Arsenal Transfer Prospects: The Pros and Cons of signing Christopher Samba

Arsenal endured a frustrating night against Ipswich Town as they lost to the Championship by a goal to nil and will have to be more consistent. They still have the second leg of the Semi-final at the Emirates where one can expect the Gunners to dominate considering it will be a slick surface and with the support of the home fans, the Gunners could yet feature in the Final.

Arsene Wenger has made it clear that he needs another centre back in January to ease the pressure on his defenders because of the long term nature of the Achilles injury to Thomas Vermaelen. They have been linked with many centre back including the likes of Per Mertesacker and Gary Cahill but the French tactician has admitted that he would prefer if the defender was playing in the English Premier League.

Djourou has been in excellent form this season but the problem is that it is still a risk to play him three times a week because he was injured for over a year. He has already played three games in the last week which means that there is a good chance that he could be rested before the important Premier League game against West Ham United. If that is the case, young Ignasi Miquel will start for the first time for the Gunners alongside Laurent Koscielny who has been impressive in the last few weeks.

The Gunners are clearly short of numbers at the back and Arsene Wenger has admitted that he will look for a defender in January to ease the pressure on Johan Djourou. Arsenal have been linked with a number of centre-backs including the likes of Per Mertesacker and Gary Cahill. However Wenger could also make a move for Blackburn defender Christopher Samba who wants to leave the club following the departure of Sam Allardyce.

Samba will cost the Gunners in the region of £8 million and will be allowed to leave the club. Blackburn could be tempted by offering one of Jay Emmanuel Thomas or Carlos Vela on loan in addition to the cash in order to secure the services of the physical defender. Let us analyse what are the advantages and disadvantages of signing the former Hertha Berlin defender.

Advantages

Samba is only 26 and is certainly one of the most consistent performers in the last few seasons in the Premiership. The defender has decent pace and has also been rated highly by many experts and managers. He has immense physical presence which Arsenal have lacked in the recent past and is a no-nonsense defender. The Blackburn defender is also experienced in the Premiership and his battling qualities could be important for the Gunners.

In addition to this, he was Blackburn’s Captain until recently and has got good leadership at the back. He has got enough experience and can command the backline. Arsenal have conceded a number of goals from set-pieces and this is where Samba will help the Gunners improve drastically as he will win a number of aerial battles. He is also a goal scoring threat on set-pieces and Arsenal have not scored too many goals from set-pieces although they have Robin van Persie who can deliver the ball brilliantly into the area.

Disadvantages

Though the Blackburn defender offers a lot of physical presence and is good in dealing with set-pieces, he is not the best reader of the game. Also, he has not played for a top European club and he might be exposed in high profile Champions League matches. The former Hertha Berlin defender could struggle to cope with the intricate play of many quality teams like Barcelona and Real Madrid in the European competitions.

Christopher Samba does not have great technical ability and the Gunners style of play requires the defender to bring out the ball from the back and they have defenders like Vermaelen and Koscielny who are capable of doing that. However that will not be a problem since all other defenders at Arsenal have the ability to do so and Samba could be asked to stay back and do the defending.

Will Arsene Wenger spend £8 million on Christopher Samba?

The French tactician is a person who does not spend much on the transfer market unless there is a necessity to do so. In this case, Arsenal do need a solid defender but when Vermaelen does return from injury, Arsenal could have four fit centre backs without any new defenders which would mean very less playing time for some of the defenders. Vermaelen is the established defender while one amongst the rest will partner him.

If a new defender of the quality of Christopher Samba is signed, it does signal the end of Sebastien Squillaci’s Arsenal career because the Gunners will have four young defenders while the club also has some talented youngsters like Ignasi Miquel. The question is whether Wenger will spend the money required to buy Samba who is essentially going to be the fourth choice defender when all the others are fit. Having said that, Samba is a player who could add a lot to the Gunners and could be extremely effective in many games in the Premier League.

Arsenal Fans Must Learn from Liverpool Faithful After Their Booing Of Andrei Arshavin

Arsenal managed to earn a replay against Leeds United through a Cesc Fabregas goal, which would have been a relief to millions of supporters all over the world.

