Southampton preview: break into the top four

Hello everyone.

We play Southampton on New Year's day and a win will finally see us elevate to the 4th. Moreover, should United drop points on their away trip to Mordor Stoke, we'll either be on level points with the Devils or a solitary point behind. So a win can really improve our situation.

Team news

The news is mixed. Rosicky will definitely come back into the side, having been rested during our away game at Upton Park, but there is a doubt over Welbeck:

"We have an uncertainty about Welbeck, who came off with a thigh problem. I think he will be short for Thursday."

Not good, especially since Giroud cannot help us for two more games. However, Theo Walcott is fit to start, if needed be:

"Walcott is involved because he was already in the squad. Of course I judge him a bit short on the competition front but on the fitness front he is ready to play."

The situation with Walcott in interesting. He has been fit for quite some time, yet us still to make an appearance, even as a substitute. If he doesn't start tomorrow, then a start against Hull on the 4th will mean the first start for Theo in exactly a year. As you may recall, the last time Walcott made the first XI was on January 5th against Spurs, where he's torn his knee ligament.

Finally, none of Ramsey, Arteta or Ozil will be in the squad. No word was said on Arteta, Ozil only joined full training today, while with Ramsey the manager is being cautious:

"Ramsey is not available yet. There’s no setback but because he had a setback last year, we have to be very cautious with his thigh - he was out for three months."

I doubt any of the three will be available for Hull, but I quietly hope for all three to make it in time for Stoke. And now, the squad.

The back four

See what I did there? I just excluded the goalkeeper from my usual preview. Get used to it. Szczesny will play if fit and if it's not a cup game. On these occasions I may bring up the subject. For the Premier League and the Champions League, Chezza will start.

As for the defense, I think Gibbs will come in for Monreal and we'll finally see our best back four in action. We'll have the chance to rest Mertesacker or Koscielny against Hull, for now we need both. That means Chambers and Monreal should make the bench, and Bellerin, who is having his best year will likely be omitted. Ah, well. He did well when called upon this season and I'm pretty sure he'll still be involved, as we have a lot of games to play. We may see him in four days, actually.

The midfield

If it was up to me to choose, I'd play a trio of Coquelin, Rosicky and Cazorla. Both because Flamini needs a rest and because I've really liked how Coquelin looked against West Ham. He really outperformed Flam and should be given a chance.

However, as it is for Wenger to decide, I won't be surprised to see Flamini start and not Coquelin. The other two players should remain the same, though: Cazorla, who's having a stormer of a season right now and Rosicky, who was impressive against QPR. Of course, there's a slight chance of Oxlade being reinstated alongside Flamini, but given the absence of Giroud and (most likely) Welbeck, we may need the Ox elsewhere. So Flamini-Rosicky-Cazorla it should be.

The attack

Just how many lives Alexis has? More than nine, definitely, cause he again seems up and ready to start, with Wenger saying:

"Alexis is a guy who has a naturally quick recovery and he has a lot of energy available as well."

He played full games against Liverpool, QPR and West Ham and was spotted waving the manager off during our game against the Hammers. Arsene obviously wanted to take the Chilean off. Alexis protested and stayed on. If he now plays two full games against Southampton and Hull, at a time when he's used to break, I'd be well and truly amazed.

As for who he'll be partnered with in attack, it's hard to guess. I'd say Welbeck and Oxlade, if both are fit and fresh. In case they are not, the Walcott, Pododlski and Sanogo top my list of replacements. Walcott can be a natural solution for both the right winger and the central striker roles, while Sanogo is a good target man, should Arsene decide to utilise one. Podolski is unlikely to start in either scenario. Poor chap.

The verdict

Yes, we have obvious problems in midfield, but:

1. the state of our midfield is still better than it was was in our last game, with Rosicky coming in
2. we still managed to beat West Ham with that midfield and the margin should have been greater, in all fairness
3. the Saints have problems of their own, with Schneiderlin and Clyne both unavailable, due to suspension and injury respectively

As for our attack, we have the requisite depth to cover for Giroud's and (potentially) Welbeck's absences, while in defense we have everyone available (gotta be a first this season). On top of that, we had two encouraging performances in a row and if we can somehow merge these, we should be fine against the Saints.

So come on you Gunners.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Finally, I wanted to say a couple of words on Podolski. The German expressed his displeasure at not featuring more regularly (once again) and rumours emerged linking him to Inter Milan. Arsene reacted adequately:

“There is only talks. Podolski is a player of Arsenal football club and I want him to stay. Apart from that, what it is to be professional is that as long as you are somewhere, you give your best to justify your wages and your love for the club. I hope that he will still be an Arsenal player at the end of January. Inter? That is a joke. Inter is not serious.”

That settles it. Podoslki can, of course, be unhappy with his current situation, but he's one of these players who provide depth. He can be devastating from the bench and to see Arsene put his foot down and do what's best for the Club is really satisfying. I'm pretty sure we'll discuss Poldi's situation more in the summer, when all parties will be better suited to say goodbye, but for now, he should stay.

That's it for today. Wishing you and your families a very happy New Year and I'll be back here with a customary review either tomorrow on in two days.

Until then

Follow me on Twitter (@AlexBaguzin)

West Ham 1-2 Arsenal: a lively performance sees us get the points

I wrote before the game how we can find ourselves fourth if results go our way. Miraculously, they did: Chelsea drew with Southampton, United were denied a win at White Hart Lane and Burnley recovered from two goals down at the Etihad to snatch a point off the reigning champions. The pressure was all on us to deliver a performance and win the game. And we did just that.

The squad

Arsene's selection raised a few eyebrows alright. Flamini was paired with Coquelin in central midfield, Oxlade started the game wide, Podolski was benched again and Rosicky was nowhere in sight. Arsene later explained the Czech's absence:

"I just gave him a complete recovery today. When I took him off with 10 minutes to go against QPR he had cramps in the calves and in the hamstrings, so I didn’t want to take a gamble".

However, Koscielny's return meant we've finally been able to field a balanced back four and it was telling. Mertesacker looked much more his usual self, while Szczesny probably had his best game for us this season. Pity he was denied a clean sheet.

The first half

Whether because it was our second game inside 48 hours, the fact that we didn't have enough personnel in midfield or just because it was Arsene's plan all along, we started the game on the back foot. We surrendered possession and put men behind the ball to see what West Ham has to offer.

The Hammers gladly took the ball and tried hoofing it in the general direction of Andy Carroll, but our central defenders were on alert and reduced Carroll's time on the ball to minimum. There was still a heart-in-the-mouth moment when Song put the ball into the net, but this goal was disallowed, as Carroll was obstructing Szczesny's view of the initial shot.

