More to come?

I wasn't quite excited about Tomas Rosicky comeback to tell you the truth. As well as the boss I was very reluctant to put his name on the list of "options" because of the extent of his injury could deepen to certain extremes such as the one we are watching. Again he has fallen into the hands of the nurses and the most positive deadlines put him at least a month away. By that time Samir should be available, a pity for the Czech.







Certain comparissons are just rubish. I admit that I made a mistake concerning the comparisson between Jack and Dennis, which now seems closer and fairer but coarse and wide similes are made just in order to drive or attract attention from whoever wants it. Arseblogger sums it up succinctly:

"By all means let's be excited by his potential but let's not build him up so high that when reality bites we're not distraught and hysterical. His talent is obvious, but he's just 17 and playing in a no pressure pre-season environment. League football is different, European football is different, and believe it or not he might not play well some days. So while there's nothing we can do about what the press say or the hype merchants at Sky say, we can do the right thing and, like the manager says, respect his development.
Then we can all celebrate Jack's ascension as our new God and worship him like the deity he is."







The other important batch of news coming -aside from the tedious and horrid Goal.com's 'exclusives' on transfers- is regarding Arsenal's Champions League qualifications draw. The pool of options offers a relatively easy and comfortable layout. Previous clashes involved Twente, Sparta Praha and while the prospect of facing Anderlecht and Timosoara appears relieving, the most difficult draw would certainly be agaisnt La Viola and Celtic.
Italian teams in the course of the last years have proved to be difficult but the London team has had a good record, especially when going to San Siro. We will see what the draw delivers.







All in all I think that 'Paddy' will not come to the Emirates. It is a shame but when one realises the truth and actual shape of the French international things suddenly turn agaisnt the ex-captain. In any case I think that the area that requires strenght should be the one he left empty, and the already psychological boost would be of great gratitude. We will see how the final hours of the transfer saga develops, hoping not to bring someone of the likes of Lassana Diarra.

Mexico v. Trinidad and Tobago 2-1 10/Jun/09

Again a frail hope in the horizon seems to appear as Mexico won today against Trinidad & Tobago on a one-gaol lead. A defeat from the Caribbean side could have buried completely any Mexican aspiration for the finals in in one year's time when we will have the ultimate football encounter. Although the scoresheet mentions at least a superiority it was Mexico's altitude and supporters that gave the edge to the national side since, from the football point of view, their style went far from grace and was limited enough to score two goals in what could have been an onslaught of 5 or 6 goals.







Within the first minute the Mexican team went ahead. In an outstanding play begun by the defense, Franco finished past the keeper in one of those strange cases which commentators denominate as dressing-room goals. Everything was set for the home team to grab yet another healthy advantage but the mission was held by the Caribbean team (Still I cannot find the Trinidad & Tobago genitive).
More to the trouble of the Mexican a huge amount of both possession and chances were created between the first half, just to encounter the incredible impotence led by Torrado. If there was something to hail, certainly it was the disposition the team showed, and which solely appears to display at home.
And with the fourth official putting the injury time on the scoreboard, Hayden Tinto equalised in what was an outstanding play, later a shot that kept the Mexican defense stunned. Everybody was already in the queues for the bathrooms or refilling their beers when the Caribbean forward levelled the match.







If the early lead in the first half gave the boost of confidence the supporters, and most important the players, it was actually disappearing into thin air. With three minutes past half time beginning, in yet another early goal, Rojas shot a rocket that passed through the visiting goal. An outstanding goal by the America man brought a second lead to the home side.
From the 60th minute on the Trinidadian (Ha! Found it! You sneaky genitive) side did not completed a play due to the overwhelming possession by the home side.
Wide Guardado shots and strangely from Rodriguez provided to be some of Mexico's untalented chances. Medina again as substitute drove mad the visiting side while Ince's edge gave hopes of "something," whatever that is, to the visitors.
In the 77' the men that has been in the middle of the pink magazine controversy entered for the tired scorer Franco: a close shot but nothing more from the Spurs player. The match did not offer too much after the entrance of the young Mexican forward and hence the ended in a quite disappointing mood for the supporters and the viewers, but in the end -and what will be the excuse for the next days- the three points were secured.

