New Year, Same old?

 

Happy New Year Gooners! Yes, judging by the surge in likes on our Facebook page, our unique and honest take on Arsenal news is missed, so we’re back!

 

Happy New Year Gooners!

.The New Year normally comes with new resolutions (I don’t know who still does that because I’ve given up), I’m not sure we can say the same for Arsenal, can we? I fear over the last five or so years, I’ve reluctantly come to accept that we are quintessentially, a top 4 team. Irrespective of the stars that wear this famous red shirt (Fabregas, Hleb, Arshavin, van Persie, Ozil, Sanchez..), we always seem to end up at the same place, somewhere between 2nd and 4th. My acceptance comes as a way to cope with the constant stress that comes with a relentless expectation and hope we can win the Holy Grails of football, Champions League and Premier League. It’s not happening, so I accept my reality.

I should say, up until the Champions League Draw, I was quietly confident we could easily sneak into the final. I wasn’t put off by drawing Bayern, not at all. “Bring them on!”, I thought, we can easily wipe that self-assured snug smile on their faces and wallop them into the next round. The thing that brought me back to earth was that loss to Everton. How could we? Surely, this was starting to look like our year. It is not the loss that annoyed me, but, like all-so-often, HOW we lost. We played an amazing first half, only to surrender everything in the 2nd half. We then went on to do some thing similar but even more spectacular at Manchester  City. I came to a firm conclusion, the problem with Arsenal is not ability but more mentality. I’m no psychologist but I can tell Arsenal are a team who will relax whenever they reach the top. We can blame players manager or even say the Emirates is cursed (I’m happy to look into that), but, that is the best way to sum us up, A MENTALLY WEAK TEAM!

No, no, no… I’m not going to ruin your New Years day by slagging off our team which actually won their last game. I just thought I would share my over bearing feeling from the last few seasons, especially this last one and offer some perspective into 2017. We actually won our last game, we have ONLY lost 3 games, which is quite commendable. If Chelsea were not breaking records and winning every game, we could easily be in the mix for the title. So all is not lost and there is a lot to be optimistic about. In my opinion, for the first time, we have a squad where we have a team where Im actually fussed if we buy anyone in January. I like our options in every position. Right-back does raise an eye brow as we don’t seem to have a good option for Bellerin. Otherwise, let us keep the faith and maybe 2017 could serve us with a pleasant surprise. We could still do one to Bayern if we get our sh** in order, there’s the FA Cup and the Premeirship is far from decided.

As supporters, especially those who turn up at matches, it is important to be behind the team, at least until the final whistle

We need to give those players as much support as we can, after all, we are the 12th man. I look forward to 2017 with hope and not expectation, I think hope does well for my bruised and battered heart compared to expectation.

 

Happy New Year

 

 

 

 

Where would Cesc play? Let me show you..

Since Barcelona’s new manager Luis Enrique, refused to comment on Fabregas’ future, there has been debate whether Arsenal should sign their former captain. Like most of you (i’m sure) I want him back and the only problem that people were having was, where would you play Cesc?

Going back into this past season, most of us would agree that two main things were responsible for us not taking the Premier League Title, bad performances away to top rivals and INJURIES to key men. At one point, Wenger had to play a team without Ramsey, Walcott, Ozil, Chamberlain and even Wilshere. This made life a bit more difficult as arguably, Ramsey was our best player last season.

I asked myself, what if we had Fabregas in the squad, wouldn’t we have sustained a better title charge? the answer is yes! I would agree that we lacked pace in some games and having Giroud up front when you have no pace is useless, but for the shear ability of creating chances, scoring and running into spaces, Fabregas would have made a difference.

Arsenal fans make me laugh sometimes, one minute they say, “We don’t have strength in depth” and the next minute they say, “we already have a lot of players like him”, make your minds up! Fabregas, like Ozil, can play in different positions but are better as number 10’s. Fabregas on the other hand, will deliver in the big games unlike Ozil did with us last season (yes I know it was first season and things might change). 

My starting line up would be something like this:

Szczesney

Aurier (my choice of RB in the tranfer market) Mertesacker Koscielny Gibbs

Wilshere Ramsey

Ozil Fabregas Cazorla

Mandzukic (my choice of striker in the transfer market)

 

That midfield would be inter-changeable and no one would be too restricted to their positions. In fact, one of my favorite matches of last season was the game against Napoli at home. The midfield was so dynamic and inter-changeable that Napoli didn’t know who to mark.

 

I would then inject the bench with pace and defensive steel, yes the team is not that defensive or pacey, but with these men on the ball, very few midfield would be able to contend with them. That would be one heck of a starting line up, capable of even winning the league. We will need also a defensive midfielder during the transfer window and maybe another pacey winger.

All in all, I think Fabregas is a no brainer and allowing him to go to our Premier League opponents would be as bad as selling him to them directly. I say, BRING CESC BACK HOME!

 

Why Arsenal will annihilate Palace: Crystal Palace v Arsenal Preview

Arsenal will lick their wounds on Saturday, pull up their sleeves and do battle with Crystal Palace. After an unfortunate loss to Dortmund, the Gunners will be keen to get back to winning ways against struggling Palace in a London derby that is sure to be entertaining.

Palace just announced the appointment of Tony Pulis as their manager after sacking their last manager Ian Holloway. It is quite sad to think that the poor man did not get a chance to get things right after moving up from the championship. Some clubs will never learn, will they? Now in the coming months, expect Palace to employ a more brutal but efficient Foot-gby style championed by Tony Pulis. Hate him or love him, his style of football is guaranteed to keep them up still.

As they face us, in a transition and in low spirits, expect Arsenal to run riot at Selhurst Park. I would easily predict a win of 2 or more goals difference. You would expect Cazorla to start after firing up the Gunners against Dortmund in the Champions League. Jack Wilshere will; have tests but I expect him to be on the bench at best.

Predicted Starting Line up

Szczesney

Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs

Flamini, Arteta

Ramsey, Ozil, Cazorla

Giroud

The difference between Arsenal now and seasons before is quite simple, CONFIDENCE! Mesut Ozil has reinstated confidence by his arrival and the boys now believe they can match any team. They will want to prove that they are back to winning ways with a merciless assault on Palace, who have not yet kept a clean sheet all season. This game is guaranteed to be entertaining, Norwich Style, I personally can’t wait.

Zelalem back in full training

Teenage sensation Gideon Zelalem is going to start full training tomorrow after a lengthy injury lay-off. The teenager, who is only 17, rose to prominence during the Gunners Asian tour. He played well beyond his years and outshined fellow German teenager Gnabry.

Zelalem plays in the no.10 position and is going to benefit a lot from training alongside Mesut Ozil (the Godfather of assists). Zelalem exhibited his outstanding vision during the Asia tour by assisting a few goals and creating chances out of nowhere. Many touted him to be better than Fabregas was at the same age. His only problem and reason why he does not compete for a starting place in the first team has been noted as because of his physical fitness. He is still a frail young man and needs to bulk up before he competes with the big men in the league, otherwise Gideon is the real deal!

Welcome back Gideon and hopefully, we will see him play against Chelsea in the Capital One Cup. If you hadn’t heard of Gideon (you must have been hiding under a rock or something), here’s a video of his escapades in Asia.