The proverb ‘fortune favours the bold’ has never seemed a more apt description of a game as when applied to Arsenal’s last-gasp victory over Burnley on Sunday. It was a victory that was so good, and that arrived in such dramatic fashion, that its value and importance far exceeds the same victory secured in comfortable … Continue reading Why Arsenal’s late winner was more about bloody-minded persistence than luck
Alexis Sanchez’s deployment as a lone striker in the Arsenal setup has started to prove something of a success in recent weeks, particularly after what was a rocky start to the season. Pretty ineffectual performances against Liverpool, Leicester and Paris Saint Germain saw calls for the Chilean to be returned to the wing, where he … Continue reading The Alexis experiment: Sheer good fortune or a stroke of genius?
There is a wise old adage that says you should never change a winning team, and it’s difficult to disagree. When a team is on a roll, playing some of its best football in years, it would seem foolish to then switch things around and risk bringing all the hard-earned momentum to a juddering halt. … Continue reading Is it worth Arsene ringing the changes for Burnley trip?
At what point as a football team do you become too good for your own good? Frankly, I’m not convinced it’s entirely possible but last night’s Champions League showing from Arsenal certainly had me thinking. From an attacking point of view, it was among the best displays of football I have seen from an Arsenal … Continue reading Basel stroll throws up a few questions for fiendishly good Arsenal side
Arsene Wenger’s pre-match press conferences are nearly always good for a soundbite or two but there was one especially interesting vignette that emerged when the boss spoke to the media ahead of the Gunners’ Champions League clash with FC Basel. When asked about his side’s win over Chelsea, and the style in which it was … Continue reading Why Arsene Wenger’s ‘style and steel’ is music to so many ears
The improvement between the Arsenal that destroyed Chelsea on Saturday and the team that slumped to defeat against Liverpool on the opening day of the season was stark. In a relatively short space of time, the team has progressed from porous and befuddled, to resolute and organised. So what was it about Saturday’s Arsenal that … Continue reading The quiet revolution that allowed Arsenal to overcome Chelsea at last
A lot of the build-up to today’s clash with Chelsea at the Emirates has been focussed on Diego Costa and particularly on steering clear of the Spaniard’s wind-up tactics. Something that never ceases to amaze me about Costa is his ability to get a reaction from the opposition. Whatever you think about him, he is … Continue reading Arsenal must overcome Diego Costa’s mind control if they are to nullify Chelsea
The demolition of Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup finally gave Arsenal fans an insight into the thinking behind the signing of Spanish forward Lucas Perez. The 28-year-old scored twice and assisted a third in a memorable performance that at last gave fans a glimpse of what he is all about, and just how he … Continue reading Was Lucas Perez’s virtuoso display a sign of things to come at Arsenal?
For many Arsenal fans, the merest mention of Theo Walcott’s name provokes a reaction somewhere between rage and despair. The 27-year-old has been at the club for a decade but has only ever shown flashes of the talent which made him such an exciting signing all those years ago, when Arsene swooped to snatch him … Continue reading Whisper it…but Theo Walcott has actually been quite good this season
Before this season had even started, Hull City were being roundly written off as the team nailed on for relegation. The club’s summer transfer activity was circumspect and, as a result, their promotion-winning manager, Steve Bruce, resigned his post, leaving the club rudderless with just weeks to go before the season started. The fans’ relationship … Continue reading A few key statistics as Arsenal prepare for trip to Hull City
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