The squad for Tuesday's Champions League game at AZ Alkmaar has just been named and here it is:
Vito Mannone, Manuel Almunia, Carlos Vela, Robin van Persie, William Gallas, Bacary Sagna, Kieran Gibbs, Thomas Vermaelen, Mikael Silvestre, Gael Clichy, Andrey Arshavin, Fran Merida, Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey, Cesc Fabregas, Emmanuel Eboue, Abou Diaby, Alex Song.
Theo Walcott is out after the tough challenge from Ridgewell on Saturday but it's not been revealed how long he will be out for. Worryingly Tomas Rosicky is also out. Again no further news. Let's hope they are both short term and are back soon.
They join Nicklas Bendtner, Denilson, Eduardo, Lukasz Fabianski and Johan Djourou on the injury list. The worst seemed to be over on this front but we are in danger of being overwhelmed with injuries once again. We seem especially hard hit in attacking positions. If RvP gets injured who exactly is going to play there from the squad above?
I said early on this season that much could depend on our luck with injuries and while you could say that about any team I don't think any of the "big four" in England have as much of a gap between their first 11 and say the next 7 or 8 players as we do. That is partly as some of our first 11 are performing fantastically well (RvP, Cesc, Arshavin, Gallas and Vermaelen) and it's pretty hard to have players to just step in and continue that from the bench.
Despite this, the squad above should be strong enough to at least scratch out a draw tomorrow and take us one point closer to qualification. Hopefully some of the injured will be back by Sunday and the injuries won't drag on forever as some of ours tend to. I hope we are not talking about "if only" and "what if" at the end of the season with injuries robbing us of crucial players at important times of the season.
We've got some big games coming up so we really need to keep the good run we are on going.
And finally, here is something that made me chuckle from Wenger's post match email:
Alex Song was strong and smooth in his defensive midfield role. He is not rigid, he is agile. He is a slalom player and is not a straight-line player. He uses that very well, he has a good combination of strengths and agility and I believe as well he uses his technique in a very intelligent way. He likes a tackle. Cameroon people are strong - in Africa they call them the Germans of Africa because of their strong bodies.
Strong and smooth? He sounds like a pint of bitter. Also amusing to see that national stereotypes are used in other continents too. I wonder who the French of Africa are?
Monday, 19 October 2009
Sunday, 18 October 2009
Arsenal 3 -1 Birmingham, 3 More Points, 3 More Goals
Another three points, another three goals and another dodgy goal conceeded. Business as usual at the Emirates yesterday saw Arsenal move up to fourth, at least until Man City play later today.
With Chelsea having lost earlier in the day it was a chance to make up some ground and after Man United beat Bolton and leapfrogged Chelsea we are now four points off the top with a game in hand.
Mannone kept his place in goal, Gibbs replaced the injured Clichy, Eboue was at right back for Sagna and Walcott came in for Arshavin. All the rest of the team was as usual.
Walcott's return didn't last long after a crunching tackle early on from Ridgewell. More firm than dirty though. He lasted until the 33rd minute when we were 2-0 up but it doesn't look good for the midweek game.
Theo actually looked like he may be fine, he came back on after the tackle and forced a save from a cross/shot from the right which was dipping under the bar. However it didn't take long though for Arsenal to take the lead.
Song picked up a loose clearance and played a very Cesc-like ball inbetween defenders to RvP who is took it into his stride with one touch, teed it up with another and finished excellently across the goalkeeper into the far corner. He is really growing into the main striker role and this was his fourth goal in four appearances for him.
Two minutes later Rosicky and Eboue combined well down the right, Rosicky slid a cross low into the box which missed everyone until it got to Diaby at the back post who finished neatly for his third league goal of the season. Despite the level of some of his performaces not being totally up to scratch that is a decent return for this stage of the season.
Time for Arsenal's customary wobble. After 38 minutes a throw from the right led to a cross which Diaby headed up into the air, Mannone came and flapped under pressure from Larsson, it fell to Bowyer who smashed it in. Mannone may complain that the defence were too deep, that Gibbs didn't really go for the dropping ball and most of all he may have had a case that Larsson bumped him, especially considering how much protection goalkeepers usually get. But the I like to see goalkeepers come for high balls and take everything in their way and that is what was needed here.
