What a captain's performance....21 minutes to change everything. Prior to that, villa stood resolute at the back. Arsenal could hardly carve up too many chances. It was a stalemate with both teams canceling themselves out in the middle of the park.
Then cue Cesc Fabregas. Barely recovered from injury, he steps up to the plate. A silly foul later just outside the box and we're 1-0 ahead with a fantastic free kick from the crafty Catalan.
Arsenal suddenly started to show impetus and not long after, Cesc got his 2nd. It was a good ball out of left defense from Traore but I feel a large amount of credit should also go to Walcott for his control and for releasing the ball at the perfect time for Cesc to latch on to it before curling it around friedel and beating him at his near post. Vintage Arsenal. What an inspired showing.
Too bad he got a recurrence of his hamstring problem and had to be subbed off. Shame. Hope to see you back soon, son.
Diaby got another goal after dribbling practically unopposed from the middle of the field up to just outside the penalty box. Then the Frenchman dispatched a shot to the bottom right of the goal while friedel's view was blocked by the defender. That's a 2nd decent game he's had on the trot. I hope he can keep it up consistently.
Most of the team played well except for denilson who I thought didn't assert himself enough. The back four were solid, Song was immense in breaking up attacks (we're gonna miss him dearly during the ACN), Arshavin and Nasri kept probing.
Eduardo could've done better though. He missed what looked like a sitter in the first few minutes of the game and was mostly anonymous for the rest of the match.
The worrying part was how the team were struggling to break down villa up until the Cesc free kick. Again, like I said before, it pays to have a good Plan B. Good freekick takers are essential. Score from 1 and you're likely to open up the opposition's play and punish them on the counter-attack.
It's pompey next n then it's the hammers away in the F.A Cup. That's gonna be a tough one. Come on, Arsenal!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Arsenal 3 - Hull 0
What a great performance. We didn't tear them apart with the most attractive football on the planet, but it was great because I saw strong commitment from the entire team for a change. Everyone played their part. Yes, even Abou Diaby and Denilson (and we know how highly I rate them).
But as always, credit where it's due and those two played their part by scoring a good goal each. Hats off.
Denilson's goal really was the turning point. Before that, Arsenal were trying but just couldn't find that breakthrough. And this is where "plan B" is crucial to any team.
Champions MUST be able to score from set pieces. MUST! manure proved it time and time again. Each time they have a title winning team, you'll always find a good freekick specialist. It helps break deadlocks and open up the opposition when they come and park the proverbial bus in front of goal. Look at the manure side with david beckham. manure struggled winning trophies after he left - until cronaldo came in the picture. They're struggling a bit now that he left to join Real Madrid.
In that exact vein, Denilson provided us with the key to breaking down hull. Ok, maybe a bit of knit-picking, but I still feel Denilson goes down looking for a freekick much too easily. There. Done. I said it. :) But let's not take the gloss off his perfectly taken freekick.
Diaby came up with a great assist for the 2nd goal and blasted in a good one of his own after a positive run into the box to receive Andrei's pass. That's something else this team has been lacking and I've said it before. No one makes intelligent runs into the box anymore. They're too static and that's easy to mark. Great work by the Frenchman but again, to knit-pick, I feel he's not committed enough in defending and doesn't get stuck in for the loose 50-50s. There. Done. I said it, again. :)
As for the rest of the team, everyone put in a good shift. A special mention must go to Mikael Silvestre. I felt he had a great game. He may not have the legs for running up and down the length of the pitch ala -clichy or -traore but I thought he did his job of defending well. There weren't any notable incidences on his side. He did give away a penalty but that was a WRONG call from the ref. The (too insignificant to name) hull guy threw in a blatant dive looking for it. Bastard.
Luckily, justice was served when Almunia saved the weak penalty well. Alarming was the fact that no one in red and white followed up on the shot in the event that he saved it. Shows the outfielders' confidence in him. hull had a 2nd bite of the cherry when Almunia's save rebounded back at them but the 3 hull players who went for it got in each others' way and fluffed their lines. They were promptly punished for their piss-assed diving shite by being stuffed with Eddie's goal, and Arsenal's 2nd minutes later.
As mentioned, it was Diaby's assist and it seemed to me like Eddie was conspiring to cock it up by giving it a somewhat awkward tap in. It went in anyway and a goal is a goal. I don't care how we score it. I'll take it.
