Double Talking Dutch and More
Robin van Persie provided a glimpse of brightness in a matchless week with the view of his national team coach that he could be back by early April.
This is tempered of course, by the fact that the KNVB doctors recently opined that the striker could be fit to play in next week’s round of pointless internationals, sorry , important international matches, crucial in the respective nations preparation for the World Cup finals or sitting at home, twiddling their thumbs, regretting that missed open goal or defensive lapses which precluded their involvement in South Africa.
Coming back at that point could prove crucial if he hits the ground running, quickly rediscovering the form van Persie was showing prior to suffering his latest injury. At that point, Arsenal could be in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, closing ominously on the Premier League title or sitting wondering what might have been, such is the delicate balance upon which the remainder of the season rests.
Ahead of this weekend’s clash with Stoke, Eduardo believes he will be fit for the teatime kick-off:
I’ve not got a problem with the leg now but I do suffer muscle injuries because I was out for so long and now I’m working so hard to come back.
But I’m getting stronger physically, I’m stronger mentally, my confidence personally is growing and I believe I’m at a club where we can win titles and trophies because we are one of the top ten teams in the world.
Eduardo provides an excellent outlet in the forward line, being naturally left-footed, something sometimes missing and asking a lot of Clichy to break forward to provide the width. His goal ratio is not where it was before he broke his leg but his predatory instincts will correct that. Getting fully fit though, will be the highest priority.
Absolutely Arsenal are in that top ten although as I trawl this wide world thingy, I sometimes wonder if that is the case, such is the pervasive negativity.
A win at the Britannia might help, especially if Chelsea drop points this weekend although judging by Manchester City’s woeful performance last night, I would not hold out much hope of that happening. Those who desire Arsenal to fall into the clutches of a Sugar Daddy would do well to watch and learn from the travails of City, decent players unable to gel into a team, facing an almighty scramble to even get into European club competition next season.
It is a lesson which vindicates, to some extent, Wenger’s policy of not signing all and sundry. City have been in good positions before – albeit a lifetime ago – with money to spend, bought a good player and blown a league title, although it is harsh to blame Rodney Marsh for that in the same way that Faustino Asprilla should not be held at fault for Newcastle blowing a Premier League title in the final decade of the last century.
As Sol Campbell said in the programme for last weekend’s match, Arsenal has to play to their maximum, perhaps more expansive than the answers provided by Andrey Arshavin in his latest mind-numbing Q&A session. Inside the banality of the questions popped the odd interesting one, Arshavin reticent to provide an answer to the level of injuries – ‘it’s a difficult question‘ – which was surprising since he has an opinion on just about everything else.
’til Tomorrow.
Posted on February 25, 2010, in Arsenal, Football, Premier League, Premiership, Soccer and tagged Andrey Arshavin, Arsenal, eduardo, Football, Premier League, Robin van Persie, Soccer. Bookmark the permalink. 123 Comments.
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Arshavin has a recurring dream about being a horse in the middle of a field surrounded by guinea pigs!
Nice post YW as per normal.
Completely off subject; but this Bridge/Terry fiasco……when Terry had the affair was Bridge still with this woman?
I get the impression that she was his “ex” even back then, so as alkward as it might be I don’t really understand why Bridge is “devestated” that somebody has boned his ex. If they were together it is a different matter altogher of course.
i heard about that one pg
thanks YW
hadn’t heard about Eddy
I think we can laugh at City….but it’s not over yet. They could yet buy a couple of trophies.
Hey pg…
http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/2171/premier-league/2010/02/25/1806588/the-seven-things-arsenal-need-to-do-to-beat-stoke-city-perry
If there was any justice, RvP will be declared totally unavailable until just after these pointless internationals, and then suddenly appear and score a hat-trick for us at the weekend.
The Dutch manager can shove it up his hole.
Thanks Arseman – I like #4 and #6, which we should definitely try at once
We all now it’s coming (Delap’s throw ins). Brace yourselves and hope he has and off day and the F.A Cup win has Stoke flying high so we can peg them down a few notches.
Any word on if Gallas is fit?
I want Eboueeeee to start!!!!!
