I'm going to cheer you all up with a theory I have about Arsenal

[choda]

I watched Arsenal play today. Oh how I watched.

I tuned in and I said to myself, 'let's have a look at how this new pitch is going to effect them'. I wasn't sure what to expect, I didn't know whether I'd be resigned to the fact that it would play more into the break way method they've perfected in the prem or whether it would hinder that limited strategy and show it up.

Well folks, I'm pleased to say that I think the big pitch is going to show their limitations up big time. They really struggled today against a side which was semi-rejuvenated but still poor (for now at least, but I expect Villa to gain more confidence as they improve under wee martin).

Here's what I think is going on: The big pitch meant that the pace was slower because it wasn't constant pressing and the players real close together. And so the pace wasn't upping to crazy levels as it does a lot in the prem... so there wasn't a lot of scrappy play and breaking ball... and so Arsenal weren't able to constantly win the ball when Villa had just given it away and hit them when they were vunerable on the break from midfield.

Often they do this all day and just crucify teams all day with their pace and quick break away movements. The pace was like a european game and so Arsenal had to have more strings to their bow than simply doing break aways all the time. BUT the thing is as we've seen in europe for donkeys years, Arsenal don't really have any other strings to their bow!

It's is all very predictable, down the middle on the floor and they will try to one two their way through the centre. Villa were ready, the fullbacks were tucked in and Arsenal had nowhere to go.

They've nothing else, they don't go wide and whip balls around your back and they don't get people in the box. They created almost nothing despite dominating possession throughout.

Great build up play... into the last third... and then absolutely no variation... always down the middle trying to play it through you. No width, no good runs in and around the box and they don't try to play it over the top either.

The only real threat they had was Eboue bombing on down the right, except every time he got in a good position to cross he had a shot! The goal was from having all the possesion (which they won't have every week), basically just sheer persist banging on the door.

Henry looked as he always does when he can't play all day on the break: An overated centre forward. In fact when he can't play on the break he's not a genuine centre forward at all, when he should be making strikers runs he mostly just stands outside the box. To me at least if he's not playing on the break he is a guy who needs a free role or to play where he can use his pace... like left/right forward or left/right wing.

Anyway, it is only the first game but I saw a pattern there and I think there is a good chance it could be permanent. My only worry is that the fitness levels of the players might not be so high yet and that is why the pace didn't turn into the usual premiership ice hockey. If it's ice hockey there's every chance Arsenal will murder you.

I'm fairly drunk, but I think that was at least a fairly coherent rant.

[Shuggie13]

Spot on Choda (and the drunkeness didn't show).

Hansen on MOTD actually was very succint on summing up the scum, words to the effect of 'you can't walk through teams, they are pretty to watch but no width and no variation on tactics, if passing 25 times to score a goal was going to win matches they will win hands down, but in reality that will never happen'.

I thought the stadium looked really odd with all that space behind the goals. The scum did look very, very ordinary.

I loved it.

[Welsh Spur]

Well I only saw the second half and what I saw was an Arsenal side play Villa off the park, only failing to score due to their reluctance to shoot unless it was in the six yard box. They passed through Villa on about 20 seperate occasions, but each time just tried to walk it in. If we broke up Bolton like they broke up Villa yesterday we would have thrashed em. I'm sorry to say.

[neilmcnab]

respect ur opionions guys but the arse has a way of getting to the goal. yesterday we neva seemd to have any idea where the goal was, and thats a concern ,no fight no passing direction, why didnt we buy a nother striker, its so obvious, look in the week keane is injured and i tell you from i heard i said we in trouble,, its a wake up call, buy chimbonda, and martins if we wana be taken serious ly, and ayala centre back, the others have been given a fair crack and if its not injuries, its lack of concentration and quality, davs and gardener, we do need a forward who can do it by himself. OBAFEMI MARTINS

[Shuggie13]

Doom, doom, doom. A forward who can do it by himself, you mean like Defoe?
It's the first game of the season.

[derek zoolander]

why is it that we seem to care so much about arsenal? who gives a **** about them ****s, just concentrate on our own team

[Shuggie13]

I do not care for them in the slightest, I do however find it very amusing that they screwed up yesterday.

[choda]

I only care about them as it effects us this year. We are going to be battling with them for a cl spot.

Don't jump to too many conclusions about us after only one game. Arsenal were at home to (at the moment) an ordinary side. We were freakishly and unluckily two nil down within 15 minutes away to a side which are very difficult to play at the best of times.

