Tag Archives: Arsenal FC

10 Reasons why we will beat LFC + starting 11

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Yes we have just revamped last weeks highly successful 10 reasons….

1) The Legend of Anfield 89 lives on strong in all of us, its the 25th anniversary of that famous night on 26th May this season, surely the only reason needed for a win today!

2) Our defence has been rock solid so far this season, Per and Kos have not lost a game they both started *apart from liverpool last week* and completed 90 minutes on going back to 1926

3) Liverpool have a few of their defenders missing, Glen Johnson and Daniel Agger are both out.

4) Our keeper, Sir Chesney has the *Joint* most clean sheets so far this season.

4) Arsenal are the only team to stop Sturridge *apart from last week* and Suarez scoring this season when they have played together, this was the 2-0 win on 2nd Novemeber.

5) The only Premiership Games LFC have lost in their last 10 have all been to teams above them.

6) Jack is rumored to be back fit, with Ramsey injured he will be the driving force in the midfield which we lacked at Southampton *and Liverpool away*

7) Suarez has only ever scored 1 goal when coming up against The Arsenal

8) Girouds song comes from a Beatles track, its fate that he will score 4 today and the away end will be singing that song, La La La Giroooooud, long into the night. *he will prob start on the bench*

9) We have scored 2 goals in each of our last 5 league games *apart from Liverpool and Man Utd*

10) Last but not least, the reason we will win today is to do with music, we all know that London’s music scene is better than Liverpool’s. We had the Rolling Stones, they have the Beatles. The Stones win hand down every time! Oh and Ray Davies from the Kinks? Yes he was a Gooner.

Likely line-up: Chesny, Jenks, BFG, Kos, Monreal, Flamini, Arteta, Ox, Gnarby, Sanogo, Podolski

Arsenal fans disgraceful booing as team sit second

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Last night on twitter I was furious. I was passionate. I was frustrated. We had just drawn 0-0 at home to the Manchester United and at the final whistles, there were a chorus of boo’s.As the team walked off, sitting second in the league, 1 point off top, those around me were getting on the players back, demanding the head of the manager. Overreacting.

I kind of understood fans reactions. We have not played brilliantly for the last few games. 1 win in 4 is not the form of Champions. 0-0 against the worst Manchester United side in the Premier League era. They were their for the taking. However, booing? Leave it out. We are 2nd in the league.

Could we have made another substitution? Perhaps. But who? Podolski? Bendtner? Sanogo? Would they have been more effective than Giroud, Ozil & Cazorla? Who knows. And yes, in the final 5 minutes, we could have gone for it a bit more, but when faced with an attacking line up of Rooney, Van Persie and Januzaj, we became cautious. We had learnt from our defeat to Dortmund at home where we pushed forward for the winner, only to lose the game. A point is better than no points. That point could be very important at the end of the season.

Arsenal have lost just once in 2014. The press have labelled us as some sort of club in crisis, and I feel some of our fans have begun to believe this. We are second in the league. Still in the FA Cup & still in the Champions League. That is certainly not the sign of a crisis club. A crisis club is in Manchester, From Champions to seventh. A crisis club is in Middlesex. Spending £100m, only to sack the manager. Arsenal are certainly not a club in crisis.

Crisis Noun 1. A time of intense difficulty or danger.

If we finish trophyless and third this season, it would not be a massive failure. It would not have been a poor season. Manchester City spend £100m more on wages a season than Arsenal. Chelsea £50m more. In a game where money is king, these two are leaders. The fact that we are currently sandwiched between the 2 in second place is testament to the team. Our squad is not as big. And that comes down to wage bill size. Their spending power is scary. So lets not get on the teams back if we finish 3rd, as it will not be a failure.

As for Mesut Ozil. People again seem to be eating up the press criticism and getting on his back. Way to go Arsenal fans. We demand the club spend money on world class talent. We spend money on world class talent. And than we harass him. Why would any other world class player want to join Arsenal if, after a couple of poor games, the fans get on his back. And he has not even been that poor, look at the stats.

A flop is Erik Lamela. £30m, has played just 9 games in the league, has yet to score and only has 1 assist to his name. Or Marouane Fellaini. £27.5m, played just 11 games in all competitions, and has more red cards then goals or assists. Or how about Roberto Soldado? £26m and as many goals from open play as Bendtner…Ozil certainly is not a flop. Stop believing the press. Stop giving them fuel for the fire.

Arsenal fans acted spoilt last night. I am currently reading Rebels for the Cause. It is a brilliant book based on the alternative history of Arsenal. And what is interesting? It seems we at Arsenal always like a moan. The same problems now – ticket prices, moving stadium, players earning too much – have existed throughout our history. Yet we are still here. Fans tend to forget their history. They forget the barren spell of the 70s & 80s, 18 years between titles, 16 years between trophies. They look at the Graham era through rose tinted glasses. Yet even when Graham was winning trophies, fans did not take to him and his style of play. His man management of Anders Limpar, Paul Davis, Rocky.

