Ed. note - Another solid entry here by the Afrikan-Gooner. He makes some very solid points and his line to start paragraph four made me laugh out loud…
I always try to come home early to watch Arsenal?s midweek games. Watching Arsenal play is a privilege and I say this not just because I?m a Gooner. It?s like watching poetry in motion, like they?re soccer?s equivalent of the X-Men, with the players are connected by a telepathic thread.
Arsenal vs. Southampton was a good game, but I really think Henry needs a striking partner. I took some heat the last time I called Bergkamp ?Arsenal?s Heskey?, meaning that he?s a striker who scores too little. He misses the sitters, but has The Touch and scores the Van Gogh goals. But I?m sure anyone who watched the game will agree that he should have netted the clear header in the 15th minute after excellent work by Henry.
Clichy was impressive ? but Ashley is still better. But I?d say this; the quality of youth coming through is so good that players who get suspended or injured may have trouble getting their places back. I?d like to see Pennant return to challenge Freddie for a place ? I?ll never forget his brilliant hat trick against the same Southampton last year. I also think this defense should be maintained, with Kolo on the right and Cygan in the middle. Cygan has done very little wrong since he got the slot, and Wenger himself seems in no hurry to change things around. Lehman was at his usual best, but I thought his petulance at the end of the game was really uncalled for ? cards do cost us points. Fortunately it all ended in handshakes.
Never hit a man when he?s down. Kick him; it?s much easier. It?s something Arsenal still needs to learn ? that killer instinct. Watching Arsenal defend the one-nil in the last ten minutes is not for the faint of heart. We seem to let teams hang on to convert wins into draws. At least now it?s easier on the eyes with what is presently the best defense in the league. Good game, good result.
6 Responses to “Reflections on the Southampton Game”
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December 29th, 2003 at 10:01 pm
Very well said….
we had the opportunities early on to beat Soton silly…. could have and should have been up 2 …
and when you allow your opponents to stay in the game…. they always feel they have a chance being down by just 1 goal….
we moved the ball around effortlessly… impressively in the first half…. its truly beautiful to watch… I would really like to see Kanu get a serious run of games….. and see if he can contribute…. otherwise….. I agree that we should find another striker to partner Henry…
Will we buy one in the transfer period??? probably not….. as Wenger said he has little money to spend…..so….. we’ll have to win it with what we have…… it thats not too bad…… still … UNDEFEATED!!!!!!
December 29th, 2003 at 11:02 pm
Tonight’s performance reminds me of the George Graham era where we would grind out a 1-0 win, week in, week out. This is part of being a Gooner. Old habits never die.
December 30th, 2003 at 12:11 pm
The editor is correct about that fourth paragraph. Well Played That Man!
December 30th, 2003 at 1:46 pm
thats right about Bergkamp. as much as it pains to say it; arsenal are carrying the ice man. we need a maverick like Kezman or don’t laugh, someone like Juan Pablo Angel, however he could be a goose like Franny Jeffers. you don’t know for sure until you buy them and they’re on the pitch. Dennis’s first touch is of a standard attributed to someone playing with artificial limbs. he can’t blame match sharpness, he’s played plenty of games recently.
he is also far too conservative, he never does anything apart from the obvious; pick the ball up at the half line, turn and pass it sideways to Toure/Lauren or Cole/Glichy. he should watch some videos of the golden days i.e leicester hat-trick, to galvanise himself. does anyone agree with my conviction that he has never been the same since Derby County 1998(injury that ruled him out of cup final)
on a positive note, nice to see vieira looking something like his best. he actually ran with the ball last night for the first time in ages.
December 30th, 2003 at 2:34 pm
One word: SAHA
December 30th, 2003 at 3:57 pm
hmmmmm….
I am a bit torn on the DB issue…
he still has moments of brilliance… although they are obviously few and far between…
when he is ON his game…. and hooking up with Freddie… thats when we really hit our stride and become far too much for our opponents!!!
(when we have Freddie / Pires / Bergy / Henry all attacking)
As I have stated before… I believe Kanu seriously merits a chance… he has shown some of his old form when he’s been able to get in a few matches… otherwise… I wouldn’t mind seeing us buy… if Arsene has the money to spend!
how about Alan Smith?
not sure he’s available… but I’d love to see James Beattie!
We can win with our current team… if we play at our best…