And Welshsie I don't remember them creating any real shooting opportunites except quarter chances maybe to shoot, and I think that's the point I was making. They weren't stretching gaps in the Villa defense at all. I don't know where you're getting the passed through them about 20 times, I didn't see them pass through them once, that is why I was so overjoyed. If they passed through them 20 times don't you think Henry or anybody would have had many clear cut chances to have gotten another goal?

What we saw was incessant pressure and total dominaton of possession which is bound to create some things, that does not mean they cut them open all day, because they certainly did not. They had great passing and build up play but in the last third they were very poor and very one dimensional (as they always are). If they're not playing break aways they are ordinary.

Personally, I think we will finish ahead of them. There are things to be sorted but I have faith that Jol will recognise what our team needs. It was painfully obvious that our midfield yesterday was crying out for more creativity.

[mjbmedia]

. It was painfully obvious that our midfield yesterday was crying out for more creativity.
that was painfully obvious last season me old China, a nice turn of speed wouldnt go amiss either and a playmaker other than Dawsons long balls (that for some reason cant have backspin put on them) and a keeper that isnt shit scared of long shots with those new footballs (robbos intimation in the world cup)

busy few days training id say :(

[SurreySpur]

Yeah, why has robbo got such a problem with strikes from distance? Campo's goal was struck from 43yards, and he had a clear view of it all the way. Teams will shoot on sight because he obviously has a weakness to it.

[choda]

Well I don't think it was painfully obvious last year. The reason I'm saying it so strongly now is because we had Carrick to do a lot of the prompting... I know he wasn't attacking but it helped a lot. Yesterday though the midfield was totally bereft of creativity apart from getting Lennon to run around the back.

Of course we all knew last year that we needed a top attacking midfielder to come in (whether an attacking playmaker or a left winger) and get the balance right, but yesterday it went even further the other way. That's what I am pointing out.

[choda]

Yeah, why has robbo got such a problem with strikes from distance? Campo's goal was struck from 43yards, and he had a clear view of it all the way. Teams will shoot on sight because he obviously has a weakness to it.

If you saw his angle from behind Campo looked like he was shaping it to curl the other way and then it warped in the other direction going at lightning speed. Robbo dived late because his weight was on the wrong foot. I honestly think it was a freak.

[mjbmedia]

well i do think it was painfully obvious last year, many times i moaned about how slow we were, how unadventurous we were,the fact that we passed the ball then stood still admiring the pass instead of getting into space to recieve again, that we liked going sideways and backwards too much and that many times Robbo, Dawson or King were our 'playmakers' cos our midfield didnt want to know.

Thats what i am pointing out

re the goalie he openly admitted at the world cup he was concerned about the new balls and as spurs says its gonna be shoot on sight especially if there are many more 'freaks'

[SurreySpur]

If you saw his angle from behind Campo looked like he was shaping it to curl the other way and then it warped in the other direction going at lightning speed. Robbo dived late because his weight was on the wrong foot. I honestly think it was a freak.

I did see the angle and i have to say that it was a very clean, crisp strike. But even if his weight was on the wrong foot he still had planty of time to adjust. The ball traveled 43 yards and he had nothing to impair his view, dont get me wrong, i think robbo is a quality keeper and in no way am i blaming him for the defeat but it was an error on his part. It was a similar goal to lua lua's against us last year, a shot out of nothing that should have been dealt with.

Also, there was no way campo was shaping to curl it in any shape or form!! Seriously mate, he struck it low and hard, there was no disguise on it at all!

[choda]

Yea, I take the points about Robbo, but he's not the perfect keeper, he's just a very good one. He has the odd slight fault, but one or two 'freakish' strikes per season of normal excellence is not massive.

I don't know how many keepers would have got that ball. Maybe Schmeichal, Cech, Casillas, Given, Buffon, and any other slightly more agile keepers. But you have to wonder if we're being harsh, these new balls are like beach balls and it was a rocket from a guy who doesn't score goals. I think it was a bit of a freak. I really would wonder how many keepers would have got fingers to that ball.

Remember all keepers make an odd mistake too anyway and there is nowhere to hide.

[SurreySpur]

Yeah, his good points far out weigh his bad, maybe he's just low on confidence after the world cup.

