Le Grove – Arsenal blog featuring Arsenal news

So thanks to Robin the boy wonder, we got lucky with a goal that only he could have scored and if Song had been kept on we may have nicked it in the dying seconds as well.

The good news is by not losing that game the boss thinks we can still snatch 4th spot, great, so we are aiming for fourth spot, still at least he’s finally been honest about something.

I was joking about the Song thing by the way but when he finally took him off, I said fantastic, we’ll now see how much he’s missed by replacing him with a forward and of course we didn’t miss him at all, but then to my horror he brings Eboue on, gasp! He won’t leave it alone will he, Eboue? When has he ever won us a game.

It’s almost as if he wants to piss us all off, he’s having a tin bath.

Well Pedro didn’t get back to his hotel until 3 am this morning so I will do the match report and player ratings. Also well done the people that stayed online last night to share their horror and a big well done to the fans that were at the game, you were far better than the team.

The match was played at a high tempo and to be honest Everton only seemed to have one shot, Song tried his best to give them others but they didn’t take them. When they got the free kick you knew they would score and they duly did. How Cahill who is 4′ 3″ tall can score from a header is a mystery, but there you go.

Player ratings are easy, Robin the boy wonder 9, Nasri and Denilson 2 and everyone else 1.

Pedro was with the Arsenal fans last night and said they stood the whole game as did the Everton fans and had 3 stewards in their end who said nothing to them the whole game, maybe Arsenal should learn from that.

He also said that they were all complaining about Song, Eboue and Adebayor. So when the so called real fans say they never bitch about an Arsenal player, maybe they should try going to a real game and find out what the real ‘real fans’ think before they open their mouths.

So again you can see why I don’t do the match reports, but if Wenger doesn’t think we need 3 outfield players and a keeper he should not be managing this team, because it struggles everytime I watch it. Granted Everton are not a bad team and they got two draws against Liverpool recently, but if we had 2 or 3 world class players we would have beaten them last night.

We can’t keep saying we had Rosicky, Cesc, Eduardo and Theo out because we always have three or four long term injuries and a good manager should plan for that, the Mancs do, Liverpool and Chelsea do Madrid and Barcelona do, so why don’t we eh?

Wenger has told the press that the Arshavin deal is 90% done so maybe at least we’ll be getting one world class player in this window, he said yesterday that buying players in the window doesn’t work, what does he mean? didn’t we buy Ade, Reyes and Diaby in the window once?

Okay Arsene, point taken.

Have a great day today Grovers at least we didn’t lose.

Ok so because Aston Villa were lucky enough to win again and beat Portsmouth we have to win at Goodison, a draw or worse would be a disaster, what’s worse is they have Mario the mechanic back tonight and he will dominate our fragile midfield if we let him.

They have no real forwards so it will be a 4-5-1 from them as they tend to win from midfield, but we can spring a surprise if he attacks from the off so this is what I would do tonight.

It’s bold and it’s adventurous and it doesn’t involve his favourites but this is what I would do if Wenger let Le Grove pick the team tonight, and frankly after the Cardiff game, he ought to.

Almunia (because he will)

Sagna Kolo Djourou Clichy

RVP Diaby Nasri Vela

Bendtner Adebayor

The reason I would pick this team is because we could be creatively dominant with Nasri and Diaby, they looked comfortable after the shaky start the others had in the first half (against Cardiff) if we do that again Everton will hammer us. RVP plays out on the right for Holland to great effect and Vela can play out left, and when he plays we are better going forward and maybe as we have two big boys up front we can whip some crosses in with the long ball, don’t forget we hit them with the long ball last season to great effect.

I would have Eduardo on the bench as the impact sub as he destroyed them last year Wilshere, Denilson and Ramsey as cover for Diaby.

Following the news that Rosicky will make his comeback in March makes me even angrier that we have not replaced the injured players by now and we have had two players out for a year or more, you can put a temp in for so long but two for a year is just plain daft.

Still the news today that we have said was the reason he doesn’t spend has finally surfaced as the boss admits he is paid on performance, the article in the Guardian says he is paid handsomely because he makes the club money, so now we know, it’s not about the right player, it’s about his salary and that is why he persists with such young and ordinary players. If of course the article is true.

