3-3, Premier League, Emirates, 2012-05-05
Benayoun 2,
van Persie 72, 80
Completely gutted.. Ahead of this game we had it all in our own hands and now... well let's just say that hope has fled and we are now most likely to play in the Europa League next season...
Our first half was one of the worst halves I've seen us play this season. We got the lead after just two minutes when birthday boy Yossi Benayoun produced an amazing strike that went straight for the top corner. However, after that goal we were abhorrent. Completely useless. It was disappointing yet to no surprise that we found ourselves 2-1 down after that first half.
In the second half we looked like a team changed. We were hungrier and fought like a team, unlike the first half. You have to give Norwich lots of credit form this game, they played really well and for most parts of the game (especially the first half) looked hungrier than us, which doesn't make sense since they've secured their contract and we've far from secured that third spot.
There could only be one person to bring us back into the game, Robin van Persie. Song delivered a beautiful assist to the Dutchman who produced the magic that we needed. And just mere minutes later we found ourselves in that lead that we had sought for. And yes, it was that man again. Robin van Persie slammed the ball in using his cat-like reflexes and the atmosphere got crazy!
However, we never managed to hold on to any lead that we picked up in this game and in the dying minutes our defence were completely lost and a Norwich player could seal the draw. Just after this goal we had a clear shout for penalty that the ref chose to ignore. Robin was just about to put the goal into the back of the net following a cross from Oxlade-Chamberlain, and then came a defender and mauled him down. As clear a penalty as there ever will be and it is unacceptable that all the refs should miss it. We need video technology in football, NOW!
We had tons of chances in the second half, and wasted all but two of them. Unbelievable. We have to be more efficient if we are to ever secure a title.
On a happier note, Lukas Podolski joined the club earlier this week. His contract at FC Cologne expired this year and he chose to sign for us. Let us hope he won't have to regret it...
Injury Update;
-Sagna got stretchered off in the first half, which is alarming and I should not think that we will see him again this season.
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Stoke vs. Arsenal
1-1, Premier League, Britannia Stadium, 2012-04-28
van Persie 15
A really open game with plenty of chances for both teams. We were the better side in the first half, but unfortunately dropped our level a bit in the second half, and even more unfortunately we could not find the winner.
The first half (like both halves) was really open, the game went back and forth constantly. We fell behind due to a Crouch header after just about nine minutes, but our skipper saw us back into the game. Benayoun won the ball on Stoke's half, and quickly passed it on to Rosicky. The midfielder provided a beautiful pass (like always) to Robin van Persie, and our main man didn't disappoint with yet another gorgeous strike. He had had a powerful header denied in the opening minutes, and has been long overdue with another goal from open play.
The second half was a lot more quite than the first, but we produced some good chances, for example Ramsey, Gervinho and Vermaelen all got close to scoring. However, in the final minutes, Stoke were awarded a throw-in that Delap prepared to take. We always seem to crumble when they have these throw-ins, and this was almost another of those examples. Crouch towered over Szczesny, fortunately Sagna cleared it off the line, and we managed to get the point.
Injury Update;
-no news as of right now.
van Persie 15
A really open game with plenty of chances for both teams. We were the better side in the first half, but unfortunately dropped our level a bit in the second half, and even more unfortunately we could not find the winner.
The first half (like both halves) was really open, the game went back and forth constantly. We fell behind due to a Crouch header after just about nine minutes, but our skipper saw us back into the game. Benayoun won the ball on Stoke's half, and quickly passed it on to Rosicky. The midfielder provided a beautiful pass (like always) to Robin van Persie, and our main man didn't disappoint with yet another gorgeous strike. He had had a powerful header denied in the opening minutes, and has been long overdue with another goal from open play.
The second half was a lot more quite than the first, but we produced some good chances, for example Ramsey, Gervinho and Vermaelen all got close to scoring. However, in the final minutes, Stoke were awarded a throw-in that Delap prepared to take. We always seem to crumble when they have these throw-ins, and this was almost another of those examples. Crouch towered over Szczesny, fortunately Sagna cleared it off the line, and we managed to get the point.
