Lukasz Fabianski is ready to challenge Manuel Almunia for the first-choice goalkeeping position at Arsenal and hopes to start against Chelsea on Sunday.
Fabianski went from Flappy Handski to Fab Handski after what Arsène Wenger described as a "faultless" performance during his side's 3-1 win away to Partizan Belgrade last night.
The Pole saved a penalty and brilliantly palmed a late shot round a post, banishing some unfortunate memories of errors in Arsenal's goal and possibly persuading the club's fans to give him the benefit of the doubt.
Fabianski started in Serbia only because Almunia, heavily criticised for his mistakes during the 3-2 home defeat by West Bromwich Albion, had been left at home, apparently nursing an elbow injury. With Almunia rated doubtful for Sunday's trip to Stamford Bridge, his former understudy is on stand-by. "I am ready to play against Chelsea," Fabianski said. "I am always ready, so we will see."
The 25-year-old, signed by Wenger from Legia Warsaw three years ago, claimed to be immune to the criticism. "I was never really bothered by all the things said. I was always trying to focus on my job and my work. That is what I was always doing and that is why I am grounded."
Fabianski would not be human were he not even a little hurt by the scathing analysis of his perceived blunders against Porto in the Champions League last year, during a 2009 FA Cup semi-final defeat to Chelsea and, just last week, against Tottenham in the Carling Cup, and he appreciates football's shades of grey. He stresses that goalkeeping is about more than pulling off show-stopping saves – or making the odd misjudgment. "Overall I am pleased with my performance," he said, well aware that rumour has it that Mark Schwarzer or Shay Given may be arriving at the Emirates in January.
"I am not just talking about saves but reading the game, coming for crosses or playing with my feet. Every aspect of goalkeeping is important for me, so I am pleased with my performance in general."
Such perspective is all very well but is still hard to escape the feeling that a September Tuesday night in Belgrade could yet come to be seen as a watershed in Fabianski's career. Certainly Wenger could not disguise his delight at seeing the goalkeeping ability "we see every day in training" finally transported to the pitch. "I am confident he can come out as a great keeper," said Arsenal's manager, who will give the injured Cesc Fábregas and Thomas Vermaelen fitness tests before the trip to Chelsea. "I know it is in him."
Fabianski hopes to be part of a winning side at Stamford Bridge. "We are playing really well this season," he said. "There was a big shock on Saturday [against West Brom] but I think you could see against Partizan we had learnt some things from Saturday. The performance was much better so we are looking forward to the Chelsea game. It's going to be an exciting one to watch – and we are in good condition."
Source: Louise Taylor, The Guardian on 29 Sep 10
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Arsène Wenger thinks Arsenal's Lukasz Fabianski will be 'great keeper'
Arsène Wenger has challenged stand-in goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski to make the most of his next chance as Arsenal's No1 after helping his side beat 10-man Partizan Belgrade 3-1 – an opportunity which may come at Chelsea on Sunday.
The often-criticised Pole impressed as he stood in for the injured Manuel Almunia for last night's Champions League Group H clash, saving a late penalty and then capping a confident display with another acrobatic stop from Ivica Iliev in stoppage time.
Wenger has long championed Fabianski's cause, despite a number of blunders, and felt last night's display proved his faith justified. "Fabianski had a good game, we have seen the player who we see in training. He had a faultless game," he said. "I know it is in him. He got it out in the game and hopefully that will give him the needed belief and confidence. I am confident he will come out as a great keeper, I have always said that. We have to keep confidence in him and he needs to gain experience from games like this."
Fabianski could be in line to play against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, should Almunia - himself under the spotlight following some errors in the 3-2 home defeat by West Bromwich Albion – not recover from an elbow problem. Wenger said: "At the moment Almunia is injured, we will have to see how his injury goes, but at the moment it is too early to say."
Wenger felt his side, missing key men like captain Cesc Fábregas, Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie and Thomas Vermaelen, coped well with the early pressure from Belgrade. "Partizan gave us the game we expected – full of commitment, full of power on every break," he said. "We had a lot of the ball and created a lot of chances. However, we could not kill the game off and then we were always under threat."
Partizan have now lost both of their matches, and look set for a battle with Braga for the Europa League place. Their coach, Alexandar Stanojevic, said: "We have to admit that Arsenal were a better team, so we have to go on."
Source: Press Association, The Guardian on 29 Sep 10
The often-criticised Pole impressed as he stood in for the injured Manuel Almunia for last night's Champions League Group H clash, saving a late penalty and then capping a confident display with another acrobatic stop from Ivica Iliev in stoppage time.
Wenger has long championed Fabianski's cause, despite a number of blunders, and felt last night's display proved his faith justified. "Fabianski had a good game, we have seen the player who we see in training. He had a faultless game," he said. "I know it is in him. He got it out in the game and hopefully that will give him the needed belief and confidence. I am confident he will come out as a great keeper, I have always said that. We have to keep confidence in him and he needs to gain experience from games like this."
Fabianski could be in line to play against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, should Almunia - himself under the spotlight following some errors in the 3-2 home defeat by West Bromwich Albion – not recover from an elbow problem. Wenger said: "At the moment Almunia is injured, we will have to see how his injury goes, but at the moment it is too early to say."
Wenger felt his side, missing key men like captain Cesc Fábregas, Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie and Thomas Vermaelen, coped well with the early pressure from Belgrade. "Partizan gave us the game we expected – full of commitment, full of power on every break," he said. "We had a lot of the ball and created a lot of chances. However, we could not kill the game off and then we were always under threat."
Partizan have now lost both of their matches, and look set for a battle with Braga for the Europa League place. Their coach, Alexandar Stanojevic, said: "We have to admit that Arsenal were a better team, so we have to go on."
Source: Press Association, The Guardian on 29 Sep 10
Sébastien Squillaci seals Arsenal's battling win at Partizan Belgrade
Arsène Wenger is far too urbane ever to wave two fingers at Arsenal's critics but his team had a suitably defiant riposte for those who suggested their soft centre faced exposure in Serbia.
The doom-mongers had claimed that Lukasz Fabianski keeping goal in a side shorn of Cesc Fábregas represented a recipe for disaster amid the most hostile of Champions League atmospheres but, ultimately, Wenger's youthful players made victory appear almost routine. Fabianski even saved a late penalty.
If they were rarely permitted to show off their full passing repertoire, Arsenal refused to be bullied into submission and, having weathered a sticky start, deservedly prevailed with Jack Wilshere particularly impressive.
Punctuated by a series of power cuts – which saw two of the four floodlights repeatedly cut out and the game played at times under only partial light – plus incessant chanting from the 32,000 capacity crowd, the night proved anything but serene. Indeed, with the electrical failures affecting the dressing rooms, Wenger's charges were sporadically plunged into darkness while changing.
Their on-pitch reception proved more intimidating still, confronted as they were by a terrific display of waving black and white flags. Arsenal were also treated to a giant banner of Big Ben and the London Eye emblazoned with the message: "You have been run over by a Steamroller." It could have been less friendly though: Partizan are known as either 'The Steamroller' or 'The Gravediggers.'"We respect that kind of fantastic support," said Wenger, who agreed to proceed under intermittent half-light. "I thought it would be terrible to go home without playing, so when they asked me if I thought going ahead was acceptable I said yes."
While Partizan face a heavy Uefa fine, Wenger experienced vindication. "It was important to win after our big disappointment losing against West Brom," said the Frenchman. "It puts us in a strong position confidence wise."
The manager's faith in the previously accident-prone Fabianski – aka 'Flappy Handski' – in for the injured Manuel Almunia was swiftly rewarded when the Pole gathered an admittedly soft shot from Cleo, Partizan's Brazilian-born striker who had shrugged Johan Djourou and Sébastien Squillaci aside with ominous ease.
Shortly afterwards, though, Partizan's rearguard suffered a somewhat more severe communications breakdown. It resulted in Arsenal scoring with their first shot at the end of a move started and finished by Andrey Arshavin.
First, the Russian's pass found Alex Song who promptly played it short to Wilshere whose surge forward concluded with an adroit backheel flick from which Arshavin beat Vladimir Stojkovic, once of Wigan, with a low shot.
Suddenly Arsenal's composure came flooding back, their passing game clicked into rhythm and it took a last-ditch clearance from Marko Jovanovic to prevent Arshavin claiming a second goal courtesy of a cute chip over the advancing Stojkovic.
Not that Partizan were out of it. Menacingly quick on the counter-attack, they nearly levelled when Medo's long-range shot skimmed the bar and did equalise as Cleo beat Fabianski from the penalty spot following Denílson's handball.
Yet as that goal transported the stadium into high-decibel raptures, Wilshere was filling the gap left in midfield by Fábregas with intelligence and maturity. Accordingly Stojkovic was required to save a poorly struck second-half penalty from Arshavin after Jovanovic had been dismissed for bringing Marouane Chamakh down just inside the area.
Shackled earlier, the Morocco striker promptly put things right, meeting Tomas Rosicky's cross and seeing Partizan's keeper palm his header against the woodwork before forcing the rebound home.
Next Samir Nasri's corner was headed in by Squillaci and Fabianski brilliantly saved a penalty from Cleo following Kieran Gibbs's foul on Ivan Stevanovic before superbly repelling Sasa Ilic's goal-bound shot. "I'm happy for him, he just needed confidence," said Wenger, who "does not know" which of his goalkeepers will play at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Whoever starts, the suspicion is that Chelsea may need to be at their very best.
Source: Louise Taylor, The Guardian on 29 Sep 10
The doom-mongers had claimed that Lukasz Fabianski keeping goal in a side shorn of Cesc Fábregas represented a recipe for disaster amid the most hostile of Champions League atmospheres but, ultimately, Wenger's youthful players made victory appear almost routine. Fabianski even saved a late penalty.
If they were rarely permitted to show off their full passing repertoire, Arsenal refused to be bullied into submission and, having weathered a sticky start, deservedly prevailed with Jack Wilshere particularly impressive.
Punctuated by a series of power cuts – which saw two of the four floodlights repeatedly cut out and the game played at times under only partial light – plus incessant chanting from the 32,000 capacity crowd, the night proved anything but serene. Indeed, with the electrical failures affecting the dressing rooms, Wenger's charges were sporadically plunged into darkness while changing.
Their on-pitch reception proved more intimidating still, confronted as they were by a terrific display of waving black and white flags. Arsenal were also treated to a giant banner of Big Ben and the London Eye emblazoned with the message: "You have been run over by a Steamroller." It could have been less friendly though: Partizan are known as either 'The Steamroller' or 'The Gravediggers.'"We respect that kind of fantastic support," said Wenger, who agreed to proceed under intermittent half-light. "I thought it would be terrible to go home without playing, so when they asked me if I thought going ahead was acceptable I said yes."
While Partizan face a heavy Uefa fine, Wenger experienced vindication. "It was important to win after our big disappointment losing against West Brom," said the Frenchman. "It puts us in a strong position confidence wise."
The manager's faith in the previously accident-prone Fabianski – aka 'Flappy Handski' – in for the injured Manuel Almunia was swiftly rewarded when the Pole gathered an admittedly soft shot from Cleo, Partizan's Brazilian-born striker who had shrugged Johan Djourou and Sébastien Squillaci aside with ominous ease.
Shortly afterwards, though, Partizan's rearguard suffered a somewhat more severe communications breakdown. It resulted in Arsenal scoring with their first shot at the end of a move started and finished by Andrey Arshavin.
First, the Russian's pass found Alex Song who promptly played it short to Wilshere whose surge forward concluded with an adroit backheel flick from which Arshavin beat Vladimir Stojkovic, once of Wigan, with a low shot.
Suddenly Arsenal's composure came flooding back, their passing game clicked into rhythm and it took a last-ditch clearance from Marko Jovanovic to prevent Arshavin claiming a second goal courtesy of a cute chip over the advancing Stojkovic.
Not that Partizan were out of it. Menacingly quick on the counter-attack, they nearly levelled when Medo's long-range shot skimmed the bar and did equalise as Cleo beat Fabianski from the penalty spot following Denílson's handball.
Yet as that goal transported the stadium into high-decibel raptures, Wilshere was filling the gap left in midfield by Fábregas with intelligence and maturity. Accordingly Stojkovic was required to save a poorly struck second-half penalty from Arshavin after Jovanovic had been dismissed for bringing Marouane Chamakh down just inside the area.
Shackled earlier, the Morocco striker promptly put things right, meeting Tomas Rosicky's cross and seeing Partizan's keeper palm his header against the woodwork before forcing the rebound home.
Next Samir Nasri's corner was headed in by Squillaci and Fabianski brilliantly saved a penalty from Cleo following Kieran Gibbs's foul on Ivan Stevanovic before superbly repelling Sasa Ilic's goal-bound shot. "I'm happy for him, he just needed confidence," said Wenger, who "does not know" which of his goalkeepers will play at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Whoever starts, the suspicion is that Chelsea may need to be at their very best.
Source: Louise Taylor, The Guardian on 29 Sep 10
Wilshere hails Fabianski after crucial saves
Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere praised goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski as the Gunners claimed a 3-1 Champions League win away to Partizan Belgrade.
Fabianski, in for the injured Manuel Almunia, saved a second-half penalty to help Arsene Wenger's men record a second win in the group and also made another great stop right at the death.
"It's been hard for our 'keepers at the moment and that was a great reponse from him,'' Wilshere said on Sky Sports 4. "He made a good save at the end as well. Fair play to him.
"We were confident, we came here to get a win and that's what happened. We came here and we knew it was going to be a hard atmosphere, we dealt with it well and got the result.''
A power failure had earlier forced Arsenal to change for the game in the dark. "We had to use phone torches,'' said Wilshere.
Manager Arsene Wenger was also pleased with Fabianski's "faultless'' performance.
"Fabianski had a good game, we have seen the player tonight who we see in training. He had a faultless game,'' said the Arsenal boss. "I know it is in him. He got it out in the game tonight and hopefully that will give him the belief and confidence he needs.
"I am confident he will come out as a great 'keeper, I have always said that. We have to keep confidence in him and he needs to gain experience from games like this.''
Fabianski could be in line to play against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Wenger said: "At the moment Almunia is injured, we will have to see how his injury goes, but at the moment it is too early to say.''
Wenger felt his side, missing key men like captain Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie and Thomas Vermaelen, coped well with the early onslaught.
"Partizan gave us the game we expected - full of commitment, full of power on every break,'' he said. "We had a lot of the ball and created a lot of chances. However, we could not kill the game off and then we were always under threat.
"They came back with the penalty, afterwards we needed to keep the pace high and when we got the second goal, I thought we looked comfortable. For us it was important to win straight away after a big disappointment against West Brom.
"It puts us in a good position confidence-wise, Sunday is a big, big game for us. I believe we will go there with a desire to do extremely well.''
There was a chance the match would not have gone ahead if the floodlights had failed. Wenger said: "I thought it would be terrible to go home and not play. I encouraged UEFA when they asked me 'do you want to play even if one corner is off?', I said 'yes, as long as the referee is happy with it'. Overall it was acceptable.''
Partizan have now lost both of their matches, and look set for a battle with Braga for the Europa League place.
Coach Alexandar Stanojevic said: "The atmosphere during and after the match from our supporters tells us they were satisfied and we played a good game. However, when we got the red card it was difficult because it is tough enough to play against Arsenal when you have 11, but when you have 10, it is nearly impossible.
"We have to admit, though, that Arsenal were a better team, so we have to go on.''
Source: ESPN Soccernet on 29 Sep 10
Fabianski, in for the injured Manuel Almunia, saved a second-half penalty to help Arsene Wenger's men record a second win in the group and also made another great stop right at the death.
"It's been hard for our 'keepers at the moment and that was a great reponse from him,'' Wilshere said on Sky Sports 4. "He made a good save at the end as well. Fair play to him.
"We were confident, we came here to get a win and that's what happened. We came here and we knew it was going to be a hard atmosphere, we dealt with it well and got the result.''
A power failure had earlier forced Arsenal to change for the game in the dark. "We had to use phone torches,'' said Wilshere.
Manager Arsene Wenger was also pleased with Fabianski's "faultless'' performance.
"Fabianski had a good game, we have seen the player tonight who we see in training. He had a faultless game,'' said the Arsenal boss. "I know it is in him. He got it out in the game tonight and hopefully that will give him the belief and confidence he needs.
"I am confident he will come out as a great 'keeper, I have always said that. We have to keep confidence in him and he needs to gain experience from games like this.''
Fabianski could be in line to play against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Wenger said: "At the moment Almunia is injured, we will have to see how his injury goes, but at the moment it is too early to say.''
Wenger felt his side, missing key men like captain Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie and Thomas Vermaelen, coped well with the early onslaught.
"Partizan gave us the game we expected - full of commitment, full of power on every break,'' he said. "We had a lot of the ball and created a lot of chances. However, we could not kill the game off and then we were always under threat.
"They came back with the penalty, afterwards we needed to keep the pace high and when we got the second goal, I thought we looked comfortable. For us it was important to win straight away after a big disappointment against West Brom.
"It puts us in a good position confidence-wise, Sunday is a big, big game for us. I believe we will go there with a desire to do extremely well.''
There was a chance the match would not have gone ahead if the floodlights had failed. Wenger said: "I thought it would be terrible to go home and not play. I encouraged UEFA when they asked me 'do you want to play even if one corner is off?', I said 'yes, as long as the referee is happy with it'. Overall it was acceptable.''
Partizan have now lost both of their matches, and look set for a battle with Braga for the Europa League place.
Coach Alexandar Stanojevic said: "The atmosphere during and after the match from our supporters tells us they were satisfied and we played a good game. However, when we got the red card it was difficult because it is tough enough to play against Arsenal when you have 11, but when you have 10, it is nearly impossible.
"We have to admit, though, that Arsenal were a better team, so we have to go on.''
Source: ESPN Soccernet on 29 Sep 10
Gunners make it two wins from two
Arsenal recorded their first European away win in a year as they beat 10-man Partizan Belgrade 3-1 in Serbia to maintain their 100% start in Champions League Group H.
After surviving a power failure which forced the team to change in the dark and an intense atmosphere during the opening exchanges, the Gunners, who had six changes from the side beaten by West Brom at home on Saturday, went ahead in the 15th minute through Andrey Arshavin.
However, after wasting several more chances, the visitors were made to pay when Brazil-born striker Cleo levelled from the penalty spot after a handball by Denilson.
Partizan then had Marko Jovanovic sent off for hauling down Marouane Chamakh on 55 minutes, but Arshavin missed his penalty. However, Moroccan striker Chamakh and Sebastien Squillaci secured victory - with stand-in keeper Lukasz Fabianski saving a late spot-kick.
Power was restored, and then failed in the main stand again just as the teams walked out to a cacophony of noise at Stadion FK Partizan, which was transformed into a sea of black and white as the 'Gravediggers' threw paper and waved flags, unveiling a banner declaring: "You have been run over by a steamroller.''
The Serbians have a chequered history of crowd trouble, thrown out of the 2007-08 UEFA Cup while in September last year, a Toulouse fan died in hospital after being injured following violence in a bar ahead of the two sides' Europa League tie.
