QPR Preview: A Win To See In The New Year Please

Queens Park Rangers arrive at The Emirates this afternoon, supposedly the Premier League team which has the power to defy the odds against Arsenal. We have been told that plucky little QPR have avoided defeat in all but one of the clashes between these two sides since Sky invested their billions in football. What we are not told is that (a) the last meeting between the two in the League was in March 1996 and (b) the last meeting between the two sides in any competition was an FA Cup tie at Loftus Road which ended 6 – 0 to Arsenal. In January 2001. None of those stats has any relevance to the encounter this afternoon.

It is the same as observing that John Jensen scored his only Arsenal goal against QPR in this fixture on this day in 1994. A bit of fun but entirely irrelevant. For what its worth Siggi Jonsson scored his only Arsenal goal against QPR as well. Hold on, there’s a pattern; Chamakh and Park to start please Monsieur Wenger.

New Year’s Eve and to be honest 2011 has been a memorable year for Arsenal. It has not delivered any silverware but my goodness me, I cannot recall twelve months which has given us searing highs, plummeted to such desperate lows before rising again. Turbulent does not seem to me, to be a descriptive enough word.

Arsène seems to be of that mind as well,

It was a very difficult year where the Club was tested in every department. But I believe it will be seen as a very important one in the history of the Club. Despite all the problems we faced the Club has been resolute, united and stayed at the top. We are one of the two English teams qualified in the Champions League, and after a difficult start and difficult summer, we have come back to a good position in the League. It was certainly a year in which Arsenal have shown they are a Club that is brave and has exceptional qualities.

So here we are. Fifth place at present, spurning the chance to go fourth with what was essentially believed to be a home banker, followed by another match which Arsenal are favourites to win whilst once more waiting for Chelsea and others to drop unlikely points for upward progress to be made. Recovery has been swift, perhaps swifter than expected. Perhaps this has been helped by the release of any pressure surround a title challenge. Some, I know, cling onto the recovery of a bigger points deficit in 1997-98 but that came with the bonus of games in hand and chasing one team; there are four ahead of us at this moment in time. Optimistic as we might be, we have to be realistic about what this squad can achieve.

Having advocated resting players before the Wolves match, I would go against that grain now. For today and Monday, play the first XI both times, injuries permitting. Wenger is erring toward that as well with Robin van Persie being assessed post-match in terms of rest. Unless there is a real necessity for him to miss either of the next two fixtures, he should play. Let Henry come into the frame for the FA Cup tie against Leeds with Park, Arshavin or untested youngsters.

Whilst the manager is sure that re-signing Henry on loan is a good thing, others remain unconvinced, specifically former players such as Ian Wright, Alan Smith and Lee Dixon with age seemingly the biggest concern. The sensationalist should not detract from some valid points raised. Arsène has made his views clear, his certainty that Henry can fulfil a role is the only decision that matters. It is, after all, that which he is paid for. And now that decision has been taken, let us all stand behind the players as they seek to push on in 2012.

That push starts today. Touted as the most likely to survive of the three promoted teams, Rangers have suffered the fluctuations of fate this season with lows such as the opening days thrashing by now bottom of the table, Bolton, compared to the home win against Chelsea. They would probably like mid-table obscurity come the end of the season but will probably settle for one point more than the last relegation spot. That might be tough; they have not won a match since their controversial single goal victory over Chelsea in October which remains the only points gained from top six sides this season. Their poor run may yet be costly.

The team I would expect Arsène to go with is:

Szczesny; Djourou, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen; Ramsey, Song, Arteta; Walcott, van Persie, Gervinho

And that is a team which is good enough to deliver the required three points. Let them do so and allow us to, footballing-wise, see in the New Year with a smile on our faces. Enjoy the match wherever you are watching it.

’til Tomorrow.

Will Arsenal’s Transfer Activity Be Completed On January 1st?

That the return of a 34 year old player causes so much publicity is indicative of the state of the Premier League. The paucity of genuinely charismatic players is summed up by the League leaders, Manchester City; an expensively assembled production line team, devoid of personality and charm. Comparable to the car industry as technology moved in during the 1970s? Perhaps, the odd manual factory survived but mostly the automatons took over and revealed themselves to be creators of everything practical without any character. Their saviour came in reliability.