Just before Denilson got on the scoresheet, Nasri, who was full of graft throughout the game, caused a bit of jostling. You'll read in the media how he "kicked" or "stamped" on some insignificant hull cunt but in truth, it was nowhere near as bad as the media love to make it sound. Fucking bastards. Nasri stepped on his foot and the fucking twat dived down as though someone stuck a hunting knife up his arse. Wanker. That sparked a bit of pushing and shoving from all parties (even Almunia was at the scene - but not Gallas) and Nasri picked up a card. Fuck em.
The best part of the entire incident was how Silvestre jumped in to stick up for Nasri in a blink of an eye. That's camaraderie and I'll have it no other way. Fuck the morals of the situation. I rather have a team that fights for each other in all circumstances. That was the kind of spirit Arsenal had when they last won anything. So fuck the british press and fuck the resulting red cards and bans. I like a team with fighting spirit.
Other special mention goes to Song. Another sterling display from him defensively though I felt he could do better with his long passes going forward. I worry about how we're gonna do without him when he leaves in a couple of weeks for the ACN.
Vermaelen and Gallas put in another good performance too and had things under control at the back.
Theo missed a great opportunity near the final whistle to rub even more salt on that half-baked cunt phil brown's wounds. He really needs to sharpen up.
Now if only the team can be more consistent. I'm looking at you, Diaby. Denilson, you need to toughen up. Top it up with more clinical finishing (Theo!) and things should look bright again.
All in all, the weekend's performance was a great one. Come on Arsenal!
But as always, credit where it's due and those two played their part by scoring a good goal each. Hats off.
Denilson's goal really was the turning point. Before that, Arsenal were trying but just couldn't find that breakthrough. And this is where "plan B" is crucial to any team.
Champions MUST be able to score from set pieces. MUST! manure proved it time and time again. Each time they have a title winning team, you'll always find a good freekick specialist. It helps break deadlocks and open up the opposition when they come and park the proverbial bus in front of goal. Look at the manure side with david beckham. manure struggled winning trophies after he left - until cronaldo came in the picture. They're struggling a bit now that he left to join Real Madrid.
In that exact vein, Denilson provided us with the key to breaking down hull. Ok, maybe a bit of knit-picking, but I still feel Denilson goes down looking for a freekick much too easily. There. Done. I said it. :) But let's not take the gloss off his perfectly taken freekick.
Diaby came up with a great assist for the 2nd goal and blasted in a good one of his own after a positive run into the box to receive Andrei's pass. That's something else this team has been lacking and I've said it before. No one makes intelligent runs into the box anymore. They're too static and that's easy to mark. Great work by the Frenchman but again, to knit-pick, I feel he's not committed enough in defending and doesn't get stuck in for the loose 50-50s. There. Done. I said it, again. :)
As for the rest of the team, everyone put in a good shift. A special mention must go to Mikael Silvestre. I felt he had a great game. He may not have the legs for running up and down the length of the pitch ala -clichy or -traore but I thought he did his job of defending well. There weren't any notable incidences on his side. He did give away a penalty but that was a WRONG call from the ref. The (too insignificant to name) hull guy threw in a blatant dive looking for it. Bastard.
Luckily, justice was served when Almunia saved the weak penalty well. Alarming was the fact that no one in red and white followed up on the shot in the event that he saved it. Shows the outfielders' confidence in him. hull had a 2nd bite of the cherry when Almunia's save rebounded back at them but the 3 hull players who went for it got in each others' way and fluffed their lines. They were promptly punished for their piss-assed diving shite by being stuffed with Eddie's goal, and Arsenal's 2nd minutes later.
As mentioned, it was Diaby's assist and it seemed to me like Eddie was conspiring to cock it up by giving it a somewhat awkward tap in. It went in anyway and a goal is a goal. I don't care how we score it. I'll take it.
Just before Denilson got on the scoresheet, Nasri, who was full of graft throughout the game, caused a bit of jostling. You'll read in the media how he "kicked" or "stamped" on some insignificant hull cunt but in truth, it was nowhere near as bad as the media love to make it sound. Fucking bastards. Nasri stepped on his foot and the fucking twat dived down as though someone stuck a hunting knife up his arse. Wanker. That sparked a bit of pushing and shoving from all parties (even Almunia was at the scene - but not Gallas) and Nasri picked up a card. Fuck em.
