Miracle Man
Funeral Music at a Wedding and Wedding Music at a Funeral
Miracle Man
By Boris Mellor
April 22 2009
Wenger reminds me of a virtuoso violinist who had no sense of occasion. His music is immaculate but he plays funeral music at weddings and wedding music at funerals. Of course the more cynical might say he has it the right way round (that funeral music is best played at weddings); however, we will not know for quite awhile if the cynical view is correct.
Miracle Man
April 22 2009
Wenger reminds me of a virtuoso violinist who had no sense of occasion. His music is immaculate but he plays funeral music at weddings and wedding music at funerals. Of course the more cynical might say he has it the right way round (that funeral music is best played at weddings); however, we will not know for quite awhile if the cynical view is correct.
If Wenger held back so he could win a higher place in the league I am afraid a draw is not good enough, he may have sold the cup for very little in return. I could be proved wrong and will be happy to be so.
No Great Expectations
Quite a lot of pundits expected the Anfield game to be Arsenal's funeral. Liverpool had rested all week, the Gunners defence was decimated. Merson predicted a 3-1 victory for Liverpool. Myles Palmer predicted a 3-1 for Liverpool. Me? I predicted a draw because I knew Arsene Wenger was about to play his wedding violin. I did not predict a win because the defence is so threadbare, yet with Almunia in goal we may have won. However, the virtuoso violin was on - Arshavin, there would be Arsenal goals.
What would have happened if he had played against Chelsea? We will never know for sure, but I do believe we could have won. His performance at Anfield has to be one of the greatest ever. When it was suggested to him it was like a basketball game he agreed and regretted he could not score 19. This has to be the greatest individual performance by an Arsenal player in modern times, even greater than Kanu's hat trick at Chelsea, or Bergkamp's at Leicester.
Those who say Almunia is not a match winner are wrong - he would have won this match for us. It is some times said, disparagingly, that he is a shot stopper, well that was just what was needed stopping a few shots, and at least one was savable. Not that Fabianski was bad, he did very well in preventing four goals becoming double figures.
Forget the hard hat
However, for the neutral this must have been exhilarating, for the committed fan it was enough to bring on a heart attack. Nonetheless, it was a great game worthy of the 20th anniversary of Arsenal's last gasp league victory in the last game of 1989.
It was a roller coaster of game, and it was not decided until injury time when Liverpool avoided defeat. However a draw is not good for them, it will hardly be enough to stop United. At times Liverpool were battering Arsenal, but it was the Londoners that took the lead, 3 times in total.
One nil to the Arsenal and then one-one by half time. Liverpool went 2-1 up on 48 minutes. I feared a tonking but no the amazing Arshavin equalized. A friend rang up to say Arshavin was on a hat trick, I laughed it off, no way in a top class game at Anfield. A minute later I rang him back to confirm the hat trick. Arsenal were 3-2 up, but no way could the ramshackle defence hold, and 3-3 it was. Arshavin was not finished he scored an incredible fourth from a great pass by Walcott. The atmosphere was an absolute cauldron, though some Scousers did go home on 4-3 down. They should have stayed. Those who remained applauded both teams at the end.
Cauldron
Could we hold on? The referee gives at least 5 minutes injury time my blood pressure was rising. Liverpool equalize with 90 seconds to go. Even those 90 seconds seemed like a lifetime. Finally, the whistle went to end the game.
What a fantastic game, Arsenal fans should be proud to have been part of such an epic. Arsenal may have decided the outcome of the Premiership at Anfield just as they did in 1989
It has been suggested that Wenger needs lessons on how to defend; well he certainly will not get that from Benitez who has now conceded 11 goals in three games against London teams. In fairness to Wegner, it has to be admitted that the team was becoming watertight before the horrendous injury list of Gallas, Clichy, Almunia and Djourou.
Let us not forget to admire what was good in this performance, and realize that if we get a few defenders back it could be game on again. This team definitely has spirit and mental strength.
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Funeral Music at a Wedding and Wedding Music at a Funeral
Posted by: Arsenal Times (IP Logged)
Date: 22/04/2009 15:00
What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:04:26:21:21:47 by Padre Pio.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:04:26:21:21:47 by Padre Pio.
