A Burnley Brief
Oct 31st, 2014 by 'holic
The law of averages suggests that somewhere along the line Burnley will win a match. Dare I risk mentioning that if it happens on Saturday, however unlikely that may seem to so many, the law of sod will have been proven once more. When first I remember watching Arsenal this Saturday’s opponents were a force in the top flight. These days when I hear Burnley I think Jimmy Anderson (cricket reference, sorry my transatlantic friends).
With apologies, this preview will be brief. It is nearly 10 pm on the eve of the match. Your scribe has imbibed, and I intend to both pre and post match on Saturday. The team news is what we have come to expect. Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs have joined the walking wounded and only the latter is given a fighting chance of being passed fit.
That leaves us with a starting line up that includes a back four of Bellerin, Mertesacker, Chambers, and Monreal. Think on that for more than a second or two. Those who called for some strengthening of the back line in the close season will be close to muttering “told you so”. Isn’t hindsight a wonderful thing?
Now consider you are a Burnley supporter. They are approaching all manner of records for not winning a league match from the start of the season. As a football supporter I pray they win next week against Hull, but as an Arsenal supporter I pray not this weekend. That’s how it works, isn’t it?
The visitors have secured four draws this season, at home to Manchester United and Sunderland, and away to Crystal Palace and Leicester. The ‘holic pound clearly seeks value in the home win, but not from complacency. I have seen us make a mess of such encounters. Arsenal to win by a low margin isn’t great, but if it is a winner why wouldn’t 3-1 at a best of 11/1 represent value. I’m on it.
I look forward to seeing many of you at the local of choice. For those further afield I wish you a lovely weekend. Let’s hope nothing silly happens this weekend.
Up the Arsenal !
152 Responses to “A Burnley Brief”
Cheers H!
Short and sweet, ‘Holic.
…and poetic too … “Your scribe has imbibed”.
Öskar
Meanwhile the chavs entertain QPR, no doubt expecting a cruise … against a side who beat them at the Bridge last time they met there, has only lost one of their last five games against the chavs and also has three clean sheets in their last four against them. May history repeat…
Öskar
Cheers H.
Points more than important than performance at the moment.
Hopefully you’ll be treated to both tomorrow.
UTA.
Just win Baby.
*off to read the maestro*
Cheers H, enjoy tomorrow.
Once again no TV coverage for me, Fox has really fucked us here in the Lowlands, the previous licence holders gave us the choice between at least five of the 3pm kick offs, Fox gives us one, Southampton due to the Dutch connection has been the choice two weeks in a row now. F%$#%$!!
We need not only the three points, but also a good performance to drown out the BBB’s, here;s hoping that the lads can take the cue of Alexis and give us all something to really cheer about.
COME ON YOU REDSSSS
Cheers H…..we should have more than enough to get all 3 points.
Interesting to see what rotation the boss undertakes.
Looking forward to sharing some victory pints with the regulars as well.
Nice preview Guv’nor, but I was just trying to order some drinks 🙂
Nite all
COYG
Cheers, Holic.
Don’t think our defensive problems required a huge amount of hindsight.
Still, we can hope Ings ain’t what he used to be. 😉
I will be otherwise engaged and stream chasing is beneath my dignity nowadays anyway, but we may well be nailed on Game of the Day fodder, particularly if things are a bit of a struggle.
Anything less than three points is a failure though, to be honest.
We’re already at the “win every game” stage 🙁
We will win comfortably tomorrow. 3-0 is my prediction. I got the score right last week so I am on what constitutes a roll for me.
Ramsey and Arteta will give us a firm base in midfield and I anticipate Alexis in the hole tomorrow with a cameo from Theo in the last twenty minutes. Welbeck will prove a handful for them tomorrow.
Enjoy Holics !
COYRRR
TTy you speak with such authority the 3-0 tempts me but the holic 3-1 may be the more judiciously prognosticated one. What odds on Welbeck to score at any time? An Arsenal defender to be injured at any time? 🙂 🙁
First!
Brief but to the point ‘h!
Three goal margin win!
Three points and up to joint third.
Chelsea at best draw their third match this season.
