Arsenal
A Win's A Win For A' That
Promising
By Boris Mellor
September 11 2011
With apologies to Robbie Burns A Man's A Man For A' That (No relation to Robbie Savage)If you always play poorly after the International break, if you have had the worst pre – season preparation ever, if you have bought a shed load of players who have hardly met each other. If you still haven’t managed to get the club handbook out (it’s not due for another two weeks), then Swansea at home is the best possible fixture you can hope for.
That’s no disrespect to Swansea, they played very well, but you knew they would never score, they are now the proud owners of a new record of four blanks in a row from the start of season, not that Arsenal didn’t try to help them out, now and then, with some invitations to score.
I suspect that if Arsenal had been away, against a tougher team, we might have had a less satisfactory result, but we didn’t, and we got a win, and a wins a win. It gives the team a breathing space, a chance to get to know each other, to unpack those crates in the hallway, to find the local deli and favourite bistro. To find schools for the kids and all those other mundane things that get in the way of the important issue of playing football.
It gives the squad time to get over the wrangling on Cesc and Nasri, and the tragic loss of Super Nick. It will give time for the new players time to learn the Wenger way, and those 16 players who travelled the world, as far as Brazil and Russia to get over jet lag.
The crowd were in a positive mood, in the pre match popularity poll Arteta got the loudest cheers, followed by MeatLocker; Djourou got a few jeers. They should include the manager and coaching staff, it’s only fair they should be accountable as well.
The match had sold out, but there were quite a few empty seats, but these were probably people who only came to see Eboue, so we had to change our song to “You’ve only come to see the Arsenal”.
Arsenal started off with two new signings Arteta and Meatlocker, within minutes the Spaniard split the Swansea defence and put Ramsey on for a goal. Ramsey reminds me of a migrant arriving in the USA who saw a $20 gold coin on the pavement, picked it up and then threw it back, as he had heard the streets of America were paved with gold. Likewise Ramsey threw his chance away, likewise he didn’t get another one as good.
Nonetheless, it shows that Arteta can become a good provider of goals, but the problem Arsenal had was there were no strikers, well not strikers that can score that is. Walcott came closest to scoring, but RvP was just infuriating, Swansea are tougher than San Marino to score against.
This powder puff strike force began to encourage Swansea’s confidence to rise, and they began to put Arsenal under the cosh. It was against the run of play that a breakaway led to the strangest of goals. An error by the Swansea keeper gave Arshavin an empty net to aim at. It was a tight angle, and there was a lot left to do, but Arshavin cheekily passed the ball in. Thank goodness it was Arshavin who was there, the sight of RvP or Theo kicking it in to row z would have finished off my day.
So on 40 minutes the game was over, Arsenal never looked like scoring again, and Swansea demonstrated why they now hold the new four blanks record.
Reasons to be cheerful
Arsenal kept a clean sheet, something which may not have happened with Squillaci or Djourou playing. On this showing Sir Chesney deserves his player of month award with another fine performance. The club now has more points than red cards, true its only just. Arteta, Benayoun and Meatlocker all appear to have promising futures with the club, and there are still more to come.
This was the start of the season for Wenger, he had found the pre season games of Newcastle, Liverpool and Man U very helpful, it means it is too early to make any grand overarching pronouncements. With the pre season preparations lagging behind the rest of the league we will have to be patient to allow the changes to become effective.
Clearly the crowd welcomed the inclusion of experience yesterday and are relieved that the obsession with youth is over. They got behind the team and were encouraging to the end. Wenger and his squad have obtained a breathing space, it is to be hoped they make the best of it. It also has to be hoped that the experience proves to be quality.
Stats
Arsenal had 4 shots on target to Swansea’s 2, and 8 off target to 5 respectively
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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2011:09:14:20:57:27 by Padre Pio.
i don't know about swansea never looking like they will score, we should be grateful that Graham missed from 6 yards during extra time or this game would have been a draw..
the tragic loss of Super Nik
I think off everyone i enjoying watching Arteta though i signed off the match when the boredom threatened to dry me crazy..
Can We Now Trust The Process ๐ค๐คท๐ฟโโ๏ธ or Should We Still Remain Cautious ๐๐ฟโโ๏ธ
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
Quote:Padre Pio
Well Graham missing that sitter shows why they have the record 4 games no goals.
I hear you
Can We Now Trust The Process ๐ค๐คท๐ฟโโ๏ธ or Should We Still Remain Cautious ๐๐ฟโโ๏ธ
this match should ave been put to bed very early if someone had on their scoring boots
[arsenalsigs.blogspot.com]
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
18-Dec-2011 will be interesting.
"Wenger Raus!" or gloating from Arsenal fans?
RVP looks out of sorts. I think theres something going on there.
Frimpong, despite having been hailed by many as the new Claud Makalele, showed a careless touch.
I didnt think much to Arteta, bog standard premier league midfielder. OK I wasnt expecting the second Fabregas but there are other players we should have bought in.
Benayoun looked decent and Arshavint had a good game. But thats a pretty poor Arsenal side, and most of the people I spoke to agreed with me.
OK Wilshere and Gervinho will perk it up a bit, but we are certainly on a downward slope. The loss of Fabregas and Nasri in the same time period has absolutely F*cked us, in my view.
