Early Season Review Part II

Image Source: Arsenal Dotcom

Eid Mubarak greetings to all our Muslim friends out there, we come in peace and love. So where do we start,  i mean there's so much to talk on especially with what’s being going on in the world of football? Aaaah yeah there’s the confederations cup still on going, with the semis slated for 29^th and the 30^th of June. A consolation of sort for club football enthusiasts like you and me but hey,. For what it’s worth,  its better than nada so i will take that…….Go Chile….Go Chile!!

Aiite enough of that, let’s get back to things Arsenal and continue with our 2017/2017 season review. We would take a critiquing critical look at our back five.

The Defence

         We all know that attack is the best form of defence Arsene Wenger likes to bang on the mantra about how we like to play fluid attacking football, very pretty on the eye with its expansive play. The good thing about that is yes, you deny the opponent the ball and limit their chances (Barcelona under Pep) right? I wish that was the case at Arsenal right now, cuz its not, we barely excited with pretty football and the gunners shipped in more goals last season that the previous season. This being the case after buying Mustafi and Holding, the former while an experienced international, has not exactly plugged the leaks. The latter on the other hand has been quite a revelation ……at a snippet too. Having said that, let’s start from the keeper Cech, it’s obvious he isn’t as stellar as he used to be back in Chelsea but he still is an upgrade over all our other keepers so moving on. It’s very obvious to everyone (including Wenger I hope) that you can’t win the EPL with a defence that ships in over forty goals a season. Naaah can’t work! If you ask me, our individual defenders are good. Bellerin is besides a few bogey games (crystal palace away), is developing into a world beater of a wing back, Monreal is still one of the most consistent left backs in the league, Koscielny I dare say is a world class center back even at over 30 years of age. Jury is still out on Mustafi but his debut season with us looks promising if not outstanding. 

          Now having said these, how come Arsenal is still conceding goals hopelessly? Simple.. our collective defending as a unit.  Look at Chelsea and Tottenham especially, as much as it goads me to say this, Spurs had the best goal difference(60) , scored the highest number of goals (86) and conceded the least number last season (26), did I hear you ask so why didn’t they win the league (pun intended)? Well I don’t know why, and frankly I really don’t care if they didn’t. Arsenal on the other were hand were 5^th on goal difference (33), 4^th on goals scored (77) and a distant 6^th on goals conceded (44) We definitely could borrow a leaf from either of Spurs book cuz they understand what It means to defend as a Unit way way better than the gunners despite the fact that we have better individuals. If I was Arsene, I would be looking at those numbers above and get Steve Bould to come up with a better plan. Conceding 44 goals in a season is just not good enough for a club of Arsenals stature, more indicting is matching the numbers side by side Spurs’s…..its DAMNING ARSENE, & that’s me putting it nicely. Whatever it is, just fix it.

On the transfers’ front, it’s the usual circus of speculations and half-truths just to get us to click links and buy their papers aye. Today its Mbape tomorrow its Lemar or Lacazette well my advice people, just remember Arsenal doesn’t conduct its transfers in the open so I take all these links/speculations with a pinch of salt. It would be nice to have Mbape though, to think we could have snapped him up last season for chum change. Anyway I don’t see Arsene spending all that money to get Mbape so let’s move on, Lacazette is looking more likely if you ask me and maybe one of Mahrez or Lemar. Then it’s on to the OUTs, Oxlade, Giroud, Walcott and Alexis, they won’t all go but I fear we would lose at least two of those players, note I said at least two. Quite frankly I wont mind losing Giroud as he is 30+ and not quite the consistent, i repeat the word consistent goal machine we desire. As long as we are getting a younger proven goal scorer like Lacazette albeit untested in the EPL. Alexis sale is a no no except its Aguero from city plus cash….Yes, plus CA$$H! Here is why, Aguero is good I mean really EPL proven gooood, but he is 29 and very injury prone, he also isn’t a harrier like Sanchez, plus whats the wage bill on MR Kun?? That’s why I need the cash. Oxlade I will keep and let Walcott go, the money could be used to get a Mahrez who has way more potential if you ask me. 

 Whatever we are doing I hope Arsene doesn’t dally as he is known to, get your team settled before the league kicks off instead of playing catch up again. I guess time will tell, for now let’s just enjoy the media circus of silly season as they regenerate same stories from the same old sources and quotes. Do enjoy the Confed cup games wherever you are….Ciaoo!

Early Season Review Part 1

Image Coutesy: Getty Images

        So there you go, the European football season of 2016-2017 finally concluded with Real emerging as worthy conquerors of Europe after they beat Juve to the trophy rather disappointingly to me I must say. I expected a whole lot more from the old lady of Turin, but hey as a neutral, I really can’t complain right so congrats to Zidane & his charges especially CR7, you are very much worthy champions. Take a bow please...

Back to Arsenal and I will start this by saying no surprises seeing Arsene Wenger pen a new two year deal worth a whooping 16Million in queen’s quid.  Well after the FA cup win what were we expecting, we wish init. The Arsenal management needed an okay excuse to stick with le’boss….they got a good one. This quotes from Ramsey after Arsenal’s lets us in on whats expected

 “It’s been an up-and-down season, but to finish it with an FA Cup has to make it a successful one. I just love this competition. The boys deserve it, and I’m happy for the manger, I’m delighted. He’s been fantastic for me, fantastic for these players. Fair play to him, he’s changed the system and it’s paid off. So hopefully he’ll be here next season, because we owe him a lot.”

That’s saying a lot but I don’t agree on the “successful one” part. if you ask me. So now that the fan fare is all over, Arsene has peened a new 2year deal whether or not we think it’s the right decision by the board, what next? We all know this season was barely salvaged from the decimation of DISASTER by our FA cup Triumph, still there are many reasons to feel very disappointed considering the size of the club in terms of financial as well as player resources. Lets look at those low lights of the 2016-17 season past.

