Are these the seven handsomest Arsenal players?

By 1970's Gooner

There are top quality footballers playing the most attractive football, scoring the most beautiful goals or defending in such a manner that getting past them becomes a real feat.

At least that is how all the fans see and mostly think about the players who represent their favourite side. And they are adored for this reason.

But there are some footballers who develop a bigger fan base not only because of their footballing ability but because of their good looks!

Have you wondered what marks each Arsenal player would get on the “good looks” League?

I asked a small group of female friends (who are not all football fans) to look at the Arsenal players with a different eye!

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder as they say so there are bound to be a lot of different opinions about this very subjective matter.

Nevertheless in descending order these are the top 7 that they came up with.

7: Theo Walcott (cute)



6: Manuel Almunia (looks manly)



5: Nicklas Bendtner (nice)



4: Gilberto Silva (sweet)



3: Eduardo Da Silva ( latin looks)



2: Robin Van Persie (very cute)



1: Jens Lehmann (very handsome!)







It must be said that the rest of the Arsenal players were ….nowhere!

Ed: I am sure that there are a lot of different opinions about this subject and that the above list is by no means definitive.

Who do you think is the prettiest of them all?

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.

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

An open letter to Manchester United fans

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

Dear I Spy and Manchester United fans,

Thanks for your kind words about the site, I tried to be as objective as possible when writing the article! I am glad that you agree with my original assessment that all football fans are absolutely mental (you call it how much crack did you smoke).

I have read your reply to my article and your revised selections in your open letter to Arsenal fans. To your credit you have made some adjustments to your original position. You say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and you are correct; however the fact that you felt the need to revisit your post and make adjustments to it I think says a lot! I take that as I compliment.

For all your backhanded compliments however I think that some of your arguments would embarrass ever Red Face himself! As I don’t want this to be a ding dong battle – who I’m I kidding I’d love a ding dong battle- I am only going to object to a few selections.

Even you know that however much alcohol or drugs you take Wes Brown is never going to be a better player than either Sagna or Eboue. An ok utility player an international Right Back he is definitely not! There’s no point even arguing about it.

When I originally wrote the post Evra was the back up left back in the French squad. However Clichy has now made the French squad for the upcoming internationals! I think at the expense of Evra.

So even Domenech agrees with me – I am not happy about this as I would much prefer Evra to play and Clichy to have a little rest. Since Domenech is the bees knees – you point out that he guided France to the World Cup final – who are we humans to argue with him! Clichy it is then.

You asked me how many games Arsenal lost last season; I think 9 is the answer to your question. However we did beat your United twice. I have just checked my stats and they say United conceded 27 goals last year and Arsenal 34. But making your decision solely on how many games each team lost last year is ludicrous!

Toure last season had to play with a different partner nearly every week. Gallas was injured most of the season, Djourou and Senderos were in and out of the team because of niggly injuries and Gilberto had to slot in at the back.

What you forget about Toure is that he and Campbell where the defensive partnership when Arsenal went a whole season unbeaten (something you never achieved and cannot even dream of doing), and in 2006 he was the corner stone of the record number of clean sheets that took Arsenal to the Champions League Final.

The argument that Arsenal lost more last year makes Rio a better player smacks me as an easy way out so that no real comparisons are made between the players!

Toure is quicker, better on the ball and reads the game extremely well. He rarely wastes possession and even more infrequently does he loose concentration, which is something that you really can’t say about your Rio.

On top of all that I’ve never heard that Toure missed a drugs test! And in my book you only forget about a drugs test for one reason and it’s not because you are moving house!

I will not even bother arguing about Rooney, Scholes, RVP and Cesc as none of us are able to eliminate all bias and reach a logical conclusion, so I think its best to agree to disagree on this one. However I have to point out that Cesc this year has already got 6 goals and 8 assists.

You seem to also imply that Rooney has a better ‘range’ than RVP. I’m not sure what you mean by range, but I think that Van Persie is better technically, better on the ball and can score a goal from any situation. I also think he is a better finisher.

As I have explained in my original article there are only three Manchester United players that could make it into the Arsenal team at the moment. Van De Sar, Vidic and Ronaldo.

