ARSENAL 5 WEST HAM UNITED 1
By Ricky Butler at The Emirates
FOUR goals in a scintillating 10 minute second half spell gave Arsenal a much needed victory at the Emirates last night, although the result was somewhat overshadowed by a serious head injury to West Ham substitute Dan Potts.
The match was held up for more than 10 minutes in the second half as the defender lay stricken on the turf following a clash of heads with Bacary Sagna, and with Sam Alladyce having already used his three substitutes, the Hammers finished the game with only ten men. The result however, had long been decided by Arsenal's earlier blitz.
Arsene Wenger's side began the night seven points behind fourth-placed Spurs so they knew nothing less victory would be enough to keep their Champions League hopes alive. But despite going a goal down inside twenty minutes, courtesy of a great strike from Jack Collison, Arsenal fought back in impressive style.
Having missed Sunday's 2-1 defeat at Chelsea due to illness, Lukas Podolski was back in the side and it was his magnificent 25 yard drive that brought the Gunners level just four minutes after Collison's effort.
Arsenal should have been ahead by the break as Podolski saw another effort cleared off the line by Joey O'Brien, although Aaron Ramsey was forced to do likewise at the other end to deny Carlton Cole.
But Arsenal nerves were settled within a minute of the second half. Theo Walcott whipped in a low corner from the left and Oliver Giroud arrived to turn the ball home at the near post. And that opened the floodgates.
Six minutes later Podolski played a lovely one-two with Santi Cazorla and the little Spaniard tucked the ball home from close range with a clever back-heel. Podolski then crossed for Walcott to make it 4-1 with his 16th goal of the season, and the German then created the fifth for Giroud with another inviting delivery from the left.
A repeat of the seven they scored against Newcastle recently looked on the cards, but the injury to Potts 15 minutes from time ended the match as a contest. Walcott and substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain both came close in a subdued finale but the points were already safely in the bag.
"West Ham defended very well in the first half," said Wenger. "We looked dangerous but couldn't
finish our chances. We came out in the second half and attacked with tremendous
pace. The injury to Dan Potts was the end of the game really but until that
moment we played very well.
"In the Chelsea game there were a lot of positives, it was disappointing to
lose, but we took the positives and transferred that into to this game.
"You want to be at your best every single game but we have many new players
and it takes some time to get to know each other very well and I think that
understanding is getting better."
West Ham manager Alladyce said: "It was 10 minutes of genius.
You could say we could defend better but I thought they hit the ground
running.
"The encouraging thing for them was that we switched off for one corner and
that lifted them. In the first half we defended exceptionally well but that 10
minutes blew us away."
ARSENAL - Szczesny 7, Sagna 7, Mertersaker 7, Vermaelan 7 (Koscielny 58, 7), Gibbs 8, Ramsey 9, Cazorla 8, Wilshere 8, Walcott 8, Giroud 8 (Oxlade-Chamberlain 77, 6), Podolski 9 (Santos 70, 6).
WEST HAM UNITED - Jaaskelainan 6, Reid 6 (Diarra 62, 5), Tomkins 5, O'Brien 6, Demal 7, Collison 7 (Potts 62, 6), Taylor 6, Noble 6, Nolan 5, Cole(C) 6, Vaz Te 5 (Diame, 6).
REFEREE: A. Marriner 6 - An easy night for the Birmingham-based official.
MAN OF MATCH: Podolski (Arsenal) - One cracking goal and three assists. Possibly his best game for the club.
TICKETS SOLD: 60,081
Thursday, 24 January 2013
Monday, 21 January 2013
Expectations lowered...
GONE are the days when I expect us to beat any of the big clubs. All I hope for is a good performance and that we can pick up enough points against the rest to finish in the Champions League places.
So in that respect the game at Chelsea was a success. If you discount most of the first half anyway. But it would have been a very different story had Giroud put away the early chance that presented itself. For Arsenal to have won they simply had to score first, and Giroud simply had to score.
Walcott put the Frenchman clear and he should have taken a touch to push the ball in front of him instead of letting it go across his body which made the angle so much tighter. Walcott has had his critics but you just know this is the sort of chance he would have stuck away, as he proved in the second half.
We played well after the break of course, forcing Chelsea back and creating numerous opportunities to get something from the match, but you cannot play for just 45 minutes against the top sides and expect to get a result.
Yes, both their goals were dubious to say the least. Coquelin was clearly fouled in the build up to the opener while it did appear as though Ramires simply slipped over in the incident that led to the match-winning penalty. Or perhaps he just conned the referee. He anticipated the challenge from Szczesny and fell over. Either way it was a harsh award.
But at least we showed some character after the break. Walcott's goal, his 15th of the season - not bad for someone who allegedly can't finish - came at just the right time and I was convinced we would go on and get a point.
But the late pressure came to nothing and in the end we were grateful to Vermaelen for a goal-line clearance to deny Ba an undeserved Chelsea third.
So where does it leave us? Well the squad looks very thin on the ground. With no Arteta, Podolski or Ox, the bench was especially weak. Things were so bad that even Arshavin was given a run-out in the closing stages. I really wanted him to grab the equaliser but it is not going to happen for the little Russian now so it is time to wave a fond farewell.
With under two weeks left of the 'Transfer Window' (sponsored by Sky Sports), Wenger really does need to spend. A striker, a defensive midfielder, a left back and a centre half are all required if we are going to fulfil the potential in players like Wilshere, Ox, Walcott and Cazorla.
But it probably won't happen. Wenger will not buy a defensive midfielder as he will not want to hamper the progress of Coquelin. Plus, he will say, we have Frimpong waiting in the wings and Diaby is fit again.
Having persuaded Walcott to sign a new contract on the basis he will play more often as a central striker, Wenger will not want to buy another forward now, especially as we already have Giroud and Podolski.
So we will probably see out the season with the same group of players who have so far flattered to deceive. At times brilliant - Liverpool and Reading away, Southampton and Newcastle at home were all performances of potential Champions.
Yet at other times we have been so poor it's been painful. Norwich and Villa away for example, Swansea at home. Sometimes we have gone from one extreme to other within the same 90 minutes. As we did at Chelsea.
Having said all that, I still think we will finish 4th. We have an easier run-in than most of the teams around us and we seem to have a knack of pulling it around when it really matters.
But is that enough? Many Arsenal fans would argue that it is not. With the price of tickets surely we should be able to compete with the likes of Chelsea, City and United, they say. Plus it is nearly 8 years since we last lifted a trophy.
However, I would take 4th place over an FA Cup success any day. A day out at Wembley is all well and good but it is soon over and then all you have are the memories, a few hundred quid less in your pocket and a place in the Europa League to look forward to.
No, not for me. I feel we have to be in the Champions League. After everything that has happened this season, that would be a real success. Plus it would mean Spurs missing out again. Come on you would like that wouldn't you?
So in that respect the game at Chelsea was a success. If you discount most of the first half anyway. But it would have been a very different story had Giroud put away the early chance that presented itself. For Arsenal to have won they simply had to score first, and Giroud simply had to score.
Walcott put the Frenchman clear and he should have taken a touch to push the ball in front of him instead of letting it go across his body which made the angle so much tighter. Walcott has had his critics but you just know this is the sort of chance he would have stuck away, as he proved in the second half.
We played well after the break of course, forcing Chelsea back and creating numerous opportunities to get something from the match, but you cannot play for just 45 minutes against the top sides and expect to get a result.
