Happy Holidays from Arse505

Happy Holidays, Goonies

Big match tomorrow, eh? The last big test before the end of the year. Fortunately, Arsenal are at home but it won't be an easy go. An in-form Villa visits the Emirates with a collection of high-profile scalps, most impressive is the early goal at Old Trafford that they were successful in holding onto for the win. Worth mentioning is their win versus Chelsea, but as I have mentioned in an earlier blog (12/2/09) the score and the manner which those fuckers beat Arsenal is not representative of the actual quality of the teams. In four manic minutes, Arsenal dropped points. And since all of the teams are closer than ever...

Arsenal have now lost two matches versus top-4 teams, and with some luck for Arsenal on those 2 fixtures we could be sitting top of the table. Alas, it wasn't to be and we are within striking distance (again).

Today, both Spuds and Chavs helped us out by dropping 2 pts each so now it's up to the Arsenal to get three, at home, and take advantage of the other teams' misfortunes. With some hope IOU will also drop pts Away to Hull. And, if possible, I hope Jozy gets a run out and can do them in...Do it, Do it for America.

So, the Arsenal line-up is gonna be weaker than we would prefer but strong enough to get a result. Arshavin lining up against Dunne and Cuellar is actually a good match-up as I think Arshavin can get behind Cuellar. Arshavin is my Fantasy League captain, too. Also, Cuellar has been recently unsettled as rumors are flying about a possible move to Real Madrid. Perfect timing. And, of course, we may see Eduardo up front later in the match so let's pray that Arshavin works hard and wears down these two Center Backs.

The rest of the two teams match up quite well. I have my concerns about Milner, Young, and even Petrov. But I do think that Song can contain Petrov, and Denilson can get in on Ashley Young. And Downing? Who knows? He shoots so much but he never gets on target. I really hope that he doesn't show up tomorrow. For Arsenal, I'm hoping that Cesc is fit and that Diaby holds onto the ball...if these two can hook up with Arshavin we have a fighting chance of getting 3 pts; if they cannot I think the best we can hope for is a draw. Oh, and I think we'll have Traore back instead of Silvestre. Traore's pace will at least be able to match up with Agbonglahor and Young, which gives us a big boost holding a clean sheet.

I look at our bench and I don't see any impact players that could come in and affect the match. At best I think Ramsey could come in for a tired Denilson, Diaby or start for Cesc if he is not ready. Other than Ramsey, we can't possibly hope that Vela will do anything except go left; Wilshere will keep the bench nice and toasty; the rest of the mix mash is there just in case there is a pre-game illness and the starters fall ill and we need players to just be in the team.

So, at the end of the day, we have the same issues as before. No fit out-and-out center striker, an inconsistent midfielder in Diaby, and loads of midfielder players who may or may not shoot. I think if the team can get a goal early, and get Villa on the back foot chasing the match we can get another goal and seal a convincing victory. Now, if Villa score first and we cannot answer immediately I feel the best we can do is a draw. I never know what we are going to get because Almunia is so hot, so cold and gives me no confidence. So, for all of us let's hope he shows up and the back four do their job...

It's an early kick-off here in America so I'll have coffee in hand, but I feel if we start with some urgency we can get the 3 pts and put more pressure on the pack. If we cannot, it's another missed opportunity, but at Home, which is unacceptable.

Enjoy the match, and Up the Arsenal
ArsenaLOS

Arsenal vs Liverpool: I'll take a Draw

Happy Friday, and thank God we've made it to the weekend!

Well, one thing is for certain is that Arsenal will be playing an out-of-form Liverpool squad with a motley crew of our own. Admittedly, on paper it looks as if Arsenal is going to really suffer but with the news that both Capi and Traore will be fit we won't have to rely on untested youth. But to be fair, both Cruise and Bartley did a fairly good job versus a very hungry Olympiakos team so even if we find out that some of our "regular" back line is injured the two mentioned can slot in. And such a shame that Mr. Eboue Kablooie is out as it's these type of Northern, mudder affairs that fits him best - he can run around and around and around and pass to nobody and we'll still get a draw.

But first, and the only thing I can say about that mid-week Champions League match is that a lot of young players were exposed to a hostile environment, and the team got some good experience. I felt that both Merida and Ramsey had a solid go, but am most excited by Merida's progress. Merida has had less first-team opportunity and he looked on par with Ramsey. Right now both he and Ramsey are seeing diagonal runs well before they develop but are hesitating or making the pass a bit too late. Growing in confidence I can't help but think that we'll see their timing improve, and by season's end they will prove to be important first-team players. Of course, this is based on the assumption that our current run of injury continues...

And Jack? Well, he is Jack and he is 18-years-old. I worry about Jack because he is so short in stature and does not have much pace. For his size he likes to get stuck in on the tackle, which is nice to see but I still worry. I'll wait on any review of him as he is another who hasn't played much. Seems ages since we saw him do so well in pre-season, what, two years ago?

Theo's return was poor. Really poor. I think he has been protected long enough and really needs to step it up. Many will argue that his troubles come down to form, which I can't deny but i'm hoping that this isn't used as an excuse come Sunday. Technically, his first-touch, which is everything at this level was downright terrible. And let's be honest, Theo is never going to take on players and beat them with a slick pedalada, tornado-like spin, or nutmeg. Theo's threat is speed and right now that's all he has. I hope that we see something solid from him on Sunday; as in, keeping possession and improved decision making. Theo knows, and we know that if he continues his place in the England World Cup squad is in jeopardy so here's to hoping he's just experiencing some poor play at the moment.

Now, back to the Liverpool match. It's a must-win for all parties and it's any one's guess who will come out victors. I feel that the Arsenal simply have a better team than Liverpool and both Gerrard and Torres are out of sync at the moment. I think their lack of playing together is our greatest benefit. Of course, that Feivel-looking cunt Benayoun seems to pop up in these matches so he'll definitely need to be contained. Also, Maschereno is a complete nutter. I worry about any one of our delicate flowers out on the pitch and hope that if he gets stuck in on anyone that he sees the proper punishment. I feel like his time at Anfield is waning so who knows he may go out to injure and then fuck off to Real come January.

Apparently, the Arsenal is a one-man team and without RVP we are doomed! I say that a bit sarcastically but I've yet to see anyone step in and fill the void. If we rely on Vela and his left foot the best result we can hope for is a draw. Dudu will be a game-time decision but certainly he'll make the trip up North. Now, I wonder if we'll see some surprise inclusions like Sunu or Sanchez-Watt. I feel Sunu is the preferred hold-up player but likely won't get any time as he hasn't had any real first-team opportunities and I seriously doubt that chance will come at Anfield.

At the end of the day it will take a collective performance by the Arsenal. It certainly will help if Liverpool is out of sync and get out to a poor start, such as an early goal to the Arsenal. But like so many of these encounters I can't help but think that this has draw stamped all over it.

Worth mention is that I never know what kind of match Almunia is going to have, either. How much more of his inconsistent play can the team take? My angst is in his indecision and unwillingness, or fear to come out and challenge balls out of the air. Fabianski on the other hand runs out with reckless abandonment. It's night and day with these two and I'm not sure what method is good or bad anymore.

Anyway, I can't see where our goals are going to come from; I still don't get why our midfield doesn't shoot. Even a long range on-goal shot can cause deflections and tap-ins for any striker, something Donkeybayor made a living off of! If Ramsey gets some playing time we can be sure he'll at least look to shoot. Oh, and let's hope that Arshavin can repeat his four goal feat..or at least get one :D

Whatever the result may be the campaign is long and there will be many shock results from now till May. It's really close quarters and so many teams are suffering from injury that there will be points dropped and shared. All I want is for the Arsenal to work hard, act interested and if we win, so be it.

Keep it real, keep it Arsenal
ArsenaLOS

4 Minutes, Toast

Good evening, Gooners-who-don't-give-up-on-their-team-when-they-are-in-a-slump

I kid, I kid.

