Time To Press The Irons
Apr 4th, 2017 by 'holic
A full midweek programme of Premier League fixtures throws together two under-pressure managers as the Gunners host West Ham United. Arsene Wenger would not have wanted a deepening injury crisis but that is exactly what he appears to be facing.
With Petr Cech ruled out already the news that David Ospina is also a doubt puts the spotlight on third choice goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez. In front of him there is another enforced change as Laurent Koscielny is ruled out with an achilles injury. Given that we are likely to be facing Andy Carroll it is an important selection. Gabriel is likely to get the nod to start alongside Hector Bellerin, Skhodran Mustafi, and Nacho Monreal.
There will hopefully be better news in midfield if Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Aaron Ramsey have passed fitness tests earlier. It is likely that one of these will replace Francis Coquelin, and the boss must also be considering Mohamed Elneny to give Granit Xhaka a breather. Mesut Ozil, with ninety minutes against Manchester City behind him, will hopefully provide the ammunition to his forward colleagues.
Which three will get the nod? I suspect one change from Sunday, with Olivier Giroud replacing Danny Welbeck up top. Danny’s recovery needs to be managed and the Frenchman is surely fired up and ready to show what we have missed in his absence.
One win and Sunday’s draw in the last six fixtures is a worrying statistic going into a fixture we lost last season 0-2. To counter that the visitors have lost their last four matches and are even lower on form and confidence than we appear to be. Memories of our 5-1 win at their new Meccano stadium in December will still be fresh. They were short defensively that day and Alexis notched a hat-trick. Lets hope he is as dominant this time around.
Slaven Bilic has had the dreaded vote of confidence and defeat in this one could see him getting a taxi home, P45 in hand. It’s a shame. Once tipped to succeed Arsene Wenger this loveable rogue has had to deal with the issues surrounding the new stadium as well as having star man Dimitri Payet sold in the January transfer window. He just didn’t seem to understand. You can also tell he hasn’t watched much of us in recent weeks.
“Arsenal have their problems, but they are still a team with a lot of pace, a team you can’t afford to lose the ball against in your own half because the transition and pace they have up front is unbelievable.”
It’s a long time since we have seen that transition and pace. Will our high intensity pressing game get a rare outing? Talking of pace, the tricky winger Antonio returns after a hamstring energy and will test Hector Bellerin. The last thing we need to see is a string of crosses to Carroll.
The ‘holic pound
It’s hard to see us keeping a clean sheet so I am relying on us out-scoring them once again. For the third time in a row I am drawn to the 3-2 to the Arsenal. Let it be third time lucky at a fairly priced 18/1.
To those going, I hope as always that the boys will put on a show for you. Goodness knows it’s overdue.
Have a good one ‘holics.
71 Responses to “Time To Press The Irons”
A blog full of loaded lines there…
When I think of Ozil providing ammunition I see a little lad handing out dried peas.
As for Giroud… Argh to the mention of his name.
Silly rumour that Sky are going to split their sports up next year and charge more. Two football channels, a golf channel, a cricket channel and F1, with the rest chucked on another channel.
They can do one if that happens.
Glass one quarter full, to lend a dose of optimism.
Cynic, according to figures released today Giroud now has the best minutes to goals ratio in the Premier League! 🙂
I had to rub my eyes after that too!
A player with one minute one goal would be a better ratio and even less worthwhile than him 😉
Give him back his kids
I’ve missed something, somewhere…
Is it a tortured link between dried peas, flatulence and Farters for Justice?
If there’s a silver lining to the cloud of our poor league position, it’s that we won’t be in the reckoning to sign Lukaku, who has been utterly shit since declaring his wish to play for a Champions League team.
Evening all.
Been a bit busy at work recently and still not had time to catch up with Sunday’s game yet. The regular texts pitch side from BTM kept me informed of developments.
Some respite means that I actually get to the game tomorrow. Who knows what side will turn up? Possibly a 3rd choice keeper and no Kos???? Oh dear.