Yes, both their goals were dubious to say the least. Coquelin was clearly fouled in the build up to the opener while it did appear as though Ramires simply slipped over in the incident that led to the match-winning penalty. Or perhaps he just conned the referee. He anticipated the challenge from Szczesny and fell over. Either way it was a harsh award.
But at least we showed some character after the break. Walcott's goal, his 15th of the season - not bad for someone who allegedly can't finish - came at just the right time and I was convinced we would go on and get a point.
But the late pressure came to nothing and in the end we were grateful to Vermaelen for a goal-line clearance to deny Ba an undeserved Chelsea third.
So where does it leave us? Well the squad looks very thin on the ground. With no Arteta, Podolski or Ox, the bench was especially weak. Things were so bad that even Arshavin was given a run-out in the closing stages. I really wanted him to grab the equaliser but it is not going to happen for the little Russian now so it is time to wave a fond farewell.
With under two weeks left of the 'Transfer Window' (sponsored by Sky Sports), Wenger really does need to spend. A striker, a defensive midfielder, a left back and a centre half are all required if we are going to fulfil the potential in players like Wilshere, Ox, Walcott and Cazorla.
But it probably won't happen. Wenger will not buy a defensive midfielder as he will not want to hamper the progress of Coquelin. Plus, he will say, we have Frimpong waiting in the wings and Diaby is fit again.
Having persuaded Walcott to sign a new contract on the basis he will play more often as a central striker, Wenger will not want to buy another forward now, especially as we already have Giroud and Podolski.
So we will probably see out the season with the same group of players who have so far flattered to deceive. At times brilliant - Liverpool and Reading away, Southampton and Newcastle at home were all performances of potential Champions.
Yet at other times we have been so poor it's been painful. Norwich and Villa away for example, Swansea at home. Sometimes we have gone from one extreme to other within the same 90 minutes. As we did at Chelsea.
Having said all that, I still think we will finish 4th. We have an easier run-in than most of the teams around us and we seem to have a knack of pulling it around when it really matters.
But is that enough? Many Arsenal fans would argue that it is not. With the price of tickets surely we should be able to compete with the likes of Chelsea, City and United, they say. Plus it is nearly 8 years since we last lifted a trophy.
However, I would take 4th place over an FA Cup success any day. A day out at Wembley is all well and good but it is soon over and then all you have are the memories, a few hundred quid less in your pocket and a place in the Europa League to look forward to.
No, not for me. I feel we have to be in the Champions League. After everything that has happened this season, that would be a real success. Plus it would mean Spurs missing out again. Come on you would like that wouldn't you?
Thursday, 17 January 2013
Late Wilshere strike sends Arsenal through
FA CUP 3rd ROUND REPLAY
ARSENAL 1 SWANSEA CITY 0
By Ricky Butler at the Emirates
A WONDER goal three minutes from time from the outstanding Jack Wilshere kept Arsenal's season alive at a frozen Emirates last night.
The 21 year-old, who only returned from a 17 month injury nightmare in October, finally ended the brave Swansea resistance with a thumping half-volley just as it was beginning to look like a tale of missed opportunities for Arsene Wenger's side.
Arsenal had dominated the second half to such an extent that Wojciech Szczesny was in danger of catching hypothermia in the freezing temperatures.
Chance after chance went begging as the Gunners did everything but score. Theo Walcott, playing on the right, chipped narrowly wide after a superb through ball from Abou Diaby, before seeing a close range effort cleared off the line by Danny Graham.
Oliver Giroud, back in the starting line up in place of Lukas Podolski, twice came close as did Santi Cazorla, while Michel Vorm had earlier saved well from Thomas Vermaelen and Francis Coquelin.
But with extra time less than five minutes away, Wilshere finally made the crucial breakthrough. Cazorla found Giroud on the right side of the penalty area and the Frenchman's lovely flick sat up nicely for Wilshere to drill a half-volley beyond Vorm from 20 yards.
After Sunday's defeat at the hands of Manchester City, this was a match Wenger's side could ill-afford to lose. With the FA Cup their only realistic chance of silverware this season, an early exit would have piled more pressure on the Frenchman.
The fans had already shown their disillusionment with thousands of seats left empty, a situation rarely seen at the Emirates, but those who stayed away missed a thrilling tie.
Swansea gave as good as they got in an even first half. Former Gunner Kyle Bartley headed onto the crossbar while only a desperate, last-ditch tackle from Vermaelen denied Nathan Dyer.
But there was only one team in it after the break. With Abou Diaby and Coquelin providng a shield in front of the back four, Wilshere and Cazorla were given the freedom to run riot. But with time running out and extra time imminent, Wilshere finally broke Swansea hearts to seal a 4th round trip to Brighton.
"Jack was outstanding tonight," said Wenger. "He played in a different position, a bit higher up the pitch, and it suited him well. I didn't expect him to be this good at this stage.
"I always thought that if we could get Jack back to a reasonable level by January we will have done well, but he is ahead of what I could imagine.
"He is back to what he was before the injury, I think so, yes. A complete midfielder can defend and attack and Jack can also dribble and give a final ball so the closer players like him are to the goal the better it is for them."
Swansea manager Michael Laudrup said: "We tried, we defended well, at times heroic.
"They had two or three chances where you say 'It's only a matter of time when they score'.
"If they score a few minutes from the end you think it could have gone into extra-time, but they deserved the win in the end.
"I want to win every game and the players want to, but it's not possible for anyone. It's not a question of saying it doesn't matter and I am disappointed."
Meanwhile, Wilshere was delighted with only his second goal of the season.
"It was a great set-up from Olivier [Giroud}. I didn't want extra-time. It was important we got the winner before 90 minutes. We know Brighton play football, they play great football, so it will be another tough tie."
ARSENAL - Szczesney 6, Sagna 6, Mertersaker 6, Vermealen 7, Gibbs 7, Diaby 6 (Ramsey 82, 6), Coquelin 6, Wilshere 9, Cazorla 8, Giroud 8, Walcott 7. Subs not used: Mannone, Jenkinson, Santos, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arshavin, Podolski.
SWANSEA CITY - Vorm, 8 Richards 6, Bartley 7, Chicco 7, Tiendalli 7, Brittan 6, Agustien 6 (Hernandez 59, 6), Dyer 6, De Guzman 6 (Jung-Yeong 60, 6), Routledge 6, Graham 5(Michu 71, 6). Subs not used: Tremmel, Davies, Monk, Shechter.
REFEREE: M. Clatenberg 7 - Got all the big calls right and went about his business in a calm and assured manner.
MAN OF MATCH: Jack Wilshere (Arsenal) - Is there a better midfielder anywhere in the World right now ?
TICKETS SOLD: 58,359
ARSENAL 1 SWANSEA CITY 0
By Ricky Butler at the Emirates
A WONDER goal three minutes from time from the outstanding Jack Wilshere kept Arsenal's season alive at a frozen Emirates last night.
The 21 year-old, who only returned from a 17 month injury nightmare in October, finally ended the brave Swansea resistance with a thumping half-volley just as it was beginning to look like a tale of missed opportunities for Arsene Wenger's side.
Arsenal had dominated the second half to such an extent that Wojciech Szczesny was in danger of catching hypothermia in the freezing temperatures.
Chance after chance went begging as the Gunners did everything but score. Theo Walcott, playing on the right, chipped narrowly wide after a superb through ball from Abou Diaby, before seeing a close range effort cleared off the line by Danny Graham.
Oliver Giroud, back in the starting line up in place of Lukas Podolski, twice came close as did Santi Cazorla, while Michel Vorm had earlier saved well from Thomas Vermaelen and Francis Coquelin.
