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Top posting mate, agree with your summation, especially the bit about our Jack Wilshere. Jack's a star in the making, and he's development is being played out in front of a world stage.
Reviews
Written by Mean Lean on Sunday, 13 February 2011 11:43
Games played, goal difference and points on the board for Arsenal and Manchester United have both changed but we are as we were. The gap remains the same four points after a spectacular bicycle kick from Wayne Rooney at lunch time and then a convincing 2-0 thrashing of Wolves at the Emirates later on that afternoon.
At 1-1 late into the second half at Old Trafford, I was willing the City bus to turn off their engine, stick up their handbrake and slap on the safety wheel lock but I was left disappointed by a goal I had to begrudgingly applaud.
It was left to Arsene's strongest available line up to brush aside the horror show of last weekend and over come a Wolves side who would have been lifted after disposing of last season's champions.
We could have settled much earlier if Chris Foy had held fire from blowing his whistle. Cesc slammed the ball past the keeper on his left after Jack Wilshere was tripped just outside the penalty box. If this was Championship manager then Wilshere's International cap midweek would have added some extra digits on his overall ability, it certainly looked that way from his overall display.
Wilshere looked to have an extra spring in his step, and extra self belief. He doesn't look like a talented kid that is trying to show how good he is. He looks like he is a young man who is doing what he has been doing since he started playing football.
Wilshere glides through the pitch, dropping his shoulder and weaving in between players. He has spent his Arsenal first team career thus far learning his duel role in front of our defence, now he is beginning to show Arsenal supporters what he was doing for the youth teams and reserves and that is very promising.
I agree that we shouldn't be hyping him up, especially being English but when he turns out performances like he did yesterday then it is very difficult to over look it. It will be interesting to see how he copes against arguably the best midfield of the last decade on Wednesday night.
I was also very impressed with Andrey Arshavin. It was fantastic to see the old Shava back again after a few months. I wouldn't be at all surprised to find out that he had been doing extra fitness work whilst being out of the side because his work rate was as high as I can remember it ever being in the past. He ran more without the ball than he did with it and that hasn't always been the case with Arshavin.
His determination to close down Zubar and the rest of the Wolves team was very good and his passing was crisp and inventive. I like the way he was bursting past the full back to get to the dead ball line. If it wasn't for poor finishing then his incredible assist's record would have increased yet again.
We didn't have to wait too long for the first goal to arrive which is just as well given the amount of wasted opportunities until the second goal found its way in.
The first goal was a goal of wrong feet. Cesc Fabregas drifting inside his man, saw Van Persie on the penalty spot and dropped a left footed pass into the Dutchman who stretched on his right to volley past the keeper. Two of our most influential attackers showing their worth in a split second.
From that point on, it was another case of creating chances by the bucket load but not take our chances.
Arshavin, Cesc, Van Persie and Walcott twice all had very good chances to score but for the brilliance of yet another away goalkeeper or some plucky last ditch defender from the visitors.
After half time the chances kept coming and it was only a matter of minutes before Wilshere was slalom skiing through the Wolves defence again and then pass to Walcott only to place it wide of the post.
The Emirates crowd have often seen this movie before. Team dominates, opposition throwing everything on the line, chances go begging. We have also seen two endings to this story over this season, luckily it would be a happy ending.
Cesc, Song and Van Persie all continued to waste chances before Arsenal scored a wonderful second. It started with Wolves trying to get past Sagna on our right but Sagna stood firm and played it back to Djourou. Djourou found Wilshere with a Wolves player baring down on him to close down the ball but Wilshere's first time outside of the foot flick found Song on the right just ahead of Sagna who started the move. Song's first time pass found Cesc who was standing in a bit of space, Walcott already knew what was coming and he powered up the right and Cesc whipped a low curling pass into the space in front of the speedy Walcott.
It provided a two on one and Walcott squared to Van Persie who took a touch and drilled low inside the near post past the inspired Hennessey.
Wolves had zero attempts on target during the whole game and we were totally dominant so Wenger replaced Van Persie who took an accidental whack to the knee from a Wolves player, Chamakh came on in his place whilst Bendtner replaced Arshavin who had played for Russia in midweek.
Denilson also came on for Wilshere who was also rested with Barcelona in mind.
It was interesting to see Theo Walcott playing on the left, running onto his striking foot. (DJD will be pleased) One turn at the half way line and burst of pace was very Marc Overmars of the past. I am not so sure if he would be a positive influence in that position if the game wasn't so stretched but with Wolves having to leave space in behind it was a fantastic outlet, an outlet that we could have done with last weekend. (desperately trying to close the book on that one)
Conclusion
The team were very much switched on, everyone worked very hard off the ball and that was great to see. In fact I do not remember us working as hard as that against a lower level side for a long while and that certainly is pleasing to see. Hopefully the pressing will continue to be a fundamental part of our game and not just an option that gets switched on and off at will.
Van Persie could be the deadliest marksman in Europe right about now. I am sure a little number 10 who will be playing on Wednesday might have something to say about it but Robin has now broken records for his goal scoring in 2011. No player in the Premier League has ever scored ten goals in the first two months of a calendar year.
