If Chelsea's adaptation to all that André Villas-Boas aspires to was expected to be seamless, then it has not taken long for a sense of realism to set in. Life under him will clearly be illuminating at times, the football refreshingly attack-minded and exhilarating when it clicks, but there will be occasions such as this when his team become unstitched.
This derby was thrilling, though the majesty of the occasion was lost on the defeated as they trudged from the turf at the end. Chelsea have suffered in riotous collisions with Manchester United and now Arsenal this season despite the fact that, in both contests with rival contenders, they have scintillated. Profligacy has undermined them where they might have run up cricket scores yet, ultimately, the focus has been drawn away from the chances spurned to those conceded. This is a forward-thinking side whose desire to pour forward leaves them open and, against better opposition, alarmingly vulnerable.
Villas-Boas is attempting to implement the style and tactics that proved so successful in his only full season as a manager, a glittering campaign at Porto that yielded every major trophy available, but the demands for a high defensive line and a disciplined pressing approach to regain the ball are still being digested by this squad of players.
Their style, with Ashley Cole and José Bosingwa as auxiliary attackers and those in the centre asked to shield and cover, hassle and harry when out of possession, can appear naive when opponents rip through on the break as often as Arsenal did on Saturday. The philosophy is admirable and entertaining, whether it thrives or not; it is the implementation that on occasion has let Chelsea down to date.
The technical staff will have been privately uncomfortable when concentration wavered in midfield, with players caught out of position or drawn into areas that left team-mates exposed. Villas-Boas insisted after Chelsea's first five-goal concession in this stadium since Liverpool won 5-2 in 1989 that he was not one for changing.
"The results [in the Premier League this season] reflect how chaotic the game is and how beautiful it is at the same time," he said. "For the neutrals it is a good spectacle. For supporters of that team, you want to play beautiful football and win. So we need to get the two together.
"We created enough chances to win but we have to try to find the efficiency to win. We shouldn't turn things around. This is the route we are taking and we want to do the things properly. The players have talent and they enjoy it. So we will try to get things right. Everyone is praising a strong, attacking team like Manchester City and we are exactly the same."
City, however, tend to benefit from the presence of two defensively-minded midfield sitters who grant their forward line more freedom to dazzle. Mikel John Obi has actually felt more effective on occasion this season but contests against the best tend to leave him outnumbered and bypassed. There may be a logic to employing Oriol Romeu, whose cameos have been impressive, alongside the Nigerian in key games to come.
Similarly, with Alex having failed to convince and David Luiz prone to meander upfield, the management might seek to add more steel to the ranks at centre-half in January – or at least players who are more familiar to the demands now being placed on them. At most clubs this might be considered a season of transition but Chelsea are not known for patience.
The true balance Villas-Boas has to strike is between implementing his ideas while also maintaining challenges on all fronts. Had this been a Champions League match against Barcelona, Chelsea would have been out of the competition.
As it is, their powers of recovery will be tested. Arsenal were as fragile defensively here but they were less profligate up front and that covered their deficiencies. In Robin van Persie they had the game's outstanding forward – Fernando Torres was desperately quiet in comparison – while Aaron Ramsey emerged to eclipse Frank Lampard as the game's creator-in-chief. All the goals were superbly executed but still owed something to defensive chaos, with the exception perhaps of Juan Mata's superb third which might normally have been disallowed after Romelu Lukaku blocked André Santos.
That restoration of parity at 3-3 had briefly hinted at a late onslaught from Chelsea only for John Terry's scriptwriters to veer off course. The captain's goal on the stroke of half-time had suggested strength of character, an unwillingness to bend under the weight of the allegations of racism that are under investigation by the Football Association. Instead Florent Malouda's routine back-pass prompted panic and the England centre-half first stumbled, then sank to the ground as Van Persie raced away to round Petr Cech and restore Arsenal's lead.
The image of Terry prostrate on the turf rather summed up what this occasion had become. Villas-Boas has not suffered successive league defeats since his Academica side succumbed to Porto and Guimarães in March 2010. But, while Blackburn Rovers await at Ewood Park on Saturday, it is the contests with Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur over the next six weeks that may prove more definitive. Adaptation needs to be accelerated.
Source: Dominic Fifield, The Guardian on 30 Oct 11
Monday, October 31, 2011
The efficient Arsenal front line made more of the high back lines
This was a helter-skelter occasion, a game of huge excitement with all caution thrown to the wind, and at its conclusion the professor had gazumped the apprentice. Yet the thrill this match provided was encouraged throughout by naive defending from both sides. On the day, the efficiency of Arsenal's forwards better masked their own team's defensive vulnerability. Chelsea missed their opportunities and paid the price.
It was the eagerness of both sides to play such high defensive lines that opened this contest up. Arsenal set that tone early on, with Per Mertesacker squeezing the play to keep Fernando Torres further away from goal and, in doing so, ensure the distances between the visitors' backline, midfield and frontline stayed relatively short. The upside of the tactic was that the visitors were never strung out and, when possession was regained, they were close to each other to support. The flip side, though, was the pockets of space left between defenders and the acres behind them that Chelsea's forwards sought to exploit.
A sharper home attack would have punished the Arsenal bravery. They ran invitingly and unopposed behind Arsenal's full-backs in the contest's opening minutes and might have established a healthy early lead. It was a dangerous tactic for Arsenal to adopt, given that top-quality players, given a fraction of a second, can time a pass to perfection and send team-mates bearing down on goal. Mertesacker might have preferred to have sat deeper among his back four. Yet he was spared at times here because Daniel Sturridge seemed uncertain of touch, Torres was passive and Juan Mata was unable to command the ball enough to dictate the proceedings.
But Chelsea too, perhaps somewhat surprisingly, played high and left space behind, which Theo Walcott, in particular, relished. The England winger ran merrily beyond Ashley Cole (see diagram), his accurate selection of pass a pleasing improvement. The opportunities passed up by Gervinho and Robin van Persie in the opening 15 minutes were an indication of how open Chelsea were, with Walcott outpacing Cole at will. When playing such a high line, there must always be pressure exerted on the player in possession who is seeking to thread the ball through. It said a lot for Aaron Ramsey's performance that, after the interval in particular, he was able to escape the attentions of Mikel John Obi when Arsène Wenger pushed the Welshman further forward to contribute telling passes.
With Alex Song holding, Ramsey was better able to express himself; his is an old head on young shoulders, twisting and turning, with his timing of the pass spot on. Given responsibility, and now injury-free, Ramsey could prove inspirational. Gervinho was bright and worked hard, offering Van Persie strong support on the inside of José Bosingwa. In the end, it was the efficiency of Arsenal's forwards, who took their chances better than their hosts, that claimed victory. The willingness to play high made this a refreshing occasion, one that I'd predicted might end in a 4-4 draw after that frantic opening five minutes. That, in the end, did not prove to be too far out.
Source: David Pleat, The Guardian on 30 Oct 11
That's why we keep the faith
There have too many occasions in 2011 that Arsenal fans have been annoyed, frustrated, embarrassed, disillusioned, or have strongly questioned the most successful manager in our history. Often those frustrations and questions have been justified, and many, myself included, thought we were seeing the beginning of an inglorious end to Arsene Wenger’s reign as Arsenal manager.
I wrote on this blog earlier in the season that I was desperate for Wenger to turn things around because of how much he gives and cares for the club. We saw on Saturday at Stamford Bridge, that he’s far from done as Arsenal manager. Our eighth win in nine games confirmed this new team under Wenger are on the right track to salvage something from a season that looked set to be a train wreck.
Everything still isn’t perfect, we can still be defensively vulnerable, we’re still outside the top four and we drew Manchester City in the Carling Cup quarter finals, but we have pride, confidence and some real belief in this team now. The target is still the top four, suggestions that we’re now back in the title race are slightly far-fetched, but it appears the 8-2 at Manchester United can now be written off as a massive blip, and a result that wasn’t terminal for Arsenal Football Club. Lesser men and lesser clubs would have crumbled after the start to the season we had, so far it seems that doesn’t apply to Arsene and Arsenal.
So often in recent years we’ve come out of big games with some credit for playing some nice football, but haven’t converted that into a win. We did that on Saturday. After our recent improvement, we needed to send a statement out to the rest of the league that we were competitive again by beating a big team. We did that on Saturday.
It was a phenomenal football match and there is so much you could analyse from it. However pushing aside the technical aspect of the game, what was fantastic was the spirit from Arsenal. I’ve mentioned it after games recently that the team seem more together and willing to fight for each other, and it showed on Saturday. When you consider the squad has only really been together for two months, the way they’ve bonded and come together is to Arsene Wenger’s great credit. You only needed to see the celebrations at the end of the game to see how much it meant to all of them. Whilst we’re still arguably down on quality, the spirit, effort and commitment from the players is as good as it’s been for quite a few seasons.
The first half was worrying as both full backs, Djourou and Santos, looked vulnerable, and we missed a couple of great chances going forward. However the signs were there that if we could tighten up the defence, we’d make chances at the other end with the way Chelsea were defending.
Our first goal saw us rip Chelsea open in a style we haven’t seen since Bergkamp and co. in 2004. The pass from Ramsey was excellent, and Gervinho was calm in setting up van Persie. Both Gervinho and van Persie should have scored before that in moves that made massive holes in the Blues’ backline.
When Chelsea had the ball in the first half, we stood off them too much and allowed them time to pick out runners and move with the ball. That was clearly addressed at half time by Arsene Wenger, as we were much improved in the second half.
Andre Santos typified the difference in halves. Frankly, he had a torrid first 45 and a lot of fans would have wanted Thomas Vermaelen on. However there’s something about Arsenal left backs and scoring at Stamford Bridge. Think Nigel Winterburn and Silvinho, and now add Andre Santos. We won the ball back from applying pressure at a throw, Song played a fantastic ball, and Santos showed great composure to slot home. I don’t know where Chelsea right back Bosingwa, as he wasn’t where he should have been, but who cares? Santos spotted the opportunity, timed his run well and deserved his celebratory dance.
Another man who upped his game was Theo Walcott. Maybe he should face Ashley Cole every week, as the last two occasions he’s faced him, Walcott has destroyed everyone’s least favourite ex-Gunner. I’m not sure how he made his run work after falling over, but it fooled Chelsea, and his finish was fantastic. We love seeing anyone run Ashley Cole ragged, the challenge for Theo is to do it to whoever he’s up against every week, as Saturday was a reminder that he can be a great player.
As I’ve mentioned Ashley Cole, it would be wrong not to touch on Wojciech Szczesny’s challenge on him in the second half. I was very worried when he did it, but Koscielny was getting back quickly enough to put doubt in the referee’s mind about sending Szczesny off. After he only got a yellow, I’m sure many Gooners deep down loved seeing the Pole clatter into Cole. He got seriously Wojciech-ed.