They will play Leeds United at Elland Road on the 19th of January and Arsene Wenger could play a strong side in order to ensure progress. In the game against Leeds, many players were not playing to their best abilities and even consistent players like Alex Song was not so great.

But one player who came under immense scrutiny for his performance at the Emirates was Russian midfielder Andrei Arshavin.

The winger has not been in good form this season and he has been criticized widely by experts and supporters for his lack of effort and desire. This has been strongly rejected by the gaffer Arsene Wenger, but he has benched him for a few times this season.

The Russian dynamo boasts very decent statistics this season despite being out of form this season and leads the tally for assists by an Arsenal player. It clearly shows that even if he is not playing well, he is capable of producing some moments of quality which can influence the game in a big way.

However, Arsenal supporters are criticizing him for his lack of effort and commitment; it does seem like the Russian has lost the faith of the Gooners.

In the game against Leeds, he had a decent goalscoring opportunity which he should have done better and also squandered possession due to some poor touches; he was also not so intent on closing down the opposition and his work rate was poor.

Arsenal supporters were obviously frustrated by that and conceding a goal to Leeds only made their day worse.

Arshavin was booed at the Emirates and he looked out of sorts throughout the game. Arsene Wenger did well not to substitute him, but it was disgraceful to see Arsenal fans booing one of their own at a time when they desperately needed a goal to stay in the competition.

It is understandable that they have been frustrated with his performances, but booing one of your own players does not solve the problem.

The Russian captain may not be at his best, but he is certainly one of the most creative players at Arsenal and with only one more year on his contract, he could be on his way out after such reactions from the supporters.

These fans have paid the money to watch their stars in action and when they do not play to their abilities, they are likely to be irritated.

However, they must remember that Arshavin is a player who has won a number of games for the club and still retains the special ability to win games on his own. He is not a very hardworking player, but he is a winner and will try to achieve success for the club.

This is a player who has been outstanding for the club in many games and it is unfair for the fans to boo a player of his calibre.

He is not a player who has lived on his 15 million transfer; on the contrary, Wenger persisted with him in the starting 11 for a long time because of his superb performances in the last two seasons.

He has given supporters plenty of joy in the last two years but when he has not been in form this season, he has been criticized too heavily. He does not enjoy not scoring goals and one must understand that he is trying to regain his best form.

Supporters must back him to do well in the future and if he is not in form, he must be supported by the fans. It is not only money that matters for a footballer; he also gives his complete effort to bring smiles to the fans.

In this context, the form of Fernando Torres has not been too dissimilar to that of Andrei Arshavin, though the latter has more impressive stats. The Spaniard looked good in one or two games, but he has largely been out of form this season.

Though Roy Hodgson was criticized, Torres was not booed at all; in fact, they cheered him whenever he was on the ball and expected him to gain his form.

The Spaniard is a match-winner and a high quality player who has enthralled the Anfield faithful since he joined the Reds; that is one of the reasons why the Spaniard has the support of the Liverpool faithful despite his poor performances and bad work rate.

Arshavin is not as important to Arsenal as Torres is to Liverpool, but he is also a match-winner and needs the support of the fans.

The supporters must respect the contributions of Andrei Arshavin, who has created so many opportunities which has provided special moments for the supporters. It was shocking to see the supporters boo one of their most consistent players in the last three years and it could be the reason why the Russian might not want to renew his contract with the Gunners.

Even if they did it out of frustration during the game, surely very few Arsenal supporters will be pleased if he does depart.

Torres could have left Liverpool during the summer and it was not the money that Liverpool offered that made him stay. It was his love for the supporters that influenced him and while he has not performed anywhere close to his best, he still continues to have the support.

On the other hand, supporters need to back the dynamic Russian to regain his form or they could see one of the most talented Arsenal players leave the club.

Arsenal Transfer Prospects: Analysing The Pros and Cons Of Signing Sol Campbell

Arsene Wenger would have been relieved that the Gunners managed to earn a replay against Leeds through a late Cesc Fabregas penalty which saved them the embarassment of being knocked out by the championship side. The Gunners would surely be happy with the replay than being eliminated at this stage but Wenger will know they have to play an extra game at this point of the season.

