...is it the stuff that decisive runs are made from?
Arsenal came perilously close to losing at home to Liverpool, to drawing at home to Stoke, and to drawing away to Sunderland; but seven points from nine has kept alive genuine hopes of another top four finish.
The first hour or so in the Liverpool game was very depressing. Not only were Arsenal second-best, but the defence was in full-blown self-parody mode.
The goal from Suarez that opened the scoring came from a Sagna slip, a trademark botched clearance from Vermaelen, and some vintage penalty area ping pong. As well as a deflection on the striker's finish.
When Henderson profited from more madcap defending to slip the ball into an empty net, it looked like that was that, but Arsenal responded in rousing fashion.
First,Wilshere's inswinging free kick from the right was headed down and past Reina by Giroud. Game on.
Then, before Liverpool could catch breath, Cazorla slid a pass into Giroud, the Frenchman laid it off nicely to Walcott to his right, and Walcott confounded Reina by bulleting an early shot low into the far corner.
Both sides had chances to win it, but in the end a draw seemed fair.
Against Stoke, a draw might have been terminal to Arsenal's Champions League hopes. The Potters, typically, defended very well, and typically, too, were not averse to rough house tactics.
Arsenal needed a large slice of luck to secure the three points, with Podolski's late free kick deflecting heavily on its way into the net.
Against Sunderland, Arsenal hit their stride in the first half, but squandered opportunities to build an unassailable lead.
Leading at half time was a nice change in itself, and the lead was secured by a fine goal that saw Wilshere scoot forward in trademark fashion, then play a pass into the box for Walcott. The winger, who is showing sporadic improvements in his appreciation of team mates' positioning, laid the ball back for Cazorla, and the Spaniard angled a low, left-footed effort past the keeper in a flash.
While Arsenal should really have won comfortably, the ultimate nature of the win may prove more useful, morale-boosting even.
Koscielny had broken down in the warm up, and Wenger opted to move Sagna to centre half, and bring Jenkinson in at right back. With new boy Monreal playing on the left side of the defence, it was an unfamiliar backline, and one that Martin O'Neill's side would have expected to score against.
That they didn't should be viewed as encouraging, especially after Jenkinson was dismissed for a second yellow card and Ramsey was moved back to full back.
Sagna, who is a brilliant all-round defender,produced his best display of the season, as did Szczesny, making some vital saves.
Arsenal will want to be more ruthless in future, but a resilient defensive display was long overdue.
Showing posts with label Stoke. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stoke. Show all posts
Monday, February 11, 2013
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Better, Closer, Warmer/ RVP
Arsenal are grinding out wins, dismantling the wall of discontent brick by brick.
Since that defeat in a close-fought North London derby, the Gunners have twice been indebted to their captain and talisman Robin Van Persie. He scored braces against Sunderland and Stoke respectively to ensure six points from the last two home league games.
His performance against Sunderland was memorable not only for two well-taken goals- one smashed in with his right, the other a free kick curled home with his left- but also for an audacious attempt that so nearly proved a goal of the season contender. With the score at 1-0, Van Persie collected an Arteta pass, bamboozled Kieran Richardson with a cute dragback, and lofted a cheeky chip from the edge of the box that confounded the keeper but rebounded off the upright and out.
He is certainly Arsenal's best player, and his familiarity with the woodwork means he is probably the league's unluckiest.
There have been many improvements in Van Persie's game over the last few seasons. He is now very two-footed. He scores a lot with what he once termed his "chocolate leg", and the chipped effort in the Sunderland game also came courtesy of his right foot.
His team play has improved a lot since his early Arsenal days, when he was an exciting and often spectacular player with a very individualistic style that sometimes angered team mates.
He is more mature, more of a leader, deserving of the armband.
Lastly, and most importantly, he is scoring many goals, different goals. His vicious left foot and his considerable ability meant he was never starved of goals (except while injured), but in the early days, he was as likely to score from twenty yards as from three. Although never as averse to the tap in as Bergkamp, Van Persie was something of a DIY finisher, a man who would wait for the ball to be played to him, feint this way and that, then smash a shot from whatever angle he saw fit. It often made for spectacular viewing, but nobody ever suggested he was the much sought "fox in the box" that Arsenal are always said to lack.
