Feb 20
More of the same from the Gunners, as they put in a second straight crap performance. If we’re not careful, our season might be over before March.
41 Responses to “PSV 1 - 0 Arsenal”
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February 20th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
PSV scored a goal from NOTHING. No setup, No one-two’s, just an adventurous shot which I must have to tip my hat off to.
Arsenal is Arsenal, we live and die by the brand of possession football we play, whether we are up or trailing by a goal or two. So I’m not complaining about the loss, but I’m concerned the players did not fight hard enough. Maybe it’s fatigue, maybe’s a lack in mental sharpness, or maybe we just didn’t give PSV credit to what they’re capable of doing.
Wining 2-0 at home may not be difficult, but keeping a clean sheet will. If we’re not up 2-0 by half time, i’m afraid we’ll lose on the away goal should PSV nick a goal in the dying minutes like Wigan did to us at last year’s Carling Cup SF.
February 20th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
Koeman would have seen how Blackburn kept Arsenal out. He will adopt that strategy to the T. By losing this game, we have our work cut out. Our strikers are not exactly scoring freely at this moment. Henry appears to be in a bit of a slump. Unfortunately I see us going out of the tournament with a 0-0 game against PSV at Emirates.
February 20th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
The first half wasn’t too bad at all. We controlled possession for the most part and the match for much of it. We had a few decent chances and didn’t finish… but nothing crazy.
I did watch and worry about FATIGUE. It was wide-open for the most part, and we are a fatigued team with a lot of recent games under our belt. I think that came to fruition in the 2nd half. We looked tired… and sort of wilted at the end.
I don’t see this as end of the world stuff that some folks might.
PSV is IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE. They are a pretty good team. We were on the road. While it would have been great to get a draw or win … or even a road goal… its only 1 feckin’ 0.
Not many Arsenal players looked sharp tonite. Thats for sure. The first touch wasn’t there for (m)any. But we didn’t play horribly. We didn’t play bad.
They got a “goal from nothing”…
OK… not great. But there are highs and lows in a season, and a bunch of in-between stuff. We will have to step it up and play better in the return match at the Emirates… but no need for the doom and gloom. They know what they have to do, and will come out and try and execute better. We can turn over a 1-0 away loss.
Bright spots? I don’t think there were many… we looked tired in the 2nd half. We have the CC Match… and the FA Cup replay coming up. We’ve got it all to do before we even get to the 2nd leg.
I expect we’ll play better. I truly do.
February 20th, 2007 at 5:13 pm
Not much for vision today, everybody seemed hesitant. Personally i think Senderos finally had a decent game. he made a few mitakes but looked much more confident this time. Of course thats not saying much…
PSV played well. It seemed they knew where to position themselves off the ball to close down our passing lanes. It didn’t help that we seemed to take an extra couple of seconds evry time we touched the ball.
Lastly what was with all the running into each other? could we find no space?
tough loss.
February 20th, 2007 at 5:18 pm
one goal, and its all to play for.
One shot deflection, an own goal, a moment of brialliance, a mistake by their defense, a penalty … or some good Arsnal passing sets up 1 goal.
Its not 2 or 3 or 4 goals down. PSV can’t expect to come in and play for 0-0 all match long. It would not be so smart. They didn’t play like Blackburn tonite… and they aren’t in the same position as Blackburn either. They have their best strikers, and didn’t lose 6-2 to us the previous match. So… I expect something different than sitting back with 10 defenders.
Personally, I’d LOVE to see that happen… with PSV with everyone back and not trying to go forward at all. Because eventually, we’ll get a goal… or the call we should have gotten for a PENALTY on Aliadiere would normally get called… and then what? Do they all of a sudden turn the light switch on and try and play football?? Thats not that easy to do. I doubt that will occur.
I think PSV might fancy they can beat us.
February 20th, 2007 at 5:21 pm
I’d say Wenger to create another injury for Henry and sit him out for another 8 weeks.
I can’t stand Henry sulking at his team mates after a poor performance from everyone. When will HE ADMIT he has as much to be blamed for our loss tonight as everyone else?
His sulking is getting to me. We made him GOD last year when he demanded Arsenal must match his ambition before signing a new deal. Where is his ambition now???
