Sunday, January 20, 2008
Wicked Deflection
This site has morphed into a site with a little broader scope than my beloved Arsenal et Les Bleus: Wicked Deflection. If you enjoyed this site, you can find the same material and more at wickeddeflection.com.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Total Newbie incredulous about Diarra exit speculation
Original post from January 9th:
Logical construct
Premise 1: Arsene Wenger is a top manager.
Premise 2: Lassana Diarra is a quality player who could likely play an integral part in his side winning lots of trophies.
Premise 3: A top manager wouldn't let go of a quality player who could likely play an integral part in his side winning lots of trophies.
Conclusion: Diarra stays.
I dare you to defy that logic.
Update:
That was poor. There have been any number of low points in this site's short history, but the writer's failed attempt at sound logic was an embarrassment that ranks among the lowest.
Which premise was the undoing? Let's take debate of premise 1 off the table - Arsene is among the top in his field, full stop. Hecklers would have it that premise 2 was the weak link, but in retrospect, premise 3, it's now painfully clear, was a disaster. Diarra was frustrated that he wasn't in the first 11, and given a confluence of factors, Arsene turned premise 3 on it's head.
Arsene, who has the eloquence to make a decent blogger, said, "I believe he was impatient especially because he had known a situation like that before at Chelsea. When he had exactly the same problem again, he panicked a little bit. I regret that he has gone and I wish him well. I believe he has enough quality to play at the top level, that means for a big club. He was impatient and I decided to open the door because I have players in that position. But you always regret to lose a very good player."
Logical construct
Premise 1: Arsene Wenger is a top manager.
Premise 2: Lassana Diarra is a quality player who could likely play an integral part in his side winning lots of trophies.
Premise 3: A top manager wouldn't let go of a quality player who could likely play an integral part in his side winning lots of trophies.
Conclusion: Diarra stays.
I dare you to defy that logic.
Update:
That was poor. There have been any number of low points in this site's short history, but the writer's failed attempt at sound logic was an embarrassment that ranks among the lowest.
Which premise was the undoing? Let's take debate of premise 1 off the table - Arsene is among the top in his field, full stop. Hecklers would have it that premise 2 was the weak link, but in retrospect, premise 3, it's now painfully clear, was a disaster. Diarra was frustrated that he wasn't in the first 11, and given a confluence of factors, Arsene turned premise 3 on it's head.
Arsene, who has the eloquence to make a decent blogger, said, "I believe he was impatient especially because he had known a situation like that before at Chelsea. When he had exactly the same problem again, he panicked a little bit. I regret that he has gone and I wish him well. I believe he has enough quality to play at the top level, that means for a big club. He was impatient and I decided to open the door because I have players in that position. But you always regret to lose a very good player."
Sunday, December 30, 2007
As the transfer window approaches, Benzema is a name being mentioned wishfully, Ben Arfa too
At age 20, Karim Benzema is Lyon's star striker, and looks close to being the finished article. He only really broke into the Lyon side last season, but since then he has become a starter for the French national team, and this term he's scored 12 league goals and 3 Champions League goals, as well as the 3 goals he's scored for France in 2007.
I've watched him play about 10 times for club and country and I have second-hand reports from people who watch him play nearly every game. He's a striker who drops deep to get the ball, quite an enthusiastic player. It looks like he's got the lot - pace, technique, work rate, size, good in the air, can put his foot through the ball - he's the new big player for France, and some Arsenal supporters want to know if he's amenable to a move to North London.
As an Arsenal supporter, I quite like the current strikers (Van Persie, Adebayor, Bendtner, and Eduardo). If, and it seems highly unlikely based on what I know about Arsenal (that they rarely acquire star players) and Lyon (that they are relying on Benzema for the rest of this season and probably at least one more, and that they won't sell him until a team like Chelsea or Real Madrid offers a 20-million-pound-plus transfer fee); but if Benzema came to Arsenal in the near future, he could conceivably get the Lassana Diarra treatment from Arsene Wenger (frustratingly little play).
Adebayor has been a success at Arsenal, Van Persie is a world-class talent, and Bendtner has enough about him to suggest he could be in the same class as Benzema, so there's no guarantee that Arsene would be overly interested in the player, and almost certainly not for the transfer fee Lyon would want.
Hatem Ben Arfa, like Benzema, was born in 1987, first played for Lyon in the 2004/05 season, and debuted for France in 2007. Ben Arfa has only really broken into Lyon's first team this season; prior to that Florent Malouda was one of the players keeping him out of the team. Playing primarily from the wing, this season Ben Arfa has 4 league goals and 2 Champions League goals, plus the 1 goal he scored for France, on his debut.
