No chance Arsenal prove size matters – Bhm 0 Asn 2

Away win
By Boris Mellor
February 5 2006

No pundit gave Arsenal a chance of winning at Birmingham. That was not unreasonable, Birmingham were on a rich vein of form, and Arsenal had only won two games away all season. Added to this was that fact that Arsene had no full backs to chose from.

If Arsenal’s defence struggled with Campbell, how would they play without him against a couple of bruisers such as Sutton and Heskey?

According to Kevin Mcbodger of the Guardian Wenger’s claim that his team is very young is much exaggerated. Even on Thursday, after the Hammers game, he insisted that Sol Campbell was playing with a sprinkling of youngsters. A sprinkling? A back line of Gilbert, Senderos and Djourou – surely it was a sprinkling of old timers? And when Campbell was substituted he was replaced by the 20 year old Larsson.

The average age of the team today was 22!

Eight of the team were 22 and under, with several 20 and under.

Lehmann Flamini, Djourou, Senderos, Larsson, Fabregas, Diaby Gilberto, Reyes, Adebayor, Henry.

Subs Almunia, Bergkamp, Hleb, Walcott, Pires

No Premiership team plays a younger team – certainly not Chelsea. But Mcbodger is a master of statistics, and no doubt will disprove the case by pointing out that Lehmann is 63. That brings the average up nicely. Wenger’s team choice of Adebayor took many by surprise. With Diaby and Adebayor in the team the average height, but not age, has increased overnight. Come on Mcbodger admit you were wrong to suggest that Wenger was hiding behind the "youngsters excuse".

The key to Arsenal’s victory against Birmingham was that the team, especially the defence, played with steel. This is what fans have been calling for, and now it’s happening. The defence didn’t wilt under pressure, indeed Sutton and Heskey did everything they could to bully the back four. Lehmann played out of his skin, not only making great saves, but also organising, shouting and cajoling the back four. It was as if he was an extra captain. His efforts kept the back four, that included two players who had never played a full 90 minutes at top level as full backs before, in the game. At times they rode their luck, but they played for each other – never giving up – and the midfield helped out as well.

The more Birmingham were frustrated the more likely it became they would concede a goal, and it only took 21 minutes for it to happen. Fabregas passed to Henry on the edge of the area and his flick went to Diaby's. Diaby got into the box and crossed hitting Martin Latka, the ball bounced off Taylor to Adebayor, who without needing to jump headed into the net from a couple of yards out. A scrappy goal – of the type the Gunners should score more often.

The second half was less exciting with fewer chances, but on 63 minutes Cesc Fabregas received the ball in midfield and gave a wonderful Bergkamp style through ball to Henry. Leaving his marker standing, with one touch, the Arsenal Captain whipped the ball past Taylor becoming the first player to score 200 goals for the Gunners.

If there was any doubt it was game set and match Heskey’s sending off, for a second yellow, shortly before the end made the result a certainty for the Gunners.

The tall spine of Lehmann, Diaby, and Adebayor had made all the difference. Size does matter. This new taller Arsenal will develop into a team hard to beat.