Comeback Kings - but Arsenal has lost a bit of cool

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Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
11 Feb	4:00 PM	P	Wigan Athletic (H)	2	1	Win

EDIT: Apologies for the misinterpretations on the offside rule. I researched a site that was not "official" enough for Arsenal-Mania standards which referred to the popular "daylight" or "clear air".

The correct offside rule is published here. The relevant part for the game against Wigan is Decision 2 of Law 11. You can view the HTML section or even an interactive demo.

By this official definition, Adebayor was onside and Flamini was off.

Arsenal picked up 6 yellow cards in one game. The team is either toughening up or getting undisciplined. I prefer to think they are toughening up. Tomas Rosicky got one for fighting to win a lost ball, then fouling a Wigan player who managed to recover. A pretty nasty tackle it was too.

Then Rosicky picked up the ball later and when he starts running, his hair somehow moves with the wind like some pretty south American bird in mating season as he gets on a mission.

A quick pass to Emmanuel Adebayor who did very well to find a pass to Julio Baptista, who blasted a shot-come-cross across goal. Rosicky didn't head the ball, he simply connected with it and slow motion shows that Rosicky had to keep his head steady else the power of the ball could have broken his neck. Great goal, no offside, Arsenal comeback number 11, 3 points, thank you very much!

Arsenal players dived twice during that game. I was disappointed with that, but none of Paul Jewell's moaning is justified in the sense that it robbed them of points.

The turning point in the game was not the referee; it was a missed opportunity by Emile Heskey, who hit the post. The rest of the stuff equalled out. This hand-on-shoulder fouls that seems to be able to bring down big men like Yakubu was central to the incidents.

At The Riverside, Philippe Senderos put his arm lovingly, on Yakubu's shoulders outside the box, Yakubu collapses inside the box and Middlesborough gets a penalty while Senderos gets sent off.

At the Emirates, a Wigan player does the hand-on-shoulder foul on Thierry Henry and Henry obviously doesn't go down because it's not enough to bring a player down.

Henry tries to continue but realises that the challenge had distracted him and he had overhit the ball so he wants his advantage back and collapses almost one second later in the penalty box. Referee doesn't give it and rightly so – not like Mike Riley. Then Mathieu Flamini does the same hand-on-shoulder to Emile Heskey and Heskey goes down like a sack of potatoes in the box. Ref doesn't give it – at least the referee was consistent.

If Heskey deserved it, so did Henry – outside the box though. And Henry tried to play on while Yakubu and Heskey went down so I have no sympathy for them.

The offside rule states that there should be clear air between the last defender and his opponent for it to be offside. Being slightly forward of a defender is not offside by the rule book. Having space between you and the defender is offside, by the rule book.

Both Adebayor and Flamini were advanced from the defender, but neither of them had any "clear air" between them and the defender. So by the rule book, Adebayor's goal should have stood and Flamini was onside. In a sense, Wigan were lucky to get away with the first one. I have to say I wouldn't have liked it if it was against Arsenal but then again, that has gone against Arsenal many times.

Francesc Fabregas is knackered! But Denilson is ready. Arsène Wenger suggested that with the fixture congestion, he may have to prioritise. I guess the fact the Fabregas showed up against Wigan means that the Premiership is top priority and that he will not start against Bolton.

This is not so bad since it is an away game and Wenger will probably play defensively with Flamini and Gilberto. I hope Johan Djourou can return, Gilberto is not a centre-back.

Baptista's touch is still not perfect but in my view he has improved almost 100%. I am happy he will get more games. I have to say I was a little surprised by Adebayor's vision once or twice and very annoyed at Henry's once or twice.

I decided last week that everything that can be written about Henry is written. Thierry had a break and came back and I wrote here to say I thought he had now changed. Two other commentators said he hadn't. A month later, I am unfortunately agreeing with them.

Thierry Henry is Thierry Henry and will remain the same till he retires. It's difficult to see what motivates him to play a game one week but not the next week. What does he think about when the team is a goal down and loses its centre? What does he think his role is?

