Nine Jimmy Rimmers – Arsenal and Football

And if that isn’t actually a George Graham quote, it certainly ought to be! A good evening’s work, even if it wasn’t wonderful football. Arsenal looked distinctly jaded and got a little bit lucky with the result.

But they say you make your own luck and our persistence paid off with a late winner. The fresh legs and experience of Rosicky and Benayoun helped. Even Arshavin managed to inject a bit of urgency for a change. Several starters looked a jaded – Ramsey and Gervinho. Frimpong showed his inexperience here and there. But then experienced is what he is and he’ll learn more control as he plays more. Someone who seems way past learning any control is Alan Hutton who managed to get two yellows in the space of ninety seconds. Both pretty pointless incidents too.

Arsenal were slightly lucky with the first penalty, quite a few like that wouldn’t be given, but unlucky not to get a second. Bizarrely, Van Persie even got a card for diving.

Our man of the match poll came down to a choice between Benayoun and Koscielny with the latter getting the most votes.

The other results last night were mxed for Arsenal. Manchester City and United march on, opening up a gap at the top. But the two seems below us lost ground. Newcastle are on the slide after a load of key injuries. Even with Coloccini back they lost again. Wigan battled hard to keep Liverpool out, so we have a points and goal difference gap below us again.

If there was anything ugly about football last night it was the sight of the Liverpool team all parading in Suarez t-shirts before that game. Team solidarity is one thing, but this is a much, much bigger issue and it seems that Kenny Dalglish so doesn’t get it. Liverpool Football Club should be feeling deeply embarrassed, not defiant.

It’s an extension of the ‘not that kind of player’ attitude we get after a leg-breaking tackle. The point is this – you may think that your player is niave, stupid or inept rather than evil, but recklessly violent play and racially abusive language should be stopped. And that’s all there is to it.

Match reviews written straight after the game finished were quite mixed, reflecting the disappointment that our recent winning run had come to an end.  Arsene Wenger was subdued in the face if ‘didn’t you play well’ from the media.

“We got encouragement, but we needed encouragement and points and we didn’t get the points.”

Arsene hates to lose and that is just as it should be, but the team put on a huge performance against a club that has had nearly a billion pounds spent on it.

Blogs written later and media reports have much more praise for Arsenal.  Maybe there were some who still secretly thought that a run at the title was realistic.  Personally, I felt that had slipped away by September as we paid the price of the Nasri/Fabregas saga with pole-axed morale and five late arrivals to incorporate.

What we did show last night, in a game that could have resulted in a draw or better, was that despite all those setbacks and  injury to every single fullback we are able to compete at the top end of the league.

Thomas Vermaelen won our Arsenal Man of the Match poll, just ahead of Wojciech Szczesny.  I think that was right.  Vermaelen had an immense game – as a fullback, central defender and pushing forward to try and get a goal right until the very end. The guy never stops fighting to win and his technique is fantastic.

Szczesny had a good game too.  He is a great keeper.  Tough, agile and fantastic anticipation.  He had just one flaw yesterday when he rolled the ball out into a dangerous area.  Fortunately the shot that resulted hit the post.

Arteta was another star.  He worked constantly going forward and back.  Koscielny has surely now convinced the doubters of last season.  Another strong performance from him.

Someone who wouldn’t be anyone’s man of the match, even allowing for the fact he was only on for twenty minutes, is Arshavin.  This was a big game where everyone was working their socks off, even those who were struggling to make an impact.  But Arshavin wasn’t.  It’s getting hard to make a case for him now.  The flashes of genius are too rare and, although he tackles a bit more than he used to, his play is so casual and sloppy that he misses opportunities for us and creates them for our opponents.

The neutral sponsor’s Man of the Match was Samir Nasri.  I think that’s wrong and surprisingly so.  I don’t think he had the biggest impact on City’s win.  Balotelli or Aguero up front had more influence on play.  Zaboletta marked Walcott completely out of the game.  Kompany closed down Van Persie throughout.  Maybe whoever made the choice decided that it should be an ex-Arsenal player to fit the overall story?

