Tuesday 21 May 2013

Let's all laugh at Tottenham!! Let's all laugh at Tottenham!!

Newcastle 0-1 Arsenal

 
 

At the final whistle on Sunday, the chant which all Arsenal fans love to sing was belted out from the away end at St. James’ Park. Those clad in the famous red and white, cannons emblazoned on their chests, greeted their side’s victory, which secured Champions League football for a 16th straight year, by singing as loud as they could: “Are you watching, are you watching, are you watching Tottenham?” So often sung to celebrate occasions in which the Gunners once again assert their superiority over their North London rivals, this time it was also a rhetorical question. Of course Spurs were watching. In fact they had been tuned into the Arsenal game from the moment Gareth Bale had given Tottenham victory with yet another 90th minute winner. Through four minutes of injury time up at Newcastle, Spurs fans and players alike desperately prayed for news of an equaliser which would guarantee fourth place for their club. It wasn’t to be and as a result, the home crowd at White Hart Lane were forced to watch the Arsenal players’ celebrations through tear soaked eyes once again.

If the events had a feeling of déjà vu about them, it was because the exact same thing had happened the previous season. Some clubs and fans just never learn. It’s quite sad really. “It’s happened again, It’s happened again, Tottenham Hotspur, it’s happened again!”    

Once again, the Gunners had lost a star player during the summer transfer window and got off to a terrible start. Meanwhile, Tottenham had embarked on their best ever start to a Premier League campaign and had all the football pundits declaring that Spurs would win the race for a top for finish. This was Wenger’s worst ever Arsenal squad and therefore Arsenal had absolutely no chance. Harry Redknapp was chief amongst those declaring Tottenham’s squad to be vastly superior to that on show at the Emirates. Having lost out on the £1 million bonus which Tony Fernandes promised to pay ‘Arry were he to keep QPR in the Premier League, one would hope that the former Tottenham manager didn’t put any money on his old club usurping the Gunners.  

In mid-March, having just been on the receiving end of a footballing lesson from Bayern Munich, Arsenal were on their knees when silly defensive mistakes allowed Spurs to beat them 2-1 at White Hart Lane to move seven points clear of the Gunners. Andre Villas Boas practically declared the race was finished in the post-match press conference, insisting that Arsenal were now on a downward spiral. However, come the final day of the season and the same man who had suggested the Gunners season was over, was now praying for Newcastle to do his side a favour. How satisfying it must be for all those associated with the biggest and most successful club in North London, to now watch the Portuguese eat humble pie. The same goes for Gary Lineker who beamed with every passing week as results went the way of his former club, the same as he had done the season before. However, once again the Gunners were able to wipe that smug grin off his perma-tanned face on the last day of the season. Some people just never learn.

As he had done the previous year, the outstanding Laurent Koscielny popped up with an excellent finish to seal the vital three points for Arsenal. With the ball looping up in the box, following a free kick delivery, the Frenchman expertly watched the ball as it came down over his shoulder, timing his volley to perfection to blast the ball into the back of the net, off Steve Harper’s face. Although Newcastle offered little throughout the game, with so much at stake, the final few minutes were extremely tense and nervous. Theo Walcott could have relieved the pressure in the dying minutes, following a fantastic run in which he outfoxed the Newcastle defence and goalkeeper only to see his effort agonisingly come back off the post. However the Gunners managed to hold firm and secured the three points which guaranteed a top four finish. Much credit should go Arsene Wenger and his side, as they embarked on a fantastic run of form, winning 8 out of their final 10 games, gaining more points in that period than any other Premier League side.

Although the players celebrated with great gusto, finishing fourth is not enough for Arsenal Football Club and in order to push on to the next level, Wenger must now sign a top class striker, defensive midfielder and central defender. Although the club have been linked with a goalkeeper, the return to form of both Fabianski and Szczesny during the final weeks of the season would suggest that the two Poles could compete for the number one jersey next season, pushing each other to higher levels of performance as a result. I would also like to see the club sign an out and out winger to provide further width and speed to the attack, as Arsenal’s forward play can sometimes become too narrow and easy to defend against.

This is now a crucial summer for the Gunners. With Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United all set to strengthen, they simply cannot afford to rest on their laurels. This will be the first summer transfer window in a long time, in which Arsenal will not lose one of their star players and therefore, with their fantastic end of season form, Wenger has a solid base from which to build on for next season. With the stadium debt almost paid off, lucrative sponsorship deals with Fly Emirates and Puma in place, as well as vastly increased revenue from the Premier League’s new TV contract, the rumours from within the club all suggest that Arsenal are now ready to spend big in the transfer window. Finishing in the top four this season, may well be the springboard to future success, with the club seeking to go from strength to strength in the years to come.

