Rugby vs Football, match preview.

Hey there, sorry for not writing a match report for the ManUtd game last Sunday, but I went to the beach and I've been very busy this week, anyways, in brief it was a great win, great team spirit and a great display by Ramsey who scored the only goal and gave us the vital three points, and not only that, it gave us some hope for the title.

Nasty.

Now it's Ramsey's time to come back to the Britannia Stadium after THAT tackle by that dirty player Ryan Shawcross. It'll be a very important game for Ramsey but he'll handle the pressure.

Team News.

Samir Nasri, Cesc Fabregas and Abou Diaby are all ruled out, again I haven't heard nothing about Denilson and Rosicky, it's a shame, both are good players, hate me if you want, but that's my opinion. Johan Djourou and Clichy have some fitness problems but I think they'll be fit.

This game may also mark the long awaited return of the VERMINATOR. He hasn't played since August and his injury has been like the one Rosicky had a few years back, you know, he was expected to come back a week after he got injured, and now he's been 8 months out. Same old story.

People have been talking about that this Cesc's 'injury' is a conspiration, but seriously, why would people think that? It makes me laugh, we are the Arsenal we are accostumed to injuries, don't start making crappy rumors.

Predicted Arsenal Line up.

Sczszesny

Sagna - Djourou (Vermaelen) - Koscielny -  Clichy (Gibbs)

Ramsey - Song - Wilshere

Walcott - Van Persie - Arshavin

It's practically the same line up as the game against ManUtd. I don't think we'd risk Vermaelen against that rugby club specially since he's just coming back, Gibbs may play on the left if Clichy fails to recover.

It's the same midfield that owned ManUtd on Sunday, so using that logic we would not have any problems in that department, since we are playing against nothing but a shit club.

In the forward line it'd almost be the same as the ManUtd game, the only who's missing is Nasri, but Arshavin will cope there with his super stats.

Match facts.

• In two previous appearances against the Potters combined, Robin van Persie scored twice and was sent off once.

• 

  Robin Van Persie has been impressive this year

  Stoke have won four of their last five home league meetings with the Gunners, and also knocked Arsene Wenger’s side out of the FA Cup at the Britannia Stadium last season.
• Kenwyne Jones has fired in 39 headed shots in the Premier League this season, seven more than any other player.
• Arsenal have taken more points away from home (30) than any other team this season.
• Arsenal have netted the most goals in the opening 15 minutes of Premier League games this season (15) whilst the Potters have scored the fewest (one).
• Robin van Persie has attempted more shots per game (3.27) than any other regular player in the top flight this season.
• The Gunners possess the best shooting accuracy in the Premier League, hitting the target with 48.6% of their shots.
• The Potters have scored a greater proportion of their goals from set pieces than any other side (48.8%) whilst Arsenal have scored relatively less than any other team (19.1%).
• Stoke have played 71.3% of their passes in, or into, the opposition half in matches this season; a Premier League high.
• Arsenal have the best passing accuracy in the opposition half in the Premier League this season (79.8%), while Stoke have the worst (55.7%).

All those match facts are courtesy of Yahoo! Eurosport.

Wenger quotes.

“Thomas Vermaelen is available and could be in the squad. Aaron Ramsey is likely to get another chance, I can even say that he will play.”

“Aaron is a quiet but strong character and I think there is no better maturing system than what happened to him – blocked at 18 suddenly when you are just flying. Being knocked down and having to wait for a year, not knowing what really will happen.”

“He is certainly mentally stronger now. After what happened to him you have to be strong." referring to Ramsey.

"No matter what happens I have to give him at least four weeks' holiday. The [Under-21] tournament finishes at the end of June so he won't come back until the end of July. That means he will not be ready to play at the start of August or maybe at the beginning of September." referring to Wilshere.

Wenger also said that Ramsey won't have the same problems as Eduardo.

Predicted score.

Bendtner scoring on last year's match against Stoke.

I'd seriously love a 5-0 trashing in Arsenal's favour, specially after reading some comments made by some Stoke fans on a Stoke City forum, and seriously how disrespectful they are! Someone said that Ramsey is bitter, others said worse things. I'm not going to post those things. 

Words to describe a Stoke City fan: Cunt, idiot, stupid, twat, dickhead and last but certainly not least CAVEMAN.

Now, being realistic I can see a 3-1 in Arsenal's favour just as the other time, and I can see Van Persie scoring a brace and I'd seriously love a Ramsey goal in revenge.

We have got to win this game if we want to still aim to win the Premier League, it's difficult, but it isn't impossible.

PS: I didn't post any Stoke team news, because they're crap and we all know who will start for them, yes 11 cavemen.

Come on you gunners.

Wenger must open his eyes and adress Arsenal's problems

As another trophy-less season comes to an end, time has come to question what went wrong? Where did Arsenal fall, and what continues to stop them from winning silverware?

It was an eventful, and in many ways frustrating campaign for the Gunners which I believe 'ended' after the heartbreaking defeat in the Carling Cup final in late February.

