The naysayers of UK football often criticise lower league teams for not playing in the spirit of the game. Today was a fine demonstration of why the tactic of playing ‘football’ against better teams is a flawed policy.
Blackpool were embarrassing. Without meaning to be derogatory, they looked like a group of Sunday league players and they played in a similar fashion. A bump back to reality after a dream start against Wigan.
There were too many goals to talk about so instead, I’ll just give you my overall opinion of the game.
Our football was fluid and there were some special performances.
Theo looked like a man possessed. He clearly wanted to prove to me that he had fire in his belly and boy did he deliver. His decision making in the final third was a touch dodgy but his finishing was excellent as was his power and desire. I was hugely impressed by his hunger.
Chamakh also impressed. He was given far more service today which allowed him to run at people and bring others into the game. He’s Adebayor with a touch and raw hard work. He missed some sitters but he tested the keeper and never let his head drop. His headed goal from a piss poor Robin corner was more than deserved and I honestly believe we have signed a gem.
Jack deserved his place in the starting line up. One mistake against Liverpool didn’t merit being benched and without ever taking it to Blackpool, he impressed with his short passing and aggression. He’ll be an asset later in the year and I’m chuffed he’s been included this year.
I told everyone Friday Song would be at the back which I think is a very irritating decision. He’s either a DM or a centre back. If he’s our best DM, don’t play him at the back because he is very error prone. I wasn’t enamoured with his performance today.
Diaby showed some superb skill today and bagged a goal. If he can make the jump this year, he could be a real power house this year.
Cesc came on to rapturous applause but looked very mute about it. Maybe that’s him… he didn’t look pleased to be there.
Talking of being there, the attendance was shocking for an opener. Massive gaps in club level, massive gaps in the normal seats and gaps so big in the boxes, my chum told me Arsenal should force people in corporate to sit in their seats!
Anyway, a great game, super result… lets build on that and smash Blackburn in their own back yard!
Ratings
Almunia: Looks like a man on death row. Dealt with everything adequately today, made one howler with a drop kick which was met with crowd derision. 6
Sagna: Made a great assist and generally harranged the Blackpool full back all game. 7
Vermaelen: Not much to do, dealt with everything with passion and drive. He’d be a great captain. 7
Song: His imaginary friend is back and I felt Arsene let him down today by putting him in a foreign position. He’s a DM or a centre back… not both. 5
Clichy: Had good game today, hope he can have a blinder this year. 6
Diaby: I thought he played really well. His passing was good, he was great taking the ball around players and he bagged a goal. 7
Wilshere: Kept it simple and nearly popped up with a goal. He’s gonna be a great player, glad he was given a second chance today. 7
Rosicky: Couldn’t remember him playing really. He brings people into the game, but he needs to offer a bit more product for me. 6.5
Arshavin: I think he is very lazy but I still love him. Wish he’d pull his socks up and track back occasionally. 5
Chamakh: Great work rate, dodgy finishing at time… but will be a good signing for us. 7
Walcott: All over the place, looked like a £60k a week player today. Excellent hatrick! 9
Montolivo an attacking midfielder? I don’t think so he’s a deep lying playmaker who’s a like for like for Pirlo hence Montolivo replacing him at the world cup when Pirlo was injured.
Another CM?
Where is he going to play?
Hopefully a keeper will be coming in
Where did the “Schwarzer failed the medical” news come from? Is it just another rumour or is there actual proof.
Choy
Someone that can play in diaby & songs role. An athlete that can break up play, track runners & get forward.
Our very own Essien.
He is an attack minded midfielder, whatever about where specifically he plays. We need a destroyer, not a creator.
Maybe we should just give Denilson streroids?
Well it’s what we need to an extent. Frimpong and Coqulin are injured or on loan and for the 2 midfield positions in front of the back 4 we’ve only got Song, Diaby, Denilson and now it would seem even though it’s not his natural position Wilshere. I’m just saying I wouldn’t be surprised if someone else came in after Squillaci and Schwarzer.
I don’t think we will sign one.
Song and Diaby have that covered.
