2011-12 Season

Fourth place is everything now

Posted on February 19, 2012 by GilbertoSilver Posted in 2011-12 Season, FA Cup, Featured, Match Reports | 101 Guns

Shell-shocked Arsenal players after the defeat at Sunderland

Sunderland 2 – 0 Arsenal

Match Report | Highlights | Arsene’s reaction

It’s been a bad week for Arsenal fans. A crushing defeat in Milan, followed by a comprehensive loss at Sunderland, and the evaporation of any remaining hopes of bringing home silverware. Arsene clearly broke a mirror in 2005, and good behaviour has not granted him any time off fortune’s sentence: it will now be seven long years without a trophy.

Yesterday Arsenal were beaten on a ground where just one week earlier they had been victorious. The matchwinner on that occasion, Thierry Henry, was conspicuous by his absence, and a succession of defensive injuries stacked the odds against us. Nevertheless we were outrun, outfought, and occasionally outplayed by a fresher and patently more motivated Sunderland side.

There is no point masking our disappointment. The FA Cup represented our most realistic chance of glory this season, and the draw could certainly have been more cruel, but this is an Arsenal side showing early yet familiar symptoms of the annual end-of-season collapse. We have played ten games since January 1st, losing five. Injuries are mounting fast and belief is fading faster.

There were some fans declaring that yesterday marked the end of our season. They could not be more wrong. To be out of the cup is tremendous blow, but Arsenal still have their biggest prize to play for: fourth place.

I have never subscribed to Arsene’s view that a top four finish is equivalent to claiming silverware. It’s nonsense. There is no explosion of joy, no entry in the record books, no trophy. But it remains absolutely vital. As bad as things are, falling out of the top four would be disastrous. It’s not a prize – it’s a necessity.

I’m gutted about the defeats to Milan and Sunderland, but if I had to choose between going out of the cups or suffering two league defeats, I think I’d choose the former. To win the FA Cup would be fantastic, but I’m not sure it’d be enough to keep Robin van Persie, or attract major talent to augment (or indeed replace) him. Fourth place might.

I don’t see the point in discussing the future of Arsene Wenger now – whatever your opinion, everyone is surely unanimous in their agreement that, for better or worse, he will be here until the end of the season. If he and the club decide to part ways then, I’d far rather we were able to offer a new a manager a brief to rebuild with the economic support and talent-tempting allure that Champions League brings.

In the light of recent results, some supporters have declared that we have “no chance” of achieving a top four spot. They are, of course, wrong. Take a glance at the league table – we’re the present incumbents. Arsenal have been incredibly fortunate that in a year when we’ve spent much of the time in disarray, our closest rivals (Liverpool and Chelsea) have conspired to be similarly calamitous.

Our next three league games see us face Tottenham, Liverpool, and Newcastle. As painful as our experiences at Milan and Sunderland were, I’d happily accept those defeats if fate were able to trade them for nine points from those forthcoming fixtures.

If, however, we lose, to Spurs next week, all hell could break lose. The day before, Chelsea and Newcastle both have relatively easy home games, and defeat to our rivals could leave us in sixth place and coming off the back of three consecutive defeats.

There have been big London derbies before. For Arsene Wenger, there has never been one quite as big as this.

Thoughts on our Milan mauling

Posted on February 17, 2012 by GilbertoSilver Posted in 2011-12 Season, Champions League, Featured, Match Reports | 57 Guns

Kevin Prince Boateng opens the scoring in regal fashion

AC MILAN 4 – 0 ARSENAL

Match Report | Highlights | Arsene’s reaction

Arsenal have suffered a few significant defeats this season. There was the obvious example of the thrashing at Old Trafford, the collapse at Blackburn, and the capitulation in Greece. In all of those instances, there were mitigating circumstances: teams weakened due to transfer activity, injuries, or rotation. The reason the 4-0 defeat to Milan cuts particularly deep is that this is a game in which Arsenal were bereft of excuses. We had a strong side, a massive incentive, and we were hugely disappointing. Make no mistake about it: on Europe’s biggest stage, this was a humiliation.

