Wouldn't you know it, I'm traveling and was unable to see any of these two games live. What I've watched of the highlights, and read from recaps, gives me a lot of hope for Arsenal's chances to accomplish things this season. Granted, City looks pretty good and has a five point lead in the league, but there's a long way to go and we look downright awesome these days.
It seems a long time ago that the Gunners rode their luck for three points against Southampton and looked awful in a 1-1 draw in Paris. But impressive road wins against inferior opposition and dominating home wins against usually formidable opponents have infused players and supporters alike with confidence. Theo Walcott of all people is probably the poster boy for this turnaround. He has rededicated himself to the game, renouncing his intentions to be a central striker and working harder than ever before to be a complete winger. And goals! He and Bellerin are clicking on the right side. It has to be nerve-wracking for opposing mids and defenders to see two of the fastest players in the league making themselves available on one side for assist machines like Ozil and Cazorla--and with Alexis buzzing around the penalty area combining with his teammates beautifully too. We're creating so many chances that it hardly matters that most are wasted.
Of course, the clean sheets help there. The four goals Liverpool scored against Holding and Chambers were an aberration. Koscielny and Mustafi are already working well together, their fullbacks are very cognizant of their defensive duties, Coquelin/Xhaka/Cazorla/Elneny shield the back four very well, and we have a superb goalkeeper--two, really--between the sticks. 13 - 1 in our last four games...I don't care what the opposition is, that's impressive.
Back to Walcott. He's being very modest about his offensive production, saying all the right things about the past being irrelevant and focusing on improving in the next game. Theo has always been enormously talented, capable of scoring some fabulous goals. It was his consistency and his commitment to defense that was deficient. He seems to have made huge strides in those departments. He has nailed down the right wing position in the important games. On the left, Iwobi has taken full advantage of the opportunity afforded him by Wenger's odd insistence that Alexis is a center forward, and is doing things players his age are not supposed to do, like combine on lovely flowing attacking moves. Ozil does not always play at his best, but he's having some really good games this season and is popping a few into the net. Alexis is his usual devastating self, as happy to flight perfect crosses or slot great cutbacks to teammates as he is to fire shots at the net. And boy does he terrify center backs who don't get rid of the ball quickly enough.
I don't think there'll be a letdown at Burnley. I will watch that game. If Coquelin, Ramsey, and Giroud become fit, we'll be nearly at full strength. Shad Forsythe magic? I don't know about you, but I figured Lucas Perez would be starting in Giroud's absence. Instead, he's warming the bench. We need to stay alive in the League Cup if only to give minutes to players like Gibbs, Ramsey, Perez, Giroud, Elneny, Gabriel, Holding, and others a chance to stay sharp. I think AOC may have played himself out of the manager's plans, but we shall see.
Thursday, September 29, 2016
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
Forest 0 - 4 Arsenal
All eleven positions were changed from the team that ran Hull ragged on Saturday, and the men and boys Wenger sent out today put a mid-table Championship side to the sword. There was no repeat of last year's debacle at Sheffield Wednesday. The goals were quality (I saw them only in replays). From what I read, Xhaka and Elneny bossed things in central midfield, and the frontmen were free to do their stuff, Oxing and Jeffing it up. Lucas Perez showed strength and skill, and he looks to be the go-to guy for PKs when Santi isn't on the pitch.
For the second game in a row, Granit launched a 35 yard blast that eluded the keeper, albeit this one got a slight deflection that made it harder to keep out. I believe I predicted that he'd be a source of occasional goals from distance. It's something that has been missing from our game. If the opponents drop deep and make it too difficult to weave patterns through their massed ranks, there's gonna be open shots from outside the box. Take one every once in a while. To be fair, Coquelin hit one every once in a while, but he's not going to score. Xhaka can (nyuk nyuk).
It was nice to see Kieran Gibbs wear the armband, and for Emiliano Martinez earn some of his salary. No Debuchy...hmmm. Not even on the bench. Wenger player Maitland-Niles at right back. Half the team was essentially the youth squad: Maitland-Niles, The Jeff, Willock, Zelalem, Bielek, Macey, Mavididi, Dasilva. Akpom and Holding are really young too. All in all, this was a day that could give me some confidence about the team's future as well as this season. Gabriel's back, and Ramsey should be healthy in another week or two. Giroud's toe can't keep him out long. Per and Welbeck are our only important players who we'll be without for a while. We're at least two deep everywhere but right back, if Debuchy is truly unavailable for some reason, and the backups are real quality. No wonder we felt comfortable loaning out Wilshere and Chambers. I like this squad--a lot. Once Perez gets going, we'll be very hard to play against.
