Manchester United v Arsenal Preview
How’s it going everybody?
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| Coquelin looks set to make his Premier League debut. |
It’s been a while since I’ve written anything, so hopefully the rust will be shaken off quickly and I’ll be able to offer some insight for this weekend’s fixture. By no means is this a fixture that Arsenal takes lightly, but there is a great deal more optimism surrounding the club, well at least in the locker room it seems. United have gotten off the blocks for this season nicely, beating West Brom and the Spuds. The West Brom game presented United with much more of a test than the Spuds, who were flattened after a great thirty minutes in the second half. This is has been, and always will be a tough fixture for Arsenal, but by no means do I count us out tomorrow afternoon.
Suspensions and injuries continue to have a massive impact on the squad available for selection, applying more pressure to veterans such as Arshavin and RVP to play their top game. Here’s what I think the formation will look like tomorrow:
Szczesney
Sagna------Koscielny------ Vermaelen-------Traore
Ramsey------ Coquelin------Rosicky
Walcott------RVP------Arshavin
So what we see here is really a very tricky match day squad, especially for Premier League debutant, Francis Coquelin. Personally, I would rather see Henri Lansbury playing the deep DM role. He’s trained with the first team squad for awhile now and even was featured late against Liverpool last weekend. That said, if reports are to be believed that Coquelin will be handed his debut and hopefully he’ll fare well against Rooney and Co.
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| Manchester United may look to expose the flanks, so Traore must be on top form. |
I believe tomorrow’s focus will mirror the tactics used against Udinese. An attacking and very direct approach would be wise, mainly because if we can nip a goal or two near the beginning of the game it would set up nicely for our possession play. There will obviously be a great deal of importance placed on how well Ramsey will be able to control the game. He did good against Udinese in the second half, and completed 92% of his passes for the entire game. The United midfield does not have the kind of players that want to retain possession for long spells, they play best off the counter attacks. Relying on the speed of Nani and the overall play of Rooney to get their goals. Last season at the Emirates, we saw how effective Ramsey was. He played superbly and in the end, United looked very toothless. If we play that way tomorrow, Traore must be solid all game. United will look to expose us on the flanks, much like Udinese did, so if Traore is caught of position to often, the result could become very ugly.
Overall, I’m excited for tomorrow afternoon. The team showed a lot of spirit to be able to pull out a solid result in Italy this week; I think the mood will be good going to Old Trafford. United will obviously be favored, but there have been many times when Arsenal has produced a stunning result when all was thought to be lost.
Keep the faith, until tomorrow.
By Thad Torrez
Follow him on Twitter - @thad4dified
Newcastle United vs Arsenal Match Analysis/Scout Reports
Well the season opening game came and went, some questions were answered and others were not. A lot of things stayed the same, like Joey Barton’s best routine a cheating arse, and Arsenal failing to open up a less than average side’s defense. However, I’m encouraged by what was on display at St. James Park yesterday. Our central defensive partnership of TV5 and Kos were excellent in defense, and Scezney was good in goal as well. As I’ve said before, Wenger has always rated his defense highly, and yesterday was a glimpse of why he does that. Kos showed flashes of the talent he possessed last season, but lapses in concentration caused him to make very high profile errors. The Carling Cup gaffe is the most notable (insert sob here). Yesterday Kos found his feet though, and did very well in containing Ba and the rest of the Newcastle attack. Any Arsenal fan knows TV5 has always been excellent, he was just hurt for the entirety of last season. His absence made adjusting very hard for Kos and Squatchy (I refuse to use his real name because he just sucks that bad). Yesterday showed that TV5 will pick up where he left off two years ago, which is brilliant. If Wenger were here right now, he would remind us that “it’s like a new signing.” Which is correct, only that it’s not a new signing. Very confusing, eh?
