I'll be back

By Boris Mellor
December 12 2009

Arsene Wenger has dismissed the talk of four defeats out of six as not that important. Firstly the Carling and Champions League were, "special games", he had wanted to win them but he had not played his first team. Sunderland and Chelsea had taken him by surprise, he didn't believe it was typical of his squad; it was a blip, an accident.

Asked about Fabregas's view on the need for a tall striker he replied "who would disagree?" He went on to say you always miss something. What Wenger is stressing is that you have to look to what you have, no use shifting the focus elsewhere. I think it's a mistake to big Fabregas up on this, he needs to look to himself and his team mates. They have to adapt to the new situation, not keep bemoaning it. You win with the players you have not the ones you haven't got.

I would like to see Wenger toughen up his attitude to some of the whining that goes on, and his comments this week were a step in the right direction.

However what can be deduced from his accident theory?

To my mind this is sloppy thinking, with Arsenal's defensive record the team is an accident waiting to happen. Arsenal cannot do what Villa has just done win 1-0 at Man Utd. Arsenal were better than Villa and attacked more, and like Villa went a goal up, and then unlike Villa that accident waiting to happen gave away two ludicrous goals.

Nor was he to be drawn on the importance of the match to either Liverpool or Arsenal, he believes that there are too many games left for the result to be treated as a final verdict on what it means for finishing in the top four. He believes that the league will be open this year. We all laughed when he said Chelsea would drop points, nobody expected them to drop 5 points in the next two games, and they hardly look the new invincibles now do they?

However it's all well and good your rivals dropping points, but that means nothing if you don't win your own games. It's the games that Arsenal win that will count, not the ones that their rivals lose.

It's true that the league is wide open, and that the game against Liverpool, whatever the result, will not be the end of the season for either team. It's also true that a loss for Liverpool will be more damaging to their prospects than to the Gunners.

Nonetheless, a victory, or at least a draw, will establish Arsenal as a serious contender, a defeat will not do that. A draw and then carry on beating the teams below could be an effective strategy.

That's easier said than done; Liverpool will have Torres and Gerrard back, which means that they will be a far more effective, and confident, team than of late. Without them, apart from Benayoun, they are a bunch of mediocrities. There may be a question mark over the match fitness of Torres and Gerrard, but at the end of the day you have to be prepared to play a team with its best eleven.

If Arsenal can stop Liverpool from scoring in the first half, or get a quick goal, some of the old doubts will begin to creep back, Torres or no Torres.

Time to avoid accidents 

Arsenal are suffering from the absence of RVP and Bendtner, they must also learn to defend as a team. They took a step towards adapting by beating Stoke, but Liverpool away is a different kettle of fish.  So apart from adapting to playing without strikers they will need to avoid accidents at the back. Anything less than a draw will expose Wenger's blip as something far worse.

Team line up?

It will probably be similar to that against Stoke, except Song will definitely be available, and Eduardo, Diaby, and Walcott are possible starters. I would rather see Arshavin in the main striker role than Eduardo. Eduardo and Nasri could make good assistant to the Russian, who if he does what he did last year none of us will complain.

Possible Line up

Almunia, Traore, Vermaelen, Gallas, Sagna, Diaby, Song, Fabregas, Eduardo, Arshavin, Nasri.

Wenger believes it was a blip - accidents waiting to happen?

Discussion started by Arsenal Times , 12/12/2009 21:58

Arsenal Times
12/12/2009 21:58

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:12:15:08:43:57 by Padre Pio.

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celine dion
12/12/2009 22:05

Good level headed stuff Padre and lets not forget Liverpool have been a shambles several times this season and were undone by Man City for the Ireland goal playing just the way that we like to.

The aim for Arsenal should be to curb our normal attacking instincts and play with total concentration towards defending, then take stock as the game goes on 0-0 (hopefully) and try and play Arshavin into good positions as they tire.

I don't hold out much hope if we just go smashing into them not when we've got an untried left back (tho he has played against them before) and a very unphysical attacking line up who surely won't be able to capitalise against Skirtl and Carragher. If we do our normal thing of piling into their half and trying to do 20 pass movements then I would simply expect to see us get picked off by Gerard and Torres when we lose the ball...

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Merlion96
13/12/2009 03:04

I believe Wenegr will attempt to outscore Liverpool knowingly that hsi inconsistent team will start with a 2-goal handicap to Liverpool.

Of course, a clean-sheet is a bonus.

But our one and only strenthen is possession - 60% or more - limiting our opponent playing time, and using "swarming tactics" to wear them down, and like 2007/08 season, scoring after 80th minute to win the game.

That is, from the onset, it is attack, attack and more attack; and with 20 or more passes, retaining posession and leaving Liverpool chasing shadow and wearing out Carra...and pulling their defence out of shape.

Our main attack is actually Arshavin-Fabregas pairing with both of them developing an instinctive understanding as to when or where they expect a pass.

Of course, an in-form Nasri and/or walcott is a bonus, with Walcott running behind the defence or between CB with an incisve thru' ball by Arshavin or an accurate long pass from Fabregas.

It is "all for nothing" as Wenegr intends to win, not draw and will attack Liverppol, starving Gerrard, Torres and Benayoun of playing time.

Correct, Defence as a unit liek against Stoke City when the instant we lose the ball, 1 or 2 Arsenal players will instantly pressurise the opponent to prevent him even a split second to settle down and pass the ball.

A high and energetic pressurised game in midfield that need SOng-Denilson up for it......and if Nasri plays, he will need to shoulder more defensive burden like against Stoke City where he sits back when Fabregas joins in the attack.

The TEAM selects itself since Wenger found hsi solution against Stoke City:

...................ALmunia

...Sagna.......Gallas.......Vermaelen.....Traore

.............Song...........Denilson

...Walcott.........Fabregas............Nasri

..................Arshavin

"The Attack of the Midgetastic Swarm"!!!!..

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