The draw against Chelsea is the typical reflection of how our season gone so far - we could always manage to score in a sensational manner, yet all the attacking players’ effort were being wiped off by some sloppy defensive displays. Yet again, another two goals conceded directly or indirectly from set-pieces.
The reason I hate to see us conceding from set-pieces most of all is that it really kills the morale. Particularly, giving the way we scored our goals - most of the goals we scored this season so far were nothing short of the result of a great team play, or individual brilliance. Therefore it really gutted me to see us conceding goals not because of our oppositions’ brilliant creative sparks, but from dead ball situations.
Regardless of the result, IF Arsenal could play every game like they did against Chelsea, I would be confident that we could mount a serious challenge on all fronts. It was by far the most aggressive and hard working team effort this season from our red-and-white army. The players gave everything, and it makes we Gooners proud.
The past few games we’ve started to see the signs of Thierry Henry really attempting to takes matters into his own hands. He’s been involved much more in plays that involve the whole team. Demanding the balls, instead of hiding like the past; encouraging his young teammates, instead of barking at them after a mistake; working very hard, instead of ball-watching… Something I’m really glad to see. Theirry is our main man, as proved in the Chelsea match. In basketball terms, he’s our go-to-guy. I have every faith on him to become one of the greatest players ever in the football planet. Titi always said that there was only one Diego Maradona [refering to his ability to dominate a game all by himself], but I believe Henry could be the next one too. As long as he’s willing to shoulder more responsibility, with the talent Thierry’s got, he could really go on to achieve the true GREATNESS.
7 Responses to “Henry 2, Set-Pieces 2”
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December 12th, 2004 at 6:09 pm
Yes, Andez, Henry is no doubt choosing to improve, which is amazing considering the player he is already. It would be easy for him to do what he’d been doing…blaming others for not keeping up, expecting more from those around him in big games. But it looks as though he’s taking the season by the horns and concentrating on being positive and doing everything he can to win games. His attitude is clearly making up for the 30% his body has been giving away. I shudder to think where we’d be without him.
And not to be picky…but…I’m beginning to think this team is afraid of contact. In the box it looks like we’re nervous about getting crunched, not to mention taking the ball on the chin. We like to play clean and on the floor, choosing to REACT to handle a situation with only the amount of measured agression that is necessary rather than getting mean and setting the rules. That is a wonderful thing when you’re a policeman, or a bouncer in the other kind of club. But other than van Persie, who is imposing on the opposition physically…not with nasty tackles, like Vieira is prone to…but rib to rib, dome to dome in the air?
Positioning is key to defending against and scoring on set pieces. And when somebody like Terry is charging into the box, who is there to give him pause? The Arsenal do not like the melee. Open play? Brilliant. But like Wenger has said, we’re just not meaty or big enough to take ground without impunity or dissuade others in doing likewise.
Bring on the BIG DEFENDERS, in January Wenger. Please!
December 12th, 2004 at 8:03 pm
I think we have to patient with the defensive lapses at the moment, Vieira has been underperforming but is usually god at clearing crosses and corners, also Gilberto is especially good at this.
In the summer I’d really like to see Wenger buy a quality central defender, and move Toure to right back. I think this will cure our defensive lapses. Today we had too many small players, such as Cole, Fabregas, Reyes, Lauren & Flamini in the team, none of them are going to win headers in the box, and we need Bergkamp and Henry outside the box for counter attacks, otherwise although this might have to change.
I was pleased with Arsenals attitude and play, it was back to our best with an understrength team. I actually think Fabregas was man of the match. We have the new Roy Keane in our hands.
December 12th, 2004 at 8:21 pm
While I believe everyone played a damned good match for us today… and both Cesc and Flamini played their asses off in midfield, for man of the match I’d have a hard time choosing between Henry, who was HEROIC… and Campbell, who was fantastic.
December 12th, 2004 at 8:29 pm
Obviously, we all scrutinize our play off set-pieces. I assume Wenger and the coaching staff do so daily. I still can’t figure out what is so mystifying, and why we are afflicted so badly.
Campbell was everywhere defensively today…
I thought the back 4 played an excellent game… OTHER THAN THE 2 SET-PIECES.
The first scraped Bergkamp’s hair… and Terry beat Henry to the ball in the box. STILL, Almunia got a a piece of it!!!
The second goal was just wierd. Weird deflection / angle that it went in. Inexcusable. But what the hell do we do to cure it?
A healthy Vieira AND Gilberto would go a long way to playing better against them… but I have to figure its part mental now. The whole world of Gooners AND the team on the pitch are holding their breathe on every set-piece. You can play football with fear… it doesn’t work.
Still… great effort today. We should have won. Henry had a chance for his 3rd, that I am not sure how he missed it. He is human, I guess, barely! I feel ALOT more confident after watching this one. Chelsea created virtually NOTHING the entire match. Is this the best they have? They didn’t exactly scare the heck out of anyone today. They are 4 points up on Everton, 5 on us, and with a win tomorrow… United will be lurking. As I said before, its December. Chelsea have a LOOOOOOOOONG way to go, and Arsenal live to fight another day. I truly believe the form is straightening out now.
December 12th, 2004 at 9:24 pm
You could see how quickly the boys get their tackles in and hard (but fair) when Chel$ki had possession in the Gunner’s half. The tempo was certainly much higher than previous games. Pires and Reyes really doubled back frequently whenever Chel$ski had the ball.
It seems that Wenger has decided to use the good old English game of boot it up to the strikers to overcome the 5 man midfield of Chel$ki. I have never seen Arsenal defenders and midfielders hitting so many long balls for Henry to head down or chase in one game. There were still the movement thru the middle of the park but I could see that the boys are varying their game a bit more.
The game commentator was saying something that Arsenal employs a zonal marking scheme. Maybe Wenger might need to revert to man2man marking from setpieces from now on as zonal marking is not working for the boys.
I know I am greedy but if only Henry had put away his hattrick…….
December 12th, 2004 at 10:00 pm
Not greedy Jose… spolied?
We have come to expect it from Thierry.
He should have scored from there… we’d still be celebrating if he did!
December 13th, 2004 at 11:46 am
I think you hit upon a very important point in that we are using a zonal marking system on free kicks and corners. This obviously is not working not only are we reacting too slow to the ball but worse opposing players are being left completly unmarked inside the 6 yard box( Lampard yesterday, luckily he missed). We definately need to go back to a man to man marking system for set plays. Not only will this clear up the obvious confusion about who marks who but it will also instill a level of accountability and anyone who has ever played knows how bad it is to be the one responsible for a goal. I think this will go a long way to fixing the only real problem the team seems to have.