Anyways, where does all this leave us?  Apart from worrying about another defender being injured after Djourou had to come off with what appeared to be a groin strain.  We are still fifth, although the weekend games have spread the the teams out a bit more.  But we have now played all the away games against the teams above us and we are still in touch with the top four fight.

There’s still a lot in this season for Arsenal.  Come on you Gunners – and take out our disappointment against Villa on Wednesday!

If we needed something against Olympiacos next week then this fixture would doubtless see a fair bit of rotation in the Arsenal team.  But we don’t need anything midweek.  We’re through, we’re top of the group and our only European worry this month is progress towards a top four spot.

That doesn’t mean no changes at all.  Andrey Arshavin will no doubt be hoping for a start, but this selection isn’t as complex as it might have been.  A good win tomorrow could see us picking up a place so whoever gets a start tomorrow better treat the game seriously.

Two that definitely won’t feature are Diaby and Rosicky. Rosicky may be ready for the Olympiacos game apparently, but Abou Diaby will be out for ten days with a muscle problem.  That after playing just half an hour or so as a sub at the weekend.  Someone once joked that Alliadiere could get crocked played A Question of Sport, I’m not sure Diaby would be fit to get a start!

The poor guy has never really got a decent run in the team, despite that fact that Arsene Wenger clearly rates him.  Personally I’ve been a doubter.  Too many games when he seemed to go missing.  But I still wish him a speedy, and complete, recovery.  Can’t help thinking that we’re going to need some midfield cover for Arteta and Ramsey before Jack Wilshere is back.

I guess that there are only two real decisions for Arsene Wenger this weekend: Gervinho or Arshavin, Djourou or Koscielny?  As far as covering for Sagna/Jenkinson goes, I expect we will see Laurent Koscielny this time as Djourou played the last two.

Who plays on the left up front is a bit more of a headache.  Both Arshavin and Gervinho have issues.  Arshavin’s form is as mixed as ever.  Gervinho can’t make his mind up what to do when he has just the keeper to beat.

But what Gervinho does bring is energy and movement and is surely ahead of Arahavin at the moment.  So, unless Arsene Wenger offers Arshavin a ninety minute opportunity to re-establish himself, I reckon we’ll see Gervinho.

I know, a first choice squad against Wigan.  Seems strange, but don’t forget we blew points in this one last season.  If Newcastle and Fulham can do their part we could be on the up, so let’s not blow points ourselves.

Expect to be watching:

_______ Szczesny _______
Kos _ Merte _ Verm _ Santos
________ Song _________
___ Arteta __ Ramsey ____
Walcott __ RVP __ Gervinho

What do you think?

Decision time on Arsenal’s Carling Cup policy.  I think that there is only one option really.  The game against Fulham on Saturday showed how much some players need a break and Arsene Wenger said since that some are in the ‘red zone’ when it comes to fitness.

I know that we don’t need to get anything out of the the last Champions League game but even so, we need to give some players a break.  The fight for top four spots in the Premier League is going to be so tight this season and that has to be top priority now until the next knock-out Champions League tie.

That’s not to say all is lost.  Manchester City do have a large and expensive squad, but the team they field tonight will not be their first choice either and like the Arsenal team the players won’t have had much tine in the pitch.  They need a win in their last Champions League game so Roberto Mancini has some juggling to do too.

Who won’t be playing tonight?  Apart from the long-term injuries, the doubts seem to be Diaby and Rosicky.  Diaby already?  Apparently both face a fitness test today.

There will have to be some sprinkling of maturity amongst the youth though, so which senior players will be there?  If we don’t rest Robin Van Persie in the Carling Cup, when are we going to rest him?  Walcott, Arteta and Mertesacker have been ever-present so you would think they get to sit this one out.  With Santos having to play every league game, he’s clearly a candidate to sit this one out as well.