During the early Wenger years, Arsenal fans became spoilt. Successful attractive football. And that showed through last night. The booing was no more than a spoilt child who wanted another cookie. It was like moaning that you were sleeping with Kelly Brook when what you wanted was Mila Kunis. It is childish.

Last night, people accused me of not understanding football. Even of not being an Arsenal fan. I am sorry if me not liking fan’s booing a team sitting second offends you. That’s a lie, I am not sorry. Back your side, through thick and thin. If you boo when the team sit in second place, your type of ‘support’ is really not needed. If not being an Arsenal fan is backing the side no matter what, going home and away and Europe, then yes, I am not an Arsenal fan. Now show me your credentials…

Booing the team in my opinion is a disgraceful act. I have seen individuals (Eboue) get booed, and I have seen the entire team getting booed after a poor performance. But booing when we sit second? That is shameful. We are not Chelsea, we are not Tottenham, who both boo at the slightest hint of anything poor. We are The Arsenal. We are supposed to be a classy club. Show some class. Stop being spoilt.

Keenos

Arsenal’s Top 6 Youth Prospects

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Most of you won’t know me, but I’m an aspiring sports photographer covering the first team (warm ups) and the Youth team matches. Through photographing the youth team I have obviously picked up opinions and noticed things that those who may have only watched YouTube videos can not, Finally I want to express that I’m in no way a writer, nor do I have any intention of being a writer, I am simply expressing my opinion on the 5 youth players I think with the greatest chance of playing for The Arsenal Football Club in the future.

Daniel Crowley

Daniel Crowley

Daniel Crowley

Firstly for me is a name that has been on everyone’s lips, fingers and screens, Daniel Crowley, a 16 year old signed from Aston Villa for somewhere around £800,00 in the Summer of 2013. Considering we paid between £400,00 and £600,00 for Thomas Eisfeld who was 3 years older at the time show you how high a hope Arsenal have for Crowley. The First thing you notice about Dan Crowley from afar is that he’s very short for a Centre Midfielder, however, not dissimilarly to a certain Jack Wilshere.

Crowley can make it work. He may be short but he’s definitely very determined and powerful when running with the ball. Often he is being pulled back and pushed yet still keeps his balance perfectly. Not being the fastest he doesn’t often beat someone and sprint away but tends to beat the same person 2 or sometimes even 3 times before releasing the ball. 99% of the time he is moving forward in a positive way. That’s the thing about Daniel Crowley, he’s one of the most positive players I’ve ever seen – reminiscent to Tomas Rosicky – he has impeccable vision and can easily pull of almost anything he wants.

I can definitely see Crowley going on any pre season tour Arsenal have (especially since its world cup year), having escalated from the U18’s to the U21’s in less than a 6 month period. I think had he been signed in January of last year he would’ve been on last summers one! Next season I expect Crowley to make cup appearances in the League Cup and possibly the FA Cup, if he carries on at this rate I wouldn’t even be surprised if he makes a Premier League appearance next season.

Gedion Zelalem

Gedion Zelalem

Gedion Zelalem

Gedion Zelalem appeared out of nowhere for most Arsenal fans. Most hadn’t heard of him until this summer and the Asia tour where he definitely made a name for himself, coming on in the game against the Vietnam XI having only made his U21 (and Arsenal) début 3 months earlier versus Liverpool.

In his first game of the Asia Tour, Zelalem showed everyone exactly what he was about with cutting edge passes that nobody in the stadium would have seen apart from him. He appears to have this absolute knowledge of where players are and will be before they are. Most of the time watching highlights of him back on Youtube he hasn’t even looked where he’s going to be playing the pass, he just pulls it off, and that definitely isn’t something that can be taught.

Coming from Ethiopian parents, being born in Germany and growing up there for only a few years before moving to America you can’t exactly say he has a rich heritage of football. He is 100% natural talent, the only bad thing about Zelalem is the fact he is so very thin, physically he’s definitely not ready for the Premier League, he even struggles at U21 level against very physical teams, however, at 6 foot, if he were to beef up considerably you could expect some very solid performances out of him.

He is excellent technically and ability wise, the only issue I’ve ever seen with him is caused by his weight, he has a very good attitude, keeps his head down, and just gets on to play. That’s all you can ask for in a player at this age really.

Kristoffer Olsson

One of the least known names on this list, Kristoffer (Kris) Olsson is a central midfielder from Norrkoping in Eastern Sweden. Olsson has made a single competitive appearance in the League Cup against West Bromwich Albion where he took (and converted) a penalty with possibly the most nervous run up ever seen.

Kris Olsson

Kris Olsson

Many see Olsson as a direct Mikel Arteta replacement – myself included. He is a very calm and graceful player, a very good all rounder, and, unlike a few in the U21’s Olssons fitness is impeccable. He can easily dictate play when picking up the ball. One of the aspects the young Swede has notably picked up in his game is how to gain time on the ball. Previously he would get caught on the ball and lose it, however now I think he has improved this aspect of his game a lot. He seems to always have an age to spend on the ball where he very often picks a pass which leads to a goal directly.