We didn't see much of the ball during almost the entire 45 minutes, but when we got it back, we attacked with real vigour and purpose. One of such attacks saw Cazorla weave his way through a couple of defenders and into the box, where he was brought down by Reid. The ref pointed to the spot, Cazorla himself stepped up and sent the ball in the opposite direction to that of Adrian's. 1-0.

Three minutes later it was 2-0. Debuchy exchanged passes with Cazorla and then set up Oxlade, whose low cross found an unmarked Welbeck. The Englishman poked the ball home from a yard. We could even have been 3 up, but Alexis's effort following a corner was blocked.

The second half

It's fair to say we could have started it better, as we found our lead cut in half nine minutes into the second period. Tomkins was allowed to swing in a cross, Kouyate won the aerial duel against Debuchy and the ball ricocheted into the net off the Frenchman's back.

However, we didn't look fazed by that goal. On the contrary, we came flying out of the blocks and had several brilliant opportunities to make it 3-1. First Cazorla's shot was parried by Adrian, then Oxlade's header suffered the same fate, before Alexis's powerful effort was again saved by West Ham's keeper.

Another two brilliant chances were spurned by Welbeck. Though I have to add, both he created himself. For the first, the Englishman won a tackle in his own half, ran half the field and then fired his effort wide, for the second he capitalized to a loose back pass, but again his effort went over.

We could have been punished for such wastefulness, but a combination of luck (Valencia firing over with the last shot of the game) and good goalkeeping (Szczesny saving Nolan's effort) ensured we got the three points and ended 2014 on a high.

The aftermath

"We deserved to win the game. It was a typical committed, direct game where we needed to be solid in the air, take our chances on the break. Unfortunately when they came back to 2-1, we had five or six chances on counter-attacks that we couldn’t take, but overall everybody did the job very well, from the keeper to up front".

Arsene's take on our win. He also commented on Coquelin:

"He played very well, especially in the first half. He was very influential and then in the second half he fatigued a bit in the last 20 minutes, but he had a very good performance not only defensively but he also passed quickly, sharply and through the lines. Overall he had a convincing performance".

As far as I'm concerned, Coquelin did enough to demonstrate he earned his run of games ahead of Flamini. Francis was strong in the tackle, quicker in transitions than Flamini and he also looks a better passer of the ball. I'd pair him up with Rosicky for the next game and see how they fare.

I also really liked our defensive performance. Apart from a (rightly) disallowed goal, an actual goal and that very last moment, we gave away very few chances, despite West Ham enjoying 57% of possession and being a really effective unit at home. Of course, we had a rather conservative set-up, with our back four protected by two DMs, while our subs only added to our look, but you have to give our defense credit where it's due. We kept out Sakho and Carroll when every cross was heading their way!

This win sees us leapfrog the Hammers in the table. We are now fifth, level on points with fourth Southampton (who we play in three days) and a mere three points behind third-placed United. Roll on 2015.

And I'll be back with a preview in two days.

Enjoy the win

Follow me on Twitter (@AlexBaguzin)

West Ham preview: a bit of rotation

Hello everyone.

It's West Ham away today you can't help but feel we'll see a few changes from the Arsenal side which faced QPR less than 48 hours ago.

Team news

Koscielny and Oxlade can both be back, though Arsene was pretty cautious about their respective returns:

"Koscielny has a chance, he will have a test tomorrow. He has a little chance. [Alex] Chamberlain has an even smaller chance."

While I doubt Oxlade will be risked just yet, Koscielny has been propped to return for some time, so I won't be surprised to see the Frenchman start the game. Arsene also touched on Walcott and Podolski:

"He (Podolski) hasn't played much this season and he lacks a little bit of competitive sharpness. He can only find it if I play him."

"Walcott was in the squad on Friday but it was difficult to bring him on when it was tight and we had to defend. He's not far away."

And of course, we'll have Giroud serving his three-game ban. With all that more or less sorted out, let's try to put a squad together.

The back five

Let's just agree Szczesny is our №1, shall we? It's getting a bit repetitive to state he'll play every time. He will play by default, but I still have to mention Ospina's return. The Colombian made the bench against QPR for the first time in several months, something that I've missed. Props up to Martinez, he was solid when called upon.

As for the back, I quietly hope we'll have our best one available. Debuchy, Mertesacker and Gibbs are definitely ready and so I expect them to start, only question is, whether Kos is up for it. If he is, then fielding him instead of Monreal is natural. However, we all know Mert has played a lot, so I wonder whether he should be given a rest and replaced by Chambers. One thing is clear: we'll need at least one senior centre-back, be it Koscielny or Mertesacker, so I'm pretty sure they won't be omitted simultaneously.

The midfield

We don't have much of a choice here, with Arteta, Ramsey, Ozil and Wilshere still injured. And though the first three can even be involved against Southampton, they are not ready just yet. And with Oxlade likely to sit this game out due to his groin injury, we only have three fit midfielders: Flamini, Rosicky and Cazorla.

And I'm pretty sure they will start. Despite Flamini and Cazorla playing quite a lot recently, we have no other option, but to start them once again and keep our fingers crossed they have enough petrol left in the tank to put in a performance. Hope Flam and Santi get their rest against the Saints, with Arteta, Ramsey and Ozil all close to full fitness.

However, I don't think it's a bad midfield. Santi has rediscovered his form, Flamini has been solid and consistent (although his contribution often goes unnoticed) and Rosicky was brilliant against QPR and is definitely fresh enough to play.

The attack

Giroud's suspension complicates things a great deal, but not as much as some would have you believe. It's a shame he's out, we could use his physical presence and the fact he's much fresher than both Alexis and Welbeck, however, it's not like we have no other fit strikers.

Podolski looks the best option to me. We can move Welbeck infield and use him as a target man, while Poldi will slot in on the left. He's full of energy, he is a great finisher and, moreover, The German has a good record against The Hammers, with 4 goals in the last four games. Bring him on, I say.

Also, I'd probably rest Alexis this time. Despite the goal and the assist, he looked less sharp than usual and this showed in a couple of erratic decisions on the ball and turning over possession more often than usual. Give the Chilean a chance to recoup and play him against Southampton on January 1st.

If Sanchez really will be rested, than Walcott is the most natural solution. Him starting is long overdue, besides, he also enjoys scoring against West Ham, netting a goal on last year's Boxing Day. Also, it'd be interesting to see how he links up with Welbeck.

The verdict

This will not be an easy game. West Ham always gives us a hard time, this year they look even more capable of doing so, while we haven't exactly been the model of consistency. The reasons for this are different and aplenty, from constant rotation due to injures to psychological issues.

