The Collapse:
In the future when football scholars will look back at the 2007/08 season, they may prefer to use the format from Jared Diamond’s book Collapse to examine what went wrong with Arsenal. Diamond’s book examines how and why some of the world’s greatest civilizations disappeared. Well, Arsenal have collapsed in the worst possible fashion, losing all 4 titles by defeats to their bitterest rivals.
Same Same but different
The First half: Arsenal played well, moved the ball with purpose but could not take the lead. Adebayor was the most guilty wasting two glorious chances, the first with a neat 1-2, the second after Hleb’s great dance set up him. In both cases, Adebayor went for the safe option and choosing to put the ball on target as opposed to testing the keeper. Also, in the first half the show called Eboue or Football Learnings of Arsenal for Make Benefit Glorious Premier team continued.
Arsenal took the lead early in the second half thanks to Van Persie’s cross being headed home by Adebayor — his first league goal in the league since his new haircut. But like last Tuesday’s horror show, the lead didn’t last long, once again due to a penalty being given. Clear cut or not, the cocky Ronaldo stepped up and put it away, only to be asked to have it retaken. Lehmann did his best to put the smug Portuguese off but Ronaldo repeated his stutter step and scored to level the game. As per the laws of the game, a stutter step is not allowed for spot-kicks but refs have stopped caring for years as Figo has made this into a trademark spot kick. And then the horror increased with a free-kick from Owen H.
To rub salt into wounds, Ronaldo returned to his pony dog roots in the closing stages to finally draw a curtain on Arsenal’s 2007/08 season.
Line-ups:
Man Ud: Van der Sar, Brown, Ferdinand, Pique, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick, Hargreaves, Scholes, Park, Rooney
Arsenal: Lehmann (not a typo, Almunia with a wrist injury), Song, Gallas, Toure, Clichy, Cesc, Hleb, Gilberto, Eboue, Adebayor, Van Persie
92 Responses to “Man Utd 2-1 Arsenal”
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April 13th, 2008 at 10:50 am
Why is Lehmann playing in place of Almunia?
April 13th, 2008 at 11:01 am
I would have switched Song and Gilberto if they are both going to play.
April 13th, 2008 at 11:20 am
can we score an early goal pls
April 13th, 2008 at 11:53 am
it’s glad watching Jens in goal. He doesn’t just save the shots he’s “supposed” to save, he saved the shots he had no right to (save) as well.
Two big saves the first half. some may say it hit his legs and he didn’t noe anything about it. I don’t know. I think as a keeper, in one on one situation, priority is always to make urself BIG, and does not commit himself early, force the opponent to make their first move.
On this aspect, Jens is miles ahead of Almunia.
April 13th, 2008 at 11:53 am
no early goals unfortunately. We have played really well so far but as is often the case with this team we have not been able to translate the fine play to goals. Ade should do better. Hopefully we will not be made to regret the missed chances in an hours time.
April 13th, 2008 at 11:54 am
I agree about Lehman. I was glad to see him in the line up.
April 13th, 2008 at 11:55 am
senderos not even on the bench and toure is still shafted out right. not a vote of confidence for sendy, toure or almunia.
if only eboue was listed in the starting lineup today it would have been a clean and proper sweep IMO.
i’m watching this game in a really relaxed fashion. i dont really expect anything from it. this game will end in a one goal difference or even goalless.
April 13th, 2008 at 11:55 am
Man U maybe our biggest rivals, but a Man U / Arsenal fixture is always a joy to watch, from pure footballing point of view. Full of goalmouth actions, even if it’s a 0-0 scoreline.
April 13th, 2008 at 11:57 am
btw, a BRILLIANT display from Hleb the first half. Gilberto wasn’t bad neither. hope they keep it up into the 2nd half. if we r going to lose, let them BEAT us. not by making any silly mistakes ourselves.
April 13th, 2008 at 11:59 am
More Maddening Football from the Arsenal. This is the whole last portion of the season… in a first half.
We outplayed United… created opportunities… and have done NOTHING in the crucial part of the pitch, scoring. AND… we are shaky at the back.
I agree Andez, I prefer Lehman in goal… he is more steady and confident.
HOW MANY CHANCES does Adebayor need to score a fecking goal.
Sorry. I don’t care how many he has this year, he’s nothing close to Henry… his ratio of chances to goals is abysmal. He STINKS right now.
Is RVP in the match? He apparently needs about 10 matches before he can get back into any kind of form.
Hleb had a good first half, though I have no idea what goes on with him and Clichy. Clichy NEVER runs after the ball when he and Hleb play a give and go. Clichy just watches the ball run out of bounds.
Gilberto had a decent first half.
Cesc is playing well… but he might have to score a goal or set up Adebayor from about 3 feet out with an open net.
And folks used to moan about Henry pouting or being pissy… I’d rather have that than Ade’s big grin after he fecks up another chance … go smile someplace else, or after you score a goal.
April 13th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
A few of our guys look tired already. We have played a solid half but we will lament the missed chances. I don’t think with our level of fatigue, we can keep a clean sheet.
April 13th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
shut the fuck stag and stop moaning. who on this website called adebayor as good as henry. watch the match and stop talking crap.
April 13th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
@10…the new tough guy routine doesn’t really suit you.
April 13th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
I agree Adebayor is poor, and has been most of the season. He shines in patches and he’s in a bad patch right now.
His conversion rate is piss poor, but I will STILL not take him off.
There is a FEAR factor that Adebayor brings which scares the United CB’s. Take Ade off and you’re giving the United defense a FREE RIDE. Neither Bendtner nor RVP scares defenders, and Ade with his physical presence alone gives us the physical strength we need in the box to distract defenders.
