Tottenham preview: outgun them

It's the day of the North London Derby and things have almost got to the boiling point between Arsenal and Tottenham fans. It's usually the case, this time around, however, the atmosphere is infectious even for me. I've already stated several times that I feel no particular hatred towards Spurs, as I wasn't brought up in London, nonetheless I'm too excited about this game and feel there really is something more, than the three points, at stake.

That's what Arsene said during his yesterday's press-conference. However, all the hype surrounding the game aside, the Frenchman also gave the update on the state of our squad. With this matter settled a guess-who'll-play game is in order.

The back five

I expect Szczesny to be reinstated between the sticks. Firstly, because Ospina didn't have the best of games on Tuesday. Secondly, because Szczesny was brilliant against Villa. And thirdly, the Pole understands the concept of a derby much better, than the Colombian.

The defense picks itself. Mertesacker,  Koscielny and Gibbs should all be available after their midweek breather, while Chambers will deputise at right-back once more.

The situation with the young Englishman is a bit worrisome, truth be told. I think he played in every game since joining, but I can't see him being cut a break before Debuchy's return. I hope Bellerin will be able to slot in here and there, but it'll definitely be Chambers for all the important matches.

Moreover, Calum is on three yellows already. Two more mean an automatic one-game suspension. Arsene is also concerned with this state of affairs:

“The yellow cards worry me a little bit because he has three yellows and after five you miss a game. But that's down to the fact that he's committed and lacks sometimes experience in the challenge.”

Apart from that, we don't have any fresh ins or outs,  so I expect Bellerin to make the bench with possibly Flamini alongside the Spaniard, just in case we need an emergency left-back. Hope it won't come to that.

The midfield

A real selection headache for Arsene. EVERYONE is available. I mean it. Flamini returns after sitting the last three games out and even Diaby is back.

I've seen suggestions on Twitter about how a fully fit Diaby should be picked ahead of Arteta and Flamini and they do merit a point. Especially after AW himself conceded he's tempted to make a DM out of his compatriot:

"I try to transform Diaby into a defensive midfielder. Facing the game will be easier, then playing back to goal with the injures he had. "

However, Diaby is very obviously far from being fully fit right now, so even an appearance from the bench today for him is unlikely. We'll see whether it's such a res judicata in the future.

So it's either Arteta or Flamini shielding the back four and I'm not so sure the Spaniard will get the nod:

"Mathieu Flamini might be available again. He had a dead leg. I feel he should be back.”

Well,  I'd still like to see Ramsey at DM,  but it is what it is. And by that I mean either Flamini or Arteta.

Further up the pitch,  it's clear we have to continue with Ozil under the striker. He's had his best game in quite some time there last week, so it'd only sensible to keep the German there.

Main question is this: who is the starter now: Wilshere or Ramsey? Right now it looks like Arsene trusts the Welshman more,  though his words about Jack becoming a permanent feature of this side in case the Englishman stays fit should not be forgotten in a hurry. It'll probably be Ramsey, as he's fresher, but Jack is bound to make an appearance at some point.

The attack

Welbeck should start up top. He's another player with a top-notch performance against Villa and also had a nice long rest because he's cup-tied,  so another start for the Englishman won't be a surprise.

The flanks present an interesting dilemma. We have, of course, Alexis Sanchez, who should, in my opinion, start:

“Alexis and Jack played 90 minutes the other day and they're usually on second-day recovery. But today Alexis really wanted to train and people had to tell him to take it easy."

Love this guy. Fresh from completing 90 minutes and he's chomping at the bit. Start him, Arsene, Sp*rs defenders will have nightmares long after this game.

The other flank is either Cazorla or Oxlade. Both haven't featured midweek and both give a lot to this side. They, of course, bring different qualities and, as the Ox is a bit too similar to Alexis, I don't think are likely to start together. However, both are also keen to track back and help fullbacks, so that's another thing to consider.

