Arsenal Owe Much To The Power Of Vito
Sep 27th, 2009 by 'holic
Fulham remains a real football day out, I am delighted to report. Where else can you park your backside at a pub table overlooking the Thames (morning Tim!) for a refreshing pint? A bit of food and a stroll through the park down the towpath. There is no ‘atmosphere’ or ‘edge’ here. This is the place to bring kids, and quite a few have.
The Arsenal support may not have travelled huge distances to be here, but that doesn’t dampen the party spirit any. The songs are being cranked up before kick-off, and are repeated relentlessly, and with gusto. Surely that sort of support is worth a goal start? Maybe, maybe not.
From early on it is clear that while Arsenal have the silky movement and look comfortable in possession, it is the home side who are more direct and incisive. Arsenal want time to pick patiently at the Fulham defence, but they are not getting it. The lack of urgency is sensed and the visiting fans crank up the volume, urge their team to respond.
Pre-match we had watched the two ‘keepers being put through their paces. Would Szczesny get the nod over Mannone? No he wouldn’t. That turned out to be Arsene Wenger’s best bit of work on the day. I have yet to see a re-run, but an early double save was outstanding from where I sat, and set the pattern for the game. Every time he was called on, Mannone was up to the task, and then some.
I’m not sure what was said at half-time, but there was a little more urgency shown in the early stages of the second-half, and Arsenal had the lead when van Persie was freed by Fabregas and once again produced a clinical finish, with his ‘chocolate leg’ I think.
To be honest it was Cesc’s best moment, and there were those who thought that he, and not Arshavin, might make way for Tomas Rosicky at the mid-point of the half. The hard-working Bendtner nearly added to the tally, but thereafter we returned to the Vito Mannone show. Two more fine saves spared the Gunners blushes.
So beforehand we had speculated that this was a test of how far Arsenal have come since losing on the same ground last season. That the answer is positive owed a great deal to the goalkeeper, his two central defenders, and the graft put in by Song. This was not the Arsenal of the opening weeks of the season. This was a side that needs to re-inject some pace and sense of urgency into its creative play.
What they do have, however, is a work ethic that was missing so many times last term. This was not championship form, but the title is earned by somehow getting the points on days such as this. The away fans were the real match-winners at the Cottage. There is no doubt in my mind about that.
25 Responses to “Arsenal Owe Much To The Power Of Vito”
Morning, couldn’t agree more about Fulham.
A fantastic day out.
great piece, but got some q.
1. where’s theo ?
2. eduardo’s scored in almost every game he has started, why was he left out ?
3. would wilshere ever start a game in the league, or would wenger wait till there’s nothing else to play for before bringing him in- then go on to tell us how much potential he’s got !
4. Is there any law against taking out your captain, if he’s about to cost you the game.
AND FINALLY, should sylvester be our first choice back up when we have senderos . cant tell u how many times i had my hands in my mouth thinking gallas was about to come off injured.
great game though, lots of tension
A lovely day out, we sang and sang.
Speaking of which…. Am I the only one who thought song was excellent?
I was hoping Cesc, diaby would be subbed as they seemed the weak links yesterday…..
Ive seen Vito for the reserves afew times an he never looked like anything special. maybe he as come of age or Perhaps a one off?I hope not.
Sorry to state the obvious but Don Vito was, quite simply, awesome yesterday.
Like a lot of the rest of us, I had real doubts about his ability to deputize for our main man between the sticks. Like everyone, I’ve been massively impressed by the young Italian.
Loved the way almost our entire playing contingent embraced Mannone at the end. Fulham put on a terrific show against us and Hodgson has put together a decent team down there on the banks of the Thames.
Whilst we hardly sparkled at any point yesterday, I think thats got more to do with the players coming back into the reckoning like Rosicky, Arshavin and Vela. Once again props to Comrade Eboue, who I thought was excellent when he came on, his shot late on aside.