I suspect that the team could look very like the one that played Bolton in the last round, but with Koscielny (who didn’t feature against Fulham) instead of Vermaelen.  Wenger has been talking up Yossi Benayoun, so I think he’s certain starter.

The other question against the Bolton line-up is who will play in the middle up-front?  Park started against Bolton.  Will he start tonight or will it be Chamakh?  Hard to know at the moment where these two sit in Wenger’s opinion.

My guess, unless Diaby and Rosicky are passed fit, is little change on the last Carling starting line-up:

_________ Fabianski _________
Yennaris _ Squillaci _ Kos _ Miquel
____Frimpong __ Coquelin _____
_________ Benayoun _________
Ox-Cham ____ Park ____ Arshavin

What do you think?

So that’s the Champions League sorted, back to the Premier League and our prospects for this weekend.

Current state of play-
3 Tottenham 11 8 25
4 Newcastle 12 7 25
5 Chelsea 12 8 22
6 Liverpool 12 5 22
7 Arsenal 12 3 22
(played,GD,points)

So three clubs on 22 points, must be some chance of a place on offer?  Some interesting fixtures too -
Saturday afternoon:
West Brom v Tottenham
Chelsea v Wolves
Manchester Utd v Newcastle
Saturday evening:
Arsenal v Fulham
Sun afternoon:
Liverpool v Man City

West Brom v Spurs
Got to see this as three points for Spurs and the form guide is pretty one-sided.
West Brom at home: LLDWLW
Spurs away: LWWDWW

Man Utd v Newcastle
What do you reckon? Manchester United have stuttered here and there. Unconvincing, but undeniably second in the league.  Newcastle have confused every pundit going by their sure-footed start and in their last game they were defeated for the first time.
Man Utd at home: WWWWLW
Newcastle away: WDDWWL
Home win I reckon, Giggs scoring in the ninety-eleventh minute!

Chelsea v Wolves
Well who knows! Chelsea are in hell at the moment. Playing tactics that the team can’t deliver. Can Wolves make it worse or is this the first step back?
Chelsea at home: WWWWLL
Wolves away: WDLLLL
Looking at that, Chelsea will feel this has to be the turnaround game but, as we know, lost confidence is tough to get back.  If Chelsea lose drops points, it will additional motivation for the Gunners in our evening kick-off.

Arsenal v Fulham
Since the defeat by Liverpool, we’ve won every home game.
Arsenal at home: LWWWWW
Fulham away: LLDLWD
If we lose this it will be a big upset now on the form we’ve been showing.  But we’ve not always followed up on Champions League fixture well so we have to be careful.

Liverpool v Man City
So here’s the game that could see Arsenal gaining a place if we’ve done the business against Fulham.  City haven’t lost yet in the league.  Liverpool haven’t been defeated at home, but they’ve often been held to a draw.
Liverpool at home: DWWDDD
Man City away: WWDWWW

The fight for fourth place is very tight at the moment.  If the games go to form this weekend we could gain a place.  If Chelsea’s problems deepen we could gain two.  But I’ve got a feeling it could be ‘as you we’re and staying seventh.  The important thing in a race like this is not to buckle under the pressure so that you take advantage when someone else slips.

The tightness of this race makes team selection difficult.  Not because Arsene Wenger doesn’t know what his best starting line-up is, but what judgements to make on rotation when every game matters.

Arsenal have a load of midweek games ahead – three in the next four weeks.  The same eleven can’t play all seven.  With number one spot secured, the last Champions League game can obviously be used for mass rotation, but what will be Arsene Wenger’s policy for the Carling Cup?

I’m guessing it may have slightly lower status this season.  The policy last season was blitz everything – win something.  With our lost points in August and September, and the tight race for that player-retaining fourth Champions League ticket, I certainly wouldn’t bitch over a weakened side crashing out of the Carling, as long as full-strength one went and thrashed Wigan the next game.

