Tag Archives: Santi Cazorla

10 Reasons why we will beat Saints + Starting XI and Henry’s back ?

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1.. Chesney got a new improved contract, well done to him for not only improving but for also looking like he’s knuckling down and working hard but also for not making a fool of himself on social media anymore. Other players at the club take note eh? Dench not even on the Bench..

2.. Gibbs – must of been great for him to get into another Engerland squad, as I said at the start of the season playing well and keeping fit for us will reap international call ups.

3.. Our Big Fucking German, really looked like he enjoyed the mid week win over Woy’s Boys. Clean sheet, scored the winner, was a pest in Engerland’s box and a rock in the Germans. Starting to really love him.

4.. This may be the most important reason, not only did we not get any fresh injuries we actually have players back. Diaby is obviously not one of them.

5.. Flamini is suspended after picking up 5 bookings which means Wenger cant play both him and Arteta in the same side, which really really does not work. I hope they sit Flamini next to Big Frank for the game, so Frank can have a quiet word about club traditions.

6.. THEO IS BACK! Two things we have missed badly so far this season is width and pace, Theo brings both. I cant wait to see Ozil spraying balls forwards for him to run onto.

7.. Southampton, They are a bit of a surprise to be sitting 3rd in the table but with a draw at Man Utd, a win at Liverpool and only letting in 5 goals in 11 Prem games (the meanest in the division) its no fluke. This will not be a walk over for us today.

8.. Ramsey and Wilshere are both fit despite injury fears this week, I’d expect Ramsey to start and Wilshere to be on the bench.

9.. Cazorla, Ozil, Walcott and Giroud…just think about that for a second…

10.. Wenger Knows, he cant take Southampton lightly and they will run and fight for every ball but we should have a little bit too much class for them.

Predicted starting XI – Chesney, Sagna, BFG, Kos, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey, Santi, Ozil, Theo, Giroud.

Henry, back training at the club during the MLS ‘off season’. This could be great for the squad to have him around as the better the players you train with the better you can become but he should not come to us to play. We should of bought a top class forward two summers ago and Henry to come in and play 3-4 games is not the answer. Despite the good goals we have all seen him put in for the New York Red Bulls the standard of play in the MLS is Div 3 (in old money) so yes it’s good to see him around but please no, please buy a world class forward not loan a former one.

henry

Mesut Ozil and Theo Walcott – Partnership made in heaven

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Theo Walcott is set to make his Arsenal return against Southampton for Arsenal this Saturday after being out for 2 months with a stomach injury. Since he picked up his injury, Arsenal have missed his pace and direction. His return from injury will change the way Arsenal perform, and he will add another dimension to our attacking formation. Adding the pace and width to change a game.

Mesut Ozil and Theo Walcott have played twice together since the German joined the club. In the 1st game, away to Sunderland, Ozil put Walcott through a couple of times, with the German’s vision and Englishman’s pace combining well. Only some good goal keeping stopped Theo getting a couple of goals. In their second game together, against Marseille, Walcott got his only goal this season.

It was that first game against Sunderland where we really saw what the partnership of Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil could do. With opponent’s being naturally drawn to Mesut Ozil, it gives Walcott bundles of space on the right hand side. With Ozil’s vision and passing ability, he will be able to pick out Walcott for fun. He was put in by Ozil 3 times against Sunderland. He might not have scored, but after 21 goals last season, we know he can finish. It will only be a matter of time until the back of the net starts rippling.

To say the partnership could be similar to the Thierry Henry / Dennis Bergkamp partnership of the early 00s would be ludicrous. It is more similar to that of Nicolas Anelka / Dennis Bergkamp. Bergkamp once said that Anelka was a dream to play with, as his runs were simple and he made it easy for Bergkamp to find. On the other hand, Bergkamp allowed Anelka to play simply. Make the run and the ball will arrive, used to be the mentality.

The Ozil / Walcott partnership will be similar. All Theo has to do is make the run, and the ball will find him. People claim Walcott does not have a football brain. I find this insulting to a professional football. But if it were true, he does not need one with Ozil in the side. All he has to do is run in a straight line, Ozil will do the rest.

Ozil and Walcott have only played twice together. Ozil, Cazorla and Walcott have yet to play together. This becomes even more mouth watering. As now you do not just have Ozil or Cazorla having the ability to find Walcott, you now have Ozil and Cazorla. Arsenal’s play will be very simple. Play around in the middle and on the left, drag the defenders over, then a quick through ball between full back and centre back and Walcott will be away. The 3 behind Giroud gives me exciting thoughts!

How Arsenal line up behind these 3 will be interesting. With Arteta & Flamini battling for 1 spot, and Wilshere and Ramsey the other, it does give us options. And we can play a combination of any 2 of the 4 and we will be strong. To think, with players returning from injury, our bench against Southampton could read: Fabianski, Monreal, Vermalean, Flamini, Wilshere, Rosicky & Bendtner. Who said we had no strength in depth?

