Cesc Just Amazing As Robbo Gets Deja-Vu
Oct 4th, 2009 by 'holic
A carnival atmosphere, a rare appearance by Thierry Henry, and a performance followed that summed up thirteen years of Arsene Wenger. There were a couple of setbacks, but in the end mesmeric football won the day. Those fortunate to be watching will surely remember this remarkable game.
Whoever thought they would feel sorry for Paul Robinson? Just a little bit? Oh, only me then. Blackburn’s ‘keeper ended with his usual spinal problem, but despite being beaten six times he undoubtedly prevented the rampant Gunners from notching up double figures. Poor Robbo has now conceded 47 goals in 16 meetings with the Gunners. You just gotta love him!
To be fair to Blackburn though, they had caused Arsenal some nervous moments in the opening hour, and twice had the audacity to lead. That was probably their biggest mistake! Just three minutes were gone when Vermaelen failed to deal with a straightforward Robinson hoof, and Nzonzi looped his header over a poorly-positioned Mannone.
Both men would make amends, Vermaelen quicker than expected. His thunderous left foot strike from a Fabregas pass put the home team level. The little Spaniard was once again at the very top of his game and twice Robinson had to be at his best to deny the skipper as Arsenal attempted to force the issue.
Then another break, and Dunn put Arsenal behind for the second time courtesy of a huge deflection off Gallas. The visitors were showing more than a little spirit, but their advantage was short lived. Fabregas again threaded the eye of the needle, and van Persie fired another left foot effort into the far corner from the inside-left channel.
The movement and interchanging between the front three of Rosicky, van Persie, and Arshavin was threatening to open the Rovers defence at will, and it was no surprise when the latter was freed by another inch-perfect Fabregas pass to make it 3-2, and yes, it was the left foot again that applied the finishing touch.
As the half drew to a close Fabregas was again denied the goal he so deserved when Robinson kept his far post header out. He would not be denied long in the second-half, although Blackburn started it the brighter.
We might have been upset if a similar challenge to that made by Vermaelen on Dunn had not resulted in a penalty at the other end, and then Olsson saw a superb volley acrobatically saved by the flying Mannone. It was time for Arsenal to assert themselves.
Fabregas, having seen two attempted passes returned to him, placed a superb volleyed chip (yes, left foot again) in the top left hand corner. Game over. All that remained was to see just how ruthless this Arsenal side would be. Very was the answer, although Robinson continued to keep them at bay until substitutes Walcott and Bendtner beat him in some style in the closing quarter of an hour.
The fifth was set up by Fabregas, who having picked up the ball on the edge of his own box to release Arshavin, sprinted the length of the pitch to act as intermediary between Arshavin and Walcott at the other end. Bendtner’s thumping finish was all of his own creation. It was good to see a couple of right foot efforts fly in!
So ended the celebrations inside the Grove, although followers of the ‘holic pound may now be enjoying a couple of extra pints as I type. I think I can hear a Guinness gently calling to me too. I shall savour it while contemplating a remarkable match, and thirteen wonderful years, again.
Cheers Arsene. Cheers Arsenal.
33 Responses to “Cesc Just Amazing As Robbo Gets Deja-Vu”
I’ll drink to that. what a game.
Forget Ronaldo, forget Messi, forget Kaka’, Cesc is BEST in the world.
wtf, vermaelen is hot!
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Heh, ‘holic. Guessing you had to write this one up pretty quickly. I have just finished watching the recorded version as we had guests around for lunch. Incredible display. 200-1 was available for that scoreline too. Oh well, there’s always next year for a big money payout. Cheers.
Good one, ‘holic. Up the Arsenal.
Oh, and a pint for me, please.
Superb performance, but of course, except that brainless Diaby, he should be playing in second division of French league.
With all due respect. pepe, we had worse performances than Diaby’s today, but to berate anybody in the wake of a display like that is to be churlish in the extreme.
Great offensive display from the team. Considering the fact that we still have Nasri coming back from injury we shouldn’t be having problems scoring goals. But defensively we were not at all convincing
Diaby did nothing wrong today, stop being a bastard for the sake of it.
