Archive for August, 2007
August 20th, 2007
Jens Lehmann has made his second major mistake of the season, and this time it’s proved costly. Whilst his clanger against Fulham was so early it allowed us to claw our way back to victory, his latest error proved the difference between three points and one.
It was a terrible mistake. A left-footed effort from David Dunn was sailing straight at the German, who inexplicably allowed it to slip through his hands and into the net. It was down to a lack of concentration, and nothing else, just as when he passed the ball straight to David Healy a week ago. Why are these mistakes happening? It’s Arsene’s job to get to the bottom of the matter and act accordingly. I think we could do much worse than bring in Manuel Almunia for a few games to wake Jens up.
If I was in the back four, I’d be furious. We defended stoically throughout, even after losing William Gallas to injury (one more casualty and the decision to let Johan Djourou join Birmingham will look about as wise as Rob Styles). Bacary Sagna was particularly outstanding. If Arsene ever needed proof that buying quality works, then this man is it. At the start of the Summer, many were surprised to see us linked with a right-back whilst the promising Eboue and Hoyte were still in the squad. However, Sagna is a rare purchase for Arsene: one bought not out of neccessity but because he is an improvement on what we already have. Other areas in the squad could do with the same attention.
We had grabbed a first-half lead thanks to a typically clinical finish from Robin van Persie. Eduardo, who was making his debut, had caused suitable panic in the box for the Dutchman to pounce and bury the ball past Brad Friedel.
Theo Walcott should’ve done better with a one-on-one, and Mathieu Flamini and Cesc Fabregas were taking on Blackburn at their own aggressive game and doing rather well at it. However, in the second half we seemed to sit back. Gallas’ leadership was missed as stand-in skipper Toure failed to push the team out of defence. Blackburn’s goal felt inevitable, though the manner in which it was conceded still grates.
Arsene is right – it’s not a bad result for us. I said I’d take a draw and I stand by that. Manchester United’s slow start to the season is evidence that the general quality of the league has risen – it’s going to be pretty tight this year. Chelsea have had a great start in terms of results but they hardly look invincible – Birmingham and moreso Reading both took them close, whilst they were lucky to get a point at Liverpool.
This weekend it’s a tricky game against a resurgent Man City. Win that one, and we’re right on track.
August 19th, 2007
If you ask me, today is our first real test of the season. Games against Fulham and Sparta Prague are games in which anything less than a win would have been a massive disappointment. Today we’re facing a side who are probably in the Premiership’s best seven teams. What’s more, they’re a physical team with an intimidating Stadium. And as if that wasn’t enough, it’s up in the North-West. It’s time for these Young Guns to stand up and be counted.
Granted, we won there last year. And with ten men. But that was a very different side, and no-one will forget that our extraordinary second goal was scored by a certain number 14.
This year, it’s a different story. Robin van Persie, whose record against Blackburn is outstanding, will need to be on top form – Emmanuel Adebayor is still injured and Eduardo and Niklas Bendtner are unlikely to be ready to start. The man sent off last year, Gilberto Silva, is still recovering from the Copa America, and that’s without even mentioning the injury-loving wing due of Tomas Rosicky and Emmanuel Eboue, who will both also miss out.
Thankfully, the back four and goalkeeper remain intact and can aim for some sort of consistency. Ahead of them, I’d imagine we’ll see a youthful (and worryingly lightweight) midfield trio of Fabregas, Flamini, and Denilson, with Aleksandr Hleb and Theo Walcott supporting RVP from the wings.
With our squad looking thinner than Ally McBeal at Ramadan, a draw would be a good result. A win? Well, a win would really raise expectations and morale. It’s possible, but it would be a very pleasant surprise indeed.
Let’s wait and see.
August 18th, 2007
The other day The Times ran a piece suggesting that Bolton would be willing to part with Nicolas Anelka for around £10m, and that Portsmouth and West Ham could be interested. With the greatest of respect to those clubs, Anelka is better than that. He’s also better than most of our attacking players, which is why Arsene would be mad to turn his nose up at our former frontman.
Granted, I don’t have too many positive things to say about Anelka as a person. But he hasn’t caused an ounce of trouble since he arrived at Bolton. Is it possible that Le Sulk has finally grown-up?
As for his on-field qualites, we already know all about those. His goal against Newcastle on the opening day exhibited his fantastic touch, pace, and finishing, and only a brilliant performance from a man who had irritated us just a few days earlier, Tony Warner, prevented him from adding to his tally against Fulham.
With Theo Walcott required as cover on the wings, we have four strikers in Eduardo, Adebayor, Van Persie, and Bendtner. One of these is a teenager who Arsene feels is not yet ready to start, and another will disappear in January for the African Nations Cup. Another has yet to play in the Premiership. Furthermore, none of these options possess Anelka’s key attribute: genuine pace (an opposed to that scourge of the game, “fake pace”).
Arsene’s Friday ArsenalTV interview revealed he was “not close to signing anyone”. Whether or not he’s bluffing we’ll never know, but I would be very disappointed if we allowed a player of Anelka’s quality to join a club like West Ham for a fairly reasonable fee.
One signing that we’re all waiting for is Arsene’s contract. It’s been a bit of a soap opera, but it seems it’ll all be sorted soon.
Blackburn Preview tomorrow. But looking ahead, I have to say I’m worried about the game.
Have a good Saturday.
August 17th, 2007
To be fair, glass can be quite sturdy. Tomas Rosicky and Emmanuel Eboue are made of something closer to the consistency of a Sesame Snap bar. They are the Ryvita of the footballing world: quite tasty, but remarkably easy to snap.
If there were any doubt about whether or not Arsene should bring in a new winger, then surely these two injuries are a reminder that it is absolutely essential. To add to our fitness problems, he’s now back-tracking about his willingness to start Eduardo:
“Eduardo might be back. I’m not sure if he will start because he has not done a lot yet. He had a little session today, but that was the first time with the team. He will have a test tomorrow morning and then I will decide. At the moment I am tempted to say no but he will be in the squad.”
Only two games in, and our squad is looking terrifyingly light. If things continue in this vein, before we know it Alex Song could be starting on Sunday.
August 17th, 2007
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Early team news has arrived for the fixture at Ewood Park, and it seems that of the players who missed the victory in Prague, only Denilson and Eduardo are fit to return. For the latter, Blackburn could mark his full debut in Arsenal colours, and Arsene would have little hesitation in starting him:
“Why not? We have played two hard and physical games this season already so we need fresh legs.”
Having seen Eduardo play a couple of times in pre-season, it’s clear what he would add to the side. In spite of some impressive moments in displays against Fulham and Sparta, Robin van Persie has looked incredibly isolated. Although Alkesandr Hleb has performed well and even (shock/horror) scored a couple of goals, he’s been more of a fifth midfielder than a second striker.
Eduardo would change the entire shape of the side, providing a foil for Robin van Persie. He has greater mobility than the Dutchman, and is arguably a superior finisher to almost any of our squad members – his goalscoring record would certainly suggest so. If he is able to blossom into the lethal Premiership goalscorer he has the potential to be, then he could prevent the need for late winners like Aleksandr Hleb’s strike against Fulham. Da Silva could be the man to finish the many chances Arsenal create – to reach Cesc Fabregas’ through-balls, to get on the end of crosses from Eboue and Sagna, and to fire in the rebounds from Tomas Rosicky’s millionth saved shot. At least, it’d be nice to think so.
Speaking of Eboue, he is a doubt for the Blackburn game. If he misses out, I’d expect Hleb to return to the right side of midfield (shudders).
More detailed team news tomorrow, I expect. ‘Till then.
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