More please, Sir
Reading the words of Thomas Vermaelen earlier this week, a defeat in professional football is a lot like falling off a bike. The next match cannot come soon enough for the players to put matters right. Or at least try to. The match itself is the earliest kick-off of the football games today; those attending, remember to be there for the 7.30 kick-off. Hopefully Arsenal will turn up on time as well, purging their systems of their timorous first half on Sunday. I am not sure that Arsenal’s players would necessarily choose a home match for that but at least they are still in the FA Cup.
Arsène was in defiant mood at his pre-match press conference yesterday. The squad moved from being good to very good in a short space of time. I would expect no less a view from Wenger; he has never been short on defending his charges and will continue to do so. And so he should as well. Putting aside any private thoughts he might have on the weaknesses – he admitted there were some – there has never been a successful manager who criticised his players publicly. Not one who had any longevity to their career, anyway.
Ultimately, he has made a bold statement: that this is a very good squad. I would not have used such a definitive statement when it is not able to prove that on anything like a consistent basis. Not too good that it cannot be improved although this will not happen until Theo Walcott’s contract is resolved. That is apparently all consuming, precluding any transfer market activity. You have to hand it to the striker, delaying his signature until the end of the transfer window prevents the club from signing a replacement. In the event he changes his mind, he will still get to play. Or maybe I am just too utterly tired on the whole farce now. It doesn’t take this long to resolve a contract and whilst the club is not fast-paced in its contractual activities, the predominant feeling is that Walcott is stringing this out, waiting to see if someone can top the Arsenal offer.
But the time has come now for the talk to be converted to action, to the squad proving their manager’s faith is not misplaced; the time to deliver. Or challenging for silverware and the options are running out this season; two out of the four trophies on offer have gone by the wayside and we are not yet out of Winter. That is utterly disappointing given the results in August and September. Attention turns to the last domestic trinket on offer, with the visit of Swansea to The Emirates.
A different attitude must prevail tonight, there will be a definitive result. The dreaded penalties loom in the event that the two sides cannot be separated as at The Liberty Stadium. A late Danny Graham equaliser negated the improved Arsenal performance in the second half. More of that attitude being displayed would surely bring about better results? Not the poor defending at the death but the unwillingness to accept defeat in the final minutes, the desire to drive forward and turn the scoreline around. The problems they have are wrongly pinned on being a new squad, unfamiliarity. If they do not know each other by now, something is very seriously wrong with the training regime at Arsenal. It is just not plausible that this is a reason. The issue is psychological; something changed in October, post-international break. Prior to that, results had been good, the defeat at Carrow Road – the performance – is something which signalled the change. And that funk has never been truly shaken.
For tonight’s game, I would expect changes from the weekend, some enforced, some not. Koscielny will drop out, making way for Mertesacker and also in the back four, Sagna rested to give Jenkinson the opportunity. In midfield, Cazorla looks tired, time to give Arshavin the attacking midfield role he craves in the absence of Rosicky whilst Giroud will probably drop in centrally in the strikeforce, Walcott on the bench. The biggest question mark is Diaby. With the visit to Stamford Bridge upcoming, three games in a week is surely too much for a player who has played about a month of football in the past year or so. To play him again from the start must surely be inviting a problem by the manager, one that will manifest in the first match after the transfer window has closed with the way Arsène’s luck goes. That would mean a line-up of:
Szczesny; Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs; Ramsey, Arshavin, Wilshere; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Giroud, Podolski
Swansea will no doubt fancy their chances having won at The Emirates recently. Whether they will field their strongest line-up is debatable but to be honest, should we even be concerned by that? Arsenal’s primary concern must be Arsenal and their own performance. A good one this evening will go some way to repairing the damage done by Sunday’s defeat, to the collective confidence. Despite that, I still think that the Arsenal line-up (maybe Coquelin for Ramsey) is good enough to achieve the positive need the club needs.
Not much new transfer gossip with a French youngster linked with Arsenal, George-Kevin Nkoudou is the young man in question. At 17, he is a stereotypical player for the club to be linked with and fair play to his Mr20% for managing that. Otherwise, Uruguayan Alcides Ghiggia is a potential target, the right-sided striker presumably a back-up plan if the Walcott deal falls through.