To start with, we finished a terrible 5^th on the EPL log while yet again ending the season double digits behind the league winners, a whopping 18 points off of the Top, 7 points worse than 2015-16 season. The gunners also finished below Tottenham for the first time since Wenger ascended the mantle as head coach, last season’s miraculous 2^nd place finish due to Spurs last minute capitulation should have been the wake up had Arsenal being paying attention, instead the Arsenal management did an ostrich by ignoring the “signs”. That wasn’t all, most teams around the top 6 beefed up their squads quite early ahead of the season, Arsenal chose to dither as always on transfers, got beat in the first game of the season, thus began playing catchup right from the get go. Arsenal conceded 41 goals in the league this season as against 36 last year and 32 goals the year before…….Progress? I think not. Then there is whats seems to have become an annual ritual of the round of 16 champions league exit for the 7^th successive season. Bayern really taking us to the cleaners with that 10-2 aggregate scarring ……Mein Gott!! There is some sort of consolation in the fact that this coming season will be different since Arsenal did not make the cut. I am not trying to be cynical r sarcastic, just saying there is no point qualifying for Europe’s elite club completion only to bow out at the first knock out hurdle. Let’s take a chill pill and learn the right lessons even if “SpursThursday night football” hurts our gooner pride, hopefully it’s going to be the spur we need however ironic that may sound. I will say that captures the main lows for me this season. Next post will look at dissecting the team from goal keeping to the attack as well as checking out whats buzzing in the rumour mill, so keep a date.......……Ciaooo

A Wembley Redemption 2.1

Image Credit: Bellanaija

       Wheeeeeeeeww, what a way to salvage something from a hitherto disappointing season!!! This is a moment to savour, every bit of that joyous tingle to the very last bit of it cuz after this, you are only as good as your last win. One has to give credit where due, the boys came to the party and were duly rewarded even if we know the FA cup is more about show compared to the league. Winning a trophy in a much underwhelming season is always most very welcome. Arsene Wenger,  Arsenal Team and the Board get a free pass today, no hating or bickering, no protests or social media tirades, let just bask in the glory of this record setting FA Cup win, Arsene's 7^th Arsenals 13^th  be it the manager, the team, or the Fans.

            It was a game of the season performance, the boys were up for the fight, despite the number of setbacks the team had to overcome going into this game, they all dug their heels in and gave it their best. Arsene had some big calls to make and they paid off. Mertersacker was handed his first start in a 3 man backline in the last game of the season. Ospina was picked ahead of Petr Cech in goal and Oxlade chamberlain just back from injury, was going to play as a left wing back instead of the usual right wing he has come to favor in recent weeks Welbeck also started ahead of Giroud as the lead striker. I must say here that every single one of these calls, Arsene Wenger got absolutely right. From the blast of the whistle, Arsenal set about the business of the day with probing passes and slick movement of the ball with Chelsea scurrying after them. The early goal came, and while it was a much debatable as it was a fortuitous one, since Alexis had earlier chested the clearance from Chelsea with the help of his hand, it was very deserved cuz the gunners were the better team for most of the game. Gone was the focused and organized Chelsea, Arsenal were up for the scrap, winning almost all the 50-50 challenges and recycling play forward. Maybe the blues were feeling a little bit of celebratory blues I really can’t say, but this wasn’t the Champions we had seen all season in the league. They were leggy, static and just not allowed in the game. Imagine the sight of Ozil chasing down Hazard and getting in his slide tackle that summed up the hunger they had for this trophy and that was the Arsenal we saw today.

Of course it won’t be Arsenal without a few nervy moments, and they were few scares from Chelsea. Costa did level scores in the second half although Ospina should have done better, but he more than made up for it with some vital saves at 1-0 and 2-1.  On the balance of the whole play, the better team won without any doubt. I think whats surprising for me was Chelsea’s performance or was it Arsenals dominance? The other question would be …why did we leave it so late when we could have churned in such 5star performances week in week out in the league? I guess we would never know. I am sure that beyond the win, the focus will be on the possible exits from the club. Arsene, Ospina Sanchez, Ozil, Oxlade. Maybe now might be a good time for Arsene Wenger to bow out, on some sort of high? I think that would be more befitting for his work at the club especially in his first 10years. Anyway, all that is going to be unraveled as gist for another day. Shout out to Per Mertersacker for his sublime performance, he was most impressive to me….word to Welbeck Oxlade Ozil and Xhaka not forgetting Giroud for that assist. I guess that well and truly closes the 2016/17 footballing season inspite of how we performed, it’s been one to cherish and I hope we are going to make amends next season. For now though, lets enjoy the glorious occasion of being the 2017 EMIRATES FA CUP WINNER……............Cheers!! 

Image Credit: The Uk Guardian Online.

Curtains Call On a Season of IFs

Image Credits: Arsenal.com

Ho ho ho, it’s the last game of whats been a rollercoaster season from a Chelsea fans perspective, Conte really showed the others (gat ma eyez on U Arsene) who is BOSS. For us gunners, well its being a disappointment let’s call a spade a hecking spade, no offence to Wenger apologists. Speaking of Apologists, we at anaijagunner do apologies for going AWOL on our readers. We welcomed the arrival of a “goonerette” yeah our founder just had a baby girl. So as you may have guessed right as every other thing including writing about Arsenal had to take a back seat, trust me when I say, it has been another learning curve of responsibility….hats off to our mothers and wives who make responsible child caring look easy. I am still trying to make up for lost sleep. And that’s saying a lot for someone who people sometimes call an insomniac.

Anyway it’s the final weekend of the EPL season as we all know. One which has had it all, highs lows and everything else in between…right? Ok, maybe more lows than highs and then everything else in between, from an Arsenal fans perspective. For the first time Wenger’s holy grail of a champion’s league qualification and finishing above the Spuds down the road at seven sisters is looking like history (the latter definitely is). Yeah there is a slightly off chance we may finish fourth, but let’s keep our feet on the ground as this is absolutely out of Arsene’s or Arsenals hands. I fear this time the team has left it just a little too late. Last season should have thought us a lesson, but we failed to heed the warning signs after falling abjectly short last season. Arsenal barely improved, other teams around us did, sure we have improved on the points total at this time last season by a whooping 1point, and we may even increase the tally by another 3 points if (BIG BIG IF ooo) the gunners beat Everton in the universal 3pm kick off for all games on Sunday.  Should they s do that and somehow find a way to qualify for the champion’s league and then also win the FA cup on the 27^th, it will be one of the greatest of “great escapes” for Arsene Wenger and that’s the best he can hope for from what’s turned out into a season of “ifs, what and maybes”!