The best part of the entire incident was how Silvestre jumped in to stick up for Nasri in a blink of an eye. That's camaraderie and I'll have it no other way. Fuck the morals of the situation. I rather have a team that fights for each other in all circumstances. That was the kind of spirit Arsenal had when they last won anything. So fuck the british press and fuck the resulting red cards and bans. I like a team with fighting spirit.
Other special mention goes to Song. Another sterling display from him defensively though I felt he could do better with his long passes going forward. I worry about how we're gonna do without him when he leaves in a couple of weeks for the ACN.
Vermaelen and Gallas put in another good performance too and had things under control at the back.
Theo missed a great opportunity near the final whistle to rub even more salt on that half-baked cunt phil brown's wounds. He really needs to sharpen up.
Now if only the team can be more consistent. I'm looking at you, Diaby. Denilson, you need to toughen up. Top it up with more clinical finishing (Theo!) and things should look bright again.
All in all, the weekend's performance was a great one. Come on Arsenal!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Burnley 1 - Arsenal 1
I sensed this would happen. Call me negative if you like. I prefer to think of myself as a realist. I just had that feeling that beating l'fool on their own patch would make complacency sink into this team. True enough, they go and draw at burnley.
Now, let's not take anything away from burnley. Arsenal have to earn their place at the pinnacle of English football so credit where it's due.
Is it merely a coincidence that Arsenal didn't win when diaby is back in the team?
Cesc scored a good goal and Andrei was denied by the woodwork. A bit unlucky not to win I suppose.
Walcott didn't turn up again.
Cesc got injured - hamstring - and things went a bit downhill from then.
Vermaelen conceded the penalty that saw us drop 2 points. He's allowed a mistake or two. Besides, it's a game of 90mins - ample time for the attacking mids and forwards to score goals.
Arsene, please flog off diaby. He will never come good. Never.
Now, let's not take anything away from burnley. Arsenal have to earn their place at the pinnacle of English football so credit where it's due.
Is it merely a coincidence that Arsenal didn't win when diaby is back in the team?
Cesc scored a good goal and Andrei was denied by the woodwork. A bit unlucky not to win I suppose.
Walcott didn't turn up again.
Cesc got injured - hamstring - and things went a bit downhill from then.
Vermaelen conceded the penalty that saw us drop 2 points. He's allowed a mistake or two. Besides, it's a game of 90mins - ample time for the attacking mids and forwards to score goals.
Arsene, please flog off diaby. He will never come good. Never.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Liverpool 1 - Arsenal 2
A victory over l'fool is always good. A victory against l'fool in anfield is better...and that's what Andrei Arshavin conspired to do last nite with a stunning 2nd half strike to bag all 3 point for the gunners.
All the reports will tell you that l'fool had a better 1st half and got a deserved lead. But after a roasting from AW in the dressing room at half time, the boys came out with more determination and started winning more of those 50-50 balls that they weren't getting stuck in for in the 1st 45.
Quite notably from this game, almunia had a bit of a stinker....his "punch" merely set up the ball for kuyt to control n slot home. There were some moans about some l'fool player being in an offside position but that immaterial....not just because Arsenal won in the end, but it's because a lame punch from the keeper like that deserves no less than a goal against. Learning the hard way. almunia was less than impressive, I have to say. He flapped a bit and his distribution was bordering awful.
I think the team did pretty well in defense. Vermaelen was named man of the match and I'm not going to argue about that. He is the kind of player Arsenal should have been signing at least one of every season. He's a man, not a boy, he's brave, determined and committed to the cause. Try telling that to denilson and diaby - the double Ds of damage.
denilson was too light weight last night and kept losing the ball at the slightest touch. He kept going down hoping to win a free kick but they hardly came our way. In the 1st half, the ref seemed to be favouring us (especially for that steven retard penalty claim off a gallas mis-timed tackle) but in the 2nd half, it seemed the ref was looking to make amends and each time denilson went down at the slightest touch, the ref would wave play on and put us under quite a bit of pressure. Plus Arsenal never seem to concentrate for a full 90 minutes when defending.
diaby returned too last nite. Bummer! He came on as a sub and still plays his usual stinking game. He's lame, he should never put on an Arsenal shirt ever again. Always getting caught in possession and I feel he's more a liability to the team. Off with his head!
walcott didn't quite turn up either. I don't recall a single important contribution from him apart from make a run into the box for the 1st goal which came off glen johnson....I suppose the pressure he put on johnson won us that equaliser. Apart from that, i don't recall him having a go at the l'fool defense. You gotta wonder what eboue would be thinking about all this.