Enjoy the match wherever you are watching it.
’til Tomorrow.
I love the Giroud-Theo combo too. We could be a ‘knockdown’ team when we want, or we can pass it around as usual.
Very good stuff. The team finally played like we all knew they could do. If we had better finishing, it would have been embarrassing for Swansea.
For the impatient, disaffected, the tired, and the glory hunters try to remember this squad in its 100% is only just getting going.
Let’s consider “character”, after recent tribulations, a team that picks itself up and dusts itself off like this! And let’s consider the reality of “form”. I count in the last 8 games: 5 wins, 2 draws, and the one loss against the title holders while limited to 10 men, Arteta out at the last minute and Diaby’s first start in an age.
The player who really stood out for me was Coquelin. A real coming of age performance last night. He allowed other players in the midfield to be more forward thinking and his passing was excellent. Loved the way Santi played in the second half, its strange that he seems to drift for a while during games then suddenly turns it on. His second half performances are usually so much better than his first, its like he holds himself back to assess the opposition and then turns it on in the second half.
Yes ZP we are getting better and Jack for me needs to step into the Carzola position, he is a the life force of this team. However we still need a few signings in January to make sure we don’t burn out trying to make top 4.
Zimpaul,
I couldn’t agree more. Well said that man.
And to conclude, let’s consider the agenda set before us, over and over something called “the end of an era”, that implies upheaval and “something must change”. I beg to differ. The opposite rings true; it is the start of an era and critically one that includes a greater financial but more focused investment in players. That this coming period may even entail managerial change does not change the direction of the ship, it will be scrupulously and strategically planned.
“He was outstanding tonight,” said Wenger. “He was in a different position – he was high up and it suits him well.
“He is the complete midfielder, he can play anywhere. He is a guy who can dribble and give a final ball, so the closer he is to goal, the better it is.
“He has quality and enthusiasm, and love for the game. That is the most important thing to me.”
Fellow gooners, goonerdom and (most specifically) ACLFers,
It’s mornings like these that make this mad game such a joy. The quality and joy of commentary here today sends me out into the cold January world with inner warmth.
COYG
Let’s hope this new era brings some trophies
OK, last comment. We talk of “end of an era” as if it is coming, imminent, unstoppable. Open your eyes, it already happened while we watched but didn’t appreciate, and we are a year out of date.
Our minds got all befuddled by the fluttering eyelashes of Robin, the wink of Cesc, the “fuck you, I’m off” of Nasri, the “will I, won’t I” of Theo. Wenger meanwhile moved like lightning, saying little, doing much, obtuse. His transition, the era of change, was underway.
Just one (to me) seemingly obvious observation,
Jack was able to play the more advanced position because we started Diaby and he worked very well with Le Coq to both shield the back and link it up with midfield ‘and’ attack. This was his second proper game back and the impact on our balance and cohesion was, well, obvious.
Arsene kept noting the importance of Jack and Abou during their prolonged absences. However, impatience led to this being viewed as ‘another excuse’. Well surely last night at least suggests what the manager was thinking.
Now my concern is to find a midfielder who can offer the same box to box presence so that Abou being rested or not playing for whatever reason doesn’t have an adverse impact. Las tnight also suggests that Mikel can be rotated and that Le Coq might live up to his claim about being adequate amongst this company.
Have days
Dgob, the problem is that Arteta, Santi and Jack are all very similar players, they can all dribble, pass well and unlock defences. These type of players are great but you need someone who can stick a foot in and break up play. Diaby does more than this but Coquelin can do the simple things and give it to Diaby. we may have played better if he had played Coqulin a bit more.
I would still like to see a Capou, Wanyama or Mbiwa and maybe a striker. We don’t need another creative player we have a few already, we just need better midfield balance demonstrated by last nights game.
i agree with wilberforce we still need another physical player
i also thought kyle was excellent for swansea last night..
its unfortunate we let him go in the summer he could have been one of the brit pack
I also think Wenger has told Diaby to just take it easy and provide cover, not to try and be a box to box player at the mo, Jack can do all the forward running.
