Archive for January, 2010
January 20th, 2010
So it’s Bolton again tonight. Win by two goals or more and we’ll end the evening top of the Premier League. True, Chelsea will have a game in hand on us, but the psychological boost of sitting at the top of the tree will be massive. Hopefully it will instill in the players a firm belief that this title really is there to be won.
I can understand Arsene being pleased that players are returning from injury, but I hope he was joking when he said:
“We are not close to signing anybody at the moment and we are so focused on the game that we forget a little bit to speak about transfers.”
Does that mean that when Nicklas Bendtner suffers a recurrence of his groin injury, and then the transfer window slams shut, Arsene will just go, “Oh, sorry lads, I was concentrating on the game”? I hope not. Isn’t that legions of scouts and Ivan Gazidis and Ken Friar are for?
Sigh. It’s looking increasingly like the chequebook is not only closed but burning in the hands of maniacally laughing Peter Hill-Wood. Our one signing thus far, the sprightly Sol Campbell, could make his (re)debut at the weekend as we take on Stoke in the FA Cup.
I think the Bolton side we face today will be a little better than the one we had at the weekend, who seemed a little timid, particularly in the first half. On the other hand, we’re at home this time, which should give us a massive advantage.
There is a degree of pressure on the players tonight. It’ll be interesting to see how they cope with the weight of expectation.
January 19th, 2010
It’s not complicated. Boot up Football Manager, go to Player Search, and do this:
Then whoever comes up, bid a bit more than he’s worth and it’ll all be fine. Or maybe try that cheat where you bid loads to get your offer accepted then reduce the fee at the final minute. If that still works. I don’t know.
The problem is that Le Boss is still steadfastly refusing to buy a forward. What does Arsene have against players called Mario? First he flatly denies rumorus of interest in Balotelli, now he’s eliminating the possibility of us signing Croatian Mandzukic. Rumours that he has an interest in spiky Brazilian striker Bowser are as yet unconfirmed.
One player Arsenal have stated their intent to purchase, Samuel Galindo, might be a bit older than he claimed. I had this experience with a woman once. Whether Arsene pursues the same line of action as me remains to be seen, but I would warn him that dendrochronology doesn’t work as well with humans.
Philippe Senderos might be joining Celtic. Presumably in Scottish football Senderos would be deployed as a flair player, perhaps operating just behind the strikers.
Early team news for tomorrow’s game with Bolton tells us that both Denilson and Theo Walcott are back in contention, though I’d suggest that only the former is likely to start. Throwing Walcott straight back in would be like throwing a particularly flammable baby straight back in to a fire.
Till tomorrow, Gooners.
January 18th, 2010
Bolton 0 – 2 Arsenal (Fabregas 28, Merida 78)
Highlights | Arsene’s reaction
Cesc Fabregas and Fran Merida are united by more than outstanding football ability. Both players left the comfort of their local academy (albeit the celebrated CF Barcelona) at just fifteen years of age to come to cold, rainy England in pursuit of first-team football. They both stayed with the same North London landlady, and both found themselves training with established internationals in their mid-teens. They’re both driven, determined characters – as competitive as they are assured of their ability and destiny. It is unsurprising, therefore, that they’re firm friends. Yesterday they were the men who scored the goals that take us within a tantalising three points off top spot. If we get the same result in the home fixture on Wednesday, we will lead the Premier League.
We’d missed Cesc dreadfully in his absence, and on returning to lead the side yesterday he was yet again outstanding. One barely noticed that the guy playing next to him, youngster Craig Eastmond, was making his Premier League debut. Fabregas had already been denied a clear penalty for a trip by Jussi “Juicy” Jaaskelainen when he scored the goal that gave us the lead. Just as one tippy-tappy move looked to be coming to an end, Fabregas changed the game with an instant shimmy inside and pass to Eduardo. Eduardo’s backheel came back in to Cesc’s path, and he finished low in to the bottom corner for his thirteenth goal of the season.
It’s an outstanding haul. He is our top scorer by some distance now, and unless Andrey Arshavin goes on a few Anfield-style goal-sprees, Nicklas Bendtner is much better than we remember, or Robin van Persie comes back from the dead, it’s quite likely he’ll end the season at the top of our goal charts. Cesc’s improved goal ratio is down to many things, but it’s predominantly due to the 4-3-3. Playing a holding midfielder – be it Song, Denilson, or even Eastmond – frees Cesc to cause havoc in the final third, combining with the likes of Rosicky and Arshavin and, inevitably, finding the net. We oughtn’t be too surprised by his goalscoring exploits – at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2003, he went home with the Golden Boot. As he matures, goals will naturally be added to his game. There’s still time for him to improve, even if it doesn’t seem like there is room. Cesc is the same age as Darron Gibson. It is extraordinary.
Bolton might have equalised were it not for someone called Matt Taylor and something called Karma. After he stamped on Cesc’s neck and pulled him up by his hair when the Spaniard correctly appealed for a second possible penalty, Taylor embarked on a series of quite remarkable misses. Perhaps it will be some comfort to Taylor that Karma is not punishment or retribution, but simply an extended expression or consequence of natural acts. Or perhaps not.
In the second half, with Eastmond tiring both mentally and physically, Merida was introduced and Diaby dropped back in to the holding role. The younger Catalan was quick to impose himself on the game, and eventually scored the crucial second goal. A Cesc-led counter attack ended with Eduardo’s cross being deflected into Merida’s path. His first touch, with his left foot, was immaculate, bringing the ball into line with his right so he could slot it beneath the keeper.
Two friends, two goals, two nil.
We weren’t brilliant yesterday, but we did enough. Manuel Almunia had one of his better games of late (no great achievement, I suppose), whilst Thomas Vermaelen did well to cope with Kevin Davies and support the floundering Armand Traore. Gael Clichy came off the bench to replace Rosicky yesterday, and one would imagine he’ll be back in the starting XI as of Wednesday’s rematch.
