Brighton 2 – 3 Arsenal
Match Report | Highlights | Arsene’s reaction
Arsenal progressed to the fifth round of the FA Cup after an entertaining tie with Brighton, who can consider themselves a little unfortunate not to have earned themselves the payday of a replay of the Emirates.
The back and forth nature of the game was demonstrated as early as the 15th minute. Wojciech Szczesny made a superb save at one end to prevent Brighton taking the lead, yet within seconds it was Arsenal who were in front. A swift counter-attack looked to have petered out when Lukas Podolski dribbled in to the midst of several defenders, but the German managed to lay the ball off to the waiting Giroud, who bent an expert finish in to the top corner from the edge of the box.
Parity was restored, unsurprisingly, from a set piece. Our dreadful zonal marking system allowed Ashley Barnes a free run at Wojciech Szczesny. As inevitably happens in such a situation, the man with the run up won the leap for the ball, and the net bulged. 1-1.
After half-time it was Giroud again who put us in front. Abou Diaby lifted a beautiful pass over the top of the centre-backs; Giroud latched on to it, held off his man, and used an outstretched left leg to thump the ball high in to the goal. It was a really fantastic finish, showcasing the best of Giroud: the movement, the determination and the power.
It only took Brighton five minutes to strike back, and it won’t surprise anyone to know it came from a cross. It also came down our left-flank, where Andre Santos was ambling around with a palpable lack of confidence, desire and positional sense.
The cavalry were called for, and with twenty minutes to go Arsene introduced Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott. The latter proved to be the match-winner, meeting a goalkeeper’s punch with a volley that deflected before finding the corner of the net. Cruel on Brighton; crucial for Arsenal.
Walcott now has 17 goals for the season. It’s some record: he’s only made 17 starts.
The star of the show, however, remained Olivier Giroud. Four goals in his last two games have taken his tally to 13, but his performance in this game was about more than statistics. He worked tirelessly, and the finishes he produced were of real quality. It’s no exaggeration to say that Robin van Persie would have been proud of the second – and indeed the chipped through-ball from Abou Diaby made this goal particularly reminiscent of the Song / Van Persie connection of last season.
Let’s not kid ourselves: however well Giroud played, he’s no Van Persie. However, in the last few days he’s made a convincing case for a prolonged run of games at centre-forward. I still feel we would benefit from a signing in this area, but if someone does arrive they’ll have to oust a Frenchman in form.
One lingering criticism of Giroud is that his goals tend to come against weaker opposition. The upcoming Premier League tie with Liverpool would be a perfect time to put that to bed, and put our league campaign firmly back on track.
GIROUUUUD!!! just de begining more to come from him to silence his time critics.
Giroud is a monster of an attacker. I admire his strenght.
It’s only a Blind person that will say this Guy is not Good,can’t they see is movement,I believe he os going to score more spectacular Goals than Van persie
Brighton grass not so green, completely disappointed
i think van persie would’ve been proud of giroud’s first as well. if only we could keep them out at the other end.
Someone tell me what the hell is Santos doing in a red and white shirt? This has got to stop. He must have one some sort of raffle cos he is no footballer. Awful signing.
Wenger out!
when giroud play against brigton he is a striker but winning a trophy he need to be a striker when the likes of chealsea, man u n man city line up
No mention off Gibbs who saved our arses? Maybe made to look better due to the twat he replaced, but is really doing well
Totally! Gibbs is great. Thought Wenger did good there to switch him in before the other twat lets in another.
Santos was not a panic buy ( confirmed by wenger and gazidis) cost 6.4 million quid, probably a 3 year deal on 50k. So around 14 mill considered investment by reportedly the most astute purchaser of players around….. The same professor who has chamahk, denilson bentner Wellington and goodness knows who else playing for other clubs on our nickel.
Professor? Not for some time. Wenger out
Yeah he should have bought Torres… retard… for every cheap failure Wenger has made he has picked a winner, you can’t be 100% successful when buying unproven players but at least your not paying 50M for an complete failure. Wenger would have to fail 4 or more times to be anywhere near the single failures like Torres. I bet if you were a manager you would fail 90% or more of the time on your picks!!!!
That’s true, but equally it’s unlikely I would be paid 7 mill and get to fly to Paris to fuck a pop tart on the company nickel either…..
Spot on. What worries me more than anything is our absolutely useless defence. WTF was Steve Bould employed for? We do not defend anywhere like a top 4 team. Regardless of our issues, I need to know, what substance was AW & IG on before they decided to sign Santos? He is the worst signing in living memory
and i wonder what kind of substance they put in your milk and you all grow up to be such disrespectful twats to the manager who changed our club for the better.
And don’t forget to tell ‘em dad…
Sir Arsene is Arsenal Football Club
…..without him Arsenal are finished.
“on our nickel.”
