Arsenal’s four new faces, how will they fit in?

August 12, 2014

The Premiership doesn’t get under way until next weekend but the Community Shield curtain-raiser gave us a chance to size up our reinforced squad.

Although our trio of World Cup winners was be missing, due to Wenger’s generosity in allowing them a couple of weeks extra holiday, it was instructive to see how Alexis, Campbell, Chambers and Debuchy got on against the reigning Premiership Champions.

The Emirates Cup produced a truly Jekyll and Hyde performance, an excellent and inspiring win over Benfica followed by a lack-lustre, low key kick about against a more committed Monaco team.

Joel 1

Campbell, who spent last season on loan at Olympiacos, looked comfortable against Benfica and took his scoring opportunity with aplomb. His World Cup and Champions League experience will stand him in good stead, as will the memory of scoring against Man. U. at Old Toilet. Not much can be said about his all too brief contribution against City, but he didn’t seem to be fazed by the occasion.

Calum 1

There has been much talk about Chambers and the possibility of his moving to central midfield but for the present, and in the absence of Mertesacker and the sale of Vermaelen, it appears logical to retain him at centre back where he did very well in his two previous outings. In another assured performance, against City, he showed good positional sense and the calmness of a much more experienced defender. Certainly one for the not too distant future.

Debuchy 1

Debuchy should slot in well at right back, an experienced international and, more importantly, an experienced Premiership player he has all the attributes to succeed as the long term successor to Bacary Sagna. He also had a good game, not only defensively but also showed his willingness to get forward and into the opposition’s box.

Alexis 1

And finally…Alexis. Of all the players signed during Arsene Wenger’s reign this one can stand alongside those other ready-made stars Vieira, Pires and Ozil. Of course Dennis Bergkamp should be included but, strictly speaking, he was signed on Bruce Rioch’s watch. A truly exciting signing, a player who can score goals, can light up a game with his pace, movement and trickery on the ball. His 45 minute cameo was enough to show that he can slot seamlessly into Arsenal’s attack. Finally I believe he will show just how good he is now that he’s out of Messi’s shadow.

Personally, I’m really excited by the signing of Alexis, more so even than that of Mesut Ozil last season. I think he is the player that Arsene has been looking for over the long lean years of Emirates Stadium debt. The player who will make a real difference. One that can inspire the team and make a big contribution to the future success of Arsenal FC.

Norfolk Gooner.

 

 

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Never mind the media bias – We laid down a Marker

August 11, 2014

If you support Arsenal then we emphatically beat the current Premier league holders, if not it was just a training session or to some yet another pre season friendly.

All I kept hearing was that City had so many players missing including Lampard, of all people, and Sagna. If Debuchy could play then so could Sagna. Of course the small matter of our three World Cup winners not even back in training was hardly mentioned.

I think Arsène Wenger summed it up pretty well.

“To win the Community Shield gives us a positive platform to prepare, but now the Premier League starts and we have to start well,” he said.

“We know that last season we were very consistent against the teams outside the top six and not consistent against the top six teams. The year before it was reversed, so let’s hope that this year it will be right on both sides.”

Three excellent goals from Cazorla,Ramsey and Giroud and promising displays by so many it would be hard to pick a man of the match. Chambers yet again showed his maturity for one so young, Debuchy had a solid game, Santi seemed to have recovered his form, Sanogo though not perfect caused havoc in City’s defence and with a little more composure will become a good asset for the squad. Alexis will ooze class and I for one can’t wait to see him, Ozil and Ramsey play together.

I could mention every player who all contributed to playing as a team and for the best part of an hour we bossed the game and even after several substitutes by both teams the result was never in doubt.

Wenger now has the pleasant headache as to who leave out and for the majority of players to think they are an automatic choice to start, they might just have to think again. Competition is healthy.

Confidence and an eagerness to perform well was the key to this result and this should bode us well.

With Vermaelen gone I expect another signing and if we can drop down the injury league table we have a fine chance of winning the League.

All in all a more than satisfactory performance and for all the statisticians out there, when did we last win a Final at Wembley by three clear goals.

kelsey

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Back to Wembley

August 10, 2014

Who on earth that lives in Islington would choose a second home in the suburbs of London?

Looks like The Arsenal have. Here we go again, and I feel it may become a familiar journey.

I cannot tell you how well prepared our opponents, Manchester City, are and how they stand in terms of injuries, fitness, or pre-season form, so I’ll briefly focus on The Arsenal.

Another week in the fitness boot camp should see the side a little sharper than during last Sunday’s game. I don’t know whether our Germans will be ready, but I doubt it, which will leave an insecure defence. I say insecure, not because of the quality of the players on the field today, but rather, because more than anywhere else, it’s an understanding between them that matters, and that takes time.

