A third cup exit in two weeks leaves Arsène Wenger's side with only the Premier League to play for
"Something has gone in us, not in our attitude, but in our confidence," Arsène Wenger said, thinking back to Tuesday night's Champions League defeat in Barcelona, and groping for explanations after yet another letdown. The question now: how many disappointments can a team take before they lose their faith?
The most optimistic spin on Arsenal crashing out of three competitions in 13 days is that it leaves them free to win the Premier League for the first time since 2004. But to think that way the dedicated Gunner will have to ignore the psychological fallout and disregard the signs that say Arsenal no longer believe they can win big games, however hard they try.
"I believe that subconsciously the disappointment of Tuesday night has played a part in today's game," Wenger said. As ever he faced the music, took the questions. He asks us now to believe these setbacks can be overcome, the damage repaired. In London, Barcelona and now Manchester chunks of Arsenal's season lay strewn around.
Sunday 1 May should tell us. On that day United motor to the Emirates for a game that provides a chance for both sides to land an uppercut. Wenger said: "I believe it will strengthen our resolve at home, and if the Man United game is decisive I believe we can win it with our home games."
These are strong declarations, from a tough manager, but they conflict with our sense of what is happening. With Wayne Rooney's headed goal just after the interval, Arsenal's campaign just seemed to evaporate. All around Old Trafford you could feel a thing of promise turn to savage disillusionment.
The vortex has been particularly merciless. First they lost the Carling Cup final to Birmingham City after a late defensive howler (praise is due to Birmingham, too), then came Barcelona in the Champions League and the night of a thousand agonies.
Against that background a trip to Manchester United for a FA Cup sixth-round tie might have felt like falling into the arms of an old enemy who you respect and loathe in equal measure: a cosy domestic arrangement, especially as United were bound to field a weakened side, with Tuesday's Champions League second leg against Marseille so close. It must have felt like a bit of a refuge, where the dream of a Premier League-FA Cup Double could be revived, and the unpleasant memories of Wembley and the Camp Nou fed through the mental shredder.
Battered by recent disappointments, the two imperial powers were in regrouping mode. United were ahead after 28 minutes through Fábio da Silva and extended that lead with Rooney's close-range header. "Efficient", Wenger called them. Edwin van der Sar, in the United goal, was much better than that. He was majestic.
Telepathy has always been a feature of the best football teams, but just to be sure Manchester United used twins to achieve their breakthrough. Rafael and Fábio, mirror images on either wing, worked with one mind to concoct the opening goal in a game in which 11 of the 20 outfield starters were defenders.
If full-backs can attack like this, who needs wingers? In a United side of seven defenders Rafael da Silva filled the David Beckham/Cristiano Ronaldo berth on the right and Fábio took the role so often filled by Ryan Giggs. On the teamsheet it looked a patching-up exercise. But then Fábio worked an opening on the right, Rooney crossed beautifully, Javier Hernández headed hard and low and Manuel Almunia palmed his save into Fábio's path.
With his work complete Fábio gave way at half-time to the returning Antonio Valencia, the kind of tough, thrusting player United will need to arrest a run of three defeats in five league games. Giggs, too, was summoned to relieve a Da Silva twin, this time Rafael. A familiar scenario kicked in: Arsenal working the ball and pressing outside United's box, the home team waiting for the breakout. "Sterile domination?" There were certainly a lot of Arsenal passes. And they all came to nought.
Desperate, Wenger sent on Tomas Rosicky and Aaron Ramsey for Abou Diaby and Andrey Arshavin. Marouane Chamakh had already replaced Denílson. With so much attacking talent in yellow the mind span back to Holland finishing a qualifier against the Republic of Ireland with four centre-forwards and still coming up empty.
The final anguish for Arsenal was to see one of their most improved defenders, Johan Djourou, removed by stretcher. His season is over. No inquest on Arsenal's season can begin until the Premier League trophy is handed over. To win the championship would heal the pain of the last fortnight instantly. As a snap judgment we can say they lack only a few buyable ingredients for success at home and abroad, though one is mental rigour. They are where they have been since 2005: close.
These two teams will stay locked together in the title race. Neither looks equipped to burn the other off. United advance on three fronts, Arsenal are confined to one. All thought now can be telescoped into one ambition: the championship. Time to stop reaching. Time to grasp.
Source: Paul Hayward, The Guardian on 12 Mar 11
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Fábio da Silva and Wayne Rooney inflict more misery on Arsenal
In all of Sir Alex Ferguson's battles with Arsenal and Wenger down the years, this victory was one that felt like a straight knockout, even if the visitors could justly claim that only Edwin van der Sar kept them out. "We could have won it by a few more, but they had chances too," Ferguson said.
"There was not that much in it, but after the major changes that were forced on us we can be well pleased with the result. I had to come up with a plan to utilise what energy was available, so I picked the players I knew would be keen and enthusiastic."
Arsenal turned up with quite a decent team despite their injuries, while United's line-up had everyone scratching their heads wondering where all the full backs would fit in. Considering Arsenal famously failed to manage a shot on target in their last match, it was odd to see Ferguson name no fewer than seven defenders in his outfield line up.
United started the game with only Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernández and Darron Gibson as recognised attacking players. Rooney was deployed in midfield with Hernández on his own up front.
While Ferguson had intimated in his programme notes that something needed to change – "We will need to snap out of our present form if the league match at the Emirates in May is to matter" – this seemed a bit drastic, as if the real United were being saved for Marseille on Tuesday. Didier Deschamps, watching from the stand, will not have learned much about United's likely Champions League formation, but will have formed a similar impression to his Arsenal counterpart about their fighting spirit.
"We were not outplayed, but United are always strong on the counterattack and clinical in front of goal," Wenger said. "It was a strange game, we put in a lot of effort and got nothing. Now we need to respond quickly and win our next games."
Arsenal will have to do that without Johan Djourou, who is out for the rest of the season with a dislocated shoulder. At least Arsenal registered their first shot on goal here after just three minutes, though Van der Sar was barely troubled by Andrey Arshavin's tame effort.
United showed their potency 10 minutes later when the Da Silva brothers combined to create a real chance, but after good work by Gibson, Rafael's header from Fábio's excellent cross went wastefully over the bar.
Arsenal should have taken notice, for the two Da Silvas combined again in the build-up to United's opening goal. In fact, the twins made a pretty good case for being selected in midfield more often. Fábio began the move on the right, found his brother, then from Rooney's well-flighted cross Hernández tested Manuel Almunia with a firm, deliberately placed header. The goalkeeper kept it out but could neither hold the ball nor steer it to safety, leaving Fábio with a tap-in for his second goal for the club.
As if to emphasise their strength in depth, United brought on Antonio Valencia after a six-month absence in place of their goalscorer for the second half and quickly increased their lead.
It was another calamity of sorts in the Arsenal defence, Djourou doing well to block a Hernández shot from Rafael's cross but then watching helplessly as the ball spun up for Rooney to head into the corner of an unguarded net.
Neither of the goals Arsenal conceded were howlers of Carling Cup final proportions, yet on both occasions United prospered simply by having men in forward positions to tuck away loose balls in the six-yard area. When Samir Nasri hammered in a stinging shot a couple of minutes after the goal Van der Sar had to show sharp reactions but still caught it cleanly.
Marouane Chamakh also tested the goalkeeper with a forceful shot shortly after coming on. He too found the ball stuck. But the substitute had a better chance from Bacary Sagna's cross before the end. This time Van der Sar could only manage a fingertip save and the ball came back, but Wes Brown tidied up, as did Nemanja Vidic when Van der Sar parried another Chamakh shot.
Arsenal's luck was summed up when Almunia produced a scrambling save to prevent Hernández adding a third goal when Ryan Giggs and Rooney launched a breakaway, only for the influential Djourou to injure himself trying to get back, leaving Arsenal to see out the game with 10 men.
Their hopes for the rest of the season cannot now be high, whereas United have a new spring in their step. Even their manager has rediscovered his combative instinct, though not as much as the fractious Paul Scholes, who was lucky to stay on at the end and will miss United's next two league games after being booked for a foul on Chamakh.
Once Marseille are out of the way, Ferguson can't wait to take on the FA. "I don't think sticking up for my team makes me a villain, especially when you consider that Manchester United have one of the best disciplinary records in the country," Ferguson said. "I will defend myself strongly when my hearing comes up, in fact I am looking forward to the challenge.
"To my mind I have not said anything out of place, I thought my players performed well at Chelsea and were undone by decisions that went against them. I said as much and now I am facing a charge for telling the truth. I was disappointed with Graham Taylor, who wrote that I had to take the rough with the smooth. I remember him when he was England manager complaining to a linesman that the referee had got him the sack."
Source: Paul Wilson, The Guardian on 12 Mar 11
Wenger's reaction to the Manchester United 2-0 Arsenal match
On his assessment of the game…
We had good control of the game. Manchester United had very few chances, they scored with almost their first attempt on goal. After that, we put them in a position they like to be [in] - on the counter attack. They are strong and they are clinical in front of goal. In the second half we had a good opportunity to come back to 1-1 and two minutes later it was 2-0. As long as you cannot come back to 2-1, they are comfortable. In the end, I cannot fault our effort. Things do not go our way at the moment. We have to keep going, support each other and come back strong. It was a strange game, we put a lot of effort in. At the moment, every goalkeeper against us is Man of the Match. I still believe, subconsciously, the disappointment of Tuesday night has played a part today. You could see something has gone, not in our effort or our attitude, but confidence wise.
On his belief that Arsenal can win the Premier League…
I believe that we can do it. It is a good test for us now, to show that we can regroup, show our mental strength and respond quickly. We have a week without a midweek game, that is the first time for a long time. Unfortunately, we lost Johan Djourou for the rest of the season. It will be difficult. We have a good opportunity to show that we are solid.
On whether the season is slipping away…
No. I am very disappointed. We lost three challenges in a strange way. We were not outplayed today but we were punished by a team who were more clinical than us.
On Johan Djourou’s injury…
[He has a] dislocated shoulder. His season is over.
On Paul Scholes’ tackles today…
The pitch was good, the referee was good and the tackles of Paul Scholes were bad.
On his team’s mental strength…
You will find out. We will have to [answer] this type of question in the next few weeks. We have to show that we have an answer to that. We are used to being questioned by our environment, we have to show we are strong enough to deal with that.
On the Premier League title race…
It will strengthen our resolve at home. The Manchester United game [in the Premier League] is only important if we win our games before that. I am convinced that if that game is decisive, we have a good chance to do it at home. Before that, it’s important we respond very quickly. We go to West Brom on Saturday, we will see the first signs of how we recover.
On how the Barcelona defeat affected him…
I was very disappointed but I was not affected. I thought we would qualify today. They are always very efficient and if you do not take your chances you don’t win the games against them.
Source: Arsenal.com on 12 Mar 11
We had good control of the game. Manchester United had very few chances, they scored with almost their first attempt on goal. After that, we put them in a position they like to be [in] - on the counter attack. They are strong and they are clinical in front of goal. In the second half we had a good opportunity to come back to 1-1 and two minutes later it was 2-0. As long as you cannot come back to 2-1, they are comfortable. In the end, I cannot fault our effort. Things do not go our way at the moment. We have to keep going, support each other and come back strong. It was a strange game, we put a lot of effort in. At the moment, every goalkeeper against us is Man of the Match. I still believe, subconsciously, the disappointment of Tuesday night has played a part today. You could see something has gone, not in our effort or our attitude, but confidence wise.
On his belief that Arsenal can win the Premier League…
I believe that we can do it. It is a good test for us now, to show that we can regroup, show our mental strength and respond quickly. We have a week without a midweek game, that is the first time for a long time. Unfortunately, we lost Johan Djourou for the rest of the season. It will be difficult. We have a good opportunity to show that we are solid.
On whether the season is slipping away…
No. I am very disappointed. We lost three challenges in a strange way. We were not outplayed today but we were punished by a team who were more clinical than us.
On Johan Djourou’s injury…
[He has a] dislocated shoulder. His season is over.
On Paul Scholes’ tackles today…
The pitch was good, the referee was good and the tackles of Paul Scholes were bad.