Indeed, Partizan went as far as issuing a plea for calm on their own website ahead of tonight's game.
Wenger, though, maintained his men should be able to cope with such an intimidating atmosphere, and so it proved.
The Gunners, playing in yellow, made a positive start, as Jack Wilshere was pressed up in support of lone frontman Chamakh.
The home fans, though, were screaming for a penalty when Pierre Boya went down under close attention from Johan Djourou, but German referee Wolfgang Stark was having none of it.
Cleo then tripped over as he got clear into the left side of the Arsenal box, with Denilson sliding in to make a saving tackle as Nemanja Tomic looked to capitalise on the loose ball.
Fabianski needed two attempts to gather a hesitant header back to him from Squillaci as Boya looked to nip in on goal.
Cleo was lively, dispossessing Djourou on the right before cutting in to blast over from 20 yards.
However, the home side were stunned on 15 minutes as Arsenal snatched the lead. Wilshere charged at the defence and when his path was blocked, the England youngster had the presence of mind to back-heel the ball into the path of Arshavin, who drilled his shot into the bottom corner.
The Russian almost grabbed a second when put into the penalty area, but Partizan goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic was out quickly.
Stojkovic denied Tomas Rosicky, before Jovanovic cleared Arshavin's goal-bound chip.
Arsenal paid the penalty for missing so many chances though when Denilson needlessly stuck his arm out as Radosav Petrovic delivered the ball into the box after half an hour. Cleo sent Fabianski - in for the injured Manuel Almunia - the wrong way to level.
Arsenal had an early chance at the start of the second half following a driving run by Alex Song, with the ball breaking to Rosicky on the right and his angled drive was well held by the goalkeeper.
Partizan were reduced to 10 men in the 56th minute when Jovanovic was shown a red card for tripping Chamakh as the Moroccan latched onto Arshavin's through ball. Arshavin took the penalty himself - only to blast it straight at the goalkeeper.
On 69 minutes, the lively Arshavin was again denied, this time when Stojkovic made a good stop at the near post.
Moments later, though, and it was 2-1. Rosicky floated the ball in from the right and Chamakh headed goalwards. Stojkovic touched the ball onto the crossbar but the Arsenal striker was first to the rebound, nodding the ball into an empty net.
With eight minutes left, Squillaci headed in a corner from substitute Samir Nasri to make it 3-1. There was late drama, though, when Kieran Gibbs was adjudged to have tripped Ivan Stevanovic in the penalty area, but this time Fabianski produced a brilliant save to deny Cleo.
The Pole then capped a confident display with another acrobatic stop from Ivica Iliev in stoppage time.
Source: ESPN Soccernet on 29 Sep 10
After surviving a power failure which forced the team to change in the dark and an intense atmosphere during the opening exchanges, the Gunners, who had six changes from the side beaten by West Brom at home on Saturday, went ahead in the 15th minute through Andrey Arshavin.
However, after wasting several more chances, the visitors were made to pay when Brazil-born striker Cleo levelled from the penalty spot after a handball by Denilson.
Partizan then had Marko Jovanovic sent off for hauling down Marouane Chamakh on 55 minutes, but Arshavin missed his penalty. However, Moroccan striker Chamakh and Sebastien Squillaci secured victory - with stand-in keeper Lukasz Fabianski saving a late spot-kick.
Power was restored, and then failed in the main stand again just as the teams walked out to a cacophony of noise at Stadion FK Partizan, which was transformed into a sea of black and white as the 'Gravediggers' threw paper and waved flags, unveiling a banner declaring: "You have been run over by a steamroller.''
The Serbians have a chequered history of crowd trouble, thrown out of the 2007-08 UEFA Cup while in September last year, a Toulouse fan died in hospital after being injured following violence in a bar ahead of the two sides' Europa League tie.
Indeed, Partizan went as far as issuing a plea for calm on their own website ahead of tonight's game.
Wenger, though, maintained his men should be able to cope with such an intimidating atmosphere, and so it proved.
The Gunners, playing in yellow, made a positive start, as Jack Wilshere was pressed up in support of lone frontman Chamakh.
The home fans, though, were screaming for a penalty when Pierre Boya went down under close attention from Johan Djourou, but German referee Wolfgang Stark was having none of it.
Cleo then tripped over as he got clear into the left side of the Arsenal box, with Denilson sliding in to make a saving tackle as Nemanja Tomic looked to capitalise on the loose ball.
Fabianski needed two attempts to gather a hesitant header back to him from Squillaci as Boya looked to nip in on goal.
Cleo was lively, dispossessing Djourou on the right before cutting in to blast over from 20 yards.
However, the home side were stunned on 15 minutes as Arsenal snatched the lead. Wilshere charged at the defence and when his path was blocked, the England youngster had the presence of mind to back-heel the ball into the path of Arshavin, who drilled his shot into the bottom corner.
The Russian almost grabbed a second when put into the penalty area, but Partizan goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic was out quickly.
Stojkovic denied Tomas Rosicky, before Jovanovic cleared Arshavin's goal-bound chip.
Arsenal paid the penalty for missing so many chances though when Denilson needlessly stuck his arm out as Radosav Petrovic delivered the ball into the box after half an hour. Cleo sent Fabianski - in for the injured Manuel Almunia - the wrong way to level.
Arsenal had an early chance at the start of the second half following a driving run by Alex Song, with the ball breaking to Rosicky on the right and his angled drive was well held by the goalkeeper.
Partizan were reduced to 10 men in the 56th minute when Jovanovic was shown a red card for tripping Chamakh as the Moroccan latched onto Arshavin's through ball. Arshavin took the penalty himself - only to blast it straight at the goalkeeper.
On 69 minutes, the lively Arshavin was again denied, this time when Stojkovic made a good stop at the near post.
Moments later, though, and it was 2-1. Rosicky floated the ball in from the right and Chamakh headed goalwards. Stojkovic touched the ball onto the crossbar but the Arsenal striker was first to the rebound, nodding the ball into an empty net.
With eight minutes left, Squillaci headed in a corner from substitute Samir Nasri to make it 3-1. There was late drama, though, when Kieran Gibbs was adjudged to have tripped Ivan Stevanovic in the penalty area, but this time Fabianski produced a brilliant save to deny Cleo.
The Pole then capped a confident display with another acrobatic stop from Ivica Iliev in stoppage time.
Source: ESPN Soccernet on 29 Sep 10
Wenger's reaction to the Partizan Belgrade 1-3 Arsenal match
On the difficulty of the game…
Partizan gave us the game we expected - [they were] full of commitment, full of power on every break. We had a lot of the ball and created a lot of chances. However, we could not kill the game off and then we were always under threat. They came back with the penalty - afterwards we needed to keep the pace high and when we got the second goal I thought we looked comfortable.
On Lukasz Fabianski’s performance…
Fabianski had a good game, we have seen the player tonight who we see in training. He had a faultless game. I know it is in him. He got it out in the game tonight and hopefully that will give him the needed belief and confidence. I am confident he will come out as a great keeper, I have always said that. We have to keep confidence in him and he needs to gain experience from games like this. At the moment Almunia is injured, we will have to see how his injury goes but at the moment it is too early to say.
On the atmosphere in Belgrade…
The atmosphere is special here, but overall it was supportive and not aggressive - that is what we want in football. I respect that kind of support, it is fantastic for the home team.
On the decision to substitute Jack Wilshere…
He got a few knocks and I decided to be cautious with him. Especially in the first half Jack, Arshavin and Chamakh were a constant threat. I like what he did on the goal because it is quick, instant reaction.
On bouncing back after Saturday’s defeat...
For us it was important to win straight away after a big disappointment against West Brom. It puts us in a good position confidence wise. Sunday is a big, big game for us. I believe we will go there with a desire to do extremely well.
On the power cut before the game…
I thought it would be terrible to go home and not play. I encouraged UEFA when they asked if I wanted to play with one corner off, I said yes.
Source: Arsenal.com on 28 Sep 10
Partizan gave us the game we expected - [they were] full of commitment, full of power on every break. We had a lot of the ball and created a lot of chances. However, we could not kill the game off and then we were always under threat. They came back with the penalty - afterwards we needed to keep the pace high and when we got the second goal I thought we looked comfortable.
On Lukasz Fabianski’s performance…
Fabianski had a good game, we have seen the player tonight who we see in training. He had a faultless game. I know it is in him. He got it out in the game tonight and hopefully that will give him the needed belief and confidence. I am confident he will come out as a great keeper, I have always said that. We have to keep confidence in him and he needs to gain experience from games like this. At the moment Almunia is injured, we will have to see how his injury goes but at the moment it is too early to say.
On the atmosphere in Belgrade…
The atmosphere is special here, but overall it was supportive and not aggressive - that is what we want in football. I respect that kind of support, it is fantastic for the home team.
On the decision to substitute Jack Wilshere…
He got a few knocks and I decided to be cautious with him. Especially in the first half Jack, Arshavin and Chamakh were a constant threat. I like what he did on the goal because it is quick, instant reaction.
On bouncing back after Saturday’s defeat...
For us it was important to win straight away after a big disappointment against West Brom. It puts us in a good position confidence wise. Sunday is a big, big game for us. I believe we will go there with a desire to do extremely well.
On the power cut before the game…
I thought it would be terrible to go home and not play. I encouraged UEFA when they asked if I wanted to play with one corner off, I said yes.
Source: Arsenal.com on 28 Sep 10
28 September 2010: Partizan Belgrade 1-3 Arsenal, FK Partizan Stadium
Arsenal took a giant stride towards the Knockout Stages of the Champions League with a 3-1 win at Partizan Belgrade on Tuesday night.
After a sticky start, Arsène Wenger’s side seemed to have taken control when Jack Wilshere provided a wonderful assist for Andrey Arshavin to score in the 15th minute. However they were pegged back just after the half-hour when Denilson handled in the area and Cleo slotted home from the spot.
Arsenal should have regained the lead 10 minutes after the restart when Marouane Chamakh was hauled down by Marko Jovanovic. The defender was dismissed but Arshavin saw his penalty saved by Vladimir Stojkovic.
However, 19 minutes from time, Chamakh pounced to nod home after his own header had come back off the bar. And in the 83rd minute, Sebastien Squillaci grabbed his first Arsenal goal by steering a home a header from Samir Nasri’s cross.
The finale may have been much more nervy had Lukasz Fabianski not turned aside Cleo’s late penalty.
However, in truth, this was an Arsenal victory with something to spare.
A game of three penalties leaves Arsenal with six points out of six in Group H. They are tied with Shakhtar at the top. Braga and Partizan have yet to get off the mark
With Chelsea in mind, Wenger shuffled his side this evening. As a result the Gunners were not 100 per cent fluent or watertight but, in a difficult atmosphere, they did more than enough to deserve the victory.
If they do the same in similar circumstances at Stamford Bridge, then Arsenal’s season will be right back on track.
Before kick-off, Wenger made a whopping six changes from the side that had lost to West Brom on Saturday.
The headline alteration saw Fabianski take the gloves from the injured Manuel Almunia (elbow). Elsewhere, Kieran Gibbs replaced Gael Clichy on the left of the defence and Johan Djourou came in for Laurent Koscielny in the middle. It was the Swiss defender’s first Champions League appearance since he started against Manchester United at Emirates Stadium in the Semi-Final second leg on May 10, 2009.
Wilshere and Denilson were brought into central midfield while captain Tomas Rosicky was on the right. Nasri and Emmanuel Eboue dropped to the bench but Abou Diaby was out with a recurrence of the ankle injury he first collected against Bolton on September 11 but had tweaked against West Brom at the weekend.
The Stadion FK Partizan was the expected pot-boiler pre-game. The home fans took their seats early and sang very, very loudly. A number of partial power failures gave the prelude a sense of unease. But the game started in dim light then it gradually got much brighter.
The same could be said of Arsenal’s first half-hour. The visitors were under the cosh in the opening stages. In the eighth minute, Cleo broke clear on the left with Squillaci in pursuit. The Brazilian-born striker reached the corner of the six-yard area but dallied enough for the Frenchman to catch-up. Cleo tried to feed a ball back into the path of Nemanja Tomic but Denilson scuffed it away from his feet at the vital moment.
A minute later Pierre Boya stretched a toe onto the ball as Squillaci tried to shepherd a header back to Fabianski. Fortunately the keeper recovered.
In the 12th minute Cleo profited on a slip by Djourou and fired wastefully over the bar.
The Arsenal goal was receiving much more attention so Arshavin’s opener was somewhat of a surprise. But its quality was exquisite.
The Russian collected the ball in midfield and found Wilshere before racing into the area. The Englishman was surrounded and seemed to have lost control. However he backheeled the ball back into the path of Arshavin, who drilled it low past Vladimir Stojkovic.
The goal quelled Partizan’s early appetite for attack and suddenly Arsenal were on top.
Wilshere and Arshavin nearly combined for a second in the 24th minute but the Russian was denied by a fine save from Stojkovic.
In fact only the former Wigan keeper stopped Arsenal killing the game by the half-hour. Two minutes later he rushed out to deny Rosicky after Arshavin had prodded him through.
The Russian then clipped a shot over Stojkovic only for defender Jovanovic to hook the ball to safety.
Having been caught cold in the opening minutes, Arsenal suddenly seemed to be strolling.
And then they tripped up.
In the 33rd minute, the visitors half-cleared their lines and the ball fell to Radosav Petrovic on the left. His tossed a cross to the edge of the area and Denilson was adjudged to have handled. Cleo sent Fabianski the wrong way from the spot and, quite unexpectedly, a game that Arsenal seemed to be killing off was alive again.
Having got back on level terms, Partizan tried to press home their advantage. The visitors had been knocked off their stride by the equaliser but were happy enough to see off the half so they could regroup.
To be honest, Arsenal were still working their way back into the game when they were given the perfect opportunity to regain the lead in the 55th minute. Arshavin sent Chamakh clear through the middle and he was hauled down by Jovanovic just inside the area. The referee pointed to the spot and then gave a red card to the Partizan centre back.
Having seen Rosicky miss at Sunderland and with Nasri, who had converted twice at Tottenham, on the bench, Arshavin stepped up.
His effort had power but was straight at Stojkovic. The keeper saved with his legs.
It was another blow to Arsenal but they still had that numerical advantage and set about making it pay.
In the 67th minute, Wilshere wriggled clear from his marker and darted into the area. Only a perfectly-timed challenge from Mladan Krstajic stopped him going through on the keeper.
A couple of minutes later, Arshavin’s bobbling shot was plucked out of the air.
It seemed that Arsenal had found some fluency again – and they proved it in the 71st minute. Rosicky sent over a hanging cross from the right to Chamakh at the far post. The Moroccan planted his first header against the bar and reacted first to nod home the rebound.
It was a traditional English centre-forward’s goal. Albeit from a player of African descent who was raised in France.
With seven minutes left, Squillaci popped up at the near post to nod in a corner from substitute Samir Nasri. That seemed to be that.
However seconds later, Gibbs clipped Ivan Stevanovic on the right of the area and referee Wolfgang Stark awarded another spot-kick.
Cleo stepped up once more but this time Fabianski flung himself to his right to turn the ball around the post.
In injury time, the Pole made an even better stop from Ivica Iliev.
A satisfying night for Arsenal and a solid boost of confidence before Sunday’s massive match at Stamford Bridge.
Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 28 Sep 10
After a sticky start, Arsène Wenger’s side seemed to have taken control when Jack Wilshere provided a wonderful assist for Andrey Arshavin to score in the 15th minute. However they were pegged back just after the half-hour when Denilson handled in the area and Cleo slotted home from the spot.
Arsenal should have regained the lead 10 minutes after the restart when Marouane Chamakh was hauled down by Marko Jovanovic. The defender was dismissed but Arshavin saw his penalty saved by Vladimir Stojkovic.
However, 19 minutes from time, Chamakh pounced to nod home after his own header had come back off the bar. And in the 83rd minute, Sebastien Squillaci grabbed his first Arsenal goal by steering a home a header from Samir Nasri’s cross.
The finale may have been much more nervy had Lukasz Fabianski not turned aside Cleo’s late penalty.
However, in truth, this was an Arsenal victory with something to spare.
A game of three penalties leaves Arsenal with six points out of six in Group H. They are tied with Shakhtar at the top. Braga and Partizan have yet to get off the mark
With Chelsea in mind, Wenger shuffled his side this evening. As a result the Gunners were not 100 per cent fluent or watertight but, in a difficult atmosphere, they did more than enough to deserve the victory.
If they do the same in similar circumstances at Stamford Bridge, then Arsenal’s season will be right back on track.
Before kick-off, Wenger made a whopping six changes from the side that had lost to West Brom on Saturday.
The headline alteration saw Fabianski take the gloves from the injured Manuel Almunia (elbow). Elsewhere, Kieran Gibbs replaced Gael Clichy on the left of the defence and Johan Djourou came in for Laurent Koscielny in the middle. It was the Swiss defender’s first Champions League appearance since he started against Manchester United at Emirates Stadium in the Semi-Final second leg on May 10, 2009.
Wilshere and Denilson were brought into central midfield while captain Tomas Rosicky was on the right. Nasri and Emmanuel Eboue dropped to the bench but Abou Diaby was out with a recurrence of the ankle injury he first collected against Bolton on September 11 but had tweaked against West Brom at the weekend.
The Stadion FK Partizan was the expected pot-boiler pre-game. The home fans took their seats early and sang very, very loudly. A number of partial power failures gave the prelude a sense of unease. But the game started in dim light then it gradually got much brighter.
The same could be said of Arsenal’s first half-hour. The visitors were under the cosh in the opening stages. In the eighth minute, Cleo broke clear on the left with Squillaci in pursuit. The Brazilian-born striker reached the corner of the six-yard area but dallied enough for the Frenchman to catch-up. Cleo tried to feed a ball back into the path of Nemanja Tomic but Denilson scuffed it away from his feet at the vital moment.
A minute later Pierre Boya stretched a toe onto the ball as Squillaci tried to shepherd a header back to Fabianski. Fortunately the keeper recovered.
In the 12th minute Cleo profited on a slip by Djourou and fired wastefully over the bar.
The Arsenal goal was receiving much more attention so Arshavin’s opener was somewhat of a surprise. But its quality was exquisite.
The Russian collected the ball in midfield and found Wilshere before racing into the area. The Englishman was surrounded and seemed to have lost control. However he backheeled the ball back into the path of Arshavin, who drilled it low past Vladimir Stojkovic.
The goal quelled Partizan’s early appetite for attack and suddenly Arsenal were on top.
Wilshere and Arshavin nearly combined for a second in the 24th minute but the Russian was denied by a fine save from Stojkovic.
In fact only the former Wigan keeper stopped Arsenal killing the game by the half-hour. Two minutes later he rushed out to deny Rosicky after Arshavin had prodded him through.
The Russian then clipped a shot over Stojkovic only for defender Jovanovic to hook the ball to safety.
Having been caught cold in the opening minutes, Arsenal suddenly seemed to be strolling.
And then they tripped up.