Its a tired old statement, but this is the kind of game we’d have lost last season. Arsene saying we’d have got a point against this side last season was hopeful at most and the three points suggest we’ll have a much better run at things when times are tougher.
Holic you old codger, I hadn’t realised you’d be leaving the Boathouse so soon. I was gonna set my lovely pint of Kew down and have a natter. If there’s a Young’s Pub within shouting distance of aground Arsenal are playing at, you can be sure me and my entourage will be there. I see you opted to get yourself some nut brown beverages a good four and half hours before kick off too. Good man!
Nice report, ‘holic.
On ESPN they were saying Jack Wilshere had some kind of knock picked up in the Carling Cup, I think.
Morning ‘holic. Strong coffee for me please – I celebrated yesterdays result by partying a little to hard at a family bbq.
Hard fought for result that I think we deserved. Mannone was immense. Can someone tell me who is our first choice goalkeeper?
What’s more, with everyone fit, I’d be interested to know who is our first choice midfield?
Great to see a striker get the winning goal….just reward for RvP’s hard work and confidence as we move ahead. Arshavin’s form was a little awry but it was his first game back and even his very presence unnerves opposition defenders.
Sorry Dutch, we had a table booked at LaMancha for tapas. Went back to some Camra pub afterwards and got some Mild in. Yum yum 🙂
Good to see you again, if only briefly. You’re looking well.
The one thing that marred the game for me was when Gallas went down injured after a defending header late in the second half. Lewin Jnr ran on with his magic bag and no sooner had he put it down that notorious water thief Bobby Zamora had it open and was rummaging through it. Where are your manners Zamora. This was compounded by Zamora holding up 6 fingers at the end alleging that the ref should add on more stoppage time as Mannone took his time picking up the ball. From this day henceforth, Zamora shall always be known as “Six fingers” on account of both actions.
Is that what it was? I thought Zamora was indicating that Mannone should only be permitted 6 seconds between picking up the ball and completing his goal kick.
Whatever……the man’s clearly a fool!
Zamora was counting down Mannone’s holding of the ball, he was two seconds out but Vito got rid of it in time anyway.
Let’s be honest – Mannone was extremely fortunate with his saves. He parried every save into the danger zone & got away with it. He didn’t push any around the post, they all fell in the six-yard box and could all have been tapped home by a predatory striker. The saves were all textbook wrong. Also, a couple were made to look better than they needed to be. The long range from Dempsey could’ve been caught but he dived theatrically and pushed again into the danger zone. And his best save from Zamora’s header at the end was more or less straight at him but again just rebounded into the 6-yard box.
He was the matchwinner and good on him, but all of his saves could’ve fallen to their strikers and today the headlines would’ve been saying what a donkey he was for the way he failed to clear the ball – same saves, different outcome.
hope he can be as good as buffon.
lets just pray and hope.
Tommy, I’m not complaining. Are you?
Bit negative Tommy. Mannone successfully made every important save thrown at him…all of em. Shouldn’t we be celebrating that? The guy’s a rookie in terms of his 1st team experience. I’d have thought we should cut him a little slack.
Outstanding day out. It was my boy’s first experience of an away game after 30 matches for him at Highbury and the Grove – thanks to Fulhams neutral stand rule. He absolutely loved it and when we were being hugged and jostled by the row behind when RVP scored he just couldn’t keep the grin off his face. I was able to regale him of when it was like that all the time on the North Bank.
Nover mind the game – well played Vito. The fans were outstanding and we were singing long into the night on the way home.
All together now – he’s five foot four – he’s five foot four ! ……….
Now how can I get another away ticket …..
Fancy Burnley on a Tuesday night in December? There should be a few spare for that 😉
Nice report. We weren’t quite at the races, which happens. I thought Fulham played well. They kept the ball well, briefly, and then went bombing forward and keeping the pressure on. It could have come undone yesterday for us like it did for Chelsea. Does Diaby help out enough with the early pressing? Does this explain Fulham’s success in keeping the pressure on us?
