Arsenal's fans are developing a loathing for Manchester City as strong as the two managers' distaste for Carling Cup scheduling
Arsenal fans have developed a particular enmity for Manchester City
The Manchester City "feeder club" tag was never going to make Gunners enthusiasts warm to the cash-soaked league leaders and with rumours that Robin van Persie could join the exodus north next summer, to play alongside Samir Nasri, Gaël Clichy and Kolo Touré, the bitterness is not about to cease.
The Emirates Stadium can be as quiet as the Highbury Library on occasion, but on Tuesday night it was rocking as the home congregation jeered and sang songs directed at Nasri and took any chance to mock their opposite numbers. The time-honoured "Who are you?" was sung back and forth: the answer Arsenal fans fear most is that City are the club who come calling each year to take yet another star. On this evening, the home fans were also forced to swallow being beaten.
Owen Hargreaves is on a long road back
The former Manchester United and England midfielder was making his third appearance for City, following a prolonged injury nightmare. He requires game time but on this showing it will not be easy for him. A misplaced header after 25 minutes was about all he mustered during the opening exchanges, as he sat in the holding midfield berth. As half-time approached the 30-year-old's radar was again askew as a slipped pass beyond the Arsenal defence found space but not a colleague.
Frustration spilled over when he was booked on 58 minutes, for dumping Emmanuel Frimpong to the floor, but after that there was the odd flicker of the operator who has shaped games for United, Bayern Munich and England: one quick look up before dinking a reverse ball into Edin Dzeko was about as good as he got. At least he survived 79 minutes before leaving the field, apparently unscathed.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain may have the muscle Theo Walcott lacks
The No15 shone brightest for Arsenal. Early on, he caused the experienced Pablo Zabaleta problems, forcing a corner with a left-foot effort and fashioning a give-and-go with Marouane Chamakh that ended with a shot that Costel Pantilimon had to save sharply. Stefan Savic was the next opponent he terrorised when, after applying the after-burners down his right flank, he turned a nothing ball into a 50-50.
After the break, Oxlade-Chamberlain resumed. A ducking, weaving run finished with him unloading with his left again – Pantilimon punched away. A later attempt on goal was just a little too high. In this company the 18-year-old was at ease, and unlike Walcott when he joined the club – also from Southampton – Oxlade-Chamberlain has the muscles and build for the hurly-burly of the elite game. Whether Wenger gives him a prolonged chance at that level remains to be seen.
Costel Pantilimon could be an able deputy for Joe Hart
The 24-year-old Romanian suggested he may be able to handle the step up, if required. His first save was a stunning reflex effort from Park Chu-young at close range – the 6ft 8in keeper threw out a paw to parry. After 27 minutes a fine save tipped away a fierce 25-yard shot from Oxlade-Chamberlain. And although the Romanian international missed a chance of glory at the close, when failing to kick at Lukasz Fabianski's empty goal after the Arsenal goalkeeper had wandered up for a corner, this was an encouraging outing.
Arsenal and City should stop complaining about fixture congestion
At this time of the season a familiar cry can be heard, bewailing how the Carling Cup exhausts players and generally gets in the way of what really matters – the Premier League. Arsène Wenger and Roberto Mancini were both at it before this tie. City may have had only two days rest after their draw at Liverpool but Mancini could still field an XI worth north of £120m which featured Nigel de Jong (a World Cup finalist), Adam Johnson (an England winger) and Kolo Touré (an Arsenal Invincible).
Wenger's grumbles were backed up by his captain, Van Persie, who wrote in the programme: "I know it's hard to get fixtures right for every single team but I don't really understand the scheduling either for us or City." Arsenal had an extra day to recover.
Maybe they should all just stop moaning and get on with it.
Source: Jamie Jackson, The Guardian on 29 Nov 11
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Manchester City fielded Samir Nasri and turned the taunts on Arsenal
Samir Nasri's appearance at the Emirates prompted taunts about money but spending power told on the pitch
Not everyone finds it easy to sympathise with Roberto Mancini when he laments the madness of juggling his jewels, but the Manchester City manager had a point when he complained about having to pick teams to play in the Premier League at Anfield and the Carling Cup at the Emirates within a mere 52 hours. There was more than a hint of mischief in the air, therefore, when it transpired that the only player capable of starting both fixtures was a certain Samir Nasri. What an astonishing coincidence.
Although Arsène Wenger had requested "respect", Nasri, pictured, was the focus of the customary jeers and a none-too complimentary reworking of the song with which he was once hailed. One of the players, Emmanuel Frimpong, felt compelled to have an exchange of views – described by an Arsenal spokesman as "handbags" – in the tunnel.
"You only went for the money," suggested the home fans. Did he really? That is the uncomfortable question that lurks below the cheap shots. Few neutrals would argue which squad is better placed for the prizes this season, and Nasri got to travel home with the winning team. But there is also an awkward question for Nasri to ask himself. A mainstay for his old club, he has started only four league games in almost three months for his new club.
He performed as if unaffected by being cast as pantomime villain. If his selection was a test of character it was one he passed, even if his game was not at its most creative. Mancini was not massively enthusiastic. Asked whether the commotion had affected his man, the Italian replied: "Maybe. I think that Nasri can play better."
Arsenal were intent on showing that the club Nasri left behind have a future. There were four very bright sparks who looked not in the least intimidated.
Frimpong chopped and chased in midfield; his partner, Francis Coquelin, was a ball-winner who prompted with intelligence; Ignasi Miquel filled in with a composed display at left-back; and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was full of verve and imagination. The 18‑year‑old winger has seen his Carling Cup experiences increase in difficulty (from Shrewsbury via Bolton to Manchester City) and here he gave an experienced defence a real headache. Arsenal will be hoping the City bench was not paying too much attention.
Mancini's men found it hard to make inroads against a team who looked noticably fresher. Assisting the kids were mature displays from, notably, Yossi Benayoun, Laurent Koscielny and, most notably, Sébastien Squillaci.
It is unlikely that Arsenal can keep up with the City juggernaut, for the precise reason that made Wenger acknowledge that it is no good building a team of youngsters and hoping they will not be plundered by the wealthy.
The message in Mancunian accents around the Highbury hostelries 90 minutes before kick-off was loud and clear: "Robin van Persie, he's gonna be blue." Those words encapsulated what seems inescapable about the different roads that these clubs are taking.
At the going rate for City's No19, the entire Arsenal first XI cost the same as Nasri plus a couple of extra toes (approximately £27m, all in). Fortunately football has a rich history of being illogical. For 83 minutes City were thoroughly tested and Costel Pantilimon was by the far the busier goalkeeper.
Logic prevailed, though, when Edin Dzeko and Adam Johnson combined on the break to tee up Sergio Agüero, whose finish was unerring. And the name City's fans chose to herald after the goal went in? Samir Nasri, of course.
Source: Amy Lawrence, The Guardian on 29 Nov 11
Not everyone finds it easy to sympathise with Roberto Mancini when he laments the madness of juggling his jewels, but the Manchester City manager had a point when he complained about having to pick teams to play in the Premier League at Anfield and the Carling Cup at the Emirates within a mere 52 hours. There was more than a hint of mischief in the air, therefore, when it transpired that the only player capable of starting both fixtures was a certain Samir Nasri. What an astonishing coincidence.
Although Arsène Wenger had requested "respect", Nasri, pictured, was the focus of the customary jeers and a none-too complimentary reworking of the song with which he was once hailed. One of the players, Emmanuel Frimpong, felt compelled to have an exchange of views – described by an Arsenal spokesman as "handbags" – in the tunnel.
"You only went for the money," suggested the home fans. Did he really? That is the uncomfortable question that lurks below the cheap shots. Few neutrals would argue which squad is better placed for the prizes this season, and Nasri got to travel home with the winning team. But there is also an awkward question for Nasri to ask himself. A mainstay for his old club, he has started only four league games in almost three months for his new club.
He performed as if unaffected by being cast as pantomime villain. If his selection was a test of character it was one he passed, even if his game was not at its most creative. Mancini was not massively enthusiastic. Asked whether the commotion had affected his man, the Italian replied: "Maybe. I think that Nasri can play better."
Arsenal were intent on showing that the club Nasri left behind have a future. There were four very bright sparks who looked not in the least intimidated.
Frimpong chopped and chased in midfield; his partner, Francis Coquelin, was a ball-winner who prompted with intelligence; Ignasi Miquel filled in with a composed display at left-back; and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was full of verve and imagination. The 18‑year‑old winger has seen his Carling Cup experiences increase in difficulty (from Shrewsbury via Bolton to Manchester City) and here he gave an experienced defence a real headache. Arsenal will be hoping the City bench was not paying too much attention.
Mancini's men found it hard to make inroads against a team who looked noticably fresher. Assisting the kids were mature displays from, notably, Yossi Benayoun, Laurent Koscielny and, most notably, Sébastien Squillaci.
It is unlikely that Arsenal can keep up with the City juggernaut, for the precise reason that made Wenger acknowledge that it is no good building a team of youngsters and hoping they will not be plundered by the wealthy.
The message in Mancunian accents around the Highbury hostelries 90 minutes before kick-off was loud and clear: "Robin van Persie, he's gonna be blue." Those words encapsulated what seems inescapable about the different roads that these clubs are taking.
At the going rate for City's No19, the entire Arsenal first XI cost the same as Nasri plus a couple of extra toes (approximately £27m, all in). Fortunately football has a rich history of being illogical. For 83 minutes City were thoroughly tested and Costel Pantilimon was by the far the busier goalkeeper.
Logic prevailed, though, when Edin Dzeko and Adam Johnson combined on the break to tee up Sergio Agüero, whose finish was unerring. And the name City's fans chose to herald after the goal went in? Samir Nasri, of course.
Source: Amy Lawrence, The Guardian on 29 Nov 11
Sergio Agüero strikes late to seal Manchester City's success at Arsenal
The Carling Cup may not be the foremost prize in English football, but Arsenal and Manchester City could not have been more resolute. As the quarter-final proceeded a goal seemed ever more unlikely, but the visitors struck on the break six minutes from the end. Adam Johnson released Sergio Agüero and the Argentine shot low past Lukasz Fabianski to settle the tie.
In view of the depth and breadth of their squad, it would have been virtually impossible for City not to send out a potent line-up. If there was any mischief it lay in the inclusion of Samir Nasri, who had been on the opposition's books at the start of the season when £24m was still to change hands. Arsenal stuck to standard procedure for this match, including quite a few players who will be busy proving themselves for some time to come.
That policy was, in itself, a test for City since the expectations were higher than ever with such seeming callowness in the opposition's ranks. Roberto Mancini, the City manager, left no one in doubt over his priorities. Nasri was the one member of the starting line-up that drew a gruelling match at Anfield who was required to be on the Emirates pitch at kick-off.
Even so, the back-up selection had an air of potency. Arsenal, for their part, were very far from conceding the tie. Perhaps the renown of some City figures simply galvanised them. Following a lay-off by Marouane Chamakh, for instance, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain hit a shot from distance that had to be tipped over the bar impressively by the goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon after 27 minutes.
The reaction that followed from City illustrated their expectations. Alexander Kolarov, operating in wide midfield, was withdrawn so that City could bring on Agüero to add to the attacking intent while Nasri was relocated towards the left. Arsenal were far from cowed. The supposed handicap in a shortfall of experience merely emphasised the freshness and hunger in the ranks. Regardless of the names in the line-up, there was confidence and desire.
The time must come when a club hankers after even a trophy with a low profile. Lacking silverware since 2005, Arsenal should be ready to fall for the once obscure charms of the Carling Cup. They were sufficiently in earnest to get to Wembley in this competition last season, where they succumbed to Birmingham City, a club for whom the afternoon was a picturesque diversion on the otherwise grim road to relegation.
Even that blow has not left Arsenal disenchanted with the tournament. Here they were striving to take a further step towards reaching the final for the third time in six seasons. City, by contrast, must be in a more turbulent state of mind. The excitement of leading the Premier League is equalled only by the anxiety that they may soon be eliminated from the Champions League.
At least the liveliness of the contest here ensured that minds did not wander to any other topic at all. City would have realised the intensity of the challenge from at least the 11th minute. A slick move saw Francis Coquelin cross from the right and it took an outstanding save from Pantilimon to tip the shot by Park Chu-young over the bar. There was apparent expertise in City's ranks, but the Arsenal players relished opponents who added to the significance of the occasion.
If the visitors had the greater know-how, the challenge appeared to invigorate Arsenal. In that regard there was intrigue as well as incident, despite the match's lack of a goal. It was Arsène Wenger's men who had the intensity that promised a breakthrough. Indeed, Emmanuel Frimpong's run was only checked by a foul that brought a yellow card for Owen Hargreaves.
