If you're an Arsenal fan, then for the last few seasons, every winter has been one of discontent. A promising start gives way with crushing inevitability to a mid-season dip; with Spring might come a resurgence of form, but generally the only prize at stake is a place in the coveted top four with the promise of Champions League riches and fame. Not so this season. Arsenal have taken 13 points from a possible 15 this month in one of the busiest periods in domestic football. With such extraordinary cause for celebration one might therefore forgive a small modification of the original quotation:
'Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this son of Cataluña'
It was the most memorable cameo since Boy George appeared on the A team (honestly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47puweMw9Wk&feature=player_embedded). Fabregas came on after a dreary 57 minutes, scored two goals and came off again, spending just 27 minutes on the pitch. The second goal came at a price however, as the Spaniard aggravated the hamstring injury that had forced him to start the match on the substitutes' bench. Wenger has said that the gamble was worth it, and he may be right, but with Fabregas likely to be out for three weeks and Arsenal to play three fixtures in the next ten days, only time will tell on this one.
The game itself was, if I may resort to clichés, very much a game of two halves. The first 45 was an uninteresting affair. Neither side managed to assert any prolonged period of dominance. Arsenal and Villa both created chances: Eduardo again showed a lack of cutting edge after shooting lamely at Friedel inside the box, and Carlos Cuellar shot well wide from just outside the area when he should have at least hit the target. Things improved after the break; an Eduaro free kick was palmed away by Friedel and Gallas was unlucky to see his shot cleared away from the line. The addition of Fabregas brought the necessary quality to break the deadlock. His mere presence was enough to draw defenders out position, and Arshavin was able to exploit the gaps in front the Villa goal to draw a fine save from Friedel.
For the second week in a row it was a direct free kick that gave Arsenal the lead. In the past the suggestion has been made (at least by me) that as Fabregas can do damn near what he pleases with the football it should follow that he can score from dead ball situations. I'd be lying if I said I watched him bend an unstoppable free kick into the Villa goal with no small amount of satisfaction.
The second goal was just as irrepressible. As another attack broke down for the visitors, Traoré, that is to say our third choice left back, demonstrated the technical ability that runs right the way through the squad as he first had the vision to see Walcott streaking down the pitch and then the skill to pick him out with a cross-field pass. The winger was then able to play in the rampaging Fabregas to score his second.
Gallas and Almunia combined well to stop Agbonlahor late on to give Arsenal their third clean sheet in five matches, before Diaby capped another excellent performance by scoring a superb solo goal, ghosting through the Villa midfield before slotting past Friedel.
An excellent yield of thirteen points from fifteen in December will mean little if an Arsenal side without Fabregas go on to have a woeful January, but it seems to be a good indication of the growing character and ability of this young side. Diaby will need to continue his excellent form is he is to negate the effect of Alex Song's departure to the Africa Cup of Nations, and Aaron Ramsey will need to show incredible maturity if Arsenal are to prolong this run beyond the new year.
How do I love thee Cesc? Let me count the ways. 12 goals and ten assists. Easy. Get well soon.
Wednesday 30 December 2009
Monday 21 December 2009
Arsenal played Hull on Saturday, but the game raised more questions than answers. How did Stephen Hunt stay on the pitch? Is Stephen Hunt the new Robbie Savage? And how long will it be before calling someone a 'Stephen' is an acceptable part of the lexicon of 'Cockney Rhyming Slang'? No question about the result though (3‐0 by the way).
Whilst Hunt is fast becoming the Piers Morgan of the Premiership (you don't love to hate him. You just hate him), Hull City have taken Bolton's mantle as Arsenal's 'bogey team'. Gary Megson's side are rooted in the bottom half of the table; they no longer have the creativity and skill that accompanied the brutish physicality which caused Arsene Wenger so many problems, and Phil 'tango' Brown and his gang from Yorkshire seem intent on replacing the Trotters in the hearts and minds of Gooners everywhere. Despite Arsenal having met Hull just four times in living memory, there exists a level of animosity between the two teams and their managers that will seem familiar for those who observed Wenger's frosty relationship with Sam Allardyce at Bolton and Mark Hughes when he was at Blackburn.
