Arsenal drew 1 all with Liverpool last week, this week it was the reigning champions, Manchester United... well the match just ended... and yes it went 2 a piece to both side. Yet another draw. But if we clearly analyze both matches... Arsenal isn't is such bad form after all. Why?
In both matches... we left it till late before we equalize... sounds bad? Not really, considering the guys showed enough character to come back while trailing. In the Manchester United match, I would like to highlight how seemingly impossible it seemed when Manchester went ahead for a second time in the 82nd min through their starlet Ronaldo. But when Willam Gallas slam the ball into the goal in injury time, it surely shattered all Manchester United fans hearts and brought justice and fairness to Arsenal.
Second point. We dominated... o yes, the young guns show a couple of old dogs on the other teams how to play attractive soccer and still deliver. This has to be targeted at Fergie's mid week comments on how young players' success must be judge on the trophies they have won. Well, surely Fergie just wanted to dent Arsenal's morale as he wanted to psychologically attack Arsenal with what he has in abundance, trophies and success... but times are fast changing old scott dog... its time for the young to shine, trophies or no trophies. Don't forget, your new youngsters, both Nani and Anderson, have no trophies to their names... isn't that meaning they are not worth praising and encoraging? Doesn't that mean you shouldn't praise your 'trophiesless' youngsters yourself?
Okie time to stop being anti-Fergie. Back to the report.
Yet, in the Liverpool match, it was apparent that Arsenal didn't finish well, they squandered 2 open goals, clearly in both situation a tap would be enough but they ballooned the chances sky wards. Manchester on the other hand, are a great team who take their chances well, very lethal indeed.
So the big matches are over. Now, I guess, if Arsenal plays like this the whole season, there is a chance glory will be brought to the Emirates stadium. So as Arsenal fans, lets support the team and believe this is possible. After all, experts won't disagree that Arsenal was the better team in both the draws.
Showing posts with label Stick and Stones. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stick and Stones. Show all posts
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Stick and Stones - Missing The Action
Tottenham Hotspurs 1 - Arsenal 3
A truly entertaining match that featured 2 hometown rivals with great history of competition. The newpaper on Sunday,16th Sep, gave the match a 5 star entertainment rating... Man Utd's win only deserved 2 stars. So did you miss the action? I did... was out when the gunners fired with style and assurance. Damm
Arsenal fans were disappointed to see our team go down during the 14th min, courtesy of a Gareth Bale... we went 1-0 down... but boy was that free kick well struck... the ball swirl from right to left... ended up across the goal line at the bottom left of the goal. Almunia had no chance... Bale is a wonder kid at 18, gifted set piece taker (2 goals in 3 matches for the lad).
The rest of the match was filled with action through out. Despite strong defense from both sides, the offense of both teams manage to post moments of anxiety for both custodians... but boy do the teams need more target and finishing practice. Arsenal fans were given moments of despair when Diaby, Van Persie and Adebayor wasted great one on one chances.
The passing in the match was top class. Excellent stuff.
During the second half, the ambitions to win was turning into desperation and the action between both teams heighten. There were many chances... I can't mention all... so just read soccernet's report to find out more.
The fight for the match finally capitalized in the 65th min, when a well taken cross from a free kick by prodigy Fabregas was met by who else? Adebayor. However Paul Robinson has to carry some responsibility for misreading the cross... 1 - 1, match on.
Arsenal fans weren't to be disappoint with a draw from a beautiful match... in the 80th min, the young Spaniard, Fabregas unleash a wonder shot from 30 yards which Paul Robinson tried to stop... but I guess the spin on the ball was too much for him... 1 - 2, Arsenal fans had been given hope to better their nearest rivals on their home soil.
The comeback was given an ending, worthy of an excellent match, with a top class goal from Adebayor. In injury time, Fabregas sent a pass down the centre, which was met by a wonderful 1st touch from Adebayor and the Togo international finished it will a sensational volley... showing the world what skills he possessed.
The scoreline was 1 - 3 to Arsenal and that is how the match ended. It reflect the action involved and ability of Arsenal to crash their rivals away. Yet that score line doesn't show the effort of the Arsenal defence... Kolo Toure had to be mention for his heroics and Gael Clichy for his last man clearance of the line which would have easily allow Tottenham more goals. The scoreline didn't reflect yet the quality of play involved as well as the wonder strikes.
Well done Gunners! It maybe too early to claim dominance at the top... but surely the young Gunners are proving critiques wrong... Arsenal continues to attack and score without Henry... perhaps done even better as reported by soccernet clearly buring the Ghost of Henry.
Once again, it feels good to be at the top of the league... but the journey is still long, one thing is for sure, Arsene Wenger won't be leaving after a 3 year contract extension. With the wizard at the helm, Arsenal fans are sure to be treated with nothing but action.
