I am a chilled person, I have had a life of meditation leading to an understanding that negativity invites negativity, but for all my working of the 12 step programme and the tenets of Buddha there remains one major stumbling block
My name is Big Raddy and I detest Spurs.
Believe me I have tried to feel less revulsion but even when we went all those seasons unbeaten against them the dislike remained. And unfortunately it is a progressive disease – my abhorrence is worse now than it was in Spurs “glory years” …. you know, those days of yore when the magnificent Steve Perryman and Ralph Coates graced the First Division
No comment needed
By the way when you hear Spurs fans talk about their great players tell them to think on this – Gascoigne, Lineker, Bale, Klinsmann, Ginola, Les Ferdinand all played less games for Spurs than young Szczesny has already played for Arsenal!! Basically anyone who is any good gets out of there are fast as possible.
Just wait until summer when Eriksen and Lloris leave the Lane like rats from a sinking ship, then the miscreants who run the circus can waste another shed load of money on rubbish like Soldildo and Paulinho (over €40m between them)
Onto today: Imagine you were a neutral (impossible, I know). How many Spurs players would get into a combined team? Perhaps one, at most two. Lloris and Kane. Eriksen is quality but better than either Cazorla or Ozil? Furthermore, as good as Kane may be he is not as good a centre forward as Giroud (yet).
Just for once I will send a little time writing about the knuckle-draggers (normally I dismiss them) but they are serious competition this season and I wonder why. A superb GK and a regular back 4 helps but let’s face it, their FB’s are average as is
Oh …. I can’t be arsed to write about the individual awfulness of the sad fools who have taken the filthy lucre to wear the cheap nylon shirt with the skinny cock emblem.
Let’s talk about the good guys.
Sometimes Mr Wenger is too honest for the team’s good. Whether Alexis is injured or not it would have made sense to pretend he was a certain starter. Puke-tino would have spent all week training his team to kick lumps out of our marvellous Chilean, instead AW tells the world and Spurs that he is out. Makes no sense to me unless it is a double bluff and Alexis starts!
If Alexis is injured the team almost picks itself; the same 11 who demolished Aston Villa though Mr Wenger may choose to beef up the defensive midfield by dropping either Santi or Mesut and playing Flamini alongside Coquelin. I hope not.
Many years ago I read a biography of Dave Mackay (google him) – couldn’t have been an autobiography as reading and writing are not skills associated with Spurscum – and in it he said something very sensible … “the best form of defence is attack.” Now George Graham and Me-rinho would disagree with Dave and their methods bring results.
Mackay demonstrating his football ethic
Recently the media congratulated Arsene on his change of tactics in the win at Man City but we had done the same many times before, not least last season at The Lane. I don’t like it, it is likely to cause me a heart-attack and I don’t want to depart this mortal coil until we have won the Champions League.
One of my major concerns is how our heroes will perform on the primordial ooze that is called the pitch at WHL; if you emerge from it like the Harry Kane I guess it is playable but to players used to enjoying England’s pleasant pastures it is a challenge. Hopefully we will have specially adapted boots.
Will we win today? Who knows? As always it is just 3 points and even if Spurs fluke a win we will still end the season above the knuckle-dragging Miscreants, but Mr Wenger has a fine record at WHL and we have reason for optimism
COYRRG
written by Big Raddy (who apologises for both the stomach-turning pics of Spuds and the intentional misleading headline)
Ok, it’s Rant Friday, and as usual when I pause to think for a moment beneath the happy veneer of my Arsenal World, I seethe. I’m vexed and the blood boils. I can keep the upper lip stiff no longer, and come Rant Friday, I crack.
So let me kick the day off.
East Standers. You make me sick. You’re an embarrassment to yourselves and The Club. The reason I’m picking on you lot is that I watch nearly all games on the telly and the camera points East, so tough luck.
Two games this season I did bother to rock up to were Palace and Southampton. You lot bugger off on 42 mins, then bugger off again on 85. You annoy me when I’m there, and you make me sick when I watch on telly.
