January 25, 2012
Putting the Injury Crisis Into Context

It is easy for a team to simply put poor form down to an injury crisis. It has been a long-standing excuse at the Arsenal to put our failures down to our excessive injuries. Personally, I attribute the collapse of the 2009/2010 season to the injuries of Robin van Persie, William Gallas, Thomas Vermaelen, Johan Djourou, Aaron Ramsey, Andrey Arshavin and especially Cesc Fabregas - who was beyond world class that season - as we approached the long-prophesied ’easy run-in’. And last season, as we all know, the Carling Cup final débacle was the catalyst for a collapse of mythical proportions, though I am of the opinion that with Cesc and Theo Walcott fit to play, we would have walked our way to victory; and perhaps would have ground it out had van Persie not had to go injured. Some may not share those opinions, but that is my personal view.

But there is no hope of rectifying that which went wrong over those season; they are confined to the past and remain as mere excuses. Perennial ‘what ifs’ and ‘if onlys’; but this season we are not in a title fight, we are fighting for fourth again, though our push is being hampered by injuries once again. After three losses in a row, some (idiots) are turning on Arsene Wenger and though he has made his mistakes, it is worth noting how hamstrung he is by the injuries to the squad.

For starters, there is the much mentioned dearth of full backs. No Bakari Sagna, no Carl Jenkinson, no Kieran Gibbs (shocker) and no André Santos since early December. No right backs since late October - at first, Laurent Koscielny filled in there, as Per Mertesacker and Thomas Vermaelen played at centre half and Andre Santos at left back. Not ideal, but what else can you do when both your right backs have injuries? Then, with Kieran Gibbs predictably injured with a raft of strange and unusual injuries, Andre Santos gets injured. Enter the four centre back back four. Vermaelen has played left back many times in his career and though it is far from ideal to have your best centre back out-of-position, desperate times call for desperate measures. As long as we can keep these players fit for a month or two, until at least one of the full backs returns. Then Djourou picks up a knock midway through a game. Ignasi Miquel, 18 year old centre half, is thrown into the mix as a left back, as Koscielny moved back to right back and Vermaelen in-field. The inexperienced Miquel is caught out of position at we go down 1-0 at Eastlands. The next game, Aston Villa away, we send Francis Coquelin out at right back - not his natural position, but he does have some previous experience of the role - he performs well, a fine solution until Djourou is back.

Next, Vermaen picks up a calf strain and is ruled out for 2-3 weeks. Now Coquelin must fill in at left back against Fulham. In the same game, Djourou picks up a red card at Fulham and is banned. Such was the desperation for defenders, Sebastien Squillaci was called upon. The game was promptly lost. Squillaci would have to play in the FA Cup game against Leeds at centre back, with Coquelin at right back and Miquel on the left. Then, half an hour into the cup clash, Coquelin limps of and joins Vermaelem on the ‘out for 2-3 weeks’ list. 18-year old Nico Yennaris is introduced to the fray for his first professional game. With Coquelin now injured, it was fortunate that Djourou was back for the game against Swansea. But the two fullbacks’ instincts to wander inside was exploited readily by Nathan Dyer and Scott Sinclair. Another loss due to the lack of natural fullbacks. Next up were Manchester United. Vermaelen was rushed back, Djourou remained at right back. The first goal came from Djourou being roasted (one of many times) by Nani, who sent a cross over to Antonio Valenicia who in turn exploited Vermaelen’s poor positioning and headed home. Djourou was reported to get a knock at half time and was replaced by Yennaris. A risky move, but a successful one, as the young Chinese-Cypriot handled the immense challenge of Nani well. In the space of one month, Arsenal were forced to use their seventh choice left back (Miquel) and sixth choice Yennaris on more than one occasion each, such were the magnitude of the injuries; so plentiful were they that we had to play Squillaci!

That ridiculously unfortunate set of events will hamper any team, but the injuries did not stop here. Oh no. At the very start of the season, we were told that Jack Wilshere would be out for a week or two with a slight ankle problem. A week became a month. One month became three, until all of a sudden he was ruled out until February. So we were to going to have to survive 5 months without our best midfielder, following Cesc’s departure. So on the long-term absentee list, we have Bakari Sagna, Kieran Gibbs, Andre Santos, Carl Jenkinson, Jack Wilshere and for intermittent spells, Thomas Vermaelen. Meanwhile, Abou Diaby had ankle surgery in the summer and was unavailable for the first three months of the season. Though after just 25 minutes against Fulham, he was ruled out indefinitely, with a hamstring injury and no return date mentioned (and rumours abound that he may be forced to retire). Not conducive to success.

