Arsenal played two games scores eight goals and Eduardo is the only forward who stroke. Some believe the formation is not suiting the likes of Van Persie, Arshavin and Bendtner, others believe it’s just a matter of time before they find their scoring boots while I think most of the gunners would care little as long as the goals keep on banging in.
So the questions to ask are the followings:
- What are the explanations to the small goal return from the strikers?
- Will the goals keep on flowing for the gunners?
- How long will it take the strikers to lead the scoring line?
I can think of three reasons to explain the lack of firing power from the front line.
The first is Van Persie leading the attack. Not because it is hard for him to score goals as twenty goals last term would witness but because he plays very differently from your traditional number nine. Where most of football forwards will ask for the ball into the space they are running in, allowing them to get through on goals, RVP wants the ball at his feet as he almost always will be able to create space for himself or for others in the tightest of situation. The midfield trying to release him through in goals will not often be a successful move to make him score.
The second reason is the number of openings the front three create for the midfielders who frequently join the attack. Arshavin, RVP as well as Bendtner are all very creative and all can entertain more than a defender while still getting away with a lovely flick or pass, this will always allow the central midfielders to get into great goal scoring situations.
The third reason is a communication one and habits. While the midfielder will learn to know the best aspiring balls for the strikers, these strikers also have to know how to get the best out of their partners and to provide them the best of themselves. Arshavin is nowhere near his best and his understandings with RVP and Bendtner are nowhere near perfect. For the meanwhile Robin is going to need some getting used as a lone center forward with Arshavin and Bendtner upping their game from the wings.
As for the goals I believe they will keep on coming, whether it’s from the strikers or the other players is another question but the way we are playing at the moment guarantees goals.
So the most important question, I would believe, is when would our attackers start scoring goals. I think as soon as the communication passes well they will have opportunities. Another important factor for strikers is also the first goal when it comes everything seems to get into place and they will fall like rain in august.
Pompey could be a good opportunity for the attack to get going, let’s pray it becomes the must needed break point for them!
Up the GUNNERS!
Saturday, 22 August 2009
Thursday, 20 August 2009
1-6 ; 0-2 Away day gunners rock !
Two games away from the Emirates Stadium and 8 goals for the hot guns with one against, Arsenal starts the new season in a wonderful fashion!
The 2008/2009 finished with a sour note for the North London faithful and more agonies were to follow according to pundits and football experts especially after departures of two first teamers who headed to the blue sky part of Manchester in Adebayor and Kolo Toure while Thomas Vermaelen was the only new face in the Wenger side. So the so called football experts along with some doomers gloomers supporters believe 2009/2010 is going to be a hard one for the red and white team from N5.
But Wenger kept his cool and kept telling whoever wanted to hear, his team is full of quality and will challenge for honors in 2010. Medias and supporters have been laughing at the “deluded” manager who some believed was just trying to cover the financial woes of the club or board messes.
Now that the season has started, much to the delight of every football fan I suppose as actions, as they say speak louder than words, will flow every couple of days. Arsenal was handed a tough opening schedule as the first premier league game was away to Mersey at the Everton venue followed by a champions league qualifier at Celtic park before welcoming Pompey at home and going to the first big shock of the season at Old Trafford against the champions followed by another visit to Manchester against the new riches of the EPL.
So first game of the season: Everton away! The blue side of Liverpool finished one place and nine points below Arsenal in the last campaign. Arsenal written off by all football experts were to be given a first taste of defeat on the opening day as the most optimistic of the gunners cause could barely back a draw against the Evertonians. But 25 minutes were all that was needed for everybody to realize that Wenger does have a point to put so much believe into his young side. Letting Adebayor go means Bendtner will have more playing time and more responsibilities and he did start on the right side of a three men attack. He received a long ball from Almunia and brought down before going past two opponents and laid the ball to Fabregas. The gunner captain showed enormous awareness to lay perfectly the ball to Denilson and the young Brazilian midfielder sent a perfect curling shot in the bottom corner of the net for a splendid Arsenal opening. Denilson along Cesc and Song complete the midfield three of the new 4-3-3 formation deployed by Le Prof.
Two quick goals from set pieces by the two center backs Thomas Vermaelen called the Verminator by the fans and William Gallas as the first half finished 3 nil to the good for Arsenal. The second half started and barely two minutes on the clock before Cesc scored the first of a fine brace. Denilson unleashed Van Persie on the left and the Dutch ace found the captain with a delicious pass and the Catalan born with a low drive between the legs of the advanced Tim Howard trumps the Everton keeper for Arsenal’s fourth. Fabregas will later score the second after running sixty yards with the ball before finding the net with a another low drive. Five nil and Wenger brought on Eduardo and Ramsey resting Cesc Fabregas and Robin Van Persie. The Croatian born Brazilian known as the Croazilian for the fans had time to nick a sixth goal for the gunners after a lovely work from Arshavin who nut-mugged Yobo before finding the post with a toe poke. The Croazilian tapped in the rebound. Louis Saha did get a consolation goal for the Merseyside blues before the final whistle. So it was 1-6 away to a rival while Liverpool lost on opening day against our local rival the Hotspurs, Manchester united could only beat new boys Birmingham one nil at home while Chelsea needed an injury time fluke goal from Adebayor to see off Hull City.