Against Stoke, however, his match-winning brace was more reminiscent of Van Nistelrooy than Bergkamp. Both goals were the product of intelligent, hungry movement inside the box. And this is typical of Van Persie's output in the last few seasons. He is scoring more in and around the six yard box and this is why he is more prolific. It's actually been a while since he scored a truly spectacular goal- his free kick against Sunderland was the first such goal he has scored in a long time, and there has been nothing of late to rival his comic strip volley against Charlton or his sumptuous curler against Blackburn- but that does not matter, because he has become a better, more effective player.
New boy Gervinho has already shown frequent signs of a good understanding with the Dutchman. He may not be quite as quick as Walcott, but he uses his pace better when running with the ball. Walcott so often looks clueless when confronted with a full back and the ball at his own feet. Gervinho, on the other hand, has a handy habit of cruising beyond his marker with a sudden burst of acceleration. This led to Van Persie's two goals against Stoke, and also the vital equaliser in the away leg against Udinese. Gervinho also teed up the Dutchman's first against Sunderland with a nicely weighted pass. With this Arsenal team struggling to find much rhythm or swagger, the forging of some fruitful partnerships is vital. Signs are that there is genuine chemistry between these two.
Between the Sunderland and Stoke games, Arsenal executed a classic smash and grab in a sleepy Champions League game against Marseille, leaving qualification as group winners a distinct and welcome possibility. The game was a non-entity. Marseille's league form has been terrible, and they somehow managed not to trouble Arsenal's wobbly rearguard. With the match petering out in a dreary stalemate, a late attack saw Gervinho's micontrol fall kindly for Aaron Ramsey. The Welshman's first touch threatened to take him into traffic but he kept his composure and swept the ball home.
Last night, Arsenal reserves beat a strong Bolton side in the Carling Cup. Former Gunner Fabrice Muamba opened the scoring for the visitors, but Arshavin levelled with a fine run and finish. The Russian quickly turned provider. After another positive run he waited patiently to allow Park onside, then weighted his pass perfectly so that the Korean could shoot first time. His confident, curled finish was hopefully a sign of things to come, as Arsenal badly need another regular goalscorer to take some of that weight off Van Persie's shoulders.
So the last few games have provided some kind of lift in mood, but talk of a real revival may be premature. Arsenal have failed in all of the big tests so far, and while results are always paramont, there is still a feeling that lately, they have been labouring to victory against poor opposition. They have not played well for a solid ninety minutes, they still show no notion of how to defend set pieces, and they are still without an away win in the league. And next up, they go to Stamford Bridge.
Since that defeat in a close-fought North London derby, the Gunners have twice been indebted to their captain and talisman Robin Van Persie. He scored braces against Sunderland and Stoke respectively to ensure six points from the last two home league games.
His performance against Sunderland was memorable not only for two well-taken goals- one smashed in with his right, the other a free kick curled home with his left- but also for an audacious attempt that so nearly proved a goal of the season contender. With the score at 1-0, Van Persie collected an Arteta pass, bamboozled Kieran Richardson with a cute dragback, and lofted a cheeky chip from the edge of the box that confounded the keeper but rebounded off the upright and out.
He is certainly Arsenal's best player, and his familiarity with the woodwork means he is probably the league's unluckiest.
There have been many improvements in Van Persie's game over the last few seasons. He is now very two-footed. He scores a lot with what he once termed his "chocolate leg", and the chipped effort in the Sunderland game also came courtesy of his right foot.
His team play has improved a lot since his early Arsenal days, when he was an exciting and often spectacular player with a very individualistic style that sometimes angered team mates.
He is more mature, more of a leader, deserving of the armband.
Lastly, and most importantly, he is scoring many goals, different goals. His vicious left foot and his considerable ability meant he was never starved of goals (except while injured), but in the early days, he was as likely to score from twenty yards as from three. Although never as averse to the tap in as Bergkamp, Van Persie was something of a DIY finisher, a man who would wait for the ball to be played to him, feint this way and that, then smash a shot from whatever angle he saw fit. It often made for spectacular viewing, but nobody ever suggested he was the much sought "fox in the box" that Arsenal are always said to lack.
