Tag Archives: Arsenal

10 Reasons why we will beat Swansea + my starting XI

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1) Swansea are not a top 4 side.

2) The players and manager should be so disgusted with how they played or rather didn’t play against Chelsea they will want to prove they are fit to wear the shirt and manage the club.

3%)  Gibbs is wearing Ox’s shirt, just  to confuse tonight’s ref.

4) Koscielny is injured (Calf) which means our club captain may start at CB.

5) There will be no “Accidents” tonight.

6) It’s not an early kick off so the players might even be awake.

7) Giroud has promised if he plays that he will touch the ball. Unlike at home where he’s promised his wife no-one else will touch his balls.

8) Wenger has promised that if things are going wrong he might get off the bench and try and change things, once he’s managed to do his zip up.

9) Swansea have only won 2 out of 11 league games in 2014

10) Arsene knows – well he did, but not for a long time now.

Likely lineup – hopefully 11 players who actually give a fuck, but i’m not holding my breath

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain set to avoid ban

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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain set to avoid ban

It is highly likely that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will avoid a ban for his handball during Saturday’s game against Chelsea.

Whilst it was clearly Oxlade-Chamberlain rather than Kieran Gibbs who made the world class save to deny Eden Hazard, it is likely that Arsenal are going to take advantage of a loophole to ensure he is not banned.

According to FA rule 4. (a) Mistake Identity:

If a Player who has been cautioned or sent off in a FTCM claims that he was the victim of mistaken identity in relation to the imposition of such sanction, he may appeal to The Association. The Club on behalf of the Player must, by 1pm of the next working day DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES 2013-2014 following their game, notify The Association in writing (by fax or e-mail – Fax 0844 980 0626 or e-mail Disciplinary@TheFA.com) of their intention to submit a claim.

This ruling puts it in the clubs hands to appeal against the decision. If they decide to appeal, and it is upheld by the commission, the disciplinary action “is transferred from the record of the Player reported by the Referee to the appropriate identified offender.”

Put simply, if Arsenal chose to not appeal, Kieran Gibbs serves the 1 match ban, leaving Oxlade-Chamberlain free to play.

The decision is up to Arsenal who they wish to serve the ban. With Arsenal having Monreal and Vermaelen both available, they are well covered at full back. Whilst in the middle, it is unlikely Arteta can play twice in such short succession, and with Ramsey, Wilshere, Diaby & Ozil all out, it leaves us with just Flamini, Kallstrom and Cazorla.

It is fairly clear that Arsenal are better off taking the hit on Gibbs to ensure Oxlade-Chamberlain is available to play.

Keenos

Akpom, Akpom, Chuba Akpom

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Yesterday news came out that Chuba Akpom would be returning from his loan spell at Coventry city, and it was instantly made abundantly clear that Nicklas Bendtner, was now even below the Plucky 18 year old in the pecking order for striking options, after his taxi shagging escapades in Copenhagen last week. Where was Bendtner when this news came out I hear you ask? Well, he was rumoured to be in Copenhagen (again) however this time however he was watching the capital team against Randers FC wearing a Copenhagen shirt, he also posted an Instagram photo with the caption “Above it” clearly indicating what he thought of supporting the club paying his contract even though he wasn’t in the squad.Bendtner

Having been at the club since the age of 6 and the news coming out today that Chuba Akpom would be returning from his 2nd loan spell this season, the first being Brentford and the second Coventry City, without a doubt the latter of the two clubs being where Akpom had found more of his success. However when you look at Brentford a bit closer and find out their current manager used to be a city worker its not surprising he took as little risk as possible playing a largely unproven loan striker.

Returning to Chuba Akpom quickly it would suggest that he will be now be Arsenals 3rd striker, although he failed to score in the football league we saw what he was capable of against West Brom at the start of the season (Where coincidentally Bendtner made his come back) carrying the ball a good 60/70 metres before feeding Bendtner who then decided to let the ball run past him and go off for a goal kick.

Although it is unlikely that Akpom will get to see the light of premier league football for a large amount of time, if at all, due to the fact Olivier Girouds body appears to be made of steel (No matter how much rolling around he does) and Yaya Sanogo ahead of him what Akpom will provide is running off of the defender, an element which we’ve certainly been lacking recently and something that arguably our most important player Mesut Ozil needs to show how great he can be, he’s only played 10 minutes in the premier league, against Sunderland at the start of the Season and West Bromwich Albion in the Capital one cup, so teams such as Swansea won’t know what to expect from him, and the thing I believe the fans will love the most about Chuba, is his undenying passion, he has a fire in his belly which could start wood fires on a damp day, ever since I started watching youth football that is the one thing i’ve been unable to not notice, he chases balls for days, he tracks back into the middle of the pitch, collects the ball, picks up a pass and runs, if a decision doesn’t go his way he’s always contesting it with the ref, and if he wins a penalty he’s often very hyped, with high 5’s and chest bounces all over the pitch. He loves Arsenal, pure and simple.Akpom

The fact Akpom didn’t score in the Football League does not give the full story, as the loan had a temporary recall clause he was recalled by Arsenal 3 times in the period of his loan whilst also making 5 appearances for Coventry City and I believe missing 2 coventry games. So not only was he having to adapt to league football he was also constantly travelling between Coventry and London, not to mention before his final Coventry appearance against his former loan team Brentford he had flown to Barcelona on Tuesday and back the day after, this might be expected of premier league hardened footballers however in League one, this is just unheard of (Obviously)

Finally, although Chuba Akpom failed to score on his loan times he didn’t fail to score in the last 2 games he played for Arsenal U19 against Barcelona and against Everton in the FA Youth cup. Furthermore the loan has been very influential to Akpom, not only has he increased his tactical awareness and overall game play, he’s stronger, fitter and perhaps most important for the premier league, faster. Should anything happen to Giroud or we have to rest him before the FA Cup Semi Final, do not be afraid to put your faith in the very passionate young Englishman, we could do a lot worse.

Kieran

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