Sounds like Podolski has given something for Wenger to consider. I really do hope he gets some more game time before becoming the next Arshavin.
Gotta love Sanogo's reaction to the goal in the 2nd to last gif
Podolski did his normal pop up with a couple of great goals but offer nothing else for most of the game thing
Still not good enough to start for mine. Perfect impact sub.
Cazorla - 20 (15 starts) appearances 1 goal 4 assists 7.31 whoscored rating
Podolski - 12 appearances (2 starts) 3 goals 0 assists 6.70 whoscored rating
Say what you want but given Santi is playing tonnes of games and struggling to hit the target I'd happily be giving Podolski more starts.
From Arseblog's latest effort;
"So we've got a corner in the 29th minute and Joel Campbell takes it.
The ball is headed away by a defender in the direction of Aaron Ramsey
who is standing there smoking a Gitanes, adjusting his sunglasses and
doing other stuff that people who are really cool do. He might be
composing some beat poetry in his head:
'I saw the most average minds of my generation destroyed by
niceness, starving #hysterical Podolski,
dragging themselves through the Arsenal streets at dawn
looking for a start in a dead Champions League rubber.'
He looks up, sees the ball coming towards him, makes his shape even
cooler (if that's possible) and he throws a leg at it. He wiffles his
foot in the general direction of the ball. People think he's caught it
on the half-volley but there's nothing 'half' about this. It's a full
on, inches off the ground volley, using the pace of the ball to drive
it back from whence it came – and that does not mean in the
direction of Joel Campbell.
The contact is perfect. The ball streaks – and I mean literally
streaks towards the top corner. It sheds its clothes, shouts
'Wheeeeeeeee!', and its leathery flappy bits shudder in the wind like
a jowly dog with his head out of a fast moving car. The goalkeeper
dives, but it is a futile exercise. The ball has left contrails in the
air. It hits the back of the net with a thud, a crash, a bang, and a
wallop.
Yaya Sanogo turns around and says 'What in the name of all that is
holy was that?. Flamini applauds vigorously, the way you would if you
saw a parking attendant punish John Terry for parking in a disabled
space.
Lukas Podolski has his hands on his head thinking 'Shark, was I part of
some kind of awful human experiment that I don't remember and somehow
they have transplanted my left foot, one which has been likened to
Thor's hammer, onto Rambo?'.
'Good goal Ay-Ayron!', shouts the returning Mathieu Debuchy, while at
the other end Wojciech Szczesny doesn't like to admit it but he got so
excited a little bit of wee came out."
That's basically exactly what happened.
Also, that Sanogo reaction is brilliant. He actually can't believe what he just saw.
Paulm thank you for sharing, I was in hysterics reading that in bed this morning!
Didn't get a chance to get on here yesterday. Did my usual avoid the result trick all day to watch after work (the other Arsenal fan in the office started talking to the Liverpool fan about what was happening in the games so quickly stuck some headphones in and managed to not hear!). And somehow for I think the first time ever I forgot to bloody record it! Thankfully there was a 10pm replay so waited for that last night. Considered just checking the result and not bothering since there wasn't that much riding on it but glad I didn't and got to see those goals without knowing they happened.
That Ramsey strike was just astonishing. Don't think I've ever seen anything like it. He scored some stunners last season but that's a once in a lifetime sort of hit surely. Reminded me of Rosicky in the first minute against Spurs last season as it just screamed in the top corner from nowhere. I spent a good 5 minutes rewinding and rewatching it at live speed. Great finishes from Podolski too. As frustrating as his overall game can be, the one thing he does is pretty much guarantee you goals. At the very least he won't hesitate to shoot on sight like most of our players usually would so you know it's going to be fun when he's on. I'd like to see him given a run of games on the left instead of playing number 10s out there.
I said it the other day but Ramsey has been playing a lot better the last few games. It got a bit forgotten about in all the anger and misery following the game but that was a great goal against Stoke too. His shooting in particular has been awful this season and I reckon he just needed one to go in like that and then they would start to fly in again and so they did yesterday! The first goal also showed to me that he's back in confident goal scoring form. Few weeks ago he'd have snatched at that shanked it miles wide.. On a lighter note, is it just me or has his form picked up since he went back to last season's haircut? Things seem to have improved since getting rid of the Bale do. Could probably use a shave though!
Zelalem and Maitland-Niles looked tidy and there's definitely some potential there. On the Tuesday Club this morning Keith Dover said Ainsley Maitland-Niles sounds like a Tory MP not a fooballer. O'Connor looked a bit like some kid plucked out of 6th form to make up the numbers, which I guess he pretty much was for this game!
