Clichy gets injured for a couple of months and now Arsenal have no leftback….we are use to this stuff this season with so many injuries all coincidently after international breaks…AW must surely laugh now as that is all he can do really!!
But my point is that it now also seems that Chelsea’s luck has finally started to erode a little bit…I do not think they will collapse but even a few minor hits here and there and doubts start to creep in all the players minds….coupled with the news that apart from Carlton Cole, Chelsea have no fit forward and problems with Robben means Chelsea’s game against Newcastle on Saturday will be interesting for rest of the EPL…as Arsenal have an earlier kick-off if they can somehow get there win at Wigan and put Chelsea under that little bit of pressure will make for very interesting viewing and if somehow Chelsea can drop a few points by either drawing or losing another game and Arsenal get to within 6 points or so of Chelsea then the game at Highbury will have massive ramifications to Chelsea psyhe provided Arsenal win!!
Any thoughts on how you guys see the season shaping up till the January transfer window where AW must buy some quality to re-inforce squad depth and quality and to keep Henry’s ambitions in line with Arsenal’s or vice versa…
27 Responses to “Change of fortunes…..Chelsea’s fortunes!?”
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November 15th, 2005 at 3:35 pm
I really don’t think Chelsea have any serious injury problems… they are loaded with back-ups that would start for most teams.
Conversely, we have injuries. We can NOT fill in the gap with quality talent.
Who plays for Cole/Clichy? CYGAN?
Cole and Clichy both have oodles of speed… and that helps our left side attack flow beautifully.
and… who pray tell has any experience playing there and has anything close to the speed of Clichy or Cole? Nobody.
Winning on the road at Wigan.
Well… a POINT on the road would be a positive for us this season. Wigan happens to be a tough nut to crack and the 2nd best team in the league so far. Again, a draw would be a good result.
So, CAN we win on the road at Wigan, of course!
We have Thierry Henry. Anything is possible.
Is it probable? I’d say not.
Will Chelsea drop points to Newcastle? It is possible. Is it probable? I’d say not.
Football is a funny game sometimes… but I really don’t expect us to close the gap too much on Chelsea based on our AWFUL road record, all our injuries, and our absolute lack of depth.
January’s transfer window will tell a great deal about future of this club.
November 15th, 2005 at 3:41 pm
Regarding of Stag’s previous comment that Clichy’s injury is another proof that our squad is not big enough.
But let’s be realistic, had we having another left back to back up Cole, will Clichy still be happy to stay?
Of Hoyte’s loan out. Again, let’s look at it from another angle. Had him not being loaned out, how many appearances he would have made for Arsenal this season? As a central back, he would be behind 4 players in the pecking order. As a right back, he would be behind Lauren and Eboue. As a left back, he would be behind Cole and Clichy… Sometimes we need to think of the player’s position as well. Hoyte is in a age needs playing experience. Keeping him in the Arsenal squad simply use it as an emergency back up would not be doing him any good.
Cole and Clichy’s injury is unfortunate. But this soft of thing is difficult to predict when the season started. How often you got 2 players at the same positions injuried at the same time? No team could possible have 3 players in each 11 playing position, unless you are Chelsea.
Having a big squad of course will be helpful, but having a happy squad may be even more vital.
As for the current problem, i have a feeling AW would be shifting Eboue to the left as an emergency back up. Personally i rate this young player very high. Physically and techincally sound, he will be breaking into the first team sooner or later. As for shifting position, if Winterburn (who could kick a ball with his right foot) could play well at the right back position in his first season with Arsenal, I don’t see there would be too much a problem for the young Eboue.
November 15th, 2005 at 3:51 pm
What is wrong with having play in reserves, where in the case of unfortunate injuries, we can actually have him play for OUR TEAM?!
Bentley? Aliadiare?
What if we needed THEM? What good is going on loan? Who has gone on loan and come back to play for our team regularly?
November 15th, 2005 at 3:52 pm
How long Clichy will be out ? Is it months, is it one game, 2 games ?
November 15th, 2005 at 4:08 pm
I heard 4 months.
November 15th, 2005 at 5:10 pm
These are our upcoming league fixtures.
