Tag Archives: Manchester United

Gunners lucky to avoid defeat at Old Trafford

With many Arsenal fans heading up north on Saturday morning confident that Arsene Wenger could finally earn a Premier League win over Jose Mourinho, supporters would have returned to London with mixed emotions. With the Gunners looking to close the gap on the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool at the top of the table, Wenger’s men produced a lacklustre display, with a late Olivier Giroud goal handing the North Londoner’s an undeserved point. Remaining in fourth position in the Premier League standings as a result, the football tips now look less favourable surrounding Arsenal’s chances of claiming a first title since 2004.

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United went ahead through a well taken Juan Mata goal, with Nacho Monreal caught out of position for the umpteenth time at Old Trafford, with Mesut Ozil and Co failing to have any impact on the game, perhaps feeling the effects of a busy international period. Having recovered in time to make the starting eleven following his exploits in South America, Alexis Sanchez started the game brightly, but showed signs of tiredness in the second half. Substitute Giroud found the back of the net with just minutes remaining, and although Arsenal will have ultimately gone home pleased with a point, a faltering United were there for the taking. After yet another big match in which Arsenal failed to impress, the football tips page from bookmakers Coral currently have the Gunners at 12/1 to win the title come May next year.

Wenger himself surprised many by starting Aaron Ramsey at Old Trafford, with Alex Iwobi dropping to the bench, and alongside midfielders Francis Coquelin and Mohamed Elneny, the trio failed to get to grips with United’s high pressing game. With this year’s title race looking likely to be one of the most competitive in recent history, Wenger must put faith in his squad players, although many looked like they were not up to the task this weekend. Arsenal face Bournemouth this weekend, and with Jack Wilshere ineligible to play against his parent club, Coral offer the Gunners as the overwhelming favourites for three points in their football tips.

It remains to be seen just how far this group of players can go this season, however Arsenal’s record against the so called ‘top four’ must improve, with just one win against Chelsea to show for themselves so far.

Ray Hobbs

Special relationship key to Mesut Ozil future

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In the last 48 hours, Arsenal superstar Mesut Ozil has been massively linked with a move away from the club with his reported destination being Manchester United.

It is easy to write this off as simple speculation. It is international break, newspapers have little to write about, so not too many hits, so let’s link the Premier League’s best player with the Premier League’s biggest club. Instant hits from the hundreds of millions of worldwide fans who before yesterday were just keeping an eye on ‘injury news’.

Add in that Mesut Ozil is currently in discussions for a new contract, the link could also be put down as Ozil’s side using Manchester’s 2^nd club to get him the deal he wants at Arsenal. So often Arsenal have been on the receiving end of this, used to get a player a better deal elsewhere.

When you then mix in Manchester United being mid-table, in the Europa League and a club moving backwards rather than forwards, there is very little substance in the speculation.

But then you remember Paul Pogba.

At Juventus, becoming a global superstar. 4 league titles, 2 Coppa Italia’s and a recent Champions League runners up medal. But he left for Manchester United, and found 300,000 reasons a week to join them.

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A lot of rubbish is written about players these days. A desire to play, a desire to win medals. But ultimately, with many modern day players, their biggest desire is that of their bank account.

It is why so many players have gone to the Middle-East, to China, to America over the years. It is why Yaya Toure left Barcelona for Manchester City. Ignore the ‘footballing project’ that they so often talk about, it is all about their bank balance.

Ozil moving to Manchester United would see him more than double his current £140,000 a week wage. Arsenal currently have a reported £160,000 contract on the table. Manchester United would see him probably double that. That would more than make up for the falling pound against the Euro.

And then there is one very special reason why Mesut Ozil would move to Manchester United.

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In 2010, Mesut Ozil left Werder Bremen to join Real Madrid. At the time, Arsenal were heavily linked with the player. He ended up joining Real Madrid for just €15,000,000.6 weeks before he joined Madrid, they appointed their new manager, Jose Mourinho.

Whilst that summer Angel Di Maria was Real Madrid’s biggest signing, he was one done by those above Mourinho. Meanwhile, Ozil was his man. His signing. The man he planned to build the team around.

Ozil picked Mourinho and Real Madrid over Wenger and Arsenal.

Wenger finally got his man in 2013, signing Ozil for ~£45,000,000. His and Arsenal’s biggest ever signing. Mourinho had already left Madrid to Chelsea.

On that busy last 48 hours of the transfer window, Arsenal were also in discussion with Chelsea about loaning in Demba Ba. The deal feel through after Mourinho got a sniff of the Ozil deal. Jose knew how good a player Ozil was, and feared that alongside Demba Ba, Arsenal could shoot to the title.

