Arsenal Effect

No transfers but do we have a capable squad?

Sep 012012

It’s fair to say we are all disappointed if not angry with Arsenal’s inward inactivity in the transfer market after the sale of Song. Even the most positive Arsenal fan would acknowledge disappointment. Now that is out of our hands, we ought to take a critical look at the squad and see if the squad we have is good enough.

First Eleven
Szczesny
Sagna – Koscielny – Vermaelen – Gibbs
Diaby – Cazorla – Arteta
Walcott – Giroud – Podolski

The most negative fan would accept we have a wonderful first eleven. The worries comes when we pick up injuries (which we would definitely pick up). I’m confident with the options we have in defence. Jenkinson was a bit of worry going into the season but I think he would do OK till Sagna comes back. The other worry is Djourou but people forget his troubles last season was when he played at right back. If you doubt his abilities at center back, just try to remember the panic you felt when he was initially ruled out for six weeks when he went down in the 10/11 FA Cup quarter-final against ManU at Old trafford.

In the midfield, worries stem from fact that we are not sure for how long Diaby would remain fit. I think Ramsey could play his position, as long as he’s beside Arteta. Coquelin is also another player that fits in there. My major worry is with Arteta as it looks like we have no one to replace him. Wilshere can do the job when/if he comes back but would Arteta be fit till then? Let us hope so. We also have to hope that Wilshere comes back to a level close to the level he was before the injury. Coquelin is another option for that position. However, he was not impressive when he played there against West Brom in the last match of last season. Bear in mind that was only one game. Cazorla looks like the only first choice midfielder we have adequate replacement for in Chamberlain, Rosicky and possibly Arshavin and Ramsey.

We have Walcott, Rosicky, Chamberlain, Gervinho, Podolski and Arshavin as our wide players. We could also throw Santos, Gnabry and Ramsey into the mix. I think we are adequately stocked there.

Giroud has to be our first choice CF. Podolski would be his deputy and Chamakh being the third. Just to make things fun, let’s put Walcott in the mix, he sees himself as a striker.

Looking at our squad in terms of first and second elevens would be misleading. The key is the options we have to replace with. I’m least confident with striking options but if Giroud settles soon, I doubt we have to worry with substitutes.

If Wenger is ready to thinker with formation, players position and rotate properly, I think we would be in for a wonderful season. Nothing stops Cazorla playing behind Walcott in a 4-4-1-1 or having the energy of Ramsey and Coquelin in the midfield.

The transfers have ended (till January) and the best we can do is to support the players out there on the pitch. Let’s hope they stay away from injuries and also deliver.

Till next time, ódabò.

Thoughts on potential transfers and getting stoked

Match Analysis, News, Transfer News 4 Responses »

Aug 242012

I went off blogging for a while in an attempt not to do my head in. How did that work? I’m not yet in a psychiatric ward!

We’ve lost Judas and more surprisingly Song since my last post but have also gained the magnificent Santa Clause – he who brings goals (I hope). We also missed out on a supposedly done deal for Sahin. I was very excited about his potential transfer as he would be an able deputy for Arteta but paying £7m for a deputy whom you’re not sure of his fitness and won’t be available after a season doesn’t really worth it.

Going forward

Wenger today said he is trying to bring in one or two players albeit it is not all dependent on him. It is the first rule of being a gooner (well minus a thousand other first rules like hating the spuds) not to believe whatever Wenger says about transfers but rather look for hidden clues.

So if he is actually looking at new faces, what kind of players is he looking at? Many have suggested a versatile defender and a holding midfielder. I would rather a striker and holding midfielder, if that is the most we can get.

Getting a midfielder is not negotiable. No one can predict the type of season Rosicky, Diaby and Wilshere would have. It would be negligence to believe we can get a consistent season out of those three. Twenty games is a miracle. Getting a midfielder who is both capable of creating and defending – someone in the Sahin mode – would be a bonus. Currently, the bulk of creativity lies with Cazorla and relying on him alone would work out in most games, but there would be such games where other outlets would be highly required.

Moving Santos to the wings could be a master stroke. For one, he is more of a winger than a left back. You would fancy him to dribble past his marker in a 1v1 situation. His passes and crosses are decent and not forgetting shots from his left peg. His height could also be a useful asset in attacking crosses to the back post. The only problem with moving him there is that we would theoretically lack cover for Gibbs. For that, I bring to you Miquel. Yes Miquel! The immediate response is to compare him to options available at other clubs supposedly in our level. You have Rose (spuds), Betrand (Chelsea), Kolarov (City) and Buttner(ManU). I think he’s a pretty good choice comparing him to others.