Obduracy is not anticipated in the Carling Cup, a tournament without replays that has no interest in deadlock. The sides at the Emirates were not conservative in the least, yet the edge was often blunt in attack. The goalkeepers had been kept busy but the great majority of their work was routine. When team selections are shuffled, it may be that attacking efficiency declines.
Even so, the struggle was hard-fought and it retained the interest of the crowd. City had redoubled their effort to assume command of the action. They achieved that territorially, but Arsenal did not seem harassed or overpowered. Indeed, Wenger's mind was on enhancing the attack and Gervinho was brought on for Park, who had not provoked much alarm in City.
Any tension lay in the stalemate itself. The player looked as if they, too, had started to think that one slip would settle the quarter-final. The Carling Cup is often regarded as a diversion of sorts, but these clubs could not have been more in earnest. Indeed, this had turned into a game that had to search long and hard for its decisive moment.
Source: Kevin McCarra, The Guardian on 29 Nov 11
In view of the depth and breadth of their squad, it would have been virtually impossible for City not to send out a potent line-up. If there was any mischief it lay in the inclusion of Samir Nasri, who had been on the opposition's books at the start of the season when £24m was still to change hands. Arsenal stuck to standard procedure for this match, including quite a few players who will be busy proving themselves for some time to come.
That policy was, in itself, a test for City since the expectations were higher than ever with such seeming callowness in the opposition's ranks. Roberto Mancini, the City manager, left no one in doubt over his priorities. Nasri was the one member of the starting line-up that drew a gruelling match at Anfield who was required to be on the Emirates pitch at kick-off.
Even so, the back-up selection had an air of potency. Arsenal, for their part, were very far from conceding the tie. Perhaps the renown of some City figures simply galvanised them. Following a lay-off by Marouane Chamakh, for instance, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain hit a shot from distance that had to be tipped over the bar impressively by the goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon after 27 minutes.
The reaction that followed from City illustrated their expectations. Alexander Kolarov, operating in wide midfield, was withdrawn so that City could bring on Agüero to add to the attacking intent while Nasri was relocated towards the left. Arsenal were far from cowed. The supposed handicap in a shortfall of experience merely emphasised the freshness and hunger in the ranks. Regardless of the names in the line-up, there was confidence and desire.
The time must come when a club hankers after even a trophy with a low profile. Lacking silverware since 2005, Arsenal should be ready to fall for the once obscure charms of the Carling Cup. They were sufficiently in earnest to get to Wembley in this competition last season, where they succumbed to Birmingham City, a club for whom the afternoon was a picturesque diversion on the otherwise grim road to relegation.
Even that blow has not left Arsenal disenchanted with the tournament. Here they were striving to take a further step towards reaching the final for the third time in six seasons. City, by contrast, must be in a more turbulent state of mind. The excitement of leading the Premier League is equalled only by the anxiety that they may soon be eliminated from the Champions League.
At least the liveliness of the contest here ensured that minds did not wander to any other topic at all. City would have realised the intensity of the challenge from at least the 11th minute. A slick move saw Francis Coquelin cross from the right and it took an outstanding save from Pantilimon to tip the shot by Park Chu-young over the bar. There was apparent expertise in City's ranks, but the Arsenal players relished opponents who added to the significance of the occasion.
If the visitors had the greater know-how, the challenge appeared to invigorate Arsenal. In that regard there was intrigue as well as incident, despite the match's lack of a goal. It was Arsène Wenger's men who had the intensity that promised a breakthrough. Indeed, Emmanuel Frimpong's run was only checked by a foul that brought a yellow card for Owen Hargreaves.
Obduracy is not anticipated in the Carling Cup, a tournament without replays that has no interest in deadlock. The sides at the Emirates were not conservative in the least, yet the edge was often blunt in attack. The goalkeepers had been kept busy but the great majority of their work was routine. When team selections are shuffled, it may be that attacking efficiency declines.
Even so, the struggle was hard-fought and it retained the interest of the crowd. City had redoubled their effort to assume command of the action. They achieved that territorially, but Arsenal did not seem harassed or overpowered. Indeed, Wenger's mind was on enhancing the attack and Gervinho was brought on for Park, who had not provoked much alarm in City.
Any tension lay in the stalemate itself. The player looked as if they, too, had started to think that one slip would settle the quarter-final. The Carling Cup is often regarded as a diversion of sorts, but these clubs could not have been more in earnest. Indeed, this had turned into a game that had to search long and hard for its decisive moment.
Source: Kevin McCarra, The Guardian on 29 Nov 11
Lack of ammunition costs Gunners
In Robin Van Persie, Arsenal possess the only Premier League striker who could make Man City's attack stronger, now that Wayne Rooney is presumably a no-go. He would be costly, and there has been little evidence that he would actually move to the Etihad Campus, but in Arsenal's exit from the League Cup, further proof was supplied of his worth to his current club. Manchester City's progress came via a pincer movement involving two extremely highly-priced strikers, while Van Persie, exiled by one of his injury 'red zones', could only look on in a fetching leather jacket.
Tight games are won by proven players holding their nerve. Edin Dzeko's ball to Adam Johnson was flicked into the direction of Sergio Aguero, a move made by almost £80 million of talent. The Argentine scored unerringly, his coolness in total contrast to the previous efforts of Marouane Chamakh and Park Chu-Yung, two budget signings who looked what they were paid for. City's first effort on target had won the match, to serve as proof that money changes everything in football.
The League Cup, in its various guises, has often provided hurt for Arsene Wenger down the years but no occasion was more painful than last season's final defeat to Birmingham City. The stealing in of Obafemi Martins on to a catastrophic mix-up between Laurent Koscielny and Wojciech Szczesny precipitated a loss of form and focus that ended Arsenal's hopes on four fronts in a matter of weeks. It had been Arsenal's best chance of a trophy for some time.
Defeat was less painful this time, despite it coming from a similarly late goal. "You may say we lost the easiest competition to win, but if you look at this season and the teams still in it, it doesn't look so easy," said Wenger. "I want to take the positives. How far can we go this season? If we keep this attitude then we have hope." In a move that had appeared designed to prevent further hurt, at a time when a feel-good factor has been restored to the Emirates, Wenger reintroduced his policy of playing the callow and promising rather than the experienced and trusted. In midfield he was rewarded by energetic displays from Francis Coquelin and Emmanuel Frimpong, and in defence from Miguel. In attack, the burgeoning talent of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain flourished.
Yet Park and Chamakh would form an unfamiliar and unlikely partnership. The latter has been linked with a €10 million move to PSG, a price scoffed at by many, and looking borderline extortionate as yet another lethargic and blunt performance was turned in. He is so devoid of confidence that change can only be a good thing where he once looked so full of promise. A trip over his own heels, a shot that was blazed well wide and an eyes-closed miss of a golden headed chance in the last minute were chilling evidence of a player who has completely lost his way.
Park's previous start, against Marseille, had seen an early miss cause his head to go down, and when he was denied by City keeper Costel Pantilimon's admirable change of direction in the 11th minute, his mettle was again tested. He would never again be granted such a great chance, but his hard work and touch far exceeded the contribution of his partner for the evening.
Special attention from both sets of fans came for Samir Nasri. Booed by his former admirers, and regaled in a song once sung by Arsenal fans but now by his Mancunian followers, the Frenchman had much to prove in the light of relative anonymity compared to the wonders of David Silva. This was to be no figurative sticking up of fingers at those who have lambasted for supposed greed. Mancini may have moved him across his midfield throughout the match, but Nasri never supplied the influence he once provided when a home player at the Emirates.
"Nasri can play better," defended Roberto Mancini. "Maybe this night is the first night he came back to Arsenal. It not easy to come back. He can play better because he is a top player and can play well."
Nasri was overshadowed by those who were once his understudies, as Frimpong and Coquelin worked exceedingly hard, while Oxlade-Chamberlain, a replacement of sorts and briefly a colleague, thrilled in the first half in particular. Unlike Jack Wilshere a year ago, he has been wrapped in cotton wool, but Theo Walcott needs to retain the form of his life to keep him out for long on this evidence.
"Chamberlain has improved a lot. I have been very patient with him up until now. It was important to hold him back," said Wenger on the subject of his latest gem. "I was impressed by the consistency of his game. Two months ago you pushed him off the ball easily but now his resistance is there."
City had toiled in the first half, leading Mancini and David Platt to reach for their tactics sheets and change the formation as Aguero came on for a rather unhappy looking Aleksandar Kolarov. Owen Hargreaves, making his first appearance for six weeks, and only his second in laser blue, did most of his work in deep tandem with Nigel De Jong, and, in the time-honoured fashion of an ageing player whose legs may have gone, did much pointing and exhorting in the absence of too much running around. He lasted 80 minutes but could not repeat the goal-scoring fairy story of his first City appearance.
The goal arrived when class told, and youthful naivety had erred. Arsenal were undermanned after their own corner at the other end, and Aguero did the rest, the type of clinical job their own attack had failed to provide. This time, exit from the competition did not feel quite so hurtful. At least Arsene Wenger knew where it had gone wrong. "We missed experience in the final third," he said.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Honourable mentions to Miguel, Frimpong and Coquelin in red and Pantilimon in blue, but Oxlade-Chamberlain looked the most real deal of all. Arsenal have another youngster of limitless promise, it seems, and a good left foot too, judging by his thunderous drive on the City goal in the first half.
ARSENAL VERDICT
A defence made up of four central defenders looked like somewhat Pulis-ian in approach yet Johan Djourou and Miguel both showed they are defenders of versatility. Here were more positives on an evening where defeat was rather undeserved for Arsenal yet arrived via an inability to put the ball in the net.
MANCHESTER CITY VERDICT
That dominance over most other English teams never happened here, and midfield was a particular area of danger in the first half hour. That the Manchester set of journalists were singing the praise of Romanian keeper Pantilimon says much, but this is a squad made up of imported winners. Aguero did what he is paid for and why he was paid for.
TUNNEL OF LOVE?
A Twitter row between Samir Nasri and Emmanuel Frimpong of a few months ago resumed with some harsh words exchanged at the final whistle, but no more than that, said an Arsenal press officer who leapt to Wenger's defence when repeated questions were asked about thrown punches. "Words exchanged and that was it. Just noise," was the description offered.
Source: Jon Brewin, ESPN Soccernet on 29 Nov 11
Tight games are won by proven players holding their nerve. Edin Dzeko's ball to Adam Johnson was flicked into the direction of Sergio Aguero, a move made by almost £80 million of talent. The Argentine scored unerringly, his coolness in total contrast to the previous efforts of Marouane Chamakh and Park Chu-Yung, two budget signings who looked what they were paid for. City's first effort on target had won the match, to serve as proof that money changes everything in football.
The League Cup, in its various guises, has often provided hurt for Arsene Wenger down the years but no occasion was more painful than last season's final defeat to Birmingham City. The stealing in of Obafemi Martins on to a catastrophic mix-up between Laurent Koscielny and Wojciech Szczesny precipitated a loss of form and focus that ended Arsenal's hopes on four fronts in a matter of weeks. It had been Arsenal's best chance of a trophy for some time.
Defeat was less painful this time, despite it coming from a similarly late goal. "You may say we lost the easiest competition to win, but if you look at this season and the teams still in it, it doesn't look so easy," said Wenger. "I want to take the positives. How far can we go this season? If we keep this attitude then we have hope." In a move that had appeared designed to prevent further hurt, at a time when a feel-good factor has been restored to the Emirates, Wenger reintroduced his policy of playing the callow and promising rather than the experienced and trusted. In midfield he was rewarded by energetic displays from Francis Coquelin and Emmanuel Frimpong, and in defence from Miguel. In attack, the burgeoning talent of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain flourished.
Yet Park and Chamakh would form an unfamiliar and unlikely partnership. The latter has been linked with a €10 million move to PSG, a price scoffed at by many, and looking borderline extortionate as yet another lethargic and blunt performance was turned in. He is so devoid of confidence that change can only be a good thing where he once looked so full of promise. A trip over his own heels, a shot that was blazed well wide and an eyes-closed miss of a golden headed chance in the last minute were chilling evidence of a player who has completely lost his way.
Park's previous start, against Marseille, had seen an early miss cause his head to go down, and when he was denied by City keeper Costel Pantilimon's admirable change of direction in the 11th minute, his mettle was again tested. He would never again be granted such a great chance, but his hard work and touch far exceeded the contribution of his partner for the evening.
Special attention from both sets of fans came for Samir Nasri. Booed by his former admirers, and regaled in a song once sung by Arsenal fans but now by his Mancunian followers, the Frenchman had much to prove in the light of relative anonymity compared to the wonders of David Silva. This was to be no figurative sticking up of fingers at those who have lambasted for supposed greed. Mancini may have moved him across his midfield throughout the match, but Nasri never supplied the influence he once provided when a home player at the Emirates.
"Nasri can play better," defended Roberto Mancini. "Maybe this night is the first night he came back to Arsenal. It not easy to come back. He can play better because he is a top player and can play well."