You judge for yourself (LINK) but it would explain why we keep getting in money and never spending it.

I still think we will get Arshavin though because he couldn’t stay at Zenit now and if they don’t sell him they will have to wait until the summer when the market will be worse and the player will be older and when we’ll be in the Uefa cup.

I wonder what the managers reward will be then?

I still have faith that we will sign Arshavin and another only because it’s obvious to the world that at least two players are not up to the standard we need to succeed and two others are long term injured.

Come on Arsene, now your secret is out spend the money and please don’t pick that team that played Cardiff, if you do we’ll lose, also try Nasri and Diaby together, when you do we look better, we really do and don’t forget you bought them, they’re your players too!

Have a great day Grovers Scotland is a long way to go to play a midweek game, let just hope the wheels are still on the team coach when the game ends, I meant no offence to anyone there as I know that people from the area do not steal hubcaps and I know Everton is not in Scotland I was being silly and trying to be funny about the fact that Liverpool is a long way up north, there humour explained.

3-1 to the Arsenal if he plays that team.

How’s that for the dream team in midfield eh? Replace any of them with Diaby and that would be still be impressive. Vela as a sub and Cesc coming back you can see our future is bright.

So with the news that the Arshavin deal is down to personal terms we should all feel hopeful that the deal will be done today, as we know Arshavin will accept what he’s offered as he has made all this fuss to leave, he would look pretty stupid if he stayed.

Tomas Rosicky is back in training so that has to be fantastic news, especially if he’s cured at last, we are owed some payback there, that’s for sure, Theo was pencilled in for February so we could have the Harlem Globetrotters midfield in for the Cardiff game.

At least it puts Eboue back as the right back replacement and we won’t have to suffer him bombing down the wing again and falling over.

Gallas is fit again so we may start to see the back four get competitive as I thought Gibbs had a good game against our plucky Welsh cousins.

I would like to see Fabianski in goal more often because I feel more comfortable with him than I do with Almunia, especially on set pieces, I don’t not rate Almunia, I just think that Fabianski is better and putting him in more will make us far more solid next season, he could be our new Seaman.

I still believe we need a defensive midfielder that is better than the one we have and who’s name I won’t mention for fear of upsetting those of you who live near him, but when I see headlines like Velosa to Bolton I want to cry, I would still have an Inler, Velosa, Toulalon or Cana in there but I don’t think that will happen, we do though have a big lump in the rub-a-dubs though called Jay Emannuel Thomas and I wonder if he could do that job also.

A big week coming up with Everton from some village up north and West Ham who for some strange reason call themselves Cockney boys, well just for the records boys, they are really Essex boys as the Bow bells are in Cheapside which is very close to Arsenal but some 15 miles from West Ham, so they are as cockney as Everton are, I was born in Bethnal Green which is next door to St. Mary-le-Bow which of course is from where cockneys got their name, not from Bow near Stratford as most of the West Ham fans seem to think.

A name given to people living in the shanty towns on the outskirts of the City to describe the type of person that served the rich folk, a Cockeney is a French hen that lays a slighty square egg, an odd shaped egg as the rich people like to name the slum dweller, odd people, cockeney’s, this of course became cockneys and anyone who was born within the sound of the bells was one, hence I am and West Ham supporters are not.

If that offends anyone I’m sorry but it’s true, go to the Passmore Edwards museum in Stratford and read up. Either that or google.

Sorry for that Grovers but the record needed to be set straight. I’m also sorry for the 26 people in moderation last night, it happens when you have an attachment and neither Pedro or I can release you, that and new people so welcome to the new people, you’ll get on now!

So Everton, West Ham and Cardiff in quick succession, what a week to get Arshavin in and Rosicky back whooooh!

I’m feeling happy today Arsenal, please complete the feeling and announce him as an Arsenal player this afternoon.

The irony of drawing against Cardiff is that the team put out to play that game was only so weak because we were resting players… now we have added another tricky fixture to our schedule. Some people are ok with the draw… but I happen to think we’ve missed a good opportunity to keep a winning streak going… plus risked possible injuries in an unnecessary game.