The rest of the team played like they should every week. Arshavin only had his goal to account himself for. He hardly had a chance to put the l'fool back line to the test. This was probably because Arsenal were getting crowded out in the middle 3rd that they couldn't deliver good balls to the little russian.
All in all, it was a decent performance. And it helped that l'fool shut off in the 2nd half. I just hope to see less and less of denilson and diaby.
All the reports will tell you that l'fool had a better 1st half and got a deserved lead. But after a roasting from AW in the dressing room at half time, the boys came out with more determination and started winning more of those 50-50 balls that they weren't getting stuck in for in the 1st 45.
Quite notably from this game, almunia had a bit of a stinker....his "punch" merely set up the ball for kuyt to control n slot home. There were some moans about some l'fool player being in an offside position but that immaterial....not just because Arsenal won in the end, but it's because a lame punch from the keeper like that deserves no less than a goal against. Learning the hard way. almunia was less than impressive, I have to say. He flapped a bit and his distribution was bordering awful.
I think the team did pretty well in defense. Vermaelen was named man of the match and I'm not going to argue about that. He is the kind of player Arsenal should have been signing at least one of every season. He's a man, not a boy, he's brave, determined and committed to the cause. Try telling that to denilson and diaby - the double Ds of damage.
denilson was too light weight last night and kept losing the ball at the slightest touch. He kept going down hoping to win a free kick but they hardly came our way. In the 1st half, the ref seemed to be favouring us (especially for that steven retard penalty claim off a gallas mis-timed tackle) but in the 2nd half, it seemed the ref was looking to make amends and each time denilson went down at the slightest touch, the ref would wave play on and put us under quite a bit of pressure. Plus Arsenal never seem to concentrate for a full 90 minutes when defending.
diaby returned too last nite. Bummer! He came on as a sub and still plays his usual stinking game. He's lame, he should never put on an Arsenal shirt ever again. Always getting caught in possession and I feel he's more a liability to the team. Off with his head!
walcott didn't quite turn up either. I don't recall a single important contribution from him apart from make a run into the box for the 1st goal which came off glen johnson....I suppose the pressure he put on johnson won us that equaliser. Apart from that, i don't recall him having a go at the l'fool defense. You gotta wonder what eboue would be thinking about all this.
The rest of the team played like they should every week. Arshavin only had his goal to account himself for. He hardly had a chance to put the l'fool back line to the test. This was probably because Arsenal were getting crowded out in the middle 3rd that they couldn't deliver good balls to the little russian.
All in all, it was a decent performance. And it helped that l'fool shut off in the 2nd half. I just hope to see less and less of denilson and diaby.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Olympiakos 1 - Arsenal FC 0
So the kids lost last night. But it's certainly not the end of the world. Instead, I'm encouraged by the fact that AW fielded the Carling Cup team. Give them a run out, a chance to taste what a big European night is like.
Olympiakos needed to win this to qualify for the next round of the CL so it was certainly going to be a competitive match.
The fact that the kids only lost by a solitary goal is impressive enough, I suppose. Though it has to be said that the Greeks set up to soak in pressure and hit on the counter-attack, which was basically how they scored. I think Kerrea Gilbert (I think it was him in right back) could have done better to anticipate and react when leonardo picked up the loose ball and ran forward to score.
Ramsey put in good shift but I feel he still needs time to grow. Vela fluffed his lines. They need to get the message into their heads that you cannot keep wasting chances at this level and need to be more clinical. It WILL come back to haunt them.
Walcott didn't impress though. I really don't see what's the big deal with him at the moment. He really hasn't shown much promise apart from one or two well taken goals. He doesn't constantly come up with the goods. Yes, he's still young, but you'd expect him to improve, surely. His dribbling doesn't impress and neither does his crossing. I suppose it's probably best to play him as an out and out striker. That should give him the freedom to terrorise the opponent's defense with his blistering pace ala-Thierry Henry and he wouldn't need to worry about getting past defenders too much.
It's l'fool this weekend. They just lost to Fiorentina again and will be looking to bounce back. Nothing better than taking the scalp of one of the big four for a confidence booster. And like I've said before, the wankers always put on a good show when facing Arsenal so it's quite worrying.