On his team’s mental strength…
You will find out. We will have to [answer] this type of question in the next few weeks. We have to show that we have an answer to that. We are used to being questioned by our environment, we have to show we are strong enough to deal with that.
On the Premier League title race…
It will strengthen our resolve at home. The Manchester United game [in the Premier League] is only important if we win our games before that. I am convinced that if that game is decisive, we have a good chance to do it at home. Before that, it’s important we respond very quickly. We go to West Brom on Saturday, we will see the first signs of how we recover.
On how the Barcelona defeat affected him…
I was very disappointed but I was not affected. I thought we would qualify today. They are always very efficient and if you do not take your chances you don’t win the games against them.
Source: Arsenal.com on 12 Mar 11
12 March 2011: Manchester United 2-0 Arsenal, Old Trafford
Arsenal bowed out of the FA Cup after a 2-0 defeat at Manchester United on Saturday evening.
Arsène Wenger’s side had been criticised for a backfoot display in their Champions League exit at Barcelona in midweek. But this Sixth Round tie was very different.
Arsenal had the majority of possession and nearly twice the number of shots on target as their opponents but were found wanting in the key moments.
They came just before the half-hour when Fabio thumped home after Manuel Almunia palmed a header from Javier Hernandez into his path. Then, four minutes after the restart, Wayne Rooney guided home a header from close range.
The second goal came straight after a wonderful save by Edwin van der Sar from Laurent Koscielny. The two events were a microcosm of this encounter.
The Dutch keeper frustrated Arsenal with a number of saves in the second half and rightly had the home supporters singing his name late on.
The only brightside for Arsenal was the return of Aaron Ramsey into the first-team after his broken leg. However the visitors ended with 10 men on the pitch as, after all their substitutions were made, Johan Djourou was stretchered off with a dislocated shoulder. His season is over.
So a hard week ended in teak-tough fashion for Arsenal. Again they might feel ‘overpunished’ for their sins.
The past few days have cost them two competitions. But, despite it all, the Premier League title is still very much in their hands.
Roll on next week.
Wenger had promised to play the best side available. This was it, albeit there were changes after the travails at Barcelona on Tuesday.
Wojciech Szcesney (finger) and Cesc Fabregas (hamstring) were enforced omissions. Almunia and Denilson replaced them. Gael Clichy and Tomas Rosicky were left on the bench so Kieran Gibbs and Andrey Arshavin came in.
Manchester United have their own Champions League tie next week and that clearly coloured the team selection of Sir Alex Ferguson. He put Hernandez and Rooney up front but his midfield was packed with players normally seen in defence.
In December, Manchester United had won 1-0 in the Premier League on the retreat. The plan was more of the same this afternoon.
Certainly, the visitors would dominate possession in the first half but, tellingly, the two key chances would go to Manchester United.
The game took time to settle. Arsenal were the more comfortable early on. They sprayed the ball around nicely and threw in a number of crosses but had only Arshavin’s drive wide to show for it.
As Manchester United gradually found their feet, they began making chances. The best came after 15 minutes.
Fabio crossed from the left and an unmarked Rafael powered his header over the bar from six-yards. A huge left-off for Arsenal.
Wenger’s men responded with poise and patient build-up but they could not force their way through Manchester United’s ‘two banks of four’.
And conceding a goal in the 28th minute only made the situation worse.
Rooney clipped the ball to the far post where Hernandez has ghosted away from Djourou. The Mexican’s header was downward, powerful and to the left of Almunia. The keeper got a strong hand to the ball but only palmed it into the path of Fabio, who slammed the ball into the roof of the net.
The goal sparked more incisiveness from Arsenal. Four minutes later, Nasri fed Robin van Persie in the right-hand channel. The Dutchman turned Vidic and fired right-footed towards the far post. Van der Sar fingertipped the ball wide. From the corner, Van Persie powered a header just wide.
In injury time, the striker fed Nasri on the left. The Frenchman darted inside his marker and fired low towards the near post. Van der Sar again bent low to save.
At the break, Arsenal were in an unenviable position – chasing the game at Old Trafford against a Manchester United set up to stop them.
The first four minutes after the restart would decide the tie. Koscielny, up from defence, exchanged passes with Arshavin on the edge of the area. The Frenchman cross was deflected towards Van der Sar’s leg but the keeper kicked it away.
The ball returned to the feet of Koscielny but this time the Dutch keeper made a wonderful gymnastic save.
It was Arsenal’s best chance of the game but it was one for which they would be punished.
Rafael ghosted past Gibbs on the right of the area and Djourou hurriedly stopped Hernandez turning the ball home. However, his clearance looped up invitingly for Rooney to steer a header into the far corner of the net.
Arsenal were already chasing the game. Now it was a hot pursuit. In the 56th minute, Nasri bounced a powerful shot towards goal. Typical of their fortune this afternoon, it flew straight at Van der Sar.
The visitors were now pushing forward but, of course, that gave Manchester United space to break. And Ferguson could now bring on experience. Antonio Valencia arrived at the break, Ryan Giggs followed him on the hour.
Almost immediately, the Welshman could have sealed the tie. But he dallied too long with the goal gaping six yards out and Jack Wilshere, who was excellent throughout, stole the ball from his foot.
Arsenal’s substitute, Marouane Chamakh, tested Van der Sar from range but Rooney replied by firing into the sidenetting.
With 19 minutes left, Wenger gambled. Abou Diaby and Arshavin came off. Rosicky and, for the first time since February 2010, Ramsey were introduced.
Chamakh should have brought Arsenal back into the tie in the 76th minute when Sagna’s hanging cross found him at the far post. But Van der Sar clawed away his header.
The keeper was having an inspired game and seconds later he batted away Rosicky’s thunderous drive.
However, 10 minutes from time, it would be Almunia’s turn. The Spaniard clawed away Hernandez wonderfully but, goalmouth melee, Djourou had been bundled over by the backtracking Sagna.
The Swiss defender went down and did not get up. He was stretchered off holding his shoulder.
That ended Arsenal’s efforts. It had been hard enough with 11 men let alone 10.
Almunia saved late on from Hernandez and the home fans went home happy.
The visiting supporters must have been downhearted but they did not show it.
Their support was magnificent this evening. The team will need them if they are to recover from this defeat.
But both of them know a major trophy is still possible for Arsenal this season.
Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 12 Mar 11
Arsène Wenger’s side had been criticised for a backfoot display in their Champions League exit at Barcelona in midweek. But this Sixth Round tie was very different.
Arsenal had the majority of possession and nearly twice the number of shots on target as their opponents but were found wanting in the key moments.
They came just before the half-hour when Fabio thumped home after Manuel Almunia palmed a header from Javier Hernandez into his path. Then, four minutes after the restart, Wayne Rooney guided home a header from close range.
The second goal came straight after a wonderful save by Edwin van der Sar from Laurent Koscielny. The two events were a microcosm of this encounter.
The Dutch keeper frustrated Arsenal with a number of saves in the second half and rightly had the home supporters singing his name late on.
The only brightside for Arsenal was the return of Aaron Ramsey into the first-team after his broken leg. However the visitors ended with 10 men on the pitch as, after all their substitutions were made, Johan Djourou was stretchered off with a dislocated shoulder. His season is over.
So a hard week ended in teak-tough fashion for Arsenal. Again they might feel ‘overpunished’ for their sins.
The past few days have cost them two competitions. But, despite it all, the Premier League title is still very much in their hands.
Roll on next week.
Wenger had promised to play the best side available. This was it, albeit there were changes after the travails at Barcelona on Tuesday.
Wojciech Szcesney (finger) and Cesc Fabregas (hamstring) were enforced omissions. Almunia and Denilson replaced them. Gael Clichy and Tomas Rosicky were left on the bench so Kieran Gibbs and Andrey Arshavin came in.
Manchester United have their own Champions League tie next week and that clearly coloured the team selection of Sir Alex Ferguson. He put Hernandez and Rooney up front but his midfield was packed with players normally seen in defence.
In December, Manchester United had won 1-0 in the Premier League on the retreat. The plan was more of the same this afternoon.
Certainly, the visitors would dominate possession in the first half but, tellingly, the two key chances would go to Manchester United.
The game took time to settle. Arsenal were the more comfortable early on. They sprayed the ball around nicely and threw in a number of crosses but had only Arshavin’s drive wide to show for it.
As Manchester United gradually found their feet, they began making chances. The best came after 15 minutes.
Fabio crossed from the left and an unmarked Rafael powered his header over the bar from six-yards. A huge left-off for Arsenal.
Wenger’s men responded with poise and patient build-up but they could not force their way through Manchester United’s ‘two banks of four’.
And conceding a goal in the 28th minute only made the situation worse.
Rooney clipped the ball to the far post where Hernandez has ghosted away from Djourou. The Mexican’s header was downward, powerful and to the left of Almunia. The keeper got a strong hand to the ball but only palmed it into the path of Fabio, who slammed the ball into the roof of the net.
The goal sparked more incisiveness from Arsenal. Four minutes later, Nasri fed Robin van Persie in the right-hand channel. The Dutchman turned Vidic and fired right-footed towards the far post. Van der Sar fingertipped the ball wide. From the corner, Van Persie powered a header just wide.
In injury time, the striker fed Nasri on the left. The Frenchman darted inside his marker and fired low towards the near post. Van der Sar again bent low to save.
At the break, Arsenal were in an unenviable position – chasing the game at Old Trafford against a Manchester United set up to stop them.
The first four minutes after the restart would decide the tie. Koscielny, up from defence, exchanged passes with Arshavin on the edge of the area. The Frenchman cross was deflected towards Van der Sar’s leg but the keeper kicked it away.
The ball returned to the feet of Koscielny but this time the Dutch keeper made a wonderful gymnastic save.
It was Arsenal’s best chance of the game but it was one for which they would be punished.
Rafael ghosted past Gibbs on the right of the area and Djourou hurriedly stopped Hernandez turning the ball home. However, his clearance looped up invitingly for Rooney to steer a header into the far corner of the net.
Arsenal were already chasing the game. Now it was a hot pursuit. In the 56th minute, Nasri bounced a powerful shot towards goal. Typical of their fortune this afternoon, it flew straight at Van der Sar.
The visitors were now pushing forward but, of course, that gave Manchester United space to break. And Ferguson could now bring on experience. Antonio Valencia arrived at the break, Ryan Giggs followed him on the hour.
Almost immediately, the Welshman could have sealed the tie. But he dallied too long with the goal gaping six yards out and Jack Wilshere, who was excellent throughout, stole the ball from his foot.
Arsenal’s substitute, Marouane Chamakh, tested Van der Sar from range but Rooney replied by firing into the sidenetting.
With 19 minutes left, Wenger gambled. Abou Diaby and Arshavin came off. Rosicky and, for the first time since February 2010, Ramsey were introduced.
Chamakh should have brought Arsenal back into the tie in the 76th minute when Sagna’s hanging cross found him at the far post. But Van der Sar clawed away his header.
The keeper was having an inspired game and seconds later he batted away Rosicky’s thunderous drive.
However, 10 minutes from time, it would be Almunia’s turn. The Spaniard clawed away Hernandez wonderfully but, goalmouth melee, Djourou had been bundled over by the backtracking Sagna.
The Swiss defender went down and did not get up. He was stretchered off holding his shoulder.
That ended Arsenal’s efforts. It had been hard enough with 11 men let alone 10.
Almunia saved late on from Hernandez and the home fans went home happy.
The visiting supporters must have been downhearted but they did not show it.
Their support was magnificent this evening. The team will need them if they are to recover from this defeat.
But both of them know a major trophy is still possible for Arsenal this season.
Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 12 Mar 11
Arsène Wenger must refocus to save another Arsenal season from failure
Champions League exit to Barcelona has upped the ante for Gunners' manager ahead of FA Cup test at Old Trafford
Miracles are rare at the best of times yet one has just passed by unnoticed. This concerns the eyesight of the Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, who until recently suffered from an intermittent myopia that was apt to deprive him of the ability to bear witness to controversial incidents involving his players.
