Gunners travel to Charlton
March 31, 2002 | Leave a Comment
“Charlton v. Arsenal; Monday April 1; 10am ET
Arsenal: 3rd (66 points)
Charlton: 9th (41 points)
TV: none
Radio: arsenal.com
Here?s the Kentucky Gunner with a look at Charlton:
No rest for us or the wicked as we jump headlong into another crucial fixture. The wicked, in this case, are Charlton. After having defeated us in November 2001 at Highbury, we need all 3 points from this fixture. That defeat can almost be explained by that unexplainable November curse that Arsenal suffers from year in and year out, or really bad goalkeeping. Charlton scored 4 goals on 5 attempts and despite some beautiful play by the Gunners we could not finish on an overwhelming number of chances.
Charlton Addicks, named for the way the people in that area pronounce Haddock (the fish), have quietly placed themselves 8th in the table and are in contention for a European cup berth. A better team on the road, Charlton have given up 24 goals at home and are 5-4-7 at The Valley. They have several talented players but it?s hard to tell what team will show up; the one that drew with Leeds and defeated Chelsea or the one who drew with Leicester and just lost to Bolton.
The forwards generally work alone. Jason Euell, whose breakout game was against us, has 10 goals and leads the team in scoring. He?s strong, fast and has a will to score but is the victim of poor finishing when pressured. Jonatan Johanssen is a talented “”fox in the box”"-type scorer but has not lived up to his form of last year.
The midfield has suffered injury and a lack of consistency in play and personnel. They push up to the attack as a unit and fall back together for defense. On defense they fill the box with numbers and give up room to shoot around the 18.
The defense is average but a player to certainly note is Chris Powell, Ashley Cole?s backup on the England squad. The defense work as a unit also and can be beat on the counter as long passes can be directed to space behind the fullbacks. This leaves things up to the courageous Dean Kiely in goal. Think he?s not brave, look at his face as he looks to have been beaten with a stick and has fewer teeth than most here in Kentucky. (Lost one of them to a teammate in training) Sometimes brilliant, others times the goat, he reacts well and can stretch to the corners but is prone to silly mistakes.
We showed that we could dominate and create against Charlton now we need to finish and defend. We are a better side and more consistent than several months ago and it will be crucial that the wings move forward into the box to create chances for Henry and Bergkamp (fingers crossed). From here on out its a must three points and despite a poor record at The Valley we should come through victorious.
“
Arsenal make quick work of Black Cats-March 0
March 30, 2002 | Leave a Comment
“Arsenal 3, Sunderland 0
by Kali Korbis
Arsenal’s title challenge showed no signs of slowing down after Robert Pires’ injury, as the Gunners defeated Sunderland 3-0 on Saturday. Patrick Vieira, Dennis Bergkamp, and Sylvain Wiltord all scored in the first half to keep the Gunners’ title hopes on course.
Just as in last week’s win over Newcastle, Arsenal started the match off with a quick goal. This time, Wiltord’s mis-hit cross found Patrick Vieira by way of Sunderland’s Paul Thirlwell, and the Frenchman slipped the ball past Thomas Sorenson in the second minute of the match.
Dennis Bergkamp again quickly succeeded the opening goal, this time in the fifth minute. Freddie Ljungberg crossed the ball from the left, finding an unmarked Thierry Henry, whose off-target shot was poked into the net by Bergkamp at the back post.
Without the services of Pires to rely upon, Vieira took up the lead in the midfield, with Brazilian Edu increasingly looking the part of a capable partner for the Frenchman. Henry initiated a significant portion of the creative playmaking duties, and the Gunners quickly added a third first-half goal.
On the half-hour mark, Bergkamp provided Sylvain Wiltord with a highly insightful centering pass, and Wiltord’s clean strike was enough to doom the Black Cats to a long afternoon at Highbury. Meanwhile, a frustrated Sunderland side showed its desperation through several rough tackles, with Edu and Freddie Ljungberg both finding themselves on the wrong end of an angry Black Cat challenge.
Sunderland attempted a second-half comeback, but the Arsenal defence, boosted by skipper Tony Adams, in his 500th league appearance, yielded nothing for the Wearsiders, who appear to be in a relegation battle. Nor did the Gunners manage another goal, though Thierry Henry had a chance wrongly ruled offside, as the home side looked to be conserving energy for a difficult Premiership title challenge.
