Two Nil And U Fecked It Up – 2-2 to the Engerland
Won League at WHL
By Boris Mellor
January 25 2007
Where do you begin with this action packed evening? With Arsenal's awful start - after 21 minutes the away fans were singing 2-0 to the Engerland! What utter cretins – they were two nil up due to a Bulgarian and a Brazilian.
Arsenal started very slowly and seemed surprised by the intensity of the Spurs attack. It was a nightmare start for a team that averaged just above 21 years of age, in just 21 minutes they were 2-0 down. Spurs played well and made chances, but both the goals were due to extremely poor defending, and a helping hand from the Thing from Tring. The first goal came from a free header as Toure and Almunia failed to agree who should cut out the cross. To my view either of them could have cut it out, but they left it for Berbatov to head in. Almunia should have done far better than he did. On 20 minutes Spurs were given a free kick, after an absolute nothing shoulder charge, Tom Huddlestone delivered the free kick low to the near post, Michael Dawson failed to make contact with the ball, Baptista unaware where the ball had gone deflected the ball past Almunia. Two nil down, oh how the Spurs fans gloated, meanwhile the pundits rubbed their hands in glee, Wenger like Icarus had flown too close to the sun, at least he should have had some seniors on the bench, he would pay for his hubris. But they were writing their headlines too quickly. As the first half came to an end it was Arsenal who were dominant, and with a minute to go the Beast should have equalised, but he fluffed his lines and the open goal. What a miserable half for Baptista, but in the second half he showed that he was as mentally strong as he was physically. His head didn’t drop as he joined the rest of the team in pursuit of a comeback. Fabregas was amazing, and deserved his Man of the Match Award. Playing in a two man central midfield he wiped the floor with Spurs three man central set up. He was everywhere, end to end, taking the ball out of defence, tackling, passing, crossing and shooting. Arsenal have a box to box ball winner again. Wenger has proved they don’t have to be 6 ft five. But even Fabregas cannot do everything on his own, Hleb replaced the tiring Diaby on 56 minutes, but more important was the replacement of Aliadiere by Eboue. For on 64 minutes Eboue overlapping on the right crossed low into the penalty area. The ball eventually reached Baptista, surrounded by defenders, who lost his footing, but regained it to poke the ball into the net. Two one and Spurs were on the slide; the valuable away goal was in the bag. Arsenal now dominated the match and Spurs were forced back into their own half for long periods. On the 77th minute it was Hoyte’s turn to overlap on the right hand side and send a cross to the far post. This time Baptista arrived into open space and side footed the ball home from a few yards out. This guy certainly has a nose for goal (at both ends. Ed.That’s cruel, and get off my page. Boris). Walcott could have tied it all up in the last minute, but his volley from Fabregas’s cross was wide. Meanwhile the Arsenal fans sang Two Nil And You Fucked It Up. For the away team this was as good as a victory, for the home team it must have felt like defeat. Arsenal have a two away goal advantage, a 0-0 or 1-1 draw would put Arsenal in the final, but Wenger doesn’t play for draws. Two amazing comebacks in a week; but it has been at a cost with injuries to RvP and Hleb, also Eboue and Aliadiere seem to be carrying knocks. On the bright side it should be a full house next Wednesday as it’s all to play for. Postscript – one man team and Kids Some of the press, and Jol, are seeking comfort by arguing that Spurs were not beaten by kids, as there was a sprinkling of senior players in the team. They are also claiming that Berbatov going off at 1-nil changed the whole game. Well if Jol cant cope with losing one player how should Wenger have coped with two substitutes for injuries, and Eboue effectively out of the game for last ten minutes with no sub available? Perhaps Spurs are a one-man team? Not entirely kids. Sure they were not beaten entirely by kids; although Traore is younger than Walcott 17, Denilson is only 18, Fabregas 19, and the average age of the outfield players 21. Wenger did not start one regular first team striker, Spurs had three available. In the last ten minutes the Gunners only had 10 fit men. But was it because Spurs lost Berbatov that they lost the lead? How would they have got on against Arsenal first 11? This was mainly a second string Arsenal team. So they didn’t draw with Kids? So what - they didn’t draw with our best eleven either. Wenger doesnt start with this eleven against Man U. Goal Attempts: Tottenham 12 Arsenal 13 On Target: Tottenham 6 Arsenal 7 Ratings: Almunia poor on first goal, not so sure about second. Made a great save in second half. 7 Hoyte struggled in first half but on the pace for second. 7. Toure full of heart, but suspect on first and second goal, but made up for it second half. 8 Traore, had a torrid time or first half, better in second. 6 Diaby, tried hard but tired early. 6 Fabregas – Man of the match 10 Denilson, amazing for his age. 8 Walcott a quiet game, did one or two good things. 6 Aliadiere a quiet game. 6 Baptista, a mixed game but recovery in second half was superb. 8 Eboue, Super Sub. 8 Hleb not on long enough Flamini not on long enough