Written by Mean Lean
on
Saturday, 25 September 2010 10:35
The kids sure had fun on their little trip down the road. A very boisterous bunch our kids, went and took over the place at someone else's yard, made a mess for the home owners to clean up and then left skipping back home.
Ok, I am misbehaving a little bit, a Tottenham supporter would make you believe that it was our first choice team out there taking the Mickey at White Hart Lane while the poor Spuds were fielding an under 16 side. I thought it was hilarious that our average age was younger than their's.
Anyway, time to put that aside and concentrate on the next game, a more important game in my eyes, West Brom at the Emirates. The league has to be the number one priority this season and regardless of who we play, we have to be at our best.
I have been thinking about the difference in our play this season, some is down to new personnel replacing old personnel and some is attributed to the defensive work all over the pitch but another interesting stat that I just worked out is that we have scored nearly half of our 20 goals in the first half of the games that we have played. 9 first half goals so far is pretty impressive. Chelsea have only scored two more goals than us so far in all competitions but have an impressive 13 first half goals.
Scoring early in games makes a big difference, it opens up the game and allows us more space when opposition teams are forced to try and attack us. Without studying the reasons, I would guess that the quicker tempo set from the whistle and the collective work to win the ball has made us stronger in first half's, instead of slowly trying to break down the opposition, only to raise the game in the latter part of the game if needed.
West Brom come to the Emirates in good spirits, they have won two and drawn one of their last three games but those games have all been in the comfort of their own ground. They have lost their other two away games including a 6-0 drubbing by the hands of Chelsea. Lets hope the West Brom fans are singing the same words as the Blackpool fans have recently at the end of full time. The tangerines sang 'You're not as good as Arsenal' when they faced they were beaten 4-0 by the Blues at Stamford Bridge.
West Brom have continued to play football as they did under former manager Tony Mowbray. I have always had a bit of a soft spot for former Arsenal winger Jerome Thomas, even after his clash with Jack Wilshere in the Carling Cup a few seasons ago. Quick and fully capable of beating players but he will have to come up against one of the best right backs around in Bacary Sagna.
The usual injury thick note pad gets pulled out on a Friday night with the list of players who cannot take part in the game the next day. Nothing has changed this time round. Cesc Fabregas, Thomas Vermaelen, Kieran Gibbs, Theo Walcott, Aaron Ramsey and possibly Tomas Rosicky and Emmanuel Eboue could be missing for the game but Abou Diaby comes back into the squad.
I hope that Jack Wilshere gets a chance to play once again in the 'Cesc role' as he did so well in midweek. It would be interesting to see how he does in that role with better players around him. Jack may not get his chance as he played the full game on Tuesday including the extra time. Wenger has to also decide who should start as the second midfielder. Diaby is fresh but is just returning from injury while Denilson is looking sharp but also put in a full shift against our little noisy neighbours. So Arsene will have to take into consideration the midweek Champions League game and select a team fully capable of winning both games.
Mean Lean's Predicted Line Up
With Wilshere playing so many minutes so far, I wouldn't be surprised to see him drop down to the bench with Nasri being brought into the middle but after his superb performance against Tottenham, I hope he gets the chance to continue his form in the advanced midfield position. Perhaps Rosicky will not be risked if not fully recovered, the rest of the team picks itself.
One to watch: Andrey Arshavin
Law of averages in this case. A player with immense ability who can make the difference, I am backing Andrey to step up his game after his impact from the bench in midweek. His goal and assist rate has been fairly high this season and I am backing that to continue this afternoon
Mean Lean's Match Prediction
Arsenal 4 (Chamakh, Arshavin [2], Vela) West Brom 0
I would like the team to keep the door shut at the other end whilst expressing themselves in the final third. Hopefully we can take the game to them nice and early and take our chances when they arrive. I am hoping for a good spanking then a successful season for the Baggies, until we meet them at the Hawthorns of course.
COME ON YOU GUNNERS.
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