Tactical Chalkboard

Emotions are running high in many peoples veins since the 4-4 draw against Spurs and I've even seen some people calling for Wenger to resign. Its time for a reality check children - Arsenal are 3rd in the league, have 20 points from 10 games and only Man City have scored more goals than us. If you are ready and willing to sack Wenger for this then you are an idiot. Plain and simple.

The anti-dote to frenzied xenophobic ranting is some good old time analysis, so yes Gooner fans, its time for Uncle Ted's tactical chalkboard.

So lets look at some of the evidence. The current Arsenal team scores a bag load of goals from all over the pitch (a staggering 44 goals from 16 outings in all competitions), but we also concede more than a few (13), especially from the middle of the park at the moment. Still, that is an impressive goal difference. Unlike a few seasons ago, we don't let in that many from crosses, although we are hardly rock solid at defending set pieces. Instead, we seem to give opponents a bit too much time and space in the middle of the park outside our box, especially in the second half of games at home in the Emirates when we are usually pre-occupied in attacking.

This should not be surprising when you look at AW's current first choice for the outfield players, especially the current front six of:

Walcott Denilson Cesc Nasri
RVP Ade

Concentrating on the shape of that team, it plays as two genuine wingers (Nasri coming inside a bit), with Cesc coming forwards and Denilson holding back a bit, but also with a licence to get forwards. Interestingly, the trouble maker as far as the refs are concerned is Cesc (3 yellow) with Denilson on 2 yellows.

Its a very different shape to last season, when Arsene's first choice in the early part of the season was something like:

Hleb Flamini Cesc Rosicky
RVP Ade

How we used to moan about the lack of width in that midfield, with Hleb and Rosicky both wide-midfielders who play centrally for their countries. Any real width we had came from the full-backs, and from Walcott playing later on in the season. Plus Flamini did not get forwards very much, which gave Cesc a free role to go and attack.

Its also a world away from the midfield that played for the second half of the season in the Invincibles of 2004, which looked like this:

Gilberto Edu Vieira Pires
Bergkamp Henry

Bloody hell that was a tough midfield to play against. Edu came through after Christmas when Ljungberg was injured and forced Gilberto to play out wide, with Lauren on the overlap. But there was absolutely no room for the opposition to play with Edu, Vieira and Gilberto ready to break them at any moment. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the Invincibles were equal measures of strength and skill. Vieira would have more cards by October than the entire present team does. At the moment, we are all skill and virtually no strength at all.

So it seems to me that the answer is quite simple. In fact, its blindingly obvious and we have been saying it for months - we are weaklings in midfield. The problem is that I don't think its as easy as saying "go and sign a Makele type player to protect the back four". If there were any good ones available, then I'm sure that AW would have signed them. And for all you Alonso fan club members out there - he is not a good defensive midfielder.

Instead, the change of tactics for us this year is playing with two wingers in Nasri and Walcott, which creates an enormous amount of space for the two centre midfielders to cover. Its a hell of an ask for anyone.

If we want to tighten up in midfield, then unfortunately one of Nasri or Walcott has to sit on the bench, so that Song or possibly Eboue or Diaby can play in a tighter midfield and give us a less attacking shape. Thats a bitter pill to swallow.

The reason why AW won't to that unles he has to is because Walcott and Nasri are so damn good. But make no mistakes, this is the most attacking Arsenal side of all time. We make Kevin Keegan's Newcastle side of 1996 look amateurs at the "all attack / no defend" game.

So button down the hatches and get ready for more 4-4 scorelines. Its the best footballing entertainment you can buy.

Freak result

I am still fuming but having had a few minutes to steam, my head has cleared and I can see the 4-4 result for what it was, a complete freak result. We played terrifically and on another day a fair score would have been 4 or 5-1. We were just rather unfortunate, Tottenham were rather lucky and we should not have been so very sloppy in the final few minutes.