We remain unbeaten in the league and our form is very good. Samir Nasri has been training and is likely to take his place on the bench in midweek.
The squad now look forward to a massive game and this time the squad are looking very healthy. We are playing the best team in world football right now so the players should try and remove fear that they might have and just express themselves. It will certainly be a very entertaining game of football.
Szczesny (6)
Sagna (7)
Djourou (7)
Koscielny (7)
Clichy (7)
Song (7)
Wilshere (8)
Cesc (7.5)
Walcott (7.5)
Van Persie (8)
Arshavin (7.5)
Please note that ratings are only my interpretations of the game and that others will have differing opinions
Fancy writing your own articles for fellow Gooners to read? Click Your Vision section.
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13-Feb-2011 13:14 | | MohoopsGreat write up ML, Describing wilshere as a slaolm skiier & 'a goal of wring feet' are typical ML gems..top stuff!!
loving rvp & JD's form, unfortunately I didn't see the full game yday but will try to catch highlights..I'm looking forward to wed but I really don't want Europe to distract us from the title this yaer, it's possible but also a bit of a lottery, while the league is def possible ESP with manu's run in etc..
Up the Arsenal
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13-Feb-2011 13:36 | | clockendjim - It's getting better all the timeOne of the most pleasing aspects of the Wolves game was to see the old Arshavin returning. He is one of our truly world class players and he has been missing in action lately.
Yesterday was almost as if a burden had been lifted from him and he was flowing again, even coming back to make some tackles.
It is still worrying that we so outplayed a team, should have run up double figures and yet only won 2-0. Walcott in particular was very wasteful of chances but he is begiining to look the real deal.
Well Wednesday night should tell us just how good we really are. Should have had a ticket for the match, but the wonderful Arsenal website messed up on me. Well I shall now be watching from the sofa; or behind it.
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13-Feb-2011 16:11 | | DJ Dragonfly@ ML
Thanks for the mention mate.
Theo's brief spell at left attack yesterday was a major success. He's had a very good season so far on the opposite flank with his goals and assists, however I feel we would get more penetration and goals from him cutting inside onto his favoured right foot at left attack.
The build up to Van Persie's second goal was out of this world. Fabregas's pass to Walcott in the lead up to the goal was sensational.
I'm running out of things to say about Djourou, who I feel is the best centre back at the club (I rate him better than Vermaelen). The guy is solid as a rock.
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13-Feb-2011 18:54 | | goonerbegood - RUTHLESSLY BUT YET INTELLIGENTLY.it was a fantastic response from all team .Defence was solid,mid field was solid ,attack was solid.
Am happy cos the club is beginning to reap fruit of it's labour over the past few years.without doubt it has been tough times of constant slagging off from press and media.
it was once cos we did not have enough english players in our team ,that was why we lacked the finished article,
Now we have 2 with 4-5 on loan and to compete for places next season,AFOBE,LANSBURRY,JET,BARTLEY,COQ, RYO..as for inured palyer getting back to form FRIMPONG ,RAMSEY...
I have said it severally I BELIEVE IN THIS TEAM.
ON WEDNESDAY WILL WE BE THE MIGHTY ARSENAL FC OR WILL WE BE THE TINNY ARSENAL FC. i hope and pray though barca are a very good team ,we the MIGHTY ARSENAL ARE EQUALLY A VERY GOOD TEAM.
on wednesday night, as always we have to be clinical.very clinical.chances will come cos of the way we play and cos of the way barca play.yjey have a good defence,and our defence has imporved likewise midfield.
TO WIN..WE NEED TO BE RUTHLESS BUT YET INTELLIGENT.
COS barca will try there very best to frustrate us ., one thing i would liek to see is
OUR ANFIELD ARSHARVIN, AT HIS BEST,he is getting there
on wednesday night he should only think about one name
MIGHTY ARSENAL FC. our team can doit ,we must not come in thinking it will be a walk in the park,we must not come in thinking barca won't acore,we must not come in giving barca too much respect,they have to earn it, but WE MUST BE LIEVE COS WE WILL RECEIVE.RUTHLESSLY BUT YET INTELLINGENTLY.THEO NEEDS TO TAKE HIS GAME TO THE NEST LEVEL,HE DOESN'T NEED TO BE AFRAID.DEFENCE NEEDS TO BE VERY DECISIVE AND SOLID ALL ROUND,
LONG LIVE THE MIGHTY ARSENAL FC.
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14-Feb-2011 11:23 | | dkgooner - Another impressive debut...
... at least, the Rangers fans think so. Great move for the lad.
See what they think of Kyle Bartley:
http://forum.rangersmedia.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=177575&st=0
(Not sure about the comparison with Shittlestone though
)
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14-Feb-2011 11:36 | | dkgooner - And Ryo...Another fine display for Feyenoord - he's already a favourite with the fans.
(New link)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyyebqeCBE8&feature=player_embedded
The no.22 Diego Biseswar looks pretty useful too. If AFC are going to have a close co-operation with Feyenoord, we could be in for some pleasant surprises.
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