So, it’s Monday. I am sure no one likes games on Monday, because it leaves an emptiness over the weekend. Watching van Persie and his chums win again gets you more frustrated, and the word Monday in itself is quite repulsive.
But, here we are, thanks to the Premier League schedule, travelling the relatively short distance to Reading, on a cold December night. It comes after a fairly disappointing week, where, you know, I have been questioning my sanity, and my aim in life.
Anyways, the usual chatter around the club has been about how precarious Arsene Wenger’s position has become, in light of recent results, and various people related to Arsenal in the past have been doing their talking up.
Stewart Robson has been the most critical, and has labelled the Frenchman a dictator, who doesn’t allow a free flow of ideas and input from the coaching staff, while Ian Wright is of the opinion that Arsene Wenger continually lies in his interviews, and the supporters who still support him are ‘deluded’.
But some former players have come to the manager’s rescue as well, with Martin Keown saying that Wenger deserves more time to achieve his dream. Ray Parlour has rebuffed Robson’s views that Wenger is a dictator, and has said that Wenger defends his players in the media, but discusses the onfield problems with them in private.
George Graham has confused me, himself, Wenger, the media and the monkey’s in London Zoo, by making contradictory statements, in the space of 3 days. He first told that Arsenal won’t win another title under Wenger, and then he changed his statement to saying that he backs the Frenchman to continue his reign at the club, but needs to rediscover his transfer ‘magic’.
Finally, another former Arsenal player who has rejected talk of Arsenal being in crisis, is the manager who will be in the opposing dugout tonight, Brian McDermott.
Arsene Wenger, himself, revealed that this has been one of his most focused Arsenal squads, calling them very serious, and hardworking.
I’ve had groups who had fantastic results [but] were less serious than these players, believe me,Players who were less focused than this team. Of course these players are hurting.You think they don’t care and they go home and think they had a fantastic game? They do care.We prepare for games seriously. It was a cup game on an English December night in Bradford. You have to give Bradford credit.Unfortunately we paid the price – they knocked Wigan out as well. That shows they have something and that they are difficult to beat.We put ourselves in a more difficult situation when we were 1-0 down. We got off the hook with 1-1 and we should have made the difference with 30 minutes [of extra time] to play.
I am sorry if you cringed a bit at the manager comparing Bradford knocking out Wigan, to Bradford knocking out Arsenal. But, there you go. Jack Wilshere too has called on for a strong display at Reading, urging the team to get over the Bradford defeat and pick up 3 vital points at the Madejski Stadium.
We have got some great leaders in this team – people like Thomas Vermaelen and Mikel Arteta. But all the players can lead by example. We all have to step up now, it’s a tough time but we have to stick together and be united.A lot of people are criticising the manager at the moment, but there will be a time when they look at the players and ask questions of us. We don’t want that, so we have to step up and be counted.We have to get the result, that’s the main thing. We know it won’t be easy, especially having just lost at Bradford.They can play football as well, they are desperate for a win too, down the bottom of the league. So we need to roll our sleeves up, put our foot in and do what we are good at – keeping the ball. When we create chances we know we have to take them.I think technically we are probably the best team out there. We keep the ball well and that’s what we have to try to do against Reading. We need to try to create chances, outplay them and also remember our defensive duties.As soon as we lose the ball we have to win it back. As long as we have possession, the opposition can’t score. That’s where we start from, and then when we create chances we’ve got to score them.
To some transfer news then. With Arsenal being now linked to more strikers than a carrom board can hold, the talks of Thierry Henry returning to the club for an unprecedented 3rd spell have been played down by newly appointed New York Red Bulls Head of Global Soccer, and former Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier.
There are also rumours that Arsenal have extended the deadlines for talks on Theo Walcott’s deal, with a resolution looking far from away and Christmas approaching fast. Of course, the manager has spoken of his desire to keep the England international, who is the top scorer this season, but we will have to wait and see if an agreement is reached between club and player.
Another player, disgruntled at the lack of chances is Johan Djourou, who has played twice this season, in the Capitol One Cup. A decision is expected to be taken soon.
After Arseblog revealed that Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey will be handed new long term deals, recent media reports claim that the club will offer the English contingent of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Carl Jenkinson and Kieran Gibbs long term contracts as well, to maintain a strong English core.
Here are my views on the transfer business. Starting with Henry. While I think Henry coming to Arsenal is fantastic, I would prefer if it was more of a coaching or motivational role, rather than a player’s role. No disrespect to the greatest player to pull on an Arsenal jersey, but a 35 year old on a one year loan deal is not what we need at the moment.
Emphasis should be on securing the services of a top marksman in Europe, to bolster the squad on a long term basis. Demba Ba joins an already burgeoning list of Huntelaar, Llorente, Remy, Lopez etc, linked with a move to the Emirates.
Secondly, I feel Walcott should sign the contract. I am unsure whether he will get his desired striker’s role elsewhere among the clubs he has been linked with, except maybe Liverpool, but he will miss out on playing top notch European football. Arsene Wenger has given him the freedom recently, and he has proved himself, by banging in the goals, and a move at this stage of his career could be detrimental.
Finally, it is great to see a new generation of English talent coming through the club. Many have their doubts on Aaron Ramsey, but I feel he has a lot to give, and has tremendous potential. Wilshere, Jenkinson and Gibbs are boys who have grown supporting the club, and it is fantastic to see them fulfilling their dreams. Nothing better than local boys fighting it out for the clubs, unlike boys growing out of grown men, and urging them to move to Manure.
Right, team news then. A few positives, with Giroud and Koscielny returning to training. Koscielny has been injured for 3 weeks now, after limping out against Everton, while Giroud missed the cup exit at Bradford. Walcott is still being assessed.
Reading will welcome back strikers Jason Roberts and Pavel Pogrebnyak, both a handful on their day, while Jimmy Kebe and Jem Karacan are sidelined.
Here is how I expect the teams to lineup.
Reading are going through a worrying run in the league, having lost 5 games on the trot, after a hard fought 2-1 home win over Everton in November. This has seen them firmly rooted to the bottom of the table, recently taken over by QPR, who recorded their first win of the season over the weekend.
If the game these two sides produced the last time they met at this ground, is anything to go by, we are in for a goal-fest tonight. On a crazy night, in the Capitol One Cup, Arsenal went 4-0 down, but miraculously levelling matters at 4-4, and then going on to win 7-5 in a game of table tennis. It was so crazy Marrouane Chamakh scored twice.
Reading’s style of play ensures that the game is often open. They have the tendency to score goals, as well as concede in fair measure, their 4-3 loss at home to Manchester United perfectly demonstrates. They have weakness all over in defence and midfield, where the fail to cope with quick, neat passing.
They are physical, and Arsenal will have to work hard in midfield, to enjoy the upper hand. Jason Roberts and Pavel Pogrebnyak, if introduced, add that bit of muscle and aerial presence should they come on.
With Walcott still out, and Gervinho looking poor, Chamberlain will get his chance on the right hand side today. Lukas Podolski has been under par recently, and he has to show improvement. Defensively, Thomas Vermaelen needs to prove himself, after some poor showings recently.
Overall, this is a stern test for the Gunners, and though a victory may not completely put to bed the negativity, it surely is a start.
Enjoy the game wherever you are!
Jai Arsenal 🙂
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