 To the game proper, there is nothing much to analyses except well, Everton would of course want the gunners to get that Champions league spot over their Merseyside rivals in Liverpool, but like Klopp said when asked “it’s in our hands to get the job done, and if we do it we deserve to be in the champion’s league, if we don’t then we don’t deserve to be in the champions league”. Quite a frank manager there if I may say, Arsene on the other hand says things like “ Winning trophies don make you better” JEEEZ I hope that was a slip please Arsene. That’s the reason why our team is stuck in status quo, while the speed train is beginning to leave us behind. Arsenal need a convergence of coincidences to qualify for Europe’s premier club tourney. For me that doesn’t look like happening besides what’s the point of qualifying to the champions league if you end up bowing out at the round of 16? Pointless if you ask me shaa ooo, but it would still be nice for sentiments sake to qualify, even though everyone including my dog (which is non existent by the way) knows the gunners don’t deserve the slot on the basis of this season’s poor showing by the whole team. You may have noticed I didn’t mention Man City, that’s because I believe their train has left the building. Yes, this is football where anything could happen, but come on guys….do you see City losing to Watford looking at the current form of both teams? GOD knows that I don’t, so i ain't even going to bother myself with their game, Liverpool on the other hand……….well, you can fill in the blanks.

The gunners definitely have a job on their hands with so much at stake, there is the subliminal issue of who gets the golden boot, with harry Kane pulling 3goals clear of the chasing pack in Romelo Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez. This definitely puts a real twist to the last game of the season. Lukaku would like to win it, Alexis I am very sure is hungry for it while Hurricane ....sorry Harry Kane must be having a good laugh wherever he is cuz he still has a chance to add more goals in Spurs own last game against Hull. We haven’t added the issue of Wenger’s future, will he be staying or going, who knows? For the first time in a long long while Arsene’s future seems to be hanging in the balance with rumblings in the background about a power struggle between Ivan Gazidis and the coach, not forgetting the failed bid of $1.7B by Usmanov to buy out KSA. There is an AGM coming up and the Club says his future will be decided after the FA cup final on the 27^th.  I am sure we all know where this is headed but l I guess this is what makes the EPL most exciting as a league, all the twists, scenarios and drama. Let’s hope the fans get their due for backing to this TEAM. My predicted line up here

Image Credits: The Uk Guardian Online

Subs: Ospina, Giroud, Gabriel, Walcott, Coq, El Neny, Gibbs, Jeff

     Once again, while not a Chelsea fan we celebrate football, so Congrats to the Blues of Stamford bridge again, much respect to Conte for the turn around the 3-0 trouncing at the Emirates, now all coaches are playing back three including Wenger. That for me was one of the few highlights of my 2016/17 Arsenal season. On that note, its Adios Amigos……do enjoy the last sip, Ciaaooo

FA Cup Preview: A Wembley Redemption??

It’s been a loong loooooong season for the gunners and the fans alike, so far a most unhappy one too. Once again, we have flattered to deceive and now we have to console ourselves with the proverbial “Next season will be better” rolling ma eyez here. Well not to sound so pessimistic, but if you look at the fiasco at Selhurst Park where Big Sam and his boiz flew higher than our cannons could shoot. 3 unreplied goals! The eagles breaking a record of no win over the gunners at home since 1979, plus Big Sam finally getting a win over Arsene Wenger since he last did with Bolton….Jeeze how terrible have we been for such a big team. Arsenal finally stemmed the tide of 4 straight away losses by conceding 3 goals when the gunners snatched a 2-1 win over relegation battling Middlebrough. I sure hope that’s it for pessimism but hey its arsenal we talking about. There are always endless possibilities with this team.

Its FA Cup weekend and Chelsea just booked their place in the Finals with a 4-2 win over tiny Totts who have now lost all their Semi-finals at Wembley. They really must hate that stadium with all the not so pleasant memories it holds for them, both in the FA cup and the Champions league. Anyway Chelsea I the finals means a tough customer for whoever is gonna join them for the battle of England’s premier competition, Premier….in terms of tradition that iz. For the gunners, it’s a date with Man City in the second Semi-final at Wembley. This is looking more lie the last roll of the dice, we talking, win or burst for the 2016/17 season. Out of the EFL cup first, then out of the EPL, out of the Champions League, and possibly out of the Wenger favourite…“top 4 cup”. Things are definitely not looking good and I am trying to be an optimist, really I am looking for any positives ahead of this clash with city on Sunday. It’s not like City is in a fearsome run of form, yeah maybe there has been a bit of resurgence on their part but they still remain vulnerable. it’s the mentality that the gunners have that’s got me worried. Our boiz don’t play like they “want” it, they play like it’s just another day at the office for them and that’s down to the coaching management, Arsene I am looking at you on this. Performances in recent times have been that dire, the less we write about them the better.

Arsenal have it all to do now, it’s a battle for some sort of redemption….at least I hope the whole team sees this game that way. Both teams like to play open football so we are likely to see goals, maybe not a goal fest like the Blues/Spurs game. The midfield battle will be key as that’s where this game will likely be won, considering the fact that both teams are suspect in defence. City are an error away from a goal mishap, Arsenal can play with cigarettes in a gas station. It would be down to whose midfield is able to take advantage and sprig their attacks to capitalize…..i hope it’s the gunners. What makes this game a cracker for neutrals is because City too haven’t had a stellar season despite their high profile manager coming on board, even with an FA cup win I am sure their fans would be disappointed in how their season has turned out after such a promising start. That’s all perspective and I am not a Man City fan, so how thy feel is really is not my cup of tea to be honest.

