tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25840916883769969732024-02-08T11:20:43.033-08:00900 Foot GoonerA panoramic view of the Arsenal Football Club, also appearing on YouAreMyArsenal.com.Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01825157002795712848noreply@blogger.comBlogger126125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584091688376996973.post-83330487907497834612018-05-17T08:14:00.001-07:002018-05-17T08:14:31.484-07:00Remembering Arsène: The L'Equipe Interview<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Looking back on Arsène Wenger’s Arsenal tenure is a most un-Arsène exercise. He’s a man who insists on the present; the past, particularly his own, has not interested him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But memory is a strong force. It shapes our view of ourselves and of our present. Memory also helps forge a shared understanding, and though in most cases it’s constructed and contrived, it helps us relate to others.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So when I reflect on this extraordinary individual’s time at Arsenal, it’s telling, if unusual, that my first thought is not of an unforgettable performance on the pitch, a searing image of Wenger in his technical area, or an indelible segment of his public declarations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Instead, I turn to Arsène in what comes close to his fullest written expression, his October 2015 <a href="http://www.sportetstyle.fr/article/people/a,2327,arsene-wenger-l-humaniste.html" title="Arsène Wenger, l'humaniste">interview</a> with <em>L’Equipe Sport & Style</em>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Arsène Philosophe</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This brought me even closer in spirit to Arsène. Captivated by words on the page and drawn to those who mark themselves as thoughtful and distinctive, I found this interview by Erik Bielderman masterful. It reads like a work of philosophy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Indeed, Wenger emerges from it as a philosopher-coach. Since I discovered my own passion for football living in France in the mid-90s, I’ve known of Wenger as an intelligent, compelling character. I’ve subsequently admired his wisdom and wit as his work grew more accessible across the Atlantic.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">That admiration peaked—and has remained high—with his revelations to Bielderman.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Much of what he said then has re-emerged in different forms as Arsenal fans, observers, and to a limited extent the man himself have thought about his Arsenal oeuvre. That only enhances the value and impact of these thoughts in their original appearance, or at least the appearance that seemed original to me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Joy of Now</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">No doubt the stage I have reached in life has something to do with this interview’s meaning. I’m a parent of two school-aged daughters, who have shifted my perspective from long-term achievement, delayed gratification, and occasional bitterness at injustice and slights to appreciation of small pleasures in the moment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In that context, this observation from Arsène really hit home:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The only moment of happiness possible, that’s the present. The past gives regrets. And the future uncertainty. Man understood this very quickly and invented religion. It forgives him for the evil he’s done in the past and tells him not to worry about the future—because he’ll go to Paradise. That means, take advantage of the present.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Aside from the gender-specific awkwardness of the French language, this seems like a healthy recognition. Not just live for the moment, regardless of the consequences, but enjoy what you have in the here and now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For many, this is not at all straightforward. Mental illness and physical hardship are real. I don’t think Wenger is downplaying those realities. I think he’s saying, when you are able to choose your outlook, choose not to have, as he put it, “an anguished enough relationship with time.” Instead, focus on where you are, right now, and seek joy there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Serendipity in support</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This interpretation has changed the way I watch football matches. Before digesting this interview, I would watch at an analytical distance; as a one-time sports journalist, I found this position natural. I’d try to determine how the complex organism of a team was sent out to function and how those plans changed in contact with the opposition’s intentions and execution.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">There’s still an element of that in my perspective. But, thanks to Wenger, I’m also on the lookout for the unexpected. Those moments out of the blue that bring joy. A subtle deception by Mesut Özil or a late-game surge by Aaron Ramsey.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This outlook is foreign to the current Age of Outrage. We’re pressed to call any imperfection a personal affront and to join narratives of disillusionment and victimhood.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This strikes me as twisted.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Or, as Wenger said,</span><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">An Arsenal supporter, when you finish fourth, says to you: ‘Hey, that’s 20 years we’ve finished in the Top 4. We want to win the Premier League!’ They don’t give a fuck if Manchester City or Chelsea have invested 300 or 400 million euros. They just want to beat them. But you finish fifteenth for two years, they’ll be happy if you finish fourth afterwards.</span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Values and meaning</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The manager’s brief farewell tour provided him the opportunity to return to other ideas he professed in this 2015 interview: the beauty in collective achievement, his self-identification as an educator, his aversion to means-justify-the-ends approaches, the shock of the transition away from Arsenal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Above everything, he has stressed values. Because he hasn’t defined them, “values” serve as a shorthand for many concepts, a shorthand that avoids controversy. We can all project what’s important to us onto the notion of “values” without coming into conflict with anyone else’s interpretation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">That said, I can personally relate to an extraordinary human being, one of the most interesting people in the world, when he says, “Anyway, there’s only one way to live one’s life. To be in alignment with the values that seem important to you.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Tout à fait, Monsieur Wenger.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">(The translations are my own. For a more extended English version, see Arseblog News <a href="https://news.arseblog.com/2015/11/arsene-wengers-full-interview-with-lequipe-sport-and-style/" title="Arsène Wenger's Full Interview with L'Equipe Sport and Style"> here</a>.)</span></i>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01825157002795712848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584091688376996973.post-41856543909178062462018-04-07T05:00:00.000-07:002018-04-07T05:00:54.429-07:00Match Preview, Arsenal v Southampton: Saints and Serendipity<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; cursor: text; font-family: Georgia,&quot; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; outline-color: transparent; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What’s the proper preview of Southampton’s visit to the Emirates on Sunday?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Many Arsenal fans will not consider this match of any great import; after all, there’s little chance of the Gunners achieving a Champions League position by the end of the season. The opportunity to overtake Chelsea, currently five points ahead in fifth place, might not excite many, either.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Those from the South Coast, threatened with relegation, will see things differently, but their concern is not ours.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The appropriate frame of mind might also be difficult to reach so soon after Thursday’s scintillating win over CSKA Moscow in the Europa League. A mundane, low-stakes league fixture will always pale in comparison to that simultaneously manic and brilliant European performance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Yet the potential for even glimpses at a similar spectacle should be motivation enough for supporters to pay attention to every match Arsenal play.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The possibility that one of Arsenal’s gifted creators could be afforded the space that Mesut Özil enjoyed at the edge of the opponents’ penalty area. That he would spot the space identified by Aaron Ramsey or another skillful attacker. That this teammate would then share with us a work of absolute genius, somehow figuring the angle of the pass, the likely position of the goalkeeper, the perfect spot for his heel, to score a goal like Ramsey’s second against CSKA Moscow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">There might be another moment like that against Southampton. We have no idea. Would you really be justified in the simpleton’s protections of cynicism or apathy when serendipity reigns so?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The unexpected is always in the cards, particularly with the number of lineup changes we’re likely to see. Last week’s league starting XI was definitely conceived with Thursday’s first knockout leg in mind. Calum Chambers, Mohammed Elneny, and Danny Welbeck all got run-outs against Stoke; they probably will feature again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Questions come over the participation of the architects of the recent European success, Özil and Ramsey. The pair needs to fire again in Moscow, so manager Arsène Wenger may rest both against Southampton. In that case, ingenuity might be in short supply.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Perhaps Alex Iwobi provides a surprise in that respect. He’s certainly due a good performance. Or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang capitalizes on one of the few opportunities he gets—we know the Ghanaian is more than capable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Whatever the developments, let’s not allow the narrative of subdued expectations to ruin the possibility of a magical moment.</span></div>
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Match Verdict</h4>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Arsenal’s strong home form continues, though as against Stoke the goals are not quick in arriving. Southampton’s position becomes more perilous.</span></div>
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Players to Watch</h4>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Arsenal. <strong style="cursor: text; outline-color: transparent; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px;">Sead Kolasinac</strong>. After a storming introduction to Arsenal, the Bosnian’s effectiveness cooled. He’ll likely give Nacho Monreal a respite at left back, where his powerful runs could trouble Southampton’s right side.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Southampton. <strong style="cursor: text; outline-color: transparent; outline-style: none; outline-width: 0px;">Charlie Austin</strong>. The Saints’ big galoot and top scorer flat out embarrassed the Gunners’ defense at St. Mary’s earlier this season. His early goal extended his match scoring streak to three against Arsenal. He’ll take advantage if the home team’s back line engages in further risky play.</span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01825157002795712848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584091688376996973.post-16944473389977443602018-03-10T06:00:00.000-08:002018-03-10T06:00:00.981-08:00Match Preview, Arsenal v Watford: Strangers in a Strange LandArsenal’s Premier League match with Watford on Sunday takes place in rarely traveled territory.<br />
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The Gunners have not won a league match since the 5-1 mauling of Everton on February 3. That five-week gap is the longest period between league wins since the 2007-08 season. Back then, Arsenal recorded four draws and a loss in February and March between victories over Blackburn and Bolton.<br />
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The current first team are also trying to avoid their fourth consecutive league defeat. Manager Arsène Wenger has never experienced that long a losing streak at the club.<br />
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To add to the uncharted character of this encounter, Arsenal do not have a meaningful league objective to play for. The Gunners are 13 points behind fourth-placed Tottenham with just nine games to play and trail fifth-placed Chelsea by eight. As a result, qualifying for next season’s Champions through their league finish is unlikely.<br />
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Meanwhile, it’s hard to see how Arsenal would not qualify for the Europa League. Because Manchester City won the League Cup and is just one victory away from securing a top-four position, sixth place in the league guarantees a European spot. If one of the top-five finishers (Manchester United, Spurs, or Chelsea) also wins the FA Cup, then seventh place in the league gets Arsenal a European bid.<br />
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In essence, Arsenal, currently five points ahead of seventh-place Burnley, would have to avoid an even more historic collapse to miss out on Europe.<br />
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All that to say that there’s not a tremendous amount riding on Sunday’s match.<br />
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What import it does carry relates to its timing. Three days after a crucial 2-0 win in Milan in the Europa League’s round of 16 and four days before the return leg, Wenger will be balancing the objectives of building the players’ confidence and facilitating their recovery.<br />
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What lineup changes might we see as a result? Much depends on the health of the fullbacks. Preferred starters Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal aren’t fit to play, and backups Calum Chambers and Sead Kolasinac both left Thursday’s match with injuries. In all likelihood, Ainsley Maitland-Niles will replace one of them on Sunday.<br />
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It’s also possible Rob Holding or Mohammed Elneny will come into the defense. If it’s Elneny, that leaves very little scope to give midfielders Granit Xhaka, Aaron Ramsey, or Jack Wilshere a break. Perhaps Alex Iwobi gets a game—but it’s all speculation.<br />
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This uncertainty and the absence of precedent could make this an interesting match. Serendipity, which is always at work in elite athletic contests and the primary reason I watch, may figure more prominently than usual.<br />
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Here’s hoping it favors the Gunners for the first time domestically in quite a while.<br />
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<h4>
Trends to Watch</h4>
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One notable development in the Milan victory was the use of a more defined midfield trio. Xhaka, Ramsey, and Wilshere were structurally cohesive; none ranged far enough forward to constitute a 4-2-3-1. This provided greater support for the defense and improved the flow of the attack. Watford’s strength is in midfield, so a similar approach from Arsenal might make sense.<br />
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<h4>
How the Match Plays Out</h4>
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No way to know. The contest over the midfield could determine the outcome.<br />
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<h4>
Players to Watch</h4>
<br />
Arsenal. <strong>Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang</strong>. Arsenal’s big-money striker showed his flair in the penalty area in an otherwise unsightly performance at Brighton. He didn’t play on Thursday, so his zip and knack for goals could stand out.<br />
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Watford. <strong>Abdoulaye Doucouré.</strong> In the Hornets’ win over Chelsea, the Frenchman was imperious in midfield. He and compatriot Etienne Capoue make up a formidable duo.Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01825157002795712848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584091688376996973.post-73894894278266991502018-01-17T06:00:00.000-08:002018-01-17T06:00:43.599-08:00A Theo Walcott Sendoff<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As Theo Walcott prepares to leave Arsenal for Everton, we can reflect on his tenure in North London.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Some observers have taken this as another opportunity to criticize a player or manager Arsène Wenger. I don’t see any value in that. Instead, I want to offer some impressions and memories of Walcott’s time as a Gunner.</span><br />
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A Professional for the Media Age</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In some ways, Walcott was the leading edge of the modern footballer at Arsenal. When he arrived from Southampton 12 years ago this month, the club had just four months left at its Highbury home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Among his new colleagues were Emmanuel Adebayor, himself fresh from Monaco that January, Ashley Cole, and Pascal Cygan. I mention those three former Arsenal players because they put very little effort into image management. Adebayor and Cole cared not a jot what fans thought of them; if they did care, they addressed that concern ineptly.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Cygan may not have shared that apathy, but he certainly wasn’t able to shape his image: Despite his contributions to the Champions League finalists that season, he’s still trotted out as an example of poor Arsenal defenders.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Walcott paid considerable, perhaps inordinate, attention to his image. He presented himself as a thoughtful, friendly figure and eventually as a devoted family man. He may well be all those things. But he certainly let us know that through careful image management.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">One could say that Walcott, in this fashion, paved the way for Mesut Özil, who, thanks to his own instincts and skillful management of image managers, has crafted a public persona to support his distinctive set of athletic gifts.</span></div>