The Ba deal did not happen, the Ozil deal did. Mourinho clearly loves Ozil.

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“Özil is unique. There is no copy of him – not even a bad one. He is the best number 10 in the world.”

“He made things very easy for me and for his teammates with his football vision and the decisions he made,” he assured, arguing that it was a mistake to let him go.

“Everyone loves him and sees a bit of Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane in him. We didn’t accept Arsenal’s offer for Demba Ba because the signing of Özil makes them title contenders.”

Ozil and his special relationship with the Special One could be the most important reason out of the 300,000 reasons a week he has to join Manchester United.

Keenos
Follow @KeenosAFC

Which Premier League side has the most exciting players at its disposal?

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Some people will say I have been a little obsessed with Liverpool this season. My constant pointing out that we are above them this weekend, despite according to the press them being the best side since a team of Allied prisoners of drew 4-4 with a German team in 1981.

My comments have been partly in jest, but also to point out the influence the media have on peoples opinions and the fact that brilliant Liverpool are behind Arsenal, and only a single point ahead of crisis club (according to the media) Chelsea.

Liverpool are massively overhyped, and I have no shame in continually pointing it out. Then a few days ago this was published: Premier League front-runners: Who has what it takes to finish top?

Within the pointless article created just to generate hits (which I have then increased by linking to it within this blog), was a comment about Liverpool:

Yes, you read that right, Jurgen Klopp, apparently, has the Premier League’s most exciting team at his disposal.

28 goals have been scored in Liverpool’s games this season. The league high. So on paper, with Liverpool 4^th, they must be lighting up the Premier League. But then 10 of those have been goals conceded by Liverpool. So it is not as much Liverpool playing exciting football, more that they are involved in exciting games due to an inability to defend.

This weeks 0-0 draw with Man U was the first time this season they had kept a clean sheet in the league. And 13 of the 18 goals they have scored this season have been in just 3 games. And in only 2 of the 8 games have they won by more than a single goal.

Moving on so I do not look too obsessed, the comments in the Mail about Liverpool got me thinking. Who actually does have the most exciting team in the Premier League.

Now to narrow it down, let’s look at the front 4, as essentially, that is where the magic happens:

Manchester City: Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva, Raheem Sterling

Arsenal: Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott, Alex Iwobi

Tottenham: Son Heung-min, Erik Lamela, Dele Alli, Christian Ericksen

Liverpool: Firmino, Coutinho, Sadio Mane, Adam Lallana

Chelsea: Diego Costa, Eden Hazard, Willian, Oscar

Everton: Romelu Lukaku, Yannick Bolasie, Kevin Mirallas, Ross Barkley

Man U: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford

Starting at the top, Manchester City’s front 4, when fit, is electric. Pace, power and precision. Expensively assembled, there is not a weak link.

In Sanchez and Ozil, Arsenal have 2 players who can rival Aguero and de Bruyne in terms of ability and influence. Theo Walcott is in the form of his life and Alex Iwobi is the most exciting youngster in the Premier League.

Tottenham’s front four is a mixture of flicks, tricks and free kicks. Son is like a poor mans Sanchez. Like Liverpool, they have been described recently as the most exciting team in the Premier League, but with 13 scored and just 4 conceded, they are a side built on defending, not attacking.

As for Liverpool, it just screams out average. Firmino is a good player, but not where near as good as Aguero and Sanchez. Coutinho is the most overrated player in the league who scores the odd wonder goal, but does very little else in terms of output. Sadio Mane is streaky, and Lallana is average.

Diego Costa is currently the Premier League top scorer. Eden Hazard is still failing to hit the heights of a few years ago. And Willian is like Coutinho, scores a few wonder goals.

Everton’s front 4 is actually interesting. In Lukaku they have someone who really should be playing at a higher level. Bolaise is exciting to watch, but doesn’t score or assist many. Good for the highlights reel and Soccer AM crowd. I have always like Mirallas, and Ross Barkley is another one who will score the odd great goal, but is inconsistent.

On paper, Man U have a group of exciting players and exciting youth. By Ibrahimovic is past it and struggling with the pace of the Premier League, the most excitement Pogba has delivered this season is in his adverts and hair cuts, Martial is a talent, and Rashford is highly rated due to his passport (imagine if Iwobi was still English?).

So who has the most exciting players at their disposal in the Premier League? For me it is Manchester City. Hot on their tails Arsenal:

Manchester City
Arsenal
Chelsea
Everton
Liverpool
Man U
Spurs

Keenos
Follow @KeenosAFC