All I Want For Christmas Is… Abou Diaby (with Batteries Included)

December 7, 2012

Just before the away game at Aston Villa we were told that Abou Diaby would be back in “three to four weeks.”

That game took place on November 24th, you may remember (and who could forget such a thrilling display of attacking football?).

So if we are to trust Arsene Wenger’s assessment of Diaby’s fitness, he is due back at the earliest around December 15th (just in time for Reading away).

For some reason (can’t quite put my finger on it) I am reluctant to assume that the lanky Frenchman will be mending his damaged bits in an accelerated fashion… so let’s forget that “earliest” return date.

In fact, let’s not even buy in to the later date – which would be around December 22nd (Wigan away).

Let’s assume instead that Abou appears all shiny and mended in our big Arsenal Christmas stocking. With all the batteries included so he’s in full working order.

At that point, provided he doesn’t injure himself on a walnut while extricating himself from the stocking, he might well be ready to resume his Arsenal career when we entertain the Hammers on Boxing Day.

I know what the cynics among you are thinking: “who still puts walnuts in Christmas stockings?”

Oh, and: “Diaby has as much chance of being back in three to four weeks as a three hundred pound fat bloke with a red suit and white beard has of fitting down my chimney.”

Well, that’s the joy of the festive season: magical things happen; wishes become real; and for a brief moment in time we all become children again.

The simple fact is that this Arsenal team, which has made such heavy going of a string of recent games, is in need of fresh impetus.

In the first half against Olympiacos on Tuesday night a returning Tomas Rosicky showed exactly what a talented player can bring to the team – especially one who has not been involved in the morale-sapping outings of recent weeks.

Diaby can have a similar effect if (please let it be a “when”) he returns to full fitness at the end of the year.

He can be a frustrating player at times, but he also showed earlier this season how effective he can be against even the strongest opponents. Imagine that man-of-the-match performance against Liverpool repeated in game after game during the rest of the season.

His injuries have made his Arsenal career more stop-start than the Central Line and it’s understandable that many supporters have given up hope of him ever becoming a regular fixture in the side.

The odds must be against him but maybe – just maybe – this time he will come back for real. Maybe all those months and months of treatment, all the surgeries and physiotherapy will finally rid him of the legacy of that ghastly Dan Smith tackle.

You can’t help but feel that the half of the season that runs from January to May is Abou’s last chance to show he can do it.

If his ailments keep him out for all or most of that period surely even Arsene Wenger will have to give up on him.

It would be a crying shame for a gifted player – and for Arsenal. We have already lost the best part of several seasons’ worth of his contributions in his seven and a half seasons with us.

But right now, just like children all round the world, I am willing to believe.

Come on Abou – you can do it!

RockyLives

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Posted by RockyLives

Can Arsenal be in the top four by the New Year?

December 6, 2012

Looking at the standings as of December 5th we languish in 10th place, while not the worst start in our PL history it’s pretty close, only 1994/5 was worse when we had only 5 wins and 19 points versus our current 5 wins and 21 points.

Our play has been very spotty, our incisive passing and our high energy game has eluded us and many of our players are not in the best of form.

The teams quarrelling with us over the 3rd and 4th spots are Chelsea, Tottenham, West Bromwich, Everton, Swansea and Stoke, with only five points separating the teams. (The writer is conceding the top two places to Manchester)

Each team has five league games to play before the end of the year and, being a positive type I’ve assumed, for the sake of the following analysis, that we will regain our elusive form.

I will list each of the teams showing their current points, the teams they will play and the points that I estimate they will earn.

Chelsea is currently at 26 points and will play –

Sunderland away, a win and 3 points

Southampton home, a win and 3 points

Aston Villa home, a win and 3 points

Norwich away, a win and 3 points

Everton away, a draw and I point

This will give them a total of 39 points.

