Leicester preview: a game to play with a day to go

Good day to you.

It's Leicester today while things continue heating up in the transfer market. Football stuff first, though and I'll get around to transfer rumours later.

The set-up

This match is soaked in history, as it turned out. The last time we played Leicester was the 38th game in 2004: the last Premier League match, which concluded Arsenal's unbeaten season. We've won that encounter 2-1, but it was the squad that caught my eye: Lehmann-Lauren-Campbell-Cole-Ljunberg-Silva-Viera-Pires-Bergkamp-Henry. The subs? Stack, Parlour, Keown, Edu and Reyes. Ah, good old days. I've started supporting Arsenal in the summer, not knowing they were reigning champions or unbeaten for 38 games, but these players are all more than just familiar to me. I've watched them play until all of them finally left the club.

Another Leicester game, no less memorable, happened in 1997, when Dennis Bergkamp netted a brilliant hat-trick. The third goal is out-of-this-world good. Have a look at all three here.

Now, however, we face a different Leicester side, though one we should treat with caution. The Foxes only have a point in two games, but these two matches were against Everton and a rampaging Chelsea side. I haven't seen Leicester in action, but Arsene is wary of the threat they pose, so we should be too:

"It is a team who has very good defensive solidity. They are good at counter attacking, they have two good players on the flanks as well who are very quick".

As I've said, I cannot comment on that, so I take it at face value. However, I'm sure how we line up for this game doesn't depend on which players will start for the Foxes. We always try for our plan to work and if it does, it doesn't really matter who we face. So with that in mind, let's try to play a guessing game.

The back five

Arsene confirmed Ospina might make the bench, but this really isn't that important for now. Of course it's good to have the Colombian back, but Szczesny has done well and would start between the sticks, barring something will happen to the Pole at the last moment. Either Martinez or Ospina will make the bench.

I'd also keep the defense that has featured against Besiktas. We don't have options on the flanks, so it's Debuchy and Monreal (Gibbs should be back after the break), but I'd stick to Mertescielny axis in the centre. Both looked calm and assured against Besiktas and their presence and interaction was soothing to everyone around, the fans included. Chambers, meanwhile, will make a great sub, along with Bellerin.

Midfield

There we have too many options (I feel good by just saying these words). Despite Arteta being deemed short (should also be back for City), Ramsey is coming back and there are no fresh injures from our midweek game.

It'll be quite hard to start Flamini, Ramsey, Wilshere, Cazorla and Ozil all together, even with one of them on the flank, so someone will have to be dropped. And I honestly don't know, who should that be. Flamini seems the weakest link, but he's still the closest thing to a DM we have and, besides, he had a great game against Besiktas. So I will (very cautiously) assume that Cazorla is going to miss out. Flamini and Ramsey will be at the base of the triquetra, with Ozil under the striker and Wilshere on the left. Or maybe Wilshere under the striker with Ozil on the left, in case the German is still not fully fit.

Attack

After his great midweek display Alexis should lead the line, no doubt about it. Arsene himself has basically confirmed it:

“He has many qualities to lead the line. He is first of all brave, he is strong in the challenge - which you wouldn't expect when you look at his size - he's very quick and very mobile as well. He's a real fighter and once his link play and runs get better, he can be very good in this role.”

On the right, I'd start Oxlade-Chamberlain, who was very active and lively in the last two games and Wilshere/Ozil should start on the left. That's pretty much it, though I don't exclude Cazorla will slot in somewhere. The Spaniard had a brilliant midweek showing, with his defensive display in the last 15 minutes worthy of the highest praise.

The verdict

We have a VERY strong squad. Lots of quality players and to think some of them will be restricted to a place on the bench just shows that this Arsenal side is real quality. And that's without Gibbs, Arteta, Walcott and Giroud. And Bellerin doesn't have a senior contract, may I remind you.

All of that brings us to the matter of transfers, We are still linked to the host of players, but little new happened since yesterday's evening. Except Remy rumours. They suddenly surfaced in the wake of Chelsea almost signing the striker and, though both Amy Lawrence and David Ornstein (in whom I have great trust) said Arsenal hasn't yet met the buy-out clause, that little interference from Arsene wreaked havoc with Mourinho's plans. Which is no less than this small and sad man deserves.

Finally, there are two things I have to mention. University starts tomorrow and, as of now, I'm not sure how this will affect the frequency of my posts. Bottom line is, I'll get back to you here every two days and definitely for all the previews and reviews.

Also, a kind reminder, Firstly, if you've missed my yesterday's bit on Ozil, give it a go. Really worth your time. And secondly, you can always subscribe to my updates via e-mail (just enter yours using the form on the right) or follow me on Twitter (@AlexBaguzin) to get instant updates. Posts included. With the e-mail subscription it takes a while.

That's it for today. Back tomorrow with a preview.

C'mon you Gunners

On Ozil's importance

Evening folks.

We are still a day away from our next game, so I thought today I'd talk about Ozil, the perception of whom by both the fans and the media is very different. But before that, here's a little something for you to lift the spirits: both Manchester clubs have dropped points. United, with their bestest manager in the world, a man who has substituted Cilissen for Krul, an unequivocal tactical genius, drawn with Burnley away. 0-0. A newly-promoted club, which has spent less on transfers since their foundation, than Untited has spent solely on Di Maria.

City, in an even better turn of events, went down to Stoke. They did so at the Etihad, in front of their own fans and Sagna's hot wife. I'd say this means City is ought to spend a bazillion pounds on deadline day, but the funny is, they cannot. They've already been fined for breaking FFP rules and they will face an even harsher punishment should they once again go on a spending spree. Man, can things can getter this evening? They probably can, as Everton kicks off against Chelsea in a couple of minutes.

Does my gleeful mood means I'm a petty man? Probably, but seeing the moneybags (esp. United) suffer after all the harm they've done to us over the last years, seeing someone else becoming a joke and getting the stick from the media is a nice change. A welcome one.

On to matters more interesting, though and Mesut Ozil has given an interview to the Telegraph. He talked at length at how brilliant a feeling it was to win the World Cup and then went on to express his surprise at the media's view on him:

“It was strange. There I was, so close to the start of a massive tournament, and all their eyes are on me, criticising me. It was not just Kicker, but also TV and other publications. It surprised me. In my first season at Arsenal there were times when I was not at my best but in the qualifiers for the national team I did perform well. Look, I scored the most goals in qualifying [eight].

Personally, people criticising Ozil surprise me just as much as they surprise him. Especially when we are talking Arsenal fans. It's obvious Ozil has immense quality, it was also obvious he would need an adaptation period, but the German has nonetheless had a decent season.

He himself admitted he's one of the best №10's in the world, while also touching on playing on the left:

“I’m one of the best players in the world in that No 10 position. Fans, coaches, players and everyone knows that my best position is playmaker.

It’s different playing on the left. When I was in Madrid, I often played on the right. I enjoyed that because I’m left-footed and I was able to cut inside to give assists and get shots on target. On the left, it’s more difficult. If I do get past someone I’m still away from the danger zone, still on the flank, and it’s harder for me to find the final ball with my right foot than with my left." 

Well, the fact that Arsene didn't take back Fabregas this summer in itself shows the Frenchman has huge faith in Ozil and will be building the team around Mesut. Arseblogger has, rightly, in my view, noted, that Ozil is playing on the left only because he'll get match-fit quicker this way. And then I expect the German to feature in his favoured position regularly.

Meanwhile, Arsene was quick to hail Ozil and ward off his critics:

"People are very harsh with Ozil because he’s a player who’s always very easy on his play but when you watch the game again after, the next day, you see what a player he is. 

Everything he does is intelligent. The timing of everything he does is absolutely perfect. You never catch him giving the ball too late.

"The number of players you catch giving the ball too late is unbelievable. You never get that with Ozil. The timing, he’s like a guy who plays the music, the timing of what he does is perfect, you don’t get many players like that."

The number of people saying Ozil doesn't seem to work enough on the pitch is too damn high. Seriously, they need to stop. Ozil does look easy on the ball, almost lazy, but it's a false impression. His work ethic is very good, he has at one point ran the most during a World Cup game. And I'm sure he still got the stick from the press after that game.

For me, Ozil's languid manner is soothing. He projects that air of confidence on the ball, like he knows exactly what he'll do next. And he probably does know this. Good thing is, he feels the support of the adequate Arsenal fans and he shouldn't pay much attention to the inadequate ones. Just remember how tough it was for us to create chances in the first two games without Ozil and how glad everyone was when the German came back against Everton.

