5 Star Ozil, World Cup Draws & Man United Preview

Image Credit: Twitterdotcom #WorldcupDraw

A five star performance second half blitz orchestrated by the much polarising German Ozil saw the gunners cruise to Victory. Cruise it seems by the score line but for a better part of the first half the gunners were anything but cruising. Wagner's boiz were still in the game till the gunners got their act together with the wizard of Oz waving the magic wand while Ramsey helped his orchestra. In the end the 5-0 scoreline to the Arsenal may not reflect the true nature of the game but a win is a win, a boost to the GD column, the clean sheet plus our "impeccable" form at the Emirates remains preserved. I will take it all, thank you.

In other news besides the continued revolution going on with our back-room staff, the 2018 world cup draws was held earlier today at the Kremlin with Putin in attendance, how glorious it must have been, too bad the US wouldn’t be part of the fiesta. Anyway, the qualifying countries now know who their group opponents are. For Nigeria, we are in the famous Group D, no surprises there, and we have been drawn with ooooh wait, Argentina agaiiinn. No surprises there too.

Group D

Argentina, Croatia, Iceland, Nigeria.

A tricky group even if it's not the proverbial group of death. We must get at least a result from our first game against the Croats. Its going to be tough but we can do it. I am at least hoping we can. Its time to ask FIFA , hey guys what’s with your loving us with Argentina….like seriously.

Now moving on to the BIG one at the weekend. Arsenal welcome Man United to the Emirates this weekend. The game carries so much significance in different ways. Both Teams were hitherto perennial title challengers before the coming of Roman, both coaches have such bromance between them nothing much needs to be said, both teams don't currently have spectacular away form in the league.  Both teams boast a devastating Attack when the players click. Now with that being said, Mourinho clearly the better head to head record. The “only one” has won 8 of his last 17 meets with Wenger compared to Arsene's 2W. Only one has come in the league when he finally broke his Mourinho hoodoo last season. This time around the gunners are on a perfect home run that goes back 12 games without dropping a point at home. Can we maintain such impeccable run against the Mancs? We know Man United has not got a stellar away form this season with so many dropped points on the road, one can only wish they continue such generosity against us. Having said all of that, Mourinho remains a savvy tactician who is a formidable foe whether you agree or not. Despite my dislike for him, one still has some modicum of respect for his nous if not his offensive personal character. I would expect the gunners to play with at least the same level of intensity and diligence shown against Chelsea and most profitably recently Tottenham. Ramsey Alexis Xhaka Wellbz Iwobi/Ozil will be key in the initial pressing with Bellz and Kolasinac adding some extra push forward. Xhaka and Koscielny need to cut out those faffing wayward passes that we saw against Huddersfield or else... When the chances come, they must be taken by us. Losing Lacazette is a blow but so would manage United claim with the possible absence of Matic, he has made them more dynamic in the middle. The game will likely brain in the middle of the park, so we need to seize control by imposing the duo of Ramsey and Ozil on the game. We can then proceed to take it from there. It's a difficult game to call no doubt but one which if we maintain our discipline balanced with being clinical, we can win. That's a huge mighty IF!!!

My predicted lineup will be as shown below

Subs: Ospina, Mertz, Iwobi, Welbeck, Wilshere, Walcott, Neny, Coq

Image Credit: The Uk Guardian Online

 Santa may not be here for Christmas or even the next one. Yeah, sad news for Santi Carzola who suffered another setback to his recovery, undergoing yet another operation making it the 9^th one since his injury last year, our hearts go out to him, wishing him speedy recovery. I guess that’s it from us, hopefully we get the 3-points clean sheet and no more injuries, do enjoy the game where ever you are….Ciaooo

Backroom Shake Ups & Huddersfield Preview

Image Credit: Arsenaldotcom

  Hi peoples, this will be a quick and short one, in naija we call it Shap shap (I don’t kno why some peeps spell it sharp sharp after all its pidgin naija style. Anyway lets move on to things football and Arsenal to be precise okay? The gunners travelled to to turf moor over the weekend and snatched 3 points at the dearth albeit controversially we must say. That was a scalping smash and grab we did to the Clarets. One must feel for Burnely, not just fo the goal but for the way/time t came. It was practically the last kick of the game that Alexis scored from the penalty spot despite the goalkeeper guessing the right way, it slipped in beneath his armpits. I love football but it can be cruel at times. Sean Dyche’s Boiz really had us against the ropes in the first 45minutes and Cech had to be at his agile best to help keep us in the game, it was one of those battles that as it wore on, you just knew wasn’t going to be easy and it definitely wasn’t. We came out better in the second half pinning them in for long stretches but couldn’t find the net, Ramsey should have done better when picked out by Lacazette but he couldn’t find the right finish. The game needed just a stroke of luck or genius and the latter came in the dying embers of stoppage time. Ramsey was clattered into and got a penalty awarded (a soft one at that) Alexis duly stepped up to slot home for a slim one nil win. The clarets were gutted again for a third time in a row against the gunners……coincidence?? I don’t know, I will just take the 3 points, a first time look into the top four and hopefully continue to build from there. Cech feels more optimistic, saying hopefully we have turned the corner and could challenge for the title, well hopefully. I look at City, with the way they seem to be on Cruise and I say we were never in the title race at all. That being said, a win is a win, add the extra gloss of a clean sheet, what’s not to like. A good team as they say has to find ways to win even when they aren’t at their best or the opposition is proving to be a tough nut, the gunners have done that again. They need to do it more consistently though, Cech was right to also put that condition in.

In other news, our back room staff shake up continues with another acquisition. Arsenal have confirmed the appointment of Raul Sanllehi as head our new football relations replacing Dick Law. Raul was the former director of football at Barcelona, quite a coupe if you ask me. This is in line with the much needed change in the player recruitment department especially following the appointment of Sven Mislintat as chief scout last week if you recall. Lets see if they can bring their magic touch to the club as well as help change the status quo of Wenger being the all powerful and mighty one in those terms.

The gunners entertain Huddersfield in a midweek encounter, with Spurs in some kind of wobble after 1D 2L since the NLD it’s a great opportunity for the boiz to put some more distance between us and them, add the bonus of cementing our top four positions to it, you know there’s a lot to play for. While I know the league is faaaar away, we need to keep the momentum going by winning game by game. Huddersfield claimed a famous scalp when the beat Man United a few weeks ago, they currently sit 13^th on the EPL log, with a form of 2W 3L in the last 5 league games. There is no doubt the gunners are the favourites to win this…. on paper at least but if there is anything football has shown time and again, it’s that you don’t win games on paper but by getting down dirty to do the needful on the field of play. That’s where the boys have to get their heads in right direction by maintaining their focus, Man United is a distraction right now, Huddersfield is the task at hand stay grounded and not take Huddersfield for granted Man United can attest to that. The midfielders must pay attention to Mooy and Ince especially who were again impressive in their loss against Man City this past weekend.

I really hope we can maintain our “impeccable” home form by chucking another win be it by a slim 1 nil to the Arsenal, I will take that. Again Man United at the weekend is one I am sure the Boss and the players will have at the back of their mind but we have to beat what’s in front of us now before then. My predicted line up will have a few tweak’s with Ozil coming back into the fray and Iwobi on the bench.

Subs: Ospina, Giroud, Per, Walcott, Welbz, Neny, Coquelin, Iwobi 

Image Credit: The UK Guardian Online 

     There you go, please remember to follow us on our social media platforms by clicking the link here or you can subscribe to our blog posts so you never miss a post, its straight to your email. That's it from us, do enjoy the game wherever you are #COYG.......Ciaaoo