The Team selection will be interesting for us, do we go with pace of Walcott Sanchez and Welbz  (who is doubtful) or do mix it a bit with some Giroud for aerial battling. My predicted line up would be somewhat different from the usual. Say a 3-4-3, lets see how that works out:

Subs: Martinez, Gibbs, Ramsey, Welbeck, Bellerin, Iwobi, Walcott, Elneny, Coq

Image Credits: The UK Guardian Online

There you go, Winning the FA cup might be the only bright spot of whats been another terrible season form the gunners, considering the quality of players at Wenger's disposal, we really should be doing better than this underachievement. Anyway that’s debate for another day, for now let’s just hope the gunners outgun City, get to the final and hopefully lift the trophy for a new record. In this form, I know that’s wishful thinking right?? Thats it from us here, please please and please dont forget to like our FB page here  as well as follow the #anaijagunner on twitter, do enjoy the game wherever you are………Ciaooo 

Its Squeaky Bum Time: Top 4 Quest

            Arsenal finally got back to winning ways in midweek after putting 3 unreplied goals past the hapless hammers. Not to take anything away from performance by an Özil inspired gunners, but West Ham were totally at sea in their second half display, after being very stoic and compact in the first half, coupled with the terrible refereeing too from Martin Atkinson who refused to give at least one of the blatant penalty calls. The win got the gunners up to 5th temporarily before this weekend’s round of fixtures and results. Can we build on this win with a consistent run….that's the question?

The Arsenal train stops with a visit to the eagles at Selhurst Park as the gunners keep a date with Crystal Palace. It seems such a long long time, the HFB aka Oliver Giroud scored that beauty of a goal, with the scorpion kick. It was in the reverse fixture back in January, then, the gunners were still in the running for 3 trophies, at least hypothetically if not realistically…abi? Anyway fast forward a couple months down 2017 and here we are, in 6^th position, seven points off the top four places, in the annual scrap for top four. That is the gunners’ quest yet again having fallen by the way side in the Champions league (no surprises there) and the Premier league contention, again no surprises there. This past weekend fixture results have put the heat back on the gunners, with Tottenham starring in a 4-0 win, while Liverpool and Man united picked up 3points too. The onus is on us now to go ahead and match them with a win on Monday, we are hoping the win over the hammers in midweek is a return to winning ways.

Big Sam and his boiz have had a fairly good run of form recently wining four straight games shocking Chelsea at home while at it before surprisingly losing to Southampton at home in midweek. Anyway such is the league these days, you can’t afford to underestimate any team especially one in a relegation scrap and coached by Sam Allardyce. Arsenal have it all to do if they are to attain the “Holy Grail” of top 4 this year. A must win match it is. Head to Head history is in favour of us though, whatever that counts for as the eagles have failed to beat the gunners at home since 1979. Now whether that is a sign of things to come is no guarantee but we can hope that Arsenal will somehow look back at the fiasco that was the visit to West Brom at the Hawthorns and learn from it or else, Arsene wenger should just forget about top four and possibly any contract extension. Let’s face it, this team (or more like group of players) has so far underperformed this season with too many lows than highs, the least you will expect is to finish the season strongly on a high. Looking at the team sheets for both clubs its obvious who has more quality players but the important thing is to knit them together to play like a team. This is not to trivialize the threat the likes of Benteke and an inform Zaha/Puncheon/Townsend can pose on their day…definitely not. If you place them side by side our Walcott, Welbz Sanchez and Özil then you get my drift. Having said that, we know how difficult games aren’t won by names or won on paper, so it’s up to the gunners to prove their mettle. I hope the defensive pairing of Mustafi and Gabby can handle the aerial threat of Benteke and his physicality. The midfield will also have to be on their toes to cut out the supply line that feeds Puncheon and Zaha. All in all, it would be nice to keep a second clean sheet in a row for young Martinez. My predicted line up will be as follows:                     Subs: Macey, Holding, Jeff, Ramsey, Gibbs, Giroud, Oxlade, Iwobi

Image Credits: The Uk Guardian Online      

The above team should be able to do the job of getting the much needed 3points, no one said it was gonna be a cake walk though. Whatever team goes out there, lets get behind the boiz, we can iron out our issues with the club management later. Dont forget to follow us on this blog and like our FB page here https://web.facebook.com/anaijagunner/.  Thats it from us, do enjoy the game whereever you maybe.....Ciaooo

Top Four Going, Going, .....

     It’s a new day a new week and a new month, so  we say  a very happy new month to you all our readers around the globe. I trust Q1 2017 has been especially profitable on whatever side of the globe you are, if not, there is always room for improvement as regards achieving your goals so hopefully we can get there. Writing things Arsenal can be a less desirable task these days, reading things arsenal…..well that’s even less enjoyable than the former. Our recent fiasco at the hawthorns made it 4 losses in the last 5 league games. I honestly can remember the last time we suffered such wretched run of form. 

     To say Arsenal is all at sea, with contract uncertainties for the star players and the manager as well, then will be stating a glaring obvious but what exactly is going on at London colney….no one knows the exact fiver, its one of those fable stinks you have in a house but you cant seem to figure out where the source of the stench is or what. Wenger has a tough job on his hands as our annual holy grail of top four seems to be under a serious threat this season. Some want that to happen as they say if it does Wenger will finally get shot off the job, I say bollocks to that. Wenger is here and now, let’s all deal with it. Don’t get me wrong ooo, I think something needs to change seriously, from the manager to the medical team to the Arsenal board. We are stuck at a plateau called complacency and other teams just may have caught up with the gunner’s stagnation.

     Anyway, onto today’s game against City, 3 points are a must if we want to get the holy grail of top four, especially with Liverpool easing past Everton. Pep Guardiola’s City haven’t exactly lit up the league except in his first two months in the EPL, now teams seem to have found the chinks in their defensive armour. Press Bravo/Caballero harry John Stones and the others, you just might get a few past them to win. I would like to see an Arsenal on course correction, not the lack luster I can’t be bothered team that imposted as the gunners at the hawthorns. Such shambolic play with no guts or heart until too little too late is totally unacceptable from these professionals. If we lose this game……..we might as well forget top 4 and that’s going to be such a spanner in the works. No time for a more in depth analysis of the game but this is the time for wenger to earn his keep. My predicted line up will be

Subs: Martínez, Debuchy, Mertesacker, Gabriel, Holding, Gibbs, Maitland-Niles,Ramsey, Reine-Adélaïde, Walcott, Iwobi, Giroud

Image Credits:The Guardian Uk.