The second fixture on the gunners’ fixture was a visit to Glascow where a champions place is at stake against Celtic. The Scottish giant have not lost to an English side for over 25 years when Nottigham forest the only English side to beat them came worthy winners. Since both Liverpool and Manchester United have tried and failed to win at Celtic Park. The atmosphere at the Scottish venue is believed to be very intimidating and one of the very best in Europe. And the crowd responded well to their reputation from the start of the game but far from intimidated the young guns fought very hard and came back worthy two nil winners with Gallas and an O.G goal enough to prepare the return leg with a with a good lead.
What a start for Arsenal! Come you gunnerz.
The 2008/2009 finished with a sour note for the North London faithful and more agonies were to follow according to pundits and football experts especially after departures of two first teamers who headed to the blue sky part of Manchester in Adebayor and Kolo Toure while Thomas Vermaelen was the only new face in the Wenger side. So the so called football experts along with some doomers gloomers supporters believe 2009/2010 is going to be a hard one for the red and white team from N5.
But Wenger kept his cool and kept telling whoever wanted to hear, his team is full of quality and will challenge for honors in 2010. Medias and supporters have been laughing at the “deluded” manager who some believed was just trying to cover the financial woes of the club or board messes.
Now that the season has started, much to the delight of every football fan I suppose as actions, as they say speak louder than words, will flow every couple of days. Arsenal was handed a tough opening schedule as the first premier league game was away to Mersey at the Everton venue followed by a champions league qualifier at Celtic park before welcoming Pompey at home and going to the first big shock of the season at Old Trafford against the champions followed by another visit to Manchester against the new riches of the EPL.
So first game of the season: Everton away! The blue side of Liverpool finished one place and nine points below Arsenal in the last campaign. Arsenal written off by all football experts were to be given a first taste of defeat on the opening day as the most optimistic of the gunners cause could barely back a draw against the Evertonians. But 25 minutes were all that was needed for everybody to realize that Wenger does have a point to put so much believe into his young side. Letting Adebayor go means Bendtner will have more playing time and more responsibilities and he did start on the right side of a three men attack. He received a long ball from Almunia and brought down before going past two opponents and laid the ball to Fabregas. The gunner captain showed enormous awareness to lay perfectly the ball to Denilson and the young Brazilian midfielder sent a perfect curling shot in the bottom corner of the net for a splendid Arsenal opening. Denilson along Cesc and Song complete the midfield three of the new 4-3-3 formation deployed by Le Prof.
Two quick goals from set pieces by the two center backs Thomas Vermaelen called the Verminator by the fans and William Gallas as the first half finished 3 nil to the good for Arsenal. The second half started and barely two minutes on the clock before Cesc scored the first of a fine brace. Denilson unleashed Van Persie on the left and the Dutch ace found the captain with a delicious pass and the Catalan born with a low drive between the legs of the advanced Tim Howard trumps the Everton keeper for Arsenal’s fourth. Fabregas will later score the second after running sixty yards with the ball before finding the net with a another low drive. Five nil and Wenger brought on Eduardo and Ramsey resting Cesc Fabregas and Robin Van Persie. The Croatian born Brazilian known as the Croazilian for the fans had time to nick a sixth goal for the gunners after a lovely work from Arshavin who nut-mugged Yobo before finding the post with a toe poke. The Croazilian tapped in the rebound. Louis Saha did get a consolation goal for the Merseyside blues before the final whistle. So it was 1-6 away to a rival while Liverpool lost on opening day against our local rival the Hotspurs, Manchester united could only beat new boys Birmingham one nil at home while Chelsea needed an injury time fluke goal from Adebayor to see off Hull City.
The second fixture on the gunners’ fixture was a visit to Glascow where a champions place is at stake against Celtic. The Scottish giant have not lost to an English side for over 25 years when Nottigham forest the only English side to beat them came worthy winners. Since both Liverpool and Manchester United have tried and failed to win at Celtic Park. The atmosphere at the Scottish venue is believed to be very intimidating and one of the very best in Europe. And the crowd responded well to their reputation from the start of the game but far from intimidated the young guns fought very hard and came back worthy two nil winners with Gallas and an O.G goal enough to prepare the return leg with a with a good lead.
What a start for Arsenal! Come you gunnerz.
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
My 4-3-3 is better than yours!