Nov 19 away to Wigan
Nov 26 home to Blackburn boxers
Dec 3 away to Bolton Kickers
Dec 10 away to Newcastle
Dec 18 home to Chelsea
Dec 26 away to Charlton
Dec 28 home to Portsmouth
Dec 31 away to Villa
Jan 3 home to Manchester United
No easy games (unless Portsmouth and Villa continue to struggle). We need to get maximum points until our Chelsea game and then no matter what, we have to win that game. All these injuries have not helped but I am hoping for the best. The teams we are playing in the upcoming weeks will not be doing Arsenal any favours. In fact some of them might be sharpening their studs already…
November 15th, 2005 at 8:33 pm
Football is just not a physical game played on the pitch but also a psychological game played by the team managers’ confidence, war-of-words with opposition manager’s, the captain’s attitude/behaviour, player’s morale & confidence beeing boosted based on the team’s winning runs etc….
Now opinion has been divided as to who rattled who, during the recent comments between Wenger and the special one. In my opinion, Wenger has rattled Moanho big time…. else how do you explain the loss in CL and to manure in one week!!
Now that Wenger has achieved his objective, i.e., 2 consecutive losses to Chelski, he will be desperate to win at Wigan to pile the pressure on them and will do the required by pumping up our players for the game and win it. Even if it ends in a draw, I am very sure Arsenal players will be up for this game, big time and we can expect a good performance. I am eagerly waiting to see some Wenger away magic, this weekend.
And oh…. if we win our game against Wigan, the bit of pressure would see Chelski getting a 0-0 draw, at best. But I have a gut feeling that Newcastle will do them, probably with a late goal at the bridge, courtesy of either a free kick, or a Mickey flick on.
With or without left back, I expect the Arsenal to win 3-0 at Wigan. Our first win on the road, should set the tone for our end of year magnificent run.
November 15th, 2005 at 10:18 pm
Just when I didn’t know where I’d stick Reyes in my starting 11 a left back spot pops up!
November 15th, 2005 at 10:23 pm
23 pts! All wins except away to Bolton and Newcastle where we tie, I’ll `ave another pint please guvnor! (anyone checked out the Arsenal Xmas album? Hear some taster’s on Arsenal.com)
November 15th, 2005 at 11:25 pm
Wenger rattled Mourinho? and somehow that translates directly to his players on the pitch, causing them to lose?
Are you serious?
Chelsea getting a 0-0 draw “at best” versus Newcastle? Based on what exactly?!
Are you drinking heavily?
You expect a 3-0 win over Wigan.
We haven’t won on the road all season, and they are the 2nd best team in the league so far. We have no left back to speak of…
I would be THRILLED to see us win 3-0 and Chelsea lose or draw… but I wouldn’t bet someone else’s money on it happening.
Its more likely they WIN and we LOSE.
November 16th, 2005 at 12:54 am
here’s my solution, i’m sure that it has occurred to most of us.
SPLASH SOME CASH! TAKE A MINI-PAGE OUT OF THE RUSSKI FOOTBALL BOOK!
ballack is unhappy at bayern, robben is unhappy at chelski, torres and kuijit are licking their chops… we will lose bergkamp at the end of the year, pires will be gone sooner than later (no disrespect, i still rate him!), ljungberg isn’t getting any younger, we NEED replacements!!! move reyes to the midfield provider, van persie can continue to start up front with henry provided his form continues, and we can rotate torres and kuijit for the myriad of fixtures throughout the season. (league, league cup, fa cup, CL.) we’re destined to deal with injuries, hopefully not as many as this year, but with a stronger squad and more quality choices we are bound to have more success on ALL fronts. it makes sense: robben and kuijit will fit in nicely with holland teammate van persie and future coach bergkamp, and torres with spanish compatriots reyes and fabregas. of course, that doesn’t compensate for our woes at the back, but we’ll cross that canyon later…
will these boys be costly? you betcha. is it worth it? hell F*CKIN’ yeah. cole will probably leave (clichy, hoyte to deputize), so there’s $$$ to spend (not counting vieira’s untapped transfer cash), we have that mysterious $60 plus million quid burning a hole in the pocket. if we do not spend, we will LOSE HENRY! if that happens, we can kiss our aspirations goodbye and get used to mid-table. (’ello aston villa!) he must be surrounded by world-class talent or he’ll use that trademark speed to leave us in the rearview mirror. this is his last bigtime contract, and maybe his last stop. the CL is the only thing he hasn’t won. hopefully we can convince him that this is the best club to achieve that final hurdle. otherwise, the new stadium will resemble what we fear most: attractively wrapped, beautifully presented mediocrity.
or else, i fear where the highbury experience was like making love, the emirates experience will be a dry hump.