Denilson just needs to play less. He should be our ‘Gibson’ and play in the 2 cups, and occasionally in the PL when needed.
Choy
Song & Diaby arent good enough, plus what happens when one of them is injured? Denilson happens.
We need 3 good CMs for the 2 positions.
Plus we need a good backup for Song, i wouldnt call Denilson a good backup.
Juvetus signed Aquilani on loan. Melo perhaps needs to get out of Italy and play in a league that he’ll enjoy.
WHy doesnt he enjoy Serie A? He was great with Fiorentina so its not the league. Also, Aquilani probabaly wont free him up. Different positions and Poulsen was sold so its highly unlikely that he will be sold too.
Or a league that’ll appreciate him
A league which will let him foul a bit more
I always thought Serie A was pretty rough. Not as rough as the prem mind but rough all the same. I remember hearing that the defenders just kick the attackers a lot of the time. Not much of a serie A fan so dont know if it is or isnt.
“Montolivo an attacking midfielder? I don’t think so he’s a deep lying playmaker who’s a like for like for Pirlo hence Montolivo replacing him at the world cup when Pirlo was injured.”
Totaly true ! But do we need him ?!!
Id like Melo, Inler, Toulalan, Asamoah, Fellani, Sissoko.
Preferably the big belgian fucker.
Juve or Toulouse Sissiko Gambon? The latter i assume.
Yeah but you’d take Montolivo ye picky feckers
Yeah Moussa, although hes kind of a carbon copy of Diaby.
Ah.. another defensive mid.. He would be more than welcome..
No more attacking players though.. we have enough of them!
Montolivo would be a luxury signing, very much a quarterback deep lying playmaker in the Pirlo mould, in that he is very good at dictating play, has a good strike and would sit next to Song
Unfortunately, unlike Xabi Alsonso he isnt exactly a ‘defending type’ within that role
Would be a Wenger player, but doubt it will happen
I have a feeling we will sneak in a cheeky midfielder at the 11th hour. I do feel it will be a last minute deal for one from the Real Madrid/Man city firesales, when they realise its their last chance to leave to play some football, and also wenger can get them for his favourite peanuts transfer fee. Montolivo would cost in excess of £15million.
Squillaci is going to be first choice?
Maybe Asamoah then or a Matuidi last minute signing.
Right I’m off. A new signing to be announced tomorrow. Yippeeeeeeeeee
shit yh ur ryt sorryi neva looked atthe above comments lol
lol ha datz lyf inioh.
lol
still cnt w8 for him 2 pass his medical and shwarzer to come .
any1 fink jet needs more first team chances?
or at least a loan move to a good premier leaugue side ?
Team vs Blackburn
Schwarzer
Sagna Squillaci TV5 Clichy
Song
Diaby
Cesc
Chamakh Arshavin
VPersie
whaz these rumoours about us signing a midfielder ?
any1?
thank god we got Squeeky
at least we have more CB depth
Schwarzer sat out the ManU today(2nd game in a row)
So his transfer his imminent
BUT
Fulham won’t sell him if they can’t get another keeper
They want Given but ManCity don’t want to sell him to rival…
Well Fulham arent a rival for City so selling Given to them shouldnt be a bother.
Choy
dnt think Squeeky will be 1st choice…he’s here to provide depth
Stu
Bellamy wasnt allowed to go to lower/mid Prem clubs……..
What makes you say that KM? He chose Cardiff for personal reasons.
I think affording wages for players that are on shitty’s books are the problem.
Wasn’t sure anyone was going to get that gag Treze13!
dw QoS i was on same wavelength lol, was impressed at the speed of the thinkin tbh lol
Ciani scored a 90th minute winner against PSG today.
http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/6648296/
dennisdamenace,
hahaha you need to visit rentapairofeyes. LAser wasnt’ asking where you lot of Arsene haters were yesterday.
Where’s Jaguar? Where’s Jimbo? today?
steckelenberg and its happy days.
Gnarley,
On saturday, I boarded the train at Tiverton, Devon. There were already at least 100 Gooners on board from Exeter, Plymouth and Cornwall. The place stank of cow shit. We all have straw hanging out of our arseholes. The car park was full of combine harvestors. We all have sticky out ears and our women folk are ugly as sin!!