In the 33rd minute, the visitors half-cleared their lines and the ball fell to Radosav Petrovic on the left. His tossed a cross to the edge of the area and Denilson was adjudged to have handled. Cleo sent Fabianski the wrong way from the spot and, quite unexpectedly, a game that Arsenal seemed to be killing off was alive again.
Having got back on level terms, Partizan tried to press home their advantage. The visitors had been knocked off their stride by the equaliser but were happy enough to see off the half so they could regroup.
To be honest, Arsenal were still working their way back into the game when they were given the perfect opportunity to regain the lead in the 55th minute. Arshavin sent Chamakh clear through the middle and he was hauled down by Jovanovic just inside the area. The referee pointed to the spot and then gave a red card to the Partizan centre back.
Having seen Rosicky miss at Sunderland and with Nasri, who had converted twice at Tottenham, on the bench, Arshavin stepped up.
His effort had power but was straight at Stojkovic. The keeper saved with his legs.
It was another blow to Arsenal but they still had that numerical advantage and set about making it pay.
In the 67th minute, Wilshere wriggled clear from his marker and darted into the area. Only a perfectly-timed challenge from Mladan Krstajic stopped him going through on the keeper.
A couple of minutes later, Arshavin’s bobbling shot was plucked out of the air.
It seemed that Arsenal had found some fluency again – and they proved it in the 71st minute. Rosicky sent over a hanging cross from the right to Chamakh at the far post. The Moroccan planted his first header against the bar and reacted first to nod home the rebound.
It was a traditional English centre-forward’s goal. Albeit from a player of African descent who was raised in France.
With seven minutes left, Squillaci popped up at the near post to nod in a corner from substitute Samir Nasri. That seemed to be that.
However seconds later, Gibbs clipped Ivan Stevanovic on the right of the area and referee Wolfgang Stark awarded another spot-kick.
Cleo stepped up once more but this time Fabianski flung himself to his right to turn the ball around the post.
In injury time, the Pole made an even better stop from Ivica Iliev.
A satisfying night for Arsenal and a solid boost of confidence before Sunday’s massive match at Stamford Bridge.
Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 28 Sep 10
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Partizan Belgrade look to rekindle fond memories against Arsenal
Partizan knocked out Newcastle on the way to their last appearance in the Champions League group stages and they have the ability to upset Arsenal.
For Sasa Ilic, the thought of playing an English side in the Champions League brings back happy memories. Seven years ago, he was captain of the last Partizan side to play in the group stages of the competition, although after a 1-0 defeat to Newcastle United in Belgrade in the first leg of their final qualifier, few gave them much hope.
Ilic, though, ran on to Albert Nadj's chip, and held off Olivier Bernard and Kieron Dyer to lay on the game's only goal for Ivica Iliev – who is also back at Partizan – and then converted his penalty in the shoot-out. "That's one of the fondest memories of my whole career," he said. "I would say that was one of my best performances for Partizan.
"We arrived in Newcastle with a negative result from the first leg, we played in front of 40,000 fans, but we managed to keep the game even and to win. We also had some luck, and a super [Ivica] Kralj in goal."
About what followed in the group stages, Ilic is rather more ambivalent. Partizan played some good football, but kept missing chances and finished bottom of their group having drawn all three home games and lost all three away against Porto, Real Madrid and Marseille. "I had three golden chances against Real Madrid in Belgrade and in both games against Marseille, but I didn't score," Ilic said. "Those were really 100% chances. But sometimes the one above says either yes or no."
As Ilic points out, though, even reaching the group stage was a fine achievement, one that looked better with each passing season as Partizan's European form got worse and worse. Since Aleksandar Stanojevic took over in April, becoming, at 36, Partizan's youngest-ever coach, they have lost only once, at Shakhtar Donetsk in the first game in the group. Given they went down only 1-0, and with a little luck could easily have drawn, even that represented a radical improvement on their pitiful 4-1 defeat in Donetsk in the Europa League last season.
There is an understandable tendency in England to regard the group phase of the Champions League as a chore, something that has to be got through before the real action begins in February, but there is genuine excitement in Belgrade about the visit of some of Europe's elite. It has led to a flurry of jokes mocking Red Star, whose fans have a tendency to regard their European Cup triumph in 1991 as an unbeatable trump in any dispute with Partizan. The best is probably the one that asks, "How do Red Star players get to play in the Champions League?" The punchline – "one by one" – refers to the goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic, a former Red Star player who has ended up at Partizan via Sporting and Wigan. It also refers, more particularly, to Cleo.
The Brazilian, whose Serbian citizenship came through last week, joined Red Star on loan in summer 2008 from the Portuguese club Olivais E Moscavide. He impressed in a struggling side, but Red Star's sports director, the unfortunate Ivan Adzic, decided the £650,000 fee was too much, and made the fateful comment that: "We don't think he's that good for the price." Each of the eight goals he scored in six Champions League qualifiers this season has underlined the gravity of Adzic's mistake.
It's not just about goals with Cleo, though. He also drops off and pulls wide, and interacts well with Iliev, who will operate as a second striker in a fluid 4-4-1-1. Ilic provides creativity on the left in what is likely to be a midfield focused largely on resistance, with the promising 21-year-old Radosav Petrovic partnering the Sierra Leone midfielder Mohamed "Medo" Kamara in a combative centre.
"You can expect Arsenal to dominate with their passing game and their one-twos," Ilic said. "They will have more ball possession because they're technically brilliant. But, on the other hand, we're playing in our stadium, in front of our great fans. The atmosphere will be hot. Arsenal play all the time in packed stadiums, but they're not used to such an atmosphere. We must rise above ourselves and give more than 100%."
Effort and spirit are Stanojevic's watch words. Training is tougher than it used to be; Mladen Krstajic, the veteran centre-back, defied doctors to play in Donetsk with a broken nose, and even Ilic, a player appreciated for his technical rather than his physical attributes, has shown a markedly improved work-rate. And when players have strayed, Stanojevic has been quick to crack down. Until recently, Partizan's key player had been Moreira, a playmaker from Guinea-Bissau (although he holds Portuguese citizenship). He was their highest-paid player (reportedly on £7,000 a week), and had helped them to three successive league titles.
He wanted to leave in the summer, apparently angered that he hadn't been given the captaincy, but either there was no concrete offer or Partizan demanded too high a fee, and he has seemed disillusioned this season. There was friction on the flight back from Brussels to Belgrade after the penalty shoot-out victory over Anderlecht in the third qualifying round, as he tried to sleep while others celebrated, and there have even been suggestions that he has made more of recent injuries than was justified. This month he even turned out for the reserves and, although he is theoretically back in contention for the Arsenal game, he is unlikely to play.
For others, though, just to be on the same pitch as Arsenal is a thrill. Ilic, in particular, is a fan of the way Arsenal play. "Apart from Barcelona," he said, "they're the team I most enjoy watching. They play perfect football. Sometimes they even try to walk with the ball into the goal, which sometimes cost them. They've got many excellent players: Arshavin, Rosicky, Nasri and Fábregas are the ones I like the most. They are extra-terrestrials."
West Bromwich Albion brought them down to earth on Saturday and, while Arsenal are clear favourites, it is possible Partizan could do the same.
Source: Jonathan Wilson, The Guardian on 28 Sep 10
For Sasa Ilic, the thought of playing an English side in the Champions League brings back happy memories. Seven years ago, he was captain of the last Partizan side to play in the group stages of the competition, although after a 1-0 defeat to Newcastle United in Belgrade in the first leg of their final qualifier, few gave them much hope.
Ilic, though, ran on to Albert Nadj's chip, and held off Olivier Bernard and Kieron Dyer to lay on the game's only goal for Ivica Iliev – who is also back at Partizan – and then converted his penalty in the shoot-out. "That's one of the fondest memories of my whole career," he said. "I would say that was one of my best performances for Partizan.
"We arrived in Newcastle with a negative result from the first leg, we played in front of 40,000 fans, but we managed to keep the game even and to win. We also had some luck, and a super [Ivica] Kralj in goal."
About what followed in the group stages, Ilic is rather more ambivalent. Partizan played some good football, but kept missing chances and finished bottom of their group having drawn all three home games and lost all three away against Porto, Real Madrid and Marseille. "I had three golden chances against Real Madrid in Belgrade and in both games against Marseille, but I didn't score," Ilic said. "Those were really 100% chances. But sometimes the one above says either yes or no."
As Ilic points out, though, even reaching the group stage was a fine achievement, one that looked better with each passing season as Partizan's European form got worse and worse. Since Aleksandar Stanojevic took over in April, becoming, at 36, Partizan's youngest-ever coach, they have lost only once, at Shakhtar Donetsk in the first game in the group. Given they went down only 1-0, and with a little luck could easily have drawn, even that represented a radical improvement on their pitiful 4-1 defeat in Donetsk in the Europa League last season.
There is an understandable tendency in England to regard the group phase of the Champions League as a chore, something that has to be got through before the real action begins in February, but there is genuine excitement in Belgrade about the visit of some of Europe's elite. It has led to a flurry of jokes mocking Red Star, whose fans have a tendency to regard their European Cup triumph in 1991 as an unbeatable trump in any dispute with Partizan. The best is probably the one that asks, "How do Red Star players get to play in the Champions League?" The punchline – "one by one" – refers to the goalkeeper Vladimir Stojkovic, a former Red Star player who has ended up at Partizan via Sporting and Wigan. It also refers, more particularly, to Cleo.
The Brazilian, whose Serbian citizenship came through last week, joined Red Star on loan in summer 2008 from the Portuguese club Olivais E Moscavide. He impressed in a struggling side, but Red Star's sports director, the unfortunate Ivan Adzic, decided the £650,000 fee was too much, and made the fateful comment that: "We don't think he's that good for the price." Each of the eight goals he scored in six Champions League qualifiers this season has underlined the gravity of Adzic's mistake.
It's not just about goals with Cleo, though. He also drops off and pulls wide, and interacts well with Iliev, who will operate as a second striker in a fluid 4-4-1-1. Ilic provides creativity on the left in what is likely to be a midfield focused largely on resistance, with the promising 21-year-old Radosav Petrovic partnering the Sierra Leone midfielder Mohamed "Medo" Kamara in a combative centre.
"You can expect Arsenal to dominate with their passing game and their one-twos," Ilic said. "They will have more ball possession because they're technically brilliant. But, on the other hand, we're playing in our stadium, in front of our great fans. The atmosphere will be hot. Arsenal play all the time in packed stadiums, but they're not used to such an atmosphere. We must rise above ourselves and give more than 100%."
Effort and spirit are Stanojevic's watch words. Training is tougher than it used to be; Mladen Krstajic, the veteran centre-back, defied doctors to play in Donetsk with a broken nose, and even Ilic, a player appreciated for his technical rather than his physical attributes, has shown a markedly improved work-rate. And when players have strayed, Stanojevic has been quick to crack down. Until recently, Partizan's key player had been Moreira, a playmaker from Guinea-Bissau (although he holds Portuguese citizenship). He was their highest-paid player (reportedly on £7,000 a week), and had helped them to three successive league titles.
He wanted to leave in the summer, apparently angered that he hadn't been given the captaincy, but either there was no concrete offer or Partizan demanded too high a fee, and he has seemed disillusioned this season. There was friction on the flight back from Brussels to Belgrade after the penalty shoot-out victory over Anderlecht in the third qualifying round, as he tried to sleep while others celebrated, and there have even been suggestions that he has made more of recent injuries than was justified. This month he even turned out for the reserves and, although he is theoretically back in contention for the Arsenal game, he is unlikely to play.
For others, though, just to be on the same pitch as Arsenal is a thrill. Ilic, in particular, is a fan of the way Arsenal play. "Apart from Barcelona," he said, "they're the team I most enjoy watching. They play perfect football. Sometimes they even try to walk with the ball into the goal, which sometimes cost them. They've got many excellent players: Arshavin, Rosicky, Nasri and Fábregas are the ones I like the most. They are extra-terrestrials."
West Bromwich Albion brought them down to earth on Saturday and, while Arsenal are clear favourites, it is possible Partizan could do the same.
Source: Jonathan Wilson, The Guardian on 28 Sep 10
Arsenal look fine in theory but persistently fail the practical
A better goalkeeper than Manuel Almunia is required but he is not solely to blame for the Gunners' shortcomings.
Arsène Wenger might have been mistaken for a boor if not a bully last week. The side he chose for Arsenal's Carling Cup tie at White Hart Lane appeared a breach of the unwritten law that major clubs must send out makeshift line-ups in the early stages of the tournament. Extra-time was needed, but following their 4-1 loss Tottenham Hotspur may have felt that the earnestness of the visitors was crass.
Wenger gave a hint of support to the theory that any trophy is a prize to be coveted by a club that has gone five years without silverware. The wider truth, however, is that it is becoming difficult for him to pick a subdued side. Were everyone fit, he could have sent out an entirely different starting XI against Tottenham that would have been more intimidating still: Almunia; Sagna, Squillaci, Vermaelen, Gibbs; Walcott, Fábregas, Song, Arshavin; Van Persie, Chamakh.
Whether through youth development or astute transfer dealings he has assembled a rich collection of footballers, yet there can be no euphoria in the stands at the Emirates. The practicalities of the game again eluded Arsenal in the 3-2 defeat by West Bromwich Albion on Saturday. During their last top-flight campaign, those opponents notched just one away win, against a Middlesbrough side that would also be relegated in that 2008‑09 season.
It could well be that Albion's current manager, Roberto Di Matteo, is transforming the club, but the earlier away trips in the Premier League saw them lose 6-0 and 1-0 at Chelsea and Liverpool respectively. Even though West Bromwich will have reflected on those defeats, it was Arsenal who did most to ensure their triumph. At such moments protocol calls for Manuel Almunia to be rebuked if not derided and he was undoubtedly at fault.
When the Spaniard supplanted Jens Lehmann in the 2007‑08 season, the German vented his scorn. Few would believe that Almunia stands comparison with the sort of goalkeepers who turn out for other leading clubs in the Champions League. It is undeniable, too, that Wenger sought to remove him from the line-up. Considering that Fulham had an interest in selling Mark Schwarzer, who was approaching the last season of his contract, and Arsenal had every cause to recruit him it was a feat of some sort that a deal was not struck.
The principal consequence of Wenger's efforts to bring in the Australian can only have been further damage to the confidence of Almunia. He is to miss tonight's match with Partizan Belgrade because of an elbow injury but the harm was done while saving Chris Brunt's penalty at the weekend. Although a better goalkeeper is required at the Emirates, it would be facile to see Almunia as the source of all sorrow.
Wenger was once known for his rigour, with the partnership of Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit sited in front of the centre-back Tony Adams during the first phase of the manager's tenure at Arsenal. Gilberto Silva would be signed in 2002 and despite the fluctuations over his spell in London, the departure of the holding midfielder six years later still seems regrettable, particularly since he is still good enough to be playing for Brazil.
All the same, Wenger's various decisions are having an impact and the Premier League looks more forgiving of aberrations than it has been of late. The sole unbeaten side in the top four is Manchester United and they are yet to win away from home. By contrast, Arsenal claimed the sort of hard-bitten victory at Blackburn that is not generally viewed as part of their repertoire.
Admittedly, that battle-hardened air is not yet present on every occasion. Sheer panic by Gaël Clichy cost the side a win at Sunderland. From a broader perspective, Arsenal can be hopeful if there is an increase in confidence as the side settle down. A stable combination in the middle of the back four would be of benefit yet we are still to see how, say, Laurent Koscielny's rapport with the currently injured Vermaelen evolves.
Arsenal's scope for progress cannot be ignored. Cesc Fábregas is yet to return and if Robin van Persie can maintain fitness once he has regained it the impact ought to be profound. Theo Walcott's pace should be of value, too, when he comes back from ankle trouble. Nonetheless, the healing that Arsenal need so badly must take place in the mind. A side chastened in the league last season by comprehensive defeats by Chelsea, as well as Manchester United, go to Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Source: Kevin McCarra, The Guardian on 28 Sep 10
Arsène Wenger might have been mistaken for a boor if not a bully last week. The side he chose for Arsenal's Carling Cup tie at White Hart Lane appeared a breach of the unwritten law that major clubs must send out makeshift line-ups in the early stages of the tournament. Extra-time was needed, but following their 4-1 loss Tottenham Hotspur may have felt that the earnestness of the visitors was crass.
Wenger gave a hint of support to the theory that any trophy is a prize to be coveted by a club that has gone five years without silverware. The wider truth, however, is that it is becoming difficult for him to pick a subdued side. Were everyone fit, he could have sent out an entirely different starting XI against Tottenham that would have been more intimidating still: Almunia; Sagna, Squillaci, Vermaelen, Gibbs; Walcott, Fábregas, Song, Arshavin; Van Persie, Chamakh.
Whether through youth development or astute transfer dealings he has assembled a rich collection of footballers, yet there can be no euphoria in the stands at the Emirates. The practicalities of the game again eluded Arsenal in the 3-2 defeat by West Bromwich Albion on Saturday. During their last top-flight campaign, those opponents notched just one away win, against a Middlesbrough side that would also be relegated in that 2008‑09 season.
It could well be that Albion's current manager, Roberto Di Matteo, is transforming the club, but the earlier away trips in the Premier League saw them lose 6-0 and 1-0 at Chelsea and Liverpool respectively. Even though West Bromwich will have reflected on those defeats, it was Arsenal who did most to ensure their triumph. At such moments protocol calls for Manuel Almunia to be rebuked if not derided and he was undoubtedly at fault.
When the Spaniard supplanted Jens Lehmann in the 2007‑08 season, the German vented his scorn. Few would believe that Almunia stands comparison with the sort of goalkeepers who turn out for other leading clubs in the Champions League. It is undeniable, too, that Wenger sought to remove him from the line-up. Considering that Fulham had an interest in selling Mark Schwarzer, who was approaching the last season of his contract, and Arsenal had every cause to recruit him it was a feat of some sort that a deal was not struck.
The principal consequence of Wenger's efforts to bring in the Australian can only have been further damage to the confidence of Almunia. He is to miss tonight's match with Partizan Belgrade because of an elbow injury but the harm was done while saving Chris Brunt's penalty at the weekend. Although a better goalkeeper is required at the Emirates, it would be facile to see Almunia as the source of all sorrow.
Wenger was once known for his rigour, with the partnership of Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit sited in front of the centre-back Tony Adams during the first phase of the manager's tenure at Arsenal. Gilberto Silva would be signed in 2002 and despite the fluctuations over his spell in London, the departure of the holding midfielder six years later still seems regrettable, particularly since he is still good enough to be playing for Brazil.
All the same, Wenger's various decisions are having an impact and the Premier League looks more forgiving of aberrations than it has been of late. The sole unbeaten side in the top four is Manchester United and they are yet to win away from home. By contrast, Arsenal claimed the sort of hard-bitten victory at Blackburn that is not generally viewed as part of their repertoire.
Admittedly, that battle-hardened air is not yet present on every occasion. Sheer panic by Gaël Clichy cost the side a win at Sunderland. From a broader perspective, Arsenal can be hopeful if there is an increase in confidence as the side settle down. A stable combination in the middle of the back four would be of benefit yet we are still to see how, say, Laurent Koscielny's rapport with the currently injured Vermaelen evolves.
