December 29, 2007 at 10:46 am (Arsenal, Arsene, Match Preview, Premiership, Van Persie)
I thought that I would put my two cents in seeing that there is so much official news and views coming out in the past few days. This match will be shown at 1.15 am here. First up, Wenger makes the same comments that he had been dispensing for a while.
1) We have a large squad and even top class players have to compete for their places. Diarra too.
2) Beckham will train with the team in January – It ’s nothing really. Just a player looking for some peers to train with. The youngsters might benefit from his technique for crosses
3) We will not buy anyone in January – he cheekily adds a remote probability of doing otherwise
Moving on to real match preview stuff. Gallas is fit and ready for the match although Walcott, Robin and Eboue won’t be traveling with the squad. Walcott is rested after his recovery from flu. Eboue because he has played a lot of games. Robin still suffers from a “little” muscular problem. I wonder how little that is because he has already missed the Spurs and Pompey ones and will also not be in the Everton and West Ham matches. Will he make it/risked for the Burnley away game in the FA Cup? I think even Arsene doesn’t know the answer to this one.
One thing though, with Eboue and Walcott not playing, would we revert to a 4-4-2? The most obvious right midfield candidate now is Hleb and that would release the forwards position to either Dudu or Bendtner. That is what I would like to see though. In truth though, I believe Dudu or Diaby will be in the left while Rosicky takes up the right. I really hope Arsene surprises us on this one.
Oh, and Arsene has given the green light for Jens to go off and seek a place in Germany’s Euro 2008 team elsewhere.
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December 28, 2007 at 3:53 pm (EPL Fantasy League)
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December 27, 2007 at 2:21 pm (Adebayor, Arsenal, Cesc, Cesc Fabregas, EPL, Fabregas, Premiership)
Match Gunner: Tomas Rosicky for his creativity
Portsmouth entered the game with a gameplan. Portsmouth had three ex-Arsenal first team players in their first team. Campbell, Lauren and Kanu. Lauren just looked like a 80’s rapper with the hairstyle he adopted(see top pic). They started with a lone striker which more or less stated their intention to adopt a defensive approach to the game. Fair enough. We are the most feared attacking side in the Premier League. We started as we were against Spurs; also with a 4-5-1.
The first half was forgettable apart from a few good chances that fell to Cesc and Rosicky. Adebayor’s continues to bear the brunt of frustrated Arsenal fans across the world. There is no doubt that he is a good player but he has to modify his game to suit the situation. Throughout the whole first half, he tried a multitude of flicks and tricks that just didn’t work. He is a good player for us but I am not convinced that he can make it as a lone striker.
Second half and the game started to open up. Eboue was replaced by Diaby and the sub most fans were waiting for after his marvellous winner in the derby, Bendtner came in to great effect. Cesc and Rosicky started to have more space to work their magic. Clichy also made a great last ditch safe from Benjani who had already evaded Almunia. We nearly got a last minute winner as first Gallas missed from 6 yards after a great turn(Campbell might have clipped his ankle) and secondly Rosicky fired a shot inches wide with the last shot of the game.
We all know how extra motivated and dangerous players are when they meet up with their former clubs. This was no exception. Campbell was on form and was the arguably the best Portsmouth player that day, barring Benjani. With the scoreless draw, we have conceded the lead to Manchester United. Frankly, you must have seen it coming. We have stuttered since Hleb, Flamini and Cesc were injured and they have not rediscovered their form since. Coming up is another tough match. Everton away. Let’s do this.
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December 25, 2007 at 10:12 am (Arsenal)
Looking ahead of the match on Wednesday,
This will be our first of two away matches in four days. The next one is against Everton on Saturday
We will be without the services of Walcott and most probably Van Persie who has a thigh muscle strain. Bendtner looks like a good shout for a start but I would expect Arsene to field the same lineup that started against Spurs.
In Portsmouth corner, we have a quite a few recognizable faces in Lauren, Kanu and Sol Campbell. The first two left us amicably but for poor old Sol however, it was a different matter altogether. Who can forget how the media reported that he left Highbury at halftime after being substituted for a bad performance against West Ham(which we lost) He then went missing to find his bearings before reporting back to the squad a few days later. He was duly dropped for about two months whether forced by an injury to his nose or by his disciplinary issue. Who knows?
They have been winless for six matches in a row and Harry Redknapp has called for his players to press our passing play and “get in our faces” I guess this is the tactic most other managers have called for their players to do in order to beat us. No worries. We have proven more than once in this season that we are up for the fight and that we can scrap for a win regardless of the match form.
