The returns of Ramsey and Ozil could not have come at a better time when you consider the poor run of form we had found ourselves in.
Aaron Ramsey had been out since Boxing Day and the midfielder's inspirational form prior to his injury had been having a major impact on our push for a first league title since 2004.
Ozil has had an up and down season; his first in the Premier League of course and we all hope for a much better, consistent player next term but in his return to the side recently, you can see the difference perhaps a little break has had which is promising.
Consider if Ozil and Ramsey had been fit and in form all season...I don't think we would be in a battle for fourth at the moment. Koscielny himself says the return of the these two now has "made the difference".
And on that battle for fourth spot, just one more win will secure us a spot in the UEFA Champions League for the seventeenth consecutive year, with Everton slipping up to Crystal Palace and Southampton in recent weeks. There are still two games to go and this has been very much a topsy turvy season, but I sense a new air of confidence around Arsenal just when it is needed.
Tuesday, 29 April 2014
Tuesday, 15 April 2014
Fourth time lucky or it's thank you and goodbye Arsene Wenger
The look of Arsene Wenger as he headed down the touchline at full time, before re-emerging to celebrate, says he knows just how lucky he is to have this current Arsenal side in an FA Cup Final and probably how close he is to knowing that his time is up.
With eight minutes to go in the game on Saturday I was out of hope and feeling tense. Per's clumsy tackle resulted in an obvious penalty earlier in the second half and we all felt (well three of us Arsenal fans in the pub) that our endless trophy run looked set to continue for another year.
Per's header in the last ten minutes however made us see the light; a glimmer of hope.
Yes Arsenal had looked more up for it since conceding and we hit the post and bar twice I think (maybe three times?) with a chance also cleared off the line. But scoring when we should just isn't our forte and it is so frustrating game in, game out when other sides such as Manchester City or Liverpool you know would be four or five up if they were playing our opposition with our amount of chances.
Sanogo looked bright but but there was a lack of attacking movement in supporting him, and his lack of experience and play time maybe added to his misfortune but he looks an exciting young promise with strength, power and his tall physique. He also possess some pace too unlike the incompetent Giroud.
The players you need for a big game like this, and against Championship opposition though no offence to Wigan who are a tough team on their day, just didn't show up. Andy Townsend said probably the only thing right in his commentating career so far that Lukas Podolski needs to attack more and go at defences. Cazorla also did little for me, Vermaelen just looks nowhere near the decent defender he once was and you wonder what kind of player you'd have seen out of Ozil if he had been fit to play. Ramsey is obviously still not match fit and I think we always miss Flamini in midfield who was suspended.
Steve Bruce has already opened his mouth ahead of the cup final but is right in saying the pressure is on us. It has been nine years since we won a trophy and of course that was the FA Cup and I think fans feel we will mess up this chance of winning it; after all we ballsed up our cup finals in the UEFA Champions League of 2006, and the 2007 and 2011 League Cup finals. Will then this be fourth time lucky?
As for whether we win it or not, something went horribly wrong this season. For sure injuries have played their part as they have again struck us hard. Every year we ask ourselves WHY THE SAME EVERY TIME? It's incredibly frustrating.
Following the 3-1 opening day defeat to Villa we had a pretty solid start to the league season bar defeats to United and City and were top again in January. However we now look set to be out of the Champions League next season. Our European fate lies in the hands of Everton who are two points above us, but we still have to win all our remanding games to have a chance too. Perhaps Everton do have the tougher run in in terms of opposition but if we don't get out of this slump, then I can see us struggling in our own final five fixtures.
Will Wenger still believe in his side if we don't make the competition next year? PSG or the French national side are bookie's favourites for his next destination if he leaves Arsenal. But who do you you A) replace him with, and B) who's available? He has said a 'top four finish is vital for him' - maybe because it will influence his decision on signing a new contract in the summer.
Arsenal's focus turns back to the Premier League tonight where we host West Ham, which kicks off at 7:45pm GMT, and is live on Sky Sports 1. Come on you Gooners! A win is a must for a team that still believe.
With eight minutes to go in the game on Saturday I was out of hope and feeling tense. Per's clumsy tackle resulted in an obvious penalty earlier in the second half and we all felt (well three of us Arsenal fans in the pub) that our endless trophy run looked set to continue for another year.
Per's header in the last ten minutes however made us see the light; a glimmer of hope.
Yes Arsenal had looked more up for it since conceding and we hit the post and bar twice I think (maybe three times?) with a chance also cleared off the line. But scoring when we should just isn't our forte and it is so frustrating game in, game out when other sides such as Manchester City or Liverpool you know would be four or five up if they were playing our opposition with our amount of chances.
Sanogo looked bright but but there was a lack of attacking movement in supporting him, and his lack of experience and play time maybe added to his misfortune but he looks an exciting young promise with strength, power and his tall physique. He also possess some pace too unlike the incompetent Giroud.
