A guest post from our very own Hunter13
The last piece of the jigsaw ..?
We have a beautiful football club. The set up, the organisation and the ethos. All wonderful.
We also have a very good team, nice lads generally speaking, willing and committed.
We started the season in very difficult circumstances. Crowd booing plus a highly important 180 minutes which was worth £30 million +.
However, this team had already shown significant progress since last Feb-Mar. The word in the summer was about strengthening with top-top quality. The positions were identified as striker and defensive midfielder. That’s exactly what Arsene went for – Luis, Higuain, Cabaye, Flamini. He also knows what is needed, strangely enough ….
When our midfield flows we are devastating. Without a 30-goal hitman it’s natural to seek your goals from midfielders. But when they press us and the midfield don’t have the ‘flow’, that is where you either need a Suarez to clinically kill the opposition, or mean wingers with pace and dribbling ability who can go directly and diagonally inside the opponent’s box. In the past we had Overmars, Ljunberg, Reyes and Pires to do just that.
We had a tough period with many key players out including Theo, Poldi, and Ox, (even Ryo was unavailable), so we played with three and four CAMs all interchanging behind the target-man, but usually without width and mostly playing through the middle or beating high-line offside traps (Napoli, Marseile) usually from Sagna’s side of the pitch.
And it’s worth saying that Sagna has been a monster of a right-back this season.
Besides losing so many key players for half a season, we also had dear Santi recovering from ankle injury and it took him a while to re-settle into the side with the pace and the physicality of the English game.
So we went on with heroic Ramsey and Giroud plus flashes of brilliance from Ozil and, throughout, ‘imPERious’ defensive stability. And the system worked.
Lately though, and taking into account fatigue, the system couldn’t produce goals. Our midfield was pressured and kicked to death and we’d either not score or score from a player’s solo effort – against Chelsea, City, and our first against West Ham, for example.
There has also been a slight confusion in terms of which games we play Arteta and in which we play Flamini. In games were we need to dominate and kick a few backsides, as well as suffocate opponents, I think the services of Flamini Rosicky and Jack are required. In games were we need a more sophisticated, composed approach we need Arteta. Against Everton for instance, we needed Flamini and Rosicky from the start, but they had played against Napoli. Same goes for the Chelsea home game. Flamini should have been in there to kick Ramires and Obi. Arteta is a very delicate technical artist, not ideal to be a bully or a Gatusso. His talents are more suited for Europe provided he remembers that in Europe you have to be careful with your fouls, unlike the EPL.
I’m of the opinion that Wenger can see his team struggling to score when midfield isn’t firing and that he will go for a clinical finisher now that his wingers are back. I love Giroud to bits and his goal at Newcastle was both important and very difficult to score, but the way he plays (chasing every ball) he will inevitably suffer fatigue and potentially a lack of confidence.
Manager and club need to assist Giroud in this department. Giroud is a great target-man. A lad who can get you 15 goals a season and when in form has good finishing ability, too. And whether the ball is low or high (feet or head) his abilities are unquestionable but he is no Thierry Henry to take the ball, go past two and slide it past the keeper. There will be games when our negated midfield will need such a striker. Wenger might think that since he got 30 goals out of Adebayor anyone can play up top since we create so many scoring opportunities for our striker. But to win the big ones you need something else – va-va-voom.
Philosophically, perhaps, he is aiming for this group to do it as it currently is. But realistically, for that to happen we need things to go our way. If the board view this season as an opportunity to stake a claim of dominance, then they must authorise Wenger to spend what he wants, on whoever he wants.
I believe!
2013-2014 is for ARSENAL
Positively Arsenal 
Paul-N at 4:52 pm
Prophetic. I am an obeah man, don’t forget.
LOL.
LikeLike
DC, that was nerve wracking for real. I was started to wonder if it was one of those games.
It was a very impressive win as we started to play so really good football with so many main players injured. The question of squad depth on so on is made up, I think.
Congrats to NB, this is what he can bring to the table. He is very good striker, regardless of what many think.
LikeLike
I’m so relieved. Can’t wait to see the game.
I’m up in The Newcastle area visiting relatives. Just broke the news about their score…
LikeLike
Super Nik is out for “weeks” according to the Boss.
Now that IS unlucky.
LikeLike
TGSTEL. Big Bollocks Bendtner.
Take that you haters!
As Moppet, Kelly (AlabamaGooner) and I just discussed on Twitter, how the hell can a genuine supporter join in slating Bendtner. Sure he has been a dick at times. But which of us at his age didn’t do something stupid.
When push came to shove only a stupid man would not have kept him as a back-up. Around in the Academy and Reserves since 16 years. Scored a lot of big goals for Arsenal and Denmark. Quality.
LikeLike
Weeks! Unbelievable George when his confidence would have gone through the roof.
LikeLike
*ahem*
December 31st @ 1.17 p.m.
“A team that could blitz opponents, manage their legs and raise the tempo to score (late or second half) bursts of goals.”
Never in doubt!
LikeLike
That was vintage 2013 Arsenal!
Wilshere had a very dynamic game and was in the thick of most of our threatening attacks while defending in midfield to press and win the ball keeping Cardiff under pressure for 60 sustained mins. Subs were excellent but I think Poldi was starting to play much better in 2nd half. Might be a fitness question and he’ll get another chance v. Spuds in the cup.
Terrific battling with our top scorers and creators this season out: Giroud, Rambo, Ozil. No wonder our finishing was a bit wayward for much of the game. Great start to 2014!
LikeLike
Blow wow, weeks!?
LikeLike
That is very sad for Bendtner and not great for us. But he’s already made a massive contribution to this season with that goal.