However, I see no reason why we can't win this one, especially if Koscielny returns to the side. His mere presence has a calming influence on the defense, with his pal Mertesacker benefiting the most from it. And though we are a short in midfield and will probably have to win this one with those who start, it's hardly the question of a lack of quality. Flamini is, obviously, the weakest link, but that's not to say he is weak.

A win will see us leapfrog West Ham in the table and take up the fifth spot and if Southampton loses to Chelsea at the same time, we'll find ourselves fourth. What is more, Tottenham is playing Man Utd, meaning at least one side will drop points. Hope they both will and, in case we bag the three points at Boleyn Ground, we'll be a mere three points off third-placed United. So fingers crossed the results go our way today.

And I'll be back with a review tomorrow.

Until then

Follow me on Twitter (@AlexBaguzin)

Arsenal 2-1 QPR: complicated, but much needed three points in the bag

First off, I have to apologise for not posting a preview for the game: I had a rather important mid-term exam to get ready for and thus had no time to spare. The exam didn't go down particularly well, but that's another story.

The squad

I was fully expecting Arsene to rotate the squad for yesterday's game and was surprised indeed when he didn't. The only changes were Rosicky for an injured Oxlade-Chamberlain and Monreal at centre-back for an exhausted Chambers. Debuchy was reinstated at right-back.

The first half

We dominated it. Pure and simple. At around 40th minute mark the stats showed Arsenal enjoyed 71% of possession.

Our first real chance came less than two minutes inside the half. Sanchez did brilliantly to control the ball on the right flank and then sent in a cross. The ball was cleared for a corner moments before Giroud could get on the receiving end.

The second chance was again created by Sanchez. The Chilean was hacked down inside the box and Atkinson pointed to the spot. Alexis stepped up, but his shot was the one to forget. Meek and tame, it was easily parried away by Green.

Why Cazorla, who has scored both his previous spot-kicks, didn't take that one, I have no idea. Even Wenger was baffled by that:

"How do you know he (Alexis) shouldn't take it? I think Santi is a nice guy and let him take it. Honestly, he is not No 1 on the penalty list, that's true."

However, Sanchez recovered almost immediately by nearly setting up Welbeck. We then had another chance to score, this time from a free-kick, but Giroud's brilliant shot was saved by Green.

We finally found a breakthrough in the 37th minute. Cazorla played in Gibbs down the left, our left-back crossed towards an unmarked Sanchez and the Chilean headed (!) the ball home. 1-0.

We could have been 2-0 up at half-time when Giroud was wrongly flagged offside, but then we also could have found ourselves level. Mercifully, Caulker headed wide from a decent position in the dying seconds.

The second half

We continued to play in much the same way as during the first half, but eight minutes into the second found ourselves a man down. Giroud was pushed by Onohua right into Green, as the Frenchman was trying to get onto the end of a cross and Olivier, for reasons best known to him, exploded. As soon as he got up on his feet, Giroud sprinted to Onohua and head-butted him. Atkinson, of course, showed a straight red.

Now, several things need to be said in connection with this suspension. Firstly, Giroud deserved his red and his consecutive three-game ban. Even if he was provoked, Olivier is a professional footballer and should know better than to react. Secondly, Onohua made the most of the head-butt, but that bit was expected, It wasn't exactly a proper head-butt, just a touch, but of course Giroud should not have done even that. And thirdly, for this, Ferdinand deserved to be sent off as much as Giroud did. Which, again, doesn't make Giroud's unsporting behaviour look any less unsporting, but also cannot be left unsaid.

And so we found ourselves with 10 men and only a one-goal lead. However, QPR didn't look in any mood to try and get at least a point, despite Rednapp throwing on two attackers: Fer and Hoilett. Instead, we continued to see more of the ball and that led to us doubling the lead.

Sanchez (who else?) went on a run, gathered everyone around him and rolled the ball to an unmarked Rosicky. The Czech's first-time effort made it 2-0.

After that, we fell back and haven't given many chances away. However, a mention should go to that penalty. At first, I was fuming because Debuchy clearly got the ball and only then did Hoilett run into Debuchy's outstretched leg. Then I noticed something different entirely: Debuchy didn't make contact with Hoilett at all. It was a dive, and a blatant one at that. Look closely and you'll see it.

Atkinson, without the blessing of a video replay, bought that dive and pointed to the spot, Austin powered his effort past Szczesny, but that was the only moment of danger QPR created after the sending off. 2-1 it ended.

The aftermath

We got the win and that's the important part. We are now a point behind fifth-placed West Ham and two behind fourth-placed Southampton and we play both teams in the next two games. Which means two wins will elevate us into the top four. And once we are there, we can try to overthrow at least United, The Devils currently have five points more.

That's it for now. A good win overall, a resilient defensive display. West Ham up next, in just over 24 hours. And so I'll be back with you tomorrow, with a preview for our game against the Hammers.

Until then

Follow me on Twitter (@AlexBaguzin). And subscribe using the form on the right

Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal: up there with the worst

No, the heading is probably inaccurate. After some consideration and a two days reflection period I've come to the conclusion this is the worst I've seen Arsenal perform this season. And when you have defeats to Borussia and Stoke to consider, well, that's saying something.

We made a disjointed and toothless Liverpool side with Sterling up top look good. Had Szczesny not been our goalkeeper that day, or had he just been as out of form as the rest of the team, Liverpool would have won the game. They had 27 shots, 10 on target and enjoyed 64% of possession. We only pulled off three shots on target and our respective 36% possession is the worst in eleven years. Maybe more, but Opta, who provided the stat, only started gathering such kind info eleven years ago.

Frankly, we only had three players who were up to scratch that day: Szczesny, Cazorla and Giroud. Wojciech did everything in his power to ensure we stayed in front, pulling off a couple of outstanding saves, Cazorla provided the assist for Giroud's goal and was the only player with whom the ball stuck and Giroud held our attack together by coming out on top in a lot of aerial duels and almost scoring the winner. Almost.

The manner in which we conceded the equaliser was horrible. It was the 97th minute, we were a goal up and had an extra man and yet somehow, inexplicably, we've left the most dangerous player on set-pieces unmarked. The concept of zonal marking always made me feel uneasy, but when it worked, it worked. The problem is that, when is doesn't work (like on Sunday) we suffer the consequences.

I also don't like the fact we no longer put men on posts during corners. Skrtel's header, as good as it was, could have been blocked or cleared off the line if somebody was just physically standing on the post. No one was there, so no one stopped the effort from going in.

