The ribbons hung on the BPL trophy could be Red/White instead of Blue/White

Last night saw the 'Big Boys' drop valuable points against the so called 'whipping boys' of the Premier League with only Man. Utd picking up all points against Roberto Martinez's 'yoyo' team. The interesting aspect of that game was the sort of 'back from the dead' the Bulgarian magician, who in my opinion is the second most skillful Big Man in the world behind Swedish ponytail pumpkin, Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

The former Spurs forward managed to net a hat trick, adding to his previous goal in the last game (ironically another 5-0) whipping against Fulham. United now have 10 goals in the last two games, and are breathing down fellow Mancunians necks, cross-town rivals Man City. The Citizens, who were backed by everyone except Chow Yun Fatt to beat Wigan, and by a handsome margin at that, came up well short against Roy Hodgson's well-organised, well-oiled machine, West Brom. Bear in mind, the West Brom defense cost all of 2 million pounds. (City's cheapest defender last night was Gael Clichy, at 7 mil).

Before I move on, let me just say that Chelsea were never in the title race from the beginning of the season, so when AVB said at the post match interview that his team were 'all but out of the title race' more than amused me, even my dog howled at the teevee.

Moving on to serious stuff, I think United might actually pip City to the title, and here's why.

Fergie's men have not playing great football in the last five games, but have managed to beat all teams convincingly. And that with more than their fair share of injuries to go along with. City on the other hand, haven't had that many injuries, and have been more often than not, been able to play their best 11, though even if they were to have a couple of niggles they'd still be capable of bringing in support from their 'Gold' bench.

However, in all these games, Yaya Toure has been an ever-present. The Ivorian powerhouse has allowed the likes of Silva to go about his business, and has the capability to play in more than a couple of positions, and it is no wonder why he is City's best paid player. He will be gone next month though, and I don't see anyone in the squad being able to do anywhere near what he does. His older brother Kolo, who has been immense since his return from the drugs ban, will join him to represent Ivory Coast and that would mean the return of Lescott into the team, and he is by no means a world-beater.

Another reason would be the 'know-how' of Alex Ferguson's teams throughout the years. With the Scotsman at the helm, the players are more free to go about their business on the pitch, and most of the team are used to 'getting across the finish line'. The jury is still out on Mancini, however. Moreover, he is a manager who is known to buckle under immense pressure.

Lastly, by hook or by crook, past United teams tend to go into overdrive come January/February. The best part is this time around, it looks like they have started a month earlier.

I am by no means ruling City out of the title race, far from it actually, but it will be anything but easy. The advantage though is with United. The blue half of Manchester have been labelled as favourites all season, and Sir Alex might use that to his team's advantage.


Till next time,
Sayonara.

Exciting Games in store.

The Christmas period is the time of the season when managers dread, as 'squad depth' comes into play, and those who depend solely on having the best 11 on the pitch tend to have it tough while the big boys (Mancini & Co.) will relish the chance of taking on all comers and prove that they are more than just a flash in the pan. They really are more than that.

Arsene Wenger meanwhile has to be thinking that the football Gods are against him, with 4 of his fullbacks out with niggling injuries and having to play centre backs out of position is not an ideal situation, as he found out at the Etihad at the weekend. Johan Djourou went off injured, further worsening the situation, though to be honest, he's as good a full back as instructing a pigeon to play the role of a 'German Shepherd'. Now, it looks like the Swiss will be out for the best part of three weeks, which means that the stale french loaf (Sebastian Squillaci) will play in one of the games. To be fair to him, he actually had one of his better games in the Carling Cup defeat to Man City. Then again, football is based on consistency and not the 'one-off Whitney Houston gala'. As on now, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Miquel and Squillaci are the only players who have some sort of first team experience.

Tonight's game at Villa Park is vital for Wenger's men, and it remains to be seen who will play in the full-back positions. Wenger for one cannot afford to have a centre-back partnership of Squillaci and Mertesacker as that would be like the 'Rabbit v Tortoise' race against the likes of Agbonlahor. On the other hand, playing Miquel, (who by the way can be put in the same boat as Mertesacker in terms of pace) at left back gives the chance to McLeish to play Agbonlahor on the right, though he usually does his damage on the opposite flank. One thing which is certain is that if Villa somehow manage to turn up for this game with Albrighton and Agbonlahor on fire, and Delfouneso playing to his capabilities, then they will definitely give the Arsenal defense (which will not consist of Alex Song, who is suspended) a run for their money.

Personally, I wish Arsene tries something different, like going with three at the back and 5 in midfield. He more than has the resources to do that, with Koscielny and Vermaelen playing either side of Mertesacker, and probably playing Frimpong alongside Arteta. That would really unleash the attacking prowess of Ramsey, Chamberlain and Benayoun, because I don't think Arshavin is up to it, the only thing left for him to do is go out the door. And dear ol' Theo will have his long awaited opportunity to give defenders goosebumps alongside the little known Dutchman. Whether or not Wenger decides to implement it is a different question altogether.

A number of pundits after the City game were of the opinion that Arsenal were not far off Man City, well not as far as the gap in the table suggests. That is just not good enough, because the difference between winning or losing is slight, and the gap does not really matter. At the end of the day, it is a results based industry, and if you get the right result, then most of the time you will end up successful and the loser will, well, just moan. The only certain thing this season is that the title will arguably end up in Manchester, though the colour of the ribbons on the Premier League trophy is yet to be decided. Some may think that it is slightly premature that I have come to this conclusion with the Christmas period yet to be played but hold on. Spurs, now have injuries to their deadly duo, Lennon and Bale. Replacements, Kyle Walker and probably Assou-Ekotto are not up to standard, basically square pegs into round holes. Defoe looks short for the upcoming game, with Redknapp saying the other day that his marksman has a Grade 1 hamstring tear (whatever that means, a tear is a tear).

Chelsea meanwhile are like a box of chocolates at the moment, though an expensive one at that. One week they become the first team to bring Man City back to earth, the next they fail to brush aside Wigan, who do not generally do well against the proverbial 'Big Boys' of the BPL. Sometimes, I think that AVB is too tactical for his own good. Against City, he brought on Mikel in favour of an attacker to shore up the defence and guarantee the points. I salute his decision in that game, because it ensured that the Londoners could nullify the attacking threat of the Mancunians. The Wigan game however was a real joke, bringing off their best two players in Mata and Sturridge who managed to score a wonderful goal in favour of Malouda and Mikel. I will not comment more than that, they already have a certain Russian to do that.

Whatever happens, at the end of the day the Christmas period is a most wonderful time of the year, and the 'telly' will definitely be showing a whole lot of matches, so I guess enjoy? Have a Holly Jolly Christmas and a Blessed and Prosperous New Year to all reading haha I think it'll be like 3 people at max.

Sayonara.

Manchester 'Edin' into the Europa League? Unbelieveable, but believe it.

For the English clubs at least, this season's Champions League group stage was really nerve-wrecking, and most, (3 of them to be exact), had to go into the final day needing to get some sort of result to ensure qualification into the knockout stages of Europe's premier club competition. Arsenal guaranteed their progress on Matchday 5, while their counterparts in London needed to beat or draw against in form Valencia, former club of Juan Mata and the Blues surprisingly played their best match of the season to roll past the Spaniards into the knockout stages, and topping their group in the process.


United needed to get a draw against Basel while City had it out of their hands in terms of having a chance to qualify, needing assistance from the Navy guys, well they're better known as the Yellow Submarines, (Too-mah-toe, Too-mei-toe). The shock result of the day was obviously Basel beating Sir Alex's team 2-1, getting four out of a possible six points against United in the group stages. Man City meanwhile, played a controlled game, managing to beat the Germans from Munich 2-0, courtesy of goals from David Silva and also a nice passage of play to enable Yaya Toure to toe-poke the ball past Munich no.2 keeper' Hans Jorg Butt.

What this means is that England are now represented by only the two London clubs, while the boys from Manchester are heading into the Europa League, yes the Europa League (Europe's 2nd tier club competition). Sheer embarrassment for both Manchester clubs, considering that the duo are top of the BPL at the moment, and looked like being the strongest clubs in England at the start of the season. That may still be true, but a combination of a few events have now put them in dire straits.

For City, it has to be first season syndrome, not having the relative experience in the Champions League, and perhaps a manager who is not great in Europe, considering his failures with Inter Milan, unable to get them beyond the quarter finals despite being top-dogs in Italy when he was in charge. One would also point to the happenings at the Allianz Arena when Carlos Tevez refused to come on for the game, and the after-effects it had on the team as a whole. That, and also the result in Naples when a draw would have put them in a comfortable position, though it is immaterial discussing about the 'What if's' now.

Sir Alex looks to have made a huge blunder in the last couple of months. Up till late September, the Reds looked like being a team with not only blood in their veins as they were steam-rolling over all comers but they did not get their European campaign of to a good start. It seemed that after the goal fest against Basel at Old Trafford when both teams grabbed 3 goals each was the turning point in Fergie's philosophy this season. They started the season playing the much famed 'free-flowing, attacking, beautiful, majestic football', with Rooney at the spearhead of thing. Recently though, the English talisman has been thrust into a more withdrawn role in midfield, and United have seemed to lack a cutting edge up front. This could perhaps point to the manager's failure to bring an attacking midfielder into the club, and things might've been a whole lot different had the Glazers given him another five million to add to their original bid of 20 mil pounds for Frenchman Samir Nasri.

