Arsenal - Wigan Preview

Arsenal host Wigan Athletic looking to build up on their impressive win at Chelsea last weekend. So far this season the Gunners have slipped up against several clubs in the bottom half of the table so should be on their metal here against a Wigan side who have won their last two matches. A win against Chelsea a week ago gave Arsenal the moral boost they really need in order to still be in contention for the league title. Consistency, or the lack of it, has been the problem for Arsene Wenger's men this term, with glorious success against the likes of Man Utd and Chelsea, all too often intertwined with spectacular failure. A visit from Wigan on Saturday, a side that has never beaten the Gunners, will allow them the opportunity to once again stake their title credentials, but do not be too surprised if Steve Bruce's dogged Latics outfit prove to be another thorn in their side.

Team News:

Arsenal will be without the injured Gallas (pheww!) who suffering from a calf injury. However, Kolo Toure will be back after have to sit out on the bench during a win at Stamford Bridge, and is likely to start alongside Djourou in the centre of Arsenal's defence. Eboue will also start in the right side of midfield after missing in the last four Arsenal league games through the knee injury he suffered. Diaby, Walcott and long-term absentee, Rosicky, will still be sidelined.

On the other hand, Wigan will be able to play their strongest squad, with their main striker, Amr Zaki, could return following the hamstring injury that kept him out of Latics last three matches. The in-form striker, Henri Camara would likely to start besides him to complete the attacking duo in the line up. Wigan will also welcome back their utility player, Paul Schaner, after missing the victory against the Baggies last weekend due to groin problem.

Match Prediction:

Wenger's side is still fresh from their away victory last weekend against Chelsea. However, the question still remain whether can this young side from North London can maintain their consistency. Only two win recorded in their last six league matches, which includes back-to-back losses to Villa and City, shows that this team need to prove all the critics wrong and be a serious title contender this season. Wigan comes to Emirates to record their third consecutives win in the league and improve their standing in the league. With being the only side that can score past 5 against Hull, shows their potential in attack and can be a real threat to Arsenal back four.

A home victory will see Arsenal climb out to third spot, with the late kick-off between Man Utd and Sunderland. With Van Persie and Adebayor up front, I would be really surprised if we fail to score goals and win this match. Though we have seen a ridiculous inconsistency in this team, I believe the win at Chelsea last Sunday is the turning point to Arsenal's comeback this term. 3-0 win for the home side. Win this game you, arsehole!!

Other Matches' Predictions:

Fulham - Man City (Away win, 2-1)

Blackburn - Liverpool (Away win, 1-0)

Bolton - Chelsea (Away win, 3-1)

Hull City - Boro (Draw, 2-2)

Newcastle - Stoke (Home win, 2-0)

Man Utd - Sunderland (Home win, 3-0)

West Brom - Pompey (Away win, 1-0)

Everton - Aston Villa (Draw, 1-1)

West Ham - Spurs (Draw, 2-2)

The Ex-Captain Is Moving Out

In my previous entry, Arsenal current captain, Cesc Fabregas, has once again stressed his commitment to the Gunners. The news about him leaving to San Siro is just a mere speculation without a solid proof. And he quickly denied the rumor suggesting that he will leave next summer. And today, I've read another news about our captain, but not the latest one, the previous one (picture).
One of his closest friend told the press about how Gallas feels humiliated because of the way the armband was stripped from him. This close chum of Gallas told The Sun, “William is not a happy man at the moment. He did not apologise to his team-mates over his comments, nor did Arsene Wenger make him do so. But he still feels completely humiliated to have been stripped of the captaincy and is strongly thinking about a move in January. The summer would be too far away. He says he is lonely in the dressing room and at training, and he doesn’t really have many friends.”. Fair enough. This is just the latest of several setbacks for unsettled Gallas, who has become something of an outcast at Ashburton Grove since being forced to hand the captain's armband to young Cesc Fabregas. You can go whenever you want, wherever you want, Gallas. We don't really care. You just a cancer to Arsenal, on and off the field, waiting to explode. Maybe we can't trust the media that much, especially because the nature of the statement that didn't come straight from that big mouth of Gallas. But as far as I am concern, I just want the best for Arsenal and we will be better off without him in the team. So, I would like to believe the news and hoping for him to just fuck-off somewhere else. We don't need a crybaby here in Arsenal. Be it PSG or AC Milan or Ventpils FK, I just don't care. As long as he leaves, I will be the happiest Arsenal fans alive.

