1/27/2005
Keeping pace...
Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle United
Dennis Bergkamp (19)
This was, in short, a top-class performance from the Arsenal -- if you took away the brilliance of Shay Given and the fact that our finishing still is something short of lethal, then you could easily say that this showing had some of the characteristics of the Mega Arsenal we're used to seeing these days. Details to follow, but the lineups first (going from left to right, as always):
The Gunners: Manuel Almunia -- Ashley Cole, Sol Campbell, Kolo Abib Toure, Lauren Bisan-Etane -- Jose Antonio Reyes (Francesc Fabregas Soler 89), Patrick Vieira, Mathieu Flamini, Robert Pires -- Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp
Subs not used: Jens Lehmann (GK), Pascal Cygan, Emmanuel Eboue, Robin van Persie
The Magpies: Shay Given -- Olivier Bernard, Jean-Alain Boumsong (Andy O'Brien 67), Titus Bramble, Steven Taylor (Aaron Hughes 45) -- Laurent Robert (Charles N'Zogbia 56), Jermaine Jenas, Kieron Dyer, Lee Bowyer, Shola Ameobi -- Alan Shearer
Subs not used: Stephen Harper (GK), Patrick Kluivert
Defensively, the return of Lauren after his injury has done nothing but highlight his importance to the backline. He's not flashy, and he's not the type of guy whose actions you'll remember 10 minutes after the game. But, he rarely puts a foot wrong, and he's more than capable in every respect -- he can pass, he can get stuck in, all of it. Especially considering that most of our attacks go up the left anyway (and thus, most counterattacks will focus on the space abandoned by Reyes and Cole), he is vital to our continued success, and it's great to see him get the contract he deserves. In other news, Flamini was preferred to Fabregas in central midfield, and that ended up working well for Le Boss. Flamini will never be the guy who creates offense out of nothing, but he doesn't screw up the offensive flow either. That said, we know why he's there -- to be a terrier in the center of the park, chasing down loose balls and making life hell for opposing midfielders. He had a blinder, I thought. For the other mob, they were playing the 4-5-1 into 4-3-3 hybrid that has worked so well for the teams that have beaten us this year. However, the teams that have beaten us did so because they not only stifled our creative play, they also took the chances that came their way. Newcastle didn't really do either, so they can't really complain about this result (despite the razor-thin margin in the end).
Also of note is that Arsenal went for the jugular seconds after the kickoff, which is a welcome change. Recently, it's either taken far too long for the engine to get going, or worse yet, they've gone entire matches (Bolton comes to mind), without the engine ever getting going. Reyes (who also played well), found Pires (who was on the right wing due to the absence of Fredrik Ljungberg). Pires did well to get the ball to Flamini inside the six-yard box, and the young Frenchman really should have scored. But, he scuffed the shot. Even despite that, Given had to do pretty well to get a leg on it, and then cover up the rebound -- that wasn't as easy a save as most viewers thought it was. It should have been 1-0, but the portents were excellent...Arsenal played Newcastle off the park for the most part, with just the final ball or that last touch conspiring to end the threat of the half-chances they were creating.
However, they finally got it right in the 19th minute. Flamini got the ball at the edge of the penalty area, and found Bergkamp with a nice slide-rule pass. To me, the key here is that Reyes and Pires and the like were trying just that little bit too hard on their final ball to Henry or Bergkamp, and they ended up putting too heavy a touch on it. Flamini calmly did just enough to keep the play going, and Bergkamp made no mistake, rolling it past the charging Given and into the back of the net. Now, I did say in the last match report that Bergkamp is essentially done, and I stand by that. I would amend that slightly to say that he can still finish if someone gets him the ball in a dangerous area. But, gone are the days when Dennis would create something out of nothing, would score wonder goals from outside the area, would come up with something amazing to create a goal for someone else. He's still competent in his role as withdrawn striker, and he's still one of my favorite players to ever wear the shirt. He's just not the guy to save us in a crisis, that's all. We may do well to buy a striker in the offseason while we wait for Arturo Lupoli to develop, and just in case Jeremie Aliadiere continues his walking-wounded routine.
