By 1970’s Gooner
Almunia: Poor today and a continuous liability 2
Sagna : Steady as you go but nothing more. At least he is consistent. 5
Clichy: Decision making not his forte 3
Gallas: Tried his best, as usual 6
Vermaelen: And we thought his inclusion would have given us the edge. Strong performance and a goal, again 7
Denilson: A kid among men 3
Fabregas: Tried but surrounded by mediocrity, 6
Song: A solid performance, 5
Nasri: Ineffective and often failed to track back, 4
Rosicky: Uninterested? 3
Arshavin: Eager but selfish, 4
Eboue: Made a difference going forward, 6
Walcott: Used his pace to good effect but not enough time to have an impact, 5
Bendtner: Out of touch, needs games 4
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Arsenal’s vast room for improvement augurs well for the Premier League title
By 1970’s Gooner
When Arsene Wenger sold Patrick Vieira every single pundit wrote Arsenal’s chances for honours off.
Cesc and the rest got to the Champions League Final.
When Arsene Wenger moved Thiery Henry on every single pundit dismissed Arsenal’s chances again.
Yet Cesc and the rest topped the League in the first few months of that season and if it wasn’t for Eduardo’s horrific injury would have gone on to seriously challenge for the title.
This goes to show that this bunch of players that Arsene has put together have the capability to make up for the loss of significant players and still produce scintillating and high quality football.
This trend is being repeated again this season where this squad has had to put up with key players missing and still came up trumps. The run of recent results have so eloquently proved everyone wrong.
Players missing include:
- Arsenal’s top scorer (when he got injured) Robin van Persie and his young but very promising understudy Nicklas Bendtner.
Arsenal have relied on the diminutive Andrei Arshavin who never played centre forward before and on Eduardo who is still trying to find his feet after being out of action for so long.
- First team choice left back Gael Clichy and also his understudy Kieran Gibbs.
Arsenal had to make do with the third choice left back Armand Traore.
- First team choice goalkeeper Manuel Almunia as well as his understudy Lukasz Fabianski.
In stepped the third choice rooky keeper Vito Mannone.
- Fantastic midfielder Alex Song away on Africa Nations Cup duty.
He has been replaced by Denilson and when not available, youngster Aaron Ramsey as well as rooky midfielder Creig Eastmond who made his full League debut only last week away to Bolton of all places.
- Samir Nasri and Theo Walcott have been away injured for most of the season so far.
Arsenal found the resources to replace them with Eduardo and Rosicky.
Yet despite all these players missing Arsenal are now sitting top of the League (albeit with a game played more than Chelsea).
The conclusion that can be drawn is that there is still quite a substantial room for even more improvement in this team. And I believe that when this happens Arsenal will be unstoppable.
Let’s look into how this can come about.
Bendtner’s return
When Bendtner comes back Arsenal will gain a double benefit. A player that will play in his natural position who will add height and strength up front. This will give Arsenal the variety that has been missing in its forward play.
Up to now the ball has been played to the forward’s feet on the ground by building form the back. This is Arsenal’s usual way of playing of course.
But Bendtner’s height and strength will provide another option. It will also add height when defending corners and dead ball situations.
The other benefit will be the release of Arshavin and Eduardo to play in their natural positions. The effect of this should not be underestimated as these players will become more efficient and also provide Wenger with more options.
Bendtner is penciled in for the game at Aston Villa next week…
Clichy’s return
Granted he was rather rusty against Bolton and should be partly blamed for the first goal conceded.
Yet we all know Gael’s quality and what he brings to this team. Now he is back the defence will be that much more solid. And we will need that with the difficult games coming up.
Can’t wait for Alex Song
If Cameroon go all the way in the Africa Nations Cup then he Song will not be back till mid February. Yet when he does come back Arsenal’s performances and defensive midfield capability for the latter part of the season will be so much more on solid ground.
Theo back on track
Walcott’s comeback (and eventually Nasri’s return in two weeks) will add more options for Wenger in the wide midfield positions as well as provide a much needed rest for Eduardo, Rosicky and even Arshavin who is carrying an injury.
Theo’s return in particular will add pace in the forward positions which has been missing of late.
Now all Arsenal have to do is stay top or in touch with the top after the completion of the next four games: Aston Villa away, Manchester United home, Chelsea away and Liverpool home.
It’s a tall order by all accounts but if it can be achieved then we will be well on our way for the Premier League title.