So much exists that is right about the club from board to ground to youthful talent that it is little surprising that those who love the club, who feel they are close to a winning formula, become frustrated by the inhibiting wrongs in Wenger's psyche. 

The team is undoubtedly full of talent but there are some areas that must be addressed. Firstly, one needs to question the man in charge, Arsene Wenger. 

Criticism can definitely be heard around the Emirates. Some (a minority) impatient supporters have been sending text messages to each other, reworking the trusty "In 

Arsene We Trust" match-day banner. "In Arsene We Rust" reads the new version. Mettle-work is required. 

Wenger played a huge part in Arsenal's fortunes this season, and may be correctly questioned for not strengthening significantly in January. Arsene stubbornly refused to make any major signings, and this may have cost the Gunners in what the manager described as 'an easy run-in'.  Who knows what some extra strength, dominance and leadership in the heart of Arsenal's defence would have resulted in? Maybe the outcome of this season would have been positively different. 

Acknowledging the fact that key-player Thomas Vermaelen would be unavailable for the run-in, Wenger could have brought in another defender to bring in extra quality and cover. Yet he didn't. 

I personally like the look of Bolton's Gary Cahill.  The England international has had a sensational season at the back for Bolton and looks to be easily tempted with a move away to a top club. 

This would be a serious investment, with the defender valued at £20m but a commanding, dominant centre-half is badly needed and he has shown all signs of being the specific answer. There has also been talk over a possible move for Fulham's American international Brede Hangeland  who I also rate.

Arsenal have conceded 20 goals from set plays this season, with only Blackpool, Sunderland, Aston Villa and West Brom conceding more. A statistic Arsene Wenger won't be proud of. 

I strongly believe that upon the arrival of a top defender, that embarrassing statistic  would decrease greatly. Cahill or Hangeland would certainly add the much-needed steel to the Gunners vulnerable and shaky defence.

Regarding the goalkeeping situation, I am a great fan of Szczesny and believe he is remarkable talent and can certainly be sure of a promising future. 

I love Wojciech, and I definitely think he is good enough to stand between the posts despite his young age. The only worry I have is his lack of experience which could cost us (and probably has at times this season). Apart from that, I see no reason to splash out on a goalkeeper. 

There are other positions which must be prioritised before the one of Szczesny's.

Anyway, back to the manager. Managers set the tone for their team. By always blaming others, whether referees, linesmen or oppenents, Wenger grants his players a get-out, a chance to shirk responsibility. So they carry on, refusing to accept personal liability, not standing up for the team when leaders are craved. 

Arsenal have rarely been so short of leaders. Captain Cesc Fabregas is a wonderful footballer, but he is no Nemanja Vidic (Manchester United's captain). That is why Wenger must open his eyes and appreciate the urgency of drafting in a tough competitor like Scott Parker. No more butterflies, please. Just warriors. 

Arsenal need more like Jack Wilshere, who never goes missing on the pitch, even off the pitch when the club want somebody to represent them for a community, charity or corporate function. Only a teenager but a captain in waiting, Wilshere takes responsibility.  

This season, Arsenal too often failed to kill off games, something caused by sloppiness, inexperience, naivety and that lack of leadership/responsibility. The chief example of this occurred in the 4-4 draw away to Newcastle in February. Arsenal went into half-time with a comfortable 4-goal lead, yet still failed to see off the game and return home with the vital 3 points. Costly and wasteful. 

Oppositely, when rivals Manchester United are in the driving seat, they always seem to kill off the game so brilliantly (especially at home).  This is probably one of the main reason why United are expectant to bring the title back to Old Trafford next month.

Home games versus Tottenham and Liverpool were also games Arsenal dropped points  when leading, as was the recent 3-3 draw at White Hart Lane. This is something that must be adressed. No matter how talented these youngsters are, they must learn to kill off games when leading by a comfortable margin.

I also always say that winning the title doesn't depend on results in October/November, rather on  picking up points from the tough and crucial games in March/April. No matter how spectacular a team's performances are in November, winning games a small, yet clinical 1-0 in March are the one's that win the league.

Another point, regards various journalists slating this Arsenal team, claiming that they don't posses a winning mentality. This is a remark I, unfortunately, cannot argue with. If the team were to win that cup final against Birmingham this probably wouldn't be the case. 

Nobody would be going-on about the absence of that 'winning mentality'.

Anyhow, Wenger must strengthen and address the spoken areas and might have to reluctantly pull out his check-book. If Wenger is to stubbornly refuse once again on strengthening, and insist his system is correct and not change his philosophy, then it must be seriously considered whether or not his future still lies at the Emirates. 

Arsenal supporters correctly respect Arsene for what he has done and his rich history at the club but maybe he is not the right man for the job at the current moment. 

Arsene must change and adress what needs to worked on, because if he doesn't, this massively important summer may be his last.

Follow me on Twitter @SamWhitefield40