The second half was a little nervy and Birmingham had a great chance to level. A low cross from the left, with Sagna nowhere to be seen, seemed to be heading to one of their players but Mannone clawed it away for Gallas to clearu. I do worry about Sagna's concentration at times and he and Clichy both need to raise their games as they have been disapointing this season.
Arsenal did have chances too though, including hitting the bar from a free kick which was awarded for a back pass which was picked up. We also forced a few saves from Hart, before Arshavin made it safe.
Cesc was given the ball by Mannone on the edge of our box, he ran to the edge of their box, fed the little Russian who cut in from the left and passed it into the far corner with a finish that Henry would have been proud of. They made us wait 85 minutes but the points were finally safe.
We almost immediately made it four when Diaby forced an excellent save from Hart after a cross from Eboue. 3-1 it finished and another three points maintains our 100% home record.
Overall I am pleased with the result more than the performance. After we went to 2-0 we seemed to stop playing a little and I would have liked to see us kill the game. Some of our defending was slack and we could have found ourselves level but for a nice bit of goalkeeping from Mannone.
It's hard to be too critical though. We scored three against a team that had only conceeded eight in eight games before yesterday. We looked bright and inventive going forward and RvP, Cesc and Arshavin are in fine form. Song is really growing into the role and Diaby probably had his best game of the season so far. There are still problems but I am in no doubt we are stronger than last season. We look much more solid at the back and in midfield and dangerous going forward.
With Chelsea having lost two and Liverpool four I think it is certain that the big teams and the eventual champions will lose more than in recent seasons. I also think this season will see the biggest challenge to the "big four" domination since we started to think of them as the "big four."
On a side note the "Arsenalisation" continues and there are some fabulous pictures of it all here about half way down the page.
Enjoy your Sunday.
With Chelsea having lost earlier in the day it was a chance to make up some ground and after Man United beat Bolton and leapfrogged Chelsea we are now four points off the top with a game in hand.
Mannone kept his place in goal, Gibbs replaced the injured Clichy, Eboue was at right back for Sagna and Walcott came in for Arshavin. All the rest of the team was as usual.
Walcott's return didn't last long after a crunching tackle early on from Ridgewell. More firm than dirty though. He lasted until the 33rd minute when we were 2-0 up but it doesn't look good for the midweek game.
Theo actually looked like he may be fine, he came back on after the tackle and forced a save from a cross/shot from the right which was dipping under the bar. However it didn't take long though for Arsenal to take the lead.
Song picked up a loose clearance and played a very Cesc-like ball inbetween defenders to RvP who is took it into his stride with one touch, teed it up with another and finished excellently across the goalkeeper into the far corner. He is really growing into the main striker role and this was his fourth goal in four appearances for him.
Two minutes later Rosicky and Eboue combined well down the right, Rosicky slid a cross low into the box which missed everyone until it got to Diaby at the back post who finished neatly for his third league goal of the season. Despite the level of some of his performaces not being totally up to scratch that is a decent return for this stage of the season.
Time for Arsenal's customary wobble. After 38 minutes a throw from the right led to a cross which Diaby headed up into the air, Mannone came and flapped under pressure from Larsson, it fell to Bowyer who smashed it in. Mannone may complain that the defence were too deep, that Gibbs didn't really go for the dropping ball and most of all he may have had a case that Larsson bumped him, especially considering how much protection goalkeepers usually get. But the I like to see goalkeepers come for high balls and take everything in their way and that is what was needed here.
The second half was a little nervy and Birmingham had a great chance to level. A low cross from the left, with Sagna nowhere to be seen, seemed to be heading to one of their players but Mannone clawed it away for Gallas to clearu. I do worry about Sagna's concentration at times and he and Clichy both need to raise their games as they have been disapointing this season.
Arsenal did have chances too though, including hitting the bar from a free kick which was awarded for a back pass which was picked up. We also forced a few saves from Hart, before Arshavin made it safe.