Le Boss has come out with two views
One: We will be missing Eboue and Toure for the Afican Cup of Nations in January. Song could be gone too. If so, we are left with Senderos and Gallas as the only centrebacks. Djorou is called back from Birmingham for this although his form has not been that good for them recently.
Two: Being on top at Christmas is not an assurance of the title despite the media wanting to show that the last four winners have been just that. On top of the table at Christmas.
Other news include Toure conceding that it was indeed a penalty. Fair enough. Although I think that most fans could see that it was one after the replay.
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December 24, 2007 at 2:07 pm (Arsenal)
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December 23, 2007 at 10:45 am (Adebayor, Arsenal, Bendtner, Cesc, Cesc Fabregas, EPL, Fabregas, Flamini, Kolo, Premiership)
Adebayor (48), Bendtner (75)
Berbatov (66)
Match Gunner: Manuel Almunia (The penalty save was vital for the win)
The old enemy came to town and we started without Van Persie who “picked up a knock”. Otherwise it was our season’s usual 4-4-1-1 lineup.
First half was frustrating. We were more or less played out of the game but somehow we managed more decent chances on goal then Spurs. For all their enterprise, I didn’t see any serious attempt at goal from them. The only danger was averted when Lennon’s cross was headed away in time by Sagna before it reached Keane. It was worrying that we lost possession much too easily and Spurs looked like the home side.
Let’s move on to the second half shall we?
We started with a bang. A nice backheel from Cesc found a charging Adebayor who finished it with style. Credit to Adebayor who started the move at the halfway line. We also had a good shout at a penalty when Kaboul missed the clearance from an Eboue cross and his follow through brought down Rosicky.
We grew slightly comfortable and tried to protect the lead. Spurs woke up and Keane’s shot hit the bar after a cross by Lennon. Soon after, Berbatov hit an absolute peach of a shot into the top of the net following a backheel by Keane. (It could have deflected of Kolo on the way in) In my opinion, Almunia had no chance of saving it even though it was at the near post. I’m sure Jens would disagree.
Berbatov was at the heart of things again when some major scramble saw Kolo give away a penalty when he slid in to dispossess him but Berbatov turned just in time and Kolo caught him. Keane stepped up to take the penalty and our nerves were jangled. Luckily, Keane’s penalty attempt was a weak one to say the least and Almunia saved easily to his right. Cue relief and Spurs impetus was shot down in an instant. The game was ours to win.
In the 73rd minute, we got a corner and Bendtner was brought on for Eboue. Tall man=good idea. His first touch found the net as he lost his marker, rose regally and headed in a bullet(Majestic pic below) It was already in before Robinson could even raise his hand to block it. Cue mayhem. It’s the first Premiership goal for young Nicklas this season and what a time and opposition to score against. They were finished when a penalty appeal was turned down as Sagna brought down a Spurs player after he succesfully nutmegged the “hair extensioned one”.
Once again, a good result even though it wasn’t a vintage performance from the lads. Fabregas, Hleb and Flamini looked rusty after coming back from their recent injuries. Let’s hope that the fixture rush smiles kindly on their match sharpness.
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December 22, 2007 at 11:48 am (Arsenal, Cesc, Cesc Fabregas, Champions League, Fabregas, Flamini, Van Persie)
Arsenal v AC Milan
Well, we got it. A big name. Flamini v Gattuso. Robin v Kaka. Pirlo v Cesc. It’s going to be a tasty one.
The fixtures are already out:
1st leg
Arsenal v AC Milan
Wednesday 20th February 2008
Kick Off 7.45 (UK time)
At Emirates Stadium
2nd leg
AC Milan v Arsenal
Tuesday 4th March 2008
Kick Off 7.45 (UK time)
At San Siro Stadium
This was the rest of the draw (1st leg home team named first)
Celtic v Barcelona
Lyon v Manchester United
Schalke v Porto
Liverpool v Inter Milan
Roma v Real Madrid
Olympiakos v Chelsea
Fenerbahce v Sevilla
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December 21, 2007 at 11:00 am (EPL Fantasy League)
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December 13, 2007 at 7:00 am (Arsenal, Arsene, Champions League, Eduardo, Theo, Van Persie, Walcott)
Diaby (8), Bendtner (42)
Zaharia(69)
Match Gunner: Robin Van Persie-Still brilliant after the long lay-Off. (special mention to Theo)
We came into this match needing to win and Sevilla to lose to Sparta in order to top the group. Wenger had a touchline ban for this match due to the altercation in the Sevilla game.
Before the game, Wenger hinted on his team for this match by announcing that Arsenal is not afraid of “big” teams. Lehmann got his start and Wenger suggested that Jens would be off sooner than later.
