Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said that he was delighted with the performance of Andrey Arshavin, during the Gunners’ 6-1 thrashing of Coventry City, according to Goal.
Arshavin was the stand-out performer in a comfortable night for the Premier League outfit. The 31-year-old started the move which led to Arsenal first goal of the night and perhaps more importantly Olivier Giroud’s first goal for his new club.
Arshavin then won the penalty after a clever piece of trickery which the Frenchman Giroud subsequently failed to capitalise on. To add to this, the midfielder set up Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s blast for the Gunners third of the night, scored the fourth himself and produced a sublime ball for youngster Ignasi Miquel to nod home to convert Arsenal’s fifth.
Wenger believes that the key to the Russian internationals success last night was the fact he was played in behind the striker, Giroud, rather than out on the wing. As a consequence, this enabled the playmaker to get on the ball more often, “His best position looks to be behind the striker now. That’s where his vision and creative side of game becomes most efficient. When he is central, he can influence the game.”
Perhaps with a new role, Arsenal fans may witness a new lease of life with Arshavin, who, over the past year, has cut a consulate disinterested figure on the left-hand side of midfield for the Gunners. Maybe it was only League One Coventry City, but most Premier League defences would have been struggling to have kept up with the movement and acceleration of pace that the former Zenit man showed last night.
One man who saw his chances of playing a more central role for the north London club do no harm was Theo Walcott. The 23-year-old disproved any doubters who are sceptical about his ability to finish in front of goal. If the first of Walcott’s goals was polished, the second was classy with a sublime side-footed curler past the despairing Sky Blues stopper Joe Murphy.
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As for Giroud, the Frenchman has got the proverbial monkey off his back, for now. Although he would have been grateful for the opportunity to grab his first goal for the club in the Capital One Cup, he would surely love to get his Premier League tally off and running too.
Arsenal will now travel the Premier League’s bottom side, Reading, in the fourth round of the competition.
Believe me there was no one in Old Trafford more stunned that Andre Villas-Boas after Spurs wiped the floor with United in their own backyard last Saturday. So much so that the Portuguese tactician resolved to punching himself in the face mid-celebration just to certify that he wasn’t dreaming. One thing is for sure and that is the North London club were on cloud nine as the final whistle blew to confirm their first victory at the home of the Red Devils since 1989. It was arguably Villas-Boas’ finest hour since taking over as Spurs boss and provided a demonstration of effect he has had on the players and club as a whole. To say they ripped the hosts apart with a deadly mixture of unrelenting pace and power would be an understatement as the United defence was obliterated with the midfield forced to sit and watch. Not many can say they’ve done that over the years!
This week on FFC is AVB running a huge risk playing full strength teams in the Europa League and which Portugal star won’t be coming to White Hart Lane?
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Best of FFC
Time for Tottenham Hotspur to finally put these to bed
Already proving The top TEN ‘transfer coups’ this summer
Slowly pushing for a start at White Hart Lane?
Are Tottenham taking a risk in the Europa League?
Tottenham vs Aston Villa – Match Preview
Why Jan must stay central within Tottenham’s plans
Tottenham show how laughable the situation is
Liverpool and Spurs keep tabs on Palace ace
Portugal playmaker dismisses move to White Hart Lane
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Best of WEB
Dust to Dust: Athens to Athens. – Spurs musings from Jimmy G2
Shameful Self Indulgent Time Wasting No Mark Booze Hound Bums On Tour – Harry Hotspur
Unleash purgatory! – Dear Mr Levy
£25M Is Far Too Much Money …As Levy Is Bound To Point Out… – Transfer Tavern
From Turmoil to Triumph – Spurs musings from Jimmy G2
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The only Hazard that matters – Dear Mr Levy
Jan Vertonghen Mashed Up – Harry Hotspur
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Quote of the Week
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“It doesn’t stop here. The emotions we were living (after the United win) are very inspiring and results are also good to build confidence. That confidence is good for us as we approach our next couple of games. We have two games at home now, and we have to improve our home form to make sure that this becomes a sequence for us.” Last weeks win at Man Utd is just the start for Spurs according to AVB.
As Andre Villas-Boas and Tottenham Hotspur are perhaps currently finding out, cultivating change at a football club, can be something of a patience-testing and often very tedious process indeed.
