Match Review: Newcastle 0 vs Arsenal 1 (Gunners return to Top position after grinding out Matured win)

Top of the morning everyone... how sweet it is to return from Newcastle with 3 massive points..It was a game even before Kick off we were in no doubt as to what was expected from us. The difference between the teams at the summit is so paper thin right now that any slip-up in terms of results will almost certainly see you get usurped on the table. Take Liverpool for example, top of the league at Christmas but now after back-to-back defeats sit in 5th position, 6 points off the spot they occupied just less than a week ago. Such is the unforgiving nature of this season's title race. When i look back on that fixture with Chelsea at the Emirates, its clearer now to me why both teams were cautious. They both understood that defeat would be disastrous to their short term ambitions hence the stalemate. Lets say we lost to Chelsea, then found ourselves behind like we did against West Ham in the 2nd half of that following fixture, would we have had the confidence to fight back? anybody's guess...

We had some high profile changes to the squad for this tie. Ozil was declared unfit, down with a shoulder problem (maybe from training, as i can't recall any incident where he got the knock from) Vermaelen was also left out with a reported bout of flu, Monreal was a no-show on the squad list too leaving either Flamini or Sagna to cover Leftback in the event of any injury to Gibbs. We began well enough with Rosicky and Santi bossing the midfield and making incursions to the home teams ' danger area. However, no clear cut chances were created, which didn't surprise me because like i said in my match preview, possession football is what you're guaranteed when you have two accomplished ball huggers like Rosicky and Wilshere in the same starting line-up. The two teams kept on trading  punches before ending the half goalless. Although Newcastle should have gone ahead after a Debuchy header from a corner came off the post. The corner was brought about after some carelessness from Koscielny who sent an otherwise simple pass straight to Cissokho, who's rasping shot had to be tipped over by Szczesny. The 2nd half was even more scrappier, as both teams struggled to find a breakthrough. Arsenal were to succeed first though, after Tiote was whistled for tripping Santi Carzola up. The resultant Walcott freekick was converted by Giroud  whom everyone will agree needed a goal badly.

Cue a barrage of attack and pressure from the home team as Arsenal fell in to their shells with a view to defending the slim advantage they had. Cross after cross was sent in to our box but each time they were headed out by big Per Mertasaker and Sagna. Whilst Koscielny ensured he mopped up any 2nd balls the aforementioned duo fail to deal with. You could see the sequence is a well rehearsed one and it proved successful in warding off any chance of an equalizer by Newcastle. 

So we weathered the storm and emerged victorious. The result sends us back above Mancity and gives us the psychological boost of being the '' Halfway through the Season champions''. We set forth again on another quest for the points against Cardiff at the Emirates on New years day (Wednesday). An easier tie on paper, but one not to be toyed with. Perhaps Podolski and others like Monreal and Bendtner can get a run out. And interestingly, that day will mark the opening of another Transfer window so interesting times lie ahead. I'll keep you up to speed with rumours and speculations as they develop coupled with my own unique look at how we feature in the grand scheme of things in the market. But for now lets savor our status as errr....Midway champions..#okbye   :-)

Match Preview: Newcastle Vs Arsenal (Will the year 2013 end with Gunners top of the league?)

Greetings everyone..i hope your festive period has been good. As for me, im starting to seriously think i might have a good chance of getting on that show ''Man vs food''. Such has been my shameless indulgence these past days. I might need to get the phone number of Kagawa and ask him to hook me up with whoever helped him out with this stomach pump thingy.  Anyway, the action these past few days haven't only been on my dinner table,across the pitches in England things have been hotting up at both ends of the EPL table. Liverpool, Mancity and Arsenal have swapped positions lately at the top of the division remarkably, in what promises to be a four horse race right through to May.

We swatted aside West ham on boxing day, to go back top after Liverpool collected their own share of the Mancity treatment at the Etihad. But as i type this piece early Sunday morning, we sit 2nd on the log as Mancity who played earlier in the day beat Crystal palace to go Top with one game more than Arsenal. What that means is that for us to end the year as league leaders we have to respond big time at St James park later today. Not that ending the year as number one, is of any overt significance..But i feel there's a certain mental and physical boost that comes with being top. You just get the feeling that since you are top,you shouldn't ever let yourself drop down. Everything inside you, wants to maintain that position and consolidate on it. I tell you, with that kind of mindset every one stays switched on, and performance levels stay up across board in my opinion. Newcastle united are the team that stands in our way of kicking Mancity out of our throne at the Top. They seem like a team re-invigorated by something, but what that thing is... i really can't say.

We are going to have to be very careful in this one. They are obviously a lot Tougher than West Ham. And i must say some of the defending we showed against the hammers (especially after we conceded)  will definitely not go unpunished by Newcastle. And here's why:-

Dangermen:

Loic remy- The french international epitomizes the word danger. Quick, Elusive, Clinical and Skilful..and once tipped to become the New Thierry Henry. This guy has it all. One false slip, one momentary lapse of concentration and Bang! Loic will punish you. He proved himself at Qpr last season scoring some really fantastic strikes and i recall at one point i was even silently hoping we go for him in the summer when his parent club got relegated. Koscielny ought to know this guy very well from their time in the national team, which is why i fancy we will see Kos back in the line-up tomorrow for Arsenal. Remy has scored 10 times this season already and will definitely be one to watch.

Yohan Cabaye- Arsenal are not flirting with this guy for nothing. The dude is class.  A midfielder gifted in literally everything a modern midfielder requires. Comfortable on the ball,High pass-accuracy and a long range shooting ability that strikes fear into many EPL keepers. This is one man Arsene Wenger wants in his team and tomorrow we will find out why. Nowhere as prolific as Loic in terms of goals having scored just 5 in the Epl, but he should not be allowed any space to shoot from anywhere near our box.

Yoan Gouffran  Not much is known in terms of antecedents of this chap as he is having what might be described as a breakthrough season with the magpies. However, lately he has shown a level of consistency of performance for his team that has made him hard to ignore. I saw the game they played against Chelsea at home and he impressed me. He operates from the left and has good speed and trickery. Sagna will be saddled with the task of sorting him out so hopefully he has a quiet afternoon.

For Arsenal this game will give the boss a chance to rotate a bit. The permutations i have are that Cazorla and Ozil  will start alongside Flamini and Walcott in the middle. A combination that boasts pace, creativity and power in fine measure. Ramsey misses out due to injury but Jack Wilshere is available to fill in the gap well rested and hopefully  ready to atone for his rather poor judgements in the Mancity game. Podolski being ready to play is a real boost  to the team,due to the fact that he adds something different from the others..ditto for Walcott. 

SZcsesny, Gibbs,Sagna,Mertasacker,Koscielny,Arteta, Flamini, Ozil,Cazorla,Walcott, Giroud. is my possible Lineup..You can share with every one what your possibles are below.

