Netbusters 2 Bath Towel Rovers RFC 1 - Fabregas to deliver
Netbuster
By Boris Mellor
August 29 2010
What is it with the bath towel? On one occasion the towel was used for 30 seconds and then the ball thrown 5 yards. The best Blackburn throw which nearly led to a goal, was launched without using the towel. In tennis both sides have a towel; if we have to put up with this nonsense shouldn't both teams have a towel? Not that Arsenal care that much about throw ins, and that shows at times.
TweetBlackburn had barely 40% of possession - at home! Five per cent of that must have been with the ball wrapped in the towel. Ironically their goal didn't come from the almost continuous aerial bombardment, but from an Arsenal type move down the wing.
The one time they kept the ball on the ground they scored. Koscielny got skinned on the ground for the goal, but he and the Verminator were quite happy to head the ball out all day.
This was a good result, an improvement on last year when the team lost 2-1, but it was disconcerting to see the main cause of last year's defeat sitting on the bench. Thank goodness he wasn't needed. Almunia was good enough, if a new keeper is obtained it shouldn't be the Spaniard who leaves, it's the Pole that should depart. Imagine the headlines: Pole Axed.
Blackburn gave Arsenal a torrid first 20 minutes, but it wasn't particularly dirty, just up and under stuff, fortunately most of it went up, and very little under. The Gunners weathered the storm and got the passing game going.
Netbuster
However, at the end of twenty minutes it was the Arsenal that emerged 1-0 up. A Robin van Persie pass left Walcott plenty of time to think, but he stayed with the ball and didn't pull the trigger until the goalie had committed himself. It was more than instinct, and he hit it so hard that it broke the net.
Still can't hold a lead
It should have been plain sailing after the goal, but the defensive faults of the last two years remain, Arsenal often concede within minutes of scoring. This time it was poor defensive work by Koscielny, but hopefully he will learn the need to be more decisive and stronger on the ball. The team also began to lose the 50 - 50 battles before half time.
Second half improvement
Arsenal were quicker to the ball in the second half, and attacked in far more direct manner. By 51 minutes the lead was regained, a cool finish from Arshavin. It was to be the last goal of the game, the Arsenal fans were shouting ole' at every completed Gunner pass. It seemed like tempting fate, but fate was kind and Arsenal were able to fluff several more chances without consequence.
Afterwards Big Sam felt they deserved a draw on the chances created, but Arsenal had five shots on target to Blackburn's three, and both teams had five off target. Not a lot in it, and even though Wilshere scuffed a sitter, Arsenal proved to be the most ruthless.
Individual performances
None of the defenders were particularly great, but the team defended collectively, and for the most part kept the lines clear. To be fair most defenders would have problems with the frenetic style that Blackburn utilises. Sagna spent so much time attacking, to great effect, that it almost looked like Arsenal had a back three. This stretched Koscielny at times, and he is probably not used to this style of defending yet.
Diaby had a very good game, and was unlucky not to score; Arshavin was involved in much of the build up work, and scored a great goal. RvP created the first goal, and then reverted to balsa wood man. Chamakh doesn't have great pace or passing skills, but he is tough and kept going at the Blackburn defence, he also got into good positions.
Walcott was superb again, and his goal made the result possible, it meant Blackburn were always chasing the game. Song and Fabregas both looked a little off the pace with passes often going astray; but they both worked hard and frustrated Blackburn at every opportunity.
Fabregas to deliver
However, the fact that Fabregas remembered to stand on the line prevented a certain Blackburn goal just before Arsenal scored, if the ball had gone in at that stage it could have been a very different game. That kind of focus indicates he is prepared to deliver, whatever his thoughts about Barcelona.
A good result
Both Man U and Chelsea drew at Blackburn last year, indeed it was a game that finished off Man U's title chase. Three points at Ewood Park is a good result for any team. Arsenal lost this fixture last season, so unlike Liverpool away it is a step forward; however, it was a stronger team this time around. Thus, last season, Blackburn exposed the lack of depth in Wenger's squad. We shall have to wait and see if the squad is actually stronger now, as against it just being the first eleven that is better.
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:09:03:11:36:18 by Padre Pio.
If we are on the attack through right flank with over lapping right wing back, the left wing back should be able to return back his position and DM should protect the defense.
In case of Blackburn goal, no mid fielders ware in defensive positions to cover the defense so it became 3 against 3 situations only two defenders Vermaelen and Clichy was in the box against two Blackburn men in Arsenal penalty box. So mid field protection is the problem.
Koscielnly needs to toughen up and not get pushed off the ball.
"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.
1) This is the kind of counter-attack that RInus Michels cautioned on Total FOOtball where he insisted that there must be 3 defenders at any time to cover this kind of counter-attack.
2) And the defensive mdifielder must command the space to break-up precisely this kind of attack.
Point (2) is the main culprit as Vermaelen and CLichy had no help in a 2 on 2 situaiton which favors the attackers.
No cover from Sagna nor Theo with a CB covering right flank.
No DCM rushing back to aid Back-4.
Lack of positional sense and peripheral vision from CLichy in not tracking M DOuf even though he knew he was hovering near his eldt side.
Ges Wenger will give a reaming to the culprits during post-mortem on Monday morning.
DO notice when the whole team is attacking with 2 CB as well, it is Sagna and CLichy stationed at the centre circle to prevent ROute 101 counter-attack.
[arsenalsigs.blogspot.com]
Quote:Rockstaar
Kos(spelling) was responsible for goal and he alone...he had Diouf well covered and it was inexcusable what he did...worst case, he should ave taken Diouf out
Inexperience, and worried of being red-carded.
If it is Sagna, most certainly, Diouf will be taken out.
"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.