A Cultured Left Foot

Aston Villa Preview & From The Vaults: 1952 – The Dying Art Of Sporting Behaviour

Posted on by Posted in Arsenal, Aston Villa, Football, Premier League, Soccer, Transfer Gossip 154 Comments

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Morning all, blizzards and ice safely negotiated on the return to dear old Blighty; it’s safe to say that unlike last week, sitting outside a bar at 11pm in a polo shirt will now only happen if there it is covered by a jumper, coat and accompanied by gloves and suitable head attire. So, Stan, got a spare syrup?

It’s always a bit disorientating writing the first blog once jet lag has been unceremoniously dumped from the system, almost like a tribute act has taken over. Which by coincidence ties in with this morning’s playlist, Joe Strummer’s Eyes, The Clash through the ears of other bands. You can find it here or in the right sidebar on Dad’s Jukebox. Its’ older siblings are on the page of the same name.

So to today’s game, which is after all the reason we are here. It’s as you were in the Premier League; no surprises in yesterday’s results with the teams above and around us achieving the expected results. Only Southampton remain to take the field and I expect their home encounter to go with form. Arsenal need to do the same; only three points will do against a struggling Aston Villa side.

Despite the Premier League’s best intentions by appointing Antony Taylor to officiate, it will be major shock if there is a repeat of last season’s match. Villa are struggling in front of goal and have only scored in the FA Cup since the weekend before Christmas. It’s a long run and one that Arsenal seem well-placed to continue.

The win at Brighton was a useful match for Arsène. Walcott and Özil made scoring returns to the side and they are the two who I think will retain their places, the latter due more to Alexis’ hamstring twang than anything else. It’s the moment Wenger must have thought may never happen; injuries are not irrelevant but are no longer dictating his choices. It’s down to form, pure and simple.

Some players, and Alexis is a prime example, will drop out of the side occasionally and return straightaway when fit, but others – and I think this applies to pretty much the rest of the squad – are dependent upon others losing form. It might be a long wait and something which those who have been around the club for a long time will be unfamiliar with.

For the likes of Gibbs and Szczesny, it’s not about how well they played when given the opportunity but whether Monreal or Ospina have done anything to warrant losing their places in the side. The answer, in my view, is no, they haven’t.

Indeed, I would suggest that Monreal has made a case for being considered the first-choice left back whilst Ospina can point to consecutive clean sheets as his positive contribution to the side. Wojciech has time to sit on the bench to contemplate his misdemeanours, accompanied by a port and mild cigar, the aroma of which might be more palatable for the manager.

Further forward, we are on the cusp of a tantalising spell. Put Alexis into the equation and we certainly have the creativity to provide the chances and with Giroud and Walcott accompanying the Chilean – the emphasis remains on Sanchez as the star turn – the finishing ability to turn chances into goals.

I expect the line-up will be:

 

With upcoming fixtures across two competitions, Arsenal need the forwards to deliver. Arsène spoke last week of the opportunities and of the fight for the top four places. Southampton continue to defy expectations and remain in the Champions League spots; everyone sits and waits for the fall but it has yet to arrive. Perhaps that is the wrong place to be looking for the team to fall away.

Manchester United have, to me, the trickiest run-in of the challengers – it’s daft to think anyone other than Chelsea or City will finish in the top two – for the remaining Champions League places but it requires Arsenal to take maximum points or as many as possible and hope that total is more than those around them.

The first half has put them on the back foot but a run of one Premier League defeat in seven – four consecutive wins in all competitions – has shifted the momentum. Making it five in a row ahead of the North London Derby next weekend is crucial.

And Arsenal’s biggest enemy is complacency; if the players could leave that to us, everyone will probably be well-satisfied. Three points Gentlemen, as ever, remains this afternoon’s mantra.

From The Vaults

A far from routine win for an off-key Arsenal in their January 1952 win over today’s opponents, most notable for a consideration that has long disappeared from the professional game. Arsenal went into the match on the back of a 1 – 4 reverse at Roker Park which had cost them top spot. Villa meanwhile had lost just one of the last nine; a shame from their point of view that five had been drawn, dropped points explaining their mid-table position at kick-0ff.

