Bans Banter & FA Cup Preview

      Whadup ma beautiful people, not much happening besides Trump shooting off from his hip as usual and of course, those silly rumors about my Presidents death. Jeeze some people are so discontent with his handling the leadership of the world’s most populous black country thus far that they wish him dead…..to those people I shake my head for you, not like I am impressed with the current economic state of the country, far from it but to now go as far as wishing ill of death on the president just because you are unimpressed, seriously such people should get a LIFE puhlllzzzzzzz!!! Back to things football jaare, did i say nothing much is happening ?

    A lot is actually, AFCON semis are here if you watching while Arsenal’s manager Arsene Wenger finally got handed his anticipated and much deserved 4 match touchline ban by the FA for his misconduct in the dugout during the latter stages of the drama filled contest against Burnley at the Emirates last weekend. God knows what came over him but I expected better from Arsene, pushing the NOT so "special one" into his proper place is begrudgingly okay for me, but doing that to a fourth official is definitely asking for the hammer which he deserved to get. I wouldn’t want us to dwell to much on that as the match in question was drama-filled enough, besides the media circus this has racked up should suffice for those baying for the Frenchman’s blood. Well people of the press, there you go….. I am happy about the way the match ended with us “nicking” 3 points after allowing Burnley draw level from the spot. It seemed like one of those days where Arsenal looked set for the usual collapse when bashed by a bad stroke of luck but…we had good the fortune of lady luck with that controversial penalty and Sanchez (touch wood) duly converted. Burnley have every right to feel cheated...... again by Koscielny who was at the heart of our highly controversial 1-0 win at Turf moor but on the balance of everything I think we just shaved the desire in terms of who wanted and needed the points more. I am not going to cry over that or Arsene’s  ban, if you ask me I kind of wish to see Steve Bould whip the boiz up from the touchline, let see what he’s got in the locker shall we?

        This weekend the Emirates FA cup takes center stage as we visit another team that seems to be becoming a bogey team for the gunners away especially. Southampton Saint Mary’s seems like a tough nut to crack these days for some mysterious reason. Arsenal hasn’t won there in the league since 2013 if I am not mistaken and now we have an FA cup 4^th round tie to navigate. Well it looks poised for us to get  upset, but there’s the good luck charm of Mustafi (if he plays we don’t lose…hehehee), seriously if we have any dreams of winning any trophy this season, then I say realistically it’s the FA Cup. EFL cup is out and while i am not giving up on the league, just that to win it requires a lot of factors clicking with most out of Arsenals control, basically the EPL trophy is Chelsea’s to lose, simple as that! The UEFA champion’s league is we all know how its ‘’likely’’ to go after drawing Bayern yet again despite topping group A. I don’t know if we are mature enough to navigate this tie better this time around. That’s what now? 3 trophy’s out of Four discounted, leaving just the FA cup, a bit underwhelming for this team no doubt but still a trough that has some amout of tin glamour. I would expect Arsene Wenger to field a strong side, maybe even bring on the BIG guns in Alexis & Özil. Southampton has knocked us out of a competition this season, just like they did last season so they are no slouches on the pitch. The good news is, we have more options up front although a bit short in midfield being without Neny at the AFCON 2017 and Xhaka after picking another of those silly reds he seems to have a knack for. I would expect the boiz to be pumped up for this, we need to stuff the saints in their won backyard by doing a good payback. I will pick a strong and fast front three of Perez Sanchez and Welbz. Power and pace to hit them on the break, Ramsey plays behind them with Coquelin and Niles at the base. The back four picks itself with only Ospina taking Cech’s place between the sticks. Below is my preferred Team Sheet

Subs: Martinez, Jeff, Oxlade, Giroud,  Özil, Koscielny, Mertersacker, Iwobi

A relatively strong line up if not our best starting 11 and the bench isnt that far off in quality too. The Big question is can we stay focused in enought to eck out a much needed win, replays are the last resort right now. i guess we would have to wait and see if the Boiz are up for it. Thats it from us here at anaijagunner, do enjoy the game wherever you are....Ciaoo