The Captain Is Staying Put

As I said in my previous blog, the English media are just a bunch of crap. After failed to confirm their rumors about Fab4 (picture) leaving the Emirates for Bernabeu earlier this season, now they create chaos among Arsenal lover by hinting that the newly-installed captain will consider leaving Arsenal to join Flamoney and Senderos at Milan next season. "If I were to come to Italy, I would choose Milan without a doubt," Fabregas, who was an instrumental figure in knocking Milan out of last season's UEFA Champions League, told the Italian press. These English scumbags then manipulate his statement by stating that this will be the final season of Fab4 with the red and white of Arsenal.
Luckily, the captain then came out and squashed this stupid rumor about him leaving Arsenal, by committing his future to Arsenal Football Club, at least until his contract runs out in 2011. “It is true that I said I admire Milan for their rich history and the way they play football but that is as far as the story goes. I am honored to be wearing the captain’s armband for Arsenal and I am 100 per cent committed to this Club. My future is here” said Fabregas. Okay. End of story. He's not leaving and the press can just shut the fuck up.

Do's & Dont's

There are so much things to talk about the current Arsenal squad come January. Speculation after speculation in the media about who will be Arsenal's winter signings and how much Wenger is willing to pay for them. The Prof is known with his silence approach when it comes to transfer speculation and he always made us surprised with his decision, for instance, the purchase of Reyes and dolphin-headed Diarra (picture). The inconsistency in the Arsenal squad also is the most-talked topic among the fans and what's need to be done in order to restore their confidence in the current team. Sitting in the 4th position in the league with already 5 losses even before Christmas, more than what they suffered in the whole season last term, makes us wonder can this team match the other top teams in the league. The media also questions about Arsenal young gun after they have been crashed out of the Carling Cup by a Championship side, 1st time ever in the Arsenal history under Mr Wenger. I need to adress my opinion in these issues because for me, this is the weakest Arsenal team ever assembled since 1997/98 season.

Do: After losing Flamoney to Milan, Alex 'The Goblin' Hleb to Barca and Gilberto to Panathinaikos, Arsene still yet to make any replacement to the space left in the midfield area. We do have direct replacement for Hleb in Nasri, but we don't have another Flamoney in the team. Diaby is an injury-prone player, Denilson being to similar to Fabregas' style of play, Ramsey is too young to be a good defensive midfielder and Bischoff ....... errr ..... who is he by the way? The speculation surrounding us about the purchase of Yaya Toure in January is very much anticipated by the fans. He will be going to be a good addition to a weakened Arsenal midfield and with his experience in Champions League and World Cup, it will be a very good advantage. But then after a recent statement from the younger Toure ('I'm not interested in playing for Arsenal', he quoted saying. We are going to slit your brother into pieces if you don't want to come to London. Naaaaahhhh!! We don't need you, Yaya. You can just sit on that Recaro sponsored dugout for the rest of your playing career, big mouth!), the gaffer should search for another candidates to strengthen the squad. Diarra will be a good signing too. No..not that deep-sea-creature Diarra. I'm talking about that Diarra from Bernabeu.
Don't: There's a lot of speculation stating how much the unlimited-resources City wants to buy our own Toure. Please don't sell him. Not to City, not to any other clubs. He's one of our most consistent army and the only 'invincible' left in the team. Are we very desperate financially that we have to sell our vice-captain? I don't think we are in that kind of situation like Valencia who reported are ready to sell his key striker, David Villa, with Chelsea and Man City (again!) are said to be the potential buyer. If the club are really in need of money, why don't they try to sell the demoted captain, Gallas, instead, or Mr Robocop 'Silvestre', or your own refrigerator, or your kid's Playstation 3.