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Speed and Scoring</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Of course, we’ll also remember Walcott for his speed. He was the fastest Arsenal player for much of his time here. In his prime, he threatened to embarrass defenders so much that many set up to avoid him exposing them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The top example was the 2015 FA Cup Final. That day, Aston Villa fielded a lumbering back line which Arsenal’s attack pushed deeper and deeper. In the 40<sup>th</sup> minute, Villa's line got so deep that Walcott was able to attack a looping header by Alexis Sanchez in front of the defenders and fire home the opening goal. The Gunners cruised from there to a 4-0 defense of the Cup.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">That was one of Walcott’s 108 goals as an Arsenal player, ranking him 15<sup>th</sup>, level with Frank Stapleton, on the club’s career goalscoring list.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Among that bunch were some memorable strikes. His curling <a href="http://www.nbcsports.com/video/theo-walcott-curls-arsenals-first-goal-over-man-city" title="Theo Walcott Curls Arsenal's First Goal over Man City">effort</a> from outside the penalty area in December 2015 against Manchester City ranks as one of his most skillful goals.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But for sheer joy, I’d note his headlong <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0C-8ZfNafqA" title="Chelsea 3-5 Arsenal">run</a>, featuring a pratfall and recovery, in Arsenal’s come-from-behind 5-3 win over Chelsea in October 2012.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Later that fall, another deceptive fall befuddled the Newcastle defense, capping Walcott’s hat trick in a 7-3 Arsenal victory.</span><br />
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Spirit</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Over the years, Arsenal supporters and bloggers have filled bandwidth with critiques of Walcott. I’ve no intention of adding to this mass. Even if he never fulfilled my hopes of increased contributions when he signed his latest and last Arsenal contract in August 2015. (See “<a href="http://youaremyarsenal.com/walcotts-deal-a-good-ting-for-arsenal/" title="Walcott's Deal: A Good Ting for Arsenal">Walcott’s Deal: A Good Ting for Arsenal</a>.”)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Instead, I’ll remain slightly disappointed. Not because Walcott did anything wrong or because his shortcomings or performances had any effect on me personally. But because, just as he was emerging as a vital and distinctive part of the Arsenal attack, he suffered a debilitating knee injury.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As the Premier League turned away from its festive period in January 2014, Walcott had notched five goals and five assists in 13 league matches. This built on a stellar 2012-13 campaign, when he had scored a total of 21 goals and made 16 assists.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Then, Walcott collided awkwardly with Tottenham’s Danny Rose in the 3<sup>rd</sup> Round of the FA Cup, and his progress halted.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">There’s still a great memory of Walcott, Arsenal loyalist and image manager, from that encounter. As he was being carried off in front of the Spurs away section, he raised two fingers with one hand—not in the insulting fashion, that would’ve been too controversial for our Theo—and made an empty circle with thumb and index finger of his other hand.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Two-nil, Walcott was driving home to that lot.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">He did so, probably knowing he faced months out of action, with a smile on his face. Many of us will remember that moment fondly and wish Walcott happy trails with the curmudgeon Sam Allardyce at Everton.</span>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01825157002795712848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584091688376996973.post-38343666075703157972017-12-16T04:00:00.000-08:002017-12-20T12:27:35.453-08:00Match Preview, Arsenal v Newcastle: The Depth of Presumption<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">One of the most maddening aspects of following Arsenal is the presumptuousness of its online fan base. So many supporters seem to be able to read the minds of the manager and players; there’s also a know-it-all contingent that enjoys lecturing the club’s representatives on the proper exercise of their professional duties.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">As a result, I hesitate to generalize about the priorities, motives, or mindsets of Arsenal executives, manager Arsène Wenger and his staff, or the players.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">That said, I think it’s fair to say that Wenger prefers an entertaining style of football, one that encourages the attacking players to express themselves. This is both an aesthetic choice and a business choice: Fans pay for style and goals, and it’s easier to recruit great players by promoting their freedom.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For those reasons, my guess is that the manager is not likely to persist much longer with the approach that produced lackluster performances at Southampton and West Ham. One goal in those two matches, regardless of the opposition’s preference to thwart Arsenal rather than assert themselves offensively, is not the return Wenger wants to deliver.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Expect, then, a different Arsenal when Newcastle visit the Emirates on Saturday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Again, I don’t presume to read the manager’s mind here or to tell him what to do. God forbid.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Instead, I’m just taking him at his word. For example, reflecting on the match at West Ham, he <a href="https://www.arsenal.com/news/wenger-man-city-newcastle-ozil-systems" title="Wenger-Man City, Newcastle, Özil, Systems">said</a>, “I will adapt a little bit to the problem we face. I played a back four at West Ham because I thought we’d have a lot of the ball and wanted one more offensive player in the team.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">He also noted that he expected Newcastle to approach the match from a similarly defensive posture, so it’s not crazy to conclude that we could see four at the back again on Saturday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The question is, who will constitute the attack? The starting center forward (Olivier Giroud), one attacking midfielder (Alex Iwobi), and a central midfielder (Jack Wilshere) were all different against West Ham than they had been against Southampton. Those three have largely been part of the “A-Prime” team that we’ve seen in midweek cup matches.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Although perhaps none of those put in such a poor performance individually on Wednesday, the collection certainly did not amount to a scintillating attack. Sometime star man Alexis is also far from his best—for whatever reason. Would Wenger keep his game-changing qualities on the bench when Arsenal really need a spark?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I’ve no idea what the manager will or should do. But I’m fairly confident that the answer will be interesting.</span><br />
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Trends to Watch</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Much of the discomfort Arsenal have experienced this season has come on the road. Performances at the Emirates have been much more pleasing, in general. That despite most visitors setting up to defend in the final third. Can the Gunners leave their frustrations where they happened—away from home? Can they overwhelm Newcastle during one exceptional period and then manage the game from that point? And which group of 11 players, and what playing structure, are most likely to produce those outcomes?</span><br />
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">How the Match Plays Out</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This topic calls for presumption, but here goes: Arsenal are aggressive from the first whistle, closing down the Magpies and jumping on mistakes. The free flow is back, orchestrated by Mesut Özil, and some of the clinical goalscoring edge returns.</span><br />
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Players to Watch</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Arsenal. <strong>Alexandre Lacazette</strong>. Arsenal paid a record fee—and commensurate wages—to acquire the Frenchman from Lyon. It made those investments precisely for conditions like this, when the team is struggling to score. Maybe that’s not fair, but that’s the business.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Newcastle. <strong>Isaac Hayden.</strong> The former Arsenal prospect will be motivated to show his worth to his former club, and his position at the base of the midfield might allow him to do that. His responsibilities won’t be eased by the absence of partner Jonjo Shelvey.</span>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01825157002795712848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584091688376996973.post-7885566236624584242017-12-09T06:31:00.002-08:002017-12-09T06:31:18.775-08:00Match Preview, Southampton v Arsenal: Anger Managed<!-- x-tinymce/html --><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Earlier this week, Andrew Mangan from Arseblog <a href="https://arseblog.com/2017/12/theres-less-anger-used/" title="There's Less Anger than There Used to Be. Why's That?">explored</a> the less angry, if not muted, reaction to Arsenal’s defeat by Manchester United. It’s worth thinking about this collective psychological shift as Arsenal prepare to visit Southampton on Sunday.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Although I have disagreed with Andrew from time to time, in general I find him a thoughtful, measured, and articulate observer of the club. I would certainly trust his read on the mindset of Arsenal supporters online.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So when he notes that – apart from those outlets that traffic in outrage – the reaction to Saturday’s home loss was “less acute,” that seems like a reasonable statement about a changing mentality.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">He goes on to speculate about the reasons for this change: A combination of Manchester City’s breakaway form, “weary resignation” or apathy over past perceived failures, fatigue with what some view as the same story unfolding, anticipation of the end of manager Arsène Wenger's era.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">All could be true.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What I’ll say is that whatever the source, this represents a healthy turn. The vitriol of yore certainly didn’t do the Arsenal players any service – all the research on sports psychology indicates that a supportive environment is one of the elements grounding elite athletes’ success.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">What’s more, I don’t think it’s particularly functional for those up in arms, either. We are talking about a sporting endeavor here, something that’s supposed to be at least entertaining and at most enjoyable. Individuals don’t survive very long hating what they should be enjoying.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In that light, for the love of Bergkamp, please try to find something to relish about the Gunners’ encounter with the Saints on Sunday.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We probably have the genius of Mesut Özil and the superhuman drive of Alexis Sanchez for a short amount of time, so take pleasure in what they do. We haven’t seen a striker like Alexandre Lacazette at Arsenal in a good while; watch his movement and guile. We’re blessed with one of the world’s top all-around midfielders – do yourself a favor and be amazed at the skill and stamina of Aaron Ramsey.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If you’re also, like myself, interested in the interactions of the complex organism that is a professional football side, take a few minutes during the match to focus on the interplay among Özil, Ramsey, and Granit Xhaka. The understanding of space, the timing, the skill, and the synchronization of movement by these three are a joy to behold.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It’s a human endeavor, though, which means it won’t be perfect and may not meet our expectations. Accepting that fact may, indeed should, reduce the emotional stakes. All the better.</span><br />
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Trends to Watch</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Center half Shkodran Mustafi won’t play due to a thigh strain. Until the self-destruction against Manchester United, Mustafi was part of a defensive trio that had not lost a match. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Will the manager replace Mustafi with a member of the squad, Per Mertesacker, Rob Holding, Calum Chambers, or will he restructure the defense as a back four? He did that in the no-risk setting of Thursday’s Europa League contest with BATE Borisov. As a consequence, the flow through midfield was noticeable.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Such a setup would also be a way to reintroduce Jack Wilshere to the Premier League XI. Wilshere can’t do much more to prove he’s worthy of a league start than he’s done in his cup outings.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The guess here is that, away from home less than 72 hours after the previous match, Wenger sticks with three central defenders and goes with Mertesacker in the middle.</span><br />
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<h4>
How the Match Plays Out</h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Southampton took the imperious Manchester City to the brink of a draw in midweek last week, so the going won’t be easy for Arsenal. Despite their less-than-prolific goalscoring record this season, Saints can feature Charlie Austin again up front. The former QPR man has troubled the Gunners in the past.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">But midfield is the key to this one. Arsenal set the platform there to permit the attacking talent to thrive; this happens on Sunday, giving one of the Gunners’ relentless attackers enough support to find the Southampton net.</span><br />
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<h4>
Players to Watch</h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Arsenal. <strong>Mesut Özil</strong>. The German is in the top form of his Arsenal stay, just as his contract winds down. Watch and cherish his wizardry while you can.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Southampton. <strong>Oriol Romeu</strong>. Southampton’s noteworthy performances in recent years have come when the Spaniard has ruled the midfield. If he dominates that crucial area the way he can, Saints will have a foundation to trouble Arsenal.</span><br />
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span><br />Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01825157002795712848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584091688376996973.post-62312710001988848752017-10-27T17:30:00.000-07:002017-10-27T17:30:08.519-07:00Match Preview, Arsenal v Swansea City: What Matters<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">When I started writing about Arsenal five years ago, I thought I had something distinctive to say about the club. Having read and been inspired by several blogs for years, I believed I had identified a way to contribute something different to the discussion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In particular, the business and management of the club, from its corporate strategy to its financial performance to its brand strategy to its management of its human capital, were aspects that I could shed some light on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I’ve thought a lot and helped others think about such matters over the course of my career. Examining and synthesizing them for such an admirable enterprise as Arsenal Football Club seemed like a worthwhile undertaking.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Today, I’m not going to say that assessment was wrong – this is supposed to be a match preview, not a navel-gazey blog post. But too many of us are paying attention to the business and management of the club at the expense of the actual sporting endeavor.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This week provides an excellent example. Instead of relishing the emergence of Eddie Nketiah, the 18-year-old savior of Arsenal’s Carabao Cup run, the story turned to the conduct of the Annual General Meeting of Arsenal Shareholders. Which, capitalism being what it is, meant absolutely nothing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">What will mean something is the Gunners’ next Premier League match, against Swansea City at Emirates Stadium.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">May I suggest, though, that this meaning has little to do with Arsenal’s prospects for the near term, as the team tries to establish consistent performance before some challenging November fixtures? Or with its ultimate position in the 2017-18 Premier League table? Or with the futures of star men Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Özil? Or with the collective desire of 14 professional athletes who would never have reached the pinnacle of their profession without desire?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Those will doubtless be storylines peddled by paid and amateur analysts during and after the match. And they will largely miss the point of sport.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">To me, an observer who's ruminated on the bigger picture for some time, the point now is the enjoyment of sublime athleticism, the appreciation of genius, the surprise at the unexpected. The minute developments or actions that I have never seen before and will likely never see again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">If you view the story through that composite lens, you’ll avoid the jaded, hackneyed, “same old Arsenal” perspective that seems to drive some people near insanity.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">You also might appreciate the speed and guile of the Gunners’ attackers against a Swansea defense set up to stymie them, the subtle orchestration of midfielders Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey, the dynamism of wingbacks Sead Kolasinac and Hector Bellerin, and the timely aggressiveness and attention to transition of the team’s defenders and goalkeeper.</span><br />
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Trends to Watch</strong></span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">See above, in particular the timing of Ramsey’s runs to join the attack. Last weekend against Everton, the Welshman synchronized his moves almost perfectly with those of Özil, Alexis, and Alexandre Lacazette. Swansea may be more diligent opponents, but the interactions of Arsenal’s four attackers can be unstoppable.</span><br />
