Judgement Fortnight or Battle of the Also Ran's - Must Win?
By Boris Mellor
January 29 2010
Until at least the end of Sunday we have a three horse race, Chelsea, Man U and Arsenal. Every time one of these teams gets to the top of the league they wobble and fall off. True Arsenal have only managed to be on top for the briefest of spells, but like the others they have failed to consolidate the lead.
January 29 2010
Until at least the end of Sunday we have a three horse race, Chelsea, Man U and Arsenal. Every time one of these teams gets to the top of the league they wobble and fall off. True Arsenal have only managed to be on top for the briefest of spells, but like the others they have failed to consolidate the lead.
Chelsea are now top again and have a match at Burnley before the Sunday Grand Slam or whatever Sky will call it. A few weeks ago a match at Burnley was a tough fixture, lucky Chelsea have got them at the right time. Without Coyle Burnley are now beginning to falter, true they have only lost one game at home and that was a local derby long before Coyle left for Bolton.
Must Win
However since Laws took over they have only won one game and that was against the Dons, since then they have been beaten 3 games in a row. My feeling is that fortress Turf Moor is about to crumble, and that will be crucial for Arsenal and Man U. Lose and the loser could be on the way to being an also ran, draw and you will be even further behind Chelsea if they have won against Burnley.
In the normal scheme of things a draw at Villa would be a good result, and four out of six points is better than last year, but with Man U and Chelsea as the next two games it might not prove to be enough. It certainly is not hyperbole to say that the first of these two matches is must win. If Wenger can defeat Man U, then a draw at Chelsea would be a good result. However, the first team to hit a consistent run will win the league.
Not looking ahead - away form
Of course Wenger can't let his team look ahead they have to focus on Man U. They are on a good run of form, but beating Hull 4-0 is one thing, taking on Birmingham was another, they drew 1-1 at St Andrew's.
They are not the same team away, having lost four times away from home, and drawn once. If Birmingham were not overawed why should Arsenal?
Rooney
Everyone is talking about how to stop Rooney, some suggest he should be man marked. Wenger might do that, but I doubt if he will over worry about how Man U will play. He will be more concerned that Arsenal dominate the midfield and create chances. Hopefully Song will be back in midfield, Fabregas needs a strong player alongside him so that he has a platform to launch into the opposition penalty area. In the last two games he has had to drop deep far too often. If Vermaelen can't play lets hope that Campbell is fit enough to stand in. Leaving Song where he can be most effective.
Arsene believes Campbell can handle Rooney, well Sol needs to make sure he doesn't wave a leg in the pie man's direction, and Almunia also needs to be careful. If its Eduardo its called cheating but with Rooney its down to intelligence.
Arsene is also challenging Arshavin to have a big game, and usually the Russian responds in such games; having scored against both Man U and Liverpool away this season. Wenger is also suggesting he is not sure if Bendtner is fit enough to play after his long term injury break. For Arshavin's sake I hope he is.
Man U will be without the suspended Ferdinand, the effect of that should not be over exaggerated as he has only played six league games this season, so his presence does not explain Man U's form to a great extent, unless it can be argued they would have been so much better with him.
It's rare that matches fall on my birthday, even rarer that it is a match as big as this, so please Arsene lets have a good result.
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Judgement Fortnight or Battle of the Also Ran's - Must Win?
Posted by: Arsenal Times (IP Logged)
Date: 29/01/2010 23:32
What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:02:01:19:59:35 by Padre Pio.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:02:01:19:59:35 by Padre Pio.
Re: Judgement Fortnight or Battle of the Also Ran's - Must Win?
Posted by: Philly the kid (IP Logged)
Date: 30/01/2010 11:38
Happy birthday Padre. Think it's fair to say we all want the team to help you have a goodun!!
Re: Judgement Fortnight or Battle of the Also Ran's - Must Win?
Posted by: PKGooner (IP Logged)
Date: 30/01/2010 14:21
Have a good day Padre.
See a draw or defeat for this one though!
See a draw or defeat for this one though!
Re: Judgement Fortnight or Battle of the Also Ran's - Must Win?
Posted by: Merlion96 (IP Logged)
Date: 30/01/2010 16:02
Happy Birthday, Padre.
Need a walking stick?..
Need a walking stick?..
Re: Judgement Fortnight or Battle of the Also Ran's - Must Win?
Posted by: SaltnPeppah (IP Logged)
Date: 30/01/2010 18:35
Absolutely must win! Anything less won't do.
Re: Judgement Fortnight or Battle of the Also Ran's - Must Win?
Posted by: Padre Pio (IP Logged)
Date: 30/01/2010 20:44
Got a few walking sticks, but thanks for the offer and the greetings. Lucky Chavs eh?
