Gunning Down The World - An Arsenal Story
October - Review
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October kicked off with us playing newly promoted Swansea at The Liberty Stadium.
We were lying sixth in the table and I knew we couldn't afford to lose any points because it would cost us later in the season.
I had to play my best eleven in every game this month to get to the top four and stay in a healthy position for the remainder of the year.
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Swansea vs
Arsenal
Swansea didn't give us much time on the ball and played keep ball whenever they had the ball.
I got up out of my seat in the first 15 minutes and shouted Keep the ball and look for the easier option!
We were then able to get more time on the ball and were allowed to attack more, but we weren't getting anywhere.
A change or two was needed at half time.
I took off Moroccan striker Marouane Chamakh and brought on injury prone Robin Van Persie who had just recovered from injury, I told Robin not to dribble with the ball and look for the quick release in case he got injured again.
I took off Ivorian winger Gervinho and brought on Theo Walcott, I advised Theo to use his pace against Swansea's slow defense.
Second half was a lot better than the first we looked more hungry and we were first to the ball all the time.
Theo took my advise and knocked the ball past Albanian left back Debatik Curri, Debatik couldn't help him self but to pull Theo's shirt inside the box, unluckily for Curri the referee Lee Probert was right behind him and we were awarded with a penalty.
Van Persie put the ball on the spot and took a few steps back, the fans were on their feet, and so was I, I had a feeling Robin would miss because he weren't doing so well in training when Boro Piromac took him for training.
Robin took a deep breathe in, and I closed my eyes, I whispered to myself, come on Robin, you can do it!
My eyes were still shut and you could hear the loud roar around the stadium, I opened my eyes slowly to see Robin celebrating, I knew the game was ours now!
Moments later we were given another penalty, this time because thirty-two year old Garry Monk handled one of Van Persies shots and was given a red card, although we were only 1-0 up I was confident the game was ours!
Van Persie stepped up again, but this time I kept my eyes wide open, I knew this one was going in, Robin was a clever player, and was obviously going to play mind games with the Dutch keeper Michel Vorm.
Robin ran up to the ball, and pretended like he was going to shoot, the keeper was fooled and was on the ground by the right hand corner, Robin tapped the ball towards the bottom left corner but the determined keeper was already up and in mid air, luckily for us, the ball just skimmed past the keepers finger tips and the fan went wild as Van Persie won us the game at The Liberty Stadium.
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Arsenal vs
QPR
The lads were in their kits and every single one of them had head phones in, getting prepared for the match with loud and motivational music.
After a brief discussion with Pat, I got up out of my seat, and told the boys there would be a change in tactic.
The boys were puzzled and annoyed because they were so used to the current tactic, but I explained to them it ween't going to be a big deal.
I said instead of playing an attacking 4-4-2, we were going to play against our opponents weaknesses and field an attacking 4-5-1 with three attacking midfielders.
The boys gained focus again as it weren't too different to their current line up, all that changed was Van Persie dropped into a center attacking mid role and wonderkid Damiao was playing a target man role.
Listen now boys, I want you to play through the middle today, and use the target man, wingers I want you to create space by moving out wide and dragging their defenders with you, Robin, you'll be the playmaker today and I want you to play Damiao through.
Hassling the opponents and closing them down will be a key to success today, if we want to win, keep the ball and bully their players into defense, that way they'll be forced into errors and our solid midfield will pick open any mistakes today, I want you to go in hard in Barton and Faurlin, these two are their key players, show them onto their weaker foot and they will give the ball away every time!
Ok hands in now boys, 1, 2, 3, ARSENAL!!!
(I got the lads to do this every game to show that they have a hard working team beside them and that every player is in to give 100%.)
The lads ran out of the changing rooms and into the tunnels where they were immediately taken onto the pitch by the referee.
Twelve minutes into the game and midfield engine Ayew put us 1-0 up with a fantastic curler from outside the box, I was extremely pleased because mistake by defender Anton Ferdinand led to the goal, Ferdinand was pressurized by Hulk and his poor clearance fell to Ayew.
We were only up by one goal and half time was just around the corner, I was preparing my self for a speech to give the boys confidence when Damaios run was found by Van Persie and the wonderkid was one on one with the goal keeper, I got out of my seat to get a closer look, the Brazilian had rounded the keeper and tucked it away to make it 2-0.
I sat back in my seat and the Brazilian was through on goal again, this time he didn't round the keeper but lobbed him, Damiao ran to me in celebration and jumped into my arms like a teenage girl doing so with her boyfriend, I squeezed him tight and I said your doing f**king brilliant, keep going!
The referee blew the whistle for halftime and I didn't have anything to say to the lads but just to play their natural game and that they are doing extremely well.
QPR kicked off for the fourth time in the game and kept the ball for a while.
QPR looked like they were finally in the game when Bothroyd's goal was flagged offside, Szczesny looked like he was keeping a clean sheet today.
The ball was booted down the field by the polish goalkeeper and Damiao knocked the ball through to Van Persie who was now through on goal, I got out of my seat to see Van Persie being taken out by the lunatic Joey Barton, he was set off the field and for an early bath, Van Perie had taken a knock and I subbed him, Chamakh was his replacement and I was hoping he hadn't picked up a knock!
Damiao stepped up to take the penalty and there was no need to get out of my seat because I knew the outcome, Damiao grabbed his hat-trick ran to the fans in celebration.