*

Tottenham Hotspur is currently at 26 points and will play –

Everton away, a loss and zero points

Swansea home, a draw and 1 point

Stoke home, a draw and 1 point

Aston Villa away, a win and 3 points

Sunderland away, a win and 3 points

This will give them a total of 34 points

*

West Bromwich Albion is currently at 26 points and will play –

Arsenal away, a draw and 1 point

West Ham home, a draw and 1 point

Q.P.R. away, a win and 3 points

Norwich home, a win and 3 points

Man U away, a loss and zero points

This will give them a total of 34 points

*

Swansea City is currently at 23 points and will play –

Norwich home, a win and 3 points

Tottenham away, a draw and 1 point

Man U home, a loss and zero points

Reading away, a win and 3 points

Fulham away, a win and 3 points

This will give them a total of 33 points

*

Everton is currently at 23 points and will play –

Tottenham home, a win and 3 points

Stoke away, a draw and 1 point

West Han away, a win and 3 points

Wigan home, a win and 3 points

Chelsea home, a draw and 1 point

This will give them a total of 34 points

*

Stoke City is currently at 22 points and will play –

Aston Villa away, a win and 3 points

Everton home, a draw and 1 point

Tottenham away, a draw and 1 point

Liverpool home, a draw and 1 point

Southampton home, a win and 3 points

This will give them a total of 31 points

*

West Ham United is currently at 22 points and will play –

Liverpool away, a draw and 1 point

W.B.A away, a draw and 1 point

Everton home, a loss and zero points

Arsenal away, a loss and zero points

Reading away, a win and 3 points

This will give them a total of 27 points

*

Arsenal is currently at 21 points and we play –

W.B.A. home, a draw and 1 point

Reading away, a win and 3 points

Wigan away, a win and 3 points

West Ham home, a win and 3 points

Newcastle home, a win and 3 points

This will give us a total of 34 points.

*

Based on my estimates the table at the end of the year would look like this

1. Man X

2. Man X

3. Chelsea

4. Arsenal

5. Tottenham

6. Everton

7. West Bromwich

8. Swansea

9. Stoke

10. West Ham

I known what you’re thinking estimates are just guesses, and you are right, but at least to my way of thinking all is not doom and gloom and we are still in with a good shot at finishing in the top four.

But if we lose to West Bromwich on Saturday even my bright outlook may become a little clouded.

Written by GunnerN5

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Posted by peachesgÖÖner

Second string Arsenal slip to narrow loss in Athens

December 5, 2012

For the third year in four Arsenal found themselves in Athens in December playing against the Greek champions with the chance to top their Champions’ League group.

As qualification had already been secured Arsène Wenger decided to rest a majority of the starting eleven from the weekend defeat to Swansea, with the team being made up of mainly squad players or youngsters.

Chesney was in goal with a back four of Jenkinson, Squillacci, Vermaelen and Meade, possibly the shortest player Arsenal have had in recent years, recalling memories of another short left back, Juan.

The midfield was made up of Coquelin, Ramsey and Rosicky behind a forward line of Gervinho, Chamakh and Oxo, who seemed to tuck inside or play a little further back than the two departees for the African Cup of Nations next month.

Despite the Olympiakos stadium with a capacity of 32,000 being less than full the game got off to a noisy start with Arsenal starting calmly, of not confidently with Chamakh winning a fair number of headers and a pattern emerging of Gervinho dwelling on the ball for too long and slowing many attacking moves. That being said, a Gervinho through ball for Chamakh early on nearly led to a shot, as did a pass from Coquelin that found our resident hookah smoker just offside after he was also involved in some defensive headers.

While the Moroccan seemed to be working hard however his lack of sharpness showed with another through ball being wasted due to a heavy touch when he almost beat the Greeks keeper, Roy Carroll, to the ball.

The first good chance for arsenal found Ramsey running onto a Chamakh pull back and then fluffing his shot rather tamely. As ever Ramsey was always showing for the ball even though some of his passes weren’t coming off and was energetic throughout.

After Arsenal’s first period of possession and attacking threat the Greeks were probing our right flank as Abdoum and Torosidis were combining well to set up scoring opportunities, while our left side was being fairly well looked after by the full debutante Meade.

