These are the types of games that have proven to be problematic for Arsenal, and that’s why these are three great points to pick up. Arsenal weren’t at their best in terms of stringing those passes together, but the defensive steel they displayed is reassuring, and something different from years past. I’d like to think we beat Blackburn at their own game: for every strong Blackburn tackle, there was one from Arsenal and then some. Theo Walcott had another good game at the right wing, he always looked to be a threat and got rewarded with a goal via a precise far-post finish. Bacary Sagna deserves huge credit for the second goal as he was the one that kept the ball in and made the play possible.
Robin Van Persie was taken off after picking up an ankle injury (out for ten days which coincides with the interlull, so that’s good), so Chamakh was introduced. As I said on Twitter, he is simply magnificent at helping out in his own half and tracking back. His goals will come, but it’s good to see a striker who’s not scoring use his height and physical presence to be a factor elsewhere. Final comment is on Arshavin, he gets slagged a lot because of his effort levels, but I think the criticism is too harsh. He is a wonderful player who is always thinking a step ahead, I think it’s just a matter of time before he finds his mid-season form and becomes effective for the full 90 minutes.
Our defense sucks and we need a goalie. What’s new? After the scum had done us a favor by beating Chelsea, we blew it all away by giving up a 2-0 lead to Wigan. The back four looked leaky all game and I’m surprised Wigan didn’t score much earlier. At this point, I just want the season to end because just like last year, and the year before that, we’ve shown that we can’t handle the pressure. Yes, injuries are an issue but we are Arsenal Football Club, we should be able to go to our second team and still get a result in places like Birmingham and Wigan. Up 2-0, we simply stopped playing and Wigan, which was knocking on the door all game long, just took the chances they were presented. Frankly, we deserved to lose.
Three months out. After he dislocates his shoulder playing in a meaningless midweek friendly. Now if this would’ve happened to William Gallas it wouldn’t have bothered me, but Theo? C’mon. We’re already going through a stage where we can’t by goals in the Prem and Theo was one of the lone threats we had. Nobody could keep up with is pace on the right and the man created at least two or three chances for us a game.
Now instead of looking to Eboue again to fill this role, why not bring in Jack Wilshere or maybe even Ramsey and see how they fare. They’ve shown spectacular skill and composure in the Carling Cup games (while beating Prem clubs) and deserve a shot here. I don’t know about you, but for me the most entertaining Arsenal play has come in the CC, not in the CL or Prem. More of that please.
That’s really all I wanted to say but here’s some more. The club’s been going through a real shitty stage, tying the scum, losing to Villa at home, the Stoke shit, the Hull hell etc. IMHO, the root of these problems is the midfield and defense, Fabregas looks lost out there playing without an enforcer like Flamini. Nasri’s effectively replaced Hleb rather admirably (on the wrong side) but that holding midfielder we’re so used to having in Gilberto and Flamini is missing. Rosicky will be back to train in 7 weeks so maybe he can provide that but that’s waiting too long. I think our Prem fate will be decided by then. It all comes down to AW spending some cash and acknowledging that his young Guns need help and can’t do it on their own – at least not yet.
Another disappointment of late has been Bendtner who hasn’t looked like Arsenal quality at all. Even when he’s one-on-one, he managed to fuck things up rather nicely. That play late against Man Utd when he had a chance to make it 3-0. Eww. He’s been forced into the starting XI because Van Persie’s stupid foul against Stoke. That was the dumbest Arsenal play I’ve seen over the last couple years, even worse than Lehmann’s fuck-ups. Going three games without your top striker will hurt any team, much less one that is so dependent on a finishing touch.
That’s it for this little piece on this primarily video blog. Expect some more.
