Captain Fab
Greatness is as Greatness Does
Captain Fab
By Boris Mellor
November 26 2008
Wenger is an honest man who can upset people who misunderstand him. So when he says that Arsenal controlled the game against Man City, some fans get riled and yell at the TV screen. But Wenger isn't wrong Arsenal had an amazing 66% possession. I am sure they had even more against Kyiv, and in a sense it is control.
Captain Fab
November 26 2008
Wenger is an honest man who can upset people who misunderstand him. So when he says that Arsenal controlled the game against Man City, some fans get riled and yell at the TV screen. But Wenger isn't wrong Arsenal had an amazing 66% possession. I am sure they had even more against Kyiv, and in a sense it is control.
However with nine first team regulars missing most of it lacks guile, indeed much of it is sterile. There is little directness or pace, and Arsenals control begins to soothe the opposition. They realise it is toothless and grow bold. The great irony of last night's game, for there is little need to go through it all, is that it wasn't until the Gunners lost control that they scored. One goal in three games doesn't drive fear into the heart of the opposition.
In the last few minutes Kyiv, having had ten men behind the ball all game, and a draw looking a certainty, decided rather than share the points they would nick them all. After all Arsenals callow youth had shown no threat all night. Thus they began to camp in Arsenal's half.
Greatness makes an entry
At half time in the upper tier my nephew said we should bring on Bendtner, "that plank" I laughed, "waste of time". No he argued he would do it. We agreed to differ.
Nick nicks it
Well Nick came on and with three minutes to go we still didn't look like scoring. Then greatness intervened, plus the referee who rolled the ball to Cesc. What vision, what a lob, what an angle, what genius, Bendtner chased the ball. I don't know about his confidence bit mine was shot. He seemed to be going too wide, he seemed to miss control the ball, and then he hit the sweetest of passes beyond the keeper into the net.
SMS from Nephew, "I told you so", reply from me, "I am entitled to your opinion". Fab had nicked it, that's greatness, but doesn't that apply to Bendtner? Well if he starts doing that every other game it might. I am sure about Fab; the jury is still out on the other one.
As I have already said Arsenal took the lead just when Kyiv were taking control; just as City scored when the Gunners were dominating. Chapman used to say a team can attack too much, and this is becoming a Wenger fault, he has forgotten what he used to know, or maybe his youngsters cannot learn it.
Well a good start for Fab, but a long way to go, for this is a time that will try supporters' souls, in particular the test at Chelsea on Sunday. Arsenal beat Kyiv because they had one great player to the Ukrainians zero, it won't be like that at the Bridge.
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Greatness is as Greatness Does
Posted by: Arsenal Times (IP Logged)
Date: 26/11/2008 19:08
Greatness is as Greatness Does
Re: Greatness is as Greatness Does
Posted by: Merlion96 (IP Logged)
Date: 26/11/2008 19:16
17-year old Fabregas-Flamini battled Chelski to a standstil in a 2-2 draw.
Re: Greatness is as Greatness Does
Posted by: Padre Pio (IP Logged)
Date: 26/11/2008 19:28
Indeed they did, and we could have won if Henry had took his chances
Re: Greatness is as Greatness Does
Posted by: karsene16 (IP Logged)
Date: 26/11/2008 20:00
This set of youngsters lost 2-1 CC final to chelsea.
-------------------------
Eduardo da silva - IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!HAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Eduardo da silva - IS BACK!!!!!!!!!!!HAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Re: Greatness is as Greatness Does
Posted by: Merlion96 (IP Logged)
Date: 27/11/2008 04:11
In other words, we need to dig real deep att eh bridge and find that fortitude and mental toughness ot battle it out like a oung Fabregas-Flamini combination.
We got too many ball watchers, too many palyers dwelling ont eh balls instead of a quick one-touch one-pass triangular passes that we did as late as August/Septemebr before we started to implode now.
Djourou as DCM?
Against Kyiv, it is so painful to watch his first touch. When even he received the ball, he tends to take a step back, shuffled his feet 2 or 3 steps, then LOOK UP and decided what to do with it. That is not a midfielder, let alone a DCM!!!
Frankly, there is no udnerstanding within the TEAm and why it is so ahrd for Fabregas to pick out the players and why he resolve to "Hoof-ball" liek that oen to bendtner.
Tehre is simply no PACE & MVOEMENT within this squad with DIabya nd SOng the worst culprits.
Not forgetting Denilson's movement and quick passing skills ar enot there.
Isn't it a coincidence when EBoue palyed at start of season, when he own the ball and passes almost immediately to the creative playmaker that our Midfield Engine started to move?
And when NAsri started to morph into a poor version of Hleb, - easily knock off the ball, unlike Hleb - we stop creating chances and keep loking at Fabregas?
Fabregas is so effective last seaosn because he operated in a TRIO of Hleb-Fabregas-Flamini; i.e. one holding the ball, one winning the ball and give FAbregas that vital split-second to find a clear passing channel and open up the defence.
Nowadays, fabregas simply does not have that "vital split second" to do what he cna do and is easily crowded out and rushed to pass the ball.
Wenegr needs to correct this "defect" coems Janaury as the verdict in November is that Denilson, Diaby and SOng are simply not good enough or a kinder word, not ready, to run the Engine Room.
Nasri and vela is definitely not ready yet.
