Defensive Hands Forced But In Whose Favour?

The media procession of the Premier League title being delivered to Old Trafford stuttered yesterday with a goalless draw probably the best result for Arsenal, ensuring that the gap to the top was closed whilst the fourth place battle between Tottenham and Chelsea stayed suitably distant.

Injuries are dominating the Arsenal horizon ahead of the FA Cup replay against Leeds, Leeds, Leeds and the Premier League visit of Wigan Athletic to The Emirates at the weekend. Gary Speed has shown a refreshing naivety in his role as Wales manager, would that others took his lead in enquiring as to whether or not a player who has been seriously injured is actually fit. No doubt that the cynicism and selfish attitude of other international coaches and FAs will take hold but for the moment, it is a pleasant change.

Thomas Vermaelen has been speaking of his injury woes,

According to the specialist who will operate on me it’s a small tendon that runs next to the achilles tendon and is irritating it, and it needs to be taken out. It is a small tendon that doesn’t do very much. Hopefully that will solve it. I’d like to be fit to play the European Championship qualifiers for Belgium in March, but really I’d prefer not to make predictions. I remain cautious

Well that’s what The Guardian reckons. According to the inside scoop of Daily Mirror-land, he’s aiming for Barcelona. If he can recover that quickly from an operation, the question is why has there been so much fannying around up until now. Little doubt that the medical staff will get criticism at some point for the length of the Belgian’s absence but it seems that the consultant’s and surgeon’s have something to answer for.

It still leaves Wenger in a quandry; does the situation require him to dive into the transfer market or can he make do with that which he already has? The short-term approach would be to say, “Yes, we have enough”, but it would only take Koscielny to get a red card or Djourou to suffer an injury before the end of March for the folly of that belief to become apparent.

Quite simply, Wenger has to sign someone. The question then becomes, what sort of player and whom? Does he look for  short-term replacement, along the lines of Sol Campbell (but I hasten to add, not Sol), someone to get him through this tricky patch and then be released in the summer.

Or is the pecking order of centre backs evolving still at the club. At this moment in time, were everyone fit, my feeling is that Vermaelen and Djourou would be the Premier and Champions League’s pairing of choice with Squillaci and Koscielny covering cup competitions and the odd domestic league fixture. Would a new signing be brought in, risking disruption to that order and the career development of Djourou and Koscielny?

My own feeling is that Wenger will look for a short-term solution, someone who prevents the necessity of having Alex Song drop in as centre back. The speculation might be for Cahill, Samba, Taylor but I suspect another player in the mould of Squillaci is going to be signed, someone to provide no more than cover this season.

We shall see. ’til Tomorrow.

Arsenal Find Three Is The Magic Number

West Ham United 0 – 3 Arsenal

0 – 1 van Persie (13)
0 – 2 Walcott (41)
0 – 3 van Persie (77 pen)

Arsenal returned to winning ways with a comfortable win at Upton Park yesterday. Amid the Last Rites being administered to Avram Grant’s reign, Robin van Persie took the headlines with a brace of goals but Theo Walcott’s contribution should not go unnoticed; a goal, an assist and winning the penalty to seal victory. Wayne Bridge was baffled, bemused and eventually substituted, a strain caused by the misery heaped on him by the England youngster.

Following the criticism of performances against Leeds and Ipswich – useful advanced scouting for West Ham for next season – Wenger resorted to his in-form and strongest starting line-up. It was more balanced than the two previous fixtures where the squad rotation took ill-effect.

It took Arsenal thirteen minutes to break the deadlock. Nasri had given West Ham a warning, his shot saved comfortably by Green but that message went unheeded. Wilshere slid a pass to Walcott, who found himself in acres of space on the right. Bridge ambled to meet him but the England international was not waiting and calmly passed the ball into the middle, Nasri ran to the near post and dummied, van Persie applied the clinical finish. It was all too easy.

Six minutes later, the contest should have been over. Walcott chased with Tomlinson, the defender doing enough to send Walcott off balance, his tame effort going straight into the arms of Green. Song has been reading from the Fat Frank book of Shooting, the Cameroonean almost found the net with the help of a sizeable deflection.

But this is Arsenal and things are never easy. Djourou, under pressure from Carlton Cole, underhit his backpass. The West Ham forward pounced but found Szczesny blocking his path. The rebound fell to Boa Morte before Hines took over, his shot narrowly clearing the crossbar.

