First leg and advantage to Manchester United.
1-0 is not a bad scoreline if you consider that Man United scored after only 17 minutes. For the first 20 minutes Arsenal were blitzed. I thought immediately after Man United had scored that Arsenal might get drubbed 3 or 4 nil. I told the bloke sitting next to me that if Arsenal could survive not conceding another goal before half-time then they would be okay.
Some Arsenal players seemed overawed by the occasion. They simply froze.
Old Trafford
76,000 fans, 72,000 of which are the enemy.
Champions League semi-final.
Man United players were like baying dogs going for the kill, but once they scored they calmed down and took their foot off the gas.
Bad move.
The tie should have been won at half-time. Arsenal were there for the taking.
In the second half, Arsenal played more composed football. There were times when Arsenal dominated possession. However, keeping possession of the ball is all well and good, but football is about goals. When it comes to procreating, what's the point of being good at foreplay if you can't penetrate?
At the end of the game, Arsenal nearly nicked a goal and Man United players were happy to hear the final whistle. A good sign for the future in my opinion.
Here are some observations:
Arsenal look and play better with two strikers. Arsenal looked threatening with Bendtner and Eduardo playing. They made United players concerned;
Rooney did a job on Walcott;
United play better with Tevez;
Almunia is a top quality keeper. You can now forget about his performance at Stoke;
Song was immense. Apart from a couple of bad passes he did a lot of things right: tackled well, won headers, broke up United attacks and started Arsenal attacks.
Wenger is right when he says that you will see a different Arsenal at The Emirates. Arsenal were poor partly because Man United were very good.
With the scoreline at 1-0 many might say that Arsenal are out. They should be out but they're no way near out. True, if United score first at the Emirates then I would say that they are through to the final in Rome.
However, there are some previous games that suggest all is not lost.
Back in February, Arsenal blitzed Roma but only won 1-0. The return leg was different. Arsenal played poorly and lost 1-0.
In 1980, Arsenal played Juventus in the Cup Winners Cup semi-final. They drew the first leg at Highbury 1-1. Pundits said that Arsenal were out because the Italians had the away goal. Arsenal won the return leg 1-0.
In the 1995 Cup Winners Cup semi-final against Sampdoria, Arsenal won the first leg at home 3-2. Again, the pundits said Arsenal were out because the Italians had two away goals. In the second leg, Sampdoria went ahead 3-1 scoring two goals in last eight minutes, only for Stephan Schwarz to score a 30 yard free-kick in injury time and send the game into extra-time. Seaman, who had two cracked ribs, saved three penalties in the shoot-out and Arsenal went on to the final.
On both occasions Arsenal played a Spanish team in the final.
I would love to play Barcelona again in a final.
The Manchester United game is far from over even though it should be.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
The Big Red One
I've never been more excited for an Arsenal match than tomorrow. Quite simply, this is a tie I've waited for the last ten years. Arsenal Football Club versus Manchester United Football Club. It represents England at it's very best, and the world will watch to see which football side emerges victorious.
To be correct, hopefully, the tie will not be decided tomorrow. Any manager will tell their team that you cannot necessarily win the tie in the first leg, but you definitely can lose it.
But this tie has everything.
It has the grand rivalry between Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson. The truth is, we hate Ferguson with a passion because he is a successful manager. Were he our manager, I'd venture that most Gooners would defend him with great zeal, the same way they defend Arsene. If it were the other way around, it's hard to say. That's a comment that says more about United fans than it does about Arsenal fans. Both are class managers in an objective sense, although Wenger remains much more of a purist. He is a man who tries to achieve champagne football built on fantasies, something that simply doesn't exist anymore in this era of football.
It has the wonderful talents between both squads. I do not want to highlight the fine players that United have in this segment, because it makes me sick. More to the point, I'd like to say that the players have the opportunity to take another step towards supremacy. Last year, we suffered a horrible exit against Liverpool at Anfield. The players learn from episodes like this, and I'm confident that if we were to lose this tie, our players will not crumble up and die. That doesn't mean the players aren't up or prepared for tomorrow. They'll want it badly. It's often said that players nowadays fancy the Champions League more than the League, that may be due to the cosmopolitan nature of the big clubs now, but it is a fact. The only trophy players covet more is the World Cup. I think the league is very important, but the Champions League is a huge omission in Arsene Wenger's glorious CV. If this group of players achieve what most people feel is impossible, it may rank as his greatest achievement.
It has the history that was too easily swept under the rug. They may be "friends" now, but as fierce competitors, the two managers still do not like to lose to one another. Let's not forget that Cesc was there for pizzagate. The hatred wasn't what it once was, but after this tie, everything will come back. I guarantee it. I can't begin to describe to you how much I hate United.
Tomorrow, I want to see only one thing by the end. Obviously, I would love to head to the Emirates with a 3-0 lead in hand. However, this is probably unlikely.
What I would like to see is us in a position to win the tie at the Emirates by winning at the Emirates. I want the tie to remain alive. I want the team to experience the sensation of playing United at the Emirates knowing that if they win, they'll progress to the Champions League Final. I want the fans at the Emirates to realize that they're watching something special, something that will forever be remembered in history.
Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have never played each other in this format before. This is a tie that will be decided over 180 minutes, not 90.
The thing I'd like to tell our fans is to enjoy the occasion and support the squad. They never gave up on each other, so we have no reason to give up on them. It's rare that you get to see genius on this level collide like two freight trains.
This tie will have majesty and ferocity. It will be one for the ages.
To be correct, hopefully, the tie will not be decided tomorrow. Any manager will tell their team that you cannot necessarily win the tie in the first leg, but you definitely can lose it.
But this tie has everything.
It has the grand rivalry between Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson. The truth is, we hate Ferguson with a passion because he is a successful manager. Were he our manager, I'd venture that most Gooners would defend him with great zeal, the same way they defend Arsene. If it were the other way around, it's hard to say. That's a comment that says more about United fans than it does about Arsenal fans. Both are class managers in an objective sense, although Wenger remains much more of a purist. He is a man who tries to achieve champagne football built on fantasies, something that simply doesn't exist anymore in this era of football.
It has the wonderful talents between both squads. I do not want to highlight the fine players that United have in this segment, because it makes me sick. More to the point, I'd like to say that the players have the opportunity to take another step towards supremacy. Last year, we suffered a horrible exit against Liverpool at Anfield. The players learn from episodes like this, and I'm confident that if we were to lose this tie, our players will not crumble up and die. That doesn't mean the players aren't up or prepared for tomorrow. They'll want it badly. It's often said that players nowadays fancy the Champions League more than the League, that may be due to the cosmopolitan nature of the big clubs now, but it is a fact. The only trophy players covet more is the World Cup. I think the league is very important, but the Champions League is a huge omission in Arsene Wenger's glorious CV. If this group of players achieve what most people feel is impossible, it may rank as his greatest achievement.
It has the history that was too easily swept under the rug. They may be "friends" now, but as fierce competitors, the two managers still do not like to lose to one another. Let's not forget that Cesc was there for pizzagate. The hatred wasn't what it once was, but after this tie, everything will come back. I guarantee it. I can't begin to describe to you how much I hate United.
Tomorrow, I want to see only one thing by the end. Obviously, I would love to head to the Emirates with a 3-0 lead in hand. However, this is probably unlikely.
What I would like to see is us in a position to win the tie at the Emirates by winning at the Emirates. I want the tie to remain alive. I want the team to experience the sensation of playing United at the Emirates knowing that if they win, they'll progress to the Champions League Final. I want the fans at the Emirates to realize that they're watching something special, something that will forever be remembered in history.
Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have never played each other in this format before. This is a tie that will be decided over 180 minutes, not 90.
The thing I'd like to tell our fans is to enjoy the occasion and support the squad. They never gave up on each other, so we have no reason to give up on them. It's rare that you get to see genius on this level collide like two freight trains.
This tie will have majesty and ferocity. It will be one for the ages.
My Rover Your Rolls
I looked up Rolls Royce on the respected edmunds.com site. As expected, the praise was gushing; “stately, opulent and luxurious”, “set a standard that other luxury car makers have aspired to reach”, “the best car in the world”, “at the front of the ultra-luxury pack”. If I were to make comparisons to automobiles, it is clear that Manchester United would be the Rolls Royce of football clubs. They are standard bearers sitting at the top of the football mountain.
I then looked up Range Rover – the Range Rover Sport model to be exact; “a premium SUV that represents a shift in focus for this SUV-oriented luxury brand.”
I stress shift in focus for that is exactly what Arsenal have done with regard to the Wenger model for player acquisition and squad building. While we’ve spent a record fee on AA23 as the lone (established) star to join Wenger’s young squad, United have spent more than double the Arshaviin fee on each of their main strikers. This, much to the ire of many a Gooner, has symbolized the image of a club in alleged regression mode. The common accusation is that we are a club that has not been able to keep up with its rivals. It is said that we haven’t adequately replaced The Invincibles.
Like the Rover Sport to the Rolls Royce (any model), Arsenal are very high quality but on a different if not less opulent scale. I heard someone describe the ride and performance of the Range Rover Sport model recently and couldn’t help but think of Arsenal. He described the vehicle with four words; high performance, luxurious, sporty. Perhaps car enthusiasts with greater breadth of knowledge than I have might be able to think of better comparisons.
When Arsenal are in full flow, we are undoubtedly the most entertaining side in all of football – Barcelona and Utd are right up there but you will forgive my obvious bias. In time, we will develop into the most dynamic side as well.
The semi final has come upon us like a Range Rover Sport overtaking a Rolls Royce. I have no fear of Manchester United. We’ve already beaten them. We can beat them again. We have an extremely frustrating recent past when it comes to defining moments in the quest for European club football’s greatest prize. I feel strongly that the drive and focus required to reach the final will be immense. Sure Utd are driven and will not lack focus with Taggart in charge but as a great man once said, “Wenger’s no mug.”
Our season depends on this tie. We must do what a large faction of Arsenal fans and neutrals alike would have laughed at me even three months ago for suggesting was possible. In many circles, victories over United and Chelsea this season were seen as ‘one offs’. Many feel that "we're not good enough".
That matters little at this point. We haven’t cruised by any means this season but nobody can say that our high performing young team is far from ascending the mountaintop.
I then looked up Range Rover – the Range Rover Sport model to be exact; “a premium SUV that represents a shift in focus for this SUV-oriented luxury brand.”
I stress shift in focus for that is exactly what Arsenal have done with regard to the Wenger model for player acquisition and squad building. While we’ve spent a record fee on AA23 as the lone (established) star to join Wenger’s young squad, United have spent more than double the Arshaviin fee on each of their main strikers. This, much to the ire of many a Gooner, has symbolized the image of a club in alleged regression mode. The common accusation is that we are a club that has not been able to keep up with its rivals. It is said that we haven’t adequately replaced The Invincibles.
Like the Rover Sport to the Rolls Royce (any model), Arsenal are very high quality but on a different if not less opulent scale. I heard someone describe the ride and performance of the Range Rover Sport model recently and couldn’t help but think of Arsenal. He described the vehicle with four words; high performance, luxurious, sporty. Perhaps car enthusiasts with greater breadth of knowledge than I have might be able to think of better comparisons.
When Arsenal are in full flow, we are undoubtedly the most entertaining side in all of football – Barcelona and Utd are right up there but you will forgive my obvious bias. In time, we will develop into the most dynamic side as well.
The semi final has come upon us like a Range Rover Sport overtaking a Rolls Royce. I have no fear of Manchester United. We’ve already beaten them. We can beat them again. We have an extremely frustrating recent past when it comes to defining moments in the quest for European club football’s greatest prize. I feel strongly that the drive and focus required to reach the final will be immense. Sure Utd are driven and will not lack focus with Taggart in charge but as a great man once said, “Wenger’s no mug.”
Our season depends on this tie. We must do what a large faction of Arsenal fans and neutrals alike would have laughed at me even three months ago for suggesting was possible. In many circles, victories over United and Chelsea this season were seen as ‘one offs’. Many feel that "we're not good enough".
That matters little at this point. We haven’t cruised by any means this season but nobody can say that our high performing young team is far from ascending the mountaintop.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Be Thankful For Being an Arsenal Fan
Newcastle are desperate.
Everyone involved with that club is desperate.
Let's start with the players. If you are Michael Owen, why would you leave Real Madrid and join Newcastle? Why did Obafemi Martins leave Inter Milan for Newcastle? Why did Damien Duff leave a Premiership winning Chelsea team for Newcastle? Why would you join a team that has Nicky Butt as it's play-maker?
Nicky Butt is an MLS player. He doesn't belong in the Premiership.
The problem with Newcastle is that they sign players at the wrong end of their careers. They sign has-been players who have made Newcastle a has been club.
Alan Smith
Joey Barton
Nicky Butt
Geremi
Mark Viduka
Kevin Nolan
But the fans believe otherwise. They point to the millions of pounds spent each year on players, the 52,000 St James Park stadium, the Toon Army, the massive support and the Newcastle nightlife.
I look at Newcastle differently.
Number 1: it's right up there in the north-east of England. It's so far north it's practically in Scotland. The geographic equivalent in the United States is Bangor, Maine. You get the drift.
Living in London, you have the choice of catching a flight to Amsterdam, Paris or Newcastle. The cost and distance are the same but the culture isn't. You only have to look at Newcastle's icons to realize that.
Brown Ale, a football club and a bridge.
You can see why I choose Amsterdam or Paris every time.
Number 2: the weather. It's always cold in Newcastle. In tonight's game at St James Park the temperature was 41 F or 5 C. Yet on TV, hundreds of home supporters wore just a Newcastle top. I also noticed that there were some flurries of snow.
Flurries of snow?
We are 3 days away from May. Yes, May the first month of summer.
You will never get sun burnt in Newcastle. I can guarantee you that. Newcastle has replaced it's lack of sun with beer, pubs and neanderthal pussy.
Neanderthal pussy you ask? Yes, think scantily clad, pale, doughy skin, flab, short skirts, cheap make-up, yellow teeth, trash talking, peroxide gelled hair, pint downing pussy. It's desperate!
But looking fat, pasty, and anemic is the look in Newcastle. Combine the look with alcohol and you have have a fat cancer victim who is drunk. They make the characters in the film "Childern of the Corn" look normal.
Number 3: I can never understand a Geordie. They speak English but I would probably understand them better if they didn't. What they speak is Brown Ale. I need subtitles for whenever Gazza speaks, but I just give up whenever a drunk Newcastle fans tries to talk to me. I walk away in the same manner that I do when a crack head asks me for change after I have just withdrawn cash from the ATM.
Number 4: The Blayden Races. You what? The unofficial anthem of Newcastle United. It's an old 19th century folk song about a man and his friends traveling to a horse race. What it has to do with Geordie identity or a football club I have no idea! But before Newcastle's game against Portsmouth, a fat, bald, middle-aged, white, male with a red beard, ran around the pitch, trying to rally the crowd by waving a large Newcastle flag and singing in a bombastic opera voice, this crap folk song into a microphone. The Newcastle fans responded accordingly. Singing their hearts out. It was beyond pathetic.
