Great, so I’m a genius again …
I watched the game on a Spanish stream. All I could make out were the players’ names. This was quite an eye opener. I had to make my own mind up how we were playing. It was up to me to see how the team was set up and who was playing where, let alone who was having a good game. It was in fact a very good way to watch the game. If Stew Black is reading this, you were right all along mate.
The first 25 minutes or so seemed pretty even to me, although the hosts had the best chance with a close range effort, excellently saved by our young keeper.
Then in five minutes Arsenal fired a three-goal broadside and the Villa were sunk.
The contest was over. We dominated the remainder of the half. After the break the hosts seemed happy to take a football lesson as long as it didn’t turn into a spanking. And we seemed happy to give it and coast to the final whistle.
It was the most comfortable half of football I’ve ever seen. Lovely jubbly.
The team appeared to set up with Ramsey sitting deeper to help Mikel. A lot of the time he was behind the skipper. That allowed Mesut to be more forward thinking.
Here though is Ozil’s heat map:
Looks familiar?
Now, that looks dangerously like his every other heat map. So don’t tell me he was playing in the hole behind Welbeck as a traditional number 10.
He played well because he played well. Perhaps the security of Aaron and Mikel helped him, or perhaps he just played better. Who knows?
I felt Aaron had another sub-par performance. Is it because he is being played out of position? No, because he isn’t. He is just off form a little. He is not a bad player or anything other than a great player having a dip in form.
Just as Mesut was!
Anyway, that’s what I saw. It’s up to you to tell me if I am right or wrong.
Go on then …
You can become a part of George’s own heatmap on Twitter @Blackburngeorge
Positively Arsenal 
Morning George, everyone.
Suspect you are on thin ice with a certain contributor when it comes to assessing Aaron’s form. I don’t think you are in any actual physical danger as she’s now left Scotland for sunnier southern USA climes but Kelly’s own heat map on the subject is likely a sight to behold.
Is Aaron out of form? Knackered by marriage? Missing Theo and Olivier? Maybe it’s all four? Certainly when he kicked the ball out for a Villa corner it looked like he was missing everyone. But one of the many things I admire about Ramsey is despite his apparent temporary waywardness, HE will never go missing in games. And I’m confident Arsene won’t allow his name to go missing from any teamsheet in the foreseeable.
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good write up George.
I have never agreed with the whole ozil-is-wasting-on-the-flanks noise. he just was not in form simples! its just like people were banging on about santi playing wide last year. its just a couple of not so great games. Glad wenger played him through the rough patch.
but of course, the people of higher intellect will now insist wenger has succumbed to their screams to play ozil in his “correct” position.
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Good summary George.
I feel we did what we needed to, comfortably. It was and will prove to be for all to see, imho, a significant game in our season. A platform of calmness.
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overall a good performance yesterday and if its true villa were riddled by flu then maybe they didnt hastle us enough as BD had done in the week. interesting to see Mezut ran further than any ARSENAL suggest his performance is more personal form than any tactic being employed.
On Aaron I feel we are being dragged into the mistake on judging him on his own increadebly high standards of last season when he was the best midfielder in the league. He played well yesterday but obviously we know he can play better that doesnt mean he was sub par by a normal midfielders standard only by his own. When he takes the ball off the back four he always turns and moves it quickly, as the first goal proved, as opposed to Mikel who often plays a short ball back to where it came which leaves per in particular in very uncomfortable position. Although his finishing was not clinical his workrate is still very important to the team.
Yesterday highlighted that some of the Wenger myths however often disproved will never go away from the conciousness of alot of our fantasy football fans but there you go people generally are stupid.
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oh and Aaron was involved in all three goals and generally most of the dangerous play we had so dont let a few misplaced passes and wide shots fool you on his performance
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Great write-up George. Very direct and to the point. Love how you point out that Villa were happy to just sit back. The heatmap of the moaners today is leaning toward that that Arsenal didn’t score more and lack “killer instinct” and “intent”. I’m afraid we’ll never know what this team need to do to keep them happy. They hv so much energy to hate on their own team, manager and players. While having the time of their lives having wet dreams about Falcao, Cesc, Rodgers and Sterling amongst others.
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Seebs, I believe Aaron is the best CMF in the league. He didn’t play badly, but he can be better, So for me it was sub-par for him. For others it would have been good.
