We Are The Wiser,Smarter Man City

The transfer window closed at 4:30 in the morning here.I know many of you would’ve still been awake and looked at the on-rushing wheeling dealing.Sadly,I had to wake at 6 and hence sleeping early was the only option.Before putting the lights off,the last thing I read was the Arteta deal being called off.Obviously I was worried and looking at our current midfielders(before him and Benayoun’s transfer),there was no reason to think otherwise.According to my memory,Aaron Ramsey,aged 20, has played 90 minutes of the 5 matches we’ve played this season.Without a single break.A step too far for me.And it certainly showed in the last match which I wouldn’t want to mention(I still will!).

So the first thing I did on waking up at 6 was of course check the deadline deals.And to be honest,I had it in my mind that Arsene had left it too late.Again.The first thing I read was Anton Ferdinand’s transfer to QPR.A day which started with such a bad name couldn’t possibly get better.Thankfully,it did.

And then came Arteta.10m pounds.Bloody brilliant.*Let’s get ready now* Oh wait….. Yossi Benayoun was also in Arsenal stores.I hardly cared about that loan thing.For me,he’s a player as good as Tomas Rosicky.Not any better,not any worse.

And I knew no other thing could cheer me up as this.Simply could not.

Oh and did I forget to talk about the transfers we made before I slept.There was this big giant centre-back we all were craving for.No offence but he’d crumble any player who’d not give his 100% on the pitch.At least he can!

Personally(just to remind that this blog is mine!) I prefer Koscielny over him.You may call it my secret admiration for him or simply because he’s technically more astound.Either way it’s a win for me.Oh and I again forgot to mention the giant’s name…Per Mertesacker it is!

With Vermaelan, it’s called “Verminasacker”.Not by me.Someone more creative!

Dos Santos as a left-back was also signed yesterday.I don’t know anything about him and hence wouldn’t pass any judgments.Though i know he’s got some Brazil caps under his belt.Something which one of our regulars Denilson Pereira Neves never could.And he never will.Nor will his children.

Another thing was that the net spend on the recent 5 transfers was just a bit less than 50m.And then came all Torres jokes.I’m sick of them and no longer find them funny.If you do,Twitter’s the place for ya.Just that I don’t recommend so.

Last is the Korean captain Park.Again,no knowledge on my part.Hope he’s better than Bendtner who’s shipped himself to Sunderland on a year-long loan.Him claiming to be the best striker is just an oxymoron.Obviously.

If you might(just might) be wondering why I haven’t written lately,it’s mostly because of some team losing 8-2 somewhere.Not that I care.

I wouldn’t like to talk about it and nor should I.Would just like to quote P.B.Shelley from one of him poetry I read “If Winter is here,can Spring be far behind?” And I HOPE the spring has already arrived.Or maybe it will against Swansea.

Here’s hoping…

Is This The Time To Criticize?

….Arsenal are preparing themselves for Leeds United next weekend. Though the chances of winning or for that matter drawing are pretty low,a rusty draw could be on the cards.And with Arsenal’s best player Denilson starting,things are looking a bit less cloudy.Tottenham Hotspurs(or should I say “THE SPURS”) have just won the Community Shield(having won the League last year) and Liverpool look to have bought some real gems…..

While this might seem a bit exaggerated, the truth is that’s how most Arsenal fans feel right now.Shit players,Shit performances,Shit manager and a Shit club pursuing our Shittiest player.To be honest,that’s a a Shit fan’s opinion of Arsenal.The very fact that we haven’t  had a substantially good Pre-season doesn’t mean we are a bad team.To get facts straight,I think Man United lost to some team recently.And the score.8-2.

Neither does that make them a bad team(well,there are other reasons for that!) nor does our not winning the Emirates Cup.Absolutely not.