Yet this was a sporadic attack. Normal service was resumed as Nasri gambolled through the West Ham midfield, feeding van Persie whose shot struck the base of the post before cannoning to safety. How many times has that happened for the Dutchman? Sufficient in quantity to have put Thierry Henry’s scoring record under threat had they found the net instead.

Nasri then missed having been sent into space by Cesc, dragging his shot wide. With each attack, the West Ham deliquesced and the second Arsenal goal would follow with four minutes to half-time. Fabregas freed van Persie, the Dutchman got to the by-line before pulling the ball back into the centre where Theo Walcott stole a march on the hapless Bridge, his shot hitting the roof of the net.

The second half found Arsenal playing within themselves, ready to repel any West Ham attacks whilst prepared to hit on the counter whenever an opportunity presented itself.

The only opportunity of note for the hosts was Sears cross which looked as though it may sneak into the far corner, Szczesny tipping over the bar instead. The rout was completed when Theo Walcott forced Bridge into yet another error. Walcott nipped forward chasing a ball into the area but away from goal. Bridge lunged, missed the ball and took Walcott instead. van Persie drilled the ball past Green.

Three points were taken comfortably. Wilshere might have made it more emphatic but the headlines were taken by the lugubrious Grant and his shambolic employers. And I doubt Arsene is complaining; third still, two points off the top and hoping for a belated Christmas Miracle with Spurs taking points off Manchester United this afternoon.

’til Tomorrow.

West Ham United Preview: Football Academy Or Rugby Park?

Arsenal head off to Upton Park having given West Ham a scouting trip of their own for next season’s opponents in the recent cup ties. It will not have escaped the ‘Appy ‘Ammers notice that Arsenal have had trouble breaking down opponents who have placed five across the midfield.

Despite the protestations of Cesc Fabregas about how bad such tactics are, West Ham will do the same, seeking to frustrate as they did at The Emirates not so long ago. The absence of Scott Parker might make it a less congested area of the pitch but even so, Arsenal has to learn how to deal with such tactics and bring about a positive result. Even Manchester United employ such ploys against Arsenal; it says it all, this is the way to get results against The Gunners.

The Arsenal starting XI though will pretty much be back to full strength. Bacary Sagna is definitely missing as he serves the last of his three match suspension whilst Lukasz Fabianski is missing through injury. That would mean a starting XI of:

Szczesny; Eboue, Djourou, Koscielny, Clichy; Fabregas, Song, Wilshere; Walcott, van Persie, Nasri

Fabianski was confirmed by Wenger as the Arsenal Number One, with Almunia relegated to Number Three. The Spaniard’s departure, should it happen, would not even require a new goalkeeper to be brought in, sufficient reserves are deemed to exist at the club with Vito Mannone available in the event of a severe injury crisis. When the manager says that he is not going to replace you when you leave, it is an instructive comment as to how far down the pecking order you have fallen.

Arsene shed no new light on Vermaelen’s injury yesterday, save to say that surgery was unlikely. No new signing either with the club refusing to comment on Oxlade-Chamberlain or any immediate requirement for a central defender. It was business as usual, denying interest in players although claiming that Koscielny’s signing had been unexpected was accompanied by the sound of the truth being stretched out of all recognisable shape, the Frenchman’s arrival trumpeted from all corners of the globe several months before the actual event.

Whilst Arsene signalled the end of one Arsenal career, he was at great pains to emphasise that another was nowhere near over. Andrey Arshavin is the current target for witty put-downs. Arsene does not want the Russian to leave, perhaps paying too much attention to the words of Arshavin’s former agent than he should.

On the subject of the Russian’s form, Wenger said,

As soon as a player doesn’t play fantastically well, he is criticised. We all know that.

I personally believe he is a great player – he is going through a period where it is more difficult at the moment. But he works very hard in training – his attitude is fantastic and I am desperate to keep him.

He has played almost every single game since the start of the season – he has played for his national team as well and he is physically a bit less fresh. But he will come back stronger than ever because he works very hard in training.

The Russian is capable of turning matches. Indeed had Theo Walcott provided a better finish, no replay would have been necessary against Leeds, such was the exquisite nature of Arshavin’s through ball. His confidence in front of goal is missing but could return as easily as it was lost. If, as Wenger hinted at, he is knackered then a rest is surely in order?