And as well the centre back pairing of Vermaelen and Squillacci seemed to be working quite well, with the skipper in better form than of later with many vigorous clearing headers.

As is typical with football when one side starts to dominate they concede a goal on the counter as was the case here. Despite Gervinho constantly frustrating with making so many wrong choices in attack he cut the ball back for Tomáš Rosický onto and place into the net, 1 nil to Arsenal on 38 minutes.

rosicky scores

With Schalke only drawing at that stage it looked like the unlikely scenario of Arsenal topping the group was on at half time, when it remained 1 nil to the away side, despite a few more forward forays from the Torosidis/Abdoum axis in the last 5 minutes of the first half.

The second half started with Rosický being replaced by Arshavin, and a few early half chances for Arsenal to extend their lead with goal ward headers from Squillacci and Chamakh.

A Chamakh cross after another Arsenal counter attack was too high for Arshavin to do much about; the Russians ariel threat being virtually non-existent.

Olympiakos got more into the game as the half wore on and Coquelin found himself getting stretched to the extent he was given a yellow card for one lunging/grappling tackle too many on Abdoum, who was a menace.

Chamakh’s hard work almost paid off after he stole possession from an opposition midfielder and threaded a ball through to Arshavin who drew a good shot from Carroll.

Then a cross from the Olympiakos led to a headed shot on the Arsenal goal that appeared to come off the post but was called a corner, to the dismay of the furious Chesney, who was booked for his protestations. To rub the salt in the equaliser came from the resulting corner as a ball back into the danger area bounced off the chest of the unfortunate Ramsey into the path of Maniatis to bundle home, one one on 64 minutes.

Sensing a chance for victory Olympiakos brought on their star striker, Mitroglou, who soon worked some space in the area to curl home a snot that put the home side in front and complete a miserable turnaround as far as Arsenal were concerned.

Aside from another Arshavin run and shot and Oxo finding a second wind with some darting runs the home side held onto the ball and ran down the clock to record a win which, in terms of the final group table, meant nothing.

Charybdis1966

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Posted by ChärybdÏß1966

Olimpiacos and other Narratives

December 4, 2012

Two draws followed by a painful home defeat. How will Mr Wenger react to this poor run of form? He will send out a second rate team and pray for a draw.

We saw in the home leg how good Olympiacos are and they have a 100% home record in the Greek Super League. which they lead by 10 points.  On that rain-soaked night in October we struggled, particularly in the first half when Olympiacos showed why they are Greek Champions. We eventually won 3-1 thanks to a good performance from Gervinho and a lovely Ramsey finish in the final seconds.

gun__1349341050_ramsey_oly

This is an important game for Olympiacos who will be eager to achieve a Europa Cup place, and with Montpelier taking on Schalke they must be favourites. Add in the noisy and colourful home fans plus our 3-1 loss last season in a similar situation and you can appreciate my concerns. For once, BR thinks Arsenal will lose.

Would losing be costly? If Schalke win first place is beyond us and I believe they will win in Montpelier, so we are likely to finish second. Not really a problem. But at what cost to the morale of the team, is it in their interest to be sent out as lambs to the slaughter? Is it sensible to have young players remember that the first time they played in the first team they lost? Trouble is, the resting of the first team is more important than winning tonight, it is the reward for early qualification.

My Team:

oly v arse

With Rosicky coming off the bench on 60 mins, and some young fresh legs to replace Gervinho and Ox.

Today’s explorer: Darwin’s mate let us down at the weekend, let’s hope this chap brings better luck. Francis Light (1740 – 1794). Founder of Penang, Malaysia. Born in England, his father was unknown but he was lucky enough to be taken in by a wealthy aristocrat who had him educated as a naval officer (oh yes ….). For 10 years Light travelled around the Far East being based in Phuket (nice work if you can get it) before leasing Penang and developing Georgetown.. BR has spent many a happy hour in Penang so thank you Mr Light.

images

Further proof. No facial hair, no Title

It would be wonderful if tomorrow we were writing about the fighting spirit and never-say-die attitude of the team. We may not win but make us proud boys.

