Crisis What Crisis? Arsenal scored first

71-2004
By Boris Mellor
December 2 2006

According to this morning’s Mirror Arsenal were a club in crisis and out of form. Before I am accused of exaggeration here is a quote from their lurid article.

"Wenger, who put on a brave face at Henry's absence and claimed he was just injured, is left facing a major crisis ahead of today's north London derby. Wenger's team is out of form and now his captain and star player is deeply upset."

Well they would do well to remember that form is temporary and class is permanent, that was certainly clear after today’s North London Derby. And Henry was so deeply upset that he celebrated on the pitch after the game.

It is true that form at the Emirates needs improving, but 16 points out of 24 may not be great, but hardly a crisis. Arsenal only do 1-1 or 3-0 at the Emirates, bad luck for Spurs as it was three nils turn today. Just when many Spurs fans were beginning to think they had a chance to win away for once Arsenal turned on the style.

Wenger was confident that his team would win today, one reason probably that he knew he would pick a team strong enough to do the job. This was a far stronger team than the one that faced Fulham. If Arsenal fans were worried by the alleged lack of form they certainly didn’t show it at the stadium today. They cheered the team from the very beginning to the very end. They also chimed out Adebayor’s name, as he became a new Arsenal favourite. Adebayor had a brilliant game, and took his chance on goal with aplomb. No one celebrated that goal harder, or longer, than Thierry Henry. So he couldn’t have been that deeply upset.

Arsenal offered the visitors the customary free shot on goal on 15 minutes but Steed Malbranque churlishly rejected the offer shooting wide. I only remember one other threat on the Arsenal goal after that.

On the 20th minute, Kolo Toure won the ball in the centre and lifted a long pass for Adebayor to run through the centre with only the goalkeeper to beat. It was possible that Adebayor was feeling nervous at such a big opportunity, in such an important match, but he steadied himself and placed the ball well beyond Robinson. I delayed celebrating as Poll seemed to be running towards the linesman to consult over offside, but then he turned back and pointed to the centre spot. Belatedly I joined in with the celebrating Gooners around me. TV replays show that the goal was on side. Adebayor continued to lead the line excellently for the rest of the game.

Not only Adebayor played well, so did Freddy, Kolo, Cesc and the rest of the team. After the goal the result rarely looked threatened. True this was an ineffectual Spurs performance, but that was partly due to the combatative nature of the Arsenal players who attacked and defended as a team. But on 42 minutes the score was put  beyond doubt, Rosicky found himself clear in the area, with the crowd clearing its’ throat to yell shoot, Chimbonda brought him down.

Gilberto is obviously keen to join the Arsenal top scorer list as he made it clear he was taking the penalty. Memories of Manchester flashed before my eyes and I could barely watch, but Gilberto made no mistake and it was 2-0. "Stand up if the scores 2-0" sang the crowd, they couldn’t be bothered to hate Tottenham at this stage.

Spurs were a little livelier in the second half, but only really troubled the Arsenal goal once; Lehmann’s save could have been hit back in, but was eventually cleared. On 72 minutes van Persie was pushed and buffeted about on the wing, but managed to make his way into the area where he was pushed down. I was astonished that Gilberto once again walked up to the spot. Why not let a striker have a go? But no he was going to increase his tally to four. This kind of thing makes me nervous, if you take a second penalty the keeper may decide he knows which way you are going to kick. It becomes a game of bluff and double bluff, shall I kick differently to the first penalty, the keeper will expect it to go the opposite side, shall I keep to the same side, but he might guess that etc etc. I needn’t have worried Gilberto sent Robinson the wrong way. More delirium as the crowd celebrated. "Are you Tottenham in disguise" they sang with the game clearly over.

Although Spurs did not give up, with ten minutes to go some of their fans did, "we can see you going home" sang Arsenal fans, but this time they didn’t mean the prawn sandwich brigade, but the opposition fans.

Adebayor was substituted with 4 minutes to go, probably to allow him his standing ovation, which came long and loud. This could prove to be the watershed in his Arsenal career. There is nothing like being the hero in a NLD to become the crowds favourite, as Freddy can you tell you.

No doubt not everything in the garden is rosy, but it certainly demonstrated that the feeding frenzy organised by the press was wide of the mark. Wenger does know what he is doing, and he holds the respect of all his players, whatever crap, presented as critique, Ashley Cole is prepared to sell for money. There is still a tough week ahead, Porto and Chelsea away, but Arsenal will be in far better shape for the task ahead  now. They have proven they are not a one-man team, and the person who applauded that most was Thierry Henry.

By the way any Polonium under your seat? I know I went home with a warm glow.