“I just don’t think he’s got a football brain and he’s going to have problems. Let’s be honest, good defenders would catch him offside every time. I just don’t know whether he studies the game, learns the game, or what.
-Chris Waddle (March 2nd)
“I believe he has not only a football brain but he has a brain”
-Arsene Wenger (March 5th)
<Laughing last> “Ha Ha Ha”
-Theo Walcott (March 7th)
Whose opinions are you more likely to take; a man who has proven time and again that he is a scary and possibly the best judge of young talent in the world, or a man who has a problem with a penalty (whether he is taking them or talking them)? Further proof if ever any was required that every day is All Fools Day at the Daily Mail Offices.
If not for Jensen’s good goalkeeping and Bendtner’s SHOCKING finishing (it was so bad that even HE saw the funny side to it), Theo could well have ended the game with 5 assists and a Hat trick. He played an incredible game did the young man. He was constantly marauding in at the Burnley Left Back planting his flag in the acreage behind him. Even his crossing which has earned him severe castigation in the past was pin point precise especially in the second half. Theo truly deserved the MoM champagne yesterday in my book. Any other game though, Eboue and Nasri would’ve made a strong case for themselves to be voted player of the day.
There were plenty of déjà vu moments though; Cesc waltzing through the defense to score and then hobbling off with an injured hamstring. Happened at Turf Moor; and it happened yesterday too. A profligate arsenal side allowing a cheap equalizer allowing the opponent to draw level, happened at Turf Moor; and it happened yesterday. Thankfully unlike the previous encounter Theo ensured we didn’t drop two points by slotting one in the back of the net with a delightful run. Arshavin, making his long awaited return to the side, duly obliged the crowd with the sorely required ‘icing on the cake’ goal.
The atmosphere at the grove was fantastic as anticipated; banners everywhere wishing Rambo well (notably the pick of the lot being the one from RedAction), the team lining up for the pre game handshake formalities wearing specially commissioned AR16 t-shirts and a stadium full of away fan-esque home fans.
Something has very obviously changed in the Red part of London. For once all differences have been laid aside. Wenger lovers, Wenger haters, Highbury Extremists, Emirates lovers, Denilson deriders and Clichy headhunters have all been united under Aaron Ramsey’s banner (pun unintended). The sense of camaraderie is simply gooseflesh inducing and I can almost picture Cesc giving us the ‘They may take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom’ speech from Braveheart. The reaction to Bendtner’s substitution just proved my case. Go back a year and remember Eboooouegate when the Ivorian was left in tears; Bendtner himself has been on the receiving end of such a tirade. Now though, you can win a million bucks easier than find a majority section booing one of our own. And that’s just it. These players, the manager, the stadium; it’s all our own. And everyone gets it now.
Cesc’s injury is a worry. He is quite simply the engine of the bus that is the Arsenal, the only one capable of putting in match winning performances week in and week out. He’s tied another legend Bobby Pires’ record for most number of goals by a midfielder with 14 in the league this season and looks good for another 5 or 6 if you ask me. We desperately need him for a potentially tricky Porto fixture and while the Villa game is still one of my season favorites, I really don’t want to see him hobbling off and being unavailable for a further 3 weeks. Here’s hoping its all hunky dory in his hammie region this morning.
So much has been made of our inability to go top of the table again. One, even if we did, we would’ve been there for an hour and half. Pointless. And two, whatever the ‘pundits’ think, there is no way this league is going to be decide on goal difference. So I’ll take the three points and bid them Sayonara all the time thinking 1 down, 9 to go.
Walcott unleashed!!!
I watched the game here in IIT Kanpur and made the students of the hostel where I am staying change the channel. When Bendtner came off, with that big smile on his face and almost everyone in the stadium was cheering, I had to explain to all the noobs why they were doing so despite his poor poor finishing.
But fantastic play by Arsenal last night though I am still a bit skeptical about our ability to keep clean sheets.
Not to sound too critical of your otherwise great article but the team actually improved immensely with Fabregas off the pitch in the second half. You’re right to say he is our engine room but that also means he’s the focal point of all our play, something which bigger teams have figured out how to stop.
With him off the pitch and without that focal point everyone else came alive to pick up the slack and Burnley had no idea who to mark or how to contain us. Nasri played really well in the central role, Walcott shredded down the wings. There’s no doubt we are a better team with Cesc on the pitch and seeing his name on a team sheet must give the opposition the same feeling as when they see Ronaldo, Rooney or Drogba’s name.
Perhaps a few games rest is in order for our Captain, he along with Vermaelen are arguably the two outfield players least likely to be rotated and if the performance yesterday when he was absent is anything to go by, then we should be okay without him. Not only can we manage without him but to have a well rested, fresh Fabregas come back into the squad while we’re still in the Champions league and Premiership fight could be gold. Oh yeah and we’ll have Van Persie back for the Semi Finals.
Interesting line of thought Bongo. Perhaps we are a bit too predictable in the same sense as you’ve mentioned that everything goes through Cesc.
However, the one major question mark there is that Nasri and Theo are simply quite not as consistent as Cesc when it comes to influencing play. Yes, they were spectacular yesterday, but can we be sure that these two and Rosicky will be able to do the same with the same effectiveness and frequency as that of Cesc? I doubt it.