What the hell is so ‘effing important that you have to leave so early. Please, just one of you come out and tell me. I know Holloway Road stays closed for an hour after the game, and there’s a short wait outside Arsenal Tube, but it’s a pleasant twelve minute stroll to Finsbury Park you fat bastards. What’s more, when you get there, you also have the choice of the faster Victoria Line. Jeepers.
And half time, what’s all that about. You can’t all have weak bladders, so I’m guessing it’s the delicious food and beer you’re after. Well, fill yourselves up with more fat and booze before the game why don’t you.
While I’m at it “Hey you skinhead over in Block 107, Row 2. Remember me from the Palace game, and the little chat we had”. No? Well, let me jog your memory. You looked a right tit leaving on 42 mins, and then rushing back to celebrate when we scored on 45. Then, you ‘effing tool, you did the same thing on 88 and guess what, we scored the winner on 90 and back you wobbled. Pathetic. What the ‘ucking hell is wrong with your sort?
Oh, and now my memory has been jogged, Southampton, and again I was in The East Stand. Cleared off is what many of you had done when Alexis pops up and scores the only goal on 90. You utter cretins had cleared off again. Unbelievable.
Anything any of you would like to get off your chest?
It appears that opinion on Theo Walcott divides supporters more than any other player – so much so that we’ve received 2 posts on Theo today giving opposing views on his worth to Arsenal. So should he stay or should he go? … have a read through both sets of arguments and cast your vote at the end. Ed
Arsenal’s biggest problem – Theo Walcott
After both the Brighton and Aston Villa games I was vocal in criticising Theo, I promised a post to explain why he was driving me to distraction so here it is.
Alan Hansen once claimed Theo didn’t have a football brain, this was along time ago and has since been proven wrong, however there is definitely a case to argue that he plays better on instinct than when he has to think about it. Take a look at the best goals he scores, when he is reacting under pressure he is far better than others, his quick feet and good shot come to the fore. When he has time to pick a spot in acres of space he can be wasteful.
But this isn’t his problem right now. I don’t think it’s a question of footballing brain but more one of footballing ego, there’s nothing wrong with a bit of arrogance on the pitch and belief in one’s own ability, but there is if it leads you to play in a way that is detrimental to the team.
In my view against both Brighton and Villa he was guilty of the latter, after his early goal against Brighton and the teams early goal against Villa he seemed to be appearing in the centre of the pitch far more than he should and it was forcing others to shift position. Against Villa this caused is to have a very poor hour in front of their goal. Having just watched the MOTD highlights this was confirmed by all our efforts on goal coming when Theo was staying wide, I remember several moments in the first half and one spell in particular where Theo was taking a more central position and our attacks lacked the cutting edge, not only that that but it caused us issues in the other direction. I don’t have a problem with our attack being fluid, but if the wrong players play in the wrong position I do.
Can’t play with back to goal
Theo is simply not physically suited to playing with his back to goal, he is always better running at goal, when he plays central he has to be able to receive the ball to feet under pressure from a centre back and quickly play a pass to an advancing midfielder or wide man.
I don’t think Theo has the best attributes to do this.
Making unselfish runs
When he has done the back to goal thing he has to be prepared to drag his marker away from goal and create space for others.
Against Brighton and Villa he did the first bit, but his next move was towards goal, which in turn made the area more congested as midfielders were trying to run into the space.
I think Theo’s presence centrally is mainly a selfish one to be amongst more goals so I don’t think he will prepared to run away from the goal as both Giroud and Welbeck do when they have played there.
One way to score
When Giroud plays as holdup man his next movement as well as dragging defenders out also presents a concern for defenders, his aerial ability means he can drift to the back post be on hand for a lofted ball or make an angle to be played into feet (especially if he is left side of goal) to score from a cut back. Theo can only really offer the latter. Which again makes us easy to defend against.
Effecting the opponents defensive line
By playing up top Theo’s biggest threat to opposition is a ball over the top, clever centre backs will drop off ten to twenty yard to nullify this, which in turn makes it more difficult to get the midfield and wide men bursting past the line, it also means if playing one of our wide men is Giroud who doesn’t have the burst of pace to offer a threat in the channels.
When Giroud is up top defenders have to mark him higher up the pitch to try and win the ball back earlier. And it means we have pace on the flanks.