Wenger must pick his best 11 for the return Leg > not the best 11 on paper, but the best 11 players that will fight hard and not SULK. At the moment Henry is off the list for me but I can’t see Wenger dropping him to the bench. Give the Captain’s arm band to Gilberto or Toure
February 20th, 2007 at 5:24 pm
It looked a lot like the Blackburn match to me.? And with Farfan out, they were missing o?ne of their best today (as Blackburn was).? And while it's not 2 or 3 goals down, it's still a hill to climb, and the legs are looking very tired.? They end of the world?? Of course not.? But a disheartening performance.
February 20th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
Agreed.? Sulking and petulance with no results just leaves the sulking and petulance.? The way he's playing right now, I don't think he's in any position to point fingers, unless he starts in the mirror.
February 20th, 2007 at 5:37 pm
There will be some rest this weekend. It is the Carling final, so a lot of starters will be rested and the next CL game is two weeks away so let’s hope the team looks fresher in two weeks time.
February 20th, 2007 at 6:22 pm
Hard defeat to digest. Primarily because we had played a pretty good match and as soon as we lapsed defensively PSV took advantage with a typical 30 yard manor from heaven.
As I said when the draw was first made, Ronald Koeman is the european Sam Allardyce and PSV are the Bolton of the Champions League. They know they are technically limited (how crap was their midfield?) and to compensate they use every ounce of energy to stop us playing. They give us the floor and ask us to break them down. Arsenal, as they often are, get caught in two minds and fall for their trick. We think too much trying to fathom their tactics and are left mentally fatigued when PSV start to break forward. To be fair, PSV defended brilliantly, although they didn’t even have to defend against Thierry Henry in the second half. The Frenchman spent the whole second half flaffing about on the left touchline, scared shitless of Alex. We needed someone like Van persie or and an earlier introduction of Baptista to thrust through the middle. Henry’s flair had been long extinguished.
A few weeks is a long time in football, and you never know what shape the team will be in on March 7, mentally or physically. My instinct tells me PSV are to Arsenal what Michael Spinks was to Larry Holmes, what Iran Barkley was to Thomas Hearns. I think they have our number, and they will see the job through at the Emirates.
February 20th, 2007 at 6:25 pm
Highlights are online http://premierleaguegoals.blogspot.com/
When you see this you ask yourself how did we lose, but thats football.
I was hoping that magic trio would be better, they were even enough rested with gilberto.I really dont know what happened today.
They beat us in tactics, fact!
Adams said that we played only when we had a ball. I think that there was also some fear because players except much from this CL season
February 20th, 2007 at 6:26 pm
I doff my cap to PSV, they worked incredibly hard and got their tactics spot on - their keeper kept them in it. Second half, Arsenal got tired - it was obvious, the whole team looked tired. Arsenal have played 22 games in less than three months, that’s 3 games a week for 3 months, PSV looked like they’ve played half that, and probably have.
A 1-0 defeat is not a disaster, it’s only half time - the big question is can Arsenal keep a clean sheet at home to PSV? PSV will not play both Farfan and Kone at Emirates, no chance, it will be 1 up front. The only time they will play both is if they’re desperate, and if they’re desperate that means Arsenal will we winning and PSV will be attacking, then we’ll see how good they are at the back. So, everything to play for.
Lehmann - no chance with the goal but some of his kicking and throw outs were rough (5)
Gallas - no way was he match fit and didn’t look comfortable on the right (5)
Toure - very solid (7)
Senderos - the yellow he got was ridiculous, you can imagine him doing it in a big game and getting sent off (6)
Clichy - pretty good (7)
Hleb - frustrating, awesome at Bolton, dire tonight (4)
Fabregas - good first half, but marked out the game again, teams are wising up (6)
Gilberto - decent all round display (6)
Rosicky - best midfielder on the park (8)
Henry - ok in first half, got frustrated and disappeared in second (6)
Adebayor - kept slowing the game down by stopping and going inside with the ball, needs to be more direct (6)
February 20th, 2007 at 6:55 pm
Shock of the night for me was Tony Adams talking some sense. He said we dropped too deep and sat off PSV too much. I think we would have been even more knackered trying to press them but he has got a point. Arsenal’s spine always gets too passive at certain points in games and we usually get punished. Gilberto wasn’t very good at his specialist role tonight.