From the games I've watched, Ben Arfa looks like he's just about as exciting a prospect as Benzema, but the second-hand reports I've received all say that Benzema is easily the better prospect. Both players are decent on the ball, and like to run with it. They would fit well into Arsenal's passing game.
Because there's less hype surrounding Ben Arfa, and as Arsenal are persisting with Eboue at right midfield, and Eboue's a fairly average right midfielder, a move for Ben Arfa seems more probable than a move for Benzema.
Lyon have a policy that if a team is willing to pay over the odds for a player, they'll let the player go, but they also have a policy that they won't let a player go if they don't have a replacement lined up. Having just let Malouda go, Lyon might be relying on Ben Arfa, but he hasn't started every game, and if Arsene wanted to set the Arsenal transfer-fee record, he could probably make a deal happen for Ben Arfa, but I think it's highly unlikely.
There has been a lot of interest about these players, and additional information and/or opinions about them would be welcomed, so don't hesitate to comment.
I've watched him play about 10 times for club and country and I have second-hand reports from people who watch him play nearly every game. He's a striker who drops deep to get the ball, quite an enthusiastic player. It looks like he's got the lot - pace, technique, work rate, size, good in the air, can put his foot through the ball - he's the new big player for France, and some Arsenal supporters want to know if he's amenable to a move to North London.
As an Arsenal supporter, I quite like the current strikers (Van Persie, Adebayor, Bendtner, and Eduardo). If, and it seems highly unlikely based on what I know about Arsenal (that they rarely acquire star players) and Lyon (that they are relying on Benzema for the rest of this season and probably at least one more, and that they won't sell him until a team like Chelsea or Real Madrid offers a 20-million-pound-plus transfer fee); but if Benzema came to Arsenal in the near future, he could conceivably get the Lassana Diarra treatment from Arsene Wenger (frustratingly little play).
Adebayor has been a success at Arsenal, Van Persie is a world-class talent, and Bendtner has enough about him to suggest he could be in the same class as Benzema, so there's no guarantee that Arsene would be overly interested in the player, and almost certainly not for the transfer fee Lyon would want.
Hatem Ben Arfa, like Benzema, was born in 1987, first played for Lyon in the 2004/05 season, and debuted for France in 2007. Ben Arfa has only really broken into Lyon's first team this season; prior to that Florent Malouda was one of the players keeping him out of the team. Playing primarily from the wing, this season Ben Arfa has 4 league goals and 2 Champions League goals, plus the 1 goal he scored for France, on his debut.
From the games I've watched, Ben Arfa looks like he's just about as exciting a prospect as Benzema, but the second-hand reports I've received all say that Benzema is easily the better prospect. Both players are decent on the ball, and like to run with it. They would fit well into Arsenal's passing game.
Because there's less hype surrounding Ben Arfa, and as Arsenal are persisting with Eboue at right midfield, and Eboue's a fairly average right midfielder, a move for Ben Arfa seems more probable than a move for Benzema.
Lyon have a policy that if a team is willing to pay over the odds for a player, they'll let the player go, but they also have a policy that they won't let a player go if they don't have a replacement lined up. Having just let Malouda go, Lyon might be relying on Ben Arfa, but he hasn't started every game, and if Arsene wanted to set the Arsenal transfer-fee record, he could probably make a deal happen for Ben Arfa, but I think it's highly unlikely.
There has been a lot of interest about these players, and additional information and/or opinions about them would be welcomed, so don't hesitate to comment.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Season midpoint form chart review
The graph below shows this site's form ratings for some of the key players from the beginning of the season through the Portsmouth away game. Form ratings are average player ratings in the league and Champions League, adjusted slightly based on frequency of selection.
Click to Enlarge
Click to Enlarge
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Two Christmas presents from Arsenal: A brilliant opener and a winning header from a corner
That's the stuff for Christmas! 3 points over Spurs.
No goals in the first half.
2nd half and Arsene Wenger's Arsenal put together a goal early with Cesc, Rosicky, and Adebayor involved. Cesc, who had a mostly quiet game, started the move in midfield, gave the ball to Rosicky, received the ball back in the box and had a brilliant back-heel to Adebayor, who had to finish, and did.
Fantastic stuff, and Arsenal supporters felt like Christmas had come early.
Then the game went through a spell that would've had Arsenal supporters feeling like it was Christmas with the in-laws: Robbie Keane hit the bar, Berbatov scored, and Keane was stepping up to take a penalty kick to put Spurs up 2-1. Where had it all gone wrong?
