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Szczesny owes Song a drink as well I think.
Reviews
Written by Mean Lean on Monday, 17 October 2011 13:55
If there was any argument over who is the best striker in the Premier League then surely everybody got the answer at full time at the Emirates on Saturday afternoon.
Arsene Wenger was questioned at his press conference over the use of his star pupil following comments from Dennis Bergkamp. Arsene Wenger's response was to point out van Persie's excellent strike rate. It took all of 29 seconds before van Persie struck once again. Gervinho received a clipped pass into his path, Robin's movement was too much for the Sunderland defenders to handle and his right footed low shot zipped into the net. I wouldn't have been impressed as a Sunderland supporter to see my goalkeeper not make a dive for it though.
Then for twenty minutes Robin van Persie mesmerised the entire stadium with some glorious football. The high point should have been a major contender for goal of the season. Arteta played a pass into the feet of the Dutchman who sucked Richardson in and dragged the ball around into his path and his chip floated over the keeper, almost in slow motion but the ball came out from the inside of the post rather than into the net where it deserved to go.
What I find amazing is the fact that many people have ignored that he produced that chip with his weaker foot. The technique and confidence needed to produce that type of quality on your wrong side is hugely underrated. I couldn't imagine the best player in the world, Lionel Messi being able to pull that off on his weaker side. It was very Dennis Bergkamp.
van Persie and Gervinho went close with long range drives, both players worked the space very well. Sunderland did manage to slip down our right on a couple of occasions due to Jenkinson's inexperience, once being caught in possession and once pushing up instead of dropping off in line with his center backs.
Jenkinson owes Szczesny a drink, as our Polish stopper made a ridiculously good save from point blank range from a Cattermole header after Jenkinson's error. Those mistakes aside I thought Carl Jenkinson had a very good game. He will make mistakes at his age and he will learn from those. I remember a young Rio Ferdinand was labelled as error prone at West Ham when he first made the leap into the first team. I believe the same will happen to Carl Jenkinson.
We had plenty of the ball but could not create that second goal. That second goal is the one that we have often failed to grab once on top and we were punished yet again.
Mikel Arteta handballed about 30 yards from goal and Larsson and Richardson stood behind the ball. As soon as I saw Szczesny's position, I just knew that Larsson was going to find the opposite side. Credit to the Swede, his strike was executed with perfection and there was nothing Szczesny could do about it.
In the second half we dominated the game in search of the winner but carving out chances was becoming a problem, van Persie was given special attention from Sunderland and could not influence the game as he did in the first.
Sunderland kept giving away free kicks outside of their penalty box and Arteta, Santos and Walcott all blazed high and not very handsome. Apart from van Persie's deflected effort at Birmingham City last season we hadn't converted a direct free kick since van Persie almost broke the cross bar against Sunderland in 2007. Work clearly needs to be done in that department, especially given the fact that many of our short passes in the final third should result in plenty of opportunities from the dead ball.
With minutes remaining on the clock, van Persie was fouled once again from Wes Brown who seemed to be given a free licence to foul as many players as possible.
In recent years I have felt that van Persie has often put too much behind his freekicks, almost trying to burst the net and as a result he has lost control of many of his efforts, many of them flying over the crossbar. This time he chose the Thierry Henry school of freekicks, almost flicking the ball over the wall and curling into the top corner away from the diving Mignolet.
That was the winner from a captain in top form. I thought Tomas Rosicky was fantastic throughout the game and we move the ball better when he is in the side. His final ball often let him down but his driving runs were reminiscent of the 2008 Rosicky. After that type of display, I would be disappointed to see the Czech dropped.
Andrey Arshavin came on and made a massive difference. We had been missing the link between the midfield and attackers and once the Russian was introduced that changed. I was intrigued by the position he took up when he came on. Replacing Gervinho he vacated the wide position and turned up in more central areas. His magic run and left footed shot deserved a goal.
