Yesterday was a day on which Arsenal needed several key players to stand up and be counted. In a 2-1 victory over Bolton that could’ve and perhaps should’ve been more, no-one should taller than nineteen-year old Cesc Fabregas.
Apologies to those of you who thought this article’s headline might refer to me finally pulling out some decent writing. Sadly not. I will however endeavour to bring you the positives from a performance that has banished a lot of the bad feeling around the club in recent weeks.
In midfield, Rosicky and Fabregas were outstanding. Both put in some hefty challenges defensively, but it was going forward where they really shone, showing a drive to get into the box and have efforts on goal that has been lacking… well, all season really.
Having fallen behind to an Anelka goal (who else), Rosicky’s goal was decidely un-Arsenal – these days, that’s pretty much a compliment: it was un-frustrating, un-Hleb, and decidely un-pass-it-around-then-miss-from-a-yard. A swift one-two and cross from Emmanuel Adebayor allowed Rosicky to nip in front of Nicky Hunt and finish from within the six-yard box – Bobby Pires would’ve been proud.
Cesc’s goal was clinical, but in a less opportunistic manner. A brilliant throughball from Gilberto was controlled, shimmied, and ultimately stroked into the net for the coolest of finishes. In the matchday programme, Alex Hleb had spoken about the need for Arsenal to show more “coldbloodedness”, and Cesc’s goal was just what the Belarussian ordered. His celebration was anything but coldblooded – the frustrations of a year without a Premiership goal spilling out in a flurry of double-punches.
Cesc and Rosicky’s verve was backed up by a solid performance from Gilberto. Arsene obviously made a decision to deploy the Brazilian in the vicinity of Gael Clichy, to protect the young full-back from the aerial power of Kevin Davies. A wise move, but as it turned out Clichy was excellent in his own right – he goes to win the ball early, and if he fails his recovery pace is second to none.
Upfront Freddie Ljungberg and Emmanuel Adebayor did well, the latter in particular showing some great hold-up play, and substitute Abou Diaby could have had a hatrick. Diaby was again selected upfront ahead of Jeremie Aliadiere and Julio Baptista, who was shunted out to the left for his brief cameo. Perhaps that explains why when Diaby went clean through on goal, Baptista seemed to try and muscle him off the ball…
There were negatives in yesterday’s performance. There’s plenty I could say about Hleb, Eboue, and possibly others, but what’s the point? We already know this squad isn’t perfect. We already know there need to be changes in the Summer, and we must place our faith in the manager’s judgement on that. The transfer deadline for this season is long gone, and we must simply make do and support what we have. Celebrating this victory doesn’t mean we will forget the crimes of the past couple of months, but equally there’s no need to be negative in light of a valuable three points.
A win, and spirits are lifted going into the final part of the season. A draw, and we’re still on course for the vital fourth spot. Defeat…? Let’s not even go there.
It’s clear that Bolton will deploy Kevin Davies in a wide area and look to win balls beyond the full-back. To counter that, I’d play Kolo Toure and William Gallas in wide positions, with Djourou and Senderos at centre-back. Or perhaps even Djourou and Gallas wide, with Toure partnering Big Phil. But any permutation I suggest is probably entirely pointless: Arsene will surely go with midget tyros, Gael Clichy and Emmanuel Eboue.
In midfield, my only requirement is that Abou Diaby starts. You may remember that he has previously slain the Campo, and his height and physicality will help against a burly Bolton side.
Upfront, meh. I’m not convinced that one up top is a good idea though.
Look, we must win. I know a draw will do, but I’ve changed my mind since I started writing this. I hate Bolton so much that anything less will feel like an opportunity missed. An opportunity to crush the Champions League dreams of the likes of Campo, Nolan, Davies, and above all Allardyce.
If somebody out there in an Arsenal shirt somehow manages to squeeze the ball into the net and win us the game, he’ll make himself a hero.
Who fancies it?
Ps. I have to thank jitjian on the arseblog forums for drawing attention to this, but it’s great to see the way the last three years have taken us:
From
To
Quite embarassing really. It’s almost like they’ve used a picture of Hleb in particular just to rub it in. And that’s our own publicity!
Hopefully we’ll have more to shout about at 5pm tomorrow.
Emmanuel Adebayor 6
Aleksandr Hleb 2
Tomas Rosicky 1
Julio Baptista 1
Freddie Ljungberg 0
Denilson 0
Jeremie Aliadiere 0
Theo Walcott 0
Cesc Fabregas 0
Spectacular, for all the wrongreasons. Some of these players have had half-decent seasons. Emmanuel Adebayor has shown great work-rate and excellent hold-up play, but six league goals is proof that he ought to be supplemented by another poacher (not, it seems, Julio Baptista). Cesc Fabregas is a wonderful talent, but now hasn’t scored in his last 47 appearances. The rest… well, there’s little defence. If it wasn’t for the efforts of Henry, Van Persie, and occasionally Gilberto, then Lord knows where we’d be.