Even an inspired performance from our defense yesterday could not hide that fact that our once sharp attacking threat has suddenly gone very dull. Without reinforcements being brought in I find it hard to believe that will change. Ramsey is just now beginning to regain confidence after over a year of injury time, there is no way he will be able to just step up and fill the Fabregas role in the middle of the park. Once Wilshere regains fitness it will be much better, we’ve already seen the promising partnership those two will form. There has to be other options though. Rosicky has a very good work rate, but when it comes to that killer instinct for passing to begin a move or finishing a move, it’s just not there. While I think Lansbury and Frimpong will play a big role this season, they’re traits mirror those of Ramsey and Wilshere. Good on the ball, with that English steel to boss the midfield. However, none of the midfielders I’ve mentioned compliment each other in a way that will produce the slick, attractive football Wenger likes to play. None are the creative lynchpin that our type of offense needs. Can our current midfielders be groomed into a very effective and trophy winning side? Absolutely. For the current situation though, a goal scorer and creative midfielder has to be brought in.
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Ramsey can step up. |
Some may ask, “Aren’t we letting go exactly what you’re asking for Thad?” And if you just asked that question, slap yourself. Cesc and Na$ri leaving is exactly why we need those two positions filled. The reason we’re letting them go is obvious though, they don’t want to be at Arsenal so frankly I don’t want them here either. I won’t go into how I feel about them leaving, that will come after I’ve cooled off a bit and had time to think about their transfer. Instead, let’s look at the players we’re linked with currently:
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Moussa Sow - "Who wouldn't want to play for Arsenal". |
Moussa Sow: I just found out about this link today. He seems like pretty decent striker, top scorer in Ligue 1 last year. Big and physical, he seems like the striker we wanted Nick to be. According to Jamie Dalton, Sow was quoted today saying that a move to the Emirates has been his dream all along. He played with Gervinho at Lille, so a potential move could be on the cards.
Eden Hazard: Also a former teammate of Gervinho’s at Lille. A fantastic dribbler who was very key in helping Lille to the Ligue 1 title last year. Arsenal have been linked with Hazard for a long time. I personally think he’s fantastic and could help fill the role left by Nasri. He’s young and Belgian, so maybe TV5 could help push I move along. I’m hesitant to think Lille will allow him to leave though, since they’ll need all the help they can get in the Champions League this year.
Lucho Gonzalez: The mature, Argentine playmaker from Olympique Marseille. Tall and experienced, this man could be an answer to many of the problems that Arsenal have in the midfield. A true midfield general that could help the young kids not get so anxious (all those apart from Jack of course) in big games. If memory serves me correctly, he seems unsettled at OM and could be on his way out. One to keep an eye on for sure.
Marvin Martin: Recently linked, after watching him a bit he’d be a good signing. Great on the ball and has an excellent eye for that killer pass. Young and French, he’s just the kind of signing Wenger likes to make. His current club, Sochaux, have said that he’s not for sale. However, when a club as big as Arsenal come along with lots of cash, many people change their stances very fast. This a player that could be on the move in the coming weeks, hopefully it’s to Arsenal
Gary Cahill: You all already know about this one. He’s from Bolton, he’s English, and we’ll probably pay more then he’s worth for. That said, look for this deal to be done before the transfer window closes. We’ve been linked all along, and I expect this is one deal we’ll get done.
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Jadson, who is linked with a move to North London. |
Jadson: Well he’s Brazilian, which is good I guess. Hopefully he’s better than Denilson, and by all accounts the deal looks close. He’d be a decent signing, not the “super quality” Wenger
talked about though. A good finisher and used to playing with Europe’s elite, with Shakhtar Donetsk, Jadson could add some diversity to the midfield. This deal could be done soon as well.
Andre Ayew: A Ghanaian winger who plays for Olypique Marseille as well. This speedy winger would be brought in to cover Nasri’s position. Another young talent from France, which again is Wenger’s style, look for that situation to develop.