I wanted to say something about the Chelsea match but if you want a rundown of the in-game and post-match madness check out my twitter feed for 11/29. I'm not gonna concede on my stance - I'm sorry but Arsenal was not 'dominated' and it wasn't 'men versus boys' I've watched the match a few times now (glutton for punishment?) and it's clear that the goals scored come from very minor, but fatal mistakes.

First goal comes down to a great cross by Cashley, and even better finish from Drogba. Could it have been prevented? Yes. Exhibit A shows that "Capi" aka Gallas has a tendency to lose the man he needs to mark up on, and instead of having the man in front of him (while seeing the ball), or even within touching distance he roams freely. It almost looks like he is delegating marking responsibility to the rest of the team but does not mind his own advice. Exhibit A results in nothing but is a tell for Exhibit B. Note: None of the Arsenal players really look like they have their man in front of them, most look like the other Arsenal player is supposed to pick up the roaming man/men.

Clearly, Cashley makes separation from Sagna. When I first saw the play at game speed I had assumed that Sagna was well beaten but at the moment of the cross Sagna is right in there. Exhibit B shows that Gallas is caught out as he has lost Drogba. It's not surprising as it is very hard to see someone who is behind you :/ CBs sometimes get sucked out of the center to support a beaten Right or Left Back but in this instance all he had to do is stay with Drogba, keep him in front of him and then challenge upon delivery. Very simple error of positioning with a horrible consequence.

And, of course, the own goal is very much more of the same. Nasri was playing defense (surprise!) but his movement back and on the ball caused hesitation on Sagna's coverage of Mr. 10-men-went-to-bed w/ Ashley. Gallas lunges at a cross, misses and it hits Verminator just up near his cock and bam, down 0-2. It' so lucky that even Drogba is in awe of Chelsea's fortune. He actually is grabbing his head, not sure what to make of it all! Sick, isn't it? On a side note, have you noticed that when Gallas does go down to slide tackle he often uses the outside foot (nearest) instead of his instep? It's natural to go down with the strong leg leading (mostly right foot) most of the time but not for him. No wonder he is prone to deflections towards goal instead of away...

Moving right along I've heard the arguments that Arsenal lost cuz there isn't enough experience/maturity, we don't have a striker with RVP out, blah blah. Truth of the matter is that Arsenal maintained loads of possession and did fuck all with it. A 4-3-3 is not the ideal formation vs Chelsea as they boss the middle of the park with Essien/Mikel. I don't think any team in the league, maybe in the world can call on such metal. Perhaps if Wenger had deployed a 4-4-2 and given more width of play the two could have been split apart; space behind the CBs could have been exposes, too. Now, if Arsenal had wanted a draw it was there for the taking. Due to the attacking, take-it-at-'em style of play we have Chelsea absorbed pressure, let us pass, and then counter-attacked. Not surprising. Again, if Wenger wanted a draw he could have had the team pass the ball around the entire 90 as Chelsea had no intention of moving forward and attacking themselves. At the end of the day, if you live by the sword, you die by the sword. We went forward, they countered and with two unfortunate events that was the end of the match.

All it took was 4 minutes for Arsenal to be done, toasted. I can't help but think the 2 goals scored this past weekend were lucky and unfortunate. Worth mentioning is that a similar exploit occurred last term, Arsenal v IOU at Emirates, Champions League Semi-Final. In less than 4 minutes, Gibbs slipped and Cunaldo scored past an out-of-position Almunia. Down 0-2 at halftime with fans moaning and players giving up. I can't help but think that this letdown was on the minds of the team and a sort of PTSD response occurred. It's really hard to go down 2 goals but to go down in such a manner and so quickly is so disheartening, shocking. For those who experienced the letdown a year previous, fans included, it was really hard to get on with the second half and hold on to that sliver of hope for the comeback. We hurt as fans so those on the pitch likely felt the same emotion. On the weekend, many fans threw the team under the bus, many stated the campaign was over, some even wanted Wenger axed! All fair responses to such trauma. I often feel there is much more to these matches and results that meets the eye; I feel that the 2 goals before half and the remembrance of a similar occurrence could have broken the team's spirit and the second half was doomed before it started.

To wrap this up I feel the team is good. I feel the team, on it's day including some fortune is the best in the world. I may be blind, stubborn or just mad but I won't concede and say that Chelsea is the best in the league, and certainly not by the scoreline produced but they are definite title contenders. It will take some luck for Arsenal to get back into it but with 25 more matches to go it's 'up for grabs' and we can only worry about our football.

Some immediate and simple solution to much of our error can be some coaching on set piece and defensive positioning. It's not that hard to implement, and after a few training sessions and reinforcement the team should be able to deliver. I always enjoyed the 'point your guns' methodology, which included being able to put out one hand towards the ball and the opposite towards the man you are to mark. If you can see both and track both with your hands then you are in the right position. Easy, right? You can put down your hands now, I'm done.

Take care, and Up the Arsenal...everyday.

ArsenaLOS

No Hoof, No Dice

Good day, Gooners

Massive match tomorrow but I feel a certain calm before the storm. I know it's a huge match and Chelsea has quality players but I'm not convinced. Chelsea will have to stop hoofing the ball from the back line up to the strikers to ever get my respect.

On injuries, I know that Arsenal is missing in-form Robin Van Persie but there are other quality strikers at the club. It's hugely disappointing to lose RVP, and fresh news this morning states he is going to be out for five months, not weeks. What a shame. Other notable Arsenal injuries are Clichy and Diaby. When Clichy went down he was not in-form but his speed, intelligence, and experience is always missed in big matches. For all the criticism Diaby receives he is the type of player who could succeed in a match like this for his long legs can break up passing lanes and disrupt the Chelsea midfield diamond formation. Then again Diaby scored an own- goal in his last massive match. Fortunately, Denilson is back and if paired with Song he could fill the Diaby void, and apparently add the long distance shot, too.

For Chelsea, they are at full strength minus Bosingwa. Must be nice. The only absentee of worth is Frank Lampard, and as much as I think he is well overrated and awfully lucky he has been influential against the Gunners in the past. Even if he comes on late for 30 minutes it's a small compensation for the loss of RVP. I won't say much else on Frank as I think this guy is so unbelievably lucky and not worth any sort of analysis.

The only possible replacement for RVP is Eduardo and he had a poor showing versus Sunderland, which could be expected as his back was turned to receive the ball throughout the match, and he was always in danger of getting kicked. Tomorrow, if he can slide behind the Chelsea Center Backs and at the very least keep them guessing and spread apart then our midfield will have the space to create. Eduardo is the type of player who only needs a small bit of space and time to finish. Come tomorrow it's certain he'll have very little time and be put to the test.

If I was manager I don't think I would use Eduardo, or any other traditional striker till late in the match. I would put Nasri down the center with Arshavin and Walcott on the wings. I would prefer for the three of them to roam freely, creating space with short and long diagonal runs. There's no doubt in my mind that Cesc could feed these runs with great success. I feel the disruption of players criss-crossing would wreak havoc on the Chelsea back line. After much confusion and tired legs, Eduardo could be deployed for any of the three attackers and the defense could be exploited. It will be interesting to see which attackers stay on the bench, and are used late. If I had to bet, we might see Walcott benched to start due to his fitness levels.

Now at the end of the day, I feel Arsenal can win this match with their speed and counter-attack. I can't see Cashley or He-Man drifting up the park too often if Wenger deploys Walcott and Arshavin. Omit Walcott and add Rosicky or Nasri and the flanking speed is something we have not had in recent years and is an immediate concern for Chelsea. Therefore, I feel the Left and Right Back will have to stay back and keep them in check; if they do go up they have to come back just as quickly, which by the end of the match both will be exhausted. A late Arsenal sub (Rosicky or Walcott?) could be used to take advantage of those tired legs.

