Arshavin Is On Song In Chase For Champions League

Arsenal 4 – 0 Blackburn Rovers

1 – 0 Ooijer o.g. (2)
2 – 0 Arshavin (65)
3 – 0 Eboue (87)
4 – 0 Eboue (90)

The choice of music to leave the pitch may need altering following the drubbing of Rovers on Saturday. Whilst I would never argue with anyone spinning Move On Up, perhaps a tad of Jackie Wilson would have been more appropriate. Maybe that will be another day.

Rovers were the whipping boys; they got what they deserved for their lack of desire and one-dimensional style of play: if it moves, kick it. A typical Allardyce side, unloved by the masses beforehand, even more so after this game although if the Premier League want to break things up in the top four, perhaps they could make it a rule that Paul Robinson has to play in goal against Arsenal every week. He might have some good games but in general, we would be scoring three or four a game. So long as the chances do not fall to Nicklas Bendtner, who had an afternoon in front of goal to forget. Maybe it was as well he had left the pitch when penalties came about in Rome.

Arshavin meanwhile will want to remember this game for a long time. As will Alex Song for his performance, possibly the most complete his has put in during his stint in the midfield. The Russian may have garnered all of the headlines but Song has been rightly awarded Man of the Match by a number of papers this weekend. He had, in his own way, an energetic style, a gazelle loping across the breadth and length of the pitch outthinking, outpassing and outplaying his counterparts. It was a vindication of Wenger’s faith in the player and perhaps, following on from his performance against Cardiff, a sign that things are falling into place for him.

Crucially though, the return of Walcott gave the right hand side of the team a directness that had been missing in recent weeks. He took command of the first attack of note, ordering Song into the middle to join the incoming Arshavin. The cross found a melee of players, the Russian sending the ball wide before Ooijer decided to head it into his own net. Very nice of him, it was too and a sign of his tremendous technique to manage that with the ball one foot off the ground.

It wrecked Blackburn’s tactics. Defending high up the pitch rarely works against Arsenal due to the pace they have. With that out of the window, they reverted to typical Allardyce-style and kicked everything. It was not a difficult match to referee but Phil Dowd managed to get a number of key decisions wrong: Diouf warranted a straight red, the only difference between Taylor’s assault on Eduardo and Saturday was that Almunia walked away following treatment. Later in the game, Pedersen should have been given a yellow for the blatant dive since Greg Louganis entered the Olympic competition. Small things but they do little to restore any confidence in officials.

Once the goal had been scored, it was a procession aside from a brief interlude before half-time, Pedersen’s header well saved by Almunia. Bendtner and Walcott could have increased the half-time lead but were unable to. According to reports, in a ‘handbags’ incident, Almunia gave Diouf a ‘Kirkby Kiss’. If true, good on Manuel, it was the least that Diouf deserved.

The second forty-five was about Arshavin for the most part. A deluge of chances were created for Bendtner who spurned them all, denied by wayward shooting or one good save from Robinson. The Russian took matters into his own hands with twenty-five minutes remaining, dancing closely to the touchline, concentrating on following the line like a small child does when colouring. That image reinforced when having found the roof of the net with a ferocious drive, Arshavin celebrated with his tongue out. When you finish like that, you can celebrate however the hell you want, in my book anyway.

Once that went in, it was a question of how many. Eboue provided the answer, poking home following Robinson’s save from Arshavin and then converting a penalty so coolly that you had to do a double take to make sure that it was not a timewarp and Lauren stepping up to the spot.

It was a very solid performance all throughout the team. Everything that had been threatened in previous home games came together. With Adebayor and Fabregas expected back for Manchester City, the strength of the squad will be shown between now and the end of the season.

With Villa’s result yesterday, fourth place was achieved. Another crucial week ahead, Hull tomorrow to set up a potential semi-final with Chelsea, Newcastle on the same weekend Villa travel to Anfield and the draw for the route to the Champions League final, a suspicion that we will not be leaving these shores until the Final is nagging away in my mind. Which makes a change from Mrs YW, at least.

’til Tomorrow.

Fat Sam’s Back In Town – Blackburn Rovers (h) Preview

Following the exertions of midweek, several players are likely to be rested this weekend as Blackburn arrive at The Emirates this afternoon. The match in Rome will have taken its’ toll with fatigue a key factor, mentally after the shoot-out, physically after the hard work put in during the preceding 120 minutes.

