Perfect start for Arsenal

Results

Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
19 Aug	3:00 PM	P	Aston Villa (H)	1	1	Draw

I would have loved a win at the Emirates Stadium on the first game and it would have been nice for an Arsenal player to score at the Emirates first. But surprisingly, I'm not as disappointed as one could be because there was a good reminder in that game about not repeating last year's mistakes.

Last year, Arsenal started the Premiership with exactly the same tempo as they did in the first half. The problem is that last year we did so and still won a few games at the beginning and only narrowly lost to Chelsea. The wins made us feel like we were okay with that tempo.

But things got tough later especially away from home and we couldn't correct it. Very soon it was title over. Against Aston Villa, we started in the same way, but this time we didn't win. We had to up the tempo big time in the second half to get a point. Aston Villa showed us yesterday that while patience is a virtue, it is impossible to win a game with patience alone.

In the unbeaten season, we came out of the traps like greyhounds and destroyed teams in under 20 minutes. They were then forced to attack instead of sitting at the back in order to get something out of the game. When they did, we punished them with the space it provided. With Vieira gone and Dennis Bergkamp not what he used to be, coupled with more organised defending by opponents, we found it tough going to beat teams in 20 minutes. The problem is that we kept trying and opened ourselves more and more and finally got punished.

When Wenger fixed that by getting Arsenal more organised and patient, we had a good run till the end of the season and that lesson took us very far in the Champions League. In fact, it really suited Europe.

When you have a team like Aston Villa, who are away from home and decide that they will not come out of defence unless it's a set piece then you need patience. But when you are faced with such a team, especially as defensive organisation is now very well schooled from top to bottom of the table, then you have to take your chances when you can because there will be very few. For Arsenal to take chances, we need pace. If we face teams like Villa again, we need to get pace on the pitch after half time at the latest if patience doesn't work.

Without Rosicky, Freddie had to play. He surprised me by getting past defenders twice but that's not what Freddie is about. He's about defending and hassling and running into the box, not beating defenders at pace.

Forwards don't tend to make runs unless you make play that forces them to. Hleb and Fabregas can create the momentum like Vieira used to in order to make strikers run. We didn't do that in the first half and Villa just needed 8 men behind the ball in their positions to take all ideas out of Arsenal.

How fast is he, that Walcott? Oh my God! And he's got some skill on the ball too. He was a good sub that got Arsenal running around because he created momentum for strikers to move. When strikers move around, defenders move around. When defenders move around, they lose their organisation after a while. If you play a defensive team, then you must find a way of getting their defenders to move rather than standing in perfect formation and frustrating all your attacks without effort.

Thierry Henry seems to see his role now as making goals for the team – for other people. That's great. Our midfield is good but I'm a little worried about how tough they are. Faced with a strong team, Fabregas will have to stay back and that will kill our attacks unless Rosicky and Hleb take a lot of responsibility – it looks like they will. They certainly can.

I think this team is good. I was pleased with Djourou and very pleased with Walcott. Fabregas is more confident this season – even a little cocky. At one point he seemed to be testing his strength against Villa players just to see what the limits were. I guess it's good to find out in the first game. I think the team can win the Premiership although I wonder what would happen if we had a long term injuries to Fabregas or Touré. I don't even want to think about it.

I am however, glad in a way that Arsenal did not get their own way on the first day. They now know it's not going to be easy, they can't take anyone for granted and that it will have to be every game at our best!

User Comments

qs

Posted on 20 Aug, 2006 at 01:31 PM - Reply

I thought bad results at the start of the season last year would've thought the team a few lessons but all it did was start a horrible trend. We played well yesterday but we shouldve scored more. Everything was good bar the finishing and one individual mistake. We will be better this year.

trisoman

Posted on 20 Aug, 2006 at 11:02 AM - Reply

Putting it that way... I hope we learn our lesson, thought we were being way too fancy for our own good. Too many times when shots could've been taken to make Sorensen jittery but we decided to pass and dance.

But yes, if we do take lessons from this I shall be glad for it. Onward Arsenal - We could win if we only played a little smarter at times. Even if it means being a bit dirty / classless at it.

benhan

Posted on 20 Aug, 2006 at 10:42 AM - Reply

Great analysis. I agree with you, it's better for Arsenal to have a hard start than a easy one. It will force Wenger to think of different strategies and formations since this team could be considered as a quite new-built one. Henry-Adebayor at front is surely different from Henry-Reyes or Henry-Bergkamp; Hleb or Rosicky are not players like to operate in flanks. That's why Arsenal played narrower than they used to.
Anyway, it's good to see Walcott operated at flank with his speed and Cesc so tough in the midfield. Couldn't wait looking forward to the next game.

Shalin

Posted on 20 Aug, 2006 at 09:55 AM - Reply

Although I too wish we had a win in the opening match I agree that a draw makes arsenal realize it’s not going to be an easy season and they must step up their game. I was disappointed on the lack of shots on goal especially with the opportunities they had. Some good points from the match were Walcott and his speed and I felt adebayor had a good game and looks threatening up front. I do however feel our real test will be away from home.

Michel

Posted on 20 Aug, 2006 at 09:46 AM - Reply

One of the main reason the team lack pace and did not kill the game in the first 20 minutes is that Titi was stuck in fist gear in most of the game. He is the one striker that Arsenal count on to unlock the doors...

mskey

Posted on 20 Aug, 2006 at 08:55 AM - Reply

With all due respect, a perfect start is 3 points, not making the same mistakes as last year, not defending poorly from corners, not dominating for 90 minutes but still be unable to score.

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