Thursday, September 14, 2006

Rosicky takes a shot, but worries remain.

Firstly, regarding yesterday's headline, can I just point out that i do know that sponsor is spelt with an o not an e. My bad.

As I was at work last night, I didn't get to see the game. Despite my protests, the Man U Celtic game was put on instead. 'Twas a cracker, but meant I missed a great win for us.

Rosicky's goal was incredible, better than the one he hammered in against the US in the world cup. Only he could have scored that goal for us last night. Freddie and Bobby used to be able to knock in long-range curlers, but Pires is gone, and Freddie has lost the ability. Rvp and Fab might have the ability, but not the power, while Gilbs, Hleb, and Adey would never score from that position. Tomas looked excellent against Boro, and he seems to be making an excellent start to his Arsenal career.

From the general sounds of things, we didn't play too well, and largely relied on a RvP dive - it was a dive - to get their keeper sent off, and take an early lead. Its good to get the three points, but winning by diving is not the way i want to see our boys play. It also seems that we very much needed Tomas's goal, after a less than convincing performance. While the win should hopefully build some confidence, doubts must surely remain about Sunday.

Especially when Kolo is out - or very likely to be so. While Willy can obviously easily sidestep into cb, the prospect of Justin Hoyte facing Ronaldo is not a pleasant one. He's not looked convincing so far this year. Indeed, given Clichy's 'sicknote' tendencies, rumours are already abounding that we're looking at Woodgate - and making Gallas a permanent lb; I wouldn't be surprised if another lb is picked up in the next year, even if Traore is probably the ultimate successor to Ash.

Some good news for us is that Giggs is out of the match on Sunday, a player who's been re-invigorated so far this year. I also noted that Rooney looked completely off the pace last night. This is either a good sign, or a very, very bad sign for us. Indeed, given his past-performances against us, he's probably saving up some form of triumphal return for Sunday.

Elsewhere, The Queen will formally open the Emirates stadium sometime soon. Does this mean the league matches so far have only been 'informal' meetings? Hmm. Quite a result for the club though, and it shows our gravitas in UK sport.

Update: Kolo is fit, Henry and RvP aren't for Sunday. Eek.

10 comments:

Goonerboy said...

OK. Sorry, Arseblog, and a few other people, have given rather negative viewpoints of the game. Its good to see us control the game AND score.

Anonymous said...

LOL - it was a good game for christ's sake.

Against Man City, before they even scored a goal, I was sick as a parott. You could just tell it was going to be a shocker of a day.

Last night, I was never paranoid or depressed about the game. Lots of positives.

Negatives: Hleb epitomises the current malaise where we destroy our momentum; cut back inside then piddle about before losing the ball. There was one glorious opportunity to shank the ball when he was running through clear - anyone would have - but what did Hleb do? Guess. He was OK-ish though.

Hoyte. Oh fucking dear. He really is bad. Maybe worse than Cygan. Fucking useless player that made sunderland get relegated. Please get rid - get him away.

Anti said...

It was a good performance and I am not yet convinced it was a dive.
Looked a trip to me.

Anonymous said...

I thought we played well. Controlled the game and kept it at a tempo suitable for us. We should have scored a second goal quicker than we did since just before half time the Hamburg players looked like they had lost any hope.
Oh and what the hell is Sky on about??? The Super Sunday Slamdown...or words to that affect...

Anonymous said...

gb i was to raise the same issues that deise gooner has but then i saw he beat me to it. just wanted to know if you got to watch the game recorded. the negativity is just so high. in fact fab4 had a good game. not the wow type of games we have unreasonably come to expect from him. few mistakes here and there and a good measure and control of the midfield (with ros'ky) but you go to arse-mania for example and there are several people slatting him for having a dreadful game!

Goonerboy said...

Does anyone think we can win on Sunday?

Anti said...

Lase, Fabregas is, was, never....

Anonymous said...

Freddie's lost his ability to curl in long range shots, eh?

If your referring to the F.A-cup final 2002 that was more a fluke than anything else. Freddie hasn't been a good long range shooter since his days in Halmstad (in Sweden) where he used to have a hammer shot. But then sometime during the 90's he hurt his hip bad and hasn't been able to hit the ball with full power since.

Anonymous said...

Anyone think Walcott might get a game against Manu? With Henry and RVP out Baptista/Adebayor (the former preferably) upfront with Walcott playing off him could be effective....

Anonymous said...

let see gary neville(of the neville sisters) try to kick baptista all over the park as he did reyes