Opponents full backs are released
One of the biggest problems is what it does to our balance defensively. With Giroud forced to play wide left or right by Theo’s change of position the opposition full backs are less worried about pushing on and leaving space behind them. Once Giroud has dropped in the full back knows he doesn’t have to be too wary, so can commit fully to his teams attack, which on Sunday afternoon resulted in balls into our box from two angles. If Theo sits wide then he can win the game of chicken with the full back as very few will back themselves in a foot race against our whippet.
The solution
As you can hopefully now see I manor criticising Theo for rustiness or skill set he has many good attributes that if used to the full can result in the goal he scored against Villa or Ozil’s goal our second against Villa.
Picking up the ball deep he had got past the midfield line in a flash and was laying the ball onto Giroud before the Villa defence knew what was happening.
His goal came from receiving the ball from Ospina on the left, and motoring at pace playing the ball to Santi and then intercepting the through ball destined for Giroud who had himself pulled wide creating a gaping hole for Theo to run into.
If Theo plays wide and stays wide until the gaps open up he can be lethal, particularly if working in tandem with Alexis on the other flank.
Writing this post I started to ask myself whether in fact it was Giroud and not Theo that was the problem, but after more consideration I decided not, I think the same would be true if Welbeck, Akpom or Sanogo were available to play up top. And I think what Olivier gives us is a plan A and B on the pitch from the start, take away some of his effectiveness by changing his position and we start to become one dimensional and dare I say it tippy tally again as defences drop deep scared of pace in behind.
When discussing both Ramsey and Coquelin in interviews this season Arsene has talked around the subject of best for the team or best for the player, Ramsey’s desire to get on the scoresheet was creating issues with the rest of the midfield, Coquelin he said had been signed as a ball winner but had begun to believe he was more a box to box player, he is beginning to play like a ball winner again and the team benefits. It’s what I believe makes Alexis such a huge asset and why he has been so instrumental this season, he is prepared to do what’s best for the team and knows how to get the best out of himself.
On Sunday our attack stagnated after our first goal primarily for me due to the positions Theo was taking up centrally, second half he stayed wider longer and was rarely seen waiting for the ball centrally, and suddenly we started scoring again. Time for Theo to use his attributes in the best way for the team, let’s face it we have plenty of options and if he wants the shirt regularly he will have to be a bit more like Alexis and a little bit less like Thierry in his last season.
Gooner in Exile
Theo Walcott – Sell him in the summer
What has changed over the past couple of months which has led to Arsenal fans being positive; something highly unlikely just 12 games ago? In my opinion even if the forces of evil fluke a win in the NLD we will still have a strong finish to our campaign.
The most obvious reason is the return to fitness of many of the most important members of the squad. We have been missing automatic starters in our first 11 – Ramsey, Ozil, Koscielny, Giroud and Walcott; their return inevitably improves our performances. We have seen the surprise arrivals of Bellerin and Coquelin and although I do not see Coq as a long term solution I would love to be proved wrong.
Ospina seems to be an admirable keeper and made couple of fine saves last weekend. Having kept 3 clean sheets he could be a key improvement in the defence. We have also seen a massive improvement in Monreal – that he keeps England’s best LB out of the team is evidence of his fine form.
Not Happy
Many say the reason for our upswing in form is a return to sensible defending but in my humble opinion the biggest difference is in the way we attack and in particular the return of Ozil. Ozil is world class, not Rooney world class but proper world class – Iniesta world class. Who else in the PL could have conceived and executed the flick pass to OG on Sunday? The answer is nobody.
Alexis is an automatic starter in any Arsenal team, as is Giroud who has become (very surprisingly) a quality CF – maybe the best in the PL. You may scoff but look at the assists he makes (sunday for Ozil, the flick for Wilshire’s goal of the season etc etc), OG is not a battering ram he is an intelligent striker.
And then there is Welbeck and Oxlade-Chamberlain both of whom deserve consideration thanks to their excellence this season.
And what about Theo?