Now it seems Wenger's vision has been fully restored to the extent that he can confidently hold forth on any manner of perceived injustice that has been inflicted on his team. After Arsenal had been held at home by Sunderland in a goalless game last Saturday he said he was disgusted by a couple of decisions that gone against them and in the wake of Tuesday's 3-1 defeat in Barcelona, which ended his side's interest in the Champions League for another season, he rounded on the Swiss referee Massimo Busacca, for sending off Robin van Persie with the result that he has been charged by Uefa with improper conduct, which Wenger denies. Even so perhaps he should have followed the example of Sir Alex Ferguson and taken a vow of silence.
By now Wenger will have refocused his attention on a season that in the space of a week and a half has begun to dissolve before Arsenal's eyes. They went into the Carling Cup final against Birmingham City seeking four trophies but if Manchester United knock them out of the FA Cup at Old Trafford today they will be left to chase Ferguson's team down the back straight in the hope of pipping them for the Premier League title, which would be heavily dependent on United blowing it.
To make matters worse for Arsenal and their followers neighbouring Tottenham, making their first appearance in Europe's most prestigious tournament for nearly 50 years, have performed as if they never left it, that the momentous meetings with Bela Guttmann's Benfica in the 1962 European Cup semi-finals happened only last season. To beat Internazionale, the European champions, and now eliminate Milan, striding away at the top of the Italian league, is a considerable achievement, whatever comes next. All right, Serie A opposition is not always as daunting as it once was but when Harry Redknapp took over at White Hart Lane in October 2008 Tottenham were bottom of the table and gloomily pondering the prospect of regular encounters with Doncaster Rovers.
Spurs could still be undone by Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andrés Iniesta. Nobody wants to meet Barça in their present mood although, as Arsenal demonstrated at the Emirates, Pep Guardiola's team can still be beaten by a combination of pace, inspiration, organisation and concentration, all of which deserted Wenger's players in the Camp Nou.
Seldom can an FA Cup tie between Manchester United and Arsenal have been approached amid such an atmosphere of anticlimax. Previous encounters involving these clubs have at times been accompanied by rows and ructions, brawls and bust-ups. Nobody wants a repetition, but with United in a similar trough of form and confidence, the occasion could struggle to arouse the usual passions.
For Arsenal another defeat would raise serious questions about where Wenger's latest creation is heading. This side is capable of emulating past triumphs, the first game against Barcelona showed that, but inconsistencies are creeping in. Big teams regularly match up to big moments and at the Camp Nou Arsenal's moment arrived when Jack Wilshere set up Nicklas Bendtner for a goal that could have won them the tie. Bendtner is not a bad striker but too often he has the first touch of a man playing in wellingtons. And so the moment was lost.
How many of Wenger's present team would have held places in some of his previous sides? Take the Arsenal who won the Premier League in 2003-04 without losing a game. Jens Lehmann was no David Seaman but would not seriously be challenged by the present stock of goalkeepers. Sol Campbell, Ashley Cole and the rest of the defence would be safe. Cesc Fábregas would get into the midfield alongside Patrick Vieira and room could be found for Samir Nasri. But Van Persie would need Thierry Henry or Dennis Bergkamp to be injured while Wilshere and Theo Walcott might have to wait a bit longer for their chance.
If the patriot felt sorry when Arsenal went out of the Champions League on Tuesday night, by Wednesday morning the football lover was equally glad to find Barcelona still there. In that sense Bendtner and his wellies did the competition a big favour.
Source: David Lacey, The Guardian on 12 Mar 11
Miracles are rare at the best of times yet one has just passed by unnoticed. This concerns the eyesight of the Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, who until recently suffered from an intermittent myopia that was apt to deprive him of the ability to bear witness to controversial incidents involving his players.
Now it seems Wenger's vision has been fully restored to the extent that he can confidently hold forth on any manner of perceived injustice that has been inflicted on his team. After Arsenal had been held at home by Sunderland in a goalless game last Saturday he said he was disgusted by a couple of decisions that gone against them and in the wake of Tuesday's 3-1 defeat in Barcelona, which ended his side's interest in the Champions League for another season, he rounded on the Swiss referee Massimo Busacca, for sending off Robin van Persie with the result that he has been charged by Uefa with improper conduct, which Wenger denies. Even so perhaps he should have followed the example of Sir Alex Ferguson and taken a vow of silence.
By now Wenger will have refocused his attention on a season that in the space of a week and a half has begun to dissolve before Arsenal's eyes. They went into the Carling Cup final against Birmingham City seeking four trophies but if Manchester United knock them out of the FA Cup at Old Trafford today they will be left to chase Ferguson's team down the back straight in the hope of pipping them for the Premier League title, which would be heavily dependent on United blowing it.
To make matters worse for Arsenal and their followers neighbouring Tottenham, making their first appearance in Europe's most prestigious tournament for nearly 50 years, have performed as if they never left it, that the momentous meetings with Bela Guttmann's Benfica in the 1962 European Cup semi-finals happened only last season. To beat Internazionale, the European champions, and now eliminate Milan, striding away at the top of the Italian league, is a considerable achievement, whatever comes next. All right, Serie A opposition is not always as daunting as it once was but when Harry Redknapp took over at White Hart Lane in October 2008 Tottenham were bottom of the table and gloomily pondering the prospect of regular encounters with Doncaster Rovers.
Spurs could still be undone by Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andrés Iniesta. Nobody wants to meet Barça in their present mood although, as Arsenal demonstrated at the Emirates, Pep Guardiola's team can still be beaten by a combination of pace, inspiration, organisation and concentration, all of which deserted Wenger's players in the Camp Nou.
Seldom can an FA Cup tie between Manchester United and Arsenal have been approached amid such an atmosphere of anticlimax. Previous encounters involving these clubs have at times been accompanied by rows and ructions, brawls and bust-ups. Nobody wants a repetition, but with United in a similar trough of form and confidence, the occasion could struggle to arouse the usual passions.
For Arsenal another defeat would raise serious questions about where Wenger's latest creation is heading. This side is capable of emulating past triumphs, the first game against Barcelona showed that, but inconsistencies are creeping in. Big teams regularly match up to big moments and at the Camp Nou Arsenal's moment arrived when Jack Wilshere set up Nicklas Bendtner for a goal that could have won them the tie. Bendtner is not a bad striker but too often he has the first touch of a man playing in wellingtons. And so the moment was lost.
How many of Wenger's present team would have held places in some of his previous sides? Take the Arsenal who won the Premier League in 2003-04 without losing a game. Jens Lehmann was no David Seaman but would not seriously be challenged by the present stock of goalkeepers. Sol Campbell, Ashley Cole and the rest of the defence would be safe. Cesc Fábregas would get into the midfield alongside Patrick Vieira and room could be found for Samir Nasri. But Van Persie would need Thierry Henry or Dennis Bergkamp to be injured while Wilshere and Theo Walcott might have to wait a bit longer for their chance.
If the patriot felt sorry when Arsenal went out of the Champions League on Tuesday night, by Wednesday morning the football lover was equally glad to find Barcelona still there. In that sense Bendtner and his wellies did the competition a big favour.
Source: David Lacey, The Guardian on 12 Mar 11
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Match Preview: Manchester United vs Arsenal
Certainly the visiting team were swept away by a marauding, vibrant outfit who seemed to attack with ease. The defeat was a huge blow and could have a lasting effect on the rest of their campaign even though they still have much to play for.
Yes, Manchester United were well-beaten at Liverpool last Sunday.
Dirk Kuyt’s hat-trick not only opened up the title race once more, it also instilled the Anfield side with a sense of re-birth at the hands of a fierce local rival.
Arsenal can empathise. Losing to Barcelona – whatever the balance of play, whatever the officiating - is one thing. Seeing Tottenham go one stage further in the Champions League is an entirely new and deeply uncomfortable feeling.
So both both protagonists come in to Saturday’s FA Cup Sixth Round tie at Old Trafford with fresh wounds. These are not scars - that suggests the pain has gone and only the mark remains – these feelings are red raw. Neither Arsenal nor Manchester United will see their season ended by defeat this weekend but it will be another weighty blow from which, some say, they may struggle to recover.
Wenger rarely feeds the hype-monster ahead of big games but he admitted that his side “need this one”.
It is certainly a massive moment in the season. These two old sparring partners are entering the final few rounds of a long title fight. Both have been to the canvas recently but, having risen to their feet once more, it is just a matter of how much they have left.
One of these weary competitors seem sure to have their hand raised at the end of the Premier League campaign. Saturday’s winners will be favourites for the FA Cup aswell given the number of big names who have already been knocked out.
“I think at the moment the two teams have had a little disappointment recently,” said Wenger. “So it’s still the one who deals with that the best with who can come out on top.
"Man United have lost two games, we just lost two as well, so how well we cope with it all will be vital certainly.”
As ever, much has been made of the relationship between the two managers. For the best part of a decade around the Millennium, this was THE Premier League battle. That is why this season’s title battle has a mouthwatering history to it and, for many, Saturday will hand the winner a psychological edge. But, as usual, Wenger brushed aside the dugout debate.
“It’s like when they asked Cesc the other night ‘what does it feel to play against Barcelona?’” remarked the manager. “When you are a football player you want to win. Ferguson will want to win the game, I will want to win the game.
“At the moment my worries are not my relationship with Ferguson. My real problem is to get the team back with positive vibes. And for us the game on Saturday on that front is important because it can put us in the Semi-Final of the FA Cup.”
But mentioning that history did prompt the Arsenal manager in to a minute or two of reminiscence.
“My fondest memory? When we won the title in 2002 because it was the final [stage],” said Wenger.
“The biggest disappointment was the 50th unbeaten game, when we lost under special circumstances."
“The win in ’98 was a good moment but we had some bad ones too - we lost 6-1 one Saturday morning I remember.”
And what about the FA Cup Semi-Final defeat at Villa Park in 1999 when Ryan Giggs fired an unlikely winner from ten-man Manchester United over the head of David Seaman at the near post.
“Yes that was unbelievable,” remembered Wenger. “It was a replay and we had a penalty from Bergkamp in the last second to win it. After [that miss] he never took a penalty again.”
Fabregas is out for a couple of games after suffering a slight recurrence of his hamstring injury at Barcelona. But Robin van Persie, who defied the odds to comeback early for the Nou Camp game, is available.
Wojciech Szczesny dislocated his finger at Barcelona and is out for at least six weeks so Manuel Almunia continues in goal. With Lukasz Fabianski (shoulder) out for the season, James Shea, 19, will be on the bench. After the game Wenger will concentrate on bringing in an experienced keeper on emergency loan.
Alex Song (knee) and Theo Walcott (ankle) are still missing.
Manchester United have been stuttering of late, losing their last two games – at Chelsea and Liverpool. If Arsenal can win on Saturday it would be the first time Ferguson’s side has been beaten three times in a row since May 2001 but even then they had already clinched the title.
There may be a perceptible weakness away from home but, at Old Trafford, Manchester United’s record is magnificent. It is P14 W13 D1 L0 in the Premier League including a cagey but competent 1-0 win over Arsenal in December. The visitors did well back then but the home side grabbed a goal, Ji-Sung Park’s third in his last three starts against Wenger’s side, and then focused on retaining their advantage.
“They play always against us with a very tight midfield and try to put pressure on us from there,” said Wenger. “That night they had only Rooney up front, so I think they set up against us to defend well.
“I wouldn’t say they are scared [of us]. They have no reason to be scared because they have enough experience. But they always have a little bit of a realistic approach of the game.”
And it has served them well.
In their last six games up there, Arsenal have lost five and drawn once and that came when a nervous Manchester United were trying to clinch the title in 2009.
They are scary statistics but the perception this season is that Wenger’s men are a little stronger and Ferguson’s a little weaker.
Not that weak though.
“They are still very efficient at the back,” said Wenger. “At home they score more goals than before. They are still a dangerous side, you feel always when they get in the final third they can score goals.”
Depending on your viewpoint, those defeats to Birmingham and Barcelona have left Arsenal’s season half-full or half-empty.
But, given that over-quoted statistic about the length of time without a trophy, isn’t any silverware an achievement for Wenger’s side right now?
The Premier League is a priority but the FA Cup is an end in itself.
Manchester United have their own Champions League second leg at home to Marseilles next Wednesday but they also have a habit of finding a way to win when they play Arsenal.
For once, Wenger’s side simply have to block their path.
Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 12 Mar 11
Friday, March 11, 2011
Arsène Wenger's sense of injustice veils deep-lying Arsenal issues
Arsène Wenger's displeasure was easily understandable as he ended the match raging at the referee who had shown Robin van Persie a second yellow card, and the Frenchman continued his diatribe in his post-match interviews. But now he needs to lay aside that sense of injustice and give attention to some of the deep-lying issues exposed by Tuesday night's elimination from the second of the four competitions that were still in Arsenal's sights a mere week and a half ago.
On Saturday night Arsenal travel to Old Trafford, where they meet Manchester United in an FA Cup sixth-round tie which could reduce their list of targets to one or, if the evening goes well, and given that United lie only three points ahead of them in the Premier League table, renew the hopes that another Double, the third of the Wenger era, could be on the cards.
"This is when a manager earns his money," George Graham, a former Arsenal manager, remarked on Talksport, and it is hard to imagine his successor getting much sleep between now and the weekend as he plots to arrest the sudden disintegration of a side that until very recently looked like fulfilling all the potential he has so insistently claimed on their behalf.
Only three weeks ago we were acclaiming perhaps the greatest performance of Wenger's decade and a half in north London, when they took on the world's best club side and prevailed not just through speed and skill but courage and sheer will to win, the very qualities they had so often been accused of lacking. In truth, they were fortunate that Lionel Messi so untypically missed two clear chances to score and that the referee denied Barcelona a plausible penalty claim, but still there were signs that Wenger's constant reiteration of a belief in his side's "spirit" indeed had some substance.
On Tuesday, however, their virtues were blown away and only the flaws remained. They may have been within one decent Nicklas Bendtner finish of smuggling themselves through to the next round, but such an outcome would have been an offence against natural justice, whatever Wenger and Van Persie might say.
The surprise was in the way Arsenal approached the match. Wednesday morning's Spanish papers were withering in their condemnation of the English side's disinclination to attack, a derision compounded by Arsenal's failure to complete their mission. Spanish observers did not like it when José Mourinho ordered Internazionale to pack their defence in last year's semi-final, but at least Mourinho's success earned him a measure of respect.
The scornful cartoon in Mundo Deportivo had Wenger reading from the Mourinho coaching manual: "The fault for not having a shot on goal ... is the referee's, the referee's, the referee's, the referee's, the referee's." But when he reflects on Tuesday's events, he can hardly be proud that his side became the first since 2004 to fail to register a single shot in a Champions League match.
Dismay and perhaps even a measure of shame are the proper responses to such a lamentable feat. Barcelona are a wonderful team, but they were playing with two replacement centre-backs. Despite the freakishness of the possibility that Bendtner could have put his side through to the last eight, Arsenal did nothing to deserve any form of reward. The absence of Thomas Vermaelen, Alex Song and Theo Walcott played a part, and the marginal condition of Van Persie and Cesc Fábregas was clearly unhelpful. But the displays of Tomas Rosicky, Abou Diaby and Bendtner in particular cast doubt on Wenger's readiness to invest further deposits of faith in players who have spent most of their Arsenal careers underperforming.
Diaby, positioned alongside Jack Wilshere in front of the defence but with a relatively free commission, again highlighted the inability or unwillingness of Wenger to plug the gap left by the likes of Patrick Vieira and Gilberto Silva. A strong, driving midfield player used to be an Arsenal characteristic, and Javier Mascherano showed how it should be done, even in a side fundamentally dedicated to attack. Argentina's captain, one imagines, is a player Wenger could have acquired a few years ago, although he might not have fancied doing business with Kia Joorabchian.
Rosicky and Samir Nasri were virtually absent from a game in which they were given enough scope to make an impact. Nasri, so stunningly effective in the first half of the season, seems to have forgotten that his best contributions come when, like Messi, he takes on opponents at close quarters in the penalty area. As for Bendtner, his heavy touch was as apparent as it had been in South Africa last summer, the point at which Wenger should have cut his losses on the Dane.
Eavesdropping on Arsenal supporters during the flight to Catalonia, it was interesting to hear one of them compare Wenger to L Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology. "What Arsène's running isn't a football club – it's a cult," the fan said. Barely even half-joking, he was representing that large section of the support to whom Wenger's pursuit of his vision has been too single-minded, and that a more flexible and realistic attitude to investment and recruitment would have long ended the drought since the club's last trophy. What they want is for Arsenal to act like the other big clubs. To them, that means buying an Andy Carroll rather than a Marouane Chamakh, or splashing out on the established qualities of a Mascherano rather than hoping for a Song or a Diaby to mature.
To accept such criticisms, and to take the appropriate action, would require a radical change in Wenger's approach. It would mean admitting that for several seasons his squad has lacked a balance of skill and strength, of artistry and resilience, of fantasy and functionality. Given the strength of his convictions, that seems unlikely to happen – which means that Arsenal's fans, however much they admire his integrity, cannot seriously expect the future to live up to the past any time soon.
Source: Richard Williams, The Guardian on 10 Mar 11
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Miyaichi proves Feyenoord's rising sun
For a modern day saviour the Superman cape has become a bit of a cliché, although football fans in Rotterdam would be forgiven for dressing up a Japanese high school kid in one, should they get the chance.
Since 18-year old Ryo Miyaichi arrived on the last day of the transfer window, on loan from Arsenal, Feyenoord have secured 11 points from five games, following a tiresome struggle to take 20 from as many matches since the start of the season.
Left winger Miyaichi was playing for a high school team in his hometown Okazaka when Arsenal scout Steve Rowley picked him up and he signed a five-year contract, but he cannot play in England without a work permit. Therefore Miyaichi jumped at the chance when former Feyenoord star Robin van Persie suggested to Arsene Wenger that he send the youngster to Rotterdam.
No one had a clue what to expect when he arrived, not even whether he would play for Feyenoord, Excelsior or even for both. Although the two were both heavily involved in a relegation battle at that time, their reserves and some of the older youth teams have recently merged into Feyenoord/Excelsior. Miyaichi was young enough to be eligible for the Under-19s but, during his first training session, Feyenoord coach Mario Been immediately noticed his potential.
On his first-team debut at Vitesse the standard of the game was so abominable that even Lionel Messi or Kaka may have found it difficult to make a positive impression, but there were some flashes of talented wing play from the youngster.
In his first home game, Miyaichi scored a fine goal against fellow strugglers Heracles Almelo and immediately made an impression on the fans. The quicksilver forward proved much more effective than most of his recent predecessors in that position in De Kuip and he helped Feyenoord win for the first time in two months.
The tricky away game in Den Haag was drawn, followed by a sensational 5-1 win over fourth place FC Groningen. Miyachi did not score in any of these games, but he was always a threat and his performances took the pressure off players like Georginio Wijnaldum and Luc Castaignos, who began to reap the benefits of his arrival.
So have Feyenoord turned the corner? Looking at recent results: yes. In the long-term: no.
While Miyachi may prove the difference in the relegation battle this season, former Feyenoord star of the 1970s Willem van Hanegem was less enthusiastic about the Japanese loanee when he said: "It is not good for young Feyenoord players who cannot develop in that position. At the end of the season Ryo returns to Arsenal and the club is left with a frustrated Jason Cabral as he has spent months on the bench. From a managerial point of view, a big club like Feyenoord should not be dependent on loan signings."
The arrival of Miyaichi is a fortunate coincidence of the trial-and-error style of Feyenoord's recruitment policy - only by chance did he prove to be good. Meanwhile, the club have also signed Soren Larsen on loan from Toulouse - the Denmark international has hit just five goals since the summer of 2006, all of them in one month at MSV Duisburg in the German second tier - whose time at Feyenoord is better counted in minutes than in games.
More evidence that Feyenoord are scraping the barrel for new talent comes from earlier this season. Having been sent away after trials at several first division clubs, Jhon van Beukering suddenly turned up at Varkenoord, the Feyenoord training ground. He and coach Mario Been go back a few years, when both had a successful spell at NEC, however even then Van Beukering (nicknamed Van BurgerKing) had trouble passing the weight test - although he once managed to drop seven kilos in a few days when UEFA Cup football was on the horizon.
Van Beukering's full belly continued to haunt him, yet Been optimistically hauled him in, for free of course, as the understudy to Luc Castaignos. In his first game in December he beat the offside trap from the halfway line, but lost his three-yard advantage on the Excelsior defenders even before reaching the contours of the penalty box. After a painful experience for both player and club, last week Van Beukering pounced on an offer from Pelita Jaya FC of Java, a former club of Argentine World Cup winner Mario Kempes, and is still hoping to play international football for Indonesia.
Another body blow for the club came as 18-year-old academy product Luc Castaignos - who hit four goals in the recent five-game unbeaten streak - agreed to join Inter for €3 million last week. As his contract was ending soon, Feyenoord were forced to cash in on him or risk losing him for free, but while Castaignos looks forward to life at a top European club and a hefty pay cheque, he should be reminded of a quote from the great Johan Cruyff that it's better for a footballer's career to earn 2k a year for ten years, than one million in one.
Castaignos' chances of playing in Milan are slim, given the world-class players they have on offer, and a warning from recent times comes from former FC Twente man Marko Arnautovic who did not make it at San Siro. Hopefully, Castaignos will be loaned out to another Serie A club next season if he does not make an impression, or it would be a tragic loss of talent.
Thankfully for Feyenoord, they get to keep him for the rest of the season. His goal at Heerenveen last weekend showed his quality as a poacher as he was the only one to stay focused enough after a scramble in the box to seal a win which the home team should have wrapped up long before. The crowd could not believe the chances the frontline had missed in the best game of their season, according to coach Ron Jans, and that includes a 6-2 hammering of champions FC Twente.
But perhaps the game marks the lucky break that Feyenoord have been looking for. About 32 years ago, the Kuip club had a similar abysmal away streak, when it took them 16 games and 14 months to come home with a victory. In a spectacular reversal of fortune the team then established a record sequence of undefeated away games and returned to title contention in 1978-79 - for the purists, I hasten to add that there was an overlap of half a year of draws - and coach Been certainly believes this could happen again.
With the recent relegation worries rapidly becoming history, Been immediately turned his head around and started talking about the play-offs for European football. Stranger things have happened, as Been experienced with NEC in 2008, although it would take a lot more than the impressive form of a Japanese loanee to make it a reality.
Source: Ernst Bouwes, ESPN Soccernet on 9 Mar 11
Since 18-year old Ryo Miyaichi arrived on the last day of the transfer window, on loan from Arsenal, Feyenoord have secured 11 points from five games, following a tiresome struggle to take 20 from as many matches since the start of the season.
Left winger Miyaichi was playing for a high school team in his hometown Okazaka when Arsenal scout Steve Rowley picked him up and he signed a five-year contract, but he cannot play in England without a work permit. Therefore Miyaichi jumped at the chance when former Feyenoord star Robin van Persie suggested to Arsene Wenger that he send the youngster to Rotterdam.
No one had a clue what to expect when he arrived, not even whether he would play for Feyenoord, Excelsior or even for both. Although the two were both heavily involved in a relegation battle at that time, their reserves and some of the older youth teams have recently merged into Feyenoord/Excelsior. Miyaichi was young enough to be eligible for the Under-19s but, during his first training session, Feyenoord coach Mario Been immediately noticed his potential.
On his first-team debut at Vitesse the standard of the game was so abominable that even Lionel Messi or Kaka may have found it difficult to make a positive impression, but there were some flashes of talented wing play from the youngster.
In his first home game, Miyaichi scored a fine goal against fellow strugglers Heracles Almelo and immediately made an impression on the fans. The quicksilver forward proved much more effective than most of his recent predecessors in that position in De Kuip and he helped Feyenoord win for the first time in two months.
The tricky away game in Den Haag was drawn, followed by a sensational 5-1 win over fourth place FC Groningen. Miyachi did not score in any of these games, but he was always a threat and his performances took the pressure off players like Georginio Wijnaldum and Luc Castaignos, who began to reap the benefits of his arrival.
So have Feyenoord turned the corner? Looking at recent results: yes. In the long-term: no.
