Well there was a modicum of pride restored yesterday at Old Trafford, not enough to stop them lifting the Premier League trophy (sorry, ‘smasher), but it was a much better performance than in recent weeks.
United certainly played within themselves, knowing they only had to draw, but we worked hard and kept possession well without ever causing them too many problems at the back. The two best chances fell in either half. In the first Robin van Persie probably should have done better with a pinpoint Andrei Arshavin cross but his header went over the bar.
In the second half some good play from Alex Song set up Cesc and his left footed shot hit the outside of van der Sar’s post. Apart from that a few semi-dangerous van Persie free kicks were all we had to offer. Nevertheless it was good to see the team respond. Patrice Evra’s comments about the Arsenal players being babies obviously touched a nerve or two and he was reminded of that, first by Cesc Fabregas and then Samir Nasri.
Nothing wrong with it, as far as I’m concerned. Neither tackle was dangerous, they were just there to let him know that ‘babies’ can kick too. If you’re going to mouth off like Evra did then you have to expect a little in return when you face the same team just over a week later.
A goal would have spoiled the United party, it didn’t come and as soon as the final whistle went so did the off button on my TV. United are worthy champions this season but that doesn’t mean I want to see the cunts leaping around enjoying themselves.
Afterwards the manager said the team played with heart and desire, saying:
At the moment the team doesn’t get the credit it deserves and it is down to us to show the same consistency. It is not a victory today but it was very important for our pride.
I think over the course of a season the table doesn’t lie and whatever happened in the league between the two teams is not the best indicator of how close they are in terms of quality and efficiency. Put it this way, the North London derbies are generally tight, close matches, that doesn’t mean Sp*rs are anywhere near as good as us, does it?
The major talking point of the day though was the absence of Emmanuel Adebayor. The manager said afterwards it was because the ubiquitous ‘small groin problem’ but that his absence came after this interview on BBC’s Football Focus was aired speaks volumes.
I suspect the club got wind of what he had spoken about and took action. Under simpering, leading questioning from the appalling, smarmy, noxious Garth Crooks Adebayor slammed Arsenal fans for not singing his song, for giving him stick all season, and said that if Arsenal fans want to win trophies it’s down to them to get behind team.
Now, while there might indeed be some merit to what he’s saying on a very basic level, it struck me that he was using the fact that he damaged his relationship with the fans to excuse his poor season. That somehow it’s the fans fault that the players haven’t performed at times this season. He said ‘How is it Adebayor’s fault if Milan want to buy Adebayor?’.
Of course that completely misses the issue. If Milan want to buy Adebayor, then that’s up to them, nobody would have any issue with it if that’s all it was. It’s when Adebayor’s agent talks constantly about Milan, it’s when Adebayor talks constantly about Milan as if it were a hot R’n’B chick while Arsenal was Susan Boyle, it’s when he holds the club to ransom, remember this from last summer?
Barcelona have made a good financial offer and there is also the chance to play alongside great players. Yes, I am still under contract to Arsenal but it’s up to the directors to satisfy my demands or I’ll leave. I have to prepare for my retirement. Even if you are not scoring fine goals and you have money, you can enjoy a happy retirement. The time for preparing for that moment is now.
And you’ll notice that was Barcelona, not Milan. That was the thing. It was Barcelona one minute, Milan the next, and he did little to quash those rumours. Remember he gave an interview to El Mundo talking about how great it would be to play with Henry again? And he was pictured holding a copy of El Mundo too. At an Adidas sponsored event he gave one interview saying he wanted to stay at Arsenal, then another just moments later to a different news channel saying he would leave if Arsenal didn’t do enough to keep him.
Basically Adebayor spent last summer trying to move away from Arsenal, then when he didn’t get a move used that to engineer a massive, massive pay rise. That, naturally, did not sit well with many Arsenal fans who felt his behaviour to be poor in the extreme and that one good season did not merit the kind of reward he was getting.
At the pre-season Emirates Cup he scored a penalty in a meaningless friendly with Real Madrid, ran to the fans kissing the badge and was roundly booed. What did he expect? The lack of self-awareness in that incident alone is frightening and even in the BBC incident he feels like he has nothing to apologise for because he genuinely doesn’t think he’s done anything wrong. He feels the reason he’s got stick this season is because of what happened in the summer and while that’s the basis of it the reality is that he’s being taken to task for his lack of effort on the pitch.
Now, while many thought another 30 goal season was beyond him, the least we expected from a player now earning £80,000+ a week was that he would work hard because this is what had endeared him to Arsenal fans, had won over some of the doubters. He began his career clumsily, missing easy chances, but there was never a question about his application. He ran, chased and harried defenders to within an inch of their lives. Last season he combined that work ethic with improved finishing and scored 30 goals.
This season the difference couldn’t be more marked. He’s become a stroller, a guy who thinks he’s made it, hard work is beneath him and his displays in the Champions League semi-finals were offensively bad. The biggest games of the season and he couldn’t give a fish’s tit. Yet he’s complaining that the fans don’t sing his song as loudly as they did before? Give me a break.
Combine that with rumours of off-field shenanigans and we have an ego out of control who is leeching £80,000 from our football club every week.
It’s sad that it has ended so acrimoniously, and I do believe it has ended and that Adebayor will leave this summer, but when you so publicly fall-out with the fans of the club there’s little chance of reconciliation. He’s probably driven down his transfer value by a few million too on the back of that interview, nice one. Will he feature next week against Stoke? I doubt it. Will he take part in the lap of ‘honour’? That’s going to be a tricky one.
For the final day of the season you want a decent win and for the players and the fans to sign off for the summer on a positive note. This season, more than ever, that’s so important. If Adebayor is on the pitch that might not happen. It’s going to be an interesting week for the manager and the club as they consider that one and I don’t think we’ve heard the last of this story by any means.
Anyway, so as not to end today on a negative note, I pass on some interesting gossip I heard. Now, I’ll stress that it is just gossip (although from a reliable source) but it seems that Mikael Silvestre will leave the club in the summer for PSG. He wants more first team football, Wenger’s use of Alex Song at centre-half yesterday is the perfect indication that he won’t get it at Arsenal, so he’s off. What time does the party start?!
Right. There’s not much else happening. I’m ignoring the News of the World’s van Persie/contract delay story. We’ve enough crap going on as it is. Have yourselves a good Sunday, more tomorrow.
