Manuel Leads From The Back As Gunners Impress
Oct 21st, 2008 by 'holic
Consistency, or rather the lack of it, may yet prove to be an impossible hurdle to overcome, but regardless of how critical you may have been of this Arsenal side there are days (or nights!) where you just have to hold your hands up and say ‘Wow, that was special’. This was one.
If you really want to you can concentrate on the defensive shortcomings of this performance, and clearly they were apparent, but this was proof positive of the old cliche about attack being the best form of defence. Both sides set about about proving it. Make no mistake, for about an hour the hosts were capable of digging themselves out of the hole they found themselves in.
That they didn’t owed much to the tactical surprises sprung by Arsene Wenger. One proved to be a matchwinner. Abou Diaby prompts much debate amongst the Gunners faithful, but given the free role tonight he turned up in the places where the Turks were anticipating to find perhaps Fabregas and Nasri. They were unhinged by his unexpected close control, and his reward was a fine twenty-second minute goal.
The other tactical change saw the unusual pairing of Mikael Silvestre and Alexandre Song holding a high line and looking to spring the offside trap at every opportunity. A lack of pace in the former, and the sheer inexperience of the other, meant it didn’t always work, but behind them the captain for the night, Manuel Almunia, was simply outstanding, acting as sweeper as well as goalkeeper.
The Spaniard made the first of many crucial saves as early as the second minute, but on ten and eleven minutes the visitors astonishing passing and moving resulted in wonderfully cool finishes from Emmanuel Adebayor and Theo Walcott.
Fenerbahce were back in it when Song was exposed one against two at the far post and the unfortunate Silvestre got the final touch, but Diaby’s fabulous strike restored the Gunners two goal advantage. Both sides were looking at their best going forward and it made for absorbing entertainment, particularly the contest between Almunia and the Spanish striker Guiza, who regularly breached the back line but couldn’t get the better of his countryman.
The second-half was just four minutes old when a set piece ended up with Song lashing a right foot volley in at the far post, and effectively the win was secured. The emphasis shifted to keep ball and with the hosts tiring the nerves were settled. That is until Guiza finally took advantage of some sloppy defending to finally get a legitimate strike beyond Almunia.
Any thoughts that the game would creep towards a quiet climax ended when Aaron Ramsey was introduced. The seventeen year old had an opportunity for seventeen minutes, and was determined to make the most of it. He grabbed a fifth goal for Arsenal with a great last-minute strike from the edge of the box.
The curmudgeonly will point out that the Fener defence was all too easily caught square (and ours too!), and that more serious challenges lie in wait as the season progresses. Nobody will disagree with that. However, it would not make sense to dismiss lightly the home record this side had built up in recent seasons. Fifteen unbeaten in the Champions League before tonight. The quality of Arsenal’s football in such circumstances was breathtaking.
Thank you Arsene, and Arsenal, for another magical evenings entertainment.
Competition reminder
Don’t forget to come back later this week for your chance to win the four, yes four!, latest Arsenal books from Octopus Publishing. Tomorrow night I’ll be setting the question, and given it is Arsene Wenger’s birthday it may well be about ‘Le Boss’. See you then.
25 Responses to “Manuel Leads From The Back As Gunners Impress”
Oooh, first drink, first time.
A nightcap would be just in order thanks, ‘holic
Oh, and well played the lads!
Could be a lock-in tonight, herts 🙂
nightcap, one for the road, pint.
However, it would not make sense to dismiss lightly the home record this side had built up in recent seasons. Fifteen unbeaten in the Champions League before tonight.
Errr… we were away ‘holic.
I’ll take a celebratory raki for the road.
Granted our defence was a little makeshift at times, but with so many injuries I thought they did well, and the high line worked much of the time. Wasn’t Almunia superb though? A great mix of sense, risk and reward was on display that may start to silence those who still don’t think he’s world class.
Diaby showed immense talent – I was thinking he’d be much more rusty after spending so long on the physio’s bench, but maybe he felt he had something to prove. He certainly proved it.
Theo’s coming of age, much more poise on the ball, and a footballing brain starting to be carried on those turbo-charged legs. Ramsey will be immense in years to come. Comrade Eboue’s interception on the line continued his rehabilitation as a skillful footballer as well as cheeky chappy.
I could go on, it was just such a joy to watch.
aaaa yes!!! is this not why we love The Arsenal?!?!?!
Magical indeed… I think the formation worked 2nite (as opposed to the suderland game) becos we had the right players available to do so and the small fact that RVP was not playing out on the right.
Midfield was excellent, even tho Nasri’s defending was lacking at times. It was really great to see the lads finishing off the goal instead of making me tear my hair out.
All in all a really fantastic performance. Loved it. or 2 things to work out defensively, but we will get some good confidence boosters in the next 3 weeks. Now lets, dare i say it, hammer the hammers the wkend then there is the small matter of 2 point *purs (hahahahahahahahahahahahaha) and stoke to get it right before Nov 8…
Pint please ‘Holic…
cheers from a very hot Africa…
Err Samuel, I was talking about Fenerbahce!
