Arsenal 1-0 West Brom: Goodbye Sagna?

Not much to talk about, am I right? The match was as interesting as those godawful 'classic' musicals, the result (however narrow) was predictable, the fans were at their brilliant best, and ultimately, it ended three points to us.

The result, coupled with Chelsea's 0-0 draw at home to Norwich (Remember when Jose said this?) means that they are 3 points ahead of us going into the final Matchday. Mathematically, we could still achieve third if Chelsea lose on the final gameweek, and Arsenal defeat Norwich 0-20. Hey, it is a possibility.

Coming back to the game, which had a lot of positives. Firstly, we displayed a rare ability to score goals from corners. Santi whipped the ball in around the 18th minute, the West Brom players were too busy admiring Giroud's face, only to see him bang a header into the net. 1-0, get in!

Secondly, I think Ozil had a fantastic game. This was exactly the kind of stuff you pay 42 million quid for. Sure, he didn't get any goals or assists, but then again, I never judge people on goals and assists. I like Rosicky even though his assists this season have been pitiful. I don't fancy Giroud as a first-choice striker even though he has amassed 22ish goals this season. Similarly, I was always wary of Ozil's long-term impact to the side, even though he was backed by impressive statistics.

Don't get me wrong, I still am. However, today, Ozil showed class, you know what I mean? That drifting away from defenders, gliding into space and splitting open defence lines was all apparent. It was inspirational stuff, really.

However, our happiness at his performance suggests that we've almost forgotten how it feels to have a world-class player. Ozil cannot carry the team next season, not to mention that to truly flourish, he needs the team to be built around him. To satisfy his creativity, he needs a pacey striker. To negate his lack of workrate and his physical weakness, he needs a powerhouse of a midfielder, a Patrick Vieira figure. Ozil played well because he was rested and didn't have the pressure of expectation on him. If Wenger manages to create that atmosphere for him as long as possible, and build the team around the German, it would be great for the club as a whole.

In other news, Abou Diaby is back. I, for one, am sure that he's going to play a part next week and/or in the FA Cup Final, along with Jack Wilshere. It's not exactly a massive boost to see him back, seeing that our league objective is pretty much accomplished and that we have Mathieu Flamini to cover up his loss, but I'm sure everyone wanted him to get a run-out on the field yesterday.

Would he be the answer to our defensive midfielder issues? Could he be Arsenal's Yaya Toure? I imagine if he's given the right amount of games and gathers confidence, he can be our answer. However, it's impossible to see him produce a string of consistent displays without getting injured, especially not under Wenger's murderous man management skills and his inept medical staff. I honestly don't hate Diaby, I doubt any Arsenal fan does. However, when it's not meant to be, it's not meant to be.

Diaby has to go.

After some huge spans of dull moments, which were made like 4% exciting by an Ozil miss and Podolski hitting the bar, full time was upon us. And as the players went through the customary lap of appreciation, one chant in the Emirates Stadium rang in chorus, above all others:

"We want you to stay, we want you to stay! Bacary Sagna, we want you to stay!"

Who could argue with that? After all, Sagna has been a superb right-back for so many years. He's stayed throughout the trophyless years and kept respectfully mum. He's Arsenal through-and-through. He has the potential to be a reliable centre back in the future as well, once his pace dies down. Which club wouldn't want to keep him?

I still haven't ruled out the possibility that Sagna will stay if we win the FA Cup. From time to time again he's spoken about his dream being to watch Arsenal "compete", and winning a trophy at long last would certainly suffice that. Does Sagna's future rest on the FA Cup? I think so, but I'm not sure. We'll see.

Anyway, that's all for today. Vib_H will post an article in midweek, while I take the week off. Until then, have a good one Gooners.

P.S. Apologies for the short, lifeless post. In honesty, there wasn't really much to talk about, was there?

-Santi (Follow me on twitter: @ArsenalBlogz )

Arsenal vs West Brom: Match Preview + Wenger's transfer quotes

Literally nothing to play for today, as Manchester City did our job yesterday. Win, lose or draw, whatever happens, fourth is sealed.

We should look to win, though. Facing West Brom at home is ideal to finish our impressive home record with a bang, not to mention improve on our points tally.