By Thad Torrez
Follow him on Twitter - @thad4dified
Newcastle United vs Arsenal Match Review
Optimism with a bit of trepidation
I was definitely looking forward to the boys having their first foray into the new season. I wanted to see if there would be sulking for not having Two Players We Will Not Name….or some fight. With the nonsense of the closed season dragging on I and many others may have nearly lost the will to live. The new season should offer some respite and the imminent closure of the transfer window should settle us down. Would the lads be focused? I felt like today was a Newcastle 1-3 Arsenal kind of day. My head said I wasn’t sure what to expect. Notice I say nothing about Newcastle as they shouldn’t matter. The opposition is a barrier to be overcome and a decent performance should get us there.
Listening to Arsene before the match, I think he feels the players are letting him down either with their performances or their commitment. I would not be surprised if he stubbornly tells them step up and back me or get me the sack (the so called fans at the match today are doing a good job of that by themselves – don’t get me started!).
Painfully, I had Robbie Savage and Kevin Keegan to keep me company on ESPN for the match. My twitter Gooner peeps kept me warm today and helped me to keep my new telly intact for the duration of the match. Just.
Same old Arsenal? Not really….
The game started slowly and picked up as the first half went on. A nice move in the second minute culminated in Gervinho putting the ball across the box through the eye of a needle, few more passes and Rosicky shooting wide. Newcastle went up the other end but were ineffectual. The passing was OK and Arsenal showed the most intent. This didn’t mean Newcastle sat back. They just got snuffed out in the final third.
Gervinho was showing great endeavor and running at people as was his reputation. This got me thinking we had a raw talent on our hands that could come good. He was getting into good positions and switching sides with Arshavin a bit. More of that unpredictability in future please!
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| Vermaelen worked well alongside Koscielny |
Some tasty tackles went in from Rosicky and Song but more fairly Song was the only one to see yellow. We we’re getting in their faces a bit and I liked it. We need some of that in the team to get through these kinds of games.
Gervinho was the best part of the half. The Newcastle defenders didn’t like him running at them and he got past them with ease time and time again. However this was put in context where we got into good positions and time and time again failed to put in a shot on target. Just one shot on target in the whole half. Ho hum. Some things haven’t changed.
More of the same in the second half I’m afraid. We had so many chances to put the game to bed but sadly that wasn’t the story of the second half.
So first there’s the yellow card for Gibbs. Maybe he was a bit late but it was a bit harsh on the boy. Rosicky then took Gutierrez down a little late but escaped a yellow. We then got a lucky free kick on the side of the 18 yard box from which RVP went close. At one point Song put RVP clean through with a cutting pass but it was too heavy and ran away to the keeper. There were other chances but hey that’s not that interesting.
Around the 60th minute Song took exception to the attention he was getting from That Boy Barton and he might have given him a bit of ankle acupuncture with his left boot. The ungrateful little sod then went and berated the 4th official who was a virtual mute due to his comms batteries running out. Haha.
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| Welcome to the Premier League, Gervinho |
And then things went to hell in a hand cart. Gervinho in the box gets clipped by a defender and goes down a little easily but it was a clear penalty. The referee didn’t want to give it and turned to run back to the centre. In the meantime That Boy Barton used Gervinho’s shirt to bring him to his feet – such a helpful chappie - and berated him for diving! A melee ensued in Gervinho quite rightly slapped Barton.
What happened next was incredible. Barton is down like a sack of potatoes holding his face. Standard fare for footballers these days. Barton’s mate Steven Taylor who was run ragged by Gervinho gestured to the ref twice “elbow, elbow!” The ref made the decision to give our new boy a red card. Welcome to the Prem Gervinho!
This was compounded by Barton saying to RVP clearly “He punched me!” So was it a slap, punch or elbow? By the end of the game I wished it was all three. Repeatedly. I made sure to let That Boy Barton know I sympathized with him for having no father and asking after his dog of a mother.
Verdict
Arsenal ended the game with 5 yellows and 1 red. Dirty Arsenal? Hardly but I hope the boys learn the art of edge without the cynical. I was happy to see Gervinho and Frimpong on the pitch. Szczesny was immense as was Vermaelen. Rosicky is returning to his previous powers. Song worked hard but couldn’t control the game and was lucky to stay on the pitch. Ramsey was off his game and couldn’t impact the result much.
