Arsenal 2-2 Everton; Point Saved or Points Dropped?
Preamble
I’m actually going to do this in reverse today and go The Ugly, The Bad, and The good. You’ll see why.
Match Reports
Telegraph: In this Arctic outpost of North London, Arsenal were more than grateful for cold comforts.
ESPNSoccernet: Rosicky rescues Gunners
Match Video
The Arsenalist has highlights and even Match of the Day video.
Quote of the Day
Arsene Wenger on the game:
We played against a very good Everton team who for the biggest part of the game was more dangerous, sharper than us. At the end of the day we dropped two points but, looking at the game, we gained one point. We were closer to losing the game than winning it.
The Ugly
It’s been a running joke among me and my friends where I say “with the high line that Arsene plays, one of these days they’re going to try to spring an offside trap only to realize that the offensive player is still behind the half-way line.”
See, it was a joke because I never really thought it would actually happen. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever seen that happen outside of a kids game or yesterday’s Arsenal match.
It illustrates, though, the absolute nightmare that Arsenal’s defense suffered yesterday. Traore was basically abused throughout the match down the left side by whomever Everton put over there and Gallas (especially after he came up limping) seemed incapable of covering his position for most of the match.You know you’ve had a nightmare defensive match when your zone defense is basically picked apart by a “towering” header from the shortest player on the pitch.
Gallas and Traore even had a go at each other after a series of poor defensive stands which underlined the communication problems that have plagued this team all season. Meanwhile, Denilson’s “shield” was pretty much ineffective; where we are used to seeing Song mop up, I can’t remember seeing Denilson mop up even once. In fact, Diaby, who moved into the holding spot when Merida came on performed the Song role better than Denilson.
That said, I can understand the logic of not picking on Traore and Denilson since they are coming back from injury. And I’m not saying that they are bad players, with a good run of games they could really polish up. Traore simply had a nightmare game, Denilson was good going forward but had problems staying back, and Gallas looked off as well.
None of which excuses Almunia. I am very aware of the fact that Arsene Wenger has a long history of redeeming seemingly irredeemable players; Song, Eboue, Adebayor, etc. But I put that down to the fact that some times Arsenal fans are too quick to call our own players crap. For example, Eboue had a rough patch a while ago but having a rough patch is different from being crap and so it’s no surprise that after some hard work and a run of good performances, Eboue is widely considered a decent player.
So, understand me when I say that Almunia is crap. If he was 24 years old and having a poor run of form, I wouldn’t be jumping on him. I learned that lesson. But at 32 years old, and with an entire half-season of increasingly poor performances punctuated by one or two decent performances, I can’t help but think that more than any other position Almunia is jeopardizing this young team.
Having Traore getting an earful from Gallas because the whole defense is on a knife edge owing to the fact that they have no clue what Almunia is going to do at any moment is destructive. It robs these young players of confidence and threatens to undo 4 years of work that Wenger has laid by pulling the team apart with infighting.
Arsene has to know this and exactly why he’s sticking with Almunia is a huge mystery.
The Bad
For large parts of the game Marouane Fellaini bossed Abou Diaby off the park. Partially this is down to the fact that Moyes had reserved Fellaini and had him simply marking Diaby at all times and is just as much down to the fact that referee Peter Walton allowed Fellaini to kick everyone off the field. I don’t blame Fellaini, and I don’t think Walton was intentionally anti-Arsenal. Rather the simple explanation is that I think that Peter Walton actually has excrement for brains. Like, literally, if you trepanned him, steaming piles of Tottenham would spill out.
For example, take Phil Neville’s x-rated challenge on Denilson, which saw him stretchered off later, yes, Neville got the ball, but in his full blooded challenge he also took out the man, completely. Not to mention how he left his elbow in and nearly knocked Denilson out. How that’s not a penalty or a yellow card is beyond me.
Then, how about when Denilson simply crumpled to the ground? He was running along, unmarked, and must have had a spasm so he fell to the ground, turning the ball over in the process. Walton’s decision? Play on! When a player goes down like that, without any provocation, there’s something seriously wrong, stop play.
It was a bizarre decision but then the whole match was fraught with bizarre decisions by Peter Walton.
The Good
It takes a lot of character to overcome as poor a defensive display and as poor a refereeing display as we saw yesterday. It takes even more character to take points from a game which had such pronounced infighting and at times such botched execution. And it shows the heart of this team that they secured the draw at the death of the game.
