As most of you will have watched highlights or even the full Köln-Arsenal match, I won't bore
you with match details, and will stick to my personal view of the game, and a few bits of
information picked up along the way!
Well it was certainly a gloriously day for a game – the sun shining and the wind, which had
been gale force earlier in the day, dropped to a gentle breeze.
As most of you will have watched highlights or even the full Köln-Arsenal match, I won't bore
you with match details, and will stick to my personal view of the game, and a few bits of
information picked up along the way!
Well it was certainly a gloriously day for a game – the sun shining and the wind, which had
been gale force earlier in the day, dropped to a gentle breeze.
The last couple of seasons, seeing our midfield overrun, Wenger changed from 4-4-2 to 4-3-3.Â
This added more players in central midfield where too often we had lost vital games, but the
flip-side meant that the striker was isolated.
For 4-3-3 to work you need at least one of your three central midfielders to get into areas to
support the striker.
One of the saddest effects of our poor form during 2011 has been seeing how lesser teams no
longer fear us.
The psychological advantage of having most opponents assume they would get nothing out of
playing us has been whittled away by a series of unfortunate events.
Throwing away a four goal lead at Newcastle; losing to relegation-bound Birmingham in the
Carling Cup Final; league defeats to the likes of West Brom, Stoke and Bolton:
All these and more have turned our shiny armour of invincibility into a tattered and battered
old coat of rusty chain mail, pock-marked with holes.
So the dust has settled on a couple of dreadful Arsenal away results, and equally dreadful
defensive displays. Obviously, I'm talking about the 8-2 and 4-3 defeats. There have been a lot of
people coming out of the woodwork in recent days, using these results as ammunition to have a pop
at the manager and also to give their opinion on the direction this club needs to go.
Like any self respecting football fan, I spent most of yesterday sat in my office scouring
Twitter for the latest transfer rumour and staring intently at BBC's sports day live patiently
waiting for each auto refreshing nugget of drama to unfold. Not a lot of work was done.
Conversely, those behind the scenes at the Emirates were very busy, something we are not used to
from recent deadline days.
Arsenal are still a formidable force, warns Liverpool's Kenny Dalglish
• Liverpool manager defends 'fantastic' Arsène Wenger • 'They have lost Fábregas but it
will be a difficult game' With respect to Arsène Wenger, big clubs do sell big players and retain
ambition providing they reinvest on the field and not into their bank accounts.
How many big players have we sold in the past? Tons. When a player is not 100% committed to the
club both physically and mentally it is best to let them go for the sake of the other ten players
on the pitch who are giving a lot more for the side. It doesn't matter how good this player is,
when it comes to a team you are all equal, you all have to work tirelessly and give total
commitment.
Today is yet another one of the defining games of the season; we are desperate for the 3 points
and just as importantly we don't want to give them to the Chav's.
Our record against the other teams in the so-called "Big Four" in the last season or so is
something like one win in ten. It is becoming more than just a coincidence it is becoming
embarrassing.
Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it. |
Teaching Ideas
In this teaching ideas post we have an interview with Arsenal fan Andy who tells us about some
of his memories while supporting the Gunners. Vocabulary in bold is explained at
the end of the post
Download the worksheet here
Listen to the interview here
Damian: Right, today we have got an Arsenal season ticket holder giving us his
views on all things Gunners.
Robin van Persie's contract expires in summer 2011 and the club has been locked in contract
negotiations all season. The club appeared to have offered the Dutch striker £75,000 a week, but
van Persie is stalling over signing a new contract.
There was talk earlier that he wanted a buyout clause, which was as low as €5 million.
Arsenal are considered one of Europe's top clubs, mainly because we have had some of Europe's
top players at the club. Our reputation has created an air of falsehood. Scratch the surface
and a completely different picture emerges.
Since Arsene's first season in 1997/98 we have reached two European Finals, losing to
Galatasaray on penalties in the UEFA Cup and in 2006 we lost to Barcelona in the Champions League
final.
It does appear to be the case that former Dutch International and Arsenal, Ajax, and Barcelona
winger Marc Overmars is back after 4 years of not playing professionally. He has been the manager
for Dutch second division side Go Ahead Eagles, and he will come out of retirement to play for
them. His goal is to lead the team by example and presumably get them back into the Eredivise.
Spanish giants Barcelona have long had a relationship with Dutch Players and managers. From the
Johann Cruyff era to Kluivert, Cocu, Davids, Van Basten, Overmars and Van Bommel days, Barcelona
have built up a reputation as being one of the few clubs that pride themselves in nurturing Dutch
talent.
Arsenal depart for Kiev today and we're still somewhat in the dark regarding injuries. Some
reports say Nasri will be fit, others say he won't.
There's no news about Eboue but it's believed Gael Clichy has declared himself 'A-OK, Hunky
Dory' and 'Right as rain' for tomorrow's match. Which is good news but I suppose we have to wait
until a bit later until the squad is announced before we get too overjoyed.
Por John Wyatt
Este sà que es un tipo con suerte. De todas las guerras en las que se ha metido ha salido airoso,
un superviviente, vamos. Da igual que no tomara las mejores decisiones. Al final la suerte siempre
ha acudido al rescate.
Firme opositor al nuñismo, fue lo suficientemente oportunista como para integrarse en la
candidatura de Elefant Blau en 1998 (y perder contra Núñez), en la de Lluis Bassat en 2000 (cayó
contra Gaspart) y de crear su propio grupo electoral para traicionar a Bassat y vencerle en
2003.
Which one, Tomato, Horseradish, Daddies, HP, Soy, Tartare...... Which bloomin sauce!!
Seriously,  just how many times are we going to read such a comment over the next month or
two?
Yesterday I read Joe Cole had signed for us, then I read he has struck a deal to re-unite with
good old 'Arry and that's after hearing he was staying at the Chavs having already signed for Old
Red Nose.
I have a confession to make; a terrible, shameful confession. I was born in N1. Not an awful lot
I could have done about it obviously, but I still feel the shame. Thankfully my Dad was an
enlightened soul and supported THFC. As a kid he would escort me to the odd game with a season
ticket borrowed from my wealthy uncle in Enfield.