Cesc was given the ball by Mannone on the edge of our box, he ran to the edge of their box, fed the little Russian who cut in from the left and passed it into the far corner with a finish that Henry would have been proud of. They made us wait 85 minutes but the points were finally safe.
We almost immediately made it four when Diaby forced an excellent save from Hart after a cross from Eboue. 3-1 it finished and another three points maintains our 100% home record.
Overall I am pleased with the result more than the performance. After we went to 2-0 we seemed to stop playing a little and I would have liked to see us kill the game. Some of our defending was slack and we could have found ourselves level but for a nice bit of goalkeeping from Mannone.
It's hard to be too critical though. We scored three against a team that had only conceeded eight in eight games before yesterday. We looked bright and inventive going forward and RvP, Cesc and Arshavin are in fine form. Song is really growing into the role and Diaby probably had his best game of the season so far. There are still problems but I am in no doubt we are stronger than last season. We look much more solid at the back and in midfield and dangerous going forward.
With Chelsea having lost two and Liverpool four I think it is certain that the big teams and the eventual champions will lose more than in recent seasons. I also think this season will see the biggest challenge to the "big four" domination since we started to think of them as the "big four."
On a side note the "Arsenalisation" continues and there are some fabulous pictures of it all here about half way down the page.
Enjoy your Sunday.
Tuesday, 6 October 2009
A Whole Lot Of Nothing
There are 11 days until the next Arsenal game with nothing to distract us apart from boring internationals and the chance to look back over the season so far and, in the coming days, look ahead to the next batch of games we face.
Going back to Sunday again and a point that was made by Lee Dixon on Match Of The Day 2 and here:
"Some of the passing and movement was as good as I have seen from any team in a long time. It was breathtaking stuff at times and a pleasure to watch.
But being ultra critical, a question mark against their defending that reared its ugly head again. They are such a forward-thinking team they even get themselves in trouble from their own shots.
Blackburn's second goal was a perfect example. Both their full-backs went forward at the same time and it led to them falling behind 2-1. Bacary Sagna went to close down the ball on the right-hand side of Blackburn's box, while Gael Clichy was also in a forward position on the other flank.
El-Hadji Diouf cleared and Blackburn suddenly had a 3-versus-2, with Arsenal defenders Thomas Vermaelen and William Gallas the only players between the ball and the goal. Chelsea push both full-backs forward at the same time, but they are able to do this as Michael Essien drops back from midfield to make up the numbers. In this situation he would have made it a 3 v 3. Arsenal's holding midfielder Alex Song is not Michael Essien but he has similar qualities. He has the physique, is strong, quick, gets around the pitch, breaks opponent's attacks down and he can tackle.
I like Song a lot but he is still young and learning that role. He wants to attack but he needs to learn quickly there are times when he has to rein himself in. The Gunners need to be a bit more savvy and stop giving goals away to these teams."
It’s a fair point and I mentioned it yesterday. Most teams will not be so generous in giving up a lead twice and if Arsenal defend like that against some of the bigger teams it will be a disaster.
I do think the only area where Song is lacking is that he is just a little too slow in that position. Watching some of the top defensive midfielders around they seem to have a sixth sense in sniffing out danger and are capable of popping up everywhere on the pitch and at times Song seems a bit sluggish. Perhaps his positioning will improve with experience.
I do rate Song but he’s about a seven or eight out of ten in that position, the way we play we need a ten. But then it comes back to who is out there that is a ten, are they available and can we afford them?
Maybe I’m just feeling nostalgic as I finished Vieira’s autobiography yesterday and I wonder if we will see him back in January, especially as Song is probably off to the African Nations. Not suggesting that Vieira is still a ten in that position but it would give everyone a massive boost. I certainly hope it’s not Chelsea as lazily suggested in some papers today, after Vieira was spotted at Stamford Bridge on Sunday watching their game against Liverpool game.
The players are obviously still getting used to the new formation but there are a few members of the squad who it should suit down to the ground. It seems like we have quite a few players who are not quite wingers and not quite forwards so the 4-3-3 should be perfect for them. One of these is Theo Walcott and he says:
“I think this formation gives you more license to go forward so I should be among the goals a bit more this year.”