I’ve often marveled at how Manchester United has this unrealistic sense that they deserve to win games. Against Birmingham yesterday ManU looked very poor, in fact as I watched the game I wondered what Arsenal fans would say if Wayne Rooney played for Arsenal and had the kind of performance he had against Birmingham. But what impresses me every time I watch them is that they fight the whole time. They are a team of basically slightly above average players who never quit because they think it’s their right to win every game and their supporters and their manager feel the same way.
I think this Arsenal team has some of that spirit as well. Obviously, they don’t have the same winning spirit as a team which has won the league two years running, but there’s something special here in this Arsenal side: a belief I haven’t seen since the Arsenal side of 2004.
I never felt for even a minute that we would lose and that’s telling. Last year, I often moaned and Le Grove-d about Arsenal but this year I’ve seen a real improvement in the attitude of this team and really do think we can win something.
If we can keep most of our players healthy… and that’s no small if considering that Denilson was carted off with an intercostal muscle (muscles on his ribs that help him breathe) problem shortly after suffering Neville’s red card tackle yesterday. After he was taken off I was joking around with T-Town Alex that now Arsene needs to buy a striker, a left back, a replacement center back, a goalkeeper, and now a defensive midfielder.
Of course it’s a joke and like the joke at the start of the column the humor is in the fact that right now I don’t ever see it happening. Of course, I never thought I’d see a professional football team try to spring an offside trap in their opponent’s half so I guess now anything is possible.
Sign me up Wenger, bring in David Villa, Philipp Lahm, Chiellini, Iker Casillas, and Yaya Toure, anything less and the whole season will be shot to pieces.
Or not. Let’s just hope this is one joke that doesn’t come to fruition.
Comments
You put your finger on an important point here: they didn’t lose. They deserved to lose but they got a point. Don’t we always say a potential league winning team has to get points even when they are playing badly? Frankly, I thought this was a shocking display of ineptitude across the whole team. I had visions of Birmingham after Denilson fell to the ground and Gallas started to argue with his own team mates. At that point I did believe we would lose. The fact that we pulled out a draw and could have won it in injury time gives me hope that we can go all the way. Basically, the only difference between us and Chelsea is the home defeat they inflicted on us.
@Anthony Philip Goodman, that’s a really good point about how the only difference between Arsenal and Chelsea is our one home defeat to them.
Now what we need to do is get some get back on their home patch and we’ll be even!
Excellent blog today and strong assessment of the match, in particular, the trepanation of Peter Walton.
And what would we find if we did a similar operation on Almunia?…with the dye gone from his hair, shaving it to emulate Tim Howard (who played a great match) might be the next step. I’ve never bought the hype about “our” national keeper, but I almost felt bad for him with the two deflections…almost.
The only thing I can think about AW sticking with Mooney is that he’s so obviously on the edge confidence-wise, that a benching would kill him as an asset for us (either as a back-up or in the transfer market). Despite the positive elements about our team which I also feel, being this unsettled at the back, this deep into the season, means that we will need poop-loads of goals AND luck at the back to have the potential get realized. That said, I’m more than ready, for MadFab to be our #1.
As for Mooney, I don’t even think his utility as a backup or his potential value this summer should even be a consideration. If we put in Fab and he doesn’t cut it, put in Mannone. If Mannone doesn’t cut it, the season’s a wash anyway and we go out and buy a keeper this summer and start anew. Not that Almunia could’ve done much to stop the two goals. It was the handful of situations where Almunia was out of place and we were lucky not to give up a goal which were troubling.
As for the refereeing, does anyone have a link to a more up close view of that Neville collision with Denilson in our box? I saw it at the pub yesterday and did see that Neville got the ball. I just want to go back and see what else he got with his elbow on that play. If that were Rooney instead of Denilson, we would’ve had a penalty shot methinks. Still with Denilson, as bad as it was that Walton didn’t stop play when Denilson crumbled to the ground, it was equally bad on Everton’s part to try and kick downfield to score a goal. I would hope that our guys would’ve done the sporting thing and kicked it out of bounds. Very poor, that.
I really hope this isn’t a turning point for the worse for this club. Our next two league matches are away to Bolton and Villa, and we all know that at away matches the balls bounce the wrong way and the calls don’t typically go for us. Please, Cesc, come back and lead the boys.
By the way, I encourage watching the Arsenalist’s 20 minutes of video from yesterday. I counted 3 or 4 balls into our box where our guys were just not tall enough to get a head in on the ball or long enough to stretch a foot out on the ball. Something to consider for those debating the need or lack of need for some size up front. Sorry for the plethora of posts, but the season is over for my Chicago Bears and I’m very nervous about where our club is at this moment.