Fabianski
Sagna Djourou Toure Gibbs
Eboue Ramsey Song Nasri
Bendtner RVP

I can’t understand the persistence with Eboue… The stability argument doesn’t rub anymore… there is nothing stable about a player who gives the ball away 60% of the time… he doesn’t even know which position he is playing in. So why does he keep getting the nod? I was a bit wary about playing Song and Ramsey in the middle… Ramsey becuase of his inexperience and the pressure… Song for obvious reasons. I would preferred to have seen Denilson and Nasri in the middle… Rambo out wide right… Vela left (Or Wilshere due to the injury).

Still, we had what we had…

The first half was a poor showing from Arsenal. We struggled to get any sort of passing rhythm going, we were second to most balls and the midfield, bar Song… didn’t really offer anything. Even when Song is playing ok, he still doesn’t offer us the pace or drive the current set up need from a centre midfielder.

Ramsey was terribly off the pace today and showed why he isn’t yet ready to stake a claim on a starting berth. Eboue was pretty dire for the first half. He was once again deployed in the ‘free role’ and he rarely offered us width. He was harshly booked after going down easily in the Cardiff box… but like I said earlier in the season, when you get yourself a name for being a cheat, that type of stuff happens.

As chances went, Cardiff had the better. McCormick caused us problems all afternoon. He went close early on with a glancing header… he also blazed a shot just wide shortly after. The fact of the matter was Cardiff didn’t hit the target, so Arsenal were let off.

Arsenal had a few half chances, with Nasri going closest. He was played in sublimely by RvP… but instead of letting rip early, he took his time, made a couple of phone calls, put the kettle on… then weakly shot right of the keeper who saved with ease. Nik B went close twice as did Kieren Gibbs. The story of the first half was all about how well Cardiff played against a top 4 team… and how Arsenal had failed to be at the races against a weaker team.

The second half began and I was hoping for a more urgent Arsenal. We kind of got that, but we still had the same issue we’ve had most of the year… no penetration. The whole midfield lacks that winning mentality you look for in a world class team. You get the impression some of the players expect to win without having to work hard for it… which I guess is why we saw a casual approach to nicking a winner.

Things started to look promising when Ade came on for the disappointing Eboue (Why was he shaking his head?). Ade ruffled Cardiff’s feathers straight away when he played in RvP from a long ball… who struggled but did manage to get a shot off, only to be saved by Enkleman. Not long after that, RvP chipped a cross to the unmarked Togan… who shinned the ball into the ground in ridiculous fashion. I know Ade isn’t getting the service he was last yaer… but for £80k a week, you do expect a little more from him. I’m not saying he should have scored it… but he could have at least worked the target.

For all the possession Arsenal held… we didn’t really test the keeper. Cardiff went close late on with a ripper of a freekick that hit the bar. The game fizzled out… and a replay for 9000 Cardiff City fans was ensured.

Player Ratings:

Fabianski: Someone must have slipped a Ritalin pill in his lucozade before the game because I thought he showed an unusual amount of composure and calmness today. He made a couple of smart saves and commanded his area well. 7

Sagna: Not his best game in a yellow and blue shirt. I thought he was a little erratic and last ditch at times. His crossing was nothing short of woeful. 6

Toure: I didn’t really think too much of the defense today. Kolo made a bad error early on, but my issue was more with the defence as a unit… I didn’t feel it was very cohesive… Kolo should really have addressed that. 6

JD: Again, not a great defensive performance… but a clean sheet. 6.5

Gibbs: Considering his age and lack of playing time, I thought he did well against an organised Cardiff team. He also went close in the first half for a goal. A solid back up for Clichy. 7

Nasri: Anonymous in the first half, bar the earlier described miss. I wish he’d show more desire for the ball when he isn’t playing well. He has the ability to change games, but he’ll never do that without the ball at his feet… Wilshere at his tender age is a great example of a player who always wants the ball…. Nasri was better in the second half, and offered us a lot more creatively… but I still think a player with his talent should be doing more. 7.5