Re: Funeral Music at a Wedding and Wedding Music at a Funeral
Posted by: PKGooner (IP Logged)
Date: 22/04/2009 15:29
Away fans were quality last night, we sang all game. Had some quality songs for the scousers as well 
Arshavin, besides his four goals, ran his socks off, quality signing.
Torres is the best striker in the world, incredible but my word what a diving cheating @#$%&.
Coming back from the game last night, and then having a look on the telly and reading reports online, I couldn't believe people were having a go at Fabianski. Would've been double figures if it werent for him like you said.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:04:22:15:30:45 by pk_gunner.
Arshavin, besides his four goals, ran his socks off, quality signing.
Torres is the best striker in the world, incredible but my word what a diving cheating @#$%&.
Coming back from the game last night, and then having a look on the telly and reading reports online, I couldn't believe people were having a go at Fabianski. Would've been double figures if it werent for him like you said.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:04:22:15:30:45 by pk_gunner.
Re: Funeral Music at a Wedding and Wedding Music at a Funeral
Posted by: karsene16 (IP Logged)
Date: 22/04/2009 22:11
Quote:This has to be the greatest individual performance by an Arsenal player in modern times, even greater than Kanu's hat trick at Chelsea, or Bergkamp's at Leicester.
I don't know about this though, it's up there with them, Kanu's Hattrick in 15mins is my best (2-0 down to winning 3-2 is special on its own), Bergkamp is rated as the best hattrick ever by a lot.
[www.transferleague.co.uk]Re: Funeral Music at a Wedding and Wedding Music at a Funeral
Posted by: eduardo (IP Logged)
Date: 23/04/2009 00:41
I really fear utd could blow us away in the semi next week, it could be over in one game
Re: Funeral Music at a Wedding and Wedding Music at a Funeral
Posted by: younghansolo (IP Logged)
Date: 23/04/2009 00:45
Is performance based on goals alone? I mean surely there s an argument to suggest that Arshavin's performance was terrible but his clinicalness was first rate. Im not sure on how you should judge a performance. I mean as the commentators said he offerred Gibbs no support but then he did score four goals!
Personally I think he struggled to get in the game for large portions but he took every opportunity shown his way and I'd be more than delighted if he did that every week.
Normally we have players who play marvelously but fail to be so clinical it's nice to be on the other side for once.
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Personally I think he struggled to get in the game for large portions but he took every opportunity shown his way and I'd be more than delighted if he did that every week.
Normally we have players who play marvelously but fail to be so clinical it's nice to be on the other side for once.
[/URL]Re: Funeral Music at a Wedding and Wedding Music at a Funeral
Posted by: Padre Pio (IP Logged)
Date: 23/04/2009 07:49
In the second half he was effectively a striker, why would he be tracking back?
Re: Funeral Music at a Wedding and Wedding Music at a Funeral
Posted by: younghansolo (IP Logged)
Date: 23/04/2009 18:21
He was still the left sided midfielder in that formation. He still has defensive duties as do all players.
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[/URL]Re: Funeral Music at a Wedding and Wedding Music at a Funeral
Posted by: Padre Pio (IP Logged)
Date: 23/04/2009 18:33
He aint come to Arsenal to do no duties - and Wenger dont ask him to
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:04:23:18:41:46 by Padre Pio.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:04:23:18:41:46 by Padre Pio.
Re: Funeral Music at a Wedding and Wedding Music at a Funeral
Posted by: younghansolo (IP Logged)
Date: 25/04/2009 17:41
That kind of attitude is completely wrong imo. It's about taking responsibility all over the pitch. If the forwards only attacked and never botherred to track back we would concede even more goals than we do already.
Defend as a team attack as a team.
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Defend as a team attack as a team.
[/URL]Re: Funeral Music at a Wedding and Wedding Music at a Funeral
Posted by: Padre Pio (IP Logged)
Date: 25/04/2009 17:44
You got to leave one player up, it might as well be Arshavin. at least he will score
Re: Funeral Music at a Wedding and Wedding Music at a Funeral
Posted by: younghansolo (IP Logged)
Date: 25/04/2009 17:49
If that's the case, stick bendtner on the left and let him help gibbs out. Otherwise there are two left up top.
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