City Preview: 3 Points For Xmas Will Do

    That was a stunner, wake up boiz as no game is an easy ride on the path to winning the EPL, the voice snapped in my head. We knew Everton away was gonna be tough but that’s not what we were expecting from the TEAM. This is the premiership though so why not?  Arsenal were unbeaten away this season so far,  and despite Everton's yoyo form, they was still unbeaten at Goodison park this season, add the fact that Arsenal was the last team to beat Everton at home, you would think the game had banana skin written all over it. We should have known. Having taken the lead in the early stages of the game from a deflected Sanchez free kick, we slowly relaxed our guard and got caught by a silly equalizer we shouldn’t have conceded. The central defensive pairing of Kos and Gabriel isn’t as solid when it’s “Kos-Stafi” but the goal was conceded the moment Walcott missed the tackle that allowed the delightful cross to come in from Leighton Baines. The kick in the teeth was the timing, 43^rd minute of the first half.....Jeezeee. We did the same for the Everton winner, though we have shown in the past that we can turn over a deficit to snatch 1 or all 3 points but conceding the second goal late in the 2^nd half made the job all the more herculean besides that our luck was going to run out soon than later, well on Tuesday night, it did. Stats say its our 11^th straight match without a clean sheet, worrying times if you ask me. On the other side of London, Chelsea is going about the bizness of cruizing to 3 points so far. 11 straight wins of which, 3 straight 1-0 wins against the grinder. You will not always score goals but you give yourself a chance of snatching 3points by keeping a clean sheet. We need to learn that. Now go back and read it again….Arsenal needs to learn that.

Anyway moving on, it’s Man City up next away at the Etihad and then Westbrom on boxing day, it don’t get any easier people. This would be a good time to show the doubters what stuff the team is made off init? A very good way to do that is by getting a win 1-0…2-1…3-0 just get a win. Arsenal losing at Goodison Park in midweek was not the best as couple with Chelsea win this weekend putting them tentatively 9 points clear makes a win at the Etihad more desperately needed. That’s pressure but I don’t think that’s a too tall an order for a team that Arsene believes has matured into men as he calls them.  Arsene knows that as he says:

“The key to big games against City is to defend well together and not be timid every time you get the ball,” said Wenger.

“We have to have a go and try to attack, because that’s part of our philosophy. Overall that’s what you have to do but you have not to forget as well that City’s team is very strong going forward, maybe even more now with Pep Guardiola, so we certainly have to focus on defending well.”    you can read more here.

    Well that kind of puts it nicely succinct, the whole team needs to key into the defensive duties. Harrying and chasing down every 50/50. City without Aguero isnt any easier only a bit less dangerous if you ask me. De Bruyne , Nolito, Gundogan, Sterlin, Yaya, can run riot if you allow them but Chelsea, Leicester  and other teams have shown they can also be ripped apart. City isn't in sterling form right now, Stones, Otamendi and Bravo seem to be on a competition of who gives the opposition the most freebies and we might as well cash any offered cheques. That’s why I say the gunners can do it, they need to stay really focused when defending while balancing being clinical in front of goal when City present them with chances as they always do. I don’t know how they would get that delicate balance right but that’s for the Boss and the team to figure out.  Predicted team selection would be as shown below.

Image Courtesy: The UK Guardian

I do hope, that team is able to get at Man City in ways that hurt them, their achilles heel is their defence but i think midfield battle would be very key. That's it from us here, do enjoy the game wherever you are......Ciaoooo 

UCL Thoughts, Everton Preview & Tit Bits

Monday came and we said shall we? So we walked in through the revolving balls and what do we get? It’s Arsenal V Bayern yet……..Again (rolling my eyes here). Honestly I don’t know which it is, the system is rigged or just Arsenals luck to draw the short ended stick. Oh well, I would say maybe both cuz with the mess most of the sport’s governing bodies are these days I wouldn’t put it past FIFA no I meant UEFA (all na same jaare) it’s our 4^th meeting in the round of 16 and that’s the most for any two sides so forgive me if I say "NO" I don’t think its random coincidence!! That in addition to that our luck where we seem to have a penchant for turning down the easier option and choosing the hard way instead. One can’t point accusing fingers this time though, the team has been very businesslike this season in the champion’s league campaign, no howlers from Ospina or Silly dropped points here and there and when they needed to take advantage of a slip up from PSG, they did it in very commendable fashion in terms of performance and points so kudos to them. That’s that. Now that we know it’s going to be:

