I found Wenger’s press snippet about the referees offering no protection to the goalkeepers and football becoming a rugby match a bit girly.
Sure, some teams are too rough. Sure, some teams try and hustle the goalkeeper, but that’s Premiership football for you. By making a statement like that, all Wenger has achieved is to encourage Blackburn to play rough and target one of our weak goalkeepers.
If teams play rough against you, my suggestion would be to play rough with them. If they set their stall out early with a crunching tackle, someone in our team should munch them back. That’s the thing with bullies, they don’t like it up em’!
I was encouraged to read that Kozzer likes the physical game and he’s happy to get stuck in. It seems that since we’ve struggled with the physicality of the game, all we do is buy players who can’t cope. Thomas Vermaelen came over last year and changed that pattern and I’m hoping we’ll have more of the attitude with Squillaci and Koscielny.
Blackburn were the architects of the ‘crowded box’ technique last season.
You don’t know what this tactic is?
Well, seeing as everyone else in the blogging world is trying to craft out a career in football tactics (Arsenal Column being the best if you like to read about the science of the game), I thought I’d join the bandwagon and show you via our intelligent Peroni Sponsored chalk board.
Crowded Box
As you can see, the Blackburn players pressurise one of our hapless keepers and force them into a mistake. The tactical solution to this problem is to buy a good goalkeeper. As we’re yet to do that, I would hope that we’ve been training hard to combat this problem. I would suggest that anything that comes into the box is firmly fisted away and any foul is greatly exaggerated by the keeper. Knowing our coaching staff, I can imagine we’ve employed the tactic known in the business as ‘ignore the problem, hope for the best.’
Realistically, we should batter Blackburn. They are a solid team but don’t really possess too much in the way of fire power. I’ve been impressed with Kalinic at times, but his finishing is poor. Pederson is one to watch out for with his set piece play and penchant for a distance effort. The good news is that David Dunn is unlikely to be playing. It’s mighty selfish that since we sorted his career threatening injury, he’s often the fulcrum of our problems!
Arsenal need to concentrate from the off, we need to start having shots and we need to be aware that this is unlikely to be as easy as Blackpool. As far as I know, there aren’t going to be too many changes to the squad. You would expect to see Cesc back in the team ahead of Jack Wilshere and I’d like to think Alex Song and Diaby will partner him in midfield.
I’m not really sure what the boss is going to do with his front three. Personally, I’d go with Robin in the middle with Chamakh and Theo taking up the wide spots… but that leaves Arshavin out of the side and an apparently in form Rosicky! Which would make sense from a physical point of view…
… and guess what? We might even get the chance to see Denilson today!
Help yourself to a cyber party popper!
I think we’re going to win 2-0. The key to winning these games generally is scoring the first goal because it kills lesser oppositions game plan. If we can do that and come away unbutchered, that will be the first ‘dirty northern ba*tard’ test out of the way!
Come on you Gooners!
P.S. On the goalkeeper front, I fully expect us to make a signing before the window closes. I’ve heard that Schwarzer isn’t playing at the moment because he’s told his boss he’s not in the right frame of mind. If we renege on £2million for a player who could potentially be the difference between winning something and mediocrity, it tells a story about our priorities. After all, if reports are to be believed, we had no problem lining our managers pocket with a further £2million… a story I have no problem believing.
Why we’re in for a 37 year old doesn’t make sense to me… I do wish we’d work on the policy of, if a superstar kid isn’t ready, buy someone who is at the top of their game now. Pepe Reina would have cost £20mill, he is the best in the league right now. If we’d signed him and Chesney had made the necessary jump in 3 years time, we’d be able to sell Reina at a profit when he’s 29 and we wouldn’t need to replace him.
By signing Schwarzer, we’re signing a keeper who solves a massive problem. Name me a keeper in the Premier league who wouldn’t solve that problem? I think people are getting carried away about him. He’s been in England since 1997 and hasn’t attracted a sniff of interest from a top club in all that time. His signing isn’t about quality, it’s about penny pinching and giving a young keeper we have no idea about a bit of hope.