But Almunia swatted the weak effort aside. Field microphones just missed Almunia yelling back to Keane, "Don't come up in here with that weak shit, BITCH!"
Bendtner came on for Eboue and dispatched Cesc's corner for a winning header with his first touch. 2 assists for Cesc and 3 points for the Arsenal.
Cesc - Was quiet, almost too quiet, except for those two assists. That first one was a peach (8).
Flamini - Looks like keeping his spot, which, considering he has competition from France starter Lassana Diarra, is saying something (7).
Rosicky - Playing well, but much better is to come (7).
Hleb - Wasn't at his very best and wasn't involved as much as he sometimes is (7).
Eboue - Not a bad game, but when he has the ball on the edge of the box, he usually can't come up with a good idea. On one occasion today he took a shot, but other times he dribbled right into a defender to give the ball away (6).
Adebayor - Another goal, and got the ball a lot up front. I think the balance of the side would look a little better if there was someone else with him up there (7).
Clichy - Stood out a bit today as he really looked up for the game. Shut down Lennon and had several takeaways deep in defense. Good close control bringing the ball out of defense (8).
Sagna, Gallas, and Toure - Not much to say about those three except that they are wonderful players and Arsenal supporters are grateful to have them on the team sheet (7,7,7).
Almunia - Was well beaten by Berbatov's goal, but swatted away Keane's attempted penalty, which was entirely welcomed (8).
Bendtner - He's well into the team now. Van Persie? I don't know where Robin was, but the big Dane was the right player to bring on (8). Update: A lot is being made of how high Bendtner jumped for his goal, and part of that might be due to still shots that show him impossibly high in the air, straining his neck downward to reach the ball.
Gilberto - He's not instilling much confidence as the holding midfielder brought on to see out games (6).
Friday, December 21, 2007
Recommended Article from FT.com
Below is a great article from the Financial Times that recently drew the interest of some readers.
Lyon offers recipe for football success
By Simon Kuper
Published: December 7 2007 22:02 | Last updated: December 7 2007 22:02
If you had to locate the European dream anywhere, it would be in Lyon. On a warm winter’s afternoon recently, sitting outside in the 18th-century Place Bellecour where the buildings are as pretty as the women, I thought: nice. Here’s a wealthy town where you can have a good job, live in a big house near the mountains and get some sun. Better yet, France’s gastronomic capital also hosts a footballing miracle.
Next Wednesday, Olympique Lyon must beat Rangers in Glasgow to survive in this year’s Champions League. Jean-Michel Aulas, Lyon’s president, told me they will win Europe’s biggest prize some day. But already, this once nondescript club has achieved what every nondescript club dreams of. Lyon have won six consecutive French league titles, a feat unmatched by any other club in any of Europe’s five biggest national leagues. This season they will win their seventh. Emmanuel Hembert, a Lyon exile who heads the sports consulting practice at A.T. Kearney in London, says: “I use them as an example all the time.” To save clubs Kearney’s consulting fees, here are Lyon’s secrets:
● Exploit the inefficiencies of the transfer market. The main inefficiency is that the premiums paid for big-name players are too high: the big name might cost five times as much as a promising youngster, but he isn’t five times better. So Lyon happily sell stars for a good price.
Aulas explains, over bottles of “OL” branded mineral water: “We will invest better than Chelsea, Arsenal or Real Madrid. We will make different strategic choices. For instance, we won’t try to have the best team on paper, or in terms of brand.
“We buy young players with potential who are considered the best in their country, between 20 and 22 years old. Also, buying and selling is not an activity for improving the football performance. It’s a trading activity, in which we pursue gross margin. If an offer for a player is greatly above his market value, you must not keep him.”
● Replace your best players before you sell them. This avoids a transitional period or panic purchase after the player leaves. Aulas says: “We will replace him six months or a year before. So when Michael Essien goes [to Chelsea for a fee of £24.4m], we already have players ready to replace him. Then when the opportunity for Tiago arises, for 25 per cent of the price of Essien, you take him.”
● Transfers should be decided by people who are at the club for the long term, not by whoever happens to be the current coach. Lyon’s transfers are done by the troika of Aulas, the eternal technical director Bernard Lacombe, and the coach. Each new coach must work with the material he’s given. He can’t let someone else’s expensive signing rot on the bench, or hang on to an overvalued star for short-term reasons. Lyon’s method avoids waste. However, it is unusual, notes Aulas. “In England often the manager does transfers alone.”