Manchester City                      v                           Monaco Real

Madrid                                     v                           Napoli

Bayern Munich                        v                           Arsenal
Benfica                                    v                          Dortmund 

Porto                                       v                           Juventus

Bayer Leverkusen                   v                           Atletico Madrid    

Paris Saint-Germain                v                           Barcelona

Sevilla                                     v                           Leicester City

Now that the draws are out of the way, its February 13, 15, 21 and 22^nd for the 1^st legs of the round of 16 matches while the 2^nd legs kick of through March 7, 8, 14 and 15^th. Having said all that, I do believe we have a better chance of progressing this season not certain but better. For one, we play the 1^st leg away in Munich, we get a good result and we stand a good chance of doing the business at home, PSG was the only team to take a point from us throughout the group stages. Also this team is showing some character coming back from deficits which is good or bad however way you look at it. All in all, I want to believe the team is better equipped to see break the round of 16 set back of the past seasons this time, from there on…….who knows

Away from the champion’s league now, it’s the gunners away at Goodison park. Everton welcomes the gunners in what’s the 1^st match of the festive season’s hectic schedule. Team management, player rotation and total focus would be very Key. Everton like Man City had a flying start to the season but have tailed off lately which has seen them only pick up 2 points from their last 5 league matches 0W 2D 3L. The Koeman effect seems to be wearing off, and pressure is beginning to tell. Ronald Koeman reiterated their need to improve both mentally and physically after their latest defeat to Watford over the weekend. I hope Arsenal has something to say about not allowing that to happen. Chelsea is really flying high currently although I wonder if they will be able to cope if Diego Costa picks up an injury. Arsenal will have to be wary of Everton’s potential, in that the likes of Lukaku, Mirallas Deulofeu can cause problems not forgetting Gueye and vintage Barry in the middle of the park. Their defence is where they are really weak these days, leaking very silly goals and conceding penalties, which is surprising considering the fact that Koeman knows how to set up a team defensively. Don’t know what the issues are but our game plan should be one that can take advantage while keeping Lukaku and co at bay. I am sure Wenger would have an eye on the next game against Man City so a bit of rotation might be in order. Sanchez and Özil on the bench while Giroud and Perez get a start for me. The defence picks itself with the same back five that finished against Stoke, I would have been tempted to put in Gibbs at left back but…..i think our defensive stability against Everton might be key so lets not tinker too much here is to a solid partnership of Kos & Gabby in the absence of Mustafi. My preferred line up will look like this.

Subs: Ospina, Alexis, Özil, Walcott, Jeff, Holding, Gibbs, Neny.

Now if we can pick up 6points in 2W from Everton and Man city away, that would be fantastic, 4 points from both would be good, let’s not consider anything less please. We know it’s going to be tough but that’s what you deal with to win any trophy these days, of course with a bit of luck on ya side.

In Other news Lagos beach soccer tourney is on from today Dec 13^th -18^th at the Eko Atlantic for beach soccer lovers follow the hashtag #BSAfcon2016 or #BeachSoccerLagos while Christiano "CR7" Ronaldo  won d Ballon d’Or 2016 beating Messi by 745 to 319 points (emphatic!!). Kudos to him for an amazing year, winning the Champions league  with Madrid in May, the Euros with Portugal in July and now this award for World best in December. Lastly its Arsenal’s own Santi Carzola’s Birthday today, hope the Team can give him a nice win to celebrate it (touch wood), shall we? The anaijagunner team wishes him a very happy Birthday, and thats it from us, do enjoy the game wherever you may be….ciao

