Category Archives: Premier League

West Brom 2-3 Arsenal: Gunners take third

  By jtom | 14/05/2012 - 7:30 AM | Match Report, Premier League
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Arsene Wenger was “very proud” of his team after the Gunners sealed third place by defeating West Bromwich Albion 2-3 at The Hawthorns on Sunday. The crucial victory means that Arsenal have gained automatic qualification into the group stage of next season’s Champions League.

The final match of the campaign was as dramatic as Arsenal’s entire Premier League season. Yossi Benayoun, in possibly his last game in red and white, scored the opening goal by hunting down West Brom keeper Martin Fulop. The Israeli midfielder stole the ball away from Fulop, who was not aware that he was inside his penalty area, and easily rolled the ball into the empty net in the 4th minute. Hopefully, Benayoun finds success at his next destination if he leaves the Emirates Stadium

The Baggies answered quickly by way of a Shane Long strike. The pacy Irish striker found himself onside and alone with Wojciech Szczesny. A cool finish by Long evened the score at one, and the Gunners were back to square one.

Roy Hodgson’s side did not stop there. Graham Dorrans’s excellent volley beat Szczesny and granted West Brom the lead in the 15th minute. It was not surprising that Arsenal would need a comeback in the last match of the season to secure the third spot in the table. That’s just the kind of season it’s been.

Andre Santos, who got the start at left-back, replied with a tally of his own in the 30th minute. The Brazilian made a nice move prior to firing a shot that beat Fulop. Santos has managed to score three goals from the left-back position despite only having started 15 matches in all competitions this season.

At half-time, I was surprisingly confident. Even though we had a relatively poor showing in the first fourty-five, all we had to do was win one half of football and our place in the Champions League would be assured.

Last week, Laurent Koscielny told the media that this season belonged to Robin van Persie. However, it would be the French centre-back who would score the most important goal of the campaign. It wasn’t pretty. West Brom keeper Martin Fulop, who was terrible on Sunday, collided with one of his own defenders while in pursuit of a Robin van Persie corner. The ball deflected to Koscileny, and the Frenchman stabbed it into the gaping net.

The Baggies pushed for an equaliser, and they almost had their wish in the dying moments of the contest. Kieran Gibbs made a sliding tackle just as Peter Odemwingie was lining up a strike inside the Arsenal penalty area. The gravity of that challenge by Gibbs cannot be understated. If Odemwingie had scored, St. Totteringham’s Day would not have arrived this year.

Arsene Wenger intelligently decided to remove the attack-minded Andre Santos and insert the more reliable Gibbs. Considering the goal by Santos, Wenger played his cards perfectly.

Once the final whistle sounded, Arsenal supporters around the globe celebrated St. Totteringham’s Day. Spurs were victorious on Sunday as well, but it didn’t mean anything. All of the idiots sporting “Mind the Gap” shirts quietly retreated into their holes. At one point, Gunners’ fans even got #NorthLondonIsRed to trend worldwide on Twitter.

When asked how Arsenal’s recovery this season ranks among his achievements, Arsene Wenger said after the match:

“I am very proud of this season because we were not only tested on the football front – which as a Club we are used to – but on our mental solidity, unity and solidarity within. We were deeply tested, we did not show any weakness, kept united and in the end came back. It is a good lesson for everybody. At some stages everybody was wondering what we were doing.”

Understandably, Arsene Wenger was emotional following the win. During the game, the television cameras showed Wenger hugging the soon-to-be-retired Pat Rice on the bench. Sunday’s victory over the Baggies was Rice’s last match as assistant manager after spending 44 years at Arsenal. The Northern Irishman will be replaced by Steve Bould.

Rice’s final season was a memorable one—not for silverware or success—but because of the fight and spirit the Gunners displayed to triumph over so many adversities.

First, at the start of the season, Cesc Fabregas and Samir Na$ri (two of Arsene Wenger’s best players) departed. Faced with a depleted midfield, the hope for Arsenal was that Jack Wilshere would be able to assume some of the responsibilities. Sadly, the Englishman missed the entire season due to injury. Many Gunners missed significant portions of the season with various injuries, and there were several crises because of the lack of healthy players at certain positions. And then, of course, there was the nightmarish beginning of the season. The wounds still sting too profoundly to describe that dreadful run. Arsene Wenger’s team overcame that start to finish one spot higher in the table than last year.