If Ade needs 10 chances to score one, so be it. We can’t change anything now and will have to do with what we’ve got. Bring on Walcott so that he can create 10 more chances for Ade. Henry is the type of player that can take a half chance into a goal but it’s a moot point - we don’t have him anymore.
So bring on Walcott in place of Eboue and switch Toure back to CB with Song going RB and we’ll be in better shape.
April 13th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
April 13th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
There u go.
NoW……DEFENDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
April 13th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Just when u criticize ade….he scoresssssssss
April 13th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Like i said.
NEVER take ade off.. If he needs to ball to hit his knee to get a goal, so be it.
Yes, please defend.
April 13th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
WTF
April 13th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
shit. penalty to united… so much for defending a lead.. come on lehman!
April 13th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
the story of our season. i just cant take this match seriously.
April 13th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
sigh. hand ball gallas… oh dear.
we better not score until 5th minute of injury time so there won’t be time to concede another….
April 13th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
WOW………..SHOCKING.
April 13th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Gallas…I gues when u overworked, play to much….u become shit.
April 13th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
*too
April 13th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
as long as we dont lose this match i will be happy.
April 13th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
That’s the routine folks. Happened at the Bridge, then Anfield, and now.
Take the lead, then GIFT the opposition a freebie right after.
Now we have to chase the game.
April 13th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
gilberto is a specialist at conceeding freekicks right in front of the box.
April 13th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Good bye season, 3rd trophyless season, a joke 2B honest!
April 13th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
To sum up our season with two words - SANTA CLAUS.
April 13th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
What a season this has been.
Arsenal is no match to Man U. They hardly did nothing but won the match. Wenger cant complain about the ref. Again our defenders suck. But, we have to deal with them as Arsene will never change the back 4. Either they grow next year or we have to wait another 2-3 years. Arsene has his ego and no matter what the fans say nothing will change. He has said he wants one player in summer, so that maybe it. Hopefully we will keep the players that we have now and that does not include Gilberto and any other fellas that we want gone.
My biggest fear would be loosing Fabregas. It could happen.
Oh well…sadly…but that is how it is. We have the best youth team in the premier league but not good enough to win it.
April 13th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Lehmann IS the BEST gk at Arsenal. 3 top saves in ONE game. Has Almunia made one all season? Only the penalty save of Keane. I can understand how bitter Lehmann must have felt all season. Yet, when he is thrown into such a high profile game, he came up trumps. Yes, he is eccentric and yes, he got a yellow card. But I’ll take him anyday over Almunia. Anyway, won’t even have that choice in a few games. Lehmann will be gone and Almunia has signed a long term deal.
April 13th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
1) Terrible finishing
2) Unable to hold any lead
How far behind is Liverpool? Cuz if Arsenal keep playing like this, 4th place is a possibility.
April 13th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Nipuna, agree on Lehmann. He played as if he was not out of the game for so long.
He is certainly better than Almunia. No doubt. Not sure about Almunia being no 1 next year, but I might change my mind. Unless, Wenger signed Almunia to a long term contract to be a backup and buy a GK in the summer, I dont see that happening.
April 13th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Yup.
Thats our season.
We led in crucial matches over and over again… yet gave the matches away every single time.
United didn’t do alot today, but they managed to beat us.
They are better than we are, and have talented young players… we will have to do something to catch up. I doubt we will. We’ll sit pat.
They didn’t even have to play well to beat us.
Every time we get a lead, the better teams kick it up a notch into another gear.
We fail to rise to the occasion when that happens. We lose the lead every time.
We do NOT have that other gear. We can’t step it up offensively OR defensively.
April 13th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
U know what jdl, we could finish 4th. And Wenger will be all proud and positive saying that at the beginning of the year people we expected us to drop the top 4.
April 13th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
*were
April 13th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Disruptions that happened to us this season (injuries, suspensions, fatigue, bad ref decisions, etc) happens to ALL teams. The difference is how teams anticipate and prepare for these events.
United & Chelsea. Goes out and continues to BUILT UPON their existing star-studded squads despite winning the league and domestic cups respectively last season. Why? Because players get injured, suspended, tired, or just simply go thru a BAD spell. It gives these teams OPTIONS at the business end of the season when results matters most.
Wenger’s reluctance of maintaining a bigger squad than the current one is a problem UNIQUE to Arsenal. While smaller clubs can’t afford to maintain a big squad, our manager just flatly refuses such idea based on FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES.
I don’t see that principle changing for Wenger. So we’ll just have to hope that next season (after buying a couple more kids), lady luck will be on our side and the conditions would be PERFECT for us to have a chance at winning silverware.
Big squads and United and Chelsea don’t guarantee results, but acts as an INSURANCE should their squad run thin. At Arsenal, we are relying on luck (no injuries) and justice (no bad decisions given against us) and theory (better footballing = win) to get our hands on silverware.
If having too many egos within a big squad is scaring Wenger, then hire a bloody assistant manager who can deal with it.
i’m out.
April 13th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
tAi, no more consonants for you. You used them all up already.
It looks as if we’re going to finish exactly where it was predicted when the season started. Of course, at this point, that looks like abject failure.
April 13th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
It’s like deja vu all over again…
I’ve pointed out the obvious all season. We’re chokers, which manifests itself into this strange plodding gear Stag has alluded to. Every player just turns themselves on stand by. I was watching the match relaxed too, and again I didn’t celebrate the goal.
We played well offensively. Hleb was an absolute genius in that first half. But, the way things are going, great football is going to be the pinnacle for us. We’re not winning anything anymore with Wenger in charge.
Ade needs to go practice on that barn door.
April 13th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Yes Neova, that is 100% correct.
We could have strengthened the squad in January… with a few key signings… when we were TOP OF THE FECKING LEAGUE… guarding against injury, suspension and the ACoN hangover…
but instead, we let Diarra leave… and did nothing.