When Arsene Wenger sold Patrick Vieira every single pundit wrote Arsenal’s chances for honours off.
Cesc and the rest got to the Champions League Final.
When Arsene Wenger moved Thiery Henry on every single pundit dismissed Arsenal’s chances again.
Yet Cesc and the rest topped the League in the first few months of that season and if it wasn’t for Eduardo’s horrific injury would have gone on to seriously challenge for the title.
This goes to show that this bunch of players that Arsene has put together have the capability to make up for the loss of significant players and still produce scintillating and high quality football.
This trend is being repeated again this season where this squad has had to put up with key players missing and still came up trumps. The run of recent results have so eloquently proved everyone wrong.
Players missing include:
- Arsenal’s top scorer (when he got injured) Robin van Persie and his young but very promising understudy Nicklas Bendtner.
Arsenal have relied on the diminutive Andrei Arshavin who never played centre forward before and on Eduardo who is still trying to find his feet after being out of action for so long.
- First team choice left back Gael Clichy and also his understudy Kieran Gibbs.
Arsenal had to make do with the third choice left back Armand Traore.
- First team choice goalkeeper Manuel Almunia as well as his understudy Lukasz Fabianski.
In stepped the third choice rooky keeper Vito Mannone.
- Fantastic midfielder Alex Song away on Africa Nations Cup duty.
He has been replaced by Denilson and when not available, youngster Aaron Ramsey as well as rooky midfielder Creig Eastmond who made his full League debut only last week away to Bolton of all places.
- Samir Nasri and Theo Walcott have been away injured for most of the season so far.
Arsenal found the resources to replace them with Eduardo and Rosicky.
Yet despite all these players missing Arsenal are now sitting top of the League (albeit with a game played more than Chelsea).
The conclusion that can be drawn is that there is still quite a substantial room for even more improvement in this team. And I believe that when this happens Arsenal will be unstoppable.
Let’s look into how this can come about.
Bendtner’s return
When Bendtner comes back Arsenal will gain a double benefit. A player that will play in his natural position who will add height and strength up front. This will give Arsenal the variety that has been missing in its forward play.
Up to now the ball has been played to the forward’s feet on the ground by building form the back. This is Arsenal’s usual way of playing of course.
But Bendtner’s height and strength will provide another option. It will also add height when defending corners and dead ball situations.
The other benefit will be the release of Arshavin and Eduardo to play in their natural positions. The effect of this should not be underestimated as these players will become more efficient and also provide Wenger with more options.
Bendtner is penciled in for the game at Aston Villa next week…
Clichy’s return
Granted he was rather rusty against Bolton and should be partly blamed for the first goal conceded.
Yet we all know Gael’s quality and what he brings to this team. Now he is back the defence will be that much more solid. And we will need that with the difficult games coming up.
Can’t wait for Alex Song
If Cameroon go all the way in the Africa Nations Cup then he Song will not be back till mid February. Yet when he does come back Arsenal’s performances and defensive midfield capability for the latter part of the season will be so much more on solid ground.
Theo back on track
Walcott’s comeback (and eventually Nasri’s return in two weeks) will add more options for Wenger in the wide midfield positions as well as provide a much needed rest for Eduardo, Rosicky and even Arshavin who is carrying an injury.
Theo’s return in particular will add pace in the forward positions which has been missing of late.
Now all Arsenal have to do is stay top or in touch with the top after the completion of the next four games: Aston Villa away, Manchester United home, Chelsea away and Liverpool home.
It’s a tall order by all accounts but if it can be achieved then we will be well on our way for the Premier League title.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Arshavin: “Cesc was the conductor”
By Aries
Andrei Arshavin has hailed once again Fabregas’s fantastic performance against Bolton at the Reebok after Arsenal’s 2-0 victory. He described Fabregas as a conductor.
“Cesc was back in operation. He competently conducted the team and managed to score a goal” he said on his personal web site.
He also thought that it was Arsenal’s team performance that carried them through to final victory but that the pitch didn’t help.
“Today we played quite a hard match. These victories are needed, they are important for the team. I think that today we won thanks to a team game for Arsenal. We tried to combine, but the field was difficult. It interfered with our play”
Arshavin also admitted that his defensive performance was not up to scratch.