When Milan were drawn out of the hat as our second round opponents, I think most Arsenal fans were quietly confident. In recent seasons they’ve gone out of the competition to both North London sides, and there is a general suspicion in England that Serie A is a league on the slide. Milan are perceived as an aging side who struggle to cope with the vibrancy of youth.

What we witnessed instead was one of Europe’s great names idly swatting away a feeble challenger. If ever evidence was required of Arsenal’s regression, on Wednesday night it was there in abundance. Almost exactly a year after beating Barcelona and the Emirates, we were dismantled by a Milan side that who are nowhere near the level of La Liga’s finest.

There were familiar mistakes, particularly in defence. Per Mertesacker’s absence was more crucial than many anticipated. All season long there has been clamour for a Vermaelen and Koscielny partnership at the back, but Milan exposed the problem with that pairing. Both players try to win the ball high up the pitch, meaning that any error leaves a terrifying amount of room in behind. On the night, Vermaelen put in a disastrous display, and Koscielny couldn’t do enough to recover the situation. When the Frenchman departed due to injury and was replaced by Johan Djourou, things went from bad to worse.

The mistakes made on each goal were clear. Wojciech Szczesny’s poor clearance allowed Milan to win the ball back and play in Boateng for the opener, whilst unusually lazy tracking from Bacary Sagna allowed Zlatan Ibrahimovic to skip the byline and cross for Robinho to nod home the second.

At half-time Thierry Henry was introduced for the anonymous Theo Walcott, and with him came the hope for a miracle. That hope soon evaporated, when a Vermaelen slip left Robinho plenty of time to fire home for the edge of the box. Whilst Zlatan Ibrahimovic clearly played for the penalty that sealed the victory, it was a clumsy challenge from Johan Djourou that made the Swede’s deception all the more easy.

Let’s make no bones about it: the tie is over. I’m not even going to discuss the possibility of 5-0 second leg victory; that game is now just about attempting to recover a modicum of pride.

Milan gave us a lesson. It’s hard to name a single Arsenal player who played ‘well’. Aside from our disastrous ‘defending’, I could not believe that in a game of this magnitude the men charged with being our creative hub were Tomas Rosicky and Aaron Ramsey. Both good men and fine players, but both some years off their peak, albeit in opposite directions.

The FA Cup is now our only chance of silverware – although that is a distant second to our primary aim of qualifying for the Champions League. The gap between us and Milan was vast. Even a single year spent out of Europe’s glamour competition will widen that chasm even further.

Finally, a quick note to say: Thankyou Thierry. The guy risked his legacy to help out the club he loves in their hour of need. And yet, he managed to enhance his legend. Take care, old friend.

Sunderland 1 – 2 Arsenal: Thierry’s Fabulous Fond Farewell

Posted on February 13, 2012 by GilbertoSilver Posted in 2011-12 Season, Featured, Match Reports, Premier League | 87 Guns

SUNDERLAND 1 – 2 ARSENAL

Match Report | Highlights | Arsene’s reaction

When I last filed an entry on this blog, Arsenal had just beaten at home by Manchester United, to the audible irritation of a mutinous crowd. It got worse. In the next game, an FA Cup Fourth Round tie at home to Aston Villa, Arsenal found themselves two nil down at half-time, and staring down the barrel of a fourth defeat in five games. Since then, there has been a remarkable upturn in our fortunes. An upturn which, I should add, has coincided with my enforced absence. Perhaps I should stay away.

First off, Arsenal fought back to beat Aston Villa 3-2, scoring a trio of second half goals inside eight minutes. Then a 0-0 draw at Bolton was followed up with a stunning 7-1 victory over Blackburn – a game memorable for the first Premier League goals from the emerging Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and a stoppage time strike from Thierry Henry on what could be his final Emirates appearance.

