Christmas Cheer
It's been a while since I last updated this blog, work commitments and a general lack of time have meant I haven't had the opportunity to commit as much time to writing as I would like. This is in part due to my aim to write a little more than just a revamp of news available on news sites and other blogs.
So a bit of a catch up is in order, first up was our big week at the beginning of December 3 massive games in the space of a week, first up Spurs at home, a game which we all feared we could lose our first game at the Emirates to our biggest rivals. It wasn't to be and thankfully the Arsenal players (all be it ones who might not know what it really means to the fans) raised their game to gives us what was a comfortable win. Then on to Porto where despite it being one of the dullest games I can remember again it was job done.
Finally came Chelsea, the win at Man Utd and against Liverpool gave us some hope but I think most Arsenal fans wouldn't have given us much hope of a win. However a Flamini goal gave us belief that the impossible could happen. Having said that my first thought and comment when Flamini's goal went in was that we wouldn't be losing as Chelsea were really kicking in to gear, the post saved as a couple of times but given the amount of times we have hit the post this season I don't think we can feel too bad about that.
As with the Man Utd and Liverpool games I think we all hoped that the result against Chelsea would be a turning point for our season, but a hard fought (but poor performance) win against Wigan brought back the reality that there is still work to be done. However there are signs that things are starting to click, I'll ignore the fact we should never have gone 2 goals down to Portsmouth and focus on Adebayors performance to drag the team back to 2-2. It was great to see him come on an inject some effort into the team, I think the number of games we are playing is taking it's toll but it was good to see a player coming off the bench and turn the game.
The Blackburn game was odd, for a change I watched the game from the upper tier of the stadium, normally I see the game from almost eye level which is great but it's also difficult to see how open the game is (or isn't). It was clear Blackburn had come to have a go at us, but it was clear like every other team which has come to the grove to try and compete on a football level that it was a dangerous tactic. But it is true there was a period when Blackburn could have been level but as always it's if buts and maybes and it would be equally true had we taken our chances we would have been out of sight long before the second Blackburn goal. In the end their over attacking style was punished but I really don't think the 6-2 score line flattered Arsenal and it was good to see the reports in the couple of papers say the same.
I have just finished watching the Watford game, again it was a difficult game to watch as given our style on Saturday I think we had hoped that we could push on, but as with many of our games this season the opposition made it difficult. That’s not to say Watford didn't deserve to hold in at 1-1 but I think that style can only really be employed for 60-70 minutes as it takes too much out of the players. In our home draws this has been apparent in the fact we have in all cases been able to pull a goal back late on. In many ways I think on Saturday Blackburn scored too early and we were able to respond and equally even though Watford came from behind to level the game at 1-1 there was still time for us to build momentum. Despite Watford giving a good account of themselves they didn't really threaten seriously in the second half and we looked better as the game went on (but never comfortable, especially in defence).
A final thought is that we have 2 further games over the Christmas/New year period, Sheffield Utd will be difficult but I think we will see something similar to the game at the Emirates and the Watford game tonight, doing well for 70 minutes then fading, Arsenal need to take their time and take their chances when they come. It will be interesting to see how Charlton in the wake of Pardew taking over do but to be honest they are a different proposition to West Ham. West Ham were a good side going through a bad patch, Charlton are a poor side going through a bad patch. They have two games before they play us so there won't be the case of the team winning it's first game for a new manager. Also I don't think Pardew will have enough time with the players to have much of an effect. What I think we should hope for is Pardew taking a decision like Redknapp did last year, put out a young side in a game he thinks he has little chance of winning to save the better players for games they have more chance of winning.
The other interesting thing about this weekend is our chasing rivals all play each other.
Bolton vs Portsmouth
Tottenham vs Liverpool
Liverpool vs Bolton
Portsmouth vs Tottenham
I think the best results from this would be draws against Bolton vs Portsmouth and a win for Spurs, then draws in the other two. If (and it is if) we beat Sheff Utd and Charlton we can open up a 4 point gap on Bolton, 5 on Portsmouth and 7 on Liverpool and Spurs that would give us a bit of breathing space.
