Tiny Tots Preview

Tottenham arrive at The Emirates amidst the usual bluster and blunder from White Hart Lane about how good they are, how we’ve been caught up by them, as if being in the top four for a few weeks is proof of such. They remind me of the little kid next door, the one who believes he has the best toys, the best of everything when in reality everything is a cheap knock-off; he knows it, you know it, everyone knows it.

Arsene put it succinctly:

How do you measure the dimension of a club? Success. If you look at success historically they have a lot of work to do. We have been 12 consecutive years in the Champions League so they have done that they can say that are similar.

That measure is not necessarily the yardstick to use but the underlying performances that have provided that run in the competition are. Many Tottenham supporters were not even born when they last seriously challenged for a title, even fewer when they last won one. Even finishing in the top four has not happened in some lifetimes.

Add into that sporadic cup wins in derby matches and it is not hard to see why the chip on their shoulders has grown into a full blown potato farm. Arsenal have not lost a league match against Tottenham in a decade, a run that is impressive and highly unusual in derby matches, particularly as we have lost against other London teams in that time. On occasion, especially at White Hart Lane, you wonder how such a run has been maintained, some performances devoid of ambition and cohesion. At home, it has been a different story; I cannot remember the last time I left the ground after a derby match wondering how the hell Arsenal came through unscathed, not even in 2006.

The focus of attention at Arsenal is on the goalkeepers. Arsene refused to confirm who it would be but gave an indication that Manuel Almunia is considered his first choice:

I’m always tempted to start with Manuel Almunia. But he was sick for a long time and it takes some time to come back. A player who is on the bench wants to play. The job of a professional footballer is to perform well when he plays and when he doesn’t play do everything to play the next game.

In all honesty, I would be surprised if Almunia does not start at lunchtime. Mannone has done well, despite last week’s mistake but he is not yet ready for a regular berth. Arsene knows that the Italians performances have put pressure on the injured Fabianski and Almunia which is no bad thing. There has been little pressure on the Spaniard brought about by competition for places in recent seasons, a situation that now ought to spur him onto a higher level of performance.

Crucial though is going to be the reaction to dropping a two-goal lead. Defoe is missing this afternoon for the visitors which would seem to mean a starting spot for Peter Crouch. Gallas and vermaelen will win little in the air against him so it is important that they and the midfield are alive to the knockdowns, tracking their opposition properly, something that has been their undoing in the past.

Arsene may believe that late goals being conceded is not an issue but I am not sure that anyone else agrees with him. Alkmaar and West Ham both profited from games in which they should have not gained anything from; a repeat today would be a pattern that needs addressing. Blaming the officials for the Upton Park result is masking a deficiency in concentration.

Going forward though is not a problem. The passing and movement last week was good in patches, the performances at home have been on the whole excellent in attack this season. Profligacy in front of goal is nowhere near as bad as it has been over the past two or three seasons and there is no suggestion that this will return this afternoon.

No-one is returning from injury but I would expect Arsene to make a change from last weekend, bringing in Bendtner for more potency in attack, especially since he scored in midweek and will be full of confidence. Well, even when he is playing badly the Dane does not lack belief in his abilities as shown in an interview in this morning’s Guardian:

Within five years I want to be the top scorer in the Premier League and I want to be known as a world-class striker. And it will happen. Trust me, it will happen. I look around at other players, I see my own ability and I can’t see anything that tells me it won’t happen.

I’m sure people will think ‘What is he talking about?’ But as I have done before, and as I will do again, I will sit at the other end and laugh at those people when it is all done.

I would expect the line-up to be:

Almunia; Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy; Song, Fabregas, Diaby; Bendtner, van Persie, Arshavin

A win puts pressure on the rest of the teams around us to emulate that result. With the way that this season has gone so far, nothing is guaranteed but a run of form is going to come from someone very soon. Why not start it this afternoon, lads?

’til Tomorrow

Fran’s Popular, Fab’s Knacked And More

Having failed to move Cesc Fabregas to La Liga, the media are moving onto a softer target. Fran Merida is officially on the radar of Atletico Madrid, well, OK some hack saw his performance in the recent youth World Cup and on Wednesday, decided to ask the incumbent rent-a-gob at the Vicente Calderon and got the answer that they want.