The signing of Thierry Henry on loan is being negotiated – probably completed by the time you read this – remarkable for perhaps being the first time ever that “Sky Sports News understands” precedes a truthful transfer tale, rather than the utter tosh that normally follows. The media agree Henry’s match fitness is being addressed by a intensified training schedule but some believe it will Leeds in the FA Cup earmarked for his return whilst others are pinning their ailing circulations on it being Fulham.

Henry’s return is of course, the cue for the Chamakh to leave ‘next month’ stories and ones that see the Arsenal squad augmented by Lukasz Podolski. The former will indeed be leaving Arsenal. Via Terminal 5 at Heathrow to play in the African Cup of Nations. He will then return to Arsenal in February. The latter will not be joining unless the club shop can get a new supply of z’s for the printing of names on shirts.

This might be the only activity undertaken by Arsenal. Priorities, it seems, were back-up for Robin van Persie with a full back. The recoveries of Bacary Sagna and Kieran Gibbs from injuries – on target for the end of January – seem to have put doubts in the manager’s mind about the necessity for a new defender to be signed.

Speaking on Arsenal Player, Wenger revealed his dilemma,

At the moment it is very difficult because we have players out who are short to come back. There are difficult decisions to make because we are short in the full-back positions. But you think, ‘do you really want to buy a full back for three or four years?

When you have four out and two close to coming back. I think no, because we have people who can do the job during this period.

It is understandable that he is reluctant to invest in players when he clearly has faith in those already at the club. In Sagna’s case, he has a reliable right back who is consistent in performance and fitness. Jenkinson has promise as a deputy; the right hand side seems in decent shape. Yet that was never in doubt; it is left back that is taxing minds. Santos is adapting well but is out until March according to the last reports and Gibbs, is well, Gibbs.

He has an unreliable track record of injuries, since 15th April 2009 he has eleven reported absences. Some are impact but a lot signal a young man who is putting physical pressure onto his body. That underlines why Wenger invested in Santos; it underlines the risk the manager is taking by not even taking a loan signing in. The problem is that finding a ‘homegrown’ player with the necessary credentials is hard, if not impossible, for a loan spell which is all the basic requirement is. When he has Thomas Vermaelen who is adept at the full back position, is replacing his injured specialist left backs a high priority? Judging by his comments, no. Whether he is right or not, time will tell.

Talking of loans, Stephen Hunt’s whinging has done Mick McCarthy no favours with Emmanuel Frimpong seemingly heading to Villa Park on loan this January. Either that or Frimpong is not quite the Karl Henry clone that McCarthy wants; who would have thought that passing a football could have been such a saving grace?

’til Tomorrow.

Signing Henry: Stroke Of Genius Or Descent Into Madness?

It feels this morning, as if the blog should be accompanied by John Williams Jaws theme tune. Something menacing is just below the surface of Arsenal water, spine’s tingling with activities that are fraught with danger. Not the constant hyper-over-praising of Gareth Bale which, whilst an interesting research topic for psychologists, is nothing more than group insanity. It is the re-signing of one Thierry Henry.

This morning, it is impossible to avoid the topic. All the media are running with it with Sam Wallace of The Independent being the sole voice of sanity in an ocean of madness. As Wallace points out, the loan would probably be for no more than six weeks given the timings of the MLS season. Rather than jumping on a bandwagon, questioning the value of such a short-term deal to Arsenal seems more sensible an approach.

To accommodate Henry, Arsenal must free up space within their squad by selling or omitting a foreign player. Whilst Rosicky is reportedly a target for Olympiacos, that would generate more clamour for a replacement midfielder. Gourcuff is, according to Arsène, not that man. Whether that is his poker face coming into play is unclear, particularly as he is a long-term admirer of the French midfielder. That is before we consider the merits of Wilshere’s return or Diaby. No, I’m not even going there with the injury record of the latter. The sale of the Czech international cannot be ruled out simply because of numbers in the squad. Yet it is by no means certain either.

