Arsenal could only draw at what is something of a bogey ground for them, but must still be favourites to finish third, guaranteeing qualification for next season's Champions League, after Newcastle's unexpected mauling by Wigan. Arsène Wenger's resurgent Gunners are now four points ahead of Newcastle, who have a game in hand, and seven in front of Tottenham, who have two more matches than their north London rivals still to play.
Arsenal have won one and lost three of their past five visits here, but it is not only their results that they dislike about the venue. The Stoke fans scorn Wenger and his passing game, and even for the impartial observer it was unpleasant to hear the vitriolic abuse of a manager who has always been a positive influence on football in England, and the booing of young Aaron Ramsey, apparently for having his career threatened when his leg was broken in two places by Ryan Shawcross two years ago.
"The Stoke crowd have a relationship with me, but I don't have one with them," Wenger said. "It's easy to sit in the stand and abuse people – the easiest sport in the world.
"Football has to tackle it. And if you want to stop it, it's easy to stop it. You can isolate every single face.
"Sometimes when I go out on the pitch at the end of the game, and people are angry or hateful, I would like a little picture to send home for them to show their son or daughter, and then come back next week and see if they will do it again."
Asked about Ramsey's hostile treatment, he said: "I don't see what he has done wrong and so I don't think the crowd can be proud of themselves."
In what, as usual, was the ultimate clash of styles, Arsenal stood up for themselves in the physical confrontations, which has not always been the case in the past and, in dressing room parlance, earned the right to play. Even Tony Pulis had to admit that Wenger's side was much the better team, especially in the first half.
"Arsenal's play was smashing, but we were a lot better in the second half and might even have nicked another goal," he said – adding that his players could take "great credit" that none of the top six clubs managed to win at the Britannia this season.
On the subject of the crowd's behaviour, Pulis said: "It's not just Arsène who gets it. I go to other grounds and get abused. You have to accept it as a manager. Should you accept it? I don't know. You'd better ask the police."
The match could be personified as a tale of two strikers. Peter Crouch did his prospects of making the England squad for Euro 2012 no harm at all with his 10th goal of the season in the Premier League and his 13th in all competitions. Wenger had warned his players on Friday about the aerial threat posed by the itinerant beanpole, but the lesson went unheeded when Crouch headed home Matthew Etherington's left-wing cross.
When Arsenal equalised, in the 15th minute, it was almost inevitably through Robin van Persie, newly crowned as Footballer of the Year. The Dutchman's 35th goal in 46 games took the form of a cushioned volley at close range, the chance set up by Tomas Rosicky.
Stoke were without their regular right-back, Andy Wilkinson, and Kieran Gibbs, Rosicky, Yossi Benayoun and Gervinho all took it in turns to exploit Ryan Shotton's fallibility in the role, forcing Jermain Pennant to track back to help out. Shotton, turned inside out, gave way to Matthew Upson 10 minutes into the second half with Robert Huth switching to right-back.
It was midway through the second half that the Stoke fans started booing Arsenal's every pass and turned on Ramsey. It was disappointing behaviour and all the more risible for the fact that many of the same people will probably criticise England's inability to play like Arsenal at the Euro 2012 finals.
Arsenal might have had a penalty after 75 minutes, when Benayoun went to ground inside the 18-yard area, the claim being that he had been pushed in the back by Glenn Whelan.
Stoke threatened to steal it at the death when Bacary Sagna made a last-ditch clearance from Crouch, but such an outcome would have been a travesty.
Arsenal's recovery since the turn of the year probably merits third place in the league, which will be theirs providing they gain favourable results from their two remaining games, at home to Norwich and away to West Brom.
Wenger was talking about the Britannia's hostile atmosphere when he spoke about his thick skin, but he has needed it since January, when three successive defeats had a voracious media, and a vocal minority of Arsenal fans, calling for his dismissal. At least it's all gone quiet over there.
Source: Joe Lovejoy, The Guardian on 28 Apr 12
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Wenger's reaction to the Stoke City 1-1 Arsenal match
I believe that it was a game where we have shown great character, great battling qualities. It was a game of two different approaches - one very direct in the air and one who tries to play on the ground. Both teams are good at what they do and that's why I think it was still an interesting game. We had good chances, especially in the first half. In the second half I felt our fluency dropped a bit in midfield - we still had chances though, especially a penalty that was not given. Overall we deserved at least a point and I can only give credit to my players for their battling qualities and the way they responded to what Stoke offered us - full commitment, well-organised, direct. We did not always cope with it but today I felt we did.
on the penalty claim…
It will go on the tape of all the penalties we have not got this season.
on Stoke spending time on set-pieces…
You are used to it. I was frustrated at times but that happens in every game because I am completely in the game. I was sometimes frustrated but not surprised.
on jeers for Aaron Ramsey…
I don't think you can be especially proud to boo Aaron Ramsey because I don't see what he has done wrong in his behaviour. That's an old story where the fans of Stoke stand behind their player. But it shouldn't go as far as booing Aaron Ramsey.
on Newcastle's defeat...
The good result we got was that Newcastle dropped points today but for us it is important to win our next two games. Anything less will not do it [guarantee third place].
on sharpness in the final third...
In the first half we had the chances but we lacked something. It is more about belief because recently we didn't score so many goals - we didn't score against Chelsea last week. Maybe it is linked with belief.
on Chamakh's future…
He did well. Nothing is definite at the moment. At the end of the season I think you will have big surprises because there will not be a lot of movement in football.
on his relationship with the Stoke fans…
They have a relationship with me but I don't have one with them! They do [enjoy my visits] but I personally have enough experience to cope with that [criticism]. It doesn't bother me too much. I don't listen too much to what people chant and I just think one day people in football will have to tackle that as well. It is easy to sit in the stand and insult people - it is the easiest sport in the world.
on insulting chants...
I focus on what I love in my job and the way my players behave on the pitch. I am not responsible for the way people behave in the stands. If you want to stop that it is easy to stop but I cannot influence it. I have had so much [criticism] in England, I have been here for 15 years, and basically I don't hear it because I am focused on the game.
on how it could be stopped…
You can isolate every single face. The only thing I think sometimes when I leave the pitch at the end of the game and people insult you or are angry or hateful, I'd just like a little picture and send it home to you. Show that to your son or your daughter, and then come back next week and see if you would do it again, if they are proud of you. That's all that you can do.
Source: Arsenal.com on 28 Apr 12
28 April 2012: Stoke City 1-1 Arsenal, Britianna Stadium
The Dutchman touched home an excellent cross from Tomas Rosicky in the 15th minute to equalise an early strike from Peter Crouch.
The draw was the least Arsenal deserved. They created a flurry of chances in the first half and, though the latter period was more even, the visitors might have taken all three points if referee Chris Foy had awarded a penalty when Yossi Benayoun appeared to be bundled over in the area with 16 minutes left.
A superb clearance from Bacary Sagna in injury time preserved Arsenal's point. Newcastle's defeat at Wigan means Arsène Wenger's side are now four clear in third place having played a game more than the North-East side.
Arsenal are inching their way into the Champions League. But the means does not matter - it never does at this stage of the season - as long as they get the job done in the end.
Slowly but surely Arsenal are securing third place.
Wenger made two changes from the side held to a draw by Chelsea last Saturday.
Benayoun replaced Theo Walcott while Gervinho came in for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, whose father and uncle had both played for the home side in the 1980s.
Stoke came into this game in 14th; lower than one would expect. However the Britannia Stadium was their stronghold once more. Liverpool and Tottenham had been beaten here while Chelsea and the two Manchester clubs had only taken away a point.
Since Stoke had returned to the top flight, Arsenal had been beaten twice in the Premier League and once in the FA Cup. Their only victory had been blighted by a nasty injury to Aaron Ramsey.
This game had stood out like a sore-thumb in Arsenal's run-in. Taking one point in their last two games had left Wenger's men with a narrower margin for error.
This afternoon, they would need to draw on all of the calm, professionalism that had hauled them up the table in February and March.
And that is exactly how they started.
In the sixth minute, Benayoun charged the ball down and fed Van Persie. He returned the ball to the Israeli, whose goalbound shot was easily saved.
Then Rosicky clipped a ball to far post and Van Persie's header was snaffled around the post by Asmir Begovic.
It seemed that Arsenal had slipped easily into gear. However their poor record at the Britannia Stadium is founded on conceding early goals and they would let in another one this afternoon.
In the ninth minute, Stoke worked the ball to the left and Matthew Etherington's high, hanging cross was guide home by the head of Crouch.
It was a sucker-punch but Arsenal were not in the mood to rest of their laurels this afternoon. They just rolled up their sleeves and redoubled their efforts.
Within six minutes they were level.
Benayoun won the ball and fed Rosicky on the left. The Czech international dinked a cross to the far post where Van Persie ghosted in to prod home.
It was the major moment of the first half as Arsenal kicked on and took control. They created a host of decent chances after that and should have netted at least one.
Sagna's raking cross might have been nodded home by Gervinho, Van Persie's shot was blocked, Koscielny headed over and Gervinho burst through only to blaze wide.
Stoke were blunted and reliant on set-pieces to threaten the Arsenal goal. They did manufacture their fair share of nervousness in the area but the visitors stayed strong.
Wenger's men went into the break level in terms of the scoreline but on top in the game.
They continued in that vein after the restart. Song and Rosicky set up Sagna on the right and, though Van Persie made clean connection with is header, it did not have enough power to beat Begovic.
Stoke had mustered some response after the restart but Arsenal were still edging the game. Gervinho and Vermaelen thumped over while Kieran Gibbs had a glimpse of goal but his shot was blocked.
However the home side were now pressing with more force and asking more pertinent questions of the Arsenal defence.
The visitors would respond. Van Persie's free-kick was blocked and Ramsey drove wide.
In the 74th minute they had strong claims for a penalty when Glenn Whelan appeared to be bundle over Benayoun as the Israeli raced onto Van Persie's ball.
If Arsenal failed to win, it would be seen as a key moment.
Cameron Jerome stung the hands of Wojciech Szczesny with a fierce snap-shot eight minutes from time. But Arsenal ended strongly and Vermaelen's low piledriver whistled inches past the post in the dying seconds.
It would have been a travesty had Stoke snatched something at the death. But they nearly did.
A late throw-in from Rory Delap caused consternation in the area and Sagna had to hack the ball away from under his own bar. Jon Walters then fired just wide.
However Arsenal can be satisfied with their work and their point.
Another tough obstacle had been overcome.
Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 28 Apr 12
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
A dangerous meander
The season isn’t over, but watching the match between Arsenal and Chelsea on Saturday, it would have been easy to think that both sides had nothing to play for. For Arsenal, we are in danger of undoing the good work of the second half of the season by not finishing off the job of finishing third. Apart from Newcastle’s good run of form, we’re fortunate that the teams behind us can’t put a string of good results together.
The team looked fatigued against Chelsea, which is understandable at this stage of the season, however when the opposition were in a similar state and were mainly focussed on defending, it’s frustrating that we couldn’t win the game. It’s hard to be angry at the result though, because it was a poor game, and Arsenal didn’t force the issue or grab the initiative to press forward for a win.
We’re still in a good position to finish third, but we have to take the last three matches seriously and not just let the season drift and meander away, as it did at the end of last season. The negative vibes that built up during the last few weeks of last season then continued into the summer, and things hardly went smoothly in the last off-season. Fatigue does play a part, but it’s also the case for every team. The players should be able to deal with it and be prepared to give everything, otherwise we’ll find ourselves slip out of the top three, and possibly the top four.
One of the main talking points amongst supporters after the Chelsea match was Aaron Ramsey again. I’ve said enough times on this blog that I think he will be a good player for Arsenal, and that he’s still young and is going through a rough patch of form. We’ve seen how Tomas Rosicky has turned it round, so there’s no reason why Ramsey won’t improve. With the injuries we’ve got, we need him to find some form quickly, otherwise our midfield will look weak without Arteta.
On Saturday, Arsenal weren’t overrun in midfield, far from it, but there was a spark missing. Ramsey and Song don’t have the understanding that Song and Arteta have built up this season, and whilst Rosicky was ok, Chelsea had midfielders sitting deep enough to try and nullify his threat. Ramsey was caught in possession too much, but he can’t be criticised for working hard to win the ball back when that happened. He just needs to quicken his decision making when playing in the deeper role as his role can be vital when trying to maintain momentum in an attack, and it’s important in setting the momentum from the deeper role when building attacks from midfield.
One positive in central midfield was the return of Abou Diaby. He still looked rusty, but having only made three substitute appearances all season, that was understandable. Stoke next week might not be the ideal game for him to be eased back into, but his height will be useful with the inevitable Stoke tactics, should he be selected from the start. Hopefully Diaby will be able to have a full pre-season and get back to his best next season. He can be outrageously skilful and powerful in midfield; he just needs to be injury free and in form.
Most Gooners would have been excited to see Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain start on the left, however we can’t expect greatness from him in every game. He’s still only 18, and has exceeded people’s expectations this season anyway. He still looked dangerous against Chelsea, but his eagerness to attack often meant the ball ran away from him or his control let him down. With Theo Walcott injured and likely to be out for the remaining games, I think we’ll see more of the Ox on the right. It’ll be a good chance for him to make a late claim to be in the England squad for the European Championships. On the other side, we need Gervinho to find some form as well. He’s looked out of sorts after the African Cup of Nations, and if we sign another forward minded player in the summer, he could be the one to miss out on a regular starting place next season.
Up front, Robin van Persie looked tired. More so than the rest of the team, fatigue for Robin is to be expected. We’ve never got so many games out of him in a season, and the effects of it are just catching up with him. As this shows, Robin’s time on the pitch in the Premier League has increased massively this season (via @1DavidWall on twitter). He had chances against Chelsea that would have resulted in a goal earlier in the season, but the problem remains in our squad that a fatigued Robin van Persie is still a heck of lot more likely than Marouane Chamakh or Ju-Young Park to convert those chances. The priority in the summer initially has to be to get Robin to stay. After that, sign someone to support him.