It's an oft repeated opinion amongst pundits and fans that Arsenal 'don't like it up 'em' (although this blog would suggest otherwise when Arshavin is concerned), that is to say the Gunners can't cope with the physical side of the game. Hard tackles and sneaky elbows, that's how to deal with those French pansies from the Emirates. Bravo to Hull for paying close attention when Wenger sent Tony Pulis and the brave lads from Stoke packing, as Phil Brown plumped for essentially the same tactics.
Against Stoke it was the ingenuity of Arshavin and the intelligent football around the box that won the day, but this time, with a more robust midfield of Song,Diaby and Denilson, Arsenal were in a better position to combat the opposition's physical approach. The ensuing first half was disjointed, as persistent fouling left little time for either side to carve out decent opportunities, but two events stick in the mind: one was the mass‐brawl started by Nasri, as he stepped on the foot of the Hull player Garcia. Incredibly all 22 players stayed on the pitch, for which one must grudgingly credit the referee for; the other was a sublime moment of skill from Denilson of all people, the diminutive Brazilian scoring Arsenal's first direct free kick since 2007.
As the game became more stretched in the second half, Arsenal's midfield, in particular Diaby who was majestic in his control, composure and distribution, looked likely to exploit Hull's desire for an equaliser. As it happened, the visitors were gifted a potential route back into the match when Silvestre was harshly adjudged to have fouled Craig Fagan in the box. Steve Bennett indicated that the penalty had been awarded for shirt pulling, but replays suggested the striker had just as much if not more of Silvestre's shirt in his hand when he went over. The issue became academic, however, when Geovanni, scorer of that sublime drive in the very same goal last season, allowed Almunia to beat out his spot kick, with Stephen Hunt incredibly heading the rebound wide from only a couple of yards out.
Moments later, Diaby played a one‐two with Song and his cutback found Eduardo who would have had to try very hard to miss. From that point on the result was a foregone conclusion. Diaby's hard work paid off when he received a pass from Arshavin and with an almost apathetic shrug he fooled his marker and blasted the ball beyond Boaz Myhill in the Hull goal. Walcott should have added a fourth but his attempted lob dropped just wide of the post; in the end 3‐0 seemed ample reward for an Arsenal side that combined strength and skill with near ruthless efficiency.
Hull City were applauded off the pitch by fans of both sides at the Emirates last season, but this time they received no such honour. The plucky underdogs have shed the image that so endeared them to football fans around the country, and few tears will be shed outside Hull if they go down this season. Their overly physical approach was made to look pretty foolish by three much‐maligned midfielders who brilliantly exposed the visitors’ entirely one‐dimensional strategy.
Nice try Phil Brown, but you'll need to get out of the sunbed a lot earlier if you're to fool Arsene Wenger again.
Whilst Hunt is fast becoming the Piers Morgan of the Premiership (you don't love to hate him. You just hate him), Hull City have taken Bolton's mantle as Arsenal's 'bogey team'. Gary Megson's side are rooted in the bottom half of the table; they no longer have the creativity and skill that accompanied the brutish physicality which caused Arsene Wenger so many problems, and Phil 'tango' Brown and his gang from Yorkshire seem intent on replacing the Trotters in the hearts and minds of Gooners everywhere. Despite Arsenal having met Hull just four times in living memory, there exists a level of animosity between the two teams and their managers that will seem familiar for those who observed Wenger's frosty relationship with Sam Allardyce at Bolton and Mark Hughes when he was at Blackburn.
It's an oft repeated opinion amongst pundits and fans that Arsenal 'don't like it up 'em' (although this blog would suggest otherwise when Arshavin is concerned), that is to say the Gunners can't cope with the physical side of the game. Hard tackles and sneaky elbows, that's how to deal with those French pansies from the Emirates. Bravo to Hull for paying close attention when Wenger sent Tony Pulis and the brave lads from Stoke packing, as Phil Brown plumped for essentially the same tactics.
Against Stoke it was the ingenuity of Arshavin and the intelligent football around the box that won the day, but this time, with a more robust midfield of Song,Diaby and Denilson, Arsenal were in a better position to combat the opposition's physical approach. The ensuing first half was disjointed, as persistent fouling left little time for either side to carve out decent opportunities, but two events stick in the mind: one was the mass‐brawl started by Nasri, as he stepped on the foot of the Hull player Garcia. Incredibly all 22 players stayed on the pitch, for which one must grudgingly credit the referee for; the other was a sublime moment of skill from Denilson of all people, the diminutive Brazilian scoring Arsenal's first direct free kick since 2007.
