Apr 25
Reyes grabs a (much needed, for him) goal and the Arsenal record another shut out. Everybody…
“One-nil to the Arsenal, One-nil to the Arsenal…”
52 Responses to “Arsenal 1 - 0 Spurs”
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April 25th, 2005 at 5:10 pm
becoming a nice habit isnt it..
how was the game anyone? how was reyes
April 25th, 2005 at 5:16 pm
I’m completely exhausted just from watching. Did everyone else find it incredibly tense? Really hope Reyes’s goal helps his confidence.
April 25th, 2005 at 5:19 pm
how was reyes in this game, following gamecast on soccernet doesnt reveal much.
April 25th, 2005 at 5:19 pm
The final scoreline does not reflect the true story. We were all over Spurs. Reyes scored a good goal from a night angle, and missed a sitter. But the moment really defines his talent was on the second half, when he first flicked a ball over his head from outside of our penalty box, before powered through two Spurs defenders, dribbled the ball all the way to the Spurs penalty box and setting up Dennis for his trademark curving shot just wide of the post. I still firmly believe he will go on to be a tremendous player. All the attributes are there - skills, pace, exposiveness. A hugh room to improve.
And our defence were equally impressive. We have now kept 9 keep sheets in the past 10 matches, all that despite the absent of our key central half Sol Campbell. Not bad for a team who’s supposed to have a “hockey defence”! One great improvement is our set-pieces defending, I was really upset on the silly goals we gave away through set-plays middle of the season, but in recent games, Senderos, Toure, Gilberto and Paddy cleared everything in the air. And we have to pay some credits to your ‘keeper. After being dropped mid way of the season, it took a true character to work his way back to be our number 1. I know there may be some arguments we can’t defend as well against the “better” sides, but I won’t consider Chelsea or our North London neighbour as an easy side to play against and came away with a clean sheet. Nonetheless, Lehmann got to work on his temper. There is really no need to make a fuss of minor physical contract with opposition forwards. By doing that either you would get booked, or ended up losing your own concentration. Silly thing to do.
April 25th, 2005 at 5:24 pm
found it goddamn intense as well. little git andy reid started tucking in and caused us problems.
reyes played well, like he did against crystal palace and newcastle highbury. still not convinced that its the start of some sort of renaissance but i hope im wrong.
first half we played well, with vieira bossing the midfield. second half, as i expected, a bit flat from our perspective until edu and bergkamp came on, then we played dream football in phases. edu looked fantastic, i can’t believe he will be gone in the summer. we’ve gotta make one last attempt to keep him. if its about money with him, man utd and chelsea could do alot worse.
defence solid again. not quite as watertight as i wanted but tottenham are a good side so you can’t expect them to do nothing for the entire game.
all in all, a good game that will be consigned to erase file in a couple of days, such is the relative insignificance of these games at the tail end of the season.
April 25th, 2005 at 5:31 pm
“despite the absent of our key central half “
No, Senderos played. My opinion counts for zero of course, but if I was Sol Campbell I would be real worried right now.
April 25th, 2005 at 5:33 pm
To be honest, compared to early this season he wasn’t that good. One pretty cool goal and a very bad miss. But that said, he was hugely better on the attack than he’s been recently and, as usual, he worked hard defensively. Man of the match for me was Cesc (despite being on the right) and I though Lehmann was good.
April 25th, 2005 at 5:39 pm
thanks
April 25th, 2005 at 5:44 pm
i agree. i wonder if how much he fancies warming the bench next season.
April 25th, 2005 at 5:57 pm
I wouldn’t trust me this evening - I drank a lot more wine than usual! But previously doubtful players - i.e. Reyes and Lehmann - really did seem improved. The people I was with started jittering and clutching their cigarette packets every time Lehmann was faced with some danger, but for once, I didn’t: he seemed to exude a new competence and confidence tonoght. Has Reyes turned the corner? Hard to tell, but, though he did give the ball away and fall over, he did it much less and he really looked gutsy evey now and again. Fingers crossed he’s on the up.
April 25th, 2005 at 6:09 pm
Reyes was excellent. He missed a few chances, but created great chances himself for other team mates.
We could have beat them with more than 5 goals difference.
Viera, Kolo, Senderos on set-piece, RVP, Reyes (twice), Cesc, Edu, Dennis all missed great chances.
The first half was tense and fast, but fair.
It was a very good game to watch.
Our passing was at its very best at times.
Reyes missed a great chance after an amazing number of one touch passes.
The game was a joy to watch.
The atmosphere was great.
The fans were fantastic throughout the game.
Liverpool should thank us.
Chelski will have to win his title in the hard way against Bolton.
