RSSNo Chinawhite for Gunners - report and player ratings
Despite the Geordie pressure he never had a save to make. Handling was perfectly fine.
7
Troubled early on by Duff and did not get a hell of a lot of support from Walcott. But from what I could see (which was not a lot admittedly) kept Duff far quieter after the break.
7
Strangely let one cross go early on when he should have cleared for a corner. But made amends with great tackle and really held the defence together when Newcastle threatened. Is truly leading the team now.
7.5
No ifs, no buts: he played very well. Kept Owen quiet and looked very composed, as well as being assured in the tackle. Let’s hope his rustiness is over.
7.5
Brilliant as ever, particularly as we bombed forward after the break. Defending is just utterly immaculate - witness one awkward crossfield ball that he didn’t just cut out but actually managed to head straight to Flamini.
8
No longer on a rich vein of form. It’s gone beyond that. He’s now just a much better player. Snapped in like mad at times. Great tackling.
7.5
Not immaculate, but look back and you will see he was at the forefront of some of our best moments. Delightful ball for the opener..
7
Injured very early. NA
Very weak early on. But in the second half there were glimpses of what he can do. A couple of neat runs and final balls that while not perfect, were at least along the right lines.
6.5
At times really got into his stride in the first half. As my brother pointed out, he benefited from the presence of Clichy. Who wouldn’t?
7
At his usual, awkward best. Two great finishes and almost got the hat-trick.
8.5
Might have gone across the keeper with one early chance but then hit the post and for one of the first times looked really comfortable as a member of the first team.
7
Slotted in neatly enough despite one ballon d’hopital for Clichy.
6.5
Set-up the second and offered a fresh threat when he came on. Should be rested for Tuesday now.
7
Arsenal 3 Newcastle 0
From Goodplaya next to the singing section
THERE are places where a stonking home cup win against weakish opposition sparks thoughts of souvenir DVDs, nights out at Chinawhite and talk of a footballing revolution.
But at the Emirates it was a return to business as usual thank you very much.
And there is little more warming than a win to bounce back from defeat. The second half was soothing, reassuring and most pleasing of all, as one commentator put it, Arsenal appeared “angry”.
The return to normality, which also marked a return to form up the good end, was also an apt reminder that this is not a season built on one off glory nights. Thus far it is the wonderful story of expectations utterly confounded and players excelling beyond what we ever thought possible.
Put simply, we showed character by the bucketloads. Nervy and shot of confidence early on, our spirit saw a second half show as impressive as anything we have seen for a while.
That’s not to say the first half was bad. Newcastle came out, had a real go and might have led. Of course, one can quibble with the defending, but a couple of times they put together genuinely decent moves.
At the other end we were not so bad either. There was a Cesc run onto a long Clichy ball that almost ended with a goal and there were shots too from Diaby, the Clich and Eduardo.
After early scares (the immaculate Clichy heading off the line, a good block from Gallas after he had strangely left the initial cross and a good chance for Owen), we slowly felt our way back into the game. With every little thing that worked you sensed the confidence levels upping a little.
Flamini was snapping, Adebayor ghosting and for the first time in yonks Diaby was really making his mark on the game. If you think about it, the fact he is young, French, leggy and black is absolutely no reason for the likes of me to constantly compare him to Patrick Vieira.
And yet in full flow the similarities are stunning. Oh for consistency from that young man.
It was a half that was good in patches and less so in others. But it was happily even and open and the thousands of Geordies in fine voice up the other end made for an atmosphere a little different to a normal Saturday 3pm league game.
We cranked it up a notch after the break. Cesc found space and slipped it in for Eduardo. When his curling shot thumped the base of the post and Adebayor reacted initially slightly sluggishly to the rebound, I cursed it as one of those days. But he somehow recovered, swivelled and thwacked one in with his left peg.
Relief all round. We continued to press and were a couple of great blocks away from a second. The Geordies were fairly useless up front - always offside and when Owen did once get free on the right, his cross was so abhorrent it deserved at least a PG rating.
I should at this point issue an unqualified, public statement: Big Phil Senderos played very well. No ifs, no buts, no anything.
When the second failed to come, subs materialised. As has been the case almost always this season, Arsene made the right subs. No doubt he will delighted to hear he has my approval.
Gilberto replaced Diaby who had had a decidedly decent game all in all, though not the best he has ever had. And Hleb came on for Theo, whose first half performance was decidedly ‘work experience’.
But with the team, he had improved in the second half and there were a couple of very welcome fastest kid in the playground forays down the right.
The second was a lazy, leggy run and finish from Adebayor, who benefited from a crafty little body check by Eduardo. If you were ever going to hit a teammate (which I would not recommend), doing it on this form is surely the moment. The fans are certainly very much with him.
Word is both men have been fined. You imagine Ade will learn his lesson. As for Bendtner, whatever the rights and wrongs of this situation, he has a reputation he would be best shedding.
