Category Archives: FA Cup

Sunderland 2-0 Arsenal: Pressure piles on Wenger

  By jtom | 20/02/2012 - 7:30 AM | FA Cup, Match Report
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Arsenal’s performance against Sunderland on Saturday mirrored their dismal display at the San Siro last Wednesday. No longer in the FA Cup, the Gunners will certainly finish the season without a trophy.
 
The 2-0 defeat at the Stadium of Light greatly resembled the 4-0 disaster against AC Milan. And it wasn’t just the terrible playing surfaces. Arsene Wenger’s side showed an alarmingly low rate of urgency in both games. Other troubling signs from the two matches include (but are not limited to) our poor defensive positioning; lack of width; and the creation of too few goalscoring opportunities.
 
While the FA Cup clash at Sunderland was supposed to act as a ‘bounce back’ game, it turned out to be a continuation of that dreadful night at the San Siro.
 
One of the more disheartening factors of the last week has been the sluggish pace of Arsenal’s ball movement. We are accustomed to watching passes zip to-and-fro as the opponent’s defenders are left mesmerized. Unfortunately, much of that beautiful football has ceased to exist this season, but before the Milan match, the ball movement was still fairly quick.
 
As a result of this slowdown, the width of Arsene Wenger’s side has been close to non-existent. When Arsenal have been at their best this season, their wide players have been getting in behind the opposition’s back four. Recently, the wingers have been drifting inside far too much, which has made life easy for the defenders of Milan and Sunderland.
 
Part of the problem is that we have an overabundance of players who are best suited to play in the middle. Arshavin, Rosicky, and Benayoun definitely feel more comfortable in a central position. Arsene Wenger has said that he envisions Theo Walcott as a striker, and the Englishman has spoken of his wish to play up top as well. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has even been called a future centre-midfielder by Wenger.
 
On the subject of Chamberlain, some Arsenal supporters have been too lenient when discussing his part in Sunderland’s second goal. The Black Cats set off on a counter-attack after the Ox gave the ball away. To his credit, Chamberlain didn’t drop his head. Instead, he chased after the play and knocked the ball into the net for the own goal. For scoring the own goal, he is unlucky, but for giving possession away cheaply, he is guilty.
 
Oxlade-Chamberlain was one of the lucky players in that he escaped unharmed from the array of ditches at the Stadium of Light. Not all of the Gunners were so fortunate. Arsene Wenger indicated during his post-match press conference that Francis Coquelin, Aaron Ramsey, and Sebastien Squillaci all sustained injuries that will keep them out of the North London derby. Counting Mertesacker, we have now lost four players to that sorry combination of grass, mud, and dirt.
 
Arsene Wenger stopped short of blaming all of the failures of the previous seven days on the pitches: “I think it was a committed performance, we gave everything we had left but three big games in one week [Sunderland in the league last week, Milan last Wednesday and the FA Cup tie] were too much.
 
“We fought hard but the pitch was heavy and we were a bit unlucky. We gave absolutely everything that was left in our legs. Sunderland left us the ball but we didn’t create a lot due to fantastic defending from Sunderland. They defended very well and scored with their first shot. Then we had to chase the game and take every risk and got caught on the break for the second goal.” (Source: The Guardian)
 
Wenger was more complimentary to his team than he was on Wednesday night, although the performance on Saturday looked far from “committed” to my eyes. The mood at the press conference quickly turned sour after Wenger was asked about the criticisms made by some former players:
 
“People talk and criticise and analyse and destroy and it’s important we face all that and show internal strength and resilience. At the moment I get many lessons from many people. It’s very difficult tonight to say where it leaves us and what we will do. We have to take criticism on board, stay together and face the critics.” (Source: The Guardian)
 
The mood at the press conference turned from sour to ugly when a reporter asked Wenger about whether he would consider stepping down: ”I think it’s better we finish this press conference now.” (Source: The Guardian)
 
In the aftermath of our elimination from the FA Cup, many have gone for Arsene Wenger’s throat. And they are well within their rights to do so, but maybe they should sned their anger in multiple directions. Some fans are placing the blame solely on the manager, solely on the players, or solely on the board. In reality, the pie of blame should be cut in several slices and served to several different parties.
 
