Hanging my head on RVP: Arsenal 2 Dortmund 1 report
ARSENAL 2 BORRUSIA DORTMUND 1
FROM GOODPLAYA AT THE EMIRATES
WE witnessed tonight the kind of professionalism that was so lacking at this stage last season when we blew a similarly promising position and ended up coming second.
When Dortmund began brightly, we were tight, composed, well organised and risk adverse. Yes, they enjoyed a couple of openings, particularly at the start of the second half. But when our chance came, we took it in fine style. And we tied it up when Dortmund’s tired defenders switched off at a corner.
The thing about the current Arsenal side is that while individual genius may not be as abundant as it once was, we are at least balanced. And I suppose what I really mean by that is that the midfield is balanced, with Song, Arteta and Ramsey all contributing significantly to our defensive work. Whether you consider Ramsey or Arteta the most advanced of the trio, both are less attacking than their counterparts of recent years.
Song, it must be said, was excellent. He was already having a very good game when he made the opener quite brilliantly down in front of us. I think he actually only set off on the run in the first place because Santos was out of position and running the ball down the wing was the safest option.
Of course, what followed was balletic, even if my enjoyment of it was sullied somewhat by the knowledge that with every shuffle of Song’s shoes, the hysterical gasps from my brother next to me (he was the original Songunist) would only increase. But it was great and RVP notched yet another goal.
Those people who a few weeks ago dismissed his scoring record as little more than the inevitable product of playing on your own up front for Arsenal have been made to look pretty foolish of late I think for his scoring record has gone well beyond that. And I am most certainly one of those people.
Gervinho missed a sitter. He arguably shone least bright of everyone. And we overpassed another opportunity before the second arrived courtesy of marking that was nothing of the sort.
Player wise I thought Mertersacker a little too slow on the odd occasion, Koscielny is unspectacular but most definitely solid at right-back, while Santos has a hell of a footballing brain, which is handy, because I’m not sure he’s got much of a footballing body.
Ramsey was quieter than of late but equally didn’t lose the ball much and nor, less surprisingly, did Arteta, who might not be doing what people thought he would be doing but arguably by being more restrained is improving us no end.
And so we march on as group winners, which is more than can be said at the moment for United. Or City. Or Chelsea. Or even Spurs for that matter.
Before I finish, the economists among you will perhaps be interested to know that a few thousand of the usually hard to shift upper tier tickets above the away fans were tonight occupied BY the away fans.
What does it tell us that something like 8,000 Germans had the money to come over for the match while on the flip side the English club were only too happy to shift a load of tickets that (I don’t believe) they had any obligation to offer to the away fans.
There were 3 or 4 Dortmund fans behind me in the north bank lower.. and one of them was a scouser, wearing the yellow jersey and sinGing the dortmund songs. Their fans were awesome tonight, hope they finish third and get to beat cited or the spuds
Good write up, great atmosphere tonight, probably because there were Krauts everywhere in the ground.
A word about Santos; he may look a bit porky but he is really skilful, can pick a good pass and likes a tackle and in my view is a big improvement on Clichy.
Improvement on Clichy? Defensively that remains to be seen. He has to cancel out Nani, et al., first. But offensively it’s great to have that threat and it’s great to have a fourth midfielder when it comes to close control and deft passing in tight situations like tonight.
very solid defensive performance…apart from the one-on-one at the start of the 2nd half, i can’t think of a good chance that they had. and very few half-chances either. it wasn’t our best display going forward, but it didn’t have to be. this new found solidity is great, long may it last. there’s great pleasure from being the 1st epl team to make it through to the last 16. excellent. i love the brazilian in santos, yes he can be dodgy defensively, but he is just so calm on the ball…brilliant to watch. song was magnifique apart from their goal, but i blame djourou more than song (why did we bring him on?) for that. hope kos is not injured.
you have to think arshavin’s days are numbered, bot getting to play even as a sub recently. shame really, but i wouldn’t have brought him on either.
as for rvp, in his early days he was known for his great goals, now he’s known for his goals, many of which are tap-ins. long may it continue.
are we better defensively without cesc and nasri?
Very Pleased with the team right now, Defensively more solid than we have been in a long time & seems to be more togetherness & solidarity. Im quietly optomistic & i cant say i have been in the last 5 years! Arteta. Merts & Santos are very good additions & benayoun is certainly useful as an experienced head also to come on. Cesc (I love the guy) & Nasri may have been quality but dare i say it we look better as a unit now. Santos is a breath of fresh air. He’s Offered far more end product in couple of months than Clichy did in years & whilst not the best defensively neither was gael & i like the fact that while Andre may not be as quick he is taller & stonger! Song, Arteta & Ramsey are looking like a compact midfield unit & Gervinho & Theo offer pace & directness that unsettles defenders. We also have experience like Arshavin, Benayoun & Rosicky to bring on to change the pattern & style if needed,
In Ver, Kos & Merts we also now have 3 very decent CBs, Ver is Class, Kos is improving & sure Merts can look a little ungainly & may make a few mistakes but he is a good communicator & reader of the game & in my mind an excellent aquisition, I am not missing Cygan & Senderos at all :) Good article about Mertsacker here
http://www.express.co.uk/football/view/285672/Per-Mertesacker-quick-to-find-his-rightful-place
With Jack & Sagna to return Jenkinson looking commited useful & improving & some other young talent coming through like AOC, Coquelin & Frimpong i think with the possible exception of another quality striker we have a very well balanced good looking squad.
Get behind the TEAM boys & Girls
I have to give it to german fans in general…the dortmund fans contributed to an excellent atmosphere, just as they did in the home game. i watched the chelsea/leverkusen game afterwards – and the leverkusen fans were the same. i’m not complaining about arsenal fans…the arsenal away support in particular is very strong.
This is what we have been looking for for so long; a mature, businesslike, professional, unspectaular but solid and efficient performance.
Arsenal are hard to beat these days and are gelling as a unit. Maybe we hid behind Cesc too much. Now everyone seems to want to stand up and be counted. We have experience through the core of the team now. We are men, not boys.
The early season disaster seems to have humbled the team which is great. That swagger of arrogance from the team that had won nothing was part of what made it feel so brittle.
[...] as well as highlights and more from Arsenalist. As always the match reports from Arsenal Report and GOODPLAYA are defnintely worth a read. You can check out this video by @CWDailyGooner showing Ramsey’s [...]
Re: Santos – Is it just me who sees a steady improvement in his fitness? I think there is alot more to come from him… In a crunch, I bet he could do a fantastic job if required when Gervinho goes to the ACON… Imagine Gibbs & Santos on the left….
Hello from the sunshine……….Great show lads lovin the way things seem to be coming together.
Only one downer for me………Gervinho needs to find some bottle and start hitting the back of the net, sorry lads but big let down so far.
not sure Chelsea would sell him to us, but wouldn’t Anelka be a great addition in january? Park might become an able deputy for RvP but Anelka’s proven quality would be very welcome. i always wonder what kind of career he’d have had if he’d stayed with us….
elvis well spoken..i 100% agree