I agree Samuel, Diaby played well, but he seems to be an easy scapegoat for the hard of thinking.
Great stuff today, and hope the ‘holic pound on Vermaelen has subsidised the odd Guiness.
Indeed it has, Fin, thank you 🙂
The Arsenal midfield and fwd line were outstanding everyone of them and that includes Diaby and the 3 subs.Two excellent performances this week.Long may this continue.All in all a good weekend.
Loved watching that!!! and i particularly enjoyed teh captains celebration!!!
to all those who says diaby played well… i cannot agree!!! do u really think he is a better player than Aaron??
For Robbo lovers everywhere I should point out I have used the numbers from the BBC. Someone I trust far more has listed the games, and in fact the porker has now shipped 56 goals in 18 games against us. 🙂
Great game, good atmosphere and great to see Henry return home. He seemed to have Bergkamp’s box for the match and had his name sung at regular intervals.
6 goals. Could have been double figures. Robinson actually played very well and Blackburn have him to thank for keeping it down to six. Sadly they also have us to thank for both of their goals. I hate to even consider a negative after that peformance but we do need to tighten up defensively. Silly errors have alredy cost us points this season. Today they just cost us goals. If we can cut them out then who knows what is on the horizon?
Great performances all round and some wonderful movement. Rosicky makes such a difference to this team. His artistry and class take us up a level. He works well with Arshavin and that could be something very special for us.
Not big fans of either Diaby or Song but on the whole I thought both did well today.
Now let’s just hope that after a break for the internationals that half the squad do not come back with injuries.
Keep the faith……
Nice post,’Holic. Your upbeat style is a tonic, but, hey, there’s a great deal to be upbeat about here today. Mind you, I had hoped for a draw at the Bridge.
Superb result and some beautiful attacking play from Arsenal. I enjoyed Theo’s goal particularly, super build up and great to see him back on the field and back on the score sheet.
By this time last year, the boo and bleat band had just about begun the downbeat that eventually resulted in Ade’s departure. Disappointing to see some similar sounds emanating from similar dark holes toward Diaby.
I’ve joined a band, ‘Holic. Vocals and rythmn guitar. Your vintage. Any requests? We look pretty old but we’re just back dated. Guinness would cool the tonsils nicely, barman.
i gotta agree with the overall sentiments that it was an amazing attacking display. our defending is not convincing but then we knew that already. Vermaelen made one error, Nzonzi’s goal. Mannone could have been more convincing like he was a bit later but that was inexperience for you, something he will be battling for quite some time. On that basis alone it was good to see him make up for the early error by coming convincingly when a similar ball was played in later, as well as pulling off a sharp save from a great volleyed effort by Olsson.
Vermaelen, after their 1st goal, got stuck in on the ground and in the air with the viciousness and brutality, as well as accuracy, that we have come to expect from him. He is a top player. I agree with whoever said Rosicky brings us up a level…despite already having AA23 and Fab4 in our team, he brings something just as special. That cross to Cesc late in the 1st half was a thing of true beauty; his passing, creativity and touch are of the highest calibre. Keeping him fit is very, very important to us right now.
I thought Diaby did well today. One or two characteristic errors but generally played it relatively early, chose the right option and got himself in the right areas. His excellent turn, burst and pass to Cesc was instrumental in the build up to Vermaelen’s goal. On that basis alone, his performance deserves a generally positive review.
I do not agree with the positive comments regarding Diaby, but then again, I am no expert!!!
and even if i did agree, i still think that Ramsey should get the nod before he does…
BTM,
You need to play that to Adebarndoor….
“Subsitute, your lies for fact”
That would make an interesting read.
Sorry BtM, I was out of my brain on the 5.15 🙂
Girls of 15?????
You be careful holic…..
How do you think he does it, Steve T, what makes him so good?
He certainly doesn’t look all white but many of the boo and bleat brigade would probably say he IS if they read it first in the Sun or NoTW.