If the general consensus by some clueless pundits is that we cannot be called contenders unless we beat a bigteam..Then i'd like to say we are fine with killing the smaller teams as non contenders whilst the months keep ticking away towards May. It promises to be a cracker, but i feel our quality will overwhelm them...back with a review. C'mon Arsenal 

Match Preview: Westham vs Arsenal (Boxing day rigours has AFC dreaming of Top spot again)

Seasons greetings guys..very very quick roundup for this post as i have a stomach still filled with Xmas food that needs to be sorted out...*cough*. So when you are smarting from a zero wins in 4 games situation and looking to get back on track as quick as possible..who do you wish the fixture list throws up? hmm lets say West Ham? not bad eh? They Sit  precariously 4th from bottom on the table and are lacking goals like Mourinho lacks class,so they are perhaps our best route to 3 points boulevard in this crazy Xmas fixtures we have coming up...I'll admit something here, i like West Ham as a Club. They have a great Tradition and History coupled with some of the zaniest but most loyal fan base you'd ever  find in the game. In my years spent living in London and working in Canning town in the east, i always encountered them and shared banter whenever i could. From my interactions, most have no problems with Arsenal as a club, its Chelsea they all say they cant stand. (No surprises there!) I came to appreciate the Club in that period and at that time when Victor Nsofor played for them in 2010, i even found myself rooting for them ( only when they weren't playing us of course). But today, i'll put all those sentiments away to the side, as i need them to hand over those three points like they were being robbed.

Rotation will be key for us as games with Newcastle, Cardiff  and Spurs are in the offing.. The boss says Podolski will be introduced, the only snag being his match readiness. Its true Podolski having been out for nearly 5months will need to be eased in gradually, but you have got to consider this game as the exact kind of game for the German to make his long awaited return. Goals seem to have dried up from our frontline lately and in my opinion something has to change. Giroud is clearly struggling, Santi is out of sorts and Ramsey is cold at the moment. Walcott looks lively and if we can leverage on his direct running in tandem with Podolski's no nonsense ''shoot at sight'' policy, i feel we can wrap this one up early enough. I'd like to see Ramsey, Giroud, Arteta rested while Bendtner, Flamini, and Cazorla get a run out. Of course with Podolski entering the fray later to exploit spaces in the West ham danger area.

So with both teams last 5  EPL games profile stating:  (West ham form: WLLDL)  and (Arsenal :WWDLD) and the fact that WestHam have only won 3 of their last 17games against us, you get the feeling that this would be an unpardonable slip-up if we fail to take maximium points on this 2nd opportunity to top the table (i.e Considering Mancity do the expected and tear Liverpool apart at the slaughter house).  The players will be keen to get back to winning ways so here's hoping the outcome is a favorable one, with a lot of goals to help boost our somewhat underwhelming Goal difference...C'mon ARSENAL!!

Gervinho EPIC FAIL MISS - AS Roma vs Catnia 4-0 HD

Merry christmas everyone!!!! Here's a video from our good friend Gervinho doing what we know only Gervinho can do better than anyone ...Which is Miss an open goal from 6yards... damn i miss him, damn you AS roma

Match Review: Arsenal 0 vs Chelsea 0 (Points are shared as both London teams fire blanks)

In the pouring London rain, we saw our chances to return to the summit of the EPL washed away last night no thanks to a combination of some timidity , poor playing conditions and impotent marksmanship. Yet gain we have allowed another chance to prove our mettle against a tittle rival slip. I watched the first half of the game last night, and it left  me frustrated because very early, it was clear to me that psychologically, we were not in a good place. We were struggling to find any kind of  rhythm against a Chelsea team that looked happy to camp in their half and wait for us to hit them with our best shot. Arsenal looked jittery and short of ideas under the weight of the high stakes surrounding the game and the fear of committing any mistakes. Yes, the conditions were far from ideal as the slippery pitch was always going to be a debilitating factor, but it was clear from our misplaced passes,the wayward runs and disjointed play that confidence was not copious in us. They on the other hand looked well organised and assured in their game-plan and its little wonder that they provided the first and by far the best chance of the half when senior citizen Lampard rattled the cross bar in the 32nd minute after a great clipped pass from Willian tore us open on the right. It was a moment of immense good fortune for us, because to go behind at such a wretched moment in our play would have been disastrous. The boss confirmed my position by accepting the team was playing with fear by saying the ''Edgy''-ness of our play stifled us.  He attributed it to the disappointing results recorded in Manchester last week but also went on to express surprise why after 9 days gone we still harbored such fears.

 There was a genuine claim for a penalty for us in the same first-half as Walcott was definitely upended in the box by Willian. The referee who i believe had a less than stellar performance, waved our appeals away. He was wrong to. It wasn't as though the ball had drifted off away from Walcotts's control, it was still very much within his reach and the tackle was misplaced as a result of the striker's quick feet & movement. A terrible call it was. 

The 2nd half was marginally better as we emerged from the tunnel a lot more relaxed and better organised to cope with the tactics of Mourinho which was evidently set out to get a draw at worst. What we were able to do better in this half was create clearer cut chances, Rosicky who had been lively the whole game was seeing the ball in better positions and threading the passes toWalcott and Giroud in hope of creating something. Credit to the Chelsea backline of Terry and Cahill they resisted and snuffed literally everything out. But in the 78th minute we had a breakthrough, a sweeping move orchestrated by Arteta from the middle saw Ramsey lay off a lovely through ball to Giroud on his favorite left foot. The outcome was disappointing but not surprising. Olivier slammed the ball wide off target. Shortly after he'd find himself first to a Gibbs cross in the box after the full-back had made a great overlapping run. This time he made a good contact but a combination of Cech and the ageless Terry denied him by bravely throwing their bodies on the line and deflecting the ball over the bar. Those were our two best moments of the entire game, but we unfortunately couldn't capitalize. Mourinho's tactical nous and organization won him  a point and kept him in 4th position, while we move joint top with Liverpool on 36 points but with an inferior GD. Not the worst of results you would agree, but any Arsenal fan who saw this game has to be worried at the seemingly apparent inferiority complex we bring into these big games. Rain and bad conditions aside, a braver, more confident Arsenal ought to possess enough to have won this game. 

Player Ratings:

Szczesny-----------------7      Had a good game and controlled his area well. Had some saves to make from Willian in the first half and Lampard in the second and made both of them well enough. Also very pleased to see his kicking has improved this season.

Sagna-------------------7      Battled valiantly in defense and delivered good enough crosses on the overlap. Experienced heads like his are so crucial in these big games, as he was instrumental in keeping Hazard quiet.

Gibbs-------------------7.5  Gibbs was great today and his outlet on the left was always a veritable source of incursions to the Chelsea danger area. He needed to show intelligence and timing in such a game of high stakes and zero tolerance for error  against a quality team like Chelsea and he did just that.

Vermaelen--------------7.5    Thomas knew all eyes would be on him today as he deputized for 1st choice Central defender Koscielny. One crazy back pass aside in the first half, i didn't see any thing wrong with his performance. He marshalled our back-line well with Mertasacker and never looked in any way overwhelmed.