Sanchez or Welbz to score a hatrick!
Triple shots for three hours post-match in a fetching three-buttoned blazer!
Up the Arse!
COYBG!
http://www.espnfc.com/barclays-premier-league/story/2121088/english-premier-league-arsene-wenger-likes-street-football-of-alexis-sanchezluis-suarez
———–
Alexis to score the winner!
😀
Fuckity fuck, just seen the cunts from the bus stop are a 3.00 P.M. kick off as well. Means the pub I’ve been using for Saturday games will be showing that crap. One other possibility to investigate, otherwise its audio only on ArsePlayer.
I don’t do streams.
They wind me up too much.
Oh no Esso. I hope the other possibility comes up trumps. Regardless, have a good one fella.
Cheers Holic.
I’ll be working during the game. I just hope we win. Points most important thing. Although a confidence boosting 4-0 is where I’ll put my money.
Have a great day today all.
Holic?
Is this a Halloween post? Scares me to bits if I’m honest 🙂
Fact is we the Arsenal so stop moaning!
Esso me thinks a decent stream is in order
I hope that all your optimism is handsomely rewarded.
I have a horrible feeling that this could be a major banana skin for our currently misfiring machine.
Fingers crossed I am wrong.
COYG
Like baff says, this one certainly has “banana skin” written all over it. But we really, really should win this one and if we don’t I for one will be very disappointed.
…but all things considered, there is only one thing to say:
It’s pub time! 🙂
11-1 to the good guys must mean that Alexis will get at least five or six. Sounds like a good bet to me.
UTA.
In the summer someone close to the club told me that Pleguezelo the Spanish centre half we got from Barcelona was going to go straight into the first team squad. Then, and this is surprising for an Arsenal player, he got injured, but I notice he trained with the first team yesterday in place of Kieran Gibbs . I’ve never seen the lad play but people whose opinions Ii respect have and say he is exceptionally gifted and will be fast- tracked towards the first team. It will be interesting to see how fast this track is. Centre back is a risky position but the news augurs well
Lars don’t forget your credit card this time 🙂
Horrible misfiring banana? Bath, that is quite an image. 😉
Looking forward to another chance to see our midfield without Ozil or Wilshere. Quite enjoyed that last week actually.
So, Yaya’s twitter account is ACTUALLY Yayasanogoal22.
https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/528552001190506496
http://www.soccerjumbotv.me/ch-2.html
COME ON ARSENAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Come on lads!! Keep the pressure!
Unlucky Danny!
Yellow all over tank you ref
COME ON!!!!!
GIVE IT TO ALEXIS!
wake up
Im sorry Ox needs to come off
Luckuy!!!!!!!!!!
I love watching Alexis play.
They’ll get tired in the 2nd half.. we’ll win it!
😀
With all due respect not goon enogh
I duno. Thought the Ox looked pretty lively. Making things happen.
13 attempts and 71% possession.. bound to get one in sometime…!
71% of the balls only 4 on target, rubbish first half. let s pray alexis get us a goal we dont look like scoring all day…
At least we’re creating chances, although really must do better.
Not sure how the officials all missed the Boyd handball, stonewall penalty and he would of been sent off.
Alexis is the best player we have hd in quitea while, unbelieveable work rate.
COME ON YOU REDSSS
Alexis to get the winner.. there…said it again!
😀
COME ON ARSENAL!!!
Is anyone else really worried about our defending?
Listening on Arse Player. Sounds like the Ox is having a half decent game.
Looks like another draw
Got a ten minute break. We are not winning yet.
Come on boys. Change all that.
and that is why it will be a draw!
COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMEEEEEEEEEE
|OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOn nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
Alexiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEXXXXXXXIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Alexis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It’s great but sad
What did i say? 🙂
..and Alexis makes Welbeck look short.
Hell yeah!!!!!
CHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMMBBBBBBBEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRSSSSSSSSSSS
Bring on Walcott!
Come On!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ATG. Did something good happen? 🙂
Anyone know why roaicky cannt get a game?
Weeehey!
BT8
Love it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Theo is back!!!!!!!!!!!
