Minutes later that enigma that is Lukas Podolski was lurking in that left side pocket in the penalty box that he enjoys so much and Santi Cazorla's excellent eye of the needle pass found him, Lukas got the ball out of his feet and lashed it underneath a closing West Ham player and into the far corner. That goal was scored a minute before half time. It totally changed the mood and perhaps the narrative post match. Had we not found that equaliser then you can be sure that the Emirates would have rained down with boos. As it was we went into the second half with our tails up. In the first half Oliver Giroud cocked up an excellent chance when he was through on goal against the keeper but instead of taking the chance with his right he decided to use his left and try and scoop it
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West Ham (h) – Slow-roasted Ham, Cazt Iron & More – Iron Man's Match Thoughts
Arsenal’s first and third goals on the night were scored by Lukas Podolski who went some way to showing that the doubts about his overall play can be put to one side when he can finish in such style. His first came as he drifted into the area, latched on to a pass from Santi Cazorla and then fired the ball into the bottom corner. In the second half, Podolski was the quickest thinking man in the Emirates as he sprung the West Ham offside trap to receive Aaron Ramsey’s header before slamming into the roof of the net. It seems to have become the fashionable thing to slate our German international forward with people almost instinctively throwing around criticisms like “lack of movement” and “lazy” even when it isn’t the case. Podolski has had something of a difficult time of it this campaign. An explosive start was curtailed by a three-month injury set-back. He then struggled to find his place in what was a winning team before being shoehorned onto the left wing when the side went into freefall. While stats don’t tell the full story
It Must Be Love
The controlling of one’s emotions requires a certain level of emotional intelligence (intrapersonal intelligence), which is a subject I have written about before. This also helps one identify and assess the emotions of others too (interpersonal intelligence), thus giving a clearer and wider view of the general feelings regarding a certain situation. It may then seem obvious (as it did to me) that building one’s emotional intelligence is conducive to a much more contained and controlled approach to all aspects of life, but especially those which are dictated by emotion, such as supporting a football club. But emotional intelligence doesn’t come easy to everyone and some people really struggle with conscious emotional understanding. We’re all different human beings after all. At the same time, it’s clear to see which fans do have a higher level of emotional ‘understanding’ (which actually sounds better to me than ‘intelligence’) in the way they approach issues and debate, even simply when they are having a laugh or taking the piss.
West Ham (h) “Ramsey coming on showed a glimpse of what we are capable of” – Q&A
The man Podolski once again against West Ham coming up with the goods. The second half was a lot better and the intensity of the game rose. We remained solid at the back without them really threatening and created a few decent chances. Both Giroud and Podolski's second half goals were excellent. Giroud's a touch of class and finish. Podolski's second a brilliant blend of team play and once again a power shot into the roof of the net
West Ham (h) Thoughts & Predicted Line Up: Freshen up and let’s dig out 3 points
I think it might be roll the dice time, wherever the dice lands there will be plenty of opportunity to rage at the manager for said decision. Rest Ramsey and Chamberlain while failing to get a result could lead to fingers pointed at taking the opposition lightly. I mean 'They are professional footballers, they should be able to handle a game twice a week'
Wigan (n) Thought & Line Up: Time to turn up with a ‘proper performance’
In Arsène's press conference he kept talking about how we didn't come up with the right performance at Goodison Park last weekend and that we need a proper performance to get through. It is difficult to disagree with that but what is a proper performance? What do we have to do to achieve this? I don't know but I do know what I would like to see. Some aggression both with and without the ball. I want to see us fighting hard to get the ball back when we do not have it. How many times have you seen an Arsenal team play that way against a lower placed side and lose? When we are fully up for it? Yeah I can't think of any either. I also want us to be aggressive when we are in possession. I've spoken many times about our patience in our approach being the one thing that kills us just as much as it helps us. We have to pass at a high tempo and create chances.
Your Vision – Arsene Wenger: The man who once led a revolution, now struggling with evolution
A few seasons back one could sympathize with Arsene, he had to build squads with a meagre budget thanks to the debts incurred on building the Emirates which he did with aplomb. Key players left at regular intervals and yet he plodded on building his squads and bringing Arsenal to the brink of greatness only to have it seized due to a combination of injuries, bad luck and lack of mental strength. This while Chelsea and Man United continued to dominate the landscape of English football, a period that also heralded the rising of the blue moon in the shape of Manchester City.
Why I want unconventional Wenger to finish his job
It's time for a change
It feels like you can speak to a person for hours, explaining to them that we choose not to take the route of a sugar daddy, we stuck to our principles and our aims have silently been lower than usual. We've had to wait and we're just now seeing the benefits of the situation, it would have taken any team 2-3 years (with the availability of players) to go from being a 4th competing squad to a sound title winning squad. You can come out of that conversation feeling nothing you say will get through, because when a set of bad results happen, people ignore the context of our situation and look at the last 9 years without a trophy as a succession of failure upon failure. They look at the last 9 years without a trophy as a failure, yet if we win the F.A. Cup this season, it will somehow, still be seen as failure by many due to our late performances in the league and so on.
Everton (a) – Unhappily Ever After, Taking the Mik & More – Iron Man's Match Thoughts
One could put this down to changes in personal but for more than one player to make the same mistake over and over again, you have to wonder if they even bother looking into fixing the increasing number of things currently going wrong. Of course, once you establish defensive stability with a settled back four, it might be difficult for new players to come in and maintain that. Although, this is an argument that is countered by the fact Everton have, in recent weeks, been forced to field John Stones at the heart of their defence. Against Arsenal, the 19 year old with less than 20 Premier League appearances to his name looked far more assured and far more comfortable than any one of our own back four on the day. Stones has manfully stepped in for the injured Phil Jagielka in a way Thomas Vermaelen cannot seem to be able to do for Laurent Koscielny.