RSSArsenal 1 Villa 1: Why only change tactics in injury time?
Arsenal 1 Aston Villa 1
From Goodplaya, not far from where Clichy slung in the cross
STATISTICS can, of course, be used to prove anything.
But the two defeats Villa have suffered on their travels in a year contrasted by the seven Fulham have lost at home this season alone should offer a little perspective as we mourn the gap dwindling from three points to just the one.
And Villa lived up to their billing. Obdurate at the back, mobile in midfield and with a healthy balance of craft and height up front, they were tough as old boots.
We were pretty poor really. Not so much tired as stale. The team may have had seven days to recharge their batteries, but whereas United could rest Rooney and Ronaldo, we had no such luxury.
The team is pretty much picking itself, even to the extent that had Arsene wanted to play Walcott and Hleb on the wings with Bendtner partnering Adebayor up front, we would have had not a single attacking option on the bench. That said, it is true that we also don’t have as much trust in some of our back-up players than we might.
If we did, some of our those aching limbs/brains could get a rest.
I think we almost need the likes of RVP and Tomas Rosicky back for the psychological boost it will offer as much as anything. With luck, their fresh legs can galvanise those tiring around them.
The Villa goal was not great defending. Gallas did not play to the whistle and while any defender can inadvertently turn the ball into his own net, the fact that Senderos put it in despite not being in line with the goal hardly spoke volumes for his swiftness of feet.
Diaby was doing very little, Flamini and Cesc were poor and for all Hleb’s attempts to craft, little was coming off. Walcott was fairly good and Adebayor more than anything had the look of a man who thought he was tired.
Flamini, it should be said, needs to watch himself because he is jumping into the odd tackle in the same not designed to injure but nonetheless reckless way we have all bemoaned. The last thing we need is him sent-off and missing games.
Villa had their chances, though in truth I can’t remember one that was glaring. Indeed, had Senderos midway through the first half and Cesc at the end of it done what they really should have done, things could have been different.
That said, our goal, frankly, did not look like it was coming. And yet at the Emirates so often has that been the case and so often have we confounded expectations. Somewhere in there, there is a rarely touched on resilience.
What is galling is that it only tends to be right at the end that we change our style of play. For about 91 minutes we passed, passed and passed, usually inside, inside, inside. Then suddenly when it looked for all the world that it was too late (I fully expected the ref to blow), Almunia launched it long and when it came to Clichy he instinctively slung in a really decent cross.
And surprise, surprise, with two 6ft 3ins plus strikers on the pitch, a decent cross in to the box causes panic. I’m not advocating we go all long ball, but to change with one minute left makes no sense. We should have done it after 75.
Had Clichy had that ball in that position 20 minutes earlier, five earlier or even a minute earlier, he probably never would have crossed. Such is the Arsenal way.
The relief as the ball went in was massive. Not so much joy as relief and sheer, raw passion and emotion.
There was, however, one thing missing as Bendtner slid home. Namely a few thousand fans who had headed for the exits. Now, on a school night when you need to catch the train home out to the home counties, I can begin to accept leaving early.
But on a Saturday afternoon with the team 1-0 down? Besides the fact it’s bloody annoying having people walk past you (would you do it during the final scene at a cinema?), it’s hardly going to be great for the team and it also begs the question: what do you come to Arsenal for if it is not for those moments?
I know it’s your money and you can do what you like, but it just seems so wrong and I know there are people less obsessed than me who agree.
So today I’m poking my toe into the world of naming and shaming. Ok, so I’m not actually naming or shaming, but the guy to the right (who knows who he is), lives all of 3.5 miles from the ground and from what I’m told about him, was unlikely to be up to anything vaguely exciting in the 15 odd minutes he must have saved by missing the closing stages.
While I’m on a rant, a few words on the Villa chants, which let’s be honest here, did not come from anything resembling a minority of their fans.
Losers. The same kind of scum who follow England abroad. Except not this summer.
And every time they curse the fact they are not gallivanting around Europe with the lads while the missus tell them to move their lardarses off the sofa and do some DIY, let their little brains remember it was Eduardo who did as much as anyone to wreck their June.
Morons.
I know I quoted Myles Palmer only days ago, but this line on the chanting really merits repetition:
Such morons shame their club and they even shame the underclass that spawns them.
It’s Milan tomorrow and I’m seriously looking forward to it. More on it, err, tomorrow.
I should just say one thing now that I reckon is best brought to the surface rather than be allowed to bubble underneath: the treble. Whatever happens, we must stop United doing it.
3 March 2008 at 10:52 am
goodplaya, i share your sentiment on how dissapointed you are with those who leave d stadium before d final whistle. granted for the past few weeks we’ve been through difficult moments and this one was no difference, therefore the more reasons to get behind the team. i watched the game from afar in kuala lumpur praying at least we get an equaliser even if it has to come from the last shot at goal and yes we got it. if the team did not give up y should we? i was very dissapointed seeing empty seats in tv screen at 90th minutes.