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<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>How the Match Plays Out</strong></span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This was not a straightforward affair last season, owing primarily to the unjustified dismissal of Xhaka. I expect him to avoid such a fate on Saturday and to dictate the play from the base of Arsenal’s midfield. Farther forward, the Swans may be more resolute than Everton was. Still, I don’t see them resisting the athleticism, skill, and synchronicity of Arsenal’s attack.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Players to Watch</strong></span></h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Arsenal. <strong>Mesut Özil</strong>. After his display at Everton, the German playmaker looks primed to dominate matches with his skill and vision. As Swansea set up to thwart him, he’ll need to move and think just as quickly.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Bournemouth. <strong>Lucasz Fabianski</strong>. The former Arsenal man between Swansea’s sticks has a worldy in him; he also has a clanger. He’ll be busy.</span>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01825157002795712848noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584091688376996973.post-36315285242301685842017-09-09T01:00:00.000-07:002017-09-11T11:56:18.098-07:00Match Preview, Arsenal v Bournemouth: Embrace the Uncertainty<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Anyone who comes up with a definitive preview of Arsenal’s match against Bournemouth on Saturday lacks good sense or humility or both.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There’s just no way to predict how this encounter is going to unfold. Now, at a fundamental level, that’s true of any sporting contest, which is why we pay such rapt attention. Those unexpected moments of brilliance and joy carry most of the appeal.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If something can be even more unpredictable than normal—a question perhaps for the grammarians and philosophers out there—this Arsenal match would qualify.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">First, Arsenal’s level of intensity is difficult to see ahead of time. The requirement on that front certainly wasn’t met in the last match against Liverpool, and despite exceeding the quality of Stoke and Leicester City, the Gunners haven’t exactly overwhelmed any opponents with a full match’s worth of effort.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Without suggesting the behavior and performance of previous teams have any bearing on this still-forming one, I will observe that manager Arsène Wenger has noted his teams often adopt caution after comprehensive defeats. Then again, the international break may have mitigated that tendency a bit.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Whatever Arsenal’s mental approach, the composition and playing style remain mysteries. We do know that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will not be taking up a position in Arsenal’s starting XI. And it’s a pretty good bet that Wenger will pick Petr Cech, Laurent Koscielny, Alexis Sanchez, and Mesut Özil; their talent dictates their inclusion.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As for the other seven starters, you would think there’d be spots for Granit Xhaka, Aaron Ramsey, and Alexandre Lacazette, but you’d have tipped Lacazette for a start at Liverpool given he posed the greatest goal threat in the team’s first two matches. You’d have been wrong.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It’s also not 100 percent certain that Wenger will retain the structure of three central defenders. The manager has never expressed a firm commitment to that approach, and it hasn’t achieved its main purpose—defensive stability—in Arsenal’s first three league matches. Hosting Bournemouth might provide just the occasion to reintroduce the back four.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If such a return is in the offing, might we see stability provided by the inclusion of a more defensive midfielder, say, Francis Coquelin? The Frenchman could patrol the approaches to the central defense while Xhaka and Ramsey work the transitions. This might get the best out of all three.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Or it might not.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The point is, we don’t know what’s going to happen. As in our own lives, we can choose to fear that uncertainty, or we can embrace it. I know not what course others may take, but, as for me, give me serendipity.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<h4>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Trends to Watch</b></span></span></h4>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud has scored 14 goals as a substitute; only three Premier League players have scored more. One of those, Jermain Defoe, now plies his trade for Bournemouth. Will one of these deliver the decisive blow on Saturday?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<h4>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>How the Match Plays Out</b></span></span></h4>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Arsenal start tentatively. Bournemouth mostly foil the Gunners early on and may enjoy a chance or two. Arsenal grow more confident and determined late in the first half, and their technical superiority and application eventually carry the day.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<h4>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Players to Watch</b></span></span></h4>
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Arsenal. <b>Alexandre Lacazette</b>. The Frenchman seems to have a nose for goals, and his savvy in the area will trouble Bournemouth.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Bournemouth. <b>Ryan Fraser</b>. The Scottish winger caused Arsenal all sorts of problems in the frantic 3-3 draw at Dean Court last January. Whatever defensive framework the Gunners use, Fraser will create danger.</span></span>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01825157002795712848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584091688376996973.post-54863879554194908452017-05-10T04:00:00.000-07:002017-05-10T08:47:30.701-07:00Match Preview, Southampton v Arsenal: Don't Believe the Hype<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Occasionally, after particularly positive Arsenal results, I’ll break
with pattern and review some immediate post-match analysis. I figure in
so doing I can revel in the good feeling, which is one of the reasons I
devote my time to following the club.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Such was my decision after the Gunners’ 2-0 win over Manchester United on Sunday. And I regretted it.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">NBC
Sports spent the first segment of its studio show talking about
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho. Nothing about who had performed
well for Arsenal. Or about tactical adjustments that might have worked
to Arsenal’s advantage. Nothing, even, about the Gunners’ ability to
seize the moments that were presented them.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I then turned to The
Guardian’s match report, hoping the hour or so of reflection had allowed
its writer to reflect more substantively on the proceedings. Same
story, essentially.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">What’s this got to do with Arsenal’s match against Southampton on Wednesday?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It’s
relevant because the obsession with the easy, popular narrative can
make us miss some interesting developments. We’ll hear, for example,
about the long odds of Arsenal’s qualification for the Champions League
and about the club’s poor record at Southampton.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Both accurate
observations, but not at all interesting.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Instead, we could be
thinking about Danny Welbeck. He scored another winner against his
former club on Sunday, and his attributes were part of Arsenal’s
solution to an opponent’s blocking intentions. (Watch Adrian Clarke’s
excellent <a data-mce-href="http://player.arsenal.com/matches/g855523/video/9883/the-breakdown-manchester-united-a" href="http://player.arsenal.com/matches/g855523/video/9883/the-breakdown-manchester-united-a" title="The Breakdown Arsenal 2 -0 Manchester United">Breakdown</a> of some of the other moves, such as the deliberate movements of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Özil.)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Will Welbeck’s fitness permit another start so soon?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Or
can the midfield partnership of Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey continue
to flourish? Again, fitness will play an essential role in the answer,
what with Xhaka’s ongoing lower-leg woes. If the Swiss can go, that can
only boost the team’s efforts to establish some flow through the
midfield.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In defense, there’s a doubt about the availability of
linchpin Laurent Koscielny, according to manager Arsène Wenger. Given
his impressive contributions on Sunday and the wily play of Southampton
striker Manolo Gabbiadini, Arsenal will be hoping the on-pitch captain
can play. Without him, can Shkodran Mustafi come straight back from his
own injury into a new system, and who’s going to marshal the defense
from the central position in the back three?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">These are all much
more compelling questions to me than the unanswerable ones about the
manager’s future, the team’s Champions League prospects, transfer needs,
and history on the South Coast.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">They’re drawn from the actual
stuff of professional football—two groups of 11 elite athletes competing
and, if we’re lucky, providing some surprises with their determination,
physical gifts, and intelligence.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Like those two moments on
Sunday when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Özil skipped over ham-fisted
attempts by Wayne Rooney to tackle them.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Key Matchup</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Manolo
Gabbiadini against Arsenal’s central defenders. There’s been a
noticeable improvement in Arsenal’s defense since the introduction of
the 3-4-2-1 structure. Gabbiadini, despite being in woeful goalscoring
form, creates a tricky challenge, with the likes of Nathan Redmond and
Dusan Tadic supporting him.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Where to Worry</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">If
Xhaka can’t play due to injury, Arsenal’s transitions will suffer.
That’s especially concerning against Southampton because the Saints
midfield is very skilled at disrupting the opposition’s flow. Would the
response be a double pivot of Ramsey and Oxlade-Chamberlain?</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Match Verdict</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I
have no idea what to expect. Both teams had successful outings at the
weekend. Arsenal still have something to play for but an abysmal road
record of late. Southampton have little obvious motivation and problems
scoring goals, but they enjoy the home support. Let’s just accept the
uncertainty and see what happens.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Players to Watch</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Arsenal. <strong>Danny Welbeck</strong>.
The England man scored twice here in the FA Cup this year. He also
delivered the coup de grace to his old team on Sunday. He can make his
case to lead the line for the rest of the season and, perhaps, beyond.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Southampton. <strong>Oriol Romeu</strong>.
Southampton’s defensive midfielder has put in some standout
performances this season. He’s a formidable barrier to the Saints’
somewhat makeshift back line.</span>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01825157002795712848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584091688376996973.post-70050989930195326702017-03-18T00:00:00.000-07:002017-03-18T00:00:21.133-07:00Match Preview, West Brom v Arsenal: Bag the Big Picture<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Arsenal need total focus on 90 minutes of football against West Bromwich Albion early Saturday.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Since
the Gunners’ Champions League exit to Bayern Munich, manager Arsène
Wenger’s future has dominated the discourse. One example: The manager’s
press conference before the FA Cup quarterfinal against Lincoln City did
not feature one question about the match itself. The only topic was
Wenger’s career plan.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This did a huge disservice to Lincoln City, of course. It also perpetuated the boring, binary debate among Arsenal supporters.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In
all likelihood, Arsenal’s players aren’t bothered with this contention.
They have 12 league matches and an FA Cup semifinal date to concentrate
on. Ignoring the role each plays in the overall assessment of the
season could be critical to success.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The first of these fixtures
certainly requires its own level of attention. West Brom manager Tony
Pulis knows how to play the foil to Arsenal, configuring his teams to
nullify skill on the ball as a matter of course.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The Baggies
succeeded in the reverse fixture, holding Arsenal scoreless until a late
header by Oliver Giroud carried the day for the Gunners.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">How do Arsenal cope tactically with that approach, especially given confidence is not at the brim these days?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In
particular, will Wenger pursue the three-man midfield he has introduced
in recent weeks? The trio of Granit Xhaka, Aaron Ramsey, and Alex
Oxlade-Chamberlain provided an interesting and effective departure from
the longtime 4-2-3-1 system.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Against Lincoln City,
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s injury prompted the reintroduction of Mesut Özil to
the side. The German, returning from illness and suffering poor form
since the turn of the year, seems the key figure of the 4-2-3-1. It’s
geared to allowing him playmaking freedom with minimal defensive
responsibilities.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But his return did not prompt the team to revert
to 4-2-3-1. Instead, he played deeper in the midfield trio and asserted
himself physically against the tiring Imps. Özil has also enjoyed great
success with the German national team as part of an attacking trio.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The
advantage of either Özil position for Arsenal is a more cohesive
midfield. Offensively, the flow improves because more routes forward
open; defensively, Arsenal are less vulnerable to counterattacks.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Both
dynamics will be important against West Brom. The Baggies will try to
congest the interior approaches to their final third and to force
Arsenal wide. They’ll be confident their large defenders can cope with
any crosses from there. Lincoln executed a similar approach with some
success in the first half last weekend.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">When the Gunners switch
the play quickly, though, defenders have to scramble. Ramsey and Alexis
should be ideally placed to exploit the resulting spaces, and Xhaka and
Özil possess the skill and vision to find them.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Vision and
implementation on that plane—rather than at the corporate level or on
the level of the manager’s future—should be all anyone cares about.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Key Matchup</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Mesut
Özil against Claudio Yacob. Arsenal will have the bulk of possession in
this match. The outcome will hinge on what the Gunners accomplish with
that possession. Özil has seemed pedestrian in 2017 and needs to spark
into form for the last 12 league matches. He’ll have to avoid the
attentions of West Brom’s pesky Yacob to start that resurgence at the
Hawthorns.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Where to Worry</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">No
mystery here—set pieces. That’s West Brom’s main offensive threat. The
Baggies have scored 17 of their 36 goals (47 percent) in dead-ball
scenarios. Their 12 goals from corners are far and away the highest of
any Premier League team. (Stats from Opta via <a data-mce-href="http://www.squawka.com/football-team-rankings#set-piece-goals#team-stats#english-premier-league|season-2016/2017#0#90#any#any#season#1#all-matches#total" href="http://www.squawka.com/football-team-rankings#set-piece-goals#team-stats#english-premier-league%7Cseason-2016/2017#0#90#any#any#season#1#all-matches#total" title="Team Stats Rankings Table - Set Pieces">Squawka.com</a>)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Match Verdict</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">West
Brom will make Arsenal labor, as always. Pulis’s defenses will be
difficult to break down, but as Arsenal increase the tempo, West Brom
will tire. A lapse in concentration will provide the opening, and
Arsenal will rely on a clinical finish to carry the day.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Players to Watch</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Arsenal. <strong>Danny Welbeck</strong>.
This seems like a perfect environment for Welbeck. He has the speed to
run away from West Brom’s hulking defenders and the strength to take
them on if necessary.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">West Brom. <strong>Ben Foster</strong>. The
only reason West Brom didn’t get swamped at the Emirates was Foster’s
performance in goal. Another stellar outing from him would deepen
Arsenal’s frustrations.</span>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01825157002795712848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584091688376996973.post-4906379740103921612017-03-07T04:00:00.000-08:002017-03-07T04:00:17.476-08:00Match Preview, Arsenal v Bayern Munich: I Know You Rider<em>The sun will shine on my back door someday,<br /> March wind will blow all my troubles away.</em><br />
<br />
The
American blues song “I Know You Rider” says a lot about Arsenal
Football Club in advance of Tuesday’s Champions League match with Bayern
Munich.<br />
<br />
The number, performed by such groups as the Grateful Dead and Hot Tuna, deftly moves from despair to optimism.<br />
<br />
In
its opening verse, the storyteller predicts that the listener “gonna
miss me when I’m gone.” It’s hard not to attribute that sentiment to the
embattled Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger. As has been analyzed on this
site and elsewhere, the Frenchman is such an integral part of the club’s
culture and structure that his absence will force a transformation.<br />
<br />
The
song’s verses unfold differently depending on the artist and the
performance. By the time they close, they express a hopeful sentiment.
That the cares, blues, troubles will, come some March, disappear.<br />
<br />
We
struggle to see that outcome for Arsenal now amidst the gloom of four
defeats in six matches and the uncertainty clouding the futures of
Wenger and his two stars Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Özil.<br />
<br />
But the
hope has to be there somewhere. Whether it lies in the club’s longer
trajectory or in expectation of one match, the sane among us all possess
some kind of hope. Otherwise, we would stop caring; we’d stop paying
attention; we’d find other pastimes.<br />
<br />
Masochism or even quest for
validation—among those who are looking to prove they’re smarter and/or
more committed than others—are sustainable for only so long.<br />
<br />
And
so to the matter of Bayern. In the binary operation of knockout
competition, this is a meaningless encounter. The German giants
destroyed the Gunners, 5-1, three weeks ago, and barring some
supernatural intervention, Arsenal are not going to better that result
and advance to the Champions League quarterfinal.<br />
<br />
The way things
look—Bayern having put eight goals past Hamburg at the weekend, Arsenal
continuing to look rudderless in a 3-1 loss at Liverpool—a result
similar to the first leg’s doesn’t seem far-fetched.<br />
<br />
Yet we’ll pay attention.<br />
<br />
Perhaps
hints of something different will emerge. A revised tactical approach.