That was it for the scoring, but that sure wasn't it for the chances. Henry had a great chance just seconds after the goal, as he took Reyes' pass on the outside of the area and sent a wicked half-volley hurtling towards the low corner. Given had other ideas though, and did fantastically well to parry it to safety. As an aside, I wonder if Newcastle fans realize how lucky they are to have this guy. Anyway, while most of the traffic was one way, the Geordies did occasionally fashion a half-chance. But, whenever they did, Sol or Lauren or Kolo were more than up to the task. Some of the clearances didn't look as assured as they might have, but the point is that when something absolutely had to be dealt with, it was dealt with. End of story. Newcastle could have probably used the services of Craig Bellamy out on the wing, though. Officially, he was listed as out due to a hamstring injury. The more likely scenario is that he's either deeply imbedded in Graeme Souness' doghouse, or he's on the way out. He hates playing on the wing, he bitches when he doesn't play, and he generally makes a public nuisance of himself at every opportunity. In that respect, you can't blame Souness for benching him, if that is indeed what happened. Unfortunately for our opponents though, Laurent Robert once again had a stinker of biblical proportions. For a guy of his skill, it's unconscionable that he wastes it with a string of half-assed performances like this one. The way I see it, it's a slap in the face to those of us who have no natural athletic ability, but give it everything...even if it's just a company indoor team or a beer-league softball team. I would kill for 1/10th of Robert's talent...he could be one of the better wingers on the planet, but instead, his manager has to pull him in early in the second half (I would have done it at halftime) because he just couldn't be bothered in a match that was just as important for them as it was for us.
I try to refrain from using this word outside of the Arseblog forums, but Laurent Robert is a cunt, and one who should be plying his trade in the Azerbaijani 14th Division at that.
Anyway, there's no need for a dissertation this time, either. Arsenal created a ton of chances, but either just missed or were victimized by Shay Given. Newcastle occasionally counterpunched, but couldn't quite unlock the Arsenal defense. Manuel Almunia wasn't really tested, but he did much better with set pieces and crosses than in the past...I thought he was perfectly fine for the little he had to do. The important thing is that it looks like the old panache is coming back, the extended hangover from the Mike Riley is an Incompetent Fuckface match against Manshit United apparently drawing to a close. I think we can all agree that the best case scenario is that the goals start to come against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup, and then continue to rain down as we play those Red Devil pricks again in the league. 6-0 or so would do me just fine.
As long as Time Warner doesn't sink into the depths of incompetence once again, there should be match reports for both. See you then.
Dennis Bergkamp (19)
This was, in short, a top-class performance from the Arsenal -- if you took away the brilliance of Shay Given and the fact that our finishing still is something short of lethal, then you could easily say that this showing had some of the characteristics of the Mega Arsenal we're used to seeing these days. Details to follow, but the lineups first (going from left to right, as always):
The Gunners: Manuel Almunia -- Ashley Cole, Sol Campbell, Kolo Abib Toure, Lauren Bisan-Etane -- Jose Antonio Reyes (Francesc Fabregas Soler 89), Patrick Vieira, Mathieu Flamini, Robert Pires -- Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp
Subs not used: Jens Lehmann (GK), Pascal Cygan, Emmanuel Eboue, Robin van Persie
The Magpies: Shay Given -- Olivier Bernard, Jean-Alain Boumsong (Andy O'Brien 67), Titus Bramble, Steven Taylor (Aaron Hughes 45) -- Laurent Robert (Charles N'Zogbia 56), Jermaine Jenas, Kieron Dyer, Lee Bowyer, Shola Ameobi -- Alan Shearer
Subs not used: Stephen Harper (GK), Patrick Kluivert
Defensively, the return of Lauren after his injury has done nothing but highlight his importance to the backline. He's not flashy, and he's not the type of guy whose actions you'll remember 10 minutes after the game. But, he rarely puts a foot wrong, and he's more than capable in every respect -- he can pass, he can get stuck in, all of it. Especially considering that most of our attacks go up the left anyway (and thus, most counterattacks will focus on the space abandoned by Reyes and Cole), he is vital to our continued success, and it's great to see him get the contract he deserves. In other news, Flamini was preferred to Fabregas in central midfield, and that ended up working well for Le Boss. Flamini will never be the guy who creates offense out of nothing, but he doesn't screw up the offensive flow either. That said, we know why he's there -- to be a terrier in the center of the park, chasing down loose balls and making life hell for opposing midfielders. He had a blinder, I thought. For the other mob, they were playing the 4-5-1 into 4-3-3 hybrid that has worked so well for the teams that have beaten us this year. However, the teams that have beaten us did so because they not only stifled our creative play, they also took the chances that came their way. Newcastle didn't really do either, so they can't really complain about this result (despite the razor-thin margin in the end).