Chelsea needed the 30 extra minutes to get past Leicester, although a lot of that was spent passing the ball around in the back after Cesc potted two goals in the first ten minutes of extra time. That damned Diego Costa looks dangerous every time he's near the ball, though he did misfire repeatedly today. They had to put him in in the second half, as well as Hazard. Maybe that'll help on Saturday. It won't be easy.
For the second game in a row, Granit launched a 35 yard blast that eluded the keeper, albeit this one got a slight deflection that made it harder to keep out. I believe I predicted that he'd be a source of occasional goals from distance. It's something that has been missing from our game. If the opponents drop deep and make it too difficult to weave patterns through their massed ranks, there's gonna be open shots from outside the box. Take one every once in a while. To be fair, Coquelin hit one every once in a while, but he's not going to score. Xhaka can (nyuk nyuk).
It was nice to see Kieran Gibbs wear the armband, and for Emiliano Martinez earn some of his salary. No Debuchy...hmmm. Not even on the bench. Wenger player Maitland-Niles at right back. Half the team was essentially the youth squad: Maitland-Niles, The Jeff, Willock, Zelalem, Bielek, Macey, Mavididi, Dasilva. Akpom and Holding are really young too. All in all, this was a day that could give me some confidence about the team's future as well as this season. Gabriel's back, and Ramsey should be healthy in another week or two. Giroud's toe can't keep him out long. Per and Welbeck are our only important players who we'll be without for a while. We're at least two deep everywhere but right back, if Debuchy is truly unavailable for some reason, and the backups are real quality. No wonder we felt comfortable loaning out Wilshere and Chambers. I like this squad--a lot. Once Perez gets going, we'll be very hard to play against.
Chelsea needed the 30 extra minutes to get past Leicester, although a lot of that was spent passing the ball around in the back after Cesc potted two goals in the first ten minutes of extra time. That damned Diego Costa looks dangerous every time he's near the ball, though he did misfire repeatedly today. They had to put him in in the second half, as well as Hazard. Maybe that'll help on Saturday. It won't be easy.
Saturday, September 17, 2016
Hull 1 - 4 Arsenal
Hull were their usual obliging selves at the KC and we came away with three points. The Gunners dominated when the sides were even, scoring in the 17th minute as Iwobi smashed one in (it barely brushed Alexis, who got the goal, but it was going in anyway). It got worse for Hull 20 minutes later, when an obvious intentional handball stopped a shot from Coquelin which was headed straight for the keeper anyway. Hull's GK stared daggers at Livermore, the culprit who was red-carded for the offense, but repelled the Alexis PK that followed. Wenger said after the game that Cazorla was supposed to take PKs, and would be asking some pointed questions of his players.
The one goal lead looked safe with a man advantage, but football's a funny game and I was relieved to see this really nice sequence from Iwobi and Walcott to make it 2-0 Gunners, Theo's 100th senior goal. The importance of that was emphasized when Hull (they never gave up) got one back on a PK as Cech made it too easy for the Hull forward to flop over his prone body. But credit to them for the move. Alexis cleaned up a Walcott rebound to restore the two-goal lead, And Xhaka, on for Cazorla, showed why he should be starting with a thunderbolt for the fourth goal. It had to be from over 30 yards, just under the crossbar, and swerving away from the keeper.
It was important not to lose intensity after the PSG game, and we did come out ready to play. Iwobi once again was not the most defensively aware winger, but he combined really well on offense and is going to feature often this season. Alexis started up top again, which I find hard to believe is as good as having Perez up there, but it worked out. Ozil worked hard but wasn't the maestro he was so often this time last year. I have no real complaints, though, as Arsenal easily outclassed Hull at equal strength and when a man up. A good three points, and no one hurt either.
PS Rudy Gestede scored on a Koscielnyesque bicycle kick last weekend for Villa. Just sayin'.
The one goal lead looked safe with a man advantage, but football's a funny game and I was relieved to see this really nice sequence from Iwobi and Walcott to make it 2-0 Gunners, Theo's 100th senior goal. The importance of that was emphasized when Hull (they never gave up) got one back on a PK as Cech made it too easy for the Hull forward to flop over his prone body. But credit to them for the move. Alexis cleaned up a Walcott rebound to restore the two-goal lead, And Xhaka, on for Cazorla, showed why he should be starting with a thunderbolt for the fourth goal. It had to be from over 30 yards, just under the crossbar, and swerving away from the keeper.
It was important not to lose intensity after the PSG game, and we did come out ready to play. Iwobi once again was not the most defensively aware winger, but he combined really well on offense and is going to feature often this season. Alexis started up top again, which I find hard to believe is as good as having Perez up there, but it worked out. Ozil worked hard but wasn't the maestro he was so often this time last year. I have no real complaints, though, as Arsenal easily outclassed Hull at equal strength and when a man up. A good three points, and no one hurt either.