@ArseChicago, Plethora away brother, it’s cathartic.
The Chelsea match for the moment is the only difference between us and them in terms of the games we’ve played. In terms of the signings we will make, I don’t think so. And that will be the difference in the end. Arsene Wenger is a footballgenius, but a very stubborn one, and therefore, not very intelligent, because for the life of me, I don’t see any other logical explanation if he doesn’t buy someone in January. I absolutely hate being a hater, but what bugs me the most is that in the last four years, this is the first time I feel we are very, very close to something good, I’ll even take that FA Cup without blinking, but I have that f…..ing suspicion that we will sign no one, put Diaby in Denilson’s, who is in Song’s place, put Nasri in Diaby’s place, put Vela in Nasry’s place, and Vela is no good at the moment. And again it will be so faraway, so close. Irregardless, I truly believe in the next few years we will become what is Barcelona at the moment. So come on, you gooners!
Two years ago we were 8pts ahead at the top of the table and we faltered, so I can’t agree that this is the first time in four years we have success within our reach. Nevertheless, Wenger not bringing in players this pivotal of months in the face of the incredible injuries and this stupid African Nations Cup would be far too passive for my tastes. Like you, I share a suspicion that we’ll forgo signing anyone. If that’s the case and we spiral downward from here, supporters will have every right to be angry.
@ArseChicago, I agree about two seasons ago, I guess the disappointment about that season (along with the Liverpool match in CL and everything) was so overwhelming that I completely blocked it out of my memory:) The thing is, there is this growing feeling in me that divides me lately. As a fanatic Arsenal fan, sometimes I lose control over my emotions and cry for Wenger’s head. However, as a rationalist, I always ask myself should I distance myself from the emotions and start to wonder if this clicking of the refresh button of my Mac has any meaning? We can argue and debate and agree on what is needed and who should be bought, but whatever conversation happens behind those Arsenal office doors will never be made public. For all we know, maybe even Wenger wants to buy 3 class players (whoever they may be), and knows that this way winning will be a lot easier, but the Man upstairs simply does not want to spend the cash? Maybe the law about reporting loss or profit will change in two years time and we will become undisputed pretenders to the title? The thing is, if I decide to think like that, I will lose my emotions about Arsenal. So for now, I’m stuck with being angry. Unfortunately, that happens to last a little longer than I expected.
@Teampossible, Actually, there’s plenty of evidence that Wenger is the one who doesn’t want to spend.
I have a request in to Arsenal Supporter’s Trust for comment on a rumor I have heard. I will report more when/if I can, for the moment, it’s my belief that Wenger has a dedicated transfer/payroll fund and that lack of signings are 100% down to Wenger.
This is his project, he’s doing this his way, like it or not.
@Tim, Given the way Song, Diaby&Co. are developing, I have no reason not to like it, it’s just that I sincerely hoped for the exception that proved the rule. It’s just that, I would love it if ManShitty, ManlessUtd and Chelstoevski wouldn’t give a shit about principles and still come away with nothing, not the other way around.
To your point, I want Arsenal succeed, not just because it’s the team I support, but because I’d rather see the strategy Wenger espouses succeed, rather than the Chav and City strategy of buying everybody in sight.
@Tim, I seem to recall that Arsenal has to have a certain amount of transfer funds at all times to insure that the club is kept valuable through player reinvestment. It’s part of the club’s loan arrangement.
Arsechicago: I really do not care what remarks you care to make about the Arsenal, but could you please refrain from calling African Nations Cup stupid? As a BLACK man, I see myself as African and feels personally offended when people express views which I personally view to be a tad racist. Would you call the European equivalent – the European Championship – or the North American equivalent which both the USA and Mexico play in, which kept Vela out for the most part of the start of the season, stupid?
I feel that calling it stupid is very disrespectful not only to the people who live on the Continent of Africa, but to the numerous Black people all over the world, who are all of African descent.
@LRV, The ACN isn’t stupid, the timing of it is however. Most countries world-wide play their season’s at the same time, August-April, with a dedicated off season. Exceptions being the US and Russia (Winter is an issue). From a logistics and organisational point of view much better to play the ACN in the June of every year preceding and succeeding the Euro Championships.
@Tiki, They would if they could except for a little thing called the rainy season.
Apologies, but as the fellow beneath said, I’m referring to the timing of the ACN. Just as I find all the international friendlies and world cup qualifying matches stupid. Feel free to ask someone, particularly someone you don’t know, what they mean before you start labeling them racist.