In the second half, as much as I was full of nerves, we controlled the game quite well. Szczesny wasn’t tested too much, until Mata’s long range strike. It just seemed like another case of a player scoring a wonder goal in a big game against Arsenal. My mind went back to Essien doing something similar a few years ago at Stamford Bridge. Although at 3-3 with ten to go, Robin van Persie had barely got going.
Our fourth goal is something I can watch again, and again, and again, and probably again and it’ll still be absolutely hilarious. You often need some luck to win big games, something that we’ve arguably not had in recent times, but we got some with Malouda’s back pass and John Terry’s slip. It’s not just how the goal happened, it’s who slipped over. John Terry has been annoying football fans up and down the country for years, so I’m sure it wasn’t just Arsenal fans that had more than a chuckle when it happened. Once he was one-on-one with Cech, there was no way Robin van Persie was going to miss.
Having got the lead, I immediately assumed we’d throw it away somehow; this was still Arsenal we were watching. However we were composed at the back in the final minutes, Koscielny had another very good game, and then wrapped it up on the counter attack. With just a one goal lead, we probably shouldn’t have had so many players rushing forward, but the move was well executed, and Robin van Persie scored the pick of his hat-trick with another wave of his wand of a left foot.
With Robin van Persie, I’m not getting tired of mentioning him on this blog every week. He is a phenomenal striker. I am getting tired of some still arguing that Arsenal are a one-man team, as every great side needs someone to score a load of goals. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that, in our recent trophyless years, we’ve rarely had a player score more than 20 goals in a season for us. We’ve still got to create the chance for Robin, it just helps that he is finishing them so well.
The midfield were very good again in helping the team tick over. Aaron Ramsey has grown massively in confidence since his goal against Marseille, whilst Mikel Arteta is getting through a lot of unseen hard work. Although it could be argued he should have done better with Chelsea’s third goal, Wojciech Szczesny continues to endear himself to Arsenal fans. As well as the Ashley Cole takedown, go and watch back Daniel Sturridge’s disallowed goal. Szczesny’s reaction afterwards is brilliant.
In the context of the league table, it was a massive victory. We’re now seventh, but are just three points off Chelsea and can sniff the top four again. Plus we’ve almost wiped out the goal difference from Old Trafford.
Regardless of how bad Chelsea’s defending was, the records tell you how impressive it is to go and score five at Stamford Bridge. The way this team was a little over two months ago, one goal in this game would barely have seemed feasible.
We move onto Marseille in the Champions League on Tuesday, knowing a win will secure qualification for the knockout stages. The team will be full of confidence, and getting qualification out of the way will really help later in the year.
We have to guard against any possibility of complacency and treat the game as a completely fresh start. As much as we’re basking in the glory of Saturday, and trust me us Gooners are doing some serious basking, the players have to be ready to put in the same levels of effort and commitment that has brought the recent improvement. Marseille will probably try and keep it tight, so we’ll need to show some creativity to open them up, and if we give Robin van Persie any sniff of the goal, we’ve got a good chance of winning.
The 8-2 was a fairly grim time to be an Arsenal fan, but the team have quietly worked hard, become a strong collective unit and provided the travelling Arsenal fans (who were superb by the way) a memorable day at Stamford Bridge. Arsene Wenger took a big gamble, by his standards, with all the signings on deadline day, and so far that gamble is paying off. I’m loving the work of the new players, I’m loving the spirit within the club, I’m loving the attitude of the players, I’m loving the effort and desire to play for the Arsenal, I’m loving Robin van Persie, I’m loving that Arsene Wenger isn’t finished yet and I’m loving that there is some positivity around the Arsenal again. Saturday was proof that with Wenger in charge, it’s always worth keeping the faith.
This has to be the base. We have to build on this result and get ourselves back up into the top four.
That’s enough from me, I’m off to practise the Santos samba shuffle whilst trying not to slip over…………
Source: Sam Limbert, ESPN Soccernet on 31 Oct 11
I wrote on this blog earlier in the season that I was desperate for Wenger to turn things around because of how much he gives and cares for the club. We saw on Saturday at Stamford Bridge, that he’s far from done as Arsenal manager. Our eighth win in nine games confirmed this new team under Wenger are on the right track to salvage something from a season that looked set to be a train wreck.
Everything still isn’t perfect, we can still be defensively vulnerable, we’re still outside the top four and we drew Manchester City in the Carling Cup quarter finals, but we have pride, confidence and some real belief in this team now. The target is still the top four, suggestions that we’re now back in the title race are slightly far-fetched, but it appears the 8-2 at Manchester United can now be written off as a massive blip, and a result that wasn’t terminal for Arsenal Football Club. Lesser men and lesser clubs would have crumbled after the start to the season we had, so far it seems that doesn’t apply to Arsene and Arsenal.
So often in recent years we’ve come out of big games with some credit for playing some nice football, but haven’t converted that into a win. We did that on Saturday. After our recent improvement, we needed to send a statement out to the rest of the league that we were competitive again by beating a big team. We did that on Saturday.
It was a phenomenal football match and there is so much you could analyse from it. However pushing aside the technical aspect of the game, what was fantastic was the spirit from Arsenal. I’ve mentioned it after games recently that the team seem more together and willing to fight for each other, and it showed on Saturday. When you consider the squad has only really been together for two months, the way they’ve bonded and come together is to Arsene Wenger’s great credit. You only needed to see the celebrations at the end of the game to see how much it meant to all of them. Whilst we’re still arguably down on quality, the spirit, effort and commitment from the players is as good as it’s been for quite a few seasons.
The first half was worrying as both full backs, Djourou and Santos, looked vulnerable, and we missed a couple of great chances going forward. However the signs were there that if we could tighten up the defence, we’d make chances at the other end with the way Chelsea were defending.
Our first goal saw us rip Chelsea open in a style we haven’t seen since Bergkamp and co. in 2004. The pass from Ramsey was excellent, and Gervinho was calm in setting up van Persie. Both Gervinho and van Persie should have scored before that in moves that made massive holes in the Blues’ backline.
When Chelsea had the ball in the first half, we stood off them too much and allowed them time to pick out runners and move with the ball. That was clearly addressed at half time by Arsene Wenger, as we were much improved in the second half.
Andre Santos typified the difference in halves. Frankly, he had a torrid first 45 and a lot of fans would have wanted Thomas Vermaelen on. However there’s something about Arsenal left backs and scoring at Stamford Bridge. Think Nigel Winterburn and Silvinho, and now add Andre Santos. We won the ball back from applying pressure at a throw, Song played a fantastic ball, and Santos showed great composure to slot home. I don’t know where Chelsea right back Bosingwa, as he wasn’t where he should have been, but who cares? Santos spotted the opportunity, timed his run well and deserved his celebratory dance.
Another man who upped his game was Theo Walcott. Maybe he should face Ashley Cole every week, as the last two occasions he’s faced him, Walcott has destroyed everyone’s least favourite ex-Gunner. I’m not sure how he made his run work after falling over, but it fooled Chelsea, and his finish was fantastic. We love seeing anyone run Ashley Cole ragged, the challenge for Theo is to do it to whoever he’s up against every week, as Saturday was a reminder that he can be a great player.
As I’ve mentioned Ashley Cole, it would be wrong not to touch on Wojciech Szczesny’s challenge on him in the second half. I was very worried when he did it, but Koscielny was getting back quickly enough to put doubt in the referee’s mind about sending Szczesny off. After he only got a yellow, I’m sure many Gooners deep down loved seeing the Pole clatter into Cole. He got seriously Wojciech-ed.
In the second half, as much as I was full of nerves, we controlled the game quite well. Szczesny wasn’t tested too much, until Mata’s long range strike. It just seemed like another case of a player scoring a wonder goal in a big game against Arsenal. My mind went back to Essien doing something similar a few years ago at Stamford Bridge. Although at 3-3 with ten to go, Robin van Persie had barely got going.
Our fourth goal is something I can watch again, and again, and again, and probably again and it’ll still be absolutely hilarious. You often need some luck to win big games, something that we’ve arguably not had in recent times, but we got some with Malouda’s back pass and John Terry’s slip. It’s not just how the goal happened, it’s who slipped over. John Terry has been annoying football fans up and down the country for years, so I’m sure it wasn’t just Arsenal fans that had more than a chuckle when it happened. Once he was one-on-one with Cech, there was no way Robin van Persie was going to miss.
Having got the lead, I immediately assumed we’d throw it away somehow; this was still Arsenal we were watching. However we were composed at the back in the final minutes, Koscielny had another very good game, and then wrapped it up on the counter attack. With just a one goal lead, we probably shouldn’t have had so many players rushing forward, but the move was well executed, and Robin van Persie scored the pick of his hat-trick with another wave of his wand of a left foot.
With Robin van Persie, I’m not getting tired of mentioning him on this blog every week. He is a phenomenal striker. I am getting tired of some still arguing that Arsenal are a one-man team, as every great side needs someone to score a load of goals. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that, in our recent trophyless years, we’ve rarely had a player score more than 20 goals in a season for us. We’ve still got to create the chance for Robin, it just helps that he is finishing them so well.
The midfield were very good again in helping the team tick over. Aaron Ramsey has grown massively in confidence since his goal against Marseille, whilst Mikel Arteta is getting through a lot of unseen hard work. Although it could be argued he should have done better with Chelsea’s third goal, Wojciech Szczesny continues to endear himself to Arsenal fans. As well as the Ashley Cole takedown, go and watch back Daniel Sturridge’s disallowed goal. Szczesny’s reaction afterwards is brilliant.
In the context of the league table, it was a massive victory. We’re now seventh, but are just three points off Chelsea and can sniff the top four again. Plus we’ve almost wiped out the goal difference from Old Trafford.
Regardless of how bad Chelsea’s defending was, the records tell you how impressive it is to go and score five at Stamford Bridge. The way this team was a little over two months ago, one goal in this game would barely have seemed feasible.
We move onto Marseille in the Champions League on Tuesday, knowing a win will secure qualification for the knockout stages. The team will be full of confidence, and getting qualification out of the way will really help later in the year.
We have to guard against any possibility of complacency and treat the game as a completely fresh start. As much as we’re basking in the glory of Saturday, and trust me us Gooners are doing some serious basking, the players have to be ready to put in the same levels of effort and commitment that has brought the recent improvement. Marseille will probably try and keep it tight, so we’ll need to show some creativity to open them up, and if we give Robin van Persie any sniff of the goal, we’ve got a good chance of winning.
The 8-2 was a fairly grim time to be an Arsenal fan, but the team have quietly worked hard, become a strong collective unit and provided the travelling Arsenal fans (who were superb by the way) a memorable day at Stamford Bridge. Arsene Wenger took a big gamble, by his standards, with all the signings on deadline day, and so far that gamble is paying off. I’m loving the work of the new players, I’m loving the spirit within the club, I’m loving the attitude of the players, I’m loving the effort and desire to play for the Arsenal, I’m loving Robin van Persie, I’m loving that Arsene Wenger isn’t finished yet and I’m loving that there is some positivity around the Arsenal again. Saturday was proof that with Wenger in charge, it’s always worth keeping the faith.