With that little re shuffling, we would have sorted the Wing and left back position. Barring our traditional injury curse, we should be set there.

Signing an extra striker would mean we can stick Podolski to the left, where I think he’s more suited. A pacey striker (not thinking Walcott) would also give defences something extra to think about. Sigh, only if we had gotten a work permit for Joel Campbell.

On to the cavemen (Stole)

You don’t need a soothsayer to tell you what to expect. Long balls into the box is all they’ve got. Have to say Etherington tries to be creative but still rarely. If we need Szczesny for just one game all season, its in a match like this. I really hope he is fit enough to start. His shoulder might be a source of major headache during the season though, I hope it doesn’t get to a stage where we would have to rely on someone else for extended periods.

I expect largely the same team that started against Sunderland to start against Stoke. Only substitution would be Giroud for Gervinho with Podolski moving to the left and Giroud staying central.

I hope we get a result against Stoke. Any other result and I fear for the gooner world. The feel good factor is gradually depreciating and a poor result would damage the moral of fans.

Ódabò.

After two quality strikers, who should be next?

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Jun 272012

The transfer window is not yet open and two signings are already in the bag. The way Arsenal has gone about the transfers this summer is very uncharacteristic and highly welcomed.

Undoubtedly, the ghosts of Van Persie’s and to a lesser extent, Walcott’s contract situation still lingers, the club has decided to be proactive and bring in two quality players. A lot has been said about Podolski’s pedigree and if like me you haven’t watched Giroud except for Youtube highlights, this scout report would give you a true picture of what to expect.

Some have suggested Giroud’s arrival means the end of RVP. I disagree because the popular opinion last season was that we needed a back-up striker to support RvP’s effort. Also, I thought RvP wanted to see our ambition. Two new strikers certainly shows ambition.

So after two strikers, where next to strengthen?

Our defensive record last season (49 goals against) would suggest a new defender. Unfortunately, that doesn’t show the whole picture as it doesn’t account for three months without a full back, 21 different defensive combinations in 38 games and number of times players were played out of position. Even Yennaris had a go at right back.

Looking at our defenders individually, you would see they are all brilliant. Mertesacker was in his first season and although he looked awkward (guess that’s why most are uncomfortable with him), his calming influence was an asset whenever he was on the pitch. And as for Djourou, you can hardly find a better fourth choice center back. Forget his performance at right back last season and cast your mind back to his performances at center back to realise that he’s OK.

What we need more than center backs is a sit-at-home, happy-to-defend defensive midfielder who is capable of breaking up play and also launching attacks.

We already have one in Song – well, before be was forced to abandon those duties and morph into Songinho. Getting someone else would be good. The someone else looks like M’Vila.

Although Matt Spiro said on twitter that the deal was off because Wenger is unsure of his attitude, I would like to think that is just a bargaining chip. Not sure he could be ‘wilder’ than Van Persie at his age. If M’Vila is not possible, names such as Capoue and Biglia have been mentioned. The Argentine has previously claimed interest from us so there is something there.

After the capture of a defensive midfielder, we can then look at other positions such as back-up keeper & right back and attacking midfielder, although they are all luxuries at this point.

Considering our transfer history, keeping Van Persie and Walcott, signing a defensive midfielder and shifting the unwanted players would make this a perfect summer.

Would like to leave you with this post from 1 Nil Down, 2 One Up considering a possible formation change for next season. Also, if you would like to read more about Giroud, this article would give you more than a mouthful.

Till next time, ódabò.

2011/2012 Season review - Top 5 Arsenal Moments

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May 192012

2011/2012 season was a soul draining season. From the disappointment of summer transfers to the period you’d 8-2 be an Arsenal fan. The San Siro massacre to the period we went 10 points behind the spuds. The season had some incredibly low points. It also had its tense moments and ultimately, some moments that would live long, forever in our memories. Here are my top 5 of such moments:

5. Van Persie silences the Kop: the match against Liverpool at Anfield is one of the very few games you would see Arsenal come out on top after being battered during the game. Szczesny had saved a Kuyt penalty before Koscielny scored an own goal to put Liverpool ahead. Minutes later, Van Persie equalised with our first real attack. From then on to the last minute, it was all Liverpool with attack coming after attack. Van Persie was to have the final say as he scored a delightful volley from a Song’s chipped pass. Match ended 2-1 and the Kop was silenced.

