The Arsenal Kid

Are we in any anger of losing third?

noreply@blogger.com (TheKid) — Fri, 13 May 2011 18:44:00 +0000

I guess not many of us would imagine in early March that we would be in a position to lose third place to Manchester City. In the last nine games since the beginning of March, we have only gotten 11 points from a possible 27. I thought last season's collapse was bad, but this year it is worse. Although we got a morale boosting victory over Man United, it came to nothing because we lost to Stoke the week after.

In previous years, we always falter when we were up against the likes of Man United and Chelsea. This year we managed to split the series with both of the teams but failed to beat the likes of Newcastle, Blackburn, Sunderland. In fact we only got 4 points from a possible 12 against the Northeast sides of Newcastle and Sunderland. It is no wonder that we lost all the title initiative and now might even lose third place to the Citizens.

What's most disappointing for me really is the attitude of some players. I chose not to write for a while because I was totally frustrated with some players in the Arsenal team. The manager has come under a lot of flak but I would also question the heart of the players. You can see that Arsene is extremely passionate about the club but that cannot be said of some players. I would be glad to see these players packing their bags in the summer because obviously their hearts are not with the team.

Let's see if the bollocking that Arsene gave to the team after the Stoke defeat will bring any chance in attitude of the players come Sunday.

Bolton vs Arsenal: Match Preview

noreply@blogger.com (TheKid) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 09:41:00 +0000

So this Sunday we travel to the Reebok with our title challenge hanging by a thread. Unlike many who have absolutely given up on the title, I am still very optimistic about the title race. Now it seems like it is going to be a three horse race for the title. Man United may be six points in front but a loss would put them back into the clutches of both Arsenal and Chelsea considering that the Red Devils still have to play both team. I am sure the end of the this season is gonna be more thrilling than the one we had last year

The Gunners have not lost to Bolton in their last five meetings in the Premiership. Last September, we thrashed them 4-1 at the Emirates but I don't think it is gonna be that easy this time around. Owen Coyle's team has been doing well this season although they seem to have gone off the boil in the last couple of games culminating in the humiliation last Sunday at Wembley in the FA Cup semifinals. They must be still smarting from the defeat and will definitely go all out to erase that memory by claiming the Gunner's scalp.

However, I have seen enough in the team last Wednesday to be optimistic about this match. After several pretty lacklustre matches, the attack seems to have gotten its swing back so we should see some goals for us. The key to getting a victory is again keeping the opposition out With Kevin Davies prowling the penalty box, our backline will come under pressure in the match but now with Wojciech Szechny between the post I am more confident. We just need to stump out those individual mistakes that have cost us dearly. All in all I expect the Gunners to claim three points this weekend. Who knows if the other results go our way, we would be right behind Man United before the May 1st showdown.

Another morning, another disappointing result

noreply@blogger.com (TheKid) — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 08:41:00 +0000

I was really hoping that we could get a win over the Spuds yesterday to get back to within 4 points of the title race but as expected we couldn't and now we are down to third place. Although we are still unbeaten in 2011, the many draws that we have suffered( I think it is 5 draws in the last 5 matches), have taken its toll on our premiership challenge.

Again it was not a match where the couldn't win. In fact, we had a two goal cushion at one point, just like the game at the Emirates but we failed to hold on to the lead. At least this time we didn't lose the match. I think the boys gave it their all but the lack of concentration among some of the players is evident. We just don't seem to be able to defend a lead well enough to secure the points. It was not as bad as the Eboue incident on Sunday but Szechny's penalty giveaway was a needless one. Other than that mistake, the young Pole actually did quite well and I think he will be the answer to our goalkeeping woes.

Generally both teams played well but could not maintain the level of play for the whole 90 minutes. It was not only the Gunners but Harry's men as well. I guess that is why both the teams are struggling at the moment. It was an open and free-flowing game, a testament to all things good about the English game but if you were a fan of both teams, it would't have done your blood pressure any good. I know I went through a big rollercoaster of a time.( Not as bad as the Liverpool match though because at least this one was over 90 minutes rather than only 3)

All in all, the title challenge is still on but games are fast running out.

