Archive for April, 2006

Did Arsene know we wouldn’t beat Man U?

10 comments April 12th, 2006

Is that why he left the likes of Campbell and Reyes out of the squad entirely, with Thierry Henry and Freddie Ljungberg on the bench? Perhaps Harry Redknapp got it right when he suggested that Arsene saves his best sides for the games he thinks he can win. At this stage of the season, an injury to any of the aforementioned (perhaps with Sol excluded) could be disastrous. A fairly innoccuous defeat to Man U might be worth it if it means winning the rest of our Premiership games.

It was a strange match. For the first 20 minutes, we bossed it, looking like the side who’d beaten Real and Juventus. But then we tired very quickly, and the early enterprise of Fabregas and Hleb diminished rapidly.

On the day, the difference was that they had Wayne Rooney, and for a large portion of the game we didn’t have Thierry Henry. Rooney scored one and created a second for Park, but it was no disaster.

We didn’t play badly at all, and it’s important that we don’t get on the players’ back for losing one game after the way they’ve performed in recent weeks. Neither should Arsene be blamed for resting Thierry – there’s obviously a long-term plan to all this.

Tonight it’s Portsmouth away, and a vital game in hand. Expect Sol Campbell to come in, with up to six other changes making it an unfamiliar side. Let’s just hope we’re on Song…

A good day for Jens Lehmann

14 comments April 7th, 2006

His Arsenal contract extension is described by Arsene as “done”, whilst Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann yesterday named him as the number 1 goalkeeper for the World Cup.

For Jens, it’s great news on both fronts. For Arsenal, he’s been absolutely superb this season, and it seems remarkable to think that just over a year ago he was dropped in favour of Manuel Almunia. This Lehmann seems markedly different, with levels of concentration we have never seen from the 36 year old before. In my humble opinion, he has been the best goalkeeper in England this season.

Being the goalkeeper of a nation hosting the World Cup is also a major honour, especially when you’ve ousted Oliver Kahn, who won the Golden Ball for the best player at the last World Cup. Victory is made all the sweeter by the fact that Kahn is, for want of a better word, a knob.

Looking ahead to Man U on Sunday, and there is no new injury news. With our fixture schedule becoming ever more congested, rotation will begin sooner rather than later. However, not just yet. As Arsene puts it, “When will I rotate? Who will I rotate? I don’t know. I’m not inclined to change too much for Sunday.” Campbell’s future, however, looks a little more secure, with Arsene insisting that he “will not buy a centre back”.

Sol Campbell may have to wait for Wednesday’s match away to Portsmouth to make his arguably undeserved return to the first team. One man who will come back into contention is Emmanuel Adebayor, with Arsene keen on deploying a 4-4-2.

So it looks like we’re going for it. Should be exciting, if anything.

Historic Night Sees Arsenal Into Semis

11 comments April 6th, 2006

Nil nil it was. Another fantastic performance from the new Arsenal team allowed us to ease into a semi-final against Villareal without too much trouble. The onslaught we were expecting from Juventus never really arrived, or at least was kept at bay by an oustanding defensive display – the young back four ably assisted by the experience of Jens Lehmann and Gilberto.

Indeed, if any team looked like scoring, it was us. Thierry Henry thrice went close, whilst an in-form Freddie Ljungberg could’ve had a couple. Even Alexsandr Hleb had a shot.

In both legs, we were the better side. In the first, Cesc Fabregas was the star. Tonight, it was a real team effort. Though if any individuals ought to be picked out, it’s the two centre-backs, Toure and Senderos, who were there every time Juventus launched a characteristic long-ball. Sol Campbell is right to be cautious about regaining a first team place.

Three British sides have failed to beat Villareal this season, including Manchester United. But it’s not the toughest tie we could have had. With Milan and Barcelona facing off in the other semi, we’re certainly on the right side of the draw.

Our form in the Champions League has been beyond belief – especially defensively. Last night we kept a record eighth clean sheet in a row. Phenomenal.