But with extra time less than five minutes away, Wilshere finally made the crucial breakthrough. Cazorla found Giroud on the right side of the penalty area and the Frenchman's lovely flick sat up nicely for Wilshere to drill a half-volley beyond Vorm from 20 yards.
After Sunday's defeat at the hands of Manchester City, this was a match Wenger's side could ill-afford to lose. With the FA Cup their only realistic chance of silverware this season, an early exit would have piled more pressure on the Frenchman.
The fans had already shown their disillusionment with thousands of seats left empty, a situation rarely seen at the Emirates, but those who stayed away missed a thrilling tie.
Swansea gave as good as they got in an even first half. Former Gunner Kyle Bartley headed onto the crossbar while only a desperate, last-ditch tackle from Vermaelen denied Nathan Dyer.
But there was only one team in it after the break. With Abou Diaby and Coquelin providng a shield in front of the back four, Wilshere and Cazorla were given the freedom to run riot. But with time running out and extra time imminent, Wilshere finally broke Swansea hearts to seal a 4th round trip to Brighton.
"Jack was outstanding tonight," said Wenger. "He played in a different position, a bit higher up the pitch, and it suited him well. I didn't expect him to be this good at this stage.
"I always thought that if we could get Jack back to a reasonable level by January we will have done well, but he is ahead of what I could imagine.
"He is back to what he was before the injury, I think so, yes. A complete midfielder can defend and attack and Jack can also dribble and give a final ball so the closer players like him are to the goal the better it is for them."
Swansea manager Michael Laudrup said: "We tried, we defended well, at times heroic.
"They had two or three chances where you say 'It's only a matter of time when they score'.
"If they score a few minutes from the end you think it could have gone into extra-time, but they deserved the win in the end.
"I want to win every game and the players want to, but it's not possible for anyone. It's not a question of saying it doesn't matter and I am disappointed."
Meanwhile, Wilshere was delighted with only his second goal of the season.
"It was a great set-up from Olivier [Giroud}. I didn't want extra-time. It was important we got the winner before 90 minutes. We know Brighton play football, they play great football, so it will be another tough tie."
ARSENAL - Szczesney 6, Sagna 6, Mertersaker 6, Vermealen 7, Gibbs 7, Diaby 6 (Ramsey 82, 6), Coquelin 6, Wilshere 9, Cazorla 8, Giroud 8, Walcott 7. Subs not used: Mannone, Jenkinson, Santos, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arshavin, Podolski.
SWANSEA CITY - Vorm, 8 Richards 6, Bartley 7, Chicco 7, Tiendalli 7, Brittan 6, Agustien 6 (Hernandez 59, 6), Dyer 6, De Guzman 6 (Jung-Yeong 60, 6), Routledge 6, Graham 5(Michu 71, 6). Subs not used: Tremmel, Davies, Monk, Shechter.
REFEREE: M. Clatenberg 7 - Got all the big calls right and went about his business in a calm and assured manner.
MAN OF MATCH: Jack Wilshere (Arsenal) - Is there a better midfielder anywhere in the World right now ?
TICKETS SOLD: 58,359
Tuesday, 15 January 2013
City fans should look closer to home for the price of tickets
IS it just me who sees the irony in Manchester City fans complaining about the price of tickets at the Emirates on Sunday?
It has been their club's irresponsible transfer and wage policy which has forced clubs like Arsenal to raise ticket prices in order to try and compete.
Arsenal has taken a more frugal approach. They only spend on transfers and wages what they can recoup in ticket sales and merchandise. In other words - the correct way.
What this has meant however, is that they have been forced to sell their better players to clubs like City in order to balance the books. They have also been left behind in the transfer market. A player who might otherwise have been happy coming to the Emirates on £55k a week is suddenly having his head turned by the prospect of £150k at Eastlands.
And transfer fees go up as a result. Arsenal bid £10million, City bid 25. The only choice Arsenal have is to either risk future financial meltdown by speculating with money they do not have, or increasing ticket prices to try to make up the gap.
So excuse me if I feel very little sympathy for the City fans who travelled to London on Sunday. Of course I understand that the fans are not to blame for how their club chooses to do business but they need to look a little closer to home before complaining about others.
They have been quite happy to see their club splash out unsustainable amounts of money on transfer fees and wages as they have seen them go from a yo-yo club into Premier League champions. They have been quite happy for them to trample over other clubs along the way.
You cannot have it both ways. The consequences of your clubs' actions are higher ticket prices for everyone.
So City fans, next time you think you are paying too much to watch your team remember the trophies you have won in recent years and how you have been able to win them. Surely £62 is a small price to pay?
Saturday, 22 December 2012
1-0 to the Arsenal - away wins like they used to be
'WE want our Arsenal back' has been a popular chant from the travelling Gooners this season, and over the previous five days that is exactly what we have got.
Monday night at Reading we saw the free-flowing, Arsene Wenger Arsenal at it's very best. Flaky at the back, sure, but incisive and inventive going forward.
Wigan, on the the hand, saw us back to the days of George Graham. Solid and pragmatic, grinding out a 1-0 away victory. The sort of victory, in fact, that success is built on.
Both performances were impressive in their own right and showed that this team has more about it then perhaps they have been given credit for.
Of course it was only Reading and Wigan. Two sides in the bottom three and games we should be expecting to win. But in a league where everyone is capable of beating everyone else, two away wins at opposite ends of the country inside a week is pretty impressive stuff.
Anyone on Saturday who was expecting another Reading was always going to be disappointed. Wigan had been struggling with defensive injuries and were never going to allow us as much space and freedom as Reading had afforded us. We needed to work for this one. Grind it out.
Yes, we had one or two things go our way. Arouna Kone should have given Roberto Martinez' side the lead midway through the first half when he raced past the otherwise immaculate Per Mertersaker but fired wide of the target.
Then there was the penalty. My initial reaction was that it was a foul. Theo tricked Bousejour into the challenge and he was caught. Yes it was soft, but a foul is a foul and Mikel Arteta duly converted from the spot.
Having waited 330 minutes to see an away goal in the Premier League this season, Emerson and I were not about to complain about this one that was for sure! Plus, of course, when the goal is a penalty you get two celebrations for the price of one - the first when the referee points to the spot and the second when the ball actually hits the net.
The banter with the Wigan fans to our left was great. They started it with a rendition of 'Robin van Persie, he left 'cause you're s**t.' But we responded with possibly THE chant of the season - 'Titus Bramble, he left 'cause you're s**t!' Hilarious.
But instead of going on to dominate as we had at Reading, for some reason we decided to sit back after that and the substitutions showed our intentions.
The Ox, who had been impressive down the right, was replaced by Ramsey, Podolski was replaced by Coquelin and Cazorla, who had had little influence on proceedings, was replaced by Laurent Koscielny. I wouldn't mind betting all these decisions were made by a certain Mr. Stevie Bould either.
They put us under pressure in the closing stages but that old Graham spirit shone through. Thomas Vermealen and Metersaker were outstanding, while Coquelin and Arteta gave them the necessary protection in the closing stages. 1-0 to the Arsenal. Got a ring to it, eh?
The win lifted us up to third place, thanks to Spurs failing to beat Stoke later in the day, so a club that was in crisis a couple of weeks ago is now looking in fine shape.
Of course I will not get too carried away. Improvements are needed, reinforcements are needed, but in the circumstances we should be fairly happy with our lot going into Christmas.
