Welcome to the party Giroud!

Giroud celebrates his first Premier League goal

(telegraph.co.uk)



On Saturday 6 October Oliver Giroud netted his first Barclay's Premier League goal for Arsenal against West Ham. This was a special moment for the french footballer as he has gotten off to a slow start at the club unlike fellow newcomers Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla.

 

 

After Arsenal fell behind to West Ham there was no better way for Giroud to begin his Premier League goal tally than scoring the equalising goal. There have been a lot of communication messages about Giroud's lack of goals. They range from critics asking if he is Premier League material to his old coach at former club Montpelier saying he is welcome back if he continues to struggle at Arsenal.

 

 From a communication perspective this goal from Giroud should take the pressure off Giroud and Arsenal. For Giroud this goal silences the critics and communication messages concerning him are now leaning towards the fact that he has shown that he is capable of scoring. For Arsenal the goal was the pathway to a 3-1 victory against a tough West Ham so communication messages concerning the club are now leaning towards how the club is now showing a higher level of consistency.

 

It is interesting to note that in football how a club and its players perform has a direct and immediate influence on communication messages. This is good because it makes it easier for clubs and players to be able to bolster their images and influence communication messages every time they step on the pitch.





Defeat at The Emirates!

The Emirates Statium

(www.arsenal.com)

 

Yesterday (Saturday 29 September) saw Arsenal fall to their first defeat of the season against Chelsea at The Emirates Stadium. This obviously ended the clubs unbeaten start to the season and now it is time for the team to reflect on a way forward. A train smash? I highly doubt it they were'nt going to go the entire season unbeaten (though they have done that before).

 

 

From a communication perspective it is interesting to note how dynamic and ever changing communication messages in modern football are. Just last week when Arsenal drew 1-1 with defending champions Manchester City some messages leaned towards how defensively solid Arsenal was getting.

 

 

This week after only a 2-1 defeat the content of messages concerning the club includes things such as Arsenal not being defensively solid enough. This is interesting from a communication perspective because it highlights the suble nature by which things have to change for people to go from applauding you to booing you off the pitch.

 

 

The bright side to this defeat however is that it will keep Arsenal grounded and working hard. Arsene Wenger's post match interview

 

 

The goal scorers

 

•  Gervinho scored for Arsenal
• Fernando Torres scored for Chelses
• Mata scored Chelsea's winning goal

Arsenal still unbeaten after 1-1 draw with Manchester City

Still Unbeaten: Arsenal players celebrate after Koscielny's goal 

Arsenal's Laurent Koscielny, centre right, celebrates scoring the equaliser against Manchester City
(www.gaurdian.co.uk)

From a communication perspective Arsenal's draw against Manchester City proves that some of the communication messages from manager Arsene Wenger are indeed true. Arsenal are getting better and there seems to be a great deal of improvement.

This clash has also stirred up other communication messages concerning the club. Manchester City coach Roberto Mancini has stated in an interview on ESPN that he believes that the club has improved from the level they were at last season.

The Manchester City coach also said: Arsenal can compete for the title this season. They are better than last season even if they lost some good players. Maybe, because of that there is less pressure on them this season. They lost Van Persie and song but the players they brought in have experience and quality. (Bleacher Report)                                                                               

                                                         City Coach Roberto Mancini

Mancini believes Arsenal are title contenders yet again
(www.topnews.in)

                                                      

It is quite interesting to note the communication messages surrounding Arsenal at this stage of the season. They go from some saying the club are finally genuine title contenders again to others saying Arsenal always starts of well but crumbles towards the climax of the season. It will be interesting to see how things develop as the season progresses and what messages concerning the club will be going around.

Arsenal 6-1 Southampton

Arsenal's new front man Lukas Podolski

Podolski celebrates after scoring a free kick (bbc.co.uk)

As has become the norm on this blog we will look at the events surrounding Arsenal from a communication perspective. This afternoon (Saturday 15 September) saw the team run riot against Southampton and come away with a 6-1 victory.

The only sour note for Arsene Wenger was a mistake from Wojciech Szczesny, which ruined their perfect defencive record this season (Mirror.co.uk). The goal conceded aside though this was a game that has started to reinforce the teams constant communication messages that things will get better.

After the clubs 0-0 draw to Sunderland at the beginning of the season communication about the club has centred around the lack of goals without Van Persie. With some going as far as saying the club is incapable of scoring without their former captain (Soccer Room). Fast forward to the clubs fourth game of the season and the teams dreary start is looking more and more like a blistering one. The club has only conceded one goal this season, is undefeated and scored six goals in their latest victory.

The goal scorers against Southampton

• Lukas Podolski scored from a free kick.
• Theo Wallcott stuck home late in the game against his old team.
• Gervinho received a standing ovation from the Arsenal fans after he scored twice.
• The constant pressure from Arsenal forced Sothampton into conceding two own goals.

