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Written by Mean Lean on Sunday, 29 January 2012 01:52
If I am truly honest with you then I wish we were playing for three points in the league this afternoon, our league position and need for a top four finish has left me unable to sleep at night. Not literally of course but it is dominating my Arsenal thoughts at present. Perhaps modern football has taken me with it but an FA cup win currently feels like a potentially tasty desert without the filling main course meal. I hope many of you disagree with me and the chance of cup success still provides the same excitement as it did with me in the past.
Anyway, I am rather selfishly mumbling on about the strange goings on in my head rather than the upcoming clash with Aston Villa, so let us get on with that.
Regular readers will know how much I detest the manager sitting on the visitors bench today. Possibly more than I detest anyone else and that is saying something with the likes of Tony Pulis continuously doing their best to top the league. More important than any of that, victory is needed to get this wobbly vehicle back on the straight and narrow and that is why I expect Arsene to play his strongest possible team. Getting the team back to winning ways, back to playing with confidence could possibly be a larger incentive than reaching the next round in the FA Cup.
There is a thumping on the door and behind that door is a collection of much needed Arsenal players returning back from injury. We could potentially see Mikel Arteta, Bacary Sagna and Thierry Henry all in the squad and with Kieran Gibbs returning back to training on Monday that can be the injection of quality and reinforcements that we have missed during the whole of this miserable January.
I suspect that Arsene will have our league trip to Bolton in mind so I wonder if those who are returning will take a place on the bench or if Arsene wants to get his returning players up to scratch as soon as possible, I suppose it depends on their fitness.
I want Bacary Sagna back in the team by Bolton at the very latest but I really would like the youngster Nico Yennaris to be given a chance, especially after his very good 45 minutes in the second half against Manchester United. The former striker has yet to put a foot wrong since making the step up to the first team. I would love to see the youngster start today, his pace could be vital when up against the counter attacking speed of Villa. We would then have the possibility of bringing Bacary Sagna on with 15 to go if the circumstances allowed that change. It seems as if full backs are like London buses, you wait for months for one and all of a sudden four come along at once.
My hopes of Yennaris being given a chance today have taken a slight dent as Sagna's wife has hinted on Twitter that his husband who I may add is the best right back in the league could well start the game. So we shall wait and see.
I have changed my mind a few times already about what I think Arsene may do with our team and that can only be a good sign. Predicting the team has been pretty straight forward in the last few months because options have been so limited due to the usual injury pile up. For all I know Arteta, Sagna and Henry could start the game today.
I am pretty confident about a spirited performance from the players, at least from the first whistle. Captain Robin van Persie has spoken about the squad starting from scratch, Arsene has bemoaned the first half effort last week so I would be very surprised to see the team go through the motions today. We just have to hope that our quality is right on the day and we can score some bloody goals.
While we have had a collection of defensive injuries, we simply have not scored enough goals and yes in many ways those two problems have been linked because our full backs help us play better, give attacking players more space and score goals.
Will Arsene start Chamberlain today and at Bolton? Will Arshavin come in for Walcott or will Theo get another chance to improve on his previous display?
Plenty of questions that we will get answers from shortly. Whatever those answers are, I just hope for a victory and preferably a convincing and entertaining one but I will gladly take the former for now.
Mean Lean's Predicted Line Up
Mean Lean's Predicted Line Up
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29-Jan-2012 15:12 | | ZigzagGreat post, I share your sentiments esp. towards McLei*h and Pul*s.
I hope Yennaris plays and I hope even more we will never see Djourou on the right back, ever again. Yennaris deserves more game time esp. with Bacary's imminent return. I wonder what other position we could use Nico after both Bacary and Jenkinson are back. I like him Nico and Robin likes him what's more important.
Watching our last few games I kept wondering why we play so slow? Manure, Swans and even Volves can move the ball up fiels so much quicker. After all we were used to be known for fast attacks and we still have some of the quickest players in the league.Talking of which I am so disappointed with Theo. I hope he has a good game today if he plays. Personally I'm very close to give up on him. With his abilities he should be a shining star rather than a dim wit.
