ArseNole Podcast Episode 6 Now Available

In this podcast, I talk about the Semi-Final exits in the Champions League and the FA Cup to United and Chelsea, along with the team selection for those matches. I go over what could possibly be upcoming in the transfer window, and talk about Kolo Toure's new contract, Stan Kroenke's eventual takeover of Arsenal, and more. Let me know what you think of it because I need feedback. Try to get better each time, ya know? Cheers


You can listen to the podcast here or download the podcast here, or you can subscribe in iTunes by clicking here. Or you can even just listen to it right here in your browser by clicking play below.

Reaction to the Loss Versus Chelsea And More

Morning all. Yesterday was tough wasn't it? I felt like we had been building up to that match for quite awhile, and I was so excited for it just to be let down. A promising start gave way to a pretty miserable ending. There aren't many things worse than watching your team lose in a cup semi-final, but one of the things that is worse is watching the Chelsea cunts celebrate after beating your team.

When I saw the team selection yesterday, I have to say I was a little bit disturbed. Why Arshavin wouldn't play when he hasn't been able to play in the Champions League was really something I questioned. He's brought a lot to the team since his arrival and I think he could have done the same yesterday. Alex Song has been playing the best football of his life in the past few weeks yet he was left on the bench in favor of Diaby, who hasn't been playing much and I don't think many people would argue the point that he is superior to Song anyway. I didn't like the selection, I have to say. I expected to see Song in the lone holding role, with Arshy, Walcott, and Cesc as the attacking mids and RvP and Ade up front together.

I think the formation we decided to use caused us more problems than it was worth. Diaby and Denilson weren't very good with their distribution and while I thought Denilson did ok shadowing Lampard in the first half, I think Arshavin would have proved a better option instead, by creating space and helping out Adebayor up top. I thought Diaby had a pretty terrible game and Song, for me, would have proved a much better option.

The overriding feeling I guess is just disappointment and bewilderment. I just can't understand why he decided to play the players he did, but mostly I feel bad for the team, especially Lukasz Fabianski. He played a dreadful game, and for someone on that huge stage for the first time, it might affect his confidence for a long time. Unfortunately, we don't have any other options at keeper right now so he is going to have to rebound right away. He's definitely had some problems though thinking he needs to come out of his box for balls that he can't win. Sometimes you have to just trust your defenders to do their jobs adequately enough so that you can do yours, and he just doesn't seem to have the right mentality on those balls right now. Adebayor didn't have a great game, but I think a lot of that had to do with the lack of service he receieved. Theo's crosses often found nobody and van Persie didn't have close to his best game either. It must also be said that Sylvestre was just awful on the second goal and when he stopped chasing the ball it showed a real lack of passion for the team and the game.

Arsene Wenger was complaining about the pitch after the game, but I really didn't want to hear about it. Yeah the pitch was pretty bad but everyone plays on the same one so that can't be used as an excuse, and the fact is we were just outplayed on the day. So we're out of the FA Cup and we've only got one chance left at a trophy, and that's the Champions League. We've got a league match against Liverpool this week too, so there's still a lot of crucial games coming up, but in reality the big ones are the ones against United in the Champions League. Villa have been awful in the league lately and 4th spot seems pretty well secure.

I don't really have much else to talk about today because it's just so hard to take, so I'll get something up tomorrow to preview the Liverpool match. Leave your thoughts on the match, the team selection, or whatever else you feel like talking about. I'll talk to you all tomorrow. Cheers.

FA Cup Semi-Final Day! C'mon You Gunners!

Morning everyone, and what a great morning it is! I'm currently rocking my home kit, my Arsenal scarf, shorts, socks, and hat for good luck. Also, I did my part last night by sleeping with my Arsenal flags and all the rest of my Arsenal kits, so if we don't play well it is certainly not for lack of effort on my part. This is one of the most exciting days I can remember for Arsenal in some time! Even with our defensive injuries, I feel like the team is playing so well that we have a chance in every single match we play right now. The match is in just about one hour and I've been listening to Good Old Arsenal and Kings of London all morning on repeat. This is what football fans live for, right here. While it's the most important match of our season so far, we most certainly hope that we win this one and have an even MORE important match in the Final a few weeks from now. That's be beauty of it all, winning just to get the chance to win more.

