Arsenal 1 – 1 Birmingham: The albatross of expectation
Add comment January 13th, 2008
Expectation hangs heavy around this inexperienced Arsenal side. After an excellent first-half of the season, the fans expect entertainment, and (in games such as yesterday) the team themselves now seem to expect victory. Too much expectation, and not enough exertion, if Arsene is to be believed:
“Today we lost two points we should not have lost and I’m confident that the team will refocus, because they are really disappointed. We need sharply to refocus because that kind of focus we have shown today is not sufficient.”
Arsene also moved to praise the fans, although I’m not sure I would do the same. They raised their voices in the second half when they realised we were in danger of dropping points, but the vast majority were as quiet as they were in the New Year’s Day game with West Ham. On that occasion I put it down to their hangovers, but I can’t help but wonder if our good form has seen fans readjust their sights.
However well we’ve done, we’re not yet at a stage where we can expect to just roll teams over. Yesterday provided real evidence of that.
We started well enough, with Adebayor and Eduardo both having good chances, before a very soft penalty enabled the Togolese to score his thirteenth goal of the season. At half-time we were one nil up and, a good Manuel Almunia save aside, very comfortable.
Probably too comfortable. A poorly defended corner just after half-time yielded an equaliser for Birmingham, and suddenly we were pegged back to one-one.
From then on, Birmingham defended excellently, and we struggled to create a clear cut opportunity. William Gallas sliced at a good chance late on, but we never particularly looked like scoring.
We certainly missed Tomas Rosicky (flu), and even Emmanuel Eboue. In their place, Theo Walcott started on the flank, and the youngster was highly ineffective. I should add as a disclaimer that I believe there’s every chance he’ll turn into a top player, but he isn’t close to being one yet. If Arsene is tempted to spend in this transfer window, it has to be on a wide player.
Philippe Senderos had a strong second half and Flamini (slack marking on their goal aside) put in a typically combative performance. Interestingly, I heard yesterday that around a year ago Arsene attempted to exchange Flamini for Diarra – an offer which Mourinho laughed off as derisory. How things have changed since then.
I am, however, beginning to get worried about Hleb and Fabregas, who have simply not recaptured their pre-injury form. The last of Cesc’s eleven goals this season came over two months ago. If we’re to win something this season, he probably needs to find his shooting boots again pretty sharpish.
Anyhow, no need for too much doom and gloom. Results and performances like yesterday are inevitable. All the big teams have games where they just can’t quite forge a winner (even the darling of the press, Manchester United, occasionally struggle).
The important thing is that we bounce back, and beat Fulham next week.