Up front, the question is where does Alexis play. Personally, I think we looked much sharper with The Chilean in the middle. So I’d love to see him flanked by pace, which means Joel and The Ox.

With Arteta likely to team up with Ramsey, that would leave Santi best suited to fill the void left by the recovering Mesut.

I do, however, see a strong case for playing Mozart, and that would mean leaving out Joel.

Anyway, it would be lovely to get a win and a trophy ahead of the real battle next weekend, but equally important, for Arsène to reveal more about his thinking.

A great season lies ahead, and how exciting to have genuine options for a pre-match chat down the boozer.

Written by MickyDidIt89

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Wembley memories – FA Cup 2014

August 9, 2014

A Vines’ Day out at Wembley

Saturday 17th May 2014

We set off at 8am from Nottingham to make sure of getting to Moons in plenty of time to become completely incoherent by 5pm.  Arriving at our Beaconsfield ‘budget’ hotel at just after 10am gave us plenty of time to  get a car park sticker (too early to check in),  walk to the bus stop for a short trip to Beaconsfield railway station and catch the 10.26 bus. The sun was already beating down and sun cream had been applied to all exposed parts.  Getting to the bus stop, we found out the boggers had changed the bus times a week earlier without letting us know! (Ant was gutted that the chance for a swift one at the ‘Spoons alongside the hotel had been forsaken)

A

 

A month earlier we had got the same bus and the bus driver had been a chav who said that the price for Gooners was 5 pounds, so when the bus finally came, Ant thought it was the same driver and asked what the fare was for Arsenal supporters. The foreign bus driver wondered why two fools dressed in red were talking to him as if they knew him. He tried to charge us more than last time but we negotiated the same price as before. Ant posted the following photo to Facepalm with the caption “Bus wankers” after a sketch from The Inbetweeners.

A2

We received an update from the Croydon branch of the Vines Gooners and discovered we were all wearing different Arsenal tops. Unforgiveable in Micky’s eyes for grown men to wear replica shirts but, come on, we had to wear red to Wembley even those of us that weren’t attending the stadium!

A3

 

By the time we got to Moons the Bus wankers photo had 12 likes. Jon and Matt arrived at the pub soon after us and Jon revealed his creation for the match. She Wore was sung with gusto and a few lucky Gooners had the opportunity to have their photo taken with the banner.

The atmosphere at Moons was lacking some vibrancy so we decamped for The Green Man.  The banner was tied up alongside the same burger van as we’d been in front of with the puffing giant from Norfolk at the semi and provided lots more photo opportunities for munching Gooners. Dennis knows what this chap had found in his burger!

A4

 

Ant managed to catch about 15 seconds of the AwayBoyz (sorry lads).  More photos galore and the odd pint followed.  Ant asked this chap what the hair piece was all about and he replied that it was a Niklas Bendtner tribute.

A5

The fence alongside us was being used as an extra toilet and Ant proceeded to take a few snaps of a few fans in the act.

A6

We had a bet on the nationality of the girl in the shorts below, some swearing blind that she wouldn’t be from North London, others wondering why not.  Turns out she was Croatian!

A7

 

Matt had produced an American themed packed lunch. Jon was distinctly unimpressed with the peanut butter and jelly roll! I remember eating Mesut’s Buffalo Chicken Wingers and Karbassiyoon’s Chicago Style Pizza, but can’t for the life of me remember Stan’s Thanksgiving buffet.

a8

 

One last photo in front of the banner and it was off to the ground.

A9

 

I do remember receiving a phone call from Micky just as we were leaving the pub but the man was talking such absolute gibberish, I had to cut him off. J The journey up from Devon with the plastic sheet must have taken it out of him.

When we arrived, the ground looked very red apart from a small gold and black section. This just had to be our day and it turned out that it was, as Rambo’s goal saved us from having to endure a win on spawny penalties.

A9a

 

We went back to The Green Man for a few liveners. Much needed at this juncture and then went back to the curry house we’d been to a month previously at the semi-final.

A9b

 

The train journey back was not particularly pleasant with one lad (not a football supporter) slumped over a waste paper bin being sick (luckily there was a plastic bin liner present).  His mate was dancing by himself to some shite music on his phone. When he started grabbing at Ant’s bag, “you’re not messing with my flags” quickly put him in his place.

We phoned for a luxury Merc taxi back to hotel to get back for the highlights. The poor chap on the check-in desk got some abuse when he couldn’t get the card machine to accept payment straightaway. Well we may have been missing the start of the programme!  We loved watching all the goals go in for the first time on a small screen and Ant swears I was snoring before the analysis section.