Mertasacker------------7     Big Per as always was a towering presence at the back and the clean sheet today even without his regular partner is proof he compliments both Kos and Vermaelen well. both  men look better around him. Organized the defense well and made a great  tackle to deny Torres in the 2nd half.

Arteta-------------------7.5   Not the quickest in the team,but Mikel ran his legs off for the team. Breaking up play and even almost copping a horror injury in the process after Mikel almost sliced his shin open in the first half. Commitment to formation/shape and tactical discipline was perhaps the reason for Wenger playing him instead of Flamini, and you know what? i think the Boss was right.

Ramsey------------------7   Quiet for the most part as Chelsea's set up was really  good. He really didn't get the chance to run at the defense as he'd probably like or get the opportunity to let fly his trademark shots but he never stopped running. Some say he needs to be rested, as his form has cooled lately. A lot of truth in that,  perhaps on FA cup weekends he can then be allowed some rest while someone else stands in.

Rosicky------------------8   Ran, tackled, yelled instructions and dictated the pace in the middle. Arsenal's senior citizen was literally everywhere. Taking one for the team in some instances to prevent dangerous Chelsea breaks. I had him or Arteta down as my ''Man of the match'' his mobility and application are a joy to watch.

Ozil-----------------------6  Anonymous largely and didn't influence the game in the Chelsea danger area much to my disappointment. Match Conditions again i know were dreadful, still for the talent he possesses, you can't tell me its out of place to demand more.

Walcott-------------------6  Drifted in and out of the game. Its not part of his playing style to press and tackle to wrestle back possession but this is one game he probably should have done so as the opposition was such that demanded it. Chelsea were uncompromising in defense and allowed him no chance to run at them, but he didn't help matters just staying upfront waiting for the hollywood pass.

Giroud---------------------5  He put himself about as always but in all honesty Terry and Cahill dealt with him comfortably well. He never really troubled them. A renowned hardworker he may be, evident in his defensive headers from corners and chasing of every ball no matter how ''lost cause'' they are. But an astute finisher he sadly is not. Two decent chances in the 2nd half in quick succession both wasted, kinda had me reminiscing of a certain traitorous Dutch striker we once had. Giroud needs to be more clinical in such situations, we desperately need him to be... just as much as his reactions after the misses indicate that he also wishes he could be.

The lack of subs in the game was also a rather confusing episode for me, but the boss explained after  the game that he didn't need to make any. I find that decision most Odd. Podolski and Santi could have added a different dimension to things but maybe the fear of losing the game tie his hands. However on the flip-side, i suppose you could say that with lots of games coming in this festive period, why rush & introduce those guys in this very dicey game when you could leave them to be even more fresher in the less difficult approaching fixtures. So roll on boxing day, and  a trip to West ham in the east of London as we put this somewhat underwhelming result against Chelsea behind us...Many of us were hoping for a reaction to the Manchester City result and a possible Christmas gift wrapped 3 points to send us back to the top..but i guess in this scenario, what you have you must hold.

So on a closing note, may i seize this chance to say Merry Christmas to all my readers, i truly appreciate everyone of you wherever you may be reading from, here's to you and yours having a fabulous holiday season..Cheers

Match Preview: Arsenal vs Chelsea (All i want for Christmas is....3 POINTS!!!)

Its T-8hrs before zero hour. I have tried to imagine the state of mind of our players at this moment in time. What could be the overriding feeling of our guys in the camp, at the threshold of this huge fixture? Pressure? fear?or Excitement..maybe even all three! But one thing is for sure, they won't be in the Christmas mood towards Chelsea, i expect there'll be no niceties on the pitch today..Our premiership title credentials have been ridiculed since that last defeat in Manchester. The ubiquitous dross from the media we've been made to digest from the increasing army of ex-footballers turned pundits is that we don't stand a chance. The manner of the Defeat at City didn't help also. Its funny how if a theory garners enough circulation in the football world it starts to assume a certain kind of credibility. What i'm talking about is the whole ''Beat a Big Team or you are not a contender'' thing. I agree that for team confidence and self-belief beating your rivals is important, but what is inaccurate is the theory that Mathematically, it can be said that if you lose most of your games to the Big boys, you can kiss your title dreams goodbye. The gains of taking points off your rivals is purely psychological especially when the scenario mirrors the kind we face tonight. However, if you beat all the other 13-16 lesser-lites whilst dropping points to just only 4-6 big teams, you will still challenge...especially if those so called big rivals stutter against those smaller guys. Essentially the point i'm making is that if by some stroke of misfortune we do not take Max. points tonight, our challenge for the League title would not be over unless we allow ourselves implode and fall apart.

Make no mistake though, today is Massive for us. This is what top flight football is all about, High-stakes, Pressure, ambition and pride. Its been difficult for us in the recent years to win Chelsea not because we didn't try enough or weren't talented enough , but simply because in their best teams of the mid-to-late noughties they simply had those exceptional individuals who had the mentality and quality to tilt the game in their favor. I need not name them here, you already know them...*cough*.

So unto the team line-up and the identities of the men on whose shoulders the responsibility will lie to deliver the best christmas gift to Arsenal fans tonight...Here's my take:

Szczesny,Sagna,Mertasacker,Vermaelen,Gibbs,Arteta,Flamini,Walcott,Ramsey,Ozil,Giroud.

The double defensive lineup of Flamini and Arteta is informed by our need to ensure we do not loose the midfield battle that will surely be intense due to the caliber of personnel Chelsea boast in that department. Ramirez is a tireless machine that combines physicality and Mobility. In the Capital one cup game earlier this season when he came on as a sub, he literally took over the middle of the park. Taking advantage of our slightly built duo of Ramsey and Wilshere to bully them time and again. In Mikel Obi, he may not be the kind of goal threat from the middle like Ramirez or Mata but the job he is usually saddled with is to break up any and everything that looks remotely dangerous beyond the center circle. His physical attributes need no introduction, a battle is always on the cards whenever he's on form. The forward line has Giroud starting up top despite his indifferent form of late. The hold-up play he brings to the forward moves we orchestrate are crucial in enabling Ramsey and Walcott to get played in behind the occasionally static Chelsea backline. In Terry and Cahill/Luiz pace isn't the biggest card they have, so i expect Walcott and Ramsey to find plenty of joy in between them especially after Giroud would have battered them with his physique. I would have made a case for Rosicky in this game to start, but the nature of his game is such that his forays up front may prove costly on turn-overs when we have to defend against counter attacks. He does the sliding tackles better than most in this squad but for tactical stability i'll go for the line -up above. On the bench we are looking much better now though. There's certainly enough firepower there to come in and do a job if we need them. Podolski is top on that list, we all know what that left foot can do if given the opportunity.And there's also Big Nick Bendtner, who most discerning Gooners out there will agree has that Big game mentality.