There have been rumours recently that he believes he is ready for first team football and at only 18 to be thrown in the middle of the park in the Premier League may be tough, but as shown by the more or less explosion of Serge Gnabry into the Arsenal squad, age doesn’t have to influence as much as many think. Rumours have also been circulating that Ipswich town approached Arsenal with a loan offer for Olsson but this was flat out rejected.

Hector Bellerin

Hector Bellerin

Hector Bellerin

Currently on loan at Watford, Hector Bellerin made an appearance in our League Cup campaign earlier in the season. An U19 international is the first of two featured in this article currently out on loan. When playing for Arsenal Bellerin has often contributed with assists and even the occasional goal, most notably against Wolves and Manchester United last season.

He has been one of the most consistent performers in our youth sides. I’ve been watching the U21’s for almost a year now and can only remember him ever struggling with one player, Jordan Ibe of Liverpool. Currently at Championship side Watford where he has been nothing short of exceptional, Bellerin’s debut ended bittersweetly as Watford lost 3-0 at home to Yeovil. Bellerin was, however, a stand out performer in this game shown by the amount of Watford supporters who showed their support for the young Spaniard on many social media sites.

Currently Bellerin has been deployed mainly on the right wing for Watford, but at Arsenal was primarily deployed as a Right back. Nobody is particularly certain where Bellerin will finally be deployed if he is to make it into the Arsenal first team and may just be used a utility player (especially considering his debut vs West brom he played as a centre midfielder after an injury to Arteta).

Personally I am of the belief that Bellerin will return in the summer from his loan, and then next season will be the backup right back to either Bacary Sagna or a new purchase with Carl Jenkinson going out on loan.

Chuba Akpom

Another name that many people will know is Chuba Akpom. A young striker who last season excelled at U21 level scoring 13 goals in 20 games. He also made appearances on the Asia Tour of 2013 and made one Premier League appearance this season against Sunderland coming on as a substitute.

Chuba Akpom

Chuba Akpom

Akpom is a pacey, physical striker. When in form he has the ability to bully defenders and make them look like absolute idiots with his skill. Unlike his predecessors such as Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Sanchez Watt, Akpom has a fantastic attitude. His only desire is to play games for Arsenal, he always gives 100% for the shirt and he is definitely a player I want to see on the team sheet. I think he would make the first team more consistently in the future, due to not only his talent, but the heart and passion he would inject.

Recently Akpom had hit a bit of a dry spell, however he has been imperious form recently scoring a hat trick against Peterborough United in the FA Youth Cup which had a team including many who had made first team appearances for Peterborough. Recently Akpom went on loan to Brentford in order to start playing Men’s football, he missed the first game due to illness but will probably be hoping for an appearance this weekend against Walsall.

Julio Pleguezuelo

Julio Pleguezuelo

Julio Pleguezuelo

Finally, is a recent acquisition from our youth feeder club (haha) Barcelona. Julio Pleguezuelo is a highly rated Spanish centre back. When he first arrived in London he wasn’t able to immediately play due to FIFA regulations and the ability to gain International Clearance. Once this was sorted and he started to play, he took to English football like a duck to water. He is short player for a centre back, at roughly 5’11, but at only the age of 16 he has time to grow more. A lack of height at a young age has however improved his reading of it (in the same way Mertesacker’s lack of pace does).

The young Spaniard first impressed me with a) His technical ability; b) His strengt;h and c) How quickly he was able to adjust to English and overcome the language barrier. I remember in one of the warm ups he was caught out by the coaches and he distinctly said “my english is no very good” and then a few weeks later, I could see and hear him having full blown conversations and commanding others on the field!

If i were to compare him to anyone in the current Arsenal first team, without a shadow of a doubt it would be Laurent Koscielny, like Koscielny; Pleguezuelo loves to get forward and exploit space in the middle of the park His close control when running with the ball and under pressure is simply second to none in the rest of the Arsenal defence. The U21’s have often rotated the defence recently with Isaac Hayden often being drafted in from his more comfortable Defensive Midfield position. The U21’s also have to choose from newly acquired Semi (pronounced “Shemi”) and someone who is as good as out of the door only having featured twice at home this season Daniel Boateng. The defensive pairing of Julio Pleguezuelo and other 16 year old Stefan O’Connor has often been chosen by U21 manager Steve Gatting and to great effect. Results have often been consistent and ended positively when O’Connor has Paired the Spaniard.

When talking about the youth set up “One for the future” definitely tends to be a cliche and often incorrect phrase, from this list I’ve compiled I personally see the younger 3 of Crowley, Pleguezuelo and Zelalem making the most out of their careers, but anything can happen in football.

Kieran

All photo’s on this blog were taking by Kieran himself. View his other work here.