Fulham’s day-after thoughts: We’re back in the title race as the Invincibles hold on for another year
For the third consecutive year, Fulham so early in the season is a benchmark for the Arsenal. Two years ago, after Jens Lehmann’s blunder, Alex Hleb kicked-off our Premiership campaign with a very late strike and we went on to have a memorable season. Last year, we faced them on the second day, we lost and we went on to have a miserable season.
Now if our season is to be measured on how well we do when we face Fulham, then maybe we’re in for a similar season like the one of two years ago with hopefully, the addition of trophies.
Massive Win
Yesterday’s was a very, very important win. Chelsea suffered a surprise defeat away at Wigan and we took full advantage of their slip. Now you may wonder why I am talking – so early in the season – about getting back in the title race. Well, I have to admit I never expected Wigan – who conceded four at the Emirates – to take points away from Chelsea, and in a way, I also knew our game would have been very tricky, reason why I was looking at this weekend with a scary look as we could have ended it with -7 or even worse, -9 from the top.
Instead, we’re back in business. And with Chelsea facing Liverpool without their regular goalkeeper and maybe Ashley Cole next week, we may soon end up with a scenario reading three, if not four teams leading the Premiership, a fascinating one if you ask me.
Vito Mannone
Anyone else thinks the Italian should keep his place even when Almunia will be fit again? Well I do. Two clean sheets and if the Wigan game was an “easy” one, yesterday’s was the complete opposite. Of course, it now all depends on Arsene Wenger, who was not shy to bench Jens Lehmann in the past to give Almunia a run at goal, so it will be interesting to see how this one unfolds.
“The Invincibles” hold on
As much as they try, as much as they hope, Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool will never achieve what our 2003-04 squad achieved. With yesterday’s 3-1 defeat at the hands of Wigan, Chelsea joined the rest of the Premiership squads in having at least one defeat under their names, meaning that for yet another year, the record of the mighty invincibles holds on.
Just what is wrong in midfield?
It’s amazing how Arsenal supporters are split when the midfield subject is put on the table to be discussed. Leaving Denilson aside as he’s out injured so it’s not fair to judge him at the moment and accepting the fact that 95% of those discussing this topic believe Diaby is not good enough, I was surprised to read negative comments on Alex Song even after yesterday’s performance.
I firmly believe the reason why we see Song committing so many fouls and giving the ball away so many times is because those around him put him in difficult situations. The famous central midfield signing we so-much called for last summer didn’t arrive but had he did, I’m sure he would have been out there alongside Song in place of Diaby.
Ultimately, even Fabregas is not really helping as he should, I mean in the first half he just wasn’t there, it was only in the second half that he woke up and started helping the midfield, with twice helping Sagna all the way back to the corner flag. But that is how it should always be. So yes, the midfield worries me, no wonder Gallas, Vermaelen and Mannone’s performances were highlighted this morning as they were indeed given plenty to do.
Looking Forward
Unbeaten Olympiakos are leading in Greece and they will not be easy to get past on Tuesday. After that, we will end our hat-trick of home games when Blackburn first and then Birmingham will pay us a visit at the Emirates with a one-week break between these last two games. It is fundamental for Wenger to manage these three weeks in the best possible way in terms of rotation.
For the Birmingham game, surely Theo Walcott, Eduardo and Carlos Vela will be 100% fit, another reason why yesterday’s win goes down as a massive win. And who knows, maybe for the 4th Round Carling Cup game against Liverpool we would also welcome back Samir Nasri, so the future looks bright on the offensive part of midfield.
Until next time, as always, take care.
![[Video] Hull City vs Arsenal: Match Video Highlights, including Nicklas’ last-minute winner!](http://www.thegunninghawk.com/wp-content/themes/arthemia-premium/scripts/timthumb.php?src=/wp-content/uploads/video.jpg&w=80&h=80&zc=1)
I would love to see Wenger go with Rosicky, Fabregas and Song in the center (or even Ramsey until Rosicky can go more full out). Diaby does bring some qualities that others don’t, but is far too inconsistent and gives the ball away far too easily (very much like Denilson). One thing that we really miss from Flamini back there is someone that can defend fairly well, but also takes care of the ball. I think Rosicky can be a similar player there (esp considering we have Arshavin and Nasri on the left side when healthy along with Eduardo and Vela). We have gotten far too sloppy on the ball through the middle and need to clean it up. I know the pitch yesterday was very narrow and crowded through the middle, but still we need to do better. I just dread watching those games when I see Song/Diaby at def mid (even worse with Song/Diaby/Denilson in there). Hopefully Walcott will get some action soon and we aren’t far from Nasri’s return so those players throughout the midfield and front line have to compete day in and day out for playing time.