I’m not sure how his manager reacted to Stan Lynn’s admission that he put his opponents welfare first but I should imagine that were Villa’s right back to repeat those actions today, he would at best, be on the wrong end of a rocket.

And the opprobrium of today’s massed ranks of pundits with few picking up on his ethos without a condescending smirk and joke about how he won’t be doing that again.

’til Tomorrow.

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Gabriel Unveiled & Considered For Villa Squad

Posted on by Posted in Arsenal 123 Comments

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Morning from what later today is promised to be a sunny Texas with temperatures rising to the mid-70s later; you metric people can work out what that is in your own minds, I’m far too bleary-eyed to think about which part of the mid-20s that occupies. And that comment about the eyes will tell you that the clock is ticking here and this is a brief post today.

Still, better to be tired in sunny weather than the sleet or snow that is falling in dear old Blighty.

And it probably reinforces any preconceptions that Gabriel Armando de Abreu had about England. Officially unveiled and much to my amusement, the club has been criticised for taking so long to do so. Were they born in times past, the same people would probably have left their local newspaper editors feeling beseiged with complaints about their local communities. And a fair number of them would have been written in green ink.

Gabriel as he will be known, not Paulista – which makes sense as it isn’t his name – had his versatility highlighted by Arsène,

I like the players who come from nowhere and show they can adapt. From Brazil, he has [then] adapted to Spain. That means he has already made it and adapted in another country. That’s another important quality.

We needed another centre back because we have lost Debuchy. Monreal can play centre back and we are a bit short there if something happens, especially with the Achilles [problem] of Koscielny since the start of the season.

We needed some cover, or we would not be responsible. [Gabriel] can play right back and left back, and that is of course a good quality as well.

Judging Arsène’s words is always a risky business but it is apparent that for the next six months, Gabriel is going to be a squad member rather than embarking on a steep learning curve and slotting straight into the back four. Of course that depends on the state of the injury list and it seems apparent that Laurent Koscielny is being nursed through and is not fully fit.

I guess that whilst the French international’s fitness will dictate Gabriel’s appearances, so too will his grasp of the English language. There are a few Spanish speakers in the defence but I’m not sure how well Per Mertesacker speaks that language.

It’s indicative of the scars left by the past six months that Arsène played up the virtue of Gabriel’s versatility across the centre and either flank. Hopefully he won’t be needed as full back although he may do on the right more than the left. We, like most other clubs, don’t have happy experiences of central defenders playing as full backs. It’s no different a concept than a winger playing as a centre forward; few are comfortable doing so.

Villarreal’s manager, Marcelino, believes Gabriel is similar in style to Koscielny which would be an interesting partnership if true. Certainly one blessed with pace; add in the improved reading of the game that comes with maturity and experience. The prospect of that combination is promising but underlines the long-term nature of this purchase. Yes, at 24, there is a reasonable expectation of him being ready for the first team now but as with Koscielny when he first arrived, it will be interesting to see his growth as a player at the club.

Ahead of the Villa match, Arsène suggested that Gabriel’s fitness for the weekend is still to be assessed. No more than a place on the bench should be expected but that he is being considered for the squad is indicative that the trees are thinning rather than the woods being cleared in what has been a forest of injuries to plague the club this season. No doubt there will be more in the pre-match press conference in the morning.

’til Tomorrow.

 

Midfield Congestion To Cause Charge For The Door

Posted on by Posted in Arsenal, FA Cup, Football, Premier League, Soccer, Transfer Gossip 111 Comments

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One of the advantages of being in a different time zone – I said, time zone not Twilight Zone dammit! – is that you arrive later on a slow news day  than everyone else. When the FA Cup tie with Middlesbrough being moved to the Sunday 4pm kick-off slot is the news, you get to understand how slow the day actually is. It means that barring the draw for the quarter-finals of that competition, Arsenal don’t leave the capital until they catch a flight to Monaco.