Earlier this week, Terry Neill observed:

Arsenal now look like they are on the up and a win over Blackburn could be a significant result for the Gunners’ season – and for Villa’s

Three points this afternoon and Villa’s lead will have disappeared in two matches. Whilst I would expect them to beat Tottenham tomorrow, they could be put under considerably more pressure than they might have expected. Having said that, we have been here before with opportunities to close the gap previously spurned. From the perspective of the rest of the season, a win is vital to keep momentum going. Whilst the final score on Wednesday was a defeat, the victory achieved in the penalties should boost the players mentally.

Back to Neill. He has experience of the crowd turning on him – if you think losing at Fulham is bad, try a home defeat to Walsall – and had this to say about some who called for Wenger to go:

Idiot. Only idiots would get restless. Listen, Arsene doesn’t need me to defend him because he has done it all. He’s the envy of the football world, one of the truly great figures in world football

Despite his exit from the club, Neill is one of the few pundits who is balanced and honest about the club, avoiding sensationalism and along with Don Howe, a former manager whom it is impossible not to respect which is more than can said of some of his predecessors and successors.

Eduardo is out of the match this afternoon, a small groin injury suffered in extra time. Despite this, he is positive about the remainder of the season:

What is important is that we are defending well and the performances are coming. There are a lot of great players coming back now – Walcott, Fabregas, Tomas Rosicky and Adebayor – and it will be okay. I think we can be in the top three in the Premier League

Positive thought was key to his recovery from his broken leg, positive thought can be the key to achieving this target. It will take a huge effort and some tremendous results (not necessarily performances) to reach third although the right combination of results can leave that within six points.

The squad will, according to Arsene, only show Eduardo dropping out with Arshavin returning, Cesc and Adebayor expected to be fit for the Manchester City game. The manager mentioned that a few tired muscles were still around, some changes should be expected. His options in defence are somewhat limited but it would be a surprise if Djourou did not come in, especially since Santa Cruz’s absence is likely to see a more direct approach. I suspect it will be Toure who drops out as Gallas appears to be Arsene’s first choice centre back. At full back, Sagna has been rotated the least and with Walcott coming back into the squad, it is the opportunity to give the Frenchman a rest and bring Eboue into his more natural right back spot. If that happens, Gibbs will be unlikely to replace Clichy, that perhaps will be Arsene’s option for the Hull game.

In midfield, this afternoon ought to see Walcott start on the right, freeing Arshavin shifting to the left. Song will probably drop into Diaby’s spot with Denilson. Up front, playing RvP could be seen as risky yet he has proved his fitness so far this season and the experiment of resting him against Sunderland proved woefully unsuccessful. Bendtner will continue, I suspect, having been withdrawn before extra-time in Rome. A line-up along the lines of:

Almunia; Eboue, Gallas, Djourou, Clichy; Walcott, Denilson, Song, Arshavin; van Persie, Bendtner

With a bench of:

Fabianski, Toure, Gibbs, Ramsey, Vela, Diaby, Nasri

Three points is a must. A stunning performance would be nice but results matter more now.  One final thought before finishing is that those who can view ESPN Classic via Sky can record the 2006/07 clash at about 2a.m. tomorrow morning.

Enjoy the match wherever you are watching it.

Champion Talk And Kolo. Weird.

Much jubilation still within the squad, Manuel Almunia being ‘so proud’ after the win:

My heart was nearly out. I’m sorry I couldn’t have saved more than one. In the end it was enough and I am so happy to go through to the next round. Roma took some good penalties. It was difficult to save them as they have so much quality.  I’m just so happy for my team-mates because they kept their nerve and showed their maturity in the penalty shoot-out. I’m proud.

It was not all joy as Eduardo has picked up a groin strain which, according to Arsene at least, impacted on his ability to take his penalty. Frankly, that is not good enough, no pretty persuasion of this blogger. If Eduardo had anything about him, he could have had his leg amputated and still scored his spot-kick, standing one leg, with a crutch for support, a slingshot penalty that would catapult the ball into the net. He really must do better. On second thoughts, he has already had someone try to do that to him so maybe I’ll forgive him.

As for Theo Walcott, someone needs to remind him that he is English and that to score penalties is just not fair. As a nation, we have a proud heritage of missing crucial kicks, leaving supporters to bemoan our fates as we walk home post-match. And that is something that we do not need anyone disrespecting.

Gael Clichy, meanwhile, believes we can go on and win the whole kit and caboodle, allowing the supporters to make another pilgrimage to the Eternal City. Talk about the passion:

I’m confident that we can go all the way to the final. We have discovered a new Arsenal this season. We suffered against Roma, but this qualification is very important because of the state of mind we showed. We can’t play beautiful football all the time. We fought hard, were solid and stayed the same as we have been for a while.