With Arshavin in this form, I would like to see how he would handle the number 10 role, the attacking midfield position thus giving van Persie a player to link up with who also has the ability to make the difference in the final third. I suspect that I am wasting my time as Arsene has yet to show any signs that he may be interested in doing that on a regular basis.
While Rosicky, Song, van Persie and a few others had good games, there were still a few off colour and that has been the running theme for quite some time. We need a large chunk of our players to find their best form consistently all at the same time and we will only see the best of this team when that happens. Individual consistency will result in collective consistency.
A welcomed three points puts us four points off big spending Liverpool and six points off fourth position. Only eight games have been played we have thirty more to play so talk of Arsenal not being able to make the top four is laughable at such an early stage. What is important is that we gain another spinal player in Vermaelen and we string a run of results together.
Man of the match: Robin van Persie
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17-Oct-2011 21:17 | | balls2thewall - THankful for the winHappy for the scrappy win. The team is clearly still bedding down with player changes injuries etc. so a perfect performance was never on the cards. Lots of dominence and 2 goals the result. Happy supporter...
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18-Oct-2011 03:54 | | Spectrum - SpectrumSome thoughts from club legend Ian Wright ( July 2011 ) ; “Since when did Arsenal become Manchester City’s feeder club?” he said in The Sun.
“And with Cesc Fabregas looking a goner to Barcelona too, its very, very sad to see. How on earth will Arsene Wenger attract any top players to Arsenal?
“It’s come to something when a player like Clichy feels Arsenal is not good enough for him anymore.
“I’d love to see Wenger being given the same sort of transfer pot that the likes of Jose Mourinho had at Chelsea, or Andre Villas-Boas will get. The same backing Alex Ferguson enjoys at Manchester United.
“I’d be so curious to see where he goes and what he does with it.
“But I have my suspicions that he would still dither about, take too long to make up his mind and then plump for someone in France or Spain hardly any of us have ever heard of.
“Fabregas has clearly recognised the fact that Arsenal will not be competing with their rivals in the transfer market.
“That’s been going on for some time but the whole transfer thing is like a house of cards. Once one big name wants out, the rest see it and it all comes tumbling down.”
Wenger has long been accused of being conservative in the transfer market, with the frustrations of fans growing thanks to a six-year trophy drought.
Wright believes that the Frenchman should start to fight back, by making moves for rival club’s stars.
“What I’d like to see are some bullish signings,” he added.
“Go out and chase the likes of Michael Essien. Get him back on top form and he’s a fabulous player, plus you’d be getting a player from Chelsea, one of Arsenal’s supposed rivals from the Premier League and just across the River Thames.
“Then go for keeper Joe Hart and Vincent Kompany and get your own back on Manchester City.
“Make the rest of English football sit up and take notice for once – not just Arsenal fans who can see the lights going out on their club.”
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18-Oct-2011 05:45 | | Colo - yeaAnd that is why he is an arsenal legend not a manager. He lives in the past but we play in the present. Write me this comment in January! Where did he tell his son to go and play, Chelsea, and where is the son playing now, in QPR. If he had chosen Arsenal, Shawn would have feel the taste and sweetness of football. All England would be speaking of him now, how England cannot do without him. Take it, now Walcot, Chamber, Gibbs and Jacky are ahead of Shawn in English squad, am laughing my way to this
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18-Oct-2011 07:31 | | pikahaha youre quoting the striker who never scored against schmeichel?
yeah he should talk .....
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18-Oct-2011 07:55 | | MeanLean
Spectrum,
Are you honestly quoting Ian Wright and the Sun newspaper?
You ignored a fundamental part though.
“I’d love to see Wenger being given the same sort of transfer pot that the likes of Jose Mourinho had at Chelsea, or Andre Villas-Boas will get. The same backing Alex Ferguson enjoys at Manchester United."
You always seem to let that slide. You pretend that Wenger is on a level playing field with our rivals and that only his poor management means that he doesn't finish above them.