Going into the game against Swansea, Mikel Arteta is ruled out, while Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh are off to the Africa Cup of Nations, taking the number of absentees to 12 (Fabianski, Sagna, Jenkinson, Santos, Gibbs, Vermaelen, Wilshere, Arteta, Diaby, Coquelin, Gervinho and Chamakh). Following the 3-2 loss in South Wales, Vermaelen returned (perhaps earlier than was helpful to his recovery) but Thierry Henry picked up a calf injury. Meaning there were still 12 absentees as we went to face United.

To put those absentees into context, the equivalent injury crisis at Chelsea would see Ashley Cole, Jose Bosingwa, Branislav Ivanovic, Paulo Ferreira, Juan Mata and Oriol Romeu out for the majority of the season, while John Terry would have spent spells on the sidelines. To compare to the number of injuries we had against United, they would have had no: Henrique Hilario, the aforementioned six long-term players, Ramires, Daniel Sturridge, Didier Drogba and Saloman Kalou (rough comparisons). A side whose depletion does not bare thinking about.

Or for high-flying Sp*rs, the equivalent long-term six would be Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Kyle Walker, Younes Kaboul, Michael Dawson, Sandro and Luka Modric, with Ledley King often missing. While their equivalent to the injured 12 would be: Carlo Cudicini, those six, Rafael van der Vaart, Sebastien Bassong, Aaron Lennon, Jermain Defoe and Roman Pavlyuchenko. A larger squad than Chelsea’s but one which would still be badly damaged by all those missing.

And one last comparison: Manchester City. Perhaps the strongest squad in the league, but they would be hurt with no Gael Clichy, Aleksandr Kolarov, Micah Richards, Pablo Zabaleta, Nigel de Jong and David Silva for much of the season, with Joleon Lescott out for parts of the season (a better comparison to Vermaelen as he would be . As well as them, no Pantimilon, Yaya Toure, Adam Johnson, Samir Nasri and Owen Hargreaves. 

All very rough comparisons but I tried to compare the players’ positions and importance to their teams to those of the missing players at Arsenal. It is vague but it hammers home the point that our injury list is horrendous, as has been our luck. At this point it is very necessary to give a lot of credit to Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United, who have had similar problems but have done magnificently well in spite of them (their Champions League fate notwithstanding). This has been a ramble, but I felt it necessary to emphasise just how unfortunate we have been and are. We have done very well to be as high as we have been but now, as those players start to return, we must capitalise. If we keep winning games, we will get into the top four and with a full team, there are not many who can match us. Certainly not the other top four challengers. This is not to say this is the sole reason for our recent bad patch, but it is worth taking into consideration. 

And what treatment would those teams get from the media if they were in the same position? More sympathy, at the very least. And we have been lucky in one regard - Robin van Persie has remained injury free, and let’s pray that doesn’t change!

Apologies for the rambling.

11:46pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZWYsLyFMqzKr
(Notes: 7)
  
Filed under: fan piece football arsenal premier league sagna wilshere henry van persie 
September 4, 2011
Premier League Transfer Analysis: Arsenal

In: Carl Jenkinson, Gervinho, Ryo Miyachi (granted work permit after signing last year), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Park Chu-Young, Andre Santos, Per Mertersacker, Yossi Benayoun (loan) and Mikel Arteta.

Out: Denilson (loan), Carlos Vela (loan), Gael Clichy, Cesc Fabregas, Emmanuel Eboue, Samir Nasri, Armand Traore and Nicklas Bendtner (loan).

Analysis: while vital flaws were addressed, Arsenal undoubtedly leave the summer significantly weaker than they entered it. Per Mertesacker will go his way to shoring up the defence and Gervinho, Benayoun, Miyachi and Oxlade-Chamberlain provide genuine width, something which was lacking from the Arsenal last year as none of Theo Walcott, Samir Nasri, Andrey Arshavin or Nicklas Bendtner are genuine wingers. Despite this, losing Cesc Fabregas would weaken any team and while Aaron Ramsey grows into the role and Arteta does what he can, his absence will be badly felt. Nasri will be less missed; Gervinho can easily pick up the pieces of his departure and the sale of Clichy will not have a negative effect on the team - his lapses in concentration were responsible for many goals. When Kieran Gibbs broke into the team he was very impressive, but a string of injuries have halted his development. Gibbs is more than capable of replacing Clichy but his being so injury prone meant delving into the market for Andre Santos was imperative. There is a ready made, and better, replacement for Denilson in the form of Emmanuel Frimpong. After the 102nd minute of Arsenal-Liverpool many fans were glad to see the back of Emmanuel Eboue, but Carl Jenkinson’s inexperience was shown clearly at Old Trafford. They had better pray for an injury free season for Bakari Sagna. Arsenal are greatly weakened, but they should maintain top 4 status after their late flurry of buys.

