Arsenal
Bouldly Back to Future to Beat Cheaty Cheaty Cheat Cheats
He scores when he wants
By Boris Mellor
September 2 2012
A couple of weeks ago I signed off my report by saying that Bould may prove to be the best signing of Arsenal’s season. Even though its early days I would argue that today’s fantastic victory took us back to the days when Arsenal could really defend. Three clean sheets in a row! When did that last happen?
There is no need for Goal of the Month, indeed until today there weren’t any, it should be replaced by a clean sheet of the month, and to my mind this one is the winner. This victory combined the ethos of George Graham with the surgeon’s knife of Arsene Wenger, synthesised on the pitch by good old Stevie Bould.
It is a long time since I last saw an Arsenal team so resolute in defence, or seen so many Gunners, tackle, block and head out. We swelled with pride down the local as the commentator pronounced Liverpool cannot find a way through the Arsenal defence, back to the future indeed!
Wenger lost contact with his defence a long time ago, a fish rots from the head, but football team implodes from the back. Arsenal had been goal shy for 2 and a half hours, but as long as the defence held then fortunes would always change. I have no intention of copying the hyperbole of some pundits, I had expected a draw, as Liverpool are not that good, now its Liverpool who are allegedly in crisis, and Arsenal who are fantastic. What a difference a week makes.
Somehow I doubt that neither relegation, or championship, candidates were on view in this match. Even if they were on view, three games are far too few to base any sensible prediction on. Indeed Wenger believes you need at least ten results before you can judge a team’s trajectory.
But back to the match, how enjoyable it was, at first it appeared that Arsenal would never score. Wenger had, very sensibly, benched Gervinho and Walcott, this was a team picked for strength and spirit. If Wenger says his team showed mental strength I will have to agree, but not with all the other redundant times he has cracked that chestnut over the last 5 years.
With RvP gone the midfield must now provide nailed on chances, half chances will not do, and on 31 minutes Cazorla did just that. Anyone could have scored from his slide rule pass (Well perhaps not Gervinho, or my Grandma, but then she has been dead over 30 years.), and Podolski was the lucky recipient, but to be fair he took it very well. There was a delayed reaction down the pub, it was like we couldn’t believe it. Was it really in the net, surely it was around the back, but it was true, and as it finally sunk in we proceeded to sing and dance around the pub.
A few minutes later Giroud missed an open goal from a fairly decent pass from Diaby, we all feared that this could cost us. However, Giroud’s miss worried me less than the fact that he was unable to win the ball, as far as I can remember, from a single Mannone’s goal kick. Mannone had a superb game, and it may now prove hard to drop him. He only made one slight error, parrying the ball into Liverpool’s path, but Vermaelen cleared it before the Scousers could reach it.
On 68 minutes Cazorla exchanged passes with Podolski to beat Reina, sending the ball under his arm. Should Reina have saved it? I don’t know and don’t care, I am glad he didn’t. At 2-0 up it was clearly game over, not that Liverpool didn’t try to equalise, but the never say die attitude of Arsenal’s defence never gave them a chance, not to say that there were not any squeaky bottom moments.
Arsenal were far more direct and incisive when they attacked, it was back to the future for Wenger too. This reminded me of the days when the team travelled from box to box in straight lines, without all the powder puff flummery of crab football we have had to endure the last few seasons.
Cheaty cheats and Webb
Scousers are supposed to be knowledgeable about football, well if they are they should know that Suarez is one of the nastiest cheats in the EPL. With only minutes gone he had conned Mertesacker into the book and won a dangerous free kick. Webb was pathetic, he either went along with his diving antics, or when he waved play on he didn’t book the dirty little cheat. Arsenal got two yellows long before Liverpool got one. If Webb was a pigeon he wouldn’t go more than 5 yards before returning to the coop.
But this Arsenal team was not fazed by Suarez and his antics, nor the pathetic behaviour of Webb, instead they kept their minds on the job in hand and paid Suarez back by stuffing him and his team.
Meanwhile Arsenal fans ole’d their way through the final minutes of the match, and warned Brendan Rodgers he would be sacked in the morning.
Positives
Almost too many too mention, the keeper and the whole of the back line. In midfield Diaby and Cazorla were immense, and so was Podolski in attack. The refusal to be put off by Webb, mental strength and the coaching of Steve Bould
Negatives
Oxlade Chamberlain never got into the game, but kept on trying. Giroud still shows no confidence in front of goal. Suarez’s diving.
Score Liverpool 0 Arsenal 2
MoM Arsenal away fans
Digg
Delicious
Facebook
Reddit
Stumbleupon02/09/2012 18:06
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:09:15:20:09:49 by Padre Pio.
Arteta and Vermaelen speaking to each other a lot, organising, pointing. You can finally see a bit of the special togetherness Arsene always talked about. Vermaelen, Podolski, Merstesacker, Arteta all celebrating at the end after the game, Jenkinson patting the badge. Chamberlain and Giroud struggled but worked hard, especially chamberlain when tracking back. Podolski helped out Gibbs a fair bit too.
Suarez really is a detestable little sh*t, diving, cheating, sneakily kicking out, and of course being a racist c*nt to boot. Liverpool really are diabolical, at no stage did anyone in our end really think they'd actually score.
Excellent away support. Fantastic day.
Edit: The "Lu Lu Lu, Lukas Podolski" song has made it to the 'terraces'
. Quite a few old songs too for Bergkamp, Rosicky and of course Bould. "Andre Santos, he drives how he wants" Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2012:09:02:18:47:21 by PKGooner.
