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
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Sunday, November 15, 2009
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
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
Friday, November 6, 2009
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
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
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