The Gunners are still two points behind league-leaders Liverpool, but have two games in hand. Monday’s match with Charlton will prove to be a crucial one if Arsenal are to claim the Premiership trophy this season.
However, manager Arsene Wenger seems unconcerned with the potentially stressful situation in which Arsenal could find themselves, stating, “”We are not obsessed with watching other teams. We know it is down to our quality and how well we play. It takes the pressure out of our game, because we know the issue will be decided on our games.”"
Commenting on his team’s performance, Wenger said, “”We decided to try to start quickly today and did so.”"
“”We caught Sunderland by surprise, it looked as if they had a problem with lack of confidence. They came back into it in the second half and gave us a hard battle but the damage was done.”"
Wenger was also highly complimentary of his individual squad members, as Thierry Henry’s return to domestic competition certainly made an impression on the Arsenal manager. “”Henry was outstanding in providing chances today. I think he scored one because it was onside. It was frustrating for him but he was good for the team,”" he said.
Tony Adams’ presence in the squad also seemed to stand out in Wenger’s mind, especially on a momentous occasion for the longtime Arsenal captain. “”Adams looked sharp today,”" Wenger said.
“”For me he is looking better and better and there is no reaction at the moment. He says it is the best he has felt for a long time. We have the strength of character and solidarity in the team that gets us through.”"
Teams:
Arsenal: Seaman, Cole, Luzhny, Campbell, Adams, Ljungberg (Kanu 77), Vieira, Edu, Wiltord (Grimandi 68), Henry, Bergkamp (Jeffers 78).
Subs Not Used: Dixon, Wright.
Sunderland: Sorensen, Gray, Reyna, McCann, Bjorklund, McAteer (Butler 45), Craddock, Williams, Thirlwell, Phillips (Kilbane 76), Mboma (Quinn 21).
Subs Not Used: McCartney, Macho.
Booked: McCann, Reyna, McAteer.
Att: 38,047
Ref: P. Durkin (Dorset).
“
It’s The End Of The World As We Know It … -March 29
March 29, 2002 | Leave a Comment
“Look out everybody, the sky is falling! That?s the impression I got this week as I followed the world football news. KirchMedia, the company thought bought the TV rights to the 2002 and 2006 World Cups for $673 Bajillion dollars is going belly up. So is ITV Digital, which figured, quite incorrectly it turns out, that everybody in town wanted to watch Grimsby play Stockport.
So apparently that?s it. Let?s pack up shop boys because football is over. Dire predictions that upwards of 30 teams will go under now because of the ITV Digital fiasco. Time to start learning the rules of cricket. Our chairman, Peter Hill-Wood has expressed his concerns and felt the need to tell the media that Arsenal will be looking to unload half a dozen players in the off-season because the cash tree won?t be bearing as much fruit next season.
What say we all take a step back and take a big bite of a reality sandwich? First of all, football is not going anywhere. A game that?s over a century old and played in every country in the world is not going to fold up shop next week. You and I will be able to go out on a Saturday afternoon and play football. We?ll be able to go to a local ground and watch professionals play the sport as well. In a worst-case scenario what is going to happen? I?ll tell you:
Super-rich millionaire owners and corporations may not be able to make money hand over fist anymore. I can tell by the audible gasp that you are shocked, shocked!, by this potentially horrific turn of events. But wait, there?s more. There may be some players who simply won?t be able to make $30,000 a week. That?s right, get Jerry Lewis on the phone, and let?s get those telethon tote boards rolling. Now if that were the case, it might start to be tough for some of the media to fill hours and hours and pages and pages with football related ?news.?
Are there some genuine, hard working people who will lose out if things go tits up in the world of football? Absolutely. Did the media and owners give a toss about them two years ago when everything was rosy? Not one bit. But now they come round to tell everyone how some poor reserve at 3rd Division Kidderminster is going to lose his job. Or how Conference side Stevenege will be wound up now that all the TV money is gone. Like ITV or Ken Bates really ever cared about those types.