A truly entertaining match that featured 2 hometown rivals with great history of competition. The newpaper on Sunday,16th Sep, gave the match a 5 star entertainment rating... Man Utd's win only deserved 2 stars. So did you miss the action? I did... was out when the gunners fired with style and assurance. Damm
Arsenal fans were disappointed to see our team go down during the 14th min, courtesy of a Gareth Bale... we went 1-0 down... but boy was that free kick well struck... the ball swirl from right to left... ended up across the goal line at the bottom left of the goal. Almunia had no chance... Bale is a wonder kid at 18, gifted set piece taker (2 goals in 3 matches for the lad).
The rest of the match was filled with action through out. Despite strong defense from both sides, the offense of both teams manage to post moments of anxiety for both custodians... but boy do the teams need more target and finishing practice. Arsenal fans were given moments of despair when Diaby, Van Persie and Adebayor wasted great one on one chances.
The passing in the match was top class. Excellent stuff.
During the second half, the ambitions to win was turning into desperation and the action between both teams heighten. There were many chances... I can't mention all... so just read soccernet's report to find out more.
The fight for the match finally capitalized in the 65th min, when a well taken cross from a free kick by prodigy Fabregas was met by who else? Adebayor. However Paul Robinson has to carry some responsibility for misreading the cross... 1 - 1, match on.
Arsenal fans weren't to be disappoint with a draw from a beautiful match... in the 80th min, the young Spaniard, Fabregas unleash a wonder shot from 30 yards which Paul Robinson tried to stop... but I guess the spin on the ball was too much for him... 1 - 2, Arsenal fans had been given hope to better their nearest rivals on their home soil.
The comeback was given an ending, worthy of an excellent match, with a top class goal from Adebayor. In injury time, Fabregas sent a pass down the centre, which was met by a wonderful 1st touch from Adebayor and the Togo international finished it will a sensational volley... showing the world what skills he possessed.
The scoreline was 1 - 3 to Arsenal and that is how the match ended. It reflect the action involved and ability of Arsenal to crash their rivals away. Yet that score line doesn't show the effort of the Arsenal defence... Kolo Toure had to be mention for his heroics and Gael Clichy for his last man clearance of the line which would have easily allow Tottenham more goals. The scoreline didn't reflect yet the quality of play involved as well as the wonder strikes.
Well done Gunners! It maybe too early to claim dominance at the top... but surely the young Gunners are proving critiques wrong... Arsenal continues to attack and score without Henry... perhaps done even better as reported by soccernet clearly buring the Ghost of Henry.
Once again, it feels good to be at the top of the league... but the journey is still long, one thing is for sure, Arsene Wenger won't be leaving after a 3 year contract extension. With the wizard at the helm, Arsenal fans are sure to be treated with nothing but action.
'It is nice to look at a league table and see Arsenal right at the top again
and I couldn't fault the consistency of the team in this game.
Even when we went behind, we showed the spirit you need to come back.'
Arsene Wenger, Soccernet, 2007
and I couldn't fault the consistency of the team in this game.
Even when we went behind, we showed the spirit you need to come back.'
Arsene Wenger, Soccernet, 2007
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Stick and Stones - The Beginning
This new segment of my blog is dedicated to the Gunners in red... The London soccer club that I faithful support for 4 years... Arsenal. I shall try to discuss each match the gunners play and why I have come to love such a beautiful club.
Arsenal 3 - Portsmouth 1
Thats the scoreline that tells you we are gunning away at all cylinders. Yes, we have a good start to the season. 3 wins and a draw in 4 matches, Second in the premier league losing only to Liverpool on goal difference... too early in the season to boast about? Yes but... there is a lot to celebrate.
Well just to highlight a few invisible points to that scoreline and league placing... the gunners are playing well... especially the younger players. The flanks are well covered... thanks to Gael Clichy and Mathieu Flamini ... Helb and Rosicky are playing so well I think it is beginning to turn out to be a promising partnership. The only problem happens to be defence. That is obversely seen in Senderos's 'innocent' tackle of Kanu. But thats all in the sport, we can't complain but only hope the defense gets 'beefed' up with the return of Gallas. And for the strikers... I think there is much more room for improvement before we can see Van Persie and Adebayor play at a higher level... currently they are just too indirect and lacking a bit of confidence... but that will turn around soon, I hope. Well, Eduardo is another player who has yet to show what he is made up of. Arsene Wenger, the 'wizard', has much praise for the player but I think he needs to get more games and minutes before we can clearly see the best of him.
So who is the best player for the week?
Cesc Fabregas gets the personal pick for the best player of week as well as my favourite gunner. His the top scorer for the team now... a statistic which will tell you vast improvement from the player. His passing is still slick... and what more about his technique and ball control? This young lad plays so well, the ball sticks to him, he runs at larger sized defenders and when he loses the ball, he amazingly picks himself up and calmly gathers back the ball.. A very hardworking player who is slowly (I believe) being the leader in midfield of the team.