Written by Big Raddy

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Posted by Erik the Red

The Boxer

December 3, 2012

Have you ever seen an ex-champion boxer? I have.

Ageing, outdated, short on his wits. He can’t dodge the punches or predict his opponents next move.

Weighed by expectation, jaded by the years.

Last Saturday I watched Arsène Wenger stand on the touchline at Villa Park, drenched and lifeless.

Is this the man I have come to know and begrudgingly admire? The Professor?

The sophisticated, urbane, mastermind. The man with the plan.

He looked a beaten man.

I have spent the last week thinking of the good times. Of the first double, of Bergkamp, Henry, of Vieira and the Invincibles. Of the fast football, a team playing off the cuff.

Arsène deserves respect and lots of it but not immunity.

We convince ourselves every time that the players leave for the money and I’m sure that’s true but they also leave for success.

If you deny that you are deluded.

In recent summers Wenger has failed to convince stars to stay with a salary budget that was big enough to keep them.

Meanwhile millions are wasted on the salaries of players that are not good enough for this club.

Are the Board really offering Wenger a budget of £50m for transfers?

In my opinion, No

Is Wenger told he has to break even in the transfer market?

Well the proof of the last 7 summers tells you that is the policy. We break even on transfers, that isn’t coincidence.

So let me ask this, if Arsène came out tomorrow and said “the board are withholding funds from me” who would you back?

I wouldn’t trust our board with a pound in a phone box. I would trust Arsène.

Would I trust them to pick a successor? No

I don’t like 4-5-1 or 4-3-3 and the use of it coincides with the start of our demise. It coincides with a loss of direction, a loss of nerve.

Play 4-4-2, and for god sake play Walcott up front before you lose yet another one you stubborn old fool.

If you had  told me 7 years ago that I would be watching a bunch of overpaid minatures playing 4-3-3 with thousands of empty seats and a club run by Americans I would have laughed. I’m not laughing now.

I don’t claim to understand tactics but I understand this.

If you lose your sharpness, if you lose your edge in any sport then your are finished.

Play your system, recover your style, have a go Arsène, have a go.

If this is it, if this is how you go out, then you’re not the man I thought you were.

“We could have made a 0-0.”

Really, Is that all you’ve got?

Is that where we are now?

We could have made a 0-0 with Swansea.

Get some pace, take “le handbrake” off, play your way and be true to your beliefs.

How many times, have we heard “we had the handbrake on”. It’s your car Arsène, your handbrake.

Are you going down with a whimper?

Have you lost your nerve?

Have you gone soft?

If this was a fight then this is the moment with the sponge in the corner. The trainer telling you to step up, throw some punches and move your feet. This would be that moment.

I’m not suggesting we have a team of champions but they are good enough to beat Sunderland, Norwich, Fulham and Swansea. We got 2 points.

Either they aren’t trying or they have lost faith in what you are saying.

Stop talking about the spirit of team. Stop telling us the world is against us. The whole club has a complex.

I still think you can win the last round but if you can’t dodge the punches Arsène, maybe it’s time to get out of the ring.

Written by Arsenalista

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Posted by peachesgÖÖner

Question Time

December 2, 2012

Swansea were very good, Arsenal were very poor. Why?

GiE – who was at the game – made this fine comment yesterday after the game………………..

Several times in the first half with the ball at centre backs feet I looked up to see a high Swansea line and Theo one on one with the left back. This is where you would normally see a player of Theo’s pace point to the space and start running. The statuesque nature of some of our players up front today was something I have seldom seen throughout Wenger’s reign.

Oh and finally what most impressed me with Swansea today the unselfish runs of their midfielders and attackers, runs they made willingly despite not being likely to be played in, it’s that movement that creates space for others.