The verdict

Frankly, I'd be surprised if North London isn't red till at least the next derby. Tottenham doesn't look that cohesive or dangerous, and we have quite a lot of players to exploit their weaknesses. Our defense worries me in that simple sense that we only have four senior players, but these are in no way vulnerable or inferior. I'd probably be a bit more assured with Debuchy in the squad, but Chambers may prove even more useful in some regards.

That's it. I think we all can expect a win today, given the quality of our players, the fact that Tottenham is sh*t, the importance of that game, the fact that Tottenham is sh*t and the boosting effect a win can have on the squad. Did I mention the fact that Tottenham is sh*t?

Here's for a pummeling later today and I'll get back to you with a review on Sunday or Monday.

Until then and c'mon you Gunners

Follow me on Twitter (@AlexBaguzin)

Arsenal 1:2 Southampton: didn't work out

Before the game I said rotation was on the cards and I was fine with it. You can't expect the same group of players to feature twice a week and produce performances of the same level.

I understood that the quality of our game would suffer as a result of heavy rotation and I accepted it. Senior players needed a rest, while Arsene has always preferred to blood youngsters in this competition and give them a chance to prove themselves.

Capital One Cup is not the most interesting competition around and so I wasn't particularly saddened by the fact we crashed out of it. It was more about how our more experienced players performed and the (hypothetical) effect this loss can cause to the overall confidence of the side. However, let's start at the beginning.

The squad

In defense, I guessed two players right: Bellerin and Hayden. The other two were Chambers (Arsene decided to risk the young Englishman, possibly because he's fresher) and Coquelin, who started at left-back.

However, this make-shift defense, while looking a little shaky, still wasn't at fault for either goal. A couple of dodgy moments aside, these youngsters looked pretty decent.

In midfield we had Diaby and Rosicky (predictably) and Jack Wilshere. I still think it's not the best idea to play these two together as both like to occupy the same spaces, but they didn't seem to clash as much as I expected them to.

The front three consisted of Podolski and Campbell on the flanks and Sanchez (surprise) as a lone striker.

This decision was really unconventional, I thought Arsene would try and preserve the Chilean's energy for other, more important fixtures, but maybe Alexis will do just fine even with an extra match. He seems bursting with energy every time when making an appearance, so he may have enough in the tank to play twice a week regularly.

The first half

I haven't seen the first ten minutes or so because I couldn't find a decent steam (the game was broadcasted on no usual channels) and the first interesting bit of action I saw was Sanchez's goal. It was truly magnificent.

Wilshere (I think) was fouled some 25 yards out, Alexis stepped up and curled a gorgeous effort over the wall. No chance for the goalie whatsoever.

Our lead didn't last long, as Rosicky's stupid foul inside the area gifted the Saints a penalty and Tadic slotted the ball home from the spot.

Southampton looked the better side for the remainder of the first period, so it came as little surprise when they went ahead in the 40th minute.

A clearance from their corner fell to Clyne, who was roughly 35 yards out and the bloke fired an unstoppable effort under the bar.

I'm in two minds about the goal. On the one hand, the effort was really good: a powerful, swerving hit just under the bar. On the other, the it went in right down the middle and I'm not sure Ospina's view was obstructed.

We tried to get back to level terms before the break, but, apart from a well-saved shot from Podolski did little.

The Saints probably could have been further in front, but for Pelle to put his effort wide and Mane to get overpowered by Bellerin at the last possible moment.

The second half

Arsenal dominated it in terms of possession, but not much else. Alexis swapped places with Poldi in an attempt to bring something out of the German, but to no avail. I still cannot get the manager's decision to not substitute Podolski later in the game, when it was clear Lukas was ineffective.

Instead, Campbell (who didn't have a bad outing, in my view) and Diaby gave way to Oxlade and Santi respectively. Arsene tried desperately to clinch that equaliser by subbing Bellerin for Akpom, but this change came too late.

