Here We Go Again
Sep 25th, 2007 by 'holic
Beating a Sam Allardyce side is always pleasant. For all that he is one irritating so and so you have to say he has made silk purses out of cauliflower ears at Bolton in recent years.
You just knew he would put a strong side out at the Grove, for the Carling Cup represented his best chance of getting Newcastle into Europe next season. His new side, however, has yet to demonstrate the durability of his former charges and late on succumbed to the sheer exuberance of the Gunners youth.
With ten minutes remaining I was thinking that Nicklas Bendtner had possibly missed the opportunity to demonstrate his often extravagant claims to a first team place. I was mistaken. Seven minutes remained when the Dane climbed to meet a cross from Armand Traore to head home the goal so deserved by the dominant hosts.
If it had taken two teenagers to fashion the opening goal, then only one was required for the spectacular second. The Brazilian, Denilson, powered home a long range effort in the closing stages and the Geordies were left to make the long journey home empty-handed.
Newcastle’s best chances fell to Obafemi Martins, and the irony of that cannot be lost on those of us who recall the popular press heralding his imminent signing in the summer as the solution to Arsenal’s goalscoring ‘problems’. Yes, the same popular press now gushing about us!
So the kids will get at least one more opportunity to show their worth in a competitive setting, and we look forward to that. Sam Allardyce may just be wondering how much work is required for the Geordies to feast at the top table in the Premiership. When the fifth best side in the country is so comprehensively beaten you cannot help but be optimistic about the future for Arsenal.
12 Responses to “Here We Go Again”
I’m not accusing you specifically of being a hypocrite, since I don’t recall what you actually personally said on the matter, but almost every blog agreed with basically everything the press was saying about Martins and Anelka. It’s not only the press who are quickly back-tracking, but equally the blogs and supporters. I for one never jumped on the band wagon as with us supposedly needing investment and ‘big-name’ players and I’m sure that there were plenty of others too. But half the blog posts of half the Arsenal blogs spoke endlessly about how we need to buy either Anelka or Martins regardless of the poor logic involved. I suppose you could say it was the same poor logic that Ferguson followed when buying Tevez, he now has two Wayne Rooneys in a team that not only only has room for one, but sometimes is even prepared to only play one upfront. I just wish more people would think before they say because so many people seem to not consider half the factors involved in making a decision. Real football is not PES or FIFA where you can and might as well spend every penny you get buying great players just to line your bench. In real life players actually want to play, I mean look at Liverpool, I find it hard to believe that entire squad will be kept happy for any length of time when so many aren’t asured of their place in the team from one week to the next.
Oh well, sounds like a great performance tonight. Nice one the Gunners!
Anelka or Martins , either of them, might have been, or might still be good signings. But if the four strikers we have work out, then all the better. I don’t speak with Arsene personally, so I can be sure, but I’d bet he thought long and hard about at least one or either of these players.
I do agree that the pre-season pessimism was exaggerated.
At this point, the Arsenal bloggers’ challenge is to find the next superlative to describe this great run!
So Goonerholic, you were at the game, then? I guess it wasn’t broadcast anywhere. I can’t get my hands on any video, although I have seen the goals and Big Phil’s clearance. It would be the first gap of the season of Arsenal et Les Bleus if I can’t get ahold of any video.
Blimey Ryan, you needed to get that off your chest. That’s not a problem though. For the record I, and most of the quality blogs, were harping on about a couple of new signings that didn’t happen. There seemed to be a conensus that we were possibly a goalscoring winger and a central defender short. The form of the other midfielders has made the first one look unnecessary at the moment. I’ll argue until I am bright puse in the face that we are still a central defender short.
I cannot recall the main blogs being anything other than thoroughly unenthused at the prospect of Martins (widely ridiculed for his alleged age) or Anelka (once bitten, twice shy). I may be wrong on that and you can be sure someone will point out if I am!
You make some good points about United and Liverpool. The proof of the pudding will come in May. I’m hoping we will need a big spoon and a whole lot of custard!
433, Arsenal Goals Clips have the goals (see Arsenal Goals in the GoonerhoLinks). I suspect any longer highlights may not start to appear until after the ITV show tonight, or until ATVO have them on.
Ryan – Whilst some sites may have being prematurely saying we need a new striker, you are equally as guilty in saying we don’t. Lets not get ahead of ourselves here, we are doing exceedingly well yes, but what happens if the goals dry up? Adebayor goes to the ACN in Janurary, what if Eduardo doesn’t score. I personally think we’ll be more than fine…….I’m just trying to think from an objective point of view.
Great win, awesome goals……the beat goes on!!
It is a wild generalisation to claim that “almost every blog agreed with basically everything the press was saying about Martins and Anelka” though to be fair you go on to contradict your own point when saying only “half the blog posts of half the Arsenal blogs spoke endlessly about how we need to buy either Anelka or Martins”. That’s right – there were at least as many views rejecting the idea as supporting it.
The recurring theme in the transfer window was the need for a left winger. What irony then that both goals came in typical left wing fashion with a great driven cross for the first and a jinking jaunt into the box for the second. Why restrict ourselvs to a one dimensional winger when all our players have those skills and more?
with every game i find it harder to remember what gilberto silva looks like in the middle of the park.
Diarra only cost us £2m, i’d put him way above obi mikel in my team, cheers Jose 🙂
Amos is right that the one recurring theme was the need for a winger or a left winger. Left midfield has mostly been occupied by Rosicky, who has done well, and Diaby, who looked like not being a good fit, until he made a cameo as the best left-sided midfielder in world football.
I’ve only seen the youtube highlights, but Diaby’s assist to Denilson last night was quality. All he needs to do is keep it up.
Dino’s nod to Jose for letting Diarra go is a sentiment I’ve been harping on about here and here.
its amazing how the performances jus keep coming.our midfield is bursting becoz there is jus so many players vying for starts.Dino you right Berto hasnt been seen there for a while and maybe we starting to forget whet he does but no mistakes should be made he is needed in that midfield.
but taking a look at the other options is enjoyable too.
Diarra is so calm around there good with the ball at the feet and fit enough to chase back and help defend.
Denilson can sit in the middle ochestrate passes and on occasions have a pop and what a pop he can have.
I feel Wenger has lessened his midfield headache by giving Diaby games on the wing and slowly he is showing glimpses that he might be worthwhile to have him there coz he can come inside on both attacks and defensive duties but primarily his position too is the middle of the park,what an absolute joy these times are…
You’re right to a certain extent Ryan, there were a lot of people clamouring for Martins, Anelka and a left winger. A few have since eaten humble pie and admitted that ‘Arsene knows’ after all. There is more than one way to skin a cat and just because others play wingers does not mean it’s the only way. We have excellent overlapping full-backs who can put in good crosses from the wings, but they are supported by midfielders with the ability to turn inside and create or score goals as well. I think this gives our team more options than playing with traditional wingers. Hopefully we can keep this promising start going as long as possible and bounce back quickly from any defeats along the way.
Well ‘holic,,, been at the vino too much tonight.. but I am some what surprised by the ggooonerholic’s prediction.. If you lot lose gooner land should hold you peronally responsible for the loss.. Fact the spammers aint gonna win and be ashamed a spud told you so.. Ill get me coat and pass out now thank you!! Dreaming of … Gareth Bale our new planet of the apes saviour
Cus, I think we know who has been at the wine. I’m predicting a 2-1 win to Arsenal, and it is on the next blog, not this one! Good luck with Gaelen.