Adebayor, Clattenburg, And The Arsenal Defence Frustrate
Sep 14th, 2009 by 'holic
As things turned out I witnessed just the opening half-hour on Saturday. That was enough time to get a flavour of how the game would pan out. Arsenal were dominant for most of it. Adebayor launched an appalling challenge on Fabregas and got away with a brief word from an incompetent official. The hapless referee then booked Lescott for an unavoidable collision before awarding City a free-kick and booking Sagna when Bellamy, not for the last time, went arm-first into the Gunners right back. From that very free-kick Richards, probably offside, exposed what appears to be an old problem in the heart of the Arsenal defence, and his looping header went in off the man who should have saved it.
Having seen the scoreline and the post match headlines I was not looking forward to sitting down and watching the whole game for the first time this afternoon. I was surprised, to say the least, how much of the game we controlled, and how we contrived to throw away three points that we should have secured comfortably with our suicidal defending in a ten minute spell near the end. That defensive fragility is the main reason for us surrendering those precious points, and we should not let what else happened detract from that.
‘Same old Arsenal’ I have heard and seen in other places. But this is most definitely not the Arsenal that threw games away so gutlessly last season. The lack of effort that was evident in our darkest moments a year ago is no longer an issue. Consecutive trips to Manchester have seen us control the contest against stiff opposition in their own back yard, only to shoot ourselves in the foot. The ease with which we have been caught on the break is something that needs some very serious work on the training ground.
Acceptance that we were the authors of our own downfall does not detract from the other issues that arose on Saturday. Following his diabolical challenge on Fabregas, Adebayor was also pinged for a deliberate handball before the grotesque ‘challenge’ on Robin van Persie, and another late challenge from behind on Fabregas. If Lescott and Sagna deserved cautions, then I would love to hear Clattenburg’s explanation of how he did not issue similar sanctions to the villain of the piece.
In celebrating the goal he scored, when he should no longer have been on the pitch, he finally picked up a yellow for the daftest of reasons. Adebayor may be six feet five inches tall, but he proved once again to be a mental dwarf. The travelling Gooners were the most vocally supportive of the big oaf thoughout his time as an Arsenal player, and most noticeably last season, when so many others were turned off by his flirting with Barca and Milan, and his complete lack of effort following his huge salary hike.
Enough of that anyway. For now we need to recover quickly. Unbeaten Liege away may provide possibly our sternest test in the group phase of the Champions League, and it will be interesting to see if any of the walking wounded from Manchester are unable to play. Thereafter we face a series of opponents in the Premiership against whom we should be looking to secure a run of wins. If we are beaten again before the visit of Tottenham at the end of October then a title challenge will look a remote possibility.
The final word has been reserved for the big positive to come out of Saturday. Tomas Rosicky produced an assist and a goal against a defence who had not previously been breached this season. Here’s hoping his twenty months injury nightmare is finally at an end. He has given us a taste of what we have been missing, and with Arshavin and Nasri absent he may be a useful addition in the coming weeks.
33 Responses to “Adebayor, Clattenburg, And The Arsenal Defence Frustrate”
The biggest problem is still the ineptitude of the Arsenal goalkeeper. While Shay Given prevented Arsenal getting a well deserved draw, Alumunia’s constant lack of authority undermined any chance to get a result. It amazed me that for the 4 years we have nothing with Almunias sieve-like keeping and Wenger does not address the problem
A glass of white wine of your choice.
Welcome back, ‘holic.
A little more wait and you could even have fitted the Eduardo news in ๐
Cheers (and deffo no Fulham for me now)
What we sadly lacked was a Patrick Viera type played that would have stamped Ade out !
We dont have one and we got bullied about,
Well said Old Gooner
The problem is very simple and i would have thought Wenger would have fixed it before the window shut
When you dont have a hard experienced midfielder(or in any other position) you will have the piss taken out of you , just like Adeybayor intimated us even before kick off what the fuck was he doing in the Arsenal end…… he was taking the piss who stood up to him ? would Keane or Viera just stood by????
Teams kow they can take the piss.
Does any-body else agree.
Lack of concentration at key moments in the two Manchester games cost us the points.
I hope all the players get to review the tapes over and over, till they realise they can’t keep strolling when under a counter attack.
