In today's Arsenal Vision Post Match Podcast: Paul (@PoznanInMyPants) and Tim (@Stilberto) talk about the 2-2 draw against PSG in the Champions League. Giroud’s selection, Xhaka’s continued absence, and late subs all mentioned in this weeks Arsenal Vision podcast
In today's Arsenal Vision Post Match Podcast: Elliot (@YankeeGunner) and Paul (@PoznanInMyPants) talk about the 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford, the Granit Xhaka situation plenty more in this weeks Arsenal Vision podcast
I have a feeling that we may have to battle our way to victory rather than turn on the style if we are to beat Paris St German on Wednesday night. If we are to manage that feat, that would be fine. It is something previous Arsenal sides have lacked in the past, once the heavy legs kick in and you have to rely on more than technical quality we have not always found the answer but today we are not playing our best yet we prove to be difficult to beat, fight until the very end and pick up results when we have off days
Yet this weekend holds an entirely different prospect: Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese manager has almost taken on cartoon-esque status when it comes to his rivalry with Wenger. He’s the Wile Coyote to our Roadrunner, the Bluto to our Popeye, the Dick Dastardly to our Wacky Races, with emphasis on the Dick. Perhaps that is being unkind or at least disparaging in my comparison because at least Wile, Bluto and Dick all have some form of likability – an inherent hopelessness or ineptitude that casts them in a somewhat favourable light
In today's Arsenal Vision Post Match Podcast: Elliot (@YankeeGunner), Clive (@Clivepafc) and Tim (@Stillberto) talk North London Derby, Granit Xhaka’s defensive improvement, replacing Hector Bellerin, risking Alexis Sanchez and plenty more in this weeks Arsenal Vision podcast
Without Sanchez and with Iwobi struggling in his current capacity, Arsene may choose to adapt his preferred starting eleven and include the hot and cold Oxlade Chamberlain in place of the young Nigerian. Despite the England manager being a firm admirer of Oxlade Chamberlain, the wide man has been left at home by Gareth Southgate. Recent ups and downs have probably cost him a place in this current England squad but the Ox’s capacity for the unpredictable is akin to Sanchez’s explosiveness. Both players, to their credit boast an ability to beat a man
Unfortunately we lacked the sharpness of our spanking of Chelsea or a few other high tempo home games we’ve played in this season. It’s difficult to put your finger on why this is but I wonder if rotation played it’s part a little. I mean you cannot really win can you? You play your players too much and tiredness can be used as an excuse or you bring in too many fresh faces at once and perhaps those players are not ready to play with the same intensity, sharpness and fluidity of a team that perhaps has played 2-3 games of football in a row
Anyway we have some players to add back to the squad after injury and knocks which is great. I think Arsene has been juggling his squad rather nicely in this regard. Holding players back until the right moment and I think he has done that this time with the likes of Theo Walcott, Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal. He had done the same with Aaron Ramsey and Oliver Giroud before them, keeping them away for a little longer than perhaps they would have wanted but making sure they could (hopefully) make a lasting impact rather than break down trying to rush them back in.
In today's Arsenal Vision Post Match Podcast: Elliot (@YankeeGunner), (@PoznanInMyPants) and Tim (@Stillberto) talk about the thrilling 3-2 away victory against Ludogorets in the Champions League. Talking points include the magical Mesut goal, the Oliver Giroud dynamic and plenty more in this weeks Arsenal Vision podcast
Time is ticking down, our mix and match team were looking a little tired in the second half as Arsene alluded to post match and dropped points were looking likely until a wonderful sequence of events. Mesut Ozil should be thanking Oliver Giroud as well as Mohamed Elneny for the assist as the big Frenchman showed some real battling qualities to sprint back and launch himself at the Ludogorets player who would have been the clear favourite to move the ball onto his team mate but Giroud showed the kind of fight we all appreciate from Alexis Sanchez. Giroud appeared out of nowhere to dispossess the player and Elneny took over. Spotting Ozil’s run which unfortunately I haven’t been able to see in it’s entirety because of the camera position. The Ludogorets keeper came racing out to meet the ball and Ozil