I hope Ollie G starts. I think Danny W is far more effective from the bench at the moment.
Sky are reporting that we are in trouble for not fielding a nominated captain in the 2nd half on Sunday?? Anyone else spit the irony? We have played for years without leaders. Now even the FA are rubbing it in???
May see some of you in the Tollie pre match?
Onwards and upwards.
I don’t look forward to home fixtures at the present time for all sorts of reasons not the least of which is the low confidence infecting our play. I think Holic made a good fist of the likely team selection although it is anyone’s guess what is going on behind the scenes. I think we might win 2-1 but only because I’m not a great fan of their outfit at present. I hope we can build some confidence and start to play with some flair and freedom. But I’m not holding my breath
Having given this some thought lately I think we should play with a back five which for the Hammers game would be Hector, Mustafi, Gabriel, Holding and Nacho. This would stop us being short when the wingbacks either go forward or get drawn out of position (yes Hector, I’m talking about you.)
I’d play two in front of them, either Ox / Rambo and Xhaka / Elneny with Ozil in front of them.
I’d play Alexis and Giroud together up front.
Walcott and Danny as subs.
This set up gives us a stronger defensive platform as well as better playing to our attacking options – I think that both Alexis and Giroud play better as a combination rather than a lone wolf.
I would persist with Ozil for a while even though he has been largely disappointing in recent times although I’d have a rethink if that form continued.
I am available for further consultation should Arsene imminently make the announcement that many of us appear to be waiting for.
3-0 to the good guys.
UTA.
UTA.
Jackster @ 5. ??
You’re slipping matey.
Bit like the Arse really.
No idea about the Hammers game.
We are definitely not a happy camp at the moment,after witnessing the individual players strange reaction to our 2 equalizers against City.
I think we have some upheaval to come over the next couple of months before the smoke clears.
cba – I hope you’ve had a drink… if you haven’t, you’ll need one.
Spectacular stuff, this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=euu1topuEv0
It depends less who AW picks to play than if whoever is picked deigns to play. Just about any combination should be good enough to hammer the Hammers, but will they turn up?
That said, when there’s a big CF in the opposition the HFB has to play if only for his defensive qualities. Sorry Cynic.
You’d persist with Özil but drop Theo, Noosa? Really?
I didn’t mean that to sound rude, Noosa. It’s just that Theo is the only forward who has scored for us in the prem in the last month. And frankly the only one who has looked likely to.
No offence taken Chris. With Alexis and Giroud up front we need someone behind pulling some strings and an on-form Ozil with the right attitude is better equipped than Theo to provide that.
UTA.
Cheers H!
Three points are imperative tomorrow for still another reason, namely that our next two fixtures have been scheduled on sucessive Monday evenings away at Crystal Palace and away at Middlesbrough. Can’t say exactly why but I don’t like the sound of those.
Torygraph ; On-field captain Laurent Koscielny was substituted at half time of Sunday’s game with an Achilles injury, but it was unclear who received the armband in the second period.
“Err, I don’t remember,” Wenger said, when asked who was skipper or if one was elected. “No it is a good question. Nobody asked me who is captain.”
It’s followed by a boast about structural change all based only on his work.
It’s unbelievable. I think it’s also time to point out that Kos might have showed his footballing class at times this season but absolutely zero leadership or organisational ability. Mind you, he didn’t ask to be captain you can be sure. A very different complaint to that twit Neville, he was just talking utter crap…all part of that chip on his shoulder about managers and blaming players since his own dismissal. To imply Kos is coming off the pitch without good reason was as scandalous as Wenger’s admission that, even with 10 minutes plus sitting around the dressing room at half time, he forgot to re-assign the arm-band. Beyond a joke. COYG.
Look as Koscielny when Theo scores on Sunday. If that’s leadership I’m Winston Churchill
at*
haha, never have so few, done so little, for so many…!
