Written by Mean Lean on Monday, 11 October 2010 10:17

So at this half way point we are one down, one down even though we have many of our players wrapped up in bubble wrap in London.

Yes I am speaking about everyone's favourite topic, injuries. Bacary Sagna has been struck down with the latest bout of crock-ilitis. He did not feature for France after picking up a thigh problem which will see him miss out for three weeks or so. Bac said that he does not want to rush it so he will take his time and make sure it is healed properly.

Maybe Bacary has realised the truth and is just doing the correct thing. After all everyone only comes to see Eboue.

On a more serious note, it could be a chance for Manny to really get a run of games at right back, perhaps his first game against Birmingham at the Emirates is actually the right sort of game to come into but the test will most probably be away from the comfort of our loud and supportive home support *ahem*

We haven't really seen Eboue tested defensively for a while now, the games that he is brought in at right back tend to be games at the Emirates where Arsene expects us to be mainly in the opponents half and having plenty of the ball. Obviously his offensive qualities will be a benefit for this short term and you can expect Nasri to come inside and allow plenty of space for Eboue to exploit on the overlap.

However much I love watching Eboue, I wish Sagna a quick recovery, he has been one of our best defenders yet again and continues to be Mr consistency.

Samir Nasri impressed for the French in the time he was on the pitch, he was central to their play and was one of the brighter performers. Nasri has spoke about his preference for the central role and I agree that it is his best position but as Arsene has said time and time again, many of our players want to play in that position but their is a slight obstacle in the way, if you want to call him that. Cesc Fabregas.

Cesc is Cesc so when he is fit, he will be the creative play maker, unless he is no longer Cesc or leaves for pastures new/old or whatever it is.

Rosicky, Arshavin and Walcott all want central roles in the team but we can only have so many central players, the others have enough freedom to rotate and move into those areas during our play.

I would love to see a midfield that consisted of Cesc and Nasri along with a more defensive minded player, I am surprised that Arsene hasn't used that more often, especially in home games where we are more likely to have the ball than not.

A fit Diaby is very important in many types of games but certain games could allow Arsene the scope to play his creative duo. How about this for a team at the Emirates against someone crap like our little neighbours.

Fab/Al

Eboue Koscielny Vermaelen Clichy

Song

Cesc Nasri

Walcott Van Persie Arshavin

Not that we will ever get to see all those players at the same time but don't you think that is just mouthwatering? If you don't then there is something seriously wrong with you and I would advise turning this computer off and calling your local GP for an appointment. Obviously we could not play up north against a side like Blackburn Rovers because we don't win at places like that.... oh, hang on a sec.

Gael Clichy didn't cover himself in glory for his performance for the French, apparently he misplaced 19 passes or something of the sort. I didn't see the game so cannot really judge his performance but from what has been written, it looks like our left back was not at his best.

I wrote an article on the Clichy vs Gibbs debate and judging from the response in the comments (which is now fixed) and on Twitter, it looks like many Gooners think it is time to throw Kieran into the spotlight. As I said, in that article I think Gibbs is a super prospect but I am still hoping that action man Clichy can find his mojo. He needs to look under his bed or something because Gibbs is pushing him hard right now.

So what do you make of the tackling debate? Interesting isn't it? I have never even heard anything about it until De Jong's tackle and Danny Murphy's comments. This is the first time it has ever been brought to our attention. Or so it seems, so we are made to believe.

I dunno, I get the sense of deja vu when speaking of the recklessness in the game but not one person has linked it with Arsene Wenger's RECENT comments. Journalists and pundits are usually so good at knitting themes together but they have missed this one, why the hell is that?

If I were Wenger I would be frothing mad right now, wondering what I have done to deserve this treatment? Where are all those ridiculing Arsene about whinging about tackling. They have gone very quiet right now.

I have listened to plenty of podcasts. The Times, The Guardian, The Sunday Supplement and nope, not one mention of Wenger, almost as if they are purposefully trying not to mention him because he has been proved yet again to be correct all along.

The Beautiful Groan has a good piece about the hypocrisy that is flying around.

I would love to go around with a microphone and question these idiots, make them answer questions and have it broadcasted to show these people up for the xenophobic mugs that they are.

And with that slightly aggressive and sour note, I shall say goodbye.

Back tomorrow.

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Comments (4)

• 11-Oct-2010 12:09 | | Gareth Greenidge  - Narrow 4-1-2-2-1 Best Formation for Arsenal
  

  Undoubtedly to win things we need to have our best attacking players in tandem. That would mean playing Fabregas, Nasri, Arshavin and RVP in there best positons. For me a 4-1-2-2-1 will be the best formation, enabling both Arshavin and Nasri to operate from a central attacking position just behind the striker and running beyond the central pivot which would be RVP when fit or Chamakh. You would have Fabregas and jack dictating the play a little deeper back and Song doing what he does best and protecting the back 4 and playing a simple passing game. Finally 2 attack minded full backs with better delivery than the current first choice.
  Fabianski
  Eboue Squilachi Verms Gibbs
  
  Song
  Fab4 Wilshere
  
  
  Arshavin Nasri
  RVP
  
  
  With decent cover for midfield and attacking positions I think this should be the way forward.

• 11-Oct-2010 16:08 | | Anonymous
  

  I don't know why we keep believin on RVP 2 com nd solve our strikin problem. Even if he recover's 4rm his injury after 4 to 6 games he wil sustain another.so AW Should sell him and buy luis suarez a ful season player.

• 12-Oct-2010 11:50 | | Waterboy
  

  Hi ML!
  
  Very interesting post as usual.
  
  I agree wholeheartedly with your comment that when Cesc is fit Arsene will alway play him in the Central Attacking Midfield role behind the striker.
  
  However, I am of the view that this is not Cesc's best position. I really think Cesc has the technical ability, passing range and general mongrel in him to play as a deeplying playmaker/defensive midfielder next to a player the likes of Song or Diaby.
  
  I think that Wilshere is in the same boat as Fabregas and could rotate with Cesc in that particular role.
  
  That would allow the likes of Nasri, Rosicky and a fit again Ramsey to rotate in the Central Attacking Midfield role, which is where I believe them to be most effective.
  
  The big drama with that Central Attacking Midfield role is that Van P and Bendtner are also very well suited to playing that Bergkamp style role rather than as the out an out striker. As a consequence the club as a plethora of quality player all vying essentially for the one position. I think this is as a result of Arsene shifting formations from 4-2-1-3 in the Henry and Vieira days to 4-1-2-3 in the last couple of year and now back to 4-2-1-3.
  
  This is a predicament that I believe needs to be corrected if Arsenal want to become more efficient and clinical in the final third.
  
  Interested to hear your thoughts?

• 19-Oct-2010 14:49 | | CHGooner
  

  Hypocrisy and Wenger, are you having a laugh?? You say it's the media, when it is him who is the single biggest hypocrite in football. Look at how he moans about otyher teams players over the top tackling (I agree with him and Danny Murphy in general but AW whinges too much and it becomes an excuse in my mind) then when our players do it he makes pathetic excuses like 'it is different'. No its not Arsene, if your leg is broken by a reckless flying tackle its exactly the same.
  
  On to another issue which makes me seethe about your hero Mr Wenger. Most of us have known it for ages but how do you feel about the contempt in which he holds you when he lies about injuries and the like to 'protect' dropped players? He lies about pretty much everything going in my view and he is not held to account, he views his position as unassailable and he is the embodiment of the club. How insane is it that HE decides the length of HIS contract. Is he an employee any more? It appears not.
  
  Scandalous, and you lot allow it to continue. Arsenal fans please start seeing what is going on.

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