While Miyachi may prove the difference in the relegation battle this season, former Feyenoord star of the 1970s Willem van Hanegem was less enthusiastic about the Japanese loanee when he said: "It is not good for young Feyenoord players who cannot develop in that position. At the end of the season Ryo returns to Arsenal and the club is left with a frustrated Jason Cabral as he has spent months on the bench. From a managerial point of view, a big club like Feyenoord should not be dependent on loan signings."
The arrival of Miyaichi is a fortunate coincidence of the trial-and-error style of Feyenoord's recruitment policy - only by chance did he prove to be good. Meanwhile, the club have also signed Soren Larsen on loan from Toulouse - the Denmark international has hit just five goals since the summer of 2006, all of them in one month at MSV Duisburg in the German second tier - whose time at Feyenoord is better counted in minutes than in games.
More evidence that Feyenoord are scraping the barrel for new talent comes from earlier this season. Having been sent away after trials at several first division clubs, Jhon van Beukering suddenly turned up at Varkenoord, the Feyenoord training ground. He and coach Mario Been go back a few years, when both had a successful spell at NEC, however even then Van Beukering (nicknamed Van BurgerKing) had trouble passing the weight test - although he once managed to drop seven kilos in a few days when UEFA Cup football was on the horizon.
Van Beukering's full belly continued to haunt him, yet Been optimistically hauled him in, for free of course, as the understudy to Luc Castaignos. In his first game in December he beat the offside trap from the halfway line, but lost his three-yard advantage on the Excelsior defenders even before reaching the contours of the penalty box. After a painful experience for both player and club, last week Van Beukering pounced on an offer from Pelita Jaya FC of Java, a former club of Argentine World Cup winner Mario Kempes, and is still hoping to play international football for Indonesia.
Another body blow for the club came as 18-year-old academy product Luc Castaignos - who hit four goals in the recent five-game unbeaten streak - agreed to join Inter for €3 million last week. As his contract was ending soon, Feyenoord were forced to cash in on him or risk losing him for free, but while Castaignos looks forward to life at a top European club and a hefty pay cheque, he should be reminded of a quote from the great Johan Cruyff that it's better for a footballer's career to earn 2k a year for ten years, than one million in one.
Castaignos' chances of playing in Milan are slim, given the world-class players they have on offer, and a warning from recent times comes from former FC Twente man Marko Arnautovic who did not make it at San Siro. Hopefully, Castaignos will be loaned out to another Serie A club next season if he does not make an impression, or it would be a tragic loss of talent.
Thankfully for Feyenoord, they get to keep him for the rest of the season. His goal at Heerenveen last weekend showed his quality as a poacher as he was the only one to stay focused enough after a scramble in the box to seal a win which the home team should have wrapped up long before. The crowd could not believe the chances the frontline had missed in the best game of their season, according to coach Ron Jans, and that includes a 6-2 hammering of champions FC Twente.
But perhaps the game marks the lucky break that Feyenoord have been looking for. About 32 years ago, the Kuip club had a similar abysmal away streak, when it took them 16 games and 14 months to come home with a victory. In a spectacular reversal of fortune the team then established a record sequence of undefeated away games and returned to title contention in 1978-79 - for the purists, I hasten to add that there was an overlap of half a year of draws - and coach Been certainly believes this could happen again.
With the recent relegation worries rapidly becoming history, Been immediately turned his head around and started talking about the play-offs for European football. Stranger things have happened, as Been experienced with NEC in 2008, although it would take a lot more than the impressive form of a Japanese loanee to make it a reality.
Source: Ernst Bouwes, ESPN Soccernet on 9 Mar 11
Barcelona can be irresistible – but they are by no means invincible
Arsenal could not defeat Barcelona, but they indicated to others that the feat can be accomplished. It is a lesson that ought to have been absorbed already, since Internazionale knocked out the then Champions League holders in the semi-finals last year before going on to take the trophy for themselves. That, however, was a tie in which José Mourinho's side had all their thoughts on defence for the second leg, with the 1-0 loss sufficient for an aggregate win.
That approach is not consistent with Arsène Wenger's usual attitude, but his own methods almost succeeded on Tuesday even though the draconian dismissal of Robin van Persie had cut them to 10 men. At the very end, a better striker than Nicklas Bendtner would have scored from Jack Wilshere's pass instead of being so clumsy that the challenge from Javier Mascherano became feasible.
It must be stressed that Barcelona were a far superior side who deserve their place in the quarter-finals for following a 2-1 loss at the Emirates with the 3-1 victory at the Camp Nou. Indeed they were a great deal more wasteful on their own pitch than Arsenal's. There was almost nothing for Wenger's attackers to squander and the visitors did not contrive a shot on target, with their goal put into his own net by Sergio Busquets.
While Barcelona's style is to be savoured for its intelligence and technique, the tie with Arsenal confirmed, in a different way from the clash with Internazionale, that they are not unassailable. On occasion, they can be one-dimensional, even if it is the most chic of dimensions. The consciousness of that flaw was reflected in a supposedly incongruous acquisition.
In 2009, Barcelona paid £40m for Zlatan Ibrahimovic and also included Samuel Eto'o in the deal with Internazionale. The forward has about him the air of the traditional predator and the Spanish club will have felt they lacked that trait, even if Lionel Messi is proving that prolific scoring sits easily with technical virtuosity.
Last summer, a move on loan to Milan brought Ibrahimovic to his sixth club in 10 years. Any relationship with Pep Guardiola had foundered. All the same, the initial enthusiasm for the Swede showed an understanding within the Camp Nou that Barcelona must guard against the risk, on a bad day, of becoming a self-parody.
Glorious as the side's well-articulated moves can be, it is absurd to speak as if Guardiola's line-up were the culmination of the sport's evolution. The berth in the last eight of the Champions League is well merited, but they still came near to elimination despite the fact that Arsenal were down to 10 men. The referee, Massimo Busacca, evidently decided that Van Persie, in the bedlam of a ground with 95,486 spectators, had heard the whistle for offside and wilfully went on to try a shot. A second caution was administered.
Even that did not make Barcelona wholly unassailable. They are in the last eight by rights, but a more ruthless side than Arsenal would have had the audacity to score a late decider. It has to be borne in mind that the hosts were employing a makeshift central defence, even if the left-back Eric Abidal is an excellent deputy when he has to go into the middle.
The hindrances were more severe for Arsenal. Theo Walcott was one of those unfit to play, although Wenger would have craved his speed on the counterattack. In addition, it was obvious that Van Persie and Cesc Fábregas were not in peak condition even if they did happen to be on the field at kick-off. Much went wrong for the Premier League side, including the dislocated finger that forced the replacement of the goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny with Manuel Almunia.
Barcelona could not stifle Arsenal's hopes completely. The match was a reminder that neither Guardiola's side nor any other club is to be taken as the apotheosis of football. The sport has compelled for so long because of its very diversity. Barcelona might not plan to score with, say, thundering headers from old-fashioned centre-forwards after well-aimed crosses by wingers, yet that too is an authentic if now rare delight. For the sake of public interest and the variety of the sport, it is essential that games with Barcelona should not all be played on Guardiola's terms.
Source: Kevin McCarra, The Guardian on 9 Mar 11
Arsenal made to suffer at the hands of their nemesis Lionel Messi
In the story of Arsenal's departure there was an Argentinian at both ends, as well as a hanging judge of a referee. First, Lionel Messi scored the first and third Barcelona goals to confirm his nemesis status, then Javier Mascherano – a player of a less artful disposition – slid in to stop Nicklas Bendtner scoring the late goal that would have put the Gunners through in defiance of all logic and statistics.
The dismissal of Robin van Persie for going through with his shot after the referee had blown for offside was a draconian act which produced much ribaldry among non-Arsenal supporters, who pointed out that the team's only attempt on goal had ended with a sending off. Nineteen shots to nil was Barcelona's boast, along with 724 passes to 119. But it would be wrong not to mention that Barça's wastefulness in both legs contrived to make this a closer, tenser tie than the stats can illustrate.
Messi was messy, at times, in London and here in Catalonia, but his talent will not be denied. Goaded by his own small miscalculations, he ladles out fresh pain. Sometimes he flicks his arms in self‑reproach. Or a mean look slides across his face. His radar was off for 135 minutes, home and away.
When it flicked back on, the ball was juggled into Arsenal's net, and delight took up its usual residence on his face.
Barcelona's current golden age reprises the Johan Cruyff dream teams of the early 1990s. At the heart of it all is a small elastic Argentinian who manages to combine a talent for improvisation with a demonic urge to win.
For almost 45 minutes Arsenal withstood the numbing rhythms of Barcelona's passing. They screened, hustled and blocked without presenting any kind of counter-attacking threat. But then their concentration frayed, possession was surrendered by Cesc Fábregas and Andrés Iniesta swooped, prodding the ball in the third minute of added time to Messi, who flicked it over Manuel Almunia and met it on the other side to apply what felt like the coup de grace.
Until then Barça's attacking play had been relentless but loose, imprecise. Moments before he nullified Arsenal's first-leg lead, Messi had slalomed through Arsène Wenger's defence, only to strike a tame shot at Almunia, who had replaced Wojciech Szczesny. A kaleidoscopic but sometimes sloppy Barcelona performance was raised to something grander by a moment of ingenuity.
Arsenal ran up against the Messi problem here last year when the star of Catalonia watched Bendtner open the scoring and decided an emphatic response was called for. After four strikes by Messi inside 67 minutes, the best Argentinian footballer since Diego Maradona sped down the road to a world player of the year award.
In altered circumstances here (this time Arsenal started with a 2-1 first-leg lead) Messi, Xavi, David Villa and Iniesta already had a provocation to respond to. In boxing they used to say it was a bad idea to hit the young Mike Tyson early in a fight because it just made him angry and hastened the moment of doom. Andrey Arshavin's winning goal in north London three weeks ago had a similarly counter-productive feel. What if it brought Guardiola's Barça past the tiny Camp Nou chapel and on to the pitch like Catalan dragons, looking for a Premier League side to burn?
While Mascherano provided defensive security in front of a back four missing Carles Puyol and Gerard Piqué, the light fell on Messi to show that no team can cope with him when the mood grips him. His unplayability is what sets him apart. In his best form, a chasm opens between the game he is playing and the sport those around him are endeavouring to master.
This was the call to him, on a night of artistic friction. The mission was to blind Arsenal with skill, movement, finesse, audacity. In Theo Walcott's absence Arsenal lacked the spearing penetration of the first leg, when they twice broke free to overturn Barcelona's lead. Van Persie played like an old-school No9 but a revamped home defence seldom back‑pedalled. Instead their midfielders tried to thread passes beyond the oncoming Arsenal throng. Crosses were over-hit, dribbles carried on too long and shots mis-hit until Messi's feet regained their softness, their dexterity, and Barcelona headed for their dressing room in the ascendancy.
The props were in place for another Messi masterclass, and he began the second half in vibrant mood, angling his runs across and maintaining Velcro contact with the ball. But Barcelona were intent on scoring at both ends.
From a Samir Nasri corner, Sergio Busquets headed into his own net before Van Persie was ejected. The Arsenal man had exposed himself to risk with a stupid pull on Daniel Alves in the first half but to remove him for such a minor second offence after a marginal offside call was brutal. With 10 men Arsenal gathered to quell new pressure but Xavi restored parity across the two legs and then Messi stroked in a penalty after Laurent Koscielny had felled Pedro.
Amid the emotional chaos Messi's self-possession was unaffected. He is a gentle soul, always dispensing hurt.
Source: Paul Hayward, The Guardian on 9 Mar 11
Homecoming leaves Arsenal's Cesc Fábregas guilty and conflicted
No matter how divided his heart, Cesc Fábregas could not have wanted it to be like this. Instead of pulling Arsenal's strings in this match, he was forced to wade into the muck and nettles and do whatever it might take to stop Barcelona exerting total control. And when, in the third minute of first-half stoppage time, the home side scored the goal they needed, the one that set them on the way to a deserved victory, it came from a moment of uncharacteristic imprecision by the exiled Catalan.
Impossible to imagine Fábregas merely hoofing the ball clear, of course. But something agricultural would have been a better option than the flick with which he gave Andrés Iniesta possession outside the Arsenal area. The lethal simplicity of Iniesta's pass and the delicious impudence of Lionel Messi's scoop-and-dab finish – like a man placing a cherry on the top of an ice-cream sundae – represented a sudden outburst of everyday Barcelona brilliance at the end of a prolonged overture filled with tense probing and countering.