The game was one way traffic, I don't have time to detail all the Arsenal attacks and chances, and frankly it would pain me to do so. A majestic Bentley strike gave Tottenham the lead early on, and there was nothing Almunia could have done, it was just a great strike. A good firm Silvestre header gave us an important equaliser just before half time. The second half was so one sided that it was beyond a joke, we strode to a 3-1 lead but then came a mistake from Almunia. He spilt a Huddlestone piledriver and Bent tapped in, 3-2 and our nerves jangled.

We responded immediately with a lovely RVP goal and we coasted at 4-2 until almost the ninetieth minute. For some reason Gael Clichy decided to piss around with the ball in the left back slot, Jenas robbed him and dribbled forwards, he then hit an unstoppable left foot curler into the far corner, this was a complete freak goal, a Jenas left footer from outside the box. Then came the second freak goal, instead of trying to hold possession Fabregas played a through ball that was intercepted in the central defensive area, Tottenham broke. Almunia had Modric's long ranger covered if it had hit the target but it hit the post and bounced kindly for Lennon who tapped home. 4-4 it was, two freak goals in quick succession, on another day neither would have gone anywhere near the onion bag.

We did not deserve to drop points against such a poor side, however our sloppiness gave Spurs the opportunities for three of their four goals, and that is the thing that has been fuming steam from my ears. We were so far superior to Spurs on a footballing level that it's hard to take not beating them, however we simply have to learn to close out games better, we cannot be so sloppy and casual. Ironically I thought we defended excellently on the whole, Gallas and Silvestre were superb at the back, they cannot be faulted for any of the goals. Just to be the absurd optimist, one point is better than none.

Spurs Team News

A quick update before the Spurs game.

Most of the press is reporting the return of Denilson to the squad after missing the West Ham game (here from the Beeb), plus Toure and Adebayor are pushing for a place having been on the bench last time. Sagna is also expected to be fully fit, so AW has an interesting choice to make tonight for his first XI.

Harry Rednapp will have Spurs fired up for this and you can virtually guarantee that he will play 4-5-1 with Modric off Bent or Pavlyuchenko, with Jenas sitting behind. There might be a temptation for the attack minded Rednapp to through caution to the wind and start 4-4-2 with Bentley and Lennon down the wings, but I doubt it as Ledley King is unlikely to play (having played twice last week), so Harry will have to be a bit more cautious knowing that he has no one who can defend. But you never know with Harry.

Its a tricky call for AW and I think it all depends on whether he wants Walcott to start, or to keep him as a big impact substitute on about 60 minutes. If Walcott does start, then I would opt for Song in midfield with Cesc, who gives a better defensive balance to the team. If AW goes for Eboue on the right and Walcott on the bench, then you can make a case for Denilson to start to add a bit more forwards momentum. Gallas will keep his place, which is a shame as I would like to see Toure and Silvestre play together. But Kolo may just get in ahead of Fishface for this one, so I reckon AW will start like this:

Almunia

Sagna Toure Gallas Clichy

Walcott Song Cesc Nasri

RVP Ade

That should be more than enough to send the Spudders back up the Seven Sisters with no points....

Come on you Reds !

The Rednapp Factor

The Spurs match is not until Wednesday, but the butterflies have already started. There are relatively few games in the season that get the fans this nervous, but the Spurs derby game is one of them. At least it is now with the arrival on Harry Rednapp.

Prior to last Sunday morning, I would have said we were virtually guaranteed the three points against Spurs. Juande Ramos was lost at sea and his players had turned on him. It would have been like taking sweets from a baby. However, having said that, has anyone actually tried to take sweets from a baby? I bet its harder than you think.

Anyway, the arrival of Harry Rednapp at Shite Hart Lane on Sunday morning was a genuine shock. Although perhaps not to the Pompey fans, who know his money-chasing, short-term ways. Only Rednapp could have managed Bournemouth, Southampton and Portsmouth (twice) and be hated by all of them. That tells you a lot about the man.

