The Full English: Arsenal and Liverpool battle to determine less useless club at season’s early stage

Traditional members of the ‘big four’ off to equally slow starts in 2011/12. 

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Week one is officially in the books, and just like that, week two is here to slake our thirst for more physical, up-and-down English footy action. Joy!

With today’s edition of “The Full English,” and every edition going forward, I’ll spend a bit of time discussing the comings and goings of the prior week and then include three slightly shorter previews of select matches at the weekend. A bit more free-wielding this way. Can certainly cover more and will also be able to add my usual amount of cheesy jokes.

Everybody wins.

So looking back to the season’s first set of matches, I think the obvious starting point is the mind-blowing performance of Arsenal against Newcastle. Now I know it’s been a rough summer for the Gunners. No real marquee signings and a couple of massive exits has left the club needing, at almost every part of the pitch. There is money available so hopefully you tortured North London lovers will have a new shirt to buy soon.
Against Newcastle, without its three midfield stars, the Gunners looked flat, disinterested and pretty, well, ordinary. The spark has gone from a team that at times last season and years prior would lull clubs to sleep with its intricate passing and fluid movement. Against the Magpies it just wasn’t there. Theo Walcott played well, as did Robin Van Persie and Mr. Naughty Gervinho...but will it be enough?

The lack of a game-changing presence on the pitch cannot be overlooked and needs to be addressed in the coming weeks. Speaking of, Liverpool has done its best over the last seven months to add those types of players to its team. Luis Suarez, Andy Carroll, Jordan Henderson, Charlie Adam, Stewart Downing all have jobs to do. In week one, they didn’t.



With the exception of Suarez, who missed a penalty and quickly made up for it with a nice goal, the Liverpool new boys were largely disappointing. Now, I’m quick to judge here, and that’s because it’s in my nature, but it is fair to assume that things will improve for the club with time. Of all the sports out there, footy is the one that when adding a bunch of new pieces to your team, you need time to adjust.

I liked some of what Downing was able to do but for the most part, the Reds couldn’t put it all together and were really outplayed in the second half against a Sunderland team that they should have beaten. Should have when you consider the lofty aspirations the club has for this season.

When Arsenal and Liverpool meet, as I’ll discuss shortly, and as the title suggests, it’ll really be about who will be less bad. Should be good though as neither can afford to start the year two matches without a win.

To that end, week one saw 10 matches on the card (get it, 20 teams, 10 matches?!). Five of them ended in draws. Six if you count the Spurs-Everton postponement. Not exactly the most exciting of opening weekends. It’s ok though, just warming up. Plus, the last match of the set was probably the best as Manchester City slowly broke down a resilient Swansea side en route to a 4-0 win.

It was pretty ordinary until the 60th minute when new City signing Sergio Aguero came into the match and basically took it over. What a player he’s going to be for that club. I wrote before that the brass at Eastlands should try and keep both him and Tevez. Now I’m not so sure. Not only won’t they need both, especially if Dzeko can start scoring, but I don’t think they both fit together on the field, compatriots or otherwise. Plus, it actually seems like Aguero want$ to b£ ther€. Always a good thing...though let’s give it a few months.



Moving on to what we have ahead this week, first up will be the Gunners-Reds tilt at the Emirates, which will almost certainly debut the new Liverpool third kit, which happens to be blue and white. Quaint. They could go with the black though, I suppose. After that, Bolton-Manchester City should be a high-scoring affair if week one is anything to go by. Finally, Manchester United-Spurs. Not too shabby. Bring on that bacon.

The Bacon (as in Bringing It Home)

Arsenal vs. Liverpool (The Emirates Stadium, August 20th, 7:45 a.m. ET, ESPN2, ESPN3.com)

As I mentioned a bit at the top of the column, this one really a must win for both sides...even at week two. For Arsenal, starting the year without a win after two matches would be really tough for it to dig out of, considering the depleted nature of the squad. Obviously 36 more to go after this one, but points at this stage of the year are extremely valuable.

The Gunners love to attack down the wing with their pacey wingers and that’ll be no different on Saturday. With Liverpool recently introducing Jose Enrique to the squad and young John Flanagan on the other flank, one could argue that could be an area to exploit.

For Liverpool, it’s pretty obvious what it needs to do. Pump the ball into the box. Use Andy Carroll often. Pressurize that shaky Arsenal defense. They looked decent against Newcastle, but weren’t really tested too much. That’ll change this week.

TFE Prediction: All signs point to a pretty boring 1-1 affair, but in an effort to keep things interesting, I think Liverpool will take it 2-1 on the road.

Bolton vs. Manchester City (Reebok Stadium, August 21st, 11:00 a.m. ET, Fox Soccer)

Both of these sides won their opening fixtures by a gaudy 4-0 scoreline. They both may have been playing newly-promoted sides, but hey, who cares? Early crispness in front of goal is always a good thing in this league, and both teams looked pretty tidy in that area to start out.

Manchester City is no Queens Park Rangers however, and if Bolton manages to score four goals in this match, I’ll eat my hat. And your hat. Owen Coyle’s men will certainly be tested at the back as well and with Gary Cahill’s future up in the air, distractions could be there.



The big distraction though will come in the form of Mr. Kun Aguero, who after his brilliant half an hour against Swansea basically has to start. He just has to. Sitting in all the right spaces and completely willing to shoot in space, he’ll be a threat to a Bolton team that certainly hasn’t seen a player of his caliber this year.

TFE Prediction: Hard to not like City in this one. I’m thinking by a 3-1 score.

Manchester United vs. Tottenham Hotspur (Old Trafford, August 22nd, 3:00 p.m. ET, ESPN2, ESPN3.com)
Arguably the most glamorous of the matches on tap this weekend, Manchester will look to continue its winning ways against a Spurs bunch who had a little extra R&R last week given the unfortunate events in their part of town.

Having fresh legs is always a good thing, but you have to wonder if Harry Redknapp’s boys will be in week one form. For most of the league, week one form was sluggish and boring. Not exactly the way you want to go into a match with the defending champions.

I’m really interested to see how the Spurs midfield plays together. With Luka Modric complaining his way out of the club, you have to wonder if the disharmony created by the most harmonious player on the pitch will cause a little friction in the side. Also, who is going to score the goals? Apparently (according to ‘Ol Harry) Jermain Defoe is set for 30 this year. I’ll put a quid on it, sure.

Luckily for them, United’s defense is hurting more than Jose Mourinho’s professional image right now. The big boys in the middle are out, as are Rafael and Patrice Evra. In other words, the first choice back line. Esto no es bueno. Ready for this…

TFE Prediction: Spurs win. 2-1. Yes, you read that right, haters.

And Finally...The Black Pudding of the Week

Ronadlinho, The Beach/Club: Most of you know by now, I have a special place in my heart for those happy-go-lucky, would-rather-party-than-practice, goofy-haired Brazilian superstars. Ronaldinho certainly fits the bill. And guess what? The boy is back! That’s right, after almost a year out of the Selecao squad, the enigmatic midfielder has been picked to don that famous yellow shirt once more. It goes without saying that I’m pretty excited about this news, despite the match he’ll be playing in is against Ghana...at Craven Cottage. Anyway, all we need now is for the real Ronaldo to come back and Roberto Carlos for good measure. One can dream...