4. John Terry eats a banana: no, not the Ferdinand row. The match was 3-3 as Mata just equalised. Spirits were down in the Arsenal camp but we had all agreed 3-3 at the Chavs in the recent run wasn’t a bad result. Then inexplicably, Terry fails to control a pass from Malouda and Van Persie was on to the ball in a flash. Terry in his attempt to chase the captain for no reason slipped affording Van Persie a free run at Cech, whom he rounded before slotting the ball in an empty net to make it 4-3. Van Persie scored another to complete his hat-trick making it 5-3. All thanks though should go to Terry who slipped on a banana.

3. Little Mozart sends the Spuds to bed: Arsenal came into the match against the bitter rivals 10 points behind. 30 minutes into the game and it was 13 points thanks to a deflected Saha strike and an Adebayor penalty. Sensing that the season was heading for a Titanic iceberg, the players woke from their slumber. First was a Sagna header then a Van Persie curler and it was 2-2 heading into the break. Arsenal finally took the lead in the 51st minute thanks to a strike from Rosicky. It was his first goal in 50 league games and what a time to score it. The strike was the nitro booster needed by the number seven and that propelled him to an amazing second half of the season. Walcott added two more goals to make it 5-2 sealing the coffin. The Spuds never recovered from then on as they went to slumber from the symphony played by our little Mozart.

2. Sir Szczesny saves the season: Arsenal got Udinese in the Champions League qualifiers and took a one nil lead going into the second leg in Udine. The ageless Di Natale gave Udinese half time lead. Van Persie then equalised thanks to a Gerv assist. At 1-1, it was Arsenal going through. Then Udinese got a penalty. A goal for Udinese would put them in ascendancy and who knows what next. It was Szczesny v Di Natale. The Pole dived to his right and parried Di Natale’s penalty onto the crossbar. Walcott later scored to make it 2-1 but what would have happened if not for Szczesny’s brilliant save remains a mystery I’m glad we never bothered to find out.

1. The King is back! Long live the King!: his statue had just been revealed outside the Emirates. At first, I didn’t like the idea of Henry returning, no one wants the glorious memories corrupted. He was to make his second debut in the FA Cup third round against Leeds. With the scored tied at 0-0, the King was called up to salvage the situation. He collected a through ball from Song at the left edge of the box before passing it into the right bottom corner. Emirates exploded with joy. Henry’s celebration that day would forever live in our collective memories. Long live the King.

There are some other moments worth mentioning – Gibbs tackle against West Brom, Van Persie’s volley against Everton, Arteta’s strike against Man City, Chamberlain’s assist against Man U amongst others.

Till next time, ódabò.

2011/2012 review - Top 5 Arsenal Players

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May 142012

What a season that was eh? The drama, the excitement, the disappointment. It all rolled into one to produce a memorable season. One that would definitely live long in the memory.

The return of the king was a special moment. His trademark finish into bottom right corner from the left wing. The rise of the Ox was also remarkable. Think about it, he made the home fans yab the boss. Song’s magical chip passes to Van Persie’s left boot and the resurrection of our little Mozart.

Looking back at the season, it was truly a magical one. Only a trophy would have made it better but celebrating St Totteringham’s day so late wasn’t that bad, with all the mind the gap nonsense.

Here are my top 5 players from the season:

5. Szczesny: the goal keeper made alien saves to keep us in games earlier in the season. Although his performance dropped towards end of the season, it can be excused as he played the last 5 weeks with injection and no training. That’s some heroic shizz.

4. Song: I talked about his magical chip passes earlier, they were breathtaking. He has been widely criticised for abandoning his defensive duties – rightly so – but we all know he can defend. All he has to do to become the ultimate defensive midfielder is to choose the right moments to become Songinho. Think about your best five goals from this season, at least three would have a Song assist. Amazing!

3. Arteta: Artetaaaa! Commentary that followed his excellent goal against Man City, unfortunately that would be his last meaningful contribution to the season. He brought maturity and calmness to our midfield. I’m sure you already know we weren’t able to win in his absence, not until the last game.

2. Koscielny: his nickname over here at the beginning of the season was koseyin – meaning no back/defence. To transform from object of ridicule to our best defender is simply amazing. Highest tackles and interceptions by a defender says it all. To score the last goal of the season is a deserved icing on an amazing cake.

1. Van Persie: started all matches barring one. He finally showed why Wenger kept faith in him all those years he was a perma-crock and many wanted him flogged off to new pastures. He scored 30 goals equalling Henry’s most productive league season. I hope he shows faith in the man that showed faith in him previously.

Honourable mentions to Rosicky who was ‘like a new signing’, Walcott with his numerous assists, Henry and of course Martin Fulop, what a legend!

Till next time, ódabò.