Arsènal FC - 09/10 Season Thread

While it was most enjoyable to watch us tear Everton a new one, I think it was a bit of a fluke result and was gratified to see Cesc giving an objective assessment on the result in the post-match interview. We played well but Everton, for whatever reason (and I don't think it's fair to lay the blame entirely on the Lescott situation) had an absolute shocker and could have been thumped by another team.

Big positives, apart from the overall performance and the result -

- great PL debut by Vermaelen - this was the first time I saw him play in an Arsenal shirt, and, though tbh he didn't have a heck of a lot to do after the first 20 minutes or so, he looked composed, positioned himself well and was strong in the air (won most of the headers vs Fellaini who's pretty big) - and the goal was quite nice too.

- Song also had an excellent match, winning 50/50 balls and also linking up well with the attack.

- finally, Bentdner played his role well in the attacking triangle, sucking in defenders, and showing good awareness of the game - I think he's been too anxious to prove himself and have a pop on goal when it was not the best option. Now he may become more relaxed on the pitch with a fixed role in the attack, and have a greater impact.

I think it IS mostly down to the Lescott situation actually. If you had a guy playing in your team who you knew didn't have his head in the right place, that's bound to affect your game.

TheCrazy58 wrote:While it was most enjoyable to watch us tear Everton a new one, I think it was a bit of a fluke result and was gratified to see Cesc giving an objective assessment on the result in the post-match interview. We played well but Everton, for whatever reason (and I don't think it's fair to lay the blame entirely on the Lescott situation) had an absolute shocker and could have been thumped by another team.

Big positives, apart from the overall performance and the result -

- great PL debut by Vermaelen - this was the first time I saw him play in an Arsenal shirt, and, though tbh he didn't have a heck of a lot to do after the first 20 minutes or so, he looked composed, positioned himself well and was strong in the air (won most of the headers vs Fellaini who's pretty big) - and the goal was quite nice too.

- Song also had an excellent match, winning 50/50 balls and also linking up well with the attack.

- finally, Bentdner played his role well in the attacking triangle, sucking in defenders, and showing good awareness of the game - I think he's been too anxious to prove himself and have a pop on goal when it was not the best option. Now he may become more relaxed on the pitch with a fixed role in the attack, and have a greater impact.

I re-watched the game this morning(what a great feeling it was waking up and then suddenly thinking of the result ), and I don't think we were as brilliant as I 1st thought. We were actually far better without the ball than we were with it. We have not pressed and harried opponents and kept our shape the way we did yesterday in a long long time. Everton could not play through us, we restricted them to hoofing the ball upfront which we dealt with comfortably(thanks to the beasts that were Vermaelen and Song) . It wasn't perfect but it was very good most of the time. What I liked most was even in the 65th minutes when the game was already over the likes of Arshavin and Cesc were flying into tackles and harrying Everton. It was almost night and day compared to most of last season when we were just standing off opponents and marking empty space, this time the ball carrier was constantly crowded. Lets hope for more of the same.

It was just one game, and we should all not read too much into it. Our players had the habit of becoming complacent after a great result last season; defeating manu in one week and losing to the likes of Hull the other week. So I hope Arsene keeps them in check.

The Professor wrote:

TheCrazy58 wrote:While it was most enjoyable to watch us tear Everton a new one, I think it was a bit of a fluke result and was gratified to see Cesc giving an objective assessment on the result in the post-match interview. We played well but Everton, for whatever reason (and I don't think it's fair to lay the blame entirely on the Lescott situation) had an absolute shocker and could have been thumped by another team.

Big positives, apart from the overall performance and the result -

- great PL debut by Vermaelen - this was the first time I saw him play in an Arsenal shirt, and, though tbh he didn't have a heck of a lot to do after the first 20 minutes or so, he looked composed, positioned himself well and was strong in the air (won most of the headers vs Fellaini who's pretty big) - and the goal was quite nice too.

- Song also had an excellent match, winning 50/50 balls and also linking up well with the attack.

- finally, Bentdner played his role well in the attacking triangle, sucking in defenders, and showing good awareness of the game - I think he's been too anxious to prove himself and have a pop on goal when it was not the best option. Now he may become more relaxed on the pitch with a fixed role in the attack, and have a greater impact.

