The Game:
Arsene will have to be at his best to bring back that Arsenal team spirit against Manchester city, Westham and Southampton as they aim to avoid an unthinkable 3rd straight defeat when they host cross town rivals Queens Park Rangers on Saturday at the Emirates stadium.
The manager had to appease the angry fans at the Clubs annual General Meeting on Thursday morning, having to defend his current team after that awful performances which lead to the two straight defeats to Norwich and Schalke. They couldn’t have asked for a better opposition to get back in their stride though as Rangers, still without a win to their name, languish at the bottom of the Premier League standings. The Hoops could can cause an upset though, as they did last season when they fought to a 2-1 victory at Loftus Road which eventually played a big part in them avoiding relegation. The longstanding feud between the two managers will also provide the highlight at the Emirates as there is little love lost between Mark Hughes and Wenger.
It is certainly that time of the season again, when the Frenchman has to staunchly defend his philosophy in the face of growing criticism from both the fans and the media. After that slow start to this season campaign with two successive goalless draws, the Gunners were praised for their new found confidence as they won away at Liverpool and secured a creditable draw at Man City.
But like so often in the past Chelsea put the spanner amongst their works as they slumped to a 2-1 defeat at home since which they haven’t been at their fluent best. The listless performance at Carrow Road last week could have been dismissed as a one-off if not for a repeat on Wednesday night when Schalke ran riot, deservedly grabbing the three points and moving to the top of Group B in the Champions League.
Steve Bould’s magic potion which kept Arsenal’s defence air-tight at the start of the season seems to have vanished as they haven’t maintained a clean sheet since the 2-0 defeat of Liverpool in early September. Andre Santos was largely to blame for both goals against Schalke and with Kieran Gibbs yet to recover from his thigh injury Wenger could face further problems down the left flank playing the Brazilian.
The more damaging aspect of our recent slump has been the failure to creative meaningful chances, with our high possession game proving to be mere sterile domination. The Gunners only click when Santi Cazorla is in the mood, but the midfield maestro is somewhat a human and yet to find his spike after his involvement with Spain during the International break.
The AGM ruckus indicates that patience is in short supply at the Emirates after seven trophy-less seasons. Wenger did indicate during the meeting that his side would give everything towards challenging for the title, but with ten points separating 9th placed Gunners and Chelsea at the top, the Premier League title already looks like it out of reach but “Impossible is nothing” and we can surely bounce back.
Team News:
Doubtful: Chamberlain (hip), Koscielny (back), Sagna (match fitness), Wilshere (match fitness)
Injured: Gibbs (thigh, 3 Nov), Szczesny (ankle,3 Nov), Walcott (chest, 3 Nov), Diaby (thigh,10 Nov), Rosicky (hamstring, 10 Nov), Fabianski (ankle, Jan)
Suspended: None
Probable Line-Up: (4-2-3-1): Mannone (Gk), Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Santos, Arteta, Coquie, Gervinho, Cazorla, Podolski, Giroud
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I’m a great fan of Arsenal and I say that Wenger is to blame for all the defeats coz he insists on playing Ramsey. Let Wenger play Gervinho and Podoski at their right positions. Line-up: Mannone(GK),Jenkinson(Sagna),Santos,Per,Varmaelen,Arteta,Gervinho,Corqie(Wilshere),Giroud,Cazorla,Podoski.
Wenger is a pain, if not why should he be relying on players like Ramsey. Have you not noticed that any match Ramsey started for arsenal will always prove to be difficult for the team. Hardly can such match be won by arsenal.
Manonne. Matersaker.jenkinson, kosienly.cocklein.___forword. Gervinho.carzolar. Arteta,ganbasantos Padolsky.
I am fan of arsenal. And wenger was to blame in the last 2 game coz of his line up. But to me is jst__ Matersaker. Vermalein. Jenkinson. Coklein. Arteta.wilshere, carzolar. Gervinho. Santos, then podolsky at top 9.
I love Arsenal and I do know we are going to loose some matches during the season. But I can’t accept casual performances, particularly at home! One shot on target “would have been delighted with 0:0″? Pathetic at best. Opponents just need one score to get a result against us so they rightly execute and play for it against us. Keeping the balance of the team is gone too far! Are our wingers/ fullbacks so handicapped that we must play players out of position to compensate for their defensive deficiencies? I get it we are missing firepower (Oxdale, Theo, Gibbs, Wilshere, Diaby, Rosicky and Sagna) but come on! Give Arshavin a chance to attack, let Giroud sink or swim, play Ramsey (Box to Box) or last 10 minutes! Play Gervinho LF or sit him down, play Podoski 4 4 2 at some parts of the match. Arteta isn’t a defensive MF despite all his great work and experience, he doesn’t out run and scare any forwards. And quit playing in the first third (between Cdefenders) instead of final third! My under 15 team know and can move the ball from defense to attack quicker now than our Gunners.. That is it for me! Right this ship quickly or we suffer to new lows. Can’t wait for healthy Wilshere and Co. Cheers gunners.
I don’t understand why we can’t play sagna at left back, that’s when he is fit again even though he plays on the right I think he would do a better job than santos. Doing this also means jenkinson stays in the team and he deserves that for his recent performances
plz remove de line up from ramsey , he don,t deserve to play for arsenal lets have arteta caquel/wilshare and cazorla in de midfield wings gervinho arshavin forward bodoliski
My team na b arsenal.but in recent of time my team is loosing why?let me tell u this is because wenger is not a tactical man.why he always preffer Ramsey n what kind of ball do he play it does not bring any beneficial to us.he must go for loan to learn more techniques like what man u did to welbeck
did you guys see the AGM? it was interesting, and always nice to hear wenger speak. you can watch the video on the AGM right here:
http://eurosoccerweb.com/arsenal-fc-vs-arsenal-inc/