Fábregas came into this match having missed three games with a hamstring injury, and would leave the fray with just over 10 minutes to go with a similar problem. He may have been at something much less than 100% fitness, and wound up paying a bitter price. Later he tweeted his regret: "I take full blame for the result. One of the worst moments of my life. I apologise."
He could hardly have been surprised by the way the match went. Probably no one outside Barcelona's camp has studied their football more closely in recent seasons, wondering where he might have fitted in.
In this match, almost eight years after he left the city, he returned to make his first appearance in a club match at the Camp Nou, hoping to show the blaugrana what they have been missing, and what he might still have to offer one day. Although he will not celebrate his 24th birthday until May, this match was Fábregas's 22nd in the knock‑out rounds of the Champions League, spread over seven seasons. He made his debut on 9 March 2005, when he came on as a 17-year-old substitute in a 1-0 win over the Bayern Munich of Oliver Kahn, Michael Ballack and Bixente Lizarazu – yes, that long ago – at Highbury.
Six years less one day later, returning after missing three matches with a hamstring injury, he found himself scuffling furiously as Arsenal fought to prevent the goal that would not only erase their margin from the first leg but give Barcelona a potential winning advantage. Within the opening 25 minutes he turned up first at left‑back, dribbling the ball along his own byline to get away from the pestering Messi, and then at right-back, filling in for the roving Bacary Sagna.
This was not where Arsenal wanted him, but it was where he had to be if they were to stay in the tie. One side were enjoying virtually exclusive possession of the ball while the other struggled to disrupt their total dominance.
Big nights involving FC Barcelona have a way of making spectators feel like winners of a prize draw for a seat at the centre of the universe. That is how it was for an unforgettable 20 minutes at the Emirates Stadium in March of last year, and again a month later in their defeat over two legs to José Mournho's Internazionale. Early this season they subjected Mourinho's Real Madrid to a vengeful hurricane of goal-scoring, and on their return to north London last month they and Arsenal produced a delightful banquet of passing and movement.
This night, though, was very, very different. Less beauty, more struggle. All the artistry, all the positive virtues, were with one side, all the stress with the other. Sergio Busquets's own goal briefly gave Arsenal hope that they could cling on for a place in the last eight, and when Robin van Persie was given an absurd second yellow card for shooting after the whistle had gone for offside, defence became their only priority.
Sometimes 10 men can do the job of holding out better than 11, since their priorities are not in doubt. But a neat little goal from Xavi, constructed by his pal Iniesta, punctured that frail balloon of optimism, and Messi's penalty sucked out the last breath of hope.
But still one more Arsenal goal, without further punishment, and they would have gone through. Had Nicklas Bendtner capitalised on Jack Wilshere's fine pass three minutes from time this could have been the most bizarre result in the history of the competition, rendering statistics irrelevant. But the Dane's poor control did not allow him to deliver what would have been Arsenal's only shot on target.
The match had opened with 19 passes in the first 58 seconds between Barcelona players before their opponents were able to make their first intervention, a foul by Gaël Clichy on Xavi. It finished with another sequence, this time of 21 passes, with Wilshere's foul on Iniesta the final act of the game. Fábregas could only watch from the sidelines as another of the season's targets disappeared from Arsenal's sights.
Source: Richard Williams, The Guardian on 9 Mar 11
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Barcelona 3-1 Arsenal: Key clashes
Arsenal's inability to win the individual battles and impose their game on Barcelona led to their downfall at the Camp Nou
Xavi v Jack Wilshere
This was a chance for the master to teach the pupil a lesson, although Pep Guardiola may now realise that he was doing Wilshere a disservice when he claimed beforehand that the teenager "plays for Arsenal because there is no pressure at his club to win titles". Although Xavi came out on top, Wilshere once again demonstrated why he belongs at this level as the stand out Arsenal performer. He never stopped running and used the ball intelligently on the few occasions Arsenal were in possession, not least when he played Nicklas Bendtner in on goal three minutes from time. Xavi, however, had already worked his magic by that point. The midfielder was predictably at the hub of all of Barcelona's best moves. He scored the second goal, after some splendid link-up play between Andrés Iniesta and David Villa, and executed the killer pass that led to Laurent Koscielny fouling Pedro for Lionel Messi's penalty.
Daniel Alves v Samir Nasri
An intriguing battle and one that made it feel like a trick of the imagination that Nasri was the attacking midfielder and Alves the full-back. Alves makes the fourth highest number of touches in the opposition half in La Liga, which seemed like a remarkable statistic before the game but easy to understand once the match got started. There was generally only one player doing the attacking in this clash and he was not wearing an Arsenal shirt. Alves played like the Barcelona right-flank belonged to him, racing forward to give Gaël Clichy, as well as Nasri, something to think about. Nasri worked to track him and he deserved credit for the part he played in the Arsenal goal, when he won and took the corner Sergio Busquets headed into his own goal.
Javier Mascherano v Cesc Fábregas
After hugging his Spanish team-mates before the game, Fábregas must have wished he could have got as close to them on the pitch. Desperate to make an impression on his homecoming, the Arsenal captain gifted Barcelona the lead in first half injury-time. It was a moment of madness that encapsulated a miserable evening for Fábregas, who looked like a player that was thinking with his heart and not his head when he declared himself fit. Only he knows why he thought it was a good idea to try to backheel the ball to Wilshere 10 yards outside his own penalty area. It was a measure of how little influence Fábregas had on the game that Mascherano was required to show little of his defensive qualities until he made a superbly timed tackle in the 87th minute to capitalise on Nicklas Bendtner's bad touch. Fábregas had already been subbed.
Sergio Busquets v Robin van Persie
This will go down as a night both players will want to forget, with Busquets heading into his own net to bring Arsenal back into a game that looked to be beyond them before Van Persie was dismissed in highly controversial circumstances. While the Dutchman was his own worst enemy in the first half, when he lost his composure and picked up an unnecessary yellow card after clashing with Daniel Alves, the second booking Van Persie picked up felt harsh. The Arsenal striker, who had cut a lonely figure up front and given Busquets few problems, claimed he had not heard Massimo Busacca, the Swiss referee, blow his whistle amid the din inside Camp Nou as he raced through and shot wide. It was easy to sympathise with him when it emerged there was only one second between the referee's whistle and Van Persie's boot making contact with the ball.
Pep Guardiola v Arsène Wenger
What should have been a fascinating tactical battle between two erudite managers turned into a game that ended up being mired in controversy after Robin van Persie was dismissed early in the second half in highly contentious circumstances. Wenger will understandably wonder what might have been had Arsenal played with 11 men throughout, although it was impossible to ignore Barcelona's dominance and their control of possession from start to finish. Arsenal opted to play a high defensive line and got away with that approach until Cesc Fábregas's faux pas at the end of the first half, yet it always seemed to be a matter of when and not if Barcelona would score. In hindsight it was a mistake to include Fábregas, who was a peripheral figure and unable to impose himself against what must be the best club side in the world. Guardiola's bad back must be feeling much better already.
Source: Stuart James, The Guardian on 8 Mar 11
Xavi v Jack Wilshere
This was a chance for the master to teach the pupil a lesson, although Pep Guardiola may now realise that he was doing Wilshere a disservice when he claimed beforehand that the teenager "plays for Arsenal because there is no pressure at his club to win titles". Although Xavi came out on top, Wilshere once again demonstrated why he belongs at this level as the stand out Arsenal performer. He never stopped running and used the ball intelligently on the few occasions Arsenal were in possession, not least when he played Nicklas Bendtner in on goal three minutes from time. Xavi, however, had already worked his magic by that point. The midfielder was predictably at the hub of all of Barcelona's best moves. He scored the second goal, after some splendid link-up play between Andrés Iniesta and David Villa, and executed the killer pass that led to Laurent Koscielny fouling Pedro for Lionel Messi's penalty.
Daniel Alves v Samir Nasri
An intriguing battle and one that made it feel like a trick of the imagination that Nasri was the attacking midfielder and Alves the full-back. Alves makes the fourth highest number of touches in the opposition half in La Liga, which seemed like a remarkable statistic before the game but easy to understand once the match got started. There was generally only one player doing the attacking in this clash and he was not wearing an Arsenal shirt. Alves played like the Barcelona right-flank belonged to him, racing forward to give Gaël Clichy, as well as Nasri, something to think about. Nasri worked to track him and he deserved credit for the part he played in the Arsenal goal, when he won and took the corner Sergio Busquets headed into his own goal.
Javier Mascherano v Cesc Fábregas
After hugging his Spanish team-mates before the game, Fábregas must have wished he could have got as close to them on the pitch. Desperate to make an impression on his homecoming, the Arsenal captain gifted Barcelona the lead in first half injury-time. It was a moment of madness that encapsulated a miserable evening for Fábregas, who looked like a player that was thinking with his heart and not his head when he declared himself fit. Only he knows why he thought it was a good idea to try to backheel the ball to Wilshere 10 yards outside his own penalty area. It was a measure of how little influence Fábregas had on the game that Mascherano was required to show little of his defensive qualities until he made a superbly timed tackle in the 87th minute to capitalise on Nicklas Bendtner's bad touch. Fábregas had already been subbed.
Sergio Busquets v Robin van Persie
This will go down as a night both players will want to forget, with Busquets heading into his own net to bring Arsenal back into a game that looked to be beyond them before Van Persie was dismissed in highly controversial circumstances. While the Dutchman was his own worst enemy in the first half, when he lost his composure and picked up an unnecessary yellow card after clashing with Daniel Alves, the second booking Van Persie picked up felt harsh. The Arsenal striker, who had cut a lonely figure up front and given Busquets few problems, claimed he had not heard Massimo Busacca, the Swiss referee, blow his whistle amid the din inside Camp Nou as he raced through and shot wide. It was easy to sympathise with him when it emerged there was only one second between the referee's whistle and Van Persie's boot making contact with the ball.
Pep Guardiola v Arsène Wenger
What should have been a fascinating tactical battle between two erudite managers turned into a game that ended up being mired in controversy after Robin van Persie was dismissed early in the second half in highly contentious circumstances. Wenger will understandably wonder what might have been had Arsenal played with 11 men throughout, although it was impossible to ignore Barcelona's dominance and their control of possession from start to finish. Arsenal opted to play a high defensive line and got away with that approach until Cesc Fábregas's faux pas at the end of the first half, yet it always seemed to be a matter of when and not if Barcelona would score. In hindsight it was a mistake to include Fábregas, who was a peripheral figure and unable to impose himself against what must be the best club side in the world. Guardiola's bad back must be feeling much better already.
Source: Stuart James, The Guardian on 8 Mar 11
Ten-man Arsenal unravel as Lionel Messi weaves his magic for Barcelona
Patronising though the appraisal will sound, Arsenal were far closer to Barcelona. There is, despite that, an obligation to emphasise that they posed so little threat that there was not a single shot on target for Víctor Valdés to save. In the circumstances, Wenger has to settle for notable evidence that Arsenal do have a durability now that will be valuable in the bid for the Premier League title.
While prospects look appealing on that front, nothing came easily for the side in this fixture. The young goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny lasted 19 minutes and had to go off after a seemingly mild shot by Daniel Alves bent back a finger, later confirmed as dislocated. His replacement was Manuel Almunia. The Spaniard's presence took to six the number of Arsenal players on the pitch who had been in the starting line-up here last season.
Circumstances beyond the control of Wenger have made some of the changes inevitable, but Arsenal's unsettling search for a first trophy in six years also contributes to the restlessness. Some of his verdicts are being vindicated. The defensive midfielder Denílson has been downgraded to the Carling and FA Cups. He started at the Camp Nou last season but did not leave the bench in this match, even though the current defensive midfielder Alex Song was injured.
Abou Diaby took up some of those chores although he is not a specialist in that work. It was still a comparatively subdued first half, putting aside the fouls that led to four of the Arsenal line-up being cautioned. There was just a moment to spare for real distinction, then, as Messi struck in the third minute of stoppage time before the interval. Cesc Fábregas attempted a flick and gave possession to Andrés Iniesta. The through pass put Messi clear and he dinked the ball over Almunia, who was attempting to dive at his feet, before thumping it gleefully into the net.
