We can come from behind (again).
In various areas of the media yesterday there were reports of Arsenals failure to come from behind once we have gone a goal down. This was evident with the words of the commentators on ITV4, something along the lines of "so Arsenal can come back from being a goal down" just after Eboue scored. They did correct their mistake later but it does demonstrate two things, firstly if people keep saying the same thing for long enough people believe it's true and secondly people in the media have short memories (or more specifically they tend to report what sounds good and is not necessarily accurate). For those that need reminding we came back from a goal down to beat Dinamo Zagreb 2-1 in our second game at the Emirates (two myths dispelled there we can't win at our new ground and we can't come from behind).
As for the game itself it wasn't the same old story, we went a goal down but we battled back without actually having the number of chances we have of late, there was a touch of fortune about the Eboue goal but for me luck (or rub of the green) has been something we have been missing of late. To be honest while Eboue was his energetic self once again, his final ball wasn't so great last night and I think he went for a goal come shot rather than see a defender head away once again.
As for the other two goals, they were brilliantly crafted the first consisting of two fabulous dummies, first Cesc's look left pass right combo and then a glance at the left hand of the goal from Van Persie only to slot it past the right of the keeper. The last goal was right up Arsenals street, fast attacking football which hasn't been possible with the 10 men behind the ball merchants we have been playing recently. A fabulous first touch (I think from Flamini) released Walcott who's pace took him 40 yards up field, that pace was matched by both Henry and Baptista and while Henry drew the defender and keeper away a wonderful cross found the head of Baptista to drill a very accurate and powerful header home. I'm really pleased to see Baptista on the score sheet as I think it will give him a bit of confidence and hopefully Wenger will use him a little more.
As for the Henry yellow card, to be honest it was a joke, if that's the level of contact needed for a yellow then we had a sure fire penalty in the first half when a similar challenge was made on Henry. However in some ways it's a blessing in disguise, twice in the last calendar year Henry has been rested before Champions league games, at the weekend against Newcastle and last year against Spurs. We all know what happened on Saturday but let me remind you of what happened against Spurs, the first half we rested Henry, Cesc and Hleb, Spurs were all over us and we were lucky not to be a goal down at half time. In the second half they scored and Henry had to come on and salvage a point.
This year the Spurs game is the weekend before the Porto game, with Henry on suspension there is no reason whatsoever for him to be rested and therefore no reason for him to be anywhere near the bench.
As for the game itself it wasn't the same old story, we went a goal down but we battled back without actually having the number of chances we have of late, there was a touch of fortune about the Eboue goal but for me luck (or rub of the green) has been something we have been missing of late. To be honest while Eboue was his energetic self once again, his final ball wasn't so great last night and I think he went for a goal come shot rather than see a defender head away once again.
As for the other two goals, they were brilliantly crafted the first consisting of two fabulous dummies, first Cesc's look left pass right combo and then a glance at the left hand of the goal from Van Persie only to slot it past the right of the keeper. The last goal was right up Arsenals street, fast attacking football which hasn't been possible with the 10 men behind the ball merchants we have been playing recently. A fabulous first touch (I think from Flamini) released Walcott who's pace took him 40 yards up field, that pace was matched by both Henry and Baptista and while Henry drew the defender and keeper away a wonderful cross found the head of Baptista to drill a very accurate and powerful header home. I'm really pleased to see Baptista on the score sheet as I think it will give him a bit of confidence and hopefully Wenger will use him a little more.
As for the Henry yellow card, to be honest it was a joke, if that's the level of contact needed for a yellow then we had a sure fire penalty in the first half when a similar challenge was made on Henry. However in some ways it's a blessing in disguise, twice in the last calendar year Henry has been rested before Champions league games, at the weekend against Newcastle and last year against Spurs. We all know what happened on Saturday but let me remind you of what happened against Spurs, the first half we rested Henry, Cesc and Hleb, Spurs were all over us and we were lucky not to be a goal down at half time. In the second half they scored and Henry had to come on and salvage a point.
This year the Spurs game is the weekend before the Porto game, with Henry on suspension there is no reason whatsoever for him to be rested and therefore no reason for him to be anywhere near the bench.
posted by Andrew Gilfrin at 9:07 AM
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