What next for Arsenal? November 3, 2008
Posted by freekicker in Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, EPL, Fabregas, Flamini, Stoke City.2 comments
So in 11 matches this season Arsenal has equalled the no. of loses in the whole of last season…three…against Fulham, Hull City and now Stoke City…three teams who we would have thought are sure shot 3 points…and we haven’t even played the other 3 big ones, not to mention the likes of Man City and Aston Villa. It looks very challenging at this stage with the team we have now.
Wenger got the team sheet wrong and had to make all three substitutions in desperation and paid the price by
a) losing the match
b) Seeing off Walcott carried off on a stretcher and
c) seeing Van Persie sent off
I am not saying that Wenger is responsible for all the three, but the buck stops with him. Maybe we fans are not as confident as him on some of the players like Song, Denilson, Diaby, Silvestre and last but not the least William Gallas. We never got a replacement for Flamini and that basically has been our problem, contributed partly by Fabregas’ form this season. He is playing one level below his last-season-form, which was allowed by Flamini’s biting form last season. Denilson, Song, Diaby etc have not been able to fill that void. Is Ramsey the solution??? Maybe. And where is Rosicky???
Every weekend is now a worry as we don’t know which Arsenal team wil come out on the field. The all-attacking, tight at the back and biting in the middle Arsenal or the getting into a shell, play around the box ithout a final shot at goal and conceding one at the other end Arsenal.
But this is the time to be behind the team and I am completely behind them and hope we surprise United next Saturday.
Goodbye to Gilberto, Hleb & Flamini July 22, 2008
Posted by freekicker in 2008-09 season, AC Milan, Arsenal, Barcelona, EPL, Flamini, Gilberto, Hleb, Panathinakos.add a comment
It has been a month of goodbyes from the Emirates camp with the once very densely populated Arsenal midfield getting thinner and thinner as we near the season. Two first teamers Hleb and Flamini left the club to join Barcelona and AC Milan. One very loyal player who I thought might stay to lend some experience to the midfield, Gilberto also left few days back to the Greek club,Panathinakos.
Wenger would not have sold all these players if he did not have a plan. He sure is hardpressed for money, though that is never declared in public, he would have thought about suitable replacements who would come in before the season starts. One heartening matter is that Rosicky would be ready by September and if he and Van Persie can stay fit for atleast 3/4ths of the season, the team would look strong to challenge a lot of top teams for the league. With Eduardo most likely to return by the end of the year, the team would only get stronger.
Gilberto, a world cup winner with Brazil, played in the Copa America just before the 2007-08 season started and was tired to join the squad for the season starting. This meant that Flamini took his place and put in his best season for the club only to go out on a free transfer. Flamini also was responsible to some extent for Diarra feeling demotivated sitting in the bench. He also left for Portsmouth. So Gilberto who had one of his best seasons in 2006-07, leading the side for most of the season due to Henry’s injury, found himself to be the second in line for the holding midfielder role. Well, he did a great job for the team and I wish him all the best for his future.
Thanks also to Flamini the fighter and Hleb the dribbler for their contributions.
Les Bleus need a better manager June 18, 2008
Posted by freekicker in Abidal, Anelka, Ben Arfa, Clichy, Domenech, Euro 2008, Europe, Flamini, France, Frey, Henry, Les Bleus, Makelele, Malouda, Mexes, Patrick Viera, Ribery, Sagna, Samir Nasri, Thuram, Trezeguet.4 comments
Out with Domenech…what was he thinking right from picking the squad to selecting the final XI and his substitutions in the last match. And he proved how stupid he was by saying that his future plan was to get married to his television presenter girlfriend when the question posed to him was with respect to the French team…Please throw him out for screwing up a very talented national side. If only France had a better manager , with these 23 players, the team would have reached the quarters and with a few changes in the 23, they would have probably won this Championship.
