Tottenham Hotspur 2 – 1 Arsenal
1 – 0 Bale (37)
2 – 0 Lennon (39)
2 – 1 Mertesacker (51)
“We certainly lacked caution on both goals because there was no pressure on the ball and we didn’t cover” – Arsene Wenger, yesterday
I don’t know why I put “yesterday” there, it could have been from any match this season. Arsenal once again paid the price for poor defensive play, punished twice in two first half minutes, for the same failing. Yet that failing is not unique to this match. When will they learn from these mistakes? Are they capable of learning from them? That is the painful truth; when repetitive mistakes are made, questions should rightly be asked as to why these are not being rectified. Is the coaching methodology wrong? Are the ideas not communicated properly? Do the players not understand them? Whatever the answer is, the failings have been exposed and Arsenal have problems at the back.
Think to recent games, which of the goals scored were unstoppable? Which were not as a result of defensive weakness? At the start of the season,
It happened to us many times this season and only in big games. It’s difficult to say why, there’s no common thing, in all the games there is a different problem
If the manager does not know why, there is a real problem. And no, I don’t expect him to come out in public and provide the answers. That happens on the pitch. Fundamentally, Arsène has pulled together a talented squad but they do not work together as a unit, there is something missing, a key element that stops them forging together as a team on a consistent basis. And the answers to this problem are needed quickly.
Tottenham started brightly but it lasted minutes; Arsenal asserted control before five minutes had passed. Cazorla freed Giroud but as the Frenchman stared into the whites of Lloris’ eyes, Vertonghen slid in and the chance went begging. Did Jenkinson mean his cross-shot? Lloris could not be certain and dealt with the problem comfortably. Promising moments as Arsenal probed and went nowhere. Too often the final pass was slightly overhit or wayward; too often the promising moments petered out into nothing.
Their hosts offered little by way of comparison; Szczesny did not have a save to make in the opening thirty six minutes and then he was hopelessly exposed by his defence. As the high line was held, Sigurdsson slid a pass through the gap and Bale struck with the outside of his boot into the back of the net. The Welsh international had been played onside by Mertesacker, tracking the run of Adebayor. The goal highlighted how the defence needs to communicate regularly, something that has been a failing this season.
That was exposed again within ninety seconds. Cazorla was fouled by Sigurdsson and as the move expanded, the Spaniard was left in a heap in the centre circle. Parker did not care, sending Lennon free with Monreal defeating his own offside trap. If the problem was one player, there is a straightforward answer. When it is a malaise spreading through several players, it is a fundamental issue.
Tactically, the defence was set naively. Knowing that one of the central pairing is not the quickest, knowing that Spurs use runners from midfield, why play with a high line? Why not replicate the opposition when facing Arsenal, play deep and keep the ball in front of you. I am all in favour of playing to your own strengths but to ignore the same in your opponent is a failing.
Two goals down with half-time five minutes away had turned the game on its head. The quick response needed in the second half came from an unlikely source as Per Mertesacker met Walcott’s free kick, the final ball for once well-delivered. Monreal almost levelled soon after as Arsenal sought the equaliser, leaving Spurs opportunities at the other end as Bale and Defoe wasted good opportunities to end the contest. It was not all one way traffic and Ramsey should have equalised but dragged his shot wide whilst Podolski also failed as the clock ran down.
There is a long time between now and the visit to Swansea, a match which is by no means a routine away win. By the time that kicks off, Arsenal could ten points behind third place with a win vital if fourth is to be achieved. Arsène set the team yesterday to not lose; he knew the importance of achieving a point. The plan was undone by mistakes, an all too frequent refrain this season. I am not sure how he cures that problem in the remainder of the season. He cannot buy new players, he has to change mindsets which is far from the easiest thing to do. That includes his own. Squeezing the midfield does not work if the midfielders don’t join in, all that happens is a gap opens up behind the defence; twice in two minutes you saw the folly of that plan.
How the manager turns this around is this morning, beyond me. He is reliant upon Chelsea dropping more points between now and the end of the season than Arsenal. It should not have come to that.
’til Tomorrow.
@Dukey
I say they were shit in the 1st half but were basically attacking at will and shooting at will dominating possession in teh 2nd half even before the red. It was only a matter of time 11 v 11 or not that Madrid was going to score. Honestly Madrid should have scored more but Ronaldo couldn’t bury the club that made him essentially! Refused to pass to the wide open Kaka on several occasions when Kaka would have buried them easily.
they need to stable him first anicoll.
roy keane trolling..
the ex captains tch tch
Very poor defending from the Mancs all night though
Not much different to their PL campaign
Not as though they are not aware of the weakness
The fans must be a bit sick
both horrible clubs..i would have been equally sad had either one gone through..
fuck all now..we are burying bayern next week.
lets go
@Dukey
Didn’t Roy Keane hate Fergie when he was at Manure too!!!!
ouch hahaha utd fans all over the world are ringing the police right now
they were robbed
never a red in a million years
enormous fun..
my utd pals are crying right now, excuse me for a bit while i go offer my sympathies
@Arshavin
“fuck all now..we are burying bayern next week.
lets go”
I COMPLETELY AGREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@jj
I hope your being sarcastic about it not being a red!
And unfortunately this year Manyoo do not even have a go at the Europa like last season
Quite disappointing
yeah looking back at the replay it was a reckless challenge, and he followed through.
bring on red nose.
ha ha fergie has refused to speak the grumpy old sore losing cunt.
O yea the Sith Lord is going to spew venom and will only get a slap on the wrist.
God I hope one of the Bayern players decides to go all Nani or Kos wrestling and get a red and gives us a penalty!
