Tag Archives: Mesut Özil

Ramsey, Mertesacker, Ozil, Cazorla and More

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So just a few thoughts this morning on a few things Arsenal…

Aaron Ramsey

I have already professed my admiration for Aaron Ramsey in a previous blog where I made the claim that he is a future Arsenal captain. I will not go over old ground again, other than to say he is continuing to progress and, with 5 goals in 6 games, is now adding the much missed goals to his game. I remember when he played against England and dominated Frank Lampard & Steven Gerrard. Were Ramsey English, there would be plenty of hype around him. With the goals now added to his game, if he continues his progression, he will become a better player then Lampard and Gerrard.

Per Mertesacker

‘He has no pace’ people moaned. ‘We can get better’ they complained. ‘He is awful’ was the consensus by man. However, you do not win 93 caps for a nation such as Germany  at 28 by being a poor player. Anyone who fully understands football could see he is a brilliant player. Positioning and leadership. Who needs pace if you are impossible to get around? It is often said you only realise how good a player is when he is not playing, and the talk on the train after Sunderland was how much we missed the big man. The defence lacked organisation and leadership without him. With Koscielny giving away is 53rd penalty in an Arsenal shirt just highlighting that Per Mertesacker is head and shoulders above any other Arsenal centre back. In my opinion, he is the best defender in the league. Make your judgement on watching him play, not on playing with him on FIFA.

Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla

Against Sunderland, we got a glimpse of what Mesut Ozil can do. Always in space. Always ready to receive the ball. A brilliant touch. Brilliant vision. A fantastic assist for the 1st goal, and well involved for the 3rd. He might of tired towards the end but he showed what £42.5million gets you. Now add Santi Cazorla into the mix and the excitement is mouth watering. These two could propel us to the title. They will set up goals for fun. And with Oliver Giroud now having the confidence to go alongside his ability, he would get 30 goals plus. For me, we now have the most creative midfield in the Premier League.

Theo Walcott

Theo got a lot of criticism during the Sunderland game. Two missed chances (I will not count the header) and people were on his back. Let me get a few things straight. Neither chance was clear cut. The angle was against him and Westwood made 2 good saves. Last year, Theo Walcott got 21 goals and 14 assists. He is a very good player. After criticism playing for England, we as Arsenal fans need to back him. He is a massive confidence player. Get off his back. Sing his name. And he will start scoring again. Look at Ramsey as an example. Part of the reason he is improving is confidence. Let us not get on Theo’s back. It will not help him, it will not help Arsenal. Leave your boo’s and criticism to the pubs after the game.

British Transport Police

Brilliant job by the British Transport Police on the train back from Sunderland yesterday. There was no hint of anything until they came along. Then in their own special, antagonizing way, created an issue and tension where there was no need. Do they have a quota to fill? Do they have to show they have stopped and searched a certain amount of football fans on a game day? Getting told to stop signing is ludicrous. It is not illegal to sing. Chap on our train was right, rugby act worse. Are noisier. Drink more. Yet the police do nothing with the tarquin’s. Renditions from us of ‘Swing Low’ and The National Anthem did not go down well. The hour of singing Christmas carols was hilarious. But any policeman reading this. Why? Why do you need to act the way you do? Stopping young men doing nothing wrong except enjoying themselves? Football fans, victimized. On a side note, met some good lads on the Sunderland train! 5 hour journey, plenty of beer, some good laughs. Enjoy Marseille to those that are going!

Title Contenders?

SAY WE ARE TOP THE LEAGUE, SAY WE ARE TOP THE LEAGUE

We are a title contender. I do not care what the boo boys say. What the press say. We have the best defence in the Premier League and the most creative midfield. When we compare to other Premier League sides, I do not see why we can not win the league. We have a better 1st XI then Manchester United – I also think we have a better squad, and Moyes does not have a clue!; Chelsea are strong, both in 1st XI and squad, but there defeat against Everton shows they are not unbeatable. They could suffer from not having a consistent 1st XI. Manchester City have not gone forward this season. Poor signings in Fernandinho and Navas, and unneeded signings in Negrado and Jovetic. With the likes of David Silva and Sergio Aguero, they will be a threat. But we can compete. As for Liverpool and Spurs. They are of no threat.