Injury Update;
-no news as of right now.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Arsenal vs. Chelsea
0-0, Premier League, Emirates, 2012-04-21
A really dismal game, and we could have done with the three points.
The game was slow in pretty much all ways, it was surprising that Chelsea didn't go for it more, as they definitely would have needed to win! Even though we were slow in our passing and running, we should have won the game as both van Persie and Koscielny hit the woodwork. van Persie hit the post early on in the game and a bit later Koscielny hit the bar with his header.
There really isn't much else to write of this game, it can easily just be summed up with the word: slow.
Injury Update;
-Arteta will be out for the rest of the season with the injury he picked up in the Wigan game.
-Walcott picked up a hamstring injury in the second half and will most likely be out for the rest of the season as well. However, he will (also most likely) be back for the European Cup.
A really dismal game, and we could have done with the three points.
The game was slow in pretty much all ways, it was surprising that Chelsea didn't go for it more, as they definitely would have needed to win! Even though we were slow in our passing and running, we should have won the game as both van Persie and Koscielny hit the woodwork. van Persie hit the post early on in the game and a bit later Koscielny hit the bar with his header.
There really isn't much else to write of this game, it can easily just be summed up with the word: slow.
Injury Update;
-Arteta will be out for the rest of the season with the injury he picked up in the Wigan game.
-Walcott picked up a hamstring injury in the second half and will most likely be out for the rest of the season as well. However, he will (also most likely) be back for the European Cup.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Arsenal vs. Wigan
1-2, Premier League, Emirates, 2012-04-16
Vermaelen 21
We were poor throughout this entire game, especially the beginning of it which saw us fall behind by two goals.
Thomas Vermaelen led us back into the game with a thundering header, well assisted by Rosicky. However, it was not enough in this game and even though we managed to put lots of pressure on Wigan we never found a second goal.
Injury Update;
-Arteta picked up an injury to his ankle early on in the game, and Wenger spoke after the game that it appears to be rather serious.
-Wilshere will not play again this season, and will also be unable to participate in the European cup this summer. It is very unfortunate for both himself, his club and his country. However, I am confident that he will come back stronger for the next season.
Vermaelen 21
We were poor throughout this entire game, especially the beginning of it which saw us fall behind by two goals.
Thomas Vermaelen led us back into the game with a thundering header, well assisted by Rosicky. However, it was not enough in this game and even though we managed to put lots of pressure on Wigan we never found a second goal.
Injury Update;
-Arteta picked up an injury to his ankle early on in the game, and Wenger spoke after the game that it appears to be rather serious.
-Wilshere will not play again this season, and will also be unable to participate in the European cup this summer. It is very unfortunate for both himself, his club and his country. However, I am confident that he will come back stronger for the next season.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Arsenal
3-0, Premier League, Molineux Stadium, 2012-04-11
van Persie 9, Walcott 11, Benayoun 69
A game that we could just ease through, and three vital points.
We got a great start when Walcott was brought down in the box and we were awarded a penalty. It was, however, rather harsh of the referee to send off Bassong for the foul. Robin van Persie stepped up to take the penalty (who else?) and, cool as you like, chipped the ball into the back of the net. With this goal he has equalled Wright's record of scoring against 17 (out of 20) different teams during one Premier League season.
Before long we extended our lead, and it was the same duo that was behind it all. Van Persie gave Theo Walcott a brilliant assist and the young winger's shot was perfectly executed.
After that second goal we dropped the tempo a bit and, as mentioned above, just eased through the game. That is never wise. Wolves had one major opportunity in the second half to get back in the game but our amazing young goalkeeper saved us. Mere minutes after that incident we sealed the game with our third strike, and what a strike it was! Yossi Benayoun came up with a brilliant strike at the edge of the box.
So in the end this proved to be three fairly easily earned points, due to the circumstances of the game.
