Big Week Number 4
It seems that Arsenal's season has been defined by "Big Weeks", period where important games are grouped together in lumps.
The first was back in December, Spurs at home, an away tie at Porto in the Champions league which we needed a result to get out of the group stages and then possibly the most difficult game of the season away to Chelsea in the league. At that stage of the season we were still unbeaten at home and we hadn't set the world alight, there were still questions involving Spurs given there good season the year before and it looked a potentially difficult game. The general feeling was that three draws from these three games would be acceptable but we got off to a great start beating Spurs 3-0. The Porto game was odd and at the end of the day results elsewhere meant it didn't matter what happened in that game. We also got a draw at Chelsea which again was a good result, we rode our luck towards the end but there is no shame in drawing away at a team with a home record such as Chelsea's.
The second big week was in January, 2 cup games away to Liverpool. At the time Liverpool had a brilliant home record and while there was confidence we could get a result it seemed we would be up against it. But once again that slight fear we could be out of both competitions in one week was misplaced and we won both games comfortably. Liverpool were in the FA cup game and towards the end they put us under a lot of pressure but the danger when playing Arsenal is if you attack too much and leave space at the back they will punish you. The Carling Cup game was a little odd, one of those games where everything we shoot at goes in. Those cup games were sandwhiched between a good win against Charlton and a 10 man win up at Blackburn, so a great week for Arsenal.
The third big week (and a bit) came at the end of January when we played Man Utd, Spurs twice and Bolton in the FA Cup. The Man Utd game was fantastic, especially given Chelsea had been beaten by Liverpool the day before and it was a chance for them to go 9 points clear, the two Carling Cup games were also great, a game of two halves in the first game when Spurs were all over us in the first half, but we came back brilliantly. The second game was also good as played some great football and in the end the result was comfortable. The Bolton game was the one low light in that period but the net result was that we didn't lose and in the replay we did well.
So we now come to the fourth big week, we have already had the first game of a three game sequence, Blackburn at home in the FA Cup. I won't comment on that other than to say we are still in the competition, it certainly wasn't the best game I have ever seen but you have to expect that we will have the odd flat game from time to time.
Next up is PSV away in the Champions League, it looked a good draw for us when it happened but as the game draws near the more difficult it looks. I think Arsenal should be too strong over the two legs but we need to do well away from home.
The end of the week sees Arsenal in the Carling Cup final, it will be a difficult game but I certainly think Arsenal are capable of winning the game. Chelsea have had a difficult time with injuries this season and despite some decent results score lines recently I still think there are questions to be asked of them. It depends of course who plays on both sides but the only problem for Arsenal is that Chelsea will most likely play a full first team squad.
The first was back in December, Spurs at home, an away tie at Porto in the Champions league which we needed a result to get out of the group stages and then possibly the most difficult game of the season away to Chelsea in the league. At that stage of the season we were still unbeaten at home and we hadn't set the world alight, there were still questions involving Spurs given there good season the year before and it looked a potentially difficult game. The general feeling was that three draws from these three games would be acceptable but we got off to a great start beating Spurs 3-0. The Porto game was odd and at the end of the day results elsewhere meant it didn't matter what happened in that game. We also got a draw at Chelsea which again was a good result, we rode our luck towards the end but there is no shame in drawing away at a team with a home record such as Chelsea's.
The second big week was in January, 2 cup games away to Liverpool. At the time Liverpool had a brilliant home record and while there was confidence we could get a result it seemed we would be up against it. But once again that slight fear we could be out of both competitions in one week was misplaced and we won both games comfortably. Liverpool were in the FA cup game and towards the end they put us under a lot of pressure but the danger when playing Arsenal is if you attack too much and leave space at the back they will punish you. The Carling Cup game was a little odd, one of those games where everything we shoot at goes in. Those cup games were sandwhiched between a good win against Charlton and a 10 man win up at Blackburn, so a great week for Arsenal.
The third big week (and a bit) came at the end of January when we played Man Utd, Spurs twice and Bolton in the FA Cup. The Man Utd game was fantastic, especially given Chelsea had been beaten by Liverpool the day before and it was a chance for them to go 9 points clear, the two Carling Cup games were also great, a game of two halves in the first game when Spurs were all over us in the first half, but we came back brilliantly. The second game was also good as played some great football and in the end the result was comfortable. The Bolton game was the one low light in that period but the net result was that we didn't lose and in the replay we did well.
So we now come to the fourth big week, we have already had the first game of a three game sequence, Blackburn at home in the FA Cup. I won't comment on that other than to say we are still in the competition, it certainly wasn't the best game I have ever seen but you have to expect that we will have the odd flat game from time to time.
Next up is PSV away in the Champions League, it looked a good draw for us when it happened but as the game draws near the more difficult it looks. I think Arsenal should be too strong over the two legs but we need to do well away from home.
The end of the week sees Arsenal in the Carling Cup final, it will be a difficult game but I certainly think Arsenal are capable of winning the game. Chelsea have had a difficult time with injuries this season and despite some decent results score lines recently I still think there are questions to be asked of them. It depends of course who plays on both sides but the only problem for Arsenal is that Chelsea will most likely play a full first team squad.
posted by Andrew Gilfrin at 8:20 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home