The biggest positive was a clean sheet and the boys having fight and closing down well when they didn’t have the ball.
As for the decisions: Gervinho penalty? – Definitely! Gervinho red? – should not have happened but correct since he slapped the reprobate. If the ref had seen the initial stages of the incident, he would have stopped it in the initial stages and given Barton a yellow. That incident was poorly officiated IMO.
I am appalled by the subset of away fans that spent the time having a go at Wenger. Today was a day to show the Geordies we were behind our boys as much as they were behind theirs. Especially with the good performance they showed. Wrong time and wrong place Gooners.
Let’s go in to Tuesday’s game with some optimism and give the boys a great reception at the Emirates. Get behind them all game because one way or another they will be the ones to take us back into the Champions League.
By Jon Romano.
Follow him on Twitter - @jonbromano
Newcastle United versus Arsenal FC at St James’ Park 13th of August , 2011.
So we have finally went through the pre-season matches, we have followed our fellow teams, watched them getting torn apart, watching them getting strengthened. And here we finally are. The first round of Premier League, which we all have been waiting for so long. And Arsenal’s first clash is against the Magpies which we so pathetically lost 4-0 to 4-4 last time. But now our dear players at Arsenal must put that behind them and aim forward. However, it is still unclear if Samir Nasri and/or Cesc Fábregas will participate in this meeting since the rumors about them moving to Manchester City and FC Barcelona are running through the media rapidly. Therefore I won’t use someone of these two as a player to look out for since their participation still is unclear until the whistle for start blows. Arsenal as we all know came fourth in the previous EPL due to a week season finish. Newcastle came on the 12th place which was a decent season for them since they were “new” that season. My tip is that NUFC will finish as they did last season, being a classic mid-table team with a few decent players! And my tip for Arsenal is either winners or second place because I, unlike many goners believe Arsenal can really compete about the title this season, especially after having Gervinho in the squad, he is brilliant.
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| Arsenal fans won't be hoping for a repeat of last seasons 4-4 thriller. |
In the Arsenal squad Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri are missing. Fabregas since he isn’t fit for a match, claims Wenger and Nasri because of illness. Now as I write this, rumours are that Fabregas is in Barcelona to sign the contract and to be presented at a press conference today, 12th of august. Tomorrow, at game day we’ll be sure to 100% if these rumours were true.
Players to look out for in the Newcastle squad in my opinion are Yohan Cabaye, 25 years old midfielder who they bought from Lille and Demba Ba, a 26 year old forward. Cabaye was one of three keys to Lille’s win in the French Ligue 1 last season. A very good midfielder who is creative and with excellent passing skills. Demba Ba on the other hand came from West Ham when they were sent down to the Championship and he is a strong forward with a good accuracy for goal scoring. They will make a good duo is my prediction who will create problems for the teams they are facing.
Arsenal players to look out for on the other hand are Aaron Ramsey, if he plays of course, the Welsh international is an absolute master prospect with a bright future, he may be the only one with a talent as amazing as Wilshere’s. He has good passing, an exceptional view for the game and he is dangerous when it comes to attacking with a venomous distant shot. Tomas Rosicky will also be one to look out for, if the so often injuried Czech international contains his pre-season form he will be an absolute top act for Arsenal at the clash against NUFC. And of course we have Gervinho, who is likely to start on the left wing due to the absence of Samir Nasri. He is speedy with good dribbling skills and he scores goals and he makes loads of assists. He was one key to Lille’s win with Yohan Cabaye, NUFC and Eden Hazard, still at Lille. Those five players will be interesting to see how they’ll cope with the first round of Premier League and my prediction is that it will be an intense game.
Finally I think that the score will be 0-3 to Arsenal after goals by Robin van Persie, Gervinho and Tomas Rosicky.
What are your predictions? Take care, Ludvig Wallentin
Follow him on Twitter - @Lwallentin
