If you wore a suit to one football match, it would be Arsenal v United
Apologies for the lack of a Villa report…
I only caught fleeting glimpses of the live action so didn’t and don’t feel qualified to go into it too deeply.
But I did feel…
Some of the pessimism seemed a little over the top. By my reckoning Villa is no easy place to go, particularly less than a month since we’d tonked them at our place. By my reckoning, Almunia made one decent but not unbelievable save and a cross got fortunately deflected onto the head of Stewart Downing and while he might have scored, it was a lot less easy than some reports would have you believe.
And going forward…
We may not have exactly pummelled their goal but we created two clear cut chances where we struck woodwork and that’s hardly to be sniffed at. You’re not going to have 20 shots at Villa Park.
What about Sol?
Sol Campbell will undoubtedly get done for pace more often nowadays. But Sol Campbell got done in a one-on-one while in his pomp when he was sent off on the first day of the Invincibles season against Everton. His addition looks a good one to me thus far.
What about other transfers?
I think a striker would be great before the window slams shut. But equally just as bringing in an Arshavin (is it already a year?) can boost the place, I imagine bringing in dross can serve to depress the players already there. So I understand how it’s a tough one for Arsene.
That “appalling insult”…
When I heard Martin O’Neill had accused Arsene of an “appalling insult” I’ll admit a small part of me wondered what he’d said now, in the way one might with an increasingly eccentric grandpa.
And then I read what he’d said. “Appalling insult” – seriously, get over yourself O’Neill. It’s becoming a bit of a sport in this country to take UNBEBLIEVABLE offence at anything Arsenal do. It’s like the players and managers have piggy backed onto the “Same old Arsenal” line that the fans trot out regardless of whether we’re the foulers or the fouled.
First we had the most ridiculous response from Bolton to Gallas’ tackle. I know people thought Owen Coyle only changed his mind to keep sweet on Wilshere, but I’d also like to think he realised how absurd he sounded. The funny thing is that he’s now painted Kevin Davies and Paul Robinson as right squealers by changing his mind.
But back to O’Neill. “Appalling insult”. Really? And whoever the hell Villa’s James Collins is, you can get over yourself too. Honestly, pathetic.
This weekend’s game…
Features two players bang on form. United will try to smother Cesc. It’s a crying shame Diaby won’t be fit to give them something else to worry about. For them, it’s all about Rooney. And it could be him v Sol.
It feels like a long time since they tussled in late 2004. Unlike nowadays where internet pressure has forced greater candour, those were days when pundits brushed English players diving gently under the carpet. The Guardian finds itself suitably mealy mouthed today, referring to that incident as:
“On that autumn day the crucial first goal had gone United’s way when Wayne Rooney hurled himself to the ground over Campbell’s challenge in the 73rd minute, winning a penalty converted by Ruud van Nistelrooy and earning the wrath of Wenger, who later accused him of diving.”
I can’t help feeling: “Wayne Rooney’s dive for a penalty brought an inglorious end to the longest unbeaten run in English football” is both more accurate and shorter.
Anyway, as you might have gathered, I’m still not over it.
Remember…
We won’t win the league in this of four games. We just need to avoid losing it. Coming off the Liverpool game a few points off is fine: of the top seven sides, I think only Liverpool and Spurs and us and Villa have played twice. There are a lot more points to be dropped.
And that…
Is about your lot for now. I can’t wait for Sunday. Us v them is a fixture unlike any other. If you were ever going to wear a suit to a football match, us v United would be it. I’ll try to update before Sunday.
“”"And then I read what he’d said. “Appalling insult” – seriously, get over yourself O’Neill. It’s becoming a bit of a sport in this country to take UNBEBLIEVABLE offence at anything Arsenal do. It’s like the players and managers have piggy backed onto the “Same old Arsenal” line that the fans trot out regardless of whether we’re the foulers or the fouled.”"”
This is the best and truest bit of writing on the blog.
… my fav media memory… rather than question the ‘tackle’ that led to one of the most gruesome injuries I’ve seen in footy, the media leapt onto Gallas’ emotional reaction (go figure?) having seen a penalty (that wasn’t) given in the dying moments. To this day most casual footy observers misremember that we LOST that match.
The Gallas MELTDOWN became such a focus. such circus that he carried an immense burden of questioning that only resolved once Cesc was given the armband. So the story of ‘tackle’ was largely left untold.