Arsenal need to prevent Chelsea scoring opportunities and the only way to stop Drogba and Anelka is to stop them at the source of distribution. A bossing performance from Song and/or Denilson will be needed to hinder the distribution up to their striking pair. For the most part I am confident that our midfield can pressure Essien, Ballack and Deco into errant passes so I feel the work will need to be done farther up the pitch. The attacking trio, whomever they may be will need to work hard and pressure the Chelsea back line to provide poor long balls. Even the slightest amount of pressure could be enough to put the ball too far forward or behind the strikers, and that could be the difference needed to contain the Chelsea strike force. Worth mentioning, Chelsea have conceded 7 Away goals to their 1 Home goal concession while Arsenal have scored 20 goals at Home and conceded a respectful 4. Arsenal is good at scoring at the Emirates while Chelsea is not immune to the Away goal. Goals will come down to taking any chance provided.

I think we'll see a back-and-forth match-up, as in, Arsenal controlling much of the match with slick passing and possession while Chelsea deploys 'hoof and hope' tactics. Occasional loss of possession will result in Chelsea trying to feed the two strikers via hoof. I feel that both Vermaelen and Gallas, if fit, can contain the striking duo until midfielders can track back on defense. Vermaelen is no slouch and will definitely get stuck-in on Drogba. And I hope that the ref isn't easily deceived by this cheater's dives and flops. I don't want to write it but who doesn't get a bit uneasy thinking this guy is going to win a penalty? I'll remain optimisitc so due to Drogba containment, opportunities to goal will likely come from the midfield as the two strikers will look to lay off the ball; now, if Chelsea is successful, Arsenal will concede but if players are up to playing both sides of the ball I think Arsenal could get the clean sheet. It's gonna take a high-effort performance by all to protect the goals against. In contrast, errant lay off passes to Arsenal players would release the Gunners on the counter-attack, which I feel is a manner of play Chelsea cannot engage in for 90 minutes. Chelsea simply don't have the legs to run back and forth. It's likely that Ancelloti will play defensive and hope for an Arsenal error to get the go-ahead goal. I don't feel he has the balls to play Arsenal straight up and will continue to hoof the ball long, hold, and then distribute backwards to forward. I think the errant layoff passes due to high pressure is where the match will be won for the Arsenal.

I think the Arsenal will win. I think the Arsenal will win convincingly, say, 2-nil and the defense will put together a strong clean sheet performance. Arsenal have more than enough attacking quality to get goals, and even though the team's defense looks less than full-strength I feel Wenger will deploy a strong enough batch of players to contain the striking threat. It's gonna take a strong, collective team effort to get a win but I feel the team, at Home, can rise to the occasion and take the derby and close the gap at the top.

ArsenaLOS

RVP Loss, Another Man's Gain

Good evening, Gooners

I thought I would address the fear of a potential long-term loss of Robin Van Persie. This term RVP has played in 11 Premiership matches and contributed a hardy 7 goals, but also 7 assists. 21 points in 11 games is fantastic form; of course, this contribution will be missed for 4-6 weeks ...but with loss of fitness and such I bet it is more likely to be 8 weeks.

The most likely player to fill RVP's boots is Eduardo. I would have thought before this season that the 4-3-3 would be best served by a tall, holding center striker but RVP doesn't have that body type and it has worked out well. Originally, I thought Bendtner would be the center, holding striker for the 4-3-3 but he hasn't been used in the area, not even once. Unfortunately, we won't see B52 in the middle due to injury so, Hello, Eduardo!

Eduardo is the classic 'fox in the box', often getting behind defenders, making diagonal runs; poaching deflected shots for goals. Eduardo hasn't been able to get too many matches in the side thus far but in 8 Premiership matches he has 1 goal and 2 assists. Not really a bad return for only starting 3 matches.

Eduardo looks small but only gives up 2" to RVP as well as 6lbs. To me both physical stats are minor since RVP has not regularly been receiving balls in the air, nor holding large defenders at bay. It's hard to tell which striker is out-and-out faster but if I had to bet I would say Eduardo is quicker over short distance but maybe not as fast as RVP over a longer sprint. Again, for the way the center striker has been used in the Arsenal 4-3-3 I think this comparison is minor.

Both strikers are very good at distributing the ball to others who have a better opportunity to score, and both could battle for the honor of club's best finisher. Lastly, both strikers are 26-years-old with similar big stage experience. Eduardo will slot in one-for-one for RVP.

At the end of the day, Eduardo has been behind in the pecking order due to injury and RVP's form. And now Eduardo will get his opportunity to show his quality. I am confident that RVP's injury may prove more of a blessing in disguise than anything. Eduardo will get a string of matches he may not have got if RVP was fit, and RVP will come back into the side by late January's matches versus Villa Away; IOU at Home; February's Away match to Chelsea. Now, if RVP comes back into the side before those crucial ties it will be welcome but, at worst, he'll be available for selection by then.

Fortunately, team sport championships are not won nor lost by individuals. Teams with depth can respond to the loss of a teammate due to injury. Personally, I feel this Arsenal squad has enough to maintain a challenge till the end of the season, even if Arsene doesn't buy in January. If Eduardo fails to pick up the form that RVP had then there are options like Vela, and fit-again B52 who could be used as center strikers. If necessary, and likely for distribution purposes, both Nasri and Diaby could be used to hold the ball and pass to the wing-strikers.

I'm not going to worry about the loss of RVP but look forward to seeing other players take their shot and show their quality. Arsenal have so many attacking options that I will remain optimistic and place my hope in RVP's speedy recovery.

ArsenaLOS

Champions Win Ugly

Good evening, Gooner Nation

So, come tomorrow morning we've got Arsenal traveling to newly promoted Wolves. In New Mexico, we call the wolf by its spanish name "Lobo". Most Lobos roam harmlessly around the local communities, only ravaging weaker prey. If you haven't seen the clip already, a University of New Mexico Lady Lobo recently thugged her way into the nation's headlines for her brutal "play", and has subsequently been dismissed from the team. I'm sorry but I can't help but laugh when I watch the plays over and over and over. In fairness, I bet one bird got mad at the other bird and it just escalated throughout the match and since the officiating is poor everywhere it just went on and on and now we have headlines. It's really a shame to see this girl get away with at least six questionable fouls and stay on the pitch. But, hey, that's part of the sport...isn't it?

My reason for bringing up this story is that sometimes players lose their mind and take matters into their own hands. If the ref does nothing to combat the behavior then someone gets hurt. How many time have we seen the lesser teams in the Premiership tackle our Arsenal players late, or not even play the ball at all? Blackburn as well as Bolton come to mind. But on more than one occasion I have seen top 4 teams do the same e.g. Fletcher murdering Arshavin in the penalty box without a foul being called. Usually, teams that aren't particularly skilled take out their frustration on the players who are, well, better both technically and tactically. Call it cheating, call it unfair but if the ref doesn't curtail the behavior it's part of the game.

Now, moving to tomorrow's match-up I worry about traveling to these lessers teams' home grounds. Anxious, rabid fans can exacerbate the behaviors of the less-quality players on the pitch and if the ref does not control the players than rash tackles can go unpunished and injuries occur. I worry because the matches to these weaker teams are often harder to win because no team has any fluid possession. For example, Cesc may be dribbling down the pitch ready to release Arshavin to his left, to be clobbered and receive a direct kick. The play stops. The flow ceases. Upon restart, Cesc chips a lovely ball to RVP who, anticipating a rash challenge, fluffs his shot harmlessly over the goal. Then the goalkeeper hoofs the ball all the way down the field to Arsenal's backline for the play to start again. Repeat. These matches are terribly frustrating because even if the ref protects the players from harsh, dirty tackles the fluidity of the match is killed. Basically, damned if Arsenal gets protection, and damned if they don't.

It will be really important for Arsenal to score early and convincingly and take the fans out of the match. Eventually, Wolves supporters will go quiet but they will not if the match progresses and their team gives them hope. Truthfully, it won't be the Lobos de UK who give them hope but Arsenal if the match isn't put to bed early.