Number 5: The billionaire Mike Ashley who became rich by buying sports brands from distressed sellers: Donnay, Lonsdale, Slazenger, Dunlop, Karrimor and Kangol. Hardly high end brands but then we're talking about Mike Ashley who is hardly a high end brand of chairman. Ashley typifies a rich Geordie. He wears a Newcastle top to games. He used to sit with fans until Kevin Keegan resigned. He downs pints in public, makes an idiot of himself in cheesy New York clubs by running up $150,000 tabs and dancing on stage with slappers. He's fat, ugly, pasty and lacks class.
The Arsenal chairman would never behave or act in such a crass manner. You may not like David Dein, Peter Hill-Wood or Danny Fiszman but at least they have class.
Number 6: Messiahs. Keegan the Messiah. He quit so Bobby Robson was the Messiah. He got fired so they eventually brought Keegan back to be the Messiah once again. He once again quit so now Shearer is the Messiah. If he quits who is next? How many more Messiahs can you invent?
Number 7: Managers. Since 2004, Newcastle have had six different managers since Bobby Robson was fired:
Graeme Souness
Glenn Roeder
Sam Allardyce
Kevin Keegan
Joe Kinnear
Alan Shearer
I wouldn't allow any of the above anywhere near any Arsenal team and that includes the Ladies. They are disturbing appointments at best. Ossie Ardilles is the only foreign manager to have been employed at Newcastle back in 1991-92. He was sacked after leaving Newcastle in serious relegation trouble and the north-east club haven't appointed a foreign coach since.
Newcastle have 31 points. They signed Shearer to beat the drop. In four games he has won zero games, scored one goal and gained just 2 points. In contrast, Portsmouth's coaching staff of Paul Hart and Brain Kidd (Fergie's number two during the treble season) have done a sterling job in making Pompey avoid relegation. Ten games, two defeats, 14 points.
Arsenal play Portsmouth on Saturday at Fratton Park. If Arsenal win they will guarantee themselves Champions League football next season. If Portsmouth win, they will guarantee Premiership football next season. Each competition is worth over $50 million.
Newcastle on the other hand can only guarantee you another Messiah. Shearer says he is standing down after this season so they will need a new one.
Who is left for them?
Yes, you've guessed it:
GAZZA
Everyone involved with that club is desperate.
Let's start with the players. If you are Michael Owen, why would you leave Real Madrid and join Newcastle? Why did Obafemi Martins leave Inter Milan for Newcastle? Why did Damien Duff leave a Premiership winning Chelsea team for Newcastle? Why would you join a team that has Nicky Butt as it's play-maker?
Nicky Butt is an MLS player. He doesn't belong in the Premiership.
The problem with Newcastle is that they sign players at the wrong end of their careers. They sign has-been players who have made Newcastle a has been club.
Alan Smith
Joey Barton
Nicky Butt
Geremi
Mark Viduka
Kevin Nolan
But the fans believe otherwise. They point to the millions of pounds spent each year on players, the 52,000 St James Park stadium, the Toon Army, the massive support and the Newcastle nightlife.
I look at Newcastle differently.
Number 1: it's right up there in the north-east of England. It's so far north it's practically in Scotland. The geographic equivalent in the United States is Bangor, Maine. You get the drift.
Living in London, you have the choice of catching a flight to Amsterdam, Paris or Newcastle. The cost and distance are the same but the culture isn't. You only have to look at Newcastle's icons to realize that.
Brown Ale, a football club and a bridge.
You can see why I choose Amsterdam or Paris every time.
Number 2: the weather. It's always cold in Newcastle. In tonight's game at St James Park the temperature was 41 F or 5 C. Yet on TV, hundreds of home supporters wore just a Newcastle top. I also noticed that there were some flurries of snow.
Flurries of snow?
We are 3 days away from May. Yes, May the first month of summer.
You will never get sun burnt in Newcastle. I can guarantee you that. Newcastle has replaced it's lack of sun with beer, pubs and neanderthal pussy.
Neanderthal pussy you ask? Yes, think scantily clad, pale, doughy skin, flab, short skirts, cheap make-up, yellow teeth, trash talking, peroxide gelled hair, pint downing pussy. It's desperate!
But looking fat, pasty, and anemic is the look in Newcastle. Combine the look with alcohol and you have have a fat cancer victim who is drunk. They make the characters in the film "Childern of the Corn" look normal.
Number 3: I can never understand a Geordie. They speak English but I would probably understand them better if they didn't. What they speak is Brown Ale. I need subtitles for whenever Gazza speaks, but I just give up whenever a drunk Newcastle fans tries to talk to me. I walk away in the same manner that I do when a crack head asks me for change after I have just withdrawn cash from the ATM.
Number 4: The Blayden Races. You what? The unofficial anthem of Newcastle United. It's an old 19th century folk song about a man and his friends traveling to a horse race. What it has to do with Geordie identity or a football club I have no idea! But before Newcastle's game against Portsmouth, a fat, bald, middle-aged, white, male with a red beard, ran around the pitch, trying to rally the crowd by waving a large Newcastle flag and singing in a bombastic opera voice, this crap folk song into a microphone. The Newcastle fans responded accordingly. Singing their hearts out. It was beyond pathetic.
Number 5: The billionaire Mike Ashley who became rich by buying sports brands from distressed sellers: Donnay, Lonsdale, Slazenger, Dunlop, Karrimor and Kangol. Hardly high end brands but then we're talking about Mike Ashley who is hardly a high end brand of chairman. Ashley typifies a rich Geordie. He wears a Newcastle top to games. He used to sit with fans until Kevin Keegan resigned. He downs pints in public, makes an idiot of himself in cheesy New York clubs by running up $150,000 tabs and dancing on stage with slappers. He's fat, ugly, pasty and lacks class.
The Arsenal chairman would never behave or act in such a crass manner. You may not like David Dein, Peter Hill-Wood or Danny Fiszman but at least they have class.
Number 6: Messiahs. Keegan the Messiah. He quit so Bobby Robson was the Messiah. He got fired so they eventually brought Keegan back to be the Messiah once again. He once again quit so now Shearer is the Messiah. If he quits who is next? How many more Messiahs can you invent?
Number 7: Managers. Since 2004, Newcastle have had six different managers since Bobby Robson was fired:
Graeme Souness
Glenn Roeder
Sam Allardyce
Kevin Keegan
Joe Kinnear
Alan Shearer
I wouldn't allow any of the above anywhere near any Arsenal team and that includes the Ladies. They are disturbing appointments at best. Ossie Ardilles is the only foreign manager to have been employed at Newcastle back in 1991-92. He was sacked after leaving Newcastle in serious relegation trouble and the north-east club haven't appointed a foreign coach since.
Newcastle have 31 points. They signed Shearer to beat the drop. In four games he has won zero games, scored one goal and gained just 2 points. In contrast, Portsmouth's coaching staff of Paul Hart and Brain Kidd (Fergie's number two during the treble season) have done a sterling job in making Pompey avoid relegation. Ten games, two defeats, 14 points.
Arsenal play Portsmouth on Saturday at Fratton Park. If Arsenal win they will guarantee themselves Champions League football next season. If Portsmouth win, they will guarantee Premiership football next season. Each competition is worth over $50 million.
Newcastle on the other hand can only guarantee you another Messiah. Shearer says he is standing down after this season so they will need a new one.
Who is left for them?
Yes, you've guessed it:
GAZZA
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Not 'Just Another Victory'
As a great man made clear in a previous post, Gareth Southgate’s Boro teams have done fairly well against us. Well, up until today that is. A Cesc brace puts Boro in further trouble – I’d much rather see Phil Brown and Hull City go down to be honest – while we are now 20 unbeaten in the league.
The term geometry is apposite when describing the types of movement, angles, and precision it takes to play Wenger’s brand of football. Add the thrust and pace of our attacks and you have a lethal potion. Southgate’s men did themselves no favors playing such a high line, especially on the first goal. The neat back heel from Bendtner should not go unnoticed for it was pivotal to the move that exposed the folly of Boro’s defence playing so close to the midfield stripe. They were always going to be vulnerable with Theo and AA23 lurking.
Cesc finished another superbly diagrammed move from an inch perfect Eboue pass that deserved a goal. I have been very vocal about my disappointment in the captain’s poor form for some time. Cesc really hadn’t been himself for us consistently since February, 2008. Putting the disappointment of last week’s FA Cup semi final defeat aside (a big ask really as Chelsea were a big challenge and we handed them victory in unforgivable fashion), Cesc has been spectacular since returning from injury. We’ll need that as we close the season with very serious intentions to take home the European Cup.
Make no mistake about it that winning in such fashion, i.e. a clean sheet plus a brace by our pulsating leader, is a fine way to prepare for the CL semi final 1st leg. Arsene won’t need to make Patton like speeches for this one. The boys want it. The boys know what is at stake. They will savor this eventful moment. I sense that to a man, they feel that they are as good as if not better than United. Let’s be clear, we’ve beaten United. We should not fear them. I feel we’re better equipped for this tie than they are, with injuries to our key players or not.
We have far more to play for than Taggart’s lot. We have tasted the bitterness of disappointment often in recent seasons. A factor that I feel is under-rated. We’ll want to make the best of this opportunity. I feel that for United, the tie rests on how well Ferguson manages to gee up his gang.
United vs. Arsenal needs no hyperbolic treatment. It is THE glamour tie in England. Spores are small potatoes and generally insignificant. Chelsea are chavs with a super rich sugar daddy whose billions helped to end their long run of being our doormats. Anelka’s Real Madrid comparisons are a little off target in my opinion. United is our true rival. To face them in the CL is fantastic. Ferguson will need to remind his players that we will be gunning for glory. We are a true threat to their treble quest.
Arsene won’t have much motivating to do. The troops will be up for this one.
Red is the color. My palms are sweating in anticipation.
The term geometry is apposite when describing the types of movement, angles, and precision it takes to play Wenger’s brand of football. Add the thrust and pace of our attacks and you have a lethal potion. Southgate’s men did themselves no favors playing such a high line, especially on the first goal. The neat back heel from Bendtner should not go unnoticed for it was pivotal to the move that exposed the folly of Boro’s defence playing so close to the midfield stripe. They were always going to be vulnerable with Theo and AA23 lurking.
Cesc finished another superbly diagrammed move from an inch perfect Eboue pass that deserved a goal. I have been very vocal about my disappointment in the captain’s poor form for some time. Cesc really hadn’t been himself for us consistently since February, 2008. Putting the disappointment of last week’s FA Cup semi final defeat aside (a big ask really as Chelsea were a big challenge and we handed them victory in unforgivable fashion), Cesc has been spectacular since returning from injury. We’ll need that as we close the season with very serious intentions to take home the European Cup.
Make no mistake about it that winning in such fashion, i.e. a clean sheet plus a brace by our pulsating leader, is a fine way to prepare for the CL semi final 1st leg. Arsene won’t need to make Patton like speeches for this one. The boys want it. The boys know what is at stake. They will savor this eventful moment. I sense that to a man, they feel that they are as good as if not better than United. Let’s be clear, we’ve beaten United. We should not fear them. I feel we’re better equipped for this tie than they are, with injuries to our key players or not.
We have far more to play for than Taggart’s lot. We have tasted the bitterness of disappointment often in recent seasons. A factor that I feel is under-rated. We’ll want to make the best of this opportunity. I feel that for United, the tie rests on how well Ferguson manages to gee up his gang.
United vs. Arsenal needs no hyperbolic treatment. It is THE glamour tie in England. Spores are small potatoes and generally insignificant. Chelsea are chavs with a super rich sugar daddy whose billions helped to end their long run of being our doormats. Anelka’s Real Madrid comparisons are a little off target in my opinion. United is our true rival. To face them in the CL is fantastic. Ferguson will need to remind his players that we will be gunning for glory. We are a true threat to their treble quest.
Arsene won’t have much motivating to do. The troops will be up for this one.
Red is the color. My palms are sweating in anticipation.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Villa and Bolton
Today, I watched Bolton Wanderers verses Aston Villa.
Why did I bother.
It was like attending a Southern Baptist church.
It was stale, boring, full of crosses, with Martin O'Neill acting like a nutty evangelical preacher - jumping up and down gesturing at nothing and remonstrating with his coaching staff over certain refereeing decisions such as throw-ins or offsides. Occasionally the crowd would sing crap songs - about how Bolton were the greatest team the world has ever seen. That world is obviously full of blind people and guide dogs. The Villa chant wasn't much better. It went like this:
Villa
Villa
Villa
I know what you are thinking. The lyrics are difficult to memorize.
On 43 minutes Villa scored. Ashley Young put in a cross, a Villa player missed the header and the ball went in off the post. The goal was a fluke. But the commentator started talking about Villa taking 4th spot. I laughed inside.
The second half was the same. Crosses, headers, long balls from the back, tough tackles and not much else. Those wankers that say that the English Premiership is the best in the world need to watch this game - it was worse than MLS.
On 60 minutes, Bolton equalized. A cross, a defensive error, a goal. Bolton's fans celebrated as though a revelation had just happened - no Bolton fans, it was the average Tamir Cohen scoring a shit goal.
The game painfully continued, just like a painfully boring sermon in some crusty Baptist Church. Both sets of supporters sang nothing songs about their loyalty to their clubs, and both teams played long, protracted, football. I was bored just like I would be sitting in a pew in any stale church in the South.
The ref only played 2 minutes of added time, saving me and plenty of others from the threat of being brainwashed by the commentator who kept on telling me that Martin O'Neill had worked miracles. Let's get this straight, not even Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King or Nelson Mandela worked miracles so how the fuck has Martin O'Neill?
The commentator later said that David Moyes should win Manager of the Year. For what? Getting to an FA cup final, reaching 6th in the Premier league? Or for not even making the group stages of the UEFA cup and then losing to Blackburn in the Carling cup 3rd round.
I then came to a conclusion about Bolton and Aston Villa. Bolton are like a hemorrhoid on your penis, while Villa are the herpes of the Premier League. Every so often they have a good season by threatening to finish in the top six by playing really painful football. They then get knocked out of the UEFA cup by playing their reserve team, complain about their small squads and then try and enter the Intertoto cup in order to qualify for the UEFA cup again. Genius!
That pathetic competition has now been disbanded, so Villa will instead try and break into the top four by buying more average international players like Nicky Shorey and James Milner. Those players can't even break into the England squad. But the point is they're English, which is more than Arsenal can say about their squad!
It was 13 games ago when Villa last won a match. Yet Martin O'Neill says:
"Overall I have been delighted with the team and on the whole we have been playing pretty well."
12 games and zero wins is shocking. On the whole, Villa have played football similar to that of Stoke. Horrible! Overall, I would be disgusted by Villa's results, but I support Arsenal, so I find them a complete joke.
If Arsenal win their next two Premiership games, they can look forward to more Champions League football next season. Villa on the other hand will disappear, only to reappear some time later like a bad hemorrhoid or a dose of herpes on the Premiership landscape.
Why did I bother.
It was like attending a Southern Baptist church.
It was stale, boring, full of crosses, with Martin O'Neill acting like a nutty evangelical preacher - jumping up and down gesturing at nothing and remonstrating with his coaching staff over certain refereeing decisions such as throw-ins or offsides. Occasionally the crowd would sing crap songs - about how Bolton were the greatest team the world has ever seen. That world is obviously full of blind people and guide dogs. The Villa chant wasn't much better. It went like this:
Villa
Villa
Villa
I know what you are thinking. The lyrics are difficult to memorize.