The game against Leeds is important and the French tactician will be forced to play some of his best players for the encounter. But he has admitted that he does not have enough cover in defence if Thomas Vermaelen cannot recover from his injury by the end of January. Johan Djourou played in three games this week but it is still doubtful if he can be used more than twice a week on a regular basis.

Sebastien Squillaci was signed to provide experienced depth to the side but he has found it difficult to adjust to the hardships of the Premier League. He has not enjoyed a good start to his Arsenal career and has already dropped down the order with three players ahead of him at present. Though the French International has the experience, he has not provided a commanding presence at the back which has been lacking in the absence of the Belgian.

Laurent Koscielny has shown he has the talent to be an excellent defender though he has also had an inconsistent start to his Arsenal career. It is clear that this lad will improve with experience and will gain a lot more when Vermaelen is fit again. The former Lorient defender is a player for the future and will benefit from good guidance from the manager and his more experienced team mates.

Arsenal are still challenging for all the four titles and they need quality depth in every position because this is the time of the year when players have to be rotated so that they can perform at good fitness levels. If Vermaelen does suffer another setback, he could be ruled out for the entire season. In that case, Arsenal will not have the depth and Alex Song is too valuable a player to be played in defence because he is not a great defender.

Arsene Wenger said there there was a possibility of them signing a new defender in January and it is unlikely that the Frenchman will invest too much in that department considering that Arsenal have three quality young defenders in Laurent Koscielny, Johan Djourou and Thomas Vermaelen. Most of the supporters would like Wenger to target a quality centre back like Jan Vertonghen or Per Mertesacker but it is unlikely for such a move to happen in January.

There were reports recently which linked former Arsenal captain Sol Campbell to link up with the Gunners again. Though it is quite possible that it could be just tabloid rumours, all prospects will be evaluated by the shrewd tactician. He provided Campbell with the chance to rebuild his career which he did last season when he signed for the Gunners in January.

The tall defender has huge respect from the Arsenal supporters despite leaving the club twice and Wenger also is an admirer of the Centre Back's fighting qualities. In the context of the recent rumour, let us analyse what the England defender brings to the table for the Gunners.

Advantages

Campbell is one of the most experienced players currently playing in the Premier League and his inputs could be invaluable to youngsters like Laurent Koscielny and Johan Djourou. It is clear that he has got huge respect for the club and has passion towards it. Arsenal do not have many players who have won many trophies but Campbell is one who has been successful in the past with the Gunners and has seen it all before.

He will provide a lot of fighting spirit for the Gunners and at times, Arsenal tend to give up too easily. The Centre Back has a lot of experience at the highest level and if his performances in the previous season is any indication, he can still add worth to the defence. He has excellent aerial ability and is excellent in dealing with danger. Also, Arsenal lack leadership at the back and Campbell can inspire a lot of confidence within the team at the back.

Disadvantages

If another centre back is signed, then the Gunners will have five defenders if Vermaelen does return in January. Squillaci will move further down the order which would mean that Wenger has lost confident in the French defender. Also, Sol Campbell is 36-years old and is likely to be signed only on a six month deal, which is not likely to cost much considering reports that Alan Pardew is not keen on working with him.

Also Campbell is not the quality player he was in his prime years and his weaknesses could be exploited at the back. Though he has decent pace, he could not play with good fitness levels for the 90 minutes which might prompt a subsitution in the second half. Also, he has not played much for Newcastle and does not look as fit as he was when he played for the Gunners last season. He cannot play three games a week and Arsenal will again have to shell out the money to buy a centre back next summer.

Wenger's Prospects

Arsenal have been linked with a number of defenders including the likes of the powerful Christopher Samba and Per Mertesacker. Though Samba is very dominant in the air, it is still doubtful how he would perform against the likes of technically strong oppositions such as Barcelona and Manchester United. Also, he would not come at a bargain and there might be better options for Arsenal in the summer than spending around 10 million on Samba.