Everything Arsenal do these days is based on faith and doing things on the cheap.
We’re one of the most cash rich clubs in the world, and we’re still pleading poverty… we’re like the fat girl who got thin and still dates ugly men. What is the point of spending the last 5 years saving money, then not using that money to take advantage of other clubs genuine poverty? If you don’t believe we’ve got money, you wait until the annual report comes out in October… I’m sure you’ll be staggered.
Enjoy the game wherever you are today! An early kick off for once, what a result! I’ll be back tomorrow with a match report!
Win sends out statement – Wenger
http://sport.virginmedia.com/football/article/2010/08/28/win_sends_out_statement_wenger?
Oh yes….this is a war-cry bitches!!!
Clichy still worries me, loses concentration at times, and becomes sloppy
@Marko
I think Almunia was poor again today. He should have collected many corners/crosses to remove the pressure from his defence but he was there standing and waiting.
for those who missed the goals of 2-1 win..here are the goals..
http://www.footballorgin.com/2010/08/premier-league-blackburn-rovers-1-2.html
blackburn goal-typical arsenal defence error…
ritesh – Arshavin scored the goal that won us the game, on the other side Walcott put us in front.
The second half saw what we needed, Wenger knew it straight away, the only starting change I’d make is probably Rosicky for Fabregas because he does look unfit, but he got through 70 odd minutes so it’s a risk we took and worked out well.
Arshavin did drop back more in the second half after the goal and kept his passing simple aswell, Walcott tracks back well now, compared to earlier in his career when he used to tire.
@McMellish
You have a point but he started at Liverpool and was very efficient. Remember Song was not playing in that game too.
http://www.ashburtongrove.co.uk/2010/08/blackburn-v-arsenal-arsene-wengers-post.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+AshburtonGrove+(AshburtonGrove.co.uk)
wengers Post match reaction
haha ritesh. ” he should have collected many crosses” what does that even mean
Ritesh if you thought Almunia was poor today then you don’t have a clue mate and you’re letting your feelings or hatred for him cloud your judgement. He dealt with many crosses and was solid. He wasn’t poor if he was then Blackburn would of picked up on that.
Wenger pledges to stick with youngsters for Carling Cup visit to Tottenham
http://arsenalyouth.wordpress.com/2010/08/28/wenger-pledges-to-stick-with-youngsters-for-carling-cup-visit-to-tottenham/?
its nice of Wenger to stick with the kids ….but i’m just worried that Spurs will be going all out with their seniors and we’l go out in the 1st round…
HHS,
I never said Cesc, Rosicky and Wilshere
That would definitely lack balance
@ ritesh
Agreed, but Liverpool and Blackpool are two completely different games. You expect Liverpool at home to play with the ball at their feet and pass it around alot, this kind of game is what i believe suits LJW. Blackpool play physical football and love the long ball in to the danger areas, these are parts of the game in which LJW is IMO lacking at this time in his Arsenal career.
It wasn’t a resounding victory yet could be one that sets the tone for the season. No way should we go into matches up north saying a draw is a good result.
@McMellish
Why do you worry about that. Just wait and you will see.
Dont forget he was in the Bolton’s midfield last season
Theo Walcott Keen To Push On After Injury-Plagued Couple Of Years At Arsenal
http://www.goal.com/en/news/9/england/2010/08/28/2092191/theo-walcott-keen-to-push-on-after-injury-plagued-couple-of?
If Theo continues this form all season, he’d win the Young player of the season
Don’t read to much into Wengers comments re Mark Schwarzer cause all summer’s he’s been saying he’s not looking for one and that he has 4 great ones all the while he’s looking to bring in Schwarzer. Fully expect him to be announced before the end of the window.