This has to be the base. We have to build on this result and get ourselves back up into the top four.
That’s enough from me, I’m off to practise the Santos samba shuffle whilst trying not to slip over…………
Source: Sam Limbert, ESPN Soccernet on 31 Oct 11
John Terry is fall guy in Chelsea's comedy of errors against Arsenal
Innocent until proven guilty of a racial slur against Anton Ferdinand, John Terry could safely be condemned for his part in a dreadful display by Chelsea's defenders as the English game's elite laid on another circus.
After Manchester United 8 Arsenal 2 and Manchester United 1 Manchester City 6, Chelsea conceded five at home for the first time in the Premier League. The tactic of being nicer and nicer about Terry as the week wore on brought no reward for André Villas-Boas, the Chelsea manager, who shielded him from public suspicion, but could not protect him from Robin van Persie, who destroyed the hosts with two memorable late goals.
"Racist, racist," Arsenal fans chanted at Terry after half an hour, raising the stakes from intermittent booing. "There's only one England captain," the Chelsea crowd responded. Stamford Bridge has served for many years as the private theatre in which Terry plays out his troubles. The saga with Wayne Bridge's ex that caused him to lose the England captaincy was a Mills and Boon plot compared to the storms of the past week, in which Terry admitted using the phrase "fucking black cunt", but claims he did so only to deny using it in the first place against Ferdinand.
As I typed those vile words here, a black member of Chelsea's staff arrived at the work station, thus adding to the uncomfortable and unreal sense that pervaded Stamford Bridge all day. There was no clear way to address the fall-out from Loftus Road last Sunday, when Chelsea lost to Queens Park Rangers, but it could be felt everywhere, from the presence of so many black players on the field of play to Villas-Boas's clipped response to questions on the issue: "For me, it was never a situation. It's an FA investigation so let them investigate."
Terry came through the press room looking weary and dispirited. He awaits the outcome of police and Football Association investigations into his conduct last weekend, which was broadcast endlessly on the internet. As it turned out, Villas-Boas was wrong to think he could erect a cordon around his captain by telling journalists they should be "proud" to see him wear the England armband and ought to cut him some extra slack on the basis of his status in the national side.
Chelsea's defensive meltdown had many causes, but Terry's absent-mindedness was certainly one. When one second-half Chelsea move broke down, both centre-backs were stranded up the pitch and had to sprint back to deal with an Arsenal counter-attack. This was before Van Persie's great flourish closed the deal for Arsène Wenger's men. It would never have happened under José Mourinho, or several other of the nine Chelsea managers Wenger has faced in his 15 years in London.
It was Arsenal who started out with the dubious back-four. Johan Djourou (right) and Andre Santos (left) scuffled either side of Per Mertesacker, the German centre-back who seems determined to impose his own pace on the Premier League.
Chelsea guarded their safe with a familiar combination: José Bosingwa, Terry, Branislav Ivanovic and Ashley Cole, who, Terry claimed, had obscured a vital piece of evidence when wandering across the picture at Loftus Road just before Terry uttered the alleged insult at Ferdinand. The whole JT legend dictates that he is endlessly resilient and will face down any moral challenge. Well, even he can see the disastrous potential of that TV clip from Loftus Road.
He scored, he slipped, he lost heavily, In chronological order, Terry saw another old-gang member, Frank Lampard, put Chelsea in front, then Van Persie equalise. Next he met a Chelsea corner to restore his team's lead a minute before half-time and wheeled away to be enveloped by his team-mates, black and white.
Was this to be an afternoon of cliches about his fortitude under pressure? No. André Santos equalised for Arsenal, Theo Walcott made it 3-2, Juan Mata equalised again, then came the moment photographers will have fired back to their desks. As Florent Malouda played a simple back-pass, Terry's studs slipped through the turf and Van Persie swooped, rounding Petr Cech to finish before crashing in Arsenal's fifth in added time.
"I would argue with anyone that our defensive organisation was a problem before this game. We committed mistakes today we will try to resolve," Villas-Boas said. Yet this was the first time since 2003 that Chelsea had failed to keep a clean sheet in nine consecutive league games. The cost of a more free-flowing style is vulnerability at the back, where Mikel John Obi continues to baffle and frustrate in the holding role.
"It's our way of playing, we are proud of the way we play," Villas-Boas said. But in one week Chelsea have been plunged into an alleged racism scandal, been fined £20,000 for crowding a referee, had three players sent off and lost a battle over the future of Stamford Bridge to Chelsea Pitch Owners. After league defeats to QPR and Arsenal come trips to Genk and Blackburn before the visit of Liverpool.
This is suddenly a team at odds with itself, defensively suspect and unsure of its new direction. Villas-Boas spent all week saying Terry was an asset, to Chelsea, England and society. On the pitch, in this thrilling, accident-laden game, the case for the defence was not well made.
Source: Paul Hayward, The Guardian on 29 Oct 11
Sunday, October 30, 2011
The Legend of Arsene Wenger
Without question, Arsene Wenger’s footballing philosophy is the stuff of legends, the kind of stuff that inevitably leads to statues and shops with corny names. It is a presence in football that can’t quite be contextualized and fully appreciated until you run down a laundry list of coaches and realize how few have recognizable philosophies capable of lining up with the world’s great –isms, communism, socialism, capitalism, Barcelonaism. But as with all great –isms, there’s a downside, and Wengerism is no exception to this time-tested rule. As a great man who I may have made up once said, “Shifting landscapes wait for no philosophy.”
Back in 1996, Wengerism took the world by surprise, and by world, of course, I mean England. Arsene was a career coach with multiple successes under his belt, but his body of work didn’t quite resonate on a global scale until he replicated his successes at Arsenal, transforming the club and English football along the way. His philosophy was built by tapping into a continental pool of players that had yet to be realized or trusted by his peers in England. Add the Japanese-inspired modifications to the traditional, English training regimen and some good old-fashioned outside-the-box thinking and the insightful Arsene was well on his way to transforming an English league that, in many ways, was in desperate need of modernization.
Wengerism quickly became easily identifiable. Movement, pace, obscene technical ability, disregard for passports, and a dedication to healthy living collectively became Arsene’s ayahuasca (an Amazonian psychedelic drug thought to transform how you view the world). Over his first few years, England stood transfixed as if in a drug-induced state. The world inhaled. And then inhaled again. I certainly did. Multiple times.
Few could outrun Wenger’s newest disciples, an amalgamation of good old-fashioned Englishmen, seemingly random foreigners, and a superhero Dutchman who was scared of flying. The trophies were immediate and people soon began lining up around the corner to devour the teachings on tap at Highbury. Suddenly, a Frenchman was the philosopher-king of English football. He was “The Professor,” the robed, noble Frenchman sitting on the side of the pitch with his Coke bottle glasses telling the world that the era of English football as we knew it was over. Fini.
Mesmerized, slightly disoriented fans and media types weren’t the only ones to succumb to Wengerism. Arsene, susceptible to the trappings of success just like previous purveyors of transformative thought, also bought into Wengerism. And that’s where the trouble begins. No philosophy, not even the most transformative, should go unchallenged forever.
Looking at the human record, there are countless examples of what happens when individuals develop philosophies that successfully end up radically transforming thought and/or behavior. Often, these typically charismatic figures peak, which is then followed by a slow procession into a delusional state characterized by a fierce bond to the glory days and a perpetual belief that a formula that was once all the rage will be so again. It’s just a matter of time, isn’t it? That’s the worrying and poisonous component of success. Sure, it’s not an absolute; it doesn’t cripple everyone. But Arsene’s steadfast reliance on a philosophy that initially brought success just might be the very poison that leads to his demise. Said another way, Arsene may have unknowingly betrayed himself.
Arsene transformed football by keeping his mind open to new approaches and angles. He absorbed what leagues and cultures had to offer and hit the English scene at the right time, with the right recipe. But since then, one way to view Arsene’s stance is that he has stood still, staunch in his belief that his philosophy is the end. The irony is that this highly cerebral being may have reached a point of success only to discard the one thing that brought him success: an open mind.
All philosophies must evolve, and like all hardened souls who have doubled down on their philosophies as gospel after initial successes learn, being right and successful at a specific point in time doesn’t make you right for eternity, or right under all conditions. The Arsenal philosophy worked with a certain set of players at a certain point in time in a certain market, almost to perfection. But unfortunately for Arsenal, we no longer live in that world. Arsene no longer has the jump on foreign markets. No longer are there remote corners of the globe. Globalization has arrived and what was once Wenger’s Coca Cola formula is now public knowledge. Now, the race for continental talent, the talent necessary to execute football “The Arsenal Way™,” can be purchased by anyone with access to mines, oil, or vast resources of chicken. No longer is Arsene’s spell, alone, enough to draw players who can now express themselves at much higher salaries elsewhere. Yet, for some reason, we still reflexively talk about sexy football at Arsenal. Why? If we are being honest, sexy football hasn’t been around for some time. All you need to do is look at the style that was on display at Highbury a decade ago (which admittedly is a high standard for any team) to see how the latest versions of the team are much closer to Inconvincible than Invincible. Check your bowl, Arsene may have poisoned your rice, too.
We’re all wondering how this movie ends. Does Arsene take his own life by continuing to eat his poisoned rice, or is there another twist, a twist where the director reveals that Arsene has actually mastered skills taught at competing monasteries and defeats Manchester City in the final fight scene using Qatar-style?
At first glance, changing Arsene may be as difficult a task as convincing Chairman Mao to accept capitalism, or convincing Richard Dawkins to accept Jesus as his savior. But regardless of what he decides, the landscape around him will continue to change. That is inevitable. It is also likely we will inevitably learn that training young players to compete The Arsenal Way™, only to break through and find out that other teams have already explored the world and brought in experienced players already capable of playing The Arsenal Way™ while selling farm-raised Arsenal Way™ players to these same clubs is a suspect formula, and one that looks to be unsustainable.
Arsene has a strong, commendable philosophy, but if he wants to continue being a savior and avoid end-of-career buffoonery and caricature, he must learn to proactively introduce experienced, serious talent into his team, or risk losing the reputation that he has spent his life rightfully developing. I wish it didn’t work that way. It isn’t fair. But it is 2011, and today, reputations are easier than ever to build. They are also notoriously easy to dismantle, bastardize and destroy.