Part of the Portuguese’s remit upon employment by chairman Daniel Levy, was to instill a more modern-day, tactical nous within a squad cultured to the tastes of previous incumbent Harry Redknapp’s, more old-school take on proceedings. Although it’d be fair to say that the transformation so far, is a lot more Grand Designs than it is 60-Minute Makeover.
Of course, it would be naïve to think that making the transition from Redknapp’s 4-4-1-1 to the more continentally refined 4-2-3-1 of AVB would be a simple walk in the park, but it’s produced its fair share of teething problems. But where as you’d like to think that progress down in N17 wouldn’t be akin to one of those gormless developments that go both overtime and over budget, it’s probably worthy of one those overcautious Kevin McCloud monologues.
Is it time to tweak the architect’s plans slightly at White Hart Lane? A reversion back to the more traditional set-up of two up front may appear like regression to some, although as a temporary measure, it certainly might not do any harm at all.
One of the biggest criticism’s that plagued Harry Redknapp’s time in charge at Spurs, was the perceived lack of a ‘Plan B’ or some form of tactical escape route. The 65-year-old was hardly as naïve as many people made out, but his penchant for simplicity was certainly no urban myth – his recent “Bullshit baffles brains” sentiments, offers a decent window into the world of Redknapp.
His philosophy was to send the players out, first and foremost, to simply play. Tottenham’s recent success was hardly catalysed by some top-secret, magical tactical blueprint. Spurs prospered through pacey and traditional wing play, an extremely well balanced central midfield and a dynamic pairing up in attack. When they were found out, Redknapp’s side would often come to a grinding halt, but for the most part, it was very successful indeed.
Yet perhaps the biggest hindrance in Andre Villas-Boas’ efforts to evolve this side into his 4-2-3-1 set-up, comes in the very players he still has at his disposal. Because in essence, even after the summer transfer window, he has a squad of players that still feel more roundly suited to the Redknapp set-up of last season. At the very least, it marks a Plan B that would arguably beat many Premier League teams’ Plan A.
Before the lynch mob set in, this is not a call for Villas-Boas to abandon the style of playing he’s trying so hard to implement. During their 4-2 loss to Chelsea during the weekend, the Lilywhites had five first teamers out, including the already talismanic Mousa Dembele, of whom the formation relies so much upon. The impatient among us will be loathsome to hear another article promoting the virtue of patience, although the side need time to adapt.
But while the likes of Gareth Bale, Aaron Lennon, Kyle Walker and countless others within this Spurs side acquaint themselves with what a whole new way of playing, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the ways of yesteryear need to be abandoned completely.
An occasional switch to a 4-4-2 or a 4-4-1-1 from time to time wouldn’t signal some white flag of surrender in AVB’s quest for tactical change. Of course, the more the side play in the new way, the more they will improve in both confidence and execution, but from time to time, a switch wouldn’t herald such a bad move.
Against Chelsea, for example, Villas-Boas would have been able to field a team that could have potentially been a little more effective if set-up a little more traditionally. You can only work with the tools available to your disposal and with players such as Bale and especially Dembele out, the team didn’t look quite so suited to a 4-2-3-1.
Huddlestone would have certainly looked a lot more confident in a more general, traditional midfield role than the defensive pivot that he was told to play against Chelsea. The England man did a poor Mousa Dembele impression primarily because his abilities aren’t suited to such a role. Similarly with Clint Dempsey. The American looked awkward on the left-side of Villas-Boas’ attacking three and even when switched more centrally, he seemed to pine for a role slightly closer to goal.
Dempsey netted many of his 17 Premier League goals last season for Fulham, playing as something as a second striker or just behind the frontman in a supporting role. When we did see Villas-Boas switch to this set-up in the second half of the 2-1 win against QPR, Dempsey was in his element behind Jermain Defoe.
Furthermore, despite scoring five league goals himself so far, Jermain Defoe offers a different kind of threat up front in a revised system. With less onus on him to hold up the play and bring others into it, he could revert back to his more natural game, in running at defences and causing a very direct threat. Equally, you could go for the more traditional 4-4-2 and play both Defoe and Adebayor together. We saw little of it last season, but when we did, it didn’t work too badly at all and it offers another viable option for the manager.