Eboueee
Eboueee
Manu Eboueee….
Expect fireworks at the britania stadium guys.we will fight to the end n u know what?we will win coz we r the arsenal.Up the arsenal n go for it all the fabregas soldiers
Arseman, we only need to do one thing to beat Stoke and that’s score more goals than them.
Perry, himself, does talk bollox sometimes, but his heart’s in the right place. His uncle Vic played for the Arse in the late fifties, too.
All our tallest playes must play Saturday,Sol, Diably,Song, and little Ebuoe as well, Theo has a chance to shine as Lennon is still out and that gives him his world cup hope,
Is Delaps towel wiping and throw in technique completely legal?
Almunia
Sagna – Campbell/Gallas – Vermaelen – Clichy
Fabregas – Song – Diaby/Denilson
Walcott – Bendtner – Eduardo/Nasri
We’ll have seven headers of the ball but if you add Eboue, eight.
Are Stoke really so good in the air?
pg….u speak the truth…in general football games are won by the team that scores more goals that their opposition…seems like ur namesake was just trying to give some friendly advice….however shite it maybe..
dint know that about his uncle…i like it when families are dedicated to 1 team through generations
the brain….its all about the Eboue…i really hope hes given a chance to torment stokes defense
ole…they really arnt….its all hype
I don’t think they have any player whose a very good header of the ball….apart from Shawcross.
We just have to be as determined and aggressive in attacking the ball as they are.
Let’s not forget that in the home fixture, we completely dominated them in the air. Let’s just do it again.
Thanks I enjoyed the read. Good to read positives about us. Sure our team lack the charisma of the famed back four, BobbyP, Freddie, PV4, Thierry & DB10. But I am extremely proud of our boys, and especially how AW works with his resources, we are challenging teams that have no financial boundaries, we are in there against all odds, how these ‘fans’ berate Wenger is beyond belief, the sites that sarcastically call all the manager’s supporters AKB’s must be brainless kids or those with short term memories, it almost makes you yearn for the bad old days, cause at least you knew the fans were fans (ok that’s going a bit far).
All is quiet as we are back in with, what appears a realistic challenge, but drop points and the vitriol will flow, this would be the greatest of all Wenger’s achievements if we pulled this off.
It’s a shame that as much as Stoke’s e.t. is good for us it’s as good for the chavs, but just got a feeling, or wishful thinking, citeh will pull off a draw and B52 will shine.
OG- Fuller is a good header of the ball and he always scores against us.
The only way to eliminate the thereat of Delap is to play high up and absolutely pinned them in their own half, What’s good about Stoke this year is the addition of Ethrington and Tuncay they give them the tecnical ability to dribble passed players and open spaces so we really have to be solid defensively in every way. but I think Walcott will be crucial in this game they will not be able to come forward as much if they know Walcott is lurking.
I think Arsenal fans will find that this team will be attributed all the magical powers of past teams when they soon enough win a trophy.
1LC,
I don’t really think he’s such a good header of the ball. He doesn’t win so many headers overall, does he?
Robert Huth is a threat in the air too. He scored a nice header last weekend.
I think Walcott’s getting back in the swing of things now, but I’d have thought that Stoke is one place that doesn’t suit him – narrowest and shortest pitch in the league. There’s barely enough room to break stride.
The grass is longer there as well; it’s more like a rugby pitch. Where possible they’ve set the whole place up to make it difficult for teams that want to play football.
As for the long throws – I’d like to see our guys warming up near Rory Delap whenever he takes one. They could hurry the whole ball-drying process, make the watch-tapping gesture to the ref, and just get in his way as much as is legally possible!
Ole Gunner: We’re not just very confident in the air when defending, that’s all. But’s the counter attack we have to be more wary of. Nevertheless we must play our game first and foremost and that should be too good for them.
afternoon all
OOU what are u a belgium groundsman jesus
your starting to sound like AW “i hope it aint windy”
lol
OG fuller can play a bit
did you see stokes first goal
aint that why we brought sol brain
Alex Hleb is available for £9M. Any takers?
realsocialdad,
I rate Ricardo Fuller more than you seem to think. I think he’s got silky skills for a big lad. He’s the kind of player who’d have been a star now if he’d had better coaches at youth level.