The man is due to enter contract negotiations this summer. Last time he had us over a barrel as we had just lost Cesc, this time it will be different. I love Theo, he is a wonderful chap and a vastly improved player. He has developed his tactical awareness and makes superb off-the-ball runs. He has toughened up and is able to ride the vicious tackling his pace attracts. He scores goals. But is he good enough to keep either Ox or Welbz out the team, and even if he is the front 6 is surely Coquelin, Ramsey, Cazorla, Alexis, Ozil and Giroud.
Should Arsenal pay over €100k a week for someone who is effectively a super-sub?
Of course we should. It is madness to suggest Walcott should leave. Arsenal have invested many millions and almost a decade into the lad. He has to stay. Furthermore, Walcott is, at present, our best right side attacker. If the Ox is to force his way into the team it has to be at the expense of someone else and we are entering a period where there will be no established first 11.
We have yet to see the magic of the Ozil/Walcott combination but we saw glimpses of it on Sunday and it looked lethal, Add in the astonishing power and vision of Sanchez and the mouth waters.
Another reason to spend a pile of Wallmart dollars to keep Walcott is tied to our squad depth and why we need such a squad. The next decade will see Arsenal dominate the PL, Europe and the World. We will need quality throughout the squad to the point where no-one will have a guaranteed starting place. Just look at the squad AW is building, in every position we have a quality back-up and what is more they are almost all young men under 25.
TPIG, Bellerin, Gabriel, Chambers, Gibbs, Ramsey, Wilshire, Coq, Welbz, Akpom, Ox, Gnabry, Biedel, Jenks, Sanogo, Campbell are all under 25. Theo and Alexis are just 26!! World domination is around the corner IF Mr Wenger can keep this large squad happy and at Arsenal.
Walcott is an important member of our squad and must be persuaded of his value to The Arsenal. He has been at Arsenal for 9 years, let’s have another 3.
n.b. Post inspired after listening to Tim Stillman assuring us Theo will be sold in summer.
A significant 5 -0 victory against Villa following our win at Man City, things are looking up.
That victory was our 5th straight win in all competitions dating back to New Years Day and in fact the defeat that day at Southampton is our only loss in eleven games since the beginning of December plus our collapse at Stoke. A sequence that includes nine wins and a draw.
This week we go to N17 (spit) which is always a tough one, NLD games are, but there is a history of goals and some high scoring games in recent years so I’m expecting a few goals but we will come out of it with the three points on current form I’m certain. Then we have Leicester at the Ems on the Tuesday and only QPR and Burnley have conceded more goals than them. So this could be another opportunity to improve our goal difference. An away trip to Palace in another London derby follows that which again is a game the boys should win given current form and it’s worth pointing out that we also then host Everton and then visit QPR in the next two before welcoming the Hammers to the Emirates, so overall we have a promising set of fixtures and we don’t leave the smoke during that period.
Spuds (a) Leicester (h) Palace (a) Everton (h) QPR (a) West Ham (h)
That takes us up to, and including the 14th March. The fixtures following are favorable as well, Newcastle (a) Liverpool (h) Burnley (a) Sunderland (h) which then brings us to Chelsea at the Emirates on the 25th April. If the Chavs and City have both suffered a dip in form and dropped points, this could be a crunch game for second place, it could be……… couldn’t it?
Which then leaves us four games, Hull (a) Swansea (h) Man Utd (a) and finally, West Brom (h). We could have some changes of dates due to progressing in the FA Cup hopefully, but taking all those fixtures into consideration, I envisage us going on a good run of results for the last part of the season.
These are the difficult games our rivals have to play:
Liverpool have these out of their last 15 games: Everton (a) Spurs (h) Soton (a) Man City (h) Man Utd (h) Arsenal (a) Chelsea (a)
Man Utd: Spurs (h) Liverpool (a) Man City (h) Chelsea (a) Everton (a) Arsenal (h)
City have: Liverpool (a) Man Utd (a) Spurs (a) Soton (h)
Chavs have: Everton, Man U, Liverpool and Soton (h) and Arsenal (a)
Spuds have: Arsenal, and City (h) Liverpool, Man U, Southampton, Everton, (a)
When you compare those against our last 15 games with only Spuds and Man U away and Chavs ad Everton at home. By far we have the best run in………. well I think so anyway, don’t give a bugger for all you doomers 🙂
We have to take into account the FA Cup run to the Final and of course the Champions league, which should, barring a calamity against Monaco, see us reach the quarter final at least. But we nearly have a full strength squad plus the addition of Paul Easter for the back four. If we now remain injury free, who’s to say we won’t be challenging for the top spot come April? If we do get the required results and points, we will be relying on the Chavs, City and Utd dropping vital points, but on recent form, they will I think. Who knows, but at the moment I’m feeling very positive and still think we could nick it if things go our way. If we don’t we’ll at least retain the FA Cup.
