A disappointing performance at Anfield still has everyone drooling. Plus players ratings

By 1970’s Gooner

It was a disappointing game from Arsenal’s point of view and a disappointing result. Don’t get me wrong. To get an away point at Anfield and to have so much of the play must be considered a good performance and a great result.

And this performance would have convinced those doubting Thomases that this team can grind out results at “hostile” places such as Anfield.

Yet it was a disappointing game because Arsenal were not at their fluent best. They allowed Liverpool’s quick tempo and in your face tactics to crowd them out on many occasions.

Passes were uncharacteristically given away and the below par performance from three of the Arsenal players, Adebayor, Eboue and Rosicky meant that Arsenal’s movement off the ball and persistence could only in the end result in a draw.

It was also a disappointing game because defensive disorganization returned again giving away a goal from a badly managed wall in front of Gerrard’s free kick.

Yet it could have been an away win if on two separate occasions Fabregas and Bendtner had kept their heads in front of a gaping goal with Reina nowhere.


Almunia

Could not be faulted for the goal. There is nothing that a goalkeeper can do when the wall disintegrates in front of him like that. Especially when the ball is hit with such pace. Also made two good saves; one from Gerrard from outside the box and another from Voronin from inside the box. Lehman is a goner. 8

Sagna

Had an average game. Did not do anything wrong but on the other hand he was not that offensively minded. Wenger should have substituted Sagna instead of Clichy (unless he was injured) who was after all more adventurous going forward. 5

Toure

Played well albeit against an ineffective and lone man attack lined up by Benitez. Did well in the air against Crouch when he came on. Ventured forward by the closing stages of the game and added to the threat posed by the rest of the attacking players. 7

Gallas

Made one very important sliding tackle to save an almost certain goal from Gerrard when he burst into the penalty area with Almunia already committed and exposed. However Gallas did not look that comfortable on the ball with a few of his passes going astray. Maybe he needs more games still. 6

Clichy

Like Sagna had an average game. Good at the back defensively but not as effective as per usual when going forward. 6

Fabregas

Man of the match; but not at his top best. He was closely marked and with a very congested midfield found it hard to dictate the game as much as we have been used to so far this season.

He was at fault for conceding the free kick to Alonso on the edge of the area which led to the goal.


He was however the central focus for nearly all the Arsenal moves and he did score the equaliser with an audacious pass into the net which surprised and thus wrong footed Reina. 8 (he usually gets a 9 from me)

Flamini

The usual high powered and full of running performance which is typical of him. Kept his position well and provided once again the cover for Fabregas to play his game. 7

Rosicky

Was not much into the game and found it difficult to make the penetrative runs and passes he is usually known for. Liverpool’s congestion of the midfield helping to put him off his game. Correctly substituted. 4

Hleb

Shone throughout the game. His close control and deft touch was just what the doctor ordered for such a tight and congested middle of the pitch.


His close control between three Liverpool players and his vision to spot Fabregas’ s run for the goal was sublime. 8

Eboue

Had a disappointing game although his performance was better than midweek against Slavia. He was too casual and frivolous in his play loosing possession too often and unnecessarily. He should be dropped for the next game. 3

Adebayor

Was not at the races. Looked out of touch without making his presence felt either in the air or on the ground. His runs were not timed well and often caught offside. Did not contribute at all in the come back. Needs to improve if he is to keep his place in the team. 3

Manchester United will provide the opportunity to put things right.


Arsenal’s movement, Liverpool’s long balls and Adebayor’s hunger

Arsenal’s movement, Liverpool’s long balls and Adebayor’s hunger

By 1970’s Gooner

There are a lot of press columns (and blog postings) written about this intriguing encounter at Anfield where the League’s two remaining unbeaten teams lock horns.

There are also a lot of comparisons being drawn between the two sets of players and the respective styles of football.

There is one attribute however that Arsenal have got in abundance which Liverpool seem to lack. And that is movement off the ball.

There has been wonderment and bewilderment as to how and why Cesc Fabregas can get so much time on the ball and dictate the flow of the game so masterly.

This has been the norm in nearly all the Arsenal games so far; even if the opposing manager had detailed one of his more forceful (hatchet) men to man mark the boy wonder.




And the reason for this of course, beyond the boy’s obvious technique and skills, is that there is so much movement around him from the rest of the Arsenal players.

So much that when he looks up to see where he will next pass the ball he has so many options it almost becomes impossible to stop him.

It is this continuous movement around the pitch that Arsenal do so well, drawing players out of position, exploiting the gaps thus created and eventually tiring the opponents so much that a goal is almost always scored in the last 15 minutes of games.

And above all this is what is very likely to tip the balance in deciding the winner at Anfield today.

To do that of course Arsenal have to be able to defend well especially the inevitable long balls that are likely to be employed by Benitez; especially if Crouch is selected. This is what served Liverpool well the last time they met Arsenal at home winning 4-1.

Arsenal were no that bothered with this tactic during their game against Bolton last time out even if Kevin Davies got at the end of most thumps up the field!

Granted, Anelka was not there to pick up the pieces but the Arsenal defence with Gallas back is now much better at dealing with these kind of tactics. Wenger might however select Diaby in the starting 11 so as to add some height in the team especially at set pieces.

It’s as well to defend well but who can score the goals at the other end? The encouraging aspect for Arsenal this season is of course that the sources for goals have come from the midfielders as well as the forwards.

One forward not in the goals recently is Adebayor.



He has failed to score in the last five games he played. In fact he has not scored since his hat trick against Derby.

There is nothing that spurs a player’s hunger on than competition for places. And with all the praise going to Walcott recently he will want to make a mark today.

He can after all ran the 100 meters faster than him: 11.41 seconds against Theo’s 11.48 !


Arsenal can storm to victory by exploiting Liverpool’s weaknesses

Wenger's dilemma:Who should partner Adebayor against Liverpool?

Arsenal can storm to victory by exploiting Liverpool’s weaknesses

By Eros, Arsenal Analysis resident season ticket holder at the Emirates (North Upper Stand Row Q)

There is this culture brewing in the British media that Arsenal players go down very easily and that Cesc has a nasty streak that he needs to curb.

A specific sky sports commentator even accused Hleb of making a meal of a challenge from behind, since the foul committed “has not put him out of commission for a couple of months” God help us!

However, all football experts seem to blatantly ignore Steve “diving master” Gerard, going to ground at Goodison Park as soon as he saw the white line, well before any tackle was made. He then had the audacity to ask for a red card!

Why am I having a rant about inept refereeing?

I am only mentioning the above as I feel that a similar scenario could occur on Sunday.

Liverpool are likely to add a physical element to their game, fly into every challenge and try and take Arsenal out of their tempo.

Benitez is a good tactician and he knows Arsenal is less effective when Cesc is not controlling the tempo of the game.

The easiest way to get to Cesk is to make him get involved, as Lampard does very well every single time, as well as some Bolton and Blackburn players.

They try and cloud his judgement, make him loose concentration and make rushed decisions.

Other than that I expect Liverpool to stick to the plan they implemented last season with great success humiliating Arsenal 4-1 at Anfield.

Expect a number of long diagonal balls from midfield aimed at the Arsenal fullbacks to Crouch and Kuyt with Torres trying to get at the end of them.

An additional threat Arsenal need to be worried about is Torres’s speed and trickery. Something Liverpool did not have last year and we have not yet faced this season.

