Tag Archives: Arsène Wenger

Mesut Ozil, Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey, The Defence, Wojciech Szczesny and More…

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Mesut Ozil

Sign Mesut Ozil for £42.5million, Arsenal score the goal of the season with beautiful one touch play, Ozil no where to be seen, but then scores a header. Have we signed a freakier Peter Crouch? Of course, I jest. I wonder if Arsene Wenger tells the rest of his side to just feed the monkey? He has shown what spending big on a world class player does to the side, the fans, and more. You have to feel that he gives the likes of Wilshere and Ramsey confidence by being there. After all, if he has joined Arsenal to play with them, how good must they be? Hopefully we will now see one big money world class player signing a summer and build on Ozil.

Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey

After a rough start to the season for Wilshere, he seems to be getting back to full fitness and is looking stronger and quicker for it. A top draw goal, he is silencing his critics who seem to forget he is just 21 and has just spent the best part of 2 seasons injured. As for Aaron Ramsey, he is a reminder to Jack what hard work gets you. Another great goal by The General. The argument about him being the best central midfielder in league is over. He is. The debate now is where does he rank in world football?

The Defence

Whilst Arsenal are getting plaudits from around the world for the scintillating attacking play against Norwich, we once again failed to keep a clean sheet. Arsenal have kept 1 clean sheet in the league this season. It is a worry that we are conceding a goal a game.

Wojciech Szczesny

The Big Pole has grown this season. The way he comes out for corners, dominating the box, is majestic to watch. At 6ft 5in, a huge reach and a brilliant leap, he comfortable gets over 10ft in the air at corners. He not only gets the ball, he catch’s it rather than punches it. He seems to of regained his concentration, probably helped by the signing of Viviano to keep him on his toes. At just 23, he will continue to improve. A new goalkeeper in January will not be on anyone’s list.

Top of the League

2 points clear after 8 games, it feels good chanting “We are top the league”. We might not yet of played anyone of note, and the comparisons to ‘the same games last year’ will continue, but the fact is, we are top. In the calendar year of 2013, we have got more points than any other side. A home match against Liverpool, then an away trip to Manchester United, with 2 games against Borussia Dortmund, a League Cup tie against Chelsea and a tricky trip to Crystal Palace will show us just how good our side is. Come out of the run still top of the league, having qualified for the next round of the Champions League, and in the fifth round of the League Cup would be the dream result. Keep up the positive energy!

Emirates Atmosphere

Success and atmosphere go hand in hand. It is easier to cheer and sing when your team are winning. And it is no surprise that we now have the best atmosphere at home since moving to the new ground in the best start to a season at our new ground. The ground is establishing it’s identity. With The East Stand and North Bank taking ownership of the old “We are the North Bank Highbury” song. where as before, it was fragmented with people singing about where they sat at the Home of Football, they are now signing about where they sit in the new stadium. With 60,000 people, we can be the 12th man. Sing up for The Arsenal.

Keenos

10 Reasons why we will beat Norwich + starting XI

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1.. Szczesny was in line for some much deserved praise yesterday by Wenger and rightly so as he has never played so well for so many games running. Is this due to him finally having a back four he can trust?

2.. I was well pleased to see Gibbs get a call up for the England squad, it is no more than he deserves. Yes he has Cashley and Baines in front of him at that level but it does give him even more of an incentive to have a good season if he knows he is in the mind of the England boss. PLEASE STAY FIT!

3.. Captain Vermaelen made a bit of noise this week about not playing enough games and it was easy for the jorno’s to write stories saying he wants to leave. Would be very unlike us to have a captain leave eh..

4.. Mertesacker and Koscielny are the reason our captain will keep bench warming, the centreback partnership is the most important partnership on the pitch. Campbell and Toure, Adams and Keown, Adams and Bould, Adams and anyone. If they keep this up they will be spoke about in the same terms.

5.. Sagna is also having a great start to the season, defending strongly and getting up the pitch. He’s had some horrific injuries over the last few years and now has young Jenkinson a England Under 21 player snapping at his heels but I do feel if he keeps this up we will be daft not to hand him a new 2 year deal.

6.. The one downside for The Arsenal players in the last international break was Jack Wilshere, it seems he is falling out of favor with Woy. I’m not that surprised either as he is being eclipsed by the form of Ramsey who scored a great goal for Wales. Wenger’s daft idea of playing Jack wide left for a few games hasn’t helped but if Jack fancy’s smoking outside a few nightclubs in Brazil this summer he better start fighting for a regular place at ours first.

7.. Ozil picked up a knock on his knee playing for Germany but seems certain to start, he should rip Norwich apart today.