Dear All, It is not my intention to label anyone what they clearly are not or to stir some unpleasant debate, especially not you arsechicago. But in view of the terror attack on the Togo Team and the subsequent media attack on the continent of Africa, I felt a bit sensitive about the various and any negative remark concerning the ACN. Tim knows my disdain for international tournaments in general. However, the double standard of our British Media here, is pissing me off. Why should they be calling the World Cup 2010 in South Africa into question without any balanced argument?
Even when Arsene Wenger put the whole incident into its proper perspective, idiots like Rednap and Brown still spew their usual idiotic reasoning. No wonder, the footballing establishment in the UK hate Wenger so much; simply because the man operates at a much higher levels of intelligence than they are all ever capable of.
At least this bit in this link below puts the whole thing into its proper light. I strongly recommend that you read it if you care about sports as a unifying factor: http://www.stonecoldarsenal.com/2010/01/perspective-aftermath-of-attack-of-togo-national-team-in-angola/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+StoneColdArsenal+%28STONE+COLD+ARSENAL%29
Appreciate the sensitivities in light of the unfortunate event with the Togo team and sorry for the misunderstanding. Following Arsenal gives me a little exposure to the British media and it seems from here in the U.S. that Arsenal doesn’t get the love that other teams get mainly due to this view of Arsenal being a club full of non-English. I think in this case it’s not unreasonable to claim xenophobia on behalf of the British sports press (juxtapose reactions to Eduardo’s Celtic “incident” and any of Rooney’s dives), and that sort of broad-based attitude unfortunately pervades into the British/European discussion about the current African Nations Cup and its implications for South Africa in the summer. Let’s all obviously hope for an incident-free remainder of the tournament and a terrific WC in the summer.
@LRV, I have consistently been against all international competitions and regard them all as stupid.
For the record I am aware that the ACN “needs” to take place at this time of year because otherwise many countries wouldn’t be able to participate due to the monsoon season. I’m also aware that FIFA is going to force them to go to a 4 year cycle in order to bring it in line with the EURO, etc.
As an American who supports an English club, you’ll probably understand why I feel like national competitions are pointless, archaic, displays of nationalistic masturbation.
Also, last time I checked my anthropology book, we’re all from Africa.
almunia is shit… its sad but true… his positioning is screwed up… for the 1st goal he came out and was in no mans land like always… he thought he could do that as 2 guys are at the post but thats the normal shit he does always… coming out… not grabbing the ball… and looking like a fool…
wenger this season really wants to win something and his faith in people is letting him down… he is very loyal… but its costing him again… in certain players who have been given enough chances… and there needs to be atleast 2 -3 new people for this season alone… lets worry about the “future” years in the future… wenger did say he is looking for short term solution… lets hope “they” come quickly…
also what was refreshing to see this time is some injury time goals… man u and chelsea have won games in extra time 2-3 times? thats like 6 points in the dying mintues… good to see finally arsenal do it…
Everton =11
Walton=12
Snow=13
Frosty pitch=14
Injuries=15
Bad day at the office=16
16 things that Arsenal overcame to come back from a losing position to earn a point. The mark of a team that is fighting to win something, anything.
Buy, buy, buy, buy. Who? January is not the time to buy ‘projects’. ‘Ready mades’ are a tricky proposition in terms of chemistry, ability, mentality and price. 2 wks down and 3 to go and not a sniff, peep, whiff, hint of a player who is a PLAYER. Sol Campbell does not count.
What does Wenger mean when he says Denilson injury is a mystery? Are we talking diagnosis to be determined after further tests or Rio Ferdinand we don’t WTF is going on type ailment.
Denilson is better than that.
Traore hopefully can be better than that.
Rosicky has to remember that he was better than that.
That’s the thing, too. I don’t feel that supporters, for the most part, are demanding money to be spent for upgrades to the starting 11. At this point, most of us are begging for depth to give guys like TV5 and Gallas the occasional week off, to provide for insurance when injuries occur (and god have they been occurring). Speaking of chemistry, could the chemistry between the goalkeeper and the back 4 be any more strained?
@ArseChicago, Sure, it could be more strained. Imagine is Almunia was some womanizer and had slept with all their WaG’s?
@ctpa, basically, it looks like Denilson pulled one of the muscles between his ribs. The problem is that it could be that Neville broke or bruised a rib.
