Monday Reflections On The Arsenal

Well, we’ve had a day or so to digest the game from Saturday night, the three points are on the board and the mood has slightly changed compared to last week. No repeat of Stoke Station-esque outbursts required leaving Gunners fans to enjoy their weekly dose of Match Of The Day.

It’s Monday so it gives me a chance to give my reflections of the game, not a match report as I’m sure many have been viewed since Saturday evening but a reflection of key points from the game.

giroud

Giroud’s valued return

How important is Giroud’s contribution to the team right now? He has returned from long term injury with a hunger to make up for lost time. Although scoring hasn’t been a major flaw in Arsenal’s team so far this season the fact that someone other than Sanchez has their scoring boots on is a big plus. Giroud brings attributes that none of the current strikers bring to the squad. What’s that? Sanogo you say? I actually think they are different types of players and until Sanogo adds goals to his CV then I can’t make a true comparison. During the Frenchman’s absence it was probably debated to death how his less pacy attributes would actually work with the quick fire zip provided by Sanchez, Welbeck and Walcott (when he returns from limbo). Well its working fine enough for now and long may it continue.

Welbeck’s goals

With the welcome return of Giroud and his goals the gloss has been taken off Welbeck’s impact to the team. There’s no denying that Welbeck is a hard working forward and his contribution to the team so far has been satisfactory in his efforts however as a forward it’s always the goals record people value the most. We have come off the back of a run of games against lesser opposition where you would expect your main striker to really bag a few goals, like I said he has offered assists and played his part In some of those games but I still see he has the potential to be more of a regular finisher than a provider. The less prolific return has resulted in Welbeck surrendering the central striking position to Giroud and playing slightly wider, a position he admitted he was less fond of at Man United. In his favour Arsene does like to enforce interchangeable positioning by his forwards and so that door isn’t completely shut. It’s also worth mentioning that Welbeck was stripped of a perfectly legitimate goal on Saturday and so I do sympathise that he was unable to add to his tally however there were other chances in the game he could have taken also. I’ll get off his back as my frustration is only aimed at what he is capable of not coming to fruition just yet

Santi hex finally banished

It’s nice to see the Santi hex is finally over, a short while ago Santi and Ramsey couldn’t hit the back of the net despite all their efforts. Slowly but surely the signs were there that the luck was changing, Santi produced an amazing run and cross to set up Welbeck for a goal at West Brom the other week and that seemed to be the spark needed to ignite Santi’s form back to life. On Saturday both of Cazorla’s goals would not be in the back of the net a month ago but the hex is finally broken and now the mojo is back. I look forward to seeing a lot more contribution from the Spaniard from now on, it’s just a shame that Ramsey picked up an injury as he also seemed to break that hex at the same time.

Defence held firm

debuchy newc

It was nice to see the team came through the game fairly unscathed taking into account the patched up back line that started. Yes a goal was conceded but the back line dealt with what was thrown at them. Debuchy is a welcome return and his performance was probably aided that little but more given the fact he was facing his old club which sparked some extra motivation. A much tougher task is due next week when the team visits Anfield, the scene of one of our worst results last season. Chambers will return however with the news of Koscielny now being unavailable for a few weeks is a concern. Liverpool may have been swept away by United yesterday but if Raheem Sterling had his shooting boots on a draw would not have been an unbelievable outcome, the odds of Sterling forgetting his shooting boots again are pretty short. Arsene will need to make working on the defence this week his absolute priority to ensure a decent result at Anfield is achievable.

Champs league draw

The Champions League draw is today, Arsenal finished runners up so will most likely face Bayern or Barcelona. It’s an annual tradition so I will hardly be shocked if it’s either of those two are drawn as the next opponents. Whoever Arsenal do get I will be excited, you can’t beat the atmosphere in the Emirates when the big guns come to town. The only thing that is an absolute given when it comes to the champions league draw is that Chelsea will get the easiest tie of the round.

Enjoy your day people.

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Football Has Finally Come Back Home To The Emirates

As the kick off to the new season draws ever closer, the feel good factor amongst Arsenal fans is as high as ever in recent times. The staggered return of the players who represented in the World Cup hasn’t halted the momentum during pre-season and the squad heads into the game with Crystal Palace fairly strong and in good shape.

The results during preseason haven’t been perfect however such is the positivity surrounding the club that logic has taken preference over heart with a greater understanding of the need to fine tune and gain match fitness over a result.