For all that gusto, Barcelona were, by their own measure, judicious. Pep Guardiola, left with more regard for Wenger's squad after the 2-1 defeat in London, had rested some of his men in the weekend victory over Real Zaragoza. Energy was particularly significant against Arsenal, who had decided to hold a high line at the Camp Nou rather than back off and leave the opposition with simple possession.
It was Guardiola's men who looked better-equipped to set up a goal. If there is one area of reconstruction in which Wenger is starting to take a tentative pride it is in a defence that has a good record and the manager is entitled to note this achievement. Given the context, the relapse into folly for the opener must have been all the more distressing.
Arsenal, behind on the away goals rule, had no alternative but to revert to their true selves and take the game to the opposition. Barcelona would have felt at ease with that. Guardiola's team emerged from the interval with greater confidence but it was soon undermined in peculiar fashion.
Samir Nasri's persistence earned a corner on the left. The midfielder flighted it over and Diaby's run seemed to distract the defence so severely that Sergio Busquets, a midfielder employed at centre-half because of injury and suspension, headed into his own net. Arsenal, though, suffered, too, when the second booking followed for Van Persie, who claimed he did not hear the referee's whistle above the noise in the crowd.
Even so, Wenger's men, with their lead in the tie, were more at peace for a time than Barcelona. Guardiola's side and the home support all knew that a goal was essential to take the game to extra time. Almunia was outstanding in the face of an unfettered Barcelona, particularly with one save from Villa, but the resistance could not continue. Barcelona quickly scored twice to assume the lead on aggregate. After 69 minutes, Iniesta and Villa combined in a perfect move, before Xavi put the ball past Almunia. Two minutes later, Koscielny fouled Pedro and Messi converted the penalty.
Arsenal, a man down, still sought a late goal that would then have redeemed them. They were on the verge of it when Jack Wilshere's excellent low ball from the right picked out the substitute Nicklas Bendtner but the Dane's poor touch allowed Javier Mascherano to intervene.
This campaign has hurt Arsenal on other occasions as well and Wenger will have not have forgotten the defeats in the group phase that led to their facing this daunting fixture.
Even so, the rise of the team is not to be scorned. There are still outlandish days, as when a 4-0 lead after 26 minutes was relinquished in the draw at Newcastle United. The side persevere and ought to have faith in their Premier League prospects.
Source: Kevin McCarra, The Guardian on 8 Mar 11
Failure in philosophy sees Arsenal exit
Arsene Wenger's words after the first leg victory over Barcelona were laced with more than a hint of personal triumph. His use of "we" and "us" failed to conceal what he undoubtedly felt was his own victory in a battle he believes he has been fighting for many years. Nicknamed 'the Professor' in his early years at Arsenal, the Premier League masses have been lectured for some time by a man who seems intent on preserving his own legacy.
But his crusade to educate English football's 'ignorant' majority about the value of wholesome football has been consistently undermined by his failure to claim trophies. For the past few years, Arsenal fans and football onlookers alike have had to sit and listen to the same stale rhetoric from Wenger. How his players are finally ready to step up to the plate; how they have matured and learned from their disappointments, and are both physically and mentally ready to move onto the next level. The trouble is that Wenger's faith in his players appears totally misguided.
The Carling Cup final provided a perfect opportunity for Arsenal's trophy-shy personnel to justify their manager's unshakable faith. But they again left their boss looking like a fool. At the Camp Nou on Wednesday, the taste of failure was once again on Wenger's lips, but a more repugnant flavour was present because of the spineless manner of the defeat. He and his players may have at least emerged with some credit against one of the world's greatest ever club sides, had they adhered to the Frenchman's oft-preached 'philosophy'. They didn't.
Gunners' supporters will inevitably be irate with Robin van Persie's 56th-minute dismissal and many will insist it was the moment that changed the course of their side's Champions League fate this season. But those claims will merely be the latest in a string of desperate attempts to explain away their side's inability to shed their reputation as bottlers.
While Arsenal fans can understandably be perturbed by the Dutchman's ridiculous dismissal by a referee who showed not one iota of common sense, they should be more concerned by the key statistic to emerge from their second successive European exit to Barcelona. Quite simply, no side can expect to progress in the Champions League without posting a single shot on, or even off, goal.
"We played awesome" was Pep Guardiola's post-match assessment, and it is difficult to disagree with a coach who oversaw the complete domination of an Arsenal outfit lauded week-in week-out for their proclivity to thread their way through teams with the intricacy of, well, Barcelona. One can only imagine the personal torment that Guardiola's achievements in Catalonia have caused Wenger. That the Spaniard has put together a side that combines both exceptional football and extraordinary success must rile the Frenchman, who had the chance to create a similar legacy with his 'Invincibles', but whose stubborn principles prevented that legacy from being cemented.
One cannot understate the role that Barcelona played in stifling this Arsenal crop: the Gunners were chasing shadows and just couldn't get near Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi as they dictated play in their inimitable style. But it was embarrassing to watch at times. When Arsenal did get the ball, Messrs Wilshere, Nasri and Fabregas were not afforded any space to prove their highly-acclaimed ball-playing abilities and Barca's high pressing game ensured that possession was always quickly stolen back. Fabregas apologised for his personal performance after the game, though all of the players should be penning rueful remarks to Arsenal's success-starved supporters.
Unlike last season's semi-final against Inter Milan, when Jose Mourinho's midfield biters Esteban Cambiasso and Javier Zanetti frustrated the Catalans, Guardiola's side remained calm and patient against Arsenal and their belief that the breakthrough would come appeared unwavering. Arsenal had no players of a similar ilk to upset Barca's rhythm and while the absence of Alex Song will be lamented, he would not have possessed the necessary influence to block, obstruct and hinder the Catalans' multiple creative threats.
That Arsenal didn't have the personnel to compete is a fault of Wenger. Barcelona also lost their chief defensive midfielder in Sergio Busquets, who was forced to play as a makeshift centre-back, but they were able to call on the superb Javier Mascherano. Wenger did not have any other options in his squad, though the inclusion of Denilson may have at least afforded some protection of a back four exposed by the defensive failings of midfielders Fabregas, Wilshere and Diaby. Wenger may also bemoan the absence of injured centre-back Thomas Vermaelen, but he is deluded if he believes that either Laurent Koscielny and Johann Djourou are good enough to join the Belgian as the bedrock of a defence good enough to win top honours.
Barcelona must rightly be praised for a stunning performance - a complete destruction of a collection of such talented players - but Arsenal's third defeat to the Blaugranas in the past five years will be remembered as their worst, a night when Wenger's proud philosophy went AWOL.
Source: Mark Lomas, ESPN Soccernet on 8 Mar 11
Wenger's reaction to the FC Barcelona 3-1 Arsenal match
Two kinds of people can be unhappy; those who love Arsenal and those who love football can be frustrated with the referee's decisions. When he made the decision it was a very promising game, very interesting. That’s the regret. We lost against a very good Barcelona side, congratulations to them and good luck for the future. We have many regrets tonight because we didn’t expect to lose the game like that. I feel sorry for people who watched the game tonight.
On Robin van Persie’s sending off…
If you have played football at a certain level, you cannot understand the decision. I cannot imagine that someone who has played football, in a game of that importance, makes that decision at the moment he did. Even if he heard the whistle, I still don’t understand the decision. People who have played football will never accept a decision like that. It killed a promising, fantastic football match. What for? If it’s a bad tackle and a second-bookable offence then OK.
On whether Arsenal would have won the game with 11 men…
Yes. I felt Barcelona gave a lot in the first half where we were completely dominated, I agree with that. But in the second half, you felt there was more space and, I knew, like in the first game, we would come back into the game. I am convinced we would have won this game.
On Wojciech Szczesny’s injury…
[It’s] a dislocated finger. We have to check the tendon and see how much damage is done.
On not having a shot on target…
Once we were down to ten men it was very difficult. We had a very difficult first half. Barcelona played, a little bit, a poker game by giving absolutely everything in the first half. After that, it became difficult with ten men against eleven. I feel Barcelona are good enough to win in a normal way against anybody. You want to be given a chance to play a normal football match. Everybody has the same regret in our dressing room.
On having a lot to play for this season…
How big is the blow? We don’t know. That depends on our response on Saturday at Manchester United.
Source: Arsenal.com on 8 Mar 11
8 March 2011: FC Barcelona 3-1 Arsenal, Camp Nou
The challenge came unstuck once again at Barcelona and once again at the feet of Lionel Messi.
The Argentinean maestro opened the scoring in first-half injury time and fired home the tie-clinching penalty in the 71st minute.
Inbetween those goals, Arsenal equalised when Sergio Busquets nodded into his own net and were then reduced to 10 men when Robin van Persie received a second yellow card for playing on after the referee has blown.
It was a highly controversial dismissal and it made the difference on the night. Xavi Hernandez levelled the tie soon afterwards and, a couple of minutes later, Messi’s penalty clinched qualification for the Spanish champions.
The statistics will support this result. Barcelona had two-thirds of the possession, far more shots, more corners, more everything. But that was always likely to happen.
Arsenal knew they had to perform wonderfully well to knockout the tournament favourites and have the key moments go their way.
Neither happened this evening but they pushed Barcelona harder than they had 12 months ago when Messi had scored all four goals in a tie that was dead at half-time.
This is disappointing but, yet again, Arsenal suggested they are stronger than last season.
And while this door has closed, their season is still alive.
The fitness of Van Persie had not even been mentioned by Wenger when he spoke to the media on Monday morning. It was ‘a given’ he was out with the knee injury sustained in the Carling Cup Final.
A few hours later he was on the plane to Spain.
On Tuesday evening he started up front.
Cesc Fabregas returned from the hamstring injury he collected against Stoke a fortnight ago to captain the side. Abou Diaby was chosen to fill the role left by the absence of Alex Song (knee).
Arsenal held that slender lead from the home game. But Barcelona had an away goal, an array of world-renowned talent and the backing of a noisy Nou Camp.
An injury-hit Arsenal had perished here last season after a Messi masterclass.
They were odds-on to go out again but this vintage seemed a little stronger than 09/10. However, this was the ultimate test.
The opening stages were cagey. Laurent Koscielny blocked Pedro as he prepared to shoot and held off Messi after he pounced on a misplaced pass from Johan Djourou.
The ball bounced out to David Villa but Jack Wilshere slid in to scoop away his low cross.
It was hardly pressure. But, as we approached the quarter-hour, Barcelona were taking control.
Arsenal had done little attacking while the home side were starting to chip away at the visiting defence.
In the 16th minute, Koscielny hauled down Pedro and was booked. Daniel Alves hammered the free-kick goalwards and Wojciech Szczesny gathered.
The Polish keeper immediately threw the ball out and called from treatment for what appeared to be a hand injury. He could not carry on and Manuel Almunia replaced him.
Now, the game was being played in the Arsenal half and that was no good at all for the long-term health of that one-goal lead.
It was no surprise that the chances started to flow.
Fabregas gave the ball away in midfield, Messi darted through but was dispossessed and Pedro curled an effort wide.
Just past the half-hour, Messi weaved beyond Djourou, Koscielny and Gael Clichy only for the Swiss defender to recover and hack the ball away as he looked set to score.
This was nothing more than we had expected. Barcelona were always going to have most of the ball and Arsenal were going to have to grab what they could on the break.
But it was still a strain.
Villa escaped from Djourou and slid a lame shot towards Almunia but, in the 35th minute, left back Adriano reached the byline and, from the tightest of angles, thumped a shot against the outside of the near post.
This had been billed as a battle between the best two footballing sides in the world but there was an edge to it too. Arsenal picked up all four bookings but there were guilty parties on both sides.
It had been a half of hard work for Wenger’s men. One in which the statistics showed they had enjoyed just 30 per cent of the possession.
However, it seemed that they had got through unscathed.
Then, three minutes into injury time, Messi struck.
Fabregas gave the ball away just outside the area. Andreas Iniesta collected and fed the Argentinean 12 yards out on the right of the area. He controlled it with one touch, flicked it up with another and managed to retain sufficient balance to hook it home with a third.
