Blog – Page 6 – All the skill

Sack Them All

I was in a pub in South London yesterday with a fellow gooner and a Spurs fan. The defeat endured by the latter against City was far from enjoyable, proving that money can – if nothing else – buy you footballing quality. It also proved that facing Man City in any competition this year is a very scary prospect indeed…about as scary as our own prospects in the Premier League apparently.

We were in trouble, is the thing. In a way our injuries, suspensions an lack of quality replacements precluded yesterday’s defeat, but not the scoreline. Who thought it wouldn’t be hard? Really? Still, anyone who has seen the captain’s post-match interview will find it hard to disagree that the result is anything other than “honest”. There were turning points – RVP’s penalty at 1-0 down for one – but you can’t come out of an 8-2 game and make excuses.

At the same time hammerings happen in football. It’s something those who’ve been around the game for more than five minutes, or just around Arsenal since before the Invincibles, will know. OneArseneWenger made this comment on Twitter after the game:

In 2001 we got thumped 6-1 by Utd at OT… the following year 75% of that same team won the Double… Never Say Never.

It’s true. So to anyone like the Gooner sat behind me during the game who called for Wenger’s head and then, when I questioned him, proclaimed “Sack them all”, I think a dose of perspective is needed, along with a big heavy stick of rationality.

If you want me to break down the scoreline, let’s not forget that the two goals Rooney scored from free kicks were absolutely, undoubtedly, world class. As were the two that Ashley Young scored. You can argue that inexperience might have conceded the fouls, or far too much space, but in any game fouls happen and in any game shots are made. Theo gave away a penalty, Park wasn’t closed down, Nani beat an offside flap (sic), and Welbeck simply out-muscled Djourou as the big Swiss and Koscielny proved once again our reliance on Vermaelen for defensive grit.

We were hammered, we can’t complain, we can’t make excuses, but it’s also imperative that we don’t self-combust as fans. I love Arsenal, but supporting a team is as much accepting the heavy losses when they happen as it is about accepting the moments of brilliance when they shine through. I don’t believe that anyone in or around the club took any joy from yesterday, and it’s a reminder to anyone thinking that we have a right to win games and be successful that the reality is distinctly otherwise.

The squad needs a shot in the arm, and I refuse to make any comment about our aspirations this season until the transfer window closes. A heavy defeat occurred and we’re all unhappy about it. But it happened. We need to deal with it, and we need to move forward.

COYG

We Don’t Know / What We’re Singing

A Post of Two Parts

Nasri

I very nearly posted this piece straight after the game yesterday, such were the strength of my feelings. But I felt a bit of time to reflect, some clarity of thought and – hopefully – a bit more official news might aid in clearing my sentiments. I’m talking about the Nasri ‘situation’, and while I’ve had the benefit of reflection and a bit of clarity, nothing official has been said. Oh well, on with it.

Here’s a question: Does a man with an imminent move to another club tend to play for his current club? Not really. The chance of injury, and that injury scuppering a deal, isn’t worth the risk if the selling club is intent on claiming the agreed fee. A fee reported to be around £23m is not to be sniffed at, and so why would the selling club’s manager, Arséne Wenger, risk losing that money by naming Nasri in the stating XI yesterday?

Wénger said:

“The fans will want Arsenal to play well and win the game. They do not make an individual case of each player in each position. They want good players and to win the football game.

And while that was met with head-shaking in some quarters, I can’t help but think that Arséne and Nasri both knew far more about the situation heading into the game than both the supporters who called the player a c*nt at Newcastle, and the minority of ~~fans~~ idiots who booed him at the Emirates yesterday as his name was announced.

Indeed I don’t think there was one fan booing Nasri at the end of the game, and that could well point to the fact that Le Boss knows the club fanbase better than the individual fans, and that some of the people in the ground are perhaps fickle. We want our team to do well, yes, but we don’t really know what’s going on with deals or non-deals, and we should mainly react to what we see on the pitch.