Arsene has become the easy target because he is quite simply the face of our club. Fewer people, though still a significant amount, are directing their angst at the board. Even fewer are pointing the finger at the players. In my opinion, the players should receive a more equal portion of the blame because they have appeared unmotivated in the pervious two matches. Sure, part of the manager’s job is to inspire his players, but these footballers should show some life simply in the name of pride. If not for pride, then certainly for their massive wages.
 
The seven-year trophy drought does not bother me nearly as much as the dyer performances we have witnessed this season. The overall situation has to improve. Each time we play like we have in the last two games, I nudge a bit closer towards the anti-Wenger brigade. Fortunately for Arsene, I’m not there yet.

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Match Preview: Sunderland v Arsenal

  By jtom | 18/02/2012 - 8:00 AM | FA Cup, Match Preview
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Wenger said that he will not forget about the Milan defeat until the day he dies.

On Saturday, Arsenal will want to prove that the meltdown at the San Siro was an anomaly and not the start of a trend. Furthermore, the FA Cup is certainly the only piece of silverware the Gunners have an opportunity to put their hands on this season.

First, there is some sad news. Per Mertesacker, who suffered an ankle injury against Sunderland last week, will be out for the “long term” according to Arsene Wenger. Apparently, the big German had the ligaments in his ankle reconstructed during an operation. Sounds very painful.

Another centre-back who will be missing against Sunderland is Laurent Koscielny. The French defender sustained his injury against Milan and had to be taken out of the match in the first half. Fortunately, his injury is not as serious, so he should be back in time to face Spurs next week.

Gervinho will return to the squad for the first time since he departed for African Cup of Nations duty in early January. Wenger did not make it clear whether Gervinho would start, but he did say: “He (Gervinho) was very down when I spoke with him on Monday, now he is better and hopefully he can contribute on Saturday.” (Source: Arsenal.com)

The Ivorian winger was “down” because of the penalty he missed in the final of the African Cup of Nations. The next shooter stepped up and won the trophy for Zambia.

Arsene Wenger said that he will name a strong starting eleven at the Stadium of Light, but he left enough wiggle room just in case he feels like resting anyone: “I will refresh a bit because some players have played many games recently. But we will be full-strength.” (Source: Arsenal.com)

If I were the manager, here would be my starting eleven: Szczesny in goal; Sagna and Gibbs at the full-back positions; Vermaelen and Song as the centre-backs; Rosicky and Arteta as the central midfielders; Coquelin as the holding midfielder; Gervinho and Oxlade-Chamberlain as the wingers; and of course, Robin van Persie as the lone striker.

At this moment in time, I don’t have much trust in Johan Djourou and Sebastien Squillaci. When Wenger alters his formation to be more attacking mid-match, he usually moves Alex Song to centre-back, and the Cameroonian has done a reasonable job at the position.

For the midfield, Aaron Ramsey needs to take a seat on the bench as punishment for his poor performances recently. Coquelin could easily slide into the holding role, with Tomas Rosicky and Mikel Arteta on either side of him.

Theo Walcott, in the same way as Ramsey, may help the team more if he is not on the pitch. Arsene usually winds up substituting for him anyway early in the second half when he is in such terrible form. Having not started against Milan, the Ox deserves a chance, and Gervinho’s best quality is that he is not Theo or Andrei Arsahvin.

Hopefully, when Wenger talked about resting players, he did not mean Robin van Persie. This match against Sunderland is important for so many reasons. Firstly, it provides a chance for us to advance to the quarterfinals of the FA Cup. Perhaps more importantly, this game is a great opportunity to put the 4-0 behind us and move forward as we head into a tough set of league fixtures.

The difficult Premier League ecounters begin with Spurs next week. Following the North London derby, we will play Liverpool away and Newcastle at home. In many ways, this stretch (including the Sunderland game) could decide our season.

If we let the negative momentum from the disaster at the San Siro continue at the Stadium of Light on Saturday, we could slip into another dry run of form. We’ve already had two terrible runs- one at the start of the season and the other in January. Arsene Wenger and his side cannot afford another string of bad results.