I suggest that the six week period, even if extended to two months, almost defies logic. This is, of course, football and logic is in short supply. Yet if Wenger believes van Persie is tired, with the frequency of fixtures in the coming months, Henry being signed for less than ten games does not signal a relief of pressure. It might allow van Persie to be rested against Leeds United in the FA Cup but if the Arsenal record goalscorer fails to find the net in the Premier League, how can Wenger permit that situation to continue? It is after all, no better than where we stand now with the reserve strikers unable to conjure goals when needed.

If the strike force is a cause for concern – and I think the refusal of Arsène to rule out re-signing Henry is as clear an indication that you need that Wenger feels that way – surely a permanent signing is a better option? The received wisdom is that van Persie wants the club to make signings which are a statement of intent that they want silverware, as if Arsenal need to do such things; trophies are surely a raison d’être for the club in the modern age? This would seem to preclude Henry; better to move for players such as Podolski, Giroud or their ilk. That is more of a statement of intent than a short-term fix.

And what of Chamakh? When he returns from the African Cup of Nations, will he be re-invigorated by the change or simply dreading returning to a club where he is woefully out of form. The longer his barren run goes on, the harder it becomes for him to break the spell. This is a repeat of last year though. The Moroccan did not score between November and March, citing the need for a rest. This time it has been one goal at Blackburn, his only goal since March’s effort against Leyton Orient. That record is simply not good enough for Arsenal.

The benefits of Henry are multiple. If he is able to score winning goals or make the difference on the pitch, that is a small part. Off the pitch, he has experience to pass onto the younger players which they ought to be able to listen to. Ironically, two who would benefit are Gervinho – his directness of running is similar to Henry in his prime – and Chamakh. Two who will be away from the club. You hope that they have soaked all that they see or speak to him about like a sponge.

Expectations need to be managed though. Re-sign and it needs to be understood that we are not signing the Henry of eight years ago. Goals might not flow which is an inherent risk with any player. Equally, if the deal does not happen – and I am not sure that there are enough eggs to cover the collective faces – it is not a signal that Wenger has lost the ability to sign players at all. It is simply a matter that the deal is not right for either or both parties. And this all presumes that New York Red Bulls are happy to allow their player to turn out in the Premier League.

’til Tomorrow.

Arsenal Spurn Fourth As Wolves Frustrate

Arsenal 1 – 1 Wolverhampton Wanderers

1 – 0 Gervinho (8)
1 – 1 Fletcher (38)

Even Stuart Atwell’s Christmas gift of a cheap sending off was not able to present Arsenal with the three points that would have seen them leapfrog Chelsea into fourth place. Having rebounded from the defeat at Eastlands with a late win at Villa Park, Christmas rested heavy on the shoulders of the players.

We can bemoan Wayne Hennessey’s performance and the failure of Stuart Atwell to award a penalty yet those are distractions, ignoring that Arsenal created enough chances to score three or four goals. That they did not is the real issue.

Arsène resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes, instead restoring Johan Djourou to right back with Koscielny reverting to the centre of defence. Tinkering in midfield and attack meant that the expected rest for Ramsey did not entirely materialise, Alex Song’s continued indiscretions on the pitch meant the Welshman had to play a twenty minute cameo. Rosicky replaced him at the start and Yossi Benayoun’s goal at Villa Park probably got him the nod over Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain after Theo Walcott’s stomach injury rendered him unfit.

Wolves probed early on, Matt Jarvis’ wing play stretched the home defence but left a space that Arsenal exploited effectively. Benayoun’s perfectly weighted pass allowed Gervinho to calmly find the back of the net. Prior to the match, the question of who would score if Robin van Persie did not had dominated Arsenal’s world for too long. One at whom fingers point is Gervinho. Yesterday he provided the answer; would that some of his other colleagues had followed that example as Wolves sought to snuff out the Dutchman’s threat, and succeeded in doing so.

