december 2nd
So the Carling Cup adventure finished in largely disappointing fashion for the kids last night. In one part because of the manner of the goal they conceded but mostly because they didn’t quite click like they did in other rounds, and particularly like they did against Everton.
We couldn’t have got off to a worse start, conceding after just 20 seconds. Justin Hoyte played the ball to Johann Djourou who slipped which let David Bellion gain possession. He ran towards the box, Clichy came flying across and slipped as well and his low shot looked harmless enough but somehow Manuel Almunia misjudged it and it went in.
The keeper made up for it with a fantastic save from a Richardson half-volley later in the half but it certainly gave them an uphill task right from the off. Our best chance of the first half came from a Jermaine Pennant free kick and Tim Howard (who looks like the new Taibi/Bosnich) made a decent enough save down to his right.
The second half had barely kicked off when it all kicked off. Robin van Persie got involved on our right with Richardson and both players got booked. He didn’t make himself very popular with the United fans but it was nice to see one of our players putting it about a bit. In terms of possession we had the lion’s share in the second half but our young forwards had a very hard time against United’s extremely experienced back four. Ryan Smith came on for Lupoli (who is so Italian it’s funny) and young Dubliner Patrick Cregg made his first team debut when he came on for Sebastian Larsson. We never managed to really trouble them but I thought we should have had a penalty in the last minute when their substitute Rossi had a handful of Hoyte’s (I think) shirt. Nothing given but no matter. Despite the fact they didn’t play as well as they have done that was good experience for our lads. A full Old Trafford, playing against a lot of experience with Neville, Brown, O’Shea, Fortune, DumbandDumba, Kleberson and a handful of youths.
It’s hard to go through the performances of each Arsenal player but stand outs for me were Philippe Senderos at the back who, one uncomfortable back header apart, looked like a proper centre-half. Strong in the air, tough in the tackle and good on the ball. Sebastian Larsson looks like he’s got something about him in midfield too. Clichy we know all about already and I would really like to see van Persie get a start with the likes of Henry, Pires et al around him. He looks a very talented player and I like his attitude.
Afterwards Arsene Wenger was happy with the showing from his young charges, Demento, typically spiteful, wants Robin van Persie charged by the FA for elbowing his own player even though the referee saw and dealt with the incident, while that one little altercation sent our old friend James Lawton into spasms of prolix bollix. He’s gone beyond the point where another spoof would be worth doing.
Some Edu news – he’s nearly better. According to the player “I’ve undergone all the tests and they’ve reported I’m completely recovered, as the bone is already mended.”
He could be back in contention for the Chelsea game. So December kicks off with another defeat. When will this terrible, life-draining crisis end?
Finally, and having forgotten completely about it, the winners of the brand new official Arseblog t-shirt, available now from goalhanger.com (what a fine Christmas present it would make, eh?!) are Larry Hall and Nick Carpenter. The Random Number Generator Gods were smiling on you this morning. The answer to the question was, of course, Freddie Ljungberg. I’ll be in touch.
