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Arsenal: Has the Gunners’ defence turned a corner?

  By O-Posts Team | March 24, 2024 - 18:53 | , ,
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Defence is all about organisation and understanding. That is something Arsenal have not had consistently this season. At the beginning of the season, it looked promising for the Gunners. 3 clean sheets in a row got Arsenal fans thinking whether a corner had been turned. Unfortunately, this didn’t come to fruition. An injury to Laurent Koscielny, our best defender last season, meant he couldn’t muster a run of games as well as Thomas Vermaelen and Wojciech Szczesny’s poor form were largely the reasons.

But for the 2nd leg against Bayern Munich, Arsene Wenger decided he’d had enough. He dropped Vermaelen and Szczesny and started Fabianski and Koscielny in their place. For the first time in a while, Arsenal looked like a solid defensive unit. Mertesacker and Koscielny understood each other and looked a good partnership. Mertesacker used his height and aerial strength to win the ball and if anything got through, Koscielny used his pace to clear any trouble.

Our back 5 also communicated plenty, which was refreshing to see. Fabianski was vocal and confident and Mertesacker organised the back line very well. Against Swansea, Wenger stuck with the same back 5 and his decision was proved correct. Lukasz Fabianski didn’t have a save to make all game and the only time Swansea looked dangerous was when Carl Jenkinson lazily passed the ball right to Michu’s feet.

You could argue that these two teams had nothing to play for but considering how I’m used to seeing Arsenal defend, I’m pleased with how solid we’ve looked since that dreadful loss at White Hart Lane.

Dropping Szczesny has hopefully been the reality check he needs to start performing again and has shown him that if he doesn’t up his game, he won’t play. Also, I think this could be Thomas Vermaelen’s last season at Arsenal, with Barcelona apparently interested. I for one wouldn’t be sad to see him go. He is a shadow of the player he was when he first arrived here, and I have found myself get more and more frustrated with his rash challenges and lack of focus costing us goals.

For now I would stick with the same back 5 as we have in the last two games for the rest of the season. Then in the summer I’d buy a replacement CB for Vermaelen (Chico Flores would be my pick) and an experienced goalie for Szczesny to learn from, and to apply some much-needed pressure to that no. 1 spot.

 

Written by Charlie Smith

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Adam’s Premier League Column: Week 14 - West Ham breeze past Rafa’s Chelsea

  By O-Posts Team | December 3, 2023 - 22:44 | , ,
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It’s been a brilliant weekend of football yet again, with plenty of goals and drama for us all to get excited about. QPR are slowly improving with the appointment of Harry Redknapp, who took charge after Mark Hughes was inadvertently shown the door. Clint Dempsey and Moussa Dembélé enjoyed a successful return to Craven Cottage, as Spurs recorded a comfortable 3-0 win over Fulham.

Stoke also won at West Brom, and were only the second team to win at the Hawthorns this season, the other being Manchester City. The Citizens themselves earned a respectable draw against their bogey team Everton, but Mancini will have wanted to take home all three points.

Onto my three top games of the weekend fixtures, and it was a hard job to choose!

 

West Ham United 3 Chelsea 1

Rafa Benitez’s reign as the Chelsea interim boss hasn’t started too great really, has it? First there was the fan’s revolt, unhappy about the squad rotation, and now losing against West Ham. Take nothing away from the Hammers though as they fought to the bitter end.

However, Chelsea were dominant throughout the first half, and they were rewarded with their efforts. Fernando Torres pulled the ball back for fellow Spaniard Juan Mata who fired past Irons ‘keeper Jussi Jääskeläinen to give Chelsea a deserved lead.

So half time approached, and the game was completely changed by Big Sam’s substitutions at the interval. Mohammed Diame and Matt Taylor replaced James Tomkins and Gary O’Neil. The Hammers looked to have something else about them, and showed glimpses of what they have done in previous Premier League games. Their resilience and physical presence has been truly impressive and at times, a pleasure to watch.

It took until the 63rd minute for West Ham to break the defence, and Carlton Cole headed against his former employers to make the scoring level. Cole then became provider as he set up Diame who smashed his shot from deep inside the penalty box which provoked the travelling Chelsea fans to sing “There’s only one Di Matteo”, but it was only greeted by the Hammers belting out “Your’re getting sacked in the morning”. You’ve got to love the banter!

Modibo Maïga then made sure there was no way back for Chelsea, and he scored moments after coming on from the bench to secure the Hammers’ first victory against Chelsea in the Abramovich era.

A great result for West Ham, and how long will Benitez last?