As the game became more stretched in the second half, Arsenal's midfield, in particular Diaby who was majestic in his control, composure and distribution, looked likely to exploit Hull's desire for an equaliser. As it happened, the visitors were gifted a potential route back into the match when Silvestre was harshly adjudged to have fouled Craig Fagan in the box. Steve Bennett indicated that the penalty had been awarded for shirt pulling, but replays suggested the striker had just as much if not more of Silvestre's shirt in his hand when he went over. The issue became academic, however, when Geovanni, scorer of that sublime drive in the very same goal last season, allowed Almunia to beat out his spot kick, with Stephen Hunt incredibly heading the rebound wide from only a couple of yards out.
Moments later, Diaby played a one‐two with Song and his cutback found Eduardo who would have had to try very hard to miss. From that point on the result was a foregone conclusion. Diaby's hard work paid off when he received a pass from Arshavin and with an almost apathetic shrug he fooled his marker and blasted the ball beyond Boaz Myhill in the Hull goal. Walcott should have added a fourth but his attempted lob dropped just wide of the post; in the end 3‐0 seemed ample reward for an Arsenal side that combined strength and skill with near ruthless efficiency.
Hull City were applauded off the pitch by fans of both sides at the Emirates last season, but this time they received no such honour. The plucky underdogs have shed the image that so endeared them to football fans around the country, and few tears will be shed outside Hull if they go down this season. Their overly physical approach was made to look pretty foolish by three much‐maligned midfielders who brilliantly exposed the visitors’ entirely one‐dimensional strategy.
Nice try Phil Brown, but you'll need to get out of the sunbed a lot earlier if you're to fool Arsene Wenger again.
Monday 14 December 2009
It's not often that on one weekend, every result goes in Arsenal's favour: Saturday saw Manchester City draw, Chelsea draw, Tottenham lose and Manchester United lose. Sunday's game at Liverpool would surely end in heartbreak; Arsenal never get everything their way, right?
Well for 45 minutes it certainly looked like that was going to be the case. Liverpool had their best team out, Arsenal had out a side ravaged by injuries. Arshavin was again started in the middle of the front three, and Traoré was still deputising at left-back. Every game is a must win game for Rafa Benitez's side in what has become the race for fourth, and after a frenetic start the home side were the first to settle. Going forward the gunners were unimpressive, allowing too large a gap to exist between midfield and the strikers, and Arshavin looked awfully lonely up front, with only the ineffective Walcott and Nasri to keep him company.
Liverpool on the other hand were extremely lively: Torres was played in behind the defence but shot tamely at Almunia. Gerrard went down shortly after, having been bundled over by Gallas in the box. Tricky one to call, as Gerrard had lost control of the ball, but how far does ahead of the player must the ball go for a foul in the box to not constitute a penalty? Something of a grey area, probably a penalty on balance, and a stroke of bad luck for Liverpool (although cynical viewers might claim that Liverpool have been riding their luck for years and it's about time it ran out, or that if Gerrard stayed on his feet more then referees might feel more inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt when he does go down. Not me though. I'm staying well out).
It didn't seem to matter much though when, four minutes before the break, Almunia flapped at a corner, allowing to ball to land at the feet of Dirk Kuyt who prodded home. Playing the way they did in the first half Arsenal seemed set to concede a bunch more in the second, but a strange thing happened during the interval. Wenger got mad. Throwing stuff at the walls, foaming at the mouth, Lou Ferrigno 'you wouldn't like me when I'm mad' mad. When I said last week that I hoped Arsenal would develop a more chelsea-like mentality, it was, at best, wishful thinking, and I didn't think any kind of replication would manifest itself in a Mourinho style half time rant, but that's what we got. 'You're not fit to wear the shirt' said Wenger, and suddenly there was a lot more than just points at stake for the Arsenal players. Wenger's respect is not to be taken for granted, and you could see by the wry smile on his face that his players realised this and moreover, done something about it.
