ARSENAL BEAT SUNDERLAND - ANALYSIS

Wow, it ain't easy being an Arsenal fan!

An extremely hard-fought 1 - 0 win today at Sunderland. And a deserved win but yet again we didn't make it easy on ourselves. Karl Jenkinson's second yellow in the 62nd didn't help the grey hairs!

I'm starting to think Arsenal should be sponsored by 'Just For Men'.

Santi grabbed the winner in a much needed win.

Where do we start? How about the first half...

We dominated the midfield from the first whistle. Absolutely owned it!
One of the strongest engine-room performances from Arsenal all season. Although it only lasted until Wilshire came off injured in the 50th minute. The injury didn't look too serious, it seemed more precautionary. Both he and Wenger locked eyes (Arsene's hawk-eyes to Jack's furrowed brow) and then cut his afternoon short without another word.
It's an obviously indication that our boy played way too many minutes in the last few days, the words 'burn-out' we're on everyones lips even before the lineup was announced.

But holy "whateverRobinfromBatmansays?" did Jack dominate the game up until then! He was out-playing his England performance by a mile, I think even Iniesta would have been doubled-over, shaking a disconcerted head at today's demonstration of ability.
His only fault was not actually taking the shots that were to then be squandered by his team mates.

He charged up the midfield with directive power and tore apart the defense with his pin-point, short one-two's and eye-of-a-needle precision.
And Cazorla's goal was orchestrated in that familiar fashion.

Jack's surging run was thread to Wilshire, who then laid-off the ball for Santi, without taking a touch he buried it hard and low from just outside the box and in to the bottom corner.

See the video below for the full action...

In all honestly we should have gone home about 12 - 3 winners. Both Wojciech Szczesny and Simon Mignolet were outstanding in goal. Mignolet especially in the first half, Szczesny on the other glove had very little to do.
The Pole between the poles saved the day late in the second, his two reaction saves in the 77th saved the day. Tipping Fletchers header over the bar from in the 77th and then a messy set piece turned into an absolute blinder caught everyone but him by surprise.

Theo Should have had a hat trick today, breezing a few inches wide of the far post and finally being denied by the woodwork on a day that just wasn't to be 'his'.
Giroud really should have had a few too but he seemed quite wasteful on the front foot today. His defending on the other hand was top notch, deep-clearing headers from our box really helped out fragile back line in the second half.

The final whistle couldn't have come sooner, and when it did it felt more like a stoppage time winner than, 'lets get the f*@k outta here!'
The camera stayed fixed on a crouched Santi Cazorla, gasping for breath as the seats cleared from the Stadium of Light.

Job well done.

ARSENAL PLAYER RATINGS:

Wojciech Szczesny - 7 - His second half was absolutely excellent, hardly troubled really, but when he was he delivered the goods. Saved us!

Per Mertesacker - 6 - Looked strong at the back, good in the air

Bacary Sagna - 7 - Played brilliantly today in the center, battled to the final whistle when we needed him most. Will be sad to loose him in the summer. If...

Nacho Monreal - 5.5 - Looked a little shakey in the first half, the grim-North may have bared a culture shock today.. Rose and Sessegnon left him looking sluggish at times but he found his game shortly before halftime.

Delivered some decent crosses and pushed forward when necessary. Hats off for the last twenty minutes.

Karl Jenkinson - 2 - Hate to say it but he was shite today. If we didn't need him as cover I would say loan him out for experience, his game definitely benefits from consistent play-time. Today he looked sluggish like he was prematurely back from injury. His second yellow wasn't malicious but it was sloppy and definitely deserved a card. A red though... Call me bias. 

Aaron Ramsey - 2.5 - Awful as usual, gave the ball away more times than I can count, weak on the ball, dispossessed like a rookie. He gets a point for each shot he had (one was actually pretty good) and the half-point for turning up with a clean kit. 

Jack Wilshire - 8.5 - Amazing 45 minutes from Jack. Looked leagues above the twenty players on the grass today. Joint man of the match with Cazorla.

Santi Cazorla - 8 - Played brilliantly with Wilshire and held his own throughout. Made a few mistakes but did very well with the goal. Squandered a few decent chances to close the game but worked tirelessly throughout.