A 100% pre season record as impressive as it can be does not equal points on the premiere league table, the real stuff starts this weekend and the best chance for the team to obtain optimum points is by being in the best condition possible and ready for the season ahead.

charity shield

The Charity shield has ensured a psychological boost for the curtain raiser and it is hoped that complacency doesn’t show its ugly head. The result last year against Aston Villa was a real eye opener and a wake up call of the highest order. Admittedly Arsenal football club was in a different place this time last year, confidence was low and major question marks hung over Arsene Wenger as his inactivity in the transfer market fuelled the fans fury.

The arrival of Mesut Ozil soon changed the mood around the club and it is hoped that with the majority of business being done a lot earlier this season the club can hit the ground running and sustain a serious attempt for the premiership title.

Until the transfer window closes on September 1st the door is open for more signings to be made. The need for a replacement for departed skipper Thomas Vermaelen is strong and names such as Benedikt Howedes and Manolas have been mentioned as potential arrivals.

Up front question marks remain as to whether Arsene will bring in a marquee signing to challenge Olivier Giroud or utilise the adaptability of those available to him I.e Sanchez, Campbell, Walcott.

With Tony Pulis gone it’s not quite clear what effect it will have on the Crystal Palace players, being the start of the season brings fresh optimism and enough motivation to attempt a good start to the campaign. For the players to go into the game half-assed and without fight would put serious question marks over their right to be described and referred to as professional footballers.

The excitement of getting the campaign underway is off the chart right now so the last thing needed is an unfavourable result against a manager-less team. Three points are a must as those not directly linked to the club are gradually changing their opinion on the Gunners and mention of a league title is no longer a tongue in cheek comment. People are starting to take notice so come on Arsenal lets live up to the expectation and make it count!

mertesacker

Per Mertesacker announced his retirement from international football yesterday, I suppose you could say its the best time to bow out. Winning the World Cup is a unique and special achievement which is hard to top once you have you crossed it off your bucket list. The BFG certainly played his part in the long term plan for success and has over 100 caps having been a great servant to his country, taking away the burden of international football is now likely to enhance and prolong his Arsenal career. Good call Per.

Feel free to enter the Gambeano Snitch Fantasy Premier League. Always good fun and an Arsenal related prize will go to the winner.

Enjoy your day people.

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Only One Man Knows Method Behind Madness Of Chambers Pursuit.

Many Arsenal fans are waking up to hear the news that broke last night of Arsenal’s supposed deal to sign promising right back Callum Chambers from Southampton. For one the deal materialised out of nowhere, one of the more reputable news sites BBC Football even claim a medical has been completed on Friday.

callum chambers

Now Chamber’s is a player that has long been known to be admired by Arsene Wenger and has been linked over the past couple seasons, the fact that the manager made a move for the player is not one of great surprise. It is when you take into account a number of other factors that leaves you scratching your head slightly.

Bacary Sagna was a great loss to the team when he decided to up sticks and earn money bought medals at Manchester City but the manager appeared to counter the loss with the acquisition of Mathieu Debuchy. An experienced French international right back who was 1st choice for country ahead of Sagna and also Premiership ready due to his time at Newcastle.

Carl Jenkinson who has become a bit of a fan favourite due to his die hard love of Arsenal proved himself at right back during his only real run in the side a couple years back when Sagna was recovering from a broken leg.

That stint in the team proved he could eventually succeed in the right back slot, ever since that run he has been in and out the side only covering when Sagna was injured or less important games came around. That restricted his development slightly as with most players being thrown in here and there can hinder form.

The manager claimed when he signed Debuchy it would be a straight duel for the right back slot which made a lot of sense at the time. On the opposite flank Keiran Gibbs has certainly risen to the challenge of Arsenal’s purchase of Nacho Monreal.

Debuchy and Jenkinson would contest the position whilst promising young right back Hector Bellarin would continue his development with the potential to break into the team this coming season and/or secure a loan to a premiership or Championship level team.

Now with the news of Chambers coming in throws a curveball into those plans, he won’t be cheap with a reported price of £16m being mentioned. So with that price you have to assume he will be instantly challenging for a place. Only Arsene knows his true intentions if the deal does get completed.

One possible plan from the manger could be plans to convert one of his players to a centre back. Out of the current personnel only Jenkinson seems to contain attributes to shift to the middle. Bellarin is too slight and still learning his trade at right back (not forgetting he has already made the change from winger to fullback). Many have muted that Chambers is also a player that could play there and is behind Arsene’s pursuit. Debuchy I cannot see making the shift so it’s either a position change for Jenkinson or Chambers in the offing.