But it isn’t all doom and gloom. If you are wearing your prescription, rose-tinted glasses, the potentially good news is that Arsene already knows all of this. It has now come out that back when Arsenal was in desperate need for a goalkeeper, they bid £20 million for Liverpool’s Pepe Reina. They seemingly made bids for Borussia Dortmund playmaker Mario Götze, Lyon playmaker Yoann Gourcuff, Rennes holding midfielder Yann M’Vila, and maybe even Lille hotshot Eden Hazard. Each of these bids, and these are only some of the ones that have surfaced, would have broken Arsenal’s record transfer fee. These bids suggest one important thing: Arsene knows and he’s now willing to spend well beyond what he has spent in the past. Whether he’s willing to spend enough is another question. So the potentially good news for Arsenal fans is that Arsene’s poisoned rice may not kill him, but rather, might have strengthened his immunity and expanded his powers. He may just be waiting for the right moment in the movie to maintain the appropriate level of suspense. If this is the case, this kung fu movie may have one last hilarious, unexpected turn.
In the meantime, keep your eye on your rice.
Source: Miriti Murungi, The Run of Play on 28 Oct 11
Robin van Persie hat-trick stuns Chelsea in goal frenzy at the Bridge
There was still all to play for as Ashley Cole's routine pass made its way towards Terry, but Chelsea's captain inexplicably tumbled. Nobody was within five yards of him, the pitch was true, the day was bright – and, with no rhyme or reason, his legs went from under him.
There could be no worse sight from his position, prone on the pitch, than that of Robin van Persie accelerating away. The Premier League's current master of scoring dispatched the chance with aplomb, skipping around Petr Cech to put Arsenal back in front and en route to a precious victory. Some might say Terry had bad luck, but others might say it was karma.
That is two defeats in a row for Chelsea. Two derbies, as well. At the end of the match, Arsenal massed at the away end to relish a triumph that caps their recovery and demonstrated how they are over their early season slump. Eight wins out of nine sees them on the kind of positive wave that makes Arsène Wenger's plea for trust ring a lot truer.
But it had all started so well for Chelsea and their man in the spotlight. In the 14th minute, they went in front thanks to clinical finishing. The move emanated from an excellent, searching crossfield pass from Terry's left foot. Juan Mata, who had been on Wenger's radar before joining Chelsea, created space on the right to outfox André Santos with customary trickery and swung in a cross for Frank Lampard to nod past Wojciech Szczesny.
Where a month ago this might have been the signal for an Arsenal collapse, they were not cowed. They kept going and equalised in the 36th minute when Aaron Ramsey threaded the ball to Gervinho, who squared for Van Persie to sidefoot the ball past Cech.
But lingering defensive vulnerabilities are never far away. Chelsea thought they were back in front when Ramires tapped in José Bosingwa's cross, but the goal was chalked off because he had drifted a fraction offside. Just before half-time there was no dispute as Terry made the most of a corner to poke a shot into the bottom corner. The reaction of the home crowd was to joyfully hail "one England captain".
Arsenal rallied again. They emerged from the break on the attack and the excellent Ramsey hooked a chance over the bar. In the 49th minute, Alex Song picked a gaping hole in Chelsea's back line and André Santos ran on to the ball and aimed his shot straight between Cech's legs.
A minute later and the action swung back down the other end. Cole advanced all alone in the inside-left position, Szczesny careered out of his area to meet him and performed a star jump in an attempt to put the full-back off. The Pole collided with Cole, but referee Andre Marriner deemed the infringement only worthy of a yellow card. To add to Chelsea's irritation, Szczesny tipped away Lampard's free kick.
Another sharp swing: Walcott ambled towards the thin blue line that now passed for Chelsea's defence. Four players were around the England winger, who skidded down to the turf then stumbled up and away towards goal. He curled the ball ferociously past Cech at the near post.
André Villas-Boas saw two of his substitutes play an important role in Mata's equaliser. Romelu Lukaku checked André Santos and Raul Meireles advanced to provide for the Spaniard, whose finish was emphatic.
Not as emphatic as Van Persie's coup de grâce, as the Dutchman concluded the game with a thumping drive to take the match ball home as well as the three points. That made for one happy captain.
Source: Amy Lawrence, The Guardian on 29 Oct 11
Wenger's reaction to the Chelsea 3-5 Arsenal match
I was very unhappy but overall I must say I can only praise my team. We didn't look disappointed on the pitch and we kept going. We knew that we needed a win here and we kept going to win the game. Overall I feel that they had a good team performance and they have shown great spirit. When you go 2-1 down just before half time it's difficult but we came out in the second half with a complete desire to go forward.
In the second half I felt we were much better defensively than in the first half. We gave too many chances away in the first half - it's certainly down to the fact that Chelsea have a lot going forward. But we always looked dangerous through the whole game and I hope the team strengthens its belief with a performance like that to focus on getting stronger and stronger.
on Robin van Persie…
He is of course on fire and he takes advantage through his class. We attack a lot and we create chances overall of course. The intelligence of his movement around the box and the accuracy of his finishing is exceptional.
on Laurent Koscielny's performance…
I think he was outstanding. He was the one at the back in the first half who looked strong. But I felt in the first half we gave them too much room at the back and in midfield and in the second half we got much tighter. We kept being dangerous going forward but we were less in trouble defensively.
on encouraging the team to slow down at the end…
You know how it is on the bench when you are 4-3 up with two minutes to do - you do not necessarily encourage your team to be crazy. But this is the brand of our team and our Club. Sometimes you get rewarded for it and sometimes you pay for it.
on previous Chelsea teams being so open…
I have to think about that. I think one year we won here 3-2 when Kanu scored two goals and we were 2-1 down. It depends on the games because up until now Chelsea didn't look completely open at all. They looked very secure defensively in the games they have played up until now. It is our quality today that opened them up and we kept throwing absolutely everything forward.
on what has changed for his team…
What has changed is that we got half of the team in on August 31 and we had to qualify for the Champions League. We had to rebuild a complete unity in the way we want to play football. Every win makes you stronger as well.
So now the players get used to the way we play so we get stronger but we have to remain humble, keep focus and work very hard together. There is still some ground to make up to come into a stronger position in the league and teams in front of us do not drop many points. But that quality we have shown today should make us more confident.
on Aaron Ramsey…
What people forget about players like Wojciech, Ramsey and Wilshere are all 19-20 years old. They are top quality and it is normal that they improve from game to game and from year to year.
on a strong run of form…
It's the best habit in my job. We are more consistent now and we have to keep that going now. Tuesday night will be another test where we will have to focus and produce that quality again, that's what is at stake.
on a big statement…
We played some games like Liverpool and Manchester United when we played with ten men. But we did not have the team at that time - I feel as though we are much stronger now.
on goals conceded in big games this season...
It's a good question because is it down to the fact that there are so many good offensive players on the pitch or is it down to a team scoring more goals and opening themselves up? Or is it down to the fact that the top teams are a bit more fragile defensively? It is difficult to answer that, we need more games to do that.
Source: Arsenal.com on 29 Oct 11
29 October 2011: Chelsea 3-5 Arsenal, Stamford Bridge
Arsène Wenger’s side snatched a stunning 5-3 comeback win at Stamford Bridge on Saturday with Robin van Persie grabbing a sumptuous hat-trick.
Chelsea led at the break as goals from Frank Lampard and John Terry sandwiched a well-crafted strike by the Dutchman.
However the second half would belong to one man and one team.
Andre Santos and Theo Walcott turned the scoreline around before the hour. After Juan Mata equalised, Van Persie confirmed the points with a breakway goal after Terry slipped five minutes from time.
In injury time, Van Persie completed this huge injection of confidence by thumping a fifth goal past Petr Cech. It was his 28th in 29 Premier League games in 2011.
This was a huge test of character for Wenger’s side and they passed with flying colours. The Emirates Stadium side have won nine of their last 10 fixtures and, crucially, now have a marquee scalp within that run.
This was the result everyone at the Club has been waiting for.
Hopefully Arsenal's season can kick on from here.
Ahead of the game, Wenger’s main decision concerned the right-back position. With Thomas Vermaelen returning from injury, there were now options. However, the manager decided to retain the back four – and indeed the entire XI - from the 3-1 win over Stoke a week earlier. Djourou was on the right, the Belgian began on the bench.
Going into the game, Arsenal’s form had been as bright as the sunshine that drenched Stamford Bridge for this lunchtime kick-off.
A solid run had put them in the top seven, the Quarter-Finals of the Carling Cup and top of their Champions League group.
However, as the manager acknowledged when speaking to Arsenal Player earlier in the week, this would be a proper test.
The opening minutes proved just how much.
Within seconds of the whistle, Ashley Cole got beyond Djourou on the left and squared for Fernando Torres, who fired wide when he should have scored.
Inside the first couple of minutes, Cole and Daniel Sturridge would escape into dangerous positions on either flank but their crosses did not find their intended targets.
Arsenal were struggling to settle and would not properly find their feet until they carved out a couple of chances just before the quarter-hour.
In the 12th minute, Aaron Ramsey and Mikel Arteta combined in midfield to set Walcott haring down the right. His cross was inviting but Gervinho slid his shot beyond the far post. A glaring miss.
Seconds later, there was another superb opportunity. But this time, Walcott’s cross reared up on Van Persie and the Dutchman hoisted in over the bar at the far post.
But just as it seemed that Arsenal had turned the tide, Chelsea snatched the lead.
Mata’s early cross from the right wing caught out the visiting defence and Lampard pulled away from his marker before steering in his header.
In the circumstances it was a bitter blow and Chelsea looked to take advantage.
On the half-hour Sturridge stormed through to go one-on-one with Szczesny. Fortunately for Arsenal, he flicked his shot beyond the far post.
This was turning out to be a curious game – one with huge pace, minimal midfield control and a raft of spurned chances. So perhaps we should not have been surprised that Arsenal equalised when they looked at their weakest. Though it was a wonderfully-crafted goal.
Ramsey’s pass sent Gervinho scurrying through the heart of the Chelsea defence. When he came face-to-face with Cech the Ivorian cut the ball back for Van Persie to turn home.
The home side might have regained the lead immediately when Sturridge darted inside and Ramires converted at the near post. The offside was both rightly-raised and a relief.
However, it seemed that Arsenal had ridden a rough start and would go into half-time all-square.
But this was never a game open to prediction.
In injury time, Ramsey conceded a corner which Lampard whipped in. Terry bundled home the ball from close range.
Arsenal might have restored parity twice within 55 seconds of the restart. Van Persie’s shot was kicked away by Cech and then Ramsey lifted his effort over the bar from close range.
The visitors’ optimistic start was rewarded a couple of minutes later when Song spread the ball wide to the marauding Santos, who drove a low shot through the legs of Cech and into the net.
Szczesny clattered Cole shortly afterwards as the former Arsenal left-back went through on the left. As there was a covering defender and the tackle was outside the area, the keeper got away with a yellow card and free-kick, which he dealt with himself.
But overall, the visitors had been a different side after break – incisive and determined.
