Spurs 1 Arsenal 4: The scoreline eventually reflected the gulf in class + ratings
Spurs 1 Arsenal 4
Anyone buying into the theory that this game…
Was remotely even at any point is frankly living in la la land. For 45 minutes we dismantled Spurs and had it not been for incorrect officiating we’d have had a penalty before we scored and gone 3-0 up when Kieran Gibbs rounded the keeper and was left with an empty net after Wilshere’s beautiful through ball. Spurs got incredibly lucky when the same linesman called an offside Robbie Keane onside. And as for hitting the post, that was offside too – even that linesman flagged that one! In extra time, we got what we deserved over 90 minutes.
The Carling Cup it may have been…
But I can’t imagine it could have felt a whole lot sweeter had it been a league game. A wonderful night and all credit to the players.
As for the team selection…
It was not totally out of keeping with what he tends to do when we meet the big boys in this competition. The difference is we usually meet them far later in it. In terms of comparing them and us, we made nine changes from Saturday and they made ten, so much of a muchness strength wise.
Our opening goal…
Brought back wonderful memories of the goal that arguably defined the Invincibles: the breakaway opener at White Hart Lane on the day we won the league. The ball in from Wilshere last night was simply sensational – perfectly placed and impossible to defend.
Talking of Wilshere…
He simply ran the show and frequently he did it while also filling Alex Song’s defensive role. He was also kicked absolutely all over the place by Spurs. I’ve said it before that I do think some form of collective punishment when one player is getting booted around would be apt. Perhaps it would be a team yellow card leading to a team red where one random player would be sent off. The point is that the current system offers absolutely no protection to a player getting kicked about and that is not fair. Look at it the other way: had Wilshere committed all the fouls he’d suffered, he’d have been sent off about three times.
Arsene’s phone problems…
Someone really should have sorted out a two way radio of sorts. Am I the only person who gets messages such as: “that should have been a penalty” come through around 25 minutes after the incident?
Their goal…
Was clearly offside and clearly poor keeping. It is a bit of a problem for Fabianski because the defence you hear of struggling keepers is usually that they are great shot stoppers. This was shot stopping and it wasn’t good.
The penalties we did get…
Were both clearly fouls. But what astounded me was how nobody (as in either the ref or the commentators) thought them worthy of red cards. I am not saying I wanted red cards because generally I don’t agree with that rule, but tell me how these were any different to the Vermaelen one last year? I am not saying this issue was unique to last night’s game: fouls like that rarely elicit a red. I just can’t understand why not.
Player ratings…
Fabianski (5.5) was poor on the goal, sometimes dodgy on kicking and fine otherwise. But goals are what he is there to save. Eboue (6.5) looked somewhat surprisingly troubled defensively at times, particularly in the first half. He did grow into the game however. Gibbs (8) was very, very good, giving Lennon very little change and bombing forward. Was in the box for the first goal, should have had one of his own and generally was excellent. Let us hope the injuiry is not a bad one.
Koscielny (7.5) did well including one great tackle and some astute clearances. Djourou (7) looked like he was making his first start in 16 months but will be pleased to have come through it. Denilson (7) did fairly well on the whole, Lansbury (7) will be rightly delighted with his goal and didn’t look out of place, even if he didn’t excel hugely either. Rosicky (6.5) was a little quiet.
Nasri (8) caused a lot of trouble and took his penalties very well. Vela (6) still struggles when started and though the headed chance was not easy, he might have put it in. Wilshere (9) was just excellent. Really ran the show and withstood some pretty shoddy challenges.
Substitute Chamakh (7) offered greater presence than Vela. Arshavin (6.5) took his goal well but other than that looked astounded to be called upon for the Carling Cup third round. Clichy gets an NA.
On which note…
I’m off to buy the DVD.
Nearly all of the comments on this article are strange.
That’s why Arsenal could get the attention of the crowd.
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