After an incredibly disappointing display and defeat at Sheffield Wednesday in the Capital One Cup, post-match Arsene Wenger said the youngsters making their debuts 'are not ready to play at this level'.
It may be a damning verdict on Iwobi, Kamara, Bennacer and Bielik, but is it true?
In the Sky Sports studio, Paul Merson blamed the more experience players for the performance, saying: 'The seasoned pros let the young kids down tonight.'
Personally, I couldn't see Arsenal scoring, after first Oxlade-Chamberlain and then Theo Walcott limped off. Olivier Giroud was isolated. Who could give him the ball? Not Joel Campbell, who kept losing the ball.
The Arsenal defence looked good on paper, but marshalled by the victim of a recent illness, Per Mertesacker, the Gunners looked leaden-legged. Non-existent marking meant even Petr Cech couldn't keep the ball out of the net.
Once Arsenal went three down, it was never going to be another 7-5 win away in this competition. That Reading game came to mind but, on that occasion, Arsenal fielded the likes of Martinez, Djourou, Arshavin, Miquel, Jenkinson, Frimpong, Gnabry, Chamakh and Coquelin. There was a lot more proven quality about those 'fringe' players.
However, it's too early to write off the youngsters. You learn more from defeat than victory so, by that token, much will be learned from such a heavy and embarrassing defeat. At least, Iwobi improved as the game went on and Bennacer looked decent in deadball situations. Bielik looked composed at times and Kamara has a good engine. To show that away from home on your debut is not bad going at all, so all four should keep their heads up.
Arsenal fans will struggle to do that now that Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain are both facing spells on the sidelines.
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Tuesday 27 October 2015
Sackboy could leave Arsenal
Okay, don't shoot the messenger. It's just a theory, but Per 'Sackboy' Mertesacker's mysterious illnesses make me wonder if his time at Arsenal is nearly up.
He's come in for a lot of criticism for his lack of pace and, although I'm a fan of the big German, rank defending at times. I'd like to see him stay at Arsenal and turn his fortunes around as, after all, he is still an asset.
Even after the first illness ruled him out earlier on in the season, I thought that time was up for Per. Now he's recovered all too quickly from his second mysterious illness in time for the Sheffield Wednesday game, it seems that 'illness' is a euphemism for 'dropped'.
As I don't think Mertesacker will want to be second fiddle to Gabriel, I won't be surprised if the German moves on in January. Arsenal fans will have to hope a replacement is found, if that is the case.
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He's come in for a lot of criticism for his lack of pace and, although I'm a fan of the big German, rank defending at times. I'd like to see him stay at Arsenal and turn his fortunes around as, after all, he is still an asset.
Even after the first illness ruled him out earlier on in the season, I thought that time was up for Per. Now he's recovered all too quickly from his second mysterious illness in time for the Sheffield Wednesday game, it seems that 'illness' is a euphemism for 'dropped'.
As I don't think Mertesacker will want to be second fiddle to Gabriel, I won't be surprised if the German moves on in January. Arsenal fans will have to hope a replacement is found, if that is the case.
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Saturday 24 October 2015
Ollie-Ozil axis wins it for Arsenal
I'm not sure if Olivier Giroud was man-of-the-match for me today, as I thought Mesut Ozil was outstanding against Everton.
However, the pundits are praising Giroud and I'm pleased he's finally getting the credit he deserves.
Giroud is a proper old-fashioned centre forward; the goal he scored today could not have been scored by anyone else in this Arsenal team.
Like Giroud, Ozil was hungry to win. They weren't the only Arsenal players, who gave one hundred per cent effort, but Ozil has had so much stick for not putting it in that it was good to see him funneling back to help the defence. In short, Ozil seems to have more energy than before. If he keeps this level of performance going perhaps Arsenal will be real title contenders.
There aren't too many question marks, at the moment, except whatever happened to Per Mertesacker? I haven't seen any explanation as to why he wasn't on the bench or in the team. Gabriel did a good job against a good Everton side and, for once, Lukaku was kept relatively quiet and didn't score.
Personally, I would have played Theo Walcott for the last 20 minutes, as I thought Giroud was flagging slightly at the end. However, it would be harsh to criticize anyone at Arsenal, especially now they are top of the league.
