We may just have ourselves a decent captain
What are we to make of what we’re seeing at the moment? On the one hand in four of our previous five league games there has been a fair bit to worry about. On the other, we’re in mid December and if we win our game in hand we’re two points behind United and five behind Chelsea. It could be worse.
The worrying thing is that you feel we’re only one dodgy performance away from things taking a sinister turn.
Much in the way they did when Hull came to the Emirates a year ago and won. On that occasion four wins from five before the game looked good, but two defeats after just six games after the match looked a lot worse.
I love Arsene, but given the side we put out in Greece just over a week ago, I can’t find any possible way to defend him over his charge that the Wolves line-up on Tuesday damaged the integrity of the Premier League. Talking of which, we seem incapable of dropping points without there being some kind of moan!
Watching the Burnley game on the Club Level TV screens was a surreal experience. This was not like everyone gathering to watch a Champions League semi in the Islington Academy because they wanted to be part of a big atmosphere. Instead it resembled a gathering of addicts who were only there because it was the best way of getting their hit. As I understand it, clubs are allowed to screen away games a limited number of times a season if they’ve sold out their away ticket allocation. Surely it’s time to allow these games to be streamed through the official web site?
Those of us at the Emirates on Wednesday got a £5 food or drink voucher and so after nearly three and a half years I finally tried the catering at the ground. I still can’t quite reconcile how the chicken and balti pie with baked beans could ever be worth missing the last five minutes of the first half, but each to their own.
At long last, a goal within the first 15 minutes. Well done Cesc.
Thanks for all of your goal of the decade suggestions. I’m going to draw up a shortlist and voting will start next week.
And if we lose more ground this weekend, that will again be the case.
We’ll miss Cesc, not least because for 40 minutes on Wednesday he put in what I’d describe as his best captain’s performance yet for Arsenal.
He may have been more spectacular against Blackburn earlier this season but on Wednesday he really led by example, driving us forward continually and doing everything he could to ensure it wouldn’t be another grim night up north for us.
Other than the non-spitting storm last Spring against Hull when Cesc came onto the pitch wearing what I’ll generously describe as a Dunlop tyre converted into a jacket, captaincy actually appears to have done him no harm at all.
Gone are the times when he’s looked a few seconds away from losing it and all in all, I think he’s led us fairly well through some not always easy times.
Manuel… not great with his feet either
It’s not that figure that suggests almost half of all shots on target go in with him between the sticks that tells the story. I’d suggest that figure means that people aren’t taking a whole lot of speculative shots.
Were they to, I’d suggest the 18 in 41 figure or whatever it is would soon be something like 20 in 80. So no, it’s not that.
It’s the indecision, the complete break-down of trust with his defenders, the flapping at crosses and the dreadful distribution (kicking and throwing) that puts us right under the kosh. It’s also the nothingy kind or reaction whenever anything goes wrong.
I hold up my hands: at the start of the season I thought a new keeper was third on our list of priorities behind a new midfielder and defender. It’s not. Whether it be Fabianski or someone else, the situation is becoming urgent.
Yes, he may recover and I hope he does but by then it could be too late for us.
Fair fixtures?
I’ve taken a look and in all, there are five sets of midweek fixtures with the latter three (next week, late Jan and mid Feb) all being instead of games the following Saturday, which has been kept clear for the FA Cup. On all those three occasions, if you’re at home on the Saturday you’re then away in the week and vice-versa, so it’s all pretty fair.
This week’s fixtures and those in August were sandwiched in between two sets of Premiership weekend fixtures. Were it not for the CL qualifier, we’d have played Bolton and then Pompey both at the Emirates back to back, cancelling out this week’s toughie.
But that’s not to say it’s completely even – in both August and this week Pompey had back to back away in four days whereas on both occasions Liverpool had back to back home. So there you have it.
A Goodplaya responds special
Old Git says:
Goodplaya says
You’re right. It was just frustrating to watch at times.