Here’s to a memorable season of ups and downs. While there were no trophies, there was plenty of excitement and a happy ending. Thanks Arsenal!

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Quick Preview: West Bromwich Albion v Arsenal

  By jtom | 13/05/2012 - 8:05 AM | Match Preview, Premier League
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Robin van Persie said it best in his motivational article in today’s Sun: “So this is it. This is the day, this is the match that will define our season — the 90 minutes that will determine our future.”

Pat Rice says good-bye

Sunday’s match at the Hawthorns will be Pat Rice’s last game. Arsenal’s assistant manager will retire after serving Arsenal Football Club for 44 years in various roles. A legendary Gunner who began his professional career at Highbury in 1966, Rice was a fantastic right-back for many years. He was the skipper when Arsenal beat Manchester United in the 1979 FA Cup final. After Rice hung up his boots, he quickly returned to North London to coach Arsenal’s youth team before becoming the caretaker manager for a brief period in 1996. Upon Arsene Wenger’s arrival, Rice was made the assistant manger.

Arsene Wenger commented on Pat Rice’s contribution to Arsenal: “It’s difficult to measure. He’s just been tremendous. It’s a sad, sad, sad day. His life was linked with Arsenal and Arsenal have been privileged to have him as a player, a captain, a coach, and personally I’m very grateful for his contribution to my period here.” (Source: Belfast Telegraph)

Steve Bould will replace Rice as assistant manager.

Analyzing the possibilities 

Come Sunday evening, Arsenal will sit in either third, fourth, or fifth in the table. Each outcome has dramatically different results. If the Gunners are victorious over West Brom or Newcastle and Spurs squander their chances yet again, Arsene Wenger’s side will secure automatic qualification into next season’s Champions League. Finishing third is ideal is so many ways, ranging from keeping Robin van Persie to not having to worry about an extra couple of early season matches.

A loss or a draw on Sunday and the Gunners could face several difficult circumstances. A fourth finish would not even guarantee an appearance in next season’s Champions League, as Chelsea could win the European Cup and take England’s last spot in the competition. If we do land in fourth, we will have to become huge Bayern Munich supporters.

If the worst case scenario occurs, Arsenal will be defeated by the Baggies and end the campaign in the dreadful fifth place in the table. No Champions League could mean no more Robin van Persie and no big signings in the summer. It would be devastating.

Final day to determine fate

Thankfully, Arsenal’s final destination will be decided by their performance against West Bromwich Albion. Only in the case of a lose or a draw will Arsenal supporters need to check the results of other clubs. Of course, it sounds simple; all the Gunners need to do beat a team with nothing to play for. However, when Arsenal’s recent form is considered, the task begins to look a tad more difficult.

Arsene Wenger’s side are without a win in their last four contests, and Roy Hodgson’s team are without a loss in their last four matches. Gulp. Third would have already been sown up had Arsenal been able defeat Wigan Athletic, Stoke City, or Norwich City in recent weeks. The journey by the Gunners back to the upper portion of the table has been amazing, but perhaps the hardest part is finishing the job.

Robin van Persie knows a bit about finishing. The Dutchman has scored 30 goals in the league this season, just one shy of the Premier League record. Of course, van Persie has already collected his PFA Players’ Player of the Year award and his Fooball Writers’ Player of the Year award. Yet he would sacrifice all of his personal achievements for a victory on Sunday:

“All the goals I have scored this season, all the awards I have won — I would trade them all in an instant for us to win today.” (Source: The Sun)

Van Persie ended his rallying cry in The Sun by writing: “This is it — 90 minutes to seal our fate. We must deliver.”

Go on and do it!

Match: West Bromwich Albion v Arsenal

Competition: Premier League

Location: The Hawthorns

Kickoff: 15:00 BST; 3:00 PM EDT

Television: None (UK); FSN (USA)

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Arsenal 3-3 Norwich City: Lucky Gunners remain in third

  By jtom | 07/05/2012 - 7:30 AM | Match Report, Premier League
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The Arsenal world was drenched in disappointment on Saturday afternoon following the Gunners 3-3 draw with the Canaries. Remarkably, the results went Arsenal’s way on Sunday, and Arsene Wenger’s side held on to the third spot after an insane weekend of football. Here are my main talking points from the thrilling affair at the Emirates Stadium.