So its all set up brilliantly, i'm typing this late because of the rigours of work and Christmas shopping. However, i just knew i had to send this out no matter how late to share my thoughts on this epic tie. Win and it'll be a jolly christmas for Arsenal's worldwide fans that's for sure..Lose and well *cough* ..lets not go there..C'mon Arsenal!!,

Man u fan crosses to arsenal :D

howdy fellas....Not much going on in terms of Arsenal stories. Everyone is pretty much hibernating as we count down to what promises to be a crunch tie against Jose Mourinho's men on Monday. The players are currently having time off with friends and Families, but i guarantee you that even in the midst of the festivities, at the back of their minds they all have one eye on Monday. Our players are probably even more excited about it than we are. A great chance to put 5 points between us and Chelsea before January is enough motivation as far as i'm concerned to get any Arsenal player's adrenaline up. However we are still 4 days away from that day so,there'll be plenty of time for us to dissect the game in a proper match preview. But until then i stumbled on this video, and it made me laugh. it literally speaks for its self. What a season they are having....talk to you again soon

Relax its only Bayern.....

Hey guys. How's every one coping post Mancity? Not too good i presume..Trust me, we'll be fine. I know its tough to take all the banter from suddenly very annoying rival friends, brothers, twitter followers, workmates, even spouses in some cases! Everyone laughing at you asking how your EPL title dream is going following the trashing we got on Saturday. Hey, i know how you feel. But listen im sure all those rival fans will bite your arm off to exchange places with you on the league table so don't let them get to you. We have bigger fish to fry, especially with the UCL draws made earlier in the day.

So our reward for stuttering over the finish line in group F, is a rematch with Bayern Munich..Before the draw i had us as sure bet to draw Real Madrid. Why? simply because UEFA has this knack of throwing up dramatic fixtures in this competition that pitches some high profile players against their ex-teams. In this years mix the candidates that qualified for this ''Novelty'' fixtures were Drogba (Galatasaray) vs Chelsea, Mesut Ozil (Arsenal) vs Real Madrid, Kaka (Ac Milan) vs Real Madrid, Fabregas(Barcelona) vs Arsenal and C.Ronaldo (Madrid) vs Manchester Utd.  

As it turns out it was Drogba who got the short end of the stick out of all the guys mentioned above. He'll be saddled with the quite interesting responsibility of knocking his old club out of this years' competition. That is definitely one you don't wanna miss.

Everyone at my local pub wants to know if we will be murdered....i'm like one bad result and all of a sudden you all see us now as target practice for just about anyone in europe? c'mon. Here's the thing...Bayern probably won't have been very happy with this draw themselves. Yes, they beat us convincingly in the first leg last season, but  nowhere as convincing as what they did to the ''mighty'' Barcelona in the semis in both legs. They are a good team and in Pep Guardiola they have a manager who has seen the Best and the worst we have to offer. But i guarantee this has the prospects of being the tie of the round. Having watched Bayern recently i certainly see a lot of flaws in their game, going forward players like Goetze, Muller, Ribery, Robben and Mandzukic are irresistable on their day. But its in defense they have shown a chink in the armoury. Mancity certainly showed they can be rattled. The third goal scored by Milner was replete with some very fragile defending that had me a bit surprised. Jerome Boateng looks a bit like the weak link there and if we can exert pressure on him Players like Theo can get a lot of Joy out of him. 

Anyways it still a long way away from the first leg. Plenty would depend on the states of each squad also in terms of momentum and injuries. If we can keep every one fit so as to have a decent pool to pick from whilst welcoming back other injured guys like OX and Diaby (fingers & legs crossed) we definitely can match them. Last year proved just that. 

Match Review: Mancity 6 vs Arsenal 3 (Nightmare at the Etihad as Gunners are destroyed by rampaging City)

I honestly don't know where or how to start this post..I admit i almost did not want to write a review because of how i felt after witnessing perhaps the most unbelievable defensive capitulation ever by an Arsenal team. Yes City are a great side especially at home, and some of the football they exhibited in that game was quite brilliant but i cannot help but feel the manner of defeat was spectacularly a case of pushing down the self-destruct button. I accept that their 1st and 2nd goals could have been conceded by any team but the 3rd, 5th and 6th ones were for the life of me Gift wrapped,signed and delivered by some monumentally shambolic passing and ball retention even in our own half. @Orbinho on twitter provided half time stats that read...Possession: Mancity =55% Arsenal=45%  Pass Accuracy: Mancity 85%  Arsenal 83%...Shots Mancity= 12 Arsenal=4. From the data shown, it can be deduced that it was a close contest in the first half only that Mancity were only slightly having the upperhand. At the break, we hoped the second half would be better, but they went  3-1 up and suddenly we faced a mountian to climb. Then came the rather dubious offsides from the ref, followed by a 15 minute show of suicidal  ball retention and poor organization that just made watching difficult in the extreme for me...talking about it is making me Mad, so Here's my player rating:

Szcezney:---------7      Cannot be blamed for any of the goals scored against us...He was letdown by some really amateurish defending and poor overall team play.

Monreal-----------5     He is a good player, but suffered a lot today. His wing was the chief outlet for their incursions and in many one-on-one situations  he didn't show strength and fight like we would have expected.

Mertasacker-------6      Lost his partnership with  Koscielny earlier but still managed to marshall our box and keep the scoreline to errr...nevermind

Koscielny-----------6    Lasted until couple of minutes before half time, before being replaced with an injury.Was guilty for the first goal by Aguero due to lapse in concentration,the back line looked jittery after he left though. Hope his injury isn't long term .

Sagna----------------5   He did all he could to shut out city, but the general malaise the team was facing started to get into his play. His series of poor passing began to creep in and we got punished for the 5th as direct result.

Ramsey--------------7  Worked his socks off for the shirt, running and dispossessing but others could not replicate his effort. Dispossessed Toure for our first goal and provided the assist for our 2nd. Just about our best player.

Flamini--------------5  Completely overran by Toure and Fernandinho. Bad day for him, did not see him stamp his authority in the game.


Ozil-----------------5  Quiet and was not in influential enough to make us potent upfront..all though it has to be said a good pass from him to Giroud was wasted by the french man at 3-2


Wilshere------------6  Cannot understand why Jack is being played left,when Cazorla is available. Granted Carzola is so off form right now..but Jack is ineffective on the wings and it must be discontinued. His highlight was a great shot at 3-1 that the City keeper managed to save well. His finger gesture to City fans was not cool, needs to behave himself better than that.

Walcott-------------7 A threat in the box, dangerous and took his goals well. Getting back to his best and not a second too soon as Giroud has entered a real funk lately.


Giroud--------------4  poor poor  game. He was simply overwhelmed, wasteful in possession and had one ridiculous moment when played through in the box, managed to fumble a simple pass across to Walcott.

SUBS

Gnabry---------------5  Wrong game to have been introduced to be fair to him.  What we needed at the time he was brought in was someone who could keep the ball like Rosicky.  Our fate was sealed with this sub.