Torres likes to drift on the left and make runs in the ‘Henry channel’ with Mascherano and Gerrard feeding balls in to him. Give him space and he can be deadly.

I think with Van Persie out Wenger will be tempted by a 4-5-1 formation with Hleb and Rosicky on the wings and possibly Gilberto, Flamini and Cesc completing the midfield. The only alternative I consider viable is Diaby instead of Gilberto.

Gilberto is fresh as he only played international football over the last few weeks. I also think his experience will be invaluable over the next few games.

He is going to slot into midfield and protect the back four.

His job will be to deny Gerard space to operate and cover the Arsenal full backs when they bomb forward.

He is also going to pick Torres up whenever he falls back in midfield.

Flamini’s task will be to press the ball when coming out of the defence and deny Mascherano the space and time to dictate the tempo of the game.

Offensively Arsenal will try and exploit Liverpool’s weaknesses.

One way is to use Adebayor to pull Carragher out of position. Once they manage that Fabregas, Hleb and Rosicky will have a significant advantage over Hyppia who is the weak link in the Liverpool defence.

They should have significant success with runs from the midfield. Last year Rosicky and Hleb created chaos in the Liverpool backline by cutting inside and using the full backs for width. And if Walcott starts then Hyppia’s problems will be even more exacerbated!

Wenger will look to isolate Finnan, especially if Pennant starts the game – he is not the best defender although improved at tracking back - and have Clichy and Rosicky 2 against 1 on the left hand side.

In this way Carragher will be forced out of position again with space created for the midfielders to run into.

Liverpool are the home side and they will try and force the issue early on and this will suit Arsenal to the ground.

Quick counter attacking football will therefore give Arsenal a great chance to take the lead, make life a lot easier for themselves and silence the crowd.

Liverpool’s best chance is from set pieces not because they cannot score any other way but because Arsenal are sloppy defending them.

We need to be very careful and make sure we limit the times they can deliver the ball from free kicks to an absolute minimum.

This is the first big test for this young team; Arsenal can win only if they stick to what they do best. And that is to play the beautiful game.

Prediction: Arsenal stake a claim to the title with emphatic display.
Away win 0-2


Wenger's dilemma:Who should partner Adebayor against Liverpool?

Wenger’s selection dilemmas coming up for the Liverpool and Manchester United games

Wenger’s selection dilemmas coming up for the Liverpool and Manchester United games

By 1970’s Gooner

It is slightly unfortunate that Arsenal are now entering the most important series of games in their calendar without their main striker in Robin Van Persie.

It is a period where this young team will have to show its credentials against the big boys of Liverpool and Manchester United. The latter following an away game in the Champions League to Slavia Prague.

It’s not your first team players that win you trophies but your squad. But just who can adequately replace Van Persie for these games has now assumed major importance following Eduardo’s very disappointing display against Bolton.

He has not yet adapted to the pace, tight marking from behind and in your face type of English football.

He could not hold the ball up front with the result that he couldn't connect with Adebayor nor bring other players into the game. He reminds me of similar performances put in by Adebayor in his first season in this League.

Eduardo was similarly ineffective on the last occasion he was given a start which was against Blackburn away.

All this poses serious selection dilemmas for Wenger who has other options of course.

His first is to play Hleb just behind Adebayor in 4 5 1 formation with Rosicky and Eboue/Walcott as the wide midfield men.

He reverted to this when he made the inspired match winning changes against Bolton. It was also the formation that served him well at the beginning of the season. It served Hleb as well.

The second option is to bring Bendtner on to partner Adebayor in a 4 4 2 formation.

I watched Bendtner perform very well for Denmark in the Euro qualifiers and his direct physical style is at the moment more effective than Eduardo’s ball to feet approach.

The more unexpected but interesting option is to reinstall Gilberto into a three man midfield, in a 4 3 3 formation along Fabregas and Flamini.

Adebayor could then be flanked by Hleb and Rosicky. Fabregas and Flamini pushing forward in support as and when the occasion demands.

Judging by Wenger’s actions in team selection so far he is likely to give Eduardo every chance to prove himself.

He will probably select him for the Champions League game in Prague and give him the chance to show what he can do and hope he can get a goal which will prop up his confidence level.

But these types of games cannot be compared to the pressure of facing the Liverpools and Man Utds of this world.

Arsene Wenger has some serious thinking to do.


Out of the walkway and onto the motorway. Can Eduardo propel Arsenal to the title starting today against Bolton?

Are you English or Goonerish?

Sagna: get your hair on for the Bolton game please!

By 1970’s Gooner

"Samson is something of a Herculean figure, using massive strength to combat his enemies and to perform heroic feats unachievable by ordinary men.

Like wrestling a lion, slaying an entire army with nothing more than a donkey's jawbone and tearing down an entire building".

This extract from Wikipedia was pointed out to me in one of my recent posts dealing with Sagna’s sudden absence of his long hair locks during the Sunderland game.

Since he first arrived at Arsenal, Bakary Sagna has carried with him his trademark colourful hair locks. His performances have also been excellent from the off. Probably not as heroic as Samson’s but pretty damn good.

His introduction into the team seemed to have been made almost effortlessly and he looked right from the beginning as a typical Wenger player.

Here he is newly arrived at the Emirates proudly holding his new Arsenal shirt.



It was to be expected however that sooner or later he will have an average game. And this was proved right when the young defender did not have one of his better games for Arsenal against Sunderland.

But another theory that might gain ground is the absence of his famous hair locks. They have been present in all his previous starts for Arsenal bar the Sunderland game.

This picture shows him out of position in the middle of Arsenal’s defence at the time of conceding the equaliser when he should have been marking Miller who put in the cross.



And here he is without his long hair avoiding a tackle in the same game. I am sure you will agree the absence of his Goldie locks does not become him!

When we touched upon the issue on a previous article on this site the comments were nearly all for Bakary to reinstall his hair.

On D Gooner said...

Please please Sagna get those locks back on. The hair style does become you and oppositions fear you more for the start you've made in that hair.

don said...

Sagna's hair should be restored. It brings good luck and we may need it if we are to go unbeaten this season!

As another commenter to the site, Boris Godunov, pondered “Could a comparison to Samson be made to Sagna? Was his power compromised by some mysterious Delilah?”

He thought not and drew a comparison to Cesc Fabregas and how ridiculous he looked when he first played for Arsenal with that long redneck style haircut.


The truth of the matter is that Sagna’s performance after the Sunderland game improved no end when he played last Wednesday for the France National team.

They thrashed the Faroes 6-0! And he did have his full compliment of hair reinstalled for that game!

Here he is in full flow. Literally.



So Bakary: Get your hair on please!

First was Hleb, then Fabregas followed by Adebayor now its Van Persie…..

By 1970’s Gooner

After the “pass the ball round” that the kids of Arsenal used to play virtually all of last season now we have a new game being played on the lush green of the Emirates: “anything you can do I can do better”

Everyone predicted that, in the absence of Henry who was for a number of years the most significant source of goals, this young team would find it pretty hard to find alternative ways and personnel to score.

How wrong could they be? It’s now becoming a race between the players as to who will take up the mantle of supplying that rarest commodity in football.

During the preseason and the first few games in the League it was Hleb who started getting on the score sheet.

His new position of playing just behind the front striker gave him the platform to gain the necessary confidence in front of goal. Something he struggled with all last season. He was top scorer at one point.

When he was moved back to his “natural” position up stepped Fabregas who suddenly found his scoring boots.