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It’s at risk of playing devil’s advocate and the irony won’t be lost on some, but if Dembele still isn’t fit for the trip to Southampton this weekend, a temporary switch back to a more direct style of playing might not be such a bad idea after all.
The fact that the 4-2-3-1 appears to hinge so prominently upon the Belgian suggests that perhaps deeper problems lie in Spurs’ engine room and the failure to capture more players capable of fluidly stepping in to play the system, isn’t all Andre Villas-Boas’ fault. Such troubles can be addressed in January but if the need arises, he shouldn’t be afraid to go back to the future.
Would you be comfortable with a temporary switch back to a more traditional set-up at Spurs? Or should Villas-Boas be unwavering in his implementation of the new system? Let me know what you think on Twitter: follow @samuel_antrobus for all things Spurs.
James Morrison has said that West Brom have “to move on as quickly as possible” from defeat to Newcastle on Sunday, insisting they have a chance at home to Southampton.
Morrison believes they have an opportunity to win because of their record at home.
He said to The Birmingham Mail: “It’s a good opportunity to get three points and forget about what happened on Sunday. We need to move on as quickly as possible.
The Baggies star has also admitted that morale amongst the team was low after the loss at the weekend.
He said: “The dressing room was very flat and we almost wanted to shed a tear as we played really well. We were the only team that looked like winning. The second goal was particularly difficult to take. He shanked the ball and I don’t know whether it hit one of our defenders or Cisse but it hit the back of the net and I think that’s our luck at the moment. We kicked on from there and we had chances to win the game.”
Midfielder Morrison signed a deal lasting four years last month, with boss Steve Clarke calling him one of the side’s “best players.” It has been five years since Morrison left Championship side Middlesbrough to join West Brom, and he had had two more years left on his last deal.
Manager Steve Clarke is hoping to be able to bring back skipper Chris Brunt, Claudio Yacob, Jerome Thomas, Boaz Myhill and Billy Jones for Monday’s match.
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Liam Ridgewell believes West Brom deserve their current fifth spot in the Premier League table and more.
The Baggies have moved into this arguably unexpected position, after a 2-0 victory over Nigel Adkins’ Southampton on Monday night.
However, the defender has given a warning about the club’s busy schedule ahead, and insists that West Brom must keep gaining points.
“We deserve to be there. In fact, I think we deserve to have even more points, to be honest. We’ve done really well but the main thing is to keep that going and show people it’s not just the start of the season,” he told the club’s official website.
“We are going into a lot of games now with the Christmas period coming up and we’ve got to try to keep it going and keep picking up points. Monday was a big game because it was probably the biggest test for the new team since Roy left. I thought we did it very well and came through solidly.”
The left-back claims the team were not put under too much pressure by Monday’s match and that this relaxed approach helped them win the game.
“We didn’t really feel lots of pressure. Pressure is playing against Manchester United at Old Trafford when you’re bottom in the league. Monday was a night when we had to make sure we did the right things, start well, get the first goal and make sure they didn’t come back at us,” he added.
“If we’d lost people would have started saying it was a fluke start to the season, blah, blah, blah. But we know what we’re all about, we know we’re a good team and hopefully we can keep showing that.”
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Boss Steve Clarke has warned the team about not getting complacent following Monday’s victory reiterating that “you always have to be careful in the Premier League.”
Zoltan Gera has insisted that he is happy being part of Steve Clarke’s rotation policy at West Brom.
Despite impressing in the Baggies’ impressive start to the season – which has seen them enter the top four of the Premier League – Gera has found himself dropped to the bench in recent weeks.
But the 33-year-old insists he is happy to share the midfield responsibilities with the likes of James Morrison, Chris Blunt and Graham Dorrans for the good of the club.
“I’m happy,” said Gera.
“I’m playing well, so if the manager sees I can help the team he will pick me. It’s no problem at all.
“We have a good squad with lots of good players.”
The Hungarian played a pivotal role during Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Chelsea but knows it wont guarantee him a start in the first team.
“Of course as a player I always want to play but I know we have other players who are as good as the ones in the team.
“So when I have a chance I want to play well to keep my place in the team.
“I wouldn’t say I’m happy when I’m not playing, but I expect it and there is no problem at all.
“After the first game of the season when I scored against Liverpool, I didn’t play the next two or three games.
