Arsenal v Southampton preview and Stuff!

Thank god the Inter lull is over, this is my first post for GFS so let me tell you dear readers now that I have no patience or interest in Internationals or anything that puts money into Sepp Blatters ever growing wallet or panders to FIFA's ever growing ego. However it is gone for while now so we can get back to proper football. After all that is why you come here? To read about Arsenal? Thought so.

This weekend sees Arsenal actually playing at home on a Saturday at 3pm. I did at one point think we were a Sunday team so it is good to see normality return. That is of course unless you cannot get to a game and long for televised Arsenal match at your local bar. Tough living in the UK so I do envy our fans abroad who get to watch games live. However I will be at the game, rubbing salt in the wound? Ah well!

So Southampton are currently bottom of the Premier, Nigel Adkins' side will be using this trip to gain points. Arsenal, now 8th with five points will want to continue in the vain of the Liverpool win, keep a clean sheet again for a fourth game. Amazing that you have to go 1924/25 for the last time we went three unbeaten. I have no doubt that Steve Bould is having an influence here. I also hope Giroud gets a goal to get that monkey off his back. As several people have been commenting, lets hope we have a Henry/Bergkamp awakening as we do seem to have luck against Southampton.

It would be wrong to write off Southampton in this match. Their game against Man Utd shows they are not to be under estimated but if Arsenal can keep their composure I am hopeful for a result. Here are some Opta facts for you.

Southampton have allowed their opponents more shots on target against them than any other team (19)

Arsenal have allowed their opponents the joint-fewest shots on target in the Premier League (7)

The players missing for Arsenal after internationals will be Walcott with a virus (possible agent speak for sulking) and Diaby who is rated at 50/50 but don't hold your breath. For Southampton Guly Do Prado could be dropped for admitting drink driving. Perhaps he and Santos could have a chat!

Arsenal (from): Szczesny, Jenkinson, Vermaelen, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arteta, Podolski, Giroud, Mannone, Koscielny, Ramsey, Santos, Coquelin, Gervinho, Djourou.

Southampton (from): K Davis, Gazzaniga, Richardson, Butterfield, Clyne, Fox, Shaw, Yoshida, Hooiveld, Fonte, Seabourne, Stephens, Chambers, Ward-Prowse, Do Prado, Chaplow, Cork, De Ridder, Ramirez, Lallana, Schneiderlin, Puncheon, Hammond, S Davis, Lambert, Lee, Rodriguez, Mayuka.

As for stuff? Well Wenger does not want to discuss a new contract but just to focus on doing well. That makes a change for someone at Arsenal not to be bleating about money etc. Sagna has upset people with his comments on selling players etc. Be careful what you wish for I say. I still feel that something is wrong deep inside Arsenal but will leave that for another day.

Fingers crossed for the weekend all and see you on the other side.

Arsenal Darkman

RVP.....A BIG PLAYER......???

How big is Robin Van Persie.....? That's the question most of all have failed to ask and possibly get the right answers to...When our dear Thierry Henry was with us,we saw how big a player her was...Banging in goals after goals and bringing those trophies home...
Everybody in world football are all screaming about how big RVP is and how he needs to move on to another club to win trophies...But hey,lemme ask u....How big has RVP been since we signed him in 2004 from Feyernoord....Any answers....Any.....? The truth here is that a player cannot have just one good season since 2004 and automatically becomes a superstar with SO many demands.....
Don't get me wrong guys, RVP is a fantastic player who "scores whenever he wants" But I always wonder what could have been if he had been able to stay fit for more seasons...We would have won more trophies?
AFC deserves his loyalty if not for anything else but for paying him every single week and not getting our moneys worth...Sentiments you call it!!! I call it believing in a course and a club that has brought fame and fortune...

THERE IS LIFE AFTER RVP?

It would be devastating to watch him leave after just one good season....But I'm sure there is life after him...When Henry left,i remember a friend telling me that was the end of AFC....And there came Emmanuel Sheyi Adebayor who banged in 30 goals...The ghost of Henry was no where to be found coz we had found a goal poacher in him & if he had stayed, he would have achieved a lot more...Nobody at that time talked about RVP for obvious reasons...
Adebayor left and there came the emergence of RVP scoring like there was no tomorrow...And he is the superstar that we all know he is.

 So do the maths....If he leaves,we have Podolski and Giroud who can fill his shoes....RVP was not a household name when we signed him and today he is....There is no doubt that Giroud can have the same devastating effect....RVP wanted us to show ambition and we sure ain't doing badly...He just needs to tell us what he wants exactly?

Looking forward to the coming season and hoping RVP eventually stays......
@ade12_arsenal

Giruod's a Gunner!

Finally...What we all have been waiting for has been confirmed...Olivier Giroud becomes a GUNNER...Not that I had any doubts anyway...These stories always find their way out even before its confirmed...





OLIVIER GIROUD

What exactly does he bring to AFC? We surely have read a lot about his capabilities...His explosive left foot,his physical presence in the box,his hunger for goals and a strong desire to succeed...There is no need going on about his abilities,we have all read that as Arsenal fans....But I can't wait to see that forward line next season...Hoping our talisman remains a GUNNER!!!

M'VILA
I'm hearing some stories this morning that "The Prof" is thinking of pulling the plug of further negotiations because of his off field personality and especially because he's being investigated by the FFA for misconduct...He's a fine player with strong capabilities....Sits very well in front of the back four and provides adequate cover for them and also a good link between the back four and the midfield...But his off the field behaviour is important too...Well,let's see wat AW does....He's a good judge of character....But I think we need him...Song has been very creative with his surging run upfront..And we know what that means,leaves us opened at the back and that's where M'vila comes in....Let's trust that AW knows exactly what to do....He has got us up and running very fast in the transfer window.

This is my first write up and you can look out for a whole lot more.....
@ade12_arsenal