So far our core players seems to be: Sagna, Vermaelen, Song and Rosicky. The liabilities as expected are Almunia, Diaby, Kos and Clichy. Wilshere and Walcott slowly become the grown men they’re supposed to be. RVP and Cesc meanwhile must quickly return to the first team. Arshavin at best deployed either to replace Wilshere or played him for 60 minutes. Seriously Wenger must BUY new keeper and TWO MORE defenders. Squeaky the Leaky? Pray that Squeaky is not another Pascal Cygan though!
Fat Sam up next so get real to face the bullies before Chelsea on Oct 3rd!
4-2-3-1 ?
Almunia
Sagna-Kos-Verm-Clichy
Song-Wilshere
Walcott-Cesc-Rosicky
Chamakh
4-4-2 ?
Almunia
Sagna-Kos-Verm-Clichy
Walcott-Cesc-Song-Rosicky
Chamakh-RVP
4-3-3 ?
Almunia
Sagna-Kos-Verm-Clichy
Cesc-Song-Rosicky
Walcott-RVP-Chamakh
Morning all
we get Squillaci…atleast there is a signing..
Schwarzer and another defender will be icing on the cake..
wonder if anyone has a preview of Squillaci…how is he
Asuming a GK and say Squillaci, then I would rather have another DM, rather than an additional CB.
That was the realistic me. Fantasy me would like an aggressive left sided speed merchant packed with goals and a great cross. Not sure that such a creature exists, but would swap AA for him.
lol leprof koscielny is a liability?! he’s played once, and had a very good game, apart from a ridiculous sending off
Yeah same Micky re DM, though possibly a DM who could play centre back too, like Rodwell, however unlikely that would be….
A,
Can’t Toulalan play both. Plus he’s French!
Lets face it, with a future in the very safe hands of Gibbs, Wilshere, Rambo and Frimpong, we have way too many British players.
Yeah he’d do me Micky….
Oh and Theo.
You missed out Bartley, Lansbury, JET, Afobe, Freeman too….
Well if we end up with Steckelenberg/Scwartzer/Given with Squillaci and Toulalan then I would be very very happy. And supprised.
A,
Don’t over do it!!
I really hope Bartley comes good. It would be fantastic and important to have a home grown CB.
do you think freeman will make it A?
Here’s my rough guide to our league season:
A GK worth an additional 9 points
A CB worth an additional 5 points
An improved injury record a trophy
Sort out the training is my message. It would easily be worth more than another CB and/or DM.
sign inhler wenger, and sell denilson
squilaci
30 years old
6ft
32 games in CL, played in a final for monaco+9 euro cup games
6 seasons in the french league 1
2 seasons in la ligua
13 goals scored in french first division
21 caps
2 times champion with lyon
1 cup win with lyon and 1 for sevilla
Gooby,
He’ll do. One thing I will say is that at 6′ I think it means we should go for a Schwartzer, more than a Given, as he could see over the top of his defence!
i think that he won’t be first choice though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnPFmb9S-6o
how would city’s academy boy feel when they see the club policy, will they ever get the chance?
i doubt it, this club is so shite.
chozzer
i love those videos, cheers mate
City’s academy boy?
I agree Micky, would be awesome if Bartley made it – big season for him at Sheffield Utd.
Gooby I think he certainly could, I really like the look of him, though it will be tough. He’s far from certain, little bit small and not THAT quick to mean that it doesn’t matter as much
Is ‘Academy Boy’ like a new superhero?
The sidekick of ‘Reserve Man’.
mornin
NEW POST!
you lot think this post is good, you should read le grove itz next level.
com on u gooners
gourcouff has the asist for bordeaux.
i really think wenger should buy him and reform his and chamakh’z partnership
Sagna 6.5!?? he was the fracking MoM for us….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRxUa9dujyk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEZeJaTTidY&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CIUkmERKA4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6yShQ1mmcw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmXwpPRbVSM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JxhzVvHTXM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXj9cWcSot0