9:21pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZWYsLy98GJHP
(Notes: 2)
  
Filed under: arsenal cesc nasri van persie arteta gervinho arsenal premier league 
August 11, 2011
What Change is Needed at Arsenal? - Re-visited

Upon the 2010/2011 season’s end I wrote this article on the potential change at Arsenal. I stated, in the main, that it was far more a case of minor tweaks rather than mass overhauls, but the transfer window does not appear to have progressed along the lines Arsenal and Arsène Wenger had wished.

Goalkeepers:
What I suggested: Wojciech Szczesny to be handed the number one role, with Lukasz Fabianski to battle with him for it. Vito Mannone as third choice and Manuel Almunia to be sold (or shot out of a canon).
What has happened: they have tried, so far, in vain to rid themselves of Almunia. Pre-season matches and advertisements (he has not even been pictured in the new kit) suggest he will play no part in proceedings.
Potential changes: there was word that Wenger was interested in Craig Gordon, as a challenger for the two Poles, but realistically I don’t see it happening. The only thing that may happen is the departure of Almunia. No other change is needed.

Right Backs:
What I suggested: Emmanuel Eboué to be sold, Davide Santon to be brought in. Bacary Sagna to remain as first choice.
What has happened: Eboué looks like being sold to Galatasary very soon, while Carl Jenkinson has been brought in. Young and raw, but impressive at times in pre-season. Barring an injury to Sagna, he will get occasional games in the league and play in the cups. Good chances for him to gain experience. Promising prospect.
Potential changes: Eboué to be sold, nothing else.

Left Backs:
What I suggested: no changes.
What has happened: Gaël Clichy has been sold to Manchester City. I think he’s a decent left back but a defensive liability. There are definitely better out there, but it wasn’t a particularly problem-area. The lack of movement on that front suggests Wenger believes Kieran Gibbs can fill the void. The talent is there, but is the fitness? He has a very poor injury record and Armand Traoré didn’t exactly impress in his previous stint in the side.
Potential changes: for peace of mind as much as anything, I think Wenger should invest in a proven left back but that doesn’t seem likely. Realistically, I doubt anything will happen.

Centre Backs:
What I suggested: Laurent Koscielny-Thomas Vermaelen as first choice pairing and another brought in as a challenger (Gary Cahill, Phil Jagielka, Christopher Samba, Jan Vertongen, Phil Jones or Mamadou Sakho). Johan Djourou as third or fourth choice and Sébastien Squillaci to be shipped off.
What has happened: very little, in reality. Phil Jones, Lancashire born and bred, elected to stay in his home area, despite Arsenal’s meeting Blackburn’s £16,000,000 price tag. A bid has been turned down for Phil Jagielka, but little else has come to the fore.
Potential changes: Wenger has promised investment in the defence. With a large windfall expected to come in soon, a signing cannot be far away. Scott Dann has been mentioned, but if he is to sign I doubt he’ll be the only one. It will make for interesting viewing.

Central Midfielders:
What I suggested: Denilson sold and a new backup defensive midfielder in. Do all possible to keep Cesc Fàbregas and make sure no others leave.
What has happened: Denilson has gone back to Sao Paulo on loan, but it looks as though the task of acting as backup defensive midfielders will fall to Emmanuel Frimpong and Henri Lansbury. And it looks as though Fàbregas is on his way (I was convinced Barcelona would not pay up). It is not finalised yet so he has not been replaced. No others look likely to leave.
Potential changes: a replacement must be brought in for Fàbregas. Juan Mata is a good option, but no signing will happen until the Fàbregas departure is complete. I don’t believe a defensive midfield signing will be made. Two players may be needed to bare the brunt of Fàbregas’s absence, or one superstar, like Wesley Sneijder (to take but one example).