The lad couldn’t stop scoring mostly with thunderbolts from outside the area.

He now has four in the league and three in the Champions League.

Not to be outdone Adebayor and Van Persie got in on the act with the first netting three before his hat trick against Derby.

Then Van Persie started finding the net again after an initial burst. He has now scored four in his last three games.

This shows that this team has the winners within its midst who can score the goals from different parts of the football pitch.

If it’s not the front two then the midfielders will step in and who knows, we will soon see some of the defenders getting in on the act too.

Kolo Toure is due one and Senderos may feel confident enough to keep adding to his tally!

If this team manages to defeat the last remaining remnant of last season’s long list of weaknesses, concentration, then the sky is the limit.

Fabregas is going nowhere but to an improved contract

By 1970’s Gooner

Fabregas’ agent is reported to have said that "If we received an offer from Barcelona, clearly we would listen to it. It is the club which taught Cesc everything and it would be a compliment if that happened."

Agents are no fools and they know that what they say will be picked up, span round by the press and sensationalized.

Do not believe the rubbish that the newspapers or Fabregas’ agent are spouting out about welcoming a possible interest from Barcelona. There must be other reasons that Cesc’s agent has chosen to speak out.

This is because it is obvious that there are no real reasons that would make Cesc want away from the Emirates.

Usually a player answers the sirens (or on many occasions his agent creates them for him) from aspiring new employers when he is unhappy about any of the following:

- he is not getting a game or enough games; the reason Edu left Arsenal and the reason why Lehman will go

- he wants more cash (and related recognition that comes with it); the Cashley Cole syndrome

- his family (usually wife/partner) or himself is unhappy and wants a move to another town or country

- the Thiery Henry/Patrick Vieira syndrome; he is the star of the team and considers that with the present personnel the team will not win anything

Now which of the above would fit Fabregas’ case if any?

He is the star in a team that is sitting on top of the League, unbeaten and playing what everyone in the world admits beautiful football.

These are the most exciting times to be an Arsenal player.

He signed an eight-year contract extension last season after all.

And insisted only last month he had no regrets about shunning a potential move to the Bernabeu to remain with the Gunners.

What is sure is that the latest news are being instigated by his agent and not himself.

Which leaves us with only one explanation. More money.


Bakary Sagna set to start for France but not Gallas

Arsenal interested in promising young Greek defender

Who Would Wenger Take From Manchester United’s Team? The Final Word

Sagna “We are young and gifted” But keep your hair on please!

First was Hleb, then Fabregas followed by Adebayor now its Van Persie…..

By 1970’s Gooner

After the “pass the ball round” that the kids of Arsenal used to play virtually all of last season now we have a new game being played on the lush green of the Emirates: “anything you can do I can do better”

Everyone predicted that, in the absence of Henry who was for a number of years the most significant source of goals, this young team would find it pretty hard to find alternative ways and personnel to score.

How wrong could they be? It’s now becoming a race between the players as to who will take up the mantle of supplying that rarest commodity in football.

During the preseason and the first few games in the League it was Hleb who started getting on the score sheet.

His new position of playing just behind the front striker gave him the platform to gain the necessary confidence in front of goal. Something he struggled with all last season. He was top scorer at one point.

When he was moved back to his “natural” position up stepped Fabregas who suddenly found his scoring boots.

The lad couldn’t stop scoring mostly with thunderbolts from outside the area.

He now has four in the league and three in the Champions League.

Not to be outdone Adebayor and Van Persie got in on the act with the first netting three before his hat trick against Derby.

Then Van Persie started finding the net again after an initial burst. He has now scored four in his last three games.

This shows that this team has the winners within its midst who can score the goals from different parts of the football pitch.

If it’s not the front two then the midfielders will step in and who knows, we will soon see some of the defenders getting in on the act too.

Kolo Toure is due one and Senderos may feel confident enough to keep adding to his tally!

If this team manages to defeat the last remaining remnant of last season’s long list of weaknesses, concentration, then the sky is the limit.


Who Would Wenger Take From Manchester United’s Team?

An open letter to Manchester United fans

Who Would Wenger Take From Manchester United’s Team?

By Eros, Arsenal Analysis resident season ticket holder at the Emirates (North Upper Stand Row Q)

Some friends forwarded me a link to a Man United website that had a post comparing the two teams. After reading it I am convinced that all football fans are mentally unstable…. myself included!

Anyway here is my assessment of a player by player comparison of the two sides and my starting eleven of a combined Arsenal / Man Utd team.

Goalkeeper

Surprisingly both teams have goalkeeping problems. Jens is prone to moments of madness and after the start of the season he had I simply cannot make a case for him to be included in this team.

Almunia has been in good form but his errors during the Spurs game have made me lose some faith. I expect him to show more consistency with more games.

Van De Sar was beginning to show his age last season but so far has been consistent.

Selection : Has to be Van Der Sar

Right Back

Eboue is not our starting right back any more and Sagna has only a few League games under his belt so he is relatively untested yet. He has however shown that he is a natural and tenacious defender and also technically gifted like all Wenger’s players.

Justin Hoyte is good but not that good. The Neviller would have won this one by default but since he is not playing due to a long term injury with uncertainties about maintaining his standards when he returns Sagna gets the nod.

Selection: Bakary Sagna, I love lasagne!

Centre Back

Ask any Arsenal fan if they would change Kolo for any centre back in the world and I guarantee that very few would.

He is comfortable on the ball, links the defence with the midfield effortlessly and has pace to burn. I don’t care if Rio cost £30m he doesn’t get a look in, in this team.

Selection: Kolo Toure; the African Emperor

Centre Back

Gallas has not yet worked out how to make his partnership with Toure work, as they are both very similar players. Vidic is one of only a few United players that I would have no real problem in picking for my team.

He is an old school no nonsense defender and great in the air at both ends of the pitch. He is the type of player that could propel Arsenal to the title.

Selection: Nemanja Vidić

Left Back

The French national coach does not agree with me as Evra is in the French national squad and Clichy has not yet been called up. My feelings for Domenech can be summarised in two words; but 1970’s Gooner is too old to contemplate printing any swearing on this blog!

Anyway Clichy is fantastic going forward, has tremendous fitness levels and improving with every game on his defensive positioning. In my book he is the best in the league.

Selection: Gael Clichy; better than Ashley Cole

Left Midfield

Giggs and Nani are too old and young respectively; Rosicky started the season very well and scored some important goals for us.

His all round play especially his tracking back has vastly improved. He has finally settled well in his position on the left and if he manages to stay fit then he is in for a very exciting season.

Hleb is a "new" player this season with his ball skills and play making unmatched by the other players mentioned here for this position. But he is really more of a playmaker than a winger and his goal scoring ability is lacking.

Selection: Czechmate. Rosicky gets this hands down

Central Midfield:

I think central midfield are the two positions that will be most furiously debated especially since United have spent obscene amounts of money while Arsene spent the huge, for his standards, amount of £2m on Diarra!

No contest between Gilberto and Carrick as the Brazilian is in a whole different league in my humble opinion. Hargreaves is a good player, it’s a shame he’s gone to United but is he as good as Gilberto? I think not.

Gilberto has a tremendous sense of positioning, the ability to read the game exceptionally well and anticipates dangerous situations well before the begin to develop.

This is particularly useful when trying to prevent the opposition teams from counter attacking effectively.