OK, enough already. Come on Arsenal!
oh boy is that Nevada Smiths place rocking or what?
A little cognac for me please.
I think AW pulled off a trick,knowingly or unknowingly, playing Vito Mannone.He showed his inexperience on the first goal which eases the pressure on the returning Almunia(and of course Gianlugi Buffon!). Cheers to Monsieur Wenger and Senor Fabregas on a classy performance.
p.s:This year ballon d’or for fab.
It’s Monday ‘holic, but it still feels sooooooo good.
Another win, another excellent team display!!
Superb rocket strike by Vermaelen once again. As well, it’s great to see the strikers settling in to do their jobs…..scoring goals. And that was some goal celebration from Cesc ey?? Hopefully that will silence the doubters for at least another couple of weeks.
If I was being ultra critical, our two central defenders along with the keeper need to be talking to each other more in defending the long ball – better teams will cut us apart if we don’t get that right. BUT to harp on too much about that would be a tad miserly so I’ll keep it on the positive tip!
Brilliant start to the week so I’ll celebrate with an early morning Jura with a couple of ice cubes please barman.
Looking ahead to the game against Birmingham (bloody long wait). It would be nice to see Le Prof consider making use more of other squad members by say fielding Ramsey and maybe even Senderos and giving Cesc and Vermaelen (and/or even Gallas) a rest.
Keep the faith.
Since we are doing the lyrics thing I might as well make the jump from The Who to some good ol’ soul and comment on our wonderful array of attacking players with some words from an old Betty Everett classic (and one I bet old barman here probably danced the night away to at Wigan a few times…)
It’s getting mighty crowded
I’m telling you
It’s getting mighty crowded!
Keep the faith Gooners! Not that it’s hard to do that days like these…
Great result for the Gunners.
I am not sure about the whole badge kissing.
Cesc according to Guardian stats is at times making 20 % of Arsenal’s total passes.
The play truly goes through him.
A mark of how good he is.
Cesc Too Much For Blackburn
Get ready for some good drama this season. Luckily for once it looks it’s not going to be about us. It’s not at the club I dislike the most but it will do. Say hello to the has-beens otherly named mugsmahers.
Today one of the owners is lashing out at Benitez: “We have invested more money than our competitors, in keeping with the history of the club,” he is quoted as telling a representative of the fans’ group Spirit of Shankly last week. “In the last 18 months, we have invested £128m on top of what has come in. That means it should be getting better. Now if it’s not getting better, it’s not Gillett and Hicks; it’s the manager;”
And the best quote:
The American also claimed that Liverpool are “in an extraordinarily good financial position. Far better than Manchester United, Chelsea or Arsenal.”
Sure, sure. How’s that new stadium going BTW?
‘Pool have 3 interesting games coming (Sunderland away, Lyon and United home). Their blogs and boards are going to be even more fun to read very soon…
When your team plays so well international breaks seem to last forever…
I have been amusing myself with stats on our youth. For example: did you know that Bendtner is on track to become a great striker? Look at his scoring records and compare with Bergkamp and Henry at the same age:
17yo : Berkamp 2 in 14 / Henry 3 in 8 / Bendtner 0 in 3
18yo : Berkamp 5 in 25 / Henry 3 in 22 / Bendtner 13 in 48 (B’ham)
19yo : Berkamp 13 in 30 / Henry 10 in 48 / Bendtner 9 in 40
20yo : Berkamp 8 in 25 / Henry 11 in 44 / Bendtner 15 in 50
21yo : Berkamp 28 in 39 / Henry 1 in 19 / Bendtner 2 in 11 (current)
Bergkamp started at Ajax (19 years older than Bendtner).
Henry started at Monaco (11 years older than Bendtner).
Last season Bendtner scored more goals, at a higher rate and in a more difficult league than both Bergkamp and Henry (and Bendtner is still one year younger than Henry when the latter started playing for us).
Now who would’nt want to bet that next season, Bendtner will match Henry’s 26 in 47 or even Bergkamp’s 30 in 41?
and the scary thing is that cesc (and the other players) are still getting used to the system