● Buy Brazilians. They are the best footballers. “Ten years ago,” says Aulas, “we sent one of our old players, Marcelo, to Brazil. He is an extraordinary man, because he was both an engineer and a professional footballer.” Marcelo sent Lyon the future internationals Edmilson, Juninho and Fred.
● Then help the Brazilians adapt. Many Brazilians flop at European clubs because they are unhappy. But Lyon have staffers who help the Brazilians settle in apartments, learn French, cope with homesickness, etcetera. The former president of a rival club told me: “They don’t select players just for their quality but for their ability to adapt. I can’t see Lyon recruiting an Anelka or a Ronaldinho.”
● Give homegrown players the same opportunities as big signings. Aulas long refused to buy a big-name centre-forward, because he thinks the market overprices centre-forwards. Now Lyon’s homegrown teenager Karim Benzema plays the position and scores non-stop. Benzema is no exception: he’s one of three of Lyon’s homegrown forwards who have played for France this season.
● Grow gradually. Avoid big debts: success in football is so uncertain that you may fail to repay them. When Aulas took over Lyon in 1987, they were in the second division. He says: “Each year we set as an objective to have progression. It’s like a cyclist: you can overtake the people just ahead of you.” Now Lyon’s objective is winning the Champions League. However, says Aulas, “it’s not urgent. We know it will happen. We don’t know when it will happen.” The new 60,000-seat stadium due in 2010 should help, but that too is to be financed with only modest debt.
● Do all this in a rich pleasant town with no footballing tradition. The strong Lyonnais economy produces enough sponsors. Players enjoy living in Lyon, hardly a hardship posting. And because Lyon had never been French champions until 2002, fans are undemanding. They are relaxed when Aulas sells stars, or when the new team loses two straight matches. “We tried to abstract the factor time,” says Aulas. He couldn’t have done that at Real Madrid or Liverpool.
Simonkuper-ft at hotmail.com
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2007
Lyon offers recipe for football success
By Simon Kuper
Published: December 7 2007 22:02 | Last updated: December 7 2007 22:02
If you had to locate the European dream anywhere, it would be in Lyon. On a warm winter’s afternoon recently, sitting outside in the 18th-century Place Bellecour where the buildings are as pretty as the women, I thought: nice. Here’s a wealthy town where you can have a good job, live in a big house near the mountains and get some sun. Better yet, France’s gastronomic capital also hosts a footballing miracle.
Next Wednesday, Olympique Lyon must beat Rangers in Glasgow to survive in this year’s Champions League. Jean-Michel Aulas, Lyon’s president, told me they will win Europe’s biggest prize some day. But already, this once nondescript club has achieved what every nondescript club dreams of. Lyon have won six consecutive French league titles, a feat unmatched by any other club in any of Europe’s five biggest national leagues. This season they will win their seventh. Emmanuel Hembert, a Lyon exile who heads the sports consulting practice at A.T. Kearney in London, says: “I use them as an example all the time.” To save clubs Kearney’s consulting fees, here are Lyon’s secrets:
● Exploit the inefficiencies of the transfer market. The main inefficiency is that the premiums paid for big-name players are too high: the big name might cost five times as much as a promising youngster, but he isn’t five times better. So Lyon happily sell stars for a good price.
Aulas explains, over bottles of “OL” branded mineral water: “We will invest better than Chelsea, Arsenal or Real Madrid. We will make different strategic choices. For instance, we won’t try to have the best team on paper, or in terms of brand.
“We buy young players with potential who are considered the best in their country, between 20 and 22 years old. Also, buying and selling is not an activity for improving the football performance. It’s a trading activity, in which we pursue gross margin. If an offer for a player is greatly above his market value, you must not keep him.”
● Replace your best players before you sell them. This avoids a transitional period or panic purchase after the player leaves. Aulas says: “We will replace him six months or a year before. So when Michael Essien goes [to Chelsea for a fee of £24.4m], we already have players ready to replace him. Then when the opportunity for Tiago arises, for 25 per cent of the price of Essien, you take him.”
● Transfers should be decided by people who are at the club for the long term, not by whoever happens to be the current coach. Lyon’s transfers are done by the troika of Aulas, the eternal technical director Bernard Lacombe, and the coach. Each new coach must work with the material he’s given. He can’t let someone else’s expensive signing rot on the bench, or hang on to an overvalued star for short-term reasons. Lyon’s method avoids waste. However, it is unusual, notes Aulas. “In England often the manager does transfers alone.”
● Buy Brazilians. They are the best footballers. “Ten years ago,” says Aulas, “we sent one of our old players, Marcelo, to Brazil. He is an extraordinary man, because he was both an engineer and a professional footballer.” Marcelo sent Lyon the future internationals Edmilson, Juninho and Fred.
