Sunderland Edge Gunners On Wearyside
Nov 21st, 2009 by 'holic
How many of you like the humble pie. You’ll not be surprised to hear I love them. This was the footballing equivalent of a quorn pie, or a cheese and onion pasty. Devoid of meat and gravy there was something lacking. The fare did not satisfy the appetite that had been created for it.
Just before half-time I said in another place that we were almost brilliant, that Sunderland were almost competitive, and that this was almost a good game, but not quite. The second-half served up more of the same.
It became increasingly clear that one goal could well be enough to settle it, and I suppose it was not a complete surprise when we conceded it in the centre of the goal from a set piece. Although there was an element of fortune in the way the ball found its way into the gap that should not exist between goalkeeper and central defenders, there was no doubt Sunderland had earned the opportunity and Bent, of all people, finished.
That the hosts were in a position to take the points I think owed a great deal to the absence of Robin van Persie, and one absentee should not make such a difference. On Tuesday night against Liege Arsene will need to look long and hard at the current set up, be it 4-1-4-1, or 4-3-3 (it matters not) and decide if it can work with a poacher, rather than an all-rounder, at the spearhead.
Before you think I have turned into a pessimist in one afternoon, I haven’t. However, Eduardo appears not to be a physical specimen capable of playing with his back to goal and bringing others into the game, which is an important part of the role in this system.
The other fit, or nearly fit, candidates are similarly challenged, dimensionally. Before we take on Chelsea in what has become a very significant encounter next Sunday there may be a need to temporarily revert to a more traditional system. If Diaby is recovered we may need to consider him as a stand-in front-line partner for Eduardo or Theo Walcott.
I’m aware that this has turned more into a preview of upcoming games than a review of the reversal at Sunderland, but in so many ways the next two fixtures dwarf this one. We were not the shambolic side that surrendered points last season. A lack of effort was not a contributory factor to this defeat. We just didn’t find that killer touch that has been evident in most of our other fixtures this season, and for the first time we could say to the opponents, ‘You beat us fair and square, no complaints.’
I’m not about to get all negative on the side over one reversal. My degree of pessimism may be increased if we do not adjust the set-up to suit the available players if my suspicions are founded, but frankly I may be guilty of misjudging what was just a bad day at the office.
To make amends I have just stuck a pie in the oven that contains both of the staple foods necessary to sustain life.
Steak and Guinness.
39 Responses to “Sunderland Edge Gunners On Wearyside”
So diappointing today. Sunderland worked really hard, and we didn’t do enough.
A swift half to finally submerge my Saturday.
Ta.
Spot on holic. It was almost a good game. I was watching and never felt anxious but then never felt confident we would get the equalizer once down 1-0. It just never happened-a slightly robotic display and the hungrier team won the spolis.
Imperative we get two good results in the next two games. Qualify for the Cl knockout stages and get ourselves back in the title race with a performance against the chavs.
That was a classic November Arsenal away match. The international break always interrupts our rhythm, especially when we have to travel up north immediately after. No surprises today; we didn’t do enough to win the game. I somehow doubted we’d be ready for a physical encounter in front of a noisy crowd. Chelsea at home next weekend looks like a must win.
Yes I am with you and didn’t expect more than a draw today, so we dropped a point in effect. I didn’t think we’d done enough to win over the 90 anyway but neither did sunderland.
we really have to cut out poor defending at set pieces. when that ball came across we were like statues. when the ball came back across it was too easy for Bent.
I would not blame a lack of effort. I also wouldn’t necessarily write Eduardo off from playing a centre forward role. He just needed the right combination of players around him. A lack of width from Nasri and Rosicky did not help at all. Vela and Theo stretched Sunderland all over the place but of course we were already 1-0 down.
we MUST beat Chelsea next week if we have any chance of the title.
Disagree with you on the effort bit. I thought Rosicky and Eduardo were woeful in terms of hard work and creativity. The movement of our front three was quite poor all through the game.