Opportunities for different players. Focus. Professional pride.<br />
<br />
Any of those changes to the dynamic will be interesting. They might also set the team up for better days ahead.<br />
<br />
Like
a trip to Wembley for an FA Cup semifinal. Saturday’s quarterfinal
visit of non-league Lincoln City provides a legitimate chance at that
outcome.<br />
<br />
Or Premier League matches to come with Tottenham,
Manchester City, and Manchester United. Make the most of all those
occasions, and the Gunners tell a different, less tragic, story of the
2016-17 season.<br />
<br />
Because all those conclusions remain possible, we press on.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Key Matchup</h4>
<br />
Arsenal’s
players against their recent performances. The direction is negative;
few would dispute that. Arresting that slide against one of the three or
four most powerful teams in the world is a daunting task. But these are
highly paid professionals who got where they are through talent and
persistent motivation. Summoning those qualities against this opposition
could be effective therapy.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Where to Worry</h4>
<br />
Could another absolute hiding make things worse? I don’t know.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Match Verdict</h4>
<br />
Even
if manager Carlo Ancelotti changes his lineup, Bayern will dominate the
ball. And win the tie. The major unknown is whether Arsenal will
discover any answers to their recent troubles.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Players to Watch</h4>
<br />
Arsenal. <strong>Aaron Ramsey</strong>.
Can the Welshman get back into form quickly and help the Arsenal
midfield function better? It’s a lot to ask, especially against this
opposition. But the rest of Arsenal’s season might depend on it.<br />
<br />
Bayern Munich. <strong>Franck Ribéry</strong>.
Because if you have to watch one Bayern player, you might as well
content yourself in the knowledge that Arsenal don’t employ someone this
unattractive.Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01825157002795712848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584091688376996973.post-60629249514989402032017-02-24T16:30:00.000-08:002017-02-24T16:30:05.311-08:00Arsène Wenger's Sweet SpotRecent heavy losses to Chelsea and Bayern Munich have again prompted much talk of Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger’s shortcomings.<br />
<br />
With
Wenger’s contract due to expire in June and Arsenal’s chances of
supremacy in the Premier League and Champions League scuppered, strident
and influential voices are saying the club and manager should part
ways. His failures are cause, they say, for termination.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Terms of the debate</h4>
<br />
As
ever with arguments--especially over such binary functions as Wenger
In/Out—there’s a risk of constructing straw men. Even so, I’d
characterize the core contentions in these ways:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>The manager is tactically naïve</li>
<li>He has displayed an inability to motivate today’s players for the big occasion</li>
<li>He indulges too many underperforming players</li>
<li>His footballing philosophy has proven inadequate</li>
<li>Events and results have unfolded in predictable fashion</li>
</ul>
<br />
Evidence
exists to support each of these points. Except the final one, which is
maddening to anyone like me who has limited time for entertainment and
chooses to follow sport precisely because of its potential for the
unexpected.<br />
<br />
Despite the foundations of these arguments, I would
like to suggest that they don’t fully reflect Arsenal’s current state of
affairs under Wenger.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Expanding the perspective</h4>
<br />
We can
conduct a fuller, more accurate examination by contrasting Wenger’s FA
Cup record with his team’s performances over league campaigns.<br />
<br />
Wenger
is the most decorated modern FA Cup manager. In 19 tournaments, he has
raised the trophy six times. With one more success, he will be the most
successful FA Cup manager of all time, moving ahead of Aston Villa’s
George Ramsay (1855-1935).<br />
<br />
Longevity and a flow of excellent players have certainly played parts in Wenger’s record.<br />
<br />
Just as important, though, has been his philosophy and approach. What Philippe Auclair has <a data-mce-href="http://arseblog.com/2014/10/arsecast-extra-episode-36-live-07-10-2014/" href="http://arseblog.com/2014/10/arsecast-extra-episode-36-live-07-10-2014/" title="Arsecast Extra Episode 36">called</a>
the manager’s “jazz” style—a less structured system encouraging
individual autonomy and expression—has the potential to merge stunning
aesthetics and overwhelming victories.<br />
<br />
That brilliance and beauty
can be rare and fleeting, but when they coincide, we witness an
extraordinary sporting accomplishment. The most recent example was
Arsenal’s 4-0 demolition of Aston Villa in the 2015 FA Cup Final.<br />
<br />
Another
element of skill in knockout competitions is avoiding major upsets. In
this, Wenger has unquestionably succeeded. Only once in his tenure have
Arsenal lost to a lower-division team in the FA Cup. That 2013 defeat to
Blackburn was a real low point.<br />
<br />
The point here is that discrete,
win-and-advance matches in which conditions are level or slightly favor
Arsenal bring out the best in Wenger’s sides.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Points of contrast</h4>
<br />
In
other, high-profile situations, the approach has been found wanting.
The Champions League knockout stages are the most stinging recent
example.<br />
<br />
Wenger’s style doesn’t thrive one-on-one with Europe’s
elites because conditions are rarely neutral. Whether it’s officiating,
higher-pedigree and richer opposition, less-advantageous scheduling, or
other factors, Arsenal find the going difficult at the business end of
the Champions League.<br />
<br />
His freeform philosophy can also be
detrimental on the frequent occasions that tactical precision and
structure carry European nights.<br />
<br />
For 13 years, the ultimate achievement has eluded Wenger in the Premier League as well.<br />
<br />
Each
campaign, Arsenal start with an incredibly tight margin of error. It’s
so narrow due to the strong correlation between financial outlay on
transfer fees and wages and the final league finish. And let’s keep in
mind that if the title is the only measure of satisfaction, 19 teams end
up dissatisfied.<br />
<br />
Over the scope of a 38-match season, Wenger’s
philosophy has not produced a credible title challenge since at least
2008. Since the Invincibles of 2003-04, Arsenal have exceeded 80 points
just twice. Historically, that is the bare minimum for contention.<br />
<br />
This
record suggests that Wenger’s approach isn’t enough to overcome
Arsenal’s financial disadvantage relative to bigger spenders Chelsea,
Manchester United, and Manchester City.<br />
<br />
And yet, there’s a
credible case that Wenger has exceeded the league performance we should
expect given the club’s expenditures. To date, his teams have never
finished lower than fourth place. In the past 10 years, no other club
can make that claim.<br />
<br />
<h4>
What do you expect?</h4>
<br />
Expectations are,
therefore, the issue. In many ways, Wenger is suffering from the
standards he himself set, at least in league play. His three triumphant
teams enjoyed structural and cultural advantages that more recent sides
have not.<br />
<br />
On the other hand, Wenger still has the philosophy and
the players to achieve domestic cup greatness. That won’t arrive every
year—the quest for beauty and brilliance on the day does risk
irredeemable defeat. But isn’t it worth watching for the potential?Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01825157002795712848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584091688376996973.post-29990515486765657022017-02-01T06:00:00.000-08:002017-02-02T07:09:53.003-08:00Match Report: Arsenal 1, Watford 2<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Arsenal produced a performance to match the dismal London night, losing to Watford 2-1.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After
racing past Southampton in the FA Cup on Saturday, the Gunners could
not get out of the blocks on Tuesday night. It cost them dearly.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Within
a quarter of an hour, Watford had a two-goal lead. The first came via
an Aaron Ramsey deflection of Younes Kaboul’s free kick. Although the
effort came from well outside the area, Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech
could not adjust in time.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Just three minutes later, Ramsey was in
another unfortunate place. The Welshman failed to control a Gabriel
throw-in. Watford’s Etienne Capoue nicked the ball, juked Francis
Coquelin and Shkodran Mustafi, and forced a pointblank save from Cech.
Troy Deeney was there to poke home the rebound, and not for the first
time this season, Arsenal faced a deficit against a team much lower in
the table.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The response was tepid at best.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Arsenal strung
passes together but failed to mount any threat on the Watford goal.
Watford’s 4-1-4-1 formation packed the midfield and prevented the
Gunners from moving from their own half into attack.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">That showed
in Arsenal’s passing statistics at halftime: Mustafi and central
defensive partner Laurent Koscielny were the team’s top two passers of
the first 45 minutes. In addition, the top passing combination, which
for Arsenal often involves a midfielder and playmaker Mesut Özil, was
Mustafi to Koscielny.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As the half went on, Watford actually looked
more likely to get a third than the Gunners did to climb back into the
match. Indeed, Cech had to come up with a save from Daryl Janmaat’s shot
to keep the gap at two goals.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Overall, the Hornets had nine shots, six on target, in the first half, while Arsenal had none on target and only three total.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Arsenal
manager Arsène Wenger, serving the second of his four-match ban in the
stands, seemed to acknowledge his team’s ineffectiveness. Contrary to
his norm, Wenger introduced Theo Walcott for Olivier Giroud at halftime,
having already used one substitution to replace the injured Ramsey.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Walcott’s
quickness did make a difference. He had two looks at goal in his first
six minutes of action and forced Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes into a
decent save.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In the 58<sup>th</sup> minute, Arsenal’s pressure
finally had an impact. Alexis Sanchez got past Watford left back Miguel
Britos and found Alex Iwobi at the far post. Iwobi caressed the ball
back across goal and in to halve the deficit.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Gunners went on
to dominate possession and opportunities. Watford were content to break
up play, so Wenger and his pitchside colleagues Steve Bould and Neil
Banfield discarded all caution. Coquelin came off to be replaced by
Lucas Perez.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">That left a central midfield of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Iwobi, neither with a long record of patrolling that area.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Perez
joined the forward line and contributed to Arsenal’s intensifying
efforts to breach Watford’s defense. The Spaniard’s shot off the bar
late in normal time was as close as the Gunners came to equalizing.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Their 17 shots in the second half--but just three that tested Gomes after Iwobi’s goal—did not produce another comeback.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Things to ponder</span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Here are a few observations from this disappointing showing:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The
substitutes did make Arsenal more dynamic. Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott,
and Lucas added quickness and intent to a heretofore plodding approach.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The
pairing of Coquelin and Ramsey never got a grip on this encounter. They
struggled in the packed midfield and offered little in transition to
attack.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Indeed, questions will intensify about Arsenal’s
midfield options. Ramsey’s exit after 20 minutes and the ongoing
absences of Granit Xhaka and Mohammed Elneny leave the terrain to
Coquelin and Oxlade-Chamberlain. The latter did not look entirely
comfortable after a second-half tackle.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Wenger faces another
difficult decision in the forward areas. Although Giroud enjoyed very
little service, he was largely ineffective when he did come near the
ball. Will he retain his starting slot at the expense of the speedier
Walcott, Perez, and Danny Welbeck?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What started as a hopeful
week now looks ominous. Chelsea could not hold its lead against
Liverpool, meaning a Gunners’ win would have brought them within six
points of the league leaders. With a Stamford Bridge date on Saturday,
the gap could have been just three. But Arsenal now face a nine-point
disadvantage, and it’s hard to see Chelsea giving up that much ground.</span></li>
</ul>
Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01825157002795712848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584091688376996973.post-29242108063323992602017-01-28T03:30:00.000-08:002017-01-28T03:30:14.519-08:00Match Preview, Southampton v Arsenal: Modify the St. Mary's Mojo<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Arsenal’s fourth-round FA Cup tie with Southampton provides an
opportunity for the Gunners to change their fortunes at St. Mary’s.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Southampton’s
home ground has been less than kind to Arsenal: The Gunners have not
won there in 13 years and have just two wins in eight visits to the
Saints’ home since 2001.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">You might think karma doesn’t look great
for Saturday’s trip, either. After all, Southampton approaches this
matchup on a real high, having beaten Liverpool away on Wednesday to
advance to the EFL Cup Final at Wembley.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The Saints produced an
impressive display of defending and counterattacking at Anfield, a game
plan that could trouble Arsenal as well. They also carry confidence that
they can overcome the Gunners from their 2-0 win in the previous round
of the EFL Cup.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">However, this match could unfold in quite a
different fashion. First of all, the midweek win at Liverpool came at a
cost. Already suffering from multiple injuries, Southampton lost
starting midfielder James Ward-Prowse to a chest injury and center
forward Jay Rodriguez to an ankle problem.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That could be a symptom
of another problem, a cramped schedule that will see the Saints play
nine matches in the month of January. Arsenal will have played two
fewer.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And while Southampton loses players to the treatment table,
Arsenal enjoys returns from injury absences. Forward Danny Welbeck has
eased his way back to match fitness with three substitute appearances
this month, fullback Hector Bellerin is ready again after a second
injury layoff, and forward Theo Walcott returns after almost six weeks
out.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As a result, Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger has options and depth that Southampton manager Claude Puel doesn’t share.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Where
Wenger’s choices are more restricted, though, is in central midfield.
Only two first-team central midfielders, Francis Coquelin and Aaron
Ramsey, are available. With Granit Xhaka serving the first of a
four-game suspension and Mohammed Elneny still at the Africa Cup of
Nations for at least another week, Wenger will have to weigh the risks
of sending out his last remaining charges in that area.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The risk appears heightened with two crucial Premier League encounters next week.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Mitigating
that risk would mean tapping a young player for an important role.
Wenger has identified Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Jeff Reine-Adelaide, and
Alex Iwobi, the eldest of that trio at 20, as his backup options.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">One
does wonder where this leaves Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has
occasionally taken a more central role with some distinction. Perhaps
more definitively as a wide attacking midfielder, where he’s enjoyed his
most productive season since joining Arsenal from Southampton.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Will he get the nod there again over Welbeck, Lucas Perez, Iwobi, and Alexis Sanchez?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Whatever
the selection in more forward areas, Arsenal’s players should have the
quality to trouble the Southampton defense bereft of its early-season
starting duo of José Fonte and Virgil Van Dijk. The former left the
South Coast for West Ham, while the latter is one of the Saints’ many
infirm.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The question, as ever with cup ties, is will the Arsenal
team have enough cohesion and motivation to overcome a determined
opponent on home turf. The Gunners did—just—in their third-round visit
to Preston North End. The answer will need to be more definitive to
modify their St. Mary’s mojo on Saturday.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Key Matchup</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Shane
Long against Arsenal’s central defenders. The Irishman, who scored the
tie-clincher in Southampton’s 1-0 win on Wednesday, is a pesky opponent.