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“But I said ‘it is no problem’ because I trust in the gaffer to know what is best for team,” he added.
“You always need to fight for your place now, there is no question about that.”
Rio Ferdinand could leave Manchester United in 2013 with clubs from the US and Middle East interested in signing him, the Daily Mail reports.
The 34-year-old defender is expected to be offered a one year contract extension with the Red Devils after overcoming his back problems and proving his fitness to the Sir Alex Ferguson, playing regularly for the last 18 months.
Ferdinand however has interest from the Middle East and US while also being an attraction to other Premier League clubs, although a move abroad would seem more likely.
He arrived at Old Trafford 10 summers ago from Leeds for a deal in the region of £30million, which at the time made him the most expensive British footballer in history.
Despite certain controversies off the pitch, the most publicised of course being the missed drugs test, Ferdinand has enjoyed a hugely successful time at the club. A mainstay of the United defence since his arrival in 2002, he has helped his side to numerous prizes, most notably five Premier League titles and a Champions League.
The player himself has not given any indication on his intentions for the future and whether he will remain at Old Trafford or continue his career at all, despite Ferguson openly expressing his desire for him to delay his retirement.
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It is believed that Ferdinand wants to see how his body copes with the demands of a busy fixture list over the Christmas Period before making a decision.
Stoke were trounced by Chelsea on home turf, Jon Walters experiencing a torrid game in particular, while Pavel Pogrebnyak was the last gasp hero for Reading at the Madjeski Stadium. Southampton gave their survival hopes a timely boost courtesy and Sunderland contined their fine recent run with a comprehensive win over West Ham. And a rare phenomenon gripped the Premier League as 40% of Saturday’s games ended in stalemates.
Stoke City 0-4 Chelsea: It was an afternoon to forget for Jon Walters after he scored two own goals and missed a penalty as Stoke were steamrolled by Chelsea at the Britannia Stadium. The Republic of Ireland striker must have wished the ground would open and swallow him whole after heading Cesar Azpilcueta’s cross into his own net just before the break. He repeated the trick on the hour mark, this time from a Juan Mata corner, before Frank Lampard put the result beyond doubt with a penalty three minutes later. Eden Hazard blasted home a fourth from 30-yards soon after before Walters’ misery was compounded when he blasted a spot kick high over the bar as the Potters’ 17-match unbeaten home run came to an abrupt end.
Reading 3-2 West Bromwich Albion: Reading scored three times in the final eight minutes to come from behind to beat West Brom to secure a third league win of the season. The visitors looked home and dry after Romelu Lukaku struck either side of half time to give his side a deserved lead. The Belgian striker was hand to convert from close range in the 19th minute before finishing cooly past Adam Federici in the 62nd. But the Royal’s finally kicked into gear as the game dripped towards its conclusion and Jimmy Kebe headed in to give the home fans hope before Le Fondre converted from the spot to restore parity. The turnouraround was complete in stoppage time Pavel Pogrebnyak bundled the ball past Foster to boost Reading’s survival hopes.
Aston Villa 0-1 Southampton: Aston Villa ended a wretched week on another low note as they slipped into the bottom three after fellow strugglers Southampton left the West Midlands with a valuable win under their belts. After losing to lower-league Bradford in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday the need for a reaction was crucial for Paul Lambert’s men. However they will feel hard done by after Enda Stevens was penalised for a foul on Jay Rodriguez 10 minutes before half despite the Saints striker appearing to dive and then profess his guilt to referee Mark Halsey, who pointed to the spot. Rickie Lambert stepped up to sweep home what proved to be the winning goal and, despite Villa’s best efforts, they couldn’t force an equaliser in the second half and find themselves in real trouble.
Sunderland 3-0 West Ham United: A superb long-range strike from Sebastien Larsson put Sunderland on course for an impressive win over West Ham at the Stadium of Light. The Swedish international produced a 30-yard thunderbolt with his weaker left foot to break the deadlock after 12 minutes as the Hammers crumbled early on. Adam Johnson then pounced on a mistake from teenager Dan Potts to make it 2-0 in first half injury time, before James McLean finished from an acute angle to ensure the Black Cats faithful were celebrating come 5pm.
