Fabianski
Sagna Gallas Vermaelen Silvestre
Song
Ramsey Merida
Wilshere Eddy Vela
Initial thoughts of me and Geoff were good. The team was filled with the exciting kids, we had our future number one in goal and shockingly, Gallas and the Verminator started. So much for all the muppets that came out before the game digging out Geoff for wanting to risk the first teamers. Those two are by far the most important pairing we have if we want to win the league this year and Wenger played them.
The game started in similar fashion to the game against Pompey, except it didn’t really pick up. We had chances, but so did West Ham. Arguably, West Ham had the better of the first half. Song had a mare, misplacing passes, slipping over and fouling unnecessarily. Eduardo’s finishing was abject, Merida was very peripheral and old Jacky boy was having torrid time.
Defence 1
Before we get too far into this match report, lets put the Jack Wilshere performance in perspective. He’s played hardly any games this season, he’s only 18 years old and he was launched into the deepend against a very physical and hungry West Ham side. Lets not rip genuine talent a new asshole because he had a poor game or try and accuse me of nationalism for defending an English kid. He had a poor game, but he’ll go to Burnley, toughen up and come back a man… mark my words.
As the half drew to a close, Arsenal had 3 more shots on target than West Ham, not particularly troubling for Green. Fabianski pulled off a top save when he tipped Stanislavs looping shot wide. As the ticker hit 45 minutes, Diamanti beat the offside trap Silvestre had tried to set, raced through and slotted it past Fabianski who did well to even get a hand to it.
Defence 2.
Blaming Fabianski for the goal shows a lack of understanding of goalkeeping. He did very well to get down to stand a chance of saving that. People are too quick to apportion a scape goat sometimes, the keeper certainly wasn’t one in this case.
The second half began and to be honest it was just as painful as the first. There seemed a sea of claret shirts every time we bombed forward and very little spark to match it… down the other end, it was all very last ditch. Vermaelen and Gallas having to work hard for their pound notes.
The clock reached 64 minutes and finally Wenger rang in the changes… on came Diaby and Nasri, off went the ineffective Merida and Wilshere. Things started to look better straight away. Those two allowed Rambo to become far more effective, they also gave Vela far more freedom down the left. Who’d have thought 6 months ago we’d be cheering Diaby on to save our bacon!? Diaby the saviour… it has a nice ring to it!
We created a few good chances, Diaby unlucky to find Rob Green’s chest from a one on one, Song unluckier to find his hand for the double save.
Then the break through came, Song slipped the ball to Vela, who mispassed to Rambo, the ball came back to him and on the second attempt he found and onside Rambo who blasted it perfectly past the oncoming keeper.
I can promise you, you’ve never heard a louder cheer from me and Geoff… Geoff’s wife came in and told us to sit down and shut up. We duly obliged, just like being at the ground.
Arsenal had to win this. There would be no point in resting players if we’d have to replay the game. The team knew this and a few minutes later Vela whipped the ball into man mountain Eduardo, who cushioned his header over Rob Green into the top corner! Arsenal were through… cheerio West Ham!
Wenger’s impeccable record of never going out in the 3rd round was maintained!
So, in conclusion, a great result. However, I wouldn’t want to play a team that make shift in the next round. Give the players who are ready a game, but bundling them all in for one game almost seems counter productive. Jack Wilshere isn’t going to feel great about that performance, nor is Merida. Geoff suggested a better option would be to play the more senior players to get the lead, then bring on the young kids later on. Also, wouldn’t it be beneficial for the likes of Wilshere and co to get more of a game when we’re storming a crap team?
It’s also quite apparent that we need a striker who has the ability to hold the ball up and offer a physical presence. Wenger has started with the ‘I can’t find the players’ rubbish again. Don’t believe his tosh, if he can’t find a striker better than the Arshavin, he needs to sack his scouting network because they’re not doing a good enough job. Gignac, Adriano, Saha, Carlton Cole, Dzeko, Kiesling… the list goes on. I’m sure he’s bluffing as Chamakh has been quoted as saying Arsenal are pressurising him to join now. I’m more worried about the hideous lack of cover for an unfit Denilson and the lack of anyone Wenger trusts at centre back. Senderos is so far down the pecking order he’s paying for tickets to get into home games. If you ask me, despite the results, to launch a proper challenge of three trophies, we are 3 players short as of now unless we have an amazing run of zero injuries.
Also, a word for the away fans. Superb vocal performance. I got tickets for my brother to the game, he said he was embarrassed by how much the hammers talked up the Upton Park boiling cauldron when in reality it was more of a simmering puddle.
So, three trophies still to play for, Stoke in the next round!!!