Two goal hero: Gervinho

Gervinho received a standing ovation after his brace (thesun.co.uk)

Now it is almost certain that communication messages surrounding the club will start to lean towards Arsenal's ability to replicate this weeks performance next week. It will be somewhat harder seeing that their opponents will be the reigning league champions Manchester City.

The new Arsenal

(football-bbc.blogspot.com)

The departure of several high profile players within the space of a few seasons has left Arsenal looking like a completely different team. The pros and cons of players such as the "out of favour" Chamak and the departure of Song and Van Persie will be seen as the season progresses. From a communication perspective though this means that Arsenal now have to communicate what the way forward with this "new" team will be.

Judging by what the manager Arsene Wenger has said, It seems as though the way forward is to change the team even further if the need arises.

• “Some things can still happen,” Wenger told the  clubs official website
• “We are working [in the market]. We’ll see what we can do. MSN Sport

Players that have been linked to the club

• Nuri Sahin                                                                    Real Madrid's Nuri Sahin

  

  Sahin is a potential Arsenal star if his loan comes with the option to buy
  Image: mirror.co.uk
  
  
• Yann M’Vila
• Jesus Navas

Real Madrids Nuri Sahin will come to Arsenal on loan from the Spanish giants. Whether or not his contract comes with the option to buy is a matter neither Real Madrid or Arsenal have communicated yet.

This means that the communication messages of the two clubs will be watched closely as people wait for the news of whether Arsenal will add yet another bullet to The Gunners rifle.

And now...Let the games begin!

(efastclick.com)

Arsenal's biggest pre-season saga yet has come to a conclusion (Van Persie is gone). The fans demands of quality signings have been met (Giroud, Cazorla and Podilski are now Arsenal players). All communication messages from the club tell a unified story (Arsenal wants to put up a genuine challenge for the league).

So now it is time to see if all the possitive messages coming from the club will indeed translate into silverware. Arsene wenger has said that he has faith in the squad that Arsenal has.

   "Szczesny will be another year wiser and more experienced in goal while the long-awaited returns of Jack Wilshere and Abou Diaby would, with Mikel Arteta, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Tomas Rosicky, Francis Coquelin and Aaron Ramsey, add up to a central midfield of many varied options." (Telegraph)

As far as communication goes things are reletively calm after the pre-season feeding frenzy. One could say that this is the calm before the storm as Arsenal heads to their first league encounter against Sunderland.

The true impact of the departure of RVP, the arrival of Cazrola, Giroud and Podolsi and the inevitable return of Willshere will be seen mid-way through the season. Arsenal will either be the laughing stock as pundits continue to say their glory days are something of the past or The Invinsibles will rise again.

The Gunners

(pixelpinch.com)

The Gunners new ammunition



(wallpaperpassion.com)

From a communication point of view Arsenal football club has mainly been a one topic team lately. Much of the communication about the club has been about the future of Robyn Van Persie. However there have been other important topics that have been discussed such as the clubs new signings. Although this topic has been discussed one could say that due to the "RVP issue" it has recieved less attention than it normaly would have.

Arsenal has made three important signings during the last transfer window. The clubs new aquisitions are Cazorla, Giroud and of course Podolski. More world class players is what Arsenal fans have been demanding and for once they recieved exactly what they requested.

“I find the situation very exciting.” Wenger said. “I was very, very worried last year for a long part of the season and very anxious for a long time because we faced such a tough competition" (www.justarsenal.com).

Now however it seems that the manager has no reason to worry beacause reinforcements are here. Also important to note is that these players are exited to be coming to Arsenal and want to help the club do well. This is evident because Cazorla for example has signed a long term contract showing his commitement to the club. It is this commitment that has been lacking from key Arsenal players in recent times, so the manager has good reason to be exited. It seems as though The Gunners have reloaded and are ready to take another shot at the English Premier League!


   Introducing Santi Cazorla                  Welcome Oliver Giroud

(www.telegraph.co.uk)

(www.sportinglife.com)

Lukas Podolski is a Gunner!



(www.sabotagetimes.com)



Arsenal can afford to lose Van Persie

The captain is set to leave the ship

(Arsenal top man Van Persie: www.toptennaija.blogspot.com)

It is almost as if Arsenal has been running around in circles when it comes to Robyn Van Persie. Speculation over his future has been going on for some time now. However now that the Dutch international seems almost certain to leave the club sooner or later an important question arises. Can Arsenal afford to loose him?

The answer is a simple yes. From a communication perspective, Arsene Wenger stated in an interview on the clubs official website that he will "do what is best for the club". It is clear from this statement that Arsene Wenger knows that tough decisions will have to be made.