I got the feeling they were just going through the motions rather than trying to win and we are a team that can concede one anytime.
Even after the goal we hardly created any sustained pressure. I don’t think any other top team would let two balls roll across the six yard line without anyone getting a touch, especially when down a goal in the final few minutes.
This was one of our worst performances this season.
I was hoping for a draw, no more. As AW said after the last break, coming back after 2 weeks for an away game is always very difficult. We lacked the necessary bite and although the result is not representative of the game, we did not deserve to win it either. The good news is that we have excellent players back, perhaps short on the fitness front but it can only get better.
But I think you’re a genius ‘Holic. Why not try Diaby to spearhead our attack? After all he’s played in every offensive position on the pitch except that one. Honestly though I think Eddie deserves a little bit more time there before we can conclude one way or another. After all it took 8 games for TH to score and RVP did not look like the man straight away.
It’s going to be a long, tough 3 months. If we manage not to be distanced by Chelsea come February, we’ll grab the title. But before that there’s going to be a lot of battling.
Best wishes for Mrs ‘Holic.
I respectfully disagree: Chelski is simply not a must-win game. We need to stay close at this stage of the season, we don’t have to be in front. As long as the gap does not widen too much we’re in good shape. Look at the fixtures for last 3rd of the season. We face all the bottom teams plus Citeh while Chelski have to play 5 of the 8 top teams. We’re in the same competition but the road to the title is very different for both teams.
Tired performnce by the lads today after the Interlull.
*Sigh*
We didn’t deserve to score, let alone win the match.
Oh well.
Good piece as always, ‘holic.
I haven’t finished my malt yet so shall drink it with you.
I really believed in the ‘holic pound at half-time 😉
I thought we looked exactly like a side who had several players out, several others returning from long International trips and facing an away trip about as far away as we can get. I do think some looked disinterested at times. The one real stand out for me was Song. Thought he was imense again.
I agree with Desi about the balls across the 6 yard box in the final minutes. We should be busting everything to get players on the end of those and we didn’t.
The height thing is a problem. We are not a big, physical side at the best of times. Take RVP, Bendtner and Diaby out and we really do look small. All the more reason to play with width but again something we do not seem to enjoy doing.
We have to hope that this is nothing more than a blip. We need to make sure of qualification on Tuesday night. Then the Chavs. I also do not think this is a must win game, but I do think it is a must not lose game.
Keep the faith.
i dont care what anyone says we shouldve won that game, the team that creates the most chances in a game deserves to win especially when our possession was more than 60%. we created 2 chances which just needed a leg or a foot on the keepers line from a cross to equalize and exactly another 1 which should’ve won us the game we shouldve won the game without a doubt if were to win the title or any trophy we need to win games were we aint at our best similar to the standard liege game coming back from 2-0 down to win it 3-2. reason why we didnt win that game is exactly what arsene said SHARPNESS any why’s that because
1) international week 2) not taking our chances towards the end
plus not to mention the penalty we should’ve had but not given at least the positives were that we created chances towards the end of the game that could of won us the game same with both manchester games, and today, KEEP THE FAITH AND IMPROVE FOR A CRUCIAL WEEK!!!
i cant believe what im reading how can the chelsea game not be a must win game or must loose game so you want us to draw if we win that game thats us back to five points behind we can not afford to loose more points, same thing we was bloody saying last season “hopefully it aint a blip, season is still long, its still early” we need 2 be up there, have you people seen the fixtures we have end of January beginning of February: aston villa away, man utd at home, chelsea away and liverpool at home. all this with no alex song or eboue back up,
NO MORE EXCUSES PLEASE PEOPLE WIN OR WIN!