We nonetheless had a chance to score that goal in the dying seconds of the game, but Sanchez poked his shot straight at the keeper. 2-1 it ended and it probably could have been worse, considering how dangerous the Saints looked on the counters.

The aftermath

"It’s disappointing because we had a good start and we made two unnecessary errors on the two goals - they were big ones. We lacked a bit of experience at the back. I agree with you but overall they did well. We gave a lot and it’s frustrating as we were not able to score in the second half. When you look at the amount of possession we had you have to give credit to Southampton. They played well and were very organised. They abused the fouls in the middle of the park but they are a good side and they played well tonight. Overall it’s frustrating because we gave a lot."

AW's take on the performance. I agree with him. We looked combative and fragile at the same time. Fidgety at the back, willing to go forward up front. Had we made better decisions in the final third, I'm not so sure we would have gone down. But it is what it is.

Personally, the sheer fact of us losing is a bit of a blow. I hate when Arsenal lose, even if they do so in a friendly. But the scale is different nonetheless. It's much less painful to suffer a narrow defeat from a very good Southampton side, whilst fielding a squad full of youngsters and players who would under normal circumstances start the game on the bench, than producing an atrocious performance against Borussia.

It's a shame we lost after such a brilliant early goal, but there are positives to be gleaned still. We've seen what our youngsters are capable of and the signs of Bellerin, Hayden were good. Just as these of more seasoned pros like Chambers, Coquelin and Diaby. We rested a lot of first-team players before a crucial North London Derby. And we learned that any BPL team can beat us on our turf if we don't produce.

Also, we'll have at least the next CoC midweek free, while City, Chelsea, Liverpool and even Southampton will have to play. And this may just mean dropping points in the BPL, maybe even against us.

Bottom line is, it's just the CoC. We haven't gone out of or way and strengthened the team with the likes of Sanchez and Welbeck to win the cup, have we?

That's it for now. Back tomorrow/Saturday with a preview of the derby.

Until then, have a good day

Follow me on Twitter (@AlexBaguzin)

Southampton preview: rotation inevitable

Evening folks.

Tonight we play Southampton in Capital One Cup and I think the squad should be quite different to the one that took on Villa.

The back five

I fully expect Ospina to make his first appearance this season. The Colombian international shrugged off his health problems a while ago and has already made the bench at least thrice. However, given Szczesny's form, there was no reason to introduce Ospina to the proceedings. This should change tonight, as a) even goalkeepers need rest b) rotation is a commonplace in the cups. Last year we had Fabianski to feature on the cups, now it's Ospina. If the Colombian impresses, Wenger will be given a nice selection headache on Saturday.

Our defensive options are scarce and that's not a good thing. Things got off to a bad start yesterday, as Arsene confirmed Debuchy has undergone surgery on his ankle  and will spend three months out of the game. The situation quickly deteriorated, as Monreal's back injury will ensure the Spaniard will be unavailable for selection up until mid-October.

That means we have four fit senior defenders to get us through four games. And Chambers is on three bookings already. Should he start tonight and get another yellow, he'll risk missing our away trip to Stamford Bridge.

That's why I expect the Englishman to be a bench sub at best. Arsene said how he'll give a chance to his younger players to prove themselves, so Bellerin and Hayden are both favourites to start at right-back and centre-back respectively.

I'd play Koscielny alongside Hayden (both to guide the youngster and to keep Chambers wrapped in cotton wool), but the left-back position is a worry. With Monreal out and Gibbs in need of a breather, it's between Flamini and Coquelin. A hard pick, as both aren't that convincing. I'd personally go with the Frenchman, as he has more experience playing on the left and also seems more mobile, but you never know what Arsene will come up with.

While Southampton is not that formidable an opponent, I still don't like the paucity of our options at the back. There's no point in complaining about the lack of cover, now that we can't change anything, but there's growing desperation among Arsenal fans. There are calls already for free agents. Some started wondering whether we can terminate Jenks' loan. All in all, the situation is unhealthy. I hope we'll make it alright till Monreal is back. Then we should strongly consider boosting our options during the January transfer window.

