As Arsene Wenger trudged across the desolate, trophyless wasteland of North London, he fondly recalled lifting the FA Cup some 6 years ago; how shiny it had looked, its weight in his hands, and how reflected in its surface was the beaming face of the Frenchman himself. Now the face that gazed back at him from the trophy's relfection was a mocking one, sneering at his own recent accomplishments, or lack thereof. In the distance however, there was a twinkling light - surely not the fabled Carling Cup, the holy grail of domestic competitions? Indeed it was, and what's more, only the brawny and witless players of Birmingham City lay between Arsene and glory.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, the trophy proved naught more than a mirage: Arsenal succeeded only in maintaining their outstanding run of losing in finals (this was the third since 2005) and so we must wait at least another 3 months before ending this barren spell. That said, as disappointing as it was to lose another final, especially to those leg-breakers from the Midlands, is anyone really that bothered? It's always easy to say after going out of a competition that you weren't really that bothered about winning it anyway - fortunately, some of us have it in writing from before Arsenal even reached the final. Here's what I said on the 23rd of January:
'Frankly I'd prefer to finish second than win the Carling Cup, which is more joke than trophy.'
I meant that, and I still stand by it.
The one truly irritating aspect of the whole affair, putting to one side the media's obsession with being unable to talk about Arsenal without mentioning the '6 years without a trophy' thing, is that losing to Birmingham was another stark reminder of the Gunner's ridiculously poor mentality when it comes to big matches. Why are we so consistently fragile? Why is no one prepared to rally the troops and instill come confidence in everyone on the pitch when they need it most? With a few key exceptions (like the Barcelona game) watching Arsenal when the pressure's on is an unbelieveably trying experience, because it's begun to seem like an inevitability that the players will be unable to cope with it. This was the case again on Sunday when the vastly superior Arsenal players looked completely out of their depth against a distinctly average Birmingham side who they'd already beaten home and away in the league.
It should be noted that Wenger was without both Fabregas and Walcott for the tie, two players who could conceivably have made a world of difference; without Cesc, our talented midfield looks disjointed and short on ideas, in much the same way that our attack was blunted by the loss of Van Persie last season. Walcott's presence meanwhile would have forced the Birmingham back line to play deeper to prevent balls over the top, thus either forcing the entire team to play deeper, effectively nullifying the threat of man-mountain Nikola Zigic, or opening up a gap between defence and midfield which then could have been exploited by the Arsenal. That said, there should be enough talent in this squad to allow for injuries to key players, but it never quite works that way.
Equally frustrating to watch is our persistent inability to deal with big centre forwards, who continue to terrorise our defence week after week. Other teams seem to deal with them with consumate ease - Zigic, Carew, Sidibe - players like this rarely break into double figures for the season, largely because they're technically piss-poor, and they only really threaten from set-pieces. When Birmingham took the lead via the head of Zigic on Sunday, what could we do but shrug our shoulders and say: "Well that was always going to happen"? A corner to the edge of the area, headed back towards goal, then nodded over the helpless keeper by the 6ft 8" striker. Even the most talentless hack in all of North London could have written this script.
Arsenal's riposte was of course a thing of beauty: a swift counter-attack ended in a super strike from Wilshere which cannoned back off the bar. The ball eventually found it's way to Arshavin though, and after accelerating past a Birmingham defender he lofted the ball towards Van Persie who volleyed into the corner. Sublime stuff all round, but the striker, who was born of a Dutch mother and a sheet of glass, took a knock during the goal, and will now miss the Barca game. Brilliant. He lasted until half way through the second half, but without him or Fabregas, the creative spark was completely gone from the entire team. With only occasional flurries of attacking intent from Arsenal, and only hopeful balls downfield from Birmingham, the game seemed to be meandering towards extra-time. Surely only a monumental piece of skill, or an equally monumental cock-up from either defence would end this game during the regulation 90. Take a wild guess at which one happened. And which defence was involved. Yep and yep. Sczensy and Koscielny both went for the same ball, and with both trying to avoid getting in the other's way, the ball broke loose to Obefemi Martins to tap in. Maybe the most disappointing aspect of the whole afternoon was how unsurprised I was by how things had turned out. If Paul the psychic octopus had told me before the game that Birmingham were a dead cert to win it 2-1, I think I could probably have told you who was going to score, when they were going to score, and how they were going to score with near 100% accuracy.