Okay thats it from us here, do enjoy the game wherever you may be watching....Ciaooo

Cups, Trophies and Westbrom Preview

The uncharitable task of knocking an in form Spurs team out of the FA cup has been handed to Chelsea after both Teams went past Milwall and Man United respectively. An average Gunner never wishes any luck  for “Tiny Totts” from down the road of seven sisters, yet no one wants to draw the Chelsea Juggernaut that seems on cruise control……..Damned if you do, Damned if you don’t, Just great. Arsenal do have their own plate full, with a tasty match up on paper against the boiz from the Blue end of Manchester. The only way Arsenal gets into the FA cup final is to win, simple but then we all know with Arsenal….anything is but that. The good thing is, the boss realizes a last chance for a silverware in what has yet again petered out into a familiar underwhelming disappointment of a season even by our own standards. The Fans know it, the team (Alexis, Özil) know it and I hope the Arsenal Board also know it? We may have beaten lowly Lincoln to book a place at Wembley but an objective look at our season shows we have fallen well short to say the least.

League of Champions

After our annual flatter to deceive and other round of 16 matches, some tasty and very matchups interesting matchups coming ya way, good thing is we would be watching as neutrals, which is not such a bad thing when you consider the palpitations and heart in mouth moments the Arsenal gives an average Arsenal fan at high stakes gatherings such as these. Between the 12^th and 18^th of April

Athletico Vs Leicester

Bayern Vs Madrid

Dortmond Vs Monaco

Juventus Vs Barcelona

Get ready to be treated to a footy fest at its finest by these clubs claiming to be Europe’s best. I would be looking forward to the repeat of 2015 final between Juve and Barca, while Dortmond going against Monaco is another one for the not so Big guns not forgetting the Leicester fairy tale still on in the champions league.

Away from the cups and it’s the premier league back on stage, Arsenal travel to the Hawthorns to keep a date with Tony Pulis and his barcoded boiz. Arsene wenger would probably prefer to matchup against a “softer” side at this point…..like Lincoln shey? With just one win in the last four games Le’boss must be feeling the heat, there is talk about a protest being on the cards by disgruntled fans. A plane is supposed to fly a protest banner over the stadium during the game, well we shall see. Arsenal need a win desperately if Arsene wants to maintain his legacy of an annual top four place.

From the economic perspective, it’s less of a “mandate” now with the new multi-billion pound TV deal flushing the EPL teams BIG or Small with so much cash they can afford to do as they please but, from the footballing perspective, you don’t want to imagine missing out of champions league places even if there is the concern of an exit at the round of 16. Westbrom aren’t exactly firing on all cylinders right now, they practically sat and watched while Everton ran them ragged last week. We hope the vestiges of such lethargy remain in them when they host the gunners in an early Saturday kickoff. Rondon and Chadli can be a threat if allowed freedom by the gunners, so we must over power the midfield of Livermore and Fletcher. On paper Özil, Xhaka and Coq are miles ahead of theirs but hey this is football and there is something seemingly amiss these days. We have to get it right for this and the last round of matches if Arsenal wants to finish in top four or go as far as reeling Spurs in…….My predicted lineup will be

Subs: Ospina, Perez, Ramsey, Oxlade,  Welbeck, Holding, Gabriel, Jeff, and Iwobi

Image Credits: The Uk Guardian Online

Here is to an Arsenal win hopefully cuz  the fans need a serious lift after the fiasco in recent weeks past. We would like to wish a Belated Happy Birthday to our own Wally aka Theo Walcott #28yrs. A birthday goal Please..... do enjoy the game wherever you are…..Ciaaooo

Arsene's Arsenal Nadir & Lincoln Preview

      Ok PMB is finally  back and we can all go back to our regular schedule as Nigerians sheey, except for those of us who are currently still Arsenal fans. For us, the  football nightmare continued,  we have been outdone, outplayed, outmatched and unbelievably outgunned by our own miserable selves. Its hard to describe the gunners play these past few weeks. 4 consecutive losses on the bounce in all competitions, out of 3 competitions, the league race, the UEFA Champions League UCL, I honestly can’t remember the last time that has happened. Saying we are abject and terrible is like compliments, those words feel they make Arsenal look good, the gunners are currently that bad. Lets start with the Liverpool game last weekend.

Image Credit: The UK Guardian Online

      I hate to sound like a pessimist but the first half against Liverpool was a one way traffic, Coutinho lacking match fitness was what kept the score line at just 2 nil by the end of the half and I am not kidding here. He had two glorious chances to increase their tally. The less we say of the first half, the better, Liverpool had us as bit in their teeth…. Period. Arsenal came out in the second half much improved albeit due to the introduction of Sanchez, who came on for a Coquelin walking on tight rope having been booked earlier. Obviously the excuse from wenger for not starting the Chilean would be an eye on a pretty much dead rubber Champions league game against Bayern Munich on Tuesday night. We pulled one goal back via Welbeck and seemed like turning the game on its head, for a while there was that fleeting hope of nicking at least a draw but, we got caught out by one of those Liverpool counter attacks and that was good night.

10-2 on aggregate!!!

      It was always going to take a mammoth miracle to claw back such deficit, 4 unreplied goals even if it is against a weakened Bayern, that would be a miracle of Miracles. I heard someone saying before Tuesday night’s game..….”watch Arsenal perform the great escape tonight”. I guess its safe to say reality has hit in hard with a sledge hammer of 10-2!! How do I begin to describe our collapse? Who is to blame, the players, the coach, the fans, the board? To be honest, I just don’t know. I am that confused right now. I mean we know we have exited the UCL at this round of 16 stage for 6 consecutive seasons and running, but it felt like this season was going to be slightly different, on a positive note.  The team on paper looks more balanced, with the additions this season, there is a better mix of experience and youth while Bayern though coasting in the domestic league but they seem a bit weaker this season. Add in the spice of the usual talk from Arsenal about how we were ready to give Bayern a fight. And then there was that…..10-2!