The midfield

I'm certain Arteta, Ramsey and Ozil will all be rested. They've played a lot of games and will play more still, so a little R&R is in order.

Also, I'm pretty certain Diaby will start his first competitive game this season, especially after the Frenchman was backed by Arsene.

I don't have a problem with this decision. Diaby is a good player, who must be the unluckiest footballer alive to miss so many games through so many injures. Though we've stopped relying on Abou's services long ago, I sincerely hope he can contribute to our cause between now and May. If he does, he may just earn himself a new contract.

It is also very unfortunate for us Diaby played so little during his spell with Arsenal. He's that quick and tough DM everyone wants and he could have become a vital player for us, has he not been injured all the time. I still hope the Frenchman will recover and stay fit and have that bright future Arsene is talking about.

Further up field we have a plethora of options. Rosicky is an almost guaranteed starter today, but who be his partner in central midfield? With Diaby in the squad I doubt it will be Coquelin or Flamini, while Wilshere's style is too similar to that of the Czech. It's an interesting problem for Arsene to sort out. I'd tip Oxlade to start, as he's not in the first team picture right now and we all know his best games came when the Englishman was deployed centrally. Here's your guess is as good as mine.

The attack

I'd say the flanks are pretty obvious, with Poldi and Campbell strong favourites to start, so it's the lone striker position that interests me the most.

There were whispers Alexis can play, but I don't think it's a good idea. Yes, he was rested against Villa, but he'll definitely be crucial in our next three games, so playing him now won't do anyone any good.

I think that position is up for grabs between Akpom and Sanogo and I'm not sure I'd go with the latter. I know Arsene puts a lot of trust into his compatriot, I know it's important for Sanogo (who hasn't even made the bench for the last three games) to finally score an official goal, but we have to think about the good of the team first. And Akpom deserves his chance more than Sanogo. Simply because he's more convincing. So I'd play him, but it remains to be seen, whether Arsene agrees with this.

The verdict

We've been taking long and hard about how good our bench is and it's for a reason. You can't boast a strong bench and then fume when the manager rotates. It's normal, we have a big squad and a lot of capable players, who, I'm sure, are more than up for the task. Not only do I expect Arsenal to win tonight, I think I have every right to expect a beautiful performance.

So c'mon you Gunners.

And I'll be back with you on Wednesday/Thursday with the usual review.

Until then

Follow me on Twitter (@AlexBaguzin)

Aston Villa 0-3 Arsenal: that's more like it

A jolly good evening to you.

We have jump-started our campaign a couple of hours ago after taking apart Aston Villa at their ground. Our performance was vastly different to the one we had in midweek and I suspect it may be down to some slight changes.

The squad

As I've said before the game, what I would do and what Arsene Wenger would do are two different things, the only question is the extent.

The back four was pretty predictable, though we had no Flamini or Bellerin on the bench, and it was a concern late in the game, as Chambers was hanging by a thread.

In midfield Mikel Arteta started in the holding position, with Ramsey playing close to the Spaniard and Ozil deployed under Welbeck (thank God). Cazorla and Oxlade-Chamberlain occupied the flanks, coming in for Sanchez and Wilshere respectively. I think we played a 4-2-3-1, though the site showed a 4-1-4-1. It's not that important, really. What IS important, is Ozil's performance. He didn't have to worry about defensive work anymore (though the German has put himself about very energetically) and thus blossomed.

The first half

It was quite lethargic up until the 30-minute mark. However, I take my hat off for Szczesny, who has made two big saves in that period. First came from the Pole's own mistake. His clearance under pressure fell to Delph, who ran half the length of the field, played a one-two with some bloke and let fly, but Wojciech was up for it. The second save came minutes later, after Clark's headed effort from point-blank range hit Szczesny's chest. These saves proved vital in building up our confidence.

