Been on my own international break.
Arsenal haven't really been the same team since theirs.
Was hoping to use my "merry dance" pun tonight but a defeat was what I expected. To be fair, for the first 5 minutes it would be an accurate description. We were moving the ball round well, lots of intricate passing and the possession stats were near-on 100%. It genuinely seemed to unerve the Greeks on the pitch and especially in the stands. Did you notice there weren't any women in the whole ground, including the hairy "cheerleaders"?
Arsene said before the game that fielding this young team would be true to the competition by providing a more motivated side, rather than a more experienced team who had nothing to play for. He was right (again). They genuinely had something to prove and places to fight for. Ramsey responded well and at times looked real quality. By no means the finished article, but some of his passing was sublime. He's got that physical edge too. In a team of full teenagers, he looked experienced and composed. Merida increasingly showed us why Wenger wants to keep him in and around the first team.
A lot of the talk had been of the rising young star Wilshere. I wonder whether he's beginning to believe his own hype. I've seen him play Carling Cup games and even in the Emirates Cup pre-season where he played the rest out the park. But he's trying too hard at the moment, taking people on and running into trouble rather than picking the right pass. Maturity will play a big part here.
Interestingly, rather than showing his experience, Vela seemed to be dragged down by playing in a team full of youngsters. He lacked composure, seems to be brushed off the ball to easily and missed one very good chance at least to score. Again, I've see him play brilliantly and finish with such confidence. That seems to be missing and a Vela firing on all cylinders would really help our first team. All I could think was if there was anyone that I would have wanted on the end of the Ramsey pass that Vela missed, it would have been Arshavin.
Walcott showed that his pace and intelligent running comes naturally and doesn't diminish everytime he has a lay-off due to injury. Let's hope he finds his feet (literally) quickly because Aaron Lennon has begun to show that he can pass and cross and is currently looking more likely to go to South Africa this Summer.
I was very impressed with what I saw and quite enjoyed the game. A luxury to be able to watch a champions league game, knowing you've qualified top and have nothing to worry about - including to a large degree, any of your players getting injured.
We've had a very disjointed few weeks and I hope the first team can get back on track against Liverpool at the weekend.
I've noticed a strange psychological thing going on. Arsene must have said to them early this season that it is not results against the big teams that win you the title, its how you do against the rest - citing United as an example. I've seen quotes from various squad members referring to this idea too.
In essence he is right, but it seems to have been taken too literally by the team and almost given them an excuse for not winning these games. So far it has been taken literally as we've lost to United, City and Chelsea. Spurs are obviously not classed as a big team, because we beat them.
Fortunately Liverpool are not looking like a real challenge for the title this year, which leads me to feel we might just get something out of this game, but with some key players missing it is asking for some of our other players to step up and be counted.
Very grateful that its on sky, so I don't have to struggle with poor illegal streams. Is there a market for providing a quality stream to paying customers? Would it really damage crowd numbers?
Anyway, I'm looking forward to it.
'til next time
Wednesday 9 December 2009
Saturday 21 November 2009
Damn you international break!
We lost our momentum. We lost our in form striker. The players looked a little sluggish. I hate international breaks, especially for meaningless friendlies or games that don't really mean anything to us.
Sunderland had no real momentum to lose. They last won against a big 4 team when they beat Liverpool. I guess they felt they didnt need to raise their game when they lost to Spurs in their last game.
Perhaps Sunderland benefitted from not having any major players out due to internationals. Why it should make such a difference baffles me a little. We can easily win 2 premier league games with a Champions League game sandwiched in the middle. So why not an international victory sandwich?
From the highlights I have seen, Song looked our best player. I love the fact I was so wrong about him. He's beginning to be one of my favourite players and a consistent performer.
Still, win next weekend and we'll have an almost identical record to Man Utd, reclaim 2nd and have a superior goal difference to them. We'll have made up some ground on Chelsea too, by virtue of beating them.
The downside is, I'm not sure we'll do it. I want to stay positive. Its very simple this year. The team that finishes above Chelsea will win the title. Here is our chance to stake our claim.
Lets get back to winning ways against Liege. No excuses, no sluggishness. A solid, confidence building win is required.
Sunderland had no real momentum to lose. They last won against a big 4 team when they beat Liverpool. I guess they felt they didnt need to raise their game when they lost to Spurs in their last game.
Perhaps Sunderland benefitted from not having any major players out due to internationals. Why it should make such a difference baffles me a little. We can easily win 2 premier league games with a Champions League game sandwiched in the middle. So why not an international victory sandwich?