      On this blog we try to look at things more objectively from a footballing perspective despite our unwavering support for Arsenal and that’s not going to change, however we believe it’s time to rethink our strategy in the Champion’s league especially. Qualifying for the competition year in year out is no trophy Arsene, it’s what the BIG teams do and while we do that, are we just qualifying to make up the numbers cuz that’s honestly what it seems. Or how do you explain our annual race for top 4, qualify for the UCL competition , make it through the group stage only to bow out at the round of 16 regardless of the opposition………..for seven consecutive years. That my friends, is an absolute SHAME on everyone, from the coach to the players to the Arsenal BOARD!!! Nuff said.

      As the saying goes lets look ahead, just maybe we might see that proverbial light at the end of the tunnel, God knows Arsene could use some feel good news. I am talking about the FA cup as the only hope of silverware this season, yes I know what you’re thinking but hey..let’s hope, besides it costs nothing and winning the FA cup is also better than nothing. Arsenal welcome Lincoln City to the emirates in an FA cup quarter finals encounter and all I ask is a win. That’s my preview, whatever team the gunners’ field, if we can’t beat Lincoln at home, then maybe Wenger should just resign along with the entire Arsenal Board as well. Thank you. Whatever happens, I hope you enjoy the game wherever you are…..Ciaoo

Will The Real Arsenal........??

    A whole lot has happened In the past two weeks or there abouts of my absence and a good one it was too. the dollar has crashed against the Naira by a whopping 50 bucks, aint that great? Go Naira, go Banjo, uuhhh PMB is yet to show up though...LOL. While I apologize for not being able to put pen to paper for our teeming fan base around the globe (yeah we’r international folks, just check the maps) sorry folks, we have no apologies for Arsenal letting us down again and again and yet agaaaaiiiinnn in the 1^st leg of the round of 16 in the UCL. It hurts don’t it, yeah it does. You’d think with the team right now we coulda put up a better fight cuz it suddenly feels like all is lost in the season that started with so much promise. Maybe our expectations have been too high but Arsenal being a BIG club should aspire for top trophies not just any tin can. I missed the away match at Bayern but the score like backed with stats told me all I needed to know. We were completely obliterated by a far more superior team that knew how to do a professional  job at this stage of the tournament, yet people say Bayern is a weaker team under Ancelotti this season…..i say Hniaan to that!! Arsene, after talking up the boyz before the match saying we were up for the epic clash which is gradually becoming a routine win for Bayern, he then comes back with the usual excuses by saying we mentally collapsed in the last 20-25 minutes of the match upon conceding the third goal. Seriously Coach, just CHANGE, can we at least try something different that might actually help?

    Anyway, away from the quandary that is our almost  routine round of sixteen exit from the UCL for a BIG club like Arsenal, regardless of the opposition, its time to focus on the league……..not winning it though. We know the past two weeks have been anything but cheerful for the gunners with Özil coming under serious scrutiny by the media and fans alike, lots of talk about Sanchez wanting to leave, possibly Perez and then there’s the possible contract extension for Arsene (say it quietly). Still, Arsenal face Liverpool in what still is somewhat of an epic clash of two domestic heavy weights. Two managers who are under the microscope for obvious lackadaisical performances from their wards, Liverpool with a terrible win stat of only one win so far in all competitions in 2017, Jurgen Klopp is definitely staring down an empty barrel wondering what’s gone wrong in a season where they had a flying start. Liverpool have been abject against mid to lower table opposition this season contriving to lose matches they have no business even drawing. Whatever happened to the notion of them being possible challengers for the EPL title this season? Then comes Arsenal, The Good (Chelsea at the Emirates) The Bad (Watford at the Emirates) and the downright Ugly….. (United at the Emirates), yeah I know we havent played that match. For me, Bayern away is another case we can’t quantify so let’s just pretend. For a supposed title challenger, Arsenal have blown hot and cold this season and are the epitome of Harvey “two face” Dent along with a healthy slice of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. In two words, Consistently Inconsistent!! Add the fact that thus far this season Arsene Wenger has just a win against top 6 opposition ….so far, so let’s see. 

    Whichever Arsenal team goes out to play one hopes at least the boiz can give a performance worthy of the time spent watching. Having said all of these and put them into context, it makes for an interesting matchup. Will Pool be able to turn us over to rip us apart like they did in a 15minutes Blitz back in august or would it be payback time for the gunners….COYG! It does make for an interesting match up as form definitely goes out the window here, Arsenal yet to lose at Anfield in a while, drawing the last 3 league games there while Liverpool have won 4 of their 5 games against top 6 opposition at home this season. Saido Mane coming back has injected the fiery pace of their attack back but they still haven’t been able to put teams away since his return from The AFCON. Their defence remains their sorest weak point especially at corners, 5goals worse than Arsenal. In midfield, well maybe both teams are evenly matched. It would be interesting to see Xhaka and Coq matchup against Henderson and Emre Can. If the gunners get their Psyche/focus right, then Arsenal definitely edge it slightly in the attacking trio of Sanchez, Welbz/Ox, and Giroud, while their still remains an option of Perez off the bench. The key place where the match will be won is in the midfield, Liverpool if and when allowed have a rasping attacking transition that’s deadly while Arsenal can be slow in that regard, Arsenal depend on quick ball movement with many people involved. If we can stifle Henderson/Can axis while staying compact, then Coutinho will be less dangerous up front, no silly free kicks of course (Xhaka/Coq I am looking at you). While Özil is a doubt due to a possible flu, he still makes my predicted line up as shown below.

Subs: Ospina, Giroud, Walcott, Perez, Ramsey, Holding, Gabriel, Merts, Jeff, Niles.