But we have no great player other than Cesc. We have no match winners. We have a collection of good players.
Ade is not a great goalscorer.
I think the goal he scored today went off his arm!
YES kbarham… at this point, it has been an abject FAILURE. No other way to classify the season.
April 13th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
wel said neova
Now we can look forward to next season. I wonder if we are going to get more of the same from Wenger? Will Gallas improve as a leader? I hope Senderos and Eboue will b gone!
April 13th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
oh and Fred. Feck off.
I’ll moan all I want…. and talk all the crap I want.
hell… thats ALL you do.
So I’ll join in now.
April 13th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
I think that Wenger has lost his touch. He needs to get the boys focused again or even Everton will pass us up.ONE win in eight Premiership games. This is awful and pathetic, but after the fall of Eduardo, it has been going downhill since. Goran Pandev should have been more than just a rumor… he should have been a signing. Well I guess to hold on is all we can do at this point.
April 13th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
@ stag: while this has been a very dissappointing season most definitely….but you are not one to speak…..u predicted 8th or thereabouts. so just shut the fuck up.
April 13th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
i’ve tuned out for a while but when i do drop by to see what goes on on this website it really does amaze me the drivel that is written.it’s understandable during a game,when the temper is up, to vent such frustrations but post-game some of you fools’ comments are not worthy of print.
yes, we all know we have come short this season.we don’t look like winners and over the whole season have no played well enough or look equipped enough to win the league.but we are in progression.the absolute temerity of some ppl calling for wenger to change his ways is showing a massive level of disrespect for what he has done and achieved.
after the milan game i wrote about how,if things go wrong,arsenal will be back stronger next season.they’re was nothing to fear against utd today.we played and play the better football.toure,fabregas,ade,clichy,sagna,flamini,gallas are born winners.u think their gonna give up after what have been some massively disaapointing but also unlucky losses?
the bullshit here really pisses me off and shows the fickleness of you fans(most excluded but it seems the critics are particularly out today).grow up and start showing some proper support.i can guarantee u there will be a huge improvement next season.if not there is cause for worry but what’s the point worrying when we are gonna win everything in the next decade
April 13th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
as it turns out the team has not and could not recover from that 2nd minute moment at the birmingham game. fragile mentality.
this whole “slowing” down our midfield to become more “european” is not working either. (its not like we are doing any better in midfield.
i dont see how buying 2 or 3 more players younger than eboue for about 25 million is going against wenger’s youth policy - so the guy better wake up.
we need to buy a few “winners” and we probably need those to just be plain outright runners - get back our counterattack.
April 13th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
chris stagnolia you have all the right to moan! I wonder if the fans will tolerate a 4th trophyless season? Wil the players tolerate it? I’m sure our manager will thou!
April 13th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Well Wenger shouldn’t change his ways but give consideration I guess to some of the reserves a chance to shine now. Let them get some time on the pitch. There is some really good quality on the reserves team. We would hate for another Anelka to slip passed our midst. Anyways… this is a time to refocus and discover themselves. Arsenal are still in third and at least we are not in 8th by what most people figured or even 10th.
April 13th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
I think while we give support to Wenger’s footballing tactics and decisions, we can’t just blindly believe in it and leave it up to CHANCE.
I love the way Arsenal play football. it’s different, it’s attractive, and we do it with players that aren’t world class when they joined us and are on their way becoming one. It adds to just winning trophies like United and Chelsea.
If we were to continue with Wenger and his ways, then we need to reinforce it. If we are going to continue playing beautiful football, give it some thought when our players are not available or are not sharp. What do we do then? Buy more players as stand by? Change and simplify our strategy so that the tactics suits the available player we have left rather than putting square pegs into round holes?
I am not questioning Wenger’s methods. I’m just hoping that Wenger adds a contingency plan for NEXT season’s campaign.
Wenger is like a egotistical driver who believes he has good skills and will never get into an accident. So he drives uninsured and the conditions of the road (bad weather, drivers, mechanical failure, etc) catches him.
Can Wenger keep blaming the road conditions or should he realise he needs to buy some insurance for the “rainy days” ahead?
I hardly call this “drivel”. It’s constructive criticism and it’s not that hard to implement, if only Wenger’s ego can accept it.
I read elsewhere that Wenger is becoming the latter stages of George Graham. I hope it won’t become true.
I’ll always be a gooner. but I’m not going to sit here silent and watch my beloved team continue down into the abyss.
April 13th, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Sad. Very sad. Stupid penalty to concede and a super super free kick. Not a lot to choose on the day between the two sides. United were hardly dominant and looked very shaky..VDS with a couple of saves saved the day. Bendtner was winning everything in the air. RVP’s effort was so poor though. That shot alone proved how unmatch fit he was.
I thought we were excellent on the day. Hleb was absolutely brilliant today. Ditto Clichy and Cesc to an extent. Theo and Bendtner look great for the future.
Poor first half by Song but improved in the second half; defo more mobile than Sendy and a big big guy in the air. Worth an option considering for sure. Toure looks very uncomfortable at RB ; he’s much better at CB.
I wont even talk about the rest coz I thought they were quite average. Today was yet another example of the two senior most players gifting away two goals though the freekick was excellent in the second place. If Gikberto doesn’t commit no central free kick - no goal. Easy to say though.
I was wrong — We now WILL not win the league. I think we’ve progressed a lot though and the signs for the future are positive. One multifunctional right/left winger is all we need or somehow ensure that RVP/Rosicky stay fit whole season. CaribKid had this great post last thread explaining what we need. A lot of it…most of it made a lot of sense.
Lastly we did not get trashed 3-0 or play well for “just 20 minutes” as some experts proudly predicted. Proud of this team…but cant wait now for this season to end tbf.