Finally for today, a couple of words on potential transfers. We continue to be linked heavily with Rabiot, Carvalho and Papastatopolous, but it's the "out" deals that worry me a bit.

Podolski was spotted in Koln and that, combined with Wenger stating he basically doesn't see Poldi as CF opens the floodgates of rumours. Will he, won't he leave? Depends on whether we bring someone in. God, please let it be Reus.

And Campbell. The Portuguese paper O Jogo stated today the Costa-Rican is only waiting for the green light from Arsene Wenger, with a deal around £10 million rumoured to be in place. Again, that should mean we are in for a wide forward. We'll know for sure in less than 53 hours.

That's it for today. Back here tomorrow with Leicester preview.

Until then

Follow me on Twitter @AlexBaguzin

The unlucky draw

Evening everyone.

First things first: the Champions League draw took place yesterday and guess what? We've drawn Borussia Dortmund. Again. For the third time in four years. The other two are Galatasaray and Anderlecht, but I'll get down to these in a minute.

Personally, I think we can consider ourselves unlucky. We all remember how tough it was to qualify last year and, while this draw is more manageable, I still don't like the sound of going to Germany again. We know we can win there, but it's also going to be tough as hell. Borussia has lost Lewandowski since the last time we met and I'm hoping we'll nick Reus from them (though I'm still not sure whether we really are after Marco), but it's not like Dortmund will become pushovers without these two in an instant. And we take them on on September 16th in an away game.

Galatasaray and Anderlecht, meanwhile, look easier on paper. We've played against the Turkish side in UEFA Cup Final in 2000 (lost on penalties), while we've never faced Anderlecht in a European competition. It's the prospect of an away game in Turkey that bothers me the most.

Still, there's a silver lining to the proceedings: Borussia and Gala away are the first and the last game respectively. We go to Dortmund, try and get at least a point there, then thrash everyone at the Emirates and Anderlecht away and that should do for us to go through from the first spot. Meaning it won't matter how we play in Turkey.

Knowing Arsenal, it won't be that easy. But hey, even Arsene admitted the draw is feasible. We've been down Borussia's road before, so the main trick for us will be to get as many fit players to that game as possible. Apart from Giroud, who will, apart from Borussia's game miss four months of football, only Gnabry can be unavailable. If nobody gets crocked during the international break. The list of Arsenal players who'll be leaving to play for their respective countries has just got bigger, with Calum Chambers receiving a call-up. His monumental effort for us was noticed and duly repaid by Hodgson. I'm happy for Calum and think he'll be an asset to this England side, but I'm gonna keep all my fingers crossed he's available again after the break and not down with some kind of injury.

Speaking of availability, Wenger's pre-Leicester press-conference took place today and the Frenchman ruled out Arteta and Gibbs participation, while conceding Ospina may make the squad. On the bright side, these three will definitely be available after the break and Ramsey is coming back on the weekend, fresh and invigorated after missing out on our Besiktas clash. Whatever that means to our line-up, I'll discuss either tomorrow or on Sunday in my usual preview of the game.

The other bits of Arsene's conference were more gripping. Quizzed on the subject of Adrien Rabiot's signing, Arsene smiled and said:

"I give you one simple answer: I'm not gonna tell you."

Encouraging answer. This basically means to me Wenger is out to buy his compatriot, but it also looks like any transfers we have to make will be made on deadline day:

“I will be actively involved but on the last day of the window. I will of course be on alert until the last minute of the transfer deadline.”

There are also rumours in the offing about Carvahlo and that Greek defender with a ridiculously long name, but Falcao seems out of the question, as I've seen reports on how Real Madrid has signed the Colombian international on a season-long loan with a buy-out clause.

I wonder what that means for Benzema, who has just put pen to paper on a shiny new 5-year-long contract with the Los Blancos. I'm pretty sure Real will buy Falcao out next season, but I hope for a domino effect to commence right now. Remember last year we signed Ozil only after Real signed Bale? I hope for something similar here. But we'll see. With Wenger admitting he likes playing poker games during the last days of the transfer window, I won't exclude any signings.

Finally for today, Manuel Almunia has retired from professional football after he was diagnosed with some heart condition. That's what Arsene said on our former №1:

"It's very sad that he has a heart condition. I think he is at an age where you can accept that he retires from competitive professional football but I hope there's nothing bad for his future and his health.

"I gave him [more credit than others] because I played him. I think he was a great goalkeeper.”

This is really sad. I hope this condition can be cured or at least controlled in some way or another. It's not about whether he was a great goalkeeper or wasn't, it's about a human being suffering from a health problem. Get well, Manuel.

That's it for today. More here tomorrow.

Until then

Arsenal 1-0 Besiktas: Alexis rocks, Arsenal qualifies

A jolly good morning to you.

So, Arsenal made it to the group stages for the 17th year running after beating Besiktas yesterday. The game was tense, the Turkish side was up for the fight, but, as I wrote on Twitter today, I just cannot imagine CL group stages without Arsenal in it. Not only because I'm a fan, no. Mostly because the competition wouldn't feel the same. Like it stopped being the same after Liverpool's downfall and Juventus's fight upwards after relegation. Well, you get the idea.

The line-up

Back to the game, however. I nearly guessed the starting line-up two days ago, when I correctly predicted Koscielny will return to play alongside Mertesacker and Chambers would be given a breather. Ozil started out wide once more, with Wilshere playing centrally and Cazorla helping Jack out. The only surprise I didn't see coming? Alexis up front as a lone forward. The idea to change the way we operate seemed to grow on Wenger. Not that I have any complaints after yesterday's performance. Quite the opposite, I feel like I could kiss every Arsenal player and Arsene himself. The game plan worked, though it's still a bit rusty, but it worked nonetheless. The risk paid off, and boy am I glad it did.

The first half

It was a rather tedious affair, I have to say. Unfortunately I missed the opening 12 minutes, because NTV didn't care to broadcast the game. Instead, they aired some pathetic low-budget series on the main channel and just about every other qualifier on the paid channels. Sure, Ludogorets game is much more gripping, than Arsenal vs Besiktas. So I had to search for a steam.

Out of the remaining 34 minutes (extra minute included), 33 were uninteresting. Arsenal was on the ball most of that time, but found it hard to break Besiktas down. I can recall only one decent attack in that time, when Ozil stormed down the left, but the lack of his understanding with Sanchez ensured the move came to nothing. Apart from that moment (which only happened because we were quick on the counter) not much went our way.

Up until the very last minute of the half, which saw us finally break the deadlock in a magnificent way. Sanchez (I won't call him Alexis every time. I don't get why he opted to write Alexis on his shirt) exchanged passes with a very lively Debuchy on the right, the Frenchman's cross was cleared and it fell to Wilshere. Jack tried a one-two with Ozil, but the German's pass was meant for Alexis instead. Seeing this, Wilshere stepped aside to give the Chilean some space and hold off the defender in the process and Sanchez slotted home. Calmly. Without any fuss. What a time for him to open the goalscoring account at Arsenal. My hearty congrats to the man. The whistle blew seconds after Besiktas restarted from the centre.

The second half

The second 45 minutes were packed with events. Arsene opted not to make changes in order not to fix what wasn't broken and this decision paid off.

Between the 46th and 76th minute we created a flurry of chances. Cazorla, Oxlade and Jack were particularly lively, but it was Sanchez who stole the show. He fought for every ball (even winning some aerial duels!), succeeded more often than not in getting the ball back and was a positive influence all around. We really should have put the game out of Besiktas's reach in the 75th minute, but first Cazorla and then Chamberlain failed to put the ball into the back of the net. However, it would have been too easy, and we all know Arsenal doesn't do things the easy way.

From the aforementioned attack, Besiktas stormed upfield and Debuchy hacked down some bloke near the centre circle. Now, I have to state that the tackle itself was clean. Debuchy went for the ball, got it and then was astounded at the ref's reaction: namely, Pedro Proenca (yes, I specifically looked up this jerk's name!) branded a yellow card to our right-back. With one yellow already in tow, it meant Debuchy had to go and we were down to ten men. Again. Arsene was giving everyone the stick on the sidelines. But there was nothing he could do about the sending off.

