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Nice write up, keep it up bro. I prefer Rosicky to Ramsey in dt position.
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Written by Mean Lean on Wednesday, 19 October 2011 12:22
Champions League action is back again this evening, a chance to take our minds of domestic worries and instead focus on what is the best club competition in football. Total separation from the Premier League is almost impossible though as our form line is looking a little too jagged for my liking. Back to back victories have been few and far between for some months now and it is only this that can make a change to the direction of that form line.
Opposition
Like many have said on various blog's, it is surprising that Marseille and Arsenal come head to head for the first time in the club's history. Although it is certainly not the first time Arsene Wenger has locked horns with his old enemy.
The French club will most probably have the same feeling that we do at present, a chance to drop the heavy baggage of domestic football and let their hair down in Europe. Marseille have also had a difficult time in their version of bread and butter football only managing to collect one victory in ten games this season while their CL form has been rather impressive, the highlight being a 3-0 victory against German Champions Borussia Dortmund.
Marseille have some very good players capable of causing Arsenal more than one or two problems. Players such as Loïc Rémy, Lucho González and André Ayew should be paid special attention.
Goalkeeper & Defence
Kieran Gibbs has been sucked back into his injury catch-22 and has swirled into the unavailable category due to a stomach muscle issue so Andre Santos who impressed when he came on during the weekend victory at home to Sunderland. The rest of the defence that started on Sunday are likely to pull their socks up and go again.
Midfield
Aaron Ramsey has recovered in time to be part of the match day squad but it remains to be seen if the Welshman who has been up and down with his performances, will be given a start in the engine room. Recent international football will be taken into account over the next few days. Tomas Rosicky had a very influential game in our last outing and was even removed with time left on the clock, so perhaps his legs were being rested for another run out a few days later in France. Personally, I think the European game suits Rosicky, his midfield link up play could be very useful as we will be trying to control the ball and dicatate the game.
Attack
A space in attack will surely be opened for Andrey Arshavin after his quality cameo display against the Wearsiders. As Theo Walcott was left on the pitch on Sunday while Gervinho was taken off I suspect that it will be Walcott that will stand down to the substitutes bench. Walcott has also played for his country while Gervinho has not.
As for Robin van Persie, is there ever a good time to rest your best player and the only consistent goal scorer? Whether that be against Stoke in the League or tonight's game in the CL. One thing is for certain, it is too much to expect van Persie to be playing every minute for club and country in every fixture. But with Chamakh still searching high and low for his missing mojo and Ju Park assumedly still acclimatising to Wenger ball, it seems as if a short term 90 minute replacement for van Persie just isn't possible. It would be hard enough trying to replace someone like Darren Bent let alone one of the best players in world football on current form.
Personally I want van Persie's lower half as far away from Pulis and the gang as possible so I would rather he started tonight and we sacrificed someone else to Shawcross and the other clumsy, don't like it up em thugs.
Mean Lean's Predicted Line Up
Injuries
Kieran Gibbs appears to be the only one who did not make it through the weekend. Without wanting to tempt the injury gods, it looks as if we are looking somewhat healthier on the injury front, although two of our better players are out for the long term. We will be without messrs Sagna and Wilshere for the foreseeable but Abou Diaby and Thomas Vermaelen are within sight of some much needed first team football.
Injury List
Abou Diaby, Thomas Vermaelen, Kieran Gibbs, Bacary Sagna, Jack Wilshere
Four points from Marseille over these next two games would put us in a great position in the group but it is a hope rather than expectancy. Sleeves will have to be rolled up tonight and hard work must be the platform that the team need to build upon. Once we can show that commitment then the team can look to control the possession of the ball and hopefully chances can be carved out from that.
A back to back victory would be wonderful but a hard fought out draw would also be a decent result.
COYG.
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19-Oct-2011 13:57 | | bradsterI agree, great post. I reckon you're spot on with the team sheet and I think you're right to gamble RVP tonight and rest him Saturday.
Be nice if Wenger changes to 4-4-2 against stoke and gives the other guys a chance to prove themselves. The likes of Cochelin and AOC to give them a good go.
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19-Oct-2011 14:13 | | Koliska - Nice line upPrefer Rosicky to Ramsy.gamble by resting RVP and let with the likes of park or chamach.
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19-Oct-2011 14:44 | | Kasguy 4rm 9geria - I wil like prof if he can allow andrey to start 4rWenger should start arshavin 4rm d bench 29t,bcos he read d match
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19-Oct-2011 14:46 | | Kasguy 4rm 9geriaWenger should start arshavin 4rm d bench 29t,bcos he can read d match
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19-Oct-2011 15:43 | | nkusuny - good thoughtnice write up.bu i think Arshavin plays well when coming from the bench .
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19-Oct-2011 15:49 | | Gand - ArshavinArshavin should start ahead of Theo.. He looked sharp & hungry when he came on as a sub against SUnderland. Theo could come on later rip there defenders apart ..hopefully!!!
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19-Oct-2011 17:02 | | HumbertoI would love to c Park.Also because he played in the french league.I also think we should rest RvP.Maybe Chamakh should egt a chance..
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19-Oct-2011 20:57 | | Vuja De - 1 -0 to the Arsenal!A solid all round team performance and great away win.
Koscielny was outstanding, always alert to danger, snuffing it out intelligently before it got a chance to catch fire. What a player.
And Arsene's critics say that he doesn't know how to pick a defender...bullshit of the highest order!
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19-Oct-2011 21:59 | | richie - VD I couldn't agree moreThe Kosh had a great game some of his interceptions were outstanding.
