Dam

By Boris Mellor
December 27 2007

Of course, every Gooner is disappointed by drawing at Portsmouth; they are no different to the Manchester United and Liverpool Fans who were upset at drawing there. Pompey fans rarely see their team win at home, but that’s their problem (two wins so far this season, that’s another two they have to look forward to).

 So we suffered the fate that most teams suffer, now you know how most fans feel most of the time (blimey it was only a bloody draw not a 6-1 defeat at Manchester United. Ed). Well not quite, as most fans teams are not one point off the top at halfway thorough the season. In addition, fans being fans they throw their toys out of the pram when things do not go their way. That is the way it goes, when what you love lets you down you hate it, or look for a scapegoat.

 Yes, I am pissed off by the result, and I do not intend to give a blow by blow account of a match that was a stalemate.  A match where Arsenal rarely hit their best. A match that was stifled by ten men behind the ball, and yes they every right to do that, and I have every right to say it was as boring as hell. Nobody would pay to see a boxing match where one fighter is playing for a draw.

 

Nonetheless, Arsenal could have won it if Rosicky had been a sharper in front of goal, he beat James, but not the far post. Now let’s imagine it went in – not because that changes the result – but because if it did Arsene would be a hero. He would have ground out a result, won when not at top of game,  and all those other clichés supporters use on shading a win. However, it didn’t happen, so according to some bloggers Arsene is delusional, he is stubborn etc. Grow up and show some respect.

 

Firstly, his stubbornness is his greatest asset, that’s why we have a magnificent stadium against all the odds. It’s why his youth team had a marvellous result at Blackburn. If he listened to the press and moaning bloggers, not only would he have gone delusional by now, but also he would be zig zagging all over the place. Nobody, including many Arsenal fans thought that the Gunners would be serious contenders for the title this year. The fact they are is a tribute to Arsene.

 Finally this obsession with formation, did Arsenal really play a defensive 4-5-1, or did I imagine that Eboue was constantly getting to the by line, and even into the box? Did I imagine that Rosicky and Hleb got into the box? Who was it who was too short for Eboue’s cross into the box? Arsenal played an offensive 4-5-1, Pompey a defensive version. Therefore, it is hard to break down 11 men behind the ball and it is the first time that Arsenal have failed to score. It wasn’t a defensive 4-5-1 that was the problem, it was poor passing and finishing in last 30 yards that was.

 

Of course according to Roy of the Rovers it should be ever onwards and upwards, but in real life there are setbacks. Wenger will respond, he will change things, but he will not throw the baby out with the bathwater. It also depends on personnel, RvP and Walcott are still not available, and can you play two big target men up front?

The road to the championship is long and  hard, and now we have a real fight on our hands. Now all the guff about this or that match being a test is evident for the nonsense it is. Every match is a test, and this one was a stalemate. The defence passed with flying colours, the midfield could have done better. Nobody played that badly, but quite a few need to be sharper. In particular, the midfield need to start scoring again.

 It could be that Arsenal draw or lose at Everton, so some bloggers will be slashing their wrists, but whatever happens Arsenal will still be in it. Wenger has amassed 44 points at halfway, and only lost one game all season; he has made Arsenal the joint leading goal scorers and all on a negative transfer budget. If he can keep that up, and why not, the Gunners will be in it until the finish. Not that delusional is it?

 

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Arsenal not at best but show some respect

Discussion started by Arsenal Times , 27/12/2007 10:47

Arsenal Times
27/12/2007 10:47

Arsenal not at best but show some respect

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VIP
27/12/2007 12:35

Great article. exactly half of the season has gone and we are a single point behind the leaders and last years champions.

Anything can still happen.

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karteta16
27/12/2007 12:46

I don't care if we loose, i just wanna see 4-4-2, why is it that we have to bring on someone at 70mins to get us a shot on goal. If Benjani would have scored the one on one the excuse wouldn't have been they parked the bus they would have beaten us. They had the first decent strike on goal also.

Theodore roosevelt - In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.

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Bwana Wenger
27/12/2007 13:27

I think we will be releagated. we are lucky to be number 2 with a pitiful 44 points. We are hopeless and will never score again. Lemmi support chelski. At least they can score 4. We have no world class players.

Warning: Supporting Arsenal is not for the faint at heart... It requires hard balls...

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Rooneyslyn
27/12/2007 13:54

Ditto.

hihihi.
obviously kidding.

But imagine if you wouldve lost



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007:12:27:13:57:07 by Rooneyslyn.

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Padre Pio
27/12/2007 15:28

So Karsene we play 4-4-2 and they play 4-5-1 we get flooded out in midfiled with two players isolated, they then have a spare player.

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Optimistic Gunner
28/12/2007 01:24

Padre we have played 4-4-2 many times against teams who played 4-5-1 and still won.

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litmus
28/12/2007 01:56

I thought Reading was more negative when we played them at home compared to Pompey. Difference is we didn't get the first goal that would have made them come out.