On 43 minutes Villa scored. Ashley Young put in a cross, a Villa player missed the header and the ball went in off the post. The goal was a fluke. But the commentator started talking about Villa taking 4th spot. I laughed inside.
The second half was the same. Crosses, headers, long balls from the back, tough tackles and not much else. Those wankers that say that the English Premiership is the best in the world need to watch this game - it was worse than MLS.
On 60 minutes, Bolton equalized. A cross, a defensive error, a goal. Bolton's fans celebrated as though a revelation had just happened - no Bolton fans, it was the average Tamir Cohen scoring a shit goal.
The game painfully continued, just like a painfully boring sermon in some crusty Baptist Church. Both sets of supporters sang nothing songs about their loyalty to their clubs, and both teams played long, protracted, football. I was bored just like I would be sitting in a pew in any stale church in the South.
The ref only played 2 minutes of added time, saving me and plenty of others from the threat of being brainwashed by the commentator who kept on telling me that Martin O'Neill had worked miracles. Let's get this straight, not even Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King or Nelson Mandela worked miracles so how the fuck has Martin O'Neill?
The commentator later said that David Moyes should win Manager of the Year. For what? Getting to an FA cup final, reaching 6th in the Premier league? Or for not even making the group stages of the UEFA cup and then losing to Blackburn in the Carling cup 3rd round.
I then came to a conclusion about Bolton and Aston Villa. Bolton are like a hemorrhoid on your penis, while Villa are the herpes of the Premier League. Every so often they have a good season by threatening to finish in the top six by playing really painful football. They then get knocked out of the UEFA cup by playing their reserve team, complain about their small squads and then try and enter the Intertoto cup in order to qualify for the UEFA cup again. Genius!
That pathetic competition has now been disbanded, so Villa will instead try and break into the top four by buying more average international players like Nicky Shorey and James Milner. Those players can't even break into the England squad. But the point is they're English, which is more than Arsenal can say about their squad!
It was 13 games ago when Villa last won a match. Yet Martin O'Neill says:
"Overall I have been delighted with the team and on the whole we have been playing pretty well."
12 games and zero wins is shocking. On the whole, Villa have played football similar to that of Stoke. Horrible! Overall, I would be disgusted by Villa's results, but I support Arsenal, so I find them a complete joke.
If Arsenal win their next two Premiership games, they can look forward to more Champions League football next season. Villa on the other hand will disappear, only to reappear some time later like a bad hemorrhoid or a dose of herpes on the Premiership landscape.
The Unfortunate Gareth Southgate
One time, while walking to the pub where I watch Arsenal matches, I was speaking to an Arsenal fan about Middlesbrough. I had told him that Middlesbrough had gotten a positive result against Manchester United, and he couldn't believe it. "How could such a crap team get points against United," he wondered. I told him that Gareth Southgate is a good manager. He laughed at me and told me I was wrong. I replied that Arsene Wenger said Gareth Southgate is a good manager, to which he replied, "Arsene says a lot of things."
Now, I'll avoid the obvious discussion point here, which is yet another Arsenal "fan" doubting Wenger's words in one way or the other. Yes, Arsene isn't always right (the number of times he's used to term "good player" to describe mediocre ones are probably too many to count), but perhaps his opinion on Southgate is based on other facts.
Like this one, for example:
In five games against Middlesbrough in the league while Southgate has been manager, we have won zero times, drawn four times, and lost once.
That is the bottom line.
I believed that Southgate first came up with the idea of pressuring this Arsenal team from the front, using their energetic attacking players Tuncay and former Gunner Aliadiere to win balls against our defenders and prevent our offensive players from receiving the ball. It has been effective.
There are other times where we dominate games and fail to get the points. Whatever it is, players like David Wheater show up and prevent us from doing our thing.
Gareth Southgate should be applauded for trying to play football and develop young players. For this, much like Tony Mowbray, he'll end up being relegated. I have faint hopes for an escape, but it's unlikely.
Obviously, I do not want to drop points against them tomorrow. We'll be rotating a bit to stay fresh for the massive Champions League fixture, but with Guus Hiddink now publicly conceding the title to focus on the Barcelona tie, the opportunity to grasp third place is there.
Tomorrow, Chelsea play West Ham at Upton Park. If they lose that fixture, we'd only be three points behind with a game still to play against them at the Emirates. Frankly speaking, a trophy would have been fantastic, but finishing third in front of Chelsea wouldn't be a bad consolation prize (although we could have had both).
One thing we know for sure though, Arshavin will play.
The mighty Russian is one of the best players in the world.
Now, I'll avoid the obvious discussion point here, which is yet another Arsenal "fan" doubting Wenger's words in one way or the other. Yes, Arsene isn't always right (the number of times he's used to term "good player" to describe mediocre ones are probably too many to count), but perhaps his opinion on Southgate is based on other facts.
Like this one, for example:
In five games against Middlesbrough in the league while Southgate has been manager, we have won zero times, drawn four times, and lost once.
That is the bottom line.
I believed that Southgate first came up with the idea of pressuring this Arsenal team from the front, using their energetic attacking players Tuncay and former Gunner Aliadiere to win balls against our defenders and prevent our offensive players from receiving the ball. It has been effective.
There are other times where we dominate games and fail to get the points. Whatever it is, players like David Wheater show up and prevent us from doing our thing.
Gareth Southgate should be applauded for trying to play football and develop young players. For this, much like Tony Mowbray, he'll end up being relegated. I have faint hopes for an escape, but it's unlikely.
Obviously, I do not want to drop points against them tomorrow. We'll be rotating a bit to stay fresh for the massive Champions League fixture, but with Guus Hiddink now publicly conceding the title to focus on the Barcelona tie, the opportunity to grasp third place is there.
Tomorrow, Chelsea play West Ham at Upton Park. If they lose that fixture, we'd only be three points behind with a game still to play against them at the Emirates. Frankly speaking, a trophy would have been fantastic, but finishing third in front of Chelsea wouldn't be a bad consolation prize (although we could have had both).
One thing we know for sure though, Arshavin will play.
The mighty Russian is one of the best players in the world.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Arshavin's Anfield Adventure
I'm still trying to come to grips with the madness that enveloped Anfield last night.
In a see-saw, dramatic match yesterday, only two real things came clear. The first is that we have essentially ended Liverpool's title hopes. I don't say that with any sort of ill will, but twenty years after Michael Thomas flopped like a fish to celebrate an incredible title clinching goal, Andrey did the same, taking four shots and scoring foul goals. The last time somebody scored four goals at Anfield during a League match was 63 years ago. The second is that Andrey Arshavin is on his way to becoming a proper Arsenal legend.
Do not mistake what Arshavin said today as modesty. He couldn't be any more honest about his own performance. Stating that he was "invisible" in the first half, apart from his goal, he vowed to be even better next year after a full pre-season under his belt. The staggering thing about this statement is that it's absolutely true. A player of his ilk is floating by on talent alone at this point, and once he becomes accustomed to his teammates, watch out.
I cannot say enough about the quality of his finishing, but perhaps it would be better to go through the match in order to place them within a finer context.
Entering this match, in my mind, the most vital thing was giving a performance that proved that we had character. After a morale draining FA semi, most assumed that we were ripe for the taking, with Liverpool coming off a full week of rest. For Fabianski, it would prove an occasion for him to show some spine or shrivel up and vanish forever. Although Gerrard wasn't fit for selection, make no mistake, it was almost the first team XI for Liverpool.
At the start, we weathered a storm. Liverpool's energy levels were so high, and they had much more at stake than us honestly. To wrest the title from United's grasp, they would need to win every single game from here on out. And with their hardest remaining fixture coming against us at home, it looked feasible.
Remember last year when we went to Anfield? That was such a dominant performance by us, that a draw was an extremely flattering result for Liverpool in that match. We passed them off the pitch at Anfield, and I couldn't help but notice the gulf in class that day.
The first half was the reverse of that game, with key differences of course. We had 60% of our defense missing, as well as Adebayor and van Persie. It was really only the heroics of Fabianski that kept us in it. Torres looked lively, Kuyt looked energetic, and we weren't stroking it around.
And of course, we scored first. Cesc and Nasri worked to nick Mascherano near their penalty box. With clever movement, Cesc stayed onside to square for Arshavin; he buried the opportunity and the trademark celebration was unleashed.
We had scored against the run of play, but the movement and finishing was top class. The half quickly came, but I knew this game had more goals in it.
The second half, as mentioned before, was pure madness. It was a spectacle to rival any match in world football this year in terms of drama.
After Bacary (who looked completely off-color) failed to clear the ball properly, Kuyt's second cross was met by Torres' head with great force. It was an extremely professional finish that highlighted that Torres is for real; he is a quality striker. Soon thereafter, Silvestre asked way too much of Fabianski. His back pass was too weak, and Fabianski was pressured into making a weak clearance. The ball reached Gibbs, but Gibbs' clearance was poor also. A cross into the box saw Yossi Benayoun head in over the line. On this goal, our defense was a comedy of errors from four different players; Silvestre, Fabianski, Gibbs, and Toure in that order.
But there had to be more.
Arbeloa was nicked by Arshavin, and he unleashed a wicked right footed shot that was virtually unstoppable. Minutes later, a poor clearance from Aurelio gave Arshavin the opportunity to score another goal. His Anfield hat trick was complete.
A Riera long ball found Torres, and he turned Silvestre inside out before lashing a shot in the lower left right corner. When I saw this, I immediately flashed back to when Torres killed Senderos to put Liverpool up 2-1 in the Champions League Quarter Final last year. It was 3-3, and I remarked to a person standing beside me, "there is still 17 more minutes to go."
From a corner, nearly identical in a sense to the Champions League tie again, Theo ran off like a rocket. I didn't think there would be an outlet, but there came Arshavin, running like a speed duck. Theo squared the ball, and Arshavin smoothly took it in stride. Reina came out to make himself big, but no matter, Arshavin dispatched a howitzer with his left foot.
It was four. Four goals at Anfield in a pivotal tie. No offense to The Beast, but this was a more impressive double brace. Surely, the game was over.
We had been overrun by Liverpool. They needed the three points here, and we were on the verge of nicking all three.
I didn't rest easy though. Not with Benayoun on the pitch. I've seen my fair share of Benayoun winners, and there was one more twist to this tale. Abou Diaby, put on as a sub for Nicklas Bendtner, failed to win the ball from Xabi Alonso. In came the ball, and of course Benayoun poached it to tie the game.
4-4. Incredibly there were two more incidents, a goal disallowed because Cesc was offside and a Liverpool appeal for handball.
The truth is, a draw was a fair result.
There were defensive errors aplenty, but in terms of pure drama, there is no way this match will be topped this year. Unlike the Tottenham 4-4 draw, the finishing in this game was near majestic. There's a saying that the difference between the Championship and the Premier League is the ruthless finishing, and this match showed that in abundance.
What is the fallout from all of this?
Cesc was disappointed in the defending. We all should be, that is true. But it was a patchwork defense doing their best, against a Liverpool team that desperately needed the three points. I think Silvestre is trying his best, but he neither has the pace to keep up with his brain, nor the ability to keep up with his experience. He is a stop-gap, and he frequently asks too much of Fabianski. Fabianski is a quality prospect, a very talented one, but his footwork needs improving and needs to read the game a little bit better. We are deprived of William Gallas, and it does show.
That being said, when the final whistle blew, it was Liverpool who revealed that they had lost hope. Reina, Torres, Carragher, they all might as well have collapsed on the pitch. This fixture has drained them completely. It is the sort of game that sucks the life out of you, where superiority sometimes doesn't mean very much, where modern day gladiators roam and destroy teams with clinical precision.
It is not often where you get to witness the birth of a legend. One day ago, I claimed that Arshavin was a better player than Benayoun. I was right. If you want to put it in mathematical terms, it would be:
Arshavin > Benayoun
On this night, it was:
Arshavin = Torres and Benayoun
Let's take it even further:
Arsenal on three days rest, with 60% of our backline and two top strikers missing = Liverpool without Gerrard but at home with a full week's rest.
Next year, we will be serious title contenders. With some help in the defense, we have more than enough to make a serious run at it.
And to those that questioned Arsene's decision to bench Arshavin, well, he showed you why. Don't mistake this performance as evidence for Wenger's "mistake" in not fielding Arshavin at the start on Saturday. Instead, understand what was needed to conjure up this performance at Anfield.
About a year ago, Liverpool crushed my heart when Ryan Babel dived to win a penalty against us. Now, Arshavin has left their title hopes in ruins. Of course, we could have used the three points (seeing as Chelsea drew today against Everton), but the memory of witnessing this game will last for a lifetime.
In a see-saw, dramatic match yesterday, only two real things came clear. The first is that we have essentially ended Liverpool's title hopes. I don't say that with any sort of ill will, but twenty years after Michael Thomas flopped like a fish to celebrate an incredible title clinching goal, Andrey did the same, taking four shots and scoring foul goals. The last time somebody scored four goals at Anfield during a League match was 63 years ago. The second is that Andrey Arshavin is on his way to becoming a proper Arsenal legend.
Do not mistake what Arshavin said today as modesty. He couldn't be any more honest about his own performance. Stating that he was "invisible" in the first half, apart from his goal, he vowed to be even better next year after a full pre-season under his belt. The staggering thing about this statement is that it's absolutely true. A player of his ilk is floating by on talent alone at this point, and once he becomes accustomed to his teammates, watch out.
I cannot say enough about the quality of his finishing, but perhaps it would be better to go through the match in order to place them within a finer context.
Entering this match, in my mind, the most vital thing was giving a performance that proved that we had character. After a morale draining FA semi, most assumed that we were ripe for the taking, with Liverpool coming off a full week of rest. For Fabianski, it would prove an occasion for him to show some spine or shrivel up and vanish forever. Although Gerrard wasn't fit for selection, make no mistake, it was almost the first team XI for Liverpool.
At the start, we weathered a storm. Liverpool's energy levels were so high, and they had much more at stake than us honestly. To wrest the title from United's grasp, they would need to win every single game from here on out. And with their hardest remaining fixture coming against us at home, it looked feasible.
Remember last year when we went to Anfield? That was such a dominant performance by us, that a draw was an extremely flattering result for Liverpool in that match. We passed them off the pitch at Anfield, and I couldn't help but notice the gulf in class that day.
The first half was the reverse of that game, with key differences of course. We had 60% of our defense missing, as well as Adebayor and van Persie. It was really only the heroics of Fabianski that kept us in it. Torres looked lively, Kuyt looked energetic, and we weren't stroking it around.
And of course, we scored first. Cesc and Nasri worked to nick Mascherano near their penalty box. With clever movement, Cesc stayed onside to square for Arshavin; he buried the opportunity and the trademark celebration was unleashed.
We had scored against the run of play, but the movement and finishing was top class. The half quickly came, but I knew this game had more goals in it.
The second half, as mentioned before, was pure madness. It was a spectacle to rival any match in world football this year in terms of drama.
After Bacary (who looked completely off-color) failed to clear the ball properly, Kuyt's second cross was met by Torres' head with great force. It was an extremely professional finish that highlighted that Torres is for real; he is a quality striker. Soon thereafter, Silvestre asked way too much of Fabianski. His back pass was too weak, and Fabianski was pressured into making a weak clearance. The ball reached Gibbs, but Gibbs' clearance was poor also. A cross into the box saw Yossi Benayoun head in over the line. On this goal, our defense was a comedy of errors from four different players; Silvestre, Fabianski, Gibbs, and Toure in that order.