Yes, ‘north after internationals’ , the fatigue, Dudu’s physique ,tactical flaws, late substitutions etc. and yet this should have been a one nil to the Arsenal kind of game, and, so I want to say, with a good brave keeper it just might have been ( if you saw Loris for france this week you should know what a brave keeper looks like when he come out of his line). Manone gave us that game in Fulham , when did Almunia last time? no way this keeper is worth being exonerated as adequate .The guy stuttered thru the corner sequence, coming out immediately intimidated going back in half way hesitating before hurling himself neither in the passing lane nor at the striker’s feet . Wenger really really at fault with this one for few years now and it is not going to go away even when the rest is brilliant and it is going to cost us all season long when to grind a result is the only option on the day.
So Messi, if we do not pick up all 3 points against the Chavs is that season over???? I don’t think so. We wont be the only ones affected by the African Nations. You could argue that facing the Chavs away during this period actually works in our favour.
Today was a game that we should have taken at least a point from. It is frustrating when you look back on how we have played this season to see players under perform. But let’s not get too pessimistic just yet. Still a long way to go.
Keep the faith.
Under the circumstances I think most were expecting a tight game today & in tight games what you need is a bit of luck. No, we wern’t at out best today but S’land defended well & got a bit of luck in front of goal…& we didn’t. At the very least Vela should have been awarded a penalty in second half injury time. I think we did enough to come away with a point.
some of our bloggers and fans have simply forgotten “the signs” from the past few seasons……such short memory !
Losing to man utd nor man city wasNT a sign – because there was something right in both games…….
but last night is just a mirror resemblance of classic arsenal in the league-06-09-
even wenger admitted – “a slow feeling” which is a worry –
WHAT THE FUCK WERE YOU PEOPLE WATCHING ??????????
Were we the only team who had players out on international break – to use it as an excuse ??????
Even man city went over to anfield & plucked a point…now dont tell me we are not as good as man city !
Good blog, ‘holic.
4-1-4-1 or 4-3-3, it matters not! That cut deep. (Not really).
Heh,
Nice one 433.
Point being though that people are getting a little hung up with the numbers in what is a very fluid formation that hangs around a central spine of Vermaelen, Song, Fabregas, and van Persie. Without Song for the start at Wolverhampton we laboured. Without Robin yesterday we were unable to sustain pressure on Sunderland.
People argue about our strength in depth and I think we have got a much bigger and more capable squad than a couple of years ago, simply because a lot of the lads are that bit older, but in these four key positions I have a feeling we are exposed.
Good write up as always ‘holic. And a large glass of Yellow Tail Shiraz for me please barman.
Seems to me the humble pie analogy is very accurate.
Disappointed. Yes, I am. Although, having given it a bit of thought I’m undecided as to the precise reason/s why…….is it because we lost all 3 points (I think we are a better side than Sunderland) or because we never came back with at least a point (I wouldn’t want to show disrespect to Sunderland – well done to them)? I still dunno!
I only saw the highights on MOTD (as well as listened to the live radio commentary) so wish I was in a slightly better position to give a proper analysis. But from Arsene’s after match commentary, he seemed quite a bit less than pleased with the contribution from his players.
There was a few flashes of brilliance. Song just keeps improving game by game. Nasri was pretty well non existent throughout. Eduardo struggled. As did others (Almunia imo was not at fault for the goal). We couldn’t break them down. BUT, and her’s the rub, we ARE a better team. We are capable of beating Sunderland….I believe comfortably!
I’d like to think yesterdays performance was ‘a bad day at the office’, yunno, when you get there and the leccy’s not working and the central heating has broke down…..although you can’t really put your finger on the reasons why it happened on that particular day!? Although Le Prof had better do some maintenance work over the next week to put things right again!!!!
NB. Wishing mrs ‘holic all the very best!!
Keep on believing my fellow Gooners 🙂
FFS ‘holic. I want a S&G pie right now.
Why would someone feel the need to post exactly the same thing on different Arsenal Blogs’ comments?
Well?
Twice as well, J. I got rid of one of them. That’s quadruple crap 🙂
Another well thought out and reasoned blog sir, with mostly intellegent and honest comments, by far the best on the web.