Yeah, not too sure where that’s leading myself either. The Premier League games are all eminently winnable and let’s be honest, games we can drop silly points in. As much as it is tempting to proclaim the turning of a corner and there is no denying four consecutive wins is a tremendous about-turn in consistency, it’s still a bit too soon. That said, three more points this weekend and the mood going into the North London Derby will be far more positive than pre-Christmas.

The season remains one of one step at a time. Returning players from injury give the manager options and reports already suggest that Gabriel will bring his angelic style to the squad this weekend. If he is anything more than a spectator though, it will be a surprise and perhaps an indication that Laurent Koscielny is being nursed through still. In an ideal world, I guess Arsène will look to gradually introduce the player, perhaps targeting the FA Cup as a match for his début.

Alongside whom is the question. We expect players to fit in and to build partnerships with any other player. It doesn’t always work that way, as we well know, and sometimes even the obvious complementary pairing fails. Having signed in January, it seems most likely that Wenger has identified the player as one for next season, with any performances this time as part of the ‘bedding in’ process. It’s a luxury, yes, but with the injury situation seemingly lightening, it allows the manager time to take a longer term view than planning one game to the next.

The summer will see remodelling of the squad. The first steps were taken with Mikel Arteta reportedly signing the new one-year deal he was offered a while back. Keeping the Spaniard has two advantages; it relieves some of the pressure to sign a new defensively-minded midfielder in haste. It allows Wenger to sign the player he wants. Midfield is going to be very competitive next season on the rare occasions that everyone is fit with everyone knowing that consistency is expected in their performances or they are going to be out of the side for some time such are the options.

Of course, that depends on the foolish notion that everyone will be fit.

Some will leave. Flamini is llikely to be the loser in the age stakes with a free transfer on the cards; Diaby too, with every passing week seeming to underline he is losing his battle to prove his fitness to the manager. But a new contract can’t be ruled out either.

I suppose Coquelin may ease the problem by not committing to the club, especially if he thinks they are going to sign an internationally experienced player for his role. Considering his future looked bleak as far as Arsenal were concerned, the manner in which he has set about changing his fortunes is impressive. He is a useful squad player to have for this role and with Arteta having just one more year, he has the opportunity to establish himself.

As he has seen this season, none of the senior players can take anything for granted and most likely he will feature in 20+ games per season. Whether that is enough having tasted ‘regular’ first team action and been one the catalysts for a change in fortune, remains to be seen.

It’s certain to be a case of more out of midfield than in next summer. Where this season finishes in terms of positions and silverware may dictate which priorities are addressed first by the manager.

’til Tomorrow.

Gabriel, Cup & Right Back To The Future

Posted on by Posted in Arsenal, Football, Premier League, Soccer, Transfer Gossip 132 Comments

diMorning y’all from the warm and sunny south of Texas where even the least sane of people is entitled to carry a gun. Or it maybe more of a case that I wouldn’t trust the person who now possesses a rifle, with any sort of firearm, plastic or real. And this one was very real. Although why you need a camouflaged rifle to take on a deer or wild boar was never entirely explained. Then again, “because you do” has rarely been any sort of explanation at all.

So Gabriel has signed. Well, he might have done so by the time this sees print thanks to the vagaries of the time zones. You can get used to these types of deal, not the quality of the player; I haven’t seen anything much of him so couldn’t offer an opinion on him. I’m sure there is a YouTube reel of him looking like the lovechild of Beckenbauer and Kroll after being raised by Baresi. Actually, if such a reel exists, I’d quite like to see that; the art of defending is not quite lost but not what it was.

The lessons of the past appear learned, work permits duly attained and a signing to be announced. What his role in the squad is remains to be seen but any signing should be capable of challenging for a first team place and good enough to take the opportunity when it arises. Coquelin may have achieved that fortuitously but when his moment came, he took it. Whether he has done so on a long-term basis remains to be seen. I’m sure next summer will be revealing in that respect.

