Nine Jimmy Rimmers – Arsenal and Football

“Both sides are good at what they do,” said Arsene Wenger, trying to be dignified and diplomatic after getting ridiculous stick from the Stoke fans and having to listen to them booing Aaron Ramsey.

Stoke are good at what they do, but what is the point? I mean really, what is the point? They probably won’t go down playing like that, but they’re not going to win anything either and no-one will hold them up as an example of achievement. They are a haven for tall, competent footballers who can sustain that style for ninety minutes.

In his post-match interviews Tony Pullis said he was proud that they hadn’t been beaten by any of the big teams this year. But what about the football Tony? What does Tony Pullis think of Roberto Martinez and Wigan?

The game itself was pretty dull stuff with the ball spending a lot of time in the air. Ramsey put in a really good seventy minutes. I want to give him the first mention because he got stick from the Stoke fans, which is pathetic, but has also been under attack from some Arsenal fans too, which I think has been unfair. He hasn’t been as good as he can be this season, but most a lot of players go through phases like that. Yesterday he was good.

So was Rosicky. He’s obviously thrown off the illness that sapped his skill and energy last week. He was probably our most effective player again and topped our Stoke match poll by some margin.

Gervinho was lively and showed some good moves until it came to shooting, so no big change there sadly. The two goals cam from rare lapses from both defences which were pretty tight throughout. Santos was brought on late in game, but to replace Benayoun rather than Gibbs. Arsene Wenger seems to like him as an impact sub who will take the game to the opponents when we are struggling to get through and I think he is right. Plus it has the advantage of keeping Santos involved when Gibbs is getting the starts.

Marouane Chamakh also made a rare appearance, but didn’t really get enough service to show whether we’ve been missing anything or not. Most Arsenal fans assumed that he and Diaby were brought on to add some extra height against the vertically challenging Stoke.

You can picture the scene in Pullis’ office can’t you? Scouts and agents describe a player’s qualities at length, show video clips. “His name is Messi boss and it turns out his long lost granny lives just down the road in Hanley. She’s getting on and he really wants to spend some time with her.” Pullis looks up from under his cap, “how tall is he?”

A single point against Stoke is not as good as we wanted, but it’s better than most of our trips there and with Wigan trouncing Newcastle it hasn’t done us much damage. Last season we lost 3:1. Newcastle are in a tight spot now with games against Chelsea, Manchester City and Everton to come.

Today Spurs play Blackburn and Chelsea play QPR. Both are at home and both should win. But the way this season is going who knows. This weekend could have a bit more to give yet.

Yesterday must have been ‘bring your child to work’ day at the BBC, as Match of the Day was rounded off by a ten-year-old doing an impression of Gary Lineker doing an impression of Arsene Wenger. Either that or Gary Lineker was just being a pathetic prat.

Stoke 1:1 Arsenal
Crouch, Van Persie
Szczesny
Sagna, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs
Song, Rosicky, Ramsey (Diaby)
Gervinho (Chamakh), Van Persie, Benayoun (Santos)

As we discussed yesterday, the first dilemma is how to replace the injured Jenkinson. Clearly it’s a toss up between Djourou and Koscielny. Koscielny is more experienced at filling in at right back, but just when we’ve tightened up at the back will Arsene Wenger want to disrupt his partnership with Mertesacker? I’m guessing not.

Then again, this game last season it was Squillaci who got the winner…….

Next decision – when to rest Robin Van Persie. The fact that Wenger had been musing over this one in public immediately makes me think that he is trying to mess with Tony Pullis’ head. Or maybe it’s the old double bluff. He’ll leave RVP out of the cup game against Bolton but he’ll definitely be needed against Chelsea next weekend.

I think he will start against Stoke. Another win will keep the run of brittle form going and consolidate our return to the top half of the table.

Arteta has been ever present since he arrived so maybe it’s time for a break. Arsene Wenger says there has to be some rotation, so how about Rosicky and Oxlade-Chamberlain in midfield with Rambo to come on for another late winner?

I have to admit my team predictions haven’t been as good this season. Mainly because I’ve anticipated rotations that haven’t actually happened. But sooner or later Van Persie and Arteta will need a break.

We have a really solid record against Stoke, especially at home, but this isn’t a usual season and we will have to work hard for the win we need.

My guess for the team:

________ Szczesny ________
Djourou _ Merte _ Kos _ Santos
__________ Song _________
____Ox-Cham ___ Rosicky __
_ Walcott _ RVP _ Gervinho _

The Wilshere red card tackle which, take note, nobody at Arsenal has sought to defend, has had the likes of McLeish sounding off in the Sunday papers.  Why oh why oh why does everyone rate Wenger ahead of us they want to know.

McLeish complains that people haven’t forgotten the Taylor tackle on Eduardo.  Pullis points out that foreigner Wenger hasn’t won anything in a while.  Why oh why doesn’t anyone recognize our talent in the same way they want to know.

Well here are two lessons why.  One is about being remembered for the right things, but the first is about being remembered at all.  Both are about class.

So, Wenger hasn’t won anything in years.  That’s true Tony, and Arsenal fans are a little anxious, but he has won stuff and you haven’t.  He has led a team to the closing stages of the Champions League just about every year, including a final.  He was spotted in relative obscurity and plucked out to manage the Arsenal.  You were spotted and plucked out to manage Stoke City.  What’s more, he’s competed with the likes of Chelsea, Man Utd, Barcelona and now Man City with a fraction of their spending.

That’s why people rate him Alex.  That’s why people will still be talking about him, and let’s face it the Taylor tackle, long after they’ve stopped talking about Alex McLeish!

The second lesson is about wanting to be remembered for the right things. Tony Pullis and Alex McLeish do have tough jobs to do.  Yes, absolutely true.  But so do Ian Holloway at Blackpool and Roberto Di Matteo at West Brom.  All four of them have to keep their ‘unfashionable’ clubs in the top flight on small budgets.

But there’s a big difference in the approach that the two pairs of managers take.  Holloway and Di Matteo send out teams to play football.  They try and close the skill gap through athleticism, concentration and good tactics.  It’s football and it’s admirable.

Now it’s early in the season, and Holloway and Di Matteo may yet succumb to the pressures of survival, but it is clear from the way they have started the season how they want to play the game, how they want to be remembered. Plus they make sure that they are not remembered for whining interviews!

Now Tony and Alex may argue that they’ve never had the breaks in their careers, so maybe we can be sympathetic on lesson one, but they have no excuses on lesson two.   The managers of West Brom and Blackpool are in the same boat as Tony and Alex.  The difference is, they’ve got class.