In matches away to the Mudders it is assumed that tackles will fly, and refs will be poor. I gave up on thinking it would be any different years back. I hope that Arsenal responds not with timid whimpers and concession to the hard, physical play but with equaled steel and crunch. I want to see the Arsenal backline hold strong and send a message to the other side that if they venture into the Arsenal defensive third they are subject to just as much physicality as on their side of the pitch. In years past pundits and skeptics alike have called Arsenal's middle soft, and our willingness to get stuck in passive and absent. Tomorrow is a good opportunity to send a message to the league that one, Arsenal can kill teams off early and away on any Mudders' ground; two, Arsenal will beat these teams at their own physical game if there is refusal to play properly.

ArsenaLOS

Arsenal-Spuds Derby: The One That Counts

Good day,

Got quite the tasty treat of a derby tomorrow! I am excited as I think the Arsenal are in prime position to send a message to the league and our closest competitors. Fortunately, and after some lackluster displays and equally frustrating results the Arsenal is at home playing against a seemingly wounded and injury-laden opponent.

I would feel much more comfortable if Rosicky and Walcott were available. Either from the start or late in the match either can turn a match on its head. I've always felt that Spuds were slow moving so not having TW14 is a bit of a let down. But as we all know and I'm happy to report, Nasri is back from his broken leg and could be used late in the match to much of the same affect.

Tottenham is without Modric, Lennon, and Defoe. Three potent attacking players are out so, in comparison, I won't complain too much. I had asked via Twitter if there is any player for Spurs that could create in an instant, or take the game by storm and get a goal. Of the available, Keane is the only player I can think of that, if given time, can finish consistently. I do have some concerns with Crouch's height but his effectiveness is dependent on the service. I am not sure if Bentley will find himself in the squad since Lennon is out but this combination could pose a problem. Unlike last season's home 4-4 draw we have a new CB TV5 who can challenge the crosses far more effective than Toure. If pressured, either by Diaby, Song or Eboue Crouch's influence can be neutralized.

The late draw at home left a bitter taste in my mouth because the goals conceded came from some ridiculous fortune. I feel that if Diaby and Song can boss the midfield, and really pressure the Spuds' midfield the goals scored then will not be scored tomorrow. I think Arsenal have enough steel in the middle with Song, and enough cutting down of space with Diaby's long legs to really cut the distribution up front.

I am confident that Arsene Wenger will exploit the fragility of the Spuds back line. I am fairly certain that Woodgate will start, since Redknapp has no others to choose from. An out-of-form CB is a striker's feast! I hope to see RVP line up with Arshavin, and Eduardo get the start. I think Bendtner would be best used coming on late in the match when legs have been tired, and he could get some service from a subbed-in Nasri. In contrast, Bendtner could start to muscle the back and then Dudu could come on late to take advantage of the battered Spuds. Either option is very potent and dangerous, and as I write this I realize that for once in some great time we have some very different options.

In closing, tomorrow's contest is a derby and anything can happen. Fortunately, Tottenham is missing three very influential players and Arsenal really should exploit their misfortune. I feel there will be enough quality in the squad for the Arsenal to get 3 pts and the goals could come from any place. My hope is that Song is involved in either another quality assist to RVP, or he battles through and gets a goal himself. Sometimes I just get the feeling that a player is due, and I feel tomorrow could be his day. The distribution up to our attacking trio will be crucial to the goals scored so if Cesc and Diaby can get passes off and completed I feel the three will take care of the rest. I'm not a betting man but I feel there is enough, and the time is right for the Arsenal to put in a complete performance. Goal early to Arshavin; Song mid-to-late 1st half, or early 2nd; RVP to kill it off with his chocolate leg, 3-nil to the Arsenal.

ArsenaLOS

Post-match Rant: AFC v West Ham

Hi,

I thought I'd capture the stress/emotion of losing 2 pts so quietly and easily to bottom dwelling, West Ham. Up 2-nil and instead of bringing 3 pts back to the Emirates the Arsenal bagged one. This is unacceptable; more importantly this is not the result Champions get on the road in derby matches. So what the hell happened?

I think we witnessed the dropping of Mannone. Almunia has plenty of gaffs but Vito's great save but failed parry away from the goal and instead to the center for a Hammers' tap-in gets him dropped. This is very basic stuff. Push the ball wide if you can't catch it. The penalty conceded by Song was soft as a baby's blanket and Mannone can't really be faulted for that concession. It's a shame but I think Almunia is back in the fold.

Long periods of possession yielded nothing. This isn't anything new to the fans of the Arsenal. We are treated to mass possession most weeks, and it has become expected that we'll get one or two goals. Today, Arsenal got two goals and called it a day. Instead of pushing for a third, many of our movements were too horizontal without any imagination. Rosicky missing today's match was evident as so many footballs went through Song, Eboue and Diaby instead of our talisman and captain, Fabregas. I feel a major reason why the third goal never game is because Cesc went long periods without the ball and others took over his distribution duty at a fraction of his quality.

Eboue was everywhere he wasn't supposed to be. I think the boy needs specific training on staying in his position, or at the very least on his side of the pitch. Many will say he has freedom to roam, which is fine if you are Messi but he understands space and has the quality to not clog up space for others. Eboue clogged up Arshavin's dribbling and passing lanes so much it is no surprise that he was unable to feed Robin up front. Eboue drifted into Song and Diaby's space just as well and often got in the way, filling open space with his black hole touch and indecision. There was immediate improvement on the left wing as Bendtner came in to give Eboue some respite; in short, B52 stayed on the left wing, staying wide and opening the center up so Cesc, Song and Diaby could move forward and distribute.

Many will slate Diaby but he wasn't bad today. Diaby does very well in possession and can spot a pass at times but where he falters is in his effort. Late in the match while Arsenal were up 2-1 I could see Diaby lightly jogging back from his central position. For those of you who play in the central mid position you know that jogging back slowly is unacceptable. It's no wonder that Song poked at the ball and slightly touched Cole for the penalty when his legs were tired of covering for Diaby. For all of his quality Diaby's work rate and effort is so poor that he is a liability. I am happy that Nasri will be challenging him for that starting XI role, and may the best player win.

At the end of the day, the team work rate effort was poor after being up 2-nil. I feel that if the team collectively picked it up a gear by pressuring every West Ham player, defending hard and forcing errant dribbles and passes than Arsenal would have got a result. This comes down to individual players wanting to work hard for 90 minutes. The only thing I can think is that Wenger needs to think about what players are up for it, from start to finish with enough quality to get wins not draws. I think, as a fan, I just want to see players bleed Arsenal red and leave the pitch completely exhausted. If the result is unfavorable at least I know they tried and died on the pitch. It's not much to ask for.

Arsene has a lot to think about. It must have been hard for him to select Mannone over a fit Almunia but moving forward Mannone's inexperienced error will make selecting Almunia an easy task. With Nasri likely starting this week versus Liverpool and Diaby back to his old lazy self it seems the obvious choice to select Samir again once match fit. So with tough decisions made and 2 pts thrown away it's onward and upward. Not use in dwelling on today's result, so here's to hoping the lads learn that the match is played for 90 minutes and the work rate must be at its highest at all times.

ArsenaLOS

End of Days For Some, Not Arsenal

Good morning, fans of your Arsenal FC

To preface this blog I am currently watch an interesting documentary about God vs. Satan on the History Channel. You know, good vs. evil. In times of despair, I find great comfort in having the Arsenal matches on the weekend with some sprinkled mid-week throughout the year. Maybe you're unemployed and had a terrible week of trying to find work; maybe you are working but had to work a double; maybe that child of yours won't let you sleep! In any case, if you can get away for 90 min a little, terrestrial delight of Arsenal football can make the day a little bit more bearable. I feel blessed that those of us who are Arsenal supporters have been gifted with the cognitive awareness to support such a grand club who play the game we cherish and love. The club is good, and so are its supporters.

This week the Arsenal had their annual general meeting, and on the day Arsene turned 60! Quite the feat to have had his last 13 years at Arsenal but also for him to ride out his "younger" years without much negative affect. Nothing major was reported but I found the following Wenger quote to be quite interesting:

“We are in the middle today of two different ways to see the development of the game,” he explained.