That this O’Neill situation has played on like this off the back of several other storm in a tea-cup ‘incidents’ (…Cesc “spitting”?…Eduardo’s dive?… ) means that we are targets… and forget about that nonsense that Mirror or Mail journo’s try to tell us on Arsenal Friday TV online about how ALL clubs feel persecuted. There is a difference. Compare the Rio Ferdinand elbow to Fagan (he LOOKED before he elbowed Fagan) to Campbell’s on Solskjaer that pretty much cost us the league. And then compare Fergie’s commentary in todays papers about Rio’s 4 match ban which what he said in April 2003 “elbows creeping back into the game”. “I am getting concerned about the use of elbows. Somebody is going to be seriously hurt in one of these incidents. Something has got to be done.”
YET… no newspaper has dared suggest that he is a hypocrite. Instead we read about the ‘bizarre’ comments from Arsene ‘never see’s anything’ Wenger. Our press department is an absolute joke. We are able to host Gordon Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy at Emirates but cannot seem to manage moronic hacks. Something must be done.
Am I the only one noticing this or is O’Neil Lying about Arsene’s statements. O’neil was quoted, by SkySpot, saying “”Wasn’t it not long ago that he described Manchester United as anti-football?”
I only remember Wenger describing the ‘anti-football’ style of play of ONE not named United player. I don’t remember him describing ManU as ‘Anti-football’ team. Can anyone get those quotes right, please.
The other point about the ‘appalling insult’ is that everyone has overlooked that it was actually only a part of what Wenger said about Villa. The first comments that I saw/read by AW after the match were actually pretty complimentary to Villa – he praised their organisation and pace and the quality of their midfielders. As usual, the apparently contentious bit has been taken out of context and blown out of all proportion. But O’Neill – who I actually like a lot – has definitely got a bit of a problem with AW; this isn’t the first time that he’s ended up frothing at the mouth about something the Professor has said after a match. I have a feeling that he craves the great man’s respect…
the problem with o’neil is that he’s from NORN IRON where every first born follows MANURE like sheep!plus he has a chip(suppoerted the spuds as a boy!)nuff said!!
let me tell the reason why he is at war with wenger because he buys more players and doen not deliver.maybe that is why he is jelious
->There are a lot more points to be dropped.
I hope so. Should we play safe? I don’t know. But, for me, it is crucial we win these games for our confidence and beliefs. And get ahead of ourselves a bit. I know we have easy period after this games but I don’t want to take the risk. If we have an embarrassing or controversy defeat, then it could deflate our season.
Also, i think, Wenger will play it safe and if he does then, we would be relying on 1-0 wins, and we have had hardly 1-0 wins, this season. I can only think of Fulham win.
How many times have we flown out of the blocks this season and really imposed our game in the first half? Usually in the first 45 we have been off the pace, lacking ideas and relatively lame only to come out second half with an improved work ethic and increased goal threat. If we do our energy conservation thing against Man Utd on Sunday we will go in at half time 2-0 down and it will be game over. Just like against Chelsea.
excellent post.
Don’t worry boys, I love the big games and fancy smacking in a couple from outside the box. Its what I do.
До завтра! Andrei.
Chris Harris from Arsenal.com is a reader (maybe you already knew that).
Извините мальчики, я бы в мешках два в первой половине. Andrei
good write up
Arshavin was excellent ?
He was horrid, selfish when others were in better position. Shooting was all over the place. Yes, he tried his socks off, but was a tad too g-ed up i think and believed too much of his own press of being a matchwinner to actually be on.
I totally agree with u re: arshavin up top only formation. wenger must get the blame. i was filled with dread the moment the team lineup was listed with Bendtner on bench.onbenchebench, (I did not
‘A lot of progress this season’?? If you absolutely have to say something positive you could mention we didn’t have any injuries, anything more is OTT.
I think this season it has been really clear where we stand. We are the third best team in the league, we are superior to the other 17 teams in the divisions, although have dropped points in games like West Ham & Sunderland. It is equally clear that we have some way to go to crack the top two, it seems they work harder, are stronger and have a more varied attacking approach. I though a good five or six players looked lazy or lethargic on Sunday and that is maddening. I think the team needs a lift I remember when we bought Bergkamp and how having a player of such class gave the team confidence, a purchase of this nature may help in the summer, but I fear our current best player may leave….