Nasri was overshadowed by those who were once his understudies, as Frimpong and Coquelin worked exceedingly hard, while Oxlade-Chamberlain, a replacement of sorts and briefly a colleague, thrilled in the first half in particular. Unlike Jack Wilshere a year ago, he has been wrapped in cotton wool, but Theo Walcott needs to retain the form of his life to keep him out for long on this evidence.
"Chamberlain has improved a lot. I have been very patient with him up until now. It was important to hold him back," said Wenger on the subject of his latest gem. "I was impressed by the consistency of his game. Two months ago you pushed him off the ball easily but now his resistance is there."
City had toiled in the first half, leading Mancini and David Platt to reach for their tactics sheets and change the formation as Aguero came on for a rather unhappy looking Aleksandar Kolarov. Owen Hargreaves, making his first appearance for six weeks, and only his second in laser blue, did most of his work in deep tandem with Nigel De Jong, and, in the time-honoured fashion of an ageing player whose legs may have gone, did much pointing and exhorting in the absence of too much running around. He lasted 80 minutes but could not repeat the goal-scoring fairy story of his first City appearance.
The goal arrived when class told, and youthful naivety had erred. Arsenal were undermanned after their own corner at the other end, and Aguero did the rest, the type of clinical job their own attack had failed to provide. This time, exit from the competition did not feel quite so hurtful. At least Arsene Wenger knew where it had gone wrong. "We missed experience in the final third," he said.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Honourable mentions to Miguel, Frimpong and Coquelin in red and Pantilimon in blue, but Oxlade-Chamberlain looked the most real deal of all. Arsenal have another youngster of limitless promise, it seems, and a good left foot too, judging by his thunderous drive on the City goal in the first half.
ARSENAL VERDICT
A defence made up of four central defenders looked like somewhat Pulis-ian in approach yet Johan Djourou and Miguel both showed they are defenders of versatility. Here were more positives on an evening where defeat was rather undeserved for Arsenal yet arrived via an inability to put the ball in the net.
MANCHESTER CITY VERDICT
That dominance over most other English teams never happened here, and midfield was a particular area of danger in the first half hour. That the Manchester set of journalists were singing the praise of Romanian keeper Pantilimon says much, but this is a squad made up of imported winners. Aguero did what he is paid for and why he was paid for.
TUNNEL OF LOVE?
A Twitter row between Samir Nasri and Emmanuel Frimpong of a few months ago resumed with some harsh words exchanged at the final whistle, but no more than that, said an Arsenal press officer who leapt to Wenger's defence when repeated questions were asked about thrown punches. "Words exchanged and that was it. Just noise," was the description offered.
Source: Jon Brewin, ESPN Soccernet on 29 Nov 11
Wenger's reaction to the Arsenal 0-1 Manchester City match
on the winning goal...
It was an unfair result but I felt we were a bit naive because it was a corner for us and a goal for them. I knew that we were in trouble and I feel we didn't take enough time to take the corner because Djourou was just going up front and he had to stay at the back on the corner. We didn't leave him enough time to come back and that's where we were caught.
I felt as well that we didn't take the corners very well but overall what is frustrating that we lost a game at the moment that we looked the winner. It is frustrating because we put a lot of effort in and we were not rewarded. On the other hand I feel that considering the youth of our midfield we have battled really well and have shown some fantastic quality.
on the performance of Oxlade-Chamberlain...
We lacked a little bit of experience to be more decisive in the final third but Chamberlain looked the whole night like he could deliver something special. He has shown already tonight that he has moved forward, considering where he was in the last two months. He has improved a lot already.
The experience tonight shows that it's good sometimes to be positive and as well patient. I was very patient with him until now and I feel that it is important sometimes that you hold them back a little bit and keep them on the training ground. He has shown that he has improved a lot.
He has surprised me by the consistency of this game. You pushed him off the ball easily two months ago but tonight you could see that his resistance in the challenges, his strength in the duels, is there. That is of course very important at the top level.
on reports of an altercation at the final whistle...
I don't know anything about that, no.
on the midfield battle...
I feel in midfield Frimpong did well, Coquelin did well, we battled very hard in there. We were mobile, strong in the fight, we did very well I must say. Sometimes we lacked a little bit of creativity in the final third, especially in the last 20 minutes when I felt there was plenty of room to give them big problems and we missed sometimes the experience in the final ball. But I cannot fault the team, they have shown heart, quality and desire. At the end of the day it is frustrating for the players that they are not rewarded.
on whether Man City were fortunate...
I felt we made it easy for them. They had a clear-cut chance and you couldn’t see them missing. They played very well but I felt we were a bit naïve because we could stop that at the start of that move. You cannot let them get on a run like that. Overall, I felt that we were naïve and you can call that bad luck. But I don’t believe in luck. I believe we had to stop the counter-attack and you know when you are on a corner, that is your job when you are a defender. You have to stop that.
on Chamakh's late chance…
He wasn’t far away from the ball. I did not react at Chamakh, it was more frustration that we did not score and come back. I felt as well that Squillaci was behind him - if someone else goes in behind him it was a tap-in at the far post.
on the difference between the squads…
Number-wise, there is a difference. If you look at the players they have out on loan like Bellamy, Adebayor, Santa Cruz - I don’t know where he is. Number-wise there is a big difference because all their players are somewhere else. But quality-wise, we have shown we can fight with them.
on missing out on a trophy...
I look at it badly but on the other hand, I feel I want to take the positives out of tonight’s game and of our run. We have a fantastic attitude and spirit and we have quality. How far can we go this season? I feel if we keep this attitude, we can have hope. You can argue that we lost the easiest trophy to win but as well if you look at the teams who are still in it, it does not look as easy to win as usual.
on whether the FA Cup is the best trophy chance...
I consider the championship the most important. More than anything else, it is important to finish in the top four.
Source: Arsenal.com on 29 Nov 11
It was an unfair result but I felt we were a bit naive because it was a corner for us and a goal for them. I knew that we were in trouble and I feel we didn't take enough time to take the corner because Djourou was just going up front and he had to stay at the back on the corner. We didn't leave him enough time to come back and that's where we were caught.
I felt as well that we didn't take the corners very well but overall what is frustrating that we lost a game at the moment that we looked the winner. It is frustrating because we put a lot of effort in and we were not rewarded. On the other hand I feel that considering the youth of our midfield we have battled really well and have shown some fantastic quality.
on the performance of Oxlade-Chamberlain...
We lacked a little bit of experience to be more decisive in the final third but Chamberlain looked the whole night like he could deliver something special. He has shown already tonight that he has moved forward, considering where he was in the last two months. He has improved a lot already.
The experience tonight shows that it's good sometimes to be positive and as well patient. I was very patient with him until now and I feel that it is important sometimes that you hold them back a little bit and keep them on the training ground. He has shown that he has improved a lot.
He has surprised me by the consistency of this game. You pushed him off the ball easily two months ago but tonight you could see that his resistance in the challenges, his strength in the duels, is there. That is of course very important at the top level.
on reports of an altercation at the final whistle...
I don't know anything about that, no.
on the midfield battle...
I feel in midfield Frimpong did well, Coquelin did well, we battled very hard in there. We were mobile, strong in the fight, we did very well I must say. Sometimes we lacked a little bit of creativity in the final third, especially in the last 20 minutes when I felt there was plenty of room to give them big problems and we missed sometimes the experience in the final ball. But I cannot fault the team, they have shown heart, quality and desire. At the end of the day it is frustrating for the players that they are not rewarded.
on whether Man City were fortunate...
I felt we made it easy for them. They had a clear-cut chance and you couldn’t see them missing. They played very well but I felt we were a bit naïve because we could stop that at the start of that move. You cannot let them get on a run like that. Overall, I felt that we were naïve and you can call that bad luck. But I don’t believe in luck. I believe we had to stop the counter-attack and you know when you are on a corner, that is your job when you are a defender. You have to stop that.
on Chamakh's late chance…
He wasn’t far away from the ball. I did not react at Chamakh, it was more frustration that we did not score and come back. I felt as well that Squillaci was behind him - if someone else goes in behind him it was a tap-in at the far post.
on the difference between the squads…
Number-wise, there is a difference. If you look at the players they have out on loan like Bellamy, Adebayor, Santa Cruz - I don’t know where he is. Number-wise there is a big difference because all their players are somewhere else. But quality-wise, we have shown we can fight with them.
on missing out on a trophy...
I look at it badly but on the other hand, I feel I want to take the positives out of tonight’s game and of our run. We have a fantastic attitude and spirit and we have quality. How far can we go this season? I feel if we keep this attitude, we can have hope. You can argue that we lost the easiest trophy to win but as well if you look at the teams who are still in it, it does not look as easy to win as usual.
on whether the FA Cup is the best trophy chance...
I consider the championship the most important. More than anything else, it is important to finish in the top four.
Source: Arsenal.com on 29 Nov 11
29 November 2011: Arsenal 0-1 Manchester City, The Emirates
Sergio Aguero struck seven minutes from time to dash Arsenal’s Carling Cup hopes on Tuesday night.
The Argentine finished fine breakaway work from Eden Dzeko and Adam Johnson just as extra time beckoned in this pulsating Quarter-Final.
The nature of the goal was telling. It was Arsenal who were superior this evening and it was Arsenal who were pushing for a goal in the final stages.
Youngsters like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Emmanuel Frimpong, Ignasi Miquel and Francis Coquelin more than matched the Premier League’s stellar side. Arsenal had the better of the chances throughout. Oxlade-Chamberlain and Ju-Young Park certainly forced the most eye-catching saves of the night out of Manchester City keeper Costel Pantilimon.
Perhaps it was a touch of youthful impetuousness that allowed the visitors a glimmer of a chance at the death. Certainly they converted it with clinical precision.
Arsenal had their fair share of old heads on show tonight, this was no nursery side. However, it was their quartet of youngsters that stood out.
Sometimes you lose and you can only be angry, sometimes you lose and you can only be disheartened.
This evening Arsenal lost and yet you could only be proud.
Before kick-off, Wenger had told Arsenal Player that this would be no ‘second-string’ game. Certainly both teams were star-studded even if only one player per side had started in their respective Premier League games at the weekend.
For a change, Arsenal went 4-4-2. Park and Marouane Chamakh were the front pair. Yossi Benayoun captained the side.
Wenger had to mix-and-match in defence, choosing four centre-backs with Johan Djourou and Miquel filling in the flank duties.
Manchester City were full of familiar faces – Dzeko, Johnson, Pablo Zabaleta, Owen Hargreaves, Nigel De Jong, Aleksander Kolarov and, of course, Samir Nasri. Kolo Toure was captain.
The name of Gary Speed rang around Emirates Stadium just before kick-off as the home crowd paid its respects to the late Wales manager.
This had been billed as a significant test for both sides – the resurgent Arsenal and slightly faltering Manchester City. Although this was one of those nights when defeat could shrugged away, it would still hurt.
The early pace was that of a Third Round FA Cup tie. In the opening forays, Johnson cut inside Miquel and skimmed the net from distance.
However in the 10th minute, Arsenal carved Manchester City open. Chamakh worked the ball wide to Coquelin, whose low bending cross was met by Park at the back post. With Toure in close attendance, the Korean’s contact was scruffy but he still got enough on the ball to beat Pantilimon. However, the Romanian thrust out a sharp left hand to stop Arsenal going in front.
Just before the half-hour, Pantilimon was called into action again, palming away a left-foot drive from Oxlade-Chamberlain that was destined for the top corner.
Inbetween those efforts, Manchester City had shown menace but little penetration. Both sides were causing trouble down their respective right flanks. Johnson and Oxlade-Chamberlain were the agitators.
Just maybe the increasing influence of the Arsenal youngster pushed Mancini into a change on the left. Certainly Kolarov did not seem to be injured when he went off after 32 minutes and switching Nasri to the left would force back the home side down that flank. The first half suggested this was a game when, to quote the old adage, attack was the best form of defence.
Certainly, as half time approached, neither side were taking a backward step. When the whistle went, Arsenal were surely the happier with their work.
The second half started at the same pace; Dzeko firing wide for the visitors, Oxlade-Chamberlain forcing Pantilimon to punch away a drive. The Bosnian frontman was on the end of Manchester City’s best opportunities and flicked a shot wide from Zabaleta’s cross in the 57th minute.
It heralded arguably the most concerted spell of visiting pressure since the opening minutes. But again Fabianski was only employed for caretaking duties.
Midway through the half, Wenger introduced Gervinho for Park. The Ivorian went to the left allowing Benayoun to move central.
The change swung the pendulum toward Arsenal. The tireless Chamakh fired wide and then the snapping challenges of Frimpong set up a sweeping move that ended with Toure closing out Gervinho on the left of the area.
Ten minutes from time, after Dzeko had headed wide, Wenger replaced Miquel with Vermaelen at left back. The Arsenal manager clearly wanted to win this.