I re-watched the game this morning(what a great feeling it was waking up and then suddenly thinking of the result ), and I don't think we were as brilliant as I 1st thought. We were actually far better without the ball than we were with it. We have not pressed and harried opponents and kept our shape the way we did yesterday in a long long time. Everton could not play through us, we restricted them to hoofing the ball upfront which we dealt with comfortably(thanks to the beasts that were Vermaelen and Song) . It wasn't perfect but it was very good most of the time. What I liked most was even in the 65th minutes when the game was already over the likes of Arshavin and Cesc were flying into tackles and harrying Everton. It was almost night and day compared to most of last season when we were just standing off opponents and marking empty space, this time the ball carrier was constantly crowded. Lets hope for more of the same.

It was just one game, and we should all not read too much into it. Our players had the habit of becoming complacent after a great result last season; defeating manu in one week and losing to the likes of Hull the other week. So I hope Arsene keeps them in check.

Arsenal were good yesterday, but the bit in bold is incorrect praise...because "hoofing the ball up front" is what Everton *always* do!

They can actually pass it through midfield and then onto the wings before whipping crosses in.

Without Arteta, they don't do that. They prefer just hitting it up for Cahill/Fellaini/Jo/Yakubu to head back towards one of the midfielders or to Pienaar/Osman in the channels, who then put a cross in.

Still think you didn't get Everton at a good time Prof

Denilson and Bendtner looked good yesterday. It was a strange match all round so conclusions are pretty hard to take from it apart from the fact the Vermaelen looked solid against the EPL hoof bombardment.

COTR #6 wrote:Still think you didn't get Everton at a good time Prof

Denilson and Bendtner looked good yesterday. It was a strange match all round so conclusions are pretty hard to take from it apart from the fact the Vermaelen looked solid against the EPL hoof bombardment.

You tell me COTR.

If that's the case I'm looking forward to us playing all other teams 'at the right time'.

I's about time we got lucky

I was pleased that we didn't look panicked at any point with the aerial bombardment. You can't win every ball in the air against the likes of Fellaini, but even when they won the ball we looked a lot calmer dealing with it than we usually do.

Also good to see us take shots from range (and score a couple from outside the box). Hopefully it will encourage the midfielders. We've seen with Fabregas in particular that once he gets one or two goals he looks a lot more eager to go for goal, and we need more goals from the central midfielders than we got last season.

The Professor wrote:

I re-watched the game this morning(what a great feeling it was waking up and then suddenly thinking of the result ), and I don't think we were as brilliant as I 1st thought. We were actually far better without the ball than we were with it. We have not pressed and harried opponents and kept our shape the way we did yesterday in a long long

Great observation. I found that to be the telling thing as well, as opposed to the assumption that Arsenal just attacked well - I reckon our attacking game against CSKA a couple of seasons ago was better, and that finished 0-0. So, the 'fluke' claim is very apt IMO.

kas wrote:Without Arteta, they don't do that. They prefer just hitting it up for Cahill/Fellaini/Jo/Yakubu to head back towards one of the midfielders or to Pienaar/Osman in the channels, who then put a cross in.

I have seen them play some decent stuff without Arteta, or even when Arteta is played on the wings. The likes of Pienaar and Osman all roam inside and help them 'play'. Their game is based around getting the ball to the wings and constantly putting crosses in, but they can play some good stuff too - look at some their goals they've scored in the past. You make it sound they just hoof it from one end to the other but they are far better than that.

VDV been linked in the press. I think it would be aan excellent signing. Rosicky and Nasri appear to be too injury pone, he would be very effective in Europe and would fit perfectly in playing the most advanced role of our midfield triangle. Would guarantee more goals coming from midfield too.
May hinder Ramsey's development slightly is a possible negative.

Tweedle wrote:I think it IS mostly down to the Lescott situation actually. If you had a guy playing in your team who you knew didn't have his head in the right place, that's bound to affect your game.

We had that with Ade, Toure and Gallas for the best part of last season but still managed a pretty good unbeaten run.

@Hleb - VDV is trying everything to get out of Madrid, wouldn't take anything written about him too seriously just now.

Yeah, the story seemed to be nothing more than guesses. But still, i'd like it to happen.

VDV could be a very good signing, particularly since he's desperate to leave Madrid and they won't be looking for a big fee.

TheCrazy58 wrote:

Tweedle wrote:I think it IS mostly down to the Lescott situation actually. If you had a guy playing in your team who you knew didn't have his head in the right place, that's bound to affect your game.

We had that with Ade, Toure and Gallas for the best part of last season but still managed a pretty good unbeaten run.