“We changed the scheme of the game today. My task was to play left field. I was not able to fully help out in the defense but thanks to the guys who corrected my flaws”
What is important now to Andrei is to win the next game against Bolton which will set the team up nicely for the crucial next four games which include Aston Villa, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool.
“But the task is not yet complete, because in the matches against Bolton we want to have 6 points.
If after two days we will be able once again to beat this team, we'll have a good chance on the eve of crucial four matches for Arsenal” he said.
Andrei Arshavin has hailed once again Fabregas’s fantastic performance against Bolton at the Reebok after Arsenal’s 2-0 victory. He described Fabregas as a conductor.
“Cesc was back in operation. He competently conducted the team and managed to score a goal” he said on his personal web site.
He also thought that it was Arsenal’s team performance that carried them through to final victory but that the pitch didn’t help.
“Today we played quite a hard match. These victories are needed, they are important for the team. I think that today we won thanks to a team game for Arsenal. We tried to combine, but the field was difficult. It interfered with our play”
Arshavin also admitted that his defensive performance was not up to scratch.
“We changed the scheme of the game today. My task was to play left field. I was not able to fully help out in the defense but thanks to the guys who corrected my flaws”
What is important now to Andrei is to win the next game against Bolton which will set the team up nicely for the crucial next four games which include Aston Villa, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool.
“But the task is not yet complete, because in the matches against Bolton we want to have 6 points.
If after two days we will be able once again to beat this team, we'll have a good chance on the eve of crucial four matches for Arsenal” he said.
Saturday, January 09, 2010
Arsenal freeze in the snow. Player Analysis and Ratings Vs Everton
By 1970’s Gooner
It was the first game without Song and against decent opposition who recognised that Arsenal’s key weaknesses were in midfield and at left back.
Everton’s tactics were spot on. They did not show respect and took the game to Arsenal by pressing up field whenever Gallas and Vermaelen had the ball.
Poor people couldn’t find an outlet to pass to as there was no Song who is very good at shielding the ball, turning and passing forward.
There was of course no Fabregas who in his own clever way can take the ball and go forward with it.
And there was no tall centre forward to offer the long ball outlet either.
There was instead Ramsey, Denilson and Diaby. Ramsey has been hyped up recently as the next Fabregas but of course he is not. He was outplayed today and failed in his playmaking duties.
Denilson is Denilson and Diaby failed to take hold of the game (apart from his assist for the late equaliser).
So whenever the ball eventually found one of our midfielders they were quickly pressured by Everton’s midfield which was augmented by Cahill dropping back to add assistance.
As Arsenal’s midfield lacked creativity so did the forwards.
Eduardo although a little bit better today still looked out of place, Arshavin was trying his best but had no support to play with and Nasri kept coming inside to help with the playmaking.
In my opinion Ramsey should have been rested today and Nasri brought into the middle to add some creativity. As Rosicky was not 100% ready Vela, who had a decent game at West Ham, should have started on the wing.
Almunia
Keeps making mistakes like when he came out for a cross which eluded him only for the header to be cleared by Gallas in front of goal. Or when he came out of his goal unnecessarily in the second half knocking poor Traore out.
And for their second goal he could have stayed on his feet for longer instead of going to ground thus offering the opportunity to Pienar to chip him. 5
Sagna
Had a decent game and got forward a lot in the second half. His performances are at least consistent. 6
Traore
Had one of his worst games. Donavan had the better of him and generally he couldn’t take the correct positions and often found himself on the back foot. 4
Vermaelen
Another steady performance. God knows what will happen if he gets injured or suspened. Silvestre is a liability and Senderos hasn’t played at all yet! 6
Gallas
Another strong performance. He stationed himself in the opponent’s area late in the game to try and get the equaliser. He wasn’t really to blame for Everton’s first goal as Osman ran unchallenged into the area. Someone from the midfield or the front players should have picked his run up. 6
Denilson
He played his usual game, retrieving and passing. He was however outmuscled on occasion. The good thing about him is that he is getting amongst the goals and this is a good sign for the future. 6
Ramsey
Too much is expected of him and the poor lad is still learning the game. Everton’s tight pressing in midfield did not allow him to perform as well as he can. 5
Diaby
He should have taken the game by the horns today but he didn’t really. His only good moment was the vital equaliser he created. Otherwise he was outplayed in midfield loosing the ball too often. 5
Nasri
The only creative player on the pitch and he did try to make things happen by coming inside. 6
Rosicky
I have to partly fault him for his wrong pass to an opponent which led to Everton’s second goal. The correct pass should have been to Sagna on the right who was free but he chose otherwise.