Do: We have been touted as the team that plays pretty football in order to win since Wenger took over from Bruce Rioch, some 12 years ago. However, since that monster-looking coach, Sam Allardyce, has found out how to stop Arsenal from practicing their slick passing move, most of the team in the league use it against Arsenal. Now, the boss has to do something about his current passing tactics to win against the so-called smaller teams. It doesn't mean that we have to stop playing like we do right now, but we have to try to play more direct football, like long straight ball to the striker and attempt more crosses. Wenger's obsession with one formula to win a game must be changed because, I hate to say this, pretty football won't mean anything if we fail to lift a trophy this season.
Don't: Wenger has already made a mistake with the purchase of Silvestre early this season. But please, for God's sake, don't play him together with Gallas in the centre of the defensive line. In fact, if it is possible, don't play both of them. I suggest we use the partnership of Djourou and Toure instead. Please bring Senderos back as well. He might be a mistake-prone defender but he's just 23 years old and he can be a very good defender in 3-4 years time. Just look at John Terry. His establishment as a good centre-half takes him like 4-5 years since he joined Chelsea in 1998.

Do: After crashed out of the Carling Cup, the young guns still need some match experiences to help develop their skills, physically and mentally, in football. We can use the likes of Vela, Wilshere and Ramsey more in the league rather than sticking with the same 'senior' player even after they have not performing well in previous matches. Player like Jay Simpson and Merida can have more experience if they are to be loaned out to another team. They are still not ready to taste the first team action, but trust me, it's just a matter of time before they can be the football icon in the near future.
Don't: Arsenal's kids should not follow the step of Francis Jeffers and Richard Wright, who being so impatient and was then transferred to another club. And what happened to both of them now? The former has been playing for 6 different teams since leaving Arsenal and currently with Sheffield Wednesday, a Championship side and he only managed to score 2 goals in 12 matches, in all competition, this season. Richard Wright is now playing for his first professional club, Ipswich Town, in order for him to get the number 1 jersey, where he failed to earn in Everton, West Ham and Southampton since he left Highbury. My advice is, be patient and wait for your turn to shine, or else, my son will be writing about you in his blog like I did to Jeffers and Wright.

English Press Are Assholes

When Arsenal lost 5-1 away from home in last season's Carling Cup semi-final to Spurs, the media has slammed Wenger's tactics and exaggerated the story about that win though Arsenal fielded most of their youngsters in that match. Yes, we have the likes of Hleb and Fabregas in that team, but Spurs, the eventual champion, played their first team squad in that match. "A pulsating Tottenham performance saw them run riot against Arsenal to book a place in the Carling Cup final." - BBC Sport.22/01/08.
Spurs shows why they are the defending champion, by beating Liverpool 4-2 at home. It seems like this is the tournament that suits them well because as far as I am concerned, they are not a true contender in the league and the likes of Milan and Valencia in the UEFA Cup should write-off their chances to lift the trophy. No, I don't want to talk about this big spending team (but never being in the top 4 since before the telephone was invented), but I want to show you the shit about English press. Liverpool have Alonso and El-Nino in the squad, but the Merseysider still considered as fielding their reserves team in this match. WTF?! How about if Arsenal is the one that was thrashed? Will this bunch of cuntless reporter write the same thing? "Holders destroy Liverpool second string" - ESPN Soccernet.12/11/08. Second string my ass.
The giant-killer Burnley kicked Chelsea out from this season's Carling Cup after winning a penalty kick decider in Stamford Bridge. The former is the surprise package in the tournament this season and they deserve the credit for keeping Chelsea at bay for a long 120 minutes of football. But the press prefer to write about Didier 'The Coin Thrower' Drogba's (picture) behaviour rather than discussing about how a Chelsea first team, a team that was sent out in every tournaments to show how much they want to be a champion according to that stupid bald wanker Ray Wilkins, failed to outplay a Championship side on their own ground. "Drogba apologises for coin throw as Chelsea tumble out" - The Guardian.13/11/08
And last night, Arsenal kids was knocked out from the same tournament by the same team and the same press that had lifted this bunch of youngsters after 2 marvellous performances, seems like had never saw anything good in this team by criticising the lack of experience in the team. Hey, you bastard! They are all below 20 years old, apart from Fabianski (Slyvester does not count. For me he is still a cunt from Manchester and is not an Arsenal player. No. Not for now). Plus, they playing away from home and in a temperature that nugged below freezing. See the true picture please, you bunch of stupid Englishmen. "Kevin McDonald is more Bash Street Kid than Arsenal academy prodigy but the Scot was every bit as effective as any of Arsene Wenger's revered crop. The 20-year-old might have only played an hour, but his two goals were enough to send Owen Coyle's Burnley into the semi-finals." - The Herald.3/12/08
Stop this bias report about Arsenal you idiots!!