120 seconds later we took the lead. Danny Welbeck cut open Villa's defense with a gorgeous pass, Ozil escaped his marker with ease and slotted the ball home calmly.

Seconds later the German turned provider. His (no less gorgeous) pass from the right found Welbeck in the box and Danny smashed the ball into the roof of the net for his first goal.

In a minute the game as a contest was over. Gibbs's misplaced low cross met with Cissokho's outstretched leg and we were 3-0 up. Ozil could have scored another in the dying seconds of the first 45 minutes, but put his effort wide after a clever pass from Ramsey.

The second half

It was wonderfully boring. We were in full control of the situation and 80% possession rate (second half only) showed that. Villa were, for some unknown reason, very lethargic and, apart from one Agbonlahor's dribble didn't come close to creating anything even remotely dangerous.

Arsenal, meanwhile, was content to just keep the ball without going forward too much, though Ramsey still saw a good effort slid just wide of the post. Arsene made a triple sub at around the 70th minute mark, with Wilshere, Rosicky and Podolski coming on for Ramsey, Oxlade and Welbeck respectively, but it was just about the only interesting thing about that second half. And that's brilliant, let me tell you. The game ended 3-0.

The aftermath

"It was the response we needed after Tuesday. Aston Villa started quite well and they had one or two dangerous situations, but after that we were in control and we scored three goals in three minutes. Then in the second half it was a possession game, a controlled game, because they didn’t come out too much. Overall it’s still a convincing win where [Danny] Welbeck scored, [Mesut] Ozil scored, and that’s important as well."

That's what Arsene said about our performance. A fair assessment. I'm very happy for both Ozil and Welbeck. Both players needed this good performance, though the reasons differentiated slightly. Welbeck is just a new man, who needed to establish himself, while Ozil has been unfairly criticised lately.

on whether Arsene is tempted to stick with today’s system

"I adapted a bit game by game. There is a little difference but not a major one. Ozil played today behind their midfield because I thought they made it very tight. But it’s important for us to find Ozil between the lines and move the game forward. It worked, but he can play everywhere. I believe that the team played well and after it’s easier for everybody."

Well, frankly, I don't care much which formation we use as long as we perform the way we did today. It wasn't that easy to win 3-0. Aston Villa was in good form, played on home turf, while we were fresh exhausted from our midweek away trip and mentally challenged to bounce back from a disappointing performance and result. We showed once again we can do it, and it's brilliant.

That's it for today. Have yourselves a very good weekend and I'll be back here as soon as something new pops up.

Until then

Follow me on Twitter (@AlexBaguzin)

Aston Villa preview: time to get back on track

Morning all.

We have an away game at Villa Park today and there are problems to solve and decisions to make before the game's kick-off.

The most important question is what formation we should use against our opposition. I'm all for going back to 4-2-3-1 as it was mostly effective last season, but we all know how Arsene doesn't like to abandon his ideas, so I'm expecting a 4-1-4-1 again. With that bit almost certain, we can try guessing who'll play.

The back five

Szczesny did make a couple of mistakes against Borussia, but I'm convinced we would have conceded more were it not for the Pole. Then again, you don't drop your number 1 after just one bad game. So I think Wojciech will start. Ospina should get his chance in midweek, though.

The back four, again, picks itself. Gibbs, Mert and Kos should start, and, barring injury to Chambers he should play too.

Yes, Bellerin wasn't that bad against Borussia, far from our worst performer and much better after the Ox was introduced, but he's still, in my view, completely ready.

The most problematic bit about the young Spaniard's game is his over-zealousness to come forward. It's great when your full-backs can do that, but experience is needed to find the right balance between defending and attacking. Experience Bellerin doesn't have (yet), so any opposition will exploit that trait of his. Furthermore, with Ozil in front of Hector our defense is definitely susceptible to quick counters down the right flank. Chambers should get the nod, therefore, especially since he's recovered from tonsillitis.