A title challenge in 2013 looks out of the question, although we did pull back a similar gap in 1998, but this is a work in progress. With the 'Young Guns' tied to long term deals, and Theo expected to sign his soon, this group can only grow and I wouldn't be at all surprised if we do indeed get our Arsenal back before too long.
Just don't expect it to be the class of 2004. More like 1994, but that will do for me. 5-2 wins are great of course, but it is the 1-0's that win you silverwear.
Monday night at Reading we saw the free-flowing, Arsene Wenger Arsenal at it's very best. Flaky at the back, sure, but incisive and inventive going forward.
Wigan, on the the hand, saw us back to the days of George Graham. Solid and pragmatic, grinding out a 1-0 away victory. The sort of victory, in fact, that success is built on.
Both performances were impressive in their own right and showed that this team has more about it then perhaps they have been given credit for.
Of course it was only Reading and Wigan. Two sides in the bottom three and games we should be expecting to win. But in a league where everyone is capable of beating everyone else, two away wins at opposite ends of the country inside a week is pretty impressive stuff.
Anyone on Saturday who was expecting another Reading was always going to be disappointed. Wigan had been struggling with defensive injuries and were never going to allow us as much space and freedom as Reading had afforded us. We needed to work for this one. Grind it out.
Yes, we had one or two things go our way. Arouna Kone should have given Roberto Martinez' side the lead midway through the first half when he raced past the otherwise immaculate Per Mertersaker but fired wide of the target.
Then there was the penalty. My initial reaction was that it was a foul. Theo tricked Bousejour into the challenge and he was caught. Yes it was soft, but a foul is a foul and Mikel Arteta duly converted from the spot.
Having waited 330 minutes to see an away goal in the Premier League this season, Emerson and I were not about to complain about this one that was for sure! Plus, of course, when the goal is a penalty you get two celebrations for the price of one - the first when the referee points to the spot and the second when the ball actually hits the net.
 |
| Arteta slots home the winner to give us something to cheer at last |
But instead of going on to dominate as we had at Reading, for some reason we decided to sit back after that and the substitutions showed our intentions.
The Ox, who had been impressive down the right, was replaced by Ramsey, Podolski was replaced by Coquelin and Cazorla, who had had little influence on proceedings, was replaced by Laurent Koscielny. I wouldn't mind betting all these decisions were made by a certain Mr. Stevie Bould either.
They put us under pressure in the closing stages but that old Graham spirit shone through. Thomas Vermealen and Metersaker were outstanding, while Coquelin and Arteta gave them the necessary protection in the closing stages. 1-0 to the Arsenal. Got a ring to it, eh?
The win lifted us up to third place, thanks to Spurs failing to beat Stoke later in the day, so a club that was in crisis a couple of weeks ago is now looking in fine shape.
Of course I will not get too carried away. Improvements are needed, reinforcements are needed, but in the circumstances we should be fairly happy with our lot going into Christmas.
A title challenge in 2013 looks out of the question, although we did pull back a similar gap in 1998, but this is a work in progress. With the 'Young Guns' tied to long term deals, and Theo expected to sign his soon, this group can only grow and I wouldn't be at all surprised if we do indeed get our Arsenal back before too long.
Just don't expect it to be the class of 2004. More like 1994, but that will do for me. 5-2 wins are great of course, but it is the 1-0's that win you silverwear.
Saturday, 1 December 2012
Michu at the double as Arsenal suffer shocking home defeat
ARSENAL 0 SWANSEA CITY 2
By Ricky Butler at the Emirates
Two goals in the final two minutes from leading scorer Miguel Michu gave Swansea a shock win at The Emirates on Saturday.
The Spaniard twice capitalised on Arsenal defensive errors in the closing stages to pile more pressure on beleaguered Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.
The Frenchman had spoken in the build up to the game about the need to win their home matches but his side rarely looked like scoring against a resolute Swans defence.
In contrast, Michael Laudrup's men should have been in front long before the end. Carl Jenkinson did well to block an early effort from Ashley Williams while Angel Rangel was twice kept at bay by Wojciech Szczesny before the break.
Nathan Dyer then broke from half way and would surely have opened the scoring had it not been for a great last-ditch challenge from Thomas Vermaelen.
Arsenal created very little in a first half display lacking any fluency. Jack Wilshere showed his frustration by berating Gervinho and Lukas Podolski for a lack of movement in front of him and the nearest they came to a breakthrough was a Santi Cazorla header which landed safely in the arms of Swans goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel.
Wenger's side came out at the start of the second half with more tempo to their play, but they still struggled to create anything tangible.
Twice Cazorla fired straight at Tremmell while the Spaniard then claimed a penalty after he appeared to be brought down by fellow countryman Chico Flores, but referee Mark Clatenberg was unimpressed.
Wenger threw on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Oliver Giroud and Tomas Rosicky - his first appearance of an injury hit season - for Gervinho, Podolski and Wilshere but it was the Swans who continued to create the better chances.
Szczesny saved well again from Rangel and substitute Dwight Tiendalli before Michu struck two minutes from time.
Vermaelen and Per Mertersacker were both attracted to Luke Moore leaving Michu with a clean run on goal which he never looked like missing.
With the Emirates still in shock, the Spaniard then capitalised on a mistake by the otherwise impressive Jenkinson in stoppage time to seal a famous Swansea victory - his 10th Premier League goal of the season.
"It was not a good performance," said Wenger at the final whistle. "I felt Swansea deserved to win. We were very jaded physically after two tough away games and today we were not at the races at all.
"We were guilty at 0-0 with two minutes to go. When you can't win it is important not to lose. We were not cautious enough defensively to keep a 0-0," he continued.
"We tried very hard in the second half to get into the game but we were not sharp enough to create many openings.
"We need to get the balance right in our offensive game. We had many attacking players on the pitch but we didn't create enough chances and we will work on that.
"The fans are right to boo. You cannot be happy when you don't win the games. We need to win our home matches but what we produced today was not convincing enough to keep our fans happy."
Swans manager Laudrup was delighted with his side's performance. He said: "It is a fantastic result and a great performance. It was easy to be motivated against one of the big teams.
"We have had a very good week with seven points from three games. It has been absolutely outstanding.
"We could play with no pressure. All the pressure was on Arsenal because they needed to win today.
"I felt we played very well. We created five or six big chances but when we did not take them I felt Arsenal would maybe get the winning goal. Fortunately it did not go like that and we scored two good goals.
"Michu is a great finisher and a great worker but in this team right now everyone is playing at a very high level which is great to see."
ARSENAL - Szczesny 8, Jenkinson 7, Mertersaker 6, Vermaelen 5, Gibbs 5, Arteta 6, Wilshere 5 (Rosicky), Cazorla 7, Walcott 6, Gervinho 4 (Oxlade-Chamberlain 6), Podolski 5 (Giroud 5).
SWANSEA CITY - Tremmell 6, Rangel 7, Yeoung 7, Chico 6, Davies 7, De Guzman 8(Tiendalli 6), Britton 7, Shechter 6 (Moore 6), Williams 7, Dyer 8, Michu 9.
REFEREE; M. Clatenburg
STAR MAN; Michu (Swansea) - Two superb late finishes capped a fine all-round display.
ATTENDANCE; 60,098
By Ricky Butler at the Emirates
Two goals in the final two minutes from leading scorer Miguel Michu gave Swansea a shock win at The Emirates on Saturday.
The Spaniard twice capitalised on Arsenal defensive errors in the closing stages to pile more pressure on beleaguered Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.