Still, no use getting too glum over what is almost definitely the least respected piece of silverware anywhere in the world. Could the loss have long term implications for the rest of the season though? Well it could stiffen our lads' resolve to win something even bigger - the Champions League perhaps. Or maybe it'll destroy them mentally, and we'll be lucky to win a trophy ever again. Could go either way really.
The latest news on Van Persie is that he's out for at least three weeks, which means he'll miss the Barca game. What slim hope we had of progressing from that tie is all but extinguised. The good news (no, really, there's honestly some good news) is that Man Utd lost at Stamford Bridge tonight - should Arsenal win their next league game, they'll be just a point off the leaders. I've read the script though, and it looks like we're set to come agonisingly close to pipping Utd to the league title, only for Almunia to literally and inexplicably hurl the ball into his own net in the last game of the season, sealing a last minute loss and another trophyless season. Still...there's always next season...
Monday, 28 February 2011
Thursday, 17 February 2011
Modern football is often derided as a soulless money-spinning venture, one which sucks money out of fans' pockets to line those of chairmen and players alike; this may be true, but when you've just watched your side come from behind to beat one of the best teams ever to play the game, well, you can't help but feel priviliged even to have been witness to the event. Wednesday night at the Emirates will live long in the memory as one of Arsenal's truly great European nights, up there with the Gunner's 1-0 win against Parma in the 1994 Cup Winner's Cup Final, or the second leg of the Champions League semi-final against Villareal when Lehmann's penalty save minutes from the end ensured progression to the final.
Last year when the two teams met in the quarter-final, the game was billed as the definitive clash between the two greatest proponents of attacking football in modern European football, and whilst the game was certainly an exciting one, Arsenal didn't even come close to matching Barcelona in terms of skill, guile, movement and passing and were completely outplayed for the vast majority of the game. The Gunners had given Barca too much respect, it was said, and the game was too open. This is largely true, although somewhat overlooked was the fact that Arsenal were also suffering an injury crisis - only 4 players who started in last season's 2-2 draw would start last night's tie too. This season Wenger was simply able to choose a much better first XI.
Szczesny has rightly earned his place in goal with a string of confident performances, whilst Koscielny and Djourou look increasingly impressive as a centre defensive partnership in the continued absence of Thomas Vermaelen. Jack Wilshere, who this time least year was out on loan at Bolton has become an incredibly important player for Arsenal in the middle, and Wenger also had the luxury of starting Van Persie, who, following surgery to put him back together after his fall off that wall, has been in unbelievable form, and now has something like 12 goals in 10 games since his return. Fabregas, Song, Clichy, Eboue, Walcott and Nasri made up the rest of the team, so all in all, it was a much improved side which walked out onto the Emirates turf this time around.
The improvement in quality was instantly noticeable - Arsenal began pressing Barcelona high up the pitch, and were rewarded with several misplaced passes from the visitors. There was further encouragment when the first chance of the night fell to Van Persie. Walcott cut inside to find Fabregas on the edge of the area and his deft chip fell to the Dutchman, but his half volley was from a narrow angle and Victor Valdes was able to block it behind for a corner. There was to be no repeat of Barca's relentless onslaught last season that saw Manuel Almunia make more than a few spectacular saves in the early stages, but the visitors did carve out a great opportunity when Iniesta released Messi, the little Argentine waiting and waiting for the goalie to go to ground before dinking the ball over him, only to see it roll the wrong side of the post. Messi would try another audacious chip, this one falling well short of the target however, allowing Szczesny to safely gather before Arsenal broke at pace, Van Persie denied a free header from Fabregas' cross only by a diving intervention from Eric Abidal.
Like last year Barcelona would be the ones to take the lead however. David Villa, drafted in to replace the Milan bound Zlatan Ibrahimovic, was just onside when he ran onto Messi's through ball, and the Spaniard finished through the legs of Szczesny. Villa almost turned provider minutes later but Pedro could only shoot straight at the keeper from the striker's cross. Arsenal responded well though, and perhaps should have grabbed an equaliser when Van Persie received the ball just inside the box but, on his favoured left foot, he sliced his effort wide.
Messi would have a goal disallowed unfairly before half time but the sides went in at the break with Arsenal 1-0 down, both teams ruing several missed chances. The second half would start in much the same way that the first ended, with Barca on top but Arsenal always looking to break. Wilshere in particular was a vital presence in the centre of the pitch. The youngster always wanted the ball regardless of how tightly he was being marked, and rarely failed to pick out another Arsenal player when in possession.