But there had to be more.
Arbeloa was nicked by Arshavin, and he unleashed a wicked right footed shot that was virtually unstoppable. Minutes later, a poor clearance from Aurelio gave Arshavin the opportunity to score another goal. His Anfield hat trick was complete.
A Riera long ball found Torres, and he turned Silvestre inside out before lashing a shot in the lower left right corner. When I saw this, I immediately flashed back to when Torres killed Senderos to put Liverpool up 2-1 in the Champions League Quarter Final last year. It was 3-3, and I remarked to a person standing beside me, "there is still 17 more minutes to go."
From a corner, nearly identical in a sense to the Champions League tie again, Theo ran off like a rocket. I didn't think there would be an outlet, but there came Arshavin, running like a speed duck. Theo squared the ball, and Arshavin smoothly took it in stride. Reina came out to make himself big, but no matter, Arshavin dispatched a howitzer with his left foot.
It was four. Four goals at Anfield in a pivotal tie. No offense to The Beast, but this was a more impressive double brace. Surely, the game was over.
We had been overrun by Liverpool. They needed the three points here, and we were on the verge of nicking all three.
I didn't rest easy though. Not with Benayoun on the pitch. I've seen my fair share of Benayoun winners, and there was one more twist to this tale. Abou Diaby, put on as a sub for Nicklas Bendtner, failed to win the ball from Xabi Alonso. In came the ball, and of course Benayoun poached it to tie the game.
4-4. Incredibly there were two more incidents, a goal disallowed because Cesc was offside and a Liverpool appeal for handball.
The truth is, a draw was a fair result.
There were defensive errors aplenty, but in terms of pure drama, there is no way this match will be topped this year. Unlike the Tottenham 4-4 draw, the finishing in this game was near majestic. There's a saying that the difference between the Championship and the Premier League is the ruthless finishing, and this match showed that in abundance.
What is the fallout from all of this?
Cesc was disappointed in the defending. We all should be, that is true. But it was a patchwork defense doing their best, against a Liverpool team that desperately needed the three points. I think Silvestre is trying his best, but he neither has the pace to keep up with his brain, nor the ability to keep up with his experience. He is a stop-gap, and he frequently asks too much of Fabianski. Fabianski is a quality prospect, a very talented one, but his footwork needs improving and needs to read the game a little bit better. We are deprived of William Gallas, and it does show.
That being said, when the final whistle blew, it was Liverpool who revealed that they had lost hope. Reina, Torres, Carragher, they all might as well have collapsed on the pitch. This fixture has drained them completely. It is the sort of game that sucks the life out of you, where superiority sometimes doesn't mean very much, where modern day gladiators roam and destroy teams with clinical precision.
It is not often where you get to witness the birth of a legend. One day ago, I claimed that Arshavin was a better player than Benayoun. I was right. If you want to put it in mathematical terms, it would be:
Arshavin > Benayoun
On this night, it was:
Arshavin = Torres and Benayoun
Let's take it even further:
Arsenal on three days rest, with 60% of our backline and two top strikers missing = Liverpool without Gerrard but at home with a full week's rest.
Next year, we will be serious title contenders. With some help in the defense, we have more than enough to make a serious run at it.
And to those that questioned Arsene's decision to bench Arshavin, well, he showed you why. Don't mistake this performance as evidence for Wenger's "mistake" in not fielding Arshavin at the start on Saturday. Instead, understand what was needed to conjure up this performance at Anfield.
About a year ago, Liverpool crushed my heart when Ryan Babel dived to win a penalty against us. Now, Arshavin has left their title hopes in ruins. Of course, we could have used the three points (seeing as Chelsea drew today against Everton), but the memory of witnessing this game will last for a lifetime.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Fabianski and Anfield
The knives are out for Łukasz Fabianski.
The neutral journalists have written what they think, but fortunately, the bloggers haven't stuck the knife in all the way just yet. A large part of that is due to the fact that he'll still have to play today against Liverpool.
Wenger has quickly come out to defend him, while not absolving him of blame. That is the correct move. One cannot deny that the two goals may have been averted.
That being said, in both situations, it was a combination of mistakes that led to the goals. In the first goal, where Malouda was clearly offside (and not written about very much in the papers), Eboue failed to close down Malouda. This allowed a virtually free shot that crept in at the near post. I've seen the replay several times, and I have no idea how it just crept in. Fabianski's positioning is what let him down here, and he'll have to improve in that department. On the second goal, Silvestre should not have let the ball bounce. Fabianski rushed out, wrongly, and tried to cut Drogba off. The ball was virtually identical to the one that Agbonlahor latched onto when he beat William Gallas with his paced and fired a quick shot that beat Almunia. In that situation, Almunia stayed behind but was beaten anyway. What Fabianski did shows that he's brave, but he's not savvy enough yet to realize that when your rush out for the ball like that, you must stay within the box so that you can use your hands. When a goalkeeper cannot use his hands, he is half as effective. Thus, Drogba easily swept past Fabianski to score the goal. That Silvestre gave up is cosmetic, there was no way Drogba was going to miss. If Fabianski didn't come out, Drogba would have had a 1 v 1 against Fabianski, something we would take now surely instead of what happened. Perhaps, if we had our normal back four, he wouldn't have come out so quickly.
So, there you have it. Three days after an excellent game against Villarreal, a game in which he showed similar aggressiveness playing sweeper to effect, Fabianski had a horrid day on his 24th birthday.
And with that came the rage of the fans. Incredibly, my roommate pointed out a remark he read on his Facebook page from an Arsenal "fan." He told me it upset him so much, and he could really care less about Arsenal. The remark:
"That Polish idiot should have stayed home for his birthday."
While getting some ice cream, I ran into Arsenal fans (they had Arsenal jerseys on). They were ripping Fabianski and had read that it was his birthday. He also said, "maybe he'll get better like Alex Song." I replied, "I never killed Alex Song." He said back, "I sure did." He almost said it with pride.
What is it about our fans that takes such joy in ripping our players? Surely, they've made mistakes, but this is absurd.
I was saddened by the loss. I felt that we could have won, but we didn't. It ruined my day. But I wasn't about to savage our team members to make myself feel better about it.
As for Fabianski, Wenger said everything that I believe. I do believe that he can be an excellent goalkeeper. His reflexes are top notch. He is brave. He is not scared. He is young. At the age of 24, he has been capped 14 times for Poland. He is two years younger than Ben Foster and Craig Gordon. He is a capable backup with the potential for great things. He didn't have the best game to be sure, but let's not kill the lad just yet. Arsene said he can be one of the best goalkeepers in the world, it was rebuilding confidence to be sure, but he does mean it.
It's been twenty years since we pulled off the shock of the decade to win the title at Anfield. Without Steven Gerrard, they'll rely on Xabi Alonso to be the creative outlet. The player I fear the most though is Yossi Benayoun. That guy seems to make things happen at an absurd rate. We'll be without both Adebayor and van Persie, but Eduardo may play a part.
Despite what people think, we're not resting players for the United tie in 8 days time. Finishing third should be a big priority now. Arshavin didn't play a full 90 minutes on Saturday, and Arshavin is a better player than Benayoun.
The neutral journalists have written what they think, but fortunately, the bloggers haven't stuck the knife in all the way just yet. A large part of that is due to the fact that he'll still have to play today against Liverpool.
Wenger has quickly come out to defend him, while not absolving him of blame. That is the correct move. One cannot deny that the two goals may have been averted.
That being said, in both situations, it was a combination of mistakes that led to the goals. In the first goal, where Malouda was clearly offside (and not written about very much in the papers), Eboue failed to close down Malouda. This allowed a virtually free shot that crept in at the near post. I've seen the replay several times, and I have no idea how it just crept in. Fabianski's positioning is what let him down here, and he'll have to improve in that department. On the second goal, Silvestre should not have let the ball bounce. Fabianski rushed out, wrongly, and tried to cut Drogba off. The ball was virtually identical to the one that Agbonlahor latched onto when he beat William Gallas with his paced and fired a quick shot that beat Almunia. In that situation, Almunia stayed behind but was beaten anyway. What Fabianski did shows that he's brave, but he's not savvy enough yet to realize that when your rush out for the ball like that, you must stay within the box so that you can use your hands. When a goalkeeper cannot use his hands, he is half as effective. Thus, Drogba easily swept past Fabianski to score the goal. That Silvestre gave up is cosmetic, there was no way Drogba was going to miss. If Fabianski didn't come out, Drogba would have had a 1 v 1 against Fabianski, something we would take now surely instead of what happened. Perhaps, if we had our normal back four, he wouldn't have come out so quickly.
So, there you have it. Three days after an excellent game against Villarreal, a game in which he showed similar aggressiveness playing sweeper to effect, Fabianski had a horrid day on his 24th birthday.
And with that came the rage of the fans. Incredibly, my roommate pointed out a remark he read on his Facebook page from an Arsenal "fan." He told me it upset him so much, and he could really care less about Arsenal. The remark:
"That Polish idiot should have stayed home for his birthday."
While getting some ice cream, I ran into Arsenal fans (they had Arsenal jerseys on). They were ripping Fabianski and had read that it was his birthday. He also said, "maybe he'll get better like Alex Song." I replied, "I never killed Alex Song." He said back, "I sure did." He almost said it with pride.
What is it about our fans that takes such joy in ripping our players? Surely, they've made mistakes, but this is absurd.
I was saddened by the loss. I felt that we could have won, but we didn't. It ruined my day. But I wasn't about to savage our team members to make myself feel better about it.
As for Fabianski, Wenger said everything that I believe. I do believe that he can be an excellent goalkeeper. His reflexes are top notch. He is brave. He is not scared. He is young. At the age of 24, he has been capped 14 times for Poland. He is two years younger than Ben Foster and Craig Gordon. He is a capable backup with the potential for great things. He didn't have the best game to be sure, but let's not kill the lad just yet. Arsene said he can be one of the best goalkeepers in the world, it was rebuilding confidence to be sure, but he does mean it.
It's been twenty years since we pulled off the shock of the decade to win the title at Anfield. Without Steven Gerrard, they'll rely on Xabi Alonso to be the creative outlet. The player I fear the most though is Yossi Benayoun. That guy seems to make things happen at an absurd rate. We'll be without both Adebayor and van Persie, but Eduardo may play a part.
Despite what people think, we're not resting players for the United tie in 8 days time. Finishing third should be a big priority now. Arshavin didn't play a full 90 minutes on Saturday, and Arshavin is a better player than Benayoun.
Monday, April 20, 2009
English Managers
It's strange how Aston Villa have slipped away from people's thoughts. Villa have now failed to win in eight Premiership matches. A shocking record that would have seen most managers sacked by now. Paul Ince was fired as Blackburn Rovers boss for only winning 3 games out of 17 Premiership matches. Tony Adams was sacked as Portsmouth boss for only winning 2 games in 16 matches - this was after he sold his two best players - Defoe and Diarra - in January.
If Villa fail to beat Bolton on Saturday, then the vultures should be circling over Martin O'Neill's head - but they won't. O'Neill has immunity from the sack. This season has been deemed a success for him:
Knocked out of the Carling 3rd round by QPR at home
Knocked out of the last 32 of the UEFA cup after squeezing through the group stages
Knocked out of the last 16 of the FA cup
Last won a match February 7, 2009
Compare O'Neill's record with Wenger's this season:
Carling Cup quarter-finals
FA cup semi-finals
Champions League semi-finals
Unbeaten in the last 18 Premiership matches
This season was Villa's only chance of making the top four. They blew it. Next season Arsenal, Manchester City, Everton and even Spurs will be stronger. Villa will be weaker. Gareth Barry will leave and so will Ashley Young if he has any sense. Their replacements will be players in the class of Stuart Downing or Tom Huddlestone. Pretenders to international football.
Ever wondered what happened to Barry's replacement this season - Steven Sidwell? The player who left Arsenal to enhance his career by being a sub at Aston Villa and an expensive reserve at Chelsea.
No neither have I.
The 29 year old Stiliyan Petrov is deemed a better player by O'Neill, so much so that Villa have offered him a new three year deal. Clowns!
Below is the current top 10 Premier League table:
Alex Ferguson
Rafa Benitez
Gus Hiddink
Arsene Wenger
Martin O'Neill
David Moyes
Gianfranco Zola
Roy Hodgson
Harry Redknapp
Mark Hughes
The rest of the Premiership is full English managers such as Gary Megson, Phil Brown, Sam Allardyce, and Paul Hart. It doesn't take a genius to see why the FA appointed Fabio Cappello.
And for any Gooners out there who still have hopes of Tony Adams managing Arsenal I leave you with a quote made by the ex-Arsenal captain back in November 2008:
"I don't actually like people. I'm a loner and if I had my way I would just walk my dogs everyday, never talk to anyone and then die."
Foreign coaches in my opinion are still the best. Apart from Roy Hodgson, name me one current English coach that has been a success abroad. Exactly!
Louis van Gaal yesterday won the Dutch title with AZ Alkmaar - it was the second title the Dutch club have won in their history. His budget was 25 million pounds and that includes transfers and players wages etc. This is much less than what most Premier league clubs receive from just their TV rights income.
Van Gaal has won 4 Dutch titles and 2 La Liga.
If I were the owner of Aston Villa, I would seriously consider hiring him for the start of next season. But then we're talking about Aston Villa and an owner called Randy.
What a joke.
If Villa fail to beat Bolton on Saturday, then the vultures should be circling over Martin O'Neill's head - but they won't. O'Neill has immunity from the sack. This season has been deemed a success for him:
Knocked out of the Carling 3rd round by QPR at home
Knocked out of the last 32 of the UEFA cup after squeezing through the group stages
Knocked out of the last 16 of the FA cup
Last won a match February 7, 2009
Compare O'Neill's record with Wenger's this season:
Carling Cup quarter-finals
FA cup semi-finals
Champions League semi-finals
Unbeaten in the last 18 Premiership matches
This season was Villa's only chance of making the top four. They blew it. Next season Arsenal, Manchester City, Everton and even Spurs will be stronger. Villa will be weaker. Gareth Barry will leave and so will Ashley Young if he has any sense. Their replacements will be players in the class of Stuart Downing or Tom Huddlestone. Pretenders to international football.
Ever wondered what happened to Barry's replacement this season - Steven Sidwell? The player who left Arsenal to enhance his career by being a sub at Aston Villa and an expensive reserve at Chelsea.
No neither have I.
The 29 year old Stiliyan Petrov is deemed a better player by O'Neill, so much so that Villa have offered him a new three year deal. Clowns!
Below is the current top 10 Premier League table:
Alex Ferguson
Rafa Benitez
Gus Hiddink
Arsene Wenger
Martin O'Neill
David Moyes
Gianfranco Zola
Roy Hodgson
Harry Redknapp
Mark Hughes
The rest of the Premiership is full English managers such as Gary Megson, Phil Brown, Sam Allardyce, and Paul Hart. It doesn't take a genius to see why the FA appointed Fabio Cappello.
And for any Gooners out there who still have hopes of Tony Adams managing Arsenal I leave you with a quote made by the ex-Arsenal captain back in November 2008:
"I don't actually like people. I'm a loner and if I had my way I would just walk my dogs everyday, never talk to anyone and then die."
