Let’s just start by saying it was cold. It was wet. It was fiercely windy. Anyone bitching about the atmosphere from the comfort of Twitter should take their laptop outside in the garden when it next monsoons. The noise levels were fine considering the game on offer was bland, everyone was hungover and the conditions were disgusting.
Onto the game. Wenger was forced to make mad changes to the starting lineup. Giroud has damaged his leg, Ozil, Rambo, Gibbs were all on the treatment table and plenty of others were also carrying knocks. It was a massive game. If they boys succeeded, we’d remain top of the league for a week and a half or so until the Villa game.
We controlled the opening stages. Cardiff hadn’t come with any sort of adventurous game plan. Defend, hold on for dear life and pinch a goal if possible seemed to be the thinking. We just needed the three points.
Jack played a nice call over the top to Theo early on, he could only slice into the side netting. We were creating half openings but there was a quite casual nature to the game if I’m honest.
Why Arsene started Podolski through the middle is beyond me. He let’s grudges get in the way of logic. Nik B was fit, sharp and he’s not too dissimilar to Giroud in style. Important when the team has played with Giroud 99% of they season. Instead, he opts for Podolski who has barely played a game, doesn’t boast the physicality needed to be a loan striker and does not have the ability to hold the ball up.
This decision resulted in Arsenal opting for long balls over the top. A view of what the world would look like with Theo as the main striker. Due to this tactic, we lost width down the right and effectively ruled Sagna out of the game.
We did create chances though. Wilshere had a shout for a penalty when he was bundled over in the box. Theo shot wide from 10 yards when fed in by Santi.
Down our end, Mutch took a free run at our goal and had a shot well blocked by Chezzer. Defending was a touch casual from Koscielny. There was also a shout for handball when Monreal had the ball rifled at his digits. Never. You have to pick the ball up to get a penalty these days.
Outside that, the collapse of the gutter on the roof was about as interesting as it got. The poor buggers below got totally drenched.
The second half wasn’t particularly interesting until about 60 minutes. By this time, I’d been introduced to something called ‘Bovril’… an interesting drink I can tell you.
Jack Wilshere weaved his way into the box and fired off a shot that rattled the woodwork. I have to be honest, it was right in my line of sight and it looked to me like the keeper touched it onto the post. Needless to say, no damn corner.
Arsene decided to make his subs relatively early. He took off Flamini and the woeful Podolski and he brought on Rosicky and Nik Bendtner. Both made an immediate impact. Straight away we had shape in the forward line. Width was restored (kind of) and we had a target man. Rosicky came pounding on with energy and zip, despite barely being able to go outside in the training session the day before the game.
The man who nearly had the biggest impact was Per Mertesacker. Clearly believing no one would notice him acting as a striker because he looks a little like Bendtner when wet. He nipped in at the back post and glanced two headers wide in exactly the same fashion. At that point, wet and sodden, you started to think, ‘is this going to be one of those days?’… and I did wish the cameras would stop pointing at Vincent Tan and his smug face.
Our moment came though, Sagna latched onto a ball into the box, his downward header was parried by Marshall, Nik B read the possible parry and nipped in to slam home emphatically! What a relief! So much man love went off in my row. We all totally lost the plot! Incredible relief.
Theo Walcott still had time to finish off the game with a goal. He was slipped through after some great pass exchanges between Rosicky and Wilshere, he floated his shot over the keeper with a lovely chipped effort.
The game was closed out, we’d taken the three points and delivered on the 10 point Christmas plan. Excellent work from the boys.
Concluding Points
Rotation worked
I said before the game, if Wenger made heavy rotations and we’d drawn, he’d have been reluctant to do the same moving forward if he had key players available. You heard him say before the Newcastle game that he’d have played Ozil if he was fit. The manager can’t resist going all out. Hopefully, he’ll see that if he trusts the fringe players, they can do a job. He’s not damned if he does damned if he doesn’t, this season, like all Premiership seasons will be won and lost on how fresh managers can keep their players. ‘Play your best side’ mentality died out about 10 years ago. It’s not possible anymore. You have a highly paid squad so you can play them. Players like Monreal, who was excellent yesterday, need more games. They need to have match sharpness. Same with Gnabry. He’s more than capable, so give him a run out every now and then, so if Theo picks up a knock, we have some pace and form ready to inject into the side.
