Please Arsene.
PLEASE buy a world class striker.
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Lessons from QPR
Evening folks,
Being an Arsenal supporter is a bit like doing a nude run - there is always a feeling of exhilaration and excitement but sometimes you question why you are doing what you are doing as you start to feel some sort of embarrassment. This week was the embarrassing part. And despite not winning by more than three goals - which would have been magnificent (and normally expected against the last placed team) - I have to say that I am relieved to have come away with three points against QPR, no matter how scrappy the goal was. The game provided some interesting talking points...
The RB position is our strongest
I was a bit surprised that Sagna made the starting lineup in truth, given how well Jenkinson was performing previously. But I do think that it was the right thing to do, not necessarily because Sagna is better than Jenkinson, but because Jenkinson had played almost every single game of the season so far and deserved a break. It's interesting to note that Sagna played as though he was never out injured - that is how good he is - and it's quite clear as to why he's considered one of the best right backs in the world. At the moment, the RB position is the strongest in the Arsenal squad, and I expect that Wenger will rotate Sagna and Jenkinson in that position to limit injuries.
We need a good back up keeper
On the issue of the defense, I think it's quite evident that Arsenal need a new backup for Szczesny. Someone who is experienced and willing to play backup. At the moment, Mannone is a bit Almuniaesque and Fabianski is, well, Flappy-hand-ski. Julio Cesar made some glorious saves for QPR today (although he spilled a lot of shots) and kept them in the game right to the death. He is the kind of keeper we need as backup, while Szczesny continues to develop into a world-class talent.
Cazorla and Podolski need a break
Both of these players were below their usual best in the past three games. I still hold that Podolski plays better with Gibbs, but I think that both players needed a break. Unfortunately I don't think it will be coming any time soon given that Manchester United is next week. Personally I would like to see Arsha playing in the #10 role as an understudy for Cazorla.
As we go into midweek against Reading, I'm hoping for a big morale boosting win (as usual), because it's Manchester United next, and I would give my left nut to beat them good.
Being an Arsenal supporter is a bit like doing a nude run - there is always a feeling of exhilaration and excitement but sometimes you question why you are doing what you are doing as you start to feel some sort of embarrassment. This week was the embarrassing part. And despite not winning by more than three goals - which would have been magnificent (and normally expected against the last placed team) - I have to say that I am relieved to have come away with three points against QPR, no matter how scrappy the goal was. The game provided some interesting talking points...
The RB position is our strongest
I was a bit surprised that Sagna made the starting lineup in truth, given how well Jenkinson was performing previously. But I do think that it was the right thing to do, not necessarily because Sagna is better than Jenkinson, but because Jenkinson had played almost every single game of the season so far and deserved a break. It's interesting to note that Sagna played as though he was never out injured - that is how good he is - and it's quite clear as to why he's considered one of the best right backs in the world. At the moment, the RB position is the strongest in the Arsenal squad, and I expect that Wenger will rotate Sagna and Jenkinson in that position to limit injuries.
We need a good back up keeper
On the issue of the defense, I think it's quite evident that Arsenal need a new backup for Szczesny. Someone who is experienced and willing to play backup. At the moment, Mannone is a bit Almuniaesque and Fabianski is, well, Flappy-hand-ski. Julio Cesar made some glorious saves for QPR today (although he spilled a lot of shots) and kept them in the game right to the death. He is the kind of keeper we need as backup, while Szczesny continues to develop into a world-class talent.
Cazorla and Podolski need a break
Both of these players were below their usual best in the past three games. I still hold that Podolski plays better with Gibbs, but I think that both players needed a break. Unfortunately I don't think it will be coming any time soon given that Manchester United is next week. Personally I would like to see Arsha playing in the #10 role as an understudy for Cazorla.
