Arsenal 0 - 2 Liverpool; Thoughts + The Good, Bad & Ugly

Today, we saw yet another weakened Arsenal side, but a side which looked like it might manage to get all three points right up until the 70th minute. With an understrength defence which handed a full debut to youngster Carl Jenkinson and played Bacary Sagna at left back, and a midfield containing only one player with any real experience and another player making his full debut - Emmanuel Frimpong - few expected the Gunners to mount much of a challenge. For Arsenal supporters the subject of defeat and what would come next was being discussed before the game had even kicked off. Transfers too, were again a topic of conversation especially about Samir Nasri, a man about to start a match which many think will be his last in an Arsenal shirt.

Despite their much hyped problems, Arsenal began well, playing the ball around better than they have for a long time, they looked more assured than recently, their passing was slicker and they grew in confidence as the game went on. Emmanuel Frimpong slotted in nicely, he looked as good as suspended Alex Song, but was naive, not yet experienced enough to know what he can get away with and what he can't. This naivety resulted in two silly bookings, reducing Arsenal to 10 men, and (in my opinion) costing Arsenal the game. An injury to Laurent Koscielny early on resulted another youngster, Ignasi Miquel, being introduced into the Arsenal defence. Liverpool were wise to his inexperience, and striker Andy Carroll immediately started to play on him, putting him under pressure, but on his league debut Miquel coped fantastically, looking solid throughout, impressive enough, I think, to call into question Arsenal's need for another centre back. Samir Nasri too, showed why Arsenal are so desperate to keep hold of him, putting in a very good performance in midfield, the best he's played for a while too. A man who looked under pressure before kick off, squatting - seemingly praying - in the centre circle, something I've never seen the Frenchman do before. Despite this his performance was more than one would expect from a player who apparently wants out, creating his fair share of chances, nearly back to his tricky, lively best.

The game was fairly even until the red card, which from where I was sitting looked 50:50 but not too bad, those with the benefit of television replays suggest that it was a poor challenge for which Frimpong deserved to go. The pouring rain summed up the mood amongst Arsenal fans and players, the fight seemed to desert them a little and despite Henri Lansbury's introduction to add some steel to the Gunners' midfield again, Liverpool soon found a way through, Miereles and Suarez combined in the box, Miquel tried to clear the Arsenal lines, but his clearance only ricocheted off Aaron Ramsey, looping over Szczesney to nestle in the back of the Arsenal goal. An undeserved, but expected lead for Liverpool. Replays, apparently, showed that Suarez was offside in the build up. Luck, again, deserting Arsenal. Wenger cutting an agitated figure on the touchline.

Minutes later, Suarez compounded Arsenal's misery. Arsenal had been throwing everything forward in search of an elusive equaliser - even throwing Nicklas Bendtner on, in what could be his final Arsenal appearance - leaving themselves stretched at the back. Carl Jenkinson now struggling with what appeared to be cramp making things even more difficult. Liverpool capitalised, breaking down the Arsenal left with Miereles (the only player to step on the pitch with a worse haircut than Frimpong) arriving in the box, and cutting back to an unmarked Luis Suarez, who made no mistake, sweeping the ball home, sending the away fans into raptures, the Arsenal fans to the exits.

Liverpool sit second, Arsenal 15th. Arsenal failed to score in their opening two league games for the first time in 42 years. With a squad which looks paper thin in August, Wenger is under ever increasing pressure to strengthen - even if only to add depth.

The Good: Frimpong, Jenkinson & Miquel. All looked comfortable and composed on their (full) Premiership debuts.

The Bad: Naivety. The younger players don't yet know what they can and can't get away with - both in terms of discipline and positioning.

The Ugly: Frimpong. Haircut aside, getting a red card on your full debut isn't ideal, and leaves Arsenal with problems ahead of next week's visit to Old Trafford. I expect Henri Lansbury to be the 3rd player to try the holding role in three Premiership games.

For updates on the latest N5 articles plus other Arsenal related content, follow me on Twitter: @Goonernl

Latest Transfer Rumours; Gonzalez, Polo & Hazard

Lucho Gonzalez: Arsenal have apparently had a loan move for Lucho Gonzalez of Marseille turned down. Marseille boss Didier Deschamps says that he "spoke to [Wenger] and the one that really interests them is Lucho Gonzalez." Deschamps then said that Arsenal were only interested in taking him on loan and that there are "no negotiations." The 30 year old Argentinian would not have been a typical Wenger signing and could have brought some of the experience to the squad which the fans are crying out for. Reportedly linked with numerous clubs over the summer, Gonzalez wants out of Marseille and a permanent deal with a low price tag might be manageable. It remains to be seen if Wenger will return with a more agreeable offer.