Ok, everyone knows this side needs a new gk, but let’s be fair – Almunia played very well today in what is just about any goalkeeper’s most difficult game of the season. Doesn’t change anything long-term, but credit where it’s due.
Clichy switched off at the back post on the goal as well today and let his man run across him. Gibbs should be in the team for the next home game.
AW was also careful with his words in the interview about new signings – it’s over for us… at the moment. I’d read into that that the offer for MS is made and they expect Fulham to accept if they sign a replacement. If not…. that’s it for this year.
Is RVP fucked?
@ ritesh
He was in a Bolton midfield which was fairly poor so he was bound to stand out.
I’m not denying he’s quality and got a bit of fight about him but IMO he’s just not ready to start these kind of games, that’s all I’m trying to say.
http://www.goal.com/en/match/46003/blackburn-vs-arsenal/player-ratings
Check out the MOTM and its comment
Total nerds
Marko,
I like Almunia and certainly do not hate him. I just feel he is not the right gk for us. I dont blame him for that because we bought him and made him number 1.
Goal.com aint worth a wank. Cesc was good but not great. And them saying Chamakh will need time to adapt is a bit silly.
goonermichael – Wenger said if nothing bad shows up in the scan then he’s out for 8 – 10 days with a twisted ankle. I think they have to wait for the swelling to stop before it can be scanned for ligament damage.
What? Yeah but he had a good game today.
This was a GREAT result for Arsenal!
Last season Blackburn only lost 3 out of 19 home games in the league, and all the TOP teams lost points there…
The other top teams will not fancy the trip to Blackburn, i’m sure…
Guys have you realised that Ancelotti is rotating Lampard this season… He realises that Lampard cant coninue playing game in game out….He has subbed Lampard at 70 mins in 2/3 of their games….
It seemed s if Lampard played every single game last year.
Well Chelsea up 2-0 from a DRog penalty…..
And Blackpool beating Fulham…..2-1.
Wigan goal! 1 – 0
haha….wigan takes the lead!!
Wigan just scored ha ha ha
Wigan-Blackpool 0-4
Wigan-Chelsea 0-6
Tottenham-Wigan 0-1
hahahahaha….
Spurs back to their old fashion…
haha fuck wigan beating spurs
Spurs back to normal I see
I still think Spurs will win the Champions League
5 fucking minutes. Fuck phil dowd
oh we oh we oh spuds lose
Before this win against Blackburn Arsenal had 8 games against a Sam Allerdyce team (playing away) without a win…
9 times the charm…
Ha ha, it appears that the Totts midweek exertions has taken its toll. Beaten at home by Wigan, lol.
Commence the arse licking now that Chelsea won today. Fuck the fact that they had 2 home games and played 2 and a half crap teams. We’ve had a good start I think.
The Scums loose to Wigan at HOME! SWEET!! We win at Blackbur bullies, double sweet, would have love Stoke to tie the Chavski
ritesh- i agree on mcmelish at 16:09..the ga,e was diff when we las leading..but im worried on the dying minutes, we had possession, but lost it on a dangerous blackpool counter,but nonetheless i hope wilshire will be our .supersub and 1 day arsenal legend..
hahahahahah the yids are crying their tway home….
well what a fucking mad day,the jews lose and we make it hard for ourselves up there,must say koscielny looks a cracking buy…….
They’d wanna get used to that cause every time they’ll play in Europe they’re probably gonna get beaten in the next league game.
only 2-0 for chelsea… Ancelotti needs to be sacked!!
Spurs are shit.
I’m in too good a mood to be upset by Wenger’s no keeper rubbish. I’ll just wait til the t/r window closes to see if he is serious or not.
Up you gooners.
well what a fucking mad day,the jews lose and we make it hard for ourselves up there,must say koscielny looks a cracking buy…….
Im gonna frame this. Take a bow BBK
Laurent Koscielny
Neat, effective and almost invisibly efficient. Perhaps too similar in stature to Vermaelen to be a perfect partner but stood up well to Rover’s aerial threat.