April 13th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Failure of a season???? Really??? Sorry I dont agree…I think I’ll follow DannyT’s lead and disappear till the summer. Last thread I will post on..this season. Will try and send in previews though if I can muster them
April 13th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
LDE, It has nothing to do with senior players and young players. It’s all about good players and bad players. Gilberto had the same inherent weaknesses at 26- when he joined- than he does now at 31. Give the stupid senior argument a rest because it is a complete load of bollocks.
I’m looking back at the game. I’m not sure there any injustices that the ‘Arsene Knows’ brigade can harp on about. Makes a pleasant change.
April 13th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Very frustrating end to the season. Up 8 pts in early Feb, and now left to fight for 3rd place w/Liverpool.
This team has the ball in front of goal w/so many opportunities but just cannot finish it. The match today was theirs for the taking. For the most part, I feel they really outplayed United the whole match–but unable to finish, which is all that matters.
Lehmann had a great game, I feel. Almost got to the PK also. Some amazing saves to keep it close (as well as VDS).
Its been interesting to say the least.
April 13th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
dissapointing, no doubt, but today when owen scored i barely felt mad or anything negative at all, i expected that to happen. this just wasnt meant to be our season and i will gladly turn to the good moments the team gave us before february, i prefer to think this season is a glimpse of what’s to come, and hopefully the terrible last couple months will make arsene realize we need depth and experience. ronaldo, rooney, nani, tevez, and anderson have all benefited from the experience around them, united wouldnt be the team they are without the leadership of giggs, scholes, rio, and the likes. but no point in talking about this now, let’s hope the team plays hard until the last game at sunderland, and we can all argue about what to do in the summer. for now, let’s just try to be positive as hard as that may be, love the arsenal no matter what, and keep our heads high, i just hope the players do the same.
April 13th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
How bad are things? Not even Wayne has come on here to blow sunshine up our collective arse.
About the only thing I’m grateful for is that it is so completely obvious to (almost) everyone now what our issues are, I don’t think even Wenger will be able to ignore them anymore.
I won’t hold my breath all Summer betting on it, but will hope heartily.
April 13th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
i dont think we deserve to win… manU are deserving champions this year… they have an excellent squad to choose and rotate from… ronaldo has been in sublime form.. far better than any of our players.. and that red nosed bastard knows how to motivate his players and bring a winning mentality..
we are more of artists ( like even after conceding the goal.. we still came up with wave after wave of attack.. .making manU look like the away side.. ).. lack the professional ethics… like in defence.. maybe we need to make a tradeoff btw the two next season… and surely add to class at the wings…
no need to feel down… esp considering what was expected at the starting of the season… irrespective of all that we can do … i feel destiny and luck have a lot to do between winners and the 2nd or 3rd placed teams … and we’ll next season too… i dont remember many games this season when we have been dominated this season..
April 13th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Yeah on you, JizzyK and LDE.
Another thing, our team is not going down into the abyss. For starters, Wenger always downplays what he is going to do in terrms of transfers. For another, based on his choices of Song and Lehman today, there is reason to believe I would say that he is not content with what he has in the cupboard in terms of goaltenders and defensemen. I think Wenger will buy more than he is letting on.
It has been a rough two months since Eduardo’s injury. And it has been a very disappointing run-in. But no one threw in the towel today; the boys went to Old Trafford and busted butt. They deserve better fans than those posting on this site. I am proud of them.
While Arsene is exaggerating when he says people were predicting us to finish between 8th and 10th, it is true that no one (and I mean NO ONE) was predicting that Arsenal would lead the league for a great deal of the season and would advance into the quarter finals of the Champions League. That has heightened the sense of failure we all feel today as has the fact that 3 of the 4 Champions League Finalists are the other members of the English big 4. In sum, I thought this season was a great and unexpected run that ended disappointingly but it whets the appetite for next year.
April 13th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Everything but the goals.
Some brilliant work but once again a failure to finish.
There is still something to be proud of this season given some of the setbacks we endured. We’ve lacked depth of squad due in large part to injuries.
RVP when he’s been fit, never got on track. We needed more goals from the midfield, which had he not been injured, Rosicky might have provided. And the injury to Eduardo was the biggest of all. Not only was he starting to find the net, I believe his injury devastated the team’s spirit and they never fully recovered.
Please, please, do not let me see Hoyte or Eboue in an Arsenal kit next season - they’re just not good enough.
Bring in another proven striker, some midfield support for Cesc, and shore up our defence please, though Sagna has been a godsend. And more regular minutes for Theo please.
I travel to the Emirates for the Everton match knowing it won’t mean as much, but I’ll still be singing my lungs out. I’m not satisfied with our season, but I am still able to appreciate it.
April 13th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Fred.
Show me where I predicted 8th.
I thought we’d have to FIGHT for 4th and a CL place.
No doubt about it.
But once you start the way we did… and once you are 5 points up in December… every thing changes.
The trophies were there for the taking.
We could have brought in a few key players in January… we did nothing. Thats pretty much what we usually do.
Look at United’s roster… its stocked with older experience… there are star players in their PRIME… there are YOUNG stars… and there are KIDS with a lot of talent. They all seem to get playing time… as there are many many games with many competitions.
If you can bring on Tevez, you are LOADED. Hargreaves is a solid player. Nani and Anderson are good young talents… and they are led by Ronaldo and Rooney. Their defense is pretty solid as well… and they know who their #1 keeper is.
We aren’t far off… but we are not exactly loaded either… we need a bit of experience… and definitely some depth.
Our strikers simply are NOT top notch. And we get into position to score, and can’t finish… regularly.
April 13th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
manU defenders could have scored two own goals today…
April 13th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
Stag…you said it point blank - and it got so annoying I actually challenged you to a bet.