Everyone wants to play striker
Look, at the game yesterday, I thought Theo was one of our best players. He was a part of everything. He battled, he took shots, he made himself available. But when you watch the game back, he was trying to do the job of Podolski. He wants to play centrally and he makes a beeline when he can to prove he can do it. That restricted us down the right and ruled Sagna out of the overlap. On Lukas, can we all stop pushing him as a central striking option. He’s not technical enough to play with his back to goal, he’s not physical enough and his running off the ball leaves a lot to be desired at the highest level. He’s brilliant out wide. That’s where he should play. Nik B, for me, when he plays like that, can be just as effective as Giroud. Yesterday he ran the channels, he looked for the ball, he brought players into the game and he posed a real threat. Take away the hugely bad press he gets for being an egomaniac and you have a pretty decent player there. It was great that he got a goal, his third if you include the legit goal he scored against City… nice to see the crowd chant his name. Such a shame he picked up a knock.
Players dead
Don’t expect a magical team against Spurs this weekend. Apparently the reason he played Flamini and Arteta yesterday wasn’t tactical, it was because he had no other options. Players are totally washed out. We’re not just talking ‘redzone’ here, we’re talking about players carrying minor knocks as well. So this weekend, he won’t be rotating, he’ll be preventing serious injuries. The underlying problems of rest still haunt Arsenal, we’re getting away with it at the moment, but I’d imagine we were probably the only team in the league that had the players in all over the Christmas period. Not good for the body, and in quite a lot of cases, for players with young families, not good for the mind. I do worry our campaign will come undone in the end because of our approach to player welfare.
However, the current batch of knocks is just a short term issue…
Injury news
Giroud will be back from his injury for the Villa game. He should be joined by Ozil, which is great news. Chambo starts full training next week, so he could make a bench appearance for the Villa game. Massive news as that gives us a very good option in midfield and outwide. I’m really looking forward to seeing what he can offer us in the second half of the season.
Even better news is that Rambo should be back in the side for the Fulham game. He’ll be rested and ready for the run in. That’s also another thing I wanted to point out, the odd 8 day break here and there isn’t enough to bring a player back to full health. It’s quite frightening how many people make sarcastic comments to me about the ‘red zone’ online. I don’t have access to databases, but I think it’s quite apparent as injuries pile up that the squad isn’t in great shape at the moment. There are plenty of places to find info around this sort of stuff if you’re still of the mindset that fitness isn’t one of the most important aspects of taking the league crown.
Striker
Sadly, there’s no Nik B for at least a couple of weeks. So the urgency for signing a striker just kicked up a gear. I have no idea who we’re chasing. I just hope there’s a plan. I’d imagine there’s probably quite a lot of appeal when it comes to joining Arsenal. Massive wages, title contending side, being supplied by some of the most in form players around. The stumbling blocks are going to be clubs who are competing won’t want to sell in January and players who are in the sort of form we need them to be in to join us won’t want heading into a world cup. Form can be a temperamental thing…
Next up…
Spurs. It’s always a massive game. They’ll have a manager desperate to make a mark on that job, so he’ll be going all out against us. I think it’s going to be a very tough game for us to win. So let’s see what happens!
P.S. Delaware took incompetence to new levels yesterday. They ran out of food. Nothing quite like cold kids being made to queue up for 15 minutes to be told that. Embarrassing lack of planning from a company that clearly don’t care about anything other than raking in the cash they’re driving from the 25 year contract they were awarded. Arsenal should opt for independents next time.
Salah is fucking quality, buy him they really have some team.
Liverpool signed Salah? huh, shows their faith in sterling dnt it?
Toli
This has been posted to his official website. Wenger won’t like it if there is interest though;
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BdAJ8U9IMAEKk8T.jpg
“Think Einstein wrote something about that? If you had a powerful enough telescope and pointed it out into the Universe you’d end up staring at the back of your own head?
I think Einstein might have had an online dispute with Keyser.”
Loooooooool, Cesc this almost killed me!
RED ALERT.
Falcao hinted at a january exit.
chelc just went from 6/1, to 4/1 to sign him in the bookies.