The other option is the guillotine coming down on the Arsenal careers of Jenkinson or Bellarin with permanent or loan moves or could Chambers be loaned back to Southampton? Was it a knee jerk reaction to secure a long term target’s services because other teams came sniffing about? So many questions are raised from this news and only one man knows the method behind the madness.

Arsene knows.

Enjoy your day people.

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Fabregas joins worst team possible

Nice timing Cesc, seriously you couldn’t have timed it any better. Arsenal fans have been on a high ever since the Arsenal players lifted the FA cup. The World Cup was now upon us, in what was expected to be a far more relaxed interesting summer for all Gooners. The only thing that should have been bothering Arsenal fans was where to watch the opening match of the World Cup. Roll on the announcement earlier in the day of Chelsea’s acquisition of our former golden boy. Mourinho despite ending the season empty handed again managed to irk Arsenal fans. You can’t necessarily say he put one over Arsene Wenger as it was reported for some time that Arsenal turned down the opportunity to sign the Spaniard.

It’s never nice to see one of your better players join a rival, the situation with Robin Van Persie was clearly a different one and in the case of Cesc he was not even an Arsenal player. However, whether the manager is happy with his personnel in midfield or not when a player of the highest quality becomes available you cannot turn such opportunities away. Especially when the player is a former captain, idolised by the fans when at the club and still at an age where he can be deemed in his prime the last thing you want to see is him join a direct rival.

From that perspective it’s hard to lay blame on Fabregas if he wanted to return only to be snubbed, where blame can be laid is the 2nd choice of Chelsea knowing how much the team and manager is despised in North London. All the talk of love for the club and Arsene mean nothing now he is a Chelsea player. I’ll whisper it quietly but I’d have preferred he join Manchester United than Chelsea.

After winning back favour with the fans after the FA cup success the decision to snub Fabregas has now taken Arsene’s one step forward two steps back in many fans eyes. You would have to think that there are major transfer plans in place to justify the Fabregas snub. It was hoped last year’s summer transfer window of frustration was a one off but this years has now started with a similar feel. The ‘big’ signing of the summer cannot be as late as Ozil’s was last year, it’s imperative that business is done at a minimum before the new season starts.

Life goes on, Fabregas is one player and Arsenal football club is much larger than any one player can ever be.

Enjoy the final people.

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Can Arsenal win a trophy this season?

Many Arsenal fans after the Aston Villa result on the opening game of the season would have bitten your hand off to be sitting in second place with 12
games remaining, especially when taking into consideration the gap at the top is down to a single point.

Despite being overlooked by the bookies at the start of the
season, the Gunners sit in a healthy position at 9/1 to win the title.
Consistency has as much deserted Manchester City and Chelsea as has recently hit Arsenal, the draw with Manchester United may not have been the ideal result but still places Arsenal up there and equally in contention for the Premiership title. Manchester City and Chelsea still have to go and visit
Liverpool at Anfield and it could leave the door open for Arsenal to step up and take the pole position.

Much focus has been made of the Gunners fixture list through February and March but that does not mean their rivals do not face tricky encounters themselves.
Looking further afield you can get some good odds on Arsenal to win any
trophy this season. At 9/2 they look a good shout to win the FA cup, Liverpool pose a big threat to those plans but with a chance for immediate revenge the memories of the 5-1 drubbing should provide enough motivation for the Arsenal players to put in a performance.

wenger trophies
For those who feel the current squad can deliver the title as well then
you can get odds of 28/1 for a premier league and FA cup double. If any
Gunners fans are feeling really confident (and that’s a big rose-tinted if) then you can get 125/1 on an FA cup, premier league and champions league triple! With the Premier League being so tight it may be difficult to call what’s going to happen but for the betting fan it makes for an exciting and hopefully profitable title chase.

If you wish to have some more sporting fun instead then you
can try the Soccer Safari slots game. Soccer Safari at RiverBelle is one of the more serious slots you will find with the chance to bet £120 a spin and
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Placing in order the honors the Gunners could potentially win currently I would place the FA Cup as most achievable followed by the premier league and then the Champions league. Does Arsene Wenger share that logic? Who knows, the first clue will be in the Arsenal line up on Saturday. It could be a massive error if the game with Liverpool is taken lightly, despite the leggy performance on Wednesday against Manchester United it is important that certain key personnel are available to win the tie.

Enjoy your day people.

Post brought to you courtesy of Paul Mcshane

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