The relief after the second was palpable and the atmosphere suddenly became rather good. I tell you, it’s great watching this team when they play well. The last ten or so minutes were a sing song punctuated by an own goal from a former United player. Joyful. Let’s hope for more of the same tomorrow night.
Which brings us, in no logical order whatsoever, onto Tottenham. And one specific question to the Match of the Day panel:
Why, when you get so indignant over a foreigner exaggerating his fall to the ground, do you consider a red card for a player who deliberately prevented a goal scoring opportunity harsh? Why is Michael Dawson not being condemned as a cheat?
28 January 2008 at 10:12 am
Spot on Goodplaya. We could have struggled with this one but great to see parity restored. Gael Clichy is one of our most consistent performers and gets better with each game he plays. More of the same will do nicely tomorrow.
28 January 2008 at 10:25 am
You are so used to giving Senderos shit marks you have forgotten to up his little man level.
28 January 2008 at 11:31 am
I really hope that Clichy gets picked for France for the European tournament. He’s really moved up a level in the last month or two. Its obvious he has worked hard on his game. He’s much more calm in the final third now and his crossing has improved immensely.
Senderos played well but I still wouldnt want to face AC Milan with him. Lets hope Toure’s injury is not serious
28 January 2008 at 11:52 am
Like i have said people forget that Sendoros is a young man too.
28 January 2008 at 12:12 pm
Ash
You may remember we faced Real Madrid & Juve with him & without conceding a goal, in the 4 games.
That does not mean I don’t agree with you.
I thought Flamini stepped his game up even further on Saturday. Him & Clichy were absolutely superb.
28 January 2008 at 12:46 pm
Dawson should be banned for the rest of the season and given a good thrashing. He is a conniving, cheating, two-timing, double-dealing fraudulent con-artist of a footballer. String him up. It’s the only language he understands.
28 January 2008 at 1:02 pm
Ros
thats a good point but thats about the only good thing I can remember in Senderos’ career with Arsenal. Eboue and Flamini were part of that defence too and there not really good defenders. Juve and Madrid dont compare to AC Milan who have the best player in the world amongst thier ranks
28 January 2008 at 1:29 pm
Senderos is class. And class is permanent. Arsène knew he’d come good after a little blip in form. Tony Adams went on to become our greatest ever captain after looking a bit of a donkey against Man United in 1989. Big Phil is very, very good for a central defender of his age.
28 January 2008 at 1:41 pm
Woodgate…kick in the teeth for Phil?
28 January 2008 at 2:08 pm
Disgusted,
I thinkk Dawson needs a cuddle. Pat Rice needs to be thrashed for interfering with young Theo and destroying his confidence. The poor lad looks a soory mess
28 January 2008 at 2:39 pm
“Why, when you get so indignant over a foreigner exaggerating his fall to the ground, do you consider a red card for a player who deliberately prevented a goal scoring opportunity harsh? Why is Michael Dawson not being condemned as a cheat?”
Commentators and pundits seem to think that any red card where the ‘victim’ has not had his legs chopped off is excessive. I’ve seen red cards for studs up challenges, two-footed tackles, and the like punished by red cards, and all you hear about over and over again is how harsh that decision was.
These guys should learn the laws before they start flapping their gums.
28 January 2008 at 3:06 pm
Anywone with half a brain could see it was a blatant penalty and sending off. When people say it was ‘harsh’ I think they mean it was harsh on the team because we were playing well and it killed the game. Technically it was a no brainer
28 January 2008 at 4:36 pm
Anywone with half a brain?
28 January 2008 at 4:52 pm
Well we cant all be as clever as you can we Exiled. As a guess, I’d say you’re probably 51 times better at spelling then me
28 January 2008 at 5:13 pm
Blog Head - you are welcome on this site, but please keep the comments reasonable, adult and not insulting to other readers. Like comment number 11.
28 January 2008 at 5:24 pm
Goodplaya, ok, Thanks for being easy going I appreciate that. Not that you give a shit, I also appreciate that.
You’re a good man goodplaya, a bit on the tubby side but you’re alright in my book
28 January 2008 at 8:39 pm
Blog Head I am glad to see you in good spirits the last couple of days. No insults no faul language. Damn you are a changed man. How you must have suffered for 8 years. Now don’t insult me I don’t mean it bad :)
Goodplaya, AGAIN, spot on. Keep up the good work we really do appreciate it
28 January 2008 at 9:06 pm
kidK - The Old Bill are on to him, that’s why Blog Head has calmed down.
Goodplaya, yes, Eduardo is looking the real deal now.
28 January 2008 at 9:31 pm
Can nobody incite the situation please…!
28 January 2008 at 10:11 pm
can anyone figure out right now if diaby is going to come good? I really can’t tell. he’s got individual talent, obviously, but he just can’t seem to fit into the gameplan.
29 January 2008 at 10:23 am
That’s two questions there at the end by the way