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yeah that was what i was trying to long windedly say. however how lucky we are to have a sub par pperformance like that
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Morning George,
The only addition I would add is that the back four/five had a good match yesterday and other than the Clark header with the score at 0-0 Villa did not create much else. Chambers seemed to me confident at right back and his height is useful when defending corners and free kicks. He will have tougher opponents for sure but for a 19 year old right back that was a good performance.
Aaron has had a little dip in form but that modest reverse should be seen in context, although critics inside and outside the club seem reluctant to allow any margin. He is a player who scored a Cup winning goal, nailed a lovely second at Wembley to win the Community Shield, scored the winner at Palace and the crucial first goal to puncture the Everton defence and the comeback at Goodison. As AoB says above yesterday he was involved in every goal. He is 23 years old. The dip in form is relative.
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No AoB – I was the one trying to say it long windedly !
Those familiar with the blog may have picked up Arsene’s confusion just prior to kick off and his error in naming Sanchez on the team sheet when he had clear instruction that the Ox should start and the Chilean rested. Fair play to the man though, he acknowledged his error and put it right by 3.00.
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While I would normally prefer to shit in my hands and clap rather than promote the Daily Mail for any who are keen on exploring the Ozil and heat maps theme, and have not already seen it, here is a link to the German’s heat maps this season before yesterday.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-2762187/Mesut-Ozil-not-scapegoat-Arsene-Wenger-demands-critics-look-record-signing-s-heat-maps-proof-influence-Arsenal-games.html
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First instinct after reading George’s blog is to hope Kelly is fast asleep or on her way to church. Arsenal Andrew, being the consumate diplomat, was quick to do some damage control getting my approval. I hope Georg’e subsequent clarification does the trick.
Seriously though, apart from the 1st 20 minutes (Delph’s shot and that freekick being their best chances), Villa was out of it as we were in control.
Apart from dispelling the myth that Ozil plays like a traditional No. 10, my personal highlights were:
* The Ozil-Welbeck combination. Welbeck’s link up play is improving.
* Aaron’s playing from a deeper position, covering Arteta and snuffing out attempts to isolate the skipper.
*Aaron did not make the score sheet but he is still very involved in our attacking play and contributed to the build-up for all 3 goals.
* Seems we have resorted to 4-2-3-1 vs a 4-1-4-1?
*Chambers was very effective as a right back. He was key to neutralizing Ablongbahor. Really, what is his best position?
* Gibbs was a boss. Lets hope he can he keep fit.
* Last by no means least, Koscielny is our rock. I can’t count how many threats he snuffed out with his tackling, blocking interception. Not to mention his passing out of the back to get us going.
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just one thought after watching the game again this morning has Sanchez been running into areas normally used by Mezut which could account for the difference in mileage covered in the llast few games. If this is the case as the front men find their niche and learn eachothers natural movements we will be awsome
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*NEWSFLASH: Kelly currently racing back to Alabama Central airport*
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Aorb – Had a very similar thought myself this morning after watching the MOTD highlights; certainly assimilating most new players takes a degree of time and likely more so in such crucial areas as those Ozil/Ramsey/Sanchez tend to occupy.
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Your right George,especially about Ramsey,when he starts firing again,he’ll prove he’s the best midfielder in the league,he’ll score against Spurs next week you’ll see.
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George someone just said if you can’t grasp the concept of starting positions and areas you drift into to hurt the opposition, ergo the heatmaps, you should stop writing about it in blogs.
These haters are relentless. How far gone are they?
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Someone, somewhere once said to me: “it’s the players stupid”.
And not really the tactics.
In pre-season we guessed that it would take about three games for the late returners to get back up to speed. Three games which would be tricky because you’d have to kind of carry these key players for a game or two. Özil was the one who played an intense game every three days for a month or longer over the summer, and we see how much that drains the tank during the season. What difference could it make whilst others are on the beach? We could make these predictions in the summer because we’ve seen key players return from the finals of finals before! In 2010, 2006…there is a pattern! Those that weren’t given the start of the soon off are hobbling, like Aguero, like Costa. Torres’ biggest problem after his move to Gazprom in 2010 were his ongoing injuries that ruined his WC. Benitez flogged him at the end too, no rest for injuries. And Gazprom gave him no rest after his big money move, even though he arrived injured, played him from the start, and a few months later you had people observing that the player could not sprint properly.
http://footbalternative.com/2014/09/20/why-youre-wrong-about-mesut-ozil/
Last three maps of Özil’s performances linked in this article.