Foreign coaches in my opinion are still the best. Apart from Roy Hodgson, name me one current English coach that has been a success abroad. Exactly!
Louis van Gaal yesterday won the Dutch title with AZ Alkmaar - it was the second title the Dutch club have won in their history. His budget was 25 million pounds and that includes transfers and players wages etc. This is much less than what most Premier league clubs receive from just their TV rights income.
Van Gaal has won 4 Dutch titles and 2 La Liga.
If I were the owner of Aston Villa, I would seriously consider hiring him for the start of next season. But then we're talking about Aston Villa and an owner called Randy.
What a joke.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
AAAARRRRGGGHHH!!!
I understand the fans’ frustration as I am deeply disappointed myself. I received several calls after the match yesterday. Most were from people who had more to say than a little about why Chelsea walked away with the right to return to Wembley for the final. I so wanted to get to that final. It really hurts.
I’ve taken a quick glance at what the blogs and the rest of the media are saying – nothing more than reading banners and headlines. I can’t be bothered to go through the myriad negative articles and posts that lie waiting.
The consensus seems to be asking for answers from Wenger. Some want to hear explanations about the starting lineup and others about the substitutions. I am in no mood to read them at the moment. Plus my head is still clouded with images of Malouda and Drogba celebrating two very avoidable goals. They took them well but they were gifts. Let’s be clear, the two Chelsea goals were not products of fine build ups or super strikes. We should have dealt with them.
The Malouda goal was made possible by Eboue’s choice to not close down the winger. An errant Theo cross was sent forward. Eboue ball watched, allowing Malouda to receive and control before shooting. It was an effort that should have been stopped at the near post. Fabianski will stop more difficult efforts than that. I am sure he is disappointed.
The Drogba goal was made possible by a high line that was breached. Our center-halves were made to look, frankly, like schoolboys and left Silvestre chasing our main bane, Didier Drogba. Fabianski will again be disappointed that he didn’t do better. I feel that he’s made the wrong decision to come that far off his line. It was a disastrous outcome but he will learn from this. I feel his pain. It was a sad 24th birthday.
Overall, I understood the lineup – Song was our only remaining player who could slot in at CB so he had to start on the bench. Diaby was chosen over Arshaviin in essence because we needed his height and the added presence in midfield to combat Ballack, Lampard, and Essien. With seven of Chelsea’s outfield players at six feet or taller, Diaby was a reasonable choice. As it turned out, not he or Denilson were able to provide enough touches for Cesc. We needed Cesc to be involved far more than he was. Robin and Theo worked hard but the goal aside they and Togo were largely ineffective as a consequence. Gibbs was our best player. Let that be our silver lining. It’s wonderful to see him do well in such a moment but it is scant consolation to be honest.
I don’t think it is unfair to state that we didn’t play to our potential. We were not able to manage midfield and made errors at the back. The pain from losing and the misdirected analyses that I had to endure from fans afterward were very difficult to take.
We let it slip away. That is most unsettling.
I’ve taken a quick glance at what the blogs and the rest of the media are saying – nothing more than reading banners and headlines. I can’t be bothered to go through the myriad negative articles and posts that lie waiting.
The consensus seems to be asking for answers from Wenger. Some want to hear explanations about the starting lineup and others about the substitutions. I am in no mood to read them at the moment. Plus my head is still clouded with images of Malouda and Drogba celebrating two very avoidable goals. They took them well but they were gifts. Let’s be clear, the two Chelsea goals were not products of fine build ups or super strikes. We should have dealt with them.
The Malouda goal was made possible by Eboue’s choice to not close down the winger. An errant Theo cross was sent forward. Eboue ball watched, allowing Malouda to receive and control before shooting. It was an effort that should have been stopped at the near post. Fabianski will stop more difficult efforts than that. I am sure he is disappointed.
The Drogba goal was made possible by a high line that was breached. Our center-halves were made to look, frankly, like schoolboys and left Silvestre chasing our main bane, Didier Drogba. Fabianski will again be disappointed that he didn’t do better. I feel that he’s made the wrong decision to come that far off his line. It was a disastrous outcome but he will learn from this. I feel his pain. It was a sad 24th birthday.
Overall, I understood the lineup – Song was our only remaining player who could slot in at CB so he had to start on the bench. Diaby was chosen over Arshaviin in essence because we needed his height and the added presence in midfield to combat Ballack, Lampard, and Essien. With seven of Chelsea’s outfield players at six feet or taller, Diaby was a reasonable choice. As it turned out, not he or Denilson were able to provide enough touches for Cesc. We needed Cesc to be involved far more than he was. Robin and Theo worked hard but the goal aside they and Togo were largely ineffective as a consequence. Gibbs was our best player. Let that be our silver lining. It’s wonderful to see him do well in such a moment but it is scant consolation to be honest.
I don’t think it is unfair to state that we didn’t play to our potential. We were not able to manage midfield and made errors at the back. The pain from losing and the misdirected analyses that I had to endure from fans afterward were very difficult to take.
We let it slip away. That is most unsettling.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Wembley Round One
This is a massive game.
To most, the FA Cup represents the best chance at silverware for our club. They've been saying this for a long time, as if they had zero faith that we could pull off a string of performances to win the Champions League. Now that we're here, we have fulfilled some people's predictions.
That being said, I would venture that these people predicted us to win the FA Cup based on heavyweights being knocked out and getting favorable draws. The latter has been true to an extent. We were awarded with home ties in the last two rounds, and that has helped our team immensely. The former has not panned out, and we're in a situation where if we were to get past Chelsea, we'd have to play Manchester United for the fourth time in six weeks. Quite simply, this is an amazing scenario that might be developing.
Chelsea, as a footballing team, has been going through a revival of sorts. Their team was literally out of ideas when we last played them at Stamford Bridge. They lost to a dodgy call, but they weren't creating anything and didn't really deserve anything from their performance.
Guus arrived, and he sorted Drogba out. I hate some of these performances they're giving, because it gives me the impression that some of these players played poorly to get Scolari out. That kind of stuff always bothers me, but it is what it is. You can't control how the locker room is, especially if it's not a team that you built yourself.
Drogba has been motivated. Lampard has been consistent all year. They've been playing much better, and their first leg against Liverpool in the Champions League was their most impressive performance all year.
That's not to say they're invincible though.
Their defense has been shaky. Petr Cech is not the goalkeeper he once was, and he is susceptible to crosses. He is no longer both brave and intelligent; he is usually one or the other.
Their offense is incredibly narrow. They align with three central midfielders and use two nominal wingers to try to create width. Under Scolari, he used Ashley Cole and Boswinga to bomb forward to provide the width that such a central system denied them. It worked, only until those fullbacks were put under pressure themselves.
To that extent, we need Arshavin and Theo to push them back so their attack remains more one-dimensional. As Arsene put it so bluntly, our attack is the best form of defense, especially considering that 80% of our first choice back four is now sidelined.
If Gibbs is able to recover, it will prevent Alex Song from played in defense. This will help combat the talents of Ballack and Lampard. If not, Song's strength will help us play Drogba more effectively. Song will be an important player tomorrow.
Moreover, Cesc may be man-marked by Essien. I adore Mikael Essien. I regard him as one of the best players in the world, but if he were put to this task, it would deprive them of his forward drive. That may work in our favor, if we have Arshavin playing on the left wing.
Quite simply, it's a tasty matchup. It's a 50-50 to be sure. That being said, my heart bleeds red. I hope to see our club continue to blossom.
To most, the FA Cup represents the best chance at silverware for our club. They've been saying this for a long time, as if they had zero faith that we could pull off a string of performances to win the Champions League. Now that we're here, we have fulfilled some people's predictions.
That being said, I would venture that these people predicted us to win the FA Cup based on heavyweights being knocked out and getting favorable draws. The latter has been true to an extent. We were awarded with home ties in the last two rounds, and that has helped our team immensely. The former has not panned out, and we're in a situation where if we were to get past Chelsea, we'd have to play Manchester United for the fourth time in six weeks. Quite simply, this is an amazing scenario that might be developing.
Chelsea, as a footballing team, has been going through a revival of sorts. Their team was literally out of ideas when we last played them at Stamford Bridge. They lost to a dodgy call, but they weren't creating anything and didn't really deserve anything from their performance.
Guus arrived, and he sorted Drogba out. I hate some of these performances they're giving, because it gives me the impression that some of these players played poorly to get Scolari out. That kind of stuff always bothers me, but it is what it is. You can't control how the locker room is, especially if it's not a team that you built yourself.
Drogba has been motivated. Lampard has been consistent all year. They've been playing much better, and their first leg against Liverpool in the Champions League was their most impressive performance all year.
That's not to say they're invincible though.
Their defense has been shaky. Petr Cech is not the goalkeeper he once was, and he is susceptible to crosses. He is no longer both brave and intelligent; he is usually one or the other.
Their offense is incredibly narrow. They align with three central midfielders and use two nominal wingers to try to create width. Under Scolari, he used Ashley Cole and Boswinga to bomb forward to provide the width that such a central system denied them. It worked, only until those fullbacks were put under pressure themselves.
To that extent, we need Arshavin and Theo to push them back so their attack remains more one-dimensional. As Arsene put it so bluntly, our attack is the best form of defense, especially considering that 80% of our first choice back four is now sidelined.
If Gibbs is able to recover, it will prevent Alex Song from played in defense. This will help combat the talents of Ballack and Lampard. If not, Song's strength will help us play Drogba more effectively. Song will be an important player tomorrow.
Moreover, Cesc may be man-marked by Essien. I adore Mikael Essien. I regard him as one of the best players in the world, but if he were put to this task, it would deprive them of his forward drive. That may work in our favor, if we have Arshavin playing on the left wing.
Quite simply, it's a tasty matchup. It's a 50-50 to be sure. That being said, my heart bleeds red. I hope to see our club continue to blossom.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
FA Cup Semi-Finals
Arsenal have played in a record 24 FA cup semi-finals. Saturday will be Arsenal's 25th.
Arsenal's first FA cup semi-final was back in 1906, which they lost 2-0 to Newcastle United.
The following year, 1907, Arsenal again made it to the FA cup semi-final, losing 3-1 to Sheffield Wednesday.
The first time Arsenal won an FA cup semi-final was in 1927 when they beat Southamton 2-1.
Arsenal have won 17 FA cup semi-finals.
Saturday will be Arsenal's 8th FA cup semi-final with Arsene Wenger as manager. Wenger has won 5 out 7 FA cup semi-finals. His two defeats were against Manchester United in 1999 and 2004.
Arsenal have never beaten Manchester United in any semi-final. Arsenal lost to United in the 1983 FA cup semi-final 2-1 after taking the lead through Tony Woodcock. I was gutted that day. I had to listen to the match on the radio as the game was not televised live. We had already lost a league cup semi-final to them that season 6-3 on aggregate. So to lose another one and listen to it on the radio was enough to give me thoughts of suicide.
I was nine years old.
I was too young to remember Arsenal beating Orient (Leyton Orient today) back in 1978. I do remember losing the final to Bobby Robson's Ipswich 1-0. Pain from that defeat turned me into a Gooner, but it wasn't until our epic semi-finals of 1980 against Liverpool that I became a fanatic. It took four games to beat Liverpool that year. The first three games having finished 0-0, 1-1 and 1-1. I listened to every game on the radio.
Today, replays in semi-finals no longer exist. The 1999 semi-final replay against Man United was the last.
Arsenal have only played two semi-finals at Wembley. Both were against Spurs. In 1991, a Gazza and Lineker inspired Spurs beat Arsenal 3-1. That game will always be remembered for Gazza's 30 yard free-kick. I watched that game in The Cock Tavern right next to Highbury and Islington tube station. It was the first FA semi-final involving Arsenal that I watched live on TV.
I really hated Spurs that day. They stopped Arsenal from doing the double that year. It took a long time to get over that defeat. Still it's good to see Gazza doing well in life these days. How many cans of beer was he drinking before he went back into rehab? 35. That's 35 pint sized cans of strong lager a day. England's finest!
Two seasons later, I watched Arsenal beat Spurs 1-0 in another semi-final held at Wembley. Tony Adams scored a header from a Paul Merson free-kick. The tension among Gooners was intense as we could not face losing to the Scum again in such a high profile game. The game itself lacked quality. After the match had finished, I remember there being a lot of angry Spurs fans lurking around Wembley. There was also a big ruck at Kings Cross tube station and a lot of drunk Gooners celebrating at The Gunners pub.
I was living in Atlanta when we beat Spurs at Old Trafford in 2001. By then Spurs were a spent force. Arsenal should have beaten them by more than 2-1.
Arsenal have played Chelsea in two FA cup semi-finals - 1950 and 1952 - wining both after replays. I'm sure that today's players won't have a clue about those two results. Nor should they. The result they will remember is the 2-1 defeat to Chelsea in the Carling cup final back in 2007. That game finished in a brawl - which Arsenal won - and left three Arsenal players with lengthy bans.
The list of teams that have beaten Arsenal in FA cup semi-finals is below:
1906 Newcastle United
1907 Sheffield Wednesday
1973 Sunderland
1983 Manchester United
1991 Spurs
1999 Manchester United
2004 Manchester United
Let's hope Chelsea won't be added to that list.
Arsenal's first FA cup semi-final was back in 1906, which they lost 2-0 to Newcastle United.
The following year, 1907, Arsenal again made it to the FA cup semi-final, losing 3-1 to Sheffield Wednesday.
The first time Arsenal won an FA cup semi-final was in 1927 when they beat Southamton 2-1.
Arsenal have won 17 FA cup semi-finals.
Saturday will be Arsenal's 8th FA cup semi-final with Arsene Wenger as manager. Wenger has won 5 out 7 FA cup semi-finals. His two defeats were against Manchester United in 1999 and 2004.
Arsenal have never beaten Manchester United in any semi-final. Arsenal lost to United in the 1983 FA cup semi-final 2-1 after taking the lead through Tony Woodcock. I was gutted that day. I had to listen to the match on the radio as the game was not televised live. We had already lost a league cup semi-final to them that season 6-3 on aggregate. So to lose another one and listen to it on the radio was enough to give me thoughts of suicide.
I was nine years old.
I was too young to remember Arsenal beating Orient (Leyton Orient today) back in 1978. I do remember losing the final to Bobby Robson's Ipswich 1-0. Pain from that defeat turned me into a Gooner, but it wasn't until our epic semi-finals of 1980 against Liverpool that I became a fanatic. It took four games to beat Liverpool that year. The first three games having finished 0-0, 1-1 and 1-1. I listened to every game on the radio.
Today, replays in semi-finals no longer exist. The 1999 semi-final replay against Man United was the last.
Arsenal have only played two semi-finals at Wembley. Both were against Spurs. In 1991, a Gazza and Lineker inspired Spurs beat Arsenal 3-1. That game will always be remembered for Gazza's 30 yard free-kick. I watched that game in The Cock Tavern right next to Highbury and Islington tube station. It was the first FA semi-final involving Arsenal that I watched live on TV.
I really hated Spurs that day. They stopped Arsenal from doing the double that year. It took a long time to get over that defeat. Still it's good to see Gazza doing well in life these days. How many cans of beer was he drinking before he went back into rehab? 35. That's 35 pint sized cans of strong lager a day. England's finest!
