Arsenal Fans just need to believe – It worked against Reading!
Keeping the faith pays off! by RC
Two days ago Arsenal found themselves 4 goals down against newly promoted Reading within the first half of their Capital One Cup encounter at the Madejski stadium. As if that wasn’t enough, as I live in Manchester, I was greeted with many messages heckling at Arsenal’s embarrassing performance which, of course, didn’t bode well for our crucial clash against Manchester United this Saturday. However, as you may know from my last post, I am an optimist and still believed we could win – so much so that I put £5 on a 42/1 bet of Arsenal winning during half time. Yes I won in excess of £200. This bet wasn’t made in an uncalculated show of affection for Arsenal, not at all – I support the England football team but you most certainly wouldn’t see me bet on them if they were 4 – 0 down. It was made because I have seen great spirit shown within an Arsenal squad many times; last season alone I can recall the Tottenham fixture where we came from 2 goals down to win 5 – 2. The fact that many of the youngsters showed this spirit as well as some of the forgotten fringe players is encouraging for this season and the many ahead and reiterates the points I made in my last article about the excellence of some of our youth players. This game showed us that the hunger and desire to win doesn’t just end with the first team squad but is embedded into all of our players, a fact that is undisputable after Tuesday’s performance. Even Giroud showed a willingness to draw back a 3 goal deficit with the 25 minutes he had to do so, this shows great belief and I reiterate my earlier statement- he will come good.
Something I have found with the Arsenal squad recently is that they do not like to be seen as inferior and a big loss or a bad start is often greeted with a backlash which shows off all of our qualities and simply sends out a message – we’re just as good. Recall for example the agonising game against Milan were we came so close to overturning a 4 goal deficit but fell short at the final hurdle. We left the champions league with our heads held high however and showed AC Milan that Arsenal weren’t the bully boys they were perceived to be at the San Siro. This point will hopefully be reiterated after Saturday where I anticipate that Arsenal will prove me right and show all those affiliated with Manchester United that the infamous 8 – 2 was nothing more than a bad day at the office (very bad day in fact).
Two days on and not only am I £200 richer but my Manchester United supporting friends who were quick to condemn Arsenal are now the ones who find themselves out of contention for one trophy this year. Of course they were quick to let me know that they had no qualms about being omitted from the ‘Mickey Mouse’ cup. I accepted their deception and will remain tight-lipped until Saturday evening when the fate of a fixture which was so unkind to us Gunners last year has been played out once again.
Let’s hope that this year we can show United and Van Persie what this Arsenal squad is made off and let’s hope that the midweek performance of our youngsters and ‘fringe player’ can lift our first team players to showing that they are capable of emulating our second half showing on a greater stage. I for one will be placing a few more Arsenal bets, call me crazy but it is the theatre of dreams.
Thank you for reading.
Ross Cooper
Here here
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if we win on saturday, then it will literally be the happiest day of my life. And no, i don’t have a boring life, it’s just that this win will mean everything to me and i’m sure the players’ confidence will reach the sky and make them have belief in themselves.
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If we come from a goal down to beat a Man Utd or City I’ll get as excited as you. For now, I’ve seen a lot of poor (and good don’t get me wrong) play from our starting XI.
A win at the wkd and I’ll jump onto your band-waggon.
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we can do it id love for us to go for it and play 4-4-1-1
or 4-4-2 with theo playing of giroud and midfield of ox , cazorla , arteta and wilshere. Please arsene do not play santos left back PLEASE!!!
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If Wenger starts Walcott, drops Ramsey and Santos, and plays Sagna and Jenkinson in the full-back positions, and brings Eisfeld into the squad, then I think we could win.
I’ve seen a lot of Eisfeld in the reserves and I feel he should definitely be ahead of Ramsey. Especially after his performance against Reading. I wouldn’t sell Ramsey as he’s still so young, but he’s had plenty of chances to impress and hasn’t in the slightest. I really hope Eisfeld will at least be on the bench for the ManU game. He will become our new Cesc, but a more efficient german version.
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Meade > Santos
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If Wenger was smart. He’d put Sagna at LB and Jenkinson at RB.
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Whats with the negativity, OF COURSE WE CAN WIN!!!
I’m not denying that we’re still an inconsistent and frustrating team but we’ve also got the potential when we play well to beat anyone….. including Manure and that scummy judas.
Its all about the players on the day – both teams….. but we can DEFINITELY beat those mothafcukas.
If Wenger doesn’t use the weapons we have properly however….. Theo, Arshavin, Koscielny, Gnabry, Eisfeld and the Ox……….. then that’s gonna decrease our chances massively. Theo to start or at least come on early IF needed.
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Hear Hear!