In the 55th minute, their third goal would prove it.
Walcott collected on the right-hand side and drove inside. He stumbled and the Chelsea defence hesitated expecting a whistle. It did not come so, quick as a flash, Walcott picked himself up, weaved inbetween a couple of defenders and fired home his fourth goal of the campaign.
It was just what Arsenal needed and, on the second-half salvo, utterly deserved.
In the 15 minutes that followed Chelsea would pour on the pressure – but created very little. In fact, Ramsey came closest to scoring with quarter of hour remaining but hooked his effort wide.
Wenger made changes with defence in mind - Carl Jenkinson for Djourou, Tomas Rosicky for Walcott – as Arsenal looked towards the final whistle.
However, almost immediately, Chelsea equalised. The long-range strike from Mata was wonderful and well-placed. However, in the immediate build-up Santos had been bumped off the ball by substitute Romelu Lukaku.
It was less than Arsenal were worth this afternoon and, with only 10 minutes left, threatened to steal back two points - but today the visitors would not be denied.
With five minutes left, Van Persie raced on to Terry’s slip, rounded the keeper and restored the lead.
Then, in injury time, he rifled a rasping shot past Cech to make it five.
At full time, the Arsenal team ran arm-in-arm to celebrate in front of their supporters.
This was a famous win, a crucial win, a timely win.
And Arsenal will be all the better for it.
Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 29 Oct 11
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Andrey Arshavin and Park Chu-young rouse Arsenal against Bolton
Those were the plus points on a night when some of Arsenal's vaunted young players showed they still have ample room for improvement and Thomas Vermaelen, returning to action for the first time since August, limped off late on with a minor calf injury that will rule him out of Saturday's match against Chelsea.
Arsenal began with purpose but little precision. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was eager to build on his promising outings against Shrewsbury Town and Olympiakos, and amplify calls for him to start regularly ahead of Theo Walcott. Despite his enthusiasm, those calls will abate following a display that exposed his inexperience.
His speed enabled him to find freedom down the right wing but he betrayed the shortcomings of which Walcott is often accused, and misdirected crosses. Worse, midway through the first half he was left chastened by Darren Pratley, who shunted him off the ball in midfield and dispatched the first notable shot of the game, which Lukasz Fabianski beat away. Four minutes later Tuncay Sanli dispossessed him in similar fashion, and it became apparent why Wenger wants to integrate Chamberlain into the team slowly rather than swiftly as some fans demand.
"What the boys who are learning the game are finding is that you need to have 100% concentration and fight at every minute at this level," said Wenger, with reference, you suspect, to Oxlade-Chamberlain and Emmanuel Frimpong, who was also caught dawdling at crucial times.
Given Arsenal's injury problems at right-back, the 18-year-old debutant Nico Yennaris was under particular scrutiny, though not from Bolton Wanderers, who largely neglected to test the novice. Vermaelen enjoyed a relatively comfortable first period as Wanderers, who like Arsenal omitted many regular starters, began with the conservatism ofa team who simply wanted to avoid an eighth defeat from nine games. Vermaelen came to the fore in the 36th minute when he received a short free-kick from Arshavin. Adam Bogdan had to display strong hands to repel the Belgian's ferocious 25-yard drive.
Bogdan had been equally defiant five minutes previously when beating away a long-distance drive from Park Chu-young. The South Korean went close again just before the interval after nimble interplay with Arshavin, Bogdan tipping his 20-yard drive wide. Yossi Benayoun had succeeded in beating the keeper moments before but his fine effort after a tricky run down the left flew inches wide.
The start of the second half brought a stern lesson for Frimpong, who was robbed by Fabrice Muamba deep in his own half. This time Bolton applied maximum punishment, as Muamba swapped a smart pass with Pratley before ramming the ball into the net from eight yards.
Bolton went close to adding a second two minutes later but Ivan Klasnic, having beaten Sébastien Squillaci to a Gaël Kakuta cross, lifted the ball over from close range.
In such demanding times Wenger needs his experienced players to seize back the initiative. Frequently they have failed. Here, Arshavin inspired a comeback. In the absence of Mikel Arteta he revelled in the central role in which he excels for Russia. In the 53rd minute he showed single-mindedness and skill when claiming the equaliser, shooting low into the net from the corner of the box when, in less determined mood, he might have passed.
Three minutes later he helped put Arsenal in front, waiting intelligently for the right moment to slip the ball through to Park, who scored his first goal since his summer move from Monaco with a curled finish from 10 yards.
Bolton responded well and familiar Arsenal worries resurfaced as Fabianski fumbled a Kakuta free-kick. The rebound fell kindly for him. He also flapped at a Chris Eagles shot and was lucky to see it go over the bar. Frimpong was lucky not to concede a penalty after an impetuous challenge on Gary Cahill.
Fabianski showed his good side in the 77th minute to deny Klasnic from close range after the striker had brushed past Squillaci. Klasnic perpetrated his worst miss of the night two minutes from time, scooping the ball high over the bar when free seven yards out.
"We had to hang on in the last 20 minutes because we had a lot of players who have not played at this intensity," Wenger said. "We were tested and the more experienced players took charge of the game, especially Arshavin, Park and [Yossi] Benayoun. They made the difference."
Source: Paul Doyle, The Guardian on 25 Oct 11
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Gunners saved by quickfire double
The pair scored within three minutes of one another after the break to continue the Gunners' unbeaten League Cup run at the Emirates Stadium after receiving a scare at the start of the second half.
Neither side managed to dominate the first period but the Trotters started well after the break, taking the lead through Fabrice Muamba after he dispossessed Emmanuel Frimpong.
The Gunners responded well to falling behind and, after seeing Ivan Klasnic come close to doubling the visitors' advantage, levelled through Arshavin as he fired across the face of goal.
Goalscorer turned provider three minutes later as the Russia international played in Park, who curled home a superb effort to ensure Arsenal would make the quarter-finals for the ninth successive year.
The north Londoners had to withstand a barrage of Bolton pressure to hold out for victory but the majority of the 56,628 crowd could celebrate fourth round success, as well as the return of Thomas Vermaelen from a two-month injury lay-off.
Both sides made a plethora of changes for the game but the Trotters side contained more experience than their north London counterparts.
The teams struggled to find any rhythm during the opening exchanges but Bolton regular Darren Pratley managed to eke out the first chance of note, breaking free through the middle and forcing Lukasz Fabianski to palm over from 20 yards.
Park tried a similar attempt at the other end, before the Trotters returned the attack and on-loan Gael Kakuta tested Fabianski with a low drive.
After a brief pause for Ivan Klasnic to receive treatment on his right shoulder, Yossi Benayoun got the home fans on their feet by turning Gretar Steinsson before curling a shot across the face of the goal.
The on-loan Chelsea midfielder's shot ended some distance wide and the home side's best chance of the period came from an unlikely source as Arshavin's free-kick teed up Vermaelen, who hit a fizzing strike that Adam Bogdan did well to save.
The Bolton goalkeeper was forced into action once again shortly afterwards as a low effort from Park threatened to sneak in the bottom right-hand corner.
The visitors looked rejuvenated after the break and took less than two minutes to break the deadlock.
Muamba won the ball off the dallying Frimpong and pressed forward, playing a neat one-two with Martin Petrov before rifling into the roof of the net.
Buoyed by the former Arsenal midfielder's goal, Bolton pressed forward and would have doubled their tally immediately afterwards if Klasnic had not applied so much pressure on Kakuta's right-wing cross.
But rather than collapse under the visitors' pressure, Arsenal pushed forward and levelled six minutes after falling behind.
Arshavin - one of the evening's shining lights - ran at the Bolton defence and, as Zat Knight and Mark Davies backed off, unleashed a low shot across the face of goal.
The Russia international was again involved moments later when another dangerous run down the middle freed Park, who opened his body and curled a right-footed shot akin to that of Thierry Henry in his prime.
The home side's attacking impetus soon slowed after the former Monaco man's 56th minute goal as the Gunners were forced to defend, with Vermaelen's last-ditch challenge stopping Klasnic getting a close-range shot away.
Kakuta was the next to test the home side's rearguard with a free-kick, before Fabianski almost fumbled a speculative effort from substitute Chris Eagles.
The Arsenal goalkeeper soon redeemed himself as the Trotters continued to press, producing superb saves to stop Klasnic and then Cahill.
In between the two efforts Frimpong limped off and was replaced by Oguzhan Ozyakup, who was forced to help defend as Klasnic again took fire.
Fortunately for Arsenal the Croatian's shot flew over and the home side managed to hold out for victory, despite efforts from Cahill and Steinsson in stoppage time.
Source: ESPN Soccernet on 25 Oct 11
Wenger's reaction to the Arsenal 2-1 Bolton Wanderers match
on the victory…
In the first half I believe we had the chances. In the second half we were caught straight away losing the ball in our own half and they scored. From then on of course they tested us. The more experienced players then took charge of the game, especially Arshavin, Park and Benayoun - they made the difference.
I have to congratulate the team because we had two young full-backs who are usually central players. In midfield we were very young and we have shown good spirit against a good Bolton side.
on tiredness...
In the last 20 minutes our legs had gone a little bit and we were hanging on with a bit of luck. Many players have not played at that level and that intensity so it was vital for us tonight not to go into extra time.
on Vermaelen's return…
He did very well. He had to come off for a minor calf problem but I hope it's not too bad. He will be a bit short for Saturday, I don't know yet what I will do. We have to test him tomorrow, but it doesn't look too bad.
He has been out for a long time, he had only one training session yesterday with the team. I didn't really expect a game of that intensity, it was a tough one for a centre-back. They put us under pressure in the second half and the intensity of the game was very high.
We don't think it is a calf strain, it is just tight calves. He has not played a proper game for two months. He wanted to come off. In fairness I did not want to take him off because I thought it was too stupid now with four minutes to go to concede a goal. He was adamant he couldn't go on so I hope it's not too bad.
on a run of form…
We want to just keep going and I think it is down to us to change the mind of people. We have a good spirit, a good attitude and there is still some room for improvement of course. We are getting better and better.
on Arshavin's performance…
Andrey is a player who of course takes a bit gamble on nearly every ball he plays. Sometimes he loses balls he shouldn't lose but when you look at the end of the game he has always had a big impact. Tonight he scored and made an assist. He had a good performance tonight.
on his 'no 10' credentials...
You cannot play with two wingers and two offensive players like that, you are too short in midfield. He is normally a wide player but he wants to grow in a role behind the striker. Of course, he can do that. He plays where you want him to play but if you ask him honestly he will always tell you that he likes to play in there.
on Park's display…
For me I am very pleased with his performance. He had a very, very good game. He has shown intelligence in his link play with others. The quality of his movement was exceptional and his finishing is absolutely fantastic. He has shown tonight that he is a very, very good player. He is ready to play in league games, yes.
