Samir Old Arsenal, Taking The Points
Nov 9th, 2008 by 'holic
This was indeed a good day to be seated next to the visiting supporters. I will confess to being nervous about the outcome when taking that seat, but those who wore the red and white gave everything for us. Certainly nobody gave more than Samir Nasri.
The pre-match discussions revolved around the 4-5-1 and could we escape with a point. The final narrow margin of victory bore little testament to the gulf between the sides on the day. Arsenal needed, and wanted, to win. United, on the day, were out-thought and out-fought, and Nasri came of age with a very special display and two fine goals.
I have not had the pleasure of reliving the contest on the small screen so I can only attest to what it was like in the Grove. All credit to the home supporters, who got behind the boys from the first minute and didn’t stop. The atmosphere was very special.
The contest didn’t go at all as some of us had expected, but those who recall George Graham playing an attacking 5-3-2 formation will not have been totally staggered by the attacking 4-5-1 formation a la Wenger at the Grove.
It owed everything to a collective spirit that critics were telling me didn’t exist. The stars of the show were not the usual suspects. Denilson prompted, Diaby probed, and (whisper it) Gallas mopped up. This was a collective triumph for a special group of players who have had to accept much criticism of late.
A nervous additional six minutes were passed after a late Rafael strike put United closer than they deserved to be, but memories of the last home game were banished as the hosts shut up shop.
Arsene would be forgiven for sporting a wry smile for much of this week. “I knew today that it was a big game for the future of the team, not the club, to keep in the race and knowing you can win big games is vital.”
The thawing of relations with his old rival was once again evident as Ferguson conceded “If you’re going to get beaten, just make sure it’s someone who’s going to play football.” That was a rare tribute indeed from a man who has been less than gracious in defeat on previous occasions.
What is now important is that Arsenal kick on from this impressive three points , and turn November into the pivotal month of the season. After so many poor Novembers in recent years it would be a little ironic if Arsenal hauled themselves back into the title race in this most difficult of months.
Have a great day, ‘holics.
26 Responses to “Samir Old Arsenal, Taking The Points”
first?
2nd? Wonderful performance and a great day all round. Even the trains ran on time. Now let’s keep it going.
Good old Arsenal. More of that please. I’ll have a whiskey please ‘holic, and one for yourself
p.s. if I never see Howard Webb again it will be too soon.
Great stuff ‘Holic! Let me also mention that we beat Coward Webb too!
If you don’t mind Custard I’ll take a rain check on that whisky. I appear to have swallowed a distillery last night.
It’s got to be midday somewhere in the world – but just a small one, all the same.
Moderation in all things. (Except laughing at the Mancs, obviously..)
A great day followed by a night Brenden Behan would have been proud of.
Upper Street was like one big party.The Arsenal crowd really played there part yesterday.I sit in the East Upper and it is the best atmosphere I can remember. The collective vitriol aimed at Howard Webb when he refused to give a free kick against Carrick for a foul on Diaby in the first half reminded me of the Den circa mid seventies.
Very few people left early for this one.
As I keep on telling Mrs Gonko nothing beats live football (well almost nothing).
It reminded me of the cup tie against Man Utd when Maclair missed the penalty in the last minute.That games lives in the memory and so will this one.
great stuff yesterday holic and great to meet you mate. so nice to be able to buy the papers on a sunday and grin from ere to ere. i knew we would win. COME ON YOU GUNNERS
Once more unto the breach, dear friends………..
See. Isn’t it great having a it of faith?????
Fantastic result and great performance. I have mentioned several times on your site Holic about lack of leaders. Yesterday I thought Gallas gave his best performance as a captain since he took the arm band. Ably assisted by Silvestre who was also barking out instructions.
Postives almost all over the pitch. Nasri will get the plaudits and rightly so. He was electric. But the run by Theo to create the space for the second goal shows just how much he has matured in the last 12 months. If he continues like that then I dread to think about how good he will be. Denilson continues to go from strength to strength. He looked assured and composed every time he had the ball.
Great to see Diably play that role. For me he was the key. He linked play so well and was a constant threat. The one weak point was Bendtner. He did not have a good game but what I thinks separates good from world class is work rate. Too many times for me he did hot chase and harry the Mancs back line like an Henry or Adebayor would have done. He needs to develop that side of his game.
I want to finish with a request. I would like everyone to tune in to Talk Sport tomorrow morning. As soon as that Cock Brazil gets on I want him bombarded with calls, texts and e mails ramming the bollocks he was spouting last week, firmly down his throat
Up the Gunners…….
I’ve never heard the Manc supporters so quiet. Excellent stuff.
A great day all round, ‘holic and its always a pleasure to see you.
I’ll keep the worrying for later. Its been one long weekend party.
13th again? Lucky me!
Hair of the dog? Go on then. I’ll have a glass of Cab Sauv.