8.. I used to have a soft spot for Norwich as a kid, the first football team I played (badly) for used to play in a Yellow and Green Norwich kit. But I now find it very hard to even tolerate them due to their manager, Chris Hughton. Hated him as a player, a number two, a manager and I wish him nothing but relegation and the sack.

9.. Norwich have played 7 Prem games; winning 2, drawing 1, losing 4, scoring only 5 and conceding 9. If we get an early goal it could be a cricket score.

10.. Wenger knows this is another game we should pick up all 3 points on if we are going to mount a challenge this season, we have had an easy run of games so far in the Prem the real test will come next month.

Predicted starting XI – Chesney, Sagna, Per, Kos, Gibbs, Flamini, Arteta, Rosicky, Ramsey, Ozil, Giroud

COME ON THE ARSENAL !!

Thomas Vermaelen is NOT looking to leave Arsenal in January

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This morning we all awoke to stories about how our captain, Thomas Vermaelen, is looking at leaving Arsenal. About how he is unhappy at the club and is fearful for his World Cup spot. Some of the headlines in this mornings paper’s include:

“Thomas Vermaelen may consider move to boost Belgium World Cup hopes”
“Thomas Vermaelen hints he will consider Arsenal future”
“Arsenal club captain Thomas Vermaelen says he may leave the club”
“Unhappy Thomas Vermaelen may quit Arsenal”
“Thomas Vermaelen could QUIT Arsenal”
“Thomas Vermaelen hints at Arsenal exit”
“Thomas Vermaelen: I’ll quit Arsenal if I don’t win first team spot back”

When ever a story such as this comes out, I tend to ignore the headlines, as they are attention grabbers and often not even associated with the actual story. I have read an article which is of complete different tone to the headline itself. I also rarely take note of the story itself, and concentrate on what the player actually said.

Often in journalism, a journalist will get some quotes, and then twist it into the story they want to print. The story that will sell more papers or get more hints for their website. They can twist quotes to an extreme, where it ends up that the story barely resembles the quotes, or context of the quotes.

So what did Thomas Vermaelen actually say?

“I’ll have to think about that when it’s necessary. January is still a few months ahead. Of course, never playing will not be the ideal situation for me to go to the World Cup, that’s for sure,” Vermaelen told the Daily Mail.

“People ask me if I panic because I’m not playing a lot but I’m not. I have spoken to the manager but it will remain private between us. Things can happen in a split second and change my situation. That can happen tomorrow or next weekend.

“In that case, we will speak differently in January. I have to be ready for that”

Now these quotes can be taken in many different ways. I can see how many papers have gone with the “Vermaelen looks to leave Arsenal” route as that sells more papers. But the true facts of the matter are Vermaelen has merely said he needs 1st team football. That his is not panicking. That he has spoken to the manager and that anything could happen.

Now a few thoughts on this

1) I am please that Vermaelen want’s 1st team football and is unhappy he is not getting it. I want my players to be ambitious, not be happy picking up a pay cheque and sitting on the bench. It makes them better players as a result. If he were happy being 3rd choice, he would not be a player I would want in the side.

2) He confirms he has spoken to Arsene Wenger over the matter, and that what was discussed will remain private. This is not a ‘secret meeting’ like some are reporting, but a usual meeting between a player not playing and his manager. Discussions such as these should be kept private. Why should the press or public know what happened in the meeting?

3) Vermaelen will get his chance. As he says: “Things can happen in a split second and change my situation”. With Laurent Koscielny pulling out of the recent French International’s with an injury, it would not be a surprise to see Vermaelen line up alongside Mertesacker in the centre of defence this weekend. And if he plays well, Koscielny might find himself on the bench when he returns.

4) It is good that we finally have these type of problems. For too long, we have had a bare 11 of class players with not much underneath. We have been criticised heavily by the press for not having depth. And now we have it, they seem to be intent on stirring things up. Guess they do whatever sell hey? Anyway, it is up to Arsene Wenger to rotate his squad and keep everyone happy. I am sure he has the man management ability to do it.

Going through all the news reports this morning, only one source tells the true story, with itv.com going with:

“No panic from Thomas Vermaelen over lack of playing time.”

Whilst he might not be entirely happy with his current situation at Arsenal, he is clearly happy at Arsenal, and his extended spell as 3rd choice centre back should have driven him to train harder, stronger and longer. This will make him a better player. And at the end of the day, if he has not done this, and when he gets the chance he does not take it, there is no problem with him leaving.

His World Cup place is not at threat. Vincent Kompany is a guaranteed starter. Then Belgium play with either Vertonghen on Vermaelen playing centre back with the other at full back. There will be no issues.

Remember, whenever reading a story in the British Press. Ignore the headlines. Ignore the story. Read the quotes.

Keenos