In contrast, Michael Laudrup's men should have been in front long before the end. Carl Jenkinson did well to block an early effort from Ashley Williams while Angel Rangel was twice kept at bay by Wojciech Szczesny before the break.
Nathan Dyer then broke from half way and would surely have opened the scoring had it not been for a great last-ditch challenge from Thomas Vermaelen.
Arsenal created very little in a first half display lacking any fluency. Jack Wilshere showed his frustration by berating Gervinho and Lukas Podolski for a lack of movement in front of him and the nearest they came to a breakthrough was a Santi Cazorla header which landed safely in the arms of Swans goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel.
Twice Cazorla fired straight at Tremmell while the Spaniard then claimed a penalty after he appeared to be brought down by fellow countryman Chico Flores, but referee Mark Clatenberg was unimpressed.
Wenger threw on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Oliver Giroud and Tomas Rosicky - his first appearance of an injury hit season - for Gervinho, Podolski and Wilshere but it was the Swans who continued to create the better chances.
Szczesny saved well again from Rangel and substitute Dwight Tiendalli before Michu struck two minutes from time.
Vermaelen and Per Mertersacker were both attracted to Luke Moore leaving Michu with a clean run on goal which he never looked like missing.
With the Emirates still in shock, the Spaniard then capitalised on a mistake by the otherwise impressive Jenkinson in stoppage time to seal a famous Swansea victory - his 10th Premier League goal of the season.
"It was not a good performance," said Wenger at the final whistle. "I felt Swansea deserved to win. We were very jaded physically after two tough away games and today we were not at the races at all.
"We were guilty at 0-0 with two minutes to go. When you can't win it is important not to lose. We were not cautious enough defensively to keep a 0-0," he continued.
"We tried very hard in the second half to get into the game but we were not sharp enough to create many openings.
"We need to get the balance right in our offensive game. We had many attacking players on the pitch but we didn't create enough chances and we will work on that.
"The fans are right to boo. You cannot be happy when you don't win the games. We need to win our home matches but what we produced today was not convincing enough to keep our fans happy."
Swans manager Laudrup was delighted with his side's performance. He said: "It is a fantastic result and a great performance. It was easy to be motivated against one of the big teams.
"We have had a very good week with seven points from three games. It has been absolutely outstanding.
"We could play with no pressure. All the pressure was on Arsenal because they needed to win today.
"I felt we played very well. We created five or six big chances but when we did not take them I felt Arsenal would maybe get the winning goal. Fortunately it did not go like that and we scored two good goals.
"Michu is a great finisher and a great worker but in this team right now everyone is playing at a very high level which is great to see."
ARSENAL - Szczesny 8, Jenkinson 7, Mertersaker 6, Vermaelen 5, Gibbs 5, Arteta 6, Wilshere 5 (Rosicky), Cazorla 7, Walcott 6, Gervinho 4 (Oxlade-Chamberlain 6), Podolski 5 (Giroud 5).
SWANSEA CITY - Tremmell 6, Rangel 7, Yeoung 7, Chico 6, Davies 7, De Guzman 8(Tiendalli 6), Britton 7, Shechter 6 (Moore 6), Williams 7, Dyer 8, Michu 9.
REFEREE; M. Clatenburg
STAR MAN; Michu (Swansea) - Two superb late finishes capped a fine all-round display.
ATTENDANCE; 60,098
Tuesday, 27 November 2012
Villa away, another trip ruined by the match
ASTON
VILLA 0 ARSENAL 0
I AM starting to think Emerson and I are becoming a curse on away games this season. This trip to Villa Park was our third of the season following on from excursions to Stoke in August (0-0) and Norwich last month (0-1), and once again we failed to see the team score.
I don’t know why we thought this would be any different. With Villa struggling at the wrong end of the table, this had Norwich written all over it. But the joy of travelling to away games is the hope you will witness something special, like a Reading, so we tackled the M6 full of optimism.
 |
| Villa Park, one of the best grounds in the country |
I am beginning to wonder if we would actually be better off not qualifying for it at all and just concentrating on the things that really matter. I mean it hasn’t done Liverpool any harm has it?
Tiredness or not, we seemed to think we just had to turn
up, play our football and we would win. But unfortunately that is rarely the
case for us these days.
I couldn’t help feel, however, that if Theo had been fit we
would have won without too many problems. He is fast becoming our most
important player, giving us that extra bit of pace and quality in the final
third. Fingers crossed he signs that new contract then. |
| Theo Walcott, may have made the difference |
Arshavin’s lovely cross from the left would have left Gervinho with a tap in even he couldn’t miss had it not been for the last-ditch intervention of Clark.
I would love nothing more than to see the little Russian
to get a run in the side. Technically he is still probably our most gifted
player and a run of games may bring back his missing confidence.
Next up came the chant of ‘We want our Arsenal back’ from
the increasingly frustrated away section. But just what is ‘our Arsenal?’ Is it
the Arsenal I first fell in love with in early 1980’s? You know the one
with players like John Hawley, Lee Chapman and Brian Sparrow in the team? And
if so do we really want that back? I know I don’t.
Anyway as Emerson and I set off back down the M6, we
reflected on another goalless away trip. His opinion was that Mertersaker, Ramsey and Szczesny had all played well and that Villa Park is a very nice ground. I found it hard to disagree.
 |
| Emerson enjoying another 0-0 draw! |
Oddly the only three away games where
we have failed to score this season are the only three we have travelled to. Our next scheduled trip is for the Capital One cup tie at
Bradford in a couple of weeks, then Wigan just before Christmas. If we don’t
score in either of those two, we will get the message.
Sunday, 28 October 2012
Kicking it out or making it worse?
IT is difficult for a white, British male to write about racism in football without being accused of being racist. But to hell with it, I am going to anyway.
I could mention the fact that I grew up in a very ethnically diverse area on the East London/Essex border in the 1970's and that many of my friends were non-white. I could mention the fact that my mother was born in Burma and that I have often been mistaken for a 'foreigner' myself. But none of that matters.
No. I am just a normal white guy who is getting sick and tired of people like Rio Ferdinand moaning about how badly they are treated. Do me a favour.
Let's get one thing clear. This is not 1979. Things have moved on. These days, black players have never had it so good. The so-called discrimination they face is nothing compared to the shocking scenes that greeted players like John Barnes and Cyrille Regis, 30 years ago.
To you or I, Ferdinand is just a footballer. He is no different to Wayne Rooney or Ji Song Park. Yet he always refers to himself as a black footballer, as though that makes him different. He is bringing race and colour into it, no one else.
Now he wants to form a breakaway black-only players union. The current union looks after all footballers whatever their colour, creed or religion, yet Ferdinand wants one that excludes everyone except black players. Does that seem right?
Football, and society in general, has worked hard to break down the divides that existed 30 years ago. Equality was the aim and it has been achieved.
But that is not enough for guys like Rio. He wants to take things further. He wants to create new divides. He wants black players to have special rights over and above those of his white colleagues.
So now the FA, in their infinite wisdom, have announced plans to use 'positive discrimination' to ensure we increase the number of black managers and coaches over the next three years. That's right, they are not considering giving all potential new managers extra training to ensure we produce better coaches. No. They just want to raise the number of black coaches to appease Ferdinand. Genius.
This will lead to a situation where a stronger white candidate will be overlooked for a weaker black candidate just so the club do not appear racist. Rotas will be made so a certain number of black candidates have to be considered for each job, and if they are not successful...well you join the dots.
Since when has it been racist to employ the best candidate for the job? Forcing clubs to employ a black manager, however, is.