What happened is that he either took too deep a breath or exhaled too deeply and suffered a very sharp pain which caused him to collapse.
I’ve had rib injuries like this before and a week is the minimum that you’re out. Basically, every time you inhale or exhale it hurts. So you compensate by taking short breaths. This is no good for a midfielder, who needs all of his lungs to compete.
I would love to see some signings to help push us over the line this year for a trophy, especially with all of the injuries. While I know Wenger is stubborn, I believe he’d also be interested in bringing in a striker and defender. However, it isn’t as simple as the press and fans make it out to be. For example, everyone and their mother has been banging on about Dzeko and I am sure he would be a good player. But you see the posts and blogs all pissed off at Wenger because he won’t buy Dzeko because he is so stubborn and has too much faith in his players. Then you see stories about Chelsea looking to put in a 36M pound bid for him (which could bea good chunk fiction) and I, for one, understand why you aren’t going to see him in an Arsenal shirt. And I am happy for it if that is anywhere near the ridiculous price tag for him. Is he really worth 2+ Arshavin’s? How distorted would he be for the other players and himself if we paid 2+ times what we have paid for any other player in the history of the club? It’s a lot harder for Arsene to buy players given the financial restrictions we place on ourself and the lack of financial restrictions that other clubs have. But I’d much rather we continued to play in the real money world, even if it is incredibly frustrating. If we don’t buy a player this Jan, I don’t think it will be for a lack of trying or wanting from Wenger. I have to trust he knows a lot more than me, especially given the evidence of his work in the market in the past. Keep the faith. He’s trying and I’ll just continue to send lots of hate to Chelsea, Man City, Real Madrid, and these other sugar daddy idiots.
So Tim, this rumour you speak of, I’ll guess and say it has something to do with an imminent bid from Kroenke? Just a guess given that you’ve reached out to the AST. You don’t have to say. Rumours are fun, that’s all.
what happening in the espnsoccernet fantasy league,whats the top 5 and who won the 7am kick-off tshirt for coming 1st at the start of the new year° gd blog im happy e got a point
I said on Twitter during the game that Fellaini was getting away with murder. Trouble is, with his height (and his hair) he can lean on a player – Ramsey, Denilson, for example – and they go down, but it doesn’t look like a foul.
With Diaby, they are both similar heights so he had to actually tackle him, and got away with at least a couple of /very/ dubious ones which another ref would have blown for and possibly carded (aside from which, I thought Diaby had another excellent game).
Still, we kept battling to the end – and how many times last season did we come on here and bemoan the fact that our guys gave up with 10 minutes to go? It was Everton who had their heads down at the end and felt robbed; we gained a very valuable late point (lest we forget, Everton finished just one place behind us last season and in David Moyes have a master tactician for a manager).
I know every Gooner wants us to demolish teams at The Emirates with our precision passing and intricate set-up play but with half the first XI injured or in Africa, that wasn’t bad at all, you know.
So, who do we buy?
Upson to provide cover at the back. Get Huntelaar on a loan to bolster the front. Maybe Veloso, or Inler, or Matuidi in midfield?
I know many of us like to think we know someone with links to the heart of Arsenal and our knowledge is better than others. So as Blackadder would say, I don’t know anyone, and therefore my assuredness over the club finances and the bosses transfer kitty OR player ‘investment’ is purely wishful thinking and the reason I go to sleep with a smile on my face is because of blissful ignorance and nothing else. The fact that the board of Arsenal has a philosophy and business acumen that is, some might say, ‘old school’ honestly has nothing to do with it. Lets face it, history and tradition can be brought for two-bob down the back alley and has fuckall to do with hard work, vision and commitment.
You see, being an ardent Arsenal fan, I want to be just like United (one of the world most successful football clubs, because lets face it, Arsenal aren’t). And if you don’t want to be like United, your mad, stupid or both.
These articles partially rest my case.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/mattslater/2010/01/fergies_bond_is_a_bind_for_eve.html
http://www.unitedrant.co.uk/?p=5469
I believed you should splash the plastic, buy something for $£1000 on borrowed money, see it devalued the second you walk out of the shop, and then pay 16% – 30% interest on it so you can make someone else rich. Priceless. (For U.S. readers that is a phrase from a British Public Information Film. Some have the audacity to call them adverts, but they’re not. Adverts are tools of manipulation only found in communist or socialist fuckwitt countries).