Football always has that capacity for the most extreme memorable highs. Thankfully this was one of them.

FA Cup Winners 2014 and what a belting day, bliss.

A lovely contribution by chas and his family

 

 

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Champions League draw today

August 8, 2014

I do like it best when we avoid having to play our way into the Champions League. To me, it’s unimaginable that Arsenal would not have a place in Europe’s premier competition and so I’m always worried that there’s a banana skin waiting at this stage.

Last season we breezed past Fenerbahce in the play-offs with Aaron Ramsey scoring two goals in the home leg to finish 5-0 on aggregate.

These are the teams we could face in today’s draw.

Spanish side Athletic Bilbao are in the draw. They finished fourth in La Liga. They were also seeded until Russian side Zenit St Peterburg – who have a higher co-efficient – beat Cypriot side Limassol in the third qualifying round. On paper they are probably the team to avoid.

Arsenal are seeded and so the other unseeded teams that we can be drawn against are FC Copenhagen (Denmark), Lille (France), Besiktas (Turkey) and Standard Liege (Belgium).

The two-legged ties will be played on 19-20 and 26-27 August.

The draw takes place today at 11.00 BST.

MickyDitIt, I believe, is hoping for a trip to Copenhagen although Bilbao would be his second choice.

Whoever it is we meet, I can’t wait to hear the Champions League anthem ringing out around the Emirates Stadium.

peachesgooner

 

 

 

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Chambers: a midfielder, really Arsène?

August 7, 2014

The most interesting and exciting part of Wenger’s post Emirates Cup interview to me was that he seems to genuinely believe that Chambers can play in the midfield.

Chambers 1

I don’t know enough about him to form an opinion but contrast that with Vermaelen for example?

We have spent hours and hours of blog time trying to persuade each other that Vermaelen could and should play as a DM in certain situations.

There have been games when this seemed the glaringly obvious thing to do; and yet no, Wenger has never played TV in the midfield and what’s more he has never suggested in any interview that it could be a possibility.

If I have thought about Arsenal during the off season it has been the FA Cup win that has sprung to mind rather than any other aspect of last season or at least it was, until that is I was rudely reminded by BT Sport’s advertising campaign of those awful thrashings we had to endure.

I am firmly in 26’s camp that those BT adverts which show the club and the supporters suffering so painfully will have a very positive effect; if that is, they haven’t done so already.

I have this boyish image in my mind of Wenger being shown them and then passing them onto Kroenke. My impression of these people is one of being gentle giants but those ads have been the equivalent of someone poking a big black bear with a sharp stick; the result being, that both Wenger and Kroenke have been so angered that they have gone into the transfer market with both guns blazing – and they aint stopped shooting yet.

The bad old days of Arsenal supporters either wanting Wenger to stay or wanting him to go are gone. The only divide that I can see is those who believe that he has learnt from those thrashings and those who think not.

Unsurprisingly I suspect, I like to think that he has learnt from those painful experiences and Chambers is evidence of how he is going to prevent such nightmares reoccurring.

For the majority of our games last season, and it will be the same this season, we will have 75% of the ball and we will play the majority of the game in the opponents half. In situations like this somebody shielding the back four is a waste of a player, far better to have an attack minded player like Arteta as our deepest midfielder.

But, we will also play City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manu and in those games we will not have such a high percentage of possession. Arteta is going to need help and this is where Chambers comes in. If Wenger is right and he can play in the midfield then for the first time since Gilberto (Shard will correct this no doubt) we will have a player whose skill set is first and foremost that of a defender playing in the midfield – a DM.

Let’s be clear, Arteta is not a defender; he has been converted into that role and fine as he is against lesser teams such as Palace and QPR he is another BT ad waiting to happen against the other bigger teams I mentioned above.

We have had two glimpses of Chambers so far and on both occasions he has looked calm and assured. If indeed any of what I have just said is likely to be part of Wenger’s way of thinking then the big test for Chambers will come Saturday the 13th of September against Man City, if he plays and copes there then we will know that Wenger is right and that he can play in the midfield.

Written by LB

 

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Arsenal. The Final Piece

August 5, 2014

I’ve spent four years going on about how we need a DM, and now I’m told the modern game has no need for such a creature, although according to Arsene, we play with a deep lying holding midfielder.

Well what the hell’s the difference? The way I see it is, we need someone to play somewhere above the centre backs and below the advanced midfielders. He will be fast, because speed is always good, a tackler, passer and interceptor, and being taller and stronger than most can only be a good thing as well.

vieira

One like this ………

In short, the player will get the ball, then give it to Ramsey. Really not that hard.