Abu Diaby - 5 - Looked a little to tall at times, he kept loosing the ball in his feet shortly after he came on but redeemed himself later on. Gave a decent performance when we were defending at the end.

Theo Walcott - 6.5 - Should have had a hat-trick today. Looked pacey as always and got into decent scoring positions but kept glancing them wide. Hit the post and could have had a few assists if only Giroud had been on the mark

Olivier Giroud - 6. - He too could have had few today. Was very selfish in the dying minutes and got a bollocking from Wenger. Defended supremely when we needed him the most and looked strong on the ball, he just couldn't hit the target today. Put in 110% but definitely left his scoring boots in North London.

KOSCIELNY UPDATE

The Frenchman may pass a late fitness test for the squad against Sunderland tomorrow.

Earlier this morning a medical scan of Laurent's calf injury picked up during France's 2 -1 loss to Germany showed positive results.

We're starting to look very thin at the back with the likes of Gibbs and Vermaelen sidelined and Johann Djourou out on loan.

The back line on Saturday will possibly look like:

                  SAGNA                       MERTESACKER              KOSCIELNY                MONREAL

Although, we still have Jenkinson, Santos, Miquel and Squillaci available...

UNION 'JACK'

Jack Wilshire's majestic display for his country against Brazil last night left a bittersweet taste in my mouth.

Part of me is reveling in his display of ability, maturity and finesse. The rest leaves me flinching with thoughts of the impending headlines linking him away from Arsenal. Be it for international duties in the future or super rich clubs headhunting our boy-wonder.

I haven't read any as of today (headhunters), but I'm sure the abounding anti-Arsenal journo's will be spreading their instigations like a whore's legs in the coming weeks.

WILSHIRE TO BARCA - WILSHIRE TO CITY - WILSHIRE TO... F@*K OFF!

Even considering what I previously penned - regarding Wilshire's desire to stay at Arsenal and to emulate the like of Tony Adam's etc, it is still very worrying when you consider our wage structure and the silly money being tossed around the footballing World.

Bring on Financial Fair Play as soon as bloody possible, please! Before a great team like Arsenal has to battle with the bottom-feeders for free-transfers and settle for more of Wengers youth talents. All this sounds like an impossibility but it's not.
Drastic things can happen in football regarding the clubs finances if their not careful - look at Rangers FC.
And I know their financial situation differs from ours and this particular subject, but look at those blue-noses sniveling all the way down in the Scottish 3rd division.

"Ha, oh bhoy'"

Got off the subject a little there, but didn't Jackie do well!

INJURY UPDATE - SUNDERLAND FIXTURE

It looks like both Thomas Vermaelen and Laurent Koscielny will miss out on the Sunderland game this Saturday at The Stadium of Light.

This tough fixture is even more daunting now that we have to look to Sebastian Squillaci or Ignasi Miquel for defensive cover.
Miquel doesn't worry me too much, Squillaci on the other hand...

The Verminator has an ankle injury which may have him sidelined for two weeks and Koscielny's calf from last nights international means that Sunderland is a definite miss.

What scares me more than anything is the prospect of Andre the Santos entertaining Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery when we meet Bayern in the Champions League in two weeks time.

CAPTAINCY FOR WILSHIRE?

And why not...

He's by far the most passionate player in an Arsenal jersey, arguably the most talented and if he keeps his word - he's also gonna be around for a long long time...

JW: ‘To have my family 20 minutes from the training ground and an hour from the stadium is perfect for me. Cesc wanted to go home. Home for me is Arsenal. Cesc wanted to go back to his family and friends. My family and friends are 20 minutes away. It’s perfect.’

Jack also dreams of emulating former Arsenal skipper Tony Adams:

 JW: ‘I’ve played 39 games in the Premier League, which is nothing when you look at players like Tony Adams and how many appearances they made. That’s something I want to do'.

Interestingly enough, on January 1st 1998 on Jack's fourth Birthday, Tony Adams became the Arsenal Captain at 21 (Jack's age) and remained so until his retirement 14 years later.

And at 21 Jack's got plenty of growth and development ahead of him, what better place to get that nurturing as a young talent than at Arsenal football club.