Djourou stormed forward but his cross was too short for Benayoun at the near post. From the corner, Manchester City thundered forward and grabbed the winner. A callous strike.
It was met with a vocal volley of encouragement from the home fans. They knew their side had been worth so much more tonight.
As they had all evening, Arsenal were positive in their response. However, their only real chance came when Gervinho’s cross narrowly eluded the head of Chamakh.
Arsenal were out – but not down.
Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 29 Nov 11
The Argentine finished fine breakaway work from Eden Dzeko and Adam Johnson just as extra time beckoned in this pulsating Quarter-Final.
The nature of the goal was telling. It was Arsenal who were superior this evening and it was Arsenal who were pushing for a goal in the final stages.
Youngsters like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Emmanuel Frimpong, Ignasi Miquel and Francis Coquelin more than matched the Premier League’s stellar side. Arsenal had the better of the chances throughout. Oxlade-Chamberlain and Ju-Young Park certainly forced the most eye-catching saves of the night out of Manchester City keeper Costel Pantilimon.
Perhaps it was a touch of youthful impetuousness that allowed the visitors a glimmer of a chance at the death. Certainly they converted it with clinical precision.
Arsenal had their fair share of old heads on show tonight, this was no nursery side. However, it was their quartet of youngsters that stood out.
Sometimes you lose and you can only be angry, sometimes you lose and you can only be disheartened.
This evening Arsenal lost and yet you could only be proud.
Before kick-off, Wenger had told Arsenal Player that this would be no ‘second-string’ game. Certainly both teams were star-studded even if only one player per side had started in their respective Premier League games at the weekend.
For a change, Arsenal went 4-4-2. Park and Marouane Chamakh were the front pair. Yossi Benayoun captained the side.
Wenger had to mix-and-match in defence, choosing four centre-backs with Johan Djourou and Miquel filling in the flank duties.
Manchester City were full of familiar faces – Dzeko, Johnson, Pablo Zabaleta, Owen Hargreaves, Nigel De Jong, Aleksander Kolarov and, of course, Samir Nasri. Kolo Toure was captain.
The name of Gary Speed rang around Emirates Stadium just before kick-off as the home crowd paid its respects to the late Wales manager.
This had been billed as a significant test for both sides – the resurgent Arsenal and slightly faltering Manchester City. Although this was one of those nights when defeat could shrugged away, it would still hurt.
The early pace was that of a Third Round FA Cup tie. In the opening forays, Johnson cut inside Miquel and skimmed the net from distance.
However in the 10th minute, Arsenal carved Manchester City open. Chamakh worked the ball wide to Coquelin, whose low bending cross was met by Park at the back post. With Toure in close attendance, the Korean’s contact was scruffy but he still got enough on the ball to beat Pantilimon. However, the Romanian thrust out a sharp left hand to stop Arsenal going in front.
Just before the half-hour, Pantilimon was called into action again, palming away a left-foot drive from Oxlade-Chamberlain that was destined for the top corner.
Inbetween those efforts, Manchester City had shown menace but little penetration. Both sides were causing trouble down their respective right flanks. Johnson and Oxlade-Chamberlain were the agitators.
Just maybe the increasing influence of the Arsenal youngster pushed Mancini into a change on the left. Certainly Kolarov did not seem to be injured when he went off after 32 minutes and switching Nasri to the left would force back the home side down that flank. The first half suggested this was a game when, to quote the old adage, attack was the best form of defence.
Certainly, as half time approached, neither side were taking a backward step. When the whistle went, Arsenal were surely the happier with their work.
The second half started at the same pace; Dzeko firing wide for the visitors, Oxlade-Chamberlain forcing Pantilimon to punch away a drive. The Bosnian frontman was on the end of Manchester City’s best opportunities and flicked a shot wide from Zabaleta’s cross in the 57th minute.
It heralded arguably the most concerted spell of visiting pressure since the opening minutes. But again Fabianski was only employed for caretaking duties.
Midway through the half, Wenger introduced Gervinho for Park. The Ivorian went to the left allowing Benayoun to move central.
The change swung the pendulum toward Arsenal. The tireless Chamakh fired wide and then the snapping challenges of Frimpong set up a sweeping move that ended with Toure closing out Gervinho on the left of the area.
Ten minutes from time, after Dzeko had headed wide, Wenger replaced Miquel with Vermaelen at left back. The Arsenal manager clearly wanted to win this.
Djourou stormed forward but his cross was too short for Benayoun at the near post. From the corner, Manchester City thundered forward and grabbed the winner. A callous strike.
It was met with a vocal volley of encouragement from the home fans. They knew their side had been worth so much more tonight.
As they had all evening, Arsenal were positive in their response. However, their only real chance came when Gervinho’s cross narrowly eluded the head of Chamakh.
Arsenal were out – but not down.
Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 29 Nov 11
Keown: Vermaelen as important as RVP
What was once the solid foundation on which their success was built, Arsenal's defence has lately more closely resembled the work of a cowboy builder than a master mason. The days of the legendary back four of Lee Dixon, Tony Adams, Martin Keown and Nigel Winterburn - the bedrock of the Gunners' 1998 double triumph - are long gone, replaced by the palest of imitations. The backline responsible for shipping eight to Manchester United earlier this season - Carl Jenkinson, Johann Djourou, Laurent Koscielny and Armand Traore - was an embarrassment to a club boasting such exemplary defensive traditions.
Injuries to key players obviously played a part in the Old Trafford massacre but there is no denying that the area of the pitch once considered Arsenal's greatest strength has become their most frustrating weakness. Although all managers are liable to make signings that fail to settle as expected, the list of Arsene Wenger's defensive additions makes for pretty grim reading; from Igors Stepanovs to Sebastien Squillaci, via the likes of Efstathios Tavlaridis, Pascal Cygan and Mikael Silvestre, Arsenal's defensive recruits have, on the whole, been more inadequate than impenetrable.
The aforementioned names may seem to prove otherwise, but a propensity for calamity has not in fact been a pre-requisite of playing at the back for the Gunners in recent years. The likes of Sol Campbell, Kolo Toure and William Gallas have all proved to be shrewd acquisitions over the past decade while Thomas Vermaelen, the man currently charged with halting Arsenal's opponents, has consistently shown the sort of assuredness that could one day see him mentioned in the same breath as Messrs Dixon, Adams, Keown and Winterburn, as well as other former stalwarts like Frank McLintock, David O'Leary and Pat Rice, in the Gunners' defensive pantheon.
Since arriving from Ajax two years ago, Vermaelen has become a firm fans' favourite at Emirates Stadium, with his aerial prowess and physicality endearing him to a set of supporters and a manager whose team has often been accused of being bereft of those qualities in recent times.
One of those supporters is former centre-back Martin Keown. As a boyhood Arsenal fan, a three-time winner of both the FA Cup and Premier League and a veteran of 17 years at the club as a youth-team player and first-teamer, the former England defender certainly has the authority to scrutinise the Gunners' defence. And while prolific captain Robin van Persie has been stealing the spotlight as Wenger's side have enjoyed a renaissance over the past few weeks, Keown is convinced that the return to fitness of Vermaelen has been just as crucial.
"It was a difficult start, but they've shown a lot of character since losing at Manchester United," Keown tells ESPNsoccernet. "There are key players back in the team - Thomas Vermaelen especially. Vermaelen is absolutely key to what they do. He satisfies the needs of the manager because of his technical side, his passing his crisp and it's almost perfection the way he passes the ball.
"But he satisfies me, and other supporters too, because of his physical side - that's what I want to see. I feel he dominates people, he attacks the ball, he organises and I just feel much more comfortable when he's playing. For me, he's equally as important as Van Persie now that he's back in the team and playing well."
Keown's assertion about Vermaelen's importance is certainly supported by the statistics; since the Belgian arrived at the club two years ago, Arsenal have won 61% of games with him in the starting line-up compared to 52% without, while in the current campaign the Gunners have conceded an average of 0.7 goals per games when Vermaelen has been present compared to 1.77 without and have also kept clean sheets in 40% of the games he has started, compared to 23% without.
The centre-half has appeared back to his imperious best this term and his latest contribution was another telling one, scoring a vital equaliser against Fulham after his own goal had put Wenger's side on the brink of a shock home defeat. His return to the first-team action has been a real boost, especially after he missed almost the entirety of last season with a serious Achilles injury that led some to proffer concern that his career could be curtailed.
Vermaelen's role as senior defender is one that allows parallels to be drawn with Keown who, as Wenger's elder defensive statesman played a vital role in helping future 'Invincibles' Ashley Cole, Sol Campbell, Lauren and Kolo Toure, acclimatise to life in the Arsenal first-team. Vermaelen, too, is responsible for being the reliable constant in an ever-changing defence, one that Keown recognises isn't perfect but that he feels has the potential to come good.
"I've been pleased with the new signings," says Keown, whose articulate responses are a world away from the aggressive, spiky persona he exuded on the pitch in his playing days. "I think Arteta has been a very good character to have in, they need someone with his leadership and that experience. Mertesacker as well, whether he plays in the team or not, is bringing experience to the back four, which is invaluable. Andre Santos is a roaming left-back, I'd like to see him defend more but he's in the typical mould of a left-back for Arsenal - Wenger likes them to get forward.
"Lately, Koscielny has been playing right-back, with Mertesacker alongside Vermaelen in the middle - I think Mertesacker still has a lot to offer, whether he's No. 1 or not remains to be seen. I think the other two are maybe the future. They've all played their part but while they're doing okay at the moment, we don't want them to be complacent though. As soon as Arsenal seem to get pats on the back, the form dips - if you go by recent years. There's a lot of work to do but they're going in the right direction.
"If you look at the side that beat Barcelona 2-1 at home last season, there's Wilshere not playing because of injury, Nasri gone, Fabregas gone - they were all were instrumental. The heart of the team was ripped out and they were the players that gave Wenger real belief so you have to give him time to rebuild his own belief in the team, get the key characters back in and start to develop it -and they're doing that."
When it comes to the future, Keown is forthright that Wenger is the man to continue to lead Arsenal and having experienced the Frenchman first hand - enjoying a reinvigoration under him - he has no doubt that when the 62-year-old eventually decides to call time on his spell in North London, it will be on his terms.
"He will decide when he leaves, that's how powerful he is at the club. He decides not anyone else; he'll know when the moment's right. He creates an environment where it's just great fun. It's great to come in every day. You learn a great deal. When he first came in, we were working with mannequins, doing technical stuff that we'd never done before. It really improved me, he's great to be around as well. I wasn't sure if nice guys can win things - we'd all been a bit of an angry bunch before Wenger arrived but he demonstrated that you can still get along with everyone, you can still have a smile on your face and win and when you do that it's more enjoyable and tastes better.
"He and [former Arsenal boss] George Graham were like chalk and cheese, George was quite confrontational, to say the least. There's nothing wrong with that but some of us respond to different styles of management and the approach that Wenger had, my record was much better under Wenger, I preferred that. I don't think anyone enjoys getting a rollicking in any industry. I just needed to unravel my talent and Wenger helped me to do that.
Source: Mark Lomas, ESPN Soccernet on 30 Nov 11
Injuries to key players obviously played a part in the Old Trafford massacre but there is no denying that the area of the pitch once considered Arsenal's greatest strength has become their most frustrating weakness. Although all managers are liable to make signings that fail to settle as expected, the list of Arsene Wenger's defensive additions makes for pretty grim reading; from Igors Stepanovs to Sebastien Squillaci, via the likes of Efstathios Tavlaridis, Pascal Cygan and Mikael Silvestre, Arsenal's defensive recruits have, on the whole, been more inadequate than impenetrable.
The aforementioned names may seem to prove otherwise, but a propensity for calamity has not in fact been a pre-requisite of playing at the back for the Gunners in recent years. The likes of Sol Campbell, Kolo Toure and William Gallas have all proved to be shrewd acquisitions over the past decade while Thomas Vermaelen, the man currently charged with halting Arsenal's opponents, has consistently shown the sort of assuredness that could one day see him mentioned in the same breath as Messrs Dixon, Adams, Keown and Winterburn, as well as other former stalwarts like Frank McLintock, David O'Leary and Pat Rice, in the Gunners' defensive pantheon.
Since arriving from Ajax two years ago, Vermaelen has become a firm fans' favourite at Emirates Stadium, with his aerial prowess and physicality endearing him to a set of supporters and a manager whose team has often been accused of being bereft of those qualities in recent times.
One of those supporters is former centre-back Martin Keown. As a boyhood Arsenal fan, a three-time winner of both the FA Cup and Premier League and a veteran of 17 years at the club as a youth-team player and first-teamer, the former England defender certainly has the authority to scrutinise the Gunners' defence. And while prolific captain Robin van Persie has been stealing the spotlight as Wenger's side have enjoyed a renaissance over the past few weeks, Keown is convinced that the return to fitness of Vermaelen has been just as crucial.
