Arsenal’s start to the Season

As I haven’t blogged in a while on here, I thought it was time to do so and the most fitting topic seemed to be discussing Arsenal’s start and my thoughts for the rest of their season.

It seems that before the season had begun, everyone had written off Arsenal.  They were slated for losing two of their most experienced players to Man City (Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor) and for not replacing them.  I myself was saddened by the lost of both players, particulary Adebayor and his big African grin. 

In my opinion before the season started, Arsenal desperately needed a central defensive midfielder and a player who would be the backbone of the squad (similar to how John Terry is at Chelsea or Steven Gerrard at Liverpool). 

However after only two games it appears that Mr Wenger does actually know what he’s doing as Arsenal have won both their games with a solid win at home to a struggling Portsmouth and a whooping of Everton on the first day of the season.  The main difference with Arsenal compared to last season seems to be the steady improvement of lesser players on the squad – such as Song, Diaby and Bendtner, and the strong team spirit that seems to inhabit the players.  Arsenal seem to be back to playing their way of football which not only looks lovely, but at the moment is getting results. 

I believe that Wenger was right to get rid of Adebayor and Toure.  The former didn’t want to play for Arsenal anymore and the latter also seemed to have lost faith in the club.  With Toure gone, it seems to have allowed Gallas to step up and become the player that Arsenal need who will motivate the team and get them going.  I’m just hoping he doesn’t have a bizarre hissy fit reminscient of his one at Birmingham and year and a half ago.  With Gallas at the helm, Arsenal appear to have a good cohesive team spirit, which they were lacking last season.

As for Arsenal’s season, I believe they will do very well, but I don’t believe they will challenge for the title.  The squad will suffer when players get injured and Arsenal will no doubt continue to draw against teams they should beat due to their insistence on playing a certain way. 

But in conclusion I do have the umost respect from Wenger.  He has stuck by his method of playing and given younger players the time they need to improve.  His not resorting to buying to solve problems won’t win him much, but has won my respect as an Arsenal fan.

Lets just hope they beat those Mancs on Saturday!!!

James

Chelsea 1 Arsenal 2

What a wonderful weekend for an Arsenal fan.  After a week of turmoil regarding William Gallas and two disappointing performances against Villa and Man City, they managed to turn it all around by beating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

In a game of two halves, Arsenal came out in the second and for the first time since playing Man Utd, played with strong determination and pushed for the win.  Van Persie’s goals in particular were superb. He’s a striker who sometimes can be amazing and at other times make hardly any impact, but on Sunday he scored two great goals.  Was the first goal offside?  Yes. But I’m not too fussed.  I would be really annoyed if it had been the other way round, but it was the luck Arsenal needed so I gladly accept it.  

So overall a great result, but a bizarre reflection on Arsenal’s season.  They beat Man United and now Chelsea at Stamford Bridge (only the second team to do so since the new Chelsea arena was finished), but they are still fourth after losing too many games.   So I’m really happy with Arsenal at the moment, and at the same time not.  I believe they will hopefully pick things up in the second half of the season, but they won’t win the title.

As good as the Arsenal result was, there was another footballing incident over the weekend that I enjoyed as much.  It was the sending off of Cristiano Ronaldo.  To begin with, he should of been sent of earlier in the game for his sarcastic clapping and atittude towards the ref.  But then justice was served, when bizzarely Ronaldo slapped the ball from a corner, blaming a supposed referees whistle for his actions.  

Did he deserve to be sent off?  It was a bit harsh, but yes.  He gave the ref no choice.  He had to follow the letter of the law.  His excuse as well sounded to me a little thin.  Perhaps it was one of those moments where you do something stupid and then try to justify it afterwards so you don’t look as stupid.  The only whistle type noise was the airhorn that was set of by some City fans.  If I was the fan with that horn, I would be extremely pleased with myself.  Plus almost every player would have still headed the ball despite the whistle going off just incase.  He was silly not to do so and I’m flipping glad he got sent off.  Hopefully this will knock him down a peg or two.  

James

A delayed report on the Arsenal victory over Man Utd

Saturday the 8th of November was a quite marvellous day.  Arsenal beat Man Utd 2-1 at the Emriates, and I was lucky enough to be there. 

Heading towards North London in the morning, I was not optmistic at all.  Arsenal were not playing well and had just come from a bad loss to Stoke.  To make things worse, key players were out of the game, including most importantly: the two main strikers were out leaving the only possiblities Vela or Bendtner.  To make things worse, the newspapers were full of stupid articles calling for the sack of Arsene Wenger.  I predicted before hand a 2-1 win to Man Yoo and felt Arsenal would be lucky to get a draw.

How wrong I was and what a superb game of football to witness.  My highlights included:

1) Obviously the two goals from Samir Nasri

One of the key ingrediants to Arsenal’s success in previous seasons has been when midfielders are scoring lots of goals.  Of late, this has been lacking, so it was great to see Nasri getting two.

2) William Gallas

After looking worrying dodgy at the back the last few games, the Arsenal defence had a great game.  William Gallas showed some superb captaincy and kept a cool head, so well done there.

3) Gael Clichy

As soon as the game kicked off, the ball was passed to C.Ronaldo.  Gael Clichy legged up to him and slid in hard winning the ball.  Good man!  This epitomised Clichy’s superb performance.  He out played Ronaldo and topped it off by cheekily flicking the ball over his arrogant head much to the delight of the crowd.

4) Wayne Rooney was poo

Don’t get me wrong, I love Rooney when he plays for England.  But not when he plays for United.  It was highly entertaining seeing him getting more and more annoyed and missing almost every shot.

Overall it was a great game and just what Arsenal needed after a dire run of results.  Both teams played some great football, but Arsenal took their chances when United didn’t.  Arsenal should of had more too, but Bendtner looked out of his depth playing by himself up front against Ferdinand and Vidic. 

Arsenal deserved to win against a full strength Man United in a game that most of been highly entertaining for the neutral.  Now if only Arsenal could perform like this against teams like Hull and Stoke.

James