Wilshere shortlisted for PFA March award

Jack Wilshere has been shortlisted for the PFA Fans' Player of the Month for March.

PFA Fans' Player of the Month shortlist:

Damien Duff (Fulham)
David Luiz (Chelsea)
Dirk Kuyt (Liverpool)
Frank Lampard (Chelsea)
Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)
Javier Hernandez (Manchester United)
Luis Suarez (Liverpool)
Micah Richards (Man City)
Scott Parker (West Ham)
Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)

Watch out for an article on this teenage wonder.

Fourteen Arsenal Players called up for International Duty.

Fourteen Arsenal players have been called up by their different countries for the forthcoming international fixtures.

Bacary Sagna, Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy have all been called up to Laurent Blanc’s France squad. Les Bleus travel to Luxembourg for a Euro 2012 Group D qualifier on Friday before hosting Croatia in a friendly in Paris on Tuesday.

Aaron Ramsey has been called up to the Wales squad for games against England and Scotland in Cardiff. The Arsenal midfielder has not featured for his country since suffering a double leg break in February 2010 but will join up with Gary Speed’s squad ahead of their Euro 2012 Group G qualifier against England at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday. Wales then host Scotland in the Nations Cup on Wednesday.

Robin van Persie has been called up by coach Bert van Marwijk for Holland’s upcoming Euro 2012 Group E double-header against Hungary. The World Cup finalists travel to Budapest on Friday before hosting the Hungarians in Amsterdam on Tuesday.

Tomas Rosicky has been called up to the Czech Republic squad for two Euro 2012 Group I qualifiers. The Czechs travel to Granada to face Spain on Friday before hosting Liechtenstein in Ceske Budejovice on Tuesday.

Nicklas Bendtner has been called up to the Denmark squad for the upcoming international period. Morten Olsen’s team travel to Oslo for a Euro 2012 Group H qualifier on Saturday and then go to Trnava for a friendly on Tuesday.

Andrey Arshavin has been called up to the Russia squad for Saturday’s Euro 2012 Group B qualifier against Armenia in Yerevan. Arshavin and Russia then travel to Doha for a friendly against Qatar on Tuesday.

Jack Wilshere has been called up to Fabio Capello’s England squad for internationals against Wales and Ghana. England travel to Cardiff for a Euro 2012 Group G qualifier on Saturday before hosting Ghana in a friendly at Wembley on Tuesday.

Kieran Gibbs and Henri Lansbury have been called up to the England Under-21 squad for friendlies against Denmark and Iceland. Stuart Pearce’s side travel to Viborg on Thursday before hosting Iceland at Deepdale, Preston on Monday.

Marouane Chamakh has been called up to the Morocco squad for the upcoming international period. Eric Gerets’ squad travel to Annaba for an African Cup of Nations qualifier on Sunday before hosting Botswana in a friendly on Wednesday.

Emmanuel Eboue has been called up to the Ivory Coast squad for Saturday’s African Cup of Nations qualifier against Benin in Accra.

Carlos Vela has been called up to the Mexico squad for friendlies against Paraguay and Venezuela in America. Mexico face Paraguay in Oakland on Saturday before meeting Venezuela in San Diego on Tuesday.

The first thing that readily comes to mind when you hear that a team produces fourteen internationals is Quality! Arsenal football club has plenty of it around the pitch. Attack, Midfield, Defense (scratching my head). The problem is Arsenal have been unable to turn the quality into winning trophies in the last six years. Previous seasons, the excuse every Arsenal fan and even Arsene Wenger gave was “It’s still a young team and we are growing”.

This season Arsenal have come of age and it showed in their early chase for four titles until they came crashing, losing three competitions in three weeks. They are still in the mix for the EPL but even with all the quality, one cannot trust Arsenal to lift the trophy come may, thanks to a calamitous defensive pairing of Koscienly and Squillaci. Offensively Arsenal is one of the best teams in the EPL but defensively, you cannot say same.(I’m not talking about Arsenals goalkeeping woes today, because that would take a whole day to write)

Everytime Arsenal players go away on international duty, I (like many other Arsenal fans) hope they do well for their countries and Ultimately come back to the club without injury. (International duties have cost us in the past – Van Persie, Vermaleen, Walcott). So in that vein, I wish these fourteen players all the best on their match days and my fingers are crossed.