“One is people with unlimited resources who do not care about balancing the budget and one, an attempt from the European Union to regulate that, control it, and get that out of the game.

“I believe that will happen and fortunately we are on line with the modern development of the European game and that is why I believe to keep a club strong is essential.”

So for some of today's big spenders, and based off of Wenger's words, we may see the end of the billionaire takeover sooner than expected. The world has changed since the economic collapse affected most nations across the globe, reaching from America to Asia and back again. It should be obvious and expected that such major change would also affect football. Heavily indebted clubs will need to address and balance their budget and while they attempt to do this slowly, over the course of several years, Arsenal will already be ahead of the curve due to Wenger's foresight.

Eventually, and sooner than they'd like, Chelsea will need to get new players. New, younger players will cost money and if the EU cranks down on the debt as hypothesized they will have no choice but to rely on their youth system feeding their 1st team. Abramovich won't have the power to just buy whomever he wants without first addressing the club's massive debt. Now, I know he could just wave his fairy's wand and debt-be-gone but he is a businessman and won't do that in one fell swoop. If he does he may look to sell as he'll have far too much going out (to debt, including operations, salaries, etc.) than coming in...it's sad times over at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea is really going to be in trouble soon, very soon.

One need not look too far to see other indebted (nearly wrote massive but City is nothing) clubs operating well beyond their means, and similarly taken over at huge costs to the club (IOU, City, LFC) Most of the big spenders are top 4 contenders who have spent and spent and spent without addressing their debt. Shame on the FA for promoting the Premiership as the world's greatest league at the expensive of its core. Anyway, amusingly, Scouse Nation, Spuds, and Chavs have all failed to gain the loans necessary to increase their ticket income via a new stadium. How else are they going to get the money fast and consistently? Sponsorships? Trophy money? Sponsors do pay a lot so we may see some of these clubs peppered with ads on their kits in the future as la Mexican League. But in reality, it's not enough. And as much as the cash prize is for winning trophies it's not enough to even dent some of the massive debts they've taken on. So maybe their youth can compete at the top level? Right, what youth? When was the last time you heard of any up and coming player coming out of these camps in the ilk of Wilshere, and Gibbs? I remember that Macheda kid who scored for IOU; Kakuta, Chelsea's lame and squandered attempt at getting youth. I can't think of any youthful LFC or City players...but I'm sure they have some but aren't quite Premiership quality. These indebted clubs don't have a way out of their predicament except the slow and painful paying back of their debt at the expensive of their leagues position. Again, if AW is right, and come on, who is going to argue with the professor, we could see Arsenal in prime position to reap the rewards of sustainability, both financially and in sport.

It is my belief that it is the End of Days for many but not for the Arsenal. We are witnessing the battle of Good vs. Evil - sustainability vs. excessive, irresponsible spending. In due time, those who have been able to spend willy nilly will be judged and will have to pay back their debts. Albeit slow or fast it will need to be done and that will in turn impact the club's ability to scout and attain top-quality talent. As for the Arsenal, AW will continue to get young, top talent and ween them through the club nurturing their potential to yield the fruition of silverware. It's worth mentioning that these young, malleable minds are likely naive and happy to be playing football...and getting paid for it. I don't believe the English 50% tax affects their psyche quite like it does an older footballer, which is a huge advantage to the Arsenal as we see so many young players at 19,20, 21 playing first-team football. As it is assumed, players peak around 28 and by then these players will have been playing top football for AFC for nearly 8 years, and it can be argued that it is fair to let them leave after this much time and commitment. In addition, Arsenal can still turn a profit on these sales. Now, losing players such as Hleb and Flamini, which really hurt us in season's passed, can be seen as examples to the youth that it is fatal to your career to leave the Emirates before you've matured fully under Arsene Wenger. A warning sign that a career's end can be nearer than you think; realize that what you have is good and choose honor over greed.

But for now, we live in the present and the war wages on. I believe Arsenal is approaching the pinnacle of its existence while its closest rivals are on a fatal decline. It's only a matter of time before the pendulum swings in AFC's favor and Elysium be ours. Keep the faith, be patient because soon the Champions return!

ArsenaLOS

Advantage Gibbs

Good evening, you googly Goons

I'm gonna get right to it, Clichy is out with a knock and Gibbs is starting tomorrow/today. Even though Clichy has been a main stay in the squad I am not too concerned about his absence. Last season Clichy went out at one of the most inopportune moments of the season, and he was replaced with Gibbs who had the gaff of all gaffs, slipping versus IOU and dooming the Arsenal to yet another trophy-less season. Was it his fault? Not really...I think we all felt bad for him instead of mad at him. We all make mistakes. Fortunately, Gibbs was able to get a good run of matches, gain match confidence as well as important experience. Tomorrow we'll see what he learned.

In many ways I feel more comfortable with Gibbs. I like that he is a midfield convert; in particular a central midfielder. Gibbs often gets deployed in the midfield for the Reserves but plays through the middle for the U21 England team. Clichy, on the other hand and as far as I know, has always been a left back. Clichy is a fantastic defensive presence but let's be honest here...even before his back injury last season he could have been directly responsible for many of our leaked goals eg going too far forward in an attempt to intercept a pass to the wing, only to be caught out on the counter. Clichy is a left back; only a left back.

In contrast, Gibbs is green to attempt these intercepts. It probably has to do with him knowing that a mistake for the 1sts can be fatal to his career; he already has his one major blemish vs IOU so he likely won't be as cavalier as Clichy in the tackle. I don't think Gibbs will lunge to tackle the ball unless he knows that he will get the ball cleanly and without mistake. Now, moving forward Gibbs is far better than Clichy. Utilizing his experience as a midfielder he is far better at crossing and seeking out those little spots that advance him forward in the attacking play eg supporting Nasri, then distributing through Cesc (last season) Clichy simply lacks this intuition, this vision to find those spots that some midfielders are just able to see. Clichy's crosses are often so poor that both @ArsenaLIND and I look at each other with awe and disgust. The same can be said for Sagna's service, and our rolling of our eyes when Eboue is right back and he places lovely crosses to our strikers. Love them or hate them but our starting left and right backs are world class but lying in their wake are two great defenders who are a bit better moving forward, crossing the ball to our attacking partners. It's really great that Arsene has these different options of play/style, and the competition for a starting XI place can't hurt, either.

In the end, I'm happy and anxious to see Gibbs get a go tomorrow. I think he will do really well, and I hope he is involved in an assist, or even a goal. At the end of the match we will all be able to express our opinion on whether or not he has done enough to keep his place. If i had to bet, and with talk from Arsene supporting Gibbs' development I would not be surprised if Gibbs and Clichy are rotated regularly from here on out. Competition is healthy and may the best left back win. Advantage Gibbs.

ArsenaLOS

Is that TH14? International Break-down

Good day, everyone

Well, we're amidst the international break so it goes without saying that we'll be reading plenty of nonsensical articles regarding Arsenal players. Cesc to Barca? Yeah, that's the one. I am not sure how many times he needs to come out to the official site and to the news outlets about his commitment to the Arsenal. The only thing that matters is our captain does address these rumors immediately and puts them to bed. Fret not, he has it under control.

To mark Arsene's 13 year anniversary many of us saw former Arsenal great Thierry Henry at the home match vs Blackburn. As always, it is nice to see a former player pay homage to AW's achievements but I am well over TH14. TH14 did many great things for the club and I respect his efforts but I find it unacceptable that he committed his future to the Arsenal and then fucked off to Barcelona. Now, many rumors followed about his quick change of mind ranging from his home life troubles with his wife and him needing to get away from the country. I get that. Maybe it was a matter of him being in a terrible position and needing to get away from London and his imminent divorce drama but if that is the case he should have never talked up his love for the Arsenal and then bounced directly. To me, TH14 is now just a fan like myself, no more, no less and he should be treated as such.

