Arsenal’s throughly entertaining young guns had another opportunity to show their talents this evening as they precipitated in the glamour tie of the Carling Cup 4th round – a home clash with Liverpool.
The Emirates was rocking with beach balls a plenty being thrashed around the stadium prior to kick off as the fans, who only paid £10 a ticket, were hoping for a treat rather than a trick from Arsenal’s kids in the run up to Halloween. In terms of team news, Arsene Wenger made 6 changes to the side which beat West Brom in the last round with Fabianski, Eastmond, Mérida, Bendtner Eduardo and Nasri all making their first appearances in the competition.
Fabianski
Gilbert – Senderos – Silvestre – Gibbs
Ramsey – Eastmond – Mérida
Bendtner – Eduardo – Nasri
Subs: Szczesny – Bartley – Coquelin – Frimpong – Randall – Watt – Sunu
Arsenal settled to their task immediately. Fran Mérida worked some space to try his luck from 25 yards after a slick move involving Aaron Ramsey and Kieran Gibbs, but Liverpool responded with an equally brilliant spell which resulted in Phillip Degen collecting David N’Gog’s through ball and smashing across the face of Fabianski’s goal.
Samir Nasri then had his first shot from a free-kick after he was sent crashing by Martin Skrtel, but it was wide. Arsenal then stepped things up and nearly dealt a telling blow when a sluggish N’Gog was punished in possession by Gibbs who fed Bendtner, he tried to play a 1-2 with Eduardo in the box but the Dane’s touch let him down. It was a warning of the hosts ability.
Liverpool didn’t take the hint and after Eastmond and Gilbert husselled Voronin following a short throw, the ball fell kindly for Mérida on the edge of the box who hit a first time left foot drive which spanked the post and flew in. It was a stunning strike from the little Spaniard and the Gunners had a base on which to build.
Goal – Fran Mérida (18)
A mini fight-back then took place as Ryan Babel tried to expose Gilbert but both he and Senderos snuffed out half-chances. Fabianski then came and made a superb catch after a free-kick from a late foul by Eastmond. It seemed everything was going to plan until the visitors responded to Arsenal’s stunner with one of their own.
N’Gog’s flicked header picked out a rampaging Insua who took the ball first time on his chest before unleashing a left footed cracker which caught Fabianski two yards off his goal line. It was an incredible goal.
Goal Emiliano Insua (26)
Both sides tried to force the play a little towards the end of the half but despite a handful of half chances, both sides went down the tunnel level.
Half Time – Arsenal 1-1 Liverpool
Wenger’s outfit went out with an intent to deliver the killer blow as quickly as possible in the second period, while Liverpool were just as fired up to hold off the young charges and try and keep clam and win it for themselves.
Benitez’s plan didn’t work. Within 5 minutes of the restart a flowing move saw the ball reach Mérida on the left, he clipped it into the box and after Bendtner broke away from Skrtel, he held off the powerful centre back and kept composed before lashing the ball into the roof of Cavalieri’s net.
Goal – Nicklas Bendtner (50)
Again Liverpool rallied but this time the hosts had learnt. Solid defending from Gibbs, Senderos, Silvestre and Eastmond saw the visitors become frustrated. Nasri then seemed to make it his mission to help finish the game with some silky skills on the right hand side but Insua stood his ground on two separate occasions.
Babel then had two fizzers clawed at by Fabianski before the Gunners stepped up a gear once more. Eduardo came close to sliding home Mérida’s free kick before Wenger called for reinforcements in the shape of Sanchez Watt and Mark Randall. Bendtner and the impressive Eastmond made way.
Watt had an instant chance to make his mark but after twisting and turning Skrtel the monster centre half managed to shrug off the teenager. Liverpool then picked their game up and could and should have equalised when Spearing picked out Babel in the middle, but Gilbert just did enough to put him off. Voronin then thumped one from range but Fabianski was equal to it.
Eduardo flashed one wide in the closing stages but the games dying embers were just that as the fizz leaked out of Liverpool. Coquelin appeared with just stoppage time left to help sure things up and that was needed after Senderos survived an obvious handball call, but it was always Arsenal’s day. They march into the next round with a real swagger.
