Evening all, what an odd weekend its been in the world of football. Many people including myself are still getting over the shock of the sad loss of Gary Speed. When I heard it on the radio in the car it was one of those moments where you stop and think "I can't believe I've just heard that". It was a day as many people said when the football becomes irrelevant and I have to say full marks to those players brave enough to play after hearing the news 15 minutes before the team talk.
The sheer number of tributes that have been paid are a testament to what a true gent he really was. Everyone talks about what a lovely man he was and he was a real good guy on the football scene. He was also one of those players that everyone liked, he simply had no enemies. The reasons to why it happened can wait, naturally my thoughts are with the wife and two children he leaves behind, I hope they get the privacy and respect they need at this hard time.
So we're through and top of the group to boot after a favour from Olympiakos who did a number on Marseille in France. We looked much better defensively and apart from conceding in the dying moments we had a good night. Song had an outstanding match and that was apparent when he beat 3 players and delivered a wonderful cross for RVP (who else) to power into the ground and give us a deserved lead. He got his second with a real old school Arsenal goal. Corner, flicked on at the near post, open goal and there you have it.
Sorry but I have to keep this rather short and sweet. We take on Fulham this weekend at the Emirates who have had a really poor season so far. Only 11 points from 12 games and a team that at home we should really take apart. Their man on form this season is Johnson whose scoring mainly in Europe but he's still finding the net. Dempsey and Zamora are also dangerous in the right position.
So I imagine Wenger will play a team similar to the one that started last night. However after Gervinho's piss poor effort we may see the little Russian start instead, but that's up to Wenger. It was nice to see Diaby come on to a good reception and it would be nice to see him rack up some more game time especially as he gives us a bit more of an attacking threat. Not that we particularly need it.
In other news its nice to see that this weekends match will be dedicated to Save The Children, a very worth cause. All the players will be dedicating their days wages to the charity along with 50p from every matchday programme. There will also be a special matchday raffle to help raise funds.
Right that's your lot for tonight. Until next time COYG!
Prediction: Arsenal 3-1 Fulham
Good morning all, once again its Champions League week. I was watching Napoli play Man City last night and a few things occurred to me, firstly its not an away day I'd particularly fancy but mainly the importance of keeping qualification in your hands. Now for Man City fans its all dependant on what Napoli do, not that I have any sympathy with those Manc pricks. On another quick note before moving on to the Arsenal, I really hope (should we both qualify) that we don't draw Napoli, but we'll deal with that should the time come.
Anyway now to Arsenal and there's a mix of team news ahead of tonight. Firstly some good news (I know right), Abou Diaby is in the squad tonight for the first time this season and it would be good to see him get some game time as I do think we've missed his attacking threat and power at times. I think he gets a bad press which is unjustified and a lot of this maybe because people are expecting him to be the next Viera and that's a huge ask. Whether he comes on as a sub or gets subbed I don't think he'll play a full 90 due to fitness etc. In other news Rosicky has picked up a "small thigh strain" which usually with Arsenal means he'll be out for months. Its a shame cause I think he's played really well this season after a nightmare last year, lets hope its a speedy recovery. The news from Wenger is that Van Persie will start which is promising. So I reckon it'll be something like this: Szczesny, Koscienly, Vermaelen, Mertescker, Santos, Song, Ramsey, Arteta/Diaby, Gervinho, Walcott, RVP
And the internationals draws to a close after seeing England beat the world champions and scrap past Sweden. It was still boring to watch. Congratulations to the Irish team who smashed Estonia and qualified lets just pray England won't draw them cause we'll lose.
Anyway we return to the Premier League this weekend and we travel to Premiership new boys Norwich. Norwich have been a bit of a surprise package this season and have played well but mainly on away days. Their home form hasn't been mind blowing and to be fair we should go there and get a result.
We seem to have escaped the Internationals without major injury (touch wood) so hopefully our team will look fairly positive on Saturday afternoon. Our man RVP only played one game when the Dutch coach very kindly let us have him back so we could nurture him and wrap him in cotton. But seriously its a good thing, these pointless internationals are simply another game for players to get injured and fatigued.
Anyway on to the team that we will face, the Canaries. Pilington, Holt and Morison are the men on form at the moment and they can certainly produce some good stuff if they're allowed too. However they've gone twelve games without a clean sheet and hopefully we can exploit this and pick up where we left off. The international break came at a bad time for us as we were putting together a nice run of form, picking up where we left off is the next task.
So I think we'll see something like: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Vermaelen, Mertesacker, Santos, Song, Ramsey, Arteta, Walcott, Gervinho, RVP. There was a ridiculous idea that we might not start Van Persie this weekend, which is the most idiot suggestion, for gods sake he's a footballer playing in the best league in the world, if we aren't going to play him in the PL then where. I honestly can't see that happening and if it does then I'll be shocked.
On a side note, it was nice to see Henry training with our players again, it brings the memories flooding back of the good times we had when he played and the great goals he brought us. But that was the past and we have to deal with the present. So hopefully this weekend we'll bring in 3 more lovely points. COYG!
Prediction: Norwich City 0-2 Arsenal
OK once again I have to apologise, this last week have been a bit hectic with all sorts of things going on. But as of today normal service will resume with a match build up and preview and so on. However we now have two weeks of utterly pointless shit. Internationals, are enough to put anyone to sleep. Especially watching England, now I don't know how overseas readers feel about this, but basically I find watching England play is the most tedious, dull and painful experience. England win 5-0 and I still find it boring. I'm all for getting behind the country and being patriotic but when we watch that shit its hard to get excited.
So the internationals are times when Premier League football goes and has a little break and our players normally go and get injured. Lets hope that isn't the case. But all of the hype and normally scandal of the Premier League get forgotten and the most interesting piece of news we've had has been the whole Poppy situation. They have overturned it but haven't done themselves any favours over here by creating a fuss about it. That testicle-faced prick Blatter showing that he is as much of cunt as we all remember.
Anyway, Arsenal news, well there isn't a lot of it to be honest with you. The site goes off with stories of our players on internationals which is boring as hell. Transfer news is also banded around but going into that would be totally pointless. As always just as we pick up some form there's an international break, we just have to hope that we keep our players fit and our momentum when we travel to Carrow road a week on Saturday. If we can keep this little run going into December then we will have certainly showed what we can do after a start that was our worst in years.
The performance against West Brom was solid and I do mean solid. Attacking, defending, the works. Admittedly it was helpful that West Brom offered virtually nothing going forward but it was as close to a typical Arsenal performance as we've come all season. All of the signs are promising lets hope we don't fuck it up in typical Arsenal style.
That's about it so until next week, have a good weekend.
Again I have to apologise its been a hectic week. So once again I'm doing a report on the game last night. Well it wasn't the best game in fact a 0-0 is normally about as dull as they come. We just didn't look dangerous last night and our key players were poor and were on the bench.
Santos is still yet to convince me that he is a solid left back. He's great going forward and all but I noticed last night that he was caught out of position and his passing last night was shocking. I lost count of how many times he sold our attackers short. To be fair there were very few players that impressed me. Ramsey had a shocker, myself along with the whole of the Clock End saw the opening for him to smash it in, but he delayed and was blocked off. To be fair to the lad hes still young and its a lot of pressure on his shoulders so the odd off game is to be expected.