If that is what you believe, go for it. There is no point sitting still, observing from the touchline, better to be involved at the end.

The post-match interviews took on a slightly surreal air when Kolo Toure got a microphone in his hand. No, not the crooning of “There She Goes“, more the discussion about his relationship with William Gallas. It is an interview I would have liked to see for I am sure that the question he was asked may have been a simple, “So, Kolo, happy to be through?” Instead of the expected “Yes” (although I think KT would have been more erudite than that), we got:

My relationship with William has improved, but it’s just a professional relationship. Once we are on the pitch we try to keep a professional attitude and to communicate. I am friends with Johan Djourou, with Emmanuel Eboue, with Gael Clichy, but it is not the same with William. We never got on well together. However, it is the same within every company – you cannot be friends with everybody.

Erm, OK, Kolo. Nothing untoward in that, just a strange time for it to arise. Indeed, it would come as no surprise if this were an old story rehashed, to what end I know not. Just a touch strange and no point in second guessing what was going through his mind.

In truth, it does not matter if they get on. Football is littered with partnerships on the pitch that were not replicated off it; Sheringham and Cole reportedly hated each other but that did not stop them banging in the goals for United a decade ago. The misunderstandings on the pitch in Rome, particularly the one that led to the goal were reminiscent of those earlier this season so eradication of them would be nice.

Anyway, I’m off to post a letter never sent to William Gallas to make sure he feels all wanted. ’til Tomorrow

All Roads May Yet Lead To Rome

UEFA Champions League, Round of 16, 2nd Leg
AS Roma 1 – 0 Arsenal
Agg: 1 – 1, Arsenal win 7-6 on penalties

1 – 0 Juan (9)

When is an unbeaten run not an unbeaten run? Did Arsenal win or lose last night. I will set out my stall here and now; the unbeaten run remains. OK, it’s a tenuous and every-so-slightly dodgy logic but do I care? Do I F*ck (Mum, mum, Dad swore on the blog today).

All that mattered at the end of last night was that the Quarter-Final and let’s not forget, the Semi-Final draw, includes a ball which when opened has a slip of paper on it that reads not “AS Roma” but “Arsenal FC“.

Not pretty, unconvincing by recent standards but a test of character that was passed. The received wisdom is that Arsene would have told the players to keep it tight, mark properly and not to concede an early goal in what was a crackling atmosphere. For all of that, he definitely would have said to them, if you do concede, make sure it is no more than one. So keep it tight.

Nerves do a funny thing to people, affecting judgement, performances, etc., but experience helps to overcome them. So what do you do when your most experienced players perform a Gentleman’s Excuse Me and allow a ninth minute aggregate equaliser? Don’t panic. Rely on your ‘troops’ to get you through the tie, believe in their abilities and just rewards will come.

And run their hearts out is exactly what the players did. Both sides did in fact, Roma’s tactics spot on in denying space to the visitors following the 1 – 0 drubbing in the first leg. Arsenal responded with similar energy, plenty of questions asked and answered about their ability to hack out a result.

In games such as these, you know the home side will enjoy vociferous support and every chance will be greeted as if it were a golden opportunity. At moments like those, you need your goalkeeper to have a big game; Almunia did just that, quashing doubters who believed he could provide such a performance. That does not mean he is suddenly ranked in the top three around the world, simply that he is a damn sight better than many give him credit for.

There were faults in the performance collectively, these will no doubt be addressed by Arsene and the players in the build up to the Blackburn game on Saturday. The question that you have to ask is whether or not they matter purely in the context of the Roma match. The answer is no, they do not matter, the result last night was everything and progress was achieved.

A good day to be a Gooner and if you cannot enjoy the morning after the night before, what the hell are you drinking for I want none of it.

’til Tomorrow.

AS Roma v Arsenal Preview

Ever willing to please the readership, this one is for you courtesy of Frank’s Biggest Fan:

Respect

A couple of those in Rome this evening would not go amiss. In fact, I do not care which of the player’s anatomy the ball enters the Roma net via, so long as Arsenal progress. The media have been salivating over the two English teams passing into the ether of the quarter-final stages, Arsenal reduced to the status of ‘English team most likely to be knocked out‘, despite a double-digit unbeaten run and only four goals conceded in the fourteen games since Villa fought back from a two-goal deficit on Boxing Day.

