Could Do With Rosicky Back, Fajita Jolly Good Fellow.
Nov 3rd, 2009 by 'holic
A Manchester United fan stopped me in the restaurant at lunchtime. I was ready for some sort of put-down, because that is what always follows when we meet. “Some side you have there”, he said. I waited for the punchline. “If you can avoid any more injuries your boys will take some beating. Nobody can hold a candle to you when you get going. I have a horrible feeling this is your year.”
Chest puffed out and head suitably swelled I grabbed a chicken fajita and headed back to the laptop to catch up on the news. I should have known. The first emails started coming in about the potential stress fracture of the back suffered by Gael Clichy. Why are we so prone to this type of injury? Gilberto, then Denilson, now Clichy. On top of the loss of Nicklas Bendtner on Saturday, this was not what we wanted to hear.
For once the international break may be arriving at the right time. The side to face Alkmaar I would suggest virtually selects itself, with Eboue and Gibbs coming in for the two who started the Tottenham game but are no longer available.
Arsene looked very guarded in his press conference when offering the news that Tomas Rosicky would be in the squad, but “he will still be short to start”. Hopefully he will be able to start at Wolverhampton on Saturday. Despite the unbeaten run now standing at eleven matches we have missed him, particularly in the reverse Champions League fixture in Holland. He adds a spark and a degree of improvisation that is beyond most.
Alkmaar have problems of their own with leading marksman Mounir El Hamdaoui missing through injury. However we saw for much of the first half in the last game that they were capable of playing keep-ball and frustrating us for long periods. They desperately need a result but look a little short of quality in the final third. Dangerous assumption based on one game, I know.
I cannot help but feel though that if the entire Arsenal front six is at it tomorrow then we will eventually triumph comfortably. That hasn’t been the case much of late, where we have relied heavily on the spine of Song, Fabregas, and van Persie ahead of the central defenders. Diaby, Eboue, and Arshavin will need to give us variety and application in equal measure.
I believe strongly that they will, and the ‘holic pound goes on a repeat of Saturday’s 3-0 triumph. Ladbrokes go 7/1 (and those odds are doubled if you fancy 3-1). I cannot find a price for my back-up pound on Robin van Persie to be booked near the end if we are comfortably ahead. He is a caution away from a suspension and will not want to miss a last sixteen clash.
Should we triumph, and Olympiacos avoid defeat in Liege, then qualification will be secure. With the injury list growing daily that would be a highly desirable combination. Keep ’em crossed ‘holics. I want my Manc colleague’s worst fears to be realised.
28 Responses to “Could Do With Rosicky Back, Fajita Jolly Good Fellow.”
Fajita jolly good fellow? Taco say all of us.
I’ll have a quiet Duvel, cheers ‘holic.
These injuries are bothersome. How many backs have we seen go out since August? Is it really three now? And I seem to remember at least two last season. You Manc friend is right, though. When we’re on, we’re really on… and there’s not a side that can stand before us. But how to find the consistency we need?
it’s better if olympiakows lose because then we’ll be almosy unchallenged for top spot. if we win there’s no way we would still manage to not qualify it would be ridiculous
I have a hunch your mate is right 😉 I watched Madrid-Milan who played like we’re still in the 90s. Slow, slow, slower. Box to box but slower than a walking Arsenal team. The number of missed passes was greater than during Hull-Wolves. Real’s defense manages to make the former Galacticos defense look good in comparison. Milan have Pato and Ronaldinho who can run, the others are all-defending molasses. Real watch themselves play, it’s almost painful to see them systematically attempt one-on-one duels. Oh and anyone on the back of our keepers should watch Dida, 5 minutes are enough to get the point.
Alltogether there was maybe half a billion dollars on the pitch and all I could think was that we would easily dispose of either team if we had to. Unbelievable. Having seen that I’m now rooting for Marseille big time!
3-0 for us against AZ would be good. The kids need games, Song and others need some rest as we have enough injuries already.
Don’t we all, ‘holic. I’ll have a glass of night nurse please.
Since Clichy is out, I would play Nasri in the midfield, to provide some cover for Gibbs. Sometimes he can be out of the position and it would be good if there was someone to give him some sort of back up. Don’t want him to play defensive, though. I hope Nasri starts. I reckon Eboue will start ahead of Sagna.
Almunia
Eboue Gallas Vermalean Gibbs
Song Fabregas (Nasri)
Eduardo Van Persie Arshavin
Don’t you think Nasri will get a game ‘holic? He’s just the man we need to keep our game going against opponents that sit back. I agree with you about Rosicky too, it’s become more and more apparent what a big miss he was at the end of the ’07/’08 season. I hope he’s back starting for us soon. I’ll have a cheeky Ardbeg thanks.
