March 4th, 2009 12:56am
GilbertoSilver
West Brom 1 – 3 Arsenal (Bendtner 4, 44, Brunt 6, Toure 38)
Highlights here; Arsene’s reaction here
Aston Villa have not won in their last five games. Their next fives games, all in the league, see them face Tottenham and Everton at home, whilst travelling to Man City, Man Utd and Liverpool. Though they have a game in hand, the gap (as of last night) is just three points. From nowhere, this race is suddenly very much alive.
I said before yesterday’s game that we needed three points and ideally goals. We managed to get both against West Brom, who really couldn’t have been much more accommodating. Admittedly, our own defending left plenty to be desired, and perhaps they ought to have added to their solitary goal. But the efforts of Kolo, Djourou, and later Song looked like a scene from 300 compared to West Brom’s calamitous attempts to defend their goal.
Our line-up contained a couple of surprises. In direct contradiction to my claims that Arshavin would be rested, he played the full ninety minutes alongside Nicklas Bendter. In midfield, Samir Nasri and Emmanuel Eboue flanked Denilson and Song, with Johan Djourou slotting in alongside Kolo Toure at the back.
Unsurprisingly when one considers the quality of defending on display, there were a couple of very early goals – the first falling to us. After a corner was half-cleared away, West Brom completely failed to reorganise, and Denilson was able to find Bendtner. The Dane cut inside from the right, and was given enough space to hit a left foot shot that crept into the far corner. Our terrible goalless run had finally come to an end.
Naturally, however, our run of clean sheets was over almost as soon. As Chris Brunt hit a free kick from thirty yards or so, Emmanuel Eboue inexplicably broke from his place in the wall, allowing the shot the squirm past the helpless and unsighted Manuel Almunia. Terrible defending – I have no desire to ‘pick on’ Eboue, or any of our other players, but that was a piece of truly mindless play that could have proved very costly.
Fortunately, however, we were able to regain our lead relatively soon. Andrey Arshavin floated in an excellent free-kick from the left, and stand-in skipper Kolo Toure arrived unmarked to nod in his first goal of the season.
Before half-time, we had another – and Toure had an assist to go with his goal. The Ivorian lofted a simple ball up the middle of the pitch, but West Brom’s offside trap had more holes in it than a Rafa Benitez argument, and Bendtner was able to stroll through and knock in his second, and our third. That’s eleven goals for Bendtner, who has started only twenty games. It’s a record that deserves more credit than it has thus far received, and Arsene Wenger seems to be pleased with the striker’s progress:
“Bendtner is improving from month to month. He will be better every three, six months. He has shown tonight he has the talent to be an Arsenal player. That is the right way to mature. I liked his presence. I liked his determined attitude and the way he took people on. That shows he has improved.”
In the second half, Kolo Toure was withdrawn with an injury and replaced by Abou Diaby, with Alex Song stepping back into defence. Despite a makeshift rearguard featuring Song and Djourou, we were able to see out the second half fairly comfortably – and, indeed, perhaps ought to have added to our tally. Diaby had a shot deflect just over, Bendtner thundered a potentially hatrick-inducing shot against the post, and on several occasions Andrey Arshavin was denied his first Arsenal goal by the reactions of Scott Carson.
It’s early days yet, but I am extremely impressed by the Russian’s ability. Whilst still lacking in fitness, as regards technique he appears to be a level above many of our players. Despite the areas of the squad that were overlooked in the transfer window, I do feel Arshavin may prove to be a crucial addition in the run-in for a Champions League place.
It’s so nice to look back on a goalscoring, winning Arsenal performance. Two cup games now (Burnley and Roma) before we refocus on the league. Wins in those games would see us in two Quarter-Finals. It’s funny how quickly perspective can shift.
March 3rd, 2009 06:14pm
GilbertoSilver
No league goals in our last four games. No league goals, in fact, in the month of February. But If there is any team capable of conceding goals to the bluntest attack since I attacked my brother with a spoon, it’s West Bromich Albion.
They’ve conceded a massive 51 goals already this season – the most in the league. If Arsenal fans ever think that Arsene Wenger sacrifices substance for style, they ought to take a look at Tony Mowbray. The bizarrely-accented manager’s principles are admirable, but few are envious of the results West Brom’s stylish play has brought.
Aston Villa didn’t only drop two points on Sunday. They dropped them from a great height onto a hard floor, smashing them into a million tiny pieces. And with that act of carelessness, the hope that had evaporated from me after Saturday’s match with Fulham was suddenly restored. Win tonight, and we’re breathing down Villa’s neck. And this time, after five games without a win (a fact no-one seems to have noticed), their nerve might just falter.
Our team news sees William Gallas unavailable through injury, with Johan Djourou set to come in alongside stand-in skipper Kolo. Ahead of that, I expect Andrey Arshavin to drop to the bench after playing 90 minutes on Saturday, with Emmanuel Eboue or Alex Song (with Denilson switching to the right) options to replace him. Arsene Wenger, however, feels Arshavin’s peak condition is not too far away:
“I believe that physically it will take him 10 more days. He says he felt much better than in the first game. You could see that he is not completely there but I am convinced he will have a tremendous influence on the game. Arshavin has a quick brain and he is many steps ahead of the game and even on Saturday he gave two great chances to Robin; one header and one that Robin tried to finish with his right foot – two great passes. He had two great chances himself too. When you can have that kind of impact on a game it is very positive.”