Fabregas looks gone to me. Mentally and physically gone. He still has the core of his game there but the joie de vive has disappeared. He is now mechanical and predictable where before he had a bit of devil in his game. His pathetic shot in the second half summed up how ineffectual he has been recently. It seems the guy cannot aim any sort of shot into a corner. They are all central and speculative.
Let’s hope he can move his game on a notch because he hasn’t really progressed techncally this season. If anything he has gone backwards.
February 20th, 2007 at 7:29 pm
Arsenal was way too wasteful. I think we all saw what Mendes did with his one chance or Landzaat in the game against Wigan. And when it came to Arsenal’s turn to do some finishing all they could do was send it straight at the keeper. Fabregas wasted the chance of the match and I believe that had it been Mendes or Cocu at the end of that they wouldn’t be as wasteful.
These players had better start practising how to take their chances on goal. That was a very disappointing display. How could we be that wasteful ? We need to become more clinical. I getting fade up of all these direct shots… Why do players like Fabregas get all the chances and the likes of Henry or Rosicky hardly get any….
Best players on the day were Adebayor (a constant performer now) and Rosicky… the rest besides the defence were total rubbish
February 20th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
With that kind of play I can’t imagine us beating Chelsea. Last time we were merely lucky to grab a point. We’ll have to be at our best and spot on infront of goal. Chelsea is really strong..
February 20th, 2007 at 9:35 pm
I think the doom-and-gloom stuff comes from the fact that this is the second game in a row where we didn’t score. That’s the beginning of a theme and not just a one-game aberration.
Of course, I do hope you’re right and appreciate your optimism anyway.
February 20th, 2007 at 9:41 pm
When I saw the goal again, it reminded me of a few long range efforts which Lehmann conceded this season. To be beaten by a shot from such a long range means Lehmann was either not watching the game developing in front of him or his goal line positioning was poor. Or both. Or maybe his reaction and concentration have dropped a notch with age. And the keeper at the other end had a blinder. That seems to be one of the themes of Arsenal’s season. Very very disappointing result.
Hopefully the youngsters and Almunia will do much better this weekend.
February 20th, 2007 at 9:44 pm
Koeman probably knew Arsenal will tire in the 2nd half especially with our recent fixture and turned on the screws in the 2nd half. Perhaps Wenger should have asked the boys to play more defensively for a tie and on the counter attack to conserve energy.
February 20th, 2007 at 11:56 pm
I think Hleb’s recent illness was clearly affecting his play. He offered little going forward and spent almost no time controlling the ball.
Fabregas had numerous giveaways tonight. Maybe PSV has figured him out or his form has dipped from too many games.
This game was suppose to be a kind of referendum on Henry’s game. The state of his game is that it’s no better than before his personal break. If we were hoping to see a more ‘urgent’ Henry in a CL game, then I can say I was disappointed. I think he is now trying to use guile to replace his lack of pace. If I were Henry, I too would be sulking about the loss of what I once was.
There was still a defender (Toure or Gallas?) back when Senderos decided to provide some levity. At least he had the ‘good sense’ not to get a 2nd yellow when Kone left him looking like a rooted tree.
Gallas was him a tough spot, not match fit and playing RB. I appreciated his effort.
Lehmann’s kicking game was indeed atrocious. Between the giveaways, poor clearances, nonchalant passing in our box and Lehmann’s kicks, PSV’s ‘offensive pressure’ came from our generosity.
Does anybody really care when Arsenal wins a cornerkick? Our delivery into the box is just plain lame.
Should I mention the lack of width?
Thank goodness our next game is the CC final and not something really ‘important’. We will let our well rested kids do battle, while the old farts get ready for Reading.
February 21st, 2007 at 12:00 am
This could prove to be a repeat of CSKA. A flat performance away from home results in a loss. Too much pressure in the home leg could end up in not getting the right result.
The worrying part was that except Senderos and Ade (arguably vs RvP), this was our best team. Part of the growing pains?