Ha Ha Ha @ ‘New era’. I already feel confident. Since it’s new, we all have to agree that it can take 3-5 years before this new project bares fruit. We shall wait patiently.
Iiinnnn AAArrrseenneeee wwwweeee tttrrruuuussttttt!!!
@Consolsbob
http://metro.co.uk/2013/01/16/arsenal-fans-tricked-after-fan-posts-old-theo-walcott-contract-news-on-twitter-3354717/
Sky Bet @SkyBet
Arsenal have been backed in to 9/4 favourites to sign Edinson Cavani, with PSG (9/2) & Chelsea (10/1) drifting out http://sky.me
A dog without a tree to piss on is what comes to mind, pisses everywhere imagining “this must be my tree”.
I was also impressed with Clatenburg’s performance , one hardly noticed his presence.
JonJon,
we didn’t just let Bartley go. He wanted guaranteed playing time.
His patience wore out a bit too early. Maybe he wasn’t destined to be a gunner.
Oh well…
I though Verm was inspiring yesterday. There seemed to be moments where energy & enthusiasm dipped briefly c/o of fatigue that our captain stayed strong and maintained momentum. He’s growing into the role quite admirably.
I saw that dups. I read it in fear that I might have been named!
ZimP,
New era? In this case, isn’t that synonymous with the as end of an older era? I still think Yogi is right when he says he doesn’t see Arsene going beyond 2014. Most of us hope he leaves on a high. Winning the FA cup will be a good start.
However, I think perhaps should rein in their expectations a bit. We can’t play like we did yesterday in every game from now one.
Have no doubt, we will still be maddeningly inconsistent. Against better teams our tactical ‘issues’ could still hurt us. More importantly Arsene still doe snot rotate well enough, imo.
Would Coq have played last night if Arteta wasn’t injured? I’m happy the young man was able perform last night, but we know all about the inconsistencies of youth dont we? He needs more regular game time to iron that out.
Will Wilshere get a rest anytime soon? Or is he going to be playing another ~50 games this season? Wouldnt it be better to ease him in in a more gradual manner? 30+ games this season, 40+ in the next, and so on?
Are we still betting on Diaby to not get injured?
These are all isuees that haven’t gone away, sweet as that victory yesterday was.
At least you had a lot of company Bob
… uncannily Howardly as the peak of his intellectual insights, word for word just about, one letter missing.
aman
i think we had room and have room for him in this squad..
dups..really? cavani? so i guess hes the 30mil dude that we hear rumours of..
Yes, Henristic, fair and decent points. But no one can say the future is guaranteed or that a note of caution is amiss, we remain a short as we all agree (only not quite on which position); only that evidence of an era of change started a year ago and underway is overwhelming.
Dogs? I don’t know about that. But I do no that there is nothing new in our current approach. Nothing progressive at all. A bunch of mercenaries hired that meet the wage dynamics of Arsenal. Nothing more than that. Think of it as hiring ‘one’ of the three best players for a particular price range, i.e, £18-20M. A player is a commodity under current football, ultimately. Few young players and a decent side, but nothing more than that. Country mile behind two others in terms of squad depth and talent. We lack a couple of world class talents. Something we’re still leaking every year. What’s new in that? In fact, now we’re actually challenging for the FA cup, rather than league titles or Champions League. Not really a big club after all. Who are the culprits? We know that, but so are we, due to our passiveness. Fans are ultimately alienated from their own club and in between themselves. Factions. Ideologies. Groups. The point is to change it.
Your continuous absolute trust in the manager and owner, really doesn’t settle well with others, who think differently. That’s about it. Some of us do believe that we can change, improve and seriously compete with the best. Not too radical, but still I’d rather see Arsenal competing with the likes of United and Barcelona, rather than Tottenham, Everton and Liverpool. It’s as much a team game as it’s a squad game. We’re talking about a highly competitive arena in the EPL. I think we should be competing much more than we are. Like other players that have left, I do agree, we lack ambition. In fact, a lot of players within the squad would also agree to that.
all i’ll say is weve had many a game this season where we have totally ripped it up in the second half – newcastle, reading x2 – just for example..
and then next game we come out and dont get a shot off..
so although im happy with yesterday i dont exactley see any corners being turned just yet
It is seldom what people say that exposes their real desires, but what they don’t say.