So what’s the answer? Well, a quick look at the Premiership’s top scorers shows that buying pedigree can work: Drogba, McCarthy, Martins, Yakubu, Johnson, Anelka, Bent, and Kuyt were all bought for significant fees on the back of excellent scoring records in the past. When was the last time Arsene bought a player who’d been top goalscorer in his league the previous season? Now might be the time to break the habit of a lifetime.
But they’re all strikers. What we really lack is goals from midfield – a Lampard or a Ronaldo. Well, I get the feeling they’re out of our price range. Arsene’s challenge this summer is to find the players who will banish this season’s shameful figures to the deepest pits of our memories, without breaking the bank.
Speaking of the finances, it seems the takeover by Stan Kroenke is creeping ever closer. Over on arseblog.com, a member of the Arsenal Supporters Trust will be talking about the situation on the arsecast – it almost certainly will be worth a listen.
For all his many sins, Arsenal have missed a player like Jose Reyes this season – someone who can play wide, beat his man and get in a cross, or cut inside and go for goal. Like Reyes, Ricardo Quaresma is a gypsy dribbler with an eye for the net. And like Reyes, the only question would be whether or not this talented player can cut it in the big time.
Quaresma is now 23. I first saw him played aged just 16, in the Toulon Youth Tournament. He was one of two young players coming through at Sporting Lisbon who were starring for an eye-catching Portugal side. The other’s name was Cristiano Ronaldo.
At this stage, Quaresma appeared to be the better player. In the years since, however, Ronaldo’s physical development has allowed him to overtake his former team-mate. Quaresma, meanwhile, has had to rely on pace, skill, and an extraordinary right foot.
In 2003, the big move the winger had been waiting for arrived. €6m + Fabio Rochemback took him to Barcelona, as one of the star signings to commemorate Joan Laporta’s inaugural season. However, despite a debut goal in a friendly against Milan, Quaresma struggled to break into the side. He fell out with coach Rijkaard, suffered with ankle and foot problems, and ended up starting just ten games and scoring only one goal.
When Barca came after Porto’s Deco, Quaresma jumped at the chance to be included as part of the deal. And it is at Porto that he has finally started to fulfill his potential – a goal at Stamford Bridge the highlight of an impressive Champions League campaign.
Last season at Porto, his goal record was slightly better than one in six. This year, it’s closer to one in three. He has broken into Phil Scolari’s Portugal set-up with an absolute wonder goal against Belgium, and is reportedly a target for Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea.
In a season in which his friend Ronaldo has lit up the English Premiership, Arsenal have lacked such directness and flair. Arsene Wenger is reportedly a master of assessing player’s personalities – if he believes that Quaresma can be more than simply a flashy fish in a small pond, then he must be on our transfer radar this summer.
Congratulations to United and Chelsea, who both played superbly, but this was sickening viewing for Arsenal fans. We are one of Europe’s biggest clubs, and should’ve been there. The fact that there are now three English clubs in the semis (unless PSV pull off a miracle to contend with Jesus’ Easter Houdini act) and we are not one of them really does grate.
But then, one only needs to watch the games to understand why we’re so far off the pace these days. We don’t have the mental strength and discipline of Chelsea, nor the clinical attacking of Manchester United. Take Michael Carrick’s first goal last night – the reason he scored was because he opened his body and took the shot early. His second wasn’t bad either. How often have you seen one of our players do that? We only tend to shoot when urged to by a disgruntled crowd. It’s a last resort as opposed to a shock attack.
Then Ronaldo’s goal – he drifted wide, powered towards the edge of the are and fired in low at the near post. A player with that kind of penetration is a must for us in the Summer.
I will now go and wash my mouth out with soap for praising that lot so much. But you know, when you’re looking to improve you have to look to whoever’s best at that moment in time. There are reason’s that United and Chelsea have had brilliant seasons, and we haven’t. And the answer is not injuries – just look at Chelsea’s injury list this season.
Myles Palmer has some more on Stan Kroenke, who I’m now convinced will certainly try to buy the club this Summer, and two more rumours:
One is that Wenger loves Baptista, absolutely loves him. I don’t believe that rumour. Baptista is so bad he makes Wiltord look like Pele.
Second rumour is that Robin van Persie is running around and kicking balls.
One of those rumours makes me very happy. The other one makes me want to kill Julio Baptista AND Arsene Wenger. I’ll let you decide which is which.
Yesterday was a day on which Arsenal needed several key players to stand up and be counted. In a 2-1 victory over Bolton that could’ve and perhaps should’ve been more, no-one should taller than nineteen-year old Cesc Fabregas.
For all his many sins, Arsenal have missed a player like Jose Reyes this season – someone who can play wide, beat his man and get in a cross, or cut inside and go for goal. Like Reyes, Ricardo Quaresma is a gypsy dribbler with an eye for the net. And like Reyes, the only question would be whether or not this talented player can cut it in the big time.