Article By – J.Sanderson
Very good performance by Eastmond, from defensive & offensive point-of-view [POV] however he must learn to stay on his feet sometimes instead of diving-in. Glad we through
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Eastmond
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The Coq waz not ‘appy… He had the look of a man ready to chop up th liverpool side.
Though eastmond did well but faided. Still not sure about Randall – he seems more interested in flashy risky moves than doing what he should be.
Have you heard? barca want merida for $40 million next summer, good game all round from the boys ramsey played simple nasri had that “je ne sais quoi”, eduardo has to try to shoot with his right foot. eastmond was very impresive as was gilbert. i can’t imagine if we had vela n wilshere on. i see wenger talked to the team about defending leads with their life
No Vela. Hope it is an injury not anything else. Eastmond may be English which is great but the Coq is the man for me.
Where was Vela?
Vela has a knee injury, which he picked up a few sessions before the game…Traore pulled his hamstring too which kinda sucks for him, they were both talking about how excited they were to be playing the Cup (well Traore was, Vela didnt seem too fussed tbh lol)
i’m actually very impressed with gilbert, especially his defensive ability. babel very tricky to deal with but gilbert shut him down completely. he’s an excellent heel snapper. but gilbert needs to be more compose when on the ball. overall, impressive performance from him and the rest of the team. looking forward to quarter final.
I thought it was pretty good considering it was liverpool we faced. We created a couple of chances and scored 2 goals. Our defensive play was not really great but good. Our offensive play was very good at times but most of the time it was good. Overall I think we were a bit lucky and should be glad with the win. No one was really bad either I think but Gibbs and Bendtner was our best players. Everyone else was ok.
gud game guyz,thats a real team 2 watch out big up guyz. Proud 2 b a gunner
I think Gilbert grew into the game, at the beginning it seemed as if he really didn’t want the ball, passing it to teammates in very awkward positions, but his defensive work was good (I think Bendtner had a howler, goal aside)…To be frank though, I do think Babel has been ruined at Liverpool, he is not the same as he was a few years ago…I hope they don’t ruin N’Gog too that boy reminded me of Henry tonight.
I disagree Jom, I think Ramsey/Nasri and Gibbs/Eastmond were our best players…Nasri just has that X quality that you can’t teach the way he moves with the ball is such a good outlet to have
I was impressed with Ramsey. very classy on the ball, it looks like he learns a lot from Nasri and Fabregas.
RANDAL, RANdall, randall. Where to start! He was totally awful when he came on. Could not keep hold the ball if it was clued to him.
He came on and rather than slow the game down, he gave the ball to Liverpool numerously!!!!!!!!!!
Eastmond was gr8 tonight, as was Merida, Ramsey and Gilbert
This is riddiculous, Randall has become the Diaby of the Reserves…
He wasn’t great, but he wasn’t awful either..
Gilbert was not that good and he is certainly very far away from the first team.
Silvestre was out of position a few times but Senderos made a good match.
Good game by Eastmond, first time I have seen him. Ramsey is going to be the next star in PL.
Gibbs had Kuyt in his pocket. Amazing performance under the eyes of Fabio Capello…
Randall was shocking, I’m not even sure he completed a pass? He did try to back heel an assist though! Oh no, wait that was for Liverpool…Hmm I have no idea why LeCoq didnt get on before Randall, Coq came on with like a minute to play and he came to destroy, his face was dark and he blitzed into everyone, sprinting all over the joint, Randall walks around like he owns the place…so frustrating.
@ VanDaManPersie, get a life you mor*n, he did okay [stop arsenal fans really piss me off with this ganging up against certain players 1st team or youth]. Eboue & Diaby played reasonably well against WHUFC but they were the 1st to get blame, pure drivel.
@ dixie, some very impresive 1st time passing from Eastmond really impressed me, Coq must prove himself @ 1st team games, he done alrite against WBA however not as good as his U18s/reserves performances. Talented player nonetheless.
Proud of the boys gr8 result,I’m sorry clichy but Gibbs should be playing LB in the 1st team great player.My only problem with Ramsey he holds onto the ball to long or doesn’t look up at times but other then that great game.