Either way, I would not expect him to start this afternoon. This is a fixture that Champions traditionally win. With Manchester United at Tottenham tomorrow, this is the opportunity to close the gap to a point and then to hope that Stratford Hotspur deem the occasion big enough to prove that they are a top four club. For this weekend at least.

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

Stone Cold Friday: Finding The Remedy

It’s the time of the week to hand over to a man of whom it has been said that  half of the troubles of his life can be traced to saying yes too quickly and not saying no soon enough. Here’s Darius…

I don’t know what was worse. Me staring at the bottom of my pint glass on Wednesday night with a combination of bewilderment and regrettable anguish; or Dean right next to me literally holding his head in his hands and moaning, almost in a muffled cry about his beloved Liverpool.

It was supposed to be a celebratory night in central London, two games for us that were seemingly straight forward. What – with Ipswich’s dalliance at the gutter side of the Championship and King Kenny’s return to his throne at the Cop – the night was nothing near straight forward.

“These punks are going to do a Route 1 on you guys”, Dean observed with some amusement as the game wore on.

My arrogant rose-tinted response was that he should be more concerned with Charlie Adam and their leaky defence since most teams had no option but to go route 1 on us. But there-in was the lesson that we don’t seem to want to learn. If they want it more than we do, they’ll eventually get it.

It’s really not about the fact that we have a chance to redeem ourselves on the 26th. It’s the level of complacency, especially after the experience Leeds unleashed on us that is baffling.

And before anyone starts to question which side of the bread I’m buttering; let’s get it out of the way. I’m a fully paid, card carrying member of the ‘Lifetime Arsenal Supporters Guild’ with an absolute, unequivocal and almost anal support and belief in this team. The last two games have left me scratching my head somewhat, Though Dean reminds me to stop bitching and try support Liverpool instead. And he’s right; we really haven’t experienced anguish in recent times.

What is crystal clear is that our system of play does not work if even one single player doesn’t do what they’re supposed to do, especially when we don’t have the ball. We live dangerously when playing with a high line and letting the opposition have enough time to launch a territorial ball into our box.

It should never be a surprise that lower league opposition will want to raise their game against us. We’re a bench mark that many players aspire to and it’s a world cup final for them to play Arsenal and beating us puts their name out there.

At this stage of the league cup, it is almost criminal to approach the game the way we did. If it was an off-day, the return leg at the Emirates better be one of those nights folks get to remember as a mind-blowing success at the Emirates. The reason is simple; 2 games and 2 wins guarantees a monumental shot in the arm for the psyche and confidence of this team.

Not getting over this hurdle when we’re the overwhelming favourites will actually do more harm than not, and that’s why it’s important for those C-words to be addressed. Build the consistency and cut out the complacency.

It’s time for the team to show some humility and give each team we face the respect they deserve. We have to earn the right to play our football, the way we did with Chelsea and Man City at home, and the way we did with Birmingham at ST. Andrews.

Although it’s a compliment of sorts, teams we face know the cost of giving us time on the ball and letting us play Wengerball. They have seen the way we can grind down a team that comes out all guns blazing only to run out of steam in the latter part of the game – giving us massive advantage with our stamina and fitness.

Our game is like watching a master juggler perform his art with the best jiggery pokery in the land. It’s skilful, breath-taking and mesmerizing; but if one pin is out of place, it can take hard work to recover the rhythm.

Teams know that we can lose possession and that we’re playing a high line and route 1 is their way out. Our system of play is anchored firmly on what we do during that transition when we lose the ball.

The plan is that if we lose the ball, the first line of defence are our forward players who will either force mistakes that we can pounce on – ala Theo on Maluda for the 3rd goal against Chelsea; or buy enough time for our defence to get back into shape.

Our defensive unit is a critical part of building our attacking moves, and they are dependent on our attacking players to be the first line of defence. If this works as it did at Birmingham, or against Chelsea and Man City, it is a work of art. The critical thing is that if any of the players is not consistent and if there’s the air of complacency that we’ve seen in the last two games, we’re going to come unstuck.

That’s why I argue that this isn’t about ability of the players because we know they can all do it. It’s not about fatigue, because dealing with route 1 can catch out the best of defences; we of all the teams, should know how other teams feel when Cesc, Nasri, Arshavin or Van Persie take out an entire defence with one sublime pass.

