The line-up couldn’t have been more exciting. Gilbert was finally back, playing alongside a very experienced back four with Gibbs, Senderos and Silvestre. In the midfield we had the well known Ramsey, the so unknown Eastmond, the highly rated Merida and Nasri. Up front, Eduardo and Bendtner.
The game started a bit nervous thanks to the fact some of our boys felt the pressure of playing the likes of Skrtel (who is going to play a World Cup), Insua (who is a first team regular for Argentina under Maradona), Kuyt, Babel, Benayoun, Aquilani and Voronin, who are all proven players. Despite of that, smoothly the boys settled their pace and breath and that is when they forgot who they were playing. And when Merida found a lost ball on the edge of the Liverpool box, he fired toward the goal, scoring the opener. 1-0. Minutes later, however, Liverpool equalised through Emiliano Insua, thanks to a rare shot that went in thanks to Fabianski, who was clearly out of position. And here is something I would like to highlight: had we not won Lukasz would take the blame for such mistake. Mannone will be dropped and following some big losses due to individual mistakes and think we should improve that in order not to concede cheap goals against that kind of opponents.
The second-half was brilliant. I confess I don’t remember how the ball ended up on Bendtner’s feet; all I saw was the Dane outmuscling a defender and firing past Cavalieri. That was the winner. Take a bow, Nicko. After that it was all about the Reds. They pressed us bombing forward and still we managed to defend and fight for the result. That was pure class, pure commitment. The boys were tackling, running their socks off and playing as if it was a World Cup final, something our first team must learn from them.
Special credit to the young Craig Eastmond. I did watch him playing for our youth team last season, but if memory serves me right he used to play right-back, but the way he played yesterday was just unbelieavable. I never saw a 18-year-old kid putting world class players like Kuyt, Babel and Voronin in his pocket and should he carries on like that he’ll be a very good back up for Song on January. A special mention to Merida as well as I understand he had a fabulous game, too.
At the end of the day we were all surprised, weren’t we? It’s true I don’t expect these boys to win the Carling Cup, beating Chelsea in the final. But who cares? They are the so called ‘the Arsenal of tomorrow’ and still, they’re making us happy and proud at this very day.
Congratulations, Arsene. Your boys are indeed precious.
Felipe – great article! Maddy – glad he’s back.
Trevor
Oh I am too mate. I am too. Damn Oxford for keeping him so busy
I love your articles and your passion Felipe. But i must confess that there are a few suspect statements in this article of yours.
Insua (who is a first team regular for Argentina under Maradona)
He just made his debut and has played only one game for his country. We’ve also got to remember that he was called up by the same manager who also called up Martin Palermo. He’s as much a kid as any of the arsenal youngsters like Gibbs or Ramsey
putting world class players like Kuyt, Babel and Voronin in his pocket
THE BABEL and Voronin? Seriously mate
@Venky
I think Felipe was just trying to be nice to the scousers…
But in all seriousness, I agree with the 2 line-ups were actually evenly matched, this despite the fact that this was possibly Liverpool’s best possible 2nd eleven. For arsenal it wasn’t even that, apart from this team, we still had Wilshire, Vela, Walcott, Denilson and Djourou, who could have featured….This just goes to show weak the Liverpool squad is, and that Arsenal do have a great deal of depth in most parts of the pitch…
Enough for the Scouse bashing….bring on the Scum…..