Also of note is that Arsenal went for the jugular seconds after the kickoff, which is a welcome change. Recently, it's either taken far too long for the engine to get going, or worse yet, they've gone entire matches (Bolton comes to mind), without the engine ever getting going. Reyes (who also played well), found Pires (who was on the right wing due to the absence of Fredrik Ljungberg). Pires did well to get the ball to Flamini inside the six-yard box, and the young Frenchman really should have scored. But, he scuffed the shot. Even despite that, Given had to do pretty well to get a leg on it, and then cover up the rebound -- that wasn't as easy a save as most viewers thought it was. It should have been 1-0, but the portents were excellent...Arsenal played Newcastle off the park for the most part, with just the final ball or that last touch conspiring to end the threat of the half-chances they were creating.
However, they finally got it right in the 19th minute. Flamini got the ball at the edge of the penalty area, and found Bergkamp with a nice slide-rule pass. To me, the key here is that Reyes and Pires and the like were trying just that little bit too hard on their final ball to Henry or Bergkamp, and they ended up putting too heavy a touch on it. Flamini calmly did just enough to keep the play going, and Bergkamp made no mistake, rolling it past the charging Given and into the back of the net. Now, I did say in the last match report that Bergkamp is essentially done, and I stand by that. I would amend that slightly to say that he can still finish if someone gets him the ball in a dangerous area. But, gone are the days when Dennis would create something out of nothing, would score wonder goals from outside the area, would come up with something amazing to create a goal for someone else. He's still competent in his role as withdrawn striker, and he's still one of my favorite players to ever wear the shirt. He's just not the guy to save us in a crisis, that's all. We may do well to buy a striker in the offseason while we wait for Arturo Lupoli to develop, and just in case Jeremie Aliadiere continues his walking-wounded routine.
That was it for the scoring, but that sure wasn't it for the chances. Henry had a great chance just seconds after the goal, as he took Reyes' pass on the outside of the area and sent a wicked half-volley hurtling towards the low corner. Given had other ideas though, and did fantastically well to parry it to safety. As an aside, I wonder if Newcastle fans realize how lucky they are to have this guy. Anyway, while most of the traffic was one way, the Geordies did occasionally fashion a half-chance. But, whenever they did, Sol or Lauren or Kolo were more than up to the task. Some of the clearances didn't look as assured as they might have, but the point is that when something absolutely had to be dealt with, it was dealt with. End of story. Newcastle could have probably used the services of Craig Bellamy out on the wing, though. Officially, he was listed as out due to a hamstring injury. The more likely scenario is that he's either deeply imbedded in Graeme Souness' doghouse, or he's on the way out. He hates playing on the wing, he bitches when he doesn't play, and he generally makes a public nuisance of himself at every opportunity. In that respect, you can't blame Souness for benching him, if that is indeed what happened. Unfortunately for our opponents though, Laurent Robert once again had a stinker of biblical proportions. For a guy of his skill, it's unconscionable that he wastes it with a string of half-assed performances like this one. The way I see it, it's a slap in the face to those of us who have no natural athletic ability, but give it everything...even if it's just a company indoor team or a beer-league softball team. I would kill for 1/10th of Robert's talent...he could be one of the better wingers on the planet, but instead, his manager has to pull him in early in the second half (I would have done it at halftime) because he just couldn't be bothered in a match that was just as important for them as it was for us.
I try to refrain from using this word outside of the Arseblog forums, but Laurent Robert is a cunt, and one who should be plying his trade in the Azerbaijani 14th Division at that.
Anyway, there's no need for a dissertation this time, either. Arsenal created a ton of chances, but either just missed or were victimized by Shay Given. Newcastle occasionally counterpunched, but couldn't quite unlock the Arsenal defense. Manuel Almunia wasn't really tested, but he did much better with set pieces and crosses than in the past...I thought he was perfectly fine for the little he had to do. The important thing is that it looks like the old panache is coming back, the extended hangover from the Mike Riley is an Incompetent Fuckface match against Manshit United apparently drawing to a close. I think we can all agree that the best case scenario is that the goals start to come against Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup, and then continue to rain down as we play those Red Devil pricks again in the league. 6-0 or so would do me just fine.
As long as Time Warner doesn't sink into the depths of incompetence once again, there should be match reports for both. See you then.
1/15/2005
Bolton 1-0 Arsenal
Shit.