Credit goes to Gervinho too, who on as a sub played a most subtle delicate and intelligent lay off for Ramsey, who (on as a sub himself) took his time picked his spot and didn't fluff his lines. In another world some might praise the managers substitutions. They did the business after all.
Great win, in a difficult stadium.
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19-Oct-2011 23:20 | | MeanLean
Agree on Kos. I find it so strange that he is still being doubted in some quarters. If he was the exact same player but English and playing for another team then everyone would be talking about him as world class. I have no doubt about that.
So many people are putting Mertesacker along with Vermaelen when he is completely fit and if you were going by caps or experience then I would agree but if you are going by what you see on the pitch then there is no way that I would demote Koscielny.
Great hard fought win tonight. I was frustrated that our midfield didn't support RVP enough but we were solid today. Sets us up nicely. Good stuff my lovely Gunners.
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19-Oct-2011 23:22 | | MeanLeanI also thought Gervinho looked lively when he came on. It seems to be the same for our wide forwards. The two who start do not always reach what they should and then the third comes on and promises so much until... he starts the next game.
I was hoping to see more of the Sunderland Arshavin tonight, but sadly it didn't happen/
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20-Oct-2011 00:03 | | pizzy05 - Blame it on our very brutish British mediaKos will never be rated by the brutish media as long as he's playing for the French national team. He came for a lot of criticism last season, but in truth he was the only constant in the defence last season, switching partners per week. that didn't help him one bit. But his quality is there for all to see when his partner plays well. Our very Brutish media will not see that though.
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20-Oct-2011 00:36 | | pizzy05by the way, I read it on another analysis that Robin's isolated situation may have been a delibrate action by the middle three, to remain solid, control the game and forestall any fast breaks by the Marseille runners. now that is a show of maturity and I'm beginning to really believe that this team may finally be ready to win some silverware(injuries permitting)
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20-Oct-2011 00:42 | | pizzy05 - Spectrum let's have your view And please where is Spectrum our friend? please show up and let us know what you feel about this performance. It will be a pleasure to respond when I wake up. Hope you'll have good talking points though
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20-Oct-2011 09:36 | | pikahahah pizzy05 ..rectum is in silence mode whenever arsenal wins.
i bet he'll come saying it wasnt convincing...it wasnt a 0-4 was it? hahaha
that fkn spud cvnt
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20-Oct-2011 11:42 | | mr hSpectrum may have his flaws but he isn't a spud. In fact every team needs supporters like him to avoid complacency. He does get on my tits, but his views are often valid, even though the catch phrase thing is somewhat reminiscent of some corny '80s sitcom.
"At Spectrum I laugh"
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20-Oct-2011 12:04 | | Spectrumpizzy05 - Hello. You're one of the few I can have a sensible discussion with on here. Even though we disagree on the way you and I see some things, at least you're more open minded than most. Hence I hesitate to use the term A.K.B. with you. More a Wenger sympathiser.( Pika, Feeno e.t.c. could learn a lot from observing your style ).
As I said, I didn't get to see the match, unfortunately. Surprisingly we came away with an unexpected win. Very welcome, and puts us on top of the group, which is a nice place to be. Even more surprising and welcome is that our defence seems to be learning how to play as a unit. And from what you say, Jenkinson your personal favourite - had a solid game. Fair play to the lad. Having a strong defence is the basis of any successful team, and if and it's a big "IF", we can find consistency there, then we have a chance to move up the table in the league, and advance into the knockout rounds of the Champion's League.
From what I've read of the match reports, it was a dull game. Both teams are doing poorly in their domestic leagues, and this form must have carried into the match.Some may say we were lucky to steal it in the last minute of injury time, but I don't think that luck applied in this game. Our defence held up well, we scored and stopped them scoring, so I feel we earned it. What concerns me, is that midfield and attack are continuing to be problematic.Apparently we lacked creativity again, and didn't have many shots on goal. These areas need improvement if we are to keep our momentum going.Remember, we're only a Van Persie injury away from disaster, scoring wise. So let's pray he doesn't pick up another knock. We know how fragile he is.
I believe we can complete a good little run by beating Stoke on the weekend. They'll put up a bit more resistance than Sunderland - who didn't even play with a striker. But I expect us to win this one comfortably. Bolton in the Carling Cup is an unknown. Cup matches can cause upsets.But we can win if we apply ourselves properly.
Then it's Chelsea away. This is when our poor away form will bring us back down to earth. At least for a while. It's fortunate that we have a run of home fixtures and modest opposition for the next few games after that. Can we capitalise on this ? I hope so. But with the average team we have, and its tendency to switch off and underperform at times, we can't be certain.
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20-Oct-2011 12:32 | | Spectrummr h - Hooray ! I'm glad you are finally seeing where I'm coming from. "every team needs supporters like him to avoid complacency" You're starting to get it my friend, you're starting to get it. Problem is you only see part of the whole picture. And that is the SOURCE of that complacency. When I talk about that, up goes a wall of defensiveness.
The club is sick. You see the symptoms, but you don't recognise the cause. A.K.B.'s are like a patient who sticks with the same doctor they've been seeing for years and years. The doctor is old, stuck in his ways, hasn't kept up with new developments in medicine, prescribes the same ineffective treatments every visit, and the patient wonders why he never seems to get better. Sound familiar ?
What to do ? What would YOU do ? Still keep seeing the doctor, because you've gotten to like and respect him so much that you'd feel guilty if you stopped going ? Stay chronically ill and fed up with no improvement, or think to yourself "Bugger this", this guy hasn't hasn't helped me for SO LONG, I think I should get a second opinion. Or maybe I should just change my doctor. I can't be any worse off. I might even feel better for it.
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