Song: I know there were a lot of people slating Song before the game, but I thought he did pretty well today. His passing in the main was pretty sharp and he made a few solid tackles and quietly got on with his job…. he even won a race with Joe Ledley! He faded as the game went on, but considering how much extra work he had to do next to Rambo… I thought he did himself proud. I don’t think he is the future there because he lacks the right qualities, but hopefully he can begin an upward curve of improvement. 7.5

Rambo: I was pretty shocked that the 18 year old was given a start considering the importance of winning the FA Cup this year. He was roundly booed all game by the Cardiff faithful and it rattled him. His passing wasn’t sharp and he wasn’t as direct as he has been in previous games. When things weren’t going his way, he started to force things and that made matter worse. Great talent, bad game… 5

Eboue: Not really sure where he was playing today… but I don’t suppose it mattered. He was poor again and didn’t really offer us anything anywhere… I will be surprised if he signs a new contract with us because he really is disliked by a majority of Gooners… and a majority of pundits. He’s just not Arsenal class, and I don’t know how many years Arsene is going to give him before he lets him go. 4

NiK B: I thought he played ok today… lady luck wasn’t on his side, but I thought he worked hard… RvP seems reluctant to pass to him sometimes. I suppose the first half of the season is still fresh in the memory for the Dutchman… hopefully the trust will come back soon. 7

RvP: I love watching Robin play… he holds the ball up as well as Kanu used to and he creates chances. I would like to see him score a few more, but I think the goals will come in time… probably when we sign someone with a bit of creativity. 8

Subs:

Adebayor: Shook things up when he came on but guilty of a poor miss. 5

Jack: Brought on with 3 minutes to go… should have come on earlier. 6

Diaby: Came on, made some poor passes… lost the ball a few times and added nothing to the team. He has bundles of talent, but if he never uses it… he is a bit pointless. 5

I am pretty sure Arsenal were one of the only teams in the Prem who fielded a weakened team yesterday, and that is disappointing. Are our players that precious they can’t get it together for an FA Cup game? Others may not agree, but I find it deeply frustrating to know that we purposely fielded a weakened team in the Carling Cup… then in the FA Cup. We should show the competition some respect…

… but on a positive note (stolen from the comments):

1. No one was injured
2. We’re now 9 games unbeaten
3. An extra game will mean an extra £3.1 million in the bank… so we can now sign Arshavin!

Have a great Monday Grovers!

Kidding really! But I did watch the girls beat the chavs before I watched Eduardo and the reserves last night. They seem to have the same problem defending set pieces as the grown ups do, but the important thing was Eduardo made it through 90 minuutes unscathed and looking sharp, he did score but it was ruled offside.

I’m not sure that Lansbury and Randall will make it but Coquelin, Wilshere, Merida and Rui Fonte looked sharp, we had to play with 10 men at 2-1 down but got the equaliser thanks to Jackie boy and deserved the point, so there you have it, the reason Pedro does the match reports!

The girls looked fit though!

Still no news on Arshavin but now Hleb joins the fray by saying that under Wenger he will do well, shame you didn’t then really wasn’t it Alex!

A real pity for Burnley last night as the relegation bound spuds won it with 4 minutes to go, at least they get to go to Wembley though Arsene and that’s what we want, so sign this guy and go and win the FA cup at the very least please.

I have a feeling today is the day, but if not it has to be this week, either way I feel we’ll get him though, not sure who else he has lined up but it’s not looking good for the defensive midfielder or the big defender so I guess all we can hope for is Arshavin, and that’s why I think it will happen, I’m often right and don’t forget who predicted 3-1 away to Hull, yes that’s right it was me!

Well at least they invented Arsenal TV for those nutters like me who still have Arsenal slippers and a quilt, still at least the girls looked good, boy I wish we had some of those in our team, they just don’t stop going forward, know how to work the flanks and shoot from anywhere, I think they’ll win the league again.

Perhaps I should write a girls blog, no one else does, we sign players, score lots of goals and are a delight to watch.

Only 3 days to go before we play Cardiff and I fully expect to see Ramsey and Eduardo starting this one. Have another hopeful day in Arsenal la la land Grovers!