Team Ethic Keeps Arsenal On Top
Oct 7th, 2007 by 'holic
This was the day the world almost turned upside down. The players who have, perhaps surprisingly, impressed most in Arsenal’s unbeaten start decided to choose today to have a collective shocker. Manuel Almunia, Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy, and Mathieu Flamini, all had a rare off-day.
Yet the contest had started so brightly with Arsenal racing into a two goal lead in the opening quarter of an hour. On seven minutes a few oaths were being uttered at referee Rob Styles as a superb Abou Diaby ‘goal’ was ruled out for a foul a split second earlier on Cesc Fabregas. Robin Van Persie spared Styles’ blushes with a thumping free-kick in off the bar.
Then Philippe Senderos punished the visitors for failing to clear their lines with a rare and cool finish. Before a quarter of the match had been completed the luckless Diaby had another effort ruled out, this time for offside.
For some reason the early dominance ended there and Sunderland got a foothold in the game when Wallace finished smartly after Almunia had denied the dangerous Jones in a one-on-one situation. The best chance for the hosts to extend their first-half advantage fell to the rampaging Senderos. Sadly, lightening rarely strikes in the same place twice!
Just three minutes into the second half Jones climbed to direct Miller’s cross home via the fumbling hands of Almunia and the visitors were threatening to grab a point. Cue the introduction, first of Theo Walcott, then of Eboue to restore a little balance to the Gunners attack.
A thunderous strike from Kolo Toure came back off the post before Van Persie broke the visitors resistance from Walcott’s through ball. There was still time for Sunderland’s McShane to see red for a horrible challenge on Hleb, and for Theo to hit the post again.
It would be churlish to be overly critical of a side winning for the tenth consecutive match in all competitions. On a day when perhaps they misfired a little the manager earned his corn with some intelligent substitutions. Then again it is becoming clear that Arsene Wenger has far more strength in depth than some were reporting pre-season.
Wenger accepted, “Part of our mental focus went and when you do that at this level you pay for it.” His opposite number, once a target for abuse and derision in this part of town, was generous in defeat. Roy Keane said “You need a hell of a lot of luck to get positive results at these grounds. We had a bit, but not enough.”
So we go into the next international break with a two point lead at the top of the table from the persistent United. More importantly we continue to secure all three points from contests that might well have got away from us in the last couple of years. Life is good.
7 Responses to “Team Ethic Keeps Arsenal On Top”
Goonerholic wrote, “Manuel Almunia, Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy, and Mathieu Flamini, all had a rare off-day.”
I’m right there with you on the first three, but I thought Flamini did ok, including a sweet long ball to Ade that looked like producing something when the score was level.
Do you think Flamini was at fault for either of the goals? I thought he was doing his best to cover for an out-of-sorts Sagna.
Please let there be an explanation for Sagna’s downturn in form other than his haircut.
Fantastic that the Arsenal found a way to get the three points. I thought the winner from Van Persie was brilliant – I do love a well-worked goal from open play – and he demonstrated some top-shelf quality.
Spot on 433. The Flamster had a more than decent game I feel.The first Van Persie goal was a stunning strike but don’t let it detract from from his second, the pick up and hit in one movement was incredible. How many players in the world let alone the EPL could have done that. Staggering quality.
I thought Clichy was at fault for Sunderland’s first goal. He has the pace but somehow he was running behind Jones which allow Jones the space to attempt his shot which took Almunia off his line.
But it’s a satisfying win and we keep our 100% record at Emirates this season. I am happy.
i think gc you are right Clichy was at fault for the first goal i feel he was expecting Jones o bring the ball down and then take another touch towards goal but he jus took it his stride and that put the whole defence in trouble.
although Sagna was out of sorts yesterday i dont think his to blame for the second one.it was a counter attack by Sunderland and normally when that happens players run back to defend positions they are nearer to,Flamster covered well and King Kolo was supposed to take up the right back position but he then ran into the centre leaving Flamster two on one and that resulted in the cross and with Kolo in no mans land Senderos,Clichy and Sagna didnt position themselves well because Jones ended up getting a header on target after being challenged by the shortest of those three defnders (Clichy).
at least we managed to get the third goal and turned out to be the winner,i was more impressed by Walcott than i have ever been and when he hit that post i was almost in tears for him because he deserved it and i feel if that had gone in his confidence ould have a boost and we could all start to see what Walcott can be
The defence collectively failed for the conceded goals. You can try to point fingers at Clichy for the 1st, and Sagna / Almunia for the 2nd, but it was an average defensive effort, overall.
ManU get the accolades for not being fluent, but they were effective for the 1st few games, and how thats the mark of champions. I would attribute the same to Arsenal.
Sunderland had a very good game, partly coz Arsenal took the foot off the gas, partly coz the Sunderland players stepped up. Keane was gracious in his comments, accepting the defeat and refusing to condone the Mcshane foul on Hleb and the resulting red card. The ref got it spot on there.
Theo and Eboue made the difference in the end, their pace against a tiring Sunderland side. I am pleased for Theo. His finishing will improve with such confidence boosting games.
I work as a producer for a satellite sports channel called ESPN
Classic – you may have caught us at some stage as we broadcast old
Premier League & Div 1 games, among which there’s a fair few Arsenal
games.
The reason for the post is that around November time we’re planning to air a new series called ‘Happy Endings’ where we show some of the best (or most satisfying) games for a variety of clubs, including Arsenal. I’m responsible for making these programmes and I’m hoping that instead of telling the stories of these games through the eyes of
the players and officials we can use fans (interviews on camera) to tell viewers what the games were all about and what they meant to them personally. Hopefully a slightly different angle anyway…
I’m looking for interesting and knowledgeable people who could get
across the events of a game in an entertaining way – my only hope
being that they attended at least a major proportion of the games that we’re broadcasting. The games are:
ARSENAL PREMIER LEAGUE 2006/2007 Arsenal v Manchester United
ARSENAL PREMIER LEAGUE 2002/2003 Arsenal v Manchester United
ARSENAL THE DEAD GOOD MATCH FA CUP Final: Arsenal v Manchester
United, 12/05/1979
ARSENAL PREMIER LEAGUE 1997/1998 Arsenal v Manchester United
Unfortunately I won’t be able to offer any money, but I’d gladly make
you some DVDs when I’ve finished the programme. I’m looking to do the interviews (in London) the week commencing the 15th of October and I’m happy to travel to your work/home/pub. Thanks in advance for you interest and hopefully speak to you soon – feel free to get in touch
via email – othurgood@espnclassic.com.
Oliver Thurgood
ESPN Classic
Are you going to do it ‘holic? Everyone knows ESPN classic, right? It’s fantastic that they’re showing some old Arsenal games.