Author Archives: Michael Roberts

Forget The Others – This Is The Game Of The Season!

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Liverpool versus Chelsea is a big game but nothing compares to a match with Arsenal and Manchester United. These two teams have dominated since The Premiership began and although we’re in fourth place Arsenal are in good form and have a great chance of beating United again this season.

If the weekend goes our way and Chelsea lose to Liverpool and we win on Sunday then we are only 6 points off Chelsea and reduce the gap with Team Manchester to 12. Still a good few points off but there’s still a lot of football to play and we’ve come back from similar positions before. Certainly if Arsenal do lose then as Arsene points out the title race is over for Arsenal, which would be a pity with so much of the season remaining.

Fergie has spoken and said that he expects Wenger to mastermind a revival at Arsenal after their poor form at the start of the season. Not sure to make of that – usually Arsene and Ferguson would be down each others throats but I suppose Red Nose doesn’t want to give Arsenal any more reasons to beat them by starting a war of words.

And Fabregas has piled in on the love-fest and talked about his admiration for Paul Scholes, who has been in good form this season. No compliments for former-Spurs player Michael Carrick though, which was a bit strange…

Ronaldo, Larsson and Scholes will have to be kept quiet on Sunday as well as Wayne Rooney, who has been out of sorts this season. Probably the more reason to keep an eye on him as he’s due a good performance – and he usually does okay against us!

Arsene has got his tactics spot on recently at Blackburn and in Liverpool so if Arsenal can get their smooth passing game going then even Manchester United will struggle against us. We will have to be careful of quick breaks from United with players like Ronaldo, Giggs and Rooney in the side.

The team pretty much picks itself with Gilberto being replaced by Flamini in the centre. The only two positions that aren’t certain is the right back and who will partner Thierry Henry in attack. Eboue is looking to return for Sunday but if Wenger doesn’t think he is ready then Hoyte will start, and it’s a toss up between Van Persie and Adebayor for the second forward position.

Van Persie has been given an 80% chance to be fit for the game while Adebayor is waiting in the wings. I’d probably prefer Adebayor to start since his brilliant performance against United at Old Trafford earlier on in the season.

Come on Arsenal!

Another feature of this game is that Mike Riley will be the referee tomorrow – which could either be a bad thing or a good thing.

He did award a penalty against Charlton at the Emirates a few week ago so let’s not hope we’ve used up all our luck regarding his decision-making! He does owe us big after the pathetic penalty he gave at Old Trafford after Shrek decided to show Sol Campbell his best Swan Lake impression so hopefully he doesn’t gift United another penalty!

Predictions?

Well I’ve predicted 2-1 for the last 3 games and although I was wrong on all 3 occasions I’m getting superstitious now because when I have predicted that scoreline we have won – and convincingly!

The bookmakers have Arsenal as slight favourites but the odds are pretty much even – not even the bookies can pick a winner! But as ever I have full confidence in this current team and I think it will be a tight game with a few goals.

So you won’t be surprised that I’ll go for a prediction of 2-1 yet again! 🙂

Bye Bye Lauren…

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Well Arsenal have let yet another experienced player go in Lauren and he has decided to join Portsmouth. I wasn’t surprised he stayed in England because he’s been here for 7 years and is settled now – and Pompy is a better choice than West Ham or Charlton!

And just like Pires, Vieira, Edu, Parlour, Wrighty and Seaman when they moved clubs I wish Lauren all best for the future.

When I first heard about Lauren possibly moving on I was surprised but then Wenger has been building this new team for the last couple of years and Lauren just wasn’t a part of it.

It’s sad when players like Lauren and Pires leave the club because they have given everything and contributed so much to our recent successes.

It’s easy to look back and remember previous successes.

But times change quickly and move on in football.

You sometimes lose sight of the future in football especially when it’s all about winning and playing good football here and now but we are now looking at Wenger’s new team and they are more than capable of emulating the team of previous years.

Players move from club to club all the time but Arsenal have the habit of buying players who stay loyal and become a part of the club.

Lauren was one of those and I will be giving him a warm welcome the next time Portsmouth grace the Emirates turf.

Arsenal v Manchester Utd: The Wednesday Preview

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Well Sunday marks the biggest weekend of the season so far, with Liverpool against Chelsea and of course the main event which is Arsenal versus Manchester United.

And the great thing is both teams are in sensational form.

Manchester United are top of the Premiership with a 6 point gap over Chelsea and Arsenal have really started to find their feet domestically with two comprehensive wins at Anfield and a great win against all odds at Ewood Park.

The only real fact about the team news at the moment is that Gilberto will miss the game as he will be serving a suspension for flicking at Robbie ‘Honest’ Savage. Gilberto will be a big miss as he’s possibly been our most important player this season but if we can overhaul Blackburn Rovers with 10 men then the confidence in the squad will be sky high.

I suppose the best scenario for us this weekend would be to obviously beat Manchester United (by a good few goals) and I’m still undecided about the Chelski match. If Liverpool win we won’t be able to get up to third this weekend but if Chelski win, well, I hate Chelsea! I suppose a draw in that game would do me.

As the big game draws closer then the mind games will start and Rio Ferdinand has come out and said that the man to fear most is Adebayor and not Thierry Henry. There’s no doubt that he was sensational at United (and Chelsea as well) so it’s a fair comment but I’m sure he also knows that it’s likely Adebayor will be on the bench with Van Persie and Henry starting so he hopes that it might cause a little tension in our team.