- Why was Sagna, Clichy, Flamini, Ben Arfa, Trezeguet not included in the 23…there are some other names like Frey, Mexes (centre back with Roma) who shuould also have been included
- Why was Sagnol,Abidal, Thuram, Makelele, Viera(who was injured and did not touch the ball), Malouda, Anelka in the 23. I am tempted to include Henry also in that list because Trezeguet has a better record for France
- And when you have to replace a centre back why would you ask a left back to fill in that role. Abidal has been a liability for this squad.
- When your most creative player is injured, you bring in another creative midfielder. Point taken. But when you are reduced to 10 men, you do not replace the creative player. What is the logic?
It is quite sad to see a talented side like France not qualifying for the Quarters…Wish they get a better coach for this awesomely talented side.
Of EPL wages & finance and Samir Nasri May 29, 2008
Posted by freekicker in Arsenal, Chelsea, Deloitte, Diarra, EPL, Flamini, Hleb, Samir Nasri, Telegraph.2 comments
Deloitte published it’s much publicised Annual Review of Football Finance today which covers all the European leagues. It is not any secret anymore that EPL pays its players the highest wages and also bring in the most money by the TV deals as well as the other marketing activities. Chelsea and Manchester United top the list of clubs running on debts and poorly managed as a Footballing club when you look at the Finance part of it.
Arsenal though are third on the list but they have been well planned with respect to the move to Emirates stadium. The assets owned by the club are the highest in England. The stadium utilisation has been the highest in the league at 99.5% and this goes on to show the fans flocking the stadium to see the beautiful passing game of Arsenal.
Telegraph gives a club by club analysis.
Various news websites have reported the signing of Samir Nasri but it is better to be confirmed once the official statement is made on this. The French team for Euro has seen Diarra and Nasri making the grade and Flamini not making it. Probably Diarra got the nod ahead of Flamini because Diarra might be a more flexibile asset to the team as he can play right back as well.
Nasri can play both on the left as well as the centre and would straightaway replace Hleb if he leaves the club. More as and when something concrete is reported.
Flamini mystery & Reading April 19, 2008
Posted by freekicker in Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Bayern Munich, Cesc, Chelsea, Clichy, EPL, Fabregas, Flamini, Gilberto, Manchester United, Sagna, Wenger.add a comment
As Arsenal get into the last 4 matches of their season in which the best they can hope for now would be a 2nd place finish IF Chelsea screw up in between somewhere in their pursuit of Manchester United, Wenger stepped up the pressure on one of the star performers of the season Flamini. Guardian reports the deadline that Wenger has set for Flamini, month end of April. Flamini’s injury means that he is not going to play anymore in this season and there has been renewed interest coming from Juventus, Bayern Munich etc.
With Clichy, Sagna, Hleb and Fabregas, Flamini has been one of the most outstanding players of the season for Arsenal. And his renewed vigour in midfield has been one of the reasons for Arsenal’s great run in this season. He has been virtually irreplaceable this season with Gilberto being a shadow of his past there has been no player in this team who had the bite to replace our Terrier. Wenger is right in saying that Flamini has to respect the team and the manager and sign on the dotted lines if he intends to stay. If he doesn’t then Wenger needs those extra weeks to sign a replacement.
It should be interesting to see how strongly Arsenal finish the season and 12 points from the next 4 matches starting tonight with Reading would be the way to go. Here is to three points and lost pride.
No point in creating if we cannot complete April 4, 2008
Posted by freekicker in AC Milan, Adebayor, Anfield, Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Bendtner, Eboue, Eduardo, Fabregas, Flamini, Gunners, Liverpool, Rafa, Rafa Benitez, San Siro, Van Persie, Walcott.add a comment
The first leg at Emirates turned out to be quite a frustrating one for Arsenal as they scored first but in less than three minutes Liverpool equalised through a defensive lapse and then minutes and minutes of possession and control of proceedings did not yield the winner. This has been a season of missed opportunities like last year, where they created a lot but the finishing left a lot to be desired.