Arsenal turned the screw following the early goal but produced few meaningful chances. van Persie skewed wide on the slide, then he and Rosicky combined to provide Arteta with a chance that was ultimately spurned. The Dutchman then drew a fine save from Hennessey in the Wolves goal, from distance. Once more Arteta resisted the opportunity to put his name on the scoresheet, deftly finding the Wolves ‘keeper with a freekick.

With Arsenal in recent years, an uneasy creeps in the longer a single goal lead hangs against teams outside of the Premier League top four, as if there is an inevitability of a goal coming against the run of play. Once more, that inevitability became fact. A Wanderers corner was not properly cleared and Fletcher to head home. As like a balloon slowly deflating, Arsenal’s self-belief slowly and quietly seeped into the ether as the final ten minutes of the half played out.

For all of Arsenal’s energy at the start of the second half, there was a disjointed element to the performance. They needed something to bring it back, someone to do so. Stuart Atwell gave them the motivation, denying a penalty claim when the ball struck Berra in the area. Vermaelen was so incensed with the decision that his dissent earned him a booking, fortunate not to see red for a rash challenge soon after. Had the penalty been given, Wolves might have been aggrieved. I think that had the decision been given against Arsenal, I would have been.

A big performance was needed from the bench. Much of the talk beforehand had been of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain; this was not his afternoon. His manager did, after all, declare that 2012 would be his year. Instead, the maligned Andrey Arshavin was called upon for a mercurial performance culminating in a fierce drive that was as close as anyone could manage.

Yet the goal threat emerged from the usual source. van Persie’s free kick caused Hennessey more consternation than Arteta’s earlier effort before Mertesacker’s firm header produced another outstanding save. Rosicky found Ramsey’s promptings helpful, a rare Czech goal would have topped the afternoon but it was not to be as his shot past wide of the flailing Hennessey’s hands. Milijas saw red, more for the followthrough of his challenge than any misinterpretation of studs being raised.

It made little difference. van Persie had three or four half-chances, Koscielny, Vermaelen and even Chamakh went for goal to no avail. It was not a pointless performance but certainly frustrating.

A word on the referee. Atwell is rightly being criticised this morning. He is a career referee whose callowness in man-management is apparent. This is the danger for the FA. By all means promote youthful officials but they need to be ready. All that was apparent from yesterday is that he is consistently inconsistent. Milijas might well have been sent off by seven of ten officials but by the same token, Song and Vermaelen should have received second yellows. It is this inability to apply the Laws of the Game with regularity that infuriates. More than anything, it might allow us to sew Mr McCarthy‘s cheeks together and stop listening to that which he spouts.

’til Tomorrow.

 

 

Wolves Preview: Young Cubs And Wise Heads As Arsenal Reshuffle?

The festive season for Arsenal gets under way slightly later than intended. The reason makes me think back to the Boxing Days of yesteryear when we used to drive from the West Country, persuading one dad or another that Arsenal v Leicester, Norwich or WBA was a potentially brilliant footballing fiesta. Curious that we had no trouble with a London derby, home or away but the run-of-the-mill games were always harder work to get to. And that was with no public transport. Were we a hardier bunch in those days…no, let’s leave it there.

As it is, Wolves arrive at The Emirates already written off for this match at least. Arsenal will be motivated; win and they take fourth from Chelsea. Win by five or more and third falls, albeit temporarily until the self-styled Best team in the English Premier League play this evening. It is a match that sees the start of a mini-blizzard of fixtures, this the first of three games in six days. Yes, Mr Mancini, six days. You have three in eight yet have the temerity to complain. Rarely has a team in top spot been so sorely marked as having a lack of winning mentality.

For Arsenal some rotation is going to be required. Defensively that is tricky but surely a home game is the one to rest Mertesacker or Vermaelen to bring Miquel in on the left? I understand that Villa Park was deemed to be a tricky outing but this and the matches against Swansea and QPR surely allow for the young Spaniard to gain the experience he requires.

In midfield, Aaron Ramsey needs a rest; he looked shattered last week and it is not as if Arsène does not have options for that role with Rosicky and Benayoun available. The return of Alex Song will mean that Frimpong drops out although both the experienced replacements could be inserted to allow Arteta a breather. And when we talk of rests, they will only be dropping to the bench in most cases although those changed so far could be dropped entirely if the manager so chose. But I don’t expect Arteta to miss out today, that is more likely to be the QPR encounter.