Two seasons later, I watched Arsenal beat Spurs 1-0 in another semi-final held at Wembley. Tony Adams scored a header from a Paul Merson free-kick. The tension among Gooners was intense as we could not face losing to the Scum again in such a high profile game. The game itself lacked quality. After the match had finished, I remember there being a lot of angry Spurs fans lurking around Wembley. There was also a big ruck at Kings Cross tube station and a lot of drunk Gooners celebrating at The Gunners pub.
I was living in Atlanta when we beat Spurs at Old Trafford in 2001. By then Spurs were a spent force. Arsenal should have beaten them by more than 2-1.
Arsenal have played Chelsea in two FA cup semi-finals - 1950 and 1952 - wining both after replays. I'm sure that today's players won't have a clue about those two results. Nor should they. The result they will remember is the 2-1 defeat to Chelsea in the Carling cup final back in 2007. That game finished in a brawl - which Arsenal won - and left three Arsenal players with lengthy bans.
The list of teams that have beaten Arsenal in FA cup semi-finals is below:
1906 Newcastle United
1907 Sheffield Wednesday
1973 Sunderland
1983 Manchester United
1991 Spurs
1999 Manchester United
2004 Manchester United
Let's hope Chelsea won't be added to that list.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Don't Do That
Five things I will never do:
1. Assume a result before a match is played
2. Under estimate the opposition
3. Wish my opponent good luck
4. Let the opposition know what I am thinking
5. Motivate the opposition
Marcos Senna has earned the right to speak out but he didn’t need to call out Togo. I could never understand why combatants or managers would speak so openly about tactics before a match or about their thoughts on battle in general. The last thing I would want is for the opposition to have any kind of edge on me. Equally, I would never assume that I know the limits of their capabilities.
This is a very sensitive time of the season for us. We must be very careful but also be positive. Hand brakes off but play smart as well.
We can do this!
1. Assume a result before a match is played
2. Under estimate the opposition
3. Wish my opponent good luck
4. Let the opposition know what I am thinking
5. Motivate the opposition
Marcos Senna has earned the right to speak out but he didn’t need to call out Togo. I could never understand why combatants or managers would speak so openly about tactics before a match or about their thoughts on battle in general. The last thing I would want is for the opposition to have any kind of edge on me. Equally, I would never assume that I know the limits of their capabilities.
This is a very sensitive time of the season for us. We must be very careful but also be positive. Hand brakes off but play smart as well.
We can do this!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
You Cannot Let The Past Dictate Your Future
When we went to Villarreal in the 2nd leg of the Champions League semifinal in 2006, we played to protect our one goal lead. That day, we seemed incredibly timid. We knew what was at stake, and the players seemed petrified in the moment. Arsene Wenger revealed today that he told the team to attack in that game, and they responded, "No chance."
We were bombarded and assaulted by Villarreal. That they failed to penetrate our goal is due to the heroics of Jens Lehmann.
Wenger has asked this team to listen to him this time around, and he is ordering them to attack Villarreal. There are similarities in the sense that Villarreal will come out to attack. We have the luxury of playing at the Emirates, but we had that same luxury when Wayne Bridge broke my heart. That goal told me everything about football in a nutshell. Being a King means nothing if you show any sign of weakness. The best team in the world had succumbed to a team that had been beaten by us thirteen previous times before.
With a patchwork defense, we needed this tie to be at home in order to give us an added boost. We can expect to see Silvestre step in, and methinks that Wenger will trust Gibbs to play on the left. He was given a torrid time and targeted by Valencia on Saturday, but the lack of pace in Pires will benefit Gibbs. That being said, the only added benefit Gibbs gives us at this moment is his ability to deliver a peach of a ball. The truth is, the injuries have again hit us at a bad time.
But, we cannot look on that and feel it as a weakness. The last time William Gallas went missing, we capitulated. In what Arsene calls the worst game of the season, our defense was shredded by Ireland and Robinho.
On Saturday, we were in line for a similar result. We were 1-0 down, and fortunate to escape a red card. However, we refused to crumble and held our own. This team has learned from their mistakes.
Tomorrow, Villarreal will lack the physical presence of Senna, a player that many fans covet. He claimed that in a few years time, this Arsenal team can dominate. He, of course, feels that his team has a chance in this tie. And of course, he's absolutely correct.
This is an incredibly dangerous tie. Any goals they score, we will have to make up for. A draw doesn't guarantee you anything if it's a score draw.
What we require is poise, confidence, determination.
This is the moment for the players to realize why Arsene Wenger bought them in the first place.
It will require Fabianski's decisive thinking, Sagna's no nonsense defending, Toure's manic aggression, Silvestre's experienced head, Gibbs' young confidence, Alex Song's toughness, Denilson's cool, Cesc's genius, Nasri's skills, Walcott's pace, van Persie's precision, and Adebayor's work ethic.
And what awaits us after a solid 90 (or 120) minutes is a potential mouthwatering tie against United where we'll play the second leg at the Emirates.
This game, and that potential game, is what football is all about. If you're not excited, you are not an Arsenal fan.
We were bombarded and assaulted by Villarreal. That they failed to penetrate our goal is due to the heroics of Jens Lehmann.
Wenger has asked this team to listen to him this time around, and he is ordering them to attack Villarreal. There are similarities in the sense that Villarreal will come out to attack. We have the luxury of playing at the Emirates, but we had that same luxury when Wayne Bridge broke my heart. That goal told me everything about football in a nutshell. Being a King means nothing if you show any sign of weakness. The best team in the world had succumbed to a team that had been beaten by us thirteen previous times before.
With a patchwork defense, we needed this tie to be at home in order to give us an added boost. We can expect to see Silvestre step in, and methinks that Wenger will trust Gibbs to play on the left. He was given a torrid time and targeted by Valencia on Saturday, but the lack of pace in Pires will benefit Gibbs. That being said, the only added benefit Gibbs gives us at this moment is his ability to deliver a peach of a ball. The truth is, the injuries have again hit us at a bad time.
But, we cannot look on that and feel it as a weakness. The last time William Gallas went missing, we capitulated. In what Arsene calls the worst game of the season, our defense was shredded by Ireland and Robinho.
On Saturday, we were in line for a similar result. We were 1-0 down, and fortunate to escape a red card. However, we refused to crumble and held our own. This team has learned from their mistakes.
Tomorrow, Villarreal will lack the physical presence of Senna, a player that many fans covet. He claimed that in a few years time, this Arsenal team can dominate. He, of course, feels that his team has a chance in this tie. And of course, he's absolutely correct.
This is an incredibly dangerous tie. Any goals they score, we will have to make up for. A draw doesn't guarantee you anything if it's a score draw.
What we require is poise, confidence, determination.
This is the moment for the players to realize why Arsene Wenger bought them in the first place.
It will require Fabianski's decisive thinking, Sagna's no nonsense defending, Toure's manic aggression, Silvestre's experienced head, Gibbs' young confidence, Alex Song's toughness, Denilson's cool, Cesc's genius, Nasri's skills, Walcott's pace, van Persie's precision, and Adebayor's work ethic.
And what awaits us after a solid 90 (or 120) minutes is a potential mouthwatering tie against United where we'll play the second leg at the Emirates.
This game, and that potential game, is what football is all about. If you're not excited, you are not an Arsenal fan.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Every Game Counts
Aston Villa are now 8 points behind Arsenal in the race for the last Champions League place. Yesterday they stopped a run of losing four Premiership matches on the trot by drawing 3-3 at home to Everton.
Everton are 6th in the Premiership, one point behind Villa.
Both sides needed a win yesterday to stand any realistic chance of taking 4th spot.
There are six Premiership matches left for Arsenal. If they win three of those games and draw one, Arsenal should be home and dry because of their superior goal difference to Villa. This means that Arsenal can concentrate their efforts on the Champions League if they beat Villarreal on Wednesday.
This is no easy task. The game on Wednesday is on a knife edge.
1-1 favors no one.
If Villarreal score first - which is a possibility because Arsenal are without Gallas and Djourou - then nerves and a lack of belief could quickly run through the Arsenal squad and finish them off. Additionally, Villarreal could also grow in confidence and smell blood.
This game is only for the head strong.
If Arsenal score first - and thus lead the tie 2-1 - we could witness another Cheslsea result from 2004.
In April 2004, Arsenal hosted Chelsea in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final. The first leg at Stamford Bridge finished 1-1. Arsenal were seen as the favorites to go through. All they to do was draw 0-0 and Monaco awaited them in the semis. Many Arsenal fans were already booking flights to the French principality. That's how confident and arrogant they were. Arsenal had already beaten Chelsea three times that season, so there was some justification in their actions.
Just before half-time in the second leg, Jose Antonio Reyes, Arsenal's mercurial new Spainish signing, scored to put Arsenal 1-0 ahead on the night and 2-1 up on aggregate.
But in the second half Arsenal fell apart. Nerves got the better of them with Chelsea winning 2-1.
Champions League football is a professional footballer's crack cocaine. Only playing in a European Championship or World Cup can top it.
If Arsenal or Villarreal make it to the semi-finals then they must fancy their chances against Porto or a shaky Manchester United.
Porto are a lot stronger at home and are in a much better position than Arsenal. United have to win in Portugal or their dream of the quintuplet is over. Not an easy task against a team whose fans hate Christiano Ronaldo for his ties with Sporting Lisbon.
After watching the Wigan match on Saturday, it is obvious that Wenger is now juggling his sqaud. Having Djourou out is a massive blow. Sylvestre is a good stop gap but he lacks speed, which against fast Champions League players is a big weakness. He is also small for a center-back which can be a problem when playing against sides like Stoke City. Sylvestre does, however, possess great positional sense and has bags of experience - something that every team needs at the business end of the season. He also knows how to organize others.
Put it this way - he is just as good as Senderos.
Our most value player in the coming weeks of battle is a man who has been derided by The Negatives for most of his Arsenal career.
Alex Song.
Song is the only man I trust right now to play center-back. Kieran Gibbs showed against Wigan Athletic that he is too raw for a Champions League start. Sylvestre will therefore have to deputise at left-back until Clichy is back. Arsenal's back four on Wednesday could look like this:
Sylestre Song Toure Sagna
They all speak French, they all have experience and they all have a huge job on their hands.
It helps Arsenal that Senna is out. That is a huge relief. Senna is an animal of a player. With Song not playing in the midfield, Senna would have run riot.
After Villarreal, it's Chelsea at Wembley and then Liverpool at Anfield. Both teams play each other tomorrow in a game that will have an effect on Arsenal. Liverpool look to be out of the Champions League after losing 3-1 at home last week. This means that the Premiership is all they have left to win.
However, the scenario completely changes if they some how get past Chelsea. This will mean that Saturday's FA cup semi-final will be the only trophy that Chelsea can realistically win this season - although there are some Chelsea fans talking of the treble.
First it's Villareal, then Chelsea at Wembley, followed by Anfield and then relegation threatened Middlesbrough at The Emirates. All in ten days.
It's crunch time.
Every game counts, starting tomorrow.
Everton are 6th in the Premiership, one point behind Villa.
Both sides needed a win yesterday to stand any realistic chance of taking 4th spot.
There are six Premiership matches left for Arsenal. If they win three of those games and draw one, Arsenal should be home and dry because of their superior goal difference to Villa. This means that Arsenal can concentrate their efforts on the Champions League if they beat Villarreal on Wednesday.
This is no easy task. The game on Wednesday is on a knife edge.
1-1 favors no one.
If Villarreal score first - which is a possibility because Arsenal are without Gallas and Djourou - then nerves and a lack of belief could quickly run through the Arsenal squad and finish them off. Additionally, Villarreal could also grow in confidence and smell blood.
This game is only for the head strong.
If Arsenal score first - and thus lead the tie 2-1 - we could witness another Cheslsea result from 2004.
In April 2004, Arsenal hosted Chelsea in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final. The first leg at Stamford Bridge finished 1-1. Arsenal were seen as the favorites to go through. All they to do was draw 0-0 and Monaco awaited them in the semis. Many Arsenal fans were already booking flights to the French principality. That's how confident and arrogant they were. Arsenal had already beaten Chelsea three times that season, so there was some justification in their actions.
Just before half-time in the second leg, Jose Antonio Reyes, Arsenal's mercurial new Spainish signing, scored to put Arsenal 1-0 ahead on the night and 2-1 up on aggregate.
But in the second half Arsenal fell apart. Nerves got the better of them with Chelsea winning 2-1.
Champions League football is a professional footballer's crack cocaine. Only playing in a European Championship or World Cup can top it.
If Arsenal or Villarreal make it to the semi-finals then they must fancy their chances against Porto or a shaky Manchester United.
Porto are a lot stronger at home and are in a much better position than Arsenal. United have to win in Portugal or their dream of the quintuplet is over. Not an easy task against a team whose fans hate Christiano Ronaldo for his ties with Sporting Lisbon.
After watching the Wigan match on Saturday, it is obvious that Wenger is now juggling his sqaud. Having Djourou out is a massive blow. Sylvestre is a good stop gap but he lacks speed, which against fast Champions League players is a big weakness. He is also small for a center-back which can be a problem when playing against sides like Stoke City. Sylvestre does, however, possess great positional sense and has bags of experience - something that every team needs at the business end of the season. He also knows how to organize others.
Put it this way - he is just as good as Senderos.
Our most value player in the coming weeks of battle is a man who has been derided by The Negatives for most of his Arsenal career.
Alex Song.
Song is the only man I trust right now to play center-back. Kieran Gibbs showed against Wigan Athletic that he is too raw for a Champions League start. Sylvestre will therefore have to deputise at left-back until Clichy is back. Arsenal's back four on Wednesday could look like this:
Sylestre Song Toure Sagna
They all speak French, they all have experience and they all have a huge job on their hands.
It helps Arsenal that Senna is out. That is a huge relief. Senna is an animal of a player. With Song not playing in the midfield, Senna would have run riot.
After Villarreal, it's Chelsea at Wembley and then Liverpool at Anfield. Both teams play each other tomorrow in a game that will have an effect on Arsenal. Liverpool look to be out of the Champions League after losing 3-1 at home last week. This means that the Premiership is all they have left to win.
However, the scenario completely changes if they some how get past Chelsea. This will mean that Saturday's FA cup semi-final will be the only trophy that Chelsea can realistically win this season - although there are some Chelsea fans talking of the treble.
First it's Villareal, then Chelsea at Wembley, followed by Anfield and then relegation threatened Middlesbrough at The Emirates. All in ten days.
It's crunch time.
Every game counts, starting tomorrow.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Why I Believe
I’ve just read quotes from a l’Equipe interview with Arsene Wenger. They reveal more about his thoughts on this team than I’ve read before. They smash the theory that “arrogance” drives the man and that the team and ultimately the club and fans suffer from his stubbornness. They show humility and maybe a hint of self doubt. They have reconfirmed that the man does not allow himself to operate inside a bubble, isolated from the realities that we fans suffer from. The man, as I have suspected, suffers as much if not more than we do.
During our pre-season campaign, I looked for clues to indicate if we had the requirements to compete for the title. I analyzed the squad additions of even more inexperienced young players while others cringed when Wenger hinted that replacements for Hleb, Flamini, and Gilberto were either not available or not required. Not replacing the latter pair in favor of Song and Denilson gave non-believers more than enough reason to begin distrusting the Wenger model. Faith was beginning to slip away just as the title did last season.