It is crazy to think that Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil have only paid twice together this season. It is perhaps testament to how well Arsenal have started that they are still top, despite last seasons second best player (Santi Cazorla being 1st) being out for 2 months. There have been games where Walcott’s pace and width have been missed – WBA away springs to mind – and his return will only make Arsenal stronger.

Whether he starts or is on the bench for the game against Southampton, one thing is for certain, his return makes the Arsenal side better, and the Ozil/Walcott partnership will go from strength to strength.

Keenos

Ramsey, Cazorla, Ozil, Injuries, Suits, Loic Remy & More

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Aaron Ramsey

I am getting fed up of speaking about the Welshman. I have been one of his biggest supporters for some time. For me, he has been brilliant for 12 months, not just this season. The main difference between this and last season is the goals. And what a goal it was against Liverpool. That is the type of finish you do when you do not need to think about what you’re doing. 10 games in, he should already have the Premier League Young Player of the Year wrapped up. Although it still would not surprise me if it go’s to Andros Townsend, despite him scoring as many league goals for Tottenham as Asmir Begovic has scored for Stoke City.

Santi Cazorla

A lesson to every young footballer here. Never stop playing. Another player, after the header hit the post, would have put his head in his hands and missed the chance for the tap on. Cazorla did not stop running and, whilst Skrtel stood still Cazorla got onto the rebound 1st for a brilliant finish. Always be moving. As soon as you stand still you miss an opportunity or end up a step behind.

Mesut Ozil

It sums up the strength of our midfield that our £42.5million signing had a poor game against one of our title contenders and yet we still dominated the middle of the park. With Cazorla, Ramsey & Rosicky performing – And Arteta regaining his form and fitness – it shows how important a squad can be. The more better players you have, the less of an effect a poor performance by one player has.

Injuries

According the Physio Room, Arsenal are top of the league. Unfortunately it is the injury table we are top of, rather than the Premier League. You have to go to the Premier League’s official site to see us top of the one. And that is what I feel is exciting. We have 9 injuries. Diaby, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Podolski, Sanogo, Walcott, Flamini, Gnabry, Wilshere and now Gibbs. We played Liverpool with 8 players who would have been in the squad. Add in Gibbs and we are in the middle of an injury crisis. It perhaps shows on the bench (Although we still had 5 Internationals with 136 combined caps and 2 England U19 players) that we are suffering, but on the pitch we are not. Top of the league with these injuries, how far can we go when even half of those players return?

Quick Free Kick

A lot of talk this morning how Liverpool fans were robbed due to the quick free kick. It is a non story. Martin Atkinson gave the free kick, and was in the process of correctly booking Bacary Sagna when the quick free kick was taken. Martin Atkinson did not restart the game, and due to his decision to book Sagna, Liverpool have to wait until the referee has booked the offending player and then restarted play. There is no argument to be had here. Liverpool were not robbed. There was no goal to be ‘disallowed’ as play had not restarted.

Suits

Suits

It is only a little thing, but how sexy was that suit? Some have said for a long time, we are The Arsenal, we should be wearing suits. Hopefully this is a return to them. I do not know who made the decision that we start wearing them, whether it be Wenger, someone at board level, or the players themselves, but it is a good step in rebuilding the view that Arsenal are the class of English football.

Arsenal Suits

Loic Remy

Football is easy in hindsight. Transfers even easily. Before he scored against Chelsea, I commented on Twitter that he could have been an addition to the squad. He would have been able to provide good back up to Olivier Giroud, whilst also being able to play out wide. Taking into account the injuries to every single one of our wide players this year, he probably would have got minutes in every single league game this season. With him currently on bail until November 21st for an alleged rape, I can understand why we did not sign him. However, if he is found not guilty, Arsenal should explore as to whether we can break his season-long loan deal with Newcastle.

Test Passed

Yesterday was supposed to be our first big test. We passed that. And as expected, pundits have now moved the goal posts. Rather then Liverpool being the first test, the criticism is now that we have yet to play Manchester United, Manchester City or Chelsea. Sounds like sour grapes from pundits who can not admit we are in the title race. And as Chelsea showed in a defeat to Newcastle, every game in the Premier League is a potential defeat.

  • Arsenal have lost at home to Aston Villa
  • Chelsea have lost away to Everton and away to Newcastle
  • Liverpool have drawn with 11 men against 10 versus Newcastle
  • Manchester City have lost away to both Aston Villa and Cardiff City
  • Manchester United have lost at home to WBA
  • Tottenham have lost at home to West Ham

Every game in the Premier League is a test, and all you can do is beat whichever team you are playing that weekend. All a victory against Liverpool has reinforced in my mind is that we are title challengers.

Keenos