- The Champions league isn’t won in the qualifiers.
- Barcelona lost at home to a team I’ve never heard of
- Liverpool lost again
- Arsenal dropped 2 points away from home in a group that we’re smashing
Let’s put it all into perspective and take a big, deep breath.
I feel we’re always one result away from a revolution on the web… too many people have made their minds up about players and their careers, too many people seem to take glee in results like this and I don’t like that. We’re 8 games unbeaten and we just dropped two points. So a couple of things I’d like to point out…
1) Winning a few games against relatively easy opposition does not mean we’re dead certs for the EPL-ECL double this year. When the going is good, don’t let smugness get the better of you… I had a glance at the Premier table this time last year and I think the only difference bar the huge goal haul, was a draw… Rushing around telling everyone ‘Arsene knows’ in October leaves you with a high percentage chance of finishing the year with egg on your face.
2) If you don’t think we’re going to do anything this year, try and enjoy it when we’re on a good run… when we drop a couple of points away from home, don’t go overboard in the criticism or be too quick to bask in a player’s mistake. All players make mistakes and all teams will drop points this year. Arsenal fans from a neutral perspective have the most to be happy about this season… enjoy it, before the injuries pile up (I’d put an wink emoticon here if I could)!
Arsenal played in second gear most of the night, we created plenty of chances and we went 1-0 up after 36 minutes after Arshavin capitalised on an AZ mistake. He laid the ball off to Robin who cut a neat ball across the box for Cesc to slot into the empty net.
We were comfortable for the rest of the half and had the better of the chances.
Things changed in the second half… our tempo dropped, AZ sniffed out the fear and started to cause us problems aerially. You could sense our team was panicking at the back. I thought we’d sorted ourselves out after about 70 minutes when we started knocking the ball about and trusting our game… but then we reverted back to school boy football. AZ were causing alsorts of problems with set pieces and there best chance fell in the 93rd minute when a long ball was looped into the box, Diaby was easily beaten after losing out with a weak challenge, the ball fell to their sub… bang… 1-1.
It was a disappointing end to a pretty flat game, but I’m not about to start calling for heads and telling you why this team can’t challenge this year.
What today lacked was a bit of leadership during the second half. Someone needed to grab hold of the game and calm everyone down. We are one of the best passing teams in the world, why this attribute disappears when we’re under pressure is beyond me. We should have taken the ball up the other end and played keep ball like the invincible’s used to. Still, it’s a learning curve for everyone and hopefully we’ll learn our lesson for the next away day in Europe.
On the upside of things. Arshavin looked superb when he was moved centrally (He looked ok out wide as well). His quick feet and clever runs baffled the Dutch all night. He is one of the few in our team who isn’t shy to have a dig and he was unlucky not to get his name on the score sheet tonight (Did you see it when Eboue wanted the ball, Arshavin shot, Eboue complained and the Russian mouthed, ‘I just wanted to shoot’).
I thought Song had a super game tonight. He made a few very good interceptions and did a good job getting in the way. His passing was in the main, very good. It’s getting ridiculous when I read people pulling him up on any stray pass… I think people have short memories about how good Gilberto was at passing. Everyone misplaces passes, as Song is a bit more adventurous these days… he’ll misplace them to.
I thought Eboue was pretty anonymous today. I don’t understand why Wenger insists on playing him out wide instead of Rambo. It has nothing to do with tracking back, because Eboue did nothing of the sort last night and rarely does… another myth pushed by some sections of the fanbase through the web… If you’re going to put players like Vela and Wilshere in the squad, you should give them a game when a similar player picks up an injury. Sticking a right back in their position is a bit insulting regardless of the glimpses of form he’s shown on occasions this year.
Mannone has done well considering his age, but he worries me, he really does worry me. He is nervous and indecisive at the moment and I can’t help but think he is a ticking flap bomb. Is it time to recall the Spaniard, or are we waiting for Fab2?
So to conclude, a bit of a nothing performance from our boys but lets not lose our heads over a result that most teams would take. We played in second gear and still created 13 chances and in all likely hood, we’ll still qualify.
