That the season came down to one final match is cause for praise and concern in equal measure. Whatever your view is, the League table does not lie. A fair assessment of Arsenal’s season is that the squad is fourth best in the country, holding its own in a little group below champions but closer to missing out on Europe than winning the title.

Many will point to the loss of two pivotal players to the team, taking them out and introducing three in their place. That is contradictory; Arsenal began the season with a run of five games unbeaten until Chelsea won at The Emirates. Four points were accumulated from traditionally tough away matches at Anfield and Eastlands. Arsenal responded to that defeat with a win at Upton Park. The new squad had – the logic of the time went – gelled quickly.

But the wheels came off. Two wins in the next eight games saw the club drop, the nadir that horrible afternoon when Swansea left The Emirates having beaten Arsenal the Arsenal way. A performance so abject that it almost defies description.  It left Arsenal languishing in 10th place, ten points from the top four. The team needed time to gel became the mantra. Except it went deeper than that, the forward line was misfiring and the defensive line resembled the scribble on a piece of paper that your offspring tell you is a lion.

A short unbeaten run lifted the gloom until it returned as Manchester City and Chelsea both took maximum points in consecutive weeks. And then things began to go right, in the Premier League at least.

Domestic and European cups were another matter. Bradford City would be despatched mercilessly by Swansea at Wembley and Arsenal remained their highest profile victims en route to the final. It was a defeat that should not have happened. A full strength Arsenal went to Yorkshire, expecting to win, coming away humbled as chances were spurned, most notably by Gervinho at the death. Penalties are always a lottery and Bradford’s winning ticket was at hand. In the USA at the time, I felt fortunate in some respects to be away from the maelström.

The FA Cup was little better. That Premier League defeat was almost avenged at the Liberty Stadium, Swansea hammered 1 – 0 in the replay. Brighton threatened briefly but a comfortable win ensued. And then Blackburn, hell-bent on rivalling Portsmouth for the sobriquet ‘crisis club’, arrived at The Emirates. Arsène changed his line-up, played with fire and got burned. If Swansea was the season’s nadir, the FA Cup exit was not far behind. The team was lifeless, devoid of ambition and idea until late substitutes added impetus. The watching Bayern Munich scouts would have relished playing that Arsenal.

Having made the knockout phase again by finishing second in their Champions League group, the all-conquering Germans awaited. A dismal first half was countered by the second but a 1 – 3 defeat effectively ended the tie. The players did not listen, showed the mental strength that would follow, pulling off a thoroughly deserved 2 – 0 victory in the return, to exit under the Away Goals Rule. A glorious failure, as with Milan the year before. That win is at once over- and underplayed in arguments but its primary function was one of confidence-boosting, coming in the immediate aftermath of the North London Derby. Self-belief flooded into the XI and a ruthless streak emerged in the manager.

Ruthless or fortunate? He would have been a favoured Napoleonic General, luck was on his side when he took a brave decision; or was his philosophy more akin to Gary Player’s? Whatever the reason, it was about time his turned in what had been thus far, a wretched season.

Vermaelen and Szczesny were rested for the trip to Munich. Had Mertesacker and Koscielny not formed such a strong partnership, I wonder whether pragmatism would have held sway with the Belgian recalled? Equally, Fabianski was outstanding, making crucial saves against Norwich in particular, as the season headed toward its climax. Both circumstances were as welcome as they were unexpected. Szczesny was reprieved with a strong sense of déjà vu. His first-team chance came as Fabianski played well until injury struck, his redemption the same. Vermaelen? The captain was reduced to a back-up and introduced when injury required. He played a captain’s role though. No bleating, stomping or requesting a transfer; quietly getting on with his work, keeping his thoughts to himself.

But this Arsenal squad repeated the cycle of the previous season. Poor form left them with a lot of work to do, relentless though their pursuit was, they capitalised on Tottenham’s stumbles. That is not to denigrate Arsenal’s work but to deny that happened is madness. Like 2011/12, it was a combination of both and again it came down to the wire. Again it was Laurent Koscielny who scored the goal which mattered.

A weakness in the arguments over the improved form comes in the shape of the opposition, underlining the complexity of the issues. Extrapolation of the run since January, claiming that next season will show a points harvest far more than this season’s total does not make sense. Arsenal claimed seven points from thirty against top six teams; seven. Champions will gain somewhere near treble that. Being flat-track bullies is necessary to underpin any challenge for honours but ceding twenty-three points in the key matches causes insurmountable problems.

There is space for strengthening. The exit door will barely have time to stop spinning with the numbers expected to go. Even if contracts are not yet expired, surely Arsenal have to cut their losses and pay a number of serial achievers off to free spaces. Losses can be consumed within FFP regulations.

And with this activity, a different problem emerges. The sixteen game run was forged on consistent team selection, on the squad ethic with minimal interruptions. A full season is not like that with suspensions, injuries and internationals intermingled with the demands of the four competitions in which the club will strive for success. Improving and moving forwards is the trickiest balance a manager can strike.

Undoubtedly some will think that they deserve their place and strong arguments will persist over Giroud, for example. His first season in English football garnered a goal every three Premier League goals. If that improved to two, a problem is solved but it is a big ‘IF’. The squad needs another central striker, for as hard as Lukas Podolski worked in Giroud’s absence, he is not a long-term solution. He is extremely effective on the flanks, a wide goalscoring forward on both sides of the pitch? We can dare to dream.

And the strength for the future emerged from the darkness. As abuse rained in, Aaron Ramsey moved into a central midfield role and shone. Having been berated for his performances on the right side of defence, midfield and attack, the Welshman came of age in his favoured role. Continuing to improve and show his strength in the final stages of the season, culminating in a wonderfully taken final home goal at The Emirates against Wigan.

Others, Arteta and Cazorla, more experienced but settling in new roles and countries, minimised the disruption of departures. The former was consistent throughout the season and it strikes me – for that reason – as a red herring when Alex Song’s departure is cited as a disruption. If rumours are anything to go by, it meant a more harmonious dressing room.

And that sums Arsenal’s season up; a mass of contradictions on the pitch and off it. One where improvement was shown, where weaknesses still exist. One where a strong squad emerged, one that will inevitably change.

’til Tomorrow.

Newcastle United 0 – 1 Arsenal

0 – 1 Koscielny (52)

“I’d like to say it’s a shame [that Tottenham didn't qualify to Champions League] – but it’s not really!”

Theo Walcott’s words encapsulated the afternoon.

Yesterday was only ever about results, the performance was secondary, as it has been since a gap of seven points emerged following defeat at White Hart Lane.

Laurent Koscielny’s close-range finish from Walcott’s free-kick separated the two sides. For all of Newcastle’s efforts in the first half, Arsenal’s calm endeavours proved more fruitful. The performance mirrored much of the run of matches which garnered 26 points out of a possible 30; Arsenal were controlled without being entirely dominant. Their hosts forged some clear opportunities but it is naïve to expect a win where your opponent does not have the opportunity to score. I can only recall openings for Cisse, twice in ten first-half minutes he might have reasonably been expected to find the target. In both instances, Szczesny was not troubled to make a save. Cabaye forced the only save of note as Newcastle ran out of ideas and steam.

By contrast, Arsenal came closest to changing the scoreline. Mertesacker, Koscielny and Cazorla all had their moments in front of goal whilst Walcott almost put the result beyond doubt, striking the woodwork with Harper well beaten. Giroud, with the last meaningful moment before the final whistle. An away win with a sensible, controlled performance on a day when three points had to be attained.

Central to victory was a defensive performance, built upon by unity of endeavour in midfield and defence. Koscielny and Mertesacker are rightly garnering praise but it is not a two-man job; they rely on the protection of the trio in front of them, augmented by the work of colleagues on either flank. Credit to Oxlade-Chamberlain and Ramsey who worked hard when the gamble of Mikel Arteta’s inclusion back-fired with the Spaniard had to be withdrawn as his injury flared once more.

But the collective worked hard, the forwards pressed to offer breathing space to the defence. It was not a match of stellar performances, it was obdurate. Attacking flair has been tempered by pragmatism, pressure consistently applied to the opponents. Arsenal have always pushed opponents backwards from the front but sporadically during games; at times before Christmas, it seemed to easy for the ball to bypass the forward line as pressure was exerted on the defence. Problem solved for the moment.

The media immediately focussed on celebrating fourth place. That misses the point, finishing above Tottenham is guaranteed to bring a smile in its own right but more importantly to the club, Champions League football upon successful negotiation of the qualifying round.

Arsène was quick to praise the mental strength of the team,

In the last three months, I believe we have been remarkably consistent. We won every away game so it’s a good springboard for next season, to transfer that belief into the start of next season.

He needs that and has space in the squad to fill. Departures will, you sense, be plentiful this Summer but not in the manner of previous windows, not for key personnel. Indeed, you could argue that one of the fundamental reasons for the run that closed out the season was that there is no one player who is more important than the others; a genuine team rather than an assembly of star and supporting cast.

In a week when fantasy came into football, little wonder that Arsène sought to manage expectations,

There are many clubs out there with a lot of money so the competition is very hard. There’s not as much talent as money today in football.

There is a tangible sense of relief at Arsenal have reached the minimum target set by the manager at the start of the season. The run since back-to-back defeats against Chelsea and Manchester City has been phenomenal; twelve wins and three draws to accompany the reverse at White Hart Lane. It shows what the team is capable of achieving under pressure, the trick is to keep that going when the new season starts in August. The concern is that with arrivals and departures, we will be back to square one, inconsistency reigning when pushing on should happen. That after all, is often held up as the reason for the poor form before Christmas. Not one, I add, that I subscribe to so abject were some of the performances. That was something more deep-rooted than ‘getting to know you‘.

As it is, social diaries for next season can be arranged with the knowledge that Thursday night is free.

’til Tomorrow.

As long as it is the Lindisfarne version. I am not doing a cover of Gazza’s…

The points on the Tyne are all mine, all mine
The points on the Tyne are all mine

I am not sure that Arsène’s version of the Lindisfarne, ahem, classic, is going to be that big a seller in the North East but if turns out to the perfect summation of the result, who cares whether the barcodes ring out in the local record stores. Three points is all that matters to Arsenal this afternoon.

A whole Premier League season of effort comes down to ninety minutes. OK, so a particular combination of results may give us another match afterwards but that’s by-the-by. This is the one that can put us in the position of having to worry about another match in the first place.

The popular theory is that Newcastle United have nothing to play for, that Arsenal have the ambition and the greater desire. Too many people took Alan Pardew’s words literally and expect them to stand aside as their visitors rampage into the Champions League places. Malcolm MacDonald nailed the theory in his preview for The Chronicle; I expect them to want to give the bloody nose to Arsenal, to damage their aspirations and to end the season with some pride, in what has after all, been a dismal campaign for them.

Tony Adams observed that recent results at home to Sunderland and Liverpool are likely to see Newcastle play defensively. That will be on top of Pardew’s usual philosophy of stifling Arsenal, of packing the midfield to ensure that a blanket is thrown over the game with the long ball to his forwards the only outlet as a result. Of course, he has to cut his cloth accordingly but it is an utterly negative mentality that has no long-term growth for the club he is managing. Mike Ashley has cut to the chase this weekend and found the route to a Newcastle victory with a reported £1m pot going to his non-playing staff in that eventuality. His players are not just turning out for their own bonuses now.

Seven wins and two draws in their last nine games ought to give Arsenal plenty of confidence, especially since in that spell all away games have resulted in wins. Some tension comes from lacklustre performances but to repeat the point ad nauseam, results are all that matter in the final stretch of the season. It does not matter if the winning goal rebounds into the net off the referee’s backside, as long as it gives three points to Arsenal, who cares? We fleetingly remember the strain of watching a match but more often than not, those memories fade until a scoreline is left. And when the result will decide a particular fate, then this overrides any flamboyant desires.

The key injury concern for Arsenal is Mikel Arteta, the Spaniard as the fulcrum of the midfield trio has been quietly crucial to the recent good results. A fitness test this morning will reveal whether he can take part or most likely, to what extent. Whilst Wenger has the a couple of choices: Coquelin, a more defensive option but underused this season, or Vermaelen, who would solve the captaincy issue as well. It seems most likely that Jack Wilshere will be selected. In itself, that seems logical with the youngster intuitive enough to fill the role defensively and prompting others. However, with his ankle requiring surgery and Wenger’s own admission that they are nursing him through the final stages of the season, is it a sensible option? Can Wilshere last the whole match and if not, should he be kept on the bench with Vermaelen chosen instead? Wilshere can, if required, replace any of the midfielders from the bench.

With Olivier Giroud returning from suspension, the central striking role is the only other headache and it has to be a straight choice between the Frenchman and Lukas Podolski. The balance of the side is right at the moment with Santi Cazorla on the wing and in a match of this importance, it is important to keep changes to the absolute minimum. Despite scoring twice on Tuesday, most likely Wenger will go for Giroud, at least at the start.

The line-up I expect is:

Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Rosicky, Arteta (Wilshere), Ramsey; Walcott, Giroud, Cazorla

We have been in this position before, a last day showdown to decide the season. A comfortable home win relying on the failings of others or masters of our own destiny with a tricky away match. The players, for the most part, know this situation, know what to do.

Enjoy the match wherever you are watching it.

’til Tomorrow.

The final weekend of the Premier League season is upon us, the drama stretched for another 36 hours to suit the Sunday television schedule. Confidence going into the match is probably at its highest. A decent spell of results, if not always performances, has bred optimism in the fans. It has been an almost reverse to what you would have expected; nervousness before Wigan, bullishness now. It is curious that the last game of the season was viewed more positively than the last home game.

Twice – 1993/94 and 1999/2000 – Arsenal have played at St James Park on the last day of the season, both have ended in defeat, 0 – 2 and 2 – 4 respectively. Neither game had anything riding on them. Arsenal could not finish any higher than 4th or 2nd in either case, nor could they finish any lower. History in this case, is bunk.

It has been a rare occurrence that the final day result has actually meant anything. On the quartet of occasions in his reign when results have mattered, Arsène has been able to motivate the team to produce the right outcome; a win. Confidence can be borne of that experience, as can complacency but this time, it feels a little different. Defeat on Tyneside – when it matters – would have a negative impact on the players going into next season. Having worked hard to be masters of their own destiny, it would be a fairly bruising blow to make a pig’s ear of it and put themselves into the Europa League next year. That is key for tomorrow, their own vested interest. It is more than just finishing as high as you can; each utterance about European football is always in the context of the Champions League, as Arsène himself noted,

What is at stake is a desire to stay at the top. To play top-level European football. There is a difference between the Champions League and Europa League. The Champions League features the best teams. That’s what we want to do. The financial consequences are big but that is not the most important thing for me.

If they fail to qualify for the Champions League, you can bet that the Arsenal players will be looking forward to the challenge of the Europa League and of what difficult sides, what good teams, lie in wait.

Wenger believes the players are in the right frame of mind to produce the win, you would not expect anything less in that sense. Theo Walcott suggested earlier this week that there was an iron fist inside the velvet glove during the half-time break against Wigan. Whatever the rocket delivered, it had the desired effect. Once they had settled into their rhythm, the visitors could not cope with Arsenal’s attack. That response was one of the better performances in a while. At this stage of the season, arguably the performance is nowhere near as important as the result.

For years, a common complaint has been that Arsenal could not grind out results, play badly and win. The minute that they do, the performance suddenly becomes more important. Of course performances matter to some degree. To turn up every week and be shambolic is not likely to produce any sort of consistency in results over weeks or months. It is often overlooked that the current Premier League run is one defeat in fifteen games. Not every performance can obliterated opponents, in the same way that not every result was scraped out; the balance was somewhere in the middle.

The metaphorical handbrake has been applied on several occasions, particularly away from home. It has seemed as if there was a strong desire not to lose, not to concede, has been the overriding philosophy on entering the pitch. Take the sting out of your opponents by not conceding early. Eleven goals in fifteen games is impressive enough but does not shout about the seven clean sheets. When you don’t concede, winning is made a bit easier. The attack does suffer but by comparison, not that much. Last season saw 74 Premier League goals scored, with one game to go, 71 this time around. Goals are shared amongst the team more readily, the over-reliance on one player eschewed. Of course, the season is not linear, individual results can skew goal difference in either direction. Like all headline statistics, they reflect glory and mask problems all in one go.

What they have done is begin to create a feeling of, invincibility is too strong a word, but certainly of resilience, to use Arsène’s favoured descriptor.

Winning tomorrow is all that matters, anything else relies on Tottenham capitulating as in previous seasons. I do not hold out any hope of that, di Canio’s fighting words are as empty as Pardew’s flippancy. Sunderland will go to White Hart Lane hoping to win but concede a goal? They will collapse in the same way that teams have done so to Arsenal on previous occasions. No reliance can be placed upon the failings of others. It will be their own work by which Arsenal stand or fall.

’til Tomorrow.

Hey you, yes, you, you’ll vote for me won’t you! That’s C-A-Z-O-R-L-A. One more than Bale will get, thank you

Ahead of the visit to St James Park – am I the only one who has “Gonna Fly Now” in their heads when they think of it – Arsène has revealed that his underrated captain, Mikel Arteta, will most likely be missing. He is though, a man with a plan; well, several in fact, with the combinations offered in his pre-match assessment. Jack Wilshere might be the most obvious solution but Wenger has also mentioned Coquelin with Abou Diaby elbowing Lazarus out of the way to take the lead in the race of the greatest comebacks. An outside bet would be Thomas Vermaelen adorning his kit with a red codpiece following his brief cameo in the role on Tuesday.

Wilshere has not been at his fluent best since returning from injury, which is understandable given the length of time of his absence initially, and the subsequent niggling problems. Ordinarily, to play him might be considered a risk but this a match where the winner has their Abba moment, and takes it all. Coquelin seems an unlikely replacement, under-used this season for someone who was – maybe still is – highly rated by his manager. Perhaps this is the news where the nerves reveal themselves; there is a confidence of winning by The Tyne which was bizarrely absent leading up to the visit of Wigan. Will that diminish?

That the absence of Arteta is a cause for consternation is a testament to how well he has played. His contribution is often overlooked, sometimes diminished as people look for the killer pass to come from deep or the influential play comparable to Cesc in his Arsenal prime, driving the side forward. Arteta is a different player, successfully fulfilling a different role. The back four are getting rightly praised for the tightness which has emerged since defeat in the North London derby but they have received better protection from the midfield, with Ramsey and Arteta combining resourcefully to provide a barrier. This has been more noticeable away from home and in the first half against United before the madness struck.

Santi Cazorla will probably win the Player of the Year award at the end of the season but Arteta should also be among the frontrunners, surely? That recognition is deserved in both cases and for Arsène it was inexplicable that the former was not recognised at the PFA Awards recently. Whilst he is appreciated internally, wider appreciation was not forthcoming with Cazorla omitted from the Team of the Year. Wenger observed,

I think he is a bit of an underrated player in the Premier League. When you think he was not in the [PFA] team of the season picked by the players, it’s quite harsh. Personally I would have put him in there.

When you look at his quality, that is of course outstanding, but also his attitude and workrate for the team. He’s one of the players who has been absolutely outstanding this season.

The Spaniard has enjoyed an impressive first season, creating and scoring at a level which was probably more effective than most expected on a consistent basis. That is not to say he suffered low expectations, just acknowledging that Cazorla settled into the club a lot quicker than some of his compatriots have previously.

This season’s awards highlighted a difference, the perception of the players outside of the club. It is only the third time in Wenger’s reign that no Arsenal player has been included in the Team of the Year for the Premier League. Contentious as such awards are, they are voted for by the players themselves. Having said that, anyone who thinks Eden Hazard has been more consistent than Cazorla probably has only watched the players on Match of the Day. In view of the turbulence of previous Summer’s, perhaps a time where the players go relatively unnoticed elsewhere is appreciated.

Letting others takeover is welcome in that respect, dig out their old Bananarama records. With the number of high-profile coaches changing this Summer, there will be speculation about transfers at Chelsea and both Mancunian clubs before horizons are spread to foreign lands. Wenger himself has noted Chelsea may be particularly active but Arsenal will be his primary focus. The Rooneyometer has swung towards no signing, someone in the media finally twigging that wages might be a big problem. Arsène is adamant that he will not be ending his tenure this time around although noticeably his attitude to media speculation has changed on his Eurosport blog. Now the attention given to his future does not tire him, as opposed to his irascibility not so long ago.

’til Tomorrow.

Attention turns towards Sunday and whether or not the circumstances will prevail to afford the Premier League the opportunity to put their 39th game into practice. It seems unlikely but then who would have thought that a player would suffer ridicule for wearing a full kit under a suit to celebrate a victory in a European final in which he played no part and then repeat the feat twelve months later? OK, most people probably assumed John Terry would do it and a hundred pub quiz organisers now have a question for future years.

Chelsea’s triumph raises uncomfortable questions for some. Their success makes them the first English side to win all the European trophies – Champions League, Cup Winners Cup, Europa League (UEFA Cup) and Super Cup – and begs the question: Champions League failure or Europa League success?

Thursday night football is ridiculed the length and breadth of the land, mainly when mentioned in sentences containing Tottenham. The reality is that a sizable number of people would rather no European football at all than take part in the Europa League. No-one ever comes up with a real reason why. Some will cite the financial impact of not being in the Champions League but Europa League revenues will mitigate that loss to a small degree; something is better than nothing. Most of the arguments centre on claims that failure to qualify for the premier tournament will mean this, that or the other not happening rather than the Europa League itself; it is, it seems, a convenient scapegoat.

Chelsea’s triumph last night is today being ridiculed, elimination from the Champions League should not be rewarded with the Europa League. The basis of that argument is flawed; Arsenal have taken that route before, the fundamental difference being that we lost the 2000 UEFA Cup Final to Galatasaray. It is a flimsy argument which does not stand scrutiny.

The real tragedy of this is the low esteem in which the junior competition is held. The UEFA Cup was highly thought of, frequently cited as the most difficult of the three to win. The Cup Winners Cup? Well, that was almost the same as the Europa League in this respect but nonetheless, it still counted for something. The cash cow of the Champions League expansion eroded the UEFA Cup’s shine and instead of a fatted calf, the Europa League has become the black sheep. Its path is similar to the Football League Cup. It is still a competition but is routinely dismissed, only acceptable when defeat is a reason for complaint. If losing hurts that badly, something must be worth winning?

For most, the Europa League is better than nothing. Empty weeks whilst others enjoy their time on foreign fields would soon bring home the reality. Missing out entirely would be a terrible feeling. You might not agree with that now but just pray that scenario never comes true. Those of us who are old enough to remember the ban on English clubs in Europe will remind you at some point of the English Super Cup and other misguided ideas that the footballing authorities had to fill the gaps. Then we were fortunate to some degree; there was not wall-to-wall television coverage of the game. Miss out now and every European matchday would be a stake driven through your footballing soul.