Upfront it’s likely to be Van Persie and Bendtner attempting to test the midlanders’ wavering backline. West Brom, meanwhile, will be deprived of on-loan Jay Simpson, who has been one of their best performers in recent weeks. This is a ground where Manchester United racked up a 5-0 victory.  Whilst we’re not at United’s level, three points oughtn’t be beyond us.
As you may recall, over the weekend we ran a competition to win a free six month subscription to ArsenalTVOnline, just by offering feedback on their free coverage of the Fulham match. Well, a winner has been plucked from the depths of my specially-constructed email account, and congratulations are due to Erik Jørgensen from Norway. The folks at ATVO have your details and should be in touch soon.
Everyone asocciated with Arsenal requires two things tonight: three points, and goals. Though if neccessary, I’ll take the former and accept the singular form of the latter.
Come On You Reds.
March 2nd, 2009 06:16am
GilbertoSilver
1) David Bentley blasting his penalty wide in the decisive penalty shoot at the Carling Cup Final
2) Aston Villa conspiring to “do an Arsenal” and concede two late late goals, throwing away a certain victory against Stoke.
The latter is of course of particular relevance to our season, and means that Villa have left the door to the Champions League ever so slightly ajar. It was quite funny watching MOTD2: when John Carew scored Villa’s second, Jonathan Pearce declared the game “won” and informed the viewers that “Aston Villa were on their way to the Champions League”. Now, whilst my opinion yesterday was that that may well be the case, I’m not sure it’s the place of an independent commentator like the BBC to make that assertion. With eleven games to play, the gap is six points, which feels much more surmountable than eight. We just have to give it everything we’ve got, starting tomorrow at struggling West Brom.
No time for much more this morning – just a quick note to say that if you watched ArsenalTVOnline’s free coverage of Arsenal vs Fulham don’t forget to send some feedback to atvo@gunnerblog.com to stand a chance of winning a subscription to the service. Ciao for now.
March 1st, 2009 12:05am
GilbertoSilver
Arsenal 0 – 0 Fulham
Highlights here; Arsene’s reaction here
I would say I am more optimistic than a lot of Arsenal fans. For much of this season, I have preached the twin beliefs of patience and persistence, in the hope that those would come to fruition in the form of a Champions League place. Until yesterday, I was very confident that fourth spot would be ours. After our fourth consecutive 0-0 draw in the league, that has changed.
Champions League? We’re having a laugh, and I suspect a lot of opposition supporters will be letting us know that between now and the end of the season. If Aston Villa can overcome Stoke today they’ll be eight points clear with a superior goal difference. The principle problem is that not only do Aston Villa have to suffer a poor run of form – we have to summon a good one. At the moment, I am more likely to summon the spirit of Herbert Chapman.
The line-up had looked exciting and full of attacking potential. We deployed the same system as against Roma, with Vela and Arshavin joining Nasri in a creative trident behind Robin van Persie. However, we did not begin the game with the same sense of urgency that had Roma on the ropes, and allowed Fulham a foothold in the game. Whilst chances came, there was no real sustained pressure, apart from a brief spell at the start of the second half.
Even so, there were opportunities you’d expect us to convert. Whilst Denilson, Diaby, and Nasri all failed to replicate their midweek form, Andrey Arshavin was again excellent until he faded late on. He picked out one superb cross and a defence-splitting pass, from both of which Robin van Persie really ought to have scored. Van Persie also headed against a post, whilst Diaby and Arshavin himself pulled good saves from the impressive Mark Schwarzer.
That said, Fulham themselves arguably had clearer chances, with one Andy Johnson turn setting him clear on goal, and Bobby Zamora firing wide when well-placed late on. Roy Hodgson’s side moved the ball extremely well, and produced a particularly humiliating series of passes in the final ten minutes that left our players not even chasing shadows, but ambling vaguely in their direction.
Maybe they were tired. Some of them gave a huge amount against Roma. But I could only accept them being tired in the eightieth minute if they had given everything from the first. There is a serious problem with motivation in this side, and it seems that so many of them simply don’t realise the importance of going out there every week and hammering sides into submission. The best sides go for early goals and kill the game – then you’re free to pass the ball sideways to your hearts content. We start every league game as if we have a three goal advantage. It’s casual to the point of unproffesionalism.
And now I no longer believe. I no longer believe we’ll be in the Champions League next season. I hope to God I’m wrong, but it now seems more likely that we’ll end up in the reformed Europa League. Yes: Walcott, Cesc, Adebayor, Eduardo & Co will all be back. But we had three of those players available at the start of the season, and conspired to lose plenty of games. Dropping six points from our last three home games is not the form required in a tight race. If Robin van Persie hadn’t grabbed that stoppage time equaliser at Goodison Park, Everton would now be above us.
Boos reverberated around the ground at full-time. I didn’t partake, and I don’t believe it will prove constructive. The players are suffering from a paradoxical condition which takes in both laziness and nervousness. Booing won’t solve either of those things. We need a goal, and a win. West Brom on Tuesday looks like a good place to start.
Mind you, so did West Ham. And Sunderland. And Fulham.
Today feels very much like Sunday. And that isn’t a good thing.
February 28th, 2009 08:43am
GilbertoSilver
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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