Tag Archives: She Wore

Would Michael Carrick do a job at Arsenal?

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If it was not for Patrick Vieira, Michael Carrick’s Arsenal career would be dwindling to an end right now.

Back in 2004, Vieira was flirting with Real Madrid. In fact, he was more than flirting, he was England+v+Ireland+International+Friendly+NVcUQH2Tlifxhaving a dirty affair, and on the verge of leaving Arsenal for them. Arsenal and Arsene Wenger expected him to leave. And lined up was West Ham central midfielder Michael Carrick.

The deal was done for just a few million. Everything all but signed. The 23 year old midfielder was set to herald in a new era of Arsenal . Less about the pace and power of Patrick Vieira, more about incisive passing. A team built around a young talented Englishman.

At the last minute, Patrick Vieira decided the grass was not greener, and the Real Madrid deal fell through. With Gilberto Silva and Edu at the club, a decision was made, there was no space for Michael Carrick with Vieira staying. Especially as the signing would have killed the development of a young Spaniard who had recently been signed from Barcelona. Francesc Fabregas.

The Carrick deal did not happen, and a few weeks later, he joined Spurs, and later, Manchester United, where he won it all.

With his contract coming to an end, he has been linked with Arsenal once more on a free transfer. After a hot debate with a few people, I decided to come up with “why” and “why not” Arsenal should go for Michael Carrick

Why

Michael Carrick comes with a wealth of experience. He has been there, done it, got the t-shirt. With Tomas Rosicky, Mikel Arteta & Mathieu Flamini set to leave this summer, Arsenal are set to lose a lot of experience.

We could replace all of those players with one signing, Michael Carrick.

If Arsenal are investing their future in Francis Coquelin as first choice defensive midfielder, and Mohammad Elneny as 2nd choice, we look a little light beyond that.

Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere & Calum Chambers can all do a job, but Michael Carrick can do a better job.

He would be ideal to back up, and provide experience, to the two defensive midfielders we are likely to keep.

Why Not

We need to be looking at bigger, at better. We need to look at the first 11 and think “right, where can we improve”, and go out and buy better players than what we currently have.

In defensive midfield, we need to go out and buy someone better than Francis Coquelin. That then makes Coquelin 2nd choice, and Elneny 3rd choice.

Michael Carrick is not better than Coquelin.

And at 35 (which he will be in the summer) and his recent injury record, he would not be someone to rely on.

Carrick would be a cheap option, like when we signed Mikel Silvestre from Manchester United.

If we are looking for someone to add experience to the squad, then why not stick with what we have. Offer Flamini a new year long deal, and let him do the job which he currently do’s, provide back up for Coquelin and Elneny.

If you do not rate either of these as first choice defensive midfielder, we need to buy better.

Quality, not quantity.

Have your say…

Keenos

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Arsenal set to field strong line up for FA Cup

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Arsenal are likely to make changes for Saturday’s FA Cup fixture against Hull.

With one eye on a Champions League home tie against Barcelona on Tuesday, followed by 3 Premier League games in 7 days, including key trips to Manchester United and Spurs, Arsene Wenger will use this FA Cup weekend to give some key players a rest.

Despite the expected squad rotation, Arsenal will still field a strong side filled with international regulars and talented youth. It will be more than enough to destroy Hull City, who themselves will field a weak side as they go for promotion.

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So what will Arsenal’s side look like?

David Ospina

Columbian international goal keeper who this time last year became Arsenal’s number 1. Came in for some fair criticism after a Champions League appearance against Olympiakos earlier this season, where he dropped a corner into his own net, but this was merely just an error. A quality keeper with 62 caps for his country, he is a safe pair of hands. Arguably the best number 2 in the league.

Hector Bellerin

With Carl Jenkinson (capped by England) and Mathieu Debuchy (capped by France), it leaves Hector Bellerin, our first choice and only uncapped right back to play right hand side. Despite him being so young – younger than Manchester United’s next big thing Donald Love – he has been 1st choice for a year now. He is our senior right back.

Per Mertesacker

World Cup Winner. 100 Caps for Germany. Vice Captain. Not exactly putting the kids in when he starts is it?

Calum Chambers

With Laurent Koscielny going off against Leicester City at the weekend, and Gabriel currently sunning himself in Brazil, Chambers will play centre back. In my opinion it is his best position, and he is a future England international. He might be young, but he is composed. Already capped by England, he performed terrifically against Leicester and will play again against Hull City

Kieran Gibbs

Another international who is part of our ‘B’ side. 18 months ago, he was first choice, and arguably England’s best left back. The brilliant form shown by Nacho Monreal this season has meant he has been a bit part player, a defensive sub and a few cup appearances. He is a class full back, especially in games we dominate. Not exactly weak.

Mohamed Elneny

Since he signed for Arsenal in January, his appearances have been fleeting. But he performed well in the FA Cup against Sunderland. Inexperienced in the Premier League, he has a wealth of experience on the continent, and has performed well in the Champions League for Basel.

