Pascal Cygan and Jens Lehmann sucked! The former more so than the latter.
Of course, I'm talking about Arsenal's narrow win over impressive Wigan on Nov 19 2005.
While I wasn't expecting the Gunners to walk all over Wigan (especially considering their rather lofty current position in the league), I was hoping that they could at least win with a two goal margin and not look as shaky as they did at the back.
Cygan was horrendous. He just didn't fit in at left back. He was having a torrid time.
While I understand that it's not his natural position, I expect his defensive instincts, (considering he's quite a senior figure) to be far better than they were on the night.
He's slow and kept getting bamboozled each time Wigan attacked from his side - and they kept probing all night knowing that it would be a chink in Arsenal's armour.
Luckily for the Gunners though, the pitch was quite bumpy and bad and the home side also took a more direct approach or used the long ball from time to time.
Though Arsenal aren't the best in the air, IMHO, it's slightly easier to cut out long passes if your defensive positioning is relatively sound.
Of course, I'm talking about Arsenal's narrow win over impressive Wigan on Nov 19 2005.
While I wasn't expecting the Gunners to walk all over Wigan (especially considering their rather lofty current position in the league), I was hoping that they could at least win with a two goal margin and not look as shaky as they did at the back.
Cygan was horrendous. He just didn't fit in at left back. He was having a torrid time.
While I understand that it's not his natural position, I expect his defensive instincts, (considering he's quite a senior figure) to be far better than they were on the night.
He's slow and kept getting bamboozled each time Wigan attacked from his side - and they kept probing all night knowing that it would be a chink in Arsenal's armour.
Luckily for the Gunners though, the pitch was quite bumpy and bad and the home side also took a more direct approach or used the long ball from time to time.
Though Arsenal aren't the best in the air, IMHO, it's slightly easier to cut out long passes if your defensive positioning is relatively sound.
Personally, I feel Lehmann didn't do enough to keep out Wigan's two goals.
Don't get me wrong, they were good goals but I also blame the German's lack of agility and speed (of thought?) for letting them slip through.
But yes, he's not totally to blame for a defense that looked to be in shambles.
Nonetheless, I'd like to see the club invest in a more youthful (but hopefully experienced) and agile keeper.
I think Stuart Taylor made a mistake in moving to Villa.
Though he may not break into the Arsenal first team soon, but the chances were there and quite clearly, Arsene Wenger was willing to give him a shot as he did in previous seasons.
And what's the difference at Villa?
He's still playing second fiddle and if it were me, unless I were guaranteed a first team spot, I'd rather bide my time at a bigger club like Arsenal.
I wonder what made him leave...
Lehmann, meanwhile, can kiss his chance at being the German first choice goalkeeper goodbye with performances like that at the JJB Stadium.
Don't get me wrong, they were good goals but I also blame the German's lack of agility and speed (of thought?) for letting them slip through.
But yes, he's not totally to blame for a defense that looked to be in shambles.
Nonetheless, I'd like to see the club invest in a more youthful (but hopefully experienced) and agile keeper.
I think Stuart Taylor made a mistake in moving to Villa.
Though he may not break into the Arsenal first team soon, but the chances were there and quite clearly, Arsene Wenger was willing to give him a shot as he did in previous seasons.
And what's the difference at Villa?
He's still playing second fiddle and if it were me, unless I were guaranteed a first team spot, I'd rather bide my time at a bigger club like Arsenal.
I wonder what made him leave...
Lehmann, meanwhile, can kiss his chance at being the German first choice goalkeeper goodbye with performances like that at the JJB Stadium.
Sol Campbell wasn't having a great day at the JJB Stadium either.
He hardly featured prominently for the side and it was Kolo Toure's speed and tenacity that kept Arsenal in it several times just when it looked like using Route One was going to pay off handsomely for the home side.
He hardly featured prominently for the side and it was Kolo Toure's speed and tenacity that kept Arsenal in it several times just when it looked like using Route One was going to pay off handsomely for the home side.
As for midfield, I have to say that Freddie Ljungberg didn't have a great game either but then again, it was probably because he had to track back and shore up the defense on the left, which isn't exactly his favourite side of midfield.
Putting Robert Pires there would have been a grave mistake as the Frenchman isn't much of a defensive type and it would have left Arsenal wide open for attack especially with Cygan in left back.
I recall a point in the match where Cygan was completely out of position and Ljungberg had to get back really deep.
Cygan was taken for a ride and the team was losing its shape.
Ljungberg was none too pleased about it and once the ball went out of play, I noticed that he gave Cygan a piece of his mind before getting on with the game.
Putting Robert Pires there would have been a grave mistake as the Frenchman isn't much of a defensive type and it would have left Arsenal wide open for attack especially with Cygan in left back.
I recall a point in the match where Cygan was completely out of position and Ljungberg had to get back really deep.
Cygan was taken for a ride and the team was losing its shape.
Ljungberg was none too pleased about it and once the ball went out of play, I noticed that he gave Cygan a piece of his mind before getting on with the game.
Cesc Fabregas and Gilberto Silva did pretty well but Pires' aging legs were showing.
He's a great footballer but I think age has finally caught up.
He's still quite capable of making great runs, passes and showing up at the right place at the right time but I feel the rigours of the league have taken a toll on the man.
While still quite useful (especially if you look at his goal scoring record), I think he should be played less or at least brought on more as a super-sub to inject more creativity into the side if needed.
He's a great footballer but I think age has finally caught up.
He's still quite capable of making great runs, passes and showing up at the right place at the right time but I feel the rigours of the league have taken a toll on the man.
While still quite useful (especially if you look at his goal scoring record), I think he should be played less or at least brought on more as a super-sub to inject more creativity into the side if needed.
Up front, Thierry Henry was awesome, again, and Robin Van Persie continued to impress.
However, sadly, the Dutch boy disappeared into the game after scoring his goal in the 11th minute.
Henry drove in a scorcher or a free kick. It was inch perfect and there was nothing the keeper could have done about it. That goal proved to be decisive.
However, sadly, the Dutch boy disappeared into the game after scoring his goal in the 11th minute.
Henry drove in a scorcher or a free kick. It was inch perfect and there was nothing the keeper could have done about it. That goal proved to be decisive.
The team in general, could have played better...especially when defending. They just weren't closing down the opposition quickly enough.
But all in all, I guess as long as they got the three points in the bag, we can all let out a sigh of relief.
But all in all, I guess as long as they got the three points in the bag, we can all let out a sigh of relief.
Wonder how many more Get out of Jail cards we have left...
No comments:
Post a Comment