I’ve been called a Wenger apologist, suggesting that either I am not realistic enough in my assessment of his policies or that I simply will not accept that the players are not good enough. In response, I’ve had to reassess my views and positions on our club in general.
I remain steadfast. The policy is not flawed and the players are good enough.
My first true moment of reflection on the squad’s capabilities occurred after the Emirates Cup tournament last August. I revealed to a fellow fan that I was slightly concerned about the state of our squad. She commented that I “should be”. After close analysis of each player, I didn’t develop more doubt but more confidence. Yes, more confidence. I truly believed that we could compete. The addition of Arshavin was something that was always imminent. Wenger always wanted that “special” player. Arshavin’s transfer was a difficult task but not counter to Wenger's policy as some have suggested.
Was I being contrarian and defiant in feeling that we were good enough to compete for the title? Was I in denial? Was I blinded by faith? I didn’t think so then and I still believe that mine is a fair assessment of the situation. I’ve approached analyzing our club in a structured manner, not like those who take the ‘what have you done for me lately’ position.
I look at the players’ confidence levels. Wenger instills confidence in his players. He does not allow them to believe their own hype but certainly does give them the platform upon which to build their mental strength. I look at the consistency of results and performances. The manager links quality to consistency. But I haven’t told you anything that you don’t already know. Pretty basic stuff, really! What’s not basic is the great divide that has formed between subscribers to the Wenger model and the non-believers’ view that it is fatally flawed.
It is not flawed. The business end of the season is upon us. I have every faith in this team that they will prove that. The players have the confidence that they can achieve great things together. In fact, dealing with the trauma of last season’s failure, the Gallas saga, the injuries to and departure of big players, and managing the challenge from Villa are all potentially damaging events they’ve handled already. The confidence gained from victories over Utd and Chelsea (one offs to many) look more and more like true reflections of our ability. Coming of age in Roma has bolstered squad confidence and identity. Coming from behind against Villareal and Wigan is further evidence.
Consistency is a good barometer of true quality. Not many teams anywhere have been more consistent than Arsenal in 2009. Please correct me if I am wrong. Not all our results have impressed the non-believers as we’ve drawn matches we should have won. Fair enough but we’ve been arguably the form team in the EPL for some time now, regardless of credit from the media for it or not.
It isn’t blind faith that makes me stand by my manager. It is belief in what he has created and knowing that successful teams are built on small, incremental bits of progress. Sometimes that progress doesn’t come fast enough or isn’t as evident as it could be. That is when you ask yourself questions, not the manager necessarily. He questions himself.
During our pre-season campaign, I looked for clues to indicate if we had the requirements to compete for the title. I analyzed the squad additions of even more inexperienced young players while others cringed when Wenger hinted that replacements for Hleb, Flamini, and Gilberto were either not available or not required. Not replacing the latter pair in favor of Song and Denilson gave non-believers more than enough reason to begin distrusting the Wenger model. Faith was beginning to slip away just as the title did last season.
I’ve been called a Wenger apologist, suggesting that either I am not realistic enough in my assessment of his policies or that I simply will not accept that the players are not good enough. In response, I’ve had to reassess my views and positions on our club in general.
I remain steadfast. The policy is not flawed and the players are good enough.
My first true moment of reflection on the squad’s capabilities occurred after the Emirates Cup tournament last August. I revealed to a fellow fan that I was slightly concerned about the state of our squad. She commented that I “should be”. After close analysis of each player, I didn’t develop more doubt but more confidence. Yes, more confidence. I truly believed that we could compete. The addition of Arshavin was something that was always imminent. Wenger always wanted that “special” player. Arshavin’s transfer was a difficult task but not counter to Wenger's policy as some have suggested.
Was I being contrarian and defiant in feeling that we were good enough to compete for the title? Was I in denial? Was I blinded by faith? I didn’t think so then and I still believe that mine is a fair assessment of the situation. I’ve approached analyzing our club in a structured manner, not like those who take the ‘what have you done for me lately’ position.
I look at the players’ confidence levels. Wenger instills confidence in his players. He does not allow them to believe their own hype but certainly does give them the platform upon which to build their mental strength. I look at the consistency of results and performances. The manager links quality to consistency. But I haven’t told you anything that you don’t already know. Pretty basic stuff, really! What’s not basic is the great divide that has formed between subscribers to the Wenger model and the non-believers’ view that it is fatally flawed.
It is not flawed. The business end of the season is upon us. I have every faith in this team that they will prove that. The players have the confidence that they can achieve great things together. In fact, dealing with the trauma of last season’s failure, the Gallas saga, the injuries to and departure of big players, and managing the challenge from Villa are all potentially damaging events they’ve handled already. The confidence gained from victories over Utd and Chelsea (one offs to many) look more and more like true reflections of our ability. Coming of age in Roma has bolstered squad confidence and identity. Coming from behind against Villareal and Wigan is further evidence.
Consistency is a good barometer of true quality. Not many teams anywhere have been more consistent than Arsenal in 2009. Please correct me if I am wrong. Not all our results have impressed the non-believers as we’ve drawn matches we should have won. Fair enough but we’ve been arguably the form team in the EPL for some time now, regardless of credit from the media for it or not.
It isn’t blind faith that makes me stand by my manager. It is belief in what he has created and knowing that successful teams are built on small, incremental bits of progress. Sometimes that progress doesn’t come fast enough or isn’t as evident as it could be. That is when you ask yourself questions, not the manager necessarily. He questions himself.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Appreciate William Gallas
As soon as I saw the replays, I knew he was finished for the year. In fact, I immediately texted a great man those words. I don't think he knew what it really meant, seeing as he was watching the game on tape delay later. Naturally, some people blamed Alex Song for it, but it was the type of injury that can happen in football. Accidents happen. We can accept such things, even if we think it is unlucky.
When Rossi landed on Gallas, Rossi immediately sprung up and waved for the stretcher. He knew what happened. Rossi was also involved with Almunia in the early part of the game, crashing into him while chasing a ball. Rossi is not a dirty player, and he's actually quite good (even if he should play for the United States). So, seeing his requests, I knew Gallas was down for the count.
The remarkable thing about Gallas on Tuesday was this. Yes, he was carried off the field. Yet, almost one minute later, he re-entered the pitch and defended against a Villarreal attack. He was clearly hobbled and injured, as he chased down the ball. That being said, he was still in the right position and he cut off the channel. After that, he collapsed onto the ground and was substituted off. After a few moments of early jitters, Djourou did well enough and Kolo turned into the mountain of a defender he can be. Kolo probably put in his best performance of the year, and that is a welcome sign knowing that Gallas will be missing from here on out.
Most people think Gallas is off. Myles Palmer has stated that a deal to Marseille is already finished and that we'll be signing Sebastien Bassong from Newcastle. Arseblog likes to speculate that Gallas might have played his last game for us. Arsene meanwhile has come out and stated that he will be back. I like Bassong, I think he's a good prospect and he won't need to adapt to the English Premier League. We are also rumored to be interested in Sakho from Paris St. Germain. These are good things to hear, being that the defense is probably the only element of our squad we need to beef up. That being said, I would be thrilled to see Gallas stick around.
William Gallas is a warrior. William Gallas is a man who only cares about winning. William Gallas helped right the good ship Arsenal this year when everybody was prepared to cast him off as a cancer. William Gallas is a Gunner.
Just a small note about Wigan. They will be without Lee Cattermole, and this will affect their game. They will use Michael Brown and Watson to fill the center of the midfield. They will want to win tomorrow as they want to finish 7th. We will be tired, but the one player who will be ready is Andrey Arshavin.
Arshavin said yesterday that he loves our club. Andrey Arshavin is a Gunner.
When Rossi landed on Gallas, Rossi immediately sprung up and waved for the stretcher. He knew what happened. Rossi was also involved with Almunia in the early part of the game, crashing into him while chasing a ball. Rossi is not a dirty player, and he's actually quite good (even if he should play for the United States). So, seeing his requests, I knew Gallas was down for the count.
The remarkable thing about Gallas on Tuesday was this. Yes, he was carried off the field. Yet, almost one minute later, he re-entered the pitch and defended against a Villarreal attack. He was clearly hobbled and injured, as he chased down the ball. That being said, he was still in the right position and he cut off the channel. After that, he collapsed onto the ground and was substituted off. After a few moments of early jitters, Djourou did well enough and Kolo turned into the mountain of a defender he can be. Kolo probably put in his best performance of the year, and that is a welcome sign knowing that Gallas will be missing from here on out.
Most people think Gallas is off. Myles Palmer has stated that a deal to Marseille is already finished and that we'll be signing Sebastien Bassong from Newcastle. Arseblog likes to speculate that Gallas might have played his last game for us. Arsene meanwhile has come out and stated that he will be back. I like Bassong, I think he's a good prospect and he won't need to adapt to the English Premier League. We are also rumored to be interested in Sakho from Paris St. Germain. These are good things to hear, being that the defense is probably the only element of our squad we need to beef up. That being said, I would be thrilled to see Gallas stick around.
William Gallas is a warrior. William Gallas is a man who only cares about winning. William Gallas helped right the good ship Arsenal this year when everybody was prepared to cast him off as a cancer. William Gallas is a Gunner.
Just a small note about Wigan. They will be without Lee Cattermole, and this will affect their game. They will use Michael Brown and Watson to fill the center of the midfield. They will want to win tomorrow as they want to finish 7th. We will be tired, but the one player who will be ready is Andrey Arshavin.
Arshavin said yesterday that he loves our club. Andrey Arshavin is a Gunner.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Togo
In February I wrote about Togo’s poor display against West Ham. His was a truly disappointing return in a match that we had to win in order to stay in the title race. He looked as bad as he has done since signing for us. I wondered about his value to the club. I wondered if he would regain the hunger and motivation he’d shown last season.
Last night at Villareal, he scored his third goal in the two matches played since returning from injury. It was as spectacular a goal as you’ll see. I saw Thierry Henry attempt the feat at Highbury once against Sunderland but it smashed off the post. Togo took the ball off his chest from a pass lofted by Cesc, and then with his back to goal he went airborne to finish a spectacular overhead volley. A special goal! Thank goodness the two are fit again.
In February I wrote that Togo’s contribution was unacceptable. He has answered me with style. Having scored a brace on Saturday to put pressure on Aston Villa for the last CL place, he’s come good with a crucial away goal in the CL ¼ final first leg.
When he’s fit and playing well, Adebayor is a top, top striker. He is one that no defender would want to face. It's only been two matches but let’s be clear about it, a hungry, fit, and motivated Togo is arguably our top gun.
In parting, I ask you to please consider this; when all our strikers are fit and in form, what team has a better, more well rounded strike force?
Of course Barcelona and Manchester United quickly come to mind but I would go to war with my troops.
Last night at Villareal, he scored his third goal in the two matches played since returning from injury. It was as spectacular a goal as you’ll see. I saw Thierry Henry attempt the feat at Highbury once against Sunderland but it smashed off the post. Togo took the ball off his chest from a pass lofted by Cesc, and then with his back to goal he went airborne to finish a spectacular overhead volley. A special goal! Thank goodness the two are fit again.
In February I wrote that Togo’s contribution was unacceptable. He has answered me with style. Having scored a brace on Saturday to put pressure on Aston Villa for the last CL place, he’s come good with a crucial away goal in the CL ¼ final first leg.
When he’s fit and playing well, Adebayor is a top, top striker. He is one that no defender would want to face. It's only been two matches but let’s be clear about it, a hungry, fit, and motivated Togo is arguably our top gun.
In parting, I ask you to please consider this; when all our strikers are fit and in form, what team has a better, more well rounded strike force?
Of course Barcelona and Manchester United quickly come to mind but I would go to war with my troops.
Monday, April 6, 2009
The Yellow Submarine
I have to admit that I admire Villarreal greatly.
It is a city that has roughly 42,000 residents, and their stadium seats 25,000. That means, the entire town has a passion for the football club, as they do sell out most of the time.
Their manager, the Chilean, Manuel Pellegrini, is a man to be respected. He builds football teams that are fluid, depend on movement, and precise passing to open up teams. He often finds the men to make his system work. Three years ago, he resurrected the career of Juan Roman Riquelme and a similar thing could be said about the career of one Robert Pires.
He inspires players to stick around and perform their best for him. He has persuaded Marcos Senna, a linchpin in the Spanish national side, to stay. He has convinced Santi Cazorla to reject Real Madrid's overtures. These are no small tasks.
In short summary, he is a man much like Arsene Wenger. That's also not to say that he'd be a huge success were he to manage a team in the English Premier League. I've often said that if Arsenal were in La Liga, we would be even more loved by others. Villarreal is a team that depends on controlling teams on their own terms. Once the tempo is pushed, they can be broken down, especially with their regular central defense partnership injured at the moment.
They have been credited for holding Manchester United to draws, but the key to the game is tempo. We are capable of pushing the ball down the opposition's throats, moreso in the comfort of the Emirates, but that is the key to the European fixtures.
If we enter the game without fear, without the handbrake, we can be devastating. With the team coming back into form, we've seen the ways in which teams can be pried open.
Villarreal's threats will come from Rossi, Ibagaza, Llorente, and Pires in that order. If you cut off the supply to the strikers, you're left with a not as mobile Pires and sneaky Ibagaza as the danger men. Senna will impose himself on our team, but that is why our players on the left and right side of the midfield will be key.
Pires is talking his talk. All his words are valid, but they ultimately don't really matter. It is Marcos Senna who issued the challenge to our team. This is what he said:
"It is true Cesc Fàbregas is an important player for them, but he is coming back from injury and still isn't a superstar player, as Thierry Henry was at that time."
Over to you, Cesc.
It is a city that has roughly 42,000 residents, and their stadium seats 25,000. That means, the entire town has a passion for the football club, as they do sell out most of the time.
Their manager, the Chilean, Manuel Pellegrini, is a man to be respected. He builds football teams that are fluid, depend on movement, and precise passing to open up teams. He often finds the men to make his system work. Three years ago, he resurrected the career of Juan Roman Riquelme and a similar thing could be said about the career of one Robert Pires.
He inspires players to stick around and perform their best for him. He has persuaded Marcos Senna, a linchpin in the Spanish national side, to stay. He has convinced Santi Cazorla to reject Real Madrid's overtures. These are no small tasks.
In short summary, he is a man much like Arsene Wenger. That's also not to say that he'd be a huge success were he to manage a team in the English Premier League. I've often said that if Arsenal were in La Liga, we would be even more loved by others. Villarreal is a team that depends on controlling teams on their own terms. Once the tempo is pushed, they can be broken down, especially with their regular central defense partnership injured at the moment.
They have been credited for holding Manchester United to draws, but the key to the game is tempo. We are capable of pushing the ball down the opposition's throats, moreso in the comfort of the Emirates, but that is the key to the European fixtures.
If we enter the game without fear, without the handbrake, we can be devastating. With the team coming back into form, we've seen the ways in which teams can be pried open.
Villarreal's threats will come from Rossi, Ibagaza, Llorente, and Pires in that order. If you cut off the supply to the strikers, you're left with a not as mobile Pires and sneaky Ibagaza as the danger men. Senna will impose himself on our team, but that is why our players on the left and right side of the midfield will be key.
Pires is talking his talk. All his words are valid, but they ultimately don't really matter. It is Marcos Senna who issued the challenge to our team. This is what he said:
"It is true Cesc Fàbregas is an important player for them, but he is coming back from injury and still isn't a superstar player, as Thierry Henry was at that time."
