Top of the morning to yall
I would have like to go on and on and on about the derby win
on Saturday. There were lots of talking points from the game that I would have
loved to write a blog about it on Monday but as my job did not permit me to do
that, I would have to move on to the Montpellier game.
Team news and there is bad news and good news, bad news
first – Theo Walcott is out of the game while Kieran Gibbs and Gervinho are
back in the squad for the visit of the French Champions. Terrible news if I may
say, Theo has been an inspiration for the team in recent weeks. Even the
sternest of his critics have been converted to fans of Theo Walcott with his
performances. On Saturday, he showed yet again why he is one of the top
performers in the team and why he deserves to be one of the top earners with a
top display and finished the game with a goal and an assist. I pray fervently
for the day when it would be announced he has agreed a new contract with us.
It’s amazing what one win can do for the morale and
confidence around a football club for both its players and fans. Since the
final whistle on Saturday, the vibes around Arsenaldom have been different. It
feels like it’s a different team that threw away 2 goal leads against Schalke 04and
Fulham in successive games, it felt like a different team that was played to
submission at Old Trafford a few weeks ago.
In my last blog, I opined that the interlull was a probable
cause of the bad run of form from the team. Since the last interlull, we played
7 games in all competitions, won 2, (QPR and Reading), lost 3 (Norwich, Schalke
04 and Man U) and drew 2 (Schalke 04 and Fulham). I mentioned that the
interlull had broken their stride and probably another one was required for
them to get their groove back.
Yes it’s been just one game since the interlull but it felt
different. Both the win and the performance to go with it were magnificent and
even some people have suggested that the team go on a round trip to Panama just
like Cazorla did before every league game if it would assure performances like Saturday.
Who says two wrongs don’t make a right?
Montpellier is next in line and it’s a very bad time for Montpellier
to face Olivier Giroud as he has been in perilous form for us in recent weeks. The
last time the 2 sides met, he was still trying to find his feet after his
summer move but these days, he is a different player altogether and the team
are playing him to his strengths. Bullish in the air, packs a strong shot in
his left foot and a very hard team worker, he is proving to be everything the manager expected him to be.
It’s a must win game for the team and am sure they don’t need
to be told that. The permutations are obvious enough. A win will secure
qualification to the next phase of the competition – for the 16th consecutive
year under Wenger – but to top the group, we need Schalke 04 to drop points
while defeating Olympiacos in Greece on the final day. Lots of if’s and if’s
and like all fans, I hope we can pull off top spot in the group.
Line ups will definitely be different from the one that
mauled the Spuds – couldn’t resist bloating the situation-
I expect Oxlade-Chamberlain
to start on the right while Gibbs will return to his left back position. Koscielny
and Sagna might drop to the bench while Vermaelen and Mertesacker would hold
forte at centre back and Jenkinson would start at right back as Sagna is reported
to feeling jaded even before the thrashing of the spuds – yes I know, I know-
Thierry is back in town – hurray – the legend was in the
stands on Saturday to see his darling team thrash spuds in the derby. He is not
only in town for the game but to keep fit during the MLS close season and the
manager has not ruled out another loan move for the Arsenal legend. He says
“He has been practising with us,” the manager said. “Will I sign him again in January? I don’t know. I don’t rule it out. He is sharp.
“Last year I did it because we lost Gervinho. It was a good connection. This year we lose Gervinho again as they are playing in the Africa Cup of Nations two years in a row.
“So we will be confronted with a shortage. Particularly if Chamakh should go. I cannot stand in his way. Then we will be short.”
You know what he gives you. He gives you hope, especially when he comes on. That is the most important thing,”
“He is a communicator. An extrovert, very intelligent. He can only give good advice to players because he was in their position when he arrived here.
While we all love Thierry Henry and appreciate his
contributions to the club, I think it’s better that we move on. Thierry is not
used to the game at this level anymore and without being disrespectful to both
the MLS and Thierry himself, he just not what we need at this level of football.
I understand tha manager’s enthusiasm with wanting to sign a personality like
him even if it’s a short term loan, after all he has seen it, been there and
done it all, his words of wisdom to the up and coming players would be
invaluable and it would also be good for the atmosphere in the stadium – who can
forget the uproar when he scored against Leeds in January- but football is a
game where if your mind and your body are not in sync, it would not just work. And
Thierry’s body just won’t work with his fantastic football brain anymore.
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| Pandemonium as the King Scores against Leeds |
Wenger talks about Chamakh going to the Nations’ Cup in January
and Henry serving as a kind of back up to the team like Chamakh plays in the
team himself. If the manager feels we need another striker in January, let him
go out to the market and sign a player that's befitting of the statute of the
club and its fans.
I love Thierry Henry to death; he made me love football and
Arsenal but its best for us as a club to let Thierry to continue his retirement
in the MLS and not the madness that's the English League. If Wenger needs
another striker, let him go out in January and sign someone not Thierry, just
not Thierry.
That's about it for now folks, be right back for the weekend
edition on Saturday. If you agree or disagree, join the debate in the comments
section of the blog or on my twitter page @NigerianGunners.
God bless the Arsenal, Iree o.
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