Everything written about Henry is either praise or criticism. There is very little in the middle. That is called inconsistency. If you plotted the ratings of Fabregas, Gilberto or Kolo Touré from game to game on a graph, you will get a pretty close to horizontal line over time.

You do the same for Henry and you get a heartbeat fluctuation. Even within the same game Thierry fluctuates. So it's time to accept Thierry for who he is. There is nothing new and it will not change.

When Arsenal conceded the goal yesterday, the team lost a bit of cool. Arsenal are not cool anymore under pressure. That's because the core is Fabregas and he needs Alexander Hleb, Gilberto and Rosicky to be on the pitch. When one of them is missing Arsenal doesn't look that cool under pressure.

Wenger is taking for more tactical risks these days. In his time here, Wenger has taken strategic risks in order to ensure stability at all time – in order to make sure he doesn't need to make tactical decisions.

Wenger never used to substitute before 75 minutes and never liked to play an unbalanced team. In recent games, we have sometimes had only two real defenders on the pitch and as many as FOUR strikers sometimes.

We are playing long balls in the 53rd minute. This is normal for most teams but if you have followed Arsène Wenger over the years, it is quite dramatic for him. Something has changed in Wenger. I will think about it and write about my thoughts here sometime.

User Comments

KenyanGooner

Posted on 14 Feb, 2007 at 08:48 AM - Reply

http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=News&article=447984&lid=NewsHeadline&Title=Ljungberg+and+Hleb+back+in+the+squad+for+Bolton+trip

Hleb and Ljunberg are in the Squad for the Bolton game
Djourou is also fit after that nasty blow to his nose

I also think Flamini is out injured (ankle)

Gallas and Eboue are still out as well as RVP and Senderos

Thierry Henry is being rested :)

I'd say this is excellent news:

Start the following:

Almunia

Hoyte Toure Djourou Clichy
Hleb Denilson Gilberto Rosicky
Aliadiere The Beast

with the bench having

Adebayor, Cesc Fabulous, Poom, Ljunberg, Walcott

FredIsDead, Bombay

Posted on 14 Feb, 2007 at 04:38 AM - Reply

Nice article, Joel. Why does everyone not talk about Walcott not showing up? I thought he was near miserable vs Wigan, cept for one good cross that Henry skied. Granted he is only 17, but I think he is treated far too 'special'.

AUSSIE FAN

Posted on 14 Feb, 2007 at 02:30 AM - Reply

Not a bad article Che:

But if you watch the game closely, in the first 10 mins there is a rash Challenge on Cesc, and he was hobbling around for the rest of the half. He should have been substituted but that is his importance on the field.
The whole Long Ball/ Short Passing Theory, well i have one. I Watched with Great Interest Liverpool V Newc and noticed the pitch at ST James, you couldn't pass the ball for more than 5 yards with out giving it a good thump. We have to face the fact that The Grove there is no other Pitch Like it IN All of ENG, Bernabeu and Nou Camp come close but other than that there is no other field like it in the world. Last year, we struggled with our flawless procission passing up North because the grounds were heavy. We all complained there was no Plan B, AND WE COULDN'T WIN Ugly, now we have there are more people complaining about that then there were last year!! Go figure!!
The long balls are within preparation of the Next Game, if it is away you usually start seeing the last 10 15 mins Toure & Senderos start peppering the goal with Long Balls. Sometimes it just Happens or most times it just happens to be we are behind a goal. But if you look at our Matches before UCL The teams we play we apply the Short Precision passing game, in total prepartion for the Next tie. Namely you will see a different side out on the W/E To that out Tonight, they will Play the Short Precision Passing game we all love and if we happen to fall behind then resort for the Draw with long balls. With the UCL Match next up.

dragon

Posted on 14 Feb, 2007 at 01:08 AM - Reply

Love the stuff on here, but have to get this off-side thing right cos even commentators don't understand the law as it has stood since latest interpretation 2 seasons ago. Forget anything you ever heard about 'daylight'. If an attacking player has ANYTHING that he could legally score a goal with, closer to the opponents' goal than their last defender (assuming the keeper is in the equation), then he is off-side. Please spread the news!