It was not, however, to be the last contribution of Henry’s loan stint. On Saturday, in the final Premier League appearance of his farewell tour, the man who writes scripts with a swish of his right boot rather than a pen emerged from the bench. There was just half an hour to play in our game against in form Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. After Aaron Ramsey had clawed back an equaliser to James McClean’s opener, Henry’s expertly volleyed home a stoppage time winner to hand Arsenal a vital three points. 229 Arsenal goals and, with a game against AC Milan to come, still counting.

It was a massive result on a day which saw Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle all succumb to defeat. As things stand we’re currently in fourth place, which is invaluable considering that we are about to enter a period of fixtures that will almost certainly define our season. We return to Sunderland in the FA Cup and face Milan in Europe, whilst our next three league games see us come up against Tottenham, Liverpool, and Newcastle.

It looks like we’ll have to do without Per Mertesacker for that period, after the big German was stretchered off in the North East. He’s actually been a very consistent figure in the Arsenal side – of the outfield players, only Laurent Koscielny, Theo Walcott, and Robin van Persie have started more games this season. The one saving grace is that his injury comes at a time when we are able to welcome back Bacary Sagna and Kieran Gibbs on the flanks, giving Arsene a rare opportunity to pair Vermaelen and Koscielny in the middle.

Another player we’ll soon be welcoming back in to the fold is Gervinho, who is expected to return to London on Tuesday. His African Cup of Nations campaign ended in unceremonious fashion as he missed the crucial penalty in the shoot-out which saw underdogs Zambia take the title. The players lack of confidence in front of goal was underlined by the fact that, despite being an attacker, he was Ivory Coast’s ninth penalty taker, even refusing to take the eighth and sending defender Kolo Toure up instead. If you haven’t seen the penalty, it’s about as bad as you imagine it to be. Gervinho has undoubted qualities, but for a man whose tax return reads ‘footballer’, he is surprisingly bad at the actual ‘kicking the ball’ bit. Nevertheless, one has to feel sorry for any player who is the victim of a shootout, and let’s hope it doesn’t knock his confidence too much for the remaining period of the season.

It’s nice to be back and blogging again. It’s also nice to be able to write positive things. There’s nothing like a few decent results to ease any tension among the fanbase.

An exciting trip to Milan looms large, and Thierry will soon be back in the San Siro. Would you bet against one final magical moment?

Arsenal 1 – 2 Man U: Mutiny at the Emirates

Posted on January 23, 2012 by GilbertoSilver Posted in 2011-12 Season, Match Reports, Premier League | 318 Guns

Yesterday, Arsenal lost 2-1 to Manchester United, which is no great disaster. It’s certainly an improvement on the 8-2. However, yesterday Arsene Wenger lost a lot more than a football match. In one moment, he seemed to lose the trust of the Arsenal faithful.

The discontent surrounded the substitution of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Chamberlain had been Arsenal’s most promising attacking player, and had just created an equalising goal for Robin van Persie. However, Arsene decided to replace him with Andrey Arshavin, who is currently as far from being a fan favourite as he is from his hometown of St. Petersburg.

The decision was met with huge boos. Even Robin van Persie visibly declared his disbelief at his manager’s choice. As Oxlade-Chamberlain trotted off, there was some brief respite as the fans praised his contribution. But when Arshavin subsequently took to the field, the booing returned – louder and longer than it had been before. To be honest, it was unclear if the jeers were for Arshavin, for Arsene, or both.

Let me start with the decision to bring Chamberlain off. Sources in the Arsenal camp indicated he was physically tiring, and that doesn’t surprise me in the least. An 18-year old on his first Premier League start was never likely to complete ninety minutes, however well he was doing. The explanation that he was suffering from fatigue seems to me to be entirely credible.

And even if the switch was purely tactical, it did not merit the howls of derision it received. I thought the behaviour of the fans in the stadium yesterday (and before anyone labels me an ‘armchair’ fan, I was there myself) was pretty pathetic. It was the sort of stuff I’m more accustomed to seeing from Blackburn fans. After a first-half in which the Emirates lived up to its ‘library’ reputation, swathes of the crowd managed to wake up to boo the team off at halftime. And then to follow that up by greeting a substitute with boos? Ridiculous.

