Brazilian Brace Spoil Press Wet Dream
Reading Game
By Boris Mellor
March 4 2007
To be fair no respectable football pundit expected Arsenal to lose this, but some of the more exotic red tops, and web sites had a wet dream where Arsenal became the first club ever to lose in four different competitions in a week.
Of course nothing is impossible, but they were licking their lips and croaking like vultures at the thought of a possible crisis.
Their spirits were raised by the fact that Wenger claimed he had only 14 players to chose from. Perhaps a slight exaggeration, but Almunia was one of the 16 strong squad, and Connolly, so in a sense he only had 14 outfielders to chose from.
The first thing I noticed on walking into the ground was that the old clock was on the outside of the South stand; the second was how relaxed Gooners were. On entering the upper tier I discovered hundreds gathered around the TV screens watching Liverpool v Man U. They laughed at Scholes attempt at a punch, and subsequent sending off, cheered the winning goal to the echo, and then most surprisingly cheered ol red nose’s celebratory run down the line.
Beating Man U twice this year may have mellowed Gooners, and they seem to see him almost as avuncular. Maybe also his failure, so far, to try and make capital out of Arsenal’s troubles with the FA. But then he might need us very late on in the season when Chelsea comes to call at the Grove Fortress.
Fans were surprised by the team selection, Gilberto replaced Senderos, Denilson and Fabregas played in the middle, and Theo and the Beast were up front. Wenger said he wanted experience in defence and I suppose a back line of Djourou, Gallas, Gilberto, and Clichy was halfway there. Arsenal fans gave Arsene a great welcome, no doubt to show their support for his taking on the FA.
I couldn’t help thinking that both Clichy and Djourou took their defensive responsibilities so seriously that we rarely overlapped. Nonetheless most supporters were not over worried about the defence. However the question on every ones lips was where would the goals come from? As it happened Arsenal scored three, but not all at the right end.
In the first half Arsenal were bright enough, in particular Baptista made a great run into the box, passed to Fabregas who confronted with a wide open goal did a Rosicky. For the rest of the half the Gunners continued to waste chances. At half time fans discussed where would the goals come from?
On return they didn’t have to wait long, on 50 minutes Clichy broke into the area and was brought down. I must say I was not full of confidence as Gilberto stepped up for the penalty, however he planted it firmly past the goalie. Only eleven minutes later Arsenal got a second from a breakaway. The Beast is the only player I know who walks when on a breakaway, but it worked this time. He pushed past the last defender Graeme Murty, and poked it wide of the goalie. Not long after Aliadiere had a perfectly good goal ruled offside.
Arsenal now had Reading rocking on their heels, but couldn’t make the possession and attacking pay. With 15 minutes to go Arsenal began to rest on the job, perhaps having the CL in mind. Now the Royals got back into the game and gave Arsenal some problems. With 3 minutes to go Arsene decided to make a substitution, unfortunately he did it during a corner and I can’t help feeling it was distracting, sure enough after a scramble, and pressure from Lita, Fabregas scored at last, pity it was at the wrong end. Well its about time he scored, you can’t have it all your own way.
Squeaky bum time
So instead of a nice cushy running down of the clock it was squeaky bum time, plus for some strange reason the referee gave 4 minutes added time. Time for Sidwell to have a great shot and Lehmann to keep it out with a great save. What should have been a very comfortable win became a close shave. Though to be fair to Reading they have done that twice to Man U.
Beast Watch
Of course the jury is still out, but if the glass is half empty, it is also half full. Yes he had misses, and made some poor passes, but there were two very good passes, one to Freddy and one to Fabregas, both of which should have been put away.
More importantly he scored an important goal, its no use asking where will the goals come from, and then turn your nose up when the answer is Baptista. It should also be noted that it was not an easy goal, Murty stayed close to him and tried to push him off the ball, but the Beast was not to be moved, he has learnt to stand his ground and it was a good finish. It could be that he is a superior form of Heskey.
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