Ratings:
Fabianski: He pulled off a couple of very clever saves and commanded his box just like Almunia should do. 7
Sagna: His crossing was dreadful as always but I guess asking someone with a lack of natural crossing ability to find a striker sub 6ft is a bit of a stretch. Some top defending today. 7.5
Gallas: A great game today. Good in ever aspect especially his recovery tackles. 7
Vermaelen: He’s been a star performer so far this season and 2010 looks like it’s going to be more of the same. Super game from a player you see getting forward as much as you do defending. 8
Silvestre: Too old to be playing left back regularly. His pace really exposed him and lets be honest, he was never a great reader of the game. He was at fault for their goal. 5
Song: Not exactly the best way to sign off performance wise. Unneccessary fouls in dangerous positions and some very shoddy passing from a player who has been consistently good on that front this year. Good pass in the build up to Rambo’s goal. 6
Ramsey: Man of the match from ITV, I wasn’t so sure until I started writing about his game. He got around the pitch a lot in the first half without ever really creating too much, the second half he was much better and when the subs came on he exploded into life. A great left footed goal to continue his successful run in the first team. The boys gonna be a player and a half! 8.25
Merida: Not his best game for the club. He had a few shots, but he wasn’t really involved in the game as much as you’d expect. Mind you, the same issue as Jack, not enough time on the pitch. Still, no excuse for failing to hit a corner past the front post, is there? 6
Wilshere : A very poor game from Jacky boy. Playing away is tough for any young player, being singled out for rough treatment by an opposing manager makes things even harder. He’ll bounce back after a successful man-up period away from the club. 4
Eddy: His main use is finishing. That’s been very off lately, but he showed his class late on with a very stylish header against a defender much bigger than him. Any hopes of Upson returning were cruelly dashed! 6.5
Vela: Considering he was near enough man marked by West Hams best player (Behrami), I thought he did a very good job. His cross to Eduardo was superb and his determination to put Rambo through was fantastic to see. He’s not afraid to put it about and given a run of games, I’m sure he’d reward the manager. The first real sign of fight I’ve seen from him this year. 7.5
Subs:
Diaby: The man had a mission… to put Arsenal through with hardwork and good passing. Mission accomplished. 7.5
Nasri: Great cameo appearance, not quite as good as Diaby’s but having him on the pitch put some of the other players at ease. 7
P.S. If you haven’t joined up to the Le Grove fan page, I’m going to tell everyone you support Spurs.
Oh, and before I go. I know we moan at Arsene for whinging in interviews, but at least the man comes out for them… everytime, on time. Ol’ red nose couldn’t even be assed to show respect to the ITV viewers to explain his teams woeful ineptitude… then when he did come out he had the cheek to say 5 minutes additional time was a disgrace. Will he get pilloried in the media today… very doubtful. On the Manc front, lets all laugh at them some more. They’re in so much shit they’re trying to arrange a £600m bond issue (Here).
Here’s how the other side blog and what they thought (Click).
Oh, many thanks for contributing to a wonderful day in the comments yesterday. 1500+ blog posts of pure football ramblings. Grovers, you’re the damn best…
…now join the fanpage
not if i fuck it up it isnt
yes song is the prodigal love child .
but i think jag it was in reference to whilst he is away at the African useless cup of nations .
and that honor will either be down to denilson or rambo ..
song plays ok V’s ok competition .
it would be suicide to think anything more ..
maybe in time ..
but time isnt not on our side for silverware either then ..
We cant afford to play Diaby in Song’s place in such crucial matches.He has absolutely zero defensive skills required for a DM.
your biggest crime wenger is if you want to adhere to your youth code or what ever your trying to prove then play your best players ..
its hard for the cream to rise to the top , when you continually play sugar cubes that drop to the bottom ! ..
how can the cream rise (vela- rambo – jack – merida ) when he persists with average players , trying to make them come good whilst ruining the clubs prestige as a TOP FLIGHT CLUB and its history !
its taking the piss ..
paying for the dearest ticket is taking the piss for these 4 years also !
we should never have been compromised in quality from the invincible’s days , we let it slip and now the fans are complacent
Diaby has been one of the best players on the pitch in the last 5 games. And it was even on Arsenal.com, regarding him taking over after Song leaves.
We don’t have anyone else to play CDM. Denilson isn’t a CDM. Veloso would be a good buy at this point. He can play CDM, but he can also play where Denilson plays. Behind Cesc, but in front of Song.
Would he join us during a world cup year? Don’t think so.
i love the way the pundits didnt rate us at the start of the season but are now starting to come around again , our fans are just as fickle !
