Barca Thoughts: Arsenal’s three new heroes!
Hello! My name is Shubham Goel and this is my first Guest Post here on Justarsenal (or any other Arsenal website). I am 16, live in New Delhi (India), and have supported my beloved Arsenal for close to 3 years…..
Barca Thoughts: Arsenal’s 3 New Heroes
Wednesday was the best day in my life as far as Arsenal is concerned ’cause we beat the mighty Barcelona (regarded as the best EVER football club) without using the so-called “parking the bus” tactic which Inter used last year to beat them 3-1 at the San Siro last season.
“I was wondering what it was that turned a 2-2 draw into a 2-1 win. Was it the injury free players, the experience we’d gained over the last year, or was it simply that that Barcelona were not good on that day?
“None of these are hugely significant. In fact, the third of them is completely false as Barcelona were as good as they can be. I agree that last year we had many injuries and were a bit too young, still, according to me, it was the 3 new players that played the most important role in the win.
1. Wojciech Szczesny
Last year, we had Almunia who did make 3-4 great saves in the first half to keep us in the tie but was back to his usual self in the second half (gifting Ibrahimovic 2 goals). Szczesny has been immense since January and his presence at the back has given Djourou and Koscielny a huge amount of confidence, which in turn has made our defense a solid rock. It was him and not Messi who was responsible for the chances that he missed throughout the game. He closed the angle for Messi as fast as humanly possible which forced even Messi to shoot it wide. He saved a Pedro shot which Almunia would have struggled to.All in all, it was a match-winning performance from him to see off the most dangerous attacking threats Barca posed.
2. Laurent Koscielny
I have to admit Koscielny is by far the most technically gifted centre back that I’ve seen (at least in the Premier League).He made a number of interceptions and took the ball of Messi or any other Barca forward on numerous occasions. His passing from the back was extremely helpful to us. In the second half, he stuck to Messi for a large amount of time and got the ball on each and every occasion. I’d always thought he would be suited to the Champions League more than the Premier League and he proved me right. I do think he and Vermaelan will make a perfect pair at the back (yes,I do believe he is better than Djourou).
3.Jack Wilshere
Last but certainly not the least is our own Jack. Everyone thought that he would crumble under the pressure of this game,but,credit to him,he passed the test with flying colours. He was calm and composed every time on the ball and while Fabregas and Nasri were not at their best and lost the ball more than they usually do, it was Wilshere who was head and shoulders above them on the night and I guess even better than Xavi or Iniesta. He tackled well, intercepted the play and passed the ball to an Arsenal teammate which was very, very difficult due to the pressing by Barcelona. It was his first time ball to Fabregas that led to our 2nd goal. He surely is destined to become an Arsenal legend and replace Fabregas if and when he leaves.
That’s it. Hope that everyone likes it.I do hope to write more(if time permits) but that does depend on your OPINIONS about my Article.
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you said 3 players byt i dont agree with you because these players played well but RVP was absolutly make the difference. His goal was incredeble and at a critic time. But i agree with you on JACK he was great cause in the previous year Diaby fall under the pressure.
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Beautiful piece pal, rly beautiful piece!
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Nice one !!! I totally agree, Szczesny & Wilshere made all the diff.
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Big shout out to Kos.he was unbelievable.Wishere and Sczney also.
Also,dont forgot RvP didnt play last yr.He’s on fire.
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spot on! many points covered.
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Nice piece Shubham.
Szczesny definitely had a very good game against Barca but I’d question that he’s been “immense” since January. Composed yes, but in truth in most games he’s had little to do. I’m hoping he’s going to be the goalkeeper we need, but think judgement needs to be on hold just now.
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but djourou has played amazing football and has done nothing to be excluded from the squad!!djourou vermaelen and koscielny are 3 excellent defenders…..i just wish one of them was a left back…
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but otherwise i agree with you
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I’ve always told my friends in Ghana dat, injuries has being our problem, n dat a 90% Arsenal squad is unstoppable. Lets pray to God dat we dont have any injuries or drop in form. I have a feeling this is our year. Now lets kick some @sses(leyton). In God we trust.
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ya if it was’nt for injuries van persie would have scored more than 100 goals by now
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i agree with rvp,last tym out we lackd clinical finishing as wel..not many would hav bn able to score 4m dat tyt ass angle(which our evr reliable striker Rvp did)and Arshavin’s goal ws also real classy..wel am 18,4m India(kolkata)as wel and a gooner for almst 9years..
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fantastic post. After a long time we have a keeper who the defense can rely on just lets keep our feet on the ground and play the same way in the league and all the other possible competitions that we participate in well said mate
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venmealion plays left back for his country
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Yea i agree wit d three points above too, but i must add that RVP and betna in d few minutes he came on too was superb. Check this out,betna got d pass n immediately laid it to wilshere den to fab who laid it to Nasri n d rest is histry…but my point is this,wen betna made dat pass he was surnded by six barca player yea six. If it were theo or ebue they would av tried to dribble tru d crowd n maybe lose d ball. Your points я good but i think d whole team played there part well,even the tweiveth man on d pitch( d fans).
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Thanks. I think you have a great future as a writer (sports writer if you decide). Now, I wrote this before for Arsenal Mania; I believe that JD and Kos are the best pair we have had for a while. In fact, we have never lost a game since 2008 when JD plays from start. A record to behold. The performance against the Spanish giants proves that, indeed, we have shaken off the timidity that ruled our games with bigger teams. Games dont get bigger than this, and Kos’ performance on Wednesday will enhance his credibility as a formidable last man that strikers dont want to confront!
