Five ways for Arsenal to win by Twig
The victories of Man Utd and Southampton yesterday has made our clash with Man City even more crucial. The game is crucial for both teams. If Arsenal wins, City will be 5 points off the pace behind Chelsea and if City wins we’ll be behind Southampton by a huge 6 points. Many fans are a bit doubtful that we could win today’s fixture given our woeful away record against the big sides. But I think with a good selection, Arsenal can make life very difficult for Man City as we proved earlier in the season in the Community Shield.
So what are some things we could do to achieve victory today?
1) Do not concede early on
We’ve conceding too many early goals in our woeful away performances of recent. Usually, when we concede early, it’s not a good sign for the rest of the match. We conceded in the 1st minute away at Stoke and conceded in the 19th minute against Everton, only managing to equalize in the dying minutes. A good pressing game from kickoff will help us avoid an early goal.
2) Play Monreal
If Gibbs is fit, he’s likely to start ahead of Monreal. However, there’s a good reason why Monreal should start regardless. He has enjoyed a rich vein of form and has been one of our most dependable players this season, featuring in large spells as a centre back. In fact, a report by ESPN has it that Arsenal have a better win percentage and clean sheet record when Monreal starts than when he doesn’t. Furthermore, there’s less chance of having him mixed up with Oxlade-Chamberlain!
3) Take control of the midfield
One of the reasons for our impressive win against City in the Community Shield was that we took charge of the midfield, featuring Wilshere, Ramsey and Cazorla. This time around, Wilshere is injured and Ramsey is still not 100% match fit. However, we have the tireless Coquelin and the ageless Rosicky, who has put in a good showing in the last 2 games he has started. Unfortunately, the high pressing game we’ll need for today’s game, means Ozil and Ramsey should probably not start as both players are still not up to 100%…
4) Use the wings
City is going to hit us on the wings through Navas and Milner and we must give them a dose of their own medicine as well. In the Community Shield game, Sanchez was menacing down the right wing as the City fullback afforded him lots of space (or maybe they simply didn’t know how to deal with him). The good thing with City is that they give their opponents a chance to play and score as we saw in our entertaining 3-6 loss last season! (How many teams lose after scoring 3 goals?). Oxlade-Chamberlain has been terrific of recent and I am keen to watch his contest against the City fullbacks…
5) Bench Giroud!
Now, I’m not suggesting we benched Giroud because he has been useless, but simply because he has the strange habit of coming off the bench to score a goal. I don’t why this happens but it has happened too many times for it to be coincidental. It happened against Man United and it happened against Man City in the Community Shield. Funnily enough, both goals were stunners. Our opponents probably shouldn’t be happy to see Giroud on the bench – they should be scared!
I have only just got this post from Twig and as we now know not all of these have happened but hopefully Arsenal will prove him right on the other points and beat Man City.
Oh dear
coygggggg
I am really afraid of Ospina, I don’t fancy him very much … Hope he stays focus
Hate Mike Dean
Makes no difference to Mike Dean. He still loves you
Uggghh perish the thought
anybody got a stream?
need to survive the usual push fr city in the first 10″, then match can settle down, so far so goid, city always come out swinging hard,
Flamini wearing #6 kit?
No ball winners in this team …. Though to control the middle nut wenger knows best
10 minutes and no goals conceded. Well done lads.
looks like giroud is playing in slow-motion…
Arsenal looking quite dangerous 😉
wow, the away fans are awesome¡¡¡
We gotta dig deep if we want to get anything out of this match! Come on gunners!
15 minutes and not losing yet. Wenger has been sober in training this week.
Looks like Demechelis is their Mertesacker
20 mins and not losing. WTF????????
Love Mike Dean
One – Nil to the Arsenal
One – Nil to the Arsenal
One – Nil to the Arsenal
One – Nil to the Arsenal
Oh Santi Carzola
GOAL GOALL GOALL GOALL GOALL GOAAAALLLLLLL!!!
We are winning? Is it the same on everyone else’s TV?
#confused
In my TV, Arsenal are losing 0-4 🙁 But then, I just brought it back from repairs yesterday 😀
we look composed today!
the ox can be so frustrating
He should be subbed for Walcott. Theo’s got something OX might never gain: vision.
And goals.
I know game still early, but Coquelin looking decent. Really pleased for him, take your chance.
I’ve been very impressed with Ramsey so far. He’s playing the midfield role very well and isn’t going forward too much…
Probably the only 1, PASS the freaking ball
we weathered the first 15″, defense looks tight, bellerin looks fast, monreal playing very well, could this be our day?
Are we chatting on this article or the previous one?
Haha, I was on previous one then realised no one else on. Usually it the other one.
With 15 minutes to go, if City still down, bring on Rosiky and Theo and surely that pace for OG and Ramsey will make em pay.
Really positive so far, Wenger gotten it right.
Hey Ox, we are in the yellow!
I wanted Rosicky but Wenger knows best
the Man City defenders keep making mistakes, but we aren’t capitalizing
The inability to win ball in middle of park will be costly
we keep losing it too.
Again wtf is Ramsey on this pitch
How was that not a foul by Milner??
Straight back into the 1st team for some, regardless of how SHIT your form has been
Calm down mate, he’s playing well
I see a red card in our future.
Really Ramsey, really.
Ox off @ half, bring on Rosicky.