We are 60% of the way through a campaign that not so long ago was dubbed Arsenal’s worst start to a Premier League season.
After 23 games in 2013/14 we had briefly dropped to 2nd in the table having occupied top spot for 12 weeks. We returned to the top the following game for a further 5 weeks before slowly sliding down the table to finish 4th …… oh really Sherlock I can hear you say (or words to that effect)
But would it surprise you to know that in terms of an exact comparison to last year i.e. the same fixture against the same team home or away, we are actually only 1 point worse off – and yet currently occupy 5th place.
The tables and graphics you see down the right hand side of your screen give a range of statistics that compare our performance to last season. I have added 2 extra columns to the ‘Comparison of fixtures’ widget to show how many points we have gained or dropped in the equivalent fixture this season.
From this you can see that we are 2 points worse off in our home games and 1 point better off in the away fixtures, making a net deficit of just 1 point …. not exactly a disaster.
Moreover, we currently have the strongest squad for a decade and contrary to last season, we have players returning from injury and very decent cover in all positions.
FGG made this observation after the Villa game …….. “5-0 and we still have this team who didn’t start today”…….
Fair enough this includes some currently injured and one on loan, but I could see that side finishing in the top half of the table – when could we last say that about Arsenal’s so called second string?
After 23 games this season we have 42 points – that’s the same points total as Southampton in 4th, and just 1 behind them on goal difference. We are 1 point behind Utd who are 2 behind us on goal difference. That means that if we win next weekend and Utd and Southampton lose or draw, we go 3rd.
The side is returning to full strength and our form is improving every game. We have improved the squad with the addition of Sanchez, Welbeck and Gabriel Paulista, and also seen a marked progression in Bellerin and Coquelin, both of whom I expect to feature regularly for the rest of the season.
It would not be unreasonable to expect us to gain at least as many points in the remaining fixtures this season as last. That would add 36 to our total of 42 giving 78 points, which would comfortably get us in the top 4, probably 3rd with even 2nd still a possibility if City fall away.
So it’s all to play for now for the rest of the season. Not only do we have the strongest squad for a long time but one where there is very little to choose from in terms of quality between the 1st and 2nd choices in most positions.
Competition for places is a good thing. We have the strength in depth to allow for squad rotation without fear of significantly weakening the team as our victory over Villa showed. There are no prima donnas in the dressing room, morale is high and the belief is returning.
We’ve had a relaxed of transfer window. We’ve secured the important early signing of Paulista with no need for further additions. We’re nicely set up for a strong push to the end to the season with the possibility of retaining the FA Cup and progressing to the QF of the Champion’s League ….. after that, who knows?
Strap yourselves in and enjoy the ride, you may well be pleasantly surprised by the end of this ‘disastrous’ season.
Easy peasy, lemon squeezy. Five superb goals from the good guys and a clean sheet to boot, what more could we want from a Sunday midday match?
The same next week, I suppose is the answer to that question but one step at a time.
With Welbeck and Sanchez out we had to make do with Ozil and Walcott, I know, I know but needs must and all that and yet even with this handicap Arsenal brushed Villa aside with a top drawer display from pretty much every player throughout the team.
The first fifteen minutes were impressive, the interplay was crisp and precise: Walcott was making excellent runs through the middle and his team mates were finding him. Villa had no answer to his lighting fast speed but it was Giroud who opened the scoring with a deft little pass from the returning and ever stronger Ozil. The Frenchman found himself one on one with the keeper and seemingly when everyone thought he was going to lose control, he chipped the ball over the on coming Villa keeper and into the back of the net.