A pity then that it does not fit in with the player’s desires, stated recently in an interview and re-affirmed yesterday:

At the moment I am talking to the Club so I don’t know what is going to happen. I am really happy here so hopefully everything is going to be OK. We are going to sit down and talk about [a new contract]

Which is not much of a surprise since it was carried by the official website and in fairness to the lad, he is at a key point in his career when he is about to become a full member of the first team squad. In making that jump, he is tantalisingly close to playing at the highest level. He appears to have the ability to make the grade and little wonder that he is eager to do so.

Merida merely highlights the problems Wenger is to encounter yet no panic ought to set in yet. If recent seasons have shown anything, player turnover is not showing any sign of being impacted by rising prices and we would expect some of the current squad to be discarded or move of their own choice.

Ahead of Tottenham’s visit to The Emirates tomorrow, Lukasz Fabianski decided that Tomas Rosicky is too lonely in the injury room and suffered thigh knack yesterday, despite having apparently come through the Carling Cup tie with Liverpool. Still, at least he had the good grace to finish the match unlike Aaron Lennon. Robbie Keane and Peter Crouch may believe that the Tottenham squad match Arsenal’s and that we have weaknesses to be exploited but at least we have players willing to put themselves through the pain barrier to finish the match, rather than letting their colleagues, manager and supporters down…

None of the other injured – Rosicky, Walcott, Denilson and Wilshere – will be in Saturday’s squad which in some instances is not surprising, especially with the visit of AZ67 Alkmaar next week. Fabianski’s absence limits Wenger’s choice as he continues to decide who is going to be his Number 1 choice for goalkeeper with a noticeable change in opinion about Mannone. I suspect that he will make way for Almunia, the Spaniard having been given some time to motivate himself on the bench.

Elsewhere, Emmanuel Adebayor continues to behave like a spoilt brat and warns everyone that Cesc will leave if Arsenal don’t finish in the top. Presumably Manchester City fans are preparing themselves for the Togo international to bugger off if they don’t finish in the top four. Either that or they may be so bloody sick and tired of him talking about Arsenal, they will wish he would leave.

’til Tomorrow.

Fran Leads Liverpool A Merida-nce

Carling Cup 4th Round
Arsenal 2 – 1 Liverpool

1 – 0 Merida (19)
1 – 1 Insua (26)
2 – 1 Bendtner (50)

A cracking cup-tie ended with an experienced Arsenal side by Carling Cup standards, progressing to the next round. The young players came up trumps in an open game with both sides pushing forward whenever the opportunity arose. Fran Merida is garnering much of the praise this morning and he thoroughly deserves it, prompting continually throughout the evening, rewarded with his first senior goal for the club. I am sure players never forget those moments anyway but Merida would remember his strike whatever the circumstances.

Both sides traded blows in the opening quarter of an hour, Liverpool creating the best chance with Deggen spurning the opportunity to break the deadlock. Ngog sprang the offside trap, Silvestre taken out of the game by an excellent pass. As Senderos closed to make a challenge, the Frenchman backheeled into the path of Deggen who dragged his shot wide.

Seven minutes later, Gibbs found Bendtner outside the area, the Dane combining with Eduardo, set free with opportunity to shoot, he opted to square the ball to the onrushing Ramsey who had a tap-in but the Cavalieri charge stopped the ball reaching the Welshman. Ninety seconds later, that missed opportunity was rectified when Gilbert won possession on the right flank, Merida stepped in to take charge and let fly, finding the net via the near post with the goalkeeper helpless.

Joy was shortlived, Insua picked up Babel’s knockdown, spotted Fabianski off his line and let loose a dipping shot over the Pole and just under the bar. Fabianski’s positioning seemed normal for that situation but was rendered questionable by the finish. For the remainder of the first half, both sides probed. Bendtner had two decent efforts, one into the sidenetting whilst another found the Liverpool ‘keeper’s midriff rather than the net.

Shortly before half-time, the visitors were sent into a state of panic from a corner. Cavalieri lost the flight of the ball and Bendtner led the Arsenal charge after it, the ball pinging around the area like a pinball on speed before the Dane once more found the goalkeeper in the way rather than leaving the net bulging.

