Could there be an exchange of dossiers between Wenger and Moyes?
The short answer is no. I do not have the Premier League rulebook on me but it is safe to say that any collaboration like that would be illegal.
Just three days ago, Everton had the misfortune of losing to Liverpool for the second time while Chelsea did the double over us. Yesterday, Everton did what we couldn’t do and we did what Everton couldn’t. While it is quite clear the dossier on defeating Chelsea would have explicitly stated playing a recognised striker was key, I’m not sure what the dossier on Liverpool would have recommended.
Hand on heart I’d have to say our performances at Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge were better than in the two matches against Liverpool. Yesterday’s game was scruffy. Arsene finally had his 300th win but there haven’t been many games where Arsenal played like that in his reign. You might even be surprised to hear that Liverpool had just as good a share of the possession and created just as much. Note, this is not the same as saying we played on the counter at home like Chelsea did.
In the first half, we lacked any fluency which was understandable. We only start to get going after the first 20 minutes and considering how we shot ourselves in the foot after 35 minutes in the last 2 matches, there was a lot of determination to prevent a repeat of that. Defensively, it didn’t look pretty at times but Clichy and later Gallas in particular had that ‘over-my-dead-body’ mentality I so wanted to see in our defence.
Kick it out, kick it anywhere. As long as it isn’t near our defence.
This isn’t how we normally defend. But it would do. Just. As long as the defence did its job, we only needed one chance. Wait.
This isn’t how Arsenal do it.
Well, not this Arsenal side maybe but I’m guessing the management showed a couple of the old matches where we eked out results by hook or by crook. Yes, I’m aware of our history.
And finally the chance came. It started with a pass from Diaby to Cesc. Cesc then ran with the ball towards the Liverpool box and Diaby continued his run. Cesc than passed it to Bendtner who thought he could cross. His attempt came straight back to him and then he saw Mozart on the right flank who delivered a cross which Diaby converted.
So, Arsenal can cross and score headed goals. Who knew.
Now I can give you a detailed account like that because I got a month’s subscription of Arsenal TV today. Have to say I’m chuffed about that because not only I can see the press conferences as they are (without the spin from your various media joints) but also get to find out things like who Song’s best mate is. It is Eboue, folks.
The stand out performers yesterday..
- Gallas who made that fantastic tackle to prevent Ngog from scoring. Had he got it slightly wrong he would have been sent off. Inch perfect tackle.
- Diaby had the energy in midfield, typified by his goal and made plenty of tackles and interceptions. I’m liking this Diaby. He might frighten himself soon when he realises how good can he be. A nice change from the FA Cup semi final when he was getting hustled by Ballack.
- Bendtner’s return was encouraging. It was quite obvious that he isn’t match fit, which can explain why he didn’t start against Chelsea. But even a slightly unfit NB52 had his chances and also created a couple. Good to see him back.
- Clichy showed why there he is revered in some places and he made sure there was no issues with communication this time round.
Our result coupled with the favourable results yesterday means that we are now “back in the title race.” But weren’t we ruled out completely on Sunday? I’m not listening to these guys telling me Arsenal are in it one minute, out the next minute. Me, I just want a committed team that and if we do well on most days we’ll be fine.
Although it is hard to believe we can’t improve on our current league position. On paper we do have a much kinder set of fixtures compared to Utd and Chelsea. But make no mistake, Stoke away and Birmingham away will be just as tough as Man City and Tottenham. Like Almunia said, we need a consistent run of positive results before we start dreaming. Yesterday was just the beginning.
PS: Chelsea lost at Anfield, Old Trafford and White Hart Lane last season. The same venues where they will play their last 3 away fixtures. I’m predicting a Newcastle style collapse ala 1996.
Everton comes down to more than just kick it out. They have a defense built to take on the likes of a Rooney or Drogba. Their overall quality as a team is above average but definitely not CL quality. However when you have the likes of Baines, Yobo, Distin, Hibbert, Jagielka etc all being the rough and tough defenders then they can match power for power more often than not. Vermaelen is a fighter for sure but put in a cross against Drogba or Bent and who would most people put their money on to win that battle? We’ve seen numerous times how easily powerful forwards shrug of our defenders and that’s unfortunately how you defend in the EPL – match power for power. Man Utd have some really strong defenders and the fact thar Drogba has never scored against United shows Fergie knows that finesse isn’t how you stop Drogba. On the other hand Drogba has 12 goals in 12 games against us and you might as well bet your family and mortgage on him to continue scoring against us if Wenger keeps on ignoring the need for another Sol Campbell or Tony Adams. A good old fashioned stopper.
To be honest if Everton had Arteta they’d be right up there fighting for 4th but his injuries have limited their progress. I’d love to see the kind of service he could give Saha.
I respect Moyes, he’s a humble manager and he knows how to use his resources well. Wenger sticks to his philosophy, even when there are obvious flaws and while it’s admirable, it doesn’t win trophies as we’ve been seeing for the past 4 years. I’m not 100% sure what is going on at Arsenal in regards to money. I know we have a stadium and apartment debt to pay off but surely the 40M profit from Toure and Ade couldn’t possibly have been a part of the plan when it was conceived so where is that money? Is it sitting in a vault? Is it being used to advance the payment plan on the debt? The board needs to give the public a more clear view of what is going on because they say Wenger has funds available and Wenger says he doesn’t. Who is right and what is going on in that board room.
but everton has senderos now and i cannot remember if chelsea have to face everton in the run-up, but if that’s the case, then i guess drogba will own him and score one or two.
