Just a quick note to introduce myself. My name is James (alias gooner14) and I thought it was about time to vent my feelings about the greatest club in the world: The Arsenal. I will be providing a post after every match with a review of the events and any other news concerning anything goonerish. Enjoy.
Another stalemate at home against Portsmouth in what was the most dire 1st half I have seen since last season at Bolton. We were spineless, showing no conviction or determination. We started in a 4-4-2 in what was a welcome change from our useless 4-5-1 exploits. The only problem was that Wenger yet again decided to rest players and started with Aliadiere, a striker who hasn't played 1st team football at Arsenal since 2004. Now I understand resting players during the Xmas break but resting arguably our most effective player of the past few matches in Adebayor was a mistake. The game started with Freddie getting injured after only 6 minutes- He will be out for 3 weeks with a hamstring problem. Walcott replaced him and gave an efficient if slightly subdued performance. We came out firing and Van Persie should have scored a header early on. After the 1st 10 minutes we seemed to give up and every player in red was useless for the following 35 minutes. A late controversial free kick gave Portsmouth the lead in what was another sample of pathetic defending from a set piece. The free kick was a dangerous inswinger which missed everyone and hit the post rebounding straight into Pamarot's path for a free header. Our complete inability at defending corners and set-pieces is a real worry and we will not be title challengers until we have a player with Vidic or John Terry's aerial command in the box. The second half started with Portsmouth getting a second goal with a nicely placed volley from Matthew Taylor, once again this goal was due to defensive frailties and we were once again reminded how Eboue feels that defensive duties are optional. The 2nd goal seemed to wake the team up and Gilberto rallied the troops. Adebayor finally came on and changed the whole perspective of the game; he was enthusiastic and chased the ball down at all opportunities (which I wish some other players would do). He scored a well worked goal and then 2 minutes later Gilberto showed his true colours with a very well taken goal from a Walcott cross. We should have scored shortly afterwards with Van Persie fooling THE WIMP Sol Campbell but messing up the finish.
This match demonstrated our frailties in the 1st half and our potential in the second half and Wenger said after the game, "After we went two goals down we had to show we are a special team and show special character and determination. We did and I can't praise my players enough. "
I would have liked to see some criticism of our 1st half performance from "Le Boss" but we all know he is a manager who won't criticise his team.
We’re similar to Jekyll and Hyde these days. We can produce the most exemplary footballing performances known to the premiership but we are equally capable of producing absolute dross. This inconsistency will cost us dearly unless it is resolved. Please Arsene, we need to play 4-4-2 attacking winger football like the old days, teams know that we are a1 dimensional, through the centre team at the moment and that needs to change but credit to Portsmouth for their fine performance.
PLAYER RATINGS: Lehmann (7), Eboue (5) (Flamini 78) (6) , Toure (7), Djourou (7), Clichy (6), Ljungberg (Walcott 6) (6), Silva (8), Fabregas (7), Hleb (7), Aliadiere (6) (Adebayor 55) (8), Van Persie (6)
Goals: Adebayor 58, Silva 60.
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