August 2013 Results and Performance
August 2013 saw the kicking off the eagerly awaited Barclays Premier League, as well as the UEFA Champions League Play-Offs. It may only be half the month played due to pre-season action, but teams will still have plenty of games, and will want to get off to the perfect start!
Match Results:
Sunderland 1-3 Arsenal
Saturday 17th August 2013 | The Stadium of Light | Att. 41,241 | C. Pawson
Line-up: Szczesny, Shaw, Koscielny, Nastastic, Carvajal, Arteta, Wilshere, Cazorla, Ramsey, Ozil, Giroud
Subs: None used
Aaron Ramsey secured the first three points of the campaign for Arsenal with a respectable 3-1 victory over Sunderland. Frenchman Olivier Giroud got the Gunners off the mark with a pin-point effort beating Keiran Westwood after 19 minutes.
Santi Cazorla soon doubled the lead with just minutes remaining of the first half, his cross floating above the defender and magnificently curling into the top corner, giving the away side an extra boost going into the half time break.
Adam Johnson gave his side a glitter of home with 15 minutes remaining, tapping in an easy effort from 6 yards following a dashing run from Jack Colback. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough as Aaron Ramsey found the net just one minute later, a long strike blasting past Westwood to give Arsenal all three points.
Arsenal Goals: Olivier Giroud (19), Santi Cazorla (41), Aaron Ramsey (76)
Sunderland Goals: Adam Johnson (75)
Man of the Match: Santi Cazorla (ARS) 8.3
Arsenal 3-0 Liverpool
Saturday 24th August 2013 | Emirates Stadium | Att. 60,338 | M. Jones
Line-up: Szczesny, Shaw, Koscielny, Nastastic, Carvajal, Arteta, Garcia, Wilshere, Cazorla, Ozil, Giroud
Subs: None used
Arsenal had their midfield to thank on a mild summer's afternoon at Emirates Stadium as they showed their strikers how to finish.
Tenacious midfielder Javi Garcia gave Arsenal the lead with a close range header in the 29th minute. Cultured winger Santi Cazorla doubled Arsenal's lead with a thumping effort from range which beat the keeper before going in off the post on 50 minutes.
World class winger Mesut Ozil completed the rout with a placed shot on 80 minutes.
Arsenal Goals: Javi Garcia (29), Santi Cazorla (50), Mesut Ozil (80)
Liverpool Goals: None
Man of the Match: Santi Cazorla (ARS) 9.1
Aston Villa 2-2 Arsenal
Saturday 31st August 2013 | Villa Park | Att. 35, 772 | N. Swarbrick
Line-up: Szczesny, Davies, Koscielny, Nastastic, Carvajal, Arteta, Garcia, Wilshere, Cazorla, Ozil, Giroud
Subs: Ramsey
Arsenal once again had their midfield to thank, grabbing the goals to retain a point away from home.
Strong centre-back Jores Okore gave Aston Villa the lead with a powerful effort in the 24th minute. Experienced midfielder Mikel Arteta then equalised for Arsenal in the 27th minute with a nice effort from 17 metres.
Santi Cazorla then put Arsenal in front after 62 minutes with a free kick from 23 metres. Aston Villa were nearly gifted a goal on 78 through Cazorla's lapse in concentration but they failed to capitalise on the opportunity presented.
Nevertheless, with time rapidly running out, midfielder Chris Herd then scored a thumping effort from range to equalise fro Aston Villa. Better late than never for Aston Villa as the fans were clearly delighted with Herd's impact.
Arsenal Goals: Mikel Arteta (27), Santi Cazorla (62)
Villa Goals: Jores Okore (24), Chris Herd (86)
Man of the Match: Santi Cazorla (ARS) 8.7
Arsenal 2-2 P. Ferreira
Wednesday 21st August 2013 | Emirates Stadium | Att. 60,338 | F. Meyer
UEFA Champions League Best Placed Play-Off First Leg
Line-up: Viviano, Davies, Koscielny, Nastastic, Carvajal, Garcia, Flamini, Januzaj, Bellerin, Ramsey, Bendtner
Subs: Shaw, Giroud
P. Ferreira managed to take a shock draw away from home against a youthful Arsenal side on a breezy evening at Emirates Stadium.
Striker Nicklas Bendtner got Arsenal off to a flyer by scoring a real poacher's effort from 21 metres on 2 minutes. Midfielder Daniel Veiga then equalised for P. Ferreira in the 4th minute with an accurate finish.