Nacho MOTM so far
Yeah Ox losing possession too much, but might need his pace in 2 nd half.
Bring Walcott if the OX tires….
We shouldn’t change the team too much…
Good sh*t Bellerin.
Really ref, there was a foul on Bellerin
Per winning balls against Aguero out there!
Guys get to half time leading and have to say we look solid. Quite impressed, COYG keep the focus and determination.
Imagine getting this monkey off their backs.
Well played boys, tackling everything that moves
Le coq looks mad, mmmmmmmm, i like it………
No homo
The Coq!
Coq and Monreal MOTM contenders so far.
agreed. Bellerin has been doing well too.
wow…this is a spirited afc
They haven’t had a shot on goal. Aguero has been ghost like Swayze. However besides that PK, we haven’t had one either. Gotta change that.
Don’t forget when Cazorla scores… Ramsey usually also scores as well 😉
Ooooooooooooooooooooooospina!!!!!!!!! f**king brilliant!
Le prof is having a blinder today hop we play like this all season
Love Coq’s reaction. Bringing some fear from our team.
Have to say bellerin looks like quality … Don’t see problem there …and defence looks ok though Monreal is still hopeless going forward … But coq and Ramsey can’t control the midfield for shit…. And this kind of game shows just how mediocre giroud is …. Anyway ball in pellegrinis court … He’ll throw in Dzeko or jovatich … But can see why they bought bony pity our idiot can’t see weaknesses in our team and act accordingly
I have never seen an Arsenal team since we moved to the Emirates that was this mature.. We looked so solid in the first half, don’t know if it’s because of City being poor or us being good..
Second half will tell us..
COME ON YOU ARSENAL..
All I can say is wow! Tactical substitutions will be everything in this game second half. Earn your money Arsene and bring it home! Mourinho shouting oh santi cazorla 🙂
love Cazorla ……
It looks like mourinho has phoned up Wenger and said “look arsene I know we don’t like each other but we need you to take the points today, this is how you do it..” brilliant tactical performance today, hope we keep it up. Coyg!
So far sooooooo good. Le rock is awesome..!!
HOLD ON BOYS!!!!
Its all about balance. Since we have Coquelin in we look more solid. Can u imagine what an established DM would do for us?
I just wish Ramsey would help out Coquelin more instead of playing second striker.
Everyone needs to play as if it’s still nil nil and stick to their roles, don’t let it slip and stay disciplined!
It’s though watching ces for chelski and song for hammers … Could do with both
Le Coq
The ox, Ramsey and The Coq have got to keep the ball better now. Very good defensive first half but we need them to be more calmer on the ball and not just keep giving it away, it will get us tired if we can’t keep the ball when we get it..
Good defensive display and now work on that ball retention..
Cheers..
We’ll tire second half and city will raise their game, going to be a long 45 minutes.
COQ and Bellerin Awesome….darn even BFG is looking great….COYG
Giroud shaky as always but good defending
OG and Ramsey ain’t done much, but Ramsey hasn’t played in weeks, think Rosiscky is needed to help us hold onto ball and counter quicker.
Dein, top call. Auguero cheat
Pleased for the whole team
and coaching staff. I picked
Cazorla to score in the 23rd 🙂
Have to finish the job now.
Come on, just get a 2nd for cushion.
Defence guys, be compact, focus guys
As I said before wtf is Ramsey doing in this team?
Get structure guys, come on, don’t throw it away
Ramsey needs to come off, he looks so rusty.. He has not kept the ball since the first half…
Ramsey off! God help us when Jack comes back as well. Coyg! !!
Against the ropes time to bring Rosicky to change the pace
Giroud is useless in this game. We need runners. I’ll remove him and put in Walcott….
Get Ramsey of this pitch it’s embarrassing
Ramsey is just brutal, dude doesnt play a lick of D and his cheeky flicks are unbearable
Oww come on Ramseyy!!!
Mike Dean didnt have the balls to give Kompany a second yellow there.
Kompany lucky not to get red for Sanchez takle.
We just not getting good touches when we counter.
Why have we gone back to over committing bodies when we are winning? Be more calmers and conservative..
Kompany could have been off 2 bad takles back.
ox needs subing
Chamberlin and Ramsey off now …, roszicky and ozil on … What is wrong with wenger
We are back to the normal rubbish of being over open..
Ox and Ramsey must come off.
Ramsey you not a striker, no matter how much you want to be one. Just do your job.
Rozza coming on, yeah.
now this is vintage Arsenal football!
What’s wrong with Wenger!! early and good subs
GIROUD!!!!!!!
yesssssssssssssssssssssss ….. love it
Time to change the name : )
Great Ox off, now Ramsey needs to be subbed. Either Flamini or Theo.
GIROUUUDUDDDD!!!!!!
Girooooooooooooooooud
Start thinking subs Arsene not in the 80th minute, not today please!
didn’t he just sub?
OG,you beaut.
We back boys we back. Come on
2-0. But it’s still not game over.. We all know our Arsenal with even a 3-0 lead..
GET IN THERE!!!!!!!!!
Now defend!
COME ON YOU ARSENAL
Take it back on giroud … Now let’s keep calm
Defence Defence Defence
Park the bus and counter. Chelsea style
Ramsey must wake up, we in a fight here.
Coq!!! whatta match