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However, the pundits are praising Giroud and I'm pleased he's finally getting the credit he deserves.
Giroud is a proper old-fashioned centre forward; the goal he scored today could not have been scored by anyone else in this Arsenal team.
Like Giroud, Ozil was hungry to win. They weren't the only Arsenal players, who gave one hundred per cent effort, but Ozil has had so much stick for not putting it in that it was good to see him funneling back to help the defence. In short, Ozil seems to have more energy than before. If he keeps this level of performance going perhaps Arsenal will be real title contenders.
There aren't too many question marks, at the moment, except whatever happened to Per Mertesacker? I haven't seen any explanation as to why he wasn't on the bench or in the team. Gabriel did a good job against a good Everton side and, for once, Lukaku was kept relatively quiet and didn't score.
Personally, I would have played Theo Walcott for the last 20 minutes, as I thought Giroud was flagging slightly at the end. However, it would be harsh to criticize anyone at Arsenal, especially now they are top of the league.
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Saturday 17 October 2015
Patience a virtue for Arsenal
Only a victory by a two-goal margin or more was going to be enough to put Arsenal back into second spot and the Gunners did not disappoint with a 3-0 away win at Watford.
Troy Deeney gave Arsenal a few problems at the back in the first half, so it was no fait accompli. Indeed, the scorer of the last goal, Aaron Ramsey complained afterwards about the dry pitch which made the task even more difficult. Although he'd rather play centrally than on the right, Ramsey must have been hugely relieved to score his first Arsenal goal of the season.
Predictably, it was Alexis Sanchez who set the ball rolling with the opener. You have to admire the Chilean's never-say-die approach. It looked a definite penalty on Mesut Ozil, who was felled in the area, but Alexis took matters into his own hands by tucking the loose ball away.
The second goal was smashed in by substitute Olivier Giroud, with almost his first kick of the game. Ozil was instrumental again with an exquisite cutback. The Gunners really needed that goal.
Theo Walcott wasn't at his most effective, as a lot of Arsenal balls were being pumped up high to him. If you want evidence, then what about the chance that fell to Theo, which he headed on target. Clearly, this was a game made for Giroud, so it was a good decision by Arsene Wenger to bring the big striker on. You can't always thread the ball through the eye of a needle when the opposition defence is like non-porous fabric.
Wenger does not know when he will stop being the Arsenal manager, despite recent speculation suggesting that he will leave when his current contract ends. A post-Wenger Arsenal is quite hard to imagine, which is why many believe that someone should be groomed as his successor to make a handover seamless. If Steve Bould is to be the new manager in the future, perhaps it would be advisable to let him deal with the press occasionally. At least, it would take some of the pressure of Wenger, who has been tetchy after poor results in the Champions League. However, Wenger must have enjoyed facing the cameras after a clean sheet at Watford and three more points.
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Troy Deeney gave Arsenal a few problems at the back in the first half, so it was no fait accompli. Indeed, the scorer of the last goal, Aaron Ramsey complained afterwards about the dry pitch which made the task even more difficult. Although he'd rather play centrally than on the right, Ramsey must have been hugely relieved to score his first Arsenal goal of the season.
Predictably, it was Alexis Sanchez who set the ball rolling with the opener. You have to admire the Chilean's never-say-die approach. It looked a definite penalty on Mesut Ozil, who was felled in the area, but Alexis took matters into his own hands by tucking the loose ball away.
The second goal was smashed in by substitute Olivier Giroud, with almost his first kick of the game. Ozil was instrumental again with an exquisite cutback. The Gunners really needed that goal.
Theo Walcott wasn't at his most effective, as a lot of Arsenal balls were being pumped up high to him. If you want evidence, then what about the chance that fell to Theo, which he headed on target. Clearly, this was a game made for Giroud, so it was a good decision by Arsene Wenger to bring the big striker on. You can't always thread the ball through the eye of a needle when the opposition defence is like non-porous fabric.
Wenger does not know when he will stop being the Arsenal manager, despite recent speculation suggesting that he will leave when his current contract ends. A post-Wenger Arsenal is quite hard to imagine, which is why many believe that someone should be groomed as his successor to make a handover seamless. If Steve Bould is to be the new manager in the future, perhaps it would be advisable to let him deal with the press occasionally. At least, it would take some of the pressure of Wenger, who has been tetchy after poor results in the Champions League. However, Wenger must have enjoyed facing the cameras after a clean sheet at Watford and three more points.