As I've said, the tackle was clear and if it was the reason behind the red card, then Proenca got it wrong. Plain and simple. However, there are two other things that need to be taken into consideration, which I only spotted on the replays and which could well have been the cause of ref's displeasure. First: Debuchy tugged the Turkish bloke on the shirt before launching into a sliding tackle. The attack carried no threat, though, so I find this reason a bit stretched to be the truth.

The second one is more likely. After the episode with the tackle, Debuchy engaged in a rather heated discussion with the ref, even pushing the official at one point. That's called unsporting behaviour and it's a perfectly plausible reason to give a yellow card. So I'm not really inclined to hold this decision against Proenca. The Italian made some mistakes during the game, but if he sent Debuchy off for unsporting behavior, I have to admit he had every right to do so. The Frenchman should rather take a long look at himself and ask whether he wants to commit shady tackles in the middle of the park when the attack carries little threat and he himself had already been booked.

Chambers was introduced for Ozil and immediately received a yellow. For coming on the pitch without permission. That was harsh. Moreover, I think Calum did get the green light by the fourth official, Proenca just didn't notice that.

Anyway, Chambers was on and almost set up Sanchez for a brace seconds later, but for the Chilean to put his effort wide from approximately 11 yards out.

After that it was backs-to-the-wall stuff from us. Cazorla was especially useful, at one point regaining possession three times in a duration of one attack on our goal. Besiktas had one chance right at the death, but, mercifully, Ba (who had otherwise been quiet all night) didn't see the ball and so his header never came. Thank God, it would have killed us. And buried along with our chances to qualify.

The whistle blew minutes after that and Arsene celebrated like he'd won the FA Cup again. You can get him. For one, I celebrated just as much for the remainder of the night (I still haven't had breakfast. Will be more like lunch now). And secondly we passed a very stern test while still not completely ready as a team and with a slew of key players out.

The aftermath

This is what Wenger said on the performance:

"Overall I feel we produced a performance we wanted on the technical side, on the tactical side and on the mental side. We were at the level that was requested tonight against a good team but we couldn't finish the game off and that of course [made it] very difficult for us in the last 10 minutes when we were down to ten men."

Well, we had a very good second half, I have to say. Much more fluent, confident, creating chances. Maybe it's because we've scored before the break. Goals always do wonders to our confidence. Maybe because we feel more comfortable playing on the counter and were given the chance to do just that, as Besiktas had to abandon their shells in search for an equaliser. Whatever it is, I liked our performance and am now looking forward to our next game. I'm genuinely excited about the prospect of seeing us perform like we did yesterday once again. Would be easier with Ramsey and (probably) Arteta back.

On Giroud's injury:

"Giroud had surgery today from a broken tibia and he will be out for 3-4 months on the competition side. That means he will be capable to play again in the Premier League certainly at the end of December because he will be out for two months. By the time he comes back, that goes three to four months."

That's harsh, but the blow is softened somewhat by the news emerging yesterday. I suspect Arsene held it back not to cause a backlash, which, in it's turn, could have affected the players and heaped even more pressure on Sanchez to deliver.

On whether Sanchez will be able to fill in for these 3-4 months at CF:

"For three or four months? He can play there his whole life. I bought him to play as a striker, not to play only on the flanks."

That's just music to my ears. Along with "The Show Must Go On" I'm listening to right now. Seriously, though, it looks like it was Arsene's plan all along to use Giroud as the main striker only for the adaption period of Sanchez and then use Giroud from the bench. Not a bad idea, considering how well Giroud's done when coming on this season and how well Alexis performed yesterday. However, the untimely injury to the Frenchman made Arsene force the issue. That's why we may not buy a striker at all. No complaints. Just more Sanchez up top, please.

Arsene later went on to say he hasn't contacted either Zigic or Welbeck (phew) and that puts to bed the ridiculous rumours which were circulating for the whole day. Thank God.

The boss also said he's open to signings as long as they strengthen the team (I've become used to that cliche over the years) and there are already rumours we might sign PSG's young midfielder Rabiot. Which sounds exactly like Wenger's type of player. He's young, he's French, he's a midfielder. As someone rightly noted on Twitter, this signing basically autocompletes itself.

Finally, Wenger's take on Jack's performance:

"I feel from game to game he grows. He got some criticism recently and the best response is to show on the pitch that he's getting better and better. I think he has found a little burst to get away from people which he didn't have for a while. In the last two or three games you see it slowly coming back."

The first time I truly enjoyed Jack's performance in, like, two years. Good to see him returning to full fitness. By the way, is it because Wenger admires Jack so much that he shifted Ozil, a natural playmaker to the left just to play Wilshere in his favoured position? It would look a bit strange, especially as I'm of the opinion Ozil's talents are better used under the striker, but Arsene may have his views. And, as he has infinitely more information than I do, I trust his judgement.

Phew, that's it for today. Sorry it's a bit long, but the night was also long and packed. Time for my brunch.

And I'll be back with you tomorrow, either to discuss a shiny new signing, if there will be any or to write my bit on Cazorla.

Until then, enjoy the win and the performance that comes with it

P.S. Capital One Cup draw took place yesterday and we'll play Southampton at home in the 3rd round. I'll get to this game as it draws nearer

Besiktas preview: need to finish the job

Evening everyone.

I know it's a bit early for a preview, but I'm not sure I'll be able to get back to you tomorrow. The press-conference has taken place already, so we are all set to discuss our options.

The back five

Szczesny should start between the sticks, with Emiliano (yes, he wants to be known as Emiliano) Martinez on the bench. I don't expect any surprises here.

The defense is not as predictable. Debuchy and Monreal are set to start on the flanks, but the central pair can be any combination of the three players we have. My hunch is Wenger will play a more conventional Mertesacker-Koscielny duo, as Chambers is more like the German regarding his qualities, while dropping Per himself means dropping the captain. Unlikely.

Midfield

Can Arsene spring a surprise and start Chambers in the holding position? Hard to say, really. I'm leaning towards "no" for several reasons:

1. We treaded this territory before the Everton game and Wenger went with Flamini in the end. Whether Mathieu was good or bad I can only guess, as I haven't seen the game, but it's highly unlikely Flamini fell short of his usual effective manner. So the Frenchman should play once more.
2. Chambers is exhausted. Simple as that. He played the three halves during the Emirates Cup and then went on to complete 4 games in rapid succession. The Englishman hasn't gone to the World Cup, of course, but he's only 19 and learning his trade in a relatively new position. Under the spotlight.

Ramsey and Arteta are both out, though for different reasons. Arsene expects the Spaniard to recover soon (maybe even in time for Leicester), but our skipper will surely miss tomorrow's clash. Ramsey is suspended.

This means another start for Jack Wilshere, in my view. He hasn't really impressed yet, but the manager has huge faith in Jack and, besides, the choice is dire. The Englishman should help out Flamini to shield the back four, but I think he'll make frequent forays forward. Authorized by Arsene, naturally.

Ozil, meanwhile, should start in his usual position as long as I'm concerned. Flanks really aren't his thing, so don't push him wide and keep fingers crossed he'll manage. Playing on the flank requires retracing your steps to help the full-backs and Ozil is far from a good defender. If, for some reason (like not being sharp enough) the German won't start, then Rosicky is the only remaining option. Not that it's a bad option.

The front three

I've saved the worst news for last, though you could have got an idea from a pic below. Giroud's injury looks serious, with L'Equipe suggesting the Frenchman can spend three months on the sidelines. A broken foot seems the most likely cause.

Now, this is a blow. Just yesterday I've gone over why Giroud is such an important player for us. And now he's out, probably for long. This means some transfer activity is due.

First off, Arsene basically vetoed Podolski's departure by saying:

“Podolski is in the squad tomorrow and will stay with us.”

This is, I'm sure, a necessity. With Giroud injured, we cannot afford to lose any players in that department, even though Podolski is far down the pecking order for that centre-forward position. We all know he CAN put in a shift there if push comes to shove, so him staying is good news.

But who will start in Giroud's place tomorrow night? Sanogo, who's been talked up by the Ox? Campbell, who has talked up himself? Or Sanchez, despite not the best of showings against Everton? I don't even rule Poldi out. He's the freshest one, probably the most clinical finisher we have and has been with Arsenal longer than the previous three. I do think the German is a genuine option.

However, I'd put my money (if I had any) on either Sanogo or Campbell. Both are good at holding up the ball and bringing others into play. Personally, though, I'd love to see Joel up front. He's more experienced, than Sanogo, much more technical with the ball at his feet and quick enough to run behind defenders' backs. We know that much from the World Cup. What we also know, however, is that Arsene trusts Sanogo, which he showed time and again by starting the Frenchman last year in pivotal games against Liverpool and Bayern Munich and once again this year by starting Yaya on the opening day.