Firstly I feel we should congratulate Mr Bruce, he seemed to have got his tactics spot on, I think he swamped the midfield and his team smothered out Arsenals creativity, and in so doing, limited our scoring chances.
Arsenal were at far from their best yesterday although I suppose this was half to be expected due to the facts that we
i) had many players out injured.
ii) had many players coming back into the team after an injury layoff.
iii) had too many players returning fatigued from the International break.
Dissapointing to me was the way the team conceded another “soft” goal from (yet again) a set piece/deadball situation, another one of those “switch off” moments that we seem to have in almost every game. Also worrying was the gapping hole that was in the left side of the defence that luckily Sunderland failed to exploit a number of times, although why was there no one on Frazier Campbell when they scored their goal?
Even though we lost there were still some positives to be taken from this game, it was good to see the return of Walcott and Vela, lets hope that the short run out did them some good, and hopefully Denhilson will continue to show the improvement he had shown before he was injured when he makes it back into the first XI. On the subject of improving players, I thought Song was easily our best player yesterday, and his form has justified the belief Mr Wenger has always had in him.
Looking forward I think that the midweek game against the team from my southern neighbours comes at exactly the right time, its not so much a must win game, more of a should win game, and with all due respect to Liege, they shouldn’t really be able to cause that much of a threat to the Arsenal at the Emirates (famous last words). This should give the team a good run out and enable them to sharpen up a bit. I’m sure a few goals would give the squad a much needed confidence boost ahead of the table topping clash against Chelski next Sunday.
Have a good week all, and ‘holic, I’ll have a nice vodka with orange juice please, I could use the vitamin c.
Cheers!!!
I thought Arsenal played rather well, were by far the better team but failed to take some excellent chances and, in the end, could really have no excuses
Alex Song was really outstanding and best man on the field by a mile. Cesc, from defense through creative attack played an excellent captain’s game. Many of the others will be a wee bit disappointed by their contribution. Would someone please show Bacary Sagna how to beat the left back’s backside with his attempts at a cross.
I watched “he who cannot be named’ open the scoring in front of the Kop yesterday. He’d had no service but was moving the reds defense around well (what was called being lazy by many last year). Then, the corner, the power, the game changer. On his way to his 20 goal average. Still, he’s bigger than 5 feet 4 so wouldn’t fit into our front line now. He’s missed.
Has the boo and bleat brigade notice how (Vermalen excepted) we’re impotent in the air and every single high ball from Almunia comes straight back at us? Even when Robin’s playing. He can’t head the ball. He’s missed. Still, we’ve got 26 mill sitting in the bank.
I don’t think there’s an easy answer for Chelsea. I thought in many ways, yesterday’s collection of players played close to their best. RVP and Bendtner would add much more but won’t be there. I think without Robin it will be tough. Essien will be a challenge in mid-field. Drogba and Le Sulk are looking very powerful up front.
For once, I’ll be happy with a draw. Ecstatic with a win. Come on you tiny people.
Hard luck mate.. Bent had to score, you were playing our second 11
Bent ,Malbranque, Fulop,Reid..
4pts out of 9,away from home against 3 very very averages sides in West Ham,Wolves and Sunderland,is simply unacceptable if you have aspirations of winning the premiership.
No Excuses.
End of Story.
I think you’re doing Sunderland down somewhat there – a team that should have won at Old Trafford. But yes seven points or so would have been nice from those games and we don’t have much room for manoeuvre now.
Still it could be worse, we could be Wigan!
Clive,
If you’re saying there’s no way we should have lost yesterday nor drawn at West Ham, I totally agree. Why omit the two defeats in Manchester from your list? Frankly, it’s not surprising AW is losing his cool. We could easily be undefeated right now.
Holic,
Sorry if I missed it, but haven’t heard your words of wisdom on the horse placenta treatment. Think it’ll have RVP back on his chocolate leg before we can say “Red Rum, barman”?. Neiiiiigh!