Against Stoke, however, his match-winning brace was more reminiscent of Van Nistelrooy than Bergkamp. Both goals were the product of intelligent, hungry movement inside the box. And this is typical of Van Persie's output in the last few seasons. He is scoring more in and around the six yard box and this is why he is more prolific. It's actually been a while since he scored a truly spectacular goal- his free kick against Sunderland was the first such goal he has scored in a long time, and there has been nothing of late to rival his comic strip volley against Charlton or his sumptuous curler against Blackburn- but that does not matter, because he has become a better, more effective player.
New boy Gervinho has already shown frequent signs of a good understanding with the Dutchman. He may not be quite as quick as Walcott, but he uses his pace better when running with the ball. Walcott so often looks clueless when confronted with a full back and the ball at his own feet. Gervinho, on the other hand, has a handy habit of cruising beyond his marker with a sudden burst of acceleration. This led to Van Persie's two goals against Stoke, and also the vital equaliser in the away leg against Udinese. Gervinho also teed up the Dutchman's first against Sunderland with a nicely weighted pass. With this Arsenal team struggling to find much rhythm or swagger, the forging of some fruitful partnerships is vital. Signs are that there is genuine chemistry between these two.
Between the Sunderland and Stoke games, Arsenal executed a classic smash and grab in a sleepy Champions League game against Marseille, leaving qualification as group winners a distinct and welcome possibility. The game was a non-entity. Marseille's league form has been terrible, and they somehow managed not to trouble Arsenal's wobbly rearguard. With the match petering out in a dreary stalemate, a late attack saw Gervinho's micontrol fall kindly for Aaron Ramsey. The Welshman's first touch threatened to take him into traffic but he kept his composure and swept the ball home.
Last night, Arsenal reserves beat a strong Bolton side in the Carling Cup. Former Gunner Fabrice Muamba opened the scoring for the visitors, but Arshavin levelled with a fine run and finish. The Russian quickly turned provider. After another positive run he waited patiently to allow Park onside, then weighted his pass perfectly so that the Korean could shoot first time. His confident, curled finish was hopefully a sign of things to come, as Arsenal badly need another regular goalscorer to take some of that weight off Van Persie's shoulders.
So the last few games have provided some kind of lift in mood, but talk of a real revival may be premature. Arsenal have failed in all of the big tests so far, and while results are always paramont, there is still a feeling that lately, they have been labouring to victory against poor opposition. They have not played well for a solid ninety minutes, they still show no notion of how to defend set pieces, and they are still without an away win in the league. And next up, they go to Stamford Bridge.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
The More It Stays The Same, The Less It Changes
Stoke 3-1 Arsenal
This was a rank display. Although not as spectacular as the collapse at Wigan at the arse end of last season, it had the same stale, end-of-a-fruitless-season vibe. Nothing to play for. Not even, it seems, professional pride.
Stoke were not very good, but comfortably good enough to beat a limp, lifeless Arsenal.
Arshavin got a lot of stick for helping give away the first goal. His team were not in grave danger as Jermaine Pennant held the ball in an apparent cul de sac near the corner flag. Arshavin stupidly pushed him over.
It's pretty absurd, though, that giving away a free kick is seen as a hanging offence. It was stupid, no doubt, because Stoke are dangerous from set plays. But here's a novel idea: how about, after all these years of "coincidental" underachievement, Arsenal learn to defend set plays?
Pennant swung a great ball in, Djourou was easily given the slip by Kenwyne Jones, and the ball bounced off the striker and into the net.
Pennant got the second himself. After a decent run he fired in a shot from distance. It was given a dipping trajectory by a slight deflection, and Szczesny failed to stop it.
Arsenal made changes at half time. Arshavin was scapegoated, as he often is. The manager pampers the substandard young players that fail to repay his faith, but because he did not make a star out of Arshavin, he has never shown favour to the Russian. Ramsey, ludicrously booed by the neanderthal home fans, also departed. Chamakh and Bendtner came on, leaving Arsenal with three out-and-out strikers on the pitch, plus Walcott. The changes had little effect.
Van Persie did provide yet another goal late on to provide a fleeting sense of hope, extinguished when Djourou pissed a clearance straight to John Walters, who made no mistake from close range.