chris

Posted on 13 Feb, 2007 at 11:01 PM - Reply

didnt gilberto play CB before coming to Arsenal? Hes more then capable. Especially with the lack of CBs we have and the congestion in CM.

g

Posted on 13 Feb, 2007 at 09:46 PM - Reply

Joel, I think many of us have noticed the tactical change in Wenger. look forward to your article.

iamarlong

Posted on 13 Feb, 2007 at 05:43 PM - Reply

i think thats quite true Wenger start to play long ball or setup an unbalanced team , as he also under a great pressure. As Wenger's theory, shorrt, quick pass should kill all defenders, however, the truth is, a deep defending could make Arsenal cant go forward.
Although long ball dont look so good as our short quick floor pass, but it somehow bring up a result.
Result and entertaining both are important, but result could bring glory to the club.
just a little share

Glory

Posted on 13 Feb, 2007 at 05:25 PM - Reply

I like this fighting attitude. Play classy against the top teams and go dirty against the bottom team. Playing pretty football doesn't help and I like the new fighting attitude in the team now. The diving issue is nonsense, I do not even remember the dive and their striker could have injured himself with the way he ran into the floor.

michael

Posted on 13 Feb, 2007 at 04:50 PM - Reply

One's again Joel, you have written an excellent piece. but as for Henry he is human and i guess nobody is perfect. but guess he is still the best.

redcard47

Posted on 13 Feb, 2007 at 04:17 PM - Reply

You're way off on your definition of offside...

G T

Posted on 13 Feb, 2007 at 04:00 PM - Reply

I believe the reason Arsène has changed up his strategy-using the long ball- is to keep Arsenal's opponents honest. Meaning that Arsenal usually plays the most beautiful attacking football in the world. Via their amazing passing, movement off the ball, and team chemistry. But teams are now figuring that in order to stop Arsenal's beautiful free flowing game is to bog down the midfield. So in order to keep our attack and defense in balance he (Arsène) has introduced the long ball. And with a strong, tall striker who can win tackles in the air, such as Adebayor alongside Henry, we can add to our preexisting arsenal of attacking maneuvers. Take for example our recent tie with Middlesbro.

hendry

Posted on 13 Feb, 2007 at 03:50 PM - Reply

i'm an arsenal supporter myself, but to say that jewell didn't have a rightful point to demonstrate the misgivings that befell his team because of the decisions of the referee is ridiculous.

Gunner44

Posted on 13 Feb, 2007 at 02:49 PM - Reply

I guess he has just realized that after 10 in the Epl teams have found ways of stopping Arsenal and he had to find something different to mix with what he has always done. On Henry I also said the same thing just look at his positives and forget his negatives, and hope that his positives out do his negatives(like the Man U game).

gooner4lyfe

Posted on 13 Feb, 2007 at 02:28 PM - Reply

aye whats wrong with mixing it up from time to time, plus the injuries aren't helping so AW has to what he can with what he has. Plan A doesn't always work to and now that plan B has become more effective and that is what makes champions

AJ

Posted on 13 Feb, 2007 at 02:22 PM - Reply

You are wrong about the offside rule. The daylight rule is a fabrication of the media, an unholy alliance between the BBC and Sky. The rule actually states that if any part of the body that can legally touch the ball while in play is in advance of the second to last defender, he is offside. Adebayor's goal still stands though, as it was his arm that was ahead of the defender. It's a stupid rule that is impossible to administer - typical of FIFA.

pitse

Posted on 13 Feb, 2007 at 02:10 PM - Reply

I couldnt agree more! this article should be made the official arsenal post match analysis! well put.