Everton are done humiliating Chelsea. Senderos came on for the last 2 minutes. Kept Drogba at bay. Not the first time he has done that believe it or not. We got a 1-1 draw at the Bridge in 06 when Essien scored a last minute equalizer. Big Phil played that night.
Wenger never said that he didn’t have funds,he said he couldn’t find the right player for Arsenal and the one signing that he tried,by his own words, didn’t come off.We,as fans, are concerned only about trophies,he is the one who has to worry about the clubs’ finance,particularly with the meltdown that we have now.Do you want a Liverfools or a Mal United situation ?.I am sure we can still win the title come may. So wait until the end before you pass your judgement,rest of your stuff is fine.
wc? the same guy on 7amkickoff.com? don’t bother with him. his glass is always 1/2 empty!! thank heavens he don’t support spurs- imagine the rage y/day after they lost again to wolves – a relegation candidate. yeah whts happenin at our club is really bad. omgs we is 3rd. epic meltdown. no trophies for 4 yrs. we win trophy every day usually. world will end in 2012. oh no…
Oh look I have a fan club.
I’m sorry if I’m not wearing the rose coloured glasses like some of you puppets who refuse to think that Wenger is less than perfect. The man is human and as much admiration and respect as he’s garnered, like everyone else, he has his shortcomings.
His project is one with problems that he turns a blind eye to. He’s always been close to building up another title challenging team but for one reason or another he’s fallen short because he’s been too stubborn to simply admit that mistakes have been made on his part. He stiffed Bordeaux the extra 6M for Chamakh in the summer and shrugged off any need for him and now Arsenal have scored 2 goals in 4 games.
In any case at the very least I provided my own opinion rather than you who seems to just nod like a yes man. I’m sorry if thinking outside the box is difficult for you, there’s pills to help with that.
WC, I’m not sure what your point is? I mean we’ve just won – have an easier set of fixtures compared to Utd and Chelsea. We’re trying to focus on what is going well for us?
Of course Wenger is human – he makes mistakes. I thought the decision to bring on Sagna for Bendtner was questionable. It gave Liverpool the intiative to attack more. But like I said, there is a lot good at this club than negative.
I don’t get this idea of Wenger being stubborn and not admitting he is in the wrong. Has he not taken the blame for the last two defeats? Or did I just make that up?
And who is to say that Chamakh would have started let alone score goals if he moved now? For all we know we might not even get him in the summer.
Sorry but Clichy was poor again, he dives into tackles when there is no need and looses positional sense at the drop of a hat.In short we need a left back if we want to take a step up the ladder.A keeper and a striker would be the full house.
his positioning was always weak, even when he was in top form a couple of seasons ago. his speed made up for it. but against really quick teams down the right, he’s found out. he’s getting back to his feet now, and i don’t blame him much in manure’s game. i cannot imagine a worse game to have to come back from a long lay-off from. oh wait, barca and messi would be worse. anyway, the point is, he’s gotten better each game despite the top opposition. he’s still good, just….learn where to stand. maybe sagna has tips on this. got no clue how to improve their crossing though. it’s terrible. what do these pros do in training? they like to give that first-time cross that balloons behind the goal or balloons to our other full-back. although, against liv’pool, they crossed along the ground. so it’s back to basics for them i suppose.
I thought Clichy was an improved player. Saw him talking lots, looking around alertly – made some key tackles in the box etc.
Bendtner looked better, his pass to Rosicky took the defense by surprise. I think he’s actually got better vision than people credit him.
Arshavin shouldering into Carragher was my personal highlight of the match.
I think Eboue and Diaby (if Eboue could get manage his decision making to the next level) could turn into monsters in the next few years. Eboue can out-cross Sagna any day of the week.
Great blog! Thx!
definitely agree Eboue is much better at crossing, for me he gets more curve on the ball which gets in that awkward position between goalkeeper and defender.
Carragher plays a overtly physical game against us so it was like you say a highlight to see Arshavin show his fighting spirit.
Arsenal did not play well against Liverpool, the oppostion just played worse. Diaby`s goal was a pearler and, signals to me at least ,he could become the striker we need for the rest of the season. As for the rest it was an average performance from an average team.
sorry to break it to you sir Jack, but we kinda need Diaby to run from box to box. He certainly looks like that player who could do that. The odd goal will come but I’m counting on Bendtner to get going. But yeah not our most fluent performance but understandable when you’ve had two major setbacks in two games.
for all arsenal fans…We all know sagna is Mr consistency..but for some months he has dropped his level….He cannot cross a ball like that Alves,neville,Ivanovic,or even eboue….So heshould be benched and eboue should give him stiff completion for places..for me eboue did very well in the Liverpool match…See park comes in support of evra in left side for Manu..so rosicky or nasri should come back in support of eboue till he gains his confidence in few matches…he scores goals too..which sagna cant
GoonerGaz, are you sure you are talking about the same Clichy?
He is a defender and has no use of diving. When was he supposed
to have dived?
On a different note: Someone asked how Everton could beat Chelski
we could’nt and lose to Liverpool we could? Its that Wenger appear
to not know a thing about defending. I mean Senderos was scared of
Drogba even when he was on the bench he had palpitations and now
went on the pitch and managed to kept Drogba quiet for a given
time period?