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29-Jan-2012 15:19 | | JB212 - Aston Villa ClashI believe if Wenger wanted to install some confidence into the fans regarding Arshavin, he would let him play in the role behind van Persie today. The guy is clearly not a winger and seems devoid of all confidence, playing with someone like RVP infront of him will give him the chance to use his creativity and dribbling skills effectively.
Clearly Ramsey is knackered and with Wilshere's return delayed he definitely needs to be rested for harder games in the later stages of the season. Koscielny has been our best defender clearly and I believe him to be one of the best in the league. he needs a rest as he's been putting in a good shift every game.
Coquelin and Yennaris are my options due to their dynamism, pace, aggression and terrier like playing styles which could be used to stifle the pace of Villa's attacking players.
Rosicky's energetic play could be key today if Wenger did decide to play with Arshavin in the number 10 role. His tackling ability is clearly good enough for the box to box role whilst his technique in passing and ball retention is also good enough, not forgetting his pace and his shooting boots are slowly coming back too
.
My line up would be similar to yours:
--------------------------Szczesny------------------------
Yennaris--Mertesacker--Vermaelen--Coquelin
--------------------Song--------Rosicky-----------------
Chamberlain---------Arshavin--------------Walcott
--------------------------van Persie-----------------------
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29-Jan-2012 15:21 | | JB212 - Well there goes my team set up LOLFabianski, Coquelin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Song, Ramsey, Rosicky, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Van Persie.
Bench; Szczesny, Sagna, Arteta, Benayoun, Arshavin, Park, Henry
Official starting line up.
Bench looks amazingly attack minded :S no defensive cover on it at all, no Yennaris :/ or Miquel :/
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29-Jan-2012 17:35 | | pygopiranah - same old, same old
Did anyone really expect anything different?/
As much as i respect what Arsene has done for the club and i don't really want him to leave, he has no idea of defence!!!
We can play football and create attacks as good as any team anywhere but we MUST learn to defend. That does not mean we do not have some good defenders, both Koscielny and Vermaelen are class players but we really do need someone defensive minded at the back. I do not see Mertesacker as the answer. Perhaps a towering proven in this league, centre back like Samba would provide the answer?? We MUST stop leaking stupid goals.
As i see it (and i have been watching Arsenal for over 50 years) buying cheap and constantly expecting people to play out of position is a recipe for disaster!
Neither Arshavin or Walcott are "real" wingers", Arshavin looks like he would be more comfortable playing off of the front man, as does Walcott.
Mertesacker bless him has no pace and possibly his best days are behind him. Chamakh is not a bad footballer but does not look comfortable in this league. Van Persie cannot be relied on to keep being the goalscorer.
The problem as i see it is that Arsenal and Arsene have different priorities to us the fans, for them it is 4th and Champions League cash, for us its trophies!!
Please please Arsene, spend some money on one or 2 proven performers.
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29-Jan-2012 20:30 | | Gino92 - Great Second Half Fight Back!Good job by the players in the first 30 minutes of the second half. We played with more intensity, more determination, and more urgency than we've played in the last few league games. I wonder why we cannot play like that for the whole 90 minutes! Rosicky was great, always looking to push the team forward at almost every opportunity. Ramsey ran a lot but he just looks very tired now. He needs a couple of weeks off, now that Arteta is back. The Ox looked very dangerous as always on the left flank and Walcott did better today.
The defense still looks worrying and out of sorts, especially on crosses into the box, but I won't dwell on that for now. I am just going to savour our victory at least for today. Credit must go to Wenger for saying whatever it was that he said to the team at halftime, because it woke up all the players from their sleepiness.
Off topic, any truth to the rumors that we've had a bid rejected for Lukas Podolski? If confirmed, that would be great news for us fans. It would mean at the very least that we are interested in signing him, and could go back with an improved bid by Tuesday. Typical Arsenal, always leaving it too late, heh...!