Lastly, you never mention the depth of your squad. I wonder why.

Such is your lack of depth that Fergie relys on 13/14 players unlike Arsenal which can change any player in their starting 11 and still perform up to standard.

Even if Cesc is out both Abou Diaby and Denilson can come in and keep the team playing, what we call, Fabregas football. I think that is were Arsenal have the real advantage.

I wonder what your replacements will be to the loss of Carrick and Hargreaves.

In your open letter you say that we go overboard thinking that we are better than Brazil and you point out that we had a very disappointing year last time out. Nobody denies the disappointment, especially after the last few years where we were used to competing for something every season.

Unlike United we have not been able to compete in the transfer market. Taking into account all the players that left after 2003/04 and the refusal of Wenger to spend money until the financial future of the club was secure makes the last 2 years’ disappointments seem almost insignificant.

But you see, ever since Wenger took over we make the stars not buy them.

The signs of a team emerging were there last year, with the Carling Cup run and the results in the so called big games especially the double over your United. What the team lacked was consistency and that’s why we did not compete.

It’s too early to definitely say but there are good signs that this team is ready to challenge and fight for every point available. The difference to last time out is that now they expect to win every single game and after the start they had, try and convince them otherwise.

Surely there is going to be the odd bad result but I think this team is so strong mentally that it will not be as affected as the 03/04 team.

I have no illusions about United, I honestly think they are a good team, play entertaining football and they will be serious contenders for the title.

I disagree however with the notion that it’s United’s title to lose. You lot better be ready for a fight, I know our boys are!


Ed: This is a personal view. What is your opinion?


Who Would Wenger Take From Manchester United’s Team?

An Open Letter To Arsenal Fans

Who Would Fergie Take From Arsenal’s First Team?

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?

Steaua Vs Arsenal: Hleb ran the show. Plus video highlights: Did it cross the line?

By 1970’s Gooner

It was not a great performance. The players looked a little jaded and could not get their flowing football going.

Maybe tiredness is beginning to set in with practically the same players playing in almost every game so far. There were also niggling injuries that a number of the Arsenal players were carrying.

They did however dominate the game, created many chances and should have scored more than one goal.

Still not being at your best and creating chances bodes well for the rest of, what looks like, a long campaign this season and probably in all fronts.

Wenger called for goal line technology claiming that the ball had crossed the line from one of many crosses from Clichy which was deflected into goal. See for yourself by clicking on the video window.

Fabregas missed a sitter in the first half from about five yards scooping the ball over the bar where it would have been easier to score!

But the goal came eventually on 75 minutes from yet another cut back from the left hand side by Adebayor. Van Persie buried it in the roof of the net.

After that confidence took over and the young guns passed the ball around in their customary style.

Almunia:

Did not have much to do but gave a very assured and confident display: 7

Sagna:

Strong and decisive but did not get going forward a lot. Probably due to instructions and Eboue’s insufficient support: 6

Toure:

Strong, decisive and a real leader. Never put a foot wrong: 8

Senderos:

Faultless. Never missed a header and won all his interceptions decisively. One of his best performances: 8

Clichy:

His usual bustling self, defending well and bombing forward on every occasion. He is important in this Arsenal side as Hleb does not usually stay on the wing much : 8

Eboue:

Disappointing. Never in the game and was at most a peripheral figure. He went passed his man on only one occasion during the whole game. Preferred to come inside and lay the ball off to colleague rather than try and make things happen for himself : 4

Hleb:

Man of the match. Run the show overshadowing Fabregas in this respect.

He always wanted the ball and by coming inside he was making things happen, laying off balls and then running into positions to receive it.

He made Arsenal tick last night. A shadow of his previous season’s self! 9

Fabregas:

Just below his best with a lot of his passes uncharacteristically going astray or to opponents. Is he tired? 6

Flamini:

Played his usual game full of running and determination. One of the few Arsenal players who performed at his best: 8

Adebayor:

Was below his best and did not link well with his partner RVP. But his runs down the left channel were difficult for the opponents to stop due to his strength and speed. His cut back created the goal for Van Persie: 6

Van Persie:

He was also below his best and his link up play with Adebayor was again lacking as it was in the previous game at West Ham. These two still need to get it together and when they do many more goals will come! Took his goal very well: 8

Sunderland on Sunday now. Lets hope the players rest well and that there are no more injuries.

