Just Own Up to the Obvious

I haven't written or posted a piece on Our Arsenal for a while since our humiliating defeat to Manchester United (I don't need to remind you of the score) and also our deadline day excitement of several players joining the club.


Since that day we have endured an International break, which we though would help the dust settle and hopefully bring us back with a fighting spirit to try and get our performances raised and a chance to have at least a false hope of any challenge (which I don't believe we have any capability in the slightest).


The match against Swansea didn't fill us fans with any confidence. Arteta was somewhat of a presence in central midfield with some decent passing, but he's no Cesc Fabregas and we won't ever find a player with his ability to find a pass, although Arteta does have some ability to find a killer pass. The scoreline was a lucky one with a gifted goal, which was still a decent finish from Arshavin.


We've missed Gervinho's directness and this showed against Dortmund in the Champions league, but even though we could have won the game, a sublime finish made us draw the game 1-1. It was a hard scrappy draw. Germany is not an easy place to go, especially against the champions of Germany.


The defeat to Blackburn showed some of the old Arsenal back, but most in terms of bad defending. Why can we never sort this position out? Santos looked decent, Mertesacker looks slow. Gervinho and Arteta both got their debut goals for the Gunners. That was the only real spark. The two own goals from Song and Koscielny summed up our lack of defending.


You have to face it Arsenal fans, we're not the team we once were, I'm not even going as far as the 1998, 2002 and 2004 invincible teams. I only have to go as far as last year, because this team has changed and it'll take a few years to form any type of challenge. The teams dynamic has changed, it doesn't have the ability to play quick touch passing. We have to adopt a more direct play, which in this league you need to have. Wenger must not try to make a team made for the Champions League.


But van Persie is the only world class player we have left, so the fans have to wake up and notice we're just not a top 4 team anymore with the players at our disposal. In this case maybe it'll force our hand to play more as a team. It's still early days of the team gelling together. But keep your expectations realistic because we're no longer a force in English football.

UEFA Champions League Draw

Arsenal found out their opponents for the group stage of the UEFA Champions League after defeating Udinese last night.

Arsenal was placed as a top seed and situated in pot 1 and were drawn in Group F.

They will face the following:

Marseille - France

Olympiacos - Greece

Borrusia Dortmund - Germany

REPORT: Udinese 1-2 Arsenal (Agg. 1-3)

UDINESE 1 - 2 ARSENAL

(Agg. 1 - 3)

Match Report

UEFA Champions League

Stadio Friuli

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Kick-off: 19:45

Firstly I haven't been able to post the last couple of days as I haven't had much opportunity to sit in front if a computer that didn't involve work.

Arsenal played Udinese last night to what could potentially have been the end of our season in extreme ways. If we lost the game we would have lost a lot of finncial benefits, also we would have found it incredibly hard to attract any player that we're looking to sign before the transfer window. Going 1-0 down to their only potent striker Di Natale with a brilliant lobbed header, which hit the post and just about went in.

The second half proved to be the best 45 minutes Arsenal have played this season. Arsenal equalised from Gervinho's directness, which he skipped past his marker with ease to the by-line, in which he cut back to van Persie for the easiest of finishes.

Arsenal could have gone behind with the most bizarre penalty, which replays shows Vermaelen hand handled the ball. The penalty was well struck, hard with pace, but at a comfortable height for Szczesny, who managed to tip the ball over the bar. To be fair it was a great save, which cements his No.1 even more.

Arsenal took advantage with this and when Theo was puy through on the left with lots of space to eat up, there was only one winner. Theo couldn't miss this one like he did in the first half, and sent the keeper the wrong way to make it 2-1 on the night and 3-1 overall. Udinese needed 3 goals more to win the tie, they had no chance.

So Arsenal are through and it proves that this team can still play and put in a solid defensive display when it matters. I was impressed with Jenkinson who was probably our man of the match. Gervinho was very impressive and could become an Arsenal great. Frimpong an avid Araenal fan through and through had a brilliant first half too. Him and Song are a great partnership, throw in Wilshere and we'll have a complete combatitative midfield.

I'm just glad we've got into the group stages of the Champions League and now we can have no excuses to go buy who we need.

The draw for the UEFA Champions League is today at 16:45 GMT

REPORT: Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool

ARSENAL 0 - 2 LIVERPOOL

Match Report

Barclays Premier League

Emirates Stadium

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Kick-off: 17:30

Arsenal:

Szczesny, Jenkinson, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Frimpong, Ramsey, Nasri, Walcott, van Persie, Arshavin

Subs: Fabianski, Miguel, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lansbury, Miyachi, Chamakh, Bendtner 

Liverpool:

Reina, Kelly, Carragher, Agger, Enrique, Downing, Adam, Henderson, Lucas, Kuyt, Carroll

Subs: Doni, Skrtel, Flanagan, Meireles, Maxi, Spearing, Suarez

So that didn't go to plan did it, or was it a case of the cracks growing even bigger? Yet another display of hanging on as Liverpool dominated us for a large section of the first half. It was a more even affair in the second half.

