The importance of being Samir - Part 1

Few have had cause to criticise him this season, Samir has set the Premier league alight with his performances for Arsenal.

He's 23 years old and is growing game by game, but what is driving his improvement this season? Is it the indignance of being dropped for the France squad for the World Cup? Only Samir can tell us that - and indeed he has confirmed that the rest has done him good.

Much has been reported about the personality of Samir, his widely reported clashes with Gallas (now taking up squad space at Shite hart lane) have alluded much to his personality but I've seen a different side of him via interviews. It has been reported that he was cocky and arrogant, but in interviews I have seen and read recently he seems quite humble. I know these things are easily manipulated so I'm not putting much faith in either side, but to say that its probably a bit of all of it.

If I was rising to the upper echelons of football, with one of the worlds biggest clubs then it wouldn't surprise me one bit if I got a bit cocky about it. Though I would expect to be shot down and learn a lesson in humility and then move on.

So what is Samir? Whats his best position? I think his best position is one similar to Messi's. A free role to roam and create havoc. He's a good enough team player to work out where he is needed and what is expected from him and he will make it work. I see so many similarities in the running style of Samir and Messi. They both ride tackles very well and can control the ball extremely well at full pace - bamboozling opposition players as they dance around them.

Samir isn't Messi, but he has what it takes to be come the actual real successor to Zidane's crown - a tag that has dogged his career but like any good prophecy, this one might actually come to pass.

I've got a lot more to say about Samir, but this is part 1, so I'll see you in part 2 and I'll edit and link where appropriate when its written.

WG.

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Welcoming Common Root Vegetables to the Grove

I often refer to the Spuds as the above - Common Root Vegetables...I like referring to them as common. It makes me feel marginally superior as a person - just before I then feel extremely superior as a Gooner.

So welcome them we must, as is the Premier League wishes, so lets do that...Lets invite them into our home and tell them how much we hate them...over and over again.

Lets be vocal, lets be vibrant and lets get behind Arsenal. This isn't a must-win, its an absolute season definer for me. We need to beat them and do it well. I still know far too many Spuds not to need another opportunity to take chunks out of their pride.

Looking at the game, its far too early to suggest the squad etc, lets hope noone gets injured tonight! So looking inwards, I can't wait for the weekend. The international lull will be over soon and then its full-on at the weekend.

I do believe we will beat the Spuds, I really do, we have players that are the beating of them all over the pitch. We just need to contain players like Crouch, for all of his height he is good on the floor and we need to make sure we don't underestimate him and concentrate too much on the Bale's and Van Der Vaart's in their squad.

It takes 11 to walk out on a football pitch and we cannot misjudge anyone.

Come on you gooners!

WG

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Bolton dreams, Spud-i-like and bragging about Braga

What a catch up this has been. Firstly, lets hit the results;

Bolton (A) 1:4

Braga (H) 6:0

Sunderland (A) 1:1

Spuds (A) 1:4

Frankly, I'll take those results with a smile, with the exception of Sunderland we have consistently outplayed and outscored our opponents. From what I have seen from the available highlights it appears we're looking very fluid at the moment. Squillaci seems to have fitted in well, as with Koscielny.

Jack Wilshire is back to his effective best, busying himself about creating chances and enjoying himself, its great to see and even if we lost Fab4 to his Barca DNA then I think with Wilshire and Rambo we've got two guys that can step up.

I think Chamakh deserves a mention, he's led the line well for us this season already and he's a very strong asset in the air. Vela also seems to be finishing better, but again I'm relying on highlights here guys.

So, looking forwards to this arvo and West Brom, it should be a walkthrough game this, play it by numbers and the result will follow. I hope the players put down another marker and score heavily again, goal difference is important and its a fear factor too. Noone wants to get done 4-5 to nil, so it will be a physic mind trick to them, I'd always back us to open up a team thats playing defensive this season..I think we have so many options that we can get past their parked buses.

Anyway, I'll end this now and look forward to the West Brom game. Predo, 4:0 to the Arsenal

WG