A fair point was made in terms of the sides the manager would field. If his view is the Europa League is an irritant, we will see a League Cup approach, something which would be fundamentally wrong. That said, if he strengthens the squad as most hope in the Summer, there is every reason to believe that the second string will be reasonably strong. Good enough to win the home games. That complacency on this writer’s part should not be replicated on the pitch though.

Winning at St James Park would render this irrelevant. It is strange to read that people were more nervous and concerned about Tuesday night than Sunday. For me, irrespective of their win over Manchester City, Arsenal had enough quality to deal with Wigan at home, especially with the game coming relatively quickly after Wembley.

Uefa’s fining of the FA worked in Arsenal’s favour, showing how money-orientated the game is. It also underlined the imbalance in priorities that scheduling a Premier League fixture on a Champions League night cost the FA £1m. It puts their disciplinary efforts over racism into perspective, the fines which routinely struggle to get into five figures are deemed sufficient but upsetting a broadcaster which has a limited market anyway? Obviously that is more important…

Failure to beat either of the Merseyside teams at home in recent months, coupled with Tottenham’s surprising show of character, has led to Sunday being a winner takes all fixture. A quirk of fate leaves the fans of opposing North London teams supporting the efforts of rival Tyne & Wear clubs. Not that I have any high hopes of Sunderland doing anything other than rolling over and having their tummies tickled. At least Arsenal know that their own efforts will this time see them through to shining light of the Champions League. Or into the eighth circle of footballing Hell for some: Thursday Night Football.

’til Tomorrow.

And at half-time, I bet you were a conspiracy theorist

Arsenal 4 – 1 Wigan Athletic

1 – 0 Podolski (11)
1 – 1 Maloney (45)
2 – 1 Walcott (63)
3 – 1 Podolski (68)
4 – 1 Ramsey (71)

Well, Arsène said it had to happen; that the job had to be finished at home. To a certain extent it was, enough if it was a performance in three acts. The final outcome has left Arsenal’s fate once more in their own hands; three points at St James Park on Sunday and a top four finish is guaranteed. By his own admission, that is the minimum requirement for a season; fourth. It might be third if that win is by a two-goal margin, combined with an Everton draw at Stamford Bridge. But that is a sub-plot, the main story is Arsenal’s performance on that day.

That is to get ahead of ourselves. Last night, Arsenal acquired the three points with a second half performance which was as good as has been seen in recent weeks. The hand brake applied after Lukas Podolski’s early opener was not so much taken off, as the mechanism was smashed to pieces. Tackles were made, passes improved and counter-attacks effective. The reticence of the first half gone, Arsenal created and took their chances in an eight minute spell midway through the half.

The turnaround was a testament to the inner resolve of the squad, the focus of the players in achieving the required result. There could be a number of players considered for the Man of the Match award and Theo Walcott can have strong claims on it. I know Santi Cazorla has the four assists on the night but Walcott gave a more complete performance, supplementing his attacking play with a lot of hard work providing cover for Sagna on the right, especially when Arsenal let Wigan back into the game.

Walcott has his critics – and on occasion in the past, he has failed to live up to the promise of his youth. There is a growing maturity in his play, one that bodes well for the future, particularly as there will doubtless be a change of right back sooner rather than later. It was his initial burst that led to the corner so perfectly delivered by Santi Cazorla for Podolski to head home. Had the Spaniard nudged home his header minutes beforehand, we would be looking back and saying his performance deserved a goal.

Why Arsenal sat back I am not sure but only an acrobatic intervention from Koscielny stopped Kone having a presentable opportunity. A favoured tactic on Saturday by the eventual FA Cup winners was a long diagonal pass to the flanks. A couple of early attempts at that were intercepted; it was clear that the tactic had been watched, noted and neutered.  The play became stagnant, Koscielny went close for Arsenal from Cazorla’s free kick but nothing of any note was created at either end until inevitably Mike Dean fed the preposterous notion of tangibly officiating against Arsenal to their detriment. Cazorla’s fall might have been exaggerated but it was still a free kick. To subsequently punish Arteta with a dubious interpretation of a foul leaves supporters incredulous. Maloney rubbed salt into the wounds with a cracking finish. I cannot recall him doing that every week but he certainly should with that sort of accuracy.

A second for the visitors would have left Arsenal in trouble but Szczesny make a crucial save from Kone. May be that was the tipping point in the match, the moment that the belief started to seep into Arsenal. Wigan did not have a chance of note after but Arsenal went goal crazy as Cazorla centered for Walcott to nip in between goalkeeper and defenders for the second. The Spaniard then headed Podolski clear, the German finishing with some aplomb before the final act arrived in the form of Aaron Ramsey’s superb finish from an acute angle.

The win was all that was asked for, all that was needed. It was a pity that the evening has turned sour with Mikel Arteta’s injury causing concern ahead of Sunday. It would be a tough choice for the manager as to who he uses to replace his captain but most likely that would be Jack Wilshere ahead of Thomas Vermaelen. If you were nervous about last night, you’ll be a wreck before the weekend.

I suppose one should have sympathy for Wigan and their relegation but I can’t quite bring myself to feel sorry for them. It sums up the friendliness to which everyone seems predisposed that I didn’t notice any taunting, a complete absence of “You’re going down with the Rangers” or some such ditty. Not wanting to upset football karma or just that no-one really cared? I am sure that as much as they will treasure Saturday’s FA Cup win, the players would trade that for another Premier League season.

’til Tomorrow.

Arsenal welcome Wigan Athletic to The Emirates, perhaps a second guard of honour provided. It would be a double of sorts, I suppose; the closest that Arsenal have come to hosting both trophies in the same season for a number of years.

For both sides, it is a simple night. Win or bust. In Arsenal’s case, the ‘bust’ is more palatable than relegation but the financial hit of similar proportions to the clubs. Dropping out of the Premier League is the bigger fall, recovering the status of being a top flight club has proven to be a tough task for others and there is nothing to suggest it would be any easier for Wigan. As Arsène observed, The Latics have experience of this situation but this season has the looks of one where the fire played with in previous relegation fights, is going to burn them. There is an uncomfortable parallel for Wenger; even an Arsenal victory leaves them requiring a win at St James Park on Sunday to be sure of a Champions League spot ahead of Tottenham. Are the embers about to ignite? He put the season into context, observing that finishing fourth is the minimum requirement. You sense an uncomfortable Summer for him if that is not achieved and investment in the squad slow to be realised.

Not if Wenger has his way, fourth is within his grasp;

Both teams have to go for it, it’s a huge game for both of us. We have been very consistent, we’ve been on a remarkable run and our destiny is in our hands. Two months ago our destiny was not in our own hands. Today it is. So let’s finish the job.

That is where tonight suits Arsenal. Wigan will have confidence from their deserved win on Saturday evening but is that enough? It was out of type, not in keeping with their recent form. They have to produce that performance two more times to have even a sniff of a chance of safety. Arsenal, by contrast, have not played consistently well in recent games but the performances have been enough to get results. Complaints about not playing well are irrelevant now; it genuinely is only about results. Of course, playing well helps and a sub-standard performance can be punished. The opposite holds equally true; you cannot have it both ways, all the time.

The ten-day gap, no matter how interminably dull for supporters, works in the squads favour. Aside from Diaby and Giroud, all are present, correct and ready for action. Well, aside from Jack Wilshere that is. The England international will miss the Summer internationals due to ‘minor’ surgery being required on his ankle. In the meantime, Arsenal will nurse him through matches, restricting him to the bench and only using him as is absolutely required. Which strikes me as a bit daft; if he has an injury, it must be worsening by playing, begging the question as to why he has not already had the operation to resolve the issue. Midfield, after all, is where the squad does have depth and if Arsène can do without Jack for the moment, why not give the lad a complete rest for the Summer so that he is back ready for next season?

It is hard to see Wenger making changes to the side which emerged victorious at Loftus Road. Lukasz Fabianski’s return to fitness is probably not going to earn him a recall to the side unless Arsène is feeling utterly ruthless. Kieran Gibbs has not been passed fit at the time of writing and even if he is, would Arsenal be better served by the defensively more reliable, Monreal? It is a match where Arsenal will be expected to attack and be countered as a result; a full back who is less forward thinking is, in theory, less likely to be caught out of position. Wigan enjoyed their time on the flanks in the Cup final, something which will have surely not escaped Arsenal’s attention.

The team I would expect tonight is:

Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Arteta, Ramsey, Rosicky; Walcott, Podolski, Cazorla

There is a strong argument for including Crazy Legs in the line-up. Gervinho’s mobility might be troublesome for a Wigan defence which seemed somewhat static at times when Manchester City did attack and it was not difficult to see why they have conceded sixty-seven goals in the Premier League.

Whatever the outcome, a win is a win for both sides; a single goal which deflects in off the referee’s backside counts the same as a wonderful solo effort. And as long as Arsenal score one more than Wigan, I don’t care how they go in.

Enjoy the match wherever you are watching it.

’til Tomorrow.

Budweiser’s FA Cup Fan Film – To The Dreamers

Ten day breaks between games are becoming the norm. By now, we should have dissected the cadaver of the last home game of the season. Instead that takes place tomorrow night. Tottenham’s win yesterday has pushed Arsenal into fifth, two points behind. Despite having taken the lead very early on, Stoke offered little or no opposition beyond the opening quarter of an hour. Charlie Adam’s star started to wane as he sought to engineer a move from Blackpool; it plummeted even further yesterday when the poor man’s Paul Scholes was cheaply dismissed by the referee.

Stoke’s performance was of no surprise, I don’t understand why anyone expected anything more. It was entirely in keeping with their season and reflected the paucity of their talent They were already safe from relegation following Aston Villa’s failure to take a point from their match against Chelsea on Saturday. Realistically, that defeat meant that only Sunderland or Villa can replace Wigan in the bottom three; Fulham could but would need to utterly implode and concede a goals tally well into double figures in Swansea. Little wonder Stoke failed to put up a fight. They had nothing to play for, not even pride; they sold that down the river when they signed for Pulis.

The same might be said of Newcastle; the having nothing to play for bit. As the media fawning over Sir Alex Ferguson abates, it is replaced with condemnatory reports for their Mancunian rivals over the dismissal of Roberto Mancini and the presumed appointment of Manuel Pellegrini in his place. It is a job which should have been offered to managers who have served their English apprenticeships, so the logic goes. Why, for instance, they insist, has Alan Pardew never been offered a top job? His claim for the role is the achievement of getting Newcastle United to finish in sixth in a season when they were tipped for relegation. No mention of their battle against the drop this season when they were expected to do better or of his disastrous transfer policy which was a significant contributing factor in their woes. A stark contrast to those in the top jobs was on display in his attitude towards games; would a Manchester United or Arsenal manager offer the view that they didn’t care if they lost their next match 4 – 0? Relief at achieving safety for another season explains that to some degree but not entirely. It is why when Wenger retires, there will be more gnashing of teeth with unsuitable home-based replacements touted; why not Curbishley, they ask? Five years since leaving West Ham without another job is the answer.

I, for one, will be happy if Pardew continues with that meh attitude towards his next match, it makes life easier for Arsenal in their quest for Champions League qualification.

As Brian Moore observed twenty-four years ago, tomorrow night will be one of chilling simplicity. Nothing less than three points will suffice for both sides for very different reasons. Wigan have to beat Arsenal to have any chance of staying up. Failure leaves them as the first FA Cup winners to be relegated. Arsenal have to beat Wigan. Failure will most likely leave them in the Europa League next season.

Both sides are motivated to win. Both sides have to win. The permutations can wait until the post-match inquest when the ifs, buts and maybes will be clear for all.

Emirates Trophy…

The club is looking beyond the season’s end, planning for the Summer and next pre-season. Visits to Indonesia, Japan and Vietnam will precede The Emirates shindig during the first weekend of August. Strong rumours emerged a while ago about Galatasaray participating; yesterday they gathered pace with Napoli and Porto added to the guest list. Can you read anything into the invites going to those teams? Does it tell you anything about the club’s current status? Some will tell you that it does; I am unconvinced. There is a balance to be struck between commercial appeal and Arsenal winning the tournament, which let’s face it, is the whole reason for its existence. And invited teams have tended to be mid-tier European clubs. Real Madrid, Juventus, both Milanese clubs aside; Boca Juniors were the international influence but the other invitees? PSG, Valencia, Atletico, Hamburg? Good matches but nothing to set pulses racing.

The silly season kicked in with rumours of Napoli invitation being part of a deal to bring Cavani to Arsenal. A lot of fun will be had in the close season watching implosions as various targets emerge and depart to other homes. Or sign new contracts with their current employers.

…And It couldn’t have happened to a nicer bloke

After the hard time Manuel Almunia had at Arsenal, it was nice to see that the football gods are alive and kicking. It takes a strong man to produce a momentous double save from the penalty spot in the final minute of injury time in the second leg of a play-off semi-final but to then see his teammates sprint to the other end and score the winner? Pffft. Good luck to him in the final.

’til Tomorrow.

Budweiser’s FA Cup Fan Film – To The Dreamers

The FA Cup is not quite ready to be melted down for scrap metal. For only the fifth time since 1990, England’s premier domestic cup competition will reside in the trophy cabinet of a club which is not currently in the top five of the Premier League. That dominance of the game indicates a fundamental problem facing not just the FA Cup but English football in general; the sheer predictability of it all.

But that is to deflect attention away from Wigan’s thoroughly deserved win at Wembley. Congratulations to them on their victory. If someone had told them their role in proceedings was to lay down and let the money talk, Roberto Martinez and his men took no notice whatsoever. Immediate comparisons were made with Wimbledon’s 1988 victory over Liverpool, the route from non-League football to silverware. Reminiscent indeed, even more so with the similarities between the headers from Lawrie Sanchez and Ben Watson.

It was an object lesson in teamwork and of utter arrogance; Manchester City played as if it were a formality and their nose was bloodied as a result. Time will dilute the achievement of The Latics, Zabaleta’s dismissal will played up as a key reason for the win. Influenced it? Possibly but Wigan had forged enough chances with him on the pitch, sufficiently for a reckless lunge to be enticed shortly after having been cautioned.

Roy Keane actually did observe that Manchester City lost due to a lack of investment, you didn’t imagine it. A staggeringly inane comment on the face of it but one which is not quite as senseless as it appears. Oh, alright it is. If he had observed that for their money, the Manchester City players were shambolic wastrels, few would have argued with him. All of the money in the world means nothing if you do not spend it wisely. Mancini fell into the same trap as many of his predecessors; he failed to strengthen a title-winning squad and the hunger which was fed as the gold medals were hung around necks, was sated. Perhaps Keane had a point.

For Arsenal, it is a warning that concentration will be required on Tuesday night. There are uncanny parallels with last season’s encounter at The Emirates. Arsenal chasing the Champions League, Wigan in a fight for survival. The crucial difference is that Arsenal were more comfortable in their position, complacent if you like. Defeat made life a bit more nervous but did not overly threaten the ultimate target for the season end. This time it is different. Chelsea’s victory at Villa Park has all but sealed third for them. Even a win on Tuesday night will still leave Arsenal requiring a slip from their London neighbours. Defeat would consign Arsenal – you would think – to Europa League football; surely Tottenham will emerge victorious over an insipid Stoke City team, especially as they are likely to be safe from relegation as final whistles blow at grounds around the country this afternoon. The reality is that six points leaves Arsenal in the Champions League qualifiers next season of their own accord, irrespective of anyone else’s efforts.

Wigan’s win has inspired some fairytales in this morning’s press, none more so than at the club’s former pet newspaper. Reports in this morning’s Daily Star Sunday equivalent have Arsenal wanting to test United’s resolve to hold onto Wayne Rooney. I am sure Arsenal do want to test United’s resolve but there is a world of difference between wanting and doing. Ask Emmanuel Adebayor; he wants to stay onside but can’t do it. Thankfully. Arsenal it seems, will be busier trying to persuade Aston Villa to sell Christian Benteke, whose £20m fee makes the figures bandied about for the likes of Cavani and Falcao seem entirely reasonable, despite being grossly over-inflated. FFP is a pipedream. As is much of the transfer talk that we will see this Summer, as I had to remind Number One son yesterday as he almost hyper-ventilated at the prospect of a rotund Scouser turning out in the red and white of Arsenal next season. It is as likely as George Osborne making a genuinely funny joke about Star Wars on national television.

That’s it for today as the crucial week of Arsenal’s season begins.

’til Tomorrow.

Budweiser’s FA Cup Fan Film – To The Dreamers

There was always a sense of occasion when I was younger. Television turned itself over to a montage of celebrities; the great, good and gropers holding a nation in their grasp, occasionally throwing a bit of football in. It was not so much that the entertainment was actually worth watching, it fed a sense that something momentous was coming. The FA Cup Final.

The world changed and the appetite for a television crew on the coaches as they wove their way through the capital, diminished. Tarby’s gappy Scouse smile was no longer welcome in the Piano Lounge and Stuart Hall proved to be less of a knockout than the watching public knew. The 1970s gave way to Thatcher’s Britain in the 80s and shoulder pads elbowed the Working Men’s Club television out-of-the-way. Gradually the sense of occasion was built-in other ways, the trophy still had its own allure. It was the FA Cup Final, it was THE FA Cup Final.

And the custodians of the game let it slip through their fingers, The Football Association took the nation’s love affair with the competition for granted and forgot to apply regular doses of Brasso to their trophy. It now sits rather forlornly on sideboard, not quite kicking its heels and talking over a pint of Double Diamond with the Watney Cup but desperately searching for a Texaco garage in which to fill up.

The truth is that it was in trouble before the arrival of the Premier League in the early 90s but its brasher neighbour has hammered more than a couple of nails into the FA Cup’s coffin. The lid isn’t quite firmly closed on it and there is no doubt that the FA has work to do in restoring it to somewhere like its former glory. If we are honest, it will not ever reach that level unless an automatic place in Europe’s premier club competition is on offer.

Perspective of the problem is summed up with the priorities in a season for Arsenal, winning the Premier or Champions League and qualifying for the latter all rate more highly on the manager’s list. Fourth isn’t a new trophy, it’s a very old one. The thrown away demo by The Buggles indeed; Champions League Killed The FA Cup’s Star.

As it is, this household will look onto this evening’s fare – 5.15pm kick-off? Really Mr Bernstein, is it that much difference? – with a tinge of disappointment, a reminder of that woeful, grey and miserable afternoon at The Emirates, watching a performance of startling ineptitude undone by a well-disciplined visitors defence. Thank God the beers before and after were in convivial company. Looking at the matches subsequent to that defeat, there is a sense of what might have been. Blackburn faced Millwall who lost to Wigan in the semi-final. The path to the final had a Championship feel to it.

Was Arsène wrong to rotate the squad before the visit of Bayern Munich to The Emirates? Hindsight offers a different perspective to the one at the time. He fielded a side that day which ought to have won comfortably but they were devoid of ideas and energy until the late introduction of his ‘W’ formation; spilt milk.

But surely I am not the only one who woke up this morning with a sense of excitement; FA Cup Final Saturday? Still, at least the teatime kick-off has eased the pressure on the boys’ futsal match this afternoon; small mercies.

Before that, the small matter of the Europa League play-off. Hey, you have to find a different angle to keep it fresh. Chelsea’s trip to Villa Park has a conflict of priorities; Champions League qualification or Europa League glory. They want both; they have the points advantage over Tottenham to know that defeat would not necessarily be a problem but will Rafa Benitez field his strongest team today. Hopefully their hosts will be motivated enough by their recent surprising upsurge to actively look for the point which will all but ensure their safety, three guaranteeing it.

Arsenal will want the latter on two levels. Third place and its automatic qualification for the Group phase of next year’s Champions League would be in their hands if Chelsea lose. Even a point would give Arsenal a strong say in the matter if they take six from their remaining two games and win by sufficient margin to close the goal difference gap; it is just three goals, after all. More importantly, a series of believable results this weekend will make Tuesday night less fraught. Wins for Sunderland, Newcastle and Norwich put huge pressure on Wigan for Tuesday night. That trio winning effectively relegates them; almost but not quite since Sunderland entertain Southampton. It’s all about denying them hope for the midweek match although Arsenal’s best friend would be a tired opponent; extra-time and penalties at Wembley today, if you don’t mind.

Elsewhere, Arsenal are lining up Stevan Jovetic – wowzers! – on a £100k per week contract, which we can now afford because of the new commercial deals. We could afford it before, the new commercials do not impact upon that but even more so this Summer with a number of contracts for players who have disappeared into the Shenley Triangle expire.  The Heil reckons we’re after Guingamp midfielder, Gilbert Imbula, because (a) he plays for a provincial French club, (b) he’s a teenager and (c) will only cost £8m. No idea if he’s a good player but Gilbert, welcome to the world of Arsenal speculation, always nice to have new names bandied around. So much for the wealth the new commercial deals are supposed to bring though. Same old Arsenal, always cheapskates…

’til Tomorrow.

This one’s going down to The Wire

The patience shown by the Manchester United board during the early years of Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign is a thing of the past. There’s already speculation in the tabloids this morning that David Moyes will “feel the pressure” after consecutive defeats when they happen. The rising prominence of the commercial side of the game means that even the smallest clubs look to replace managers at the earliest opportunity if they stray from the path to whatever targets are set. You only have to look at the coverage of the Puma deal for Arsenal to underline the focus on all aspects of football.

As the players seek to maintain their good run of results on Tuesday night against Wigan, the race for the top four will be viewed differently by the suits in the offices of the three clubs involved. Each will be hoping for maximum points from their games, the backup plan being a rival faltering as barrel-chests are dipped in taking the ribbon as it wafts through the air. I, like you, will be casting an eye at Villa Park tomorrow during the lead-up to the FA Cup Final, desperate for the home team to confirm their Premier League safety with a win, or a point at worst; wanting Chelsea to place greater emphasis on the sporting rewards of winning the Europa League than finishing third. You only have to read The Swiss Rambler‘s excellent piece on the money implications for Premier League finishing places to know that conversations with Rafa Benitez have pointed out that it is more important to reach third than win in Amsterdam, financially speaking.

Similar conversations will not be needed at Arsenal; Wenger knows the importance to the club’s business model of such moneys. Until the eventuality of not qualifying for the Champions League arises, no-one can quantify how much it will cost the club financially or in players. Any figures bandied around are pure speculation, no matter how authoratively they are quoted. Equally, it is impossible to say that failure will lead to a Liverpool-esque decline or a financial meltdown that makes Portsmouth and Rangers recent woes look like child’s play. Football is never knowingly under-hyperboled.

Different clubs will feel such impacts in different ways. You can get an idea from the graphs of Rambler’s piece about the money foregone but the Europa League would mitigate to a lesser extent with the new commercial deals no doubt softening the blow considerably. It is folly to ignore the possibility existing but equally so to proclaim it is inevitable.

When transfers are mooted, the buying club’s reputation is always going to be a factor. For the ‘stars’, Champions League football is a pull but if the rumours of Falcao joining Monaco are true, a significant hole has been blown in that argument. Money is decisive. Otherwise, why would players have joined Chelsea or Manchester City before they had won anything? Yes, we will hear about the projects and how they wanted to be there are the start but do you seriously believe that to be the case? Perceptions are important. Nacho Monreal signed from Malaga whose financial woes made the sale inevitable. Arsenal were sixth and in poor form with Europa League football a possibility – it still is – but that did not bother him, he saw the move as improving his career. Arsenal’s reputation counted, Wenger’s reputation counted. The two intertwined at the moment.