Sol Campbell has been immense for the club in the past and will still fight hard for the club. He commands the defence well and can work on improving the defence of the Gunners. He adds much more than only his defensive qualities which could prove to be pivotal in Arsenal sustaining a consistent title challenge on all fronts.

Arsenal Future Strikers: Can Carlos Vela and Nicklas Bendtner shine for the Gunners?

Arsene Wenger has confirmed there are as many as ten clubs interested in acquiring the services of Carlos Vela on a loan deal but it is still unclear which would be his destination by the end of January. The French tactician has indicated that he would like the youngster to stay in England but admitted that the Mexican International's opinion would also be important.

The Mexican International was again on the bench for the recently concluded FA Cup tie and will surely be loaned out for the rest of the season. The tricky attacker has tried hard to break into the first team but has not been able to establish himself and with three quality players ahead of him in the pecking order, it will be difficult for Wenger to provide him with many opportunities to prove his undoubted talent.

The Frenchman has said that he is not willing to sell a player of his quality and will only loan him out. But only time will tell if Vela can adjust successfully to the rigours of the Premiership and establish himself in the Arsenal first team. The versatile Mexican International is an excellent squad player to have but at his age, he deserves to be playing regularly and sitting on the bench will not help him realise his potential.

However Wenger has a proven track record of developing youngsters with immense potential into world class players and has the capability to develop him into an excellent player. But for that to happen, Vela would have to be patient and when the chance arrives, he will have to grab the opportunity. He can take inspiration from the progress of Theo Walcott who has been an impact substitute for a lot of matches but is getting his chances to start matches this season.

Nicklas Bendtner is another striker who has been frustrated by the lack of opportunities due to Marouane Chamakh's impressive form at the start of the season. Also, with Robin van Persie fully fit, his opportunities will further reduce as the Dutchman is easily the best striker that Arsenal have when he is fit. Bendtner has been affected by a number of injuries in the recent past which has also been a factor in his reduced playing time.

The big Dane had an excellent second half of the previous season when he scored numerous vital goals and looked set for a bigger role this season. However injuries and the form of Chamakh has kept him out of the starting 11 in a number of games and he is understandably frustrated by the lack of games at Arsenal.

He has been linked with a number of clubs but the fact is that Wenger rates the Dane very highly and has a lot of faith in his ability. However Bendtner's profligacy in front of goal has meant that he has not come close to scoring 20 goals in a season which is what Arsenal need from the striker in the future. He has shown that he has a lot of potential but has not utilized it too much and needs to work harder on his game.

However the big question is whether Carlos Vela and Nicklas Bendtner do have a bright future at Arsenal because they are currently not getting too many opportunities. They are behind Robin van Persie and Marouane Chamakh in the pecking order which is why the duo are not getting many opportunities to prove their calibre.

Robin van Persie is one of the most injury-prone players and has missed a number of games due to injuries in the past. However most of his injuries are impact injuries and though he has missed some playing time, he has not lost his impeccable ball control and his creativity. His game is not reliant on pace and at the age of 27, he still has a long future with Arsenal.

Marouane Chamakh was signed on a free transfer this season from FC Bordeaux and has turned out to be a great signing for the Gunners. He is one of the fittest players in the squad and his experience is invaluable to the club. Besides, he has a good first touch and a knack of scoring important goals which has helped him score 11 goals this season. The Moroccan International has been preferred over the likes of Bendtner and Vela.

Arsenal are a club which bring through many young talents and in that regard, England youth International Benik Afobe on loan to Huddersfield is also a highly rated talented and by the time the duo of Van Persie and Chamakh turn 30, Afobe could become an important player for the squad. The Gunners have also been linked with teenage sensation Connor Wickham and could bring him to the Emirates in order to develop him into a fine young English striker.

The Gunners have good attacking options in Van Persie and Chamakh but because of the lack of enough playing time, Vela and Bendtner could both depart the club. Arsene Wenger is trying his best to shuffle his squad to provide opportunities to the two talented youngsters. There will be opportunities for both the youngsters but it depends on how they perform when they are provided with a chance to prove their credentials for a first team place.