Apart from these five we don't have any defenders available. Monreal is out with a back injury, and the boss said he doesn't know, how long Nacho will spend on the sidelines. Debuchy, meanwhile, is down with an ankle injury and we'll have to get by without the Frenchman for six to twelve weeks, depending on whether surgery is needed.

Grim news, all in all, so Flamini should, from now, be considered a defender and used sparingly and only from the bench. That seems the most rational thing to do, in my opinion.

The midfield

Arteta will most likely continue in his holding role and that's something I'm more than a bit worried about. He was outrun by Borussia and, though the team as a whole underperformed (which, I suspect, can also be down to having a very physical game against City), Arteta was fresh. He played just five minutes in that weekend rollercoaster, so he shouldn't have looked that weak.

We also have to keep in mind last year's defeat to Villa at the Emirates. Both their penalties and a goal from open play came about after quick counters, so Arteta may not be an ideal candidate to, erm, counter these attacks.

Truth be told, I'd like to see Ramsey in that holding position. I'm pretty sure he can be effective there and, more importantly, he won't clash with Wilshere this way, so it may be an ideal solution for all parties. We'll see what happens, but I don't hold out much hope for this scenario.

In central midfield, I'd introduce Cazorla alongside Wilshere. The Spaniard is fresh, he can shake things up and become that ace up our sleeve.  If Arsene persists with Ozil on the flank, Cazorla can also become invaluable in distributing passes and making smooth transitions between defense and attack. What is more, Santi is no stranger to taking men on and his stock rises further still because of that.

Another solution is a Wilshere-Rosicky duo, but here we'll face the same problem as with a Wilshere-Ramsey pairing. Rosicky's style of play is too similar to Jack's, that's why I'm not keen on seeing these two play in roughly the same position.

The attack

Can Welbeck start a third game inside one week? If he can, should he? He's missed a couple of brilliant chances against City and Borussia and, while he's a new man and all that, we can't just write these misses off. However, I expect the Englishman to continue, as we all know how Wenger trusts his players even if no one else does and this, more often than not, allows them to bloom and deliver.

It may be still early days to deploy Sanchez in that lone forward position, especially considering our rather defensive formation. So I expect to see the Chilean to start on one of the flanks, interchanging positions with whoever occupies the other wing.

And here we come to the most pressing question: should Ozil play? I think he's likely to, taken into account how Arsene has once again shielded the German from criticism:

“Why should he be be a scapegoat? We've lost one game since April 1. Let's be realistic. We've come out of a very difficult preparation period with decisive games.

Criticism is a bit unfair because I believe that our offensive talents on Tuesday night were not in their best condition, and they couldn’t express that talent. On the other hand it’s post-World Cup. He came back on August 11. You know it takes a few months for them to get back to their best, that can happen."

However, I still want the Ox to start. Give Ozil a breather. He needs one not only on the physical, but on the mental front as well. Use him as a sub once. Put him out of the firing line for a while. Please, Arsene.

The verdict

"The easiest thing nowadays is to have an opinion. Everybody has one." I too have one and I'm going to air it. That's why we are here, right? To exchange opinions.

If it was up to me, I'd put out this squad against Villa: Szczesny - Chambers - Mertesacker - Koscielny - Gibbs - Ramsey - Wilshere - Cazorla - Sanchez - Oxlade - Welbeck. I think it has a mix of freshness (we need some rotation, the players can't take three games a week) and in-form players.

However, I trust Arsene's judgement. He's been a manager at a top club for 18 years and is much, much better at doing his thing, than me or anyone on Twitter. We'll see what squad AW puts out, but I think it'll be quite different to mine. And I'm fine with it, if we deliver.

And we have to deliver. Not only get a win, but to really perform. No excuses for today. We have a big squad, chock-full of quality players. We haven't won a game in PL since that opening day. Work your magic, Arsene.

That's it for now. Fingers crossed we'll do what we must later and I'll be back with you for a review some time between today and Monday.

C'mon you Gunners