Looking Forward To A Wet Weekend
Aug 15th, 2008 by 'holic
For all sorts of reasons I cannot explain I am looking forward to this opening game of the season more than any other. Although the close season may appear too short to afficionados’ of other sports, I have suffered from the enforced absence of my trips to the Grove.
The weather forecast doesn’t look too kind, but I doubt that the opening day experience at Ipswich around thirty years ago when the players were forced off by a torrential downpour will be repeated.
Arsenal will once again be missing Cesc Fabregas, but we can look forward to a first Premiership outing for Samir Nasri, and possibly a return for Kolo Toure. That increases the options available to Arsene Wenger in the problem central midfield area.
If Toure were a hundred percent he might have been pushed further forward, but that is not likely. Most sites are anticipating Nasri in the centre, but I have a hunch (no more than that) that he may play on the left, with Theo Walcott switching to the right. Then it will be perm two from Denilson, Ramsey, Djourou, and Eboue (yes, I know!) in the middle.
I suspect the flanks will be key to opening up visitors who one would imagine will try to outnumber whoever does start centrally. Provided we can remain defensively secure at set pieces I would take a strike force of Adebayor and van Persie to outscore the Baggies.
The first ‘holic pound of the season is going on a repeat of Wednesday’s 2-0 to the Arsenal. I won’t get any more adventurous than that as far as predictions go for the longer term. We know a new face or two may be on the horizon and I would like to see who they are before making any bold claims for silverware this time around.
If you are going tomorrow please show a little patience with the young players, who will be giving their all. I doubt the visitors will be looking to encourage an attractive contest and nothing would please them more than to hear any rumblings of discontent.
Hopefully I will be back on Sunday with a report on a comfortable triumph, and some corny headline like ‘Singing in the rain’ to celebrate the contribution of the home support. We’ll see.
Before I vanish can I just thank everybody who has contributed to some really good comments on the site in recent days. Obviously we all have a different take on how to react to the problems that may, or indeed may not, be facing the Gunners at the moment. I have removed one, and only one, post which took the ‘personal’ a bit too far. Let’s try and keep it ‘banterish’, not abusive. Cheers.
17 Responses to “Looking Forward To A Wet Weekend”
First drinK!
Cheers ‘holic
Based on the noises coming out on Albion
‘The team’s style of football didn’t particularly lend itself to the Championship but it did get them out of there. They will continue to play that way, which is similar to the style Arsenal use, although perhaps the players may not be household names. They like to pass it around and the manager preaches attacking football, keeping it on the ground and I think Albion fans will be in for an entertaining season in many ways. I think it is fair to say they will lose a few matches and concede a few goals but they certainly have the basis to provide a few shocks every now and then.
Im going to go for a 3-1 win, they might put us under pressure and score one (hopefully not the first) but if they try play us at our own game we should find more space and more opportunities to score. Hope RvP and Ade can do the business, and will be nice to see Vela come on and tear into their tired defence!!!
C’mon the gunners!
by “young players” i take it you mean denilson and nasri? I dont see who else anyone would give a hard time to, who could also be classed as “young”
Ramsey maybe, k?
Great point about Vela, Frichie. I think he will be get a few late goals and assists for us as the season progresses.
KT, I’m running low on the kir, take it steady 😉
i dont think anyone would ever boo ramsey; hes come from Cardiff, its a big step up, and nobody would have expected him to play any games apart from the Carling Cup. But your point is well made. It would also be nice to see some fluid passing.
I for one hope the boo boys cut Ade some slack!!! The sooner we all get over the summer speculation debacle the better and let Ade put all his energy and concentration back into scoring -or at the very least staying onside 😉
*Boilk*
Friday afternoons in the pub rule.
Throw another shrimp on the barbie ‘holic.
In 26 years of following my beloved Gunners I’ve never wanted a season to start as quickly as this one. I just have to find a bar open early enough here in NYC to actually watch the game. In fact, there’ll be quite a few bars, I’m just so excited I’m afraid I won’t be able to sleep, then I’ll passout at 6am or some ungodly hour and miss everything (game is at 7.30 am here – jeez). Maybe I’ll just stay up all night and watch Untouchables a few times. WE HAVE TO TAKE THE HORN BY THE BULLS TOMORROW LADS!!!!