So my hunch is little change tomorrow, with one out of Arshavin, Benayoun or Diaby getting a start.

How about:

_______ Szczesny _______
Kos _ Merte _ Verm _ Santos
________ Song ________
___ Diaby ___ Ramsey ___
Walcott __ RVP __ Gervinho

What do you think?

We need a win tonight really. That’s not to say we will go out if we don’t win, but we don’t need the pressure and we don’t want to repeat last year’s early meeting with the likes of Barcelona.

We’ve got our noses in front, but only just.

Arsenal 4 2 8
Marseille 4 3 7
Dortmund 4 -4 4
Olympiacos 4 -1 3
(played,GD,points)

In the last two games of the group, the top two clubs are playing the bottom two clubs. Olympiacos have shown some determined moments on this competition, but a win for Marseille has to be expected.

If we were to mess up against Dortmund and lose, that would set up a very tight finish where a point could cover three clubs and Dortmund were playing for qualification against an already qualified Marseille.

A draw is probably survivable as it would then take two Olympiacos wins to put us out.

But like I said, we don’t need the pressure and we’re capable of a win against the Germans.

Wins for Arsenal and Marseille will split the group in two with no way back for the bottom two.

The most encouraging thing about Arsenal now is that we seem to have a maturity and self-belief that will survive a set-back like the first goal conceded against Norwich. Last season, going one down like that would have been the end. Now it isn’t and not just against Norwich but Chelsea too.

It isn’t that we’ve completely sorted the defence. Although were miles better now we still concede some soft goals. It isn’t that were unstoppable upfront, we’re very reliant on the form of one player. It’s the fact we’re a team now, that believes in itself and where players work for each other.

I think it’s come through a combination of two things. We’ve replaced some younger heads with old – Mertesacker, Arteta, Santos and Benayoun.

Perhaps even more importantly, we’ve replaced people who wanted away with those who want to play for Arsenal. Much as we valued the talents of Nasri and Cesc, the truth is that last season their hearts and minds had already departed. Whereas, anyone who joined Arsenal this summer, with everything that was going on, really wanted to be at Arsenal!

Anyway, I’ve got sidetracked, back to the Dortmund game – who will play?

Arsene Wenger has already said that Robin Van Persie will play. He also said that Rosicky is unavailable, but that Diaby is back in the squad. Given that Diaby hasn’t played in months, I can’t see him starting a big game like this. More likely we’ll see him at the weekend.

Koscielny played well at right-back on Saturday and I reckon we’ll see him there again. The Fulham and Wigan games are much more likely opportunities for rotation. So I’m not expecting any change to the starting line-up at all.

So -
_______ Szczesny _______
Kos _ Merte _ Verm _ Santos
________ Song _________
___ Arteta ___ Ramsey ___
Walcott __ RVP __ Gervinho

I wonder if Arshavin is expecting the same?

So, Norwich!  A while since we’ve been there – back in our unbeaten run.   It was August 2004 and we won 4-1 with goals from Reyes, Henry, Pires and Bergkamp.

But that was then and this is now.  Norwich have made a good start to this season back in the Premier League and we mustn’t take them for granted.  We’ve only won once away from home after all.

Looking at the team, back then I see that Justin Hoyte got a goal, so we must have been suffering injury problems in the back four.  Nothing changes.  Kieran Gibbs has had an operation this week to sort out a hernia.  Carl Jenkinson sounds in worse nick though with a stress fracture in his back.

At left-back, the fish’n'chip fuelled Santos can play for Gibbs, so no problem there.  As for right-back, we’re right back with the debate of a fortnight or so ago.  Who covers that slot in the absence of Sagna and Jenkinson.  Djourou or Kosceilny?  If our top three central defenders are all good to go then I would like to see Laurent Koscielny at right-back.   He’s said he’s up for it and he’s played there before.  Djourou’s no mug there, but he’s not great.