All said and done, both of them will now ply their trade in the Europa League, far from ideal under any circumstance. From a personal point of view, I think they should just forget about this competition. The only reason is the 'Thursday night-Sunday afternoon' kickoff times if one were to be involved in the competition previously known as the Uefa Cup. If they intent to pursue they Cup, then the chances of them failing to cope up in the Premier League will be much higher. One thing that is certain is both clubs will now put all their eggs into one basket i.e the Premier League. I cannot help think that the FA Cup 3rd round tie will play a huge role in determining the whole outcome. City still have the Carling Cup semifinal to look forward to, but United of course have already been knocked out. So it might also be sensible for Fergie to take the Europa League more seriously if they lose to their bitter rivals in the FA Cup. Realistically, both clubs' seasons depend on THAT tie in England's oldest club competition. The team that loses is going to be in serious trouble.


Personally, I'm looking forward to the Champions League draw, though Manchester fans will definitely prefer watching 'HIMYM' or some half-baked movie just to avoid the embarrassment of witnessing a draw which does not include their team. Today's events though could signal bad times for English clubs as a whole, though next season will be a totally different story.


Till next time,
Jay Jay Denis.

A weekend that could prove decisive

This weekend's results could prove to be a contributing factor to the season-ending positions of most teams. Some may think it is a tad too premature, but you might change your mind in a moment. Both the Uniteds gathered at Old Trafford for an afternoon kickoff, while Roman's team who were in serious trouble invited a 'Wolf Pack' to the Bridge which was indeed falling, slowly but surely. Of the other big teams, and 'Adebayor propelled' Spurs visited Roy Hodgson's men, while Arsenal entertained Hodgson's former side, Fulham, at the Emirates.

Most pundits put United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs as favourites to grab all the points, though the former 2 disappointed to an extent. Chelsea and Spurs on the other hand, made light work of their opponents, though Andre Villas-Boas still has some convincing to do. Spurs had a certain Togolese striker to thank, though whether or not he will become a permanent fixture at White Hart Lane is a totally different question.

One thing which was somewhat surprising was that Newcastle United were actually the one to get the so-called 'lucky break' at Old Trafford, a ground when some referees tend to buckle under the pressure of the atmosphere as well as Scotsman sitting on the home side's bench on the Red Audi sponsored leather seat. It wasn't to be for Fergie's men, as the penalty award was a foolish decision by the Assistant Referee, though the last time I checked, the main man in black did indeed have the power to overrule the decisions made by his counterparts. That certainly wasn't the case here, and it was not like it was an extremely tough decision to make. Ben Arfa strode into the United box, Rio Ferdinand came over, and after the tackle had been committed, yes in all fairness, the Frenchman did go down, but it was more than obvious that the ball had indeed been touched and went in a different direction. In Sir Alex's words, the ref was about 8 yards away, so I guess it was a 'Shocking, Outrageous' decision. A namby-pamby perhaps? That being said though, United were at home, had most of the possession, and would have got all the points if not for some 'Malaysian-like' finishing from the usually 'Ice-cool' Mexican, plus heroics from Dutchman Tim Krul, though the United goal was indeed 'Krul' on Newcastle. They defended resolutely as a team, and the draw was probably a fair result.

Moving on to Chelsea, it certainly is beginning to look like it is time to draw the curtains on Didier Drogba's time at Chelsea. The once feared Ivorian dynamite is now becoming an 'also ran' at the Blue Army. Daniel Sturridge looks like a better bet than Torres to bag the goals, and Nicholas Anelka looks like he's going to go back to his 'Le Sulk' ways. One thing Villas-Boas maybe needs to look at is the spine of the Chelsea team. Of the 4 stalwarts, namely Petr 'Broken Bones' Cech', 'Dear' John, Frankie Lampard and the Ivorian dude, the latter three might need to be moved on, and rather soon I guess. Raul Meireles looks more than capable of filling Lampards boots, but John Terry needs addressing. David Luiz is a good defender, but the boy needs a calm head beside him, and Terry looks like he needs a baby-sitter himself. Maybe a new addition is needed, and Gary Cahill might come quite cheap as his contract runs out in the summer. Another interesting player is Dortmund's Serbian centre back, Neven Subotic. Whatever the case, Roman has to realise that his team needs rebuilding, not a major one, but still an important one at that.

Arsenal disappointed thoroughly on the night, though they can be forgiven for being hard done by as the 'Ozzie' between the posts was in a rather blistering form. The team as a whole did look jaded as well, down to the fact that the same team has played many games without much change, though it looks likely that at least half the team will be out when the Gunners welcome Arab Moneybags, City, to the Emirates in midweek for their Carling Cup quarter final date.

Spurs look like they are depending on Adebayor to bag a few goals for them, and his partnership with Jermain Defoe is beginning to look lethal. I just wish Harry would give Defoe the chance to play up top, alongside the lanky fella, or Jermain might be out the door if not January, certainly in the summer.

Tonight's game will be a gut-wrenching one, with Liverpool needing to win to if they harbour any desire to finish in the top four. The Mancunians will want to extend their lead at the top to 7 points, though they're confidence would have been rattled after the midweek defeat, as their Champions League hopes look to have vanished into thin air. I may sound rather biased, but I'm actually hoping for a draw, just to stop the Blue half of Manchester from pulling ahead too far.

Till next time,
Sayonara.

A Fergie Tribute

It's his Silver Jubilee, and Sir Alex Ferguson of Scotland will probably go down as one of the, if not the greatest manager to ever grace the game. On the 6th of November, it will be exactly 25 years since Sir Alex was appointed manager of what has now become the leading club in the UK. It will take a momentous effort to come anywhere near what the Scotsman has achieved, and I can safely say that the chance of it being repeated is second to none.

Upon his appointment, United were at that time, second from bottom in the league, then consisting of 22 clubs, and the he managed to lead them to an 11th place finish. United's first league title under Fergie came in the first season of the Premier League, the 92/93 season. Ironically, the previous season is the last time their main rivals, Liverpool, won a League title. Manchester United have won 12 since then, and have overtaken the Merseysiders as England's top dogs. Ironically, Liverpool were then managed by Kenny Dalglish, who went on to sit in the stands for 10 years or so, while his counterpart was still at it in Manchester. Added to the 12 League Titles, and you get a handful of FA Cups, 4 League Cups, 10 Community Shields, a couple of Champions League titles, (though a few runners-up medals), a Super Cup and a Cup Winners Cup each, and one Intercontinental Cup, alongside the sole FIFA Club World Cup United won in 08. A host of personal accolades followed and many out there know what he has achieved, so I will not waste more time on it.

The last quarter of a century, the world has witnessed the fall of the famous Soviet Union, the US being attacked in 01', the capture of Saddam Hussein, throw in the assassination of Osama Bin Laden and now Muammar Gaddafi and not forgetting the tragedy at New Orleans, the 2004 tsunami and a couple of other things which were significant enough to live a long lasting memory in most human beings. In the footballing world, the game witnessed the passing of one of the great managers of all time in Sir Bobby Robson, which was indeed a sad year for football as a whole. 6 World Cups has been played, and in that period, 'Fergie', as he is fondly known, has built 6 to 7 great teams in one club. Numerous United fans have tried naming 'Fergie's best 11', but there was hardly an identical choice among the supporters. That is a testament to his man-management skills, and his ability to spot players and rope them into the Theater of Dreams.

His teams have always had a trademark about them, going back to the days of the 'Cole & Yorke' partnership in the late 90's, before that the mercurial Frenchman in Eric Cantona, followed by the Golden Generation of Scholes, Giggs, Beckham, Keane and not forgetting the Nevilles. One of the things that have to be admired about Ferguson's teams is that they always play football the right way, though some may argue that there is no wrong way to play football, but there is no denying that fans would rather pay more to watch United in action than to pay chicken feet to get a ticket into the Britannia Stadium, no offense.

Another traits the great man has is his ability to pressurise his opposing managers and making them melt under the heat. Kevin Keegan comes to mind, and so do Arsene Wenger and Rafael Benitez. More often than not, he comes out on top, though I really miss the moments when he and the man in North London used to get it going, on and off the pitch.

That being said, whatever is written here or elsewhere will not be enough to sum up what Sir Alex has achieved over the years, and even he might not be able to put it into words. From an Arsenal fan's perspective, it will certainly be interesting to see what will happen when Fergie retires, and who takes over at the helm, because shoes will not be the only thing that will require filling. One thing is for certain, he will certainly have a hand in picking his successor, and I can only thing of one man who is capable of doing it, and his name needs no mentioning. But let Fergie enjoy his moment, and the whole of football just stand back and take into account what he has done for the game.


There will never be another Alex Ferguson, Sir, I would add.



 

London Bridge is Falling Down?

It was supposed to be the 'Battle at the Bridge', which could have given a clear picture that Chelsea were back on course after a slight but very clear nudge against QPR the previous weekend, and also a vindication that Arsenal are just Arsenal, a team not yet ready to challenge for honours and the usual rap sheet. Well, the first 15 minutes of what proved to be an enthralling match was that. Chelsea steam-rolling their visitors, and it looked like they were going to run away with the points and make the Gunners look 'Blue' in the process. But, that was only for 15 minutes. Everyone knows what happened after that so I will refrain from divulging into the details of what proved to be one of the most entertaining matches of the season, alongside the 8-2 blockbuster and the now well-known Manchester derby. 

To the Post-Mortem, because that was somewhat of a murder from a Chelsea point of view. 
The main reason it was such an open game was not necessarily due to the open-attacking philosophies of both managers, but the sheer diabolical defending by both sets of players. The Blues were bullying both Djourou and Santos on both flanks, as Daniel Sturridge burned the Brazillian on more than one occasion. On the other wing, Ashley Cole made Johan Djourou look like Swiss Cheese. Frank Lampard was influential in the first half where he played passes at will and released the wingers. Fernando Torres however, looked like he had just returned from a wonderful week at the Bahamas, a total whitewash. Arsenal on the other hand, were extremely shaky at the start, but slowly grew into the game and created numerous chances. Ramsey was 'the' man in the midfield after half an hour or so, controlling the pace of the game, though Mikel Arteta looked out of his depth. The Spaniard may have been Everton's most skillful player, but he looks average in an Arsenal jersey. Gervinho managed to trouble Jose Bosingwa on many occasions, and it was surprising that he was played at right-back rather than the more muscular Ivanovic, and slot David Luiz alongside the England captain. 