First a slice of luck let Arsenal back into the game, Glen Johnson unable to shift his feet in time, prodding the ball into his own net, before Andrey Arshavin, scourge of Anfield, produced a sublime moment of individual skill, pouncing on a loose ball before hammering the ball beyond Reina off the upright. The question of course remained, could Arsenal close out an unlikely win in front of the Kop, and the answer was an unequivocal yes. Liverpool had no answer for the visitors resolute defending, and barely registerd a shot in the second half. Vermaelen earned his man of the match award as he and Gallas made light work of keeping Torres and co at bay.
So it was that Arsenal managed their first win at Anfield since Robert Pires scored a wonder goal there almost six years ago. The suggestion now is that the Gunners are right back in the title race; winning their game in hand would see them overtake Man Utd on goal difference. Assertions that Arsenal can keep pace with Chelsea and Utd seem knee-jerk at best, the squad is simply too thin to maintain a challenge beyond January, but real pleasure must be taken in knowing that this team at least knows how to see out games, even in the most hostile surroudings. Also Wenger can throw a half time hissy-fit. Who knew?
Well for 45 minutes it certainly looked like that was going to be the case. Liverpool had their best team out, Arsenal had out a side ravaged by injuries. Arshavin was again started in the middle of the front three, and Traoré was still deputising at left-back. Every game is a must win game for Rafa Benitez's side in what has become the race for fourth, and after a frenetic start the home side were the first to settle. Going forward the gunners were unimpressive, allowing too large a gap to exist between midfield and the strikers, and Arshavin looked awfully lonely up front, with only the ineffective Walcott and Nasri to keep him company.
Liverpool on the other hand were extremely lively: Torres was played in behind the defence but shot tamely at Almunia. Gerrard went down shortly after, having been bundled over by Gallas in the box. Tricky one to call, as Gerrard had lost control of the ball, but how far does ahead of the player must the ball go for a foul in the box to not constitute a penalty? Something of a grey area, probably a penalty on balance, and a stroke of bad luck for Liverpool (although cynical viewers might claim that Liverpool have been riding their luck for years and it's about time it ran out, or that if Gerrard stayed on his feet more then referees might feel more inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt when he does go down. Not me though. I'm staying well out).
It didn't seem to matter much though when, four minutes before the break, Almunia flapped at a corner, allowing to ball to land at the feet of Dirk Kuyt who prodded home. Playing the way they did in the first half Arsenal seemed set to concede a bunch more in the second, but a strange thing happened during the interval. Wenger got mad. Throwing stuff at the walls, foaming at the mouth, Lou Ferrigno 'you wouldn't like me when I'm mad' mad. When I said last week that I hoped Arsenal would develop a more chelsea-like mentality, it was, at best, wishful thinking, and I didn't think any kind of replication would manifest itself in a Mourinho style half time rant, but that's what we got. 'You're not fit to wear the shirt' said Wenger, and suddenly there was a lot more than just points at stake for the Arsenal players. Wenger's respect is not to be taken for granted, and you could see by the wry smile on his face that his players realised this and moreover, done something about it.
First a slice of luck let Arsenal back into the game, Glen Johnson unable to shift his feet in time, prodding the ball into his own net, before Andrey Arshavin, scourge of Anfield, produced a sublime moment of individual skill, pouncing on a loose ball before hammering the ball beyond Reina off the upright. The question of course remained, could Arsenal close out an unlikely win in front of the Kop, and the answer was an unequivocal yes. Liverpool had no answer for the visitors resolute defending, and barely registerd a shot in the second half. Vermaelen earned his man of the match award as he and Gallas made light work of keeping Torres and co at bay.
So it was that Arsenal managed their first win at Anfield since Robert Pires scored a wonder goal there almost six years ago. The suggestion now is that the Gunners are right back in the title race; winning their game in hand would see them overtake Man Utd on goal difference. Assertions that Arsenal can keep pace with Chelsea and Utd seem knee-jerk at best, the squad is simply too thin to maintain a challenge beyond January, but real pleasure must be taken in knowing that this team at least knows how to see out games, even in the most hostile surroudings. Also Wenger can throw a half time hissy-fit. Who knew?
Sunday 6 December 2009
Arsenal players went on a nightmarish journey this week, to the land of the giants; that must have seemed the case at least, when they lined up alongside Stoke whose average height exceeds 8ft. Arsenal meanwhile looked like half of the cast of 'The Wizard of Oz' who had taken a wrong turn. Things didn't look too rosy when it emerged that Arshavin was to take a central role in the Arsenal's front three, and he can't have been too fresh after his journey back from destroying the one ring in Mordor, but to his credit, his guile and agility proved invaluable in seeing off Stoke, and the Gunners ran out 2-0 winners.
