Emery-Ozil Cold War

Well, it's a dreadful situation for Arsenal since the 22 game unbeaten run ended. Huge loss at Anfield exposed our thinning options defensively along with strange decisions in team selection made by Unai Emery; concerning Ozil mainly.

Clearly, the tactical excuse Emery gives out whenever Ozil isn't picked in games or strangely substituted (e.g. Away at Brighton) tells only one thing.

Our head coach doesn't know how to manage the club's biggest player. A deja vu feeling if we time travel to last season in Paris where Neymar. Jr and Emery had similar problems at PSG.

To be honest, Ozil could have left Arsenal last January or before this season for free but he stayed to follow the legacy of his Invincible role models.

However, bad fortunes followed him as Germany crashed out of the WC '18's 1st round. And ironically despite being their best player even statistically, he ended up getting the most stick from pundits and media.

Things got way too intense as he surprisingly retired from international scene, citing discrimination and severe pressure surrounding his controversial pre world cup meeting with Turkish PM Erdogan.

Regardless, his club team-mates stood by him with support and confidence as pre-season approached along with praise from Emery himself which seems to have lost in the latter's words when he has been asked about Ozil lately.

The most important player at Arsenal, one of the five chosen captains by Emery himself, is being sidelined from the starting.line-up. Even Wenger hadn't been that way with Bergkamp in the latter's final season.

It's sad and sounds stupid when Emery defines Ozil's omission from the team as tactical. What tactical reason could it be to keep the player who's created the most chances across the Europe's Top five leagues since July 2006?

It felt very senseless to see Iwobi start ahead of Ozil yesterday even after he was fully fit and trained with full throttle. And to what gain, losing to West Ham whom we defeated comfortably at home.

As if it wasn't enough to let Wilshere leave early for West Ham and now allowing Ramsey to go as well for free, what could possibly be gained from putting down Ozil when Arsenal need him the most?! 

Not having the highest earning playmaker in your starting 11? Board may give Emery a thumping for it though as if Stan would care.

If anything that is to be learned from one season as PSG's boss, Emery should not repeat the same mistakes with the former German play-maker as he did while handling Neymar Jr. More in fact, Ozil is far more humble and has better attitude than the Brazilian star.

So watch out, Emery! Fans may fly out banners really soon if Ozil isn't in the starting line up going forward as United is on our trail and the tactical omission of German is not doing good for anyone.

Signs of Fatigue & Injury Loom Up Front despite Gunners Flying High

Hello again. It has been quite a thunderous run for Arsenal as they stole back to back home victories which includes a clear heist against the German giants Bayern Munich in their UEFA Champions League crunch tie. A game that has kept the hope alive for going through to the Last 16 round of the European competition.

The French duo doing the Magic against Everton

And just when some critics thought that complacency might stretch the hang over of that triumph into the Premiere League, Arsenal produced another superb performance against Everton with first half goals by Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny and then held on to the lead to take the top slot on the table for the night. Both Frenchmen have been extra ordinary this week with Koscielny being the most prominent name in the list of the league top center-backs season after season.

Ozil raising the level game after game

 However, the name that has stifled every critic's voice is of Mesut Ozil who has powered himself up in all the big games so far in the past few weeks. His performances have put a stop to the constant jibe of his price-tag since he signed for the Gunners two seasons ago.

All in All, Arsene Wenger's adaptability to the modern techniques and ever changing style of game play against the big sides is paying off healthy dividends and the cohesion of the defense wall with the Experienced Petr Cech is absolutely perfect, pushing the confidence sky high.

Sanchez has to take a break.

However, there has been a clear sign of fatigue in a player whose presence makes every opposition nervous on the pitch and he is none other than Alexis Sanchez. Although he seems to be pumped up for every game, he can't hide the level of fatigue when moving up front and the Gunner's boss has to give him rest in order for him to gain the strength he has to demolish opponents single handedly.

Another player who seems a bit out of ideas after a powerful display against Manchester United is Theo Walcott and his last two games of growing quietness gave Giroud a chance to start last night where the Frenchman proved to be the vital force in last night's victory. Although Walcott has not been bad at all during the Bayern game but missed chances may have stirred down his confidence a bit in his role as a central striker.

Another player gained by the club's medical staff is Aaron Ramsey whose hamstring has again started to give him problems before the season has not even reached halfway. His expected return will be after another make-or-break, tough, away gtie in CL against the wounded lions Bayern Munich and the international break. 

Joyous now but tough weeks ahead for Wenger

With no signings up front this past transfer window and complete confidence in the players to be fit with the support of the ever hardworking medical staff, Arsene Wenger has to take some precautions and calculated risks in squad rotation given how Wilshere, Welbeck and Rosicky seem like on the KIA list.

That may play into the fear of a slump which usually is the reason of Casualty for Arsenal season after season and Arsene Wenger would not want that to occur again given how his side has been performing so far in this season with all the Star players he has mustered to build a squad that is being termed the "Best" since the Invincible's Era.

Leave your thoughts below if you feel like by firing in a comment and thanks again for reading it patiently.

Cheers!!

Gunners fired up as D-Day approaches in Champion's League

My oh My! The days have passed on too quickly despite the international break as Arsenal have progressed tremendously well ahead of make or break, back to back UEFA CL ties against the European giant Bayern Munich. 