Messi would again come close but could only fire into the side netting from a tight angle, but Arsenal increased their pressure at the other end with the introduction of Andrey Arshavin at the expense of Alex Song. Song played an extremely important role in restricting the freedom of the Barcelona midfielders, but the Cameroonian, already booked in the first half, looked like he might be heading for a second yellow. Fortunately his withdrawl coincided with that of David Villa, replaced by midfielder Seydou Keita, a change which suggested that Barca were happy to soak up pressure for the remainder of the game.
It was a tactic which allowed Arsenal to score twice late on in this fixture last season, and quite incredibly the same thing happened again. Firsy Clichy found Van Persie with a wonderfully weighted through ball, and with Valdes clearly expecting a cross to be driven across the six yard box, the striker fired in a shot between goalkeeper and post to level the scores. Five minutes later a Barcelona attack broke down when Koscielny tackled Messi on the edge of the area - the ball found its way to Bendtner who was able to find Wilshere in midfield, who quickly played it forward to Fabregas. The midfielder took a touch before pinging a ball beyond the defence for Nasri to race onto; the Frenchman looked certain to shoot, but he held the ball up just long enough for Arshavin to appear on the edge of the box, and the eponymous Russian made no mistake with Nasri's pullback, bending it beyond the wrong-footed Valdes. 5 passes, 17 seconds, 2-1 Arsenal.
The atmosphere inside the Emirates, which had been electric for most of the second half, reached fever pitch. It was a turnaround which far surpassed that of Newcastle; this was not 11 versus 10, there were no dodgy penalties, this was sheer determination and skill against the best team in the world, no less. This wasn't Arsenal beating Barca at their own game either, as some journalists have suggested - this was Arsenal playing the way they have done since 1996 when Arsene Wenger took charge. This is our game, and we're damn good at it - just ask Barcelona.
Arsenal must now travel to the Nou Camp knowing that their opponents can and will throw everything at them for ninety minutes. If the Gunners are to stand any chance of progression then they'll need to play as well if not better than they did at the Emirates. They should be buoyed by the knowledge that this Barcelona team is not invincible. Perhaps more importantly they will face a Barca side without their first choice central defensive partnership: Puyol looks set to miss out with injury, whilst Piqué picked up a booking that rules him out of the second leg.
A thrashing in the second leg might go some way to sullying the memory of last night's game, but a respectable defeat, or, however unlikely, a draw or victory, will ensure that the 2-1 win over Barcelona will be remembered fondly for some time to come. Truly one of the great European nights at the Arsenal.
Last year when the two teams met in the quarter-final, the game was billed as the definitive clash between the two greatest proponents of attacking football in modern European football, and whilst the game was certainly an exciting one, Arsenal didn't even come close to matching Barcelona in terms of skill, guile, movement and passing and were completely outplayed for the vast majority of the game. The Gunners had given Barca too much respect, it was said, and the game was too open. This is largely true, although somewhat overlooked was the fact that Arsenal were also suffering an injury crisis - only 4 players who started in last season's 2-2 draw would start last night's tie too. This season Wenger was simply able to choose a much better first XI.
Szczesny has rightly earned his place in goal with a string of confident performances, whilst Koscielny and Djourou look increasingly impressive as a centre defensive partnership in the continued absence of Thomas Vermaelen. Jack Wilshere, who this time least year was out on loan at Bolton has become an incredibly important player for Arsenal in the middle, and Wenger also had the luxury of starting Van Persie, who, following surgery to put him back together after his fall off that wall, has been in unbelievable form, and now has something like 12 goals in 10 games since his return. Fabregas, Song, Clichy, Eboue, Walcott and Nasri made up the rest of the team, so all in all, it was a much improved side which walked out onto the Emirates turf this time around.
The improvement in quality was instantly noticeable - Arsenal began pressing Barcelona high up the pitch, and were rewarded with several misplaced passes from the visitors. There was further encouragment when the first chance of the night fell to Van Persie. Walcott cut inside to find Fabregas on the edge of the area and his deft chip fell to the Dutchman, but his half volley was from a narrow angle and Victor Valdes was able to block it behind for a corner. There was to be no repeat of Barca's relentless onslaught last season that saw Manuel Almunia make more than a few spectacular saves in the early stages, but the visitors did carve out a great opportunity when Iniesta released Messi, the little Argentine waiting and waiting for the goalie to go to ground before dinking the ball over him, only to see it roll the wrong side of the post. Messi would try another audacious chip, this one falling well short of the target however, allowing Szczesny to safely gather before Arsenal broke at pace, Van Persie denied a free header from Fabregas' cross only by a diving intervention from Eric Abidal.
