From Rhys Jaggar:
Obviously, the Walcott hat-trick was timely.
The first goal doesn’t surprise me, as Walcott’s USP is scoring from ‘tight angles’ – he’s always been better at that than coming straight down the middle and beating the keeper one-on-one.
The other two were Lineker goals – very necessary if he wants to be a central striker – you need 60 – 75% of goals to be bog standard ones.
But where did Wilshere’s strike come from?
Everyone’s talked about him being an ‘attacking midfielder’ for years, but I’ve never seen him do anything like that before. If he’s had it in his locker but has kept his powder dry for 6 years or more, then Wenger’s reputation as ‘Mr Foreplay’ is undoubtedly earned. That’s what fans go to see – an absolute crackerjack.
I hope it makes a few fuckwits at Le Grove eat their words. Old Mr Wood hosts a bunch of professional ‘anti-English bloggers’ who are probably part of the French mafia. Never ending in their criticism of any English player, any English manager and any English anything.
Of course, it’s just one game, but Wilshere and Walcott need to realise that that is the standard they must produce week-in, week-out if they want t be core first team players at Arsenal.
Walcott needs to be at it every week, not drifting in and out of games. Sharp, full of movement, demanding the ball and, preferably, going over and giving a bit of lip to colleagues who won’t give it to him.
A cynical part of me wonders if Wenger did a deal with Pulis to let Walcott shine, so he could get him signed up in the summer. Then he can go back to favouring Giroud without loss of face.
The even more cynical part of me says that Liverpool players threw the game at Stoke for some reason or other.
I wonder how many English managers will get hired this summer? And fired/released??
Seems to me now that ‘knowledge of bargain market places in Europe’ is priority one nowadays, which says that foreign managers will get the nod.
Amazes me that Leeds didn’t go for Allardyce.
It’s obvious that everyone knew he would become available this summer and a club like Leeds would be a perfect tempter for Allardyce football-wise: he can do for them what he did for West Ham and Yorkshire folks will appreciate him more as they’ve been out of the top division for so much longer. Maybe Cellino’s main aim is something else?? I guess Allardyce may fancy London or somewhere sunnier nowadays.
But to me it was a no-brainer for Leeds to approach him. Or Derby. If you want promotion and then survival in the EPL, Allardyce is your man. Bar none.
As for 2016, the PR is that Arsenal want to win the EPL next year.
Well, when has that been said before eh??
Chelsea will strengthen by replacing Drogba, they will probably bring in a long-term replacement for Terry and bed them in next year before taking over in 2016/17 and they might ship Obi-Mikel for an upgrade.
They will not be weaker.
City will churn as they ‘start a new project’. They have so much money it’s a matter of management and ego-massaging rather than squad issues. United will spend big again and I guess it depends on whether they can defend or not next year.
Arsenal have a chance next year as Wenger only wins titles in even years, when the summer has no tournament for Europeans.
But he won’t have a chance if he doesn’t rotate Sanchez next year, because Sanchez should be used sparingly the first three months of the season as he’ll be knackered due to World Cup, then 2015 and Copa America otherwise.
Ozil will be fresh, Oxlade, Wilshere and Walcott will be fresh, Welbeck will be fresh and Ramsey will be fresh. His full backs will be fresh and Koscielny will be fresh. Will he be ruthless and replace Mertesacker this summer or will he wait until 2016? I have my doubts……..
However, it’s that time of year to forget football for 2 months or more and detox from the 24/7 saturation coverage. Follow British women sprinters this summer, Mr Palmer – an old-fashioned feelgood sporting story for you.
Myles says:
Detox was great when we used to have three weeks in the Algarve with the kids. In 15 summers, the phone only rang twice.
That’s what I call a holiday. Swim in the sea, read 5 or 6 good books, drive to Lagos, play table tennis by the pool, sometimes against small Portuguese boys who were very good for their age.
I’ve tried, and mostly succeeded, in avoiding fast women.
Only attended three athletics meetings : Edinburgh, Dublin, White City.
Rather shocked to see Jack score the best Bryan Robson goal of the Premier League era.
Robbo used to score that kind of goal, often at Wembley, often to win the game.