Tag Archives: Laurent Koscielny

Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez, Jack Wilshere, Arsenal’s Defensive Crisis & More

4 Replies

So a week or so without blogging has done me well. I feel refreshed, I have learnt some new words, and I have actually got some proper work done. But I am back, and I thought a good way to start off would be a recap of stuff that I would have blogged on in the last few weeks…

Mesut Ozil & Alexis Sanchez

Speculation is increasing that both will leave on a free in the summer. I would have dumped them both last summer and got in some replacements. My opinion is the same for January. Take what we can, and get in some replacements (Thomas Lemar and Julian Draxler still getting talked about).

Harry Winks

Who? Was what I asked when he got called up for England.

It turns out he plays for Spurs, and has started 4 Premier League games in his career. Good job devaluing the shirt Gareth. Still baffles me as to how Theo Walcott fails to make the England squad whilst the links of Jesse Lingard and this Winks fella get in.

THAT Spurs Book

White Hart Lane: The Spurs Glory Years 1899-2017

  • 2 League titles
  • 8 FA Cups

Arsene Wenger: We Want You to Stay 1996-2017

  • 3 League titles
  • 7 FA Cups

Spurs really are a deluded bunch.

“Super Clubs”

A lot has been written in recent years about Super Clubs. The likes of Manchester United, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. A lot of what has been written is positive, blue prints on how they got to where they are, and how others should attain to get there.

Whilst the likes of the 4 previously mentioned sides, alongside the likes of Juventus. Inter and AC Milan are at the top of the footballing hierarchy, the life of a football club is cyclical, and just because you eat from the top table, does not mean you will not have your struggles.

Man U, for example, have not been the same since Sir Alex Ferguson left. The other British Super Club, Liverpool, are 26 years without a title.

Bayern Munich, after years of everyone saying this is how you run a club seem to be intent in ripping themselves apart through internal politics. Whilst the famed Barcelona La Masia academy seems to be no longer producing world superstars.

Real Madrid sit 7 points off top and have won just 2 league titles in 10 years.

The two Milan clubs have also struggled since Juventus returned from the match fixing scandal.

These are all great clubs. They have the history, the success, the European trophies. Yet they are like every other club, they have good periods and bad periods.

Arsenal are not at that top table. We have never been, and whilst we wish we were at the top, the fact is we are the level below.

Every clubs have their troubles, no matter if they are a super club, the one we should all dream to become, the one which we all try and copy. No one is immune from a poor period, a period of turmoil.

Sean Dyche for Arsenal

So Ian Wright said Sean Dyche could be the next Arsenal manager. Whilst I agree that Arsenal legends should not be abused for their view, they are not free from criticism. And this view point is just a little bit silly from Ian Wright.

I have seen some fans backing him. “Anyone but that c**T Wenger” I saw one Facebook post from an admin of a page with 25,000 people. This is just stupidity.

The majority of us believe that Arsene Wenger’s time is over, but it should not be anyone but Wenger. This is just stupid.

When Wenger does go, we need to get an elite manager. A proven winner. Do not let your agenda lead you down a path of anyone but Wenger.

Jack Wilshere

After two poor England performances, where the side lacked creativity, plenty are calling for Jack Wilshere to be rushed back into the first team.

We all know that Wilshere is England’s best central midfielder, and if fit, starts. But let’s not rush him.

I would not play him in any international friendly until the World Cup preparation starts at the end of the season. Concentrate on letting him get fit, and stay fit. The 2 weeks off every few weeks will do him the world of good. Then at the World Cup, he will (hopefully) be fit and ready to go.

What is the point in playing him in meaningless friendlies?

Defensive Crisis

So Shkodran Mustafi pulled up with what looked like a hamstring problem for Germany against Azerbaijan. It has also been reported as a thigh strain.

With Laurent Koscielny plagued once more by his troublesome achilles, it is being reported that Arsenal face a defensive crisis ahead of the game against Watford.

The usual moaners are complaining that we did not buy a centre back in the summer.

If the above two are out, it still leaves us with Rob Holding, Per Mertesacker and Nacho Monreal as the back 3. That is the same back 3 that won us the FA Cup Final. And we still have Calum Chambers in reserve.