Robin van Persie was deservedly named the PFA player of the year on Sunday night, proving that some footballers do know what they’re talking about. Wayne Rooney has been in good form recently, but there couldn’t be any other winner. Van Persie has not only played in every game and scored a lot of goals, he’s lead the team through some difficult times, and we’ve come out of it in decent shape. He’s matured as a player and as a leader this season, so hopefully he’ll see that he can progress further as part of this team next season.
The biggest positive from the Chelsea game, and one of the reasons why the match wasn’t a thriller, was that we defended well. Laurent Koscielny returned from suspension and was immense. He has improved so much this season, and is now arguably a better defender than Thomas Vermaelen. Koscielny is quick, reads the game well and now isn’t afraid of a tackle. He’s another example of what hard work and a bit of experience can do for a player.
Frankly, the Chelsea match was boring, so the less said about it the better. We didn’t lose and kept a clean sheet, so let’s take that forward to Stoke on Saturday. It’s well publicised how Arsenal don’t like going to Stoke, but they have very little to play for, so hopefully that’ll take a bit of the edge off the game for them. It’ll still be a difficult game though, and Arsenal should by now have wised up to the challenge faced and be able to brace themselves for that challenge.
If there is one game left this season that I’m desperate for Aaron Ramsey to play well in, it’s the Stoke match. We all know the history he has with this fixture, so it really is a good time to get behind him and the team. If there are brainless Stoke fans booing him again (it wasn’t his fault that his leg was broken), it’d be great to see Ramsey put in a great performance. It would go a long way to getting the relationship he has with the fans back to the strength it was after that horrific incident.
It’s not just Ramsey, but the whole team need to put in a good performance at Stoke, otherwise our much heralded comeback might collapse Spurs-style. Let’s face it; we want to leave that sort of thing for them to do.
Source: Sam Limbert, ESPN Soccernet on 23 Apr 12
The team looked fatigued against Chelsea, which is understandable at this stage of the season, however when the opposition were in a similar state and were mainly focussed on defending, it’s frustrating that we couldn’t win the game. It’s hard to be angry at the result though, because it was a poor game, and Arsenal didn’t force the issue or grab the initiative to press forward for a win.
We’re still in a good position to finish third, but we have to take the last three matches seriously and not just let the season drift and meander away, as it did at the end of last season. The negative vibes that built up during the last few weeks of last season then continued into the summer, and things hardly went smoothly in the last off-season. Fatigue does play a part, but it’s also the case for every team. The players should be able to deal with it and be prepared to give everything, otherwise we’ll find ourselves slip out of the top three, and possibly the top four.
One of the main talking points amongst supporters after the Chelsea match was Aaron Ramsey again. I’ve said enough times on this blog that I think he will be a good player for Arsenal, and that he’s still young and is going through a rough patch of form. We’ve seen how Tomas Rosicky has turned it round, so there’s no reason why Ramsey won’t improve. With the injuries we’ve got, we need him to find some form quickly, otherwise our midfield will look weak without Arteta.
On Saturday, Arsenal weren’t overrun in midfield, far from it, but there was a spark missing. Ramsey and Song don’t have the understanding that Song and Arteta have built up this season, and whilst Rosicky was ok, Chelsea had midfielders sitting deep enough to try and nullify his threat. Ramsey was caught in possession too much, but he can’t be criticised for working hard to win the ball back when that happened. He just needs to quicken his decision making when playing in the deeper role as his role can be vital when trying to maintain momentum in an attack, and it’s important in setting the momentum from the deeper role when building attacks from midfield.
One positive in central midfield was the return of Abou Diaby. He still looked rusty, but having only made three substitute appearances all season, that was understandable. Stoke next week might not be the ideal game for him to be eased back into, but his height will be useful with the inevitable Stoke tactics, should he be selected from the start. Hopefully Diaby will be able to have a full pre-season and get back to his best next season. He can be outrageously skilful and powerful in midfield; he just needs to be injury free and in form.
Most Gooners would have been excited to see Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain start on the left, however we can’t expect greatness from him in every game. He’s still only 18, and has exceeded people’s expectations this season anyway. He still looked dangerous against Chelsea, but his eagerness to attack often meant the ball ran away from him or his control let him down. With Theo Walcott injured and likely to be out for the remaining games, I think we’ll see more of the Ox on the right. It’ll be a good chance for him to make a late claim to be in the England squad for the European Championships. On the other side, we need Gervinho to find some form as well. He’s looked out of sorts after the African Cup of Nations, and if we sign another forward minded player in the summer, he could be the one to miss out on a regular starting place next season.
Up front, Robin van Persie looked tired. More so than the rest of the team, fatigue for Robin is to be expected. We’ve never got so many games out of him in a season, and the effects of it are just catching up with him. As this shows, Robin’s time on the pitch in the Premier League has increased massively this season (via @1DavidWall on twitter). He had chances against Chelsea that would have resulted in a goal earlier in the season, but the problem remains in our squad that a fatigued Robin van Persie is still a heck of lot more likely than Marouane Chamakh or Ju-Young Park to convert those chances. The priority in the summer initially has to be to get Robin to stay. After that, sign someone to support him.
Robin van Persie was deservedly named the PFA player of the year on Sunday night, proving that some footballers do know what they’re talking about. Wayne Rooney has been in good form recently, but there couldn’t be any other winner. Van Persie has not only played in every game and scored a lot of goals, he’s lead the team through some difficult times, and we’ve come out of it in decent shape. He’s matured as a player and as a leader this season, so hopefully he’ll see that he can progress further as part of this team next season.
The biggest positive from the Chelsea game, and one of the reasons why the match wasn’t a thriller, was that we defended well. Laurent Koscielny returned from suspension and was immense. He has improved so much this season, and is now arguably a better defender than Thomas Vermaelen. Koscielny is quick, reads the game well and now isn’t afraid of a tackle. He’s another example of what hard work and a bit of experience can do for a player.
Frankly, the Chelsea match was boring, so the less said about it the better. We didn’t lose and kept a clean sheet, so let’s take that forward to Stoke on Saturday. It’s well publicised how Arsenal don’t like going to Stoke, but they have very little to play for, so hopefully that’ll take a bit of the edge off the game for them. It’ll still be a difficult game though, and Arsenal should by now have wised up to the challenge faced and be able to brace themselves for that challenge.
If there is one game left this season that I’m desperate for Aaron Ramsey to play well in, it’s the Stoke match. We all know the history he has with this fixture, so it really is a good time to get behind him and the team. If there are brainless Stoke fans booing him again (it wasn’t his fault that his leg was broken), it’d be great to see Ramsey put in a great performance. It would go a long way to getting the relationship he has with the fans back to the strength it was after that horrific incident.
It’s not just Ramsey, but the whole team need to put in a good performance at Stoke, otherwise our much heralded comeback might collapse Spurs-style. Let’s face it; we want to leave that sort of thing for them to do.
Source: Sam Limbert, ESPN Soccernet on 23 Apr 12
Monday, April 23, 2012
Quality lacking in London showdown
The Premier League may still be the most celebrated domestic championship in the world, boasting a mystique that ensures it is one of sport's most lucrative brands, yet games like this do little to dispel the theory that its standards are on the slide.
As a misfiring Arsenal side drew a blank with a much-changed Chelsea at a curiously muted Emirates Stadium, the quality of football on show fell short of what is expected of a showdown between these two London giants with the value of the three points on offer failing to inspire either team to match-winning heights.
With misplaced passes aplenty and a general lack of attacking verve on display from two who may well end up representing England in the Champions League next season, this game had all the hallmarks of a scoreless stalemate from first whistle to last, with the big names on show collectively failing to live up to their billing.
Sell-out crowds do not pay the high ticket prices to watch Premier League games as dour as this, with the lack of attacking class on both sides as alarming as it was frustrating on a day when two teams capable of so much more played out the sort of game you would associate more with the defensive-minded Serie A.
Drawing useful conclusions from such an uninspiring match was not easy, but time may eventually confirm that this was a point which helped Arsenal cement their position as the third best team in England's top tier, while Chelsea could argue this was the best result they could hope for amid a demanding run of fixtures that would drain the best of squads.
After their backs-to-the-wall victory against mighty Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday, this was another example of a Chelsea's grit overcoming the ambitions of opponents who were unable to pick their solid defensive unit apart, with John Terry and Gary Cahill superb once more at the heart of their backline.
Despite the efforts of the Blues' defensive talismen, Arsenal came closest to winning this game as they twice rattled the woodwork and generally looked more threatening without ever showing the sort of thrilling, attacking cutting edge they are capable of. Indeed, Robin van Persie's dip in form means they are failing to dig out the sort of wins their skipper has been inventing for them for most of this campaign.
Arsenal's surrender of five points here at Emirates Stadium in the space of two games against Wigan and Chelsea in recent days means they have opened the door for their rivals to test their nerve in the final three games of the season and manager Arsene Wenger was honest enough to concede as much.
"I was surprised with the way Chelsea played this game as they needed to win and I expected us to see an open game as a result," said the downbeat Arsenal boss. "In the end, they stayed tight at the back, played as they will try to do against Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday night and made it hard for us to break them down.
"We didn't find our quick passing in the offensive third and that meant we failed to get in behind Chelsea enough, but I look at the chances created in the game and it's clear that we had all the best opportunities and they did not even create one big chance.
"The defeat against Wigan meant we looked nervous in this game. We knew we dare not lose again and it meant we played with the handbrake on, but you have to give Chelsea some credit for making it hard for us."
Predictably, Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo had a different view of the day's events, as he hit back at Wenger's claim that his side were too negative, justifiably citing the 'crazy schedule' his side have tried to deal with in the last week as a reason for his lack of ambition to win this game.
"We have come off the back of two massive semi-finals in the space of a week and then had to play Arsenal away, so this point is a good one for us," stated Di Matteo. "I changed a lot of players from the Barcelona game and that was natural as you cannot expect the same guys to play one massive game after the next and not begin to feel it a little and I felt we put in a very disciplined performance.
"Now we have three home matches left and one away game and if we can win all four, then we will still have a chance to claim the fourth place in the table, even though we are dealing with a crazy schedule right now."
Having made eight changes to his line-up from the Barcelona triumph, Di Matteo had every right to toast this point, yet it remains to be seen whether a top-four finish is still a realistic prospect after a result that leaves them well off the pace being set by the Gunners and Newcastle.
If they reach the Champions League final and win the FA Cup next month, Chelsea could argue they have enjoyed a more productive season than Arsenal, yet neither of these two great clubs should feel satisfied with a season that sees them languishing some 20 points behind the Premier League leaders.
MAN OF THE MATCH: John Terry
On a day when Di Matteo opted to rest several star names, the captain refused to buckle as he continued to perform heroically. Even with a damaged rib, this leader is trying to carry Chelsea's season towards a glorious conclusion.
ARSENAL VERDICT
This point may well prove to be crucial in their bid to wrap up third spot in the Premier League, but would Arsenal fans rather be in Chelsea's position challenging for two major trophies at this late stage of the season? It is a question only the Gunners' supporters can answer.
CHELSEA VERDICT
Their ability to dig in and get results in games like this confirms that they have a chance to dump Barcelona out of the Champions League on Tuesday night. The Blues may not be as good as they once were, as Frank Lampard readily admits, but that is not halting their ambition to win trophies in the face of adversity.
RVP'S FUTURE
Arsenal skipper Van Persie used his programme notes to clear up why he had been seen at the Barcelona team hotel in London earlier this week, which had sparked speculation that he may be plotting a move to the Nou Camp. "My good friend Ibrahim Afellay plays for Barcelona and I wanted to catch up," he said. "I can't imagine anyone conducting transfer negotiations in these circumstances!"
Source: Kevin Palmer, ESPN Soccernet on 21 Apr 12
As a misfiring Arsenal side drew a blank with a much-changed Chelsea at a curiously muted Emirates Stadium, the quality of football on show fell short of what is expected of a showdown between these two London giants with the value of the three points on offer failing to inspire either team to match-winning heights.
With misplaced passes aplenty and a general lack of attacking verve on display from two who may well end up representing England in the Champions League next season, this game had all the hallmarks of a scoreless stalemate from first whistle to last, with the big names on show collectively failing to live up to their billing.
Sell-out crowds do not pay the high ticket prices to watch Premier League games as dour as this, with the lack of attacking class on both sides as alarming as it was frustrating on a day when two teams capable of so much more played out the sort of game you would associate more with the defensive-minded Serie A.
Drawing useful conclusions from such an uninspiring match was not easy, but time may eventually confirm that this was a point which helped Arsenal cement their position as the third best team in England's top tier, while Chelsea could argue this was the best result they could hope for amid a demanding run of fixtures that would drain the best of squads.
After their backs-to-the-wall victory against mighty Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday, this was another example of a Chelsea's grit overcoming the ambitions of opponents who were unable to pick their solid defensive unit apart, with John Terry and Gary Cahill superb once more at the heart of their backline.
Despite the efforts of the Blues' defensive talismen, Arsenal came closest to winning this game as they twice rattled the woodwork and generally looked more threatening without ever showing the sort of thrilling, attacking cutting edge they are capable of. Indeed, Robin van Persie's dip in form means they are failing to dig out the sort of wins their skipper has been inventing for them for most of this campaign.
Arsenal's surrender of five points here at Emirates Stadium in the space of two games against Wigan and Chelsea in recent days means they have opened the door for their rivals to test their nerve in the final three games of the season and manager Arsene Wenger was honest enough to concede as much.
"I was surprised with the way Chelsea played this game as they needed to win and I expected us to see an open game as a result," said the downbeat Arsenal boss. "In the end, they stayed tight at the back, played as they will try to do against Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday night and made it hard for us to break them down.
"We didn't find our quick passing in the offensive third and that meant we failed to get in behind Chelsea enough, but I look at the chances created in the game and it's clear that we had all the best opportunities and they did not even create one big chance.
"The defeat against Wigan meant we looked nervous in this game. We knew we dare not lose again and it meant we played with the handbrake on, but you have to give Chelsea some credit for making it hard for us."