Andrey Arshavin and Eduardo switched positions, and both seemed happier – the Russian was far more involved in our build-up, whilst the Croatian provided two assists from his central role.
There is currently a three-way title race. We’re suffering badly from injuries, but we need to take every point we possibly can from an absurdly difficult run of fixtures. If we’re still talking about the title in a month’s time we’ll have done remarkably well. Arsene clearly believes we can be there. After the way in which we ground out yesterday’s result, some fans might start to as well.
January 17th, 2010
Arsene Wenger needs your help. He has money to spend, but doesn’t know how to spend it. He roughly knows the sort of thing he wants, but can’t seem to find it. He needs a personal shopper. He might well need you.
The ideal candidate will:
- be able to spot a bargain
- be more interested in what’s up and coming than last season’s trends
- have an enormous francophonic bias
Applications to Arsenal Football Club, London. Include CV, photograph, and possibly your Championship Manager record. Note: we will not be accepting any more applications from you, Damien Comolli. Please stop calling.
In seriousness, Arsene is struggling to find the striker he admits we may need:
“I am thinking, but I must confess I am not close. I cannot find a player to convince me.”
That sounds like Arsene has interviewed a succession of strikers, none of whom have found a sufficient answer to his one and only question: “Why should I sign you?”
I’m not convinced he’ll buy a forward this January, and if this Times article is to be believed perhaps he doesn’t need to. 15 different players have hit the net for us this season, and we’re on course to break the Premier League goalscoring record. On the other side of this striker-shaped coin, UEFA technical director Andy Roxburgh points out just what it is a truly world class forward could offer our system in the absence of Robin van Persie:
“If you look at Barcelona, you see the striker’s main role is often to open up defences to allow others to score. The Shearer-type centreforward is going and that’s why players like Didier Drogba and Torres are so prized because they do both for you: they have the ability to play up top and be finishers, but they also create room for teammates with their power and skilful play.”
However, there aren’t many of that calibre of players out there. That, and consideration for the potential of the likes of Bendtner, Walcott, and Vela, is Arsene’s problem.
Today, Andrey Arshavin is likely to again lead the line, supported by Eduardo and Tomas Rosicky. Nasri, Fabregas and Diaby will be the midfield trio, though who plays as the most defensively of that three is still up for debate. At the back, Gael Clichy will “at least” be on the bench, which is a huge and timely boost.
United and especially Chelsea really laid down the gauntlet yesterday. We’ll need a big performance to beat a side likely to be given some buoyancy following the arrival of a new manager. Come On You Reds.
January 16th, 2010
Sol Campbell is once again an Arsenal player. The 35-year old year old becomes the oldest Arsene Wenger signing I can remember and will wear the number 31 (also worn by such luminaries as Justin Hoyte) until the end of the season.
According to Arsenal.com, Campbell is the first player under Arsène Wenger to rejoin Arsenal, and only the fifth player in the Club’s history to re-sign for the Gunners. The four other players were: John Lukic (1983-1990 & 1996-2001); Martin Keown (1982-1986 & 1993-2004); Jock Rutherford (1913-1923 & 1925-1926) and Hugh McDonald (three spells – 1906; 1908-1910 & 1912-1913).
Arsene says:
“We are delighted to have signed Sol Campbell until the end of the season. For both club and country, Sol’s career just speaks for itself. He is a hugely experienced and intelligent footballer, who will bring a great amount of quality and knowledge to our squad. Sol as a player and a person will be an enormous asset to us.
Sol has been training with us since September and during this time he has shown he still has the required fitness, hunger and passion to compete at the top level.”
I think it’s that last sentence that’s most important. Arsene believes he can still compete at the very highest level. The FA Cup fourth round tie at Stoke might be our first opportunity to see that put to the test.
A few days ago I brought you the full story on Samuel Galindo, and Arsene has since confirmed the teenager will sign and go out on loan, probably to Spain. Judging by the Carlos Vela timeline, we won’t see Galindo for two years or so, so best of luck to him and let’s hope he turns out well!
Enough of the ins, now for the outs. Arsene has admitted that Philippe Senderos is free to leave the club, and with a World Cup on the horizon you’d expect the Swiss international to take that opportunity and go. Kerrea Gilbert and Mark Randall have gone out on loan to Peterbrough and MK Dons respectively. Of those, I think Randall is far more likely to come back.
Tomorrow we face Bolton in Owen Coyle’s first game in charge at the Reebok. With the news that Aaron Ramsey and Denilson are out, we’re looking very light in midfield.
It is no coincidence that our switch to a 4-3-3 formation and the remarkable form of Alex Song have occurred simultaneously. Not only does the position at the base of our central trio suit him, but he has also stepped up to become a pivotal part of the side, as the formation dictates.
In his absence this month, Denilson was lined up to deputise. Whilst lacking Song’s physical power and skill on the ball, he has a good attitude and plenty of energy – the sorts of qualities that see Darren Fletcher lauded as one of the country’s best midfielders, but which seem to go unnoticed in foreign players.
However, without both the Brazilian and Ramsey (who started in the holding role in the game away to Wolves), we lack a natural occupant for the defensive midfield position. The nod will go to one of Fabregas, Diaby or Nasri.
The obvious answer is Diaby because of his physical presence, though his natural inclination to drive forward might count against him. It would be unwise to rob ourselves of Cesc’s goal threat, whilst Nasri’s time as a holding midfielder was derided as a waste by many fans. Hopefully Arsene will have a convincing answer at 4pm tomorrow.
Before I go, one more thing: Emmanuel Eboue has mental problems (2:08 in this video).
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