It is goals from midfield that win titles NOT goals from strikers. An over-reliance on A STRIKER hardly ever wins you the league. When Van Nistelrooy left Man U and the goalscoring went back to midfield they promptly won the league.
25 goals from a limited and growing Ade is a VERY good return.
The main question is why is THE MIDFIELD NOT SCORING? And why it doesnt even look like it will score except by a fortunate Fabregas shot. That is the main question.
Goals from midfield is PROPELLING all three of our top 4 competitors.
April 13th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
I thought it was a great match today. Very compelling stuff. These young studs showed that they have the heart of champions even if they can’t play their best team due to injury.
Last year’s team barely finished 4th, then Henry was traded and “all” Wenger needed was a poacher and another defender. He bought them and it was magical, Arsenal were off to the races.
Lets also not forget that this team has put in some of the most amazing performances I have seen on a football pitch.
Unfortunately, the team suffered some horrible injuries to key personnel AND their backups.
But I am damn proud to be a Gooner today, in spite of the loss because this team has heart. Some of us who see a player make a bad pass and groan need to sit back, relax, and let this team mature.
I think Wenger is dead right when he says that he just needs one player.
Wenger is always right.
April 13th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
I looked at the replays.
actually Arsenal should not even have scored. Of all the chances Adebayor missed, he scored with his raised left hand (and I’m sure it was intentional). That’s cheating and I don’t accept it. I guess Gallas blatant (and stupid) handball in the box was justice done.
United played pretty poor today, and as someone pointed out they almost scored two own goals thanks to VDS and the goal post.
It’s time to think about securing 3rd place, otherwise Liverpool will overtake us and then we end up 4th for the third straight season and we’ll have nothing to show this year to indicate there was any improvement at all.
April 13th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
I think that there is definitely a lot of overreaction here.
We played a GREAT game. Some things to consider:
1. We have been decimated by injuries. Our best finisher, one of our creative midfielders, and another striker/forward who is a set-piece and open play threat. Ade has carried this team and he is spent and so are 90% of the players. Did you see Hleb on some of the dead ball situations, he was leaning on his knees and barely catching his breath. To play a game where you use your feet for balance, control, measure, etc. and be tired will translate in poor touches, weak shots, misplaced passes/dribbles. The aforementioned cannot be ignored when analyzing the achievements (or lack thereof) this year.
2. We have achieved a great deal and the last 7-8 weeks should not be the measuring stick of our success or the quality of the squad. See number one as to why. I feel proud of the Wenger philosophy and what it has accomplished this year. We have not won anything, but we have put Europe on notice and put in some unforgettable displays.
3. Senior players have let us down…NOT YOUTH! Gallas and Gilberto the most. I cannot wait for Bert to leave. He has always been on of my favorites, but his decline this season is pathetic. Fall down, flop, give the ball away, give a foul away. Pretty poor for the man who is suppose to be the invisible wall.
4. We have much to anticipate over the summer and for next season. Vela, Walcott, Bendtner, and hopefully Dudu. This is an immense amount of attacking talent at our disposal. There is much to look forward to next year with the improvement of the midfield. I think that Cesc will be a more scoring AM. I think that Vela will provide us with the C. Ronaldo effect of having a spark plug on the field. Combined with Walcott’s maturity we will have a lot more pace to our play next year. Ade will surely become even more clinical and dangerous.
5. I think Arsene is full of shit when he says he will add just one player. I think it will be 2-3. He knows…
I am extremely proud of our boys. Gutted at some of the luck this year and gutted and another empty handed campaign. But sometimes you have to look at the broader picture. We have a genuine philosophy and tradition within the club, we have a great manager, and we have Arsenal!
Up the Arse! Kiss the Crest! Believe!
April 13th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Yeah Arsene said he is looking to buy one or two ‘experienced’ players. I came up with a short list that would be good experience players to look at. I was just browsing but I mean to have Arsenal healthy would be a better side but they can’t be all year long. They are my team till the day I die.
I know a lot of you are argumentative but take a look at the list of experienced players I came up with. This is a list I had since January.
Huntelaar….. Striker….. AJAX
Podolski…… Striker….. Bayern Munich
Pandev…….. Striker….. Lazio
Brown……… Midfield…. Celtic FC
Ribery……… Midfield…. Bayern Munich
Coutadeur….Midfield…. Le Mans
Givet……….. CB………. Marseille
Mexes………CB……….. AS Roma
Those are a few players on my list to look at. I mean I just look around from league to league. He might not sign anyone but I trust him though some days his decisions look a little clouded.
April 13th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
If Arsenal are your team then support them. Stop the whinging and complaining and support your team. I have never seen such a sad bunch of wankers in my life…So smug in your negative appraisal of the team you say you support. The majority of you should be ashamed. Go to Chelsea or ManU…your whining will be welcomed there.
April 13th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
@Mazza: I’m through with your insults and cloaked wind-ups mate. I felt that we could have a sensible discussion. Unfortunately it didnt quite turn out the way I expected. You can bask in the glory of your predictions; you’re totally welcome to them.
@irakli: Great post #65.
@Stag: Thats a sad sad statement. There ARE posts when you’ve said we’ll finish 8th after Titi left. FACT.
April 13th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
this really is the most pathetic excuse for a forum. i just tune in once in a while now to get a laugh out of all the wannabe macho fantasy-league chest-thumping of the usual suspects after a loss—a loss during most of which we played quite brilliantly, by the way. had eduardo still been healthy he would’ve put away two or three or those today and we’d be well on our way.
so shut the fuck up all of you wankers, you whiners, i agree totally with Brit-Expat, you belong with the Man U’s and Chelseas of the world.