Revenge over the Spuds needed badly

noreply@blogger.com (TheKid) — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 10:39:00 +0000

The loss at the Emirates earlier in the season was truly heartbreaking. To lead 2-0 going into the half and lose 3-2 in the end was the low point in our season. Since then we have gone to deeper depths of humiliations at St James's Park and Wembley but that will all be forgotten if we can get all three points tonight.

The Spuds are not playing particularly well at this moment. After a bright start to their season, the team has sputtered over the last couple of months, much like the way our team is playing as well. So with both teams needing the points, I think this match is going to be a classic encounter which I hope we will come out on top.

The Spuds need the points because they are still chasing Man City for the final Championship spot while it is obvious why we need the points. Arsenal can close the gap to Man United to 4 points with a win tonight while a loss might see us drop to third place depending on Chelsea's result against Birmingham. So it is a game of epic proportions which neither side can afford to lose or draw.

Actually I am glad that we are not playing at the Emirates. As we saw last Sunday, teams come to the Emirates hoping to snatch a draw and if we can't break them down early (as it frequently happens) then we are in trouble. When we play away, teams tend to be more adventurous thus allowing players like Cesc and Nasri more space to create opportunities. I am sure the Spuds will come at us and it will be an open match with free-flowing football. This will suit us fine as we are more than capable of containing the Spuds attack. What we mustn't do is to lose our head and concentration like we did at the Emirates.

Getting a result and the points are important but what's more critical is the need to revenge for the humiliation at the Emirates. Come on you Gunners, do us proud!

We still have a chance but can we take it?

noreply@blogger.com (TheKid) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:48:00 +0000

The answer is YES! The draw last night actually did not change anything in terms of the title race. If we had gotten all three points, we would have been 4 points back from Man United. As it stand now we are 6 points back. How a points perspective there is little difference between being 4 or 6 points back. We still need Man United to drop point in two matches out of their remaining six. The key statistic is 2 matches back. While at 4 points we need the leaders to at least lose one and draw the other, now we need them to lose two matches. Again there is hope in that because the leaders still need to come to the Emirates and travel to Chelsea. I am almost certain that Man United will drop the six points needed in the last six matches. This is their schedule for the end of the month

April 27 Schalke
May 1 Arsenal
May 3 Schalke
May 6 Chelsea

I see them losing to both Arsenal and Chelsea during this stretch. Their other games are not easy fixtures as well because of the relegation battle brewing down the bottom half of the league.

Unfortunately, I do not have much confidence in the team to get all the points from their remaining matches. If they can throw away three points from a winning position at the Emirates, how can they be counted on to deliver the maximum at places like White Hart Lane, The Reebok or The Britannia.

So we are definitely in with a shout for the title but unfortunately this team is not mentally strong enough to win the title.

What's wrong with this team? Lack of believe is the answer

noreply@blogger.com (TheKid) — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 09:49:00 +0000

Seriously, how can anything team score a goal in the 98th minute of a match to lead and end up with a draw. I really do not understand how we can just throw away the points like that. While we used to have a fragile mindset in previous seasons, this year what we have done really takes the cake. We were leading Spurs 2-0 at home yet end up losing 3-2. We lost to WBA and Newcastle at the Emirates. We were leading 4-0 at St James Park only to throw away the points again. Seriously something must be very wrong with the team. This can't be fragile minds anymore. The excuse that this is a bunch of kids also does not hold up anymore because the lads are all grown up now. The Liverpool team had even more kids in the eleven that ended the match.

No doubt it was an unfamiliar Liverpool that was on display last night. I can entertain teams like WBA or Wigan coming to Arsenal and set up to park the bus but not Liverpool. Here is a team with wins over Chelsea and Manchester United but Daglish chose not to come at us. Maybe it was a sign of respect for our attacking prowess but if Liverpool had a more positive mindset, they could have possibly won the match. Nonetheless, they defended well and got the point they wanted. It was our responsibility to break them down and we failed rather badly.

The team didn't play well at all. Arsene said the last 7 games were going to be like Cup Finals to the team. Well the team will certainly not be winning anything if they played like that in Cup Finals. There were no passion in the players at all. Arsene said the players looked jaded but they haven't played a match in a week. How jaded could they be? Plus they are in a position to fight for the title. Surely there must be some impetus in that. It really looked like the players do not have the believe that they can catch Man United for the title. It is this lack of believe that will ultimately see us not winning anything this year.