The amount of chances created by both teams left me dumbfounded, and I could not help but think that if one of this teams were playing against the team from the Blue side of Manchester, then it could have been a cricket score against them. Ramsey was able to slice open the Chelsea defense whenever he wanted to, and the composure he displayed with the ball at his feet suggests that the absence of the previous 'Number 4' will not be felt at all. The experience and calmness he has is at times mesmerising. Alex Song was good on the day, but he was lucky not to be carded much earlier in the game. It will definitely be interesting come January when Gervinho and Song fly off to Africa to represent their countries in the Nations Cup, though Frimpong looks like an able deputy for the Cameroonian. I just hope Tomas Rosicky is given a chance alongside Ramsey in the game against Marseille because he brings more pace to the offense as compared to Arteta, but the duo are now on the wrong side of thirty. Moving on, the Arsenal defense looked suspect on every Chelsea attack in the first half, and they could use a couple of fullbacks who defend well, though Andre Santos is impressive going forward, having already notched up two goals in a handful of games when Gael Clichy only managed to grab 2 goals in his whole career in North London. 

However, Chelsea's defenders were playing like schoolboys. It looked like John Terry slipped, but he was literally hugging the turf when Van Persie was behind him, as though shot by a sawed of shotgun. The torrid week he endured looks like it is going to get a whole lot worse. Ivanovic was no better, as the was no visible communication between the two. On the opposite side, the partnership of Mertesacker and Koscielny were not great, though the Frenchman was impressive throughout the game, and Mertesacker looks like he could be a liability due to his glaring lack of pace. Whether or not Arsene Wenger decides to drop the German in favour of the Belgian stalwart Thomas Vermaelen is a topic for another day, but the Marseille game will certainly shed some light into that. 

Previous Chelsea teams never played with such an open way, but what is more surprising is the state of their defense. The back four were the same players last season, but it looks like they are not getting the needed protection from the midfield. Fingers will be pointed at the manager, and only time will tell if Abramovich decides to do anything or not, because he is notorious for jumping the gun. Chelsea will no doubt beat the lesser teams, but it is now 2 defeats this season against their main rivals in United and Arsenal. The Russian dynamo will not like it if events were to continue like this, but from a Gunners point of view, it was a good day at the office for Wenger and his boys, but I wouldn't be overjoyed as the defense looks like in could come crashing down like a pack of cards anytime. 

Till next time, 
Goodbye.

Rise From the Dead. Or is it?

After the now infamous mauling, the 8-2 at the weekend, Arsene Wenger admitted that he got it wrong, and will make up for the errors. First, he brought in Park Chu-Young from Monaco, the Korean, who is captain of his national side and for his relavite size, is quite good in the air. Then, on transfer deadline day, Andre Santos, a Brazillian left-back in the mould of the legendary Roberto Carlos, arrived from Turkish giants Fenerbache, for around 6.2 million pounds. Wenger decided to withdraw from chasing Bolton's Gary Cahill and instead snapped up the Giant German, Per Mertesacker from Werder Bremen for 8 million pounds. It was apparent that Arsene realised that the defense needed fixing, and fast. He went on to, by many pundits opinion, secure the deal of the day by persuading Mikel Arteta to arrive from Goodison Park, and handing cash-strapped Everton a meager sum of 10 million pounds for one of their live wires. To finish off the day, Israeli international Yossi Benayoun was brought in on a season-long loan from Chelsea, the player having been out of favour and his squad number given to new signing Juan Mata. Now, have these players helped Arsenal or have the moves been done in desperation more than anything else?

Firstly, let's take an in-depth look at the Spaniard. Arteta has been around for awhile, now aged 29. The Barcelona youth product has played for the Spanish U-21 but never managed to push himself into the senior team. So, those thinking that he is an ideal replacement for Fabregas should grab a cup of coffee and awake from your sleep. He has no doubt been extremely influential to Everton over the last 5 seasons, and has been the link from the midfield to the attack, supplying the likes of Yakubu, Saha and Cahill over the years. The former Evertonian has an exceptional passing range, be it long or short, and good vision to go along with it. One thing that he lacks is pace, which is essential in big games in the Premier League and more so in Europe. He would be a good stop-gap replacement for Fabregas, but one can't help think that sooner or later, January at the earliest that Belgian whizkid, Eden Hazard will arrive at the Emirates. Until now though, as the saying goes, you have to settle for what you have. For the money, he is worth the buy, though whether he can make a big impact is a matter of time. He will not require much time to settle in the team, though from an Arsenal fan point of view, he should perform better compared to when he was at Everton as players at the Emirates play a similar style to him. His arrival would mean that Aaron Ramsey will have to settle for a role on the bench, as Jack Wilshere will slot back into the centre alongside Alex Song when he's fit. For now though, Mikel Arteta is a stop-gap replacement at the very most.

Enter the Giant, from Germany. Per Mertesacker is well-known in Europe, though at only 26, has made a relatively huge number of appearances for club and country. An ever present in the German back-line, the big man has exceptional silky feet for his height. Good in the air, boasting a 6foot 6 frame, he loses minimal aerial battles, but can be muscled out of a challenge when going against the likes of Drogba, Kenwyne Jones and the usual stout guys in the Premier League. A very clean tackler, Mertesacker is always in the good books of the referees. Again, for the money he is a good buy, but if Arsene Wenger had decided to double the amount, he could've snatched Gary Cahill and settled the problem once and for all. That being said, at least Mertesacker looks like he and Vermaelen will be extremely reliable at the back. I can't help figure if one of the duo get injured, and we're back to square one. One thing Mr Wenger has got to look at is if Mertesacker is facing pacy forwards, as the German doesn't have pace as one of his weapons, though his reading of the game makes up for it, to an extent. However, its better to be safe than sorry. All in all, the German looks like an astute signing by a manager under pressure.

Finally, the capture of Brazillian wing-back Andre Santos from Turkish side Fenerbache is indeed a good buy from Arsene Wenger considering he shipped out two left backs (Gael Clichy and Armand Traore to Man City and QPR respectively). Santos is in the mould of Roberto Carlos, though slightly taller, but overall, both have a similar playing style. What he will bring is consistency, and he has the ability to chip in with a couple of goals. He has very good crossing ability, and a ferocious shot comes as a package, something like a 3-1 thing. Brazillians who have played in the Premier League in defensive positions have the tendency to do well, though the same cannot be said about the attack-minded players. The question as to who will be first choice is all down to one man, though I hope it is Santos for the time being, but there is a possibility that Gibbs could be pushed further forward in away matches in Europe. Then there is also the small issue of the loan signing of Yossi Benayoun. The Israeli international needs no introduction, and is a good impact player as he proved to be at Liverpool. For his and Arsenal's sake, I really hope he is given ample playing time, because he can do what Nasri did, though its unfair to compare the two. He can be a good link between the midfield and attack and can help out RVP when the need arises.

The mega signing everyone was hoping for never arrived, though there were stories blooming that Eden Hazard had submitted a transfer request. I for one, cannot verify the facts, but the deal could still happen in January, or most certainly next summer. By then though, a bidding war would have erupted and the likes of Real Madrid, Chelsea or Man. City would be in pole position to secure his coveted signature, though Madrid is likely to come out on top.

As for now though, the transfer window has slammed shut and most clubs have pretty much got an idea of how good their squad is, though the most disappointing team, transfer wise, has got to be Tottenham as the North-Londoners failed to bring in needed quality other than Scott Parker for a reported 5 million pounds. For a manager of Harry Redknapp's repertoire, it is quite shocking as he is known to be an expert in wheeling and dealing.

That's is for now, my next posting will be a build-up to Arsenal's next game when the welcome Swansea to the Emirates. I wouldn't say that it's a must-win game, but if Arsenal fail to do so, then the Premier League might as well prepare coffins for all the players and bury them in the ground at the Emirates, and let Arsene Wenger be the presider for the mass funeral.


Jay Jay

NASA is gone, but Arsenal Still Found a Way to the Moon.

Many United fans would remember the mauling they gave to Arsenal, the famous 6-1 in which they were rampant, and Andy Cole was playing like a man possessed. Well, for those who have a certain amount of amnesia, or 'mad-cow disease' as I would like to call it, then, August 28th 2011 will be a day to last in memories, and will definitely go down in the history books. Prior to the match, 99% of the fans gave Arsenal absolutely no whisker of a chance. That's exactly how it turned out to be. Mauling, daylight murder, beating, spanking. I think I'm running out of words to describe the events of August the 28th.

United came into the match brimming with confidence, after back-to-back wins with the second edition of the 'Babes', first by the great Sir Matt Busby, and now followed by Fergie's Fledglings. Jones was alongside Smalling in the centre of defense, with Tom Cleverly pulling the strings in the middle of the park. Rooney supported the surprise package of the season, Danny Welbeck. On the other side of the fence, Arsene Wenger had only two players from the starting 11 from last year's fixture, them being Wojciech Szcezsny and Laurent Koscielny. (Djourou did not play in OT last year). Traore started at left back, in place of the injured Kieran Gibbs, and Carl Jenkinson was on the opposite flank due to Bacary Sagna's illness. Aaron Ramsey sat alongside 19 year old Frenchman, Francis Coquelin, who returned from a season-long loan spell with Lorient. Tomas Rosicky was given the free role in behind RVP, who was flanked by the out of form Russian, Andrey Arshavin and probably Arsenal's best player thus far this season, Theo Walcott. I will not dwell on the happenings of the game, because many witnessed it, and it is not at all fun for me even writing this article, so I will go into the effects of it, and what has to be done by 'Le Professor', to stop the bleeding, or whatever you want to call it.