It was an asssured arsenal performance, every body gave his full except Bentdner, he was lazy sloppy and not interested in the game, Vela probably comming in afor the last 20mins could have brought a new spark.
I don’t what what bentdner should do to be interested, but i think he is not in the mould of a Wenger striker. He certainly could pass as a box player, but he lacks the sharpness and quick reaction needed for a box player except for his head.
We cold have had three or four goals if Bendtner had played his part. Other wise everybody else scored 8 for me and Nasir choked 10 out of 10
yes we can and we did!… I saw that from G4E, very apt.
I can safely say i knew we would win.
This will sure kick start my expected 12 games winning streak before our next draw and then another 12 games winning streak… Sounds good tome the more I think of it
congrats to all gunners
happily rose tinted and happily AKB and any other name that actually means getting behind the team as the 12th man no mater what the adversities
Was a very special performance yesterday, one not to be over-analysed but to be savoured.
I’ll have a Bloody Mary please ‘holic.
Even with a galaxy of big name talent on the field, Nasri was the undisputed man of the match. His goals were superb, the second a masterpiece from a delightful through ball from Cesc after 14 previous keep ball passes by the Gunners. But it was his contribution in midfield, tackling back, harrying, linking and prompting new attacks that really caught my eye.
His excellence was in stark contrast to Hleb’s late, limp, second half contribution in Barca’s rout yesterday. While it would have been good to have both players in our squad, if we could only have one, Nasri is the man without a doubt.
Denilson had his best game so far. His play from defence in our box, through great work-rate, vision and ball winning in midfield, to great contributions to many attacking moves augurs really well for the rest of the season. He’s really coming on now that he’s getting an uninterrupted run in the team. An Arsenal STAR of the future. Expect to see him replace Gilberto in the Brazil national team quite soon.
A mention too, for two very assured contributions off the bench by Song and Fabianski. Neither put a foot (or hand) wrong. Song strolling forward out of defence with the ball at his feet is an inspiring sight. He and JD20 will both have important parts to play before the season rolls to a close.
Diaby, Cesc, Denilson and Nasri has the potential to become one of the all time great Arsenal midfields. Will require Diaby to stay fit of-course and Arsene to persevere with this foursome at the heart of the team. Eboue as reserve right back only. Please.
Beautiful day in Virginia. Off for 18 holes.
A tremendous performance, especially in the first half, shouldn`t blind us to the fact that the mancs cut through our defence almost at will, although much improved form from Gallas. Poor again from Bendtner who missed four very presentable chances. I know he is only 20 but how many games does this guy need before he starts to show the quality we believe he has. I would also have paired him with Vela, and frankly I hate to see us at home playing with only one up front, especially as he seemed to be playing anywhere but where he should have been. That`s entirely nitpicking though, and my main beef is that I almost put a tenner on Nasri to be first scorer but thought, Arsenal score first? Na, aint gonna happen is it? Bah!!
Agree Denilson played well, looked good on the ball, but I just can’t see him as a defensive midfielder. He’s too lightweight, not strong enough in the tackle and so never offers any protection for our back 4. Can see him getting better just not as a def mid.
It was a wonderful performance from the Young Guns on saturday.. Good performance from everyone including Bendtner(who was playing alone up front for the first time in a very crucial match).
And I cant understand the Denilson bashing. Arsene doesnt want to use a 4-4-2 formation where one of the center-midfielders act as a defensive midfielder.. He wants both(or all 3in the 4-5-1 formation) the midfielder to share the responsibility. That is the reason why we can see Denilson(and even song) going forward with Cesc or Diaby playing deeper.. He wants to have multiple sources of attack(hope you all remember Cesc’s interview during the euros where he mentioned the differences in Spain’s multiple ways of attack against arsenal single focal point(Cesc)). Now Wenger wants to make sure that Opposition cant just stop Arsenal going forward by stopping Cesc. That is the reason why he plays Cesc and denilson together(and even diaby in front of those two). Hope this clears out some of the doubters on Denilson.
For me bendtner played very well considering he was alone up front and that too on a very tense match like this.. He was good from the start till the end. Ade too does that(better than bendtner) and thats y i rate those two. They can play either alone up front or along side another striker.
Good stuff ‘Holic, hope the curry sat well on the train home!
Excellent three points, great atmosphere, and just what the fans and players alike needed.
The curry was sat in the drainage system at the station by the time my train departed, thanks Woody 🙂
Hahaha, what a lovely thought ‘holic!
Anyway, great performance, great result, and a great day out.
No alcohol for me today though sir, as i’m still recovering, but I’ll get you a cheeky Guiness in if you’re up to it?
Up the Gunners!
Good plan. In fact look at the watch, it’s Guinness time now 🙂
back home in spain, still very hose from shouting my head off at the game.i think the liverpool game looks like my next trip over.
up the rip roaring reds