Then again, there is the problem of making substitutions. Monreal for Alexis is alright, but Campbell for Oxlade? I mean, really? In what world does it provide us with a better chance at either end of the pitch? Also, why remove Giroud? Not only did this sub allow Liverpool to operate with freedom, knowing the chances of Welbeck or Campbell punishing them are slim at best, we also lost a player who could make the difference in our own box. A player who could have won the duel against Skrtel, or got in his way, at least. Coquelin, upon coming on, did nothing to shore things up, so why the hell did we need him?

I do realise we have a lot of injures and that stops us from finding our game, but the extent is remarkable, really. United had a lot of injures, but they thrashed Liverpool. Aston Villa beat Liverpool. The Mugmashers only picked up five points in the CL, for Christ's sake. They were battered by every half-decent team. But not by us, of course.

And then again, when do we not have a lot of injures? It's the same old story every year. And I don't really care whether they are muscle injures or accidents or results from Woodoo dolls' experiments. We have a bunch every year and it's just not good enough.

We have a big squad, much bigger than some will have you believe. Yet look at how many games Cazorla, Oxlade and Chambers have played and compare it to these of Arteta, Walcott and Koscielny. We have a squad with requisite depth (maybe just 1-2 players short) yet are unable to rotate because of injures. The same players feature over and over and over again, until they enter the fabled red zone and get knackered. By then the other half of the squad recovers and the story repeats itself, only with different players this time. Pathetic.

Right now we are a mess. We're unable to demonstrate any kind of consistency and this leads to us being where we are. Sixth in the table, level on points with seventh Tottenham. We've failed to capitalise on United's slip-up and are five points behind third-placed Devils.

Of course, much can change over the festive period. We play four games in rapid succession and four wins should at least elevate us into the top four. And we'll once again fight for staying there. Any talk of finishing second or even first is gibberish, not because it's mathematically impossible, but because no sane person, who has watched us for any period of time this season, will say we are capable of producing positive results on a consistent basis.

I cannot express how tired I am of seeing Arsenal struggle. Tired of analysing bad results and bad performances. Tired of us making the same mistakes over and over and over again. Tired of fighting for fourth/third every year. I do realise we are behind City, Chelsea and United in financial regard and that we finish about where our resources allow us to, but that doesn't make me any less tired. I badly want this to change, for Arsenal to become a major force again, but for now I see no light at the end of this long and gloomy tunnel.

Back in two days with a preview.

Until then

Follow me on Twitter (@AlexBaguzin)

Liverpool preview: set the tone

Hello everyone.

Our rather busy Christmas period starts tomorrow with an away trip to Liverpool and it's extremely important to pick up the points at Anfield. A win will over what is, on paper at least, the toughest opponent we'll face in the next five games can set the mood for the upcoming matches. It will also ensure our baby steps upwards become more pronounced and, as I'm sure the top four teams will lose points over the next fortnight, we can do a bit of catching up. After Liverpool we play QPR, West Ham, Southampton and Hull (West Ham and Soton being the only away fixtures) and this is a real chance for us to bulk up on points.

Team news

It is not so bright, unfortunately. Ospina, Koscielny, Ramsey, Arteta, Wilshere, Rosicky and Ozil all remain out, while there is "a slight chance" Monreal and Walcott will travel with the squad. We are also sweating over the fitness of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, however, the Ox stands a better chance of recovering in time for the game. Rosicky and Ospina are due back next week, while the others are progressing "according to plan". I have no idea what that might mean. Only Ramsey's return at the end of December was mentioned.

The back five

Szczesny should stay in goal, but who will constitute the back four to protect him is an altogether different and, for the first time this season, even slightly exciting dilemma.

It's Gibbs on the left, obviously, as Monreal may not even make the squad, and even if he does Gibbs remains our first-choice full-back. Mertesacker is another player certain to start, but who will he be paired with and who will play right-back?

I think we should field the same back four as against Newcastle. I see no reason to fix what isn't broken, also, this back four may be better suited to cope with Liverpool's threat (ahem).

The Mertesacker-Chambers partnership really hasn't clicked this season when called upon, while Bellerin looked sharp against Newcastle for the first time. Debuchy, meanwhile, looked really solid alongside Per and the same applies to the German himself. Our vice-captain didn't have to worry about guiding his fellow centre-back through the game and thus could concentrate on his performance entirely. Worked pretty well for everyone involved. Bellerin's pace, meanwhile, can be highly useful against the threat of Raheem Sterling. I'm not saying Chambers will do a worse job, he probably won't, but Calum deserves a bit of a rest, in my opinion.

The midfield

Our trickiest place at the moment. Only Flamini and Cazorla are well and truly fit and thus we have no other option but to field them. I say "no option" not because I'm dissatisfied with their performances, but rather because both have played a lot and could use a rest. With Rosicky back next week at least Cazorla should get some, while Coquelin can also play here and there, deputising for Flamini. However, I'm pretty sure the Frenchman will play the bulk of games. Coquelin looks more of a sub.

Who will complement Cazorla and Flamini tomorrow? That depends on Ox's fitness. If he is fit, he starts and that's how most of us like it. Oxlade was phenomenal against Newcastle  and if can replicate that performance we should be up for it in the middle of the park.

However, if Oxlade is out the only option we have is play Sanchez under the striker. I highly doubt Arsene will want a midfield of Flamini and Coquelin, so Sanchez looks a likelier option. And look, its not a bad option. Sure, the ball doesn't hold as well in the opponent's half when Sanchez acts as a playmaker, but his best performances came from this position (Sunderland and Burnley), so for some pain we'll have lots of gain. However, let's hope it doesn't come to that and Oxlade is available for selection.

The attack

Again, I'd leave it unchanged (presuming the Ox plays). The trio of Welbeck, Giroud and Sanchez was devastating against the Magpies, who, as you may recall, shut out Chelsea a mere week before. This attacking trio has pace, technique and physicality to cause trouble to just about any defense. In other words, it it is so versatile and all the players complement one another so well that I'd really like to see it in action again.

Should the Ox be sidelined, then Poldi is the natural solution. His main strength is, of course, his devastating left leg and it can be useful against a shaky Liverpool's defense and even shakier goalkeeper. Having Poldi close to the goal with Giroud by his side can be really useful.

The verdict

"Over the Christmas period we play four Premier League games. Over Christmas we’ll come back strongly I’m sure in the league."

Well, we'll see how we start this run tomorrow. A win, and we look more or less in control with easier fixtures coming up. On the alternative we'll have time enough to speculate if we don't win.

