Arsenal Football Club: confidence

Showing posts with label confidence. Show all posts

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Where did Arsenal’s confidence go::::::

Posted on September 29, 2012 by admin

Arsenal 1 – 2 Chelsea. A game full of disappointment. by KJ

What a poor performance by the lads. It lacked passion and belief. However, there were plenty chances for us to win this game and we can only blame ourselves for losing it.

The game started out a bit cagey from both teams with no one really asserting their possession over the ball. However, Chelsea started to slowly get into the game and were leading in the possession stats.

No team had any clear cut chances up until a free kick to Chelsea. These would usually terrify an Arsenal fan with the likes of Drogba waiting to pounce on a perfectly whipped in cross. However, this was a different Chelsea and I was quite optimistic that we wouldn’t be troubled by any set pieces. Little did I know how wrong I was.

The ball was decent but should’ve been cleared by an Arsenal player. However, Torres managed to wrap his leg around Koscielny to score the opener at the Emirates. It was a very soft goal to concede as no one really saw it coming. 1-0 to Chelsea.

Arsenal slowly grew into the game and managed to get the ball to Gervinho who blasted it into the back of the net. It was coming but Gervinho was probably the least likely goal scorer. 1-1

The second half started and Arsenal were the much better team. However, Chelsea were doing well on the counter-attack and were able to get a free-kick from a rash Vermaelan tackle. The ball was whipped in and somehow managed to nick Koscielny before ending up a Chelsea goal. It was appalling defending by the Frenchman but even worse goalkeeping by Mannone. He should’ve claimed that ball easily. Szczesny would’ve been all over that. 2-1 to Chelsea

The goal really ruffled Arsenal’s feathers and they were unable to get back into the game. There were plenty of chances where they could’ve with a prominent open goal miss by Giroud.

All in all, it was a very disappointing performance as Chelsea were there for the taking. They will need to regroup and assess what went wrong defensively. The game should’ve ended 1-0 to Arsenal but instead ended 2-1 to Chelsea.

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Thursday, September 20, 2012

Steve Bould – It was a tough game but we now face Man City with confidence

Posted on September 19, 2012 by admin

Arsene Wenger’s new assistant Steve Bould took charge of his first Arsenal game last night with Wenger banished to the stands, and after an excellent first half the Gunners had to dig deeply in defence to keep Montpellier from equalising as they pressed strongly while Arsenal tired.

Overall Bould was more than happy with the performance. He said: “I am really pleased. It was difficult. I thought we were excellent in the first half – we kept the ball and kept the crowd really quiet. The second half was tough and we looked physically a little bit tired. The crowd got right behind them and it is quite an intimidating place to come and play, so we’re glad to get the result.

“It’s fabulous to get an early away win. We’ve had a decent start to the season and we have kept the run going so it is important all round, not just for the Champions League. We have got some tough games coming up. We have got great team spirit and I think that was evident tonight. Everybody is digging in and things are looking OK.”

“I wouldn’t say Montpellier surprised us, they have got some very good players. Technically they are very, very high level. They kicked the second half off really well and got the crowd behind them. We are physically a little bit tired so it was tough. It wasn’t a surprise.”

Everybody has been raving about Bouldy’s influence on making Arsenal more defensively sound, but he refuses to take all the credit. “Any coach will tell you it is about being good players and we have got some good players who want to work.” he said. “So far, so good. Everybody has spoken about myself but Neil Banfield gets missed and he does a great job, too. There are a lot of good coaches, there are great players and everybody is working hard. I think that is why we’re doing OK at the minute.”

Although the team looked very tired towards the end, the Gunners have five days now to prepare for the daunting task away at Man City next Sunday, but having conserved their unbeaten run while City were getting beaten by Real Madrid means that Arsenal may be more mentally prepared than Roberto Mancini’s men. Bould concluded: “Of course Sunday is a tough test. We certainly go in there with a bit of confidence, with everybody believing things are going OK. But it is a proper test and that is where we want to be. Hopefully we can come through the other side and say we have done OK again. Everybody is fine, touch wood. Things are looking quite bright.”

The future is bright. The future is Red And White!!!!

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Sunday, September 2, 2012

Robert Pires has confidence in Arsenal’s new arrivals

Posted on September 02, 2012 by admin

Former legend says that Giroud will shine by AM

Former Arsenal great Robert Pires has said that, with time, Giroud will shine through. The Frenchman said that, even though Arsenal have lost some important players, Wenger will replace them eventually. Pires said – “It takes time to adapt, and it is especially hard for attacking players, but I am optimistic that both Giroud and Podolski can be a success. I have seen Giroud playing in France and he has the qualities you need in England. He is strong and he has a good touch. He can be like Van Persie in my opinion.

“Podolski is very mobile around the pitch and he is a Germany international with many caps. They will adapt. Santi Cazorla is someone I know well. He has adjusted to England very quickly and the fans will love him.

“This is a difficult time for Arsene Wenger. He has lost important players in the last year like Gael Clichy, Cesc Fabregas, Van Persie and Song. But he has lost players in the past and replaced them and I am sure he will do it again.”

Arsenal have failed to score any goal in their opening two games against Sunderland and Stoke. Players have come out and said to have patience with the new signings. Podolski scored 2 goals in Arsenal’s last pre-season friendly against his old club FC Koln, but have failed to hit the premier league running. But naturally players coming from other European league take time to adapt to the pace of the premier league. Giroud on the other hand started against Stoke and was unable to cause any significant trouble to the Stoke center back pairing. His long range effort right at the end, which would have been a wonder goal had it gone it, was the only highlight of his performance in that match. Moreover he also missed a chance to score the winner in the opening game after being put through by Cazorla.