Arsenal had lost the last three games, conceding seven and scoring none going into yesterday's contest. A reaction was necessary, the fans demanded it, but after 25 minutes, the game seemed to bear all the hallmarks of a contest where the home team do everything but score, and inevitable pay the price. Arshavin had missed a one-on-one, Fabregas had missed a penalty and Wenger was waving his arms frantically on the sidelines but to no avail. Cometh the hour, cometh the man: Arshavin needed just a moment to receieve a pass from Fabregas, take it into his stride, hold off a defender twice his size, and poke an inch perfect finish into the far corner. Spectacular.
Stoke's response was to pepper the box with throw-ins from Rory Delap, but an Arsenal defence that has managed about three clean sheets all season looked pretty comfortable throughout. If Stoke stay up this season (and they probably will) it will not be on the merit of their away performances against teams like Arsenal. Tuncay looked pretty lonely up front, his midfielders only pushing up to support him on set pieces, and after just one period of sustained pressure early in the first half, the Arsenal goal was rarely threatened in a meaningful way.
Still, a better team would have punished Arsenal's lack of strength and creativity in the same way that Chelsea did. Arshavin and Fabregas linked up well a couple of times, and they showed flashes of genius, but it was a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde show from the two of them as they both made sloppy mistakes. In the end though Stoke were made to pay for their lack of adventure as little Aaron Ramsey strode through the middle of their defence and curled the ball past Sorensen. Delap was taken off shortly after and Arsenal were home and dry.
Unconvincing, but Arsenal did what they had to do with the players that were available. I suppose that's all you can really ask for. Liverpool away next weekend, and with Rosicky added to an injury list that is reaching biblical proportions I can't see it going too well (unless of course Arshavin has another four goals in him). 'The Lads' have got their backs against the wall now, and Wenger is none too popular either after handshakegate, so maybe we'll develop that siege mentality that has served Liverpool and Chelsea so well down the years. Or maybe we'll fold like a house cards. Difficult one to call, especially if there's a joker in the pack, but erm, I'm all in. Ante up, Mr Wenger...
Arsenal had lost the last three games, conceding seven and scoring none going into yesterday's contest. A reaction was necessary, the fans demanded it, but after 25 minutes, the game seemed to bear all the hallmarks of a contest where the home team do everything but score, and inevitable pay the price. Arshavin had missed a one-on-one, Fabregas had missed a penalty and Wenger was waving his arms frantically on the sidelines but to no avail. Cometh the hour, cometh the man: Arshavin needed just a moment to receieve a pass from Fabregas, take it into his stride, hold off a defender twice his size, and poke an inch perfect finish into the far corner. Spectacular.
Stoke's response was to pepper the box with throw-ins from Rory Delap, but an Arsenal defence that has managed about three clean sheets all season looked pretty comfortable throughout. If Stoke stay up this season (and they probably will) it will not be on the merit of their away performances against teams like Arsenal. Tuncay looked pretty lonely up front, his midfielders only pushing up to support him on set pieces, and after just one period of sustained pressure early in the first half, the Arsenal goal was rarely threatened in a meaningful way.
Still, a better team would have punished Arsenal's lack of strength and creativity in the same way that Chelsea did. Arshavin and Fabregas linked up well a couple of times, and they showed flashes of genius, but it was a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde show from the two of them as they both made sloppy mistakes. In the end though Stoke were made to pay for their lack of adventure as little Aaron Ramsey strode through the middle of their defence and curled the ball past Sorensen. Delap was taken off shortly after and Arsenal were home and dry.
Unconvincing, but Arsenal did what they had to do with the players that were available. I suppose that's all you can really ask for. Liverpool away next weekend, and with Rosicky added to an injury list that is reaching biblical proportions I can't see it going too well (unless of course Arshavin has another four goals in him). 'The Lads' have got their backs against the wall now, and Wenger is none too popular either after handshakegate, so maybe we'll develop that siege mentality that has served Liverpool and Chelsea so well down the years. Or maybe we'll fold like a house cards. Difficult one to call, especially if there's a joker in the pack, but erm, I'm all in. Ante up, Mr Wenger...
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