Archive for September 27th, 2006

Arsenal 2 – 0 Porto: Eboue, Hleb & Respective Improvement

39 comments September 27th, 2006

Another win, another clean sheet, and Arsenal are almost what you would call “back”. There is suddenly a spine about this side, a solidity that has been lacking for nigh-on two years now. Arsenal fans everywhere are starting to believe again.

Porto didn’t put up much of a fight, but our performance was one of the utmost professionalism. After they started well, showing off their ability to keep the ball, we took the game by the scruff of the neck and managed to carve a goal from nothing. For years, people have complained about a lack of headed goals: now Thierry Henry has provided two in two games. For both, he can thank fantastic crosses from Emmanuel Eboué, who has responded to criticism of his delivery brilliantly. One need only look at the pictures at the bottom of this report to see what the assist meant to the Ivorian defender and his team-mates.

And that’s exactly what I mean about this side: the spirit is back. Last night’s game was full of hugs, high-fives, and words of encouragement. That’s what a big win like the one in Manchester can give you: belief.

And belief is exactly what Alexander Hleb needs if he is to become a regular goalscorer from midfield. Yesterday, he showed he has the potential: a marauding run from William Gallas allowed Henry to slide the ball into Hleb’s path, and the Belarussian fired neatly into the far corner. Arsene said of the playmaker:

“You feel it is in him and that sometimes he refuses to take his chance, but hopefully tonight will convince him [he can score more] and he will use that even more. He is a player who is tricky, but you feel with that desire of scoring goals he can get even more. Most of the time when he’s in a position to finish he looks to give the ball to somebody else.”

Hleb’s creativity and willingness to run at players is probably matched only in the side by Tomas Rosicky, who is fast becoming a key player for Arsenal. He is blessed with Robert Pires’ skill and finishing, but has the application and work-rate that turns him into an ideal team player. If he continues at this rate, he’ll be a hero within months.

It remained 2-0 with no real scares to speak off, apart from one typically eccentric Jens Lehmann moment which involved nearly pushing the ball over his own line.

At the back we were very solid, which makes the loss of William Gallas to injury that much more of a blow. With Johan Djourou injured in the warm-up, Justin Hoyte came in at left-back and Gallas started his first game as a centre-back. He and Kolo Toure were oustanding, and the spirit shown throughout the team was never more evident than in their refusal to concede. Gallas has slotted perfectly into this Arsenal side, and his loss will be a big one. Get well soon, William.

Improvement and progress are big themes at Arsenal at the moment, both for individuals and the team as a whole. What’s important is to retain momentum, and that includes beating an out-of-sorts Charlton at The Valley on Saturday.

But for now, let’s just enjoy another victory, another good performance, and another sign that we might just be returning as a real force in European football.


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