At least some of the seniors got a bit of a rest. Hopefully Gallas and Vermaelen will be up to the task on Sunday and torres doesn't play. Fingers crossed.
Olympiakos needed to win this to qualify for the next round of the CL so it was certainly going to be a competitive match.
The fact that the kids only lost by a solitary goal is impressive enough, I suppose. Though it has to be said that the Greeks set up to soak in pressure and hit on the counter-attack, which was basically how they scored. I think Kerrea Gilbert (I think it was him in right back) could have done better to anticipate and react when leonardo picked up the loose ball and ran forward to score.
Ramsey put in good shift but I feel he still needs time to grow. Vela fluffed his lines. They need to get the message into their heads that you cannot keep wasting chances at this level and need to be more clinical. It WILL come back to haunt them.
Walcott didn't impress though. I really don't see what's the big deal with him at the moment. He really hasn't shown much promise apart from one or two well taken goals. He doesn't constantly come up with the goods. Yes, he's still young, but you'd expect him to improve, surely. His dribbling doesn't impress and neither does his crossing. I suppose it's probably best to play him as an out and out striker. That should give him the freedom to terrorise the opponent's defense with his blistering pace ala-Thierry Henry and he wouldn't need to worry about getting past defenders too much.
It's l'fool this weekend. They just lost to Fiorentina again and will be looking to bounce back. Nothing better than taking the scalp of one of the big four for a confidence booster. And like I've said before, the wankers always put on a good show when facing Arsenal so it's quite worrying.
At least some of the seniors got a bit of a rest. Hopefully Gallas and Vermaelen will be up to the task on Sunday and torres doesn't play. Fingers crossed.
Monday, December 07, 2009
Arsenal FC 2 - Stoke 0
Finally. A win. But let's take it in context - while Stoke weren't going too badly in the league, it's just Stoke and it was at home at the Emirates. I wouldn't get my hopes up way too high after this result. They still lack the consistency to make a title challenge. Let's see where they take this and if they can built on it.
Nonetheless, 3pts is still 3pts and we can't take that for granted. Like I said, winning the league isn't all about beating the big four, but grabbing all 3pts against the "lesser lights".
I thought Ramsey's goal was excellent. Very well taken for a kid still so young. I also liked the fact that Arshavin genuinely made attempts to score. That's the difference with a lot of other "attacking" players we have. Most are afraid to take a shot but the little Russian isn't fazed by defenders and always tries to receive a pass, turn, and most importantly, shoot. Work the keeper. Make your own luck. If you don't try, you don't score.
I can't stand the fact that nobody attacks the far post. Watched the highlights earlier and saw Nasri (I think) make a brilliant dribble-run into the box on the right after a great through ball from Arshavin (I think) but there just wasn't anyone waiting to receive his pass. That was a tap in waiting to happen. Nobody anticipates well enough to be at the right place at the right time. Maybe Eduardo might have done differently.
Arsenal are decimated by injury at the moment. Too many players are getting injured and they face l'fool next weekend. Not the best position to be in. One can only pray that torres won't play against Arsenal but I think we all know that won't be the case. I don't care that l'fool aren't playing all that great right now but they somehow find a way to deliver in bigger matches (bar chelski).
There's the last (and meaningless) CL match in mid week. Hopefully AW gives the Carling Cup kids a game. He's got nothing to lose.
Nonetheless, 3pts is still 3pts and we can't take that for granted. Like I said, winning the league isn't all about beating the big four, but grabbing all 3pts against the "lesser lights".
I thought Ramsey's goal was excellent. Very well taken for a kid still so young. I also liked the fact that Arshavin genuinely made attempts to score. That's the difference with a lot of other "attacking" players we have. Most are afraid to take a shot but the little Russian isn't fazed by defenders and always tries to receive a pass, turn, and most importantly, shoot. Work the keeper. Make your own luck. If you don't try, you don't score.
I can't stand the fact that nobody attacks the far post. Watched the highlights earlier and saw Nasri (I think) make a brilliant dribble-run into the box on the right after a great through ball from Arshavin (I think) but there just wasn't anyone waiting to receive his pass. That was a tap in waiting to happen. Nobody anticipates well enough to be at the right place at the right time. Maybe Eduardo might have done differently.
Arsenal are decimated by injury at the moment. Too many players are getting injured and they face l'fool next weekend. Not the best position to be in. One can only pray that torres won't play against Arsenal but I think we all know that won't be the case. I don't care that l'fool aren't playing all that great right now but they somehow find a way to deliver in bigger matches (bar chelski).
