The Final Sprint

Finally the final sprint have begun. The last stretch to the finishing line. The title are open and any team can won the title. Mathematically even Everton can win the title but realistically the title are between ManU, Arsenal, Chelsea and ManC to grab.


Arsenal are only 5 points behind ManU with 1 game in hand. Right now Arsenal are in both good and bad position to take the title.

GOOD

Arsenal have trailing ManU and give them pressure all this while. Before the season start Arsenal are favorite to finish outside the top 4 but now they still challenging the title. All Arsenal need to do to win the title is win all the 9 remaining matches. Arsenal are out of cup competition and this will enable them to concentrate mainly on the league unlike the likes of their rival which still have cup games to focus to.

BAD

Arsenal have the worst injuries plaque ever and I don’t think any team in this world can cope with the injuries that have befallen to Arsenal. Goalkeeper are not convincing, defense don’t have any cover on the bench, Bendtner and Chamakh are still on vacation mode, the creativity are running out and lapse on concentration. Just to name a few the things that might make Arsenal lose the title.

I just hope after the international break Arsenal manage to turn their forms around. Win all the game and win the title. That is all I ask. Go on Arsenal. Win the title for us and keep our faith.

Almunia or Lehmann?

Games against Barcelona and ManUtd have shown the best of Almunia. Almunia have save Arsenal from further embarassement in these two games. But the games against West Brom have shown what Almunia capable of doing, which is to give free goals to opposing team.


After a weeks when I feel comfortable with Almunia, keep in my mind that Almunia will learn from his previous mistakes, he have disappointed again in the game that Arsenal cannot afford to lose. The second goals are the comedy in his judgement. Why on earth he thinks he needs to go out when there is Squillaci. I just shake my head in disbelief.

Then there is Jens Lehmann on the bench. I wonder what he thinks by that time. I guess he also didn’t believe Almunia will make that mistake. Maybe in his head he will say if he was at goal that wouldn’t happen. And I also had that in my mind.

But does Lehmann still good enough? From his games against Barca last season, he still had what it takes to compete at the top. But maybe he might lose it a bit after a long month breaks from football matches at top level. But like Sol Campbell, he might do better than what we think off. And maybe he is the answer now.

Almunia or Lehmann, it is a difficult decision. I will chose Lehmann even though he will not qualified to earn the medal when Arsenal win the league

The Players Need To Give 150% From Now On

I just cannot help it. All I feel was a negative atmosphere throughout Arsenal world. Having lost all the cup competition in the matter of two weeks is a hard thing to swallow by every gooners.


The division among the club fans has never been greater before than this past week. A defeat against Birmingham still can be accepted and the atmosphere is still good. But after fail to capitalize the opportunity given by two defeat of ManUtd and followed by two successive cup defeats to the hand of Barca and ManUtd, the negative aura just arise from the grave.

With the increase price of season ticket and lack of explanation from the manager and board about the club situation, the fans anger getting more felt. But who can blame them, spending hard earned money but lack of result.

This situation won’t get any better soon and not this month I feel. The only thing that can improve the situation is the players and manager to respond well, I mean extremely well, on the pitch. I couldn’t see we will top the league this month unless Arsenal win by 3 goals and ManUtd lost by 2 or more goals.

The final stretch will be exhausting and the fans demand nothing less than 150% from the players. The fans won’t take the sh***y performances like the one against Barca and ManUtd. The players must play like they will die if they don’t win the game. The team need some attitude on the pitch, the no-nonsense attitude that the fans have been demand and crave for.

Next month will be a big month for Arsenal. But before April, the team need to pull out an outstanding result this weekend because I don’t see ManUtd drop points.

Starting from this weekend, please show us the fans that the season isn’t over yet. I still believe and so do many fans out there.

Arsenal Re-Sign Jens Lehmann?