● Then help the Brazilians adapt. Many Brazilians flop at European clubs because they are unhappy. But Lyon have staffers who help the Brazilians settle in apartments, learn French, cope with homesickness, etcetera. The former president of a rival club told me: “They don’t select players just for their quality but for their ability to adapt. I can’t see Lyon recruiting an Anelka or a Ronaldinho.”
● Give homegrown players the same opportunities as big signings. Aulas long refused to buy a big-name centre-forward, because he thinks the market overprices centre-forwards. Now Lyon’s homegrown teenager Karim Benzema plays the position and scores non-stop. Benzema is no exception: he’s one of three of Lyon’s homegrown forwards who have played for France this season.
● Grow gradually. Avoid big debts: success in football is so uncertain that you may fail to repay them. When Aulas took over Lyon in 1987, they were in the second division. He says: “Each year we set as an objective to have progression. It’s like a cyclist: you can overtake the people just ahead of you.” Now Lyon’s objective is winning the Champions League. However, says Aulas, “it’s not urgent. We know it will happen. We don’t know when it will happen.” The new 60,000-seat stadium due in 2010 should help, but that too is to be financed with only modest debt.
● Do all this in a rich pleasant town with no footballing tradition. The strong Lyonnais economy produces enough sponsors. Players enjoy living in Lyon, hardly a hardship posting. And because Lyon had never been French champions until 2002, fans are undemanding. They are relaxed when Aulas sells stars, or when the new team loses two straight matches. “We tried to abstract the factor time,” says Aulas. He couldn’t have done that at Real Madrid or Liverpool.
Simonkuper-ft at hotmail.com
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2007
AC Milan is the Perfect Draw for the Arsenal in the Champions League Round of 16
Arsenal will play AC Milan, first home and then away, in the Champions League round-of-16 knock-out stage.
It is a cracking draw, and a welcomed one.
AC Milan are the current European and world club cup champions, but probably no match for this Arsenal side in full flight. Today's draw did not go their way. Arsenal's players are coming back to full health, and hopefully to top form.
Cesc in the middle of park keeps things tidy, and keeps the traffic flowing in Arsenal's direction.
Alongside him is Flamini, who's been receiving full support from Gooners: recent comments that "he's been playing well" have been dismissed for selling him short. He certainly has a good understanding with Cesc.
Rosicky is still finding his best form, but look out if he does. Rosicky could do for Arsenal what Kaka did for AC Milan during their victorious run last year: make the difference in big games.
Van Persie is another player who could make a difference in big games, and already has done for the Arsenal this season. If he's in form, it will be ominous for AC Milan, or anybody else.
Some of the real stars for the Arsenal side are at the back. Gallas has been making headlines with important goals, but his defending has also been good. Kolo is still probably the team's best defender, and Sagna has been rock solid at right back, and he might actually be the team's best defender. Those three look extremely reliable.
Clichy started the season looking very dangerous going forward, but his effectiveness going forward is in a dip, and his defensive positioning looks more likely to be error-prone that the other 3 Arsenal defenders, but if he gets to his best going forward, he could really pile the misery onto Arsenal's opponents.
Almuniua's not necessarily one of the best keepers in the world, but he's a good bet to be good enough for a couple Arsenal trophies.
Adebayor's a player who brings an interesting mix, but his net effect is to keep traffic moving in Arsenal's direction. Look for him to be involved in some of Arsenal's goals in this Champions League run.
Helb has been fanstastic, and the expectation is for more of the same.
That's a first 11 I would not want to face if I were Milan. I would be equally worried if Flamini lost his place to Diarra.
It is a cracking draw, and a welcomed one.
AC Milan are the current European and world club cup champions, but probably no match for this Arsenal side in full flight. Today's draw did not go their way. Arsenal's players are coming back to full health, and hopefully to top form.
Cesc in the middle of park keeps things tidy, and keeps the traffic flowing in Arsenal's direction.
Alongside him is Flamini, who's been receiving full support from Gooners: recent comments that "he's been playing well" have been dismissed for selling him short. He certainly has a good understanding with Cesc.
Rosicky is still finding his best form, but look out if he does. Rosicky could do for Arsenal what Kaka did for AC Milan during their victorious run last year: make the difference in big games.
Van Persie is another player who could make a difference in big games, and already has done for the Arsenal this season. If he's in form, it will be ominous for AC Milan, or anybody else.