Surprisingly, Van Persie, after that bone crunching injury sustained during international duty, was named on the starting line up. Diaby was another surprising inclusion after his injury. Everyone’s favourite, Song was also named in the starting 11.
This is how we started
GK-Lehmann
DL-Traore
DR-Sagna
DC-Gallas
DC-Senderos
ML-Diaby
MR-Walcott
MC-Song
MC-Denilson
ST-Van Persie
ST-Bendtner
We were expected to stroll to a victory here and for once in recent games, the expectations were realized, although the scoreline failed to reflect that.
2nd minute and a good chance arrived when Robin’s pass found Theo on the right and he pulled his shot just wide. Minutes later, his ran past a few defenders but skied his shot.8th minute and the goal arrived. Robin started the move with a smart turn and found Sagna. Sagna’s cross was brought down by Diaby under immense pressure . His first touch took a lucky bounce off the pitch forward and his second touch found the top corner of the net. 1-0 and we were looking nice and comfortable with a second Diaby goal only denied by a nice save by the Steaua keeper.
We were looking threatening and the outstanding players were Theo and Robin. Theo’s pace on the right wing was causing problems and Robin’s excellent technique and turns were a joy to behold. It didn’t seem like his first game back. He was directly involved in the second. An exquisite goal. He made a bewildering turn that left the defense for dead and angled a pass to Bendtner on the right. Bendtner had all to do then but took his goal like a seasoned pro. He went pass the closing defender and slide in the shot pass the onrushing keeper. 2-0 up.
Second half came and there were a few chances here and there.
Suddenly Steaua were looking dangerous and it was our turn to do some defending
Robin was brought and Dudu in. Steaua made a few changes of their own and both their subs were involved in their goal. A looping header which left Jens with no chance.
Diarra and Eboue were brought in for Diaby and Sagna. Theo, Bendtner and Dudu had a few chances between them but failed to convert and the game finished 2-1. Nice. The 3-0 win from Sevilla meant that we finish second in Group H and will meet another group’s winner in the knock out phase. I say, bring them on. That is what Champions League is all about. Champions against Champions.
Moving on to the match against Chelsea. Wenger had some thoughts on the players available paricularly Hleb,Flamini and Cesc. I would suspect Flamini and Hleb/Cesc to be involved.
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December 11, 2007 at 6:26 am (Arsenal, Arsene, Da Silva, EPL, Eduardo, Kolo, Premiership, Van Persie)
Downing(4, pen), Tuncay(74)
Rosicky(90)
Match Gunner: Arsene Wenger?
Fourth away game on the trot after Sevilla, Villa and Newcastle and we lost our first Premier League game of the season. All thoughts were on us getting the three points againt a mediocre Boro side who was in relegation zone. Funny how it turned out. We crashed to a resounding defeat after maintaining a 15 match lose-less streak in the Premiership.
Did not watch the game but by the sounds of it, we were not at the races at all. Boro played well and won. We started with Diarra and Gilberto in midfield. Eduardo started as well. It seemed like Dudu had a dud and was quickly replaced by Bendtner at half time. You have to wonder why Arsene insists on putting him on the wing when the Crozillian is obviously very good as a finisher as is evident in his contributions to the Croatian national side. Wenger threw Walcott and Denilson for Diarra and Eboue to add extra impetus to the side but it was ultimately unsuccesful. Again we were outplayed and rarely had a shot on goal. Very untypical.
Wenger,
We lost the game because we deserved to lose it. Middlesbrough were sharper in the fight. They were a team who lacked confidence and we missed something at the start of the game because we gave them too much room and that caused the penalty. After that it was down to us
Boro had an early penalty when Kolo brought down former boy Aliadiere.
Downing completed the formality
Tuncay finished up an Almunia block from O’Neill to make it 2-0
Tomas provided a consolation goal for us in the final minute and that’s about the gist of it.
We were well beaten and we can hope that the boys will bounce back stronger and better after this. First up is our last group Champions League match against Steau Bucharest. I would expect the team to stay the same as Wenger has dismissed individuality and saying our form was due to the team as a whole as:
I don’t like to speak about the players who are not here, I always have confidence in the players who play. When you go into a season you know you will miss some players at some stage.
Quite right. Losing players to injury is not an excuse. Long term injuries have hit all the top teams. Man Utd is missing Scholes. Chelsea is missing Drogba. Liverpool have been without Agger and Alonso.
Particularly looking at how we can bounce back as the next Premierdhip match is against Chelsea match as Fab and Hleb might miss that one too. Van Persie and Flamini have a good chance of making it though with Robin probably starting on the bench due to the lack of fitness.
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