We are title contenders. Our players are good enough. We as fans just need to make sure we are the twelve man every game. To cheer the lads to victory.

Arsenal Football Club – 2013/14 Premier League Champions; Why not?

Keenos

The Arsenal and Me – Michael’s Story

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Just over a week ago, Arsenal signed Musut Özil and several hours before that ‘we beat the scum 1-0’ (Has a nice ring that, wonder if it can be made into a song?). I’m here at work on a warm Wednesday afternoon, just 48 hours after the signing, still glowing from an Arsenal double joy and reading the She Wore ‘Arsenal & Me’ blogs thinking ”I could have a bit of this blogging malarkey”. So here goes…

Do you really need to hear about my past credentials? I guess not, but it seems the standard. 

I grew in up Islington, born in ’79. My dad was the youngest of 8 children that grew up off Liverpool Road, Islington. He and his brother closest in age (my Uncle) used to frequent Highbury as children during the 1960’s mainly to watch the Liverpool’s, United’s & West Ham’s of the day. The latter my dad went on to later support and became a regular over Upton Park for many years. My uncle on the other hand was taken in by the Arsenal faithful and not looked back since.

So I could have been a Hammer but my dad did not force supporting them onto me…not even subliminally. (I tried to do the same for my children, not influencing them, but I just couldn’t do it. We have 2 more Gunners to the ranks!).

Thankfully I grew up a Gooner like my Uncle & the majority of the family.

An uncle on my mother’s side of the family took me too my first game – Arsenal vs Leicester 20th April 1987. It was towards the end of the season but I remember a lot of hype which centred upon on an Arsenal striker which had been bought earlier in that season but returned back to Leicester on loan. That striker was Alan Smith and it was a chance for us to see him up close. Arsenal won 4-1.

The season after that I slowly started to be a regular on the Clockend, aged 8 propped up against the terrace rails standing on my little red stall allowing me to see the game!
Did I pass the supporters test? Fuck it! Doesn’t matter in any case this will help as a back story to my ‘Me & my Arsenal story’.

“Marwood, Brian Marwood. Brian Marwood on the wing…..and in Goal?!” 

At the start of the famous 1989 season my dad put my name down to be an Arsenal mascot. Luckily my name was picked out of the hat and I was chosen. On the 1st October 1989 Tony Adams & I proudly lead the Arsenal team out onto the pitch. The fixture wasn’t at Highbury but instead at Upon Park against my dad’s West Ham. What mixed emotions my dad must have had.

In the summer before being mascot I got my first (full) kit for my birthday – The 1989 yellow & blue Adidas away top.

My mum did that thing that most mothers which is to write their child’s name on the inside of all their clothes. Fine, except she did it to my Arsenal socks and of course with all football socks you roll the tops down. So there I am at 10 years of age leading out the famous Arsenal Football Club with Big ‘Tone’ holding my hand yet as I look down to my feet staring back at me was my full name written on the outside of my socks! Pillock!

Half an hour or so before my mascot duties really started I was asked if I wanted to join the Junior Hammers boys & Girls out on the pitch. As much as I was bricking at that time it I accepted and shortly stepped out onto the pitch together with these other children in their West Ham tracksuits. We did several laps of the pitch as they advertised their Junior Hammer scheme holding a large ‘Join the Junior Hammers’ banner. As I approached what is now the Bobby Moore Stand, a chant started from the away end. Originally I didn’t catch it. One of the Junior Hammers turned to me and asked.

“Why didn’t you wave?” 
“Why? What did they sing? I didn’t hear it.” I replied

One lap later we got around to the travelling Gooner’s again but this time much louder and clearer to me I heard.