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Sunday 4 October 2015
Crisis, what crisis?
After their blitzkrieg football in first part of the 3-0 victory over Manchester United, suddenly Arsenal look more like title contenders. 'We decided to start strong,' said Arsene Wenger and it is difficult to disagree after early goals from Ozil and Alexis Sanchez ended United's hopes of returning to Manchester with a point.
Petr Cech made a crucial save to deny Martial, as United began to threaten near half-time. Post-match, Wenger refused to talk about selection, saying he would stop the interview if that subject came up. If Arsenal keep winning like this, their fans will want Wenger to stay techy with the press. Somehow, Wenger's irritation seemed to make his team keen to prove that he was right in his selection. Well, at least this time.
Before I have to duck for cover, I agree with Wenger that Ospina is world class. However, he's not at Cech's level, so you would think the latter should be playing in 'must win' games. Then again, let's not forget that Wenger stuck by Szczesny in the FA Cup final, when many, me included, would have put him on the bench.
Coming back to the present again, the way Cech plucked the ball out of the sky nonchalantly as United proved forward was confidence-inspiring. Cech just makes everything look so easy, so Arsenal have him to thank for the clean sheet against United.
Another plus was Theo Walcott's performance. Although he didn't score, Theo ran United and especially Blind ragged. Post-match, Theo dedicated the victory and the performance to the manager and the fans. As well as for his pace and his finishing, Theo's attitude is one of the reasons I always thought he'd prove to be a huge asset to Arsenal.
Thierry Henry noted how Theo squared to Ozil when he could have scored himself. Not only that, Walcott's running off the ball earned the plaudits as he created space for team-mates. All that was missing from his game was a goal, but hopefully even his detractors will realise that Theo can play as a centre forward now that he has done it against top opposition. Somehow beating Manchester United by three sounds a lot more impressive than beating the previously unbeaten Leicester by the same amount of goals, no matter what Wenger says.
Well, strangely Wenger is still talking about that Leicester game even after the United victory. Yes, it was an impressive away win, but will the Foxes finish in the top four this season? I doubt it. As refreshing as Leicester are, I very much doubt it. Top half of the table, maybe.
Meanwhile, going back to the Premier League, Jamie Carragher reckons it could be a blessing in disguise for Arsenal being virtually out of the Champions League. However, as Thierry Henry says finishing 3rd in the group could be a bigger disaster, as Thursday football may kill the club's title aspirations.
Nevertheless, Wenger says Arsenal can still qualify for the knockout stages. To do that, Arsenal need 4 points against Bayern, a win in Greece and one at home to Zagreb. If Arsenal can continue to play the way they did against United, it is not out of the question.
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Petr Cech made a crucial save to deny Martial, as United began to threaten near half-time. Post-match, Wenger refused to talk about selection, saying he would stop the interview if that subject came up. If Arsenal keep winning like this, their fans will want Wenger to stay techy with the press. Somehow, Wenger's irritation seemed to make his team keen to prove that he was right in his selection. Well, at least this time.
Before I have to duck for cover, I agree with Wenger that Ospina is world class. However, he's not at Cech's level, so you would think the latter should be playing in 'must win' games. Then again, let's not forget that Wenger stuck by Szczesny in the FA Cup final, when many, me included, would have put him on the bench.
Coming back to the present again, the way Cech plucked the ball out of the sky nonchalantly as United proved forward was confidence-inspiring. Cech just makes everything look so easy, so Arsenal have him to thank for the clean sheet against United.
Another plus was Theo Walcott's performance. Although he didn't score, Theo ran United and especially Blind ragged. Post-match, Theo dedicated the victory and the performance to the manager and the fans. As well as for his pace and his finishing, Theo's attitude is one of the reasons I always thought he'd prove to be a huge asset to Arsenal.