Of more interest in the Villa game were the maps for Carzola and Ramsey! Much more interesting for me. Available on the Mail site and elsewhere. Unlike Tuesday the deepest CM was not isolated to the uber-pressing Dortmand or the Dortmund lite team from the midlands managed by the former Dortmund player. I think both these other two midfielders got their positioning much better in this game. Which helped the team’s ‘shape’ to my untutored eye. Perhaps it also helped that there was more familiarity onto the pitch, Sanchez rested, less players running into the same spaces. Smarter passing, whatever that means, you all saw the game! And even Danny boy Welbeck has had more then half a session with his new teammates, which would help, I guess.
Important for Chamberlain to get through the ninety against Villa, the team he picked up his injury against. With the Ox back it only now starts to get interesting with the selections. Will he get the nod against his old club in the week? Or will we see Akpom unleashed? *coughs* I hope Vengarrrrrrgh is reading. I appreciate the extra protection that the club can and is giving to the nippers (bad luck for Gnabry), only easing them in now at 18/19 it appears, but hopefully Chuba will make the bench. At least. Please?
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It’s the Rasmey-Wilshere thing that is really interesting. And completely ignored by the Groaners, the gallant podcastateers, and their heroes the Petty Plundits. Which is a surprise. Tbf the “bloggers” managed to goad a hack into asking tika-tactical-esque questions, but the poor hack didn’t have the courage to ask directly: “the fans have asked me to ask you…” The idiot is meant to be a football journalist! What. A. Plonker.
Anyway, the whole Ramsey and Wilshere thing is the logical reason why we haven’t seen more of Rosicky *sniffs*. Well, it’s one plausible consideration.
Jack and Aaron are learning to play together in midfield? Something like that? I don’t really know, but if anyone gets the opportunity they could ask them! Or Clarkie. Or someone interesting.
There are lots of reasons why after the poor misunderstood and maltreated F Word called up the gaffer and asked the question: “Please Sir, can I have some more?” that he was told to F off. An Arsenal team built around a midfield including Rambo and Jacko with Alexis and Mesut on board to help them out (both are only 25!) is probably the biggest reason.
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Well, I see that Aaron and I have been the topic of discussion this morning. No worries, I’m not on any airplane, Andrew. George and I already had it out yesterday on Twitter, although he abandoned the conversation. I can’t imagine I scared him, so surely he was exercising wise judgement in disengageing with the crazy lady.
“On Aaron I feel we are being dragged into the mistake on judging him on his own incredibly high standards of last season when he was the best midfielder in the league. He played well yesterday but obviously we know he can play better that doesnt mean he was sub par by a normal midfielders standard only by his own.” This is exactly what I’ve been trying to say, so thanks AorB. I just don’t understand why calling his performance “poor” is helpful. It just feeds the masses who aren’t smart enough to get that subtlety. My preference is to note what he did right yesterday, which was plenty.
There’s a toxicological phenomenon called the Mellanby effect, which we use often in talking about alcohol. It’s a form of tolerance that means that the effects that you feel from a given blood alcohol concentration are greater when your BAC is on the way up, than at that same concentration on the way down. Our perception of Aaron’s performance is exhibiting tolerance. We are so used to seeing phenomenal things from him, that we aren’t even moved by a good, but non-stellar game anymore. Flashback 18 months, and we would have noticed the good stuff.
Well, I guess I just don’t exhibit tolerance where Aaron is concerned. (If ever there were an appropriate place for a banned smiley, it’s right here.)
Happy Sunday, y’all!
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Also, I don’t know if you guys recall, but we went through a similar thing last year with Santi. And by the end of the season, some idiots thought he should be sold. The previous season’s best player. Just sayin.
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Yeah, everyone is great, no one ever has an off game to speak of, Go Arsenal.
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Thanks, George, for letting me post my point of view. Of course you’re right. He had a sub-par performance. He had an off day. I won’t say anything else about it.
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Right you are indeed, George. I would also add that, considering Ozil’s heat map, we can see that he pops up on the left hand side of our midfield quite a lot! I hope those who want to claim a victory for “Arsene playing him through the middle” can indeed see that it wasn’t about positions but match fitness, mental readiness and something called form! Won’t hold my breath on that though. Very happy for him, Danny boy and the team. They needed that!
On a side not, certain bloggers are describing our controlled 2nd half as a bore fest! These poor souls can’t even enjoy football anymore. State of emergency I say! Great match preview yesterday Andrew! Set the tone and platform for and enjoyable game of soccer!…….(I just like the word)
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If one of our best players, who happens to have just a won a world cup, isn’t allowed to play himself into form, what hopes do Theo and Diaby have of not being booed for having wobbly performances while getting back into the swing things? You know something is horribly wrong when Spurs supporters support us more than the WOBs.
