Puffing Billy & Gunners on Track With Clean Sheet
Give him ball and Faubert
By Boris Mellor
October 27 2008
At times Arsenal.com could be mistaken for a promotion for Gallasoises Cigarettes; with Arsene confessing he used to smoke. At times the site has given out mixed smoke signals, but I think it is Wenger code for Billy shouldn't smoke, but it's quite common in French Football.
However it seems the occasional fag improves Gallas's concentration, if the game at West Ham is anything to go by. This was his best performance so far this season. Perhaps Toure should take up smoking.
Quite rightly Adebayor is considered man of the match, and those Arsenal fans who wanted him out may realise by now that would be cutting off our own noses to spite our own faces. For 75 minutes Arsenal looked like they would never score. Rvp and Nick were not exactly striking terror into the Hammers' defence. That's why Gallas's marshalling of the defence (enough railway puns. Ed) was so crucial, if a goal had been conceded there may have been no way back.
However with the luxury of a clean sheet Wenger could afford to go three up at the front, and it was Ade who turned the game around in 15 minutes. Whether Ade scores or not he leads the line, that is something RvP and Bendtner have not learnt to do yet. If Wenger had any doubts about paying his wage demand, I am sure they were long gone at the end of this game.
Give him the ball and Faubert will score
Yes Ade got a lucky break with Faubert putting in his own goal, but it was great positioning, and a neat turn for the shot that was going wide, but thanks to Faubert put Arsenal ahead. The second goal resulted from an amazing pass from Bendtner that found Ade onside, rounding the keeper and keeping very cool as two defenders approached, to place a low lob, or was it a high pass, into the back of the net.
How is it that Nick plays so much better with Ade? I think the reason is that both Nick and RvP are reluctant to be the front man, both want to hang behind the main striker. With Ade central, RVP wide on the right, and Nick on the left, but slightly deeper, the forward line really began to move about.
When RvP plays in the centre he keeps breaking the game up, trying to get onto his favourite foot, falling over and whinging. Put him on the wing and he is improved player.
But none of this would have mattered if the defence, still a bit makeshift, hadn't remained resolute. Almunia, Clichy and Gallas were its stars; but with Eboue in correct position, and an improving Silvestre the team kept its shape and its title hopes on track (I warned you. Ed).
I'm pleased with Song actuation. He gives us a different option with more cover for an undeperforming central defense.
The boss can now change the system depending on the opponents.
We've got a lot of midfield options, and midfield is where you play a football game. You prepare your defense and your attack in midfield. Tactically the way you prepare these two ends before both goals and keepers, depends on your own strengths and weaknesses but also on the strengths and weaknesses your opponent. Yes Weaknesses.
As well as having strengths everyone's got his own weaknesses. Most those weaknesses higlights your strengths and vice versa. As in football you might that it's the way for and of everything in life.
To have Denison, Song, Diaby, Fabregas, Ramsey, Wilshire and Coquelin is an excellent opportunity to go for the title considering the options we've got going forward and backward.
Yes we can lose to any team, but we can beat any team we meet in any competition. That's great. It makes things more interesting and valuable.
I'm more and more open to think we're going to have a very intersting campaign.
I'm almost scare to say it, but 3 or 2 years ago I was thinking that this year could be the year for this team to dominate in England. I think Merlion or Padre and many others had similar view. Opponents have stenghened, but it was part of the analyse because we're witnessing big changes and we came to see where the boss wanted us to go. Replacing Viera with Frabregas was a big sign for me to think we were more in a rebuilding process than anything else. We all saw the project highlighted by the Carling cup games, and we all said : "the future's bright" and the "future" starts now. And I'm enjoying it.
I'm seek when we lose but I'm always confident we will do better in the next game. Optimistic ? Yes I am, almost always.
Staying positive is a duty of mine as a fan. It's the least I can do if I'm going to think that I support the team.
Football is a process and things will develop as the season goes on, we will have to wait and see if this team can develop quickly enough. It would have been better if we kept Flam, I dont believe we are missing Hleb.
But options are developing, especially Diaby, Ramsey and Song.
It could be very interesting
It's so esay to make a selection considering the fact that as tite contender you need to get at least 20 first teamers.
You cannot always play the same guys because you want the 3 points. Every game is important.
We all should be happy to have 3 or 4 players fignting for a place. I'm still equally happy to see a real debate among tfans about wich teams to choose from. It's great.
We're at home. We don't care about the manager or the results.
We will beat spurs as usual. I've no doubt about that
Even Arsenal's dogs and cats want to beat spurs, and so it be. But it's still a football game, there's nothing for granted.
walcott will play some role, maybe as super sub.
We have plenty of options and they are all pretty good.
Fanbiaski;
Eboué (Cap), Djourou, hoyte, Gibbs;
Wilshire, randall, coquelin, Merida;
Vela; Simpson
Subs :
Manone; Jay Thomas,Lansbury, Ramsey, Bentner (just in case).
Wy not , hein?
We really need a committed team.