Upton Park tomorrow evening presents an ideal opportunity to resume normal services. It’s never an easy place to go, but the return of Nasri and Van Persie will add some needed firepower. As usual, Rob Green only seems to become world class when he’s playing Arsenal so profligacy in front of goal is not an option.

The players know they have to redeem themselves following the last two games, and let’s hope that more than anything, the performance leaves us ordering more pints as opposed to studying the craftsmanship at the bottom of the pint glass.

’til Tomorrow.

Arsenal’s Poor Performance Gets Just Rewards

Carling Cup, 1st Leg
Ipswich Town 1 – 0 Arsenal

1 – 0 Priskin (78)

Ipswich fought hard to erase the memory of a seven goal FA Cup slaughter at the hands of Chelsea, emerging victorious at Portman Road and taking a slender lead to The Emirates in a fortnight’s time.

A strong Arsenal XI might have controlled possession but were found wanting in front of goal, both Ipswich’s and their own. The position might have been worse had Woijiech Szczesny not saved well from Carlos Edwards as the final whistle beckoned.

What will be of greatest concern to Arsene Wenger as he surveys the wreckage of this defeat is that, aside from Nasri and van Persie, this was as good as his first choice XI. Arguably Keiran Gibbs and Gael Clichy might be interchangable whilst Lukasz Fabianski has made the Number One shirt his own this season, that cannot be taken as read for next.

Arsene called it an ‘off night‘. A polite way of saying, ‘we were nowhere near good enough‘.

The first half passed without an Arsenal chance of any note, Ipswich were not much better although Priskin did manage to put the ball into the net, offside correctly flagged to deny the Hungarian on this occasion.

The second would see Ipswich settle on a long ball tactic which brought about success eventually. That and some expected Arsenal profligacy in front of goal. Overconfidence is a terrible thing in footballers; they become sloppy, lack concentration and their play is generally not up to their usual standard. Problematically, it is not a state of mind from which they can easily be snapped during the course of ninety minutes. Inevitably, when the mists clear, it is too late to retrieve a dire situation.

Arsenal had plenty of warnings about how Ipswich were going to score. Eboue, Koscielny and Djourou all had to recover to block Priskin before the deadlock eventually was broken. Djourou was the least culpable of the defenders on show last night yet Priskin held him off to shoot into the far corner for the winner.

Fabregas should have equalised, the ball hitting his knee and clearing the bar. He might not have expected the cross to reach him but a predatory instinct should have prepared the Spaniard for that eventuality. Before the final whistle blew, Fulop produced saves from efforts by Walcott and Fabregas.

The defeat poses a problem for Arsene. No doubt in his mind’s eye, this tie would have been put to bed last night with a two-goal Arsenal win, enabling him to shuffle the pack and rest players. As it is, a full strength Arsenal will be needed to win the second leg decisively. That comes a week after the FA Cup replay at Elland Road and in the middle of a spell which sees two games per week between now and the end of next month.

Arsenal will need to raise their performance level in the second leg to progress to Wembley. They also have to fight history’s tide. Only once in five occasions have they successfully overturned a first leg deficit at the semi-final stage of this competition.

’til Tomorrow.

Carling Cup Preview: Ipswich Town (A)

Arsenal arrive at Portman Road this evening for the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final. Playing away in the first leg has been beneficial to Arsenal, their last three final appearances all following that route.

Arsene believes that Saturday will help the players focus for this match,

I think the Leeds game will help us focus well at Ipswich. We will certainly be on our toes going to Ipswich. That game [against Leeds] has shown that against a Championship team we must be completely up for it and focused from the first minute if we don’t want to be surprised. We have been warned.

We were certainly surprised by [Leeds’] level of commitment. The team has still shown a great reaction and refused to give up even if they had some points during the game where it was a little bit wobbly.

I cannot for one  minute believe that they were surprised by Leeds commitment on Saturday. If they were, everyone at the club from Arsene and his staff downwards needs their arsenal’s kicking. Every time a team lower down the leagues plays Arsenal, they raise their game. It is nothing new and has happened throughout Wenger’s reign.

It will happen tonight. Having been hammered 7-0 at Stamford Bridge, Ipswich will be smarting, wanting to perform at their best before their own fans, as if almost to apologise for the shambles they put on in the FA Cup. If Arsenal are not focussed tonight, they may well be in for a nasty shock.