Worth a discussion of where it stands in the history of Arsenal goals. Probably beats his goals last season, even Norwich and Wilshere's vs Norwich too. Up there with the likes of Henry's volley vs United, Henry solo run vs Liverpool, Bergamp vs Newcastle even?
Podolski did his normal pop up with a couple of great goals but offer nothing else for most of the game thing
Still not good enough to start for mine. Perfect impact sub.
Cazorla - 20 (15 starts) appearances 1 goal 4 assists 7.31 whoscored rating
Podolski - 12 appearances (2 starts) 3 goals 0 assists 6.70 whoscored rating
Say what you want but given Santi is playing tonnes of games and struggling to hit the target I'd happily be giving Podolski more starts.
Cazorla is a far better player and offers the team a lot more.
a.haak
Can excuse Wenger not starting Podolski but the lack of playing time is a bit absurd. He's always a threat but he's just not coming on with enough time left. He's certainly good enough to start even sporadically when others need a rest too.
Podolski did his normal pop up with a couple of great goals but offer nothing else for most of the game thing
Still not good enough to start for mine. Perfect impact sub.
Cazorla - 20 (15 starts) appearances 1 goal 4 assists 7.31 whoscored rating
Podolski - 12 appearances (2 starts) 3 goals 0 assists 6.70 whoscored rating
Say what you want but given Santi is playing tonnes of games and struggling to hit the target I'd happily be giving Podolski more starts.
Cazorla is a far better player and offers the team a lot more.
I disagree when you're talking about wide left.
I'm not saying I don't like Santi, I'm saying from our wide players contributing I think Poldi can offer more in terms of goals than Santi is at the moment. 20 appearances and involved with 5 goals, 12 appearances (and only 2 starts) and he's involved in 3.
I would like to see the following for Newcastle:
Giroud
Podolski Santi Alexis
Flamini Ox/Ramsey*
Gibbs Kosc Per Debuchy
Szy
*Ramsey was withdrawn injured yesterday so I'm pencilling Ox for a start incase he's out.
I just don't think we can support a guy that, while he pops up with the odd goal, doesn't provide assists, doesn't track back - especially in front of an attacking fullback such as Gibbs.
a.haak
I just don't think we can support a guy that, while he pops up with the odd goal, doesn't provide assists, doesn't track back - especially in front of an attacking fullback such as Gibbs.
This, essentially, is why he doesn't get the game time right. While I am anadvocate for his getting more game time from the bench, where there are games that would suit his directness - he just isn't as much of a full game player that can contribute on a team play level. Perhaps in a 4-4-2, but like Valeo said he doesn't get up to much to help Gibbs in Arsenal's normal formation.
I just don't think we can support a guy that, while he pops up with the odd goal, doesn't provide assists, doesn't track back - especially in front of an attacking fullback such as Gibbs.
This, essentially, is why he doesn't get the game time right. While I am anadvocate for his getting more game time from the bench, where there are games that would suit his directness - he just isn't as much of a full game player that can contribute on a team play level. Perhaps in a 4-4-2, but like Valeo said he doesn't get up to much to help Gibbs in Arsenal's normal formation.
Hold on, I recall seeing him back on numerous occasions. I even remember him giving away a penalty last season he was so deep. He's no Sanchez, but you can't say he doesn't help out at all. I think getting someone in the team who can help us score goals is vital, especially when Welbs/Giroud aren't the most clinical in the team, and even Sanchez bottled an empty net recently.
I actually thought he worked very hard yesterday too. I'm fine with having one guy in the front three whose only job is to score goals.
I am enjoying his impact off the bench in the couple of games before Gala. I reckon that's his role for the remainder of the season for me.
Ox offers us way more over the 90 minutes. Better tackler, better passer, harder worker, more pace.
I am enjoying his impact off the bench in the couple of games before Gala. I reckon that's his role for the remainder of the season for me.
Ox offers us way more over the 90 minutes. Better tackler, better passer, harder worker, more pace.
This works in the 70th minute, not in the 85th as has been too often.
Also Santi has only scored from the spot this season.
Hopefully this performance will get Poldi off the bench quicker, and starting more games like this that are not as important, i.e. good squad rotation which Wenger hasn't nailed up front too much this season.
I am enjoying his impact off the bench in the couple of games before Gala. I reckon that's his role for the remainder of the season for me.
Ox offers us way more over the 90 minutes. Better tackler, better passer, harder worker, more pace.
This works in the 70th minute, not in the 85th as has been too often.
Also Santi has only scored from the spot this season.
Hopefully this performance will get Poldi off the bench quicker, and starting more games like this that are not as important, i.e. good squad rotation which Wenger hasn't nailed up front too much this season.