While Wenger stressed the importance of moving on from Milan, he admitted that the memory of that horrible night will never leave his mind:

“It never gets out of your system because you take it with you until the last day of your life. But when you love competition, you always strive for the next one to prove that you are ready for a new fight. That is what competition is about.” (Source: The Telegraph)

Indeed.

Match: Sunderland v Arsenal

Competition: FA CUP- Fifth Round

Location: The Stadium of Light

Kickoff: 17:15 GMT, 12:15pm EST

Television: ITV1 (UK), Fox Soccer (USA)

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Arsenal 3-2 Aston Villa

  By jtom | 30/01/2012 - 6:34 PM | FA Cup, Match Report
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After sleepwalking through the first half, Arsenal scored three goals in less than ten minutes to beat Aston Villa and secure their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup. Fortune was finally on the side of the Gunners as they rightfully won two penalties and scored another goal on a lucky deflection.

Darren Bent stuck the ball in the net in extra time of the first half, and it appeared that the Emirates Stadium would again be the scene of unrest. And it was, as the Gunners were booed off the pitch as they headed into the tunnel for the break. Arsene Wenger’s side came out with determination to start the second period, and they were awarded with three goals in the space of seven minutes.

The referee made the correct decision on both penalties that went in our favour. For the first one, Dunne foolishly took out Ramsey when it was clear that Given was about to pick the ball up. It probably wasn’t a clear goal-scoring opportunity but definitely a foul. Laurent Koscielny was brought down in the penalty area by Darren Bent for the second penalty, which was also an easy call for the match official. Robin van Persie expertly converted both penalties by picking the opposite side for the second spot-kick.

Despite the celebration that followed, Theo Walcott’s goal, which evened the score at two goals each, had little to do with skill and was very much down to luck. To Theo’s credit, he did drive down the flank to create the chance. Former Spurs defender Alan Hutton attempted a clearance that deflected off Walcott and into the net.

Whenever we win, articles start popping up with titles like, “Arsenal Victory Papers Over the Cracks.” Of course, as evidenced by the first half performance, there are still several major problems. Aston Villa exploited our difficulties defending set pieces by executing a training ground move that set up Richard Dunne for the first goal of the game. Still, all of Arsene Wenger’s talk about the spirit and attitude of squad really shone through on Sunday. When we were down by two, I honestly thought we would go out of the FA Cup with a whimper, and our third consecutive defeat.

Arsene Wenger was proud of the fight in his players: “I was very impressed because I felt that when you come out of a bad period like we are, and you are 2-0 down, you can feel sorry for yourself or you can show you have the mental qualities to play for this club. I was very proud that the team came out and showed they are not ready to lie down.” (Arsenal.com)

After the match, Alex McLeish seemed more worried about Robin van Persie than his side’s epic collapse: “I thought it was an elbow in the face, a clear elbow but the referee didn’t seem to think it was anything. I thought he hit him. I thought he put an elbow towards his face. He is not a guy to lie down and would get up quickly.

“Would I like them [The FA] to look at it – if it was an elbow in the face – then yes. It is dangerous and I don’t like to point fingers at players but it has happened to me enough times. I never mentioned it to the referee. I saw it in real time and it looked like a gesture.” (Source: The Telegraph)

McLeish is right in that it was a clear elbow to the face of Carlos Cuellar, but only van Persie knows if there was any intent behind it. In my opinion, it looked like an intentional elbow, and the Dutchman was lucky that he was not punished by the referee. However, if Lescott was not given a suspension for his elbow incident against Spurs (which was far worse), then Robin should not be touched by the FA.

Even if McLeish’s complaint is well-justified, it is not an excuse to let a two-goal advantage slip. Being the defensive guru people claim him to be, he should be very upset about Villa’s shambolic attempt at defending in the second half. Only when Barry Bannan came on late in the game did Villa impose even the slightest bit of threat to Fabianski’s goal. We rose to the occasion in the second half, while Alex McLeish’s side fell from grace.