Similarly, his move to Spurs will be a dagger in the heart of the Hammers fans, who enjoyed some good times under Rednapp in the '90s, I think finishing 5th at one point. Along with winning the FA Cup at Pompey, those two achievements are probably the highlights to date of Rednapp's CV.

And now he has the vast weight of Spud-Expectation on his shoulders. Rednapp has never managed a "big team" before with big transfer budgets and big ego players. However, I have a sneaky feeling his is going to be quite good at it. The Spurs derby may even regain its status as the highlight of the season in future years, rather than being just one of the bigger games.

Hence the butterflies have begun early. On paper, Arsenal have found a little form recently and should be comfortable winners. If we focus on our own game and maintain a high tempo, then no problem. However, the crucial thing will be whether the players are up for it - are they going to fight for every ball, work for each other and tackle like their lives depended on it? If they do not, then Wednesday evening could bring a nasty surprise.

A clean sheet but no cigarette

There might not have been five goals banged in today but I though the performance was far more convincing, Upton park is always a tricky fixture and to come away with the full complement of points is a cracking result. The starting line up had me fairly content, Song was back in his strongest position and Nic Bendtner was given a start ahead of the rested Adebayor.

We created far more than West Ham in both halves and the pressure took it's toll in the end, again we must be very grateful for the mighty Manuel Almunia who pulled off an excellent and important save from Craig 'Scrutney' Bellamy when clean through on goal, to be fair to West Ham it was a lovely well crafted move and our defence could not have done much about it. Theo was dangerous when he got on the ball and tested Green twice in the first half, while Green also had to save well from Bendtner's low drive after the Dane had created the chance for himself.

The second half saw more of the same domination, however West Ham created virtually nothing, their pathetic appeals for handball every time the ball hit anything that wasn't a foot summed up just how desperate they were. RVP seemed to come to life as the game wore on, and he forced yet another excellent Green save with a vicious low rasper. Walcott put a very threatening ball across the box while Bendtner made a nuisance of himself down the inside left channel. Despite our domination time was running out and Arsene chose to replace Nasri and Walcott with Adebayor and Diaby.

It didn't take long for Adebayor to have an impact, RVP cut inside again and fed him, he dribbled away from two men and hit a dangerous cross shot across the face of the goal which Flaubert turned into his own net, 1-0 and thank God for that. West Ham never looked like scoring and having broken up another West Ham attack, Bendtner found himself isolated in almost the left back position, he got his head up and hit a simply majestic ball through through for Ade, who then took it past Green and slotted home when it would have been very easy to miss. Two nil it stayed, although Carlton Cole had time to see red for a reckless lunge on poor Alex Song.

Some of our squad deserve a bit of praise after this hard fought victory, especially a few who of those who have taken a lot of criticism recently (some fair some not). 'Comrade' Eboue was outstanding at right back, while Gallas and Silvestre looked strong in the centre, Alex Song was tidy in the midfield and mopped up the danger well. Song's presence in front of the back four undoubtedly helped us, while Silvestre's left foot gives us a certain balance at the back that we lack with Toure and Gallas together.

Phil Dowd was absolutely awful throughout though, there was hardly a bad tackle in the game until Flaubert and Cole lost it late on. All out three bookings were very soft, Song, Clichy and Fabregas can all count themselves extremely unlucky to have gone in the book. One thing Dowd did well was laughing away West Ham's pathetic penalty appeals, the most amusing was one that smacked our player full in the buttock, yet still West Ham lifted their hands in the air to appeal, oh dear.

Bring on the spuds and their dodgy wheeler dealer manager, come on you Gunners.

Wenger has killed the World

Do you know one thing that makes me more angry than the Aids epidemic in Africa, the plight of the Patagonian toothfish, the collapse of world economics and Darren Anderton? Its the idea that Arsene Wenger is still the f8cking manager of Arsenal football club.

I have been a fan for several years and I used to pay a f8cking fortune to watch Arsenal on Sky. I switched to Setanta when it became free on cable, but I've got rights you know and Arsene has let me down big time. BIG TIME.