Another interesting and amusing story emerged that young Theo Walcott got another jersey signed by his childhood hero, TH14. What a cute story. For some people it is nice to see that TW14 is a fan of greats like TH14 just like the rest of us but from a public relations point-of-view I don't think the story helped the Arsenal distance itself from its kids and young image. I believe that fans are tired of the Arsenal's association with kids who are repeatedly reported to be immature and not ready to mount a serious title challenge. Highlighting the fact that the team is young and players still look up to other professionals does not bode well when, at this level and regardless of age, Arsenal could be playing Barcelona at some point this season. AW has stated that this is the year that the kids must come of age, produce results, and win silverware. Publishing stories that continue to display the Arsenal as a team of youngsters amongst men must stop. It's a professional sport and, personally, I would like for these stories to be omitted for the sake of distancing our image of boys vs men.

Moving forward Arsenal got a sound result vs a stingy Blackburn. Two very odd goals were scored against the Arsenal but the opposition never threatened with any seriousness. The most important thing to take from the match is that when down the team responded and never lacked the belief that they would get the result.

The weekend before the international break presented the Arsenal with three points but we also picked up 2 points on Spurs, IOU, City, and Villa. Unfortunately, Chavs got 3 out of their tie with LFC but i am still not too worried about their win, at home. Note: Chelsea is going to be put to the test come January as many of their players will be called up for Africa Cup of Nations. Ridiculously overrated players like Kalou and Obi Mikel won't be as missed as consistent goal scorer Drogba and the Bison, Essien. In addition, the age of the squad will also be tested. Many of the players are at or just beyond their peak and they'll be half way through the season...without a transfer window to dip into! I anticipate them tailing off from a serious challenge come mid-February due to fatigue and injuries.

As for the Arsenal, I feel we are in line for a good challenge because we were able to offload two of our Africans to a rival, City. Now, last year's lack of depth is City's problem! Losing two crucial pieces of the spine of a team is going to be an issue for a congealing squad so like Chelsea I feel we'll see City fade around the same time. Now, Arsenal will sorely miss the emergence of Song but with Nasri's return and rumored ability to play as a holding mid we should do okay. In addition, Ramsey has grown in confidence and could get a good run of matches. Also, Denilson will be back in the fold by January, and Diaby could be put into the center a la PV4-style. Last, and with some luck, Eboue will stay in Africa.

I feel that IOU is going to struggle unless they get some creativity in the middle of the park. Carrick, Fletcher, Scholes, and Anderson are like the same player with different birth dates. Maybe Lady Alex is slipping a bit because none of those players are going to slide a slick, timed ball up into that lazy cunt, Berbatov, or Shrek Nasty with any sort of consistency. The only creative player is an aging Giggs, and he won't be able to sustain another year long, arduous run as a starting XI player. Valencia has proved to be one-footed and poo-Nani does too much dancing to be taken serious, except as a wonderful impersonator of early 80s Michael jackson. As we have seen thus far IOU is struggling with creativity and nicking that late goal. Ronaldo is missed and will prove to be far harder to replace than hypothesized.

And Liverpool. Jeez. Rafa's mix mash of a squad has now lost three matches and been relying far too much on Torres. If Torres goes down for any two week spell of injury, they are done. Where are the goals going to come from? Gerrard's influence going forward has been next to nil, and they are only getting the odd goal from Kuyt and Benayoun. Rafa's bench is shocking as Ngog, Babel and Dossena have proven to be one-hit wonders. I can't see anyone replacing Torres' goals but if he stays fit, and in-form they'll hover in the Top 4.

So, in reflection this international break, I feel that the Arsenal are right where they need to be to sustain a title fight. There is depth in every position and each player who gets a shot has delivered brilliantly. The pundits continue to berate our back line but the concession of goals can be attributed to our attacking style - our left and right backs move forward with the play in a 4-3-3 and sometimes are caught out on the break. More importantly is that for the goals we have conceded they have mostly been due to some unfortunate luck eg Diaby's own-goal header but for the rest we have responded and fought for a result eg vs S Liege, Blackburn. At the end of the day, the team that scores the most goals win and there doesn't appear to be any shortage of goals as they are flowing from the back, middle and front. I am optimistic that this team has the ingredients to be champions, and the right manager to deliver.

ArsenaLOS

Good to be a Gooner

Good day, Gooners

Well, @ArsenaLIND and I have returned from UK and whilst we were gone the Arsenal won 3 matches, and we were able to see the match versus Wigan and WBA LIVE. All in all a good bag of Ws for us and the Arsenal. Basically, our love of the Arsenal pushed the lads to their potential and they delivered. Wink.

We were fortunate to have really good tickets for both matches at the Emirates. For the match versus Wigan we had upper tier tickets, which gave me an opportunity to watch the match from TV view. I prefer this view to being right up close to the pitch for the reason of being able to visualize tactical movements and formation. @ArenaLIND doesn't seem to mind one way or another but i think she prefers pitch-side as to see the squad in the flesh. Must be a bird thing.

Unfortunately, the upper tier is very expensive and with expense comes yuppies and WAGs. Many of the "fans" came in late, and not fashionably late but flat out it's-nearly-half-time late. Sad. Both of us felt sick because for those of us across the pond who have to travel nearly 14 hours just to London...it's not worth missing even a minute of play! I guess if you live in North London and have access to the Arsenal whenever you want you can afford to come in and out without affect. I get that...but for me, I'm a die hard fan and I guarantee if I lived in the area I wouldn't miss a minute if I paid for it.

Worth noting is the complete and utter silence in the same tier. I think we spent the majority of the match sitting in our cushy, soft seats with an occasional song sung our way from the Red Army's area. And, of course, there was some random American businessman who sat in front of us who left just into halftime to head to his other match across town, West Ham v Liverpool. Must be nice to have money and not have an allegiance to a particular side. Overall, the return to the Emirates was very nice and we got a sound 4-nil result with the "Verminator" as @ArsenaLIND calls him scoring two, Eboue Kablooie nicking one from Dudu's tally, and our capitan Cesc getting the last. Enjoy the after match photos of our walk about of the internal "Arsenalization" of the Emirates. It reminded us a lot of the Arsenal museum's murals but it certainly is an improvement from the gray, concrete walling.


Now, the second match we saw was the Carling Cup clash v West Brom and admittedly I was more excited to see this match than the Senior team. There's just something about watching free wheeling football, and "kids" playing without a care in the world. Again, we had excellent tickets for this outing, too. Note: we come across these tickets not because we are lucky or have contacts overseas...we do so by waking up at 2:40am on ticket sale day, logging into the Ticket Hub and scouring the tickets right as they go on sale. If you only go maybe once a year...it has to be done!

Again, the match was a convincing display of our future players; we were able to witness Sanchez Watt's first Senior goal. Oh, and my favorite player Vela also scored. It wasn't much of a goal but it still counts.

On Jack, I feel that Wilshere is still quite away from first team regularity as he too often hurries his passes and also tries to force the pass to catch up to players runs that have already gone awry. Eventually, he'll learn to retain possession and let those failed players' runs go. Also, strong in the tackle but short in stature he lacks the physical power to win the ball back after he loses it. JW19 isn't like Cesc...he doesn't let the ball go without a fight. As long as he continues to chase down the lost balls like he is a holding mid he'll continue to get shrugged off the ball. Fret not: with time and maturity he'll come around but I don't feel he'll see much time this season.

It was also a pleasant surprise to see Senderos back in the team. Not the best CB in the world but truly a Gooner. I don't think any fan would question his commitment to the Arsenal but I think we all understand that in a World Cup year he needs playing time and if he can't unseat TV5 or WG10 he may need to move on. I wish him the best either way.

So, 2-nil in our final leg of our trip and we headed back to New Mexico with pleasant results. It was a good run even though it went too fast! If you haven't been to the Emirates yet I hope you get there sooner rather than later. At least while the crowd still sings.