  • Terrible performance overall: On the whole, the Gunners were dreadful on Saturday. The back four could not contain Grant Holt at all. Aaron Ramsey and Alex Song continually gave the possession away in the midfield. Wojciech Szczesny was as reliable as a sundial at midnight. Robin van Persie managed to score two goals even though he was in solitary confinement until the latter part of the second half. It was a shocking performance given the importance of the game.
  • Ruddy, Ruddy everywhere: The Norwich keeper erected a sturdy brick wall to stop Arsenal’s late barrage. Without John Ruddy’s excellent showing, the Canaries would have surely conceded another goal or more likely two. His save on Kieran Gibbs’ effort in the dying seconds was particularly stunning. Ruddy was in my dreams on Saturday night, repeatedly blocking all that came his way, so I can only imagine how the Arsenal players must have felt.
  • Still no home penalty: Arsenal have completed all of their home fixtures in the Premier League this season without getting penalty. The infamous streak was capped on Saturday at Ashburton Grove when referee Anthony Taylor was silent as Robin van Persie was tripped up from behind in the 89th minute. A  penalty decision could never be more clear, yet Taylor just swallowed his whistle in fright. Arsene Wenger was frustrated after the match: ”Here the whole season we have got zero penalties. It is absolutely amazing, because you see other clubs who have got 10. I don’t know (why the penalty was not given), we have to accept the decision of the referee.” (Source: ESPN)
  • Ramsey nightmare: Aaron Ramsey had yet another hellish day. Maybe Arsene Wenger should consider dropping the Welshman completely. The Arsenal manager did withdraw Ramsey from the contest in the 63rd minute, though it was 63 minutes too late. For whatever reason, Ramsey has been helpless in the midfield recently, so perhaps it will serve the interests of our football club to sit him on the bench for the final, crucial match of the season next week.
  • Poor Sagna: Bacary Sagna’s suffered his second broken leg of the season against the Canaries on Saturday. Arsene Wenger confirmed post-match that the French right-back fractured his right fibula; it is the same injury he sustained against Spurs several months ago. Regarding the injury, Sagna told L’Equipe: ”I think he (Norwich’s Bradley Johnson) did it on purpose. He stepped on my leg. Play continues, I get back on my feet. And when I tried to control the ball, I felt a crack, just like the first time at Tottenham. He stepped right where the plate was. I think the plate pressured [the bone]. It’s a neat break, just above the plate.”

Doom and gloom took up their usual positions following the disheartening and dramatic 3-3 result at the Emirates Stadium. Arsene Wenger’s team had just sacrificed their ability to control their destiny. Then, all of the sudden, our rivals choked on the meal we had handed them on a sliver platter. Tottenham and Newcastle both dropped points on Sunday. Our chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League remain high. A point against West Bromwich next week and we are guaranteed to finish no lower than fourth; a victory over the Baggies and we lock up third. At least we can rest assured that our fate will be determined by our performance and our performance alone. Judging by the performance on Saturday,  we really should be worried.

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Quick Preview: Arsenal v Norwich City

  By jtom | 05/05/2012 - 7:30 AM | Match Preview, Premier League
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Arsenal’s final home match of the season will take place on Saturday against Norwich City. The Gunners have slipped up in recent games, and the Canaries have fallen in each of their last three contests.

Team News

Fortunately, there is not much to report. Diaby will be replaced by Park in the squad, and that is expected to be the only change.

Recent Form

Both clubs have been disappointing as of late. Arsene Wenger’s side could have crushed the hopes of Spurs and Newcastle, but instead they have struggled. Arsenal’s last victory came against Wolves on the 11th of April. Since then, they have lost to Wigan and only managed a point against Chelsea and Stoke City. Meanwhile, Tottenham and Newcastle have been steadily gaining ground on the Gunners for that vital third spot in the table. Arsenal only hold a one point advantage over their rivals from North London and the North East.

Norwich City’s summer break has basically already started, and why not? The Canaries’ first season in the Premier League has been successful, and they sit safely in the middle of the table. Perhaps their poor form is because of this lack of motivation. Last week, Paul Lambert’s team were hammered by Liverpool as Luis Suarez scored a delightful hat-trick. Prior to that match, Norwich were soundly beaten by Blackburn and crushed by Manchester City.

