Sunderland 2 – 0 Arsenal
1 – 0 Richardson (40)
2 – 0 Oxlade-Chamberlain (77 o.g.)
The demanded response to Wednesday’s defeat in Milan arrived quickly at the start of the match and disappeared as quickly in a flurry of injuries and mistakes as Arsenal’s cup season all but ended on Wearside. Dark clouds hang over the club with language in the media to match. Questions asked over the manager’s future following the shambles at Old Trafford have re-emerged from hibernation alongside stories of Viv Nicholson-esque shopping trips to the Transfer Hypermarket.
Little surprise in that given the result at The Stadium Of Light. Martin O’Neill sent his charges out into battle with a single plan; harrass, harry and overwhelm with numbers. They carried out that plan but needed the cruel fates to help them on their way. Yet for the opening ten minutes it seemed more a case of when Arsenal would score, not if; Sunderland could not touch it. Disruption arrived in a familiar form; Francis Coquelin this time the recipient of a hamstring pull.
His replacement was the luckless Sebastian Squillaci who too would succumb to injury barely eight minutes into the second half. That change seemed to invigorate the hosts as much as destabilise the visitors. From that point on, Sunderland exerted a strangulating grip on the game, leaving Arsenal bereft of ideas and their hunt for silverware barely registering breath.
Arsenal utterly dominated the opening exchanges, penning Sunderland into their own half with crisp passing, slaking their thirst for possession with careful retention of the ball. A goal at that time would have opened the floodgates; it almost came as Arteta’s freekick curled beyond the near post.
When play resumed after Coquelin’s departure, the lack of understanding between the incumbent central defenders was almost immediately apparent as Djourou was deceived by the flight of the ball and Sessignon shot wide. Gusting and blustery winds made it difficult to judge the trajectory at times; Fabianski looked to have got it all wrong from McClean’s cross before the ball dolly-dropped into his hands.
Arsenal responded with their best chance of the game, Gervinho’s rasping drive tipped wide by Mignolet. van Persie would have a penalty claim denied in the dying embers of the half but these were Arsenal’s brightest chances in the game. Sunderland were creating little better until Arsenal once more conceded a soft foul in a crucial position. Ibrahimovic had fallen to the floor under the featherweight touch of Johan Djourou in Milan, Craig Gardner the same in Sunderland. The freekick appeared to be heading for a cross in until Richardson turned sharply and shot into the far corner with the help of a telling deflection.
Half-time brought no fresh impetus to Arsenal other than momentum into the treatment room. Barely had the top of the net stopped rippling than Ramsey and Squillaci had departed the pitch with varying knocks and strains. Song reverted to the centre of defence, Rosicky into midfield and bizarrely, Walcott was brought in as a central striker. For all of his attributes, Walcott has never struck me as having the physique needed in English football to lead the line. It also speaks volumes of Marouane Chamakh’s future when he cannot force the manager into playing him when it is his favoured role that is being utilised.
Wenger’s intention might have been to use Walcott’s pace with ball’s over the top of the defence and to turn them but those passes never happened. Instead Song, Arteta and Rosicky played wide to Oxlade-Chamberlain and Gervinho to receive the ball by return or watch moves melt into softly conceded possession or throw-ins. The pitch was not suiting Arsenal yet to me that offers a more worrying concern; if the squad can only play on pristine surfaces without displaying the guile or pace to play on bad, there are severe problems for the manager to deal with.
As Sunderland retreated to the edge of their area, it was apparent that they wanted to hit Arsenal on the break. Several warning attacks were neutered before real danger emerged until Arteta was outpaced and found himself on the floor in his pursuit, Larsson raced into area from the resultant pass, striking the post before watching the ball spin into the net off Oxlade-Chamberlain as he tried valiantly to prevent that outcome.
Post match, Arsène called the situation rather accurately,
At the moment it is best to let people talk, criticise, analyse and destroy and on our side it is important to show internal strength and resilience and come out with a strong performance in our next game
That is all the players and staff can do; there will be deserved criticism of recent performances. The brief mini-revival has come to a spluttering halt and Tottenham is a must-win game; it was before yesterday but to retain their top four place, Arsenal must win. Chelsea might well be stumbling like a drunk at a wedding but Arsenal have no firmer grip on sobriety.
As I said in yesterday’s post, all of the whining in the world about what should have happened in January, about your or my perception of the players is not going to change a thing. Claiming the manager should be changed is not going to gain any support from those in power. I am not sure what is needed at this moment in time; would a change in formation, for example, make that required difference? Perhaps, maybe not. Perhaps a change in players, those frozen out may be the spark. Whatever the solution is, Arsène has a week to find it before the obnoxious brats from down the road arrive at The Emirates.
On Arsenal On This Day, a cup-tie against a North Eastern side that went well.
’til Tomorrow.