Theo, Arshavin, Rosicky are all probably are more suited to this formation than a straight 4-4-2 and it’s probably no coincidence that we have had 15 different scorers this season. Also the centre of midfield looks much more comfortable with three of them in there than just two. If we could just get the defensive side sorted we would be deadly, but then again isn’t that always the case?
It's just been announced that Theo has been called up to the England Under-21s. Makes sense I guess, he's fit and needs match practice. Let's just hope he returns fit.
For a touch more nostalgia, check out these pictures of Thierry Henry's visit on Sunday. 226 goals in 370 games. Legend.
Going back to Sunday again and a point that was made by Lee Dixon on Match Of The Day 2 and here:
"Some of the passing and movement was as good as I have seen from any team in a long time. It was breathtaking stuff at times and a pleasure to watch.
But being ultra critical, a question mark against their defending that reared its ugly head again. They are such a forward-thinking team they even get themselves in trouble from their own shots.
Blackburn's second goal was a perfect example. Both their full-backs went forward at the same time and it led to them falling behind 2-1. Bacary Sagna went to close down the ball on the right-hand side of Blackburn's box, while Gael Clichy was also in a forward position on the other flank.
El-Hadji Diouf cleared and Blackburn suddenly had a 3-versus-2, with Arsenal defenders Thomas Vermaelen and William Gallas the only players between the ball and the goal. Chelsea push both full-backs forward at the same time, but they are able to do this as Michael Essien drops back from midfield to make up the numbers. In this situation he would have made it a 3 v 3. Arsenal's holding midfielder Alex Song is not Michael Essien but he has similar qualities. He has the physique, is strong, quick, gets around the pitch, breaks opponent's attacks down and he can tackle.
I like Song a lot but he is still young and learning that role. He wants to attack but he needs to learn quickly there are times when he has to rein himself in. The Gunners need to be a bit more savvy and stop giving goals away to these teams."
It’s a fair point and I mentioned it yesterday. Most teams will not be so generous in giving up a lead twice and if Arsenal defend like that against some of the bigger teams it will be a disaster.
I do think the only area where Song is lacking is that he is just a little too slow in that position. Watching some of the top defensive midfielders around they seem to have a sixth sense in sniffing out danger and are capable of popping up everywhere on the pitch and at times Song seems a bit sluggish. Perhaps his positioning will improve with experience.
I do rate Song but he’s about a seven or eight out of ten in that position, the way we play we need a ten. But then it comes back to who is out there that is a ten, are they available and can we afford them?
Maybe I’m just feeling nostalgic as I finished Vieira’s autobiography yesterday and I wonder if we will see him back in January, especially as Song is probably off to the African Nations. Not suggesting that Vieira is still a ten in that position but it would give everyone a massive boost. I certainly hope it’s not Chelsea as lazily suggested in some papers today, after Vieira was spotted at Stamford Bridge on Sunday watching their game against Liverpool game.
The players are obviously still getting used to the new formation but there are a few members of the squad who it should suit down to the ground. It seems like we have quite a few players who are not quite wingers and not quite forwards so the 4-3-3 should be perfect for them. One of these is Theo Walcott and he says:
“I think this formation gives you more license to go forward so I should be among the goals a bit more this year.”
Theo, Arshavin, Rosicky are all probably are more suited to this formation than a straight 4-4-2 and it’s probably no coincidence that we have had 15 different scorers this season. Also the centre of midfield looks much more comfortable with three of them in there than just two. If we could just get the defensive side sorted we would be deadly, but then again isn’t that always the case?
It's just been announced that Theo has been called up to the England Under-21s. Makes sense I guess, he's fit and needs match practice. Let's just hope he returns fit.
For a touch more nostalgia, check out these pictures of Thierry Henry's visit on Sunday. 226 goals in 370 games. Legend.