Andy Polo: Sky Sports have suggested that Arsenal are in advanced talks with Peruvian side Universitario over the potential transfer of talented youngster Andy Polo. The 16 year old wonderkid is already  playing with the first team, touted as the new Alexis Sanchez, Universitario say that they are "open to negotiate but on concrete conditions." A move to N5 is possible for La Joya (the Jewel) but he would be another player for the future who would probably have to spend 3 years in Spain, in order to earn a work permit - though he has seemingly been called up by the full national side for the friendly Peru against Bolivia soon. This may mean that he could get a 'special talent' visa - like Ryo Miyaichi.

Eden Hazard: Arsenal have also reportedly agreed a deal with Lille to bring talented winger Eden Hazard to the Emirates for £23m. Personal terms have not been agreed with Hazard himself, talks haven't even started and are not likely to until after the Udinese game. Arsenal's qualification for the Champions League group stages apparently being key to the deal. Personally, I can see Hazard coming into the club as Samir Nasri's replacement - if he does actually leave - but I can't see where he would fit in with the current squad as it is. I think that we already have 7 or 8 wingers in the squad.

Are any of these the right man to sign? Let me know through Twitter (@Goonernl) or the comments below.

A Week to Forget...

Joel Campbell, the Newcastle game, Fabregas to Barcelona, Eboue to Galatasaray, beating Udinese, Nasri wanting out and the bans... The start of the season really could have gone better.




Arsenal's New Boy Campbell

  Joel Campbell: Costa Rican youngster Joel Cambell has signed for Arsenal and was at the Emirates last night for the Udinese game. In his programme notes Arsene Wenger did say that the club has taken a "bit of a gamble" on him - not words which fill me with confidence. He is expected to go straight into the first team squad and the generally reliable Young Guns Blog have been saying that he will take the #12 shirt.

Newcastle: The season didn't exactly get off to a flying start, the long trip to the North East yielding just a point. A weak Arsenal side struggled to create many chances, and completely failed to convert any. Where Bolton have been Arsenal's 'bogey' team in the past, where no-matter how well they played a result would never come, Newcastle would appear to be taking up that spot now.

I think that the positives were that Keiran Gibbs looked much more confident and reliable than at the end of last season, and the defence worked well together snuffing out the majority of the Magpies' possession.

On the downside, Robin Van Persie doesn't quite seem to be firing on all cylinders, and spurned a couple of chances which he would have scored with his eyes closed at the end of last season. I also felt that Gervinho was disappointing, I saw some of his pre-season cameos, and I was impressed with what I saw, but against Newcastle, he seemed industrious but useless. He was getting into some great positions down the wing, but was then making the wrong choices over when to cut in and when to cross. Also his left foot would appear to be lacking and for someone who plays left wing most of the time this could be a problem. You can't just cut inside every time in the Premier League.

Before we went down to ten men, I would have been disappointed with a point, however when down on numbers in what is a very intimidating place to visit, I think that that solitary point became a very good one.



Barca's €35m Man



Fabregas: Sadly our former talismanic captain has departed for pastures new (sort of) and rejoined Barcelona in a deal reportedly worth £35m. I genuinely don't have a problem with Fabregas going there, he hasn't won anything for 6 years, and the best team in the world, the team where he grew up was knocking at his door, pleading for his return. What would you have done in his situation?

I wish him the best of luck there and I hope he does get some success as he does deserve it, so long as it's not at Arsenal's expense. I thought that it would have been quite nice of Arsenal to let him have one last Captain's Column in yesterday's programme, to say what he wanted to say to the Arsenal fans, but c'est la vie. The main issue I have with his move to Barcelona is how his new club have handled themselves throughout the affair; the constant tapping up - which wasn't in the eyes of the rules, the playing hardball with the fee for a player with 3 years plus left on his contract... £35m is nothing in today's market. If Jordan Henderson is worth £22m the Cesc is definitely worth more than £45m. To add insult to injury, Barcelona have reportedly put in a c.£200m buyout clause in his contract. On that basis, they should have paid at least £70m.

I do like the fact that Fabregas has tried to say something to the Arsenal fans through his Twitter feed, rather than ignoring them, but I do feel that what he put could sound a bit rich in the eyes of some of the more disgruntled supporters. I was just happy he made the effort to do something. It would have been much easier not to.



Eboue at Galatasaray



Eboue: In one of the biggest mistakes of the summer, Emmanuel Eboue has also departed N5. I will sort of miss him for footballing reasons, as he had his moments of being superb, but unfortunately spent more time being good enough. I think that the real loss is from the dressing room, the squad joker, Eboue has always come across as being a character, something every club needs, but I'm not sure Arsenal do now. Arsenal have received an initial €3.5m rising to €9.4m paid in installments each season plus €10k for each match and he has signed a 4 year deal with Galatasaray. I wish him the best of luck with his new adventure in Turkey, and I love that he snubbed Tottenham to move there - that did brighten the week a little!

