Arsenal Man Utd preview

Within an hour of kickoff I’ve a feeling that today’s game might just set the tone for the rest of Arsenal’s season. Based on the injuries, suspensions and ‘maybes’ Man Utd are surely licking their lips at facing us in such a weakened state. That said I didn’t see much in the match at Celtic that should make Arsene be in panic mode. Although it’s our defense we are talking about.

I’m especially pissed off with the red card/subsequent suspension of Van Persie in the match at Stoke. He surely knew a red was likely with that challenge, frustration is one thing but I thought RVP had put those days behind him where he thinks only of the moment and not the team. Van Persie has quietly become one of the longest serving players in the squad – knowing Man U were on the horizon it was a doubly horrible decision by the Dutchman. He needs to act like a senior pro.

So what is Wenger to do today? Man U games have brought out the best and worst in our lads over the years including some vital wins and one sided defeats. Does Wenger set out for the draw today, it would not be a terrible result and would be a bigger mental stumble for the Mancs than us. I’m somewhat glad we are playing Man U today and not a Fulham, I somehow feel we are more likely to raise our game against a big team. Much has been said about us starting poorly despite not playing a top six side, I feel the converse is true in that no top six team has picked up any points at our expense. Today is vital in more ways than one in that case.

So what to do….

GK – I feel Fabianski needs a chance but is this too big a match?  Was Almunia hurt midweek? I’m saying he was and expect the Spaniard/England prospect (hah) to get the nod

Defense – We’ve had issues – and it needs to be addressed but for now it’s deal with the hand we have. Player of the season (so far) Clichy will line up with I assume the dancing Sylverstre and Djourou (I hope) with Sagna hobbling in at right back(or Toure). I think now is the time for the big  Swiss defender who looked comfortable midweek; at this point I’d love to see him earn his place. I’m fed up with Gallas….just completely had enough. He can’t jump, he can’t lead, and is slower than in the past. Yes he scores goals, but don’t we have 6 or 7 other lads on the pitch for that? With our proud history of fighting central defenders – Gallas is neither a captain nor an heir to that history. Personally I would never had let Senderos get away, when coupled with Toure (for Toure’s pace) the aggressive nature of Senderos attacking the ball and yes heading the ball made for a good pairing.

MF – I think Wenger will play 5 in the middle and look for Vela/Nasri to play behind a lone striker. I think Vela should play alone up front, but he won’t. That gives us a middle five of

Nasri Vela Fabregas Denilson Walcott (if fit)

I’d sooner Ramsey gets the nod over Denilson….this could have been his big break through moment.

Attack – It leaves Bendtner on his own up top, which does not match his ability at all. Perhaps he can nod balls down for the foraging midfielders?

Lot’s of variables today, but I think we have to attack to have a chance – we will concede a goal. I’d expect a 2-2 draw, but stranger things have happened. Man U have the horses to score 3 or 4 today, if it starts with a few early goals then I could see a 4-3,3-4,2-5 type of match. Red Card alert…one – perhaps two.

Watch it be nil-nil.

Okay gooners….keep the faith.

Stop giving Socialism a bad name

Is it just me or are the media more dumbed down than ever before? The campaign has been frankly spin and dodge for the last six weeks, the G7 are in a tailspin and we are obsessed with redistribution of wealth all of a sudden?

The free market system is underpinned on redistribution of wealth. You pay for schools you may never use, roads you might not drive on and certainly on wars you may not support. It’s all complicit with being part of a modern Western ‘democracy’. Based on the nonsensical views being vented by the GOP at present you’d imagine that before this election we voted where every dollar was spent and that a flat tax rate existed.

Socialism – hardly – but government supported Airlines, Railroads, Schools and Prisons already exist. Yet for some reason socialized medicine is still taboo. (too much profit for the middle man?)

Socialism is so much more than a throwaway sentence – I wish the media would stop pretending this election is the far left against the far right – as the debates proved beyond doubt, you still couldn’t park a hybrid sub-compact between the two parties. We have moderate and mildly right wing.

Socialism is still a generation away – I hope when it is for sale it will be identified correctly.

Please vote next week – for congress and the senate – that’s where change will happen.

Thanks Joe

A belated acknowledgment to 22 December, the five year anniversary of a tremendous loss. The poet, artist, statesman, deity; Joe Strummer, gone entirely too soon.

His ideals are still omnipresent, providing never-ending lessons and still-relevant  allegories:

‘ In the end all bands influence each other and there are only 12 notes, so there’s is only so much that can be done. But I think that there is definitely still a place for the whole punk, thrash thing. Largely because of two main elements – it’s fun and it’s noisy and let’s face it even vicars must have times when they want to turn the music up.’

(thanks T)

If we can learn anything, it should be that many genres and artists can be connected, broadcasting the same message, albeit in different applications. Me personally, I’ve gone back to such pre-Clash staples as The Who, Bob Dylan and Neil Young. The message is all the same: isolation, fear, celebration, change, acceptance/refusal of change, social consciousness…the gamut.

Essentially, do not fall victim to voluntary pigeonholing. Embrace those artists and themes you feel you may have outgrown or disassociated from for sake of social acceptance. As long as the music isn’t shit, and has a cogent message, reacquaint yourself away!

BA

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