Honestly, though, I think getting less than three points will be an underachievement. While we are not exactly on top of our game right now, Liverpool look even less the part. Without Suarez and Sturbridge they do not pose a threat like they did last year. Even the modicum of a trouble Balotelli could cause (I'm more worried about his violent behaviour than his goalscoring record here) will be gone, as the Italian serves a one-match ban. So we should, by all accounts, take the three points.

Come on you Gunners

And I'll be back with a review on Monday, most likely.

Until then

Follow me on Twitter (@AlexBaguzin)

Update: Monreal, Oxlade and Walcott all travelled. Most likely means the Ox will start. Finally, good news

Thierry Henry, it's Thierry Henry

It's been some time since I last wrote, but the hectic schedule of mid-term exams is getting more and more hectic. I sincerely hope I'll be able to cover all the games over the festive period.

Anyway, with the Liverpool game isn't due till Sunday, we get the chance to discuss Thierry Henry and his retirement. The Frenchman posted the message informing the wider circles of his retirement on his Facebook page and, obviously, it reverberated through the footballing society. It's understandable, as Thierry had a long and truly remarkable career. Even during his four years with New York Red Bulls the Frenchman was still in fine form, netting 52 times. And even despite MLS not being the most competitive league, 52 times inside four years is a respectable number for someone in his thirties.

A lot of Arsenal fans (me included) hoped Thierry would return to Arsenal in some capacity or another, but that didn't happen. Instead, the Frenchman will be joining Sky Sports as a pundit and will become the highest-paid one (with a whopping £4 million per year salary). He's said he's not ready to coach Arsenal in any role as of now, but will definitely like to do so in the future. Hope it's true.

The role of a pundit still suits Thierry fine, in my opinion. He's intelligent enough to not produce some meek and incoherent bleating the way Carragher does now and, of course, the idea of having someone defending Arsenal and Arsene on TV is exciting. We've been the subject of (mostly) unfounded attacks down the years, it's about time someone stood up for us in the media.

And of course, in the light of Thierry's retirement, a lot of articles have been (and will be) written on his greatest moments, goals, quotes and the like. Some recall his brilliant goal against United in 2004, for many his goal at White Hart Lane (the celebration of which is cast in bronze now) will remain the Frenchman's top moment. His quote aimed at Mourinho definitely makes my top five of Henry's greatest ever achievements, but I'd like to single out another moment. The moment that, for me personally (though I'm sure I'm not alone here) shows the deep bond Thierry has with the Club.

I'm talking about the Frenchman's strike against Leeds United. It was the beginning of January, 2012. Our performances in the league left a lot to be desired, we've been knocked out of the Carling Cup and, despite topping our Champions League group (with Borussia in it) were pinned against Milan. The toughest team available. The Italian giants loomed on the horizon as we embarked on our short-lived FA Cup run.

We were playing out a 0-0 draw with Leeds after 67 minutes when Henry stepped onto the pitch to a tremendous applause from all corners of the Emirates. And he didn't do a lot for the next nine minutes.

On his 10th minute, however, all of it changed. Thierry escaped his marker on the left, his run was spotted by Alex Song and from here I'd like to go with the commentator:

"Song. Finds Henry. Well, that's like a fairytale, isn't it? This is amazing, amazing I say. Such things happen only in movies. Everyone knows who the hero is. Everyone is waiting for him. And he comes on. And proves that he is the hero with a simple heroic act.

Goal. The first one. Upon a return from a break which lasted five years. A goal for his home team. Scored by Thierry Henry."

Of course, the commentator bellowed all of the above, but still there was one thing he failed to mention. A thing, which is the most important to me. Henry's joy. The joy of a footballer scoring an important goal is rather commonplace, but Henry's joy was something more than that. It was the joy of scoring for the team you love.

First you see the brief flash of disbelief on Henry's face. Then, as understanding dawns on him, you see the endless joy. He spreads his arms in an attempt to hug every Arsenal fan inside the Emirates. Then he sprints to Arsene Wenger, his manager, his mentor, a man, who made Thierry Henry a legend. Henry's happiness at repaying Arsene's faith can only be match to that of Arsene's joy. And then the finishing touch of the celebration. Pointing to the badge and then to his name on the back of the shirt. A moment of true magic.

And this is how I will remember Henry. As a man completely devoted to the Club, a man who (unlike, say, RvP or Suarez) is always willing to help his Club in any way he can. A man who is ready to make his enormous talent serve the higher purpose.

I hope to see you return to Arsenal one day, Thierry Henry. And I have faith you will.

Follow me on Twitter (@AlexBaguzin)

Arsenal 4-1 Newcastle: depleted Arsenal side is up to scratch

Before the game I wrote I didn't know what to expect, which Arsenal side we would see. Newcastle was on the up, we've lost Ramsey against Gala, Koscielny and Monreal didn't return from injury, Chambers was suspended. Add all the other wounded on top and we played Debuchy at centre-back and Oxlade alongside Flamini. And both Oxlade and Debuchy faired brilliantly. But let's start at the beginning.

The first half

We started with a whole lot of pressure, albeit there was some nervousness to the proceedings. We didn't concede any chances until very late in the half, if I recall correctly.

Our first real opportunity came from a corner. Alexis swung in a cross to the near post (do we cross anywhere else?) and Mertesacker got his head to the ball. Unfortunately, the ball rebounded off the underside of the woodwork and was then cleared.

In the 15th minute no such travesty occurred. Our move started near the halfway line, when Bellerin read Newcastle's pass well and intercepted it. The young Spaniard then passed to Giroud, the Frenchman singled out Sanchez with his pass and continued his run. The Chilean got to the byline and crossed it towards Giroud. The Frenchman rose majestically and met the ball with a cracking header. Alnwick was left to watch the ball float into the top corner. 1-0.

We could have been 2-0 up almost immediately. Welbeck and Gibbs combined on the left, the Englishman ran around Janmaat and then chipped the ball over Alnwick. However, the goal was disallowed and I don't know why. I think the ref was under the impression Welbeck fouled Janmaat in the build-up, but replays showed Daryl fell on his own at the slightest of contacts. Apparently when he realised he's lost the battle against Welbeck.

The Englishman could have scored another, however he couldn't quite get the ball under control after Sanchez's lobbed pass left all the defenders out of the picture. A shame, Welbz deserved a goal.

The half didn't finish as calmly as we'd have liked. Newcastle earned another free-kick in a good crossing position, a customary cross ensued and the ball found Gouffran at the far post. The Frenchman pulled off a header, but Szczesny was equal to it. Cisse was the first man on the rebound, but Szczesny saved again, this time with his leg. A brilliant double save to keep us ahead at halftime.