How about trying to look at the view that they have spent hundreds of millions more and ALL have a higher wage bill. I suspect once again that you will ignore that and just pretend that a new manager will be able to match those managers in the transfer market.
"In Spectrum he's delusional"
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18-Oct-2011 08:32 | | pikaor he could see it this way:
them clubs need to outspend us by hundreds of millions to marginally beat our eboues almunias and walcotts
lol the fact he quotes the sun says it all really
why dont he ask for pardew;s opinion next ...hahaa
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18-Oct-2011 09:31 | | richieHold on Ian I think I can see a pig. Yes its a pig and it seems to be flying over the moon. How the F*** are we gonna turn up to Chelski Money City or Manu'er and poach their players who earn double what we can pay ours. I can think of some rediculous statements to make trying to sell newspapers but this one doesn't really deserve a response.
We ain't got anyone backing us with bent Russian oil billions like Chelski, nor do we have a bottomless pit of and Arab shiek, to prop us up like Citeh and we couldn't get away with the debts that Manu'er runs up! Its fantacy football that Ian Wright should be playing and the next time I see him and I do run into him a couple of times a year (usually on flights to and from Spain) I'll tell him not to sell his Arsenal Soul to sell newspapers.
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18-Oct-2011 10:57 | | pikaI'll tell him not to sell his Arsenal Soul to sell newspapers.
also as a personal favour, please spit him in the face
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18-Oct-2011 11:40 | | SpectrumMean Lean - Didn't ignore it at all. We all know Wenger hasn't got the same huge financial resources to spend as City e.t.c. And I am not saying that he has. Because ( unlike A.K.B.'s ) I don't ignore reality.Stop trying to put words into my and his, mouth.
What Wright is saying is that Wenger doesn't wisely spend what he already HAS, ( 50 million sitting unspent in the bank, remember ? ). And that hypothetically, if he WERE to be given a huge transfer kitty, he suspects that he would ( quote ) ; " still dither about, take too long to make up his mind and then plump for someone in France or Spain hardly any of us have ever heard of. "
And if you're honest, that is just what he HAS been doing for years, hasn't he ? In other words, Wright is doubtful that Wenger would change his ways, no matter how much money he was given. And funnily enough, that's also what I've been saying.
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18-Oct-2011 11:51 | | SpectrumColo - Be that as it may, but his current indiscretions doesn't detract from what Wright personally achieved during his time with us. I could be wrong, but wasn't he the club's record goalscorer up to that time ? You A.K.B.'s are always going on about showing respect. I think it's time you showed more respect to a club legend like Wright. And Arsenal legend he is, whether you like him now, or not. Shame on you, pika and richie.
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18-Oct-2011 12:32 | | pizzy05 - Welcome SpectrumBut I expected you to find the negatives in the Sunderland game, not throwing red herrings. And instead of bantering with pika and co.(you're fighting a lost cause as always tho) rewatch the match and let's hear your negative analysis(pls no issue about RVP's contract situation; just the match)
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18-Oct-2011 13:22 | | pizzy05 - Negative Analysis from a Real Gooner(Spectrum's AKNegatives were few and far in between, but it's good to take note of such so that we can show objectivity and watch for wenger's response to them.
1. Gaps in between the lines- the defence did not have a steady option to pass to in the match, thus we saw Kos and Mert looking to play deep into the opposing half often. I feel Song or Mikel Arts should or given that duty as it is very crucial that our defence keeps it's shape all the time. it may have been a tactic from le Boss, but it is a weakpoint that could've been exploited were Sunderland more offensive. So also was the disconnect between the midfield and attack. It was Robin that dropped deep to pick up this slack until late in when Andrei came in. Our midfield was superb, yes, but they need to do more, cover more space.