Compared to the player who played in the first match [against Shrewsbury] where he was a bit inhibited, tonight I felt he played with freedom and has showed what a good player he is.
on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain…
He needs what I told you: the urgency that is used to dominate the games. Now he is at a level where every single ball needs 100 per cent concentration and fight, and that is what he will learn in these games.
on Chelsea…
We had 11 changes from Sunday's game so of course we will have many changes for Saturday. It's a top-level game, that means we need to turn up with a top-level performance. I am confident we can get something out of the game. You can fly but you land quickly in our sport. We of course want to keep improving. Don't worry, we will go there with spirit and give them a fight.
on Fabianski…
Lukasz is a world-class goalkeeper. I have always said that and I am convinced that we are very lucky here to have fantastic goalkeepers - Mannone as well is very good. The problem is when you are a goalkeeper only one can play.
on Ryo's performance…
Ryo is a guy with heart. I don't think he played long enough and we were in a position where we had to defend more than we could attack. But you could see straight away that his heart, his determination and his pace in the game are big assets.
He is like Oxlade-Chamberlain - they have to get used to the intensity of these games. When will he be ready? He just had one day training yesterday with the group because he was injured. He worked a lot with the fitness coach. I believe he will be ready at Christmas.
Source: Arsenal.com on 25 Oct 11
In the first half I believe we had the chances. In the second half we were caught straight away losing the ball in our own half and they scored. From then on of course they tested us. The more experienced players then took charge of the game, especially Arshavin, Park and Benayoun - they made the difference.
I have to congratulate the team because we had two young full-backs who are usually central players. In midfield we were very young and we have shown good spirit against a good Bolton side.
on tiredness...
In the last 20 minutes our legs had gone a little bit and we were hanging on with a bit of luck. Many players have not played at that level and that intensity so it was vital for us tonight not to go into extra time.
on Vermaelen's return…
He did very well. He had to come off for a minor calf problem but I hope it's not too bad. He will be a bit short for Saturday, I don't know yet what I will do. We have to test him tomorrow, but it doesn't look too bad.
He has been out for a long time, he had only one training session yesterday with the team. I didn't really expect a game of that intensity, it was a tough one for a centre-back. They put us under pressure in the second half and the intensity of the game was very high.
We don't think it is a calf strain, it is just tight calves. He has not played a proper game for two months. He wanted to come off. In fairness I did not want to take him off because I thought it was too stupid now with four minutes to go to concede a goal. He was adamant he couldn't go on so I hope it's not too bad.
on a run of form…
We want to just keep going and I think it is down to us to change the mind of people. We have a good spirit, a good attitude and there is still some room for improvement of course. We are getting better and better.
on Arshavin's performance…
Andrey is a player who of course takes a bit gamble on nearly every ball he plays. Sometimes he loses balls he shouldn't lose but when you look at the end of the game he has always had a big impact. Tonight he scored and made an assist. He had a good performance tonight.
on his 'no 10' credentials...
You cannot play with two wingers and two offensive players like that, you are too short in midfield. He is normally a wide player but he wants to grow in a role behind the striker. Of course, he can do that. He plays where you want him to play but if you ask him honestly he will always tell you that he likes to play in there.
on Park's display…
For me I am very pleased with his performance. He had a very, very good game. He has shown intelligence in his link play with others. The quality of his movement was exceptional and his finishing is absolutely fantastic. He has shown tonight that he is a very, very good player. He is ready to play in league games, yes.
Compared to the player who played in the first match [against Shrewsbury] where he was a bit inhibited, tonight I felt he played with freedom and has showed what a good player he is.
on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain…
He needs what I told you: the urgency that is used to dominate the games. Now he is at a level where every single ball needs 100 per cent concentration and fight, and that is what he will learn in these games.
on Chelsea…
We had 11 changes from Sunday's game so of course we will have many changes for Saturday. It's a top-level game, that means we need to turn up with a top-level performance. I am confident we can get something out of the game. You can fly but you land quickly in our sport. We of course want to keep improving. Don't worry, we will go there with spirit and give them a fight.
on Fabianski…
Lukasz is a world-class goalkeeper. I have always said that and I am convinced that we are very lucky here to have fantastic goalkeepers - Mannone as well is very good. The problem is when you are a goalkeeper only one can play.
on Ryo's performance…
Ryo is a guy with heart. I don't think he played long enough and we were in a position where we had to defend more than we could attack. But you could see straight away that his heart, his determination and his pace in the game are big assets.
He is like Oxlade-Chamberlain - they have to get used to the intensity of these games. When will he be ready? He just had one day training yesterday with the group because he was injured. He worked a lot with the fitness coach. I believe he will be ready at Christmas.
Source: Arsenal.com on 25 Oct 11
25 October 2011: Arsenal 2-1 Bolton Wanderers, The Emirates
The young Gunners were heading for a Fourth-Round exit when a former young Gunner, Fabrice Muamba, fired the visitors ahead two minutes into the second half.
But Andrey Arshavin – one of Arsène Wenger’s elder statesman – slammed in an equaliser and Ju Young Park completed a 10-minute turnaround with a fabulous finish from Arshavin’s pass.
It was enough to preserve Arsenal’s unbeaten League Cup record at Emirates Stadium and take them into the Quarter-Finals for a ninth consecutive year.
There are some big names left in this competition. But Wenger’s class of 2011 are in the mood to make amends for their Wembley heartbreak last February.
What's more, this was Arsenal's seventh win in eight games. Confidence should not be in short supply when they arrive at Stamford Bridge for their next big test in the Premier League.
Much of the pre-match talk had centred on the return of Thomas Vermaelen, back from injury and back in the starting line-up for the first time in two months. The other stand-out name on the teamsheet was Nico Yennaris – the versatile 18-year-old was handed his first-team debut at right-back.
Their inclusion was typical of Wenger’s Carling Cup policy as youth rubbed shoulders with experience. Bolton also rested a number of established stars but, in contrast to Wenger, visiting manager Owen Coyle parked his big names on the bench.
Arsenal’s creative pricing policy for Carling Cup matches tempted 56,628 fans – a record for this season’s competition – into Emirates Stadium and they saw the home side dominate the opening exchanges.
Arshavin, stationed behind the main striker as he is for Russia, almost capitalised on a hesitation by Gary Cahill in the third minute. Then an expansive pass from Francis Coquelin freed Park, only for the Korean to lose his footing.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, hero of the Third-Round win over Shrewsbury last month, was next to squander a presentable opening. Ignasi Miquel’s floated cross sat up nicely for the 18-year-old but his miscued volley took two ricochets and bounced behind for a corner.
The same man had a much better chance three minutes later. This time Emmanuel Frimpong’s raking diagonal pass found Oxlade-Chamberlain racing through the right channel. He neglected an early shot and tried beat Zat Knight but a heavy touch took him wide of goal and he could only manage a cross that floated meekly out of play.
Bolton had offered very little at this point - indeed, they looked every bit the confidence-drained Premier League strugglers – but Darren Pratley awoke them from their slumber with a driving run through midfield and a fierce shot that required a strong arm from Lukasz Fabianski.
That prompted a spell of Bolton pressure and a chance for Tuncay, Ivan Klasnic and the lively Gael Kakuta to link up. The latter tested Fabianski again with a low left-footed effort.
This was now a much more even encounter but, as driving rain began to fall, Arsenal gradually drove Bolton back.
Yossi Benayoun twisted and turned past Gretar Steinsson before whipping a shot just past the angle and Vermaelen almost secured a dream return with a venomous free-kick that had Bogdan at full stretch. Then Park, growing into the game in his second start for the Club, showed his eye for goal with a clever placed effort towards the bottom corner. Once again Bogdan got across to make the save.
Arsenal welcomed the half-time whistle on Sunday – it gave them a chance to regroup against Stoke – but tonight’s interval broke their momentum and Bolton caught the hosts cold two minutes after the restart.
Coquelin found Frimpong deep inside Arsenal territory but Muamba was on the Ghanaian in a split-second and nicked the ball away. He found Klasnic, the Croatia striker returned the favour and Muamba crashed a shot into the roof of the net.
The Bolton midfielder is, of course, a graduate of Arsenal’s academy. The irony would not have been lost on Wenger.
Fortunately the Frenchman’s latest crop of youngsters turned the tie on its head within 10 minutes – although it was a veritable veteran who did most of the damage.
Arshavin, revelling in his roving role behind the striker, drifted to the right to collect a pass from Benayoun and, as Knight backed off, he drilled an unerring shot beyond Bogdan and into the bottom corner.
Five minutes later the Russian turned provider. This time he picked up the ball in a central position and drove forward, eschewing a pass to Park because the Korean had strayed offside. Arshavin waited and then found his team-mate inside the box and very much onside. Park did the rest with a flourish, curling the ball past Bogdan.
Wenger insisted before the game that his lesser-known late-summer signing would soon endear himself to the home fans. He has been proved right.
Bolton weren’t finished. Vermaelen made a brave block to deny Klasnic a clear sight of goal and Fabianski had to get down quickly to keep out a well-placed free-kick from Kakuta.
With 20 minutes left Coyle brought on Chris Eagles to give the hosts another problem and he almost embarrassed Fabianski with a vicious, swerving shot.
Wenger also used his bench, throwing Ryo and Oguzhan Ozyakup into the fray. But by now Arsenal were playing on the break as Bolton pushed for an equaliser.
Cahill got above Squillaci to force another save from Fabianski with a downward header but that was as close as the visitors came in the closing stages.
So Wenger will take his team into the Quarter-Finals for a ninth consecutive season. Not bad for a man once accused of not taking the Carling Cup seriously.
Source: Chris Harris, Arsenal.com on 25 Oct 11
Monday, October 24, 2011
Robin van Persie rides to the rescue for Arsenal against Stoke City
Poor Marouane Chamakh, a man who appears to have mislaid so much confidence that he looks as if he would struggle to find his shirt on his peg, was given his first Premier League start of the season, but laboured for just over an hour. Park Chu‑young, the South Korea forward signed in the summer transfer window, has played once in the Carling Cup. The bottom line is this: no Van Persie, no va va voom.
With Arsenal straining for cohesion their top-scoring captain came on in the 66th minute. It took him around a quarter of an hour to score twice, swat aside any semblance of threat from Stoke and lift the mood immeasurably. Van Persie's outstanding record of 30 goals from 36 games shows how much he is carrying his team.
Chamakh's two goals in 32 games do not breed enormous reassurance. His confidence, in mind and in touch, is a long-term problem. That was evident with Arsenal's first chance of the game. Chamakh got himself into position to meet Mikel Arteta's corner but the downward header was weak.
Aaron Ramsey, who had his own reasons for having a few nerves about this game, began to exert his authority. His creative eye carved open a chance for the lively Gervinho, which the Ivorian could not quite control; then his knack for arriving in the right place for a shot saw him drag a fierce effort from outside a packed penalty box narrowly wide.