Some of the real stars for the Arsenal side are at the back. Gallas has been making headlines with important goals, but his defending has also been good. Kolo is still probably the team's best defender, and Sagna has been rock solid at right back, and he might actually be the team's best defender. Those three look extremely reliable.
Clichy started the season looking very dangerous going forward, but his effectiveness going forward is in a dip, and his defensive positioning looks more likely to be error-prone that the other 3 Arsenal defenders, but if he gets to his best going forward, he could really pile the misery onto Arsenal's opponents.
Almuniua's not necessarily one of the best keepers in the world, but he's a good bet to be good enough for a couple Arsenal trophies.
Adebayor's a player who brings an interesting mix, but his net effect is to keep traffic moving in Arsenal's direction. Look for him to be involved in some of Arsenal's goals in this Champions League run.
Helb has been fanstastic, and the expectation is for more of the same.
That's a first 11 I would not want to face if I were Milan. I would be equally worried if Flamini lost his place to Diarra.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
1-0 to the Arsenal
Natural order was restored as Arsenal dispatched a pesky Chelsea side today in North London. Chelsea had no fewer than Ashley Cole, Joe Cole, John Terry, and Frank Lampard requiring physical treatment; and Bacary Sagna, Mathieu Flamini, Emmanuel Eboue, and Cesc Fabregas were on hand to oblige, as Arsenal bossed things at home.Terry was unfortunate to hobble off coming off worse with Eboue.
It was a kick in the gut for a Chelsea side who are six back, looking up the table at the Arsenal. For all the reports about Chelsea ownership wanting to have a team that plays with style, it must be salt in the wound to watch the Arsenal passing game. Manchester United will be disappointed with the result. After having been lucky to win earlier against Liverpool, the Red Devils had to watch in discomfort as Arsenal regained full stride. A sound thrashing would have been a fair result, but Chelsea, like gum stuck to the sole of a shoe, hung on.
Arsenal's subs were Van Persie, Gilberto and Bendtner. Bendtner didn't have enough time to impress.
Gilerto - Looked off the pace. Wenger took a risk giving him a run (6).
Van Persie - Almost Zidanesque for the Arsenal. They can beat anybody with him in there. Came close to helping Arsenal get a second (8).
No love lost against Chelsea. Even Claude, who is a brother in arms for his national side, can generate no interest suited up for his terrible club side.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Diaby and Bendtner Goals as Arsenal win 2-1 with the pressure off
The pressure is off the Arsenal in Europe as they are through to the round of 16. In the spirit of the light mood, this site will be posting a slightly delayed Champions League Group Phase Match 6 commentary, which will be of use to one, save my therapist.
Diaby with a mad goal inside 10 minutes.
Denilson, and especially Walcott, have looked lively.
Van Persie has been good.
11' - Gripping play - Sagna and Van Persie.
12' - Diaby has another go.
13' - Van Persie corner - dangerous.
14' Steaua offside
15' Denilson is fouled.
16' Song has been ok. He uses his hands a lot top grab the player with the ball.
17' Steaua attack. Unacceptable.
18' Senderos played a decent long ball.
19' Bendnter has been ok.
20' Bendtner and Diaby look like the Harlem Globetrotters.
21' Walcott takes a corner.
22' Senderos clearance is perfectly played to the Steaua central midfielder in an attacking position.
23' Walcott in an acre.
23' Steaua offside.
24' Gallas knocking the ball about, 3, 4 touches.
24' Traore upended himself in touch.
25' Song is the man - slide tackle.
25' Sagna is the team heavy.
26' Jens mad.
27' Arsenal look sloppy, they're losing the ball after short possession.
28' Traore cut off at midfield, can't get forward.
29' Denilson, Walcott and Sagna all three look quality going forward.
30' Steaua play it across the back.
31' Steaua play keep away.
32' Walcott faster than lightening.
33' Walcott has covered 3.7 km.
35' Bendtner's got a little Bergkamp, just a little.
36' Diaby on 4.1 km
37' Song has the game by the scruff of its neck
38' Diaby - Great run. Van Persie looks dangerous.
39' Traore gets by the defense like he's playing against a Sunday League side.
40' Bendtner yellow. That guy wasn't hurt.
41'Sanga is chewing up Steaua and spitting them out and Walcott should have done more with that ball.
41' Denilson, for me, is still putting himself about
42' It's crazy that Arsene might still use Eboue ahead of Walcott. Walcott is ready now.
43' Lehmann tempting fate.
43' Bendtner bungles one in, 2-0.
44' Adebayor, you could have some rest in your future. Bendtner looks ready.
45' Denilson lost the ball.
45' Walcott playing in left back spot.