Can Arsenal Do it?

It’s a hot, sunny Saturday afternoon and I’m waiting patiently(like most Saturdays) for the Arsenal team list and subsequently the Kick off of the match against West Brom. The first thing that catches my eye on seeing the list is the inclusion of Aaron Ramsey in the starting lineup and I’m excited that he is back and finally gets his chance in the first team. Next I see Denilson and I’m saddened, this guy is just not Arsenal standard. He is one player I have seen in a long time who hasn’t matured under the tutelage of the master nurturer (Wenger) and to think that he is Brazilian. Another name that catches my eye and ultimately annoys me is that of error prone, goal leaking and inconsistent Squillaci.

I’m seated waiting for the players to emerge from the tunnel and in a few minutes they are out. Kick off! Play starts and Arsenal cant seem to find their rhythm early on but who cares, its still under 5mins and there’s plenty of time to go. Soon the ball is in the Arsenal half and it’s a throwing to West brom and Sagna is trying to call out at one of his players and loses concentration for a second and the ball is thrown over his head and luckily Koscienly is there to help out but in the process gives away a needless corner. West brom set out to take the corner (I’m on the edge of my sit because I know how bad Arsenal are at defending corners and aerial balls). Corner is taken and **vroom** the ball is in the back of the net. Terrible defending from the Arsenal players. Where the heck were Squillaci nd Koscienly? Shouldn’t they be in the mix of things when a corner is floated in?(at least we see the likes of Vidic and Terry do it week in week out).

I stay glued to the TV hoping that things would change but Arsenal just couldn’t carve out any clear cut chance. At this point I’m switching stations monitoring the Man Utd/Bolton match(it’s still 0-0). I’m remaining loyal but Arsenal has refused to improve. Denilson is misplacing almost every pass, Squillaci is all over the place doing nothing, Ramsey doesn’t seem to fit just yet. With nothing happening for the Arsenal, I get up and go about doing other stuff (get my clothes ironed in preparation for the coming week) I’m ironing and my sister screams “oh no! its another goal” I immediately know it is for West Brom and at this point I am not concerned about the match anymore.

The game is on and I continue with my ironing. During my unconcerned moments Arsenal through Arshavin pull one back and somehow I’m drawn back to the match. Arsenal push for another and scrappily get it through Van Persie. At this point my belief is back and I’m hoping Arsenal can do it. The players are pushing for a third goal but no luck…… Final whistle!

I cant seem to get it, what could Arsene Wenger be telling the boys in training and in the locker room? Don’t they realize that they only have the EPL left to chase for a silverware? One cannot see urgency, desire and passion. They should be playing like wounded lions and not like a team that is relaxed and confident in itself. Arsenal has to let go of its disappointments in the other competitions and focus on the EPL.

Arsenal has the advantage as they are no longer in any other competition, this gives them extra rest days as against their main rivals (Man Utd) who are still in the FA Cup and UCL. I expect the Arsenal players to rally round and talk to themselves, they NEED to pick up a silverware this season. If Arsenal will pick up the EPL this season, they would have to change their mentality and style of play for the remaining games of the season. Style of play is simple SHOOT ON SIGHT!!! They need to put aside beautiful football and trying to work their way into the net, SHOOT! SHOOT! SHOOT! Should be what they should live by till the end of the season. We the fans need to see desire, hunger and passion in their play. The million dollar question is “Can Arsenal do it”?

Is Jens Lehman the right man?

Arsenal has had goalkeeping issues since the beginning of this season.(No! Last season). Truth is Arsenal has struggled in the Goalkeeping position since the controversial Jens Lehman left the club a few years back. Almunia stepped up and became Arsenal’s NO.1 goalkepper and has been in goal since.

Almunia for me is one of the most inconsistent goalkeepers in the EPL. He blows hot and cold and cant seem to maintain a standard. He is not fit to guard the goal of a top European side like Arsenal, he is good enough for West Brom,Wigan,West Ham (you know what I mean). If you put Almunia side by side with the likes of Cech, Van der sa, Riena and even “little” Joe Hart, you would understand what I mean exactly.