It was a pretty abject way to destroy any feelgood factor after the United game. Maybe that's for the best. Arsenal have been poor for most of the season, especially the second half. They have produced a few good performances in that time, most notably at home to Chelsea and Barcelona. They failed, however, to build on the commitment of those displays. They failed to replicate it, because they either don't want it enough, or are not good enough, or a mixture of the two.
The game against Stoke did not have anything riding on it, so complacency was more understandable, if not acceptable. But the fact is Arsenal's season has been peppered with such displays, even when they were still supposed to be fighting for any of four trophies.
The tiresome talk continues, from both players and manager. 'Arseblog' has drawn attention to the fact that the players were admitting their own culpability in terms of character and commitment and the lack of it as long ago as the autumn of 2008. How many pay rises will these same players get before they are finally kicked out? 'Arseblog' also points to a comical quote by Wenger, who says that an inability to defend set pieces is an easy problem to remedy.
Arsene Wenger's team has had that problem for years. If it is easy to remedy, then where is the remedy? He has been a great manager for this club, and I hate to come across as negative (again), but frankly, he's looking and sounding more and more like a clown. His decline, and that of his team, shows no sign of stopping.
This was a rank display. Although not as spectacular as the collapse at Wigan at the arse end of last season, it had the same stale, end-of-a-fruitless-season vibe. Nothing to play for. Not even, it seems, professional pride.
Stoke were not very good, but comfortably good enough to beat a limp, lifeless Arsenal.
Arshavin got a lot of stick for helping give away the first goal. His team were not in grave danger as Jermaine Pennant held the ball in an apparent cul de sac near the corner flag. Arshavin stupidly pushed him over.
It's pretty absurd, though, that giving away a free kick is seen as a hanging offence. It was stupid, no doubt, because Stoke are dangerous from set plays. But here's a novel idea: how about, after all these years of "coincidental" underachievement, Arsenal learn to defend set plays?
Pennant swung a great ball in, Djourou was easily given the slip by Kenwyne Jones, and the ball bounced off the striker and into the net.
Pennant got the second himself. After a decent run he fired in a shot from distance. It was given a dipping trajectory by a slight deflection, and Szczesny failed to stop it.
Arsenal made changes at half time. Arshavin was scapegoated, as he often is. The manager pampers the substandard young players that fail to repay his faith, but because he did not make a star out of Arshavin, he has never shown favour to the Russian. Ramsey, ludicrously booed by the neanderthal home fans, also departed. Chamakh and Bendtner came on, leaving Arsenal with three out-and-out strikers on the pitch, plus Walcott. The changes had little effect.
Van Persie did provide yet another goal late on to provide a fleeting sense of hope, extinguished when Djourou pissed a clearance straight to John Walters, who made no mistake from close range.
It was a pretty abject way to destroy any feelgood factor after the United game. Maybe that's for the best. Arsenal have been poor for most of the season, especially the second half. They have produced a few good performances in that time, most notably at home to Chelsea and Barcelona. They failed, however, to build on the commitment of those displays. They failed to replicate it, because they either don't want it enough, or are not good enough, or a mixture of the two.
The game against Stoke did not have anything riding on it, so complacency was more understandable, if not acceptable. But the fact is Arsenal's season has been peppered with such displays, even when they were still supposed to be fighting for any of four trophies.
The tiresome talk continues, from both players and manager. 'Arseblog' has drawn attention to the fact that the players were admitting their own culpability in terms of character and commitment and the lack of it as long ago as the autumn of 2008. How many pay rises will these same players get before they are finally kicked out? 'Arseblog' also points to a comical quote by Wenger, who says that an inability to defend set pieces is an easy problem to remedy.
Arsene Wenger's team has had that problem for years. If it is easy to remedy, then where is the remedy? He has been a great manager for this club, and I hate to come across as negative (again), but frankly, he's looking and sounding more and more like a clown. His decline, and that of his team, shows no sign of stopping.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Arsenal 1 Stoke 0 Injuries 2
If I had been told before this game that it would be won by a goal from a set piece, I'd have been worried.
As it turns out, I have to apologise for my typically rash assessment of Squillaci, who did not cost Arsenal any goals on this occasion, and scored the winner.