45' Traore cross right to the keeper.
45 + 1' - Half. Goals from Diaby and Bendtner, 2-0. Arsenal have looked good. Chelsea could be in for a spanking.
46' Gunners are ready to push on from here and really kick some ass.
48' Diaby loses out.
49' Big Phil clears it into touch.
50' Sagna - always very good playing the ball out of defense.
50' Big Phil clears it into touch, again.
51' Steaua are playing - unacceptable.
52' That's more like it, no more sharing the ball.
53' Traore isn't quite ready.
54' Walcott's critics will say he is an almost man. He almost pulls off a nice run to the end line.
55' Sagna looks a class apart.
56' Van Persie free kick from the side. Deflected out for corner kick.
57' Denilson takes it. Another corner.
57' Close to a third.
58' Slavia - Sevilla is 0-0. Arsenal would go thru as winners.
59' Match commenter on UEFA.com agrees with me that Denilson looks good.
59' Diaby playing deep with back 4.
60' A betting man might say this one's set to finish 2-0.
62' Bendtner almost through. Steaua keeper hurt.
63' Big Phil clears it into touch, again.
65' Steaua concede goal kick.
66' Big Phil clears it up the middle.
65' More Steaua subs. Eduardo on for Van Persie. Van Persie should definitely start against Chelsea (7).
67' Traore with a heart-stopping run.
68' Walcott with a great run, and then Denilson loses the ball.
68' Howler from Lehmann. 2-1. Terribly caught out by lobbed header.
69' Sevilla winning 1-0.
69' Diaby off, Diarra on. Diaby was good for his first game back and scored a goal (7).
70' Eboue on for Sagna. More great play from Sagna (7).
70' Steaua almost equalize and Sevilla winning 2-0.
71' Lehmann hurt.
73' Steaua look like scoring a second.
76' Arsenal under pressure. Unacceptable.
77' Gallas has been soild.
78' Eboue clears and Denilson get by the defense, and plays a ball to Bendtner who shoots on target. Saved. Convert that and they're both on eights.
80' Walcott hurt (face).
83' Eduardo hurt. Limping off.
85' Eduardo back on.
86' Steaua number 4 dives and wins a free kick.
87' Traroe fouled. Another good run.
88' Diarra tries to release Walcott.
89' Big Phil clears it into touch, again.
89' Steaua almost equalize, again.
90' Diarra has to release the ball more quickly.
91' Denilson on 11 km.
91' Diarra shot over the cross bar.
92' Time winding down, but Steaua more likely to score.
93' Diarra shot over the cross bar, again.
93' Full time. Arsenal nick it 2-1, but finish second in the group as Sevilla win 3-0.
Bendtner - Big guy with skill. Got a goal (8).
Walcott - A threat (8).
Denilson - Promising (7).
Eduardo - Quiet (5).
Traore - Just about ready for the odd game (7).
Senderos - Kept it simple (7).
Gallas - Sturdy (7).
Jens - Lost the clean sheet (5).
Eboue - Looked quick (7).
Diarra - Skillful, but needs to work on his shooting (7).
Song - Looked okay. You wouldn't know why Gooners are down on him. (7).
Diaby with a mad goal inside 10 minutes.
Denilson, and especially Walcott, have looked lively.
Van Persie has been good.
11' - Gripping play - Sagna and Van Persie.
12' - Diaby has another go.
13' - Van Persie corner - dangerous.
14' Steaua offside
15' Denilson is fouled.
16' Song has been ok. He uses his hands a lot top grab the player with the ball.
17' Steaua attack. Unacceptable.
18' Senderos played a decent long ball.
19' Bendnter has been ok.
20' Bendtner and Diaby look like the Harlem Globetrotters.
21' Walcott takes a corner.
22' Senderos clearance is perfectly played to the Steaua central midfielder in an attacking position.
23' Walcott in an acre.
23' Steaua offside.
24' Gallas knocking the ball about, 3, 4 touches.
24' Traore upended himself in touch.
25' Song is the man - slide tackle.
25' Sagna is the team heavy.
26' Jens mad.
27' Arsenal look sloppy, they're losing the ball after short possession.
28' Traore cut off at midfield, can't get forward.
29' Denilson, Walcott and Sagna all three look quality going forward.
30' Steaua play it across the back.
31' Steaua play keep away.
32' Walcott faster than lightening.
33' Walcott has covered 3.7 km.
35' Bendtner's got a little Bergkamp, just a little.
36' Diaby on 4.1 km
37' Song has the game by the scruff of its neck
38' Diaby - Great run. Van Persie looks dangerous.