The players you need for a big game like this, and against Championship opposition though no offence to Wigan who are a tough team on their day, just didn't show up. Andy Townsend said probably the only thing right in his commentating career so far that Lukas Podolski needs to attack more and go at defences. Cazorla also did little for me, Vermaelen just looks nowhere near the decent defender he once was and you wonder what kind of player you'd have seen out of Ozil if he had been fit to play. Ramsey is obviously still not match fit and I think we always miss Flamini in midfield who was suspended.
Steve Bruce has already opened his mouth ahead of the cup final but is right in saying the pressure is on us. It has been nine years since we won a trophy and of course that was the FA Cup and I think fans feel we will mess up this chance of winning it; after all we ballsed up our cup finals in the UEFA Champions League of 2006, and the 2007 and 2011 League Cup finals. Will then this be fourth time lucky?
As for whether we win it or not, something went horribly wrong this season. For sure injuries have played their part as they have again struck us hard. Every year we ask ourselves WHY THE SAME EVERY TIME? It's incredibly frustrating.
Following the 3-1 opening day defeat to Villa we had a pretty solid start to the league season bar defeats to United and City and were top again in January. However we now look set to be out of the Champions League next season. Our European fate lies in the hands of Everton who are two points above us, but we still have to win all our remanding games to have a chance too. Perhaps Everton do have the tougher run in in terms of opposition but if we don't get out of this slump, then I can see us struggling in our own final five fixtures.
Will Wenger still believe in his side if we don't make the competition next year? PSG or the French national side are bookie's favourites for his next destination if he leaves Arsenal. But who do you you A) replace him with, and B) who's available? He has said a 'top four finish is vital for him' - maybe because it will influence his decision on signing a new contract in the summer.
Arsenal's focus turns back to the Premier League tonight where we host West Ham, which kicks off at 7:45pm GMT, and is live on Sky Sports 1. Come on you Gooners! A win is a must for a team that still believe.
 |
| Arsene Wenger is losing the love of his supporters. |
Thursday, 10 April 2014
Wigan v Arsenal: another Wembley woe?
This is a relatively quick one ahead of our FA Cup tie. I've not been able to blog in my spare time recently with work taking over my life though this has kept me occupied and not worrying about our season's collapse at least.
But if all goes to pot on Saturday our season will be kaput.
Ahead of the Everton tie, I wrote last week that I felt Everton would win. I guessed 2-0, but reality made it worse with the game actually ending 3-0 instead. I heard we were poor as the scoreline suggests, and again this weekend I will watch the game admittedly with lack of hope.
Wigan did the amazing in beating Manchester City to reach the semi finals, and will be right up for this one again. I'd like to think we are too but if we didn't exactly show up when it mattered in the big game against Everton, considering our positions in the league and what is might mean for European qualification.
We go into this semi-final tie the favourites as the bigger team, but I don't see us as favourites. Hopefully Ramsey will be a little sharper after his return from injury last week. We really need to see him play to the levels we saw prior to his long term injury!
Wilshere, Ozil, Diaby and Koscielny are definitely out (Diaby is set to return to full training next week assuming, that is, he has no further set backs...) and Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rosicky, and Gibbs are 50/50.
Fabianski will start in goal Wenger has also announced which is another opportunity for the Polish keeper to impress. He has been composed and played very well when used this season, and rightly should be forcing a claim to for the number one jersey, that is if he doesn't move away in the summer as have been the rumours.
Perhaps the biggest blow for us though is that Flamini is suspended. We always miss him in the defensive midfield role, and he has shown he can get forward too. With our other injuries and lack of forwards, we aren't getting forward quickly or creating too many threatening opportunities, while without Flamini's grit and leadership our defensive game is also lacking; not the mixture for success.
Whatever happens happens. But we are one game from the final and have another chance to grab a win at the new Wembley. The 2007 and 2011 League Cup finals suggest the stadium is a bad omen for us, but the players need some drive and inspiration from somewhere knowing the title challenge is practically over and our Champions League qualification hopes hang by a thread.
The FA Cup tie against Wigan on Saturday kicks off at 5:30pm (GMT), and is live on ITV. Enjoy the game if you can.
But if all goes to pot on Saturday our season will be kaput.
Ahead of the Everton tie, I wrote last week that I felt Everton would win. I guessed 2-0, but reality made it worse with the game actually ending 3-0 instead. I heard we were poor as the scoreline suggests, and again this weekend I will watch the game admittedly with lack of hope.
Wigan did the amazing in beating Manchester City to reach the semi finals, and will be right up for this one again. I'd like to think we are too but if we didn't exactly show up when it mattered in the big game against Everton, considering our positions in the league and what is might mean for European qualification.
We go into this semi-final tie the favourites as the bigger team, but I don't see us as favourites. Hopefully Ramsey will be a little sharper after his return from injury last week. We really need to see him play to the levels we saw prior to his long term injury!
Wilshere, Ozil, Diaby and Koscielny are definitely out (Diaby is set to return to full training next week assuming, that is, he has no further set backs...) and Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rosicky, and Gibbs are 50/50.