Song makes over aggressive opposition midfielders look stupid with his feints and shimmies.
With song, verminator and gallas giving it their best, and most aggressive, and staying intensely focussed for 90 minutes it won’t be long before 1. one of them gets injured, or 2. their reputation begins to proceed them and other squads’ strikers get put off, refs treat them better, etc. Maybe Senderos might take the disciplined aggressive approach and focus for 90 minutes, too. Most importantly, Arsenal being known as a physical team again and willing to mix it up should help us against weaker teams. They will arrive without their standard psychological support of thinking that at least if they kick us then they are in with a chance. I really appreciated how well Bendtner took Konchesky’s pretty clearly intended elbow to the face. He moved on as soon as he could from it, whereas 18 months ago it would have distracted him for most of the match.
I am not worried about fluidity going forward. Like everyone else I still think we need depth and a dominant keeper to emerge, asap, but I love the way our centre backs are fighting hard staying quick, mobile, physical and self-sacrificing. Great spirit.
Why does Gallas love the Verminator so much? It’s a bit odd don’t you think? He looks tickled pink.
THE MANNONE SONG!
When the moon hits you eye like a big pizza pie
That’s MANNONE
When the world seems to shine like you’ve had too much wine
That’s MANNONE
When the stars make you drool just like a pasta fazool
That’s MANNONE
Scuzza me, but you see, back in old Highbury
That’s MANONNE!
Quote “Sofa King”: Loved the way almost our entire playing contingent embraced Mannone at the end.
That’s fantastic to read, success I always feel is built firstly upon togetherness then comes the fight for each other through that.
Nice report ‘holic, and yeah interesting time to play Fulham away making a good yard stick. Maybe after Citeh some, certainly the media, thought that Arsenal were short of the top few but with four wins since I think we’re back on track and winning without being in top gear and that like ‘holic said is what makes champions.
We’ve now played 6, one in hand and 4 of those away including: Everton, United, Citeh and Fulham all away. Win our game in hand and we’re only 3 behind despite a very tough start. Theo and Nasri to come in too so plenty to be positive about. I make that 8 wins, 2 defeats that’s a very positive start given the manner and opposition of the those two defeats.
Does results against the top four really count? Well United certainly didn’t get many points last season did they, it’s your tight ones against the ‘expected to beats’ that for me are crucial.
If we continue current home/away records that would bring 85.5 pts, a significant improvement on last term.
The Away fans were fantastic, heard our songs throughout the game. Great job.
A good battling performance and a more than welcome three points. But I must say I do thing some are getting just a tad carried away. Our third choice keeper won us the match. Why??? Because we gifted an average side far too many chances. I am not normally one for the negative but for me there were few positives to take from the game apart from the three points.
I thought out passing, especially in the first haf was poor at best. Far too many players were way off the boil. For me we still lack strength in depth and we have not, in my opinion replaced the players that have left over the last 3 seasons. I m not a fan of Song and do not think he is the answer for the holding role I also think that if we do not get full seasons out of our centre halves then we are weak in that position.
We got out of jail against Fulham as we did in midweek. I hope that my fears turn out to be unsubstantiated, but I have a genuine worry that in certain positions that we lack both strength in depth and class.
It’s silly to be too reactionary about players, particularly goalkeepers, but it might turn out to be significant that in our last two games both Mannone and Sczszzzcsszcsszczcsny have given more outstanding performances than we have seen from Almunia or Fabianski in the last year or so. For my money Almunia has never really looked so solid that you wouldn’t contemplate dropping him, and I think plenty of Arsenal fans will see it that way. And Fabianski will be particularly worried, as he may well have dropped to fourth choice keeper now. It’s a long road back from that.
watch this. this guy is sooo good i dont understand why we doubt and bash him ever so often
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuEif0Rpr00