Udinese: Last night's game sadly followed much the same pattern, an (even more) understrength Arsenal side battling their way through the game, creating little and not being anywhere near clinical enough in front of goal. Gibbs again started the game brightly but sadly showed his main problem, departing at half time with a hamstring injury. Vermaelen got 10 minutes at left back, to show what he could do, before Gibbs' replacement Djourou followed the Englishman's lead, in injuring his hamstring and limping off down the tunnel. The thought of another injury blighted season is, unfortunately, a niggling thought. Carl Jenkinson made his competitive debut, at left back and had a decent game - though he did have little to do.

Gervinho showed the same endeavour as against Newcastle, but his surging runs still created little. Walcott finished his first chance neatly, but should definitely have had more, work on the training ground is needed for all if the Gunners are to rediscover their free-scoring form of a couple of season's ago. Chamakh was generally anonymous and the less said about his 'performance' the better. Ramsey was also underwhelming, but Rosicky and Song did well as two parts of that midfield three.

For me though the man of the match award has to be shared between Szczesney and Sagna. Our number 13 keeping us in the game on a number of occasions - mostly from Di Natale - and Sagna again putting in a solid shift a right back.

Nasri: Rumoured to be off to Man City, and quite rightfully unhappy at the new chants sung about him by the Arsenal faithful. They aren't nice, and quite frankly aren't going to help persuade him to sign on for longer. Something which I admit is looking less and less likely - the BBC reporting that a deal is imminent. It is a real shame, and I'd say that it will hurt more than Fabregas leaving as he definitely doesn't have any emotional ties from the past at Eastlands.

Barton the Victim for a Change

Bans/Liverpool: Unsurprisingly Gervinho's red card was upheld - he was bang to rights - and Alex Song has also been banned for 3 games. Both will now be missing for the games against Liverpool, Manchester United and Swansea. This really does give Wenger a selection headache, especially when combined with the injury list following midweek, and I would expect a team (assuming all currently injured will still be) something like this: Szczesney, Sagna, Koscielny, Squilacci, Vermaelen, Frimpong, Rosicky, Ramsey, Walcott, Van Persie, Arshavin

That this is probably the team which will be playing strengthened Liverpool and Man U sides, I think that a 2 draws and a win wouldn't be a bad return from those games.

Think the week has gone better than I do? Who can replace Fabregas(/Nasri)? Let me know through Twitter (@Goonernl) or the comments below...

Dann, Fabregas & Gourcuff + Miyaichi

£6m man? - Scott Dann

Scott Dann: Dann has been linked with the Gunners since before the close of 2010/11, however today stronger rumours have emerged, suggesting that a deal for the 6ft 2ins centre back to move to the Emirates is imminent. It has been reported that Dann will move to Arsenal for around £6m. His absence - from the Carling Cup final onwards - from the Blue's defence has been widely accredited as one of the key factors in Birmingham's irreversible slump in form, which eventually saw them relegated from the Premier League.

Big spenders Liverpool have also been heavily linked with a move for the Birmingham defender, and could rival Arsenal in any bidding war. At 24 he would represent a player with both youth and Premiership experience. Many would also argue that the talented centre-half is worth more than £6m, so he could be considered a bit of a bargain too. It is suggested that he is as good, technically, as Bolton's Gary Cahill (another defender both Arsenal and Liverpool have been strongly linked with) but is much better value for money, at around £10m less. Goal.com claim that Arsenal are in advanced talks to sign him.

Cesc Fabregas: Sadly, Cesc would seem to be nearing the exit door at the Emirates, with Arsenal reportedly beginning to accept that Barcelona will never pay the £40m he is worth, and they're demanding for him. It is being reported that Arsenal are on the verge of accepting a €35m bid which would rise to €40m depending on his performance. Fabregas will also, reportedly, have to take a pay cut to join the European Champions. It is sad that the Arsenal talisman would appear to be so close to a return to his boyhood club, but Barca's persistence has been impressive. I think I predicted on this blog at the start of the summer that we would have one more season from the skipper, but that is looking less and less likely. I just hope that Fabregas gets the opportunity to bid farewell to the Emirates faithful before any move.

Could Gourcuff
be a Fab replacement?

Yoann Gourcuff: His is a name which has been mentioned as a possible arrival to replace Fabregas. The creative French midfielder is definitely talented, but struggled last season following a £20m move from Bordeaux to Lyon. Currently injured, Gourcuff, who has 4 years remaining on his current deal, should be back for around the middle of September, and would probably be available for around the £15m mark. Marouane Chamakh is full of praise for his former teammate, saying that he would be the one person he would recommend to Wenger to replace Fabregas with. Chamakh and Gourcuff had a fantastic partnership when they were at Bordeaux - something which it could be beneficial to recreate in N5.