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
Were my ears deceiving me, or did I hear a rendition of the hey jude outro for Giroud too?
Hope I didi!
No mate your ears were working fine!!
Na na na, na na na naaaaaa girouuuuddddddddddd
I'm loving Arteta's work. So positionally responsible. It's almost like we've gone back to basics. Plenty of chat and team ethic.
You should use your season ticket to get to some away games this season, can't beat turning over your rivals away
Quote:Flava
That was popular in the second half. I particularly like, "Everton are better than you, Everton are better than you." I'm a simple man with simple tastes.
"You're the spurs of Merseyside"
Can't get any more insulting than being likened to a team with 2 league titles
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
One point I`d like to raise is how well Lukas played defensively. I`ve watched him play on on numerous occasions, but I was surprised at the number of times he showed up, helping out the defence.
He started the move and must of raced 60 or 70 mtres to finish his goal. My MOTM.
Since the end of WW1, 1919, when the FA restarted its 4 tier football league, with Arsenal fc in the 1st div, there’s only ever been one club to have never been relegated from Div 1/ EPL.
Arsenal fc
Let’s keep making history
"A club is a union between players, supporters and directors". - Wenger.
Arsene wenger has done an absolutely masterful job within the constraints he has... Every single year, he has outperformed our spending every single year he has been manager. It is extraordinary. -Gazides.
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
Quote:PKGooner
You should use your season ticket to get to some away games this season, can't beat turning over your rivals away
Can I do that if it's not my name on the ST?
Apparently, i'm tracy this year!!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2012:09:03:08:46:13 by Philly the kid.
1) Where's the video evidence of you dancing around the pub? I won't believe it otherwise, Boris!
2) On the basis of what I've seen of ManCiteh, ManU and Chelsea I wouldn't consider them Championship candidates either, if you're going to discount Arsenal at this stage. I'm not saying we will win the league, but there is just as much, if not more evidence we can finish ahead of all those three, particularly ManU, on performances thus far. The only team that has the same sort of balance we have is ManCiteh's.
3) Was 'fairly decent' a sarcastic description of the ball from Diaby to Giroud? If Hazard, Silva or Kagawa had given that ball Sky and all the other Chelsea, ManCiteh and ManU acolytes would have been dribbling at the mouth over it. Not to mention the 40 yard run he made before passing.
I do have witnesses to my celebration.
The main thrust of my argument is that who does knows who the main contender's are after three games. But when I look at the bench I see we have mainly non-impact subs. Once again Wenger has come up with a good first 11, I have my doubts about the strength in depth. But with Bould coaching maybe that will happen.
Yes it was a very good pass by Diaby, but I was being sensitive to Giroud. To be fair to him it was slightly wide of his best foot and the laces not quite the opposite side of his big toe
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
With the return of Jack and Rosicky the bench will be very strong with the likes of Walcott, Gervinho, Rosicky, Ramsey, Santos and a rotation of one of Jack, Santi and Diaby on the bench with Arteta being the only constant starter imo.
All of these players are very capable of making an impact. The only missing type is a centre forward like Bendtner who can make a difference.
I agree with what you said about Giroud as he was unable to wrap his foot around the ball.
Quote:PKGooner
Na na na, na na na naaaaaa girouuuuddddddddddd
Good chant, Djourou must be fuming.
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
Quote:Although I think we could well challenge for the league this season, three games is not enough to judge a team's prospects on, one way or the other. Otherwise, Swansea and West Brom are my dark horses.Simon68
A few points to raise Boris:-
1) Where's the video evidence of you dancing around the pub? I won't believe it otherwise, Boris!
2) On the basis of what I've seen of ManCiteh, ManU and Chelsea I wouldn't consider them Championship candidates either, if you're going to discount Arsenal at this stage. I'm not saying we will win the league, but there is just as much, if not more evidence we can finish ahead of all those three, particularly ManU, on performances thus far. The only team that has the same sort of balance we have is ManCiteh's.
3) Was 'fairly decent' a sarcastic description of the ball from Diaby to Giroud? If Hazard, Silva or Kagawa had given that ball Sky and all the other Chelsea, ManCiteh and ManU acolytes would have been dribbling at the mouth over it. Not to mention the 40 yard run he made before passing.
Quote:Philly the kidQuote:PKGooner
You should use your season ticket to get to some away games this season, can't beat turning over your rivals away
Can I do that if it's not my name on the ST?
Apparently, i'm tracy this year!!
The name doesn't matter if you've got the details of the person - you're sharing it aren't you?
Of course you need the right amount of away points for the bigger games.
I'm a red member, and the only one out of our group who's actually officially an Arsenal member - and I've used my membership 3 times over the last 4 years
. There's nearly always spares around, if you ever need any send me a PM I've no clue who tracy is!
I'll have to ask the bloke i've 2sed up on it with.
Cheers though PK. I'd no idea of the perks of an ST!!
StreamFootball - Arsenal
More Arsenal headlines
Arsenal latest threads
- Off Topic: Remember the Clamour re Jhon Duran
- Vinicius Junior
- You can sign one player this window
- Sign valverde and kill 2 birds with one stone
- Can this team with the champions league next season?
- Tzolis signs - official
- 2026/27 Arsenal Squad
- What’s going on?
- For those interested.. Arsenal Women Continue to Strengthen
- Saliba