Fabianski will start in goal Wenger has also announced which is another opportunity for the Polish keeper to impress. He has been composed and played very well when used this season, and rightly should be forcing a claim to for the number one jersey, that is if he doesn't move away in the summer as have been the rumours.
Perhaps the biggest blow for us though is that Flamini is suspended. We always miss him in the defensive midfield role, and he has shown he can get forward too. With our other injuries and lack of forwards, we aren't getting forward quickly or creating too many threatening opportunities, while without Flamini's grit and leadership our defensive game is also lacking; not the mixture for success.
Whatever happens happens. But we are one game from the final and have another chance to grab a win at the new Wembley. The 2007 and 2011 League Cup finals suggest the stadium is a bad omen for us, but the players need some drive and inspiration from somewhere knowing the title challenge is practically over and our Champions League qualification hopes hang by a thread.
The FA Cup tie against Wigan on Saturday kicks off at 5:30pm (GMT), and is live on ITV. Enjoy the game if you can.
Friday, 4 April 2014
Everton v Arsenal will be a test of character
So I think we are very much out of the title race and now in the fight for fourth place yet again. How the season has changed!
Everton sit four points behind us with an important game in hand and so our clash with them this Sunday is a BIG one. A draw isn't particularly great as we need some daylight between us, therefore a win is a must.
We gained a draw last weekend against Manchester City, and after our performances against the big sides this season, and the strength of Manchester City, I thought we'd get torn apart. Credit to the players who put in a great show during this difficult time of the year however.
Flamini did particularly well and often looked to get forward when others wouldn't. I like how he takes things into his own matter and had a good game with one goal ruled out for offside, before grabbing our eventual equaliser which earned the point. I've said before on the blog he is a certain starter in the central midfield position, and I look forward to seeing him and Aaron Ramsey sit alongside each other when the Welshman is fully fit. Ramsey may start against the Toffees on Sunday as it happens though I don't expect to see him mirror the player we saw earlier in the season just yet.
On Thursday I read an interesting report from The Sport Review, and the article generally makes good points ahead of this weekend's fourth v fifth clash. They are in favour of a Toffee's win on Sunday and I don't anticipate an easy fixture at all from a Gunner's perspective.
As they state, Everton are over achieving this season and Roberto Martinez has done wonders, they are in-form, possess an extra incentive to finish in UEFA Champions League spot, and they face an Arsenal side headed by an under-pressure Wenger.
Wenger is under pressure in some regards, certainly to prove that he isn't just satisfied by a fourth spot place, and a lot of fans are again getting on his back. There will be even more calls for his resignation if we fail to win the FA Cup as well, as we head into the semi-finals as favourites.
I have a gut feeling we'll lose on Sunday with Lukaku playing a vital role. Something's say 2-0 but I do hope I'm wrong! Still we haven't lost to them in our previous two fixtures this season, and we eventually eased passed them in the FA Cup. But Goodison Park will be a tough place to go to, and the players really now need to prove themselves as a tough bunch if we are to get anything up there, and as the season draws to a close, with a UEFA Champions League up for contention!
Here's the full article from The Sport Review (opens in new tab).
Everton sit four points behind us with an important game in hand and so our clash with them this Sunday is a BIG one. A draw isn't particularly great as we need some daylight between us, therefore a win is a must.
We gained a draw last weekend against Manchester City, and after our performances against the big sides this season, and the strength of Manchester City, I thought we'd get torn apart. Credit to the players who put in a great show during this difficult time of the year however.
Flamini did particularly well and often looked to get forward when others wouldn't. I like how he takes things into his own matter and had a good game with one goal ruled out for offside, before grabbing our eventual equaliser which earned the point. I've said before on the blog he is a certain starter in the central midfield position, and I look forward to seeing him and Aaron Ramsey sit alongside each other when the Welshman is fully fit. Ramsey may start against the Toffees on Sunday as it happens though I don't expect to see him mirror the player we saw earlier in the season just yet.
On Thursday I read an interesting report from The Sport Review, and the article generally makes good points ahead of this weekend's fourth v fifth clash. They are in favour of a Toffee's win on Sunday and I don't anticipate an easy fixture at all from a Gunner's perspective.
As they state, Everton are over achieving this season and Roberto Martinez has done wonders, they are in-form, possess an extra incentive to finish in UEFA Champions League spot, and they face an Arsenal side headed by an under-pressure Wenger.
Wenger is under pressure in some regards, certainly to prove that he isn't just satisfied by a fourth spot place, and a lot of fans are again getting on his back. There will be even more calls for his resignation if we fail to win the FA Cup as well, as we head into the semi-finals as favourites.
I have a gut feeling we'll lose on Sunday with Lukaku playing a vital role. Something's say 2-0 but I do hope I'm wrong! Still we haven't lost to them in our previous two fixtures this season, and we eventually eased passed them in the FA Cup. But Goodison Park will be a tough place to go to, and the players really now need to prove themselves as a tough bunch if we are to get anything up there, and as the season draws to a close, with a UEFA Champions League up for contention!
Here's the full article from The Sport Review (opens in new tab).
 |
| Ramsey against his former side Cardiff City in 2013. |
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