Thierry Henry noted how Theo squared to Ozil when he could have scored himself. Not only that, Walcott's running off the ball earned the plaudits as he created space for team-mates. All that was missing from his game was a goal, but hopefully even his detractors will realise that Theo can play as a centre forward now that he has done it against top opposition. Somehow beating Manchester United by three sounds a lot more impressive than beating the previously unbeaten Leicester by the same amount of goals, no matter what Wenger says.
Well, strangely Wenger is still talking about that Leicester game even after the United victory. Yes, it was an impressive away win, but will the Foxes finish in the top four this season? I doubt it. As refreshing as Leicester are, I very much doubt it. Top half of the table, maybe.
Meanwhile, going back to the Premier League, Jamie Carragher reckons it could be a blessing in disguise for Arsenal being virtually out of the Champions League. However, as Thierry Henry says finishing 3rd in the group could be a bigger disaster, as Thursday football may kill the club's title aspirations.
Nevertheless, Wenger says Arsenal can still qualify for the knockout stages. To do that, Arsenal need 4 points against Bayern, a win in Greece and one at home to Zagreb. If Arsenal can continue to play the way they did against United, it is not out of the question.
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Saturday 3 October 2015
Wenger on the brink?
How much should we read into Wenger's recent techy press conference? Not much, in my opinion. Arsenal are not at a crossroads. Wenger may have his doubters, but they are not in the majority, no matter what Sky Sports claim.
Don't get me wrong: I am not a Wenger apologist. However, getting rid of him is unlikely to be the answer to any on-the-pitch woes. As I keep saying, do we trust the board to pick the right successor? Personally, I would prefer Wenger to pick his successor to continue his legacy. Clearly he's not ready to give up the mantle yet, no matter how irritated he is with the questions fired his way after the embarrassing Olympiakos defeat.
To be honest, I can understand his irritation. I believe he is quite right to claim that Ospina is a world class keeper. Ospina did make a mistake, but so did Cech in the opening game. If one swallow does not make summer, then neither does one lemming make a suicide. Or something like that! In other words, avoid knee-jerk reactions.
Although I'm not a huge Wenger fan (mainly because he's not defensive enough for my liking), but I do like the stability he offers Arsenal. Wenger never panics; that is a quality that the fans should respect.
Meanwhile, I do think Wenger has been guilty of arrogance: he clearly thought beating Olympiakos would be a walk in the park. He said something similar (if you read between the lines) about Zagreb. That's not right, but it's not a sackable offence.
Talking of offences, Sky Sports have been discussing getting rid of Wenger. Panelist Charlie Nicholas was dead against it, but clearly he's upset at the way Arsenal performed.
Meanwhile, Paul Merson said that Martial will stand on Mertesacker and do him for pace tomorrow. Merson added that Arsenal will be vulnerable down the flanks. However, he ended by saying Arsenal will win against Man United! Cue uproar in the studio! It's hard not to like 'The Merse'!
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Don't get me wrong: I am not a Wenger apologist. However, getting rid of him is unlikely to be the answer to any on-the-pitch woes. As I keep saying, do we trust the board to pick the right successor? Personally, I would prefer Wenger to pick his successor to continue his legacy. Clearly he's not ready to give up the mantle yet, no matter how irritated he is with the questions fired his way after the embarrassing Olympiakos defeat.
To be honest, I can understand his irritation. I believe he is quite right to claim that Ospina is a world class keeper. Ospina did make a mistake, but so did Cech in the opening game. If one swallow does not make summer, then neither does one lemming make a suicide. Or something like that! In other words, avoid knee-jerk reactions.
Although I'm not a huge Wenger fan (mainly because he's not defensive enough for my liking), but I do like the stability he offers Arsenal. Wenger never panics; that is a quality that the fans should respect.
Meanwhile, I do think Wenger has been guilty of arrogance: he clearly thought beating Olympiakos would be a walk in the park. He said something similar (if you read between the lines) about Zagreb. That's not right, but it's not a sackable offence.
Talking of offences, Sky Sports have been discussing getting rid of Wenger. Panelist Charlie Nicholas was dead against it, but clearly he's upset at the way Arsenal performed.
Meanwhile, Paul Merson said that Martial will stand on Mertesacker and do him for pace tomorrow. Merson added that Arsenal will be vulnerable down the flanks. However, he ended by saying Arsenal will win against Man United! Cue uproar in the studio! It's hard not to like 'The Merse'!
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