Everything looked set for a thrashing but we were made to wait as our initial impetuous plateaued. Somehow we managed to start letting Villa back into the game: Ospina needed to make a fine save to keep us ahead but no matter how hard we tried to make them look good and boy did we try, we were not able to succeed. Villa are absolutely awful.
There were a few frustrating moments in the first half; we should have wrapped the whole thing up a lot quicker, attacks were petering out too easily, although, now in the warm after glow of the win they can be comfortably filed under the heading of “Still a bit rusty”.
I think we started the second half the same way as we left off, no better no worse it looked as though the game was going to simply drift but 42 million pounds worth of talent does not stay anonymous forever – and it didn’t. I haven’t seen the replay so I cannot remember how the ball came to him but oh how deliciously sweet did Mesut Özil hit that it into the far corner. It had a purr factor of 10.
2-0, nerves settled and Wengerball was back on the menu. Not to be out done by the retuning German, the returning Walcott was going to get in on the act as well. Yet again, I don’t remember who played the ball to Giroud but Theo jumped on it before it got to him, instinctively controlling it before curling it past the keeper. It was a very well taken goal.
Villa were beaten and the play turned on “Olé” football with everything going through Cazorla who was outstanding as ever. He got on the score sheet with a penalty won by Chuba (hope he stays) Akpom, as did his fellow countryman Bellerin with a low precise drive into the corner which I think I am correct in saying was his first senior goal for the club.
All in all a result that we expected but as the saying goes: you can only beat the team in front of you and we did just that – emphatically.
Remember the opening game of last season? Remember the final whistle? The feeling of angst and anger following the disappointment of losing 1-3 to Villa pervaded the club. Perhaps that atmosphere created the determination which drove us to be top at Xmas (brilliantly predicted by Rocky Lives).
What has changed since then?
Ozil, Alexis, Chambers, Bellerin, Ospina, Welbeck, Debuchy. Quite an ensemble. Are we better? The points tally would say No.
I would be shocked if Villa scored 3 times this afternoon – they have been through difficult times, scoring just 11 goals – 9 less than the next worst (Hull), 28 less than The Arsenal and have scored one goal or less in their last 19 away games! Yet, their last game showed improvement, Villa beat high-flying Bournemouth in the FA Cup.
Lambert is yet another of the hyped managers who have been trumpeted by the media as the next big thing; like Laudrup, Clarke, AVB etc etc he is proving how difficult the PL can be. Do you think that if Mr Wenger managed Aston Villa they would be a better club and team? Of course they would.
Having won our last 4 games with increasing panache the portents are definitely for an Arsenal win but I have been supporting this team for too long to take a win for granted. This will not be a walkover – Villa have some excellent players; Benteke would flourish at The Emirates, Delph is a better Coquelin, the goal from new-signing Gil shows he is a talent, their defence is strong especially at CB. Beating them will require Arsenal to be in top form.
Benteke praying for AW to sign him
Enough of them, what about us? Selection is interesting as the long-term injured return to fitness and the first team. To Ozil or not? To Walcocott or not? To drop the excellent Rosicky or not? Ospina or TPIG? etc etc
Here’s my tuppence worth. Defence: Ospina has to start. Then it is Chambers or Bellerin. Given the pace of Villa’s attack (Ang-backdoor etc) I would start Bellerin. CB pick themselves. Monnreal desrves to keep his place after a good run of form.
Coquelin or Flamini? Coq deserves to continue. Tomas or Aaron? Sorry Mozart, but Aaron is essential. As wonderful as Tomas is I prefer the youth and power of Ramsey. Cazorla is undroppable, which leaves the attack.
Given the absence of Alexis I would play Ozil, OG and Theo.
Can you name all the managers of English clubs who have won the European Cup? Have a try.
Clough is easy, so is Paisley, SAF, Busby,. You may struggle with Fagan’s Liverpool or to remember it was Di Matteo who lifted Big Ears with Chelsea. But if I told you that Aston Villa have won the European Cup could you recall their manager without Googling? No? Neither could I 😀 (answer below)
Given yesterday’s results and the improvement in form of both the Knuckle-Draggers and the Hub-Cap Barons we need to in today. If we don’t it will be a huge disappointmet. But we will.
Too depressed watching yet another England batting collapse to write more.
Posted by Erik the Red 
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