Keep Well

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

Selection dilemmas for Wenger

By 1970’s Gooner

Arsene Wenger has a decision to make for the Champions League Group H encounter against Sevilla. Does he continue with Gilberto in central defence or does he opt for the returning Senderos.

This is a much more difficult decision than it first appears because either selection will have repercussions elsewhere in the formation of the team but also in Wenger’s future planning.

Let’s be more specific.

On the footballing side if he sticks with Gilberto then he has another dilemma. Who plays in the central midfield position next to fabulous Fabregas?

I know what he will decide because when faced with the same selection question before it was Flamini rather than the unlucky Diaby.

I say unlucky because Diaby to my mind is a far more forceful and powerful player best suited for this position than Flamini.

Especially when you consider that Sevilla’s midfield includes Keita who is a strong battler and powerful player who provides the engine in this attractive Sevilla side.

However if Wenger sticks with Gilberto in defence this leaves Senderos out of the starting eleven. Not a problem you might say; and I would agree.

His positioning has been suspect which is, however, important for a defender whose pace is not his best attribute.

Having watched Sevilla demolish Recreativo Huelva 4-1 the other night I am worried about their forward line which includes the very wily and pacy pairing of Kanoute and the Russian Kerzakov.

Gilberto and Senderos are not blessed with a lot of pace but Gilberto may just get the nod due to his experience and better positional sense.

Leaving Senderos out will be a big psychological blow for the young player.

He will inevitably interpret this decision to mean that the manager has lost faith in him and start questioning his future at the club.

Another dilemma?

The other selection decision for Wenger is whether to stick with Robin Van Persie in attack. You might be raising your eyebrows at this moment, but I like to call them as I see them.

Van Persie has gone off the boil in recent games. He was largely absent at the Lane and also during the game against Portsmouth.

We should not let the exciting win at Tottenham distract us from judging a player’s performance.

As I said in my analysis of the game we are going to face tougher opponents than Spurs in the future who are not going to miss chances and who are not going to hand us goals on a plate.

Eduardo was not even on the bench against Spurs so he has been rested and is ready to go having scored three goals in his last two international games for Croatia. He has also scored for Arsenal in the Champion’s League qualifier at the Emirates against Sparta Prague.

If the selection decision is simply based on form then Van Persie should be on the bench.

I would hope and expect that Wenger will reinstall Rosicky on the left flank. He was probably rested for the game against Spurs for this purpose.

My starting 11 would include Gilberto in defence, Diaby in central midfield, Rosicky on the left of midfield and Eduardo in attack. The rest pick themselves.

But Wenger knows best right?

Prediction

We managed to come out on top with our predictions so far this season but after all when the team is doing well and winning it’s more difficult to get it wrong than right!

However the predictions for a 1-1 draw at Blackburn and that of a 1-3 away win at Tottenham are the ones that we are proud of.

For tonight’s game both teams play open attractive football in a 4 4 2 formation. This means that there will be goals and I expect Arsenal to come out on top; 3-1


Tottenham’s weaknesses more serious than Arsenal’s

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

Who should partner Robin Van Persie?

By 1970’s Gooner

For regular visitors to this site my views have been made clear. Robin Van Persie is not really a centre forward in the sense that he is not a strong physical front target man.

He is better deployed behind or next to a strong centre forward and not as a lone
striker.

I also believe that Wenger needs to sign another experienced forward. This is for both football and practical reasons.

Football reasons

The current squad consists of four forward players. Eduardo may be a goal scorer but he is not a front target man.

In a way his style of play is more like Robin’s. Playing them together will not necessarily offer them the environment they seek to score their goals.

Adebayor is a target man and so is Bendtner. Adebayor will do a good job but goals do not come that easily to him and Bendtner is not yet trusted by Wenger to start games.

Another aspect to take into account is the relative lack of experience in this area.

Robin Van Persie and Adebayor are only 23 and 22 respectively. The addition of Eduardo to the squad (aged 24) does not of course do much to increase the average age.