He’s a master of the sly nudge. Long’s misses in the two teams’ league
encounter kept the door open for Arsenal’s late victory, and whoever
Wenger selects in defense will need to keep Long out of those
threatening positions.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Where to Worry</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">With
a relatively untested partnership in central midfield, Arsenal might
struggle to establish any kind of flow. That’s a bigger concern in this
match because Southampton is adept at disrupting the opposition’s
progress in midfield. If Arsenal don’t reach quick understandings in
midfield and elsewhere—as we’ve seen other mix-and-match lineups suffer
from—the attack could really sputter.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Match Verdict</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Another
cagey, difficult affair could await. Southampton will try to compensate
for fatigue and a depleted roster by keeping the Gunners at arm’s
length. Arsenal will need to call on patience and persistence again.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Players to Watch</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Arsenal. <strong>Danny Welbeck</strong>.
The England man gets his first start since last May. He’s come close to
scoring in two of his three substitute appearances this month and has
the speed and power to get away from Southampton’s makeshift back line.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Southampton. <strong>Oriol Romeu</strong>.
Southampton’s defensive midfielder was the standout performer in his
team’s semifinal clincher at Anfield. He seemed to know where Liverpool
was heading before Liverpool’s players did. Similarly adept
interceptions and tackles on Saturday will frustrate Arsenal.</span>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01825157002795712848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584091688376996973.post-42643622137740503702017-01-12T04:00:00.000-08:002017-01-18T13:18:47.494-08:00Are Arsenal Prepared for Life after Wenger?<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Earlier this week, the German publication <i>Kicker</i> published
an interview with Arsenal playmaker and record signing Mesut Özil. In
it, Özil stressed his readiness to sign a new contract with the club.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The
only sticking point, he said, is the uncertain management situation.
With manager Arsène Wenger’s own contract set to expire in June, one of
the team’s star men has simply asked the club for an indication of who
his boss will be if he commits his prime years to Arsenal.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“The club knows that I am here especially because of Wenger, who brought me, whose trust I enjoy,” Özil <a data-mce-href="http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/intligen/startseite/668078/artikel_oezil_ich-moechte-erst-klarheit-was-wenger-macht.html" href="http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/intligen/startseite/668078/artikel_oezil_ich-moechte-erst-klarheit-was-wenger-macht.html" title="Özil: Ich möchte erst Klarheit was Wenger macht">said</a>. “The club also knows that I firstly would like clarity on what the manager is doing.” (See Arseblog’s full English transcript <a data-mce-href="http://news.arseblog.com/2017/01/mesut-ozil-kicker-interview-full-transcript/" href="http://news.arseblog.com/2017/01/mesut-ozil-kicker-interview-full-transcript/" title="Mesut Özil, Kicker Interview Full Transcript">here</a>)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In
one sense, Özil’s declarations are reassuring: He seems content with
his life and work and reluctant to jettison that for greater riches
elsewhere.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">On the other hand, his doubt is troubling. It suggests
one of Arsenal’s greatest assets is as much in the dark about the
manager’s position as the rest of us. A reasonable inference from Özil’s
plea is that the club’s executives have not shared the outlines of a
succession plan with him.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Given the discretion with which Arsenal
conducts business, we shouldn’t be surprised that all the details
haven’t emerged. We won't see a five-person managerial short list, for
example.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">But we don’t even have reassurances, a succession
philosophy, or indications of a decision structure to hint that the club
is prepared for the possibility of life after Wenger.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>The outlines of a plan</b></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Three
years ago, we lived through a similar scenario. Until Arsenal secured
the FA Cup that spring, Wenger’s future remained much in doubt.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The
risks of that state of affairs did not disappear; they were only
deferred. As a result, the observations I made in my October 2014 piece “<a data-mce-href="http://www.youaremyarsenal.com/arsenal-after-arsene" href="http://www.youaremyarsenal.com/arsenal-after-arsene" title="Arsenal After Arsène">Arsenal After Arsène</a>” are still germane.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In
particular, we should look at the steps Arsenal have taken to prepare
for the managerial transition. Have the Board and club executives
implemented practices that would produce an effective succession?
According to executive recruiting experts David Larcker and Stephen
Miles, organizations should, among other actions:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Add succession expertise to the board, particularly the search committee chair</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Develop a robust succession architecture to cover needs from immediate emergencies to a five-year horizon</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Use external advisors to assess candidates and work closely with the board</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Prepare to shuffle the current management team if any members block the development or advancement of others</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Expose promising internal candidates to the board</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Although
the club won't engage in all these activities in the open, we can
expect the Board and Chief Executive Ivan Gazidis to reflect on these
needs and to describe their preparations broadly.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Not only have
Arsenal’s leaders failed to substantiate their thinking and actions on
the matter, they have not answered the critical question—who is
primarily responsible for the appointment.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Supporters, observers,
and the media don’t know, despite the experience of 2014, who’s leading
the club in this critical respect or how the leadership is approaching
the decision. More troubling, the players don’t know.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>The shortcomings of an insider Board</b></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">These
developments, or lack thereof, do not inspire confidence that the Board
has overcome its one obvious flaw. That’s the narrowness of experience
and perspective of its members.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Six men. All white. Three grandees of the club. A father and son pair with no football background. And the CEO.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Even
if we acknowledge that some members of this group have participated in
bold, forward-thinking decisions in the past, the Board’s homogeneity
and its implications are unavoidable.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">First and foremost, the lack
of breadth and diversity. A substantial body of organizational research
indicates that the most effective decisions emerge from groups with a
broad range of experiences and identities.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Not only do those perspectives bring new ideas, the very inclusion of difference sparks more careful decision making. (See “<a data-mce-href="https://insight.kellogg.northwestern.edu/article/better_decisions_through_diversity" href="https://insight.kellogg.northwestern.edu/article/better_decisions_through_diversity" title="Better Decisions through Diversity">Better Decisions through Diversity</a>” from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As
Katherine W. Phillips wrote in Scientific American in 2014, “Diversity
is not only about bringing different perspectives to the table. Simply
adding social diversity to a group makes people <i>believe</i> that differences of perspective might exist among them and that belief makes people change their behavior.” (“<a data-mce-href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-diversity-makes-us-smarter/" href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-diversity-makes-us-smarter/" title="How Diversity Makes Us Smarter"> How Diversity Makes Us Smarter</a>”)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There have been no additions to the Arsenal Board since Wenger’s last contract renewal. No apparent changes of behavior, either.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As a result, the club doesn’t inspire confidence that it can make the optimal preparations for Wenger’s departure.<b> </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>The task that awaits</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">These preparations are vital to the club’s future because a monumental challenge faces the next manager.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">During
his 20-year tenure, Wenger has evolved into something of a Chief
Football Officer. He’s an executive with both strategic and daily
tactical responsibilities.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Both aspects weigh on him. He has said,
for example, that he considers the financial well-being of all the
current staff when he is making decisions about major outlays on new
players.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“What matters to me is that when you have a club with 600
employees, you make sure you can pay everybody at the end of the
month.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">That was his <a data-mce-href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uemga4ugJA" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uemga4ugJA" title="Arsene Wenger says being able to pay the club's 600 employees is Arsenal's priority">response</a> to a question last August about Arsenal’s perceived hesitation in the transfer market.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In addition, very little seems to happen on the sporting side without Wenger’s okay. For an indication, read the engrossing <a data-mce-href="https://np.reddit.com/r/Gunners/comments/4v5yo5/interesting_quotes_from_arsenal_exloanee_kim/" href="https://np.reddit.com/r/Gunners/comments/4v5yo5/interesting_quotes_from_arsenal_exloanee_kim/" title="Interesting Quotes from Arsenal Ex-Loanee Kim">account</a>
of 2014 loanee Kim Källström. Arsenal’s physicians diagnosed him with
fractures in three vertebrae as he was on the verge of moving to North
London.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After the medical assessment, Källström remembers, Wenger said:</span><br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">’The
transfer window shuts in a few hours. It’s impossible to find a
replacement. Either I take you or no one.’ Surprised, the others turn to
the big boss. No one knows how he’ll continue, but they know that his
words are law. It’s evident that he has not anchored his decision among
the rest of the staff. He decides. ‘You’ll stay, heal, and train. I’ll
take you when you’re fit.’</span></blockquote>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">When this one figure who
has made so many decisions, the one to whom so many people have
deferred, departs the scene, Arsenal faces a cultural and structural
upheaval. Wenger’s replacement will have to coach the entire
organization through that challenging transition.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Indeed, even
taking into account a restructuring of Wenger’s responsibilities, the
new manager will have to be comfortable with an executive’s perch.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Wenger described the evolution of his responsibilities at length in a <a data-mce-href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf0YXK6tQrM" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lf0YXK6tQrM" title="#IWCTalksTo: Arsène Wenger">conversation</a> last March:</span><br />
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I
remember I was manager at the top level [in 1983]. It was me, 20
players, and a part-time physio. Today, we are in 2016, I have a real
team around me, a team of assistants, specialists of all
kinds—statistical analysts, video analysts, scouting, physios, doctors,
dieticians. So my job today has, of course, changed.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And I get so
much information, that the problem of the modern manager is more to
select the three, four [pieces of] information about the multitude he
gets which are really significant.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Today you are much more in selection mode and decision mode.</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Today you have other problems, to manage your own team of consultants … That creates human problems as well.</span></blockquote>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Here,
Wenger is talking about his responsibilities in terms most executives
would find familiar. He has to identify meaningful points amidst a flood
of information and make important decisions on the basis of that
selection.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Add explaining those decisions with equanimity to
agenda-driven writers and broadcasters, demanding supporters, highly
compensated players, colleagues within the club, and its leadership, and
you have a colossal undertaking on an almost daily basis.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Given
the magnitude of this work and its effects on Arsenal’s success, those
in position of authority should be better prepared to handle life after
Wenger than they seem to be.</span>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01825157002795712848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584091688376996973.post-34656780880299820402017-01-07T01:00:00.000-08:002017-01-07T01:00:19.303-08:00Match Preview, Preston v Arsenal: An Old-Time Cup Tie<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Arsenal travel to the Northwest of England on Saturday to open the FA Cup campaign against Preston North End.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It’s
a throwback to 18 years ago, when the clubs last met at Deepdale.
Arsenal recovered from a 2-0 deficit to win 4-2 the Third Round contest
that day.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The 2017 encounter is likely to jog memories in other
ways. First, it’s a classic setup—a top Premier League club, not yet
recovered from the major exertions of the festive period, visiting a
determined Championship side.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That dynamic makes Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger wary. As he told his pre-match <a data-mce-href="http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20170105/-everybody-dies-to-win-the-cup-" href="http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20170105/-everybody-dies-to-win-the-cup-" title="Everybody Dies to Win the Cup">press conference</a>,
“We know as well that after a congested Christmas period that the third
round is always a tricky game. That is why I believe it is a mental
challenge for the Premier League teams to prepare well and not have a
bad surprise - especially when you go to a Championship team, as it is
always difficult.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The second reflection of the past will show in
Preston’s style. Even in the context of the less technical Championship,
manager Simon Grayson starts his team with the traditional English
playbook.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The Lilywhites attempt the seventh highest number of
long passes in the division and close to the fewest (22/24) number of
short passes (Stats from <a data-mce-href="https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/181/Show/-Preston" href="https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/181/Show/-Preston" title="whoscored.com">whoscored.com</a>). They both engaged in and won the second-highest aerial duels in the league, while they have suffered the fewest fouls.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">These
numbers suggest that Preston will make little attempt to contest
Arsenal on the ground and will try to bypass the midfield.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In the
attacking zone, Grayson’s men are relatively effective on set pieces,
having scored 10 goals off stoppages, sixth most in the Championship.
That’s another old-school approach Arsenal will need to prepare for.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">On
the defensive side, Preston lean to the aggressive, ranking seventh in
the league in tackles and sixth in interceptions. They’re also effective
at reducing danger in their own penalty area: The league’s
third-highest number of clearances point to that.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Expect them to try to stymie Arsenal with a similarly assertive—though not overly physical--approach.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">These
tactics won’t be news to Arsenal’s staff and players, who recently
faced Tony Pulis and Sam Allardyce in the Premier League. The question
is, will the lineup Wenger selects have the chemistry, focus, and
patience to succeed.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Chemistry or synchronicity tops the priority
list because Arsenal’s first XI may have had little game time together.
Mainstays Laurent Koscielny and Alexis Sanchez will definitely get a
breather, while playmaker Mesut Özil continues to recover from his
respiratory ailment. Rob Holding and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain should get
chances to play as a consequence, with Alex Iwobi or Aaron Ramsey
candidates for the #10 role.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">There’s little question that whomever
Wenger sends out will have the necessary quality. As we saw, though, in
the 2-0 EFL Cup defeat to Southampton, untried relationships don’t
always blossom.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The second question concerns the attention those
selected will apply to this match so soon after the roller-coaster 3-3
draw with Bournemouth on Tuesday. The poor performance of that match’s
first hour owed more, I think, to mental rather than physical fatigue
only two days removed from the team’s win over Crystal Palace.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Another psychological test will come on Saturday.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Finally,
given all those tactical, personnel, and mental factors, the team might
need patience to see off the hosts. It’s a quality we’ve seen the
Gunners display often this season, most recently in the win over West
Brom. Can they replicate that in the maelstrom of a classic cup tie when
the opposition’s emotions are running high and the terraces are
rocking?</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Key Matchup</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Alex Iwobi against Ben
Pearson. Again, in the absence of Özil, expect Arsenal’s creative
burden to fall to Iwobi. He did not look up to the task against
Bournemouth on Tuesday, but he certainly wasn’t alone in this respect. A
return to the form he showed against Crystal Palace will be most
welcome.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Iwobi will probably come up against Manchester United
product Ben Pearson in the midfield. The 22-year-old is not afraid to
put a foot in, as his eight yellow cards in 16 appearances indicate.