I am very happy.
All our players including the subs perform very well.
I would give at least 8/10 to everyone including Lehman with 2 great saves.
I think we need to improve our finishing, because we could have conceded a late goal nulifying our effort.
We could have killed the game off in the first half or at any time in the game but we didn’t it.
But 3 points is what matters, perfection is not human.
April 25th, 2005 at 6:17 pm
maybe u should drink a lot more than usual before every arsenal game..might be worth it if it means a reyes goal and a clean sheet!!!: )
lehmann def has been really good since bayern second leg. really hope reyes comes back.
April 25th, 2005 at 6:31 pm
There’s no doubting it was a good solid performance all round. Van Persie was a little disappointing, he just couldn’t get into the game at all. Reyes was good, worked harder than usual. Spurs played into his hands a little by keeping a high defensive line that he exploited a number of times.
Arsenal were very solid defensively, Lehmann was very commanding throughout, but he STILL makes me nervous when he man handles other players in th ebox, thought he might get sent off for his slight push on Defoe.
Man of the match was easy. Fabregas. He was awesome, brilliant play to set up Reyes goal, and basically, he ran the midfield. Yes, a 17 year old running the show in the company of Vieira & Gilberto.
I still feel the team is too lop-sided, nothing comes down the right hand side, and still not enough players are getting into the box on the end of things. Robinson was hardly tested throughout the entire match, in fact I don’t remember him making a save. But Arsenal should have converted at least one other chance and won more comfortably.
April 25th, 2005 at 6:32 pm
Was a good game, not a great game. Good game by Reyes. Good defensive performance and goal keeping. Like folks say I would be worried if I were Sol. Liked Edu when he came in.
April 25th, 2005 at 6:34 pm
Lauren created a few chances on the right.
He was excellent.
April 25th, 2005 at 6:54 pm
Edu was quality, we will really miss him.
April 25th, 2005 at 7:28 pm
Just happy for the win and to stay ahead of the Manc’s - Reye’s goal was sweet, I too hope it makes him happy to be with such a quality side. The grass isn’t any greener in Spain.
April 25th, 2005 at 7:35 pm
Yes, I will also miss Edu. Should Paddy, Gilberto, Edu remain together, we would have 3 central midfielders who’s tall, physical and skillful which would be pretty handy. Particular when we consider a lot of teams, even Real Madrid is struggling to get themselves a decent central midfielder with a physical presence [which I consider is a hugh advantage in the modern game], and we got 3! That would be a great advantage. Unfortunatly it seems Edu’s leaving…
April 25th, 2005 at 7:43 pm
Edu’s leaving, a very nice player. It’s sad.
But we’ve got two excellent replacements in Cesc and Flamini. Both will progress physically and technically.
April 25th, 2005 at 7:51 pm
have you tried following the game text on eurosport.com?
They usually are very emotional in writing their game text unlike some of the other places.
For example, some sample from today’s games:
77′ Arsenal are in almost total ascendancy now.. the ball is worked majestically across to Reyes on the left of the area.. he must score.. NO, HE BLASTS INTO THE SIDE NETTING!!!!!!
…..
22′ Wonderful work from Fabregas in the midfield… he wins possession and skips past a couple of challenges before prodding the ball through to Reyes.. REYES IS CLEAR ON THE LEFT OF THE AREA.. AND WHACKS IT ACROSS ROBINSON AND INTO THE BOTTOM RIGHT-HAND CORNER OF THE GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 25th, 2005 at 7:54 pm
I agree !!!
April 25th, 2005 at 8:15 pm
Van P. needs games to learn how to play with the team. Agree we’re lopsided with Fab in, he keeps drifiting in, and we need some thrust down there.
April 25th, 2005 at 8:53 pm
Yes. Edu brings lots of experience and passing to the Arsenal side. Did I hear wrongly on the telly that there were some Gunner fans booing him when he came on for Fabregas?! I hope he stays. His interpassing and back-heels were a joy to watch and in one exquisite move, almost resulted in a Reyes goal. Also quick thinking on his feet almost enabled him to score after a pass from Pires from which his lop hit the side post instead.
A good performance overall. :-))
April 25th, 2005 at 11:14 pm
I’d be worried if I were Lauren! Move Toure to right back & play Senderos with Campbell! I can dream!
April 26th, 2005 at 1:17 am
Woooo!!!! “One-nil to the Arsenal, One-nil to the Arsenal…”… A night of full passion and what Arsenal is all about.
We out played them, out sing them and even drunk more than the silly Spruz can drink. The last 5 minutes was not fun watching but hey we have the 3 points and I can’t see United catching us.
