By Walter Broeckx
After the midweek internationals (stupid as they were friendly internationals) we get back to the real thing. Arsenal and football.
At first sight not many players have come back in pieces it seems. So that is some good news. No, change that into real good news. The only concern looks to be Jack Wilshere who is having some trouble with this back. So lets hope he gets fit and if not that it only will be a short time injury. Do we have those kind of short time injury at our disposal at Arsenal? Sometimes it really doesn’t look that way as days become weeks and then become months. Ain’t it Thomas?
But to confirm my view on needless and stupid friendly international games you only have to take a look at our fixture list in the next 18 days.
- Arsenal – Tottenham,
- Braga – Arsenal,
- Aston Villa – Arsenal,
- Arsenal – Wigan,
- Arsenal – Fulham
- Arsenal Partizan Belgrade.
All to be played in 18 days. 6 games in 18 days. One game every 3 days.
And only then we have a little break as our game at United has been listed on Monday evening so we can get some rest then after our Wednesday CL match.
So a heavy schedule ahead for the players and it will be a very important time to show how strong the squad really is. We just have to hope for no injuries but even without injuries the whole squad will be needed and called upon. I don’t think it will be possible to play with only 11 players when the games are coming this fast.
And I must say that I really feel very confident about these next weeks IF we don’t get a suddenly and massive injury blow to many players. So far we have coped rather well even with a lot of injured players being out. I also think that we will see that in this period of time we will get players that have been out with an injury for a while back to getting some more game time. The likes of Robin Van Persie, Theo Walcott, Nicklas Bendtner come to mind.
But for us the fans this really is a period to look forward too. With the day before the game feeling, the day of the game experience, the day after the game feelings taking usually three days in total it will mean that we will go from game to game without getting a rest ourselves.
And it may look a hell to the players, but for the fans it is heaven. And I do think it is an important period also. If we can get through this period in good shape and still be around the top of the league, qualify for the next CL round and qualify for the Carling cup semi final anything can happen.
In the list there are not easy fixtures (have you been listening to Radio 5 Walter? – Ed). Simply because I don’t think there are any easy games anymore. So the players should continue like they did in the last two away games. The only thing I would like to ask them is to kill off the chances a bit more so that we can not only relax a little but also enjoy the game even more. Winning a game when you have to fight really hard is very satisfying at the end, but very nerve racking during the game. Certainly when you get a bit older you wished they would just finish their chances early on, so you can really sit back and enjoy our beautiful football even more.
But to win with big score lines you have to be in splendid form, have a bit of luck also and all your key players have to be in good shape both mental and physical. So let us hope they are. And again this is why I hate these friendly international games so much as they usually get a few players out like Liverpool found out this time around. It’s not because we for once don’t suffer that I enjoy it when other suffer. Okay, I admit, only just a little bit..
And then I would also remind the fact that a lot of our best players (they all are good players) like Cesc and Van Persie, Walcott have been strugling all the time this season or have been out injured. And still we are second in the league. Not a bad job I would say.
If we would win all 6 games it would be great. We can do it, but it will be a hard job. It would mean that we win our group in the CL and get to the semi final in the Carling cup. And most of all I think it could mean that we could be top in the league when we play our game at Old Trafford on December 13. I do have the feeling that Chelsea look a bit flat for the moment and can be punished as their squad looks thin and has lost important players. Going to Birmingham City is not the nicest place to go when you are short of players.
And for now let us take each game as it comes in the next 18 days and let us just support our Gunners each and every minute. Just bring it on.
- Arsenal on Twitter @UntoldArsenal
- Untold Arsenal on Facebook here
- ESPN up their anti-Arsenal propaganda ahead of Tottenham game
- Tottenham fans prepare for major celebrations of their anniversary
- Arsenal don’t like it up em
- Making the Arsenal – the story of Norris and Arsenal
Bring it on… We’ve the squad to handle that..
Actually Walter what I find interesting just now is that there are a number of other teams suffering from Arsenal style problems.
Liverpoodle are going bonkers about the injury picked up on an England match. Man U have decided to buy a goalkeeper who people are saying is no good, Tottenham have an injury or two…
Yes we will need this squad, but the green news thing that scrolls along on this page on the right side is calling Tottenham “injury stricken”. Well, about time to.
Tony
Great article again Walter. It’s going to be busy couple of weeks now and without injuries (and with few coming back) we should be OK (I hope).
I have one slightly off topic question. I will be in Amsterdam in December 4th when Arsenal play Fulham and if anyone could help me to find a place to watch that match and meet other fans of our great club I would be happy and grateful. My laptop on my hotelroom is choice but I would prefer meeting other fans.
Please tell ROBIN van persie not to be injured until end of january please then maybe we can talk about the title race
I think this some ridiculous amount of football. I guess I’m not complaining as a viewer but as a player this it too much. I think the only way to reduce injuries is to introduce rolling substitution like in Hockey.
@metalhead
At high levels, rolling substitutions in hockey is a cause of a great many number of injuries… coaches use the rolling subs to ensure that as many players as possible operate at 100% capacity (literally), repeatedly, for short bursts of time… queue muscle strains galore
Well, lets get a flying start to these games with a win over Stratford Hotspur!
all the anti arsenal fans complain wenger doesn’t buy.
1. chelsea look flat if they dont have drogba / anelka .
2. man u look flat if they dont have rooney. some how berbetov / harnandez / own goal do some work.
3. liverpool look flat if they dont have torres. ngog – are you kidding me ?
4. citeh look flat if they dont have trevez. but they have good options. only problem is mancini makes them look flat with his italian defensive tactics.
5. sp*urs do have good options. cant deny.
and thus we come to our force.
rvp – if only he stays fit. our main striker.
bendtner
chamakh
theo
arshawin
vela
these days nasri – cecs – song score goals.
and still wenger should buy ?? are you kidding me? we have a lineup to die for!