A little perspective is needed here. Maybe it wouldn?t be such a bad thing if we scaled this whole football juggernaut back just a bit. If the top wage for a footballer was $100,000 a year would Beckham, Sol or Zidane say no so they could try some other job? If Arsenal had to play in a ground that only held 19,000 and the top ticket price was $25 bucks would they really go out of business? Yeah, for some fans, especially those of us in the States, it might mean we couldn?t follow the team like we do now, but if you got to see Arsenal only 15 times on TV this year, instead of the almost 30 that we will end up with I think we would survive. I?d just like to see those at the top of the game get a little humble, a little less greedy and see everyone keep football in its proper perspective.
60″
“Arsenal v. Sunderland; 10am EST; Saturday, March 30 “
March 29, 2002 | Leave a Comment
“Arsenal: 3rd (63 points)
Sunderland: 15th (35 points)
TV: 12:00PM ET; SDD (Same Day Delay) FOX Sports World – US Feed
Radio: arsenal.com
Chief scout and all-around good guy Ken Bradley previews our opponents:
Something happened in North England prior to December 29 2001, and it has changed the season for the Black Cats. What that something was is anyone?s guess but it quickly showed itself in a 5-0 thrashing to Ipswich Town. Since than the Cats are 2-3-8 and have dropped to 15th in the table, only 3 points from relegation. Their drive is slipping away and an “”unhappy dressing room”" is all that makes news in Sunderland.
During this “”funk”" the Cats have only scored 8 goals and have given up 23. They only have two real scoring threats. Niall Quinn has been out for some time and it is believed that his absence is the problem. Not only do they miss his goal-scoring ability but his emotional charge; something the team has none of. The other threat is Kevin Phillips. The self-professed Gunner fan was unstoppable last year. Without a partner he has been lost and defenses can key on him, virtually stopping the attack.
Sunderland line-up in a 3-5-2 and must have possession to fuel their attack. The American International, Claudio Reyna, is now the General. He pushes up the central midfield and supports the attackers. He holds the ball for long periods of time, looking to feed Phillips or find a midfielder to line up a shot from 18-22 yards. The rest of the Midfielders; Kilbane, Arca, McCann and McAteer are all capable and a threat to shoot. The problem still remains that there is no conviction to play and no inspiration. Reyna was brought in from Rangers to solve the problem but thus far has been unsuccessful. (Note ? Reyna did not play in this weeks U.S. ? Germany match and may not play this weekend. Ed.)
To stop the Black Cats, Arsenal need to keep possession and work the glorious strings of passes that we have seen at Highbury before. Though Sunderland have played 3 defenders in the past, making the counter attack a legitimate weapon, it is very possible we will see 5 or more. Sunderland need only one point from this game as they inch towards 40 and salvation, we need all three as we work towards that precious silverware we dream of at night.”
And the Iron Balls Award goes to – March 28
March 28, 2002 | Leave a Comment
“Three cheers to our captain, Tony Adams. Here?s a guy with nothing left to prove. His place in Arsenal history is secure. Terrible, morale-killing injuries this season and he had every right to say, ?That?s enough, I?m through.? But instead he continued to rehab and work his way back. Just as the team is reeling ? FA Cup draw, two Champs League losses ? Big Tone comes back to inspire us to a 3-nil defeat of Newcastle.
The Urban Legend that inspired this feature:
Every sailing ship had to have a cannon for protection. Cannons of the time required round, iron cannonballs. The master wanted to store the cannonballs such that they could be of instant use when needed, yet not roll around the gun deck. The solution was to stack them up in a square-based pyramid next to the cannon. The top level of the stack had one ball, the next level down had four, the next had nine, the next had sixteen, and so on. Four levels would provide a stack of 30 cannonballs. The only real problem was how to keep the bottom level from sliding out from under the weight of the higher levels. To do this, they devised a small brass plate (“”brass monkey”") with one rounded indentation for each cannonball in the bottom layer. Brass was used because the cannonballs wouldn’t rust to the “”brass monkey”", but would rust to an iron one. When the temperature falls, brass contracts in size faster than iron. As it got cold on the gun decks, the indentations in the brass monkey would get smaller than the iron cannonballs they were holding. If the temperature got cold enough, the bottom layer would pop out of the indentations spilling the entire pyramid over the deck. Thus it was, quite literally, “”cold enough to freeze the balls off a “”brass monkey.”"
