Tomorrow the proper football returns after the dullness of internationals and Arsenal are very much back to business. We sit top of the table at the moment and the only way to guarantee we stay there for this week at least is to take three points against Southampton.
Southampton have been the surprise package this season and if results go their way this weekend they could even end up top. Underestimating them is dangerous and they have already taken points against the top teams. Their defence is water tight and it will take a lot of effort to get through them, but the way we've been attacking this season if anyone can we can.
Ahead of the game we're boosted by the news that Theo Walcott is back fit again and although I doubt he'll start he's a good option to have providing pace and (sometimes) penetration. At points during his absence we've missed him so having him back is only a good thing. Aside from that the rock in midfield Flamini is out suspended due to his 5 yellow cards. As much as this is a pain with the role he plays it's to be expected now and then. With that in mind I think the team will be: SZCZ, Sagna, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Ramsey, Arteta, Rosicky, Ozil, Cazorla, Giroud.
Southampton have striker Pablo Osvaldo back from a slight injury and expect England players Lallana and Lambert to be in the starting line up. Gaston Ramirez faces a late fitness test. Boruc in goal has been fantastic this season and we'll be pressed to get passed him and the Saints solid back line. I think Clyne could give Gibbs a tough test but luckily Gibbs has pace too so hopefully will cope.
Tomorrow is gonna be a difficult game against an in-form team but we're top of the table so we must be doing something right. Hopefully we can pick up three points and get back on track. COYG!
Friday, 22 November 2013
Sunday, 17 November 2013
International Break
Apologies for missing our disappointing defeat to United last weekend. I'm going to admit I was hopeful that we'd take something from there especially after the bizarre results which included Chelsea, Tottenham and City all dropping points in games they all should have won. But in football you can't win everything and eventually something had to give just annoyingly it had to give there.
We all knew that eventually we'd overplay or it just wouldn't click or whatever. But the most important thing about losing is how we respond. In football every teams loses, it's just a fact but the best teams, the title contending teams, respond by putting in a real performance. Players have left for internationals which may or may not be at the best time following the defeat but when they return we face Southampton at Home which would normally be a match we'd expect to win. However Southampton sit 3 points behind us in 3rd which is just ridiculous and I expect they will eventually drop away but while they're playing the way they are it's dangerous.
The second best attack (due to City's 7-0) vs. the best defence in the league. Should be interesting but on our day we have more than enough to break them down with the quality we have in our ranks. Reports suggest that Walcott may be back which will give us pace down the flanks, something we have lacked in one or two games this season but how he will perform after a decent spell on the sidelines is anybody's guess. It'll be tough but first we have a number of players that need to come through internationals.
In other good news SZCZ has signed a new deal at the club and although it has not been disclosed it is a long-term one. For a goalkeeper 23 is nothing and he's career has a long way to go yet and the fact that he's happy to spend them with us is fantastic. He's had problems but as a keeper that's to be expected and he has learnt from them and become a better player because of them and being a keeper that's the most important thing. He has an advantage over his counterparts in that he might get another 17 years out of football if he has a very, very good poke and that gives him a long time to become the polished article which I think he can be.
Anyway that's about it, I'll be back Friday with all the news and build up to the Southampton game. Till then.
We all knew that eventually we'd overplay or it just wouldn't click or whatever. But the most important thing about losing is how we respond. In football every teams loses, it's just a fact but the best teams, the title contending teams, respond by putting in a real performance. Players have left for internationals which may or may not be at the best time following the defeat but when they return we face Southampton at Home which would normally be a match we'd expect to win. However Southampton sit 3 points behind us in 3rd which is just ridiculous and I expect they will eventually drop away but while they're playing the way they are it's dangerous.
The second best attack (due to City's 7-0) vs. the best defence in the league. Should be interesting but on our day we have more than enough to break them down with the quality we have in our ranks. Reports suggest that Walcott may be back which will give us pace down the flanks, something we have lacked in one or two games this season but how he will perform after a decent spell on the sidelines is anybody's guess. It'll be tough but first we have a number of players that need to come through internationals.