Not the greatest video in the world but zero reaction. It’s like they’re 8-0 down in the last minute
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkUmfFiEkrM
The Seat car company have predicted spurs winning 3 1.. how does this riddle work holic
I laughed as obviously ScGooner did about the captaincy story. I might have cried were the lot in the dressing room worth shedding tears for .
That story showed several things
-the role of the captain is lost on Wenger, he doesn’t even factor it into his thinking
– the team isn’t full of natural leaders itching to take over the armband
-that dressing room is a quiet and troubled place at present
– nobody on the coaching staff pointed out to Wenger that with our captain off we needed a replacement. I increasingly wonder what they do to earn their money, certainly not put our lads in the best, injury- free condition or practice marking at opposition corners.
The bookies apparently now have Spurs as favourites to sign Alexis. If that happened the prawn sarnies would be flying
Alexis presumably wants to go to a team that regularly wins things not one who hasn’t won the league since 1961 and only played in the top European competition three times.
I’d press for a Sanchez/ Benzema swap or a Sanchez/ Cavani swap. Bish bosh and it’s sorted . At least it is in Football Manager!
I’m amazed that anyone on here thinks we have any leaders?
Just on the train heading off for tonight’s game. Who knows what will happen??????
Oh cus, I guess you won’t be watching the Chelsea v Arsenal Final then? ?
Giroud not starting may prove to be an error when it comes to dealing with Carroll at set pieces.
Martinez, Bellerin, Gabriel, Mustafi, Monreal, Elneny, Xhaka, Walcott, Ozil, Alexis, Welbeck
Subs: Macey, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Ramsey, the Ox, Iwobi, Giroud
I sincerely doubt Giroud would give Carroll any trouble with his marking ability.
Look at those empty seats
Dead stream so on the radio. BBC Radio London no less.
Fucking Atkinson.
Stream came back. Definite penalty
Pass pass pass pass pass pass pass pass
Seen more penetration at a eunuch orgy
Not as many empty seats at the ground as there are in this bar.
This round and round the bush won’t get us anywhere. Need to speed up the pass and move stuff.
Oh Danny boy; should have put that chip from Alexis away.
At least we are showing some fight though we should be beating them comfortably. COYG, score a few in the second half.
I hope Atkinson feels he has showboated enough in the first half…
We should be ahead by now but anyway I hope we start the second half quickly because they are just sitting back and most likely will do so until the last 15minutes. We should put this to bed by then.
Swansea!!
Kouyate takes out two of his own guys but it is a ruse to get some rest.
Ozil is a bit of a pussy.
Ozil, get in!!!!
Quality goal. Quality player, Stadium rocking.
My stream died and I missed the only thing Ozil has done this side of Christmas.
Mustafi needs to be careful, can’t tackle with his foot off the ground.
Sakho, on for Carroll, is a threat with his pace.
Theo!!!! 2-0.
Magic ball from Ozil. I would have scored there.
Beautiful football by Sanchez and Ozil and Theo passes the ball into the net.
Almost a third by Bellerin.
We should be 6 up.
That goal was vintage!
Stream back, Ozil and Sanchez linking up really well. Even before the second goal there were more than glimmers of them clicking.
Giroud on for Welbeck and the game will slow down further.
Elneny and Xhaka together provide stability and better control in the mid field and should be our first choice mid fielders.
Stream dies for the millionth time so I’m back on Soccer Special.
Fuck this streaming shit. For the money we pay to watch football we should have rock solid streams as part of the fucking deal.
Another penalty denied by the fucking ref.
Ox and Ramsey on for Theo and Elneny.
Giroud!!!! Superb play by Ox and finish by Giroud.
Bosh. End of game.
But in truth, it was all over as soon as we scored.
If you’re not going to celebrate your goals stay on the fucking bench
Ramsey’s passing is shit.
Cunting Spurs
Third stone wall penalty denied by the ref and on another day could have been costly for us.
Great result, very happy.
Solid. Three goals. Three points. Job done. Satisfactory.
That’s the third clean sheet in six Premier league games for Martinez.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>