Bolton Wanderers 1-0 Arsenal
Stelios Giannakopolous - 41'
The Gunners: Manuel Almunia -- Ashley Cole, Sol Campbell, Kolo Abib Toure, Justin Hoyte -- Robert Pires, Patrick Vieira, Francesc Fabregas Soler (Jose Antonio Reyes 66), Fredrik Ljungberg -- Thierry Henry, Robin van Persie (Dennis Bergkamp 66)
The Trotters: Jussi Jaaskelainen -- Nicky Hunt, Bruno N'Gotty, Tal Ben Haim, Ricardo Gardner -- Ivan Campo -- Kevin Nolan (Fernando Hierro 87), Gary Speed, Jay Jay Okocha (Henrik Pedersen 79), Stelios Giannakopolous -- El-Hadji Diouf
There wasn't really a whole lot in it when it comes to this game, which is fine with me. In a match where it never quite dawned on the Arsenal that more effort and fighting spirit was needed, I can't quite get myself up to write my usual dissertation about today's match. Sorry, won't do it.
Essentially, Bolton used the same strategy that everyone else does against us...flood the midfield play a little rope-a-dope until an opening presents itself. However, they ended up winning the match in an odd fashion. While everyone else who beats us or steals a draw does so by capitalizing on a mistake, Bolton were presented with three or four instances where they really should have scored. But, after throwing all those away, they got their winner on a wonderful bit of teamwork and skill from Diouf and Stelios.
Everyone on the planet is going to want to string Almunia up for his constant poor handling today, and in most respects I wouldn't be able to blame them. But, sometime in the first half, a backpass by Arsenal was all left alone by three defenders, each of whom thought the other was getting it. Whoops. Diouf ended up getting it, and he would have scored if it wasn't for Almunia cutting off the angle wonderfully. He forced Diouf to go wider than he wanted to, and ended up making him miss. Unfortunately for us, Stelios didn't miss on a point-blank header after a truly magnificent run and cross from Diouf.
Normally, Arsenal gets angry when someone breaches our defense...almost like Hulk Hogan used to do in the end of his matches circa 1985 or so. On this occasion, they huffed and puffed and...well...accomplished fuck all, really. A few chances were created, but Jaaskelainen was mostly up to the challenge. Interestingly, he had a bit of a nightmare handling the ball as well...the piss-and-moan Gooner brigade won't mention this, of course, but the field had a LOT to do with it, I believe. To borrow a phrase from the late, great @FC Online Fanzine, the pitch "looked like an allotment after a rave." I've seen better pitches from tiny CONCACAF nations that the USA has to qualify for the World Cup against. When Barbados and Guatemala take care of their fields better than you do, that's just sad.
And, I know this is going to sound a little like sour grapes, but are there a bigger bunch of fucking whingers in the league? Seriously? Every fucking twenty seconds, some douche in a white shirt was waving his arm about over some imagined slight. Diouf in particular should have been yellow-carded about 10 times over.
Now, this is a downer, don't get me wrong. But, almost every season, someone gets handed the title 20-25 matches into the season...and, it doesn't always work out the way the idiot media says it will, now does it? I mean, when Newcastle won the title a few years back...oh...wait...they blew that one, didn't they? I also remember fondly Manchester United's championship in 1997-98...oh...wait...we won that one in the end, right? Anyone who thinks Chelsea is going to stroll the rest of the way is an idiot who shouldn't be let outside without an intelligent handler. They've still got Everton away (though Gravesen leaving them may make that an easier game), Manchester United away, us at home, Bolton away (not an easy game for anyone), and a game at home against Charlton. Shame that the Addicks are their next-to-last opponents of the season...at their current form, Athletic could really give them a game. And, of course, Chelsea are due for a "what the fuck?!" kind of result against them somewhere along the way. It is true, however, to say that we can't slip up too many more times if we're to defend the title. Our next two matches are against Newcastle (who are very beatable) and Manchester United (it's at Highbury, so we better win). We have Liverpool at home towards the end of the season, and a particularly tricky away trip in between to Middlesbrough.
So, let's see where we're at on April 20th when we make our trip to Stamford Bridge. If we're still 8 or 10 points out, then fine. Proclaim doom from the rooftops, as I'm sure most of you are doing now. If it's 5 or 6 and then we beat them that day, trust me...they'll be hearing footsteps.
And, if we don't win the title, oh well. We'll reload in the summer and take it back in 2006. No biggie.
