Arsenal 1 – 0 QPR: A Beautiful Ugly Win.

Mikel Arteta celebrates the winning goal!

Preamble

If you were hoping for a classic Arsenal slick performance you might be disappointed in yesterday’s performance against QPR but there is no doubt that was just what the doctor ordered. Before the game it was obvious we couldn’t just switch into top gear and play the Arsenal way we all love to watch. I mean, after the inexplicably dismal performances against Norwich and Schalke 04 it will be unrealistic to expect the team to kick into form and start playing ­tiki-taka. This Arsenal team – of recent – is a streaky team, we rely on runs and once confidence is built we really get going: But the downside to that is that once the run is stopped it really goes south. When it rains…you get the point.

The first surprise in the starting lineup was the inclusion of Jack Wilshere, I’m sure most gooners including Jack himself assumed he will be coming off the bench somewhere later in the game but the boss has other plans for the young Englishman. Wenger even held off telling Jack he would be playing till 10:30 am yesterday, he said:

“I told him he was playing at 10.30am today. Sometimes I think it is better when you don’t have much time to think about it when you have been out for a long time.”

The other surprise was the return of Sagna, I was skeptical at first with the manager’s decision to bench the improved and consistent Jenkinson but after watching the first ten minutes I realized I’d forgotten how good Sagna is. He offers more going forward than Carl at the moment but I’m sure Carl will improve that part of his game as he gains more experience as Sagna’s understudy. Sagna was his usual solid self and he even put in some really good crosses into the box – which was surprising because I thought that was the only weakness in his game: Not getting putting in more good crosses into the box.

Starting Lineup

Giroud started as the main striker, flanked by Podolski and Ramsey. Wilshere was in the midfield with Arteta and Santi Controller, and Sagna was with Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Santos and Mannone at the back.

Struggle

We struggled to break them down and the game was just dreary, I think I remember @Orbinho of Opta tweeting we had 65% possession at half time but we couldn’t really make much of that. Wilshere was the only bright spot in the game in my opinion, always looking to push forward and create things. The best moment I remember in the first half was when he glided past a couple of QPR players and tested Julio Cesar who spilled the ball but was quick to gather the ball and prevent the danger from an onrushing Arsenal player about to pounce on the rebound.

Jack is Back

Jack doing what he does

He completed 67 minutes and had a man of the match performance. Here are his stats – from @7amkickoff: Shots – 1, Shots on goal – 1, Passes – 44/47, Shots created – 1, Forward passes – 19/21, Backward passes – 13/14, Square passes – 12/12, Dribbles – 4/5. He had the highest pass completion of 94%, the highest in the game. For someone who has been out for over 14 months, that is pretty decent!

ETC

The second half was brighter and we were more active and decisive in movement, huffing and puffing to no avail. At this point I have to say this: I really wish Wenger would make his changes sooner than the pointless wait for his usual 70^th minute, it was obvious Ramsey wasn’t offering much on the right wing and we needed pace. Jack was eventually subbed off around the 67^th minute for Walcott, while Gervinho replaced Podolski after that. WHY CAN’T PODOLSKI COMPLETE 90 MINUTES?

We had some chances, and more but Cesar made some series of good saves to keep his team in the game. Gervinho got injured and had to be stretchered off, looks like a long term injury problem. Fingers crossed. Arshavin came on for him and was involved in the goal, his clever dinked cross from the left was met by Giroud, which led to a scramble and Arteta somehow found a way to get the ball at the back of the net for the goal. Cue Tarzan-like scream in m living room. It was ugly, but at this point I will take ugly rather than pretty and empty.

We had a couple of iffy moments after that as QPR pushed for the equalizer, we weren’t convincing at the back at all. Arsene had something to say about that:

“You could see that as soon as we scored we just wanted to protect the result and we were 11 against 10. If the team is full of confidence maybe we give a chance away, but we would continue to flow forward. But here we just wanted to protect the result – it shows you how quickly the confidence goes from the team.”

Let me say something quick about Santos here: He doesn’t look like the fittest player and his positional sense a bit more desired but after going through the game stats (via @7amkickoff ’s excellent column on arseblognews: by the numbers) I realized that Santos had the highest number of interceptions, and he was our busiest defender because Mark Hughes clearly instructed his right wingers to attack what everyone thinks to be our weak point. I don’t think Santos is as bad as people make him to be, with more games he will ‘catch up’ and with more positional discipline and understanding with Podolski, I believe he can fill in effectively for the injury prone Gibbs.

That’s all for now, guys. It’s good to be back writing for WaZoBia Gooners; if you are interested in contributing, feel free to contact us.

Up The Arse!

@HexyDre

2012/2013 August Transfer Deadline – The Build Up

DISCLAIMER

I have thought long and hard before deciding to commit to making my views known about the  transfer window. Usually I wait until the end of the window to pass judgement, but I feel that this year with all the going on’s I should make my views known just before the window ends. You don’t have to agree with me as I am a very content supporter of Arsenal football Club. Nevertheless, I wish to state that I am not ‘In The Know’ and that all the assumptions I make are my opinion and are not based on any additional information you think I may have. Please feel free to call me out if I got anything wrong when the window closes at 11pm tonight.
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Arsenal finished the 2011/2012 Premier League season in third place barely crawling over the finish line with traditional rivals Tottenham close behind in fourth place. The loss of Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona and Samir Nasri to Manchester City were slightly cushioned by the deadline day arrival of Mikel Arteta, André Santos Per Mertesacker and Yossi Benayoun (loan). To many Arsenal fans, this represented panic buying in response to the 8-2 drubbing the Gunners suffered in the hands of Manchester United at Old Trafford. I remain of the opinion that it represented a wise investment in the market as manager Arsene Wenger looked to improve the quality of the squad as a whole and not just the first team.

