The real tough games are now coming at us, and over the next few months we will play important games in the CL as well as games against Chelsea, Liverpool, Spurs and Bolton.
This is where we can judge how the team is ACTUALLY doing. When they come up against these teams, and they come thick and fast, this is where AW earns his money. Plenty of players will be rotated or rested to make sure we have the right combination for the opponent on that day. We should have some players back, where the games will be a fight, the like of Diaby and Baptista will be welcome sights for AW.
This is an exciting time of year. The weather changes, it gets cold in London and colder up North. Players start to feel the season, playing games on the weekend and mid week. This is a season defining time. AW believes the squad we have is big enough for us to challenge in every game, against every team in all competitions. He has made it clear he was the EPL this season. That is the best way to judge a team, how consistent have they been over a whole season. Knock out competitions can be a bit hit and miss, one bad mistake and you are out, it is not the same in the league.
Key partnerships are building. The most noticeable is the Rosicky and Fabregas partnership. This has come on so much that the team has moved away from the 4 4 2. Toure seems settled and his partnership with Gilberto in front of him and Gallas next to him will hopefully enable us to keep some more clean sheets.
We seem to have some problem with width. With Reyes and Pires leaving, Freddie being a bit part player we are now lacking width. Eboue gave some but he is currently injured, however he should feature in some of the key games. On the left Clichy can do a job at either LB or LM. Walcott could play in midfield on the left and perhaps Van Persie on the right, but when we need to battle out a result these are not the players I would like to see line up for us.
The season so far has been OK, there have been some great results and performances, however we are off the pace in the league, doing OK in a weak group in the CL, but on the bright side we have an amazing stadium, brilliant players and the best coach in the world.
21 Responses to “Seasons starts today….”
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November 1st, 2006 at 5:22 am
hi everyone.. its my 1st of many posts
u r right… but i think we have enough depth in our squad
a little more fighting spirit like during the unbeaten season then we can surely go through this period.. injuries or no injuries would then not matter as much because new people coming in like Baptista,Walcott or Denilson, would be able to play their hearts out if we manage to play with that same intensity and desire.. as all of us know that the class we have at our disposal is unmatchable apart from somewhere in Nou Camp..
November 1st, 2006 at 9:10 am
Chelsea away is only 3 weeks from now - if we lose that then the title is definitely out of reach. I think we’re good enough to beat Chelsea though. Although they’ll probably try and turn it into a fight like they did last night against Barcelona. They don’t want a football match, they might lose.
November 1st, 2006 at 1:12 pm
The season started in August!
The matches are all worth 3 points, regardless of when they are played…
They are just as important in August as they are in May.
We are 7 points behind United and Chelsea with a game in hand.
So 4 points back, if you figure the game in hand is a win.
Even if we LOSE to Chelsea in 3 weeks, the title chase is NOT over. I can remember United and Arsenal making great runs in to win the title… that can happen again… and probably will, by somebody. So while the matches v. Chelsea and United are important… because a win or loss is like a 6 point swing… its NOT the end of the world this early. It simply isn’t.
If we get behind say 12 or 15 points by January, like last year, then… thats different. 7 points… is not the end of the seasons title chase.
Long way to go… just have to be consistent. We are going to draw a few… and lose a few… thats just going to happen…
A marathon… not a sprint.
November 1st, 2006 at 3:36 pm
Its GROUNDHOG DAY…
same shite… over and over.
70% possession. Numerous chances.
0-0.
Arsene… make some changes before the 75th minute please.
Bad misses from too many to mention.
Get Walcott on … or Aliadiere…
to draw or lose this match would be a crime against humanity.
November 1st, 2006 at 3:36 pm
half time 0-0. An AMAZING half time. In terms of PASSING, we have had probably one of the GREATEST passing performance in the first half. And created a whole ton of opportunties. yet in terms of FINISHING, we have had probably the WORST half game of football I ever seen.
Cesc and Rosicky missed two absoultely SITTERS.
Come on Gunners, keep the belief in your ability. Stay cool and take the chances. We will beat them the 2nd half.
November 1st, 2006 at 3:38 pm
What a first half… Breathless footie but so many chances missed!! In fact, the beautiful football is followed by even more creative ways to miss the net..Much harder to miss these chances. But so many times in the past, this has been the story. Hopefully, the team can score in the second half….should have been 3-0 or 4-0 already though.
November 1st, 2006 at 3:39 pm
Stag, are you actually WATCHING the game? Or just reading the online scorebox? If you were actually watching the game, how on earth you can call our performance as shite?
