Ball watching as tables turn
Ball watching
By Boris Mellor
November 22 2009
I wonder if Chelsea and Liverpool fans got as demoralised as some Arsenal fans have after they lost away after the previous International break? I didn't expect very much from this match before RvP's injury, and slightly less afterwards.
If Arsenal had played away after the last break they would probably have lost, so why make such a big deal about it now? Nor am I one of those who expects to win the league this year, its Chelsea's to lose.
However, it could still be a good season with the team developing nicely at the right time for some silverware. Football is a matter of progress, not just a series of snapshots. Therefore I refuse to join the pundits who say this is proof that RvP absence is the end of Arsenal's season.
I had predicted 1-1 on the prediction league, and if it wasn't for Wiley I would have been right. Replays show that it was a banker penalty for Vela, but don't expect any sympathetic headlines. After all its only "little teams" that get decisions against them.
Funny enough some Arsenal fans were dead chipper before the game on the basis that our new fast flowing game would be too much for Sunderland. That's exactly why I thought we would not win as Arsenal rarely get out of second gear after the International break. Meanwhile the bulk of the Cats squad had been loafing for a fortnight.
Sunderland don't allow their opponents much time on the ball, indeed United looked poorer at home playing the Cats, than Arsenal did away. Arsenal had two shots on target to Sunderland's one. Both teams had six in total. It wasn't exactly a footballing feast.
Ball watching
At the end of the day the difference between the two teams was Arsenals inability to defend set pieces. To me it appeared that no one moved towards the ball as it sailed over, no one moved towards Bent, he had all the space he needed to finish. I felt that Rosicky and Vermaelen could have done more.
Well Done Traore
It was good to see the southern softies show some spirit, even if it was towards the end. Traore had enough of being pushed around and decided to give some back. I would rather he had a taken a yellow for the team a bit earlier.
Too early to answer questions
Clearly RvP was missed, and a team rarely reorganizes itself effectively straight away on losing a key player, the new personnel will need a little time. After all RvP took a while to adjust to his new role. I am not sure that the balance of the team was right. As Wenger said players were not getting behind the Sunderland defence. Tuesday's CL game should give Wenger the breathing space needed to rebuild the momentum.
The vultures are circling, and its November, but once again I will judge over next ten games, not on one bad day at the office
Light relief - battle of the also rans
I wrote in the preview, "A fascinating fixture this weekend will be Liverpool v Citeh, which of these two overpriced teams can break the log jam and actually win a game? Could be another draw- ."
Well it was a draw, fancy paying £40 million for two defenders and shipping goals like that. Who will win the sack race? Rafa or Sparky?
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:11:23:21:29:02 by Padre Pio.
Back four? Itll be fine once Clichy/Gibbs return, midfield? its just a pick and mix of players with similar playing styles, that cant cross, or run at their opponents like Freddie and Overmars used to, they seem more content on breaking much slower than usual, and arent very keep on running into space, atleast thats what I saw yesterday.
Our main wide threat was Sagna? Crossing to the invisible 7 foot man in the box that failed to get on to the end of any one of his crosses (the ones that beat the first man anyway).
I still think we need an "out and out" winger. Someone that can beat players and run to the byline, cross the ball in, or make a bursting run into the box. If the likes of Lennon, SWP, Valencia, and so on can do it to good effect then I dont see why Theo cant he just needs to stay fit, which is unlikely to happen.
Yesterday was particularly dissapointing because the payers only really pressed for a goal for the 2 or 3 minutes after the Sunderland goal. Before that chances were dismal, or from 30 yards out from cesc, and after it sort of petered down and we seemed almost content with the loss.
The thing is, its these kind of periods, that we could have used 2 or 3 new signings. Get rid of the likes of Traore that havent made much progress and bring in a proper left winger? Bring in a Cana, and maybe a Chamakh, and how much more promising would this squad have looked.
Cana cost what 5 million? We could have got Chamakh for about 8 mill, and maybe a new winger/keeper on top of that and we would look alot more solid but its always those 2 or 3 players short in our squad that are going to harm our season. Yesterday was a prime example.
It was so poor in the first half we could have switched to a 4-4-2,
Almunia
Sagna-Gallas-Vermaelen-Traore
Ramsey---Song---Cesc---Nasri
----Eduardo----Rosicky------
or given Rosicky or Nasri the central role earlier as they were trying their best to be there anyway, could have played Eboue, or could have played the int duty players for the first half.
but opted for a bench with defencive stability, decent crosses, pace, the lot.
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.
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
after players came back tired, i just felt this will be a weekend were points will be dropped but i didn't think it will be 3 points.
Can We Now Trust The Process 🤔🤷🏿♀️ or Should We Still Remain Cautious 🙇🏿♀️
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.