november 3rd
I think I need to create a template which begins “Yet another disappointing night in Europe for Arsenal.”
Then it can go on to talk about how we didn’t play as well as we know we all can, how we didn’t really create many chances and how an error, usually late in the game, cost us points. I could save myself a lot of work.
Let’s be honest, it wasn’t a good showing last night. As a spectacle it was utterly average. Yes the Greeks defended really deep but then you don’t need to be psychic to know that’s how they were going to play. Aside from a skewed Bergkamp effort we created practically nothing in the first half and went in 1-0 thanks to a very generous penalty from the Spanish ref. Sure the bloke was holding onto Vieira but if they’re going to start giving penalties for that we’re going to start seeing double figure draws in the future.
The second half was pretty tedious as well. They got a penalty, which looked pretty harsh even though their player somehow injured himself (his dramatic fall I reckon), and missed it. José came on about half an hour too late for Bergkamp, then with about 15 minutes to go one of the Greeks got a load of space on our right, took a shot and Cygan tried to get a head on it but only succeeded in deflecting it past Lehmann.
Not his fault, just one of those things, but one of those things that keeps happening to us in Europe. Just after we had a golden chance when the keeper made a point blank save from Reyes and he hit the bar with his right footed follow up. After that we had a lot of pressure but just couldn’t break down the stubborn Greeks.
So 1-1 leaves us with 6 points, one more than Pana and three less than PSV who beat Rosenborg to stay top of the group. I know it’s difficult for Arsenal fans to moan at the moment, but there are one or two opinions I’d like to venture. I know Dennis started the season brilliantly but he hasn’t been able to keep up that form. I think he’s playing too much and I’d like to see van Persie or Reyes get a run in the side alongside Henry.
If I see another fucking corner fail to get past the first man I am personally going to fly to London, crash Colney and show them how to kick a ball somewhere between the 6 yard area and the penalty box. You won’t score every time, but you will score sometimes and far more often than you will when all our tall players are watching their near post defender hack the ball clear yet again. It’s truly maddening. Offensively our set-pieces are almost useless, defensively they’re close to becoming a real Achilles heel.
And without trying to be overly critical it would be nice to see Patrick Vieira play a full 90 minutes the way he played a 5 or 10 minute spell in the first half when he chased, harried, made tackles and looked like the Paddy of old. Personally I think he needs to play as an out and out defensive midfield player, that’s where he’s best, where he is actually one of the best players in the world. He’s not the playmaker he seems to think he is and I think if his role in the team was redefined slightly it would be better for his performances and the team.
Afterwards Arsene Wenger said the same thing he always says after European games (I might ring him up and see if he wants to buy a template). He says he’s still confident of reaching the knock-out stages, and that things are in our hands. He does acknowledge the fact that we seem to be struggling physically at the moment and as I said it’s difficult to moan when you read the boss saying “We have not to be too dramatic. We have lost one game all season.”
I do appreciate that. That’s not to say we can’t improve either, especially in Europe. Further news on Sol Campbell revealed he’s going to be out for another three weeks missing the games against Palace, WBA, PSV and Spurs. Urgh. We could do with Sol back now-ish. I know Cygan has done pretty well in his stead but maybe games against Palace and West Brom are the time to give Senderos a run.
Still, we’ve got some time between now and Saturday’s evening kick off to find our form again. I think it’s hidden behind a bookcase somewhere.