Wingers:
What I suggested: bring in Eden Hazard or another out-and-out winger and keep the rest. Stop using Nicklas Bendtner as a winger.
What has happened: Bendtner is on the verge of leaving. Gervinho has been signed - similar to Hazard, but older and perhaps more ready for the Premier League. He also has a better goal and assist record than his former team mate. I did not forsee Samir Nasri expressing a desire to leave, though. A replacement must be signed for him. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has signed too, but is perhaps one for the future. Ryo Miyachi’s obtaining of a work permit is a huge boost - an out-and-out winger with blistering pace.
Potential changes: Bendtner and Nasri are certain to leave. Gervinho has replaced the Dane, but the money generated by Nasri’s sale must go towards a replacement for him. Mata seems ideal, but if he is signed, a number 10 OR an out an out winger must be signed too, with Fàbregas on the way out.

Strikers:
What I suggested: unless a switch to 4-4-2 was on the cards, no changes were needed, though this was before Bendtner expressed his desire to leave.
What has happened: there was certainly interest in Karim Benzema that was swiftly quashed by José Mourinho. Since then, nothing, really. Gervinho is well capable of filling in up front and is more comfortable there than Bendtner was on the wing. Robin van Persie is the ideal first choice, while Marouane Chamakh is a capable second fiddle.
Potential changes: another central striker is a possibility, but an unlikely one. Not a necessity at this point in time.

10:08pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZWYsLy8C1rhx
(Notes: 7)
  
Filed under: football arsenal fabregas cesc van Persie miyachi szczesny 
August 9, 2011
4. Arsenal 2-1 Barcelona, 16th February 2011

No one gave us a chance. Following on from last year’s thrashing at Barcelona’s hand, everyone assumed this was just another chapter of the same story and that a weaker Arsenal would get a more brutal beating from a stronger Barcelona.

Only this year there was a little more nouse about Arsenal, and far fewer injuries. Last year, there was no Robin van Persie, an injured William Gallas and Andrey Arshavin needing replacement before half time, an idiot between the posts, Cesc Fàbregas needing to be rushed back from injury, Alex Song at centre half, Denilson playing - in short, that team was in no fit state to tackle the strongest team around. This year, the only injury was to Thomas Vermaelen. Wojciech Szczesny would start in goal and they were not going to suffer from their own naïvety as their counterparts of the previous year had. The only real change to Barcelona was the switch of David Villa for Zlatan Ibrahimovic - a definite improvement.

Many of Barcelona’s games seem to follow a pattern - the opposition decide they’re going to ‘get in their faces’ and not be ‘pushed around’. This idea seems as though it is paying dividends until the clock reaches the tenth minute, at which point Barcelona become near-impossible to dispossess. From there it’s a slow, painful and demoralising death for the challengers, as the Catalans slowly drain them of their stamina, strength and in some cases, their collective will to live. Their ball retention is the best going, by far, but it was not a destruction à la their last Emirates Stadium encounter. Arsenal had a gameplan and it was working - push Barcelona up the pitch with the high line and aim to play on the counterattack. In rewatching the game, it was plain to see that the back four waited for Barcelona to get past Song and Jack Wilshere and then charged them down. This worked in places, but a high line is always a risk, especially against the forward line of Lionel Messi, David Villa and Pedro Rodriguez.

The Catalans broke past the line of defence three times in the first half. Once it was a sloppy pass by Song that meant, five touches later, Messi was bearing down menacingly on the goal. It was a narrow escape as the little Argentine fired wide. Uncharacteristic, but credit must go to Szczesny, who held his ground and stayed on his feet until just before Messi opened fire. The second time led to a goal. Gaël Clichy was caught behind the line and Villa needed no second chance to exploit the yard of space his poor positioning provided. Villa rarely misses and Szczesny had no chance. Barcelona were now a goal up. It would then have been easy to let them run riot, but it did not shift Arsenal’s game plan. They were broken through a third time but Pedro’s eventual goal was (somewhat luckily) ruled out for offside.

Though this is not to say that Arsenal had no opportunities through the first half. They came closest on a counterattcking move, involving van Persie, Fàbregas and Theo Walcott, with the latter two in something of a role reversal, as Walcott supplied the through ball from the centre circle and Arsenal’s captain sprinting onto it down the right hand side. The pass was slightly overhit, but Fàbregas made it onto the end of it in time to send a cross towards van Persie, which was just headed away by Abidal. Walcott came close in the early stages, while van Persie was unlucky with one effort and foolish with another, taking too much time before shooting and allowing Gerard Piqué to recover and force his shot wide. 