Having this debate last night on twitter, many fans felt inclined to point out that the substitution “ruined our positive momentum”. Yeah, well thanks for levelling things up with all the booing. That sure helped restore the positive vibe.
Truth be told, folks can say what they like on twitter. Or here. Pretty much anywhere. But when you’re in the stadium, you get behind your team. Let’s not forget, at this point in the game we were drawing 1-1 with the Champions, and the fans were chanting “you don’t know what you’re doing” at the manager.

This is the same manager who took the bold decision to start Oxlade-Chamberlain in the first place. The same manager who made an intelligent and effective change at half-time, introducing natural fullback Nico Yennaris for the struggling Johan Djourou. This, lest we forget, was Arsene Wenger.

I suppose the vitriol on display is a symptom of a relationship under strain. The reaction yesterday was about more than one substitution – it’s about 6 trophless years, a baffling transfer policy, and most recently a run of three consecutive defeats. Patience with Arsene has been thinning and yesterday, for many, it gave way.

I do understand how those fans feel. I occasionally feel exactly the same. I merely don’t agree with how they chose to express it. We are in a very sticky situation now. To be without a league point in January is not good. We’re in a poor run of form that, in the battle for fourth place, we can ill-afford.

Truth be told, I think our record is simply levelling out to something approaching an accurate reflection of our ability. Robin van Persie carried us to a long unbeaten run pre-Christmas, but I think in that spell we did disproportionately well. Expectations may have been raised higher than was appropriate, and that seems to have led to complacency in the transfer market.

Despite the disparity in scoreline, the feeling among Arsenal fans is very much as it was after the Old Trafford hammering. We’re staring down the barrel of catastrophe with a few days to dust off the chequebook and sort it out. This time, however, I’ve no confidence that we’ll get any reinforcements, let alone half a dozen.

I opened the blog up by saying that losing to United is not, in itself, a disaster. I stand by that. However, finishing outside the top four, for both financial and footballistic reasons, would be. And at the moment, that feels increasingly probable. If there are any steps Arsene and the board can take over the next week to avoid that fate, they simply must. The natives are increasingly restless.
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I’ve typed this rather hurriedly on an iPad, so don’t have the usual fancy links and stuff. Forgive me.

United Preview: Points required; Pride essential

Posted on January 22, 2012 by GilbertoSilver Posted in 2011-12 Season, Match Previews, Premier League | 43 Guns

Arsene is not really the sort of manager to deliver a rousing team-talk before a big game. Fortunately, today, he doesn’t need to.

All he need do is print out the following, and tack it to the dressing room wall.

I’m sorry to have made you look at that again. But it’s important we do. It’s important the players do. And it’s important Arsene does. On that day, Arsenal let down themselves and their supporters. That simply cannot happen today.

I don’t necessarily expect a victory. Arsenal come in to this game in the familiar position of being out-of-form and embattled with injuries and African absentees. What I do expect, however, is that Arsenal play with passion and a desire to avenge the humiliation suffered in August.

In the aftermath of the Old Trafford game, I said:

“What sickened me more than anything was to watch this team perform without pride, and without belief.”

The last few months have seen a steady process of recuperation, interrupted by a recent blip. Arsenal need to fight, to battle, and to allow the fans to banish the memory of that shameful day from their minds.

Our team is dependent on two fitness tests: one for Thomas Vermaelen, and one for Thierry Henry. If fit, both could start. Vermaelen is reportedly the more likely to make it, and would come in at left-back for Ignasi Miquel. That could be vital – United’s main threat comes from their wingers in Nani and Valencia, so our makeshift full-backs will have to be at the top of their game to cope.