I agree we have lost some players due to injury(again) but most of them don’t look too serious to be concerned about.And with the possibility of them missing the upcoming friendlies, it might as well turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

As I write, the Community Shield(Don’t worry,Spuds aren’t in it) is going on.And United losing it 1-0.They might well come back and win it.And they might not.*And the noisy neighbors(not ours!) are 2 goals up now*……*And United have equalized now*

The point is,Arsenal will really be tested at Newcastle for the first time this season.Every result before that means nothing.Not a paisa(or cent should I say ).The opening fixtures aren’t easy at all.And fans calling for Arsene’s heads doesn’t improve the situation.

And I also have a different and unpopular opinion on the ongoing Arsenal transfers.Particularly the transfers-Out part. We were on the brink of losing Fabregas and Nasri.The fact- We haven’t.Plain and simple.True we haven’t bought many but those bought look good.Real Good.And it honestly looks like it hasn’t ended.The least we can expect is a traditional Centre-half adjusted to the PL.Can’t help it but that reminds me of poor Squillaci.

The surprise in this pre-season has been the great performances of our otherwise-average players.Rosicky seems to have found his Mozzart-esque touch back and Arshavin looks up and running for the season.The talent was always there but wasn’t showcased enough by these players.Hopefully, it changes this year.Apart from the senior heads, the younger ones are also looking good.Ramsey has probably been the most consistent player this pre-season, Frimpong,though not great, has been decent.Gibbs,Afobe and co also seem to have upped their games.And that’s not for the future,but the present.The 2011-12 season.

Call me naive,or call me optimistic, depends on you.But I do have this great feeling about the upcoming season and I just hope Arsenal have learnt from mistakes in the past and all of their miseries in the past.I HOPE.

*On a good note,one of this Blog’s posts: Reasons To Be Cheerful  just won an Arsenal Season Review DVD 2010-11 courtesy of JustArsenal.com*

Up the Arsenal!

The preseason training is is full swing and Arsenal again look like a very strong proposition to deal with the coming season.The intricate passing,quick movement off the ball and perfect finishing(Ok sometimes!).And when the opposition needs help, we are ALWAYS there to score the best ever own goal.Jenkinson, who’s had an almost perfect start to his Arsenal career quickly learnt how to arse things up.But then again, even that was done is style.We, the Arsenal, always do it that way.

Perhaps the 2-1 result was of very less importance and all that mattered was that the players had a good outing and improved their fitness levels.But I’m quite sure if we’d lost or even drawn it, the press would have quickly pounced upon our weaknesses and highlighted the “Spend some Fucking Money” campaign.They’d have called for Arsene’s head to be chopped off and Arsenal to buy a certain Barton for 40m pounds. In the end, it was a 2-1 win against FC Cologne and except for that Henderson’s injury and CJ’s own goal, everything went according to plan.

Gervinho opened his scoring account with a beautifully lobbed shot from outside the box which surely would have reduced his anxiety.Every striker wants to get off the mark and the longer he fails, the more frustrated he gets.There were some mentions on Twitter regarding Torres’ scoring record with Chelsea when Gervinho got his 2nd with the best one being from @Ebou_Ebou :

Random stat: Fernando Torres: 18 apps for Chelsea, 1 goal. Gervinho: 16 mins for Arsenal, 2 goals.

For me, Gervinho looks a very decent player but one that should be given his time to adapt to the PL.No matter how good you are, it always takes some time.Playing against Cologne in a friendly is no match for a Stoke determined to fight for every single ball(you know their players haven’t got any!). So I’m sure Gervinho will be a huge hit at Arsenal but if it does take some time, I, for once, will gladly wait.

Talking about new players, I don’t know whether Miyaichi will get his work-permit or not but if he does, there’s no reason as to why we shouldn’t see him on a weekly basis.He’s still young and has a lot to learn but his energy might prove very handy in our title assault next year.

And now we move on to Carl.What a buy! To be very honest, I thought for a 1m pounds player, he’d at most be average.He’s proved to be everything but.Very solid at the back and also going forward, and anyways you wouldn’t expect an average player to lob one from 20 yards into his own net.Don’t believe me?Try doing that yourself.But jokes apart,the guy looks destined to have a legendary Arsenal career.