Early FA Cup Draw Musings & Burnley Preview

   Here we go again, we must have some kinda luck with cup draws, first its Bayern yet  again....in the round of 16 of the champions league and now we are supposed to go away at Southampton in an FA cup 4^th round tie….yet again. Did I hear someone ask if I was scared of these teams? Of course I am wary somewhat.  Bayern has done us in how many times in the UCL, so lets not go there. Southampton on the other hand, is another story. They have managed to screw us over in recent meetings at Saint Mary’s, the most famous of which began the downward spiral of Wojech Scezney’s Arsenal career……note, Arsenal career. If you add the fact that the Saints have come to the Emirates to knock us out of the League Cup [EFL Cup] two seasons in a row, then you probably get my cause for concern. Oh well it is what it is, if the Gunners wanna win these trophies, then we have to be ready to rise to the challenge of beating whoever the luck of the draw brings…SIMPLE!!!

     Back to the premier league and I must say what a positive Saturday it has turned out to be in terms of favourable results going our way, but it would be frustratingly typical of  old Arsenal to not seize the opportunity by way of contriving to drop valuable points. Let's not preempt fate, this seasons Arsenal is made of sterner stuff and we are slowly grinding our way back to hauling Chelsea in point by point……Right. Arsenal wasn’t exactly spectacular at the liberty stadium last weekend but the came back with the goods, 3 points 4 goals for and a clean sheet to add to Cech’s all-time record was as good a return as one would have hoped for.  On the scoreline alone, 0-4 to Arsenal didn’t paint a true picture of the game and Swansea did make life difficult for us. Fast forward a week later in a game against Liverpool and you could see why. Paul Clement’s Swansea showed heart in their visit to Liverpool in the measured and disciplined manner they went about closing down Jurgen Klop’s boiz. They were duly rewarded with a win for their daring adventure. If we learnt anything Liverpool’s loss was while unexpected, it would be that defending is a key ingredient to winning this league and no team is going to roll over for any other team just by vrtue of its Big four status. Stoke handed Man United a scare as Pep endure frustrating day of EPL  refereeing with another City drew against Spurs. All in all, Arsenal has been handed the initiative to reclaim second spot with all the points dropped by our rivals.

    We all know the business end of the season is beginning to unfold and if Wenger has any aspirations of winning this league, he and the whole Team need to find that consistency to go on one of those Chelsea like 13 match winning runs in order to put daylight between them and the others in the chasing pack while overhauling Chelsea. Another win another clean sheet against Burnley on Sunday will see us begin to build that run of form. Burnely’s away fortunes are a stark contrast to their home form, just one win in ten away games compared to eight wins in their eleven home games, terrible is the WORD. They obviously don’t travel well and I hope this remains true on their stop by at the Emirates. Arsenal on their part must stay switched on defensively while they find a way to break down Sean Dyches wards who on their day can be a tough nut to crack….flash back to our encounter at tuff moor. I wouldn’t be expecting an easy game despite Burnley’s away form on paper cuz there are no easy games in this league. That said, i am hoping the Gunners make it look easy. While Alexis body language may be a source of concern I would expect him Özil, Perez, Welbeck and Giroud who we feared might be injured earlier to be able to do the business like pros by securing us the needed 3points.  Other coming back from injury are, Bellerin Coquelin and Mertersaker.....yeah you heard me, the BFG is back....lol. Anyway my predicted line up will be as shown below,

Subs: Ospina, Coquelin, Jeff , Perez, Ox, Welbeck, Gabriel, Holding

Image Credit: The Uk Guardian Online

If Giroud isnt starting, for precautionary reasons then I guess Sanchez up top with Iwobi and maybe Welbeck on the flank should do it but i think Giroud will start as he is currently in rich vein of form. A nice win on Sunday will just cap what's been so far a good weekend. Hats of to Rooney for that landmark record breaking goal against Stoke, while not a Man United fan, you just have to love such beauty in football. Do enjoy the game wherever you are....Ciaoooo