Dermot – The 4-2 win over pool was on Setanta last night. I taped it so that I have something to watch when I come home from the bar tonight (Game is on at 4:30 on the westcoast). Can’t wait for the season to start. Going to the Newcastle game and I know that I can’t handle the wait.
I would love to start the season with a clean sheet so people stop ripping our defense. We still have 2 defenders from the team of the year last year.
I agree with all the comments so far. The only thing I might like to see different from last season might be to bring on the subs a bit earlier – particularly if we are behind. Poor old Theo sometimes came on so late he hardly got a touch of the ball and I imagine the same thing could happen to Wilshire this season.
I think the improved Bendtner and addition of Vela (and hopefully Eduardo in time) make our attacking threat more potent than last year. I am not generally in favour of defensive substitutions – particularly to protect a one goal lead. We don’t have the experience of Gilberto to call upon, but I think Song will become an important player for us and could fulfill that role.
What do you mean you want to see ID
Indie Dave, I want to see Indie Dave…
right now we’re serving captain Morgan for the men and jlohr Cabernet for the ladies.
Mrs tampa and I are of the opinion that arsenal will be double winners this season, although our scouser friend sean thinks it will be the carling and fa cups.
thanks for your aged experience and history that will keep cool heads during this trying start of the season.
Mrs Tampa thanks you for the cool head when I am really pissed off.
I played colin firth’s fever pitch 4 years ago and she really understands.
come on you reds!
* Wonders what was in the deleted comment *
GREAT RESULT
1 nil against a good West Brom side who would look to have the quality to stay up in the Premiership.
The Positives:
Nasri was good and looked like he’d been playing for us for a season or two. Didn’t give the ball away, composed finish for the goal and worked very hard.
Denilson had a good game and showed he has improved with the added responsibility. He is worthy of a starting place in midfield.
Sagna gave his usual hardworking performance showing attacking quality as well as defensive steel.
The Negatives:
Eboue – I only need list his name.
Adebayor – OK this is where I am going to get a lot of flack……
IMO Ade has a poor first touch. He seldom kicks the ball cleanly when he shoots. He invariably kicks the ball at the goalie’s legs when through in a one on one. He is not as good a finisher as Eduardo, Bendtner or RVP.
He is a handfull for defenders and he does work hard (although not always) His conversion rate may be up at 23%, but the number of times that he could get himself into a shooting position but fails are what is significant. In the game today, he received the ball countless times when you thought, right this looks like a real chance only to fluff a pass or just lose possession. He’s our player and he’s here for the season so we have to get behind him but his is alos our most frustrating player (now Hleb has gone).
We’re all armchair managers and it was great to hear the crowd chanting Arsene’s name today, but to harken back to my earlier point, I did not like to see a defensive substitution (Toure for Theo) at a point in the game when you felt we needed another goal to kill the game off. Personally, I would have taken off Eboue and brought on Vela.
I’m going to put on my suit of armour in preparation for all the pro-Ade falk I’m about to receive.
i thought there were a great many positives and it’s too early to be harking on about some of the things that didn’t go perfectly for the team today. A very competent display with some great stuff on every part of the field.
Samir Nasri clearly has what it takes and, while one goal doesn’t make a season, he may be capable of delivering the quantity and quality of goals from midfield that we haven’t seen post-Pires.
Denilson continues to mature and today was one of his best games going forward and in defence. His long balls are excellent and I was pleased to see him make Nasri’s goal.
Djourou looked cool as a cucumber and stopped a certain goal on the line. (By the way, did you see Alex Song against Brazil today? Magic). Defence grumblers, please quieten down. You too, holic.
Sagna and Cliche are THE best in the business. Gael’s runs from defence are becoming a real hallmark.
Robin looked good when he came on. I suspect Arsene was exercising some caution over his fitness for a full game. I’m looking forward to seeing him start every game and return to the great contribution he’s capable of. We’re off to a good start, Gooners. Can’t ask for more.
*Gets impatient*