In the meantime all Arsenal fans can continue doing what they have done for the past 18 years, "Let's all laugh at Tottenham, Let's all laugh at Tottenham"

Wednesday 15 May 2013

Gunners win seals Wigan's fate

Arsenal 4-1 Wigan


Arsenal secured a vital victory last night to ensure they go into the last game of the season, away to Newcastle, with their destiny still in their own hands. Although Arsene Wenger was immensely pleased with both the three points and his side’s display, it was a bittersweet victory for the Frenchman as the result also brought an end to Wigan’s somewhat miraculous eight year stay in the Premier League.

Wenger has great respect for Wigan’s football philosophy under Roberto Martinez, which in many ways is very similar to his own. Dave Whelan’s club do not have vast sums to spend in the transfer window and as a result have embarked on a recruitment policy which has seen them scour the globe to sign relatively unknown players from unheralded football nations, such as Honduras, as well as giving players such as Shaun Maloney an opportunity to flourish following their release by Premier League sides. Wigan’s lack of financial clout has also led to the club placing great emphasis on youth development, which this season has resulted in the emergence of Calum McManaman, who was instrumental in their incredible FA Cup triumph over Manchester City. However, Roberto Martinez’s most admirable quality was the way his side played their football. There was never an inclination to lump the ball in the air, or resort to rough house tactics, no matter how difficult a situation they found themselves in, Wigan would resolutely continue to play the game in the right way. In many ways they were an example for other emerging teams, that no matter the size of a club, or their transfer budget, it was still possible to produce a side capable of outplaying the best teams in the league. It is therefore a great shame that Wigan will no longer be entertaining the fans of one of Europe’s top leagues.

Tottenham’s late victory over Stoke at the weekend had placed a great deal of pressure on their North London rivals. It was a result which meant anything less than three points for the Gunners last night would have handed the advantage in the race for a top four finish, straight back to Tottenham. However during a pulsating first twenty minutes, Wenger’s team did not appear to be under any pressure whatsoever. The Gunners flew out of the traps, pressing Wigan high up the field, playing with an attacking verve which has been missing for the majority of this season. Theo Walcott in particular was excellent as he surged down the right flank time and time again, causing Wigan numerous problems. Santi Cazorla was also a real menace to the away side, cutting in from the left wing to support the attack. The Spaniard was unlucky not to hand the Gunners the lead within the first few minutes of the game as his header from Walcott’s cross flew agonisingly wide of the goal with Wigan goalkeeper Robles rooted to the spot.

However Arsenal did not have to endure a long wait before breaking the deadlock. In the ninth minute, Cazorla directed a corner to the near post but the Wigan defence did not react when both Mertesacker and Paul Scharner failed to make any contact with Cazorla’s delivery. The ball was allowed to drift into the middle of the box for the unmarked Lukas Podolski to stoop down and power his header into the back of the net. The Gunners did not rest on their laurels and continued to surge forward in search of a crucial second. However despite their dominance, Arsenal were unable to create clear goal scoring opportunities and were largely reduced to half chances and shots from long distance by a determined Wigan defence.

Bacary Sagna’s long range effort was going harmlessly wide, but the sliding Kieran Gibbs almost turned the ball towards goal, just failing to connect with the Frenchman’s shot. Laurent Koscsielny squandered Arsenal’s best opportunity to double their lead, six minutes before the interval. Once again a Cazorla corner caused Wigan problems, this time the Spaniard’s delivery was flicked on at the near post by Mertesacker. The ball fell straight to Koscielny, with the goal at his mercy, but the Frenchman could not find the back of the net.

Yet despite having started the game exceptionally well, Arsenal began to sit back towards the end of the first half and were no longer pressing Wigan high up the pitch. As a result, the visitors began to work their way into the game, passing the ball neatly amongst themselves and creating a few half chances of their own. Seconds before the end of the first half, referee Mike Dean, who made some curious decisions all evening, awarded Wigan a dubious free kick on the edge of the box. Shaun Maloney duly curled home a wonderful effort inside the near post. Although Szczesny would have been disappointed as he did get a hand to the ball, replays showed that while the majority of the players in the wall had jumped up in an attempt to block the shot, Podolski, had ducked slightly. The man who had given the Gunners the lead was therefore responsible for the equaliser as the ball sailed over his head before nestling in the net.