"It was a difficult start, but they've shown a lot of character since losing at Manchester United," Keown tells ESPNsoccernet. "There are key players back in the team - Thomas Vermaelen especially. Vermaelen is absolutely key to what they do. He satisfies the needs of the manager because of his technical side, his passing his crisp and it's almost perfection the way he passes the ball.
"But he satisfies me, and other supporters too, because of his physical side - that's what I want to see. I feel he dominates people, he attacks the ball, he organises and I just feel much more comfortable when he's playing. For me, he's equally as important as Van Persie now that he's back in the team and playing well."
Keown's assertion about Vermaelen's importance is certainly supported by the statistics; since the Belgian arrived at the club two years ago, Arsenal have won 61% of games with him in the starting line-up compared to 52% without, while in the current campaign the Gunners have conceded an average of 0.7 goals per games when Vermaelen has been present compared to 1.77 without and have also kept clean sheets in 40% of the games he has started, compared to 23% without.
The centre-half has appeared back to his imperious best this term and his latest contribution was another telling one, scoring a vital equaliser against Fulham after his own goal had put Wenger's side on the brink of a shock home defeat. His return to the first-team action has been a real boost, especially after he missed almost the entirety of last season with a serious Achilles injury that led some to proffer concern that his career could be curtailed.
Vermaelen's role as senior defender is one that allows parallels to be drawn with Keown who, as Wenger's elder defensive statesman played a vital role in helping future 'Invincibles' Ashley Cole, Sol Campbell, Lauren and Kolo Toure, acclimatise to life in the Arsenal first-team. Vermaelen, too, is responsible for being the reliable constant in an ever-changing defence, one that Keown recognises isn't perfect but that he feels has the potential to come good.
"I've been pleased with the new signings," says Keown, whose articulate responses are a world away from the aggressive, spiky persona he exuded on the pitch in his playing days. "I think Arteta has been a very good character to have in, they need someone with his leadership and that experience. Mertesacker as well, whether he plays in the team or not, is bringing experience to the back four, which is invaluable. Andre Santos is a roaming left-back, I'd like to see him defend more but he's in the typical mould of a left-back for Arsenal - Wenger likes them to get forward.
"Lately, Koscielny has been playing right-back, with Mertesacker alongside Vermaelen in the middle - I think Mertesacker still has a lot to offer, whether he's No. 1 or not remains to be seen. I think the other two are maybe the future. They've all played their part but while they're doing okay at the moment, we don't want them to be complacent though. As soon as Arsenal seem to get pats on the back, the form dips - if you go by recent years. There's a lot of work to do but they're going in the right direction.
"If you look at the side that beat Barcelona 2-1 at home last season, there's Wilshere not playing because of injury, Nasri gone, Fabregas gone - they were all were instrumental. The heart of the team was ripped out and they were the players that gave Wenger real belief so you have to give him time to rebuild his own belief in the team, get the key characters back in and start to develop it -and they're doing that."
When it comes to the future, Keown is forthright that Wenger is the man to continue to lead Arsenal and having experienced the Frenchman first hand - enjoying a reinvigoration under him - he has no doubt that when the 62-year-old eventually decides to call time on his spell in North London, it will be on his terms.
"He will decide when he leaves, that's how powerful he is at the club. He decides not anyone else; he'll know when the moment's right. He creates an environment where it's just great fun. It's great to come in every day. You learn a great deal. When he first came in, we were working with mannequins, doing technical stuff that we'd never done before. It really improved me, he's great to be around as well. I wasn't sure if nice guys can win things - we'd all been a bit of an angry bunch before Wenger arrived but he demonstrated that you can still get along with everyone, you can still have a smile on your face and win and when you do that it's more enjoyable and tastes better.
"He and [former Arsenal boss] George Graham were like chalk and cheese, George was quite confrontational, to say the least. There's nothing wrong with that but some of us respond to different styles of management and the approach that Wenger had, my record was much better under Wenger, I preferred that. I don't think anyone enjoys getting a rollicking in any industry. I just needed to unravel my talent and Wenger helped me to do that.
Source: Mark Lomas, ESPN Soccernet on 30 Nov 11
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Thomas Vermaelen spares Arsenal's blushes against Fulham – and his own
Thomas Vermaelen was particularly dumbstruck. It had been his boot that had inadvertently given Fulham a surprising lead with a hash of an own goal. However, the Belgian defender's determination came to his team's rescue when he burst upfield to equalise eight minutes from full time.
Fulham can take considerable heart from the manner in which they halted Arsenal's recent winning streak. Top marks for organisation, resourcefulness and for picking their moments to counterattack and ensure that this was not an easy home ride. Even in the tense finale, as Arsenal flooded forward in search of a winner and Fulham looked to have run out of steam, Martin Jol's team maintained their resilience to guard their point. It made for a compelling encounter that could have gone any which way until the end.
Fulham retreated with a big sense of satisfaction. "[Arsenal] have been almost unbeatable, but I said to the boys before the game that I thought we could do something today," Jol said. "It's a pleasing point for us."
It would be easy for Arsenal to blame fatigue after their European exploits in the week. Wenger pointedly said that tiredness was an explanation rather than an excuse: "We had not recovered completely from the Champions League game. It happens sometimes. We want to be in the Champions League, so you cannot cry. The challenge is to win when you are tired."
Tired they were, though. Aaron Ramsey's touch was off beam and Robin van Persie was more peripheral than he has been in ages – although there were still a couple of moments for Jol to fear the worst when his compatriot was on the ball. Andrey Arshavin had been given a rare start in place of Gervinho and, although he had no reason to feel weary, his display was fitful. But even if their passing was not at its crispest, Arsenal showed no lack of desire. Evidence? Theo Walcott even did an impersonation of the formidable Gennaro Gattuso as he hunted down and dispossessed Clint Dempsey with a firm tackle.
Ramsey had the most of Arsenal's early chances, taking aim three times in the opening 25 minutes. The Fulham goalkeeper, Mark Schwarzer, tipped over the first, and the others went astray.
Fulham were able to build sufficiently to make inroads themselves, with three good first-half opportunities. Bobby Zamora left Vermaelen behind with a smart turn, only to lift his shot over the bar. Then the excellent Moussa Dembélé saw one shot deflected by Vermaelen and another palmed away at the near post by Wojciech Szczesny.
Fulham were entitled to feel pleased with their efforts, and they carried on defending stoutly after the break. The former Arsenal player Philippe Senderos had, according to Jol, injured his groin in training on the eve of the match but was "brave" to play alongside Brede Hangeland. The defenders used all their defensive charms to block and frustrate.
Even when three of the back four were taken out the game by a jink from Van Persie, who then unleashed a fizzing shot that had Schwarzer well beaten, Chris Baird was stationed on the line to get himself in the way. It might have been by hook or crook, but it was effective.
Wouldn't you just know it. While Fulham were busy defending with as much resourcefulness as they could muster, Vermaelen got hold of a Fulham half-chance, after Riise had chested down Danny Murphy's excellent pass, without really getting it under control, and swept the ball past Szczesny into his own net.
"We would have lost this game early in the season," Wenger said, as he paid credit to the character of his team and the names on the team-sheet in particular. Vermaelen's moment of catharsis came when Walcott produced a tantalising cross, and for once the Fulham rearguard appeared to lose concentration as the centre-half appeared, with nobody tracking his run, to knock a downward header past Schwarzer.
Arsenal were by now emboldened by three attacking substitutes – Marouane Chamakh, Abou Diaby and Gervinho – but could not summon a winner.
Source: Amy Lawrence, The Guardian on 26 Nov 11
Wenger's reaction to the Arsenal 1-1 Fulham match
on the result…
The positive again is that we have shown exceptional spirit, desire and refusal to lose the game. Many players were on the fringe today and we had not completely digested the Champions League game on Wednesday night. We needed to dig deep.
The circumstances went against us on top of that because when Fulham scored I didn't see them crossing the halfway line too much in the second half. It was very unfortunate to be 1-0 down but we refused to lose the game can came back to 1-1. It's disappointing because we dropped two points but at least it keeps our unbeaten run going.
on the late penalty shout…
Honestly I didn't see it, I will have to look at it again. I felt the referee was in a good position, I don't know.
on converting just the one chance…
Maybe [it was down to] the sharpness of the mind, mental fatigue and a bit of physical fatigue as well. We haven't recovered completely from the Champions League game - that happens sometimes. But we still had the potential to win 1-0 and if not 2-0 because early on in the game we could have scored. Maybe once or twice we were offside when we should not have been. We also lacked a bit of accuracy in our passing.
on Thomas Vermaelen's eventful afternoon…
I believe he scored unfortunately [at his own end] - left-footed players many times refuse to play with their right foot. But he has shown enough character to come back and score a great goal. On crosses he is very good, he reads the ball well. Overall he had a very good game.
It's unfortunate to drop two points today because overall I thought we did enough to win it.
on circumstances in the game…
It was the type of game where you didn't want to be 1-0 down. We scored an own goal at 0-0 at a moment where it was all us. If we went into the final 20 minutes at 0-0 we had more chance to win the game than lose it. You feel that scoring two would have been difficult today.
on Fulham's performance…
I don't blame Fulham. They are in a position where they need points and you can understand that. You have to accept that football is played by human beings and even if you prepare well you can be a bit less sharp. You can drop points against anybody in the League. If you look at the team sheet of Fulham, they are all international players in there, good players. It's not a shame that you can concede a goal against them.
Overall if you look back at where we came from we have a long unbeaten run and of course we are disappointed because we dropped two points. But I feel we are in a way of improvement and hopefully we can show that again Tuesday night.
On the problem of fatigue...
It is a punctual problem because we gave a lot on Wednesday night. It is the shortest time you can get Wednesday night to Saturday afternoon. But it is not an excuse. It is an explanation. We want to be in the Champions League so we cannot cry when we are tired. Our challenge is to win these kinds of games even when we are tired.
On changing the side for Tuesday...
I will have to. Some players are on the fringe muscle-wise.
On taking off Mertesacker...
I wanted one more midfielder to play out from the back and create the difference. It was an offensive-minded decision.
On the character they showed...
We could have lost this game earlier in the season. You have to give credit to Fulham, they defended well and their goalkeeper played well. They saved the ball on the line. It happens only to us that the defenders play behind the goalkeepers. It happened at Norwich and against Fulham. But you have to give them credit for that.
Source: Arsenal.com on 26 Nov 11
The positive again is that we have shown exceptional spirit, desire and refusal to lose the game. Many players were on the fringe today and we had not completely digested the Champions League game on Wednesday night. We needed to dig deep.
The circumstances went against us on top of that because when Fulham scored I didn't see them crossing the halfway line too much in the second half. It was very unfortunate to be 1-0 down but we refused to lose the game can came back to 1-1. It's disappointing because we dropped two points but at least it keeps our unbeaten run going.
on the late penalty shout…
Honestly I didn't see it, I will have to look at it again. I felt the referee was in a good position, I don't know.
on converting just the one chance…
Maybe [it was down to] the sharpness of the mind, mental fatigue and a bit of physical fatigue as well. We haven't recovered completely from the Champions League game - that happens sometimes. But we still had the potential to win 1-0 and if not 2-0 because early on in the game we could have scored. Maybe once or twice we were offside when we should not have been. We also lacked a bit of accuracy in our passing.
on Thomas Vermaelen's eventful afternoon…
I believe he scored unfortunately [at his own end] - left-footed players many times refuse to play with their right foot. But he has shown enough character to come back and score a great goal. On crosses he is very good, he reads the ball well. Overall he had a very good game.
It's unfortunate to drop two points today because overall I thought we did enough to win it.
on circumstances in the game…
It was the type of game where you didn't want to be 1-0 down. We scored an own goal at 0-0 at a moment where it was all us. If we went into the final 20 minutes at 0-0 we had more chance to win the game than lose it. You feel that scoring two would have been difficult today.
on Fulham's performance…
I don't blame Fulham. They are in a position where they need points and you can understand that. You have to accept that football is played by human beings and even if you prepare well you can be a bit less sharp. You can drop points against anybody in the League. If you look at the team sheet of Fulham, they are all international players in there, good players. It's not a shame that you can concede a goal against them.
Overall if you look back at where we came from we have a long unbeaten run and of course we are disappointed because we dropped two points. But I feel we are in a way of improvement and hopefully we can show that again Tuesday night.
On the problem of fatigue...
It is a punctual problem because we gave a lot on Wednesday night. It is the shortest time you can get Wednesday night to Saturday afternoon. But it is not an excuse. It is an explanation. We want to be in the Champions League so we cannot cry when we are tired. Our challenge is to win these kinds of games even when we are tired.
On changing the side for Tuesday...
I will have to. Some players are on the fringe muscle-wise.
On taking off Mertesacker...
I wanted one more midfielder to play out from the back and create the difference. It was an offensive-minded decision.
On the character they showed...