The practical reasons are equally important

Account has also to be taken of injury, suspensions, loss of form and the Africa Cup of Nations.

Remember what happened last season when injuries to Henry and Van Persie in particular deprived the team of its two most lethal forwards? RVP was also close to getting a second yellow card against Blackburn.

Taking into account that Adebayor will be away at the Africa Cup of Nations for about a month then it becomes obvious that the squad will lose serious depth.

Now if a premiership experienced forward with goal scoring ability was recruited (there is talk of Anelka again) then it suddenly gives a very attractive outlook indeed to this Arsenal team.

But assuming that Wenger does not recruit anyone else who should partner RVP?

To my mind it’s a straight race between Adebayor and Bendtner. Barring availability constraints I would opt for Bendtner because he is stronger and more physical than Adebayor.

In this way he provides a different option to Arsenal’s intricate but often predictable style of play. But this is my own biased view if you like!

As you may be aware, for the last week we run a poll on this site on this very question: Who should partner RVP?

In total 734 votes were cast. They would have been many more because the number of visits to the site during that period reached new heights but Google’s new poll facility kept breaking down!

The results are interesting. The player who played most in that position so far, Hleb, received the least votes with only 11%.

Obviously most of you do not think that he will be able to hold on to that position when other players get fit, as indeed was the case for the game against Blackburn.

Most votes went to Eduardo with 45%. Obviously a lot of Arsenal fans are pinning their hopes on the new recruit, trusting Wenger in his judgment.

This is so even if Eduardo did not really feature much during the pre-season and the early stages of the campaign.

The more surprising result is the close number of votes between Adebayor (23%) and Bendtner (21%). It seems that there is a lot more trust being placed on the young lad by the fans than Wenger is prepared to show.

If Wenger does not get the cheque book out then he may well find himself having to trust young Bendtner sooner than he thinks.


Who should partner RVP? Poll results:

Eduardo Da Silva 45%
Emmanuel Adebayor 23%
Nicklas Bendtner 21%
Alexander Hleb 11%

Total votes cast: 734

Thanks for your support, comments and votes!

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

Bendtner should start every game. It makes more tactical sense

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!

Preview of Arsenal Vs Fulham. Breaking up packed defenses is hard to do

By 1970’s Gooner

You knew what you were going to get from Fulham when Chris Coleman was in charge. Attacking football home and away, having a go at you with the midfielders and full backs encouraged to go forward.

His philosophy was that if you put a lot of players behind the ball you will eventually succumb. Attack was the best form of defense.

This was the reason that Fulham surprised a few teams but it was also the reason why they ended up letting in fours and fives, as in their opening game of last season against Manchester United.

They did in fact concede 60 league goals last season. As compared to Watford’s 59 and Sheffield United’s 55. Both went down.

Judging by Northern Ireland’s excellent performances on the international scene, Lawrie Sanchez appears to be of the other persuasion.

Stick men behind the ball and pack the midfield whose first priority will be to adopt a more conservative approach.

And become more adventurous through quick counter attacks when the opportunity arises.

Sanchez’s recruitment strategy has reflected this mentality.

The players brought in are not necessarily top quality but they are well equipped for tough battles out there on the football field.

Also in Kamara and Buazza they have two very pacy players who can hit you on the counter attack.

The problem however will be to assimilate all these new players in the squad and also keep them happy. Not an easy task.

So it will appear that Arsenal will return back to familiar ground.

No I don’t mean that they are by now used to the Emirates; it was to me a very feeble excuse anyway, invented by Wenger, in desperation, to keep the players’ morale up when points were being dropped at home left right and centre.

What I mean is that Arsenal are likely to face a packed defence. And we all know that breaking up packed defenses is hard to do!

This is what Arsenal failed to find answers to last season. And if they haven’t learned their lesson then this game could turn out another first home fixture where points are dropped; again.

Remember Aston Villa last season?

It is this background that Wenger’s team selection will have to take into account for the two positions that are really still open.

These are deciding on who to partner Robin Van Persie in the forward areas of the pitch and who to trust for the wide left slot.

I say this because the occupants for the rest of the positions are either well known or have passed their trial during the “perfect pre-season”.

The right midfield position has to my mind been successfully claimed by the excellent Eboue and the right back slot by the new recruit Bakary Sagna.