Arsenal's scope for progress cannot be ignored. Cesc Fábregas is yet to return and if Robin van Persie can maintain fitness once he has regained it the impact ought to be profound. Theo Walcott's pace should be of value, too, when he comes back from ankle trouble. Nonetheless, the healing that Arsenal need so badly must take place in the mind. A side chastened in the league last season by comprehensive defeats by Chelsea, as well as Manchester United, go to Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Source: Kevin McCarra, The Guardian on 28 Sep 10
Partizan Belgrade vs Arsenal
Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia will miss Tuesday's Champions League trip to Partizan Belgrade with an elbow injury.
Almunia, who was at fault for two goals as the Gunners lost 3-2 at home to West Brom in the Premier League on Saturday, will be replaced by Lukasz Fabianski.
"The whole squad was very low after the weekend but I believe we will play well on Tuesday," said boss Arsene Wenger.
The Gunners are still without the injured trio of Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott and Robin van Persie.
Full-back Kieran Gibbs will undergo a fitness test on Monday before the Arsenal squad flies out to Belgrade.
Arsenal started their European campaign with a 6-0 home win against Braga and Wenger, who says he would not have dropped Almunia had he been fit, is looking for a quick response to Saturday's calamitous defeat by West Brom.
"There is always an easy target, an easy scapegoat," added the Gunners manager. "But I believe we win together and we lose together.
"Even if people think Manuel made a mistake on the second goal, we made a few before that as well as a team, so we all have to stand up for what happened.
"Manuel is very low, he was disappointed to have lost the game. Everyone felt the same, because we had a good opportunity and we didn't take it.
"But we are a good side and we will bounce back and I think we will have a good game in Belgrade."
Almunia's injury gives Fabianski another chance to stake his claim to be Arsenal's first-choice goalkeeper.
The Pole played in last week's 4-1 Carling Cup victory over Tottenham but was beaten by a relatively tame strike from Robbie Keane as Spurs equalised to send the match into extra-time.
"I believe in his talent," said Wenger. "He gets another opportunity to show how good he is.
"There is only one way to show confidence in a player and that is to put him on the pitch and give him his chance."
Partizan, who lead the Serbian championship, drew 0-0 with Spartak Subotica on Sunday, having lost 1-0 at Shakhtar Donetsk in their first game in the group stage of the Champions League.
They will be looking to Serbian international midfielder Sasa Ilic and Brazil-born striker Cleo to do the damage at the Stadion FK Partizan.
"What I expect is for Partizan to play a highly passionate game and to try to catch us on the break," said Wenger.
"They have the traditional strengths of Serbian teams - they are intelligent, with a good technique and in the final third, if you give them room they are always dangerous.
"Overall what I believe is the most dangerous for us is that they win the duels, play at a high pace and we are not prepared for that.
"I believe the collective drive that they have going forward could be dangerous for us."
Source: BBC Sport on 27 Sep 10
Almunia, who was at fault for two goals as the Gunners lost 3-2 at home to West Brom in the Premier League on Saturday, will be replaced by Lukasz Fabianski.
"The whole squad was very low after the weekend but I believe we will play well on Tuesday," said boss Arsene Wenger.
The Gunners are still without the injured trio of Cesc Fabregas, Theo Walcott and Robin van Persie.
Full-back Kieran Gibbs will undergo a fitness test on Monday before the Arsenal squad flies out to Belgrade.
Arsenal started their European campaign with a 6-0 home win against Braga and Wenger, who says he would not have dropped Almunia had he been fit, is looking for a quick response to Saturday's calamitous defeat by West Brom.
"There is always an easy target, an easy scapegoat," added the Gunners manager. "But I believe we win together and we lose together.
"Even if people think Manuel made a mistake on the second goal, we made a few before that as well as a team, so we all have to stand up for what happened.
"Manuel is very low, he was disappointed to have lost the game. Everyone felt the same, because we had a good opportunity and we didn't take it.
"But we are a good side and we will bounce back and I think we will have a good game in Belgrade."
Almunia's injury gives Fabianski another chance to stake his claim to be Arsenal's first-choice goalkeeper.
The Pole played in last week's 4-1 Carling Cup victory over Tottenham but was beaten by a relatively tame strike from Robbie Keane as Spurs equalised to send the match into extra-time.
"I believe in his talent," said Wenger. "He gets another opportunity to show how good he is.
"There is only one way to show confidence in a player and that is to put him on the pitch and give him his chance."
Partizan, who lead the Serbian championship, drew 0-0 with Spartak Subotica on Sunday, having lost 1-0 at Shakhtar Donetsk in their first game in the group stage of the Champions League.
They will be looking to Serbian international midfielder Sasa Ilic and Brazil-born striker Cleo to do the damage at the Stadion FK Partizan.
"What I expect is for Partizan to play a highly passionate game and to try to catch us on the break," said Wenger.
"They have the traditional strengths of Serbian teams - they are intelligent, with a good technique and in the final third, if you give them room they are always dangerous.
"Overall what I believe is the most dangerous for us is that they win the duels, play at a high pace and we are not prepared for that.
"I believe the collective drive that they have going forward could be dangerous for us."
Source: BBC Sport on 27 Sep 10
Arsène Wenger backs Arsenal's derided goalkeepers to defy the critics
For a man so dedicated to cultivating the attacking arts, Arsène Wenger is suddenly being forced to spend a perplexing amount of time on the back foot.
As he swapped the dark clouds and heavy rain engulfing Luton airport for Serbia's late September sunshine today, questions about vulnerabilities within his goalkeeping department and the leadership qualities of a side shorn of Cesc Fábregas must certainly have echoed in the Arsenal manager's ears.
Wenger's team arrived for tomorrow night's Champions League game at Partizan Belgrade having lost only once this season – defeated by West Bromwich Albion on Saturday – but with concern mounting about the calibre of their goalkeepers.
Reiterating his principles with characteristic defiance Wenger once again defended Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski while also shrugging off suggestions that he erred in not signing Mark Schwarzer or Shay Given during the summer. Instead the Frenchman continues to rely on Almunia and his understudy, Fabianski, who will be Arsenal's last line of defence tomorrow evening as the former is out with an elbow injury.
Injuries are rarely welcome in football but Wenger probably has reason to be relieved about this particular malady. Not for the first time, Almunia was heavily criticised for his part in the 3-2 West Bromwich defeat, during which he was blamed for Albion's second goal. His manager looked suitably relieved to be able to pull him out of the firing line and offer a plausible excuse.
"Almunia is injured, he did his right elbow in making [conceding] the penalty [which the Spaniard saved]," he said. "We checked him at half‑time, he had some pain but said he could go on." In the second half Arsenal's keeper allowed a shot from Gonzalo Jara to squirm past him.
There will inevitably be suspicions that this is a "diplomatic" injury designed to protect a shell-shocked player but, whatever the reality, Wenger cleverly gave Almunia's critics reason to doubt their damning analysis before claiming he would have started here if fit. "No, I wouldn't have dropped him. The keeper is always the easy target, the easy scapegoat. But we win and lose together, even if people think he made a mistake on the second goal. Manuel is very low. He's disappointed. But the whole squad's very low. We had a good opportunity and did not catch it."
If Wenger harbours regrets about not signing Schwarzer or Given during the transfer window he was keeping them to himself. Similar discretion was applied to any potential recruitment of a new keeper in January. "I don't think that's the right debate now," he said. "We have the squad we have. Players who did not come in are not the problem."
Fabianski is possibly even more error-prone than Almunia but his manager remains unworried. "I have no concerns," said Wenger who will put Wojciech Szczesny on the bench. "Only the media do. Fabianski's made mistakes in the past but has shown he can learn from them."
Having exhausted goalkeeping, the conversation turned to the vacuum left by Fábregas's absence. "It's always tempting when you lose to say there's no leader but I believe you share leadership and we have plenty of players of character," said Wenger, who declined to name his captain for tomorrow night but readily reasserted core principles. "I'll tell my players to continue to play the way we want to play and to believe in themselves."
Partizan's class of 2010 may be a shadow of their 1966 European Cup finalist forbears but the Serbian champions – much to Red Star's chagrin – cannot be underestimated. "They're technically very good and well organised," acknowledged Wenger who, taking Serbian police advice, has requested enhanced security for his squad. "They'll use every possible break to hit us on the counter-attack. We'll have a lot of the ball but it'll be frenetic."
Coached by the 36-year-old Aleksandar Stanojevic, the unbeaten, fiercely proud, Serbian league leaders – who have appealed for their sometimes violent fans to "behave" tomorrow night – boast a former Wigan reserve goalkeeper in Vladimir Stojkovic, along with a potent Brazil‑born forward named Cleo.
The recipient of death threats after crossing the great Belgrade divide from Red Star last year, Cleo scored eight times in six Champions League qualifiers and is now widely regarded as "the best signing" in his new club's history. Charged with frustrating him tomorrow night, Fabianksi may not care to be reminded that Partizan are frequently dubbed either "The Steam-Roller" or "The Grave-Diggers".
Source: Louise Taylor, The Guardian on 27 Sep 10
As he swapped the dark clouds and heavy rain engulfing Luton airport for Serbia's late September sunshine today, questions about vulnerabilities within his goalkeeping department and the leadership qualities of a side shorn of Cesc Fábregas must certainly have echoed in the Arsenal manager's ears.
Wenger's team arrived for tomorrow night's Champions League game at Partizan Belgrade having lost only once this season – defeated by West Bromwich Albion on Saturday – but with concern mounting about the calibre of their goalkeepers.
Reiterating his principles with characteristic defiance Wenger once again defended Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski while also shrugging off suggestions that he erred in not signing Mark Schwarzer or Shay Given during the summer. Instead the Frenchman continues to rely on Almunia and his understudy, Fabianski, who will be Arsenal's last line of defence tomorrow evening as the former is out with an elbow injury.
Injuries are rarely welcome in football but Wenger probably has reason to be relieved about this particular malady. Not for the first time, Almunia was heavily criticised for his part in the 3-2 West Bromwich defeat, during which he was blamed for Albion's second goal. His manager looked suitably relieved to be able to pull him out of the firing line and offer a plausible excuse.
"Almunia is injured, he did his right elbow in making [conceding] the penalty [which the Spaniard saved]," he said. "We checked him at half‑time, he had some pain but said he could go on." In the second half Arsenal's keeper allowed a shot from Gonzalo Jara to squirm past him.
There will inevitably be suspicions that this is a "diplomatic" injury designed to protect a shell-shocked player but, whatever the reality, Wenger cleverly gave Almunia's critics reason to doubt their damning analysis before claiming he would have started here if fit. "No, I wouldn't have dropped him. The keeper is always the easy target, the easy scapegoat. But we win and lose together, even if people think he made a mistake on the second goal. Manuel is very low. He's disappointed. But the whole squad's very low. We had a good opportunity and did not catch it."
If Wenger harbours regrets about not signing Schwarzer or Given during the transfer window he was keeping them to himself. Similar discretion was applied to any potential recruitment of a new keeper in January. "I don't think that's the right debate now," he said. "We have the squad we have. Players who did not come in are not the problem."
Fabianski is possibly even more error-prone than Almunia but his manager remains unworried. "I have no concerns," said Wenger who will put Wojciech Szczesny on the bench. "Only the media do. Fabianski's made mistakes in the past but has shown he can learn from them."
Having exhausted goalkeeping, the conversation turned to the vacuum left by Fábregas's absence. "It's always tempting when you lose to say there's no leader but I believe you share leadership and we have plenty of players of character," said Wenger, who declined to name his captain for tomorrow night but readily reasserted core principles. "I'll tell my players to continue to play the way we want to play and to believe in themselves."
Partizan's class of 2010 may be a shadow of their 1966 European Cup finalist forbears but the Serbian champions – much to Red Star's chagrin – cannot be underestimated. "They're technically very good and well organised," acknowledged Wenger who, taking Serbian police advice, has requested enhanced security for his squad. "They'll use every possible break to hit us on the counter-attack. We'll have a lot of the ball but it'll be frenetic."
Coached by the 36-year-old Aleksandar Stanojevic, the unbeaten, fiercely proud, Serbian league leaders – who have appealed for their sometimes violent fans to "behave" tomorrow night – boast a former Wigan reserve goalkeeper in Vladimir Stojkovic, along with a potent Brazil‑born forward named Cleo.
The recipient of death threats after crossing the great Belgrade divide from Red Star last year, Cleo scored eight times in six Champions League qualifiers and is now widely regarded as "the best signing" in his new club's history. Charged with frustrating him tomorrow night, Fabianksi may not care to be reminded that Partizan are frequently dubbed either "The Steam-Roller" or "The Grave-Diggers".
Source: Louise Taylor, The Guardian on 27 Sep 10
Arsenal left puzzled by nightmare loss to West Bromwich Albion
Arsenal will go into the Champions League game in Belgrade tomorrow trying to convince themselves that their shambles of a performance against a well‑organised, disciplined though hardly awesome West Bromwich Albion side on Saturday was just a bad dream. Having been debagged by the Baggies they will try not to be taken apart by Partizan, but until or unless Arsène Wenger addresses his most pressing problem in the January transfer window, the nightmare will recur.
"It's a mystery to me," Wenger said after Arsenal lost 3-2 to Albion, who were leading 3-0 before Samir Nasri twice took advantage of a tiring defence in the final 15 minutes. "Today in our performance something was not right. It is unexplainable how flat the whole thing looked for the whole game. I did not recognise my team today."
More than a few among a crowd of 60,000 would have been happy to enlighten him, for they recognised exactly what was wrong, starting with the goalkeeper. Manuel Almunia's loved ones must regularly give thanks that he did not decide to take up bullfighting rather than football, that the horns upon which he regularly finds himself are of a dilemma rather than a hunk of bad‑tempered beef.
Almunia's day began well with a sharp save from Chris Brunt's penalty, albeit one which he recklessly gave away by bringing down Peter Odemwingie, West Bromwich's quick-witted, nimble-footed import from Lokomotiv Moscow, then deteriorated rapidly thereafter. Two elementary errors enabled Albion to put the contest virtually beyond Arsenal's reach after Odemwingie had given them the lead early in the second half.
First Almunia allowed a firm but stoppable shot from Gonzalo Jara, sent clear by Brunt's back heel, to skid past him at the near post. Then, having left his goal to meet another threat from Brunt, he hesitated and was stranded by a simple pass which set up Jerome Thomas for a tap-in. This was hardly Arsenal goalkeeping in the tradition of Jack Kelsey, Bob Wilson, Pat Jennings and David Seaman. More like Dan Lewis, who is best remembered for fumbling the ball over the line in the 1927 FA Cup final to hand the trophy to Cardiff City.
Wenger was not prepared to single out Almunia for criticism. "You can have question marks over many players today if you look at the performances, especially defensively. Many players made massive mistakes defensively." No argument there and Almunia could plead in mitigation that all too often he had about as much cover as Gypsy Rose Lee, though with less support from the fans. From the first minute Thomas, once a member of Arsenal's youth team, was going past Bacary Sagna as if the right‑back wasn't there – and often he was not – while on the right Brunt and Jara motored through the Place de Clichy as if the lights were stuck on green. Greater awareness from the centre-backs, Sébastien Squillaci and Laurent Koscielny, might have prevented Albion's first and third goals.
Upsets among the leading teams are not uncommon when a Champions League fixture is in the offing. On the same September weekend two seasons ago Arsenal, facing Porto three days later, lost at home to the newly promoted Hull City. This time Wenger also had the excuse of having to field a patched-up side with its fulcrum, Cesc Fábregas, among the many injuries. None of which alters the fact that unless Arsenal sign a better goalkeeper there will be more humiliations before the season is out.
Maybe some of Wenger's players took West Bromwich too lightly. After all, Arsenal had scored 16 times in three home games while Albion had conceded seven in two away. Certainly they were taken unawares by the way Roberto Di Matteo's side came at them. "We pressed very high, we pressed them all over the pitch," he said. "We managed not to let them play their usual way and when we passed the ball we passed it very well and created chances ourselves."
In fact West Bromwich won at Arsenal for the first time since 1983 in much the same way Wigan recently won at Tottenham. They stifled the opposition with a five-man midfield while pushing up on the flanks at every opportunity and giving the lone striker, Odemwingie, steady support. Nasri's two, late goals, skilfully set up and taken as Albion started to wilt, offered Arsenal a great escape but any result other than a win for West Bromwich would have been a travesty. "Overall we got what we deserved," said Wenger. Arsenal are at Chelsea this Sunday..
Source: David Lacey, The Guardian on 27 Sep 10
"It's a mystery to me," Wenger said after Arsenal lost 3-2 to Albion, who were leading 3-0 before Samir Nasri twice took advantage of a tiring defence in the final 15 minutes. "Today in our performance something was not right. It is unexplainable how flat the whole thing looked for the whole game. I did not recognise my team today."
More than a few among a crowd of 60,000 would have been happy to enlighten him, for they recognised exactly what was wrong, starting with the goalkeeper. Manuel Almunia's loved ones must regularly give thanks that he did not decide to take up bullfighting rather than football, that the horns upon which he regularly finds himself are of a dilemma rather than a hunk of bad‑tempered beef.
Almunia's day began well with a sharp save from Chris Brunt's penalty, albeit one which he recklessly gave away by bringing down Peter Odemwingie, West Bromwich's quick-witted, nimble-footed import from Lokomotiv Moscow, then deteriorated rapidly thereafter. Two elementary errors enabled Albion to put the contest virtually beyond Arsenal's reach after Odemwingie had given them the lead early in the second half.
First Almunia allowed a firm but stoppable shot from Gonzalo Jara, sent clear by Brunt's back heel, to skid past him at the near post. Then, having left his goal to meet another threat from Brunt, he hesitated and was stranded by a simple pass which set up Jerome Thomas for a tap-in. This was hardly Arsenal goalkeeping in the tradition of Jack Kelsey, Bob Wilson, Pat Jennings and David Seaman. More like Dan Lewis, who is best remembered for fumbling the ball over the line in the 1927 FA Cup final to hand the trophy to Cardiff City.
Wenger was not prepared to single out Almunia for criticism. "You can have question marks over many players today if you look at the performances, especially defensively. Many players made massive mistakes defensively." No argument there and Almunia could plead in mitigation that all too often he had about as much cover as Gypsy Rose Lee, though with less support from the fans. From the first minute Thomas, once a member of Arsenal's youth team, was going past Bacary Sagna as if the right‑back wasn't there – and often he was not – while on the right Brunt and Jara motored through the Place de Clichy as if the lights were stuck on green. Greater awareness from the centre-backs, Sébastien Squillaci and Laurent Koscielny, might have prevented Albion's first and third goals.
Upsets among the leading teams are not uncommon when a Champions League fixture is in the offing. On the same September weekend two seasons ago Arsenal, facing Porto three days later, lost at home to the newly promoted Hull City. This time Wenger also had the excuse of having to field a patched-up side with its fulcrum, Cesc Fábregas, among the many injuries. None of which alters the fact that unless Arsenal sign a better goalkeeper there will be more humiliations before the season is out.
