Composed Song Hits The High Notes
Mar 8th, 2009 by 'holic
The opening five minutes at the Grove were to be misleading. Burnley’s best football came early and seemed to awaken the mixed bag sent out by Arsene Wenger. Aside from long-term absentees Rosicky, Fabregas, Adebayor, and Silvestre, Arsene rested Toure, Nasri, and Denilson. Relegated to the bench were Almunia, Clichy, van Persie, and Bendtner alongside the returning Walcott.
Those that did start included Eduardo, captain for the day, and his contribution will doubtless have been witnessed by all of you by now. Quite simply, after that early warning, the Gunners played with too much pace and technique for the visitors who were chasing shadows for much of the contest.
Crisp passing and intelligent movement were the order of the day, and there were some impressive performances, particularly from a couple of much-maligned performers in midfield. I remain to be convinced that Song has a future at Arsenal as anything other than a central defender, but his performance today was almost certainly his best in an Arsenal shirt. He overshadowed his central midfield partner, Diaby, with important contributions at both ends.
Eboue too enjoyed another good day. He seems to have been instructed to run more directly at the heart of the opposition, and Burnley were never comfortable when he drove at them and then found some good positions in the box. His finishing remained a weak point until that sublime moment, six minutes from the final whistle, when he was put clear by a quite astonishing backheel from the aforementioned Song and drove a firm shot beyond Jensen into the far corner. We’ll forgive him the ‘dance’, if that is what it was, by the corner flag.
That third goal was the icing on a particularly tasty cake. Arsenal had threatened early on through full-backs Sagna (what do you mean, miss-hit cross?) and Gibbs. The opener finally arrived on 25 minutes. Arshavin will claim an assist having passed to Vela, but the impudent Mexican had much still to do. He ‘megged Carlisle, held off the attentions of Gudjonsson, who seemed to want an early exchange of shirts, and chipped Jensen sublimely.
The closest the visitors came to levelling was just before the break, when Diaby flicked a corner beyond the onrushing Fabianski, and we struggled to clear. Only six minutes after the break, the contest was effectively over. Song was the unlikely provider with a superb chip for Eduardo. The acting skipper looked to have over-run it but adjusted his body position to volley quite magnificently with the outside of his foot into the top far corner.
There remained appearances from the bench for van Persie and Walcott, both of whom missed great chances to extend the advantage. Hopefully they have stored the proper finishes for more important challenges ahead.
So again half of me is cautioning against getting carried away with a strong performance against lesser opponents. The other half of me is inclined to point out that when you have goalscorers who actually score goals then the midfield, however makeshift in nature, can play with a little more freedom and confidence. If Eduardo can produce the goods in the Premiership and Champions League then we may yet have a happy ending to a long, and sometimes painful season.
Messrs Song and Eboue will echo that, I have no doubt. I’m still a sceptic as far as they are concerned, but credit where it is due. Both were awesome today. Well played.
31 Responses to “Composed Song Hits The High Notes”
first? don’t mind if i do.
eduardo will win us the cup this year. is rvp starting to panick now that there’s a litte more competition or was he thinking of roma?
It’s true! I saw Eboue rifling home after an exquisite backheel from Song! The magic of the FA Cup!
Great to see Vela scoring. I feel we’ll start to see the best of him now. What can you say about Eduardo?
A good day (spoiled only by the f*cking Blackwall Tunnel which extended my journey by about an hour).
lesser opponents. they have beaten tottenham and chelsea and ur super youngster.
rvp startin to panick 4 a place i dont think so i think we are worried about keepin him and hopin he signs a new deal and a new deal with walcott cause next season is his last on his current deal
A very good performance with loads of positives. I think you have highlighted the majority of them in your excellent report.
Big plus points have to be the return of Theo and Eduardo. The most impressive thing about Eduardo was the way he put himself about and the fact that he was not bothered about getting involved. Must have balls of steel after what he has been through. Theo looked full of running even if his sharpness is lacking. That will come back.