900 for Wenger

Arsene Wenger will complete his 900th match in charge of Arsenal on Saturday afternoon at the Emirates Stadium. While the milestone is great, Wenger is as focused as ever: “Yes [I am surprised] because I don’t know where the other 899 have gone! You always have so much focus on the next one that you forget the games that are behind you.

“It is impressive, 900 games, but basically what is only important for me is to win the next one.” (Source: Arsenal.com)

A fantastic statistic has been circulating on Twitter: Even if Arsene Wenger were to lose his next 100 games as Arsenal manager, he would still have the best win percentage of any manager in Arsenal history.

He has come a long way from “Arsene Who?”

Match: Arsenal v Norwich City

Competition: Premier League

Location: Emirates Stadium

Kickoff: 12:45 BST; 7:45 AM EDT

Television: None (UK); ESPN2 (USA)

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Stoke City 1-1 Arsenal Reflections

  By jtom | 01/05/2012 - 7:15 AM | Match Report, Premier League
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Arsenal were able to salvage a rare point at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday. Interestingly, much of the post-match talk from both managers was about chants coming from both sets of supporters. Here is what I took away from the Gunners’ 1-1 draw with Stoke City.

  • RVP is the only finisher: With Theo Walcott and Mikel Arteta out, it seems that only Robin van Persie has the ability to put the ball in the net. Gervinho wasted several chances on Saturday, not that anyone ever expected him to convert any. Aaron Ramsey never strikes the ball on target, and Yossi Benayoun can never get enough power behind his efforts on goal. The Gunners may require van Persie to break the record for most goals in a 38-match Premier League season in order to get past Norwich City and West Bromwich in the final two games.
  • What a clearance by Sagna!: Bacary Sagna preserved the point for Arsenal in the closing seconds when he cleared the ball off a Stoke City throw-in. Surely, if Sagna had not booted the ball away, Matthew Upson would have scored the winning tally right before the final whistle. Thanks to our French right-back, we were able to hold on.
  • Penalty not called: Arsenal are not granted many penalties. In the 75th minute, Glenn Whelan delivered a light push to the back of Yossi Benayoun as the Israeli was chasing the ball in the Potters’ penalty area. While Whelan’s nudge was fairly gentle, it was enough to disrupt the run of Benayoun. Any small amount of contact can alter the motion of a player moving at full sprint. In an interview after the game, Benayoun said that the incident was a “100 per cent penalty,” while Arsene Wenger simply told reporters that Whelan’s push will “go on the tape of all the penalties we have not got this season.”
  • Tony Pulis and Stoke fans are ridiculous: Aaron Ramsey was booed and Arsene Wenger was racially abused by some Potters’ supporters at the Britannia on Saturday. Why are Stoke fans hurling their displeasure at a young player whose leg was snapped by Ryan Shawcross? Perhaps the educational system in Stoke-on-Trent is to blame, but I point the finger at Tony Pulis. The Stoke City fans take after their manager. In fact, when asked about the booing of Ramsey, Tony Pulis told reporters that he was more concerned with the jeering of Shawcross. Do I need to even explain the flawed logic that this man flaunts?

Arsenal are still cleanly ahead of Newcastle, Spurs, and Chelsea in third, but the gap is closing. All three clubs chasing the Gunners have one game-in-hand on Arsene Wenger’s side. Assuming the worst (that all three clubs win their game-in-hand), we would be in front of Newcastle and Tottenham by one, and ahead of Chelsea by two. If we are victorious in our final two matches, third is ours. But that’s a huge “if.”

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Match Preview: Stoke City v Arsenal

  By jtom | 28/04/2012 - 7:15 AM | Match Preview, Premier League
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Get ready for long throw-ins, touch-line ball drying, and dirty tackles from Ryan Shawcross. Arsenal will visit the Britannia on Saturday to play the Potters in a crucial match. The Gunners have had trouble away at Stoke City, but, with Newcastle, Chelsea, and Spurs bearing down on Arsene Wenger’s side, they will need a victory.

If Chelsea beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League final, they will automatically qualify for next season’s tournament as the defending champions. England are only able to put four clubs in the Champions League each season, so Chelsea could bump off the fourth-place finishers (unless Chelsea themselves finish fourth). This is why it is imperative that the Gunners hold on to the third position and secure their place in Europe’s most prestigious football competition.