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i don’t agree with some of you guys saying van persie had a terrific game. it was his off night. we saw him doing much better before. as far as our 3 defenders with one that could be a left-back, i think it should be kos. i think he likes to go forward more than vermaelen. haha.
i said it before many times and i would say it again,
WILSHERE IS WORLD CLASS.
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Hail
Jack
Wilshere!
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Good article. Points out good perspectives of Wednesday’s game. Wouldn’t dwell too much on leaving out RVP in the article as the 3 young players mentioned really did make the difference. Kos has but faith back into his ability which Arsenal fans have questioned throughout the season!
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I very good article of you. Especially I agree upon Szczesny. You can not win titles without a good goalie, and after several years in the wilderness, Arsenal now has a high class goalie. He did exceptionally well in several 1:1 situations where he saved or forced the opponent to take a bad shoot. And what the Arsenal defenders say about him – his presence creates a calmness among the others. He is active and shooting at the other players. And he is better the more important the game is.
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everyone did well in their own department.
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Well said… I’m An Arsenal Fan from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and i watched the game from 4:00am to 6am!! Gosh i struggle to keep my eyes open 3 hours later at work! What time is it in INdia?? Really hope the UCL plays during the weekend like the BPL games……
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SPOT ON …. arsenal were bang on target and barca were bit on the backfoot after losing a goal advantage hope arsenal carry the same to nou camp and return with a positive result …..
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I agree except u forgot RVP for sure
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spot on mate, but saying kos is better than djorou? are you serious, djorou is a beast in defense, here in KENYA guys hav nicknamed him NJORO thats a kikuyu tribe name by the way, this clearly shows how much trust pple hav in him. up the gunners.
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Arslan,even i watched the game from 1:30 to 3:15 at night.
And bengoonerkenyan,i certainly believe it is the technical ability of a player(which Koscielny has) than the physical one(which Djourou has) that makes a player good.For example,if Messi is around,it is Koscielny who will intercept him ,not Djourou.On the other hand,if a big,strong Premier League striker is there(Drogba),then Djourou is the man.But who’s the best player in the world.Messi,of course,not Drogba
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Nice Thread, BUT I disagree with you in one thing, Djouro is better than Koscielny
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nice one about the comparisn betwn djourou nd kosh shubham!..dnt u guys 4get clichy’s superb long ball with his right foot!
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Which pair, TV5 and Koscielny or Djouro and Koscielny or Djouro and TV5 I personally would go for the pair 1 but its very very close. we must not forget Ignasi Miquel, if you have watched him you should know he will be knocking on the door in the furute (very near future). Now think of ManUre Brown (ha ha), Evans (ha ha ha) and an ageing Rio( very dicey) Smalling is not that bad and of course Vidic… Chelsea have done themselves a favour with their new signing and ManCity looks OK, But I think we now have the best 4 CBs, and to think just a month ago people were calling for Wenger head for not buying an expensive CB, now none of them are talking ah ha ha.
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I think best player in ucl the night is RVP, jack willshare,szczesny,n arsa. If not 5 player arsenal dosent not win.
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Cmon if anyone thinks djourou had a good game against barca is an idiot. Djourou was saved by koscielny and a suprisingly stable eboue. In the end its gonna be djourou paired with vermaelen cause of djourou’s height.
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Very accurate!!!
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Also Wengers tactics that night was the best I’ve ever seen from a team (that don’t want to park the bus and just defend). The whole world knows that Barca love to play from the middle as the first couple of minutes of last season and last weeks games showed. Instead of giving them that option we made it easy for them by packing the midfield very qickly at every opportunity the have of attacking, which eventually forced them to use the wings, that mostly didn’t work at times. Plus to be honest that’s the same tactics that other clubs use when they play against us especially last season which forced us to cross the ball to the box where sometimes Nasri, Arshavin, Cesc, Robin, Niklas or Eduardo would be waiting and in fairness only Niklas was the better aerial threat than the rest.
So in conclusion I think the 3 players are spot on but Wenger is the bonus to that selection. Great tactics, great substitution timing which led to a great night!
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Hi Shubham…i think you’ve got to name 5 players instaed of 3..
This is another gunner from New Delhi..Jatin
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The reason the defence is so solid now is the number of games they play together specifically the two centre backs Johan and Laurent ,and Wojiceh,an understanding of each other and reliability ,so let Vermaelen get his chance back only when Djorou or Koscielny are injured ,in the past we had to many changes caused by injuries and no stability ,now it,s a settled central defence ,at last ?
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The most important part vs Barcelona was the ommission of ball watcher supreme Sagna with Eboue doing a way better job ,getting forward and going past his opposite winger ,on a number of occasions allowing Koscielny and Djourou to concentrate on defending and not having to cover for Sagna again and again ,keep Emmanuel for the return leg at the Nou Camp a word of advice for fickle Arsenal fans otherwise Bacary will get caught again and again on his flank as past matches show ,with the ball played behind him whilst he,s dozing off as usual ?
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arshavin also did agreat job coz not every fool could score that goal. can wenger begin using miguel, he is stable ,tactical,faster and powerfull.is son traing these day? he shd work on his speed
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