He is the corner stone of the Arsenal way of playing as he frees everybody around him to go forward, especially the full backs.

This is essential for Arsenal as the wide midfield players tend to come in rather than hag the wings and it is the full backs that provide a lot of the width in this team.

Flamini has put in some fantastic performances for Arsenal culminating in his best so far in the demolition of Sevilla; but I would still put him behind Gilberto.

Selection: Gilberto Silva; the Brazilian samba king

Central Midfield

I have the utmost respect for Scholes but at 32 he is not exactly in his prime. He had a fantastic season last year but even so the young Spaniard maestro just had to be in the team.

There is very little difference between the two players, Scholes used to get more goals than Cesc but not any more and the Spaniard has the edge in spotting and making a killer pass. He is also the better tackler of the two.

For a comprehensive qualitative and statistical analysis of the two players check out the excellent post: “Fabregas is a more effective player than Scholes” by 1970’s Gooner.

There are signs this year that finally Cesc has found his scoring boots.

If he manages to get around 15 league goals that will go along way in relieving the pressure from the strikers and also keeping Arsenal in the title frame.

Selection: Cesc Fabregas. The best midfielder in the world. Did you really expect me to go with anyone else?

Right Midfield

I have been trying to find an angle not to include Ronaldo in the team however it’s impossible. Hleb would run him close but he has the strengths and weaknesses mentioned above.

Eboue on the other hand has not played in this position for long and he has not shown yet that he can put in consistent performances of high quality.

I hate to say it but I would pay good money to go and watch Ronaldo play, the best right midfielder in the world.

Selection: Christiano Ronaldo

Front Striker

Adebayor is largely unchallenged as one of the two forwards as Saha is always injured and Rooney and Tevez are similar players who are essentially fighting for the same position, that of a support striker not as front strikers.

So Adebayor’s only real competition is em …. Bendtner? Adebayor is a transformed player this season with improved ball control, distribution and especially finishing.

Saha is just as good but considering he is unreliable due to being injury prone I would choose Adebayor in my team.

Selection: Emmanuel Adebayor; the African lion

Front (Support) Striker

This is a race between Van Persie, Tevez and Rooney. How do you work this one out?

Let’s just start by saying that Rooney is a very good player. But – and this should not be a surprise to United fans – he is not as good as the media make out he is. He is still a great talent but he has not developed as we all thought he would.

That might be because of frequent injuries or simply because he lost his focus and needs to find his way again. It might be however that this is as good as he is ever going to get, which is still very good.

He nevertheless has tremendous pace and extreme power, is technically very good and that’s why I am baffled sometimes by the long spells he goes with out scoring.

Tevez has had a slow start to his United career but that is mainly the midfield’s fault as in the games I have watched the distribution going forward was abysmal.

He has the potential to be a great player; however I’m not sure how he and Rooney will get on as a pairing.

Finally, Robin Van Persie.

I was at Highbury when he got himself sent off against Southampton, with that silly challenge, I was sitting on the North Bank and for the first time I saw Wenger turn on one of his players in public.

I thought then he was gone. He got his head down however and improved his discipline and temperament on the pitch.

He scores memorable goals like the one against Southampton at Highbury, the volley against Charlton at the Valley last year and the goal against Inter in the Emirates Cup.

He also scores important goals like the one he got at the Emirates against United.

He has a hammer of left foot shot, which if it connects clean is very difficult to stop. Out of the three he is probably the most natural finisher.

Selection: I will go for Robin Van Persie; the new Bergkamp. But Tevez runs him close.

Bench

On the Arsenal bench you can usually find, Diaby, Denilson, Eduardo, Bendtner, Walcott, Eboue, Hoyte, Diarra, Gilberto/Flamini and Senderos.

These go up against Eagles, Fletcher, O’shea, Brown Sylvester, Park, Carrick, Nani and Anderson.

If it wasn’t for the last three then I’d say that Arsenal have the much better bench, hands down no argument. They did after all cost £60m!

But even so we still have the better bench! Eagles, Fletcher, O’shea, Sylvester, Park and Brown would not get anywhere near our squad.


Arsenal/Man Utd combined eleven

Van De Sar

Sagna Toure Vidic Clichy

Ronaldo Fabregas Gilberto Rosicky

Adebayor Van Persie

Substitutes: Lehmann, Gallas, Carrick, Roonie, Tevez,

Going through the two squads it is frightening to see that both teams have the same glaring strengths and weaknesses.

They both need to find goalkeepers they can rely upon and also strikers to compliment their main goal scoring threats.

Wenger’s way is to place his trust in youth, what’s Sir Alex’s excuse?


This is a personal view. What is your opinion? Who would you pick from Man Utd to play for Arsenal?


“Fabregas is a more effective player than Scholes”

Last night’s performance means that Arsenal will win trophies this year

Arsenal battling with Manchester United to become the richest club

Who Would Fergie Take From Arsenal’s First Team?

Ajax help Arsenal fight their way to the top

By 1970’s Gooner

What stood out clearly during the victory at “bogey team” West Ham, as everyone of course acknowledged, was Arsenal’s new found resilience and tenacity to grind out a victory at an away ground where the opponents refused to let the young guns play their beautiful game.

"One of their characteristics is they put their foot in so it's very competitive out there," said Alan Curbishley.

And the games statistics bear this out. The number of fouls committed by Arsenal (14) was about the same as West Ham’s (16) and there were two yellow cards for each team.

This is indeed a welcomed change which had gone missing after the departure of Patrick Vieira, the talisman, three years ago who would refuse to let these kind of teams intimidate Arsenal.

What surprises me though is that everyone is so surprised. This is, after all, a trait that has surfaced again and again this season prior to this game.

We saw it in abundance at Blackburn where again the performance was not that flowing or beautiful but still the team persevered, battled against that prat Savage and co and still carved out enough chances to win the game.

The goal scored would have been enough to secure a very moral boosting away win but for Lehman’s clanger.

Since then and up until Saturday’s victory at West Ham this resilient spirit has not really been tested. Nearly all the teams Arsenal had to face did not choose or could not play a “in your face” type of game.

They played with 4 4 2 formations and were more open in their approach. Fulham, Manchester City, Portsmouth, Tottenham away and even Derby did not really adopt the more physical approach.

Still there must have been a lot of talking at London Colney about combating the more physical type of opponents during the preseason.

But there is not a lot you can do on the training pitch to instill resilience! The best kind of preparation for such an eventuality is to actually come against it in a proper game on the pitch.

And that game in Amsterdam during the preseason tournament (that Arsenal won) against a very physical, of all teams, Ajax forced the young gunners to respond in kind. If you kick us we will kick you too!

Just like Flamini did against Scot Parker last Saturday.

Arsenal eventually went on to win the Amsterdam Tournament with a goal in the last minute from that fantastic run by Clichy and Robin van Persie’s finish. They showed that they can play too. The old Ajax way!

This type of attitude and performance resurfaced again before the League started.


It was in a more serious game early in August for the Champions league qualifier at Sparta Prague.

The Czechs’ more physical approach was matched toe to toe by Arsenal culminating in their talisman Tomas Repka getting a taste of his own medicine from all people Cesc Fabregas.

So this is not just “a flash in the pan’. There is indeed resilience, tenacity and competitiveness in this team which may go all the way to the top.

Prompted by Ajax. But emulating them in their old ways.