Predictably, Chelsea manager Roberto Di Matteo had a different view of the day's events, as he hit back at Wenger's claim that his side were too negative, justifiably citing the 'crazy schedule' his side have tried to deal with in the last week as a reason for his lack of ambition to win this game.
"We have come off the back of two massive semi-finals in the space of a week and then had to play Arsenal away, so this point is a good one for us," stated Di Matteo. "I changed a lot of players from the Barcelona game and that was natural as you cannot expect the same guys to play one massive game after the next and not begin to feel it a little and I felt we put in a very disciplined performance.
"Now we have three home matches left and one away game and if we can win all four, then we will still have a chance to claim the fourth place in the table, even though we are dealing with a crazy schedule right now."
Having made eight changes to his line-up from the Barcelona triumph, Di Matteo had every right to toast this point, yet it remains to be seen whether a top-four finish is still a realistic prospect after a result that leaves them well off the pace being set by the Gunners and Newcastle.
If they reach the Champions League final and win the FA Cup next month, Chelsea could argue they have enjoyed a more productive season than Arsenal, yet neither of these two great clubs should feel satisfied with a season that sees them languishing some 20 points behind the Premier League leaders.
MAN OF THE MATCH: John Terry
On a day when Di Matteo opted to rest several star names, the captain refused to buckle as he continued to perform heroically. Even with a damaged rib, this leader is trying to carry Chelsea's season towards a glorious conclusion.
ARSENAL VERDICT
This point may well prove to be crucial in their bid to wrap up third spot in the Premier League, but would Arsenal fans rather be in Chelsea's position challenging for two major trophies at this late stage of the season? It is a question only the Gunners' supporters can answer.
CHELSEA VERDICT
Their ability to dig in and get results in games like this confirms that they have a chance to dump Barcelona out of the Champions League on Tuesday night. The Blues may not be as good as they once were, as Frank Lampard readily admits, but that is not halting their ambition to win trophies in the face of adversity.
RVP'S FUTURE
Arsenal skipper Van Persie used his programme notes to clear up why he had been seen at the Barcelona team hotel in London earlier this week, which had sparked speculation that he may be plotting a move to the Nou Camp. "My good friend Ibrahim Afellay plays for Barcelona and I wanted to catch up," he said. "I can't imagine anyone conducting transfer negotiations in these circumstances!"
Source: Kevin Palmer, ESPN Soccernet on 21 Apr 12
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Arsenal and Chelsea share frustration and points at the Emirates
Wrong. Roberto Di Matteo made wholesale changes to his starting XI as he contended with Chelsea's "crazy" schedule but the approach that he employed to secure the 1-0 scoreline that his team will take to the Camp Nou on Tuesday was not dissimilar. Three midfielders sat in front of a back four that put their bodies on the line; there was pace in wide areas, and there was a result that Di Matteo and his players said they were happy with. One thing was clear. Chelsea will sign up for more of the same in Catalonia.
It could be that Chelsea's most realistic route into next season's Champions League lies in them winning the tournament this time out. Although they still have Newcastle United to play at Stamford Bridge, they are running out of opportunities to gatecrash the Premier League's top four.
The frustration, though, belonged to Arsenal. Hard on the heels of Monday's home loss to Wigan Athletic, this was a game that Wenger wanted to win and he felt that his team had the chances to do so. He lamented a "very unfair result" and it seems as though Arsenal are spluttering to the finish, even if they remain the slight favourites to come in behind the Manchester clubs for the final automatic Champions League qualifying berth.
Their trips to Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion, either side of the home game against Norwich City, could feature anxiety.
Wenger complained that his team had been forced to play the role of stooges. "Chelsea adopted the system they played against Barcelona," he said. "They wanted to practice for Tuesday night." But he had other grumbles, which went beyond a strangely disjointed performance from his team.
Robin van Persie, he said, should have had a penalty in the 80th minute when Gary Cahill appeared to shove him, while the clearest chances of a dismal game did fall to those in red, with Van Persie, on his 50th appearance of the season for club and country, curiously off-colour in front of goal. Laurent Koscielny also headed against the crossbar, from Van Persie's chipped free-kick, in the 42nd minute. It spoke volumes for the spectacle that one of the principal talking points was the hamstring injury that Theo Walcott suffered, which forced his withdrawal and will rule him out of Arsenal's remaining matches. Stuart Pearce, the England caretaker manager, who was in the crowd, will hope that the winger can recover in time for Euro 2012, as Wenger predicted he would.
Walcott had felt the hamstring after tracking back in the 57th minute only to carry on after treatment. When he pulled up and collapsed to the turf on the hour, following a forward surge, it was possible to wonder why he had not already been withdrawn or withdrawn himself.
The home crowd were irritated at their team's lack of tempo and inspiration. All of Arsenal's creative talents were under par. With Chelsea massing men behind the ball when they did not have it, it was heavy going, not least for the neutral. What is it about early kick-offs?
Di Matteo's selection had felt a little scratchy, with only three of his line-up certain to start at the Camp Nou – Petr Cech, Cahill and the indefatigable John Terry. It was the substitutes' bench that was well stocked with leading players. Chelsea's ambition was limited but they were compact throughout, with Oriol Romeu, on his first appearance since 5 February, anchoring the narrow midfield trio. Chelsea were happy to try their luck on the counter, and they almost profited in the first half when Salomon Kalou twice got in behind Arsenal.
On the second occasion, Koscielny needed to bail out Wojciech Szczesny, who had bolted from his line while on the first, Kalou felt that he had been tripped by Bacary Sagna. He had not been. But Chelsea had louder shouts for a penalty when Sagna tangled with the onrushing Ryan Bertrand. Chelsea also flickered when Cahill lifted a shot over the crossbar.
Van Persie fluffed his lines from point-blank range in the early running, from Walcott's free-kick, and was spared embarrassment by an erroneously raised offside flag, while he shot straight at Cech before half-time and, as Arsenal summoned a spirited finish, he had a few more sightings. The closest that the visitors came was when Koscielny denied Daniel Sturridge with a saving block.
Chelsea took heart from their resilience. Onward to Barcelona.
Source: David Hytner, The Guardian on 21 Apr 12
Wenger's reaction to the Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea match
on whether it was a fair result…
It was a very unfair result but it is a result. I think [we should have had a penalty], I think also we had chances. At the end of the game we had the chances and they had zero. I cannot remember them having one chance. Having said that it was a little bit of a strange game because before the game I thought it would be an open one - we had to win, they had to win. They decided to lock up the game and catch us on the break only, with two wide players who are quick, and Torres.
on his team's performance...
On our side I felt we had a very solid defensive performance. Going forward we didn't find our quick passing game and the regret we have today is that we played offensively with a handbrake and not as clean technically as we can do. That is why we didn't open them up enough. It was a bit similar to what we saw against Wigan and that's a regret I have today. They had three defensive midfielders with Romeu, Malouda and Essien in the middle of the park so it was very difficult to play through there. It was very physical as well. They adopted a little bit the system they played against Barcelona - certainly they wanted to practice for Tuesday night.
on whether tiredness is creeping in…
No, I feel that we were a bit nervous today because we lost against Wigan and you could see it played a part in the fact that we played with the handbrake in the first half. To have an open game the two [teams] must go for it, but Chelsea never came really out.
on Theo Walcott's injury…
It looks like a serious hamstring. First we assessed the hamstring, he wanted to go on and stay on the pitch, and I think he should have gone off straight away because the second time it was a real hamstring [injury]. I think now for him it will be tough to come back before the end of the season. It is usually 21 days [minimum]. He should be OK to play for England - he just will have a good rest. You suddenly become favourite to win the European Championship! But I don't think he will be ready to play for us.
on whether his players were trying too hard…
No, I just felt we were a bit nervous today because we knew we could not afford to lose the game. We didn't pass the ball quickly enough. Chelsea are experienced enough to force you to play the ball where they want you to play it. We couldn't open them up enough and our change of pace in the game wasn't good enough.
on Robin van Persie…
He played his 50th game [of the season] today and he gave absolutely everything again today. He was unlucky in the first half, he had a free kick he deflected and it was a clear-cut chance. Then when he was through I think he rushed his decision making a bit, when he took it with his right foot, because he had Diaby coming in completely on his own. It was not easy for him because he was completely on his own at some stages with not enough support. And he was caught offside one time and I am not sure he was.
on the race for Champions League places…
What it means is that we have to win the rest of our games and we have to look at the results over the weekend as well.
Source: Arsenal.com on 21 Apr 12
It was a very unfair result but it is a result. I think [we should have had a penalty], I think also we had chances. At the end of the game we had the chances and they had zero. I cannot remember them having one chance. Having said that it was a little bit of a strange game because before the game I thought it would be an open one - we had to win, they had to win. They decided to lock up the game and catch us on the break only, with two wide players who are quick, and Torres.
on his team's performance...
On our side I felt we had a very solid defensive performance. Going forward we didn't find our quick passing game and the regret we have today is that we played offensively with a handbrake and not as clean technically as we can do. That is why we didn't open them up enough. It was a bit similar to what we saw against Wigan and that's a regret I have today. They had three defensive midfielders with Romeu, Malouda and Essien in the middle of the park so it was very difficult to play through there. It was very physical as well. They adopted a little bit the system they played against Barcelona - certainly they wanted to practice for Tuesday night.
on whether tiredness is creeping in…
No, I feel that we were a bit nervous today because we lost against Wigan and you could see it played a part in the fact that we played with the handbrake in the first half. To have an open game the two [teams] must go for it, but Chelsea never came really out.
on Theo Walcott's injury…
It looks like a serious hamstring. First we assessed the hamstring, he wanted to go on and stay on the pitch, and I think he should have gone off straight away because the second time it was a real hamstring [injury]. I think now for him it will be tough to come back before the end of the season. It is usually 21 days [minimum]. He should be OK to play for England - he just will have a good rest. You suddenly become favourite to win the European Championship! But I don't think he will be ready to play for us.
on whether his players were trying too hard…
No, I just felt we were a bit nervous today because we knew we could not afford to lose the game. We didn't pass the ball quickly enough. Chelsea are experienced enough to force you to play the ball where they want you to play it. We couldn't open them up enough and our change of pace in the game wasn't good enough.
on Robin van Persie…
He played his 50th game [of the season] today and he gave absolutely everything again today. He was unlucky in the first half, he had a free kick he deflected and it was a clear-cut chance. Then when he was through I think he rushed his decision making a bit, when he took it with his right foot, because he had Diaby coming in completely on his own. It was not easy for him because he was completely on his own at some stages with not enough support. And he was caught offside one time and I am not sure he was.
on the race for Champions League places…
What it means is that we have to win the rest of our games and we have to look at the results over the weekend as well.
Source: Arsenal.com on 21 Apr 12
21 April 2012: Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea, Emirates Stadium
This game had promised much but, in truth, never really caught light. A much-changed Chelsea edged the first half but it was Arsenal that hit the woodwork through Robin van Persie and Laurent Koscielny.
The home side grew in confidence as the game went on but could not sustain pressure on the visitors’ goal.
They had strong claims for a penalty late on when Van Persie seemed to be pushed over by Gary Cahill. However, referee Mike Dean waved play on.
At the final whistle, the draw left Arsenal six points ahead of Spurs and Newcastle, in fourth and fifth places, having played two games more.
It is building up to be a tense finale in the race for the top four. Wenger’s men, however, have the points and therefore the advantage.
The manager made four changes from the side beaten 2-1 by Wigan on Monday – two tactical alterations in defence and two enforced ones in midfield.
Laurent Koscielny and Kieran Gibbs replaced Johan Djourou and Andre Santos at centre back and left back respectively.
Aaron Ramsey and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain came in for Mikel Arteta (ankle) and Yossi Benayoun (ineligible) through the middle.
If Wenger was tweaking his side, Roberto Di Matteo gave his major surgery. Chelsea were amid a run of four major games in three different competitions over 10 days.
That explained his eight changes from the midweek win over Barcelona. Only Petr Cech, Cahill and John Terry were retained, however, most of the big guns were on the bench.
Still, there was no sign of fatigue in Chelsea early on. In fact they were probably the brighter outfit in the opening 10 minutes but had nothing to show for it.
The first chance fell to Arsenal – and it nearly saw them take the lead. In the 13th minute, Oxlade-Chamberlain was clipped outside the area and Walcott floated the subsequent free-kick to the far post. Van Persie darted in and flicked the ball against the base of the post.
It was a huge chance and against the run of play. Chelsea were the better side and Salomon Kalou was their best outlet. He set up Fernando Torres, whose shot was blocked, and midway through the half then nearly profited when Wojciech Szczesny mistimed his rush out of the area.
Up to this point, Arsenal had not been fluid and were struggling to retain pressure going forward. Chelsea were hardly ripping through the home side but they had a significant edge territorially.
However, three minutes from half time, Arsenal would again create a chance that would rattle the post. Once more, the genesis of the chance came when Oxlade-Chamberlain was fouled. Van Persie floated in the free-kick and Koscielny emerged unmarked to guide a header against the bar.
Suddenly the game found a spark. Cahill headed over from a corner but Arsenal broke forward and Alex Song found Van Persie in space on the left.
The captain’s fierce shot was beaten away by Cech at the near post.
It was perhaps Arsenal’s brightest spell of the first half. But they knew they had to do better in the second period.
The home side started with intent but the game soon returned to the stodgy morass seen throughout the opening period.
Defeat would be a huge blow to both sides and they seemed cautious of making the first mistake.
Stalemate was the result.
On the hour, Wenger brought on Gervinho for Theo Walcott, who had already been down needing treatment. When the England international went down again, the switch was made. Walcott went off hobbling.
The Arsenal manager followed that almost immediately by taking off Tomas Rosicky for Abou Diaby. It was the French midfielder’s fourth appearance of the season – all as a substitute.
Arsenal were looking a little more lively now. Van Persie fired over twice – from a long-range free-kick and a high, hanging cross by Ramsey.
Wenger’s final change saw Andre Santos replace Oxlade-Chamberlain on the left.