There rest of the line-up should be number won choices – no other injuries reported apart from the long-term Wilshere.  Does that mean Arshavin or Gervinho?  Recently it’s meant Gervinho of course and that’ what I expect tomorrow, unless Arsene Wenger decides to give Arshavin a start to keep him happy and save Gervinho for the midweek game against Dortmund.

So I reckon:

______ Szczesny _______
Kos _ Merte _ Verm _ Santos
_______ Song _________
__Arteta _____ Ramsey __
Walcott __ RVP __ Gervinho

What do you think?

Unusually for these two teams, this game was largely dominated by competent defending. Neither team really threatened with slim chances all round.

Arsene Wenger decided to rest Van Persie and Koscielny but didn’t rotate anywhere else. But the team looked tired going forward and Park struggled to make any impact. Passes didn’t get through which made for a stuttering performance.

It looked a bit like a day at work after the Christmas Party. Everyone still knows what to do, but it doesn’t come off as effectively as usual. Some people drift in late with a bit more energy, but to be honest you’re settling for nothing going really wrong.

For the first twenty minutes Marseille dominated. They came out of the blocks fast, determined to give a better game than last time, and Arsenal had to work hard to contain them. But we did contain them, snuffing out their attacks on the way to a clean sheet.

Santos and Jenkinson got forward in support but couldn’t make the difference. In fact, Santos was forward so much that you began to think that Arteta or Vermaelen was playing at left-back.

But despite Santos’ constant forward runs, Arsenal’s back four was pretty solid. Jenkinson is gaining experience and confidence. He isn’t flashy and exciting, he is solid and determined. He doesn’t get forced off the ball and his reading of the game is improving. Considering how far he’s come in the last two years, very impressive.

Vermaelen and Mertesacker both had good games and a clean sheet is more than welcome. Vermaelen looked completely fit and it will be interesting to see how Arsene Wenger goes in choosing the central pairing in future games.

Vermaelen leads our Man of the Match poll.

The problem last night was that Marseille were just as solid at the back as we were and we couldn’t find a way through. Perhaps it wasn’t just physical tiredness but an emotional fatigue as well after the intensity of Stamford Bridge.

Later in the game, on came fresher legs, with Arshavin and Rosicky. Van Persie came on too for a cameo. But the pattern of the game seemed fixed by then and it felt like a draw for the last twenty minutes.

Maybe the fresher Arshavin, Rosicky or Benayoun should have played from the start. Maybe it wouldn’t have made a difference. It’s a tough call to change a team that’s beaten Chelsea 5:3.

A draw isn’t a disaster though by any means. Dortmund helped out by reclaiming points from Olympiacos. That effectively splits the group into two pairs and we have the head-to-head advantage over Marseille thanks to Ramsey’s late winner in France. We can still win this group.

Arsene Wenger wasn’t giving much away yesterday, repeating several times that he hadn’t picked the team yet.  This is sensible with two big games close together.  He obviously needs to wait and see if anyone suffers a reaction from the Chelsea game.

He did give some squad news.  Vermaelen and Jenkinson are both included.  Obviously Benayoun is back in, having been excluded on Saturday as a Chelsea loanee.

Marouane Chamakh is apparently injured.  Some are whispering that this is an Almunia style injury – a condition that is more about not exposing an unpicked player to media questioning than a serious physical problem.  Presumably Park will be on the bench.

Abou Diaby’s recovery is going more slowly than hoped, so it will be a while before he is an option.  Which doesn’t create a big problem at the moment.  Diaby is a useful, versatile player to have on the bench, or as cover, but who would you start him ahead of in a fit squad?

This is a big game tonight.  Win and we qualify.  Win and we are favourites to top the group.  I don’t think Arsene Wenger will want to make many changes.  Marseille are a good side with a decent away record.  Like Arsenal they have been staging a recovery with three wins out of their last three games.

Clearly, Wenger must decide on Djourou, Jenkinson or Koscielny at right-back.  I doubt we’re going to see Djourou there.  There are two possible rotations with Arshavin and Rosicky.  That will be all I think, unless fitness problems force further change.