Five minutes into the second half and he rectified matters. Merida received Eastmond’s excellent pass on the left, before sliding in a pass to Ramsey, the Welshman put the ball into Bendtner’s path before the Dane gave the move the finish it deserved.

Liverpool had chances to equalise, Voronin and Deggen exchanged one-two’s for half the pitch before the Ukranian shot wide – had it been an Arsenal move, we would have been salivating at the skill before launching into six weeks worth of navel gazing about the finish. Or lack of it. Babel and Kuyt could have equalised but found themselves bereft of technique at the crucial moment or Fabianski in the way.

The final minutes of the game provided the only real controvesy when Aquilani shot at Senderos, the ball striking both hands as the Swiss blocked the ball’s path to Fabianski’s arms where it would surely have ended. Presumably the referee believed the ball hit the arms rather than it being a deliberate attempt to stop the ball illegally which is the only reason he surely did not give the spot kick.

There were so many positives from last night. Gibbs and Gilbert had excellent matches whilst Fabianski, Nasri, Eduardo and Bendtner all returned from injury with solid performances, ready it seems for the first team in proper competition. Silvestre and Senderos handled Liverpool well and brought their experience to bear faced with a lively forward thinking attack and midfield.

Wenger will no doubt be looking hard at Ramsey for more in the Premier and Champions League. He and Nasri were good together in the centre, boding well for the future. Once more though, young players came through and provided evidence that the Academy is firing on all cylinders. Merida, we knew about and he really needs to be tied down on a new contract so that his development can continue at the club. Eastmond was also impressive in handling Babel but more so because he is a full back by position. The question for Wenger is how does he bring everyone through into the full squad when it is already packed with such bright talent. A nice problem to have, I am sure.

Progress to the next round where the opposition is all Premier League, another opportunity for the younger players to show their mettle. Tottnehham looms on the horizon and the chance to show Robbie Keane just how wrong his belief is that Tottenham squad is as good as that of Arsenal.

’til Tomorrow.

Liverpool Carling Cup Preview

Liverpool arrive at The Emirates this evening for a Carling Cup fixture that relieves the necessity to gaze into the aftermath of Upton Park. It is the opportunity for younger players to renew their acquaintance with a starting place and unusually for Wenger, injured first team ‘regulars’ to gain some much needed match sharpness.

Of course, injuries have prevented Wenger from picking the side that he would like to, it just wouldn’t be Arsenal otherwise. Traore misses out as does Jack Wilshere, who will perhaps be the most disappointing absentee. Still, I am sure that the returning Fabianski, Nasri, Eduardo and Bendtner will try to make up for that.

The Pole is in line to provide competition to Mannone and Almunia according to Wenger. Goalkeepers seem to vex more than most positions with the overhyped “world-class” prefix bandied around, forgetting that most title-winning sides make do with a decent first choice goalkeeper. The enhancements made to the balls these days are designed to favour outfield players whilst any goalkeeper is made to look distinctly average at times. The key thing is to minimise the number of occasions where that arises.

Tonight’s cast is a veritable riches for Arsene to choose from. The defence will largely pick itself with Kerrea Gilbert, Silvestre, Senderos and Kieron Gibbs expected to fill those spots. A midfield built around Samir Nasri should be expected with the Frenchman looking to gain more match sharpness ahead of this weekend’s derby with Tottenham. Alongside him will no doubt be Aaron Ramsey but then Wenger has to start looking at his options.

It would be a chance for Fran Merida to shine although the question would become about width since the three of them prefer to play narrower. That said, Nasri shone when in the wide attacking position so perhaps could do the same job tonight. Whether that would be the case when he returns to the major tournaments remains to be seen, Wenger arguing that Nasri would find it hard to displace Arshavin.

Up front, Bendtner and Eduardo will be vying for a place alongside Watt and Vela. It would be no surprise if Wenger started with both the more senior duo, the Dane’s experience on the right side of attack would leave Eduardo in the centre and Vela on the left.