Like Falcao, the Malaga are a salutory warning to those who want Sugar Daddy investors. Their supporters probably thought they had won the football lottery jackpot when new wealthy owners took over. Selling the crown jewels and failing to pay bills in sufficient time has left them relying on the CAS and an unlikely combination of results to play in Europe next season. Pelegrini believes the sale of the left back to Arsenal was key in his teams decline, a run which has seen them win just three of the last eleven games and left them sitting sixth, five points adrift of fourth-placed Real Sociedad.

Monreal is the archetypal defensive player Arsenal must be looking at this Summer. A solid, experienced left back whose reliability is reminiscent of Bacary Sagna; dependable. This morning has seen reports that the club is tracking Lukasz Piszczek of Dortmund whose career bears an uncanny similarity to Monreal’s, learning his trade at smaller clubs. The German club is going through all of our recent Summer’s in one go; Götze seems likely to be joined in Munich next season by Lewandowski will be the headline grabbing sales with others such as Piszczek slipping under the radar. Watching events unfurl in Westphalia must mirror how others perceived events at Arsenal in recent years; a well-run club being feasted upon by the ravenous rich.

Expectations are of a momentous transfer window ahead. The recent deals trumpeted from the rooftops of Highbury House have raised hopes – some very unrealistic – that the squad will be strengthened to the extent that a title challenge will materialise. Note the word ‘challenge’ in that sentence. If that happens, the perspective of this season will have to change. If the four new squad members arrive in the positions many believe required, a new spine would emerge in the team. Four new squad members would be as transitional as last Summer; what would the difference be, why a significant change?

’til Tomorrow.

]]> http://www.aclfarsenal.co.uk/2013/05/09/pizszcek-monreal-mark-ii-champions-league-hopes-down-to-the-wire/feed/ 101 http://www.aclfarsenal.co.uk/2013/05/09/the-manager-who-changed-football-ramsey-europe/ http://www.aclfarsenal.co.uk/2013/05/09/the-manager-who-changed-football-ramsey-europe/#comments Thu, 09 May 2013 07:26:37 +0000 Yogi's Warrior http://www.aclfarsenal.co.uk/?p=11315

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Herbert Chapman – Football’s Greatest Manager

Was it the worst-best or best-worst result last night? I think the latter, anything but a Tottenham victory last night meant that they have to win at Stoke on Saturday and such is the paucity of The Orcs this season, that it looks a straightforward victory. As it is should Arsenal win their final matches of the season, that will be enough to finish in the top four, may even be enough to finish third. Even one win might be enough such is the superiority of Arsenal’s goal difference.

Two wins from the last two games is within the capabilities of the squad. Wigan cannot be relegated by the time of kick-off at The Emirates on Tuesday but victories for Newcastle, Norwich and Sunderland will make that a distinct probability. Three points for The Barcodes at Loftus Road would certainly make life easier a week on Sunday for Arsenal, opponents who have nothing to play for are often – not always – supine in their mentality, especially at the releasing of pressure as would be the case with their safety ensured.

The nature of football is such that you are always reliant upon slips by rivals, whether you are close to landing the title, fighting relegation or trying to finish as high in the table as possible; some scenarios leave you more dependent on their failings than others. Even then your own form requires that you take advantage of their mistakes or inability to accumulate enough points to compensate for tough fixtures in the run-in.

Part of that improved form has been recognised with Aaron Ramsey being a clear winner of the club’s Player of the Month award. The Welsh international has filled the role of cartoon villain, the scapegoat for the inconsistent form of the squad. Most of that came as he played out of position, subsuming his own ego for the betterment of the team and taking the flak for performances which were considered sub-standard.

Playing in his favoured central midfield role, Ramsey has covered more miles than an AA repair van as Arsenal have become masters of their own destiny. It is a remarkable turnaround where his detractors have been relegated to the role of troll whilst he finds appreciation of his work. A similar path was trodden by Alex Song following a disastrous performance at Craven Cottage to one where he was pivotal to the side last season.

It is not fanciful to talk of a midfield built around Ramsey and Wilshere in the future, one where an outright attacking midfielder of Rosicky’s ilk in the current formation or as the central pairing in a quartet.

And I suppose that this is the point where I am to eulogise over the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson. Yes, he is the most successful manager in the English game to date but contrary to the media, he is not the greatest. His enduring legacy is for Manchester United only, nothing which has changed football beyond his own club. It is more a signal of the eradication of football’s history in the Sky era that Herbert Chapman has been all but forgotten in spite of being more visionary than Ferguson, foreseeing changes that impacted the game as a whole.

The Manchester United manager would have replaced Don Howe had the Arsenal board got their way. Before his fall from Grace, Graham’s record stood comparison to Ferguson in terms of trophy hauls. Where the latter offered a better long-term bet was the overhauling of the backroom staff and set-up in the early years of his reign. The Roll of Honour shows some sort of equality but Graham had lost his way, events taking the chance to return to his footballing roots, if he could at all.

As for future, maybe this Summer will be trickier for Arsenal with United looking for players in similar positions. Rumours of Ronaldo and Rooney moving will deflect away from Everton’s fire sale if Moyes leaves for Old Trafford. Marouane Fellaini has long been considered the type of midfielder Arsenal should sign; gossip has his path to London ending in a more So’ Westerly direction. Baines linkage with United may eventually come to fruition, to the chagrin of some.

New commercial deals and vaunted budgets tell us that Arsenal will have significant activity this transfer window. You would hope so, one where Arsenal might have a free run at some of their targets without losing key players. That tells you more about the current squad than anything else; there are no ‘stars’ of world football and with the consistency of the Premier League run since defeats to Chelsea and Manchester City, that is no mean feat. We should not however, ignore the weaknesses on display before January.

If anyone does not understand the difference in financial muscle between United and Arsenal. The former may lose their most influential and highest paid player. And replace him with one who will no doubt cost more to buy and demand a higher salary.

’til Tomorrow.

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Oi, Puma! It isn’t hard to design an Arsenal kit

Arsenal prepare for the biggest game of the rest of their season tonight by pottering around the training pitches in the Hertfordshire countryside. Chelsea and Tottenham meet at Stamford Bridge barely twenty-four hours after the pressure told on Andre Villas-Boas. It’s been a while since we’ve had a managerial meltdown so anything which provides something similar brings a giggle to the surface. Some, of course, chastised Wojciech Szczesny for his original comments; they would, the logic went, be inspirational to the Tottenham side, have carried out Villas-Boas’ teamtalk for him. If Tottenham need inspiration from the comments of an Arsenal player prior to a match which could all but decide their fate for next season’s European football, something is even more seriously wrong at White Hart Lane than the Pole suggested.

And that’s before Chelsea read Villas-Boas’ derogatory comments about their playing style. You see normally such jibes would be ignored but you sense this is his path to a Keegan.

Pressure? It struck me that Arsenal supporters were feeling it more than anyone, manifesting in a meltdown following the Premier League’s appointment of Mike Dean as the match official for the visit of Wigan to The Emirates next week. Apparently, Arsenal have won once in the last twenty matches in which he has officiated. Looking at our record in encounters with top four clubs, that is not hard to believe but do you really think he is the root cause of it? Get. A. Grip.

In an otherwise quiet week, the media has announced that Arsenal have signed a new kit deal with Puma, rumoured to be worth £30m per season. Daily Heil headline writers did their Poster Boy, Michael Gove, proud with their mathematical genius but I suppose £34m (£170m over 5 years before you ask) is just too accurate. The new deal – which will not officially be confirmed for some time yet due to a confidentiality clause – is the biggest in English football (until Manchester United’s next one, that is). The current Nike deal expires at the end of next season so Puma has a year to get their inaugural kits right. So, remember, that’s red shirts, white sleeves, red cuffs, white collar, for the shirts; white shorts; red socks for a home kit. The away, well, do yourselves a favour, win over the supporters with a yellow top with blue collar and cuffs; blue shorts; yellow socks. Nothing fancy; do away with your flashes, slashes, stripes, hopes and sashes; K.I.S.S.

In the meantime, I shall comfort myself with the numerous photoshopped kits that will circulate as the real deal, watching with vague amusement at the meltdowns which occur when they are dismissed routinely as just a Puma international kit changed to Arsenal colours. It’s a high pressure job being a football fan…

You know it’s a quiet time when a kit deal is the best Arsenal news around.

The only other part of that deal which matters is the money and the competitiveness it brings the club in the transfer market. Gradually deals are being struck that enable Arsenal to sign and as importantly, retain key players so that we do not face constant Summer speculation about who is leaving. Whether there is a mind to pay the higher salaries is another matter, a business philosophy discussion. First of all, the club needs to be in the position to think of the alternatives to selling players to be profitable, even if that is a part and parcel of a football club’s normal business cycle.

And where there is money, there shall be transfer speculation; that is the Gospel according to the football writer. This morning’s fare is a bit, well, disappointing. Where’s my Capoue? Not a whiff of M’Vila? In the name of our Lord, John Cross, please let me see something about Lewandowski!

I mean Ashley Williams is, I am sure, a jolly nice bloke and judging by his performances over the last season or so, a reliable performer, just the sort of player that Arsenal should be looking at to strengthen the squad and at £10m, decently priced. But where, oh, where is my £30m+ signing? According to the Italian media, heading north to Turin from Florence, he says hastily scrabbling for the atlas to make sure his geography isn’t askew. Phew!

Come on, you had twelve hours to get something interesting going. Sigh. Well, I suppose it is all about pacing yourself and facing a Summer without an international tournament of any note, there’s plenty of time yet. Maybe we supporters should recreate the scene from The Italian Job (the proper one not the Hollywood rip-off) where we bang our cutlery on the table, chanting the name of our favourite target instead of saluting Mr Bridger as he regally descended the stairs.

’til Tomorrow.

Ivan has his FFP Aretha moment: I say a little prayer for youuuuuu

It could only happen in football. Barefaced cheek or ‘more front than Sainsbury’s’ how we would describe it. Only in football.

I have long-held the view that Uefa’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations are not going to achieve anything beyond making the rich clubs positions in the Champions League more secure. Laudable though the aims are, sensible even, as with everything in football, FFP has become a hotchpotch of rules and disallowables whereby a £200m loss can be viewed as a marginal failure to meet the rolling targets. And in any case, so long as £200m becomes £180m next season, there is no reason to worry because the loss is heading towards break-even so everyone is happy.

Except the agents.

And one of them has decided that enough is enough. Break-even equates to FFP – and all the domestic equivalents – curbing his ability to earn money since there will be transfer fee stagnation at the very best. Heaven forbid he might have to get a proper job. Never fear, Dupont is here. The man who made Jean-Marc Bosman a household surname, has flicked his peek-a-boo roots, re-applied the white stripe across his nose and proclaimed himself the dandy highwayman who will save the day. That previous ruling saw the seismic power-shift from club to player, contributing significantly to the salaries on offer now and the rampant transfer fee inflation in the past two decades. There was a balance to be had, you had to look quickly to see it as we ploughed past it at the speed of light.

Uefa probably thought that getting the EU to sanction this scenario was enough but they had not reckoned with the greed of Man. Or to what depths football agents will stoop to ensure that they get paid beyond leaching from players salaries. 20% of an ongoing wage? If the players are stupid enough to pay it, that is their lookout, I suppose.

It rather puts Arsenal’s hopes in a different light. FFP is the saviour, the moment the club was going to see its sensible business model bear fruit. But in football, commonsense is a commodity in short supply, heavily outweighed by greed. Most likely, Arsenal will not be able to compete with Manchester United in the foreseeable future, even with a dramatic shifting in fortunes. Their revenues continue to far outstrip Arsenal’s and most likely, always will. As a result they will always be able to top any wage offer made to a player in a direct competition between the two clubs. Even then the underlying problem will be signing the players in the first place with the respective spending power diverging. This Summer will see if Arsenal are in the next tier down; will they spend the cash available or are the philosophies which curtailed the transfer dealings whilst Ashburton Grove was being built, now so ingrained that they are the club’s natural way of thinking?

That is FFP at its basest level for supporters; transfer spend. And to be honest, that is all the average fan cares about in those terms. Can Arsenal build a squad through purchases, mixed with existing and younger players coming through. Too often the demand for spending is reduced to soundbites, wanting players we know the club cannot afford to sign. Arsène was absolutely right in last Summer’s window, replacing van Persie with one player was impractical, two have more or less sufficed. That has turned a perceived weakness – reliance on one player – into a strength with a number of scorers contributing to a similar goals tally. This time around, demands are made to sign a player who will cost the same as last year’s total spend. They strike me as fanciful as the notion that the squad does not need strengthening.

Arsenal have promulgated a theory that the Promised Land is around the corner. We do not know what the transfer budget is, the issue clouded because (rightly) Arsenal will not announce their budget and it is a sum of money mixed with contract renewals. The received wisdom is £70m is available, an educated guess from other sources. The power of the internet is identified with the ready acceptance of this amount. Whether it is true or not, we shall see. It is believable because we want it to be true, the club permitting the perception of wealth with new commercial deals which we are told are front-loaded with cash. A dangerous backlash awaits if this proves to be a false notion, you can see it coming.

Jean-Louis Dupont argues that football will restrict owner investment. There are plenty who show that the investment models lead to the competitive imbalance he rails against; Manchester City with their unholy losses to Malaga where the failure of their wealthy owners to pay bills has led to a Uefa ban. Arguably, Kroenke (and by extension, Usmanov) are pointless club owners; Arsenal could be owned by anyone so long as they followed the current business model, with problems only arising if it failed. If Uefa’s nemesis is once more successful in his fight, Arsenal will once more find themselves mired in a fight against overwhelming wealth. What then for either major shareholder?

’til Tomorrow.

Or Faith In The Keep, if you like

The defining moment in this season’s chase for the Champions League has been deferred a little longer, Chelsea claiming all three points at Old Trafford puts a different emphasis on their clash with Tottenham on Wednesday. Having moved three points clear of their upcoming opponents and with a superior goal difference, the match has shifted from must-win to must-not-lose for Chelsea. That underlines Tottenham’s dilemma; they have to win because of the paucity of their goalscoring record. Take out Gareth Bale’s twenty goals and they have scored a paltry forty-one goals in the Premier League this season. As Andre Villas-Boas points out, they are not a one-man team. No…

Beyond that match, it is hard to see any of the three teams dropping points. Next weekend’s fixtures see Chelsea visit Aston Villa and Tottenham travel to Stoke. Those two are not yet entirely safe, although it would take an incredible set of results in the next fortnight to see either relegated. Victory for Middle Earth’s favourite team at the Stadium of Light tonight would put a different complexion on their game at the weekend; Stoke have struggled this season against the top sides. Previously they have managed to beat one of them but so far, have not looked like doing so. There is little reason to believe that they will improve on their record of three draws in these fixtures.

Arsenal can only be concerned with their own performances. In fact, it isn’t even that, results are all that matter now. Becoming difficult to breach defensively has given the team a good platform upon which to build. Perversely, it has led to a neutering of the goalscoring instinct which hints that as much as Arsène is going to be busy in the transfer market this Summer, he has some issues to work out on the training ground.

Much of the defensive focus has been on the central pairing of Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny, with the sub-plot of Thomas Vermaelen’s form providing the twisting backdrop. Undoubtedly, the former duo establishing a settled understanding and finding form at the right time, has been a huge factor. Previously, it was unthinkable that Wenger would drop his captain but the decision this season has proven to be courageous and in that sense, worked. Whatever the reasons for the Belgian’s continued downward spiral in the pecking order, he has the motivation to recover that form this Summer, knowing that another centre back arriving would add pressure to the battle for the starting places. I think that inevitable with Squillaci’s departure. Miquel has a good future at the club and whilst he will undoubtedly feature in the domestic Cups next season, it is debatable whether he is ready for anything more than a cameo in the senior competitions.

A harder choice comes next week, if Arsène’s last injury update was correct. The tussle for the goalkeeper’s jersey has been interesting in recent weeks. Lukasz Fabianski started in Munich and his performance far exceeded the low expectations of supporters. As the latter grew, so did his confidence culminating in an outstanding late block against Norwich with the game not yet won. Injury allowed Wojciech Szczesny to return and since then, his performances have improved. Like his compatriot, he produced a late, points-winning save, this time at QPR which gives the manager a tough choice to make for Wigan.

Thomas Vermaelen made a brief cameo against Norwich but Wenger’s ruthlessness saw Mertesacker restored for the visit of Everton. It is different this time, Szczesny has come into the side and only been beaten by His penalty last Sunday. Fabianski though, might rightly feel aggrieved if he is not restored to the side having done nothing wrong previously. Were he not to return, that would give the biggest sign of his intentions towards the older of the two Poles for next season. Fabianski’s contract is running down, ending in 2014. Based on previous transfer activity, the club will probably sell now and take a small fee rather than waiting for him to walk away.

You sense that his injury has the potential to be Almunia-esque. Seemingly out for a short while, the Spaniard quietly left the club. The timing of Fabianski’s blow to the ribs could not have been better. It sounded innocuous enough for him to return if Szczesny dropped a rickett in his absence, serious enough for complete rest if, as the manager expected, the younger Pole came back fully motivated and returning to form. That worked out for Wenger, Szczesny has returned motivated and seemingly in good form.

Confidence is fickle attribute in footballers, easily lost and hard to regain. The impact of being dropped again might be more damaging in the longer term for Szczesny as it looks more and more like the original rotation was designed to be a wake-up call rather than an actual reflection of his culpability in goals conceded. It would no surprise to see him continue in goal for the remainder of the season. If that is the case and Fabianski does move on in the Summer, at least he can do so with his head held high. A happier ending than it might otherwise have been.

’til Tomorrow.

A good day at the office

QPR 0 – 1 Arsenal

0 – 1 Walcott (20 seconds)

The final whistle could have been blown eighty-nine minutes earlier and I don’t think anyone would have noticed. From explosive beginnings, this match turned out to be a damp squib in terms of the spectacle. With two fixtures remaining, who cares? Arsenal needed three points and these were duly delivered, courtesy of the fastest goal in this season’s Premier League. Depriving Him of that ‘honour’ (it’s the new fourth, kids) brings a smirk.

Pressure has taken a southerly path across the nation’s capital, Tottenham had to beat Southampton, Arsenal required the same outcome in their match. Chelsea now bear the brunt in arguably the trio’s hardest task as they travel to Old Trafford and then return to Stamford Bridge to prepare for the midweek visit of Tottenham. A crucial four days for all.

From the kick-off, the visitors took the game by the throat. The ball worked its way down the right, courtesy of Traore’s wayward header and Tomas Rosicky, falling eventually to Theo Walcott in the area; an unerring finish was delivered.

And from there, nothing really. Walcott shot was turned onto the post by Green midway through the half but everything else was half chances or blocked. QPR were supine by contrast, barely able to rouse themselves across the halfway line in response. When they did as the half drew to a close, the Arsenal goal was not threatened by wayward finishing. The reason for the West London’s demise this season was plain to see.

The second half saw more purpose from The Championship’s latest additions. Townsend drew a save from Szczesny, Koscielny the same from Green. Cazorla was thwarted with a swirling effort Walcott and once more, tested the former England ‘keeper. As it was, Arsenal’s Polish custodian would underline the improvement in his own form, turning Loic Remy’s curling effort around the post as the final curtain was prepared.

Post-match, Arsène nailed the performance,

Overall we played a little bit conscious that points were vital and we could not make any mistake. It was detrimental to our offensive game but we had a sound defensive game today.

Nothing wrong in delivering that at all with a clean sheet underlines the reason for the recent improved form. We have turned full circle this season; difficult for opponents to break down but by the same token, not as free scoring as one might expect a Wenger side to be. At this stage of the season, that is what is needed. The manner of victory is not important, gaining the three points is.

In the current climate, it is all too easy to criticise the squad for seemingly contradictory reasons. When they were conceding too many, it was too gung-ho, Wenger needed to get to grips with the defence. Now, the attack is the gripe. You can’t please all the people, all the time. Or in this case, at all. When those complaints surface, strong performances are often overlooked and Wojciech Szczesny continues his rehabilitation with another sound goalkeeping display; conceding just a penalty since returning to the side. In his pre-match press conference, the manager noted that Lukasz Fabianski would return to fitness next weekend. He has a big decision to make in terms of which of the two Poles takes to the field at kick-off against Wigan, one that will surely be influenced by his plans for next season.

That match is ten days away. In the interim, both Tottenham and Chelsea play, the latter, three times including the meeting between the two. After that, I would expect Arsenal to be fifth with a game in hand. How many points to make up is tricky to guess. At best, that will be one point, anything less is a bonus, more makes life difficult. Super Sunday a fortnight today beckons.

’til Tomorrow.

Squadron Leader Arteta, you are cleared for take-off

Arsenal travel across London for a tricky encounter in the race for next season’s Champions League places. It is a crucial few days in that contest; Tottenham will surely take three points from Southampton this afternoon, pushing Arsenal into fifth prior to this evening’s kick-off. However, Chelsea travel to Old Trafford tomorrow before hosting Tottenham on Wednesday. It is hard to see how any of the trio of London clubs can recover from a defeat in this episode of fixtures with so few remaining until the end of the season. If their two rivals take four points, Arsenal too are at a disadvantage, waiting for a slip from their neighbours; thinking about the permutations is enough to have you reaching for the paracetamol.

In between rubbishing links to the return of Cesc and Mourinho to English football, Arsène had the answer to the points problem,

Let’s just focus on our performance, our quality and how we want to play

Taking that step backwards is what Arsenal need, to just worry about themselves. Having played a game more than their rivals and with insufficient points to have opened a gap, their destiny is out of their hands. Whilst they have to win, the pressure is off Arsenal to a certain extent. They know if they win all of their games, it might well not be enough to qualify for next season’s Champions League but until the final whistle at Stamford Bridge next week, it is out of their control.

QPR offer an interesting opponent this evening. For them, the pressure really is off with relegation confirmed at Reading last weekend. The criticism of certain players for levity in their adversity may well cause a sting of pride, bring determination to the surface in seeking to restore pride. Noticeably, their manager has escaped the barbs despite his failure to keep them up. His immediate past at White Hart Lane adds a sheen of spice to the proceedings but nothing of import. As a young man, he regularly attended matches at Highbury but I don’t recall that link ever surfacing to Arsenal’s benefit previously.

Wenger will no doubt keep an unchanged side. Perhaps Bacary Sagna has been distracted by Paris St Germain’s interest although reports this morning suggest the deal has all but fallen through due to impending changes in French tax law. For Arsenal, Sagna staying for another season would be beneficial in that it offers the opportunity for Carl Jenkinson’s promotion to the first team to be managed with a seasoned mentor to assist. Few though could begrudge Sagna moving on to seal a final payday given the incredible consistency of his performances up to now?