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Thursday, August 9, 2012

Arsenal’s new confidence has come from buying experienced winners

Experience builds confidence by Chris

Over the last 7 seasons, the problem with Arsenal not winning silverware, has, in my opinion been a ‘mental’ issue, a question of belief.

We have been SO close to Trophy success at times since 2005, it is hard to take, that we missed out each time.

In 2007 – 2008, Arsenal, with an unbelieveably young team, but with an experienced spine led the Premiership from September 2007 until the infamous Birmingham Eduardo Leg Break Match in 23rd February. Despite the tragedy of Eduardo’s injury, we were winning the game 2-1 until the final minutes – indecision in the box by Clichy, althogh he DID cleanly get the BALL and not the Man – Poor Referee Decision – Penalty – 2-2 Two Minutes to go – Game Over – 2-2 Draw, 1 point gained – 2 Points Dropped. After that game we were still 5 points ahead of Man Utd, who were in 2nd place at the time.

After the Game Captain Gallas – sits in the Centre Circle for 5 Minutes after the wistle, farting in the grass, and has to be virtually dragged of the Pitch by Arsene Wenger. Gallas was a reasonably good comitted player, but he was NOT a LEADER, or a suitable Captain.

The NEXT 5 GAMES after Birmingham, 5 Draws, 5 points gained 10 points lost. Man Utd smelt blood, and got 5 WINS in the same period, and were 10 points ahead of us going into April 2008. Man Utd won the Premiership that year Chelsea Caught us, and passed us, Chelsea finished 2nd – 3 Points behind Man Utd – Arsenal finished 3rd FOUR POINTS – FOUR POINTS behind the ‘Champions’.

That was OUR title to WIN. – Birminghham at St Andrews was a HORRIBLE Game. BUT that Arsenal team completely crumbled and folded after that game – the EXPERIENCED PLAYERS should have prevented that from happening and ‘lifted’ the younger players to focus on the final season ‘run in’.

But then, there were a few contracts running down, so many of the experienced players had their minds on lucrative transfers.

THE same thing happened after we lost the CARLING CUP Final last year – 2010 – 2011 Season. 1 – 1 with 3 minutes to go – confusion in the box – mis-understanding 2 – 1 Birmingham.

Arsenal should NEVER have lost that match – it should NEVER have been 1 – 1 with three minuted to go. Birmingham got RELEGATED at the end of that season. we should have secured the win long before the closinbg 3 Minutes.

Again, we were lacking Focus and the ‘killer’ instinct – again, a MENTAL Issue, nothing much to do with talent skill or technique.

The Point I’m ultimately making is – BOTH RVP and SONG, especially RVP had good seasons in 2011-2012 but NEITHER are comitted to Arsenal going forward – RVP will probably be gone before the new season starts, and SONG wants to explore his options with ‘Other Clubs’ (Barca) instead of focusing on agreeing a Contract Extension.

If they go, they go, – they can, and, with the mood AW seems to be in these days, almost certainly WILL be replaced.

We are finally building FULLY COMMITTED EXPERIENCED TEAM for the LONG TERM, including talented, quality Young Players, with a commitment to offload inactive, unproductive Fringe Players – and ALL being managed within the Clubs Financial Structure.

This NEW Team, is a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT ANIMAL from any team we’ve had since the INVINCIBLES in 2004, it’s got Experienced Players with Proven winning mentality, creativity, technique, talent and youth – and Arsene Wenger to lead and manage it.

Whatever transfer business our rivals have done, or will do, between now and midnight on 31st August – Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea, and the Best Teams in Europe are NOW looking over their shoulders at the Emirates – and they DON’T know what to expect.

That’s the way it should be.

View the original article here

Mertesacker has confidence in Arsenal’s quality new signings

Mertesacker Believes by AH

Per Mertesacker today told Arsenal.com about his confidence in the side. We saw summer signing Oliver Giroud also speak out earlier about the team and their confidence about winning trophies, and of course Wojciech Szczesny always has a ring of confidence around him.

“I think we have a better situation than last year,” Mertesacker told Arsenal Player. “The team is full of characters, good players and every position has competition. So I am looking forward to the season because I think we can show the potential we have in a better way than last year.

“We need good signings and I feel that these players will help us a lot. Giroud is a good striker and I have seen a lot of him in training because he was not out in Asia, so we trained a lot together. He made a good effort and hopefully in the games he will show that as well.”

“Santi Cazorla has just signed so we will see him in training and in games in the short term.”

The Germany international is also pleased to see his fellow countryman Lukas Podolski settling down quickly and thinks he will soon be ready to fit into London life as well as become an integral part of the team. “I try to do my very best to help him settle,” said Per. “I had the same thing last year and it is good to have a lot of help in your first moments in a new city with a new language. It is good to have some German friends around you.

“But the Club is doing well also. You have a lot of people who have been very helpful from the beginning. Everything is going fine for him and I am very happy that he is here to give his best for Arsenal.

“From the beginning he was confident about speaking English. He is a confident guy with more than 100 caps for Germany, so he has massive experience. For us to have him here is a massive impact.”

Fan’s opinions were mixed on Mertesacker last season, especially when he first played for the team, but his contributions to some games were still key, which allowed us to finish where we did. Some slaughter him and say “hes a terrible defender” but without him theres a chance we may not have got some the points that we did out of games.

As Mertesacker suggested competition for starting XI places is key. Not only will it help with experience and help the players work hard for their spot, but will also allow us to have more options when the inevitable injures occur.

I’m glad to hear that some of the players have belief in winning some silverware and hopefully that belief will be spread across the team, so the individual talents join together as a team, and play as a team, which will finally lead to some success come May next year.

Come On You Gooners!