2. Positioning in the middle- a few times, sunderland actually countered thru the middle and our midfield was nowhere near. these breaks actually took place a few times late in the first half when Song went sloppy with the ball, and TR7 and Mikel Arts had moved forward to create space, but our positioning was also suspect when Sunderland created some chances in that period. Song was caught in no man's land when they broke from Jenks late in, allowing Cattermole to sneak in to the far post unnoticed. Jack Colback also capitalised on this suspect positioning from the Camerounian late in the first half to fashion that half volley chance...
3. ineffectiveness of our wingers- on this, I believe Wenger should have realised that our midfield is not yet ready for a tactic of two out and out wingers. The right wing lacked penetration on Sunday(defensive tactic as protection for Jenks?) and that was a shame as Richardson was there to be torn apart. It was only Jenks that was sending quality crosses, Theo was anon throughout. Even Gervinho wasn't consistent. I believe that it's time to restore a certain russian back into the starting lineup...
this in brief, is my negative analysis.
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18-Oct-2011 23:13 | | richie - Education Education Education.How many times Spud? 50million? Wenger doesn't have 5milion to spend because Wenger as anyone who takes an interest in the internal working of the Arsenal football club will tell you, he Wenger doesn't do the buying of players. Did Wenger fly to Turkey to negociate with Fenebache? Did he sort out Santos's contract? No!
Did Wenger take a day trip to Hanover to discuss personal terms with Per or fly to Bremen to sign the same Mertasaker from Werner? No!
Well surely he must've poped over to his native France on a day trip to Lille to sign up Gervinho? No!
O.K. lets for arguements sake say he'd forgotten to renew his passport, did he Jump on a Virgin Express to Liverpool? Meet up with David Moise and hammer out a deal for Arteta? No!
Why not? Because just like Pep Guardiola at Barca, thats not part of his Job contract discription.
Arsene Wenger I.D's the players he would like and leave's the business dealing details to the suits. In the old days that was David Dein (Who knows just about everyone in European football) these days the job of buying falls to Kroenke American negociator (Who knows nobody in World or European football circles).
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19-Oct-2011 04:40 | | Spectrumrichie - Here it is again - http://le-grove.co.uk/tag/manchester-united/
A key point in the summary ; "Arsene Wenger is solely responsible for wages and the players we buy ".
I suggest you take your argument to the Arsenal Supporters Trust.They've revealed info. from their meetings with the board.They seem to be painting a different picture to you.
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19-Oct-2011 08:18 | | Feenobid for goetze and bid for y'ann villa in the last transfer window. Wanted Gourcoff
You're going on Ian Wrights if's and buts, you are desperate of a fool probably both.
And again fail to to take in all the facts as you so claim to do.
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19-Oct-2011 22:17 | | richie - Pizzy05Thats wasn't a negative analyisis and you know it! That was a critical analysis, and your spot on! Thats what supporters of Arsenal FC do we're critical, and lets face it theres been a lot to be critical of recently, but we are still supporters of our great club. What we don't do is slag our own team,slag our own manager, and slag our club. Other teams fans do enough of that.
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20-Oct-2011 15:54 | | Spectrumrichie - For someone who's so big on education, I thought you'd be keen to run your unbiased eye over the article. Just in the name of fairness, of course.
While you're at it, you might want to get your scholarly mind around this too : http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2011/10/19/2717231/ cash-rich-arsenal-can-afford-to-give-robin-van-persie-the-200000-
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20-Oct-2011 16:03 | | SpectrumFeeno - Funny how we make plenty of "bids" but never get around to actually SIGNING anyone of note. Something always seems to thwart the deals, and often at the last minute.
Must be that darn bad luck we're always hearing about.Or maybe we can put it down to conspiracies ? "No-one wants to sell to us", LOL.
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20-Oct-2011 16:12 | | Spectrumrichie - You concede "that we can be critical". But you can't extend that criticism to its logical conclusion. That if the team is underperforming, then who is responsible for that ? There is a strange disconnect in your thinking there. I was always taught in school that 1 + 1 = 2.
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