Well as I said the other day I hope Edu stays. He was my MOTM if not FF. Our midfield is soild with Gilberto and Edu around.
April 26th, 2005 at 1:20 am
The last 5 minutes was tense but it was a good game from beginning to end. The spruz came to play but we showed them who is the boss.
32 games and counting since we lost to a London team.
April 26th, 2005 at 2:23 am
Vieira - Gilberto - Fabregas played more as three central midfielders with Pires as an extra attacker a bit like 1997/98 when it was Petit-Vieira-Parlour with Marc Overmars as the extra attacker. Which is why nothing much came down the right, but it gave us control of midfield for long periods.
What was more interesting, for those of you who feel Wenger doesn’t change things tactically enoughduring games, is when Jol moved King to the other side and stopped out attacks from the left with Pires, Wenger switched him to the right and brought on Edu yo play a little deeper. We regained control of the midfield, and the game, and forced Spurs to play long hopeful balls up to Robbie Keane.
You say Robinson wasn’t tested enough, I felt he was beaten all ends up by Reyes twice, and he didn’t have a chance with the shots from Van Persie, Begkamp or Edu. For a team that played as deep as Spurs did I thought we opened them far more than Liverpool did recently.
And had TH14 been fit we would have made more of the counter-attacking breaks we had when they pushed forward in the last 15 trying to get an equaliser. Aliadiere doesn’t possess that sort of awareness, RvP doesn’t have the neccessary pace for it either.
Lehmann was lucky not to see red. He’s pushed opposition players too often to be risked again next season, despite making a brilliant save from Defoe. Wenger must go out and buy a new keeper in the summer.
One more thought. Is Wenger proving a point to everyone who said the defence isn’t solid enough without Sol. 9 clean sheets in last ten games, or is he punishing Sol for saying he wanted to go the US to play for England after Wenger had complained that going on the tour was a waste of time. Something on the lines of get back into the Arsenal side before you think about playing for England again.
April 26th, 2005 at 3:09 am
Just a few observations:
After Reyes missed the open goal in the first minute who was it that ran over to him, picked him up and told him to forget it and that he’d put the next one in. Not the captain (who it should have been) nor Pires who was closest, no it was 17-year-old compatriot Cesc.
Not only is he brilliant for his age but his maturity of thought for someone so young marks him out as a very very special player.
When Lehmann was ‘losing it’ on his goal line after Defoe kept treading on his toes why didn’t Vieira point out to his keeper that he was sent off for doing exactly what he ended up doing to the young striker in the revesre fixture last season.
When Aliadiera came on for the last 10 minutes, with Spurs pushing everyone forward, why did he stand ball-watching in the centre-circle when he should have been pulling his marked, who was knackered out wide. Then, when again 1 on 1 with his marker did he allow himself to get caught offside when he was barely over the half-way line and acres of space to run into with a long ball. He complains about not being played enough, and dreams of a return to Paris… I think he should get his wish.
April 26th, 2005 at 4:06 am
Will definately miss Edu….this guy one of the most developed players at Arsenal…..he has a good vision of the game…he isn’t athletic but his balls skills are great…..such players bring a lot of depth into the team…Edu is a tactical player as you notice he has a great impact. Remember the game against Aston Villa at Villa park this season…he was way ahead and is not error prone….he’s very intelligent…too bad he has to go..coz it was recently stated that he is there for only emergencies….this means he is no longer part of the team…
April 26th, 2005 at 4:16 am
Eh…..I’m not 100% sure on this as I did not tape the game, but I swear I thought it was Pires who picked him up after that miss. I could be wrong though….I will need to watch the replay of the match.
The next one I’m 100% sure. Lehmann did not have problem with Defoe in the reverse fixture last season; it was Mr Tool, Robbie Keane. And Lehmann didn’t get sent off either; he conceded a penalty.
April 26th, 2005 at 4:25 am
Appologies, ur right it was Keane and he conceded the pen, maybe it was against Southampton and Kevin Philips. Anyway, the point is, he just hasn’t learned to control his temper, and at 35 years old, probably never will.
April 26th, 2005 at 5:20 am
The match yesterday was good. The performance from the lads is commendable generally. This is why I’m so optimistic about our future and the fact remains no other club plays the type of football the Gooners play.
Fabregas was fantastic…that thru’ pass was impressive and I challenge anybody to show me any better midfielder at that age, past or present.
Senderos was sent straight from God.
Gilberto? What more can I say.
Lastly we should try to kkep Edu in at all costs. We really don’t know what we are about to lose.
April 26th, 2005 at 5:26 am
Comments of Wenger reported in the Evening Standard:
‘the Arsenal manager appears resigned to losing Reyes. “He knows I’d love him to stay but I fear he will go,” he said’
What a shame.