LikeLike
Unlucky for Bendtner. What Shotta says above. He looked sharp today, and I guess that he’ll pick up a tiny bit of rust with a few weeks out.
LikeLike
Any volunteers to write the match report?
LikeLike
super nic was great today and don’t remember him losing the ball once, gutted he is injured but at least the haters cant have a go at him while on the treatment table…nah course they will Neanderthals.
while I was increasingly worried about time beating us when we scored I wasn’t surprised, a marked difference on previous seasons. This was another game when everything was against us, weather ,injuries to key players and a lot of them, players who are playing still getting over flu or injuries and the team were facing having already done well against the big sides trying to impress a new manger sitting in the stands and popping down to speak to them at half time.
This was a big Wapping banana skin bigger than the blow up ones you see on the coast of the Mediterranean and to have sidestepped it with grit and some style is a big plus, Who the manager picks for the spuds game is a nightmare but there is no one i would rather trust to get it right
LikeLike
Hahaha.. I still have butterflies probably for the rest of the day too. congratulations all around and AW for a well played game and great result.
SHOTTA
you ORACLE YOU. Spot on with the score. Great solid defending and a clean sheet . Come to pappa. Lol. top of the league, I said we are top of the league.
Happy happy new years day….
LIMESTONE
I like CAL. My favorite and the on I follow is UCLA BRUINS.. I got to stay with eventual wins though so it’s the cardinals of Stanford. Pac 10 baby!!! bring it home to pappa.
JACK had a great game . Well done kiddo.
LikeLike
Sorry for the email typo. You can delete that comment in moderation.
George, you can put me down as a last resort.
LikeLike
Oh, I forgot…
BOOM SHAKKA SHAKKA BOOM……
LikeLike
You’re up the SA. Well done that volunteer
LikeLike
I have to pop-out for a while, what time did Utd book their penalty for?
LikeLike
Relax: everything is going to be alright. The Yorkshire Gunner and AFC Glen are giving the manager some excellent advice about how to buy a new striker.
LikeLike
The Yorkshire Gunner is a prick of monumental proportions,and not in the way he would like.
LikeLike
He might be thinking of buying now with Nikki B’s injury, if he wasn’t already. Where’s Hunter when you need him!
LikeLike
DC, apparently at 60 mins with Welbeck’s dive but Webb didn’t get the memo. He doesn’t recognize Moyes’ handwriting, I suspect. Reminds me earlier in the season he booked Rooney in the first half! He’s a free agent now, maybe we an pick him up on a free!
LikeLike
Mike Dean however, clearly sold his soul to the Red Devil and not just Fergie.
LikeLike
@ Limestonegunner, You have not heard that Chelsea has put in a bid for Webb after last weeks loan run with them
LikeLike
Just back from the game and so glad for the happy ending! I really feared it was going to be one of those days, but was ecstatic when Nicky B answered my pleas to be a hero and score the winner for us as he entered the fray! I think TR7’s introduction really brought the game to life as we were too slow and ponderous before that, but once more our grit and determination saw us through when our usual fluid game had gone awol. It’s a real shame that NB will now be out of action because he could have gone on a little run starting with spurs on Saturday.
The crowd was equally sleepy today, but our pressure finally brought about the deserved yellow for the time wasting goal keeper – hopefully we learn from that and keep the pressure up more often to get a few decisions our way.
LikeLike
Team spirit, it is just so hard to keep up with the transfer news at the start of the window! But clearly he is in Mou’s filthy pockets after that L’Pool match!
LikeLike
Excellent remarks on the crowd and referee pressure, Passenal. Apparently studies have shown that home advantage consists more in this than in other factors, so Emirates crowd need to keep up pressure on the ref.
LikeLike
Stupid wordpress. Remembered an old typing mistake and sent me into moderation again.
Anyway, George, I will send it by morning.
LikeLike
We are seeing refereeing from Webb we have never seen before during the Fergie era. ManU supporters have no idea what is going on. Young’s reputation follows him.
LikeLike
If spurs hang on, then Man u are 12 pts adrift, not bad at all…
LikeLike
11 I think. Still substantial.
LikeLike
Thanks SA .
LikeLike
Paul: ” I was started to wonder if it was one of those games.”
Not this vintage. This Arsenal always has a goal or two in them unless they come up against Mourinho’s parked bus.
LikeLike
I must admit I was pulling for the Spuds. It’s one of those “my enemy’s enemy is my friend” things.
LikeLike
Here are our remaining home league games (in oder)
1) Fulham
2) Palace
3) Yawnited
>>>>>>Munchen
4) Assunderland
5) Swansea
6) M€ity (after Munich, totts and Chelski away)
7) Hammers
8) Newcastle
9) West Brom
Away game (in order):
1) Villa
2) S’Ton
3) ‘Pool
4) Stoke
>>>>Munchen
5) Totts
6) Chavs
7) Everton
8) Hull
9) Norwich
I genuinely think we can get 20+ points from the home fixtures, and if we get 15 or more away points, happy days.
In a nut shell, beat City and Chelsea and the the title is within our grasp.
LikeLike
Moyes
= Mwahahahahahah.
Webb isn’t United’s gimp anymore.
LikeLike
Gains69 @ 7:36 pm.
So was I. Don’t feel alone.
LikeLike
3 vital wins in a row. Outstanding.
LikeLike
Gains, there is a determination in this group that we have not seen in a while. The young men have grown up.
LikeLike
i hope chuba and benik are involved in some capacity saturday
LikeLike
Having watched Bendtner trudge off after the goal I would not be too surprised to see him back very swiftly.
LikeLike