Delirious Song

Arsenal 1 West Ham 0


Quick notes:


Not a great game by our captain, but Nasri comfortably took over in midfield.


Walcott on the right makes space for those in the middle.


Chamakh needs a rest.


Bendtner is a hungry player.


Song is the new Verminator.




One of those games where the play was good but luck against us, particularly with our shots on goal, the near misses made Robert Green look very good. It may have been the West Ham game plan, or just a typical Scott Parker-inspired effort, but the match was tinkering on the brink of a foul-fest. How he finished the game without at least a yellow card is beyond belief.


Hopefully the victory will further boost the Gunners confidence, particularly in light of the Man City loss to Wolves. Onward Arsenal.




Victoria Concordia Crescit

Focus

The Arsenal find themselves in a familiar position tomorrow. Big wins, plenty of goals, progress up the league table as our closest competitors show weakness, and returning home to face a team battling at the bottom to avoid the relegation zone. This is a test which may provide us with the most accurate assessment of the evolution underway.

The criticism directed at Wenger and his youth-centric squad has often centered around our supposed inability to deal with the "physical"side of English football. The result against Man City provided proof that the Gunners are not intimidated by size or force. Teams who hope to bully Arsenal find they are up against a tenacious and determined opponent more than willing to mix it up, and critics are left searching.

For those of us who follow Arsenal, perhaps our biggest disappointments have come with poor efforts against inferior teams just as hopes have risen. Often described as "let downs" or "over-confidence", the beautiful football we expect doesn't materialize. The focus required is missing and critics are quick to proclaim the young Gunners lacking "maturity and/or mental toughness". A victory over West Ham will be seen as expected and probably not warrant more than a scoreline by the press, but to those who know this club it will signal an inspiring change of attitude. An emergence of the Champions within.

Victoria Concordia Crescit

Bendtner v Newcastle

http://www.101greatgoals.com/videodisplay/nicklas-bendtner-newcastle-7349342/


More please






Victoria Concordia Crescit

Newcastle 0 Arsenal 4

Fielding a nice mix of young players, seasoned 2nd team veterans and recently rehabbed starters, the Gunners moved into the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup with a hard fought and ultimately emphatic victory over Newcastle.


Szczesny started in goal and lived up to the hype. A big physical keeper with agility, he confidently dealt with a variety of Newcastle efforts. His only slip was early in the game, charging out to confront Nile Ranger who sidestepped the challenge and sent a shot toward goal. Koscielny was in position to block the effort, epitomizing the spirit and determination of this Arsenal team.


Play was physical and Gibbs an early casualty, the frustration evident as he made his way to the dressing room. He is only a few more good displays away from forcing Arsene into a difficult decision.


Most satisfying were the performances of Walcott and Bendtner. They appear fully fit and ready to become regulars in the Arsenal first team rotation.


Wenger will be pleased that his intentions to maintain the momentum gained following wins against Shaktar Donetsk and Manchester City have been realized. This victory showcased the abundance of talent at his disposal and bodes well for the long season ahead.



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Anticipation

Over the past few years pundits, opposition managers and fans have all criticized Arsene Wenger for his decision to field "reserve" squads in the Carling Cup competition. Now, when Man U, Spurs, Chelsea and the like have all elected to follow suit, those critics have gone silent. Not the first time Wenger has been proved right, and no doubt it will not be the last. His fiscal prudence and shrewd signings of young talent are already viewed as the future of responsible football management. So tonight, when we will likely see an Arsenal squad nearly full of "first-team" players take the field against Newcastle, we should expect a backlash of criticism with claims of "bullying" or even "desperation" in pursuit of silverware.

What I do not expect is for those same critics to comprehend why it is wise to use this competition, and more specifically this game, to reintroduce players such as Bendtner, Walcott, Koscielny and Gibbs following their injury layoffs. And give valuable minutes to Djourou, Denilson and Eboue. Players who may find the opportunities for playing time more and more scarce as the season progresses.

Vela, our constant when it comes to this competition, must be viewed as the man in the middle, caught between limited first team action and the mounting pressure from, ironically, the new youngsters. It certainly helps that he seems to always wear a smile and enjoys a good relationship with the Arsenal faithful, but rumbling through the blogs is a heightened anticipation of the potential of Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Henri Lansbury. Both offer what Gunner fans have been craving; talent, determination and strength. While the Mexican can not be faulted for his skill on the ball and obvious poaching ability, those are talents others also possess. To his relief, Arshavin has not been setting the world on fire this season, and Eduardo's departure reduced the numbers in his favor. To his dismay, Samir Nasri has displayed a wonderful ability to be both playmaker and goal scorer, and Chamakh the type of player opponents fear ignoring.