This was one of the GREATEST passing game Arsenal has ever put up in the first half. We just can’t score that’s all. but if we can keep on creating chances like that, goals will come.
The team has been playing with great passing rhythem, it would be crazy to bring in anyone in the 2nd half and risk the chance of breaking the flow.
November 1st, 2006 at 3:43 pm
By the way Cesc Fabregas’s passing has been simply SENSATIONAL!!
November 1st, 2006 at 3:45 pm
yeah some of the passing has been amazing…Rosicky’s beautiful pass into open space and how Hoyte latched onto it, one-touch to Henry who narrowily missed…
Can they continue to play with such pace? Completely free flow
November 1st, 2006 at 3:48 pm
Andez…
read what I said.
Same thing… as always… when we don’t finish.
Tons of possession… tons of chances… other team packing everyone behind the ball… we can’t score.
f’n bullsh*t.
for the record, its on ESPN2… I am watching it… and screaming at the TV… and can’t believe its 0-0.
We can pass well all night long… how about scoring.
Its gets tiresome to dominate and not convert. Its horrendous.
November 1st, 2006 at 3:49 pm
Who cares about great passing, when you can’t score a goal?
Not me.
November 1st, 2006 at 3:51 pm
even the espn commentators are harping on how this game is still 0-0.
November 1st, 2006 at 4:00 pm
56th min, Arsenal almost caught out. Lehmann thankfully keeps it out. So much possession, so many shots, yet still level.
November 1st, 2006 at 4:03 pm
Never saw this before but Lehmann and Toure get into a shouting match and Lehmann pushes Toure away. Damn…the pressure seems to be getting to everyone
November 1st, 2006 at 4:39 pm
2 dropped points. The second half didn’t match the first for pace or chances created. Very nervy situation going into match day 5. Winner takes all in 2 weeks time.
November 1st, 2006 at 4:49 pm
I for one do CARE about the PASSING. Ok this game we drew. But as long as the team keep passing well, you know we are going to create more chances, and soon the goals will come.
If the team play like cr*p and fail to score, you have every right to get on to their back Stag.
But if Arsenal play and pass the ball like that and yet u r still not happy, I got nothing more to say.
No doubt everyone is frustrated. But personally I m happy with the way we played today. Those miss chances of us were awful, but it happened in football.
You can kick our team down as much as you wish. And the media can call us guilty of trying to pass the ball into the net as much as they wish. I wouldn’t trade anything for watching THIS CURRENT style of Arsenal play.
Funny thing is, when we won, the media hailed our attractive passing game. When we fail to get result, we are guilty of trying to pass the ball into the net.
And at the end of the day, WE ARE THE SAME TEAM PLAYING THE SAME KIND OF FOOTBALL. You can’t just hail the PLAYING STYLE when they won. And rubbish the SAME STYLE of football when we fail to get result.
November 1st, 2006 at 4:51 pm
Enough to make the Pope curse.
Let’s hope it’s just one of those nights.
November 1st, 2006 at 4:58 pm
Same old Stag, you’d think he’d learn to shut his mouth until he’s calmed down the next day - that way at least there’s a small percentage of hope that he he won’t still be talking out of his anus.
Of course, the passing game has to continue. The first half was mesmerising, some brilliant football. I don’t think anyone can explain the misses - inexplicable - you can only say it’s nerves or maybe downright bad luck that at least one didn’t go in.
Second half was a bit disappointing, I felt they almost gave up. The substitutions didn’t help, Hleb, Fabregas and Van Persie are all creative players - Aliadiere, Walcott and Flamini did nothing. You could see that was the end of it when they came on.
Anyway, anyone see this quote from Reyes:
‘I don’t think I failed in The Premiership, but for players like me English football is very hard. It really doesn’t suit me.’
‘I struggled to adapt to England and so did my family. Everything’s shut at 5pm. There’s nothing to do, nowhere to go. I just got bored.’
lol, what a dong! Where did he live? Some run down council estate in Croydon? He must have stayed in his room for 3 years playing Playstation if he couldn’t find anything to in London after 5pm. The more you read it, the funnier it gets.
November 1st, 2006 at 5:06 pm
Same Old Danny, who can still feck off.
November 1st, 2006 at 5:15 pm
Where was you your hero Aliadiere tonight? Didn’t touch the ball once in 15 minutes.
November 1st, 2006 at 5:43 pm
November is traditionally not a good month for Arsenal. This year, it is crucial we don’t fall behind, either in the Champions League or the Premiership. Some games we should win handily enough if we play well e.g. Newcastle and Hamburg at home. Some othe other games are a little more difficult.