Like last year Barcelona would be the ones to take the lead however. David Villa, drafted in to replace the Milan bound Zlatan Ibrahimovic, was just onside when he ran onto Messi's through ball, and the Spaniard finished through the legs of Szczesny. Villa almost turned provider minutes later but Pedro could only shoot straight at the keeper from the striker's cross. Arsenal responded well though, and perhaps should have grabbed an equaliser when Van Persie received the ball just inside the box but, on his favoured left foot, he sliced his effort wide.
Messi would have a goal disallowed unfairly before half time but the sides went in at the break with Arsenal 1-0 down, both teams ruing several missed chances. The second half would start in much the same way that the first ended, with Barca on top but Arsenal always looking to break. Wilshere in particular was a vital presence in the centre of the pitch. The youngster always wanted the ball regardless of how tightly he was being marked, and rarely failed to pick out another Arsenal player when in possession.
Messi would again come close but could only fire into the side netting from a tight angle, but Arsenal increased their pressure at the other end with the introduction of Andrey Arshavin at the expense of Alex Song. Song played an extremely important role in restricting the freedom of the Barcelona midfielders, but the Cameroonian, already booked in the first half, looked like he might be heading for a second yellow. Fortunately his withdrawl coincided with that of David Villa, replaced by midfielder Seydou Keita, a change which suggested that Barca were happy to soak up pressure for the remainder of the game.
It was a tactic which allowed Arsenal to score twice late on in this fixture last season, and quite incredibly the same thing happened again. Firsy Clichy found Van Persie with a wonderfully weighted through ball, and with Valdes clearly expecting a cross to be driven across the six yard box, the striker fired in a shot between goalkeeper and post to level the scores. Five minutes later a Barcelona attack broke down when Koscielny tackled Messi on the edge of the area - the ball found its way to Bendtner who was able to find Wilshere in midfield, who quickly played it forward to Fabregas. The midfielder took a touch before pinging a ball beyond the defence for Nasri to race onto; the Frenchman looked certain to shoot, but he held the ball up just long enough for Arshavin to appear on the edge of the box, and the eponymous Russian made no mistake with Nasri's pullback, bending it beyond the wrong-footed Valdes. 5 passes, 17 seconds, 2-1 Arsenal.
The atmosphere inside the Emirates, which had been electric for most of the second half, reached fever pitch. It was a turnaround which far surpassed that of Newcastle; this was not 11 versus 10, there were no dodgy penalties, this was sheer determination and skill against the best team in the world, no less. This wasn't Arsenal beating Barca at their own game either, as some journalists have suggested - this was Arsenal playing the way they have done since 1996 when Arsene Wenger took charge. This is our game, and we're damn good at it - just ask Barcelona.
Arsenal must now travel to the Nou Camp knowing that their opponents can and will throw everything at them for ninety minutes. If the Gunners are to stand any chance of progression then they'll need to play as well if not better than they did at the Emirates. They should be buoyed by the knowledge that this Barcelona team is not invincible. Perhaps more importantly they will face a Barca side without their first choice central defensive partnership: Puyol looks set to miss out with injury, whilst Piqué picked up a booking that rules him out of the second leg.
A thrashing in the second leg might go some way to sullying the memory of last night's game, but a respectable defeat, or, however unlikely, a draw or victory, will ensure that the 2-1 win over Barcelona will be remembered fondly for some time to come. Truly one of the great European nights at the Arsenal.
Thursday, 3 February 2011
Arsenal's record in their last seven games makes pretty good reading:
Played 6, won 6.
Simple as that. 3 league games, 2 FA cup games and 1 league cup game. The gunners remain the only team really between Man Utd and an outrageous 19th Premier League title, are through to the fifth round of the FA cup (when they'll meet Leyton Orient who are 54 places below them, all the way down in League 1) and will play Birmingham in the league cup final on the 27th February. Not bad, right? There's also the small matter of a last sixteen tie against Barcelona too.
In those six games, Arsenal have also scored an impressive 16 goals, whilst conceding just 3. Bizarrely, it's still difficult to think of this excellent series of results as putting a run together and buliding momentum because Arsenal have the capacity to implode at absolutely any point - it's this unpredictability and fragility that has really characterised our team in recent seasons. Is there more about us this season though? Well yeah, probably. If the last two games are anything to go by, then this team is pumped and ready to win some silverware. Twice the gunners have been up against it, and twice they've rallied to grab really important wins.