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I believe that it was Arsene Wenger who said that “without belief in yourself, you’ve already lost”
COYG <3 I for one will always believe in the team and after all, if we can't believe in the team, how can we expect them to believe in themselves if their loyal supporters can't
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I’m sorry – he difference on Tuesday was Walcott, not your optimism in an armchair or pub in Manchester. As much as you would like to believe that. What won us the game was solid performances (let’s forget the 1st half – we just didn’t turn up to reading till the 2nd) by our mature players – Walcott, Giroud, Arshavin. And pure desire to win by our young players.
Djourou was a joke (and I have stuck up for the fella in the past), but he has to go ASAP. Squillaci should not even come close to a pitch that Arsenal are playing on.
Walcott has a point to prove, and is proving it well. He has finally learnt to finish, and make good football decisions. If we cannot agree on a new contract with that boy, I don’t think I can EVER move on until the current regime changes. (It will be the straw that broke the camels back for me).
Yes we should always support our club, but enough is enough – especially after the joke that was the Arsenal AGM.
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COYG and yes we do win I think it would be one of the happiest games of our lives gods word it was that way against reading providing I live there and own a season ticket!!!
Gunner for life none the less!!!
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Totally agree, i hate mentioning it but i used to say to liverpool fans that i know that if our supporters during the times just after the invincible season were all as loud as theres especially the home support we would have won alot more championships and maybe the CL, huge support really can make great things happen as even with average players there are examples of them performing like champions on the adrenaline boost alone from there support
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Play 4-4-2
—————–Mannone——————
Sagna—–BFG———Koscielny—–Vermaelen
Cazorla—-Arteta——-Wilshere—–Poldi
——-Walcott———–Giroud———–
The balance just seems right! Hope for the best
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What are we afraid of we are a great counter attacking side so if wenger goes for it and puts pace in the side im talking walcott and the ox we can really hurt them.
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wenger must to be play 442
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I know a lot of our players will respect our former captain, RVP! But all respect must go out the window on sat, otherwise he will take us apart. We can’t give him an inch, as we all know he shoots as soon as he gets the smallest amount of space.
I believe we have a superior midfield & should win that battle. Coyg.
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arsenal mf is better than manure who will be without nani thanks to his bust up with fergie hope the referee mike dean doesn’t ruin it
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if Arsenal could keep this squad together…next season they will be formidable….
Loan out some player for experience..
Players like Jenkinson, Ramsay, Frimpong should go out in Jan on a loan..play 18 games and build up the experience and improve….
Next season they come back wiser stronger and would be able to contribute more
Players like Eifeld, Coquelin, Gnabry can stay to provide cover…
Players like Chamakh and Arshavin need heaps motivation before they can perform….
Squid and Djorou will be gone by end of season…..out of contract and searching for first team opportunities
i for see a quad next season…
Opinions divided. What do you think?
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Man United fan: ”We lost because we played our reserves.” Chelsea Fan: ”No, you lost beacuse you rested your regular referee.”
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Im looking forward to wilshere showing united fans that cleverley is a very poor mans wilshere.
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fans shouldnt be worried
Squid will be gone end of season out of contract
Djourou too will leave to search for first team opportunities
Ignasi did pretty well for his first taste of premireship football against reading…will be 4th choice next season
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BREAKING: Manchester United have confirmed that they will suspend Lee Mason and fine him 3 weeks wages after their defeat to chelski in capital one
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@gunner, not only you. I fear I’ll be so happy that my heart will jump out! COYG!! Victory!!!!!!!
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Uhm there are still some things I didn’t get from Tuesday’s game?
1. Who was playing RW? It was Walcott right? The chap seemed to play more centrally than Chamakh even
2. Who was the captain? The game was so intense I didn’t even thing about that!
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@Hafiz Rahman
Seriously why would we loan out jenkinson are you mental??! You say keep gnarby and eisfeld but want to loan out our only other reliable right back. Id like to point out we have gervinho, arshavin, walcott and the ox who can all play gnarbys position yet you feel we should keep him and loan jenks haha.
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@Twig
Djorrou was capt i think
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Shine bright like a dimond
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gibbs is not gonnabe back for man u were fuked
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Arsenal are being linked with schurlee
wenger is after the right player…I’d say
schurlee is versatile..
Can play on both wings as well as striker n also as second striker
He’s good at scoring as well as assisting…
Would be a good buy….
Wenger should move before…money bags gather around him like vultures…
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its my birthday on saturday and if we win, it will set me up great for a fantastic day on my 18th.
Thumbs up for the gunners!!