Lukas Podolski likewise, is probably going to remain in the middle today. Loftus Road’s compact pitch suggests that the German will see a lot more of the ball than last weekend as Arsenal seek three points. In the frenetic opening stages last Sunday, the space left as Podolski dropped deep to receive the ball was successfully exploited by Walcott, a strategy which may suit the counter-attacking we are likely to see in today’s away match. Arsène offered his view that the move could be successful with a barb directed in Walcott’s direction,

I believe it is [Podolski's] best position maybe because on the flanks he needs to work so hard and he’s more a finisher than anyone else in the team. Him and Theo are two finishers. I played him only against Sunderland in the first game in this position, only against Manchester United in this position, so it’s not two ideal games. The first game of the season and against Man United, but I am tempted to give him another chance of course in this position.

He wants to play there, but today all the players who play on the flanks want to play there. I’m convinced that through the middle he can have a great goalscoring record.

It is not inconceivable that a similar pattern of substitutions as last Sunday will occur today. Olivier Giroud’s suspension has left Arsenal short of options, intensifying the belief that additional striking power is needed this Summer. Arsenal have broken free of the reliance on one player to score the majority of their goals but it is a double-edged sword. In tight situations, is it sometimes hard for the players to mentally see where the next goal is coming from? Whilst I don’t expect this to be a walk in the park, the forward line below suggests there is enough to score more than QPR. I suppose we would all like to see the midfield trio chip in with a few more and certainly to Ramsey’s credit, he has made enough attacking runs late in recent games to suggest that he is capable of doing so. A couple today might reinforce that belief in himself!

With that in mind, the expected line-up is:

Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Ramsey, Rosicky, Arteta; Walcott, Podolski, Cazorla

Enjoy the match wherever you are watching it.

’til Tomorrow.

Arsène probably enjoys this type of selection headache

The weekend has all but arrived, the Football League has entered its final chapter for the season as Premier League season heads towards it climax for those whose fates are not already known. QPR know The Championship awaits next season. Along with Reading, their relegation came as no surprise and probably for the first time this season, the pressure is off them. Whether that works for or against Arsenal will only be known at the final whistle. By the time the match starts, it is more than likely we will be sitting in fifth place, the Europa League spot.

Which is brought into focus by Chelsea’s progress this season in that competition. The Champions League was a disaster for them but the club has the chance for a major trophy come May with that bringing about the ghastly prospect of them becoming the first English club to win all three of the European Club competitions. It is de rigueur to mock Thursday night football but the habit of challenging for trophies is a good one to have; it instills a confidence in the players and a winning mentality, something which has underpinned the recent run of good form.

Ahead of Saturday’s clash in West London, Arsène observed that his injury situation had stabilised, with all those present at last weekend’s match at Manchester United, fit for duty. Lukasz Fabianski won’t be testing the manager’s confidence in Wojciech Szczesny this weekend as he has yet to recover from his rib injury suffered against Norwich City. The decision for the visit of Wigan Athletic to The Emirates will be testing for Wenger; neither Pole has done anything wrong in recent times. No doubt this is down to the re-engaged mentality of the team as a whole but Fabianski would be rightly aggrieved at not being recalled when fit whilst his compatriot’s similar feelings at being dropped would be understandable given he has only conceded once in three games.

The immediate consideration is for the forward line. QPR at Loftus Road is a different proposition to Manchester United at The Emirates; does Wenger need the out-and-out central striker in Podolski or is the pace of Walcott going to be more suitable? To be honest, it is hard to see him changing the line-up; Gervinho did well for his twenty minutes or so but enough to warrant a recall? Whilst Podolski was muted against the champions, he worked hard and better strikers than he have failed to breach the United defence this season. His capabilities in the centre have been quickly dismissed and to be honest, I am not sure that he is Plan B or would want to be that but as a variation, we could do worse. And frequently have done in the past. Podolski is not a square peg in a round hole in the same sense that Aaron Ramsey playing right back but he is definitely ovular.

Key to the long(ish) unbeaten run has been stability, changes have largely been enforced on Wenger through injury or suspension. For that reason, I think he will stick with the German which is something Arsène hinted at yesterday,

He has the qualities because he is a good finisher. He has a good technique and because we have a game based on very quick combinations I believe he can be a part of that. Overall I am convinced in the coming games he will show it.

At the moment, yes [I will play Podolski in the middle]. A definite decision has not been made but if there is an opportunity then there is a good chance I will do it.

A three-match ban for your central striker seems what you might call ‘an opportunity’ to me.

The other decision to make is right back itself. Carl Jenkinson might reasonably be anticipating a first team recall following a run of uncharacteristic mistakes from Bacary Sagna that have been characteristic at the moment. Judged by his own high standards, the Frenchman has struggled and he laboured on several occasions with the pace of his opponents, most notably in conceding the penalty on Sunday. However, he has experience and in the next three games, this is going to be crucial and well be his saving grace. Arguably, Sagna’s best game this season came at The Stadium of Light as a makeshift centre back but I think that stood up more because of the unexpected nature of his appearance and the pressure the team found itself under following Jenkinson naïvety. It seems too soon to condemn Sagna’s career but a move from The Emirates this Summer looks likely or as Jenkinson’s mentor next season as the youngster looks to break permanently into the first XI.

’til Tomorrow.

This morning’s tale from Nicky is of love and Arsenal. No, the proper stuff involving girls and marriage….

I left Guernsey in 1940; war meant evacuation to the England and a path that led to Highbury. German occupation trapped Joyce’s parents in the wretched decision of when and whether to evacuate; events took their choice away from them.

During those years, I worked in London as a temporary civil servant at the Ministry of Supply. The Adelphi Building off John Adam Street, close to The Strand, would be my home initially. Time would see me move to Somerset House. I was not the only one who had to find a new working home. Highbury was used as an Air Raid Precautions (ARP) Station and was bombed during the Blitz, the North Bank destroyed. Arsenal had to move across North London, to the Middlesex borders for their wartime home games; into enemy territory, White Hart Lane.
When the war ended, Highbury was restored and Arsenal returned home in 1946, ready for the resumption of League football.

Like Arsenal, I too went home. Returning to Guernsey, Joyce and I became engaged on 20th July 1947 – the third anniversary of the failed assassination attempt on Hitler’s life. The date was set and I had little trouble persuading my bride-to-be to spend our honeymoon in London rather than under the tropical sun. Purely by coincidence, it was during the football season…

Joyce had spent five years under German Occupation and never left her island birthplace; her idea of bliss was centred on London’s shops and the Variety scene. And she wanted to see a live steam train! I, on the other hand, wanted to see a football match and obtained two tickets for the visit of Burnley to Highbury on 14th February 1948. As it was a special occasion, we had seats in the East Stand, costing us 10/6 (52p in today’s money) each.

By happy coincidence, it was a meeting between the top two. Arsenal had picked up where they had off before the War; top of table by six points and before this match, they had lost just twice that season.  Whoever won this match was likely to go on and take the title.

In the days leading up to our wedding day, heavy rain fell, threatening to disrupt my well-laid plans. In those days, the airport only had a grass runway and air travel was severely impacted in the inclement weather. Fortunately, I had the sense to hire an aerovan for £3 to take us to Jersey to make sure we got to our honeymoon destination.

We married at our parish church, St Sampson, on 2nd February and began our London adventure. Time passed quickly until match day appeared; you can imagine Joyce’s amazement at everything around her in the City.

We made our way to the Stadium only to be confronted outside the ground by a heaving mass of fans, desperately trying to get in. It was later reported that 62,000 were inside with an estimated 20,000 outside. My new wife being somewhat of a delicate soul, there was no way I could get her through the crowd, so I sought the help of a police officer on a rather large white horse. He ordered us to follow him (but not too close) and we managed to gain admittance into the Stadium.

Joyce didn’t and doesn’t really follow football. However, she enjoyed the occasion, particularly the joy and enthusiasm of the home crowd.

I should perhaps explain that Arsenal’s manager Tom Whittaker, in formulating his post-war team, had taken a group of hungry players, robbed of the twilight of their careers by war. Hardened, experienced pros like Ronnie Rooke of Fulham and Joe Mercer from Everton. Rooke would score 33 goals that season, never to be equalled until Thierry Henry came along.

The team that day was Swindin; Scott and Barnes; MacAulay, Leslie Compton and Mercer (captain); Roper, Logie, Rooke, Bryn Jones and Denis Compton. Match reports described the goals like this:

“Roper crashed in a remarkable goal from an acute angle in the first half and Rooke scored two in the second half. It is reasonably certain that Strong in the Burnley goal did not see any of the three.”

And

“Rooke’s second goal from more than 20 yards, a head-high annihilator, flashed past the goalkeeper who nearly caught pneumonia from the draught”.

Arsenal’s  3 – 0 victory meant that they ended the day eight points clear (there were only two for a win then). They went on to win the title by seven points, their first post-War title, and my wife and I went on to enjoy 65 years of happy marriage which thankfully continues to this day…

’til Tomorrow

When I was a youngster, Unigate Dairies ran an advert which had the tagline, “Watch out, watch out, there’s a Humphrey about”. For those too young, essentially various celebrities of the time who would have their milk stolen by a series of red and white straws. Humphrey (or their plural) were, as far as I recall, never revealed; the viewer never knew what they looked like.

In my mind’s eye, I see Alisher Usmanov as Humphrey; Arsenal is the milk and Stan Kroenke, well, he is the reformed Humphrey really, the poacher tunred gamekeeper, if you like. Previously invisible, he came, saw and bought the majority of the club’s shares in plain sight. Meet the new boss, the same as the old boss.

Stan, watch out, watch out, there’s a Humphrey about.

Usmanov is evidently hugely frustrated by the current situation. According to reports, the Uzbek offered the view that he “will think what to do with Arsenal” when this campaign has ended. “In our understanding, Kroenke has no plans to sell his stake, but we also won’t sell out, as we are the team’s fans” as a punchline seems to me to suggest that Red & White have already thought about it and decided that as KSE won’t sell, they will keep their shares, keeping the Status Quo. Which must expensive because at my recollection Messrs Parfitt and Rossi have three or four ex-wives to maintain, and that’s before we get onto the Koi Carp and Clay Pige0n shooting habits.

I would urge Red & White to think again. There is a third way, the righteous path. Be good chaps and make an agreement to sell to Fanshare.

The reality is that they won’t.

Usmanov has bought into the Premier League myth, the Oil Money chic; he wants a team of superstars but won’t pay for them. Like most, he would if they arrived but the small print, such as how to afford the wages, goes by the wayside. The reality of Arsenal’s situation is that the club, at this moment in time, cannot afford superstars for the simple reason that there is a wider necessity to strengthen the squad. The current group provide a sound foundation upon which to build. A number of players will be leaving this Summer through their contractual situations and lack of playing time; they have to be replaced but not by more of the same but an improvement in the quality which is already in place. Trading up.

If for just one second we accept the premiss that there is £70m to spend, buying a superstar is going to cost in the region of £50m when agents and ancillary fees are taken into account. Which leaves £20m on the other three or four players that I think the squad will need. Buying superstars is not an option, better to spend, in that scenario, £10m – £15m on four very good players to strengthen the staff than compromise and go for the show pony who leaves us no better served than we are now.

That’s the problem with soundbites. This isn’t an election, it’s more important than that. This is about Arsenal Football Club.

A parting, sneering shot was delivered. According to the piece, Usmanov believe Kroenke “would probably be happy” if Arsenal finished fourth this season. Here’s a newsflash, I cannot think of any Arsenal supporters who won’t be happy with a fourth place finish given the way this season has unfurled.

The evil of two lessers, the piece was intended to let us know that Red & White are still around. All it has shown is that he is a man without a plan, pressing his nose against the windows at the club with no real idea as to how to get an invite.

’til Tomorrow.

The abacus has been stored away, all chickens safely counted and tucked up in bed for the night. That’s how it feels at the moment. Tottenham will be beaten by Chelsea who in turn will not win at Old Trafford this weekend, thus Arsenal’s place in the top four is assured since only already-relegated QPR, annual escapees Wigan and hapless Newcastle United stand in their way. What could possibly go wrong?

One point out of nine from last season’s corresponding fixtures offers a reason for not being complacent as a starter. You could argue that QPR will be playing for pride but that has not been the case thus far this season so it would quite annoying if it suddenly mattered to them now. Wigan is the trickiest one to decide, they could be relegated by the time that they arrive at The Emirates or even on that night. The saving grace of that is Newcastle will have that end of season feeling. Who am I kidding, this is child’s play!

Fortunately, the players are not beset with such doubts or lack of focus. Arsène’s view is that three wins out of three is all that is required to secure Champions League football. Achieve that and it is difficult for Chelsea and Tottenham to surpass that total. Not impossible since the former can lose when those two meet and still exceed Arsenal’s current maximum of 73 points, from their remaining games. Aaron Ramsey shares his manager’s confidence,

We’re concentrating on our own game at the moment. We believe we can win the remaining three fixtures that we have left and get nine points out of them. I’m sure if we do that, we’ll be in the Champions League next year.

The Welshman has been impressive in recent games, playing in his preferred position with an energy that his teammates feed off. Having been roundly and unfairly criticised when playing on the right flank for his performances, it is one of those pleasing moments when a footballer shows ability that rams that flak down his abusers throats. Not that it makes any difference to them, this is an Alex Song kind of moment where the villain of the piece comes good in the end. Ramsey never publicly complained and I am sure that Arsène offered words of encouragement during those harder times. His situation underlined in the madness of football; the same people who abused Ramsey are very quick to abuse Ryan Shawcross for that assault. I am sensing an underlying theme…

Mikel Arteta agreed with Ramsey and Wenger about the path to the end of the season,

I believe in our players but we have to show we can do it. It is easy saying we have a better chance but it is up to us to do it on the pitch. Every game is difficult and anything can happen. We have to play for that.

The Spaniard offers an insight into the fickleness of a player’s confidence, individually and collectively. There is little rationale as to why the squad has improved so drastically since losing at White Hart Lane. They are the same squad, the same formation. There are changes, yes but primarily in attitude but why that defeat? There are plenty of others to choose from. If their consciences were pricked, why then and not after the abject failure at home to Swansea in December? Arguably that was a worse defeat, a performance which never looked like bringing victory whereas at Tottenham, Arsenal had been in charge until two quick-fire goals turned the match on its head. It is a curious turn of events, one that we should be grateful for in the sense that it has rescued the season so that the self-imposed minimum expectations for a campaign are at least within reach.

And if this morning’s Daily Telegraph is to be believed, it will be Wenger’s last season in charge with PSG’s owners confident he will be in Paris next season. Or maybe the season after. But they are confident enough to claim the last season of his Arsenal contract is an optional extra. Something which nobody has ever thought of before and in no way a line intended to lend some flimsy credibility to the story, no Sireee, no not all. The story bears the hallmarks of contracts previous. Meetings in Paris with Real Madrid are now with the new money kings. Smoke and mirrors, stories which only ever appear when contracts are up for renewal. Such tattle is a no more reliable gauge of his plans than reading anything into his transfer activity this Summer.

When it comes to his contracts, Wenger does seem to be the only reliable source and whilst I still think his reign is in the endgame, next Summer looks the likeliest for that to me.

Elsewhere, the manager’s planning for the new campaign is well underway. His faithful scouts in the media are tipping him off about Morgan Schneiderling of Southampton, who it seems is an ideal replacement for the “injury-prone Abou Diaby“. A snip at £10m and Abou, don’t be upset by the tag you’ve been given; it’s a positive, they haven’t forgotten you.

’til Tomorrow.

Don’t mention Him

Arsenal 1 – 1 Manchester United

1 – 0 Walcott (2)
1 – 1 Him (43 pen)

Having made a blistering start, Arsenal will be disappointed to have dropped two points. Having faded as the second half progressed, they will be happy enough to have taken one from the Premier League champions. Whether it is enough, remains to be seen. The next ten days, whilst not decisive, will have a crucial bearing on Arsenal’s Champions League qualification hopes. In that time, Chelsea visit Old Trafford and entertain Tottenham. It would seem that a solitary point from the latter fixture is the best outcome for Arsenal. Beyond that match, it is hard to see either of the London clubs failing to take maximum points; Arsenal need to do so from their remaining games.

For the first time in a number of seasons, Arsenal came flying out of the blocks against United, pushing the visitors onto the back foot. van Persie casually gave away possession and the ball was swiftly moved through the midfield to Walcott via Rosicky; the England international beat the Assistant’s eyesight with his speed and buried the chance past De Gea from close range. Offside? Who cares.

Arsenal did not let United settle, Cazorla’s effort batted to safety by his compatriot as Arsenal sought to capitalise on their early advantage. But when United sought to gain a foothold, it was almost decisive as His cross was met by Jones who managed to power his free header wide. The Arsenal right was vulnerable – and costly – all afternoon; Bacary Sagna struggled for pace in a way not previously seen and having seen the manager’s ruthless streak with others, is probably steeling himself for a spell on the sidelines. Will a convenient injury emerge, I wonder?

United sought to impose themselves physically and fell just one booking short of a mandatory fine from the FA as the first half progressed. Arsenal rose above it, Aaron Ramsey playing as well as he has done since joining the club. The Welshman carved an opening with a surging run at the visitors defence and spoiled for choice, he elected to pass left to Podolski whose angle on goal was narrower than the unmarked Walcott to the right. The Englishman left his team-mate in no doubt as to his displeasure at the wrong option being taken.

All the while Arsenal sought to increase the gap, United were able to exploit the space on the counter. Szczesny saved brilliantly from His header, point-blank range and sprawling but as has been the case previously, Arsenal were Masters of their own downfall. Bacary Sagna inexplicably gave the ball away close to the halfway line and in trying to redeem himself, sent Him crashing to the ground. Replays suggest he may have got the ball first but were far from conclusive in that sense. No mistake was made from the resultant penalty. Instead of going into the interval with a lead, Arsenal were back to Square One.

And the intensity of the first half was noticeable by its absence in the second. Arsenal dominated without being truly threatening, Rosicky’s curling shot the best effort in the initial stages, He missed another header. The United chances appeared to be the better of the two sides as the half drifted, the visitors successfully neutralising the Arsenal midfield. This led to Jack Wilshere coming into the fray for Tomas Rosicky as Arsène pursued the three points, Gervinho for the hardworking but ineffective Podolski. Arsenal still couldn’t fashion the decisive moment, Koscielny and Walcott both cleared the bar. Giggs almost stole it at the end with a breakaway goal as their hosts sought the winner. A younger version of the same player would not have been caught by the massed ranks of the Arsenal defence; sometimes we are grateful when a player’s age betrays him. And so it ended, a point apiece. Arsenal will feel disappointed after the start, aggrieved at the self-inflicted nature of the United equaliser, probably settling for the point as a good result. I am still convinced that of the last two home games, dropping two points against Everton would be viewed as the most costly in that scenario.

For me, it was good to see Arsenal set about United. A shame that the lead could not have been held until the interval but the gusto of the start, the intensity of its continuation offer a good deal of positive aspects to take forward from the game. The second half? I see why the substitutions were made but would not necessarily agree with them. Hindsight offers the alternative of Walcott into the middle and Oxlade-Chamberlain for Podolski, moving to fill Theo’s space on the right. Rosicky and Ramsey? Personally I felt we lost some impetus with the Czech’s replacement by Jack Wilshere. The youngster is the future of the club but yesterday was one of those games where everything good for Arsenal seemed to spring from that duo, perhaps it was too early but Arsène knows his players better, is in communication with them, would know of niggles or tiredness far quicker than you or I.

As it is, yesterday was a good performance, one that has been a long time in coming in this fixture. That intensity, that application leaves the squad in good shape for the final three games of this season. Replicate that performance and lesser teams will fall.

’til Tomorrow.

It might have escaped your notice that there is football match this afternoon, such has been the attention and focus put upon His return and that Guard of Honour. Hopefully, the negative energy channelled this week into hating Him can be put to good use instead by supporting Arsenal in a crucial match for the Champions League aspirations.

In a sport where adulation is sought, where he will have seen predecessors welcomed with open arms in a lot of cases, insouciance will let Him know what He is to Arsenal Football Club; a footnote, someone who, when the revised histories are produced, will be relegated to nothing more than a member of the 2005 FA Cup winning side. No-one will remember the leading goalscorer in average seasons; no-one will care as his tally of goals is surpassed by future players. Vilification is inevitable. Resentment and anger are powerful emotions, too powerful to suppress in this instance.

But no matter what the media claim, today is not about Him, it is about us. About Arsenal emerging victorious.

Arsenal once more, are masters of their own destiny. Win today and it is increasingly difficult for Tottenham to catch them, following the fortuitous draw at the DW Stadium yesterday afternoon. Had Wigan won, I might have wished them well in their fight for survival; another minute…

The biggest decision for Arsène today is who replaces Olivier Giroud. In this morning’s Telegraph, Alan Smith talks of the opportunity to play with a more orthodox 4-4-2. As the double Golden Boot winner observes, the manager has already stated that the shape of the side will not change for this afternoon. Whilst that could be a double – or even more – bluff, it seems unlikely with the manager previously inclined to stock his midfield that alter the formation entirely.

My initial reaction was to presume that Wenger would opt for Gervinho in Giroud’s absence. The Ivorian has been used centrally before but that looks at the Frenchman’s game purely from an attacking perspective, ignoring his defensive contribution. Whilst childhood Arsenal supporter, Per Mertesacker, and Laurent Koscielny have been stronger in the back four than any other combination during the recent good run, set piece defending has been helped with Giroud dropping back, along with other forwards and midfielders. That leaves Arsenal susceptible to more pressure in that there is not an obvious release when the ball is cleared but Giroud is a key combatant in this area. Walcott and Gervinho offer nothing in that sense, it is hard to think of them as anything more than a mannequin in defensive situations. Perhaps this is the area that Podolski is being schooled in as part of being used as a central striker in training?

Whilst the logic dictates that the manager will seek comfort in the safety of the known, I suspect more of the decision will be based on Gervinho’s confidence. Relegated to the bench as an unused substitute against Everton and Fulham, the suggestion was that his sunny demeanour had disappeared during a frustrating afternoon, chasing a goal against Norwich. Today, Arsenal need players who are flying, who are confident enough in the big games and more importantly, with an eye for goal. Chances may be at a premium today and I think that situation lends itself more naturally to either Podolski or Walcott being selected.

Either offers the manager a problem with selection, amongst the other headaches he already has. If he starts with both, Wenger is short of options to replace on the bench. It would be Gervinho, that’s it or moving the remaining one centrally in the event of a substitution. It is a risk whichever one Wenger chooses and I think he will look to minimise that. Walcott prefers to play off the shoulder of the defence and most have negated him in the central striker role, by playing deeper. The England international, is perfectly suited to playing in that position away from home. Comfort or not, I would take a risk with Podolski through the middle.