I would not be surprised if Koscielny is fit to start on Saturday. His withdrawal from the French squad is more of a precaution.

But if he is out, we are certainly not in a defensive crisis.

The International Break

Mixed results for Arsenal players, as Mohamed Elneny, Alex Iwobi, Olivier Giroud, Nacho Monreal and Alexandre Lacazette helped their countries qualify.

Meanwhile Aaron Ramsey Wales and Sead Kolasinac’s Serbia just missed out on a play off.

I did smile when I read the moody dog shagger Alexis Sanchez will not be at the World Cup. Call me petty, but whilst he (and Mesut Ozil) want out of Arsenal, I want as little success for the pair as possible – unless it is in an Arsenal shirt.

Keenos

Arsenal set for defensive crisis against Stoke?

2 Replies

Against Leicester City, Arsenal showed a weakness against the high ball into the box. A weakness which Leicester City exploited ruthlessly with all 3 of their goals coming from crosses into the box.

In Arsenal’s defence, they were playing two left backs and a 21 year old Rob holding at centre back. But it is not really a defence, in both ways.

Leicester continually played balls down the channel between Rob Holding and Hector Bellerin, which dragged the only centre back out of position. This left space in the middle for Jamie Vardy and Shinji Okazaki to attack.

Arsenal were also poor at corners. They lacked leaders at the back, someone to take control of the situation and get his head on it. So often this man is Olivier Giroud, but with him playing second fiddle to Alexandre Lacazette, Arsenal looked short at the back. Literally.

Up next is Stoke City. And there are reasons to worry.

Stoke City have one of the narrowest pitches in the league and have destroyed Arsenal before using the simple game plan of swing as many balls into the box as possible. If over the next few days Arsenal do not develop a game plan to deal with the high ball, the side will once more struggle.

Laurent Koscielny is still out suspended. Stoke City will be the third game after the silly sending off on the last day of last season which caused him to miss the cup final.

Also missing from the game against Leicester was club captain Per Mertesacker.

Having been involved in a gruesome clash with Chelsea’s Gary Cahill at the Community Shield, his wound had not sufficiently repaired itself in time for the victory over Leicester.

The Arsenal website does not have him listed as injured, but they do list Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey as out. My bet is the lad who updates the website is currently face down in a gutter in Magaluf.

Mertesacker’s height in the middle of the park would be key against a side like Stoke City. And his organisation and leadership would see both Holding and Monreal perform better.

Shkodran Mustafi was fit enough to be on the bench against Leicester. Another weeks training under his belt and he should be fit to start against Stoke City. Gabriel is 100% out – injured and set to be sold.

Taking into account the threat faced by Stoke City, if Mustafi and Mertesacker as fully fit, it would be worthwhile playing both alongside Rob Holding. It would even be worth starting Olivier Giroud upfront.

If Arsenal do start with the same defence as they used against Leicester, Arsenal’s travelling fans could be in for another tough day in the grim city.

Keenos

 

What does the future hold for 3 Arsenal stars?

Leave a reply

Aaron Ramsey

Has anyone had such an up and down career as Aaron Ramsey?

He is now 26 and been at Arsenal and next season will be his tenth at Arsenal. His career has certainly been one of peaks and troughs.

Breaking through on the scene back in 2008 having signed for Arsenal a goal against Fenerbache saw him become the fifth youngest goal scorer in Champions League history. In that game, his overall performance was exceptional. A ball with the outside of his foot especially sticks in the mind.

The next season saw him continue to grow, becoming a first team regular at just 19, leading many to declare him as a future Arsenal captain. That season was cruelly cut short in February 2010 when Ryan Shawcross through himself recklessly into a challenge, breaking Ramsey’s leg into 3.

A slow period of rehabilitation in 2010/11 saw him loaned out to Nottingham Forest and Cardiff. Whilst he was out, Arsenal saw one of their own break through in Jack Wilshire. The teenage Englishman putting in performances that defied his age.

