The last few weeks have been extremely trying for Arsenal fans. We were in serious need of a lift, and three points against Blackburn, however they came, were going to be the only way for some of the unrest amongst supporters to quieten, even if momentarily. The aforementioned seven reasons should give the team some deserved leeway with fans, as they finally showed, for the first time in the league in 2012, that they aren't going to give up easily in the battle for fourth.
With the other results from the weekend, we're now three points behind Chelsea in the race for the Champions League, plus they still have to come to the Emirates. There is a lot to happen between now and then, but we're hardly in a disastrous position. I mentioned in my last blog that failure to beat Blackburn might lead to a change needing to be made, not necessarily of manager, but a change. The 7-1 thumping was proof that the Arsenal style can still rip teams apart.
Being honest, Blackburn offered very little resistance. As much as it’s tempting to get over excited by winning 7-1, after Wednesday’s draw, there was some serious displeasure from some fans. One big win doesn’t mean everything will be alright for the rest of the season, we can still only take things game by game, but that one win will give the team a massive confidence boost.
It was so refreshing to not focus on the negatives around the team for 90 minutes. There were a few rumblings of discontent when Morten Gamst Pedersen equalised, but we created so many holes in the Blackburn defence that the result was rarely in doubt. Walcott and, particularly, Oxlade-Chamberlain were seriously stretching the Rovers defence and helped us finally find a ruthless streak. When the fourth goal went in, I expected the side to ease off, but they were relentless. I think there was also a small element of revenge. When this team were first coming together, the 4-3 defeat to Blackburn in September really hurt. 7-1 will mean that any lingering mental problems from that game will have been banished.
Looking at the seven reasons in details, number one was arguably the most important. Given that we were desperate for the win and failed to score at Bolton, if the game had been goalless for a long time, the nerves would have increased and the fans would have got restless. It was probably Robin van Persie’s easiest goal for Arsenal, but in the context of turning our season, it was very important.
Number two was arguably as important as number one. Had Blackburn held out until half time, we’d have been facing problems again. However we wasted no time in hitting straight back after conceding. As soon as we had to score after the equaliser, our passing became more direct again. Song’s through ball for Walcott was excellent and then Walcott just had to find van Persie, and with the Dutchman’s movement, that wasn’t difficult.
The third goal oozed quality. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was the one bright spark in our dark January, however he hadn’t found the net. His diagonal run, control and finish was reminiscent of some of the old wingers we had in Wenger’s era. It’s been a while since we’ve had a winger that can make that sort of run and have the speed, confidence and ability to round the goalkeeper and score. In terms of a winger consistently doing that, I can’t think of anyone since Freddie Ljungberg. Having a winger that can contribute more goals will be vital for the rest of the season as we’re still too reliant on Robin van Persie.
Reason four to be cheerful was another goal that gives us encouragement for the rest of the season as we have to ease the goal scoring burden on RvP, especially as we didn’t do so in the transfer window. Mikel Arteta controlled the game well from midfield, and was often sitting deeper than Song, however he can strike the ball well from around the box. It’s an element of his game that he seems to have sacrificed for the team this season, but it’s one most fans would like to see used more often. Although his goal took a deflection on the way in, Arteta’s strike was powerful. He was almost on the end of one of the goals of the season had his volley gone in at the back post following Oxlade-Chamberlain’s run. I’d like to see Arteta move forward slightly more than Song does as he clearly has talent going forward. However it’s hard to criticise him too much as we’re so much more stable as a team when he sits alongside Song.
The fifth highlighted Blackburn’s interesting defending, but also the pace and finishing of our wingers. Walcott’s pace took him into the box, and Oxlade-Chamberlain showed him how to finish. All of Blackburn’s back four went towards Walcott, but surely the danger was Oxlade-Chamberlain. However we still had to be clinical and take advantage of the situation. The Ox’s finish was sharp and gave Robinson no hope. We shouldn’t put too much pressure on Oxlade-Chamberlain, although so far he has dealt with it brilliantly. He could be the difference between getting in the top four or not.
Robin van Persie’s hat-trick for number six looked simple, but was another superb finish from the Dutchman. Francis Coquelin, who put a good shift in, did well on the right but the finish from van Persie was so nonchalant with his weaker foot. Van Persie can ask for any superlative he wants because he deserves most of them. I was surprised he wasn’t substituted after netting his third as we have to keep him fit for the rest of the season. If we do, whatever the state of the rest of the team, we’ll always have a chance to climb the table.
The final reason to be cheerful made me the most happy; not in terms of the team in the long term or even for the rest of the season, but just because it was Thierry Henry. It wasn’t a great finish and it needed a deflection, but no Arsenal fan cared. Whatever the score line, an Henry goal was always going to cheer up Gooners everywhere. If we don’t extend his loan move, although I hope we do, that was his last home game for Arsenal, so it was fitting that he netted. In keeping with the Leeds script, the win wouldn’t have been complete without a goal from Thierry Henry.
We face Sunderland next week, which will be a much tougher test. Their form has been incredible since Martin O’Neill took over, so going away to the Stadium of Light will really show how much we’re up for this fight for fourth. The 7-1 was fantastic and has made fans smile about Arsenal again. Like with other good results we’ve had this season, the challenge is to back the win up and turn it into a run of form. Apart from boosting the goal difference, the 7-1 will feel irrelevant if we don’t win at Sunderland.