Maybe some of Wenger's players took West Bromwich too lightly. After all, Arsenal had scored 16 times in three home games while Albion had conceded seven in two away. Certainly they were taken unawares by the way Roberto Di Matteo's side came at them. "We pressed very high, we pressed them all over the pitch," he said. "We managed not to let them play their usual way and when we passed the ball we passed it very well and created chances ourselves."
In fact West Bromwich won at Arsenal for the first time since 1983 in much the same way Wigan recently won at Tottenham. They stifled the opposition with a five-man midfield while pushing up on the flanks at every opportunity and giving the lone striker, Odemwingie, steady support. Nasri's two, late goals, skilfully set up and taken as Albion started to wilt, offered Arsenal a great escape but any result other than a win for West Bromwich would have been a travesty. "Overall we got what we deserved," said Wenger. Arsenal are at Chelsea this Sunday..
Source: David Lacey, The Guardian on 27 Sep 10
Gunners Humbled
Carling Cup hangover? Or a grossly complacent and sloppy performance by a group of players that thought they only had to turn up to win? Seeing as Arsene Wenger made eight changes from the team that started against Spurs midweek, let's go with the latter, shall we?
Before talking about Arsenal’s display, it is only fair to say that West Brom were magnificent yesterday and thoroughly deserved their victory. They competed from the first whistle to the last. They took their game to the Gunners and looked the better side all afternoon. They attacked with pace and real intent and were organised and focussed in defence.
However, as good as West Brom were, it does not excuse the performance of an Arsenal team that has aspirations of winning a title. It was lamentable, undisciplined and totally unprofessional. It would be nice to put it down the team having a collective “off-day” but, unfortunately, one couldn’t help but sense that most of yesterday’s performance was down to arrogance and laziness.
Abou Diaby and Alex Song seemed to be having their own private competition as to who could give the ball away the most with artistic impression points being added for doing so in the slackest way possible. Andrey Arshavin looked disinterested, which is becoming something of a trademark for him, and you might have thought that Emmanuel Eboue, given a Premier League start in a season where he is more likely to play as a utility player, might have been keen to impress. You would have thought wrong.
And that was just the midfield. Up front, Marouane Chamakh was totally anonymous and to say the defence looked shaky all afternoon would be far too generous. The fullbacks were constantly terrorised by West Brom’s wide-players and, at times, the back four looked all over the place.
And then there was the goalkeeping. It was hard to know whether to actually feel a little sorry for Manuel Almunia. In the first half he kept the Gunners in the game making one tremendous save and also saving a penalty. After the break though, a catastrophic blunder saw him throw in the Baggies’s second goal and all his good work was undone. Any sympathy you might feel soon gets lost in the frustration of seeing Arsenal’s goalkeeper yet again take one step forward and two steps back. In an afternoon of ineptitude, it was his mistake that essentially cost Arsenal the match - but he wasn't solely to blame for what was a humiliating defeat.
One also has to question Arsene Wenger. Having got to the interval at nil-nil - and to have been fortunate to have done so - you might have thought this would have been one of the rare occasions when the Frenchman had a tea-throwing tantrum in the dressing room at half-time. And if that didn’t happen, surely he would deliver an inspirational speech that would pull the players out of their malaise and onto glory? Whatever he said at the interval, it had zero impact because the second half started as shoddily as the first half had been played out - only this time West Brom punished the Gunners with two quick and well-deserved goals.
Finally, Wenger saw fit to replace the pathetic Diaby and hapless Eboue with Tomas Rosicky and Jack Wilshere. It was a change that might have been better at half-time and before conceding a two-goal lead, but better late than never. Wilshere’s first contribution was to sweep a gorgeous ball out to the left-wing. It was a pass that showed more maturity, class and vision than anything Abou Diaby had produced in the preceding hour.
Though the Gunners conceded a third on the break amid more shambolic defending, the introductions of the substitutes did improve matters greatly and Samir Nasri, the one player in the starting eleven who could still hold his head up high at the final whistle, profited from the impetus that the fresh blood provided, scoring a couple in reply. As it was, the fight-back came too late and, to be honest, anything other than a West Brom win would have been a travesty of an outcome based on the whole ninety minutes. Arsenal got exactly what they deserved - absolutely nothing.
Arsene Wenger said after the match they he would have to analyse what went wrong but that suggests there was some sort of mystery as to why the Gunners were so poor. I don’t think there was any mystery to it at all and several individuals in that squad need to take a good look at themselves and ask themselves a few searching questions. The manager should at least be a bit clearer in his mind as to who the passengers are in his squad and who the real winners are.
The only consolation on the back of yesterday’s shambles was that, over the weekend, Chelsea and Spurs were also beaten and Manchester United and Liverpool were held to draws. Whilst it is infuriating to have squandered a golden opportunity to have made up some ground on Chelsea ahead of next weekend’s trip to Stamford Bridge, the other results did offer a bit of damage limitation.
It was all such a contrast to the glorious midweek trip to Spurs in the Carling Cup. That night Arsenal played some scintillating football and came away with a rousing and thoroughly-deserved win. It was a marvellous collective effort but Jack Wilshere does have to be singled out for particular praise. He orchestrated more or less everything good that Arsenal did and the whole game marched to his beat.
The kid is eighteen years old and yet he has the vision, temperament and bravery of a player ten years older than that. It would be easy to get carried away with that one performance but when he came on yesterday he looked far more accomplished and comfortable on the ball than either Diaby and Song. Tuesday night was not a flash in the pan for Jack Wilshere. He has looked good all season and, having been presented with a chance by Arsene Wenger, he appears to be taking it. We are going to see a lot more from him in the coming months.
The players now have to pick themselves up ahead of Tuesday night’s trip to Partizan Belgrade in the Champions League. Hopefully, their embarrassment at yesterday’s display ought to be motivation enough to turn things around - and they certainly need to ensure they do that ahead of next weekend.
Source: David Young, ESPN Soccernet on 27 Sep 10
Before talking about Arsenal’s display, it is only fair to say that West Brom were magnificent yesterday and thoroughly deserved their victory. They competed from the first whistle to the last. They took their game to the Gunners and looked the better side all afternoon. They attacked with pace and real intent and were organised and focussed in defence.
However, as good as West Brom were, it does not excuse the performance of an Arsenal team that has aspirations of winning a title. It was lamentable, undisciplined and totally unprofessional. It would be nice to put it down the team having a collective “off-day” but, unfortunately, one couldn’t help but sense that most of yesterday’s performance was down to arrogance and laziness.
Abou Diaby and Alex Song seemed to be having their own private competition as to who could give the ball away the most with artistic impression points being added for doing so in the slackest way possible. Andrey Arshavin looked disinterested, which is becoming something of a trademark for him, and you might have thought that Emmanuel Eboue, given a Premier League start in a season where he is more likely to play as a utility player, might have been keen to impress. You would have thought wrong.
And that was just the midfield. Up front, Marouane Chamakh was totally anonymous and to say the defence looked shaky all afternoon would be far too generous. The fullbacks were constantly terrorised by West Brom’s wide-players and, at times, the back four looked all over the place.
And then there was the goalkeeping. It was hard to know whether to actually feel a little sorry for Manuel Almunia. In the first half he kept the Gunners in the game making one tremendous save and also saving a penalty. After the break though, a catastrophic blunder saw him throw in the Baggies’s second goal and all his good work was undone. Any sympathy you might feel soon gets lost in the frustration of seeing Arsenal’s goalkeeper yet again take one step forward and two steps back. In an afternoon of ineptitude, it was his mistake that essentially cost Arsenal the match - but he wasn't solely to blame for what was a humiliating defeat.
One also has to question Arsene Wenger. Having got to the interval at nil-nil - and to have been fortunate to have done so - you might have thought this would have been one of the rare occasions when the Frenchman had a tea-throwing tantrum in the dressing room at half-time. And if that didn’t happen, surely he would deliver an inspirational speech that would pull the players out of their malaise and onto glory? Whatever he said at the interval, it had zero impact because the second half started as shoddily as the first half had been played out - only this time West Brom punished the Gunners with two quick and well-deserved goals.
Finally, Wenger saw fit to replace the pathetic Diaby and hapless Eboue with Tomas Rosicky and Jack Wilshere. It was a change that might have been better at half-time and before conceding a two-goal lead, but better late than never. Wilshere’s first contribution was to sweep a gorgeous ball out to the left-wing. It was a pass that showed more maturity, class and vision than anything Abou Diaby had produced in the preceding hour.
Though the Gunners conceded a third on the break amid more shambolic defending, the introductions of the substitutes did improve matters greatly and Samir Nasri, the one player in the starting eleven who could still hold his head up high at the final whistle, profited from the impetus that the fresh blood provided, scoring a couple in reply. As it was, the fight-back came too late and, to be honest, anything other than a West Brom win would have been a travesty of an outcome based on the whole ninety minutes. Arsenal got exactly what they deserved - absolutely nothing.
Arsene Wenger said after the match they he would have to analyse what went wrong but that suggests there was some sort of mystery as to why the Gunners were so poor. I don’t think there was any mystery to it at all and several individuals in that squad need to take a good look at themselves and ask themselves a few searching questions. The manager should at least be a bit clearer in his mind as to who the passengers are in his squad and who the real winners are.
The only consolation on the back of yesterday’s shambles was that, over the weekend, Chelsea and Spurs were also beaten and Manchester United and Liverpool were held to draws. Whilst it is infuriating to have squandered a golden opportunity to have made up some ground on Chelsea ahead of next weekend’s trip to Stamford Bridge, the other results did offer a bit of damage limitation.
It was all such a contrast to the glorious midweek trip to Spurs in the Carling Cup. That night Arsenal played some scintillating football and came away with a rousing and thoroughly-deserved win. It was a marvellous collective effort but Jack Wilshere does have to be singled out for particular praise. He orchestrated more or less everything good that Arsenal did and the whole game marched to his beat.
The kid is eighteen years old and yet he has the vision, temperament and bravery of a player ten years older than that. It would be easy to get carried away with that one performance but when he came on yesterday he looked far more accomplished and comfortable on the ball than either Diaby and Song. Tuesday night was not a flash in the pan for Jack Wilshere. He has looked good all season and, having been presented with a chance by Arsene Wenger, he appears to be taking it. We are going to see a lot more from him in the coming months.
The players now have to pick themselves up ahead of Tuesday night’s trip to Partizan Belgrade in the Champions League. Hopefully, their embarrassment at yesterday’s display ought to be motivation enough to turn things around - and they certainly need to ensure they do that ahead of next weekend.
Source: David Young, ESPN Soccernet on 27 Sep 10
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Jerome Thomas's goal decisive as West Brom hold on to shock Arsenal
Normally it is the job of the away side to fuel Arsène Wenger's fury, but yesterday it was just about the only thing his own did particularly well. West Bromwich missed a first-half penalty but were still allowed to canter into a match-winning 3-0 lead in the first 25 minutes of the second, and though a late revival brought the home side two goals it could not disguise the poverty of this sloppy, spiritless display.
"We were not at our usual level, not defensively or offensively," said Wenger. "Everything was difficult for us today – to pass the ball, to win the ball back – and overall we got what we deserved. Today in our performance something was not right. It's very difficult and unusual to see a team as flat as we were today."
Unsurprisingly the Arsenal manager refused to publicly criticise any individual, even though he had plenty to choose from. "You can have question marks about many players today," he said. "I believe many players made massive mistakes defensively. It was a poor team performance, the first really bad performance of the season. It's unexplainable how flat the whole thing looked for the whole game. It's a mystery to me."
West Brom's football lacks the aggression and physicality that so infuriates Wenger, and their approach here relied more on fitness than muscle, with everyone but Peter Odemwingie ordered to help out in a packed defence when Arsenal had possession and combining to clutter Arsenal's path to goal. "We pressed them very high, in their half, all over the pitch," said Roberto Di Matteo. "We managed not to let them play their usual way, and on top of that when we had the ball we passed it very well. It wasn't like we were just lucky - I thought we played some tremendous football and defended well as well. It was a generally good performance."
Arsenal found the Baggies' barrier almost impenetrable, at least until it was fractionally too late for their efforts to make much of a difference. While Andrey Arshavin had earlier hit the post it took until the third minute of first-half stoppage time for them to force Scott Carson into a save, when Bacary Sagna's looping header from Arshavin's free-kick was routinely tipped over. By then West Brom had come considerably closer, Almunia diverting Odemwingie's shot just wide of his near post in the 26th minute and then, 12 minutes later, clasping Chris Brunt's poor penalty after he had clattered haplessly into the onrushing Odemwingie. But if the first half was disappointing for the home side, the first 30 minutes of the second were dismal.
In the 50th minute Jerome Thomas, who had an enjoyable afternoon against the dire Sagna, went past the full-back much too easily, reached the byline and crossed low for Odemwingie to slide the ball home. When West Bromwich next attacked Gonzalo Jara played the ball to Chris Brunt on the right touchline and sprinted past both Arshavin and Alex Song – neither of whom tracked the run – before being released by Brunt's excellent backheel. He carried the ball into the area, was put under no pressure by Laurent Koscielny and finally shot low, straight at Almunia who fumbled the ball into the net. It was a hideous goal to concede, a catalogue of calamity.
West Bromwich continued to attack, and in the 73rd minute Thomas passed to Brunt on the edge of the area. The midfielder's first touch appeared much too heavy but Almunia hesitated, Brunt reached the ball first and when he turned the ball back across goal Thomas thumped the ball into an empty net.
With a three-goal lead to protect even Odemwingie joined what became an 11-man West Bromwich defence and Arsenal were able to exert unrelenting pressure. With 15 minutes to play Samir Nasri cut inside from the right, veered around Pablo Ibáñez's sliding challenge and brought Arsenal back into the game with a confident left-footed finish. For the first time the home side were genuinely dominant, but it took 15 minutes for them to conjure another goal, when Arshavin's pass found Nasri unmarked and played onside by Jara, and the Frenchman's finish was again classy and cocksure, two of the many qualities that his side were too often without.
Source: Simon Burnton, The Guardian on 25 Sep 10
"We were not at our usual level, not defensively or offensively," said Wenger. "Everything was difficult for us today – to pass the ball, to win the ball back – and overall we got what we deserved. Today in our performance something was not right. It's very difficult and unusual to see a team as flat as we were today."
Unsurprisingly the Arsenal manager refused to publicly criticise any individual, even though he had plenty to choose from. "You can have question marks about many players today," he said. "I believe many players made massive mistakes defensively. It was a poor team performance, the first really bad performance of the season. It's unexplainable how flat the whole thing looked for the whole game. It's a mystery to me."
West Brom's football lacks the aggression and physicality that so infuriates Wenger, and their approach here relied more on fitness than muscle, with everyone but Peter Odemwingie ordered to help out in a packed defence when Arsenal had possession and combining to clutter Arsenal's path to goal. "We pressed them very high, in their half, all over the pitch," said Roberto Di Matteo. "We managed not to let them play their usual way, and on top of that when we had the ball we passed it very well. It wasn't like we were just lucky - I thought we played some tremendous football and defended well as well. It was a generally good performance."
Arsenal found the Baggies' barrier almost impenetrable, at least until it was fractionally too late for their efforts to make much of a difference. While Andrey Arshavin had earlier hit the post it took until the third minute of first-half stoppage time for them to force Scott Carson into a save, when Bacary Sagna's looping header from Arshavin's free-kick was routinely tipped over. By then West Brom had come considerably closer, Almunia diverting Odemwingie's shot just wide of his near post in the 26th minute and then, 12 minutes later, clasping Chris Brunt's poor penalty after he had clattered haplessly into the onrushing Odemwingie. But if the first half was disappointing for the home side, the first 30 minutes of the second were dismal.
In the 50th minute Jerome Thomas, who had an enjoyable afternoon against the dire Sagna, went past the full-back much too easily, reached the byline and crossed low for Odemwingie to slide the ball home. When West Bromwich next attacked Gonzalo Jara played the ball to Chris Brunt on the right touchline and sprinted past both Arshavin and Alex Song – neither of whom tracked the run – before being released by Brunt's excellent backheel. He carried the ball into the area, was put under no pressure by Laurent Koscielny and finally shot low, straight at Almunia who fumbled the ball into the net. It was a hideous goal to concede, a catalogue of calamity.
West Bromwich continued to attack, and in the 73rd minute Thomas passed to Brunt on the edge of the area. The midfielder's first touch appeared much too heavy but Almunia hesitated, Brunt reached the ball first and when he turned the ball back across goal Thomas thumped the ball into an empty net.
With a three-goal lead to protect even Odemwingie joined what became an 11-man West Bromwich defence and Arsenal were able to exert unrelenting pressure. With 15 minutes to play Samir Nasri cut inside from the right, veered around Pablo Ibáñez's sliding challenge and brought Arsenal back into the game with a confident left-footed finish. For the first time the home side were genuinely dominant, but it took 15 minutes for them to conjure another goal, when Arshavin's pass found Nasri unmarked and played onside by Jara, and the Frenchman's finish was again classy and cocksure, two of the many qualities that his side were too often without.
Source: Simon Burnton, The Guardian on 25 Sep 10
Almunia at fault as Gunners crash
West Brom destroyed Arsenal's chance to close the gap on Chelsea at the top of the Premier League with a thrilling victory over the Gunners at the Emirates.
Three second-half goals from Peter Odemwingie, Gonzalo Jara and former Arsenal player Jerome Thomas put Albion in front before Samir Nasri scored two late goals for Arsene Wenger's side.
It was Arsenal first home defeat since they lost to Manchester United last January and kept them four points adrift of leaders Chelsea while Albion moved up into fifth place.
The writing was on the wall for Arsenal in the opening half. Thomas caused the home defence an early scare but his cross from the left wing evaded the lurking Odemwingie.
Emmanuel Eboue had the first real chance for Arsenal in the 13th minute but his shot on the turn from the edge of the penalty area went wide of Scott Carson's right-hand upright.
Andrey Arshavin should have put the home side in front seconds later but he managed to hit the post twice when he got on the end of a cross from Eboue.
It was a close escape for the visitors who were now beginning to feel the full onslaught of Arsene Wenger's side.
In the 20th minute, Marouane Chamakh went close with a six-yard header as Arsenal continued to surge forward. Four minutes later, Nasri went close with a 25-yard low drive that flashed just wide of the target.
Odemwingie almost gave the visitors a shock lead against the run of play in the 27th minute but Manuel Almunia pushed his angled drive onto the post.
Albion were enjoying their best spell of the game and seconds later Almunia had to be alert to collect a dangerous left-wing cross from James Morrison.
Wenger was forced to stalk the edge of his technical area in frustration and his demeanour was not eased by Nasri's volley into the crowd from 18 yards in the 36th minute.
Almunia then became the villain and hero in the space of 60 seconds as West Brom squandered a great chance to take the lead.
In the 37th minute Almunia brought down the speedy Odemwingie and referee Michael Oliver rightly awarded a penalty and booked the 'keeper.
But Chris Brunt's poor left-footed effort was easily saved by Almunia, who dived to his right to keep it out.