The flanks are the only place we have a plethora of options. I'd personally start Oxlade-Chamberlain and Cazorla, but you can never guess what Arsene will do.

The verdict

Do we have enough to go through? I'll be cautiously optimistic here, as I'm not very good at making predictions. We have the support of our fans, we play on a real pitch (contrary to what we've played on in Turkey) and we do have some genuinely good players, despite Arteta's, Gibbs' and Giroud's injures and Ramsey's suspension. Also, Bilic will watch the game from the stands, after he was sent off late in the day during the first leg.

A lot is riding on the outcome of this match. Not only whether we'll play among the best, but also the approval of our potential transfer targets, to say nothing of the hefty sum of money which we'll get for qualifying and which can be invested in new players.

And we now need not only a centre-back, but also a striker. This bit is clear. Remy, Welbeck and Cavani were named as potential replacements for Giroud in the immediate wake of his injury, but I just don't know. Wenger is an admirer of Cavani, but PSG doesn't look eager to let their only real forward go. Remy failed a medical at Liverpool (what are the chances of him doing likewise at Arsenal?) and Welbeck is, well, not good enough for a crumbling United side. Should we do them a favour and pay real cash for someone who didn't make it with Van Gaal's side?

Whoever we bring in, I don't think it'll happen before tomorrow's game. Right now we are focused on winning and going through, calling up potential targets is far from ideal preparation. Football first, transfer stuff later. But before the window closes, Arsene.

That's it for today. If something new and exciting happens between now and tomorrow's evening, I'll do my best to get back to you here. If I don't succeed, or there's nothing to report, then I'll return with a review on Thursday.

Until later and c'mon you reds. Tear Besiktas a new one

Ollie Giroud still the main man

Well, I promised to write an article on Giroud, didn't I? So here it goes.

I've seen a lot of people praise the Frenchman over the last few days and rightly so: despite all his shortcomings, Olivier has become integral to our style of play, something he once again demonstrated after coming off the bench on Saturday to help us salvage a point.

In the first half Arsene tried a new (experimental) formation with Alexis acting as a pure forward, though he's not your typical fighting machine like Giroud. Sanchez has qualities which are more commonly found among "false nines" - Messi being the prime example, but against Everton the Chilean was basically asked to do Giroud's job. That may well be the reason behind Sanchez' substitution. Sure, Sanchez is an athlete, at the same time he's less of a poacher and fighter. It's early in the day, but my hunch is Sanchez likes to drop deeper to collect the ball and then play it off his teammates, waiting for a pass to send him clean through. That's why it's vital to have the likes of Ozil and Ramsey feeding the Chilean. Even then, though, his style is markedly different to Giroud.

Can it be we've become so used to Giroud, so dependent on the Frenchman, dare I say, that the little experiment with Sanchez didn't work out? I'm pretty sure that's not the end of the story, that Wenger will try again and that eventually we will become accustomed to seeing Alexis up front, but it requires time and work. Most notably, it will call for a total overhaul of our current set-up, which in itself is no small thing. Sanchez hasn't bedded in yet, the understanding of how his partners operate should come with time, but for now Giroud will remain our go-to striker.

So what is it that makes Olivier such an important player for us? All of the above, or, in a nutshell, Giroud's qualities, which are attributed to classical strikers. Operates with his back to the goal to bring others into play? Check. A physical presence that causes headaches to central defenders? Check. A good fighter in the air? Check. Poacher, a kind of fox-in-the-box? Check.

Just look at how most teams operate nowadays. City has Dzeko, Real has Benzema, PSG has Cavani, Atletico has Mandzukic. I'd even go as far as to say that Rooney, Costa and Higuain are more static than your typical nines. Bottom line is, they are a physical presence in the box.

All of that makes Giroud's probable injury scarier still. Guardian reports on how the Frenchman can miss a couple of weeks and the odds are not weighed in the Frenchman's favour to start against Besiktas in two days. Whether that means exploiting Sanchez up top once more, or giving a chance to Campbell or Sanogo is something I'll go over in my usual preview. We'll know more on Giroud's availability in a day or two to have a shot at our formation and, God forbid, the Frenchman's alternatives.

It seems that a lot is riding on Giroud's fitness. First off, our transfer plans. Arsene was quick to talk Olivier's contribution up after the Everton game, while also acknowledging we are well-stocked on players in attack:

"We have Sanogo who will be an important asset, we have Giroud, we have Lukas Podolski, we have Joel Campbell who can play centre forward. We have Alexis and Walcott coming back. Let's not forget that".

The boss was even quicker to state it's hard to find a better option in an overcrowded market:

"All of our opponents look for strikers as well and nobody finds a world-class striker available who is better than the strikers you have."

It's fairly obvious Arsene puts a lot of faith in the players we have (surprising, eh?), but it's also quite evident Giroud is still central to our plans. Sanchez, as I've mentioned above, needs to adjust to his teammates just as much as they need to adapt to him, Walcott is still some way from full fitness. Even when fully fit, Theo (and also Poldi) are not as convincing as Giroud and thus can only be used sparingly, when the opposition allows it. Whilst Sanogo and Campbell are, forgive me, a couple of raw youngsters and the only difference between them is fans' perception. I don't mean their qualities, just their contribution up to this point. So it looks to me Wenger will only splash out cash on a new forward if Giroud's injury is more serious than Olivier himself, or Arsene, thinks.

It also seems that in this case any departures in the striking area will be vetoed by the gaffer. I'm pretty sure you have heard by now the rumours linking Podolski to Wolfsburg and Juventus. These have appeared after we've been linked to several wingers (Reus being the most prominent), so should Poldi leave, someone will come in.

However, there's nothing concrete on the possible "in" transfers yet, while Giroud's injury is very real and no less troubling. I don't want Arsenal to have unhappy players in the squad, even if their contribution is not the best. If 28 goals Poldi scored in two seasons can be dubbed so. So all fingers crossed Giroud's injury is manageable and all parties will proceed with their respective plans. Which, in their turn, will make everyone happy.

That's it for today. I'll probably get back to you tomorrow, but if not then expect the usual preview on the 26th.

Until later

Everton 2-2 Arsenal: character

Good evening folks.

Ah, the joys of a working Internet connection. I didn't have that luxury in Greece, even at the airport. I arrived there in time for the kick-off and was buoyed that Wi-Fi was free, but my happiness was short-lived. The connection worked like friendzone. It was there, but it wasn't functioning properly.

And so I had to make do with live text updates and ramble on Twitter. Both ways of following the game proved to be pretty effective, to my immense surprise and relief. I got a very clear picture of what was happening on the pitch and today's extended highlights were just an icing on the cake. However, let's start at the beginning.

The set-up

When I saw the squad over on Arseblog (where I got the updates from) I began to drool. Ozil, Mertesacker and Oxlade all started, while Alexis played in a central striker position. The ineffective Cazorla and, to a lesser extent, Giroud, were dropped. Podolski was omitted altogether and I don't like it.

Of the three Germans Poldi was involved the least (during the World Cup) and still hasn't even made the bench. Looks like he's on the brink of leaving Arsenal and I'll be both sad and worried if he does. The Twitter expert is a clinical finisher, had a brilliant goals-per-minute ratio last season despite not playing much and is also a mood-lifter/setter. Rumour has it we are willing to let Poldi go in order to replace him with Reus and, while I'm more than just fine with such a switch, I'll still miss Poldi's presence if he really does go.

Back to the squad, however and Alexis wasn't the only surprise in his newly-found role. Ozil started on the left with Oxlade on the right, but the defense looked even more intriguing, as Mert was paired up not with Koscielny, but rather Chambers. On paper, this set-up looked mouthwatering.

First half

It looked less so on the pitch. Oxlade was really the only one with opportunities to score, but his finishing and (sometimes) decision-making were off.

In defense, Arsenal were even less convincing. From what I can gather both Debuchy and Monreal were repeatedly caught out of position and Ozil didn't help much. The German just wasn't willing to track runners and we paid for it in the 19th minute. Barry put in a cross, no one cared enough to mark Coleman and so he headed home from close range. While our defending wasn't up to scratch, the goal is debatable, in my view.