From the highlights I have seen, Song looked our best player. I love the fact I was so wrong about him. He's beginning to be one of my favourite players and a consistent performer.
Still, win next weekend and we'll have an almost identical record to Man Utd, reclaim 2nd and have a superior goal difference to them. We'll have made up some ground on Chelsea too, by virtue of beating them.
The downside is, I'm not sure we'll do it. I want to stay positive. Its very simple this year. The team that finishes above Chelsea will win the title. Here is our chance to stake our claim.
Lets get back to winning ways against Liege. No excuses, no sluggishness. A solid, confidence building win is required.
Thursday 19 November 2009
Luck o'the French
Malouda said they were lucky....because the referee didn't see it. He is right. The hand of le God well and truly helped France to the World Cup finals in South Africa.
Henry has cheated, it was wrong, but I would have done the same and I think any other footballer in that position would have done the same. Handball, not get caught (by the referee) and play in the world cup. Yes please.
The media has gone wild again. As they always do when Johnny Foreigner cheats. Would the reaction have been the same if it was Rooney? I think not.
Is his reputation in tatters. Of course not. He has had the grace to admit it was a handball. Something Maradona never did. But it wasn't the Argentine's handball against us that tarnished his reputation, it was his continued drug abuse, of cocaine in particular and his use of ephedrine that caused his expulsion from the 1994 World Cup. I think the referee in last night's game has more to worry about in terms of reputation.
It means we have France in the finals. It would be a lesser tournament without them, and even worse if the Irish were there. They are not a good team and I hate Robbie Keane. He bitches and moans his way through every match. At least this time he has something genuine to moan about.
Now we get to see some of our own play on the biggest stage - Sagna, Clichy, Gallas, maybe Diaby and ofcourse Henry - who will always be Arsenal. And he'll be back at the club one day, in some capacity. And I can't wait.
Even more gutted that Arshavin won't be there. He really would have lit up the tournament. Instead we have Slovenia. Know any of their star players??? I think not. However I am pleased that UEFAs blatant attempt to get all the best teams in by deciding to introduce seeding at the last minute failed. Cheaters don't always prosper.
Nearly back to proper football. The team is damaged but not destroyed by the international break. Bring on Sunderland.
Henry has cheated, it was wrong, but I would have done the same and I think any other footballer in that position would have done the same. Handball, not get caught (by the referee) and play in the world cup. Yes please.
The media has gone wild again. As they always do when Johnny Foreigner cheats. Would the reaction have been the same if it was Rooney? I think not.
Is his reputation in tatters. Of course not. He has had the grace to admit it was a handball. Something Maradona never did. But it wasn't the Argentine's handball against us that tarnished his reputation, it was his continued drug abuse, of cocaine in particular and his use of ephedrine that caused his expulsion from the 1994 World Cup. I think the referee in last night's game has more to worry about in terms of reputation.
It means we have France in the finals. It would be a lesser tournament without them, and even worse if the Irish were there. They are not a good team and I hate Robbie Keane. He bitches and moans his way through every match. At least this time he has something genuine to moan about.
Now we get to see some of our own play on the biggest stage - Sagna, Clichy, Gallas, maybe Diaby and ofcourse Henry - who will always be Arsenal. And he'll be back at the club one day, in some capacity. And I can't wait.
Even more gutted that Arshavin won't be there. He really would have lit up the tournament. Instead we have Slovenia. Know any of their star players??? I think not. However I am pleased that UEFAs blatant attempt to get all the best teams in by deciding to introduce seeding at the last minute failed. Cheaters don't always prosper.
Nearly back to proper football. The team is damaged but not destroyed by the international break. Bring on Sunderland.
Tuesday 17 November 2009
Arsenal's number 9 and Kiwis
Apologies (to the zero readers!) for not blogging recently.
My world has been overtaken by an issue (read "incompetent fool") at work. This has coincided with a break from domestic football. So there haven't even been any decent matches to take my mind of it.
I promised myself I would never watch an England friendly again, after Sven took over and used them as an exercise in motonony and tedium. Nothing has really improved. I care when its competitive, because the players do - a bit. And I cannot wait for the World Cup. I love it, for the festival of football that it is. Regardless of whether England are there or not.
Until a few years ago, I really struggled to decide what I would prefer - England win the World Cup or Arsenal win the Champions League. Now there is absolutely no contest. Its the UCL every time. I'd love to see England win the biggest tournament in the World, but I still enjoy the tournament as much without them.