(i have taken not only to stag’s point of view, but also his strategic use of CAPS!
November 16th, 2005 at 1:23 am
I don’t think it’s a bad idea to loan out a player. It’s great for a player’s development and confidence to play top level football as opposed to reserve. When you loan out a player for the entire season, you can’t call him back in an ememgency. When Pennant was at Leeds he went from month to month for most of the season. To loan isn’t bad but for the entire season can really screw you.
Andez also made a point saying how often do both players in one position get long term injuries at the same time? Well, in center midfield we were doing pretty bad so you just never know.
November 16th, 2005 at 2:46 am
There you go Stag… you have deeply p***ed me off now. Though the bloody mind realises you may have a point there, I have hyped myself (due to past week’s football inactivity) to an excellent week of football and great results and wanted to get some belief into our fans (to be honest, I needed that belief myself)….. and then you come and spoil it all.
Anyway, I am still sticking by my predictions. We will win and Chelski to draw. I am even willing to stick my neck and say that your prediction, them winning and us losing, WILL NOT HAPPEN.
Will remind you of this come Saturday.
November 16th, 2005 at 7:25 am
What’s up stag? It’s been a while….
Yea I agree that chances are that Chelsea will just pick up pieces and go on another run obviously they are better equiped to do so then any team but over the course of last few games after Everton game to be precise teams have started to play Chelsea in a certain way whereas to put slight more pressure on Makalele then ever before….just like teams started to ruffle Arsenal feathers and discovered a slight weakness in Arsenal and so every team plays like that against Arsenal well now how about Chelsea maybe they’re weakness or so called weakness may have just been spotted??
November 16th, 2005 at 8:42 am
Wenger has used Lauren as left-back in the past. He could do that again. If he has faith in Senderos (who is riding high having scored a goal and kept a clean sheet against Turkey - hope he can reproduce the same form for us), we could even see Toure as right-back. Else it could be Eboue. Anyone but Cygan.
I doubt if we can beat Wigan 3-0. We have struggled after the international break. How many Wigan players are away during the break? I’d take any sort of win. 1-0 with a Wigan own goal will also do.
Let’s forget about Chelsea till it’s time for us to play them again. Let’s concentrate on our games try to get as many points as possible.
November 16th, 2005 at 9:14 am
Funny! I thought of putting him there, too. Left-footed and quick, he could be storming up the touchline all day long. And his cross field long balls are becoming legendary.
But can he defend without hitting the dirt?
November 16th, 2005 at 9:26 am
I don’t believe Chelsea’s luck is eroding. They’ve just gone through a bad patch of form. Everyone does. They’re class and will begin to perform well again very soon. We just need to try and close the gap while they’re dropping points. If Newcastle can score a goal that may be enough to sneak a win or a draw.
Like I said, we need to get some wins to close the gap. Wigan’s got the best defense in the league but we should be able to create a few chances. If we keep it tight in the back, score a few goals early and maintain possession, doubt will creep into their inexperienced side and we should win.
If we want to be champions we have to win our games. We can’t do anything about Chelsea except win the game we play head-to-head. If we continue to drop points we don’t deserve to be Champions. We need to win all of our games regardless of who we play.
November 16th, 2005 at 9:33 am
Reyes would either get absolutely get taken to the cleaners or get a red card in the first twenty minutes. That’s suicide, especially with Chimbonda or however you spell his name playing.
November 16th, 2005 at 10:28 am
What good has loaning out players done Arsenal?
Please show me a recent player that we loaned out, and he came back and played for Arsenal and made an impact. Show me a POSITIVE example of us loaning a player out.
November 16th, 2005 at 10:30 am
I truly hope you are Nostradamus… and you can whole-heartedly RIP me over being wrong.