Most importantly, we are in the fifth round of the FA Cup. Our opponents will be either Sunderland or Middlesbrough away, depending on who wins the fourth round replay at the Riverside Stadium. Not the most difficult draw for us, but certainly one that needs not to be overlooked.

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Match Preview: Arsenal v Aston Villa

  By jtom | 29/01/2012 - 8:15 AM | FA Cup, Match Preview
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Arsene Wenger and Arsenal will look to quiet the critics against Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. The Gunners must take the FA Cup very seriously, as it looks to be their only realistic chance at silverware this season.

Wenger’s job may be made easier by a host of returning faces. Thierry Henry, Bacary Sagna, and Mikel Arteta were all scheduled for fitness tests on Saturday, and all could feature on Sunday. One who is definitely back from injury is midfielder/full-back Francis Coquelin.

The return of Sagna is huge. The French right-back is one of the best wide defenders in the league because he has the ability to lock down even the most talented wingers. Before suffering a leg fracture at White Hare Lane, Sagna virtually took Gareth Bale out of the match. Surely, if Sagna had been present last week, Nani and Giggs wouldn’t have caused so much havoc down the right side.

Arteta was sorely missed in the defeats to Swansea and Blackburn. The Spanish midfielder directs the attack and keeps possession. Perhaps it would be a good idea for Mikel to teach Aaron Ramsey some of the finer points of the passing game. Because of the injuries to Wilshere and Diaby, Ramsey has been forced to play too many minutes, but he still needs to improve his performances.

Arsene Wenger said in his pre-match interview that he “doesn’t think” he will rest his top players, namely Robin van Persie. Taking into account all of the players that are out, Wenger really doesn’t have much choice. We do have to play Bolton away on Wednesday, but there is no way we can afford to start a reserve side against Alex McLeish’s team.

Starting the reserves would put many already annoyed Gooners into a dramatically worse mood. The atmosphere at Ashburton Grove on Sunday may quickly turn poisonous if the Gunners struggle.

On Friday, Wenger told the media that the team need to give the supporters something to cheer about: “I always believe the fans’ reaction depends on us. It is the team that has to get the fans behind them, and the fans have to be proud of the team. The vibes have to come from us.” (Source: Arsenal.com)

Alex McLeish is a manager who certainly knows how to stop Arsenal. Pile men behind the ball. Go in for hard tackles. Get the ball in the air. While his success against us came when he was at Birmingham City, McLeish said that Aston Villa are not afraid of the Gunners:

“I don’t see why we should be fearing Arsenal. I am sure the lads will remember what they have done at the Emirates before. Statistics don’t determine the outcome of this latest encounter but it does offer the players evidence they can do it against the best of the Arsenal teams.

“There is a good bit of confidence going into this next game. It’s the FA Cup, we are away, the pressure will be more on the home team Arsenal to win. I’m sure they are under pressure with the fact they’ve lost two or three games. You rarely see the top clubs losing four in a row.” (Source: The Press Association)

Given our recent results, no Premier League club should fear facing Arsene Wenger’s side. Villa have only lost one match in January, while we have been defeated three times. Last week, they beat Wolves 3-2 with two goals from Robbie Keane, who was making his Villa debut.

Interestingly, our chief executive, Ivan Gazidis, has suggested that introducing a safe standing area at the Emirates would benefit supporters. If the Premier League allows it, Villa will add a safe standing zone at Villa Park in the coming years. Gazidis told the Daily Star:

“It is something that I find attractive because it gives a certain group of fans who like to stand another way to be in our stadium.” My opinion is that terraces should be installed at the Emirates in order to help the atmosphere and allow for the purchase of low-priced tickets.

A victory over an Alex McLeish-managed side is alway more special. Hopefully, the Gunners will be able to achieve that feat while also advancing to the Fifth Round of the Cup. With both Manchester clubs already eliminated, there could be a relatively painless path to Wembley. Of course it’s too early to talk about a final, but, with the situation so dire at the moment, that’s what it’s come to.