Midfield is crucial today. United will battle, Arsenal need artistry to rise above it and to that extent, Jack Wilshere will probably not make the starting XI, Tomas Rosicky retaining his place with Santi Cazorla on the left. It seems difficult on current form to see an alternative. Wilshere is understandably struggling with match sharpness, perhaps influenced by the prospect of further surgery in the Summer. Arsenal need to be alive today, to weave their merry patterns with a pace that is currently missing from Jack’s game.

That decision influences Theo Walcott’s impact, I think. Patrice Evra has largely been able to negate Walcott in these fixtures, using his experience to counteract any deficiency in pace. Any inclination on the part of the midfield to dither, for ponderous passing plays into the hands of the United defender in that situation. Walcott needs quick supply or space in which to attack the French international. Speed of thought is Rosicky’s key weapon, allowing his range of passing to flourish. Walcott will benefit today from that.

The line-up I expect Arsène to field is:

Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Ramsey, Rosicky, Arteta; Walcott, Podolski, Cazorla

Three points Gentlemen please, the battle for the top four is engaged and Tottenham have offered an advantage. Take control of the situation in what is arguably, the toughest remaining fixture. Arsenal are in good form; forget the performance at Craven Cottage, the result was all that mattered, as it does today. Confidence is borne of winning and more is derived when the team play badly and still gather three points.

Enjoy the match wherever you are watching it. ’til Tomorrow.

No matter how often days such as these arrive, it feels wrong that any Saturday between August and May should be devoid of football. Obviously it isn’t, there is a whole programme of fixtures, deciding promotion and relegation matters in the Football League, as well as influencing the outcomes of the Premier League season. QPR and Reading are both likely to return to The Championship whilst Wigan might well be almost certain of joining them should they lose and Aston Villa win. Supporters of those teams would contend that there is indeed football taking place today.

But it still feels wrong that the fixtures are staggered across a weekend, starting last night with Watford’s win at Leicester, ending with Monday night’s clash at Villa Park. Television has much to answer for and let’s not forget, it is a big help when you can’t attend every fixture. Growing up, you had Match of the Day followed on a Sunday by the regional variations of The Big Match. Three fixtures in each, chalkboard onto the pitch at half-time to show the score and scorers in the highlights package.

Perhaps this morning feels that way with a key fixture taking place tomorrow. Manchester United roll into town and the pressure is off for them, the title delivered on Monday. Their consistency is the model that Arsenal must aim for. The whole Guard of Honour and return of Him has been overplayed. Surely the players do not need participation in ceremonial events to motivate them? The chance to play in the Champions League ought to be enough to ensure they perform to the utmost abilities. A top four berth at the end of this season is the aim, the ambition for the remainder of this campaign. That is not the sole target at the beginning of the season although Arsène’s admission that he knew selling Robin van Persie to Manchester United would hand them the title, is tantamount to that. A top four place; an ambition that is the minimum requirement for a season using the manager’s own benchmarks for trophies.

But football is nothing if not short-termist and the next match is all that matters. Well, other than Wigan not losing to Tottenham and Lightning striking twice for Swansea at Stamford Bridge. I waiver between calling tomorrow a must-win and a must-not-lose match. The reality is that it is a bit of both; if they cannot win, they certainly must not lose. Arsène hinted that perhaps the biggest obstacle to winning is themselves. Arsenal have only won one of the other nine matches against the top six. It is a sorry tale for a season when your net gain against the other sides in the top six is six points – three draws and victory over 5pur2. These matches are crucial, not just for your own points tally but depriving your rival the opportunity to increase their own. Winning all of your home games is essential for any side with title pretensions; Arsenal failed in that which is a contributing factor to the current bunfight. Tomorrow is a time to rectify that record.

Santi Cazorla believes that Arsenal must be at the peak of their powers to gain three points. Knows how it will be done as well,

If we have the ball, we’re definitely going to hurt them. We’re a team that keeps possession well and knows how to hurt the opposition.

If we don’t, it’ll be the reverse. They’ll cause us problems because they have a lot of quality and when given space they can threaten us. Keeping the ball is the key. We need to force them back and not give them time on the ball as they have players that can make a difference.

Olivier Giroud certainly hurt Fulham and has the three-match ban to prove it; more thoughts on the impact of that tomorrow. Keeping possession will definitely help; when you have possession of the ball, it is harder for your opponent to score. The question for the players tomorrow is whether they can turn possession into useful possession. Take last weekend, the possession stats at Craven Cottage were something like 72%-28% in Arsenal’s favour yet nobody could argue that Fulham were hurt by Arsenal beyond Mertesacker’s header. Indeed, they might argue that they had enough chances to snatch a point. Yet we can become too immersed in the performance; results are all that matter right now. Of course they matter during the rest of the season but in September, you look for performance levels as well. Now, three points is all that we concern ourselves with.

But Cazorla is right, Arsenal have the talent to hurt Manchester United. They have the confidence of a good run in the Premier League stretching back a dozen games. And they have a point to prove.

’til Tomorrow.

It is Terry Hurlock’s son, isn’t it?

Ahead of this weekend’s visit of Manchester United, Arsène gave the latest team news which surprised nobody. Fabianski’s Almunia-esque injury has not healed so Wojciech Szczesny will continue his run of consecutive clean sheets; three in a row would guarantee Arsenal the minimum required return from Sunday’s fixture. Olivier Giroud’s unsuccessful appeal means that he will be absent in front of goal for this match along with the visit to QPR and Wigan’s annual relegation fight. Who wil replace him?

Well, if it was next season the hot money would be on Stevan Jovetic with Arsenal talking to Fiorentina about the Montenegran striker. With a fee of £25m being bandied around, little wonder the club are worried about the possibility of Manchester City nipping in to snatch the player from their grasp. Negotiations might be protracted:

Dick Law: Mr Wenger would like to sign Stevan Jovetic. Let’s cut to the chase, get a deal done.
Fiorentina: Great! We don’t want to lose him but let’s make this quick. £25m.
Dick Law: Well, I was think more along the lines of £5m
Fiorentina: Hahahaha! We like you, you crazy guy. Seriously £25m is a bargain.
Dick Law: £5,000,001
Fiorentina: Hey, c’mon…
Dick Law: £5,000,002

Arsène has, you suspect, already made his decision for Sunday. Were it an away trip, the answer might be different with Theo Walcott’s pace being the deciding factor but it is hard to look past Gervinho playing centrally. Whilst Wenger has spoken of using Podolski as centre forward in training, it is a huge risk to use that ploy in a match Arsenal cannot afford to lose. It is not just the change of player leading the line but the team dynamic as well. The midfield and wide players have got used to the runs that Giroud makes. Even with instructions to replicate the positional play as much as possible, Podolski will not be the same player as the Frenchman; there will be nuances that emerge which need to be picked up on.

United will play the same way they always do at Arsenal; sit deep and use the counter-attack. It is this which perhaps suits Gervinho’s style more than Walcott. Simplistically, Walcott can be negated with a defensive line which drops back to stifle his pace. In this instance, that suits United. The Ivorian is more, we’ll call it individual. Or less predictable, capable of lulling the opposition into a false sense of security with the expected wayward finishing before producing something mercurial to provide an opportunity for himself or a team-mate.

And scoring goals – note the plural – is something Arsenal will have to do. As much as there has been a substantial improvement in the defensive discipline in the side, such is the occasion that you know He will score. Presuming of course, a convenient injury does not flare as it did in Ashley Cole’s case when his first return to Arsenal loomed. Wenger spoke of how the defensive stability has been the cornerstone of the recent run and the confidence it has imbued in the players.

Laurent Koscielny identified the recent run is due to the midfield working harder to provide more of a barrier to opponents. Aaron Ramsey, now a square peg in a square hole, has found form, following a two-year painful journey which whilst that contains an element of character-building, was wholly as a result of an appalling challenge that was deemed worthy of a short ban, relatively speaking. The imbalance has always existed between the injury caused and suspensions meted out as punishment but when serious damage is inflicted, a mandatory ban which is a minimum of the absence of the injured player or twelve games – a quarter of the season – ought to exist.

Neither he or Arteta occupies what is clamoured for; an outright defensive midfielder. In the system favoured by Arsène, I am not sure there is room for such a player, the necessity will always be for the whole of the trio in the centre of the park to adopt defensive duties. The manager noted it is too early to state that tiki-taka or its derivations, dead but certainly the dynamism of the German teams in the middle of the week has given its proponents some serious food for thought. Perhaps the impact is intensified in that one of the vanquished was hailed as the best club side in the world not so long ago and the other remains a big name in football? Maybe the reactions are simply a reflection of the tabloid era. Whatever the reality is, football tactics have long been fluid and cyclical in their favour. Arsenal will adapt to their circumstance, 4-4-2 through 3-5-2 to 4-4-1-1 ending at today. In Wenger’s reign, we have pretty much seen the whole evolution of tactics from 1966 onwards, at some stage or another.

Whatever the case, the fundamental shift in the team working hard has brought this season full circle. We are back in August, a difficult team to beat, one that is capable of shutting up shop, the one that went to Anfield and Eastlands, picking up four points out of six. Momentum has been gaining at the right time to save the season and whilst last Saturday’s performance was muted, the result was ideal. It doesn’t really matter who plays where so long as the ball ends up in the Manchester United net more times than Arsenal’s.

’til Tomorrow.

Me? Arsenal? There’s this much chance…

As the Premier League season lurches toward its conclusion, there is an incremental increase in the number of transfer stories. The FA ban on Luis Suarez brought forward the notion that the Uruguyan might leave because of his “harsh” treatment at the hands of the Football Association; I suppose it is more palatable for Liverpool supporters to believe this than an urge on the player’s part to challenge for honours. For Arsenal it means a ratcheting up of talk where any number of players will be joining or leaving. The Express this morning lists Vito Mannone, Andre Santos, Denilson, Nicklas Bendtner and Ju-Young Park, Andrey Arshavin, Lukasz Fabianski and Sebastien Squillaci as leaving in a piece about how Betis want Chamakh and Djourou, as well as another loan spell from Joel Campbell. I’m guessing that taking the Moroccan is in place of paying a loan fee.

The curio though is how players are fashionable to link with clubs. If you look at the Express list, it contains two goalkeepers; Daily Mirror sources this morning suggest that Arsène is baulking at paying the £15m suggested for Begovic and Mignolet, moving for the cut-price option of Rene Adler from Hamburg. Sneaking under the radar in The Heil is Maarten Stekelenburg, alongside the club’s stereotypical interest in Matthew Lowton of Aston Villa. However, he might be tiptoeing through the tulips in Martin Jol’s riverside garden instead. For years, the Dutch ‘keeper was linked with a move to Arsenal, rather like Hugo Lloris, who ended up in a Haringey hellhole. Why the sudden change in their fortunes? Has Stekelenburg’s star fallen so far that Arsène is no longer interested – if he ever was, of course – or is the soon-to-be former Roma goalkeeper no longer fashionable? We presume the club’s pursuit of the players was real in the first place of course. It was reported in the back pages, it must be true.

That smidgen of a notion – that certain players are no longer footballistically chic – has gained traction in the past 48 hours. Bayern and Dortmund outplayed their Spanish opposition to set-up the very real prospect of an all-German Champions League final at Wembley. Whilst attention focussed on the fan-friendly ticket prices, the German clubs efficiently went about their business in the competition; Dortmund remain unbeaten. It has led to German football becoming the new Spain; fashionable and chic. If this week is the root cause for Arsenal coolling their reported interest in Victor Valdes, that is no bad thing. Some rate the Barcelona goalkeeper; I never have. The logic goes something like Aah, but he’s got medals, he’s a winner; so was Michael but that doesn’t mean he was any good in net as the youngsters of today like to call it.

You see the shift happening in media coverage. English clubs are no longer in talks with Spanish managers about a move to a tougher League. Chelsea aren’t talking about long-term Arsenal target Manuel Pelligrini; it’s escaped the notice of the press that he’s Chilean. Instead, Arsenal want Jurgen Klopp or Joachim Löw (how long before he is Jo-Lo?) to replace Arsène Wenger when he retires. The notion of if is all but ruled out. But the two Germans, they are the men to save the day, a thought that sticks in the craw of the editorial team at Daily Heil HQ. Which is no bad thing, no bad thing at all. Stekelenburg is Dutch and as a nation, their footballing star fell in 2010 with the frankly dull approach they took to that Summer’s World Cup Final; overt physicality and a lack of originality translated in media terms to the Eriedivisie being considered a footballing wasteground.

Spanish football is hearing the start of a similar death knell being rung in the English media. Tiki-taka‘s day is done, the race run for Spanish clubs. We’ll overlook the failure of Manchester City and Chelsea to escape the group stages or Manchester United and Arsenal exiting the competition before the quarter-finals. There will always be an England…

So what does the Summer hold. Well, you cannot rule out French signings, that is super probable. Already the tried and test Capoue and Belhanda are linked. An obscure French right back will probably emerge as front-runner to replace Bacary Sagna. He’ll be obscure to most Arsenal supporters because let’s face it, who in their right minds wants to admit to having enough time to watch Ligue Un as well as the other European matches available on the televisual interweb? The Lost and The Lonely indeed.

In the end, nationality only matters to the media. He might be criticised for his view but Arsène is right in that a passport is not important in football, it should come down to ability. And the only criteria is surely whether the player will improve the squad. Isn’t it?

’til Tomorrow.

Memory plays strange tricks on us all as we get older. As I can’t remember anything about this game other than being in the Old Trafford away end, celebrating Limpar’s goal on the stroke of half time and shouting to our chaps to beat the beastly northerners when the fight came around.

Anders Limpar’s goal proved to be decisive but the match remains in the memory because of the clash between Nigel Winterburn and Brian McClair that escalated into a mass brawl involving every player on the pitch apart from Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman. I think it was started as Winterburn made a hard tackle on the owl impersonator, Denis Irvine, then McClair kicked out at Nigel and it all went off. Most of the players involved were apparently trying to “stop it”. In those days Man Utd considered themselves hard, who could dish it out but couldn’t take it. Of course this dispute had its origins earlier in 1988 at Highbury when McClair had sent a penalty skywards and Nigel had the temerity to applaud him for his spot kick incompetence.

Arsenal fined manager George Graham and five players two weeks’ wages and an FA commission fined both clubs £50,000 and Arsenal were deducted two points and United one in the Division One table.

But near the end of that season we won the second league title under the management of George Graham, losing just one of the 38 league games all season. In a nice twist of fate we won the title on 6 May 1991, just before the kick-off in their league game against Man Utd at Highbury, which we won 3–1, and their players gave our players a guard of honour as they walked out before kick-off. The title was confirmed without kicking a ball as our remaining challengers Liverpool (and that’s not something you hear these days) had been defeated by Nottingham Forest earlier in the day.

However we won the league and got to sing “You can stick your f**king 2 points up your arse” for much of that game.

But I have digressed, the reason the aforementioned away game is so memorable for me is that I travelled up to Manchester in my B reg Escort with my Arsenal supporting friend “Manfred” who I had shared a very pleasant three years at Portsmouth studying History and we spent at least another 6 watching GGs Red and white army. On this occasion we were going to visit our Northern pal from our student days, David “Noakes” who was a nurse in Manchester. Not his real name but he was nicknamed after the Northern comedian in a Derek and Clive sketch.

David “Noakes” was and still is a Man City fan so he was as happy as we were with the win and fight. We spent the rest of the time in various pubs drinking Boddington’s (before it had been taken over by a faceless homogenous brewery). Good football times with friends.

Three years later “Noakes” got married to a fellow Nurse, Maria, on the day before the League Cup Final with Sheffield Wednesday in Driffield, Yorkshire. I attended the splendid event with my soon to be wife, but Manfred couldn’t make it. So the Sunday was a mad dash from Yorkshire in a very old Chevette (we had sold the Escort to raise some money for our first house) to Bromley, quick change and travel to Wembley via the train. I was lucky they decided to make it a late kick off moving the game back from its usual 3pm to 5pm. Not so lucky that day was Steve Morrow, except I suppose he was lucky as he scored the winner in a major game.

Thanks Mark. ’til Tomorrow.

The Crowd At Woolwich Arsenal FC

by Mark Andrews

Twentieth Century Historical Studies. What sort of degree course is that? The answer is a bloody good one if you are allowed to make your dissertation about The Crowd At Woolwich Arsenal and the basis for this, the latest chapter in what is a trilogy of sorts, beginning with Making The Arsenal and preceded by Woolwich Arsenal FC: 1893-1915 The Club That Changed Football. A trilogy that is set to continue.

This book covers a similar period to the previously mentioned Woolwich Arsenal book, exploring the fans who followed the club at the time, understanding their motives and actions. With so many books that focus on the players and officials, this is a welcome change, bringing to the fore a time when contemporary information requires more research than the readily available information.

The comparisons with behaviours today are not entirely different, rituals and popular meeting places and trams in Nottingham; the more things change, the more they stay the same, particularly those of who grew up amid the violence of the 1970s and subseqent decade. The circle of life, indeed as the same problems existed nearly a century previous.

What makes the narrative interesting is the timescale, the first two decades of the club; the Football League and professionalism are the backdrop. With Arsenal so well established in the top flight, the different environment of being the only or leading Southern club in a time when the Northern English clubs dominated the game. Add in the beginnings of the travel industry and there is a sense of adventure in the numbers who travelled, drawing on the core support from the munitions factories.

Interesting angles emerge, for example the representation of the class system in the organising of football awayday excursions through a savings club. A flaw only emerging in the planned day out to Bury when the match was called off. The train times are an interesting contrast with today. The Football Association cannot organise an important match without mishandling the kick-off time and venue for semi-finals, supporters from Northern towns struggling to get home. No such problems for the early conquistadors, who no doubt found the late hour for return to London as agreeable as the publican his profits.

A welcome addition to the histories of the club, The Crowd At Woolwich Arsenal be purchased here and here.

Grecian 2000 really works wonders…

So that problem has gone away, Manchester United have won the Premier League title. Now winning it at The Emirates, no celebrating on the pitch. A guard of honour it is, which is an irritation at best and I think those who happen to be in the stands at the time, will probably acknowledge the Champions onto the pitch. Congratulations to United, the most consistent side in the country won the title. Been beaten twice at home in the Premier League, which in previous seasons would have been unthinkable, they have won the other fifteen matches. Just two matches lost away from home, three draws and twelve wins. Twenty-seven of thirty-four games have been won, just short of 79.5%. That is astonishing consistency.

If you want some perspective on this, here goes. Manchester United are fairly ordinary this season; it is not an outstanding squad that won the title. A highly motivated group of players with an outstanding team ethic did. Which rather puts everyone else in their place.

Yes, City and Chelsea have money beyond Arsenal’s grasp. The pair have access to more funds than United. It counts for nothing if they do not use it wisely – which they have not – so why can Arsenal not compete with them? As United have proved this season, it is all about the team. Arsène has a busy Summer ahead of him. It is unrealistic to expect the gap between the two clubs on the pitch to be closed in one transfer window. Significant moves would be a good starting point, one that leads to a feeling that the club could challenge. Giving a sense that is happening would, I think, lead to a widespread change in mood.

If you want some perspective, here goes. If Ryan Giggs wins one more League title, he will become the third most successful English club. He has now won as many League titles as Arsenal Football Club throughout its history.

The English game is not unusual by any means, in having runaway leaders; Germany, Italy and Spain are all in the same position. Arsenal is not unusual in having supporters who are questioning the current squad; any number of clubs in other countries are doing the same. Arsenal are unusual in that they are not financially troubled, they don’t have two stadiums, one of which cannot built, the other cannot be sold. They don’t have scandal surrounding former owners, they haven’t been banned from Europe, they don’t have Europe’s top clubs coveting their players. Ouch. That probably is as indicative as it is going to get of where the squad currently is. For what seems like the first time in years, I cannot see the stories linking key personnel with a move away from the club.

Arsène has built a reputation on the players crafting their way through matches. Now – perhaps rightly – games are being won through graft. He is absolutely right that there is a “resilience”, the ability to win ugly. For some that isn’t enough but it is right now. Results matter in the chase for Champions League places, artistic merit is secondary. That does not mean advocating Pulis-esque tactics, it just understands the caution of Saturday, of why an under-par performance is not a cause for concern if the result is right, at this point in the season. Think of it this way. Playing well and losing serves no purpose when Arsenal are desperate to reach a points tally that supplies an invitation to the top table in town. Whilst that is of no concern to some, there will be a detrimental impact off the pitch, in the club and outside.

Four games remain this season, Arsenal need three wins to give themselves a fighting chance of securing a place in the top four. The alternative, a season in the Europa League, is a viable alternative if the opportunity is taken to conduct a root and branch review of the club. Perhaps a complacency has set in, something which needs a jolt. If I had an over-riding concern about a top four place, it is that the feeling won’t be, “Phew! Got away with it, we’ve got to do something to turn this around“; it will be, “Always knew it would happen. Keep it up chaps, keep those top four finishes ticking over and the money side will look after itself“.

The Summer offers a chance for new blood, on and off the pitch. Contracts are running down for some, egos surely being suppressed in others with the dawning realisation that they are not as good as they believe. Arsenal remain hamstrung to a certain extent by the excessive contracts given to players whose potential never arrived. Perhaps the time has come for someone to say that a loss this Summer is acceptable, get these players off the books now. The players know that they can sit and wait their contracts out; they also know that if they do that, their careers are over, two years in Arsenal limbo will dash any dreams of a place at a top club. Financially sound now but a lifetime of regrets awaits. Both parties have much to lose by the continuing state of that affair.

’til Tomorrow.

If you look hard enough, you can see Tottenham from here

The race for the top four places continued on its twisted path to the end of the season with unexpected results yesterday putting Arsenal in a stronger position than is being given credit for. Both Tottenham and Chelsea remain behind Arsenal with a game in hand, a gap of one and two points respectively. On the face of it, the expectation would be of them winning that match to push themselves into the top four places. Except with their game in hand being against each other, that cannot happen; both sides cannot win. Arsenal must concentrate on winning their games and know that nine points out of twelve is the minimum that they require.

Whilst Arsenal dropping points next weekend will be celebrated in the media, all three clubs have potential pitfalls in the remaining games. It still remains that I think the three teams will be separated by solitary point and goal difference for the two Champions League places come the end of the season. Who occupies which slot remains to be seen.

Immediate thoughts turn towards the visit of Champions-elect Manchester United. Presuming they confirm ownership of the Premier League title tonight against Aston Villa, many are sickened by the prospect of forming a Guard of Honour for Sunday’s clash. Whether that will be any more palatable if Robin van Persie is not present, I do not know. As it is, that is a sideshow to the continued need for three points and if anything, I would hope performing this distractive duty before the match will act as motivation for the squad to win; to issue a bloody nose.

Such an event will underline the distance between the two squads at the moment. No matter what we may think about the relative weakness of this current United squad, they were still too consistent for everyone else in the division and have won the title with ease. Despite the protestations to the contrary, it hints at the weakness of the Premier League, something underlined by the absence of English teams in the latter stages of the Champions League. For Arsenal, the gap which may stand at twenty-one points tonight is a painful reminder of what work has to be done in the Summer. I hope that the recent Premier League form of one defeat in the last twelve games is taken as a platform upon which to build but not a sign that everything is alright, time was all that was needed.