Sanchez shines again

Another night of happiness and excitement drove the fans to the peak as Alexis Sanchez - the new talisman for Arsenal truly showed why he was signed by Wenger last season. 

After a sensational display against Manchester United at home where he earned a brace, Sanchez was there again to cause the Watford's backline a serious trouble at Vicarage Road as he finally break the deadlock after the hour-mark with his sixth goal in the league this season.

Ramsey finds the goal and so does Giroud.

Besides Sanchez, Super sub Giroud scored his fourth goal of the season after relieving Theo Walcott who found himself a bit rusty after performing greatly on the international duty. And finally after a long wait, Aron Ramsey's name made it on the score-sheet while Mesut Ozil is giving the critics moments after moments of silence through back to back brilliant performances for Arsenal.

Becoming the team's go to guy now, Sanchez has the work-rate that is not only impressive but quite contagious for the team. While on the other hand, Bellerin has practically killed any chance that remained for Mathieu Debuchy to feel motivated in fighting the place in the team whereas Monreal is emerging a silent hero on the backdrop for Arsenal, making his position secured on the left.

At the moment, Arsenal are sitting 2nd on the Premiere League table and have been getting stronger on practically all fronts but the real test is yet to arrive as they head into the "D-Day" in UEFA Champions League, hosting the ever dangerous Bayern first and visitng them at Allianz Arena the following week.

Bayern - the unbeatable force this season in Germany.

A team which is most feared in Europe at the moment despite the absence of their catalysts Arjen Robben & Franck Ribery and especially after the eminent departure of Bastian Schweinsteiger. Those name have been taken over by the lickes of Muller, Lewandowski, Vidal and ever green Xabi Alonso; all in supreme form with Bayern yet to drop a point in Bundesliga after winning all nine games since this season's start.

However, the first tie with Bayern is at home for Gunners and that would be a bit comforting and slightly alarming at the same time. For one, it is a crucial tie in Champions League group stage for Arsenal as that would decide whether they have a chance to progress ahead in the European competition. 

The comfort of playing it at home with the  crowd support is always encouraging but at the same time, the home record this season hasn't been that solid for Gunners as compared to the last season. Secondly, Bayern has beaten Arsenal at the Emirates on last two occasions so it could turn the crowd into jeering after producing a stunning display against United two weeks back.

So the threats are clearly there and Arsenal have to prove their mettle to make sure that they remain in the UEFA Champions League in the hopes of moving forward in the D-Day on Tuesday night.

What's your take on it? Leave your thoughts and point below and thank you once again for reading patiently.

COYG! Adios.

Stoke Test Cleared, Dynamo Up Next. Champion's League Dream begins "Again"

Gunners Relieved to have their names in the Scoring sheet against Stoke City .

Greetings as I write this post on almost the eve of the Europe's's greatest club football competition of this season involving all the big guns. And with delight too as Arsenal picked up three comfortable points as they won strongly.Especially after a lot of disappointing criticism made of the club's transfer handling this season following by some really nervous performances up front.

Waclott embraced on his fist PL goal of the Season

Some solid performances from Coquelin in the heart of midfield with Cazorla and it would be quite impossible not to mention Ozil and who was the caterer of the attack fest with Ramsey and Sanchez to give Walcott numerous opportunities to score. And score he did in the first half following by a strong headed finish by the much crticized Arsenal front man Giroud.

All in all, a great comeback performance by the team as for at least a few days, Arsene Wenger would find himself in a slight comfort zone and so will Giroud and Walcott. As for some fans who would still say that Gunners were not really convincing last evening winning against Stoke City at home, I would say that they expect far too much, watching far too many games of star studded opposition teams annihilating mid table to lower grade teams. 

Finally some joy for the Frenchman

Just to give them a comparison of yesterday's fixtures in the League, our London rivals Chelsea (Defending Champions - Premiere League) were crushed by Everton at Goodison Park, making it their third defeat already in total of 5 matches so far with just 4 points.

However, we now move on to the bigger stage as the battlegrounds are now being ready in Europe for the UEFA Champion's League with us drawn against Dynamo Zagreb, Olympiakos and German Champions Bayern Munich . Most importantly, all that talk of getting a star signing up front would really come into question as we visit Dynamo at their home for our first game of group stages. 

So far, Arsenal have not made it further than the last 16 in the UCL since last 5 seasons and being one of top renowned clubs among the Europe's elite, it is a huge concern for Wenger whose dream to win the Champions League has gradually transformed into a fantasy. 

Wenger not deserting hope for UCL Glory

The pressure to perform well against Dynamo in a away game shouldn't be of too much intensity for a top club but for Arsenal, there is always tons of pressure to do well in the Champion's League. Now with a shameful benchmark set by the club as per past performances in UCL, the primary objective for Arsene Wenger should be the breaking of that self created "Round 16" barrier convincingly and taking each games piece by piece. Rest is all faith

To say that the Dream can become reality for the Professor would be a far fetched idea but for sure, almost fans would get really excited to see Arsenal in the Quarter Finals at the Champion's league.

What do you think? Do leave a comment below and thanks again for reading patiently! Salud. COYG!!