Such a line-up would be hard on those who contributed to the win over West Brom in the last round but it is more important in the short term that those lacking match fitness get more playing time. Having a bench that includes Watt, Coquelin and Randall gives options for experience to be gained when tiredness kicks in, especially if extra-time looms. A win is a good morale booster for the whole squad and puts another nail in the coffin that this squad has little or no depth. Each season where more games are played in this competition puts those involved a step closer to being ready for the Premier and Champions Leagues. Certainly though each season brings more evidence that Arsenal are streets ahead of the rest of top four in pursuing a sustained and productive youth academy.

Away from the pitch, Stan Kroenke used his Asda credit card to buy some shares, choosing to pay the minimum monthly payment rather than all in one go no doubt. Whilst he edges closer to the takeover threshold, the silence will become even more deafening about his intentions for the club. With a bit of luck both he and Usmanov will realise that any takeover should happen once the season is over and after Arsene has done his shopping, lest anyone get the idea that Arsenal are loaded. Sometimes, the poverty-stricken chord repeated in the media can work in Wenger’s favour.

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

Making A Drama Out Of A…

The missing word ought to really be ‘what‘ because crisis does not work since there isn’t one. Navel gazing is, it seems, not the sole preserve of Arsenal supporters; the players are at it as well. Whilst we cannot do anything about the collective failure to secure three points at Upton Park, neither can they. It is gone, over and consigned to dust. All that can happen is that the players learn from their mistakes, a familiar refrain from recent seasons.

It is all part of growing up. The problem is that if those lessons are repeatedly ignored, they are never learned. Consistently, the squad has recognised that there is a mental block at times, teams not finished off nor games closed out from comfortable winning positions. Yet that is to deny the nature of football as well. All teams, no matter how good, has matches where results are turned around in the blink of an eye, even average ones. Arsenal are more that capable of retrieving deficits as proven in Liege not so long ago.

Arsene observed yesterday that the squad is not complacent. That is no doubt true. To suggest that it is not part of the problem though is to downplay the issue, something that obviously the manager will do in private. Gael Clichy hinted as much when he commented that Wenger had not said too much post-match on Sunday but would no doubt be revisiting the last twenty minutes at Upton Park in training this week.

Concentration lapsed, silly mistakes were made. It is not too far wrong to suggest that players switched off, became complacent about shutting West Ham out when concentration should have kicked in and reserves of energy found to do so. The make-up of the bench on Sunday quite possibly contributed to that. There were few defensive options available to freshen the midfield. Wenger did not want to use Nasri unless it was an absolute emergency which begs the question as to why he was there in the first place?

Andrey Arshavin, Thomas Vermaelen, Clichy, Fabregas – they have all had their say about the draw. Ranging from the disappointment felt is tangible, the Belgian noting that it felt the same as a defeat. Arshavin’s belief that we had been let down by the players on Sunday is a touchy-feely sentiment that actually has little bearing in the great scheme of things. Some may believe it is a signal of his devotion to duty. In the same way that comments about how much better life in Spain are viewed, I am somewhat cynical about collective mea culpa‘s. The timing seems a little too coincidental with poorly received comments attributed to him last week.

Professionalism and personal pride ought to inspire the players and by the same token bring about a sense of dissatisfaction when results are not as they should be. The days of devotion to the cause in manner of the double winning side of ’71 or David O’Leary are long gone; anyone making 500 appearances for one club in the modern era is a freak. #

The pervading sense is that there is too much over-reaction to a draw. Let’s not forget it was not a defeat; the team moved up a place into the top three and are in a healthy position. A win on Saturday and we should be wondering what the fuss is about. It is after all, only October. No titles are won at this stage of the season nor are they lost, although damaging blows can be landed. With no-one yet showing the consistency to open a gap between themselves and the rest, avoiding defeats is going to be important.

Anyway, the Carling Cup provides a breather and a chance for cobwebs to be cleared by the majority of the first team squad ahead of the weekend’s derby with Tottenham. The kids will get their chance to show how much they are moving on against Liverpool.

’til Tomorrow.

Hammer Blow As Two Goal Lead Dropped

West Ham United 2 – 2 Arsenal

0 – 1 van Persie (16)
0 – 2 Gallas (37)
1 – 2 Cole (74)
2 – 2 Diamanti (80 pen)
Parker sent off (84)

The shovels rest in the mud, sweat wiped from brows. In the main drag, tumbleweed flicks through the dust, brushing the surface as it weaves merry patterns aimlessly. In the distance, the church bells crush the silence with the death knell, the words of Padre Hansen hanging in the wind, “You cannae win anything with kids”, the coffin of Arsenal’s title challenge lowered solomnly into the earth for another season.