El Salvador v. Mexico 2-1 6/Jun/09

With four qualified sides, plus the home guest, the World Cup Qualifiers threw amazing results abroad: England trashing Kazachstan, Brazil returning to their hold ways against Uruguay, and perhaps the least (to some) and most expected with De Los Cobos' team finishing Mexico.
Although it is obvious, not by this game but by his statistics and history as national coach, that Javier Aguirre is clearly not the answer to Mexico's football problems and any supporter of El Tri could simply expect if not more, a little display of guts rather than a clumsy and desperate win.
Even though the decisions by the three referees made a difference, the display showed by the Salvadorean team outclassed, to say it in nicer terms, the Mexican side.

Prematch talk hurt a lot of Mexican's morale, especially with such a delicate theme as the Swine Flu. Many concerns from each and every organisation here in Mexico discussed seriously the matter, but we all have to remember that, at the end of the day, it is only a football match and no further fuss should interrupt the beautiful game.







The horrid and terrible display of the visiting team was almost as niggling as in the beginning of the previous clash against the United States in which the Salvadoreans could have easily shadow the American team. And with the beginning of the match it was rather curious the air of defeat that could be sensed, even through a 20-inch plasma display, in the Mexican team. Obviously the likes of Pérez at goal, of Rodríguez as centre back proved nothing more than a scary twitch among Mexican supporters back home.

If there was a doubt concerning morale it was obvious that the venue proved to be far more than intimidating. Zelaya's dazzling technique drove Mexican centre-halves to the edge and in that way he set the opportunity, with certain degree of extreme luck, the lead to Martínez to push it at far post, in the first ten minutes.

If there was any doubt of the level of fret that the coach had, two substitutions were on time in the beginning of the second half.
With more than twenty minutes on the clock the Mexican team did not find even an excuse to argument what a terrible display, and while many attempts were futile the main chances for some sort of hope were Franco's dives and Guardado's poor crosses. Eventually one of those throws directly taught from the Mexican Olympic Diving Team fooled the referee giving Mexico a kick from the spot. Cuauhtemoc scored to deny the early Salvadorean goal.
Many attempts were denied from both goals until a latter idiocy of Rojas gave De Los Cobos' team a penalty. The Americanista dragged his hand while the Salvador winger tried to dribble.
Eventually the lead came for the home team. The pessimism seemed to be a fait accompli and while many of the home supporters could not even believe the score sheet, indeed it was real and true.
More tough and difficult tasks arrive fast and thick for Mexico the following months, with a visit from Trinidad and Tobago a couple of days ahead and then another one from the US the 12th of August.

4-3-3 and the New Year's Hype

In recent days and weeks there has been an uproar of comments towards Arsenal tactical deployment and how it should be changed. Mainly from Arseblogger, Gunnerblog and even David Yooung certain commments about acquiring the fashionable 4-3-3 used so succesfully by Barcelona.

What strikes me the most is as if Barcelona, and specially Pep Guardiola, have discovered he greatest revelation in football, which frankly they (anf he) have not. Many bloggers and columnists put it as the 8th marvel of the world and while this tactical asset is far from being new, it has its advantages, which can be suitable to certain attacking teams, especially with attacking capabilities.
These teams should have strong defenders and while the most modern versions of the 4-3-3 rely on the sole striker capability of prowling while searchinf for a counterattack, the true is that the midfield is the heart and soul of this very system. Lets take a look at the possibilities of this system.


While it appears to be fixed and stiff it is full of certain flexible elements such as the deep midfield role and the supporting midfielders. It seems that with Cesc in the centre and two other midfielders doing all the work for him will ease the load, but who will they be? Gunnerblog asserts the lack of the physical part of the three-midfield men and all the possibilities in the current squad.







Gifford gives us a solid and reliable definition of the system: "Hoy día se sigue utilizando el 4-3-3, normalmente, por irónico que parezca, como una forma alternativa de ataque cuando un equipo va por detrás en el marcador y le queda muy poco tiempo." [Today the 4-3-3 is still being used, usually, and as ironic as it seems, as an alternative attack form when a team is behind the scoresheet and with little time left.] (63)


While it is very interesting this assertion I still think that the system was poised by Cruyff from being an emergency attacking option to an attacking philosophy and there it is where the charm of this 60's system relies. One thing that seems strangely amusing is that sometimes Arsene changed, in the last minutes of several home matches last season, to a rather old 4-2-4. It will be interesting to see who plays where. The 3-3 is a very difficult repositioning regarding attacking approaches like the 4-2. What I do not agree with is the fact that many Arsenal supporters change their opinions not just assuming the attacking capabilities of the formation, but by some external factors such as the fact that with this system Barsa beating Man Utd.