Over to you, Cesc.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Never Forget
In the 1996-97 season, the following clubs all played in the EPL:
Nottingham Forest
Coventry City
Southampton
Derby County
Leeds United
Leicester City
Wimbledon
Sheffield Wednesday
Today, the two factions that make up the club once known as Wimbledon FC – MK Dons and AFC Wimbledon – are split between Coca-Cola League 1 and Conference South divisions respectively.
Leeds United and Leicester City compete in the Coca-Cola League 1 division as well while Forest, Coventry, Southampton, Derby, and Wednesday are all one step below the EPL in The Coca-Cola Championship.
Since the ’96-97 season, the aforementioned clubs have flirted with the EPL or have never returned after relegation. Leeds made it as far as the Champions League semi final in 2001 before financial disaster, and Southampton played an FA Cup final, losing to Arsenal in 2003. Meanwhile, Arsenal have had continued stability and success with Arsene Wenger. Under Wenger Arsenal have never finished outside a UEFA Champions League place, have won three league titles, and four FA Cups. Not bad!
Of course there have been years when the manager himself would tell you that we should have done better in any given competition but overall he can look at a fine body of work.
Yesterday’s victory over Manchester City was the first match in which the previously injured Adebayor and Cesc featured for some time. Both were keys to the victory that put us six points clear of Aston Villa. It’s notable that the latest round of internationals deprived us of Robin van Persie, Samir Nasri, and Abou Diaby – all players who’d been in good to outstanding form of late.
And they say we have no depth!
After a poor start to the season, we are now in control of finishing fourth at minimum. We can finish the season strongly and end up with not just qualification for next season’s Champions League but also winning two major trophies. A situation that many doubted we’d be anywhere near. Some even dared to suggest that we’d begun our own descent down the divisions. Folly!
Winning a cup double certainly won’t be a simple task but it’ll be a whole lot easier than Leeds finding their way back to Europe’s premier club competition. It’ll be far easier than ex European Cup winners Nottingham Forest finding their way back to prominence. It’ll even be easier to stomach not winning anything at all this season than being broken-hearted supporters of a club that goes the way of Wimbledon FC.
Regardless of what The Negatives try to convince you, we find ourselves with stability, depth, and ambition as we look forward to Villareal in the ¼ finals of the one competition that we all covet as Arsenal fans. We prepare for another stab at the elusive title that Mr. Wenger feels the club deserve and that purists feel would cement his legacy as a truly great manager.
With or without it, Arsene Wenger is great. We owe the man a huge debt of gratitude. We should never forget that.
Nottingham Forest
Coventry City
Southampton
Derby County
Leeds United
Leicester City
Wimbledon
Sheffield Wednesday
Today, the two factions that make up the club once known as Wimbledon FC – MK Dons and AFC Wimbledon – are split between Coca-Cola League 1 and Conference South divisions respectively.
Leeds United and Leicester City compete in the Coca-Cola League 1 division as well while Forest, Coventry, Southampton, Derby, and Wednesday are all one step below the EPL in The Coca-Cola Championship.
Since the ’96-97 season, the aforementioned clubs have flirted with the EPL or have never returned after relegation. Leeds made it as far as the Champions League semi final in 2001 before financial disaster, and Southampton played an FA Cup final, losing to Arsenal in 2003. Meanwhile, Arsenal have had continued stability and success with Arsene Wenger. Under Wenger Arsenal have never finished outside a UEFA Champions League place, have won three league titles, and four FA Cups. Not bad!
Of course there have been years when the manager himself would tell you that we should have done better in any given competition but overall he can look at a fine body of work.
Yesterday’s victory over Manchester City was the first match in which the previously injured Adebayor and Cesc featured for some time. Both were keys to the victory that put us six points clear of Aston Villa. It’s notable that the latest round of internationals deprived us of Robin van Persie, Samir Nasri, and Abou Diaby – all players who’d been in good to outstanding form of late.
And they say we have no depth!
After a poor start to the season, we are now in control of finishing fourth at minimum. We can finish the season strongly and end up with not just qualification for next season’s Champions League but also winning two major trophies. A situation that many doubted we’d be anywhere near. Some even dared to suggest that we’d begun our own descent down the divisions. Folly!
Winning a cup double certainly won’t be a simple task but it’ll be a whole lot easier than Leeds finding their way back to Europe’s premier club competition. It’ll be far easier than ex European Cup winners Nottingham Forest finding their way back to prominence. It’ll even be easier to stomach not winning anything at all this season than being broken-hearted supporters of a club that goes the way of Wimbledon FC.
Regardless of what The Negatives try to convince you, we find ourselves with stability, depth, and ambition as we look forward to Villareal in the ¼ finals of the one competition that we all covet as Arsenal fans. We prepare for another stab at the elusive title that Mr. Wenger feels the club deserve and that purists feel would cement his legacy as a truly great manager.
With or without it, Arsene Wenger is great. We owe the man a huge debt of gratitude. We should never forget that.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Manchester City
The last time we played against Manchester City in the League, I found myself largely indifferent. That's actually saying something, considering how much I live and breathe for The Arsenal.
I was convinced that the media's crucifixion of William Gallas had been completed, and that his days as an Arsenal player were numbered.
On that day, I saw zero leadership on the pitch. Manuel Almunia hadn't yet shed his timidness, and Gavin Hoyte actually played for us in defense.
We were comprehensively outplayed, with one superb moment from Robson de Souza. The result could have been worse, but psychologically, that had to be one of the lowest moments for Arsenal in the past few years.
Tomorrow, we have indeed come full circle.
Gallas has stuck around and delivered world class performances. Cesc has returned from his injury spell as the captain of the club. We are finally in a decent run of form, and Manchester City aren't a very good team away from home.
Manchester City's best player this year has been Stephen Ireland. A few days ago, it was expected that Robinho would miss the game and Ireland would start. Now, the situation has been reversed, and that can only help our cause.
The only real problem being Shay Given's propensity towards playing out of his skin when facing us. He can singlehandedly earn a point for Manchester City, but methinks Cesc's first appearance in nearly three months will rejuvenate the squad.
We need to carry the consistent form we've shown in the league. Due to our difficult finish to the season, the race for fourth isn't finished yet by any means. But each point we gain on Villa is multiplied ten-fold for them.
We'll see just what Adebayor and Cesc can provide for our team tomorrow.
PS I am salivating at the idea of Cesc and Arshavin playing together.
I was convinced that the media's crucifixion of William Gallas had been completed, and that his days as an Arsenal player were numbered.
On that day, I saw zero leadership on the pitch. Manuel Almunia hadn't yet shed his timidness, and Gavin Hoyte actually played for us in defense.
We were comprehensively outplayed, with one superb moment from Robson de Souza. The result could have been worse, but psychologically, that had to be one of the lowest moments for Arsenal in the past few years.
Tomorrow, we have indeed come full circle.
Gallas has stuck around and delivered world class performances. Cesc has returned from his injury spell as the captain of the club. We are finally in a decent run of form, and Manchester City aren't a very good team away from home.
Manchester City's best player this year has been Stephen Ireland. A few days ago, it was expected that Robinho would miss the game and Ireland would start. Now, the situation has been reversed, and that can only help our cause.
The only real problem being Shay Given's propensity towards playing out of his skin when facing us. He can singlehandedly earn a point for Manchester City, but methinks Cesc's first appearance in nearly three months will rejuvenate the squad.
We need to carry the consistent form we've shown in the league. Due to our difficult finish to the season, the race for fourth isn't finished yet by any means. But each point we gain on Villa is multiplied ten-fold for them.
We'll see just what Adebayor and Cesc can provide for our team tomorrow.
PS I am salivating at the idea of Cesc and Arshavin playing together.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Richard Dunne
Richard Dunne is a recovering alcoholic and the captain of Manchester City - Arsenal's opponents on Saturday. Originally a right-back, Dunne now plays at center-back for both City and Ireland.
Dunne lacks pace, which was exposed by Arsenal when they thrashed City 5-1 at Maine Road in February 2003. However, he has compensated for this by having fantastic vision and timing. After that disastrous game the Irishman was switched to center back.
Micah Richards said last season that Dunne is one of the best players he has played with.
"I've played with John Terry and Rio Ferdinand and Dunne is right up there with them," Richards told The Guardian.
His style of play has been compared to that of ex-Manchester United, Aston Villa and Irish center-back Paul McGrath. They both have the ability to be in the right place at the right time - and they both have the ability to drink a lot of alcohol.
In September, 2002, Dunne turned up to training drunk, which resulted in him being fined two weeks wages and suspended. His behavior was deemed so serious that an emergency meeting was held involving Dunne, the then City manager Kevin Keegan, the board of directors, and the Professional Footballers Association chief Gordon Taylor. City considered terminating Dunne's contract but instead offered him support. The Irishman had already been disciplined by City for binge drinking and was ordered to move from Liverpool to Manchester.
Dunne started his Premiership career with Everton, making his debut aged 17, but was released by current Rangers boss Walter Smith after similar problems.
The PFA (Professional Footballers Association) and City agreed a counseling and fitness regime with Dunne. It ended Dunne's days of drinking. Dunne has not looked back. He was voted City's Player of the Year for four years running 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. In 2006, Dunne was appointed City captain and on July 4, 2008, he signed a new four year contract.
Dunne is an underrated player. He is a victim of his past, where he was deemed talented, but an overweight, alcoholic. He is just as good as Liverpool's Jamie Carragher (both players share the record for most own goals scored in the Premiership). However, Dunne has not received the recognition he probably deserves because he's never played for a top four team.
That may change.
City now have money. But Arsenal are deemed to be the club that stands in City's way of Champions League football.
That's because Arsenal don't have the financial muscle of Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United. Arsenal have never paid over 20 million pounds for a player.
Kroenke or Usmanov may change that. Or is that wishful thinking on my part.
Will Dunne stand in Arsenal's way on Saturday? I hope that's wishful thinking on City's part.
After all we owe them for our last Premiership defeat - 3-0 November 22, 2008 - the week that Gallas was stripped of the captaincy.
Strange then that Arsenal's new captain makes his return on Saturday. His first competitive match of 2009.
It's a different Arsenal you will be seeing compared to the one last November - and that's not wishful thinking.
Dunne lacks pace, which was exposed by Arsenal when they thrashed City 5-1 at Maine Road in February 2003. However, he has compensated for this by having fantastic vision and timing. After that disastrous game the Irishman was switched to center back.
Micah Richards said last season that Dunne is one of the best players he has played with.
"I've played with John Terry and Rio Ferdinand and Dunne is right up there with them," Richards told The Guardian.
His style of play has been compared to that of ex-Manchester United, Aston Villa and Irish center-back Paul McGrath. They both have the ability to be in the right place at the right time - and they both have the ability to drink a lot of alcohol.
In September, 2002, Dunne turned up to training drunk, which resulted in him being fined two weeks wages and suspended. His behavior was deemed so serious that an emergency meeting was held involving Dunne, the then City manager Kevin Keegan, the board of directors, and the Professional Footballers Association chief Gordon Taylor. City considered terminating Dunne's contract but instead offered him support. The Irishman had already been disciplined by City for binge drinking and was ordered to move from Liverpool to Manchester.
Dunne started his Premiership career with Everton, making his debut aged 17, but was released by current Rangers boss Walter Smith after similar problems.
The PFA (Professional Footballers Association) and City agreed a counseling and fitness regime with Dunne. It ended Dunne's days of drinking. Dunne has not looked back. He was voted City's Player of the Year for four years running 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. In 2006, Dunne was appointed City captain and on July 4, 2008, he signed a new four year contract.
Dunne is an underrated player. He is a victim of his past, where he was deemed talented, but an overweight, alcoholic. He is just as good as Liverpool's Jamie Carragher (both players share the record for most own goals scored in the Premiership). However, Dunne has not received the recognition he probably deserves because he's never played for a top four team.
That may change.
City now have money. But Arsenal are deemed to be the club that stands in City's way of Champions League football.
That's because Arsenal don't have the financial muscle of Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United. Arsenal have never paid over 20 million pounds for a player.
Kroenke or Usmanov may change that. Or is that wishful thinking on my part.
Will Dunne stand in Arsenal's way on Saturday? I hope that's wishful thinking on City's part.
After all we owe them for our last Premiership defeat - 3-0 November 22, 2008 - the week that Gallas was stripped of the captaincy.
Strange then that Arsenal's new captain makes his return on Saturday. His first competitive match of 2009.
It's a different Arsenal you will be seeing compared to the one last November - and that's not wishful thinking.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Cesc and the Media
A great man and colleague of mine recently wrote that Cesc Fabregas is not an Arsenal legend. I agree.
Cesc is an amazing player with a glorious future. I witnessed his first ever Champions League goal in a 5-1 thrashing of Rosenborg in December, 2004. I remember thinking as the North bank celebrated wildly, that I had just witnessed the first of many Champions League goals to come for a sure bet future Arsenal legend.
The potential is clearly still there but he could well leave this summer or the one after. Who knows?!?! To my mind, Cesc Fabregas will not go the same route as the ex Gunner who scored the first goal of that match, Jose Antonio Reyes. He could instead become an icon in the mold of the man who grabbed Arsenal’s second goal that night, Thierry Henry. Again, who knows!?!?
Recent reports have yet again hinted that our captain/player maker is contemplating a return to his homeland. Just as when Patrick Vieira was captain Cesc is continually talked about as a potential target of Real Madrid. Despite being raised a Barcelona fan by Barcelona fans, in Barcelona, it is repeatedly stated in the media that Cesc will/might/could leave Arsenal for Real Madrid.
ENOUGH!
If and when the time comes for Cesc Fabregas or Arsene Wenger or Manoue Eboue or the kit man or FN Goonersaurus to leave, they will leave. There will be a club left for us to continue supporting after they’ve gone. That much we all do know.
The more people buy into the media speculation/attempts to destabilize our club the more they will do it. Unfortunately, it is the nature of the beast.
Cesc is an amazing player with a glorious future. I witnessed his first ever Champions League goal in a 5-1 thrashing of Rosenborg in December, 2004. I remember thinking as the North bank celebrated wildly, that I had just witnessed the first of many Champions League goals to come for a sure bet future Arsenal legend.
The potential is clearly still there but he could well leave this summer or the one after. Who knows?!?! To my mind, Cesc Fabregas will not go the same route as the ex Gunner who scored the first goal of that match, Jose Antonio Reyes. He could instead become an icon in the mold of the man who grabbed Arsenal’s second goal that night, Thierry Henry. Again, who knows!?!?
Recent reports have yet again hinted that our captain/player maker is contemplating a return to his homeland. Just as when Patrick Vieira was captain Cesc is continually talked about as a potential target of Real Madrid. Despite being raised a Barcelona fan by Barcelona fans, in Barcelona, it is repeatedly stated in the media that Cesc will/might/could leave Arsenal for Real Madrid.
ENOUGH!
If and when the time comes for Cesc Fabregas or Arsene Wenger or Manoue Eboue or the kit man or FN Goonersaurus to leave, they will leave. There will be a club left for us to continue supporting after they’ve gone. That much we all do know.
The more people buy into the media speculation/attempts to destabilize our club the more they will do it. Unfortunately, it is the nature of the beast.
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