The second half

Nine minutes into the half we scored a second, which was long overdue. Sanchez spotted Cazorla darting inside the box and split Newcastle's defense with a pass. Cazorla received the ball, stayed on his feet after Collocini unceremoniously tried to bring the Spaniard down and then swerved the shot past Alnwick. A beauty of a goal from the man who turned 30 on the day.

Four minutes later Giroud added to his tally. Bellerin got down the right flank well and powered a low cross in Giroud's direction. The Frenchman was standing  sideways to the goal and as such had only one option: poke the ball with the outside of his foot. Which he did and it paid off beautifully. The ball rolled over the inside of the net and it was 3-0. However, Newcastle tried to swing the momentum in their favour and we found ourselves under pressure. And lost our clean sheet as a result.

The Magpies won themselves another free-kick, crossed the ball towards unmarked Perez and the Spaniard headed the ball home - into the far corner. 3-1 and I admit I started to get rather nervous, as there was still half an hour to go.

However, I worried over nothing, as it turned out. Instead of shutting shop and putting men behind the ball, we managed to maintain the right balance between attacking and defending and could have been further up, first through Santi's volley, then through Gibbs's effort. Both flashed their respective shots just wide of the post with the keeper beaten.

We then conjured up two brilliant counter attacks and the second wasn't in vain, albeit the first looked a better opportunity. Alexis and Welbeck were 2-on-1 (against Collocini), but the Chilean held onto the ball for too long and this resulted in Welbeck being dispossessed on the edge of the box.

The second attack, however, turned out to be successful. Gibbs won a crunching tackle near his box (cleanly, I have to say), ran some distance (considering it was 88th minute) and passed it to Cazorla. The Spaniard cut Newcastle's defence open and Dummett had little choice but to bring down Welbeck inside the box. Cazorla stepped up and chipped  Alnwick from the spot. A cooly taken penalty for a brace and a 4-1.

The aftermath

An attacking masterclass from Arsenal. We wanted to produce a performance after a blunder at Stoke? Done. Protect the makeshift back four? Done. Take our chances and score goals? Done. Not leave it until late in the game to grind out a win? Done.

That's not to take anything from our defenders, they were all very good. Bellerin made a couple of mistakes, but with an assist under his belt and the part he took in creating the first goal, I think we can turn a bit of a blind eye to his slips. It was a breakthrough performance from Hector, and though I expect Chambers to return against Liverpool, it's good to know Bellerin isn't there just to make up the numbers.

I was also very happy for Debuchy. For someone who has never before played at centre-back he did very well. In fact, I think he performed better than most natural centre-backs. Again, in the light of Chambers' return it's unlikely we'll see Debuchy deputising alongside Per any time soon, but who knows? Koscielny is out for "a couple of weeks" and we have a busy Christmas schedule coming our way.

I also want to single out Oxlade-Chamberlain. The lad performed brilliantly in central midfield and it's obvious he's taken a leaf out of Sanchez's book in  terms of work rate and desire. After such a performance it's obvious Wenger wasn't just talking for the sake of it when he said central midfield is Chamberlain's future.

Finally, there was a really nice moment during the game when supporters started singing "One Arsene Wenger" in full swing. This time the commentator was on top, so I missed the moment, but I will find it and then listen the hell out of it. That's what Arsene said on the overall situation surrounding his persona:

"99.9% it's people with full respect even when they're not happy. I can take the 0.1% of criticism. I'm thankful for the fans singing."

Even though the numbers are exaggerated, it's still good know Wenger understands those calling for his head represent the minority.

So, a nice game all around. We now sit sixth in the table, level on points with fifth Southampton and just two behind West Ham. And we'll play the Hammers over Christmas, if I recall correctly.

That's it for now. Enjoy the win and I'll be back in a couple of days with fresh news.

Until then

Follow me on Twitter (@AlexBaguzin)

P.S. Wenger said he'd go to church over the weekend for a CL draw to be kinder to us. It apparently helped, as we've drawn Monaco in the last sixteen. Now we can breathe easier, for the first time in, like, six years. On a side note, City again got Barcelona, Chelsea was paired with PSG (moneybags contest) and Borussia will face Juventus despite topping the group. Guess there really is a God

Newcastle preview: chopping and cropping

Hello everyone.

It's Newcastle today and, though I'm buzzed for the game (as I always am), the state of our squad is genuinely scary.

Team news

Koscielny, Monreal and Ramsey are all out. The first two haven't recovered, Rambo pulled a hamstring and various reports suggest  he could be out for four weeks. Add Arteta, Wilshere, Ozil, Rosicky and Walcott and our squad is wearing rather thin. I'm not even including Diaby and Gnabry in this list. The current situation is so pitiful that Coquelin's loan has been cut short and he was spotted in training yesterday, with the manager suggesting he could use his Coq in the upcoming game against the Magpies:

"He (Ramsey) told me yesterday he was very positive and much better and that he would play, then he texted me late last night and said he was out. I called Coquelin back from Charlton."

So the task of putting together a comprehensible starting eleven is becoming ridiculously easy and genuinely daunting.

The back five

I'm not sure where we are with Ospina, but with a fit Szczesny and capable Martinez serving as backup, the Colombian is the least of our worries right now.

The defense IS worrisome, however. We have four fit defenders + Coquelin, so there are two possible scenarios: 1) Debuchy, Mertesacker and Gibbs all in their preferred positions with Bellerin on the bench and Coquelin at centre-back and 2) Debuchy alongside Mertesacker with Bellerin and Gibbs flanking them. I like the first option better, as our best defenders play in their natural positions, while Coquelin is physical and quick enough to hold his own, however, the second option seems more likely:

"That is what I have to decide. I have asked him (Debuchy) already.

Yes, of course [it's a big ask], but the solution I have to decide will not be ideal, it will be a gamble. But there is not a massive difference between right-back and centre-back."

Tell that Djourou. Or Chambers (though for him it may just be the other way around). Sagna was the exception, and, by the way, the Frenchman still hasn't played an awful lot at centre-back.

The midfield

Flamini and Cazorla are our only established players in their respective positions. Oxlade can do a job alongside Flamini and then we have Coquelin. Imagine such a pair of central midfielders: Coquelin and Flamini. Just what the doctor ordered.

That's why I think the Ox is a more likely candidate. Probably his best performances came from central position, so I'm not particularly worried about Oxlade playing there. I'm much more worried it'll his umpteenth game and that his last was four days ago, a full ninety minutes in Turkey. I'm also concerned about the general state of affairs in midfield and, especially, Ramsey's absence. The Welshman produced a stunning display away at Gala, it's a real shame to lose him like that. Fingers crossed his injury is nothing serious and he'll face Liverpool a week from now.