By the half it was 1-0 to the Catalans, but it was not all doom and gloom on the terraces. There was a cautious optimism amongst the Arsenal faithful. They were only a goal away and we were posing an attacking threat. All was most certainly not lost. Indeed, as the second half began, the home crowd were in full voice, as they had been through the first half, and would continue to be through the second. In its short life, the Emirates Stadium had never experienced such a raucous atmosphere, or anything approaching it. It was a relief, in some ways - if the rest of the crowd would not sing and shout on this, of all occasions, then they would never do so. The second 45 were slightly more open than the first had been, with there being a more potent flow to the games of both sides. All the while the Londoners were looking more and more likely to get a goal, but the threat of Barcelona was always a looming shadow, lurking in the background after every missed attempt on goal.

Credit here must go to Laurent Koscielny. He almost marked Messi out of the game and on one particular Barcelona attack, Pedro was clean through behind the line of defence until Koscielny miraculously managed to disposes him without bringing him down. It was a game that showed all his good qualities as a defender, and though he was liable at the Carling Cup final just two weeks on, it left me completely convinced of his abilities. As the game went back on forth, it was plain to see that it would not end 1-0 to Barcelona, but it could so easily have gone either way. On 78 minutes, Clichy produced a nice bit of improvisation, chipping the ball to the waiting van Persie in the area; what followed was spectacular. With Nicklas Bendtner arriving in the area, everyone assumed that the Dutchman’s next move would be to play to ball towards the big Dane, even Victor Valdes. Spying a football-sized gap between ‘keeper and post, van Persie opened fire. From the other end of the ground, where I was sat, we saw the ball disappear behind the figure of Valdes, then re-appear in the now rustling net.

Cue pandemonium.

The best thing about watching and rewatching clips of the goal is that as the television coverage shows the replays, the crowd are seeing them at the same time, and as the ball sneaks through that minute gap between Valdes and the upright, there is a clearly audible collective intake of breath. Many, myself included, initially thought there may have been an element of luck about the goal, but it’s clear to see van Persie knew exactly what he was doing. Now there was the belief that we could actually win this. We didn’t have long to wait for the second.

It was another example of the end-to-end nature of the match. Barcelona were on the attack, then Koscielny made the tackle, Bendtner played it short to Jack Wilshere - another who played fantastically - who played it short to Fàbregas, then two touches later, Samir Nasri was flying down the right hand side. As he slowed up, it looked as though the chance my have alluded him. The ball in looked misplaced, as it was behind the onrushing van Persie, but Nasri clearly saw more than we did. The ball fell to Arshavin and within a second the ball was again in the back of Valdes’s net. Delight. The Emirates had never felt that level of jubilation - truly that stadium’s finest hour (so far).

Barça would continue to attack and despite the natural tendency, as Arsenal fans, to panic, there was a feeling that we knew we had won, and even as they spent the last 5 minutes camped in the penalty area, we knew the victory was ours. Wilshere and Koscielny were the outstanding performers on a night no one in the ground will soon forget. I still have the flags that were given to us on display in my room; despite the injustice that was the second leg (Bussacca, you cheating swine*), you can’t ever take away from the joy, jubilation and sense of triumph that came with reigning victorious over this Barcelona. I returned from the game hoarse and emotionally and physically drained and with a sixth form interview the following day, but that did not stop me from rewatching and reliving the last 90 minutes again. Unforgettable evening.

*no, I won’t let it go.

4:55pm  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZWYsLy864UGR
(Notes: 5)
  
Filed under: football Arsenal barcelona barca fabregas van persie messi wilshere szczesny history fan piece favourite games 
January 2, 2011
Arsenal Exorcise Ghost of St. Andrew’s Past

In Arsenal’s previous two visits to St. Andrew’s, they have conceded late goals that, to varying degrees, have gone on to go their way to destabilising their title challenge. Going into the game, they were 5 points from the Premier League’s summit and after a disappointing midweek draw with Wigan, they were looking to clamber back towards top spot. Birmingham started the game in 19th place, but off the back of a late salvaged draw with Manchester United, but a draw would have led them to 15th and they had only lost one home game all season.

Arsenal, as ever, set off to attack and earned two free kicks around 25 yards and to the right of Ben Foster’s goal, both of which had been poorly struck by Robin van Persie, who was making only his third start of the season. Then, in an attempt top bring the ball forward from defence, Roger Johnson took a heavy touch and Cesc Fàbregas pounced on the loose ball, only to be on the receiving end of a very strong tackle, which left Arsenal’s Captain floored. Some were calling for a red card to be shown, and it could be argued that if the tackle had taken place later than 6 minutes in, he may have received his marching orders, but Johnson went into the book and play continued. In a similar position to the two earlier wasted free kicks by Arsenal, they were given another, but only due to a rather theatrical tumble by van Persie. The Dutchman stepped forward and took the free kick, but the ball was sent in the opposite direction to the one in which van Persie had sent it by the stomach of Lee Bowyer, and with the aid of the deflection, the ball rolled in for Arsenal’s first, and van Persie’s first League goal of the season. 

