Arshavin’s goal was the cherry atop three very valuable points
37 comments March 15th, 2009
Arsenal 4 – 0 Blackburn (Ooijer 2 (og), Arshavin 65, Eboue 88, 90 (pen))
Highlights here; Arsene’s reaction here
It’s now March. We have not been beaten in the league since November. It hasn’t been particularly pretty, but the table doesn’t lie: for this morning at least, we’re back in fourth place.
The weaknesses in the side remain the same as at the start of the season. Their are serious doubts about the centre of our defence, and the midfielders who patrol the area just in front of them. However, there have undoubtedly been improvements. A more conservative appraoch from our full-backs and better possession play has seen the back four tighten up, but just as we plugged the leaks at the back, we suddenly began to lack attacking inspiration.
That now seems to be forthcoming in the form of several players – some of whom, as Arsene insisted they would, feel ‘like new signings’, and one of whom actually is a new signing. I may have misused ‘whom’ in this passage. Knowing/caring is somewhat unlikely on a Sunday morning.
Yesterday the two players who came to the fore were Andrey Arshavin and Theo Walcott, with the latter making his first start since returning from a dislocated shoulder. They lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation that saw the likes of William Gallas, Abou Diaby, Emmanuel Eboue, and Robin van Persie rested. Instead, Johan Djourou came into central defence, Alex Song started alongside Denilson, and Nicklas Bendtner provided the focal point for the creative talents of Nasri, Arshavin, and Walcott.
Increasingly I believe this formation represents the future shape of this Arsenal side, as us to accommodate a few of our surplus of midfield schemers, as well as deploying Cesc in the deep-lying playmaker role he craves.Â
It’s also a formation with fantastic counter-attacking potential, which yesterday we were able to demonstrate after grabbing an early goal. That came when Bendtner neatly turned the ball around the corner for Theo Walcott to charge on to. The winger, playing his last game as a teenager, squared towards Andrey Arshavin, but the ball ricocheted in off two Blackburn defenders and will surely go down as an own goal.
The truth is that an aesthete such as Arshavin wouldn’t want it as his first goal as a Gunner, and in the second-half we would understand just why by seeing exactly what the Russian is capable of producing. The rest of the first-half, however, was memorable more for the idiocy of El-Hadji Diouf than any outstanding football. The Senegalese lunged into a tackle with Manuel Amunia, who wasn’t sufficiently damaged to stop him pulling off one good save from Morten Gamst Pedersen.
The second half is when the fun really started. Samir Nasri, who had begun on the left, was switched to a central position, from where he began to pull the strings to great effect. Alex Song transformed into a marauding midfielder, winning tackles then charging into the box at the other end. And Bendtner’s awareness combined with Walcott’s pace gave Blackburn such troubles that they brought on the pacey Olsson to combat the England international’s searing runs.
But it was Arshavin who was destined to be the hero of the day with his first Arsenal goal, our 100th league goal at the Emirates, and the best goal seen at the stadium since… well, since Eduardo’s strike at the same end last week.
Receiving the ball wide on the left, the stocky playmaker dribbled into the penalty area, feinting to his right then using his left foot to slip outside of the helpless Danny. As he moved in on goal, Nicklas Bendtner (who despite playing well had missed a hatful of chances) was screaming for the ball, but Arshavin had other ideas. From a seemingly impossible angle, he lifted the ball over Paul Robinson (fifteen games against Arsenal, fifty-odd goals against) and into the roof of the net. His trademark finger-to-lip celebration was followed by an emotional, exultant roar into the arms of a member of the medical staff. His relief was palpable, but his statement was made: this is a player whose talent befits his status as our record signing.
And then came Emmanuel Eboue, with a cameo so starry it almost overshadowed Arshavin’s magic moment. First he poked home after the Russian’s volley had been parried, then tucked away a penalty after fellow substitute Carlos Vela had been brought down. I couldn’t work out what was funnier: Eboue’s dancing celebrations, of the fact that he now somehow has three goals from his last two home games.
The only sour point on the day was the reaction to Bendtner’s substitution, which was ‘mixed’ at best. I understand the fans’ frustration at his missed chances, but they ought to acknowledge that he played a pivotal role in a good performance and a great result.
We’re not in a position whereby a Spurs win against Villa today would see us stay in fourth place on goal difference – something which joined morale in receiving a timely boost yesterday. I spose the best way to look at today’s game is as a win-win-win. Spurs win, we win: Villa have lost. Villa win, we win: Spurs have lost. Draw, we win: they’ve both dropped points.
I’m off to have brunch. But it’ll be a little late. Sort of a lunchy-brunch. Or a brunchy-lunch. Till tomorrow.
ps. didn’t have time to spellcheck this. Apologies for inevitable mistakes.
