This much is true: this Premier League season has been quite different from years past.  The overt reliance on 10-men-behind-the-ball by the smaller clubs has not been as present.  Small clubs are attacking the big clubs and claiming big pelts both at home and on the road.  This won't probably last as we get into the business end of the season and relegation is staring several clubs in the face.  But it's nice to see it.  

After the week's result at Burnley and the whole drama surrounding Arsene's comments regarding the fixture list, it was nice to finally get on with the game.  Given last season's results against Hull, namely the loss at Emirates and the FA Cup post-game row, I think we were all looking forward to putting a hurting on Phil Brown and his Tigers.

The game began slowly but there were moments of liveliness thanks to Stephen Hunt and other Hull players trying to scare...

Read Post »

I'm sometimes hesitant to write about a "Big Four" clash because their individual value tends to be overblown by the media and the supporters. They become their own, small one-game seasons. As if winning or losing one costs you more than three points. As if winning one automatically earns you the next victory. Maybe the players thought that Turf Moor would be an easier place to get 3 points out of than Anfield. Maybe they thought that the gulf in class would see them come through in the end. Maybe they thought they'd get lucky.

However, teams have to make their own luck and, so far, we've been unable to for several reasons:

1. Injuries. No surprise to anyone that Cesc, the guy responsible for our early lead, left with 2 minutes to go in the first half with a hamstring injury. Less of a surprise that he's likely to miss the Saturday clash with Hull and possibly the next must-win match against Aston Villa. So we add our world-class...Read Post »

Short post today as everyone gets ready for a vital game for both the red side of Liverpool as well as it is for the red side of North London.

Yesterday we caught one heck of a lucky break in the results as Man United and Spurs both lost 1-0 while Man City drew against Bolton Wanderers and Chelsea drew against Everton.

This is a golden opportunity for Arsenal to spring their league title chase back to life. It's not often that the teams above and around you all drop points and we should take complete chance of that. If we fancy any desire to bring the Premier League title to Emirates, we must.

The problem is that Liverpool will be thinking the same thoughts and, given their last few weeks, they're in a more desperate state to make a go of the title race. Injured or not, wounded or not, we cannot think Liverpool will roll over and die.

That said, 3 points is a must today. COME ON YOU GUNNERS!Read Post »

Let's dispense with the Olympiakos clash discussion quickly. The kids played well and they made the mistakes kids make. Given the Greek club's need for a win to secure progression into the knockout stages and their pedigree as a tough team to play at home, I think a 1-0 loss speaks well about the up-and-comers' performance.

No I'm not happy with Theo, but he looks a long, long way from being 100%. If he has any aspirations as to World Cup 2010, he better work on getting fit and finding his form, as there's no way in Hades Capello will take him along if he hasn't been delivering for Arsenal.

OK, enough of that. Time to play everyone's second favorite game*..."Which Spanish Giant is After Cesc?!" And here's your host...Phiiiiillllll McccCrakkkeeennnnnnn!!!!

"Today's contestant is over 100 years old, white and loves to live the most glamourous life. If you catch her eye, she'll do anything to get with you -- a bit...Read Post »

And I don't just mean my laptop this time. News is out that Tomas Rosicky will be absent for a month with a groin injury picked up at Stoke. So that increases our injury list to 10 (not including guys like Eduardo or Denilson or Fabianski, who've missed time this season but will be back for this week's game):

1. Robin Van Persie
2. Kieran Gibbs
3. William Gallas
4. Emmanuel Eboue
5. Armand Traore
6. Gael Clichy
7. Johan Djourou
8. Abou Diaby
9. Nicklas Bendtner
10.Theo Walcott

Arsene has come out and said there might be a reason for this run of injuries besides just being part of the normal run of knocks that happen during a season. Might I suggest that given the size of our players and the lack of protection from refs in the Premier League, it's something to do with clattering tackles and not nutrition? This wasn't as much of a problem when we...Read Post »

...and Arsenal are almost right back where they started.  They sit 8 points behind a recently-defeated Chelsea with a game in hand.

This will be a short entry as my computer has decided it cannot continue living.  So for brevity's sake, let me just hit some highlights:

• Arshavin through the middle worked wonders as Stoke's defenders had to respect the little Russian's skills. 
• However, as the game wore on and Stoke's defenders collapsed right in front of goal, it seemed he started to give up.  Arshavin appears a guy of great highs and low lows.  We need him high right now.
• The second goal was a result of some good passing and Aaron Ramsey striking from beyond the box.  So lesson to all Arsenal players: shoot!  Great things happen.
• We shouldn't be so harsh though.  Stoke came looking...

Read Post »

So with that, we exit the Carling Cup.   I must say, though a loss, I'm not as gutted as I should be.  Partially this is due to the obvious realization that we were going to stick with the kids while Manchester City were going to bring out their full first team to bear -- including Carling Cup-master scorer Carlos Tevez, Gooner-by-proxy Shaun Wright-Phillips and uber-you-know-whats Craig Bellamy and Adebayor.

There are some who will question the wisdom of the "sticking with the kids" policy in this situation given the demand there is for a trophy from many Arsenal supporters and the shadow that the 3-0 drubbing at the hands of Chelsea cast over our season.  But let me argue against that:

• To have changed the policy immediately after the Chelsea game would have been correctly identified as a knee-jerk reaction and felt as a desperation move.
• Arsene has always stated...

Read Post »

A smarter man than I once said that the two greatest dilemmas in life were how to learn to get over great success and how to get over great failure.  Obviously, the Arsenal players, coaches, and supporters are all getting a crash course in how to get over great failure. 

Part one has been to admit there are issues within the team.  You've had a number of players like Arshavin and Denilson coming out and admitting that they are not playing at their best level.  Meanwhile you've also had others come out and say they cannot allow the last two poor results to turn into the tailspin that undoes our season.

Meanwhile Arsene Wenger's come out and stated that he's looking towards buying a striker in January.  For a manager as reserved as Arsene to say this is a clear sign that he's looking at Robin van Persie's absence as the problem that it is.  Obviously supporters are hopeful he will...

Read Post »

It always feels like it takes a bad loss for me to dust the cobwebs off this thing and get to writing again.  I guess it's because when things are going great you can find a dozen other, better-written opinion pieces on the Arsenal around the web.  Besides writing about a poor outing, though never fun, allows me the chance to get it out of my mind.

And let there be no doubt: today was not a good day.

We looked at times like we wanted to run off with the game, confident that our passing skills would eventually find an opening through the steel blue wall of Chelsea.  But there was no opening.  So we'd move the ball out wide and look to cross it over the wall.  Only to find that Chelsea would have both the height advantage and the defensive discipline to not let anything get past them to Petr Cech.

We had possession of the ball for almost 60% of the first half and...

Read Post »

So with Matchday 4 of the Champions League in the books, let me just throw some thoughts:

- Great game by Cesc.  Once again he shows why he's one of the 5 best midfielders in the world.  Today he harried and took a good shot that the Alkmaar keeper let get past him and then he took a thunderous shot that Stretch Armstrong couldn't have stopped.  Great game and my man of the match.

- Equally brilliant game by Andrei Arshavin.  He may be getting a bit preoccupied with his lack of goals, but he was stunning setting up the first three goals.  All came from a deft move and solid passing on his part.  His goals will come but I'm glad he's able to be part of the fluid six-man attack.

- I wanted us to keep the clean sheet but everyone got caught napping and AZ put one past Almunia.  Since September we've only had one clean sheet.  So far that hasn't been an...

Read Post »