Three matches remain for the Gunners, and Saturday’s clash with Stoke City appears to be the most difficult. In the past, Arsenal have struggled to deal with Tony Pulis’ style of football (or lack thereof). While Stoke’s tactics bore most football supporters to tears, the long ball method has served the Potters well. Needless to say, Peter Crouch has fit right in at the Britannia.

The dullest game I’ve ever had the displeasure of witnessing was the scoreless draw between Aston Villa and Stoke on Boxing Day earlier this season. There was not much to do that day, so I watched (on Television thank goodness) the match. The scars still remain.

Three weeks ago, Stoke City and Aston Villa played out to a 1-1 draw three weeks ago. Surely, that match had to be more lively. Since then, the Potters have only had one match, which they lost 3-0 to Newcastle. Currently 14th, Tony Pulis’ side are stuck in limbo, unable to move up anywhere significant the table and in no threat of relegation. Arsenal, on the other hand, have much to play for.

Vermaelen’s ready to put up a fight against the physical side from Stoke-on-Trent: “It is always a hard game when we go there, you know it is going to be a battle. If there is a battle, sometimes you have to fight back. But the main thing is to play our own game, with quick passing. That is the way to score.” (Source: Arsenal.com)

Arsene Wenger will need to shift his starting eleven once against after losing Theo Walcott for the season last week against Chelsea. Mikel Arteta, Per Mertesacker, and obviously Jack Wilshere are not available to play. Wenger stated at his press conference that a late fitness test will determine Abou Diaby’s fate for Saturday’s encounter. Yossi Benayoun and Tomas Rosicky are expected to come back into the team after both missed the Chelsea game.

Robin van Persie, who is certain to start on Saturday, has collected two individual trophies and  one goal in the past month. His performance against Chelsea was not up to par, but he will have a chance to redeem himself at the Britannia. The Dutchman definitely has the ability to quickly put a scowl on the face of Tony Pulis.

Perhaps Arsenal’s toughest task will be thwarting the Potters when they have a free kick, corner or long throw-in. Our back four in previous meetings has usually melted under the intense aerial pressure. When asked if his team is better equipped to deal with Stoke now, Arsene Wenger responded:

“That’s what we want to show. I believe that Stoke is always a difficult opponent for us and everybody. Every big team who goes to Stoke knows they get a game.

“From our side we are in a position where we want to win our remaining games. That is the only chance to master our future. We have our future in our own hands but only if we win the three games.

“That starts with Stoke so we are completely focused on cancelling their strong points but as well we want to score goals because that is what you need to win the games.”

Match: Stoke City v Arsenal

Competition: Premier League

Location: Britannia Stadium

Kickoff: 15:00 BST, 10:00 AM EDT

Television: None (UK), ESPN 2 (USA)

 

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Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea reflections

  By jtom | 24/04/2012 - 7:30 AM | Match Report, Premier League
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Because of illness, I was unable to post about the Arsenal-Chelsea match from Saturday. Since the game is old news by now, I’ll list a few of my thoughts regarding the scoreless draw at the Emirates Stadium:

  • Chelsea did not go for it: Roberto Di Matteo made eight changes from the side that faced Barcelona last week. Clearly, the Blues have decided that their best chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League is by winning this season’s tournament. Chelsea did not have many serious goalscoring opportunities throughout the ninety minutes. Instead of pushing for the three points, Di Matteo’s side sat back and tried to hit the Gunners on the counter-attack.
  • Robin van Persie was not at his best: The Dutchman may be the PFA Player of the Year, but he was poor on Saturday. By my count, van Persie wasted five good chances to tally. At his best, RVP scores on three of those five goalscoring opportunities. Robin has not scored from open play in Arsenal’s last seven matches. Hopefully, van Persie’s struggles will soon subside as Arsene Wenger’s side will require goals from the Dutchman to hold the third position in the table.
  • Arteta was missed: Arsenal’s midfield suffered greatly from the loss of Mikel Arteta. The passing was not as quick and accurate as it is when Arteta is present. Aaron Ramsey plays better in the Rosicky role, behind van Persie. The Welshman has trouble staying alongside Alex Song and acting as a holding midfield. In Arsene Wenger’s system, holding midfielders do not need to always stay right in front of the back four. There is more freedom, but with the freedom comes responsibility. Ramsey will learn.
  • Walcott’s injury: Theo Walcott suffered a hamstring injury on Saturday and will likely not be fit to return this season. His development over the last several months has been immense, so it is sad to see his season end early. Fortunately, Theo should be ready to play for England in Euro 2012.
  • Not a terrible result: Immediately after the final whistle, disappointment set in for many Arsenal supporters (including myself). Chelsea barely bothered Wojciech Szczesny, and the Gunners missed a number of chances to break the scoreless draw. Now, a few days after the encounter, the result does not seem so bad. Our hold on the third spot is still strong, with Newcastle the closest at three points back. Spurs are six behind us, and we’re ahead of Chelsea by seven points. But Arsene Wenger’s team should not at all feel comfortable. It is important to note that Newcastle, Chelsea, and Tottenham all have four games remaining, and we have only three. Fortunately, it is in our hands and, if we do not finish in the top four, we will only have ourselves to blame.
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Arsenal v Chelsea: London battle will shape top four race