In his own bumbling ways, Jabba does raise some interesting questions.
What happens if we change our attacking philosophy? How many of our current new breed supporters will continue to support?
I’m one of those new breed and started supporting because of wenger and the invincibles. Those days are gone but I’m still here. The difference for me is that although I’m proud of the football we’ve been known for under Wenger, I’m not particularly hung up about it. The club is in my bones now, it helps give me an identity I never want to lose. It wouldn’t matter what sort of football we play from now on, I’m hooked for life, just like Igwe says.
Well, Arsenal injury problems aside, I thought Sunderland played a good game, not one for the purist but they knew what to do to stop Arsenal. I’m not especially concerned as if there is something deeply profound. We are on a bad run of form, not unlike the early part of the season, much of it caused by injury, as before. Sunderland were a bit lucky, but OK, thay made their luck. I wish them well in their FA Cup endeavours; it is a cup made for a team just like Sunderland. Anyone notice the twitter exchange between Frimps and Piers Morgan?
another woeful performance…Djourou was once again horrible, as was Ramsey. some way give youth a chance, and that is all well and good, but we have to realise that some of these young players are currently not good enough. I mean a team like Dortmund are playing with young players and have extended their lead atop of the bundesliga, Barca seem to get a good young player or two each year.
Rubbish
Late rubbish
Jabbba doesn’t actually make that point Henristic. He had a go at me for saying that i’d rather support Arsenal in the Championship than play football like Sunderland in the Premiership.
That does not make me a fan of Arsenal’s current style of play or a new fan. It makes me a detester of the kind of anti football built only on ‘committment’ and running around a lot.
He is one eyed. He wants to win and only win. I’ve supported Arsenal over the reigns of 7 managers and a couple of caretakers. None played liked Arsenal do now, some were pretty poor and some were very good.
None of that affected my support. It might have made be less enthusiastic about standing on a cold, wet terrace on occasion but it was still Arsenal on the pitch.
No, it’s jabba who only wants Arsenal to do one thing. Win trophies, any way they can. That means playing like Stoke and/ or with the Uzbek’s money if necessary.
He claims that this is caring about the club. It is not. It is caring about himself.
Thank you, Cb. I agree with you.
Put that way, I can’t help but agree with you Cbob.
Fuck off Jabba
Well put Consols. I think that one sums up a lot, including why whingers are just whingers
Acrylic. Djourou may have come from the youth, but he is not young anymore. At 25 he should by now be one of our experienced players who is at the peak of his game, the fact that he is not and is still a calamity is why I dread his inclusion on the role call.
Another thing, the particular Jabba post I was responding to was not directed at long standing fans like your self, Cbob. Here’s what he said:
Poodle
You are a recent arsenal fan your posts highlight this.
I was pointing out that I am also a recent supporter, but one who wouldn’t stop following the club for whatever reason.
Truth is, I have heard some fans (recent ones like myself) hint that their support may change if the manager leaves, or if the club adopts a less entertaining style. If indeed such fans exist, then Jabba (bless his slimey blubbery soul) has a point. As they say, even a stopped clock is right twice a day.
Bob. You are the boss.That was a special post.
Henristic
“I’m one of those new breed and started supporting because of wenger and the invincibles. Those days are gone but I’m still here. The difference for me is that although I’m proud of the football we’ve been known for under Wenger, I’m not particularly hung up about it. The club is in my bones now, it helps give me an identity I never want to lose. It wouldn’t matter what sort of football we play from now on, I’m hooked for life, just like Igwe says.”
What,don’t you think that is the same for almost all of us new and remote fans?Or do you think you are special?Me ?I think you are special.
Can’t believe people are agung about “who is the better fan”. Crazy.
“Truth is, I have heard some fans (recent ones like myself) hint that their support may change if the manager leaves, or if the club adopts a less entertaining style. If indeed such fans exist, then Jabba (bless his slimey blubbery soul) has a point. As they say, even a stopped clock is right twice a day.”
Ok,If we are being truthful I will fes. up.
I may have said that or something similar.
What I said is that the reason I fell in love with Arsenal is because of their style of play and the class of the manager ,combined with his footballing principals.
Arsenal are not my blood ,like a family,they are my love ,like a wife.
Well I am on my third wife.so……………
I suppose if you take away the reasons I fell in love ,then there must be a possibility that I could fall out of love.Of course it is unlikely ,but it would be less that honest for me to say it is impossible.
But that means,if I am reading things right ,that you are saying that the love for a family member is better/greater than the love for your partner/friends.Well I don’t think you are able to compare.In fact a new love is inevitably more intense than an old one.But perhaps not as tying.
Andy.I cant believe that you think that is what the argument is about.
You are clearly not as bright as I give you credit for.
http://aculturedleftfoot.wordpress.com/2012/02/20/money-and-the-woes-it-causes/
Today’s post