Monday, 5 October 2009
Arsenal 6-2 Blackburn: Cesc On Fire
It was appropriate that Thierry Henry was in the crowd for this game as it was probably the Frenchman who was the last Arsenal player to single-handedly destroy an opposition team in the way Cesc Fabregas did in this game. The young Spaniard was in sublime form and it’s a shame he goes away for Spain for two weeks now and doesn’t get a chance to show more of this form in the red of Arsenal.
First the goals, which you have probably seen, but if not hereyou go.
Blackburn’s first (from the type of massive punt by Robinson which Sam Allardyce has made a career out of) was a looping header from someone called Steven Nzonzi who was so tall he looked like he should be playing in the N.B.A. The defence was very deep but Mannone will be disappointed with both his failure to come for the ball and his positioning. That said it was a perfect looping header and Vito was slightly unlucky to be caught out, as demonstrated when Cesc’s header, almost immediately after their goal, lobbed Robinson but cannoned back off the bar.
Arsenal weren’t to be denied though and top scorer Thomas Vermaelen added to his tally this season with a thumping drive from outside the box to bring us level after a cutback from Cesc. The Belgian striker has made a great start to his career at Arsenal, especially since he is being asked to play out of position at centre back. Jokes aside, I’m not sure I have seen a centre back with a better shot or more confidence to shoot than Tommy V. It’s remarkable, not just the number of goals but the type he is scoring.
Still, Arsenal being Arsenal they weren’t content to now sit tight and slowly turn the screw and be patient to find a goal against Blackburn, they thought they would make it interesting and pile forward. So when a simple long ball from Diouf seemed to bypass almost everyone and leave them two on two, Song decided to chase the ball despite Vermaelen being close, a simple ball found Dunn, Gallas allowed him to cut inside onto his right foot and Blackburn took the lead again with the help of a massive deflection.
Then the Cesc Fabregas show began. Two minutes after Blackburn took the lead, Cesc played a delightful throughball for RvP who finished with a low, hard strike across goal. 2-2. Cesc then played an almost identical ball for Arshavin who produced an almost identical finish. 3-2. Rosicky then produced a superb outside of the boot cross for Fabregas, which the keeper saved and the defender blocked the follow up. Could have easily been four.
Arsenal didn’t have to wait long to get their fourth and Fabregas got his reward for a wonderful afternoon’s work. Fabregas tried to play it to Rosicky, the ball hit the defender and bounced up, Rosicky hit it over his own head back to Fabregas who chested it down and guided it into the top corner on the volley. He then ran to the corner to celebrate with the Arsenal fans and kissed his badge like he bloody meant it. I know players do this all the time and Fabregas may leave one day but at that moment, I truly believe he meant it. He looked all serious and everything.
Walcott had been on for Rosicky for hardly any time at all for his first appearance of the season when he made it 5-2. Fabregas started the move with a little poked pass to Arshavin who ran about 60 yards before giving it back to Cesc who nudged it on to Walcott for him to finish with another nice low drive. Bendtner came on and made it 6-2 with a fantastic right-foot drive from outside the box which clipped the inside of the post and went in.
Song should have scored from a header and Gallas may have had a penalty. Blackburn should definitely have had a penalty, hit the post and also forced Mannone into a great save but I don’t think anything was going to stop Arsenal. We were behind twice after all. The defending needs to be worked on, we did still let in two, but when the attacking play is as good as this it feels ungrateful to moan about the defence.
Fabregas was in top form, Arshavin finally seems to be getting back to his best, RvP looks like he is growing into the lone striker role with three goals in his last three games. Rosicky looks better with every passing game and Vermaelen is one of the signings of the summer. Loads to be positive about, but probably some to worry about too. But we have almost two weeks until the next game so there is plenty of time to talk about that.
And just one more point, I can’t take the credit for the shocking pun in the headline, I did steal it from here.
First the goals, which you have probably seen, but if not hereyou go.
Blackburn’s first (from the type of massive punt by Robinson which Sam Allardyce has made a career out of) was a looping header from someone called Steven Nzonzi who was so tall he looked like he should be playing in the N.B.A. The defence was very deep but Mannone will be disappointed with both his failure to come for the ball and his positioning. That said it was a perfect looping header and Vito was slightly unlucky to be caught out, as demonstrated when Cesc’s header, almost immediately after their goal, lobbed Robinson but cannoned back off the bar.