A footballing team like Arsenal will always create chances in any match (unless they play really really bad). Wenger philosophy of passing football, maintaining possession and playing in the opposition half will go waste if he cannot find a striker who can finish off these chances. Even converting one quarter of all the chances created can yield 3 points or a victory in every match the team has played so far. Such has been the creativity of Fabregas, Hleb, Walcott and even Adebayor for that matter. But when it came to finishing, Adebayor himself has left us disappointed, so has Van Persie after coming back from injury (and going back to it) and Bendtner, whose enthusiasm is understandable but finishing undefinable.
Even the midfielders who have had goal scoring opportunities, have disappointed. Take Fabregas, who on a one-on-one with the goalkeeper shoots straight at him nine out of 10 times. How many goals could he have scored this season, only he knows. Eboue has been also one of the main culprits and I think he has maybe made the goalie save one or two times maximum this season. Hleb has had lots of opporunities to shoot, but hasn’t. Flamini I would say has had the least number of opportunities to score, but he has also not taken his chances. So this is an area where the team needs to improve.
Eduardo was considered the solution for this finisher problem in the club, but unfortunately he wont be back till end of this year. We can always blame the referee for not giving us the penalty (which was as clear as water), or Bendtner for stopping Fabregas’s prod at the goal (he was off balance and did his best to get away, I think). but if we dont score from the chances that we get, then we will end up ruing our chances after every match. Adebayor missed a sitter at the end of the 90 minutes against AC Milan at the Emirates, but we made up for that at the San Siro. Anfield might not be the same.
Liverpool certainly has an advantage going into Anfield, but I would like to see how Arsenal bounce back. The Gunners can score in any ground as Rafa himself said, but its how Liverpool react after (if) Arsenal scores first that will decide the tie.
The Saturday clash against Liverpool in the League would be again an interesting watch to see who all play and who all get rested. I would love the momentum to be with Arsenal and see them win.
Arsenal vs Liverpool:CL Quarter Final first leg April 2, 2008
Posted by freekicker in Anfield, Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Champions League, Emirates, Europe, Fabregas, Flamini, Gerrard, Liverpool, Mascherano, Torres.add a comment
Arsenal play Liverpool in the first leg of this year’s Champions League 3rd Quarterfinal at the Emirates, which could be a defining match for both teams. Theoretically Arsenal still have a chance to win the domestic league but it is in Europe that this team has been performing in style. Liverpool on the other hand are playing for the 4th Champions League qualifying spot in the league and have a very successful history in Europe which they intend to defend against the Gunners.
The best chance for Arsenal is to go to Anfield with a 1-0 advantage or I would say like against Milan a 0-0 advantage where the away goal will play the difference. Anfield will be a pretty difficult place for Arsenal to score on a European night if they concede any at the Emirates.
It should be interesting to see if Flamini is able to break up play between Gerrard and Torres, if Mascherano manages to pin Fabregas down. The mid-field will determine the potency of this match and who scores from where. Wenger will most probably start with Persie and Adebayor in front and my team for tonight would look like this.
Almunia
Eboue Toure Gallas Clichy
Walcott Flamini Fabregas Hleb
Persie Adebayor
Maybe Toure might start on the right and Senderos plays in the centre. I would like to see Walcott getting a start ahead of Diaby. So hope to see a good match with Arsenal coming good in the end and not concede.
AC Milan 0-2 Arsenal March 5, 2008
Posted by freekicker in AC Milan, Adebayor, Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Champions League, Europe, Fabregas, Flamini, Hleb, Kaka, Milan, Walcott.1 comment so far
It is not often that the World Player of the year/European Player of the year feels frustrated and throws the ball in disgust and gets a yellow card. Even more when the player we are discussing is Kaka, one of the coolest footballing dudes. It showed how much Arsenal has got into their skin of this aging AC Milan side, how much they had tackled and won the ball from these silky footballers like Kaka and Pirlo, how much they had played their passing game and ran around the Milan team. Arsenal qualified to the quarterfinal stage beating Milan by two late goals that set the tone for a new era of youth and exuberance in Europe. This is the end of the Maldini era and the begining of the Fabregas era.
