Player of 2009

By Boris Mellor
January 2 2009

Arsenal have won the cup more times than any other team except Manchester United. Arsenal are 30 places higher than the Pilgrims in the Championship. It would be nice to equal Man U's record, and to be realistic the cup is the main chance that Arsenal will have of silverware this season.

However that is not why I think Arsene should play a strong team in the third round; and an injury to Denilson already undermines that concept. The reason for playing a strong team is that Arsenal's league form needs lifting. In particular Adebayor and RvP need to find the net far more often.

There is no mid week match coming up, so no one needs a rest. The team needs to get out there and score lots of goals. Though that is easier said than done. This team lacks confidence; it needs to find it, and perhaps a bit of magic in the cup could rub off into the league. Players often regain form against, with all respect to Plymouth, lesser teams.

Missing Pilgrim

I shall feel a little sadness about this fixture, a regret that my favourite Plymouth fan Paul Foot will not be present. He was also an admirer of Arsenal's football and when he wrote the following for the Guardian he did so as a sympathiser:

"One of the few undiluted pleasures today, even for loyal Plymouth Argyle supporters, is watching Arsenal playing football. So I read with dismay a couple of reports in the Mirror that the Arsenal authorities are pondering a move to destroy at a stroke all that pleasure.

This is the rumour that they are thinking of buying Lee Bowyer from Leeds United. As someone who has observed with great glee the deterioration of Leeds ever since Bowyer faced charges of grievous bodily harm on an Asian student (and was acquitted), I pass on from at least 20 people I know in north London a desperate plea to Arsène Wenger and anyone else considering such a move.

Before you buy Bowyer, please read carefully the records of both criminal cases in which Bowyer was involved, and the subsequent civil case against Leeds United brought by the injured student and his family - and then ask whether Bowyer is fit to represent Arsenal, or any other club for that matter."

Thankfully no such thing came to pass, and I feel the same emotion when I hear Jonathan Woodgate linked to Arsenal, except Paul is no longer with us to point out the problems with that.

In memory of Paul I wish all Pilgrims a great day out on Saturday; unfortunately I can't extend that to include the result. Paul would have loved to see his Pilgrims taking on Arsene's Arsenal, let's hope we see a match worthy of his name.

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Magic of the Cup - Wenger must play strong team

Discussion started by Arsenal Times , 02/01/2009 16:48

Arsenal Times
02/01/2009 16:48

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:01:04:13:30:53 by Padre Pio.

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Merlion96
02/01/2009 18:47

And that is why I said we must whup Plymouth with a score-line of 7-0 regardless of how Plymouth parked a bus in front of the goal post.

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Mr. Clock End
02/01/2009 18:50

good article.

i would go with

-------------Fabianski---------------

Eboue----Gallas-----Djourou-----Clichy

-----Denilson----Diaby-----Wilshere----

----------------Nasri-------------------

-----------RVP-------Vela----------------


I think that is strong enough to beat plymouth and RVP missed the pompey game so prefer him over ade. Give Sagna a rest and let Eboue flow at RB, and give Wilshere a crack - will be a nice game for him at home against a championship side. Maybe Ransey can get a start too...

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Padre Pio
02/01/2009 18:56

Ade has to play, he has got to score more goals.
Wilshere and Vela can come on at 65 if we are doing well

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Merlion96
02/01/2009 19:08

if Denilson is injured, then,

.................Fabianski

...Eboue....Djourou....Kolo....Gibbs

...WIlshere....Nasri...Diaby....Vela

..........Van Persie....Adebayor

We need at atacking formation as Plymouth will certainly learn from Pompey match and park a bus trying fro a replay.

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Padre Pio
02/01/2009 19:49

Why no sagna? Is he injured?

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Mr. Clock End
03/01/2009 01:04

no, nice to give sagna a breather and give eboue a chance to play at RB

The places we have 2 fit players we should us them both - i mean look at the wide positions theo, rosicky injuries have really stretched us

something happens to sagna i will actually cry.

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Merlion96
03/01/2009 04:27

Yes.
Sagna and Clichy are our key players.
And also, more playing time for Eboue and Gibbs in squad rotation.

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Padre Pio
03/01/2009 08:59

weneed Eboue in midfield

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hodja
03/01/2009 10:36

Kolo is injured

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Merlion96
03/01/2009 11:48

.................Fabianski

...Eboue....Djourou....Gallas....Gibbs

...............Nasri...Diaby
...Bendtner....................Vela
..........Van Persie....Adebayor

it is almost like a 4-2-4 with our Defence playing a high-line.
The pace of Gibbs and Eboue is needed to sweep behind the CB.

And we saw from Pompey match that the work rate of bendtner and vela are high at the flanks.

In fact, INTERCHANGEABILITY with both Front-4 taking turns to cut in from flanks toc entre and vice versa will certainly pull apart any 10-0-0 defence as there is always a dange rof Nasri and Diaby driving in deep from centre.

I beleive that Wenger should voerload Diaby with responsbility to regain his confidence.

Bendtner on the flank was a revelation against Pompey and his work-rate was astonishing. He needed another chance to show what he do again at the flanks.

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Optimistic Gunner
03/01/2009 13:54

I want us to take the FA Cup seriously this year.

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lovefire
03/01/2009 14:46

noooooooooo the game isnt coming in india

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mapleleafgooner
04/01/2009 07:26

The FA cup is probably the only cup Arsenal has a reasonable chance of winning this season. I hope Wenger takes it seriously.

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Padre Pio
04/01/2009 10:47

He did

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