It was a wonderful finish but a body blow for Arsenal.
The visitors did not seem to have shaken the late goal from their system in the opening stages of the second half.
The game began, as it had ended, with Barcelona entrenched in the Arsenal half looking for openings.
However, Wenger had talked about the importance of belief pre-game. And it was that which grabbed a goal eight minutes in the second half.
Surrounded by three Barcelona players, Nasri won a corner on the left. Van Persie took it and, although Diaby went for it, the ball went into the net off the head of Busquets.
For perhaps the first time tonight, the Nou Camp was quiet. Except, of course, for a pocket of Arsenal fans right at the top of the stadium.
The tie was back in Arsenal’s hands.
But, after Villa’s stumbling shot was blocked, the pendulum swung back towards Barcelona.
Van Persie played on after the whistle had blown and took a shot on goal. Referee Massimo Busacca deemed it to be kicking the ball away and, effectively, time wasting.
He brandished a yellow card, the second of the night for the Dutchman, and he was off.
Villa went close again and Alves fired over. The red card had put the bit between Barcelona’s teeth. They had re-doubled their efforts and were asking serious questions of the Arsenal defence.
In the 66th minute, Messi sent Villa through but Almunia blocked well with his body.
But Barcelona had worked up a head of steam once more and that pressure would bring two goals in the three minutes. It was double damage from which Arsenal would not recover.
In the 69th minute, Iniesta sent Xavi through and he tucked away a shot past Almunia.
Shortly afterwards, Koscielny tripped Pedro and Messi scored from the spot.
Wenger brought on Nicklas Bendtner and Andrey Arshavin in search of a goal. But Barcelona still looked the more likely to score.
Almunia blocked once from Messi and twice from Ibrahim Afellay. Then with five minutes left, Alves went clear but somehow stuck a shot past the far post.
There was a sniff of a chance for Arsenal late on when Wilshere, their stand-out player on the night, fed Bendtner in the area. But the stretching Dane could not quite convert and keeper Victor Valdes smothered the ball.
It was a half-chance, a stolen moment but typical of the ones Arsenal needed to convert in order to qualify.
The whistle blew shortly afterwards.
Arsenal were out but with more honour than last season.
Source: Richard Clarke, Arsenal.com on 8 Mar 11
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Four managers on how Arsenal can eliminate Barcelona
Howard Wilkinson, Joe Royle, Peter Taylor and Ray Wilkins explain how Arsenal need to play to progress at Camp Nou
Howard Wilkinson, managed Leeds United to league title in 1991-92
I was at the first leg and would hope Arsenal can continue where they left off. They need to do what they did in the second half at the Emirates and hold a high defensive line which left little space between defence and midfield for Barcelona to exploit. In the first half Barça had been given plenty of room to play and were passing through Arsenal. After the break, though, with Arsenal playing much higher, they were forced to pass in front of Arsène Wenger's team, rarely got behind the home defence and were never able to use their possession to really hurt them. Arsenal made things too tight for a Barcelona side that, at times, even started losing the ball. Some people might advocate fielding a five-man midfield in Spain but I'd go for four and a half in that department with the half fully able to exploit any attacking opportunities that present themselves.
Joe Royle, managed Everton to FA Cup final victory in 1995
I suspect Wenger will play a five-man midfield and I think it offers Arsenal their best chance of success. They will miss Alex Song and need Abou Diaby to be at his best, if selected, as he will surely be the main defensive midfielder and must help his full-backs out. Arsenal will need to spent a lot of the night containing while playing on the break and hoping to catch Barcelona out with counter-attacks. Their natural game is very much about hitting teams on the break so this is something they are very good at. The containment bit of the night will be largely about limiting the supply to Lionel Messi and trying to force him on to his right foot. He's the world's best player so at times he will damage Arsenal's game but that doesn't mean they should give up doubling up on him. Wenger's players know Messi will look to attack Gaël Clichy's right foot and they need to prevent this happening too often. Even if you manage to keep Messi quiet there are bound to be problems with those around him - Andrés Iniesta, for instance – but an extra man in midfield will help an Arsenal side who will have been hardened mentally by beating Barcelona at the Emirates.
Peter Taylor, former England Under-21 and one-time England manager
If I were Wenger I would ask Arsenal to defend really deep, while letting Barcelona have the ball and pass it around in front of them before attacking them on the break. I think it's just too difficult to hold a high line and press a team as talented as Barcelona for an entire evening at Camp Nou. Admittedly, if Arsenal lacked pace, you would probably have no option but to go for a pressing game and a higher line but, because Wenger's team are collectively quicker than Barça, they can combine sitting deep with blistering counter-attacks. Arsenal's extreme pace on the break will scare Barcelona and that fear might make them a little less dangerous as an attacking force. I would have Wenger's defence sitting on the edge of the area, leaving little space behind them for Barcelona to exploit with the quality of their passing and movement. If that gap behind Arsenal's backline is too big the risk of defeat increases. I also believe a deep-lying defence will be much better equipped to comfortably combat Barça's crossing.
Ray Wilkins, former Chelsea assistant manager and Sky Sports expert
If Arsenal progress in this tie it would arguably be one of the most notable achievements by an English club in European competition in recent times. Barcelona are world-class throughout their line-up and, even without Carles Puyol and Gerard Piqué, they're only in the same position they were in last season when the sides met and the Spanish club progressed so comfortably. They'll just bring in more world-class players to replace both centre-halves, so Arsenal's task is immense.
If they are to make it through to the quarter-finals, they should not play for a goalless draw. The simple fact of the matter is that they are unlikely to keep Barça out for the entire match – they've scored 78 goals in La Liga alone this season – so Arsenal need to try and play their natural game, most likely within the formation they are familiar with, and put the home side on the back foot by registering an away goal. They can look to hit on the counter-attack, with the trickery of Samir Nasri and Cesc Fábregas, and discomfort the home side that way. That approach does at least allow them to stick to what they are best at.
This Arsenal team are incapable of doing what Internazionale did against Barcelona last season, shutting up shop and piling men behind the ball with very little ambition ever to go forward. That would be against Wenger's philosophy. Sure, they have a good work ethic – like Barça's, in fact – with both sides eager to chase down the ball when it's lost. But, to make the home side work, they have to keep the ball as long as they can when they can steal it from Barça, and make use of it, particularly in wide areas. They will have to be ruthless in front of goal and take what chances that come their way. They scored at Camp Nou last season and created other chances; they need to take them all this time around.
Defensively, Arsenal need to be rock solid through the middle, where so many of Barcelona's clever give-and-goes are generated. The Spanish team attack with pace through the middle, so that's where Arsenal need to be most wary. Song is their most natural defensively-minded midfielder, breaking up a lot of the opponents' play, so to be denied him is a real loss. Diaby is more rangy in his style of play, but it will be a test of his ability whether he has the pace and ability to cope with the quick feet and passing of Iniesta, Xavi and Mascherano.
But the bottom line is that Wenger will want his side to go there and put in a performance, playing the brand of exciting football with which they have graced the Premier League. They need Barcelona perhaps to have an off day – maybe a repeat of the profligacy that damaged them in the first leg – and to take their own chances, while remaining solid down the spine of their side. It's a big ask. A massive ask. But it will be a cracking game.
Source: Louise Taylor and Dominic Fifield, The Guardian on 8 Mar 11
Howard Wilkinson, managed Leeds United to league title in 1991-92
I was at the first leg and would hope Arsenal can continue where they left off. They need to do what they did in the second half at the Emirates and hold a high defensive line which left little space between defence and midfield for Barcelona to exploit. In the first half Barça had been given plenty of room to play and were passing through Arsenal. After the break, though, with Arsenal playing much higher, they were forced to pass in front of Arsène Wenger's team, rarely got behind the home defence and were never able to use their possession to really hurt them. Arsenal made things too tight for a Barcelona side that, at times, even started losing the ball. Some people might advocate fielding a five-man midfield in Spain but I'd go for four and a half in that department with the half fully able to exploit any attacking opportunities that present themselves.
Joe Royle, managed Everton to FA Cup final victory in 1995
I suspect Wenger will play a five-man midfield and I think it offers Arsenal their best chance of success. They will miss Alex Song and need Abou Diaby to be at his best, if selected, as he will surely be the main defensive midfielder and must help his full-backs out. Arsenal will need to spent a lot of the night containing while playing on the break and hoping to catch Barcelona out with counter-attacks. Their natural game is very much about hitting teams on the break so this is something they are very good at. The containment bit of the night will be largely about limiting the supply to Lionel Messi and trying to force him on to his right foot. He's the world's best player so at times he will damage Arsenal's game but that doesn't mean they should give up doubling up on him. Wenger's players know Messi will look to attack Gaël Clichy's right foot and they need to prevent this happening too often. Even if you manage to keep Messi quiet there are bound to be problems with those around him - Andrés Iniesta, for instance – but an extra man in midfield will help an Arsenal side who will have been hardened mentally by beating Barcelona at the Emirates.
Peter Taylor, former England Under-21 and one-time England manager
If I were Wenger I would ask Arsenal to defend really deep, while letting Barcelona have the ball and pass it around in front of them before attacking them on the break. I think it's just too difficult to hold a high line and press a team as talented as Barcelona for an entire evening at Camp Nou. Admittedly, if Arsenal lacked pace, you would probably have no option but to go for a pressing game and a higher line but, because Wenger's team are collectively quicker than Barça, they can combine sitting deep with blistering counter-attacks. Arsenal's extreme pace on the break will scare Barcelona and that fear might make them a little less dangerous as an attacking force. I would have Wenger's defence sitting on the edge of the area, leaving little space behind them for Barcelona to exploit with the quality of their passing and movement. If that gap behind Arsenal's backline is too big the risk of defeat increases. I also believe a deep-lying defence will be much better equipped to comfortably combat Barça's crossing.
Ray Wilkins, former Chelsea assistant manager and Sky Sports expert
If Arsenal progress in this tie it would arguably be one of the most notable achievements by an English club in European competition in recent times. Barcelona are world-class throughout their line-up and, even without Carles Puyol and Gerard Piqué, they're only in the same position they were in last season when the sides met and the Spanish club progressed so comfortably. They'll just bring in more world-class players to replace both centre-halves, so Arsenal's task is immense.
If they are to make it through to the quarter-finals, they should not play for a goalless draw. The simple fact of the matter is that they are unlikely to keep Barça out for the entire match – they've scored 78 goals in La Liga alone this season – so Arsenal need to try and play their natural game, most likely within the formation they are familiar with, and put the home side on the back foot by registering an away goal. They can look to hit on the counter-attack, with the trickery of Samir Nasri and Cesc Fábregas, and discomfort the home side that way. That approach does at least allow them to stick to what they are best at.
This Arsenal team are incapable of doing what Internazionale did against Barcelona last season, shutting up shop and piling men behind the ball with very little ambition ever to go forward. That would be against Wenger's philosophy. Sure, they have a good work ethic – like Barça's, in fact – with both sides eager to chase down the ball when it's lost. But, to make the home side work, they have to keep the ball as long as they can when they can steal it from Barça, and make use of it, particularly in wide areas. They will have to be ruthless in front of goal and take what chances that come their way. They scored at Camp Nou last season and created other chances; they need to take them all this time around.
Defensively, Arsenal need to be rock solid through the middle, where so many of Barcelona's clever give-and-goes are generated. The Spanish team attack with pace through the middle, so that's where Arsenal need to be most wary. Song is their most natural defensively-minded midfielder, breaking up a lot of the opponents' play, so to be denied him is a real loss. Diaby is more rangy in his style of play, but it will be a test of his ability whether he has the pace and ability to cope with the quick feet and passing of Iniesta, Xavi and Mascherano.
But the bottom line is that Wenger will want his side to go there and put in a performance, playing the brand of exciting football with which they have graced the Premier League. They need Barcelona perhaps to have an off day – maybe a repeat of the profligacy that damaged them in the first leg – and to take their own chances, while remaining solid down the spine of their side. It's a big ask. A massive ask. But it will be a cracking game.
Source: Louise Taylor and Dominic Fifield, The Guardian on 8 Mar 11
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