The outside chance for third remains as well. IF Chelsea lose today as well as next week, and we win our matches, third is ours. Long shot, anyway. No need to keep my hopes up. I guess I'm desperate to see Arsenal improve on fourth, especially considering the Premier League season we've had prior to the 5-1 Anfield game.

Today's just one of those nothing games, so I hope the manager will rest some of his players. I'd probably give Sanogo a run, not to mention rest Ozil, Arteta, Ramsey and either Mertesacker or Koscielny. Now that Gnabry's fit, trying to integrate him won't be a bad idea either.

Of course, these are just fantasies. Wenger won't change much in the lineup, even though there is absolutely nothing to play for. I suspect only Giroud and the fullbacks will be rested, while the others unnecessarily overplayed. What a predictable guy.

Anyway, now that the pressure is off us, I'd expect to see a mesmerizing Arsenal performance. We play well when there's no pressure, and we certainly play well at home. Seeing that there's nothing at stake except for a 1% chance at third and a near-perfect home record, I think we'll be an attractive side to watch today.

--

Remember this Arsenal side, guys, for it will be one of the last times we'll see them like this. Arsene Wenger went all psycho in the press conference, pretty much confirming half of what I had predicted in my last post.

Says Wenger: "The main thing for us will be to keep the stability because we feel we are close. We want to add something that makes us even stronger, but number-wise it will not be

Number-wise it will not be massive?!

We have Fabianski leaving. Viviano leaving. Kallstrom leaving. Bendtner leaving. Sagna almost definitely leaving. Podolski and Vermaelen possibilities as well. That makes it eight players needed in the summer, not to mention a wild card purchase. Nine players needed in two months, and Wenger says "number-wise it won't be massive"?!

Remember I said this yesterday?

"2. Arsenal will fall short of players. There will be at least one panic purchase on deadline day, and in the end we'll lack in depth in at least one area. Whether it's goalkeeper, defence, midfield or forward, I don't know. Whatever happens, fans will come out with their excuses. Stuff like Wenger wasn't allowed to spend by the board, World Cup was an unnecessary distraction or clubs deliberately didn't sell their players to Arsenal, will be doing the rounds."

 Yeah, like it or not, it's happening. Live with it. Because this is what our manager proceeded to say:

"From my experience the World Cup years have always been very quiet until the end of the World Cup, with no players reachable. Everybody is focused in the country on their national team and there is not a lot happening, people are away so I believe this year again you will have to wait until July 15 to start going."

 Well, Mr Wenger, that didn't stop Chelsea from doing their business early, did it?

And it's not like they bought some promising 20 year old nobody. They bought DIEGO COSTA, one of the hottest strikers on Planet Earth, the dream player for any football club!

If our need for a striker is obviously more than theirs, why didn't we try to buy Costa as well? Did Financial Fair Play stop you? Or the referees? Or injuries?

"We have only two players who are out of contract - Fabianski and Sagna."

Incorrect. Viviano, Kallstrom and Bendtner are out of contract as well.

“I want to keep [Fabianski]. He’s 29 and has a decision to make. Does he want to stay here or move and have a guarantee to be No 1? He knows I want to keep him. I hope, because we have shown faith in him for long periods, that we will be rewarded for that.”

Come on Wenger. We know that Fabianski is leaving, emotional blackmail won't help. Just accept it and move on, or else offer him a bumper deal with the promise of being a regular first-teamer. Why are you pulling a van Persie all over again?

Even though there is time for it, the summer is already showing signs of turning into anarchy. Late deals, panic buys, injury crises, unprepared squads... this will turn into a repeat of summer 2011 under Wenger. I guarantee it. And I'll quote this on September 2nd (that is, if Wenger stays, of course).

Enjoy the World Cup, guys, and pray to Lucifer that Wenger calls it a day after Hull, because otherwise, we're in for another embarrassing summer. Indeed, another embarrassing campaign, possibly.

Ozil didn't sign up for this.

-Santi (Follow me on twitter: @ArsenalBlogz )

WBA 1-1 Arsenal: It had to end sometime

 

So, we finally end our much talked about 10 straight victories and 12 away wins with a 1-1 draw at the Hawthorns. It was an entertaining game, particularly in the second half, and while many Gooners were expecting Arsenal to take all 3 points at the beginning of the game, they'd gladly accept the match as 1 point gained.

