We should be two points behind Chelski!

Our loss against The Toon army is rather difficult to take as we should have been sitting two points behind Chelsea and level on points with Man U. Yet again this season we have lost at home in front of our own fans and there was zero effort, zero urgency and zero desire to win the game. Take away nothing from Newcastle they were very well organised at the back and made us look very poor at times especially in the midfield.

I couldn’t watch the game from kick off I had to pick up my cousin from Luton Airport, his plane landed just before the game. At about 1:25pm we got back to the car and we headed for the M1 South towards M25, radio was tuned in to Talksport which was painful enough  but this was the best I could at the time. I have thought about this fixture and knew this was going to be a hard one as they would be looking for revenge after we knocked them out in Carling Cup a week ago. Judging from what was being said on Talksport we didn’t look like the Arsenal we all know. The only chance we had in the first half was the Cesc free kick which hit the bar however our passing, fluency and desire just wasn’t there and as soon as they scored I feared it could have been one of those days. The whistle blew, end of first half by that time I was approaching Reading on the M4 so had another 5 minutes on the road, I got to my local and we managed to quickly get a pint each and take a seat in front of the big screen. I didn’t even think for a second I would witness such a abysmal display from our lads it was even more painful to watch it on live TV.

Second half started and still we were pretty much shit to be honest with you, we found it really hard to pass the ball in the midfield, our passing was awful we usually move in triangles and pass the ball well what the hell happened to us I thought? Theo should have scored when he had a chance, Cesc had a decent header but it was straight at their keeper. The only good thing about the second half was when Van Persie came on, Jesus I thought how many lagers have I had already? Is it really him? It was him indeed and it was really good so see him getting back to his best. He’s definitely not match fit  and will need few more games to see the best come out of him. We never looked like scoring in the second half  we pushed forward but it wasn’t working. In dying minutes there was no leadership and Koscienly got a straight red for holding onto Nile Ranger but for me this wasn’t a sending off as it wasn’t a foul.

Fabianski was 100% to blame for the goal but he never really got any help from his defenders. We created bugger all in the second half, Theo should have scored, if he’s a better finisher this season why can’t he do the job when badly needed? Our midfield run out of ideas and as soon as I saw Cesc launching long balls I knew it was going to be one of those days. It’s a funny old game you know we have given away 6 points at home already this season to lesser teams and this is totally unacceptable.

A very HUGE, MASSIVE, GIAGANTIC response is required against Wolves and they seem to have improved as well so it won’t be an easy game now. We have lost our spark and I’m worried it has to be said.

Braga taught a lesson by Vintage Arsenal

ARSENAL 6 : 0 SPORTING BRAGA

I think it’s fair to say that before the game tonight I thought Braga was a decent side, ok I don’t want to sound too patronizing here, perhaps they are a good side but after the show tonight we know we can go all the way, well I know we will definitely try. The free flowing football, those passes, those runs, the link up play, chasing the ball, desire, determination and hunger I could go on here forever, it was just amazing to watch simply Vintage Arsenal!

I will focus on individual performances for a change perhaps if I have missed something you Gooners can fill in the gaps. We could have easily scored 10 tonight without a doubt as some chances went begging, never mind to watch us play like this just reminds me why I have fallen in Love with Arsenal!

Cesc was just everywhere tonight and I mean everywhere, defence, in the middle and attack, he showed yet again what a great magician he can be, his form is definitely on the up and scoring two goals will hopefully send him flying even further. I was hoping he was going to get his Hat-Trick but hey I’m sure he’ll have plenty of opportunities to do so. Absolutelly  brilliant performance by our skipper! Nasri was introduced from the first whistle tonight and straight away he was pulling strings on the right wing, he switched sides with Arshavin at some point and did the same on the other side.

Jack  had a fantastic game too, this young lad worked his socks off and played some great football, his cross to Cesc with the outside of his boot was pure class. Chamakh was outstanding, he really adds another dimension to our attack doesn’t he? He’s fast, he can pass and dribble and hold the ball well for a free transfer we got ourselves hell of a striker, Chamakh who? He scored yet again and  boy I can see him scoring many more and Arsene definitely knows.