Iwobi will have to deal with that physical resistance to keep Arsenal
ticking.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Where to Worry</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Headers from set
pieces are Preston’s bread and butter and a combination Arsenal seem
susceptible to. The 12 goals Arsenal have conceded from headers
represent the most in the Premier League (<a data-mce-href="http://www.squawka.com/football-team-rankings#goals-scored#team-stats#english-premier-league|season-2016/2017#0#90#any#any#season#1#all-matches#headed#desc" href="http://www.squawka.com/football-team-rankings#goals-scored#team-stats#english-premier-league%7Cseason-2016/2017#0#90#any#any#season#1#all-matches#headed#desc" title="Squawka.com">Squawka.com</a>).</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Match Verdict</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This
is not going to be as easy as the clubs’ statures and positions
suggest. In the end, though, Arsenal’s quality and patience should carry
the day.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Players to Watch</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Arsenal. <strong>Lucas Pérez</strong>.
There’s a question about the Spaniard’s availability, as Wenger said
he’d picked up a slight injury during his turnaround substitute
appearance against Bournemouth. If he can play, his combination of
clever movement and clinical finishing could be the difference for
Arsenal’s attack.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Preston. <strong>Callum Robinson. </strong>Much
of Preston’s offensive activity comes via the 21-year-old Englishman.
Robinson leads the team in shots; his total of 75 more than doubles that
of his second-ranking teammate. And no Lilywhite has more goals (five).</span>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01825157002795712848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584091688376996973.post-16615552196311724072017-01-04T17:00:00.000-08:002017-01-04T17:00:00.138-08:00AFC Bournemouth 3, Arsenal 3: Three Things We Learned<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">For the first time in the Premier League, Arsenal rallied from three
goals behind to grab a point from an eventful 3-3 draw at Bournemouth.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Again,
Olivier Giroud provided the decisive touch. His deft header in stoppage
time capped a furious final 20 minutes. Though it might not be enough
to sustain Arsenal’s title challenge, the result avoided what looked to
be an embarrassing defeat.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Here are three things we learned from the match.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Alexis will not surrender</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The Gunners needed a hero. Up stepped their Chilean leader.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">With
his team trailing 3-0 midway through the second half, Alexis kept
driving his teammates forward. He dribbled at the Bournemouth defense.
Attempted more through balls and crosses. Harried Bournemouth players
when they had the ball.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Alexis’s goal to get Arsenal off the mark
was all desire. He ran past Bournemouth right back Simon Francis just as
Giroud was flicking on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s cross. He got to the
ball at point blank range and buried his header past keeper Artur Boruc.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The
stats bear out the dynamo’s influence: No player created more chances
for teammates (three) or attempted (38) or completed (25) more passes in
the final third.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In the absence of playmaker Mesut Özil, Alexis ran the show. And he dragged his teammates along with him.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>This group deals with adversity in a novel way</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This
match could easily have ended as one of Arsenal’s most humiliating
defeats in recent years. Just two days removed from their previous,
victorious, outing, the Gunners looked vulnerable from the start.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Although
the end of the festive period often produces such a strained dynamic,
manager Arsène Wenger's starting lineup seemed to point to a more solid
setup. Francis Coquelin returned to the midfield and should have created
a better shield with Granit Xhaka. Aaron Ramsey, usually more
defensively aware than other forward options, got only his third league
start.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">However, a defensive lapse led to Bournemouth’s first goal.
Ramsey failed to cover Bournemouth left back Charlie Daniels. The late,
ineffective intervention of Hector Bellerin gave Daniels a sight of
goal he didn’t forsake.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Surrendering the opening goal—bad, but not
insurmountable. The early deficit didn't revive the Gunners, whose
scuffling play continued.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Then, referee Michael Oliver delivered
two decisions that went against Arsenal. The first was a penalty against
Xhaka, who tangled with Bournemouth winger Ryan Fraser just inside the
area. Callum Wilson shot straight down the middle for a 2-0 Bournemouth
advantage.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Later, Oliver ignored a more egregious foul that Fraser
himself committed, which left the Bournemouth man one-on-one with
Arsenal keeper Petr Cech. 3-0.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Add an injury to Coquelin and the exit of captain Laurent Koscielny, and you’d be forgiven for fearing the worst.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But
Arsenal did not cave. Alexis’s goal energized the team, while
substitute Lucas Perez’s cracking volleyed finish across Boruc provided a
realistic hope of avoiding defeat. A red card to Francis for an overly
aggressive tackle on Ramsey enhanced the opportunity.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This Arsenal team delivered a message, of sorts, when they took this chance when many of their predecessors would have wilted.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Petr Cech rescued his performance--and this point</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Rarely
can you credit a goalkeeper who sees his net bulge three times in a
match. In this case, though, Arsenal’s Petr Cech deserves some
recognition.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The veteran faced six shots on target and saved
three. None was more critical than his stop of Harry Arter’s drive in
stoppage time, after Arsenal had pulled level.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Goalkeeping experts
can decide whether Cech’s inability to get close to any penalties this
season—he’s faced six—should be a concern. He will also be disappointed
that his string of two shutouts came to an end and perhaps upset that he
didn't do better with Bournemouth's two goals from open play.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Still, at the end of an intense nine-day period, with pride on the line, Cech stayed focused and stood tall.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Extra time</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">On
the heels of an outstanding performance against Crystal Palace,
Arsenal’s fullbacks would probably prefer to forget this game.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Bellerin,
normally such a weapon, struggled to get involved in the offense. He
completed just 34 passes (76 percent of those he attempted) and had just
64 touches, second lowest among Arsenal’s outfield players in action
the full 90 minutes.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">On the defensive side, Bellerin had problems
as well. He failed on both his attempted tackles, he picked up a
first-half yellow card, and all of Bournemouth’s goals emanated from his
side of the pitch.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">After the match, Wenger said his right back was playing with a minor injury.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Nacho
Monreal didn’t have a banner game on the left, either. The Spaniard, 30
years old next month, looked off the pace so soon after his previous
outing. He might not be able to bear such regular exertions; the club’s
inquiries about left back targets suggest as much.</span>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01825157002795712848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584091688376996973.post-79287840501241267022017-01-02T17:00:00.000-08:002017-01-02T17:00:23.893-08:00Arsenal 2, Crystal Palace 0: Three Things We Learned<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Arsenal began 2017 in some style, with a 2-0 victory over Crystal
Palace highlighted by the adjective-defying goal from Olivier Giroud in
the 17<sup>th</sup> minute.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">At the culmination of a free-flowing
Arsenal move—more on that anon--the French striker, at full speed,
stretched his left leg behind himself to connect his heel with Alexis
Sanchez’s slightly imperfect cross. The contact was impeccable. The shot
rattled the underside of the bar and caromed in.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Alex Iwobi’s
header after halftime and a controlled performance overall delivered the
result that the Gunners needed to match their top rivals’ wins earlier
in the weekend.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Here are three things we learned from the match.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Giroud is more than capable on the counterattack</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Artful descriptions of Giroud’s goal abound. Have a look at Arseblog’s <a data-mce-href="a href=" href="http://youaremyarsenal.com/wp-admin/a%20href=" title="Arsenal 2-0 Crystal Palace, Giroud Gave Us a Really Special Moment">account</a> and Barney Ronay’s <a data-mce-href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2017/jan/01/donkey-scorpion-olivier-giroud-volley-arsenal-crystal-palace" href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2017/jan/01/donkey-scorpion-olivier-giroud-volley-arsenal-crystal-palace" title="Donkey or Scorpion? Olivier Giroud's volley defies classification">encomium</a> in The Guardian. Or watch it again <a data-mce-href="http://arsenalist.com/f/2016-17/arsenal-vs-crystal-palace/goaaal-what-a-goal-olivier-giroud-1-0.html" href="http://arsenalist.com/f/2016-17/arsenal-vs-crystal-palace/goaaal-what-a-goal-olivier-giroud-1-0.html" title="Arsenalist.com">here</a> and find your own words of praise.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In
addition to the audacity and skill of the goal itself, what stood out
to me was how it defied the consensus about Giroud. That he’s an
immobile, classic center forward adept only at hold-up play and headed
goals.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Here, he scored at the end of a blistering counterattack.
The move involved six Arsenal players—Lucas Perez, who tracked back to
intercept a Palace pass just outside the Arsenal penalty area, Hector
Bellerin, Giroud, Granit Xhaka, Iwobi, Alexis, and Giroud again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><br />
<div class="mceTemp">
<dl class="wp-caption aligncenter" data-mce-style="width: 766px;" id="" style="width: 766px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span></dd></dl>
</div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As manager Arsène Wenger <a data-mce-href="http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20170101/wenger-my-top-five-arsenal-goals" href="http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20170101/wenger-my-top-five-arsenal-goals" title="Wenger-My top five Arsenal goals">put it</a>,
“I think it was an exceptional goal because it was at the end of a
fantastic collective moment, which is what our game is about.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Giroud
was essential, not just for the final blow, but for the flick near the
halfway line. This deft play opened space and lines of vision for his
teammates. Then Giroud took off, reaching the Palace area just as Alexis
readied his cross. Perhaps Giroud actually got there too quickly:
Alexis’s pass went just behind him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But that was just what Giroud’s genius needed in that moment.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Arsenal’s fullbacks had a fiesta</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">New
Year’s Day was a festive occasion for Arsenal’s Spanish fullbacks.
Bellerin and Nacho Monreal were especially effective in attack.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Bellerin
was everywhere along Arsenal’s right flank, making 96 touches,
third-most on the team behind Xhaka and Alexis. He also completed the
second highest number of passes (57) and succeeded on all his attempted
dribbles, tackles, and clearances. Bellerin led the Gunners with 14 ball
recoveries and put in five crosses (Stats from Arsenal.com and
FourFourTwo Stats Zone).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The young Spaniard exercised his
defensive responsibilities well, to boot. He nullified the sometimes
troublesome winger Wilifred Zaha and coped decently with the aerial
threat of Christian Benteke.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Meanwhile, Monreal made a real impact
on the left. Returned to the starting lineup, he was frequently
dangerous going forward. He participated in the team’s second most
frequent passing combination, with Alexis. And his early first-time
cross deserved a better finish by either Giroud or Perez.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It was another pass Monreal fizzed across the Palace area that created the chaos that ended with Iwobi’s headed goal.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In
all, Sunday’s fullback play was reminiscent of what we saw in the
2015-16 campaign, when the Arsenal pair was tops in the league.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Petr Cech deserved this clean sheet</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In
relative and absolute terms, Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech was not busy
in this match. While his counterpart Wayne Hennessey faced 22 Arsenal
shots, seven on target, the Czech veteran had to cope with just seven
shots, none before the 37<sup>th</sup> minute. Four of Palace’s attempts ended up on target.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Three
of those came in a sequence soon after Iwobi’s goal. Cech saved a
strong Benteke header, then backpedaled to push aside Yohann Cabaye’s
effort from distance. The ensuing corner created a disturbance in
Arsenal’s area, and Cech had to be ready again for Andros Townsend’s
drive to the goalkeeper’s right.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Those three saves and some other
commanding interventions were instrumental in Arsenal’s second shutout
in as many matches. As were the solid performances of center halves
Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Extra time</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The deputies did their duty admirably.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Iwobi
was influential in the playmaker role, creating five chances for
teammates and completing a game-high 27 passes in the attacking third.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Perez
buzzed around Arsenal’s right flank and got himself into some dangerous
areas. He was a little imprecise once he reached those positions, but
he responded to Gabriel’s criticism of his defensive laxness after the
previous game against West Brom. His interception commenced the sequence
leading to Giroud’s goal.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">And Mohammed Elneny was a steady
presence in midfield. The Egyptian worked well with Xhaka—they were the
team’s top passing combination—and helped establish the foundation for
Arsenal’s attack to thrive.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">With the Gunners’ next outing only a day away, such contributions from the squad could prove important.</span>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01825157002795712848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584091688376996973.post-35593743345592809262016-12-06T18:53:00.001-08:002017-01-02T12:04:11.408-08:00FC Basel 1, Arsenal 4: Three Things We Learned<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Lucas Perez’s hat trick decided Arsenal’s 4-1 win over FC Basel in
the Champions League and, in an unlikely outcome, clinched the top spot
in Group A for the Gunners.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Unlikely because Paris Saint-Germain,
heavy favorites at home, could only draw with Ludogorets Razgrad. As a
result, Arsenal’s won the group for the first time in five years.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Gunners blitzed Basel at the beginning of each half and warded off most of the hosts’ pressure to secure the victory.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Here are three things we learned from the match.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Arsène Wenger still goes for it</b></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The
talk leading up to the encounter focused on whether the Arsenal manager
should and would give his important players a rest. After all, PSG was
almost certain to secure the group’s top seed at home, and the Gunners
face a challenging Premier League calendar.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you needed
reminding of Wenger’s unpredictability and his respect for the Champions
League, his team selection should give you all you require. Yes, he
made six changes from the lineup that dispatched West Ham on Saturday;
those six, though, did not include Mesut Özil and Alexis Sanchez.