From Kyiv match, it is apaprently that Ramsey and WIlshere is a better option that Song and Diaby now.
Synergy is why we did so good last season, like Rosicky-Fabregas-Flamini-Hleb.
This season?
SImply no SYNERGY with Walcott-Fabregas-Denilson-Nasri and why we struggle even to create chances now.
We got too many ball watchers, too many palyers dwelling ont eh balls instead of a quick one-touch one-pass triangular passes that we did as late as August/Septemebr before we started to implode now.
Djourou as DCM?
Against Kyiv, it is so painful to watch his first touch. When even he received the ball, he tends to take a step back, shuffled his feet 2 or 3 steps, then LOOK UP and decided what to do with it. That is not a midfielder, let alone a DCM!!!
Frankly, there is no udnerstanding within the TEAm and why it is so ahrd for Fabregas to pick out the players and why he resolve to "Hoof-ball" liek that oen to bendtner.
Tehre is simply no PACE & MVOEMENT within this squad with DIabya nd SOng the worst culprits.
Not forgetting Denilson's movement and quick passing skills ar enot there.
Isn't it a coincidence when EBoue palyed at start of season, when he own the ball and passes almost immediately to the creative playmaker that our Midfield Engine started to move?
And when NAsri started to morph into a poor version of Hleb, - easily knock off the ball, unlike Hleb - we stop creating chances and keep loking at Fabregas?
Fabregas is so effective last seaosn because he operated in a TRIO of Hleb-Fabregas-Flamini; i.e. one holding the ball, one winning the ball and give FAbregas that vital split-second to find a clear passing channel and open up the defence.
Nowadays, fabregas simply does not have that "vital split second" to do what he cna do and is easily crowded out and rushed to pass the ball.
Wenegr needs to correct this "defect" coems Janaury as the verdict in November is that Denilson, Diaby and SOng are simply not good enough or a kinder word, not ready, to run the Engine Room.
Nasri and vela is definitely not ready yet.
From Kyiv match, it is apaprently that Ramsey and WIlshere is a better option that Song and Diaby now.
Synergy is why we did so good last season, like Rosicky-Fabregas-Flamini-Hleb.
This season?
SImply no SYNERGY with Walcott-Fabregas-Denilson-Nasri and why we struggle even to create chances now.
Re: Greatness is as Greatness Does
Posted by: Padre Pio (IP Logged)
Date: 27/11/2008 08:12
No walcott pace to frighten defences.
Re: Greatness is as Greatness Does
Posted by: Merlion96 (IP Logged)
Date: 27/11/2008 08:50
******sigh***********yes.
Tiem for van Persie to step up and uses his guile and deadly running from deep to score...like he played for Holland.
But he is easily wound up and I fear another red card is waiting fro him at the Bridge.
To beat Chelski, Fabregas needs protection and options to pass the balls in a split second; and not waiting..waiting..waiting...for players to run in position.
I will take a gamble and try this option if the injured Trio si still out:
.....................Almunia
...Djourou.....Gallas.....Silvestre.....Clichy
.....................Ramsey
..Van Persie...Denilson...Fabregas....Vela
....................Bendtner
It is almost like 4-3-3 with Van Persie-Bendtner-Vela joining the attack.
And when bendtenr moves to left, Vela moves into the box, leaving Van Persie in a free role coming in deep.
The movement of Van persie-Bendtner-Vela will offer Fabregas plenty fo option for a one-touch one-pass balls.
The greatness of Fabregas is that he cna pick out a player in a split second, and Bendtner-Vela movement off the ball and their ball holding ability will allow fabregas to pass and move, collecting the return pass.
WHo was the palyer who said that playing against Arsenal is like chaisng shadow as when they pass the ball, they are already in motion to anticipate the return pass elsewhere.
This is what was missing when we hit a Blip in October.
Tiem to re-dsicover this "pass and move" technique.
Tiem for van Persie to step up and uses his guile and deadly running from deep to score...like he played for Holland.
But he is easily wound up and I fear another red card is waiting fro him at the Bridge.
To beat Chelski, Fabregas needs protection and options to pass the balls in a split second; and not waiting..waiting..waiting...for players to run in position.
I will take a gamble and try this option if the injured Trio si still out:
.....................Almunia
...Djourou.....Gallas.....Silvestre.....Clichy
.....................Ramsey
..Van Persie...Denilson...Fabregas....Vela
....................Bendtner
It is almost like 4-3-3 with Van Persie-Bendtner-Vela joining the attack.
And when bendtenr moves to left, Vela moves into the box, leaving Van Persie in a free role coming in deep.
The movement of Van persie-Bendtner-Vela will offer Fabregas plenty fo option for a one-touch one-pass balls.
The greatness of Fabregas is that he cna pick out a player in a split second, and Bendtner-Vela movement off the ball and their ball holding ability will allow fabregas to pass and move, collecting the return pass.
WHo was the palyer who said that playing against Arsenal is like chaisng shadow as when they pass the ball, they are already in motion to anticipate the return pass elsewhere.
This is what was missing when we hit a Blip in October.
Tiem to re-dsicover this "pass and move" technique.
Re: Greatness is as Greatness Does
Posted by: bergmars (IP Logged)
Date: 27/11/2008 09:59
We will win at the bridge trust me.
Dennis Bergkamp, simply the best
Dennis Bergkamp, simply the best
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