Arsenal's second place under threat?

noreply@blogger.com (TheKid) — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 17:48:00 +0000

From a position where we were really the only true challengers to Manchester United for the league title last month, we now face a battle on two fronts. The challenge for the title is still on but if we were to slip up, then we have to be wary about a resurgent Chelsea who is fast closing up on our second position. Their 3-1 win over West Bromwich Albion tonight means that the Blues are only 1 point behind us. Our game in hand is against the Scums at White Hart Lane so it is far from a guaranteed three points. Any slip up in the remaining games will see them overtaking us.

I watched the just completed game and it was a comfortable win for Chelsea. Unlike our visit to the Hawthorns where we had to battle from two goals back, the game was literally sealed in the first half where all the goals were scored. The West Brom defense were severely lacking in this match. It just goes to show our attack failed to put them under pressure in the draw late last month. It felt to me that the Baggies were intimated or even afraid of playing Chelsea.It was this factor that caused the players to play under the strain of not conceding and the believe that they WILL NOT win the game. I guess that is why team like Chelsea and Manchester United always have it with the lower ranked teams. It was the same when us when we had that aura of the Invincibles. Now when teams like WBA or Newcastle play us, we give them hope with our woeful defending and lack of clinical finishing so they come at us and play better, hoping to create an upset which they often do. We need to get back this intimidation factor if we are going to be successful as the early Wenger years.

Do the Gunners still have a chance for the Premiership title

noreply@blogger.com (TheKid) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 09:53:00 +0000

I guess all our remaining matches are must win ones if we were to harbor any hope of winning the premiership title this year. The match against Liverpool at the Emirates this Sunday will begin a sequence of 5 matches which I believe will be critical to our championship hopes. If we do not lose or draw in any of these matches, I can safely say that we will be champions come the end of May. After Liverpool, we will visit White Hart Lane and The Reebok in subsequent matches before the big game against Manchester United. After the May 1 encounter, we travel to the Britannia to take on Stoke. All these matches are winnable but it will be tough. The question is do the Gunners have the passion and heart to make a last gasp drive to the title.

From the evidence in the last four matches, sadly the answer is a resounding no. The points we dropped at Sunderland, West Bromwich and Blackburn were a result of the lack of heart from the players. If we fail in our quest for the title this year, we will have to look back at our performances in these three games. I seldom criticize our players but it pains me to see some of the lads not putting their heart into the game.

So what can we expect this Sunday? In the first game of the season, we were really lucky to escape with a point from Anfield. We were totally outplayed by the Reds even though they were down to 10 men. This time around, I hope it will be different. They will not have Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres is gone but I am pretty impressed with Suarez and Carroll. I fear our defense will have a hard time containing these two. The good news for our defense is the possible return of Wojciech Szcsesny to the line-up. I feel much better with him between the sticks than either Lehmann or Almunia. That is why I am quite bullish about our chances in this game. No doubt they have a good offence but I think our midfielders will have control of the space and provide more chances to the forwards. The possible return of Song will be timely while Walcott will surely add something different when he takes his place in the starting line-up.

No matter how we do it, all that matters on Sunday is the three points. Come on, Gunners

Not pretty but a win finally

noreply@blogger.com (TheKid) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 16:39:00 +0000

Yesterday's win was a much needed one for the Gunners. It was not pretty and we could have easily lost to Blackpool but finally we managed to have Lady Luck shine on us yesterday. The Seasiders showed much more passion than out lads especially in the second half and should have at least scored an equalizer when they were only 2-1 down. I have to admit that Jens should have been sent off but the referee obviously thought giving the goal was enough. If he had send Jens off, then the goal would not have stood. In the end, the three points is all that matters for the title chase.

No matter what everyone says, every team needs to have some luck to win a championship. Man United certainly has their fair share of luck during this run-in while we have had certainly the worse share of Lady Luck so far. I am not trying to blame our troubles on luck but when you have your first choice goalkeeper breaking a finger when picking up a slow ball, you realize that this is going to be a long and frustrating run-in. But when Almunia hurt himself during the warm up, I realize that Lady Luck might be turning our way.

Not many people will agree with me but I think Jens at 41 is still a much better goalkeeper than Almunia currently. Yes he looks a little rusty but the German obviously has a better command of the penalty box and gives more confidence to his defenders. Even his usual madness seems to have disappeared with age. I know this is just his first game back but I hope he will continue to do well especially with the game against Liverpool at the weekend. I just hope Arsene does not bring back Almunia for the next game because if he does, you can kiss our title hopes goodbye.