Thing is, when Barry crossed, Lukaku was offside. He didn't touch the ball, but he surely held back some of our defenders, creating space for Coleman. The goal stood, however, and the matters deteriorated quickly enough for Everton to be 2-0 up at half-time.

Now, the second goal is a clear blunder from at least two referees: the main and the linesman. Lukaku fouled Mertesacker in the build-up and then put Naismaith clean through, only for Naismith to be offside.

You noticed how I didn't say "Naismith was flagged offside"? That's because he wasn't. He received the ball and slotted it home and the board showed 2-0 and the ref pointed to the centre. What makes this goal even more frustrating is the fact that offside wasn't coincidental. Debuchy and Flamini purposefully created an offside trap, only for the ref to suddenly become blind. And so Arsenal was two goals down at half-time.

Second half

During the break Arsene made a substitution: Alexis gave way to Giroud and at first it seemed like it was not going to be the Frenchman's day. He missed three chances some other clinical striker would have probably buried, but then Giroud's appearance magnificently paid off.

First things first, though. Again Arsenal struggled to find a breakthrough, however Giroud's presence up front lifted the spirit and we slowly started to dominate and create chances. Wilshere looked sharper with Giroud on and then Arsene introduced Campbell and Cazorla.

The Spaniard became the hero in the 83rd minute. Our little magician can be brilliant on his day and this was definitely his day. Santi combined with Ozil on the left and then put in a low cross in the box. Ramsey was on hand to poke home and give us a lifeline.

Which we held on to. In the 90th minute Ramsey seemed to have overhit his cross to Monreal, but before Everton fans finished their gleeful "waaaaay" cry, Monreal's cross into the box found Giroud. And Giroud's header found the net. 2-2 and it's a draw that feels like a win.

The win was somewhat darkened by Giroud's injury, which he sustained late in the game. The Frenchman seemed to have strained his ankle when blocking a shot and was limping badly for the remaining couple of minutes. Arsene later stated that the sprained ankle doesn't look too good, however, Giroud himself has gone on record today and said he hopes to recover in time for our crucial midweek game. I sincerely hope he will, we cannot afford to lose him.

The aftermath

In short, we showed great spirit and resilience to earn a point. The game wasn't going our way for several reasons (atrocious refereeing not being the last), but we kept at it, which is hugely encouraging. This is what Arsene said:

"We got a strong point but a deserved one if you look at all the chances we had through the game. I think especially in the second half we had plenty of chances and we came back very late but our spirit maybe got us that point".

 And this is important from a purely psychological point of view. We now know that even when things are bad we can dig in and get a result. And earning points in unfavourable circumstances is a sign of true champions. It's very early to say it, I know, but I also know big teams will drop points at Goodison. So our point at this stage of the season may actually become a point gained.

That's it for today. Back with fresh news as soon as they find their way to me. Or the other way around.

Until later

Follow me on Twitter @AlexBaguzin

Everton preview: three out, three in

Evening everyone.

It's an away game at Goodison tomorrow in what will be a very important build-up to our midweek fixture.

Overview

Team news is mixed: Arteta, who sustained an ankle injury against Besiktas, is out. For how long, remains to be seen, but Guardian suggests it'll be at least two weeks before our skipper can help us again. Wenger admitted he may have to get creative if the ankle sprain is more than just a sprain.

This is an injury that worries me, I have to say. I've already argued Arteta's case and came to the conclusion that Arsene hasn't made Arteta captain to then drop the Spaniard in favour of a shiny new buy. This effectively rules out the possibility of a signing in that area, because we are already well-stocked on numbers in the centre of the park. There certainly remains a worry of Arteta being overrun in big games, but we better have it this way and figure something out, than have Mikel unavailable altogether. So people suggesting Arteta's injury is a blessing in disguise, an occurrence that may force the manager's hand in bringing in a 'DM' should sort out their priorities. I don't, in any way, think that the absence of one of our most heavily-relied upon midfielder is a good thing.

On the bright side, everyone else, who came through the Besiktas game, seems alright:

"We just have Mikel Arteta who is out for sure from the Everton game. Everybody else we have to check this morning, but we have no major [new] problems apart from him compared to Besiktas".

So, apart from Gibbs, Arteta and (possibly) Sanogo we have the same squad. Even better, the Germans are back in contention:

"I will check of course today and tomorrow to see if they will be available for selection. That is a target I fixed to them to prepare to be ready for selection against Everton. Will I use the three? Certainly not because they lack competition but they might be included for Saturday".

My bet is that these will replace Arteta, Miquel and Bellerin/Campbell which brings us to the matter of team selection.

Defense

It's Szczesny in goal, no doubt about it. He performed brilliantly against Besiktas after not the best of displays against Palace, so no reason whatsoever to drop Wojciech.

Debuchy and Monreal will continue on the flanks, having also put in a strong outing in Turkey. Besides, there really is no one to replace them.

The central pair looks the most interesting to me. Arsene, from my point of view, has a legitimate reason to play any two defenders. Mert can start on the bench because he's only just returned, Koscielny may be omitted due to his Achilles problems and Chambers is a) not really a CB and b) has played a lot of minutes recently. Moreover, the Englishman can be utilised further up the pitch, so no eyebrows will be raised should Calum not feature in central defense come tomorrow.

It's a tough choice, really. I'd go with the Mertescielny axis to give Chambers a breather, but only if both Mertesacker and Koscielny are alright.

Midfield

I'm almost positive Wilshere will start, that after being talked up and shielded from criticism by Wenger. Though Jack will still have to find his on-pitch position and push someone down the pecking order to become a regular starter, Arsene definitely trusts the Englishman and I see no reason why we shouldn't do the same. True, Jack is a bit hit-and-miss at the moment regarding his performances, but I'm ready (as most Arsenal fans are) to provide him with the support he needs to blossom. That he has potential to do so, I don't doubt.

The other two can prove to be tricky. I'd personally start Ozil and then think long and hard about who should replace Arteta in his holding position. With Ozil, it's obvious. We've lacked his penetration and ability to slice defences apart in the opening two games, so he should come back and assume his position, if fully fit.

It's difficult to pick the third player in our triquetra. It's either Chambers (who's done brilliantly thus far, though in a slightly different position) or Flamini. I see why people crave to start Chambers there, especially after all the talk from Wenger about how he sees Chambers in defensive midfield in the future. But I still think it's a risky thing to do. Chambers is the only back-up to Mertescielny we currently have, and if the Englishman gets crocked then we'll find ourselves down to four senior defenders. And this isn't pretty. So I'd go with Flamini. And his desire to defend his teammates is not the last thing on my list "Why I'd pick Flamini".

Attack

The trickiest bit. Should Arsene reconsider his strategy of playing with a target man after a weak showing from both Sanogo and Giroud? Or was their respective weak performances down to little service?

If it's the second scenario, then Ozil's reintroduction should do the trick. If, for some reason, both Frenchmen are unable to produce at the moment, then keep the elder in reserve and drop Sanogo altogether.

And play Sanchez up front. Truth be told, I'm excited about this prospect. The Chilean up front with Ozil feeding him is a mouthwatering possibility.

However, we also have to think about the flanks. I'd have no problem starting Oxlade after his strong cameos from the bench, but who should play on the left? We have some options to consider, all are not ideal and this is the part where I lament Walcott's absence. Had he been fit, I'd start him on the right and Oxlade on the left.

He's not, however, and so we have Cazorla, Campbell and Podolski to choose from. The main question is this: will Arsene trust Santi enough to start him after two bad outings? If he does, then Cazorla starts and Poldi is a bench sub. Campbell may not even make the squad. If he doesn't, then I'd go with the German, considering it may be one of his last games.

The verdict

Like it was the case last time, we have options in attack and midfield (especially since the Germans are back in action), but are once again a bit short in defense. Mertesacker's return steadies our ship a bit, however, so we can push defensive worries our of our heads for the time being and focus on getting a result, preferably with a good performance to go with it.

Goodison is a hard place to visit, but it's not like we are Burnley or QPR (no offence). Should we catch our rhythm (aargh), we can look forward to getting the three points.

Unfortunately, I'll most likely miss a chunk of the game, maybe even the size of 90 minutes, as I'll be at the airport. Had the kick-off not been a late one, I would have managed, but it's not. However, normal service will resume on August 24th when I'll lay my hands on some decent Internet and get back to you with my thoughts on the game.

Until then, have a good weekend.