Well, that was the expected response from this morning’s media but instead the reaction has been more measured. A season where the top three have already all lost two games is not going according to plans hatched pre-season where Manchester United and Chelsea would rampage away from the rest, Liverpool clinging to their coat-tails and Manchester City would usurp Arsenal from the top four.

Dropping a two-goal lead is never good. Under any circumstances. OK, it is not an issue if you then go and score another three or four and in truth that is exactly where Arsenal should have been before Chris Foy intervened. Blaming the official for the result is a shortcut to masking your own failings. A match in which Arsenal were comfortably in control swang away from them yet could still have resulted in a win but for more heroic intervention by the opposing goalkeeper. Nine times out of ten, Robert Green would have watched van Persie’s header leave the net bulging; this was the one time where his leg made decent contact to pull off an outstanding save.

Arsenal dominated from the off despite the hosts best efforts to disrupt their game. van Persie tried a backheel a la Henry against Charlton a few years back; the outcome was somewhat different as the ball bounced off the Dutchman for a goalkick. A sense of foreboding may have entered the proceedings when van Persie’s shot clearly struck an outstretched arm, preventing it from continuing its goalbound trajectory. A penalty? Absolutely. The reticence to give the spot kick would not last all afternoon.

The opener came in a typically flowing move. Diaby and Sagna exchanged passes and the full back delivered a decent centre. RObert Green flapped under pressure from one of his own defenders and van Persie watched the ball fall to his feet, despatching the simplest of tap-ins that other more seasoned centre forwards have made a habit of missing. Domination of the proceedings ensued and it was little surprise when the second goal came shortly before the interval.

Having seen van Persie thwarted by a timely Collinson intervention following Arshavin’s excellent release, Vermaelen’s threat was recognised by the Hammers defence at an Arsenal corner. They forgot about William Gallas, the Frenchman meeting van Persie’s setpiece to nod home. A comfortable and well-deserved lead that for all of West Ham’s hard work was never seriously threatened.

The second forty-five continued in much the same vein but without the same threat level from Arsenal, a suggestion that the two goals were deemed enough and that killing the game off was the order of the day. Fabregas came closest to doing so, a ferocious strike from the edge of the area curling agonisingly wide of Green’s upright. Clichy and Eboue vaguely threatened before Arshavin once more called Green into action, saving the Russian’s effort.

Chris Foy made his second telling contribution with barely fifteen minutes remaining. Hines wriggled and then wrestled with Diaby and it looked six of one and half-a-dozen of the other, impossible to decide who committed the first offence. Foy incorrectly assumed it was Diaby and West Ham’s diamond geezer stepped forward to strike an excellent freekick. The ball moved violently as it reached Mannone’s hand, rebounding invitingly for Carlton Cole to reduce the deficit. Mannone was not the only ‘keeper yesterday to suffer such movement in the air, Reina doing so. The difference being Reina’s deflected to safety despite an equally unsure touch.

The game turned entirely on its head with five minutes remaining. Parker dived in the area and should have been booked for his actions, the lack of clamouring for his head noticeable this morning. It did not matter for West Ham purposes as Song gave Cole a clip on the ankle. At the same time, the sniper in row Z shot Cole with more accuracy or so it seemed with the speed at which the Hammer hit the deck. It is a penalty that is infuriating to concede but produces even more agitation when they are not given. Diamanti duly buried the spot kick.

Parker’s dismissal minutes later was as inevitable as the penalty, falling on the ball and controlling it with your arms an act of stupidity. But for Green’s intervention, the word ‘costly’ would have immediately preceded the word ‘act’ in that sentence.

The problem for Arsene was that nobody played particularly badly yesterday, just some average performances over the course of the 90 minutes. Average is a subjective term since the average Arsenal player will still perform to a higher standard than even the best of players at 14 other Premier League clubs. The result is not to be glossed over but it is done. A point gained in the title race. Ultimately, May will decide whether it is two points dropped.