Otherwise, the formation works.
we have enuff in midfield wot cesc not experienced rot. but we still need a keeper he aint safe.he cost us big time anymore and i think in january he will be gone wot price a top keeper
All this call for experienced midfielder is bollocks.
We have adequate players who simply have to adjust their level of commitment.
Our TEAM play, without the ball, let us down.
ADEYBAYOR got stuck into Cesc early why?
Ade knew bully/intimate Cesc beat Arsenal.
Lack of concentration why?
No experience.
lost 4-2 Because we havent got that …..hard experienced midfielder
Adebayor couldn’t trap a sack of cement and is not, nor ever will be a top quality footballer. Nonetheless, there is no denying that when his mind is on the job and his heart is in the game he can be a right handful. It was utterly predictable that he would start the season on fire with City and it was almost a surefire bet that he’d score against us. However, there is equally no denying that he is a delusional ego maniac who will admit to no wrong and has disrupted every side he has played for. It is inevitable that he will fall out with Manchester City and either betray them or sulk his way onto the transfer list. He just can’t help himself.
I thoroughly agree with everything you have said. Quite how Ade stayed on the field amazes me. He is a real a*hole. How shit can be stacked that high and not fall over still amazes me.
He’ll get his comeuppance – ‘coz the shit you dish out always comes back and hits you in the face. I know from experience!
Good news is – Eduardo has been exonerated! There was never any doubt in my mind that a man of his integrity would not dive. Well done to those who reviewed the case and decided that he was innocent.
Wait and see! Manc Citeh will not be in the top four at the end of this season. Sure! We’ll be there comfortably.
Wenger and the Board have failed the fans once again. Last season and the 2 seasons before clearly showed our weakness – no decent defence. Almunia is not even good enough even to be the reserve goalkeeper – should have never been promoted when Lehmann left – he will continue to make stupid mistakes and cost us points. Because we have no money ( about time the truth about the club’s finances were revealed) and Wenger’s reluctance to take on a defensive coach, we will continue to have these defensive problems. As well as a new goalkeeper, a commanding centre back and a top quality experienced defensive midfield player have been needed for some time now but again nothing has been done apart from taking on Vermaleen who is still coming to terms with the faster pace of the Premiership. Another season without winning anything and maybe finishing below 4th place will mean Fabregas and Arshavin ( the only world class plaers in the squad) will definitely leave. I hope Dein comes back ( if Usmanov gets control of the club) because Fitzman and Kroenke have no active interest in the club – they never attend any games – and shakes the place up and, hopefully, have some proper plans to bring some new finance into the club.
Moaner90,
you have failed to be called a supporter.
ALMUNIA IS 6.5FT SACK OF SHIT.
Well said fellows, Almunia’s lack of composure at the goal has cost us alot recently. I wsh the boss could think positively for once and see the area of which we need replacement. We really need a swift attacker as our defence is 70% OK. I wish my idea will be put into consideration. One luv gunnerz
Nice idea been put into consideration would be appreciated.
Well said ‘holic. We wer bossing the game and at 1-1 should have settled down and made City come at us. They were the home team a draw would have been 2 points dropped for them, the onus was on them to attack. But we behaved as if we had to beat them at all costs.
Clichy was at fault but the pass to him was gash, we should have been playing keep ball and taking the heat out of the game. Instead we played like we were 2-0 down in a knock out game – I can’t explain it. But i certainly felt that there was no leadership on the pitch telling the players to slow it all down and tighten up.
We have been majorly unlucky in both Manchester games. We can go on a nice run now and it could be a very different atmosphere around the club by the time we face chelsea (maybe with theo, a fit tom, arsh, nasri all to chose from). It might be a bit doomish now but we had a v tough start to the season compared to our rivals and its still a long long way to go.
‘Holic, I’ll take any beer (just something for me to cry into anyway…) It took me a full day to process the thumping we took at the Eastlands – it was a thumping. We all need to look at Saturday’s game with a cold, dispassionate eye and realize just how far off the pace our team is. No matter how hard it hurts, I will be a Gooner till I die, but this current team is mid-table for a reason (for several reasons actually). If we don’t come to that realization, and if A.W. doesn’t bite the bullet in January and make some changes/splash some cash, this will be the season we get passed by those pozers in “baby” blue.