And c'mon you Gunners

P.S. Completely forgot about Aaron Ramsey. Of course the Welshman will start, given he'll miss our midweek game. Ramsey is likely to feature alongside Flamini and that puts in jeopardy Wilshere's chances. Maybe the Englishman will play under the striker and Ozil will be on the bench. I don't exclude Wilshere's appearance on the left, at the expense of Cazorla either. That will put Podolski even farther down the line.

Besiktas 0-0 Arsenal: need a better performance in London

Evening folks.

So, on Tuesday we played out a 0-0 draw against Besiktas and the game turned out to be every bit as hard as I've predicted. There are positives to be taken from the game, first and foremost that we haven't lost, while also keeping our goal intact, but we also had a hell of a hard night.

First half

Koscielny and Wilshere were deemed fit to start, while Gibbs and Sanogo were left behind. Giroud started up front and it would prove to be not the best of decisions from Arsene. Bellerin, Miquel and Flamini (who recovered from his illness) made the bench.

It was obvious from the off Arsenal will have to dig deep to win the game. The atmosphere inside the stadium was so hostile even I felt uncomfortable just listening to all the whistling and booing. What it was like for the players in red-and-white, I don't like to think about.

The quality of the pitch, the heat and Besiktas players themselves (spurred on by the crowd) ensured we had a difficult first fifteen minutes. In fact, had it not been for Szczesny's alertness, Arsenal could have gone behind twice. The Pole deflected Ba's shot onto the bar when the striker's ambitious attempt from the half hit the target and then came out on top once more, when the Senegalese got behind Chambers and nearly slotted the ball home on the volley.

Arsenal then started to get back into the game, but lacked a clinical finisher in the final third. Alexis was creative and bullish, often creating space, but his teammates failed to capitalize on the Chilean's wit and energy. Cazorla flashed an effort wide, Wilshere's clever shot was saved and Giroud missed two clear-cut chances.

For the first, the Frenchamn received the ball in the six-yard box, but failed to to unleash a shot on the turn and for the second, he even failed to connect with the ball, after being weaved clean through by a clever lob pass from Ramsey. We could have paid dearly for such wastefulness a minute from half-time, but, thankfully, Ba dragged his effort wide with only Szczesny to beat.

Second half

The second period started with a bang. Giroud set up Ramsey, but the Welshman took too long on the ball when one-on-one and the defenders returned to snatch the ball from him. Besiktas responded immediately, but Sahan, mercifully, curled his shot just wide of the far post with Szczesny clutching thin air.

The affair soon got muddled. Besiktas had more of the ball, though we created better opportunities on the counter. The ineffectiveness of Cazorla, Giroud and Wilshere (completely lost in that second half) ensured we didn't make the most of our chances.

Then, on the hour, another problem added to the growing list of Arsene's worries, as Arteta had to be replaced because of an injury. Flamini came on, did his usual stunt (got booked), but was a positive influence overall. He wasn't as fluid or creative in his passing than the Spaniard, however.

Things quickly gone from bad to worse. We already had Monreal and Flamini on yellows, with Arteta subbed due to an ankle injury, then, on the 80th minute, Ramsey pulled back someone-someone and was branded a second booking. Arsenal was down to ten men, with ten minutes to go. I fully expected Arsene to close up shop and imagine my surprise when it didn't happen. Sure, Besiktas again saw more of the ball, but we actually could have nicked a winner right at the death.

First Chambers headed wide from a corner and then Oxlade powered his way into the box, danced around a defender and fired a vicious effort which rebounded off the post. Replays showed their keeper got a hand to it, otherwise we would have returned to London victorious, I suspect.

The aftermath

This is what Arsene had to say after the game:

"We always want to win but look, Besiktas could have won the game, and we could have won the game as well. Maybe a draw is a fair result because both teams had chances to win the game. We know Besiktas are a good team. They played with 100 per cent pace and did fought for every single ball. We faced a very good Besiktas team tonight who were at our level. Their commitment was absolutely fantastic."

Hard to argue with any of the above, really. I remember we had a very hard qualifier against Udinese a couple of years back, but back then we were not as strong financially and didn't possess such a roster of players. However, as I've said before the game, away games in Turkey are always very hard, for a number of reasons.

Now we need to get the job done at the Emirates and only a win will see us through. However, we'd be without Ramsey and very likely Arteta, while the performances of some others leave a great deal to be desired.

I, for one, think that Cazorla, Giroud and Wilshere all had a bad game. And I cannot grasp why. The World Cup is no excuse, because Sanchez, Debuchy, Koscielny and others delivered. And these have played a lot more than the aforementioned trio. However, if we are to remove Santi, Olivier and Jack from the starting line-up in a return leg it will add up to five changes, coupled with Ramsey's and (possibly) Arteta's absence.

Anyway, we have a game against Everton looming large, so we can discuss the squad choice tomorrow. For today, though, it's hard to say anything conclusive on the result against Besiktas. I have a good feeling we'll be able to overpower the Turks inside the Emirates, but it's only a hunch. Though I still think we shouldn't worry just yet. We have another game coming up and it's important we get a good performance in that one, to build up confidence.

Whether we have the ability to do it with the players we have, I'll be back to speculate on tomorrow.

Until then

Besiktas preview: find that rhythm

Evening folks.

It's Besiktas away tomorrow and the team has already travelled to Turkey. We are, however, in a spot of trouble with some of our players sidelined, so picking a capable starting eleven can prove to be tough.

Goalkeeping

No doubt in my mind Szczesny will start. Had Ospina been fit I wouldn't be so sure, but with the Colombian international still nursing a thigh injury, he wasn't even included. Ospina, like Walcott, will miss both qualifiers.

However, Szczesny definitely needs to be told by Arsene to keep his game safe and simple. The stakes are too high and it will be hard to get a positive result in any case, we don't want to make our life harder by serving Besiktas a couple of blunders on a silver platter.

Defense

It pretty much picks itself and it's scary. We could potentially end up without Koscielny (achilles) and Gibbs (hamstring), so only four senior defenders will be available: Debuchy, Chambers, Mertesacker and Monreal.

"We will assess Koscielny on Monday; if he's fit and capable to play, we play him. It was our plan to bring the Germans back in contention for Everton. But in case of emergency I will take Mertesacker.

"But we have Bellerin, who was 19 today, who can come in. We are a bit short. I hope Koscielny responds well to today's game."

Such a summary gives me the creeps. No word on Gibbs, Koscielny is a doubt and Mert is short on fitness and could be rushed back anyway. When Arsene brought up Bellerin it became painfully obvious just how short we are in the defensive department.

Why haven't we addressed it earlier? It was obvious Vermaelen will go (he was injured anyway) and that Debuchy, Koscielny and Mertesacker will all have a short pre-season. Yes, we've brought Chambers in (as a right-back, mind you) and that is why we are still afloat. He can play defensive midfield, right-back and centre-back, so I don't expect further arrivals in the first two areas, but we were always going to end up short in the middle now that Vermaelen's tenure has drawn to a close.

I'm all for promoting Bellerin, don't get me wrong. He's impressed during the Emirates Cup and it will only be sensible to have the Spaniard in the first squad, as it allows Chambers to cover at centre-back if needed, but even in that case we only have 7 defenders, two of which are 19. A further addition is vital, even if the player won't play against Besiktas. As for the Turks, what we have, we hold. Fingers crossed Koscielny is all right and will still be after the game.

Arsenal 2-1 Crystal Palace: a victory hard-fought, but thoroughly deserved

Evening everyone.

First off, I have to apologise: two days ago I stated that Pulis is the current manager of Crystal Palace, but I was wrong and only found out about it yesterday. Keith Millen is now in charge of the proceedings, while Tony Pulis left the club on August 14th. I don't have the faintest idea why the manager of the season left the Eagles so abruptly and without an obvious cause, but I don't really care. I never liked Pulis as a person and I am convinced the Premier League will be much better off without him.

And now, onto the game itself. I've said in the preview that should Arsenal find it's rhythm we'll have no problems sweeping Palace aside. That explains why we nearly dropped points in the first game: we've never truly kicked on and only our desire and willpower saw us get the win (the first one in six years in a season opener). Which was no less than we deserved. However, the game was rather tedious with few chances created, so I'll go with the manager on this one:

on the last-gasp winner…

It was not the plan, the plan was to win the game, but because of the physicality and organisation level of Crystal Palace, it was very difficult for us. We lacked a bit of pace in the final third to change what we built up into dangerous situations.