  By jtom | 21/04/2012 - 7:30 AM | Match Preview, Premier League
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Chelsea, fresh off their victory over Barcelona, will be without Didier Drogba for their clash with Arsenal on Saturday.  The Gunners are entering this important match with a depleted midfield and after a immensely disappointing home defeat to Wigan.

Didier Drogba’s absence will surely dent Chelsea’s chances at the Emirates Stadium. The Ivorian striker has consistently hurt Arsene Wenger’s side over the years. Also, we will not have to watch Drogba flop on the pitch like a flounder all afternoon. Apparently, he actually injured his knee on Wednesday night against Barcelona. Was the wolf real this time, Didier?

Arsene Wenger cannot pay too much attention to Chelsea’s injury woes, as he has enough of his own. Mikel Arteta is out for the rest of the season with an ankle injury. Wenger revealed at his pre-match press conference that the Spanish midfielder will not require surgery. Yossi Benayoun, who is on loan from Chelsea, is ineligibile to play. The loss of Arteta and Benayoun has created a shortage in the Gunners’ midfield. Fortunately, Abou Diaby and Francis Coquelin have recovered from their respective ailments, and both are back in the squad.

How will the midfield hole be filled? Aaron Ramsey is the likely candidate. I’ve been very critical of Ramsey lately. His poor form has pushed him down the squad ladder, behind Tomas Rosicky and Yossi Benayoun. But, as many have stated before, the Welshman just looks exhausted. He was asked to take on a massive role at the start of the season, and he has worn down like an often-used pencil. If Ramsey performs like he did in the reverse fixture, then perhaps he is set for a late season rebirth.

Ah, I never get tired of speaking about the 5-3 win at Stamford Bridge. With everything that took place before that match, Arsenal were expected to be flattened. Instead, Robin van Persie scored a hat-trick and John Terry fell. Theo Walcott completed an amazing run through the Chelsea defence and put the ball past Cech. Most stunning was Andre Santos’ bursting run and finish, which evened the score at 2-2. Oh, and did I mention Terry’s tumble?

Times have changed dramatically since 5-3. Chelsea are chasing the Gunners. The Blues also sacked Andre Villas-Boas and appointed Roberto Di Matteo as the interim boss. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, virtually unknown in October, is currently a crowd favourite at Ashburton Grove. Tomas Rosicky was nowhere to be seen back when Arsenal demolished the Blues. At the moment, he is front and center as The Little Maestro, operating Arsene Wenger’s attack.

In fact, Chelsea have had a roller-coaster ride of experiences since the two clubs last met in October. Under Andre Villas-Boas, there was talk of player power and other nonsense. As a result, their form dipped and Villas-Boas was tossed to the rubbish heap. Di Matteo’s promotion to manager has inspired a revitalisation of sorts. The Blues have booked a place in the FA Cup final and, after beating Barcelona 1-0 in the first leg of a Champions League semi-final, are on the cusp of a European Cup final.