Yesterday what I saw was a player trying to do his bit for the team, angered when he played a poor pass and missed a rasping effort (apologies for the ad). You can see the drive, and you can see the reaction of Nasri, and though that might be a reaction of purely personal frustration and not one of failing to put his team ahead, that he tries to make something happen in an Arsenal shirt should be taken at face value. He obviously cares about the club, about the team, and about making a difference when he’s on a football pitch. That has added weight this morning, with this fine piece in The Independent, but also because of this quote from Wénger:

“I have already said I try to keep Nasri and I have never changed my mind. He loves the club and he wants to stay here. If we decided to sell him, we would have to live with that.”

Now we all know that Arsenal is pretty much as financially sound as any top-flight club could realistically be, and so if the decision to sell the player isn’t AW’s – i.e, it is the board’s – that would hint that it is not Nasri that wants to go (not this season anyway, as he’s failed to sign a new contract which would signal his commitment), nor is it Wénger who wants to sell him. Does this allow us to look at Nasri’s tweet about fans being disrespectful in a new light? Perhaps, but it should also make it clear to us that even as fans we don’t know everything that’s going on, and should deal more in facts when support is required.

For example: It is a fact that if Nasri plays on Wednesday then he won’t be eligible to go to another CL qualified club, and it is pretty likely that he’ll play more football at Arsenal this season than he would at Man City.

“Spend Some F*cking Money”

This was a chant that arrived in fits and starts yesterday (and was quickly/mercifully drowned out in reply by “Arsenal, Arsenal, Arsenal”), but only once the ten men we had left on the pitch went down by two goals did it rear it’s ugly head. Apparently those who are so frustrated as to call our boss a “wanker” and sing that particular line, were quite happy up until about the 78th minute when Miguel cleared onto Rambo’s chest and the ball looped over Szczesny.

Of course I agree that the squad needs strengthening. I’ve said it, like every other Arsenal fan has, since the end of last season. If Nasri does say we need to buy less, but it’s curious that some apparently think that spending money could prevent an own goal or a red card. Perhaps the latter would not have been given to a player of more experience than Frimpong, but who before his second yellow could say that he wasn’t superb on the day, and deserved his place in the starting XI as an understudy for Song – a player of markedly more experience who knowingly aided in getting himself sent off against Newcastle.

It’s no exaggeration to say that up until the disadvantage of a lost man we were at least the equal of Liverpool, and that had Koscielny not had to go off, and – the quietly adept – Ignasi Miguel (no sign of Squillaci) been thrown somewhat in at the deep end, our defensive stability might have brought another clean sheet. Spending money is what Twitter rumours suggest the boss is trying to do, but the lads on the pitch did well up until the point the numbers game came into effect and Dalglish brought on fresh legs.

In theory we lack similar depth, but it could be argued that the money needs to be spent primarily because we seem to be the most injury-prone club there is in the Premier League. Djourou would most certainly have replaced Koscielny had he been available, Gibbs or Traore would have played LB and Sagna RB had both of Gibb’s and Traore’s injuries not thrown Sagna to the left and placed Carl Jenkinson on the right, and Wishere, Rosícky and Song would no doubt have been involved were it not for injuries or suspension.

I could add Abou Diaby to that, but I think he might actually have been abducted.

Anyway, I’m not claiming that we have a wealth of options for a big club, but I can at least sympathise with Wénger enough not to sing a chant that in my opinion is both disrespectful and lacking in understanding at the complexities we’re obviously not privy to. Call me gullible, or call me ignorant, but call me a Gooner, and one who tries to think before he speaks.

Oh christ, I think my boiled eggs just exploded!

…they did.

And what’s (a)more…

Yesterday evening saw the first home game of the season at the Emirates, and it was nice to take in the atmosphere, cram my overlong limbs into my usual position, and see some familiar faces in the North Bank, all eager to support our lads.

As the atmosphere grew, and the half-packed stadium sort of filled, I was more than impressed with the Udinese fans, singing long before players had even begun warming up, and up there with the visiting Blackpool fans of last season in the volume stakes. I know that away fans generally make more consistent and condensed noise, but I couldn’t help but think us Gooners were largely muted – perhaps a combination of the general sale newcomers (not an insult), and a trepidation that failed to lift as we failed to stretch the lead.

