Sat 11th September 2010; 15:00, Emirates Stadium
Arsenal Face Another Battle Of Britannia
ByFor the 4th time in 20 years, the Gunners face the drama at the Britannia stadium. It’s the sort of fixture that gets hacks and pundits all mouthy about the other side of football that focuses on physicality and set pieces.
In fairness, it is a clash between two very different schools of football styles. Wengerball on the one hand seeks to use technique, pace and movement as the primary approach to the game. Stoke City on the other hand will do what they do – get physical.
Much has been made about the legend of the Rory Delap throw. However, focussing on this strategy that Stoke employ and forgetting the football that they play is folly.
Stoke will try and mix it – and to their credit, will focus on what strengths they have. The potters have scored 15 of their 26 goals this season from set pieces, 14 of these at home. In this respect, it won’t be at all surprising if they try all manner of tactics in the dead ball situations.
Arsenal must approach the game like it was a cup final. I think a lot of people under-estimate how much the team’s confidence was knocked in recent weeks following the consecutive losses to Chelsea and Manchester United.
The Gunners have since done well to place themselves in a tidy position at the top of the table. Contrary to popular belief that we were out of the title race, the points clawed back in respect to Chelsea and United’s leads simply showed that hacks and pundits are full of hogg wash.
A lot of focus has also been placed on the 2 previous games Arsenal has lost at the Britannia. My sense is that these have no bearing on the game today simply because the personnel and the circumstances are different.
Arsenal has handled Stoke City very well when playing at the Emirates – but playing Stoke away has its own nuances, not least the effect of the home crowd.
Last season’s fixture was a frustrating affair – and the loss was as much a result of Arsenal’s complacency. It was a match that the Gunners finished with 10 men with Robin Van Persie receiving a straight red for his challenge on the Stoke keeper. It was also the game Gael Clichy netted his first goal for Arsenal.
To navigate this game, the team will have to be efficient and not only deal with the set piece attacks – but also be clinical in putting away our chances. 3 points this evening will go a long way in building the momentum.
Arsenal is a confidence team and momentum begets this confidence. We need to set aside the injury situation with Arshavin, Gallas and Diaby still out for different reasons.
Arsenal Winger, Theo Walcott
It’ll be a big game for Theo Walcott who has just started picking up some decent form. It’s as good a chance as any for the young winger to make a contribution to the team’s success – something that he has struggled with this season. Capello and Baldini will be watching and in that respect, Theo will be under pressure to perform before the England team playing Egypt is announced this weekend.
The team have enough in the locker to grind out a result and my sense is that Wenger will go for a starting line-up of:
Almunia
Sagna, Campbell, Vermaelen, Clichy
Song, Denilson, Fabregas
Walcott, Bendtner, Nasri.
Enjoy the game wherever you are.
Sanga over eboue?
even after last week performance DS?
three points with three goals, please!
lets go gunners and shut them all; including ‘customer’ supporters!
lets hope we can turn them early doors
and get one
Ah, I see you made newsnow. Well done mate and good write up.
I am not sure if man of the match Eboue will be left out by Arsene. I am going with Walcott dropping back down to the bench and Eboue playing attacking right side ahead of Sagna.
Oh and it is a shame that yesterdays article did not make newsnow, would have loved to have read the reaction.
http://www.stonecoldarsenal.com/2010/02/anatomy-of-an-arsenal-doom-and-gloom-merchant/
Men Lean – they finally let me through…LOL!
I was thinking that on the Eboue/Walcott choice, that we’d go for a strategy to scare the living hell out of them with Walcott running in behind and force errors and probably yellow cards.
Once Walcott wears them down, then you can bring in Eboue to finish the job. I guess it can also work the other way round.
Shame about yesterdays article though – I might think of republishing it on a slow news day.
I really think you should. Good point about Theo and starting on the offensive, I just wonder if we will look for stability first and then inject Theo into their blood streams once their 120 minute midweek legs start to shake, with either Sagna or Eboue being replaced depending on the score after 60 – 70 minutes.
—————-Almunia
Sagna Campbell Vermaelen Clichy
———Cesc Song Denilson
——–Eboue Bendtner Nasri
Either way, it just shows the strength of our squad, regardless of yet more key injuries to first team players.
ML.
I think there’s too much mouth out there in the media about the mystical powers of Stoke at the Britannia.
Remember that on the two occasions they’ve visited the Emirates, we’ve humbled them proper – and even in the last game at home – they really din’t threaten our box and both Vermaelen and Gallas duly dispatched their long balls and their set pieces.
I think with the Britannia it’s up to us to show we want it more. Last season, we were complacent and we assumed we were going to win – and after RVP was sent off, it became a more difficult game.