Both Carlos Vela and Nicklas Bendtner are rated highly by Wenger who has a lot of faith in the lads. However their determination and hard work will determine whether they can establish themselves in the Arsenal first team in the future. But as long as Wenger is there at the helm, Arsenal FC will continue to produce and develop talented youngsters who can be great for the future.

The French tactician is someone who always backs a youngster if he can see the quality in the player. He has huge belief in the quality of Vela and Bendtner and can guide them to attain more success with the Gunners in the future.

Liverpool: 5 Reasons why manager Roy Hodgson must part ways with the Reds

Liverpool take on Manchester United in the FA Cup on Sunday in a game that could be pivotal to determining the future of Roy Hodgson who has stayed on as the manager despite reports surfacing that the new owners are currently searching for a new manager. Rafael Benitez might have brought Liverpool FC to a lower position from their previous highs but they were always a very tough and capable team under the Spaniard. However they have lost to many lower quality oppositions without a fight and have sunk to new lows under Roy Hodgson.

Roy Hodgson had an excellent start to 2010 as the manager of Fulham but the year ended on a bitter note for the Englishman who has been accustomed to hearing chants for Kenny Dalglish to be the manager for the Reds. Though Hodgson has a decent managerial career, his tenure with Liverpool has not been successful and here are 5 reasons why he needs to part ways with the club for the better future of the Merseyside club.

1. Incapable of bringing out the best from his Talented Players

Liverpool might be languishing in the bottom-half of the table but no one could accuse the club of not having the quality to at least be within the top seven clubs after the first half of the season. It has been due to the poor performances from their best players that the Reds find themselves in this predicament. Though Hodgson has probably made average talents like Lucas Leiva and Maxi Rodriguez into better players, he has not been able to bring out the best from his star players.

Fernando Torres has looked very frustrated throughout the season barring a few matches where the supporters have seen what he is capable of. He does not look like he wants to fight for the manager and if Liverpool are to secure a top seven finish, they need Torres to find his shooting boots on a regular basis. Joe Cole is another example of a talented player failing miserably under Hodgson. Though Gerrard has been decent this season, he has not been as influential as he can be because he has been played too deep in a number of matches.

2. Playing too negative for a team like Liverpool

Liverpool are a huge club and boast of arguably the most supportive crowd in history. However they have been utterly disappointed with the negative tactics employed by Hodgson which has more or less meant that the Reds have not dominated too many games. For a club which has some great attacking talents like Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, they have played too deep which has meant the duo have not been able to influence games on a regular basis.

Liverpool under the Englishman has passed the ball a lot in their own half but have lacked the creativity to break down defences. Also, they have played the long ball game and expect too much of Torres who has been woefully out of form. Daniel Agger was outspoken in his criticism of the manager in his tactics to just clear the ball from the back instead of distributing it cleanly which does provide a view of the manager’s tactics.

3. Poor Transfer Record and Bad Utilization of Some Players

Though Liverpool were struggling financially at the time when Hodgson took over as he manager of Liverpool, he still had decent money to spend. However he has brought in some very mediocre players who do not deserve to play for a club like Liverpool. Christian Poulsen and Paul Konchesky are very average players who are not good enough and have been criticized by the Anfield faithful for their poor performances.

Raul Meireles is different in this regard as he is a proven player who has shown that he can develop to be an excellent player in the future. However, he is a proper central midfielder who does not have too much pace which is why he should not be played on the wing. The Portuguese has played on the flanks on more than a couple of occasions but has not performed too well because he is a quality central midfielder and not a winger. Also Steven Gerrard is at his best when he is influencing the game from the centre but his tactics has meant he has played too deep which has meant he cannot be that influential and Torres has suffered from a lack of service.

4. Hodgson does not inspire confidence to the Supporters and the Players

Roy Hodgson has made a number of statements which have been controversial and has been criticized by the Liverpool supporters. He has not cut a confident figure; in fact, he has been rather cautious in his approach and has not looked like a manager for the long term future of the club. His comments after the poor performance against local rivals Everton were quite pathetic when he said they had put in their best performance of the season in that 2-0 defeat. Also when Sir Alex Ferguson was indirectly pointing out that Torres dived in the game between the two clubs, Hodgson said nothing to back the player.