The attack

With Walcott unavailable and Oxlade occupied elsewhere (hopefully), Alexis should be reinstated on the right flank with Podolski coming in on the left. This seems the most sensible decision, especially taken Poldi's midweek performance.

Up top it's either Giroud (who criticised our game at Stoke and defended the manager) or Welbeck. If it was me making the call, I'd probably start the Frenchman and thus give him the chance to redeem himself after our last week's showing. However, I do not exclude the possibility of seeing Giroud and Welbeck together. I think Arsene is quite keen on this experiment and, after some good interaction between our strikers in the last couple of games, you can see why.

The verdict

I honestly don't know what to expect from this game. This season we are as unpredictable as my German teachers when giving mid-term marks (sorry for this atrocious metaphor). We had good games and bad games and then again good games and then once again bad games. There's just no telling which Arsenal we'll see today: the one that capitulated at Stoke or the one that ripped Galatasaray apart with a second squad. The fact that these two games happened inside one week probably tells you all you need to know about our (in)consistency.

The matters are only further complicated by Newcastle's recent performances. After an atrocious start to the season, which has seen them spend some time in relegation some and the fans calling for Pardew's resignation, the Magpies pulled their act together and won 6 of their last 8 games, beating Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea along the way. They are on the way up it seems, we are struggling and searching for consistency. Let's find some today. Please.

Come on you Gunners.

Finally for today, you can take a look at this (link), if you've missed it. The preview part is no longer relevant, but the thoughts on the manager are and, I suspect, will be for quite some time.

And I'll be back with you as soon as I can.

Until then

Follow me on Twitter (@AlexBaguzin) 

Galatasaray 1-4 Arsenal: a positive game all around

Going into this game, I didn't expect us to produce such a strong display. As I've stated, it was unlikely Borussia would lose their game. They eventually drew against Anderlecht, a result which left a narrow window of opportunity for us. And by "narrow" I mean a win by a 6-goal margin over Gala.

The first half

An achievement which wasn't completely out of the question during the first 45 minutes. In fact, it seemed more and more likely as the half progressed.

We've started the game in the best possible manner: by scoring a quick goal. Ramsey found space near the box, his pass singled out an unmarked Podolski and the German fired an unstoppable shot into the top corner. 1-0.

Gala responded with a dangerous counter-attack, but, thankfully, Bellerin (deputising at left-back) made a gorgeous last-ditch tackle. It would be the last moment of danger before we took full control of the game.

Which happened in the 11th minute. Podolski won a tackle near the halfway line and passed the ball to Oxlade. The Englishman saw Ramsey making a run, rolled the ball in the Welshman's direction and Aaron did the rest by coolly poking the ball into the far corner. 2-0.

We could have been further up through first Podolski and then Sanogo, only for the former's strike to rebound off the bar and the latter's effort blocked to be blocked by a defender. However, we did add a third in the 29th minute.

The move started rather innocuously. Campbell swung in a corner which was cleared at the near post. The last thing I saw before the visual part of my stream died was Ramsey readying his left foot to hit the ball on the half-volley from some thirty yards out. But the audio part of the steam still worked fine and before I even thought "Why, oh why, Aaron?" the commentator shouted what a beauty of the goal the Welshman just scored. Replays showed Ramsey's beautiful strike (with his weak foot, mind you) fly all the distance to the goal and end up in the top corner. The Welsh Jesus has returned.

However, we didn't put the foot off the gas till the whistle went. Campbell was denied from a one-on-one, Podolski's cannon of a shot was somehow parried away to safety and I vaguely recall some dangerous shot from Oxlade-Chamberlain which flied over the bar. The possibility of us scoring the required six goals was there all right.

The second half

This possibility went up in flames right after the restart, as Arsene took off Ramsey and Flamini for Zelalem and Maitland-Niles respectively. Not that I rue the manager's decision. It was the right call to rest those who needed it most. That's what we've taken so many youngsters to Turkey for. To give seniors a breather provided we got a satisfactory result.

The downside of that double sub was that our midfield lost it's cohesion and urgency. Both youngsters (under the guidance of Oxlade-Chamberlain) did pretty well on their debut, though. At least I recall no blunders from them, which is a positive in itself.

These changes led to us surrendering possession and, consequently, our chances of scoring six. However, we came across as a very organised defensive unit, mostly restricting the Turks to distance shots. There were a couple of last-minute blocks from Chambers and Debuchy, but not much else. The few efforts that hit the target were dealt with by Szczesny easily.

Gala got their consolation goal, for whatever it was worth. The ref appointed a ridiculuous free-kick on the line of our box (the ball hit Mert's arms, but the German was blocking the shot and turning away from the ball. It could have hit him in the face, for instance, but the ref wouldn't say it's a free-kick in this case). Technically, though, the Spanish referee was within his rights as the ball hit the arm. Sneijder stepped up and smashed an unstoppable effort into the top corner. No chance for Szczesny.

We did manage to end the game on a high, though. A quick counter inside the last minute of injury time saw Poldi go one-on-one with the keeper and the German slotted his chance away. 4-1 it finished.

The aftermath

"We gave a strong response. We were dangerous every time we won the ball back, had good penetration, goals and until half-time we were very strong. In the second half we suffered a bit more - some players had not enough competitive games and I had to take two players off. We were a bit more lightweight in midfield. It was, overall, a strong performance."

A summary from the manager and it's a fair one. Interestingly enough, he said the possibility of scoring six crossed his mind at half-time:

"Not at the start of the game, but at half-time yes. But after we had to take Ramsey and Flamini off, it was too much for us to hope we could score six. We were closer to conceding one or two more in the second half. We had still our opportunities. No regrets, the players I left at home, I had no choice."

Borussia still finished top, despite drawing at home against Anderlecht (wait, Anderlecht is a hard team to play? At home? Who would have thought?) and thus we have to steel ourselves for a tougher opponent in the last sixteen. We'll face one of Atletico, Real, Barcelona, Bayern, Porto or Monaco. Not the prettiest picture, but to prove you are the best you have to beat the best. There's no escaping a big team in the Champions' League play-off round, so does it really matter when we draw one?

Alright, I'll leave it at that. Back tomorrow (or on Saturday) with the preview and all that entails.

Until the, enjoy the win

Follow me on Twitter (@AlexBaguzin)

Galatasaray preview: win it. Just in case

Hello everyone.

We face Galatasaray tonight and, while the chances of us topping the group are slim, we will look quite foolish if Anderlecht gets a result against Borussia and we don't win against the Turks. And, as Borussia is not exactly on top of their game right now, I do not exclude the possibility of them losing. We've seen how Anderlecht can be a thorn in the side, let's hope they become one for Borussia.