Not overly happy about New Zealand qualifying for it though. How can they be there when Ireland or France won't? They were beaten at home by Fiji! And I don't care that this "home" game was actually away, as my Kiwi mate tells me. It's still a disgrace and it devalues the tournament. Still if you want it to be a "world" cup, then its the price we pay.
Apart from the disruption to the domestic game, especially when Arsenal were in such a rich vein of form, I hate the fact that we always seem to pick a heap of injuries.
I am a little worried about Gibbs' niggle picked up with the U21s. My biggest concern is RVP. Just when he was beginning to change my mind about who was the best striker in the premier league (I've always gone for Torres) he gets injured again!! Lets hope the placenta-massage or whatever it is works because we need him back.
Nevertheless. If you told the Arsenal faithfull (and especially the not-so-faithful who are too quick to criticise) that we had just bought Croatia's star player, a Brazillian who scored something like 83 goals in 111 appearances for his previous club and 18 in 28 for his national team, they'd go mental!
Now its time for Eduardo to step up and truly prove his worth.
I think he is outstanding and has the talent to do it. I'll never forget the goal he scored against Burnly in the FA Cup, nearly a year to the day after he broke his ankle. He used the same ankle to slice the ball (on purpose) in such a way that it improbably hit the top corner. I love poetic justice.
Sunderland away looms this weekend.
You broke your leg and now you're back And Darren Bent... is still crap. Eduardo Silva Arsenal's number 9. na na na na na na na na ........................
My world has been overtaken by an issue (read "incompetent fool") at work. This has coincided with a break from domestic football. So there haven't even been any decent matches to take my mind of it.
I promised myself I would never watch an England friendly again, after Sven took over and used them as an exercise in motonony and tedium. Nothing has really improved. I care when its competitive, because the players do - a bit. And I cannot wait for the World Cup. I love it, for the festival of football that it is. Regardless of whether England are there or not.
Until a few years ago, I really struggled to decide what I would prefer - England win the World Cup or Arsenal win the Champions League. Now there is absolutely no contest. Its the UCL every time. I'd love to see England win the biggest tournament in the World, but I still enjoy the tournament as much without them.
Not overly happy about New Zealand qualifying for it though. How can they be there when Ireland or France won't? They were beaten at home by Fiji! And I don't care that this "home" game was actually away, as my Kiwi mate tells me. It's still a disgrace and it devalues the tournament. Still if you want it to be a "world" cup, then its the price we pay.
Apart from the disruption to the domestic game, especially when Arsenal were in such a rich vein of form, I hate the fact that we always seem to pick a heap of injuries.
I am a little worried about Gibbs' niggle picked up with the U21s. My biggest concern is RVP. Just when he was beginning to change my mind about who was the best striker in the premier league (I've always gone for Torres) he gets injured again!! Lets hope the placenta-massage or whatever it is works because we need him back.
Nevertheless. If you told the Arsenal faithfull (and especially the not-so-faithful who are too quick to criticise) that we had just bought Croatia's star player, a Brazillian who scored something like 83 goals in 111 appearances for his previous club and 18 in 28 for his national team, they'd go mental!
Now its time for Eduardo to step up and truly prove his worth.
I think he is outstanding and has the talent to do it. I'll never forget the goal he scored against Burnly in the FA Cup, nearly a year to the day after he broke his ankle. He used the same ankle to slice the ball (on purpose) in such a way that it improbably hit the top corner. I love poetic justice.
Sunderland away looms this weekend.
You broke your leg and now you're back And Darren Bent... is still crap. Eduardo Silva Arsenal's number 9. na na na na na na na na ........................
Sunday 1 November 2009
Kids vs School boys
School boy errors led to all three goals yesterday. The first thing they teach you is 'play to the whistle' - to be fair Sagna seemed to forget this too for the third goal. However he remembered before any of the Spurs players. Giving him enough time to whip in a cross that somehow rebounded off both Gomez and the nearby defender to allow Van Persie a simple tap in.
A lack of concentration allowed a more clinical Arsenal to take the lead after some solid play by the visitors and I'd love to say the second goal was down to the genius of Fabregas but a significant proportion of blame must go to the Spurs team for switching off, being in shock and terrible tackling. Nevertheless it was pure joy watching Cesc slalem his way through their team from the centre circle and he showed maturity and composure in his finish.
