Time To Turn The League Form Around
Mar 17th, 2017 by 'holic
“We now want to focus on the championship again and forget about the cup a little bit. We have a good month to come back in a strong position in the Premier League.”
Arsene Wenger, talking to arsenal.com, sums up where the focus lies going into a run of five Premier League fixtures interrupted by yet another infernal international break. Three of those matches are on the road and this weekend we are off to face West Brom at the Hawthorns. We are five points behind fourth placed Liverpool and six behind third placed Manchester City, and they face each other at the Emptihad on Sunday. Three points are essential to enable us to gain ground on at least one of those.
The team news is mixed with Kieran Gibbs and possibly Alex Oxlade Chamberlain doubts ahead of the match, but Mohamed Elneny back to fitness earlier than expected following his ankle injury. There is no need to rush him back potentially too soon so a place on the bench is likely for him. The back five probably picks itself if Gibbs is ruled out. Hector Bellerin, Skhodran Mustafi, Laurent Koscielny, and Nacho Monreal to start in front of Petr Cech.
The formation ahead of them is really a tough decision for the boss. As he himself pointed out in that arsenal.com interview the Baggies have a formidable record of scoring from set pieces this season. Who would have thought that of a Tony Pulis team, eh? That might mean a start up top for Olivier Giroud with one eye on what he can contribute defensively in the air.
That would probably rule out any thought of playing a 4-3-3 set-up in which we have looked most comfortable of late. So, Granit Xhaka to start alongside either Aaron Ramsey or in-form Oxlade-Chamberlain behind Mesut Ozil? Theo Walcott on the right and Alexis on the left? Try and get our best fast moving accurate passing game going. It’s surfaced all too seldom this season, but these players have the ability to bring it back again.
For the Baggies the experienced Morrison will miss Saturday’s game because of an ankle injury, and winger Phillips is also ruled out with a hamstring problem. The hosts are three places and ten points below us in the table, and will be buoyed by the memory of their 2-1 victory in the corresponding fixture last season. To put that into context it was their only win against us in the last thirteen meetings of the clubs.
The ‘holic pound
We have to turn our disappointing away form around and this spell of Premier League fixtures affords us that opportunity. An open contest is a distinct possibility so I am tempted to put a portion of my Cheltenham Gold Cup winnings on a 2-3 to the Arsenal at 25/1 with Paddy Power. That would make for a happy Saturday evening!
Arsenal In The Community and The Arsenal Foundation
I sometimes don’t get the time to read all of the content on the official website, so thought I would share a couple of features I caught up with last night. Full marks to David Ospina, Emiliano Martinez, and Carl Jenkinson for helping blind and partially-sighted youngsters who participate in Arsenal in the Community weekly football sessions in the Arsenal Hub.
Also, I’m not sure how closely you follow the work of the Arsenal Foundation but I did spot this on arsenal.com this week and thought I would share as an example of the work they are doing worldwide. The Foundation have agreed a donation of £50,000 to global charity partner Save The Children to help the ongoing fight against famine in East Africa.
They are just two of the many stories that demonstrate that even at what might be considered a difficult time for the club on the pitch, off it we still exude class aplenty.
Have a great one, ‘holics.
75 Responses to “Time To Turn The League Form Around”
Whoosh
Whoosh indeed Jackster, if we don’t pick up 3 points against the Yeoman of WBA tomorrow.
Nice whoosh J!
Evening Clive.
Thanks ‘holic for a preview that is up to your usual high standard. All the ready pennies in my reserved fund are on the 2-3 to the mighty Arsenal. Mesut Ozil to return to some semblance of form now that the opposition is less formidable than Bayern Munich or Liverpool?
It is worth noting that our goal differential is level with City’s and one behind Liverpool’s. An Alexis hat trick tomorrow could help on the way to an umpteenth consecutive Champions League qualification.
Thanks bt8. Have a great weekend.
Cheers, Holic !
2-3 would indeed make for a happy Saturday evening but most probably a pretty tense lunchtime.
The result is clearly paramount but it would be nice to see a performance of some style – it’s been a while.