In the season review DVD for either 2003/04 or the following season, Arsène noted that signing Jose Antonio Reyes in January was ideal because it allowed the player to settle for six months or so, being ready for the following season. The theory didn’t work to well with Reyes who by his own admission, didn’t settle in England but that’s not to say Gabriel won’t. More importantly, the Brazilian has the chance to see English football first hand. Hopefully the brutality won’t astound him in the same way it did Robert Pires.

There might be a role for him this season. Certainly you would expect him to play in the FA Cup tie against Middlesbrough and he may slip into the side as two games a week becomes the norm around the end of the month, allowing the luxury of rest to Mertesacker or Koscielny as needed. Most importantly, it gives Arsène options, something which was so evidently missing up to now. So let the photos be taken, the pieces be written for the official welcome and get this show on the road.

Spending money seems to have reinvigorated the gossip columns but it will be a surprise if any more new players arrive this transfer window, certainly on a permanent basis. Talk of new right backs seems premature, although it was a chastening experience (to some extent) for Calum Chambers on Sunday. Right back doesn’t seem to be his natural position but needs must, as they have done all season. However, you would have to hope that Mathieu Debuchy’s ill-fortune cannot continue and that when he returns to fitness this time, he is able to enjoy a good run in the side.

With Carl Jenkinson returning in the summer, on the surface there appears little necessity to make a permanent signing. A loan is a different matter. Hector Bellerin has done a good job so far but there are crucial games coming and if progress is made in the cup competitions, especially the Champions League, then the opposition will provide sterner tests. Is he up to that? Is it even fair on the youngster to put him in that position with the knowledge that a bad game could have a lasting impact.

It’s a tough call for Arsène to make. He has to show some loyalty to the youngsters but balance that against the prospects of winning a competition or completing the task of finishing in the top four. These moments are great for speeding along Bellerin’s experience and with Carl Jenkinson getting regular first team action at West Ham, the future has great potential. If Jenkinson returns in the summer – and my view is that it is by no means certain – then the opportunity exists for Bellerin to go on loan and get experience next season. In a year’s time, Debuchy will be 31. Like Mertesacker, it isn’t old but it is the age when a first team place can be seriously challenged by two younger players. The circle of footballing life.

Having briefly mentioned it before, the FA Cup draw is favourable to Arsenal. Middlesbrough did exceptionally well to beat City at the weekend, rode their luck and took their chances. It was a typical smash-and-grab raid. I am sure Arsène and the players won’t be taking it lightly; if they do, they need only think back to the visit of Blackburn in the same stage of the competition two years ago as a reminder of how things can go wrong. A focussed Arsenal ought to be too strong for a visiting team whose predecessors have never won an FA Cup tie in the proper side of North London.

The draw looks as if it has evened the Premier League’s chances of providing the last four. Bradford have an excellent chance of making the last eight but with in all likelihood, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United still in the draw, it is hard to see beyond one of that trio lifting the trophy in May.

’til Tomorrow.

 

No Doubting Tomas In Arsenal Win

Posted on by Posted in Arsenal, Brighton & Hove Albion, FA Cup, Football, Premier League, Soccer 122 Comments

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Brighton & Hove Albion 2 – 3 Arsenal

0 – 1 Walcott (2)
0 – 2 Özil (23)
1 – 2 O’Grady (50)
1 – 3 Rosicky (59)
2 – 3 Baldock (75)

Morning y’all. I know I’m in Houston; they are talking sunshine, temperatures redolent of an English summer’s day whilst the news has its’ Eye in the Sky showing miles of concrete beneath the wheels of a never-ending stream of cars. It’s 6am; the highways and by-ways are fuller than the M25 before building into the same car park mentality.

A pleasant surprise to find the hotel bar showing football – that’s the proper version not the native version – and doing so the rest of this week. An announcement to build an underground system here is just about the only weird thing left but things haven’t got that strange yet. This after all is the land of bumper stickers which claim ‘gasoline is the only green fuel’.