Burnley 2-0 Arsenal (Turf Moor, Burnley)

A disappointing end to a somewhat exciting journey for the Arsenal kids in the carling cup. After thrashing Sheffield United 6-0 at Bramall Lane and outplayed the Premier League counterpart, Wigan, 3-0, Arsenal youngsters had now back on earth after a 2-0 defeat away against a championship side, Burnley. This game has showed how much experience lacking in this young side, though they have shown us an excellent characteristic throughout the tournament.

Match Report
It only took Burnely 6 minutes after kick-off before they scored their first of 2 goals in the match, courtesy of Fabianski calamity. Straight after a miss opportunity from 19-year old Bendtner, Chris Eagles slung over a low cross from the right flank and Fabianski failed to cling on under pressure from Paterson, and McDonald, a 20-year old Scottish, side-footed the rebound into an empty net. After running riot in their two previous ties, the Arsenal kids were behind for the first time in the competition. This would be a test of their mettle. Bendtner then missed another chance after a clever flick from Vela, where the waited equalizer is only to be denied by lack conviction in finishing and a very superb block from 33-year old Jensen. The Dane was the busier between two posts in the first half when Arsenal used their attacking philosophy to pressure Burnley's defense. Randall, Vela and Merida, apart from Bendtner, had their own chances to equalize for Arsenal, but the Burnley keeper stood up to keep his team's lead in the first half. On the other hand, the impressive Chris Eagles showed how much Man Utd will miss him in the right flank of the field when he kept creating problems to Arsenal back four. After an entertaining first 45 minutes, Burnley keep their one-goal advantage and make the Arsenal gaffer, Arsene Wenger, the busier of the 2 coaches during the half-time team talk.
13 minutes after the 2nd half kick-off, Burnley doubled their lead, from a clinical finishing, again it was the young McDonald with a superb curling shot that landed just inside the upright to make Fabianski beaten again. The nervy Polish has all the rights to blame his defenders for the goal. Another former Man Utd player, Silvestre, had been caught napping from a quickly-taken throw on the right, giving McDonald the chance to scamper clear of Randall, where the latter should have just cleared the ball out from the 6-yard box. Arsenal then continue to press forward, and Wenger has brought in 19-year old Englishmen, Jay Simpson, and he was quickly into the action, firing a shot straight at Jensen after the ball had broken for him just inside the box. But gaps were appearing at the other end and Paterson should have put the tie to bed when Blake's cross picked him out at the far post. Paterson couldn't get enough purchase on his header and Fabianski parried before clutching the rebound. Arsenal's youngsters kept their heads up and continued to play their football, but Burnley kept them at bay. The referee blew the final whistle after 90-minutes of play, and it's now over for the lads in reds, while the giant-killer Burnley went through to the final four.

