<body><script type="text/javascript"> function setAttributeOnload(object, attribute, val) { if(window.addEventListener) { window.addEventListener('load', function(){ object[attribute] = val; }, false); } else { window.attachEvent('onload', function(){ object[attribute] = val; }); } } </script> <div id="navbar-iframe-container"></div> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://apis.google.com/js/platform.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> gapi.load("gapi.iframes:gapi.iframes.style.bubble", function() { if (gapi.iframes && gapi.iframes.getContext) { gapi.iframes.getContext().openChild({ url: 'https://www.blogger.com/navbar/3483027016740155385?origin\x3dhttp://junichiarsenal.blogspot.com', where: document.getElementById("navbar-iframe-container"), id: "navbar-iframe" }); } }); </script>
Just Because.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
At least we've cleared Everton out of our system.
I said that I wanted a Tomas goal that wasn't for shiok value only. That I got. Except that it wasn't the difference between a win and a draw, but a draw and a loss.

Good all the same, but I would have preferred if we had won.

If you gave the game considerable thought about the manner of our goals, you wouldn't consider them lucky. Yes, both were a result of deflections, but those were clear reflections of the tactics David Moyes set his team out to do.

Defend in numbers. Get bodies in the box. Throw bodies in the line of fire.

And that is what you get really. No clear cut Arsenal goal but deflections.

They could moan and blame their luck but in the spells where we were superior, we deserved to win as much as they thought they did. Their goal from Pienaar was not a result of brilliance but a result of us wanting the winning goal so badly to get the 3 points. Credit to them to know exactly what we wanted and to use it to their advantage but I am not disheartened by the performances of the lads. In truth, they could have been better but the spirit was there.

The headlines all read that Arsenal were lucky but these are the ignorant fools of the press who do not know any better. It was simply down to the way Everton defended. If you put that many things in the way of the keeper, you got to watch out for deflections. I don't need to make myself any clearer than this. Just take a look at the Beach Ball incident at Sunderland. Even a lousy pool beach ball can cause a deflection that great to leave no chance for the keeper. What about men in front of the keeper. The beach ball they could get out of the way. Everton players? They're no better than the beach ball.

At least this time, it wasn't an Arsenal fan who put the Everton player there. The Liverpool schoolboy is probably still living in utter shame.

On another day, if we had Fabregas in the side, this game could have been a done deal. And yesterday, we saw how important Song is to us. Denilson, who got stretchered off injured, is no Alex Song. The key to a successful attack in a 4-3-3 is a good holding midfielder to be there whenever we lose the ball, to shield the defence. Without one, we put our defence in a whole lot of shit. I dare say, that had Song been playing, the Pienaar goal wouldn't have happened. That said, their first goal was from a corner and we didn't show enough desire to close down the ball.

Their goals perhaps could have been prevented had Song been playing but more importantly, a good holding midfielder also holds the key to good attacking play. He is important to the team at both ends.

I thought Donovan did pretty well today. For a player to come and slot right in immediately in the league and do well is quite remarkable. I'm wondering why Wenger never considered bringing in players from the MLS on short term loan to provide cover. There aren't many strings attached and Beckham is a good testament to their worth, even though he ain't American.

The good thing is, Man Utd decided that they really do want us to over take them, or at least have the possibility to. So they drew 1-1 with Birmingham. What's left is Chelsea. They are expected to drop more points because their chief goalscorer is currently in Angola. I never realised the Chelsea were pretty dependent on their African players till, well, now. There's Drogba and Essien for starters. A team missing those two could genuinely be short on quality.

What's left to do now is for Rosicky to return to full complete fitness because he was a gem when coming on. It's always an 'all hands on deck' situation at Arsenal so we need everyone. EVERYONE. I don't believe Arsene Wenger is close to signing anyone besides Sol Campbell. I am so not betting on January signings. The minute he excluded Edin Dzeko for being too expensive I stopped praying even. There aren't a lot of tall hitmen around who can slot right into the Arsenal team so that's it. We'll most probably have to rely on whatever we have. Arsenal Football Club is a bunch of scrooges when it comes to transfers. Good thing the window is closed over Christmas or they'll be the red and white grinches stealing our Christmases.

Dream signings will always be a dream. I mourn Dzeko. Chelsea always signs him in FM and he always scores against Arsenal. Booooo.

Labels: , , ,



A Little Drunken Madness @ 1:09 PM






EXITS

ARCHIVES

[Valid RSS]


ShoutMix chat widget