Some areas of the media have spent the last fortnight suggesting that Arsenal are a a bunch of overrated, too-young flimsies with a tendency to self-destruct and massive issues with commitment, talent and self-belief band of maverick gypsy-footballing geniuses who only needed an occasion and a bit of luck to prove themselves potential world-beaters. Those areas have just been proved correct.
What a !
It wasn’t easy; it was never going to be, but our team delivered the goods this afternoon and we continue our 100% record against the big sides.
Lots of people were sceptical about the optimism going into this match, but the team showed once again the talent they have, and offered a glimpse of the team they could be if they applied themselves like this all the time.
Robin stepped up when he had to, and Cesc showed that he’s got the stones to be the captain in the games that really matter – Djourou was very unlucky with the own goal, I felt. It was a challenge he had to make, and the test of a player (and his teammates, more to the point) is how they respond when these things happen.
It wasn’t perfect – there are still lots of questions to be asked of the defence and midfield, but as against United we made the most of our luck. Better to be a lucky team than a good one, to paraphrase Napoleon.
More on the match tomorrow, and also more on those blogs who’ve seen fit to start criticising our greatest postwar manager for myopia after a few dodgy games…
But for now let’s enjoy the victory. Have between twenty five and a million beers.
Tags: 2-1, Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Cesc Fabregas, Chelsea, Robin van Persie
November 30th, 2008 at 6:51 pm
Good result, but this squad cannot win the title, doesn’t have the midfield or depth. Hopefully, we can get a good run of results as we’re playing better teams now. Top four looks a possibility but it all depends on which Arsenal team shows up – and that is far from certain.
November 30th, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Top four is more than a possibility… it’s always been and still is ours to throw away…
November 30th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
fran i think you are forgetting just how many players are injured i think its around 8-9 players down, i think the quality of the team is good but its partly they need dm and aprt of it is they are lacking in confedence,edawrdo is comming back in 3 weeks, risicky is comming back in jan/feb and i think diaby willhave huge part to play,i dont there is any dought arsenal can finish in top 4 quite easily but can they win the title not without dm and good centre half.
November 30th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
great game. we were not so good but took our chances. Now the confidence can return and hopefully we are still in for it, maybe not but we have a chance.
http://soccerfanbase.com
November 30th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Great result. We still look shaky at the back but the belief that we will score more goals than the opposition has returned. We need to get back to the idea that if a player goes missing (today = Adebayor) another will step up (today = RvP). Support throughout the team, interchangeability of position, and most of all – spirit. That was what came back today, and I love it.
November 30th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
yeh i must say the team spirit was amazing today gallas and van persie was excellent the teams throwing their shirts at the end showed jjust how much there was a beloved spirit and how much it meant to the fans aswell as the players and the manager, i just hope now we can continue this start throughout the season continuning on a double to wigan. ARSENAL TILL DEATH!!!
December 1st, 2008 at 8:44 am
great blog mate. didnt watch the game myself as I couldn’t have taken the pain of witnessing another disgraceful performance by a group of youngsters which should be achieving so much more than losing to hull and stoke. anyhow, it’s a good result and i hope they can build on the win. however, midfield and the backline are still beset with huge problems. think if cesc is to play, denilson shouldn’t be there, diaby is the one to pick. if not song looks better defensively than denilson (who doesn’t). not to mention problems with walcott and rosicky, our midfield is not strong enough to endure the whole season. backline is just a mess, gallas is a mess, toure not playing much, and the centre backs just don’t click with each other. anyhow, i hope arsenal will pick themselves up again soon-ish, as it’ll be embarrassing to drop out of the top 4 this season.
December 1st, 2008 at 11:22 am
Rather exciting game, wot wot.
Its a big, big win for us, and if we can put together 10 or 12 games unbeaten (most of those being wins) then we’ll be right back in the hunt. (Of course, if we lose to a load of middle tablers and relegation contenders and throw away 2 goal leads, then we won’t be!)
Once the transfer window closed and we couldn’t find a suitable replacement for Flamini, I felt that if we could keep pace til January we’d have a great chance. That said, whether we can find a top class midfielder in January, we’ll have to wait and see.