FFS! nothing has changed ..
we are still injury prone , lacking quality players , still playing substandard players (big al – some of the midfield / strike force).
we still lose all the MUST win games , history has proved that correct ? or did we win some invisible trophy ? oh yes the Emirates cup !
we cant even win a C.C because the management doesnt take half the comps we enter seriously .
what a state , yes things are going well …
keep the ticket prices high because there is just so much to win on the table !
keep the blinkers on ..
We pay the highest ticket prices in the world,we have a manager who earns a fortune to ensure we finish fourth every season,we pay the kids exorbitant fees,have one of the highest gate revenues and income from TV rights in the Premier League.We spend exorbitant amounts on unproven toddlers.
Yet,we dont have money to spend on quality players.Get a life,Mr.Wenger.
I absolutely slated Diaby for years and thought he was complete crap…he’s actually made me change my opinion of him somewhat, but he’s absolutely shocking defensively and cant tackle for shit.
He’s not bad going forward and he’s quite a big unit but he’s no DM.
Huge mistake trying to use him there, bit like putting Vela in goal…even though he’d be better than Almunia.
AA23
he isnt the right player yet , especially if you compare him to PV04 , which is the reason for suggesting he plays CDM to begin with one presumes , you are correct there is more to him .
But he is his own worst enemy . sooner or later vela – theo – ramsey cesc rosicky AA23 being fit diaby might get shuffled to the back ..
long term cant see him making it ..
a casualty of war ,
with that vision in mind why not just drop in ramsey into the deep end …
we did it to cesc , this boy has the same promise , just lets accelerate it a bit !
AND PLAY HIM !
So le Gaffer still reckons Mozart has another symphony in him. I do too, I think our Check mate is irrisistable when in full flight
Injury prone or not, if Van Horse face would pass medical tests for us, we should go for him.
Lets give him the hardest possible medical, examine him thoroughly, and sign him.
Cunt or not, he will score shed loads of goals for this team. In terms of goal scoring, he’s the best there ever was in the premier league. Yes, ahead of Shearer.
Pat
No chance of trigger ever coming to us mate.
Thank christ
He’s up there with Sheringham as the most hateful cunt ever.
What about Cashley?
Cashley is also a terrible cunt
Demented water sprinkler!
Do you think Wanderson would ever stick to his position in the team?
pat i agree van noostle bob was an admired if hated player by us , but definitely has the skill to score at will …
if he is available .. which im not even sure of .
he wouldnt be a bad 1 year stop gap .
and he wasnt hated by EVERY fan , only hated by those who where scared of him .. and just the sort of player needed currently ..
yes GG,
cashley is the most hated player ever i feel !
rooney on smugness too maybe ..
savage was hated by all also !
i actually hate players like belamy/ade and that balding bolton twat srcooto’s
OR WHATEVER HIS NAME WAS ..
it was like scrotum’os or something …
ade would be pretty close to most hated player also !
remember the man shitty home game ???
Anyone who scores against us is a true and proper cunt in my eyes, unless they played for the club and have feelings towards it(Anelka).
RVN would be superb in this team. If he can stay fit, he’d score a lot. His technical ability is also very underrated. Most say he is just an out and out poacher, but I disagree.
That spin he did at the EURO 08 was magical. I think it led to RVP’s goal.
ethangunner Says:
January 4, 2010 at 23:23
zorro im not being a cunt , before with MG it was sarcastic PRIVATE banter ..
______________
Sooooo PRIVATE, I didnt have a bleedin clue mate! :A
Zorro, Johan et al;
Thanks for the support you beautiful human beings….
Jaguar;
Wenger mist be the most skillful manager in world history… I mean, he intentionally sets out each season to finish 4th…. Not 3rd or 5th or 6th… But 4th…
Genius!
Pat;
Apparantly, RvN (I said we should sign him weeks ago, but was told I cannot say that kinda shit!) has not played more than 10 minutes since November 2008…
BTW;
WE HAVE A GREAT CHANCE OF WINNING THE LEAGUE THIS SEASON AND I HAVE BEEN SAYING THAT SINCE AUGUST…
MG, that doesn’t matter in my eyes. He had 2 long term injuries in that time.
United are the luckiest cunts ever, I’ve realized. RVN rarely had injuries with them, until he went to Madrid. CR never had an injury at United, and he’s missed more than he has played at Madrid.
ethan
I made a statement pre season & beyond, infact AAA & evo from Aus also, that I will be @ Islington Town Hall when the Cup(s) are paraded down the High Street. I will see you there or on the big tin canary on the way. We can kip on Geoff or Pedro’s floor
……& then up to Manchester to do the big parade with ManGoonian as we give them the bird
Actually for an Arsenal gig like that, I might stay @ the Savoy or Ritz or……….