Also, his comments about Glen Johnson not being good enough and Joe Cole not assured of a regular place has only brought down the confidence of the team. Every time the Reds have let in a goal, Hodgson does not inspire the players who need a tougher manager at the helm. His man-management skills have not been excellent and it does seem like he has found the Liverpool job and expectations too big to handle despite his assurances.

5. Liverpool Supporters want him out and will not back him as the Manager

Liverpool have been one of the most successful clubs in history and the supporters want the club to play attacking football. They have not been happy with the defensive tactics of Hodgson while the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal have been attacking in most of the games. The Reds have an away record that is quite similar to clubs fighting against relegation and the supporters have been forced to watch some pitiful football over the last few months, especially away from Anfield while they have also suffered some embarrassing losses like the defeats to Blackpool and Wolves at home.

Hodgson made another error by criticising the famous Anfield support and was invited with sarcastic chants of “Hodgson for England” in the next few games. He must understand that Liverpool supporters generally back the manager to a great extent but they do not back him because they do not believe he is the right man for the job. The new owners have been patient so far but they should make a move to appease the supporters who are very restless at the moment.

The fact that Anfield has not been completely filled by supporters for the last couple of matches is a huge cause for concern which clearly gives the indication that the fans have lost the faith in Hodgson and the team for now. Hodgson might have come in at a difficult period but will not be unfairly treated if he does get the sack because he has been given a lot of time to turn things around at Liverpool. Now that he has been unsuccessful, it is time for someone else to try to steady the ship.

Arsenal: 6 Reasons Why Laurent Koscielny Will Be a Quality Player In The Future

Arsenal were desperately unfortunate not to earn all the three points against Manchester City at the Emirates but the fact that they did not concede a single goal is a boost to their title hopes. Arsenal's problems this season has been at the back where they have been unable to keep it tight and despite the impressive form of Lukasz Fabianski, the Gunners have had lesser clean sheets than they would have liked.

Wenger was hampered by the injury to Thomas Vermaelen and considering the fact that Johan Djourou has recovered from a long term injury, he has had to pair new signings Laurent Koscielny and Sebastien Squillaci in a lot of games. However, the partnership has not worked out well and needed a change. With Djourou slowly regaining his full fitness, he has used Djourou more often and the Swiss International has been immense at the back for the Gunners.

Djourou has received a lot of praise and deserves it for his efforts. After such a long injury, few would have predicted him to be in such excellent form this season and he has shown more maturity this season. But some credit should also be given to Laurent Koscielny who has been one half of a successful defensive partnership in the last few games.

The thin Frenchman has endured a lot of criticism since his move to the Emirates but it is easy to see that the former Lorient man has the talent to be a quality defender. He has improved as the season has gone on and has already established himself ahead of Sebastien Squillaci in the team.

It is clear that Koscielny still has some flaws in his game but he is only in his second season at the highest level. he has been responsible for some of the goals that the Gunners have conceded but has looked assured after the initial shaky performances.

His two red cards and many yellow cards did not help his cause at the start of the season but he seems to have improved and is important to the Gunners this season. There are many supporters who still question his ability but here are five reasons why he can be immense for the Gunners in the future.

1. Tenacity and Brave Attitude

The French defender has been at the end of some very tough challenges right from his first game for Arsenal. But the youngster has not been afraid to step out from challenges; on the contrary, he has displayed doggedness on a number of occasions. Though he has sustained a lot of cuts and bruises in his short career, he has shown the willingness to fight.

2. Excellent Anticipation on One vs. One situations

Though he has been caught out of position at times earlier in the season, he has shown good anticipation in one on one situations. He has been good in spotting danger and clearing the ball. He generally does not lose his calm and does not do something too impulsive. He has shown good ability in these situations and it is important to have such a player at the back.

3. Good Aerial Ability

He has not been dominating at the back and when he played alongside Sebastien Squillaci, the partnership conceded many goals because of their inability to win the aerial duels on some occasions. However though Koscielny has not been outstanding in the air, he has certainly demonstrated that he can win his fair share of headers though he has to improve on the power of his headers.