I’d take us winning… and be happy with that.
November 16th, 2005 at 10:31 am
Well put!
November 16th, 2005 at 11:49 am
We can only hope that this is the case… I just don’t see it that way. I think they’ll still continue to play very solid football, and teams like Newcastle don’t beat them. Let’s hope Mikey Owen stays on his hot streak… but I’d prefer WE WIN and I wouldn’t care what Chelsea did.
November 16th, 2005 at 1:19 pm
The bottom line is that everyone isn’t good enough to play for Arsenal. The best way to develop is to challenge yourself against the best competition available. The competition Hoyte gets playing on loan (Premier league) is better than the competition he get’s playing in the reserves.
Hoyte won’t get much better playing in the reserves but he must improve if he’s going to play for Arsenal. Playing on loan against Premier league teams every week will definitely help him improve; hopefully good enough to force his way into Arsenal’s first eleven. Ashley Cole was the last recent player to do that and he’s obviously highly regarded. Hoyte is being afforded the opportunity to make it happen again.
Apparently he’s doing exceptionally well and has been Sunderland’s outstanding player. Our hope is that the loan experience develops him where he’s better than what we’ve got. If he comes back and still isn’t good enough for Arsenal, then he’s just not good enough. What are you gonna do? He’ll either stay and fight for his place or he’ll leave. He’ll have to be exceptional, like Cole, to be good enough.
After playing a year of Premiership soccer there’s no looking back for Hoyte. If he’s good enough and the fight’s in him, he’ll move Lauren or Cole to the bench. Even if he’s not better than Lauren, he’ll be close and he’ll push to where Lauren knows he can’t afford to slip up. That’s the depth and competition for places Arsenal needs.
November 16th, 2005 at 1:37 pm
Stuff happens. I don’t think Wenger maybe or maybe not rattling Mourinho had anything to do with Chelsea losing. Mourinho wasn’t on the field to be beaten.
At the end of the day it’s the players that play the game and win or lose. When we skull-drug Sparta, there were no words, only football. The manager is responsible for preparing his team to go out and win and make tactical adjustments if necessary. After that, it’s up to the players to win the game. I simply don’t agree with your “managers war of words” theory.
As far as a win against Wigan goes, I’ll take a win however I can get it. We can and should beat Wigan. That being said, we should have beaten several other teams that we didn’t this season so you never know. As they say, that’s why you play the game.
November 16th, 2005 at 5:21 pm
Who is Real Madrid’s 3rd choice left back, who is Chelsea’s? Who is Man Utd’s? Who is Inter Milan’s? Nobody special I bet. If they were special they wouldn’t be third choice.
We all know the squad is thin - but be realistic, any team who has injuries to two left backs will have to play somebody dodgy in that position - either a very young player or someone out of position.
November 16th, 2005 at 5:27 pm
Newcastle knocked them out the FA Cup last season remember - Owen is capable of doing them and Chelsea will doubtless have a lot more players away on International duty than Newcastle have.
Football is as much about psychology as talent - so yes, Chelsea could blow it with a few badly timed injuries. Terry & Lampard are really quite crucial to them, and you have to wonder what would happen if they were missing.
Trouble is, are Arsenal good enough to go on a big unbeaten run? Some might think no. But if you look at the statistic we have only lost one of our last 12 games.
Do I think Arsenal will win the title? No. But I think don’t think we’re THAT far behind Chelsea. Nothing that 3 or 4 decent signings wont fix.
November 17th, 2005 at 4:32 pm
Just to point out to Stag, Ashely Cole went on a season long loan to Crystal Palace even after Vieira had joined the club. Cole has been at the club since he was 9 years old..he played regularly at Palace during his loan, and Wenger decided he was good enough to join the first team squad upon his return, Wenger has always said ‘if a player is good enough, he will make the team’. I dont think a loan is bad for a player (depending on the club the player joins, and whether or not he plays regularly and how he performs, and his attitude.) i think attitude is key to a players ambitions…read Justin Hoyte’s own thoughts on his loan at Sunderland, you just have a feeling he is going to be welcome back at Arsenal, and he will get a fair chance.