Derby days are rarely boring and yesterday was no exception. Not the prettiest, most attractive game of football we’ve ever seen but ultimately three points for Arsenal, two heroes and a comedy villain missing a penalty. Pantotacular.
As nearly all reports have mentioned we never quite found our rhythm in this game. Perhaps that was our own fault, perhaps it was down to Sp*rs being well organised, perhaps it was a little from column A and a little from column B. There weren’t any real chances in the first half bar an Eboue shot and an early hook towards goal from Flamini which would have caused Robinson problems had it been a foot inside the post instead of a foot outside. I don’t remember them doing anything of note in the first half at all.
We went ahead early in the second half with a really quite lovely goal. When you look at the replays again you appreciate what a good goal it was. Cesc picked up the ball in our half and came forward with it before playing it to Rosicky. He took it on and inside a bit then played a little pass back to Cesc who took a touch or two and backheeled to to Emmanuel Adebayor who finished with aplomb. 1-0 to the Arsenal. Still we didn’t use that as a platform to dominate the game and I had expected us to cause the makeshift Sp*rs defence more problems.
Robbie Keane then hit the bar when it would have been easier to score. Left all on his own at the back post too, some poor defending there. That was a warning and they equalised when Berbatov spent more than 5 seconds not wandering around looking entirely fed-up with things and got between Kolo and Gallas to fire a shot in at the near post. Andy Gray was quick to blame Almunia but Gray, not for the first time in his life, got it wrong. The shot was very powerful and took a deflection which made it go the one place Almunia couldn’t have got near it. I know they say a keeper shouldn’t have been beaten at his near post but sometimes there’s nothing they can do about it – anyone else remember Batistuta at Wembley?
Then they got a penalty when Kolo’s rather overenthusiastic lunge in the box got ball then Berbatov but if you go flying in like that in the box you’re always running the risk of giving away a spot kick. Up stepped Robbie Keane (apparently on some commentaries David Pleat was saying ‘Robbie Keane never misses’ – hahaha, thanks you old twat) and Manuel Almunia saved it. And that’s what it was. A save. I prefer to think of a missed penalty like one Chris Waddle might take in the semi-finals of a World Cup.
Shortly afterwards we got a corner and having just brought on Nicklas Bendtner, the big Dane’s first touch was a fantastic header to make it 2-1 to Arsenal. Another great goal – his run and leap followed by the header was awesome and this boy looks like he could be a big, big talent. What’s good to see about him is that when he’s given chances in the team he’s taking them. He’s sort of the anti-Aliadiere who could never make a mark despite countless opportunities. Bendtner is saying ‘Look what I can do’, and it’s impressive.
After that there was no way back for Sp*rs, too dejected were they by what had just happened to them. Had the penalty gone in it might have been a different story and I was delighted for Almunia who has now played his part in us winning a game. He’s been solid all season long but today he made a real difference. In true TV style the cameras cut to Jens on the bench after the penalty save and while his face remained impassive you just know he was seriously conflicted inside. I don’t believe he wants Arsenal to lose games but it must really hurt to see the bloke who took your place doing so well.
I think the important thing to take from yesterday’s game is that we won a difficult North London derby and we didn’t come close to playing good football. It is an old cliché but it is the mark of potential champions when you can win games without playing especially well. It’s especially pleasing when you can beat Sp*rs without playing especially well and it’s even more pleasing when that Mallet-headed cunt Robbie Keane has a penalty saved. Most enjoyable indeed. Arsene was happy too, saying:
We knew we could win a game when not at our best. That tells you much about our maturity and our mental strengths.
And there is, as we keep saying, great character in this team. It doesn’t always happen, you know. You can have a group of excellent players who just miss that bit of steel to go on and win things. Hopefully these boys realise there’s a great opportunity for them to do something big this year and I hope they take it. You can read more of Arsene’s post-match thoughts here.
I’ve had a look around the Sunday papers and there’s not much else to bring you. AC Milan’s Clarence Seedorf calls us the ‘best team in Europe’ at the moment. It is really going to be a fascinating tie against AC. Champions League experts with such experience and pedigree against the young pretenders. I can’t wait.
And that’s really it. I have to go into town and do some last minute Christmas shopping. And some last minute Christmas having lunch. And some last minute drinking wine. And possibly some last minute watching Barcelona v Real Madrid later. Then we’ll see what happens after that.
Till tomorrow, my good old friends.