As we go into midweek against Reading, I'm hoping for a big morale boosting win (as usual), because it's Manchester United next, and I would give my left nut to beat them good.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
What's on your mind Arsene?
 |
| Arsene Wenger vs Stan Kroenke? copyright Kevin Quigley |
I'll leave you to decide.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Gunners sha(l)ky... but reasons why we can bounce back
Sorry for the horrible pun, but I feel that unless I make light out of Arsenal's current situation, I'm going to have to crawl into my bed and cry for the next 12 hours.
Chances are that if you are reading this blog, you've already read all about this morning's match and how shitty it was - so I'm going to spare you the details. So instead of looking back, I'm going to look at how I think Arsenal can improve in the coming games against QPR and Reading.
1. Kieran Gibbs
It's clear that Arsenal is missing Kieran Gibbs hugely - Santos is just not good enough at LB (that was a huge understatement). Before Gibbs was injured, the left wing was Arsenal's most potent attacking side with the Poldi-Gibbs combination working very well. This could be seen in the games against Southampton and Liverpool.
Since Gibbs' injury in the West Ham game, Podolski has also been out of form. Coincidence? I think not. The fact is, no matter how good Santos is going forwards with his tricky Brazilian runs, he doesn't link up play with Podolski well enough, nor does he provide adequate cover on the left when the opposition have the ball.
I think AW said that Gibbs' is closest to being back, so my prediction is that once he is back in the squad, Podolski's play and form will also improve markedly as a result of that link-up.
2. Sagna, Frimpong and Wilshere's return to fitness
A positive that could be taken from this week is that Sagna, Frimmy and Jack all played 90 minutes on monday in the under-21s match. While I don't expect any of them to start against QPR (although maybe against Reading), I think that their return is certainly a boost in both a physical and psychological sense to the squad. Jack is looking as good as ever despite being out for 14? months and it will be interesting to see if Wenger plays him as a substitute.
I don't think Sagna will make the starting line up in place of Jenkinson, but I wonder if AW will play him at CB as he did in one of the u21 games. Either way, Sagna returning provides much needed depth in the defense and hopefully confidence.
Frimpong? theres about a 1% chance that he will start or be a used substitute, but who doesn't love a good Frimmy Fact here and there. Should boost morale.
3. Please. Please. PLEASE do not start Gervinho
As much as I like the guy, he is so incredibly frustrating. His play doesn't exactly fit the way the rest of the team plays and his lack of vision and will to run almost always ends up with us losing possession. He doesn't play well on the wing and he is ridiculously inconsistent in the middle (omg Schalke). Not only that, but for a guy with such a big forehead, he isn't exactly the best in the air. I think that Giroud is a much more complete player in the CF position and really needs to start games and bully his way through the opposition defenses.
4. Gnabry!
The teenager was probably Arsenal's brightest spark in the last two matches but didn't really have much time to showcase what he had to offer. While I don't think that he is fit enough to play the whole 90 minutes, I think he should be given the Theo super-sub role. It seems like AW is fast-tracking him into the first team - so expect him to make more appearances off the bench and perhaps some goals/assists from him.
So my line up against QPR provided Gibbs is fit would be:
-----------Mannone------------
--------Mert------TV5---------
CJ25---------------------Gibbs
--------LeCoq--Arteta---------
------------Cazorla-------------
-----Ramsey------------Poldi--
-------------Giroud------------
Ramsey is offset a bit because I don't think he can play strictly as a winger, but more like a RAM. I feel that this is his best position (he can't play box to box). The reason he doesn't need to play as a conventional winger is that Jenkinson is more than capable of putting in crosses and attacking down the line. Despite this, Ramsey should have some responsibility in defending the right flank.
The formation kinda lends itself to being a bit more fluid and switching to a 3-5-2, where Poldi would play up front with Giroud, CJ25 would move into the RW, Ramsey would play at the tip of the midfield and Cazorla in the LW. Fluidity is good and mixes up things especially against teams like QPR, who will focus on defending.
Anyway. Hopefully QPR and Reading turn out to be big confidence boosting wins for Arsenal before we go and play Man U - We will need a good run into the game. That is all.