Last ten minutes of the game approached whe substitute Marouane Chamakh did a reckless slide tackle on Clint Hill and got him self a red card.
Clint broke his leg and was out for the rest of the season, the game resumed and another forced error put Damiao through on goal once more, the goal hungry striker slipped the ball between Kenny's legs and wrapped up the game for us!
I was delighted for the boys, but I warned them not to get too complacent for our next game away at Benfica!
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Benfica vs
Arsenal
Today was a tough game for the boys but I said aggressively, we haven't been doing well in the Champions League and if we don't win this match, we wont qualify, so boys, I'm expecting you to win tonight!
We were 2-0 up at half time and Ivorian winger got a goal and assisted one for Van Persie, both goals were tap ins but a goal is a goal.
I didn't bother to make any changes to the team, we looked like we were going to win this match with ease, but just before the 70th minute Brazilian defender Luisao jumped above Mertesacker and headed the ball into the goal.
I thought sh*t, we really need to work on defending corners!
I yelled Andrey, your on, and Russian winger stripped off his jumper, Hulk was coming off, he didn't look fit enough to keep up with Maxi Pereira.
Monstrous striker Oscar Cardozo equalized for Benfica with a powerhouse finish.
I was gutted, I got up and shouted Pushh up!!
Walcott your going on!
I had enough of Van Persie mistakes and he was coming off, but after this corner, the corner was whipped in from the right side by Joao and went over everybodys head, the ball slowly curled out, before the ball could touch the ground, the ball was met by Van Persies left foot and smashed into the back of the net, what a way to end his game I thought, Robin seemed annoyed to be subbed, but I sat him down and said U'm resting you for the next game, he agreed with my reasoning and watched the game from his seat.
The final whistle was fast approaching and in the lat few seconds of the game, Gervinho grabbed his second of a game with a wonderful header, he earned himself man of the match, and 3 points for us!
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Arsenal vs
Tottenham
A game I told the lads to win, but set my expectations a little too high.
A Szczesny own goal gave Tottenham a 1-0 lead, Defoe chased the ball, and caught it just on the line, he turned Sagna and smashed in a low and hard cross, Szczesny went towards the ball to catch it but deflected of his body and into the net, what a terrible way to start the game!
Just 5 minutes after the own goal Damiao equalized for us with a tap in.
Literally seconds after we scored Scott Parker scored a screamer from 25 yards out, Szczesny was left flat footed and could only watch the ball fly into the net with great speed.
Scott Parker scored his second of the game in the 30th minute and we had a mountain to climb now.
Damiao got his second minutes later with a placed shot into the bottom right corner, we were still losing and the defenders were getting out of position, I was already out of my seat watching this action packed first half and called captain Van Persie over, I told him to attack on Kyle Walkers side, he is their weakest defender and Hulk received the ball more and crossed it in from the left side, in the extra time given, Hulk drilled the ball across the box and Gervinho met it with a diving header to make it 3-3.
Half time whistle went and I knew what to say to team, Alright boys, we've been playing brilliantly and we can win this game now, come on do it for the fans!
The match resumed with the boys looking more focused but the match ended as a draw and the second half turned out a very boring one.
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Arsenal vs
Westham
We had to win this game, its a League cup one, if we're looking to fulfill my expectations, we must win this one.
The match was a very boring game.
Ilunga the hammers left back blocked a powerful Hulk shot and the ball deflected into his own net.
We had 23 shots and only 6 were on target, I had to make a change and Damiao was coming off and instead Van Persie came on.
The change didn't have an impact until late in the game where Van Persie ambitious shot curled into the top left corner and Robert Green couldn't reach it.
We were lucky to win and were through to the next round.
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Stoke vs
Arsenal
Another boring match as it turned out to be a defensive match.
Stoke were at home and till played a 4-5-1.
I was extremely frustrated, Stoke were looking to draw and not win the match even though they were at home, my respect for manager Tony Pulis dropped and I was going to make it known publicly.
We didn't look like were going to score from open play and I knew if a goal was going to come, it would come from set piece.
I was right, we was awarded a free-kick and I told Mertesacker, Vermaelen and Sagna to go up for this one, a wonderfully whipped in cross from Andre Santos was met by the head of German defender Mertesacker and the first goal of the game finally came in 50th minute.
Crouch instantly equalized with a solo run from the half way point, he dribbled past Mertesacker and barged Vermaelen out of the way, he was through on goal and placed the ball into the net, Stoke were level and it only took them 7 minutes!
Time was running out very fast and we were given a corner, I shouted for all my defenders to push up again and this time Vermaelen made a run to the near post and headed home another Andre Santos cross.
Five minutes of extra time was given and Sagna took Crouch out and was given a red card, I ran up to the linesman and yelled that wasn't a red come on!
He called the referee over and he told me to get back into my seat or I'll be banned from the next game.
I walked over and whispered to myself, what a wa*ker.
The referee soon blew the full time whistle and Tony Pulis approached me, he held his hand out and I walked by him without commenting or shaking his hand, next week it was all over the news and I pleased that the reporters knew my opinion of Tony Pulis
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October 2011
A great month for the team, extra funds were made available by chairman Peter Hill-Wood, and if I were to sing anyone, I was going to invest in some youngsters in January or end of the season.
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