NJS,
Ah! Huth is massive and would certainly be a threat. They’re all massive–must be the biggest Premier League side I ever saw.
To Arshavin they must look like a bunch of jolly green giants!
Except theyre not so jolly!
didn’t say didn’t rate fuller og just say the guy could play bit he’s more than a heskey.
helb 9 nah
RSD
Andrey be able to them meg’s with not jsut the ball remy
is AA gona be back?
or green!
remi?
I’d have Hleb back in a heartbeat. Imagine him combining with Arshavin, it’d be beautiful. Some of the best passing moves i’ve ever witnessed came from him linking with Fab and Rosick.
Arseman, I rather liked the Perry Groves article you linked and thought much of his analysis valuable, his tactical and team selection suggestions interesting, and especially his encouragement of an urgent, intense and determined defensive display. Stoke away strikes me as a pivotal game, among the toughest two or three remaining in the league. Stoke is quickly turning into a bogey team for us a la the Allardyce era Bolton teams.
What would be better than a decisive and vengeful performance from the team after our sad FA cup dismissal at their hands. Since Everton, even in victory, we haven’t been playing so well. With players coming back from injury, a clear and commandingcwin away at Stoke could propel us to a winning momentum in the run in and see us with a real title challenge to the end of the season. Hope Eduardo and/or Bendtner can get a brace and come into strong finishing form.
Hi RSD,
LOL, no. But I think it’s fair to say that longer grass does make a difference to a side like Arsenal – slows the game right down if you keep the ball on the deck. Chelsea did it to us a couple of weeks ago.
Stoke’s pitch is narrow because that allows them to pack their team full of big guys, even on the wings. Where else can you see Robert Huth playing at full back? It also makes Delap’s throw-ins a bit more dangerous as well.
It’s like a different sport with Stoke.
Perry’s advice really made sense… That is, about leaving three attacking players out when defending a rory delap throw or a corner… Let’s hope AW takes it.
+ someone like Robert Huth
and
- as well
lets hope there be tired after 120mins extra than us and having to play 2 1/3 games in 4 days
it gona be tight we know this
hopefully etherington dont make it back till next week and sorenson has a off game.
and we can give them corners instead of throws
I don’t understand the snide comments in post on Arshavin. Seems as if there is some latent resentment against him or on behalf of him against other gooners who like him. He hasn’t helped himself by having a somewhat subpar season so far, albeit while injured and playing out of position. Is it because other gooners praise him as a high priced, older transfer signing who has experience and a history of winning before Arsenal?
I find his frank opinions, whether off base or not, and willingness to speak his independent mind rather refreshing.
Criticize him justly (and straightforwardly) for failing to perform so far up to his evident talent and quality this season; that’s fair enough, but sneering at him for being outspoken, particularly if it is colored more by a sort of ongoing polemic with other Arsenal supporters with dissenting perspectives, would seem uncharitable.
?LSG AA what?
With the current squad with so many almost interchangeable seeming, small and tecnically gifted clever attacking players, I don’t think we would want Hleb, though I liked his ability and was sad to see him and Flamini go at the end of that season (is he better than Nasri, is the question, I think). For balance, we could use Flamini back more than a Hleb IMO.
For me, Arshavin talks too much, and not very wisely. Not a trait I hold in much regard.
that true LSG would have flamoney back over helb
think we have enough of his kind now
plus it was only one season were we actualy thought he was any good
i think he get lost in translation
it russian media who are always talking to him
and then britsh gutter press mainly the wapping lot translate it wrong
plus you have to remember he comes russia and they talk very differently over there literal translations never work
As far as the Man City parable, we should remember that the story isn’t over yet and is unlikely to be only a single season tale. After all, isn’t our youth development project and stadium move a multiple-year narrative (indeed an epic in some tellings) we must remember for our own trophyless last several years? If the Abu Dhabi $$ attracts a top manager next year and can reshape the ungainly squad to fit together better, they may be challenging for Champions League places or for the title next year or thereafter. The point is that such excess is hyper-inflating football markets unsustainably for the league and game as a whole–it is rather disgusting, not necessarily ineffective (especially when judged on the basis of a few recent games–they went further in the FA than many and are in the final of the league cup battling ManU: and don’t tell me Fergie doesn’t want to win this resurgent derby and grudge match!)
