Comments on: Arsenal Blackburn: what will happen

By: jazbo

jazbo — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 16:30:50 +0000

6-2 what a result, just goes to show how much i know about picking a team, what great way for the players to celebrate Arsene Wengers 14 years in the hot seat, a cameo by the great TH14 it’s just a pity that Paddy got to London too late to come to the party and ended up at Chelski.
The best however was the after match interview given by fat Sam, no mention of his team being put to the sword by a rampent Arsenal, he insted chose to have a moan about the ref, great stuff!!!!

By: Jazbo

Jazbo — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 19:33:53 +0000

All i can say is just be prepared for a nasty encounter tomorrow so the team i would like to see is this:

——-Manone——

Sanga—Gallas—Vermalen—Clichy

Eboue—Cesc—Song—Arshavin

Bentner—RVP

Subs: Szuznesy Ramsey Senderos Vella Diaby Wallcott Wilshire

By: Tony Attwood

Tony Attwood — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 13:58:26 +0000

The comment “Personally, I think any GK who’s not a national GK is not fit to be a GK for the Arsenal. We’ve had GKs like Jennings, Seaman, Lehmann” gives me cause from concern.

Lehmann was not Germany’s keeper for much of his time with us, and was heavily criticised – indeed he was dropped for a series of games when Almunia came in. What’s more a man who plays for N Ireland is an international for his country, but that hardly compares with playing for Spain.

If there is a problem it should show in the stats – the number of goals let in is a good start, the number of shots parried not stopped, and so on. For this discussion we need real information rather than “it has been obvious for everyone to see.” Not to me.

By: don't believe the hype

don't believe the hype — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 13:43:26 +0000

Shotta-gunna, people forget that the PL is a marathon therefore it requires full use of the squad over the course of the season. We have to have balance in each game, which is why the taller players like Bendtner, Diaby or Eboue might be called into the offensive positions to add some other qualities to the mix. You cannot just send out your best 11 players if they all happen to conform to a certain physical type, it just will not work because how ever good they are at retaining possession, the opposition will have the ball some of the time too.

By: shotta-gunna

shotta-gunna — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 10:51:03 +0000

The reason why Diaby may be squeezed in is simply because we are playing Sam Allardyce and his Blackburn thugs. Our midfield and forwards cannot comprise six very skillful but relatively small, short players. Blackburn will simply make it a physical aerial battle. We need balance to combat their physicality on the air and on the ground. Remember: This is a team when the chips are down simply put Christopher Samba upfront and lump the ball up in his direction.

By: Sykegooner

Sykegooner — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 10:23:07 +0000

Tony, you seen to have forgotten that wenger will find a way to squeeze in diaby into that starting line-up. Do you think this is where it stops, against blackton?

By: Only Fabregas

Only Fabregas — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 09:58:43 +0000

Has Almunia ever been good? His record since he took over from Lehmman has not been rosy. So many weaknesses. In 2006/7, Champions League finals. In 2007/8, Chelsea, Spurs and Manu games and many others. In 2008/9, Hull, Ronaldo’s 41 yards free kick, Bentley’s speculative long ball and many other games.

I don’t even have to raise the issue of 2009/10 season; it has been obvious for everyone to see. Some fans talk as if it just happened this season, his unfitness for the position has always been there.

Personally, I think any GK who’s not a national GK is not fit to be a GK for the Arsenal. We’ve had GKs like Jennings, Seaman, Lehmann who were all great GKs and won titles and Cups for us.

Arsene should get rid of him once and for all.

By: Tony Attwood

Tony Attwood — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 09:41:20 +0000

Re Eboue, personally I was surprised when we signed Sagna, as I felt we already had a good right back in Eboue, and a backup in Hoyte the Elder.

I have never been 100% convinced of Eboue as a midfielder, and he seems to lack cool in front of goal, but I am the person who eight games into Henry’s first season suggested that Wenger had made an error. So what do I know?

In other matters, the Appy Arry Redknapp story is fun – suddenly he went to being so likely to resign that the bookies stopped taking bets on it. The story is that the police are about to deliver their next statement on Arry (who remains on police bail) and hence the stories.

Nice to see the Totts unsettled a little. Especially with Arrys previous clubs (Southampton and Portsmouth) both in such an atrocious position.

Meanwhile if you have any interest in history, there’s a commentary on Arsenal v Blackburn from the season 100 years ago on http://www.blog.woolwicharsenal.co.uk

By: don't believe the hype

don't believe the hype — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 09:14:09 +0000

I agree about Eboue and Senderos tony. They are both confidence players and as their confidence grows we will see more and more of their quality.

Cape Gooner, I don’t think Almunia’s woes have anything at all to do with the England speculation, because I don’t think he was really hoping to get the call. I read somewhere that a close relative of his wife’s either died recently or is seriously ill. If true it could explain why he might be a little distracted.

By: tony

tony — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 08:10:27 +0000

its amazing how jus a few months ago eboue was getting booed and nothing could go right for him but now evryone is calling for him to replace sagna. i wasnt one of those though cos i knew the guy had talent. i knew that he cudnt jus become a bad player overnight. i was so convinced of this because in 2006 he was part of a backline that took us to the cl final thats why i believe senderous would become a good cb as well. my favourite eboue game has to be against real madrid at the bernabau. he marked zidane so tightly he resorted to fouling him. go on eboue make them regret ever booing you!!!!!!!

By: Cape Gooner

Cape Gooner — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 07:26:55 +0000

In respect of the Almunia saga, I know as little as everybody else. However, I would like to speculate that he has been badly affected by all this England nonsense. He went from being a clear first choice (my opinion) to someone nobody wanted. I think he should have got his British passport and then stepped back and left it up to Capello.

By: Phil Gregory

Phil Gregory — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 21:17:36 +0000

Eboue starting was purely a personal preference – sagna’s shortcomings in his final ball are there for all to see, and with Blackburn lacking up front i wouldn’t be worried about having Eboue at the back there at all. That said, we will almost certainly see Sagna !

By: Tony Attwood

Tony Attwood — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 20:51:12 +0000

Wenger said that he dropped Sagna because he had played a full game for France… if so, then back he comes for the game v Blackburn.

The forward line of Bendtner, Arshavin, Van Persie looks good, but if Arshavin is not to be rushed, why not Van Persie in the middle, Bendtner on the right and Vela on the left? To me, Vela has that magic of Arshavin in which he can take the ball through spaces that are so small I can only imagine they exist in a parallel universe through which Vela dives to re-enter real space a few seconds later.

Of course on the other hand I have just had a couple of glasses of red wine and it is friday.

Does anyone know, is there life on Blackburn?

By: walter

walter — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:58:58 +0000

A nice analys Phil but I really do think that Sagna will be involved somewhere. Wouldn’t be surprised if he even starts. Our defence in the PL was always with Sagna and I do think Wenger will stick to this.
Just read somewhere on the internet dat Arshavin still is not 100 %, if we can believe this, so it could be that Eboue plays upfront or in midfield with Rosicky up front.
But then again what do I know… only guessing…

By: Renan

Renan — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:08:41 +0000

Perfect. 4-0 to the Gunners ! ALLEZ !