Tag Archives: Manchester United

Tube strikes set to re-arrange Arsenal v Manchester United

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For those caught up in the chaos caused by the tube strikes yesterday and today, there is more pain ahead for the London commuter as there is a second round of strikes scheduled for next Wednesday and Thursday (12th and 13th February). Now this blog has always been apolitical, so we will not be adding to whether we agree or disagree with the strikes. The Facebook page has admins who work for TfL, and admins who rely on people getting to work. But what we are concerned with is what these strikes could mean for Arsenal.

This morning’s chaos highlighted clear safety problems which, if next week’s strike go’s ahead, will surely see the Arsenal v Manchester United game re-arranged. 60,000 football fans combined with commuters trying to get home on a limited service is a recipe for disaster.Finsbury Park Station this morning

Back in 2011 & 2012, the Victoria Line as getting upgraded. This saw shut downs of the entire line, or just from Walthamstow Central to Seven Sisters. Whenever Arsenal played at home, these upgrade works were suspended. If we played on a Saturday they would only take place on a Sunday. If we played on a Sunday, they would not take place at all. We can not safely get 60,000 people in and out of the stadium without the underground.

Arsenal were due to play West Ham United at home on Boxing Day 2012, this game was called off due to industrial action. It also happened the year before when Arsenal were due to play Wolves on Boxing Day 2011. The reasoning behind both was the same. That the club were fearful for the safety of fans, and were worried that fans and match day staff might not be able to get to the game. The correct decision was made.

Based on these 3 precedent’s, the Manchester United game will surely also be re-arranged (Although it being Manchester United, I would not be surprised if TV companies step in and force the game to be played). If it is called off, it creates a worrying situation for Arsenal.

Whilst a cancellation will be good for February, as it will mean a week’s break between the 2 Liverpool games,  it could make March an even bigger disaster than it currently is.

Best case scenario is the game is re-arranged for either the 28th of February or 5th of March. That will see it sandwiched between Sunderland (H), Stoke (A) & Swansea (H) depending on which date is picked. All 3 of those games are on a Saturday, so playing Sat/Wed/Sat should not be a problem.

Worse case scenario is if the Premier League decide to re-arrange the fixture to the back end of February. The dates of 19th and 26 of March are available. This would see the game sandwiched between Spurs (A), Chelsea (A) & Manchester City (H). Not an ideal situation. If the Premier League decides to play the game on these dates, it could spell disaster for Arsenal’s season as it would be 4 touch Premier League games on the spin – at least with the current fixture list it is only 2 Premier League games on the spin. Edit: United have a CL tie on the week of the 19th and play City on the week of the 26th, making this paragraph pointless!

We will have to wait and see whether the game is re-arranged. In both the Wolves and West Ham scenario’s, the announcements were made 5 and 7 days before the strike respectively, so at latest we should hear Friday. If it is re-arranged, hopefully the Premier League do not screw us over by re-scheduling it at the end of March.

Keenos

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

Premier League at its tightest ever?

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Without trying to be captain obvious, it is getting tight at the top. On Christmas Day, Liverpool were top of the league. The last time a side was top of the league at Christmas and not go on to win the league was Liverpool, back in 2008/09. 17 days after Christmas, they find themselves in 6th place, not even in a Europa League spot.

Since Liverpool topped the league on Christmas Day, Arsenal, Manchester City and now Chelsea have also topped the Premier League. This just go’s to show how tight it is at the top, and it is getting closer.

Whilst Manchester United and Spurs are out of the title race (for now) Spurs could have gone into a Champions League spot had results gone their way yesterday. As for Manchester United, they are having their worst season in Premier League history, yet find themselves just 2 points behind Liverpool, who are having one of their best seasons. Liverpool, just a few weeks ago were being considered title contenders, whilst United are a club in crisis.

Manchester City could go top today with a win over Newcastle. They could then be usurped by Arsenal if we win against Aston Villa on Monday. When was the last time the Premier League had 3 different leaders over a weekend in January?

This years title race will go down to the wire. And it is getting to a point where you look at Manchester United, in 7th place, just 9 points behind leaders Chelsea, that you have to think that they might not yet be out of the race.

The Premier League is regaining its place as the most exciting league in Europe. When I look across the major European leagues, no where is it as tight as it is in England.

  • Premier League: 9 points separate top 7, 5 points separate top 4
  • Bundesliga: 16 points separate top 7, 12 points separate top 4
  • Ligue 1: 18 points separate top 7, 14 points separate top 4
  • La Liga: 20 points separate top 7, 14 points separate top 4
  • Serie A: 23 points separate top 7, 13 points separate top 4

What it also means is that Arsenal fan’s should not get too cocky about the ‘gap’ between Spurs and ourselves. Despite Spurs sacking their manager, and buying £100m of tripe, they are currently just 5 points behind us. Taking into account that in the last few years, we have overhauled a gap of over 10 points in January to finish above them, it is certainly not a time to be too cocky.

A victory against Aston Villa will put us back on top of the table. After defeat against Aston Villa at home on the opening day of the season, every Arsenal fan would have taken being top (or even 3rd, 1/2 points behind the leaders) after 21 games.

The Premier League is at its tightest ever.

Keenos