It is true that he cannot be compared to the popular, skillful and lighting fast dribbler Christiano Ronaldo of Arch rivals Manchester United but Fabregas gets my backing when it comes to overall contribution of the team.
And come on ... Fabregas didn't come to Arsenal with a 'rock star' profile... He came as a youth singing at 16... become Arsenal's youngest player and league goal scorer, At 19 (2006) Spain's youngest player and player to be named in a World Cup squad in 70 years and being named in UEFA 2006 team of the year. Now at 20, the lad has to shoulder the midfield 'hole' left by a previous Arsenal great, Patrick Vieira (perhaps that is why Number 4 is given to him, Vieira held on to that number in his Arsenal days).
He is doing that job well... at least I believe better then many players who have been tipped to fill in the gaps/roles at other prominent clubs across the globe... were many turn out to be unsuccessful at living the 'legacies' left by their predecessors, Fabregas has out-shined his counterparts. In fact, the lads attitude of being the next captain for the Gunners shows that there is overflowing confidence in this lad and he has great capabilities to take on captaincy. His mates have backed him up on several occasions including the greatest contemporary player of Arsenal, Theirry Henry.
So yar, stay around... I am sure that Arsenal will have an exciting season ahead... We might not be serious title contenders on paper... but we do play the most entertaining soccer on the planet... that might just be the best ever soccer in contemporary sports.
Arsenal 3 - Portsmouth 1
Thats the scoreline that tells you we are gunning away at all cylinders. Yes, we have a good start to the season. 3 wins and a draw in 4 matches, Second in the premier league losing only to Liverpool on goal difference... too early in the season to boast about? Yes but... there is a lot to celebrate.
Well just to highlight a few invisible points to that scoreline and league placing... the gunners are playing well... especially the younger players. The flanks are well covered... thanks to Gael Clichy and Mathieu Flamini ... Helb and Rosicky are playing so well I think it is beginning to turn out to be a promising partnership. The only problem happens to be defence. That is obversely seen in Senderos's 'innocent' tackle of Kanu. But thats all in the sport, we can't complain but only hope the defense gets 'beefed' up with the return of Gallas. And for the strikers... I think there is much more room for improvement before we can see Van Persie and Adebayor play at a higher level... currently they are just too indirect and lacking a bit of confidence... but that will turn around soon, I hope. Well, Eduardo is another player who has yet to show what he is made up of. Arsene Wenger, the 'wizard', has much praise for the player but I think he needs to get more games and minutes before we can clearly see the best of him.
So who is the best player for the week?
Cesc Fabregas gets the personal pick for the best player of week as well as my favourite gunner. His the top scorer for the team now... a statistic which will tell you vast improvement from the player. His passing is still slick... and what more about his technique and ball control? This young lad plays so well, the ball sticks to him, he runs at larger sized defenders and when he loses the ball, he amazingly picks himself up and calmly gathers back the ball.. A very hardworking player who is slowly (I believe) being the leader in midfield of the team.
It is true that he cannot be compared to the popular, skillful and lighting fast dribbler Christiano Ronaldo of Arch rivals Manchester United but Fabregas gets my backing when it comes to overall contribution of the team.
And come on ... Fabregas didn't come to Arsenal with a 'rock star' profile... He came as a youth singing at 16... become Arsenal's youngest player and league goal scorer, At 19 (2006) Spain's youngest player and player to be named in a World Cup squad in 70 years and being named in UEFA 2006 team of the year. Now at 20, the lad has to shoulder the midfield 'hole' left by a previous Arsenal great, Patrick Vieira (perhaps that is why Number 4 is given to him, Vieira held on to that number in his Arsenal days).
He is doing that job well... at least I believe better then many players who have been tipped to fill in the gaps/roles at other prominent clubs across the globe... were many turn out to be unsuccessful at living the 'legacies' left by their predecessors, Fabregas has out-shined his counterparts. In fact, the lads attitude of being the next captain for the Gunners shows that there is overflowing confidence in this lad and he has great capabilities to take on captaincy. His mates have backed him up on several occasions including the greatest contemporary player of Arsenal, Theirry Henry.
So yar, stay around... I am sure that Arsenal will have an exciting season ahead... We might not be serious title contenders on paper... but we do play the most entertaining soccer on the planet... that might just be the best ever soccer in contemporary sports.
'I think he did brilliantly, not only playing against Patrick Vieira but also Emerson, Camoranesi and Mutu'
Henry on Fabregas's midfield triumph over Juventus, 2006
Henry on Fabregas's midfield triumph over Juventus, 2006
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