I get it now. I finally understand the value of DVR. Truth is, before a little one, I could watch what I wanted when it was actually on. That’s right. I would sit through a commercial or catch Sons of Anarchy when it was actually aired (same goes for The League). But something happened once Jackson was born; I lost “my” time and time became very, very precious. Which meant that “my” time is early morning or late at night; which works well for catching EPL games when they air live.

We have a unique problem as ‘Merican supports of English clubs. Our ability to catch games is limited by: 1. Whether the single network here in the States will cover the match. 2. The actual time of the game (those early, early games are rough without DVR) 3. Sportscenter (now that the EPL is covered the scrolling scores can pretty much kill the anticipated outcome of a replay; which, mind you, is a lot of the excitement in soccer as we anticipate the buildup or extreme emotional explosion of a goal).

And so, as a newer parent, I am joyous over my little DVR machine and its wonderful ability to capture Arsenal (a big thanks has to go to NBC for also picking Arsenal games early on). It is a wonderful feeling know that if you chose to play with the little one while he is happy and awake (which is all the time in our case-fatherhood can be its own blog) that the game is there waiting for me. This weekend I get a double whammy of a game to boot (wait… triple instead?): Arsenal game. Ozil debut. Texas A&M vs. Alabama. Oh goodness this is a great time of year for watching sports.

As a completely unrelated note, I am a die hard Aggie as well (literally born there) so this was going to be a big weekend. It is of grand proportions now that we come back from the Interlull with a side sitting in 4th and a tremendous new addition to watch. It doesn’t get much better than this people. The signing of Ozil for us supporters is big. Not just in terms of $ but message, emotion, future, etc. The list goes on and on at this point. This is my first real big signing to experience with Arsenal too. I “joined” the club during a dry time. What I know is the drought. What is familiar to me is penny pinching, cost saving, butt puckering financial moves with nothing more than a nice shinny new stadium and uniform changes. My love of club is rooted in hope (which is probably why this trophy drought is easier for me to experience because it is all I know of Arsenal).

And so that is why I am so ever excited for the arrival of Ozil. I know the message that it sends. I know the glorious history others experienced and what I get to be is excited. We got quality. We spent some real money. Now, let’s experience it.

Without further rumbling, let’s get on with the pre-match thoughts:

1. Ozil should start. He is hungry. He is fit. Wenger knows his footballing abilities and has followed him long enough to know that his game fits seamlessly within ours. Not only that, Wenger has the added pressure of putting his $47 million man on the pitch and in this case I don’t think that “super sub” is what he is thinking (unless he is hungry… and near a subway or jimmy johns). To me, Ozil is the German Cazorla. His presence is going to be felt throughout the game and it is needed from the get go. Plus, I don’t think the conversation Wenger had with him included “easing” him into the English came; not exactly the “confidence” that Ozil probably anticipates from Wenger.

2. We are still thin up front and Ozil in the staring lineup means Wenger can push Cazorla up top (like he did almost all last fucking season-still not a fan of it now). While I don’t think Cazorla fits up there, I think there is more reason for it now. First off (my defense), Cazorla was our ignition on the pitch, which to me means that he is not our winger but our facilitator-so put him in the middle. NOW, we have two guys that can fill that role: Cazorla AND Ozil. Plus, Ozil’s vision for the game is impecable. I don’t need to get into the stats. The guy plays ridiculous team football (basically Wenger’s wet dream). Thus, I get it given our thinness in the striking game up top. I don’t excuse it (we need another striker up top, yadda yadda yadda) but I think given our squad it makes sense… for now.

3. Let’s have some fun. The team is excited. We should play off that excitement. Which means Ozil should start and goodness gracious can you imagine if the lad scores a goal or puts one through to Giroud/Walcott/et al?

Right… lineups:

The Shez
Sagna Kols BFG Gibbs
Ramsey Ozil Rosicky
Walcott Giroud Cazorla

There is an argument to be made that Gibbs could be swapped for Monreal if we need someone more defensively inclined but man I just love Gibbs’ workhorse attitude and the way he can get forward so I think I stick with him in this one. The Shez (seriously not sure how I want to refer to him but I am tired of looking up the spelling of his last name and no, I’m not going to memorize it) probably should start here until Viviano actually settles in and starts to challenge for staring time. I give Ramsey and Rosicky the nod over everyone else for two reasons: endless effort and rewarding that effort (also they have been playing well as of late). The two of them seem to have stepped up (especially Ramsey early on this year) and in the wake of losing Arteta and Jack’s recent nagging issues I think the starts are well deserved. I also appreciate the cover that they can both offer (let’s be honest, who the F else are we going to start given our depth?!).

Here is where I think things can be a bit crazy when it comes to formation though. I don’t see a natural 4-4-2 playing out. Something more along the line may be a 4-1-3-2 maybe? All I know is that from a practical sense Cazorla drifts back, Giroud sits in the middle and Ozil can act as the fulcrum for all the ticky tacky business that hopefully ends in actual shots on goal (ie. goals).

The Flame, Jack, Sanogo, Jenks, Monreal, Viviano etc. all make up part of the bench and hopefully by the time any of them hits the pitch we are up 3 nil.
Odds are, everything I just said is bollocks. Ozil sits. Jack starts (re-injures self). Diaby makes the bench (only to re-injure himself getting caught up in his training suit). And we somehow win on a BFG header in stoppage time… Well, as long as we get the 3 points.