We could have lost this game earlier in the season. You have to give credit to Fulham, they defended well and their goalkeeper played well. They saved the ball on the line. It happens only to us that the defenders play behind the goalkeepers. It happened at Norwich and against Fulham. But you have to give them credit for that.
Source: Arsenal.com on 26 Nov 11
26 November 2011: Arsenal 1-1 Fulham, The Emirates
The Belgian defender nodded home an equaliser past Mark Schwarzer eight minutes from time to give Arsène Wenger’s side a point they deserved.
The strike atoned for a 65th minute own goal that had handed Fulham a surprise lead.
The result ended a run of five successive Premier League wins for Wenger’s men but due credit must be given to Martin Jol’s side, who were organised and diligent throughout.
Yes, they were happy to play for a point in the final minutes but they were more ambitious than that early on.
This was two points dropped by Arsenal and, in that sense, certainly a blow. However, it might well have been worse and, by recovering to gain a point, Wenger’s side maintained some of their upward momentum.
They must just dust themselves down and move on.
Arsenal are pretty much two-games-per-week until Christmas now so it was unsurprising that the manager rotated a little before kick-off.
Gervinho and Laurent Koscielny dropped out this evening - Andrey Arshavin and Johan Djourou were their respective replacements.
It was the first time in six years that Wenger had not included a Frenchman in his starting line-up.
Fulham came into the game just two places above the dropzone but, if recent seasons were any indication, they were much better than that.
The visitors would spend the first half demonstrating the point. Arsenal’s attitude and application were right but they struggled to dominate as they had at Norwich a week earlier.
In the opening minutes, Robin van Persie sent Arshavin clear, who finished with aplomb. However, replays proved he was rightly flagged for offside. Fulham saw Dempsey’s shot blocked and, midway through the half, Zamora muscled past his marker before cracking an effort over the bar.
Although Van Persie’s dribble set up the onrushing Ramsey to fire over, Arsenal were not fluent.
The first quarter of the game did not appear to be a match-up of the Premier League’s red-hot side and lukewarm strugglers.
Fulham were successfully stifling their hosts in a midfield morass. Arsenal had to break the shackles.
Walcott seemed the most likely escapologist. He raced down the right and fired low at Schwarzer. It heralded a flurry of Arsenal pressure but no chances of note.
In fact, Fulham came closer when Moussa Dembele’s deflected effort drifted just wide.
Five minutes from half-time Szczesny had to save full-length from the Belgian at the near post and, from the corner, Brede Hangeland headed over.
By now the visitors had expanded their horizons. The game was not about stopping Arsenal, it was about creating chances themselves.
As the whistle blew, Mertesacker nodded wide from Arteta’s free-kick. However, the home side needed to offer much, much more in the second half.
In fairness, Arsenal went on the offensive after the restart. But, yet again, they struggled to breakdown Fulham and, yet again, the visitors had their own successes going forward. In the 55th minute, Clint Dempsey missed Danny Murphy’s cross at the far post when the merest touch would have seen the American convert.
Van Persie had been relatively quiet thus far but, on the hour, he found space and consequently nearly broke the deadlock. After swivelling a position on the right of the area his cross beat Schwarzer but was smuggled off the line by Chris Baird.
The game had changed. Neither midfield had much control anymore, it was end-to-end stuff and you sensed a goal was on the cards.
Unfortunately, it went Fulham’s way. After a quick Danny Murphy free-kick, John Arne Riise's run into the area caused consternation in the Arsenal area and Vermaelen’s attempted clearance trickled into the far corner. A sickener for the home side.
Wenger immediately made changes. Mertesacker and Ramsey came off, Abou Diaby and Gervinho entered the fray. As a result, Song moved to centre-back and Arshavin went in to the middle as support for Van Persie.
It was ‘action stations’ for Arsenal.
Only the excellent Schwarzer stopped them equalising 16 minutes from time. Djourou met Van Persie’s corner with a powerful header from point-blank range but the Australian pawed the ball down and Zamora hacked it clear before the Swiss defender could follow up.
It seemed like a massive moment; one that prompted Wenger to introduce Marouane Chamakh.
Gervinho and Santos combined to find Van Persie in the 80th minute. The Dutchman’s control was exquisite, his hack over the bar was not.
It seemed like the first sign of desperation but, in fact, it precipitated the equaliser. Walcott curled over cross from the right and Vermaelen timed his run to the far post with precision before guiding a header past Schwarzer.
After celebrating the leveller, Arsenal went for the winner.
The final stages saw the home side camp in the Fulham half. They had a half-shout for a penalty when an effort from Santos hit Dempsey.
Van Persie went close in the final seconds but there would be no ‘killer’ chance, no fairytale comeback.
Arsenal had to make do with a point.
Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 26 Nov 11
Friday, November 25, 2011
Arsenal provide hard evidence in case for Champions League defence
As if it were not enough for Arsenal to beat Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday night and thus to win their Champions League group, they also received rare compliments for their fortitude. Arsène Wenger relished them. The value of defensive strength was underlined in a week when the other entrants from the Premier League floundered. Manchester United could not hold on to a 2-1 lead and drew with Benfica at home. Manchester City lost in Naples and Chelsea fell to a stoppage-time goal in Leverkusen.
The tournament, with such results to its credit, emerges triumphant. This is how the contest for a great prize ought to be conducted. There should be a mercurial quality to a competition that embraces a continent. The faltering of three English clubs in the Champions League could also assist in reviving fascination with the tournament in this country.
For the time being there is no sense that the group phase is just a dowdy passageway down which this country's better sides saunter on their way to a grand stage. City looked shaken by the unrelenting atmosphere that the Napoli supporters created in the Stadio San Paolo. That setting was admirably traditional and it hurled Roberto Mancini's players back to a time when they were all too aware of their vulnerability.
Each club is, of course, affected by specific factors. Chelsea, beaten at home by Liverpool at the weekend, did not need a midweek journey to face Bayer Leverkusen to show them that there is much amiss. Their manager, André Villas-Boas, appreciated the scale of the task when he took the job. There have been signings, yet the sense is of a squad in which some players are getting old, others are stale and some newly arrived youngsters are on the margins.
Jibes about David Luiz, an undoubtedly gifted footballer who is yet to turn into a trustworthy centre‑half, divert attention from other issues. John Terry is not playing at all well and the sudden cries for Alex to be given a role saw him come on in time to be culpable for Manuel Friedrich's winner. Chelsea are in need of rejuvenation but Villas-Boas might at least be granted a little spell of calm if his players can summon up even a trace of their once renowned defensive durability.
Clubs must fall short occasionally – in the 2005-06 season United were last in their group. The present woes, though, are common to three of England's four teams in the tournament. There is a fragility to them all. The goals-against statistics might seem sound enough for Chelsea but the four goals they have conceded in five games have cost them seven points.
Arsenal are not usually seen as obstinate defenders but they showed concentration and durability that denied Dortmund a goal until one came too late to make any difference. Wenger's team are still not celebrated for their stubbornness but late on Wednesday evening his thoughts turned, unprompted, to the qualifying matches for the Champions League earlier this season. Yes, Arsenal endured that 8-2 Premier League mauling at Old Trafford but before that they had beaten Udinese home and away while giving up only one goal.
It is incongruous to think of the present-day Arsenal side as intractable foes but their defensive record in this Champions League, with three goals conceded in the group stage, is superior to those of the other English clubs.
The troubles elsewhere are known. City were hard to break down last season in the Premier League but that glumness would not have been tolerated for long in view of the sums spent by the club's new owners. Mancini's men now have verve but the harrowing of their defence by Edinson Cavani will make them look for greater resistance in midfield at this level.
United's concerns are obvious. Although Phil Jones may evolve into the new centre-half they will soon need, his own-goal that put Benfica ahead after three minutes at Old Trafford was baffling. At 19 he has plenty of time in which to develop but it is obvious at the moment why he is more often used as a full-back or a defensive midfielder.
City, United and Chelsea, particularly when the last named were charging to 103 Premier League goals in the 2009-10 season, can thrill and entertain. Even so, Arsenal, despite their aesthetic appeal, have recently served up an unlikely reminder that resilience and a tinge of tedium are essential now and again.
Source: Kevin McCarra, The Guardian on 24 Nov 11
Robin van Persie double against Dortmund gives Arsenal group win
The Bundesliga side, hampered in particular by the loss of the coveted youngster Mario Götze with a knee injury in the first half, have inherited the sort of anxiety that saturated Arsenal not so long ago. All seems transformed for the club now, even if there is still a challenging task on the domestic front. This game at least shows that Arsenal could count on their fortitude as well as Robin van Persie's goals, which took his total for the club in 2011 to 33. Wenger called the strike-rate "exceptional", an adjective he employed about other facets of the game, too.
The victors can revel in the outcome, but also in a little series of happy occurrences. Abou Diaby, absent since the spring because of injury and then surgery, was on the pitch as a substitute when Van Persie turned in his second goal of the game from a Thomas Vermaelan header at a corner kick in the 86th minute. With the lead extended, Arsenal could afford to be indifferent when Shinji Kagawa struck in stoppage time for Dortmund.
Nothing dented the manager's contentment afterwards. "I am happy and pleased when you think where we have come from, when we played Udinese in the qualifier," he said of the challenges and, in the Premier League, early miseries of the campaign. There was an opportunity for him to sympathise with Manchester City, if not patronise them for their worries in the tournament. "It's difficult at that level," he remarked.
Wenger's side were not especially streamlined against Dortmund, a club of substance who won at Bayern Munich last Saturday but have to tolerate being at the bottom of Group F. Unpredictability might have been anticipated, but the match did not teem with incident. Dortmund most likely reckoned that one part of their plan had been effective since they had sustained no damage before the interval, apart from the harm done in the enforced substitution of the young midfielder Sven Bender, as well as Götze. Bender will have an operation in London this morning on a broken jaw.
Jürgen Klopp's side regrouped to open the second half purposefully, but the flurries around the Arsenal penalty area quickly gave way to an opener for Wenger's men. As if relief were not enough there was also delight to the breakthrough in the 49th minute, with Alex Song, nominally a defensive midfielder, bursting between Sebastian Kehl and Lukasz Piszczek before crossing towards the far post, where Van Persie put his team in front with a downward header. "Song did something exceptional for a defensive midfielder," said a grateful manager.
Wenger may not be the incendiary type, but there had still been far more fire in that move than seen in the opening 45 minutes. Arsenal could have extended the lead after an hour but Gervinho, having gone clear on Aaron Ramsey's through ball, attempted to run past the goalkeeper Roman Weidenfeller and so allowed the covering Felipe Santana the opportunity to concede only a corner.
Arsenal find it all but impossible not to tantalise their supporters. The trait was of benefit to a Dortmund line-up that showed intent for much of the half. Wenger's side had no such urgency to impel them and it looked, on occasion, as if they reckoned on catching the visitors on the break. Regardless of the means employed, Arsenal were still on course for the last 16.
It is a demonstration of the strides taken when there can be quibbling about the approach. Wenger, after all, has too often heard that the emphasis on aesthetics has come at the expense of impact. In that respect, Arsenal will be overjoyed to step out of character and into the knockout stage of the Champions League.
Source: Kevin McCarra, The Guardian on 23 Nov 11
Striking talent makes Robin van Persie Arsenal's man for all the season
There was some worrying talk last week that Robin van Persie was "in the red". The phrase has taken on a sort of infamy at Arsenal after Arsène Wenger used it to describe Jack Wilshere's condition towards the end of last season. The midfielder's statistics, he said, indicated that he was on the brink of injury and, therefore, he should not play at the European Under-21 Championship. Wilshere has, indeed, subsequently broken down.
Van Persie is no stranger to injury, and, particularly not, those picked up on international duty and so when he linked up with Holland Wenger might have feared the worst, especially as his numbers showed that he was not in top condition. Wenger begged Bert van Marwijk, the Holland coach, not to play his striker in the friendly against Germany last week.
In what felt like a rare illustration of an international manager willingly doing what Wenger wants, Van Marwijk left Van Persie out of the 3-0 defeat. The Dutchman returned to sink Norwich City on Saturday and here he continued his remarkable year with the goals that propelled Arsenal into the last 16 of the Champions League for the 11th season in succession. He has now scored 38 goals in 41 games in all competitions for his club in 2011. Van Persie is simply in clover.
"Having a little rest can give you an extra five or 10% in a game," Van Persie said. "I'm not saying that playing against Germany would have seen me get injured, but sometimes players can drop after an international break. Wesley Sneijder played in that game, for example, but he wasn't fit to play for Internazionale at the weekend."
Van Persie's presence in the starting line-up had represented a tonic, as he had been used only as a substitute in the club's previous two home ties in the competition, and it was also a declaration of Wenger's intent. The soundness of his decision to rest Van Persie against Marseille at the beginning of the month had been questioned, with even Wenger admitting after the 0-0 draw that it had backfired. He wanted no scope for regret here.