Doubt we’re interested in Berbatov if his PR team are sharing link on facebook…
Liverpool are also hot favourites to sign Tello from Barca. Rodgers certainly doesn’t rest on his laurels
Tello isn’t that good, more of a Liverpool buy, I’d be happy with Salah in our team. Such a talent .
berbatov would be a disaster, Bony on the otherhand….
gambon is right. Agree with his assessment of berbatov and his shopping list for summer.
Berba with our service, , ozil, etc. Could be the deal of all deals. Value.
My source tells me we are going t make a massive signing.
With berba it’s more – what instead? It’s January.
My source tells me we’re buying fuck all.
Guns of brixton January 2, 2014 20:52:13
RED ALERT.
Falcao hinted at a january exit.
chelc just went from 6/1, to 4/1 to sign him in the bookies.
That would be bad news for us.
stay denchJanuary 2, 2014 21:07:13
berbatov would be a disaster, Bony on the otherhand….
I was wondering who might mention him.
berba 33 year old whose legs have gone, whose not physically strong enough nor active enough and doesn’t put enough effort to be a lone striker.
In what way can berbatov be a lone striker its such a poor unthought out idea.
His great technically but he is simple doesn’t have the physce or pace to play as a lone striker.
hes agent to get last big pay-day
berbatovs been there and done it though. he aint short of goals
He isn’t past it, ran the show at emirates last season.
id take berbatovs instead of nothing.
Swansea paid 12.5M for Bony in the Summer. They wouldn’t let him come unless we offered big money.
What would you prefer?
Berbatov for now and a top striker in the Summer or Bony now and nothing in the Summer?
Bony isn’t top class!
HR,
Exactly.
Berba would finish off all the easy chances Giroud misses.
Also, he’s a real threat on corners…
We never score from corners these days.
This is getting just too ridiculous . he’s just gone and posted this. What is the guy mad? Wenger will not have I tell you!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BdAUIghIMAATHvY.jpg
We need pace & power in our team. Berbatoss would slow things right down to crawling pace. The last thing we need.
Berahino is one for the future. Huge potential – talking worldy.
And can add goals now. 12-15m would be enough.
we do need pace and power but berbatovs would provide good cover maybe even competition for giroud at least , and before we start talkin about being slow just take a look at what a good reader of the game can achieve without pace. mertesacker? giroud? if giroud could finish he would be doing fine without any pace right?
Berahino?
Hahahahahahahahaha.
personally i would be looking for two players one would be berba to provide competition to giroudand the other would be the striker i could see winning us the big games where we lack infront of goal.
Berbatov !
U are havin a laugh arsene
I agree Samir
One good game inflates price by 10m
Kalou it will be ,,,,,
Somethings up;
https://www.facebook.com/YayaSanogoal/posts/560081260747938:0
arrgh!
kwik is right something is definitly up!
the damn live transfer sites arent saying shit though!
Well said Pedro on Talksport.
Guns
If youre kwik you’ll get 7/4 on Sky Bet 😉
What’s sangogo saying ?
A friend of mine claiming berbas been signed . . . another isnt, one says its all false. . . this is why i hate transfer windows. cant tell truth from crap.
If he signs our not this guy won’t give a shit. He’s just too fucking cool;
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BdAhcZiIcAAKXQg.jpg
Cheers kwik
but i dnt gamble.
🙂
Kalou I tell ya
Imagine we sign him 2day, and he scores a hattrick vs the spuds!
Fulham striker Dimitar Berbatov is close to signing for Premier League leaders Arsenal for £2m. (Source: The Sunago)”
2m bloody bargain. manure forked out 30m, yeah for younger berba, but still a bargain. i expected 5-10m at least
Our goals this season, enjoy!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/10547979/Gedion-Zelalem-may-make-Arsenal-debut-against-Tottenham-in-FA-Cup-at-the-Emirates-Stadium.html
Wenger please don’t.
Berba only has 6 months left on his contract does he not?
Meaning he could sign a pre contract now…Leaving on a free in the Summer.
Fulham would bite our hands off for 2M now.
Rumours are Liverpool want mata on loan if Liverpool pull that off they would do some damage I can’t see Chelsea loaning him but they have victor Moses but I guess they didn’t realise Liverpool be challenging
Samir
Fulham are in a shit position really but they could demand some money it depends on arsenal value him at certain price I say £2m is good enough am sure he can score at least 10 goals for us min
Maybe wenger can give him 6 month deal and am sure £2m would be great business if we win the title and progress in champions leahue
Mirko vucinic is also available for £8m that’s not a bad buy actually rumours are juventus are in town to discuss transfer he is a good finisher the only problem is how will he settle
Berbatov now takes it off his facebook. Controversial.