Well, it was obvious before the game what Palace's plan will be: put ten men behind the ball and boot it long towards Chamakh. And try to get the maximum from set-pieces. The fact that this plan almost cost us two points is what surprised me: shouldn't we be ready for these situations? Shouldn't there be a plan B if plan A doesn't work? Why, for example, the manager changed Sanogo for Giroud instead of trying Alexis up front? You don't judge the winners, especially on the opening day and against a team defending so deep, but had we not won, questions would definitely have been asked.

on the patience of the supporters…

I am grateful for that because before, sometimes we had to face that frustration. Today, at 1-0 down they stayed behind the team. At 1-1 when we started to have heavy legs, they gave us some energy.

The fans really got behind the team and spurred the Gunners on, which was a magnificent sight. And just what the team needed. When there are sixty thousand people inside the stadium singing "We love you Arsenal" it's something to behold. I think the difference between yesterday and last year was our actions during the transfer window. Buying players doesn't win you games and titles, yet the effect on the fans is almost the same.

on Calum Chambers…

I must say, honestly, we bought him as a right back, but in my opinion he could play centre back. I tried it in pre-season and from game to game he becomes stronger. Today he had a remarkable performance.

Man of the match. Chambers started alongside Koscielny and had another great game: tackling, intercepting and, basically, laying waste. He was even spotted bombing forward later on, with Arteta (an unsung hero with a 96% pass completion) dropping back to cover for the Englishman. My personal pick, however, happened in the first half: we've lost possession and Palace tried to break on the counter, only for Chambers to commit a cynical foul on the half. Got booked, but stopped a dangerous attack like a seasoned pro. Love this guy.

on Laurent Koscielny…

He can respond [to setbacks like the first goal]. We had concerns about playing him today because he didn't practise for two or three days, but he has outstanding physical qualities and pace. He's another one who is at the right place in the box. He is not the tallest but if you look he is always on the first or the second ball in the box as a defender, and that's a great quality.

Need a scrappy goal from a set-piece? Call the Frenchman. He's done it at least four times in decisive moments (West Brom two years ago, Newcastle a year back, Hull in the final and now), so I think congrats are in order. Right attitude, match-saving goals.

However, I also wanted to take note of some things I didn't like. They could easily have cost us yesterday, so I hope they won't happen again. Starting with:

Wojciech Szczesny

I've hailed him after the Community Shield, now it's time to point out his flaws. He's made two mistakes yesterday: at 0-0 and at 1-1, so both could have easily led to a loss. The first one happened when the Pole went full Almunia and decided to sweep up. His clearance fell to Chamakh and were it not for Koscielny, we could have found ourselves down. The second happened deep inside the second half, when Szczesny tried to look too cute and clever and played cat-and-mouth with whatever bloke spearheaded Palace's attack. Instead of clearing his lines when under pressure, Wojciech tried a return pass to Debuchy, the pass which was nearly intercepted. Arsene needs to tell our №1 to cut this out, or he won't remain our №1 for long.

Santi Cazorla

It feels odd to level critique at him, but I see no way to soften the blow. Santi failed to make his mark on the match, with misplaced passes and badly thought-through decisions pursuing him the whole game. Him shifting to under-the-striker when Wilshere was substituted for Oxlade didn't help in the slightest: Santi failed at least two passes which were potentially dangerous and once lost the ball near the box. Luckily, his mistakes didn't prove costly, though it remained a mystery to me as to why the Spaniard wasn't taken off for, say, Campbell. Hope it's just one bad game for Santi, nothing more.

We've won it in the end and boy am I glad we did. Despite Palace's organisation and time-wasting antics we've knuckled down and worked hard, showed desire and determination and had Ramsey in the box at the right place at the right time. I'm sure we'll become more fluent in our game as the season progresses, but for now we've got the job done, while, for example, United, lost. (Is it possible? A mighty United side, aspiring champions with the world's bestest manager, lost? At home? To Swansea? Don't know how to put even more sarcasm in writing, so this will have to do).

That's yer lot for today, back here tomorrow with Besiktas preview.

Until then, enjoy the win

Follow me on Twitter @AlexBaguzin

Crystal Palace preview: smash and grab

Evening everyone.

All right, I take my words back: the Internet connection here is atrocious. It's slow, you cannot log in two gadgets simultaneously and logout procedure is a pain. Also, you can just forget about watching videos and downloading music. Hell, even the pictures take a while to pop up in your news feed or elsewhere. This hotel won't be getting a positive review from me.

Anyway, onto matters more interesting and we face Crystal Palace tomorrow in a season opener. We play at the Emirates and the kickoff is a late one: at 5.30. Taken into account we play Besiktas away on Tuesday, the situation is far from ideal, but we have to knuckle down and try to win both games.

We'll have to do so without at least Walcott, Ospina and the Germans (Gnabry included). During his press-conference today, Arsene has confirmed Theo won't return until late September, while Ospina is out for two to three weeks due to a thigh injury he sustained against Brazil. Ah, damn these international games.

Ryo also won't play for a while (the manager refused to give a time frame on him), but I've basically given up on him. Same with Diaby. The Frenchman has resumed normal training, but I just don't know. He's only played once during this pre-season (as far as I can remember) and then sustained an 'insert any body part here' injury and went straight to the hospital. I'm sure the staff there greeted Abou as one of their own, given him his usual room and assured his belongings haven't been sent out yet. Cozy.

However, in a good piece of news, Koscielny will be available and there are even whispers Mert can feature. I won't rush our vice-captain back if it was up to me, seeing as Chambers looks very good and shouldn't be unduly troubled in a pair with Kos. I even look forward to how well they will interact.

With Ospina out, Szczesny should start and Martinez (who've been promoted to the first team and given number 26 shirt) will provide backup. In defence, it's Debuchy-Koscielny-Chambers-Gibbs who should get the nod. Again, Mertesacker may be an option (having only featured during the group stages for Germany), but I see no point in rushing him back. We can manage without him for now.

The midfield also shouldn't be much changed. It's Arteta-Ramsey-Wilshere for me and it looks sensible. With Ozil unavailable and Cazorla being utilised on the left (especially in the absence of both Walcott and Podolski), this trio looks the best we can get.

Wilshere wants to prove himself, so he will start at every opportunity, Ramsey is, well, the Welsh Jesus with a haircut to rival Giroud and Arteta is the captain. I expect the Spaniard to start every game by default. Which basically means we're unlikely to buy a 'DM' everyone so craves for. One of my readers raised a point that it's unacceptable, that a DM should definitely be bought, as Arteta tends to be overrun in big games and you can see the logic behind his thinking. However, Arteta is no Vermaelen and I don't think the manager has entrusted the Spaniard with the armband to then unceremoniously drop him. So the issue of big games remain and Arsene will have to find a solution. Especially after all the talk of how we should improve on our record against the top six.

In attack, it'll probably be Cazorla, Alexis (why has he opted to write Alexis instead of Sanchez on his shirt?) and either Giroud or Sanogo. I've been thinking about this decision two days ago and ploughed for Giroud in the end. After all, the elder Frenchman possesses valuable experience in the BPL and, as much as you can see why Arsene puts so much faith into Sanogo, I don't think Yaya is ready yet. He will, of course, play during this season (and I suspect he'll play a lot), but he's not yet first-choice.

I'm also interested where Campbell will fit in. He's definitely behind the likes of Sanchez and Giroud, but right now it seems he's even behind Sanogo. Which means, he's just an afterthought, should everyone stay fit, which makes me dubious once again as to why we haven't loaned the Costa-Rican out. Guess we'll see soon enough. Arsene said he has plans for Joel and I hope that involves actually using him for something else other than (occasionally) letting him warm up the bench. Otherwise it won't make sense.

I haven't bothered to look up what kind of Orcs Pulis will throw at Arsenal come tomorrow evening, but should we catch our rhythm it won't matter. Arsene has himself admitted we are just too much quality, so let's prove it on the pitch tomorrow. A win in front of our fans will be the best way to start a season.

As always, I'll watch the game tomorrow and give my thoughts on it in two days, so stay tuned.

Until later and c'mon you Gunners

Follow me on Twitter @AlexBaguzin

An unlikely scenario

Evening everyone.

The countdown to the first (official) game of the season is well and truly on, but the euphoria of Arsenal beating City isn't dying down. Which is understandable. We had huge problems dealing with the moneybags last year and to get up from 6-3 and deliver on such a scale demonstrates how far this Arsenal team progressed.