April 13th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Whatever our views and differences of opinion there is no need for insults on this forum. Castigating someone with the term wankers, whingers, whiners, fool, idiot , moron and the likes are not acceptable in a civilized society.
We can and will disagree but need to learn the essence of civility in criticizing someones point of view. I have criticized Arsene, I have disagreed with viewpoints of fellow bloggers but I have never written anything which could appear to be disparaging and disrespectful.
The written word is a mighty weapon and we should use it as such without this Bu$$$S***t.
Everyone has the right to criticize and everyone has a right to their opinion however absurd it may seem to another. Let’s just enjoy the power of the internet in giving us this opportunity to share our views, keeping in mind that we would not be on here if we didn’t share one basic commonality, we are ALL ARSENAL FANS.
April 14th, 2008 at 1:02 am
Arsene needs to sign 2-3 players simply because we can’t rely on players to remain injury free. When was the last season Arsenal did not suffer a major injury problem? Was it in 04-05? Our CL run was marred with wholesale injuries. Last season, we had Henry, RvP, Rosicky and Gallas out for long period. This year, it’s been RvP, Rosicky and no Eduardo. After three years in a row, we cannot leave it to chance anymore.
April 14th, 2008 at 3:09 am
There’s one thing I must give a big thumb up to DannyT. He had said all season we wouldn’t win anything this season. Now things turn out as he said, he didn’t come here and gloat about his foresight neither.
the funny thing is, by keeping silence, he has probably earned more creditibiltiy than those who r keen for self-advertising.
April 14th, 2008 at 3:41 am
We can write 1000 posts to point out WHERE Arsenal’s PROBLEMS are, yet if the next time around one of ur defenders decided to commit a needless handball in ur own box right after we scored, how Wenger or anyone be able to do anything about it?
Another thing is - the WALL is there for PURPOSE when defending freekick, the Wall is supposed to JUMP, not DUCK when a freekick being taken. we have simply conceded too many goals from freekick because the wall never did their job. Watch the replay again, how many players in our wall actually JUMPED?
photographer likes to take pics when a freekick is about to be taken, so we get to see the players’ reaction on that split second in a freezing image. u always can tell from those image who’s the chicken, and who got ball.
Arsenal old back 4, and Parlour the likes would never duck. Nor did Flamini in today’s side, yet he’s probably the only one today who would actually jump when a shot being taken.
The Man U boys (Beckham 5) would never duck neither. I remember one image vividly. An England Vs Italy match back in 1998, Zola was about to take a freekick, United boys like Beckham, Neville, Ince jumped, a few players from other teams simply turned their head avoiding the chance to get smashed in the face. Beckham, despite long having a pretty boy image himself, was the one who jumped highest. Those soft of players would do anything in order for his team to win. We need to work on that.
April 14th, 2008 at 4:30 am
I wouldn’t mind the team working on scoring a few free kicks ourselves.
April 14th, 2008 at 5:02 am
me too nipuna. right now the problem is no one but van persie can “bent” a shot since the departure of Henry. but freekick is something does not come with flair or natural talent. player can actually WORK on it. heard that Beckham stayed put for extra freekick partice by himself after team training, while Henry himself when he first joined Arsenal he wasn’t a great freekick taker neither. over the years he has made it a speciality of himself. same with Ronaldo, he wasnt that great a freekick taker himself in early years.
so the likes of Cesc, i think if he wants to, and keep working hard for it, he too could become a good taker one day. or Walcott. they are still young, plenty time to catch up.
the defensive WALL though, it’s far more easier, just JUMP. I think u pointed that out before as well nipuna, back in the Spurs game, Birmingham game, we basically guilty of the same thing because of the failure of the wall.
it’s almost like whenever opposition get into that position taking a freekick, there’s a good chance they will score. and all the goals went in from the keeper’s blind side through or over the wall.
April 14th, 2008 at 9:27 am
Arsenal did not collapse ..Arsenal came back to reality. Arsenal had a good start compared to other teams. But with a thin squad I can’t see Arsenal winning the title and going further in CL.
We have 2 ok CB ..the rest cant trap a ball. One right back. We dont have a great finisher: Henry, Ian Right, Anelka, … Ade has some qualities that you need in your squad but can’t use him all the time. He cant punish defenders.
Keeper … Almunia is just not good enough. Lehman is better even when drops the balls and miss passes the balls. His experience worths more.
Dont let me start with Eboue .. Useless. Anybody sees a reason for him to start . I can believe Ebou is on the same position as Overmars or Christiano Ronaldo .. Technically he is so below the rest. He shows too much of the ball to the defenders. He can’t beat a defender … he can’t pass ball. I dont see why Theo doesn’t start ahead of him.
I am gutted because we had it, but we lost it because we are stubborn and didnt realize the need to do something in January.
April 14th, 2008 at 10:35 am
I can’t say I am happy with how this season has ended thus far - though I can say I am happy at how the lads fared over the extent of the season.
Early on the prognosticators had us fighting for 4th and 5th. I still think this young side is stocked for the future and hopefully the experience of this letdown will toughen the metal for next year.
Additionally, I think some of the older guys have to go. Berto looks fine one moment and completely out of place the next. Also did anyone see how uncomfortable Song looked. I don’t know whether this was inexperience or youth - but if he cannot get it together he should go.
Ade mentioned in a post game interview that the boys need to have the killer instinct and I believe that is what was missing all year long. The beautiful game they played this season was only missing that one aspect. If the boys could put opponents out early this season would’ve been different (I feel). In Anfield had we scored earlier that game takes a different aspect. Yesterday had Ade or RVP gotten their early chances to go, it would have forced MANUre to play a different game.