That run shows what the team is capable of. So did the three defeats and four draws in the previous eleven to that. It is a decent squad but one that needs significant strengthening in the Summer to be utilise the spaces which will emerge as a result of contracts running down and other departures. The hope has to be that the club retains control of the ‘other’ departures and is able to keep hold of the strong players.

One area where the media assume there will be a departure is in central defence. For Arsenal there is no immediate sense in selling Thomas Vermaelen, with injuries and suspensions there is always a need for good centre backs to come in as required. Too often in football reportage, you are only as good as your last performance and if that is not up to scratch, the player in question is not good enough for the bench. Whilst the Belgian is out of favour right now, come the Summer that could well be a different story. In any case, surely the rationale for a big squad is to have competition for places with quality replacements coming in.

Laurent Koscielny identified communication as a reason for the improved performances in the centre,

We play well together as a pair. We communicate well. His experience is vital and it helps us work together. 

We try and talk to each other a lot and it is important at the back to have an understanding.  We need the results to make sure we are in the top four and in the Champions League next season. Now it is me and Per. We must do whatever is right for the team. 

Per is a very good player. He reads the ball well. He is clever. He attacks the ball and wins headers whereas I can go behind and be quick and cope with the long balls. He is good technically so he is good for the defence. Per is calm on the pitch. He is good for me and he uses his experience and this helps me and the team.

There’s bit of Per Love around at the moment, the manager was equally effusive in his praise. By implication, Koscielny is suggesting that they talk more freely that when Vermaelen is there. Is that a by-product of the captain seeking resolution of the teams’ problems and distracted by his own form, rather than a deeper-seated issue? The pair certainly seem to hold a more coherent line on the pitch with the full backs. At the moment, the Franco-Geramn axis is the one which works best. Next season might be a different story but that is for then, this is now.

’til Tomorrow.

Fulham 0 – 1 Arsenal

0 – 1 Mertesacker (43)

Sent off: Sidwell (12); Giroud (90)

At this stage of the season, performances are secondary; results are all that matter. Arsenal came to Craven Cottage needing to record a win and left with all three points to further advance their claims for a place in next season’s Champions League. They will have to do so without Olivier Giroud who is facing a three-match suspension following his late dismissal. It was very much a match of two halves, Arsenal dominant in the first and reticent in the second; that is unimportant as the pressure in this race moved back to Chelsea and Tottenham in their matches this afternoon.

Arsenal started brightly and made the early running, Walcott’s effort ruled out for offside whilst Koscielny might have done better with his header. Barely had everyone settled on the pitch before Sidwell was leaving it. The former Arsenal midfielder was late and Arteta’s ankle took the full force of what might loosely be described as a tackle. There can be few complaints about the decision – indeed there weren’t many at the time – with the incident not looking any better when you watch replays.

It changed the dynamic and Fulham got used to Arsenal having possession of the ball for sustained spells. As it was the hosts came closest to breaking the deadlock as Berbatov took full advantage of Emmanuelson surging run and Koscielny’s slip, to fire in a low shot which was well blocked by Szczesny. That and Richardson’s effort shortly afterwards offered them hope as Arsenal sought to crush their spirit, Giroud coming closest with a shot which curled against the outside of the post and to safety. Just in case the visitors were getting complacent, Emmanuelson drew a smart save from the Arsenal goalkeeper.

As half-time approached, the game’s only goal arrived. Walcott’s floated free-kick was met by Koscielny, whose header across the six yard area was guided home by Per Mertesacker. It might not have been as spectacular as David Luiz’s goal in midweek but Fulham will be heartily sick of opposition centre halves.

With the goal to build on, Arsenal should have kicked on to win by a more comfortable margin. Instead, they sought to protect their lead, attacking without verve and eventually letting Fulham back into the game for a more uncomfortable final quarter of the match than was necessary. Arsène suggested afterwards that the Everton match had taken a physical toll on the players but the sense is that the hesitancy was borne more out of the pressure of needing to win. Had the single point in that match been treble in value, there would have been less necessity to win, engendered a freer spirit in the players. That’s the theory at least.

That reticence led to a muted attack with Fulham coming closest to scoring. Szczesny tipped over Manolev’s cross as it drifted toward the goal whilst the Bulgarian then had a goal correctly disallowed for offside as the Pole parried Berbatov’s free-kick into his path. It was nervous goalkeeping, the likes of which Fabianski used to produce when he was called into the side. The Summer break will be welcomed for him to gather himself together, to recover his confidence.

As the match drifted toward the final whistle, Olivier Giroud provided the final talking point. Monreal hoisted a long clearance towards the French international and as he sought to recover the loose ball, his standing foot lost its grip on the turf and he went over the top of the ball, connecting with Manolev. Whilst losing his footing was key in the mistiming of the tackle, Giroud did not help himself as replays suggest his motion was stamping rather than trying to win the ball conventionally. Whether Arsenal would be able to win an appeal on that basis is debatable; a more profitable route might be to ask Mr Mariner to look at the decision again. Arguably, the final moments saw Arsenal’s best chance to seal the points, Wilshere leading the charge out of defence to be joined in the attack by Aaron Ramsey. The Welshman, whose recent performances surely deserve a moment of glory, could only drag his shot wide as he advanced on the Fulham goal.

Whilst the overall performance level was subdued, verging on average to be honest, it is utterly irrelevant in wider scheme. Points will get Arsenal into the top four for next season’s Champions League. With only four games left, there is not enough time to admire a performance that brings no reward; none of Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham can afford a defeat with the others winning their games. As it is, Arsenal have a week to recuperate and heal ahead of the visit of Manchester United to The Emirates. With the other two in action this afternoon with tough fixtures, the perfect tonic might just be them dropping points.

’til Tomorrow.

Look out for the ACLF Stat Zone later on with our hi-tech passing and movement app

Arsenal make the short trip to Craven Cottage for a key match in the run-in. A hackneyed cliche it might be but this is a must-win match. They all are at this stage of the season but with come the final whistle, Tottenham will have two games in hand and the gap has to be five points to ensure the pressure moves back to them tomorrow. To find themselves just two points in arrears passes them a significant advantage, no matter who those matches are against.

Fulham have not been the most welcome of guests or hospitable hosts in recent seasons, Arsenal haven’t registered a win over them since December 201o or won in West London since September 2009. Whilst they were overwhelmed in the midweek derby, Fulham seem unlikely to allow Arsenal to just turn up and win; the mental strength shown in the recent mini-revival in form needs to be displayed once more, which is more relevant than poor recent history.

Arsène goes into the game knowing whether the midweek niggles are healed. Key to that will be Tomas Rosicky, whose nimble movements and speed of thought have been missed in the home games against Norwich and Everton. If fit, he gives the manager the type of selection headache he will like to have. Aaron Ramsey has been immense recently and as close to undroppable as anyone at the moment. It marks a remarkable turnaround in opinion of him and he was a way to go with some people still, but the Welshman has silenced a lot of his critics. With Mikel Arteta, he has provided the defence with protection that was missing earlier in the season. I suspect Jack Wilshere may find himself on the bench if the Czech recovers for today.

Up front, Olivier Giroud is dividing opinion with a clamour for Lukas Podolski to take the central striking role. The opportunity for this exists this afternoon should Arsène decide on more counter-attacking style, or perhaps Theo Walcott leading the line instead. The latter is an option if the manager has a fully fit midfield to choose from. Giroud could consider himself unlucky not to have scored more against Norwich but missed two presentable chances against Everton. Having an average of one goal every three games, a shame that final opportunity didn’t manifest. But that is not his strength to the side, the French international is one of the hardest working strikers in the English game, closing players down and running his opponents hard during games. That affords colleagues the space to exploit for others. We were spoiled with van Persie in having a thirty goals a season striker in the League but let’s not forget, we only saw that last season; the rest was supposition as he was rarely fit enough to last that long. So rare, that was the only time he managed more than thirty Premier League games for Arsenal. They are different types of forwards and as a first season in the English game goes, Giroud has not done badly at all.

I would personally not include Walcott today either, at least from the start. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has done well as an impact sub, certainly adding a bit of impetus upon introduction. This afternoon, I think his overall work-rate might be better suited to the occasion than Walcott’s speed on the break. Indeed, the latter would be a potent weapon for the last half an hour.

The line-up I would like is:

Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Ramsey, Wilshere (Rosicky), Arteta; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Giroud, Cazorlaa

If Arsenal can bring the intensity of the performances against Norwich (the last twenty minutes) and Everton (the last seventy minutes), they should be confident of achieving victory. The efforts expended in those and the wins in Germany, Wales and the West Midlands were achieved by hard work. It would be naive to expect anything less to bring about victory today; Fulham will have been stung by their defeat to Chelsea and no doubt, redouble their efforts to restore pride. Simply because they have reached the mythical safety level of 40 points does not mean they will automatically take it easy in the remaining games. Add into that the personal nature of the meeting with Wenger, Martin Jol will be motivating his players with a little more edge than normal.

But Arsenal have enough quality to win and with right application, will do so. Enjoy the match wherever you are watching it.

’til Tomorrow.

Mr Wenger, I understand you’re upset but there’s nothing I can do to help. It isn’t my fault the video referee was wearing his reading glasses whilst watching TV.

Arsène’s pre-match press conferences arrive earlier in the week as the season goes on. I’m sure he prefers it that way, knowing them to be a necessary evil. Or is that necessary and evil?

A mixed bag of team news for tomorrow’s trip to Fulham with Lukasz Fabianski’s rib injury, like the British economy, not showing enough signs of recovery to earn a recall to the side. Fortunately we witnessed the incident which has caused this, stemming the knowing nods and general agreement that this injury is Almunia-esque in its timing. Tomas Rosicky is still a doubt, not fit enough to start but in good enough condition to sit on the bench. Which at once underlines his importance to the side and how low Arshavin’s stock really has fallen if he cannot even displace an injured Rosicky in the list of substitutes. Others have niggles and knocks which are receiving varying degrees of attention. From the list of players mentioned as being checked , the only one that immediately strikes you as needing wrapping up in cotton wool is Jack Wilshere. Not because of his importance to the side – he would admit that his match sharpness is coming back although not yet fully up to speed – but the recent history with injury necessitates this approach.

Arsène might soon find himself as the doyen of the braying pack, thinly veiled praise coming from the poison pens of Fleet Street over his stance on English football. Not that it has changed of course, just they did not notice that Wenger has always preferred the domestic game to its continental counterparts. Where the boundaries change from him to his regular critics is that they remain in love with 1970s stereotype, the Allardyce as David Attenborough might deliver soto voce on a documentary on the natural habitat of the English defender, watching as he feasts on the broken limbs of his opponent.

The point he made about Darren Gibson was a fair observation. Had the referee been stronger, the Everton midfielder would have been sent off early in the game but like many of his peers, Mr Swarbrick was scared of the over-reaction from the media which feeds the desire to punish officials at the merest hint of 47 camera angles proving a decision wrong. When blatant errors are consistently made, the correct action is to replace that official with another but the weekly assessments which lead to demotion as a penalty seems too kneejerk; the FA, PGMO et al would be better served by a continued emphasis of improving decision-making by the officials and better education than wielding a stick to improve performance. They have chosen to create professional officials and with the paucity of good ones, there is something wrong with quality of their Continuing Professional Development department if the current crop are the best that they have to offer.

Their interventions – or lack of them – can be crucial as Manchester United found out on Wednesday at Upton Park. It isn’t that people want the decisions made by technology, very few are in favour of interventionism in that sense but when, in this case, a blatant offside is ignored, what is to be lost by a quick review of the action? Live television can produce a replay of an incident very quickly, the Premier League should be able to tap into this technology to address any issues. If you consider van Persie’s equaliser, the ball is dead as the goal had been awarded so play is not being interfered with as such if the fourth official observes the build-up to the goal. In that example, restarting with a free kick is not stopping play to review.

And this is the key boundary in the argument. Opponents suggest that technology in these circumstances will be unstoppable, once you travel this path, you cannot stop. Perhaps but you can manage it to less extremes than that histrionic suggests. There are natural breaks in play but football has to decide what it wants. Are erroneous free-kicks and corners which lead to goals as in last weekend’s Norwich match acceptable? Two goals came about because of wrong decisions; both changed the game, alternative outcomes are unprovable and Arsenal won in this case so do we really care in isolation?

The problem that has to be overcome is the influence that managers can have on the outcome. You couldn’t have any official sitting near the benches as it would not take long for coaches, managers or even substitutes to influence the outcome in that scenario, particularly one as bloody-minded as Ferguson. Football’s bubble has yet to burst and I don’t think it will do so. That is not to say it is impervious to any failure, more that it would a small hole that silently lets out the air with nobody noticing until a significant volume has gone.

My own view is that technology is the game’s Achilles Heel. The media pervades football, every incident at the highest level is subjected to all manner of scrutiny and more will happen in Sepp’s little baby. You only have to look at his reaction to the England v Germany in 2o10′s South African World Cup to see how the power-brokers change their positions on this subject . Platini prefers more human intervention, more officials and the next stage of that is four assistant referees on the touchlines with two behind each goal. But the pool of people who can fill these roles is finite, we constantly hear about shortages of referees. It is easy at the moment for Platini to be the Luddite, to rail against technology. He doesn’t have the power to introduce any changes without Fifa’s assent. That may change if he has occupy the Big Chair a short trip away. His Canute-like defiance of the inevitable may not be as solid as it now appears.

’til Tomorrow.

“Obviously I’m thrilled about my new role as a Bond villain. I feel my time as Arsenal captain has given me the perfect vibe, what with nobody liking me”

As expected, Chelsea won the first of their games in hand last night to reclaim third place. Their victory at Fulham ought to carry a health warning for Arsenal with Fulham no doubt raising their game several notches on Saturday. It would be nice if there was a similarly supine opponent in front of Arsenal but somehow it does not seem likely; football just doesn’t work like that. Does it?

Arsenal just have to dust themselves down and get on with it. The current Premier League run is still the best of the season but the pressure is back on Arsenal with a win vital. Most of us would like to see Manchester City win on Sunday to put Tottenham onto the back foot with the added benefit of leaving Manchester United needing victory at The Emirates a week on Sunday to clinch the title. Anything less puts the celebrations on hold for another week, presuming City do not drop a rickett and fail to beat West Ham the previous day. Stopping the United celebrations has become as much of an obsession to some as Champions League football is to Arsène.

Whilst the thought of van Persie celebrating anything at Arsenal is repulsive, it is more important to focus on the remaining games this season. Too many permutations exist for anyone to say for certainty what might happen with all of the sides capable of finishing in the top four having tricky matches to play. As much as they may be wary of trips to Anfield and Old Trafford, Chelsea’s biggest enemy is sheer volume of games with the likelihood being that they will play a match every three or four days for the rest of the season. Injuries and fatigue may be the most crucial factors. Tottenham face matches against teams who currently have either Champions League ambitions or relegation worries whilst Everton visit Sunderland this weekend as well as the Merseyside derby and a last day trip to Stamford Bridge. European football in some form seems highly likely for Arsenal next but before you get too complacent, the corresponding five fixtures last season gathered a solitary point out of fifteen. A similar return this time around and League positions will be the least of Arsenal’s worries; tin helmets will be obligatory.

As the football battles rage in the background, Thomas Vermaelen is subject of this morning’s transfer speculation. The chattering classes have long held the Belgian international as a potential target for promotion to Arsenal’s first team in Catalunya but as the results of his DNA test have not been sent back by the lab, nothing has yet emerged in that respect. A warning that Vermaelen might do well to heed is the case of Alex Song, who having been a big fish in the Arsenal pond is finding life rather tougher now he is in a bigger stretch of water. It’s a path well-trodden, Petit and Hleb the most obvious examples of that. Contra to that is Julio Pleguezuelo who may be making the journey which seems rather more successful, from the youth set-up at Barcelona to Arsenal.

Vermaelen might consider himself unfortunate having played reasonably well against Norwich, to have missed out on Everton. However, Per Mertesacker has formed a more consistent partnership with Laurent Koscielny which has benefitted from a well-publicised change in team attitude. Arguably Vermaelen as captain should have led that change months ago. Struggling for his own form makes it difficult to see the wider picture at times, becoming mired in trying harder to improve your own performance can be as detrimental to the team as playing badly. The issue for Arsène is whether to retain the Belgian as captain beyond the Summer. Key to that will be whether the manager has judged the Arsenal armband as being too much of a burden for Vermaelen. Whilst he has shown ruthlessness in picking the side in recent weeks, to hand the captaincy to another player is a very public admonishment of the player and admission that he was the wrong choice by Wenger himself;  the media – Fleet Street and Social – would feast on it like a pack of starved hyenas.

The ruthlessness previously shown may yet extend to Wojciech Szczesny. Lukasz Fabianski’s injury did not seem to be that serious – bad enough to miss midweek but for a prolonged absence – and in the instance of his return to match fitness, which of his Polish goalkeepers will he choose? You would think that Fabianski would return given his late save against Norwich earned Arsenal two points more than they might otherwise have taken. Similarly, Nacho Monreal, will he return. A lot of niggling injuries are healing well enough for players to be named substitute but not to return to the side which is a strange state of affairs. Or a condemnation of the squad’s lack of depth that requires the walking wounded to take their comfy seats on the touchline. It depends on which side of the bench you sit, I guess.

It’s enough to drive you to a night on the vodka. Or out for an Arshavin as it is becoming known.

’til Tomorrow.

The FA are keen to show off the latest equipment to be given to Premier League referees for the weekend’s matches

Arsenal 0 – 0 Everton

The first goalless League draw between the two sides in London for more than a century left Arsenal’s Champions League aspirations out of their own hands. It also puts the squad under immense pressure; they have to win at Fulham, anything less leaves them exposed in the race for not just Champions League football but Europa League as well. That latter scenario is the one David Moyes is hoping for, the rationale for an intense defensive performance that relied on physical effort more than techniquel the professors at the School of Science will be reeling, no matter what the rewards.

Arsenal were their own worst enemies, aided and abetted by timid officiating. Olivier Giroud is this morning’s most obvious culprit, missing a presentable chance in each half but he was not the only one in red to fail in front of goal. Darron Gibson remaining on the pitch beyond the first half still baffles, Neil Swarbrick’s inexcusable decision not to show a second yellow card minutes after the first underlined the poor standard referees in English football at the moment. If the best referee is not rated good enough for anything better than Colchester this weekend, there is little hope for the rest.

All this and Jack Wilshere at his pugnacious best; a shame that was in the tunnel though.

The match started slowly with Arsenal struggling to free the shackles placed on their midfield. Indeed, Everton had the best of the opening chances with Pienaar clearing the bar as Szczesny dived at his feet. Gibbs emulated that with Arsenal’s first effort of intent midway through a first half noted for the intensity of the visitors efforts, legal and not so in Gibson’s case. Rotating with Barkley and Pienaar, Gibson subdued Theo Walcott but the tally of fouls on the England winger caught up with the former Manchester United player, who was cautioned. Shortly after, a blatant bodycheck went inexplicably unpunished by Mr Swarbrick; it isn’t a conspiracy against Arsenal as many claim, simple incompetence explains. Yet moaning about officials always deflects attention away from failings in front of goal.

Arsenal’s best chance of the night arrived as the interval approached, minutes after Anichebe had been denied by Gibbs sterling tackle. Ramsey putting in another Man of the Match performance, surged down the right offering Olivier Giroud the moment with a tempting cross but as he arrived before the Everton defence, the French striker was unable to angle his connection to an empty net, instead hooking his effort wide.

The sides traded efforts in the second half, Cazorla and Giroud for Arsenal, Barkley for Everton. No matter what Arsenal tried, they found solid resistance which even in the face of tiredness, did not wilt. Twice in the final twelve minutes, Giroud offered hope that the deadlock would be broken; twice he failed, once through tenacious defending, the last caused by snatching at his shot.

Arsenal lacked something, that game-changing moment. The failings in front of goal were key, especially with chances at a premium. The hosts lacked the verve of Rosicky in the middle, the Czech maestro obviously not as fit as Wenger would have hoped for or was the manager being more cautious. Wilshere is gaining fitness but he is more of an all-round midfielder, the box-to-box role than the attacking lynchpin. In seasons to come, it is not hard to envisage him and Ramsey forming the basis of a quartet in midfield. In Rosicky’s absence, it seems odd that Cazorla is not moved centrally, bringing in Podolski or Gervinho on the left to accommodate this. Despite his ruthlessness in other positions, Wenger seems to be hampered in being a strong in the midfield. It isn’t a case of putting square pegs in round holes, just bringing together the most effective dynamic in the Czech’s absence.

The outcome suited Everton more than Arsenal. The visit to Fulham is the key to Arsenal’s season. A draw has left Tottenham with the advantage – even with Chelsea to meet – but time will tell whether the points on the table now are worth more than the games in hand. As disappointing as the result was – and the tone of Wenger’s post-match comments suggest that he has the same feelings – the sky has not fallen in on Arsenal’s season. Yet.

’til Tomorrow.

Tomas Rosicky finds his flying routine needs a bit of work

Everton arrive at The Emirates for a key match in the run-in for both clubs. Arsenal can extinguish the visitors hopes of Champions League football next season, something which has flown under the radar as everyone talks of which London team will be the one to miss out. A victory for The Toffees this evening might reword the question to which two of the three London teams will miss out? David Moyes is continually named as the next British manager of a big club and qualifying for the premier European competition on limited resources will enhance his claims in the new FFP era.

Both sides had home wins at the weekend but arguably Arsenal’s was the biggest psychological boost. No matter what might be thought of the manner of the three late goals, unarguably the players and crowd left the stadium utterly bouyed by victory and not thinking they were let off the hook. Arsène will be looking for the team to show the urgency injected by Saturday’s substitutions, from the kick-off. I have no doubt that the conditions impacted on the match but Norwich’s decision to park a yellow and green bus across The Emirates turf was good practice for tonight. Everton will offer similar tactics as the seek only their second win in the last twenty-seven visits to Arsenal, a dismal run that has seen them lose all but five of those games.

Injury has dealt Arsène some interesting cards, on top of the decision he has to make over the centre of his defence. Lukas Fabianski is doutbful for tonight, a serious enough injury inflicted by a Canary bootboy at the weekend offering Wojciech Szczesny an early chance of redemption. Fabianski has done well in his recent run in the side which makes tonight a double-edged sword for his younger compatriot; any goals will be scrutinised for his culpability in the new Arsenal blame game. Fortunately, he is likely to see a return to the settled quartet in front of him with Per Mertesacker surely recalled. To drop him for tonight suggests that Wenger believes Everton’s pace on the counter-attack will be more of a problem for the German than Vermaelen. As harsh as it is on the Belgian following a relatively untroubled Saturday afternoon, leaving Mertesacker out would be a curious decision. Almost as strange as Monreal’s omission on Saturday although that rest offered him the opportunity to fully recover from his recent niggle. Equally, it will not have gone unnoticed that Norwich’s most dangerous moments came from attacks down the Arsenal left at the weekend. The decision for Wenger is to whether that was their strength or Arsenal’s weakness, or what mix of those two applied. Most likely both Mertesacker and Monreal will come into the side tonight, fortunate for Arsène that he has the option of a fully fit defence to choose from.