The real question is whether the Barcelona game will help or hinder Chelsea on Saturday. Of course, a huge victory over the best club in the world will surely provide a confidence boost. On the other hand, maybe Di Matteo’s side used all of their energy and effort on Wednesday night and will be drained come Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off. Either way, Arsene Wenger doesn’t care:

“You don’t want to count on that. We want to focus on our performance, let’s not expect any lack of focus from Chelsea. It would be a massive mistake. They are on a high so it is always natural to be up for the next game.” (Source: Arsenal.com)

After the loss to Queens Park Rangers, Arsenal responded the next week by beating Manchester City. The storyline could be very similar if the Gunners are victorious over Chelsea just a week after a shocking defeat to Wigan Athletic. However, the clash on Saturday is bigger than the Manchester City match was. Chelsea are fighting to break into the top four, and Arsene Wenger’s side need to stave them off while at the same time strengthening their lead for third over Spurs and Newcastle. Wenger understands the importance of the match:

“We are in a position where we do not have to calculate too much. We want to win our next game and that is the only way we can secure our qualification. We have done remarkably well in the last two months and we want to take advantage of the run we have created and show that against Chelsea.

“Like always after a big disappointment you focus on the next one. It is part of getting over defeats without losing your confidence.

“You have to make sure that your energy is transformed into frustration in the next game. And our target is to win our home games now. We know what is at stake in this game.” (Source: Arsenal.com

Match: Arsenal v Chelsea

Competition: Premier League

Location: Emirates Stadium

Kickoff: 12:45 BST, 7:45 AM EST

Television: Sky Sports 2 (UK), ESPN 2 (USA)

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Arsenal 1-2 Wigan: Frustrated Gunners fall

  By jtom | 18/04/2012 - 7:30 AM | Match Report, Premier League, Uncategorized
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Arsenal were unable to forge a comeback after Wigan scored two goals early in the match. As Arsene Wenger fumed at referee Andre Marriner and Robin van Persie feuded with Wigan captain Gary Caldwell, it became apparent that Roberto Martinez’s side had success in frustrating the Gunners.

The whole mess began very early in the contest. Arsene Wenger’s men dominated the period directly following the opening kickoff, but the Latics had a plan of counter-attack. Arsenal’s first corner ended in misery, as Fernando di Santo raced away from the recovering defenders and scored on his second bite at the cherry. The Gunners have had trouble tracking back on corners all season; they let in a similar goal against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium earlier this season.

As if conceding an early tally at home against Wigan Athletic isn’t humiliating enough, Arsenal allowed a second goal just seconds later. Victor Moses manuevered his leg like a snake to torment Bacary Sagna before pumping a low cross into Wojciech Szczesny’s penalty area. The Polish keeper failed to gather the ball, and Jordi Gomez punished him by stuffing it into the back of net. Wigan were shockingly ahead 2-0 after eight minutes.

Thomas Vermaelen’s header in the 21st minute cut Wigan’s advantage in half, but Arsenal were never able to get the crucial equaliser. Numerous chances were wasted, and, to be fair, the Latics defended well. A crowd of Wigan players behind the ball stopped the Gunners from advancing through the middle. Unsurprisingly, Arsene Wenger’s side did not opt to attack through the wide areas.

One point of controversy was the excessive time-wasting by Roberto Martinez’s men, which commenced immediately after the second goal. Whether it was the sluggish throw-ins, the slow-as-syrup goals kicks, or the frequent injury breaks, Wigan tried their hardest to bore the spectators and impede Arsenal’s attacking onslaught. After the match, Arsene Wenger did not blame the Latics:

“It is disrespectful to people who pay big money to watch the game. I told the fourth official, ‘You know what, their goalkeeper will do it all game because he did it after 10 minutes and, with three minutes to go, he will get a yellow card’. That is exactly what happened.

“We are sorry we did not play well – but that the referees do not act on it is not right.

“I do not want to look for excuses. I congratulate Wigan, they did well, but whether it’s tonight or in another game, the referee has to act.” (Source: ESPN)

Wenger makes a good point. Why is a yellow card for time-wasting in the 90th minute not a booking in the 12th minute? Surely, if referee Andre Marriner would have issued a warning to Ali Al Habsi early in the first half, the Wigan keeper’s unsporting behaviour would have ceased.

Marriner’s decision not to punish Wigan’s time-wasting was not his only poor adjudication in the match. The referee should have displayed a red card to Maynor Figuero after he bundled over Theo Walcott, who was destined for a clear goalscoring opportunity. Officials that are scared to make decisions are one of the major problems in football today.