However he was there to score the equaliser and I think his quality and experience will be vital in the coming games. 6
Arshavin
Was fairly inefficient today but had no support really. 5
Eduardo
Getting better but still not good enough. The problem is that he is not a winger and as Nasri likes to come inside the pitch gets narrow for Arsenal.
This is mitigated by the full backs coming forward but this is dangerous as too many men are committed up field and there is bunching up in the opponent’s area. 5
With Manchester United dropping points the bitter pill of our draw is a little bit easier to swallow.
If we can hang in there with the leaders until Song, Fabregas and Bendtner return along with a new signing (hopefully) then we have a chance.
It was the first game without Song and against decent opposition who recognised that Arsenal’s key weaknesses were in midfield and at left back.
Everton’s tactics were spot on. They did not show respect and took the game to Arsenal by pressing up field whenever Gallas and Vermaelen had the ball.
Poor people couldn’t find an outlet to pass to as there was no Song who is very good at shielding the ball, turning and passing forward.
There was of course no Fabregas who in his own clever way can take the ball and go forward with it.
And there was no tall centre forward to offer the long ball outlet either.
There was instead Ramsey, Denilson and Diaby. Ramsey has been hyped up recently as the next Fabregas but of course he is not. He was outplayed today and failed in his playmaking duties.
Denilson is Denilson and Diaby failed to take hold of the game (apart from his assist for the late equaliser).
So whenever the ball eventually found one of our midfielders they were quickly pressured by Everton’s midfield which was augmented by Cahill dropping back to add assistance.
As Arsenal’s midfield lacked creativity so did the forwards.
Eduardo although a little bit better today still looked out of place, Arshavin was trying his best but had no support to play with and Nasri kept coming inside to help with the playmaking.
In my opinion Ramsey should have been rested today and Nasri brought into the middle to add some creativity. As Rosicky was not 100% ready Vela, who had a decent game at West Ham, should have started on the wing.
Almunia
Keeps making mistakes like when he came out for a cross which eluded him only for the header to be cleared by Gallas in front of goal. Or when he came out of his goal unnecessarily in the second half knocking poor Traore out.
And for their second goal he could have stayed on his feet for longer instead of going to ground thus offering the opportunity to Pienar to chip him. 5
Sagna
Had a decent game and got forward a lot in the second half. His performances are at least consistent. 6
Traore
Had one of his worst games. Donavan had the better of him and generally he couldn’t take the correct positions and often found himself on the back foot. 4
Vermaelen
Another steady performance. God knows what will happen if he gets injured or suspened. Silvestre is a liability and Senderos hasn’t played at all yet! 6
Gallas
Another strong performance. He stationed himself in the opponent’s area late in the game to try and get the equaliser. He wasn’t really to blame for Everton’s first goal as Osman ran unchallenged into the area. Someone from the midfield or the front players should have picked his run up. 6
Denilson
He played his usual game, retrieving and passing. He was however outmuscled on occasion. The good thing about him is that he is getting amongst the goals and this is a good sign for the future. 6
Ramsey
Too much is expected of him and the poor lad is still learning the game. Everton’s tight pressing in midfield did not allow him to perform as well as he can. 5
Diaby
He should have taken the game by the horns today but he didn’t really. His only good moment was the vital equaliser he created. Otherwise he was outplayed in midfield loosing the ball too often. 5
Nasri
The only creative player on the pitch and he did try to make things happen by coming inside. 6
Rosicky
I have to partly fault him for his wrong pass to an opponent which led to Everton’s second goal. The correct pass should have been to Sagna on the right who was free but he chose otherwise.
However he was there to score the equaliser and I think his quality and experience will be vital in the coming games. 6
Arshavin
Was fairly inefficient today but had no support really. 5
Eduardo
Getting better but still not good enough. The problem is that he is not a winger and as Nasri likes to come inside the pitch gets narrow for Arsenal.
This is mitigated by the full backs coming forward but this is dangerous as too many men are committed up field and there is bunching up in the opponent’s area. 5
With Manchester United dropping points the bitter pill of our draw is a little bit easier to swallow.
If we can hang in there with the leaders until Song, Fabregas and Bendtner return along with a new signing (hopefully) then we have a chance.
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