Arsenal’s two stars played long enough to secure the result, then left
for substitutes.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Elsewhere, the manager picked an aggressive
starting XI, fielding Aaron Ramsey in midfield beside Granit Xhaka and
Lucas with Alex Iwobi, Özil, and Alexis farther forward. The priority
was clearly on the attack, a focus that proved smart as Arsenal’s speed
on the break overwhelmed Basel.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This risk-taking did mean that,
early 2-0 lead in hand, this was not the team to lock it down. But the
group, particularly central defenders Laurent Koscielny and Rob Holding,
did enough to keep Basel from getting too close.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Lucas Perez gets to the right place at the right time</b></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The
two goals Lucas scored in early the first half displayed his
opportunistic streak. He recognized the threat that left back Kieran
Gibbs was posing on Basel’s right, and he got himself into can’t-miss
positions in front of goal.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">For his first, Lucas sneaked in as
Alexis released Gibbs to the byline with a delicate chip in the eighth
minute. Gibbs drew the Basel keeper Tomas Vaclik’s attention then
slotted the pass to Lucas. The Spaniard waited a split-second, Alexis
style, for the last Basel defender to commit, then eased the ball into
the net.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Eight minutes later, Lucas scored a poacher’s goal, jumping on the rebound of Gibbs’s stinging shot to sweep home.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He
had more work to do to finish off the second Arsenal hat-trick in as
many matches. Again, Gibbs was instrumental. His intervention and strong
pass upfield was deadened by Alexis into Lucas’s path. Lucas swung his
weaker right foot, didn’t make clean contact, but had the angle perfect
to beat Vaclik.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">That’s five goals in just nine Arsenal appearances for the late summer arrival from Deportivo La Coruna. An excellent return.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Gibbs and Iwobi jelled well</b></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Arsenal
enjoyed a smooth combination on its left. Unlike in the last match
against PSG, Gibbs and Iwobi synchronized their movements and reached
dangerous positions.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Gibbs played much of the match practically as
a winger, getting forward at every opportunity. Of his 62 completed
passes, Gibbs directed the plurality (26) forward and connected on 13 of
14 passes in the final third. (Statistics from FourFourTwo StatsZone)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Gibbs
could influence the match in this fashion because Iwobi frequently
moved in from the flank to overload the midfield. Running from that
central position onto Özil’s cutback, Iwobi scored Arsenal’s fourth goal
of the night.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Meanwhile, Basel couldn’t exploit the resulting
gaps on Arsenal’s left. Center forward Marc Janko wasn’t mobile enough
to run into that channel, and right back Michael Lang, though 15 of 15
on passes in the attacking third, could not produce the decisive
quality.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Extra time</b></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Until the point in the 78<sup>th</sup>
minute when Rob Holding surrendered possession, leading to Basel’s
goal, his partnership with Laurent Koscielny at the heart of Arsenal’s
defense performed impeccably.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Koscielny succeeded on seven of
seven attempted clearances, while Holding was five for five. Koscielny
also made a game-high four interceptions, while Holding completed 93
percent of his passes. All added up to solid contributions from a novel
partnership.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A brief word about Granit Xhaka, too, upon his return
to his original club: The Swiss international pushed Arsenal forward
from midfield, completing 41 of his game-high 104 passes forward. He was
also alert defensively, intercepting four Basel passes, making 14 ball
recoveries, and succeeding on three of five attempted tackles. No player
was more effective on those measures.</span>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01825157002795712848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584091688376996973.post-44057619563657666012016-11-30T05:00:00.000-08:002016-11-30T07:38:55.427-08:00Match Preview, Arsenal v Southampton: Changes Coming<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We can expect another change in complexion for Arsenal's EFL Cup quarterfinal match with Southampton on Wednesday.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Manager
Arsène Wenger made seven alterations to his starting lineup between
last Wednesday’s Champions League draw with Paris-Saint Germain and
Sunday’s 3-1 league win over Bournemouth. The only holdovers were
central defenders Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi, playmaker
Mesut Özil, and center forward Alexis Sanchez.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Selecting that
quartet for two high-profile matches shows its importance to the current
Arsenal team. In all likelihood, Koscielny, Mustafi, Özil, and Alexis
will get a deserved rest against Southampton. They will have few
opportunities for days off before the return fixture against Bournemouth
on January 2.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In their places, Wenger will send out young players
and squad stalwarts—Rob Holding and Gabriel in the center of defense,
for example, and Alex Iwobi in the attacking midfield.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The center
forward choice will be an interesting one. Recent league supersub
Olivier Giroud would get the nod up front, but he tweaked his groin on
Sunday and may need more time to recover. Lucas Perez will be in the
squad after a month-injury absence; he might not be ready to start,
though.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The other options would be Theo Walcott, replaced by
Giroud after 75 minutes on Sunday, Iwobi as part of a fluid front four,
or debutante Stephy Mavididi. None ideal. As a result, Wenger may have
to fend off arguments from the indefatigable and insistent Alexis for
another run-out.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We’ll also see Kieran Gibbs return to left back
and Francis Coquelin to the center of midfield. Other candidates for
starting roles include Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Jeff Reine-Adelaide, Alex
Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Chris Willock.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">All have earned playing time in Arsenal’s two wins in this competition. They’ll be backed by goalkeeper Emi Martinez.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This
group will face its stiffest test in this competition so far. Not only
are Southampton the first top-flight side to play Arsenal in this year’s
cup, the Saints have posed serious challenges to the Gunners of late.
Arsenal’s 2-1, stoppage-time, league win in September was just their
second in seven outings against Southampton. That included a 2-1 loss in
this competition two years ago.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Like Wenger, Southampton manager
Claude Puel should adjust his starting XI from the one that defeated
Everton 1-0 at the weekend. The Saints’ schedule is just as busy as the
Gunners’, with a return to London against Crystal Palace and a crunch
Europa League matchup with Hapoel Be’er Sheva in the next eight days.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">There’s
also precedent for Puel to rotate for this competition. He switched
nine starters between Southampton’s league draw at Manchester City and
the 1-0 home win over Sunderland in the last round.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Key Matchup</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Alex
Iwobi against Harrison Reed and Jordy Clasie. If Özil does get the
break as anticipated, much of Arsenal’s creative burden will fall to
Iwobi. He has not made much of an impact recently—as is normal for
players who burst into the first team. Southampton are a difficult team
to unlock, largely because their deep midfielders and defenders work so
well together. Iwobi will need to find his daring and execution to
create chances for his teammates.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Where to Worry</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Shane
Long annoys Arsenal every time he faces them. The Irish striker is
tireless both in his running and in his niggly fouling. He’ll try to get
under Gabriel’s skin and hope for a mistake from the relatively
inexperienced defensive partnership of Arsenal.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Match Verdict</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This
one has the makings of a cagey and uneven affair. Because both teams
will have relatively new makeups, synching the attacks might prove
difficult. The heightened, if only mildly, pressure of a quarterfinal
with Wembley on the distant horizon might also have a psychological
effect on the players.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Players to Watch</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Arsenal. <strong>Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain</strong>.
His double propelled Arsenal to a 2-0 win over Reading in the last
round. The incentive of facing his former club, plus his improved
performances aside from his North London Derby cameo, could push him to
make a telling impact here.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Southampton. <strong>Stuart Taylor</strong>.
The ex-Arsenal man, now 36, may get his Southampton debut in goal in
the absence of Alex McCarthy. He’ll need all that experience and good
relationships with his back four to keep Arsenal’s youthful attack from
bamboozling him.</span>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01825157002795712848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584091688376996973.post-83697887978011409282016-11-22T16:30:00.000-08:002016-11-22T16:30:21.527-08:00Mesut Özil and Arsenal's Midfield Misadventure<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">When Arsenal's offense hums, playmaker Mesut Özil orchestrates it.
But neither he nor the team got into a rhythm in Saturday’s 1-1 draw
with Manchester United. The Gunners’ inability to register a shot on
target until Olivier Giroud’s equalizer in the 89<sup>th</sup> minute seems like clear proof of the team’s ineffectiveness on the day.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Combine
that reality with the hosts’ crisper passing and effective defending,
and you get a rather unpleasant display for Arsenal fans. A pleasing
result, no doubt, but not with the aesthetic quality we would like to
see.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Pause from the monocause</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As ever in
this era of reductive outrage, many observers laid the responsibility at
the feet of either Özil or Aaron Ramsey. The attacking midfielders
carried the creative potential in this particular starting XI; the other
members of the front six tended to the direct (Alexis, Theo Walcott) or
the risk managers (Francis Coquelin, Mohammed Elneny).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">It’s true
that neither Özil nor Ramsey created a chance for a teammate. Between
them, they completed only one pass in the opposition penalty area. And
neither took a shot.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So at one level you can see why Arsenal’s two talents took criticism for the pedestrian display overall.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">But those complaints, true to our age, oversimplify complex developments.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Kelly Wood’s defense of Ramsey, “<a data-mce-href="https://positivelyarsenal.com/2016/11/20/aaron-ramsey-he-is-great/" href="https://positivelyarsenal.com/2016/11/20/aaron-ramsey-he-is-great/" title="Aaron Ramsey! He is Great">Aaron Ramsey! He is Great</a>,”
hammers the Ramsey critics effectively, so I won’t restate her points
here. What I will do instead is try to understand the dynamics that
brought on this performance, particularly from Özil.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>So, what’s Özil’s scenario?</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">First,
the statistics don’t reveal anything out of the ordinary. Özil
completed 58 passes against Manchester United, just one fewer than his
season average. His passing accuracy of 86 percent was only one
percentage point lower than his norm so far this year.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The
difference was where Özil did this work. Instead of combining with
Alexis and Walcott on the edge or in Manchester United’s penalty area,
the German playmaker operated much closer to midfield. The heat maps on <a data-mce-href="https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1080633/Live/England-Premier-League-2016-2017-Manchester-United-Arsenal" href="https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1080633/Live/England-Premier-League-2016-2017-Manchester-United-Arsenal" target="_blank" title="whoscored.com">whoscored.com</a>
show Özil frequenting the middle third. That was a change of his sphere
of influence, given that he’s one of the Premier League’s most prolific
final-third passers.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Not only did this shift of activity take
Özil away from where he’s most dangerous, it jammed him into an area
where others were operating. In particular, Alexis dropped deep from his
center forward position to receive the ball—note the overlap with Özil
on the heat map.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Rather than creating triangles to facilitate
quick passing, the Gunners’ close proximity to each other in midfield
allowed Manchester United’s midfielders to clog the spaces.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>There was another team on the pitch</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That was central to Jose Mourinho’s brutal design.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The
Manchester United manager set out to deny Özil opportunities on the
ball. The German genius often found himself surrounded by three
opposition players—center backs Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones pushing up
and midfielder Michael Carrick shielding passes into him. When he
ventured to the left, right back Antonio Valencia and a central
midfielder usually had him cornered.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Loosening these defensive
shackles proved difficult. It required guile and skill from Özil's
midfield teammates or a dangerous distraction elsewhere.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">For all
their positive qualities and contributions, Coquelin and Elneny could
not provide the craft to free Özil. The central pair focused on breaking
up the hosts’ attacks and making the simple pass out. These two
responsibilities were difficult enough, what with the harassment they
received from Ander Herrera.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">To find the well-marshalled Özil, they needed more daring.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Creative
responsibility wasn’t their brief, though, as manager Arsène Wenger
admitted afterward. “I knew it would be a bit more of a physical battle,
so I chose players who have experience and fight,” he told <a data-mce-href="http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20161119/wenger-explains-his-team-selection" href="http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20161119/wenger-explains-his-team-selection" title=""Wenger">Arsenal.com</a>.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Method to the midfield</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">There’s
a logic to this approach. Many factors weighed against Arsenal in this
match, even if this wasn’t the most fearsome Manchester United lineup of
all time.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Early kickoff. Return from the international break. The
Mourinho hoodoo. A 10-year league victory drought at Old Trafford.
Injuries to dynamic players like Hector Bellerin and Santi Cazorla.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In
that context, you can understand a more circumspect approach from
Arsenal. Wenger was right that midfield robustness was important; it’s
just that his charges didn’t cope superbly with the aggressiveness of
Manchester United in that area of the pitch.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">They handled it well
enough to get a draw. If the players’ post-game comments are a true
indication, they’ll be honest in their assessment of the performance and
optimistic that better outings lie ahead.</span>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01825157002795712848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584091688376996973.post-78629119564331605892016-11-01T10:00:00.000-07:002016-11-02T14:27:10.710-07:00Match Preview, Ludogorets v Arsenal: Not So Fast<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Arsenal travel to Bulgaria to face Ludogorets Razgrad on Tuesday,
with the opportunity of setting the pace in Champions League Group A.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The
Gunners are level on points with Paris Saint-Germain and have a
superior goal difference, so the target of winning the group is within
reach with three matches to go.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The team shouldn’t grab for that objective prematurely, though. Any dip in performance or focus could be costly here.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Ludogorets
posed dangers two weeks ago when they visited the Emirates. Yes,
Arsenal ran out 6-0 winners, but there were moments in the first half
when Arsenal goalkeeper David Ospina had to intervene and prevent the
Bulgarian side from seizing the initiative.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Indeed, Ludogorets did
not follow the pattern most visitors use in North London: Rather than
defending deep, they opened the game and sought to capitalize on
Arsenal’s aggressiveness. They were particularly adept in transition,
moving quickly from the wings to playmaker Marcelinho.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This
success should make Arsenal wary. All the more so because first choice
right back Hector Bellerin did not make the trip to Sofia. In his place,
we’ll see either Carl Jenkinson, with only one Arsenal start since May
2014, or regular center half Shkodran Mustafi.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The center of
Arsenal’s midfield will also look different. Santi Cazorla remains
injured, and Francis Coquelin may get a rest before Sunday’s North
London Derby.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The challenge for manager Arsène Wenger is choosing
among the qualities and strengths of four deserving central midfield
choices. Granit Xhaka, out of action since his red card against Swansea,
Coquelin, Mohammed Elneny, and Aaron Ramsey all have strong starting
cases.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Our best guess is that Xhaka partners Elneny. It would be
only the second start for the pair. Xhaka-neny’s previous performance
came in Arsenal’s 4-0 EFL Cup win at Nottingham Forest, so in theory the
two can combine effectively.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Whomever the manager picks,
Arsenal’s midfielders need to attend to the home side’s threat.
Ludogorets led PSG at home and drew with Basel in the Champions League.
In domestic competition, they’ve scored 15 goals in their last four
games, so they don’t lack firepower.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Where the hosts may struggle
is in defense. Arsenal possess the speed of thought, movement, and
passing to punish most teams. It’s unlikely that Ludogorets have the
organization and defensive quality to keep the likes of Mesut Özil and
Alexis Sanchez quiet.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Key Matchup</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Arsenal’s
fullbacks against Ludogorets’s wide attacking players. Ludogorets will
look for opportunities to isolate Gibbs and Jenkinson/Mustafi.
Wanderson, Misidjan, and Cafú all flashed threats in the first meeting.
