I was away from a PC for most of the past 48 hours, and when I got home last night I was too tired to think of anything useful to say about what happened on Saturday that hasn’t already been said. The horror of Eduardo’s injury still lingers this morning, although reports indicate that it may not be as bad as initially thought. That is definitely good news.
As for the match itself… Well, the team did well to overcome the shock of Dudu’s injury and the added salt of a James McFadden free-kick goal to take a 2-1 lead thanks to a great performance by Theo Walcott. His first goal was bounded in off of a header just moments after the restart, but his second goal, coming a few minutes later was pure class, and hopefully a sign of good things to come.
The final moments of the match left my mouth agape. With just a few seconds to go, and the ball in the Arsenal penalty area, Gael Clichy switched off. Perhaps he didn’t realize there was an attacking player just a few feet to his left. When it was brought to his attention, he quickly challenged for the ball, and despite getting a foot to it, he bundled the Birmingham man over and a penalty was awarded.
As everyone knows, at this point, William Galls marched all the way to the tunnel, shaking his head in disbelief, and cursing the injustice of it all.
I’m glad he’s so passionate, but a captain should stay with his team at all times. He more than anyone else on the pitch represents Arsenal, and that little march is not the Arsenal way.
Anyway, those are just some of my pre-caffeinated thoughts at this early hour. If you haven’t gotten it out of your system, by all means use this new thread to vent, etc…
6 Responses to “Birmingham City 2 - 2 Arsenal”
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February 25th, 2008 at 11:46 am
It was a mix of emotions from many of us. It was upsetting to see Edurado’s injury, and then how that affected our players in a limp 1st half performance. It appeared we overcame the shock and Theo rose to the occasion and got us the lead, only for a shocking lapse of judgement from Clichy for giving away a last minute penalty which cost us 2 points.
I can understand Gallas’ emotions - if I was an Arsenal player and had just witnessed such horrific and unjustified injury to my teamate, then the best way to respond would have been to win the game. But giving away 2 points like that is adding insult to injury. However I still do not condone his behaviour - he should let out his emotions OFF the pitch, maybe in the dressing room if he wanted to show his teamates how badly he had wanted to win.
So I’d thought the worst part was over us after a pretty forgettable week with a 2nd thumping in 2 cup competition by our rivals, a goaless draw at home, dropped points at st. andrews, and then then spurs winning silverware.
Instead of hearing the media and having a public outcry on the violent incident, all I heard was character testimony for Taylor, Pundits downplaying the incident as purely accidental, unfortunate, and mistimed, all in the meantime focusing on Wenger’s over the top comments, Gallas petulant behavoir, and Arsenal’s own discipline record.
They all missed the point. The type of tackle in itself is dangerous, it’s not even a tackle but more of a stamp down from above. It’s reckless and I’m surprised it didn’t result in more injuries like Eduardo’s.
At the end of all this, it’s quite clear to me there is a lot of politics in football - let’s just call it that. I won’t speculate on what their hidden agenda is, but i somehow thinks that had this been a prominent “local” player playing for a club made up of primarily “local” boys, and the offender being an “outsider”, then we would be talking about a witch hunt rather than hearing character witness one after then other.
February 25th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
Yeah, this media washout is really starting to enrage me. Just looked at “Who Ate All the Pies.” Their line is, it was an accident, things like this happen from time to time. Nothing about the fact that he went flying in with studs up, and why one thing might’ve led to the other.
Then there’s a post on how Arsenal are a bunch of sore losers because they let Edu’s injury get to them during the game. How absurdly callous.
February 25th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
I tend to agree. The media’s criticism of Gallas is outrageous. Gallas behaviour was unusual, but the circumstances were unusual, instead of giving him the benefit of the doubt they are shooting their ignorant mouths of as completely forgetting, not only the fact that Eduardo’s condition was chiefly responsible for Gallas’ behaviour, but that Gallas’ behaviour is a non-issue compared to what happened to Eduardo. Is the British press deliberately frightened to look into the causes of this tackle? It should be examined far more than it has been.
Having said that, reading the various Blogs etc., Arsenal fans have also tended to over-react, with petitions, calls of Taylor to be banned for life etc. It seems nobody is capable of a realistic debate.
Today, I have forgotten about the result. All I am happy about is that Eduardo is sitting in bed with an injury that reportedly is not nearly as bad as was once feared. It will be a long and had recovery, but definitely looks to be achievable if only the one bone was broken and there was no infection or ligament damage.
February 25th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Evidently Mr. Taylor has received numerous threats, primarily from Croatian fans since Eduardo will now miss Euro 2008. That crap drives me nuts. It doesn’t solve anything and just makes fans look overzealous and crazy and will reflect particularly poorly on Arsenal fans, even though the vast majority of them were not Arsenal fans.
February 25th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
I wouldn’t want enraged Croatians on my ass. Ever heard of the Ustashe?
February 25th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
I’m waiting with much interest to see what eventuates from Taylor’s bone-splitting tackle. At this stage one is tempted to think that the massed choir of support for Taylor will drown out any call for action. But I’m not so sure. Once the dust settles let’s see what happens. Arsenal Football Club are not an insignificant force. I believe Arsenal are capable of pulling the right political strings in the footballing world to put this matter on the EPL agenda. Will they do it? Surely we have to. Surely a club that represents so much of what is good about playing football has a responsbility to the talented players we attract to at least try and ensure the playing environment is as safe as it can be.
We have sustained 2 career threatening injuries in recent times.
Is Diaby the same player that he could have been - impossible to say - but I’ve often wondered why he is now used almost exclusively as a wide player. I’ve speculated that perhaps Wenger is giving him maximum time to regain his footballing confidence away from the hurly burly of central midfield action - speculation I know.
Even if Dudu returns will he be the player he could have been - we will never know. That in itself is a tragedy, that aggression forever places a ‘what if’ in everyones minds as to a players true potential.
In life, if you cause harm to someone, your actions are assessed. In many sports if you ‘tackle’ in a certain way you risk disciplinary action AND any injury you cause will be considered along with your action.
I have looked at Taylor’s tackle and simply cannot see a redeeming aspect. If you aim a ‘tackle’ with the sole of your boot (your studs showing) above the ground in the general vicinity of your opponents leg - what outcome are you seeking? Even if you get the ball the risk of horrific injury if you also get the players leg is immence. Isn’t this the point? Who trys to tackle with the sole of their boot? Surely if your primary aim is to get or clear the ball you use the top of your foot?
Haven’t we reached the stage where we have to say ‘no studs, period’. Then back it up with a range of disciplinary measures. The result would be an almost immediate change in mindset. Talented players would get protection and players of limited ability like Smith and Taylor would likely fail to make the EPL grade. After all, if you lack pace, timing, skill in tackling why should you be playing at the top level?