Ozarsenal Blog

Our Exit from various Cups etc

2007-03-11T10:01:00.000+10:30

My take on this is a bit different to what's been touted so far.
It seems a lot of readers have only become supporters in the last 10 years and therefore have become accustomed to winning trophies regularly.
I believe that Arsenal should be aiming for silverware AT A MINIMUM every other year, so based on that philosophy we are behind the eight ball this season.
However, averaged out over the last 10 years, we are way in front and Arsene's reign has brought more success to Arsenal than at any other time in our history - including Chapman's era.
This season has been a "transitional season" (as lots of people have put it) and we have been decimated with injuries - and through all that, it looks like we will still finish 3rd or 4th and take one of the two remaining Champions League spots.
So to summarise: bad season, but considering the issues we've had - to still qualify for the ECL, it's not a complete disaster.

What do you think?

No Knees Up Here!

2006-11-06T10:33:00.000+10:30

But the players (with a couple of exceptions) could do with a kick up the Arsenal!

Even Arsene, with his petulant display on the touchline, reminded me more of Moron-ho than our normally cool calm and collected Guv'nor.

We probably deserved at least a point and there was a penalty shout not given to Hleb, but we really need to pick up before our next outing or we will end up with a typical November hibernation.

Arsene says Best Ever Display against CSKA at Home

2006-11-02T17:56:00.000+10:30

"We should have won by five, six or even seven."

"People will feel frustrated by the result but for me it is the best in the Champions League we have played since I've been here.

"Normally, you win this sort of game 7-0 - or maybe 7-1 because they (CSKA) had a chance as well but I still feel there is a lot of positives for the team.

"We were not guilty of trying to score the perfect goal this time. We dominated this Moscow team by miles and created clear-cut chances.

"There was a division of difference between the two teams but we have to take the result.

"Yet, I still feel that this team has great potential and it is how we mature in the coming months that will decide whether we win a trophy.

"At the moment, this group is very close and the decision that cancelled out Thierry Henry's goal in Moscow could be very costly but the referee played no part against us here. "

I have to agree with the man, even though I am disappointed with the result. The boys absolutely peppered the goals and the bloody thing just wouldn't go in! So frustrating, but an extremely exciting game! Fate, Karma, Luck - who cares...it just didn't happen and there is nothing more they could have done (apart from score!).

CSKA Home

2006-11-01T11:45:00.000+10:30

The Defence
Big game tonight at home. We must be sharper than we were against Everton on the weekend. Clichy, Senderos and Flamini are all in the squad and there are injury doubts about Hoyte, so there could be another reshuffle at the back.

We desperately need Eboue or Lauren back and Clichy fully fit to shore up the defence and give Gallas a decent run with Kolo in the centre.

Van Persie and Henry
We also need Van Persie to keep scoring - he seems to need that for his confidence at the moment. He still looks a bit indecisive and I think TH14 doesn't always help with some of the stares he gives him.

As a captain, Henry can certainly improve a lot. As a player Thierry always seems to be adding another feather to his bow. This season, his heading has improved a lot. His motivation has been a bit questionable at times though. Have you seen how he seems disinterested until we get a goal, then all of a sudden he's all over the place making runs and scaring the crap out of defenders?

Is it too much to ask him to be like that all the time, when he's getting paid 110k quid a week?

Pires Out - Rosicky In

2006-05-30T09:16:00.000+09:30

Tomas Rosicky

Not saying this is a straight swap of course, as they are two quite different players (apart from both being attacking midfielders and world class players).
25 year old Rosicky should give some competition to both the strikers and wing positions, as from what I've seen and read, he is like a cross between Bergkamp, Reyes and Hleb. The man to put through the final ball to the finisher after a bit of magic to create some space. I would expect to see him have a lot more assists than goals - like the Pires or Bergkamp of a couple of years ago.

My view - great signing which I think, is to replace Bergkamp's role as a supporting forward.

Walcott In World Cup Squad

2006-05-09T09:31:00.000+09:30

Sven has picked Theo Walcott in the England squad after a recommendation from Wenger to "take a risk on him". I guess with a squad of 23, you can afford to have one "risky" pick. Here are some of the reasons I think he picked him...

Ran an 11.5 second 100 metres at the age of 14
Quicker than Henry over 15 yards
Can play striker and wing
Excellent technique
Likes to "run at" and beat players
Prolific goal scorer (100 in 35 matches as an 11 YO and 5 goals in 9 games for the England U17 team)

I think thats worth a risk. SWP hasn't played enough to be much less of a risk, Defoe doesn't score enough and Bent doesn't have as much pace or technique. The key here is the second point. Anyone who has great technique and is faster than Henry over 15 yards can be extremely dangerous to an oppostion defence. If you put that with the carefree, "no fear" attitude of a 17 year old, it could just be the "Wild Card" that is needed in Sven's pack.

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Got a Champs league shindig happening?

2006-04-28T12:55:00.000+09:30

Or wanna get one going?

Let me know and I will do up invite cards for you and info like I have for other cities in Australia here... Details Here

Gunners Through to Champions League Final

2006-04-26T11:55:00.000+09:30

Well done to the boys in an "all hands on deck" defensive effort. A special mention to Jens Lehmann with another great penalty save, Jurgen must be happy with the WC coming up. Oliver Kahn now, has absolutely no chance of a recall.

Villareal had the lion's share of possession and Arsenal sat back and absorbed the pressure. Neither of the wing backs made forward runs and even Freddie sat back and marked Senna.

Anyway, nothing sensational, but a great team effort on getting through as obviously the first leg got us through.

Now, we need to concentrate on winning the last 3 games of the premiership and then have 10 days rest before the Champions League Final.

As predicted - We knocked Juve and Real out the Champions League

2006-04-10T10:29:00.000+09:30

Well, that wasn't too bad was it?

Next cab off the rank is Villareal, who also have a couple of big name scalps to their name.

If we can get through that, it will mean a final against either Barcelona or AC Milan.

Personally, I prefer Barca as it will be a game to watch regardless of the result and if we can beat them, then no-one will question our postion as the supreme team in Europe (at least not for this season anyway...)

Big Night in Turin coming up!

2006-04-04T12:20:00.000+09:30

Well, hopefully my next post will have a headline of "We knocked Juve AND Real out of the Champions League".

This year it's all in our hands, with a good start from the first leg.

Any realistic result apart from a 2-0 to them should see us through.

Can't see them scoring more than 2 against us after watching the last game. And the way we are playing we should score at least one (and that's my head talking - my heart's saying 3-0 to the Arsenal!).

So, everyone keep everything crossed and cheer the lads on and we'll be off to the semi finals.

One step at a time...

We Knocked Real Out Of The Champions League!

2006-03-10T12:51:00.000+10:30

Can you believe that?

Well, it's true, but hopefully we (and Arsene and the boys) can keep a lid on the excitement. The reality is we are only into the quarter finals and there are still 3 matches to win.

Good to see Hleb starting to make some more intelligent runs (apart from first 10 mins).

Senderos was a bit shaky with that clearance near the end and Lehmann definitely saved us again - brilliant! as my father in law would say...

Henry had a smile on his face as some of his younger teammates were quick to swap shirts with the beaten Galacticos at the end. A reminder when as a youngster, his Monaco team knocked off the Mighty (sic) Manchester United and he did the same thing.

Just goes to show we can beat anyone and now the youngsters must have a great deal more belief - and the shirt to prove it!

Sol me old mate

2006-02-08T14:49:00.000+10:30

Glad to see Sol back in training. Hope he can get that hunger back - we need him!
Would be nice to get that "trusting" feeling back too...