Thing is, we see how successful sides have a Schweinsteiger or Martinez. In other words a more physical presence.

The fact remains that to my mind Arsene revealed to the world something about his thinking when he signed up Kim Kallstrom. He was saying “Arteta and Flamini get injured, banned or tired, and I see that we need reinforcements in this area. We also get bullied in this area of play, so our man must be strong.

I’m not particularly in any one camp as to who the player should be, as I’ve only seen the odd game of all the usual suspects. Bender, Schneiderlin, Carvalho, Khedira and Martinez are according to the press top of the class, and although Martinez impressed me the most, any would be good. It’s hard to believe there are aren’t more candidates out there, but perhaps they are simply not expensive enough.

I think it’s important to add some perspective. What we are actually talking about is the team overall, as much as one specific position. Arsene is looking to improve on what we achieved last season, and this means better results in a handful of games, and these are the “bigger” games. Going to the next level in the Champions League, eliminating the thrashings we got from Pool and Chelsea, and taking wins from games against the likes of Utd.

Some of these things can be achieved with better collective defensive discipline, and some will be addressed by our new attacking potency care of Mr Sanchez.

So, back to this bloody DM thing. Can we find the solution from within? I don’t think so. Diaby cannot be relied upon, and in my opinion is more box to box anyway. Coquelin is simply not good enough yet to take us to the next level, which only leaves Chambers who, let’s not forget, was described by Arsene as being able to be deployed as RB, CB or in midfield.

Right Lads. Today let’s try and sort this out once and for all.

Do we need a new player in this position that doesn’t exist anyway?

Written by MickyDidIt89

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Posted by peachesgÖÖner

Oi, Wenger, spend some money.

August 4, 2014

One day chicken, next day feathers; I trot this line out at times like this as it always seems to strike the right note.

On Saturday we were already dreaming of where in Islington we would be standing as the bus drove by with our players holding the EPL up high and just one day later we were wondering, more seriously than we had done for a while, just how likely the chances really are of signing Khedira.

Well, I was anyway, shallow moi? You just can’t have enough new toys; that’s what I say.

I actually think that that signing is far more likely than we are allowing ourselves to dream but anyway back to the game.

This is where I should say that is was only a friendly and we shouldn’t read too much into it but grrrrrr, I hate losing. I am sure Wenger learnt a lot from the two games and should be able to pick a formidable side to face City next week.

If Wenger wants to win that game rather than simply give players pitch time then Rosicky is surely a must start; he linked the defence with the attack and moved the play forward with a greater intensity than any other player was capable of yesterday. Rosicky also freed Ramsey up to burst forward with a far more effect against Benfica than he was able against Monaco.

I know it is wrong to start pointing fingers this early on; it was only a friendly as I made clear above – but we are Arsenal supporters and that is what we do. lol

Giroud – really?

I know things didn’t go exactly as planned against Monaco but we all know that amongst our squad we have a very good first team and the one thing we lacked last season: a fast, creative, goal scorer with great control has now been procured. Sanchez is going to give us everything we lacked up front last year and the EPL should be scared, very scared.

Ollie obviously still has a place, there will be teams that suit him more and he can be deployed when needed.

Wilshere?

I can’t, I shouldn’t; it really is too early for that one. All I would say is that I did notice a little boy in the middle of the park pointing at Jack while mouthing something about an emperor and not having any clothes on. OK I lied about it being too early.

Chambers seems more assured that Miguel which was a bit of a surprise to me, maybe, as GIE suggests, he should have gone out on loan earlier.

I was also surprised to read people disagreed with my comment that I expected Chambers to spend the same amount of time on the bench as Jenkinson did last season.

What? Is he going to play ahead of the BFG? No. Is he going to play ahead of Koscielny? No. Debuchy? No, so how is he going to play more than Jenkinson? Come on people, keep up.

Debuchy was almost anonymous yesterday which I liked; he did everything he was supposed to do and did it well, without fuss. And here’s the kicker, his crosses are so much better than Sagna’s, I know I am probably telling some the incredibly obviously equivalent of grass is green but it needs to be said.

So much for Wenger learning not to over use Ramsey, that man is going to work so hard that Welsh pit ponies will feel sorry for him.

And lastly, if you ever wondered why I don’t do match reports after we lose? Well now you know, I am a miserable git.

But this will all change next week after we beat City.

COYRRG

Written by LB

 

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Arsenal 5 Benfica 1- a great afternoon’s entertainment

August 3, 2014

Well, what a great afternoon’s entertainment that was?