Vermaelen------------6  Has been itching to play all season long and came in for the injured Koscielny. Didn't look too bad, but a bit of match rustiness saw him ball watching as  the cross came in and Silva fired home for their 4th goal. A more agile Vermaelen i presume would've read the situation better


Bendtner-------------6 Looked miles better than Giroud when he came on, and i found myself asking if it wouldn't have been better to have started him. Scored a legitimate goal ruled out incorrectly for offside. I believe its inconsistency that is this guy's problem. If the boss senses he can be more trusted to deliver, He would get the more bigger games as he has better ''BIG GAME''mentality than the french man in my opinion.

So our poor run of form continues. The chelsea game has now received even more pressure attached to it. They sit 2nd now 2points behind us,and if they beat us (God forbid) at the Emirates they will go Top. We must learn our lessons from this game as i think a lot of our weaknesses were on show today. We have a big problem with big games and i think its psychological. We have not been able to play composed football like we know we can whenever we meet the big guys. It was the same at Old Trafford, then Chelsea at the Capitalone cup,Now Mancity..Whatever the problem is, it needs the manager to sort it out fast.

Match Preview: Mancity vs Arsenal (It feels like that Dangerous trip to Medusa's evil dungeon)

So we have a real battle on our hands later today. Its almost half way through the EPL season and although we have certainly done well as a team to get to where we are now, Mancity away at the Etihad provides perhaps the most dangerous of all our games so far. You think United away was hard? Just look at  what City did to them at the Etihad. At home those guys in blue are a merciless bunch of killers who show no mercy as they snuff the life out of their opponents.  29 goals scored and only 2 conceded in 7 games tells a frightening story comparable to the movie theme above, where it was told to Perseus (no relative of our own Per) that no-one  had ever come out alive after daring to visit the Island of death. *gulp*

In terms of  team form going into the encounter, Mancity happen to be in slightly better shape than us over the last 5 games. They have a WWWDW, while ours is WWWDL. There is of course that last result against Bayern for them in Match day 6, which was a bit of a surprise. They won at the Allianz arena despite being down by 2 goals early in the game. We are in a position more than anyone else to understand the kind of motivation that achievement can give a team, so it just makes things all the more interesting. Conversely our own Match day 6 exertions didn't have a happy ending as we succumbed to Napoli under rather deflating circumstances. Some interesting reactions from players have been sampled with respect to finding the prognosis of that defeat. Mertasacker was said to have admitted that the team eased off a bit mentally in the 2nd half, in apparent  belief that the job was done..obviously  that almost proved a costly venture, because there was no warning that Arteta would be sent off making things  very difficult for us. I think essentially, the defeat against  Napoli has served a reminder on us just how important it is to concentrate whilst on the pitch for 90mins. At this level to not do so, will invariably get you punished! Our team news on the injury front isn't bad. No one got injured Wednesday night but there will be late tests for the returnee Sagna before the game and frankly if he can be passed fit my confidence level will go up a notch.  In tight away fixtures like this one, his experience can prove invaluable.

So in conclusion, yes they may have the better form going into this one, better rested players, and of course that intimidating home form. But we have a good record up there against them and i think we stand a good chance of getting a good result. We just have to deliver a better performance than Wednesday and trust our game to unravel them. I'll be looking to Wilshere and Walcott to have great games ditto for Ramsey... whose mobility and tireless running in midfield won't please Yaya nor Fernandinho. It'll be a massive 3points if we WIN, a prized scalp it'll be just like the severed head of Medusa on a platter! However i'll take a point though if that is what we can get our hands on at the end of the day..C'mon Arsenal

match Review: Napoli 2 vs Arsenal 0 (Arsenal scale through after unconvincing display in Naples)

Ok this is gonna be very short...We had a stinker last night. Probably the worst we will ever play again this term. Completely off color. If the first half, which wasn't good in any way could be excused by saying we went for containment and all that, the 2nd half was an utter mess. We managed to play even worse. They Home side noticed our lethargy and simply went for the jugular. Wave after wave of attack saw us under the cosh and i recall telling someone that if we get through this without conceding it'll be a miracle..Alas we conceded.. Higuain showed exactly the kind of marksmanship that made him popular at the Bernabeu turning Mertasacker before firing home left footed into the bottom corner. Things then went from bad to worse as Arteta picked up a 2nd booking and exited the game. We were suddenly in a right mess, but still tried to do the basics right,even though by now our lads looked like they just wanted to leave the pitch. Then they scored the 2nd via Callejon after news from Marseilles filtered in that Dortmund had scored.So 2-0 it ended and we finish 2nd behind Dortmund after looking like favorites to win the group. Not much else to say,we didn't get our tactics right and i'd go even as far as saying we just weren't up for this game. It could have been worse though, imagine if we had conceded in the 1st half. I don't wanna over analyse, we ballsed this one up big time! They were the better team and paid us back in our coin for their defeat in London. Roll on City Saturday.

Match Preview: Napoli Vs Arsenal (Time to wrap up this Group)

Match day 6 is upon us in the UEFA champions league group stages and its basically the moment of truth for the teams in group F. Between Arsenal, Napoli and Dortmund..One team will join Marseille and ''die'' while the other two would progress having cheated the grim reaper in this group everyone christened the group of death. We remain in a strong position to survive thanks in no small way to our back-to-back wins over Dortmund in Germany and of course the swatting aside of Marseille in Match day 5. All we need to do now at the very least is to pick up a point, which would regardless of the result in France see us Top the group. A loss would however still see us through as long as its not in excess of 3 goals..but if that happens,our quest to win the group and enjoy an easy draw for the Round of 16 would be jeopardized. Essentially, what all this means is that we still have a job to do come kickoff. Unfortunately, its not a game we can afford to rest or relax despite how well we've fared in terms of results. Usually Match days like this would have been excellent for giving the fringe players a run out, whilst keeping our powder dry (*cough*) for the tougher weekend tie. Nonetheless, we have to get on with it and in Napoli we would be up against a side that would be looking to get their own pound of flesh for the footballing lesson we handed to them in London. They wouldn't have enjoyed that visit one bit.

So who are Napoli and how are they faring domestically? Well in terms of who they are, they are just that team in Italy that Diego Maradona played for at some point in his career all those years ago.. Do you get the feeling sometimes that if it weren't for that simple fact, they'd  probably be just another Udinese,or Cagliari, or Bologna..unable to command any kind of attention in the discourse of European football circles? hmmm...They sit currently in third position in the Serie A, two steps down from the top position they occupied when we last met them in October. They had began the league in great form at that time, but recent results since then have been a bit disappointing. In their last 5 games their form reads LLLWD, not the kind of form to set the pulses racing but they do boast of quality individual players that can make the difference in any game.  Rafa Benitez seems under no illusions as to the magnitude of the task that awaits them. He knows qualification will be tough, because Arsenal are not a side given to conceding a lot even on a bad day. 