These two have gelled together very quickly and they compliment each other very well.

Now who will partner RVP up front is not as straight forward.

I have advocated for Bendtner’s inclusion before for the fact that he compliments RVP very well who himself is better deployed not as a front man but playing off the centre forward.

But obviously Wenger thinks otherwise so who am I disagree!

I believe therefore that Hleb should get the nod before Eduardo as he has played very well in that position during pre-season.

He showed that his skills in close ball control and dribbling can be very effective when playing off a front man.

More importantly however these are the skills that will come in very useful when trying to unlock defenses, as I suspect Arsenal will be trying to do on Sunday.

There is no obvious candidate for the wide left midfield spot simply because no one from the usual suspects impressed there during pre season.

Rosicky who may get the nod was not up to his usual standard. Clichy did impress but he will be trusted with the left back spot.

Wenger may make therefore the pragmatic decision and play Hleb on the left and partner Eduardo with RVP instead.

I personally would keep Eduardo on the bench and introduce him to Premiership football in a more gradual manner rather than throwing him in at the deep end.

My starting eleven would therefore be:

Lehmann

Sagna Toure Gallas Clichy

Eboue Fabregas Diaby Rosicky

Hleb

RVP

Prediction: Arsenal carry their pre-season form into the League and hit the ground running. 2 - 0

Arsenal look ready to hit the ground running, more so than the others
What does Arsenal need to do to challenge for next season?
Bendtner makes a case for starting against Fulham

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

By 1970’s Gooner

One aspect that seems to characterize this new Arsenal side is the real strength in depth that exists in the squad. And by real I mean that this squad has quality replacements in all positions. This has been very evident during the very satisfying and successful tournament wins at the Emirates and in Amsterdam.

Take the goalkeeping position with Almunia proving more than adequate especially as a shot stopper and on the one to ones.

He has improved quite a lot since his arrival at Arsenal and this was evident during the preseason friendlies. He has convinced that he can replace Lehmann if need be.

Fabiansky hasn’t played much during the preseason but I would tend to trust Wenger on his potential.

In the defensive positions there is Hoyte and Sagna on the right and Clichy and Traore on the left. Hoyte, Djourou, Gallas and Flamini have proved adequate stand ins for these positions in the past. Hell even Eboue can drop back into defence if the need arises.

In the central defensive positions Senderos and Djourou are improving all the time but more importantly don’t forget Gilberto Silva who was a more than adequate cover for Toure and Gallas when he was used in this position.

Especially now that Diaby has evolved as an excellent central midfielder and has become the new Vieira; and even better!

In central midfield there is an abundance of riches with Denilson, Flamini (both have played very well in the Amsterdam Tournament), Song and Rosicky who can be deployed there too as that is his natural position rather than the wide areas.

All these players are in addition to Fabregas, Gilberto and Diaby. And there will be occasions when only two of these three may play in some games if the formation dictates for only two central midfielders!

The wide midfield positions too are now looking more filled in.

This is due to the excellent Eboue’s promotion infield and the recruitment of Eduardo who, although earmarked for the forward positions, can be deployed on the left, as Wenger has hinted.

Additionally there is of course Hleb who has shown that he will be more focused this year, Rosicky, Walcott and even Clichy who can, if need be, play as effectively in a more forward position just like Eboue has done.

If Traore is judged as too young then Hoyte could then cover for him at left back or even Flamini or Gallas!

In the forward positions Wenger could select any one or two (depending on the formation to be deployed) from RVP, Adebayor, Eduardo, Bendtner and you can add on this list Hleb who showed that his skills in close ball control and dribbling can be very effective when playing off the centre forward.

There is indeed a lot of versatility and flexibility inherent in this team and, as a consequence, a lot of strength in depth.

It is fast becoming a coach’s dreamland in working out formations and selecting the right players to fit in and vice versa. And this bodes well for the gruelling needs of the coming season.

Ed: You can leave a comment on what you think and also vote on the poll we have set up "who will win the title?"

Diaby is the new Vieira and even better.
Who will win the title? Part I: Arsenal against the odds?
Who will win the title? Part II: Liverpool it's getting serious