it is hardly a cautionary tale yet. They may make the Champions league and even win a trophy this season. We may despise their crude methods but will likely be battling them next season and need to avoid them doing the double over us this season! Let’s hold off on the morality tale until we know its ending a bit better…
Re Limestonegunner@ 3.41pm
Not sure what you are really on about, Man City is out of the FA Cup and definitely not playing the League Cup final with Man U (Aston Villa is)…,not sure they can win any trophies this season either!
.
afternoon G4E
It’s seems some fans are living in a different universe where their years are shorter than ours
I didn’t know we didn’t win anything for 7 years? I thought it’s only 5, in fact it’s only 4 years. 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009…2010 is not over yet.
Good Afternoon RSD….what’s up?
think they forget we went to paris and almost beat barca with 10 men
Sorry Kin et al. Forgot about their loss in league cup; no trophies for them but as I said they are still a danger and threat to our title hopes, in the running for fourth and a potential challenger next year. Not the time yet to coclude that their way simply leads to failure–only perdition. Look at Chelsea, an evil but successful team.
Ole @ 3:17
Completely agree!!! I’m all for honesty from players in interviews, but its clear he runs his mouth on subjects he has no business commenting on. It really frustrated me when he was talking a few weeks back about the class at arsenal, implying that something was missing. I’m sorry, I wont have that kind of talk from a player who is nowhere close to the top of their form. If i remember correctly it came after the utd/chelsea matches where he made a number of sloppy mistakes.
Glad to see you and I are on the same page on this one Ole, bc I’ve butted heads with some Gooners I’ve respected on this issue before
Hleb back? I agree: in a heart-beat. his link-up play is fabulous, his ability to hold the ball unparalleled. Not sure, however, where he would fit in a 4-3-3. I suppose on the left or right. I also want to see Eboue against Stoke. Our attack looks so much more potent when he plays.
RSD @ 3:22
that is an excellent comment to make. Theres definitely a chance that some of his comments are horribly skewed in the translation. perhaps i shouldnt be so stinging in my criticism of the russian’s interview topics
in regards to Hleb… NO THANK YOU. he cut and run to barca, and couldnt make it in teh first team there. one of the reasosns I’m hesitant to welcome him back is they run a similar formation as us, in fact, perhaps AW was inspired by their formation to adapt his, and im not sure where Hleb fits. He worked best in a 4-3-1-2 or in a 4-4-1-1.
Watching him for Stuttgart yesterday, he looked uninspired, attempted some nice link up play, but i think the realization that he made one of the most horrible decisions in leaving arsenal is weighing on him. at least it should, what an idiot
How old is Hleb anyways? I don’t think Wenger will waste 9 million on a player he had before…and now lost two years of his career.
With Hleb’s skills and way of play, you can say that Arsenal was the perfect club for him…but he thought differently, we gave him the chance to make a good career for himself, and he Helbed it.
Too bad for him.
apparently he run barca ragged the other night for stuggart
Hleb was OK against Barca, but I wouldn’t place that performance in the Roberto Baggio league of inspirational play.
Hleb was the most unique player I’ve ever seen, maybe he helped train some of the younger players with his amazing dribbling skills? The triple whammy of loosing TR7, Hleb & X was unsettling, but I don’t think he’s missed anymore.
Roberto Baggio… now there was a proper player.
Especially not a player who cost less than that first time around. Maybe on a free….and a pay cut.
he’s 29 next year so it possible
i think wenger has moved on
we now have AA and he can shoot
you reckon we could get falcao in summer
could we afford him
Falcao = The Hulk? I don’t know, I really don’t rate this guy at all….but what do I know?