Danger men:

Higuain: will not hug the headlines as much as his earlier summer romance with us suggested. All that has now been forgotten as both parties have moved on. He has 7 goals in the League in 14 games and  got 2 impressive goals against Lazio recently. He still is the same penalty box man with a good sense of anticipation, quick and solid in the air, therefore Koscielny will need to be alert to do another Hatchet job on him.

Insigne:

The striker who got their lone strike in Dortmund has a great left foot and is potent with freekicks. His Goal record in the league is abysmal though, with a total of none scored in Serie A but he has two in 5 in the UCL. He compliments Higuain well in the sense that, he's quite happy to allow the former Madrid man occupy defenders while he takes up pockets of space left in the opponents D as a result.

Honorable mention goes to Hamsik (who is a doubt for the game), Inler and Berhami. All quite dangerous customers on their day..

For Arsenal, the news of Podolski making the trip suggests he may be closer to featuring than we all anticipated. We certainly could do with numbers back in the squad as the games start to occur in quick succession. Podolski available means we can give either Giroud or Santi a breather,as the ''smiling'' German can play in attack or from the left side of the front 3. Monreal who sat out the Everton game could get a start as well ditto for Walcott who ought to be approaching full fitness having been back three weeks now. I'd like as much as possible a good rotation in midfield as i want there to be fresh legs for the trip to the Etihad come Saturday. Rosicky, Flamini,and Wilshere (who had a stinker on sunday) would be a good combo. Vermaelen can't get a game and its tempting to feature him for this one. It'll be great for him, but would the boss  be disposed to making such a wholesale change to the Backline for what is still an unfinished job?.. In anycase, i don't forsee any problem for us qualifying. I think we will be too strong to get beaten at all let alone by 3goals. So lets put this one behind us and March on to the Round of 16...be back with a review.

Match Review: Arsenal 1 vs Everton 1 (Disappointing result at Emirates as decisive encounter ends in stalemate)

In football there are no guarantees. The game never owes any team anything in the course or at the end of any match. You simply take what you get at the blast of the final whistle. You may dominate an encounter and still lose..conversely you can suffer all through 90mins catch a lucky break, score a late winner and end the game victorious. So where am i getting to with this? Simple Twitter Goons need to relax..Its okay to feel disappointed with a result but its naive in the extreme to get angry because you feel you deserve anything more than what  you got. Football doesn't work that way.. Fine, complain if your team puts up a limp performance in a game, but if they didn't and were decent but only came up against inspired opponents who gave as good as they got, just accept it. 

In my preview, i pointed out that Everton will not enter this encounter with fear or inferiority to us and they proved exactly that. The match began with us struggling to settle whilst they were already flying. I'll say this about them, on the basis of what i saw with my eyes those victories over Chelsea and United were not flukes. They are a very impressive team. Their organization and shape over 90 mins was as good as any top side out there. A really tough side they are and you have to give massive props to Martinez for this. We on the other hand were a bit taken aback by their quality it seems in the first half. We were definitely 2nd best in that first half. Slow on the 50-50's and looking like we were the away side! A friend after the end of that half insisted the Everton players go for random tests for drugs as they were almost 100% efficient in tracking our runners and closing down our options like clockwork. Such was the well drilled nature of their discipline and hardwork. We improved sightly in the 2nd half, but you didn't see any reason to get comfy as Everton remained Menacing. Our goal came after a rare period of dominance following the exit of Ramsey,Cazorla and Wilshere and intro of Theo,Flamini and Rosicky. It has to be said the midfield today was nowhere as good as we know it can be. Too many misplaced passes and also over elaboration  when keeping it simple would have been better. Ozil took his goal well but Giroud showed a bit of the kind of wastefulness that fuels talks of getting another striker that would push him down to 2nd choice. The defense in my opinion coped with as much as they threw at us, though we were punished on the one occasion we switched off, it was a disappointing goal to concede. Gibbs should have been more proactive by harrying Delofeu more and perhaps force him wide or something. So overall it was an opportunity to extend our leadership gap wasted but for any one who watched this game you cannot help but raise your hands up and say its a fair result in-spite of the disappointing nature of it.   Here's a quick player rating

Szczesny-------------8

Despite the goal, he had another good game. Made fine saves in the first half and second halves when he had to. The most eye catching was the one from the snap shot by Pienaar. That ball was swerving like crazy making it difficult. Can be proud of his shift.

Mertasacker----------8

Great as always, Per just keeps it simple and his sense of organisation is unparalleled. He was the man watching Mirallas who was subbed later in the 2nd half, that's the sort of job Per did.

Koscielny-------------8.5

Imperious at times was Kos up against the dreaded Lukaku. He gave the Belgian no chance at all to cause havoc. Tight on him like a second skin Koscielny bossed the striker from start to finish. When we conceded i saw Koscielny berate Gibbs for his naivety whilst marking the scorer. If that had been him, a toe poke and that would have been that.

Jenkinson-------------6

This guy is in need of serious game time to iron out a lot of his rough edges. And i can't understand why a loan deal hasn't been arranged for him. There's a good player in there, but goodness me he needs to work on a lot about his composure. He had some hairy moments but didn't fair too badly against Pienaar/Oviedo but i can't help feeling he's one kick or header away from calamity.

Gibbs------------------7

Next time you watch the highlights of the game look at Koscielny's reaction at Gibbs as the equalizer is scored. He is angry ostensibly at Gibbs for not doing more to push Delofeu back as opposed to just standing there in front of him. That passage of play was the Left back's only mistake. He should have scored too in the 1st half. He was aside that, largely good as always and i would have scored him an 8 if not for that incident. I hope he learns the important lesson that in such defensive scenarios, its crucial to be decisive and not passive.

Arteta------------------7

Atreta was involved all game long and got fully stuck in the midfield battles with his former teammates. Looked isolated somewhat at times no thanks to the relatively off day Ramsey and Cazorla had tonight. However Mikel won a lot of balls back for us when we lost it due to overplaying and poor passing. Hope he stays fit, his experience and discipline are crucial.

Ramsey-----------------6.5

Not anywhere close to the meteoric heights he has been delivering all season tonight. However he was still doing the regulars tackling and breaking up of play where we could. A lot of his passes where poor today it has to be said, and when he struggles like this it seems to affect others in midfield. Had 2  great moments in the 1st & 2nd half when in the first his dummy to Giroud set him up but the toe poke was saved. Then he executed a superb goal bound half-volley from a Gibbs cross that again Howard punched round the post. I just think he still needs a rest atm

Wishere------------------5

No sign of his trademark runs on the ball...or forays into the box to help the attack. Was getting a lot undue attention from Everton defenders though. Not a day to remember for jack.

Cazorla------------------6

Started the game badly but later grew into its pace. His close control and ability to wriggle out of tight areas is still a great attribute, but in all Santi has not reached the level he did last season. His passing was not good today and the over elaborate stuff killed our forward momentum at times. He had one good chance to score with his head, but nodded tamely back to Howard in the 2nd half before being subbed.