“Mascot! Gis’ a wave! Mascot! Mascot! Gis’ a wave!” Of course I waved which was matched by a gracious cheer. This carried on for each lap.

Forward on and Big Tone & I (with the name on my socks!) emerged from the tunnel & led the Arsenal team out onto the pitch. We applauded the entire crowd in the centre circle as is the Arsenal tradition for thanking the paying fans for attending and off I went to take pot shots at Johnny Lukic. I’d taken a few shots during the warm-up when all of a sudden Lukic disappeared back towards the tunnel. He’d forgotten his kit bag or towel. I’m now left on my own in the penalty area with an open goal but with no-one to kick to or pass with.

In steps my saviour – Mr Brian Marwood! Now sense would prevail as Marwood is a winger that we’d simply pass to each other. Not for the ‘Pro’ that is Marwood. “Right, I’m in goal lad!”

For what seemed to be the next 5 minutes, Arsenal and soon to be capped England international Brian Marwood is in goal saving shots from a 10 year old child at Upton Park.

Marwood in Goal

AMAZING!

Lukic later returned for a few more shots and Arsenal went on to win the match 4-1.
Thank you Brian for making my day magic!

If you’ve read this far thank you and my sincere apologies as you won’t get those 5 minutes back! If you read it and actually enjoyed it…Wow!

I’ve some more Arsenal related stories such as when I later worked in different roles & departments such as an YTS sports coach, turnstile operator, Box Office & Mail Order but I’ll save them for another time….maybe.

Up the Arsenal!

If you would like to tell your Arsenal story, click here

3 more sleeps till Ozil

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In 3 sleeps time, we will be able to experience one of the greatest moments in recent history (ie the last 5 years). The debut of Mesut Ozil. The first truly world class player that Arsenal have signed since Dennis Bergkamp. Maybe even before that. He is a truly great signing. His story and journey has been done to death. This is more about the excitement of his debut.

It feels like the countdown to Christmas day. Only that I have not been able to open a little door hiding a chocolate for the last 24 days. The excitement  is building. I imagine that this Friday, just like on Christmas Eve, I will not be able to sleep. Might have to have a few drinks to knock me out.

On Saturday morning, I will be getting on the train to Sunderland. At 9.44am from Kings Cross to be exact. Landing in Newcastle at a little before one. Cross the road to O’Neill’s for a few beers before making the way to the game. I am buzzing just writing this.

Not only will it be the debut of Mesut Ozil, it will also be the first proper away trip after a relatively short trip to Fulham what seems like an age ago (thanks FIFA). Last year Sunderland was rated by The Lads as ‘The Best Away Trip’. This year it could go either way, with the tight train jounrey on the way home (miss our 6pm train from Newcastle, and thanks to National Rail doing works on the line, we could end up taking a 4 train, 5 hour journey via Newcastle, Sheffield, Loughborough and finally getting to Kings Cross at around midnight!). What you do for love hey?

Anyway, back to Ozil. Originally the thoughts were he would not start. Arsene Wenger has a history of ensuring a new signings first start was at home. And with today being the first training session with his new team mates, it would have been likely that he would be on the bench against both Sunderland and Marseille, before making his first full start against Stoke City next Sunday.

However, after Theo Walcott limping off against Ukraine, Tomas Rosicky picking up a thigh injury and Podolski, Oxlade Chamberlain, Arteta and Diaby still injured, we are light in midfield (where have we heard that before?). Luckily reports of Aaron Ramsey being out look to be unfounded. This could lead to Ozil making his first start of the season, potential on the right wing:

Wilshere Flamini Ramsey
Ozil Giroud Cazorla

Just writing this has made me excited. We have Mesut Ozil. Mesut Fricking Ozil.

And on Saturday, no matter if he starts or comes off the bench, we will see his debut. And I can not wait.

3 more sleeps to go

Keenos