The Untouchables: Wenger vs. Moyes

I had hoped to start this match preview discussing the superb display put in by Arsenal against Villa, how we were starting to climb the table and could perhaps sneak into fourth place by this weekend. However, as you all know by now, that eventuality never occurred and, as if aware of what I was planning on writing, the team turned in one of their poorest performances this season. We created very little, almost conceded late on, and ended up reliant on a very un-reliable Russian. Oh, and a defensive midfielder of course! Inspiring? Well no, not really. So, with much to chew over, mistakes to pick up on, and a crucial away game at Everton to discuss, what better reason to get stuck in to our match preview of Everton v Arsenal!   

That’s why I use gel amigo!

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Nick         17.07

Good evening Tom and a warm welcome to all our followers. The weekend’s game at Villa was as flat as one of my poorly made pancakes from this morning, and a much improved performance will be needed as we head North to Merseyside! It’s always been a tricky game this one, but even more so as Everton are flying high this season and David Moyes seems to have the bit between his teeth. A few draws in the last few games and a defeat to Reading can give us a bit of hope going into this one and hopefully the Toffees have hit a bit of a sticky patch!

The in-form Walcott returns to give us pace out wide and we are going to need to have that threat on the break with Everton most likely to have the lion’s share of possesion. Talking of lions, Wenger was quite feisty himself after the Villa game on Saturday when questioned about his substitutions. He will no doubt demand more from his players tomorrow night to help get those fans of his back! It’s a game that certainly promises much, with big Mo Felliani in attack for Everton. Expect some long balls coming towards our 18 yard box, particularly if the score is still 0-0 after 80 mins! All the more reason to score early and start well. 

Wilshere will return in midfield after we lacked his killer instinct against Villa! With Rosicky returning soon the creativity levels in midfield should receive a timely boost. As always in the Premier League, games can be won or lost in midfield, so hopefully our Spanish trio (let’s face it he plays more like a Spaniard!) can start to really gel, beyond Arteta’s hairstyle that is!

Wednesday night’s key showdown

Tom         17.21

Nick, I have to say I am about as confident of getting a result as I am of seeing no more rain this week. I tell you, if it hasn’t rained recently, it’s poured! Even our club photographer only managed about five photos of the squad before he must have gone inside to get warm. Still, he is not being paid £50,000 a week so I certainly hope Wenger was putting our expensively assembled squad through their paces over the last few days, in spite of the recent weather!

 It’s getting really worrying how little we are creating during the course of 90 mins, particularly away from home. Bearing in mind Villa had shipped five to Manchester City and three to United in recent weeks! The decision to leave Wilshere on the bench was understandable, contrary to the opinion of some fans. Though quite how we have become so reliant on him when Wenger was commenting on how much depth we had in the midfield only a while back, I don’t know. However, to have him on the bench when you don’t plan on using him was madness! Give him the game off, fine, but let a hungry young player take his place. Eisfeld could certainly have offered something offensively through the middle of the park. Likewise, having to bring on a player like Gervinho – who has been out for a while – and Coquelin – who is hardly going to ‘create’ anything – spoke of desperation. I’m aware we don’t have the biggest squad, but in past seasons Wenger has looked to hungry younger players to step in and offer something a little different. Gervinho couldn’t dribble round a cone at the minute!

So that is my mini rant over and I have to say I’m glad the Everton game has come upon us so quickly. I had to stop playing with Arsenal the other day on Fifa because I couldn’t score. It’s contagious! But negativity is a fickle thing and can be so easily turned around with a few wins. We do have Walcott back like you said and I really believe he has a point to prove this season. Whether that is for a new deal with us or a bumper deal elsewhere, if it brings goals for the time being, we can’t really worry too much.

No better place to kick on than at Goodison and a team who we haven’t lost to in the League since 2007. 3-0 to the Arsenal and the wheels firmly in motion for an unbeaten December. COYG!

Get me on boss!

Nick        17.28

It’s true Tom, Wenger needs to get real and get with the times a bit. Coming out with the standard, ‘we have players in place for five years time’ is just not good enough! Players leave and we get nowhere unfortunately!

Looking forward to some midweek Premier League games though to warm the cockles, particularly as temperatures are set to plummet. A big week of fixtures ahead for Arsenal, who really need to get their act together otherwise the fans may start to truly vent their frustrations outside the walls of the AGM. It could get messier than a night out in Gloucester Tom. . .  Which is what I am currently recovering from! Let’s hope not. Come on Arsenal!

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Sunday’s Showdowns

So after a midweek Champions League game we now face a tricky away day in the Premiership. A great start in Europe can hopefully provide the springboard to get a good result at the Etihad on Sunday. There will be all kinds of head to heads on the pitch come kick-off: Bould v Platt, Wenger v Mancini and Cazorla v Silva.

Two beasts of the modern game

In my opinion though, Toure v Diaby could be the most intriguing match up this Sunday, two giants who play in the same way as a certain ex-Arsenal legend and current ‘technical director’ at City: Mr. Paddy Viera! We won’t go into his ridiculous new role at City and the reasons why he is there, but what we can discuss is the two main men this weekend. Both could be the difference for either side, a lot just depends on how well each copes with the other player’s power and direct running. We hope Diaby is fit; he did play the full 90 minutes on Tuesday, so let’s hope he hasn’t tripped over the dog or fallen out of bed! If fit and ready, Diaby will be looking to take the game by the scruff of the neck once again. Bar a few dodgy moments against Montpellier on Tuesday, he controlled the game with his little twists and turns and quick feet. His run in the second half, where he glided past his opponents like Usain Bolt in the Olympics, was brilliant. It was like being back at school and watching the older boy in the playground run past the little ones like they weren’t there. Lets hope for more of the same from Abou come Sunday!

Cazorla v Silva could also be a great match up. Cazorla has started his Arsenal career like an artist at work: fluent, creative and with an air of freedom. He can go either way, great with his right and great with his left. He gives the side that much-needed balance and poise, which allows the other players to run off him. Like a flick of a switch he has a picture in his mind of what he is going to do and where his teammates are. Then there is Mikel Arteta to complete the midfield trio. Our new vice captain and deservedly so! He plays with a swagger and a presence that compliments Diaby and Cazorla so well. How is Wilshere going to get back in? He’s going to have to work his socks off!

So there it is, the midfield in my opinion will be key come matchday. With players like Arshavin out the side, we really can work much better as a team, both with, and perhaps more importantly, without the ball. As with our game at Liverpool, the midfield can run the show! If that can be followed up this Sunday, City will have a game on their hands and the neutral will be provided with a feast of football.

‘He scores when he wants, he scores when he wants, that boy Lukas Podolski, he scores when he wants’ . . . Who needs RVP eh!

Nick-A-Win