Gunners Mould Potters

Özil  loops in his 9th Goal of this season

    I really don’t have to say this but…….WOW!! That’s 9 in 9 now, I mean 9wins on the bounce for Chelsea as they put in another clean sheet in a slim but enough 1 nil win over the baggies. Nice one, Conte must have really hated the 3 nil hiding they got at the Emirates back in September. Anyway on to things gunners sheeeyy? Arsenal got the much needed win against Stoke but they had to earn it the hard way…..as usual. It was a test of the team’s character having to fight back from behind. In the preview I mentioned the fact that Stoke these days can play and they came into the game in some kind of good form. Arsenal kicked the game off but it was Stoke who seemed to settle quickly trying to get at the gunners from the get go, Koscielny had to be alert to make a couple of clearances from as Shakiri and Arnautovic in swingers, Muniesa had a pop of a volley from one of such clearances and his shot had Cech scrambling his fingertips just to make sure the ball was not going in, early warning signs. The pendulum swung as arsenal started to settle in, but no sooner had we started to reign in the potters than the first of the mishaps happened. Mustafi falls down to an injury having pulled a hammy, it was clear that he was struggling and had to be substituted in the 25^th  minute. Not one of the brightest starts one would want but Mustafi had to go and in comes Bellerin who thank God was fit enough for the Arsenal bench, while Gabriel moved into central defence. The substitution turned out to be arsenals disappointment that became a blessing but not yet. Xhaka had one of those careless moments where he half jabbed half wrestled Allen in the penalty box, leaving Referee Mason no choice but to point at the penalty spot, Up stepped Charlie Adam to calmly slot hom the spot kick sending Cech the wrong way. How many Penalties against us now? Don’t have the exact figures but we must be really careless the way we concede them penalties. At 0-1 down the boiz woke up and started to really boss the game with Bellerin providing better width on the right side, no offence to Gabriel who was a capable if not equal deputy in his absence. Arnautovic almost made it 2 nil when he went on a mazy run into the box but Monreal was on hand to make the vital block. With the clock ticking, Arsenal started to turn the tide for the equalizer. Sanchez found bellerin in space just outside the Potters penalty box, the right back whipped in a dangerous low ball into the box which Walcott turned in at the near post for the equalizer and his personal milestone of 100 club goals, he gets a coffee machine that according to him. Game on, Arsenal almost made it 2-1 before the half when Bellerin found Ox again with a sweet cut back but Ox couldn’t find the right finish so 1-1 it ended at half time.

     The second half started where the gunners left off and in no time the gunners were ahead again, Özil stole in behind the defence Ox tracked his sneaky movement by sending over the back line a deft lobb, Özil had just enough time to spot keeper Lee Grant in between somewhere and nowhere and then went ahead to loop a header over him. It was deft smooth and sublime all at the same time. Kudos to Ox for spottin Özil’s run, that was pure vision and I hope Ox continues to improve all round, his stats are definitely pointing in that direction and long may it continue. At 2-1 in Fvour of the gunners, Stoke wasn’t gonna just roll over like Westham , they were still in with a shout.  A third goal was needed to kill off any ambitions of acomeback by stoke. Sanchez was fouled at the edge of the box but referee allowed the advantage which Iwobi curled into the lower right corner. 3-1 to the gunners. Smiles all around.

What I like the most about this win was the way the team dealt with the early set backs, Mustafi going off injured and that silly penalty we gave away. Wenger should stop crying foul cuz it was a clear penalty if you ask me. If it had happened to an Arsenal player, I am sure Wenger would sing a different song. An Arsenal team of old would most likely have buckled under the pressure of those setbacks but this team showed character by getting on with the game and getting the win regardless of the fact that they weren’t at their best and things weren’t going the team’s way at first. These are good signs, plus, Sanchez in double figures for goals & Walcott too, then you have Özil approaching those numbers for the 1^st time, Ox and Iwobi chipping in here and there. All of which can only bode well for the team as any trophy winning team needs at least 3 of its players getting in double figures of goals scored, coupled with a good defence, such team stands a chance. That’s where I worry for the gunners, we are not shutting out teams, clean sheets are nowhere and with the festive season games kick off midweek, most teams will be stretched. A test of our resolve you might say, well let’s wait and see, up next is Everton and then Man City both teams in some sort of limbo right now. Perfect timing or potential banana skin? Time of 180+ minutes will tell, till the next preview from us it’s……..Ciao