PFFFFHAHAHHAAAAAAAAAA
what your nickel mate? is it your personal money then?
i thought it was arsenal’s money.
how much have ytou contributed? a couple of pounds? ahahhaah look at you talking like an owner/shareholder…..
stop being a cheap bastard for once heh…its what you accuse wenger off all the time…
Haha dad…these Englanders are a joke….
They buy a hotdog and a coke and they think they are automatic shareholders.
When you are like us, who spend nothing and never go to a game ever….. then can you discuss the virtues of Sir Arsene and Arsenal.
spend nothing?
talk for yourself sonny boy
i had to rent your mom out in sloane square for weeks to get my season ticket…9 months later she came home with the money and a bastard…
who is your daddy ?
Dad, maybe one day we can fly 10,000 miles to see the little Englanders. And show them what it’s like to be a loyal supporter.
You should bear in mind that even the most lowly of fans has contributed more financially than wenger. And gazidis. They employees and nothing more
or take the underground…its only 2-3 stops from highgate/archway anyway
what 10,000 miles u on abnout? you tripping son? again?
With a little time,he will be better,van persie,s rome was not built in a day,he even have a better start to van persie.
Giroud is becoming the striker I had hoped he will become. It’s obvious he feeds off confidence tho. We will have to see how he plays against Liverpool but I’m sure he will continue to improve. He still has a couple of years. Our investment might pay off yet.
Two areas of his game I really admire are his work rate and how he brings players into the game.
Counting down to deadline day! Any guesses?
We are one injury away from collapsing like a pack of cards. Remember gibb’s injury followed by Santos poor display alongwith shirt swapping with RVP followed by TV replacing him at leftback resulting in poor balance in the team. Basically we should hope that gibbsy is injury free to finish in top four.
Santos is a complete waste of space….get rid now!!
let give Giroud more tim to settle in england we go enjoy him
If giroud was to become an arsenal stalwart, i predict a song based on oliver twist the musical. I suggest: oliver, oliver, never before has a striker scored more!
But more likely he will be converted into a right winger and then sent on loan to snuderland
You see peasants, how we demolished Brighton away. And Giroud must be buy of the decade, all he needs is 4 chances to score a goal.
Btw GS, isn’t it time you removed the the “Praise of Songs” and “Cesc we Can” T-shirts? or are you too busy playing Football Manager and looking for ways to criticize the best Manager Arsenal have ever had.
Haha, bye bye Spurs 2 – 0
There grass wasn’t green enough ^^
Same with pools game the grass was very disappointing
“Wenger to real madrid” ha ha ha, here we go again. Same old shit every time hes under pressure. Please please fuck off then arsene. Dont really think so, the fans would go mad were you ever brought in. in your dreams arsene
Hello Gilberto , I remember an article by you – “Why you feel Giroud is not the striker for Arsenal ”
Did you change your opinion now ?
ahahahahah ….. please dont tell me you expect consistency from arsenal fans ….
the mugs who swear and abuse wenger ?
Yes, me and my dad are the only true supporters….you Silly Englanders who spend hundreds of pounds are about as loyal as RVP. You should go and join him and watch Man Utd. In the meantime I’m off to troll their forums.
your dad for sure..dont know about you, being a bastard and all…..
have to say i enjoy watching your psychological complexities and daddy issues released in the open.
talk to us my son….together we will work it out
Awwww shucks dad, tell these Englanders how they can’t grow grass, or cook shrimps on the barbie, or wrestle 14ft crocodiles.
We are close to the end of the transfer window!
Lets support the Arsenal!
COME ON WENGER, SIGN US A BEAUTY!!!!!!!!!
that said, if we are seriously in for david villa, we have rocks in our heads. we’ll be bidding david villa for £14m, on a £110,000 week contract. david villa will have no resale value. we just let go of robin van persie who we could’ve signed on an increased wage that would be less than the david villa fee.
i would like to see us stick with what we have, and maybe signing messi in the summer. he is a top, top player and would strengthen our team with quality. but i cannot see barcelona selling messi during the season when they are in competition for the league and the CL. but in the summer, who knows?
don’t be silly there are obviously no players available that would improve the current squad…. he he le fool is to funny but I actually think he gets a laugh out of taking the piss out of the fans …I mean, cavanni he likes him , he probably pissed himself laughing when he let that one out of the bag
You foolish Englanders, do you think you can find world class players on the street?
David Villa, haha….you think Sir Arsene is like you peasants, playing with monopoly money? you think he’s going to throw away £30-40m on a player with no resell value.
Thank God it’s him running our club and not you peasants, who can’t even get good grass.
thank god indeed
Yep you can’t buy that green grass for £30-40m peasants
cant stop laughing with the spud accepting he is my son
loud and proud now sonny !!
Dad, can we go on the Man U forums now and laugh at them?
I love you dad….
all my sons in whl do