More Than Just No Oil In The Machine
Gilberto was sent off after receiving two particularly harsh yellow cards as Arsenal lost 1-0 to Newcastle at St James Park.
Alan Shearer committed numerous fouls, which given the context of Gilberto's sending off were at the very least the equivalent off two yellow cards, which would have culminated in Shearer's dismissal. Shearer was only given a 'cosmetic' booking for kicking the ball away in the 90th minute.
This simply didn't happen as Dermot Gallagher got caught up in the atmosphere by giving the home side the benefit of the doubt on far too many occasions and produced a performance as poor and inconsistent as Arsenal own away form.
This aside it was a decent first half display from Arsenal, as they dominated and the returning Alexander Hleb caused problems for Newcastle with his free, determined running and well timed, neat and creative passing. Arsenal were the better side for the majority of the first half and Henry should have scored form Fabregas' pass but was unlucky to see Given produced an excellent save and divert it behind.
Then 10 minutes after the break Gilberto received a second booking for an honest and innocuous challenge and Arsenal were down to 10 men.
The game can change one of two ways if there is a seemingly unjust sending off.
It can go the way it did against Newcastle on Saturday, with the numerical disadvantage exposing physical weakness and ultimately sapping the energy and creative drive out of the team, which is a sign of low confidence and lack of resilience.
The game can also go a different way, like it did away to Liverpool in 2001/2, when Gio Van Bronkhorst was sent of for a phantom dive. Or Monaco did against Chelsea in the Champions League. It can inspire teams and make them more resilient and ruthless than before, more determined and confident that they go harder into the challenges and play with a channeled aggression.
Arsenal, at the moment, don't have that ability and I wasn't surprised to see us roll over.
The referee was abysmal. Agreed. However, Arsenal have big problems which were exposed again.
Gilberto and Fabregas is not a viable option in away games, as I said in my last post, Gilberto needs a minder.. He is NOT an enforcer..
Fabregas is an immense talent but his fantastic technical ability cannot make up for Gilberto's shortcomings. Nor should it have to, he is 18. HE should be the one protected, the kid is still growing.
To bring the best out of a midfield which looks woefully short and a shadow of the midfield that went unbeaten, Arsenal need a physical presence, a true enforcer, to add the drive back into the team.
Pires and Ljungberg is no longer as effective as they don't have the confidence to drive forward as often. Reyes works hard and is still learning, but he is not the player we all hoped he would be at this stage. Hleb looks class. He is important in helping us limit the damage.
Sides have taken Bolton's stance and believe that for the first time in a long time that Arsenal are vulnerable and can be out muscled, outfought and ultimately are there for the taking. If you are up for it against Arsenal, you have more than half a chance.
As is well documented, Vieira is missed. He had the trust of his team mates, was close to many of them, he had a telepathic link to Bergkamp, Henry would run for him, which added an essential dynamic aspect to the side, he would cover for Pires' defensive frailties and gelled the team together, on top of having the ability to drive the team on and the respect of everyone who loves the club.
Arsene has ripped out a central cog and not replaced it. It is time to do just that.
posted by JoeBoni @ 7:47 PM
9 comments
9 Comments:
It's amazing how a misjudgement on the referee's part can change the course of the match. Rewind to beginning of the season when Jenas was sent of at Highbury.
Joe,
I agree with everything you said. Just want to amplify the point about the midfield. Close examination of Wenger's midfield policy shows that ALL the physical midfielders have been stripped out. (Vieira, Edu, Parlour, Van Bronkhorst, etc) In their place Wenger keeps adding lightweight midfielders. (Reyes, Hleb, Flamini, Fabregas, Pires, etc). I'd include Silva in that description as well, he never puts a foot in or dives in. Yet Wenger's Premiership-winning teams have had midfields with one lightweight, three physical (Overmars, Vieira, Petit, Parlour and Pires/Ljunberg, Edu, Vieira, Parlour).
It's almost as if he's trying to prove something.