 

Reading 3 Manchester United 4

This seven goal thriller was epic. Manchester United are now infamous for conceding early goals, and that came true again in this match. Robson-Kanu fired the home side into the lead on eight minutes, but unfortunately for them, it didn’t last too long.

A neat one-two with Ashley Young resulted in Anderson’s shot beating Adam Federici at his near post to level the scoring before Wayne Rooney, who was criticised earlier this week for not scoring enough, converted a penalty which was needlessly given away. Reading did well to get in front, but they didn’t do the basics in defending to keep United at bay. They simply gave away too many chances.

Despite the mediocre defending, Reading levelled, this time through Le Fondre’s headed goal, and that set them on their way. Reading miraculously went 3-2 up after Morrison scored, and that made the fans at the Majeski Stadium dream of a famous win.

Seven minutes later, Rooney scored his fourth league goal to yet again level the score. Reading couldn’t pull anything else out of the locker though and as a result found themselves 4-3 down thanks to Robin van Persie’s 34th minute winner.

Reading were incredibly unlucky here, and Man Utd were a tad fortunate, really.

 

Arsenal 0 Swansea 2

Arsenal fans seem to be losing patience with veteran manager Arsène Wenger after their recent league form. They seem to be missing that little spark that can win matches, and RVP has really been the missing piece.

Swansea however, have been very impressive this season under Michael Laudrup, especially after the signing of Michu, who scored a brace against the Gunners. The Swans had to wait until the 88th minute to score though, but it was well worth the wait.

Michu’s side footed effort was a joy to behold, and that sums up the sort of player he is. Reliable. Michu then doubled the Swans’ lead after Nathan Dyer pounced on a loose ball after some poor defending by Gunners full back Jenkinson before playing a well weighted through ball into the path of Michu, who then placed his shot past Szczesny.

 

Results in full

Norwich 2 – 1 Sunderland
West Ham 3 – 1 Chelsea
Arsenal 0 – 2 Swansea
Fulham 0 – 3 Tottenham
Liverpool 1 – 0 Southampton
Man City 1 – 1 Everton
QPR 1 – 1 Aston Villa
West Brom 0 – 1 Stoke
Reading 3-4 Man Utd
Newcastle 3-0 Wigan

 

My Team of the Week

Written by Adam May

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Arsenal: What now for the Gunners?

  By O-Posts Team | December 3, 2023 - 22:13 | ,
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With recent triumphs over the likes of Spurs and Liverpool already a distant memory and blip in the woeful form shown this season, I ask, what’s next for the Arsenal?

A line of 3 uninspiring displays against supposedly inferior opposition was capped off by the most lack lustre, pitiful display since; well, Norwich away or Fulham at home- but the most recent loss against Swansea signifies a seismic event in English Football.

For when Arsenal were beaten at home 2-0 by Swansea City, a team recently promoted from the Championship, there was no shock, no front page news, and no surprise to any followers of Arsenal Football Club.

The main issue that I have with Arsenal of late is the stagnant nature of each performance, with a complete lack of desire shown by players to seem willing to fight for the shirt that they should feel honoured to wear.

I have often criticised the shambolic work ethic delivered from the team as a whole; however, recently the plummet of form has coincided with this work ethic reducing even further. It is fair to say that we have a couple of stand out players in the squad that seem willing to put in the effort that is required, for example Carl Jenkinson, but this clearly is not enough.

This ‘stagnant’ theme can be used to describe the club as a whole. For the last 5 years, I and the media, and all other supporters that watch Arsenal week in week out, have been able to use the exact same criticism for Arsenal Football Club. The fact that issues such as the lack of investment in the playing staff, have not been rectified makes it increasingly harder to stand up for Arsene Wenger.

This is a man that I have revered and adored for the way that he has given Arsenal 15 years of his life, turning down the chance to work for every grand footballing institution in Europe, whilst building Arsenal into a footballing super power.

Unfortunately, the excuses are wearing thin on my already short temper. The stick that Arsenal are beaten with, the lack of investment, must be addressed now, to re invigorate the status of the club and mind set of the supporters.

Finally, it is important for me to add that I am by no means sold on the ‘Wenger out’ brigade yet, but is must be recognised that he is no longer even getting the best out of his players. Much can be said for how David Moyes is squeezing every last drop of talent out of his players and transfer budget at Everton.

This self effacing approach would be a breath of fresh air in the arrogant climate of a club whose board belittle the supporters and display no passion for the results. Arsenal Football Club.
Written by Lewis Radstone-Stubbs

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