Arsenal fans as "Wengerball". The style of play was breathtaking and fans not just of Arsenal but across the country were treated to what has become one of the fine examples of the beautiful game. The teams in the early 2000's especially could turn defence into attack within the blink of an eye but not only that, they managed to do it in style.
Arsenal colours Forget about Giroud's goals for a second, as impressive as the return has been. His all round game has been a joy this season. His awareness of others, his ability to flick the ball perfectly into the smallest of areas is fantastic. I am sure that side of his game is a big reason why Arsene went for him. Is there a better passer with his head in the Premier League than Giroud? When watching long kicks heading towards him you wonder what is going to happen next then the next second he has flicked the ball off to a player in space that I hadn't seen a second ago.
‘Who are you?’ Three words fans chanted at a slightly stunned looking Napoli side as they went two-nil down in less than 20 minutes. It was a fairly apt question, because Benitez’s team were made to look fairly ordinary.
Apparently Arsenal lack a top quality striker. Yet the ball keeps on finding the back of the net with Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil sharing two devastating goals during Tuesday’s performance.
At the heart of everything was the offensive axis of Ozil, Rosicky and Ramsey backed up by a hardworking and conscientious DM duo of Matthieu Flamini and Mikel Arteta. The latter got stamped on for his troubles in the second half.
Arsenal on the break, we know how they will play but it will be interesting to see what Arsene does. How does he approach the game, I imagine the first half will be a safety first approach and not much in the way of overcommitting, but I imagine that we will be more adventurous in the second half. Needless to say, the first goal will be vital.This could be the perfect game to rotate Mikel Arteta back into the equation. His passing accuracy from the back four could come in handy. I expect another change with Tomas Rosicky
Without delving into stereotypes too deeply, there has always been a belief that a British player offers you guts, hard work and a willingness to lay their bodies on the line. Looking at some of the most successful teams in the past decade or so, there has always been a British core at the centre of title winning teams. Chelsea have had it with Terry, Cole and Lampard, United had it with Ferdinand, Carrick, Giggs, Scholes and Fletcher, among others. Even Man City, with all their billions of pounds, saw fit to centre their team around a stable Gareth Barry. Whilst I’m sure you will find similar players from any nation, I think Wenger’s recent push for British talent was two fold; firstly all of these players are of the required quality to make it at Arsenal football club if they knuckle down and work hard, they demonstrate what a bright future the club has and the faith we have shown in them is being repaid. Secondly, as they have been part of this squad now for a few years and they all seem to have broken through at roughly the same time, with the
Arsenal to succeed this season, the secret is simple: get Aaron Ramsey off the treatment table. Currently, he's indispensable to the Arsenal team and he must be wrapped in cotton wool. Analysts and pundits alike seem to have finally taken notice of Ramsey's performances for Arsenal this season. His performances has been very efficient this season. No dazzling dribbles, no 'wow' flicks, no flair, but plenty of goals, a couple of assists, frightening amount of interceptions, mind-boggling number of tackles etc.
Arsenal were struggling to get a proper foothold on the game in the opening exchanges, Gnabry was seemingly the only player showing any kind of endeavour as he attempted to drive at the Swans' back four in an attempt to make something happen. It was this determination that led to him opening the scoring as he drifted infield from his original wide right position and pretty much found himself in a striker's position. Having peeled off the shoulder of the last man, Gnabry found himself free to receive a Ramsey pass and with a confidence that belies his 18 years, drilled the ball past Vorm and into the bottom corner sending the travelling gooner
Serge Gnabry started the game in pragmatic style as he did against Stoke but just before the half time whistle, he zoomed up the gears and drove at the heart of the Swansea defence in his bustling style of his, he had the awareness to slip the ball to Giroud who was clean through but the Frenchman