Tony Adams once said we couldn't go into away games with Pires and Ljunberg in the same midfield. Now we're trying to do it with three non-taclers and Silva. Don't tell me Fabregas is a tackler it was him that bottled a 50/50 with Shearer that led to Solano's goal.
But who is there to take Fabregas to task? Once upon a time Adams, Keown, Vieira, Parlour would have been queing up to rollick him. Now he just gets a disinterested shrug of the shoulders from Henry.
This weekend could see us 7 points off the fourth spot and the last Champion's League place. Plus we've got double-headers against Man Utd and Liverpool to come.
This could turn out to be a memorable last season for all the wrong reasons!
Eddy
Yeah why not jump on the bandwagon and have a pop at Shearer along with Arsene(al) Whinger, while the rest of us conveniently forget Viera, Winterburn, Adams, Keown and co. You lot got toughed out of it, accept it and learn from the experience coz guys, the premiership has you sussed
I respect Alan Shearer alot but his ability has gone, he is trying to influence games in the wrong way. The guy is above and beyond physical, he is not quick enough or good enough to influence many games now.
There are some harrowing parallels between the demise of the two 'big' english clubs of the modern era. Since the inception of the Premiership in the early 90's, Arsenal and Manchester United have dominated the domestic trophy haul. Times have changed. Keane has left United - Vieira has left Arsenal. Both tough tacklers with the ability to lead through inspirational example. Tony Adams is missed for his ability to call players to account. Keane did the job of Adams and Vieira. I respect Keane for the influence he had during his United years although, as a gooner, I also dislike him because he had an aggressive attitude. Vieira was more passive which made him more likable. As a fan of Arsenal, a football club who pride themselves on winning the 'sporting way', I would like to thank Manchester United for the model that their youth system created. That is how tropghies should be won. Now United appear to have fallen which is sad as it is down to the fact that business is now more important than sport. All the troubles are compounded by the endless money which has enabled Ch£ls£a to achieve. Come on Arsenal, let's build and have a shot at Ch£ls£a with our nurtured youth. Let's show them that you don't need blood-stained money to have success in the modern era. Bring on Bayern, bring on Real Madrid, we will rise to the challenge and hopefully make tracks in Europe. Cheers, Richard Godden
Richard could not agree more, but @ the end of the day if we carry on this way to the end of the season (without a midfield). That 60,000 seated stadium may have lots of tumbleweed rolling round in it next season, & the club needs to fill it to pay off some massive debt.
So I can see the day (if it’s not already arrived) when business will be more import to our club the sport too.
Don’t kid yourself mate what happened @ Man U could easy happen to us now!!!
Lee.
Well said Lee,
We all know that Thierry Henry is all important to that stadium being full. He is the only player we have under the age of 30 who, as they say, "is worth the admission fee alone". He is our Ronaldinho in as much as his presence is essential to ticket sales. Withouht TH14 people will become less interested in Arsenal as it will look as though we are not able to entice the world's greatest footballing genius. He is irreplacable. Champions League qualification is our priority. Whether we will win it or not depends on a lot of things. I'd like to think we will get at least 4th and maybe a semi final appearance! Cheers, Richard Godden
well said noddy.
thing is now with the chelski boys buying the league, the margin of error is even smaller. a draw is 2 dropped points, and a further 2 points clear for chelski.
we miss vieira. we arent wot we once were but even if we were we'd still lose to chelski. who have the finest manager around. better than sir alex. better than arsene. tactically the finest the prems possibly ever seen. give him a bottomless pit and he will give u a team who cna shurn out consiten results.
chelsea will dominate for the next 5/6 years, which is dissapointing as it feels all arsenes and arsenals hard work will amount for nothing. they are still the most exciting team to watch and a dream to watch. However they need to grow and wise up to the physical challenges of the game if htye are t o go all the way in europe, and also to do better in the prem.
wud fabregas be to unsuited to the right. far better crossed than ljungberg. better passer. better vision. not as good at cutting in the freddie style but id be tempted to say give the guy a crack on right mid and get a powerhouse in with giblets.
si
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