Gervinho and Van Persie set up Diaby, whose goalbound effort was blocked. Arsenal also had a decent claim for a penalty when Cahill appeared to bundled over the Dutchman in the six-yard box.
The home side were ending the game on top. Van Persie slashed a shot wide and then saw Cech block his effort at the near post.
A game that had been so cagey for so long opened up at the end but neither side could break the deadlock.
Arsenal can take solace from the fact that they have taken four points from Manchester City and Chelsea at home – the two biggest names on their run-in agenda.
However, Wenger’s men still have work to do to secure their place in next season’s Champions League.
Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 21 Apr 12
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Jordi Gómez strike sinks Arsenal and steers Wigan away from danger
The equation had seemed simple enough for Arsenal. Take a home victory from a team towards the foot of the table and stride decisively towards an automatic Champions League berth. Yet nothing has been entirely simple for them. Indeed, the unpredictability of matches in England this season has reached glorious new heights.
Here was another helter-skelter example and the latest twist in Arsenal's impossible-to-script campaign. Wigan Athletic not only stormed into an early two-goal lead but they held their hosts at arm's length with remarkable comfort in the second half, when they even looked the likelier scorers. In Victor Moses they had the game's outstanding performer and the winger's only blot was his inability to finish when clean through in the 60th minute.
Hard on the heels of their victories over Liverpool and Manchester United this was a stunning coup for Wigan. It is now four wins in five for Roberto Martínez's team and the one that got away was the defeat at Chelsea, when they were wronged by the officials. In this form and with these levels of confidence it is outlandish to imagine them in next season's Championship. Martínez brimmed with pride and satisfaction. Wigan had previously tasted only defeat at Arsenal.
The emotions, though, were rather different inside his opposite number. Arsène Wenger bubbled with anger throughout the game at the time-wasting tactics of the Wigan goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi, which began when he dragged his heels over a goal-kick in the third minute. When Al-Habsi was finally booked in injury-time, for pushing the gamesmanship too far, Wenger raged at the fourth official, Kevin Friend. The unpalatable truth, though, was that Arsenal could have played for another 45 minutes and not threatened. The second half for them did not feel so much like a bad day at the office as one for the P45s.
There was rancour at full-time, when Wenger stalked off down the tunnel. Gary Caldwell, the Wigan captain, went to shake Robin van Persie's hand only to be rebuffed. There was a brief kerfuffle and players from both sides had to step in. It looked like something and nothing. Arsenal had to be more concerned at their failure to open up an eight-point lead over Tottenham Hotspur in fourth. Their addiction to taking matters to the wire continues. Does anybody want to make sure of third?
The defeat was costly yet the stakes were arguably higher for Wigan: the retention of Premier League status means everything to them, in sporting and financial terms. Martínez's men had arrived in their finest form of the season yet the start that they made was simply staggering. The tiny enclave of travelling supporters were buzzing with delight from Franco Di Santo's opening goal, converted after a well-constructed and incisive counter-attack, when Moses flummoxed Bacary Sagna and crossed low from the left. James McArthur attacked the ball and, when it broke, Jordi Gómez beat Wojciech Szczesny at the second attempt.
Wenger was unhappy that his team had only 10 men on the field at the time, Mikel Arteta having limped off with a worrying-looking ankle injury and, because there was no stoppage in play, the Frenchman was unable to get Aaron Ramsey on.
Martínez's formation, with its unorthodox lack of symmetry, was designed to provide defensive strength and pace on the break, and he could revel in Di Santo's goal, which stemmed from an Arsenal corner. James McCarthy, Moses and Gómez were instrumental in the move and Di Santo fashioned the finish, getting the ball over the advancing Szczesny and running on to volley home.
Arsenal's response to this double hit was initially ferocious. Yossi Benayoun had forced Al-Habsi to tip over a smart header in the fifth minute and he made him save again, acrobatically, with another header. There was an inevitability about Arsenal reducing the deficit and Thomas Vermaelen seemed to dispatch Tomas Rosicky's whipped cross with a snarl. Van Persie stung Al-Habsi's palms from distance; Johan Djourou volleyed inches wide and Rosicky scooped over.
Yet Arsenal were slipshod and nervous in defence and after the interval they ran out of steam and ideas. Al-Habsi was not required to make a save and Martínez said the second half was as well as Wigan had played all season. The reward was wonderfully sweet.
Source: David Hytner, The Guardian on 17 Apr 12
Here was another helter-skelter example and the latest twist in Arsenal's impossible-to-script campaign. Wigan Athletic not only stormed into an early two-goal lead but they held their hosts at arm's length with remarkable comfort in the second half, when they even looked the likelier scorers. In Victor Moses they had the game's outstanding performer and the winger's only blot was his inability to finish when clean through in the 60th minute.
Hard on the heels of their victories over Liverpool and Manchester United this was a stunning coup for Wigan. It is now four wins in five for Roberto Martínez's team and the one that got away was the defeat at Chelsea, when they were wronged by the officials. In this form and with these levels of confidence it is outlandish to imagine them in next season's Championship. Martínez brimmed with pride and satisfaction. Wigan had previously tasted only defeat at Arsenal.
The emotions, though, were rather different inside his opposite number. Arsène Wenger bubbled with anger throughout the game at the time-wasting tactics of the Wigan goalkeeper Ali Al-Habsi, which began when he dragged his heels over a goal-kick in the third minute. When Al-Habsi was finally booked in injury-time, for pushing the gamesmanship too far, Wenger raged at the fourth official, Kevin Friend. The unpalatable truth, though, was that Arsenal could have played for another 45 minutes and not threatened. The second half for them did not feel so much like a bad day at the office as one for the P45s.
There was rancour at full-time, when Wenger stalked off down the tunnel. Gary Caldwell, the Wigan captain, went to shake Robin van Persie's hand only to be rebuffed. There was a brief kerfuffle and players from both sides had to step in. It looked like something and nothing. Arsenal had to be more concerned at their failure to open up an eight-point lead over Tottenham Hotspur in fourth. Their addiction to taking matters to the wire continues. Does anybody want to make sure of third?
The defeat was costly yet the stakes were arguably higher for Wigan: the retention of Premier League status means everything to them, in sporting and financial terms. Martínez's men had arrived in their finest form of the season yet the start that they made was simply staggering. The tiny enclave of travelling supporters were buzzing with delight from Franco Di Santo's opening goal, converted after a well-constructed and incisive counter-attack, when Moses flummoxed Bacary Sagna and crossed low from the left. James McArthur attacked the ball and, when it broke, Jordi Gómez beat Wojciech Szczesny at the second attempt.
Wenger was unhappy that his team had only 10 men on the field at the time, Mikel Arteta having limped off with a worrying-looking ankle injury and, because there was no stoppage in play, the Frenchman was unable to get Aaron Ramsey on.
Martínez's formation, with its unorthodox lack of symmetry, was designed to provide defensive strength and pace on the break, and he could revel in Di Santo's goal, which stemmed from an Arsenal corner. James McCarthy, Moses and Gómez were instrumental in the move and Di Santo fashioned the finish, getting the ball over the advancing Szczesny and running on to volley home.
Arsenal's response to this double hit was initially ferocious. Yossi Benayoun had forced Al-Habsi to tip over a smart header in the fifth minute and he made him save again, acrobatically, with another header. There was an inevitability about Arsenal reducing the deficit and Thomas Vermaelen seemed to dispatch Tomas Rosicky's whipped cross with a snarl. Van Persie stung Al-Habsi's palms from distance; Johan Djourou volleyed inches wide and Rosicky scooped over.
Yet Arsenal were slipshod and nervous in defence and after the interval they ran out of steam and ideas. Al-Habsi was not required to make a save and Martínez said the second half was as well as Wigan had played all season. The reward was wonderfully sweet.
Source: David Hytner, The Guardian on 17 Apr 12
Wenger's reaction to the Arsenal 1-2 Wigan Athletic match
on the performance…
We made it difficult for ourselves because we had quite a good start but we defended horrendously for the first and second goals. Everybody involved was included for the first and the second goals. On top of that we conceded a second goal with 10 men on the pitch.
It took us too much time to change and it was absolutely unbelievable. We conceded the first when Arteta was out and we could not put the player on because he is not ready. That penalised us for the second goal and after that we had a mountain to climb.
I felt in the first half we had enough chances to come back to 2-2, but the second half we dropped our level, lost our team play, our cohesion and tried too much individually. There was not enough petrol left in the tank anymore. We didn't see anyone who could make a difference. They defended well. We had a tremendous amount of possession but didn't create a lot in the second half.
on the Arteta substitution…
It is the fact that when a player is injured, if he stays on the pitch you have time to bring [a replacement] on. It was a misunderstanding because he walked off and Ramsey was not ready. The players think they will not come on in the first half, so they are not ready. Basically we played with 10 men, which should not be the case when a player is injured. Arteta had to come off but if he sits down on the pitch he can come off as well.
on Arteta's injury…
It is an ankle problem. It looks quite a serious one. We have to scan it tomorrow, it is too early to say tonight. But it doesn't look a little ankle sprain. It is a serious one.
on the second-half display…
We have given a lot over the past two or three months and we were not sharp. Is it mental or physical? It is hard to know why. I felt in the first half we had quite a good response to being 2-0 down, but in the second half there was not a lot to come. We finished with Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rosicky, Gervinho and Van Persie offensively and we didn't create a lot.
on the strength of the Premier League...
Everyone is in the same situation. You could see with Tottenham against Norwich, Manchester United at Wigan, us against Wigan. You have to realise that every game is a decisive moment for everybody. You have to be prepared not to be 1-0 down, to be 2-0 down, not like that. When you see the goals we conceded recently, we did not concede these kinds of mistakes.
on the Chelsea game...
It is a massive and vital game for us. We need to recover from the massive disappointment of tonight first, then prepare mentally for the next one.
Source: Arsenal.com on 16 Apr 12
We made it difficult for ourselves because we had quite a good start but we defended horrendously for the first and second goals. Everybody involved was included for the first and the second goals. On top of that we conceded a second goal with 10 men on the pitch.
It took us too much time to change and it was absolutely unbelievable. We conceded the first when Arteta was out and we could not put the player on because he is not ready. That penalised us for the second goal and after that we had a mountain to climb.
I felt in the first half we had enough chances to come back to 2-2, but the second half we dropped our level, lost our team play, our cohesion and tried too much individually. There was not enough petrol left in the tank anymore. We didn't see anyone who could make a difference. They defended well. We had a tremendous amount of possession but didn't create a lot in the second half.
on the Arteta substitution…
It is the fact that when a player is injured, if he stays on the pitch you have time to bring [a replacement] on. It was a misunderstanding because he walked off and Ramsey was not ready. The players think they will not come on in the first half, so they are not ready. Basically we played with 10 men, which should not be the case when a player is injured. Arteta had to come off but if he sits down on the pitch he can come off as well.
on Arteta's injury…
It is an ankle problem. It looks quite a serious one. We have to scan it tomorrow, it is too early to say tonight. But it doesn't look a little ankle sprain. It is a serious one.
on the second-half display…
We have given a lot over the past two or three months and we were not sharp. Is it mental or physical? It is hard to know why. I felt in the first half we had quite a good response to being 2-0 down, but in the second half there was not a lot to come. We finished with Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rosicky, Gervinho and Van Persie offensively and we didn't create a lot.
on the strength of the Premier League...
Everyone is in the same situation. You could see with Tottenham against Norwich, Manchester United at Wigan, us against Wigan. You have to realise that every game is a decisive moment for everybody. You have to be prepared not to be 1-0 down, to be 2-0 down, not like that. When you see the goals we conceded recently, we did not concede these kinds of mistakes.
on the Chelsea game...
It is a massive and vital game for us. We need to recover from the massive disappointment of tonight first, then prepare mentally for the next one.
Source: Arsenal.com on 16 Apr 12
16 April 2012: Arsenal 1-2 Wigan Athletic
Arsenal suffered a blow in their bid to secure third place in the Premier League when they went down 2-1 to Wigan at Emirates Stadium on Monday night.
The damage was done early – Franco Di Santo stabbed home the first on seven minutes and Jordi Gomez snaffled another seconds later.
Thomas Vermaelen headed the home side back into the game midway through the first half but, despite persistence and pressure, Wigan held firm to secure their first ever win at Arsenal.
Victor Moses was excellent up front and Ali Al-Habsi made a major contribution in goal. Wenger's men had all the energy of recent games but not the edge.
However, that combination, so irresistible in that past two months, had created a cushion. Despite this home loss - only their third in the Premier League this season - Arsenal are still five points clear of Tottenham and Newcastle. However, the latter pair now have a game in hand.
This result has opened the door ajar but Wenger’s men still have the capability of slamming it shut.
The manager made one change from the side that had brushed aside Wolves last Wednesday night. Tomas Rosicky came in for Aaron Ramsey in central midfield. With a run of nine wins in their last 10 games, there seemed little need for alteration.
Wigan, however, had form themselves. Since the end of January they had more than doubled their season’s tally and forced their way out of the bottom three.
In their last two games they had unluckily lost at Chelsea while chasing a victory and actually pulled off a big win against Manchester United last time out.
If they won this evening it could not be classed a surprise; Arsenal had been amply forewarned.
Not that it started that way. In fact, the home side began well.
Vermaelen fired wide and Yossi Benayoun saw his header tipped over by Al-Habsi.
Then lightning struck.
Twice.
In the seventh minute, Robin van Persie’s corner was cleared and then Bacary Sagna’s return header was stolen. Wigan fled forward down the left and Gomez fed Di Santo in the middle. Szczesny raced out to the edge of the area but his trailing leg only diverted the ball high into the air. Di Santo retained his poise to convert into the gaping net.
Within a minute it was 2-0. Moses darted in from the left and found James McCarthy at the near post. His shot rebounded for Gomez to convert from close range. It was a scruffy goal but priceless for Wigan.
Just after the second went in, Mikel Arteta went off. The Spaniard had been limping since the early minutes and Ramsey’s introduction was inevitable.