Match: Arsenal v Aston Villa

Location: Emirates Stadium

Kickoff: 16:00 GMT, 11:00am EST

Television: ESPN (UK), Fox Soccer (USA)

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Arsenal 1-0 Leeds United: Henry’s dream return (VIDEO)

  By jtom | 10/01/2012 - 7:33 AM | FA Cup, Match Report, Thierry Henry
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Pure magic. With all the pressure mounted upon his shoulders, Thierry Henry scored the winner twelve minutes from the end of the match after coming on as a substitute in his second debut for Arsenal. No best-selling author could have written the story any better; it’s the stuff of legends.

Alex Song spotted Henry as he slipped in behind the Leeds’ backline, and the King provided a lesson in world-class finishing. The calm strike from a tight angle appeared easy, but the best always make the spectacular look simple. Curled into the far corner, the goal was certainly vintage Henry. Cool, calm, and collected.

The celebration showcased Henry’s endearing love to Arsenal, and also his passion for success. He ran towards the corner flag with his arms outstretched and his mouth open in delight, before running to hug Arsene Wenger. Then came the customary chest-thumping that we’ve come to know and love. I would like to see more of this kind of passionate celebration to help bring the fans into the game.

After the match, Henry made it a point to say that this goal was different from the other 226: “I am enjoying the club as a fan where I wasn’t before: now I know how people feel when they score for the club they support.” (Source: The Guardian)

Our all-time top goalscorer also took time during a post-match interview to dedicate the performance to Paul Johnson and his mother, who recently passed away. She worked in Henry’s box at Ashburton Grove, and Paul currently works for Arsenal Football Club. It was a nice gesture from a player who sometimes seems nasty on the pitch.

Before Henry’s special moment, the match was truly dull. Andrei Arshavin and Marouane Chamakh proved again to be an ineffective duo. While the little Russian at least created a few chances, Chamakh was completely off the pace. Both players are clearly trying hard to regain their top form, but, at the moment, it is nowhere close to good enough.

Arsene Wenger’s side dominated the match in terms of possession and total shots, but Leeds remained strong at the back. They didn’t pose a serious threat on Szczesny’s goal until late in the game, when Ross McCormack’s header went straight into the open arms of the Polish keeper. If the Leeds striker would have directed his shot towards either corner, Henry’s coming-home party may have ended in disappointment.

Another match, another injury to an Arsenal defender. This time, Francis Coquelin succumbed to an injury in the first half and Nico Yennaris had to replace him. After the match, Arsene Wenger revealed that Coquelin suffered a hamstring injury that will keep him out for a “few weeks.”

Aston Villa will visit the Emirates Stadium for the FA Cup Fourth Round. Last season, we were eliminated in the Fourth Round after falling to Manchester United at Old Trafford. Hopefully, the Gunners will take advantage of their relatively easy draw to advance further in what is our most winnable competition this year.

Thierry Henry secured Arsenal’s position in the next round of the cup after rescuing Arsene Wenger’s side from a replay at Elland Road. After downplaying expectations, he became a hero once more. Henry’s goal will be one of, if not the best, Arsenal moments of this season, and one of the great moments in the short history of Ashburton Grove. Henry said post-match:

“I hope I won’t wake up tomorrow and someone’s going to tell me that it was a dream.”

Gooners all across the globe shared Henry’s sentiment on Monday night.

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Match Preview: Arsenal v Leeds United

  By jtom | 09/01/2012 - 7:30 AM | FA Cup, Match Preview
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Theirry Henry will make his second Arsenal debut on Monday night against Leeds in the FA Cup. Arsene Wenger referred to the Cup as a “bonus,” with the main goal being qualification for next season’s Champions League.

Although Henry is unlikely to log too many minutes in this game, Arsene Wenger promised that “he will be involved.” Much has been made about declining attendances at FA Cup matches recently, but there will surely be a festive atmosphere at Ashburton Grove to welcome the King back home.

Henry has downplayed expectations, though that has not stunted the excitement over his return. Even Leeds manager Simon Grayson has commented on the return of Henry: “I played against him a few times. I probably saw more of the No 14 on his back than the front of him.” (Source: Daily Mail)

Theo Walcott now wears the number “14,” so Arsenal’s all-time top goalscorer will use the “12″ shirt, which is his old number for France. If he did not, Walcott should have offered Thierry back his legendary number. I suspect that Henry would insist that Theo keep his shirt because the Frenchman has stressed that he does not want to upset the dynamics of the current squad.