:):):)
THEOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Theo making impact
Fuck me but poldis left foot is amazing.
THEOO THEOO tTHEOO
LOVELLY Arsenal!!!!!!!!
This is more like the OLD Arsenal!
Alexiiiiiiiiiiii
Alexis!
Bravo Maestro
Who’s THE striker now?
😀
Good game, about time COYG!!!!!!!!!!!
Alexis clark kent sanchez.
Superman indeed.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEXXXXXXXXXIIIS
Its all about: Alexis!
3 nil – what did I tell ya? 😎
Now that’s the Arsenal I want to see. It might be against Burnley but I don’t care. I love it, Theo back too.
a LOT of scare
But we have a home win!
Now a Win is three points right?
So lets enjoy it for once PLEASE!
a Drink for al and GTA credit card took over!
Better, much better.
Alexis ridiculously good.
Onward and upwards.
ATG@85, what’s not to enjoy? Clean sheet, three pts, theo back and no new injury. COYG!!!
FOck Off Chelski/Mancs/PSG…. we’re keeping Alexis till he retires!
😀
PS.
Back in the top 4, no team can catch us this week.
SAG
Count me in as old moning prick!
AAAAAAARRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEENNNNNNNAAAAAAAALLLLLL!!!!!
Welcome back Theo!
Alexis is just phenomenal. I like the fact that he has started to also express himself vocally on the field when he thinks others can do better. He makes the odd passing mistake but the relentless directness of his game matched with the silky skills more than compensate for it.
Lots of lively performances. Ox-Chmabers had a good partnership going with Ox having a much better game, and that was an impressive attacking display by Chambers. He is not always very consistent with his crossing but has a few excellent ones in his locker. Monreal was very solid in defense as well as some lovely cross-field distributions.
Poldi looked his sharpest this season. Those were two gorgeous volleys and the second one really deserved a goal.
Theo looks to not have lost any pace and almost scored a fine goal.
The defensive shape had still some concerns. The wastefulness, especially from corner kicks, must be addressed. I find Wellbeck for some reason not impose himself on the defenders as much as he should. He looks much better just outside the box than in the box, should make those direct runs at the near post much more and attack crosses both with his feet and head.
Good win. Firmly into fourth place.
Looking for a draw in the Mancs derby and the same at Anfield next weekend. Six points off at Christmas is all we need.
Oh, and welcome back, Theo!
great win, I am very happy. burnley offered very little, no doubt a last placed team. but for the bar and their hardworking keeper, we’d’ve slaughtered them.
on a belated note, great sammels piece, holic. really enjoyed it, and learned something new about the gunners. thanks.
Our ‘normal’ season in reverse, we’re beginning to gel and can still get much better. There aren’t enough words for Sanchez and a nod to Monreal today who always did what was required and laid on some outstanding 40 yard balls at times too.
Broke ’em down with 20 mins to go rather than with less than five which made it a stroll in the end. Three goals, three points, one clean sheet, first back-to-back pair of wins in the league this season, Theo back, Sanchez phenomenal. What’s not to like?
5Live made interesting listening. Lots of emphasis on a nervy 70 minutes for Arsenal fans. Lots of emphasis on “a very tired Burnley” at the end. Then on to a report on Liverpool’s defeat at Newcastle, apparently all because they are without Suarez and because Sturridge is out injured.
Well, Auntie Beeb, here’s a couple of things to think about:
If Burnley were “very tired at the end” that’s probably because they had been run ragged by the Arse for, say, 70 minutes beforehand.
So, Liverpool are short of Sturridge and 4 others are they? What bad luck; Arsenal are short of Giroud and 5 others. Incidentally, Newcastle United have two more players out injured than Liverpool. Liverpool sold Suarez last season did they? Try selling your best player two seasons in a row and going on to qualify for the Champions League the next year.
Here’s the thing: Rodgers isn’t fit to clean Wenger’s boots, and the BBC’s self-proclaimed neutrality isn’t worth diddly.
Up The Arsenal.
COYG.
(Rant over, thanks for reading.)
Watch Alexis’ first goal again.. how did he out jump the defenders?!