However up front the choices are riskier. Robin van Persie is on fire and rightly, Arsène has observed that the team comes before his captain’s personal glory. Yet to deny the Dutchman the opportunity to break Shearer’s record of Premier League goals in a calendar year strikes me as almost churlish. But we should be prepared for a cameo from him today. That gives Chamakh the chance to impress before departing. For the African Cup of Nations, that is.

Wenger noted the lack of opportunities, which is as much down to van Persie’s scintilating displays as the Moroccan’s wretched form. When selected, he works hard but with no end product, ultimate benchmark for a striker. No matter how harsh a judgement that can be, the use of the 4-3-3 formation demands that the central striker being a goalscorer and 2011 has not been a year Chamakh will want to remember on that front.

It seems his manager is more optimistic about Park. The Korean has been baffling, capable of brilliance in his finishing as equally as anonymity. Wenger believes this to be down to acclimatisation to the English game, which is possible I suppose. Yet the scant usage hints at something deeper. Sitting on the bench and not being used, even when Gervinho or Walcott need rotating, suggests that Wenger might have got this one wrong. Or is it genuinely that Park has not been able to cope with the pace and technical demands over that which he has been used to?

Putting his plight into context has been Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Wenger talks more readily of his progress being positive, compare and contrast the below,

It has been difficult because I have not given him [Park] the chance to play. It takes you time. You see a player like Koscielny last year. He was sometimes surprised by the physical demands of the game and, this year, he is dominating.

[Oxlade-Chamberlain] will play games. He is not far. He is a talented boy. It’s all there. He just needs that toughness in the game. I could have brought him on the other night [in the 2-1 win against Aston Villa]. He is ready. He is just missing experience at the top level.

The youngster is ‘ready’ but Park is, judging by the language used, still not so. And for that reason, I think that Oxlade-Chamberlain will start today, on the right in place of Walcott. It is the final change but one that might profit the team in the longer run, as well as a positive result today. That means a line-up of,

Szczesny; Koscielny, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Miquel; Rosicky, Song, Arteta; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Chamakh, Gervinho

Elsewhere, Jack Wilshere is reportedly ready to return to light training this week which is good. History tells us that other players have suffered minor setbacks during their rehabilitation and subsquent return. We should be prepared for that with Wilshere. Even so that is positive news nonetheless. As for players who might want to come back to Arsenal, well, those are PR powder-puff words that are being given too much credibility. Draw a line under the departure of Cesc and move on.

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

 

Arsenal On Boxing Day 2000

Today was to be a preview of the Wolves game but hey, that can wait until tomorrow! Instead, with the speculation linking him to the club it is worth remembering that eleven years ago on this day, Thierry Henry scored his first hat-trick for Arsenal against Leicester City. He is the only the second Arsenal player to net three times in a competitive, non-wartime, game on 26th December.

The first was Charlie Lewis in the 6 – 0 win over Leicester Fosse in the 1914 Division Two encounter at Highbury. John Flanagan, Angus McKinnon and Harry King with a penalty were the other scorers. King joined The Arsenal at the wrong time with The Great War during his first season. In his 39 games, he scored 29 times which suggests that had war not intervened, his goals might have been enough to get The Arsenal back into the First Division without needing Sir Henry Norris’ famed negotiating skills.

Anyway, here is a the match report of Henry’s moment in the December sun. After that there is an audio visual treat for your delectation.

View this document on Scribd

This match is at 6’48

’til Tomorrow.

Arsenal On Christmas Day

Merry Christmas to you all. As we gorge ourselves on the spirit of the season, to those passing in search of respite, a dip into the club’s past and the last match played at Highbury on Christmas Day, a single goal victory over Chelsea in 1954. The report is under the heading, ‘Romantics v Realists‘.

View this document on Scribd

For those who are interested in the historical aspect of the club, I can heartily recommend ArsenalOneTwoFive.

Merry Christmas to you all.

’til Tomorrow.