Match Preview: Blackpool vs Arsenal

noreply@blogger.com (TheKid) — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 18:50:00 +0000

So this Sunday is another one of those must win matches we have been hearing for the past month or so. Every time we have a must win match, we ultimately fail to do so. The last three matches were particularly disappointing as they were very winnable matches especially the two home games. Now from a comfortable run in to challenge Man United, we have literally handed them the initiative and they are taking it by the horns. On the other, we seem to be stumbling yet again, as in previous years.

Somehow, I do not feel very confident about the match against the Seasiders. They are a tough team to beat at home and given our form at the moment, a draw could even be a stretch. Unless of course, the lads decide to turn on the power for the last 7 games and really give the title challenge a go. It is still not impossible to win, as Man United will surely drop points in their last six matches. The only thing we need to do keep pace with them until the end of the month when they visit the Emirates. I still think that match will be title decider.

I am not sure what has happened to the Gunners in the past few games but the lads have just not shown that they want the title. Arsene was totally right when he said he couldn't see the strength in the last match against Blackburn. In fact, there was no passion in the play at all. That is the most saddening part for me, not the drop points but the lack of desire from the players. I just hope the boss can do something this weekend and turn the whole morale of the team around for the sake of the club and supporters.

Arsenal vs Blackburn: Match Preview

noreply@blogger.com (TheKid) — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 09:53:00 +0000

The game tomorrow is another one which we cannot lose. Actually we have said this phrase so often that it has lost much of its meaning. Yes, we need to win the match tomorrow but I am not sure if it is that critical anymore. If anything, the Premier League this year is as unpredictable as ever. I am sure that even if we do not get full points against Blackburn we will still be in the title race because I do foresee Man United losing to West Ham.

It is not to say that I don’t want the full points from tomorrow’s match. We have not won for some time now so we need to win tomorrow to boost the team’s morale. With the return of the four key players I know we can do it. Plus we are at home tomorrow so by right we should be for all three points.

Beating Blackburn used to be some much more joyful when the Big Walrus was there. There are still a tough side to beat although I think they are struggling at the moment. Steven Kean has until the end of the season to make sure he remains in the job so his boys will really be up for it. All in all, it should be an entertaining match. I am sure the Gunners will do us proud and win all their remaining matches starting with this one

Welcome back lads, now it's time to concentrate for the title

noreply@blogger.com (TheKid) — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 17:37:00 +0000

So the international break is finally over and we can get back to the familiar grind of the Premiership title race. It has been a while since we last saw our beloved Gunners in action. March was a totally disappointing month for us, with elimination in all the Cup competitions leaving only the Premiership title available as our sole remaining challenge.

It is not going to be easy to win the title this time around with 6 of our last 10 matches are away from home. It is never going to be easy travelling to the White Hart Lane, Britannia or the Reebok but we absolutely have to gain maximum points from these matches if we harbour any hope of winning the title. Man United is 5 points in front of us but have a slightly easy run in barring the consecutive matches against us and Chelsea. However they do have the advantage of playing 5 out of their last 9 matches at home. Nonetheless, if we win all our matches from now until the end of the season, I am sure we will be crowned champions.

A lot of our hopes will depend on the injury situation with the players. I don’t think we lost any players during the international break although there was a scare when Van Persie hobbled of in the Netherlands vs Hungary match. Luckily it was not a major injury and the striker should be available for us against Blackburn. We should also welcome back the trio of Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott and Alex Song to the team for the home match this Saturday. We badly need the trio back in the squad as we are short of able replacements in their positions.

Wishere and Ramsey will be great for Arsenal's future

noreply@blogger.com (TheKid) — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 18:36:00 +0000

I just finished watching the England vs Wales match and there is no doubt that both Wilshere and Ramsey will be great for Arsenal in the near future. While the match was a bore especially in the first half where England just steam-rolled their way past a very listless and nervous Welsh side. It was not any better in the second half but at least Wales did try to make a match out of it.