Give him a free role(looks like he’s doing that already anyway), he’s that good.
Can’t wait for Giroud and Ozil to get back. We’ll definitely have striker selection problems then. Now if only we can get enough defensive players.. 😀
ALEXISSSSSSS
Also thought that we looked more incisive after Ramsey came on.
Well in H2H!
Starting off dodgy is the way to do it. The media spend August to February pleasuring themselves over the early leaders, while we quietly build a head of steam in preparation for the title push that no-one saw coming.
Didn’t Man U win a few titles starting off ragged and then getting better and better over 9 months?
BB@99: He didn’t so much out jump them as jump between them. Perfect run to meet the ball at exactly the right spot. And he ran. If you look at the replays, he was on the edge of the box when Chambers starts to cross and meets the ball with his head on the edge of the six-yard box.
Porco – “The media spend August to February pleasuring themselves over the early leaders”.
Really? Can’t remember much of that happening last season.
Media? Bastards.
On the juice tonight lads
I’m looooooooooooovvvvvvvvvvvvvviiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnngggggggggggg it
I shasll read all of you tomorrow!
By the way Polish drinks all around!
@104 North Bank Ned
The defenders were probably not expecting him. 🙂
He’s sharp and direct and covers extremely well even after losing possession. I think he’s also fitter than most players, to play so many games and to chase and close down the opposition, just phenomenal.
Hope we can get the team to emulate his pressing game and fitness level. If we do that then we won’t need a DM. 😀
Pangloss forgot too mention ‘unless the leaders are Arsenal’, on MOTD it was months of wondering when, not if, we’d drop off. To be fair to those dullards there’s years of evidence to back up those arguments. But f*ck ’em all the same!
Hooray for the win and the return of Theo. Are we playing ourselves into a bit of form perhaps?
Re: Pangloss @98. Please continue rant. At your leisure of course. 🙂
I’m starting to understand AW’s Sanchez/Suarez comparison. Barcelona made a massive error on that one.
Fair enough, Porco Rosso. We all make mistakes.
And speaking of mistakes, you may come to regret your invitation bt8@98.
A drink of their choice for messrs P Rosso and bt8, please barman.
COYG
Pangloss.
Quality rant!
98? Sorry, I’ve come over all disnumerate. The invitation form bt8 was @111.
Thank you, Homer. Dammit barman, one for Homer too please.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20141101/wenger-on-the-win-alexis-and-walcott
———————
Especially like the bits on Alexis. 😀
Walcott looks like he’ll have a huge impact when he’s up to speed!
When we get Kos and Debuchy back, maybe we’ll push Chambers up a bit… 🙂
@81. Thundertiny predicted a 3-0 as I recall but you too zico? Only your bookmaker knows for sure. 🙂
He is some player we have got, this is Sanchez guy. Adorable, great work rate, a temper and god some skill and a half. He is just what the team needs before it really kicks to the top gear with all the main players back and working well.
The Dna so and so got an assist and again the word on the media continues the worship of him. I still maintain the same, he is good, yet he has that protection in Matic to allow him space and time, same applies to David Silva who has yaya toure for company always. Get a dm next to Ozil and then lets talk.
Anyways back to us, the swans will represent a tougher challenge next weekend at the liberty, hence with due respect to anderlecht, Wednesday should see us play poldi, jack and ramsey and give some rest to sanchez and danny who have worked their socks off.
lastly, the bayern dortmund game currently on and the pace of play by both teams is amazing. The bench strength that bayern have is staggering and i wonder how can that be legal, hahha but then the game is a draw still as i type.
Love you Alexis.
Bt8
Thanks for remembering. I’m on fire as I had 2-0 last week. The chap behind me at the match had 6-0 but it never looked likely to be that. Until the last then minutes.
At home against a side defending deep it was wrong to pair Arteta and Flamini. We had no tempo to our play and Cazorla is very off- form. How he didn’t get the hook today I don’t know. We only played at a slick pace when Ramsey arrived.