Fabregas has added a “Peter Storey” attitude to his vast arsenal of talents

Let’s not get carried away

By 1970’s Gooner

This wasn’t a total performance as many pundits or even Robin Van Persie will have us believe. And I am not saying this just to be a killjoy or to sound different from all the other eulogizing journalists or blogs dedicated to Arsenal.

Yes it was a very good performance against a neat and skillful Sevilla side who were taught a lesson, as many teams who step up a league, usually are.

They paid the penalty of coming to the Emirates and playing in their usual attacking style.

This allowed a lot of space for the Arsenal creative players to roam in and display their undoubted skills. And when these skills are complimented with a shoot on target policy then danger looms.

But until Fabregas scored his deflected goal it was Sevilla who were the more attractive and forceful side (you can watch the goals by clicking on the Video window).

Ramos’s decision to rest their most important midfielder, Keita, so that another colleague could mark the “unmarkable” Fabregas deprived Sevilla the thrust they so badly needed from midfield.

It also curtailed the support to their main strikers. What is the use of playing in an offensive formation if you deprive the forwards of their supply line?

This was not really a complete performance by Arsenal although it gave promise that this feat is not far from becoming a reality!

A complete performance is when all the parts of the team function perfectly in their individual roles but also as a unit. And there were some individual performances that needed improving.

Senderos was still an accident waiting to happen and it almost happened on three occasions.

The most notable one was when he miskicked a clearance from a low cross from the right allowing the ball to run across the goal in front of Almunia. Only good fortune saved the day as the opposing forward missed his kick as well.

His positioning was again suspect. He lost his man, Kanoute, twice. His shot was saved on the one occasion and on the other he narrowly missed the header.

In attack Adebayor, who admittedly is improving in leaps and bounds with every game, still has to improve his ball skills and control. He also has to add finishing (in a consistent manner) to his other attributes of strength, forcefulness and aerial ability.

His position in the team is becoming very pivotal as his aerial strength and his ability to fend off defenders brings another dimension that was lacking before.

RVP apart from his goal was not his usual penetrative self. Also his link up play with Adebayor still needs to be honed further.

I am not nit picking; I am just trying to bring everyone back to earth.

When Gallas returns and the front two start getting it together then yes we will see a complete performance!

Now an area of Arsenal’s play I was really excited about was their defensive collectiveness. And by this I mean that the desire, positioning and defensive approach when the ball was lost was evident in all eleven players.

It was not just confined to the players at the back or the defensive midfielders. This was especially true of the excellent wide players, Hleb and Rosicky, who were not only creative going forward but doubled up pretty quickly at the back to defend against the Sevilla wing players.

It was also noticeable in Van Persie and Adebayor who were always tracking back to hurry and hassle the Sevilla midfielders often winning the ball.

The whole team played as unit. This is something that was very evident during the “untouchables” season.

Now, let’s not get carried away.


Selection dilemmas for Wenger

Fabregas is a more effective player than Scholes. The statistical analysis backs it up

Kanouté: “Arsenal have problem at the back”

By 1970’s Gooner

Frederic Kanouté speaking on the eve of Sevilla’s first Champion’s League game at the Emirates has pinpointed what he thinks is Arsenal’s major weakness and how Sevilla can beat them.

The Sevilla newspaper ABC.es quotes him as follows:

“Arsenal is a team that plays very rapidly in attack, it plays to feet, and I believe that it can have problems at the back because it is very offensively minded”

Kanute a summer transfer target for a lot of Premiership clubs (some newspapers included Arsenal in that list) got two of the four goals Sevilla scored in their demolition of Recreativo Huelva by 4-1 on Sunday night .

Sevilla were very impressive against Recreativo Huelva going 3-0 before the opponents could reply.

They also missed a penalty with the Russian international Kerzhakov, who played against England at Wembley last Wednesday, firing way over the bar.

He eventually added a second and Sevilla’s fourth with an impressive shot from a diagonal position just inside the area. He is another player the Arsenal defence will have to watch carefully.


Kanoute considers that Sevilla are now stepping into a competition which is of a higher level than the UEFA cup they have won on successive occasions.

“We are prepared to give a higher level of performance. I know that it will be more difficult to play before teams such as Arsenal”

Kanoute has also said that he considered Cesc Fabregas to be Arsenal’s main player, “the engine of the team” and the way to stop Arsenal playing will be to block the opponent’s key players.

If we can manage that and start quickly as always then we can achieve the win”.

Fabregas is a more effective player than Scholes. The statistical analysis backs it up

By 1970’s Gooner

Everybody, including Wenger, is comparing Fabregas with Scholes.

“The frame, intelligence in the game, passing ability and knowing when to go into the box. He is only 20 and people forget that." Said Wenger in his Portsmouth post match conference.

They are indeed similar players. They both play in central midfield and they are both playmakers of their respective sides. Excellent football players.

But Fabregas is a better footballer for Arsenal than Scholes is for Manchester United. A very bold statement you might say especially coming from a very biased Arsenal supporter.

Well, is it however?

Because they occupy the most influential parts of the pitch, midfielders are more likely to influence the outcome of a match than other positions, especially if they have vision for a good pass or ability to score.

It is generally accepted that outstanding midfielders need to posses a number of attributes on top of fitness: technique and ball skills, tackling, retaining possession and distribution, shooting and scoring as well.

We have managed, with great difficulty, to find statistical data for each player’s performance on most of the above attributes. They are presented in the table at the end of this article.

Now on which of those do you think Scholes is better than Fabregas?

Technique and ball skills

I would place Fabregas above Scholes in this area. Scholes is more of an energetic type of player who possesses average technique and ball skills. And by average I don’t mean that he is not good at it. He is average and Fabregas is above average.

Scholes does tend to release the ball much earlier than Fabregas (mainly due to Man Utd’s style of play) so we don’t have a chance to fully assess his ball skills under the pressure of an opponent sticking close to him while he is running with the ball.

You would not however classify him as a technical player. Certainly not at the same level as Fabregas who, when on the ball, gives you the illusion that time stands still.

He has the flair to manipulate the ball, shield it, run with it and release it to the right player at the appropriate time.

Usually, as is often said, fouling you is one of the better compliments that an opponent will give you.

During last season Fabregas was fouled 82 times and Scholes only 34. This is continuing this season with the respective stats being 7 against 2.

Tackling

So far there is not much to choose between them in terms of tackling.

12 tackles won for Scholes against 10 for Cesc with the latter having played a game less this season (I could not find data for the total number of tackles per player; only successful tackles!)

For the record Reo Cocker of Aston Villa has the most tackles won so far, 25 with a success rate of 72% whereas Bikey of Reading has a 90% success rate but with only 21 tackles won.

Tackling: 2007/08 season

Tacklers Team Tackles Success rate

Reo-Coker Aston Villa 25, 72%
Jenas Tottenham 24, 71%
Bikey Reading 21, 90%
Boateng Middlesbrough 20, 85%
Malbranque Tottenham 20, 70%

Source: Skysports.com (Opta stats)

In terms of commitment both Scholes and Cesc seem to concede the same number of fouls (73 for Scholes vs 78 for Fabregas last season) so there does not seem to be a great deal of difference on this count.

Fabregas has improved a lot this season and the increase in his body weight (by a few kilos apparently) has certainly added steel to his tackles. A recent example of course that tackle on Repka in Prague.

On the other hand Scholes’ style is not really that of a strong or indeed effective tackler.

Proof is the clumsiness of his tackles and the red and yellow cards he receives as a result.