Upon Ramsey’s return in 2011/12, the injury had clearly affected him as he had a fairly poor season. It was made to seem even worse after Wilshere’s excellent season previously. With Wilshere now out, the spotlight was back on Ramsey. And he shrinked.

2011 did have a high for Ramsey. Despite his poor season for Arsenal, he was names Wales captain. He was just 20 years 90 days. He finished the year staring for Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics.

The next year saw his form continue to stagnate. With Wilshere returning, Ramsey looked well behind his English counterpart. Poor form led him to lose the Wales captaincy as new manager – Chris Coleman – went for the experience “Welshman” Ashley Williams.

The 2nd half of 2012/13 saw him put in solid performances defensively. His work rate was becoming a key asset, but he continually let himself down when it came to passing, and he simply did not score enough.

Then he had a high. The first half of 2013/14 saw him in exceptional form with 8 goals in the 1st 9 games. He continued this good form until December, when a familiar enemy to Ramsey reared its ugly head once more. Injury. This would rule him out until April.

Ramsey played just 7 games in the 2nd half of the season, but he finished it on one of the most ridiculous highs, scoring the winning goal in the FA Cup Final.

Since the high, Ramsey has had 3 tough years.

Often in and out of the team with injury, his form average, his decision making poor. It has lead to many fans getting on his back, often far too quickly.

A poor season in 2016 saw him go to the Euro’s in France and show that he was one of the best midfielders in Europe. But then once more, he got injured, ruling him out for 3 months.

His return from injury, he looked slow, off the pace, shot. Unable to score, unable to pass, unable to tackle. Was Aaron Ramsey’s time at Arsenal coming to an end?

The back end of 2016/17 saw him regain some form. In the new 3-4-3 formation, he was able to get forward more, get in the opponents box where he excels with his late runs. He once more looked a threat. And in the last game of 2016/17, another year interrupted with injury, he scored another FA Cup Final winner.

Last night for Wales against Serbia Ramsey showed what a good player he can be when he plays unrestricted, relaxed. Not trying too much, keeping it simple, running the game. He was easily the best player on the field – now before you say it was only Serbia, look at their line up: Matic, Ivanovic, Tadic, Kolarov, Mitrovic & Nastasic.

The thing for Ramsey now is he turned 27 in December. He is at the peak of his powers. This season is perhaps the most important of his career. He could still become Arsenal captain. Be a key player in the middle of the park in Islington for the next 5 years.

But he needs less troughs and more peaks. He needs to stay fit. He needs some consistency.

Laurent Koscielny

“I have a contract with Arsenal, I even signed an extension last November until 2020,” Koscielny said.

“I feel very good over there.

“I have always said that I was a Marseille fan when I was younger. When a mythical club like Marseille contact you, it is good. But will I sign for them? I have no idea at all.”

That was Koscielny’s response to a question on an appearance on Telefoot when he was asked whether he would consider a move to the newly-monied Marseille.

Now it is clear to me that he is made it clear that he is committed to Arsenal. But there will be some journalists out there who, chasing the hits and advertising revenue, will focus on the 2nd half of his quotes. That he is a Marseille fan and he thinks it is good that he has been linked with them.

My theory is simple. With a contract through to 2020, Koscielny will set out this deal with Arsenal. Come 2020, and after the Euro’s, he will be 34 and join his boyhood club on a free transfer.

At that point he would have spent 10 or so years at Arsenal, been a loyal servant to the club, but be no longer guaranteed a place in the first XI. He will return to France to see out his career at his boyhood club in an easier league. And good luck to him.

In the short term, Koscielny is going no where.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Rumours are circulating that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will sign a new contract. Hopefully leading the way for Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil to also stay at the club long term.

What is becoming key for Oxlade-Chamberlain is his versatility. Currently pencilled in at right wing back, the fact that he can play left wing back, and on the wings highlights how important he is for Arsenal’s squad depth.

There is also a possibility that if Sanchez or Ozil does go, he might end up playing further up the field, behind a striker.

Like Ramsey, he has had a turbulent career at Arsenal. And like Ramsey, a lot of that is to do with injury.

If he stays fit, stays consistent, he might finally fulfil his potential.

 

Have a good week all!

Keenos