3 March 2008 at 11:07 am
regarding the early departing ‘fans’. i cannot for the life of me understand it… but, it is not an Arsenal only trait. I was at the Nou camp last weekend and the stadium was almost half empty with 5 mins to go. granted they were 4-1 up at the time .. but even then, dont the team deserve appreciation at the final whistle? It must be disheartening for the players.
3 March 2008 at 11:13 am
Arsehole fans leaving early. Really, really, really hate it. Don’t fucking turn up in the first place. There are thousands of people willing to take your place and actually make some noise too.
This Arsenal team can hardly say “let’s win it for the fans”. Oh, where is everyone?!
3 March 2008 at 11:14 am
In case anyones wandering, thats Exiled leaving early in the above picture.
And yes, he did get that jacket from Primark
3 March 2008 at 11:18 am
Further to Villa travelling fans, was on tube on way to match with my ten year-old. They were chanting songs riddled with F-words, the W-word etc and were smashing hands on ceiling of train (a la Warriors, if anyone is old enough to remember that film). The tube was full of ordinary people, shopping etc as well as a few Arsenal fans but the Villa fans were so menacing noone would dare say anything. What an advert for their club … Martin O’Neil (a decent man) would have been so proud
3 March 2008 at 11:20 am
And I sit at the end of a row (Upper Tier) so you can imagine how many times I had to stand up to let the “early birds” past so they could save 10 minutes on their journey time. Sad to say, we have nearly as many glory hunters as Chelski in our fan base
3 March 2008 at 11:23 am
I think what allowed Clichy to cross in the last minute is that Villa, to protect their lead, put 11 men behind the ball, and Clichy suddenly had time and space to pump in three successive crosses.
3 March 2008 at 12:16 pm
The club should monitor consistent early leavers and offer their 2008-2009 tickets to people on the waiting list. That would cut out this shameful trend instantly.
3 March 2008 at 12:39 pm
I was sitting behind the Arsenal goal in the second half, it was just as bad at my end for people leaving.
Stayed to the whistle and went mad with everyone else - honestly, screw the people who left, they didn’t DESERVE to see Bendtner’s goal.
no player ratings?
3 March 2008 at 12:41 pm
Exiled,
And what about stopping people wearing crap jackets like you are above? How the hell can we stamp that out? Its clothes like yours, that are ruining the god damn game. People are switching off
3 March 2008 at 12:45 pm
Andy, yes, here they are :-
Seaman - 6
Dixon - 3
Groves - 4
Benderos - 5
Cygan - 1
Umpar Lumpar - 4
The Dickov - 3
Adebeyorororororororor - 2
Ham & Cheese Flamini - 2
Charlie ‘blows’ George - 3
Theo Walcott - 1
Sorry for the delay Andy, wont happen again
3 March 2008 at 2:14 pm
A delayed reaction to Saturday’s events.
1. The atmosphere from the home support was shocking. It seemed like a huge minority of Arsenal fans are not interested in getting behind the team. We will not win the league with these sort of people coming to the grove. They do not seem to have a passion for football, they are just there coz they got sod all else to do on a Saturday.
2. I was in Block 19 and the only time the crowd got loud in the first half was when them Brummie **** sang the Eduardo song. It got quite tasty as the stewards and police struggled to keep control. Then at the end when we scored, quite a few Drunken Villa cavemen tried to jump the barrier to attack Arsenal fans. Police & stewards reaction NOTHING. After the game when people were trying to leave the Villa morons then were in a generous mood and gave us some of there coin collection. Again another surge from Villa fans to jump into Block 19. Police & Stewards reaction NOTHING. During the whole game Villa fans stood up. Police & stewards reaction NOTHING
During 2nd Half some Arsenal fans stood up. POLICE & Stewards reaction: Threaten Arsenal fans with eviction from the ground unless they sat down.
Maybe the police/stewards treatment of home supporters has some part to play in the lack of atmosphere.
3 March 2008 at 2:40 pm
I blame the Arsenal stewards for obviously being a bunch of pussy’s
3 March 2008 at 4:41 pm
I feel that Arsene needs to bring in RVP, Kolo and if possible Tommy NOW if we are to stop the rot. Despite lack of match fitness they should be risked as our title chances may evaporate if Ade, our only regular scorer since RVP died and Cesc forgot how to score, goes through a dry spell like earlier in the season. Theres only 10 games left so there really isn’t much to lose imo. ps weekend early leavers should go and support Chel$ki.
3 March 2008 at 5:36 pm
So BH, so did your spuds do this weekend? Still aiming for 4th? or europe?
3 March 2008 at 5:37 pm
So BG, how did your spuds do this weekend? Still aiming for 4th?
4 March 2008 at 3:06 pm
hope you lot have stopped winging about eduardo yet.The song was funny not offensive unlike what you sing about the yids and munich. Get a life and just be pleased you nicked 2 points off us
2 May 2008 at 11:15 am
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