Emirates had been very good for Arsenal this season. Only Manchester United had won a Premier League game there since Wenger properly formed his side at the end of the summer transfer window.
However, at this point, frowns were everywhere.
Al-Habsi turned over an expert header from Benayoun and Van Persie began to threaten.
By the midway point, Arsenal had a grip on the game – and they soon found a goal.
Rosicky weaved himself into space on the right and curled a cross to the near post. Vermaelen thundered in a header – his sixth goal of an impressive season.
Arsenal had now warmed to the task and their pursuit was intense.
Van Persie stung the hands of Al-Habsi, Johan Djourou fired inches wide and an off-balance Rosicky had an effort over the bar.
However, Wigan were still ominous on the counter with Moses starting to shine. Seven minutes from the break he set up to Di Santo, unmarked on the left, to fire dangerously across the area.
Then, with the final act of the half, Emmerson Boyce robbed Ramsey and Gomez fired over.
Arsenal went into the break half-full of hope and half-full of concern.
With the first act of the second period, Santos saw a shot blocked and, after the ball was returned to him, nearly set up Van Persie.
Arsenal had Wigan penned back in the opening eight minutes but, when the visitors broke free, it was nearly decisive.
The impressive Moses muscled off Sagna, no mean feat, before forcing a fine save from Szczesny.
Then just before the hour, the same Wigan striker bundled his way clear only to produce a tame shot the Arsenal keeper.
The game was becoming end to end. Despite their vulnerability, Arsenal were trying to impose themselves, with Santos the most obvious example. He might have turned in Van Persie’s cutback. Before that, Vermaelen nodded a corner over the bar.
After Moses set up Gomez to fire over, Wenger made his final change – Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for Djourou. Gervinho had already replaced Benayoun.
The youngster slotted into midfield and Song retreated to centre-back. Arsenal’s plan and personnel were set for the remainder of the match – now they had to deliver.
The home side were now all hustle. But Wigan were like a wall through the centre of their defence. And when Arsenal did get down the flanks they could not deliver a telling cross.
The home side could not muster much in the final few minutes. Wigan had done their job efficiently and effectively.
It is no wonder they were clapped off by a significant section of the Arsenal supporters.
A disappointing night but nowhere near a decisive one.
Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 16 Apr 12
The damage was done early – Franco Di Santo stabbed home the first on seven minutes and Jordi Gomez snaffled another seconds later.
Thomas Vermaelen headed the home side back into the game midway through the first half but, despite persistence and pressure, Wigan held firm to secure their first ever win at Arsenal.
Victor Moses was excellent up front and Ali Al-Habsi made a major contribution in goal. Wenger's men had all the energy of recent games but not the edge.
However, that combination, so irresistible in that past two months, had created a cushion. Despite this home loss - only their third in the Premier League this season - Arsenal are still five points clear of Tottenham and Newcastle. However, the latter pair now have a game in hand.
This result has opened the door ajar but Wenger’s men still have the capability of slamming it shut.
The manager made one change from the side that had brushed aside Wolves last Wednesday night. Tomas Rosicky came in for Aaron Ramsey in central midfield. With a run of nine wins in their last 10 games, there seemed little need for alteration.
Wigan, however, had form themselves. Since the end of January they had more than doubled their season’s tally and forced their way out of the bottom three.
In their last two games they had unluckily lost at Chelsea while chasing a victory and actually pulled off a big win against Manchester United last time out.
If they won this evening it could not be classed a surprise; Arsenal had been amply forewarned.
Not that it started that way. In fact, the home side began well.
Vermaelen fired wide and Yossi Benayoun saw his header tipped over by Al-Habsi.
Then lightning struck.
Twice.
In the seventh minute, Robin van Persie’s corner was cleared and then Bacary Sagna’s return header was stolen. Wigan fled forward down the left and Gomez fed Di Santo in the middle. Szczesny raced out to the edge of the area but his trailing leg only diverted the ball high into the air. Di Santo retained his poise to convert into the gaping net.
Within a minute it was 2-0. Moses darted in from the left and found James McCarthy at the near post. His shot rebounded for Gomez to convert from close range. It was a scruffy goal but priceless for Wigan.
Just after the second went in, Mikel Arteta went off. The Spaniard had been limping since the early minutes and Ramsey’s introduction was inevitable.
Emirates had been very good for Arsenal this season. Only Manchester United had won a Premier League game there since Wenger properly formed his side at the end of the summer transfer window.
However, at this point, frowns were everywhere.
Al-Habsi turned over an expert header from Benayoun and Van Persie began to threaten.
By the midway point, Arsenal had a grip on the game – and they soon found a goal.
Rosicky weaved himself into space on the right and curled a cross to the near post. Vermaelen thundered in a header – his sixth goal of an impressive season.
Arsenal had now warmed to the task and their pursuit was intense.
Van Persie stung the hands of Al-Habsi, Johan Djourou fired inches wide and an off-balance Rosicky had an effort over the bar.
However, Wigan were still ominous on the counter with Moses starting to shine. Seven minutes from the break he set up to Di Santo, unmarked on the left, to fire dangerously across the area.
Then, with the final act of the half, Emmerson Boyce robbed Ramsey and Gomez fired over.
Arsenal went into the break half-full of hope and half-full of concern.
With the first act of the second period, Santos saw a shot blocked and, after the ball was returned to him, nearly set up Van Persie.
Arsenal had Wigan penned back in the opening eight minutes but, when the visitors broke free, it was nearly decisive.
The impressive Moses muscled off Sagna, no mean feat, before forcing a fine save from Szczesny.
Then just before the hour, the same Wigan striker bundled his way clear only to produce a tame shot the Arsenal keeper.
The game was becoming end to end. Despite their vulnerability, Arsenal were trying to impose themselves, with Santos the most obvious example. He might have turned in Van Persie’s cutback. Before that, Vermaelen nodded a corner over the bar.
After Moses set up Gomez to fire over, Wenger made his final change – Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for Djourou. Gervinho had already replaced Benayoun.
The youngster slotted into midfield and Song retreated to centre-back. Arsenal’s plan and personnel were set for the remainder of the match – now they had to deliver.
The home side were now all hustle. But Wigan were like a wall through the centre of their defence. And when Arsenal did get down the flanks they could not deliver a telling cross.
The home side could not muster much in the final few minutes. Wigan had done their job efficiently and effectively.
It is no wonder they were clapped off by a significant section of the Arsenal supporters.
A disappointing night but nowhere near a decisive one.
Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 16 Apr 12
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Arsenal hit three past sorry 10-man Wolverhampton Wanderers
At a time when the battle for Champions League qualification is becoming increasingly tense, Arsenal could not have wished for a more comfortable night to strengthen their grip on third place in the Premier League. Arsène Wenger's side recorded a ninth league victory in 10 matches to open up a five-point gap over their nearest rivals, Tottenham and Newcastle, and push Wolverhampton Wanderers ever closer to relegation in the process.
Wolves, to their credit, never surrendered, although the odds were stacked against them from the moment that Sébastien Bassong was sent off in the eighth minute for a professional foul on Theo Walcott. Robin van Persie duly scored from the penalty spot with an outrageous chip to register his 27th Premier League goal of the season, and his first in five matches, to put Arsenal on their way to a straightforward win that makes them clear favourites to secure the third automatic Champions League place.
Walcott added a second two minutes later, after smartly combining with Van Persie, and Yossi Benayoun scored the third midway through the second half to underline their superiority. With none of the chasing pack playing in the Premier League over the weekend and Arsenal facing Wigan at home on Monday, Wenger's side have the chance to extend their lead over Spurs and Newcastle to eight points and also open up a 10-point gap on sixth-placed Chelsea.
As well as expressing his satisfaction with his team's position, Wenger singled out Van Persie for special praise after the Dutchman scored another landmark goal. "I think he has equalled the record of Ian Wright [in 1996-97]. He has scored against 17 different teams in the Premier League That's absolutely remarkable in the modern game to do that, so I would like to congratulate him. It's something sensational," the Arsenal manager said.
Fulham and Manchester City are the only two teams that have kept Van Persie quiet this season, which was something Wolves never looked like doing from the moment that Bassong departed.
The defender, on loan from Spurs, was caught the wrong side of Walcott after the winger exchanged passes with Van Persie, and bundled into the back of the Arsenal forward as he bore down on goal. Neil Swarbrick, the referee, had little option but to apply the letter of the law and show the red card as well as point to the spot, even if Wenger sympathised with Wolves.
"I think the rules look a bit harsh, that you get the penalty against you and lose a man as well," he said.
The Wolves manager Terry Connor responded by withdrawing the midfielder David Davis and replacing him with Christophe Berra, an orthodox central defender, which seemed like a perfectly logical decision in the circumstances, yet vitriol rained down from the stands. "You don't know what you're doing," chanted those in the South Bank followed by: "That's why we're going down."
Connor was unsurprisingly unimpressed. "Before we played Blackburn [last month], 99% of the crowd would not have known David Davis — it was me who gave him a chance," he said. "I must admit I didn't really appreciate that reaction from the crowd. After that, they gave tremendous support. I just wished they could have done that for 90 minutes."
Although Walcott's goal, coolly dispatched inside Wayne Hennessey's near post in the 11th minute, after another slick interchange with Van Persie, effectively put the game to bed, Wolves battled on and went close when Wojciech Szczesny made a superb one-handed save to deny Kevin Doyle in the second half.
The Arsenal keeper also parried an effort from Nenad Milijas in the closing stages, although by that point Benayoun had drilled home a third to leave Wolves nine points adrift offrom safety with five matches remaining. "If the lads play with the heart, spirit and determination they did tonight, I can't ask any more," said Connor.
Source: Stuart James, The Guardian on 11 Apr 12
Wolves, to their credit, never surrendered, although the odds were stacked against them from the moment that Sébastien Bassong was sent off in the eighth minute for a professional foul on Theo Walcott. Robin van Persie duly scored from the penalty spot with an outrageous chip to register his 27th Premier League goal of the season, and his first in five matches, to put Arsenal on their way to a straightforward win that makes them clear favourites to secure the third automatic Champions League place.
Walcott added a second two minutes later, after smartly combining with Van Persie, and Yossi Benayoun scored the third midway through the second half to underline their superiority. With none of the chasing pack playing in the Premier League over the weekend and Arsenal facing Wigan at home on Monday, Wenger's side have the chance to extend their lead over Spurs and Newcastle to eight points and also open up a 10-point gap on sixth-placed Chelsea.
As well as expressing his satisfaction with his team's position, Wenger singled out Van Persie for special praise after the Dutchman scored another landmark goal. "I think he has equalled the record of Ian Wright [in 1996-97]. He has scored against 17 different teams in the Premier League That's absolutely remarkable in the modern game to do that, so I would like to congratulate him. It's something sensational," the Arsenal manager said.
Fulham and Manchester City are the only two teams that have kept Van Persie quiet this season, which was something Wolves never looked like doing from the moment that Bassong departed.
The defender, on loan from Spurs, was caught the wrong side of Walcott after the winger exchanged passes with Van Persie, and bundled into the back of the Arsenal forward as he bore down on goal. Neil Swarbrick, the referee, had little option but to apply the letter of the law and show the red card as well as point to the spot, even if Wenger sympathised with Wolves.
"I think the rules look a bit harsh, that you get the penalty against you and lose a man as well," he said.
The Wolves manager Terry Connor responded by withdrawing the midfielder David Davis and replacing him with Christophe Berra, an orthodox central defender, which seemed like a perfectly logical decision in the circumstances, yet vitriol rained down from the stands. "You don't know what you're doing," chanted those in the South Bank followed by: "That's why we're going down."
Connor was unsurprisingly unimpressed. "Before we played Blackburn [last month], 99% of the crowd would not have known David Davis — it was me who gave him a chance," he said. "I must admit I didn't really appreciate that reaction from the crowd. After that, they gave tremendous support. I just wished they could have done that for 90 minutes."
Although Walcott's goal, coolly dispatched inside Wayne Hennessey's near post in the 11th minute, after another slick interchange with Van Persie, effectively put the game to bed, Wolves battled on and went close when Wojciech Szczesny made a superb one-handed save to deny Kevin Doyle in the second half.
The Arsenal keeper also parried an effort from Nenad Milijas in the closing stages, although by that point Benayoun had drilled home a third to leave Wolves nine points adrift offrom safety with five matches remaining. "If the lads play with the heart, spirit and determination they did tonight, I can't ask any more," said Connor.
Source: Stuart James, The Guardian on 11 Apr 12
Wenger's reaction to the Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-3 Arsenal match
on the result…
We started well and then had a situation where we could control the game. Did we push on or not? After that we played a bit with the handbrake on, they played deeper and defended like mad with a great spirit until the end of the game. If they keep that spirit then they still have a chance of staying in the league. On our part we controlled the game, although they actually had a spell in the second half where they created chances. Szczesny made a good save but after that it was a comfortable win.
on top-three situation…
I am very happy that we are in this position but I am also very cautious because some teams have been in that position before. We want to win our next game because where we have come from this season we must be focused. We have come from very deep and to stay in this position we have to focus on our next game.
on the penalty…
It looked to me [like a penalty] but I have not seen it again. You could argue that he is the last man as well. The referee had no choice but I think the punishment is harsh because you give away a penalty and you lose a man as well.
on spoiling the game…
It spoils the game for the supporters because they know they have little chance to come back after. I never forget that we lost Robin van Persie in Barcelona last season when he got a second yellow card for kicking the ball away. It was just strict application of the rules. Today I think the referee had no choice because it is the rule.
on Van Persie's finish…
It was a surprise to me because I have never seen him doing that. It was just what came into his mind at the last second he said.
on ending his four-game goal drought…
It is not easy for a striker like Van Persie who is not used to not scoring. I think he equalled the record of Ian Wright by scoring against 17 different teams in the Premier League out of 20. That is absolutely remarkable in the modern game so I would like to congratulate him because that has never been done before. When your striker scores against 17 different teams, that is sensational.
on possibility to improve on record…
He could have beaten it if he had scored against Manchester City. The last two chances he had were Man City and tonight. He hit the post twice and Vermaelen saved one on the line against City.
on the Wigan game…
Wigan did not deserve to lose at Chelsea and they got a great result tonight. It is a good warning for us to prepare well in that game.
on FA decision not to extend Balotelli ban…
I still don't understand. If you look at the case of Balotelli you get an explanation and you have to accept it. Then you look at the case of Derry, you get an explanation and you can accept it. But if you put the two together it looks absolutely unbelievable. When the referee has seen something nobody can get over the rule.