Image Credit: The Uk Guardian Online

Liverpool are definitely going through a more than a flux right now and are there for the taking regardless of their home form especially against top 6 opposition, the BIG question is, will the real Arsenal please stand up? 90+ Minutes, do enjoy the game wherever you are.. Ciaoooo

Smashed Title Dreams & Hull City Preview

Ok so here we go again, it’s been much difficult to bear  long long week for an Arsenal fan after the Chelsea game collapse, pretty much kissing our title hopes goodbye. It was an accomplished performance from the blues, professional as it was complete in the manner of delivery. Kudos to them on their title tilt. Not like it was much of a challenge from Arsenal anyway, the gunners have over the years failed to push for the title beyond February even when it seemed to be on offer like it last season and this season has been no different. It’s only normal to see a lot of extremely passionate reactions to after that loss at Stamford bridge, from the far right to the far left including everything in between, now the question isn’t about Wenger staying on or not. While I wouldn’t want to waddle into all the arguments between the two factions of Wenger-in or Wenger-out brigade, I believe it’s clear to even a blind man that something needs to change about the frail “mental strength” or ze mental strength as Arsene likes to call it and I mean from the boardroom to the pitch. Yes we may have shown fighting spirit more this season but, for stuff of real champions, we simply lack the bottle...…….look at Chelsea Period!!

On the match itself, I had said it was as accomplished as it was very professional from a well drilled Chelsea side. Conte efficiently stifled our front four while delivering swift but effective blows that killed us of. The gift from Cech was just a reflection of the mental psyche from the players. The Hazard goal, oh my that was just pure Genius from him. How we allowed him to waltz his way to scoring such a beauty….i leave you to “hazard” a guess. The only good thing from the game was Giroud’s goal, not much of a consolation for the fans as it was for him. He has finally scored against all the teams in the top 6. He is a much maligned striker, but this season he has shown he has the professionalism and mental strength to do the job of scoring when called upon. Kudos to the HFB, he will still have his critics but he keeps answering them.

Hull city come to town in what might turn out to be a continuation of our downward spiral in form or a snap out of it wake up call. While the league may be gone, its still imperative to keep pushing, second place is very much up for grabs and if Wenger doesn’t want to soil that sentimental record of never finishing below Tottenham, then he had better whip his boiz in line or else he may be going out on an all-time low. Spurs this season are looking the real deal though so it would be interesting to see how we can make them uncomfy till they capitulate but we need to catch Man City first so first lets do that by winning and keep on winning, I hope that’s not too much to ask of this Team? The form book shows Hull city to be feeling the effects of new coach Marco Silva with their two wins in the last four games, Arsenal have suddenly lost two games on the spin. I need not tell you what disaster it would be to drop any more home points. Do we have the players to win this game? Of course with a cast of Sanchez, Giroud, Walcott, Welbeck and Perez who must be asking his gods what else he needs to do to get a consistent run in this team, we have what it takes on paper to steam roll 90% of the EPL teams but we also know that this is the EPL and especially with Arsenal, one can’t be too sure these days. My predicted line up will be as shown below

Subs: Ospina, Giriud, Welbeck, Perez, Jeff, Gabriel, Holding,  Oxlade

Image Credit: The UK Guardian Online.

There you have it folks, a win will most definitely go some way in assuaging some valid concerns while the matter of Wenger in or out remains a debate for another day. thats it from us, do enjoy the game wherever you are........Ciaooo

Title Hopes Fade & Chelsea Preview

     Okay so while the global village that is the world continues to debate the recent executive orders from the Blue house we here at anaijagunner say, lets move on shall we? After all it is what t is, if the USA wants to play that way then play that way with them or sit back at  home. On the Arsenal front, let’s just say, I am all with our keeper, Cech when he says

“We owe ourselves a performance” after the midweek farce against Watford. That was just unacceptable, a minimum of a draw was the worst we should have gotten but when you keep sitting on your fanny taking your time to get ya engines fired up in a game in this unforgiving league, then, its bound to catch up with you some day and it duly did catch up with us in midweek. Arsenal had hitherto spent so many GOOJF cards this season for so long (Man United, Ludogorets, Bournemouth) it’s a wonder we haven’t come up short much earlier. After the euphoria of thrashing Southampton at St Mary’s one would have expected the return of the rested and supposedly fresh all-star cast for the midweek game against Watford  would bring about a much needed 3 points especially with Chelsea dropping 2 points….Gawd, I forgot, it can only be arsenal….blow hot this minute, blow cold the next. Fantastic in this game, attritional in the next. It can only be ARSENAL! When you make a habit of handing a two goal cushion to the opposition in the first 15 minutes of the game, you should be prepared to be at the end of a loss, plain and simple! Arsenal just blew the League as far as I am concerned, others will mock that statement that we were never in the hunt in the first place. Spurs are looking more like the biggest threat to Chelsea strolling to the title…..what a shame. What this means is that, there is that possibility of Totts finishing above the gunners for the first time in Wenger’s reign, ouch…..definitely not the way Le’boss would wanted to bow out.

I would quit whining about all the spilt milk points now. This weekend is crunch time and lots of people have been talking tough. Arsenal travel down to the bridge in a London derby of severe consequences.  If Arsenal can win Chelsea then maybe just a vert itsy bitsy tiny maybe there just might be a chance to claw back the deficit…… a very very very slim glimmer of hope there. Chelsea has the upper hand with 8 wins in the last 10 matches and as many goals scored with just a few conceded. The momentum is definitely with the boiz from Stamford Bridge as they have turned a corner after being on the receiving end of a 3-0 thrashing back in September at the emirates. How times have changed………deep sigh. Having said that, everyone now knows this is a must win game for the gunners while the hosts can afford to play not to lose, having lost our game in midweek, we inadvertently boxed ourselves into this corner and the boiz need to give a response. Arsene caps it al here;

Look, for me it was always [a must-win game],” said Arsène Wenger, who wants that gap cut as quickly as possible. “But I think what is important is that I can say it is a must-win game but for us what is important is to respond in a very strong, united way, straightaway after what happened on Tuesday night.