Cesc Fabregas get’s it right when he lauds Arsene Wenger’s bravery: “At a big club like Arsenal with a big manager, it is always difficult to believe in young players. But he did and we have to thank him for what he is giving us.” He’s absolutely right. A few months ago, it was hard to see Wenger’s vision for the future of this team. But he’s proved everyone wrong again, turning a number of rough-diamons into the finished product, with spectacular results.

Tempting though it is, it’s not worth even thinking about a potential Champions League Final yet. Or even to Villareal. We have a massive game against Manchester United on Sunday.

I bet they’re worried.

Beating Juventus Sends Out A Statement

22 comments April 5th, 2006

Not only to those teams still in the Champions League, but perhaps more importantly to our domestic rivals. If we come through tonight, an Arsenal that has beaten Real Madrid and Juventus over two legs would have to be considered a realistic challenger for next year’s Premiership.

Being 2-0 up in a tie is a tricky position. Don’t get me wrong, it’s better than being 2-0 down, but you’re faced with the conundrum over whether to defend or attack. Some claim that “attack is the best form of defence”. Not if the other team counters and scores, it’s not.

The way to play is the way we did against Madrid at the Bernabeu. Limit the full-backs forays forward a little more, and allow Henry and the two breaking central midfielders to play in the space between midfield and attack. Bide our time, wait for a chance, and take it: if we score away from home, the tie is over. Juve won’t score four.

Early indications suggest that Fabregas and Eboue will both be fit, and that Freddie Ljungberg will return in place of Robert Pires. This is understandable. Although Pires was outstanding in the first leg, Ljungberg was equally good away to Real. What’s more, he offers more defensively than Pires, who unusally completed a full 90 minutes on Saturday.

A final word for the fans: whatever the press have written about us in the build-up to this game – that we’re the best football team in Europe, that Thierry’s the best in the world – ignore it. If we lose tonight we’ll get as much stick as ever.

Let’s hope we don’t, because our young players deserve this success.

Come on Arsenal.

“Have you ever seen Chelsea play like this?”

89 comments April 2nd, 2006

So the Arsenal fans sang, and, whilst I admit I haven’t watched every Chelsea game this season, the answer is a resounding “no”.

There was no European hangover as Arsenal destroyed a sorry Aston Villa 5-0. The first goal was a scrappy effort from Emmanuel Adebayor, added to by a sublime Henry lob from Jose Reyes’ raking long ball.

After half-time, an Adebayor backheel allowed Henry time and space to plant a thirty-yard curler into the far corner, before Henry was withdrawn partly to save himself for Juventus, and partly to spare Villa any further embarassment. However, his replacement, a returning Robin van Persie, promptly sidestepped two Villa defenders and the goalkeeper to smash home a goal of typically outrageous skill.

The rout was not yet over – another pacey break from Adebayor took him well clear of the rest of the side – or so it seemed. From nowhere, another subsitute, Abou Diaby sprinted into the box to get alongside Adebayor and cooly finish for his first Arsenal goal. Vieira couldn’t have done it better.

It was a really excellent performance, with special mention for the new boy, Adebayor.

His pace and movement were a handful all afternoon. Nobody else in the squad would have scored the goal he did – he brings something different. Add that to two assists, and he is starting to look an excellent acquisition. The Kanu comparisons, as I have always said, do not do him justice. Add some Drogba-esque pace and power to that mix and your getting closer.

The most pleasing thing about the performance was that even at 5-0, Lehmann and the back four were absolutely determined to keep a clean-sheet: a really encouraging sign.

Nothing is perfect, however, and injuries to Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Eboue tainted an otherwise brilliant day, with Spurs and Bolton also losing.

Wenger said of Cesc, “Fabregas’ foot has blown up. That’s not a good sign.” Damn right it’s not. You would’ve thought the groundsmen would’ve noticed any mines on the pitch before kickoff.

Both players are rated at 50/50 for Wednesday’s tie with Juventus. 5-0 again?

Somehow, I doubt it.

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