I love European nights, don’t you?
I think on reflection no Arsenal fan can be unhappy with getting away with 1-1 last night. In a tense match we were absolutely bossed for the first 45 minutes, particularly after Marcos Senna scored a stonker of a goal that Almunia, injury or no, didn’t really have a chance with. People will say Song should have closed him down but you can’t really legislate for that kind of strike, and on the whole Song had a good game. There’s something of the Gilberto about him, in that he doesn’t appear to do a whole lot but is very often doing something sensible, and appearing at useful moments. He’s also got a nice line in the subtle robust-clatter-from-behind-on-skillful-opposition-midfielder, which we’ve been missing in the middle of the park for some time now. Good to see. Man’s game, and all that. We’re seeing there’s more to Song than just a fragrance-modeller.
Other than that the first half didn’t have much to recommend it from an Arsenal point-of-view. Their lot passed it around neatly, and were getting in behind the defenders quite effectively. I wonder if that’s a tactical thing about European sides that’s not a problem in the domestic league – anyway, we looked quite vulnerable, and Gallas and Toure were doing a bit of their terrifying ‘you get it’ ‘no, you get it’ double act. We were pretty lucky only to be one down – Fabianski when he came on made a great save at his post – was my conclusion from the first half.
We did manage to get the ball in the net, after Cesc took a quick free quick, but he promptly got booked for his trouble, though that was only because Ray Wilkins was refereeing, and as we all know, Ray Wilkins with his Chelsea allegiances was after revenge for Thierry’s successful use of the quick free quick all those years ago.
The second half was much better – we came at them much more convincingly, and then, all of a sudden, we scored. I thought it was very good of ITV, given that I was watching the game in order to see it live, to show, rather than the scoring of the goal, Adebayor wheeling away in celebration. However, the replays confirmed that it was a cracking finish – a quasi bicycle kick, and the third Cesc-Adebayor combo goal in two matches. Those two must have been having secret practise sessions while they were injured, building up a ‘relationship’.
When I was a boy I tried heavily to emphasise the importance of having a ‘relationship’ with a strike partner. I saw myself playing in the hole, banging balls in from behind so my chum only had to balance himself, pull the trigger and finish the job. As I got older I tried to stop choosing my words so poorly, but it is nice to see the direct stuff working. In fact if anyone was guiltiest of Islington Shuffle last night it was the Spaniards; thankfully they won’t be able to do that sort of thing when they come round our gaff, as they have to score, which means that we’ll have more chances. Yum.
So in conclusion. Positives: 1-1. Cesc. Song. Ade(bits), Toure/Djourou looking ok. Fabianski. Pires’ reception from the away gooners – I can’t wait for when he appears at the Emirates. Last minute Porto equaliser against United.
Negatives: Ray Wilkins being the referee. Injuries to Almunia and Gallas. Marcos Senna being excellent at football. Villarreal looking pretty competent generally.
More tomorrow. Thanks for reading. Tell your friends.
Tags: Arsenal, arsenal blog, Cesc Fabregas, Emmanuel Adebayor, ray wilkins, Villarreal
April 8th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
I’m sick of people blaming Song for not closing down Senna – it wasn’t his man! If you are going to blame anyone, it should be Denilson who left his man, or Cesc who was closer to Senna and didn’t move to block his shot. Watch the game next time, yeah?
April 8th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
@kgm Don’t hate the players. Hate the game.
April 8th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Song did a great job last nite.. Denilson, I dunno why Wenger keeps him on the pitch. He is surely the weakest link in the team… even Bendtner has improved, Wenger shud trust in his players, but Denilson has been offered countless opportunities to shine yet he lets the club down.. Kick him out
April 8th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
kgm – agree with you there, song was trying to do the job of 2 players at that moment
i like that song is getting good reviews now cos hes been playing this well for the last few matches
i think he can be better than gilberto because he has a bit more vision on the ball. He’s also just more powerful and aggressive imo.
If you think hes only 21, he doenst really play like it at the moment, hes more like an experienced 25 year old
So I think we have our dominating CM anyway! Arsene knows more than i gave him credit for
April 8th, 2009 at 4:19 pm
adebayor must fukcin learn on how not to play offside.. he has terrific chances.. all goes to waste for offside…
he should keep doing like what he did on the bicycle kick… that is stay away from offside… and train up his one-on-one technique against defenders.. so that whenever he’s up alone in the opponents half.. he can finish the job…
as for denilson… totally agree.. should have been taken away… let him get the feel on how it feels to be on the bench… watchin games and from there onwards experience..
he’s the achilles heel for arsenal..
other than that..
the perfect arsenal…
April 8th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
blind blind blind! denilson was the water carrier with class. u don’t play the game, wouldnt understand how good he’s doing his job. maybe defensively naive but aren’t most kids.
adebayor’s retardedness for me has out weighed his moments of brilliance finishing. with a better link up man we would have scored 3 boring tap ins. which i do prefer.
April 8th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Song has something of Gilberto in that he is calm and polite yet foul opponents and is a nuissance to opposition’s game. Tackle him and he will fall and give you his hand to be helped up. Do that to Rooney or Van Persie and you are likely to get a kick or shouted at.
April 8th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
Song is good but so is denilson. He has his off days and suffers from defensive mood swings. But i dont think he is as bad as all of you make him sound.
Anyway i would like to ask whom do you all think would take his place?
Ramsey…he is a really great classy player but i dont think ,AT THE MOMENT, he is playing in cohesion with the team. Maybe next year we can see some good displays from him.
Diaby is forever injured cant seem to play more than 2 games on the trot but you cant call him defensive. If he gets pulled in attack then he wouldnt find it in him to return to his position.
Nasri though could play in the centre. Giving us great creativity in attack but then we would be without a left midfielder.
Now who will take his place when we play a 5 man midfield for certain tough games??
April 9th, 2009 at 7:00 am
actually if nasri is in the centre, Then for our Left midfield, either put Vela, or Wilshire. Wilshires creativitiy you never know what he can do, and velas speed…:p
April 9th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
i am not really sure about vela or wilshire playing in the first team at the moment…maybe next season…
what’s ur take grabber??
April 9th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
@J
Good of you to seek my inexpert and often legally compromised opinion.
Er. I think Vela would be good for a run in the team if injuries needed it. The guy’s been playing top-level football for yonks now, but at the moment I’m not sure who you’d drop from a full-strength side to accommodate him.
Wilshere is really too young at the moment. I know some started looking to him during the depths of the Fabregas injury, pre-Arshavin, but I can’t imagine they’d still be saying that now. I know Cesc came in much earlier, but he was playing alongside some pretty established midfielders. Wilshere being asked to hold his own because Denilson and Song aren’t so hot is a different question. I’d play him in the Carling next year and bring him in slow, like.
I agree with you, in short.