April 26th, 2005 at 5:27 am
A_K, i think it was van Persie who picked Reyes up after he missed [cos it was vanP fed the ball to Reyes and he was standing closest to Reyes]. Paddy was a defensive central midfielder who needed to track back Spurs’ counter attack, it makes no sense for him to go comfort a teammate’s miss and risk the chance we got exposed from Spurs’ counter attack.
It was the same when defending corner, every body has to fully FOCUS on marking their man. Paddy couldn’t afford to lose his concentration, nor should any one of our players. Lehmann made a fool of himself by making fuss out of nothing, if we watch it carefully, you would see Ashley Cole shouted at Lehmann just shut up and be focused.
April 26th, 2005 at 5:45 am
It’s a problem I’ve had with Vieira’s leadership style. He’s never been commanding enough, whereas someone like Cole, or even Henry, has no problem with putting someone straight.
But I’m pretty sure it was Cesc, and not RvP who went up to Reyes, I’ll watch it again.
In any case I think we’ve come as close to full confirmation that we’re losing Reyes, if you check my later post on Wenger’s post-match comments.
April 26th, 2005 at 7:02 am
It’s not a dream. It’s an option for the manager.
You can change and adapt the team to the opponents.
Lauren was given 1 year deal because Kolo, Ebou?, Hoyte can play there and become even more effective than Lauren.
Lauren worked hard for the team and deserve all credits because he’s not a defender before Arsenal.
He can play in midfield and give more options there.
April 26th, 2005 at 8:17 am
Lauren’s not creative enough to play right midfield on a permanent basis.
April 26th, 2005 at 8:22 am
No, he’s not punishing Sol. Campbell has only just come back from injury, so he’s unlikely to be as fresh and mobile as Senderos. We have played two big and important games in Chelsea & Spurs, so Wenger doesn’t want to upset the rhythm of the defence. We’ll learn more in the next game against WBA, but Wenger will feel that if it aint broke it don’t need fixing.
April 26th, 2005 at 9:01 am
My 2?…
We played with heart and, for the most part, intelligence. Not always creative, but props to the lads for really, really going for it. Not a slacker on the pitch. That’s overall, but for our season, we were pretty lucky to escape with the 3 points.
Lauren:
Stupid elbow (not that Jol cared, as is being reported this AM), but did well otherwise, and has a great run of late. And I noticed that he stepped in front of Lehmann after the Dafoe incident to prevent another confrontation. Thank you, Bisan, for being smart enough to understand Lehmann’s Jekyll and Hyde maturity level.
Pires:
Solild defensively, on the attack as well as he’s been. A little pushy though, but he hardly ever gives the ball away.
RvP:
Thought he was very good in spots. Unlucky not to have a goal from his weak foot. Maturing.
Senderos:
Okay. Can’t argue with his influence on the side, but got absolutely buried by Kanoute and made a RISKY tackle. It was a good one, though, but we were lucky not to have conceded a penalty. And I think inexperience shown when Keane snuck in for what should have been the equalizer. But for his first darby, he kept cool and how scary did that POWER header look. Had he scored that, he would have been a god.
Vieira:
Very good. Won the battle against Carrick and applauded the crowd at the end like he’s made his peace. And if you ask me, it was he that set up Reyes goal in tandem with Cesc. That tiny service in the tightest of space after nicking the ball was insanely confident and cool. He might be back for good.
Cesc:
What can anyone say about him? Picked up his defensive game in the second half when Spurs began to close his holes. And it was him who picked up Reyes after his right foot miss. Spain in the house! MOTM.
Lehmann:
Showed that he’s skipped a few anger management classes lately, but his consistency has calmed nerves on and off the pitch. Think he’ll stay, really. Great save on Kanoute that should have been a goal. Didn’t know much about it, but no one is beating this guy.
Gilberto:
Great in the box. Need him and he’s back. Love his attitude, and his head down, get to work ethic.
Toure:
Shades of Bayern, and got beat more than once though was always in it. Nervous, and its dawned on me that he gets that way when the atmosphere cranks up. Seems to set him on fire, which is good and bad. Absolute screamer of a free kick, and would like to see him take a few more. To his credit, he settled down and got better as the game progressed.
Cole:
Solid, but not troubled really. Says a lot. A quiet game from Cole often means 3 points. And he didn’t handle that ball in the box to the tune of a penalty. But he DID get around Keane to get it away. He’s too good to give up.
