Well it's been a long time since my last post and I'm aware kick off is minutes away so I'll have to keep this one short ahead of the match at the Emirates against West Ham. A more thorough breakdown of the last few weeks to follow later before Monaco on Tuesday.
Team news today is that Welbeck and Cazorla have dropped to the bench probably with the Monaco match in mind if the manager has an idea of how he wants to line up ahead of that one. This means for the first time Sanchez, Ozil, Walcott and Giroud all lead our attack. They sit infront of Coq and Ramsey in the two holding roles. Chambers, Mertesacker, Koscielny and Monreal are the back four ahead of Ospina who regains his league place following SZCZs appearance against Man United on monday.
West Ham will line up with former gunner Alex Song who will be looking to prove a point against us. Of course they are without the other gunner in the side Jenkinson due to the terms of his loan deal. They've been in odd form of late which makes it hard to see how they'll play in this match. Sakho leads their line and he can be a handful on his day so the defence will need to be on the ball in order to prevent him for generally being a nuisance.
Well the match is underway so I'll leave it there. Come on you gunners!
Showing posts with label west ham. Show all posts
Showing posts with label west ham. Show all posts
Saturday, 14 March 2015
Tuesday, 15 April 2014
West Ham (H)
A very, tired and drained Arsenal team take on a West Ham side with 9 full days rest who realistically only need 3 more points to absolutely secure their safety. Many of our players will face late fitness tests which makes the team line up almost impossible to predict. We have many doubts from muscle problems and fatigue and after players put in the full shift at the weekend it's hardly surprising. We my see Kim Kallstrom make his first start and all of a sudden that ridiculous signing looks like it could be very important after all.
West Ham have a doubt over Kevin Nolan tonight but that aside they have very few problems and the issue tonight will be dealing with Carroll especially if Mertesacker is rested tonight or is a doubt. We have to deal with the long balls lumped forward and Per has been instrumental in doing that this season. It is going to be a long and difficult night and as the game wears on the tiredness will begin to show. While it's true to say that players on this much should be able to cope with the strains of being an athlete, that's just not the case tonight. One team played 3 days ago and one played 9 days ago.
I firmly believe that tonight we need to do the damage early whilst the legs are fresh. If we hit the 75-80 minute mark and we're leading then although the last portion of the game will be nervy with any luck we'll grind out a result. If we hit that point even or worse then West Ham will feel they can do the job. That's what comes of playing a lot of football.
When you look at our position in the league you can't help but think if we're to make Champions League football then we need to win our 5 remaining games. It's out of our hands but with Everton facing tough matches against City and United we may be given a chance and that's why games like tonights are vital to our final push. All of our remaining games are very winnable but at the moment we lack momentum and we desperately need a win to get that belief back.
Finally, 25 years ago today, 96 fans went to a football match and never came home. It could have been any club and any fans. Whatever you're opinion of the Justice campaign it's important to remember those who died watching the team they loved. RIP.
West Ham have a doubt over Kevin Nolan tonight but that aside they have very few problems and the issue tonight will be dealing with Carroll especially if Mertesacker is rested tonight or is a doubt. We have to deal with the long balls lumped forward and Per has been instrumental in doing that this season. It is going to be a long and difficult night and as the game wears on the tiredness will begin to show. While it's true to say that players on this much should be able to cope with the strains of being an athlete, that's just not the case tonight. One team played 3 days ago and one played 9 days ago.
I firmly believe that tonight we need to do the damage early whilst the legs are fresh. If we hit the 75-80 minute mark and we're leading then although the last portion of the game will be nervy with any luck we'll grind out a result. If we hit that point even or worse then West Ham will feel they can do the job. That's what comes of playing a lot of football.
When you look at our position in the league you can't help but think if we're to make Champions League football then we need to win our 5 remaining games. It's out of our hands but with Everton facing tough matches against City and United we may be given a chance and that's why games like tonights are vital to our final push. All of our remaining games are very winnable but at the moment we lack momentum and we desperately need a win to get that belief back.
Finally, 25 years ago today, 96 fans went to a football match and never came home. It could have been any club and any fans. Whatever you're opinion of the Justice campaign it's important to remember those who died watching the team they loved. RIP.
Wednesday, 23 January 2013
West Ham (H)
Wenger has said that Diaby may miss out tonight, this isn't due to injury, more due to the fact after being out for 4 months, he's played 3 games in a week. We're still without Arteta and Coquelin has picked up a hamstring problem. Podolski returns from illness and Oxlade-Chamberlain has a chance of being fit. With all of this in mind I think we'll go for a lineup like: SZCZ, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Ramsey, Wilshere, Cazorla, Walcott, Podolski, Giroud.
West Ham post a different threat from Chelsea and Swansea and tonight will be a physical game. It looks like Carlton Cole will lead their line as Chamakh is unavailable due to the conditions of his loan. Either side of him will be Jarvis and Joe Cole both can be a danger on their day. Of course Nolan and Noble in the midfield can also cause problems. There is no doubt that we should be beating teams like West Ham every day of the week but I've been saying this all season.