Bolton Wanderers 1-0 Arsenal
Stelios Giannakopolous - 41'
The Gunners: Manuel Almunia -- Ashley Cole, Sol Campbell, Kolo Abib Toure, Justin Hoyte -- Robert Pires, Patrick Vieira, Francesc Fabregas Soler (Jose Antonio Reyes 66), Fredrik Ljungberg -- Thierry Henry, Robin van Persie (Dennis Bergkamp 66)
The Trotters: Jussi Jaaskelainen -- Nicky Hunt, Bruno N'Gotty, Tal Ben Haim, Ricardo Gardner -- Ivan Campo -- Kevin Nolan (Fernando Hierro 87), Gary Speed, Jay Jay Okocha (Henrik Pedersen 79), Stelios Giannakopolous -- El-Hadji Diouf
There wasn't really a whole lot in it when it comes to this game, which is fine with me. In a match where it never quite dawned on the Arsenal that more effort and fighting spirit was needed, I can't quite get myself up to write my usual dissertation about today's match. Sorry, won't do it.
Essentially, Bolton used the same strategy that everyone else does against us...flood the midfield play a little rope-a-dope until an opening presents itself. However, they ended up winning the match in an odd fashion. While everyone else who beats us or steals a draw does so by capitalizing on a mistake, Bolton were presented with three or four instances where they really should have scored. But, after throwing all those away, they got their winner on a wonderful bit of teamwork and skill from Diouf and Stelios.
Everyone on the planet is going to want to string Almunia up for his constant poor handling today, and in most respects I wouldn't be able to blame them. But, sometime in the first half, a backpass by Arsenal was all left alone by three defenders, each of whom thought the other was getting it. Whoops. Diouf ended up getting it, and he would have scored if it wasn't for Almunia cutting off the angle wonderfully. He forced Diouf to go wider than he wanted to, and ended up making him miss. Unfortunately for us, Stelios didn't miss on a point-blank header after a truly magnificent run and cross from Diouf.
Normally, Arsenal gets angry when someone breaches our defense...almost like Hulk Hogan used to do in the end of his matches circa 1985 or so. On this occasion, they huffed and puffed and...well...accomplished fuck all, really. A few chances were created, but Jaaskelainen was mostly up to the challenge. Interestingly, he had a bit of a nightmare handling the ball as well...the piss-and-moan Gooner brigade won't mention this, of course, but the field had a LOT to do with it, I believe. To borrow a phrase from the late, great @FC Online Fanzine, the pitch "looked like an allotment after a rave." I've seen better pitches from tiny CONCACAF nations that the USA has to qualify for the World Cup against. When Barbados and Guatemala take care of their fields better than you do, that's just sad.
And, I know this is going to sound a little like sour grapes, but are there a bigger bunch of fucking whingers in the league? Seriously? Every fucking twenty seconds, some douche in a white shirt was waving his arm about over some imagined slight. Diouf in particular should have been yellow-carded about 10 times over.
Now, this is a downer, don't get me wrong. But, almost every season, someone gets handed the title 20-25 matches into the season...and, it doesn't always work out the way the idiot media says it will, now does it? I mean, when Newcastle won the title a few years back...oh...wait...they blew that one, didn't they? I also remember fondly Manchester United's championship in 1997-98...oh...wait...we won that one in the end, right? Anyone who thinks Chelsea is going to stroll the rest of the way is an idiot who shouldn't be let outside without an intelligent handler. They've still got Everton away (though Gravesen leaving them may make that an easier game), Manchester United away, us at home, Bolton away (not an easy game for anyone), and a game at home against Charlton. Shame that the Addicks are their next-to-last opponents of the season...at their current form, Athletic could really give them a game. And, of course, Chelsea are due for a "what the fuck?!" kind of result against them somewhere along the way. It is true, however, to say that we can't slip up too many more times if we're to defend the title. Our next two matches are against Newcastle (who are very beatable) and Manchester United (it's at Highbury, so we better win). We have Liverpool at home towards the end of the season, and a particularly tricky away trip in between to Middlesbrough.
So, let's see where we're at on April 20th when we make our trip to Stamford Bridge. If we're still 8 or 10 points out, then fine. Proclaim doom from the rooftops, as I'm sure most of you are doing now. If it's 5 or 6 and then we beat them that day, trust me...they'll be hearing footsteps.
And, if we don't win the title, oh well. We'll reload in the summer and take it back in 2006. No biggie.
1/11/2005
I'm alive! No! Really! Come back!
Sorry...I really am a lazy prick sometimes.
There will be a match report for our upcoming trouncing of Bolton Wanderers. Promise.
There will be a match report for our upcoming trouncing of Bolton Wanderers. Promise.
