Proverbial Chain Around Arsenal

Just before the break Andy Gray said that Arsenal has been better than Chelsea in just about everything except the only thing that matters – goals column. Arsenal played great football between the two goals, after the second goal and even in the second half. We know that the striking has been a problem for us ever since that unfortunate injury to RvP. But there is more to it than lack of quality striker for us. There is a problem with the mindset of our players and we @ 11G urge Mr.Wenger to hire a specialist to deal with this issue..

Time To Give Chelsea The 'Blues'!?

Whilst many a faithful have been busy cursing the cruel fixture list which entitled us to face the likes of Aston Villa, Manchester United, Chelsea & Liverpool over a span of little under three weeks; the optimists would have seen this as an opportunity to break from the pack & stamp one’s authority on the ever-so unpredictable nature of the league. Two games down the mini-league (i.e. the quartet of AVFC, MUFC, CFC & LFC), we see ourselves up by a solitary point, & down by more than just moral. As we build up to the massive duel with our trans-London rivals Chelsea, 11G looks into this game with the ‘6-points’ at stake, & the 6 things Arsenal must set right if they are to regain their momentum & with it, their aspirations to become ‘Champions’ come May..

New Recruites? 'None'!

There are few football managers who never fail to surprise you. Take Benitez & his eccentric team-selection. Take Sven Goran & his audaciously picking Theo for WC ’06, or for that matter take Mourinho & his pre-match banter. And then there are some whom you can bet your lives on, that come what may, they won’t ever change. Arsene Wenger belongs to the latter few.

With the introduction of the so called ‘Transfer-Window’ at the start of the decade, everything pertaining to the way transfers were carried out in English football, took a flip. As soon as the season ended, managers wore their thinking hat to pluck out the best deal, agents went over-board to ensure their cadets bag the highest package & they in-turn the maximum brokerage, & even the players themselves gave their best to ensure possible suitors kept an interest. Although the winter transfer-window was never the one making the headlines, the trend of suddenly ‘coming-alive’ per say, was still to be found prevalent amongst players. But all this & more till Arsene arrived on the scene. With him around, transfers were never a routine. He never bought players for the sake of it, & to the astonishment of the faithful, didn’t buzz even when his Arsenal were found floundering, getting trashed by Chelsea & United, or constantly flattering to deceive in Europe et al. But then he is the Professor for nothing & as another winter window bids adieu, we @11G look forward to the reminder of the season with his sole recruit this time around. You guessed it, it’s NONE!!

Roon (read: Run) Over!

Lets forget whatever happened @the Emirates two days back and look forward to the road ahead. Is this team a ‘title contender‘ or a mere ‘pretender‘. The Gunners has been losing consistently to top sides and inspite of that, we are supposedly having a ‘good’ season. Let’s face it, the pundits doubted out top-4 finish not long back. 11G analyzes the season from my perspective..

The Titans Are Back!

Before I even begin with my piece tonight, let’s take a moment & delve into what’s in store for the Gunners over the next two weeks. Manchester United – Home. Chelsea – Away & Liverpool – Home. I have been following the game for some 8 & a half seasons now, and never before in my rather recent memory has any team faced such a daunting run-in of games. Not to forget the stalemate against Aston Villa two days back. By the end of it all, clarity will be restored as to whether they are fighting for the title for the first time in 5 seasons, or it’s back to ensuring a routine top-4 finish. Any which way, it’s gonna be a roller-coaster ride & We@11G are here to guide you through all this.

~So let’s get it started in here..~ <BEP anyone!?>

Let’s analyze the clash against United in detail first up..

It's Arsenal..It's United..It's 3D!

This coming Sunday, the battle lines will be clearly ear-marked as the Gunners face the ‘Red Dolls’ on their own turf i.e. the Emirates. Unlike the last few seasons, when the fixture was of not much consequence, it will be this time, if bare statistics are to be kept in mind. Points or otherwise, this rivalry has been the cream of the lot, right through the noughties, & it shall be no different in two days time. 11G looks forward to the ‘big one’ with the latest filtering in..

A Tight Affair

On a night when Wenger could have entered the history books by registering his 300′th league win as a manager, Arsenal flattered to decieve & left the gaffer wondering what could have been. With proceedings tighter than ever at the summit, nothing less than a victory was what the doctor ordered. 11G briefs an exciting yet not-so-thrilling stalemate..