Injury news sees some good news and some bad news. The bad news are the obvious omissions from the squad in Clichy, Gallas, Sagna, Djourou, and Manuel Almunia are all out. That means Lukasz Fabianski (who turns 24 today!) will remain in at goal, while Kolo and Silvestre will probably keep their places in the center of defence, with Eboue at right back. Kieran Gibbs has an 80 percent chance of being fit, so hopefully he'll be able to play, but if he cannot go then Alex Song will drop into a center back role and Silvestre will move out to left back. Not exactly your ideal defensive lineup but like I said yesterday, a little bit of fight and determination can sometimes make up for a perceieved lack of ability.

On a side note, you know what else is great about this year? Those bastards from Liverpool are out of the FA Cup and the Champions League, and I love it. I hate their fans, I hate their team, and I certainly hate that girl playing striker for them and the thug playing in the midfield. So let's all laugh at Liverpool.

So the lineup should look like this:

Fabianski
Eboue-Toure-Silvestre-Gibbs
Song
Walcott-Fabregas-Arshavin
Rvp-Adebayor

I think it'll be close to that if not exactly right, with RvP dropping a little deeper than Ade of course. Walcott was incredible vs Villareal last week (Man I love Theo, you have no idea) and if he can do what he did to Villareal to Chelsea than it's just asking for a few goals for us. Fabianski has looked good in goal, and I really am starting to believe that he'll develop into a quality number 1 once Almunia's time has passed.

I don't really have much else to say besides I am so ready for this match! I hope you all are as ready as I am, and for the Gooners making the trip to Wembley, do us all proud! Sing loud, sing proud! Come on you mighty f'ing Gunners! Stick it to the scum!

What A Month Ahead For Arsenal

Morning all. Post number 301 has been hard to get written. It's been a while, but I can explain. Last Sunday was Easter, so I had Church and then was with the family all day. Monday-Thursday I have class 8-5, and then each night I've had to work the baseball game from 6-10, so that doesn't leave a lot of time for posting! I know you don't really care but I felt the need to explain all of that. So it's on to Arsenal.

Tomorrow is a huge day in our season! We have the FA Cup Semi-Final at Wembley! We haven't won the cup since 2005 against United and so this is a whole new experience for most of the team. Personally I see this as the best chance for Arsenal to win a trophy this season, because we get Arshavin for it and I think Chelsea and United will both want the Champions League more. Of course I would rather us win the Champions League as well, but I just personally think this is our best chance. We've shown that we can beat United as well as Chelsea this year.

Injury news before the match is not especially good defensively. Kieran Gibbs, who has been shaky but decent for his age in the current situation, is a doubt because of a groin injury he suffered against Villareal. Clichy, Djourou, and Gallas are all out still as well. It doesn't leave us many options but I would say the best plan would be like this:

Eboue-Silvestre-Toure-Sagna

The only other option I think is to move Silvestre to left back and drop Song into the center, but I think that would be a waste of Eboue, who actually looked very good at right back against Villareal. We could really use Djourou and Clichy back asap. I don't fancy us going two matches against United with that back four, but sometimes a little grit and determination makes up for a little lack of quality.

Chelsea have been giving up goals left and right in the past week, allowing three at home to Bolton and four at home to Liverpool. The way we have been scoring lately, it makes me think we have a really good chance. They are certainly nothing like the team from a few years ago who nobody could ever score on. This team has cracks in it that we can exploit with players like Theo, Arshy, and Adebayor. Eduardo could also return to the bench, and he's certainly capable of scoring goals.

I'm really just hoping for a good match. I want us to win so badly but really I'm excited just to be back in the position where we can say we're in two semi-finals. It's what makes the rest of the season worth watching, being here at the end. The next month is going to be brutal. We've got Chelsea, United, and Liverpool in the league, along with Chelsea tomorrow, and United in the Champions League. Plus, if we beat Chelsea, we could get United in the final, so we'd be playing them four times this month! So it's going to be absolutely ridiculous the amount of good, important matches we have this month, so I hope you all are as ready for it as I am! Pray that we get healthier instead of getting more injuries, and I think we'll be able to pull through with flying colors! Remember, we have not lost to any of these teams so far this year!

That's about all I've got for today. I'm so excited for tomorrow. And there may be something new and big for this site coming in the next few days, so that is exciting too. Come on you Gunners!