Ratings:
Mannone: Looking shaky and nervous. I hope we don’t have to witness a disaster before he’s dropped. 6
Clichy: Not a bad performance from him tonight. Relatively quiet for him with most of the play coming down the middle. 6
Vermaelen: Put his head on a few tough balls tonight but was part of the defence that was regularly panicked throughout the second half. Maybe with time he will start to take more control as Gallas isn’t the leader type. 7
Gallas: I was a bit nervous when he went down with an injury in the first half, thankfully he was ok. Did an adequate job in the main, but needs to do a little more with his experience in games like these. 6
Sagna: Fault free game really. 6
Cesc: Not his most dominant performance, but he came up with a goal. 6
Diaby: For the most part I thought he had a good game. He got the ball from out of his feet well, passed quickly and made some good runs. I don’t think it can be denied that he worked tirelessly tonight. He was guilty for losing out on the header at the end, which is worrying considering his height. He needs to cut out these mistakes and cut them out fast if he is going to help us make a dent on a trophy this year. 6
Song: Superb game from the man who dished out a slapperbayor last week. He was all over the park closing off angles, intercepting passes and distributing with deftness. I thought he had a storming game and if it wasn’t for Arshavin, I’d have given him man of the match. 7.5
Robin: Hit the target a number of times and looked dangerous. First time in four he’s missed out on the score sheet. 7
Eboue: Didn’t realise he was playing for large parts of the game. He’s a right back, how can I criticise a weak performance from him in midfield? 5.5
Arshavin: Looked lively all game and looked superb in the middle where he created opening for himself and others all night. Shame he couldn’t have been more clinical. 8
Stu..
flamoney must be the first player in history that is so feckin good…that he doesnt even have to play…most other great players play week in,week out,,strange…
tom
A,
I understand your points mate. We have different opinions but thats cool!
I dont know what Chelsea game ye ae talking about but 2 of Flaminis games against chelsea i remember are the 2-2 and 1-1.
2-2 Cesc and Flamini in 05-06 when Henry scored 2. F&F more than held their own against the title winning chelsea side.
1-1 Flaminis goal was cancelled out by Essiens screamer (i think thats that match anyway)
so Stu i would buy Wrighty a beer sit down and have a chat about how truly great flamoney is…just dont wait for his next game ..could be a while…on the other hand the rest of Milan’s midfield is about to die of old age..so heey maybe you both dont have to wait that long…
flamoney a good player ?? must be like voting for bischoff as the greates Arsenal player ever…
tom
Didn’t he score against chelsea in a game at stamford bridge? I also remember him and cesc being thrown together cos of injuries when they were very young against chelsea at highbury. I believe we got a decent draw out of it.
I felt let down a bit by him when he left but I think he was superb for us. What he’s doing now is irrelevant.
Hi Rhyle,
Your right mate, we will never know whose partnership would have been better.
Invidually Flamini wasn’t better than either Vieira or Petit but I’m talking about the pairings.
I reckon that Cesc and Flamini was the best CM partnership at Arsenal since Vieira and Petit and was getting stronger.
Yes, they’re the games I’m thinking of. Good memory.
That was for stu
tomstoned,
So you gonna explain this flamini hatred? Its worse than Geoffs for Becks.
Did he sleep with your bird or something?
Tom,
It doesn’t really matter what he is doing at Milan, I’m not bothered by them mate.
All I know is during his time at Arsenal I was impressed by what I saw with my own eyes, throughout his time at Arsenal and not just in his last season.
I don’t think he is the worlds greatest player but he is certainly a team player.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4Tt0eyRyL0
I remember that 2-2 draw. Flamini and Cesc were immense.
Wrighty – I wouldn’t argue with that. We aren’t coming close to either of those pairings at the moment.
As a pair Petit and Vieira were light years ahead of the Fab / Flam pair and though they were getting better I don’t think they’d have come too close. Near yet far!
Petit and Vieira had an understanding unlike anything I’ve ever seen. The way the worked in tandem, swapping the holding / attacking role and covering each others responsibilties was unlike anything I’d ever seen before at Highbury or since at the Grove. Truly incredible they were and to hold anyone up as potentially better is praise indeed!
Flamini showed excellent ability in that clip A!
Wrighty7 mate..
ignoring is great..and that would explain the fact that you mean flamoney is great…ignoring the fact that he doesnt play anymore…he simply isnt good enough…but ill give you this ..he seems to be a great benchwarmer..and heey you knew that about flamoney if the money was right ..he didnt give a feck about playing anyways..superb fella a real team player..
tom
tom
All Flamini was missing was a goal against the mancs. Scored against Chelsea and Liverpool.
IMO every team needs an overachiever in the team like a grafter. It helps the more talented and lazy players realise that talent alone isnt enough to make a success of yourself. Fletcher plays that role for the mancs.