So, when an Arsenal player shrinks in the face of pressure, he is awarded an Brass Monkey. When he steps up and makes a solid contribution, he gets the Iron Balls Award.”
New Arsenal Kit Revealed! – March 27
March 27, 2002 | Leave a Comment
“New stadium, new crest, new kit? Sure, why the heck not! Many of you have sent us notes on this the last couple of days, and we were waiting for something a bit more official. Next time will go with our members. Here’s link to a story about what type of replica will be available to fans and when we can get our grubby little paws on them as well as a picture. No sponsor logo shown so it’s tough to know what it wil eventually look like, but it has a rather old school, traditional look to it.
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/html/sport.html”
Man United Dates info – March 27
March 27, 2002 | Leave a Comment
“Direct from arsenal.com:
MANCHESTER UTD v ARSENAL
F.A. Premier League
Old Trafford
EITHER Sun May 5th OR Wed May 8th
If we participate in the FA Cup Final on 4th May the above game will take place on:Wednesday 8th May 2002, kick-off: 8.00 pm.
If we do not participate in the FA Cup Final on 4th May the above game will take place on:
Sunday 5th May 2002, kick-off: 12 noon.
Subject to any further fixture changes this match will be Arsenal’s penultimate league game of the season. “
All hail ‘Boro – March 27
March 27, 2002 | Leave a Comment
“Manchester United, the world?s biggest club. Don?t tell that to Middlesborough who beat them for the second time in less than two months this past weekend. The first came in the FA Cup Cup at the end of January. Just to give it some perspective, ?Boro are looking UP at Tottenham, so you know they must be pretty far down the table. Of course, we?ve also beaten Man United twice this year (Worthington Cup and EPL), let?s see if we can make it three.”
New date for Gunners clash – March 26 update
March 26, 2002 | Leave a Comment
“Our match away at Bolton has been re-scheduled and will now take place on Monday, April 29.
The match was originally scheduled for April 27 but the match has now been switched to a later date at the request of Sky Television. Kick-off will be 8pm.
“
Danny Peters with the Letter of the Week – March 26
March 26, 2002 | Leave a Comment
“That’s life, I’m not going to cry about it was the essence of what Robert Pires had to say, in response to the news that his injury will keep him out of football for anything up to a year.
That it was sustained in an innocuous challenge, the game long since won, will be galling to the Frenchman but his level headed philosophical response to what is a devastating blow to himself, his club and his country speaks as loudly as his performances this season.
13 goals and a Premiership record in assists are the stats, but for anyone still in any doubt as to his importance look at recent goals and performances against the likes of Derby and Villa not to mention his critical role in the quarter final against Newcastle in what was to prove his final game of the season. And if you’re still not convinced listen to the British media. Those who love to knock Arsenal at every possible opportunity have drooled over our number seven almost as much (if not quite so slavishly) as they do for the man who wears the same number at Old Trafford. A seeming shoe-in for Player of the season even if he is to watch the remaining eight games from the sidelines.
No doubt Arsene has already begun to consider the permutations of who to replace him with. The man who we all for so long compared unfavourably to Marc Overmars has become the man on whose slight shoulders we thought our season rested. The midfielder he has so consistently eclipsed this season, Patrick Vieira, will become even more of a pivotal figure, as will the increasingly bizarrely coiffured Ljungberg, himself not long back from a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Thierry Henry will miss his intelligent passes and the man many consider the finest player ever to win the famous red and white shirt will have to take up his creative promptings. Thankfully this doesn’t look like being a problem for Dennis, who is in his best form since the double season. Unlike Newcastle, who have so floundered with the absence of Bellamy, we have a big enough squad to cope. Who Arsene plays wide left is open to debate. He could switch Wiltord to the left or he could play Ljungberg there. With Parlour fit, Edu is another option and then there’s always Thierry who never minds drifting wide. Whoever fills in for the Frenchman, one thing is for sure. This sort of blow is certain to bring the boys together. With the captain finally looking able to string together two games in a row we know not get many better opportunities to join Manchester United in the record books with three doubles.
53″
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