Implosions at Spurs, Liverpool and Chelsea have helped Arsenal a lot in recent weeks.
Van Persie & Co have won their last three games and look in decent shape. Good enough to beat Newcastle by one goal. Maybe more.
Although, against that, it should be noted that Wenger has only one win in six games against Alan Pardew as a Premier League manager.
Two defeats, three draws
Cesc Fabregas is always polite about Arsenal, so you have to read between the lines and imagine what he says privately.
In Saturday’s Guardian, Donald McRrae noted that, “Fábregas’s desire not to offend Arsenal is palpable.”
Asked to compare training at Arsenal and Barcelona, Cesc said, “We train more, here, definitely. It was different at Arsenal. Sometimes after games we’d stay inside the gym but here we’re always outside, with the ball, practising, working tactically. Even if we play almost every three days, we hardly have a day off. We train a lot – nearly every day.”
Fab4 confirmed that Pep Guardiola is a very demanding coach.
“For my first games there was an adjustment because I was used to my role at Arsenal, where I could move wherever I felt I could make the best contribution.
“Here, it’s completely different. Everyone has their own place and it’s important you stick to your position. It took a while to remember stuff I’d learnt as a kid at Barcelona. But the memory is coming back and I’m improving game by game.”
Interestingly, he mentions a difference in humility
“At the training ground it’s unbelievable. This is the best group of footballers I’ve ever seen in my life. If you saw every training session we do, you wouldn’t believe it. The quality is incredible. I’ve never seen or experienced anything like that. Everyone is so humble and the atmosphere is the best I’ve ever seen.”
On Saturday I fancied Bolton to shade QPR, after seeing how impotent Rangers were against Fulham.
Bolton beat them 2-1 but QPR had a goal disallowed that was a yard over the line.
Owner Tony Fernandes admitted in The Independent that Mark Hughes interviewed Queens Park Rangers.
He says QPR will build a culture. He’s right about that. It’s the only way forward for them and Tony seems to accept that, with their scary fixture list, the team will go down now.
But it might also be helpful if the Malaysian entrepreneur kept an eye on the Fulham model.
Mark Schwarzer, Hangeland, Andy Johnson, Danny Murphy, Damien Duff and John Arne Rise are all at their last Premier League club, you would think. They’re enjoying it and want to stay in London on good money, so they put in a shift and never hide.
An eye for a player is a big help. To reach mid-table in the PL, QPR need to unearth a gem like Tim Cahill or a Clint Demspey, a top pro goalscorer who has been foolishly shunned by the richer clubs.
David Moyes took Tim Cahill from Millwall when nobody else would give the Aussie a chance.
Since I now feel that England is a lost cause, I don’t mind if Harry Redknapp leaves Spurs to manage England.
To me Spurs has become important than England, even if both under-achieve.
David Moyes would be great at Spurs. I’d love to see him there.
He can’t do any more for potless Everton. He’s done 10 years and 459 games with 192 wins.
With Moyes running the team, and Fellaini anchoring the midfield, Tottenham would be Top Four most seasons.
Bring it on, Daniel !