In the final minute of the half, Albion keeper Carson had to be at his best to deny Bacary Sagna's six-yard header - tipping his effort over the bar.
West Brom took the lead in the 50th minute when Thomas wriggled free on the left flank and crossed into the six-yard box for the unmarked Odemwingie to put the Baggies ahead.
And it got worse for the home side two minutes later when Almunia blundered to allow Albion to make it 2-0.
Brunt set Gonzalo Jara free on the right and his low angled drive from the right edge of the penalty area went through Almunia's hands and into the net. The Albion scorer was booked for taking his shirt off in celebration.
Wenger immediately responded with a double substitution, sending on Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky in place of Abou Diaby and Eboue.
The changes helped to revive the Gunners but West Brom's defending was committed and impressive. In the 65th minute, Arsenal made a third change when Wenger removed Laurent Koscielny in favour of Carlos Vela.
Arsenal pushed forward in numbers but Albion's rearguard held firm despite all the home side's efforts. West Brom sensationally made it 3-0 when Brunt crossed for the livewire Thomas to fire into the net in the 73rd minute.
But Arsenal finally reduced the deficit two minutes when Nasri danced through the West Brom defence before firing past Carson.
Nasri grabbed his second of the game in injury time but, despite a frantic finish, it was not enough to prevent Arsenal slumping to their first home defeat since last January.
Source: ESPN Soccernet on 25 Sep 10
Three second-half goals from Peter Odemwingie, Gonzalo Jara and former Arsenal player Jerome Thomas put Albion in front before Samir Nasri scored two late goals for Arsene Wenger's side.
It was Arsenal first home defeat since they lost to Manchester United last January and kept them four points adrift of leaders Chelsea while Albion moved up into fifth place.
The writing was on the wall for Arsenal in the opening half. Thomas caused the home defence an early scare but his cross from the left wing evaded the lurking Odemwingie.
Emmanuel Eboue had the first real chance for Arsenal in the 13th minute but his shot on the turn from the edge of the penalty area went wide of Scott Carson's right-hand upright.
Andrey Arshavin should have put the home side in front seconds later but he managed to hit the post twice when he got on the end of a cross from Eboue.
It was a close escape for the visitors who were now beginning to feel the full onslaught of Arsene Wenger's side.
In the 20th minute, Marouane Chamakh went close with a six-yard header as Arsenal continued to surge forward. Four minutes later, Nasri went close with a 25-yard low drive that flashed just wide of the target.
Odemwingie almost gave the visitors a shock lead against the run of play in the 27th minute but Manuel Almunia pushed his angled drive onto the post.
Albion were enjoying their best spell of the game and seconds later Almunia had to be alert to collect a dangerous left-wing cross from James Morrison.
Wenger was forced to stalk the edge of his technical area in frustration and his demeanour was not eased by Nasri's volley into the crowd from 18 yards in the 36th minute.
Almunia then became the villain and hero in the space of 60 seconds as West Brom squandered a great chance to take the lead.
In the 37th minute Almunia brought down the speedy Odemwingie and referee Michael Oliver rightly awarded a penalty and booked the 'keeper.
But Chris Brunt's poor left-footed effort was easily saved by Almunia, who dived to his right to keep it out.
In the final minute of the half, Albion keeper Carson had to be at his best to deny Bacary Sagna's six-yard header - tipping his effort over the bar.
West Brom took the lead in the 50th minute when Thomas wriggled free on the left flank and crossed into the six-yard box for the unmarked Odemwingie to put the Baggies ahead.
And it got worse for the home side two minutes later when Almunia blundered to allow Albion to make it 2-0.
Brunt set Gonzalo Jara free on the right and his low angled drive from the right edge of the penalty area went through Almunia's hands and into the net. The Albion scorer was booked for taking his shirt off in celebration.
Wenger immediately responded with a double substitution, sending on Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky in place of Abou Diaby and Eboue.
The changes helped to revive the Gunners but West Brom's defending was committed and impressive. In the 65th minute, Arsenal made a third change when Wenger removed Laurent Koscielny in favour of Carlos Vela.
Arsenal pushed forward in numbers but Albion's rearguard held firm despite all the home side's efforts. West Brom sensationally made it 3-0 when Brunt crossed for the livewire Thomas to fire into the net in the 73rd minute.
But Arsenal finally reduced the deficit two minutes when Nasri danced through the West Brom defence before firing past Carson.
Nasri grabbed his second of the game in injury time but, despite a frantic finish, it was not enough to prevent Arsenal slumping to their first home defeat since last January.
Source: ESPN Soccernet on 25 Sep 10
Wenger's reaction to the Arsenal 2-3 WBA match
on a shock defeat...
We made it more difficult because we were not at our usual level. Not defensively, not offensively. Overall everything was difficult for us today - passing the ball, winning the ball back, winning the one against ones - and we got what we deserved which was zero points. We didn't deserve more. The positive is that we did fight until the last minute but it was just not good enough at that level to get three points.
on Manuel Almunia...
You can have question marks about many players today if you look at the performance, especially the defensive one. Many players made massive mistakes defensively.
on leaving Jack Wilshere on the bench...
He has played many games. I believe it was not down to one player in or out, it was down to a poor team performance.
on criticism of Almunia...
I do not want to come out on any individual performances because we were collectively poor. You could single out a few players who have made mistakes.
on a mystifying performance...
Overall it was a poor team performance and we have to analyse why and make sure we respond well because we have had good performances since the start of the season. It is the first real bad performance and it is unexplainable how bad the whole thing looked for the whole game.
on failing to close the gap on Chelsea...
It would have been even more disappointing if Chelsea had won. We don't have to look at the results of the other teams, we have to turn up with our own performance and we didn't do that. If we play like that we cannot look at performances of the other teams.
on next week's trip to Chelsea...
Of course it an important game when you play at Chelsea. I believe that today's game was an exception - until today we had very, very good games. I didn't recognise my team today and we have to sit down together to analyse what happened. Something is unexplanable in such a poor performance. It is always difficult to [sense it before the game] but something was not right and it is unusual to see a team as flat as we were today.
Source: Arsenal.com on 25 Sep 10
We made it more difficult because we were not at our usual level. Not defensively, not offensively. Overall everything was difficult for us today - passing the ball, winning the ball back, winning the one against ones - and we got what we deserved which was zero points. We didn't deserve more. The positive is that we did fight until the last minute but it was just not good enough at that level to get three points.
on Manuel Almunia...
You can have question marks about many players today if you look at the performance, especially the defensive one. Many players made massive mistakes defensively.
on leaving Jack Wilshere on the bench...
He has played many games. I believe it was not down to one player in or out, it was down to a poor team performance.
on criticism of Almunia...
I do not want to come out on any individual performances because we were collectively poor. You could single out a few players who have made mistakes.
on a mystifying performance...
Overall it was a poor team performance and we have to analyse why and make sure we respond well because we have had good performances since the start of the season. It is the first real bad performance and it is unexplainable how bad the whole thing looked for the whole game.
on failing to close the gap on Chelsea...
It would have been even more disappointing if Chelsea had won. We don't have to look at the results of the other teams, we have to turn up with our own performance and we didn't do that. If we play like that we cannot look at performances of the other teams.
on next week's trip to Chelsea...
Of course it an important game when you play at Chelsea. I believe that today's game was an exception - until today we had very, very good games. I didn't recognise my team today and we have to sit down together to analyse what happened. Something is unexplanable in such a poor performance. It is always difficult to [sense it before the game] but something was not right and it is unusual to see a team as flat as we were today.
Source: Arsenal.com on 25 Sep 10
25 September 2010: Arsenal 2-3 West Bromwich Albion, Emirates Stadium
Arsenal missed the opportunity to make up ground on leaders Chelsea when they were beaten 3-2 by West Brom at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Arsène Wenger’s men kicked-off this afternoon just minutes after Manchester City had completed a 1-0 victory over the Stamford Bridge outfit. It meant that a win today followed by another at Chelsea next week and Arsenal would be top.
However the home side would never find their feet this afternoon.
In the first half, Manuel Almunia saved a penalty from Chris Brunt after the keeper had felled Peter Odemwingie. Then they were blown away by two goals in two minutes just after the break.
First, Odemwingie prodded home following fine work by Jerome Thomas. Then a speculative effort from Gonzalo Jara hit Almunia and found the bottom corner.
Arsenal’s comeback failed to make much of a dent until Thomas had added a third in the 73rd minute. Almost immediately, Nasri plundered a goal. The Frenchman grabbed another on the stroke of full time to make for a frantic five minutes of injury time.
The home side huffed and puffed but West Brom did not buckle. The visitors are certainly a tidy side while Arsenal were rough around the edges this afternoon.
It was a bad day at the office and Wenger’s men can not afford many more like this if they are going to seriously challenge for the title.
Emirates Stadium was drenched in Autumnal sunshine as the teams strode out this afternoon and the weather matched the overall mood.
Since dropping two late points at Sunderland last Saturday, Arsenal had swept aside Tottenham in the Carling Cup. Then just before kick-off, news had filtered round that Chelsea had been beaten.
With Arsenal travelling to West London next weekend, it was a chance. A good chance.
Wenger retained only Nasri and Laurent Koscielny from the side that had won so handsomely on enemy territory on Tuesday.
But there were only two alterations from the Stadium of Light. Cesc Fabregas (hamstring) dropped out but Abou Diaby returned from the ankle injury he collected in the last game Premier League game at Emirates. Meanwhile Emmanuel Eboue replaced Jack Wilshere.
Before kick-off, Wenger had suggested a lack of focus could be “fatal” this afternoon.
However, in the opening stages, Arsenal did not heed his words.
They had sufficient possession but did not use it wisely; failing to find team-mates with anything like their usual regularity.
Still, during the opening stages both full-backs, Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna, bashed shots just beyond either post.
In the 14th minute, they should have taken the lead. Eboue crossed from the right and the sliding Arshavin nudged the ball against the far post twice in quick succession.
Nasri fired over then against the stanchion so, as the half-hour ticked by, Arsenal might well have been well ahead. But their performance was still not of the usual standard.
West Brom, meanwhile, were on the back foot but hardly overawed. Thomas slipped over at the crucial moment when he seemed set the pull the trigger.
And in the 27th minute, they might have thieved the lead. Odemwingie collected the ball on the right, cut inside and fired low towards the near post. Almunia stretched down to his right and feathered the ball onto the post.
Ten minutes from the break, Song clipped a cross to Nasri who leathered a volley over the bar.
But Arsenal had simply not clicked into gear and it showed. They seemed a little vulnerable this afternoon and, in the 37th minute, they were caught out.
Brunt sent Odemwingie racing down the right-hand channel and Almunia raced out to intercept. The Nigerian striker got there first and the keeper swept him off his feet. There were enough covering defenders to mean Almunia saw yellow not red.
Brunt stepped up to take the penalty but the Spaniard guessed correctly to make a fine save.
Perhaps it was the spark Arsenal needed this afternoon and, shortly afterwards, Sebastien Squillaci powered a header just over the bar from Arshavin’s cross.
In injury time, the Russian sent over a free-kick from virtually the same position and Sagna’s header was hurriedly tipped over by Scott Carson.
Arsenal needed half-time to clear their heads. Frankly it could have been 2-0 in either direction at the break.
Within seven minutes of the restart we would have that scoreline – but very much in favour of the visitors.
Five minutes in, Thomas weaved past Sagna on the left-hand byline and fired a low ball across the face of goal. Odemwingie gleefully touched home at the far post.
Two minutes later, Brunt’s backheel nutmegged Clichy on the right and found Jara. His shot hit Almunia’s knee and went in at the near post.
Arsenal had made that ‘fatal’ mistake Wenger feared – and they had 38 minutes to revive themselves.
The manager made immediate re-enforcements. Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky for Eboue and Diaby.
Then Arsenal started plotting a route back into the game. Nari had a penalty claim turned down then Chamakh just failed to connect with Clichy’s left-wing cross.
Just after Song missed a near post header, Wenger brought on Vela for Koscielny.
However, Arsenal’s search had not built up a head of steam before in the 73rd minute, they conceded a third.
Brunt burst clear on the right of the area and perhaps the first-half penalty incident meant Almunia did not dive in but shepherded the midfielder wide.
However, Brunt gathered the ball and squared low into the area for Thomas to prod home from close range. Emirates Stadium had been in decent voice this afternoon but now it was speechless.
But, within two minutes, Nasri threw Arsenal a lifeline. Just after the French midfielder had smashed a shot against the bar from distance, he weaved through the West Brom defence and planted a shot into the far corner. It was his third goal of the week and his first from open play.
The expected onslaught did not really materialise but Scott Carson was forced to cling onto Squillaci’s header and, just as the fourth official indicated five minutes of injury time, Arsenal scored again when Nasri found space six yards out.
Having been caught out by injury time last week, could it save them this afternoon?
Now the home side's tactics were ‘kitchen sink’. Cross after cross was thrown into the box, the closest they came was when Chamakh scuffed a header wide. Arshavin forced a decent save from Carson and Rosicky flicked a shot over the bar.
At the full time whistle, the Arsenal fans clapped their side off and, sportingly, did likewise for West Brom. The visitors had won this game as much as the home side had lost it.
Next week’s trip to Stamford Bridge has just got even bigger.
Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 25 Sep 10
Arsène Wenger’s men kicked-off this afternoon just minutes after Manchester City had completed a 1-0 victory over the Stamford Bridge outfit. It meant that a win today followed by another at Chelsea next week and Arsenal would be top.
However the home side would never find their feet this afternoon.
In the first half, Manuel Almunia saved a penalty from Chris Brunt after the keeper had felled Peter Odemwingie. Then they were blown away by two goals in two minutes just after the break.
First, Odemwingie prodded home following fine work by Jerome Thomas. Then a speculative effort from Gonzalo Jara hit Almunia and found the bottom corner.
Arsenal’s comeback failed to make much of a dent until Thomas had added a third in the 73rd minute. Almost immediately, Nasri plundered a goal. The Frenchman grabbed another on the stroke of full time to make for a frantic five minutes of injury time.
The home side huffed and puffed but West Brom did not buckle. The visitors are certainly a tidy side while Arsenal were rough around the edges this afternoon.
It was a bad day at the office and Wenger’s men can not afford many more like this if they are going to seriously challenge for the title.
Emirates Stadium was drenched in Autumnal sunshine as the teams strode out this afternoon and the weather matched the overall mood.
Since dropping two late points at Sunderland last Saturday, Arsenal had swept aside Tottenham in the Carling Cup. Then just before kick-off, news had filtered round that Chelsea had been beaten.
With Arsenal travelling to West London next weekend, it was a chance. A good chance.
Wenger retained only Nasri and Laurent Koscielny from the side that had won so handsomely on enemy territory on Tuesday.
But there were only two alterations from the Stadium of Light. Cesc Fabregas (hamstring) dropped out but Abou Diaby returned from the ankle injury he collected in the last game Premier League game at Emirates. Meanwhile Emmanuel Eboue replaced Jack Wilshere.
Before kick-off, Wenger had suggested a lack of focus could be “fatal” this afternoon.
However, in the opening stages, Arsenal did not heed his words.
They had sufficient possession but did not use it wisely; failing to find team-mates with anything like their usual regularity.
Still, during the opening stages both full-backs, Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna, bashed shots just beyond either post.
In the 14th minute, they should have taken the lead. Eboue crossed from the right and the sliding Arshavin nudged the ball against the far post twice in quick succession.
Nasri fired over then against the stanchion so, as the half-hour ticked by, Arsenal might well have been well ahead. But their performance was still not of the usual standard.
West Brom, meanwhile, were on the back foot but hardly overawed. Thomas slipped over at the crucial moment when he seemed set the pull the trigger.
And in the 27th minute, they might have thieved the lead. Odemwingie collected the ball on the right, cut inside and fired low towards the near post. Almunia stretched down to his right and feathered the ball onto the post.
Ten minutes from the break, Song clipped a cross to Nasri who leathered a volley over the bar.
But Arsenal had simply not clicked into gear and it showed. They seemed a little vulnerable this afternoon and, in the 37th minute, they were caught out.
Brunt sent Odemwingie racing down the right-hand channel and Almunia raced out to intercept. The Nigerian striker got there first and the keeper swept him off his feet. There were enough covering defenders to mean Almunia saw yellow not red.
Brunt stepped up to take the penalty but the Spaniard guessed correctly to make a fine save.
Perhaps it was the spark Arsenal needed this afternoon and, shortly afterwards, Sebastien Squillaci powered a header just over the bar from Arshavin’s cross.
In injury time, the Russian sent over a free-kick from virtually the same position and Sagna’s header was hurriedly tipped over by Scott Carson.
Arsenal needed half-time to clear their heads. Frankly it could have been 2-0 in either direction at the break.
Within seven minutes of the restart we would have that scoreline – but very much in favour of the visitors.
Five minutes in, Thomas weaved past Sagna on the left-hand byline and fired a low ball across the face of goal. Odemwingie gleefully touched home at the far post.
Two minutes later, Brunt’s backheel nutmegged Clichy on the right and found Jara. His shot hit Almunia’s knee and went in at the near post.
Arsenal had made that ‘fatal’ mistake Wenger feared – and they had 38 minutes to revive themselves.
The manager made immediate re-enforcements. Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky for Eboue and Diaby.
Then Arsenal started plotting a route back into the game. Nari had a penalty claim turned down then Chamakh just failed to connect with Clichy’s left-wing cross.
Just after Song missed a near post header, Wenger brought on Vela for Koscielny.
However, Arsenal’s search had not built up a head of steam before in the 73rd minute, they conceded a third.
Brunt burst clear on the right of the area and perhaps the first-half penalty incident meant Almunia did not dive in but shepherded the midfielder wide.
However, Brunt gathered the ball and squared low into the area for Thomas to prod home from close range. Emirates Stadium had been in decent voice this afternoon but now it was speechless.
But, within two minutes, Nasri threw Arsenal a lifeline. Just after the French midfielder had smashed a shot against the bar from distance, he weaved through the West Brom defence and planted a shot into the far corner. It was his third goal of the week and his first from open play.
The expected onslaught did not really materialise but Scott Carson was forced to cling onto Squillaci’s header and, just as the fourth official indicated five minutes of injury time, Arsenal scored again when Nasri found space six yards out.
Having been caught out by injury time last week, could it save them this afternoon?
Now the home side's tactics were ‘kitchen sink’. Cross after cross was thrown into the box, the closest they came was when Chamakh scuffed a header wide. Arshavin forced a decent save from Carson and Rosicky flicked a shot over the bar.
At the full time whistle, the Arsenal fans clapped their side off and, sportingly, did likewise for West Brom. The visitors had won this game as much as the home side had lost it.
Next week’s trip to Stamford Bridge has just got even bigger.
Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 25 Sep 10
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Gunners trio need late checks
Arsenal will hand fitness tests to midfielders Abou Diaby and Tomas Rosicky (both ankle) as well as utility man Emmanuel Eboue (knee) ahead of the Barclays Premier League clash against West Brom at Emirates Stadium.
Midfielder Alex Song is available again after being suspended for the midweek Carling Cup win at Tottenham.