Like the team Booland
who is gilberto?
I like that team a lot, but I suspect Nasri and Eduardo will be making an appearance from the bench. I think Sagna has responded to being ‘rested’ a couple of times and after his two assists on Saturday will be retained. Just my opinion based on what Arsene has done before, and the fact that after Wolverhampton some of his players will get a rest. You may well be more accurate than me, we shall see.
Where is Carlos Vela?
Another clean sheet please Arsenal. The bedrock of success. Build that on top of the enormous firepower we have and that Manc colleague of yours can have extra chilli on his fajita.
He had a large slice of humble pie, not the fajita, Albo 😉
Yes, where is Carlos Vela and for that matter which bed is Walcott in? Reports suggest he bought his girlfriend a Ferrari for her birthday, not bad for a guy yet to make an appearance.
I can’t wait to see both Nasri and Rosicky back in the same starting 11. They both have massive quality combined with imense energy. I can see them causing problems all over.
Gibbs will have no problem filling in for Clichy. Who knows, 2 good games could see him earn a call up for the Internationals? Stranger things have happened.
I am hoping that Wednesday night will be comfortable. If we get the passing and movement right I am not sure there is anyone that can touch us. All we have to do is make sure that we get it right a lot more times than we don’t and Robert’s your mother’s brother.
4-0 to the Gunners.
Keep the faith.
You have been killing it with these puns lately ‘holic. I’ll have a nice ale. 5-0 to us, it’s been a while and we’ll really want to put the boot in after that late goal.
You had to stretch to get that fajita line in there, ‘Holic. Nice one though and Carlos Vela would appreciate the mexicanisation of Goonerholic. Once again, while I’d like to salsa over and tort your tilla, I can’t get close. You do good work, sir, which is why we all come here for our refried beans.
As usual, a great write up ‘Holic. I have a feeling that BOTH Nasri and Diaby might start tomorrow, with one of them in midfield and the other in the attacking trio. Arsene was talking about how Diaby gives us “strength in the tackle”, and his presence at the press conference points at a likely inclusion in the starting 11 (or I am missing something and random people do the UEFA press conference).
I need to move back to a more civilised time zone for Champion’s League games. It’s on at 12.15am over here and I have to be up for work at 6.
Looks like another Thursday wearing the invisible Big Hat Of Tiredness.
Seems like it’s the done thing to order drinks on this blog. Make mine a red bull.
i dont think it makes a difference if we qualify 1st or 2nd in this group… anybody who makes it to the 16 round is going to find the road difficult… hypothetically speaking the number 2 positions as they stand now will go to Juventus, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Porto, Wolfsburg, Fiorentina and maybe Stuttgart…. maybe it is better to be 2nd in our group.. then that way we will not play Manu and Chelsea, and might play Barcelona, Bordeaux, AC MIlan, Sevilla or Lyon.. lol… 🙂
arseneknows, are u sayin’ that facing manu or chelski is a definate loss for us?
I don’t think I am accurate; I would like that team to play tonight. Especially Nasri – I feel he will start tonight. 😀
Think, it would be too risky to play too strikers from the start because we have only got two fit strikers! But, I hope Wenger doesn’t find it too risky!
-too
+two
no saminator.. i didnt mean that.. in the round of 16 you wont meet teams from the same country….it is only from the quarters..
Fajita jolly good fellow – which nobody can bean-y!
Sorry ‘holic, I’ll get my coat 🙂
2-0 to Arsenal. Arshavin & Eduardo on the scoresheet. Bearing in mind Ronald Koeman will instruct his side to ‘park the bus’. Trickery, craft and guile will be needed to break them down.
Keep on believing!
Mango juice for me please barman (as I get myself in shape for a few cheeky ones later this evening)!
NB. Your Manc mate may have heard Fergie’s post match interview after last nights game. He sounded very odd indeed!!
Don’t say “spine of the team”, please. Several players will be jinxed into 4-8 weeks out.
Just a coffee please, barista.
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Diaby has had a cracking game but he has also made 1 or 2 really noticable stupid mistakes – I can understand why people really notice these and forget the rest. His interception for the 3rd was sublime though and he is always trying to get in the right position, I am liking this performance.
15Samuel
Well I got 1 goal mixed up but I was close enough.
Cracking match, everyone bar Almunia had a great game. From what I’ve heard of the L-L game, maybe we should be looking at that Lloris fella. Song was terrific, Cesc is goes without saying, Diaby had a stormer, Vermaelan per usual, glad to see Nasri back and then there is Gallas – bringing back the spirit of cateneccio sweepers by being the first box-to-box defender.