It is only when you watch Van Persie live that you fully appreciate the menace and sharpness of his movement. Mats Hummels of Dortmund constantly saw him dropping into the space behind and, in the 12th minute, he rose to loop a header goalwards from André Santos's cross. Before the interval, Van Persie was thwarted when Roman Weidenfeller reached out an arm to claw Theo Walcott's devilish cross away from him, and the Dutchman was denied again by Marcel Schmelzer's saving tackle. Dortmund dared not lapse, but they could not keep him out. Who can at the moment?
Van Persie's opening goal owed everything to some mercurial wing play but it came not from the one of the club's jinking forwards, rather the hulking figure of Alex Song. His fleetness of foot to dart in between Sebastian Kehl and Lukasz Piszczek took the breath and his cross invited Van Persie to do what Van Persie does.
The header carried too much punch for Weidenfeller – perhaps the goalkeeper, like the rest of the stadium, was still aghast at Song's skill – while, the second was thrashed home from close range late on.
Song was the man of the match but in front of the watching Thierry Henry and Roger Federer, two men who, according to the advertising executives, know a bit about cutting edge, Van Persie provided it.
Source: David Hytner, The Guardian on 23 Nov 11
Van Persie proves his worth again
The sporting superstars had brought a touch of A-List sporting celebrity to Arsenal's Champions League meeting with Borussia Dortmund - and were able to show their appreciation for another master of his craft in the shape of Robin van Persie.
The schedule of the ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 Arena allowed Federer to indulge his passion for football, while Henry was back at his former club as he takes a break from duties with New York Red Bulls.
And while Federer and Henry have graced some of sport's greatest stages, they were very much the support act on Wednesday night as the 28-year-old Van Persie continued a remarkable sequence of form with the goals that put Arsenal into the knockout stages of the Champions League yet again.
The Dutchman once again emphasised why he has become close to a priceless commodity for the Gunners by taking his goals tally to 38 in 41 matches this year.
So it was with a sense of inevitability that Van Persie obliged with a triumph of technique and heading ability to put the home side ahead after 49 minutes before showing his poacher's instinct with a close-range second to confirm Arsenal's win.
It was not vintage Arsenal. It was not even vintage Van Persie as his opener owed much to the persistence and quality of Alex Song, who set up his team-mate with a fine driving run and cross from the left.
But such is Van Persie's current quality and confidence that he was always the prime candidate if anyone was going to deliver the decisive moments Arsenal needed.
It turned out to be an evening of unblemished satisfaction for Arsenal and manager Arsene Wenger. With the priority of qualification achieved thanks to a 2-1 win over German rivals Dortmund, news filtered through that Marseille had lost at home to Olympiakos to put the Gunners top of Group F with just one round of games to go.
Not only can Arsenal watch in relative relaxation as Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United try to qualify, they can do so safe in the knowledge they will avoid the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Bayern Munich in the next round.
Riches indeed for a team and manager that had to navigate a dangerous qualifier against Italians Udinese before suffering a dreadful start to the Premier League season, a start that included the abject humiliation of an 8-2 defeat at Manchester United.
It would be folly to suggest Arsenal's ills are cured. The Gunners, like Chelsea, City and United, have not produced a body of evidence yet that suggests they might win the Champions League, while their defence remains vulnerable.
But these are problems for another day. None of us who have criticised Arsenal should now shy away from admiring how Wenger and his players have started to turn their campaign around. The recovery is in its infancy but results alone are testimony to a squad that looked in danger of meltdown a few weeks ago.
Wenger certainly looks happier than the tortured figure he cut back in August when he searched for reinforcements following the departures of Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy, among others.
The Frenchman is back on an even keel and used his programme notes to underscore his bond with the club, saying: "Arsenal is the club of my life. I have a contract that I will honour and the only way I would one day consider that position is if I feel I am not doing well enough for the club. My commitment and love for this club is completely total."
This will please Arsenal fans greatly, perhaps even those who wavered recently, but one more declaration of commitment from Van Persie may delight them even more.
Until he agrees a new contract, his form will place him on the radar of every top club in Europe. For all the improvement, it is still Van Persie who lifts Arsenal to a level they would find difficult to attain without him.
Arsenal simply cannot afford to lose the striker, a message you suspect Wenger will be delivering to his board in terms they very clearly understand.
Such is Van Persie's importance that an audible murmur swept around the stadium when he was knocked to the ground in the second half, quickly followed by relief when he got to his feet again.
It is not only Van Persie's game that is maturing. He is also showing a greater understanding of his physical needs as well as a greater appreciation of his team-mates.
Van Persie was generous in his praise of Song before the game, saying: "I really see him going from strength to strength right now. He's getting better with every game and it is a joy to play with him."
And so it proved as Song, as he did at Norwich, created the goal for the striker that finally allowed Arsenal to exert their authority.
As for his conditioning, Van Persie revealed that a study of his physical statistics, involving discussions with Wenger, physiotherapist Colin Lewin and fitness coach Tony Colbert, pointed towards the need to rest when the Netherlands played Germany last week - a request generously accepted by Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk.
"Having a little rest can give you an extra five or 10% in a game," said Van Persie. Playing that percentage game has brought the reward of two goals in the win at Norwich City and another double against Borussia Dortmund.
It also meant Van Persie added another accolade to his collection by ensuring his deeds achieved the feat of putting Federer and Henry firmly in the shade.
Arsenal simply cannot afford to be without the Dutchman.
Source: Phil McNulty, BBC Sport on 24 Nov 11
Gunners soar with expectation lowered
In fact, such was the depth of their despair that those who had cheekily tipped Arsenal to end their seven-year trophy drought by finishing third in Group F and going on to lift the Europa League may have wondered whether they had been a little ambitious in backing a team apparently in terminal decline to reach such 'heady' heights so soon.
Now, after the agony of that horrible 8-2 defeat at Manchester United and what was arguably an even more desperate afternoon that ended in a 4-3 loss against lowly Blackburn at Ewood Park, Arsenal find themselves delighting in a run of form that is being celebrated by supporters whose optimism is slowly edging upwards once again.
In many ways, the slump in expectations inspired by that early season misery has removed all the pressure from Arsenal, with supporters who had written off this campaign as one that would produce little more than agony daring to believe anything and everything is possible once again.
Skipper Robin van Persie was their matchwinner once more, with the Dutchman's two goals taking his tally to a remarkable 38 goals in his last 41 games. A one-man team maybe, but if that man is RVP then throwing all your eggs into his basket is a wise move.
Still, Arsenal took their time to click into gear against a Dortmund side who threatened to offer a potent threat to their hopes in a closely contested and somewhat dour first half. The Germans may well have edged them in the early exchanges, even though they lost Mario Gotze after half an hour with a knee injury, with their magnificent travelling supporters chanting their way through what proved to be a final night on their Champions League travels. Bouncing and clapping in impressive unison, the yellow-shirted travelling hordes were the stars of the first half.
Kicking towards their fanatical followers in the second, Shinji Kagawa had a chance to hand Dortmund a flying start when he sliced through the Arsenal defence and was denied by a smart save from Wojciech Szczesny, yet it was to be their final chance to claim the win they needed to keep their qualification hopes on track.
Uncharacteristic skill saw Alex Song burst past four players to free himself brilliantly on the left flank and stand up a cross that picked out Van Persie at the back post. Inevitably, the form striker in European football made the most of his first chance of the evening as his head was placed perfectly to find a way past Dortmund keeper Roman Weidenfeller.
Van Persie's second in the closing stages added icing to the Arsenal cake and Kagawa's last-gasp consolation counted for little on a night when finding flaws in the Arsenal make up were not necessary. This was a moment for Wenger to gloat in his achievement of sparking a comeback from the brink of his previously unthinkable demise and he did just that as he met the media.
"We were drawn in a difficult group and when you consider the place we were in at the start of this journey, it's remarkable that we find ourselves qualified with a game to spare," said a perfectly-groomed Wenger. "You would not have been wise to bet too much money on us being in this position when we were struggling against Udinese in a play-off a few weeks ago, but we have worked hard to be here."
His praise of talisman Van Persie was typically fulsome; he believes the burden of the captaincy has helped rather than hindered his mental approach to the game. "Robin is a guy who focuses completely on football in his life," he suggested. "He thinks about it night and day and I always believed he could help to turn our season around. He is on an amazing scoring run at this moment and the goals are coming for him without even needing to think."
Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp spoke of his side's 'lack of application in the final third' and lamented the early loss through injury of Sven Bender and Mario Gotze, but the truth was his side had not fought hard enough to maintain their Champions League hopes for this season. 'Must do better' would be the epitaph of their return to Europe's biggest stage.
As for the new-look Arsenal, well they may be relying a little too heavily on Van Persie and it is impossible to ascertain at this point whether this brief run of success can be converted into genuine success in the next few months, but at least Wenger and his troops have navigated a way out of the dark hole they fell into at the start of this season.
All involved are relieved to be glimpsing some shafts of light once again.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Alex Song
Song deserved to claim this honour thanks to his moment of magic on the flank that set up Van Persie for his opener. The dribble that preceded his pinpoint cross was delightful.
ARSENAL VERDICT
Their steady progress shows no sign of waning and with their Champions League commitments all but complete for the next three months, they can focus on their pursuit of a top-four finish in the Premier League. They could just be about to defy their critics and achieve that feat.
DORTMUND VERDICT
A decent first half fizzled out for the visitors who failed to make the most of the half chances that came their way. Their heads seemed to drop after Van Persie's first goal and they will have to beat Marseille 4-0 and hope Arsenal beat Olympiakos to secure progress.
THOMAS THE TANK
The return to fitness of Thomas Vermaelen has given an quick fix to an Arsenal defensive line that looked incapable of keeping out a balloon coming in their direction at half a mile an hour a few weeks ago. They will face sterner tests than Dortmund provided, but even the accident-prone Per Mertesacker looks more secure alongside the impressive Vermaelen.
Source: Kevin Palmer, ESPN Soccernet on 23 Nov 11
Wenger's reaction to the Arsenal 2-1 Borussia Dortmund match
He is in a period where of course he doesn't have to look for goals - they just come naturally for him. He is always in the right place at the right moment and he got two goals again tonight from positions that look easy but they are not. He just understands the game so well.
on the match…
Overall it was a good game, Dortmund are a good team. They started stronger than we did but we needed to be patient, intelligent and I think in the second half we increased the tempo of our passing and controlled the game. Slowly you could feel that we could make the difference.
on conceding late…
This time it didn't make a difference. They scored because we lost our focus and concentration. Overall we controlled it well, our defence played well and they had very few chances. We knew the game was over and just became a bit too easy.
on qualifying…
The groups are difficult for the Premier League teams. The level in Germany has gone up a lot. We were in a difficult group and I am very happy and pleased if you see where we came from. We drew Udinese in the qualifier and you could not bet that we could go like we did. Overall I am very happy because we came out from a very difficult period because we were focused, worked hard and were united together.
on being the first English team to qualify…
Manchester United could have qualified last night and of course everybody expected Man City to qualify but we are the first team. It's difficult at this level against anybody - you never win an easy game in the Champions League. I have played 150 games as a manager in the Champions League and every single game gives you a different problem.
on Alex Song's performance…
I was complaining for a long time that we did not score enough goals from set-pieces. So I am very pleased that we did tonight. But I still think we have some room for improvement. But I agree with you completely that Song was exceptional for a defensive midfielder with the first goal. I am pleased for him because we had quite a difficult start in midfield in the first half and we took over in the second half.
on the threat of injury to Van Persie…
At the moment I believe that Robin is an exceptional player. He takes advantage of our offensive style from the wings. We create a lot of chances but I don't deny that at the moment he is the one who scores all the goals. We hope we can keep him fit and with us for a long time.
on what he saw in him for the captaincy…
What I saw in him is that he speaks his mind, he is completely focused on football and thinks day and night about the game. He is completely dedicated. It is not always obvious to put a striker as captain because he is in front of everybody. He was vice captain last year and was then captain while Fabregas was out.
on Gervinho's form…
He is vital for us because Robin likes to go to the ball and Gervinho likes to go into the space so they always push defenders back. That gives us space in midfield to create for Robin. He was a bit less sharp tonight but overall I am very happy.
on Mertesacker's performance…
I thought he had a great game tonight. I tried to analyse his performance against Norwich and I felt he was more tired from the Germany game against Holland. He didn't make bad decisions but his reaction time was not right. It was more down to fatigue.
Source: Arsenal.com on 23 Nov 11
23 November 2011: Arsenal 2-1 Borussia Dortmund, The Emirates
As usual, the goals came courtesy of Robin van Persie. The first from a magnificent assist by Alex Song, the second via Thomas Vermaelen’s flick-on.
Dortmund began on the offensive and retained their intensity throughout. However, while Wojciech Szczesny’s goal was under scrutiny all evening, he barely made a significant save. Shinji Kagawa’s consolation only came from the last kick of the game.