If he’s ready to go, Henry could start ahead of the out of sorts Andrey Arshavin. Suggestions two hours before kick-off, however, are that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could be handed a first Premier League start. Chamberlain actually made an inauspicious debut as a substitute in the 8-2, and after a relatively impressive cameo at Swansea could be thrown in to the fray today.

At least if he is, we know he’ll play with courage, and with fire. His team-mates had better do the same. They owe us that.

Swansea thoughts: Ramsey does too much and Theo doesn’t do enough

Posted on January 16, 2012 by GilbertoSilver Posted in 2011-12 Season, Match Reports, Premier League | 124 Guns

Match Report | Highlights | Arsene’s reaction

I am not a fan of blaming referees for poor results…
…especially in a match like this, when Arsenal had ample time to get back in control of the game. Slow-motion replays may have shown that Nathan Dyer was guilty of simulation, but in real-time it looked very much like a clumsy tackle. When you become the first side to score twice at the Liberty Stadium this season and still conspire to lose, the signs suggest our major flaw was a familiar one: a feeble defence.

Still, I’d rather have Sagna back than a substandard signing…
Inevitably, there will be calls to strengthen the squad. I understand why: Miquel and Djourou struggled at full-back against the pace of Dyer and Sinclair. But with the likes of Sagna and Gibbs now just a few weeks away from returning to action, I’m just not sure if players of the requisite quality are available in this window.

If I thought Arsene could buy or loan a better reserve full-back than Djourou or Miquel, I’d be all for it. But none of the names I’ve seen so far – Wayne Bridge, for example – meet that criteria.

Aaron Ramsey was suffering from acute Gerrard-itis…
I don’t doubt Aaron Ramsey’s work-rate. I have more faith than most in his technical ability. Where I do think he has plenty of room for improvement is on the mental side of the game. That’s understandable: he is only just 21. Unfortunately, after the departure of Cesc and with Wilshere’s injury, he has been a handed a huge responsibility as the main creative midfielder in our team.

Ramsey’s problem is that he tries to do too much. I’ve always said he reminds me of a young Steven Gerrard, in part because they occasionally seem to share a desire to win games on their own. Yesterday, on Welsh soil and with the crowd on his back, Ramsey’s head wasn’t quite right. A footballer can try too hard. Sometimes he would benefit from keeping his cool, and keeping it simple. He will learn.

Theo Walcott has regressed in the last few weeks…
In the early part of the season, Walcott was one of our few commendable performers. Since the win at Chelsea, however, his form has dropped off considerably. His goal yesterday was his first since that game in October, and a rare moment of quality in another average performance. I have never bought in to the claims that he is a “good finisher” – for every good goal there is a horrendous miss. In his brief cameo yesterday, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain showed that he already has more awareness and technical ability.

Thierry Henry…
…impressed me on and off the pitch. I thought he looked sharp and dynamic when he came on with half an hour to go. Unfortunately, few of his team-mates seemed to be on the same wavelength. Henry passed the ball with more speed and urgency than almost anyone else on the field – but often no-one had anticipated or made a run to match his vision.

As for him having words with an Arsenal fan who had booed his own team, I say that’s fair enough. Robin might be the captain but Henry is probably the most obvious link between the fans and the players, and if he is prepared to take on that sort of responsibility then I’m all for it.

Invincible, Immortal, & In the fourth round

Posted on January 10, 2012 by GilbertoSilver Posted in 2011-12 Season, FA Cup, Match Reports | 132 Guns

Henry celebrates a magical return

Match Report | Highlights | Arsene’s reaction

The diagonal through ball from Alex Song was perfect. It could have been played by Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires, or even Dennis Bergkamp. The first touch was immaculate, the body shape breathtakingly familiar. The giant clock suspended from the Emirates canopy seemed to stop, dead. Time wound back to 2004 and, briefly, Thierry Henry was invincible again.

As he drew back his right-foot to strike the ball, the Emirates was momentarily hushed. Then followed the trademark sidefoot strike. Before the ball crossed the line, Henry glanced across at the linesman. He just had to check. Check that this was really happening, that it wasn’t a dream, that a cruel flag wasn’t about to deny him his moment.