In other good news SZCZ has signed a new deal at the club and although it has not been disclosed it is a long-term one. For a goalkeeper 23 is nothing and he's career has a long way to go yet and the fact that he's happy to spend them with us is fantastic. He's had problems but as a keeper that's to be expected and he has learnt from them and become a better player because of them and being a keeper that's the most important thing. He has an advantage over his counterparts in that he might get another 17 years out of football if he has a very, very good poke and that gives him a long time to become the polished article which I think he can be.
Anyway that's about it, I'll be back Friday with all the news and build up to the Southampton game. Till then.
Friday, 1 November 2013
Liverpool (H)
Tomorrow is without a doubt the biggest test of the season for us so far, disappointing cup results need to be put behind us as we take on third place Liverpool who have been playing well this season. Mainly due to the racist up front partnering Sturridge, 2 of the leagues top 3 scorers.
Liverpool is always a test and we've been disappointing against them in the last few seasons so now is the perfect time to put that to bed and give us some breathing space from them at least. With a number of teams on our coat tails it's important that we take the points from these big games.
After watching our performance in the League Cup on Tuesday I'm not particularly confident about a result and I know it'll be a different team but there were some big names in the side that took on Chelsea and we just didn't look interested. The vital point when taking on Liverpool is the midfield, if we can shut off the supply to Suarez and Sturridge then we'll give them some problems. However with no Flamini someone is going to have to put in a defensive shift in order to keep them quiet.
So we're without Flamini and the rest of the bunch that are still injured, aside from that I think we'll see Arteta partner Ramsey in the holding role and he'll have to be at the top of his game if we're to get anything out of this match. Cazorla will take up his role on the left with Wilshere on the right and Ozil sitting behind Giroud.
In contrast Liverpool are set to see Coutinho return and the Brazilian will be a handful for us on and off the ball. They are still without Agger meaning Skrtel will sit in the middle of the defence with Toure and Sakho either side. That said I think Cazorla will cause Toure some problems, Toure is a good defender but age is starting to take its toll. The tricky Spaniard may have some joy down the left while Wilshere will have his work cut out against the powerful Sakho.
Tomorrow is the start of 4 tough games with Dortmund and United the following week and then an in form Southampton the week after. In terms of league games if we can take 7 points from our next 3 then I think we'll be in a healthy position going into the busy December period. We will be judged on the result tomorrow irrelevant on the result so best we turn up. COYG!
Liverpool is always a test and we've been disappointing against them in the last few seasons so now is the perfect time to put that to bed and give us some breathing space from them at least. With a number of teams on our coat tails it's important that we take the points from these big games.
After watching our performance in the League Cup on Tuesday I'm not particularly confident about a result and I know it'll be a different team but there were some big names in the side that took on Chelsea and we just didn't look interested. The vital point when taking on Liverpool is the midfield, if we can shut off the supply to Suarez and Sturridge then we'll give them some problems. However with no Flamini someone is going to have to put in a defensive shift in order to keep them quiet.
So we're without Flamini and the rest of the bunch that are still injured, aside from that I think we'll see Arteta partner Ramsey in the holding role and he'll have to be at the top of his game if we're to get anything out of this match. Cazorla will take up his role on the left with Wilshere on the right and Ozil sitting behind Giroud.
In contrast Liverpool are set to see Coutinho return and the Brazilian will be a handful for us on and off the ball. They are still without Agger meaning Skrtel will sit in the middle of the defence with Toure and Sakho either side. That said I think Cazorla will cause Toure some problems, Toure is a good defender but age is starting to take its toll. The tricky Spaniard may have some joy down the left while Wilshere will have his work cut out against the powerful Sakho.
Tomorrow is the start of 4 tough games with Dortmund and United the following week and then an in form Southampton the week after. In terms of league games if we can take 7 points from our next 3 then I think we'll be in a healthy position going into the busy December period. We will be judged on the result tomorrow irrelevant on the result so best we turn up. COYG!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)