Why the United game could be a modern day classic

The lame talk of United rocking up as newly crowned Champions and strolling this match are left to the dim witted guessers who are new to this sport. Clearly they may rest one or two, but they have the like of Chico to step in and give us the run around. The long held rivalry between the clubs – the classic North South hatred – will ensure no game between these two sides will ever feature one side not bothering to show up.

Since Wengerball MK II (as opposed to MK I Paddy types with power) the United games home and away have had a very clear and distinct pattern. They bulldoze the midfield and disrupt our play whilst waiting to pounce on the counter via Ronaldo, Rooney, Park et al

Those games have usually meant something and United have needed to take points, so Fergie plays percentages, he is smarter than to come to a toe to toe war with Arsenal if he needs to get something. This dynamic is different for Sunday’s match. As new champs they need to come and give it a go without having to resort to roughing us up and sitting back soaking it up. This should mean an epic ebb and flow to the match.

Following the Spuds draw today, the necessity from our part to go for all 3 points is paramount and this new game dynamic should be ideal for the gooner and the neutral. It’s rare to get such a opening to take on United in a duel to the death… a duel for the ages.

I’m the first to hold my hands up and say YES to the shout of Wenger not being enthused by impressing tactics on opposition, but if it comes to an all out gunfight of pure end to end attacking open play… there is no better manager to have in your dressing room / touchline.

Giroud missing and the reality of Podolski getting his chance to shine as a centre forward in the colours of Arsenal is catalyst that could step us up. Whilst the Frenchman has done a splendid job in his inaugural season, he is not a born finisher, the German certainly is.

This could finish any stupid scoreline, if we don’t take our chances and fail at the back a spanking is on the cards, but on the same token if it clicks for us there is no reason we cannot give the champions a right taking down. I’ll have 5 goals or more in the match at 6/1.

Don’t miss this one.

 

John Terry MUST appeal the FA Ban

 

The man is washed up as a footballer of any significance and an appeal submitted before our Saturday lunchtime war would mean he gets to play.

He needs to play, as there is not a hope in hell he will cope with the pace and movement of our midfield and strike-force.

Theo and Geo would have a field day up against the half-wit.

Bring him on.

 

 

Arsenal v Coventry Preview

The young guns along with the first teamers  who are not getting the requisite playing time take to the pitch in the newly named Capital One Cup tonight, and it should give us a huge insight into the next generation along with the strength in depth the first team have.  The game is not going to be broadcast anywhere live, so no streams will be available, which is fine by me as I’m through to the latter stages of an online poker tournament kicking off at the same time. 

If you are interested in a players rewards card click here  From the photos on the Arsenal site it appears Emi Martinez will keep goal with Yennaris and Santos full backs and Miquel and JD in the middle of defence.  The front 6 will be Coquelin, Ox, Arshavin, Gnabry, Giroud and Theo.  This is a shot in the dark really, but I would imagine that side is at least 75% correct.  Has a cracking balance to it.

Gnabry is the raved up young gun this season, so will be interested to see more of him, but I’m told by a friend who is a real avid and seasoned pro at watching our reserves/youths that the man who is the real next star coming through will be our Argentine between the sticks, Emi Martinez.  Apparently Argentina are ready to fast track him already into the national side.

Coventry will not provide much resistance, they are hopeless, and in dire form having been relegated from the Championship last season they have carried on where they left off last season.

In reality, Giroud will absolutely never get a better chance to score at least one goal… he should really look for a brace at the minimum as the defence he plays against will be pathetic.

All in all, a lowly cup when compared to the UCL, but a far more fascinating set of games than the opening group stages of the latter named European competition.

Robin wears the armband – Cesc must lift the cup

This is my deep felt hope of the scenario that is played out on Sunday if we beat Birmingham.

Cesc left his world for a brave new world as a mere puppy.. this took guts, determination, a will to win… he succeeded in his quest to play first team football for Arsenal, and took over from a right old plonker as captain of our club in November 2008.

El Capitano was born.

I love the guy for what he has given us, and never underestimate what he has given Arsenal… it all looks easy now, but think back to when you were barely 16 years old and how tough it would have been to move to another country, a new language, culture… etc

To miss out on leading us out at Wembley this weekend is gutting for all concerned… which is why he should be given the honour of being the man who raises the trophy…. although I feel it will be a joint affair similar to Paddy and TA6 in 2002.

My seat is booked for Wembley… I shall be in block 111 row 41… prudent to keep the seat number withheld!

My team would shape up as thus:

Chezney – Quite simply, The Polekeeper.

Bac, JD, Kos6, Clichy – They pick themselves and TV5 will have to be right back at his game to force his way in this season.

Song, Jack, Diaby – Diaby is not every gooner’s cup of tea… but he is mine.. he has the engine to play the Cesc role or swap “cesc” duties with Jack the lad.

Nasri, RvP, Arshavin – With Theo out, this lot again pick themselves in my book, and maybe even if Theo was fit… on current form its hard to leave the Russian out.  A Wembley final is made for him.