There's the last (and meaningless) CL match in mid week. Hopefully AW gives the Carling Cup kids a game. He's got nothing to lose.
Friday, December 04, 2009
Manchester City 3 - Arsenal 0
Another game, another loss, what else is new?
I didn't watch this one. It was boys against men again. Only consolation is that cunt bloodybayor didn't score to rub more salt into the wound.
Arsene didn't shake sparky's hand after the end of the game. Boo-fuckin-Hoo....the British press is taking the incident to town. Again, what else is new?
I didn't watch this one. It was boys against men again. Only consolation is that cunt bloodybayor didn't score to rub more salt into the wound.
Arsene didn't shake sparky's hand after the end of the game. Boo-fuckin-Hoo....the British press is taking the incident to town. Again, what else is new?
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Several years and two painful losses later...(Arsenal 0 - Chelsea 3, Sunderland 1 - Arsenal 0)
It's been a while...I haven't penned my thoughts down for ages. That's probably because of the way the team has been performing in recent years. Not really a lot to be positive about. But about a year ago I lost a friend I used to bitch about Arsenal to whenever I needed to rant so now I have to revive this blog to act as an outlet.
Let's start with the abject performances against Sunderland and, more recently, the Russians from West London.
Losing to the blues was actually kinda expected and acceptable, though they could have done better with their performance. But what I feel is unacceptable, and what will come back to haunt Arsenal, is their loss to Sunderland.
I've always believed that winning the league isn't all about beating the top 4 teams. It would be great to beat them and seriously stamp your authority, but to me, winning the league is about beating the "lesser lights".
They didn't seem interested at all against Sunderland and they were made to pay. There was hardly any penetration in the final third. It's like they forgot how to play like they were playing at the start of this season.
Perhaps it the 2-week international break but that's just an excuse. If you really wanted it, you'd go out and get it. That's what champions and winners do.
As with Chelsea, they were outclassed - simple as that.
I watched the teams appear out of the tunnel and thought to myself the difference in physical size between the 2 sets of players is so outstanding. Chelsea have the brute strength of Drogba, Anelka, Lampard, Essien, Obi Mikel, Terry and Carvalho. Arsenal had....um, does Vermaelen count? Then maybe we can throw in Song but that's about as physical as they get.
Speaking of Song, why in the world was he subbed at half time? If anyone could give them a better physical presence in midfield, he can. Not Denilson.Denilson has his moments, but I feel he's only marginally better than Diaby.
Diaby stinks. Really. Diaby is one of the worst players to don the red and white of Arsenal. I've not seen a more lazy, slow and inconsistent player than him. He lacks confidence and never takes a game by the scruff of it's neck like Cesc does. He's such a disappointment and he doesn't have fire in his belly to fight for the team. Just watch him get brushed aside easily and not even bother to get his ass off the turf to fight for the ball he'd just given away.
Denilson also gets brushed aside with alarming ease. And he doesn't fly in with tackles. If he's to take his place as DCM, he's got to get stuck in. He's also slow and his range of passing is elementary. Diaby doesn't have that problem though - Diaby doesn't pass (at least not to his team mates).
Song has been a revelation. Why sub him at half time when you're 2 goals down? AW should have taken Denilson out instead and put Walcott in his place. At least there would be a shield for the defense and the other midfielders can do more up front without worrying too much about tracking back.
Let's take a look at Chelsea's 1st goal. Denilson didn't close down Terry fast enough to throw him off. Then comes Gallas - looked like he was doing his old pals a favour. Absolutely no attempt to clear the ball as it passed him and reached Drogba. And what of the identical 2nd? But everyone has a bad day at the office and perhaps that was his.There's no point talking about the 3rd because the first 2 goals already knocked the stuffing out of Arsenal that it didn't matter.
And what of our fullbacks? Sagna can't cross to save his life. Eboue might be useful in that department. Clichy can't cross either but he's injured. Gibbs and Traore are probably better crossers off the left but both still have much to learn about football in the top flight.
Then, the dreaded final 3rd. Why doesn't anyone make anymore runs into the box and open things up. Just watch our forward line stand static in and around the box. It'll never open up for them that way. Never. No longer do we have intelligent forward players who make darting runs and split defences like we did with Ljungberg, Pires and Henry.