Its hard to know where to begin. How can someone still be in charge when they haven't one the league since 2004. In fact, they have not won a thing since 2004. That is four years of hurt - its most of my teenage years. Its a f8cking joke. I only started watching Arsenal because Manure got shite, but now I'm not so sure. I reckon Wenger has lost it, man. Like TOTALLY LOST IT. I just feel betrayed.

Who the f8ck wins anything with kids? Our team is so shite that its painful to watch. I actually bleed from the eyes when forced to watch our f8cking kids play. Its not like Manure have had 15 years of success built on a dynasty of spotting young talent like Giggs, Beckham, the Nevilles, Keane, Butt, Scholes or any of those f8cking great players they bought in about 1993 for peanuts. Its not like Liverpool dominated football for two decades based on a boot room culture where the kids scrubbed the boots of the first team players, until they themselves became the first team players, and so on and so on.

I didn't play football at the highest level, or indeed any level. In fact, I have never played football once in my life, but I know football has changed since the old days. Its different now because of the Champions League and Sky. They didn't have money in the 70's. Then it was just long hair and drugs. Anyway, all old footballers were crap. If they weren't crap, then they would own more than just a couple of crap pubs now.

I can't believe anyone watches Ajax. Their team is so shite. So what if they have one of the greatest heritages for footballing excellence of all time? Chelsea would shite all over them and everyone who watches Ajax is a numpty. Who the f8ck do Ajax think they are charging people to watch that shite?

Its not like Michael Owen was any good when he was 19, or Wayne Rooney, or Lionel Messi, or old people like Pele. You have to be at least 26 to be good as a football. Thats science. Plus, its very simple to see how good a player is. The f8cking papers write about it and say "Bentley is great and Spurs consider £18m offer", so its f8cking easy - you just contact Bentley's people and offer them £19m for him. I just don't understand why Wenger doesn't get it. Who the f8ck had heard of Cesc Fabregas when we got him at 16? How much did Fabregas cost? Wenger is taking inexcusable risks with my team. Its BANG out of order.

Wenger is a proper mug. A PROPER MUG. Adebayor saw him coming big time. So what if Adebayor scored about 30 goals last season? That doesn't make him the last Arsenal player to score 30 in a season since Thierry Henry. Who does Adebayor think he, Thierry Henry? Anyway, Thierry Henry was proper shite when I saw him in the Champions League final. He let me down big time that night. BIG TIME. That was it man, that was the big one, and f8cking Henry f8cking blew it. 

Every single player Wenger bought is either shite, young, or shite and young. We will never win anything. Definitely nothing until 2009. Its a f8cking disgrace. Apparently there are massive football fans in places like Newcastle and Hull who have never seen their teams win anything. Literally, nothing in their lifetimes. Like not even the Carling Cup.  Can you f8cking believe that? It must be different up there, because I would like definitely have switched to a better team. Anyway, if Newcastle put some proper money into their team, like at least £20m a year, then they would definitely win something every year. It would guarantee them success. Wenger spends f8ck all. He is an idiot.

If Arsenal don't win it all this year, then I'm off. Chelsea are the future - the collapse of the Russian economy won't hurt them at all. It will be Wenger's loss.

None of the views expressed in this post are those of the author, who has bi-polar disorder, or is drunk, or too clever for you and himself by half.

Ten questions to ponder

Why do Manchester United players so rarely get sent off?

Why are Hull the best side in the land?

Why is William Gallas Arsenal club captain?

Why is Cristiano Ronaldo so fond of rolling in the dirt?

Why do Tottenham fans see no 'point' in life at the moment? (cue spuds victory)

Why play with a defence at all?

Why does Wayne 'Shrek' Rooney love licking the Manure badge so much?
(is it coated with lard?)

Why does Emmanuel Eboue like to dress up as Tiger?

Why are you reading this blog?

Why is there not a tenth question?