Let’s not turn into Le Groan and start speculating on random players we don’t even need.
no the hulks pony more david banner
falcao the guy who scored the freekick
Oh ok…I don’t really think Wenger will buy any one RSD. If any, he may take Chamakh on a free and RVP will be back for next season.
NJN we dont need back up for RVP?
just saw 442 was saying he was up for grabs this summer and we could be intention
the way you go on about le grove
Me thinks you protest too much!
The way some go on about other teams players is just annoying, imho. But we’re all entitled to our own opinions, I guess. And if you have to ask if we can afford said player that probably means he’s too expensive to be a backup.
Regarding long throws, well any set piece really, can anyone explain why defenders do not attack the ball any more, prefering to stand in front or behind their man and try and stop him attacking the ball?
The former looks easier to me, and more effective. Often defenders aren’t even watching the ball being played.
OOU and whomever else it may concern,
Check out Warpaint if you haven’t heard of them already.
njn with shitty paying 25mil for barndoor anyone ones expenisve
cbob gd point
right see you guys im off
especially if your gona chat music over football
But we don’t have money the money City does, do we? And cmon don’t be such a square, why does the blog have to be limited to one topic? If it doesn’t interest you don’t comment on it.
Whoops, money came out one too many times.
Morning/afternoon/evening all!
agree Mr. Bob, I have always thought that. When the ball is in the air its up for grabs, defeding set pieces by juts trying to stay with your man seems crazy, go for the blinkin ball!
We won’t have Diaby at Stoke
Poor Pompey is going into administration. Way to go Harry Redknapp! Seems like just the other day they won the FA Cup.
where did u read that ole gunner?
C-Bob,
I wonder that as well. i think it’s the percentages thing. Why try to win the ball and be 100% sure you win the ball when you can try to reduce the defender’s chance of scoring to whatever %.
Perhaps this has been already linked here, apologies to YW for doing the unthinkable if it hasn’t:
http://andersred.blogspot.com/2010/02/tale-of-two-rulebooks.html
http://andersred.blogspot.com/2010/02/open-letter-to-david-gill-with-10-key.html
The David Gill letter was covered in the press, but as many ‘fans’ abuse AW for not pursing the same policies as ManIOU I thought it’d be interesting to read first hand, what a Utd fan thinks of that policy.
‘many ‘fans’ abuse AW for not pursing the same policies as ManIOU’
+
even though such policies are made and pursued by the Club, and not just the manager.
wait does it mean we get deducted pointS???????????///
Sorry if that’s confusing, was moderated, so I’ll just show these separately:
http://andersred.blogspot.com/2010/02/open-letter-to-david-gill-with-10-key.html
http://andersred.blogspot.com/2010/02/tale-of-two-rulebooks.html
i believe denilson can do a better job than diaby would have done, i hope wenger says to try and play through the wings, to cross some balls into bentdner we aint gonna score playing through them. were gonna have to see a different arsenal on saturday IF we want to win
every single goal i have seen against stoke at brittania stadium has been from a cross or a low driven ball across goal, with the exception of some very good long range shots
john terry fans?
lol
spit roasted in grovesnor?
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/eduardo-could-return-for-trip-to-stoke
Those are excellent and thoughtful articles, Finsbury. Really incisive. Interesting that Tony Atwood commented too.
Makes you wonder why the mans’ a manc twat though.
We beat Stoke in the league twice at home – 4-1 last season and 2-0 this season.
Their tactics aren’t rocket science and they play to the strengths they have.
I think the issue here is that we need to keep our discipline and focus and play our game. This size thing and heading the ball with long throws from Delap is focussed on too much.
The reason we lost at the Britannia in the league last season and in the FA cup is that we didn’t play as well as we’re expected to.
We certainly have the players who are capable of scoring more goals than they can – and we certainly have better defenders who should be able to deal with the long balls.
One thing you’ll notice is that during Delaps long throw ins – one of their tall hefty players stands directly in front of the opposing team’s keeper with the sole task of obstracting the keeper from getting to the long throw. They’ll then look to get their other players on the ball knowing that the keeper is otherwise engaged.