I would go further and question if there is really is a serious problem with the number of black managers currently in the game anyway. What percentage of white players go into management when they retire? I do not have the figures to hand but it can only be a very small number when you look at the jobs available compared to the number of players who retire every year.
Also, most club chairmen prefer to select a manager with experience. It appears only the same few managers jump from club to club. They get sacked somewhere and then appear somewhere else within weeks.
Therefore the bigger problem is a lack of opportunity for all new, young managers, regardless of their colour. It is a tough profession to get into, especially when clubs are under so much pressure to have instant success. Is that not the issue we should be looking at?
The other point worth remembering is that it is only over the past 20 years or so that the number of black players has significantly increased. Many have only recently finished playing, and many are still playing or working in the media, so it will take a few years for them to gain the necessary qualifications and experience at Academy level.
Therefore it stands to reason that over the next 10 years there will be natural increase in the number of black managers without any need for any of this 'positive discrimination.' Actually I will stop using that term. What makes it positive? It is simply favouring one group over another, the very definition of prejudice.
Anyway, I digress.
The fact is, Ferdinand is putting the fight against racism back 20 years. He is creating problems that do not exist and making people think about race again when they had stopped doing so.
There was a time when you knew the number of black of players at every club. They stood out because they were so rare. Unique. Now you don't even notice. They are as much a part of football as over-priced tickets and Chicken Balti pies.
Yet the minute a high-profile black player claims discrimination, it is never questioned. It must be right as they said so. So now players like Ferdinand set the agenda and no one can say anything against them for fear of being labelled racist.
Of course there are still isolated incidents. The odd moron who thinks they are clever. (Step forward John Terry) But these incidents are occurring less and less. We need to keep working, educating, and ensuring the guilty are punished sufficiently, of course, but lets not kid ourselves the problems are as bad as some would have us believe.
Kick It Out, and campaigns like it, are doing a good job when we don't need to think about them. They are tackling the problems without us even noticing. Drawing attention to it, as Ferdinand has done, will only do more harm than good.
I could mention the fact that I grew up in a very ethnically diverse area on the East London/Essex border in the 1970's and that many of my friends were non-white. I could mention the fact that my mother was born in Burma and that I have often been mistaken for a 'foreigner' myself. But none of that matters.
No. I am just a normal white guy who is getting sick and tired of people like Rio Ferdinand moaning about how badly they are treated. Do me a favour.
Let's get one thing clear. This is not 1979. Things have moved on. These days, black players have never had it so good. The so-called discrimination they face is nothing compared to the shocking scenes that greeted players like John Barnes and Cyrille Regis, 30 years ago.
To you or I, Ferdinand is just a footballer. He is no different to Wayne Rooney or Ji Song Park. Yet he always refers to himself as a black footballer, as though that makes him different. He is bringing race and colour into it, no one else.
Now he wants to form a breakaway black-only players union. The current union looks after all footballers whatever their colour, creed or religion, yet Ferdinand wants one that excludes everyone except black players. Does that seem right?
Football, and society in general, has worked hard to break down the divides that existed 30 years ago. Equality was the aim and it has been achieved.
But that is not enough for guys like Rio. He wants to take things further. He wants to create new divides. He wants black players to have special rights over and above those of his white colleagues.
So now the FA, in their infinite wisdom, have announced plans to use 'positive discrimination' to ensure we increase the number of black managers and coaches over the next three years. That's right, they are not considering giving all potential new managers extra training to ensure we produce better coaches. No. They just want to raise the number of black coaches to appease Ferdinand. Genius.
This will lead to a situation where a stronger white candidate will be overlooked for a weaker black candidate just so the club do not appear racist. Rotas will be made so a certain number of black candidates have to be considered for each job, and if they are not successful...well you join the dots.
Since when has it been racist to employ the best candidate for the job? Forcing clubs to employ a black manager, however, is.
I would go further and question if there is really is a serious problem with the number of black managers currently in the game anyway. What percentage of white players go into management when they retire? I do not have the figures to hand but it can only be a very small number when you look at the jobs available compared to the number of players who retire every year.
Also, most club chairmen prefer to select a manager with experience. It appears only the same few managers jump from club to club. They get sacked somewhere and then appear somewhere else within weeks.
Therefore the bigger problem is a lack of opportunity for all new, young managers, regardless of their colour. It is a tough profession to get into, especially when clubs are under so much pressure to have instant success. Is that not the issue we should be looking at?
The other point worth remembering is that it is only over the past 20 years or so that the number of black players has significantly increased. Many have only recently finished playing, and many are still playing or working in the media, so it will take a few years for them to gain the necessary qualifications and experience at Academy level.
Therefore it stands to reason that over the next 10 years there will be natural increase in the number of black managers without any need for any of this 'positive discrimination.' Actually I will stop using that term. What makes it positive? It is simply favouring one group over another, the very definition of prejudice.
Anyway, I digress.
The fact is, Ferdinand is putting the fight against racism back 20 years. He is creating problems that do not exist and making people think about race again when they had stopped doing so.
There was a time when you knew the number of black of players at every club. They stood out because they were so rare. Unique. Now you don't even notice. They are as much a part of football as over-priced tickets and Chicken Balti pies.
Yet the minute a high-profile black player claims discrimination, it is never questioned. It must be right as they said so. So now players like Ferdinand set the agenda and no one can say anything against them for fear of being labelled racist.
Of course there are still isolated incidents. The odd moron who thinks they are clever. (Step forward John Terry) But these incidents are occurring less and less. We need to keep working, educating, and ensuring the guilty are punished sufficiently, of course, but lets not kid ourselves the problems are as bad as some would have us believe.
Kick It Out, and campaigns like it, are doing a good job when we don't need to think about them. They are tackling the problems without us even noticing. Drawing attention to it, as Ferdinand has done, will only do more harm than good.
Wednesday, 26 September 2012
It's lucky for Arsenal when the year ends in 6
FANS of a certain North London club like to remind everyone that it is lucky for them when the year ends in 1.
Of course, we should all be thankfully we are not successful for just one year every decade, but there does appear to be a year that is significant for Arsenal.
It all started right at the very beginning - 1886 - the year the club was formed, and it does seem that when the year ends in a 6, something significant happens.
1896 - just ten years after the club was formed, international honours came their way for the first time when defender Caesar Llewellyn-Jenkyns was capped by Wales. The year also saw Arsenal suffer their record league defeat, 0-8 at the hands of Loughbrough Town on 12 December.
1906 - saw the club reach the FA Cup semi final for the first time. Just two years after promotion to the top flight, Arsenal fought their way through to the last four, only to lose 2-0 to Newcastle United at Stoke.
1926 - saw the club finish runners-up in Division One, the highest position a London club had ever finished. It was Herbert Chapman's first season in charge and also the first season of the new offside law. Chapman's old club, Huddersfield Town, won the title that season, the second of their hat-trick of successes.
1936 - saw Arsenal win the FA Cup for the second time. A goal from Ted Drake, who had been injured for much of the season, was just enough to give them victory over second division Sheffield United, a sixth trophy in seven seasons for the club.
1956 - saw the death of manager Tom Whittaker. He was the last link to the great Herbert Chapman sides of the 1930's and it was no surprise that his death coincided with a decline in the clubs fortunes. From the league title success in 1953 until lifting the FAIRS Cup in 1970, the club won nothing.