Finally, Arsene is a brilliant manager and to take a team that lost arguably the best player in the premiership and have them come together as a team deserves more credit. I like that he is focusing in on youth. If it all falls into place then the Arsenal could be on the brink of something fantastic. I agree he needs to add one or two experience players but his overall focus of developing a team from the youth teams is the right way to go.
April 14th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
No LDE, I don’t think I said we WOULD finish 8th.
You can look it up, we have that capacity on this site.
When Titi left, I thought we’d struggle to make the top 4.
But its irrelevant…really.
We were in the position to WIN THE LEAGUE.
Regardless of what pundits and experts and supporters said.
Fred, midfield scoring doesn’t really grow on trees. Its a rare commodity.
Robert Pires doesn’t come along too often.
Rosicky LOOKED like he might be able to do the business and bang home a few.
Cesc’s totals are pretty good for the season, but reality is, he is NOT a sniper or goalscorer in any sense. He’s a play-maker extraordinaire’.
We have a collection of midfielders who would much rather pass than ever take a shot on goal… and when you have THAT… you NEED a striker who can convert chances with regularity… Adebayor doesn’t fit that mold.
I just don’t see us competing for the league as currently constituted… well, we can make a run, like this season, but over a long gruelling season of multiple competitions, you need the depth and stars that we lack. Nobody rose to the forefront when the chips were down.
We’ll always be in the hunt… but we aren’t about being in the hunt any more. We SHOULD be about winning trophies… its a 4 team league. Thats just fact. So ALL 4 teams in the league… consider the season a failure if they don’t win a trophy. ARSENAL UNITED CHELSEA and LIVERPOOL.
Its FAILURE if these teams don’t win a trophy. There are no other teams with a chance to win the league… or have ANY chance in the CL.
For the most part, all 4 don’t really care about the FA Cup or CC at all.
April 14th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
A few observations:
To some of you, you can claim that it comes from your “passion” but the horrible way y’all flop in your opinions of Arsenal is upsetting to me. You don’t truly SUPPORT this club, you just cheer when it’s all sunshine and roses.
You praised Ade earlier in the season when he was on a goal scoring kick, but now he is “not a goal scorer” Prior to the season, it was all “AW Knows, trust AW,” now its we “can’t win with AW.”
Seriously, some of you have experienced the glory of trophies. I am a fairly new Gooner, and I have not gotten to experience that feeling. All I have experienced is the transition phase of older players to a youth movement, and with no trophies.
And honestly, Arsenal has taken me on quite the ride this season (not to mention the prior two since I found my club). Spurs fans were predicting we would be 5th or 6th! But here we are, fighting for 3rd in a top 4 where the other 3 clubs are gluttonous over-spenders. Yes, it broke my heart yesterday watching us concede goals to ManU. We are young, we showed that against the rich, older titans of MUFC and LFC. However, I am proud of the boys, and I hope we can muster a few finals great performances.
And do I hope Wenger does a little more than buy a single player? Sure. I think we need a stud GK, a true winger, and maybe a tough, less emotional CB.
But here’s the deal. I support this club, think and thin. And I’ll probably avoid this forum until news is made in the real media, because a few of you make it hard to support the attitudes of the “American” contingent of Arsenal fans.
I still kiss the crest, and I still believe. Long live the Gunners.
~Bo
April 14th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
No Stag..I’m not going to go digging for your posts but I’m sorry ..you did say it and I hardly exaggerate things if you’ve been reading my articles. As you say though …that matters very little. We didn’t win yesterday and thats all that matters..really.
Taken independently…footballistically I thought we were brilliant most season apart from the blip of those 4 draws which came at the worst possible time. But yes…stuff happens and you have to push through and keep the chin up and WIN. I’m PROUD of the guys…big time for what they’ve achieved this season and while I’m disappointed and have had a horrible day at work reminiscing of what could have been….I’ll echo AW…”There is not too much of a difference between us and the others”. We’ve never been in this close — this is a big learning season. Not one in transition; no way thats an excuse any longer but one in which the learnings have been profound.
@DannyT: If ur reading this..u got it spot on. The 3rd year — we challenge but its just a bit too much…right at the start of the season If it means anything at all coming from me — Well done!!
April 14th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
LDE. Thats rich.
You claim I say something. But you don’t want to dig up the facts?!
Whatever.
Like I said, its not important.
We won nothing again…
and to those to say you aren’t a true supporter if you whinge about the team, please… its called passion for the team… wanting them to do well and acheive… we support just as hard… want to win just as much… appreciate the way we play… and the effort of the lads.
At the end of the day… we have the resources to bring in the talent.
MORE than 99% of the rest of the teams in England.
So… its down to getting it right…
No, we don’t have to spend a ZILLION dollars like Chelsea, but… we don’t need to pinch pennies either.
The league was there for the taking. We did nothing in January to provide some depth in the squad, that ultimately proved our undoing.
Love the team. YES.
Thick or Thin. YES.
But calling a spade a spade… and being able to constructively criticize is just as important.
April 14th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
I’m going to choose to look at the bright side of this season so far. With all the time missed due to injuries, ANC, etc., the team is only nine points out of first hwere the last couple years they finished 20+ points off the pace. They are getting closer and the addition of 2-4 more players could make all the differnence in the world. You could see it yesterday. Man U needed a boost and they could bring Teves, Giggs and Anderson off the bench. The only person Arsenal had who could make any difference was Walcott. Hoyte is not a difference maker (except maybe in a rec league), and I don’t think Bendtner is either.
In regards to the game, if it wasn’t for bad luck we’d have no luck at all. Tons of shots off the post including 2 almost own goals. Gallas with a pretty soft penalty - it looked like he was trying to get his arm out of the way but couldn’t. Gilberto getting called for a pretty soft foul outside the box - Evra went down pretty easily. Man U getting called for a foul on Cesc when Ade was through on goal - the ref should have allowed continuation but didn’t. Bendtner getting his shirt held by Ronaldo in the box on a header. It’s the little things and in a high level league like the Prem, there is a razor thin margin between success and failure.