Bottomline, I was extremely disappointed in our play. Holic, aside from the 5 minutes surrounding Van Persie’s goal, I didn’t see the same match where we bossed anything (and I rarely disagree with your analysis). Cesc looks lost (our midfield was thoroughly outplayed); Van Persie can’t be that player who forces his will on the game; and he and Bendtner should swap places. While Gallas and Vermaelen look good, Almunia is the type of guy who makes me keep my nitroglycerin at the ready. We gotta be honest about our shortcomings…the truth shall set us free.
A large slice of humble pie for the press and Uefa please ‘holic. Sadly though, despite the success of the appeal, the damage to Eduardo’s reputation has been done.
Completely agree about the no nonsense midfielder. We have a good team but lack a player with edge. A player who will not sit back and watch teams take the piss with us. A player who would have put Darren Fletcher in his place, and that lanky twat who’s name I refuse to say.
That is why Wenger tried his damndest to get Melo. he knew we needed a player of his quality. He was the missing piece but unfortunately, he chose Juve over us. And for all those who said Wenger refused to splash the cash, he did also try to sign Sjneider from Real Madrid with a bid of 17 mill. Two signings that would have would have strengthened our team. It is clear we lack leadership on the pitch. We seemed so out of place when shit hit the fan.
As mch as I love Cesc, he is not vocal enogh for me. You need an Adams or a Vieira and we have not had a player like that since PV4 deaprted in 05.
Watching a repeated two minute film of the malicious tackles the most ungrateful footballer (if you could call him so ) on our captain Cesc and Robin Van Persie,I cannot imagine how he is not suspended for life and sent to his homeland,not to watch him anymore.He is truely Madbayour
Bit too small, bit too nice, bit too attack minded in back positions
First, many thanks to that cretinous c**t for stealing the headlines and making my Sunday breakfast easier to stomach. Predictable that the Mancs insist he was trying to withdraw his boot. so thats alright then. If I should ever mow down a bus queue in my car, I need only say I didn`t mean to do it! There`s also been surprisingly little comment about Abebayor trying to break Cesc`s hand.
To those so-called supporters (I haven`t seen any pictures) who apparently ripped up seats and threw things at our ex striker, I say f**k of to somewhere like Shite Hart Lane where you will be more appreciated.
As others have commented, once again we dominated the game (look at the stats) but failed to convert our superiority into goals. Anyone could have predicted that Bendtner would be toothless, in an Arsenal shirt at least. Of course it doesn`t help playing him on the right. Bendtner is a more natural target man than Robin after all. Am I alone in wondering why AW doesn`t start league games with Edouardo, one of our only two proven goal poachers. Is AW being over protective with our Brazillian Croatian, or has he picked up some yet to be revealed injury that needs nursing game by game? Edouardo should be starting all the important games. Certainly Saturday`s game was far more important than the trip to Liege.
AW bemoans the fact that once again the defence lost concentration. I`m sorry Arsene, but that just won`t do. You had the opportunity to bring in experienced defenders, but once again you left it to chance, and once again it hasn`t come off. the only consolation is that it is still very early days.
All this Ade bashing still doesn’t solve the team’s shortcomings nor hide the fact that Wenger’s obsssession with this teenage pet project is about to blow up in his face. So much energy spent on hate for one man won’t hide the fact that this team are a bunch of pushovers with no onfield leadership or collective fortitude? Whom do they turn to when things start to go south? Gallas? van Persie? Cesc? In fact, it is beginning to look like Cesc’s mind is already at Barcelona. The kid knows the score. He can see that van Persie isn’t a center foward or that Song and Denilson should still be learning their trades as backups to a more experienced midfielder, or that Bendtner is not good enough, or that Almunia is a second rate keeper with no spring nor footwork. Can you imagine coming back to London after training and playing in a team with Xabi and Iniesta and Torres and Alonso only to watch Walcott run around, clueless . I can’t say I’ll blame Cesc or Arshavin one bit if they both left in the summer.
With all the bile directed at Ade, it doesn’t change the fact that he is still one of the best strikers in the world with a skills-set few others possess, the over-confident Bendtner included. All the vitriol overlooks Wenger’s refusal to spend a dime on the two or three quality players that he himself admitted the team needed and everyone else could see the team lacked. The 41 mil from the sale of Ade and Toure is somewhere gathering dust or interest or whatever they chose to do with it. When the dust settles on this one , Wenger will still be sussed as a tactical lightweight in big games. So you can all go ahead and rant and rave and swear and gnash your teeth, but the stark reality remains the same: this squad is no closer to a title than it was three years ago and will do well to finish fourth again this year.
