Saturday, November 1, 2014

Arsenal 2014-2015: November

Saturday, November 1, 2014 10AM EST Arsenal vs. Burnley


A visit from new boys Burnley is a welcome sight for Arsenal fans wanting to see their team get going and start playing like the potential title contenders everyone thought they were. Arsenal will try to win consecutive league matches for the first time this season, which in itself is hard to believe. A victory versus Burnley combined with their last league match at Burnley and the club's Champions League victory at Anderlecht would give the club three in a row. This should be a no brainer.






While Arsenal won the match 3-0 there were nervous moments as it took the Gunners until late in the second half to make the breakthrough. 


Of course it was Alexis Sanchez that made an impact on the match. Despite being one of the shortest players on the pitch, the Chilean scored on a header to give Arsenal the 1-0 lead. Two minutes later, youngster Calum Chambers slotted in from a corner and it was game over.

A Kieran Gibbs cross in the 90th minute was slotted in by Sanchez for a brace. In the end it was a solid 3-0 win and a much welcomed clean sheet.

 Another highlight of the match was the long awaited return of Theo Walcott after 9 months on the sideline. He's been missed and should definitely add some pace and punch to the Arsenal offense.







Tuesday, November 4, 2014 2:45PM EST Arsenal vs. Anderlecht Champions League Group Stages Match Day 4



Arsenal host Anderlecht knowing that a win combined with a Borussia Dortmund draw or win versus Galatasary would see them through to the knockout stages of the tournament.





Well that was an absolute debacle. Everything was going well and Arsenal were flying when the Ox scored Arsenal's third in the 58th minute. It truly looked like a laugher was on the cards, but unfortunately the laugh was on Arsenal as they completely fell apart and were lucky to leave with a draw.


Before the disaster unfolded everything started off well. Arteta gave Arsenal the lead when he scored on a penalty. Sanchez scored a terrific second in the 29th minute and the half ended 2-0.

It was 3-0 after 58 minutes, but that's when everything changed. Andrelecth's Vanden Borre put the ball in the back of the net in the 61st minute and despite the fact that he was at least a yard offside the goal was allowed to stand. It didn't seem that big of a deal at the time, but it was perhaps foreshadowing of what was to come.


Nacho Monreal gave away a penalty in the 73rd minute and then Arsenal totally threw away the point when they allowed Anderlelcth to complete the comeback with just moments left in the match. From 3-0 to 3-3 in less than a half hour. Terrible and demoralizing all around.










Sunday, November 9, 2014 11AM EST Arsenal at Swansea



After Arsenal's midweek meltdown let's hope that a trip to Swansea will provide a better outcome. Most Arsenal fans are still confident in the team, but there are definitely some cracks in the armor among supporters.






Well that was not what was needed to erase the memories of the Anderlecht meltdown. In fact, this loss is only going to give more fuel to the haters and make things around Arsenal a bit more ugly.


It was always going to be a tough match and the first half ended scoreless. The breakthrough came in the 63rd minute when Welbeck played provider for Sanchez who scored his 6th goal in his last four league matches.



Swansea got one back on an absolute perfect free kick from 25 yards by Gylfi Sigurdsson. There was nothing that Szczesny could do and sometimes you've got to give credit where it's due.

 There was plenty of blame to go around, however, for Swansea's second goal three minutes later. Arsenal were caught out and allowed Bafetimbi Gomis to head home.

 Despite the fact that there were still over ten minutes left in the match, Arsenal couldn't find another goal and they came away from Wales with a 2-1 defeat.







Saturday, November 22, 2014 12:30PM Arsenal vs. Manchester United



 While Arsenal have not been at their best so far this season, Manchester United have been even worse. If ever there was a time to give Manchester United a taste of their own medicine it would be now. Quite simply this is a match that Arsenal must win. It's time to send a message to the rest of the league that Arsenal will not be soft against the top teams in the league.








MATCH STATS

Possession39%61%90minsArsenalManchester United

Look at the possession statistics above. Then consider these stats:
  • Shots: Arsenal 23 Manchester United 12
  • Shots on Target: Arsenal 9 Manchester United 2
  • Corners: Arsenal 11 Manchester United 5
So of course Arsenal won this match, right? You'd be right in assuming that based on the overwhelming domination outlined by these statistics. Unfortunately, Arsenal have been excellent at dominating matches only go to on and lose....and that is what they did again today in shocking fashion.

 Arsenal basically gave the game to Manchester United. United didn't defeat Arsenal as much as Arsenal gifted the match to United. It was an undeserved victory for United, but one which Arsenal threw away.


Despite being on top throughout the first half, the game went in to the break goalless. The breakthrough came in the 56th minute when the unreliable Wojciech Szczesny came out to clear a cross and collided with Kieran Gibbs. Gibbs was cruelly credited with an own goal when the ball bounced to Valencia who fired a shot that bounced off of a kneeling Gibbs.