@ Boomer, took the word out of my mouth, alot of morons who watched the match from an emotional point-of-view instead objective & observant point-of-view are trying to assess players’ performance.
@Supergunner07, what are you saying? I think calling Randall out with a terrible performance is objective and observant, he came on to shore up the stroppy passing and add some legs to a tired midfield. He did neither. As much as I will back the boys on the pitch, I see no reason to be honest about what they have done once the game is said and done, win or lose.
@ Superguuner07.
Shut the fuck up. I am entitled to my opinion. If you watched the same game that i did, then i am sure you got nervous like the rest of us Arsenal fans every time Randall gave the ball away!!!
I am not anti Arsenal. You need to get a life and stop taking up ppl when they give their opinions, Dickhead!!
@VanDaManPersie lol dude, don’t get so offended, like you, he is entitled to his opinion…
I want to see more of Eastmond . He looks like a very good player.Glad to see Nasri playing for 90 minutes. I am expecting more from Merida who apart from the goal did not impress throughout the game. Bendtner’ passing was awful. Gibbs should play for England.
yes i agree he’s entitled to his opinion, but when starts singling me out and calling me a Moron, then he’s gone too far
Ohhh did i touch your nerve, actually i watched the game with observation view bcuz there were alot players with alot to prove on show [ala seeing if they are improving their prior weaknesses & maintaining the good attributes]. Sly and Send’s positioning @ CB was much better than the WBA match
Makes me laugh you all getting at randall for giving the ball away did no one see bendtner is is meant to be first team he was awful. I was very impressed with most of the team though nasri was a class apart in my eyes though
@Randall yeah Bendtner had a shocker, which I noted but he made up for it with a well taken goal. At the end of the day, he did something right, Randall…well I find it hard to point out something he did right tbh.
@VanDaManPersie…I agree with all u said…rendall is lazy and clumsy…!!!
Can anyone provide some ratings? Nice to get other peoples views on peformences.
Aaron Ramsey takes way too many touches on the ball. FACT!
@ TomMusso, like i said before he did alrite [not special just okay], some people’s overraction is even more measured by people on some forums blaming Gilbert for the goal conceded when Insua was actually Bendtner’s man Gilbert who was already marking another player.
It seems no one noticed Eduardo then. What a phenomenon that man is. He can dribble through the entire Liverpool team in a phonebox and still keep the ball.
I like Randall, unfortunately he feels so much pressure to make it that it effects his decision making, This just fuels the haters (who should be doing their homework being a school night).
@ wondrinfree, lol
Fabianski – 7 – Was overall untroubled…In Hindsight I don’t think he could do much about the goal. Needs to decided whether he is coming or going for crosses though
Gilbert – 7 – Did his job, which was to stop the threat of Babel…Needs to work on his distribution and composure. But solid in the tackle
Senderos – 7 – Played well and wasn’t caught out like we got used to seeing happen once or twice in a match
Silvestre – 8 – I hate to say it but his best showing in an Arsenal shirt. Held us together at the death.
Gibbs – 9 – Almost flawless. If he hadn’t of been flat footed for Kuyt’s cut back to Babel I probably would have given him a 10. Was everywhere on the left, great passing in attack and great pace and tenacity in defence.
Eastmond – 7 – What a debut! Harried and harried, and for me, I didn’t realise how well he played until he was subbed. He needs to stay on his feet more (bulk up slightly) as he may not always get the foul and that leaves us in a bad position. Tired towards the end.
Ramsey – 9 – MotM. Great touch, excellent engine, superb vision. Fergie must be kicking himself.
Nasri – 8 – Everything good about the 1st half for Arsenal went trough him. He added the “Arshavin” quality tonight. An extra touch of class.
Merida – 7 – Did well in the first half, took his goal excellently, but I feel he faded badly in the second half when the pace was raised and Liverpool had our backs to the wall.
Bendtner – 6 – Only that high because of the goal. He had some good runs but ultimately gave away the ball too often in dangerous positions. Should of had a goal earlier as well.