First, and most importantly, I wouldn't point the finger at Arsene Wenger. Yes, he does have a unique way of handling things, but it is too early to jump the gun. The number of players that were missing were staggering, either to injury or suspension. First three games, and Arsenal have more red cards than goals. Gervinho, Song and now Jenkinson will be absent come the next game, but Frimpong should be back. The difference in the performance could be witnessed, the games between Udinese and now United. Gervinho's directness was missed, as Arshavin was quite blunt. In the middle of the park, it was easy to notice that Arsenal were being overrun without Song, though Coquelin tried his best, but after it was 3-0, every Arsenal player's head dropped. Thomas Vermaelen was indeed missed, and his influence is extremely vital if Arsenal want to have to chance to be in the top four this season. Also, I was surprised to see Arshavin start ahead of Ryo Miyaichi, because the Russian dynamo was really disappointing. If half the players mentioned were on the field, Arsenal would have played much better, but then again, I will not go into the "if's and but's".

Next, the lack of incisiveness in midfield was evident. Aaron Ramsey was given too much of responsibility in trying to help Coquelin and also orchestrate the Arsenal attack. With Fabregas and Nasri gone, they lack a cutting edge and the sense of urgency Wenger's side always had. What Arsenal had to do was have the front three interchanging at all times, similar to what the Catalans do. In that way, the marking by defenders can be neutralised, and it makes it easier for the playmaker/s to find their men. Often a time I could see Ramsey caught in two minds on whether to push forward, or hold back and let Rosicky play the offensive part of it. It is without a doubt, that the Czech loves to play in the centre, but he cannot do it alone, plus with him, age is a huge factor. Yes, Jack Wilshere is still in the building, but the boy is just 19 years old. The question remains as to whether he will want to remain at the Emirates if the club is not in the Champions League next season. If it were up to me, I would sign a good striker, someone in the mould of Jermain Defoe, and play RVP behind him. That way, the need of a playmaker can be quelled for now at least, until January arrives. Defoe would be a great signing, plus he's not a starter for Tottenham. A trade with City for Tevez would've been absolutely great but that is almost impossible. There are rumours of Kaka coming in, but it's like clutching at straws really.

If a striker can be brought in, but not Park Chu-Young, because I doubt his abilities to lead the Arsenal line, then Arsenal could be firing again. Another name I can think of is Karim Benzema, but he would cost at least 30 million, and Wenger is not going to spend that amount for a single player. If Arsene doesn't want to sign a striker, then he has to play Walcott through the middle and let RVP be the link. That however means that either one of Arshavin, Miyaichi, or Alex Chamberlain has to play on the right, and I would play Chamberlain anytime, with Miyaichi on the opposite flank. If that happens, then the Gunners' attack will be full of pace and guile, but then again, nothing is without a backbone. The Defense.

Last night, Arsenal's defense was comparable only to that of the Malaysian National Team. That leaves only one word to describe damn. Mediocrity at its finest hour, or in this case, ninety minutes. Djourou was AWOL was most of the game, and Carl Jenkinson was caught out of position more often than not, getting a shellacking from Walcott in the process. The young defender was finally exposed at Old Trafford, after the rave reviews he got from pundits and fans alike. There might be a need for a left back, though the fish in the sea are decreasing by the hour. It ain't my job to look for players, but I would recommend Marcelo from Real Madrid, but then again, this article would never reach Mr Wenger. Gary Cahill MUST be brought in, along with Chris Samba, because I think Phil Jagielka is overpriced. (What will Wenger think?).

The bottom line is, Arsenal and Arsene Wenger must've been awaken from their siesta, because never in my life have I witnessed the team that I love get thrashed and bullied in such away. Sure, most players weren't there and what not, but in the end of the day, it was Manchester United 8-2 Arsenal. My advice to Wenger is not to take this too hard, but learn from it. Maybe he woke up on the wrong side of bed, but this cannot, and should not happen again. The international break could be a blessing in disguise for Arsenal, and for the first time in a while, United have started very well. In the past, they have stuttered at the beginning, but picked up after January. For the sake of the Premier League, let's just hope that the tables have turned this time around.

Long Time Indeed

It's been a long time since I wrote, just checked and it was like upwards of two months of non-activity. Been going through a tough period, now especially with the 'Malaysian Pre-U' haha its only Form 6 at the end of the day. Will try to find time to write, and if I do, it will only be on weekends, so to all 'beyond limits' fans out there, sit tight, coz I'll leave you coming back for another bite.. sounds soo wrong but what the heck..

Certain Things That Arsene Should Consider Doing

Previously, I touched on what had happened to Arsenal, and their capitulation toward the end of the season was there for everyone to see. This season, their points total from March to May compared to the previous five seasons is the worst by far, collecting 1.14 points a game. That is far from championship-winning material, and there is very little that can be denied. After the game this morning when Roberto Mancini's side managed to get an away win for the first time since Boxing Day put them four points ahead of Tottenham and interestingly, only five points behind the Gunners with a game in hand.

Arsene Wenger has come out and said that it was mostly his decesion-making that contributed to the Gunners somewhat mediocrity at present. Theo Walcott however, has been interviewed saying that the players have under-performed and that the Boss is coming out with so many of these statements to take the heat of the team. It is good that he is not blaming other parties for it i.e referees and linesmen. Well, lets look at some of the things that needs to be done by Arsene, and some important one at that.

1. Cesc Fabregas Has to be Sold
   
   For the past couple of months, the Spanish maestro has looked slightly jaded, in fact, since the 2nd leg away to Barcelona in the Champions League. Moreover, I think his mind hasn't been here since then. Yes, he came out and apologised for the performance at Catalunya, but that doesn't do anything much actually. When he has been on form however, he is on par with any player in the world, there's not doubting that. That begs the question as to whether Barcelona will fork out the required 'dough' to get him a ticket to the Nou Camp. Personally, I would like to think that upwards of 35 million will be enough for him, but Arsene Wenger is a business one, and a very good one at that. Judging by reports in the summer, the bid by Barcelona was about around that price, but Arsenal were looking for 42 million at least. Considering Fernando Torres was transferred for the now infamous '50 million', then the fee might be reasonable. Whether or no Fabregas manages to shove aside either Iniesta, Xavi or Busquets remains to be a big question, and it will take some doing. Even a former Liverpool stalwart in Javier Mascherano is not a certain starter in that famous Barcelona midfield.
   
   
   
2. Arsene has to come up with a Plan B
   
   Teams this season have managed to analyse Arsenal pretty well, and it is doing the Gunners no good. Most of the time at the Emirates, the visiting team has appeared to be able to stifle the play of the men in red, and puzzlingly, the manager, the once famed tactician of the game, has failed miserably to counteract the tactics of his counterparts. Sunderland, Blackburn, Liverpool notably have come and put men behind the ball. They allowed Arsenal to tap the ball around, and trying their very best to keep their shape, and evidently being extremely successful. Arsenal enjoyed much of the possession at their home ground, but goals have been hard to come by. I would like to see some variety in the style of play, not totally changing the system because in has helped the Gunners a lot. Maybe reverting to the old 4-4-2 where Van Persie lines up behind target-man , Chamakh, with Walcott and Nasri on the wings. In this formation, Song will be dropped in favour of Wilshere and Nasri. However, there is also a system which enables them to keep their current formation, but with jut a couple of tweaks. Van Persie the lone man, flanked by Walcott and the returning Vela. Nasri to deployed behind the Dutchman and Wilshere and Ramsey to complete the midfield. The downside of this formation is the inability of the Arsenal players to change positions frequently. If they manage to accomplish this, then they can be a hell of an attacking force. The trio of Vela, Walcott and van Persie have to constantly swap positions among themselves to confuse the opposition. It is evident that Walcott and Vela are comfortable playing the centre forward role, and Van Persie is also mobile. Finally, the toughest one, but probably the deadliest. This situation would probably bring back memories of THAT great Ajax side, employing their 'total-football ethos. This would also require another defensive midfielder to be brought in as I think Alex Song has the ability to be constantly caught out of position. Players that come to mind are Jan Vertonghen and Yann M'vila, both within Arsenal's budget. The formation in this sort of free-for-all system will most likely be a 4-1-4-1 where Theo Walcott will be the focal point upfront, being played as the sole centre forward. The attacking four should be made up of Van Persie, Nasri, Wilshere and Ramsey. These four would be vital to their attacking play in coming seasons. They should be deployed as the attacking four, with NO fixed position, thus again, enabling them to constantly shift positions, popping up anywhere across the line and not really worrying to defend as much. Emphasis on attack should be placed, however, controlled aggression would be the appropriate term. That is the reason I pointed out the need for a defensive midfeilder, and an adapt one at that. The role might suit youngster Emmanuel Frimpong, but whether he can retain the level of consistency is remains to be seen.
   
   
   I will have a follow up on this article whereby the final touches are added in what should at least make Arsenal a trophy contender next season.
   
   
   Till next time, Goodbye
   

He Admits it, At Last.

Wenger's reaction says it all


The only game on Sunday put the final nail in Arsenal's coffin as far as the title race was concerned, if it hadn't been already done. At the end of the match, Arsene Wenger was pretty much left clutching his face, if the picture above doesn't already explain it. Hence, the players also looked dejected, and the coach back to North London must have had a very somber atmosphere in it.