While the result - coupled with the Spuds shockingly losing 0-3 at White Hart Lane - means that we maintain our lead at the top of the table, it wasn't the most efficient of Arsenal performances that I've seen, particularly after significantly raising my expectations after the Napoli domination. While many Arsenal fans would argue that West Brom were a tricky opposition who we were lucky not to lose against, I'd say that you find plenty of such teams in the Premier League, and that anything other than a win is inexcusable for a team challenging for the title.

In the first half, Arsenal were dominating possession in the first half hour but had little to show for it. West Brom were very well organized, as was seen when difference makers like Ozil and Ramsey couldn't really cause serious danger to their backline. Jack Wilshere was understandably poor in the first half, considering that he was put in a bad light about the whole smoking thing and he was being constantly played out of position. However, his constant diving and overacting to win free kicks angered me. We are Arsenal, not Manchester United, a team known for playing fair. Even though Wilshere is fouled by the opposition a lot, if he keeps going down easily and whining over every single foul, he won't be getting a free kick when he truly deserves it. That, I think, was a factor in Wilshere not winning a penalty when he was clearly fouled in the box late in the second half.

They took the lead in the 42nd minute through a Yacob header, and while it was really well worked and a goal that Arsenal couldn't possibly be barracked about, I couldn't help but notice how Carl Jenkinson couldn't head that ball away. He had a surprisingly poor game, especially when I thought that he would take this opportunity to give Sagna some competition. For his height and athleticism, he was awful in the air, which was a valid reason for us falling behind. Bacary Sagna wouldn't have bundled that, which is why I want Bac back.

They dominated the rest of the half and stayed in front come the break. And while I expected Jack to make way for Rosicky in the second half, the manager showed remarkable faith in taking of Ramsey instead of Wilshere to bring on the Czech Republican. After Anelka missed a pretty easy chance to give the Baggies a comfort zone, we equalized through Wilshere to make it 1-1 and game on. A long pass by Ozil to Giroud started the move, and after the Frenchman showed remarkable hold up play to keep the ball he finally flicked the ball to Rosicky. The little Mozart laid up the ball for Wilshere to fire a deflected volley from outside the box past Myhill into the back of the net. 

It was a good, well worked Arsenal goal with a bit of luck at the end but I'm dubious as to whether we actually deserved that. Aside from the goal and a Giroud chance which should've been taken, we didn't really create much to trouble their defence, and could've easily lost 1-0. Speaking of Giroud, it seems that fatigue is slowly catching up with him, and as hardworking he is, I think today would've been a day when a world-class striker would've made the draw into a win. 

Which is why I can never forgive Wenger for failing to bring a striker, not just in the summer transfer window, but in the winter transfer window too. In my opinion, it hasn't been Wenger who has lifted the team from the "crisis". People failed to notice that he procrastinated until the final day of the transfer window to finally bring in world-class talent, and it wasn't even in a position that we really required. I know Ozil is brilliant and can fit into any team, but surely, wasn't a striker and a center back a higher priority?

As it stands, we have only one proven striker and 3 center backs in all. We are one bad tackle away from bringing Bendtner, an Arsenal reject, into the squad, and two injuries away from shifting the positions of Sagna and Flamini to cover up a center back slot. Playing Ramsey and Rosicky on the wings might've worked against Napoli, but it didn't really click when Wilshere and Ramsey played against West Brom. Instead of changing the strategy and bringing Gnabry on as a proper winger, Arsene made a man to man substitution, bringing off a midfielder and putting on... a midfielder.

The players seem to have taken responsibility instead of the manager, especially Flamini, who has really impressed me. However, right from failing to provide proper depth to the squad to not shouting touchline commands, Wenger does not deserve the rumoured £8m a year deal until he shows ambition by buying a striker and/or a center back. Until then, mark my words, this season is destined for disaster like the 2010/11 season.

I just don't want to get my hopes up about this season, because we're actually weaker than we were in the 2010/11 season (albeit more mature) where we were so close to winning the quadruple but ended up winning zilch. We have replaced Fabregas by Ozil, Nasri by Cazorla, Vieira by Flamini (about time!) but still haven't got in an able replacement for van Persie. Plus, with the current overplaying of Ozil, Ramsey, Giroud and the two center backs, I feel that they'll be out for long term when Cazorla, Podolski and Walcott return. It would be hugely frustrating when poor man management, tactics and lack of winter purchases will be a factor in Arsenal missing out on another trophy this season.     