After a gloomy and negative aura at the Arsenal blogging world, a news of Arsenal will sign Jens Lehmann break out. I remember at my post on 30 May 2010 regarding Arsene signing back Jens Lehmann. http://marcmm03.blogspot.com/2010/05/what-if-arsenal-resign-jens-lehmann.html

By that time I do believe Arsenal need to signing back Jens Lehmann since I cannot think any good goalkeeper in the market which was available and affordable to Arsenal. I just didn't think it will happen at this time. But nobody know the future. Who knows tomorrow Almunia might injured himself in the freak accident, like falling from bed and dislocated his shoulder, Lehmann might find himself play for Arsenal again between the stick for the last 10 games. Maybe that is good and if Arsenal manage to win the league, Arsenal will be the first team to field 4 goalkeepers to win the league.

Anyway let back to Lehmann. I like him. He is great. Age doesn't effect him as far as I saw him played last season. I believe he still get what it takes to compete at the top level. Because it is required for a players to play at least 10 games to earn a winners medal, I wish he can play for the last 10 games and help Arsenal win the league back.

Arsenal Must Have Been Curse

I can say that this phrase must have been said time and time again. Not just this season but the season before. So close and yet so far.

I just don't want to mention about the season previous. It will hurt me more.

When things look rosy by the time Arsenal beat Barca, then came the tsunami of injuries to the important players. Walcott, Cesc, Song and RVP struggling for fitness before Barca game at Nou Camp. Cesc and RVP plays but they look struggling.

Then Szczeshny dislocate his finger. It is a freak injuries to a goalkeeper. The ball look tame but yet it just injured our no.1 goalkeeper.

The Djourou shoulder dislocate. Another freak incident cause the injuries. What have Sagna done? Arghh.....

A well covered Arsenal squad have been depleted yet again. With only Koscielny and Squillaci at the back and Almunia at goal, thing just look so worrying. Why did all this injuries happen at the same time? Why?

Are Arsenal curse? Ohh please Arsene, do something. Pull out the rabbit from your magic hats once more. We really need to win this league.

Slowly, But We Keep On Climbing Up

What can I say. A big THANK YOU Liverpool. A big win over ManU sure have kept Arsenal title hope alive. Now with 1 game in hand Arsenal is only 3 points behind.

Both team have big games ahead of them. Arsenal still have Liverpool and Spurs to play for and ManU will have Chelsea and Spurs ahead. But the big games of course will be Arsenal vs ManU at Emirates which I believe will decide the title race.

As my previous few post after the 4-4 draw match against Newcastle, no matter how hard the referree try to pull us down we keep on climbing up. Slowly but we still closing the gap thanks to unexpected ManU lost.

And there's one thing I like to emphasise here too. All this while people keep on complaining about Arsenal defense. All over the Arsenal world people keep telling our defense is week. I know that is the case last year. but his year? I doubt it. In fact Arsenal are third better defensive team in the league. Concede 27 goals only behind Chelsea (23) and ManC (25) while ManU (30), I don't think we need to keep on telling defense is the problem here. Arsenal are the better defensive unit now.

Cheer on the team and keep believing. And that is what the team needs now. A full support from the supporter around the world ahead of Barca clash.

Go on Arsenal and win this game for us. We all have faith in the team. Don't let us down.

Let Focus On Barca

Arsenal have been robbed again by the refferee. A game should have been won by at least 1-0 if only the push by Bramble was spotted on and penalty given with Bramble red carded. And if that was not given, at least the legit goal should be allowed and not flagged offside.

This kind of decision made it harder for Arsenal to take advantage of ManU slips up. A win for ManU will see them 6 points clear. But there's nothing can be done now. No matter how loud we cry and whine, the result will still be 0-0.

Forget about the dissapointment. Let focus on the next important game. It is Barca this Tuesday. Forget about the 0-0 draw and show what Arsenal can do by beating Barca. Avoid defeat this Tuesday and Arsenal will go through. If Arsenal need to park their Jet in front of the goal, let it be the way. Defend with their life. And see through Barca.