I only watch the match because I wanted to see how Wilshere and Ramsey performed basically against each other. Of course, Jack was brilliant and his potetial is practically boundless. I am sure from this match forward he will be a first team regular in Capello's side. It is amazing how he has just seamless moved into the English first team this season. I think Capello will have a hard time to decide if he is going to drop Lampard or Gerrard in the next match because there is no dislodging young Jack.

As for Ramsey, I still think he is not back to his full potential yet, although he played quite well in the match. You could see that he tried to do his best to galvanise the squad but there were glimpses of rustiness in his play. His first touch was poor at times and he faded towards the end of the match as his stamina gave way.

As I see it, both Wilshere and Ramsey will carry Arsenal's fortunes moving forward. Forget about the Diaby's and Denilson's, we have two British players who are miles ahead of the rest. When Frimpong comes back, I am sure we will have a midfield trio that will dominated the Premiership midfield battles for years to come. Don't forget, Jack and Frimpong are only 19 and Ramsey only 20.

In the midst of all the gloom and doom of Arsenal's form going into the international break, let's share in the dream of this exciting trio conquering everything that is in front of them.

There is a reason why Almunia went from No 1 to No 3

noreply@blogger.com (TheKid) — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 17:28:00 +0000

It is unbelievable how little faith some fans have in the Arsenal team after the match yesterday. Yes we dropped two valuable points and is now 5 points from leaders Man United. This match was always going to be difficult as the Baggies are quite a resilient side at the Hawthorns. Since Roy Hodgson took over, they have tighten up their ship and is on a good run, being unbeaten in their last four matches. So it is quite commendable that we managed to return with a point. The lads did not play their best but the way they fought back shows that we still have what it takes to become league champions.

There are still nine more matches to go and it is this month that the leaders will face their most demanding schedule. If they successful navigate the month without dropping any points, they deserve to win the title. Personally I am sure they will drop some more points before they arrive at the Emirates in the beginning of May. It is the job of Arsene and the Gunners to make sure that we still within touching distance by the end of April.

We have many difficult games as well so it will be interesting to see how we are going to take advantage of the situation. This next international break is welcomed for the club as it gives the injured players a long time to recuperate. Ideally when we play our next match against Blackburn, we will welcome the return of Cesc, Theo and Song to the first team. Without the trio, we have loss a little spark and it is not a coincidence that we have not managed get full points from the last two league matches.

The only thing that worries me is Almunia. He is really a disaster and there is a reason why he went from No 1 choice at the start of the season to No 3 by the turn of the New Year. Our goalkeeping situation was very much in control with Wojciech between the sticks. Now we only hope a 41 year old keeper can take over from this walking time bomb.

Three players we MUST sell this summer

noreply@blogger.com (TheKid) — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 17:00:00 +0000

In my last post, I mentioned the youth players I would like to see in the first team next season. To accommodate them, we need to get rid of certain first team players. There have been many players who have underperformed this year but these three on my list have been given ample opportunities to impress but they have not done anything to stake their claim to continue wearing the arsenal jersey

Abou Diaby

Of all the players I dislike in the Arsenal team, this guy takes the top prize. No doubt he is talented and has shown that he is a pretty decent player but he just doesn't come through for the team often enough. The times when we trusted him to do the job he fails. He is also the reason why we fail go score many goals if he is in the team. He just slows down the attack. Just watch him play and you will know what I mean

Denilson

Well he came with so much promise but after the FA Cup defeat, I think it is time for him to leave. There is no passion or commitment at all from this guy. How can you explain him being bossed out by the da silva twins. Also him allowing the opponents to move faster than him like what Valencia did for the second Man United goal was unforgivable. It's not the first time as well. Remember how Rooney scored in the defeat at the Emirates last year.

Nicklas Bendtner

Earlier this season the Dane was making all sort of noises about how he is the best striker in the club. Well nothing of that quality has come from this guy from what I see. He first touch is atrocious. If he is a good striker and possess a decent first touch, we would have been in the champions league quarterfinals this year. If as the report says that he is worth 15 million pounds, please do the deal immediately

Three youth players I want to see in the first team next year

noreply@blogger.com (TheKid) — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 15:40:00 +0000

As we approach the last 10 games of the season, talks have begun to surface on the new arrivals that are needed for next season. Even though the season has not ended, we already can assume that there are some who will not be around for next season. I will touch of the few whom I seriously do not want to see in an Arsenal jersey after May but for now, let's see who we can expect to be in the first team next season.