Around 20 minutes on from Arsenal’s opener, Birmingham had a free kick, which was sent into the away side’s area. Johnson knocked the ball down and as van Persie stretched to meet it, the ball fell onto his arm. With his arms outstretched, it was a clear penalty, but Peter Walton chose not to award it. Just minutes later, Arsenal poured forward on the counter-attack. Nasri took the ball down the left side and as he drifted inside, he slid the ball through to the man who seemed to be at the centre of all the key events thus far, van Persie, but an uncharacteristically poor touch meant that Foster was able to pick up the ball from the floor. With Arsenal’s penchant for conceding late goals, that miss could have been one that Arsenal, by the games end, regretted not converting. 

As the second half commenced, Lee Bowyer was seen by the television cameras - but not by Peter Walton - to stamp on Bacary Sagna in an off the ball incident. Although this was not spotted, the FA could pull Bowyer up on the challenge and give a retrospective punishment. Arsenal continued their wasteful streak in front of goal, undoing their own excellent build-up play; Jack Wilshere, on his 19th birthday, sent a good chance over the bar and Nasri had a close range effort well saved by Foster. 

It was then perhaps fitting that Arsenal’s best player of 2010, Nasri, went on to make amends for his miss. After some fine interchange play with Arsenal’s other star of the year just past, Fàbregas, he sent a curled right-footed effort inside Birmingham’s near post to double Arsenal’s lead. Victory looked to be assured and the St. Andrew’s jinx seemed well on its way to being smashed. 

But there was more to come from Arsenal and it was the combined work of Nasri and Fàbregas again that led to the goal. The Spaniard played the ball into the box, wherein Nasri collected it, and Fàbregas went on an overlapping run and upon receiving the Frenchman’s return ball, fired a shot at Foster. Foster parried the shot, but only as far as the leg of Scott Dann. From there, the ball bounced towards Johnson, and the contact it made with his leg and trailed into his own net. Now victory was assured. 

There was not a lot more that took place in the match. Arsenal didn’t add to their lead and Birmingham did not reduce their deficit. There was not a lot from which Birmingham could take heart in the game, but for Arsenal, there was much about which they can be positive. With events past - the injury to Eduardo, Gallas’s on-field breakdown - this was never going to be an easy fixture for Wenger’s men, but they passed the test with flying colours, and went some way to dismissing the assumption that “they don’t like it up ‘em.”

His choice of line-up also raises questions about the future of Andrey Arshavin. He was also left out for Arsenal’s game against Chelsea and his positive statistics for the season so far seem to be hiding a truth. Theo Walcott’s season has been hampered by injury, but when he has played, he has looked eager and strong, and Samir Nasri has been magnificent. Arshavin is mainly stationed down the left channel with Nasri on the right, but when played on the left, Nasri has seemed to be even better than he has been on the right, and with a strong Walcott, there seems to be little room remaining for Arshavin. Wenger clearly values him as a player and would be reluctant to let him go, but if the two aforementioned wingers keep up their strong form, the diminutive Russian may be doomed to be a bit-part player. What is also important is the improvement in Gaël Clichy’s performances when not coupled with Arshavin down the left-hand side. Arshavin is by no means known for tracking back, and when Clichy is aided by having his winger help him on the defensive side, he has resembled the Clichy of years previous, before his rather lengthy spell of lacklustre forms.

It is a problem that Arsène Wenger won’t mind having. He has been used to having to operate by the bare bones of his squad in recent years, and now having the luxury of a choice amongst his better players will be a dilemma he’ll enjoy considerably more. As for the year ahead, Arsenal are marching on, and with Manchester City in the week, they’ll be hoping to carry forward some momentum. As for Birmingham, they will be hoping to recover quickly ahead of their clash with fellow relegation strugglers West Ham, and will be hoping to earn a win in the “basement six-pointer.”

3:01am  |   URL: http://tmblr.co/ZWYsLy2Ohihx
Filed under: Birmingham Arsenal Nasri Cesc Fabregas van Persie football 
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