If Gibbs keeps up his fine form and his counterpart on the right holds
firm, Arsenal can limit Ludogorets’s effectiveness going forward.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Where to Worry</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Too
many changes in Arsenal’s starting XI, some enforced by injury and
others by choice, could create uncertainty the hosts could exploit. Of
particular concern would be the defensive support Arsenal’s right back
receives from the midfielder and wide attacker. Jenkinson or Mustafi
will need help to slot in effectively.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Match Verdict</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A
wide-open affair. Ludogorets will likely maintain its European record
of scoring in all its home matches, but Arsenal will field enough
offensive talent to overcome the hosts.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Players to Watch</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Arsenal. <strong>Alexis</strong>.
Arsenal’s dynamo is humming at the moment. Two goals against Sunderland
on Saturday punctuated his all-action performance. His is the kind of
talent and energy that Ludogorets will struggle to contain.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Ludogorets. <strong>Marcelinho</strong>.
The Brazilian pulled the strings for the Bulgarian side two weeks ago,
completing 89 of 99 passes, both game highs. He also created three
chances for teammates.</span>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01825157002795712848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584091688376996973.post-24448560358888199922016-10-21T16:30:00.000-07:002016-10-21T16:30:25.941-07:00The Second Coming of Francis Coquelin<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Francis Coquelin’s reappearance in Arsenal’s midfield in Wednesday’s
6-0 Champions League victory over Ludogorets may have signaled the start
of a very long reign.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">If not messianic – because the team did not need saving – Coquelin’s performance came close to perfection.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In
his first start since injuring his knee against Chelsea on September
24, the Frenchman regained his high level in defensive interventions. He
made 13 ball recoveries, intercepted seven opposition passes, and
succeeded on eight of 11 tackles. All those were game highs, according
to <a data-mce-href="http://www.fourfourtwo.com/statszone/5-2016/matches/888076" href="http://www.fourfourtwo.com/statszone/5-2016/matches/888076" title="Arsenal 6-0 Ludogorets">FourFourTwo Stats Zone</a>.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>The catalyst and distributor</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">We’ve
come to expect such defensive influence from Coquelin since his
near-miraculous emergence in January 2015. Perhaps more surprising was
his passing acumen. Against Ludogorets, Coquelin led all Arsenal players
with 51 completed passes, on 55 attempts. No Arsenal starter had better
passing efficiency.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Coquelin always seemed to choose the correct
option, even the not-so-obvious ones. Two passes in the second half
stood out. He intervened brilliantly and returned Kieran Gibbs’ cleared
cross to the left back, keeping alive the possession that led to
Arsenal’s third goal. That’s at the 4:10 mark of this <a data-mce-href="http://arsenalist.com/f/2016-17/arsenal-vs-ludogorets/compilation-francis-coquelin-vs-ludogorets-terryafcx.html" href="http://arsenalist.com/f/2016-17/arsenal-vs-ludogorets/compilation-francis-coquelin-vs-ludogorets-terryafcx.html" title="Arsenalist - Francis Coquelin vs. Ludogorets">video</a>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The
second (at 5:24) shows his vision and execution. Coquelin spots Mesut
Özil open on the left and finds the German with a perfect cross-field
pass.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Combine those two contributions, winning the ball and
distributing it effectively, and you have the perfect midfielder for
Arsenal’s current setup.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That’s not to detract from the quality
and performances of Coquelin’s midfield teammates. On the contrary. I’d
argue that the quintet of Coquelin, Santi Cazorla, Granit Xhaka, Mohamed
Elneny, and Aaron Ramsey are, as a group, the best midfield in club
football. No other team boasts a five-deep central midfield of that
ability.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The contingent gives manager Arsène Wenger a range of options, as Tim Stillman explored in his Arseblog <a data-mce-href="http://arseblog.com/2016/10/parsingmidfielders/" href="http://arseblog.com/2016/10/parsingmidfielders/" title="Parsing Midfielders"> column</a> this week.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">What
Coquelin provides is a foundation both solid and vibrant for Arsenal’s
attacking talent to thrive. His instinct upon winning the ball appears
to be to get it forward.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">With equanimity: Despite completing the
team’s most passes against Ludogorets, he didn’t figure in any of the
team’s top five passing combinations. He found Özil eight times; Gibbs
seven; Cazorla and Shkodran Mustafi five; Theo Walcott, Alexis Sanchez,
Laurent Koscielny, Hector Bellerin, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain four.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>One of many cogs in the tactical wheel</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Many
of these interactions begin with Coquelin higher up the pitch than a
typical holding midfielder would be. He’s serving as a midfield
marauder, with Cazorla as a deep-lying playmaker behind him.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">This
is an interesting shift from Wenger because it makes the midfield more
proactive and interchangeable, given the personnel. Ramsey, Elneny, and
Xhaka can all perform the role of Coquelin, though, as Stillman
observes, with slightly different styles.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Meanwhile, Elneny and
Xhaka can slot in for Cazorla as the deep playmaker. Yes, the aesthetic
would be subtly different, but none of those shifts would alter the
overall approach the manager seems to be taking.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The direction is
to press opponents early in matches. Alexis often initiates the pressure
on the ball, with Özil and Walcott closing down the first passing
options. That’s when Arsenal surrender possession in relatively open
areas of their attacking half.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">When transitions happen in a more
crowded attacking setting, often it’s Coquelin who steps up, prevents
the opposition from escaping, intercepts the pass, and quickly finds a
teammate in a threatening position. Such a contribution led to a
stinging shot from Theo Walcott on Wednesday evening.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Then, when
the pressing has resulted in a lead for Arsenal, the team can solidify
its defensive shape and try to hurt opponents on the counterattack.
Coquelin is an ideal linchpin for this approach as well.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>The bone of contention</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Still,
Coquelin, like every central midfielder since Patrick Vieira, provokes
debate among Arsenal fans. When Wednesday’s team sheet came out, for
example, Twitter erupted with consternation that Coquelin, and not
Xhaka, got the starting nod.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Maybe this is because Coquelin did
not carry a huge price tag. Perhaps he doesn’t exude the silky skill
some expect of an Arsenal midfielder. Or folks have forgotten how he and
Cazorla combined to such successful effect in 2015. Or they don’t like
the apparent improvisation that created that partnership. Others might
not recognize how much he’s improved from that excellent year, even.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">What’s
clear, though, is that Wenger holds none of these opinions. The manager
is a first-hand witness to Coquelin’s abilities and attitude, both of
which he deems important to this version of Arsenal.</span>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01825157002795712848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584091688376996973.post-70268367314392053672016-09-28T10:38:00.001-07:002016-09-28T10:38:23.250-07:00Match Preview, Arsenal v Basel: Roll On<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">When Arsenal host FC Basel in the Champions League on Tuesday, the
Gunners can establish a strong position in their Champions League group
and continue their good form.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The Match Day One draw in Paris, on
paper the most difficult of Arsenal’s group stage matches, gives the
team a slight advantage in its qualifying campaign. Three home wins all
but guarantee progress to the knockout phase.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">A positive result
would also extend the promising trend the Gunners have set since their
opening-day league loss to Liverpool. They’re on a seven-match unbeaten
run with a relatively attractive schedule until early November.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Basel
will not be an easy target—the Swiss side has slain English giants in
the past. They have also dominated the Swiss Super League, having won
nine of nine matches while conceding just seven goals.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">With respect, that competition will have not had the quality of Arsenal.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That’s
the case even though we can expect manager Arsène Wenger to adjust his
starting XI. Midfielder Francis Coquelin will miss out, having
re-injured his right knee on Saturday. That means a start for Granit
Xhaka against his former club.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Although Wenger did not rotate his
side against Paris-Saint Germain, this looks like an opportunity to
deploy some members of his strong squad. Based on their performances
against Nottingham Forest in the League Cup, Kieran Gibbs, Mohamed
Elneny, and Lucas Perez merit consideration.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Will Wenger go for
this scale of change in a Champions League match? It would break from
his usual practice, but four goals by the second string at Nottingham
Forest point to a wealth of worthy attacking options.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The incoming
quartet would bring a slightly different style of play from that of the
vanquishers of Chelsea. A little less aggression and a little more flow
in midfield, primarily. Lucas and Alexis Sanchez interchanging in
attack could also cause problems for a Basel defense unaccustomed to
their levels of speed and tenacity.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Of course, the XI Wenger sent
out against Chelsea, with just Xhaka in for Coquelin, would be just as
daunting a proposition for the visitors.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Key Matchup</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Mesut
Özil against Taulant Xhaka. Arsenal’s playmaker ran the show against
Chelsea. His skills and smarts pose a constant menace to opposition
defenders. Xhaka, facing his brother’s new team, will have to marshal
his midfield teammates to minimize the space Özil can exploit.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Where to Worry</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Arsenal’s
biggest concern should be overconfidence. The Gunners look convincing
but can’t take any match for granted. They’ll need to bring comparable
intensity and swiftness of thought to this encounter, even if on paper
the opposition is weaker. Because we’ve seen the consequences of not
doing that in the past.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Match Verdict</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I’m
not entirely convinced by the momentum factor in football; I’ve never
seen statistics to support the narrative of a team on a roll. So in this
case, the focus, form, and quality Arsenal can showcase in 18 players
will most likely be too much for Basel.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Players to Watch</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Arsenal. <strong>Granit Xhaka</strong>.
Arsenal’s Swiss acquisition will have a chance to run this match from
deep in the midfield. He launches attacks in a different way than
Coquelin does—incisive passing vs. aggressive interception—and it will
be interesting to watch Arsenal’s attack flow with Xhaka in charge.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Basel. <strong>Seydou Doumbia</strong>.
Basel’s Ivorian striker, who has been rotated like Swiss clockwork with
target man Marc Janko, will likely get the call with his teammate
injured. Doumbia has six league goals in eight league appearances.</span>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01825157002795712848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2584091688376996973.post-27938182926611419452016-09-13T02:00:00.000-07:002016-09-13T02:00:23.074-07:00Match Preview, PSG v Arsenal: The Setup<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Arsenal’s initial match of the Champions League campaign in Paris on Tuesday carries both peril and potential.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">On
paper, it’s the toughest of the Gunners’ group stage encounters. The
runaway Ligue 1 champions are the top seed and recent four-time
quarterfinalists in this competition. Arsenal also have a habit of
starting the Champions League slowly, if not stupidly, losing the last
two openers.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">You wouldn’t fancy a reversal of that trend against
one of Europe’s free-spending clubs. But other factors may weigh in
Arsenal’s favor this time.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The biggest advantage is disarray at
PSG. The club cashiered Laurent Blanc at the end of last season and
hired Unai Emery from Seville, where he won an unprecedented three
consecutive Europa League titles. The two managers’ philosophies differ,
and a roster largely of Blanc’s making hasn’t easily adapted.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The
Parisians also lost their most potent offensive threat, striker Zlatan
Ibrahimovic. Without their Swedish talisman, PSG have so far lacked a
player capable of rescuing them from pedestrian displays. They’ve
labored in three of four Ligue 1 matches, including Friday’s home draw
with Saint-Etienne.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Part of those struggles can be attributed to
defensive injuries. Team captain Thiago Silva has been out; Maxwell,
Serge Aurier, and Layvin Kurzawa have also missed time. With the exits
of David Luiz and Gregory Van Der Wiel, PSG had only one experienced
defender, Marquinos, by the end of the Saint-Etienne match.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Will
Arsenal’s offensive threat be enough to capitalize? In eight halves of
league play, the Gunners seemed fluid in one, the first half at Watford.
They mustered just one non-penalty shot on target in Saturday’s 2-1
victory over Southampton. That came from center back Laurent Koscielny, a
bicycle-kick equalizer.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In truth, though, manager Arsène Wenger
hasn’t yet fielded his first-choice attacking unit. Center forward
Olivier Giroud has only appeared as a substitute, playmaker Mesut Özil
had limited action in the season’s first two matches, and Alexis played
just a half-hour on Saturday.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">If Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey are
also candidates for the first XI, we’d have to say the Gunners haven’t
deployed their firepower in full.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Whether Wenger decides to open
up in Paris is an intriguing question. When Arsenal have had poor
results in Europe, the cause has most often been unwise aggression. The
Gunners have been undone by continentals’ tactical savvy and efficient
finishing. So there’s a case for a more circumspect approach here.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">That
would include enhanced positional awareness and flow in the midfield.
PSG’s biggest strength, developed under Blanc, is in the center of the
park. Marco Veratti, Blaise Matuidi, Thiago Motta, and Adrien Rabiot are
all smooth conductors of play. It wouldn’t be a surprise for Wenger to
choose Xhaka and Mohammed Elneny as a partnership to try to counter PSG
there.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Their relative freshness—and that of their teammates
farther forward--gives the manager flexibility he’s rarely enjoyed. As
he remarked in his pre-match press conference, “I haven’t decided. The
players don’t know the team.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">How he clarifies his thinking will be telling.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Key Matchup</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Nacho
Monreal against Lucas Moura. What dynamism PSG have generated thus far
has come from the Brazilian winger. He’s a crafty presence, shown by the
average of 4.1 dribbles he’s attempted every 90 minutes he’s played.
Monreal held up well as Southampton tried to isolate him. He’ll need a
similar performance and more support against Lucas.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Where to Worry</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Arsenal’s
midfield left too many gaps against Southampton, especially in the
first 20 minutes. The Gunners can’t allow their hosts’ slick passers
time to find their forwards, even if the likes of Edison Cavani and
Angel Di María have been less than efficient in front of goal.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Match Verdict</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Midfield
skill will be on display, but the sides’ strengths in this area will
likely cancel each other out. Loose defending permits a goal each.
Arsenal emerges with a draw in its toughest group match.</span><br />
<br />
<h4>
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><strong>Players to Watch</strong></span></h4>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Arsenal. <strong>Olivier Giroud</strong>.
The Frenchman has an opportunity to silence some of his homeland
critics. He’ll face a PSG backline unsettled by injury and unused to his
brand of physical play.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">PSG. <strong>Angel Di María</strong>. The Argentine is PSG’s creative mind. He’s capable of magical moments off the dribble, with the pass, and on free kicks.</span>Haphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01825157002795712848noreply@blogger.com0