An error from Arsenal's Emiliano Viviano allowed midfielder Hugo Barbosa to score a tame effort from close to goal. It was a superb solo effort and Barbosa looked delighted. Young winger Hector Bellerin, playing in his first team debut, equalised for Arsenal after 84 minutes with a placed shot.
Arsenal Goals: Nicklas Bendtner (2), Hector Bellerin (84)
Ferreira Goals: Daniel Veiga (4), Hugo Barbosa (18)
Man of the Match: Hugo Barbosa (FER) 8.5
P. Ferreira 0-2 Arsenal
Tuesday 27th August 2013 | Estadio de Figueiredo | Att. 15,000 | C. Balaj
UEFA Champions League Best Placed Play-Off Second Leg
Line-up: Szczesny, Shaw, Nastastic, Koscielny, Carvajal, Wilshere, Ramsey, Cazorla, Januzaj, Ozil, Lacazette
Subs: Bendtner
Arsenal followed up their first leg draw against P. Ferreira with a second leg victory at Estadio Abel Alves de Figueiredo on Tuesday which secured a 4-2 aggregate victory.
An error from P.Ferreira's Jacinto Monteiro allowed striker Alexandre Lacaeztte to score a deftly executed finish. Lacazette completed the scoring for Arsenal with a placed shot from close range on 42 minutes.
Goalscorer Lacazette was replaced by Nicklas Bendtner due to injury, which has seen been confirmed as a small knock that won't keep the Frenchman out for any longer.
Arsenal Goals: Alexandre Lacazette (28, 42)
Ferreira Goals: None
Man of the Match: Alexandre Lacazette (ARS) 8.7
Monthly Review:
Not a bad month at all. Three wins and two draws mean we are still undefeated this season, but if performances continue like this, picking up draws against both Aston Villa and P. Ferreira, I can't see it lasting long. Nevertheless, the dominating victory over Liverpool was a great one, showing the squad do have what it takes to do all the way after so long. Despite the first leg draw in the Champions League Play-off, progressing was enough to please myself and fans, so onwards and upwards we go in the Champions League!
League Table:
Due to the season having only just started, judging our league position can be hard. Despite sitting in second, I feel we will drop following the draw against Aston Villa, with other teams still only having played 2 games. With the potential to drop down to 6th, we can't judge our performances much yet, needing the season to develop more.
UEFA Champions League Draw:
We've certainly stumbled across a top group! Juventus will be a tough side to play, but I feel it could be two great games, where three points would be enough to satisfy me. Schalke are the next strongest, who can also put up a fight, where I would be happy to take four points across two games. FC Kobenhavn are certainly the weak link of the group, where I will accept no less than six points, as neither will the other two, it would should be a great group!
Player of the Month:
Santi Cazorla
Santi Cazorla has been phenomenal this month. Picking up the Man of the Match awards on three occasions
(Sunderland, Aston Villa, Liverpool) after four games played, the Spaniard has already shown his threat in front of goal, especially in the league. After 3 league games, Cazorla has also scored three, and assisting a further three, making him the only contender this month, with a league average rating of 8.70 and an overall average rating of 8.23.
Barclays Premier League Awards:
Santi Cazorla has also scooped the Barclays Premier League Player of the Month Award. Due to his fine performances and a 100% goals to game ratio, the 28 year old beat Everton's Darron Gibson and Fulham's Askhan Dejagah to the award, having been in scintillating form.
Elsewhere This Month:
What other big news has been around these last few weeks, and was shocked the footballing world?
- Nathan Dyer helped Swansea sink Liverpool 1-0 in the Barclays Premier League.
- Arda Turan gained a 100% goals to game ratio as a Manchester United regular.
- The Champions League saw Real Madrid, Leverkusen, Shakthar and Napoli drawn together.
- The draw also saw Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund drawn together.
- Werder Bremen sit in the Relegation Zone in Germany following 4 games.
- Atletico Madrid sit bottom in the La Liga having lost their first two games.
Under-18 Transfer News:
Arsenal FC Under-18 manager Steve Gatting has announced the arrival of three new youngsters. Ruairi Croskery, Roman Macek and Jose Angel Pozo all join from Manchester United, Juventus and Manchester City respectively. The club have welcomed all signings to the club and wish them the best for the future.