Speaking of the goal, I’m not surprised that Theo scored, and nor am I bewildered by his apparently unfathomable inconsistency on the wing. The guy’s not a winger. He’s a striker. A poacher. A reactionary forward if ever I’ve seen one. So I’m more impressed when he does act like a winger than disparaging when he fails to make a cross or choose the right path on the flank. But that’s something for another time.

The game has been dissected to death by now, but very interesting outside of it was the big screen. We saw censoring last year at home during the Everton match, where Louis Saha was quite clearly shown as offside in the first replay, and then some clever editing meant that we didn’t see that ‘oversight’ again.

The opinionated chap who sits behind me mentioned that at other grounds you see the whole thing: the dodgy incidents and an ongoing live feed. I’ve not traveled away enough to know, but one incident yesterday showed me just how sensitive the video chaps at the Emirates certainly are.

During miscellaneous football ads of the type you tend to see on big screens in the build up to Champs League matches, there was one featuring Dean Martin singing ‘That’s Amore’. Abruptly, about halfway through, the advert stopped and – clearly queuing up whatever was closest to hand, we were treated to the second run of the advert we saw just before!

Why on earth? Well, I admit I’m putting 2 and X together to get 4 where the X might not be 2, but if I am right it’s absolutely hilarious stuff, and I actually laughed so loudly I caught a few rubberneckers.

I can only assume it was feared that the Udinese supporters would take offence to the song, but…why? Because the song is knowingly a smile and a wink at Italian culture, and mentions pizza? Italians do eat pizza. Because Dino Paul Crocetti (Dean Martin’s real name) was an American and so couldn’t possibly write any sort of song about the nationality of…both of his parents? Again, if I’m right, it was quite literally laughable.

If only such swift action was taken in the face of fans’ fears of the state of the playing squad, we all might feel a bit more confident about things.

You might think that a bit of an illogical jump in topic, but having been at a game where two substitutions were down to injury (Djourou going off within ten minutes of replacing Gibbs), and where the home bench included a player who may well be leaving (Bendtner); one for the future (Oxlade-Chamberlain); a young defender who can’t be expected to immediately perform, and whose constant backpasses were completely understandable (Jenkinson); a truly inconsistent ‘big player’ (AA23); an eager-but-raw midfielder (Frimpong); and a keeper yet to prove of consistent quality (Fabianski), says a hell of a lot.

Don’t get me wrong, I will support every person who wears an Arsenal shirt on the pitch (even the mascot, in the case of an ad hoc sprint-off), but to say that last night’s squad is the best we have available hints, at best, at a failure to finalise ongoing deals and, at worst, just a lack of priorities and foresight.

Still, I don’t want to grumble too much. Let’s look forward to Liverpool and hope that the club shows us some transfer love with the money that is available. Not that buying love is right…but it can probably be effective. Err, anyway. Dean Martin, ladies and gentlemen!

P.S: for an on the money match review, I’d recommend visiting Le Grove’s post here.

Barton and on, and on, and on…

Football’s back! The Arsenal’s back!…but so is this sort of thing.

Yes, the man who has recently been building false integrity and perceived insight based on the borrowed lines of artists and philosophers, took to the field yesterday and returned to what he does best. Not playing football, but being an angry, hateful man.

You know, it might be prudent for any skilled and potentially threat-posing debutantes of future teams lining up against Joey Barton to be warned of the despicable mood and warped logic he carries with him onto the football pitch. Gervinho certainly wouldn’t have expected that his first league appearance in an Arsenal shit would be so affected by a footballer sporting the stylish locks of a Bash St kid.

I wasn’t even surprised by Barton’s actions, although a riled Gervinho clearly wasn’t informed he’d be hauled to his feet for going down under contact in the box. Nor that the man haulling him up so violently (when Peter Walton’s back was turned, surprisingly) would then feign what Steven Taylor claimed the most elbowy of elbows, only before apparently apologising and claiming that he didn’t see a thing.