Team news update

Despite Arsene stating we want to win the game, a lot of key players were left behind. I can understand that: Gibbs and Koscielny need time to recover, Cazorla, Alexis and Welbeck played a lot, Giroud is ineligible and let's not forget about the injured.

However, as Arsene announced the squad a full day before the game (the first time he's done so in my memory), we now know that some of our players won't get a chance to rest. Chambers, Mertesacker, Flamini, Ramsey, and Oxlade will all start. Chambers will have some R&R because of his suspension, thus his next game will be almost two weeks from now. As for the others, well...let's hope Arteta and Walcott make it for our Saturday fixture, thus providing the manager with the opportunity to rest the Ox and Flamini respectively. Mert and Ramsey will have to hold on for dear life. That's the downside of having only three centre-backs and no Wilshere.

However, there is some positive news as well. Ospina, Szczesny and Debuchy have all been deemed fully fit and the latter two will start tonight. Debuchy's return is very welcome indeed, we've missed his experience in some games, while Szczesny and Ospina recovering simultaneously gives Arsene something to think about. I've been (rightly) pointed out recently, that Szczesny's attitude is not always appropriate for a goalkeeper. He has these moments of madness, when he suddenly rushes out of his goal or tries a clever pass instead of just hoofing the ball in the stands or elsewhere. In this sense even Martinez is calmer, though I don't think the Argentine will continue after his display against Stoke. Ospina, meanwhile, is as good a shot-stopper as Szczesny, while the Colombian also has none of the Pole's attitude problems, so I do wonder if he should be given a run. To show just what he can bring to the team. I won't bet on that in the league, we all know Wojciech is Wenger's №1 by default, but Ospina getting a string if games in the FA Cup is not that unlikely. The first cup game will take place on January 3rd and then we'll know where we are with the Colombian. By the way, we've drawn Hull City in the third round, so steel yourselves for all kinds of "Time for the Tigers to right the wrongs of the final" headlines. Good thing is, we play them at home, so this shouldn't be overwhelmingly hard. We'll cross that bridge when we get there, however.

The verdict

This game was christened a "dead rubber game" and it's hard to look at it in any other way. This feeling only intensifies when you look at our bench: Martinez, Zelalem and Akpom are the most prominent memebers there. We have a strong starting XI however, the one that is also more or less fresh and ready to play the entire game. While I hope the likes of Ramsey and Oxlade won't have to do that, there's just no guarantee things will work out as we want them to.

And what do we want really? The qualification is assured, the first spot is unlikely (though not entirely out of queston) and very few of these players will start against Newcastle come Saturday. I guess tonight's game boils down to a good performance, a clean sheet maybe and maximizing our fat chance of topping the group. Like Borussia's fans, we should be by the Germans when they fall, though the reason for that is entirely different.

So come on you Gunners

Wenger in or Wenger out?

I also wanted to address the matter of Arsene Wenger and where we stand with him. Right now the fan base is split down the middle and both sides (#WengerIn and #WengerOut) have thier share of sense to their arguments. We are not taking into account the WOBs and the AKBs, cause extremes rarely tell the full story and give you a clear picture of what's going on.

However, there are all sorts of (mostly logical) opinions flying around. The pundits, the journalists, the bloggers and whatnot have made their positions known during the last couple of days (a week, maybe) while using the variety of platforms to get their message across and I think it's time I've voiced mine. I hope you'll find it sensible. So here goes.

I'll start with the obvious: whether or not you want the manager gone, I think you should respect him. Arsene has done a lot for the Club, no one will deny it. He has won three titles, five FA cups and five Community Shields. He has introduced a whole new system of training players (new fitness regimes, diets and so on). He has built a new stadium when it became clear we were losing a sizeable chunk of profit because the iconic Highbury only held around 35 thousand. He didn't do it with the limitless resources of Chelsea and City, that's why a lot of penny-pinching and operating on a tight budget was involved. We had to pay off the stadium debt till last summer and I suspect us performing the transition from Nike to Puma has a lot do with it: I've heard how Nike was strict to us when it came to returning the loan we took from them to build the Emirates. Finally, Arsene has invented a whole new brand of free-flowing football, football which, when when we pull it off is both aesthetically-pleasing and extremely effective against pretty much anyone. There are only four sides in the whole Europe Arsene hasn't beaten during his 18 years at the helm and these four doesn't include Barcelona, Real, Bayern, Juventus, Milan or any of the English grands. Thie style of football saw us go a whole season unbeaten, took us into the final of the CL (ffor the first time in Club's history) and gifted us players like Henry, Bergkamp, Fabregas, van Persie and on and on. The list of players who blossomed under Arsene is really endless.

Then, there is the question of whether Arsene deserves the stick he's currently getting and it's a wholly different one. Mindless and vile abuses aside, does Arsene deserves to be criticized? It's really hard to answer that, because we don't have access to what's going on inside the Club. For example, many labelled Arsene tactically inept at defending after a 3-3 against Anderlecht, only to then discover it's Bould who trains the defense and organises it at set-pieces. I think the manager is still partly to blame for the team's weak performances this season, but he's definitely not the only responsible guy for that. It's just easy to level critique at him, because we know him well, while fitness coaches and the like are less prominent and, as such, harder to criticize. Arsene's just become the lightning rod, in my opinion and, while he's not flawless, he's also not the pantomime villain many try to present him as.

We can be quite sure he does his best and that he really has the Club's best interests at heart. I think the dissatisfaction stems more from the prolonged reign of our manager: many are tired of the journey, as Tim Stillman nicely put it and want a change. That's why they jump at every opportunity to get Arsene under pressure. Bottom line is this: everyone's entitled to his opinion and, as I've mentioned above, both sides have logic to their arguments. I'm fine with that (the sifference of opinion), but I'm definitely not fine at the amount of abuse Arsene is getting. He's, apart from being a manager, a human being (surprise, surprise), who has his ups and downs, bad and good days, who may not be in the mood. Never forget that.

Should he stay or should he go and, if the answer to the last part of the question is positive, when should he go? I think end of the season is the best time to judge him. We are halfway through December, a lot can change between now and May and Arsene deserves the chance to set the record straight and put things right. If he's unable to do that come May, we'll have that discussion again. For now, I think it'll be best for all parties concerned to not breed negativity and heap even more pressure on Arsene. This will enable him to do his job much better, trust me.

That's it for today. Back soon with a customary review.

Until then

Follow me on Twitter (@AlexBaguzin)