1966 - was a great year for English football, of course, but it also saw Bertie Mee installed as Arsenal manager. Like Whittaker before him, he had been physiotherapist at the club before being given the job as manager, and he transformed their fortunes. He was the mastermind behind that FAIRS Cup success in 1970 and the Double that followed a year later - only the second time that particular feat had been achieved in the 20th Century. But Mee was unable to rebuild that side and ten years after he took over, he resigned.
1976 - saw Terry Neill become the new manager. Although he had played for the club back in 1960's, he had been manager of Spurs when he returned to Highbury in the summer of 1976. He was the youngest manager in the club's history and built possibly the greatest Arsenal side never to win the league. They did become the first side for over 100 years to reach 3 consecutive FA Cup finals, but won just one, in 1979 against Manchester United. His side also reached the final of the European Cup Winners Cup in 1980, losing on penalties to Valencia. The departures of Liam Brady and Frank Stapleton over the next two years saw the club struggle to maintain that success and Neill was sacked in 1983.
1986 - saw one of the most significant appointments in the club's history. Double-winner George Graham took over as manager that summer, after a successful spell at Millwall, and he would lead the club to six trophies in eight seasons. After lifting the League Cup in his first season - the first time the club had won that particular trophy - Graham's side became Champions for the first time since 1971, two years later. He went on to lead the club to a further title in 1991 - losing just one game in the process - an FA and League Cup double in 1993 - the first time this had ever been achieved - and a Cup Winners Cup success a year later. But with the team in decline and allegations over financial irregularities, Graham was sacked in 1995.
1996 - saw an ever bigger appointment for the club as Arsene Wenger arrived from Grampus Eight. No one had really heard him until then, but he soon made his mark, leading the club to the double in his first full season and changing everything. He brought success not seen at the club since the 1930's, with another Double in 2002, an FA Cup success in 2003 - the first time the club had ever retained the trophy - an unbeaten title in 2004 and another FA Cup win in 2005. With seven trophies in nine seasons, Wenger overtook Graham as the most successful manager in the club's history.
2006 - was the start of a new era for the club. 120 years after it was formed, Arsenal moved into a new stadium, just 500 yards from their old Highbury home. The year also saw the club reach it's first ever Champions League final, going down 2-1 to Barcelona having played the last 70 minutes with only ten men.
So I wonder what will happen in 2016? History tends to suggest it will something significant for the club. A successful new manager, a trophy success, or maybe something else? The good thing is we only have four years to wait...
Of course, we should all be thankfully we are not successful for just one year every decade, but there does appear to be a year that is significant for Arsenal.
It all started right at the very beginning - 1886 - the year the club was formed, and it does seem that when the year ends in a 6, something significant happens.
1896 - just ten years after the club was formed, international honours came their way for the first time when defender Caesar Llewellyn-Jenkyns was capped by Wales. The year also saw Arsenal suffer their record league defeat, 0-8 at the hands of Loughbrough Town on 12 December.
1906 - saw the club reach the FA Cup semi final for the first time. Just two years after promotion to the top flight, Arsenal fought their way through to the last four, only to lose 2-0 to Newcastle United at Stoke.
1926 - saw the club finish runners-up in Division One, the highest position a London club had ever finished. It was Herbert Chapman's first season in charge and also the first season of the new offside law. Chapman's old club, Huddersfield Town, won the title that season, the second of their hat-trick of successes.
1936 - saw Arsenal win the FA Cup for the second time. A goal from Ted Drake, who had been injured for much of the season, was just enough to give them victory over second division Sheffield United, a sixth trophy in seven seasons for the club.
1956 - saw the death of manager Tom Whittaker. He was the last link to the great Herbert Chapman sides of the 1930's and it was no surprise that his death coincided with a decline in the clubs fortunes. From the league title success in 1953 until lifting the FAIRS Cup in 1970, the club won nothing.
1966 - was a great year for English football, of course, but it also saw Bertie Mee installed as Arsenal manager. Like Whittaker before him, he had been physiotherapist at the club before being given the job as manager, and he transformed their fortunes. He was the mastermind behind that FAIRS Cup success in 1970 and the Double that followed a year later - only the second time that particular feat had been achieved in the 20th Century. But Mee was unable to rebuild that side and ten years after he took over, he resigned.
1976 - saw Terry Neill become the new manager. Although he had played for the club back in 1960's, he had been manager of Spurs when he returned to Highbury in the summer of 1976. He was the youngest manager in the club's history and built possibly the greatest Arsenal side never to win the league. They did become the first side for over 100 years to reach 3 consecutive FA Cup finals, but won just one, in 1979 against Manchester United. His side also reached the final of the European Cup Winners Cup in 1980, losing on penalties to Valencia. The departures of Liam Brady and Frank Stapleton over the next two years saw the club struggle to maintain that success and Neill was sacked in 1983.
1986 - saw one of the most significant appointments in the club's history. Double-winner George Graham took over as manager that summer, after a successful spell at Millwall, and he would lead the club to six trophies in eight seasons. After lifting the League Cup in his first season - the first time the club had won that particular trophy - Graham's side became Champions for the first time since 1971, two years later. He went on to lead the club to a further title in 1991 - losing just one game in the process - an FA and League Cup double in 1993 - the first time this had ever been achieved - and a Cup Winners Cup success a year later. But with the team in decline and allegations over financial irregularities, Graham was sacked in 1995.
1996 - saw an ever bigger appointment for the club as Arsene Wenger arrived from Grampus Eight. No one had really heard him until then, but he soon made his mark, leading the club to the double in his first full season and changing everything. He brought success not seen at the club since the 1930's, with another Double in 2002, an FA Cup success in 2003 - the first time the club had ever retained the trophy - an unbeaten title in 2004 and another FA Cup win in 2005. With seven trophies in nine seasons, Wenger overtook Graham as the most successful manager in the club's history.
2006 - was the start of a new era for the club. 120 years after it was formed, Arsenal moved into a new stadium, just 500 yards from their old Highbury home. The year also saw the club reach it's first ever Champions League final, going down 2-1 to Barcelona having played the last 70 minutes with only ten men.
So I wonder what will happen in 2016? History tends to suggest it will something significant for the club. A successful new manager, a trophy success, or maybe something else? The good thing is we only have four years to wait...
Monday, 24 September 2012
A tale of two sixes
MANCHESTER CITY 1 ARSENAL 1
By Ricky Butler at The Etihad
WITH so much attacking talent on display, it was somewhat ironic that it took goals from two central defenders, both wearing the No. 6 shirt, to illuminate this Titanic battle at the Etihad on Sunday.
Joleon Lescott's towering first half header gave defending champions City a lead they barely deserved, but Laurent Koscienly earned Arsene Wenger's new-look side a point with a thumping late equaliser.
Both sides began the day unbeaten in the Barclays Premier League, although they had suffered contrasting results in the Champions League in midweek. While City were throwing away a lead in Madrid, Arsenal were coming from behind to win in Montpellier.
And it was the Gunners who set the early tempo, playing a neat, passing game reminiscent of the great Wenger sides of the past.
They should been in front inside twenty minutes when a lovely move carved open the City defence. Abu Diaby, looking like a young Patrick Vieira, found Santi Cazorla in the centre circle. He in turn fed the ball on to Aaron Ramsey, making his first start of the season, who spotted the run of Gervinho inside full back Gael Clichy.
The Ivorian, with three goals in the last week, had only Joe Hart to beat, but his first touch was heavy and the chance was gone.
Lukas Podolski then missed an even better opportunity as Arsenal continued to dominate. Carl Jenkinson robbed Lescott out on the right before pulling the ball back to the German international 12 yards out. Having scored in his previous three matches for the club, you would have expected a better finish from him then the wild drive he produced.