“We can’t focus too much on the consequences of the game. Do we win? Do we lose? Football is like that, you can win or lose but make absolutely sure you put every ingredient in to win the game. We have shown that we can beat them in the first game, so let’s just do it again.”

Ah yes, the first game. That 3-0 victory over Chelsea in September remains the high water mark of our season - but it was a turning point for our London rivals.

Read more at http://www.arsenal.com/match/report/1617/pre/first-team/chelsea-v-arsenal-video-stats-es#HeAQWMBrEImIu3eS.99

There you have it, the boss knows the fans know, I just hope the players know. What Arsenal is grabbing at is a fast fading glimmer of hope, and they can decide to make it a reality by playing Chelsea of the park with some stunning ruthlessness…. Dr jeklyll or be the soft centered weaklings who play victim all the time…..Mr Hyde. How the gunners will keep Costa Hazard Willian and Pedro quiet again will depend on which arsenal shows up at Saturdays possible league champions decider, remains to be seen. Dr Jekyll  or Mr Hyde ?? BIG question that only 90 plus minutes of time can tell. My Predicted line up is below:

Subs:  Ospina, Holding, Welbeck, Perez, Jeff, "Giroud" , Gabriel, Niles

We look a bit short yet again in the middle with Ramsey picking up a knock but if we avoid any silly errors and stay very disciplined in both attack and defence, then we may have a chance against Chelsea. The Chelsea back line for me is still suspect against a rasping attack like ours, lets get at them from the blast of the whistle. No time for dulling on this one, do enjoy the game wherever you are......Ciaoo

5th Round Draws & Watford Preview

    Well our president is alive as we can see from the pictures posted by Madam first lady. Way to go ma, waaay to go! I hope a lot of our naija gunners in diaspora aren’t affected by the new migrant rules being ‘‘Trumped’’ around in the states, why people are surprised at these executive orders being Trumped out is beyond me. Those with a bit of a brain about them could tell where this president was gonna go with his policies. I am here back home enjoying the crunchy feel of the recession but as long as arsenal is doing well, we can make it through these tough times…….lol. Sorry about the political detour, it’s so difficult to isolate politics from our everyday lives these days.

   Arsenal did a sterling job on their visit to Saint Mary’s for the first time in 3 years. 5 unreplied goals with Walcott grabbing a hat trick on his injury comeback while Welbeck notched a brace in an all-round 5 star performance from a very youthful yet experienced Arsenal side. A lot of people will excuse Claude Puel, saying he fielded a half strength Southampton side but full credit to Arsenal for getting the Job well and truly done despite the gunners making more than 8 changes to the team that narrowly won Burnely at the emirates last week. It also tells you the potential depth we have in this squad if well rotated by the coaches. Arsenal is now billed to face Non-League side, Sutton United away at Grander Green Lane in an FA Cup 5^th round matchup. Other ties include:

                                        Wolves Vs Chelsea.

                                       Fulham Vs Tottenham.

                                     Burnley Vs Lincoln City.

                                   Blackburn Vs Man United.

                               Huddersfield Town Vs Man City.

    Interesting matchups out there and a lot of room for big guns to falter if they get complacent against the so called minnows. What’s interesting to note is the mere fact that the “smaller” teams are all at home so who knows? Before I leave the FA cup, shout out to the trio of OX, Jeff and Maitiland-Niles who ran the show against the saints in the middle of the park. Up front, Wellbz and Wally may have grabbed the goals but Lucas Perez definitely knitted the front trio quite nicely with his timings on passes and deftness of touch, definitely a good player we got in him.

     The EPL is back on show in a midweek round of matches as Arsene continues his ban, while the title race begins to crank up the heat. Arsenal have a date with Watford at the Emirates in a match that has must win written all over it (yeah we know every match is). Liverpool welcome Chelsea to Anfield in what might be a nail in the coffin for Liverpool’s dying title hopes or ….. a race blown wide open for any of the top 4 sides. After losing their last 3 home games to make just one win in their last 8 games, the signs aren’t looking good for the Mersey siders. Still, should pool and Arsenal win, that cuts down Chelsea’s lead at the top to 5 points with one third of the league games still to play, lots of pressure on the blues and points to play for in there, especially a date with Arsenal on the corner. There’s a caveat to all these if, buts, n maybe conjectures though….that is the BIG IF of both Pool and the gunners winning so lets concentrate on our own game against Watford and go get the much precious 3 points. Walter Mezzari's sides recent FA cup exit to lowly Milwall side captures the poor form they are in with 0W 3D 2L in their last 5 league games. Ighalo has failed to reenact last season's imperious goal scoring form with Isaac Success for all his "promising talent'' not any closer to becoming a success. Watford has lost their fair share on the road, some of those games have been close to be honest but this is the league where fine margins go on to determine who bags the 3 points. That’s a warning to the gunners too, we haven’t lost any games since 2017 which is a good thing but we have to make a winning habit even when we don’t play well. Our performance over the weekend looks like an outlier given a recent penchant for kicking off games a bit lethargically but against the saints Arsenal took no prisoners as they rolled back the years with such eye catching display. Consistency to do that time and again, week in week out has been the bane of this team Can they Arsene (Touchline ban or not) get his boiz to rise up to the occasion of consistency as the league run hits the crescendo. Big questions there, a win against Watford will go a mile or two in answering them positively, so COYG!! I believe the star cast will come back for the game so expect some changes like the trio of Ox Jeff and Niles going back to the bench despite their weekend performance, while  Ospina Holding and Gibbs will likely make way for Cech, Koscielny and Monreal. The front three would be interesting as Wenger is suddenly blessed with many options since Welbeck and Walcott are back firing on all cylinders (Long may it continue) My predicted line up for the game with a bit of tweak to the usual is below :

Subs: Ospina, Bellerin, Jeff, Iwobi, Ox, Welbeck, Giroud

So people, thats it from us for an early look at the game for Tuesday night, hoping the boiz keep their focus, stay compact get the goals the 3 points and a clean sheet, do enjoy the game wherever you are.......Ciaoo

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