Wrighty…now you gone done riled the locals!
Good stuff Rhyal!
What are Vieira and Petit up these days? Perhaps we could form a reunion in the middle of the park mate!
They were immense mate. And you are right they complimented each other like curry and beer!
Gambon mate..
its not hatred
im just giving you the fact..flamoney had one ..1..good season..then he thought he was Gods gift to football..and left for money and glory…even hleb who loved ice cream was more of an Arsenal player or team player than mr slick flamoney..
and well to me if you dont play well then you really arent that good….or am i wrong..?? do the rest of you see something i dont..does he play in disquise or is he saved for a better day ??
tom
Ha ha Tom!
I think we are just going to have to disagree on this mate!
False Tom, he had 1 stand out season because he only played 1 season as first choice. He played decently in the other seasons but wasnt superb. Doesnt mean his other seasons he was shite.
Anyway, its been fun my fellow Gooners but I’m off to bed. Take care and I’ll try and get on again soon!
Keep it Goonerish………
no probs Wrighty…and further more if the argument had been about the one season flamoney did play well ..yes he was great..no doubt..but he peaked and went out cold..happens to alot of players…
tom
Night so wrighty..
Stu..
and that’s where he is at the moment …a decent sub..so except for that one year..he has proved that he is nothin more than a decnt sub with a big paycheck…however im sure he could do a job with mr brown and hull…he seems like that sort of man to me..
tom
I realise that Kaka seems lost playing for Madrid for some reason…He just has not fit in…..meanwhile Ronaldo is just playing by himself…
Anyway if we can beat West Ham on the weekend…..and if Liverpool can atleast hold Manure to a draw I will be happy…
I dont want Liverpool to lose again because
1. We want Manure to drop points
2. We dont want Rafa to get so desperate that he actually uses a strong lineup in the Carling Cup against us.
Ja,
Kaka was absolutely class tonight.
A sub at one of the most prestigeous football clubs world wide. Having already played for one of the best footballing teams in the world and one of the top french teams.
Suggesting that he is only good enough to play for a relegation threatened team in the premiership is ridiculous.
He is good enough to start for most european teams (with the exception of a few of the best.
I think Kakas problem in the madrid team is that he isnt the star like he was at Milan. But once he gets properly settled he will shine.
Kaka was as his name implies kack if you ask me !!
Just saw the bordeaux – bayern highlights. All sloppy goals, Chamakh is an awful diving cheat (imo) and both penalties were pathetically taken.
the spanish chavs got done shame about the originals though
The GG9 assessment of Spanish club football 22/10/09:
Real-ly No Class & Barcalonely are average, the other clubs are shit. All that money they spend; all the tapping up they do & all they represent is shit.
No doubt this latest result inflicted on the vulgar spanish club known as Real by a very ordinary Italian club will intensify the media concentration on operation get Cesc
GG9 – a fair conclusion based on this weeks games (both CL and at the weekend). I honestly feel that there has been a contraction in the difference in quality at the top this season. It’s made for interesting watching so far, long may it continue!
Anyway…that’s me for the night gents and back to work tomorrow.
Cheers for a good’un!
Night Rhyle
GO AC MILAN! FUCK MADRID! A rare mistake from Casillas and Dida looking as dreadful as ever. I really rate Pato. Only 20 and quite clinical with good movement and passing.
nothing since 2:40. Where is everyone?
Dead on 9 everyone will be trying for first!!
Somone mentioned Pato being offered to us.
That’s like Barca wanting Song and asking us to take Messi off their hands
NEW POST!
One thing you cant deny about Flamini was his 100% commitment and that rubbed on to the rest of the team. He was not a world class player but that did not matter cause he did not let any team bully Arsenal. WE lost someone like as if we lost a Vierra or a Henry, so difficult to replace, players with the (X) factor, and as a result we lost the premier league. ( When Flamini and Eduardo got injured, we started to lose games at an alarming rate. Anyway to late now to do anything ,whats done is done, we cant change that. I look forward to a new era and maybe a new Flamini would emerge in this new squad.
If we had a half decent goalkeeper in our squad, we would be top of the league right now.
Going right through all the PL teams, almost all of them have better keepers than us. Watching the Birmingham subs at the Emirates last week warming up at half-time, I noticed their backup goalkeeper was Maik Taylor. ****-me I thought, even a team like Birmingham have a better keeper on their subs bench then we have in our entire squad