Wenger will need to make changes tonight as injuries have stretched the squad in the centre of defence. Miquel is surely going to start tonight in order to give Djourou a rest ahead of two matches a week for the foreseeable future. Purchasing a centre back is Wenger’s priority with Thomas Vermaelen undergoing surgery to correct his ailment.

The Belgian’s absence is going to lead to a fortnight or so of frenzy as the media search for Arsene’s centre back. According to the manager, he would ideally be adapted to English football already. If they were English no period of adaptation would be necessary so we can rule out any English-born player as a centre back signing, meaning that the rumours of Cahill, Campbell and Upson in today’s press are all entirely wrong.

There was a sizeable hint that Arsene would not be entirely distressed if he did not sign anyone, believing that Song and Miquel can provide short-term cover, coupled with Squillaci returning to fitness shortly.

Back to this evening. Miquel will probably be the only defensive change but I would expect a few further up the pitch. In midfield, Song looks like a rest is needed and in his place, partnering Denilson and Tomas Rosicky, I hope will be Aaron Ramsey. The youngster needs to get some match time in an Arsenal shirt in case he is required with two fixtures per week for the next month.

Having played for Nottingham Forest, he will be keen and eager to return to the Arsenal line-up and this competition is as good as any for him to do so, especially at a ground where he recently played.

Further forward is Wenger’s biggest dilemma. I cannot see any merit in starting with Chamakh and Bendtner in a 4-3-3, the attack is to lop-sided. It would mean starting Arshavin or Walcott on the right, with Vela on the left. Centrally, I would start the Dane. He has done well in this tournament so far, why not let him continue.

That would mean a line-up of:

Szczesny; Eboue, Miquel, Koscielny, Gibbs; Ramsey, Rosicky, Denilson; Walcott, Bendtner, Vela

It has been twenty-six years since Ipswich last beat Arsenal at Portman Road, let’s keep that record going tonight. Enjoy the match wherever you are watching it.

’til Tomorrow.

Bendtner’s Spot On & More

Nicklas Bendtner believes that winning the Carling Cup will be a boost for the whole squad, not just those who have played in the competition. The Dane observed,

We have to get to the final of the Carling Cup. It would be fantastic to win a trophy early on in the season and have something to show for our work already.

In that sense, Bendtner is correct. I have long held the belief that this squad needs to win a trophy to convince themselves that they are ‘winners’. Victory at Wembley might be the spur to building a title-winning consistency. That characteristic has eluded everyone at the top of the table this season although Arsenal, if they avoid defeat at Upton Park this weekend, would be on their longest unbeaten run in the Premier League this season.

Having been in and out of the squad through injury, Bendtner is looking forwards rather than back,

I think I maybe it got talked up a little too much because I also said Arsenal is the club I have been at for a long time and remains the club where I want to play.

I believe I am good enough to play and there have never been any talks about leaving or anything like that, it is just naturally frustrating if you are not in the side and that’s the same for any player.

All you can do as a player is be patient and keep putting yourself in the manager’s mind, hopefully he then picks you. After that it is your responsibility to take the chance

Bendtner is frequently criticised for being arrogant. He is, all footballers are, believing themselves to be the best. His attitude though cannot be faulted when it comes to be picked for the team. He wants the opportunity but knows it is up to him to take it when it arises. Things did not go to plan on Saturday but one thing is for certain, he will work hard on Wednesday for the team.

Elsewhere, Lord Peter Whimsey has poo-pooed the idea of signing Thierry Henry on a short-term loan,

We won’t be signing him. David Beckham was down with us last year and Arsene is very happy to have our old players come back in.

I had not seen any suggestion of him being signed. Anywhere. Nor would I expect Arsene to do so. If there is a need for a player to come in on loan, two months is probably not going to cover that off.

On the subject of old players, one who may join those ranks is Manuel Almunia with Galatasaray being the latest to show an interest in the Spaniard’s services. Apparently they are in pole position because ‘no top Spanish club’ has shown any intent on signing him.

It would be, in some respects, strange for Wenger to let him go at this point. Fabianski and Szczesny have shown they are capable of replacing Almunia as Number One but there is little depth beyond them if injury strikes. It would mean that Shea would presumably be the substitute if that happens. Perhaps Arsene is intent on keeping him until the summer when Manonne returns from Hull.

’til Tomorrow.