Alexis was quite excellent in every respect. His work rate, attitude and range of skills are all exceptional and he galvanises the team. I thought Ox did well today and coming forward Chambers put in some fine crosses. We had much more energy when Ramsey entered the game and it was nice to see Poldi look much more positive than the last time I saw him. He hit a great volley that thumped the post and was also thwarted by a brave goalkeeper. Lovely to see Theo back too and he looked full of invention .
One gripe is that our corners were pathetic. BFG stands at the near post ready to flick the ball on but whoever takes it ( and that included Sanchez today) couldn’t reach him. Don’t they practice these things?
On this form Sanchez could be player of the season. But we need to be much better. Burnley are awful and for the first seventy minutes we didn’t look likely to score unless Alexis had the ball.
Heh!
I’m massively pissed!
Big up all the regular drinkers and anyone else!
We fucking won. 3-0.
Job done. Love you all.
Esso.
Well ranted Pangloss! (#98)
Did we ever by a star in Alexis. An Arsenal legend to be. At the beginning of the season I argued where his best position would be with someone, suggesting the 9 role. While he would undoubtedly be better there than Danny, he’s best where he is for sure – wherever that is cos he seems to pop up everywhere.
Poldi again showed why he is a far more natural No9 than Danny, doing more in ten minutes than the latter in 80. I have some time for Welbeck, but not as a striker, he just doesn’t have the positioning sense or the power in his boots that Poldi has. As a winger we’d get more out of his speed and he’d take some of the wide responsibility away from Alex who could then roam even more.
Nice to see Theo back, and some of his touches promised an early return to form. When Kos and OG become available and Rambo finds his mojo we’ll have a team to make top 4 for sure, with 3 a distinct possibility and even the title not out of the question.
Just get on the scoreboard earlier please!
Öskar
*did we ever buy a star in Alexis…
heh, esso knows.
Our corners, Ttg, usually pose more threat to our goal than theirs. The number of breakaways from them by opponents in previous games has been embarrassing.
Öskar
Öskar, thanks for your opening remark@122. I had considered mentioning an injured German player rather than a French one. Seems like I made the right choice! 🙂
COYG
…. ping ….
Just back from the game.
A real pleasure to see a mobile Trev pre-match and to carouse for a few postmatch hours with the Guvna, Uply, Tabs, Snowy, Jaxta, Andrew, Ollie (yes, he does exist) and (briefly) Dubs.
We certainly deserved to be ahead at HT but had not done enough to ensure that we were. I await the MOTD highlights to confirm whether we did indeed deserve at least one pen that both Holic and Tabs saw clearly.
A second half of toil. inspiration and recurrent frustration (climaxing in the diving Burnley defender stopping Santi’s nailed on goal actually coming to fruition) was followed by a final 20 minutes when we were all over them like a rash. A brilliant headed goal from another great Chambers cross scored by one of the shortest forwards in the Premier League leaping between two stalwart defenders was followed immediately by an opportunistic short range shot by Chambers whose crossing had been top class all game. A totally deserved third from close range by Alexis was deserved by individual (does anyone in the league work as hard as him?) and team after Poldi had two strikes each of which deserved a goal. Nice to see Feo whipping down the right again and he too deserved a goal from a cracker of a shot from the right.
Props to the Burnley keeper for a number of great saves (particularly a full stretch save from a Poldi volley that demonstrated the strength of his wrist. Less respect for his playing for time from the third minute tho he continued to do so after we took the lead presumably in order to keep the score down rather than to give his team a chance of getting back into the game.
Plaudits to Szcz for not falling asleep from inactivity, Calum for his offensive play on the right, Per for his stolid solidity, Nacho for a good performance at CB (pick of the back 4 today), Kieran for keeping going forward (and no more injuries), Mikel for an excellent first half recycling the ball quickly, Flamster for keeping going, likewise Santi, Alex for his direct play on the right and some great cut backs from the line, Danny for his willing runs and strength powering forward and Alexis for his workrate and brilliance. Rambo added class to midfield when he came on. Feo gave a glimpse of what we have missed and Poldi deserved a goal for his efforts in his allotted 10 minutes.
In summary it was the best half that we have had in ages. Hopefully a taste of things to come.
COYGs.
Would love to know Alexis’s VO2 max number. Wouldn’t be surprised if it was kicking 80.