So to Arsenal, which after all is the reason we are here. To their credit, it was a performance which rarely threatened to build into the upset which saw the shameful exits of City and Chelsea this weekend. An early goal settles the nerves and puts the home side on the back foot, a second reinforces that message. Arsenal obliged by following that plan and for Theo Walcott, the rustiness of his finishing during his previous cameos, appears to have fallen by the wayside.

That’s good news for Arsenal, a little relief of pressure on Alexis and Giroud in the goalscoring stakes. If Aaron Ramsey can find his scoring boots – and he was a touch more accurate yesterday than before – on a regular basis, we’re going to be heading in the right direction.

It’s always tricky to look at a match like yesterday in anything but isolation. Seven changes with all the key personnel dropping out, means that things don’t run as smoothly as we might want. In an attacking sense, Arsène will have been satisfied. Chambers got forward well in support on the right and certainly for most of the match, Rosicky pulled the strings, blew the horns and tinged the little cymbal at the end with a fine volleyed finish for the third.

Wenger got the movement he would have desired, aided no doubt by the confidence the early goals bought for the scorers. Mesut Özil ought to score more you feel, with his well-timed run rewarded with a natural  composure in front of goal.

But it was Tomas who was the star with a high energy performance that belied his years. Maybe he is right, maybe the injuries suffered mean his footballing age is roughly one-seventh of his physical age. Perhaps this is his future at Arsenal – if there is one beyond the summer – to be the ‘cup captain’, the driving force in midfield because he played some sumptuous passes and made outstanding runs; things we take for granted from a player of his calibre but underline what a joy he is to watch.

Defensively, the chinks caused by the changes were evident. Both Brighton goals were poor to concede. From the minute the ball spiralled skywards from Rosicky’s poor clearance, Arsenal were in trouble. Chambers failure to even jump exacerbated matters and punishment came with Flamini’s lack of action telling. The second came from a stumble and Koscielny trying to play his way out of the area. Slack marking on the right gave Baldock the time to finish.

Moments like that make the case for the current starting XI – at the back at least – to remain intact. Certainly with the first, the second although Koscielny should have tried to find Row Z, were more to do with the initial stumble. With Gabriel coming according to the manager – bullishly confident on the player – in the next day or so, we can expect pressure to be put on the French defender as well as not seeing two left backs side-by-side in the defence.

Equally, the slump in Flamini’s performances has astonished, emphasizing how misleading statistics are. Coquelin’s emergence ought to have seen his compatriot raise his levels in discipline but yesterday simply reinforced Wenger’s decision to go with the younger of the pair. Where this leaves Arteta is an interesting question. Certainly the Spaniard will struggle to return immediately to the side when he regains fitness but of the two elder statesmen, I would expect him to be the one to keep the pressure on Coquelin’s form which can only be a good thing.

Why, oh, why Arsène did you not do that in the summer, alleviating some of the injury problems. The narrative for the season might – not would – have been different.

The FA Cup remains the best prospect for silverware and along with United, Arsenal will be favourites which probably means they will be drawn together in the Fifth Round. Arsène sought to downplay the tag but the reality is that most of the Premier League has fallen by the wayside so far and there’s no reason to not believe a return to Wembley is possible. You can’t say probable but to not with the cup this season might be classed as disappointing.

Whether I would have said that before the win at The Etihad is an interesting question, that just underlines the positive effect on winning one game on and off the pitch. Arsène underlined that,

We have a good momentum but let’s keep the urgency level very high and we know how quickly the momentum can die in football if your quality drops a little bit. We have a good opportunity to finish well this season so we have to show that we can compete in every single game now and earn our right to win the games.

It’s this which will determine the outcome of the season. Arsenal need others to drop points and to minimise the impact of their own failures. We won’t take maximum points between now and the end of the season and a top four place depends on others dropping more. We’ll see how that one pans out but in the meantime just enjoy a decent cup run.

’til Tomorrow. Or later on today for me, I suspect.