                                                                                       Arsenal has survived this before

(Former Arsenal stars Fabregas -left- and Nasri: medestiny.wordpress.com)

Van Persie is not the only high profile player to leave the club. Players like Henry, Fabregas and Nasri have left the club leaving people counting it out. The club however stayed a top level team, there will always be a new star waiting in the wings. Even Van Persie rose to prominence by filling the gap left by Henry.

Arsenal should look to the future and focus on the talented young players it has at its disposal. All the back and forth banter over one players future sends the message that perhaps he is more valued than the bulk of the squad. This should not be the case, football is after all a team sport.

Thank you Pat Rice (He retires when he wants)



The two pillars of strength behind Arsenal

Pat Rice (left) and Arsene Wenger, the dynamic duo
(todaysfootballnews.com)



As the popular saying goes, all good things come to an end, and so the career of Arsenal legend Pat Rice has finally come to an end. Rest assured though, after spending 42 years at the club Pat will always be a Gunner. He went from lifting the F.A Cup as the Captain of Arsenal to working at the club as one of the best assistant coaches in the modern game.

A true Arsenal man through and through

Pat Rice, from player and captain(left) to inspirational
assistant coach(right). Image:(7amkickoff.com)

So as with the departure of anyone in football the inevitable question is asked, who will be the replacement? It seems as though with the season drawing to a close things with Arsenal only get more and more interesting from a communication perspective. Let's look at all the messages communicated concerning the club at the moment. There is the issue of winning our last two games in order to finish third and the manager saying he is counting on our PFA Player of the year and Captain Robin Van Persie to drag us over the line.

  

 
                                              Drag us over the line Robin

Robin Van Persie celebrates after another goal for Arsenal
(oleole.com)

  New blood pumped into Arsenal

New signing Lukas Podolski greets
fans as the newest Arsenal player
(rstreem.com)

Then there is the signing of Lukas Podolski and how this will contribute to giving the Gunners more arsenal up front. There are also still many questions about who else we might be after in our quest to challenge for the league. Then of course there is the big issue of Robin's future, will he renew his contract or not? The manager has also said that although finishing third wont guarantee that Robin stays it will help because a player of his calibre at his age has to be playing at the top level (ArseBlog).





It is evident that there is a lot going on and if anything all these communication messages surrounding Arsenal at the moment indicate that this is a club on the brink of a new era. So much is changing, new assistant coach, new players yet so much is staying the same, the clubs determination to do well and do things "The Arsenal way". It will certainly be interesting to see the developments in the weeks to come, for one last time though thank you Pat Rice!

We are Arsenal

(pvblivs.deviantart.com)



Introducing the PFA player of the year!

Recognised as the best player by his fellow professionals

Robin Van Persie holding his award after he was named the PFA player of the year.
(Photo: PA)

The top individual honour in
the EPL (napit.co.uk)

Football from a communication angle is a very tricky thing, there are many different messages that tend to be thrown around. Messages from the owners of clubs, the managers of clubs, the media and even players themselves. Well thankfully this time the message is quite clear, Robyn Van Persie is the PFA player of the year! After scoring 27 goals this season (so far as with two games to go there could be more) the Arsenal skipper has helped Arsenal turn their season around after a disastrous start. If we take into account messages from the media for example that Arsenal was a "one Van" team and would crumble then what the club has achieved is commendable. The man to thank for that turn around is captain Vantastic himself, although the 28 year old was quick to add that he could not have done it without the help of his team mates.

"Without them I could not have achieved it," he said. "For example, Theo Walcott, he has given me more than 12 assists and I do really appreciate that." "TheGuardian"

From a communication perspective this award says that Arsenal do have a world class player who can score goals. On top of that the recent confirmation of the signing of Lucas Podolski can be seen as Arsenal sending out a message of intent. The clubs mananger and players are all insisting that Arsenal's teething problems are finaly at an end and that it is now time for The Gunners to return to their glory days.

For now though, well done Robin, you truly deserve this award and may the goals just keep on coming for you and Arsenal in the season to come.

and for those of you that missed it here is the moment

Robin was crowned PFA player of the year!

Arsenal VS Chelsea



As usual we take a look at the communication messages in football that concern Arsenal, the buzz this time is all about the clash between Arsenal and Chelsea. Usualy the second clash between these two teams would come at a time when Chelsea would need the three points as they would be chasing the league title. However this season Chelsea need the three points to move closer to a Champions league qualification spot.

Some people think that Chelsea will have their second leg Champions league clash with Barcelona in the back of their minds and will hold back. Others such as Chelsea midfielder Ramires believe that Chelsea will want to win as they still wish to do well in the league. Ramires reffering to Arsenals 5-3 victory over Chelsea earlier in the season said; "I wouldn't say we owe Arsenal, but we must play to win" (GiveMeFootball).