Performance wise, the match at the Reebok was nothing surprising with the visitors controlling possession, creating half-chances, but the finishing as usual, left much to be desired. There weren't many clear-cut opportunities, but a side who has majority of the ball has to do something with it. Unfortunately, but unsurprisingly, Arsenal failed miserably, as they have done for the last 6 games or so. I remember Arsene Wenger saying that second place is good enough, and he was stressing on the fact that the club were on a 16-match unbeaten run. Well, at the moment, both of his statements can be thrown out the window as the club has lost, and might struggle to finish third. I actually think there is potential that Arsenal might go winless from now to the end of the season, and also lose at the Emirates against Champions-to-be, Man Utd. That would mean the Gunners collect 3 points from now till then end of the season, and with Man City going all-out to finish as best as they can, then Arsenal and Arsene Wenger have plenty to think about.


I well not dwell on the showing by the players in the game, as the past six weeks or so, the story has been pretty much similar. Some people have told me that the Arsenal players have tonnes of skill at their feet, but if their mental strength was anywhere near as good, they would be world-beaters. But as we know, that isn't the case at the moment.

For the first time in a long time, the Professor has lost the plot, and actually held his hands up and admitted that he is to blame for their performances this season. In the past, Arsene Wenger had so many fingers that people were wondering where he was getting them from. His actions speaks a lot of him, and I haven't really seen the previously "3 C's" labelled Frenchman (Cool, Calm, Collective) totally out of his zone.

Now, I do not know what kind of a person the new owner, Stan Kroenke is, but I am not sure he will be happy if the team does not win anything next season, so he might apply pressure on the Boss to acquire a couple of players at least to bolster the squad and also get rid of some dead wood at the club, before the disease spreads.

In my next article, I will go in-depth as to what needs to be accomplished by Arsene Wenger to make sure the same thing does not happen next season. So Gunners fans, sit tight.


Till next time,
Goodbye

Minor Changes That Could Make a Major Difference

The more realistic Arsenal fans, and fans of football alike, would probably have the feeling that the title race this season is over and done with. Chelsea might have something to say about that, but well how many times does a team like Man Utd throw away a six-point lead, with five games remaining?

The professionals would certainly look back at this season and will conclude that dropped points, and sub-par performances from teams at both ends of the league, as the reasons for such a topsy-turvy season. The relegation battle looks to be the closest for at least 5 years, and though the race for the title is pretty much over, the race for the final Champions League spot is still in the balance, and if Man Utd somehow manage to do something out of this world, then Chelsea will be on hand to pounce.

One of the most saddening things this seasons from a fans perspective has to be Arsenal's season. The Gunners fans, well most of them, have even called for the manager's head, and as far as I remember, that is the first time in the Wenger era. Personally, I feel that this is premature, as the man has done wonders for the club, though some might say that nothing lasts forever. If Arsene was to be replaced, then there are not many out there who could come in and do some magic right away. Some names who have been mentioned are Frank Rijkaard, Marco Van Basten, and interestingly, Porto's manager, Andre Villas-Boas. Talks in Portugal are that is the 'New-Mourinho'. (The man has guided Porto to an Unbeaten season as of yet, and his footballing philosophy of playing attractive football will certainly entice the pioneer clubs out there, and it will most definitely be a good 'selling' point). For now though, I would like to leave the talk of Wenger leaving to the people in charge, and will concentrate on other more important points.

With the remaining five games, (four each for United and Chelsea), I think Arsene Wenger should try to spice things up, and maybe do likewise tactically. At the moment, the players look slightly jaded both physically and mentally. Whatever the reason may be, the issue has yet to have been dealt with, and has proven costly points wise, and thus derailing Arsenal on their 'title run-in', though there will be groups of people who might question whether the Gunners have earned the tag of having a title run-in in the first place.

Personally, I feel that the Boss should try and make a couple of positional changes which could prove to make a huge difference, and with their position in the table now, I doubt that he has much to lose by doing so. A couple of Gunners who have been caught the eye recently are Abou Diaby and also Emmanuel Eboue. Yes, I do hear some people saying that Eboue was at fault for conceding the penalty against Liverpool, but that was a mere one-off. iaby meanwhile, has performed admirably in the last two games, and surprisingly enough, came against Liverpool and Spurs. The lanky Frenchman excelled in the defensive role of the midfield trio, and will certainly been a plus-point in the past two draws. He also brings something extra to the plate, in that he is more comfortable with the ball, and also has quick feet, which is essential in moments when the middle of the part is suffocated.

Another important positional change is with Jack Wilshere. The young sensation has been the most consistent performer in a red jersey this season, and has probably suffered as a result. In the past couple of games, he has looked sub-par, and I do not blame him. The rumours that surround him about the England U-21 situation does not do anything to help. Currently, he is being deployed alongside the defensive midfielder and has a role of helping out the defense at times. His license to attack is thus a more controlled one, and in turn, does not have as much of an opportunity as Fabregas to express himself on the field. Coupled with his exceptional eye for a pass, his undoubted ability to dribble the ball and look so effortless. This is vindication that his talent is not being fully utilised in a more defensive position. I think this is foundation to make him play in a more advanced position in midfield. I would like to see him swap places with Fabregas, in that the Spaniard becomes a deep-lying playmaker, whereby he has more time and space to sting teams with those defense-splitting passes of his. This will in turn allow Wilshere to receive the ball further up the pitch and he has more ability than Fabregas to go pass defenders. The Englishman is also extremely clever with one-twos and will benefit the likes of Walcott and Nasri on the flanks, not forgetting Dutch maestro van Persie.

Another point I would like to highlight is the twitching of position of Walcott from the right to the left or central. With his pace, he can trouble anyone in the world. If he constantly switches wings with Samir Nasri, then teams will indeed find it harder to read Arsenal's game. It is evident this season that Walcott's finishing this season has been admirable, and now there is more end product to his speedy runs. In previous seasons, some people would say that highlight involving the winger was his fast runs, but nothing more. Wenger has said in the past that Walcott does have similarities to Arsenal great Thierry Henry, and if that is the case, Walcott should be at least given a chance left or better, centrally.

The important thing is that whoever plays up front, the three have to be mobile and constantly interchange. Man-marking will be eliminated if Wenger deploys this tactic. The Professor has said that he would not splash the cash to bring in reinforcements in the summer, thus, it remains to be seen as to who will be brought in if any, and that certain personnel have to leave the club.

Till next time,
Goodbye.

More Than Words at the Lane

On a night when even the most renowned dictionary will struggle to find words to describe the night at White Hart Lane. Breathtaking, scintillating, mind-boggling, bizarre are just some, though I prefer to leave to the others to come up for the superlatives.

To watch the game alone, I felt gifted, imagine those who were involved and especially the players, though I would imagine that Arsene Wenger would have went home sulking after the result, also judging by his so-called 'refusal' to shake hands with Harry Redknapp after the final whistle. Redknapp's reaction to that was vintage, the sort of grin that words cannot describe.

The line-ups were not surprising from either manager. Arsene made two changes with Sagna and Song coming in for Eboue and Wilshere. Spurs, meanwhile, started with the old 4-4-2 with Crouch and Pavlyuchenko paired upfront. Bale was on the left with Dutchman Van Der Vaart on the opposite flank. Modric and Huddlestone completed the midfield for the Lillywhites.

The game produced one of the best, if not the best attacking displays this season, from both sides. The first ten minutes itself was breathtaking, with Arsenal taking the lead courtesy of a crisp finish from Theo Walcott. Barely three minutes later, Spurs were level when Van Der Vaart raced onto a through ball from Vedran Corluka to produce a cool finish into the bottom right-hand corner past the ailing Szczesny. Arsenal managed to regain the lead after the referee played a great advantage for a foul on Nasri, and the Frenchman managed to play a one-two with Diaby and shot from outside the box, can you believe, beating Gomes. Arsenal were on the up, and managed to make the pressure pay, by doubling their lead through Van Persie. Sagna crossed into the box, and it was dealt badly with by Arsenal old-boy William Gallas and Walcott raced onto the ball to dink the ball into the six-yard box. Van Persie managed to produced a scrambling save from Gomes after his header, but the Dutchman pounced to rifle the ball into the top corner of the net.

At 3-1, I, personally, was as nervous as I have ever been. With Arsenal having a history of squandering leads, I really hoped that I would be proved wrong. But I wasn't. Just before half-time, Spurs got a goal back. A cross from Assou-Ekotto was partially dealt with by Fabregas who sliced the ball out of the box, and Tom Huddlestone was on hand to produce a piledriver of a shot, which zoomed into the bottom corner. What a time to equalise for Spurs. It managed to stay that way until the referee blew for first half.

At the beginning of the second half, Spurs were already forced into a double-change, with the duo of Corluka, and Bale forced to come off earlier. Lennon and Kaboul were brought on by Redknapp, and the game was under-way. For the first fifteen minutes of the second half, Arsenal had countless opportunities to put Tottenham to bed, but failed miserably and left their neighbours in the game. Then, Lennon was sent through on the left via a through ball, and the winger's pace proved to be a couple of nots to much for Arsenal keeper Szczesny. The Pole brought Lennon down, and the referee signaled for a penalty. Van der Vaart dispatched it with ease, sending the Arsenal No.1 the wrong way. In the last fifteen minutes or so of the game, Spurs grew in confidence while Arsenal sort of faded. There were more chances for Spurs but that was how it would finish.

In the end, it was more of 2 points dropped for the Gunners rather than a point gained. With Chelsea beating Birmingham at the Bridge, I think we can safely say the Gunners are definitely out of the title race, and the Blues moving into second place in the process. The gap is now six points, and United would have to lose two of the last five to leave any doubt, and Manchester United just don't like giving away presents. Final score from White Hart Lane, Spurs 3, Arsenal 3.