**************************
Its rare when goal.com gets a write up correct. They gave him 7/10.
Cesc Fabregas *Man of the match*
It was like the summer-long romance with Barcelona had never happened. Bright, committed and massively effective in his first start of the season. Magnificent on the ball and a brilliant headed clearance on the line from Nelsen to boot. Substituted in the 68th minute.
******************
And then you see this and think WTF.
Koscielny looked out of his league for a little while after the goal, but the way he came back in the second half was admirable. He’s obviously not letting the EPL’s nature get to him. All good signs and yes he does look like a another cracking buy.
Lol just heard Hansen on Radio 5Live swallow humble pie on his criticism of Theo Walcott…what a joker!
Having Squillaci will allow Wenger the time to hide Koscielny away in the lab and build up to that sentinel we want…don’t worry
im happy tht walcott continue his goal scoring run..hope tht builds his confident infront of goal
I think we can beat the cocks when we meet for the CC, Squillaci and Djouruou at the back or Kos and Djourou, I’d prefer Squillaci and Kos for that game. Fuck! Fabianski will be goalie, I hope Szczesny would be goalie. Expect Wilshere to take up the middle with another experienced head, maybe Denilson. It won’t be all youngings for that game.
hope west ham will do us an impossible favour..
Man
What exactly did Alan ‘four banks of four’ Hansen actually say?
@ Zeus
What he said was slightly true in that when Theo has time to think he usually cocks it up but it was the fact that despite Theo smashing a hatrick the douchebag had the balls to criticize him still. It showed just how much he dislikes arsenal and theo because he could give credit when credit was due.
couldn’t*
HA! The spuds are shit!
Sagna was awesome today. MOM. Theo looking like a potential Henry in the making. What finish. More involves in matches now.
Diaby & Song gave the ball away too often. They were so infuriating. We cant do that against better teams.
I disagree about Kos. He had a poor match with 3-4 horrendous situations although played better towards the end. Blackburn were so bad today they only capitalised on one of those mistakes.
Blackburn are getting soft. Welcome back to the real Spurs we know and hate.
Chelsea have peaked too soon.
Fixture list has been kind.
Maybe maybe.
Faubert just molested Rooney.
Clattenburg spends as much time on his hair as Chamakh.
Is that the ref that got hair plugs to hide his baldness or is it someone else?
YES! the foreskinless cunts lost!
West Ham just need a bit of luck up front, United looks far more disjointed then they have in the past, they’re giving up loads of space.
God Bless Hugo Rodallega
Yup, same ref Stu.
fucking idiot.
Penalty conceded by the former Manchester United defender, surprising that.
Another Old Trafford pen!!!!!!
Fuck sake! Fat cunt Wazza.
What prick gave the pk away?
Fucking cunts, penalty!
Man Scums score again with penalty!! nothing new there
Spector.
And now West Ham will collapse and make united look better than they are.
If not for own goals and penalties united would struggle to finish in the top half, let alone top 4.
zeus,
He said the best way to answer your critics was not by word but by performances on teh pitch and that Theo had done that…that he would have hated to played against Theo (agreeing with Ian Wright’s reposte!)…that Arsene is right that Theo should be judged on the numbers he produces i.e. the goals and assists he makes not those he doesn’t…lol you could hear the embarrassment in his voice
Tony Pulis is planning on suing Wenger for saying Stoke “play rugby”.
West Ham are going down anyway
Anyone hear that about Benni Mccarthy’s body fat % ?!
Why can’t West Ham stand up to these cunts and score back!
Do you think that pulis will sue me for saying he’s a useless inbred pikey cocksucking wanker?
An Arsenal fan tweeted this !
An Arsenal fan who watched the game at Ewood Park tweeted this on Twitter : “Almunia came back to us and threw his shirt and captain’s armband into the crowd. Looked like a goodbye
No, what about it Keyser?