Like many of you reading this… I feel like a little boy again off to Wembley for the first time… well in theory this is my first time at Wembley.. the New Wembley that is… the old one.. I have a 100% Arsenal win record, so I’m hoping my presence will give the good omens needed etc

Win, or Lose.. I’m going to have a hell of a day…. you should too!

ENJOY

All towels banned at the Emirates tonight

Now that would scupper the entire tactical structure of the cavemen who visit the Home of Football tonight.

On a serious note, tonight is bloody huge, massive… a monsterous game of football… FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE CUP FINAL.

For me, and many Gooners, the ultimate prize is to be the Champions of your country, to the rule the roost in your homeland… to laud it over the likes of Manure, Chavski and the Tiny Tots.  To be proudly called the Champions for the next year, at every game you play in is a wonderous and joyous feeling.

I miss being called “The Champions” – 7 years is far too long for a club of our class.

In season 2010/2011 we are presented with the most viable opportunity we have had since being classed both Champions and Invincibles.

The magic charge starts tonight… win and we go to within a point of United, who tonight commence a 4 game away run in the South of France, followed by 3 EPL away days at Wigan, Chavski and Liverpool… all within a 7 day period.  For a team as woeful on the road as they have been this entire season, this represents the chance we have all been waiting for.. the chance to finally overtake and extend away down the home straight.

All that will seem redundant if we cannot wrap up the 3 points tonight.

I have read elsewhere that a draw would not be all that bad… wrong, it would be a nightmare!  Not terminal, but the pressure would be eased off United, and the pressure is what we need to apply ahead of Stamford Bridge and Anfield.

Robin the Boy Wonder is going to be a hell of a miss tonight, but we have to believe, we have to have ultimate faith in Nik B and Chamakh to step up and do what we have seen both do in the past.

Form is temporary… etc

Yesterday, if you had asked me who I favoured in the central role, I would have selected Nik… but having thought about it more, I think Chamakh suits our game more, when he is on form that is.

His link play at the start of the season was immense, his work rate on a par with the very best we have seen at the Emirates.

Squillaci will slot in alongside JD in the absence of Koscienly.  This could turn out to be a blessing in disguise, as his height will help to guard against the long ball merchants.

Would love to say this is going to be an easy win, but unless we nick a very early goal (as ever) we could struggle to break em down, and I just hope the lads have total focus on this game instead of one eye on the Wembley appearance at the weekend.

Winning tonight will surely give the lads an extra boost for the final.

I’m excited, really up for this one… the charge to the title gets closer tonight… !!

Be lucky Arsenal.

Enjoy.

Beautiful Arsenal

Does a match of such magnitude end any better?

I will admit at around the 75 minute mark, I had given up on any chance of a win… a draw was a maybe… however it seemed we had blown our early chances, including a cracking chance for Robin in the opening minutes, after a delightful chipped through pass from Cesc.

Barcelona then began to turn it on – they failed, as they only scored the once in this period.

They nonchalantly strolled out for the 2nd half and played keep ball with silly 5 yard square and back passes.  Pep took off dangerman Villa and shored up the midfield with Seydou Keita.

At the same time Wenger took off DM Song and introduced Arshavin… the man who was to score the most euphoric goal in the embryonic history of the Emirates.

I really am lost for words, there is not much more that can added to the thousands of words/superlatives already out there by the way of papers/blogs etc

What I will say is that win will be replayed and talked about when our grandchildren are alive and kicking… it was that important for the future of Arsenal.

If this team can now not go on to lift the big one.. the Premiership, after this boost of pure confidence… then they never will.

Fergie must have ruined his incontinence pants after the ref blew the final whistle.. he knew.. he knew exactly what kind of lift a result like that can give a team.

2011 is shaping up to be a classic.

Arcelona the Sequel

Tonight’s game has never been too far away in every gooner’s minds eye since the draw was made last December in Nyon, Switzerland.

There is no point in making far reaching rally calls….. my take is to sit back and hopefully enjoy a festival of Total Football, played out by the two purest footballing sides on earth.

Thankfully each side have their best players fit and raring to go – minus a top-notch centre-half from both sides, namely Carlos Puyol and Thomas Vermalen.

We got butchered, as we all know, in the opening 25 minutes of last year’s tie, and the hope is we turn the tables and give the Catalans a taste of their own medicine… lets impose our game on them is shout from Le Gaffer.  Quite right too.  On our day, we could feasibly rip Barcelona a new one…. they don’t have a decent back line, and rely on the rest of the team to defend from the front and keep the pressure off the defenders.

Good luck with that one Spaniards.

I like the way we enter this game, as last year we came into the match following a disastrous 1-1 at Birmingham which more or less killed our title hopes… having led 1 nil thanks to a late strike from Nasri… Almunia made a gaff and allowed Kevin Phillips to equalise deep in injury time.  Rollocks to that… as this time we come storming into the match after “slapping” Wolves in the words of their own manager.

Nasri may even return to the starting line-up, although I would prefer a start on the bench, the cup final is only a dozen or so days away and his presence there will be essential in order we finally lift silverware again.  The return to form of Arshavin should be enough to sway Wenger into doing just that.