Wojciech Szczesny is expected to play, another highly anticipated appearance, and his burden will be to match the hype. Earlier this year he declared his ambition and frustration, and the scrutiny will be intense.

Newcastle should not be taken lightly. Knocking out Chelsea was a huge feather in their cap and they must view winning this competition a real possibility. Playing them on their home ground is never an easy task and the young Gunners must be prepared mentally. The (restrained) euphoria following our win against City will hopefully be transformed into determined confidence allowing our superior quality to triumph.

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Satisfied

And well we should be. The Arsenal showed grit and determination in the sort of game critics usually point at to explain why the title is beyond our reach. City were physical and the atmosphere electric but to a man we held our ground, soaking it all up and even dishing it out.


Early anxiety was relieved with the sending off. Not so much at the thought of City down to 10 men (as we know from recent efforts not the walk in the park most assume) but more of an indication that the officiating was up to the task. De Jong amazingly seemed to be the only one on the pitch who was immune to review. His "body block" on Cesc was disgusting and subsequent "fouls" which earned yellow cards for players on both sides looked tame in comparison. The commentators even had the audacity to imply that Song was the man who should have been chastised earlier in the game, suggesting that his yellow card should have been his second and thus sent off. In a game filled with so many cards it is puzzling how De Jong could end the game without censure.


One of the many positives from the game was the "quiet" surrounding our defense. Squillaci did little wrong and generally was where he needed to be to interfere with the fired-up Tevez. Djourou was my early concern, finding himself on the wrong side of player and ball meant he was forced to play catch up too often. He can't match the speed of Clichy and Sagna and that meant others had to be positionally aware, shifting to fill openings. It was a relief not to be relying on offside traps to contain the City surges.


Perhaps the missed penalty is the only low note. Cesc telegraphed his intentions very early, leaning back as he approached the ball there was only one direction his shot could go. Maybe a petition sent to Wenger demanding that Nasri be the designated penalty kick taker is in order. His ability to disguise direction and pace, as demonstrated in the build-up and subsequent goal to open the scoring, is ideal for spot kicks.


Well done Arsenal. Carling Cup next and a game at the weekend which will require no let off in concentration. Momentum must be maintained.




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Return to Eastlands

"27 Minutes of Brilliance"

Tomorrow sees a return to Manchester City and an opportunity to show that Arsenal are legitimate contenders for the title. Last year was memorable for two reasons, one a display of arrogance and the other a display of poor football. Adebayor revealing to the world why he was no longer wanted at the Emirates and the Gunners looking very tired indeed following an international break. Despite a solid starting lineup, the team looked sluggish and uninspired.

This year there will be no Bellamy, which pleases me no end as he is one of those players who seems to find a way to make life difficult for our back four no matter what kit he is wearing. The downside is that Man City has a revitalized Tevez and a new face in Silva. Their midfield is stronger and we have to hope that Song wears the right boots and performs in the holding role in a manner more akin to last season. His elevation from "work in progress" to solid starter last season was not due to his touch in front of goal.

Defensively City look vulnerable and, as always, an early goal would most certainly help to unsettle their game plan. Like Chelsea, they are not a team that performs well when chasing. Pace will be important on both ends. In their defeat of Chelsea they displayed the tenacity and speed we were hoping to implement at Stamford Bridge, and it will be interesting to see if that blueprint is laid out today.

A win would be superb, delicious, massively satisfying and confidence boosted to dizzying heights. A draw acceptable but perhaps only to Arsenal fans, much in the same way as the Chelsea result. One only needed to witness the transition City made as a result of their victory over Chelsea to comprehend the importance of a win over a "top four" rival. Not only in the eyes of the press and pundits, but in the minds of opposition managers and their players. And most certainly to Arsenal players, their confidence and belief reinforced.

Wilshire missing is a blow. He seems to provide an energy in the midfield that allows Fabregas time on the ball while also relieving him of the physical burden required when having to be both playmaker and midfield "disruptor". With Song needed further back, and Diaby better suited to a more forward role, the responsibility may fall to Denilson.

Cesc played well and looked fit in the Champions League victory over FC Shakhtar Donetsk but hamstring injuries are notorious for never really going away. With the right effort from those around him he will be able to play his game without requiring the performance he heroically displayed last season against Aston Villa.


"27 Minutes of Brilliance"


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Arsenal wallpaper