Eight minutes in, a corner reached the back post, where Bendtner chested down and knocked the ball into the goalmouth, and the French defender headed in his first league goal. Big credit goes to Bendtner who showed good composure and actually picked a player out where many would just smash the ball and hope for the best.
Before that, Walcott had threatened on three occasions. Very early on, Fabregas released him on the right of the area with a trademark slide rule pass, and the youngster beat Begovic with his cross shot but saw it rebound off the inside of the post and into the keeper's arms. He then volleyed well wide from Bendtner's knockdown, and then almost went through but snatched at his shot under pressure from both Huth and Pugh.
Arsenal had started very well but were then greeted with the now all-too-familiar sight of Cesc Fabregas trudging off to be substituted. It remains to be seen whether he has a chance of playing in Sunday's Carling Cup final. His removal here saw Arshavin come on to play in his usual position on the left of the front three, and Nasri drop back as chief playmaker. Arsenal lost momentum but Stoke offered little, other than a Carew effort from range which Sczcesny parried well, until the second half.
After the break there was more menace about Stoke. Delap wound up for a long through, instead sent it down the line to Pennant, and his cross found Shawcross, but the header deflected just wide for a corner. What an unpopular goal that would have been. Then another throw, this time from the left. Delap did go long. Sczcesny came out, but he and his defenders were beaten all ends up by Huth. His leap effectively gave him an open goal, but he couldn't direct the header downwards, and Arsenal escaped.
The best bit of play from Arsenal came when Nasri released Arshavin down the left. Shawcross came hurtling across in typically reckless fashion, and was left for dead by the Russian, who dinked it over the challenge, then squared across the area for Walcott, who fluffed his lines.
The Englishman's night got even worse when he twisted his ankle badly under a clumsy but innocent challenge by Whitehead. Walcott will miss the Carling Cup final and, even worse, probably the Barcelona game, where you feel Arsenal would have needed the benefit of his pace and directness.
As I predicted, injuries are biting as the games pile up. But here Arsenal were solid enough to see the game out. Pennant's free kick late on was as close as Stoke came, but the winger could only find the side netting with a shot that Sczcesny looked to have covered.
Overall, Arsenal were relatively poor, but it can only be a good sign that they can win in such circumstances. The early goal was, clearly, vital, more so than it seemed at the time, because after Fabregas's departure, the home side struggled to open Stoke up. Had the game remained 0-0 Stoke would have kept even more bodies back and Arsenal's search for a goal may have grown desperate. Instead, they could keep possession in the late stages, less nervous than they've been in the past with the new assurance Djourou's presence seems to have bred in the back line. One point now the gap to United, who have a game in hand, but now face three away games: Wigan, Chelsea and Liverpool... Maybe this season will see a title race after all.
As it turns out, I have to apologise for my typically rash assessment of Squillaci, who did not cost Arsenal any goals on this occasion, and scored the winner.
Eight minutes in, a corner reached the back post, where Bendtner chested down and knocked the ball into the goalmouth, and the French defender headed in his first league goal. Big credit goes to Bendtner who showed good composure and actually picked a player out where many would just smash the ball and hope for the best.
Before that, Walcott had threatened on three occasions. Very early on, Fabregas released him on the right of the area with a trademark slide rule pass, and the youngster beat Begovic with his cross shot but saw it rebound off the inside of the post and into the keeper's arms. He then volleyed well wide from Bendtner's knockdown, and then almost went through but snatched at his shot under pressure from both Huth and Pugh.
Arsenal had started very well but were then greeted with the now all-too-familiar sight of Cesc Fabregas trudging off to be substituted. It remains to be seen whether he has a chance of playing in Sunday's Carling Cup final. His removal here saw Arshavin come on to play in his usual position on the left of the front three, and Nasri drop back as chief playmaker. Arsenal lost momentum but Stoke offered little, other than a Carew effort from range which Sczcesny parried well, until the second half.
After the break there was more menace about Stoke. Delap wound up for a long through, instead sent it down the line to Pennant, and his cross found Shawcross, but the header deflected just wide for a corner. What an unpopular goal that would have been. Then another throw, this time from the left. Delap did go long. Sczcesny came out, but he and his defenders were beaten all ends up by Huth. His leap effectively gave him an open goal, but he couldn't direct the header downwards, and Arsenal escaped.