Mathieu Flamini

Another player with vast experience. His days might be numbered at Arsenal, but with a potential carrot of a one year extension, he rarely lets us down.

Alex Iwobi

The only real kid in the side with little experience. He has impressed when he has played. And surrounded by experience, there will be no pressure on him to do anything but play his own game.

Joel Campbell

It shows our strength in depth that having had such an influence at the beginning of the season, Joel Campbell has not been seen since the 62nd minute against Southampton. He will get a run out against Hull City.

Theo Walcott / Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

With Alexis Sanchez certain to be rested, this is one of the only decisions Arsene Wenger has to make. Who to play left wing? It will depend on what is plan is against Barcelona. Whichever one he is not playing to start in the Champions League will get a run out against Hull. My bet is Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Danny Welbeck

Imagine rotating in England’s number 9 as your second choice striker. Regaining fitness, he will be buzzing after the goal against Leicester. Another experienced international. He might be getting rotated in, but is still a strong player.

Ospina
Bellerin Mertesacker Chambers Gibbs
Elneny Flamini
Campbell Iwobi Ox
Welbeck

The side we are set to put out might be a rotate side, but it is a very strong side, one that would do  a job in many Premier League games.

Keenos

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White Knight Danny Welbeck Destroys the Evil Leicester

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Cheaters never prosper.

Or at least that is how the old Chinese proverb 骗子永远繁荣昌盛 go’s.

For 94 minutes yesterday, it seemed like the cheats were going to win. Or get a draw. Until White Knight Danny Welbeck rode in from the Arsenal treatment table to become the Arsenal hero of the day. Saving the sides league title challenge. Saving football for all of humanity. Ensuring the dirty horrible Leicester did not win.

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Jamie Vardy, with looks like an evil goblin, was chief cheat. Going down like he was the incarnation of Andy Johnson to cheat his way to a penalty.

We have all complained already about the biased coverage, but in case you have not already seen it, Scouse evil fairy Danny Murphy said something along the lines of:

“It was a blatant penalty. Nacho Monreal planted his foot on the floor. He has no right to plant his foot on the floor. It was an utter disgrace. The way Monreal attacked the ground, causing shockwaves that were felt in Christchurch, New Zealand has no place on a football field. Jamie Vardy was unable to keep his feet. It was a 100% penalty.”

And Jamie Vardy scored that penalty. Celebrating with a face only a mother and people from Stoke could love. And the cheating did not end that there.

Other incidents – not mentioned on MOTD2, include a dive by Riyad Mahrez and a hand ball by N’Golo Kanté, where he was clearly auditioning for the French National Volleyball Team.

And then we come to Danny Simpson.

He spent much of the first half kicking Alexis Sanchez at every opportunity. Eventually he was righty booked. Then early in the second half, he pulled Alexis Sanchez as if he was holding hands on a Valentines Day date. He was given his 2nd booking and sent off. It then took him 4 minutes to leave the field of play – Will the FA extend his ban for failing to leave the field of play?

Probably not.

Evil, the whole lot of them.

Leicester are clearly cursed. It seems like their players are inflicted with a curse that means that when their number go’s up on the 4th official’s board, they lose their ability to walk. It took a life time for each one of their substitutions to take place as they almost crawled to the touch line,

And then we have that challenge by Danny Drinkwater on Aaron Ramsey. It was a red card. Our friend Danny Murphy did not like it at all.

“I hate seeing that”

Of course, he was talking about the disgusting potential leg breaking challenge. Or was he?

So here we have a pundit, an ex-professional football player, saying that Vardy has every right to go down for the penalty, but hate’s seeing a player go down after being on the end of a potential leg breaking challenge. One which Drinkwater felt so bad about himself that he actually apologised to Ramsey at the final whistle.

Maybe the BBC will apologise to tax payers for employing such rubbish pundits?

Danny Murphy, you are a disgrace. Hope when someone hits you with a car, and you role over the bonnet and onto the pavement a few times, the ambulance man says “Oh, I do not like seeing that much” and walks off.

As for the referee. Martin Atkinson, the new Mike Dean? He is a disgraceful referee. The only thing consistent about him was his consistency.

Taking out the penalty and the diving, he seemed to change the hand ball rule as he went along.

At one point penalising Alexis Sanchez for a handball whilst running, he then failed to penalise Vard for the same incident. And then we have the Kante one. His arm was out straight and it was straight infront of the linesman. How a penalty was not given, Atkinson is the only one who can answer. Sadly, refs are answerable to no one.

And then rewinding the incident for the Leicester penalty, some bloke was climbing so on Mesut Ozil’s back it was like he was trying to reach heaven from hell. No free kick given, and luckily for us at the final whistle he was sent back to where he came from.

In the 95th minute, Mesut Ozil and Danny Welbeck combined to save the day. And the world was right again.

Good rose above evil and The Arsenal won 2-1.

Keenos

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