Was it all down to luck? Of course not. Arsenal’s continued insistence on making too many passes instead of shots sure doesn’t help when the chips are down.
April 14th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Interesting article on Rosicky
http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/sport/arsenal/arsenalnews/display.var.2196112.0.gunners_star_could_face_surgery_to_correct_knee_injury.php
Apparently they are just now determining Rosicky may require surgery to correct his knee problem and are bringing in a team of French experts to outline the treatment method.
It does not say much for the Arsenal training and medical staff that after 6 weeks of an injury they are just now determining it may require surgery because of a suspected tendon damage and have to call in French experts to outline the treatment. With sports medicine being so advanced today and with sophisticated diagnostic equipment easily available I find this rather hard to swallow.
Combine the above with our unusual spate of “niggly” non-contact injuries and unusually long recovery periods in contrast to other clubs make me question the expertise of our Arsenal staff. This has been happening for the past three years at least and Arsene or the Board should take a deep look at this area of operations.
Having the greatest players in the world means nothing if they can’t remain on the pitch.
April 14th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Great point on #73. I was kinda perplexed too when the wall ducked instead of jumping. Might well have been a PK.
April 14th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
For all the Ade haters here is something to think about.
Statistics are not everything, but they can be good and sound indicators of performance. I got the stats for the current season from a website and divided minutes played by goals scored to come up with a goals per minute played average. For some reason they did not have Torres or Tevez.
Player Minutes Played Goals GPMP
Ronaldo 2478 28 88.8
Defoe 1230 11 111.8
Adebayor 2636 20 131.8
Yakubu 2044 13 157.2
Keane 2400 14 171.41
Rooney 1942 11 176.5
Anelka 2302 11 209.27
Obviously Torres would also have a better ratio, but that still puts Ade as the 4th most efficient striker in the league with only two real seasons of EPL football. For all his failures, we seem to forget how many easy goals Rooney misses or or many Henry would miss when he was with us last year and even now at Barcelona. Please do not tell me that Rooney, Keane , Berbatov and the likes do not get service. That does not hold water.
Incidentally, the Actim Index which is one of, if not the most recognized sport statistical authority has the following season’s ratings for players in the EPL:
1. Ronaldo 2. Torres 3. Adebayor 4. Fabregas 5. Tevez 6. Santa Cruz
7. Young 8. Gerrard 9. Lescott 10. Bentley 11.Ferdinand 12. Clichey
13. Barry 14. Berbatov 15. Rooney
Of Note is that Clichey is rated second only to Ferdinand as a defender and Adebayor one notch above Fabregas. Anyone interested in looking at the full stats may access it at:
http://www.pa-sport.com/en/actim/actim-index-premier.html
April 14th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
I think Diaby and Walcott have the ability to play forward. That gives us a number of strikers next season:
Ade / RvP / Bendter / Walcott / Diaby
I think Wenger needs to shore up the wings and CB and possibly find more cover for our other defenders.
April 14th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
Carib… I am not really interested in goals / number of minutes…
goals / number of CHANCES is what is important… and Ade has been set up in scoring position REGULARLY in the last 1/3rd of the season, and had done very little with the chances.
In the clutch… when we needed it… he has been POOR.
Ronaldo has scored a TON of big goals for United. Gerrard always does, and Torres has as well… Ade has gone absent in the clutch.
He was in on the keeper after a great pass by Cesc on Sunday… and shot it right into the keepers body.
He has not done much with his chances in the key part of the season, and his touch on the ball is terrible.
He is a good striker. But not great… when we needed him to come up big, he did LITTLE… but then again, not too many stepped up to the front of the line for us in the clutch. They mostly dissapeared.
Thats the difference this season… when it was time to shine, we had nobody step up.
April 14th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Shocked to see Chelsea draw with Wigan. Makes the game at SB all important. Maybe, 2nd place is not impossible.
April 15th, 2008 at 9:38 am
Well, you can stuff your dignified silence. We’re predicting where a football team ends up at the end of the season, not the demise of mankind. If we were, then dignified silences may be in order. Anway, wanting and thinking are can be mutually exlusive.
Danny T didn’t predict we would finish around ten points behind United after being five points clear. He also thinks players like Denilson and Diaby will grow. I don’t.
And at the end of the day, all the supposed nonsense I talked during the season has been proved right and that doesn’t sit well with a few people and they can’t accept it.
My unique football brain is just giving everyone a heads up. Don’t shoot the messenger.
April 15th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
“My unique football brain is ……”. LOOL.
You must have such a fulfilled life! Go manage a club…you will DEFINITELY be successful!
April 15th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Stag@87, one thing to remember about Ade. Yes, he has been poor lately, but the onus is on him entirely. There are no other options on this team. Gerrard? He also has Torres to carry the load. Ronaldo? He has Rooney and Teves/Drogba? He has Anelka and Lampard.
Ade can be maddening with his touch and missed chances, but don’t forget how he absolutely carried this team for quite awhile. Also, you were comparing him to Henry earlier. Well, remember how many big games TH14 didn’t show up for (FA Cup finals, CL finals, etc.).
April 15th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Stag@87, one thing to remember about Ade. Yes, he has been poor lately, but the onus is on him entirely. There are no other options on this team. Gerrard? He also has Torres to carry the load. Ronaldo? He has Rooney and Teves/Drogba? He has Anelka and Lampard.
Ade can be maddening with his touch and missed chances, but don’t forget how he absolutely carried this team for quite awhile. Also, you were comparing him to Henry earlier. Well, remember how many big games TH14 didn’t show up for (FA Cup finals, CL finals, etc.).