Last year, we lost Frimpong and Ramsey to serious injuries and this year, we might just have yet another one.Henderson’s injury doesn’t look very good to me or either Arsene so all we can do is hope for the best.Talking about the midfield, I was wondering whom will we play as a DM during the Jan-Feb period when both Song and Frimpong ship themselves off to Africa for the African Cup of Nation.Two years ago, we THANKFULLY had Denilson but now even he’s gone.We are so screwed without him, let me tell you.

That’s it from me.Hoping to write more in the upcoming days but no guarantees.

Till then.

Most Memorable Arsenal Matches

It’s just around 3 years since my support for The Arsenal began. At first, it was quite mild and I rarely watched them. But what amazes me is how far I’ve gone from their. Not a single match missed in almost two years(except the first half of CC semifinal 2nd leg ).  There have been good moments, bad moments and those brilliant moments. Along with it have come those awful moments like the Cup Final defeat. But it wouldn’t be fair not to suggest my journey with the Gunners as one hell of a ride.

Here are some of the most memorable moments of MY Arsenal-watching career(as a FIFA 11 commentator would say!). Just to inform you, its only been 3 years since I’ve started watching them, so I’m not counting the matches we’ve played before. This compilation is based on how great I felt when Arsenal finally won the game. Hope you like it:

7. Arsenal-Stoke City 3-1(Britannia)

 

 

 

 

 

Yeah I know about Ramsey’s horrific injury. I was watching it with volume muted and all of a sudden I had the worsts of thoughts. I wouldn’t tell what that was but that moment almost made me cry. But after that, we showed some real grit and ultimately were rewarded with a penalty in stoppage time. That wasn’t all. The Verminator managed to get another one and at that moment, I thought that now the title was ours and our players would win it for Aaron Ramsey. They gave it their all but still ended up finishing 3rd.

6. Arsenal-Bolton 4-2 (The Emirates)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remember the game where we were 2-0 down after Bolton scored the 2nd goal off a penalty. I do.Winning that game by more than a one goal margin would’ve taken us to the top of the league. And what I instantly thought after they scored twice was that we’d always crumble under the pressure of being at the top. And an hour later, I was proved all wrong. Goals from Rosicky, Vermaelan, Arshavin and another Arsenal player(c’mon you can’t expect me to remember that much. And if you do please inform me too!). And we ended up winning the match and going top of the league on goal-difference.

5. Arsenal-Hull City 2-1 (at their stadium)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nicklas Bendtner, to remind you, can sometimes finish. And a predatory finish was what won us the game that was level at 1-1 at Hull and probably kept our title chances alive. Denilson(oh all our poor players did well at that moment). He went for a 20-30 yard shot which the Hull keeper failed to hold on. And Bendtner was, for once, there to pick up the pieces and win it for Arsenal.

4. Arsenal- Manchester United 1-0 (The Emirates)

 

 

 

 

 

 

We were missing a number of key players. And with that, we were also missing some key ingredients such as our confidence. The feeling at the start of the match was a bit of worry and tension. All of that was gone when, just after 90 minutes the final whistle blew. We showed grit, determination and passion to win the game. Combine that with our quality and all that was left for Ramsey was to slot the ball home for the winner.

 

3. Arsenal-Barcelona 2-2 (The Emirates)

 

 

 

 

Maybe it was not the whole match, but the last 30 minutes that were too good to forget. Wenger brought on Theo Walcott and he split the Barca defencee like they were….. Arsenal themselves. Goals from him and Cesc at least kept the tie alive which eventually we ended up losing. Still it was a night to remember.

2. Arsenal Chelsea 3-1 (The Emirates)

 

 

 

 

 

 

A match that could be watched again and again by any Arsenal fan. Or a football fan in general. A game that had the biggest impact on Arsenal. We got to know our First-XI. We hunted the Chelsea players in pack and never allowed them enough space. For me, the most important match in the 2010-2011 season for us.

