Broken and Battered Gunners still fighting for Top Slot

Greetings and most sincere apologies for not updating this page for over a month's time due to some unconventional excuse. 

Nonetheless, here's a fresh, just out of the oven post about the Gunner's complete see saw month which saw them crashed down at Allianz Arena (Bayern Munich) and The Hawthorns (West Brom), picking single point results against Spurs in North London derby at home and away at Carrow Road against Norwich and most importantly, losing three of the most important players they have depended upon since last season.

,Cazorla, Sanchez & Coquelin.

The Trio lost to injuries before festive period.

However, Arsenal did pick two crucial wins at home with last week in the UEFA Champions League tie against Dynamo Zagreb and last night against Sunderland in the Premiere League to go second on the table. Positives during this time span were the return of Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ramsey and Walcott and along with the fact that Joel Campbell has started to make his presence felt on the pitch by scoring a goal and an assist in the last three games he has started in two weeks.

The King of Assist is back.

More importantly, a new leader has emerged and is now being seen as the catalyst behind almost every other goal scored by Gunners and he is none other than Mesut Ozil who has now 12 assists in the league in 15 games with two goals as cherry on the top. Training hard to make runs, re-tracking and winning possession and finding space on his own, Ozil has become the driving force in the Arsenal's offensive unit, feeding goal scoring passes at times out of nowhere and in games that have mattered in the season.

Nonetheless, it was a nervous win last night which saw an own goal from Giroud who later cancelled it with a spectacular header to put the Gunners back in the lead and revealed clear signs of vulnerability in defense and hesitation in picking up passes in the last third. This shows how much of a difference does the presence of Coquelin, Cazorla and Sanchez make in the game.

History depicts that although Arsenal has seen many injury filled seasons over the last decade but this time just when the tide has started to favor them, these injuries have started to wear down the team in the most crucial phase of the season. The fact that Arsenal are just two points behind league leaders Leicester City with the spread among the top five of only six points proves that our chances of winning the league title this season are quite high.

Wenger needs to find the perfect DM cover for Coquelin

The only drawback is the lengthy list of injured players who can actually make up of almost the entire first team and their long term absence would prove the Gunner's boss Arsene Wenger wrong in his decision to not buy during the summer transfer window. Although very edgy whenever asked about the injuries and January transfer window, Mr. Wenger would have to admit that he would need to find decent cover for the team in the midfield to progress swiftly towards the title challenge. 

Last night's performance may have boosted a load of confidence among the players but make sure that Coquelin and Cazorla's absence at the heart of the pitch is not felt so much, at least two potential signings should be on for the upcoming January window. If not two, then at least a central defensive midfielder to enforce and release the pressure off the back four. 

For now, a still very decent unit is available for the make or break Champions League away tie at Olympiakos on Wednesday evening with an outside chance that Mr. Sanchez may be seen on the bench while completely ignoring the hamstring he picked up against Norwich unless he is locked down in the infirmary by the Boss himself.

Only the game night would reveal the rest so till then, that's all for now. Leave a comment to speak your mind and thank you so much for reading patiently. Salud & COYG!!

Arsenal Low on Cover as Bayern Clash closes in

Well, Well, Well, as I last wrote about the fragility in the squad despite strong performances in the premiere league, it feels that there is much more to it than it meets the eye.

Campbell finally makes his mark for Gunners

Yes, we pulled another victory last night against Swansea City with goals from the French duo (Giroud & Koscielny) once again along with the long lost child Joel Campbell who finally showed the skills to stick in the first team. Once again, Ozil took the front seat with Alexis Sanchez finding his 'born to kill' talent again on the pitch.

The result has left us level on top with Manchester City on points in the league while the latter takes top slot on goal difference. However, the result seems to have covered up the clear flaws which have been a problem for Arsenal. Particularly, the outcome of the Capitol One Cup exit to the hands of Sheffield Wednesday at their home.

Walcott back in infirmary.

Number one as highlighted in the earlier post is the number of injured players Arsenal now have so far after the League cup exit. Walcott and Chamberlain picked up injuries within the span of 20 minutes of the Capitol One Cup fixture and they joined Ramsey, Wilshere. Welbeck, Ospina, Arteta and Rosicky. None of them available for the UEFA Champions League tie with Bayern at Allianz Arena which leaves Giroud the lone central striker for Gunners till at least December.