ArsenaLOS

Ade: I feel bad for you, I do

Good afternoon, Gooners

I'll make this quick and to the point. To be fair, I felt the match could have been won by either team. It was the type of match that any team who took advantage of their sparse attempts would get the result. As usual, the Arsenal had loads of possession but if time with the ball doesn't yield goals it doesn't matter. For long periods of possession we didn't register a knifing run or any diagonal movement suggesting even an attempt on goal. The Arsenal really are missing both Theo and Arshavin but offensive players like Diaby ought to spend less time dancing with the ball laterally and move forward. I also feel that Bendtner and RVP should switch roles as B52 can win more balls in the air and physically in a central role than delicate RVP. As much as B52 has improved on the wing he is simply not built for that role.

Worth mention is that this match comes after Internationals. What we didn't experience was mass injuries but in replacement it appeared as if the entire squad was lethargic, lazy and very Ade-like. Most teams struggle after these breaks due to the lack of training and team socialization that is needed to put in a coherent performance. Psychologically, I never felt the urgency or effort until the Arsenal were chasing the match, courtesy of another Almunia blunder. A soft, floating ball should probably always be parried wide or caught at this level. Of the shots that were not directly kicked at Almunia he had another poor outing conceding all shots that made him attempt a save. These continued blunders cannot continue if the Arsenal are to make a serious attempt at any silverware. They are not good for team morale, especially the defenders, but we simply don't have a back-up of his caliber. Let's just support him and hope he makes amends mid-week.

I am deeply disappointed in our captain, Cesc Fabregas. After the go-head goal was scored by Bellamy the match became very chippy; in particular, Arsenal players were duped into lunging at and trying to get stuck in on Donkeybayor. I felt that when we lost our heads, we lost the match. As captain, Cesc really needed to calm the manic behavior of the match down but his leadership was absent. Donk got away with stomping Cesc's ankle early in the match, and then cleating the face of RVP; Song kicked out at him and got booked. Usually cool Clichy clearly got agitated and started lunging at players, over committing on the tackle the sprung Wright-Phillips wide to pass to Donk. In short, the players stopped playing the Arsenal way and began to react in a negative manner: kicking out at players and over committing to the tackle. Perhaps if Cesc had cooled our tempo and we had regained our focus we would have been able to equalize before the third goal was conceded. Hopefully, lesson learned and behavior won't be repeated in the future.

And, finally, I wanted to make a brief statement about Donkeybayor's classless celebration. After his goal, which really any small boy could have finished with the amount of space he had...he decided to run the entire length of the pitch and celebrate in front of our Arsenal Away fans:



Later, Ade would apologize for his goal celebration There is a saying here in America, "Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me". If this character hadn't pitched himself to big clubs such as Barca and Milan the previous season he may well have still been an Arsenal footballer but instead he decided to not address the rumors and wait till the end of the transfer window. Stringing along the fans like we are some sort of fools is not the best way to win over our hearts and minds. After the deals didn't materialize only then did he decide to pledge himself to the Arsenal. It is not because of his laziness, ego, African-heritage, or stupid dances that the fans felt so detached from him - we felt betrayed by his unwillingness to come out to the press and simply say, "I am an Arsenal player...I am on holiday...and I have no intention of leaving". I think we just wanted the confirmation that he wanted to wear the shirt and bleed Arsenal red.

I will not accept his apology today because it is clear to me that the celebration was pre-meditated and meant to inflict the most damage possible to the hearts of Arsenal fans. As a fan who was angry about the way he handled the rumors, I will not be fooled again. Today's celebration and display of petulance was in lines with the classic "I'll show you" mentality, which we are all likely familiar with...when we were 10-years-old playing football during recess when the last guy picked got the game winning goal as the school yard bell rang. He usually ran into the classroom full of glee but ya know what happened to this guy? He got picked last...again.

In my opinion, Ade's ego is far too big for his own good. This guy hasn't won anything yet he feels he is special and entitled to superstar treatment. Due to the fact that he is so self-absorbed he doesn't have the cognitive capacity to think beyond himself; hence, he fully believes that the fans were in the wrong for doubting him because, to him, he did nothing wrong. Since the guy doesn't think he did anything wrong it is no surprise that he displaced his poor performances on we the fans of the Arsenal. It is because of this deflection of responsibility that I don't like Adebayor. To me, he is not a man but a petulant, immature boy who wants praise, hugs and kisses because of the name on the back of his kit...and not for hard work, honor, or character.

Today, I feel bad for Adebayor. I feel bad because he only confirmed what the Arsenal fans had been thinking: his behavior may not be money driven at all but it is most definitely conceited, and Ade-driven. I feel bad that he doesn't even understand how this behavior and reputation will follow him throughout his career. I feel sick that players like him, who lack basic goodness and respect for the sport have been presented the opportunity to play football at the highest level and disrespect football and its fans in return. I certainly hope he gets everything he deserves, including all of the negative karma that is sure to follow.

And, for today, Ade has his day of glory with his new team, with his beloved fans and they will soak it up and claim to be a Big Four team. That's fine because there was a time when the Arsenal loved Adebayor when he scored goals and worked hard for the team but as we found out the honeymoon was over before it started. I can only predict that at some point City will struggle, Donk may go through a scoring drought and he won't have anyone to blame...but himself. He'll probably throw his teammates under the bus or start picking at the local fans; it's only a matter of time before the agents come courting his services from afar and he does the same to City. And I'm fine with him continuing to talk about the Arsenal in whatever negative way he needs to because it only confirms his ignorance and small-name stature. So, until we meet again...

ArsenaLOS

Selection Woes

Good afternoon, and Happy Labor Day/No Fucking Work Day! Yes!

Right.

I was having a twitter discussion with @usofarsenal regarding Tomas Rosicky, Theo Walcott, and Samir Nasri's return to action. TW14 and TR7 may be available vs Man City with Nasri likely back late September/early October. The two of us concluded that the Arsenal may actually, ahem, have a selection issue when all these players are back.

Preferably, I would like to see TW14's direct speed utilized in a striking role. Since TW14 is not a cheeky footballer and I feel he is wasted on the wing; he can't really beat players with a Cunaldo-like pedalada, nor deftly deek and jink his way around large, angry defenders like Evra. I understand that he is seemingly a good fit for the wing because of his speed but if he can't beat a player cleanly with a sound move then I think he would be better off receiving a ball into space that he can run onto, take a touch, and finish. TW14 has proved in the past that he can blaze down the sideline in a winger role but I would much prefer the use of his speed in a direct way. Since he's simply not built for the wing in terms of break through, separating moves, and the Arsenal have plenty of midfielders. I think it is time for him to be used as a Striker.

I think TR7 should be used as a sub. I don't think the Arsenal should risk him from a start of a match. Poor Rosicky has been out for so long that he needs to be eased back into action, and that includes lack of playing time. I understand that he is a creative threat but what better way to utilize his talent but to use him late in matches when minds and legs are tired? TR7 could come on with 30minutes to play and completely change a match with his vision, and scoring prowess. For example, after the own-goal by Diaby vs United, Rosicky, if fit, could have been brought on with 30 minutes to go. The threat of him seeing a pass, or creating a goal late in the match could be a difference maker. Plus, for the opposition, it presents the manager with the task of having to defend fresh legs and/or counter with an attacking option of his own. If the opposition counters one-for-one than advantage Arsenal. Time will tell so here's to hoping that we see TR7 back in some influential role.

And lastly, Nasri had been rumored to be an option as a holding midfielder. With Song's imminent departure for the African Cup of Nations Nasri may slot in to partner with Denilson. Nasri is a versatile footballer and he could be deployed on either wing but since Arsene did not spend on the holding midfielder he may be seen as an option in this role. In my opinion, I doubt we'll see Nasri in a central role unless injuries are present or unless AW goes back to the 4-4-2. Nasri will likely share time and matches with Arshavin in the current formation and cycle in with other midfielders, either on the right or tucked behind the central Striker. In reality, and at the beginning, I think Nasri will be happy to play anywhere, for any minutes coming back from his broken leg.