Besides Jack Wilshere and to a certain extent Kieran Gibbs, we have not had many players coming out for the academy and having a prolonged run in the first team. Of course we might see Miquel get his chance in the later part of this season but there are three others currently out on loan or injured which I feel must be included into the first team consideration for next year. These three players are:

Jay Emmanuel Thomas

Henri Lansbury

Emmanuel Frimpong

All three players have been on the fringes of the first team and out on loan for the past two seasons. Looking at the depth of the team and the players we have currently like Diaby, Denilson and Bendtner, I am sure the three players above have more desire and talent to play and make it big with the Arsenal first team

Injuries derailing our season yet again

noreply@blogger.com (TheKid) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:18:00 +0000

It seems like a sense of deja vu how this season and the last has panned out so far. Last year we were well into a three team chase for the Premiership title when injuries to key personnel struck us down. Out of nowhere we lost Cesc, Gallas, Vermaelen,Arshavin, Clichy, Song to join the long term absentees RVP, Rosicky, and Walcott as we entered the critical phase of the season. No prizes for remembering what happened next as the team could not compensate for the missing players.

This year, once again we are approaching the final stretch with a chance of regaining the Premiership title and the injury curse seems to be rearing its head again. In recent weeks, we have lost Walcott, Wojciech, Song and now Djourou. Bearing in mind we are already missing Vermaelen and Fabianski, taking the total of key players out to 6. We have seen this year that any team missing its key players will not be able to survive without dropping points. Chelsea's slump towards the end of 2010 was attributed to the loss of players like Lampard, Drogba and Alex while we have seen the Man United is certainly vulnerable without Ferdinand and Vidic as proven by the Liverpool defeat. The same goes for the Gunners, if we cannot get some of the players back for the final stretch, we might be in serious trouble.

The only positive thing about this season is that we are getting the players back faster than they normally would. RVP was supposed to be out for 6 weeks but he came back in 2, while Cesc's hamstring should not keep him out for more than 2 weeks. We don't know when Song and Walcott can be back but let's hope we can take advantage of the international break and see them back in action for April. That's the other positive thing this year. We have an international break coming up so that will give the players another week to get well and be ready for the final run in. This year we face a straight fight with Man United for the title so we need all hands on deck to see us through.

Where is the heart?

noreply@blogger.com (TheKid) — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 19:50:00 +0000

I know I said that I didn't mind us losing this match but certainly not in the manner that we did. We put out a strong squad whereas the opposition played with 7 defenders on their line-up. Looking at the line-up, I seriously expected for the team to go on and beat the Mancs. It was a line-up with next week's Champions League encounter in mind and yet we couldn't beat them.

However, what irked me most about this defeat is the lack of heart among the Arsenal players in the game. The lads were playing at pedestrian pace and not showing any passion for the match at all. It was like they were being forced at gunpoint to participate in the game. Of all the players, the only one who really tried was Jack Wilshere and this is a boy of 18 years. The rest of the seniors players especially Denilson, Diaby and Arshavin were not even trying. Both goals came as a result of the lackidaisical attitude of the holding midfielders. For the first, we saw Fabio having lost of space to receive the ball when Diaby was still strolling back to the penalty box while for the second, Denilson allowed Valencia to carry the ball over 60 metres up till the penalty box without even getting close to the player. He was again just strolling along with Valencia. The other guy who dissapointed was Kieran Gibbs. Here is a the England left back of the future but he was so poor as Rafael just breeze past him to set up the second goal.

Seriously, where is the heart in playing for Arsenal? This is the FA Cu, for god sake. If the match doesn't excite the players, I am not sure if they are in the right profession. The opposition was certainly no better the us in terms of talent but they just showed more passion. Wayne Rooney for all his criticism as always at the back holding his court in front of the left back and bouncing forward whenever they had a break. That is what we need.PASSION!

I am too sick to the stomach to write anymore about the team. Its best to just leave the dissapointment to rest for the week. I am afraid we will also be losing Djourou for some time with a dislocated shoulder. On the other hand, it's great to see Rambo back in the first team. Pity it didn't come with better circumstances

FA CUP: Manchester United vs Arsenal

noreply@blogger.com (TheKid) — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 10:17:00 +0000

I am in two minds for this match tomorrow. While it would be good to beat Man United in their own den and continue to the semi-finals of the FA Cup, I wonder if it would not be better to lose this match and concentrate fully on the Premier League. We obviously do not have the depth to handle so many challenges.