While Wenger was berating the fourth official, Robin van Persie was involved in a minor altercation with Wigan captain Gary Caldwell. The Dutchman often seems to quarrel with a member of the opposition at one point or another during most matches. Perhaps that’s just part of his duty as captain, or maybe van Persie just likes to remind opponents of his superior quality. Either way, what’s wrong with a little fire in the eyes of our skipper?

Even though the loss to Wigan was disappointing, the most disheartening moment in the game came when Mikel Arteta was injured. The Spanish midfielder has been instrumental in Arsenal’s revival, and now it appears that he will miss a significant amount of time. At his post-match press conference, Arsene Wenger provided an update on Arteta:

“It is an ankle problem. It looks quite a serious one. We have to scan it tomorrow, it is too early to say tonight. But it doesn’t look a little ankle sprain. It is a serious one.” (Source: Arsenal.com)

On Saturday, Arsene Wenger’s side will host Chelsea after a dreadful defeat and without the services of Mikel Arteta. The only positive is that this Arsenal team, unlike some of the teams of the past, seems to thrive when faced with adversity.

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Arsenal v Wigan: Martinez calls Gunners “untouchable”

  By jtom | 16/04/2012 - 7:30 AM | Match Preview, Premier League
1 Comment

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez fears his team’s test at the Emirates Stadium on Monday night will be more difficult than their match against Manchester United last week. Considering the fact that the Gunners have won nine of their last ten games, Martinez may very well be correct.

After their impressive 1-0 victory over Manchester United last Wednesday night, Wigan will certainly be riding high on confidence. Of course, the task will be not be easy as the Latics have never emerged from Ashburton Grove with a single point. In fact, Roberto Martinez fears the trip to North London more than facing Sir Alex Ferguson’s side:

“Probably this (match against Arsenal) is an even tougher task. We are going away from home and playing against a side who have been as successful as ever at home. If you look at the last few performances they have been untouchable in the way they are playing their football, controlling games and scoring goals.” (Source: Daily Mail)

Indeed, Arsene Wenger’s men have been on quite a remarkable run. It all started when the Gunners defeated Tottenham by a score of 5-3. Since then, Arsenal have jumped up to third in the table and built a decent lead over Tottenham, Newcastle, Chelsea, and Liverpool. Champions League football for next season is not yet definite, especially when taking into account Chelsea’s opportunity to qualify automatically by winning this year’s European Cup, but the outlook is a lot brighter than it was a few months ago.

Arsenal’s hot form means that they are the heavy favourites on Monday night against relegation candidates Wigan Athletic, but the Gunners must realise that momentum can be crushed over the span of any given ninety minutes. It does not matter what Arsene Wenger’s squad have accomplished over the past month or so if they do not finish the season strongly. Tomas Rosicky is aware of the danger Wigan present:

“We have a great chance to stay in [third] position, but now we have to make sure of it. That starts against Wigan – and make no mistake, it’s a very big game for us. People might not usually regard a match against Wigan as such a big one but they are still battling relegation, so there is a lot at stake for both of us. We saw what can happen against a team fighting for its life when we played away at QPR and we expect the same kind of performance from Wigan on Monday. We have to give 100 per cent to get the result.

“We saw Wigan beat Manchester United last Wednesday, so that’s an indication that it will be a tough test for us. We’ll have to be on top of our game to win, no doubt about it. Wigan have some very good players and a good young manager, so this will be a very tough match for us.” (Source: The Guardian)

In the final two months of the season, Wigan usually find some way to escape relegation. The Latics tend to hover in the drop zone all season before making a final daring attempt to claw out. Currently, they are positioned in 17th- two points off the relegation area. Three points on Monday night at the Emirates could lift Roberto Martinez’s team further away from the dreaded bottom three.

For Arsenal, sustaining their fantastic form is absolutely vital. An important clash with Chelsea lies ahead at the weekend, and surely the Gunners will want to enter that match on the back of an impressive home win. With a relatively healthy squad, Arsene Wenger and his players can have no excuses if they fail to beat Wigan.

Match: Arsenal v Wigan Athletic

Competition: Premier League

Location: Emirates Stadium

Kickoff: 20:00 BST, 3:00 PM EST

Television: Sky Sports (UK), Fox Soccer (USA)

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