Midfield control has been grasped by the trio of Flamini, Fabregas and Hleb. They played like men possessed to show Europe the hunger and vitality of youth in this young Wenger side. Hleb was here, there, turning, beating 3-4 opponents,stealing possession, Flamini was biting into Gattuso and Kaka and Pirlo and giving them irritating times, Fabregas had all the time in the world to look around play some through balls and also be present in scoring positions from time to time. It was a match dominated by Arsenal and though Milan had their chances, Arsenal were the team that the crowd in San Siro watched.
For all the domination of possession which looked as if Arsenal were playing in the Emirates and not San Siro, it looked for a long time in the match like the same old story of lost chances and defeat at the end. But this team has been scoring late goals after late goals and last nite again was the same. Hleb won the ball from Pirlo I think, and passed it to an advancing Fabregas, who ran with the ball, cut in into the centre and slammed a low shot from almost 30 yards!
It dipped, pitched in front of the really tall goalie, who did not expect Fabregas to take strike and squeezed in between him and the goalpost. I was feeling restless seeing the chances being missed and was shuttling between my bed and the sofa, 5.45 in the morning. I never expected Fabregas to shoot from such long distance and even if he did I did not think that it will go in in anycase. But it did and the joy on Fabregas’s face said it all. he announced his arrival and he has been the main man for Arsenal yet again in a high profile encounter.
Adebayor was a thorn in the Milan defence and he kept troubling them and he was also rewarded with his first European goal, courtesy Walcott. He beat the Milan defender in a race to win the ball, went past him and passed aquare of the goal in front of the goalie for a simple tap in for Adebayor. He deserved his goal as he worked tirelessly, from attack to defence in the whole match. Senderos starting with Gallas again had a tremendous game and Almunia was efficient at the back with a few good saves. Clichy and Sagna were impeccable and Clichy did create some problems to the Milanese players. Eboue and Diaby also played their part. the unfortunate part was the wrongful booking of Hleb by the ref. It was a clear cut unlawful tackle by Nesta and should have been a free-kick or for that matter a penalty.
Hopefully this win should act as a morale booster to the team in their pursuit of the League crown. With Persie also back in the side, it should be a good month for Arsenal. For all those who support Arsenal I am sure this victory at San Siro will go as one of the best nights in Europe.
Lucky to get 3 points after a great 1st half December 2, 2007
Posted by freekicker in Adebayor, Arsenal, Ashley Young, Aston Villa, EPL, Flamini.add a comment
Arsenal continued on their unbeaten run in the Premier league with a 2-1 victory over the in-form Aston Villa, going 5 points clear of Chelsea and 6 points clear of Man Utd, with a game in hand. All the goals came in a stunning first half with the Gunners moving the ball all over the park. Adebayor scored the winner with a brilliant header and Flamini hit a screamer from just outside the box.
Villa scored first, you can say, against the run of play then. It could have been avoided had Gallas not nicked the ball away from Clichy on to Gardner who made no mess out of that chance. It remained to be seen how Arsenal will react after their first loss of the season and playing without Fabregas, how the team will cope for their passing play. There was no doubt in this that Flamini who has been in impeccable form this season controlled the mid-field with Diarra (who needs to learn how to shoot). The sizzling shot from Flamini came as a result of a cross from Sagna from the right flank.
The second was again the determined effort of Hleb who won possession fed it to Sagna who floated in a cross and Adebayor jumping in between two defenders slotted it to the left of Carson. So when Adebayor scores, Arsenal never loses. That record was tested in the second half.
Villa came back very strong in the second half and Arsenal never showed up. It was quite astonishing to see a team switch off like this. It was all Villa on the attack, Young getting the ball in left and floating in crosses to Carew. Other than a hit on the crossbar, the defence held on for the 45 minutes. The one fallout from the match was Hleb walking off limping following a Carew snap on his heels. Lets hope he is back for the next one as I Arsenal have a tough schedule ahead.
Young would be a good signing for Arsenal next year. He is fast, nimble on the feet, is a good dribbler and best of all he is a natural left footer and I can see him combining well with Clichy. That would be a very good combo.