We need an exceptional committee of ethics who can get over that. The global situation does not make common sense. For people who love football you cannot accept that one is punished and the other is not. But I am not keen to get Balotelli suspended because I have no interest at all in that.
Source: Arsenal.com on 11 Apr 12
We started well and then had a situation where we could control the game. Did we push on or not? After that we played a bit with the handbrake on, they played deeper and defended like mad with a great spirit until the end of the game. If they keep that spirit then they still have a chance of staying in the league. On our part we controlled the game, although they actually had a spell in the second half where they created chances. Szczesny made a good save but after that it was a comfortable win.
on top-three situation…
I am very happy that we are in this position but I am also very cautious because some teams have been in that position before. We want to win our next game because where we have come from this season we must be focused. We have come from very deep and to stay in this position we have to focus on our next game.
on the penalty…
It looked to me [like a penalty] but I have not seen it again. You could argue that he is the last man as well. The referee had no choice but I think the punishment is harsh because you give away a penalty and you lose a man as well.
on spoiling the game…
It spoils the game for the supporters because they know they have little chance to come back after. I never forget that we lost Robin van Persie in Barcelona last season when he got a second yellow card for kicking the ball away. It was just strict application of the rules. Today I think the referee had no choice because it is the rule.
on Van Persie's finish…
It was a surprise to me because I have never seen him doing that. It was just what came into his mind at the last second he said.
on ending his four-game goal drought…
It is not easy for a striker like Van Persie who is not used to not scoring. I think he equalled the record of Ian Wright by scoring against 17 different teams in the Premier League out of 20. That is absolutely remarkable in the modern game so I would like to congratulate him because that has never been done before. When your striker scores against 17 different teams, that is sensational.
on possibility to improve on record…
He could have beaten it if he had scored against Manchester City. The last two chances he had were Man City and tonight. He hit the post twice and Vermaelen saved one on the line against City.
on the Wigan game…
Wigan did not deserve to lose at Chelsea and they got a great result tonight. It is a good warning for us to prepare well in that game.
on FA decision not to extend Balotelli ban…
I still don't understand. If you look at the case of Balotelli you get an explanation and you have to accept it. Then you look at the case of Derry, you get an explanation and you can accept it. But if you put the two together it looks absolutely unbelievable. When the referee has seen something nobody can get over the rule.
We need an exceptional committee of ethics who can get over that. The global situation does not make common sense. For people who love football you cannot accept that one is punished and the other is not. But I am not keen to get Balotelli suspended because I have no interest at all in that.
Source: Arsenal.com on 11 Apr 12
11 April 2012: Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-3 Arsenal, Molineux Stadium
This game was won in the first 11 minutes. First the galloping Theo Walcott was brought down in the area by Sebastien Bassong. Robin van Persie dispatched the penalty (his first Premier League goal in 444 minutes of football) and the Wolves defender was sent off.
Then, a couple of minutes later, Walcott lashed home a second from the edge of the area.
After that, Arsenal had control of the game. Wolves battled on manfully but they are struggling for form and their Premier League status right now.
Aside from Wojciech Szczesny’s admittedly stunning save from Kevin Doyle's header, they created little before Yossi Benayoun killed any chance of a comeback by firing home from the edge of the area in the 69th minute.
The rest of the game was played out with an eerie ease.
Arsenal’s record now goes to nine wins in their last 10 games. They are fast closing in on an automatic spot in next season’s Champions League.
Wenger made three changes from the side that had outplayed Manchester City on Sunday – two were enforced, one was rotation.
At the weekend, Laurent Koscielny had picked up his 10th booking of the season while Kieran Gibbs aggravated his groin. Johan Djourou and Andre Santos deputised.
After eight consecutive starts, Tomas Rosicky dropped to the bench and Aaron Ramsey came in.
Wolves were on a woeful run having taken one point out of a possible 24. Only 18 more were available and Terry Connor’s side were six from safety.
The survival numbers just did not add up and, inside 11 minutes this evening, the arithmetic got much, much worse.
In the ninth minute, Van Persie sent Walcott clear. The England winger muscled his way past Bassong and was bundled over as he shaped to shoot. It was a clear penalty and, by the letter of the law, a sending off.
Van Persie calmly dinked the penalty over Wayne Hennessey in Panenka style. The Dutchman was clearly running with chilled blood in his veins this evening given the goal ended a run of four Premier League games without scoring – a veritable ice age for one of the top flight’s hottest players this season.
Wolves were rattled and had not recovered by the time Walcott doubled the visitors’ advantage two minutes later. Van Persie’s flick sent the 23-year-old through and he rifled home his ninth Premier League goal of the season.
The brace killed the contest for the remainder of the first half. Wolves were bang out of form before this game; down by two goals and one man was never going to be a recoverable position.
Benayoun saw a shot deflected wide and Andre Santos had a go from distance. But Arsenal limited their ambitions to containment.
They had everything they needed; all they had to do was keep it.
Bolstered by a boisterous crowd, Wolves tried to up their game. Christophe Berra’s header deflected narrowly wide from Michael Kightly’s corner while Ronald Zubar’s storming ended with a dangerous ball across the face of goal.
However, Szczesny was not troubled.
There was a little more impetus about Arsenal at the start of the second half. Ramsey saw a shot blocked and then set up Vermaelen for a header at the far post, only for Zubar to intervene.
Then Arteta darted into the area and set up Van Persie at the near post. The Dutchman hooked his effort a yard wide.
Arsenal were on top but Wolves had not given up the ghost. Just before the hour, Jarvis jinked himself some space on the left and crossed to the far post. Doyle evaded his marker and seemed to have guided his header into the far corner – only for Szczesny’s big right hand to bat the ball aside at the last second.
The Pole has had an impressive season but that was one of his best saves.
Seconds later, Doyle whipped in a cross that skimmed the head of the onrushing Jarvis.
Wolves were pressing in search of a lifeline. However, they soon found themselves 3-0 down.
Van Persie stole the ball in midfield and released Song on the left. He cut the ball back for Benayoun just outside the area. The Israeli fired home his first Arsenal goal since that late winner at Aston Villa just before Christmas.
Benayoun nearly snaffled another straight away then, 15 minutes from time, Ramsey’s shot was blocked at the near post.
The third goal had knocked the stuffing out of Wolves but they would rally in dying minutes.
Substitute Steven Fletcher fired wide and Nenad Milijas forced another stunning save from Szczesny.
It preserved Arsenal’s fourth clean sheet in their last five games.
Wenger’s men march on.
Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 11 Apr 12
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Forget title talk, we deserved that
Unsurprisingly, the majority of the media focus after yesterday’s match has been on Manchester City’s fading title challenge, and a certain Italian striker. However this being an Arsenal blog, it’s time to redress the balance and give our team the credit they deserve for a fantastic win.
The victory wasn’t without its difficulties, mainly of our own making with some interesting finishing in front of goal, however no-one could deny that we deserved to win and outplayed and outclassed our opponents. On paper, the match was between two teams with completely different philosophies on running a football club, with one attempting to buy the best players, and the other having a self-sustaining business model. There was also one team chasing the title, and the other 13 points behind them in a scrap for the top four. If you were an outside observer watching the game, you’d never have guessed correctly which club was which.
We looked like the team that were chasing the title because we actually were intent on attacking to try and win the game. It’s been a while since we were involved in the title race right until the end of the season, but we know as Arsenal fans that in these sorts of games, you need to make a statement. City didn’t do that. It was partly because we didn’t allow them to. Arsenal put the QPR defeat behind them and played with the confidence that comes with winning seven games in a row. However, Manchester City again came to the Emirates and were mainly concerned with defending.
It was such a relief to see Mikel Arteta’s stunning long range effort fly past Joe Hart, because the visitors’ negative tactics were punished, and the team that actually looked like they wanted to attack, won. For a team that have spent so much money on attacking talent, and had to realistically win after Manchester United’s victory, it baffled me to see City be so defensive again. They did it last season at the Emirates and got away with a 0-0. I’m glad they didn’t this time.
Wojciech Szczesny was almost redundant for 90 minutes (apart from supposedly drinking a beer thrown on the pitch), whereas at the other end, whilst we didn’t create loads of chances, the ones we did make were fantastic opportunities.
Robin van Persie is in a goal drought by his extremely high standards this season, however he was genuinely unlucky to not find the net against Manchester City. His first half header was comfortably going in, but for Thomas Vermaelen. It’s hard to blame the Belgian as he was just making an eager run towards the back post and was definitely didn’t intend to get in the way of the shot. Van Persie then hit the post with another header in the second half. That was a more difficult chance than some pundits have made it out to be. It was another excellent pass by Song, and van Persie had to watch the ball float over his head, whilst losing the defender, and then have to generate power and accuracy with the header. To hit the post was unlucky.
The skipper then had a goal disallowed for offside. The linesman deserves credit for getting that decision right as it was a very tight call, however it’s frustrating to see Chelsea score two outrageously offside goals in the same weekend. After Robin hit the woodwork twice, we then doubled that tally as a team in one unbelievable scramble. Walcott’s low effort was tipped onto the post, Vermaelen then slipped and Benayoun somehow scuffed it wide via the outside of the post. There was a feeling that it was going to be one of those days where we play really well, but somehow manage to fluff our chances.
I've talked a lot on this blog this season about players taking responsibility, and making things happen themselves instead of looking to others to do it for them. Mikel Arteta typifies that new attitude of the majority of our squad. Even late in the game, he was willing to close City players down high up to the pitch, and doing this enabled him to win the ball for the winning goal. After his tackle on Pizarro opened up the space in front of him, it would have been easy for Arteta to dally on the ball and try and pass the ball out wide, instead his immediate thought was to go for goal. In his last two games at the Emirates, Arteta has produced two of the sweetest strikes imaginable. We've wanted him to shoot from distance more, and now he's proving why. People have been critical of Arteta for not scoring many goals, but he now has six in the Premier League from a deep midfield role. That's also more than David Silva and Samir Nasri have scored each for Manchester City in the league this season, making Arteta's goal return look more impressive.
Our collective midfield unit once again showed that what they might lack sometimes in skill, they're more than willing to make up for it by working hard and chasing the opposition down. The midfield trio of Song, Arteta and Rosicky probably weren't plan A when we sold Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, but are they doing a good job for the team? Undoubtedly. They might just be temporary gap fillers until Ramsey and Wilshere are ready to start regularly either because of form or injury, but at the moment the current trio look to be cementing their place in the side for the long term. In terms of reputation, wages and transfer fees, our midfield should have been over-run, but as they have done repeatedly in the second half of the season, Song, Arteta and Rosicky didn't let that happen.
Aaron Ramsey has been a hot topic of debate for some Arsenal fans, and his introduction ahead of Oxlade-Chamberlain will have frustrated many. His miss at the end was also distinctly dodgy. However I still think people need to be patient with Ramsey. In recent weeks, he been played out of position, but has still been getting himself heavily involved. We'd be more frustrated if he was playing but not seeing the ball and not working hard to get it. His finishing does need a lot of work, but when that improves, I think he can be one of the best attacking midfielders in the league. It might take time, but he can do it.
A word for the defence. Whilst City weren't overly ambitious going forward, we still snuffed out any danger that came close to our area. Koscielny and Vermaelen's partnership continues to improve. The team had clearly worked on tightening things up after the slip at QPR.
It's hard to not mention Mario Balotelli when writing about this game. His three tackles on Bacary Sagna were bad enough, but the one on Song made me apoplectic with rage. We've had some bad luck with injuries in recent seasons, but we got a huge amount of good luck that Alex Song didn't have his leg broken. It was a disgraceful tackle, and we can only hope the FA will revisit the tackle and make sure those sort of challenges are eradicated from the game.
We deserved to win the match, and are in a good position heading into the final stretch of the season in terms of the top four. Third is definitely still within our reach, as is a higher points total than last season. The improvement hasn't been as big as we'd have wanted, but Arsene Wenger has overcome a lot this season to improve this team. Whilst we'd obviously prefer to be in Manchester City's position in the league, as an outsider looking in, our team is much more together and the ethos within the squad is better, and a lot of the credit for that has to go to Wenger and to who he brought into the club.
We have to follow this result up with a good performance at Wolves on Wednesday. Even though they look doomed, we only have to think back to the defeat at Loftus Road to know that away games at relegation battlers aren't easy. While others have been concerning themselves with the title, Arsene Wenger has quietly got Arsenal back up the table. If we continue on this rate of improvement, we might be back in the title spotlight next season.
Source: Sam Limbert, ESPN Soccernet on 10 Apr 12
The victory wasn’t without its difficulties, mainly of our own making with some interesting finishing in front of goal, however no-one could deny that we deserved to win and outplayed and outclassed our opponents. On paper, the match was between two teams with completely different philosophies on running a football club, with one attempting to buy the best players, and the other having a self-sustaining business model. There was also one team chasing the title, and the other 13 points behind them in a scrap for the top four. If you were an outside observer watching the game, you’d never have guessed correctly which club was which.
We looked like the team that were chasing the title because we actually were intent on attacking to try and win the game. It’s been a while since we were involved in the title race right until the end of the season, but we know as Arsenal fans that in these sorts of games, you need to make a statement. City didn’t do that. It was partly because we didn’t allow them to. Arsenal put the QPR defeat behind them and played with the confidence that comes with winning seven games in a row. However, Manchester City again came to the Emirates and were mainly concerned with defending.