At the start of the season it was something like 24%, The Chairmans was lower than his.
yeah I bet its the same fan who saw Eden Dzeko at the Emirates last November
cant believe they gave a penalty for that
HA!! Thats shocking! Fat bastard. How can any supposed professional athlete be that fat.
I would rather keep Almunia as he would be a decent number two.Theo had a very good game again today.Lets hope he can keep this up.
HAHA
just seen the spuds lost.
Their champions league exploits will leave them so tired they will be relegation fodder.
EVEN BLACKPOOL BEAT WIGAN! 4-0!
HA HA HAA SPURS YOU BUNCHA JEWISH CUNTS!
2-0 to manure
Leave the jewish out of it, there’s enough words to describe the scum as it is.
West Ham’s defenders are just falling over themselves to gift United goals.
WTF! 2-0?????? WHo the fuck scored?
nani
Nani. Dyer hits the post.
Barca sell Imbra.
Pulis sucks cock
Do Man u look good or WHU look bad ?
United don’t look good at all tbh. Not as solid defensively and nothing special going forward either.
Their even trying to gift West Ham a goal now, and they don’t want it.
If that was Almunia last game, he did well for us today
Pedro, a firm fisting always does the job!
Just back from Ewood and Almunia’s shirt into the crowd, did look like a goodbye…..we can but hope.
chozzer
thanks for confirming my @18:18
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/-we-were-a-bit-too-nervous-in-the-first-half-?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+arsenal-news+(News+Feed)
arse.com wenger postmatch interview
last year eboue threw away his shirt in crowd in pre-season and waved goodbye but that meant nothing….
Well why would we be happy about that, Almunia should dfntly remain as number 2 if someone comes in, don’t wanna see flappy anywhere near our goal.
haha
imagine catching almunia’s shirt, would you hang it up at home?
i think Jaguar took almunias shirt…
haha
hes probably at home wearing it right now.
dont like wenger saying we were nervous, we need to be fearless this season.
or diaby’s
He threw it away, but it doesn’t mean he will go. He will be our number one gk for the next 4 years, as long as Wenger is here.
Face it!
Like Arse&Nose said at 14:40,
Not convincing, same old problems.
Long balls into or near the box and we have an instant problem.
Defending errors (Clichy, Koscielny and Vermaelen once, but ala for him, he did an overall good job), sloppy passing, too many occasions where we lost possession without being under huge pressure, Cesc was underperforming as well as Song.
Theo was great and -like Arshavin- at least showed the spirit.
Chamakh needs some time to fit in there upfront but I think he’s a promise.
I’m still convinced Eboue’s natural position/quality is at RB, Wenger should deploy him as such and we need a fekking GK our defence can rely on FFS!!!
Overall we were underperforming, way too many errors, not controlling the game and not convincing.
Conceding some goals from the upper 4 is in the deal but from teams like Blackburn etc.. showes AW still hasn’t solved our real problems.
You don’t win the league with beating the chavs, you win it because you consistently don’t drop points to lesser teams.
I have to say it was a joy to watch us bullying Blackburn for a change. All of the boys showed fight today, especially song, sagna and chamakh. Wilshere steam-rollering Samba was also a hoot
Guys please enough with the religious hate. Hate Spuds for who they support, not how they pray.
Cloggs – Was that a comedy effort ?!
Chozzer – As a person that was able to enjoy the spectacle up close and personal what were your thoughts ?!
Here’s a quality article on Wenger.
http://www.thedailyrover.com/archives/5255?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheDailyRover+%28The+Daily+Rover%29
watching lorient vs lyon.
lyon are shite, loosing 2 nil
cloggs
that was a cup final for blackburn, Big Cunt would have wound them up loads before the game, he loves to beat us.
many defences would have struggled under the pressure they put us under, and despite the goal we did pretty well.
we can beat anyone at home but we struggle away from home in these games so to pick up 3 points is massive.