If I can see any negative in Jacks game thus far, it's his temperament.
He needs to keep his cool on the pitch, and it must be hard at times.
Passion, emotion and ability combined with the  physicality and tempo of the professional game.

But that's exactly it.

Professionalism.

Whether it's himself directly involved in a flared conflict or that of a colleague... More often that not, Jack seems to be at the forefront of any incident.
He's Involved. Like a Jack - russell! (See the Michael Own incident against Stoke Rugby Club).

I heard a while back that Owen is an accomplished boxer... Did you see his slap on Arteta!?

If I was an opposing fan - I would HATE Jack Wilshire. One of the things that makes me love him all that more.
He must seriously get under their skin!
The problem is that sometimes his emotion can be detrimental to our team as a whole. He already has one red card so far this season.

And although he definitely seems to be gaining control of this compared to previous seasons. To achieve that Xavi and Iniesta status that he so greatly aspires, he must control it in every instance.

One thing the captaincy may actually help regulate?

And I like Thomas Vermaelan, I think he's an ok captain and 'can' be a World class defender. Also at the time he was passed the arm-band he was the most obvious and probably most deserving candidate too. But due to his current lack of form this may be a good time to pass on the torch...

I personally don't think Thomas is vocal or involved enough to dictate the play. Whereas Jack is absolutely everywhere. He can't and won't keep his mouth shut, and more than anything, he wants us to  win every ball, every tackle and every game!

I also believe Jack's game would improve in leaps and bounds given the opportunity, it would send positive incentive up and down Arsenal's youth ranks. And it may kick some of the oldies arse's into gear too. Ahem-Arshavin! '

CHECK THIS - INTERESTING & WORRYING!

Take a look at this link from Talk Sports website: http://kickne.ws/1/2328291

Does anyone have a direct email for Arsene?
He seems to think everything's fine and dandy.

(Apologize for the quiet few days - my 'AFC vs Stoke review & ratings' was deleted and I lost the will to post).

ARSENAL VS STOKE CITY - TEAM NEWS

We're back at the Emirates for this tie which is positive for many obvious reasons. One less obvious reason, is that we don't have to hear quite as many brainless Stoke fans booing Aaron Ramsay for getting 'his' leg broken by Shawcross.

... Quite as many. 

It seems the Stoke City fans are too stupid to realize that it was the opposing player that actually got injured. 

No doubt Ramsey will start which irks me as I think he's one of our weakest and most lackadaisical players. However, we will more than likely see Nacho Monreal's debut as he steps in for the injured Gibbs and shite Santos. Although saying that, Wenger's so unpredictable these days, he'll probably have Santos in Goal and Chamack at left back.

Last time we met Stoke back in October, the scoreline ended with us victorious at 3-1, but I always dread this fixture.

Stoke are an aggressive verging on 'dirty' side. Very physical, like the long-ball and also like to run mindlessly at the offense, I presume to close them down as quickly as possible but you tend to feel they have other motives as they haphazardly lunge in. They remind me of AFC Wimbledon back in the Vinne Jones era.

Such a nice, sporting fella!

They will make it very difficult for Arsenal to play the beautiful that we so often like to associate ourselves with.

Along with the likely inclusion of Nacho, we may see Mikel Arteta back from his ankle injury? I doubt he will start but if we're leading toward the final third Arsene will do his customary Podolski substitute and may switch the formation to include Arteta as extra protection at the back. We'll see...

As for Stoke, they were pretty active in the January widow picking up keeper, Jack Butland from Birmingham but he'll head back for the remainder on loan.

Their other acquisition was the American winger Brek Shea from FC Dallas. Shea who trained with us last year transfered for a reported £2.5 million. He obviously wasn't a consideration for Arsenal even after training with us so I'm not too worried about his presence. I hope I don't eat my words!

Stoke started January very strong but up to this point have won one, lost four and drawn two.

Predictions - 

2 -1 to the Arsenal. But a grind to the final whistle will many new grey hairs.

I think both Giroud and Walcott will get on the score sheet but Stoke will probably get one back by using their muscle in the air from a set-piece.

Chris Foy is the referee which isn't too bad as he's fairly reluctant to show reds and likes the game to flow freely. He is a Northerner though (Merseyside). Just sayin...