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Must say that i dont agree on the hole plan b thing with fans wanting a change back to a 442, the game is won and lost in the midfield and a four man midfield will almost never beat a five man one, some like the Italians agree on your part somewhat in that they need two strikers so it is a defender whom they sacrifice coz they know the importance of the midfield battle, other top teams like in England sacrifice a striker wich is the correct choice given the aerial and phisical threat they face, and if we are losing with ten or fifteen minutes left resorting to attacking like a Stoke just hoofing the ball up the field well for one we dont have many players who are any good aerialy and secondly when we lose we will be losing in the worst way in not playing with the same greatness that a club of our stature must insist, i have seen on many occasion Arsene throw the dice and introduce every attacker availible from our bench, we just dont have many options open to us right now, this is Arsenes fault for failing to plan but one i believe he will rectify soon enough
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I think jenkinson should be played around 60+ mins, as he had been a great deputy when sagna wasn’t around. Sagna is nearing 30, we might risk burnout or injury if we keep playing him for 90 mins. And god not santos nor ramsey, playing with them was like playing with 9 men. Play vermaelen as left back. If the team showed fighting spirit like against reading, we will win. coyg!!
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Let’s be honest who are we kidding we lost this game before it even started.. No hope on this current squad what do ever!!! Will be happy if v persie doesn’t score.. Will make my day if he gets injured.. However if they do win I’ll shave my hair out of happiness!!
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we CAN win at old trafford.
i remember our 3 league wins under wengers tenure. 2 of the wins were unexpected, and one was obvious. the win in 98 was vital but our last win in 06 was very similiar to knw. i think henry had just left and we hadnt won in our first 3 games. we then won 1-0 at old trafford with a 86th minute goal. utd couldnt get the ball of us.
the one thing about utd is we knw how they are going to play against us, i wish wenger would try and play against that rather then have the attitute of ‘we play our game’.
maybe a front 2 is needed, and cazorla on the flank.
vito
jenkinson, kos, mert, tv5
walcott, wilshere, arteta, cazorla
podolski, giroud
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im not comfortable until gibbs is back
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Walcott enough said
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the only dream that is yet to be fulfilled is an arsenal win at old trafford. hope it is fulfilled 2morow.
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Play 4-4-2 we win MU
—————–Mannone——————
Sagna—–BFG———Koscielny—–Vermaelen
Cazorla—-Arteta——-Wilshere—–Poldi
——-Walcott———–Giroud———–
Bench: Martnz, Jenkn, AndréS, Ramsy,Coqlin,Arshv, Oxal
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arsenal dont play 4-4-2,non of the top teams do.do you guys really know football or just love sucking up to theo walcott, his work rate is not good enuff to play him against man u fro the start.if we play 442 we will have surrendered any advantage in the midfield cos we’ll probably be out numbered.
If the ox is fit i dont think theo will start,if theo can put in the work defensively i would say start him on the right,but its clear from wengers comments 2day that theo wants to play centrally because he doesn’t like tracking back,so i think he’ll probably play the ox,and leave theo as an impact sub.
intersting story about liverpool chasing theo,apparently they are willing to pay him a 100k a week,an play him centrally.What a surprise! it all falls into place,theo’s people have been talking to liverpool since preseason,the only reason he hasn’t left is cos liverpool aren’t top 4.I’ve just got a strange feeling about walcott,that he thinks he’s bigger than the club.It was supposed to be a 5 year contract,but he wants a 3 year contract,he doesnt sound very committted just trying to do an rvp on us.
i can see why so many of you want him to stay,me included.he shows flashes of brilliance and his pace is always a threat especially towards the end of games,and ther is a feeling that if he leaves now he will come back to haunt us.As much as it pains me i think we should jus let him go if my suspicions are correct,because he will only end up leaving when his next big pay day looms.which will become an annual dram if he only signs a 3 year deal.for all we know rvp could be telling him 2 come to man u on a free in the summer,i know they are close an nani could be on his way out
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@steevo happy birthday in advance champ.
u know,since bird hunters ve learnt to shoot without missing,the birds has also learnt to fly without perching.as i said earlier we’ve had enough with man u.its about time we show them that when u constantly beat some one,u unconciously revive his bravely and ll one day win u in a fight u ought not to ve lost.thats exactly what we ll do to them tommorow proving to the world its about time.regardless of our skeptism,bitterness and critics,let’s all together as one,and seriously rally behind the team on sat.the horses are set for the race but victor comes to the one who BELIEVES.
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@kickupthearsene
I never quickly judge a player after one good performance like many here. Walcott was able to score because Arshavin gave him 2 assists right in front of goal and the other from a beautiful cross from Coquelin. I’m more inclined to giving the playmaker more credit because they have to work harder to get the ball to the striker. So saying this, Walcott wasn’t the didn’t single-handedly win the game for Arsenal – It was a team effort. If anything Arshavin deserved more credit than Walcott with the number of assists he got. Funny how only goals are the only thing that make most people pay attention. When I watch football I don’t only watch the ball but the movements of players off it. Positional play is key to getting goals and defending.