The best bit of play from Arsenal came when Nasri released Arshavin down the left. Shawcross came hurtling across in typically reckless fashion, and was left for dead by the Russian, who dinked it over the challenge, then squared across the area for Walcott, who fluffed his lines.
The Englishman's night got even worse when he twisted his ankle badly under a clumsy but innocent challenge by Whitehead. Walcott will miss the Carling Cup final and, even worse, probably the Barcelona game, where you feel Arsenal would have needed the benefit of his pace and directness.
As I predicted, injuries are biting as the games pile up. But here Arsenal were solid enough to see the game out. Pennant's free kick late on was as close as Stoke came, but the winger could only find the side netting with a shot that Sczcesny looked to have covered.
Overall, Arsenal were relatively poor, but it can only be a good sign that they can win in such circumstances. The early goal was, clearly, vital, more so than it seemed at the time, because after Fabregas's departure, the home side struggled to open Stoke up. Had the game remained 0-0 Stoke would have kept even more bodies back and Arsenal's search for a goal may have grown desperate. Instead, they could keep possession in the late stages, less nervous than they've been in the past with the new assurance Djourou's presence seems to have bred in the back line. One point now the gap to United, who have a game in hand, but now face three away games: Wigan, Chelsea and Liverpool... Maybe this season will see a title race after all.
As The Squad Creaks, Will Cracks Start To Show?
Arsenal v Stoke
RVP: out
KOSCIELNY: out
Djourou now acts as Squillaci's babysitter. Bendtner or Chamakh upfront. Tony Pulis looking to throw a spanner in the works as Arsenal enter a critical phase of the season. Is the squad good enough to fight on four fronts?
By Arsenal standards, the list of unavailable players at the moment is unremarkable. But we know how quickly the injury list can reach epic proportions. And now would be an inopportune time to say the least. Arsenal have a habit of seeing whole seasons fall apart in the space of a week or two...
Whatever happens in tonight's game, I still think United are heavy favourites for the league. Arsenal have to deal with being favourites on Sunday in the Carling Cup final. That game will be crucial in shaping the rest of the season. If Arsenal finally lift a trophy for the first time since 2005, they can relax somewhat. They will still want to win every trophy they can, but the pressure will lift and that will give them a better chance.
Defeat is almost unthinkable. If they cannot beat Birmingham, how can they expect to get past Barcelona? To beat Man Utd in the quarter finals of the FA Cup (assuming they eventually get there)? How can they expect to challenge for the title?
If they cannot win this season's League Cup, having been presented with winnable game after winnable game, will they ever win anything?
That is a question everyone will ask if Arsenal lose.
Birmingham have been beaten twice by Arsenal in the league this season. But they have a recent history of denying the Gunners in dramatic circumstances. Kevin Phillips's last gasp fluke last season saw the loss of two points and the dwindling of Arsenal's title hopes. Worse still was the game in 2008 at St. Andrew's: Eduardo's leg break; Gael Clichy falling asleep; the referee pointing to the spot; last minute woe; Gallas's amazing breakdown. The day the title was lost.
Let's hope that this time the woe is Birmingham's.
RVP: out
KOSCIELNY: out
Djourou now acts as Squillaci's babysitter. Bendtner or Chamakh upfront. Tony Pulis looking to throw a spanner in the works as Arsenal enter a critical phase of the season. Is the squad good enough to fight on four fronts?
By Arsenal standards, the list of unavailable players at the moment is unremarkable. But we know how quickly the injury list can reach epic proportions. And now would be an inopportune time to say the least. Arsenal have a habit of seeing whole seasons fall apart in the space of a week or two...
Whatever happens in tonight's game, I still think United are heavy favourites for the league. Arsenal have to deal with being favourites on Sunday in the Carling Cup final. That game will be crucial in shaping the rest of the season. If Arsenal finally lift a trophy for the first time since 2005, they can relax somewhat. They will still want to win every trophy they can, but the pressure will lift and that will give them a better chance.
Defeat is almost unthinkable. If they cannot beat Birmingham, how can they expect to get past Barcelona? To beat Man Utd in the quarter finals of the FA Cup (assuming they eventually get there)? How can they expect to challenge for the title?