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AG: Note George is not as diplomatic as I am. Such directness. Thats why we love you both. Peas in a pod.
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No need to be diplomatic, Shotta. I can take it. Right now, PG may wish he’d never let me on this blog! But we’ll get past it. That’s what friends do. Every once in awhile we have to demonstrate to the outside world that it’s not all sunshine and roses here, right?
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The Leicester vs. Utd game is interesting!
1-3 to 5-3
Do they need to buy a D**M?
Mwahahahahaha
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Gains
It’s the trolling of the wider fan base by those who (should)?know better that is telling.
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So what’s the best result for game where both sides have obscene oodles of cash? Draw with plenty of red cards?
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aaron loses his concentration every once in a while. he has to improve on that aspect. he always had that minuscule of a drawback..even in some of his best games last season.
having said that, the Arsene in my head still puts Aarons name on the team sheet before anyone else..i believe he gives more to this team than any other player we have, even if he is not playing nearly as well as he did last season.
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i’d rather city win todays tie..rooting for the better footballing team even if i hate both of them heh
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“.i believe he gives more to this team than any other player we have, even if he is not playing nearly as well as he did last season.”
Is also my opinion, well him and Mikel.
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The Etihad resembles a bus garage so far
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this chelsea side is so ordinary..we should be (and easily can) be giving them the same treatment.
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wtf!!!
they give yellow to matic for casually kicking the ball away..i swear i remember the same thing happen in our game against man city..all the player got was piece of friendly advice..i never like players being carded for things like this..although i understand why its done i still believe its too trivial a matter.
but please oh please we need some consistency
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Untidy game with Citeh lacking the guile to unlock the visitors defence. It will suit Jose nicely so far.
Mike Dean set to grab the headlines
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hawhehwhehawehwhehw
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Dean’s headline snatched by Frankie lol
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hhaha yeah..nearly called it right sir!
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Well the CRISIS clubs going into this week are;
1. Manyoo
2. Liverpool
3. Everton
4. Tottingham
And as ever
5. Newcastle
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I’ve been out of the loop for a few hours, so excuse me while I catch up:
Hahahahaha! Not sure today could have gone any better. I wish I’d recorded them all so I could laugh some more.
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What a weekend of football! 10-man City snaffled a draw vs Chelsea proving once again Jose is a simply a cowardly exponent of anti-football. All that talent held back to simply counter-attack when the opportunity arises. Trying to hold onto a 0:1 lead like a relegation candidate and rightly punished by a City sucker punch. How can pundits and our own fans sing the praises of a manager draining the life out of football. Chelsea has been exposed. History shows a team like this will draw games they are supposed to win and lose to unlikely teams. Stay tuned.
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Drunk. A bit. Just back home from pub having watched football and drank beer all afternoon. Here’s sometiphing positive, given want I’ve seen over the weekend. A tenner says arsenal are top 2 at season end and have at least one more piece of silverware. No one here will take that bet of course but it’s out there for those who wish to take me up on it nonetheless.
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Did I read right? Man u with £200m worth of attacking talent at their disposal, losing 5 – 3 at Leicester? Our point there doesn’t look so bad after all.
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And poor old Klopp
Took his Dortmund side to Mainz, the club he played his whole career and later managed, and was turned over 2-0
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alabamagunner,
I trust that you pointed out in your support of young Ramsay, the injury he received against Andorra?
“He got kick on his ankle and twisted it,” said Wales boss Chris Coleman. “Coming to the end of the game, we’ve got players with experience so it was pointless taking the risk. I won’t do that with any of the players.
“Hopefully he’ll be okay for Arsenal at the weekend but we’ll have to see what the next 24-48 hours holds.”
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Dortmund obviously played out of their skins to get the better of Arsenal Andrew. Chances were they would come crashing down to earth.
P.S. can someone tell Fabregas to stop talking about Arsenal? Is he really that worried about how the fans are going to react to him? Most of us are past caring. He’s maureen’s bitch now so he might as well accept what is coming to him and get on with it. Fans will do what fans do and no amount of pre-game smoozing is going to change that.
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George just to let you know the new Northern soul film premiers in Blackburn (kings hall obviously) this saturday. Its invite only but a man of your conections will be ok im sure. I cant go cos of the spuds game being late i’ll never make it up there. I hope you can wangle yourself a ticket it looks a really good un
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Yeah, I can go where I want when I want in Blackburn.
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