Gunnerigors says:
Goodplaya says
It’s a fair point, particularly given that at home we’ve looked very solid on the whole.
Anon says:
Goodplaya says
A very fair point. He was playing a more defensive role than usual and he didn’t actually do it too badly.
West Upper says:
Goodplaya says
Maybe but once he went off we lacked any kind of width, which was a great shame given Eboue, Wilshere and Vela were on the bench.
True Gooner says:
Goodplaya says
It was interesting hearing Arsene saying how tough Arshavin is. Could be seen as a slight at some players, except so many of our injuries appear to be proper long-term ones. It’s baffling frankly.
11 Responses to “Goodplaya on Friday: Captain Cesc, understrength, club class and a whole lot more”
silvester was awful i thought, bcos he’s too slow his marking was also very poor. we need atleast 2 players during de transfer window to replace eduardo and rosicky, these i dont think they will come back to their peak.
Look forward to your perspective every day – thanks for your time and thought.
I don’t see any one on defense and in midfield being major causes to our Burnley draw.
Theo is really struggling with his confidence. If he cannot beat opponents with his pace, he goes into a shell. For 60 minutes we played a man down.
Arshavin – the worst I’ve seen him play for Arsenal. His touches and passes – I thought I was watching an out of form player like Eduardo or Theo. He constantly allowed his marker to deny him the ball and definitely showed signs of fatigue most of the 2nd half.
When Cesc came off & was replaced by Ramsey; I assumed Ramsey would play the schemer role – but Ramsey was more focused on being the AM – leaving some confusion in midfield.
Arsene should have used Nasri to direct the midfield. Instead of bringing on Ramsey, use Vela up front to give us some energy.
Silvestre did not cost us the match. Diaby played very solid in support; it was obvious he was instructed to restrain his runs forward.
Eduardo and Rosicky are ‘great’ players, they will regain their form and many critics will be eating their words – just like the criticisms about Song for the past 2 years.
It will be really interesting to see what Wenger does in Jan. If senderos goes we definitely need a cb and it goes without saying that we need a striker who is not in the mould of Vela and eduardo . it will be very interesting indeed!
I don’t think Almunia will necessarily be dropped but a new keeper in the summer is a possibility I guess. Depends on how Fabianski does when called upon. Szecency….. or however his name is spelt…. is apparently doing really well at Brentford. Te Polish coach rates him REALLY highly and he is already in the Polish squad and made two international appearances. If he is that promising will Arsene really go and spend money on a keeper?
face it without the lyks of vieira, pires, henry and countless more arsenal cannot achieve the true greatness they had during their unbeatable season. Im srry but ur team is far too inconsistent, lack any fire power, cannot finish( with the exception of arshavins exquisite strike look how many chances arsenal miss in a game), fumbling defence and anybody with any experience.
It has also cone to my attention that during the match btwn Chelsea and Arsenal the players lack also in strength. For example look at the way traore dropped when Drogba barged him. It wuz very unorthodox. In my opinion if arsene does not make any signings in january ur beloved arsenal could their title dreams fade away as quickly as it began.
What the fuck. Who’s this chelsea mug? I predict chelsea will buy themselfes another trophy this year.
Obviously Almunia is well off form at the moment, but I don’t see why this seems to be causing such panic. How many points has he actually cost us this year ? Less that Cech has cost Chelski I reckon. I see no urgency in this situation: if Almunia regains his form so much the better (remember he was consistently one of our best players last year), if not Fabianski gets his chance. Anyone who thinks we’ll buy a new keeper in January is way off the mark. Frankly, I’m more concerned about getting a striker and a centre half in January.
true gooner dont be jealous plz
Chelski. I take your point, but you really should use a spell check or get your mum to look at your post before sending.
*correction*-in january ur title dreams could fade away as quickly as it began
another correction *come* instead of cone
instead of fumbling defence i meant to say have a fumbling defence