For once, and dare I say it, since the Invincibles I feel that the Arsenal may have some selection woes. There are so many midfielders that can play in an attacking role, either centrally or wide. AW will have to balance each player's abilities per match, per opposition. For some matches, AW may need to deploy more physical players while versus others he may need more technique, more speed. Fortunately, the squad we have right now are versatile and willing to play multiple positions; we are also fortunate that AW is the best individual to manage young, egotistical minds. AW's open and thoughtful personality will likely allow him to tinker with positions and formations to fit the individual match, and I don't expect too much player backlash because of this understanding. The players appear to be equally willing to play in any position the boss wants, and it's this collective understanding that will allow the manager more freedom than in year's past. The selection woes aren't woes at all...but options.

ArsenaLOS

Makes you wonder if...

• Arsene Wenger didn't sign the fan-wanted, requested, and cried about central, holding midfielder because he wanted to ditch the 4-4-2 and rock the 4-3-3.
• Eboue is some sort of footballing legend in training.
• the media is so harsh on the Arsenal because they are being told to do so by some corporate entity.
• our luck can get any worse; in particular, if injuries can persist with consistency over another campaign and at the most inopportune moments.
• Vermaelen is the signing of the year in the Premiership.
  
• B52 is going to kick out at Donkeybayor in our first encounter with City.
• it really matters that Eduardo is banned for two Champions League matches when he is seemingly back-up to RVP and Arshavin.
• Silvestre is a spy.
• the negative angles AW had installed in the Emirates Away lockers really affect the opposition's psychology.
• Almunia will be in an England kit come Spring 2010.
  
• TW14 will play as a Striker this season.
  
• dramatic, whiny non-supportive Arsenal fans have any experience playing football or are they just like the rest of the pundits ie talking just to talk
  
• JW19 will see ample playing time this year and become a regular by Spring 2010.
  
• Rosicky will ever come back to play the way he used to.
• Merida is seen as a replacement for CF4.
  
• "Capi" will lead the Arsenal in scoring this season.


• Arsene really knows.
  

The 3 Wisemen: Abou-boo, alMUnia, meet Eboue Kablooie

Good morning, Gooner Nation

It's taken me a few days to be able to write again. Like many of you, I lost a loved one on Saturday. Her name is Lady Luck and she was a good kid. Shame on me for thinking this season would be any different luck-wise than the last few campaigns.

In my previous post, August 28th, I had mentioned my concern with alMUnia, "But, admittedly, I am concerned with Almunia. This guy can make a fantastic save but in a blink of an eye he can make a complete ass of himself". Unfortunately, the madness of alMUnia reared its ugly head (again) and as quickly as we were up 1-nil he was found to have brought down Shrek Rooney and there it was, 1s and shared spoils. It's clear that Shrek was dragging his left foot and looking for the penalty, which Dean promptly obliged. At the end of the day, as fans we can blame Shrek for the whole debacle but this penalty never gets awarded if alMUnia doesn't commit himself in the manner he did.

I used to play a bit of keeper in my day and their rules are very straight forward but filled with consequences, if off: you commit to the ball knowing you will get there first, and pray to God that you make contact or you stay in goal and take your chances with the shot. It's one or the other because if you commit to either half way you're likely caught out. The decision must be made in the briefest of instances. I can't help but think that alMUnia's decision to rush Shrek was ego-driven. If you look at the camera shot from behind the goal you can easily tell that the angles are poor for Rooney to do anything; plus, both Capi and Sagna are rushing back to stand him up. Also, Rooney's first touch launches the ball towards the corner flag. To me, that is the indicator that this is not even a scoring opportunity and more of a defensive clearance. I can't help but think that alMUnia wanted to put his stamp on the game. Why else would you rock that stupid, blonde Mohawk creature? Attention. Stupid hair or ego-driven intent does not matter as he has shown that his decision making is very poor despite his wonder saves here and again. I would think that Arsene Wenger will have to address these decisions at some point; in truth, I don't think he will because their minds are so delicate and his being dropped would likely mean him asking for a transfer. Fortunately, City have Given already.

All tied at 1-1 and seemingly everything to play for. I had relaxed a bit because I knew United would score. I knew it would be dubious and I knew it would be unjustified. This is what happens, and this is what is expected when you play at Old Trafford.

Less than five minutes from alMUnia's moment of madness we had another inexplicable event occur. Abou-boo Diaby produced a finely executed, uncontested own-goal header. As reported on Sky Sports today Abou-boo would label it a "silly mistake". I'm glad he can use such a cool descriptor as "silly". In my mind, that word can be replaced with a few choice expletives. I'm not going to throw the boy under the bus because everyone makes mistakes; humans are not infallible. Up until that point I felt Diaby had proved his naysayers wrong; I still think his overall match was better than both Carrick and thug-life Fletcher. I've spent some time this week trying to figure out if Diaby was trying to head the ball towards alMUnia, or off to the side of the goal, or maybe he thought it was an offensive try. I'm not sure.

I have sympathy for Abou-boo because I went through a similar, inexplicable ordeal. I was backing my car out of the garage and for one reason or another I turned the wheel too early and nicked the door frame, ripping some of the paneling off of the wall but thoroughly denting my bumper in the tune of a $325 repair. Why? No fucking idea why. In a split second I made a decision to turn the wheel, it happened to be too early, and the result was a fucked up bumper and nice, fat repair bill. At the end of the day, we all make Abou-boos and as long as they aren't repeated we live, we learn and we get on with it.

As the Arsenal went down 1-2 and we pressed for the equalizer I honestly felt we would get it. If Capi had not been so anxious there at the death we might have equalized with a RVP smash but it wasn't to be.

I had mentioned in a previous post that Eboue ought not play unless Sagna is injured. I meant that; I still mean that. Eboue's match was more of the same: errant passes, waving hands, and complete and utter wandering. You would think that Eboue has Alzheimer's with his poor decision making, wandering, and blatant lack of positional know-how. Eboue is not a midfielder and should not played in that position. Ever. Even writing his name makes me sick to my stomach. Thank God he'll be gone for awhile for African Cup of Nations 2010.

I can think of two big instances where Eboue hurt the Arsenal. Eboue's dive and resulting yellow card was just sickening. Kablooie! It was justified and part of me wishes he had been sent off. It's as if the boy has an inability to learn. In the past he has gone searching for cards and been on the wrong end of the call; nothing has changed. I wonder if he even thought about what a dive would mean to his teammate, Eduardo. Of course not, he has dementia. Instead, Eboue dove at Evra, and he merely moved out of the way. Hilarious and sickening as it could get. I am worried about this consistent repetition of behavior because he has not learned from his mistakes. Will he ever learn? No.

Now, the other massive mistake was Eboue's inability to field a cross from the left side of the pitch to the right. This particular setup, I believe, came from either Arshavin or Clichy and instead of hitting the half volley or receiving the ball in-step Eboue did neither and tried to toe-stomp control the ball; as expected, the chance went wasted. Eboue Kablooie! The reason this particular chance gets to me is because a shot on goal could have meant a deflection and tap-in for RVP. Also, we had superior numbers in the penalty box, which increases the opportunity for a cheeky, lucky goal. I don't think Eboue gets that. I don't think he has the cognitive ability to think that far ahead. Kablooie! Now, if Bendtner had started in front of Eboue Kablooie I would expect two key things from him 1) staying in his position instead of wandering all over the pitch 2) hitting the mentioned setup half volley and putting it on goal. My only explanation for starting Eboue Kablooie over Nick is that AW must have been concerned about Evra getting forward. I respect that concern but Eboue didn't hamper his movement forward because he was never in the right position! Kablooie!

I've made it very clear in these postings that I do not like Eboue Kablooie as a midfielder; I don't mind him as a back-up to Sagna. I really hope that AW saw what I saw and we won't see him in the midfielder fold any longer. The sooner both Rosicky and Nasri come back from injury the sooner Eboue is ostracized to his rightful place, the Arsenal bench.

Enjoy the international break as City is up next and Lazybayor has something to prove to us Arsenal fans (fuck off). For me, I'm hoping B52 gets an opportunity to get stuck in on Donkeybayor and we all know that he'll try...

ArsenaLOS