Ozil----------------------8

Another influential outing from Ozil. He continued where he left off vs Hull city. Directing dangerous passes from the right flank to the final third. Scored a nice goal that was just rewards for his efforts in the game. I liked the way he took some crunchy tackles and did no more than get himself up and get on with it.

Giroud---------------------6

Worked hard, as is expected from him and did his link-up play with the Midfielders well. But again showed his limitations as a player with his inability to convert easy chances with anything other than his Left foot.  Perhaps if that chip fell on his left  foot instead of his right we'd have been 1-0 up in the 1st half. I completely align myself with the argument that purchasing a striker in January is a must if we are to win anything. There are going to be other games such as this Everton one where chances will not be easy to come by. Hence conversion efficiency will be imperative. Unlucky to have seen a rocket smash the bar late-on but even he will be critical of himself today.

SUBS

Walcott-----------------7

Provided the assist for the first goal, and looked like he was sharp and getting close to his regular self. I expect him to start in Naples Wednesday as a challenging week comes up.

Rosicky-----------------7

Provided the exquisite cross that led to Theo heading across for Ozil to score. Some folks were of the opinion that this was the kind of  game that would have suited him to start because of his ball carrying abilities. But Jack who started has the same skill, even though he was unable to get going all game long. As in Walcott above i'd like to see him start against Napoli.

Flamini------------------6

Another debatable one viz-a-viz  if he should have started whilst Ramsey rested. Came in and provided Arteta more help and presence. And you can't discountenance his vocal input on the pitch. I know it sounds like hindsight but it just could have made the difference at crucial times.

Match Preview: Arsenal Vs Everton (Probably the Biggest 3 point we'll get this Season)

Hey guys, as i'm typing this post the results of some key week 15 fixtures in the EPL are starting to filter in and they are making for some good reading i must say. Chelsea and the hapless Man United both Lost. While the high flying ''we only score freely at the Etihad'' ManCity drew with Southampton. (There's a cracking goal from Osvaldo in that one, be sure to check it out). What these results portend for us in our chase for the title is not rocket science. It has made an already important game against the Toffees later today, all that more crucial. I do not need to stress here what the prospect of going 7 points clear would mean to our ambitions. Its an opportunity that i'm sure the boys know they have to capitalize on and though it will ramp up the pressure levels of the game, that can only help keep our concentration levels up..So its a good thing.

Make no mistake Everton are a confident side now and they have no reason to fear us. Roberto Martinez is an adventurous manager that has enjoyed some good days at our expense with his former team Wigan as well as suffered some not to good ones also. But what had always been constant over the years was the expansive and positive football his teams displayed . He favors the offense minded 4-2-3-1 formation as seen below very similar to us. But whilst ours involves an intricate interplay of short passes and endless mobility of players cutting across wing-back and central midfield. Everton love to build from the back slowly and then  look to quickly move the ball up the field via comfortable ball huggers like Pienaar and Barkley. Where they intelligently seek to play versatile forwards Mirallas and Lukaku in behind their opponents back line.

                                                  

In their impressive win against Man united last Wednesday, i observed Lukaku dropped deep a lot to get his share of possession. He was getting no change from Chris Smalling and Co. in the box so resorted to drop regularly in the middle of the park so as to help nullify United's high tempo play there. By adding an extra body, Everton began to retain possession better but Lukaku's position in the box as their top marksman was left largely vacant. In the 2nd half he began to see the ball a lot more out-wide, as Moyes naively introduced Giggs in to the fray in a bid to go for the win..This proved costly as Lukaku became increasingly free and was later to provide the assist that Oviedo finished off to consign the embattled United to defeat. His hold up play is not the best iv seen despite he being built like a rock. But for a big guy his overall movement is impressive and almost half of his 8 premiership goals thus far have come from intelligent runs in the box before being picked out and calmly finishing. He's without doubt, definitely one to watch by Per and Kos.

For us, our recent games have been played without traditional wingers. What we have been doing is allowing our plethora of offensive ''technical'' midfielders the freedom to interchange positions up front from the flanks to the opponents final third. Perpetually maintaining a state of flux to keep the bad guys guessing whilst we pass them off the pitch. Our pressing game has been exceptional  also, its often common now to see post-game picture shots on Arsenal.com of 3 or 2 of our players surrounding one opponent in a bid to dispossess him. That has been a massive plus in our game this season, there cannot be anything worse in football other than playing a team efficient in ball possession who also readily dispossess you on the  few occasions they lose it.

 Giroud will be back in the team as he must be fully rested after sitting out Wednesday's win. Ditto for Gibbs and Arteta. Bacary Sagna remains out with a hammy injury, so Jenkinson would continue there. Our hard work on the pitch has been admirable to many key watchers so far..(even though there are still doubters who think United are title contenders while we are not) We'll be facing an equally hardworking side in Everton but i'm sure our Technical superiority, discipline and sheer hunger for the 3points should see us to the win. Can't really say more in all honesty, just have to wait and see what happens..C'mon you REDS

Match Review: Arsenal 2 Vs Hull City 0 (Gooners enjoy HULL-iday at Emirates)

howdy folks...So as far as routine wins go, last night couldn't have been more err...routine. No sooner had we settled down to our intricate passing game on the pristine Emirates pitch did the Hull City Tigers calmly surrender and hand over the 3 points. No roaring, No fangs bared..not even an attempt to scratch...Just happy to settle down to the saucer of milk we served them with a pat on the head for good measure.. :)  They managed to escape an embarrassing scoreline last night, such was our commanding dominance of the game.

We got the early goal, which is never a bad thing to help in settling down and all that. But more importantly, the covering players who where brought as stand ins for the regulars did their jobs without fuss...Here's a player by player ranking as i saw it...

Szcesney----------------8

Lately he has been great. The opposition tonight where sub-par and far more busier nights lie in the wait this month, but as far as confidence goes...he cannot be more prepared to face the likes of City and Chelsea to come. He only had few saves to make in this one, i recall him coming out bravely once in the 2nd half to collect a ball from a cross at the on-rushing feet of Sagbo and getting clattered for it . But in all, his ball handling is great,his concentration level excellent, what more can you ask for? This zone he is in right now, i definitely like it. 

Jenkinson-----------------7

He must have been desperate to get back on the pitch to banish the horrific memories of his last game against Chelsea where he was quite frankly poor. Today he was a lot better, doing the basics right and of course whipping in his marquee tantalizing crosses whenever he had the chance. One of which led to the first goal. With Sagna out with a Hamstring injury, this may mark a period of games for the Youngster. Lets hope against the big boys he steps up and raises his game.

Koscielny------------------8

A confident Koscielny is a delight to watch anyday. He looks comfortable and when that is the case you do not see cards. (Red or yellow) you also do not see any of those kamikazee defending or rash tackles you know he is capable of. Instead what you get is pro-active marking, inch perfect anticipation and commitment. All on show tonight.