Nevertheless in all three cases - it was the skill and class of the Arsenal players that made the goals. Van Persie reacted quickly like the fox in the box we always hoped to have. Cesc still had plenty to do once the Spurs midfield conspired to give him the ball so soon after the first goal. Harry was a poor sport in saying that "there wasn't a good goal amongst them" but I did enjoy him looking seriously pissed off in the post-match interview.
I loved the way the team shoved Robbie Keane's comments back down his throat. Better squad! Well lets start with the first team and there is no comparision. Factor in that Defoe, Lennon and Modric were missing and the inadequacies of the Tottenham squad were fully exposed.
I also loved the fact that Arsene got so frustrated with his team that he threw his jacket. The reason - he couldn't get them to hear him due to the noise in the stadium. The legend of the "Highbury library" is well and truly buried, especially if we can keep that kind of noisy support up every week. That he couldn't hear might also be down to Wenger being bunged up due to a cold, but I'd rather go with the reason being the vociferous home support.
Let's hope we can despatch AZ in the same way on Wednesday.
A lack of concentration allowed a more clinical Arsenal to take the lead after some solid play by the visitors and I'd love to say the second goal was down to the genius of Fabregas but a significant proportion of blame must go to the Spurs team for switching off, being in shock and terrible tackling. Nevertheless it was pure joy watching Cesc slalem his way through their team from the centre circle and he showed maturity and composure in his finish.
Nevertheless in all three cases - it was the skill and class of the Arsenal players that made the goals. Van Persie reacted quickly like the fox in the box we always hoped to have. Cesc still had plenty to do once the Spurs midfield conspired to give him the ball so soon after the first goal. Harry was a poor sport in saying that "there wasn't a good goal amongst them" but I did enjoy him looking seriously pissed off in the post-match interview.
I loved the way the team shoved Robbie Keane's comments back down his throat. Better squad! Well lets start with the first team and there is no comparision. Factor in that Defoe, Lennon and Modric were missing and the inadequacies of the Tottenham squad were fully exposed.
I also loved the fact that Arsene got so frustrated with his team that he threw his jacket. The reason - he couldn't get them to hear him due to the noise in the stadium. The legend of the "Highbury library" is well and truly buried, especially if we can keep that kind of noisy support up every week. That he couldn't hear might also be down to Wenger being bunged up due to a cold, but I'd rather go with the reason being the vociferous home support.
Let's hope we can despatch AZ in the same way on Wednesday.
Thursday 29 October 2009
Why ninety-eight?
You can change your wife you can even divorce your family but you'll never leave your club.
I am Arsenal through and through. So much so that if you cut me I'd bleed red and white, well red for sure.
Every day I read several Arsenal blogs, I check the official website throughout the day. I'm addicted, I need my fix. I love going to the ground to see the games but I need something to keep me going in-between. And when I'm not watching or reading about Arsenal, I daydream about them. They say men think about sex every 7 seconds - that's probably true, but I think its Arsenal for the other 6 in my case.
Why ninety-eight?
Well it's the block I sit in for starters - until they eventually get round to giving areas of the ground more human and historic names as part of the inspired Arsenalisation programme. It's also the year Arsenal won their second cup and league double, the first under this inspirational leadership of Arsene Wenger. I'm also 98% sure we are going to win the league but you do know 98% of statistics are made up.
If figured if I am going to spend so much time reading and thinking about Arsenal, then why not write a blog. It doesn't matter if no-one reads it, it's therapeutic in the same way that many people write a diary - and lets face it everyone writes a diary in the hope that someone else will read it and then publish it. So here I am, cutting out the middle man and publishing it myself.
Beliefs
I believe Arsene Wenger is a visionary leader. An inspiration and a footballing genius. He's revolutionised the club (and English football) and has built the foundations for Arsenal to be successful, to dominate consistently for years - and make a profit - oh and play the most attractive, skillful, pacey football on the planet.
I believe Dennis Bergkamp is the best player we've ever had but we've had (and have) some awesome players - who are obvious so I'm not starting that debate!
I also believe that we have an outstanding squad. I went to the Carling Cup game vs Liverpool last night and saw a glimpse of the not to distant future. Eastmond looked Gilbertoesque in his 'don't notice him but what a good job he's done' way. Ramsey is going to be one of the best British players of his generation. Gibbs will be England's and Arsenal's left back before long. I also think Senderos and Bentner have both had a bit of a raw deal from many fans and think both will deliver the goods. Wishere by all accounts will be a real world-beater and what I've seen of him so far suggests nothing else - but he wasn't there last night and where would you play him?