Arsene Has To Learn To Adapt

The game at the Emirates between Arsenal and Liverpool promised much, and to an extent, delivered somewhat. Liverpool came into the game carrying a couple of injuries which forced Kenny Dalglish to field the same team as on Monday against Man City. John Flannigan started at right back, while Jay Spearing took his place alongside Lucas in the middle of the park. For Arsenal, the situation was slightly different as they welcomed back the defensive duo of Johan Djourou and Wojciech Szczesny. That meant that Jens Lehmann and Sebastian Squillaci returned to the bench. I won't bother wasting more time with a match report so let's head to the aftermath and what should be taken out of the game.


Firstly, Arsenal headed into the game needing a win and nothing less. Liverpool somewhat needed the same result to keep their hopes of finishing in the top 5 alive. So, the final result really did not help either cause, but the Merseysiders went home the happier side, stealing a point, with the last kick of the game, in the 101th minute. Yes, your eyes are not deceiving you, nor did I make a mistake. This was all courtesy to a trio of injuries, to Carroll and Carragher, sandwiched between Eboue, all in the space of 5 minutes in the beginning of the second half. For the neutral, the game and drama could not have been bettered by any other, though there are ones which are completely mind-boggling.

What Dalglish did on the day worked out in the end, though in the first half, Liverpool were over-runned and were hanging on by their fingertips. In a way, the substitution of Andy Carroll did help them, as Luis Suarez was deployed more centrally, and Dirk Kuyt was given a role to sort of be the battering ram, thus freeing up space for Suarez. In the first half, this didn't work as the Uruguayan was put on the left of a three-pronged attack, with Kuyt on the opposite flank.

As usual at the Emirates, chances came and went for the home side, and they couldn't figure of a way to get past the opposing team. Robin Van Persie couldn't get out of third gear, Fabregas didn't really turn up, though there were a couple of good passes from him, but not enough to be in the Barcelona team. Samir Nasri on the other hand, looked like he was going to cause the Reds problems every time he had the ball. One player who really is turning heads at the moment, is none other than Abou Diaby. The Frenchman excelled in the defensive-midfield role, and was immense in the middle of the park. Comfortable on the ball, he also could put his foot in when required, and his pace is a real asset, more so than Alex Song. However, I'm surprised that Arsene Wenger did not give Theo Walcott to trouble Liverpool debutant Jack Robinson more in the second half. In a game where defenders tend to sit deep, pace will always trouble them.

Also, the inclusion of Nicklas Bendtner on the right again leaves me flabbergasted. The 'Great Dane' is at most a bit-part player at the club, but in times of desperation, he is called upon to sort of be a game-changer, or hero. This decision leaves people more dumb-founded when you have an experienced target-man on the bench in Maroune Chamakh. I know that Arsene is his own man, but at times, he is just too stubborn. For a great manager like him, he has to find way past teams who come to the Emirates and defend deep. If the 'tippy-tappy' football doesn't work, then it must be changed. I'm not saying that he has to change his tactics and throw out the current one. In football, adaptation is crucial, as it will be the difference between champions and also rans. Most pundits criticise players of not being able to adapt to the a different league quick enough, but this season especially, Wenger has witnessed teams that visit the Emirates play a similar style. His failure to adapt his tactics has cost Arsenal huge this season. For instance, the Cup Final was exact, where Birmingham defended resolutely, the FA Cup where Sir Alex played seven defenders and hit Arsenal on the counter, numerous occasions in the earlier stages of the Cup competitions when Arsenal were forced into unnecessary replays. Presently, in the league, the story has been no different. Four of the last five league games have ended in draws for Arsenal, and no matter what anyone says, that is nowhere near Championship winning material. Sunderland, West Brom, Blackburn and now Liverpool have all managed to stifle the Arsenal play, and Wenger has still refused to adapt his style of play.

For example, Sir Alex and Jose Mourinho are pioneers at adapting their teams to exploit their opponents weaknesses so that teams will find it harder to read their style of play. Hence, versatility is extremely key. I just feel that if Arsenal want to get to that next level, which will see them win something, they have to adapt and be versatile. Otherwise, ten years from now, we will be saying the same thing.


Till next time,
Goodbye

A Much Needed Tonic

Manchester United were at home to Fulham, and they stood a chance to further increase the gap between themselves and Arsenal to a whopping 10 points, though it would leave the Gunners with 2 games in hand. With Wayne Rooney suspended with his more than colourful celebration/rant, though that was already been dealt with by the FA. United in the end, ran out more than comfortable winners largely thanks to Nani. The Portuguese winger was magical against the Cottagers, having a hand in both the goals to increase his number of assists this season, though he would be disappointed of having missed out on the PFA Player of the Year Awards' list.


Arsenal, on the other hand, had the task of going to Bloomfield Road to face a Blackpool side, who were in real danger of being sucked into the relegation zone, though the teams below them all lost on the weekend. That aside, both teams needed the points, but for very different reasons. The Arsenal line up was largely similar to the one that started against Blackburn, with the exception of Fabregas, Diaby and most surprisingly, Jens Lehmann in goal. The trio replaced Song, Walcott and Almunia respectively.

Blackpool started well, though were unable to convert their pressure to a much-needed goal. Arsenal managed to score 2 quickfire goals in the 19th and 20th minutes. The first courtesy of Abou Diaby benefiting from a good cross by Van Persie. The second was thumped in by replacement right back, Emmanuel Eboue. Other than that, Arsenal were very much average for most of the half, their defending suspect at times, though the back four were more confident in the German shot stopper behind them. Arsenal were also guilty of missing a chances, which is always expected of them. The Tangerines came out fighting in the second period, and scored via Gary Taylor-Fletcher. There were a couple of fouls in the buildup by Arsenal, and Lehmann was lucky to be on the field after bringing down DJ Campbell. Arsenal managed to sort of wrap up the game when Van Persie added a third, though there were still a couple of moments of madness, particularly one from Gael Clichy, who was guilty of playing like Tom & Jerry.

From an Arsenal point of view, they really needed a game like this to somewhat increase their currently grounded confidence. They weren't great on the day, far from it rather. The defence was suspect, and their finishing was left wanting at times. I was disappointed that Arsene Wenger decided not to do anything when Blackpool were on the up in the beginning of the second half, and they conceded. The substitution of Arshavin in favour of Theo Walcott reduced the pressure slightly, as Blackpool were a bit cautious of going all-out. It would've been better to bring on Maroune Chamack for Wilshere or Fabregas and play 4-4-2 in the second half to prevent Blackpool from going forward. Chamack and Van Persie would've troubled the Blackpool central defense more and with Walcott and Nasri on the wings, they would definitely have scored more.

Ian Holloway's men played well on the day, and could have got a point if Manuel Almunia was in goal, though some may say it is harsh. One player who was good on the night, but has come under much criticism and deservedly so, is Abou Diaby. The Frenchman was very good in the holding role, and has a better pass out compared to Alex Song. Another advantage is that he can get forward and score goals. The only problem is consistency. Most Arsenal players fail to put this sort of form in play for 5 games running, and this is how the team suffers.

The most disappointing thing this season is they have not been able to replicate this sort of form at the Emirates. In contrast, United have been breathtaking at home and slightly wasteful away. Arsenal have the best away record in the league, and if their home form has been anywhere near as good, they would be runaway leaders now, but that isn't the case. The win today somewhat kept the candle lit, though anymore mishaps after this would hand the title to men from Old Trafford. In order to win the title, Arsenal would have to be perfect from now till the end, and also hope Chelsea beat United at Old Trafford, though that at the moment is a long shot. Whatever happens, it promises to be an exciting end to an already topsy-turvy season.

Till next time,
Goodbye

Increasingly Predictable

Last night saw Manchester United come back from two goals down to score four in under half an hour to further increase the gap between them and Arsenal to eight points as the Gunners were playing the late match. Chelsea, meanwhile, surprisingly struggled to break down a resilient Stoke City side and only managed to come away from the Britannia with a 1-1 draw courtesy of a Didier Drogba header, responding to an earlier strike from Jon Walters. As a result, their title defense looks to be all but gone.

The late kickoff saw Arsenal play Blackburn at the Emirates. Arsene Wenger welcomed back the likes of Alex Song and Theo Walcott back from injury. Cesc Fabregas was left on the bench. Robin van Persie managed to shrug off a knock he suffered in the qualifier against Hungary to lead the front-line. Manuel 'safe hands' Almunia started in goal, again.

The first 10 minutes or so was typical Arsenal football. They zipped the ball at ease and managed to get an opportunity when Walcott was in the box. Paul Robinson managed to smother it for a corner. Blackburn Rovers defended admirably and also mustered an effort on goal themselves through Martin Olsson, and Almunia was more than lucky as his diabolical handling only managed to fumble the ball out for a corner. It seemed that everytime the Spaniard got anywhere near the ball, or the was a cross/shot on the way, the defenders and all the Arsenal fans had their hearts in their mouths. Talk about instilling confidence.

The match went on until the referee blew the whistle to end the first half. The Arsenal players lacked some pace, and maybe creativity to unlock the Rovers defence. The second half went on in the same fashion, and Chamack was on. It did not result in much of a change in terms of the way they played, though the amount of crosses into the box by Arsenal was more than surprising to say the least. The Blackburn trio of Robinson, Samba and Nelsen dealed with the Arsenal 'aerial' threat with ease. Kudos to Blackburn and Steve Kean. The second half, however resulted in more chances for the Arsenal, but, to no surprise, they failed to convert them. The only other notable action from the game was the red-card to Steven Nzonzi for a a rash challenge on Laurent Koscielny. Even with 10 men, Blackburn managed to secure their rear-guard with relative ease.

In the end, the only thing Wenger said was that the performance was a 'worry', adding that their game lacked their usual pace. It was really disappointing to watch the Arsenal players unable to do anything to slice through Blackburn Rovers defense and to top it all off, the had relatively, their full team out there, bar Thomas Vermaelen and Johan Djourou.