Arguably the biggest boost is the return of Tomas Rosicky. Arsenal missed his urgency on Saturday, Jack Wilshere‘s sluggishness due to his injury lay-off acknowledged by the manager as being his fault in rushing the player back too quickly. The Czech has once more been pivotal in the run-in which has seen Arsenal’s most productive form. Victory tonight will be a fifth consecutive win, which would be Arsenal’s best run of the season so far; the right time to hit a peak in form. The final decision is Walcott, Gervinho or after Saturday, Oxlade-Chamberlain on the right. I don’t think Podolski will start, despite his goal. If he does, the oft-requested central striking role looks the likeliest option for that which will be harsh on Giroud who did everything but score against Norwich. Gervinho’s inability to find the final pass at the weekend will probably offer Theo an opportunity to return to the side, despite the Ivorian having his best run in the side before that. Both players have strengths as impact substitutes and are capable of being frustratingly inconsistent; Wenger’s newly visible ruthlessness suggests that Walcott’s efforts on Saturday will be rewarded.

The likely line-up will be:

Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Arteta, Rosicky, Ramsey; Walcott, Giroud, Cazorla

Results are all that matter right now, Arsenal winning puts pressure on their rivals at a time when they have games coming thick and fast. A telling week got off to the required start, now the momentum needs to be built up ahead of a key weekend in the rest of the season.

Enjoy the match wherever you are watching it.

’til Tomorrow.

Rest In Peace

Arsenal prepare for another key match with Arsène Wenger having to address key selection issues, making decisions which test the theory that everything is now down to individual form. Per Mertesacker’s one match ban is served, leaving the manager a choice between the German who has been key to the recent upturn in results or to perservere with club captain, Thomas Vermaelen. He has, I suppose, the get out clause of rotating Laurent Koscielny out of the side but of the pairings he could choose at the heart of the defence, the Belgian-German axis has appeared to be the weakest.

That is not necessarily the truth but perceptionally, it was a partnership which encapsulated the madness which beset the defence in the early months of 2013. It was not a pairing that inspired confidence and ultimately, Vermaelen was held responsible. Koscielny came in and provided a stronger centre with Mertesacker than the Belgian. However, it also coincided with a change in attitude from the squad as a whole, one which dictated that more concentration and defensive duties were required from all. Arguably Mertesacker and Koscielny were priniciple beneficiaries to this realisation that defenders were being hung out to dry on and off the pitch. More protection afforded to them meant the back four was less exposed.

For Wenger, he has to choose the pairing he thinks will best cope with Everton. Recent games have shown that The Toffees favour a counter-attacking game and Mertesacker is not blessed with the greatest pace; his reading of the game can get him out of some situations but as the recent trip to West Bromwich Albion showed, it does not always work. Koscielny can compensate initially but would Arsenal be better served by the more nimble Vermaelen? The Belgian did little wrong on Saturday and watching the replays of Norwich’s goal, it is harsh to blame him for the static defence at the free kick that never was. If the Norfolkers can complain about Arsenal’s corner that never was, we can highlight that the referee punished Arsenal for Kamara tripping over his own heels. At least Mr Jones was an equal opportunities incompetent.

It isn’t the only consideration for Wenger. I was not convinced that Gibbs should displace Nacho Monreal before the game, even less so afterwards. Perhaps the Spaniard’s injury had not healed as much as the perception held; Arsenal are fortunate to have the option of easing players back into the side, coping as injured bones and muscles are nursed through as is believed to be the case with Lukas Podolski. There was more settled look about the back four before the current bans and absences; is that coincidence or were the run of games kinder to allow confidence to grow?

The final choice is Gervinho or Walcott. Saturday reinforced the prejudices against the Ivorian in some minds, to the extent that there was apparently some booing as he departed the pitch. Well, if that was yourself, do let us know and we will contact your employers so that when you have a bad day at the office, they can form a guard of honour with catcalls from colleagues as you leave you the building. Gervinho didn’t have the best of afternoons; good runs, positive positions, all let down by what can kindly be called an erratic touch. It was one of those matches for him. Theo Walcott came on was reinvigorated, displaying the form which saw him agree a new contract at the club. Forgotten were some anonymous performances before his injury. The contrast between the two was immediately apparent but is it enough to ensure a recall to the side on Tuesday night. I would imagine so.

Who wants to be a football manager? All those choices and so many advisers to make sure the correct decision is made…

’til Tomorrow.

The trainers found a quick way to get on the pitch yesterday

Arsenal 3 – 1 Norwich City

0 – 1 Turner (56)
1 – 1 Arteta (85 pen)
2 – 1 They Didn’t Give It To Giroud In The Ground, It Was An Own Goal (88)
3 – 1 Podolski (90)

“Inept and uninspiring performance for 80 minutes, then ten minutes of magic.”

It’s fair to say that whilst I would apply those words to Michael Jones, the orator on the Ken Friar Bridge after the final whistle yesterday was referring to Arsenal’s performance. Reflecting this morning, sometimes this type of win is more enjoyable than a five goal stroll across the ninety minute mark. Obviously the latter is a lot better for your emotional well-being but being utterly frustrated does tend allow for a more gutteral release when matters turn around, leaving a high that not even an incessant downpour whilst waiting in a queue for the Arsenal tube station can dampen.

Arsenal have risen to third place with the chance to end the Evertonian threat to their European hopes on Tuesday night but they were made to work hard for the three points that leaves them masters of their own destiny. For long stretches of yesterday, that seemed unlikely as Norwich’s plan to frustrate was carried out with monotonous efficiency.

The wheels on the bus are yellow and green, yellow and green, yellow and green

One thing that struck me as curious when the passing meandered into the touchline, why was Lukasz Fabianski wearing a green kit yesterday? Surely a colour clash arose? It was that sort of game for much of the time, pass, move, pass, advance five yards, cede possession. A match where the result was ground out rather than steamrollering the opposition with glittering Wengerball. There wasn’t one culprit in the lack of I don’t know, va-va-voom, if you like. All were seemingly dispirited. Maybe the incessant rain quelled the footballing ardour.

Arsenal started brightly enough, threatening without really creating anything of note. Norwich offered nothing but a sea of yellow in defence but when it was breached, Arsenal’s luck was out. The first indication of that came as Giroud twisted to flick Bacary Sagna’s cross onto the top of the bar. Then Cazorla freed Gervinho but his leaden touch on this occasion rounded Bunn but the angle beat him, so much so that the Ivorian’s shot ended as more of a cross. It summed up his afternoon, frustratingly making great runs, taking good positions but with poor passing following on. He cut a disconsolate figure as he trudged to the touchline to make way for Lukas Podolski.

Gervinho was not the only player off the pace. Jack Wilshere’s return was muted, his lack of match sharpness showing as he foraged into a number of dead-ends or slowed his passing. That summed up Arsenal; promising opportunities lost through having too much time to think. And when they did come, Bunn in the Norwich goal dealt with them all too comfortably, denying Giroud and Cazorla before the interval.

And Arsenal were made to pay ten minutes into the second half. Norwich had been timewasting from early on, slowing the pace of the game with no urgency on the part of Mr Jones to pick them up on it. He added to the aura of ineptitude by awarding a free kick as Kamara tripped over his own heels. There was an air of inevitability in the ultimate sucker punch being delivered under those circumstances and Turner did not disappoint as the Arsenal defence stood in all their mannequinesque glory, heading into the corner of the net with a free header.

With little sign that Arsenal were going to force an equaliser, Arsène began the changes which would turn the game. Walcott in particular, brought hope, a purposeful energy to the fray, foraging on the right immediately. The deficit might have grown in this time, as Arsenal began to press with more urgency, gaps appeared. Norwich broke swiftly and Martin galloped the length of the pitch in support, fortunately his shot was straight at the exposed Fabianski, who held the shot well. Arsenal almost equalised as Podolski rattled the crossbar; Bunn seemed to think he got a touch on it but cannot have, the ferocity of the shot would surely have broken his finger?

As wondered why Holt hadn’t received several yellow cards, Mr Jones awoke from his slumber to award Arsenal a corner that never was following more hard work from the Man of the Match, Aaron Ramsey. In the ensuing melee, Giroud tumbled to the ground and the linesman signalled the foul which Mr Jones, positioned behind the incident, could not have possibly seen. Apparently, binoculars were the only way that the decision could have been given. Either that or bionic eyesight, the latter being the more believable option if a world of pundits is to be believed. It was a gift horse that Mikel Arteta gratefully fed, his penalty too firmly struck for Bunn to keep out.

With that Norwich imploded. The effervescent Oxlade-Chamberlain exchanged passes to drive toward the by-line, crossing for Olivier Giroud not to get a touch as he, Bassong and ball ended in the net. The stadium scoreboard delivered the verdict of own goal, the replays certain in their assertion that the Arsenal striker never touched the ball. Who cared, Arsenal had the lead, so hard won that they would have ceded it but for an outstanding saves from Fabianski, first from Howson and then in calmly dealing with the resultant corner.

Arsenal poured forward as Norwich wilted, Giroud’s rasping drive cleared the crossbar before Walcott surged into the area, seeking glory before channelling into a dead end, span into the centre and laid off a poor pass to Podolski. The German didn’t care, with time to turn and make something from nothing with a shot that arced away from the despairing grasp of Bunn and into the side of the net. Points safe, those who hadn’t left before the equaliser revelled in a victory that was as unlikely as it was expected.

’til Tomorrow.

This is a massive week for us. Because they don’t play we have a chance to build an advantage. But since four or five weeks ago we know we have to win our games whether they play or not. We have to focus on our games. It does not matter whether Tottenham play or not. We have to win our games.

I’d rather have the points on the board. Tottenham will be hard competition until the end, Chelsea as well, and the only way we can deal with that is to look at ourselves and win our games.

- Arsène Wenger, yesterday

There, he said it. The elephant is frolicking in the park, having been let out of the room. Arsenal have to win today, no repeat of last season’s draw, finally retrieving a deficit to establish a lead, only to let it slip in the last five minutes. Mind you, Arsenal had to win that match to ensure third; they didn’t and the final placings went to the end of the season. Pressure does funny things to people.

Arsenal head into this afternoon’s match in good form, confident or as was observed, their demeanour is of players who believe in themselves. Norwich are not quite safe of the relegation zone, four points above the trapdoor. If you listen, you can hear the revving of the bus engines as they ready themselves to be parked on the edge of the penalty area. Their results this season reflect an astonishing set of low-scoring draws; six of their seven drawn games in 2013 have been goalless or 1 – 1. It is for Arsenal to break them down, Arsène’s early goal would be a good starting point.

Wenger gave a clear sign that today is about exorcising the ghosts of Carrow Road. That defeat in all its abject glory was the start of the rot. Arsenal had done well, relatively speaking, to that point, surprising most by sitting fifth, the top four beckoning with a win. They lost and sat ninth that evening. It took more than a month to recover from that result, just two wins in the next seven Premier League game. Little wonder there is a sense of revenge.

There are parallels as well. Just as then, we talk now of the return of Jack Wilshere. Recent weeks have seen Tomas Rosicky enjoy his annual renaissance in the Arsenal team, proving his worth to the team as the season comes into the ‘business end’, making you wonder how he can be omitted for long spells beforehand. Which is why Jack Wilshere looks likely to return today, the dodgy hamstrings of the Czech international curtailing his recent form. It leaves Arsène with a problem; does he bring Jack back or reshuffle his forward line to accommodate Santi Cazorla centrally? I think the latter is the probable option at kick-off. Wilshere has been training a week but today offers a home match that surely the rest of the squad can cope with, enabling the youngster to be introduced as a second half substitute?

I don’t think the solution will involve Theo Walcott. Three months ago when he was in a rich vein of form – contractual obligation – and Gervinho was being taunted by banjo wielding cows, there was no question of Walcott’s return. The boots are on the other foot now, the Ivorian cannot help but do well, reversing the ill-fortune which has dogged African Cup of Nations participants in previous seasons. For a player who thrives on confidence, this is the sort of moment that defines his season; does the manager have faith and retain him in the starting line-up or not? I cannot see Wenger dropping Gervinho, nor should he. On this sort of form, it is easy to understand why Wenger signed. Would that we saw this form for longer periods of a season. Moving Cazorla to the centre of midfield, affords a return to the side for someone. Either moving Gervinho to the left to accommodate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – rather than Walcott – or more likely in my book, Lukas Podolski comes in on the left.

The side I would expect at kick-off is:

Fabianski; Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Monreal; Ramsey, Cazorla, Arteta; Gervinho, Giroud, Podolski

A lot of the attention will be focussed on Thomas Vermaelen’s return. Unceremoniously dropped, the Belgian has a point or ten to prove, not just in his form but also in the captaincy with Mikel Arteta observing improved communications had contributed to the recent run of good form. Senior players need to ensure that continues, not revert to silence to allow the captain to speak.

All of that is a sideshow though. The key outcome is to win; this has become the game in hand to knock Tottenham out of the top four, even if only by a point. Coming on the back of their exit from the Europa League, Arsenal once again overhauling a gap their Middlesex neighbours had established. Is this the tipping point in pressure of which Laurent Koscielny spoke?

Enjoy the match wherever you are watching it.

’til Tomorrow.

The Final 1912-13 First Division Table

Football’s money tree is shaken this morning with Financial Fair Play regulations passed by the Premier League. Some of these rules are curious – £4m of TV money per season can be spent on wage bills over £52m seems quite stringent until you realise that all of a club’s revenue from other sources is available for spend on salaries; the imbalance between the richest and the rest remains in that sense, if anything getting bigger. Still, Arsenal will no doubt be rueing a missed opportunity this season, it is inexplicable why they did not redesign the home kit to a replica of the 1912-13 version to celebrate the only relegation in the club’s history. That was confirmed one hundred years ago today following the 1 – 2 home defeat to Derby County. In some ways, it was a typically Arsenal thing to do. Getting relegated less than six months before a new stadium opens seems like wanting to make things hard, to prove that you can succeed through adversity.

Still, it could be worse, Arsenal could be sitting watching another substantial points lead evaporate before their eyes, with two of their nearest rivals waiting to capitalise. Of course, we tried last season to emulate Tottenham’s collapse but couldn’t quite manage it at the end of the campaign. It is not a good time for Spurs, eliminated from Europe with the worst set of penalties this side of Arsenal’s 2000 Uefa Cup defeat to Galatasaray. You know it is not going to be your night when a Swiss banker gives you grief in front of the watching world. I say, watching world when in fact it was a curious mix of their own fans wanting them to succeed whilst the rest of audience was revelling in their failure. They now have an agonising wait whilst Arsenal play three times before Tottenham kick-off against Manchester City.

As it is, the pressure turns onto Arsenal. Or does it? The truth is the pressure has always been there; winning games to close the gap on the top four, something which has been achieved. The current Premier League run has seen Arsenal drop five points from the last nine games. That run was largely ignored amid the rancour of the FA Cup exit, the first leg against Bayern and defeat in the North London Derby. Quietly the points were being amassed on the most consistent basis so far this season. That run does not mean that the weaknesses in this squad have gone away, simply that the players and manager have found a way of delivering the necessary wins. A fine time to run into form; a pity about the inconsistencies before.

Laurent Koscielny believes that this pressure is good but too much leaves the players staring like rabbits in car headlights,

I think it is good to have a little pressure. Not a lot because then you can’t play, you are afraid and you do nothing on the pitch. A little pressure is good to make sure you give your best for the team. We haven’t won a trophy for a long time, and I think it’s important to have this pressure for yourself, for the Club, to give your best on the pitch.

You need some luck, to have players who are in form as well. It is difficult but if everybody is ready to fight together and be focused then you can be successful.

It is an interesting insight that raises the question of where is this squad’s level for paralysis through pressure? Which games are too much for them? Is it individual matches or when their form has been so inconsistent that they do not know which version of themselves will turn up? And why has a Sports Psychologist not found the cause of this? All these questions and more will be answered in this week’s episode of Soap. The reality is that this season has seen this group of individuals not perform to their highest levels consistently until now and that is not of the required standard at Arsenal. It is something which the manager will be addressing this Summer, according to the former Great and the former Good this week. To what extent remains to be seen but I suspect a lot of people will be disappointed when some changes are not made unless they are forced on Wenger.

One player whom Koscielny’s final sentences could be directed at is Thomas Vermaelen. Unusually for an Arsenal captain, he was dropped. Previously the armband meant security, an automatic place in the side. Not so for the Belgian whose own form suffered before the team collectively did. The problem is that whilst searching for his own solutions, it was hard to lead the side. Footballers are notoriously fickle personalities when it comes to squads, inherently selfish with little incentive toward generosity when others play badly so the received wisdom goes. Wenger believes Vermaelen will come back stronger from this drop in form,

He took it in a remarkable way [when he lost his place]. He is a great man and I didn’t make him captain by coincidence. I knew there is something mentally special there. He responds in positive situations and in less positive situations like when you don’t play. They know there could be rotation with the three centre backs from the start of the season, depending on good and less good periods of any individual player. He [Vermaelen] took that remarkably well.

I don’t know about that, repeating the word “remarkable” seems to me like the manager trying to convince himself everything will be alright in Per Mertesacker’s absence tomorrow. It depends on how you interpret the word, “remarkable“, I suppose. Hopefully it means he knuckled down and worked hard to regain his place, rather than moping around the dressing room like Marvin.

Three points is needed this weekend and that is all that matters at this stage of the season. Individuals being in and out of form is less important than the collective achieving the required results. Does that ever change though, at any stage of the season?

’til Tomorrow.

I had no choice when it came to being an Arsenal fan. I was born and brought up less than a mile from the ground – close enough to hear the roar of the crowd when Arsenal scored. My dad had started supporting them during the war. My older brother had started going to games in the mid-60s. They took to me see my first game, as an 8 year old, in 1975. It was the start of the worst season in 50 years, but I didn’t care. I was addicted.

In 1980 we moved to Cheshunt and the visits to Highbury were restricted to the odd game per season for 3 years. It coincided with some pretty poor football and I started to lose interest, especially as most of my new schoolmates had no interest in football. But that all changed in 1983. I left school and got a job which gave me financial freedom. There were also a couple of new workmates that were Arsenal fans and we would meet up and go to games together. I went to most home games during 1983-84 and also to my first away game – at Watford. The end of the season saw Arsenal play some good football but this was probably due to the fact that there was no pressure on the players with nothing to play for.

The new season saw no new signings and a poor start. Then, we had two cracking wins: a goal fest against Watford and solid performance against league leaders Newcastle including a wonderful over-the-wall free-kick from Brian Talbot. All of a sudden it looked as though things had clicked into place.

Next up was Liverpool at Highbury. Since I had first gotten into football Liverpool had ruled the roost. They won the League title or finished runners-up almost without fail. FA Cup, League Cup, European Cup, they won them all. I used to hate us playing Liverpool as it was the one team that we couldn’t beat even on a good day. In my first season of going to Highbury I had seen us somehow beat Liverpool. Since then we had only managed two more wins, both by the narrowest of margins.

8th September 1984 was a lovely warm sunny afternoon in North London. I noticed that the crowd queuing up to get into the Clock End was bigger than usual. It didn’t worry me, though. Us terrace season ticket holders had our own turnstile so I was in the ground quite quickly.

As we neared kick-off it was apparent that this was going to be a big attendance. I had watched games the previous season with crowds around the 20,000 mark. This time there was no space to sit on the terraces and stretch out your legs. This was a proper crowd.

Most of the detail of the game is now forgotten but some memories just refuse to fade. We won a free-kick in a similar position to that when Talbot scored during the week. He stepped up and faithfully reproduced his up and under free-kick. Add to this Viv Anderson spending most of the game rampaging down the right wing, roasting Liverpool’s Alan Kennedy time and time again. We couldn’t believe what we were watching – a team managed by Don Howe taking apart the mighty Liverpool. During the second-half the attendance was announced. I can remember the exact figure without having to look it up 50,006. This was the first game that I had attended where more than 50,000 others had also come along. Just to add to the atmosphere, the crowd gave a massive roar at this “good” news.

The game finished 3-1 to Arsenal. I can’t remember where I heard it – maybe from someone with a radio on the way home, maybe on the news later in the evening – but the other results had gone our way and we were top of the league for the first time since 1973! It was the cherry on the icing on the cake.

’til Tomorrow.

Woolwich Arsenal FC: 1893 – 1915 The Club That Changed Football

By Tony Attwood, Andy Kelly and Mark Andrews

Published by Hamilton House

What happens when you spend too much time in libraries and other such institutions? You end up with a tremendous collection of photographs and newspaper cuttings; what to do with it? Writing a book about Arsenal seems to be as good as use of these items as you are likely to come up with.

This book spans two decades, beginning with the club’s inaugural season in the Football League, through to the commencement of the First World War. It is a football soap opera in which heroes, villains, drama queens and innocents all feature. Thoroughly researched, the analysis of the early years of the club’s existence captures a crucial period as they entered the League, promotion, the only relegation suffered, financial disaster and the emergence onto the Arsenal landscape of Highbury and Sir Henry Norris.

The seasons are covered off as discrete chapters, reviewing each campaign with a solid backing of statistics. Nothing is left to chance in this respect, the all too often ignored FA Cup qualifiers – well before automatic entry into the third round draw – are covered with as much relish as the two semi-finals reached during this period, each individual cup-tie afforded its own coverage.

To the credit of the authors, they avoid making this book a dry, academic football history, bringing to life the key players on and off the pitch, through a compelling narrative. OK, we’re biased, this a book about Arsenal and any story is compelling in that sense. As well as the machinations in the boardroom, 50 of the crucial characters who shaped the club during this period are afforded special mention in their own section; not simple stats that leaves the person as the historical equivalent of a Top Trumps card but a little insight to the people.

For those who think the politics of football in the modern day are as low as they have ever stooped, think again. From the murky dealings that saw Royal Arsenal morph into Woolwich Arsenal, from the Invicta to the Manor to Highbury; the professional era welcomed into the club with the problems that brought about. Above all, this is the story of the strength of belief and personalities who put incalculable effort into keeping the club alive when the darkest hours, the dividends of which were reaped decades later.

Whilst there are those who are inexplicably uninterested in the club or its history in the pre-Premier League (or Wenger) era, this is a compelling documentary of the past. Click on the link to purchase Woolwich Arsenal FC: 1893-1915 The club that changed football

Of course, it won’t happen. Arsenal defenders and goalkeepers don’t do crosses

There’s a lot of it about, you know. ‘It’ can mean many things so generally speaking, there will always be a lot of ‘it’ about unless you are referring to scarce resources. This time, ‘it’ is transfer gossip and like most of ‘it’, ‘it’ is probably wide of the mark. I saw a tweet yesterday – sorry, I forget whose – that suggested Arsenal start negotiating for a player they don’t want, to throw the media off the scent of someone who they are keen on. Problem is the only deal Arsenal would probably successfully make is for the player they don’t want.