So a bit of a catch up is in order, first up was our big week at the beginning of December 3 massive games in the space of a week, first up Spurs at home, a game which we all feared we could lose our first game at the Emirates to our biggest rivals. It wasn't to be and thankfully the Arsenal players (all be it ones who might not know what it really means to the fans) raised their game to gives us what was a comfortable win. Then on to Porto where despite it being one of the dullest games I can remember again it was job done.
Finally came Chelsea, the win at Man Utd and against Liverpool gave us some hope but I think most Arsenal fans wouldn't have given us much hope of a win. However a Flamini goal gave us belief that the impossible could happen. Having said that my first thought and comment when Flamini's goal went in was that we wouldn't be losing as Chelsea were really kicking in to gear, the post saved as a couple of times but given the amount of times we have hit the post this season I don't think we can feel too bad about that.
As with the Man Utd and Liverpool games I think we all hoped that the result against Chelsea would be a turning point for our season, but a hard fought (but poor performance) win against Wigan brought back the reality that there is still work to be done. However there are signs that things are starting to click, I'll ignore the fact we should never have gone 2 goals down to Portsmouth and focus on Adebayors performance to drag the team back to 2-2. It was great to see him come on an inject some effort into the team, I think the number of games we are playing is taking it's toll but it was good to see a player coming off the bench and turn the game.
The Blackburn game was odd, for a change I watched the game from the upper tier of the stadium, normally I see the game from almost eye level which is great but it's also difficult to see how open the game is (or isn't). It was clear Blackburn had come to have a go at us, but it was clear like every other team which has come to the grove to try and compete on a football level that it was a dangerous tactic. But it is true there was a period when Blackburn could have been level but as always it's if buts and maybes and it would be equally true had we taken our chances we would have been out of sight long before the second Blackburn goal. In the end their over attacking style was punished but I really don't think the 6-2 score line flattered Arsenal and it was good to see the reports in the couple of papers say the same.
I have just finished watching the Watford game, again it was a difficult game to watch as given our style on Saturday I think we had hoped that we could push on, but as with many of our games this season the opposition made it difficult. That’s not to say Watford didn't deserve to hold in at 1-1 but I think that style can only really be employed for 60-70 minutes as it takes too much out of the players. In our home draws this has been apparent in the fact we have in all cases been able to pull a goal back late on. In many ways I think on Saturday Blackburn scored too early and we were able to respond and equally even though Watford came from behind to level the game at 1-1 there was still time for us to build momentum. Despite Watford giving a good account of themselves they didn't really threaten seriously in the second half and we looked better as the game went on (but never comfortable, especially in defence).
A final thought is that we have 2 further games over the Christmas/New year period, Sheffield Utd will be difficult but I think we will see something similar to the game at the Emirates and the Watford game tonight, doing well for 70 minutes then fading, Arsenal need to take their time and take their chances when they come. It will be interesting to see how Charlton in the wake of Pardew taking over do but to be honest they are a different proposition to West Ham. West Ham were a good side going through a bad patch, Charlton are a poor side going through a bad patch. They have two games before they play us so there won't be the case of the team winning it's first game for a new manager. Also I don't think Pardew will have enough time with the players to have much of an effect. What I think we should hope for is Pardew taking a decision like Redknapp did last year, put out a young side in a game he thinks he has little chance of winning to save the better players for games they have more chance of winning.
The other interesting thing about this weekend is our chasing rivals all play each other.
Bolton vs Portsmouth
Tottenham vs Liverpool
Liverpool vs Bolton
Portsmouth vs Tottenham
I think the best results from this would be draws against Bolton vs Portsmouth and a win for Spurs, then draws in the other two. If (and it is if) we beat Sheff Utd and Charlton we can open up a 4 point gap on Bolton, 5 on Portsmouth and 7 on Liverpool and Spurs that would give us a bit of breathing space.
posted by Andrew Gilfrin at 9:54 PM
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