The result left them 7 points behind leaders United, with a game in hand. For Arsenal to now win the title, they'd have to win all their remaining games, plus hoping Chelsea defeat the Devils at Old Trafford in May. It is practically impossible to think that Arsenal can achieve this task. The last three games have seen them drop six points in total, with consecutive draws against Sunderland, West Brom, and now Blackburn. With wins in these games, they would have been right on the tail of United, being a point behind with a game in hand. But all this is a case of "If's" rather than the here and now.

The performance left much to be desired, though the goal was not forthcoming. In order to challenge the likes of United, Arsenal cannot, at all costs, afford draws against the so-called 'lesser clubs'. United, though poor in the first-half at Booleyn Ground, managed to muster four goals, courtesy of some help from Wayne Rooney, who by the way, managed to notch his first hat-trick of the season. The bottom line is, I personally do not see Arsenal being able to challenge United for the title. In order to prove me and the fans wrong, Arsene might have to come up with a different system to counteract teams like Blackburn who come to the Emirates and park the old bus in front of goal. Maybe a revert to the old 4-4-2 or a 4-1-3-2 formation might help, putting Chamack alongside Van Persie from the off, and going at teams from kickoff rather then leaving it too late. In this formation, two off either Arshavin, Song, or Walcott might have to be dropped from the starting line-up, but knowing Wenger, he might not be bold enough to make such a decision. Plain and simple, teams these days know how to play Arsenal. Just give them the ball, sit back and soak up the pressure, and hit them on the break.

That being said, this will still, I think, be one of the closest seasons ever, both at the top, and also the relegation fight.

Till next time,
Goodbye

Should Cesc Fabregas be allowed to go 'Home'?

Last summer, much of the footballing world, and Arsenal fans especially witnessed one of the longest protracted transfer sagas ever. Pre, during and post World Cup, Barcelona were very vocal in their pursuit of the Arsenal captain. After Spain became World Champions for the very first time, the were pictures of Fabregas donning the Catalan jersey, (albeit he was forced to). There were also reports of him having a showdown with his 'coach & mentor', Arsene Wenger. The news from the Emirates was that, Cesc was not leaving at any price. Fabregas himself, never really came out to deny the rumours and most fans were probably resigned to the fact that they were going to lose their captain and main man somehow or rather.


That begs the question of whether it is worth keeping the man when it is possible to get upwards of 40 million pounds for him? If he was dead on wanting to stay then the whole issue can be thrown out the window, but as we know, that isn't the case. It is undeniable that he is Arsenal's most important player, when his mind is on it. Fitness is another question as well. Lastly, does Arsenal have a replacement for him, or are they going to use the money to acquire a top class playmaker?

Wenger has number of options at his disposal. Firstly, and the most obvious, is slotting Samir Nasri into the Fabregas role. At the beginning of the season, the French wizard was thrust into this position as a result of Fabregas' injury. He was immense, and was the club's best player during this period. The difference between the two is that Cesc is more of a passer compared to Nasri, who has quick feet and loves to wizz past players with his twinkle-toes. More recently, Nasri played in the 'Cesc role' in the second half of the match against West Brom. He was instrumental, though at times his decision-making was suspect.

Arsene can also decide to slot Welsh captain Aaron Ramsey into the role, as he was supposed to be Fabregas' replacement until the horrific injury he suffered against Stoke. He has only recently returned into the Arsenal fold, though his appearance for Wales in the friendly against Brazil was not his best; his passing was mostly under hit and again decision making questionable. He will undoubtedly get better, though how quick will be the question. Ramsey has all the needed qualities to excel in the role, and many fans will be happy as he and Wilshere can combine to establish a British centre midfield for Arsenal.

The Boss can also decide to splash out some of the cash from a possible Fabregas sale to acquire a new playmaker, though Arsene Wenger prefers to buy raw material and develop them into rare diamonds. The quality out there remains to be seen, as there are not many who are capable of coming straight in to play in that midfield. There are the likes of Sneijder and Schweinsteiger but they are way out of Wenger's budget.

A name that has came up a couple of times in the summer was Yohann Gourcuff, though having joined Lyon on a 5 year contract, it looks unlikely that he will be coming to the Emirates anytime soon. Another player who was rumoured to come in was Christian Eriksen, but at such a young age, it remains to be seen if Arsene will be willing to draft him straight into the squad, and also whether Ajax will part ways with him. There are options for Wenger to consider, but he has to make a decision soon, as Barcelona are looking to bid for Fabregas again. Wenger might be able to do a part-exchange with the Catalans, maybe asking for Javier Mascherano or Bojan Krkic as part of the deal. Mascherano has been at most, a bit-part player this season since moving from Liverpool.

All in all, Wenger knows he has a real tough one on his hands, though he has about four to five months to look around. Barcelona will be doubt back in for their man, as they've publicly made it a scandal, and both clubs have been giving each other names. Whether Fabregas will be assured a starting line at the Nou Camp remains a big question. If in doubt, just look at Thierry Henry and Javier Mascherano.


Till next time,
Goodbye.

An English Special, Topped with Spanish Paella

The Champions League draw is upon us, and what a draw it was. It set up a spicy clash between old foes, Chelsea and Manchester United, which is a replay of the 2008 final, won by a single kick of the football. Meanwhile, a Jose Mourinho led Real Madrid will play newcomers Tottenham which is the pick of the draw. Barcelona have a slight matter of getting past Ukranians, Shaktar Donetsk and defending champions Inter will play the only German team left in the competition, Schalke 04.

Firstly, the all english quarter final. Chelsea come into the tie having the upper hand of already beating United. There is still a game to play between the two in the League at Old Trafford, which will put added pressure on Sir Alex Ferguson as he will now have it tough in all three competitions (The Fa Cup semi against cross-town rivals Man City is by no means a walk in the park). Tactically, Fergie looks to have the upper hand in this one, as he has outwitted fellow managers this season with mind boggling team selections (The Fa Cup match against Arsenal for instance). Carlo Ancelotti on the other hand, has been predictable to say the least, and has been unable to make brave decisions to change games. He will most certainly play Ramires and Michael Essien in front of the back four with Frankie Lampard ahead of them. Fernando Torres will most likely start upfront flanked by Nicholas Anelka and either Florent Malouda or Yuri Zhirkov. It doesn't look like Ancelotti can come up with other ideas at the moment. Fergie meanwhile, will obviously be playing mind games prior to both legs. It is almost certain that he will play a three man midfield with Rooney on top supported by Valencia and Nani (All this depends on whether they're fit, or if Nani decides to wet the pitch again). Whatever it is, this will surely be a very technical and tactical encounter for both parties.

On the other hand, Spurs have to travel to Madrid to face Jose Mourinho and Real. This is no doubt, the pick of the bunch, as both teams are attack-minded. Surprising though it may seem, but Jose Mourinho has at times altered his style of play into a more expansive attacking way. He still has that thing in him which will automatically make Real a very organised and compact team, ready to deliver the stinging blow on the counter attack. Tottenham know only one way to play, and that is all out attack, but they did prove people wrong against AC Milan when the managed to eke out a 0-0 draw. Real have Di Maria and Ronaldo on the wings, with Benzema heading the front three. They will be fed by arguably the best playmaker on the planet at the moment in Mesut Oezil. It is astonishing to see a player like Kaka unable to get a place in the Madrid team, though he is injured at the moment. Harry Redknapp will have Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon at his disposal to let loose against the Madrid defence. One plus point for the Spaniards is that they do have young fullbacks in Sergio Ramos and Marcelo who can have pace and stamina to keep up with the Spurs duo. In Jose Mourinho, they have perhaps the best tactician in the world (Look at what he did to Barcelona and Messi). This promises to be an explosive game, where both sides can be gung-ho or put five men in midfield and kill the game. From a neutral perspective, let's hope its the former.

The other two ties seem pretty straight forward for Barcelona and Inter, but nothing is easy when it comes to the quarter finals. The Catalans will most probably beat Shaktar over two legs, but it won't surprise me of the Ukranians win their home leg. They do have attacking flair with the likes of Douglas Costa, Luiz Adriano and Willian who can be match winners. It begs the question as to whether they can hold out the likes of Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Villa and the rest quiet and it will surely be a mountain climb to beat them. Inter will also have a clear-cut game against Germans, Schalke. This is probably the most one-sided match of the draw, but it remains to be seen as to whether the Italians can remain injury free to set up a meeting with an English side.

I will only predict the 1st leg scores so I won't have egg on my face if something drastic happens. For the Chelsea v Man Utd game, I think it will be a 2-0 victory for the Blues. The Madrid v Spurs match, Jose Mourinho will have the edge and also playing at home, I think Real will win 3-1. Barcelona will beat Shaktar 2-0 and Inter will win their home game 1-0.

Till next time,
Goodbye.

Passed Out of Europe

Millions across the world would have witnessed the show at the Nou Camp last night. If ever a team wants to learn how to pass and keep the ball, then watch the game, over and over again. On one side of the fence, Barcelona, who are the Spanish champions, came in to the game needing to reverse a 2-1 deficit in the 1st leg 3 weeks ago at the Emirates stadium versus Arsenal.

There were no surprises from both managers regarding team news bar the inclusion of Robin van Persie for Arsenal as the Dutchman was supposed to return in four weeks against Blackburn. Mind games perhaps by Wenger? Will the gamble pay dividends or backfire? As the match would prove, the latter happened, and it was very hard to swallow.

First half was all Barcelona. The Catalans, zipping the ball around with ease but were unable to find the knock out blow in front of goal. They were guilty of playing that extra pass, usually associated with Arsenal. The Gunners played very well defensively, with the partnership of Koscielny and Djourou able to stifle the Barcelona attack. Clichy on the left managed to marshal Dani Alves, who was literally playing as a winger. As Graeme Souness pointed out, Arsenal, who are the best team in England at keeping the ball, could not do it for 5 seconds against the so-called masters of the game and rightly so. The surprising thing was their game plan. Sitting back and sort of absorbing the pressure. Half time stats read that the possession was a shade under 70% for the Spaniards. The players who were in the Barcelona half during the 1st period were van Persie, and, ...van Persie. That is a testament to their game plan and Barcelona's quality.