An intelligent and creative, attacking midfielder, Gourcuff is one player who might be able to fill the rather large boots Fabregas' possible departure would leave, should Arsenal look to the transfer market rather than the current squad to replace him.

A quick word also on Ryo Miyaichi, the Japanese youngster has been granted a 'special talent' work permit, and will be able to feature for the Gunners this season. We had some glimpses of his class and potential during preseason, and with his ferocious pace, the Arsenal wingers could give defences a torrid time this season. Both Walcott and Miyaichi have similar sprint times. A good crosser of the ball, I wouldn't be surprised if Miyaichi features in some capacity in Saturday's season opener at Newcastle.

Is Dann the right man? Could Gourcuff replace Fabregas? Looking forward to seeing Miyaichi? Let me know on Twitter - @Goonernl - or through the comments.

Arsenal Confirm Oxlade-Chamberlain Signing

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain the new man in N5

Arsenal have now officially announced the signing of Southampton youngster Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. He has cost the Gunners a rumoured £12m, and Southampton say that the fee they have received meets their "high valuation of the youngster" and that it is a fee which "sees Saints' previous transfer records blown out of the water." They also say that they were "in the driving seat" and that the transfer was completed "on [their] terms." This may suggest that Arsenal could have over-payed slightly for the undoubtedly talented youngster.

Oxlade-Chamberlain, 18 on Monday,  is the Saints' second youngest ever first team player, making his debut aged 16 and 199 days. Theo Walcott is the only player to have been younger making his debut. A preseason knock meant that he sat out Southampton's opening day victory over Leeds, and has consequently never played higher than League 1. Last season he managed to notch 10 goals from 41 appearances, so he does have a record of scoring. Arsene Wenger said that Oxlade-Chamberlain is "a perceptive passer of the ball" with a "great understanding of the game." Wenger also says that he has "huge potential."

Oxlade-Chamberlain himself says that he is "looking forward to meeting all [his] new team mates and giving absolutely everything in an Arsenal shirt." He has been put straight into the first team squad, and will be starting training at London Colney straight away. An attacking midfielder or winger, his opportunities this term will probably be limited to Carling Cup and FA Cup appearances.

The N5 Blog would like to wish Alex the best of luck with his time at Arsenal.

A good signing? Who else are you hoping to see join? Let me know though Twitter (@Goonernl) or through the comments below.

Quick Reflections on the Benfica Game

Arsenal rounded up their pre-season with a 2-1 reverse at Benfica. In a fiercely contested game, which really didn't seem like a friendly, Arsenal again couldn't manage to hold a lead. I appreciate that it is only pre-season and it's not a true representation of how the season will pan out, but Arsenal managed just 2 wins when they really should have won every single game. There was not one opponent who - on paper - are better than the Gunners.

The game today was truly end to end stuff, an enthralling encounter between a strong Benfica side, and a weakened Arsenal one. The first half saw some fantastic moves from both sides, Benfica having the best of the opening exchanges. Arsenal grew into the game though  and began to put Benfica under increasing pressure and after Gervinho and Van Persie had a series of chances which went close, birthday boy, Robin Van Persie cool-ly converted a Kieran Gibbs cross. Swept in low, from the left-hand side, Gibbs' cross picked out Van Persie with pinpoint accuracy, allowing him to calmly slot home from 4 yards. The 'keeper never stood a chance.

Half time came, and both Benfica and Arsenal made a multitude of changes, Benfica strengthening, Arsenal arguably moving towards a worse side. Chamakh, Myaichi, Squillaci, Frimpong, Fabianski and Jenkinson replacing Van Persie, Arshavin, Djourou, Song, Szczesney and Sagna.

Just 4 minutes into the second half, some sloppy Arsenal defending allowed the Benfica attack far too much space and on reciving the ball, Aimar had enough room to turn inside the area and get his shot away. The equaliser; 1-1. Fast forward 11 minutes, further defensive errors allowed Benfica to go ahead - Squillaci beaten by Nolito, who fiercely fired home. The goal came at the worst possible time, the Gunners were beginning to grow into the game again, and find some rhythm - much like in the first half - but Benfica's second truly was a hammer-blow. Arsenal's usually tidy passing game went, and when they had the ball, this inexperienced Arsenal side gave it back far too easily. Neither side looked much like scoring the game's fourth goal, but the game became truly end-to-end, and although a disappointing result for the boys in turquoise and blue, they had a good run out in preparation for Saturday's season opener away at Newcastle United.

Did you watch? What is our strongest line up? Get in touch using the comments below or through Twitter: @Goonernl