Plenty of new players to see for the first time, confirmation that others are moving in the direction we hoped for — and goals!

Lot’s of goals. I know the expression goes “from the sublime to the ridiculous”, well somehow Sanogo has managed to go from the ridiculous to the sublime.

Once again he started the game with all the control of a puppy with a beach ball but somehow turned this around to bag himself four goals.

And what’s more we discovered that he is a good dancer, there were some great moves going on as he celebrated his goals; well, almost, all except the last goal when he ran to the fans to do his celebration dance and some how managed to trip over his feet. Everyone howled with laugher in the pub and the inevitable thought of “from the sublime to the ridiculous” returned.

Sanogo

The thing I like about him above all is how he always plays with a smile on his face; he is very, very confident, and yet somehow he manages to carry this off without a hint of arrogance. There never seems a moment when things start to get him down — miss a sitter, no probs I’ll get the next one. The only thing that was completely unexpected was that this time he did get the next one and the one after and the one after that, four times in all.

He seemed to have some kind of injury towards the end and to my absolute surprise I actually cared. Well done Yaya more of the same please.

Around this time in the pre-season I think that most of us usually have a good idea of what is going to happen as regards to players in and players out; well, normally but yesterday when the team was announced along with the subs I realised I still haven’t got a clue who will be with us at the start of the season. There still seem so many possibilities for players to be sold or go out on loan.

It was good to see Campbell in the glorious red and white at last, he took his goal well. The problem is that he, Ozil, Walcott, Sanchez, Ox and Gnabry all play out on the right, I know it is possible to make the case that some of them can play in other positions as well but there is no hiding the fact that that position is a little over crowded and at least one must surely depart?

The other position around which we can surely expect change is the central defence: Monreal as a CB – really? Vermaelen is obviously shopping around, where was Diaby today and I for one will not rule out Khadira’s arrival until the shutters are firmly down on this transfer market. See what I mean there are still so many more possibilities for change.

I expect to see Callum Chambers on the bench or playing as much as Jenkinson did so last season. He had a very reassured debut and I certainly agree with GIE that he is CB in waiting, a position that requires far more skill and maturity than a right back.

Everyone else played their part well: Rosicky appeared sharp as did the Ox. And finally we got to see the player we had all been waiting for: Alexis Sanchez. While just sitting on the bench the man projected an image of being a “star in waiting” and the Chilean certainly didn’t disappoint when he came on; the man oozed class. But the stand out player of the afternoon was, of course, Ramsey, what a power house we have in the still young Welshman. Go Rambo.

A very happy afternoon, onwards and upwards.

Written by LB

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Arsenal and Saturdays are back.

August 2, 2014

The Emirates Cup. What’s it all about then?

Well, it’s the first get together of the season at The Emirates. Four teams playing two games each over two days. A competition in its seventh year, it begins at 14:00 today with Valencia playing AS Monaco, followed by Arsenal taking to the field against Benfica at 16:20.

It’s a fitness sharpener, a chance for mates to get together, and it will be the weekend when many of the next generation of supporters get their first taste of seeing The Arsenal, and we all remember that day.

It will be the first glimpse of our new signings, and fans may well see Sanchez, Chambers and Debuchy, while Ospina is definitely ruled out.

I will be particularly interested to see how Joel Campbell performs now that he’s back in the squad.

For those going, there’s a sense of “thank God, the summer’s over”. Hour upon hour of pretending to be in interested in some bloody awful sport to fill the gap. “Ok, I thought, I’ll really get to grips with the Tour de France as that’ll occupy me for two weeks. Then the English bloke fell off after ten minutes. Athletics? Oh blimey, no Usain Bolt, forget it. Synchronized diving? Nope.

Today, however, the wait is over. Fans get to see their second home again. Some can even get there early to see the wonderful new posters hanging around the ground on their elegant galvanized steel posts. Something for everyone today.

Most importantly, the sacred turf. Ahhh…sigh.  Many of us mow lawns, and many of us do the Arsenal Head Groundsman Stadium thing. You know damn well what I’m on about. The lines one week, wide ones, narrow ones, little circles the next. For me the highlight of any seasons’ first game is that first glimpse of the green carpet laid out before you as you enter the arena. The promise of so many memories that will be forever engrained in your memory over the coming season. Hope. Expectation. The unknown.

I won’t do any kind of team sheet, as it would be purely guesswork ahead of two days of change, but if you are going, enjoy seeing your chums, getting back into the familiar surroundings of your pre-match routine, and knowing that finally, all is once again as it should be.

Our weekends are back, and they start today.

MickyDidIt89

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