Adios
Chances are that if you are reading this blog, you've already read all about this morning's match and how shitty it was - so I'm going to spare you the details. So instead of looking back, I'm going to look at how I think Arsenal can improve in the coming games against QPR and Reading.
1. Kieran Gibbs
It's clear that Arsenal is missing Kieran Gibbs hugely - Santos is just not good enough at LB (that was a huge understatement). Before Gibbs was injured, the left wing was Arsenal's most potent attacking side with the Poldi-Gibbs combination working very well. This could be seen in the games against Southampton and Liverpool.
Since Gibbs' injury in the West Ham game, Podolski has also been out of form. Coincidence? I think not. The fact is, no matter how good Santos is going forwards with his tricky Brazilian runs, he doesn't link up play with Podolski well enough, nor does he provide adequate cover on the left when the opposition have the ball.
I think AW said that Gibbs' is closest to being back, so my prediction is that once he is back in the squad, Podolski's play and form will also improve markedly as a result of that link-up.
2. Sagna, Frimpong and Wilshere's return to fitness
A positive that could be taken from this week is that Sagna, Frimmy and Jack all played 90 minutes on monday in the under-21s match. While I don't expect any of them to start against QPR (although maybe against Reading), I think that their return is certainly a boost in both a physical and psychological sense to the squad. Jack is looking as good as ever despite being out for 14? months and it will be interesting to see if Wenger plays him as a substitute.
I don't think Sagna will make the starting line up in place of Jenkinson, but I wonder if AW will play him at CB as he did in one of the u21 games. Either way, Sagna returning provides much needed depth in the defense and hopefully confidence.
Frimpong? theres about a 1% chance that he will start or be a used substitute, but who doesn't love a good Frimmy Fact here and there. Should boost morale.
3. Please. Please. PLEASE do not start Gervinho
As much as I like the guy, he is so incredibly frustrating. His play doesn't exactly fit the way the rest of the team plays and his lack of vision and will to run almost always ends up with us losing possession. He doesn't play well on the wing and he is ridiculously inconsistent in the middle (omg Schalke). Not only that, but for a guy with such a big forehead, he isn't exactly the best in the air. I think that Giroud is a much more complete player in the CF position and really needs to start games and bully his way through the opposition defenses.
4. Gnabry!
The teenager was probably Arsenal's brightest spark in the last two matches but didn't really have much time to showcase what he had to offer. While I don't think that he is fit enough to play the whole 90 minutes, I think he should be given the Theo super-sub role. It seems like AW is fast-tracking him into the first team - so expect him to make more appearances off the bench and perhaps some goals/assists from him.
So my line up against QPR provided Gibbs is fit would be:
-----------Mannone------------
--------Mert------TV5---------
CJ25---------------------Gibbs
--------LeCoq--Arteta---------
------------Cazorla-------------
-----Ramsey------------Poldi--
-------------Giroud------------
Ramsey is offset a bit because I don't think he can play strictly as a winger, but more like a RAM. I feel that this is his best position (he can't play box to box). The reason he doesn't need to play as a conventional winger is that Jenkinson is more than capable of putting in crosses and attacking down the line. Despite this, Ramsey should have some responsibility in defending the right flank.
The formation kinda lends itself to being a bit more fluid and switching to a 3-5-2, where Poldi would play up front with Giroud, CJ25 would move into the RW, Ramsey would play at the tip of the midfield and Cazorla in the LW. Fluidity is good and mixes up things especially against teams like QPR, who will focus on defending.
Anyway. Hopefully QPR and Reading turn out to be big confidence boosting wins for Arsenal before we go and play Man U - We will need a good run into the game. That is all.
Adios
hey hey hey
Hi all,
So I decided that instead of incessant commenting on other blogs, I might as well make my own blog to vent rage/disgust/happiness/love regarding all things Arsenal... (Also as another way to procrastinate from studying for finals haha...)
So I decided that instead of incessant commenting on other blogs, I might as well make my own blog to vent rage/disgust/happiness/love regarding all things Arsenal... (Also as another way to procrastinate from studying for finals haha...)
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