At the beginning of the season, it was reported that Arsene Wenger  was searching for a new goal Keeper and several names came up like Hugo Lloris, Shay Given and very strongly Mark Schwarzer. Wenger in his usual manner didn’t come out to openly admitting the Keeper chase and in the end (as usual again) came up with nothing until the transfer window closed. Mark Schwarzer even stupidly (in my opinion) handed in a transfer request at Fullham (I would explain). Fullham and Arsenal were negotiating for a long time and Arsene been who he is was offering a sum Fullham thought was paltry for their No.1 and one of the most experienced Handlers in the EPL. Mark should have known Fullham wouldn’t release him cheap and been in England for while, he should also know that Arsene hardly ever increases his initial bid. So handing in a transfer request was a dumb move. He should have just sat back and watched how things unfolded. I also don’t blame him, when a club like Arsenal comes calling it’s hard to say no. (I have digressed I know).

So back to the main issue. Almunia started the season as No.1 to the disappointment of Arsenal fans worldwide and continued in his characteristic inconsistent manner. Fans cried and cried and **tada** injury struck. He was forced to the sidelines thanks to that injury and Fabianski took over. Fabianski grew better match after match and just when we thought he was going to be there for a while injury struck . Szezesny took over and in a long time Arsenal fans had confidence in the goalkeeping department. He showed great potential and he even made the No.1 spot his after the return of Almunia but AGAIN Injury struck!

With Fabianski out for the rest of the season, Szezesny out for a minimum of six weeks, Vito Mannone out on loan at Hull city(also injured), Arsenal was left with Almunia as the only senior Keeper the other the 18yrs old James Shea.  Because of this Goalkeeping crisis Arsene had to apply to the FA for an emergency loan. Just when everyone was wondering where Wenger would get his man, news filtered that Arsenal was in talks with former Gunner Jens Lehman. Lehman? WTF? Yes that was my response. The 41yr old German had hung up boots already and one would wonder if Arsene or his goalkeeping coaches didn’t know any active Keeper they could have gone in for.

Critically looking at it again, Lehman has the mentality,drive and experience Arsenal needs at this stage of the season and if the performances of Van der sa are anything to go by then age is definitely not a barrier. For back up, Lehman doesn’t look like a bad move but we have to wait and see. Like Arsenal Fans like to say “In Arsene we trust” but from me its “In God I trust”.

Welcome!!!

This is talking ArsenalFC! It is exactly what it is, I’m going to be talking about Arsenal football club. As you know, there is a lot and there always would be a lot to talk about when it concerns Arsenal FC. Apart from been one of the top sides in Europe(yes it is),Arsenal is a club that has been on the lips of everyone(Haters and Supporters) because of her inability to win any major trophy since 2005.(btw I say major because Arsenal wins the Emirates Cup annually without any problems whatsoever *rme*). All the talk never gets to me (ok ok, I know so many people who would kill me when they see that line because most times ………it does *covers face*) but why won’t and shouldn’t it get to me?  I’m a diehard Arsenal supporter.

I love Arsenal with my whole being. I love everything about Arsenal, the players (not all), Manager, coaches, jersey, stadium…..everything! I have supported Arsenal FC for about eight years now and not in any of those years have I denounced Arsenal (In defeat or Lack of trophies). I always tell anyone who cares to listen that I am the most Loyal Arsenal Supporter. When I’m hungry and I watch Arsenal play (and win),I get full automatically. When I’m sad and Arsenal wins a match(whether I watch or I hear),I become happy even if it is for a moment. I feel incomplete if I don’t hear any Arsenal news a day. I’m a regular caller and a registered member of http://www.arsenal.com/  I am passionate about this club and my passion gave birth to this blog.

I intend to through this blog, look at and talk about everything that concerns Arsenal FC. Our special Manager, talented bunch of players, Reserve team, Academy, Back room staff, matches, tactics……everything! I would as objectively as I can do this. When I have to lambast the team, trust me to do that. I just hope to release some of the excess Arsenal energy in me through this blog.

Whatever you read here are my personal views and doesn’t necessarily represent the views of any other Arsenal  FC supporter. Keep checking for objective analysis of happenings at Arsenal FC.

Tell a friend to tell a friend to tell an Arsenal Fan that talkingArsenalFC  has kicked off and they won’t want to miss out on the excitement this blog would bring.

CONTENTS COMING SOON!