If Mr Walcott starts, it is to be hoped he responds to his omission from the England squad – which seems to have puzzled him somewhat – with indignant fight and I’ll-show-em type determination, rather than a well-what’s-the-point-of-it-all-anyway display.
Actually, a bit more fight wouldn’t go amiss from a few of them following some of the recent huniliations we have been treated to.
A bit fed up with it all ? Yes, I am, to be honest. I know there are those that disagree but I had high hopes of a genuine league title challenge this season and better progress in the Champions League.
Another FA Cup would be an achievement, especially given the strength of the semi-finals but I don’t think it’s what most of us were hoping for last August.
Come on you Gunners – turn it round again.
Please.
huniliation ?
would that be humiliation by the Germans ? ?
Evening to you too H
Hope all is well with your nearest and dearest.
I see we are now on for a treble of egg chasing Grand Slam wins against Ireland tomorrow,after the under 20’s beat the Irish 14 – 10,and the England Ladies team beat the Irish to win their Title as well.
England of course also going for the World record for consecutive Intl wins,to overtake NZ who won 18 in a row,before coincidentally falling to the Irish.
What the Arse wouldn’t give for a similar run to the end of the season.
Then again Pigs might fly,and the Moon will rise in the morning.
He’s worried about the Championship? Really? I thought we were well clear of relegation… 🙁
I like your team selection, ‘holic and would play Rambo ahead of Ox. I agree Ox has shown some better form recently, but have always had Rambo ahead on potential quality. Let’s hop he realises some of it soon. Then again I’m not averse to having both of them, with Rambo in place of Ö (shock horror for some I know).
Odd thing about Theo’s relegation from England is that he has in fact shown more “indignant fight and I’ll-show-em type determination” this year than I ever remember seeing before.
Rambo in place of Özil, that is.
…and the Theo comment was of course in response to yours, Trev.
A nice and reasonably lucrative trip to Cheltenham yesterday was a welcome interruption to thoughts of football . Even then everyone in the group I was with asked me ‘ where I stand on Wenger’.
I hope our first team turn up tomorrow. I’d like to see Mertesacker brought in for Mustafi who doesn’t impress me.
I think we will nick it 2-1 with goals by Giroud and Sanchez. Citeh will beat Liverpool and the Totts will start losing to let us back to third by the end of the season.
Lots of fake news in the press about football . Tomorrow’s Rugger will be a pleasant change. Theo is very unlucky to be dropped by England. The worst team for a generation in my view and despite his inconsistency he’s better than most of the idiots in his position.
Thanks for the preview H. Good work as usual
COYG!
Missing the game tomorrow as it’s my Sisters 50th and she is having a lunchtime “do”… it’s not all bad news though as me missing a game usually guarantees an Arsenal win. Coyg.
Morning all.
Nice preview H. As always I would suggest that today’s result is very much determined by which Arsenal team actually shows up. I agree totally with Trev about certain individuals needing to grow a pair and show a bit more fight. Hopefully today will be the day.
I hope AOC is fit and starts.
A good days sport awaits. I have a fridge full of beer and some rather large rump steaks from the local butcher to accompany the day. What could possibly go wrong?
Cheers H! and Steve T!
Looking forward to the egg chasing later, unfortunately I will the Arsenal game live, for first time this season.
So we better fucking win!
#UPTHEARSE
+ miss
Good preview, thanks GH.
Going for a 2-0 myself in the
vaguely optimistic hope that
we’ve got our defence sorted
out and prepared for the standard
Pukis attack.
Agree with that team too, for me
Ox keeps his place in the centre
if fit. Although i wouldn’t be too
surprised if AW leaves Ozil on the
bench for Ramsey again.
Dear all
Can we all please stop using the term fake news? I see it everywhere and it winds me up.
Thank you.
I see the originator of “fake news D Trump has admitted his GCHQ spying story was his own version of “fake news”.
I don’t mind if people want to sound like that moron, but don’t turn me into one by making me read that shit. That’s all I ask 🙂
Besides, “not true” is fewer letters than “fake news” and takes less effort to type.
Wisdom is here, people.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2015/10/13/10/2D5DA6A000000578-3270457-image-m-10_1444728388073.jpg
Once saw Norman live on stage at
the old Wimbledon theatre 🙂
Team news is in, no Ozil in the
squad and Danny up front instead
of OG. Ox/ Xhaka in midfield.