Not Diaby’s greatest game but I do think he helps the midfield gel together. It has a far better shape when he plays.
The final goal was as sublime as it was ridiculous. A song back heel??? To set up an Eboue goal???? Now I know you like a flutter and I also get the impression that you could be tempted to be adventurous and go for the odd cheeky long shot. But what price that sequence of events???????
All positive for Roma then? My opinion is that if we score over there an we are through.
Keep the faith.
Steve, flutter be buggered. I was finally on a winner until Song and Eboue did that. I don’t think I have been happier to lose the bet this season 😉
I think he means that aS Burnley are in a league LOWER than Arsenal, then, in effect they are lesser opposition…
Song & Eboue played really well, lets give em the credit they deserve. But with Theo coming back, hopefully he will start a game soon enough.
the difference in the ast week is mental. the team looks up for it again. the difference for eboue is mental too, hes stped all that monaing and rollin about
The long hot punter just passed me by………
Shoobee doobee, Shoobee doowop…… etc etc,
Can’t beat a bit of Weller on such occasions.
You missed the great Gallas pass to the spot the run of Song to make the audacious back heel to Eboue?
Wonderful game, I don’t think Roma will be able to deal with the pace of Walcott hopefully they’ll be able to do the job and turn their focus back onto the league
Fair play to song and eboue i saw that goal form the upper tier at the opposite end and couldn’t believe eboue put it away. Far play to both him and song but i still remain unconvinced in the long term over eboue. I had the previlege to watch vela attacking the goal where i was sitting and chipping it over the goalie. Have that for the league cup! although he was a beast in that game for burnley. Eduardo’s goal was audacious an absolute quality!
glad i paid out the £50 quid and for those of you gettin wet on the lower tiers i felt for u the weather changed as soon as we walked into the emirates. Oh well if you have to get wet to watch eduardo’s goal and eboue score its worth it!
On a funny note: I was sitting above the burnley fans in the corner and was laughing my head off as some of there supporters got pissed off at the gooners on the over side and wanted to fight but ended up gettin kicked out of the ground. what a bunch of mugs! they pay god knows how much to travel to london and get kicked out for giving it large. pillocks! then later on the gooners on the other side where then also kicked out! Anyway good game and hopefully a sterdy defensive display and good attacking play could hopefully see us through against roma. 1 goal is all we need. Keep the faith gooners!
I think all the praise coming eboue’s way is very well deserved as he turned in a few excellent performances in the last few games… and well done to him, but i also feel that this does speak loads to arsene’s man managing abilities. I have to believe that AW played a huge role in ths turn around since THAT incident. I have read in the past critism about AW and his ablity to man manage, but i think this should definitely put that to bed.
As good as things are starting to look, I am still extremly nervous about what lies ahead. To win the FA cup we now have to first overcome a rejuvinated chelsea, who are in the same boat as us as far as winning trophies is concerned (lets be honest nobody is going to catch man u in the EPL! sad, but true!), and if we get thru that we will almost certainly have the unenviable task of facing man u at wembly!! in the CL any and all opponents will be extremly tuff in the QF.. and we all knw we have to face chelsea and man u in the last month of the EPL…
very exciting but very, very nervous times ahead!!! Lets just hope that we can live up to our potential now and get one, if not two peices of silver in the cabinet… oh and ofcors so that i can make back a good few quid i lost over this painfull season ths far (holic im sure u can relate!!)
“…who seemed to want an early exchange of shirts…”
Classic, ‘Holic. Classic >8)
Everton will beat ManU… put a quid on that one…
Talking of exchanging shirts, did you notice Gallas gave his shirt to one of them but went off bare-chested? As if to say, ‘you can have mine but I’m not wearing that shite’.
Thought Gibbs had a really nice game too, and a pretty comically great run at Burnley. I have to say I think Clichy’s form has dropped a bit this year, and given his propensity for the retarded at times, I expect there will be a real challenge for LB next year.