Basically we need to go out and respond to everyone, make a statement that we aren't just going to roll over and let the top pack run away with it. It really is a must win. If we do we'll be 4 points off of Sp*rs which as last season showed us is more than attainable. COYG!
Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 West Ham
Sunday, 14 October 2012
West Ham Report
As I'm sure you know I forgot to post a preview of the West Ham match before the game last week so thought I'd make it up instead by doing a report on the match.
We returned to winning ways after the loss against Chelsea with a 3-1 victory at a ground where we have a poor record. We bossed the match really from the start but West Ham showed what they can offer other than that donkey of a striker upfront. We dominated the match up until the 21st minute when Diame skipped through Aaron Ramsey and curled a superb shot into the far corner from a tight angle. A good goal no doubt but perhaps we could have dealt with it a bit better. Diame was lucky however not to get sent off after receiving a first yellow for celebrating with the crowd (which is an absurd rule), he proceeded to clatter Arteta with a dangerous looking tackle.
20 minutes later we were level, Giroud sprayed the ball out wide to Podolski who just delayed his cross for long enough before whipping it in to Giroud who poked it home at full stretch. A very well worked Arsenal move and a moment to savour for Olivier Giroud who is finally off the mark in the Premier League. A true poachers goal from the big Frenchman.
West Ham had chances to get themselves back in front with Carroll and Nolan wasting them. Gervinho who was poor all game really, was replaced by Theo Walcott after an hour and 17 minutes later he was on the score sheet. This time Giroud turned provider sliding an inch perfect pass through to Walcott who slotted under the onrushing Jaaskelainen at the near post. A typical Theo goal and again reinforcing the fact that I think we really need to tie him down to a new contract.
After 2 worked team goals, a piece of individual brilliance secured the 3 points and it was that little man who has just controlled the midfield since arriving, Santi Cazorla. Walcott got himself into a bit of trouble but managed to poke the ball across to Cazorla who went one way before crashing his shot into the top right hand corner from all of 25 yards. A fantastic goal from a fantastic player.
The only down side for us was when Gibbs came off with a slight muscular strain but he's pulled out of the England squad so he will have had a couple of weeks to recover before we travel to Norwich. I'd like to say that it might be a blessing in disguise for Diaby who also has a strain but for some absurd reason Didier Deschamps has decided to call him up for the France team for their international match with whoever the fuck it is. Another injury that was picked up this time in an international was Theo Walcott who went off in the victory over San Marino with a chest problem. He has since pulled out of the squad for the match against Poland, we await to see the extent of that injury.
Right that's is for this week. Back next week with all the build up to the Norwich match.
We returned to winning ways after the loss against Chelsea with a 3-1 victory at a ground where we have a poor record. We bossed the match really from the start but West Ham showed what they can offer other than that donkey of a striker upfront. We dominated the match up until the 21st minute when Diame skipped through Aaron Ramsey and curled a superb shot into the far corner from a tight angle. A good goal no doubt but perhaps we could have dealt with it a bit better. Diame was lucky however not to get sent off after receiving a first yellow for celebrating with the crowd (which is an absurd rule), he proceeded to clatter Arteta with a dangerous looking tackle.
20 minutes later we were level, Giroud sprayed the ball out wide to Podolski who just delayed his cross for long enough before whipping it in to Giroud who poked it home at full stretch. A very well worked Arsenal move and a moment to savour for Olivier Giroud who is finally off the mark in the Premier League. A true poachers goal from the big Frenchman.
West Ham had chances to get themselves back in front with Carroll and Nolan wasting them. Gervinho who was poor all game really, was replaced by Theo Walcott after an hour and 17 minutes later he was on the score sheet. This time Giroud turned provider sliding an inch perfect pass through to Walcott who slotted under the onrushing Jaaskelainen at the near post. A typical Theo goal and again reinforcing the fact that I think we really need to tie him down to a new contract.
After 2 worked team goals, a piece of individual brilliance secured the 3 points and it was that little man who has just controlled the midfield since arriving, Santi Cazorla. Walcott got himself into a bit of trouble but managed to poke the ball across to Cazorla who went one way before crashing his shot into the top right hand corner from all of 25 yards. A fantastic goal from a fantastic player.
The only down side for us was when Gibbs came off with a slight muscular strain but he's pulled out of the England squad so he will have had a couple of weeks to recover before we travel to Norwich. I'd like to say that it might be a blessing in disguise for Diaby who also has a strain but for some absurd reason Didier Deschamps has decided to call him up for the France team for their international match with whoever the fuck it is. Another injury that was picked up this time in an international was Theo Walcott who went off in the victory over San Marino with a chest problem. He has since pulled out of the squad for the match against Poland, we await to see the extent of that injury.
Right that's is for this week. Back next week with all the build up to the Norwich match.
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