The stats bear this out; 2 red cards and 12 yellows for Scholes last season to no red cards and 9 yellows for Fabregas.

Distribution

Effectiveness in the distribution of the ball can to my mind be measured by the number of passes and their accuracy.

However distribution effectiveness should also take into account the number of assists for each player.

Apart from actually scoring, a goal assist is the most important “distribution” a midfield player can make.

Scholes is way ahead of Fabregas on the distribution stakes.

He is by far the Premier League’s top passer so far this season with 409 and a pass accuracy of 89%.

Passing: 2007/08 season

Passers Team Passes Accuracy

Scholes Man Utd 409, 89%
Ferdinand Man Utd 310, 90%
Vidic Man Utd 303, 87%
Lampard Chelsea 259, 86%
Hamann Man City 246, 83%

Source: Skysports.com (Opta stats)

Fabregas on the other hand is nowhere near Scholes on this count. His count is 216 passes with a success rate of 79%. If we take into account games played, Scholes puts together 82 passes per game to 54 for Fabregas.

Again, Scholes does tend to release the ball much earlier than Fabregas and also makes a lot of short passes where accuracy is relatively easier to achieve.

It’s not a surprise that the next two players behind Scholes in the table above are both central defenders who do have a tendency to pass the ball short and usually to each other or to the midfielders.

On the goal assists however Fabregas is way ahead with 2 so far this season against none from Scholes; and before you say that the sample is too small look at the stats for last season: 16 assists for Cesc and only 3 for Scholes.

Fabregas is therefore by far the more effective passer of the ball of the two even if Scholes passes the ball more often.

Goal scoring ability

It’s all very well to possess all the above attributes but if a player can’t chip in with the goals he will never be the complete midfielder.

Scholes has the upper hand with 7 goals scored during Manchester United’s title wining season.

Fabregas scored 4 which considering Arsenal’s problems last season is not such a bad record when placed against Scholes’.

This season Fabregas is ahead with 2 against 1 (in the Premier League).

What is interesting however is the number of goal attempts.

Last season Cesc had more than twice the number of shots on goal with 59 vs 27. This is continuing this season with 5 against 3.

So on the goals count Fabregas is closing the (small) gap that was there last season.

Conclusion

I would consider Fabregas a more effective player than Scholes.

He has better technique and ball skills (although this, I concede, can only be a personal opinion), he is a more effective passer of the ball due to his far superior number of goal assists , tackles as effectively as Scholes and is now scoring at the same rate as Scholes.



Fabregas Vs Scholes: Vital Statistics 2007/08 Vs 2006/07

The first column corresponds to the 2007/08 Premier League season and the second column to the 2006/07 season in all competitions. Blank columns indicate lack of data.


Francesc Fabregas
________________________________________
Born: 04.05.1987
Birthplace: Arenys de Mar
Height:180 cm
Weight: 76 kg
Position: Midfielder

________________________________________
Fouls committed 3, 78
Fouls suffered 7, 82
Assists 2, 16
Attempts created 8,
Won contest 3,
Total passes 216,
Red Card 0, 0
Accurate Passes 170,
Clean Sheet 1,
Won Tackles 10,
Scoring attempts 12, 99
Good high claims 0,
On target attempts 6, 59
Goals 2, 4
Yellow Card 1, 9
Minutes played 360,
Total contest 4,
Clearance 7,




Paul Scholes
________________________________________
Born: 16.11.1974
Birthplace: Salford
Height:170 cm
Weight: 69 kg
Position: Midfielder

________________________________________

Fouls 5, 73
Fouls suffered 2, 34
Assists 0, 3
Attempts created 9,
Won contest 0,
Total passes 409,
Red Card 0, 2
Accurate Passes 363,
Clean Sheet 3,
Won Tackles 12,
Scoring attempts 12, 42
Good high claims 0,
On target attempts 3, 27
Goals 1, 7
Yellow Card 0, 12
Minutes played 450,
Total contest 3,
Clearance 1,



Sources: ESPN, Daily Telegraph

Fabregas, Clichy and Gilberto shine as Arsenal click into gear to thump Spurs. L'Equipe: Gallas trains lightly

By Eros, Arsenal Analysis resident season ticket holder at the Emirates (North Upper Stand Row Q)

I know it’s wrong as it’s too early but I am getting very excited by the prospect of what this team can achieve THIS year. Some passages of play against Portsmouth were a joy to watch.

When our forwards begin to get it together even more, then we are due a very big score soon, very soon. Spurs beware.

First the team ratings vs. Portsmouth

Manuel Almunia

He was not tested very often but commanded his area well, hugely improved from the player that played against Man U a couple of seasons ago, but still needs to improve his handling.

Although 1970’s Gooner does not agree with me, I am not convinced he is number one material. He is a very competent number two - 6

Mathieu Flamini

If you read this blog on a regular basis you will know how highly I think of Mattie! He is the Joker in our pack; he can cover any position requested of him with ease, and was superb once again yesterday.

He kept Taylor very quiet and joined in to help Hleb going forward. A bit naïve at times especially in the second half when we were a man down; he was often the most advanced player on the pitch!! – 7

Kolo Toure

Excellent display by the skipper for the day, throwing his body around to block any attempt on goal.

He changes his style of play when Gallas is not in the team, curbing his attacking instincts so that he makes sure that the defensive line is solid. He is solid– 7

Philippe Senderos

Played well until the sending off dealing comfortably with anything Pompey threw at us. Should have scored with a header at the beginning of the second half. If he had he would more than likely have not been sent off.

A bit harsh on Big Phil but he was out of position (one of his weaknesses) and the challenge was clumsy. He was the last man however and the letter of the law says he had to go. - 5

Gael Clichy

Started the game slow but got up to speed quickly. I have watched almost every home game Clichy has played for us and I am still amazed by his fitness levels.

The guy never stops running. Defenders have to realise that if you dwell on the ball when he is around you are going to concede a goal – is that the third goal we score like that this year? -

Once more he pinched the ball – after losing it on the left wing – passed to Cesc who played in Van Persie for the penalty. Made one mistake all game, being too far forward to stop the cross to Kanu for the goal.

Comfortable defensively and excellent going forward, I doubt we’ll see a better ball all season from the one that he put on Diaby’s head! – 8

Alex Hleb

Started the game brightly and under obvious instructions to play the early ball in to take advantage of the space created by Adebayor and showed he can add this type of play to his arsenal.

As usual his close control was excellent and made defenders look silly! Faded away in the second half which was understandable because of his illness – 6

Gilberto Silva

It’s amazing how much difference he makes to the team, everyone looks calmer, more assured and infinitely better when he is around (especially Cesc next to him).

His positional awareness is second to none and makes it almost impossible for opposition midfielders to find space to play.

Muntari was almost anonymous and he starved Utaka and Kanu of any decent service.

I always think that he speeds our game up significantly making us dangerous on the counter attack.

Also covered very competently as a centre back after the sending off – 8


Cesc Fabregas

No words can describe the young Spaniard maestro, now the complete player!

Excellent movement on and off the ball, sublime distribution.
He is now always looking for the goal.
No one can live with him in this sort of mood.
Man of the match - 9

Tomas Rosicky

One of the best games for the Czech in the Arsenal colours. Valuable outlet in the second half when we were a man down and scored the all-important 3rd goal.