My Own Match Analysis
Arsenal should blame themselves for missing so many clear cut chances in the first half that I supposed can kill the game off early. While the opponent just tried to pegg them back by quick counter attack, they got the benefit just after 6 minutes when the ball spilled off Fabianski and was then tapped in by 20-year-old Scottish, Kevin Mcdonald. Fabianski had some nervy moments after the goal and it shows how much match experiences needed by this young Polish goalkeeper. In the other end, Bendtner, one of the first team squad member, was given 2 clear cut chances that should easily scored if he kept his composure in front of the goal. Credit however, should be given to Burnley's Stamford-Bridge-hero, Brian Jensen, for keeping his team's 1-0 lead in the first half.
It only took the home side 13 minutes after the game restarted for Burnley to double their lead and it was again, the young Mcdonald, who scored. Arsenal defence caught napping and Chris Eagles' throw-in patheticly defended by so-called experienced Mikael 'Murphy' Silvestre (picture) and Randall failed to clear the ball when he should, was ended by a calm finishing by the scottish. Arsenal failed to find their rhytm afterwards as Burnley defended very well in the remaining 30 minutes. Arsenal, as usual, controlled the possesion but frustratingly failed in the final third. The lads did everything they could in order to put the ball past Jensen, but the 33-year old was really in one of his best form ever to deny Arsenal's attempts. The referee then blew the final whistle and the giant-killer, Burnley, claims their place in the final 4.
I might be sound superstitously stupid when I say this, but I do believe that whenever that fish-headed cocksucking ex-man cunt, Silvestre playing in the heart of Arsenal defence, Arsenal will fail to keep a cleansheet and the worse part is the team will taste a defeat. I don't think Arsenal's inconsistency is down to Gallas alone, where that octagon-sized alien should also be blamed. I was very surprised to see him, the most junior squad member in tonight's match, wore the armband and I told myself 'arsenal is doomed'. Optimisticly, I still believe this was a good learning curve for the lads and they need to learn how to taste a defeat and how to come back stronger. Yes, it is a humiliated defeat when we lost to a side that lays more than almost 20 spots from us, but we must remember this is a very young Arsenal squad and they need our support to raise their game to a higher level. And also remember that every time this lads performed in their Carling Cup match, their so-called senior failed to deliver the desired results. The first team squad lost to Hull City after a 6-0 thumping of Sheffield United and again the former at home to Villa 3 days after this young Arsenal side surprised Wigan with a 3-0 win at home. You know what I mean, aren't you?
Now the most realistic target for silverware is already out of our reach and all I want to see is a more convincing performance from the first team, at least being the significant contender in the league and qualify for the final in the champions league. Wigan is next and I cannot accept anything except a win in this home encounter. And Mr Wenger, please actively involves in the January transfer window.

Man-of-the-Match
Brian Jensen.
While most of the press would like to pick the 2-goal-scorer, McDonald, as their preffered man-of-the-match, my obvious choice is the man between the post, Brian Jensen. The 33-year old Danish, who plays in his 6th season for Burnley, was in his top form to deny Arsenal a goal, even a consolation one. Arsenal player should be blamed for their lack of composure in front of the goal but then Jensen should also get some credit for his confidence showing to keep a cleansheet. His fast response and thick experience has helped Burnley to pass through to the semi-final. Another heroic performance from the Dane after saving 2 penalty in Stamford Bridge.

Moment-of-the-Match
Fran Merida shot early in the second half
The highly-rated 18-year-old Catalan started a slick move, getting pass 3 defenders to create himself a great chance to equalize with just the keeper to beat. With the goalmouth open wide for him to put the ball into the net, his curling left-footed shot missed by only milimetres away from the upright. It should be a different kind of match should he scored the goal.

The Worst Blunder
Fabianski's error that lead to the first Burnley goal
This might be the night to forget for Fabianski as his blunder has cost Arsenal the whole match when he surprisingly failed to catch a low cross from Eagles which falls to the path of unguarded McDonald. The latter only needs a simple tap-in to put the Gunners behind early in the first period. Yes, he was under pressure from Martin Paterson, but I believe as an international player, he should have done better. The most unconvincing performance from the young Polish since his debut in the same tournament last year.

Man to Watch
Chris Eagles
He might be a Man Utd reject, but his mature showing, slick passes and superb crosses caused a lot of trouble to Arsenal's defenders. He was directly involved in both goals, where his low cross from the right hand side caught Fabianski for the first goal and his direct vision found McDonald through throw in for the second Burnley goal. I won't be surprised if I will see the like of him playing in the top league again in the near future.

Till then. GFL..~