He knew, of course, that the ball would settle in the bottom corner. When he’s wearing red and white, it invariably does.

The reception when Henry had come on as a 68th substitute had been deafening. When he scored his 78th minute goal, a storm of anticipation broke in an explosion of pure joy.

Thanks to EastLower for that amazing video.

Great athletes write their own storylines. Last night, Thierry Henry took a leaden game and carved himself a story, a headline and an accompanying photograph. Another moment, another memory, another myth. A 227th goal, and 60,000 very lucky Arsenal fans there to witness it.

Henry said after the game that it was the first goal he’d scored as an Arsenal fan. You could see that in his celebration. The nonchalance and the shrug of old were replaced with pure, unbridled ecstasy.

Everything else was eerily recognisable. He might not have the blistering pace of yesteryear – but he might not need it. Sprinting speed might be temporary, but it seems class is permanent. The control and finish were as good as anything Henry produced in his heyday. Put simply: given ten opportunities, Marouane Chamakh could not have scored that goal last night. Henry needed just one. Arsenal should only require occasional cameos from their ageing talisman. Yet on this evidence, they could well be match-winning cameos.

What’s certain is that Henry won’t tarnish his legacy. Indeed, last night his statue it seemed to swell and shimmer more than ever before.

Last night was, in many respects, the perfect night for an Arsenal fan. That Arsenal fan, I should add, is named Thierry Henry. He Has Returned. Long Live The King.

Return of the King: Welcome home Thierry

Posted on January 9, 2012 by GilbertoSilver Posted in 2011-12 Season, FA Cup, Match Previews | 21 Guns

What is va va voom?

It’s many things. It’s a style, an attitude. It’s a grace, an impudence, a gallic flair. It’s instant control, a side-footed finish, and a shrug of celebration. And what is more, it’s back. As of today, for a period of six to eight weeks, Arsenal will once more be able to call on the greatest player in their history. Thierry Henry has returned.

In his first spell at the club, Henry netted a record 226 goals in 370 games. This time, he could play a maximum of ten times, starting with tonight’s FA Cup tie at home to Leeds.

If you’re in the ground tonight, savour it. If you’ve not yet got a ticket, grab one. Take your kids; take your grandchildren. In ten, twenty, even fifty years time they will be able to say they saw Thierry Henry in an Arsenal shirt.

In his pomp, Henry was the most exciting athlete I’ve seen on the Premier League stage. He combined the electric pace of a sprinter with balletic poise, and an incredible imagination with deceptive physical power. After arriving as a peripheral and shot-shy winger, he evolved in to Europe’s most stylish goalscorer. But you already knew that. The story has become myth, and the man a living legend.

Some have bemoaned Henry’s return, disappointed that the club have elected for a short-term option, and fearing that the player could tarnish his legacy. I can’t find room for such cynicism. The signing is clearly a practical measure. The African Cup of Nations has left us with a scarcity of strikers, and most of our primary targets are unavailable in this window. As Arsene Wenger has repeatedly insisted, the opportunity to take someone with Henry’s class on loan is simply too good to turn down.

And class, let’s remember, is permanent. Henry himself admits he’s not the same player. He’s not expecting to skip through gears and defenders with the same ease or regularity he did in his first spell. But if a chance is to fall in the box, I’d still rather it was to Thierry than any other of our attacking options – with the obvious exception of Robin van Persie. And the idea that anything that happens in the next two months could damage his extraordinary achievements in the past are absurd. It will take more than a few underwhelming cameos to shift his bronze immortalization from the stadium concourse.

I don’t expect miracles. But I do expect more great memories, starting with the roar of the crowd when he takes to the field tonight.

On the pitch, Henry often seemed to be able to write his own scripts. He himself could not have penned a better fixture list for his two month renaissance. The opportunity to compete in Premier League, FA Cup and Europe, with ties at home to Manchester United and away at the San Siro. There is even an option for a glorious farewell in one of the most hotly-contested North London derbies for years.