If they cannot win this season's League Cup, having been presented with winnable game after winnable game, will they ever win anything?
That is a question everyone will ask if Arsenal lose.
Birmingham have been beaten twice by Arsenal in the league this season. But they have a recent history of denying the Gunners in dramatic circumstances. Kevin Phillips's last gasp fluke last season saw the loss of two points and the dwindling of Arsenal's title hopes. Worse still was the game in 2008 at St. Andrew's: Eduardo's leg break; Gael Clichy falling asleep; the referee pointing to the spot; last minute woe; Gallas's amazing breakdown. The day the title was lost.
Let's hope that this time the woe is Birmingham's.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Pulis Cements Status as World's Most Colossal Cunt
Last week Wolves skipper Karl Henry was sent off after Arsenal players surrounded the referee following a challenge on Tomas Rosicky.
But Pulis says it’s Wenger’s team that the FA should be reading the riot act to.
He said: “For me, it was nothing short of disgraceful what the FA did to Wolves. Then the reaction of the Arsenal players was poor last week.
“It is something that is coming into the game and needs to be addressed. If the FA want to do something positive, it’s stopping people from surrounding referees.”
Not, say, introducing measures to more effectively protect players from career-threatening injuries? No, that wouldn't fit your agenda, would it? You odious prick.
But Pulis says it’s Wenger’s team that the FA should be reading the riot act to.
He said: “For me, it was nothing short of disgraceful what the FA did to Wolves. Then the reaction of the Arsenal players was poor last week.
“It is something that is coming into the game and needs to be addressed. If the FA want to do something positive, it’s stopping people from surrounding referees.”
Not, say, introducing measures to more effectively protect players from career-threatening injuries? No, that wouldn't fit your agenda, would it? You odious prick.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Stoke 1-3 Arsenal . . .
Where to start but with the injury to Ramsey. As with the Taylor- Eduardo incident, the most commonly stated fact in the aftermath is that the tackle was not malicious. True. We do see some malicious tackles in England- studs up, over the ball, those are the worst. But this does not absolve Shawcross. As with anything, it's a matter of degrees. This one was not "malicious", but it was also a level above merely "commited".
Recklessness is endemic to the English game. And against Arsenal, the media and British managers have elevated it to a virtue. It is to be commended when it leads to a victory, as it did for Stoke in the corresponding fixture last season. But when it leads to the kind of needless devastation we saw on Saturday, excuses abound.
Last season, indeed, there was little mention of a tackle by a certain Ryan Shawcross, that took place with the ball out of play, that must have been close to breaking Adebayor's ankle. On that occasion, an intent to do some damage was clear. So it's difficult to feel wholehearted sympathy for the defender, especially when he can return to action while Aaron Ramsey sees the long road to recovery stretch endlessly before him.
That said, the reaction to this incident should condemn the culture, not the player. This antiquated aggression is something that the English game needs to rid itself of, because the more quick and skillful players get, the more we will see of these kind of injuries. This neanderthal aesthetic is surely part of the reason for England's continued under-achieving at international level, but most of the press and pundits would prefer cling to it, and instead moralise over comparitive trivialities like diving, spitting, imaginary card-waving.
Sure, it is a physical sport, and yes, the pace and power of the Premiership is what renders it uniquely entertaining. But there is a line that is too consistently crossed, and as Wenger and Fabregas say, it is no coincidence that it keeps happening against Arsenal.
There is a xenophobic aspect to this aswell. Arsenal are not the only attacking team in the Premiership. But they're the only team who are systemically subjected to such rough treatment. Sir Alex wouldn't stand for it for a second, but Allardyce, Pulis and his other minions would never risk his wrath by even trying it against United. I remember all those years when Allardyce's Bolton were kicking lumps out of Arsenal, they would never do more than bend over for Man Utd. And then when Megson took over and told Kevin Davies to assault Patrice Evra in his first game, Ferguson was fucking apoplectic on the touchline. Welcome to our world.