This victory, and Marseille’s defeat, means Wenger’s side have secured top spot in Group F. Their failure to achieve that last season came back to haunt them in the Round of 16.
Who knows how strong this Arsenal side could be by the time that is played in mid-February? But their ascent is steep right now and it is heartening to see them defeat different opposition in different ways.
This was a clever, controlled victory over a quality side. It means Arsenal have eight wins and a draw in their last nine matches.
They are the real deal – as Europe may just find out in 2012.
This had been billed as the clash of the form sides from their respective leagues – a far cry from the situation when they had shared that draw in Germany on Matchday One.
Wenger sprung, if not a surprise, then a rarity – an unchanged side. But then his team has regained some of their previous panache at Carrow Road on Saturday. They would need it all against a side who had won 1-0 at Bayern Munich on Saturday, partly by going in the offensive when they were under pressure.
Coach Jurgen Klopp was always capable of the counter-intuitive. And his side would attack from the off this evening and dominate the opening half.
Robert Lewandowski nipped through in the opening seconds only to be beaten to the ball by Szczesny. Kagawa then stretched the keeper with a shot from range.
Arsenal were on the backfoot – an alien position for them in the past couple of months.
Their brightest moment of the half was when Theo Walcott was released on the right after 20 minutes. Unfortunately for Arsenal, keeper Roman Weidenfeller raced out to snatch the ball.
Lewandowski crashed an effort inches wide from distance midway through the half.
By now, Arsenal had capped Dortmund’s early insistence. Their balance was not helped by the loss of Sven Bender and the highly-rated Mario Gotze in the first half-hour.
Only in the shadow of the half-time whistle did Arsenal seem to have real control.
The opening period had been characterised by a Dortmund player in acres of space running at backtracking Arsenal defenders.
It many ways it had been a strange half – high on pace and danger, low on notable chances. But Arsenal had held parity.
Dortmund conjured up their clearest couple of chances in the opening two minutes of the second half.
First, a cross from Lukasz Piszczek deflected dangerously across the face of goal and Per Mertsacker had to sweep the ball away at the far post.
Then Kagawa burst through down the right flank before forcing a solid save from Szczesny at the near post.
Arsenal seemed under serious threat but, in response, they managed to produce a match-turning moment.
Ramsey tried to burst through but, crowded out, he prodded the ball back to Song just inside the Dortmund half. The midfielder outpaced his marker down the left and then ghosted between two more defenders before clipping cross to Van Persie at the far post. The Dutchman headed home his 16th goal of the season and, with it, Arsenal placed one foot in the Knockout Stages.
Stunning.
On the hour, their place should have been secure when Ramsey sent Gervinho clear. His dummy fooled keeper Weidenfeller but Mats Hummel thieved the ball as the Ivorian looked set to score.
Dortmund needed to equalise to stay in the competition and, as they had been attacking all night, you knew what was coming.
Arsenal might have profited when Song lead a breakaway charge and Walcott rifled a shot just wide.
The Dortmund pressure continued but the hosts had them contained. After Abou Diaby made his return from injury, they settled any late nerves when Van Persie swept home after Vermaelen flicked on a corner from Arteta.
Kagawa reduced the arrears with the last kick of the game.
It mattered only to Arsène Wenger and the statisticians as it ending a spell of five and a half hours without conceding a Champions League goal.
However, Arsenal were already assured top spot in Group F.
Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 23 Nov 11
Monday, November 21, 2011
George Armstrong
Professional footballer who played with courage and generosity
George Armstrong, the former Arsenal winger, one of the heroes of their famous 1971 League and Cup double side, and latterly reserve team coach, has died suddenly after collapsing on the club's Hertfordshire training field, aged 56.
He was Arsenal to the marrow, making 621 first-team appearances in a 15-year playing career, to be surpassed only by the present Leeds United manager, David O' Leary with 722 and now Tony Adams (624).
In an age when the traditional winger was due to disappear, "Geordie" Armstrong, as he was always known, was the winger par excellence, able to play on the right or the left, two footed, and an unselfish creator of chances for other people with his accurate crosses.
Born in Hebburn, County Durham, Armstrong went to Highbury straight from school, discovered by Arsenal's north-eastern scout. He played his initial game for the first team in 1961, and 10 years later was a salient figure in the team which became only the second of the 20th century, after Tottenham, to win the FA Cup and League double. That season he figured in every one of the 42 championship games, and was on the right wing at Wembley, the only real winger in the Arsenal side for the winning cup final against Liverpool.
He was no giant, standing a mere 5ft 6in and weighing just over 11 stone, but courage was never lacking; not when he was playing with the local Leslie's Boys Club, nor in his long professional career.
Typically, in the cup final, Armstrong popped up on either flank and very nearly scored when, on the far post, he surged powerfully in from the left to meet a right-wing cross from John Radford. Ray Clemence, the Liverpool goalkeeper, catapulted across goal to parry the ball.
In 1970, he had won a medal in the European Inter Cities Fairs Cup, and the following season scored one of the two goals whereby Arsenal, in the same competition, beat Lazio 2-0 at home. In 1972, he was on the losing Arsenal side in the FA Cup final against Leeds United. He also played in two losing League Cup finals, in 1968 and 1969.
In 1977, he left Arsenal to play for Leicester City, and finished his career at Stockport County. He then became a coach with steady success, cutting his teeth in Kuwait, before returning to coach at Aston Villa and Fulham. Almost inevitably, perhaps, he returned to Highbury, brought back in 1990 by his former team mate George Graham who said: "He was such a thorough professional and a great help to me at Arsenal. As soon as I knew he was available when he was out in the Middle East I jumped at the chance to bring him back."
Armstrong proved outstandingly successful at nurturing young talent. Ray Parlour, a current first-team player and an England international, was one of his protegés in the reserve team, as was the Scottish striker Paul Dickov, who has gained honours this season with Scotland, as a Manchester City striker. The centre backs Andy Lininghan and future Northern Ireland international Stephen Morrow, also came under his aegis.
Money meant little to him and he was critical of the attitude of many modern players. One who knew him well at Arsenal observed that "football flowed out of him". He was humorous, modest, unfailingly genial, and survived the various changing of the guard at Highbury in recent years.
He was never a prolific goalscorer, getting just seven in that 1970/71 championship season and 70 in his Highbury career. Typically perhaps, his speciality was in creating goals for colleagues.
He is survived by his wife Marjorie, and their son and daughter.
George "Geordie" Armstrong, footballer, born August 9 1944; died November 1 2000.
Source: Brian Glanville, The Guardian on 2 Nov 11
George Armstrong, the former Arsenal winger, one of the heroes of their famous 1971 League and Cup double side, and latterly reserve team coach, has died suddenly after collapsing on the club's Hertfordshire training field, aged 56.
He was Arsenal to the marrow, making 621 first-team appearances in a 15-year playing career, to be surpassed only by the present Leeds United manager, David O' Leary with 722 and now Tony Adams (624).
In an age when the traditional winger was due to disappear, "Geordie" Armstrong, as he was always known, was the winger par excellence, able to play on the right or the left, two footed, and an unselfish creator of chances for other people with his accurate crosses.
Born in Hebburn, County Durham, Armstrong went to Highbury straight from school, discovered by Arsenal's north-eastern scout. He played his initial game for the first team in 1961, and 10 years later was a salient figure in the team which became only the second of the 20th century, after Tottenham, to win the FA Cup and League double. That season he figured in every one of the 42 championship games, and was on the right wing at Wembley, the only real winger in the Arsenal side for the winning cup final against Liverpool.
He was no giant, standing a mere 5ft 6in and weighing just over 11 stone, but courage was never lacking; not when he was playing with the local Leslie's Boys Club, nor in his long professional career.
Typically, in the cup final, Armstrong popped up on either flank and very nearly scored when, on the far post, he surged powerfully in from the left to meet a right-wing cross from John Radford. Ray Clemence, the Liverpool goalkeeper, catapulted across goal to parry the ball.
In 1970, he had won a medal in the European Inter Cities Fairs Cup, and the following season scored one of the two goals whereby Arsenal, in the same competition, beat Lazio 2-0 at home. In 1972, he was on the losing Arsenal side in the FA Cup final against Leeds United. He also played in two losing League Cup finals, in 1968 and 1969.
In 1977, he left Arsenal to play for Leicester City, and finished his career at Stockport County. He then became a coach with steady success, cutting his teeth in Kuwait, before returning to coach at Aston Villa and Fulham. Almost inevitably, perhaps, he returned to Highbury, brought back in 1990 by his former team mate George Graham who said: "He was such a thorough professional and a great help to me at Arsenal. As soon as I knew he was available when he was out in the Middle East I jumped at the chance to bring him back."
Armstrong proved outstandingly successful at nurturing young talent. Ray Parlour, a current first-team player and an England international, was one of his protegés in the reserve team, as was the Scottish striker Paul Dickov, who has gained honours this season with Scotland, as a Manchester City striker. The centre backs Andy Lininghan and future Northern Ireland international Stephen Morrow, also came under his aegis.
Money meant little to him and he was critical of the attitude of many modern players. One who knew him well at Arsenal observed that "football flowed out of him". He was humorous, modest, unfailingly genial, and survived the various changing of the guard at Highbury in recent years.
He was never a prolific goalscorer, getting just seven in that 1970/71 championship season and 70 in his Highbury career. Typically perhaps, his speciality was in creating goals for colleagues.
He is survived by his wife Marjorie, and their son and daughter.
George "Geordie" Armstrong, footballer, born August 9 1944; died November 1 2000.
Source: Brian Glanville, The Guardian on 2 Nov 11
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Robin van Persie's brace caps Arsenal's silky display at Norwich City
Fortunately for Mertesacker, Norwich's defenders can reflect upon a meeting with Robin van Persie in which they, like just about every back four in the land, came out reeling. Arsenal's captain delivered the points with two goals to cap another silky all-round performance. His personal statistics reached another milestone as he surpassed the 30-goal mark in the Premier League during the calendar year – the fifth player to do so.
Even though Norwich were, as their manager Paul Lambert pointed out with a degree of satisfaction, still in this game until the final whistle, Arsenal maintained their run of form, and needed to recover from a goal deficit to do so.
What a shock to the system that goal was, certainly to Mertesacker. The German had been selected at centre-back, with the in-form Laurent Koscielny switched to play as an emergency right-back. But the man who was bought to add security and physical presence wobbled visibly. His attempt to shepherd a speculative up-and-under out of harm's way was interrupted by Morison's harrying. The Welshman nipped in to steer a shot past Wojciech Szczesny. Morison wheeled away. Mertesacker beat the turf in frustration. He knew he had been rumbled.
Because of the result, Arsène Wenger was able to make light of it afterwards, even though it had not been a pretty sight. "I told him, when you run to your goal with a striker, you might think that you are safe elsewhere – but not in England," said the Arsenal manager.
It was due reward for Norwich, who set about the task with hunger and ambition – none more so than Morison, who made up in rampaging effort what he lacked in dexterity. "He is playing at the top of his game and leading the line terrifically well," enthused Lambert.
Norwich were able to maintain that lead briefly. Mainly because Russell Martin was the right man on the scene to intercept three Arsenal moves. A hat-trick of clearances to deny Theo Walcott, Van Persie and Gervinho earned rich applause inside Carrow Road.
"We were never going to keep them out for 90 minutes," Lambert rued – and they were pegged back swiftly. Norwich's shaky defence was unpicked by Walcott's cross, and when the ball continued past Gervinho's attempted flick, van Persie pounced.
A harsher lesson was to come for Martin, who had excelled in the opening period. When he carelessly conceded possession just before the hour, Arsenal broke to score the match-winner. Alex Song was the provider, and Van Persie improvised to outwit John Ruddy with a deliciously delicate touch.
"We all know he is exceptional," said Wenger. "Today he finished with a chip from his right foot, and I have never seen a bigger left-footed player than Van Persie. He makes the right decision in fractions."
Wenger noted that the Dutchman is able to express himself so freely because, for once, he has not been afflicted by injury. Arsenal were also grateful to the Holland manager, Bert van Marwijk, who excused Van Persie from the second of the international friendlies last week.
"My dream is that he stays at Arsenal until the end of his career," said Wenger. "I will do the maximum I can."
Norwich rallied to switch the pressure back on to Arsenal, and Morison appealed for a penalty when his shot cannoned off Mertesacker and hit his hand. Later the substitute Holt barged into the German in the area and took a tumble, for which he was booked. Norwich did not have quite enough finesse. "We were always in the game, which was pleasing, but they are a very good side," conceded Lambert afterwards.
So Arsenal held on for a fifth straight win in the Premier League, and the biggest of the big men on the pitch sent a cheery wave to the visiting supporters as he left for the sanctuary of the dressing room.
Source: Amy Lawrence, The Guardian on 19 Nov 11
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