Eduardo – 7 – Good industry and some good runs, but he flickered in and out…He has lost a yard of pace from his injury and tonight he wasnt able to test his deadly finishing at all.
Subs
Randall – 4 – Poor. Does not show the desire the other lads do, if he isn’t careful his Arsenal career will pass him by.
Watt – 7 – Great running and harrying. Was unlucky not to score with his first touch
Coquelin – 6 – not long enough to prove his worth but he came on with a demons desire to do well. Added the energy we needed to get some tackles into the midfield that had gone quiet.
Cheers TomMusso. I watched the game in a pub so was constantly being distracted by people wanting to chat, so these ratings are useful.
I was pleased with Eastmond tonight. As with most people I was suprised he started. I was certian Randall or Coq would fill in at DM. Be interesting to see if he sticks with Eastmond in the next round.
@Davo more than welcome mate
@ Davo, if you have arsenal Tv online pass, then rewatch the match and make up your own mind. laters everyone
I guaranteed you that Coquelin will be a big star for gunners! I have seen him the way he play for reserves and I think he is amazing!
Not sure about Gibbert but he have a long way to go.
Am impressed with Eastmond for his debut tonight. It will be nice to see Wilshere, Coquelin, Ramsey and Vela play tonight then it will be absolutely brilliant to watch them! Also it will be good to see Emmanuel-Thomas and Frimpong getting involves that too! :)
Ta!
good ratings tom. would nasri give a 9 too though. he was a class above. but the whole team did well. what a hectic and dazzling game!
suprised by gilbert. after all that stick he got he was more than solid at the back.
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Pleasing performance i suppose. Randall is too lacksidasical in his play so he doesn’t really endear himself to the fans. He has obvious quality but he can be very annoying. Made a couple of silly passes which didn’t quite help the side out but Ramsey, despite being the MOM, did this too on a couple of occasions. He seemed very tired towards the end of the game.
I really hope Nasri starts in place of Diaby against the Spuds. Other than that, i think the side should be unchanged from the WHU game, along with Rosicky (if fit) coming in for Eboue. Oh, and Mannone has to be dropped for either Fab or Almunia although my fave keeper at Arsenal right now is Szczesny (am i the only person who thinks he would have saved that Insua goal?).
Other than being pleased with the result, all I can think about is, “Oh I hope we lock Merida up.” This terrifies me.
I MISSED THE GAME!!!! HORSE$H!T…that’s what I get for Being in America…different timezones suuuuck…
merida ramsey and eastmond brilliant. Who the fuck is better eastmond or coquelin????
How many times was Bendtner back helping out Gilbert in defence? A LOT! Much more than Merida helping Gibbs (no slight on Fran). Bendtner put in a shift and a half today and scored a class goal. It may not have been as spectacular as the other two goals but showed strength, composure and balance, Thierry Henry would have been proud of that goal. Personally I think he added an awful lot to the teams performance today.
Well said Chris. Very true.
Bendtner deserves credit for his performance tonight. Scores the winner, involved in some good moves, and yet he gets stick on here. I just watched the game and had my own opinions about how each player played and was surprised by some of the comments. Nasri and Ramsey were absolute class – a cut above the rest. They were taking the piss out of Liverpool – that one move where Nasri bamboozled them and left a defender on his arse, brilliant. Eduardo also showed his class and Bendtner was far more effective than Eboue is in that position. Merida got a great goal but does not quite seem ready for the 1st team. I thought Gibbs was okay, so was surprised by how highly he was rated on here. He was often out of position (though maybe not as much as Clichy typically is), but got some good tackles in. Randall wasn’t great when he came on but hardly shocking. Coquelin didn’t play well against WBA whereas Randall did, thus getting a chance sooner today. I like the rest of you was surprised that Eastmond played as I when I saw him at right back in the reserves a year or so ago I thought he was mediocre – never a first team player. Yet today, he I was really surprised. The guy has come on leaps and bounds, he’s a quick thinker, passes quite well and makes good runs as well as getting his tackles. One to watch.
Zeldaprimed: If you live in an area where you get espn360, you can watch a replay ofthe game on there. It is completely free and legal, and has great picture quality. Just go to espn.com and search for espn360.