Arsenal starts the season with an awkward non conventional 4-3-3 formation. The Dutch invented formation is played anyway but Arsène’s way. It’s mostly a ball possession dominating game when most of the play is camped inside the opponents half where good dribbling wingers and overlapping full backs more than often make the difference.
Now let’s look at Wenger’s 4-3-3, there are no traditional winger. But before looking for those playing on the wing, let’s look at the center forward position occupied by Robin Van Persie. We all know that the Dutch is not the strongest striker, who can bully defenders on his way nor is he the all pace attacker. But he is capital in the 4-3-3 of Arsenal as the lone striker. He makes everything click with his movement but most importantly with his abilities to pick other players while in a very uncomfortable situation. His flicks and passes will help the team open any defense especially with options on the wings and from the joining midfield duo of Cesc and Denilson. What people also don’t realize is that RVP is one of the very best players when it comes to create space for himself or his teammates in the very tightest of situation.
One trait though that this formation has with the traditional 4-3-3 is the pressing effort the players put. And I have been very impressed with Arshavin in that regard but you also have Bendtner , Denilson and Cesc who are all excelling in the Energy spent in that department. While Song is making his mark as the tackle winning master, Denilson is winning a fair amount of balls back by intercepting balls and reading the dribbling direction of opponents. With our ever strong full backs and now Vermaelen showing he may be the defender we all wished to have and Gallas playing his best, defensively we have never been better under Arsène Wenger.
But I believe the biggest benefit is the departure of Adebayor, not that he wasn’t a good striker, but because we tended to change our way of play out of facility maybe but the “hoof it to Ade” from Touré and Cesc was hamming our game big time not counting the number of time Adebayor would kill the flow of the attack with his wrong choices or irritating offside positions. It’s so nice to see us move the ball from back to front with triangles and diamond passes.
Bendtner on the opposite wing of Arshavin could also be one deadly weapon as the Russian is the best if not the only good crosser of the ball at the team and Bendtner the best header; it really makes sense for the Danish to be attacking the little guy’s crosses from the extreme right rushing into the penalty box. Another trait of Bendtner on the wing is to use his body strength against smaller full back opponents as we witnessed against Everton especially knowing that for all his big stature the Dane is quite sound technically. This gives us a safe long ball option as a long ball down in the middle of the opponent’s defense is more often than not dealt well by big and strong center backs.
There are early days for this formation and I believe many players will offer a lot more than they are doing right now especially Van Persie and Arshavin. Opponents will also get time to study it more but the early signs are very good and may it continue!
Now let’s look at Wenger’s 4-3-3, there are no traditional winger. But before looking for those playing on the wing, let’s look at the center forward position occupied by Robin Van Persie. We all know that the Dutch is not the strongest striker, who can bully defenders on his way nor is he the all pace attacker. But he is capital in the 4-3-3 of Arsenal as the lone striker. He makes everything click with his movement but most importantly with his abilities to pick other players while in a very uncomfortable situation. His flicks and passes will help the team open any defense especially with options on the wings and from the joining midfield duo of Cesc and Denilson. What people also don’t realize is that RVP is one of the very best players when it comes to create space for himself or his teammates in the very tightest of situation.
One trait though that this formation has with the traditional 4-3-3 is the pressing effort the players put. And I have been very impressed with Arshavin in that regard but you also have Bendtner , Denilson and Cesc who are all excelling in the Energy spent in that department. While Song is making his mark as the tackle winning master, Denilson is winning a fair amount of balls back by intercepting balls and reading the dribbling direction of opponents. With our ever strong full backs and now Vermaelen showing he may be the defender we all wished to have and Gallas playing his best, defensively we have never been better under Arsène Wenger.
But I believe the biggest benefit is the departure of Adebayor, not that he wasn’t a good striker, but because we tended to change our way of play out of facility maybe but the “hoof it to Ade” from Touré and Cesc was hamming our game big time not counting the number of time Adebayor would kill the flow of the attack with his wrong choices or irritating offside positions. It’s so nice to see us move the ball from back to front with triangles and diamond passes.
Bendtner on the opposite wing of Arshavin could also be one deadly weapon as the Russian is the best if not the only good crosser of the ball at the team and Bendtner the best header; it really makes sense for the Danish to be attacking the little guy’s crosses from the extreme right rushing into the penalty box. Another trait of Bendtner on the wing is to use his body strength against smaller full back opponents as we witnessed against Everton especially knowing that for all his big stature the Dane is quite sound technically. This gives us a safe long ball option as a long ball down in the middle of the opponent’s defense is more often than not dealt well by big and strong center backs.
There are early days for this formation and I believe many players will offer a lot more than they are doing right now especially Van Persie and Arshavin. Opponents will also get time to study it more but the early signs are very good and may it continue!
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