JJ,
we have little room for ultimatums though.
He made his bed and is on a good team with a good manager.
We can’t have ‘em all…
Good luck to him.
As long you’re happy JJ (insert smiley wink). Was a good night, some lovely football by the Arse. Jack was superlative (mouthwatering to see him play like that) and he’ll rightly get all the plaudits, but Diaby (especially), Giroud and Santi shouldn’t go unmentioned. Things starting to gel out there. So maybe a corner has been turned. The proof will come on Sunday, but the team SHOULD be confident ahead of that game and fancy our chances. We’ll see. Looking forward to it.
Aphorisms? Ha Ha. Oh, how the mighty fall!
i didnt think diaby did all that much he looked a player who is just back from injury to be honest
le coq however..the return of the messiah diaby has overshadowed another good display form the lad..
he and jack ran the show..we owned the midfield coz of them..
diaby will get better with fitness but he wasnt standout last night..not for me..
sorry if that pisses on anyones chips..
JJ,
with Squilly’s contract up in summer & Djourou’s Brasil 2014 aspirations around the corner, Bartley just needed to chill, focus on improving, and tell his agents+psycophants to shut the f**k up for 2012/13.
He was next in line..ahead of Ignasi.
Alas…
aman i think kyle was a victim of squillaci syndrome to be honest..
abit like JD too..
wage bill needs sorting..ppl have to be sacrificed..
that kind of thing..
My poor chips. Curse you JJ.
Fancy Consolsbob making an appearance in the Metro for plying falsehoods. Of course he’ll blame Ole for the misinformation campaign. I can picture Consols traversing the bus and train systems in the South West in a bid to grab all the copies of the metro on buses and trains and carrying them off to his farm to burn them.
Speaking of which, I’ve just read the match report on the Daily Heil – I know, I know – and it just induced a nasty vomiting episode. The article is cloaked with undertones of disdain and “saved by the English Superman ala Jack ‘Clarke Kent’ Wilshere”. Please!
lol mr flowers that wasnt really directed at you pal..
ive just been reading alot of stuff about diaby this and diaby that but diaby was a passenger last night the lad who shone alongside jack was the other frenchman..
Yesterday was a good spiritual uplift for our boys.
On to Chelski.
Some rotation required.
An excellent second half display yesterday against a good side, let down only by imperfect finishing. We’re all feeling better about things too, and enjoying the glow
The thing is are we confident we will play likethat in the next match and the next? And if – in all honesty – we’re not the players probably aren’t either…..
Will the formation allowing JW to play further up continue? I hope so, it also allows Caz to drift where he can have most impact, though I suspect both will need resting soon, and Diaby probably needs using sparingly (I hope only for a while). However as many have said if Diaby gets injured there’s no-one else who can play in exactly that role, which for me highlights the primary transfer goal.
Glad Coq played so well – leave him in at Chavs.
ZP @ 9:52am:
Your observation “….that evidence of an era of change started a year ago and underway is overwhelming.” doesn’t fit into the narrative that Wenger is past and on his way out. So the dog barks at the flying bird resorting to textbook theories and empty radicalism.
As for Diaby, how dare him. He should be the proof of all that is wrong with the Wenger era.
Oh and here’s to GERVINHO & Cote D’Ivoire winning AFCON 2013!!!
ZimPaul 7.42 am.
What a great post.
That was a great hoax dups, C-Bob and Zim.
Showed that in the age of Twitter, true and resonant are becoming synonyms. But I did click through, and I did spot the fake.
And then I had to recruit some co-victims…..
hahaha
JJ
Are you “cautiously optimistic”?
thats right GP
http://www.aclfarsenal.co.uk/?p=10420
Today’s post.
Ha Ha. Aww. Aren’t you both a bit sensitive. It must be quite unsettling to watch the points table for both of you? Don’t worry, all we got to do now is to develop this ‘trust’ between Arsene and the supporters. Especially, when our best players are playing at different clubs and with a team taking the F.A cup as the most serious tournament this year. We din’t even compete for the rest, except Carling cup. HUrrraaaaaaa! In Arsene we trust!