From the moment Koscielny went off injured, we had to rely on the young U-21 Spaniard, Ignasi Miguel, which I think he gave a good account of himself. I was at Underhill on Monday for Arsenal vs Manchester United reserves, which we won 2-1, and he looked like he could take the step up. 

The last twenty minutes of the match was the most decisive in our downfall. Emmanuel Frimpong was one of our better player on the day and he was energetic, but his lack of experience on his debut proved to be his downfall after picking up two yellow cards, to get sent off at a critical part of the game (too many players suspended and injured now). This now showed our lack of squads strength in depth as Henri Lansbury came on for Arshavin, who looked quite disinterested as usual and was poor all game.

The goal came about by our own lack of luck as Miguel managed to hit the ball against an oncoming Ramsey and the ball looped over Szczesny. From that point I couldn't see Arsenal getting back in the game as there was no cohesion between the midfield and defense to create any chances. The second goal from Liverpool didn't take long as substitutes Meireles and Suarez combined to make it 2-0 and finish the game off.

The positives we can take from the game are the performances of Vermaelen who should have been given the 'Man of the Match' by Sky Sports, instead they give it to Jose Enrique, which we were linked with. But Vermaelen showed what we missed last season and we forget how much a  great defender he is. If we had a proper first team out rather than Arsenal youth we could've nicked a win maybe, but a draw seemed most fair, however we got neither.

Another positives were that the fans saying "Arsenal, Arsenal " over those minority of fans chanting "spend some f****** money". We still back Wenger, I certainly do, but only to the extent he actually does spend some money, but it wouldn't be wise for us to sack him , or for him to walk out on the club.

This has been a tough week, and the matches away to Udinese on Wednesday in the Champions League and Manchester United on Sunday prove to be another very tough week. Wednesday will make or break our season in terms of signing players.

PREVIEW: Arsenal v Liverpool

Match Preview

Arsenal v Liverpool

Barclays Premier League,

Emirates Stadium,

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Kick-off: 12:45

1 match down, 37 remains. As much as people thought not winning on opening match day away to Newcastle was a poor result, St. James’s Park is a tough place to go and win. So that point could prove significant, or usually we’ll moan dropping silly points. But that was game 1.

On to match week 2 and we have a really tough first home game of the season in the league. Liverpool at home is always a funny one. It depends which Liverpool turn up. They were poor last week at home to Sunderland, which was a game of two halves for them, conceding a wonder strike from former Gooner and Brum player, Sebastion Larsson.

Arsenal had a tough run out in midweek in their 1st leg of the Champions League at home to Udinese. I have to say Udinese looked really strong against us, especially in the second half. We lost a few player to injury during that game, Gibbs came off at half-time, who is looking more injury prone than our very own RVP. Djourou came on for Gibbs and then a few minutes later managed to come off as a precaution. Even now Rosicky is being rested for today’s match. Wenger & Co. must have pushed the lads really hard this pre-season.

Today we have the following absent from our squad; Gervinho and Song are starting their three match suspensions, Wilshere, Diaby, Gibbs, Traore and Djourou are all injured, with Rosicky rested.

This means we have no left back, which will probably either see Sagna move to left back, or Jenkinson slot there. I don’t think Wenger would want Vermaelen at left back, as he’s gelling well with Koscielny, and that’s the key to our two clean sheets so far this season. The midfield seems quite week, especially with no longer Fabregas sitting in that midfield, and all the injuries, we’ll have to rely on one man who will be in the squad today, Samir Nasri, who has gone from being one of our best players and having a good relationship with the fans to being the villain. But I for one would like to see him play, we can’t rely on Frimpong, Ramsey and Lansbury. Although that seems a great future midfield, it won’t do for today.

I foresee a well fought match; it’ll be a much tougher match than last season, which saw us gain a penalty in the last minute of play, to secure what we all thought was going to be a 1-0 win. However the now departed Ivorian, Eboue, now plying his trade at Turkish outfit Galatasaray, decided to clumsily give away a penalty after the most manic two minutes ever at the Emirates, from what would have been a bore 0-0 draw anyway. If there’s any excitement like those two minutes throughout match today, then I’ll be keen to watch this.

Probable line-up:

Szczesny

Jenkinson      Koscielny       Vermaelen     Sagna

Frimpong      Ramsey

Nasri

Walcott                                               Arshavin

Van Persie

Prediction: Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool

-----

REPORT: Arsenal 1-0 Udinese

ARSENAL 1 – 0 UDINESE

Match Report

UEFA Champions League

Emirates Stadium

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Kick-off: 19:45

Arsenal:

Szczesny, Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Song, Ramsey, Rosicky, Walcott, Gervinho, Chamakh

Subs: Fabianski, Djourou, Jenkinson, Frimpong, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Frimpong, Bendtner, Arshavin

Udinese:

Handanovic, Isla, Danilo, Agyemang-Badu, Di Natale, Neuton, Benatia, Asamoah, Ekstrand, Armero, Pinzi

Subs: Belardo, Denis, Vydra, Abdi, Pasquale, Doubai, Fabbrini

The first leg of a Champions Qualifier held at Emirates Stadium usually sees a large amount of goals to the home team. This time around Arsenal could only manage 1 goal instead of the usual 4,5,6 goal drubbings.

