Webb’s ineptitude means we settle for a good result, not a great result
33 comments December 22nd, 2008
Arsenal 1 – 1 Liverpool (Van Persie 25, Keane 42)
Highlights here; Arsene’s reaction here
It’s hard to guage how good a result this was. A draw with Liverpool is always somewhat creditable, especially when one considers that they currently top the table. When you factor in that we had ten men for much of the second half, it becomes all the more impressive.
And yet our faint title ambitions probably required a victory. Though to be honest, those ambitions are so faint as to be almost invisible, and I’m inclined to view this as a helpful point towards Champions League qualification rather than two points dropped in the title race.
We may well have won but for the ineptitude Howard Webb. Adebayor’s first booking was, on reflection, justified, but I still don’t believe the secound ‘foul’ even warranted the award of a free-kick.
It was really pleasing to see the way both the team and the crowd rallied after Adebayor’s dismissal. There’s nothing like a sense of injustice to inspire the troops, though inevitably one wonders why neither element can perform like that from the kick-off.
We took the lead through a quite brilliant goal – an inch-perfect long pass from Samir Nasri brought down by Robin van Persie, who chested the ball inside, flipped it back outside with his left-foot, and slammed it in with his right. Deliciously chocolately.
Liverpool’s equaliser was a far less aesthetically delightful version of Van Persie’s strike. Rather than a beautifully flighted pass, they simply hoofed it long up the field. Robbie Keane ran on to it (untracked), and leathered it thoughtlessly (though impressively) into the top of the net. No defender in the world could have prevented Van Persie’s goal. Any defender in the world ought to have prevented Keane’s. Naturally, ours didn’t.
Like I said, after going down to ten men we bossed the game. We also lost Cesc Fabregas to injury, but Alex Song and Denilson stepped up and put in big performances. Their work-rate was exemplary, and Song in particular covered more round with his shuffling run than I’ve ever witnessed him do before. That said, the injury to Cesc exposes just how light we are in that area, and reinforcements remain essential.
Now attention moves to what is arguably an even bigger game: the match at Villa Park on boxing day- and it seems we’ll be without Cesc and Adebayor. It’s vital we don’t lose there – this is our last chance to take points directly off Villa.
One last point before I go: Liverpool cannot win the title. The way in which they entirely failed to take charge of a game against ten men yesterday was indicative of their principle problem: a lack of attacking ambition. They will draw too many games because Benitez is simply too cautious.
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Hope everyone is having a good week.