The Premiership is the number target of us this season so any other challenges can be regarded as a distraction. If we were to lose this game, it means adding another game to Man United's already congested fixture. With the Champions League and FA Cup, Man United will have to play a minimum of 8 games in the month of April compared to our 6. You can see how big tomorrow match will be, not because it is the FA Cup quarterfinals but because of the repercussions on the Premiership title chase.

However, we are in now in the quarter-finals and have two matches to go before we reach another Wembley final. I think it would be good for the team to redeem themselves in Wembley after the Carling Cup debacle. Arsene has come out to say that he will be putting up a strong team tomorrow. Whether this is the right decision for the league title chase, it still remains to be seen.

Champions League over, let's concentrate on the Premiership

noreply@blogger.com (TheKid) — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 18:23:00 +0000

I can't say that the result was not expected but the way that we lost yesterday's match was so disappointing. True, we would probably have lost the match but we would never know what could have happened had RVP stayed on. We have just equalized and the Barca defense was a bit shaken. We could have easily gone on to score another goal just like how we manage to with Bendtner's last minute opportunity. In the end, it was another bad judgement call by a referee which we are paying dearly for it. How in the hell RVP got the second yellow card is beyond me. The only possible explanation is that UEFA wants to have Barcelona in the semifinals for commercial reasons and the stooge in the middle of the park has to deliver what his paymasters want. Other than that, I can't think of any other reason. Sometimes, I wonder if the footballing powers in England and Europe should ever want to see Arsenal being successful. The number of refereeing decisions that has gone against us this season is mind boggling. Newcastle, Sunderland and now Barcelona have had the good fortune of playing the Gunners with a biased referee in the middle. I wouldn't be surprised at all if this weekend's FA Cup quarterfinal clash with Man United is settled not by the players but by the referee again.

Nonetheless, I am quite happy that we are out of the Champions League. I think it is a distraction to our main aim this season which is the Premiership. Remember last year, Chelsea was knocked out at the same stage and they went on to win the league title. The same thing can happen to the Gunners. We do not need the Champions League matches in midweek to cloud our already congested fixture list. Let Man United, Chelsea and Tottenham to fight it out. If I am not mistaken all these teams have to play at least 8 matches in April should they continue to move on in the Champions League compared to us with only 6 or 7 matches depending on the FA Cup.

So being out of the Champions League is probably the best news for our Premiership title hopes. Well, that's how I see it.

Two points dropped but a precious one gained

noreply@blogger.com (TheKid) — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 17:08:00 +0000

While many Arsenal fans are still moaning about the two points dropped on Saturday, it may not have come to our minds that the one point gained is extremely precious especially in the light of Man United's defeat yesterday.

The pundits have all mentioned how nothing has changed after the weekend's result but I beg to differ. There is a major difference and it all comes to the one point gained at the Emirates.

Before the weekend's round of matches, we were four points back from the Red Devils. That is a 2 match result meaning we need 2 matches to go our way before we can overtake Man United. For example, it would mean beating Man United at home AND getting at least a draw in the game in hand versus Spurs at White Hart Lane.

Now that we are only 3 points back, we do not need a result in the extra match. So even if we did lose to Spurs (pray not), we will still be able to overhaul Man United if we beat them at the Emirates.

Therefore, we are just so much better off. Not winning the match against Sunderland turned out to be insignificant because one point behind or three points, it is still the same: a one match chase.

Arsenal three points behind United with a game in hand

noreply@blogger.com (TheKid) — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 17:39:00 +0000

All the gloom from yesterday turned much better as Liverpool beat Manchester United 3-1 today at Anfield. A hattrick by Dirk Kuyt condomned United to their third loss in five Premiership games. Surely this is the chance that we have been waiting for.

As it stands now, the title is still in our hands. We do not need United to lose or draw their matches if we can match their points until the end of the season. It will all boil down to May 1 when the Red Devils visit the Emirates. Win that games and I am sure we will lift the title. However getting all the points from now until then might be a problem if we keep getting players injured. The latest one to take a knock is Jack Wilshere, although he has come out say that he will definitely be ready for the Barcelona match.