Chris, have to agree. I’m surprised so many are under-rating Bendtner’s performance. His lack of composure in the final third is a little worrying, but he did score a good goal. He put in a very good defensive shift as well.
I think Silvestre did very well covering for Gibbs, and to a lesser extent, Merida who didn’t help out.
Ramsey was good going forward, but not so defending.
Some rubbish on RAWK that’s being touted as facts:
http://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php?topic=249209.msg6241671#msg6241671
arsenal made it a wonderful day for me and hope for the title win
I forgot the game was on yestarday “D’oh!” Lol.
I didn’t think that Gibbs was as good as everyone says he was.
He was the one who let Degen stroll into the box and he should have scored. He didn’t bother to track the run and a better RB like say Glen Johnson would have punished such an unnecessary mistake.
Besides that though he was pretty good
I thought Gilbert was good defensively, but his passing left a little to be desired – I’m sure that will come with age. He sometimes let Babel drift in side of him, which made it look like Senderos’s fault but he was picking up Voronin.
I was impressed with Senderos. Silvestre was not great, Gilbert OK and there wasn’t much shielding for the back 4, but everything he had to do he did well. He looked the classiest CB out on the pitch in my opinion
in all honesty i thin bendtner is the hardest working player at the club..ok he is a bit raw but he causes so many problems..he is frustrating at times but he deserves more credit for us..mostly hes a sub and he is playing slightly out of posistion..i love gibbs-he is better then clichy im afraid-he plays like hes been in the prem for years,so good to have nasri back we look like we have alot of forward options now,gilbert is a stop gap im afraid-he wouldnt even be playing if hoyte was here(not that hes any good!)
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Wow- it’s amazing how different people watch the same game & can have such differing opinions on players performances. TomMusso gave Ramsey the MOM award & a 9/10 mark!!! Yet i thought he was distinctly average, & (along with Randall) kept giving the ball away when Liverpool were pressing late on to have my heart in my mouth.
Gilbert was excellent @ RB, i just wonder why he’s spent the last few seasons away from the club while the likes of Justin Hoyte were bumbling around the RB position. If we accept Clichy as 1st choice lb & Gibbs as his understudy, surely the same should go for Sagna & Kerrea across the park.
Bendtner was in & out, but his workrate was superb, as it always is.
Silvester was magnificent at the back, 1st time i’ve ever been pleased with his performance in an Arse shirt, Senderos, however, was appalling. He was completely turned inside out early on & was extremely lucky not to gift them an early goal.
On the whole, though a great night for the lads & they shouldn’t fear anyone in the next round, even given the quality of the last 8 in the competition.
Let’s hope we get Spurs next & ram Robbie Keane’s words back down that delusional throat of his.
It’s great to have Nasri back but he is lacking in match fitness, obviously. Ramsey was superb as well and Eastmond. I was so impressed by Eastmond. Considering he got a pro-deal a year later he has developed greatly. Also, he played big part in both of our goals. Assist for the first and made a great pass to Merida for the second, a situation where many would have hammered it out of the pitch. It’s an interesting battle for the next round between him and Coquelin for the DM spot.
Fabiansky did well but the defence was very shaky all night. I don’t understand why people are raving so much about Gibbs in the game. He did a lot of things well but countless times he was out of position. He can be a great left back but to do that he needs to learn to position himself. Gilbert’s passing was bad and he has a football-brain of a Bolton player but I like his aggressiveness and power. He could become a Bolton/Blackburn right-back with some success. I would have liked Coquelin to have started at RB though. Senderos should have conceded a penalty and both him and Silvestre were shaky. Mostly we needed a leader in defence who could organize things.
As for the front three. Bendtner was our best player in the first half. He helped out a lot in defence, why can’t Arshavin run that much? He created plays but sometimes messed it up with usual Bendtner-esque magic. At fault for the Liverpool goal as well. He stopped tracking Insua down which gave him an open shot.