PS Rudy Gestede scored on a Koscielnyesque bicycle kick last weekend for Villa. Just sayin'.
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
PSG 1 - 1 Arsenal
Walcott had a little knee issue, so Iwobi got a start--but AOC took Theo's place on the right. Iwobi was left wing, and, perplexingly, Alexis was given another run at forward. Everyone expected Giroud to start, and he should have, from a tactical standpoint. Coq-Caz ran the engine room, with Ozil as the #10. The defense was unchanged except for Ospina in goal.
By the time Arsenal woke up, we were down a goal. There's plenty of blame to go around for the ease with which Cavani headed in a cross from Aurier (he is very good, isn't he? Remember when it was rumored we were after him?) after just 42 seconds: Iwobi was nowhere to be found, though he should be tracking the opposition fullback; Cavani found open space between our two CBs; Monreal was not able (then or later) to stop Aurier's excellent cross. It must be said that the header was perfect, though. Fortunately, Cavani bottled every one of the chances he got the rest of the game, and there were several of them, all easier than the one he put in.
It was, I thought, a very entertaining game to watch, especially after Arsenal woke up. I didn't understand why Coquelin was the DM who was furthest forward most of the time. He did his best, but that incisive final ball is never going to come from him. It wasn't coming from Ozil either; he had a poor game. Alexis was isolated and was never going to compete for headers in the box the way Giroud or Perez would have. When Giroud did come in, Alexis moved out left and was a new man. He got the equalizer off a rebound from an Iwobi shot in the 77th minute. Both teams had good chances after that to win the game but spurned them. My opinion is that PSG was the better team on the night and we stole a point.
Or rather Ospina stole the point for us. He was brilliant.all game at stopping shots. His distribution wasn't great, but it didn't cost us. It didn't bother me when he started. He's top class, as we can see when he plays for Colombia. I'll never forget that clanger against Olympiakos, but he is a very good GK and deserved this shot. It will do wonders for his confidence.
Finally, it has to be said that Giroud is something of a moron. He's been getting yellows for dissent forever, and this season FIFA has said they're cracking down on it. But he can't seem to stop baiting the referees, and that earned him his first yellow. In stoppage time, he and Verrati (also on a yellow) got a little pissy with each other and the ref decided to throw them both out of the game. As the commentators said, maybe that's why Giroud didn't start. He got thrown out of the first group game last year too, at Zagreb, and it put us in a deep hole. That time, it took him 45 minutes; this time, a half hour. He needs to work on discipline. What a whiner; I understand why refs look for an excuse to eject him.
The other game was drawn as well. It's down to whether we can do the job against Ludogrets and Basel. Win three at home, take a point in Switzerland, and beat Ludogrets, and we win the group.
Hull on Saturday. I think we match up well against them. Paris was good preparation. I'll say 3-0 Gunners.
By the time Arsenal woke up, we were down a goal. There's plenty of blame to go around for the ease with which Cavani headed in a cross from Aurier (he is very good, isn't he? Remember when it was rumored we were after him?) after just 42 seconds: Iwobi was nowhere to be found, though he should be tracking the opposition fullback; Cavani found open space between our two CBs; Monreal was not able (then or later) to stop Aurier's excellent cross. It must be said that the header was perfect, though. Fortunately, Cavani bottled every one of the chances he got the rest of the game, and there were several of them, all easier than the one he put in.
It was, I thought, a very entertaining game to watch, especially after Arsenal woke up. I didn't understand why Coquelin was the DM who was furthest forward most of the time. He did his best, but that incisive final ball is never going to come from him. It wasn't coming from Ozil either; he had a poor game. Alexis was isolated and was never going to compete for headers in the box the way Giroud or Perez would have. When Giroud did come in, Alexis moved out left and was a new man. He got the equalizer off a rebound from an Iwobi shot in the 77th minute. Both teams had good chances after that to win the game but spurned them. My opinion is that PSG was the better team on the night and we stole a point.
Or rather Ospina stole the point for us. He was brilliant.all game at stopping shots. His distribution wasn't great, but it didn't cost us. It didn't bother me when he started. He's top class, as we can see when he plays for Colombia. I'll never forget that clanger against Olympiakos, but he is a very good GK and deserved this shot. It will do wonders for his confidence.
Finally, it has to be said that Giroud is something of a moron. He's been getting yellows for dissent forever, and this season FIFA has said they're cracking down on it. But he can't seem to stop baiting the referees, and that earned him his first yellow. In stoppage time, he and Verrati (also on a yellow) got a little pissy with each other and the ref decided to throw them both out of the game. As the commentators said, maybe that's why Giroud didn't start. He got thrown out of the first group game last year too, at Zagreb, and it put us in a deep hole. That time, it took him 45 minutes; this time, a half hour. He needs to work on discipline. What a whiner; I understand why refs look for an excuse to eject him.