From what Chelsea have told us on their official website (chelseafc.com) they will be without Didier Drogba and so Torres is likely to feature and he has been showing a steady increase in form. Arsenal will of course be without the likes of Arteta and Jack Willshere but that is something many fans know about as Arsenal has communicated about the sutation previously.

From a communication point of view it will be interesting to see what not only the clubs but what other people also have to say after this encounter. Most pre-match communication indicates that despite the result in the first half of the season Chelsea are seen as favourites to win. This could be due to the dominance that Chelsea have shown over Arsenal in recent seasons. However others say that the dominance was due in large part to Didier Drogba who of course will be absent from this encounter. All we can do now is wait for the game any predictions?

UEFA's Double Standards

Is UEFA really saying NO to racism?  

(euronews.com)



                                                                                           Man City complain about racist conduct

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Im sure by now the story of Mario Balloteli being racialy abused by Porto fans is not new to anyone. Now whatever Mario's shortcomings racism is something that should be discouraged anywhere in society, not just in football. It is shocking to hear that all Porto recived was a smack on the the wrist with a mere 20 000 Euro fine. UEFA always communicates the message that racism is something that they do not tolerate and engages in many various campagns to reinforce this message. Howerver taking what has happened with Porto as our latest peace of evidence we can see that what UEFA say and what they do are two VERY differnt things. On an issue that UEFA is meant to have zero tolerance about they fine a club about half a weeks worth of wages of one of its players. Has Porto or its fans learned anything from this? SURE, they have learned that they can behave in a dispicable manner and get away with it.

  Another fine and touchline ban for Arsene!?

guardian.co.uk

The story however doesnt end here, Porto get a smack on the wrist for racism but flip the coin to Arsenal's side and it is clear that using double standards is how UEFA plan to operate. I was supprised when I read Arseblog to find out that the same governing body that dishes out a mere 20 000 Euro fine for racist conduct dishes out a 40 000 Euro fine for disagreeing with a referee. This is what Arsene Wenger got and he even recieved a three game touchline ban to boot! So what UEFA is saying here is that in football the fans of clubs can be racist, but if a club and its mananger dare to have an oppinion then that is just not tolerated. The results of having an oppinion and communicating it should be so severe that clubs or manangers dare not question often very questionable conduct from UEFA and match officials etc.

Well it certainly seems like UEFA has their priorities in the right place (sacasm) restricting any negative communication towards them but allowing for something as unruly as racist conduct to constantly permeate football. The irony, oh the irony! Not long ago Chelsea captain John Terry was too accused of racist condut but I suppose according to UEFA standards its ok as the message he communicated was "hey i'm racist" and not "sorry UEFA I don't agree with one of your match officials."

Arsenal VS QPR

forum.iahgames.com

 On Sunday 26 February 2012 Arsenal went into their North London Derby aginst Tottenham Hotspurs as the clear underdogs. The club was low on morale and the critics were having a field day ahead of this encounter. All the talk was about how the balance of power had shifted from Arsenal to their rivals and how Arsenal were surely going to loose this game in dramatic fashion to the in form Tottenham. Arsenal remained relatively silent on the matter during the build up to the game. However as Arsenal fans would love to remember and as Tottenham fans would love to forget Arsenal had beaten them 5-2 by the end of the day.

  Arsene is currently all smiles

theworldbiography.blogspot.com

Now the club could afford to talk and communicate its ambitions and so it did, Arsene Wenger spoke about the clubs ambitions to finish in 3rd place above Tottenham. "It is still possible, so why not?" he told reporters. "It's all down to consistency and we have been very consistent in the Premier League over the last few months." Reuters 

Since then the club has gone through a mini renaissance and is currently on a seven match winning streak, the critics cant believe it. The very same club they were writing off as a shadow of its former self a few weeks ago is now winning game after game. They are also currently in third place a spot the critics (in all of their awe inspiring wisdom) said the club would not reach.

                                                                                        Ferdinand is ready to upset Arsenal

Ferdinand ready for Arsenal (belfasttelegraph.co.uk)

However all of that aside Arsenal plays QPR tomorrow and have a chance of taking their winning streak to 8 games. It will not be an easy game though as QPR is facing relegation and relegation threatened teams tend to be dangerous when you least expect them to be. QPR player Anton Ferdinand said: "I have never walked onto a pitch thinking we are going to lose in my entire career and it won't start now." Football411.com 

Well things are relatively quiet at the moment but im sure that we will hear more from Arsenal just before and after the game tomorrow. So all we can do now is wait in anticipation for the flurry of pre and post match communication that tomorrow will bring