There are a few players I'm not sure about - Diaby still reminds me of a baby giraffe when he plays - but hey, look at how Song has come on!
Arsene is absolutely right about buying "big players" and how it can "kill" his up and coming youngsters. If you properly study the whole squad it is hard to disagree. But let's also not forget that he has bought a large proportion of that team - and the players he has bought recently who do have experience are looking unbelievable - Arshavin and Vermaelen are cases in point. Robbie Keane was in the papers today boasting of how Sp*rs have the better squad compared to us. Robbie you really need to look again, we've got one of the strongest squads we've had for years. Better than the 07-08 season where we came so close but capitulated at/after the infamous Birmingham game. Remember how close we came.
The future....
....of this blog is unknown. I'll keep writing it and see how it goes - I quite enjoyed it so far. I'll do it when I feel there is something interesting to say - Top marks to Arseblog who says something everday - so I know I'll get my regular fix.
....of the club. Well none of us know but I believe in Wenger's long term vision. I'm well and truly prepared for the frustrations and disappointments that we have in store - its the price we'll have to pay for investing in youth - and I will gripe and moan a little like we all do but if you want a bit of optimism too, you'll most likely find it here.
It's been a pleasure
'98
I am Arsenal through and through. So much so that if you cut me I'd bleed red and white, well red for sure.
Every day I read several Arsenal blogs, I check the official website throughout the day. I'm addicted, I need my fix. I love going to the ground to see the games but I need something to keep me going in-between. And when I'm not watching or reading about Arsenal, I daydream about them. They say men think about sex every 7 seconds - that's probably true, but I think its Arsenal for the other 6 in my case.
Why ninety-eight?
Well it's the block I sit in for starters - until they eventually get round to giving areas of the ground more human and historic names as part of the inspired Arsenalisation programme. It's also the year Arsenal won their second cup and league double, the first under this inspirational leadership of Arsene Wenger. I'm also 98% sure we are going to win the league but you do know 98% of statistics are made up.
If figured if I am going to spend so much time reading and thinking about Arsenal, then why not write a blog. It doesn't matter if no-one reads it, it's therapeutic in the same way that many people write a diary - and lets face it everyone writes a diary in the hope that someone else will read it and then publish it. So here I am, cutting out the middle man and publishing it myself.
Beliefs
I believe Arsene Wenger is a visionary leader. An inspiration and a footballing genius. He's revolutionised the club (and English football) and has built the foundations for Arsenal to be successful, to dominate consistently for years - and make a profit - oh and play the most attractive, skillful, pacey football on the planet.
I believe Dennis Bergkamp is the best player we've ever had but we've had (and have) some awesome players - who are obvious so I'm not starting that debate!
I also believe that we have an outstanding squad. I went to the Carling Cup game vs Liverpool last night and saw a glimpse of the not to distant future. Eastmond looked Gilbertoesque in his 'don't notice him but what a good job he's done' way. Ramsey is going to be one of the best British players of his generation. Gibbs will be England's and Arsenal's left back before long. I also think Senderos and Bentner have both had a bit of a raw deal from many fans and think both will deliver the goods. Wishere by all accounts will be a real world-beater and what I've seen of him so far suggests nothing else - but he wasn't there last night and where would you play him?
There are a few players I'm not sure about - Diaby still reminds me of a baby giraffe when he plays - but hey, look at how Song has come on!
Arsene is absolutely right about buying "big players" and how it can "kill" his up and coming youngsters. If you properly study the whole squad it is hard to disagree. But let's also not forget that he has bought a large proportion of that team - and the players he has bought recently who do have experience are looking unbelievable - Arshavin and Vermaelen are cases in point. Robbie Keane was in the papers today boasting of how Sp*rs have the better squad compared to us. Robbie you really need to look again, we've got one of the strongest squads we've had for years. Better than the 07-08 season where we came so close but capitulated at/after the infamous Birmingham game. Remember how close we came.
The future....
....of this blog is unknown. I'll keep writing it and see how it goes - I quite enjoyed it so far. I'll do it when I feel there is something interesting to say - Top marks to Arseblog who says something everday - so I know I'll get my regular fix.
....of the club. Well none of us know but I believe in Wenger's long term vision. I'm well and truly prepared for the frustrations and disappointments that we have in store - its the price we'll have to pay for investing in youth - and I will gripe and moan a little like we all do but if you want a bit of optimism too, you'll most likely find it here.
It's been a pleasure
'98
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