An Arsenal career that spans three decades is entering its final phase. The long goodbye begins tonight. Turn the page, enter the final chapter, and savour every moment. This is The Return of The King. Prepare to pay homage.

Fulham defeat shows the need for Henry

Posted on January 5, 2012 by GilbertoSilver Posted in 2011-12 Season, Match Reports, Premier League | 22 Guns

I don’t, like Arsene Wenger, blame the referee for our defeat at Fulham. Nor do I blame the Fulham players who targeted a player struggling on a booking: I would hope Arsenal would do exactly the same thing. I don’t blame Johan Djorou for being sent off, or Francis Coquelin for being out of position when Bobby Zamora volleyed home the winner. When you line-up with two out-of-position players in your back four, you have to accept there is a chance you’ll be punished defensively. Instead, you need to make the most of your attacking opportunities. And that, I believe, is where Arsenal fell down.

Let me start by saying that Robin van Persie is exempt from criticism. He has been outstanding this season and the fact he went a single game without a goal cannot possibly be held against him. But on the days when he doesn’t score, it is even more vital that the players around him take advantage of any time and space afforded to them. For my money, the other two members of the front three, Theo Walcott and Gervinho, are currently not doing enough.

Both players are quick and have reasonably intelligent movement, so inevitably find themselves receiving the ball in promising positions. All too often of late, however, their final ball or decision-making has not been up to scratch. In Theo’s case, I feel his confidence has dipped slightly. He’s talking up the number of assists he provides for Robin van Persie, and rightly so, but when played through one-on-one against QPR he seemed to be more interested in trying to square for his Dutch mate than finishing the simple chance right in front of him. He seems to be in danger of contracting Hlebitis.

And then there is Gervinho. I’ve watched the Ivorian winger with intrigue over his first few months in England. I’m conscious of how long some foreign players can take to settle, and have been hoping some of the inconsistencies in his game would iron themselves out over these winter months. It does not seem so. Already in his short Arsenal career he has produced enough outrageous misses to banish any memories of Nicklas Bendtner’s private collection of howlers. His decision-making is erratic and his final ball variable. He reminds me of the old adage about Andy Cole: he would always score, but he’d need five opportunities to do so. Gervinho occasionally produces vital contributions, but in the meantime so many simpler chances to make the difference pass by the wayside. His defenders will point to his stats (4 Premier League goals and 5 assists), but some of those assists simply hit Gervinho on their way to the goal. They were far from deliberate.

I’ve not given up on him and I see the value he brings to the team in terms of his work-rate and interchanging of positions. But were he and Theo more effective in the final third, we would have been out of sight against Fulham by half-time.

If Thierry Henry is to be available to face Leeds on Monday, his registration needs to be completed by lunchtime tomorrow. It cannot come soon enough. The combined goal tally of Walcott, Gervinho, and Aaron Ramsey (who has played right behind Robin, almost as a number 10) barely reaches double figures. It is less than half of RVP’s total. Anyone who can add some much needed confidence and quality to our attacking play is very welcome indeed.

I know you’re not half as quick as you used to be, but hurry up Thierry. We’re waiting.

Video: RVP’s year of goals

Posted on January 2, 2012 by GilbertoSilver Posted in 2011-12 Season | 46 Guns

Happy New Year, Gooners. It’s rare that I will dedicate an entire post to a Youtube video, but in this instance I thought it best to honour Robin van Persie’s remarkable 2011 by showing you this beautiful film by armirvp88.

I’m aware that since I last posted we have played and beat QPR, with RVP scoring the final goal of his extraordinary year. However, without seeing anything more than a few highlights I don’t feel best placed to analyse the game. It was nice to see an assist from Andrey Arshavin, although I firmly expect him to be back on the bench at Fulham this evening.

A second London derby inside two days is a big ask, but after a weekend in which all the results went our way, spirits should be high. And if the scores didn’t cheer you up, this almost certainly will.