Archive for November 1st, 2010

Alexandre Song Belongs

17 comments November 1st, 2010

Arsenal 1 – 0 West Ham (Song 88)
Highlights | Arsene’s reaction

Let me just start by saying…
I didn’t see the whole game as I was stuck in a disused tunnel deep beneath Waterloo train station. I managed to check the score at 85 minutes, when we were locked at 0-0. Despondent, I headed back underground, my heart sinking even deeper than the tunnel took me. When I reappeared to discover we’d nicked it, I was delighted.

Winning was crucial…
On a day when Chelsea scraped a win at Ewood Park, it was vital we picked up three points at home. When we reach the end of November, Chelsea enter a run of five consecutive potentially tricky fixtures: Newcastle (Away), Everton (Home), Spurs (Away), United (Home), and finally Arsenal (Away). It is essential that we are close enough to capitalise on home advantage come that fixture on the 27th December.

This was a familiar game…
How many times last season did we require late goals to claw points away from a team whose keeper had played a blinder? This campaign has been slightly less stressful, although we did require a late late equaliser at Anfield. In those dying moments, having a strong bench can make all the difference: the ability to throw the likes of Walcott and Bendtner in to the fray can be decisive.

The difference , however, is in our improved defence…
Last season, at 0-0, we might have found ourselves punished for a slip at the back. This year, with the reinforcement provided by Koscielny, Squillaci, and a rejuvenated Fabianski, we were solid enough to mean that one goal gave us the victory.

You can’t fault Song’s attitude…
Alex Song (or Alexandre Song Billong as he is known by Wikipedia and Pro Evolution Soccer) may only be 23, but he has already done something rather extraordinary in his football career. He has transformed from a joke, an embarrassment, an indictment of all the flaws in Arsene Wenger’s transfer policy, to an undoubtedly key player. He’s done that predominantly through hard work and the kind of persistence that saw him arrive in the box late on to head home the winner. Lukasz Fabanski take note: redemption is possible.

Song forms part of our strongest midfield trio…
For me, the best midfield we can pick is one of Song, Fabregas, and Jack Wilshere, who has just signed a new long-term deal with the club. It’s a combination we haven’t seen it all too often this season due to Cesc’s injury and Jack’s suspension, but it started both the 6-0 win over Braga and the 5-1 victory over Donetsk. Getting that trio together again is a tantalising prospect.

Arshavin is close to being dropped…
For the first time in his Arsenal career, Andrey Arshavin is facing up to the prospect of not making our first-choice XI. The form of Samir Nasri and Theo Walcott, combined with a downturn in his own performances, could soon see him on the bench. Arshavin is due to appear at tomorrow’s pre-Shakhtar press conference: knowing his forthright and outspoken ways, he’ll doubtless have a few words to say about his own form.


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