Take a note today and see what Stoke does during set-pieces especially on the Delap throw. They usually have a big man harrasing the keeper of the opposing team and stopping them from getting to the ball – and that’s the only job that person will do.
I’ll see when’s best to republish the anatomy.
Morning DS.
This last week has been so busy I have had no time for the blogs, but that might be a good thing. I really struggle to deal with no mid-week game. By Thursday I was having very surreal Arsenal dreams each night.
I think that the fact we lost the last two times at Stoke is not too significant. As ever, the media ignore the circumstances. Last time was with a very mixed cup side, last season that result came in a run of form that might be just about poorest since Wenger arrived.
They should be tired and maybe have an eye on the cup game with the chavs upcoming. If we can start well and take the lead it should open things up for us as they chase the game. At the very least, there will be no surprises this time and the player should be alert from minute 1.
As good as Eboue was, I hope we play Walcott. I don’t think that we should suddenly start playing a defensive line-up and fret about grinding out a result. We need to attack and open them up, not try and muscle a 1 nil.
Darius, I really like the blog, but it is noticeable that what makes it on here is generally better than on to ACLF on a Friday. Although yesterdays post, which clearly went down well with some, is in a similar vein.
There are many fans who really couldn’t give two tosses about the plastics. Not any more, they have been on the net doing their thing for years now – if you met them in a pub you would laugh and wouldn’t give them the time of day on football. By constantly going on about it you may turn as many people away as you get through to – the doom merchants won’t listen, certainly not the way you phrase, which is a cleaned up version of how it should be put.
It seems a shame to waste a lot of time that could focus on the good and great points of our club by indulging in some sort crusade whilst already addressing the choir. Given the choice, I for one would much rather look forward to the great things ahead, marvel at the current set-up, and enjoy the true artistry of Arsene’s Arsenal than allow a bunch of twunts to distract from that.
Keep up the good work and remember your ditty about the water and the tea leaves – don’t let them change you dude.
LOL Arsenehollis. These long periods without games are a bastard I tell you.
I do agree that the previous games won’t have a bearing and the circumstances and personnel involved are very different. The mouthy pundits and hacks need something to say though – so I guess we’re stuck with that Fortress Britannia story.
I appreciate your feedback about the balance to hit with the type of articles. As with most things, it really is a work in progress – and I’m sure we’ll find a balance soon.
Sometimes writing just comes with the mojo you have at that point in time. Dooming especially after the United and Chelsea defeats just became an art form that gave me an itch.
We’ve got 3 points up for grabs today so let’s look forward to it.
Like you, I have a strong feelingn that Wenger will start with Theo. Song is also a welcome addition to what’s likely to be an ‘in your face’ type of game.
Darius – I love your opening line. “For the 4th time in 20 years, the Gunners face the drama at the Britannia stadium.” The irony is wonderful. Afterall this is our great bogey team from oop north. How many years have they been in the Premier League again? What about that other great northern colussus, Bolton? Are they fighting for a Champions league spot?
My point is Stoke is another over achieving outfit, newly promoted from the Championships. They are outstanding in maximizing their strengths from set plays using big, tall, strong athletes, playing on one of the narrowest fields in the league in a noisy intimidating stadium . They represent a challenge that the Arsenal can readily overcome with hard work and application allied with our immense technical superiority. Yes, we could easily lose by lack of self-confidence and letting our heads drop with the 1st setback. But as the mighty Bolton have proven, the Stokes of this world who play anti-football have a limited shelf-life.
Sagna & Eboue to start, he is the in form man. Theo for later or perhaps on the left.
It is very important to keep going at the doomers. You may not change them but it at least shows that there are many who will not have any truck with it. They are a danger to the project.
Essential reading, for once, from Henry Winter:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/arsenal/7326648/Arsene-Wengers-revival-at-Arsenal-will-take-time.html
This is what makes me so proud to be a Gooner & even more so under a man apart. There is so much more about AFC as a club.
Off to Stoke now, let’s hope for the best, my thoughts were revealed yesterday.
We have all the motivation we need now.
We can be top next Saturday, just think about that for a moment. TOP.
I have no doubt we wont win, but if we can’t do that now, with this opportunity in front of us, then frankly we wont deserve to be champions.
Arsenehollis. Chelsea have already provided a perfect team talk for our boys this evening.
Wenger doesn’t have to say anything – he should just take his seat in the dugout.
All the motivation the side needs: Man.City – Chelsea: 4-2.
The chase is well and truly on. Let’s not forget too that Stoke are coming off 120 intense mid-week minutes. One can’t pray for kinder circumstances.
I am very very very eagerly looking forward to your reaction on this emotional-charged game….