Merida was fantastic although he was getting very tired at the end. what a player this is. I was watching with two friends, one a Scouser and another a United fan, and frequently they heaped praise upon Fran. He should be in front of Eboue and Diaby in the pecking order. He doesn’t have the strength of Diaby, which is why he is played up front, but give me a trickier or more creative player. He can become almost as good as Iniesta, a little wizard in the making. We have to hold on to this player, fantastic.
Eduardo was invisible in the first half but did okay after the break. Not a great outing by him though.
Watt did well, after Randall came on, suddenly we started losing the ball again and again.
Overall, Merida, Wilshere and Vela have proofed that there is not excuse to play Eboue up-front. We have so much quality that we shouldn’t be wasting playing time on non-creative donkeys. Eboue is a fine right back but can you imagine Wilshere in there against West Ham. Now in which of this situation would we have had a better chance of grabbing the winner?
@ sooth
was bored so I actually took te time to read the RAWK forum page.
and even as an unbiased Arsenal fan, I think they are just whining.
I think they forgot the fact that 4 ENGLISH ARSENAL YOUNGSTERS are on LOAN. If they werent, I’d have NO doubt that at least 3 of them will play(lansbury, jay simpson and jay emmanuel thomas).
And all 4 of them(including G. Hoyte) has been in Arsenal for years, some even more than half their lives.
I’m really tired of this rubbish about Coquelin not playing well against WBA. Spectacular, no, but poor? Come on. Ramsey was a complete passenger until Coquelin came off and they switched to a 4-4-2. No slight on Ramsey, but he was a spectator in that match up to that point. Coquelin was very solid in that game. Good positioning, strong tackles and lots of effort. His passing has been better on other days, but even that wasn’t poor. Randall did well when he came on in tha last with WBA sinking deeper and deeper in their half providing more and more space, which allowed him to play his flashy, but low-tempo game.
All I am saying is that there is a load of rubbish on here about how Eastmond started because Coquelin was poor in the last round, so much so that its become nearly accepted. Why did Wenger give the nod to Eastmond? Perhaps to give him a look in a game that mattered, perhaps to push Coquelin, and perhaps because he’s been solid in Reserves (though Coquelin has been great recently in Reserves). Could be any of those reasons, but to state that it was because Coquelin was poor against WBA is nonsense.
Bendtner deserves a bit more credit. He saw the ball a lot last night and he was attacking on the wings, rushing back to defend and although a couple of passes went astray, more found an Arsenal shirt and his goal was well taken. As for the goal people are saying he “should have scored earler” he lost his balance a bit, it happens…
Great to see Nasri back, he was superb! For me personally, he was man of the match.
Getting back to young guns though; I think Eastmond had a blinder! I don’t think I’ve ever seen him play before; but he made tackles, intercepted passes and looked after the centre of the park, his passing was good and I think he handled himself well when put under pressure.
Going off subject though, does anybody else hate that blonde hair d*ckhead with a pony tail as much as me lol?
I’m really tired of this rubbish about Coquelin not playing well against WBA. Spectacular, no, but poor? Come on. Ramsey was a complete passenger until Coquelin came off and they switched to a 4-4-2. No slight on Ramsey, but he was a spectator in that match up to that point. Coquelin was very solid in that game. Good positioning, strong tackles and lots of effort. His passing has been better on other days, but even that wasn’t poor. Randall did well when he came on in tha last with WBA sinking deeper and deeper in their half providing more and more space, which allowed him to play his flashy, but low-tempo game.
All I am saying is that there is a load of rubbish on here about how Eastmond started because Coquelin was poor in the last round, so much so that its become nearly accepted. Why did Wenger give the nod to Eastmond? Perhaps to give him a look in a game that mattered, perhaps to push Coquelin, and perhaps because he’s been solid in Reserves (though Coquelin has been great recently in Reserves). Could be any of those reasons, but to state that it was because Coquelin was poor against WBA is nonsense.
Oops…forgot to say great post! Looking forward to your next one.