Bloodred,it is the refs job to uphold the the letter of the law, there just seems to be another rule book when playing ARSENAL.Against Man Utd an unbiased workmate exclaimed he would never watch a game between the two sides again as the ref was totally corrupt if he refused to blow for 5 or 6 tackles from behind never mind the blatant penalty on ARSHAVIN.An incident i.m.o. was missed from close range that should have resulted in Man City being down to 10 men which in all probability would have meant 3 points to us ,add to that Fletcher should never have finished the game against us and you will realise we have had a right doing by the officials.If they had done there job we could be looking at maximum points now,how would that look with all the players we have out .Keep the faith.We may not win the league but when we have a full strength side out we will have the best team in it.Injurys will decide our season not the opposition .
Why oh why can’t Wenger and the board see the obvious that we need a defensive midfielder, a whole new defence, a new keeper…and somebody who can score lots of goals. And somebody who can win games. And a new board. And a defensive midfielder. Or we’ll lose every game this season and not qualify for the champions league. I feel so let down. We just don’t have enough experience. I mean Gallas is only 30 odd. Alumunia is only 30 odd. Sagna and Clichey are only only in the mid twenties. Come on! We’re being lied to here. About something. The wool is being pulled over our eyes. Vermalaen is only 24 and played for Ajax and been captain of his club. I mean really. Why oh why are these kids playing for Arsenal. And don’t get me started on that toddler Arshavin. He’s tiny. I say bring in somebody brilliant with experience and everything will be alright. Otherwise it’s rubbish. Unless we win next week of course.
Boniface. I agree.
Van Persie is rubbish
Song is rubbish
Denilson is rubbish
Walcott is rubbish
Almunia is rubbish
Bender is rubbish
Cesc’s mind is already at Barcelona
Thank you for helping me for seeing the chaff from the trees. I’d like to add:
Arshavin this season has been rubbish
Clich this season has been a bit rubbish
Sagna I just feel a bit so what about at the moment
Vela has disappeared (is he still on holiday?)
Eboue is well rubbish
Eduardo!
Rosicky is sicky
Nasri is broken. Rubbish!
Wishere is a child
holic,
will you do something against the infiltration of sp*d fans on your site?
I was at the game on Saturday. The first half I thought lacked any major qulity from either side. 2nd half we were by far the better team. How the hell we lost I really do not know. Yet again individual errors have cost us. I sadly agree with a lot of the Almunia comments. I have never been convinced with him. We all know we are lacking in various positions and it was again clear for all to see on Saturday.
For me, the other main area where we are lacking is wide. We are always so narrow. Everyone who plays out wide came to the club as central players. Arshavin, Nasri, Rosicky, Diaby, Bendtner etc etc. Without Theo we have nothing wide. It was so noticable on Saturday. That means that when we do break it is so much easier for teams to defend against us. Everything just becomes so congested.
We missed a few tricks during the transfer window. Why???? I really do not know. But this is a massive year for the club. Money is tight for most at the moment. The club still charges high prices for tickts. Figures published last week had us as the 7th wealthiest sports club on the planet. If we continue to refuse to spend money then this season has to produce trophies. If not then an awful lot of fans are going to want to know why we are not spending to strengthen in areas where we are so obviously lacking.
Ade is an arse. The interesting thing for me Saturday was talking to Citeh fans both before and after the game. They were all happy he was at their club but fully realised that he was a liability. They also do not expect to get more than 2 seasons out of him.
Keep the faith people. It is only mid September.
Look at the impact the Chelsea manager has made.He is a pragmatic guy and knows how the game shd be played and won.Bf anyone blasts me I’m Arsenal thru and thru.He doesnt waste time playing bewitching soccer.
He plays to win. Of course his players are older and more experienced and that helps.
I believe AW is trapped in his own cocoon. His vision of total pretty soccer can bloom provided the opposition give you time and space.He blame other teams for anti soccer meaning stifling the gunners. What does he expect other teams to do? Allow the gunners to pass without throwing a spanner into the passing game and thereby get beaten.