Arshavin in a central role is great, and i think it is just the kind of creativity and touch we need there in Cesc’s Absence. Walcott looked dangerous and our offense, imo, could be shaping up to be head and shoulders above any other club if we can just get an in form Ade, or Bendtner to keep improving. We have to hold Roma and hopefully that will set us up for the an immaculate end to a previously dismal season.
A fine win indeed although it was “only” Burnley. Pls keep adebarndoor on the treatment table. As for you No 13 learn how to spell wembley…..!! What a fix that draw is…………!! Good blog holic but think you aint done the first 2 goals the justice they deserve utterly top drawer…!!
Ooops sorry I mean No 12……………….
lol, Im sorry if i offended you bokka by misspelling wembly, im mean, wembely, oops i mean wemblie. wiat thats still not right!!
Ill go out and buy me a dictionary first thing tomorrow morning, so that the next time i am posting a random comment on some1’s blog ill be sure not to misspell nething!!!
Cellar of the Devil Cab Sauv? Don’t mind if I have a large one, thanks.
Thought all the much maligned players in our squad had great games today. Well done to them. Gave Wenger a chance to rest some of our key players for Roma. That is why having strength in depth is so important in the top flight. I guess that is what we lack whereas Manure and the Chavs have it in spades. Not to mention competition for places…
Anyway, Hull in the next round… Hmmm…
Whatever drink you can give me to send me to sleep, I will have.
Cheers, ‘holic.
Umm, yeah great win and 3 awesome goals.
But knowing THIS Arsenal side it does not mean anything.
You all seem to forget the sad reality, we played the way we did because Burnley LET US play that way, they were attacking and not doing what most sides do against us which is keeping 10 men behind the ball.
Roma have to come out and play as they need 2 goals, this will suit us a lot and would not surprise me if we come back with a victory and a great performance from Italy again.
But what will happen with Blackburn? I have not really watched them this season but I think is a safe bet to assume they will play with 10 men behind the ball, will Arsenal be able to break them down?
This side is capable of beating the best teams in the world, we outplayed Man U this season and were the last side to beat them.
Our problem are sides that play against us with a plan to just defend and I honestly dont think Wenger has come up with any effective tactics against this yet.
When we start beating sides that just defend, thats when I’ll feel the team is actually improving, Burnley are a good side, dont get me wrong but Arsenal play better when teams actually attack us.
I take your point Erik, but with Eduardo and Theo back, we can surely be a bit more optimistic. There’s nothing wrong with this team that a bit of confidence wouldn’t put right – the confidence that comes from a winning run.
Erik, I think you are being a bit negative. We stuck 4 past Blackburn at their place earlier on this season. I know that since then they have brought Big Sam in. However, he was in charge of the Geordies at the time and the week before we stuck 3 past them.
Arshavin has started to find the kind of passes that Cesc gives us. We are more of a threat as a result. Diaby gives the whole of the midfield more shape and balance. Edurado looks like a player who just knows that he has missed a year and wants to make it up as quickly as he possibly can. Then there is Theo. His pace alone will terrorise defenses. Not only does that create a different threat but it also frees up more space for others.
RVP has been outstanding this season and we are now in the luxurious position where we can actually give him a breather. Bendtner improves with each game he plays. I genuinely believe that we pose far more of a threat than he have done for many a week. Confidence is high. I see no reason why we can not get a result against Roma, and then follow that up with a convincing win against Blackburn. It is only then that the unthinkable kicks in??? We will actually then want the spuds to get something at Villa.