February 21st, 2007 at 2:22 am
After a slow first 5 to 10 minutes, Arsenal produced some pretty good play the remainder of the first half. The save on Rosicky’s fine attempt proved a killer. That was our best chance, along with one or two of Henry’s shots. We had our chances.
The second half was dreadful. The last 10 minutes of PSV playing keep-a-way was embarassing. The Brazilian defender on Henry was like flies on shite - literally I’m afraid.
Our play looked too careless and lackadasical at many instances. Loss of focus and concentration? That type of play is generally due to just that, in all types of sport.
The question is - why the loss of focus and concentration? Fatigue is the front-runner. Disinterest is not acceptable - and I doubt a reality.
Bottom line - I think it is the mark of a very young team that is captained by a player with massive self-doubt (inwardly). Not a good match.
If we beat Chelsea on Sunday with our young-mix side (w/o Henry)… I don’t want to say it…
Having to win 2-0 at the Emirates (sans a PK victory) against a team that played like PSV tonight is going to be tough. Perhaps PSV is an altogether different team on the road. I sure hope so.
February 21st, 2007 at 3:53 am
It’s amazing the number of times Rosicky comes close to scoring but fails to do so.
February 21st, 2007 at 3:56 am
The game is sypmtomatic of Arsenal’s recent problems. Considering it as half time of the two legs, we are 1 down. Will we stage yet another remarkable comeback? Only time will tell.
February 21st, 2007 at 5:03 am
I don’t think you should be overlooking the tiredness factor, without doubt PSV looked a hell of a lot fitter than Arsenal - for me that’s why we lost. The break did Arsenal no favours, they looked heavy-legged and couldn’t get themselves going again, PSV was first to everything, and if you compare the physical effort the players put in yesterday compared to the Bolton game, it was way off.
The question is, why? Are we playing too many games, overtraining? I don’t see Chelsea, Man Utd, Liverpool suffering from this ‘fatigue’ problem which often blights Arsenal’s game.
February 21st, 2007 at 5:39 am
Putting aside all criticisms, Nothing went our way. The number of passes that just missed out and th erub of the green that never came our way… certainly could have been three up. Their goal a fluke - they had one meaningful shot on goal all match… I reckon 3-0 at the Emirates. Just hope we batter Chelsea on Sunday/
February 21st, 2007 at 6:37 am
I think it’s mental sharpness. I wonder whether we’ll match Chelsea’s tempo on the weekend. I am really worried. Last time around they ate us alive and we weren’t even playing this poorly. *Sigh*
February 21st, 2007 at 6:48 am
You are so wrong to blame it all on Henry. Arsenal is not a one man team. Football is a team sport and if you think that our reason for failing is because Henry is not doing enough then you really have a lot to learn. The team’s failures are a combined effort rather than a one man effort. I believe Arsenal threw everything they had at PSV but they were simply not good enough on the night period. We couldn’t match their tactics. Arsenal are so used to keeping the ball and being the attacking team that we sometimes forget that the defence also has a job. Defence is substandard. We rely too much on the principle of a good offence is the best offence. So when that goes wrong we are torn apart…..
February 21st, 2007 at 7:59 am
Take off those rose tinted glasses. Their goal was most certainly not a fluke, it was an excellent strike. If an Arsenal player had scored it, would you have called it a fluke? Don’t bother answering.
Could of been 3-0 up? Yeah, and Kylie COULD have rode on the pitch on a white elephant singing the blues - but she didn’t.
February 21st, 2007 at 8:38 am
Le Boss is complaining again. ‘Only one of the teams was trying to play’ That’s what he thinks… I don’t know whether he just says these things for the press or if he really means it. In the end only one team came away with the points. It’s stated that those were precisely the tactics Wenger had predicted on the eve of the game and the same ones deployed by Blackburn when they earned a replay in the FA Cup on Saturday.
At this point am sure Wenger knows what teams like PSV, Blackburn, and Bolton will always play like this. Why then are we always outdone by the same tactics. Does Wenger really have no alternative tactic ? Surely by now Wenger should have an antidote to these methods. Atleast Koeman and Mark Hughes have learnt how to contain Wenger’s Arsenal. So now it is up to Wenger to work on his tactics rather than make up lame excuses time and time again. I tell you Mourinho has our number this time….