Very quick front 3, hope we can
play them in behind. It’s certainly
a team built for it and if we’re good
enough defensively at the set pieces
i think we’ll be ok.
CoYGs!!
Seems that Lucas has a thigh injury and Ozil a knee injury, hence missing out on today’s squad.
Hmmmm…………
I wonder what Ozil will buy on this weekend’s shopping trip.
Hi Steve,
Hope all’s well, mate.
What could possibly go wrong indeed ?
Saw a horrible stat today – we have lost 3 of our last 4 PL games having lost 3 of the previous 32. Decent looking team although personally I’d have preferred no Ramsey. Really hope Welbeck can stay fit now. Özil moves from ill to injured ?
One thing to say!
Come on you bloody Gooners!
C’mon boys three points.
12 minutes of mostly futile passing and then bang. FFS
Well that was predictable.
Double bang.
Get in.
Great response, COYG
One direct pass and we score.
Less of the forward, back, square, square, square, back shit please.
Bang! Great goal
Fucking hell the plane banner firms are coining it in this weekend.
Classic rotational fouling on Sanchez from a Pulis team. Ref doing sweet FA about it.
Great save by Cech. WBA quick on the counter.
Cech’s gone in the fetlock after a light jog.
WTF.
And Bellerin needs to sort out his hair ffs.
Cech injured now.. 🙁
Cech down and replaced by Ospina. Calf problem.
That was a nasty foul by that horrible cunt.
Xhaka would have got sent off!
The tackle by McLean on Sanchez was a red. Fucking cunts these WBA players as is the ref.
You know how crap your physio and fitness team are when your keeper manages to pull a muscle???
Still haven’t learnt to defend corners then? All a bit lacklustre for me. Needs an urgent impetus of some form of energy.
Hi Trev. All good thanks. Hope all is good with you and yours?
I can’t see why that’s not a red –
late and studs up. Should of been
a yellow for a pull back earlier too.
Obvious that West Brom are just
fouling Sanchez.
Still fuck Pukis and take the 3 points lads!
They should send those planes back up equipped with machine guns, and whoever gets shot down determines whether Wenger goes or stays.
Ospina messes it. 2-1.
We find another new way to look amateurish.
Back, back, square, back, square, square, square, back, forward, square, back, back
Strange sub when you’re trying to win a game.
Ospina is having a mare, loss of confidence.
Round and round the.. Need to move it faster.
Did Arsenal reacquire Almunia?
Such an ordinary bunch of players. Where’s the quality?
What the fuck is that for defending?
That’s that. Bye bye 4th place trophy.
What an awful goal to concede. We are really a very average team now but our defence is devoid of organisation and is below average .
This is woeful and very difficult to watch. Now Sanchez off.
Abysmal.
We dismantled this WBA team at the Emirates and here we make them look like some great team.
Alexis off. Wenger’s subs are strange.
Sorry, but FA Cup semi final or not, he should be sacked. He never will be, and he has no ability to accept his failure and resign, so I guess we’re stuck with it for another couple of years.
Shambles doesn’t describe it.
How we’ve conceded those goals is really beyond me. Even by our standards they were shocking.
Good luck writing that one up H. By thunder you are going to need it.
We were never this dire and even in games we lost we would at least create and provide a threat. Today we are shit, even WBA is showboating.
Well done Arsenal!
Not one goal attempt in the last twenty minutes ‘ chasing the game’. No non- league team running out of legs today. West Brom have won easily. They are probably a better team than us at present. How depressing
70% possession and only 3 shots on target.
Now, where have I heard that sort of stat before???
We don’t seem to do any actual work on things in training. Is it all about the same stretches that were so revolutionary 20 years ago, or do they actually bother setting up scenarios and working on improving things like marking at set pieces?
It’s a joke.
The confidence of hammering the mighty Lincoln lasted 12 minutes by the way.
Ksn- we didn’t dismantle this team, we won with a goal three minutes from time
Only Holic can make this look good. Thanks in advance.
Devon Stu
See what I mean I know bad timing!
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
TTG
Looking at today’s performance that looked like a dismantling.
????????????