The temptation to rest players will be there for Wenger with Milan lurking in the midweek after our trip to the North East. Hopefully he’ll play the same starting XI as started against Blackburn, apart from possibly the addition of Sagna. They’ve earned the chance to build on the momentum that they built, and surely will have the confidence to do so. They’ve shown they can be ruthless in a game when they’re dominant. Hopefully the players, other than Robin van Persie, will now believe they can take chances when the game is tighter. That’s what will make the real difference in this Champions League race.
Source: Sam Limbert, ESPN Soccernet on 8 Feb 12
It was so refreshing to not focus on the negatives around the team for 90 minutes. There were a few rumblings of discontent when Morten Gamst Pedersen equalised, but we created so many holes in the Blackburn defence that the result was rarely in doubt. Walcott and, particularly, Oxlade-Chamberlain were seriously stretching the Rovers defence and helped us finally find a ruthless streak. When the fourth goal went in, I expected the side to ease off, but they were relentless. I think there was also a small element of revenge. When this team were first coming together, the 4-3 defeat to Blackburn in September really hurt. 7-1 will mean that any lingering mental problems from that game will have been banished.
Looking at the seven reasons in details, number one was arguably the most important. Given that we were desperate for the win and failed to score at Bolton, if the game had been goalless for a long time, the nerves would have increased and the fans would have got restless. It was probably Robin van Persie’s easiest goal for Arsenal, but in the context of turning our season, it was very important.
Number two was arguably as important as number one. Had Blackburn held out until half time, we’d have been facing problems again. However we wasted no time in hitting straight back after conceding. As soon as we had to score after the equaliser, our passing became more direct again. Song’s through ball for Walcott was excellent and then Walcott just had to find van Persie, and with the Dutchman’s movement, that wasn’t difficult.
The third goal oozed quality. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was the one bright spark in our dark January, however he hadn’t found the net. His diagonal run, control and finish was reminiscent of some of the old wingers we had in Wenger’s era. It’s been a while since we’ve had a winger that can make that sort of run and have the speed, confidence and ability to round the goalkeeper and score. In terms of a winger consistently doing that, I can’t think of anyone since Freddie Ljungberg. Having a winger that can contribute more goals will be vital for the rest of the season as we’re still too reliant on Robin van Persie.
Reason four to be cheerful was another goal that gives us encouragement for the rest of the season as we have to ease the goal scoring burden on RvP, especially as we didn’t do so in the transfer window. Mikel Arteta controlled the game well from midfield, and was often sitting deeper than Song, however he can strike the ball well from around the box. It’s an element of his game that he seems to have sacrificed for the team this season, but it’s one most fans would like to see used more often. Although his goal took a deflection on the way in, Arteta’s strike was powerful. He was almost on the end of one of the goals of the season had his volley gone in at the back post following Oxlade-Chamberlain’s run. I’d like to see Arteta move forward slightly more than Song does as he clearly has talent going forward. However it’s hard to criticise him too much as we’re so much more stable as a team when he sits alongside Song.
The fifth highlighted Blackburn’s interesting defending, but also the pace and finishing of our wingers. Walcott’s pace took him into the box, and Oxlade-Chamberlain showed him how to finish. All of Blackburn’s back four went towards Walcott, but surely the danger was Oxlade-Chamberlain. However we still had to be clinical and take advantage of the situation. The Ox’s finish was sharp and gave Robinson no hope. We shouldn’t put too much pressure on Oxlade-Chamberlain, although so far he has dealt with it brilliantly. He could be the difference between getting in the top four or not.
Robin van Persie’s hat-trick for number six looked simple, but was another superb finish from the Dutchman. Francis Coquelin, who put a good shift in, did well on the right but the finish from van Persie was so nonchalant with his weaker foot. Van Persie can ask for any superlative he wants because he deserves most of them. I was surprised he wasn’t substituted after netting his third as we have to keep him fit for the rest of the season. If we do, whatever the state of the rest of the team, we’ll always have a chance to climb the table.
The final reason to be cheerful made me the most happy; not in terms of the team in the long term or even for the rest of the season, but just because it was Thierry Henry. It wasn’t a great finish and it needed a deflection, but no Arsenal fan cared. Whatever the score line, an Henry goal was always going to cheer up Gooners everywhere. If we don’t extend his loan move, although I hope we do, that was his last home game for Arsenal, so it was fitting that he netted. In keeping with the Leeds script, the win wouldn’t have been complete without a goal from Thierry Henry.
We face Sunderland next week, which will be a much tougher test. Their form has been incredible since Martin O’Neill took over, so going away to the Stadium of Light will really show how much we’re up for this fight for fourth. The 7-1 was fantastic and has made fans smile about Arsenal again. Like with other good results we’ve had this season, the challenge is to back the win up and turn it into a run of form. Apart from boosting the goal difference, the 7-1 will feel irrelevant if we don’t win at Sunderland.
The temptation to rest players will be there for Wenger with Milan lurking in the midweek after our trip to the North East. Hopefully he’ll play the same starting XI as started against Blackburn, apart from possibly the addition of Sagna. They’ve earned the chance to build on the momentum that they built, and surely will have the confidence to do so. They’ve shown they can be ruthless in a game when they’re dominant. Hopefully the players, other than Robin van Persie, will now believe they can take chances when the game is tighter. That’s what will make the real difference in this Champions League race.
Source: Sam Limbert, ESPN Soccernet on 8 Feb 12
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