Fulham 1-1 Wigan Athletic: Franco Di Santo’s ended a three month barren spell in front of goal to earn Wigan a vital point against Fulham. The Argentinian has struggled to find the net once again this season and it looked as if his infertility would continue after missing from close range in the first half. His woes were compounded in the 22nd minute when Giorgios Karagounis broke the deadlock with a sweet 25-yard strike. But Di Santo would have the last laugh and with 20 minutes to go he drilled past Mark Schwarzer after cutting in from the left to deny the Cottagers a second league win on the bounce.
QPR 0-0 Tottenham Hotspur: Harry Redknapp’s first meeting with former employers Tottenham failed to produce the desired result as QPR sank back to the foot of the table. The R’s boss had goalkeeper Julio Cesar to thank for earning his side a point with a number of fine saves to thwart a laboured Spurs. Jermaine Defoe went closest to breaking the deadlock when he cracked the bar with a fierce long range effort before Cesar pounced to deny Emmanuel Adebayor on the follow up.
Everton 0-0 Swansea City:
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Oh what a busy week it has been, one striker in, one striker out, and a cup shock at the Den.
Last Thursday saw what will be considered somewhat as a shock move, Darius Henderson moving to Nottingham Forest on a free transfer. Most Lions fans were thinking, “Why let him go, especially on a free?”
Henderson’s goals basically kept us up last season. Yes people say that the Keogh & Kane partnership in the last seven games helped and yes they done exceptionally, but we would’ve been long gone if it wasn’t for Hendo. Even this season, he didn’t play many games but was on seven goals.
But then you come to the other side of Hendo. First, his injuries, he always seems to have a knock or sprain, for a big strong player he seems to be made of glass. Then there is his high wages, it came out after the transfer that Henderson was on £16k-a-week, which came as a shock to me.
Then there is his pending court case, he could be sent down to prison come March if the decision goes against him. So by March we could be laughing at how we saved over £120k in wages, or he could be not found guilty and stay at Forest…
This left most ‘Wall faithful in a panic for the Friday game against Villa. “who will we play upfront?”
I was happy to see local lad John Marquis getting a start, a youngster who has become the latest boo-boy over the last couple years, but he is still young! Fans ask for youngsters to be given a go, and when they do, they get abuse.
And what a night it was for John, heading the winner a minute from time to put the Lions through against top flight opposition.
When Villa went 1-0 up through a scuffed Darren Bent effort I thought it was going to be like recent years against Premier League sides, getting our belly’s rubbed as the other team get a easy ride.
Oh but this wasn’t the case…
I said last week about a young Villa side being intimidated by an atmosphere that a special night The Den can create, that is exactly what happened.
And a special mention to the man-mountain that is Danny Shittu, a goal from a corner to equalise, and his celebration was class, an explosion of true emotion. He did not put a foot wrong all game, all down the Den love him.
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The draw for the 5th round saw the Lions receive a winnable tie against Luton Town at Kenilworth Road. Yes they have beat Norwich and Wolves in previous rounds, but surely this can be their time they go out?
The league is the most important thing, but the cup is a nice distraction…
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini believes he is currently the best manager in England and doesn’t fear the sack.
City are currently second in the Premier League but 12 points off leaders and rivals Manchester United and they also suffered an early exit from the Champions League.
Despite getting through to the Quarter-Finals of the FA Cup it has still been hinted that Mancini could get the boot at the end of the season.
Last season saw City win the league in the closing moments of the final game after closing an eight point gap on United but this year they face a tougher challenge with 12 points to claw back and they don’t seem to have maintained their impressive form. There has also been some behind the scenes changes with Txiki Begiristain taking on the director of football role which have only served to fuel the speculation.
However the Italian remains confident about his position at the Eithad and believes he will still be in charge at the end of the season.
“In the last 15 months I am the best manager in England, I won one Premier League, one FA Cup, one charity shield, there is not another manager that’s won like me in the last 15 months,” he told BBC Sport.
“Someone says for six months that Manchester City would change manager, Guardiola would come in, and after Guardiola went to Bayern Munich, now another manager.
I can do nothing but it is the reality.”
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Pep Guardiola had previously been rumoured for the manager’s position but he takes over Bayern Munich in the summer, however Jose Mourinho who confirmed last week that he is Premier League bound for his next job is rumoured to be replacing Mancini in the summer.