Wenger understandably decided to rest a couple of key players in the home tie against Huddersfield; none of Djourou, Sagna, Clichy, Fabregas, Wilshere, Van Persie or Song started, but it looked as though the gamble would pay off when Bendtner, with the help of a delflection, put Arsenal ahead after twenty two minutes. 1-0 up against lower league opposition at home - how were the gunners going to screw this up? Squillaci had the answer: get too square to a striker running at full pelt, be forced into pulling him over as he skipped past and through on goal and then get sent off. Text book stuff from the Frenchman.
Arsenal held on for twenty minutes after the restart but the pressure began to tell, and eventually someone (I won't pretend to remember who; I can't imagine he'll be seen at the Emirates ever again to be honest) got up well and planted a header past Almunia into the goal.
With the midfield looking sluggish and gifting possesion away it was up to Francesc Fabregas to sort things out, and he entered the fray shortly after the equaliser. The introduction of the Spaniard turned the game on its head once again. With a bit more composure in the middle of the park, Arsenal were able to push for a much needed winner (the possibility of a replay at Huddersfield now looming dangerously on the horizon). Bendtner conspired to squander several great chances, but the Dane made amends by tumbling under a challenge in the box to win a slightly soft penalty. Fabregas stepped up a dispatched it, and Arsenal held on to stay in the cup for another round. Inspiring stuff from the 10 men to retake the lead, and hold it, despite fielding largely a second string team.
Perhaps more important for the season was the performance against Everton at the Emirates earlier this week. A game fraught with controversy saw Arsenal go behind after 24 minutes to a goal from Louis Saha, despite the fact that the striker was comfortably a yard offside. No matter through, said the linesman, I thought he took it well, so the goal stands. Poor officiating all round, and the home side looked suitably shell shocked for the rest of the half.
A lively atmosphere helped the gunners raise their game in the second half however, and after 70 minutes a pass from Fabregas, via the head of an Everton player, found Arshavin, and the resurgent Russian volleyed in the equaliser. Arsenal didn't have long to wait for the 'go-ahead' goal either, Koscielny finding space in the box to head home a Van Persie corner. The Gunners then held on to take all three points and keep the pressure on Utd.
I feel suggesting that the kind of spirit on display is characteristic of title winners would make me sound like a bit of a broken record - comments of that nature in the past have usually been followed by a humilating defeat at the hands of a title rival or relegation candidate. So I won't say that this time - I'll merely remark that Arsenal look strong mentally at the moment. Which is good, obviously.
Two things have struck me this week:
1. A lot's been made of Fabregas' alleged comments to the officials at half time during the Everton match; the midfielder supposedly yelled something along the lines of "How much are you being paid?" in the direction of the referee. Everton manager Dasvid Moyes reckon Fabregas should have been sent off, and articles discussing the incident have also referenced past instances of petualnce on the part of Fabregas. Good I say. People are always saying we're a soft touch - maybe it's about time we had someone who'll manipulate referees and get in the opposition's face. Besides, where are the articles about Sir Wayne of Rooney screaming profanities in the faces of officials week in, week out? What do you mean there aren't any? Are you trying to suggest that the British press is a bit Xenophobic? And that if Fabregas was English, we'd just be hearing about his spirit and determination and Passion with a capital P? Yeah, I think I am.
2. When the press aren't criticising Arsenal for being sneaky foreign swine, they're saying that we're defensively inept. Our centrebacks are rubbish, and we can't deal with set pieces. Well maybe they're right, I mean, we have conceded 22 goals in 24 games. Meanwhile Manchester United have conceded 21. As have City. And Chelsea. Spurs have conceded 26 fer christs's sake. We've been missing our first choice centreback all season and we've still only conceded one more goal than the best defence(s) in the league, so cut us a break, won't you?
Newcastle away on the weekend, and Wenger will have to do without Samir Nasri. The influential Frenchman limped off against Huddersfield after chasing a through ball, and it looks like he's going to miss some key ties. Fingers crossed for a speedy recovery.
Played 6, won 6.
Simple as that. 3 league games, 2 FA cup games and 1 league cup game. The gunners remain the only team really between Man Utd and an outrageous 19th Premier League title, are through to the fifth round of the FA cup (when they'll meet Leyton Orient who are 54 places below them, all the way down in League 1) and will play Birmingham in the league cup final on the 27th February. Not bad, right? There's also the small matter of a last sixteen tie against Barcelona too.
