You Win Some, You Draw Some.
Dec 6th, 2007 by 'holic
A week ago a much weakened side went to Spain, took the lead with an impressive opening twenty-five minute spell, and then fell apart under pressure from spirited opponents. Never let it be said that these Gunners don’t learn from their experiences.
Fast forward a week and there is more than a hint of Groundhog day in the air. At St James Park the visitors take to the field minus Cesc Fabregas, Matthieu Flamini, Alexander Hleb, and Robin van Persie.
Just four minutes in and Emmanuel Adebayor produces a special goal to settle the nerves. The passing is crisp but slowly the hosts start to get back into the contest. The half-time whistle is surprisingly welcome. Newcastle have become more physical as the half has unfolded, but that is no surprise and the yellow card count is level at one apiece.
The second-half sees the Geordies in the ascendancy and on the hour they are level when Taylor applies the finishing touch to a Smith cross. In the closing stages a couple of challenges on Adebayor go unpunished by the referee, yet in all fairness the draw is probably a fair reflection of the ninety minutes.
Looking around the sites there are those who are not pleased with the draw. I have to admit to taking a deep breath, and then considering that the four points from the trips to Villa and Newcastle are exactly what I expected, just perhaps the other way round! Victory at the Riverside this weekend will secure a very healthy seven points out of nine in a week on the road.
This time a year ago we were wondering about claiming a top four berth. Now, still unbeaten domestically this season, loftier dreams are concerning us. The question now, is four points enough of a lead in the first week in December? It should be fun finding out.
6 Responses to “You Win Some, You Draw Some.”
I can sense the snigger from OT RED FACED I told you so.
So round 1 has gone to him.He has forgotten what he has
said can also also apply to him and I can visualize him
shaking hands if not hugging the bie bear from NU.
We shall see and nothing would give me infinite satisfaction
than for him to bite the dust.
This is the shit on a stick that Valdano was talking about. How what Newcastle was doing can be called football is beyond me. But don’t take it from me. Look what happens when England plays. Rubbish!!
i know newcastle battled but red nose without just 3 first choice players rooney,ronaldo and vidic lost at bolton last week so i think he should look to his own side after all newcastle are better than bolton and with all the paper stuff pre match it was always going to be hard.
and remember we were missing our 4 best players this season and also diaby who with his skill and size would have done well.
ps are newcastle fans going to be happy with what they seen in the long run it was just hoof long play for set peices and long throw inn’s are they bolton.
I think the sense of disappointment is borne of arrogance. Some fans were unrealistic in expecting an easy win and for us to open up a 6 point lead at the top of the table. Newcastle played out of their skins but still only managed a point. Arsenal with 4 key players missing got a decent point away from home against tough opponents. In the real world you cannot win every game comfortably. In the great scheme of things we are still unbeaten, still top of the table and 4 points clear. If we can maintain this position until some of our key players return, that can only be a good thing.
I think expecting 3 pts at the start of the game was justified, given the respective team’s current forms. Newcastle were also poor, they lost possession easily and were defensively weak.
However, a draw on the day was a fair result, based on a scrappy game from both sides. Arsenal also lost possession too easily, and we didnt hold the ball long enough, esp in mid field. Diarra is a tough tackler, but his passing range and timing needs to improve.
Arsenal were average / poor, but still managed a point. Thats still something positive to take out of the game.
I think the frustration was that, given the early goal, this was a winnable game no matter how much pressure was put on us. We created a couple of other potential goal scoring moves that we could and should have taken advantage of in the first half and at 2-0 we would have been able to hold on well enough. For all their huffing and puffing Newcastle didn’t create much.
It’s all very well to say that because the last couple of seasons were poor we should be satisfied with whatever we manage this season but the team is capable, even without some key players, of more. Hopefully they won’t be satisfied with a point there and feel they should have got more. That’s the attitude they will have to take into the next match if we are to take 3 points.