However I dont entirely agree on Arteta, if Ramsey had taken his assist we might be raving about him. He threads a good pass. We didnt have any strikers to take advantage
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
If we survived by October 31, 2011 and not more than 3 points from Top-4, then I will deem this team is progressing and with a decent shout for a Top-4 finish by May 2012.
And by Feb 2012, we are in Top-4 status, then we have a TEAM.
How many of our players would get in Manure or Citys teams,RVP maybe and possibly TV5 and Jack.The rest are average or not yet ready.
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
*Signing Ozil is a signing Bergkamp type moment for Arsenal. It changes things utterly.*
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
*Signing Ozil is a signing Bergkamp type moment for Arsenal. It changes things utterly.*
His body language is terrible, sullen, argumentative, ill-disciplined which indicated one helluva frustrated player still gettign to grip with teh role expected of him in Wenger's team.
Expect a weak-kneed and deluded Arsene Wenger trying to placate and persuade Theo to sign that contract extension by playing him as a central striker; after he refused to sign a contract extension in January 2012.
And why hasn't Gazidis started to initiate negotiation for a new contract extension with RvP, TV5, Song, Theo and Arshavin now?
Or are we seeign a re-run of Flamini Saga and Nasri Saga where players indicated they are "happy to stay and to sign a new contract extension, 90% sure only a few niggly details to agree on"....
..and then for them to annoucne in January 2012 they will KIV all negotiations to see whether "Arsenal's ambitions match their ambitions" durign January transfer Window, as well as to see whether they will all be playing CL Cup FOotball next season.
Then Gazidis better start playing "hardball" with any contract rebel and said they all can leave in January 2012 and June 2012 if the contract negotiaitons are at an impasse by December 31, 2011.
Rebuilding the 4th Team continues in Janaury 2012 Transfer Window with players that are committed to play for Arsenal FC and not assholes mouthing off "..we will wait to see if Arsenal's ambiiton matches ours"...
And oh yeah, Gazidis better start looking for a successor to Wenger in June 2012 as I am retty sure Arsene Wengegr will be a most hatred figure like Terry Neill by May 2012 if what pundits are correct that Arsenal FC will sink without trace into mid-table mediocrity or hovering above relegation zone simply that players stopped playing for Arsene Wenger by December 2011 with disillusions set in and everybody will to jump off a sinking ship.
*Signing Ozil is a signing Bergkamp type moment for Arsenal. It changes things utterly.*
Another long-drawn out Nasri Affair with last-minute "panic" buy and "panic "sales" on August 31, 2012.
We need RvP to commit by Decmeber 31, 2011 or else sell him during January 2012 if CITEH or Chelski or Real is daft enough to bid 25-mil for him.
Theo?
If Liverpool or Chelski or CITEH bids 20-mil to 25-mil, then sell him during January 2011 if he refuses to sign.
The key point is whether a frustrated Theo will be happy to stay at Emirates?
Keepign TV5 is first priority, with Song and Arshavin next.
Arshavin?
if his family settled well in England (to learn English remember?) I do hope Wenger wil break another taboo and offer him a 2-year or 3-year contract extension as he wanted.
Song?
I wonder how many teams will bid for his service?
Will he follow the African Clique to CITEH?
plus merl why sell any in jan when they still will have a year left next summer, and with euros on, good show at them and price goes up, or even sell them before they start, no need to sell in jan
*Signing Ozil is a signing Bergkamp type moment for Arsenal. It changes things utterly.*
The key is that I believed all those senior players are disenchanted and waiting for what is going to happen by December 2012 before they commit to Arsenal FC.
If we are Top-4 and fighting for the title, qualified for CL Cup Group stage, and Arsene Wenger kept his promise in Janaury by buying one or two marquee players to replace Cesc and Nasri - say Thiago, Hazard, M'vila, Gotze, Gary Cahill, et al - then I am sure RvP will commit hsi future to Arsenal and sign on.
Theo?
It is best to let an unhappy player elaves in January ratehr than be a bench-warmer with AOC, Gervinho, Park CY and even Chamakh ahead of him in the pecking order.
Can you see Wenger rotating him as a central striker this season in 4-4-2? I can't.
*Signing Ozil is a signing Bergkamp type moment for Arsenal. It changes things utterly.*
Quote:Rvp, Sagna, Szczesny, Wilshere, Song, Vermaelen, Gervinho, and Walcott plays ahead of Young for England so thats 8 players who can walk into Manure's team, and i don't want to add others such as Arteta, koscielny, santos.Bergmars
We are in the second tier of the EPL now,its been a gradual slide which some have seen coming,others have closed their eyse and pretended its not happened.
How many of our players would get in Manure or Citys teams,RVP maybe and possibly TV5 and Jack.The rest are average or not yet ready.
How many of our players would get in Manure or Citys teams,RVP maybe and possibly TV5 and Jack.The rest are average or not yet ready.[/quote]
Rvp, Sagna, Szczesny, Wilshere, Song, Vermaelen, Gervinho, and Walcott plays ahead of Young for England so thats 8 players who can walk into Manure's team, and i don't want to add others such as Arteta, koscielny, santos.[/quote]
Indeed, because that would make you look more silly than you do already.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2011:09:13:11:03:08 by celine dion.
But apart from Szczeney and Sagna I dont see why Man U would want any of our players
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
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