There was a time after 2004 after winning the title i thought the gunners could achieve greater things. He went on another blueprint called “Kid project”.however since then the gunners have been brought back to mother earth with a thud.
If he aint careful the kid project could blow up in his face and Arsenal fail to qualify for the cl in 2010.
Of course he could proved all of us wrong.that would not only give me but other gooner fans full satisfaction.
your all way off mark. please dont manage a team any time soon will you folks.
nice article holic. liked it.
RIGHT here is the problem and spread it.
NUMBER1 Gallas and vermaelen run up to corners all the time wanting to score and leave us vunrable at back with the counter(just watch replays of the goals conceaded you will see they are nearly all by counter attack).
Number2 clichy thinks heโs cashley cole and tries to be a winger but is knoware as good, leaving us bare at the back also.
number3 fabregas is fucking pissed. would you try as hard when in your mind also your thinking this team is shit.
number4 lehtwat is past it.cmon the goal he let in at man c was so shocking that i reckon he was match fixing.
Now something posative.
number1 if gallas and co stop going for corners then their will be no more counters,fabregas will then be inspired,clichy will stop trying to be the main attention, and then we will punish every single fucking team that dare cross our paths. and with the extra confidence we will win even if two nil down and be hailed as kings of all.lol but only if the above happens, of which i cant see,but heres to hope and spread the word.
The three counter attacking goals stemmed from Clichy errors. However Song was also to blame for the 2nd one – he should have dont alot better against Richards – who is not exactly a tricky winger.
Once Denilson went off (he wasn’t playing very well I admit) and then Song went off, we had no defensive midfielders, and thus we were hit on the break.
We are almost there. Just a bit of tactical naivety. I cannot see that Man City breaking down teams once they sit the team bus in front of the goal.
Greetings ‘Holic!
Can’t believe your blog is invaded by the buy-buy-buy parrots escaped from the shite blogs. Did they even watch the game? Which new magic DM would have stopped the last 2 goals if he wasn’t even on the pitch?
That result is not an accident, it’s Arsene’s unbelievable substitutions that cost us the game, combined with some players’ attitude. Watch it again, once Rosicki gets in we score and after that we were thoroughly overran in midfield. Oh yes we looked good in attack but with Cesc having decided last season that he was above defending and Rosicki and Diaby also staying in the final 3rd of the pitch, it was left to poor Song to break alone all the City moves. And then he was taken off for a fourth striker! 4-0-6 what a great proven formation, way to go Arsene! Even in the worse games last year we were never so unbalanced in midfield.
It’s that simple: once Denilson and then Song are subbed City scores 3 goals in 4 attacks (and should have scored the 4th if it wasn’t for SWP’s pathetic miss after Adebayor’s Zidane moment). If Arsene tries the same trick against Pool or United, we’ll ship 8 goals instead of 4.
Then against United Denilson and Song bossed the midfield. Against City, Cesc, Diaby and Rosicki totally let us down, not one of them was arsed to even pretend to defend. Look at champions (United, Barca, Chelski, the Invincibles): when they lose the ball, 9 if not 10 players become pitbulls to get it back. Against City only Song and Denilson had the necessary bite, Cesc, Rosicki and Diaby were totally apathic in defense. Rosicki is just back and I’m sure will balance his game as he returns to his former self, Diaby is no Vieira and Arsene needs a good one-on one discussion with Cesc. We all know he will leave for Barca rather sooner than later so for the time we have him he should play to make us win not to please himself as the next Ronaldo. If needed bench him for a few games since anyway we earn more points per game on average when he is not playing for us since last season.
We have the quality, we just need Arsene not to make panic substitutions and the players to have the right attitude. The league is won by winning systematically all the “little” games, we have 9 of them in a row before Chelski. We should win every single one of them and all this will be pardoned but if we don’t we can forget about the title come November…
Hey ‘holic,
Disagree with your comment about us being caught easily on the break. Its happened in our last two outings and only when we were chasing the game which, away from home, exposes most teams to the counter.
Nonetheless it appears we appear to have contrived to make it difficult to win the league this season. I’ll hold tight to my optimism for now and still think we will.
Don’t kill my optimism, its all I have
:thumup:
Albo