Paid The Kos To Be The Boss

Tackling The Shit Out Of All And Sundry

You would have to say this man has come quite a long way since that dark day at Wembley when he and Szczesny combined to fluff their lines and allow a last-gasp winner to concede the Carling Cup to Birmingham City. Yet Laurent Koscielny has simply transformed himself from then to now. While there were promising signs last season of his worth, there were many skeptics about the wisdom of bringing a player with only one season of top flight experience under his belt, and one of Europe’s ‘lesser’ leagues at that. 


Kos has put paid to those doubts with a string of commanding performances, reaching their zenith at Stamford Bridge in the 5-3 victory that announced Arsenal’s reemergence as a Premier League side to be reckoned with. Watching him play you get the sense that he just loves to defend. He is Arsenalish from a time that seems to pre-date Wenger, but at the same time a quintessential signing from the manager.


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No Shame In Our Game

from the bunker

CARLING CUP Quarterfinal

Ashburton Grove

Referee:  Lee Probert

Arsenal 0-1 Manchester City 29 November 2011

Aguero [83]

When the line-ups were released for this match I have to say I had a cheeky feeling we just might sneak this one. I had no idea that we would put in such a massive shift all over the park and after 90 minutes feel hard-done by to lose by a single strike from one of City’s plethora of high-priced attacking players.

From the outset it looked as though Mancini’s tactic was to keep us at arms’ length until the later stages, then bring on some of his even bigger guns to try and finish us off. This was never more evident than in the dozen or so passes to Pantilimon over a period of about 2 minutes early on, most of which came from Savic. That tactic, it appeared would get turned on its head somewhat, because we made a strong start and it was apparent we would give them a match.

True Grit

from the factory floor

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE

Ashburton Grove

Referee:  Mike Dean

Arsenal 1-1 Fulham 26 November 2011

Vermaelen [OG-65, 82]

For a few matches now there has been a common theme, that we were able to dig out a result when a month or so ago that possibility would have been very much called into question.  After quite the exertion in midweek to land the top spot in our Champions League group, a drop-off in energy and performance did not pose much of a surprise.

That drop-off wasn’t matched at the Football Factory. Our minion of NY Gooners turned back the clock with some true grouchy old man style ranting, a necessary evil due both to the scrappy affair unfolding and the need to establish a good view of the match on the odd array of screens on the main level. In a way it seems fitting that so many tourists are subject to the coarse vulgarities on offer. This is New York City after all.

Andrei Arshavin, Arshavin, Arshavin

OBEY

It would be a good time for this gent to get himself back into form. We approach a crucial phase of the season now, with fixtures coming thick and fast. With Wenger admitting in his L’Equipe interview that he realizes the same period last year took a toll on the team, and with the recent revelation that Van Persie was released from Holland duty because he was ‘in the red,’ we can use some quality to take the burden off of the skipper.

Andrei Arshavin doubtless has the needed class to help bridge that gap in the squad when RVP needs a break. Perhaps having secured Euro participation and the World Cup in two years’ time, the Russian can focus on club matters. I wouldn’t mind seeing him return to the team for Fulham, especially as he could use the time ahead of the Carling Cup match against City.


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Zzzzshoooop, Zzzzshoooop, Zzzzshoooop, Zzzzshoooop

from the bunker

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE

Carrow Road

Referee:  Phil Dowd

Norwich City v Arsenal 19 November 2011

Morison [16] Van Persie [27, 59]

Over the past few seasons the promoted sides have proven somewhat of a challenge to the Arsenal particularly in the early part of the season. With the disruption of international friendlies these matches can be even trickier, as the opponents often have few call-ups to national sides and can spend a good 10 days getting the bus parked just right in front of the goal.

The expected rearguard action from the hosts produced a series of goal-line clearances, and the usual lack of cutting edge from the boys in red made for a frustrating afternoon.  For once such a display wasn’t down to that bloody handbrake. We cut them open time and again but a combination of poor finishing and resilient defending meant a score line that very much flattered the team in yellow.