It is confirmed that Jack WILL NOT BE PLAYING THIS SUMMER IN THE 2013 EUROPEAN UNDER-21 CHAMPIONSHIPS!
http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1363682/no-wilshere-and-welbeck-for-under-21s-championship?cc=5901
it was a yellow..
he fouled the bloke but it was nothing more than a collision..
he jumped and it still wasnt head high if we are sending ppl off for that the games getting too damn precious and dissapearing up its own arse..
anyone seen bergamps statue pics? tell me what the difference is besides another player not stood there? nani was looking at the ball he cant pull out of that and he didnt kick the blokes head off if thats a red the games going down the toilet.
piss funny though..its not often arsenal fans can say they like a refs fuck up so just enjoy the moment
Stop making excuses JJ
You lost
At least it saves a bit more whining however
I see blue nose has bottled it
so can we now officially say ” bye bye treble?”
Referee denided them?? pfft they did that fine themselves. When we went out to barcelona “we were not good enough” aparantly.
Hah for two weeks now we will be the only English team in the CL haw haw haw..
i thought they had trouble getting the bergkamp statue on the plane!!
ill get harrys coat.
Seems to me all that looting by the Glazers has left Manyoo with a substandard brand – it’s a results game
@JonJon it was about as red/yellow as the RvP thing in barcelona. Eveyone was on about how the ref followed the book back then. He did the same today, but ofc it depends on how you interpet the book.
I wonder if they will now ban SAF for 4 games due to moaning…
yes i lost im absolutely gutted
nah it was nothing like the rvp red
and agree, both horrible clubs but United are more annoying. most likley because we are in the same league.
i still cant belive its up to US now to defend the islands honour. hah!
poor one anicoll.
imagin if we now did some magic in germany. I know the chance is slim but how cool would that be! all the other teams are out…. It would be wonderful to point nose at RvP and the City gang.
@jj well imo the rvp incident was 1000000 times worse. but the press managed to defend that. strange they dont manage to defend this…
of course it was worse
nani actually gave the ref an excuse
rvp got sent off for shooting..
Thought it was red nose. Whatever colour, it has been bent out of shape tonight…
Why is the little boy inside me always happy when ManU lose?
Just tell me, little boy.
Would not it be fun if the Tots establish themselves as a top four team, but England loses the forth Cl place due to a poor coefficient?
SV, where do you imagine this will leave us? Also, it wouldn’t happen in time to deny the PL 4th place team this year.
I salute your inner little boy, SV!
@ Limestonegunner
It will leave us LOLing hilariosly.
You are right it will not happen next year. But at some point the coefficients are recalculated, so you never know.
If we are outside Cl, it will be only good to see the competition losing its importance.
I love how Keane goes out of his way to attack ManU out of hatred for Fergie at absolutely every opportunity! Absolutely hilarious!
Keane hated Ireland with the same passion when commentating the European Championship.
Nice chap, this Keane.
Where do ManU get such nice people from?
One of the Red Nose’ special talents I suppose.
RvP offside in buildup to Ramos own goal, not called. Higuain goal disallowed for 50/50 Ramos foul on RvP. Rafael arm blocks Ramos header going toward goal, no penalty. But ManU is victim of terrible refereeing that robs them of game despite kick to chest by Nani in a reckless play–red-carded by official known to give cards for borderline calls.
Gotta love the English media!
I remember Ferdinand kicking Sagna similar to Nani. Of course nothing happened.
They are just accustomed to the preferable treatment and are found out every time they face a decent ref.
It’s good to know Fergie is showing Wenger up and demonstrating how not to be a bad loser.
As for the tackle if Nani had hit the guy just above the knee there would be no debate, strange that 2 feet higher and it was accidental.
SV, so true. Not the same influence and typical PL brutality isn’t tolerated in Europe usually.
Its part of ferret face Ferguson charm that most of his explayers hate his f••••• guts. A definite high kick to the chest of opposing player. RED FOR SURE. granted not as bad as the karate kick that Basterd Ferdinand delivered on BACARY.
Only a closet. Manc would say that was not a red. Someone tell nani he can’t do that shit in Europe as
Ferguson hasn’t got those refs in his pocket. Manure. P••• off.
Poodle
your understanding of the rules of the game is piss poor but not bad for a closet tott.
Every time I see utd play at some point one always remembers how we use to play just like that but quicker and our stadium use to rock. Then we sold all our very best players moved into new home an got sold a fking lie about how it’s going to be rough due to new home, didn’t mention what was really going down.
RVP will still get a bit of silverware to add to list of how many trophies have been won by players since they were shoved out the door for £s to fill Brass pockets.
I watched the game in a pub in Winchester sat next to a Spuds fan. He was genuinely mystified by how much I wanted Manure to lose.
That said, I thought it was never a red card. I thought Manure were defending really well and looked dangerous on the break, but once they were down to 10 men there was only one outcome. The fact that it was a dodgy decision makes it all the sweeter.
A Tots fan will never comprehend that we do not consider them as real rivals, but ManU.
I do not care who it is. If we can’t win a competition, I sure as shit don’t want another English team winning it.
The sycophancy by Mourihno towards United leads me soley to the conclusion that Fergie’s hanging his boots up at the end of the season and Sith jnr is moving in.
Jose Bootlicker Mourinho
Andy, I would really love to hear from you now that such decisions “even out over the course of the season”…
MJ
Maybe he meant over a decade not just over a season .
Morning all, Sir Skivealot here. Today’s post is by someone else, GoonerAndy to be precise and it’s here…..NOW!!
http://www.aclfarsenal.co.uk/transfer-gossip/guest-post-observations-for-the-deaf/
PS Dukey, don’t forget the caffeine and baguette combo…