago. What can you be except perfectly happy and passionately respectful. The man is one of the best managers there ever was and we're lucky to have him. He came around when we were an Aston Villa type of club and not only turned our club around but completely changed the premier league. There's no manager that has had such a profound influence on football in England ever and that alone makes him a living legend.
He took over in a surprising and risky move as Bruce Rioch was doing a fine job of improving the team, particularly with the signing of Dennis Bergkamp. Wenger was an unknown manager having been sacked by Monaco, albeit for no particular reason, and was managing in Japan when David Dien recommended him for manager after sacking Rioch.
'Arsene Who?' read the headlines but looking at his record he was the perfect man for the job. He grew up in Strasbourg where his parents owned a spare car parts shop and a pub, which they lived above. He attributes his football knowledge to this:
There is no better psychological education than growing up in a pub... I learned about tactics and selection from the people talking about football in the pub - who plays on the left wing and who should be in the team.
He played amateur football until he was scouted and played limited professional football, making just 12 appearances for RC Strasbourg. The defender didn't last long as he was named youth coach just 3 years after his debut. By then he had earned a degree in Electrical Engineering, a Masters' Degree in Economics and a managers Diploma.
He managed a few teams in France after climbing the ladder and was later named Monaco manager. He enjoyed success at Monaco and made big name signings like Hoddle, Weah and Klinsman. He won the French league and when he was about to be hired by Bayern Munich his move was blocked and then he was sacked.
He took a job in Japan managing Grampus Eight from Nagoya. He turned the club around, taking them from relegation trouble to runners up as well as winning the Japanese version of the FA Cup. Then David Dein, who had become friend with Wenger somewhere along the way made him our manager and he's been the man ever since.
He's turned around the English game opening the doors for foreign players, who now make the league so competitive so as to make it the best team in the world, making England a national team to be reckoned with as well. He changed training sessions, became personally involved with the players, acting mentor as well as boss. He bossed the press and kept business quiet. He controlled the players' diets. He's the only foreign manager to have won the double, having won it twice, he was the only manager to go the entire season unbeaten away in 2002 and then became the only invincible manager in 2004.
He made Arsenal the best team in the world on several occasions, he speaks English, French, Italian, Spanish, German and Japanese, he is Arsenal, he is Arsene Wenger.
We'll start with the Adebayor business. He's been given a 25,000 pound fine and a 'suspended ban' of 2 matches because the FA are full of inept morons who couldn't tell the difference between Adebayor's spin heavy interviews and the truth, or their assholes from their ear holes. 25,000 pounds won't be going anywhere useful either, surely into the pockets of the board. They've sighted the fact that they want to cut out abusive chants so they don't feel an immediate ban is necessary. Idiots.
We've got the Anti-football Walrus and Blackburn on Sunday but we'll have more on that in the next couple of days. If you're in Atlanta like me, hopefully I'll see you at the BrewHouseCafe, the best football pub in the country, it's an Arsenal pub too, there's a link to the right.
And now onto Wenger becoming our longest serving manager a couple of days ago. What can you be except perfectly happy and passionately respectful. The man is one of the best managers there ever was and we're lucky to have him. He came around when we were an Aston Villa type of club and not only turned our club around but completely changed the premier league. There's no manager that has had such a profound influence on football in England ever and that alone makes him a living legend.
He took over in a surprising and risky move as Bruce Rioch was doing a fine job of improving the team, particularly with the signing of Dennis Bergkamp. Wenger was an unknown manager having been sacked by Monaco, albeit for no particular reason, and was managing in Japan when David Dien recommended him for manager after sacking Rioch.
'Arsene Who?' read the headlines but looking at his record he was the perfect man for the job. He grew up in Strasbourg where his parents owned a spare car parts shop and a pub, which they lived above. He attributes his football knowledge to this:
There is no better psychological education than growing up in a pub... I learned about tactics and selection from the people talking about football in the pub - who plays on the left wing and who should be in the team.
He played amateur football until he was scouted and played limited professional football, making just 12 appearances for RC Strasbourg. The defender didn't last long as he was named youth coach just 3 years after his debut. By then he had earned a degree in Electrical Engineering, a Masters' Degree in Economics and a managers Diploma.
He managed a few teams in France after climbing the ladder and was later named Monaco manager. He enjoyed success at Monaco and made big name signings like Hoddle, Weah and Klinsman. He won the French league and when he was about to be hired by Bayern Munich his move was blocked and then he was sacked.
He took a job in Japan managing Grampus Eight from Nagoya. He turned the club around, taking them from relegation trouble to runners up as well as winning the Japanese version of the FA Cup. Then David Dein, who had become friend with Wenger somewhere along the way made him our manager and he's been the man ever since.
He's turned around the English game opening the doors for foreign players, who now make the league so competitive so as to make it the best team in the world, making England a national team to be reckoned with as well. He changed training sessions, became personally involved with the players, acting mentor as well as boss. He bossed the press and kept business quiet. He controlled the players' diets. He's the only foreign manager to have won the double, having won it twice, he was the only manager to go the entire season unbeaten away in 2002 and then became the only invincible manager in 2004.
He made Arsenal the best team in the world on several occasions, he speaks English, French, Italian, Spanish, German and Japanese, he is Arsenal, he is Arsene Wenger.
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