He is starting to settle in his new left wing role and looking more dangerous every game. If only he could stay fit… -7

Robin Van Persie

Different player since he missed the penalty against City, badly needs a goal to boost his confidence. Worked tirelessly but never looked threatening. International break will do him a world of good – 5

Emmanuel Adebayor

Run himself into the ground as usual, and scored a very confident penalty, his link up play however was shocking. If Henry was playing with him he would have had an earful.

Needs to improve his passing and start finding RVP, Cesc, Hleb and Rosicky consistently when they make runs for him. – 6


Gilberto may be missing for the derby!

The bad news for the Spurs game is that Gilberto may not be available as Brazil called him up for more meaningless friendlies in the States, unbelievable, meaning that there are two spots up for grabs for the derby! Centre back and central midfielder.

Gallas is also doubtful. He might be back depending on how well he responds to the treatment he is receiving.

The French sports newspaper L'Equipe is reporting that Gallas did not participate in the training session but had very light training with some floor exercises yesterday, Thursday. It's considered highly unlikely that he will make it for the Italy game on Saturday.

However I have a feeling that Domenech out of spite towards Wenger is going to use a half fit Galas maybe for the Scotland game making him almost certainly unavailable for the next couple of weeks.

The good news for us is that some of our players have not been called up. Flamini, Clichy, Almunia and Denilson are not with their national squads so they have a few days off and should be well rested for the big game next week.

Flamini especially deserves it having played every minute of every game so far this season.

The players that have been called up on international duty are as follows:

Eduardo
Croatia v Estonia, September 8, Andorra v Croatia, September 12

William Gallas, Bacary Sagna
Italy v France, September 8, France v Scotland, September 12

Philippe Senderos
Switzerland v Chilie, September 7, Switzerland v Japan, September 11

Jens Lehmann
Wales v Germany, September 8, Germany v Romania, September 12

Tomas Rosicky
San Marino v Czech Republic, September 8, Czech Republic v Republic of Ireland, September 12

Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue
Gabon v Ivory Coast, September 8

Theo Walcott
Montenegro Under-21 v England Under-21, September 7, Bulgaria v England Under-21, September 11

Abou Diaby
France Under-21's v Wales Under-21, September 7, Malta Under-21's v France Under-21s, September 12

Gilberto Silva
USA Vs Brazil, September 9th (Chicago), Brazil Vs Mexico, September 12th (Boston)

Enjoy your international week, if you can.


Gilberto’s international call up may leave a huge gap in Arsenal’s defence to face Spurs

Walcott will be better than Ronaldo. Plus the goals against Sparta on video

By 1970’s Gooner

It was an easier contest for Arsenal than originally anticipated.

Part of the reason was that Arsenal approached this game professionally and gave it the respect it deserved. There was commitment from all the players and a desire to excel in everything they tried to do.

The other reason is that Sparta did not play rough or try and intimidate the young Arsenal players. They probably learned their lesson from the first leg.

They also did not play that defensively as they needed to score if they were to have any chance of getting anything out of this game.

This approach resulted in more space being available for Arsenal to exploit which they duly did. Mostly from Walcott who has really improved this season.

His penetrative and lightning fast runs did give Arsenal real width last night.

He is beginning to remind me of Man Utd’s Ronaldo a few seasons ago when he did everything right but for the crosses. Once Theo corrects this he will turn out to be a better player.

Rosicky was not as penetrative but he did get the goal.

Arsenal’s six of the nine goals scored so far in all competitions have come from midfield players.

This is a real improvement and what everyone has been crying out for: goals from midfielders.

The pairing of two similar central midfielders, Gilberto and Diaby did not really work as neither of them is creative enough. When Fabregas came on Arsenal had more flair and technique.

Similarly RVP’s pairing with Eduardo did not work. RVP needs to play off a front man and so does Eduardo. The latter's first goal for Arsenal a typical fox in the box approach as he connected to Denilson's low cross from the right.

His cut back for the Fabregas goal however was first class. He does need more games to settle in however. More than we think.

Overall a good work out for the team as they prepare themselves for the more difficult task of beating Portsmouth at the same venue.

You can watch the goals and highlights on the video but I don’t know how long they will be available.

Denilson runs the show but Fabregas does it again

By 1970’s Gooner

Arsenal didn’t start well and allowed Manchester City to settle in the game in the early stages. The very late substitution during the warm up of Senderos with Gilberto was probably part of the reason.

Gilberto looked slow and kept making positional mistakes during the first half hour which put the back line under unnecessary pressure. He did however pick up the pace as the game wore on.

It seems that what we all thought was behind Wenger’s decision to let Djourou go out on loan is probably true. He is intending to use Gilberto in this position when needed.

But the turning point of the game was not the penalty miss as you may have thought but Sagna’s injury (inflicted by Flamini).

This forced Wenger to move Flamini to right back (who performed excellently) and bring Denilson on in midfield. He run the show! This boy is going to be a wonderful Arsenal player.

Prior to this Arsenal again did not really dominate the midfield the way we have been accustomed to. I pointed to this possibility in the preview of the game. When Diaby and Gilberto get fit Arsenal will revert to the levels of domination we are accustomed to.

Again Arsenal lacked width as the wide players were not that penetrative. Hleb in particular has reverted to old ways: almost always coming inside rather than going passed his player (except for the penalty)and again afraid to shoot.

Come back Eboue and Walcott. The latter mysteriously not even on the bench.

Overall it was again an anxious striven win; the goal coming at the later stages of the game to liberate all of us from what we feared will be a nil nil draw.

Let’s hope we improve when the missing players return to action.

Lehmann’s clanger hides Wenger’s and Arsenal’s sins

By 1970’s Gooner

Everybody would of course blame “poor” Jens Lehmann for dropping a clanger and gifting Blackburn a very fortuitous equalizer. And it certainly looked that, despite Blackburn’s resurgence in the second half, Arsenal were going to hold out for a very scrappy but morale boosting away win.

But having watched the encounter live I formed the opinion that it need not have turned out such a close and scrappy game.

Arsenal strangely enough were outfought in midfield and could not dictate play as we know they can. The result was that Fabregas was subdued and the supply to the two front men was not as often or as good as it usually is.

There are two major reasons for this.

The first has to do with the fact that due to the physical nature of the opponents, the Arsenal players, in their desire to show to everybody that they can mix it too, forgot how to play football.

Blackburn’s physical approach (especially from that prat Savage) was intended to intimidate them and put them out of their stride.

It did not succeed in intimidating them but it shifted the Arsenal’s players focus and minds away from playing the beautiful game to dishing it out themselves.

This is exactly what happened in the away game at Sparta Prague, a game I also watched live. Except on that occasion Lehmann and the post saved Arsenal.

There is another equally important reason for the loss of midfield control and it has to do with Wenger’s selection to start with Eduardo. This is because Eduardo was returning from injury and had not played in the Premiership yet.

As often happens in football, due to its zero sum characteristic and reliance on team coordination, if one or more of its parts or players is not functioning well the whole of the team suffers.

Giving him his debut in such a tough away fixture was to my mind a gamble. In fact it was a gamble Wenger need not have taken because by doing so he not only weakened the side but had to change a thus far winning formula by switching the formation from 4 4 1 1 to a straight 4 4 2.

In addition, this deprived the midfield area of the extra player it needed on various occasions which would have come from the deeper lying forward. Hleb in other words.

Loss of midfield control deprived Arsenal the usual dominance it enjoys against such teams and resulted in a scrappy and physical game which invariably suited the less technical side.



