Sometimes the FA Cup throws up some shocks. Yesterday was not one of them. Despite a couple of first half scares (Clichy headed one off the line and a Taylor header that went over) the game was pretty much all Arsenal, with Newcastle not threatening at all.
Theo Walcott must have been looking forward to playing up front with Adebayor but that plan was thwarted when Tomas Rosicky, who appears to be made from the same brittle material that crafted Jeremie Aliadiere and Darren Anderton, was taken off after just a few minutes. Eduardo came on up front and Theo played right, in front of Justin Hoyte who did well back in his favoured right back position.
The scoring was opened in the second half when Eduardo’s fantastic shot came back off the post, rebounded to Adebayor who then slammed home a brilliant left footed shot. He added to that later on with a great second, picking the ball up inside the Newcastle half, going past a number of their players (and he was helped very cleverly by Eduardo who blocked off the last defender), into the box and he rifled home a shot off the despairing dive of the last man. The game was well and truly over then and whatever has happened in the week this is exactly why Adebayor is in the team ahead of Bendtner. The big man is on fire at the moment.
The game was sealed with an own goal and it was our old pal Nicky Butt. Haha. 3-0, no less than we deserved really and the nil was all Newcastle merited. A repeat performance on Tuesday in the league would be perfect. Overall though it was a good response to the Sp*rs game. The back four were rock solid, Senderos in particular had an excellent game and he’s now beginning to find his form again. It’s good to see. Gael Clichy is just fantastic every week, in injury time he was going full pelt down our left to try set up an attack.
Cesc looked more like the Cesc of a couple of months ago, Flamini was superb alongside him, and up top Adebayor and Eduardo are a very good combination. They seem to link up well and the form Adebayor is in at the moment is just fantastic. I don’t think anybody expected the kind of goal return he’s provided so far this season. So, into the 5th round we go.
Afterwards Arsene said Newcastle made it difficult but wouldn’t be drawn any further on the row between Adebayor and Bendtner. You can read more of his thoughts here. Adebayor’s take on the incident is as follows:
It’s all finished because we are all footballers and we all play for Arsenal and that is more important. You need sometimes to talk and wake ourselves up, and that’s what we’ve done on Tuesday, and at the moment everything is behind us and is finished.
Heh, I like the way he says ‘at the moment’, but it’s good to hear nonetheless.
In other news Jens Lehmann still hasn’t given up hope of getting back into the Arsenal team. He did well yesterday, although he had very little to do, and I noticed a nice hug between him and Adebayor at the end. Jens looked impressed at the Togonator. Sort of like ‘Ahh, so you are a mad bastard too. We are brothers, you and I.”
Carlos Vela played 84 minutes for Osasuna last night but couldn’t prevent a 2-1 loss to Sevilla.
And that’s about it. I have to go play football now and I am tired. It’s very early for football, isn’t it? I think I might retire. When the idea of sitting around in a dressing gown eating toast is more appealing than going to play football you know it’s probably time.
Till tomorrow.