For the first time in many months, Wenger has genuine tactical options within the squad following the return of Eduardo and Walcott. The recent minor injury to Kolo Toure has healed and I would expect him to return to the centre of the defence at the expense of Johan Djourou. The squad named yesterday offers the chance to attack with pace, even if Walcott does not start. To be honest,  I would rather see him introduced with half an hour to go to scare the living bejesus out of tiring Roman defenders.

It will most likely though be a counter-attacking five man midfield that starts. A magical attacking performance such as the one in Turkey earlier this season would be most welcome. Wenger commented:

It is a night for the team to stand up more than any individual. I believe in a shared leadership and we have many leaders. I believe more in that than in one leader sorting everything out. At the start of the season, the hangover from last season was still there but since November, things have changed. We can grind out results more and this is a good opportunity to show that. The team has grown together and gelled well in the last three months, under extreme pressure.

He has called this “a defining moment” for the squad. For me, the win over WBA was the moment that the season took on that quality. Progress tonight and a win on Saturday leaves the team in the Quarter-Finals of both knockout tournaments, coupled with fourth place in the Premier League, achieved with influential players still to return in the coming weeks. The pressure told last season, inexperience killing off a title challenge. To show the lessons have been learnt, well EnglandNewOrder can take up the reins:

Now is the time, Let everyone see
You never give up, Thats how it should be
Dont get caught, Make your own play
Express yourself, Dont give it away

The crucial area will be midfield. With Arshavin cup-tied, Eboue seems likely to revert to the right side. In the middle, I would personally go for Denilson and Diaby; Song has done little wrong but Wenger has said in the past that Diaby was his vision of a long-term replacement for Vieira. Having been withdrawn with half an hour to go on Sunday, it would be little surprise to see the Frenchman start ahead of Song.

I would expect the team to be:

Almunia; Sagna, Gallas, Toure, Clichy; Eboue, Denilson, Diaby, Nasri; van Persie, Eduardo

With a bench of:

Fabianski, Djourou, Gibbs, Walcott, Song, Ramsey, Bendtner, Vela

A crucial match every time the team plays for the remainder of the season. Enjoy the match wherever you are watching it. ’til Tomorrow.

Media Awareness, Theo And The Usual Guff

Somewhat later than intended but it was a good weekend in the print pages for Arsenal players and not least the manager. Patrick Barclay in his Sunday Times column praised Wenger:

…remember that Arsenal turned to Wenger when it became apparent that Bruce Rioch could not establish a worthy succession to George Graham, under whom the ruthless achievement of the Herbert Chapman and Bertie Mee eras had been reprised. Wenger combined achievement with generosity of spirit. If football is art, he has demonstrated it over and over again, so that, equally, if anyone has made an unanswerable case for patience, it is he.

The article itself was a prescient reminder to the critics of Wenger that the season is not over. That is not to say that he is infallible; he is a mortal but as he observed recently, he has been in the game for thirty years and may know a thing or two more than those of us looking in from the outside. Barclay hit the nail on the head:

This is where the harlots come in. They — we — have a responsibility. What we usually do in such situations is apply the crocodile-tears technique: “The long-suffering fans of deserve better . . .” Not that they ever do. No football fans deserve anything except admission to the ground and adequate lavatories. Not unless they organise themselves and buy the club, of course, as has been done abroad and is increasingly the fashion at lower levels here.

Large proportions of those who support the bigger Premier League clubs are spoilt brats. In Arsenal’s case, they have been treated by Wenger to the most beautiful football played in this country….since the early 1960s. That is during Arsenal’s frequent peaks under Wenger — but even the perceived trough of now has the team in contention for not only fourth place in the Premier League, but the FA Cup and the Champions League. And still we hear the wails of pain.

Fair play, sir, there is not much more that one can say. Except to chastise, perhaps, when he forgets this standpoint and offers a less than fair critique of Le Boss in the future.

Meanwhile, the media-savvy of two forwards came to the fore; one example good, one that basically makes you put your head in your hands and utter the exasperated, “Dear God!“. Well, OK, some will not but an awful lot will have done so.

Robin van Persie gave a good insight to us all in an interview with Amy Lawrence in The Observer in which he re-iterated that he will be at the club next season but refused to be more specific about his future. The Dutchman had pre-empted any criticism previously by confirming that the money for his contract extension was agreed, it was his personal desire to win trophies that is the decisive factor. This then translated into “I’m Going Nowhere“.

Compare that to the perception of Emmanuel Adebayor. His observations on the summer were a reflection of previous comments he has made. However, he added the usual proviso of not knowing what the future holds. In media-speak, this translates to “I could still quit Gunners“.