The goal clearly had given Wigan a lift and the visitors could have even taken the lead early in the second half, but for a fantastic save by Szczesny. A one-two between Maloney and Kone, saw the Ivorian wriggle free inside the box. The Arsenal goalkeeper immediately rushed off his line, making himself as big as possible to stop Kone’s effort with an outstretched arm. This was a crucial save, a Wigan goal at this stage of the game would have created an extremely tense atmosphere inside the Emirates Stadium. Even with the score at 1-1 the home crowd howled in derision at every misplaced pass, which was to the detriment of their team.

However Arsenal rose to the challenge and in the 63rd minute the Gunners retook the lead. Walcott’s searing speed and desire took him past Wigan’s defenders ensuring he connected with Cazorla’s excellent low cross, lifting the ball over the onrushing Robles and into the net. Five minutes later and the Gunners were further ahead, with Cazorla instrumental once more. The Spaniard’s header fell perfectly for Podolski, who had been played on-side by Scharner. Arsenal’s number 9 made no mistake with the finish, calmly lobbing the ball over Robles for his second of the night. The home side made sure of the three points and sealed Wigan’s doom in the 73rd minute, as Aaron Ramsey raced through from the left wing, ignored the option of passing to Podolski, who was free in the box, to fire past Robles at the near post for his first league goal of the season.

The Gunners fully deserved all three points and will now go into the final league game knowing a win will secure Champions League football for yet another season. In fact even third place is still up for grabs and also the possibility of a rare play-off game between Arsenal and Chelsea, if the Gunners beat Newcastle by one goal and Chelsea draw with Everton. For Wigan unfortunately the eight season long fairy-tale has come to an end. Fans of the beautiful game will surely wish to see them return to the Premier League as soon as possible.   

Monday 6 May 2013

Below par Gunners win again

QPR 0-1 Arsenal

In similar fashion to their last Premier League match at home to Manchester United, Arsenal got off to another perfect start against Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, thanks to Theo Walcott’s strike after only 20 seconds.
Straight from the kick off, Armand Traore misjudged a header back, gifting the Gunners possession on the edge of the penalty area. The ball was played out wide to Thomas Rosicky who crossed the ball back to Podolski. The German headed down to Mikel Arteta and the Spaniard’s deft through ball was perfectly weighted for Walcott who, as against Manchester United made no mistake with the finish, firing low and hard past Robert Green.  From this point on the Gunners would have been expected to dominate proceedings against a turgid QPR side whose relegation had been sealed the previous weekend. Yet Arsenal just did not push on, even though it was clear the home side just weren’t interested, particularly in the first half.
With Harry Redknapp deploying four midfielders against Arsenal’s five, the Gunners were able to dominate the battle in the middle of the park and easily reach the final third. However, once there, Arsene Wenger’s side lacked the creativity required to open up the QPR defence and as a result, despite dominating possession, Arsenal did not create enough goal scoring opportunities. Podolski, playing in the lone striker role was once again largely anonymous and struggled to get into the game and therefore the Gunners had no real presence up front. It is strange that a team containing the creative talents of Cazorla, Rosicky and Arteta have struggled so much recently to open up opposition defences. It was Theo Walcott who had the best chance to double his and the Gunners tally after 24 minutes when he swivelled and fired on goal, only to see his effort bounce back off the post.
QPR also offered little in attack, their main threat coming from Andros Townsend, who gave Nacho Monreal a torrid time. Although the Spanish left back must be given time to settle in and adjust to the rigours of the Premier League, the jury is still out on the man signed from Malaga in January. Monreal simply had no answer to the direct runs of Townsend on Saturday and ended up receiving a yellow card for a desperate pull back on the on-loan Tottenham man. At this stage, a fully fit Kieran Gibbs must surely be Wenger’s first choice at left back.
The second half continued in the same vein. Arsenal struggled to create anything of any note, only mustering a couple of shots from distance which were fired straight at Robert Green. Meanwhile, although QPR did improve slightly from their dismal showing in the first period, they could only create one significant opportunity, with Loic Remy forcing Szczesny into a world class save to maintain the Gunners slender lead.
In the end, Wenger was happy to leave Loftus Road with another three points in the quest for a top four finish. This is a battle which may well go down to the final game of the season and with Chelsea winning at Old Trafford yesterday, it is a battle which is now out of Arsenal’s hands. The worst possible result this coming Wednesday is for Tottenham to beat Chelsea, any other result will see the momentum switch back to the Gunners. However, either way, Arsenal must improve their level of performance. During the last few games Wenger’s side have produced displays which have been distinctly below par, yet they have still managed to secure positive results. Much of this has been down to the improvements in defence but it also owes a lot to lady luck. If the Gunners do not perform better in their last two games of the season, this luck may soon just run out.