I guess Wenger who works with the players everyday knows better, and he must have his strong reasons for the formation he puts out... but I do wish to see us play with two strikers upfront. Perhaps he had too much respect for Pompey, which I understand as they are a very solid team.

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Padre Pio
28/12/2007 07:59

He also has to keep eye on two more games Everton away, and West ham home in quick sucession.

RvP and Walcott being injured also cut options.

Team is saying it is tired, it can get a rest for cup week, the team that beat Blackburn can beat Burnley

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Padre Pio
29/12/2007 19:34

Who would you rather be? A manc, a pomp, or a Gooner?

Manure 3 out of six, Pompey 1 out of 6, Arsenal 4 out of six.
What a difference a day makes, 1 point behind at beginning, 2 ahead by evening.

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AJ The Gunner
31/12/2007 11:58

i hated this game cos as at the day this game took place i was wondering why arsenal were the only team showing that the tight fixures were beginning to get to them.by the next game i was praying for feggies cocky looks to be wiped off by westham.but at last the man utd squad showed that they too could be undone by tiredness and i am back being happy again.

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Simon68
31/12/2007 13:03

After the Mancs being undone at West Ham maybe people might see our point at Portsmouth as not being too bad after all.

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Philly the kid
31/12/2007 13:13

how's that gonna work? we're STILL The Arsenal......

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Merlion96
01/01/2008 04:15

Now..if Rosicky was as accurate at Pompey as he was against Everton.......

But with the benefit of hindsight, no great damage as lady Luck is still with us as after 14th-minute, it was ManLeeds all the way...and what do you know...3 points lost...

But we can't afford to slip-up again as it is now a race to the finish.
What is Wenger's priority now?
1 - Premiership title?
2 - CL Cup?

Like Benitez, I beleive that Wenger is rotating his squad via 4-5-1 with no help from "Sick-Note" Van Persie, which also limits his options.

But Eduardo is really the surprise package with his sharp-shooting and calmness in front of goal..such a nonchalant sharp-shooting like a leisure Sunday walk in the woods.

My take on the teams:

Arsenal:
1 - Fabregas-Helb-Rosicky needs to be at their best now.
2 - Eduardo-Adebayor partnership in 4-4-2
3 - Diaby back to fitness and Flamini to maintain his high-octane performance to end of season.
4 - Almunia to keep on improving.
5 - Van Persie remains healthy to end of season.
6 - Walcott is ready.
7 - Denilson ready to takeover from Gilberto.
8 - Senderos and Djourou ready.

Then, we will, and can, remain Unbeaten in 2008 and beyond.
And if you look at it, lady Luck is certainly with us throughout 2007. Time for this fickle wench to visit the proper Red team, instead of staying put up North...

Chelski

Thanks to all Football Gods for ANC and of course a 6-point buffer.
No matter who they buy, it needs time to gell, plus with African players returning end-Feb, there will be another disruption.
Now, if they buy Anelka, I hope he start a fight in that fractious dressing room..hopefully punches that Chelsea Rent-Boy of ours who slagged French players...

The key to knock then out of the title race is to beat 'em at Blueblood Brothel.

Liverpool
Thanks to all Football Gods for that 10-point buffer now with teh Easter weekend to come.
Again, we need to beat 'em at Emirates and knock them out of the title race.
Pray very hard that Benitez will knock out Inetr; and then Benitez will concentrate on winning CL Cup and FA Cup...

ManLeeds

Like Arsenal, they are trying to gell as a team wth too many foreign players joining them this season.
Come April, their missing senior players - Giggs, Schles, Nelville - will be very telling. As pundits said "You can't in with kids", that same tag is equally applicable to ManLeeds.

Giggs and Scholes are really the key players they missed. Age is cathcing up with them and I do not think tehy can last teh pace from february to April; and like henry will break down in April/may when they really need them.

Perhaps on 12-April-2008, it is up to Arsenal to win the title by beating them at Theatre of Dreams, adn silencing all those ginger-furred...ahem..orange-furred orang utan there.

And lest of all, I am praying hard that the Glazer famly will unsettle ManLeeds by disclosing huge financial deficit due to present sub-prime crises and rising mortgage loan interest payments come March/April.

meaning - no dough to buyy players and pay greedy players like "pay me what I am worth" - with Glazer family forces to sell Ronaldo to Real or Barca for 50-mil or more to reduce the deficit.....
...Follow by an exodus of players to greener pasture..like rats deserting a sinking ship....

We can trigger this exodus by ensuring ManLeeds wins f**k-all this season....

*********************************************************

In summary, the fate is really in our hands.

All we need to do is to beat Chelski, Liverpool and ManLeeds; and the title is as good as ours.

Of course, let's start by having another run of 12 premiership consecutive victories, counting from Goodison Park....

Simple isn't it?...

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