ah i cant wait to see song, rosicky fabregas nasri in the midfield, arshavin rite behind rvp/eduardo/bendtner..with walcott and vela on the bench. would be an awesome team.. and diaby should go awayyy
almunia
sagna gallas vermaelen clichy
song
nasri/walcott fabregas rosicky/vela
arshavin—>almost all arsenal midfielder can do this position. so no worries if he happens to be injured
rvp/eduardo/bendtner—>he can give us advantage with his height..
If Diaby goes away then there is no one to fill the void when half our midfiled is injured (like it has been for the past few weeks).
Good article today. After the overly negative rating of 2 for Diaby yesterday (surely you were expecting some emotive responses Chris), today’s piece is much more positive and constructive. Nice!
Mannone had a great game, which is very positive for the team, but needs to be tested more before he comes in ahead of Almunia. We shall wait and see, but good to see our backup keeper seems up to the task – unlike Foster for ManU lol.
I read on another site that Fabregas picked up another knock against Wigan, so perhaps he is fighting a niggling injury. Maybe Wenger could give him some time off against Birmingham – Rosicky should be fitter by then and could be the replacement.
I must say, it is good to see Arsenal winning such games. We played well against ManU, and overall not bad against ManCity (as far as controlling the game is concerned), but lost both those games. Here we were under the pump but came out on top.
I think Wenger will play Diaby again. I hope He plays better this time ‘cos Olympiakos is a much tougher team than Standard Liege.
Oh and… Vermaelen was really barking orders around from the backline there quite a lot. Not screaming at the players, but rather a controlled shout. Was good to see. Given his experience at Ajax, maybe he could be the right choice for captain in the future. Just a thought.
A nice balanced article.
I agree with your view on Song (definetly one of our better players on saturday).
He’s overly exposed by the rest of his midfield partners.
They have a duty, along with our forward wing players to revert back to a 4-5-1 formation when we’re under attack.
I am very pleased to see Mannone doing so well. He has waited, and deserves his chance. I still think Almunia is ahead of him though, just because of the experience factor. As far as Fabianski goes, well, he’s a bit like the goalkeeping equivalent of Diaby. We love him one moment, want to sell him the next. Consistency, which is what Mannone and Song have demonstrated in their short spells, is what is required by Fabianski/Diaby. Song is such a changed player since we first bought him. How does Wenger do it?
With a fully fit Rosicky, Diaby should drop to the bench (and even further behind when Nasri returns). I see Song doing the lion’s share of the defensive cover, while Fabregas and Rosicky pick apart opponents’ defenses with their creativity. That doesn’t mean they shouldn’t defend too, of course they should. I just wish Arsenal would return to the days when we were fearless and carried the attack to our opponents all the time, overpowering them rather than worrying about what they did in return. Think 01/02 or 03/04. Sure Vieira or Gilberto or even Parlour would anchor the midfield while Pires, Ljungberg and Edu scored freely. Pires, Ljungberg and Edu, (or at least Ljungberg and Edu!) still helped out defensively, it just wasn’t such a necessity. I must acknowledge though, the standard of the Premier League has risen so this might sound too Utopian.
That said, currently Barca play with Toure/Busquets as the holding midfielder, while Xavi and Iniesta do the attacking. Why can’t Song do the holding, while Fabregas and Rosicky push up? We don’t need two holding players like Song and Diaby/Denilson at the same time unless we’re closing out a match we’ve already taken control of.
The return of Walcott’s pace will bring a touch of X-factor off the bench, and hopefully he will remind everyone why he is better than Aaron Lennon who has usurped Walcott as England’s #1 right-winger. Talk about annoying, England overuse Walcott during the break, get him injured and then open the door for Lennon (barely a shadow of a fully-fit Walcott) to waltz in and steal his place.
Hope we win Wednesday! Eduardo and RvP to star!