Song was solid as aways, I have noticed he likes to go forward himself you know, he was poking the ball all night chasing and it looked like no one was going to stop him tonight. Arshavin had few misplaced passes to start with but he worked his arse off on that left wing, he chased back as well. I’m sure we are yet to see the best of him soon. Clichy I think had one incident where he didn’t clear the ball too well but overall he was solid and very quick to the ball, he was up and down on that left flank in the second half. Sagna well what can you say about Sagna solid as a brick wall.

Braga did try to upset our back four at times, however Koscielny and Sqilliaci formed a very good understanding at the back they were really commanding in that area, they didn’t allow anything past them. We can’t forget that they only have been with us few months so there is definitely still room for improvement.

Eboue was as good as the others and Vela scored an absolute gem of a goal, how cheeky was that? I honestly think we have the best attacking side in the Premier League. Vela needs more playing time but I’m sure his time will come. Yet another clean sheet for Almunia that can’t be bad for his confidence buidling, he wasn’t too busy we know but he had a good ball catching practice either way.

I know it’s early days and Braga are not real test yet, however I will enjoy this moment for now and enjoy those goals all over again. I did expect more from Braga I have to admit my money is lost but hey that doesn’t really matter any more.

Braga preview, we have been warned

Braga? So who is Braga?

The name of the club we will face on Wednesday evening in the Champions League clash doesn’t bring up any immediate concerns to many of us, however if you closely look at them and what they have achieved so far makes you think twice that they can’t be taken for granted. They have knocked out Celtic and Sevilla to reach the group stages of this years Champions League and that has to be accounted for as we all know that not as much as Celtic but Sevilla is a very tough place to go to and winning there is definitely something special.

In 1921 their coach Jozef Szabo made a trip up to Highbury not that I can remember I wasn’t even around then, but it seemed to have  inspired him at the time who changed their club shirt colours from green white stripes  to white red stripes, they also renamed their A and B teams, Minho’s Arsenalistas and Arsenal do Braga, quite interesting that.

Their AXA Stadium built for the Euro 2004 only has two stands along the side lines of the pitch with one end made of solid rock and the other overlooking the City.

Braga’s only trophy came in 2008 when they won the last ever UEFA Intertoto Cup, they yet have to win domestic league but they have managed to finish second last season so it seems that things are definitely improving for the Portuguese club. Their Brazilian forward Matheus is not shy to speak away about their trip to The Grove, he said:

“We have already achieved our first success of the season by reaching the group stages of the Champions League,”

“But that is not enough. Braga are not just going into this as tourists. Now we want to travel across Europe and win.”

“Arsenal are the favourites to win the match and the group – but we can spring a big surprise.”

“Nobody thought we could beat Seville either.”

“The key to the match for us will be to give our all and take advantage of the opportunities we get on the counter-attack,”

“I love Arsenal’s incredible attacking style, but I don’t intend to suffer from it.

“I intend to enjoy it. Scoring at the Emirates would be an incredible moment for me to remember.”

Now he’s full of praise for us but we need our back four to be ready for this one, as Le Boss said himself that they are a very good counter attacking side and I have no doubt they will try and hit us on the counter, so we have been warned. I still believe this one should see us through with a tasty goal margin and I have chosen for another correct score line, 4:1 to the Almighty Arsenal at 20/1 with Skybet or if you prefer a 5:0 score line at 28/1. Let’s hope I’m right about this one and I’ll be few quid richer tomorrow evening.

Not much else going on today to be honest with you, press conference later on will reveal the exact extent of Diaby’s injury and the rest I imagine. I’m glad Nasri will be available for this one and that Cesc is hitting form again, but most of all that Vermaelen will join either Koscielny or Squillaci at the back, I feel somewhat calmer with him in front of Almunia who had a very decent game against Bolton, long may it continue please.

Match report will follow after the game for those of you going, get behind the lads and a have a great evening. That’s all I have for you today, take care and be good.

We have Cesc Fabregas…We have Cesc Fabregas…We have Cesc Fabregas…

We deserved this one and we responded well

Weekends come and go, we all look forward to the game at the weekend and before you know it it’s Monday morningand you have to be at work, witha hangover for some of us. It was a good weekend for me, it all started with Everton taking on Man U at midday, I watched the game and thought it would nice for Everton to beat Man U but then the score line looked 1:3 and I changed the channel. Without knowing the final outcome of the game I prepared my self to watch us take on dirty Bolton and dirty they were don’t you think?