Now let's get back into contention for 4th place with a win over Bolton on Wednesday.
Go Gunners!
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29-Jan-2012 20:41 | | zangiML, 3-2... just enjoy it! And this Ox... such a player! Quite a handful! I was down, but now am rejuvenated! We are likely to go on another. UNLOSING run of matches! Ha! What do you say, ML?
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30-Jan-2012 03:13 | | SpectrumDidn't get to watch the Villa match unfortunately, so I can't comment in detail on it. But from the match reports I've read, it was a good fightback after being 2-0 down at the break. Koscielney and Rosicky were quite outstanding it appears. Kozzer's performance doesn't surprise me, as he's easily been our most consistent performer ( along with Robin ) all season ( Wenger at least got that one right ). Rosicky was long overdue for a good game. But he needs to do the business far MORE OFTEN . The fact that he doesn't, means he needs to be shipped out. Same with Theo - yet we want him to sign a new contract ! ( make sense ? ).
Anyway, I could nitpick on the familiar faults and deficiencies ( weak defending at set pieces, STILL relying on Robin for goals - two of which were penalties, poor finishing e.t.c. ), but we all know them, so I'll content myself with the satisfaction of a fighting effort, and say to the lads " Well done." But please A.K.B.'s - spare the overexuberance and triumphalism. It's a nice win, but let's not get carried away, as many of you love to do the moment we have a sniff of success.
Next up ; A tricky Cup tie trip to Sunderland or Middlesborough. Let's hope we can carry on the good work, we need to, as it's the only competition we've got a realistic prospect of winning. It would be great to have something to display in the trophy cabinet for a change.
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30-Jan-2012 10:48 | | pikaBut he needs to do the business far MORE OFTEN . The fact that he doesn't, means he needs to be shipped out. Same with Theo - yet we want him to sign a new contract ! ( make sense ? ).
lol..yeah tell us coach lippi ..how would you do things ?
ahahah these little engladers..always crack me up ....
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30-Jan-2012 11:30 | | MeanLean
"I could nitpick on the familiar faults and deficiencies"
Of course you could. That is what you do and what you always do.
"please A.K.B.'s - spare the overexuberance and triumphalism"
Why on earth would Arsenal supporters cheer a victory on an Arsenal blog? Change world ey Speccy?
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30-Jan-2012 11:33 | | MeanLeanNo idea about Podolski, he is injured for four weeks or so now anyway, so he will not be leaving Germany anytime soon.
Great come back and I agree that credit must go to Wenger for the team coming out fighting in the second half. We need to see more of that from the start.
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02-Feb-2012 09:41 | | SpectrumJB212 - " I believe if Wenger wanted to install some confidence into the fans regarding Arshavin, he would let him play in the role behind van Persie today. "
Agreed. But it makes too much sense, so it will never happen.
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02-Feb-2012 10:17 | | SpectrumContext and perspective, Mean Lean. The bigger picture and all that. That's what shapes my views of Arsenal F.C. That's been my CONSISTENT position all along. These qualities are what A.K.B.'s lack, which is why I warned of " overexuberance and triumphalism."
Case in point ; Our run of good form from October to December. You were all wetting your pants about how we were going so well, how Wenger had "turned things around", how all the "doomers" had been proven wrong, e.t.c. The more realistic among us however, basing our judgment on the team's past record, and the manager's ingrained flaws, waited patiently for the bubble to pop. Sure enough the A.K.B.'s were dismayed when our new found "progress" was derailed.
No special powers of E.S.P. told us this would happen. It's because at Arsenal under this management, history has a habit of repeating itself. It was PREDICTABLE. Just as I can confidently predict that whilst Wenger remains at the club, we won't win the league again.
We can enjoy the wins as and when they happen, but the longer term aim is to win the league, not just to finish top 4. The TRUE test of a team's and manager's ability, is results over a LONG PERIOD ( i.e. consistency ). Achieve that, and we can really celebrate. Until then, A.K.B.'s keep your hero worship in check ( tough as it is for you, I know ).
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