Injury Update:
-Gibbs picked up a slight injury in the Manchester City game, so Santos came in to replace him in this game. Koscielny was suspended for this game as he has picked up a certain amount of yellow cards. (ten, I believe).
van Persie 9, Walcott 11, Benayoun 69
A game that we could just ease through, and three vital points.
We got a great start when Walcott was brought down in the box and we were awarded a penalty. It was, however, rather harsh of the referee to send off Bassong for the foul. Robin van Persie stepped up to take the penalty (who else?) and, cool as you like, chipped the ball into the back of the net. With this goal he has equalled Wright's record of scoring against 17 (out of 20) different teams during one Premier League season.
Before long we extended our lead, and it was the same duo that was behind it all. Van Persie gave Theo Walcott a brilliant assist and the young winger's shot was perfectly executed.
After that second goal we dropped the tempo a bit and, as mentioned above, just eased through the game. That is never wise. Wolves had one major opportunity in the second half to get back in the game but our amazing young goalkeeper saved us. Mere minutes after that incident we sealed the game with our third strike, and what a strike it was! Yossi Benayoun came up with a brilliant strike at the edge of the box.
So in the end this proved to be three fairly easily earned points, due to the circumstances of the game.
Injury Update:
-Gibbs picked up a slight injury in the Manchester City game, so Santos came in to replace him in this game. Koscielny was suspended for this game as he has picked up a certain amount of yellow cards. (ten, I believe).
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Arsenal vs. Manchester City
1-0, Premier League, Emirates, 2012-04-08
Arteta 87
What. A. Game! Am literally exhausted from shouting and jumping around! We were brilliant from start to finish and tactically spot on! We both began and ended the game as a team possessed !
We started the game with sheer dominance. Before long we had our first chance to score, which should have been a goal had it not been for our own player. Robin van Persie headed the ball that was bound for goal when Vermaelen suddenly popped up and managed to get in the way and the ball bounced off his shoulder on the goal-line.. Immensely disappointing, but since we had complete dominance it felt as though we could get past it. Manchester City slowly ate their way back into the game, but what really marked the first half were the three times when Balotelli marked our players with his studs. First he put his studs right up on Song's shins. The ref didn't even award a free-kick for us. Then there was his two lunges with his studs on Sagna, and then he did get a yellow card. Should we be grateful for that..?
The second half continued in likewise fashion. The game ended up as a real nail-biter (or, in my case, lip-biter). There were a lot of predictions ahead of this game that there'd be a lot of goals, which may not have been quite true, but we did burn a LOT of chances. We should have found ourselves in the lead several times in the second half. Not least when van Persie headed into the post or when we had three chances in one sequence that all should have led to a goal. First there was Walcott's strike that hit the post, the rebound fell to Vermaelen, who miss-hit it completely, and that reached the feet of Benayoun right by the goal-line, but his poke of the ball ended up on a defender's feet and bounced off the post (again) and out for a corner... Phew...
There were some really strong feelings amongst the players following that sequence, and in the end that showed as we proved throughout the entire game that we were the hungrier side. And the goal that settled the game showed that as well. Mikel Arteta snatched the ball from the feet of a City midfielder and went straight for goal, his shot was magnificent! It was power mixed with precision and Hart never had a chance in saving it.
A perfect game that ended in likewise fashion. In the dying minutes Balotelli was sent off (it was long overdue) when he (once again) hauled down Sagna. I sincerely hope that he will be penalized for more than just one game (with the lunge on Song particularly in mind). However, I shall not go into an endless debate on what could possibly be going on inside the head of that ... man. (excluding the fact that you would actually need to have some sense in your head to be called a man).
We are now two points ahead of Tottenham (who, obviously, dropped two points this weekend) and it feels like we are back on track again after this wonderful display. We just need to get back into the former shape of efficiency and then the wrapping of this season could bring a lot of joy to us.
Injury Update;
-Gibbs were substituted at the beginning of the second half, hopefully it's nothing serious.
-Wilshere and Diaby are on their way to return to action, it shouldn't be too long now.