Yet for all their dominance, Arsenal found themselves behind at the break. Kieran Gibbs gave away a needless corner and David Silva's inch-perfect delivery was met with a towering header by Lescott.
Coming as it did in the final stages of the first half, it had more than a passing resemblance to the goal from Vincent Kompany against Manchester United in April that had all but sealed the title for City.
But despite their surprise advantage, City manager Roberto Mancini made a change at the break, replacing debutante Scott Sinclair with Jack Rodwell and changing the shape of his team to counteract the threat of Cazorla.
And it worked as Arsenal were far less effective as an attacking force in the second period. Yet they showed a resilience so often lacking to draw level with less than 10 minutes remaining.
A fierce drive from the outstanding Cazorla was pushed over the top by Hart, but when City failed to clear the corner from the Spaniard, the ball dropped to Koscielny to smash into the top corner from eight yards.
The French defender almost turned from hero to zero in a matter of moments, however, as his mistake nearly gifted City a winner. After Mannone had performed heroics to keep out Kompany's overhead acrobatics, Koscielny presented the ball straight to Sergio Aguero six yards out. But the little Argentinian somehow dragged his shot wide of the far post.
Arsenal had an even better chance to win it in stoppage time, and again it fell to Gervinho. He created space for a shot on the edge of the City area with skill and speed, but with just Hart to beat he lashed his effort into Row Z and it finished 1-1.
"I am pleased because a point was the minimum we deserved today," said Wenger.
"I am pleased also with the quality of our performance and our spirit. I am also a bit frustrated because I feel there was room to do more. We had early chances and very late chances.
"But overall I hope this will reinforce our belief and confidence and reassure us about our potential in this league."
City boss Mancini was less happy. he said: "I think we need to improve our defending at set-pieces because this has been a problem for us this season.
"We can do better and we need to work on this area. We are finding it hard not to concede at the moment and we are probably two points worse off than we should be so far this season.
"I'm frustrated and the players are frustrated but we will get things right, I'm sure.
"We didn't play very well today and we were getting a little overrun in the first half."
After a break from league action this midweek with the start of their Capital One Cup campaign, both sides return with tough games next weekend. Arsenal are at home to leaders Chelsea while City travel to London to face a resurgent Fulham.
MANCHESTER CITY - Hart 7, Zabaleta 6, Lescott 6, Kompany 7, Clichy 6, Toure 7, Garcia 5, Sinclair 5 (Rodwell 46 5), Silva 6, Dzeko 5 (Tevez 68 5), Aguero 5 (Balotelli 85 5).
Subs unused - Pantilimon, Kolarov, Nastasic, Barry.
ARSENAL- Mannone 6, Jenkinson 7, Mertesaker 7, Koscienly 7, Gibbs 6, Arteta 7, CAZORLA 8, Diaby 7 (Giroud 71 6), Ramsey 7, Gervinho 6 (Coquelin 90), Podolski 7 (Walcott 72 6).
Subs unused - Martinez, Djourou, Santos, Oxlade-Chamberlain.
REFEREE; M. Dean 8
ATTENDANCE: 47,318
By Ricky Butler at The Etihad
WITH so much attacking talent on display, it was somewhat ironic that it took goals from two central defenders, both wearing the No. 6 shirt, to illuminate this Titanic battle at the Etihad on Sunday.
Joleon Lescott's towering first half header gave defending champions City a lead they barely deserved, but Laurent Koscienly earned Arsene Wenger's new-look side a point with a thumping late equaliser.
Both sides began the day unbeaten in the Barclays Premier League, although they had suffered contrasting results in the Champions League in midweek. While City were throwing away a lead in Madrid, Arsenal were coming from behind to win in Montpellier.
And it was the Gunners who set the early tempo, playing a neat, passing game reminiscent of the great Wenger sides of the past.
They should been in front inside twenty minutes when a lovely move carved open the City defence. Abu Diaby, looking like a young Patrick Vieira, found Santi Cazorla in the centre circle. He in turn fed the ball on to Aaron Ramsey, making his first start of the season, who spotted the run of Gervinho inside full back Gael Clichy.
The Ivorian, with three goals in the last week, had only Joe Hart to beat, but his first touch was heavy and the chance was gone.
Lukas Podolski then missed an even better opportunity as Arsenal continued to dominate. Carl Jenkinson robbed Lescott out on the right before pulling the ball back to the German international 12 yards out. Having scored in his previous three matches for the club, you would have expected a better finish from him then the wild drive he produced.
Yet for all their dominance, Arsenal found themselves behind at the break. Kieran Gibbs gave away a needless corner and David Silva's inch-perfect delivery was met with a towering header by Lescott.
Coming as it did in the final stages of the first half, it had more than a passing resemblance to the goal from Vincent Kompany against Manchester United in April that had all but sealed the title for City.
But despite their surprise advantage, City manager Roberto Mancini made a change at the break, replacing debutante Scott Sinclair with Jack Rodwell and changing the shape of his team to counteract the threat of Cazorla.
And it worked as Arsenal were far less effective as an attacking force in the second period. Yet they showed a resilience so often lacking to draw level with less than 10 minutes remaining.
A fierce drive from the outstanding Cazorla was pushed over the top by Hart, but when City failed to clear the corner from the Spaniard, the ball dropped to Koscielny to smash into the top corner from eight yards.
The French defender almost turned from hero to zero in a matter of moments, however, as his mistake nearly gifted City a winner. After Mannone had performed heroics to keep out Kompany's overhead acrobatics, Koscielny presented the ball straight to Sergio Aguero six yards out. But the little Argentinian somehow dragged his shot wide of the far post.
Arsenal had an even better chance to win it in stoppage time, and again it fell to Gervinho. He created space for a shot on the edge of the City area with skill and speed, but with just Hart to beat he lashed his effort into Row Z and it finished 1-1.
"I am pleased because a point was the minimum we deserved today," said Wenger.
"I am pleased also with the quality of our performance and our spirit. I am also a bit frustrated because I feel there was room to do more. We had early chances and very late chances.
"But overall I hope this will reinforce our belief and confidence and reassure us about our potential in this league."
City boss Mancini was less happy. he said: "I think we need to improve our defending at set-pieces because this has been a problem for us this season.
"We can do better and we need to work on this area. We are finding it hard not to concede at the moment and we are probably two points worse off than we should be so far this season.
"I'm frustrated and the players are frustrated but we will get things right, I'm sure.
"We didn't play very well today and we were getting a little overrun in the first half."
After a break from league action this midweek with the start of their Capital One Cup campaign, both sides return with tough games next weekend. Arsenal are at home to leaders Chelsea while City travel to London to face a resurgent Fulham.
MANCHESTER CITY - Hart 7, Zabaleta 6, Lescott 6, Kompany 7, Clichy 6, Toure 7, Garcia 5, Sinclair 5 (Rodwell 46 5), Silva 6, Dzeko 5 (Tevez 68 5), Aguero 5 (Balotelli 85 5).
Subs unused - Pantilimon, Kolarov, Nastasic, Barry.
ARSENAL- Mannone 6, Jenkinson 7, Mertesaker 7, Koscienly 7, Gibbs 6, Arteta 7, CAZORLA 8, Diaby 7 (Giroud 71 6), Ramsey 7, Gervinho 6 (Coquelin 90), Podolski 7 (Walcott 72 6).
Subs unused - Martinez, Djourou, Santos, Oxlade-Chamberlain.
REFEREE; M. Dean 8
ATTENDANCE: 47,318
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