A very good result for Arsenal in the first game of this years Champions League group stage.
The performance was reasonably good, considering the stuttering preparations the team has been able to manage since the season started.
This season is relatively new territory for me.
I don't think I can remember a season where the squad has has so little time together even though six games have been played.
Football seasons are usually like soap operas, the same thing happens every year, except with different/new characters/players.
Not this season though. The stupid fixture list, which has drawn a lot of criticism, might just have upset the usual pattern.
Saying that though, wednesday nights game was pretty much according to script.
A European side thinking that attacking Arsenal is a good Idea, and then getting completely opened up as soon as they do.
Hardly any premiership side do that any more.
Escpecially the weaker teams.
Middlesbrough got a good result at the Emirates by sticking 11 players behind the ball, so other premiership sides will more than likely use the same gameplan until Arsenal figure out a way to beat it.
Not so European sides such as Hamburg on Wednesday.
In the end a Gilberto penalty and a Rosicky screamer were enough to reward Arsenals overall dominance of the game with 3 points.
As for van Persie... It wasn't a dive as far as I'm concerned.
Nor as far as he's concerned either:
"At first it was on my mind to shoot straight away. I just had a first touch and passed the keeper.
There was a little bit of contact, but it was never my intention to dive.
I am not like that and I think it is bad for the game."
Rosicky's goal wasn't a Typical Arsenal goal by any means.
Rosicky is the antithesis of Hleb.
He shoots on sight.
Not so Hleb, who might look for a pass if he was on the six yard line with an open goal.
As far as I'm concerned, Hleb has become the most error prone mamber of the team since Reyes has left, so until he starts shooting, I'd be happy to see Baptista keep him out of the side.
Anyway, just as I'm about to post this, I see that Arsenal have released a statement denying having any talks about a possible take over.
Which doen't suprise me one bit.
Arsenal Holdings plc has noted the speculation in the media that it has received an approach or has been in talks which may lead to an offer for the Company.
The Board of Directors confirms that it is not and has not been in any such talks and has not received any such approach.
Thats the end of that story then....
...yeah right.
The performance was reasonably good, considering the stuttering preparations the team has been able to manage since the season started.
This season is relatively new territory for me.
I don't think I can remember a season where the squad has has so little time together even though six games have been played.
Football seasons are usually like soap operas, the same thing happens every year, except with different/new characters/players.
Not this season though. The stupid fixture list, which has drawn a lot of criticism, might just have upset the usual pattern.
Saying that though, wednesday nights game was pretty much according to script.
A European side thinking that attacking Arsenal is a good Idea, and then getting completely opened up as soon as they do.
Hardly any premiership side do that any more.
Escpecially the weaker teams.
Middlesbrough got a good result at the Emirates by sticking 11 players behind the ball, so other premiership sides will more than likely use the same gameplan until Arsenal figure out a way to beat it.
Not so European sides such as Hamburg on Wednesday.
In the end a Gilberto penalty and a Rosicky screamer were enough to reward Arsenals overall dominance of the game with 3 points.
As for van Persie... It wasn't a dive as far as I'm concerned.
Nor as far as he's concerned either:
"At first it was on my mind to shoot straight away. I just had a first touch and passed the keeper.
There was a little bit of contact, but it was never my intention to dive.
I am not like that and I think it is bad for the game."
Rosicky's goal wasn't a Typical Arsenal goal by any means.
Rosicky is the antithesis of Hleb.
He shoots on sight.
Not so Hleb, who might look for a pass if he was on the six yard line with an open goal.
As far as I'm concerned, Hleb has become the most error prone mamber of the team since Reyes has left, so until he starts shooting, I'd be happy to see Baptista keep him out of the side.
Anyway, just as I'm about to post this, I see that Arsenal have released a statement denying having any talks about a possible take over.
Which doen't suprise me one bit.
Arsenal Holdings plc has noted the speculation in the media that it has received an approach or has been in talks which may lead to an offer for the Company.
The Board of Directors confirms that it is not and has not been in any such talks and has not received any such approach.
Thats the end of that story then....
...yeah right.
on September 15, 2006, 9:39 am
Hleb was fantastic in the champions league game because for the first time this season he stayed on the RHS increasing our width and hence there was more penetration against a team that hardly concedes goals.
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