Otd: our corners are woeful. Perhaps we should stop hoofing the ball into the box and take corners short like we do with most free-kicks.
Very good game. Burnley lucky to not be on the receiving end of a proper rodgering. This past week where the team has been able to get some proper training done has done us good.
Oh look, MOTD just started – I’m off to watch it!
Picked up a story from Roy Keane’s book launch today at the match. Apparently he was saying that Ferguson varied his team talks and never did the same thing twice. Sometimes a long detailed talk, sometimes a few bullet points. The shortest? Apparently just before kick off at Old Trafford he put his round the door and said’ OK lads it’s only Tottenham! ” and departed! United apparently won with ease!
Share that with any Tiny Totts of your acquaintance
Cracking write up Bath. Skills. (Given all the single malt goodness this evening) 😀
The only thing better than a good single malt is a series of good single malts and the only thing better than that is a well deserved Arsenal victory. 🙂
And thank you kindly Snowy. 😀
And a fine fish and chips for Uply and me from the Chip, Chik Inn (as recommended by BtM). Soaked up the alcohol very nicely.
Clear handball by Boyd. And second yellow.
“He’s very much like Luis Suarez except he’s not a complete cock” – Wenger talking about Alexis (roughly what he said…)
Heh Tim. 🙂 Very good.
Nice write up Bath.
We’ve been playing poorly so its nice to see a little more consistency.
Out of curiosity, what do you make of Welbz as opposed to Giroud from what you’ve seen of him so far?
A grand roving report @128, Bath and I’m pleased to hear that Tony and the salt and vinegar vendors at the Chip Inn provided a satisfactory haddock for your good self and Uply. 🙂 I’m on nonagenarian birthday duty and watched the game from a Pictish hideaway in the depths of the East Neuk.
Great to see two of our three regular top scorers on the field again today. I’m looking forward to seeing Giroud rejoin Aaron and Theo for our ascendancy to the heights in the second half of the season.
“Where might Arsenal have been without Alexis?” Martin Keown was asked on MOTD. Abetter question might have been “Where might Arsenal be had Walcott, Ramsey and Giroud all have been available since the start of the season?”
Good to see you too, bath, and thirsty Kirsty of course. Nice report, too.
😉
Pangloss – nice one @98.
Esso,
As noone replied to you earlier – yes, The Ox did indeed have a very decent game today. A huge improvement on his game vs Hull a couple of weeks ago.
Loved your “OK lads it’s only Tottenham!” sralex quote, Ttg. It reminded me of a half-time pep talk from Australian rugby league coach Jack Gibson after a woeful first half by his Parramatta team. All he said was “Well played girls”, and left them to it. And yes, they won too.
That was back in the days when English football was hard to get on TV and the local stuff was really poor. The big game in Sydney was rugby league and I ended up a season ticket holder at Manly. Not sure I should be admitting that here…
Öskar
Joe (#138) … I know your q wasn’t addressed to me, but here’s my two cents-worth anyway. 😉 I’m less than convinced by AW’s attempt to change Welbeck into a striker. He lacks a striker’s positional sense. for starters … on at least two occasions I watched him move backwards in the area when the obvious place the cross would be coming to was closer in. Neither does he have the striking clout of even Poldi who, for all his shortcomings can’t half poke the ball when given half a chance. I reckon Poldi did far more in his 10-minute+ cameo than Welbeck did in his 80. As he did the last time he was subbed on.
Not that I don’t think there’s a place for Danny in the team. His speed would still be an asset on the wing, where he would also take some of the wide responsibility away from Alexis, leaving our best player with more opportunity to roam.
Öskar
Exciting, talented, fast and hardworking a player Welbeck may be, his lack of experience — and consequently the nous — as a true center forward showed again today. He doesn’t attack crosses either with his feet or with his head — for a player of his height he should be much more of a focal point in set pieces — and doesn’t make the near post runs. His back to the goal game against deep defenses can improve a lot as well.
Giroud lacks the pace, which especially shows against top opposition where the time he gets on the ball in tight situations in fractionally less, but in addition to his true CF goals he is much more adept at bringing the midfielders in the box.