Keep the faith people. This is the time to be strong. The time to stand up and be counted.
a fantastic game to build on confidence, but i hate to be this bucket of cold water; they were against west brom and burnley. not to take any credit away from the great game by the boys, but what happens when the opponents are the “bigger” teams from tier 1 like Manure, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Everton?
the confidence came when they scored the first goal. the sauve passing came and the stylish invention to create the sublime goals ensued. this team builds on confidence when the strategy or the play is flowing freely and not restricted by a stubborn defence or a loss in possesion in the midfield.
but what happens when the players find themselves unable to break down the defence of teams with tight defence? previous few games show that when we dont score, frustration kicks in and a sense of “loss” comes in. followed by dangerous counter attacks or set -pieces.
this is my point for a natural leader to calm things down when the going gets tough. a viera figure to organise the middle and backline. someone to shout “look do not get panick or frustrated, get back to your positions, do your job, and we’ll get the goal soon.”
i dont see such leadership qualities in Song, Gallas, Denilson or even Cesc. and even if Arshavin tries, he’ll probably shout out something in Russian, for now.
two gamess, one clean sheet, 6 goals is simply wonderful for confidence. i am just hoping that this confidence is big and strong enough for any teams, not just teams with lower capacity. and by that, lets have a go at Roma come this midweek.
oh god, please, someone stop Manure, they are on a high for too long.
Yes it was ‘only’ Burnley but a win is a win, and it was a good win. Wins build confidence and the returning players look good. I hardly need mention Edu but Theo too looked very lively and wasn’t offside at the end which should have meant another goal. There were a few wobbles in defence and Fabianski looked a bit wild at times.
Song was man of the match for me but I still feel his best position for us may well turn out to be central defence because of his lack of pace, although a more defensive/holding midfield role may also suit.
Great goal from Eboue, I like his direct, powerful runs which unsettle defenders.
I thought Diaby had a reasonable game, he is good on the ball and quite pacey – central midfield is his best position.
If we score in Rome they are going to have to get 3, a confident, committed Arsenal should go through to the next round.
[…] reviews of the game at Arseblog, Goonerholic hails Song’s excellent performance and Goodplaya does the usual ratings. Personally I think […]
We’ve had a few false dawns this season already, but one reason to be hopeful against Blackburn and their ilk is that some subtle changes in the make-up of the team have led to us producing the most direct football we’ve played all season. The crucial changes are: the arrival of Arshavin, who has the intelligence to always look for the quick, incisive ball forward; Eboue making runs straight at the opposition defence (he must be doing this on Wenger’s orders, but it has greatly improved our attacking threat); and of course the return of Walcott. All of these factors mean we should be able to do less of the square-ball passing in front of our opponents’ packed defence and offer a lot more penetration, even when they ‘park the bus.’ When Fabregas and Rosicky return our options for greater directness will be even better.
will the real Guns please stand up!
Totti, beware and be prepared.
i’ll be calm, 2-0 to zeeeeee Gunners. sweet sweet Roman blood.
What a difference a couple of weeks makes. There we were thinking the unthinkable was very possible bar a Villa collapse, and now the gloom has lifted. What a performance, led by our captain for the day, the utterly superb Edouardo. This guy is solid gold, and it was no surprise that he energised the whole team. Super chip (again) from Vela for the opener, then Edouardo`s sumptous piece of skill for the second. Song for once had an excellent game in defensive midfield, and Eboue even managed a goal to cap a rare good display. Then the introduction of Walcott. We were chanting Theo, Theo, from the moment he started stripping off, and make no mistake, even if Theo doesn`t score between now and the end of the season, his pace and ability to go past defenders can be a game-changing asset. Arsenal look transformed, and if we can string a few wins together, we will be really motoring. A little too late, but maybe just in time to be damage limiting.
I really dig your lyrical style ‘Holic.
Eboue and Song: from zeroes to heroes in one game. Looks like Eboue scoring may become a good speculative bet for our next games.
I agree with you on Song. He had a hell of a game yesterday but he’s still strolling around the pitch too often for a central midfielder. There weren’t any consequences against Burnley but that would not be enough against a tough EPL side. That said he displayed vision and technical skills we’d not seen from him up to that game.
Vela and Walcott are born 2 weeks apart, both 20 this month. We still may be debating about Song and Diaby but there is absolutely no doubt that the March 89 guys are the future of Arsenal and with them our future is bright.
It is another one of these “season-defining” weeks and we’re off to a good start with the closing perspective of a really exciting end of the season. And heavy headaches for Arsene having to choose a starting 11 among so many deserving players.