In the 27th minute Ramsey's influence led to the opening goal. The Welshman chipped a pass in to Gervinho, who this time chested down to finish unerringly.
Stoke's response was nothing if not predictable. A set piece attacked with conviction, allied to Arsenal's defensive confusion, made it easy for Peter Crouch, who tapped in after Ryan Shawcross and Jon Walters had helped the move along. Wenger had written in his programme notes that his team were "improving" in terms of set pieces. Not enough, clearly. Collective paralysis set in as soon as the ball hit the box, and Stoke claimed every free ball. Arsenal were enraged by the free-kick in the first place, given when Laurent Koscielny leaned into Crouch as they competed for a ball in the air.
Arsenal appealed for what looked like a reasonable penalty when Andy Wilkinson dragged down Chamakh but the referee Lee Mason was unmoved.
The first plaintive shouts for Van Persie began four minutes into the second half. When he made his entrance, he made an immediate impression. Suddenly there was some thrust and imagination in the final third. There was also some heat, as the Dutchman reacted furiously to an elbow in the side of the head from Shawcross.
Although Asmir Begovic will be disappointed, Arsenal could take heart from the combination play between Gervinho and Van Persie. The Ivorian twice teed up the Dutchman, who has become wonderfully clinical from close range. And so Arsenal won their sixth match out of seven, thus aiding their recovery from the early-season calamities.
They are in the bizarre position of being so reliant on Van Persie (who even by his own manager's admission is not an authentic striker) that they have to get down on their knees and pray he stays injury free.
Source: Amy Lawrence, The Guardian on 23 Oct 11
Wenger's reaction to the Arsenal 3-1 Stoke City match
on his win over Stoke...
We had a solid team performance where you could see that the team improves defensively, especially against a team that is challenging like Stoke. We looked much more solid defensively and we had a good start to the game until they equalised. Then I felt we became a bit nervous and we needed half time to calm down and then come back.
The second half basically was all us, especially after the first 15 minutes, and then the problem was to score goals. Van Persie can do that better than many people and he did it when he came on. Overall it was a good, spirited performance and the crowd feels that this team wants to do well because they stood behind the team again and that is very positive. They feel that the team is ready to put effort in.
Of course Robin with the two goals deserves a massive credit but I feel Gervinho as well had a very lively game, a very influential game.
on the reason for first-half nerves...
Frustration. Also the players were a bit angry because they knew for us the second ball was vital. We could not win every ball against Crouch so the second ball was important. The players felt at half time that we had been caught on the second ball. But I have to give credit to Stoke, they surprised us with the free kick, and after that we were a bit in no-man's land on all the second balls. They took advantage of it and after that the frustration took over and our passing became less fluent until half time.
on the free kick that led to Crouch's goal...
I think that it was not a free kick at all, I just felt it was a wonderful header. I couldn't understand what the referee saw. It is a concern [that we did not pick up Shawcross] but the players knew straight away at half time that they had been caught. But we had a great response in the second half and in the final part of the game it was all us.
on why he rested Van Persie...
He had muscular tightness and I took 19 players [in training] yesterday because I was not sure whether to involve him on the teamsheet. He made a check this morning and he was medically alright to be on the bench. Before you leave him out you always think 15 times 'should I really do it or not?' but if you look at the number of games he plays and the history he has, you are a bit cautious.
on accusations of being a 'one-man team'...
I don't have that feeling at all. When you want to be a team with quality you always have a player who stands out and who gets on the end of things. We had Thierry Henry before. Robin has exceptional quality and so you get these questions.
on Johan Djourou at right back...
Permanently I don't know [if he has made a case to play there] but he had a very good game today. What was good today was that we were tall at the back. We had Djourou, Mertesacker, Koscielny and Santos in the back four. When you face Stoke that is an interesting quality.
on Van Persie's fitness for the Chelsea game…
He was not injured, he was just tight muscularly. He will be fit.
on the performance of Marouane Chamakh…
I think he worked very hard. He is running after a goal at the moment. I felt there were two or three occasions in the first half where he was nearly there on crosses and just didn't get in front of Shawcross. I am pleased with his effort. I think he knows in his mind that at the moment Van Persie is untouchable. Because we play with two wingers it is very difficult to play with two strikers because you are too open in the middle of the park. So unless I change the system it will be him or Van Persie. It is difficult. But he will get confidence by playing games and scoring goals like all strikers.
on Manchester City's win at Old Trafford…
It was a surprise. You look today that France nearly beat New Zealand [in the Rugby World Cup final] - I didn't see that coming either! The big scores for me have no special meaning because it means something special has happened in the game.
We conceded four goals in the last 20 minutes [at Old Trafford] and today Manchester United conceded three goals in the last 15 or 20 minutes. Once you are in a position where you have to attack with ten men against a good side you are vulnerable. What is more difficult to face afterwards is the emotional aspect of a result like that which remains in your heads and your body.
Source: Arsenal.com on 23 Oct 11
We had a solid team performance where you could see that the team improves defensively, especially against a team that is challenging like Stoke. We looked much more solid defensively and we had a good start to the game until they equalised. Then I felt we became a bit nervous and we needed half time to calm down and then come back.
The second half basically was all us, especially after the first 15 minutes, and then the problem was to score goals. Van Persie can do that better than many people and he did it when he came on. Overall it was a good, spirited performance and the crowd feels that this team wants to do well because they stood behind the team again and that is very positive. They feel that the team is ready to put effort in.
Of course Robin with the two goals deserves a massive credit but I feel Gervinho as well had a very lively game, a very influential game.
on the reason for first-half nerves...
Frustration. Also the players were a bit angry because they knew for us the second ball was vital. We could not win every ball against Crouch so the second ball was important. The players felt at half time that we had been caught on the second ball. But I have to give credit to Stoke, they surprised us with the free kick, and after that we were a bit in no-man's land on all the second balls. They took advantage of it and after that the frustration took over and our passing became less fluent until half time.
on the free kick that led to Crouch's goal...
I think that it was not a free kick at all, I just felt it was a wonderful header. I couldn't understand what the referee saw. It is a concern [that we did not pick up Shawcross] but the players knew straight away at half time that they had been caught. But we had a great response in the second half and in the final part of the game it was all us.
on why he rested Van Persie...
He had muscular tightness and I took 19 players [in training] yesterday because I was not sure whether to involve him on the teamsheet. He made a check this morning and he was medically alright to be on the bench. Before you leave him out you always think 15 times 'should I really do it or not?' but if you look at the number of games he plays and the history he has, you are a bit cautious.
on accusations of being a 'one-man team'...
I don't have that feeling at all. When you want to be a team with quality you always have a player who stands out and who gets on the end of things. We had Thierry Henry before. Robin has exceptional quality and so you get these questions.
on Johan Djourou at right back...
Permanently I don't know [if he has made a case to play there] but he had a very good game today. What was good today was that we were tall at the back. We had Djourou, Mertesacker, Koscielny and Santos in the back four. When you face Stoke that is an interesting quality.
on Van Persie's fitness for the Chelsea game…
He was not injured, he was just tight muscularly. He will be fit.
on the performance of Marouane Chamakh…
I think he worked very hard. He is running after a goal at the moment. I felt there were two or three occasions in the first half where he was nearly there on crosses and just didn't get in front of Shawcross. I am pleased with his effort. I think he knows in his mind that at the moment Van Persie is untouchable. Because we play with two wingers it is very difficult to play with two strikers because you are too open in the middle of the park. So unless I change the system it will be him or Van Persie. It is difficult. But he will get confidence by playing games and scoring goals like all strikers.
on Manchester City's win at Old Trafford…
It was a surprise. You look today that France nearly beat New Zealand [in the Rugby World Cup final] - I didn't see that coming either! The big scores for me have no special meaning because it means something special has happened in the game.
We conceded four goals in the last 20 minutes [at Old Trafford] and today Manchester United conceded three goals in the last 15 or 20 minutes. Once you are in a position where you have to attack with ten men against a good side you are vulnerable. What is more difficult to face afterwards is the emotional aspect of a result like that which remains in your heads and your body.
Source: Arsenal.com on 23 Oct 11
23 October 2011: Arsenal 3-1 Stoke City, The Emirates
The Dutchman slotted home cut-backs from Gervinho on 73 and 82 minutes as Arsène Wenger’s side registered their third win inside eight days.
But while the victories over Sunderland and Marseille had been tight affairs, this was more like the old Arsenal. Yes they had to rely on Van Persie’s late introduction after he had been rested at kick-off, but their overall performance was arguably the best of the season so far.
Gervinho had given them the lead just before the half-hour when he cleverly converted from Aaron Ramsey’s scooped pass. However, seven minutes later, Stoke were on level terms when a well-worked free-kick saw Peter Crouch convert from close range.
In previous games this season the equaliser had been prelude for doubts to creep in. Not this afternoon.
Arsenal fought the physical with the physical but retained their grace and guile. They ground down one of the most robust sides in the top flight and fully deserved the three points.
This was a sixth win in seven games for Wenger's men and moved them up to seventh place in the table.
Arsenal are not quite back yet – but they are clearly on the way.
Wenger made four changes from the side that had gleaned that last-gasp victory at Marseille in midweek.
The most eye-catching omission was Van Persie in favour of Marouane Chamakh. However, at his pre-match press conference, the manager had hinted the Dutchman needed a break.
“On Monday I decide always to rest him and on Friday I play him again,” he joked.
Elsewhere Gervinho and Aaron Ramsey came in, pushing Andrey Arshavin and Tomas Rosicky to the bench.
Johan Djourou started at right back - the position in which he had ended the game in France after Carl Jenkinson went off with a knee injury.
This was the 100th Premier League game at Emirates Stadium. The first 99 had been a statistician’s dream - W66 D22 L11.
It was also the 150th game in all competitions and two goals this afternoon would bring up a double century in five years at the new ground.
However the opening quarter-hour this afternoon never looked like bringing up that landmark.
Chamakh nudged a header beyond the far post from Mikel Arteta’s corner, then the Spaniard himself drove wide.
Perhaps the closest Arsenal came was when Gervinho raced into the area to collect Ramsey’s pass, but Asmir Begovic scooped up the ball before he could convert.
Maybe it was the European exploits of both clubs, perhaps it was shadow created by the Manchester derby - but this was tame stuff.
The first time the crowd had cause to leave their seats was midway through the half when Arteta’s free-kick fell to Gervinho at the far post. He pushed a pass back into the path of Ramsey, who cracked an effort just wide.
Having said all that, Arsenal had the copyright on creativity up to this point. So, when the goal came in the 27th minute, it had to go to the home side.
Arteta made headway down the left and, after Walcott was dispossessed, Ramsey shovelled a pass over the Stoke defence for Gervinho to collect and then convert.