All in all, a fabulous day of anticipation is in order, days like today are what being a gooner is all about… I love it, the whole build up.. waiting to get the team news around an hour before kick-off… the day spent wasted on Twitter chatting endless rubbish, just to kill the time… just love it.

I’m loathed to make a prediction, but if I was pushed I would favour a repeat of last year or even a step further with 3-3.

ENJOY!

Xavi admits Barcelona cannot afford Cesc

Roman Abramovich may have done the biggest favour to all connected with Arsenal Football Club this January transfer window.

By spending £50M on Fernando Torres, a player who was woeful at the World Cup and unwanted by Barca or Real, the Russian oligarch has priced Cesc out of the reach of Barcelona for at least a couple of seasons.

Current Barca Captain, Xavi Hernandez admits as much….

“the thing with Cesc is that there is a problem — he is now worth a lot of money!”

Aged 3 years younger than his chavski Spanish compatriot, Cesc must now surely be worth in the region of £60-70M in the open market.  Barca are skint enough as it is, skint enough to take former supremo Laporte to court over bent accounting allegations.

What a ramshackle of a club.

There is no secret that Cesc desires to one day return home to his beloved Catalonia, but it will cost them… unless this Qatari money which has been promised turns up at the Camp Nou this summer, our boy aint going nowhere.

I’m certain that Arsenal done a deal last summer to convince Cesc to stay until this coming summer, and promise his release IF Barca can conjure up the correct money for him.  The peasants tried to bid less than what Liverpool paid for Andy Carroll!

The future for El Capitan at the Emirates is looking stronger by the day…. bloody good show say me.

Ahead of the crunch Champions League game against the aforementioned Spanish pikeys next Wednesday night, which I will sadly be watching from the comfort of my living room having been cruelly denied a seat in a City Brokerage’s corporate box… we have the small matter of Wolves at home in the league.

A game that should see us close the 4 point gap on the Mancs… both of them… if City really go for it they can win, but they won’t and therefore I envisage a 1-1 draw.

Wolves are a flipping hardcore team on set pieces, thankfully Johan should be back, unless he is rested for Barca… we should not take this game lightly.. it’s going to be a long afternoon… just hope that by hook or by crook we scrape through and start to look forward to the Barca games.

Don’t expect an easy ride against the wanderers people… it may become our hardest game of the season to date…. but all that will matter is the 3 points.

For crying out loud.. surely we are due a dodgy penalty in our direction?

Enjoy.

Arshavin dropped for West Ham trip

A pearler missed from Wenger’s presser yesterday afternoon.

“Arshavin will come back after a breather for a few games and be sharper”

Having played both cup games in the last 7 days, and played very much below-par, our little Russian wide man appears to be getting the bench for a week or so.

Excellent news.

Not because I don’t rate him, but it’s clear he needs time off the pitch to sort his head out….  why not give Vela a run in his position?  It’s high time the mexican superstar was shown some backing and allowed more than 15 minutes off the bench to do his stuff.

I doubt it, the team today is very straightforward with Fabianski out injured and Sagna completing his 3 game ban.

Chezney

Eboue JD Kos6 Clichy

Song Jack

Theo Cesc Nasri

RvP

Sagna aside, that is quite possibly the best first eleven we could play right now, and against the worst side in the league, according to the league table, we should be hitting the Hammers hard.

As usual, if we struggle to score the first goal, we will struggle on for the rest of the game.

Score first and early, and we could walk with a 4-1…. or struggle it out for a 1-1 hard-fought slog.

Enjoy.

Have you forgotten how good RVP is?

Forget that he played in the World Cup, he was rushed back to lead the line for the Dutch but never actually looked quite right.

Moreover, the lone striker role is just not playing to the strengths of the spikey former Feyenoord man.

I am hugely excited about the new deep lying forward and or roaming number 10, tip of midfield trio, free role thingey he has going on for him now.

With the massively unselfish Chamakh ahead of him to lay off smart ball to the on rushing Nasri, Arshavin, Theo, Rosicky, RVP et al.. I can now see how this team can both accommodate and flourish with both Robin and Marouanne in the starting line-up.

I think many of us did maybe question the validity of such an injury prone player at the club, whilst he has been off injured since November 2009!

The genius of his little flicks and tricks and deft control of a football have been there, in glimpses mind, for all to see in the past fortnight since he returned.

I love him, he is 100% pure World-Class, and there are not many players in the Premiership, let alone Arsenal who you can say that about without need to worry about retraction at a later date.  Van Persie certainly has the skills to pay the bills, and then some.

I want to see him get at least another 70 mins under his belt tonight, like he did last week against Wigan in the Carling Cup.  I also wish to see the partnership with MC29 develop more, hone it ahead of the crucial trip to Old Trafford Monday week.

Not happy to hear Cesc may be in contention for Monday.

Let him rest this darned hamstring injury properly this time… we are doing just fine in his absence and it’s also important to show the squad, should he leave next summer, that we are just fine without him in the side.

Will be looking for a confidence boosting performance tonight.

Practice game tonight.