We were in a mess at the Etihad. Szczesny was helplessly watching the ball ripple in the back of his net time and again, Koscielny was subbed at 2-1 to give way to an erratic Vermaelen, Arteta was overrun in midfield. The peak of entropy was reached when Wilshere, frustrated at not being able to impose himself on the game, flipped home fans the bird. I even have a lurking suspicion we finished that game with ten men.

And what a way to bounce back. Almost all the players I've mentioned featured three days ago and they demonstrated just how professional they can be. I was especially impressed with Arteta and Wilshere, who seemed to have undergone a radical change since the thumping at the Etihad. Arteta was calm and composed in the centre of the park, while Jack didn't try to shape the game the way he sees it, but rather caught its natural rhythm and adapted to it. It was after this game that Arteta was named captain.

Did the change of formation help our skipper to shine once more? I've already noticed how we played with almost three holding midfielders against Monaco and Benfica, but this bit looks at the situation in greater detail. Against City this weekend Arsenal had no clear under-the-striker player. Arteta sat back as always, but Wilshere and Ramsey were deployed on the same (imaginary) line and both were much closer to our skipper, than usual. A inverted triangle, if you like.

This ensured both Ramsey and Wilshere had space to spray passes and burst forward, but it also allowed our back four to be much better protected. Both Aaron and Jack traced back to either help Arteta out or cover the flanks. Or one of them stayed behind, while the other bombed forward. 

I like this setup, cause it allows to bring the best out of all three, while balancing the game in midfield, but it's unlikely Arsene will be willing to use this formation as default. When Ozil returns, he will play much further upfield than Ramsey and Wilshere did against City. For now, though, we're all set to start the campaign with a kind of 4-1-2-3, while Ozil is being eased into action.

However, there's another interesting dilemma Arsene will have to solve before Crystal Palace comes to town. A year ago I would have laughed at the possibility, but now it doesn't seem as unlikely. Who will Arsene pick as a centre forward for the season opener: Sanogo or Giroud? The author of this article comes to the conclusion that it's still a bit too soon for Sanogo to establish himself as our first-choice forward, but he also hits the jackpot several times.

Thing is, even at this early stage of his career Sanogo has qualities Giroud doesn't have and is unlikely to develop. Sanogo is a surprisingly quick runner (that with his height), while Giroud is more static. Sanogo can drag defenders into channels opening up space for his teammates, while Giroud finds it tough going. Most importantly, Sanogo can beat defenders with his face to the goal, thus creating space out of nowhere, something Giroud can't do. And it's a vital quality, let me tell you. For two years I couldn't pinpoint why exactly I felt a tinge of uneasiness every time Giroud tried to take defenders on. Three days ago it hit me: Olivier isn't technical enough with the ball at his feet to come out on top in a 1v1, but Sanogo, for all his rough edges, can do this.

However, one thing remains is certain: Giroud is a more clinical finisher right now. His goal against City highlighted it. Could his younger counterpart pull that shot off? I doubt it. Also, Giroud possesses valuable experience playing at the top level, so he's likely to remain a our go-to striker for this season. But that's not to say Sanogo won't play. With the manager's faith in him and the flashes of promise he's demonstrated, Sanogo should play a lot.

Finally for today, there's a lot of rumours linking Arsenal to different defenders, but nothing concrete for now. I'm hoping we'll add in that department over the next three days, for Koscielny seems to have suffered a slight injury. The prospect of facing any PL team with Chambers and Montreal for central defenders is a bit uncomfortable. Especially since Mertesacker has only just returned and it's unclear how soon it is till he's ready.

Right, that's it for today. Back here on the 15th with a proper preview of our first game.

Until then

Arsenal 3-0 City: up for the second cup

A very good day to you.

Without further ado: we've won the Cup! And we've done so in a glorious, thrilling and entertaining way. My thoughts are still in a scramble after a fantastic day out in the sports bar, so I'll break my review down in points. Starting with:

The atmosphere

It was great both in the bar, which was overrun with Arsenal fans and, of course, inside the stadium. The cups were presented before the game, Pat Rice made an appearance (and a memorable one) and large swathes of fans were sporting red-and-white colours. I gotta say, our fans were brilliant throughout the game, so much so they have run out of chants by its climax. "There's only one Arsene Wenger", anyone?

The line-ups

It was obvious Arsene meant business by fielding such a strong side, but saying City's squad was weak would be a lie. Sure, the defense was make-shift (what do you want with three key players out?), but midfield and attack were packed with quality. To say they've missed Aguero means to diminish City's earlier achievements, cause they've basically won the BPL without the Argentine.

For us, Chambers started alongside Koscielny at the heart of the defense, Wilshere played under the striker and the striker himself was Sanogo. This choice raised some eyebrows (including mine), but the Frenchman showed just why Arsene placed so much belief into him.

The goals

Cazorla, Ramsey, Giroud. Two assists from Sanogo. We could have been 3-0 up by half time, but Sanchez didn't make the most of his one-on-one. However, while Cazorla's and Giroud's strikes were touches of class from the Spaniard and the Frenchman respectively, my personal favourite is Ramsey's goal.

The Welsh Jesus picked up where he left off last season, but it was the build-up play that caught the eye.
We came flying out of the blocks on the counter, Sanchez sliced City's defense apart with a perfect pass which found Sanogo and the Frenchman laid the ball out on a silver platter for Ramsey. Aaron smashed the ball into the bottom corner from close range. Brilliant team work and a classic Arsenal goal.

Individual performances

Is the idea of singling players out in a team game wrong? I'm not sure. When we talk about a particular player, we have to keep in mind that he operates in a certain environment. In other words, he's only as good as his teammates, that's why it's hard to pick someone out as a shining example after a poor performance and vice versa, everyone could become MoM after a good one.

However, as I've mentioned earlier some of the manager's choices looked questionable on paper, so I have to give credit where it's due to:

1. Wojciech Szczesny. Not a questionable choice, but his performance was brilliant. Strong in the air (made just one mistake late on, when we were already miles ahead), quick reflexes (I can recall at least two great saves) and ready to sweep up for his defenders. Ospina has to get well quickly, or he'll find it nigh on impossible to win this two-horse race with Wojciech.
2. Calum Chambers. I've run out of superlatives for this guy. I've seen Calum in three games and he looked mature beyond his years. Tackling, intercepting, winning aerial duels and doing all this while being ridiculously photogenic. Chambers' mere presence at the heart of our defense is soothing, maybe because he makes hard stuff look easy. He reminds me of Mertesacker, but another comparison from a guy on Twitter caught my eye: Tony Adams. A bit soon to say that, but I love the way this guy thinks.
3. Jack Wilshere. Ran his heart out (no surprise here), but had method to his actions. Very few misplaced passes, some lovely dribbles and, most importantly, Jack slotted in without any trouble. The fact that he caught the rhythm of the game and adapted to it is very promising indeed. Got subbed late on, but fully deserves all the applause he received.
4. Yaya Sanogo. Looked very sharp and not a little bit out of place. Nastasic and Boyata are probably still wearing sunglasses, such a headache the Frenchman gave them. His actions up front ensured Yaya got two assists and he also could have scored, but dragged his shot just wide. When Giroud came on, we've lost some of Sanogo's restless energy up front. Got a great goal in return, though.
5. Arsene Wenger. The mastermind behind our great display. He personally oiled and honed this Arsenal machine and it works. We had a strong starting eleven, a fantastic bench and that's without the German trio and Walcott. We'll surely add another centre-half, but make no mistake: this side is rife with quality already. We need someone to replace Vermaelen, but only for the numbers to look good.

The aftermath

We got ourselves another trophy and have comprehensively beaten the reigning champions in the process. Those who say Community Shield is nothing to be particularly proud of are either Arsenal haters or City fans. And you don't want to waste your nervous system on both, do you?

Bottom line is this: you have to win either the BPL or the FA Cup in order to have a shot at Community Shield, so the trophy is as real and valuable as it gets. Embrace it.

I haven't included the manager's quotes from the press conference, but it doesn't make these any less enlightening. So check them out. And the highlights. I know you don't need me to view these on the official site, but personally I can watch us ripping City in two for hours on end.

One last thing. The Internet isn't particularly hard to come by here in Zakinthos, but I still can't use it as regularly as I need to write daily posts. So check back every two days and I'll definitely be here for all the previews and reviews.

Until later

Follow me on Twitter @AlexBaguzin