Anyway, I might touch on that subject a bit more during the International break, as well as put in a blog on Flamini also. For now, let's just enjoy being on top of the pile, and worry about the future later.

-Santi (Follow me on twitter: @ArsenalBlogz )

West Brom vs Arsenal: Match Preview

A tricky away tie awaits in the form of West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns today, though no one would be asking too much to expect Arsenal to take all 3 points today. With Arsenal in scintillating form, in control of the Premier League and the Champions League group F, not to mention defeating much tougher opponents like Napoli and the Spuds along the way, a matchup against the Baggies shouldn't be much of a problem for a team challenging for the title.

That's not to say that they're a team to be underestimated. We of all teams should know better, having faced them in a Capital One Cup tie and just scrapping through on penalties. True, we had unknown players like Olsson and Hayden playing on the pitch, but few Arsenal fans would argue that they had expected their team to comfortably win that tie. Even without Romelu Lukaku, they managed to beat Manchester United at Old Trafford, which is another reason why Arsene Wenger should take this match seriously. The win against United was far from luck, and even though the Red Devils were below par, West Brom's win was well deserved, and the addition of Stephane Sessegnon makes them a side not to be taken lightly.

The boss said that he would not underestimate the tie and used their famous win over United as an example:

"They scored two great goals. The one from Amalfitano was not only about skill, it was about confidence as well. The way he chipped the goalkeeper when he got in front shows that there is something special there for Amalfitano so we will have to keep them quiet.”

With Liverpool winning and going top of the pile (for now), the onus is on us to win our game in hand. With the International fixtures approaching, many Arsenal fans would love for the club to finish off a very progressive month with a win and in control of the Barclays Premier League. Which puts the players under more pressure than before to perform than thought earlier. But hey, at a club like Arsenal, there is always pressure to perform.

In team news, Bacary Sagna will be out for a reported three weeks, which will mean that Carl Jenkinson is set to start the game at right back. The injury is actually not much of a blow, because after the game, the two week break will give him time to work on his fitness.

I for one have been baffled as to why Sagna hasn't been offered a new contract. While he is approaching 31 in February, he has gone to his reliable self this season after a disaster of a last season, which was highlighted when he gifted Manchester United a penalty last season after tackling van Persie. True, with the 10 match winning streak and the brilliance of Ramsey, Giroud and Ozil grabbing the headlines, it is understandable that Sagna's consistency is going under the radar. But isn't it ridiculous that Wenger is offering no extension for the player who had been in 3 PFA Team's of the Year in a row and has displayed such remarkable loyalty by staying at the club through good times and bad, especially when PSG came calling?

Anyway, I expect the back line of Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny and Gibbs to be the same as usual, only with Jenkinson slotting in at right back instead of the injured Bac. I wouldn't be surprised if Wenger uses the same 5 man midfield of Flamini, Arteta, Ozil, Rosicky and Ramsey - especially because they were so destructive against Napoli - with Giroud as tailsman. However, it would be better if the manager gives Ozil a breather and plays Gnabry instead, with Rosicky assuming Ozil's playmaking position. This game, although important, is not important enough to be remembered at the end of the season, and I wouldn't risk having our best player to be injured in a relatively meaningless match. Isn't that how Cazorla, Wilshere and Walcott are getting injured, because of being overplayed again and again? Plus, even if we're losing with 15 minutes to go, we'll have fresh legs on the bench, raring to come on and make a difference.

Anyway, it seems that Ozil is set to start, but not Cazorla, who was thought to be fit by the Napoli game along with Lukas Podolski. I wanted Cazorla to play today as I can't wait to see how he and Ozil perform together, but I think that it's a clever decision by Wenger to deem him unfit. There's a guarantee that if he won't play today, he won't play for Spain and will therefore get a whole two weeks to get a lot fitter.

Winning against West Brom today would provide a very good platform to maintain our lead at the summit, as well as extend our away record to 13 wins in a row. With the possibility of Cazorla, Podolski and Sagna returning at the other end of the International fixtures, the club would be in a very good position to fire on all cylinders.

Come on Arsenal. Top of the table awaits.


-Santi (Follow me on twitter: @ArsenalBlogz )