Brave performance from the creative youngster of our club. I think Coquelin should have started, and Randall should leave in peace, Im sorry but he is to late and to average for Arsenal. Always fine to see our exciting midfielders step up to the plate, Ramsey perfect and Fran growing every day. Nasri looks to be back, good for us. For me Kieran Gibbs was our star performer, so quick both on first important 5-10 meters and also on a distance…. Is Frimpong not in shape, or whats going on…haltered a bite since last year when he dominted! A question to Jay Sanderson about the potential tranfers, any news on Wellington and the “New Messi” from an eastern/Jugoslavian country? Keep it up
Well you can see that the training methods used for 1st team and 2nd team are the same. Trying to make short passes near our own goal line seems to be a trait both teams follow. I had my heart in my mouth for most of the 2nd half. It only takes 1 mistake to change the complexion of the game.
Overall a great game, but I could have lived without the jitters
Craig had one bad touch all game and still recovered the ball. This is in an area of the pitch where two or three Liverpool players tried to press and harry him. The lad pressed tackled and showed a composure and a maturity that some of the first team players lack. At six foot this lad has all the tools to play in the first team now. What a performance. We could have another Paul Davis on our hands.
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i’m so excited from what i read i can’t wait to watch the game even if i already know the final result ; )
Does anyone agree that szceszeny should get his chance to shine now. Fabianski didnt play that well, Almunia has been dropped ( chest virus for a month and half ) and Mannone isnt as solid as we first thought.
Losing a yard of pace is a meaningless term, even for sprinters. Speed is a time issue, not a distance issue. And in the first third, there is much much more to success than pure speed in a straight line. A lazy comment.
Johnney, I agree. I said it when Almunia got his “infection” that Szczesny should be his replacement. No kidding, but I believe him to be the best of our four keepers. He is mature beyond his years and the most talented of the bunch. Mannone has done okay but he is not Arsenal-class. His shot-stopping is good but on crosses he is dangerous (Birmingham for example). Fabiansky is the same, he did okay yesterday but he is not top-four class either. A good keeper, not a great keeper and I don’t think he ever will be. A little better than Foster, but that’s about it I’m afraid.
Johnney, I agree. I said it when Almunia got his “infection” that Szczesny should be his replacement. No kidding, but I believe him to be the best of our four keepers. He is mature beyond his years and the most talented of the bunch. Mannone has done okay but he is not Arsenal-class. His shot-stopping is good but on crosses he is dangerous (Birmingham for example). Fabiansky is the same, he did okay yesterday but he is not top-four class either. A good keeper, not a great keeper and I don’t think he ever will be. A little better than Foster, but that’s about it I’m afraid.
Stone said this on October 29, 2009 at 6:19 pm
I couldn’t agree more mate.
That Liverpool blog is funny as hell. Deluded fuckers they are, ain’t they? One of them seems to think Gibbs came to Arsenal at the age of 18. Ha. He also goes on to say Arsenal producing great young talent is a myth. LMAO.
If compare performance of this game Arsenal vs LFC & Arsenal vs WHU, u can see that this team have hunger to win, PERPHAPS fighting for 1st team places ?? They are focus, fight for every ball, good team work with variety.
Both full-backs did not supply much crosses, the midfielders & forward did most the penetration work. this must be the way to play…. not the predictable way of over relying on over-lapping full back to supply crosses but no striker to finish off.
Better to close down & hold onto the lead, grind a win by an odd goal than find the final ball to kill the game. (Assuming we draw this game – LFC connect the cross towards the end of the game or even lose – ref award penalty for hand ball, we should be proud from this positive performance)
The best player is S.Nasri, is in the thick of action, MOTM
Can anyone read AW mind why Diaby is ahead of Ramsey & Merida in team selection ?? even debutant C. Eastmond is better than Eboue in final delivery (this is what is needed). Hope he is not a flash in the pan
Will Mr Aw still persist with Diaby, Eboue….& non-performing “star” in starting 11 ?
If any player like the comfortable seat of the bench, AW should fulfill his desire. hope AW learn & improve in team selection, if any player is not performing, substitute AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. be decisive.
hope Aw give more chance to Nasri, Senderos, Ramsey, Gibbs, Merida to prove themselves worthy of regular 1st team place
One thing that the young team could teach the first team is how to wasted time in the last minutes of a game. Twice they went in the corner, something that the first team seldom do.
Hello there, Happy late halloween(: