So we all knew the script didn't we? It just had to be. King Thierry. 1-0 to The Arsenal against Dirty Leeds.
What can you say about the man, other than he's still got 'IT'. 5 Years since his last goal for us, it took him 10 mins to clock up number 227.
'IT' is also something the large proportion of our squad lack. It is also very worrying that our 1st team midfield trio really struggled to put Leeds to the sword. They obviously weren't helped by the pathetically impotent Chamakh, and the hugely wasteful Arshavin, but still for large parts of the game we were really poor.
Ramsey, Koscielny and Arteta were again our best players, whilst Chamberlain, Miquel and Yennaris had solid games without really excelling. But we really do lack the cutting edge in the middle; it was like watching the Arsenal of 3 years ago tonight, no drive, no conviction, no 'want'. It was just pass, pass, pass......
Thankfully the result was the important thing, as it always is, and overall a controlled performance with a very makeshift defence can be seen as job done. However, if it wasn't obvious we were lacking in creativity before, it's blindingly obvious now.
Too often Ramsey slows the play down at the point of the midfield trio, when he should be looking to release sooner; whilst I've no idea what we do with Chamakh. He started quite well with some decent hold up play, but then he just stopped. He knew he'd be subbed if he played shit enough and his blushes would be sparred by Thierry. As ever. Always the saviour.
I'm not meaning or trying to put a dampener on the night, as it was one of the moments that will live with me for a long long time, but if we're having to rely on a 34 year old returnee to provide support to RVP it really doesn't say much for the 'talent' that Wenger has brought through in the last couple of years. Park clearly doesn't have an arsenal career ahead of him, so it's imperative that we do bring in another forward over January.
Hopefully TH can spread his wisdom, calmness and composure to the young lads in the squad and the next 6 weeks will help the majority of this squad improve.
His finish tonight was the TH we all knew, know, loved and love again. Classic Henry.
Theo watch and learn.......
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Showing posts with label Arsenal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Arsenal. Show all posts
Monday, 9 January 2012
Tuesday, 20 December 2011
So what next....?
The defeat by Man City was a tough one. We deserved something from the game, no questions, and on another day Phil Dowd might not have been the complete tool he always is and given the penalty for the blatant handball by Micah Richards. That said the defeat did raise the same questions about the 'depth' (I use the term loosely) of our squad, particularly the attacking options.
I think it's clear for all to see, that Arshavin is a spent force, not through lack of effort, but his confidence is so shot, I think there is no of him re-discovering (if he ever really had it) his form. Chamakh is frankly useless to us as a team now. He comes on, ambles about a bit, does nothing and then runs off the pitch as fast as he can. At least Arshavin still tries to make the odd pass and will waste the odd opportunity, Chamakh doesn't even do that now, he is our Emile Heskey.
If these are our 2 best attacking substitutions and are to remain so for the remainder of the season then I think we'll struggle, simple because Van Persie can't play every game and without his goals and attacking prowess we look powder-puff at times.
So what the alternative? Again I think most fans would say it's blindingly obvious Wenger needs to buy in January. A striker is a must, as Chamakh will be gone for up to 6 weeks, and Park hasn't as much made the bench for the last few games (if Chamakh is getting onto the bench ahead of him, how average can Park be in training?), so despite Arsene saying Park, Arshavin, Chamberlain etc can play there, we really shouldn't risk it.
I think we're covered in midfield to be honest. The return of Jack will give us options to rotate the trio of Arteta, Ramsey and Jack. It'll also force both Arteta and Ramsey to play out of their skins week-in week-out as Jack ought to be starting every week when he's back. I would go as far to say that our best midfield would be Song-Arteta-Wilshere, as I personally think Ramsey is more suited to the Arteta role by controlling the tempo with his passing and Jack has the greater potential to play the 'killer' pass.
The next position that I think needs investment is out wide. I think Gervinho has done well since coming in, and despite the glaring misses, has added a much needed impetus to our forward play, that was sadly lacking with Arshavin out on the wing. I would love to see the Ox play, I'd have loved him to come on for Theo at City and just run at Zabaletta; that said I don't think Chamberlain is ready to play every week during the African Nations and I really don't want to see us return to the having the Russian out wide again.
I do however think Chamberlain should be our first choice substitute winger right now (followed closely by Yossi), ahead of the Arshavin. If we're losing and need some drive and spark to get back into the game, the Ox has shown he's more likely to produce, whilst Benayoun has played well every time he's come on. He's delivered whenever he's had the chance to play a full game (carling cup & Olympiacos) and I think he deserves more opportunities over the Russian.
Who we actually buy, I've no idea, but I think there are a few players who have just been dumped out of the champions league who could be available (from Dortmund & Lille), but I doubt we'll get them; Whilst the players I would like Cavani and Ayew are still in the competition so probably wouldn't move.
Whilst it's not all doom and gloom right now, I'm worried that due to the size of the squad it could all collapse in March. Again.
Arsene don't let it happen. Please.
Up The Arsenal
Ricky
I think it's clear for all to see, that Arshavin is a spent force, not through lack of effort, but his confidence is so shot, I think there is no of him re-discovering (if he ever really had it) his form. Chamakh is frankly useless to us as a team now. He comes on, ambles about a bit, does nothing and then runs off the pitch as fast as he can. At least Arshavin still tries to make the odd pass and will waste the odd opportunity, Chamakh doesn't even do that now, he is our Emile Heskey.
If these are our 2 best attacking substitutions and are to remain so for the remainder of the season then I think we'll struggle, simple because Van Persie can't play every game and without his goals and attacking prowess we look powder-puff at times.
So what the alternative? Again I think most fans would say it's blindingly obvious Wenger needs to buy in January. A striker is a must, as Chamakh will be gone for up to 6 weeks, and Park hasn't as much made the bench for the last few games (if Chamakh is getting onto the bench ahead of him, how average can Park be in training?), so despite Arsene saying Park, Arshavin, Chamberlain etc can play there, we really shouldn't risk it.
I think we're covered in midfield to be honest. The return of Jack will give us options to rotate the trio of Arteta, Ramsey and Jack. It'll also force both Arteta and Ramsey to play out of their skins week-in week-out as Jack ought to be starting every week when he's back. I would go as far to say that our best midfield would be Song-Arteta-Wilshere, as I personally think Ramsey is more suited to the Arteta role by controlling the tempo with his passing and Jack has the greater potential to play the 'killer' pass.
The next position that I think needs investment is out wide. I think Gervinho has done well since coming in, and despite the glaring misses, has added a much needed impetus to our forward play, that was sadly lacking with Arshavin out on the wing. I would love to see the Ox play, I'd have loved him to come on for Theo at City and just run at Zabaletta; that said I don't think Chamberlain is ready to play every week during the African Nations and I really don't want to see us return to the having the Russian out wide again.
I do however think Chamberlain should be our first choice substitute winger right now (followed closely by Yossi), ahead of the Arshavin. If we're losing and need some drive and spark to get back into the game, the Ox has shown he's more likely to produce, whilst Benayoun has played well every time he's come on. He's delivered whenever he's had the chance to play a full game (carling cup & Olympiacos) and I think he deserves more opportunities over the Russian.
Who we actually buy, I've no idea, but I think there are a few players who have just been dumped out of the champions league who could be available (from Dortmund & Lille), but I doubt we'll get them; Whilst the players I would like Cavani and Ayew are still in the competition so probably wouldn't move.
Whilst it's not all doom and gloom right now, I'm worried that due to the size of the squad it could all collapse in March. Again.
Arsene don't let it happen. Please.
Up The Arsenal
Ricky
Friday, 20 May 2011
And so it begins....
With Denilson's comments in The Sun we're beginning to see that the 'mental strength' of this squad isn't all it's cracked up to be.
He says he had decided to quit 8 months ago, due to a lack of winning mentality within the squad. Hopefully others within our squad hadn't given up back in October, and they waited until at least March to lose all hope.
If anything Denilson has made himself look stupid; which club, in their right mind, would splash out on a player who throws in the towel in October? The season is 2 months old! Thats not a winning mentality, that's giving up at the first opportunity, and frankly pathetic. With Wenger kept him around is beyond me.
This smacks of someone knowing they've been frozen out of the team (due to being not good enough) and has placed an advert for their 'services' (sideways passing) in a national newspaper. He hasn't got the guts or desire to put in the effort to get back into the 1st team, yet has the audactity to moan about this team not having a winning mentality? no wonder when we've got players looking for scapegoats all the time. First the 'cesc' interview and now this? Strange lad is Denilson.
A player who promised much and started his Arsenal life with a flourish of good League Cup performances (also see: Carlos Vela) has regressed dramatically this season, to the extent he can't even make the bench now.
I dare say they're will be a few more of these 'stories' to emerge from the team over the summer, but one thing is for certain, the Brazilian won't ve missed by the fans, and he won't miss the fans abuse.
He says he had decided to quit 8 months ago, due to a lack of winning mentality within the squad. Hopefully others within our squad hadn't given up back in October, and they waited until at least March to lose all hope.
If anything Denilson has made himself look stupid; which club, in their right mind, would splash out on a player who throws in the towel in October? The season is 2 months old! Thats not a winning mentality, that's giving up at the first opportunity, and frankly pathetic. With Wenger kept him around is beyond me.
This smacks of someone knowing they've been frozen out of the team (due to being not good enough) and has placed an advert for their 'services' (sideways passing) in a national newspaper. He hasn't got the guts or desire to put in the effort to get back into the 1st team, yet has the audactity to moan about this team not having a winning mentality? no wonder when we've got players looking for scapegoats all the time. First the 'cesc' interview and now this? Strange lad is Denilson.
A player who promised much and started his Arsenal life with a flourish of good League Cup performances (also see: Carlos Vela) has regressed dramatically this season, to the extent he can't even make the bench now.
I dare say they're will be a few more of these 'stories' to emerge from the team over the summer, but one thing is for certain, the Brazilian won't ve missed by the fans, and he won't miss the fans abuse.
Thursday, 19 May 2011
Hope Springs Eternal
We've had this feeling for the last 6 years; yet it still seems to be a surprise to some supporters when it sneaks up on us and takes a Jaws-sized bite out of our arse.
This annual spring collapse is right up there with the best (worse) of them. We've put in some truly woeful performances this year, but in years gone by we would usually respond to said performances with a much needed morale boost. This season however after the Carling Cup defeat it seems our club has had a shotgun permanently pointed at it's feet, finger on trigger; they've lost their belief, and so have the supporters. The post match reaction after the Villa game was polar; some knew another insipid performance was due and put (smart) money on Villa winning (leading to a mixture of emotions), others seemed to be in complete shock that this Arsenal side could play so poorly and get beat by Villa, and in turn started banging the usual drums....Walcott....Bendtner....Eboue....Wenger....
The anger in the pubs of N5 afterwards was frankly bizarre, people kicking and screaming in disbelief that our full-backs were providing heading practice for the Villa defence or that Walcott thought he was in Hampton Court's maze (again), must have been on holiday with Osama Bin Laden for the last 9 months. This game summed up the Arsenal season in 45 mins, and how (sadly) these people didn't see this coming is beyond me.
Delighted to see Vermaelen back in the side, it all went wrong within 20 mins, Squillaci and Sagna the main culprits to let Bent score 2 very clinical goals. Sagna did a 'Clichy' and fell asleep, but can be excused, as he's our most consistent defender, and his mistakes are generally few and far between; Squillaci on the other hand showed that he's not good enough for the Premier League. Bought as an experienced head for the defence and never expected to play that many games as 4th choice, Wenger's loyalty to his compatriot has probably been the single biggest factor to us (once again) finishing nowhere. Is that all 8 league games we've lost this season he's started? I feel sorry for him.
After giving Villa a 2 goal start we tried to get ourselves back into the match without ever creating any chances. RVP hit the post and Ramsey should have had a penalty, yes the referee was shocking, but we know the standard throughout the league isn't good enough, why do we expect any different?
So 45 mins that contained: shoddy defending = goals, a lack of penetration from our front 3, a lack of creativity from a midfield without Cesc, missing the golden opportunities we were afforded, hitting the post and a shit referee.
Yep that's Arsenal's season alright.