4. Good Understanding of the game and makes Crucial Interceptions

Koscielny has made some errors that have been costly but he has good understanding of the game and has the ability to make crucial interceptions. In the game against Chelsea, though Djourou was instrumental in not providing any space to Didier Drogba, Koscielny ensured that there was hardly any service to the forward. He has the ability to react quickly and cut out killer passes. He also agressively attacks the ball and sometimes wins the ball in the opposition's half because of that.

5. Technically Good for a Defender

Laurent Koscielny has shown composure on the ball and has adapted well to the Arsenal style of play. He has shown good ability to distribute the ball and bring out the ball from the back. Thomas Vermaelen is very good at this but in his absence, Koscielny has done it quite well and had a very good game with regard to this against Manchester United.

6. Experience will make him better

The French defender has played only one season at top level before being signed by Arsenal. It was a meteoric rise to stardom for the youngster but with experience he will go on to be a better player. It is clear that he plays better alongside Johan Djourou but the return of Thomas Vermaelen will be important for the development of the defender. Vermaelen and Koscielny could form a good strong partnership at the heart of defence and could be rotated with Johan Djourou who has also shown he could be a first choice Centre Back in the near future.

Arsenal 0 Manchester City 0: Fabregas Excels But Gunners Drop Points at Emirates

Arsenal would not be satisfied with the result considering that they were the ones who created most of the chances in the game. On the other hand, Manchester City would be happy with the point and will look to push on from here. Arsene Wenger lamented the opposition’s defensive tactics while Roberto Mancini said that he had to ensure his team did not lose the game.

The Gunners were out of the blocks in a flash as they created numerous chances in the opening ten minutes of the game. Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott and Cesc Fabregas all had half chances but could not convert. After the initial burst, Robin van Persie starting in consecutive games weaved past his marker to create space to shoot. Unfortunately, it could only hit the base of the post and was the sign of things to come for the Gunners on the day.

Cesc Fabregas then did brilliantly to find space and shot at goal but with Joe Hart completely beaten, he could only hit the post and Theo Walcott also could only strike the post of the rebound. Manchester City looked a threat on set-pieces and it took good defending by Johan Djourou and Laurent Koscielny to clear the danger from free-kicks. It was clear that City had a plan to play counter-attacking football but struggled to get behind the defence.

Manchester City missed the creativity and pace of David Silva who has the ability to break down defences. Yaya Toure proved a threat with his direct attacking runs and did well on a lot of occasions but could not create too many opportunities. Carlos Tevez worked hard as ever but he had very little support from his attacking team mates and was isolated for large parts of the game.

In the second half, it was Arsenal again who looked for the opener and they really close when Robin van Persie did very well to get his shot away and it looked to be heading for the corner until Hart got a strong hand to the ball. Vincent Kompany and Kolo Toure did very well in defence and stood firm when Arsenal got many players into the box.

Theo Walcott’s pace skinned Pablo Zabaleta on a couple of occasions but the experienced defender was up to the task of sticking close to the England International and Walcott could not get enough good opportunities. Samir Nasri could not exert an influence in the game as Micah Richards and James Milner both kept Nasri quiet which was essential considering his form of late.

At the end of the day, City would be happy to end the day staying in second place while the Gunners would consider it to be two points dropped at home. Wenger and his men will have to be consistent to mount a good title challenge while the Citizens will believe that they have the squad to be successful over the season.

Though they could be disappointed with the result, the performance was good from the Gunners and it does seem like the combination of Laurent Koscielny and Johan Djourou seems to be the best option for the Gunners after they secured their second consecutive clean sheet. Also, Koscielny has improved a lot from the start of the season and is starting to look like a quality defender. With the return of Thomas Vermaelen, Arsenal will be a stronger unit and still have a good chance of winning the title.

It was a extremely hard game for the Gunners considering that City only wanted a point from the game but these are the sort of games that they should win in order to be close to the top. There were some positives from this game like the return to form of Robin van Persie who looked threatening and with relatively easier fixtures coming up, Arsenal should try to maximize the advantage.