In those six games, Arsenal have also scored an impressive 16 goals, whilst conceding just 3. Bizarrely, it's still difficult to think of this excellent series of results as putting a run together and buliding momentum because Arsenal have the capacity to implode at absolutely any point - it's this unpredictability and fragility that has really characterised our team in recent seasons. Is there more about us this season though? Well yeah, probably. If the last two games are anything to go by, then this team is pumped and ready to win some silverware. Twice the gunners have been up against it, and twice they've rallied to grab really important wins.
Wenger understandably decided to rest a couple of key players in the home tie against Huddersfield; none of Djourou, Sagna, Clichy, Fabregas, Wilshere, Van Persie or Song started, but it looked as though the gamble would pay off when Bendtner, with the help of a delflection, put Arsenal ahead after twenty two minutes. 1-0 up against lower league opposition at home - how were the gunners going to screw this up? Squillaci had the answer: get too square to a striker running at full pelt, be forced into pulling him over as he skipped past and through on goal and then get sent off. Text book stuff from the Frenchman.
Arsenal held on for twenty minutes after the restart but the pressure began to tell, and eventually someone (I won't pretend to remember who; I can't imagine he'll be seen at the Emirates ever again to be honest) got up well and planted a header past Almunia into the goal.
With the midfield looking sluggish and gifting possesion away it was up to Francesc Fabregas to sort things out, and he entered the fray shortly after the equaliser. The introduction of the Spaniard turned the game on its head once again. With a bit more composure in the middle of the park, Arsenal were able to push for a much needed winner (the possibility of a replay at Huddersfield now looming dangerously on the horizon). Bendtner conspired to squander several great chances, but the Dane made amends by tumbling under a challenge in the box to win a slightly soft penalty. Fabregas stepped up a dispatched it, and Arsenal held on to stay in the cup for another round. Inspiring stuff from the 10 men to retake the lead, and hold it, despite fielding largely a second string team.
Perhaps more important for the season was the performance against Everton at the Emirates earlier this week. A game fraught with controversy saw Arsenal go behind after 24 minutes to a goal from Louis Saha, despite the fact that the striker was comfortably a yard offside. No matter through, said the linesman, I thought he took it well, so the goal stands. Poor officiating all round, and the home side looked suitably shell shocked for the rest of the half.
A lively atmosphere helped the gunners raise their game in the second half however, and after 70 minutes a pass from Fabregas, via the head of an Everton player, found Arshavin, and the resurgent Russian volleyed in the equaliser. Arsenal didn't have long to wait for the 'go-ahead' goal either, Koscielny finding space in the box to head home a Van Persie corner. The Gunners then held on to take all three points and keep the pressure on Utd.
I feel suggesting that the kind of spirit on display is characteristic of title winners would make me sound like a bit of a broken record - comments of that nature in the past have usually been followed by a humilating defeat at the hands of a title rival or relegation candidate. So I won't say that this time - I'll merely remark that Arsenal look strong mentally at the moment. Which is good, obviously.
Two things have struck me this week:
1. A lot's been made of Fabregas' alleged comments to the officials at half time during the Everton match; the midfielder supposedly yelled something along the lines of "How much are you being paid?" in the direction of the referee. Everton manager Dasvid Moyes reckon Fabregas should have been sent off, and articles discussing the incident have also referenced past instances of petualnce on the part of Fabregas. Good I say. People are always saying we're a soft touch - maybe it's about time we had someone who'll manipulate referees and get in the opposition's face. Besides, where are the articles about Sir Wayne of Rooney screaming profanities in the faces of officials week in, week out? What do you mean there aren't any? Are you trying to suggest that the British press is a bit Xenophobic? And that if Fabregas was English, we'd just be hearing about his spirit and determination and Passion with a capital P? Yeah, I think I am.
2. When the press aren't criticising Arsenal for being sneaky foreign swine, they're saying that we're defensively inept. Our centrebacks are rubbish, and we can't deal with set pieces. Well maybe they're right, I mean, we have conceded 22 goals in 24 games. Meanwhile Manchester United have conceded 21. As have City. And Chelsea. Spurs have conceded 26 fer christs's sake. We've been missing our first choice centreback all season and we've still only conceded one more goal than the best defence(s) in the league, so cut us a break, won't you?
Newcastle away on the weekend, and Wenger will have to do without Samir Nasri. The influential Frenchman limped off against Huddersfield after chasing a through ball, and it looks like he's going to miss some key ties. Fingers crossed for a speedy recovery.
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