Adebayor is an effective player in a 4-5-1 formation but with Wenger persisting with two men upfront even with 10 men against Blackburn I’d be surprised if we saw anything else than a 4-4-2 system against United. You never know, Van Persie has failed to score in his last couple of games so could make way for Ade upfront. It’s good to have options anyway!

The other squad news is that Eboue hopes to return for Sunday and apparently William Gallas has declared himself fit. Not sure if Eboue should return after his antics against Liverpool and Hoyte has been playing well so don’t be surprised if Wenger gives Hoyte the nod.

Toure has been a rock recently and Djourou has looked strong and confident at the back, while Senderos has made a few mistakes which were luckily unpunished against Blackburn and Liverpool – althought Djourou has played well it would make sense to have Gallas in the team, especially with Gilberto out.

Flamini will replace Gilberto in the centre which could leave us a big light in the middle, so expect to see Van Persie play a slightly deeper role behind Thierry. You can’t fault Flamini’s work rate and he has improved over the last couple of seasons. His attitude is spot on as well so I have no problem with him next to Cesc against Manchester United – and he scored against Liverpool and Chelsea his season so he’s got an eye for scoring in the big games!

I’m surprised Fergie hasn’t had a go at Arsenal or Arsene yet to stoke the fires before the big game but there’s still a few days to go yet!

Ultra Clinical 10-Man Arsenal Punish Blackburn

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Arsenal Keep Going From Strength To Strength…

I pointed out yesterday that today’s game against Blackburn Rovers would be a real test for Arsenal and the fixture didn’t disappoint. The Gunners had most things go agains them this afternoon but they responded in fantastic fashion.

Only 12 minutes into the game the villian of Premiership football that is Robbie Savage clattered Gilberto hard from behind in a well over the top challenge which he had absolutely no intention of getting the ball.

The usually ice-cool Gilberto surprisingly reacted but kicking out at Savage with a little kick which resulted in Savage collapsing as if he had been shot. The Blackburn midfielder got what he wanted and the Brazilian was sent off.

Now you might think I’m biased (obviously) and it’s probably in the rules that if you retaliate you will be sent off. But the fact is the initial challenge was much worse and I can bet you that most referees would have given both players bookings.

Would Frank Lampard or Alan Shearer be sent off in the same situation?

Exactly.

Anyway, the fact was Gilberto was off and Arsenal were down to 10 men. Arsene decided to keep 2 men upfront in Van Persie and Henry, and having 3 in midfield with Hleb and Rosicky supporting Fabregas in the middle.

Arsenal were passing the ball nicely and it didn’t seem to bother the players on the pitch that we were playing with a man down. Chances for both teams were few and far between in the first half with Arsenal defending well against an in-form Blackburn side. But on 37 minutes that all changed.

Van Persie was played through and taken down by Lucas Neill who appeared to be the last man, but only received a booking when he was lucky not to receive a red! But Henry stepped up, clipped the free kick into the area and the only Arsenal player in the area – Kolo Toure – headed the ball into the net off the post.

Arsenal were leading with 10 men at Ewood Park!

Arsenal kept the same team and formation in the second half, with Henry and Van Persie rotating their responsibilities by dropping back to help the midfield.

The Gunners despite being a man down kept the ball fantastically well at times and in particular Hleb was brilliant – hardly losing the ball and creating space with some excellent skill. This guy has really settled into the team this season and is getting better and better. His ball retention is one of the best I have seen in the league.

Fabregas was running the midfield even though he didn’t have Gilberto in support Mokoena and Savage looked pedestrian in comparison. He played some great forward passes, made some great tackles and kept the ball moving in the middle. His fantastic interplay with Henry for the second goal was outstanding.

Toure did well at the back while Senderos made one or two mistakes from a lack of concentration but luckily didn’t pay the price – with Derbyshire and Nondo having great chances in the 6 yard area. Clichy was impressive, making some great runs down the left and showed his growing confidence by easily beating players and passing the ball well. Hoyte looked good as well never afraid to run forward and coped reasonably well against Pedersen.

Van Persie and Henry were always on the periphery of the match but on 71 minutes Henry turned it on like he can and got the ball deep in the Arsenal half. With 5 men around him the Frenchman drove down the line and evaded any tackles before clipping the ball to Cesc who made the supporting run. He darted to the edge of the area to receive the pass back and coolly stroking the ball into the top corner.

A simply outstanding goal from Henry!

Arsenal were 2-0 up and cruising with a man down and against a phyiscal Blackburn side.

Henry had a great opportunity to really pile on the misery for Blackburn 8 minutes later when Rosicky played a smart cross into Henry but the captain scruffed his shot over.

But the damage had been done and not even a dirty challenge from Tugay on Cesc in the closing minutes could ruin the day for us.

Arsenal might have lost the games at Anfield and Ewood Park in previous seasons buy they have passed the North West test with flying colours.

It’s amazing what a bit of confidence can do for you isn’t it?

The great thing I’ve noticed about Arsenal recently is that they have been so clinical it is scary. In the past Arsenal would create chance after chance and missed most of them but in recent weeks Arsenal’s finishing has been phenomenal – and that for me can only mean great things.

Next weeks game at the Emirates is going to be a belter!