Blackburn Vs Arsenal. Predictions and betting suggestions


Walcott and Clichy should be the wide players against Blackburn

Fabregas has added a “Peter Storey” attitude to his vast arsenal of talents

By 1970’s Gooner

Francesc Fàbregas Soler is a wonderful midfielder playing football the way it should be played. He has vision, creativity and accurate passing which suits Arsenal's intricate passing game.

But an addition to Fabregas’s armoury of talents is his physical toughness and the desire to not only play the beautiful game but, if the occasion demands it, to be prepared to mix it.

In this aspect, and in this aspect only, he reminds me of Arsenal 1970’s legend Peter Storey.

Peter Storey was a very tough player who never shirked out of tackles. He relished physical games which was just as well as, in those days, you had to have players in the team who were prepared to really mix it.

He was also always ready to protect his own, less than physically endowed, players.

I remember that if an opponent had made a bad tackle on one of the Arsenal players then the crowd would shout the player’s shirt number to him. Especially for the off the ball incidents.

Bob’s your uncle that player was soon on the floor writhing in pain!

Peter Storey could also play football.

He played in two consecutive (unsuccessful) League Cup finals for Arsenal in 1968 and 1969, before winning the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1970 and the famous double a year later under Bertie Mee.

He played for England at right back. He made his debut in 1971 against Greece and went on to win 18 caps during the early 1970s, later filling the midfield role vacated by the retiring Nobby Stiles.

Now you may well ask how does Peter Storey remind you of Fabregas?

Fabregas dished out the punishment to, of all people, Tomas Repka, the hard man of Sparta Prague and ex West Ham defender. And Repka is built like a tank!

Fabregas’s tackle came just after Repka started putting himself about culminating in a hard challenge against Robin Van Persie. Repka tried to carry on after that but had to come off with a swollen knee.

That showed the opponents who was boss in this game! But it also gave the signal to his team mates that “we will not be intimidated”.

A cry which will need to be repeated many times during this critical, make or break, season for this maturing team.

A cry from far back. From Peter Storey's time.


Is Justin Hoyte the new Pat Rice?

Hleb is top scorer, Robin needs a Batman and Fabregas is the real captain

By 1970's Gooner

There were three very positive aspects to come out of this tough encounter in Prague (apart from the win).

The first was the resilience and character to tough it out against very physical opponents. The second was the midfielders finding their goal scoring touch; at last. And the third was the vast potential that exists in this team when the proper centre forwards return to give it balance and extra scoring potential.

Resilience

This attitude expressed itself in the game against Ajax in Amsterdam for the pre season tournament. We all commented on it but I think we put it at the back of our minds thinking that it was probably a one off.

Or at least we wanted to wait for more games until we were convinced. I am now convinced that this Arsenal team will be no easy push overs this season. And this augurs well for the tricky encounter against Blackburn next Sunday.

What in particular impressed me was Fabregas’s contribution. He has moved on this season up the ladder of what will eventually lead him to world stardom and star status.

This year he is more confident about his scoring ability thus he takes more shots at goal rather than passing the ball; it was usually to Henry last season.

Maybe the latter’s absence has forced him to look at other alternatives.

He has also added steel to his game. His tackle on Tomas Repka was the turning point of the game for me. It forced Repka out of the game and also gave the signal to his team mates that “we will not be intimidated”.

He is the real captain of the team.

The midfielders are finding their goal scoring touch

In the absence of Henry last season, goals were difficult to find especially since the midfielders were not chipping in with their expected contribution.

Well three of the four goals scored so far in have come from midfielders. And the other was a penalty which was not won by a forward player.

The difference this season is of course Hleb’s contribution which is in direct contrast to last year where he was afraid put his boot in and more importantly to shoot. He is in fact top scorer now!

The contribution from the midfielders is more important than one may suppose. This is because of the formation that Arsenal are deploying at the moment.

The lone forward up front is indeed lone and his primary task is first to bring other players in. So if the midfielders don’t score you are in trouble. As we were last year.

The return of a proper centre forward

This team is crying out for a proper centre forward. A tall, strong and physical player who can hold the ball and bring players into the game.

Robin van Persie isn’t that player. He is better deployed behind or next to a strong centre forward and not as a lone striker.

This was very evident last season when Henry was around and now with Bendtner in the friendlies. This is probably the way Wenger intends to deploy RVP when Adebayor returns.

My view on Bendtner’s utilization is that he is indeed ready to do a job for Wenger. As regular visitors to this site are aware.

Lack of support for RVP puts more strain on the midfield and defence as the ball keeps coming back. When this imbalance is corrected this team has the potential to increase its efficiency quite substantially.

And surprise a lot of people.


Bendtner should start every game. It makes more tactical sense

Arsenal look ready to hit the ground running, more so than the others

Strength in depth eases Wenger’s team selection worries for the coming season

Bendtner should start every game. It makes more tactical sense

By 1970's Gooner

There were two tactical weaknesses apparent during Arsenal’s first game of the season against Fulham at the Emirates. The first concerned Hleb’s positioning during the game and the other the obvious lack of a strong centre forward.

In my preview of this game (and considering that Wenger was not going to select Bendtner) I favoured Hleb to partner Van Persie over Eduardo even if the latter had been available.

Hleb looked sharper and rejuvenated during the pre season relishing his new role behind Van Persie and getting on the score sheet too. A feat which he promptly repeated again in a real game.

However what he tended to do a lot during the game was to drop deep into midfield and try and dictate play from there.

This crowded out Fabregas and Flamini not only in terms of space but more importantly restricting Fabregas from running the show as only he knows how.

And I think that we all agree that Fabregas is much better at it than Hleb; who has shown however that he can replace Fabregas if need be.

This had another negative effect. There was no support for Van Persie which restricted his passing options when he was able to receive the ball.

The second tactical weakness concerns the role of Van Persie himself. He is better deployed behind or next to a strong centre forward and not as a lone striker.

This was very evident last season when Henry was around and now with Bendtner in the friendlies. This is probably the way Wenger intends to deploy him when Adebayor returns.

However he chose not do so for this game probably because, as he has said recently, he does not consider Bendtner ready for the Premiership yet.

In my posting after the Ajax game for the Amsterdam Tournament I argued that Bendtner was the new fox in the box that we have for so long been looking for and that he should be starting against Fulham.

Wenger I think has underestimated the boy’s capabilities. The answer is staring him in his face yet he refuses to see it.

Bendtner has proved more than capable of playing that role and it clearly showed when he was brought on the pitch at 72 minutes.

This had a multiple of positive effects as you often get in football games when a weakness is corrected.

The introduction of a strong and tall centre forward raffled the opposing defence and allowed Van Persie to play off him thus becoming more effective himself. Additionally Hleb’s repositioning on the left flank (to make room for Bendtner) released Fabregas to weave his magic.

Bob’s your uncle Fabregas releases the killer ball that Hleb dispatched into the net on 90 minutes for the winner.

The latest news is that Eduardo has joined Adebayor on the injury list. Bendtner, if called upon, is well capable of performing well in the Champion’s League qualifier.

We have set up a poll on the issue of who should partner Robin Van Persie. Please cast your vote and leave a comment!


Bendtner makes a case for starting against Fulham

Strength in depth eases Wenger’s team selection worries for the coming season


Ed: Can Asa or anyone linking here from the "Same old Arsenal" blog please contact me using the comments box as the link from Arsenal Analysis" does not appear to be working!