Captain Cesc Fabregas (hamstring) and centre-half Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) will both miss out, but, along with left-back Kieran Gibbs (foot), could return against Chelsea next weekend.
Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie (both ankle), Nicklas Bendtner (groin) and Aaron Ramsey (leg) remain sidelined.
Fabregas will undoubtedly be a big loss, but manager Arsene Wenger is hoping he will return in time for next week's crunch clash with Chelsea.
"I hope that he will be ready for the Chelsea match and that he will be fine,'' said Wenger. "But at the moment we don't know, it's too early.''
West Brom defender Gabriel Tamas and winger Jerome Thomas are fitness doubts.
Tamas is struggling to overcome a calf problem and, if he is ruled out, is likely to be replaced by Pablo Ibanez.
Ibanez's only previous league start was in the 6-0 reversal at Chelsea. Thomas is suffering from a groin injury and Cameroon international Somen Tchoyi is on standby.
Roberto Di Matteo has told Wenger that West Brom will adopt a physical but fair approach.
Albion head coach Di Matteo has sympathy for Wenger's demands that referees adopt a strong stance in protecting players from reckless challenges.
But the former Chelsea star also insists that proper tackling is part of the English game.
Di Matteo said: "My opinion is that football is a contact sport. Part of it is physicality - but it needs to be fair.
"Referees have to be strong and make sure the game is conducted in a fair manner where no players get injured. They need to protect the players.
"Sometimes it is just an unfortunate challenge, sometimes it is challenges that can be avoided when a player gets injured.
"It has got to be fair. No one wants to see players getting injured or breaking legs.
"I don't know what category we find ourselves in at the moment. We want to be competitive but we are not the bad boys of the Premier League at the moment.''
Source: ESPN Soccernet on 24 Sep 10
Midfielder Alex Song is available again after being suspended for the midweek Carling Cup win at Tottenham.
Captain Cesc Fabregas (hamstring) and centre-half Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) will both miss out, but, along with left-back Kieran Gibbs (foot), could return against Chelsea next weekend.
Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie (both ankle), Nicklas Bendtner (groin) and Aaron Ramsey (leg) remain sidelined.
Fabregas will undoubtedly be a big loss, but manager Arsene Wenger is hoping he will return in time for next week's crunch clash with Chelsea.
"I hope that he will be ready for the Chelsea match and that he will be fine,'' said Wenger. "But at the moment we don't know, it's too early.''
West Brom defender Gabriel Tamas and winger Jerome Thomas are fitness doubts.
Tamas is struggling to overcome a calf problem and, if he is ruled out, is likely to be replaced by Pablo Ibanez.
Ibanez's only previous league start was in the 6-0 reversal at Chelsea. Thomas is suffering from a groin injury and Cameroon international Somen Tchoyi is on standby.
Roberto Di Matteo has told Wenger that West Brom will adopt a physical but fair approach.
Albion head coach Di Matteo has sympathy for Wenger's demands that referees adopt a strong stance in protecting players from reckless challenges.
But the former Chelsea star also insists that proper tackling is part of the English game.
Di Matteo said: "My opinion is that football is a contact sport. Part of it is physicality - but it needs to be fair.
"Referees have to be strong and make sure the game is conducted in a fair manner where no players get injured. They need to protect the players.
"Sometimes it is just an unfortunate challenge, sometimes it is challenges that can be avoided when a player gets injured.
"It has got to be fair. No one wants to see players getting injured or breaking legs.
"I don't know what category we find ourselves in at the moment. We want to be competitive but we are not the bad boys of the Premier League at the moment.''
Source: ESPN Soccernet on 24 Sep 10
Match Preview: Arsenal vs WBA
“I feel we must be very, very cautious before this game,” said a stern Arsène Wenger at Thursday’s press conference.
“I believe West Brom are a very good team and we need a good performance. We are on a good run so for us it's down to focus and putting pressure on teams in every single game.
“Certainly West Brom will be one of the best teams we have played until now.”
Football managers are always worried men aren’t they? The key moments of their working week are spent staring bug-eyed and helpless at the edge of the technical area as their fate is decided before them.
Sometimes their worst fears are realised, just like Wenger’s were at Sunderland last weekend. But when he spoke to the media before Saturday’s game, the Frenchman’s ultra-caution seemed strangely incongruent with the overall mood.
Since Darren Bent’s last-gasp leveller at the Stadium of Light, Arsenal have posted great results on and off the pitch. The 4-1 victory at Tottenham was both cathartic and redemptive while Friday’s financial figures were those of a club who, pure and simply, know what they are doing.
Yes, the mood would be darker had Robbie Keane slid his shot inside and not against the post in the final minutes of normal time at White Hart Lane on Tuesday.
And yes, there is still an urgent need for a trophy but, this week, the Club clearly demonstrated its future.
Despite his conservatism, even the manager admits it is so far, so good this season.
“I am very happy with the start we have made,” admitted Wenger. “I have to say it is a pleasure to work with our players. Their focus and attitude are absolutely fantastic.”
The 60-year-old is far too experienced to be fooled by his own side’s free-scoring exploits at Emirates Stadium this term. They have hit six against Blackpool and Braga plus another four against Bolton last time. However the two domestic games have been closer than that.
“Most of the time it is down to our technical domination and the consequence of the fatigue created means there are openings in the last 20 minutes,” he said.
“Many times as well it is down to the fact we are leading by a smaller margin, and the teams have to come out at some stage. So we can take advantage.”
However, perhaps the key change this year is that Wenger’s squad appears to be stronger. The likes of Kieran Gibbs and Jack Wilshere are not just decent young players who can fill in when required. Now, they can be matchwinners.
In addition, established first-teamers like Alex Song and Manuel Almunia are manning up in pressure positions. While Sebastien Squillaci, Marouane Chamakh and Laurent Koscielny have all shown an immediate return on their summer acquisition.
“The players I bring into the side know what it is to play for us,” said Wenger. “They are focussed and they are older – 23, 24 - and they know now that every game is difficult. We will be absolutely up for it - always.
“But also we have a style of play that everybody knows inside the Club,” he added. “That means some youngsters who have come out with good performances, like Wilshere, can take responsibility in big games.”
At Tottenham, Jack the Lad was at the centre of everything Arsenal did. He attempted 138 passes, one every 52 seconds, and laid on two goals. Henri Lansbury caught the eye, as did Gibbs before he limped off.
Fears of a broken metatarsal proved false but he is still highly likely to miss out on Saturday. There is optimism Abou Diaby will pass a fitness test on his ankle. Tomas Rosicky (ankle) and Emmanuel Eboue (knee) will also need checks.
Cesc Fabregas (hamstring) and Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) will be out for another week at least. Squillaci is back after being rested in midweek, Song’s suspension is now over.
West Brom have made a handy start for a newly-promoted team and took the notable scalp of highly-fancied Birmingham last weekend. A much-changed side beat a similarly weakened Man City on Wednesday night in the Carling Cup.
Manager Roberto Di Matteo has added a few new faces this season, most notably Nigerian international striker Peter Odemwingie and former Wigan utility man Paul Scharner.
“They rested ten players in the Carling Cup, and so did Man City, so it is very difficult to compare that game,” said Wenger.
“But we do not speculate on any weakness of West Brom anyway, we just want to play at our best.
“What is important is we keep the momentum going and we can only do that if we are on full cylinders.
“I do not think we are in a position where we can take any game easy. It would be a fatal mistake. I am conscious of that and I am sure the players are focussed.
“We expect West Brom to play a good football game, because they try to play, that is why I am convinced it will be interesting.”
This is an easily over-looked game for Arsenal supporters. It comes just after a North London derby, just before a Champions League trip and with a massive game on the horizon.
The game at Chelsea next Sunday will be billed as the first true test of Arsenal’s title credentials. While the West Brom game is barely being billed at all; there were precious few questions on the Baggies in Wenger’s pre-match media work.
In tabloid-ese, if Wenger’s men beat Chelsea they could be champions. If they don’t beat West Brom they certainly won’t be.
Of course, it is never as simple as that. Arsenal do need to improve last season’s record against the other top sides. But, boring though it may be, “consistency” has always been Wenger’s watch-word.
While next Sunday is a potential ‘six-pointer’ at the top, they’ll need another 80 points to take the title whatever happens.
And most of those will come from straightforward wins such as the one Wenger is planning on Saturday.
Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 25 Sep 10
“I believe West Brom are a very good team and we need a good performance. We are on a good run so for us it's down to focus and putting pressure on teams in every single game.
“Certainly West Brom will be one of the best teams we have played until now.”
Football managers are always worried men aren’t they? The key moments of their working week are spent staring bug-eyed and helpless at the edge of the technical area as their fate is decided before them.
Sometimes their worst fears are realised, just like Wenger’s were at Sunderland last weekend. But when he spoke to the media before Saturday’s game, the Frenchman’s ultra-caution seemed strangely incongruent with the overall mood.
Since Darren Bent’s last-gasp leveller at the Stadium of Light, Arsenal have posted great results on and off the pitch. The 4-1 victory at Tottenham was both cathartic and redemptive while Friday’s financial figures were those of a club who, pure and simply, know what they are doing.
Yes, the mood would be darker had Robbie Keane slid his shot inside and not against the post in the final minutes of normal time at White Hart Lane on Tuesday.
And yes, there is still an urgent need for a trophy but, this week, the Club clearly demonstrated its future.
Despite his conservatism, even the manager admits it is so far, so good this season.
“I am very happy with the start we have made,” admitted Wenger. “I have to say it is a pleasure to work with our players. Their focus and attitude are absolutely fantastic.”
The 60-year-old is far too experienced to be fooled by his own side’s free-scoring exploits at Emirates Stadium this term. They have hit six against Blackpool and Braga plus another four against Bolton last time. However the two domestic games have been closer than that.
“Most of the time it is down to our technical domination and the consequence of the fatigue created means there are openings in the last 20 minutes,” he said.
“Many times as well it is down to the fact we are leading by a smaller margin, and the teams have to come out at some stage. So we can take advantage.”
However, perhaps the key change this year is that Wenger’s squad appears to be stronger. The likes of Kieran Gibbs and Jack Wilshere are not just decent young players who can fill in when required. Now, they can be matchwinners.
In addition, established first-teamers like Alex Song and Manuel Almunia are manning up in pressure positions. While Sebastien Squillaci, Marouane Chamakh and Laurent Koscielny have all shown an immediate return on their summer acquisition.
“The players I bring into the side know what it is to play for us,” said Wenger. “They are focussed and they are older – 23, 24 - and they know now that every game is difficult. We will be absolutely up for it - always.
“But also we have a style of play that everybody knows inside the Club,” he added. “That means some youngsters who have come out with good performances, like Wilshere, can take responsibility in big games.”
At Tottenham, Jack the Lad was at the centre of everything Arsenal did. He attempted 138 passes, one every 52 seconds, and laid on two goals. Henri Lansbury caught the eye, as did Gibbs before he limped off.
Fears of a broken metatarsal proved false but he is still highly likely to miss out on Saturday. There is optimism Abou Diaby will pass a fitness test on his ankle. Tomas Rosicky (ankle) and Emmanuel Eboue (knee) will also need checks.
Cesc Fabregas (hamstring) and Thomas Vermaelen (Achilles) will be out for another week at least. Squillaci is back after being rested in midweek, Song’s suspension is now over.
West Brom have made a handy start for a newly-promoted team and took the notable scalp of highly-fancied Birmingham last weekend. A much-changed side beat a similarly weakened Man City on Wednesday night in the Carling Cup.
Manager Roberto Di Matteo has added a few new faces this season, most notably Nigerian international striker Peter Odemwingie and former Wigan utility man Paul Scharner.
“They rested ten players in the Carling Cup, and so did Man City, so it is very difficult to compare that game,” said Wenger.
“But we do not speculate on any weakness of West Brom anyway, we just want to play at our best.
“What is important is we keep the momentum going and we can only do that if we are on full cylinders.
“I do not think we are in a position where we can take any game easy. It would be a fatal mistake. I am conscious of that and I am sure the players are focussed.
“We expect West Brom to play a good football game, because they try to play, that is why I am convinced it will be interesting.”
This is an easily over-looked game for Arsenal supporters. It comes just after a North London derby, just before a Champions League trip and with a massive game on the horizon.
The game at Chelsea next Sunday will be billed as the first true test of Arsenal’s title credentials. While the West Brom game is barely being billed at all; there were precious few questions on the Baggies in Wenger’s pre-match media work.
In tabloid-ese, if Wenger’s men beat Chelsea they could be champions. If they don’t beat West Brom they certainly won’t be.
Of course, it is never as simple as that. Arsenal do need to improve last season’s record against the other top sides. But, boring though it may be, “consistency” has always been Wenger’s watch-word.
While next Sunday is a potential ‘six-pointer’ at the top, they’ll need another 80 points to take the title whatever happens.
And most of those will come from straightforward wins such as the one Wenger is planning on Saturday.
Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 25 Sep 10
Arsenal aim to be global top Gunners
Arsenal was once the quintessential English football club, with its impressive marble hallways at Highbury stadium and high-tempo football on the playing field.
Highbury has now been replaced by the modern Emirates Stadium, while Arsene Wenger has the club playing some of the most stylish passing football in Europe.
And there have been other changes under way in north London, as the club looks to US business know-how to promote its brand around the world.
Successful product
Former Quaker Oats, NBA, Nike and Gatorade executive Tom Fox is Arsenal's chief commercial officer, with more than 20 years of selling American brands overseas.
His task is now to sell the club outside the UK in the way that Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool have done.
"It is different from marketing a cereal brand," says Mr Fox, who was brought into his newly-created role last autumn to oversee all of the club's commercial efforts worldwide.
"Success has a lot to do with it," he says.
"Putting the basic successful product out on the field - like our 6-0 victory over Braga - is a huge component of our brand."
But he warns: "Football is not like making cereal, where you can guarantee what the customer will get when they open the box.
"Sport is unique - if the team does not have that success on the field then that makes it more difficult for us."
As the club's commercial operation cannot affect what happens on the field of play, Mr Fox says it must concentrate on other areas of the business model which it can influence.
"We spend a lot of time working on how we can build a successful model that is not so relying on winning," he says
"It is about insulating ourselves," he says at a Sports Marketing 360 event in London.
Arsenal World
As part of that aim to promote the club business as a whole entity, rather than just the playing side of things, Arsenal has announced a new global media initiative.
Tom Fox has widespread experience in US marketing, including three major sports brands At present the club has media partners in Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Italy, Ghana, north and sub-Saharan Africa, Finland, France, the Middle East and Israel, Malaysia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Australia and Vietnam.
The strategy includes finding TV and multi-media partners around the world, including the major markets of India, China and US - which most large football European clubs have been looking to crack.
Among the content on offer is "Arsenal World", which is advertised as "giving viewers a new angle into the players' lives".
It will include players talking about interests such as fashion and style, talking about their heroes, and recounting their favourite journey.
The club is also looking to increase its digital media output, covering online, premium broadband, mobile phone applications, internet TV, and video on demand.
Story writing
Mr Fox says he believes that the mixture of Arsenal's global PR and an increased thirst for televised sport in India and China can help the club break new ground.
"There are 104 shops in China where Arsenal FC merchandise is sold." says Mr Fox.
"In 12 to 18 months, we will be looking to get Chinese youngsters to write stories about Arsenal Football Club.
"That will be more important than anything we can do with those stores.
"To get into a market like China, which is increasingly cluttered, not only with other football brands, but also names like Jeep, is not easy.
"To get through that we have to show them that Arsenal is different, expose them to our brand, get our message over."
However, Mr Fox offers a few words of caution, pointing out that Arsenal's revenues were £240m in the 2008-09 season.
"We must remember we are a £240m brand launching in Asia and the US, and potentially in India, when we know that billion-dollar brands are also looking to launch there."
Bright man
Yet when it comes to the US, Arsenal seems well prepared in its drive to break into the market, as Mr Fox is part of a trio with American roots at the helm of the club.
Chief executive Ivan Gazidis, although South African-born, had been running MLS league soccer in the US, while Denver sports tycoon Stan Kroenke is major shareholder.
Manager Arsene Wenger remains a key figure at Arsenal FC And Mr Fox also praises manager Arsene Wenger as "a very bright man" and an essential part of the club as it moves forward on and off the field.
"A football business has a different focus from a regular business," Mr Fox says.
"We are in the business of winning football matches."
To that end he says any extra money that the club generates from expanded commercial operations would be put into the football side - be it player fees, medical facilities, or scouting.
"If you look at where Arsenal sits relative to other clubs in Europe we would love to have more money to spend on players," he says.
But, perhaps alluding to current events at Liverpool, Mr Fox adds: "We are not here to make money so that investors can walk away with a huge return."
Hard questions
There is no doubt that the commercial and branding operations of top English football clubs has changed immensely since the formation of the Premier League in the 1992/93 season.
Football has changed immensely on and off the field in the past two decades And Mr Fox says that despite the massive changes football always has to be focusing on its next direction.
"Sport is an unusual environment and the game [football] is changing," he says.
"You don't have to fear for yourself like you did sometimes in the 1980s, and football is putting itself into different areas, including reaching out more to women.
"Football has been so big, grown so successfully, that it probably has not asked enough hard questions of itself.
"In five to 10 years' time we are going to have to ask: 'Where are we going to go to grow our business?'."
Source: Bill Wilson, BBC News on 22 Sep 10
Highbury has now been replaced by the modern Emirates Stadium, while Arsene Wenger has the club playing some of the most stylish passing football in Europe.
And there have been other changes under way in north London, as the club looks to US business know-how to promote its brand around the world.
Successful product
Former Quaker Oats, NBA, Nike and Gatorade executive Tom Fox is Arsenal's chief commercial officer, with more than 20 years of selling American brands overseas.
His task is now to sell the club outside the UK in the way that Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool have done.
"It is different from marketing a cereal brand," says Mr Fox, who was brought into his newly-created role last autumn to oversee all of the club's commercial efforts worldwide.
"Success has a lot to do with it," he says.
"Putting the basic successful product out on the field - like our 6-0 victory over Braga - is a huge component of our brand."
But he warns: "Football is not like making cereal, where you can guarantee what the customer will get when they open the box.
"Sport is unique - if the team does not have that success on the field then that makes it more difficult for us."
As the club's commercial operation cannot affect what happens on the field of play, Mr Fox says it must concentrate on other areas of the business model which it can influence.
"We spend a lot of time working on how we can build a successful model that is not so relying on winning," he says
"It is about insulating ourselves," he says at a Sports Marketing 360 event in London.
Arsenal World
As part of that aim to promote the club business as a whole entity, rather than just the playing side of things, Arsenal has announced a new global media initiative.
Tom Fox has widespread experience in US marketing, including three major sports brands At present the club has media partners in Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, Italy, Ghana, north and sub-Saharan Africa, Finland, France, the Middle East and Israel, Malaysia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Australia and Vietnam.
The strategy includes finding TV and multi-media partners around the world, including the major markets of India, China and US - which most large football European clubs have been looking to crack.
Among the content on offer is "Arsenal World", which is advertised as "giving viewers a new angle into the players' lives".