39' Traore gets by the defense like he's playing against a Sunday League side.
40' Bendtner yellow. That guy wasn't hurt.
41'Sanga is chewing up Steaua and spitting them out and Walcott should have done more with that ball.
41' Denilson, for me, is still putting himself about
42' It's crazy that Arsene might still use Eboue ahead of Walcott. Walcott is ready now.
43' Lehmann tempting fate.
43' Bendtner bungles one in, 2-0.
44' Adebayor, you could have some rest in your future. Bendtner looks ready.
45' Denilson lost the ball.
45' Walcott playing in left back spot.
45' Traore cross right to the keeper.
45 + 1' - Half. Goals from Diaby and Bendtner, 2-0. Arsenal have looked good. Chelsea could be in for a spanking.
46' Gunners are ready to push on from here and really kick some ass.
48' Diaby loses out.
49' Big Phil clears it into touch.
50' Sagna - always very good playing the ball out of defense.
50' Big Phil clears it into touch, again.
51' Steaua are playing - unacceptable.
52' That's more like it, no more sharing the ball.
53' Traore isn't quite ready.
54' Walcott's critics will say he is an almost man. He almost pulls off a nice run to the end line.
55' Sagna looks a class apart.
56' Van Persie free kick from the side. Deflected out for corner kick.
57' Denilson takes it. Another corner.
57' Close to a third.
58' Slavia - Sevilla is 0-0. Arsenal would go thru as winners.
59' Match commenter on UEFA.com agrees with me that Denilson looks good.
59' Diaby playing deep with back 4.
60' A betting man might say this one's set to finish 2-0.
62' Bendtner almost through. Steaua keeper hurt.
63' Big Phil clears it into touch, again.
65' Steaua concede goal kick.
66' Big Phil clears it up the middle.
65' More Steaua subs. Eduardo on for Van Persie. Van Persie should definitely start against Chelsea (7).
67' Traore with a heart-stopping run.
68' Walcott with a great run, and then Denilson loses the ball.
68' Howler from Lehmann. 2-1. Terribly caught out by lobbed header.
69' Sevilla winning 1-0.
69' Diaby off, Diarra on. Diaby was good for his first game back and scored a goal (7).
70' Eboue on for Sagna. More great play from Sagna (7).
70' Steaua almost equalize and Sevilla winning 2-0.
71' Lehmann hurt.
73' Steaua look like scoring a second.
76' Arsenal under pressure. Unacceptable.
77' Gallas has been soild.
78' Eboue clears and Denilson get by the defense, and plays a ball to Bendtner who shoots on target. Saved. Convert that and they're both on eights.
80' Walcott hurt (face).
83' Eduardo hurt. Limping off.
85' Eduardo back on.
86' Steaua number 4 dives and wins a free kick.
87' Traroe fouled. Another good run.
88' Diarra tries to release Walcott.
89' Big Phil clears it into touch, again.
89' Steaua almost equalize, again.
90' Diarra has to release the ball more quickly.
91' Denilson on 11 km.
91' Diarra shot over the cross bar.
92' Time winding down, but Steaua more likely to score.
93' Diarra shot over the cross bar, again.
93' Full time. Arsenal nick it 2-1, but finish second in the group as Sevilla win 3-0.
Bendtner - Big guy with skill. Got a goal (8).
Walcott - A threat (8).
Denilson - Promising (7).
Eduardo - Quiet (5).
Traore - Just about ready for the odd game (7).
Senderos - Kept it simple (7).
Gallas - Sturdy (7).
Jens - Lost the clean sheet (5).
Eboue - Looked quick (7).
Diarra - Skillful, but needs to work on his shooting (7).
Song - Looked okay. You wouldn't know why Gooners are down on him. (7).
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Lehmann is back
Gunnerblogger has video of a French player.
Vi wrote, "By the way, BBC thinks Lehman will get to play tomorrow night! Nice one, Vi.
What would Arsenal supporters say about a new first-choice goalkeeper? Consult the Arsenal Insider for thoughtful discussion on the merits of having Almunia between the sticks. The official position of Arsenal et Les Bleus is that Lehmann needs an extended run in the reserves to regain sharpness.
Vi wrote, "By the way, BBC thinks Lehman will get to play tomorrow night! Nice one, Vi.
What would Arsenal supporters say about a new first-choice goalkeeper? Consult the Arsenal Insider for thoughtful discussion on the merits of having Almunia between the sticks. The official position of Arsenal et Les Bleus is that Lehmann needs an extended run in the reserves to regain sharpness.
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