Gifford, Clive. Futbol. La Guía Actualizada del Deporte Más Popular del Mundo. México: SM, 2005.

Liverpool v. Arsenal 1-2 26/May/09

Embedded in glory, as David Young succinctly sums it up, "on the 20th anniversary of the Gunners' famous title-winning match up there on the last day of the 1989 season," the young guns clinched the trophy to commemorate the majestical date. With the same magic and dazzle, the guns secured their double with a rather laborious effort this time at Anfield. If the first leg was amusing and phenomenal driven, now the Gunners just did the right job to secure the win that gave them an aggregate of six goals against two.
Jack Wilshere, the brightest star and best player of the current squad, pulled the strings of the game yet again to give the Gunners the required pace and enormous talent that certain counterpart lacks. If there is a player in which the hopes of many supporters can rely is in the young shoulders of this English midfielder. While many of their team mates have secured a Carling Cup start next season from their recent performances, the horizon set for Wilshere is Arsenal's first team bench. And if that sounds mediocre enough to any reader, many professional players, let alone reserves, would dream to sit in a place chosen only for the few and talented. One example is the poised and over-valued Nacer Barazite that has been struggling for a place, as well as Fran Merida among many, in which also is included the infamous, and now free agent, Amaury Bischoff.







The match started quite vivid for the visitors, with a different tactical display by Liverpool, mainly moving Buchtmann from defense to centre midfield. A comeback was suggested, but as Steve Bould put in the beginning of the transmission, 2005 in Istambul should never be forgotten.
And if there was a moment in which the hope should have come for Liverpool, it was Dalla Valle's miss in the 9th. Speed was provided by Buchtmann but even with the effort by the northern team it was through Landsbury that two chances for Arsenal came before the twenty minute mark. Liverpool held bravely many attacks from the north Londoners for the following minutes until a little gift from Liverpool's back guard arrived when a long ball was not properly intercepted by centre-halves Ayala and Kennedy giving Sánchez Watt the opportunity to score past Bouzanis.
The unsurmountable lead of four goals was appearing, as early in the game as the 30th minute, too great a burden for the young Liverpudlians, who childishly fell over and over offside. Kacaniklic was the only one that posed a real threat to Arsenal's defense, despite the constants arrivals from Wilshere and Landsbury in the left flank. At times Buchtmann physical prowess interfered with Wilshere's pace in midfield and interestingly enough the confrontation resulted quite even, reaching half time whistle.







Dalla Valle equalised five minutes after the start leaving past Aylling, Bartley and Shea raising his tally to the impressive ratio of a goal per match. Buchtmann's volley three minutes later showed the momentum the home side was enjoying. Each and everyone of the Liverpool attackers was prowling on Shea's goal. Certainly the spirit of Istambul, something present in Liverpool's spirit, according to one of the commentators (his name escapes me), was particularly present in Anfield.
The match now open to Arsenal's counters, the Liverpudlians throwed all out of the board in order to secure another goal that would have stretched the gap. The tide slowly turned on Gunners' favour when, reaching the 64th, the visitors provided three chances on target. Two minutes before the 70th minute mark Murphy came in for Sunu in order to refresh the weakened offesnive display.
And it was in the 70th minute that the last and dim hope fell when a deflection of a Sánchez Watt cross unfortunately touched Ayala, giving Arsenal a lead by an own goal. Watching the play with more detail one can see the splendid pass from Wilshere and, later, the clumsy defending by Kennedy. All dreams appeared, and were, crashed by the lead of the north Londoners. The siege began when Liverpool appeared to be surrendered; Bouzanis denied Thomas and Wilshere runs. Regarding Liverpool's efforts, Dalla Valle and Buchtmann proved to be the most dangerous providers but the lead the team commanded by Bould won in the first leg was, at this stage of the match, appearing to be unreachable.
Both teams made their respective substitutions; Arsenal replaced Henderson for Emmanuel-Thomas and Evina for Cruise whilst Liverpool Buchtmann for Cooper and Wisdom for Roberts. Nothing more was offered from both sides reaching the final whistle. The Gunners won their trophy in such a fashion that many expect a cameo of such a performance by the senior team. We will only have to wait what time brings to these group of brilliant youngsters and if they can lift a major trophy as that generation that twenty years ago won the league.