It was a good start for Arsenal with Theo Walcott volleying with his left foot past Handanovic early on in the 4th minute from a Ramsey cross.

From then on Arsenal didn’t create much, and the dangerous goal machine Di Natale for Udinese came close with a free kick striking the bar, leaving Szczesny scrambling over to his right.

The score line doesn’t reflect how bad we were, although we weren’t great, with Gervinho providing most of our spark, if any. But Udinese looked a strong, well organised team, even with their best player Sanchez departing them for Barcelona this summer, just like our best player has left for Barcelona this summer.

I haven’t mentioned Fabregas at all yet, but you can tell we’re going to struggle without him. But we also missed Wilshere tonight who will become a massive player for us, if not already. Not forgetting van Persie was suspended tonight too, along with Arshavin not even getting any playing time tonight on the bench. Nasri I feel will leave eventually anyway, so no point in mentioning him either.

A good win against tough opposition, but we have to be very good in Italy, otherwise we may be on Channel 5 before you know it.

Arsenal Name UEFA Champions League Squad

Arsenal have announced the names of who's in the squad for the UEFA Champions League against Udinese.

The players named in Lists A and B will be all be eligible for the Play-Off Round tie with Udinese.

Arsenal.com explained further:

List A for the Play-Off Round is final, although a single change to the squad can be made by Monday 15 August (the day before the first-leg game).

Should the Club progress to the Group Stage of the competition, an updated List A will be submitted by September 1, which will apply for the remainder of the competition.

Under UEFA rules, Arsenal is eligible to register 25 players to List A for the Play-Off Round and an unlimited number of players to List B.
A player qualifies for inclusion in List B if he was born on or after January 1, 1990 and has been eligible to play for the Club for an uninterrupted period of two years or more since his 15th birthday.

A few surprises were that Fabregas and Nasri were included. Although they were included, it doesn't mean they'll necessarily play. Jack Wilshere is in list B, which is another eyebrow raiser, but that's probably because he's injured. Although I'm not even sure on the rules, but we'll have our strongest team possible playing regardless.

Arsenal's Champions League squad:

List A

Manuel Almunia
Andrey Arshavin
Nicklas Bendtner
Marouane Chamakh
Abou Diaby
Johan Djourou
Emmanuel Eboue
Lukasz Fabianski
Cesc Fabregas
Gervinho
Kieran Gibbs
Carl Jenkinson
Laurent Koscielny
Vito Mannone
Samir Nasri
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Tomas Rosicky
Bacary Sagna
Alex Song
Sebastien Squillaci
Armand Traore
Robin van Persie
Carlos Vela
Thomas Vermaelen
Theo Walcott

List B

Aaron Ramsey
Wojciech Szczesny
Jack Wilshere
Benik Afobe
Chuks Aneke
Zak Ansah
Daniel Boateng
George Brislen-Hall
Francis Coquelin
Craig Eastmond
Luke Freeman
Emmanuel Frimpong
Sead Hajrovic
Conor Henderson
Gavin Hoyte
Jernade Meade
Ignasi Miquel
Rhys Murphy
Nigel Neita
Oguzhan Ozyakup
Gilles Sunu
Sanchez Watt
Nico Yennaris

August is a Tough One

Every football fan can't wait for the opening day of the Premier League to get rid of the boredom of a vacated summer of football without a European Championship or World Cup to entertain us. Tiresome pre-season friendlies fill the void slightly, how ever it's competitive football us fans await for. Oh what a wait us Arsenal fans have in hand for our opening month to the league campaign!

Arsenal have one of the toughest fixture lists out of any team in England and six points out of nine would be a great start. The curtain raiser for Arsenal is at St. James's Park against Newcastle United. After the first 45 minutes last season, we would be going in to this match very confident, having been 4-0 by the time the referee blew for half-time. The second-half proved one to forget. But with every fresh new season comes new optimism and this match has no title/relegation odds baring on it, with no real form from either team. It could easily go either way.

With Arsenal finishing fourth last season it has given the Gunners an extra two games in qualifying for the UEFA Champions League group stages. These matches are just before the tough home match against Liverpool and then sandwiched between Liverpool at the Emirates and to then face the champions Manchester United at 'The Theatre of Dreams'.

We haven't won at Old Trafford in the league since Adebayor scored to win 1-0. That was back in the 2006-2007 season. That seems like an eternity now. Liverpool at home last season was a difficult affair, making hard work of it, to then earn a penalty in injury time and go 1-0 up. What came next was unbelievable but honestly typical to then go and give a stupid penalty away moments later. To give the game up so cheaply when a win seemed more than likely, that just ended Arsenal's season completely mentally.

This season we could come out of August looking in a dire position, but on the other hand Arsenal could be facing a much easier task by the title run in. But didn't we think last last season? Let's just hope it'll be a cracking start to the season!