Edu:
What everyone else said. Wasn’t it his shot that Reyes dropped for after he did that brilliant end to end run at 83′? Dennis? Anyway, he’s gone. Could see it in his face afterward. He punched his card and walked away. Me may find we’re dropping the ball here if we don’t try and keep him considering how important the midfield is to our play. Still, his injury let Cesc do his thing, and to the good. If its down to he and Gilberto…
Reyes:
Heart +. Showed what he can do when he’s not getting fouled. But he’s had enough of this BS. Has little to do with the club, as Wenger has done all he can to show him love, but the guy is allergic to London. Lost his gf, Mom problems, most fouled player on the side, etc. He thanked God for his goal, not Cesc, and truth be told, I think he’s been praying ever since he got here. Won’t even bother to pack, I reckon, once the season is wrapped up. So long, Jose. Good luck.
Ali:
Maybe its just me, but he looked dangerous on the ball. Needs more time, cause he has that AFC knack to “run before he walks”. We drive at 100mph before the engine’s warm, and he seemed desperate to make an impact. Like him, but fear he’s surplus to Wenger. Only, Quincy’s little hassles could be making a case to keep him.
Dennis:
Still does things that no one else can, but these days they don’t amount to anything. Think Wenger will keep him for the training ground next year and bring him in as a closer as he tracks back and is experienced enough to not do anything stupid when we’re holding a one goal lead. Besides, he IS god.
And finally, Mike Riley:
He almost got my MOTM. Got it right all night, and I think he may not have had it been at White Hart Lane. Still, he let Lehmann out of jail, gave Ashley and Senderos the benefit fo the doubt, and for the most part excused Lauren. And he owes us, so maybe we’re even now.
April 26th, 2005 at 1:05 pm
My apologies to Arsene_Knows. I watched the replay on TV. It was indeed Cesc who picked up Reyes.
How I mistook it to be Pires, God knows. Perhaps that’s what happens when you have to stay up till 3 am local time to watch a game. Perhaps I was subconciously expecting someone of Pires’ stature to do that. Cesc’s maturity is obviously amazing.
But I wouldn’t read too much into the reason why Cesc & not others. It will look a little silly if not hillariously ridiculous when 3 or 4 players rush to consol Reyes everytime he misses.
Often cameras pick up only bits & pieces & what is actually going on simply can’t be accurately captured.
April 26th, 2005 at 1:17 pm
Happy to oblige
April 26th, 2005 at 1:25 pm
Except for the fact that he was a midfielder in Spain & he also wasn’t a right back when moved there. I’d like to think that he could learn to play a position he formerly used to play but again, Danny T, knows all & doubts all, b/c if you would’ve paid attention to previous posts on this matter, I’d like him to move up to right midfield as cover for Ljungberg, that means he wouldn’t play right midfield on a permanent basis, Danny & he would partly solve the experience & depth problem in midfield that you have been b*tching & moaning about.
April 26th, 2005 at 1:26 pm
He said that about Reyes? B/c that sounds like the exact quote he said in the post match press conference when asked about Edu.
April 26th, 2005 at 1:27 pm
No, it was definitely Cesc that picked Reyes up.
April 26th, 2005 at 1:33 pm
I think the only thing to read into Cesc’s act of picking Reyes up is that for a teenager he’s brilliant & mature way beyond his years. Those are the type of players that their value is incalcuable b/c he has the skills you can’t teach or take forever to teach- maturity, vision, knowledge, etc. To have them at his age, it has to be God given gifts. The boy’s future is blindingly bright.
April 26th, 2005 at 1:46 pm
And I think Cesc was trailing and just happened to be there first. Showed that we may have had a Spanish connection in the works. In fact, all night they seemed to “speak the same language”.
April 26th, 2005 at 2:18 pm
Yes. Cesc picking up Reyes tells the whole story about this kid. That’s instictive leadership.
And did anybody else finally realize we now have someone who can deliver a free kick in Van Persie? Finally
April 26th, 2005 at 6:24 pm
In fact Lauren’s best position ever is in midfield.
In CAN 2000 he was the best player with Cameroon.
He’s playing for a temporary basis at right back.
Trabesli could have been our right back this season
April 26th, 2005 at 9:57 pm
And maybe add Toure to that list if he can summon up a scorcher on occasion like he did on monday. Man, that ball had some pace on it!
April 26th, 2005 at 10:07 pm
it was cesc, pure class move from a kid to a teammate who has been having a bad run.
great points by arsene-knows concerning vieira’s captaining style, or non-style. do you think big Tone would have handled those situations differently? damn right.
April 26th, 2005 at 10:20 pm
…and reyes was mobbed by his mates after he DID score.
April 27th, 2005 at 12:34 pm
Maybe it’s because they are both Spanish, remember?!