Arteta 87
What. A. Game! Am literally exhausted from shouting and jumping around! We were brilliant from start to finish and tactically spot on! We both began and ended the game as a team possessed !
We started the game with sheer dominance. Before long we had our first chance to score, which should have been a goal had it not been for our own player. Robin van Persie headed the ball that was bound for goal when Vermaelen suddenly popped up and managed to get in the way and the ball bounced off his shoulder on the goal-line.. Immensely disappointing, but since we had complete dominance it felt as though we could get past it. Manchester City slowly ate their way back into the game, but what really marked the first half were the three times when Balotelli marked our players with his studs. First he put his studs right up on Song's shins. The ref didn't even award a free-kick for us. Then there was his two lunges with his studs on Sagna, and then he did get a yellow card. Should we be grateful for that..?
The second half continued in likewise fashion. The game ended up as a real nail-biter (or, in my case, lip-biter). There were a lot of predictions ahead of this game that there'd be a lot of goals, which may not have been quite true, but we did burn a LOT of chances. We should have found ourselves in the lead several times in the second half. Not least when van Persie headed into the post or when we had three chances in one sequence that all should have led to a goal. First there was Walcott's strike that hit the post, the rebound fell to Vermaelen, who miss-hit it completely, and that reached the feet of Benayoun right by the goal-line, but his poke of the ball ended up on a defender's feet and bounced off the post (again) and out for a corner... Phew...
There were some really strong feelings amongst the players following that sequence, and in the end that showed as we proved throughout the entire game that we were the hungrier side. And the goal that settled the game showed that as well. Mikel Arteta snatched the ball from the feet of a City midfielder and went straight for goal, his shot was magnificent! It was power mixed with precision and Hart never had a chance in saving it.
A perfect game that ended in likewise fashion. In the dying minutes Balotelli was sent off (it was long overdue) when he (once again) hauled down Sagna. I sincerely hope that he will be penalized for more than just one game (with the lunge on Song particularly in mind). However, I shall not go into an endless debate on what could possibly be going on inside the head of that ... man. (excluding the fact that you would actually need to have some sense in your head to be called a man).
We are now two points ahead of Tottenham (who, obviously, dropped two points this weekend) and it feels like we are back on track again after this wonderful display. We just need to get back into the former shape of efficiency and then the wrapping of this season could bring a lot of joy to us.
Injury Update;
-Gibbs were substituted at the beginning of the second half, hopefully it's nothing serious.
-Wilshere and Diaby are on their way to return to action, it shouldn't be too long now.
Friday, April 6, 2012
QPR vs. Arsenal
1-2, Premier League, Loftus Road, 2012-03-31
Walcott 37
Hugely disappointing to drop points in these kind of games. We need all the points we can get in order to keep third place, we definitely can't lose them in games like this. In the end we just had a bad day, but that is no excuse, we cannot afford bad days this close to the end of the season. Especially considering the fact that we do not have any margins now. Spurs have the same number of points as us. The only thing keeping us above them right now is one goal, a slightly better goal-difference.
To be honest, we were poor in this game from start to finish. Yet you did feel that we could've completed yet another comeback when Theo Walcott gave us an equalizer, a superbly shot, yet it was not to be on this day. We faded more and more in the game and were perhaps unfortunate to lose it in the end but I'm confident that we can come up with a proper response against Manchester City next weekend.
Walcott 37
Hugely disappointing to drop points in these kind of games. We need all the points we can get in order to keep third place, we definitely can't lose them in games like this. In the end we just had a bad day, but that is no excuse, we cannot afford bad days this close to the end of the season. Especially considering the fact that we do not have any margins now. Spurs have the same number of points as us. The only thing keeping us above them right now is one goal, a slightly better goal-difference.
To be honest, we were poor in this game from start to finish. Yet you did feel that we could've completed yet another comeback when Theo Walcott gave us an equalizer, a superbly shot, yet it was not to be on this day. We faded more and more in the game and were perhaps unfortunate to lose it in the end but I'm confident that we can come up with a proper response against Manchester City next weekend.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)