Quote:
Chelsea are now top again and have a match at Burnley before the Sunday Grand Slam or whatever Sky will call it. A few weeks ago a match at Burnley was a tough fixture, lucky Chelsea have got them at the right time. Without Coyle Burnley are now beginning to falter, true they have only lost one game at home and that was a local derby long before Coyle left for Bolton.
The game is about Glory. It is about doing things in style with a flourish, about going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom".
Danny Blanchflower
Quote:
Chelsea are now top again and have a match at Burnley before the Sunday Grand Slam or whatever Sky will call it. A few weeks ago a match at Burnley was a tough fixture, lucky Chelsea have got them at the right time. Without Coyle Burnley are now beginning to falter, true they have only lost one game at home and that was a local derby long before Coyle left for Bolton.
The game is about Glory. It is about doing things in style with a flourish, about going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom".
Danny Blanchflower
Re: Judgement Fortnight or Battle of the Also Ran's - Must Win?
Posted by: eduardo (IP Logged)
Date: 30/01/2010 20:53
I'd be afraid that if we lose to utd we could end up losing to both chelsea and pool, spuds villa city and pool all would close the gap big time and we could do without that, but on the other hand beat utd and you never know it may just give us the boost to beat chavs at the bridge and go on to title glory
Re: Judgement Fortnight or Battle of the Also Ran's - Must Win?
Posted by: Padre Pio (IP Logged)
Date: 30/01/2010 20:57
I dont fear losing to Pool, they are poor
The game is about Glory. It is about doing things in style with a flourish, about going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom".
Danny Blanchflower
The game is about Glory. It is about doing things in style with a flourish, about going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom".
Danny Blanchflower
Re: Judgement Fortnight or Battle of the Also Ran's - Must Win?
Posted by: eduardo (IP Logged)
Date: 30/01/2010 22:38
tom getting you to post without bringing up Denilson or abusing someone is like nailing jelly to a tree, impossible
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:01:30:22:43:32 by eduardo.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:01:30:22:43:32 by eduardo.
Re: Judgement Fortnight or Battle of the Also Ran's - Must Win?
Posted by: SaltnPeppah (IP Logged)
Date: 31/01/2010 01:03
If only Denilson could be on the bench tomorrow..
Re: Judgement Fortnight or Battle of the Also Ran's - Must Win?
Posted by: Philly the kid (IP Logged)
Date: 31/01/2010 08:47
Quote:eduardo
tom getting you to post without bringing up Denilson or abusing someone is like nailing jelly to a tree, impossible
what a quote!! I'm going to have to remember that one!
Re: Judgement Fortnight or Battle of the Also Ran's - Must Win?
Posted by: Optimistic Gunner (IP Logged)
Date: 31/01/2010 17:49
Quote:Goofle
Three very easy wins on the trot, Denilson hat-trick in at least one of them.
Lol.
Re: Judgement Fortnight or Battle of the Also Ran's - Must Win?
Posted by: PKGooner (IP Logged)
Date: 31/01/2010 18:06
Happy b'day Padre, I'm sure you had a blinding day
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:01:31:18:52:44 by pk_gunner.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:01:31:18:52:44 by pk_gunner.
Re: Judgement Fortnight or Battle of the Also Ran's - Must Win?
Posted by: Padre Pio (IP Logged)
Date: 31/01/2010 19:12
Thanks PK, it started well enough but from 4 pm onwards it was downhill all the way.
I couldnt face the pub afterwards
The game is about Glory. It is about doing things in style with a flourish, about going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom".
Danny Blanchflower
I couldnt face the pub afterwards
The game is about Glory. It is about doing things in style with a flourish, about going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom".
Danny Blanchflower
Re: Judgement Fortnight or Battle of the Also Ran's - Must Win?
Posted by: Chapman's Ghost (IP Logged)
Date: 31/01/2010 22:13
Sorry your birthday was poor after four.
All the best anyway.
All the best anyway.
Re: Judgement Fortnight or Battle of the Also Ran's - Must Win?
Posted by: Padre Pio (IP Logged)
Date: 31/01/2010 23:06
Thanks CG
The game is about Glory. It is about doing things in style with a flourish, about going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom".
Danny Blanchflower
The game is about Glory. It is about doing things in style with a flourish, about going out and beating the other lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom".
Danny Blanchflower
Re: Judgement Fortnight or Battle of the Also Ran's - Must Win?
Posted by: eduardo (IP Logged)
Date: 01/02/2010 00:58
always next year padre, hope it was not a landmark birthday
Re: Judgement Fortnight or Battle of the Also Ran's - Must Win?
Posted by: Merlion96 (IP Logged)
Date: 01/02/2010 04:11
Judgement Day on 10-Feb; not on 31-Jan.
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.
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