On to the game. Our continued, debilitating lack of defensive prowess was again predictably exposed early, but character was on show this time. Bendtner scored a brilliant header, showing what having a tall, physical player up front can do for us. And then, after the injury and the red card, the ghosts of Birmingham two years ago were laid to rest as this time the climax was positive. A debatable enough penalty slotted in by Fabregas, returning to form. And Vermaelen scoring from the same player's typically clever cut-back. Job done, very late on; cue plenty of fist-pumping and a huddle at the final whistle. If McFadden's late penalty two years ago convinced the players that it wasn't to be their title, maybe this is the opposite.
I have questioned these players, and the manager, a lot. I still think those questions remain. I don't think any fan asks for him to put the financial safety of the club at risk. But this has transpired to be a great chance to win the title, and we are quite simply not in the best possible position because the manager has refused to spend even a small amount of money on problem positions in the squad. Some do have faith in these players, that if they are kept together, we will see success. I'm not sure of that but a strong end to the season, even if it does not end in a trophy, would of course be a step in the right direction. That said, I don't think we will see another season in which the competition has been so weak, and it is our inability to grasp the possibilities of the moment, in favour of hypothesising about the future, that I fear may prove fatal in more seasons to come.
But now is a time to be positive, as the players showed their mettle in what was a massive moment. Ten games to go and, against all my expectations, we're in with a shot.
Recklessness is endemic to the English game. And against Arsenal, the media and British managers have elevated it to a virtue. It is to be commended when it leads to a victory, as it did for Stoke in the corresponding fixture last season. But when it leads to the kind of needless devastation we saw on Saturday, excuses abound.
Last season, indeed, there was little mention of a tackle by a certain Ryan Shawcross, that took place with the ball out of play, that must have been close to breaking Adebayor's ankle. On that occasion, an intent to do some damage was clear. So it's difficult to feel wholehearted sympathy for the defender, especially when he can return to action while Aaron Ramsey sees the long road to recovery stretch endlessly before him.
That said, the reaction to this incident should condemn the culture, not the player. This antiquated aggression is something that the English game needs to rid itself of, because the more quick and skillful players get, the more we will see of these kind of injuries. This neanderthal aesthetic is surely part of the reason for England's continued under-achieving at international level, but most of the press and pundits would prefer cling to it, and instead moralise over comparitive trivialities like diving, spitting, imaginary card-waving.
Sure, it is a physical sport, and yes, the pace and power of the Premiership is what renders it uniquely entertaining. But there is a line that is too consistently crossed, and as Wenger and Fabregas say, it is no coincidence that it keeps happening against Arsenal.
There is a xenophobic aspect to this aswell. Arsenal are not the only attacking team in the Premiership. But they're the only team who are systemically subjected to such rough treatment. Sir Alex wouldn't stand for it for a second, but Allardyce, Pulis and his other minions would never risk his wrath by even trying it against United. I remember all those years when Allardyce's Bolton were kicking lumps out of Arsenal, they would never do more than bend over for Man Utd. And then when Megson took over and told Kevin Davies to assault Patrice Evra in his first game, Ferguson was fucking apoplectic on the touchline. Welcome to our world.
On to the game. Our continued, debilitating lack of defensive prowess was again predictably exposed early, but character was on show this time. Bendtner scored a brilliant header, showing what having a tall, physical player up front can do for us. And then, after the injury and the red card, the ghosts of Birmingham two years ago were laid to rest as this time the climax was positive. A debatable enough penalty slotted in by Fabregas, returning to form. And Vermaelen scoring from the same player's typically clever cut-back. Job done, very late on; cue plenty of fist-pumping and a huddle at the final whistle. If McFadden's late penalty two years ago convinced the players that it wasn't to be their title, maybe this is the opposite.
I have questioned these players, and the manager, a lot. I still think those questions remain. I don't think any fan asks for him to put the financial safety of the club at risk. But this has transpired to be a great chance to win the title, and we are quite simply not in the best possible position because the manager has refused to spend even a small amount of money on problem positions in the squad. Some do have faith in these players, that if they are kept together, we will see success. I'm not sure of that but a strong end to the season, even if it does not end in a trophy, would of course be a step in the right direction. That said, I don't think we will see another season in which the competition has been so weak, and it is our inability to grasp the possibilities of the moment, in favour of hypothesising about the future, that I fear may prove fatal in more seasons to come.
But now is a time to be positive, as the players showed their mettle in what was a massive moment. Ten games to go and, against all my expectations, we're in with a shot.
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