My team for Spuds:
……………..Chesney………
Jenkinson–Koss–Vermy–Monreal
…………Flamini–Frimpong…….
Gnabry–Rosicky–Podolski
………………Berbatov………..
Okay…Giroud in place of Berbatov 😉
How do u guys feel if we lose to the spuds?
If wenger puts his youngsters out like gnarby, zelalam, frimpong, Hayden
Leeds Gunner – thanks. Let’s just hope we get some action this January. Although it seems most people on here, myself included, are not holding our breath. We’ve been here before.
Stroller – think we are on the same page. Agree Ozil type signings are not going to be a regular occurrence. We all know Wenger often backs down if other big boys are after a player so if someone like Falcao becomes available we will never land him if Chelsea, City etc are also interested. Still, I’m trying to remain positive that we sign someone, anyone who can add a goal threat in the tight games in the next few weeks. February and March look real tough from a fixtures perspective so think we will need it.
Let’s all just hope that Gazidis has not been sitting around counting his pounds for the last 3 months and has been working on a plan to recruit some decent talent.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/10547871/Chelsea-plan-second-bid-for-Napoli-striker-Gonzalo-Higuain-after-having-50-million-offer-rejected.html
FFP and all that…
Gunnershabz
If we lost to Spurs with a second string side I’d be upset…But I’d understand!
We can’t afford anymore injuries…I’d rather concentrate on the league.
Samir
It’s our luck wish we had a shit team to play on Saturday but spurs have their injuries too actually
I would love and love to see Frimpong start vs Spuds
If we sign we need to sign someone tonight and officially announce before midday tomorrow for them to be eligible for saturday
Hmmmmmm:
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/358537/Arsenal-bid-for-Chelsea-target-Diego-Costa-and-prepare-32m-bid-for-Atletico-Madrid
Stingy arsene Wanka turned arsenal fans into desperate Twats.
Berbatov?
First brainwashed and tortured them with Giroud and Bendtner to make the lazy bum man utd reject looks like a top siging.
Get your head out of Wenger a55 you will see that he will be another pointless signing like Sanogo.
Lets hope its a smokescreen to take Van persie back, maybe I will forgive the traitor.
or someone a bit better.
Gustav,
Always check the small print
It said Salomon Kalou is available for 2.5 M.
Oh no!!!!
If we got Ozil and Diego Costa in the same season I would literally shit myself. We’d be that good
Sam
I saw that. I learned long ago to only believe so much that comes from the tabloids anyways. Until I see him in an official pic holding up the shirt I’m skeptical about all of it.
As for Kalu….I’d take him if we get Costa too…he could lead the line in the mikey mouse cup…
The Berbatov link on his Facebook page was apparently an automatic update from a feed, probably some online story with no source. It’s a non-starter.
talk on Costa now, gathering pace.
Costa’s the beans
I can’t help but think this is all a pipe dream. Wenger had months over the summer to buy a striker and failed. And anyway, why would Athletico Madrid sell one of their key players halfway through a season when they’re in contention?
Most likely for us we get a short term loan like Morata or that fucking Kalou that Wenger has been linked with EVERY SINGLE TRANSFER WINDOW since 2007. He is not what we need at all.
I hate the January transfer window. Distracts team, fans and managers alike… All sports market should be once a year. Berbatov, Costa, Kalou. Would it ever end? http://t.co/RKSu55mdk3
Kalou dot ballon’dor 😀
Kalou for ballon’dor 😀
If you’re saying Kalou should be old Golden Balls’ first signing in Miami, then yes, Warchest, I’m all for it!!
“Robson Reveals Which January Signing Can Help Arsenal Win Premier League”
I love these meaningless headlines on Newsnow and this is about as vague as they get. The answer = Former Arsenal midfielder Stewart Robson has urged Arsene Wenger to take the risk of signing Fulham striker Dimitar Berbatov in January in order to help the Gunners win the Premier League title this season.
I thought for a minute it might be a message from the grave from Bobby Robson, urgin us to buy a nascent Ronaldo…
New post!