Archive for March, 2006

Thierry and Emmanuel, Sitting in a tree…

9 comments March 22nd, 2006

K-I-S-S-I-N-G.

Or, praising each other. Take it which way you will.

You can understand their affection though. The article claims that one of the pair has scored or had an assist in all but one of the goals Arsenal have scored in the last seven games. As a partnership, they’re proving prolific.

Thierry gets it right when he says: “He is the type of striker who is really nice to play with because he shows the ball well and he does hard work … then I am more free up front. You can see that in the weeks I have been playing with him, I am more on the ball and also going to the side and trying to set up people to score.”

It is true to say that since Thierry got himself a proper partner, he’s really started to up his game. Adebayor too has grabbed three goals already, and is beginning to look a very interesting prospect.

One thing threatens this happy two-some, though: the imminent return of Robin van Persie, who started for the reserves on Tuesday night. Theo Walcott grabbed himself another goal as the likes of Sol Campbell, Abou Diaby, and Johan Djourou worked their way back to full fitness.

As Arsenal fans, we should be delighted that with Reyes preferring the wing, and Bergkamp’s powers constantly waning, we now have two young strikers vying for a starting spot. We’ll especially need Robin in the Champions League, where Adebayor is cup-tied.

Portsmouth on Saturday – just don’t let Pedro Mendes get the ball anywhere within 30 yards of the goal.

Hleb Drives Arsenal To Victory

9 comments March 19th, 2006

An increasingly potent Arsenal side brushed away a poor Charlton yesterday with a 3-0 victory, that, to be frank, flattered their opponents. This new-look Arsenal side has managed to marry pace and power with technique and flair. For every Philippe Senderos, there’s a Cesc Fabregas. For every Emmanuel Adebayor, there’s a Thierry Henry.

The new side is based on partnerships. Toure and Senderos are solid at the back. Kolo and Eboue have a fantastic understanding on the right hand side, and Eboue also links well with Aleksandr Hleb. Hleb in turn has forged a potent creative combination with Cesc Fabregas, and the new boy Adebayor does a good job alongside Henry.

Beating Real Madrid has given the young players confidence and belief, and it’s really showing. Eboue, Senderos, Flamini and Fabregas have matured immeasurably. But the player whose undergone the biggest transformation has been Alex Hleb. Despite starting the season well, he suffered with injuries and looked like a mis-fit with a penchant for a mis-hit. However, in recent weeks, he has become a powerful, skillful, creative midfielder- a combination of Freddie Ljungberg’s endeavour and Robert Pires’ flair. Hopefully yesterday’s final goal is a sign he has picked up some of their finishing ability too.

It was Pires who opened the scoring yesterday, tapping in after a flowing move finishing with an Henry cut-back. Adebayor then poked home a second, having missed two earlier opportunities. Like EastLower, I’m a real fan of the Togolese striker. He isn’t the best finisher, but he gets himself into dangerous areas, and as Wenger puts it, “I believe that he gives something to the team and especially something to Thierry – he gives him more room. Physical presence, he is good in the air, protects well the ball”. He’ll give Robin van Persie a run for his place, that’s for sure.

I’d say we’re starting to look like the Arsenal of old, but that’d be missing a point. We’re starting to build the new Arsenal, and it’s potentially excellent. Fourth place is well within our grasp, and I sincerely believe we’re now in a position to grab it.

“Henry is ours, say Barcelona”

21 comments March 15th, 2006

The Times’ headline reads: “Barcelona claim Henry“.

However, they seem to have misunderstood the transfer system somewhat. You see, it is in fact only in the less widely-used “Playground Rules” that you can just pick the players you want.

In the real world, the world occupied by Arsenal football club, there’s the horrible awkwardness of transfer fees and contracts. Still, Barca don’t seem bothered. However, when it comes to our Thierry, we have first pick. The chances are he will still sign a new contract with us, and if not, it will remain our decision to sell.

In other news, Freddie Ljungberg will miss Saturday’s game at Charlton, but Robin van Persie and Sol Campbell could be in contention after making their returns in a friendly win over Brighton. Dennis Bergkamp got the goal. His last for Arsenal?

Gerrard Gifts Henry’s Arsenal Vital Victory

883 comments March 13th, 2006

It was the last minute of the Euro 2004 France-England tie when Steven Gerrard sent a loose backpass towards David James, only for Thierry Henry to intercept and punish him with a cruel 2-1 winner.

Yesterday, history repeated itself.

In this instance, however, France… sorry, Arsenal, were the deserved winners. We had taken the lead through a Thierry Henry curler after the most sublime of passes from Cesc Fabregas, only for yet another Luis Garcia rebound to equalise with only 15 minutes to go.

But a sending off for Chavvy Alonso was followed by Gerrard’s hilarious error, and we were back in front.

It was a superb result, and a deserved one. A new Arsenal side is beginning to take shape. Emmanuel Eboue and Alex Hleb have struck up an excellent relationship on the right-hand side, Emmanuel Adebayor’s clumsiness can be excused by his huge physical presence, and Cesc Fabregas is starting to dominate games in a manner reminiscent of Barcelona’s Deco in his Porto days.

His clash with Patrick Vieira against Juventus will be one to savour.

In the past three games we’ve played excellent against Fulham, Madrid, and now Liverpool. What’s absolutely vital is that we take this form on for the rest of the season. Putting the Champions League aside, fourth spot is within our grasp if we’re prepared to fight for it. Top players are still coming back, and it can only get better from here.

ps. Full Madrid write-up to follow in the next few days.

What a Night…

32 comments March 9th, 2006

I’m in Pau on a dodgy French keyboard, so am as yet unable to write my full views on an amazing night for Arsenal football club.

In the meantime, go here. Read every word, and bask in the glory.

And please, because history will demand it, leave your thoughts on that amazing match below.

All the best, and back soon,

GS

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