First half was a bit nervous I would say, we scored first with a bit of a mix-up in the box Jack crossed the ball in and Koscielny made it 1:0 with a simple tap in but only for him to make a mistake at the other end with some sloppy passing, by that time we should have been at least 4:0 up where Arshavin had a chance after chance unfortunately it wasn’t his day, as much as he tried there was no end product there. I do have to say he worked his socks off so I will let him off here. Fisrt half ended in 1:1 and I felt we needed to improve after the break.

Second half saw a much improved and goal hungry Arsenal side, the game became more physical at that moment and Bolton reverted to some nasty challenges and in the 64th minute Gary Cahill was sent off for a tackle from behind on the man who scored moments later. Chamakh’s header put us in front again after Cesccrossed the ball into the  six yard box, Alex Song withsome clever ball control and a brilliant flick got the third few minutes later. I did go for a 3:1 correct score line withthe bookies but Cesc with a brilliant through ball found Carlos Vela who smashed a low shot and made it 4:1 ultimately making my profit go down the drain. Never mind as I enjoyed this ride very much and three points are more important than anything else.

Bolton should have had another red card or even two, Kevin Davies on purpose clashed heads with Koscielny but referee Stuart Atwell waved it off, that would of been his second yellow and he should have joined Cahill in the dressing room. What happened later was a complete disgrace, Paul Robinson should have seen a straight red after his malicious leg braking tackle on Abou Diaby, for me the linesman had a clear view of the incident and should have done something about it. How on earth the FA allow a Phantom Goal referee in the Priemier League is just beyond a joke. Diaby replaced Jack and only lasted few minutes and was replaced by Denilson, after the tackle Diaby wasn’t happy one bit and I fully stand by him on that one, I would definitely do the same thing. This tackle could have ended his footballing career and Atwell should be dropped to Sunday league games, his atrocious mistakes should be punished and should never be allowed in top league games. I only hope and wish Diaby a speedy recovery to his best!

Diaby is one lucky man

We saw some good individual performances on Saturday no doubt and it looks like our Captain is on his way back, he got three assists and should have probably scored himself. It’s nice to see him coming back to his best. Everyone had a really good game, hopefully Arshavinwill start scoring soon and with Chamakh up front we have definitely an aerial threat we haven’t had in ages. After checking the results after the games it was a nice suprise to see that Everton came back to 3:3 and made my Saturday afternoon even better.

Champions League here we come, till next time everyone.

Slow start but ended in a feast

Before the kick off I never expected for the score line to be so high, Blackpool give them a lot of credit because they came to The Emirates to play football and football they played until the sending off of Evatt. I don’t think we can argue here but he deserved a red as he was the last defender. We can argue the fact that it was outside the penalty area but sometimes these are given and this was certainly the case yesterday. Wenger did say after the game it was harsh but I believe a red card was a correct decision after all these are the rules.

Even after going down to 10 man  Ian Holloway’s men tried to play real football they passed the ball well and if it wasn’t for the sending off we would have witnessed a different outcome, I’m sure. They never hoofed the ball forward expecting a good fortune bounce to get on the score sheet, this is the first team I have seen that tried to play football the correct way and because of that I have tons of respect for  Ian Holloway and Blackpool. It goes without saying as the man himself said that Le Boss is a magician and just goes to show that we are lucky enough to have him for years to come. I wouldn’t have any other way, would you?

We started of slow you have to admit, we needed a goal to get going and we did just that. I’m not going to go through the goals scored we all seen them hundred times I did anyway, they quite simply awesome. Theo at last got his first hat-trick, Arshavin got one so did Diaby and Chamakh to finish off the afternoon. It was a job well done and I hope this is just a beginning for Walcott and by no means it’s a just a one game display, God only knows how much I want him to succeed, he never really showed any progress last season so it’s important for him to grow into the team and score more of those hat-tricks.

The transfer market is still open and Wenger promised at least one more signing if not two, I’m sure it’s damn hard to find some decent enough for our club without spending millions on top. Let’s hope we will get them soon enough or more like on the deadline which is usually the case. I think another CB and DM would be welcome by every Arsenal fan, come on Arsene don’t make us wait too long. That’s it from me fellow Gooners, till next time.

Theo…Theo…Theo…

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