Wenger found the new Vieira? Why the long face pundits?
Willy's Back
By Boris Mellor
August 19 2009
I know two swallows do not make a summer, that its early days, but sometimes you have to live for the moment. To listen to some pundits you would think that Celtic wiped the floor with the Gunners, that Arsene should be concerned that the strikers didn't score. I don't suppose Chelsea is too bothered that it took two midfielders to get them out of trouble at Sunderland.
Arsenal are the first English club to beat Celtic at home since 1983, Liverpool and Manchester United failed to win there, but according to Sky pundits it was all down to Celtic's bad luck. Yes there was a touch of fortune to both goals, but if you concede an unnecessary free kick in the danger zone, the resulting goal is more due to stupidity than ill-fortune.
However the victory was about more than lucky goals, it was about a steely display in the face of "harsh treatment" that for a long period the referee was not prepared to deal with. Yes the flair players didn't show a lot of flair, but that was hardly possible against a team that fought for every ball, and forgot to make many chances for itself.
This was a night for defenders and midfielders to be the stars, and boy did they shine. Wenger has a spine at last, Vermaelen, Song and Fabregas. It is hard to decide which one was best; was it Vermaelen's almost perfect display in defence? The man never stopped working and gave the defence a composure it has lacked until now
Fabregas was at the centre of everything, hence Mowbray's "cunning plan" to foul him at every opportunity, but in the end that failed. Mowbray will have to be more positive at the Emirates, and hopefully the referee will not be so indulgent.
The New Vieira?
However for me the man of the match was Song, he was immense, a tank ploughing its way through the minefields of the Somme. Not only did he break up attack after attack, but he gave some pretty good passes too. Of course it is too early to proclaim the replacement for Paddy has been found, but it certainly is a possibility.
Diaby also contributed, his substitution for Arshavin produced a moment of pace that caught out the Celtic defence. His run and pass to Clichy was excellent. Clichy's pass across goal was heading towards Bendtner in the box, Caldwell had to intercept - bad luck or not good enough? Whichever, it was a move deserving of a goal.
This was a very good team performance, and it is clear that Arsenal dominated, a clean sheet was another reason to be pleased with what was a job well done in difficult circumstances. Indeed the locals knew who was in charge, for after 20 minutes it was mainly the Arsenal fans that could be heard.
Will 4-3-3 work?
Well so far the forwards have scored little, but it is early days, the goals could come soon. Defending as a team is something new for them, they will learn how to pass wind and chew gum at the same time. If they don't that will be more a comment on their ability than the system. Of course it would be ridiculous to claim a great success for the new system on the basis of two games, but it would be equally ridiculous to denounce it as a failure on the same basis. But hey why the long face? We have a very good result from what could have been a deadly banana skin. The only pundits who have to talk the performance down are those that, for whatever motives, are disappointed that Wenger didn't skid on it. Let's enjoy what no other English Club has done since Nottingham Forest in 1983.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:08:22:20:50:33 by Padre Pio.
Quote:Tom14
Vieira and Gerrard played pretty similar at one point. Gerrard has only recently become a second striker.
true
Neither Cesc or Song play like Vieira, an agressive Denilson would be the most vieira like.
To the article, Wenger may have found the new Arsenal ball winner.
Theodore roosevelt - In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.
Vieira would go in on people, they didnt go in on him.
Of course no two players are exactly alike, and Song plays his own way. Paddy could if necessary play as a CB, so can Song, Paddy was like a brick shitehouse, so is Song. No doubt Tom will say Fab can do all these things, but I know he is only joking.
The point is that Song has put some stell back in the midfield, actually he can also run box to box with the ball, but he is only just learning his new role.
I am not aware of any bug on Pred League - are you saying that people can still enter 80 mins after start?
The case of Van was a one off, and the error rectified. Were people still entering late after start to Celtic game.
Please let me know full details.
I can check if anyone entered late after ko on Tuesday.
A stronger, smarter, more mature, better passing Diaby would be like Vieira, but thats asking for a miracle.
">PV4 Vid
Song is developing into an enforcer. Maybe he wont make it, but its a possibility.
Can Song last the whole of 38 games plus Carling Cup, FA cup Champions league, including Africa cup of Nations? your guess is as good as mine.Do we have a back-up? I have no clue either. Can Diaby do that job? that I'll ask arsenal physio.
Is Song going to do the la Flamini? or Adebayour and fhck off when he is the star? We'll have to see the new signed management what they have.
Whoever who said of Dennilson, was right, he will be the most important member of our team this season if he stays fit, and finds that form.
As he got older he preferred to attack more and defend less. Thus Wenger couldnt play him and Fab together as both wanted to attack.
Life is a process, there isnt one Vieira, there are several. The Vieira role I am referring to is the one he played in his early Arsenal career.
Vieira was considered the direct competitor of Roy Keane - ie the hard man ball winner. Nobody considers Fab the hard man. Nor when Paddy became more attacking did he attack in the same way as Fab, he was box to box.
Can Song make up for the loss of the young Vieira, or even Flamini? Who knows, but at last he is looking a decent player.
I agree Denilson will be an important link in all this, he hasnt developed as quickly as fans would like, but hopefully he can.
I wrote an article last season arguing that when Denilson played with Song we won the big games, and when they didnt we lost.
Quote:FAB #4
I hate disappointing anyone, but, according to Wenger, he sold Vieira to accomodate Fabregas, and not Song,
Moving from a invisible wall and a box to box, to a playmaking ACM and an holding mid obviously people will compare the tough tacklers not the playmaker to the box to box.
Theodore roosevelt - In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.
What a giant bloke who is nimble with pace?