[TomMcLaren]

I don't think it's a confidence thing, he just seems unable to deal with suprise long range strikes. The funny thing is that his reactions for short-range stuff is worldclass.

[choda]

Also, there was no way campo was shaping to curl it in any shape or form!! Seriously mate, he struck it low and hard, there was no disguise on it at all!

I don't mean he was consciously shaping to curl it. I know he just wanted to leather it and keep it down, but the shape of his body as he hit it looked like it was going to go straight or curl the other way. Of course it didn't and I think it was freakish in that he was lucky it came off his foot in such a way to go the other way and fool Robbo. He did also strike it very well, it was a bullet. It was not a glaring error by any means, that is all I'm saying. I don't know how many other keepers would have saved it.

[singapore spur]

i will forgive robbo for the goal , especially after his brilliant reflex save in the second half (cant remember who from ) one handed for about 3 yrds out

[mjbmedia]

totally not robbos fault (the defeat) its just that he has publicly stated he doesnt like the new ball and is worried about long shots with it

why not write an open invitation, and saturday wont help none

note to Robbo 'keep your gob shut'

[Welsh Spur]

Campo's shot had no direction, he didn't even aim he just lamped it....so I agree that it was a freak. I have pointed out Robinson's long range shot stopping and then he goes and does this, it was a freak but he should have saved it!

[neilmcnab]

jenas , got his had up his arse he rates himself too much he shud try and prove he worth every game looks too comfortable, but the only part of game that bought a smile to me was wen jol droped him to right back, do u think jol was thinkin, the above...and droped him down a peg or 3...

[mjbmedia]

best bit of game was when the ref dived in the box , assimilation id say

[choda]

totally not robbos fault (the defeat) its just that he has publicly stated he doesnt like the new ball and is worried about long shots with it

why not write an open invitation, and saturday wont help none

note to Robbo 'keep your gob shut'

Good point but don't they all hate the new balls and all complain about them, goalie's that is?

Anytime a new ball comes out I see a quesion posed to at least one high profile keepers and they all say it is moving all over the place (more the last fifa entertainment ball).

I'm not saying I disagree with these balls, I'd be much more concerned with the crazy offside rules, the lack of refereeing common sense and the absence of a tuesday committee to review the weeks talking points and hand out or recind punishment (this would stop diving if they treated them with big punishment).

But you can imagine from the keeper's point of view when you've guys with technique like Lyons Juninho who can hit it to bend all over he place it must be a night of mary... 'Oh its goin right, no left, right, left... shit its a goal... it went the other way'.

[Shuggie13]

I never quite understand why they want to tamper with the ball. A ball is a ball, a sphere, it has a natural way of moving (I'm no scientist but I understand this much). So why create something that moves in an unnatural way.

Watching someone like Hoddle curl the ball perfectly was a thing of beauty now you have Comedy-haired Campos whacking the ball and this happens.

[mgrep1881]

The skum bags also couldnt play a Wembley that year in teh European Cup. I really think the big pitch will make them weaker!!

[singapore spur]

i dont like what i have seen of the new balls , it looks a bit crap when passed , and almost looks like it has got some mud on it cause of the stupid pattern and i think (though no excuse in this case ) that it looks like its spinning when it isnt . i think it will decieve a few keepers from long range .

[TomMcLaren]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Robbo referring to some weird design that they had on the World Cup balls, something to do with the way that the air travels over the weird panel shapes? And aren't the Prem balls different?

[mjbmedia]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Robbo referring to some weird design that they had on the World Cup balls, something to do with the way that the air travels over the weird panel shapes? And aren't the Prem balls different?
well if they are different hes got even less of an excuse for missing it lol

[JJ]

I think he just saw it late as he seemed to react very late. I think the ball was hidden from view behind Zokora and caught Robbo flat footed when he did suddenly see it.

[Keanoldinho]

I think he just saw it late as he seemed to react very late. I think the ball was hidden from view behind Zokora and caught Robbo flat footed when he did suddenly see it.


that's exactly what happened and Zokora could've blocked the shot but at the last minute turned out the way. Robbo was going to his left and the ball went to his right and bobs your uncle fannies your aunt

[JJ]

that's exactly what happened and Zokora could've blocked the shot but at the last minute turned out the way. Robbo was going to his left and the ball went to his right and bobs your uncle fannies your aunt

Yeah, it was a shit goal all round as far as the defence is concerned. Can't deny that Campo caught it well, but from that distance a shot should never go in along the ground.