The players cannot control the slant that a hack wishes to put on a “story” yet they can dictate the perception. Restlessness is never forgotten therefore it seems sensible that having decided to stay, the emphasis that they put onto utterances for public consumption should be styled in that direction. If not, there can little sympathy when their words are twisted. Obviously, that does not negate the responsibility that we have to read the quotes rather than the comment around them yet life is not that simple. Sensationalist interpretation is king. Maybe that king ought to be dead?

Adebayor’s position is interesting. He has been criticised for not reaching the high levels that he set last season. In fairness to the player, he has been more disrupted by injury than previously and has been affected in his supply at least, through the injuries of others. However, on current form, he is not the lead striker at the club. In Wenger’s mind, he might well be but the return of Eduardo, I think, puts more pressure on the Togolese and it will be interesting to see how he reacts. I hope that he returns to the form of yesteryear, putting the summer behind him for whilst I would be hesitant to agree with his own assessment of himself (at the moment), I would suggest that an in-form Adebayor is one of the leading strikers in Europe.

Roma are looming large in the foreground this week with the likelihood being that Eduardo and Theo will be in the squad. The latter praised the medical staff for his recovery and suggested that he is looking forward to a bit of rough and tumble in the match. A typical boy really; likes to go out and run around in the mud.

’til Tomorrow

One Step Closer

Arsenal 3 – 0 Burnley

1 – 0 Vela (25)
2 – 0 Eduardo (51)
3 – 0 WHO??????????? (84)

A performance that got the goals it deserved. Ahead of the clash in Rome this week, Arsene changed things around with Eduardo leading the line and the team through to the Sixth Round and home tie with Hull City, which if won brings a clash with Chelsea onto the horizon. Unsurprisingly, Manchester United drew the ‘easier’ side in the last four, the media salivating this morning over who will not be able to stop them on the barely able to stifle a yawn trip to another double / treble / quadruple / quintuple.

Three cracking goals and an entertaining game which defied the elements. It is a sad indictment of the top flight in English football that two Championship sides have restored my faith in football in this country. Neither Cardiff or Burnley came to ‘park their buses on the edge of their penalty area‘; both sides were prepared to set out their stall to try and play football as it should be played, taking Arsenal on at their own game as it were. It is not hard to see why their Premier League counterparts react defensively when the results are taken into account but both clubs are a credit to the game. Particular mention should also be given to Burnley in their tackling. In a week when their higher paid equivalents have shown scant regard for the well-being of their opponents, the Turf Moor club’s defenders proved that to tackle firmly but fairly is not an art-form as extinct as the Dodo; Carlisle and Caldwell in particular gave fine examples of how tackles in the area can be made without fouls being conceded.

Arsenal started well, probing on the flanks, Gibbs on the left with Arshavin and the Sagna / Eboue reviving The Good Old Days on the right. Gibbs, once more proved a capable deputy and showed more signs of being an excellent long-term prospect. He shares many things in common with his predecessors in that position; good positional sense, excellent recovery speed, productive support to the attack. He also has a right foot that is used only for standing on as his magical little dribble in the second half penetrated the Burnley area, grinding to an untimely end as he cut back inside to shoot with his left rather than let rip with his other foot.

Just past the halfway mark, Arshavin capitalised on some loose play by the visitors to scurry over the halfway line and find Vela. A quick flick on the ball between a defenders legs, another touch to take him clear of some more close attention, finished with a deft chip over the ‘keeper; forty-five yards and three touches of the ball to the back on the net, an object lesson in how to make the ball do the work to free up a player’s mind.

Much is being made of the technique for Eduardo’s goal, a stunning left foot volley following Alex Song’s deliberately weighted chip. The timing of the Croat’s movement to stay onside matched the elegance of the pass he volleyed home. Unusually, van Persie did not equal the standards when in a similar position on the other side of the area or the result would have been more emphatic.

The icing on the cake came with six minutes to go when an Alex Song backheel following some good passing between Gallas and Walcott, set Emmanuel Eboue free in the area, the Ivorian producing the coolest of finishes with a low drive into the bottom corner. If it was seen with disbelieving eyes then, that last sentence is still typed with disbelieving fingers caused not by the players involved, well, yes it was. I am going to start what will no doubt be a popular campaign, “Bring Back The Wayward Finishing Eboue, The World Is Too Scary When He Scores”. I’ll post a link to the Petition later in the week…

Many positives to be taken from the performance, not least from the determination of those ‘second stringers‘ to prove a point to the manager and their colleagues that even though everyone is returning to fitness, the squad know underperformance can be rewarded with a spot of time in the comfy chairs whilst others run around on the pitch in their place.

’til Tomorrow.