Tag Archives: Everton

Which team is 10 games unbeaten, W 8, D 2, F 20, A 4?

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Arsenal are a club in crisis. Or that is what you would believe if you listened to the press and only followed the club on twitter. It seems now, a crisis club is defined as one which;

  • Is unbeaten in 2014
  • Has conceded just 4 goals in the last 10 games
  • Has gained 90 points in their last 38 league games
  • Is top of the league

I am more than happy being a crisis club at the moment. If we remove the off field actions of our board from the equation, things are fairly bright and sunny at Arsenal at the moment. Have I mentioned we are top of the league?

Yes, we failed to strengthen in the January transfer window, but who did? Chelsea shuffled their squad, selling attacking players for more defensive ones, resulting in an inability to break down West Ham at home. Neither Manchester City or Liverpool bought anyone. Spurs tried – and failed – to sell every player they bought in the summer. Everton bought Aiden McGeady and signed their 4th loanee (what will they do next year without Barry, Lukaku, Deulofeu & Traore). Finally Manchester United splashed out £37m on an attacking midfielder when they really needed 2 central midfielder’s, 2 centre backs, a right back, a left back and a new manager.

In reality, it is ‘as you were lads’ with regards to the top teams Premier League squads. Yes, we have perhaps missed a trick. Had we got in the 2 players we so desperately need, we could have run away with the league title. But then again, it is fairly hard to improve on 19 points from the last 21. And we are top of the league!

We are being labelled a crisis club, yet look around. Manchester United are 15 points off the summit. 7 points off top 4. They have an incompetent manager who has spent £70m on two players they do not need (Mata & Fellaini). If Arsenal were in Manchester United’s position, the press would be having a field day. But no, Manchester United, in 7th, are in transition, whilst Arsenal, who are top of the league, are a club in crisis.

Spurs are with a new manager, just conceded 5 at home (for the 2nd time this season) and spent £100m on so many duff players that their current top performing central midfielder is a youth team product. Imagine selling your best player, sacking your manager and wasting £100m. Yet all the press talk about is how good a job Tim Sherwood is doing. Meanwhile, Arsenal, who are top of the league, are in crisis and Wenger is incompetent.

Manchester City had been on a great run of late, with 34 points from 36. They were reportedly running away with the league title. Yet at best, they gained a 1 point lead on Arsenal. Arsenal are now top of the league. Manchester City are 2nd, 2 points behind.

And whilst the world go’s on about Arsenal’s midfield problems, with no Ramsey, Wilshere & Flamini, it was their replacement in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who stepped up in the game against Crystal Palace with 2 brilliant goals. Meanwhile, Manchester City, who have spent over £100m on defensive midfielder’s over the last 5 years (Barry, Toure, Garcia, Rodwell, Fernandinho) played yesterdays game with a 33 year old centre back in the engine room.

Even last night on TalkSport, after Manchester City’s home defeat to Chelsea, they spent as more time speaking about Arsenal signing Kim Kallstrom than they did about Demichelis playing central midfield for City.

People are still doubting Arsenal’s credentials when it comes to the title race. Yes, Manchester City have a very strong squad, with plenty of squad depth, and probably are favourites for the title. However, we are now 24 games in. Arsenal are still top. The excuse that we have ‘yet to play anyone’ has passed. It seems now pundits are refusing to even discuss our title chances. Almost ignoring that we exist, that we are top. Yesterday’s game between Chelsea and Manchester City was billed as a title decider. It is February. They are 2nd and 3rd. Arsenal are top.

No matter what you think about our off the field matters at the moment – and they are a disgrace – the men on the pitch are doing there job. When they cross the white line, we need to ensure we are behind them. We need to be the twelfth man. We are not in crisis. We are top of the league. Let’s stay their.

Keenos

10 reasons why we will beat Man City Saturday + First XI

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1..Our league form has been superb recently, our current performances and momentum should be enough for the team to put in another good showing against City

2..City have some goalkeeper unrest at the moment and they are not sure who is their number one ‘keeper at the moment, lets test this out by creating some proper chances

3..We beat them Pre season, yes its only a friendly but we did it once, we can do it again!

4..We should have beat them last season, Gervinho had a glorious chance to put us in front and didn’t take it, we are due a win there

5..We have conceded only 5 goals away all season, winning 5 of 7, we drew against West Brom and lost against United

6..Sagna, the best right back in the league has had a break and sat out against Hull, Everton and Napoli. He should, I hope, be ready to go again and put in a top performance against City

7..Our away support is the best in the land and will be non stop singing to support the team throughout the game

8..Mesut Ozil is going to be putting a massive performance soon, we haven’t seen the best of him yet and I cant help but think he will take over a game for us, could this be the one?

9..Theo Walcott is back in the side, his pace can frighten the best of teams, especially with our creative midfield talent trying to pick his runs out.

10..We got through the Champions League Group of death, yes we lost but we are through, that should give them a lift and aim to win the next game.

Likely starting XI – Chesney, Sagna, Per, Kos, Monreal, Flamini, Ramsey, Jack, Ozil, Theo, Giroud.

by Norby

10 Reasons why we will beat Everton + Starting XI

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1.. Chesney is on a run of 4 clean sheets in a row, of course this isn’t just down to him but when called on he really is on point this season.

2.. Carl Jenkinson, I’m getting a bit bored with people slagging him off, I like him and not just because his family are big Arsenal fans but of course that helps. The Ball he put in for our first goal against Hull was inch perfect, he didn’t put a foot wrong all night. Yes he is no Sagna and they are big boots to fill but I urge people to look at his work rate and how much he is improving before taking the easy route of he’s not good enough.

3.. Gibbs, nice to see Wenger use rotation wisely mid week and yeah Monreal had a good game but Gibbs (another boyhood Arsenal fan) should be back today and refreshed. We are blessed right now to have good cover in both full-back positions.

4.. Arteta, To be fair he gave his best years to Everton and if it wasn’t for Fabregas doing a bunk we would never of signed him but I’m glad we did. He has grown into the defensive midfield role as well has keeping his natural urge to play sexi football. He will want to put in a performance against his former side.

5.. Everton, will not be a pushover, sitting pretty in 5th having just won at Old Trafford and with a new manager whose taking a chance with some exciting young players.

6.. Everton’s Prem record – Played 14, won 7, drawn 6, lost 1,the fewest in the Prem. But they have lost 14 of the last 17 visits to us.

7.. Giroud will be back after being rested mid-week, thank god as his replacement wasn’t upto much and clearly wasn’t even fit enough to last more than 70mins in a game we dominated.

8.. Ozil, it’s almost getting to the stage where I hope he looks quiet as he is always so deceiving, one moment it looks like he hasn’t touched the ball in ages the next he is slotting a ball in and bang, goal.

9. Theo, again I can see him starting on the bench, but I want him back and on form. Let me remind you that last season in the Prem he scored 14 goals and had 13 assists, that’s a goal or an assist every 84 mins he played and more or less all from the right side of the pitch.

10.. Wenger knows – we have a run of 4 tricky games starting with today but 6 points in our next 3 Prem games will see us sitting on top whilst we all tuck into our turkey this year.

Likely starting XI – Chesney, Jenks, BFG, Kos, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey, Jack, Santi, Ozil, Giroud

GC

manutd