Cloggs too harsh i thought we stood up to them very well,our football won.Theo was top class today.
seems stoke has written to FA about Wenger’s comments about Shawcross.
2nd best result of the day was the Tiny Totts.
Anyone else notice the awkward kiss almunia planted on poor theo’s head in the post match interview? Schwarzer would have at least put some effort into it!
stoke can get fucked
pulis is a ratty little cunt
pulis the pub manager.
Keyser,
No, ofcourse I am happy with the result which imho more or less reflected the match, but playing like we did today wasn’t good at all, it showed AW still doesn’t address our problems in an adequate way.
That’s a brilliant read Keyser! Sums him up for me…
Stoke should buy Crouch and Zigic and have the biggest forward line in the history of football.
I can’t believe we didn’t use the towels today.
What did Wenger say about Shawcross that offended Pulis?
Someone sould really do something about these songs they sing about AW, it’s not on
haha
imagine sagna drying his hair on the byline before taking a throw.
Pulis is a minow. Was born minnow, will die minnow.
Nite All…have fun…
Also is Song trying to use old age as an excuse for his pace? If not I hope he lays off the peroxide.
and a reminder
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPbD34RE0JY
mad jens at his best
comment of z day was about the possesion between us, them and the towel
stu
“You cannot say it is football any more.
“It is more rugby on the goalkeepers than football.
“When you see the way Shawcross kicked Heurelho Gomes, how Robert Huth pushed Gomes in the goal, you cannot say that is football anymore.
“If the referees allow that you cannot accept it because that has nothing to do with the game.
“I believe that in some situations the goalkeepers are not protected.
“You cannot have players whose main role is to stop keepers from catching the ball and not even going for the ball.”
Arsenal are likely to face another bruising clash at Blackburn tomorrow.
Rovers have a reputation for being physical and direct but Wenger insists he has nothing against manager Sam Allardyce’s hustle and bustle approach if the rules aren’t bent.
He added: “We have developed one way but I respect every other way as long as the referees get the rules respected.
“The referees cannot go on and accept what happened at Stoke on Saturday.
“Apart from that, when a team plays long ball, head the ball and become physical, I accept and respect that.”
but does any1 has an explanation on Song’s new hairstyle.
I dont think its more aerodynamic as he is as slow as b4
cant really work out what grounds pulis is going to sue on.
hes just a bitter little cunt
That rover fan is a stupid cunt
yeah i was going to sign up to call him a cunt but i cant be arsed
Cloggs – Come on, no matter who we bring in we’re not suddenly going to erraidcate every single mistake rightaway, we have to work on it from game to game.
How mnay leagues, have teams who play aswell as Chelsea or United, or then use their physique the way Blackburn or Stoke do ?!
We were decent in the first half, made one very poor set of mistakes, but the second half what was there to worry about especially ? We could’ve got to the first ball a bit more, but when every balls aimed at Samba’s head, he’s going to win some of them, so we made sure we were first to the second ball off his head.
incesc – Something like Shawcross didn’t kick him, it was more of a trip or a judo throw.
they want to unsettle Wenger…it was a concerted attack by Red Nose, Fat Sam and Pulis.
It always happens like that. They use Keane, Red Nose some other cunts to try n destabilise him.
I think Wenger wants to make sure that the players are protected. We dont need a case like Ramsey every season
They’ll get Wenger on a technicality, then we’ll have to employ the lawyers who got us off the Spitgate and Divegate Controversies.
ritesh – It seemed to work today, weren’t too many bad challenges.
you cant sue someone for having an opinion can you?
WHy is Pulis getting his knickers in a twist over those comments? Every word of it was true. Its not like Wenger is making anything up.
i would have left a comment at that site keyser but i dont have the patience to sign up
incesc, TiE,
Fat Sam can go to hell, my wife left the house after the first half because she couldn’t take the verbal abuse from me to him
But I think our performance just wasn’t good enough.
We should be able to win (which we did, OK) and to control the game against teams like Blackburn.