We have defenders who are intelligent enough to deal with this even if it means punching the lights out of Stoke players.
thanks chamakh wa allikum salam
salam alaikoum zap,are you watching the mighty algeria play serbiaon wednesday the 3rd?
it`s arsenal v man on atvo,79 fa cup final,brady was a wonderful player.
Senderos has started for Everton, live on ch5.
real madrid would offer 100M for a player of brady’s ilk in this day and age.
he was next level.
In cricket Delap’s shennanigans would be called ball tampering. I think we should get our free kick takers to do a run up from the centre circle just to piss them off.
I think Arsene got his tactics right by playing the JET at the top in the previous match and matching Stoke for height. It got Stoke thinking a bit and before his substitution he was the perfect foil for attacks and kept the stoke defence busy.After we equalised we looked capable of winning the game.We only lost the game beacuse Sol and denilson ran out of legs. Before that Sol played a blinder and at one point I saw Mamadou Sidibe literally bounce of Campbell after he was muscled of the ball.This is game in which Sol will be key.
What would be really dissappointing is if we didn’t learn from our last outing to Stoke.The crowd at the Britannia is insane. Many teams struggle here. Fingers crossed for City to work Cheslea at the Bridge.
Gooner4Life
Sol was one of the best performers on that day. The players who let us down were:
Fabianski-who mistimed and mishandled Delap’s throw, a very poor GK.
Denilson-as usual jogged alongside Sidibe until he delivered a cross so perfect, nothing could be done to save it except Fabianski coming forward to punch it.
Traore-he lost Fuller. Fuller was 3 yards ahead of him when the cross came in. No chance. Poor left back defending by another crap foreign player hailed on arrival.
Zap
Denilson doing better than Diaby when playing Stoke? Have you been watching the two at all? Denilson, I mean with his poor pace, poor physicality, poor passing, no aerial ability and bullied?
Sidibe will destroy him once more.
Fuck off William.
Top, top post Muppet.
Willy my bredrin, frank all dat! Rvp just ain’t all de yet.
denilson a good boy, Diaby da beast. He be eating denilson for breakfast.
Senderos ‘the great’ struggling to get play even in the Everton team. How could such a player get into the Arsenal team? let alone letting Upson go because of him? Now his weakness is showing having found himself once more as a squad player.
He’s been replaced against Sporting Lisbon
I agree with Muppet and Steww
I wish someone would replace Maturks.
Senderos went off injured and the Everton defence fall apart.
Heitinga, Jageilka, Distin and Yobo all will ensure that Senderos will spend time on the bench. Wearing No.6 at Arsenal? What an insult to Mr Arsenal himself. Again, Denilson will not fit into Moyes team yet he regularly plays for us. It shows how low our team has sunk.
We could replace maturks with Senderos?
Wayne Bridge pulled out of International football because of dirty Terry. I think Gibbs should be selected in my opinion. He will be injury free come the summer so i think Capello should take him. Gibbs is far better than Bridge he will be the no 1 left back in the country.
Maturks choosing to ignore Dupsffokcuf pointing out what actually happened on the pitch tonight there. What a fool.
Maturks: Please, Senderos was injured. Also, it was evident that what the English will regard as a third rate league (I’m English myself so no nationalist hate) they out crafted Sporting. Arteta once again looked Everton’s best hope and that intensity and directness was easily shackled by Sporting’s intelligence. By that count, Denilson should easily get into a team bereft of good decision making and calmness on the ball.
But having typed this, no doubt you’ll come back with a no reasoned argument why Denilson is crap.
Upson ‘let go’?
Looks like it’s back to the drawing board, Dunceturks.
Dunceturks drinks from the same Kool-Ade served at Le Groan. They keep frothing the same ignorance amongst themselves, stumbling around like a cult in the bush, a la Jim Jones.
That was a fake william last night dogs, I have alot of fans / stalkers, but dont worry, the real one is back to talk football and you know this.
Shotta, together we will crush the spirit of those against us, we shall reign supreme again partner
Terry is a disgrace
Don’t play RVP. Eduardo is fit and ready to go. Three points are a must. City was without Tevez. He is back and this could be the spark City needs to pull the upset city baby.
http://defutebol.net
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