 Arsenal were then exposed late in the match when they were left short in the back and the always annoying Wayne Rooney was able to run towards goal unchallenged and give United a second goal.

 The only positive for Arsenal came too late to matter. Olivier Giroud came on in the 77th minute after missing the past three months of the season with a broken tibia. He scored on a great shot in the 90th minute with 8 minutes of injury time added. Unfortunately that was all Arsenal could muster and a dominating performance resulted in a loss.









Wednesday, November 26, 2014 2:45PM Arsenal vs. Borussia Dortmund Champions League Group Stages Match Day 5




 What is there to say? The mood around Arsenal these days is terrible and the fans are currently busy slagging each other off. Dortmund are currently having a miserable season in the Bundesliga, yet the way Arsenal have been going, expectations are extremely low. In addition to injuries, it appears that the mentality of the Arsenal players is weak. They seem to be intimidated easily and beat themselves before even playing the match. Let's see what happens. Hopefully we'll get a Thanksgiving gift.









 Wow, a complete all around professional performance by the entire team. From start to finish Arsenal were in total control and for once the defense looked solid throughout. There was an evident energy on display from every player.

 While every player had a good match, the standouts were definitely the amazing Alexis Sanchez and left back Kieran Gibbs. While Gibbs was unlucky in being credited with an on goal in the Manchester United debacle, he played as if he needed to exorcise those demons.


 When it was announced that Ya Ya Sanogo was starting up front, the abuse on Twitter was on display. However, when Sanogo scored off of a Santi Cazorla pass in the second minute of the match, he quieted the haters and got Arsenal off to the best possible start.

 The Ox worked his socks off and came close to scoring on several occasions. Late in the game he came close as his screaming shot hit the crossbar.

 While he wasn't tested too often, goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was solid and looked comfortable in net. While it may just be a coincidence, Arsenal were able to keep a clean sheet without the often questionable Wojciech Szczesny. I personally feel that Szczesny is not good enough to be Arsenal's number one so it's nice to see Martinez put some pressure on the Pole. Of course it would be great if Colombian David Ospina wasn't out injured.


 Let's hope that this match launches a run of successful play. With Arsenal securing it's place in the Champions League knockout stages for the 15th consecutive season, it's now time to get back on track in the league.












Saturday, November 29, 2014 7:45AM Arsenal at West Brom


Let's be honest, it's been a wretched month for Arsenal. The club is off to it's worst start since 1982 and the dissent among Arsenal fans is at an all time high. The Wenger out brigade are getting louder and for fans such as myself that have always supported the manager, it's becoming increasingly hard to defend him.

 The first 11 matches of the season have been sub par. 4 wins, 5 draws and 2 losses are just not good enough for a club with the level of talent that Arsenal have.
What the hell is this thing?

 The loss at Swansea, followed by the inexcusable loss to an inferior Manchester United at home have left fans frustrated. However, the club's solid midweek victory over Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League may just be the lift that the club needs to get their season back on track.

 A visit to West Brom should not present Arsenal with major problems. As we've seen so far this season, no victory is an automatic so here's hoping that the Gunners can use the Dortmund victory as a confidence boost and get their domestic season back on track.






It was a solid 1 Nil to the Arsenal performance by the Gunners. Sort of a throwback to the boring, boring Arsenal days. Where we've seen Arsenal dominate in terms of possession, shots and corners and lose, this was more off an even match with regards to possession. However, Arsenal had 17 shots to West Brom's 9 and were on target 5 times to West Brom's 1. 

As we've come to see of late, however, the only stat that matters at the end of the match is the score; and in this case it was 0-1 with Arsenal taking the three points.

 Despite the fact that the match went to the half scoreless, there was never really any doubt that the Gunners would walk away winners.

 A rejuvenated Santi Cazorla was the man of the match.He complete 93% of his passes and played provider in the 60th minute with an impressive run and cross which found Danny Welbeck who headed home to give Arsenal the lead. 

Maybe it's just a coincidence, but with Szczesny out of action, 22 year-old Argentinian keeper Emiliano Martinez kept Arsenal's second straight clean sheet. It was also the first match in weeks that Mertesacker and Koscielny were playing together as the Frenchman returned to action after over six weeks out.

Despite the second victory in a row, there were some idiots in the crowd that decided the end of a solid victory was the appropriate time to hold up a disrespectful banner telling manager Arsene Wenger to hit the road. Yes, Arsenal have not been doing as well as we fans would like of late, but I am convinced that these disrespectful fools are under the age of 16 and therefore can't remember all that Arsene Wenger has done for Arsenal. Frankly it was embarrassing.
Titles and FA Cups aside, hit the road....totally disrespectful











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