In short the teamwork that we displayed at Anfield has disappeared, and the question that has to be asked is why? Same manager, pretty much same players, but for some reason the workrate has dropped…. fatigue I certainly hope not they are paid a lot of money to be match fit…..so it’s mental, confidence or desire. My fear is its the latter the only Arsenal voices in the dressing room are too young to be listened to.

Discuss …………….

How do you feel Arsenal – the business model – will cope with non-qualification to the Champions League if we fail to get into the top four?

MickyDidIt89 put this comment out there this morning …………….

Almost to a Man, and Woman, we will all continue to attend games whenever possible, irrespective of performance. Both GiE and Chas have made this point very well, in respective of meeting up with Mates and watching our beloved team and so on. On the whole, we have also lived through a wonderful period, as well as attending throughout darker days.

However, the 60,000 Emirates Project relies heavily on Corporate as well as attracting/keeping the new breed of more fickle fans, and to that end, I see real problems looming from the point of view of the business model.

I may well be wrong, but it is my belief that CL football is very important to sustain what is, somewhat tragically, a business.

The club has been holding onto a sum of money for some time that would be used for running costs should we fail to qualify for the Champions League, if that becomes a necessity then the funds available for players will be reduced. The new sponsorship/tv money will just get dropped into the hole created by no Champions Lge football.

Has the club mismanaged this ‘rainy day’ fund?

Kelsey has made some good comments recently which were echoed on Saturday Supplement ……….

I just watched Sunday Supplement and nearly word for word they are saying what I have been on for months. We are a team of individuals not a unit. The few big name players that are left will be having their doubts and will maybe also move on.
The board believe qualifying for CL is basically a trophy.

AW panicked last season and to an extent this and bought in the main sub standard players realising project youth had failed.

The question for me is if there is money available,will Wenger not spend it or is he under instructions to be over frugal?

Danishgooner was very kind to put up some player ratings from yesterdays game which are always good for some discussion.

Player ratings

Chezzer 9.Absolutely kept us in the game with amazing saves.

Per 7.Solid as ever,had a lot of firefighting to do because Vermaelen went missing several times.

Vermaelen 3.His promising start to his is Arsenal career is well and truly over,pulled out of position to easily and generally all over the place.

Carl J 4.Completely out of his debt today,tried hard and that is a positive but simply isnt very good at the moment.

Gibbs 3. Woefull in defending,absolutely atrocious and going forward not much better.

Arteta 6. Did ok but not one of his best games,lost a lot of midfield battles.

Santi 8. The one intelligent player in attack,drove us on and tried his hardest but his colleagues are not on the same wavelength.

Walcott 3. When will Wenger realize that he is not a Winger,keeping playing him in a position he doesnt do well in isnt exactly doing him any good.

Podolski 2. The games biggest disappointment, looked tired and ragged,welcome to the PL.

 Gervihno 3 Simply not suited to the Pl,to skinny and cant beat his opponent,atrocious decision making.

Jacky boy 5. Always tries but even he had a stinker and couldnt stamp his autorithy on the game.

Lots to chew over there, however you feel about yesterdays game or the way the club is going or whether you  think the manager has lost his players please don’t take your frustrations out on other bloggers if they don’t share your opinion.

A match report talking about a win would have been much more fun ………

peachesgooner

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Posted by peachesgÖÖner

Home Kit 2013/4

December 1, 2012

Who would have though Swansea at home would be approached with some trepidation?  Not me and I guess not you either.

Have we cause for concern? Swansea play attacking football and at their own ground can be formidable, as we found out last season (3-2 loss). The bookies make us 4/9 favorites, so they think we will win but Swansea are on a fine run – just one loss in 9 games and they have just beaten WBA, no mean feat.

Cyberspace has been full of irate Gooners wanting “their Arsenal back” over the past week, a protest which will continue today with the BS March. Good luck to them if their protest results in a change of attitude at Board level but I fear the management will turn a deaf ear. Think Leveson Inquiry and David Cameron. There is no profit in change and until there is nothing will happen.