Arsenal weren’t to be denied though and top scorer Thomas Vermaelen added to his tally this season with a thumping drive from outside the box to bring us level after a cutback from Cesc. The Belgian striker has made a great start to his career at Arsenal, especially since he is being asked to play out of position at centre back. Jokes aside, I’m not sure I have seen a centre back with a better shot or more confidence to shoot than Tommy V. It’s remarkable, not just the number of goals but the type he is scoring.
Still, Arsenal being Arsenal they weren’t content to now sit tight and slowly turn the screw and be patient to find a goal against Blackburn, they thought they would make it interesting and pile forward. So when a simple long ball from Diouf seemed to bypass almost everyone and leave them two on two, Song decided to chase the ball despite Vermaelen being close, a simple ball found Dunn, Gallas allowed him to cut inside onto his right foot and Blackburn took the lead again with the help of a massive deflection.
Then the Cesc Fabregas show began. Two minutes after Blackburn took the lead, Cesc played a delightful throughball for RvP who finished with a low, hard strike across goal. 2-2. Cesc then played an almost identical ball for Arshavin who produced an almost identical finish. 3-2. Rosicky then produced a superb outside of the boot cross for Fabregas, which the keeper saved and the defender blocked the follow up. Could have easily been four.
Arsenal didn’t have to wait long to get their fourth and Fabregas got his reward for a wonderful afternoon’s work. Fabregas tried to play it to Rosicky, the ball hit the defender and bounced up, Rosicky hit it over his own head back to Fabregas who chested it down and guided it into the top corner on the volley. He then ran to the corner to celebrate with the Arsenal fans and kissed his badge like he bloody meant it. I know players do this all the time and Fabregas may leave one day but at that moment, I truly believe he meant it. He looked all serious and everything.
Walcott had been on for Rosicky for hardly any time at all for his first appearance of the season when he made it 5-2. Fabregas started the move with a little poked pass to Arshavin who ran about 60 yards before giving it back to Cesc who nudged it on to Walcott for him to finish with another nice low drive. Bendtner came on and made it 6-2 with a fantastic right-foot drive from outside the box which clipped the inside of the post and went in.
Song should have scored from a header and Gallas may have had a penalty. Blackburn should definitely have had a penalty, hit the post and also forced Mannone into a great save but I don’t think anything was going to stop Arsenal. We were behind twice after all. The defending needs to be worked on, we did still let in two, but when the attacking play is as good as this it feels ungrateful to moan about the defence.
Fabregas was in top form, Arshavin finally seems to be getting back to his best, RvP looks like he is growing into the lone striker role with three goals in his last three games. Rosicky looks better with every passing game and Vermaelen is one of the signings of the summer. Loads to be positive about, but probably some to worry about too. But we have almost two weeks until the next game so there is plenty of time to talk about that.
And just one more point, I can’t take the credit for the shocking pun in the headline, I did steal it from here.
Friday, 2 October 2009
Arsenal Vs Blackburn Preview
Arsenal play Blackburn this weekend in the last game before the international break and hopefully we can end this little block of matches with a victory.
Manuel Almunia is back in training and close to returning but not quite ready for a first team return so Vito Mannone will continue in goal this weekend. The young man has been excellent so far and I just hope he can end his little spell in the first team positively with another good performance and a clean sheet.
Theo Walcott and Nicklas Bendtner are both expected to be back in the squad but Eduardo is missing. He aggravated a thigh muscle injury the other day against Olympiacos.
I expect Sagna to replace Eboue and I think we may actually see an unchanged side with the exception of that.
Two things I will be hoping for on Sunday which have been slightly missing from recent games despite the good results. The width of the team is an issue that needs to be addressed. On Tuesday it wasn’t until Vela came on that we actually played with some width. A problem with this formation is that it is very narrow and we have many players who are more comfortable playing through the middle. I don’t know if the manager wants the full backs, or Diaby and Fabregas or the two wide forwards to provide the width but something must be done to use the width of the pitch to give us an alternative option now and then.