Mertasacker----------------8

I call him the ''Calming influence''. When you pair him with Kos, he instantly turns him from a ''Bull in the china shop'' to a ''Dove on an Olive branch'' magical i tell ya.  Per is a blessing to us really. He goes about his job in the most professional manner without as much as a reprimand from the referee. One of those players in my estimation we simply cannot afford to lose to injury this season. Crucial player for us.

Monreal---------------------8

Have i mentioned it how much i like this guy? No? you must be a newbie on this blog then. Nacho is a top player. He is just as good as Gibbs but only less offensive by default. However, he is not a slouch in that area, as he can attack as well if he needs to. His defending is sound,only slightly suspect in the area that his turn of pace isn't great but he makes up for that by having a good concentration level and game reading ability. He didn't allow any threat from the Hull wide man last night and he is evidence of our squad depth this season being vastly improved from previous ones.

Ramsey----------------------7.5

Rambo was a tad quiet today, in the first half he was more on the ball and delivered some really good shots one of them a rasping beauty that was headed for the bottom corner before the Hull Keeper flung himself and with his left glove denied him at the last minute. He amazes me with his work rate. The boss speaks about him having a good engine, but when that engine is working along-side his brain to track runners, make tackles and popup at dangerous moments in the opponents box to deliver assists like the one for the 2nd goal..you have to give him credit. I hope we can give him a proper rest at some point, but for now you cannot help but worry when you do not see his name in the lineup.

Rosicky----------------------7

Another of my favorites. Had a good firs half but faded largely in the second. His now trademark sliding tackles are one of the reasons i like seeing him on the pitch. Those tackles when they come off and are won cleanly can trigger dangerous counter attacks with the other team on the back-foot. Rosicky is one of the reasons i pray we win the EPL this season, so if it comes down to him leaving us(I hope he ends his career with with afc mind you) he can do so on a fantastic note. He's been great for us over the years.

Flamini-----------------------7

He must have been disappointed he didn't get the kind of opposition he would have liked. Huddlestone and Meylar turned out to be lightweights on the night. Nevertheless, he still had a good game, protecting the back 4 and getting forward whenever he could to support the offensive side of things.

Ozil-------------------------8

One of his best games in the shirt. I had him down as my Man of the match.. Mobile, incisive, disciplined and Clinical. He looked like he was enjoying himself out there compared to a few games ago when he looked leggy and uninterested. Took his goal well after being found brilliantly by Ramsey in the box. I still say we haven't even seen half of what Mesut can do. The moment he begins to ''feel it'' in this team.. The rest of the division better look out. 

Carzola---------------------6.5

Its not quite back but there are signs Santi Carzola is gradually returning to his best. The movement is there,the long range passes almost there, the finishing still off but encouraging because i observed he is getting into the positions to score. Had one really good chance in the 2nd half after being found by Monreal's cutback, but blazed it high and wide. The moment we can add his goals to the mix, then we'd have a scoring Midfield of Ramsey, Ozil, and Carzola. Interesting prospect.

Bendtner----------------------7

He got a goal today, but in fairness that was pretty much it from him. He still has this weird knack of missing sitters that has always been a strange part of his game. I cannot point out any other player i know in football who can be so close to scoring yet still be so far from doing so. Few seasons ago against Burnley at home in the Premiership, he missed so many ridiculously easy chances that i started to feel he was doing it on purpose! better stop here by saying he had an Ok game, cos if i continue i find him an easy target to criticize to no end! 

SUBS: 

Walcott-----------------------6 

Still haven't seen the pace yet. Boss says he isn't a 100% ready yet. So it means Theo needs games to get back to what we know to be his normal self.

Wilshere---------------------- N/A 

Arteta------------------------N/A

So its on to Everton on sunday. The boss made a good point recently that we have enjoyed the benefit of warnings by opponents just before we get to clash with them regarding how we mustn't underrate them. It happened with Cardiff and how they took out Man City and Drew with United. Then it was Hull and their result against Liverpool..Now its Everton and their remarkable result at Old Trafford! We definitely will have a tough game with them. There will be no room for complacency from us not after seeing the performance they put up last night. But they've been great all season too beating Chelsea and now United!...we have a few days to prepare for that so lets rest up and recharge our battries after yet another inspiring 3 points..

Match Preview: Arsenal vs Hull city (Tigers?) Test of Squad Strength

If my picture choice for this post comes across as unusual or unfit for purpose, well.. expect no apologies as i had to make a choice between what you see above and the face of Tom Huddlestone and co..That shot above is nearly Ten years ago now. Ten long years, how time flies!..Half the faces in there have bade goodbye to the game, while the remaining few are in the twilights of their careers. *sigh* Those were truly the days..what a team! Its interesting how, just looking at that front row we had Henry, Pires, ljunberg, Reyes and Kanu as the designated offensive players in the team. Fast forward 10 years and now we have only Giroud,Walcott,Sanogo(remember him?) and *cough* Bendtner. The invincibles were simply a squad of immense quality that could call upon a depth of experienced players outside the starting 11 to get a job done when necessary,without loosing momentum. Keyword here is momentum. That has been the driving force of our form of late but tomorrow night it will come under scrutiny as what looks like being a 2nd string Arsenal will face Hull City Tigers.. or is it Tigers of the City, or Hull the City of Tigers....ahhh whatever.

It goes without saying that no manager will ever be able to prosecute any EPL season with just a starting 11 of  choice players. Inevitably the need to trust other members of the squad with the responsibility of winning a game while the regular first choice players are in need of a breather will arise. Hull City will provide a stern test for us in the sense that we may not be at our free-flowing best tomorrow given the changes that are expected to be made. 

With Everton to come on Sunday after tomorrow, then Napoli on Wednesday, closely followed by a trip to the Etihad ''slaughter-ground'' its a difficult fixture list ahead, therefore warranting the legs of some like Ramsey, Sagna, Giroud, Koscielny,Gibbs and Ozil to be rested as they will be required in the more tougher battles ahead. The boss feels there is no special pressure involved, as the lads understand what is required of them. Nobody gave us a chance to be top of the league after 13 games, the pundits gave us a zero chance of challenging for this title. However, we are top thus far not by chance but by being the most consistent team out there.We only now need to show that we are also the most focused all-round squad in the division who are able to drop their regular performers and yet still grind out the victory. I expect a run out for Rosicky, Jenkinson, Monreal, Vermaelen , and Gnabry. Bendtner may see some action but Walcott is favorite to start up top in attack. If either Flamini or Arteta may be rested my guess will be Arteta. He has had marginally more games and its my belief that the nature of the game we can expect from Hull will be right down Flamini's alley.

Its a tricky one to call, Hull have been inconsistent. Their win against Liverpool was unexpected and against the odds, but still a big warning to us. They sit quite comfy away from the relegation zone and survival this season is all they'll be after. In Livermore and Huddlestone we have familiar foes in midfeild and would need to avoid underating them. I think we are good enough for a win if we maintain focus and stay disciplined to our style..here's to 3 points then..