We again played a kind of 4-4-2 in possession — but while defending the positions spread out back to 4-2-3-1 — and once both Giroud and Ozil are back it would be interesting if we continue to persist with that. Giroud and Alexis would be a great strike partner in 4-4-2 — especially against team defending deep — with Giroud opening up more spaces for Alexis to run into, but then Ozil would either have to play on the flanks or centrally but from a deeper position owning more defensive responsibility, which is unlikelier. Possibly a reason why Arsene wanted to continue getting Ozil to become more comfortable on the left, with Theo filling in on right.
That way either Rambo or Jack — or sometimes even Santi, who does put in a defensive shift whenever he is asked to play in that hole — can sit in the middle in front of Arteta and Alexis partnering either with Giroud or Welbeck.
But the key would be when not in possession we will have to crowd the midfield with the 4-2-3-1 or even 4-5-1 and then again in counter attack get both Giroud and Alexis quickly forward through the middle. The work rate of Alexis would be a key in these switches, but would also need a very quick transition from the center of the field.
I was thinking more immediately, that Poldi should get more game time front and centre. When OG returns I would certainly prefer him as the 9, if only for the service he provides knocking down the ball to Theo, Alexis, Santi or whoever is around to benefit. In some ways the goals Giroud scores are almost a bonus, but also make contesting the ball with him more of a lottery for opponents if there’s a chance of him getting a shot away. Danny could also learn heaps from OG as far as positioning for a strike is concerned.
Öskar
Oskar @ 142: I posted @143 without reading yours, but there are certain similarities of ideas. 🙂
I think Welbeck would eventually become a very good CF, but as you pointed out he is not quite there yet. Against any defense pushing up in a high line he would score a plenty and would be a menace, but against dogged deep defenses — which is what we would face 90% of the time in PL — he has to learn to use his physique and technique much better in the penalty box and have better anticipation and awareness.
The 4-4-2 in possession may become more of a feature even if Alexis is not playing but Theo is available and Theo takes on Alexis role — Theo had an eye-catching performance in a central role when he last played before the injury — and if that is the case both Giroud and Welbeck can too collaborate with Welbeck playing the Alexis/Theo role, dropping deeper.
We crossed again, Dr F! I think we have it covered between us. 😉
Öskar
Oskar @ 145: Agreed about Poldi’s effectiveness as a striker, but he tends to offer much less than Welbeck around the opposition penalty box where — as is our philosophy — we spend most of the time. I think the super-sub role suits Poldi extremely well, bring him on with 20-30 minutes to go and if we continue to create chances with the opposition defense wearing down he will have a few more than decent cracks at the goal.
Super sub he may be, but I’d still like to see more of Poldi. He appears to be in cracking form currently, as sharp as I can remember him at any time. And yet AW still persists with a number of players showing very little. I
‘m trying to like Welbeck who may well develop in time, but we need a bit more NOW from our strikeforce. Hopefully Theo will provide if Poldi has to stay benched for 80 minutes every game.
Öskar
Oskar @ 148: I would like to see more of Poldi as well, as I would like to see much more of TR7 — 34 or not I think he has a way of speeding up our collective game that is rare — and some more of Joel Campbell who I think is a very reliable player capable of technical and tactical consistency.
But that is just a fan’s thinking.
The team management of course know what they are doing. 🙂
Over the winter schedule and once the FA Cup matches arrive I think we will see some more rotation.
I hope Theo doesn’t need to play more than 10-15 minutes before the next break in the remaining two matches. Otherwise he will surely get called into that England squad who are experts at breaking players returning from injury. Even if gets called hopefully the club says that he is not yet physically ready.
The clean sheet was very important and must remain a matter of focus and pride for the team. The way we play and can crank up the pressure towards the end of the match — our late goals are not a coincidence — we would eventually score goals in most matches, but not having to chase equalizers after conceding sloppy goals allow for a much better organization and patience.
Three goal win; clean sheet; Alexis the “real deal; Feo back; top four without yet getting out of third gear ; first-teamers returning from injury. I never doubted! 😉
Up the Arse! COYBG!
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