After an Alves freekick, Wojciech Szczesny injured his finger after stopping a shot from the Brazilian. That meant that Almunia had to come on, and that sent shivers down my spine. The Spaniard has had one of the worse seasons ever after 'ludacris' performances in the Premier League. Surprisingly enough, he played well and kept Arsenal in the game. In injury time in the 1st half, Barcelona struck the opener. A silly backheel by Fabregas of all people went to Iniesta who took the ball and chipped in slightly into the path of Lionel Messi who coolly juggled the ball over the onrushing Almunia and volleyed it into the net. 1-0 to Barcelona and all of Arsenal's efforts were down the drain.

Second half, Arsenal tried to up the pace, but Barcelona still had the grip on the game. Then, from a corner, Sergio Busquets headed past his own keeper to level the score. A gift on a plate for the Gunners. As things stood, Arsenal would go through unless Barcelona scored another two goals. A couple of minutes after that, a contentious decision which will be talked about for a long time, was made by Swiss referee, Massimo Busacca. Van Persie was offside, though he got his shot away about a second after the whistle had blown. The ref, then out of nowhere, awarded the striker a yellow card for his action. Off went the Dutchman, and Arsenal were down to ten.

The writing was on the wall by then. A man down against the best team on the planet, there wasn't much they could do to delay the inevitable. On 68 minutes, a brilliant piece of Barcelona play saw Xavi in the box and he slotted the ball beyond Almunia although Bacary Sagna tried his best to block it and got a piece of it. Shortly after, a late challenge by Koscielny on Pedro in the box, meant that Messi would step up to take the penalty. The little wizard rolled the ball beyond Almunia who did not move.

Barcelona still ventured forward, and if not for Almunia, they would have run up a cricket score. In the 87th minute, Arsenal had a glorious chance. Arshavin nudged the ball off Adriano, and Jack Wilshere had the ball. He picked out Nicklas Bendtner who was rushing toward the box. The Big Dane had a very poor first touch and the ball was smothered by Victor Valdes. That was it as the chances went. The night would be remembered for two things. Firstly, the sending off of Van Persie. Also, the sheer dominance by Barcelona, especially in the first half, was a real workshop on how to play the beautiful game.

For Arsenal, it showed how your season can crumble in a week although the previous months have been good. The draw against Sunderland meant they failed to close the gap on leaders Man Utd. This game signalled their exit out of Europe. At the weekend, they will be facing the Red Devils for a place in the semifinals of the FA Cup. If they lose, then it will most certainly mean another season of "close, but no cigar", and the fans will surely start to get impatient. Gloomy times ahead for the team from North London.

Should United fans be worried?

It has been going well for Sir Alex, despite not splashing vast amounts of money in the summer and January. The fans have witnessed a team which have been very solid, thus resulting in them losing only a single game thus far in the Premier League. All this without a firing Wayne Rooney. So, it should be all fabulous around Old Trafford right? Or otherwise?

Well, the Red Devils have not been at their best this season, and consistency has been lacking. United sides in the previous seasons have been very good, and very lethal. That is not the case this season as everyone have witnessed. No doubt that they are top of the pile in the League at the moment and on course for a record-breaking 19th League title, but this season has been down to the chasing pack not being consistent enough rather than United dominating.

There have been too many draws this season, especially away from home, and against the lesser sides so to speak. The fans will say that results matter more than performances and I have to agree to an extent. After a certain amount of time, if you fail to perform, the results will eventually disappear. The best I have seen them play this season was the rout of Blackburn, but the Rovers gave them more than a hand in that game.

One of the reasons for all these below-par performances is down to lack of depth within the squad. Previously, United had very good squad players who could come in anytime and no one would have noticed the difference. Nowadays, players like Evans, Fabio, Kuszczak, Carrick, O'shea have not performed up to the standard expected of them. Until today, stalwarts like Giggs and Scholes have to be called upon to rescue United.

The Champions League game against Marseille was a real epitome of it. John O'Shea for example, was okay defensively but mostly mediocre going forward. It made matters worse for United as Nani was getting tortured on the right flank and had no one to support him. Usually, it is Rafael who'll be the one busting his gut to get down the right flank. O'Shea, on the couple of times he went up, showed poor crossing skills when players were in support in the penalty area. This led to several Marseille counter attacks. Nani was also wasteful at times as his chose to show his dribbling skills (which were atrocious last night) instead of passing to an open teammate.

Last night, they also failed to keep the ball so as to take the sting out of the game as the French side were ascending. The trio of Fletcher, Gibson and Carrick especially (Shebby Singh's favourite player for some reason), were really disappointing to say the least. They three of them failed to provide the threesome in attack with enough ammunition to trouble the French defense (Berbatov, Rooney, Nani). Only when the gingerbread man came on, United looked somewhat better. Also, the absence of Ryan Giggs really had an impact as he is the only person in the whole squad who knows what to do at the right time, bar Scholes. The Welsh wizard has vast amount of experience and is probably the best player the Premier League has witnessed. Against Man City, he was unarguably, the best player on the pitch at the age he is. It is really mystifying as to how he does it (By the way, he just signed a one-year extension).

How or if Sir Alex decides to replace him is beyond me. Nani is far from the answer as he is at times wasteful. Over the years, the Scotsman has managed to replace the great players of the past. But Ryan Giggs is a different story. If there are no signings in the summer to take some of the burden off Scholes and Giggs, then United fans better be worried. As of now, the squad players are miles from it. Whatever Sir Alex does in the next 12 months or so, it will surely determine United's future. One thing's for sure, players like Ryan Giggs are 1 in a million, needle in the haystack stuff.

Till next time,
Goodbye.

What is WRONG with Chelski?

At the start of the 2010-2011 season, there was one team, and one team only that was everyone's pick for the League title and Champions League. They were like a steam-roller, making pancakes out of everything in their sight. All was well and far from blue at the Bridge.

And them came November, and the wheels fell off, or maybe they ran out of flour for the pancakes. Anyway, since then, they have been atrociously bad, mediocre so to speak. Only the Champions League game last night was anything near what is expected of them, but other than that, the fans have been left chewing their fingernails most of the time.

After getting fed-up, the owner came along and decided to play St. Claus, splashing out 75 million on the last day of the January transfer window. That did put more than a smile on the face of Chelsea fans but it made striking pair Drogba and Anelka a little anxious. Both knew that one of them had to warm the bench to accommodate new signing Fernando Torres.

With Chelsea's current system (4-3-3), it is almost impossible to play the Spaniard and Ivorian together as neither are able to be wingers. They both prefer to play centrally with support FROM the wings. The only way to accommodate the both of them is by playing a 4-1-3-2 or a 4-1-2-1-2. For the latter, it would mean that Ramires and Mikel miss out, leaving Essien to be the hard-man in the centre of the park. Lampard and Malouda have to be the attacking midfielders and Anelka playing in the 'hole', behind the two front-men. Knowing Carlo Ancelotti's style, the chances of this happening are the same as Barcelona playing a Stoke City game (long ball, two target men). The former, however, is a more likely formation and will suit the Blues, but again, it all depends on the Italian Spaghetti. The 4-1-3-2 will mean that Anelka misses out and the wings will be covered by Kalou and Malouda with Lampard attacking centrally. Again, this only leaves ONE defensive midfielder and whether it will materialise is a different question.

All in all, things are getting rough at the Bridge, and now I realise that the song "London Bridge is Falling Down" was not made just for the fun of it. Ancelotti is in real trouble and has real 'problemos' at the moment. If he gets knocked out in the Champions League, then it will most certainly be 'adios' to 'Senor Ancelotti' as everyone knows about the KGB-esque Roman Abramovich.

Chocolates are there for a reason,
To be eaten, and not stared at.
Goodbye.

Same old story

The Gooner fans witnessed another 'so-so' performance from the 'second team' or squad members so to speak. No complaints on how they played really, but the only ingredient missing was the killer touch to put the ball in the net.

In the past, Wenger used to make 5 or 6 changes per match if the team is facing a hectic schedule. It is not the case this season as he is now intent on making wholesale ones, and it was justified for the Cup game against Orient. The former didn't work well in the past so he's now reverting to this. Players like Arshavin and Song fit well into the first team. On the other hand, Wenger's preference of playing Chamakh and Bendtner on the right hand side of the three-pronged attack has never, and never will work.

The game was there for the taking, and Arsenal controlled all of it. The lack of mental strength comes into the question. Do they have it? Based on the last 15 minutes of the game, I would think they do, but probably not enough to win titles, not at the moment though.

The lack of a back-up defensive midfielder for Alex Song is a real cause for concern. Emmanuel Frimpong will be back next season so it won't be so bad. If Song picks up an injury anytime soon, then Arsenal will be in thick mud. The thought of Denilson playing there sends shivers down my spine. I really like the look of Diaby playing there because he does bring much needed strength into the midfield with a touch of finesse. He can be a better player than Song, no doubt. If he stays injury free for the next 6 months or so, then Arsenal fans will start to see the best of him.

The replay against Orient is uncalled for really, considering the club's ever bulging fixture list. One plus point is that the squad is bigger and better than previous seasons. The next game is coming up in 36 hours or so against Stoke at home. If Arsenal do not win the game, then it 'au revour' to the League title. Then it is the League Cup final against Brum. Many people will say that it is 'just' the League Cup. Come to think of it, Barcelona were trophy-less from 1999-2004. And we all know what happened after that.

So till next time,
Goodbye.