’til Tomorrow.

Eastenders – West Ham Preview

All of the media attention is turned northwards to Anfield, the scent of Rafa Benitez’s blood too much for them to ignore, leaving Arsene to prepare for this afternoon’s visit to Upton Park in relative calm. With no new injury worries from the midweek jaunt to Alkmaar, the squad is strengthened by the return of Eduardo from thigh-knack whilst Nicklas Bendtner’s groin-knack may have sufficiently healed for him to reclaim a place on the bench. Tomas Rosicky is still missing whilst Fabianski and Nasri seem likely to play in the Carling Cup clash with Liverpool to regain more match sharpness before perhaps making a first team comeback against the Tiny Tots next weekend.

West Ham are in poor form, there is no argument from that about that fact either. No wins since the opening day of the season with one point from their opening three home games has left them in the bottom three and seemingly in some trouble, three tough games immediately after this one will do little to assauge those fears either. They are, in fact, a prime example of a team that has caused so many problems for Arsenal in recent seasons. It is a sign of the squad’s maturity this season that anything other than an Arsenal win will be a major surprise.

Thankfully, Gianfranco Zola is adamant that he will not sacrifice his playing style in the chase for safety. Whether or not he is speaking with a forked tongue remains to be seen for it would be brave of him to step up to the plate and take Arsenal on at playing football rather than packing his midfield. It is a derby so expect some “full-blooded” tackles to arrive in the East End this afternoon but even then, Arsenal are well-placed to deal with them as Blackburn and Birmingham found out in recent weeks.

A key component of the improved Arsenal performances is Thomas Vermaelen, still sneaking under radars when the “signings of the summer” are mentioned in the press. Speaking in the Telegraph, the Belgian international seems almost grateful to be at Arsenal, surprised at the persistence of Steve Rowley who having watched him be part of a defence that conceded ten goals in two games, pursued him to a training camp for the national team.

His determination shown on the pitch continues off it, quietly understated. Such has been the level of his performances that those who decried him for not being a six foot ten centre back are having to revise their opinions. Kneejerk judgements are being served up in a crust over humble pie:

I know I’m not tall but, if you speak to people at Ajax they’ll tell you I was the best header there. They don’t care about how big I am, whenever we were defending a corner I always had to take the tallest guy. I’m not that tall but you have to jump so that’s how I try and compensate. I never trained for it. It’s just timing, I guess.

Vermaelen is quick to praise the talents of the Arsenal squad:

Playing and training with so many big stars, the beginning was a bit like a dream. I think Fábregas is brilliant. If you play against him in the little training games – eight against eight – it is almost impossible to win.

One of the reasons that the defence is playing well is the consistency of Alex Song. Emmanuel Eboue acknowledged this in this morning’s News of the World:

He can be like Makelele now that he has his chance to play. He has shown the supporters what he can do and they have started to believe in him

Consistency has been the key to that. Song is the template for those such as Eboue, winning over doubters. Even then, Song is the current version of Paul Davis, occupying the key defensive role to allow other attacking players to flourish having gradually won over supporters. Davis had similar problems initially with people clamouring for a hard tackling midfielder, failing to appreciate that anticipation is as much of a winning model in midfield as being prepared to dive in where boots are flying. In many instances, being able to anticipate is more advantageous to the attack, quickly releasing the ball for others to prompt.

Not too many changes should be expected this afternoon. Almunia is not guaranteed a place in the starting line-up with Arsene refusing to state outright that the Spaniard is his number one, preferring to deny that the Spaniard is not his number one. It is a subtle difference in words but should be motivating for him to prove Wenger wrong whilst letting Mannone know that performances are key to retaining his place. It would be harsh for the Italian to be dropped yet in some ways not that surprising. Perhaps Wenger is going to wait until the next international break before making that change.

I would expect a line-up of:

Mannone; Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy; Song, Fabregas, Diaby; Eboue, van Persie, Arshavin

to start this afternoon. As always a win is crucial to the title race. If United slip, the defeat at Old Trafford is almost negated, the gap one point to the reigning champions in the event of Arsenal and Liverpool winning. With Tottenham making a mockery of the pundits claiming they are now a top four side, there is a chance to put pressure on the top two.

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