Freddy

Posted on 13 Feb, 2007 at 01:58 PM - Reply

How I wish the Dutch-master recovers early to take up his strike role. Henry Thierry is undoubtedly out of form and Walcott is also not matured enough to play in a team like arsenal. For Flamini, Clichy who is a defender even looks more than up-front than the french midfielder. With all these in mind, i try to question myself on why Wenger did not secure the services of Ryan Babel who is an all-out-striker. Using Ljunberg as striker is even better than some of the the players who call themselves strikers in the team. We should be lucky to have kids like Denilson and Diaby in the team!

samsi

Posted on 13 Feb, 2007 at 01:55 PM - Reply

you are the man! well written!!!!!

Rombosia

Posted on 13 Feb, 2007 at 01:49 PM - Reply

For the most part, our thoughts are similar. We have become harder, we fight when we're down (thx to Gilberto's stint as captain) but we need to stop conceding!!! Stability aside, I still believe Fabregas needs a rest. He's been operating at below par (his per, not the general SCholes, Lampard below average thing) and when he is low, the team feels it.

On Henry, I still insist, havin him at the center of attack doesn't help. We don't see him running at defenders any more. Let him come from deep or wide, as he used to in the unbeaten season, then the real Henry will stand up. The position he's playin now is where the Beast would thrive. I love the way he finds space when off the ball, thats Y he scored so many in the Carling cup run.

As for the long balls, I LOVE THEM!! It has given us plan B and with the wide balls n crosses, plan C. Plan B & C destroyed ManUre coz their defenders never expected the crosses, or the long balls. Plan B killed Wigan, coz they didn't think we can do it. Even the unbeaten team had a lovely mix of those short n long passes. They made us deadly on the counter.

So, I believe this team is way ahead of its time. We now know not to get depressed wen we go down, we know when to play a bit ugly n win and still have enufff flair to terrify. Now what I want the team to get is that lightning counter attack Arsenal was famous for. Then we'll be untouchable!!!!

PS. I'm not an Englishman, so I don't understand the FA cup passion, still, does anyone also think we should sacrifice the FA cup n save ourselves all these mid-week matches???

Mel

Posted on 13 Feb, 2007 at 01:47 PM - Reply

Great article - on Weds I'd like to see the triangle of Gilberto,Diaby & Denilson because those three were exceptional against the spuds-rosicksy wide and Aliadiere + Batista up front - I believe we can & will beat Bolton. Regarding TT I accept TT as he is but when he plays the team always seem to be looking for him and become a little one dimensional but when he doesn't play we seem to play far more as a team and in the CC a great team.

Fred

Posted on 13 Feb, 2007 at 01:45 PM - Reply

For Christ sake, when at all is Henry going to stop his childish displays? I think is time Wenger give players like Aliadiere the Chance to prove. Playing Baptista and Aliadiere against Bolton would not be a gamble. Fabregas is dead tired. I believe Denilson is ever ready to take the nod. I have all the believe that if these changes are made and we get a better right winger other than Walcott, the Bogee would be gunned. Trust me!

Emkay

Posted on 13 Feb, 2007 at 01:12 PM - Reply

Good article. It seems a bit strange to me but TH hasn't played the same since he was made captain! Perhaps he is better when someone else has the responsibility, such as Paddy and is calling the shots. This is not likely to change any time soon as he will be captain until he retires or leaves the club! Just a niggling thought!

km1980

Posted on 13 Feb, 2007 at 01:04 PM - Reply

Just a quick point about the 6 bookings. Rosicky got one for his celebrating with the fans not for a tackle. Henry for is altercation with Kirkland, just showing a bit of passion as far as I'm concerned (as was Rosicky). And then Lehmann got one for time wasting. So, although i think you are right to say the gunners have toughened up, I think it is not a case f losing discipine. A lot of the bookings were unfortunate, and have been all season.

gooner10

Posted on 13 Feb, 2007 at 12:44 PM - Reply

nope you're wrong. havent you played football before? when you get tackled when you're running you lose your balance. then after the guy lets go of you you either stumble or continue on because of the previous challenge. henry DID NOT dive. he tried to stay on his feet but lost his balance. when you're running and being tackled its not easy trying to maintain balance.

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