We have failed to take our chances when the league leaders falter throughout the season. It was the same when Chelsea was leading and it is now happening again. The road till the end of the season is worst for us then it is for Man United with away games to Stoke and Spurs to come, while we will need to entertain Liverpool as well. It would not criticised the boys for yesterday's performance except for that of Diaby and Denilson. These two player are seriously not good enough and should be discarded next season, for they will impede the progress of the young players coming through like Frimpong, Lansbury and Ramsey.

The next two games will also have a major bearing on our league aspirations this year. Although I would definitely like to be challenging for all honours, I don't think we have the depth to do it and a defeat in the Cup or Champions League may actually be a blessing in disguise

A Collectors' item: Bendner's hattrick and Clichy's goal

noreply@blogger.com (TheKid) — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:36:00 +0000

So all the hype about Leyton Orient coming to the Emirates and creating an upset ended with a leisurely win for the Gunners last night. Truth be told, I don't think the lads we out of second gear throughout the match. From their movements and morale, it seems like the defeat on Sunday was still very much in the minds. This is something we need to watch out for this Saturday because Sunderland is definitely no Leyton Orient.

The 5-0 scoreline flattered us a little bit because I don't think we were that good. Leyton tried to play us at our game and lost. Kudos goes to Russell Slade and his men for not taking the all defensive, all robust route to compete with the Gunners. Anyway which way, they would have still lost but in this manner at least they gained some respect from Arsene and the boys.

It was good to see Arsene give both Ignasi Miguel and Connor Henderson their home debuts for the senior team. I thought both of them played well, in particular Miquel. He needs to work on his bulk for next season and should be a great defender in the mould of Gerard Pique. Henderson show some nice touches but he was a bit passive and not willing to take the risk.Probably it was because this being his senior debut, he didn't want to commit any mistakes. I am sure we will see more of him in the future.

As for the goals, it is really a night for the collectors. When will you ever see a game again when Bendtner scores a hattrick and Clichy gets a goal as well. This being only the Frenchman's second goal in all his time with the club, it would probably never happen again ever.

Beating Sunderland on Saturday is a more immediate concern than Barcelona

noreply@blogger.com (TheKid) — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 17:20:00 +0000

I don't understand why all the reports on the injured players have focuses on whether they will be back to face Barcelona next week. There is a more important match at the weekend which is of a more immediate concern that next week's match. The result at Stamford Bridge yesterday meant that the Gunners are well within reach of the League title and we need to take every opportunity that the Red Devils present to us.

There have been too many times in the past that we failed to take advantage of the situation when the league leaders stumble at the top. Our home defeats to WBA and Newcastle came at a time when Chelsea dropped some points but we failed to close in on them. Now we have the perfect opportunity to close the gap to only one point. With United having to go to Anfield with only one recognized center back, there will be more opportunities for drop points. However, all this is immaterial unless we are able to take advantage of the situation.

Today's FA Cup replay is a bit of a distraction and I think the boss will field a second string side against the minnows. We should have enough in reserve to beat Leyton Orient but even if we don't I won't be crying over it. The FA Cup is now the least priority and with our injury list growing again, it would be a competition i would sacrifice for the chance of winning the other two.

Are we waiting to end the drought with the League Title

noreply@blogger.com (TheKid) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 17:06:00 +0000

A positive thought crossed my mind after we lost the League Cup on Sunday. Yes it was a great opportunity to end the title drought after six years but may be is it a title worthy of that honour. Of course I am disappointed and this might sound like the ramblings of a sore loser but isn’t it better if we were to win the Premiership title as the first trophy of the Wenger youth project. It will certainly be the crowning glory to his many achievements here at Arsenal. Maybe that’s why it is fated we didn’t win the League Cup.

One thing’s for sure, the League Cup is not the end all for the Gunners. Earlier I wrote that we may suffer major psychological setbacks from a defeat at Wembley. We still could but I am hoping the lads can rise above their misery and carry on to continue the good work they have done so far. There is still much to play for especially in the Premiership and FA Cup. It would do nobody any good for the lads to be brooding over the defeat. The sentiments coming the dressing room is that they have gotten over the defeat so we shall see tomorrow if it is true. A win over Leyton Orient is a must, not only for progress to the FA Cup quarter finals but more so for the improving morale in the team.