GG9;
Yes mate! The Open Top Bus, with our replicas of the Prem and Big Ears Cup down Sir Matt Busby Way will be a real highlight for the sad mancs won’t it!!!
Pat;
I think what A was saying is that there are real concerns RvN is finished, kaput, broken and should be put down mate…
Oh and Merida has apparantly signed for A Madrid, the slimey rat fink…
so if we face barca in the C.L final and TH14 scores on us , hes a cunt ? !
stop talking trash ..
pat i agree on van noodle bob , but not sure how good a player he is this season , last definitely , this year ?
id prefer Th14 back IN all honesty
We should sign Bobby Zammora…
MG
As we make our way slowly down this Mat Busby Way, we can remind them all about the Graham, Wenger, Bertie, Herbie way. Especially the Wenger Way.
GG9;
We can stop off at the Lou Maccari chip shop for a slap up meal of Manc Humble pie, chips n gravy… Haha!
…..then back down the M1 to Geoff’s in time for tea & scones.
http://www.imscouting.com/global-news-article/Arsenal-starlet-Fran-Merida-signs-for-Atletico-Madrid/4719/
MERIDA IS GONE!!!!
MG
Have you ever thought about setting up a tour company for Gooners. A good laff @ the dopey bastards should be @ least once a year now that things are back on track for The Arsenal, that is winning silverware again, oh that deserves a chamoneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
ethan, READ!!!
I said unless they played for us and have feeling towards the club!
zamora ?
yah think ?
just prior to these last 2 or 3 goals of his , everyone was complaining how the cunt was a let down ..
id prefer someone more tested ..
not a calculated risk …
just
POSITION FILLED..
this is TH14′s position to fill , ade tried and failed .. lets fool no one we haven’t secured a class striker since dudu , and well we can see how that panned out ..
this signing IMO , is LONNNNNNNG over due ..
ethan;
Ho ho! I was effin jokin mate! His dopey boat has just appeared on my TV, so I thought I’d have a bubble innit…
I say let him rot until then…
his head was clearly not in it during WHU game…
Kenya
So more money in the coffers for signings. Can I be brutally honest here. Fran the boy had no real future @ The Arsenal, he is just part of The Arsenal farm type thing. By a yearling, fatten him up then sell him for 3 time what you paid. Its good business.
IMS is a shit site
Pat Says:
January 5, 2010 at 08:15
ethan, READ!!!
I said unless they played for us and have feeling towards the club!
————————
yes pat i am aware of what you said and how rediculious that appears ..
dudu scored against us , before we signed him , does that make him a cunt ?
at that time , because he didnt have FEELINGS THEN !
how can you gauge who is and who isnt a cunt then !
the cunt law according to pat
we must ALL follow it in future ..
*buy
Pat;
I know and it is simply regurgitating a story from the Spanish newspaper; AS.
gnarley, you asked about my avatar once – it’s neither Lonely Ranger nor Ray Charles, it’s my mug shot
allright, I’m off to work, catch y’all in some 40 minutes…
HA fucking HA. And its AS reporting the Merida story. The most bias newspaper in all over Spain. Located where, you ask? In Madrid.
was baptista technically a cunt ?
he scored for us and against us ?!
reyes ? – oh thats right he didnt score shite
but id still classify him as a cunt
and people like pennant …. etc
Ethan, I bet you call someone a cunt whenever they score against us! Its natural instinct! You might not mean it, but you say it!
MG, wouldn’t be surprised though. Merida might be home sick. He was absolutely awful against West Ham. Couldn’t get the basics right.
Pat;
I you suggesting a Mdrid based newspaper might print stories that put Madrid based football clubs in a positive light and might even run with stories that are not entirely factual?
Are you suggesting… even
Reyes a cunt? Why?
He was home sick. For the most part he’s always said great things about Arsenal, even after he left.
I don’t think Baptista scored against us. He’s definitely not a cunt. He missed an absolute sitter against us. It would have knocked us out against Roma last season
Suga3;
laters mate…
I have already tried to get to work this morning (honest!) but there’s half a foot of snow outside and its still coming down….
MG, AS = Spanish version of the Sun
Gnarley…
For real?
Morning all, I’ve just finished writing todays post and I have surprised myself!
Gnarley, he goes on a free mate! No fattening up there.
Fuck you lot then, I’ll go and talk to someone in my office.
NEW POST!
Hey Goeff, I’m here, eagerly aawaiting the new post.
Pat;
Sorry fella, obviously you thought I was being serious about AS! I was jokin about being shocked about them makin shit up!