I am beginning to wonder if 4-5-1 is the way forward with this side. We have scored 7 goals in two matches with that formation, playing fantastic attacking football on both occasions

Good Afternoon Gooners,

It is a pretty good Monday morning isn’t it? Well apart from the weather over here in London.

The Arse news going around today is pretty much about the Manchester United victory and our chances for the rest of the season. If the league continues to go the way it has it will make for an interesting race. We haven’t seen a totally consistent side so far, probably Chelsea being the closest to that so far.

Arsene expects it to be a tough battle all the way to the end.

Wenger said:

“It could be tighter than everybody expected it to be because the teams in the second part of the league have improved.

“To go away and win at Stoke, at Blackburn, at Bolton, at Wigan, it’s difficult, more difficult maybe than 10 years ago.

“And to deal with the Champions League and all these games is very difficult.”

One thing I would like to see at some point is the whole squad fit for a stretch of 10 games or so at least, not only fit but match sharp. If we do get that opportunity to witness that then you can bet your bottom dollar ermm pound that we will see a very strong team. A side capable of being anyone, anywhere, anyplace, anytime. I can’t think of ANYmore.

Arsene continued:

“I didn’t imagine the consequences of a defeat. I felt beforehand that it was important not to think about that, just think you want to win.

“Part of the preparation was to go into the game with a winning attitude – that is what we tried to build up.

Little white lie from the manager, he would have thought and dreaded losing that game but obviously would not want the players to think about it, even though they obviously did.

As I have said, I don’t think it would have made a massive difference in terms of points for the side at this stage, it was more the mental aspect.

Cesc Fabregas who, although wasn’t back to his brilliant best he still showed great commitment and passion as well as proving the second assist for Nasri had his say on the game.

Cesc said:

“We did it for the manager, because he has believed a lot in us.

“Without him, probably apart from Gallas and Silvestre, all the rest of us may never have had the chance to play football. We owe him a lot and have to show that on the pitch.

“We definitely knew there would be some talk about whether Arsenal were capable of winning anything if we had lost this match.

“Sometimes we lose playing the same way and everyone says we are not good.

“Sometimes you are more fortunate in front of goal and sometimes you are not. This is football, this is life.

“With losers, their heads go down. We have shown we have character. We played against a great team and won under a lot of pressure. So we are happy.”

I hope we see the real Cesc Fabregas soon, if he is on song (not literally of course) then we will start getting back to our old self. Samir Nasri’s goal can hopefully kick start his season, he had a little dip of form of late but his showing against Manchester United was first class.

I am beginning to wonder if 4-5-1 is the way forward with this side. We have scored 7 goals in two matches with that formation, playing fantastic attacking football on both occasions. (Fenerbahce [a]. Manchester United [h]) We pass the ball better and have more options with that formation. The issue is obviously Van Persie and negative sides at home. The 4-5-1 of 2007/2008 had less goal threat. Hleb was behind Adebayor, Eboue on the right with either Rosicky or Diaby on the left. This time we have Walcott and Nasri in wide areas they both can score goals and create chances. As I said, you don’t want to leave out the talent of Van Persie because he can score goals and do that little bit different in games.

Perhaps the boss has it right at the moment. 4-5-1 in difficult matches, reverting back to 4-4-2 when we need to attack sides. It will be interesting to see what happens when Van Persie is playing very well and scoring goals and we have to go away to Stamford Bridge, Old Trafford or Anfield.

Michael Essien has not been as generous with praise to our club about playing the football that we do.

“Everybody likes to watch beautiful football,” he told The Sun. “But to play beautiful football without picking up points is … I don’t think it’s worth it.

“Arsenal is one of those teams that just plays beautiful football.

“But at the end of the day they don’t get the points that they want to.

“Win ugly or beautifully – I don’t care.”

I think Arsene should make a print out of that and stick it on the Stamford Bridge dressing room when we play them. Then come out and say that you do not see the point in playing ugly football and losing against attractive football.

Before all this we are back in the Carling cup. I love the Carling cup this year, not as much as Tottenham fans I’m sure but it is almost like having a second team to support, I suppose it is in a way. We haven’t seen our boys play together since the wonderful Sheffield United performance, maybe they may feel a little pressure after that display especially facing a Premier League team who have had a decent season so far. It will be a test for the youngsters, hopefully one that they can stand up to. It shall be interesting to see who plays up front as Bendtner is our only first team striker at the moment. Arsene may not want to risk playing him so we could see Jay Simpson alongside Carlos Vela in attack.

Not sure if that is a strike force that compliments each other but it would be a direct frontline. Jay Simpson reminds me of a George Graham front man more than a Wenger player. He is stocky, powerful and has good work rate. Maybe he is short of technical ability compared to the likes of Vela, Van Persie etc but I like his energy. He almost reminds me of a young Kevin Campbell.

Hopefully I’ll be able to watch the game, my partner is due to give birth today so I told her to wait until after Tuesday. My first daughter was born on the evening where Arsenal beat Juventus 3-1 at Highbury, Ljungberg’s double. I remember checking my phone through the labour to find out the score! haha, nothing can take me away from my Arsenal.

Have a super super day. Don’t disappear before leaving a comment. Back tomorrow (maybe!)

Mean Lean

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