Arsenal 3 – Man City 6
Sloppy passing. Missing players. Fatigue. It could have been worse. Much worse. But you can’t be mad at the players for this one. A game that featured two top teams lived up to it in the first half but after fatigue crept in, followed by a lack of attacking options, it was no surprise to see our boys fall to the Sheik’s money squad. Yes, I could complain (and I will, don’t worry) but this game was destined to see us drop a point or two (yeah… three). We started out ok and looked to hold on after closing a bit of the early gap but that is all we could manage as City just held us at our own game (there is something to be said about their home record this year).
From the get go you could tell this was not going to be Arsenal’s game. The pep we normally played with was absent; the attacking mindset, lock down D, crafty passes (oh there were still a few as we do have some serious quality in the square regardless of our exhaustion). And we limp away from this one too.
Kols is out with a cut (hopefully not too serious). Sagna was back in but Gibbs was out in place of Monreal (I think this had a larger impact than most would admit). Giroud was left on attacking island as we struggled to manage any sort of rhythm or possession game. The lack of crispness to our passing just wreaked of jelly legs as the game saw us provide one bad pass after another. Just when one could hope we would start the counter we did nothing more than gift the ball back into City’s midfield attackers. I give City some credit, but Arsenal did themselves no favors with this one and I have to cry foul on Arsene’s early season “rotation”. Ozil needs a rest, Rambo could use a real breather and Giroud can’t get much more overworked. With the midfield depth we allegedly have it is a wonder that we haven’t run ourselves into the ground with the lineups we have put out there.
The lone bright spot in the game was none other than Theo. His double was pure quality (even if he didn’t quite put that one away with authority) and you have to be excited that he should be playing in his true winger role (as opposed to the constant placement of a midfielder up top). Additionally, Gnabry gave some late game pace that has me thinking a young Theo without the ego (sheesh, that rhymed… I must be reading too many children’s books). In any event, Theo’s pace, coupled with Ozil’s vision should be something to behold in the next few weeks as Theo stakes his claim to a starting role again. You just have to hope we continue to cycle through the right combination of MFs to support it all.
I know this isn’t much a re-hash of the game so much as a what can we take from it and move forward post. Maybe I was just pissed about giving up so many goals. Maybe I was frustrated to see Kols go out with a gash. Or could it be I am getting nervous about our fixture list and dwindling lead on the points chase? Yeah…
At any rate, I have to say I just want to see the following at some point: Poldi Giroud Theo – Rambo Ozil Flamini – Gibbs BFG Kols Sagna… I could easily be just as happy with swapping Poldi and Flamini with Cazorla and Arteta (which is a strong possibility with Santi) but Flammini’s tenacity has been an awesome display this season (an enforcer of sorts). Poldi coming back is really going to be nice as are really starting to miss another striking option to Giroud (although a much different style). All in all, you just have to write this one off. We lost fair and square. Didn’t deserve to win and we need to move on and take all the points we can from games we should absolutely win. This isn’t a race so much as a marathon and we still have a long way to go… COYG!
The Preview…
Well lads, it’s that time of year. Here at AmericanArse we like to put out a preview to the match prior to each league game and discuss the finer points of lineups, etc. Then, we roll with some post game action after the whistle and hopefully another mid-week trounce before we get back to the weekly preview.
It all starts… now.
This weekend sees us playing hosts to Aston Villa before a quick turnaround and facing off with Fenerbahce (AWAY) four days later. Not going to lie, this is exactly the scenario that I was hoping we would avoid this season. Instead, we get to start off with a thin lineup and quick turnaround matches to boot. No bueno.
Abou, not sure I’ll play in a Nike Arsenal kit again, Diaby is out. TV5 is a no go still with his back injury. Nacho Nacho Man is still on the table as well. Even our sure-haired Mikel Arteta is in doubt for the match… Oh, and word on the street is Bacary has a leg knock too. (What? Pay for Williams? naw… no thanks. We don’t have the money.)
SO, what does that leave us with? Well, here is my starting lineup…
Szczesny (yes, it really is spelled that way)
Jenks-Mert-Kols-Gibbs (please no one go down)
Ramsey-Cazorla-Rosicky (yep, I’m starting that conversation again this year)
Walcott-Giroud-Poldi
Good lord, when I write that out I realize just how thin we truly are… Our backline needs HELP asap BUT Jenkinson knows how to put up clean sheets (remember, 2 to start last season) and the BFG/Kols combo will be fine. Not to mention that Gibbs really is the future going forward (no pun intended), Nacho just provides great competition and cover.
Now, the midfield has me more worried. With Arteta a possible out we lose his DMF presence. I think Ramsey can track back and I love his tireless efforts; he’s also shown some good pre-season form. Rosicky just knows what to do in these situations and I start him over Jack only because I want a full season from Jack healthy; not a rush back and re-injure situation… again… Cazorla, IMHO, should be slotted in the MF with us actually having a healthy and strong line up top. In many ways, one could argue that the game will shape into a 4-2-1-2-1 type formation (is that even possible???) with Ramsey/Rosicky needing to provide cover while Cazorla does his thing and Theo/Poldi slashing in from the sides while OG acts like a G out in front of goal.
Our attack could actually be pretty solid this year (yes, even without the signings). Sonago looks legit so long as, you know, he is A-Go. Poldi looked healthy and fit (finally?). AOC doesn’t have the weight he once did on his shoulders and Theo looks primed for a big breakout. So long as Hey Hey Giroud continues his good link up play and shores up his scoring percentages we fans may be in for a bit of a pleasant surprise from our attackers.
Truth is, we are thin BUT we have a solid core combined with stability in our manager AND familiarity across our lines. If anything, that should buy us an extra win or two. However, we have to come out of the gate fast if we want to challenge for the title and hope that we stay healthy enough to nab silverware. We need to score early, hold firm, and move on to the next match without injury (every team’s goal, right?).
As for our opponents, they are a tough match to start with. Benteke is a beast to cover and obviously knows how to put the ball in the back of the net. Hopefully he starts his sophomore slump with a big fat loss and zero goals. Arsenal’s game is fairly simple, but beautiful when it works: press and control while providing quick cover on counters.
We need to send a message and make it loud and clear that signings or no signings this is a team looking to improve on last season’s excellent finish.
Get ready Gooners, the season is about to begin…
As an aside, you all should sign up for the Arsenal Digital Membership (full post-game replays!)…
AmericanArse 