It was such a relief to see Mikel Arteta’s stunning long range effort fly past Joe Hart, because the visitors’ negative tactics were punished, and the team that actually looked like they wanted to attack, won. For a team that have spent so much money on attacking talent, and had to realistically win after Manchester United’s victory, it baffled me to see City be so defensive again. They did it last season at the Emirates and got away with a 0-0. I’m glad they didn’t this time.
Wojciech Szczesny was almost redundant for 90 minutes (apart from supposedly drinking a beer thrown on the pitch), whereas at the other end, whilst we didn’t create loads of chances, the ones we did make were fantastic opportunities.
Robin van Persie is in a goal drought by his extremely high standards this season, however he was genuinely unlucky to not find the net against Manchester City. His first half header was comfortably going in, but for Thomas Vermaelen. It’s hard to blame the Belgian as he was just making an eager run towards the back post and was definitely didn’t intend to get in the way of the shot. Van Persie then hit the post with another header in the second half. That was a more difficult chance than some pundits have made it out to be. It was another excellent pass by Song, and van Persie had to watch the ball float over his head, whilst losing the defender, and then have to generate power and accuracy with the header. To hit the post was unlucky.
The skipper then had a goal disallowed for offside. The linesman deserves credit for getting that decision right as it was a very tight call, however it’s frustrating to see Chelsea score two outrageously offside goals in the same weekend. After Robin hit the woodwork twice, we then doubled that tally as a team in one unbelievable scramble. Walcott’s low effort was tipped onto the post, Vermaelen then slipped and Benayoun somehow scuffed it wide via the outside of the post. There was a feeling that it was going to be one of those days where we play really well, but somehow manage to fluff our chances.
I've talked a lot on this blog this season about players taking responsibility, and making things happen themselves instead of looking to others to do it for them. Mikel Arteta typifies that new attitude of the majority of our squad. Even late in the game, he was willing to close City players down high up to the pitch, and doing this enabled him to win the ball for the winning goal. After his tackle on Pizarro opened up the space in front of him, it would have been easy for Arteta to dally on the ball and try and pass the ball out wide, instead his immediate thought was to go for goal. In his last two games at the Emirates, Arteta has produced two of the sweetest strikes imaginable. We've wanted him to shoot from distance more, and now he's proving why. People have been critical of Arteta for not scoring many goals, but he now has six in the Premier League from a deep midfield role. That's also more than David Silva and Samir Nasri have scored each for Manchester City in the league this season, making Arteta's goal return look more impressive.
Our collective midfield unit once again showed that what they might lack sometimes in skill, they're more than willing to make up for it by working hard and chasing the opposition down. The midfield trio of Song, Arteta and Rosicky probably weren't plan A when we sold Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, but are they doing a good job for the team? Undoubtedly. They might just be temporary gap fillers until Ramsey and Wilshere are ready to start regularly either because of form or injury, but at the moment the current trio look to be cementing their place in the side for the long term. In terms of reputation, wages and transfer fees, our midfield should have been over-run, but as they have done repeatedly in the second half of the season, Song, Arteta and Rosicky didn't let that happen.
Aaron Ramsey has been a hot topic of debate for some Arsenal fans, and his introduction ahead of Oxlade-Chamberlain will have frustrated many. His miss at the end was also distinctly dodgy. However I still think people need to be patient with Ramsey. In recent weeks, he been played out of position, but has still been getting himself heavily involved. We'd be more frustrated if he was playing but not seeing the ball and not working hard to get it. His finishing does need a lot of work, but when that improves, I think he can be one of the best attacking midfielders in the league. It might take time, but he can do it.
A word for the defence. Whilst City weren't overly ambitious going forward, we still snuffed out any danger that came close to our area. Koscielny and Vermaelen's partnership continues to improve. The team had clearly worked on tightening things up after the slip at QPR.
It's hard to not mention Mario Balotelli when writing about this game. His three tackles on Bacary Sagna were bad enough, but the one on Song made me apoplectic with rage. We've had some bad luck with injuries in recent seasons, but we got a huge amount of good luck that Alex Song didn't have his leg broken. It was a disgraceful tackle, and we can only hope the FA will revisit the tackle and make sure those sort of challenges are eradicated from the game.
We deserved to win the match, and are in a good position heading into the final stretch of the season in terms of the top four. Third is definitely still within our reach, as is a higher points total than last season. The improvement hasn't been as big as we'd have wanted, but Arsene Wenger has overcome a lot this season to improve this team. Whilst we'd obviously prefer to be in Manchester City's position in the league, as an outsider looking in, our team is much more together and the ethos within the squad is better, and a lot of the credit for that has to go to Wenger and to who he brought into the club.
We have to follow this result up with a good performance at Wolves on Wednesday. Even though they look doomed, we only have to think back to the defeat at Loftus Road to know that away games at relegation battlers aren't easy. While others have been concerning themselves with the title, Arsene Wenger has quietly got Arsenal back up the table. If we continue on this rate of improvement, we might be back in the title spotlight next season.
Source: Sam Limbert, ESPN Soccernet on 10 Apr 12
Arsenal v Manchester City: five talking points from the Emirates
City's title aspirations evaporate, Balotelli may have had his lot, and Arsenal's refocused ambition is settling for third place …
City's title challenge has run aground once and for all
There had been a desperation to Manchester City's pursuit of United at the top even before kick-off, the champions having opened up an eight‑point lead by defeating Queens Park Rangers in the earlier kick-off. Defeat ensured that chasm still gapes with only six games to go. Suddenly it all feels too much. City deserved little from this encounter, limping through a contest they so needed to win. Where was the urgency in the opening period? Or the ambition after the interval? The longer the match drifted on, the more assured Arsenal, not City, appeared. Roberto Mancini looked helpless in his technical area wearing a "me against the world" expression. His team have improved this term, but they are still not to be title winners.
Balotelli may be missing for the league run-in
That may feel like a blessing now. The run-in to this campaign already felt dominated by Mario Balotelli and his propensity to self‑destruct, with the third dismissal of his season for a pair of fouls on Bacary Sagna suitably baffling. That will incur a three-match ban given previous misdemeanours, but there could yet be retrospective action for him planting his studs high into Alex Song's right shin after 20 minutes. That offence appeared to go unnoticed by Martin Atkinson, with David Pizarro and Tomas Rosicky in his line of his sight, meaning an offence that would normally carry a three-match ban could prompt belated sanction. Balotelli's season could potentially be over. Why always him? There's a simple answer to that. This was another one of his liability days.
Silva was missed, but losing Yaya Touré was key on the day
The visitors undoubtedly missed the subtle creativity that is usually provided by David Silva – or at least had been until this campaign caught up with the Spaniard in recent weeks – with their creator-in-chief absent with a knee injury here. Yet, on the afternoon, the sight of Yaya Touré hobbling off after jarring a leg following a challenge from Alex Song felt just as significant. The midfielder is influential at both ends in this City team, a leggy presence in defence and surging forward in attack, and it was no surprise when Pizarro was slow to close down Mikel Arteta as the Spaniard converted the only goal. Touré might not have been so easily bypassed.
Arsenal sense third place is there for the taking
This was a hugely significant victory for Arsenal in their pursuit of third place and Champions League football. Tottenham Hotspur had actually edged back ahead of them in the table some 24 hours earlier, and Chelsea and Newcastle United were breathing down their necks. So to emerge victorious from what appeared their most demanding fixture of the run-in – Chelsea are still to visit – felt psychologically significant. Laurent Koscielny will be absent, suspended for their fixtures against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic, but Arsène Wenger's side can cope, on this evidence. They were the hungrier and, ultimately, more impressive side against City. They can approach their remaining fixtures with relish.
Gunners no longer rely only upon Van Persie
The Dutchman remains this side's source of inspiration, providing bite and fluid motion to their frontline, but Arsenal no longer feel quite so reliant upon Robin van Persie's input to chisel out victories. This was a fourth successive game without a goal from the Dutchman, a drought in such a prolific campaign, even if he did everything but score: he struck a post with a header, saw Thomas Vermaelen inadvertently clear another goal-bound attempt from the line, and had a goal disallowed for offside. The goals will return to swell Van Persie's already healthy tally, but Arsenal know they can thrive against quality opponents again, regardless of whether their top scorer hits the net.
Source: Dominic Fifield, The Guardian on 8 Apr 12
City's title challenge has run aground once and for all
There had been a desperation to Manchester City's pursuit of United at the top even before kick-off, the champions having opened up an eight‑point lead by defeating Queens Park Rangers in the earlier kick-off. Defeat ensured that chasm still gapes with only six games to go. Suddenly it all feels too much. City deserved little from this encounter, limping through a contest they so needed to win. Where was the urgency in the opening period? Or the ambition after the interval? The longer the match drifted on, the more assured Arsenal, not City, appeared. Roberto Mancini looked helpless in his technical area wearing a "me against the world" expression. His team have improved this term, but they are still not to be title winners.
Balotelli may be missing for the league run-in
That may feel like a blessing now. The run-in to this campaign already felt dominated by Mario Balotelli and his propensity to self‑destruct, with the third dismissal of his season for a pair of fouls on Bacary Sagna suitably baffling. That will incur a three-match ban given previous misdemeanours, but there could yet be retrospective action for him planting his studs high into Alex Song's right shin after 20 minutes. That offence appeared to go unnoticed by Martin Atkinson, with David Pizarro and Tomas Rosicky in his line of his sight, meaning an offence that would normally carry a three-match ban could prompt belated sanction. Balotelli's season could potentially be over. Why always him? There's a simple answer to that. This was another one of his liability days.
Silva was missed, but losing Yaya Touré was key on the day
The visitors undoubtedly missed the subtle creativity that is usually provided by David Silva – or at least had been until this campaign caught up with the Spaniard in recent weeks – with their creator-in-chief absent with a knee injury here. Yet, on the afternoon, the sight of Yaya Touré hobbling off after jarring a leg following a challenge from Alex Song felt just as significant. The midfielder is influential at both ends in this City team, a leggy presence in defence and surging forward in attack, and it was no surprise when Pizarro was slow to close down Mikel Arteta as the Spaniard converted the only goal. Touré might not have been so easily bypassed.
Arsenal sense third place is there for the taking
This was a hugely significant victory for Arsenal in their pursuit of third place and Champions League football. Tottenham Hotspur had actually edged back ahead of them in the table some 24 hours earlier, and Chelsea and Newcastle United were breathing down their necks. So to emerge victorious from what appeared their most demanding fixture of the run-in – Chelsea are still to visit – felt psychologically significant. Laurent Koscielny will be absent, suspended for their fixtures against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic, but Arsène Wenger's side can cope, on this evidence. They were the hungrier and, ultimately, more impressive side against City. They can approach their remaining fixtures with relish.
Gunners no longer rely only upon Van Persie
The Dutchman remains this side's source of inspiration, providing bite and fluid motion to their frontline, but Arsenal no longer feel quite so reliant upon Robin van Persie's input to chisel out victories. This was a fourth successive game without a goal from the Dutchman, a drought in such a prolific campaign, even if he did everything but score: he struck a post with a header, saw Thomas Vermaelen inadvertently clear another goal-bound attempt from the line, and had a goal disallowed for offside. The goals will return to swell Van Persie's already healthy tally, but Arsenal know they can thrive against quality opponents again, regardless of whether their top scorer hits the net.
Source: Dominic Fifield, The Guardian on 8 Apr 12
Manchester City's title hopes sunk by Mikel Arteta's late Arsenal goal
For Manchester City, it was the killer blow and Mario Balotelli made sure there was ignominy attached. A five-point lead has turned into an eight-point deficit in little more than a month and the players' body language at the final whistle told its own story.
Some stood with their hands on hips.Others sank to their knees and when they finally summoned up the energy, the walk to the away end was an apologetic one. They knew it was over.
By that point Balotelli was already in the dressing room, sent off on the back of a dangerous, chaotic, birdbrain performance that makes it unlikely we will see him in City's colours again this season. After that, who knows? For the first time Roberto Mancini said he would "probably" try to sell him and, if it was not just heat‑of‑the‑moment stuff and his patience has truly snapped, he cannot be blamed.
Mancini also said José Mourinho might have been right when he described Balotelli as "unmanageable", and yet City's manager later reiterated his affection for a player he strenuously denied he had overindulged. "I love him as a guy," he said.
All that can be said for certain is that, at this stage of the season, Mancini's team had to emerge with three points from this match and exert some pressure on Manchester United at the top of the table. Instead, City have won only one of their last five games, taking five points from 15.
Their form has deteriorated at just the wrong time and Arsenal fully deserved the win that takes them back into third place, two points clear of Tottenham Hotspur.
Arsène Wenger's team dominated for long spells, struck posts through Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott, missed an open goal twice and could reflect on a number of other chances before the decisive moment, on 87 minutes, when Mikel Arteta dispossessed David Pizarro 40 yards from goal, advanced towards the City penalty area and beat Joe Hart with a right-foot drive. Wenger was correct afterwards when he talked of "consistent domination". With better luck, Arsenal would have won far more convincingly.
Their opponents had been restricted to brief spells when they threatened to get on top. Balotelli had one breakaway chance in the first half and turned in another show of petulance, kicking a post in frustration.
The same player had what every amateur golfer knows as an air‑shot with City's best opportunity of the second half and, that apart, the only time Arsenal's goal was seriously threatened came via a 53rd‑minute cross from Samir Nasri. Sergio Agüero and Pablo Zabaleta got in each other's way and as they looked at one another for an explanation, it felt symptomatic of how City have unravelled.
Nothing, however, epitomises their meltdown more than the contribution of the Italian striker with the mohican, the attitude and the message on his vest saying: "You only live once."
We never got to see that slogan beneath Balotelli's shirt. We did, however, witness all the worst traits of a man who has stayed too young too long. His season has become a portfolio of lunacy and this was arguably the lowest point.
The surprise was that his red card, for a second bookable challenge on Bacary Sagna, took until the final minute of normal time to arrive. The more serious offence was on Alex Song to leave the Arsenal midfielder on the floor after 21 minutes and remind us, quite simply, that Balotelli has gone past the point where there is any real charm and strayed into a place where it is difficult to find any legitimate form of defence.