I agree with him getting off the bench quicker - Wenger is much too hesitant / reluctant in his substitutions in general right.
Worth a discussion of where it stands in the history of Arsenal goals. Probably beats his goals last season, even Norwich and Wilshere's vs Norwich too. Up there with the likes of Henry's volley vs United, Henry solo run vs Liverpool, Bergamp vs Newcastle even?
I like the team goals more.
As far as individual strikes Henry volley at Highbury v the Chq Book Chumps, Brady @ WHL in the 5-0 , Kanu's third at the Bridge...
E's Flat Ah's Flat Too
For individual goals my favourite is always Henry's solo run vs Liverpool. As well as the quality of the goal the situation was so tense and crucial. We'd lost the FA Cup semi final and gone out of the CL in the week leading up to this game and 2-1 down at half time it felt like we'd just blown the league too. That moment was when it really felt like we'd won it. I remember running to the end of the house and back screaming my head off. Plus it had Gerrard and Carragher falling over the top of each other!
My second favourite is probably Cazorla in the FA Cup final. The memory of that celebration at the Backbencher will stay with me forever.
So in injury news Monreal & Kosc are both likely out for Newcastle while Chambers is suspended. Leaving us with Gibbs, Debuchy, Mertesacker, Bellerin.
Surely Wenger picks one of the kids to debut at centre half and starts Gibbs/Debuchy either side, because there isn't enough height from any of those gentleman to make it work. Ramsey is going to be a late call, so we could end up seeing:
Szy
Debuchy Mertesacker Hayden* Gibbs
Ramsey/Ox Flamini
Sanchez Cazorla Podolski/Ox
Giroud
Assuming Ramsey is out Ox is your next candidate to drop deep alongside Flamini, and bring Podolski in out wide or you bring in Welbeck and play a 4-2-2-2.
*Hayden is our other first team listed CB, but O'Connor was the one who got some game time in Turkey & is a rising CB star:
http://www.arsenal.com/academy/players/stefan-o-connor
Noone could have predicted this when we went into a season with only 6 defenders could they?
I was reading both are in doubt but not definitely ruled out yet Brumbys?
I wouldn't be surprised if Kosc gets hisself an injection and gets out there... or failing that maybe Flamini at centre half with Ox/Rambo in midfield. To be honest I'd prefer if we went with some ridiculous set up in this game and continued to let Kosc get properly fit for later, even if that meant a bad result this weekend. Kosc is so important to us. I'd love to see some stats on our results/goals conceded with and without Kosc this season...
In better news how good is it to have Debuchy back. That is crucial. Once Chambers suspension is served we will start to have some semblance of a backline again...
Direct from the boss here:
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20141211/...
AJ - yup, I think we all saw this happening.
A colleague made the off hand suggestion of Giroud at the back, but it's not actually a stupid idea given how good he is in the air!
Thanks for that Brumbys, I didn't realise.
Oddly Hayden didn't travel to Gala, and O'Connor got on (he's a CB), so I've no idea what that means for Hayden...
To be honest I'd have Flamini at CB now for sure. Perhaps having Ramsey, Rosicky and the Ox in midfield would give us enough energy to cover the defensive work, but Rosicky has also been injured lately so not sure... I think it would be good to start Giroud and Welbeck as well to add some height to the lineup for the set piece. Plus last time they started together they looked pretty decent, and that would give a front three who are all hard workers and have no problem tracking back to help.
Szczesny
Debuchy-Mertesacker-Flamini-Gibbs
Rosicky-Ramsey
Sanchez-Ox-Welbeck
Giroud
In saying all of that, Wenger will probably fit Cazorla in there somewhere!
Yeah that looks as good as it's going to be Paul, with probably Cazorla instead of Rosicky.
Agreed Valeo but I can't see any other option there if we aren't trusting the youth - which I don't think we are, otherwise why wouldn't Hayden have played against Gala?
Maybe he's a true Arsenal boy and made sure he was injured? Or was he on the bench and not used?
Maybe he's a true Arsenal boy and made sure he was injured? Or was he on the bench and not used?
Hayden is out injured at the moment
Ramsey out injured. May not be back to January. Crikey there has been some issues this season.
E's Flat Ah's Flat Too
Everyone's dream for more Coq has come true, he has pulled out. (Of his loan)
Wenger has come out to say he wont be buying in jan.... if everyone stays fit. So it looks like we might be buying in jan then
Ramsey out injured. May not be back to January. Crikey there has been some issues this season.
Just as he starts hitting a little bit of form.
Fudge this season.
a.haak
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