It will include players talking about interests such as fashion and style, talking about their heroes, and recounting their favourite journey.
The club is also looking to increase its digital media output, covering online, premium broadband, mobile phone applications, internet TV, and video on demand.
Story writing
Mr Fox says he believes that the mixture of Arsenal's global PR and an increased thirst for televised sport in India and China can help the club break new ground.
"There are 104 shops in China where Arsenal FC merchandise is sold." says Mr Fox.
"In 12 to 18 months, we will be looking to get Chinese youngsters to write stories about Arsenal Football Club.
"That will be more important than anything we can do with those stores.
"To get into a market like China, which is increasingly cluttered, not only with other football brands, but also names like Jeep, is not easy.
"To get through that we have to show them that Arsenal is different, expose them to our brand, get our message over."
However, Mr Fox offers a few words of caution, pointing out that Arsenal's revenues were £240m in the 2008-09 season.
"We must remember we are a £240m brand launching in Asia and the US, and potentially in India, when we know that billion-dollar brands are also looking to launch there."
Bright man
Yet when it comes to the US, Arsenal seems well prepared in its drive to break into the market, as Mr Fox is part of a trio with American roots at the helm of the club.
Chief executive Ivan Gazidis, although South African-born, had been running MLS league soccer in the US, while Denver sports tycoon Stan Kroenke is major shareholder.
Manager Arsene Wenger remains a key figure at Arsenal FC And Mr Fox also praises manager Arsene Wenger as "a very bright man" and an essential part of the club as it moves forward on and off the field.
"A football business has a different focus from a regular business," Mr Fox says.
"We are in the business of winning football matches."
To that end he says any extra money that the club generates from expanded commercial operations would be put into the football side - be it player fees, medical facilities, or scouting.
"If you look at where Arsenal sits relative to other clubs in Europe we would love to have more money to spend on players," he says.
But, perhaps alluding to current events at Liverpool, Mr Fox adds: "We are not here to make money so that investors can walk away with a huge return."
Hard questions
There is no doubt that the commercial and branding operations of top English football clubs has changed immensely since the formation of the Premier League in the 1992/93 season.
Football has changed immensely on and off the field in the past two decades And Mr Fox says that despite the massive changes football always has to be focusing on its next direction.
"Sport is an unusual environment and the game [football] is changing," he says.
"You don't have to fear for yourself like you did sometimes in the 1980s, and football is putting itself into different areas, including reaching out more to women.
"Football has been so big, grown so successfully, that it probably has not asked enough hard questions of itself.
"In five to 10 years' time we are going to have to ask: 'Where are we going to go to grow our business?'."
Source: Bill Wilson, BBC News on 22 Sep 10
Arsenal announce record pre-tax profits of £56m
Arsenal today announced record pre-tax profits of £56m and said that the property built as part of the move to the Emirates stadium, the Highbury Square development, is now debt free and making money for the club.
The healthy picture contrasts favourably with the situations at Liverpool and Manchester United, where the highly leveraged debt carried by both clubs has led to high interest payments and fan protests. But it may also increase pressure from Arsenal supporters on the manager Arsène Wenger to invest some of those proceeds in his squad and so increase the chances of winning a major trophy. The last one was the FA Cup in 2005.
The sale of 362 apartments at Highbury Square and the social housing at Queensland Road, developments that were part of the move to the Emirates, generated revenues of £156.9m and allowed Arsenal to repay in full the £129.6m in bank loans taken to fund the construction. The property sales helped increase turnover to a record £379.9m from £313.3m.
The results were also boosted by a net profit of £13.6m on player trading, including the sales of Kolo Touré and Emmanuel Adebayor to Manchester City.
Peter Hill-Wood, the chairman, paid tribute to Wenger's careful management of resources and commitment to bringing through young players, paying tribute to his ability to "extract value" by selling those "no longer central to his future plans". Wenger recently ended speculation about his future by signing a contract to stay until the end of the 2013–14 season.
The financial report pays tribute to Wenger's "excellent understanding of the club's business model and the finances available to him". The club's overall turnover from its football business was marginally down, owing to five fewer home cup matches, reduced income from merchandising and catering (put down to the recession and reduced number of matches) from £48.1m to £44m and an increase in the wage bill from £104m to £110.7m.
The financial report reveals that while that wage bill, at 50% of turnover, remains within the club's target range, it warned there "continues to be upward pressure on players' wage expectations" and warned of further rises to come in the next year.
The plan to partly fund the move to the Emirates through property sales was questioned by some at the height of the recession, but it has now paid off. There remain 85 units up for sale at Highbury Square, but they expect to move them on by the end of the next financial year, and there is another significant housing development that has yet to be built at Queensland Road, which will be constructed by a third party.
"The most pleasing aspect of these results is that the returns generated in the property business during the year, particularly at Highbury Square, have allowed us to repay £130m of bank loans and significantly reduce the group's overall net debt," said Hill-Wood. "We now have a debt-free property business which is accumulating surplus cash as further unit sales are made at Highbury Square and which has three further property assets to realise over the next few years."
The group's overall net debt has been reduced from £297.7m to £135.6m. That contrasts sharply with the £716m borrowed against Manchester United and their own stake in the club by the Glazers and the £237m owed by Liverpool to the Royal Bank of Scotland. Such is the interest on those loans that the Anfield managing director, Christian Purslow, admitted this week that servicing the debt absorbed most of Liverpool's cashflow and left little spare to invest in the squad.
While welcoming the results, fans' groups warned that Arsenal should start planning now for an era beyond the windfall provided by the property portfolio.
"They are very good figures but looking forward, Arsenal's football income only just covers its costs and shows why the future commercial income is so key," said a spokesman for the Arsenal Supporters' Trust. "As the property development comes to an end, it demonstrates the importance of improving commercial revenues and growing overseas."
Arsenal's commercial income is roughly half of Manchester United's, which has targeted overseas deals in recent years. The chief commercial officer Tom Fox has overseen a reorganisation of the department and will look to aggressively grow revenues.
The key period will be from 2014 onwards, when deals with Emirates and Nike are due for renewal. The huge overseas exposure of the Premier League has made sponsorship and commercial deals a key revenue stream.
Wenger has traditionally resisted pressure to take his team on pre-season tours to boost the club's profile but admitted at last week's shareholders meeting that he was likely to have to bow to pressure to do so. The chief executive Ivan Gazidis, who spent much of his career in the US, and Stan Kroenke, the US sports mogul who is the club's single largest shareholder, are both keen to grow the club's profile overseas. The club also recently signed a deal with the sports media group MP & Silva to develop broadcast and online products aimed at an international audience.
"There is no doubt that the areas of commercial activity and sponsorship provide the greatest opportunity for the club to generate significant incremental revenues in the medium to long term," said Gazidis.
He described last season as "something of a roller-coaster ride" on the pitch but said the club are well placed to succeed. "The competitive landscape makes it ever tougher to achieve success on the field and standing still is simply not, and never has been, an option for the club," he said. "It is important that we continue to develop a vibrant and robust business with sufficient revenues to sustain success. The group has made good progress over the last year and I am excited by the opportunities which we have in front of us."
Source: Owen Gibson, The Guardian on 24 Sep 10
The healthy picture contrasts favourably with the situations at Liverpool and Manchester United, where the highly leveraged debt carried by both clubs has led to high interest payments and fan protests. But it may also increase pressure from Arsenal supporters on the manager Arsène Wenger to invest some of those proceeds in his squad and so increase the chances of winning a major trophy. The last one was the FA Cup in 2005.
The sale of 362 apartments at Highbury Square and the social housing at Queensland Road, developments that were part of the move to the Emirates, generated revenues of £156.9m and allowed Arsenal to repay in full the £129.6m in bank loans taken to fund the construction. The property sales helped increase turnover to a record £379.9m from £313.3m.
The results were also boosted by a net profit of £13.6m on player trading, including the sales of Kolo Touré and Emmanuel Adebayor to Manchester City.
Peter Hill-Wood, the chairman, paid tribute to Wenger's careful management of resources and commitment to bringing through young players, paying tribute to his ability to "extract value" by selling those "no longer central to his future plans". Wenger recently ended speculation about his future by signing a contract to stay until the end of the 2013–14 season.
The financial report pays tribute to Wenger's "excellent understanding of the club's business model and the finances available to him". The club's overall turnover from its football business was marginally down, owing to five fewer home cup matches, reduced income from merchandising and catering (put down to the recession and reduced number of matches) from £48.1m to £44m and an increase in the wage bill from £104m to £110.7m.
The financial report reveals that while that wage bill, at 50% of turnover, remains within the club's target range, it warned there "continues to be upward pressure on players' wage expectations" and warned of further rises to come in the next year.
The plan to partly fund the move to the Emirates through property sales was questioned by some at the height of the recession, but it has now paid off. There remain 85 units up for sale at Highbury Square, but they expect to move them on by the end of the next financial year, and there is another significant housing development that has yet to be built at Queensland Road, which will be constructed by a third party.
"The most pleasing aspect of these results is that the returns generated in the property business during the year, particularly at Highbury Square, have allowed us to repay £130m of bank loans and significantly reduce the group's overall net debt," said Hill-Wood. "We now have a debt-free property business which is accumulating surplus cash as further unit sales are made at Highbury Square and which has three further property assets to realise over the next few years."
The group's overall net debt has been reduced from £297.7m to £135.6m. That contrasts sharply with the £716m borrowed against Manchester United and their own stake in the club by the Glazers and the £237m owed by Liverpool to the Royal Bank of Scotland. Such is the interest on those loans that the Anfield managing director, Christian Purslow, admitted this week that servicing the debt absorbed most of Liverpool's cashflow and left little spare to invest in the squad.
While welcoming the results, fans' groups warned that Arsenal should start planning now for an era beyond the windfall provided by the property portfolio.
"They are very good figures but looking forward, Arsenal's football income only just covers its costs and shows why the future commercial income is so key," said a spokesman for the Arsenal Supporters' Trust. "As the property development comes to an end, it demonstrates the importance of improving commercial revenues and growing overseas."
Arsenal's commercial income is roughly half of Manchester United's, which has targeted overseas deals in recent years. The chief commercial officer Tom Fox has overseen a reorganisation of the department and will look to aggressively grow revenues.
The key period will be from 2014 onwards, when deals with Emirates and Nike are due for renewal. The huge overseas exposure of the Premier League has made sponsorship and commercial deals a key revenue stream.
Wenger has traditionally resisted pressure to take his team on pre-season tours to boost the club's profile but admitted at last week's shareholders meeting that he was likely to have to bow to pressure to do so. The chief executive Ivan Gazidis, who spent much of his career in the US, and Stan Kroenke, the US sports mogul who is the club's single largest shareholder, are both keen to grow the club's profile overseas. The club also recently signed a deal with the sports media group MP & Silva to develop broadcast and online products aimed at an international audience.
"There is no doubt that the areas of commercial activity and sponsorship provide the greatest opportunity for the club to generate significant incremental revenues in the medium to long term," said Gazidis.
He described last season as "something of a roller-coaster ride" on the pitch but said the club are well placed to succeed. "The competitive landscape makes it ever tougher to achieve success on the field and standing still is simply not, and never has been, an option for the club," he said. "It is important that we continue to develop a vibrant and robust business with sufficient revenues to sustain success. The group has made good progress over the last year and I am excited by the opportunities which we have in front of us."
Source: Owen Gibson, The Guardian on 24 Sep 10
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Tottenham understudies show promise but fluff their lines at audition
The Spurs youngsters are not as strong as their manager, Harry Redknapp, had hoped.
That Tottenham began tonight intent on treating the Carling Cup as a testing ground rather than a trophy could be taken as a testament to their elevated status. Winning the tournament in 2008 triggered an orgy of celebration at White Hart Lane – and apparently left them so intoxicated that their form collapsed and Juande Ramos was eventually ushered out the door – but this is no longer considered a competition in which victory would ignite wild revelry.
Instead tonight's line-ups confirmed that Harry Redknapp viewed it as a forum in which youngsters audition for potential roles in the swisher surrounds the club now inhabits, as Spurs started with a side greener than the one fielded by Arsenal, usually the most snooty of clubs when it comes to the Carling Cup.
Perhaps the fact that Arsène Wenger upset convention by picking the strongest team he has thrust into this competition since the 1998 semi-final against Chelsea can also be construed as an acknowledgement that Tottenham are a rising force, one whose ballooning confidence it is worth taking the trouble to deflate. If that was the mission, then it was mostly accomplished.
For most of this match Arsenal assailed Redknapp with evidence that his squad is not as strong as he had hoped. There was some encouragement for Redknapp in the second half, when he revolted against Arsenal's attempt to put Spurs back in their place and gained a foothold by introducing Robbie Keane and Aaron Lennon, but when Arsenal responded by throwing on some of their bigger guns their supremacy was restored.
In the end, perhaps the most satisfying lesson Redknapp will have taken from the evening is that there remains at least one position in which Arsenal do not have greater depth than their uppity neighbours. Lukasz Fabianksi made that point by contributing some trademark faffing to Robbie Keane's equaliser.
Redknapp also learned that Jake Livermore has the enthusiasm but not yet the guile to thrive at this level and, less understandably, that Giovani dos Santos is no closer to finding his Mexico form for his club. The Spurs manager also received confirmation that Wilson Palacios should not be uprooted from his deep role – for he was entirely irrelevant as an advanced midfielder in the first period, personifying the missing link between defence and attack. In the second half he switched with the Brazilian debutant Sandro, who thus moved into a more advanced position, but still struggled to make an impact.
There can be no quibble with the 21-year-old's eagerness to get involved – the supposed resemblance to the illustrious Sócrates was at least apparent in his authoritative gesticulations and he ran, tackled and sought the ball with gusto. He seldom got it but he never hid – and one swivel and run in the 82nd minute hinted at better things to come. The only conclusion that can be drawn on him after this is that he is not an instant miracle-worker.
Another debutant, the 18-year-old Steven Caulker, also found Arsenal testing opponents. No surprise there. While winning the player of the year award while on loan at Yeovil Town last season he did not come up against forwards as elusive as Carlos Vela and whoever else he was supposed to be tracking tonight – was it Samir Nasri, Tomas Rosicky or Jack Wilshere? It varied and the rookie occasionally struggled to keep up, his bemusement even affecting his ability to perform the most elementary tasks as he failed to cut out Wilshere's cross for Arsenal's opening goal, scored by Henri Lansbury, a tyro who tired but initially benefitted from being surrounded by experienced team-mates.
Generally Caulker steadied himself, but he still goofed to present a chance to Rosicky early in the second half and later emulated Sébastien Bassong by giving an Arsenal forward an easy excuse to tumble in the box.
That, of course, is certainly not enough to deduce that he will never become comfortable among the elite. What we can say is that Redknapp, with Michael Dawson and Jonathan Woodgate long-term injury victims and Ledley King usually unable to play two games a week, will hope that the back and hamstring trouble currently afflicting Vedran Corluka and Younes Kaboul does not turn out to be serious.
As for Spurs' other debutant, Stipe Pletikosa could not be faulted for the Arsenal goals but did err in the final minute of normal time when he came to intercept a Wilshere freekick but only got close enough to make desperate, flagless semaphores at it. It is far too early, of course, to deduce that he is less reliable than Fabianski.
Source: Paul Doyle, The Guardian on 22 Sep 10
That Tottenham began tonight intent on treating the Carling Cup as a testing ground rather than a trophy could be taken as a testament to their elevated status. Winning the tournament in 2008 triggered an orgy of celebration at White Hart Lane – and apparently left them so intoxicated that their form collapsed and Juande Ramos was eventually ushered out the door – but this is no longer considered a competition in which victory would ignite wild revelry.
Instead tonight's line-ups confirmed that Harry Redknapp viewed it as a forum in which youngsters audition for potential roles in the swisher surrounds the club now inhabits, as Spurs started with a side greener than the one fielded by Arsenal, usually the most snooty of clubs when it comes to the Carling Cup.
Perhaps the fact that Arsène Wenger upset convention by picking the strongest team he has thrust into this competition since the 1998 semi-final against Chelsea can also be construed as an acknowledgement that Tottenham are a rising force, one whose ballooning confidence it is worth taking the trouble to deflate. If that was the mission, then it was mostly accomplished.
For most of this match Arsenal assailed Redknapp with evidence that his squad is not as strong as he had hoped. There was some encouragement for Redknapp in the second half, when he revolted against Arsenal's attempt to put Spurs back in their place and gained a foothold by introducing Robbie Keane and Aaron Lennon, but when Arsenal responded by throwing on some of their bigger guns their supremacy was restored.
In the end, perhaps the most satisfying lesson Redknapp will have taken from the evening is that there remains at least one position in which Arsenal do not have greater depth than their uppity neighbours. Lukasz Fabianksi made that point by contributing some trademark faffing to Robbie Keane's equaliser.
Redknapp also learned that Jake Livermore has the enthusiasm but not yet the guile to thrive at this level and, less understandably, that Giovani dos Santos is no closer to finding his Mexico form for his club. The Spurs manager also received confirmation that Wilson Palacios should not be uprooted from his deep role – for he was entirely irrelevant as an advanced midfielder in the first period, personifying the missing link between defence and attack. In the second half he switched with the Brazilian debutant Sandro, who thus moved into a more advanced position, but still struggled to make an impact.
There can be no quibble with the 21-year-old's eagerness to get involved – the supposed resemblance to the illustrious Sócrates was at least apparent in his authoritative gesticulations and he ran, tackled and sought the ball with gusto. He seldom got it but he never hid – and one swivel and run in the 82nd minute hinted at better things to come. The only conclusion that can be drawn on him after this is that he is not an instant miracle-worker.
Another debutant, the 18-year-old Steven Caulker, also found Arsenal testing opponents. No surprise there. While winning the player of the year award while on loan at Yeovil Town last season he did not come up against forwards as elusive as Carlos Vela and whoever else he was supposed to be tracking tonight – was it Samir Nasri, Tomas Rosicky or Jack Wilshere? It varied and the rookie occasionally struggled to keep up, his bemusement even affecting his ability to perform the most elementary tasks as he failed to cut out Wilshere's cross for Arsenal's opening goal, scored by Henri Lansbury, a tyro who tired but initially benefitted from being surrounded by experienced team-mates.
Generally Caulker steadied himself, but he still goofed to present a chance to Rosicky early in the second half and later emulated Sébastien Bassong by giving an Arsenal forward an easy excuse to tumble in the box.
That, of course, is certainly not enough to deduce that he will never become comfortable among the elite. What we can say is that Redknapp, with Michael Dawson and Jonathan Woodgate long-term injury victims and Ledley King usually unable to play two games a week, will hope that the back and hamstring trouble currently afflicting Vedran Corluka and Younes Kaboul does not turn out to be serious.
As for Spurs' other debutant, Stipe Pletikosa could not be faulted for the Arsenal goals but did err in the final minute of normal time when he came to intercept a Wilshere freekick but only got close enough to make desperate, flagless semaphores at it. It is far too early, of course, to deduce that he is less reliable than Fabianski.
Source: Paul Doyle, The Guardian on 22 Sep 10
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