I also believe I know more that Wenger. After all, who the fuck doesn’t, he’s only been the second longest serving EPL manager. To do what he’s done is a piece of piss, anyone could do that, that’s why I’m not.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSELOCMmw4A
A personal note to Tim. I read your blog often but only post once in a blue moon. I think 7am is joyful
Yesterday’s result was an opportunity squandered that almost makes the much hyped game in hand meaningless.
Almunia’s performances become more scary with every game. He looks like a deer caught in the head lights and by now he must have lost the confidence of his team mates. Worst of all, the way he rushes off the line and into the playing field and colliding with players, including his own team mates, Almunia poses a physical threat to his own team mates. Towards the end of the game he seemed to knock Traore unconscious. by next season Wenger will have to upgrade the position with a goal keeper who can control the box and inspire confidence in his team mates.
An earlier post mentioned Fellaini and Neville’s aggressive play and repeated fouls. More than a striker, Arsenal need a defensive enforcer whose physical play will intimidate and prevent opponents from bullying Arsenal’s smallish defense. Tough as nails though he is, Vermaelen simply lacks the size necessary to do so. At present only Song has that iron man attitude, and his absence yesterday was telling. Everton, not exactly a top flight team, troubled Arsenal all game, and who were lucky to salvage a point. Against top tier league teams, including the CL, Arsenal won’t be as lucky. Arsenal need defensive reinforcements. They simply can’t expect to keep outscoring opponents.
Ultimately Arsenal are a different team without Cesc and Song. Once the heart of their midfield, and of the team, return, they and Bendtner’s will give the team a different look and improve team performance and production. Particularly Bendtner’s return will hopefully awaken Arshavin recently dormant game.
As good as RvP is, his history of missing games and seasons due to chronic injuries makes him unreliable. Given Wenger’s history of discovering young, high quality technical players through Arsenal’s international scouting network, if reports are correct suggesting Wenger has enough cash to splash on players, Arsenal should address the striker position as well as goal keeper and a center half defender if they are serious about hoisting silverware this season.
Anybody else trying to watch Juve-AC Milan, battle of the I-titans, etc….
Maybe I had too much JW black last night or I need more coffee today, but I am underwhelmed….(Nesta just gives Milan the lead from a corner–so perhaps it’ll get better….) Cracking finish for Mourinho’s boys earlier at the (empty) San Siro…Seems like Inter don’t need Balotelli (in street clothes)…could we use him? (Never gonna happen, I know, I know….)
The injuries (plus, how many of our guys are playing hurt–Denilson, Gallas, Arshavin?) and the chinks in the Chelsea and ManU armor and the fact that it’s January would indicate that it might be nice to inject some fervor into the team (and the supporters) with a nice warm body or two. Patience, patience, I guess, should be the mantra….
@17highburyterrace, How about that Ronaldinho. His career is back on the rise. He just can’t recreate that run/goal he had against Real Madrid that brought the Madradistas to feet with applause.
Hey. Has anyone tried foxsoccer.tv? I was wondering if it was worth it.
@Patrick, their customer support is total shit and the player can cause firefox to crash, but the video quality is surprisingly good and the price is reasonable. I haven’t signed back up, but it was nice to have.
If you don’t have a digital cable/satellite option I’d give it a shot.
Thanks for the tip, Dooley. I was actually thinking of ditching cable TV but I need an online option to watch the games.
Foxsoccer.tv doesn’t sound like the best option.
I wasn’t impressed with our performanceat all, either was I impressed with the weather condition. However, I rather see us playing this game than postponing another one.
We play a possession game, and the snow help less, if not disturb, toward our style. If you play counterattack, snow’s effect was far less. This game reminded me about our CL clash against CSKA a in 2007 when we were chasing the fast rolling ball and slipping on the snow at the same time. We just simply couldn’t run to the ball of our own passes. Even when we run, we eventually fell on the ground hurting (Gallas and Denilson alike). This being said, I still won’t excuse Muni because the first shot was within his reach.
Other than snow, I found ref. Walton rediculous as well. Let alone the no calls that everyone had mentioned, therewere farmore than that for both teams. The bad calls/non calls resulted some ill-tempered stuff in the second half. Walton was really lousy in controlling the game.
Again, victory isn’t given, it’s earned. Seeing some gooner moaning about our loss is somewhat funny. Everton’s recent streak, and confidence could be as high as ours. These aren’t the same Toffees who we demilished earlier. Do you think the way Everton played, they wouldn’t have a chance to beat the other top teams?
Careful. Once you start attacking Almunia, you’ll end up slagging off the entire Arsenal side and spend each transfer winder advocating 2-3 experienced players to complete the squad.