Agreed, saying the result yesterday was mostly down to Lescott or Everton is not given enough credit to our players. Were were compact, disciplined and extremely efficient in the other end. The victory was more to us being good than anything else.

They were saying on the TV the other day that where VDV moves depends entirely on what care he can get for his wife who is getting treatment for breast cancer werent they?

borocooper wrote:They were saying on the TV the other day that where VDV moves depends entirely on what care he can get for his wife who is getting treatment for breast cancer werent they?

I didn't know that. Well she can probably get reasonable treatment anywhere in Europe.

TheCrazy58 wrote:

borocooper wrote:They were saying on the TV the other day that where VDV moves depends entirely on what care he can get for his wife who is getting treatment for breast cancer werent they?

I didn't know that. Well she can probably get reasonable treatment anywhere in Europe.

Yeah I hadnt heard anything about it before then either..it was the ITV crew who said it. Someone will have to confirm.

borocooper wrote:

TheCrazy58 wrote:

borocooper wrote:They were saying on the TV the other day that where VDV moves depends entirely on what care he can get for his wife who is getting treatment for breast cancer werent they?

I didn't know that. Well she can probably get reasonable treatment anywhere in Europe.

Yeah I hadnt heard anything about it before then either..it was the ITV crew who said it. Someone will have to confirm.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1206349/Holland-star-Rafael-van-der-Vaart-sparks-Premier-League-scrap-FIFPro-suggest-leave-Real-Madrid-free.html

Also my Dutch is zilch but if you google her name, you get references to 'chemotherapie' so I think the report is correct.

Hlebagone wrote:VDV been linked in the press. I think it would be aan excellent signing. Rosicky and Nasri appear to be too injury pone, he would be very effective in Europe and would fit perfectly in playing the most advanced role of our midfield triangle. Would guarantee more goals coming from midfield too.
May hinder Ramsey's development slightly is a possible negative.

Ray Parlour wrote:

Hlebagone wrote:VDV been linked in the press. I think it would be aan excellent signing. Rosicky and Nasri appear to be too injury pone, he would be very effective in Europe and would fit perfectly in playing the most advanced role of our midfield triangle. Would guarantee more goals coming from midfield too.
May hinder Ramsey's development slightly is a possible negative.

Black Magic wrote:

Ray Parlour wrote:

Hlebagone wrote:VDV been linked in the press. I think it would be aan excellent signing. Rosicky and Nasri appear to be too injury pone, he would be very effective in Europe and would fit perfectly in playing the most advanced role of our midfield triangle. Would guarantee more goals coming from midfield too.
May hinder Ramsey's development slightly is a possible negative.

A bit last year but if your own sodding teammate breaks your leg in training there's not a hell of a lot you can do.

Exactly. The niggling injuries he picked up last year were down to him acclimatising to the new league.

The lanky beanpole injures him then goes and gets injured himself

Nasri isn't injury prone ala Rosicky but he gets a lot of niggling injuries throughout the season. So am I told by a Marseille fan.

Diaby will be back on Tuesday apparently. I bet he starts as well. He is definitely one of Arsene's favourites aswell

Ray Parlour wrote:Diaby will be back on Tuesday apparently. I bet he starts as well. He is definitely one of Arsene's favourites aswell

Luckily we're playing Portsmouth at home on Saturday.

How will we line up on Tuesday?

Manuel

Sagna-Gallas-Vermaelen -Clichy

Song

Fab - Denilson

Bentdner - Eduardo - Li'l Andrey

You think RVP will be rested?

I'm pretty sure it will be the same line-up. We have Portsmouth at home at the weekend so maybe we can rotate a bit then.

Theo and The Beanpole back should strengthen the bench.

In other news Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has joined Blackpool on loan. I really rate him and think he could break into the first team in a few seasons time. Have no idea where he would play though, he is very verstaile.

Oh I think VanP will be on the bench - I just thought Eduardo could use the minutes and maybe he'd suit Celtic better. Alternative would be to play VanP instead of Bentdner in the same formation.

Theo is definitely out of reckoning btw.

SSN says Fab doubtful with a hamstring injury too also Denilson and Sagna. Diaby fit.

I guess this means Ramsey and Hoyte in and Wilshere on bench.

On the website it says Cesc is more than 50% likely to play. I hope Sagna is fit because I'd have my doubts with Eboue being up against Maloney or McGeady.