The forward line is also very slow now. In one counter-attack after clearing a Chelsea corner, 3 red/white shirts were "racing" in attack through the middle. They made one pass and the next thing you know, the Chelsea penalty box had 6 blue shirts covering all angles. Credit where it's due - Chelsea defended very very well. The fact that they've shipped the least number of goals against is a testament to that.
Plenty needs to be done. Buying players is one way but I don't subscribe to that completely. I still think these kids can do more (though they're very light weight). AW just needs to address the issues: Crosses, intelligent movement in the final 3rd and a tougher/faster/better DCM to partner Song in case 2 are needed.
That'll do for now...
Let's start with the abject performances against Sunderland and, more recently, the Russians from West London.
Losing to the blues was actually kinda expected and acceptable, though they could have done better with their performance. But what I feel is unacceptable, and what will come back to haunt Arsenal, is their loss to Sunderland.
I've always believed that winning the league isn't all about beating the top 4 teams. It would be great to beat them and seriously stamp your authority, but to me, winning the league is about beating the "lesser lights".
They didn't seem interested at all against Sunderland and they were made to pay. There was hardly any penetration in the final third. It's like they forgot how to play like they were playing at the start of this season.
Perhaps it the 2-week international break but that's just an excuse. If you really wanted it, you'd go out and get it. That's what champions and winners do.
As with Chelsea, they were outclassed - simple as that.
I watched the teams appear out of the tunnel and thought to myself the difference in physical size between the 2 sets of players is so outstanding. Chelsea have the brute strength of Drogba, Anelka, Lampard, Essien, Obi Mikel, Terry and Carvalho. Arsenal had....um, does Vermaelen count? Then maybe we can throw in Song but that's about as physical as they get.
Speaking of Song, why in the world was he subbed at half time? If anyone could give them a better physical presence in midfield, he can. Not Denilson.Denilson has his moments, but I feel he's only marginally better than Diaby.
Diaby stinks. Really. Diaby is one of the worst players to don the red and white of Arsenal. I've not seen a more lazy, slow and inconsistent player than him. He lacks confidence and never takes a game by the scruff of it's neck like Cesc does. He's such a disappointment and he doesn't have fire in his belly to fight for the team. Just watch him get brushed aside easily and not even bother to get his ass off the turf to fight for the ball he'd just given away.
Denilson also gets brushed aside with alarming ease. And he doesn't fly in with tackles. If he's to take his place as DCM, he's got to get stuck in. He's also slow and his range of passing is elementary. Diaby doesn't have that problem though - Diaby doesn't pass (at least not to his team mates).
Song has been a revelation. Why sub him at half time when you're 2 goals down? AW should have taken Denilson out instead and put Walcott in his place. At least there would be a shield for the defense and the other midfielders can do more up front without worrying too much about tracking back.
Let's take a look at Chelsea's 1st goal. Denilson didn't close down Terry fast enough to throw him off. Then comes Gallas - looked like he was doing his old pals a favour. Absolutely no attempt to clear the ball as it passed him and reached Drogba. And what of the identical 2nd? But everyone has a bad day at the office and perhaps that was his.There's no point talking about the 3rd because the first 2 goals already knocked the stuffing out of Arsenal that it didn't matter.
And what of our fullbacks? Sagna can't cross to save his life. Eboue might be useful in that department. Clichy can't cross either but he's injured. Gibbs and Traore are probably better crossers off the left but both still have much to learn about football in the top flight.
Then, the dreaded final 3rd. Why doesn't anyone make anymore runs into the box and open things up. Just watch our forward line stand static in and around the box. It'll never open up for them that way. Never. No longer do we have intelligent forward players who make darting runs and split defences like we did with Ljungberg, Pires and Henry.
The forward line is also very slow now. In one counter-attack after clearing a Chelsea corner, 3 red/white shirts were "racing" in attack through the middle. They made one pass and the next thing you know, the Chelsea penalty box had 6 blue shirts covering all angles. Credit where it's due - Chelsea defended very very well. The fact that they've shipped the least number of goals against is a testament to that.
Plenty needs to be done. Buying players is one way but I don't subscribe to that completely. I still think these kids can do more (though they're very light weight). AW just needs to address the issues: Crosses, intelligent movement in the final 3rd and a tougher/faster/better DCM to partner Song in case 2 are needed.
That'll do for now...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)