The other problem is something I have touched on in the past, and that is the work rate of the team and the work rate that is required when using this formation. We started the season well in this respect but in a few games recently, and especially against Man City, we have fallen below what is required for this system to work. Again I think the main problem is in the wide areas, namely covering for the full backs. If the full backs are encouraged to attack then adequate cover needs to be provided when they inevitably are caught out of position. Whether this is provided by the midfield or the wide forwards is up to the manager but something needs to be done.
We all know how Blackburn will play, just like all Sam Allardyce’s teams over the years, with ugly, physical, aggressive football so we will need to be up for a scrap to get the three points. Hopefully RvP can continue his little run of scoring and we can put our feet up over the international break with another three points in the bag.
Manuel Almunia is back in training and close to returning but not quite ready for a first team return so Vito Mannone will continue in goal this weekend. The young man has been excellent so far and I just hope he can end his little spell in the first team positively with another good performance and a clean sheet.
Theo Walcott and Nicklas Bendtner are both expected to be back in the squad but Eduardo is missing. He aggravated a thigh muscle injury the other day against Olympiacos.
I expect Sagna to replace Eboue and I think we may actually see an unchanged side with the exception of that.
Two things I will be hoping for on Sunday which have been slightly missing from recent games despite the good results. The width of the team is an issue that needs to be addressed. On Tuesday it wasn’t until Vela came on that we actually played with some width. A problem with this formation is that it is very narrow and we have many players who are more comfortable playing through the middle. I don’t know if the manager wants the full backs, or Diaby and Fabregas or the two wide forwards to provide the width but something must be done to use the width of the pitch to give us an alternative option now and then.
The other problem is something I have touched on in the past, and that is the work rate of the team and the work rate that is required when using this formation. We started the season well in this respect but in a few games recently, and especially against Man City, we have fallen below what is required for this system to work. Again I think the main problem is in the wide areas, namely covering for the full backs. If the full backs are encouraged to attack then adequate cover needs to be provided when they inevitably are caught out of position. Whether this is provided by the midfield or the wide forwards is up to the manager but something needs to be done.
We all know how Blackburn will play, just like all Sam Allardyce’s teams over the years, with ugly, physical, aggressive football so we will need to be up for a scrap to get the three points. Hopefully RvP can continue his little run of scoring and we can put our feet up over the international break with another three points in the bag.
Thursday, 1 October 2009
Thank You Arsene Wenger
I did originally say yesterday that I would have a look at Arsenal’s financial results today but that can wait. Arsene Wenger today celebrates 13 years as Arsenal manager, making him Arsenal’s longest serving manager.
There is enough coverage of Wenger’s time at Arsenal floating around (including a great overview on Arsenal.com) so it is hard to know what to add. I guess thanks would be appropriate.
Thanks for all the trophies. Thanks for all the wonderful football. Thanks for all the great players. Thanks for Vieira, for Henry, for Bergkamp, for Pires. Thanks for moments like this. Thanks for making “play the Arsenal way” mean something. Thanks for the new stadium and thanks for the great memories at Highbury. Thanks for the unbeaten season. Thanks for the title won at Highbury, the title won at Old Trafford and the one at White Hart Lane. Thanks for trying to build a team in an age of instant success and financial irresponsibility.
I hope Wenger can deliver one more big trophy. His legacy deserves it.
Thank You Arsene Wenger.
There is enough coverage of Wenger’s time at Arsenal floating around (including a great overview on Arsenal.com) so it is hard to know what to add. I guess thanks would be appropriate.
Thanks for all the trophies. Thanks for all the wonderful football. Thanks for all the great players. Thanks for Vieira, for Henry, for Bergkamp, for Pires. Thanks for moments like this. Thanks for making “play the Arsenal way” mean something. Thanks for the new stadium and thanks for the great memories at Highbury. Thanks for the unbeaten season. Thanks for the title won at Highbury, the title won at Old Trafford and the one at White Hart Lane. Thanks for trying to build a team in an age of instant success and financial irresponsibility.
I hope Wenger can deliver one more big trophy. His legacy deserves it.
Thank You Arsene Wenger.
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