Arsenal Must Build on Second Half. England's No 1
England's Number 1
By Boris Mellor
April 30 2009
Arsenal didn't turn up for the first thirty minutes and amazingly Manchester United only scored one goal during that period, and then it took a defender to score. Understandably Arsenal fans are unhappy about Adebayor's performance, but United's strike force couldn't score either. Unlike Adebayor they were given free shots at goal, but Almunia refused to concede.
It's time the minority who like to moan about Almunia stopped it, I have said it before on this site he is a quality keeper. If we could have played him at Wembley we would still be in the FA cup. He would have had only two shots to save; he must have saved over a dozen last night.
England's Number One Saves From No 1 Diver
Arsenal's players froze under the lights last night and forgot their lines. They must have gone in punch drunk at half time, and astonished they were only one goal down. However the signs of revival were discernible from 35 minutes on.
In the second half the midfield finally got a grip, they mainly controlled the two thirds area and imitated Barcelona in the last third, that is they ran into defenders rather than go round the back, or wide. Manchester United had no memorable chances, if any, in the second half. In the dying minutes Nik Bendtner could have even got the vital away goal, but he put a free header way over the bar, when a gentle glance would have done. However he was better value for 20 minutes than Adebayor was for his 80.
I suppose it was not to be unexpected that a team with a defence weakened by the absence of Clichy and Gallas would be under pressure from an attack as good as United's. Gibbs did quite well, even if he was partly culpable for the only goal. Toure battled away but Silvestre kept the defence under pressure with his poor distribution.
Wenger obviously believed it was his strongest team, but maybe they couldn't cope with the newish formation. Fabregas battled and kept working, but he seemed surrounded by ineptitude and a lack of effort. Nasri and Walcott offered little.
Nonetheless, the team can take heart from a much improved second half and the fact they only conceded one. They must learn from the positives that made up the last 45 minutes and build on them for 90 minutes at the Arsenal. Man U will try and build on their first half success, the Gunners must not allow them to do that again. There is a mountain to climb, but this club has scaled great heights before.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:05:01:22:50:31 by Padre Pio.
That speaks volume on the organisational ability of Kolo...and the Captaincy of Fabregas in rallying his troop.
Big mistake again in appointing Captain Henry jsut to keep Henry sweet at Emirates.
It is not 2nd half.
It is the 80th minute where we start to chase the game.
And our players usually come alive then to play as they can play...and usually scored...last season....adn sometime this season.
All to play for,
A seige mentality,
Fire in the belly,
incessant attacks from the word "go"...
If this 2L can't Motivate 'EM TO PLAY OUT OF TEHRI SKINS....nothing will.
Gibbs was frozen on the wrong side of the goal line. He needed to move.
It also says Gibbs played well
Week in week out we see the same flaws, the same lethargic attitude from the players, the same Diaby trying to run past half the PFA team of the year only to lose the ball, your meant to learn from your mistakes, but this team just repeats them over and over and over and over.
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2009:05:01:03:58:57 by microdire.
Quote:Gooner_Mike
When will we learn to defend? how many silly goals have we conceded over the last few seasons? Bring in a damn defensive coach and lets sort this out, the other day against liverpool was the best example, 4-3 up against liverpool, 93rd minute, and we leave 3 players in the box for a set piece, who trains these people seriously.
Week in week out we see the same flaws, the same lethargic attitude from the players, the same Diaby trying to run past half the PFA team of the year only to lose the ball, your meant to learn from your mistakes, but this team just repeats them over and over and over and over.
Exactly!
He should have moved towards O'Shea, not just remained on the line. Faced with the same situation again hopefully that is what he will do, a hard call I agree. Or do you think he should just do the same thing again?
He will be murdered if O'Shea sneaks the bal into that corner he was supposed to eb guarding.
We play a zonal defence system.
WHow as responsible tracking O'Shea late run in teh box.
And for teh matter as he was hanging aorund that area for quite soem-time, who was responsible for that zone, and who was organising the f**king DEFENCE then?
And what the Captain for - just there to put on that "Captain" armband?
It si this kind of situaiton that we need an expereinced to roganise and be aware oft eh tactial situation helping out the zonal defence and ensure all palyers are on their toe.
Lots of shouting and haraguing not a quiet captain.