It was the Ivorian’s second for the Club and had been based on his speed of thought to avoid running offside.
However, within seven minutes, it would be Stoke’s quick thinking that carved out an unlikely equaliser.
Glenn Whelan pumped a seemingly aimless free-kick down the right flank but Shawcross escaped the Arsenal defence to race round the back and nod the ball into the area from the byline. Matthew Upson prodded it on and Jon Walters headed down for Crouch to convert from close range.
It was a soft equaliser and acutely disappointing given the graft required to put the home side in front.
The goal changed the flow of the game and suddenly Stoke began to sustain their attacks on the Arsenal goal. However, they never really looked like grabbing a second.
Just before the whistle, Upson nodded Arteta’s left-wing cross away from Chamakh and then Gervinho fired over.
As the players went down the tunnel it seemed like the first half had been a microcosm of the season so far – decent going forward, punished for mistakes at the back.
Once again Arsenal were making hard work for themselves.
In contrast, Wenger’s men began the second half on the offensive. Walcott and Gervinho both popped up in penetrative positions on the right. Although their crosses were dangerous, both came to nothing.
But it would be a case of ‘possession without penetration’ from then until the midway point of the second half. Wenger’s response was to bring on Van Persie for Chamakh.
The introduction of the captain put the home side into another gear. His first touch was to whip in a cross which was just too tall for Koscielny at the far post.
The rest of the side seemed to be a yard faster just by having the Van Persie on the pitch. Arsenal started to set up camp just outside the Stoke area. The introduction of Arshavin – on for Walcott – only added to the attacking intent of the home side.
Wenger’s men were starting to look irresistible and, in the end, they were.
In the 73rd minute, Gervinho darted to the right-hand byline and cut the ball back for Van Persie at the near post. His stabbed sidefoot shot was fumbled over the line by Begovic – but the scorer celebrated like it was a virtuoso 25-yarder.
Van Persie knows his side are scrapping their way back to form and nothing succeeds like success – however it arrives.
In the wake of the goal, Tony Pulis made immediate attacking changes. They nearly paid dividend when Wojciech Szczesny snatched a Kenwyne Jones nod-down away from Cameron Jerome.
However, Arsenal gave themselves some breathing space eight minutes from time when Gervinho sprinted down the left and cut the ball back for Van Persie to sweep home his second.
It was Dutchman’s 25th goal in 26 Premier League games this calendar year.
Some might argue Arsenal are over-reliant on Robin – and use this afternoon as a prime example.
But the performance without the skipper was enough to instill confidence.
Arsenal are going in only one direction right now – upwards.
Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 23 Oct 11
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey leaves it late to make a mark at Marseille
The victory gained was not pretty and the tie could be filed under one for the committed. Certainly, there was plenty to admire about Arsenal's resilience, which was epitomised by the man-of-the-match Laurent Koscielny, and having drawn the sting from what had shaped up as an intimidating game, they grabbed the glory at the death, when all of their substitutes combined to devastating effect.
Johan Djourou slung over a cross from the right, Gervinho touched the ball on and there was Aaron Ramsey, in yards of space, to drill low and unerringly into the near corner. Wenger had demanded four points from the two games against Marseille to top the group and avoid the other group winners in the last 16. He is emphatically ahead of schedule before the return with Marseille in two weeks' time.
Wenger might joke that smash-and-grab raids were more suited to the Marseille of the Bernard Tapie era, yet his team snatched all three points. They had endured a nervous start but gradually they wore down their opponents, who lost their way and their attacking vim. Towards the end it was Arsenal who created the chances and even Didier Deschamps, the Marseille manager, admitted that Ramsey's goal had been coming.
Arsenal have not gained renown on their European travels in recent times. They arrived in the south of France with only three away wins since the beginning of the 2008-09 season (excluding play-offs) and, despite Marseille's domestic toils and the intense pressure on Deschamps, there was a feeling that this tie represented their toughest assignment in the group.
It was cagey at the outset, with Arsenal pock-marking their play with errors, and the first-half was most notable for three handball controversies, with Marseille feeling the sense of injustice first. Jérémy Morel's cross from the left appeared to strike Carl Jenkinson's arm and although unintentional, the penalty pleas looked to have grounds. André Ayew's protests were so vociferous he was booked.
Arsenal's penalty claim was only visible after TV replays, but at the time they were more aggrieved that Robin van Persie's looping header following Mikel Arteta's corner had been cleared off the line by Alou Diarra. Upon closer examination it was clear that the defender Souleymane Diawara's hand had pawed at Arteta's delivery.
André Santos made up the hat-trick. Already booked, harshly, for a check on Mathieu Valbuena, Arsenal's left-back went for a header, missed it, but with an arm outstretched, he handled. The Brazilian was fortunate that the referee did not deem it worthy of a second yellow card.
Wenger seemed happy to contain in the first half. There was little incision or tempo from his team, despite Van Persie's inventive movement off the ball. They were also grateful to Koscielny for a perfectly timed tackle on Loic Remy, and Lucho González missed the only real chance of the half when he touched wide from Valbuena's cross.
It was stodgy fare. Arsenal struggled to get much out of Theo Walcott and Andrey Arshavin, but eventually they took control of the midfield. Patience was the watchword and Marseille, who looked happier on the counter-attack, could not force the issue.
Arsenal lost Jenkinson on the hour after he stretched his right knee when making a routine clearance. Wenger's headache at right-back deepened. Already without Bacary Sagna due to a broken leg, Jenkinson is his only other specialist in the position. Djourou came on in his stead.
Wenger could be pleased with the discipline that his team showed. The often-maligned Koscielny barely put a foot wrong and together with Per Mertesacker and Song in front of them, he helped to restrict Marseille. Wojciech Szczesny did not have a save to make while Arteta was neat and tidy throughout.
Arsenal created more openings as the game wore on. From Rosicky's pass after 64 minutes Walcott got the better of Nicolas N'Koulou, who was guilty of a slip and the winger wriggled through on goal. Steve Mandanda, though, narrowed the angle to block. The Marseille keeper had to repeat the feat to deny Van Persie soon after but he was powerless and exposed when Ramsey struck. Wenger's men now have one foot in the knock-out stage.
Source: David Hytner, The Guardian on 19 Oct 11
Nothing wrong with a good old 1-0
Our match against Blackburn was exciting and we played some good attacking football that day, but we lost and I never want to see that game again. As much as I want to always see Arsenal playing exhilarating football, at the moment I’m more than happy for us to revert to a more restrained style if it means getting results. Sometimes, as we proved last night, you can get as much satisfaction out of a good old ‘1-0 to the Arsenal’ as you do out of games that in theory are more exciting.
What made the win on Wednesday even better, was that I was struggling to see how either team was going to score the longer the game went on. You only needed to look at the reaction of the travelling fans, and undoubtedly the reaction of fans in living rooms and pubs, when Aaron Ramsey scored, to know that winning away in the Champions League really matters, however it’s done. The players looked chuffed as well. Surely it’ll give them extra motivation in the league to make sure they can experience such wins in Europe next season.
In truth, there really weren’t many other key moments to note in the game except for Ramsey’s winner. Johan Djourou, who did well after coming on at right back, clipped the ball towards the box, Gervinho miscontrolled it, but Ramsey arrived and finished brilliantly. Was it lucky that Gervinho accidently flicked the ball on? Probably, but it helped produce a moment reminded us why we follow football, and particularly the Arsenal. We never take the easy route, but sometimes they come up with moments that make you feel awesome. A late winner always does that, regardless of how good the game was beforehand.
One of the reasons the match was fairly dull before second half injury time was that we looked organised at the back and limited Marseille’s chances to attack. There were still some scary moments, we’ve come to expect that of the Arsenal defence, but generally they looked more disciplined and like they knew what they were doing. After Jenkinson went off, it was the same back four that finished the embarrassment at Ewood Park in September. The improvement defensively since then has been massive, although work still has to be done.
Laurent Kosicelny had an excellent game, and when Thomas Vermaelen returns, Arsene Wenger has a tough choice to make about his centre backs. With the injuries at right back, I think Koscielny will play there, with Mertesacker and Vermaelen in the centre. Mertesacker is becoming increasingly composed with each game. He can still look sluggish, but particularly in European matches, his positional sense and reading of the game is very good. As he’s becoming more confident, he’s becoming more dominant in the air when defending, and that is something we’ve missed in a centre back for a long time.
Admittedly, Marseille weren’t over ambitious going forward, as they’ve had an even worse start to their league season than we’ve had in the Premier League, but a clean sheet away from home in the Champions League should be seen as a massive positive. Plus it’s been a long time in coming. It was our first away shut out in Europe since AC Milan in 2008.
There was still a lack of creativity in midfield, however Arteta, Song and Rosicky couldn’t be criticised for not covering the ground in France. Obviously the departures of Fabregas and Nasri were going to have an effect, but we do appear to have sacrificed our more open attacking style to have a more organised midfield. Whilst we’re still a team trying to gel and trying to fight for points, being more organised is the best policy. Let’s make sure we can’t get beaten, as we still have good enough players going forward to score the necessary goals. All three midfielders did some great work defensively in not allowing Marseille to settle on their home ground and should take some of the credit for the improved defensive performance.
We’re now top of the group, with seven points from three games, and can qualify with a win against Marseille in two weeks at the Emirates. Ahead of the Udinese qualifier, with the state of our team, if someone offered me the chance to be unbeaten in Europe after three games of the groups and be one win away from qualifying, I’d have bitten their hand off and devoured it.
Arsene Wenger has been rightly criticised at different points during this season, but just quietly there are signs he’s turning things round again. We’ve got five wins in six games in all competitions, and there is a definite team spirit developing within the squad, and a willingness to run their feet into the ground for each other, that is really encouraging for the rest of the season. Keep it up Arsene.
Our next game sees Stoke come to the Emirates on Sunday. We all know what to expect from them, but hopefully our big German turns out to be good at repelling long throw-ins. We’re slowly building momentum, and with a lot of ill-feeling still existing between some supporters, a win would improve the spirit in the dressing room even further.
Just a reminder for those going to game on Sunday, don’t leave early as after the match, there is the chance to see the Arsenal under-18’s play the Chelsea under-18’s in a friendly. I’d definitely recommend staying.
Finally, it was great to hear that Thomas Vermaelen has signed a new contract. With other players supposedly being unsure about committing to the club, it’s reassuring that the vice-captain has set the example to the others by signing. Hopefully we’ll see a domino effect with others following his lead. Even at this early stage of this Arsenal’s team existence together, it’s important everyone stays as they’re capable of a result that was staple score-line for some Gunners sides; ‘1-0 to the Arsenal’. Another one on Sunday would be greatly appreciated.
Source: Sam Limbert, ESPN Soccernet on 21 Oct 11
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