The other game was drawn as well. It's down to whether we can do the job against Ludogrets and Basel. Win three at home, take a point in Switzerland, and beat Ludogrets, and we win the group.
Hull on Saturday. I think we match up well against them. Paris was good preparation. I'll say 3-0 Gunners.
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Arsenal 2 - 1 Southampton
We certainly made hard work of that one. Kos has a goal for the scrapbook, not as significant as the tying goal in the FA Cup final against Hull, but one that will linger long in our memories. Very classy. Santi slotted home the winner from the third PK we've been awarded this season; we got two in 38 games last season. A fortunate three points. It could very easily have gone the other way.
The Ox looks lost out there. If Wenger has any sense, this is the last time he should start until he's proved himself as a substitute. The occasional scintillating run with no end product is small recompense for his inattention to defensive duties and his failure to see the pass that's on. Alexis and Walcott have nailed down the wing positions, and when one of them can't play, Iwobi or Ramsey should come in. Hell, I'd play Gibbs at wing before AOC now. (Actually, that has worked before.)
I expect Xhaka and Elneny got a break because of internationals and PSG. Coquelin did his job, but he just isn't a threat on offense. Cazorla is back to prime form and compensates in that department. And it's nice to have a penalty taker on the pitch. I wonder if Perez takes them.
The defense played pretty well, I thought. There were some nerves for the new man, but Mustafi looks like a good partner for Kos, one that Per may not be able to displace when he returns to fitness. Poor Petr Cech--he was nowise at fault for the own-goal. It was a fantastic free kick from Tadic, and he actually kept it out before the fortuitous rebound. The problem was our being second to the ball way too often. They had it in prime shooting position in two or three seconds, leading to Monreal's desperation missed slide tackle and the free kick. Credit to Southampton for enterprise.
I don't know what to think of Perez. I missed most of the game (it's my policy this season to watch only when it's convenient for my wife), so don't know, outside of the header towards Koscielny for his bicycle kick, what else he contributed. Giroud managed to be in position to draw the silly foul in the box that set up the winner.
I mixed bag in the other games I saw or followed:
In Serie A, Juve and Roma won, and Fiorentina was rained out.
The US won its first round qualifying group with a 4-0 thumping of Trinidad and Tobago.
DC United improbably got a point from the Red Bulls at their place after being thoroughly outplayed for 87 minutes and then getting one in the 88th and another in stoppage time, in hardworking but sloppy fashion. Hamid was spectacular--he may be one of the best shot stoppers in the world.
The Manchester Derby was won by the Guardiolas over the Mourinhos. There may have been other people involved, but who cares about them?
The Ox looks lost out there. If Wenger has any sense, this is the last time he should start until he's proved himself as a substitute. The occasional scintillating run with no end product is small recompense for his inattention to defensive duties and his failure to see the pass that's on. Alexis and Walcott have nailed down the wing positions, and when one of them can't play, Iwobi or Ramsey should come in. Hell, I'd play Gibbs at wing before AOC now. (Actually, that has worked before.)
I expect Xhaka and Elneny got a break because of internationals and PSG. Coquelin did his job, but he just isn't a threat on offense. Cazorla is back to prime form and compensates in that department. And it's nice to have a penalty taker on the pitch. I wonder if Perez takes them.
The defense played pretty well, I thought. There were some nerves for the new man, but Mustafi looks like a good partner for Kos, one that Per may not be able to displace when he returns to fitness. Poor Petr Cech--he was nowise at fault for the own-goal. It was a fantastic free kick from Tadic, and he actually kept it out before the fortuitous rebound. The problem was our being second to the ball way too often. They had it in prime shooting position in two or three seconds, leading to Monreal's desperation missed slide tackle and the free kick. Credit to Southampton for enterprise.
I don't know what to think of Perez. I missed most of the game (it's my policy this season to watch only when it's convenient for my wife), so don't know, outside of the header towards Koscielny for his bicycle kick, what else he contributed. Giroud managed to be in position to draw the silly foul in the box that set up the winner.
I mixed bag in the other games I saw or followed:
In Serie A, Juve and Roma won, and Fiorentina was rained out.
The US won its first round qualifying group with a 4-0 thumping of Trinidad and Tobago.
DC United improbably got a point from the Red Bulls at their place after being thoroughly outplayed for 87 minutes and then getting one in the 88th and another in stoppage time, in hardworking but sloppy fashion. Hamid was spectacular--he may be one of the best shot stoppers in the world.
The Manchester Derby was won by the Guardiolas over the Mourinhos. There may have been other people involved, but who cares about them?
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