Chamberlain out till Int'l break.

Moreover with no further addition during the transfer window, things have started to look quite tight with availability of strong back-ups in the midfield and as well as on the offense. The right flank especially is placed open for Joel Campbell who showed strong legs and fine set of talent for just one game now so far.

The other option is the Academy boy Alex Iwobi who has been in sparkling form in the youth team. Unfortunately, Santi Cazorla and Francios Coquelin have to be cautious and extra vigilant about their fitness level as they have no back-up so far.

Defense still a concern for Arsenal.

Second major problem which is seen in this past week is the complacency in the defensive line which resulted in a humiliating loss in Capitol One Cup and as well as gave Swansea City two absolutely clear goal opportunities which were ruined by Swansea striker Bafetimbe Gomis and cleared by Hector-Flash Bellerin. No matter how strong it may have been for Gunners to have Petr Cech as their ultimate savior, Arsenal back four should not be caught napping in any game.

This sort of stance is what Bayern would be looking for in the Arsenal team to exploit when they meet at Munich for another crunch tie which would determine the course of Arsenal's progress in the UEFA Champion's League this season. 

With full strength in the squad and a clear eye of vengeance, the German champions would strike hard against the Gunners at home and a slight lack of concentration could cause a lot of turbulence in the European competition as well as the title challenge in the Premiere League.

Tell us how what you think through a comment and thank you for reading patiently.

COYG! Salud. 

Three Ws under the "Spotlight" post Transfer Window

Hello again and here is the latest post after another trademark Transfer Window for the Gunners came to a close. This time around, Gooners were given another heartache when Arsenal couldn't add an outfield player after despite a handful of players linked to us.

Especially with one news piece showing pics of Wenger flying to Paris to supposedly secure the signatures of Cavani and Rabiot which has been the recent hug rumour after Benzema links were openely rubbished by the player himself.

Wenger under fire again as Usual

Unfortunately, it all ended up in dust as no deals materialized or as most Gooners think that it is the attitude and approach of the Arsenal boss that has lead them to have see the only new face in the form Petr Cech this summer.

This may not be true but but things have gone from bad to worst as Danny Welbeck had to go through a knee surgery on the following day of the Transfer Deadline which has rules him out till Christmas. Or even further beyond till March of next year as Roy Hodgson has stated that the England striker may not be included in the squad for the upcoming Euro 2016 in France. 

The assessment on Welbeck's situation had already been known to Arsene Wenger before the transfer deadline day on as the "minor" bone injury which has kept him out since April of this year, had become a mysterious issue taking his return to action into consideration.

Welbeck's return delayed till Christmas or beyond?

That certainly puts the Gunner's boss in the shooting range and the trust has seemingly faded among the fans, considering how things have been taken care off recently in terms of getting a guaranteed goal scorer to boost our Title winning chances.

With only a single goal scored by an Arsenal player out of the three in the first 4 games in the season makes one question the tactics used by Arsene Wenger which has led in failure to sign a top new striker for the club. 

Meanwhile, hope may not be all lost as Theo Walcott starred for the Three Lions at San Marino, scoring a brace while playing on the flanks as usual two nights ago. 

Although San Marino is a team which England has fancied playing against over the last 15 months, winning every time with larger margins but Walcott must have gained some confidence after his performance and hopefully, he will work hard to restore the somewhat lost faith of Arsenal fans in him and especially Wenger.

Walcott on the score sheet for England at San Marino

Moreover, Joel Campbell's sale was also blocked to keep him as a back up so he may get a shot in the first team as well to play in the front line. That may be enough to keep the club going on for now but all depends on how Walcott and Giroud deliver up front aside from Sanchez and the ever versatile midfield possessed by Gunners till January window. 

For now, Walcott, Wenger and Welbeck - the three Ws of Arsenal would have to work individually in their paths to achieve the unified primary objective for the Club to make it stronger in the league. Waclott needs to score more, Wenger needs to gain back faith among the fans and Welbeck to get fit till December.

Tell us what you think by leaving a comment or two and thanks again for reading. Salud!