Which segues nicely into a player Arsenal do not want: Andrey Arshavin. Unsurprisingly, yesterday’s report of retirement have been contradicted this morning but no-one is doubting that the Russian will be leaving the club this Summer when his contract expires. He arrived in the dead of night as the club’s record signing, the timeline looping at Premier League headquarters to allow the paperwork to be filed on time. Hailed as the Russian national team moved to the semi-finals of Euro2008 and Zenit St Petersburg claimed the European Super Cup on the back of their victory over Rangers in the UEFA Cup final. A big reputation exploded at Anfield and the weight of expectation increased, tough on a player whose lineage in an Arsenal shirt can be traced through Nicholas, Petrovic to Marinello.

Essentially that crazy Anfield night became a millstone around his neck. His own website lists his positions as “Striker, winger and midfielder (at Arsenal)“, hinting at the problem. He was never consistent enough to make a position his own, never consistent enough for a man of his abilities and certainly never consistent enough for a man of his cost. But that was not immediately a problem – arguably not until Summer 2010 – but perhaps the cause came when he was kicked from pillar to post when he played as a central striker in another one of Robin van Persie’s injury absences. His form dipped after that, possibly in part when Arsenal failed to adequately replace Fabregas and Nasri in a midfield in which the Russian had thrived. In those circumstances, his defensive capabilities left him down the pecking order. Arguably, that is his own fault and the steady decline in appearances certainly is – he has done nothing to change his manager’s mind – but also on the part of the club, failing to motivate him into form. The question is whether or not a player such as Arshavin needs to carry out that role as diligently, being held in the team as an attacking outlet, what might be best described as a luxury player? When you are winning trophies, luxuries are affordable and that might be closer to the root of the problem than is comfortable to admit.

If the Catalan media rail against Arsenal holding Barcelona to ransom over Alex Song, the English media might rightly do the same for Zenit on Arshavin. Or at least that is what hindsight suggests. Ultimately, the player is responsible for his own career and calls that it might be ending now, at 32, seem strange. A more telling comment from the story in yesterday’s Evening Standard might be, “Standard Sport can reveal the Russia international has grown so disillusioned with both the absence of viable alternatives“. In other words, nobody has contacted his agent yet; a ‘come and get me‘ plea if ever there was one. A long-held belief is that he wants to stay in London, in the Premier League. With QPR falling through the trapdoor, the archetypal Harry Redknapp signing might have to change that view; can Fulham afford to have Berbatov and Arshavin in the same side in the footballing sense? A small market for future employers indeed.

And being a new employer is Arsenal’s role this Summer. For Asmir Begovic anyway. The Stoke ‘keeper has been targeted as a replacement for Wojciech Szczesny, costing £15m, immediately overlooking that unless Lukasz Fabianski signs a new contract, Arsenal goalkeeping pool diminishes when the Pole’s current deal expires. It seems a lot and is backtracking from the assured comment that he was bound for Manchester United in the next transfer window, highlighting how fickle rumour is with the role reversal in De Gea now seen as the model young goalkeeper, Szczesny the flop. Perhaps Arsenal are willing to spend that money on him, if rumour is to be believed it is arguable that the similar fee quoted for Iker Casillas might be a better option. Who knows?

’til Tomorrow.

Why on earth would any Arsenal supporter choose a 7-0 defeat as his favourite game? What’s more, how could it be my favourite game when it was played long, long before I was born (yes, even an old timer like me isn’t quite that old), and in an era when there was not even filming of matches. So we can’t really know what happened.

Can we? Well, yes we can, up to a point.

The Blackburn game was preceded by a 3-2 home win against Chelsea (not too hard to do, as Chelsea were doomed to relegation that year), but other than that, it had been an awful season thus far for Arsenal, with the club managing just one draw and three defeats in the opening four games.

Worse was to come, for the Blackburn game was the start of four consecutive defeats during the course of which Arsenal let in 19 goals. So after our first win of the season, how come we lost this match so heavily? A look at the team sheet tells us nothing much – we put out the same team as the week before.

But we do know that in 1909 Arsenal were in severe financial difficulty. The club’s benefactor was unable to continue, the munitions factories were shedding staff, and the policy change which had involved selling off the best players, was not working.

So here we have Arsenal languishing just one place above the relegation zone, having played 6, won 1 and drawn 1. Blackburn on the other hand, were a force to be reckoned with, having finished fourth the previous season, and on track to go one better this season.

It was a report in the Blackburn Times that revealed what really went wrong for Arsenal in this game however. The paper starts its report by pointing out that in the previous weeks’ game against Chelsea the goal keeper, Hugh MacDonald, had sustained a severe injury to his knee.

Now we would today expect to have the second keeper turn up for the following week’s game – knee injuries then and now take a while to heel. But manager George Morrell would clearly have none of it. We had a substitute keeper (G Fisher) but he was untried and the manager clearly wanted the main man, and so the main man was what he got.

As the Blackburn paper says, “…when he [Macdonald] limped on to the field for the beginning of the match it was patent that he was unfit to play. With the game in progress it was apparent that he could not bend quickly enough to stop low shots, and he seemed afraid to jump in the air for the high ones, the obvious result being that he allowed shots to count that should never have gone through. Not for one moment is it inferred that a sound and skilful keeper would have averted defeat. The Rovers were too clever, thrusting, and determined for a single man to stave off disaster, with the best of custodians they would have won by at least four goals. Whatever they may be away, they are a great team on their own ground this season.”

It must have been dispiriting for both Macdonald and his defence. Hobbling out at the start, and with no chance of doing all the things keepers did in those days (which was quite a lot more than now, since they were allowed to handle the ball all the way up to the half way line).

But I retain my interest in this one game, not because of any ill-feeling towards George Morrell (although he was the only man who relegated Arsenal) nor to anyone else. My point is that such an event wouldn’t even happen in the Conference North today (and I know because occasionally I go and watch my local team, Corby Town, play in just that division). Yet here it was, happening in the first division, in front of 10,000 people.

However despite this disaster, Woolwich Arsenal did pick themselves up a bit as the season went on, and finally won 11 and drew 9 of their 38 games, avoiding relegation by two points. Amazingly they only let in 67 goals (1.76 a game) and the table shows four teams who had worse defences than Arsenal.

As for Macdonald, he did miss the next two games (both of which Arsenal lost) but returned to play in goal for the rest of the season. In all he played 103 times for Arsenal in three separate spells with the club.

But there is still more, because during the process of writing “Making the Arsenal” I received this email:

Hugh MacDonald was my grandfather. I never knew him as he died in 1920 after suffering the effects of poison gas in the trenches during the First World War. Apart from the fact that he had a pub in London (Where my father was born) I know very little else about him but would be keen to find out more.

David MacDonald

To have been able to give a little more information about Hugh MacDonald to his grandson, is somehow rather pleasing.

’til Tomorrow.

Making The Arsenal by Tony Attwood
Published by Hamilton House

Writing a football novel is a risky business; few are readable, littered with cliches. Even fewer are believable. A risky business then taking on the formative years of Arsenal Football Club. Thankfully this one is that rarest of books, a football novel that is well-written and thought provoking.

One of the reasons that the book works well is the unusual angle chosen. Whilst based in fact, the story is contextualised with the main political events of the time brought into play. Covering the twelve months from January 1910 to January 1911, the protagonist is Jacko Jones, a journalist. Our hero is on the trail of Sir Henry Norris’ motivations for eventual takeover of The Arsenal, the twists and turns of the move, opposition and nefarious deeds captured.

The chapters are on a monthly basis, the story broken down further, almost diarised on a daily basis. The language keeps in with the times without becoming stylised. Try as I might I could not find a “Cor blimey Guv! You’re a toff and make no mistake“. Perhaps that is the greatest success of the author; the book captures a sense of the time in which it is based.

The research is thorough. A work of fiction based on fact is a matter of interpretation. On this basis, the story is a success, avoiding the pitfalls of making illogical leaps of assumption or leaving the reader wondering how a theory was reached without having gaping chasms in the deductions applied.

As for the story, we know the ending in Arsenal terms but for the actual book, I wholeheartedly commend you to purchase a copy, which you can do by clicking here

Saturday’s win over West Brom put Arsenal’s destiny in their own hands; it is as simple as winning the game in hand over Everton and then matching Tottenham point for point over the remaining games. A simplistic look at the notion of finishing in the top four, a crude but effective yardstick by which to measure performance. Except before Tottenham play Manchester City a week on Sunday, Arsenal will have played three times, a trip to Fulham following home matches against Norwich City and Everton. The spotlight having been on Tottenham to keep ahead of the chasing pack, has switched to Arsenal’s attempts to overhaul them and establish an eight point lead in the next fortnight. Anything less makes life a little uncomfortable.

Tottenham’s failure to beat Everton was welcomed on both fronts. The gap to sixth widened as fourth came closer into view. It is premature though to proclaim the crown, Arsenal have enough banana skins in the remaining games this season to be wary of their opponents. Looking at the corresponding fixtures last time around, those matches yielded a poultry five points in this game of footballing chicken. No time to be counting our fowl friends just yet.

Tomas Rosicky was understandably confident of achieving a top four finish following his contribution to the win at the weekend. Curiously, he seems to think home form is a problem, “if you are speaking about third or fourth place you have to win your home games. Our form there must improve“, which is at odds with the reality of six wins, alongside the draw with Liverpool and defeat to Manchester City since the debacle against Swansea in early December. If the latter pair of results is the problem, rock on Tommy for having them in clear focus rather than allowing complacency to set in by looking only at the former.

The Czech international thinks last season will stand them in good stead,

We are in a position where we just focus on ourselves now. It is tricky to think all the time ‘where are Tottenham and Chelsea playing?’ We just concentrate on ourselves and what we are producing. We have the experience [of coming from behind] last year. The team knows the situation that could be [to] our advantage. But as well we know we have to be more consistent.

I suppose it is the same as winning the title. The experience of that pressure in the run-in is helpful albeit not telling unless your rivals falter. Tottenham have two tough fixtures remaining, the rest are best described as routine; it is up to Arsenal to continue the momentum of the past nine league matches which have yielded twenty two points.

And if we produce football every week like we did on Saturday then I am confident we will get there

Only if we hold onto the ball though.

Rosicky has once more been influential in the tail-end of the season. He is in a strange position with some taking wilfully contrary positions – Jamie Redknapp for one, whose insights show what a loss to football management he has been – whilst others, such as Lawrenson, offer simply bizarre observations that he can now tackle because it is Spring. I wonder if the Czech has ever polarised opinion in such strange ways before?

His form offers the manager a headache with team selection. Santi Cazorla has been arguably the most influential midfielder in an attacking sense this season. Moving him to the wing has naturally negated some of that impact. Rosicky’s return to the side has offered experience as well attacking thrust but what does it mean when Jack Wilshere returns to fitness? Rotation is fine but a large part of the recent run of wins has been stability in selection. Wenger’s reborn ruthlessness will be tested at that point. Wilshere offers a more all-round midfield approach than Rosicky, his strength is in allowing more freedom to the more attack-minded teammate. Aaron Ramsey will no doubt be the fall guy, despite praise from the manager over his recent performances. However, the question is whether or not that unbalances the midfield? Is too attack-minded? For home games where the opposition sit back, possibly not. Away matches are another matter.

A week to mull over the options for the manager, the visit of Norwich is likely to see Wilshere return as a substitute alongside Theo Walcott. It is almost unheard of for the squad to be so relatively injury free and for once, the selection headaches are the ones Wenger would like to have.

’til Tomorrow.

Tomas Rosicky learns that he won the Arsenal Grand National sweepstake

West Bromwich Albion 1 – 2 Arsenal

0 – 1 Rosicky (20)
0 – 2 Rosicky (50)
1 – 2 Morrison (70 pen)

Red card: Mertsacker (69)

Until Howard Webb’s intervention, this had been a routine away win with Arsenal cruising to their first double over West Brom since 2008/09. A competent performance which had claimed the game, two Tomas Rosicky goals giving Arsenal a deserved lead. That changed with a nervy final twenty minutes after Per Mertesacker receiving a deserved red card for a professional foul on Shane Long and Albion converting the subsequent penalty. Arsenal rode out the storm and instead of having a righteous sense of indignation at Manchester United’s twelfth man once more interfering in a season, the squad can look forward to an afternoon with the pressure turned on their rivals.

Unchanged from last week’s win over Reading, Arsenal took control of the game from kick-off. Albion fashioned an early opening as Fabianski came for a corner but got nowhere near the ball, Yacob’s goalbound header cleared off the line by Tomas Rosicky. Previous seasons would have seen the Pole turn inwards and become increasingly nervous throughout the game. A sign of his growing confidence was the immediate and visual chastisement of himself before getting on with the game seemingly unaffected by the rush of blood to his head.

It proved to be a false dawn for the afternoon’s hosts. Within ten minutes Arsenal had shutdown any of their attacking avenues and taken the lead. Gervinho raided down the Albion left, cut inside the area, toyed with his defender and curled his shot towards the far post. As it made it’s way towards the goal, Rosicky arrowed a diving header into the net at the near post, leaving Foster wrong-footed and stranded with no chance of stopping the ball. A response briefly flickered for Albion with Brunt’s free kick but it was Arsenal who had the clearer chance as the interval approached. The ball pinged around from Arsenal player to colleague, reminiscent of the best one-touch football which typifies the Wenger era, culminating in a Giroud’s featherlight layoff to Ramsey. As the challenge came in, the Welshman skewed his shot wide with the goal at his mercy. He should have scored, taking one touch to control the ball robbed him of the moment. It typified Arsenal in the latter Wenger era, sometimes a snatched shot with a weaker foot is more effective than trying to shuffle the ball into the comfort zone of a favoured foot.

Early in the second half, the elusive second goal almost arrived, Foster’s flying block denying Sagna following unselfish work by Gervinho. It did arrive soon afterwards. Rosicky thrusting run toward the Albion area offered space for a powerful shot, parried by Foster with the Czech gleefully slamming home the rebound.

Howard Webb confirmed his idiosyncratic credentials, correctly ignoring Albion claims for a penalty and then wilfully ignoring an obvious foul on Sagna before offering a harsh decision on Koscielny; nothing tangible arose from any of it. His telling contribution came when Mertesacker offered little choice but a red card, Koscielny not close enough to make a challenge had Long been allowed to make his way unimpeded into the area. The question becomes whether 2 – 0 with ten men and a penalty is a better choice than 2 – 1 with eleven. Morrison almost vindicated the German’s choice of a foul with a penalty that crept under the diving Fabianski. It is tempting to call it a poorly placed penalty but how can it be when the ball ended up in the net? Arsène was curious about the slowness of allowing the substitution, some three minutes between the sending off and Vermaelen’s introduction into the fray; more idiosynchrocies from the official.

Albion pushed forward but the Arsenal defence kept openings down to a minimum. McAuley probably should have equalised following a prodigious leap for a clear header on goal but Lukaku gave Arsenal the biggest scare, curling an effort wide of the far post with Fabianski no chance of preventing the ball entering the net had it been so inclined to fall that way.

Post-match, Arsène praised his players for their performance at the end,

It was a difficult game against a good West Brom side who were really up for it. They did fight until the last second and we have shown two aspects of our game today. One that was very in control and with technical quality, and one that is less known – fighting spirit, a resolute attitude and battling qualities that reflect well the spirit we have in our side.

Privately, he will probably have been concerned with the poor ball retention during the last twenty minutes, how readily possession was cheaply ceded especially for a team that prides itself with that aspect of its game. Equally, you wonder if Fabianski’s reaction to the game will be monitored this week, checking to see if a familiar pattern is emerging. I don’t think it is, he seemed to recover quickly from his early mishap.

Ultimately though, we are at the point of the season where more than ever, results matter more than performance. It is all about taking as many points as possible. If Arsenal continue this vein of results, a top four finish is going to be well within their grasp.

’til Tomorrow.

Arsenal travel to the West Midlands this afternoon, seeking a repeat of last season’s final day heroics to continue their pursuit of the Champions League. This is one of the trickier away fixtures and will need the same application as shown in Munich and Swansea to achieve a vital win in what – on paper – is the toughest remaining away fixture. Three points takes them into fourth place, a point ahead of Chelsea, one behind Tottenham, both of whom play tomorrow. Arguably the latter has the tougher fixture with Everton still harbouring hopes of issuing a bloody nose to one of the trio of London clubs by nipping into fifth place and a faint sniff of fourth.

Albion made a great start to the season but have faded since the heady heights of the top four before the two sides met at The Emirates in December. Arsenal’s two goal victory that day ended a run of one win in six games – similar to Albion’s current form of three wins in twelve, losing more than half of those games – and followed the capitulation against Swansea the previous week. Now they are on a run of one defeat in eight Premier League games, which has largely gone unnoticed thanks to the exits from the Champions League and FA Cup, alongside losing at White Hart Lane.

The back four has played a key role in building the recent good form. One goal conceded in the past three games hints at a long-forgotten parsimony. Yes, they had ridden their luck in those games but that is always the case; even the legendary back four of the Graham era had the footballing gods on their side during games. It is a rarity for an insipid attack to offer no threat in one game let alone three consecutive. In the centre, Mertesacker and Koscielny have been in such form that Vermaelen is the first Arsenal captain in years who has been dropped on form rather than as part of an exit strategy. It makes no sense for that pairing to change for the Belgian today, likewise Szczesny and Fabiansk with the latter being in arguably the best form of his Arsenal career.

Fabianski had always hinted at being a good goalkeeper but his career was marked by mistakes and a lack of confidence which ensued. Now, he seems to have developed a thicker skin. Is that playing for a new contract or a new club? David Seaman seems to think that both Poles are capable of being the Arsenal Number One:

If you go out and buy a world class keeper, then you’ve got to sell one or leave two good young goalkeepers in the reserves and not playing, which will be frustrating for them. I think that Arsene needs to decide which is his number one and at the moment that’s Fabianski because he’s in form and Szczesny has been inconsistent.

But they have quality and I would keep both because you’d have to let one go and that would destroy a keeper of that age.

I don’t think Szczesny would be allowed to leave the club. A young player, he is showing a dip in confidence which is in common with his peers in any position. Long term, I don’t think anyone’s view of Szczesny should change and in fact, this downturn in fortunes will see a stronger character emerge. After all, his Arsenal career has until this season been on a sharp upwards trajectory.

Elsewhere, Wenger has to decide which midfield will prosper today; the expansive, Rosicky-led attacking shape of last weekend or the solid midfield that did well in the past two away games. I think the latter will stifle Albion and have enough flair to create the space needed to forge a win. This would allow the return of Podolski on the left, niggles allowing, and Cazorla to return to the centre. That’s no reflection on the Czech either but in keeping with adapting to the circumstances. Wenger though, I suspect, will keep an unchanged starting line-up from last weekend, hoping to capitalise on the stability.

Fabianski; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Ramsey, Rosicky, Arteta; Cazorla, Giroud, Gervinho

If he is to change, Podolski coming in with Gervinho dropping out could happen with Cazorla swapping flanks. I don’t think that likely with the Ivorian in confident form. And for a confidence player, that’s quite a good thing really.

All that is required is a win today. Football’s a simple game, isn’t it?

Enjoy the match wherever you are watching it.

’til Tomorrow.

Steve Bould’s audition for Fame didn’t go as well as expected

The week’s break from football ends with the visit to West Bromwich Albion tomorrow afternoon. Steve Bould took over from media duties from Arsène to deliver the blow to Kieran Gibbs that Nacho Monreal has returned to fitness and is available for selection. Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere meanwhile have returned to training, looking likely to be considered for the encounter with Norwich City next weekend. It is a marked contrast to Tottenham who have potentially lost two key players following their Europa League match last night. The blow of the injuries to Lennon and Bale was softened by news that William Gallas is also doubtful for their Premier League fixture this weekend; a mixed night for Arsenal as the Spurs defence might be strengthened in his absence.

Bould took time to stress the character being shown by individuals and the squad collectively. The result against Bayern Munich has been the springboard for the mini-recovery enjoyed as Arsenal’s results have taken advantage of the slips of others. There is something reminiscent of last season as third and fourth toy with fifth to offer a sniff of hope; the boot is on the other foot this time for Arsenal, the hunted has become the hunter. Bould believes that there is enough mental strength to overhaul both sides currently above them, what seems to have been a previously missing maturity shining through,

I think everybody has realised that clean sheets win games a lot of the time. We’ve improved.

The big thing for us was getting that result at Bayern. I think we’re more or less the only team that’s won there this season so it just gives everybody a belief that we’re doing alright. It was an important game for us.

More than anything the timing of the win was perfect. Not just in the immediate aftermath of the Tottenham defeat, a loss which left most chins on the floor but in the scarcity of games which followed, with the postponement of the Everton match and international break. It was a rare opportunity in March to breed some confidence and to the credit of the players, they took and built on it with a quick-fire repeat performance at Swansea. From there – especially with the relative kindness of the run-in compared to their London rivals – it was critical for Champions League aspirations to deal with Reading in a professional manner, which they did with the result never in doubt.

Finishing in the top four is crucial to Arsenal’s season and hopes for rebuilding in the Summer. Already this morning we see doubts attempted to be sewn regarding whatever transfer budget is available to the manager to spend. Champions League football is a key selling point to players but with the club’s history in the Wenger years of qualifying, the manager is able to show this season as a one-off. If anything, it can pander to the ego of the prospective employee; “I’ve made a mistake in the squad, I know I need to strengthen it and you are the player that is crucial to this. I want to build the future around you“, seems to be a fairly rudimentary pandering to any ego. I am sure Arsène has more erudite ways of delivering the message.

Other factors will come into play, such as competition from other clubs for the services of that player and money. No matter what might be said of the club in terms of the wage structure, the Premier League is known to be a place where players can earn huge salaries. Few other leagues can compete with the clubs in that respect and that should not be dismissed. Ivan Gazidis has spoken publicly about altering the wage structure but that is not something which can happen overnight with existing contracts; it is ludicrous to believe that the club can one-sidedly (is that a word, it is now) reduce the compensation offered to players already at the club. What they do need to achieve is the selling of those deemed surplus to requirements, something of a struggle in previous seasons. Success in that area curtails one avenue of criticism of the club coupled with the real benefit of freeing funds for the manager to use on new players and rewarding high achievers. Many – myself included – would like to see the squad offered a more achievements based salary, higher bonuses recompense for lower salaries. Motivational but not likely to happen at any football club.

The danger is that any failure to reach the Champions League would be seen as an opportunity to curb transfer spending. That cannot be allowed to happen. So much of the long-term future of the club was staked around participation in that competition, in financial and football terms. To rein in spending when more than ever in those circumstances, the club need to invest would be the betrayal of those dreams sold on the move from Highbury. It simply cannot be allowed to be the case.

Of course there is a simple solution: avoid that scenario entirely by finishing in the top four this season. Recent form has shown the squad are more than capable of that. Sounds like a plan. Put it into action please, Gentlemen.

’til Tomorrow.