Giroud made a huge difference when he came on. In fact his work rate was much higher than Walcott but no one else sees this. Everyone just looks at goals. I’m sorry to say but Theo still hasn’t convinced me. If there’s anything I’ve learnt about Walcott, he’ll do excellent one game and will frustrate you for the next 6-7. His consistency can’t be judged after one game. So what happened to Theo in the last 10 games he played? LOL – exactly my point!
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@Naz
Did you forget to type in the letter “i” after your name? I’ve never heard such a defeatist comment from another Arsenal fan. You’ve already been defeated before you’ve even fought the battle. That’s totally weak and pusillanimous (coward). I bet you either turned off your tv or walked away when Reading were 4-0 up. I remained in my chair because I believe in this team unlike you. Wenger stated that the fans who remained at the Madjeski stadium deserved much credit and those that left much less. You are the typical example of the type of Arsenal support no one in here respects!
Furthermore, hoping for RVP to get injured just shows your true character. I always want to play the best team available as Wenger does, because if we win, there is more to be proud of and there won’t be any bantering excuses about RVP not playing. I’m glad we have more fans who believe and less fans like yourself. You should be ashamed. I’ve been a gooner for over 25 years and will forever remain so. At a time when a big challenge is presented you have chosen to literally join man utd and turn your bak on your team. You are the same kind that call RVP Judas, but you are committing the same betrayal. A complete hypocrite!
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Hey calm down that wasn’t Barcelona that we played! be realistic.
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@jk
Jenkinson is just too good to warm the bench…he can take it another level by playing week in and out…
Gnabry and Eifeld can cover the wings and middle…
the only 2 injury prone players like Rosicky and Diaby….
midfields are the area that sub the most….
Rosicky
Diaby
Carzola
Arteta
Wilshere
Pod
Gnabry
Eifeld
Coquelin
Ox
Arshavin
Gervinho
Thats 11 players for 5 position….13 if walcott stays.but walcott is able to deputise for Giroud as well
If Walcott stays then maybe Eifeld or Gnabry should be loaned…
5 plays 8 sub
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i guess its time to change our formation. believe it or not we have never won any trophy with our current formation. so i think its time we sholud switch back to our old formation. lone striker tactic is not working. many are saying non of the top team use this formation. but it doesnt mean it wont work. if wenger wants to use 4-3-3 formation, he should bring in proper wingers instead of using walcott, gervinho and podolski. they are more or less useless in that position. but if we use 4-4-2, we have enough midfielders to play in that position and we can use podolski and walcott in striker position. wilshere, arteta, rosiscky, cazorla, ramsey, couqlein, diaby and eisfield.. we have enough talent to dominate midfield in any game! podolski can easily play second striker.
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Girould scored goal and had enough shots on goal,and his work rate and desire was enough to convince that we’ve the right striker,so no mistakes from Wenger in this transfer,but Wenger should stop juggling Gervinho and Giroud,while Girould is a proper striker,Gervinho is..well..we know what he is.I can’t believe Walcott wants to play as a striker and he can score hat tricks from wider positions,maybe,give him freedom to roam around.Arshavin brings to us that no other player in our starting 11 does at the moment–early crosses into the box,no wonder we’ve been scorin goals in the matches he has played so far,and struggled to create something when he hasn’t.As for United game,I don’t what to say,we believe miracles are possible with our team,we will need one going into this game because we’ve been struggling of late.In Arsenal we believe.
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That is why it is called fooball which means Things don’t go as planned sometimes there is always room for surprices.On paper we have lost the game but we hope for a surprice
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So many fans have praised the players for their remarkable comeback which is understandable, but lets not get clouded by that victory. There are still major improvements the team needs to work on. I love Arsenal but to be honest we still lack quality depth. Just because Theo scored 3 doesn’t mean he’ll do this every week. Remember that Theo has scored approx 28 goals in 156 appearances. That’s not really anything special! Arshavin has a better goal and assists rate than Walcott does. In fact even Bendtner has a better strike record! Wake up gooners, it was only one super crazy game and that was against Reading. Even if we beat Man Utd in this fashion, I refuse to be quick to judge because the season has 38 games not 10. So saying this, lets not glorify Walcott like he’s done what Henry has achieved. It was simply one game he did really well, and the other 10 games before what happened? Oh how we quickly forget…….BUT I WON’T!
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@Hafiz-Rahman
Ignasi has played more first team football games than most of his reserve peers. Don’t know where you got the idea he played his first game in the first team. In fact, I thought he was one of the weaker links in the Reading game. The kid really needs on work on his fitness. He looked very tired going into extra time. Ignasi isn’t really that great. He’ll eventually get sold. He’s a bit overgrown and heavy for a LB.
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the time is now…………….:-)……….com’on
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