February 21st, 2007 at 9:42 am
I wouldn’t give Mark Hughes too much credit for “containing Arsenal”. After all, he’s team has already been beaten 6-2 by 11 Gunners and 0-2 by just 10. If a PK was given, we wouldn’t even be talking about this, or fixture congestion. At least Bolton and PSV have managed to put a goal on us first. Blackburn wouldn’t have done so in a weeks’ worth of playing time.
February 21st, 2007 at 10:59 am
the difference is that we’ll be playing the kids for the carling cup final. so we won’t have to worry about henry’s lack of movement and general lack of motivation.
it’s quite amazing how the team performs (or underperforms) when henry is on the pitch as opposed to when he’s in the stands.
win or lose, the kids will do us proud.
February 21st, 2007 at 11:00 am
Sorry, but you misinterpreted my comments and their particular points of emphasis. I read my comment again twice and I don’t see where I “blame it all on Hanry.” Nowhere a close. He is a factor, though, because it is a team sport as you correctly put it.
February 21st, 2007 at 11:00 am
Sorry, but you misinterpreted my comments and their particular points of emphasis. I read my comment again twice and I don’t see where I “blame it all on Hanry.” Nowhere close. He is a factor, though, because it is a team sport as you correctly put it.
February 21st, 2007 at 11:04 am
Sorry, but you misinterpreted my comments and their particular points of emphasis. I read my comment again twice and I don’t see where I “blame it all on Henry.” Nowhere close. He is a factor, though (as I not so bluntly put it-yes), because it is a team sport as you correctly put it. I agree that Arsenal threw everything they had at PSV, but for only very brief stretches in the first half, and immediately after the goal. The bottom line is that this team doesn’t have enough gas in the tank for long enough stretches against a team with tactics like PSV - I believe it is overall fatigue. My opinion.
February 21st, 2007 at 11:09 am
Arsenal can easily win in the Emirates, but can they get the needed result. win by 2 goals …
If Arsenal is a deserved winner, then this will be the test for them. Can they produce the 2-0 win to go through. Or will they barely get the 1-0 win and then extra time could help us or kill us.
I fear the following: we would go up 1-0. In extra time both teams score. and we win 2-1 … which will through us out.
February 21st, 2007 at 11:58 am
Arsenal made it to the finals of the last CL by employing tactics not very dissimilar to that of PSV. What are we complaining now? We have to learn to defeat these organised sides. Otherwise, there will always be a tactical question mark on AW.
February 21st, 2007 at 4:30 pm
Fabregas has played 40 matches this season and its only Feb. I really think he needs a rest. If he continues to start every match I think he is going to play worse.
February 21st, 2007 at 7:30 pm
Part of the problem is Arsenal’s own doing. There have been far too many replays and games going into extra time. While Chelsea has almost the same number of games, they haven’t had the replays, and for the most part, neither has Man U and they are out of the CC so that diminishes the number of games they have played. PSV has probably played about half the games Arsenal has and it showed.
February 21st, 2007 at 9:24 pm
Apparently Henry has a ligament injury in his (R) foot. He picked it 2/3/07 against Middlebrough. All those who think he should be put on the shelf raise your hands!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!etc.
He obviously deserves a pass over his recent poor performances.
February 22nd, 2007 at 12:54 am
No wonder he hasn’t seemed right. He’s first touch has been poor, he’s movement as well and he generally hasn’t looked sharp. At some point my mates and I thought it was the boots (you know changing from Nike to Reebok)…
Jokes aside, I have to say I’m really fade up. How come he never gets rested if he is injured. Somehow every season he plays injured and then at some point when we are going to play either Man United or Chelsea he gives in and is rested. I am not implying anything here but it really bugs me when all of a sudden they claim that he has been sacrificing himself by playing injured all this time. An injured Henry is of no use to the team as we have all witnessed.
That’s really poor management on Arsenal’s part……. Kind of makes it hard to believe that these claims are genuine.
February 22nd, 2007 at 11:17 am
http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2018577,00.html. Is it the criticism that causes injury stories or playing with injuries that leads to criticism of poor play? Hmmmm.