After tonight November should be slightly easier.  The first and last gamed provide the biggest challenges and there is just one away game.

CL – Marseille (h)
PL – West Brom (h)
Break
PL – Norwich (a)
CL – Dortmund (h)
PL – Fulham (h)
CC – Man City (h)

Last season we messed up the equivalent West Brom game.  Clearly we have the chance to consolidate our recent climb up the table with three more league wins.  A perfect Champions League performance at home is a distinct possibility too.

Then comes a big decision on the Carling Cup.  In the last round, Manchester City made eleven changes and still beat Wolves 5:2 away.  What will be Mancini and Wenger’s game plan this time?

I guess that Mancini will play his second choice team.  There are some big names even there and they need to play.  Mancini isn’t going to be too worried about the Carling Cup.  For Arsenal I guess it depends how the month goes.  If were winning our games, consolidating our Premier and Champions league position, we can afford to be less concerned about the Carling Cup too.

So, a month with great potential.  Let’s hope we’ve got the consistency now to take full advantage.

C’mon Arsenal.

On Saturday we showed that we can compete at the top of the Premier League.  Three away points taken from the third place team is a fantastic result.

Tomorrow we can take charge of our Champions League Group.  A home win against Marseille will leave us four points ahead of them, and and at least that ahead of Olympiacos, with two games to play.

Can we keep our run of form going?  Did the Chelsea game take too much out of anyone essential?  Does anyone need an immediate break, given that we are at home to West Brom next weekend and then there is a two week gap to our next game?

Given the lighter load beyond this game I would hope we can put out a pretty solid team and go all out for the win that will put us on course to top the group.  If there is another game in Robin Van Persie I would play him with the promise of a weekend off to come.

Two players who could well get rotated in are Rosicky and Arshavin.

The right-back choice will be interesting with both Jenkinson and Vermaelen fit.  Will Jenkinson come back in against Marseille, or will Arsene Wenger use Vermaelen’s return to see what Koscielny can do out on the right?

Arsene Wenger hasn’t gone for much rotation so far this season, mainly settling for Rosicky/Ramsey and Arshavin:Gervinho.

So the team I’m expected is:

_______ Szczesny _______
Kos _ Merte _ Verm _ Santos
________ Song _________
___ Rosicky __ Arteta ___
Walcott __ RVP __ Arshavin

Though the right back choice could go either way.  We didn’t see either Jenkinson or Vermaelen for long on Saturday so only Arsene Wenger knows how fit either really is.  But Djourou clearly isn’t a great option there, despite his work-rate and commitment.

One thing that’s surprised me over the last few weeks is how transfer speculation has carried on since the window closed.  This may be my memory playing up but I’m sure there’s more of it than last season.

I think that there are two reasons.  First, everyone knows that because Arsenal sold players late, they have money in the bank.  Second, the explosion in websites following football and Arsenal in particular means that there is great competition for readers.

Most web traffic comes via aggregator sites like arsenalnews.net where you choose what to read on the basis of just the headline – and a transfer headline gets you more visits, even when the window’s closed.  It’s almost as if there’s s breed of fan whose mote interested in the transfer speculation than the football.

How long readers stay on a site when they discover the story is based on the idea that Arsenal want to buy back Kolo Toure is another matter.  But no matter to the website owner, the visitor has been noted by Google and fed through to their advertising algorithm, serving up higher value ads next time.

Only the third most important reason for the speculation is the idea that Arsenal will spend all that cash in the January window.  Now obviously there is room for more quality in the Arsenal squad, even after the result on Saturday.

But will the right players do deals in January.  If I were a top player, which probably means I would already be playing Champions League football, I would want to wait and see where Arsenal end up.  And I wouldn’t be sure of that in January.

Arsene Wenger may pull off a surprise purchase, but more likely is that what we have now is what we have to use.  After Saturday, that doesn’t seem quite so worrying.