When asked about their aspirations for a competition, most managers will say that their side will do their very best and try to win. Arsene Wenger, never one to be politically correct, said about the FA Cup:

“It is very important for us to win against Leeds on Monday night, but the basis of our life at the top level is dictated by the championship.

“If we can add on top of that the FA Cup, it is fantastic. However, our life, at the level where we are, with the wages we have, and the aspirations we have, is to play in the Champions League. After that you want, of course, to win all the other trophies.

“The FA Cup is something that is for enjoyment. It is a bonus that we want. But for us, Champions League is something which is needed and compulsory.” (Source: ESPN)

Wenger’s comments may rub some supporters the wrong way, but he is just being brutally honest. The Champions League brings in far more money for the club, helps attract new players, and helps keep current players (namely, Robin van Persie). While Wenger still has the hunger for trophies, he understands the value of participating in Europe’s top club competition.

With that said, we do not need to sacrifice the FA Cup for a better position in the Premier League. It does not work that way. Just because we are no longer in a cup competition doesn’t mean that our league form will improve. In fact, it can work the opposite way. After losing to Birmingham City in the Carling Cup final last season, we were eliminated from the Champions League and FA Cup, and our form in the league from that point on was dismal.

Last season, we were slightly lucky to beat Leeds in the Third Round. Only a last-minute penalty scored by Cesc Fabregas saved us from a humiliating 1-0 defeat at the Emirates Stadium. In the replay, we won 3-1 at Elland Road with goals from Nasri, Sagna, and van Persie. None of those three players are expected to be involved on Monday night.

Simon Grayson’s side are only a point off the Play-Offs in 8th. Their last match was a 2-1 victory over Burnley, but before that they had lost three consecutive games. Leeds’ top scorer is Ross McCormack with 11 goals in the Champonship. Robert Snodgrass impressed against the Gunners last season and has drawn interest from Premier League clubs. He has 8 goals and 9 assists in the league this season

Arsene Wenger will likely start a weakened team because he wants to rest his starters after the busy Christmas period. Avoiding a replay will also be important to Wenger. It will be a balancing act, as it always is for a manager.

If nothing else, Monday night’s match is the perfect time to welcome Thierry Henry back to Arsenal, away from the high-paced action of the Premier League. Far from a regular FA Cup Third Round game, the match at Emirates Stadium serves as a showcase for Henry, but Leeds will be hoping to spoil the party.

Match: Arsenal v Leeds United

Location: Emirates Stadium

Kickoff: 19:45 GMT, 2:45pm EST

Television: ESPN (UK), Fox Soccer (USA)

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Arsenal draw Leeds in FA Cup Third Round

  By jtom | 05/12/2011 - 7:15 AM | FA Cup
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Leeds forced a replay last season after a 1-1 draw at the Grove.

The Gunners will play host to Leeds United in the Third Round of the FA Cup in early January. Last season, Arsenal advanced to the Fourth Round by defeating Leeds in a Third Round replay at Elland Road.

We will begin our FA Cup campaign at Ashburton Grove against Leeds. Remember that the Yorkshire side gave Arsene Wenger a headache last season by forcing a replay. If not for a last-minute penalty that Cesc converted, Leeds would have sent us crashing out of the tournament. Instead, the two sides went played a replay at Elland Road, which we won 3-1.

Slightly older Gooners will recall the 1972 FA Cup final, when Leeds defeated us by a score of 1-0 at Wembley. Bertie Mee’s side failed to reclaim the Cup after winning the double in 1971.

Going back to this year’s competition, Leeds will certainly pose a tough test. Simon Grayson’s side currently sit at 5th in the Championship, which is the same position as we are in the Premier League. If Arsene Wenger chooses a reserve squad, then Leeds could very well earn another replay, or worse.

Sure, we could have been picked to play Stevenage, but it also could’ve been Manchester City. So, in that regard, the fixture is not daunting, but definitely not to be overlooked. The match will take place on the weekend of January 7-8.

 

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