Oh my days, does that mean you lied Steven? Or perhaps it was a flashback of post-penalty denial?

In any case, I found it right at the time to tell Joey Barton via Twitter, his preferred base of twisted logic, that he was a cretin, although he probably found it a compliment.

What was interesting though was to see his tweets and conversation with Robbie Savage and Piers Morgan after the game, which you can see here:

Ah Joey, your logic is immaculate. Granted you may not have the benefit of the replay to prove that there actually was contact on Gervinho – thus destroying the very core of your argument – but that the game hadn’t stopped meant that Gervinho should have had a second penalty for your violent conduct (I refer you to page 35 and Law 12 of FIFA’s own rulebook). You’re welcome.

Moving on quickly, I don’t really have too much to say about the Arsenal squad at the moment. We lacked spark and creativity yesterday, and a quality midfielder would go a long way to improving my opinion of our capabilities, but the positives from St James’ are a solid defensive showing and a decent performance from Rosicky, who is finally giving a hint of the player he can be without recurring absence and injury.

A point isn’t too bad all things considered, though it’s telling that we failed to capitalise on the few clear cut chances we had, and it’s unsurprising that one of the players looking good pre-season will now miss games. Alex Song should as well, and if he does then what’s to stop the officials giving Joey Barton a retrospective red as well? Oh, yes, the fact that it was dealt with on the pitch. So the uninterrupted joy of watching Barton goes on, and on, and on.

It’s only just worse than seeing a defender your team has been linked with score an absolute pearl in an emphatic opening win.

Oh football, how I’ve missed thee.

Arsenal United

Well that was rather nice, eh? I actually felt so bad yesterday morning (self-inflicted) that I very nearly didn’t get vertical to even attend. Working off of far too little sleep for the third consecutive night, I cursed my failure to wash my home shirt, donned my 2004 – 2005 away top and found myself at my seat in the North Bank armed with a Chicken Balti pie and a large Pepsi.

The game was much like those two items: Tasty, with a bit of spice, a rather long glug of refreshment and the desired outcome. Nervous faces surrounded me when we realised Cesc wasn’t available, but with a fresh Rambo to come into the fray I allowed myself a cautious optimism. The boy can play.

And didn’t he? I’ll refer you to my Carling Cup Final post regarding my belief that AR16 is the long term replacement for Cesc, and he certainly proved that yesterday. I don’t really want to talk about the summer just yet, but should “the thing that didn’t happen last summer” actually happen this, knowing Ramsey (along with Song and Wilshere) can perform like they did is a sizable slab of comfort.

Song was involved enough to find himself in the book (perhaps a bit harshly), but both Ramsey and Wilshere were as involved in all things in the centre of the park, and I absolutely love how they’re the first two to jump in here and try to sort out the situation. Not overly involved, just standing their ground and protecting a team-mate. That says it all.

The icing on the cake was Ramsey’s goal. He showed a presence and intelligent manner across the 90 minutes, and just before he slotted home the RVP assist, he nearly waltzed himself inside the United area, confusing three defenders in the process.

In truth, much of the team look assured throughout and, even when we lost Djourou and United had messers Nani, Valencia, Rooney, Berbatov and Owen on the pitch, our resolve was there for all to see. Unfortunately we’ve not had enough of that this season, and the win only provides the faintest whiff of hope that we can still win the title (William Hill has us at 100-1…). But it was the psychological victory that we needed.

I’ve mentioned how players need experience around them to help in tight spots, or they just need to mature themselves, and yesterday’s result is a huge step forward in regards to the latter. True it’s come too late in the season, but that it’s come at all is a massive benefit, putting the squad in a great position for next year when it’s – hopefully – supplemented with those quality, experienced players.

Finally, a brief note about Andrei Arshavin, because a lot of people – myself included – have been giving him stick this season. He put on a real display of determination and work rate yesterday, and for me he’s increased that side of his game hugely in the last couple of months. He’s not had the greatest season, but in going to the games you really notice work-rate regardless of goals and assists.

Although work rate, a goal and a victory together are always nice to enjoy. So I think we should.

P.S: The boos are for the officials.

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