Samuel – I think he meant Fener’s home record.
Pint of numbers please.
Though we were heading for another Inter 5-1 until they got a cheeky second goal.
How did you guys feel about Silvestre tonight? I was very happy with his performance, i felt he added experience, he read the game well, dealt with everything in the air and every time he intercepted he always did it passing the ball to a team mate. I think AW should stick with him. I’m not so sure about Song though. I think with a stronger opposition he will get destroyed and sometimes his positioning let him down, as shown by the second goal we conceded.
Cheers from Cyprus
I thought Silvestre was very unlucky to get lumbered with an own goal, but other than that he seemed solid, as he did in the second half on Saturday. He’s not got immense pace, but he seems to have his head screwed on. I’ ve also been pleasantly surprised at how jubilant he seems when we score- maybe he’s been a secret Gooner all those years with ManUre.
Song I think needs experience playing that role, but then I’m not sure we can risk giving him that experience.
15 matches unbeaten at home. Hmm what is our record at home?
Thought you were going to the game, holic? Did you post this from downtown Istanbul? Anyway, you summed it up really well. We looked superb going forward and, if on occasions, we were the cause of too much excitement at the back, we shouldn’t forget that this back four were playing together for only the second time.
Ade ran his heart out and his touch was good tonight. Everyone in the mid-field did well going forward, I thought. Cesc’s through balls were superb and Diaby had one of his best games.
I thought Ramsey and Djourou both looked really good when they came on. Great to see the boss giving these two and Vela a feel for the atmosphere away in Europe?
Is Aaaron Ramsey the youngest ever Arsenal scorer in Europe or in a European away game? I know Cesc holds the record for us in the Premier League.
Top performance. I bet most of us would have settled for a point before kick off if it had been on offer.
Back four did not look as together as we would have liked. But as others have commented, they have hardly played together. I prefer Song as the holding midfield player rather than a centre half. Any formation takes time to gel. Considering all of that along with the absentee’s I do not think it was that bad. Almunia was very impressive and set a good example. Also thought Eboue had a very solid game.
Diaby was outstanding. I would love to see him actually stay fit and be able to get a run of games under his belt. I think we would really see him at his best then.
Fener were not a great side. But take nothing away from our display. This is one of the toughest places to go and play and we took them apart, silenced the crowd and came out with a result that leaves us with one foot in the next round. For such a young side I though we showed great character. Now, lets just make sure we build on this result.
Was that Diaby or his twin brother? He seems a totally different player. Fabregas at his best too.
Where is that idiot not long ago who had started a blog who suggested to replace Almunia?
Having moaned about AW’s 1st half experiment on Saturday I have to hold my hands up to last night’s mix’n’match being something of a triumph.
Ok the defence was a bit iffy at times but given the circumstances that was not too surprising and, as you say ‘holic, Al played a blinder. Will all the critics now shut the f**k up please?
And once again I must doff my cap to Silvestre who I thought was a disaster in the making, but does look a better player than I remember at the mancs.
Particular credit must go to Diaby who, despite his promise, did give the impression that he preferred the physio’s couch to the pitch. He’s played this position before and been nondescript but tonight he certainly stepped up to the plate and looks ready to make up for lost time.
And credit too to Eboue for once, (God those words are hard to type ) particularly for “that” clearance and his work for the Ramsey goal – so glad we bought the latter; he reminds me of an odd mix of early Brady/Vieira and it really doesn’t get any better than that!
A great performance; yet ITV still managed to devote more time to the mancs highlights (offside, offside!) despite having shown said garbage live. Plus ca change . . . .
I could go wittering on but you’ve already said it all. It’s all looking rather good; well ‘til Sunday . . . .
Eboue will give Sagna a fight for the RB position. Great!!
Diaby….. proved he is more of a central midfielder. And a great display. His defensive side was also shown when he had to stand in temperory after Denilson had to go off for prolonged treatment.
Song was the weak link. Hopefully Gallas or Djourou partners Silvestre from now on.
Overall what a magnificent performance. Great formation with two wingers. Fabergas was magical.
Heh, Samuel. Reminds me of the old fast show sketch, where the new to football bloke overhears two blokes in a pub
“Well, with Bergkamp in this sort of form for Holland, England had better watch out”
“I think you’ll find Bergkamp plays for Arsenal”
I’ll have a drink to celebrate Sir Wenger’s birthday.
Was that Diaby or his twin brother? He seems a totally different player.
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He must have been working on that useless left foot. Even was able to use it to score.
Seriously though, he was good because he played in his favoured position, I don’t think Diaby is suited to play defensively. As an attacking midfielder he was good last night.
Happy birthday Le Boss!
We need at least one new stopkicker and one new mid-defense guy
That mollusc has clearly defected
You seem familiar, Nantucket. Did you used to play American football for the Basildon Bonds?