It was his studs versus his opponent's kneecap, the classic over-the-top leg‑breaker. Song was fortunate he was able to get up and if the referee, Martin Atkinson, tells the Football Association that his view was impeded, as television replays appear to demonstrate, Balotelli could be looking at retrospective punishment for the second time this season. "There are six games left and he won't play," Mancini said, resigned to a six‑match ban.
Ultimately, though, there were plenty more reasons for City to be disappointed. Arsenal always played with the greater momentum, applying strong pressure from the start. Van Persie could reflect on one header that connected with the woodwork and another that struck his team-mate, Thomas Vermaelen, on the goalline. Vermaelen and Yossi Benayoun both missed when it had seemed easier to score after Walcott's low shot skimmed against a post.
At the end City's assistant manager, David Platt, urged the losing players to go over to the away fans. The television cameras had already picked out a young boy in tears. Carlos Tevez, however, had already gone down the tunnel, along with a few others. It was a shabby way to end a horrible day, and the ordeal might become even worse given that Sir Alex Ferguson's 13th title can be confirmed at the Etihad Stadium, on 30 April.
Source: Daniel Taylor, The Guardian on 8 Apr 12
Some stood with their hands on hips.Others sank to their knees and when they finally summoned up the energy, the walk to the away end was an apologetic one. They knew it was over.
By that point Balotelli was already in the dressing room, sent off on the back of a dangerous, chaotic, birdbrain performance that makes it unlikely we will see him in City's colours again this season. After that, who knows? For the first time Roberto Mancini said he would "probably" try to sell him and, if it was not just heat‑of‑the‑moment stuff and his patience has truly snapped, he cannot be blamed.
Mancini also said José Mourinho might have been right when he described Balotelli as "unmanageable", and yet City's manager later reiterated his affection for a player he strenuously denied he had overindulged. "I love him as a guy," he said.
All that can be said for certain is that, at this stage of the season, Mancini's team had to emerge with three points from this match and exert some pressure on Manchester United at the top of the table. Instead, City have won only one of their last five games, taking five points from 15.
Their form has deteriorated at just the wrong time and Arsenal fully deserved the win that takes them back into third place, two points clear of Tottenham Hotspur.
Arsène Wenger's team dominated for long spells, struck posts through Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott, missed an open goal twice and could reflect on a number of other chances before the decisive moment, on 87 minutes, when Mikel Arteta dispossessed David Pizarro 40 yards from goal, advanced towards the City penalty area and beat Joe Hart with a right-foot drive. Wenger was correct afterwards when he talked of "consistent domination". With better luck, Arsenal would have won far more convincingly.
Their opponents had been restricted to brief spells when they threatened to get on top. Balotelli had one breakaway chance in the first half and turned in another show of petulance, kicking a post in frustration.
The same player had what every amateur golfer knows as an air‑shot with City's best opportunity of the second half and, that apart, the only time Arsenal's goal was seriously threatened came via a 53rd‑minute cross from Samir Nasri. Sergio Agüero and Pablo Zabaleta got in each other's way and as they looked at one another for an explanation, it felt symptomatic of how City have unravelled.
Nothing, however, epitomises their meltdown more than the contribution of the Italian striker with the mohican, the attitude and the message on his vest saying: "You only live once."
We never got to see that slogan beneath Balotelli's shirt. We did, however, witness all the worst traits of a man who has stayed too young too long. His season has become a portfolio of lunacy and this was arguably the lowest point.
The surprise was that his red card, for a second bookable challenge on Bacary Sagna, took until the final minute of normal time to arrive. The more serious offence was on Alex Song to leave the Arsenal midfielder on the floor after 21 minutes and remind us, quite simply, that Balotelli has gone past the point where there is any real charm and strayed into a place where it is difficult to find any legitimate form of defence.
It was his studs versus his opponent's kneecap, the classic over-the-top leg‑breaker. Song was fortunate he was able to get up and if the referee, Martin Atkinson, tells the Football Association that his view was impeded, as television replays appear to demonstrate, Balotelli could be looking at retrospective punishment for the second time this season. "There are six games left and he won't play," Mancini said, resigned to a six‑match ban.
Ultimately, though, there were plenty more reasons for City to be disappointed. Arsenal always played with the greater momentum, applying strong pressure from the start. Van Persie could reflect on one header that connected with the woodwork and another that struck his team-mate, Thomas Vermaelen, on the goalline. Vermaelen and Yossi Benayoun both missed when it had seemed easier to score after Walcott's low shot skimmed against a post.
At the end City's assistant manager, David Platt, urged the losing players to go over to the away fans. The television cameras had already picked out a young boy in tears. Carlos Tevez, however, had already gone down the tunnel, along with a few others. It was a shabby way to end a horrible day, and the ordeal might become even worse given that Sir Alex Ferguson's 13th title can be confirmed at the Etihad Stadium, on 30 April.
Source: Daniel Taylor, The Guardian on 8 Apr 12
Monday, April 9, 2012
Mario on the brink
Mikel Arteta's late winner may have been the most significant statistic on an afternoon when Manchester United all but sealed their 20th English league title, yet this day will also be remembered as Balotelli's last as a Manchester City player.
Balotelli's liaisons with the same escort girl who hit the headlines for her fling with Wayne Rooney a couple of years ago dominated the tabloid newspaper agenda in England on Easter Sunday morning and instead of responding to that embarrassment in a responsible and professional manner, the fallen idol of the City faithful produced a performance that was as selfish as it was unforgivable.
After City had fallen eight points behind United prior to kick-off, Balotelli needed to produce a display that would prove all the hassle that comes with him is worthwhile. Instead, he chose to indulge us with his most petulant display yet. From first minute to last, the sulking Italian looked primed to receive a red card and the only surprise was that it came seconds before the end of a game that he had contributed little or nothing towards.
Mancini admitted should have been sent off for a horrid tackle on Alex Song in the first half, but the City manager didn't stop there, as he suggested the 22-year-old may be forced out of football altogether unless he completely alters his behaviour on and off the pitch.
"Mario has to realise that he is in trouble if he does not change now because he cannot carry on like this," began Mancini, who offered up an extraordinary post-match press conference.
"I did not understand how bad his tackle on Song was until I saw it on the TV replay. He should have been sent off at that point. Then he finally got sent off in the last minute and what more can I say? He has to understand that he will not be able to play at the top level until he appreciates what is needed.
"I must have 11 players on the field in every game to win big matches and with Mario, this is not certain. I have finished my work with him now. There is nothing more I can do.
"Mario will not play again for us this season and I think City will probably try and sell him in the summer. His behaviour is unacceptable and I hope he can change. Not for my sake, but for his own. This cannot carry on if he wants to play football."
The reaction of City keeper Joe Hart after Balotelli's late red card summed up just what his own team-mates think of their out of control team-mate. Gesturing to the bench and questioning why the striker was still on the field after he tried time and again to get sent off, it was a suggestion that Mancini has to take his share of the blame for allowing his favoured son to remain on the pitch for so long.
Not for the first time, Mario had let down the manager who has shown so much faith in his wayward talents, with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger joining the debate by suggesting Balotelli had 'flirted with a variety of orange card challenges' before he was finally banished from the pitch for a late lunge on Bacary Sagna.
Balotelli's bizarre display epitomised City's demise in so many ways. The brash, arrogant title-winning style of the first half of the season was nowhere to be seen at the Emirates Stadium. Outfought by opponents who wanted the three points more from the off, Arsenal got the victory they deserved at the last thanks to Arteta's thrilling long-range strike.
Mancini was quick to praise Sir Alex Ferguson's champions-elect after his side's defeat, as he suggested a lack of title-winning nous has cost his side in the end.
"I believe United have won 11 games out of 12 and the run they have been on in the last few weeks has been exceptional," said the City boss. "They have more experience than us at this stage of the season and I believe that has been crucial. We will not give up, but the title race is probably over."
The sight of Arsenal fans joyously performing their own version of 'the Poznan' goal celebration City supporters have delighted in of late will be the abiding memory of a day that may well have brought down the curtain on another era at Manchester's 'other' club.
Indeed, had Arsenal taken their chances in this game, the scale of their victory may well have embarrassed a City side that looked laboured from the off, with their inability to create genuine scoring chances confirming the suspicion that their belief has long since evaporated.
Arsenal's unconfined joy was contrasted by the glum faces of City's lavishly wealthy owners perched in the front row of the Emirates Stadium directors' box, as their first great attempt to buy their way to Premier League glory has imploded in alarming fashion.
Most will now expect the world's richest club to rip up their script and start all over again and while manager Mancini has made enough progress over the last two years to get another crack at winning the Premier League, a handful of the team he has struggled to control will be sacrificed as they have failed the ultimate title test.
Balotelli will be the first liability leaving City this summer and a few more of his highly paid team-mates will not be far behind him.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Mikel Arteta
It needed a moment of magic to crack this game open and just when it seemed as if a scoreless stalemate was inevitable, Arteta struck gold. It was his finest moment in an Arsenal shirt.
CITY VERDICT
Jaded, bedraggled and beaten, Roberto Mancini and his squad look like a team that knew their title challenge had ended even before this game kicked off. Many of this team will now wonder whether their names will appear on the unwanted list this summer.
ARSENAL VERDICT
"It was a well deserved three points and this victory shows how much we have progressed this season," said boss Arsene Wenger. "We have produced some outstanding performances at home in recent weeks and to take 24 points from a possible 27 confirms we are performing very consistently. We are enjoying the challenge of trying to finish third and have to push on now."
Source: Kevin Palmer, ESPN Soccernet on 8 Apr 12
Wenger's reaction to the Arsenal 1-0 Manchester City match
on Arteta's winner and the performance...
It was a very well-taken goal. I think it gave us three points that we deserved because we had a consistent domination in the game. I think we had over 60 per cent possession. They had one or two good periods, Man City, but overall after 10 minutes in the second half it was all us.
I always felt the goal would come but it was very tight and in the end you feel it is important not to lose. But we kept going and at home recently we have produced some outstanding performances against any team. I am very happy that we got the win and the team continues to grow in quality.
on a fast start to the game...
We started strongly and stayed strong for nearly 80 minutes. I feel we had a little weaker period at the start of the second half where Man City came out a bit. But overall we had a consistent domination, we won the duels, and overall I believe the result is logical.
on Balotelli's challenge on Song...
If the referee had television [replays] he would have given him a red card. I thought it was a bad tackle, I said to my physio 'what happened to Song?' because he said he was touched at the knee. I thought maybe it was a red card but I didn't know until I saw it.
He [Balotelli] was on the fringe, in many situations, he flirted with orange a few times. In the end he got the second yellow card. I don't know what [I would do with him], I don't know him and it's not my job to do that. I don't want to interfere with Mancini's job. Everybody has his cases in his own camp and I have enough work.
on strengthening their position ahead of Wolves trip...
Exactly. It will be a different game to today. This was a game with a lot of hype and focus, they [Man City] are involved in the championship, we are involved for the Champions League places. You have to deal now with a team that will fight not to go down so it will demand the same commitment. Wolves will fight for their survival and are dangerous as well.
on whether the title race is over...
Not completely. But there are six games to go and Man City are eight points behind so it makes their home game against Manchester United... they cannot afford to drop any points now. Once a team smells the stable they are difficult to catch in the final sprint.
on how different the season could have been...
We have taken 24 points out of 27 and the points we got, many of them were deserved. So we have improved as a team, that is 100 per cent for sure. We started from too deep and we got a blip in January that cost us severely because today we are nine points behind City. You could see that even starting where we started, if we had not lost our games in January we could be there [challenging].
on the prospect of catching Man City...
No, I don't think so, unless they give up, but I don't think they will.
on Samir Nasri's performance...
He had a good first half, then in the second half it was much more difficult for their offensive players because we had so much possession. They had no real opportunities to attack.
Source: Arsenal.com on 8 Apr 12
It was a very well-taken goal. I think it gave us three points that we deserved because we had a consistent domination in the game. I think we had over 60 per cent possession. They had one or two good periods, Man City, but overall after 10 minutes in the second half it was all us.
I always felt the goal would come but it was very tight and in the end you feel it is important not to lose. But we kept going and at home recently we have produced some outstanding performances against any team. I am very happy that we got the win and the team continues to grow in quality.
on a fast start to the game...
We started strongly and stayed strong for nearly 80 minutes. I feel we had a little weaker period at the start of the second half where Man City came out a bit. But overall we had a consistent domination, we won the duels, and overall I believe the result is logical.
on Balotelli's challenge on Song...
If the referee had television [replays] he would have given him a red card. I thought it was a bad tackle, I said to my physio 'what happened to Song?' because he said he was touched at the knee. I thought maybe it was a red card but I didn't know until I saw it.
He [Balotelli] was on the fringe, in many situations, he flirted with orange a few times. In the end he got the second yellow card. I don't know what [I would do with him], I don't know him and it's not my job to do that. I don't want to interfere with Mancini's job. Everybody has his cases in his own camp and I have enough work.
on strengthening their position ahead of Wolves trip...
Exactly. It will be a different game to today. This was a game with a lot of hype and focus, they [Man City] are involved in the championship, we are involved for the Champions League places. You have to deal now with a team that will fight not to go down so it will demand the same commitment. Wolves will fight for their survival and are dangerous as well.
on whether the title race is over...
Not completely. But there are six games to go and Man City are eight points behind so it makes their home game against Manchester United... they cannot afford to drop any points now. Once a team smells the stable they are difficult to catch in the final sprint.
on how different the season could have been...
We have taken 24 points out of 27 and the points we got, many of them were deserved. So we have improved as a team, that is 100 per cent for sure. We started from too deep and we got a blip in January that cost us severely because today we are nine points behind City. You could see that even starting where we started, if we had not lost our games in January we could be there [challenging].
on the prospect of catching Man City...
No, I don't think so, unless they give up, but I don't think they will.
on Samir Nasri's performance...
He had a good first half, then in the second half it was much more difficult for their offensive players because we had so much possession. They had no real opportunities to attack.
Source: Arsenal.com on 8 Apr 12
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