That said the 2nd half was 45 mins we dominated. Why? Why do they do this to us? Play like fucking donkeys before deciding they want to try and win the game. West Brom (twice), Newcastle (h), Wigan (a), Leeds (h), Birmingham (cc final), Man U (FA cup), Blackburn (h), Liverpool (h), Bolton (a), Stoke (a), and now Villa (h). As a fan I just can't comprehend that the players would go out onto the pitch, needing motivation to win a football match, yet this bunch of players do. Even our best players get pulled into this malaise and play like absolute mugs before the switch in their heads is flicked into "winning" mode.
But here's the crux of the problem; we have SO many talented footballers at the club, but they are supported by shoddy backing singers, It's like going to see [enter best band in the world here] and ending up with Jedward.
Arsene won't change. I want him to change, but he won't. However, if Arsene could get rid of the sub-standard squad players (naming no names), keep the best we've got and supplement them with a supporting cast of players who want to play for Arsenal, will fight for 90 mins each week and aren't happy to just sit there collecting £60K a week whilst displaying all the characteristics of a crab (it's all sideways!!) then this team could become champions again.
But what are the chances of that? who knows, but we need to live in hope don't we?
This annual spring collapse is right up there with the best (worse) of them. We've put in some truly woeful performances this year, but in years gone by we would usually respond to said performances with a much needed morale boost. This season however after the Carling Cup defeat it seems our club has had a shotgun permanently pointed at it's feet, finger on trigger; they've lost their belief, and so have the supporters. The post match reaction after the Villa game was polar; some knew another insipid performance was due and put (smart) money on Villa winning (leading to a mixture of emotions), others seemed to be in complete shock that this Arsenal side could play so poorly and get beat by Villa, and in turn started banging the usual drums....Walcott....Bendtner....Eboue....Wenger....
The anger in the pubs of N5 afterwards was frankly bizarre, people kicking and screaming in disbelief that our full-backs were providing heading practice for the Villa defence or that Walcott thought he was in Hampton Court's maze (again), must have been on holiday with Osama Bin Laden for the last 9 months. This game summed up the Arsenal season in 45 mins, and how (sadly) these people didn't see this coming is beyond me.
Delighted to see Vermaelen back in the side, it all went wrong within 20 mins, Squillaci and Sagna the main culprits to let Bent score 2 very clinical goals. Sagna did a 'Clichy' and fell asleep, but can be excused, as he's our most consistent defender, and his mistakes are generally few and far between; Squillaci on the other hand showed that he's not good enough for the Premier League. Bought as an experienced head for the defence and never expected to play that many games as 4th choice, Wenger's loyalty to his compatriot has probably been the single biggest factor to us (once again) finishing nowhere. Is that all 8 league games we've lost this season he's started? I feel sorry for him.
After giving Villa a 2 goal start we tried to get ourselves back into the match without ever creating any chances. RVP hit the post and Ramsey should have had a penalty, yes the referee was shocking, but we know the standard throughout the league isn't good enough, why do we expect any different?
So 45 mins that contained: shoddy defending = goals, a lack of penetration from our front 3, a lack of creativity from a midfield without Cesc, missing the golden opportunities we were afforded, hitting the post and a shit referee.
Yep that's Arsenal's season alright.
That said the 2nd half was 45 mins we dominated. Why? Why do they do this to us? Play like fucking donkeys before deciding they want to try and win the game. West Brom (twice), Newcastle (h), Wigan (a), Leeds (h), Birmingham (cc final), Man U (FA cup), Blackburn (h), Liverpool (h), Bolton (a), Stoke (a), and now Villa (h). As a fan I just can't comprehend that the players would go out onto the pitch, needing motivation to win a football match, yet this bunch of players do. Even our best players get pulled into this malaise and play like absolute mugs before the switch in their heads is flicked into "winning" mode.
But here's the crux of the problem; we have SO many talented footballers at the club, but they are supported by shoddy backing singers, It's like going to see [enter best band in the world here] and ending up with Jedward.
Arsene won't change. I want him to change, but he won't. However, if Arsene could get rid of the sub-standard squad players (naming no names), keep the best we've got and supplement them with a supporting cast of players who want to play for Arsenal, will fight for 90 mins each week and aren't happy to just sit there collecting £60K a week whilst displaying all the characteristics of a crab (it's all sideways!!) then this team could become champions again.
But what are the chances of that? who knows, but we need to live in hope don't we?
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