Sorry BtM, horses have to be around three years past that point before they hold any interest for me, and preferably faster than their peers. Having said that I am pretty sure I have put money on beasts where the wrong bit was discarded at birth…
Bergy,
with respect,Utd and City are not average run of the mill sides,so i can live with those 2 defeats,but Sunderland was completely unacceptable,chelsea won there 3-1 in a canter,
against us on saturday they had 2 shots at goal and scored from one,we had 60% possesion over the 90 minutes and were the only side with aspiratons of trying to win the game,after they scored from a fluke,we had 20 minutes to rescue the game but couldn’t do it.
as i said in my original email,this is not good enough.
As a vegetarian, I’m going to keep my head down on this one. I have to say though that losing 1 away game is not the end of the world, as well as whoever stated “WIN OR WIN” obviously doesn’t understand sport. Even Goldberg got punked in the end.
Rosicky and Nasri had bad games, which is not surprising considering neither had real pre-seasons. Eduardo has been on the left or the right so far, it is understandable he is taking time to settle in the middle- van Persie did.
Gonna go eat some pastry stuffed with something other than meat, and drink something non-alcoholic (due to it being 9 in the morn.) Have a good one fellow ‘holics, don’t let 1 defeat ruin yr week.
Clive – aren’t Chelsea the only team to have won at a canter at Sunderland so far this season? Plus Chelsea lost away to a team who shipped nine goals yesterday!
Charlie
Who Chelsea lose to is not our concern,our only interest is in our results.
History shows that with the very odd exception,5 defeats in a season is the maximum you can lose if you want to be in with a shout for the title come May.
Granted this season could be different.
We lost 5 of our first 14 last season,and were never in the hunt thereafter.
Having lost 3 of our first 12 already this season, we are treading a very fine line between still being in the hunt after christmas and being also rans.
That’s why the Sunderland defeat is so unacceptable.
Get well soon Sam
Frankly at this point everyone bar Chelsea looks like being also-rans this year. I get the feeling the number of defeats for the title winners this year might be a little higher than usual.
I tend to agree with you Clive. We just have to hope it is a one off. AW has been quite vocal in his criticism of the team and the performance. Not something he is known for. Guess that tells you how he feels about the result.
If it is a one off blip then fine. But we need to make sure that it is all it is.
Morning Holics,
It has taken me this long to recover from Saturday’s ignominious defeat. Clive is correct, and I must say ‘Holic that you and Charlie and others of the like are being much too lenient on our squad. I’m a supporter through and through (I even had to suffer through watching the match a bar with no kitchen service and a manx-lover who wouldn’t shut his yapper), but Saturday’s uninspired performance was dreadful. With all possible respect to Steve T and others, hope is not a method and you can’t plan on winning a championship with luck (although I know luck plays its part, you can’t plan on having any – savvy?)
Anyway, I’m still in a funk. But I do want to give Song much props. His fervor is what we need more of (if the dollar ever stops dropping against the pound, I am getting his shirt next.
Bottomline, if we can’t do better on the road, if we can’t get the points from the middle and bottom table dwellers, IF WE CAN’T DEFEND SETPIECES BETTER… then it will be another year of unfulfilled potential.
I’ll start my day with a C&C, if you’ll still serve me one ‘Holic! BTW, congratulations to Real Salt Lake – thems Mormons got heart, mate!
I don’t concur with the view that Chelsea will run away with the league – if that is the assertion. Yes, they are looking very strong at the minute but their wobbly interlull may well happen sometime soon. It may well happen on Sunday. And at a time when we are getting stronger!? Plus the season is long time. A sidepoint only but let’s not forget that Drogba is 32 in March. It is my view that he’ll come back from the ANC knackered.
As Wenger as stated time and time again, they are financially doped anyway.
NB. Forgive my mentioning………Adrian Durham is a 1st class, grade A, gold plated, top draw……KNOB…….of the highest order!
I know I know, my mistake. I strayed onto Talknonsense radio and was stupid enough to continue listening.