Unknown

Lord Leveson sporting next season’s home kit

It should be an exciting game this afternoon; two teams committed to attack. A Swansea side with Michu, Routlege, Hernandez and Dyer to test our defence and Theo etc enjoying the open spaces of the Emirates. Swansea are unlikely to parcio ar y bws (I once had a welsh wife). Thankfully Hernandez is injured – he has been in excellent form. Michu has scored 9 already this season. Dyer at 24 has finally grown up and looks dangerous; with the need for a new winger looming AW may be tempted.

Much is made on these shores of Michael Laudrup, he is football royalty. Alongside Schmeichel he is consider the best Danish footballer ever, and it should be recalled that in 2000 Spanish fans voted him the best foreigner ever to play in Spain which is some compliment . He has made a good start at Swansea, but  a brilliant footballer does not always make a brilliant manager (Bobby’s Charlton & Moore, Maradona, Pele, Gazza! etc). Time will tell but Micky has Laudrup as the next AFC manager and from a purely personal viewpoint I would be very happy with that (every AFC game would be shown here).

My Team:

arse v swans

My hope is that we go allout from the kick-off. If we play well for the first 20 and the final 20 we will win. The away tactic of playing Ramsey gives no assistance to Giroud, we need width to exploit his talents. No Ox in this lineup – perhaps AW will start him in place of Wilshere as JW started at Goodison.

I could bore you with stats and tactics and permutations but there are others who do it so much better.

Our unbeaten run has coincided with the stories of derring-do from English Explorer’s. Coincidence? I think not…… Today’s chap is Joseph Dalton Hooker (1817-1911) Dalton was a botanist and explorer. Charles Darwin’s best friend and Director of Kew Gardens. Places he explored are many – Antarctica, the Himalayas, Australia, India, Tibet, Palestine, Morocco, the Western USA, the list is extensive but then he did live a long time. An exceptional man in an era of brave,  remarkable men and a man who enjoyed the full benefits of extensive facial hair!

images

A Lifelong Commitment to Facial Fuzz

This is a tough game and a severe test of our aspirations, a win will set us up for a Merry Xmas.. Come on Arsenal win it for SlimGingerGooner who today will enjoy his first trip to The Home of Football.

COYRRG

Written by Big Raddy

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Posted by Erik the Red

When Saturday Comes…..

November 30, 2012

On Saturday I am going to be making the (roughly) 7 hour round trip to the Emirates Stadium from West Yorkshire in order to watch a group of 20-30 something men kick an inflatable piece of leather in between some sticks!

Madness, some might say, but for me this is the completion of a childhood dream.

The first time i watched Arsenal on the TV was during the 1993/4 European Cup Winners Cup winning run, and I knew they were the team for me. That’s right people, I was a glory supporter! But seriously, with future club legends such as John Jensen, David Hillier and Eddie McGoldrick wearing the red and white, what wasn’t to love!?

From that day forward, even through all the grief suffered at the hands of adolescent Leeds supporters (you know the thugs that you see in the news now, imagine them as kids!), it has been my dream to watch Arsenal in the flesh, and on Saturday 1st December, at 3pm, my dream will finally come true. For that one afternoon I will forget about all the clubs current ‘issues’ and this group of finally tuned athletes will be forever etched in my memory the same way that the team of Seaman, Dixon, Winterburn, Adams, Bould, Davis, Morrow, Merson, Selley, Smith and Campbell are.

My question to you this morning, and for some of you oldies this may be a tad difficult, but can you remember when you first fell in love with the Gooners, and what was it that set them apart for you?

And on a side note, is there anything that I MUST experience on my first trip to the Emirates (apart from a win, of course!)?

Written by slimgingergooner

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Posted by peachesgÖÖner

Arsenal Supporters: Put Your Toys Back In The Pram

November 29, 2012

Yeah, it wasn’t a great performance up at Goodison Park last night.

Yeah, the same faults in evidence at Villa were on show again against the Toffees.

Yeah, we would all like things to be better at the moment.

But for crying out loud let’s keep some perspective.