1. Arsenal- Barcelona 2-1 (The Emirates)

 

 

 

 

 

 

This has got to be at the top.  There wasn’t a part of the room where I was watching where I hadn’t jumped around. This match and every single detail of it will stay in my head for a long long time. Bendtner to Jack to Cesc to Nasri to Arshavin to GOAL!!!! The stadium erupted. And so did I.  The best match I’ve seen ever and possibly the best Emirates has ever witnessed.

That’s it for you. Hope you’ve liked the list.Another reminder it’s pretty much based on memory so I may have missed a match or two. Feel free to post yours below.

REVEALED! Cesc-Wenger Conversation This Summer

As usual, the Fabregas-to-Barcelona rumours are starting to erupt from nowhere again as the season comes to a close. Last year saw most Arsenal fans worried about the possibility of their talisman, Cesc Fabregas leaving for greener pasture. A conversation took place between him and Wenger in what was, for Cesc, the best he’s ever had in his life. Arsene persuaded him to stay for at least another summer. Here’s something similar that’d happen again this summer…

Cesc(enters): Arsene, did you call me?

AW: Yes of course.There are rumours suggesting that you’ve already agreed a personal deal with Barca.

Cesc: Yes I have.

AW:But why?

Cesc: Pique texted that he wanted a rematch of the Skipping competition we two used to have in our childhoods.

AW:And…

Cesc: C’mon boss, that was one competition I used to win. Here at Arsenal, no one plays that game and we also don’t win any trophies.

AW(angrily):What are you talking about? I hold the Emirates Cup every year for the same sake.

Cesc: But there are no quality players here…

AW:Wait a minute, you forgot Deni. And Bendtner.And your countryman Almunia.

Cesc: I can’t stand this much competition for places.How can I replace Denilson or Diaby?

AW: The truth is, you really can’t. Have a ever seen Deni’s 2 yard screamer. You and Xavi can only dream of such a goal. 

Cesc: Yes it’s true!Whenever I try that, it goes straight into the keeper’s hands. Kudos to Deni!

AW:At Barca, you won’t get as good a player as him. So why do you wanna go?

Cesc:Puyol wants the Barca shirt he put on me back.

AW:By the way, you looked good in that one.

Cesc:I sure did.

Cesc:I even looked at our new away kit. Good enough reason to leave huh?

AW:Yeah at least I don’t have to wear it. Any other reason?

Cesc:At least Barca’s rivals don’t do better than ours. Tottenham beat us at home and even did better in the Champions League.

AW:I’m sorry about that.But what can you do about a team comprising of apes?

Cesc: Also I think other Arsenal players abuse me in French.

AW(shocked):You haven’t learned French yet???

Cesc:We are an English team so why should I?

AW:Oh Cesc! You can counter-abuse them in Spanish.

Cesc: Almunia translates it when I do so.

AW(fuming):That Spanish traitor.

Cesc:What about the hair-cuts of some players…

AW:Namely…

Cesc:Song, Sagna ,Chamakh…

AW:What about Puyol’s?

Cesc:Oh about that! I had a fight with him when I was 6 and his hair never recovered from it.

AW:What if you leave and Puyol does the same to you.

Cesc:I didn’t think about that.I also broke Iniesta’s G.I.Joe.Even stole Messi’s Barney.Now I understand why Barca players wanted me to sign for them.

It’s a conspiracy.They want everything back.I love my hair.I still play with Barney.I’m staying at Arsenal.I’m staying.

AW:I knew you would.

Cesc:But what about trophies?

AW:The Emirates Cup has even worse teams this year.

Cesc:Yesssss!This was the best conversation of my life Arsene.You acted like a father-figure and saved me from that devil team.

AW:Any time.

Cesc:Thank you Arsene. I love you.

AW:It’s my pleasure.

Cesc leaves happily…

AW(to himself):Poor boy! Told him the same thing last year and he stayed. Nasri was right.Cesc has a poor poor memory.

And that’s how Cesc will again stay at Arsenal this year.

*This post is completely meant for fun and should not at all be taken seriously.*