Arsenal 1 Dynamo Kiev 0
Well thank heavens for that. One nil to the Arsenal, and have you ever been more relieved to hear those words? Unconvincing, certainly, and I suspect there were a few hearts in mouths during the second half. With Porto winning we’ve cemented our position in the last sixteen of the Champions League, and also secured ourselves a semi-dead rubber in Portugal.
Thoughts?
Positives: The win. Cesc’s first match as captain a victory, and a strong performance from him. Gallas getting his head down and doing a job, though he looked shaky at times. Almunia’s save in the second half. Vela’s brightness in the first half, a bit of breathing space before business resumes in earnest on Sunday. Young Jack Wilshere looking as promising as usual. Comedy opposition sending off – ‘headless chicken kiev’?
Negatives: The shakiness we’ve seen in recent games, particularly in the back half of midfield and defence, was still there. Chelsea, not to mention the other big European teams, will hardly be quaking in their boots at the thought of playing our team. Still, we’ve got players to come back, and morale will pick up. Denilson is not a winger.
So. Things to correct. A good night for the Arsenal. What do you reckon?
Tags: 1-0, Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, Cesc Fabregas, Dynamo Kiev, Jack Wilshere, niklas bendtner, William Gallas
November 25th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Pheww! Am I relieved? I still think that Wenger has an unhealthy attraction to Denilson. As you say, he is NOT a winger. I would almost have played Simpson in his place; after all that’s where he played for Milwall. But I guess a win is a win. I think the clean sheet will have done the guys a world of good.
November 25th, 2008 at 10:07 pm
I dont think denilson was that bad, he could do a job there, but hes not gna make many chances cos he doesnt run down the line
if we had a proper right winger as well, it wouldnt look so bad playing denil there, no offence to ramsey, but hes also better in the centre
i havent seen song recently, but i can see why pple were complaining – absolute touch of a rapist, hes like emile heskey
when he plays CB he looks assured and confident on the ball, but in midfield he looks out of his depth
i hope wenger notices that
pleased to see bendtner score today, his confidence has been so low recently, but his goal was fantastic. hopefully this’ll spur him on for the next few games
November 25th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
Thought Denilson had a reasonably good game, some loose passes, but he didnt stop running and he may not have made any wing play…he did do a lot of harrying and closing down. Ramsey was a bit lost in this game, I would have liked to see Denilson and him switch more in the first half, once Den went right he got more balls into the box. Still ok performance, a win and Capt Fab 4 Fabregas has one game down…another 600 to go ( I hope)
November 25th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Congratulations the gunners, however i still believe we need better midfielders than denilson and song. Arsene should please go for mature players during the january transfer window. We need two central defenders, two midfielders and a goalkeeper. Finally, i still believe wilshear should be a regular in arsene starting eleven.
November 25th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
You can’t start a sixteen-year old in a team supposed to be competitive for the Premiership and Champions League…
November 25th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
“Still, we’ve got players to come back”
Is that not understatement of the year? Was it not NINE first team players out for this game? Come on, be reasonable – a makeshift squad, half of them out of position, under a new captain against a tough Kiev side happy to sit back and try to get one on the break? Good result in my book.
@Dattijo: “i still believe we need better midfielders than denilson and song”
We already /have/ better midfielders than denilson and song; how about Walcott, Nasri & Diaby (and Rosicky if he isn’t technically dead)? And how can you want ‘mature’ players in the January transfer window and in the next breath “believe wilshear [sic] should be a regular in arsene starting eleven”? If you buy mature players, they will want to play – they are established, coming towards the end of their careers, they won’t sit on the bench and watch the fresh-faced youth run around before bedtime!
Let’s look at this match as a good win, under difficult circumstances, with a thrown-together squad playing in random positions. First one on the board for Cesc and he gets us through to the knockout stage of the CL. Well done.
November 25th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Fourstar – couldn’t agree more. Though I’d still say we want a somewhat experienced midfielder in January, without necessarily going for an old timer (though I’m pleased, after it all, to have Silvestre on board)
Cana looks good at Marseille…
November 25th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
@ecumming: But seventeen is alright, yes? One Francesc Fàbregas springs to mind. Wishere could be that good you know. Been to the Carling Cup games lately?
November 25th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
Point taken – Rooney springs to mind too. If we really think he’s that good. With Cesc it was just so apparent from so early on that he was going to make it, and you suspect they had their eyes on an early first-team role for him even before they plucked him from Barca…