We have just recorded our second consecutive draw on the road. Aston Villa are always tough opponents even if they are in the doldrums right now; Everton, meanwhile, are being strongly tipped for a top four finish this season.

Neither draw was a bad result, unless you are so ridiculously entitled that you are going to strop out on principle every time we fail to win.

To judge by the reaction of some fans you would think we had just suffered two heavy defeats to teams of no consequence, not two away draws at difficult venues.

Here are a few thoughts to put things in context:

  • We are unbeaten in six games (since the away defeat at ManUre).
  • While our attacking game stutters, we are at least becoming hard to beat.
  • Manchester United lost at Everton this season and Liverpool failed to win (in fact the last team to win there was Arsenal, last season).
  • Our goal difference is Plus 10 after 13 fixtures. At the same point last year it was Plus 3.
  • Our squad is returning to full strength.
  • At this point last year we had suffered four defeats compared with three this season.
  • Last year we lost four of our next nine league games: I don’t expect us to do that this year.

This is not to say that there are not problems with the way we’ve been playing recently.

We lack fluidity up front; we are disconnected in midfield; we are still prone to silly individual mistakes; our midfield seems to struggle physically with a lot of opposing teams.

But this is not a crisis.

We have the players and the manager to put things back on track. If I were to bet, I would say we will be top four by the end of the year.

And I also expect Arsene Wenger to spend some money in the winter transfer window.

If you are feeling down in the dumps about all things Arsenal at the moment I understand: I share those feelings. But, as the saying goes, it’s always darkest before the dawn. And the Arsenal dawn is coming.

RockyLives

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Posted by RockyLives

To Goodison and Beyond.

November 28, 2012

Lovely club Everton. Good manager,  proper ground and fans, history, decent board, solid team with some much-in-demand players but ….. they would sell their grandparents to get 4th, something we spoilt Gooners have started to sneer at.

Would you be happy if Moyes took over from Mr. Wenger? I thought not.

If you were Moyes and had a chance of getting a CL spot would you sell Fellaini, Jelavic and Baines in January? No, I thought not.

Do you think, apart from Baines and Fellaini, that any Everton players would be first choice for Arsenal?

So why are they above us in the table?

Everton have won one out of their last 7 PL games, however they have yet to lose at home this season. We have a fine recent record at Goodison, something AW will be looking to continue.

The return of Theo and JW will add much to our team and hopefully give some thrust  to our attacks, something lacking at Villa. I feel for Ramsey who had a decent game on Saturday but will always be in Wilshere’s shadow.

My Team:

Mr Wenger is prone to adding an extra midfielder when we are playing away but I hope he takes the risk of attacking from the off; we have been awful in the first 20 minutes for over a month. Ox was poor last week and must do better if he is to force his way into the starting 11.

Given the power of Fellaini and Jelavic I would play TV rather than Koscielny, conversely Kos has been back to his best and we haven’t conceded in the last two games.

Today’s English Explorer: May I introduce you to George Vancouver (1757-1797) who explored and surveyed the Pacific coast of North America from Oregon all the way to Alaska. Like  many explorers of the time he had a penchant for naming things after himself – Mount Vancouver, Vancouver Island and 2 Vancouver cities (Canada and USA) plus the Vancouver Peninsula in Australia, He learned his trade on two trips with Captain Cook to Australia and Hawaii aboard the Discovery.  Vancouver died young at just 40. He is buried in Petersham, Surrey.

No facial hair. No title

Arsenal are on a 5 match unbeaten run. In order to make it 6 we shall  have to be resolute in defence. I expect the game to centre upon who wins the midfield battle, Arteta’s return to Goodison will fill him with enthusiasm and hopefully be the springboard towards a victory. Set pieces could well be the key. Scoring has not been a problem but we really have to be more accurate with our crossing – in Giroud Arsenal finally have a player who is excellent in the air, let’s use this ability and make sure there are enough runners into the box to capitalise on the knock-downs.

We can win this ……

COYRRG

written by Big Raddy

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Posted by Erik the Red

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