Fast forward one year and Arsenal are not quite in the same position as last year. The exit of Robin van Persie was well anticipated and the club moved swiftly in the market by signing Lukas Podolski from Cologne and Olivier Giroud from Montpellier. This smart move to cushion the impact of a player who was simply unplayable against for most of last season seemed in the first instance an attempt to replace a prolific goalscorer with two strikers who could contribute at least the same number of goals he scored over the course of a season. However with two games already played in the league, Arsenal are yet to find the back of the net! They need to find their shooting boots – and fast too!

The signing of Santi Carzola from Malaga was a huge swoop for Arsenal as he is widely rated as the best Spanish midfielder outside of Barcelona or Real Madrid. His impact has been immediate in the midfield as shown by his understanding of the game and the quality of his movement and passing. Perhaps he needs to work a little more on his shooting and hopefully he will turn out to be less Alex Hleb and more Robert Pires.

Alex Song was sold rather quickly to Barcelona at the start of the season in a move that reeked of a player being punished rather than a lack of ability. In the two games Arsenal have played, I must say that the team  has not looked light in midfield. Abou Diaby has struggled at times but that is understandable as he’s spent so much time out of the game in the last two years that he still does need some catching up. Against Stoke, he simply refused to be bullied and imposed himself rather effectively in the midfield. If he can stay fit this season, I reckon we have a great player on our hands.

After over 40 years of service to the Club, Pat Rice bowed out at the end of last season and was replaced as Assistant Manager by Steve Bould. Two clean sheets later and you can tell that Arsene’s new assistant has hit the ground running. I haven’t yet had one bad word to say about the defending this season and with Bacary Sagna returning from a broken leg in a few weeks, I reckon we have enough options at the back for the first half of the season. I’m hearing Nico Yennaris will be given chances to impress this season. He’s a player I rather like. Carl Jenkinson has also come in leaps and bounds since he was signed and am hopeful they will both forge a healthy competition between themselves and push Bacary Sagna all the way even though he remains my first choice right back. Kieran Gibbs gets the nod for me at left back although Andre Santos can be deployed further forward depending on the situation and when fit I’d start Koscielny and Vermaelen together.

A major worry for the squad for a few years has been the goalkeeping situation but Wojciech Szczęsny proved last year that he could be consistent and he remains first choice. However much is left to be desired about Lukasz Fabianski as the de facto second choice. The game against Stoke City saw Vito Manonne keep a clean sheet in the absence of the injured Szczęsny with no place for Fabianski on the bench. This is telling as he is supposedly fully fit. I feel this is an area where some movement might take place.

MY PREDICTION

Goalkeeper – I would like some certainty in this area and I feel Lukasz Fabianksi might consider his chances limited at Arsenal this season and opt for a move out of the club possibly on loan. The club has already signed youngster Stuart Moore on an emergency loan but may be tempted to sign a younger keeper on a permanent deal and promote Damien Martinez to the first team.

Defence – I don’t reckong the club will sign anyone this window but I wouldn’t rule anything out if a bargain falls out of the sky.

Midfield – A defensive player who is able to win the ball and contribute where needed to the attack would be of great value to the squad. One player that fits the quality that is required at a club like Arsenal that would be readily available is Cheick Tioté of Newcastle as the lure of Champions’ League football could be enough to price him from Newcastle at a good price. Yann M’Vila has been a constant name in gossip blogs all summer but the trail seems to have gone cold. I won’t be disappointed if a move is resuscitated later today in the same fashion in which Mikel Arteta was signed in last summer. Johann Cabaye of Newcastle is another name I would like to throw into the mix even though I won’t discount a late evening loan move for a more experienced player in the mould of Michael Essien should we fail to secure any of the afore listed players or similar quality. I believe this is an area in which Arsenal MUST strengthen without compromise.

Attack – The fact that Arsenal are actively trying to ship out Nicklas Bendtner (possibly Juventus or Milan) and Chu Young Park (rumoured to be headed to Celta Vigo) could mean that the club could still be on the market for another striker as per the one in one out policy. Their departure would create an opportunity to play Theo Walcott in the middle but his reluctance to sign a new deal plus the emergence of Serge Gnabry adds another dynamic to the mix. The question remains this…who is available? Edin Dzeko? Daniel Sturridge? Loic Remy? It all gets thrown into the air here. I hear a certain Alessandro del Piero is available…the last bit there was just for laughs.

I excpect decisive activity to take place in the last few hours and London Colney will definitely be busy. Twitter will probably go into overload and a bunch of #ITK’s are probably going to claim credit for all the deals that go through or promise to deleted their accounts if a number of them don’t come through.

What’s that to me? Irrespective of what happens, I will always support The Arsenal. These are my thoughts and my expectations as all we can do is hope and pray the right moves which could define our season are made tomorrow. Once the window shuts, we will have live with the choices the club has made for the next four or five months.

How will we fare?

Join the conversation on Twitter here www.twitter.com/thegreengooner

Till next time…Victoria Concordia Crescit.