Curse of the Arsenal captaincy. Much as i hate being critical… if Arsene Wenger has a flaw it is in his choice of captain – which is slightly odd given that he apears to have an excellent insight into the human condition. But I thought Henry was a mistake, Gallas was a mistake and now it appears Cesc as captain is a mistake. Vermaelen was already captain on Ajax and looks like a natural leader on the field. He plays with his head up and positive approach. I wonder if cesc is already beginning to feel overshadowed in the dressiong room.
Cesc, for all his ability, sometimes appears broody – even sulky and depressed. I don’t doubt he has his reasons, but the role of captain involoves being able to lift your team – not just with your performance but with your entire personality and demeanour – not just when things are going well, but when they are going badly as well. Especially when they are going badly.
I wonder if, deep down, Cesc even wants the armband any more. But having been offered it he seems tied to it and it appears like a lead weight affecting his performance. It’s not good enough to talk about having 11 captains, we don’t 11 captains, we have one. If I was AW I would be taking Cesc aside and seeing what I could do to help, leadership on the pitch begins with leadership from the coach.
Well you know, many believe Cesc was made captain so as to prevent him from joining Barcelona. Others believe Wenger gave him the captaincy to show that his youth system works and someone who started so young with the club can go on to even become captain at a young age.
I agree with you: Cesc doesn’t possess that “something” which is required to captain such a side and he may be feeling the pressure when wearing the armband. Last week I thought he was injured when he didn’t celebrate the goal but last weekend he started and aside the amazing through pass to Robin for the goal, he was totally anonymous.
Worrying.
I know. Perhaps the same reason that Henry was given the armband – and that didn’t work either. Can he really have made the same mistake twice? Given the 11 captains theory I don’t understand why he doesn’t rotate the armband until a natural leader comes along (like capello did with England) or just give it to the oldest player – like they do in Serie A, as I understand it. If he gave Cesc the armband to keep him, but the armband doesn’t fit, then it will only have the opposite effect.
Agreed on Henry, Gallas and Fabregas.
Really, they weren’t/aren’t terrible captains (maybe apart from Gallas), and all had some sort of a natural claim to the armband, but all seem to have underperformed in that role. And in all cases it seems the role has drained something out of the players form.
I imagine however that it would be a difficult task to strip Cesc of the captaincy and hand it over to someone else, even if thats what Cesc wants deep down.
Early days yet, but the way things are going I would be happy for Tomas to become captain once Cesc leaves, or even earlier if an opportunity for a switch presents itself.
I would be careful to hand it to Thomas though. He’s enjoying a wonderful spell, maybe because he wasn’t put under heavy pressure. The captaincy would add pressure, a lot of, after only two months with the squad.
My perfect captain would be Gallas. He’s performing well again, close to renew the contract and the captaincy would be an additional morale boost.
noooooooooo! look, when you make a volatile, over-emotional highly-strung frenchman captain once, maybe you can be forgiven. do it twice…
One of the things our squad lacks isn hunger for success. When you field young players like Gibbs, Ramsey, Wilshere and Denilson, their main objective is to do well on a personal level, not to necessary win. Granted, they hate to lose, so they will give it all, but first they want to impress on a personal level.
Gallas is different. He knows that this is maybe his last shot at silverware with Arsenal and giving him the captaincy back may help his mission to transmit that hunger to the rest of the squad.
The over-emotional reaction you are referring to was a clear example of someone who knew that with Clichy’s mistake, our title hopes were over. It may not have been the reaction of a professional captain, but was the reaction of a human being who wants to win, and win badly.
Yeah you are right that it would be a risk giving it to Tomas. Right now would probably be too early – its just that he seems to be naturally taking that role by ordering the rest of the defense and midfield around.
I disagree on Gallas though. I dont think he is cut out for the role – perhaps he is not stable/strong enough mentally and cannot cope with the pressure. His form has increased immensely since Cesc took over as captain. Watching this, and seeing the expression on the other players faces further cements my idea that he is not the man for the job:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IcjiCPmnwk
LMAO… you’re right…gallas is not the man for this…i’m afraid arsenal doesn’t have a true captain now…it must be someone who is a true fighter with a lot of influence..and i don’t know if that person exists right now..
mabe vermaelen will be later…he has made a big impact among his teammates since his arrival…they respect him…he reminds me of vidic sometimes…i agree with chriss…it’s too early…will put pressure on him
anyway…the team is the most important…hope we will crush the next 3 teams at home..
Go Gunners!
And fabregas! everyone needs u right now! come on show everyone what u’r made off!