Archive for February 28th, 2009

Have Paddy Power paid out on 0-0 yet?

1 comment February 28th, 2009

If today’s match was on Sky, do you think they would open their coverage with a montage, set to some soaring emotive melody, billing this as a clash between two extraoardinary exponents of dull draws?

In thirteen away games this season, Fulham have amassed a quite stunning three goals, with five nil-nils along the way.  We, meanwhile, have not scored in three league games, and have had four nil-nils in our last seven games.  Despite Roy Hodgson insisting that Fulham will play with two strikers and Arsene’s declaration of faith in his forwards, and without wanting to be churlish, it’s hard to see it being a goalfest.

It’s quite a remarkable change of fortunes for an Arsenal side who little over a month ago were regarded as a free-flowing attacking unit with great vulnerability at the back.  Now, all of a sudden, we’ve stopped conceding with such alarming regularity, but can’t buy a goal.

It’s all the more strange when you consider that centre-half was seemingly almost as much of a ‘problem area’ as holding midfield until a few weeks ago.  William Gallas had been stripped of the captaincy and seemed destined to leave the club, whilst Kolo Toure had fallen out of both form and friendship with Gallas, and handed in a transfer request.  Our one shining light was Swiss giant Johan Djourou, who had impressed when picked to provide some aerial power.

However, since picking up an injury in the warm-up a few weeks back, Djourou has been relegated to the subs bench, with Toure and Gallas resuming their once acrimonious partnership.  One suspects that part of the reason Toure is being picked is that in the absence of Cesc, he is the obvious choice as captain.  However, his form is undoubtedly somewhat better, in no doubt helped by the markedly improved performances of William Gallas.  Maybe he’s just playing to get himself into the shop window, but since being deposed as captain, the Frenchman has been almost faultless.

The centre-back pairing have been helped by those around them.  Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy seem to be a little more conservative this season without Mathieu Flamini to fill in for them, whilst Arsene Wenger yesterday moved to praise the form of Manuel Almunia, who has been undoubtedly excellent since the turn of the year.

I suppose you’re unlikely to concede many when you play decent possession football, and that is probably as much the secret of Fulham’s success as the performances of someone like Brede Hangeland.  However, when that possession consists of five yard passes across the pitch, you’re not likely to score many either.

It’s evident that we’re missing a wealth of attacking talent, and it will certainly be a huge bonus when Theo Walcott, Eduardo, and Adebayor return (in that order) over the next two weeks.  But even so, with players like Robin van Persie, Andrey Arshavin, and Samir Nasri all available, we ought to be able to carve out chances – and maybe Nicklas Bendtner will begin to take them.

Yesterday’s press conference contained two pieces of news from Arsene that were both, in their own way, somewhat surprising.  The first was that he tried to buy Salomon Kalou last Summer – a story that first started after Luis Felipe Scolari let it slip a few months back.  I do find it a little odd seeing as Kalou has harldy set the world alight at Stamford Bridge – but at the same time he is young, quick, versatile and African.  I suppose we oughtn’t be that surprised after all.

The second bit of news is that Abou Diaby has recovered AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.  Remarkable.  When Arsene I heard he might be out for two weeks, I assumed we wouldn’t see him until 2010.  But now he’s available and I’d certainly start him ahead of Song to give us a bit of attacking drive and impetus.

The defeat away to Fulham in just our second league game was one of the most painful this season.  Our performance that day was simply unacceptable.  Whilst that can’t be undone, getting three points today might help to numb that lingering pain.  Don’t forget that ArsenalTV will be offering their matchday coverage for free, and for the chance to win a free six month subscription all you need to do is email some feedback to atvo@gunnerblog.com.

Come on you Gunners.


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