Another Game Of Two Halves
Jul 23rd, 2008 by 'holic
“Come on, we’re having drinks and nibbles in the garden.”
“But Arsenal are on the box?”
“I said….”
So it came to pass that I didn’t get to watch the hastily-taped contest in Hungary against the team with the unpronounceable name until very late last night. In fact today had started by the time the outcome was confirmed.
By then I had realised I could have gone to bed at half-time and not missed anything of any significance. As on Saturday there was a marked difference between the two halves. This time the starting eleven hit the ground running and there were improved performances from the likes of Bendtner and Walcott.
Three changes were made from the side that began at Barnet. Gavin Hoyte was promoted to partner brother Justin in the centre of the defence. The younger Hoyte has been a rising star of the academy, but this will be a big year for him and he needs to be able to show a great deal of progress from last night. It was a relief the pair were not up against more accomplished opponents.
Jack Wilshere had earned his starting berth with an outstanding performance at the weekend. This was a more disciplined show by the sixteen year old, and he showed he is capable of putting in a workmanlike shift when under orders. I hope the exuberance and energy that epitomised his cameo on Saturday will not be coached out of him.
Carlos Vela started alongside Bendtner and was frequently seen in good positions in and around the box. At one point he looked a typical Arsenal player, spurning a goalscoring opportunity for himself to set up Denilson, who thrashed his effort against the bar. He may need to work on his heading, but clearly this is a talent we will see more of as the season progresses.
The scoring was almost an afterthought. The Hoytes’ got in a bit of a tangle as the seventy-three year old striker, Kensesei, gave Szombathelyi the lead. Theo Walcott levelled after being set up by Bendtner. That was it, really.
No action now until Monday when we play a Burgenland X1. Well, you wouldn’t want players confidence to be shattered by putting them up against the full Burgenland side now, would you? That gives five days to concentrate on new signings, or maybe Burgenland will lend us a centre-half for Monday?
10 Responses to “Another Game Of Two Halves”
First Drink?
“I hope the exuberance and energy that epitomised his cameo on Saturday will not be coached out of him.”
No chance! Not at Arsenal it won’t be!
Anyone notice that the players used their actual squad numbers?
I hope this doesn’t mean Gavin Hoyte has been given the 19 jersey…Then again, I doubt it as Wilshere wore 7.
We are quite short, in terms of stature, also.
Your all drunk.
ALL WE NEED NOW IS A CENTRE HALF, DEF. MIDFIELDER, AND A STRIKER: THE PREMIERSHIP IS OURS FOR THE TAKING.
UP D GOONERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sniff, I did notice that myself and got rather excited when I saw the 27 shirt on a player who wasn’t Eboue 🙂
Oh, ANOTHER game of two halves?
Are you keeping the ‘half’ theme especially for Jackster? :-p
+heh, on first mention, I read the team’s name as ‘Burgerland’.
I think it’s due to my current location.
What has happened to Jackster?
Errm I was waiting to get the number 10?