By Loyan Abdulle on Sunday, September 30, 2007

Arsenal are going strong in the League and in Europe and as the Carling Cup just got under way tonight against a strong Newcastle United side, a mixture of fringe players and youngsters showed that this team really does mean business and are intent on going as far as possible in every competition they are involved in.

Despite being overwhelming favourites going into this game, Sam Allardyce deployed a defensive, long ball based against a team of first team hopefulls. It was to his downfall though as they failed to create any clear cut chances other than an early header and a last minute attempt to get back into a game they should not have, at least on paper, been behind in.

Yet again though we showed great resilience to and determination in carving out chance after chance, and when it looked like extra time was looming, we managed to pull out the goods late on again to give our opponents no chance. Late goals by young Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner and Denilson put a game we had dominated from start to finish beyond doubt prompting the travelling Geordies to leave their seats with a couple of minutes plus stoppages still remaining.

In the buildup to the game we had been confirmed as the "richest" club in the world by the press. Operating profits were sky high and Real Madrid were the only team to hold a candle to our board's financial smarts; even with massive debt repayments on the stadium being paid off. Arsène, despite being happy that profits are up, would rather concentrate on things on the pitch and is adamant that money without results is pointless. And he is right. He added that being successful on the pitch would in turn lead to all these financial benefits.

With talk of formal takeover bids, I fail to see where any possible foreign investment in the club is necessary. Especially considering Peter Hill-Wood has confirmed Arsène Wenger, if he wants, can call upon a GBP70 million pound warchest with which to purchase new players.

Such is Wenger shrewdness in the transfer market that he even quipped at Hill-Wood to report that our financial position was "poor" so that we wouldn't be ripped off. He would much rather buy a lesser known, but nonetheless talented player for a good price rather than spend big bucks on a well established player who may or may not fit in. You see the risks are smaller this way as less money is being gambled. And while the occasional gamble is not necessarily a bad thing, Wenger has been burnt by some of his more high priced signings (stand up Jeffers and Reyes).

That being said it wasn't really a surprise seeing one of his most recent purchases catch the eye tonight on his full debut. Lassana Diarra, a deadline day signing from Chelsea showed exactly why Wenger believes in his transfer policies. Purchased for just 2m pounds, the young Frenchman was tough tackling despite his small stature. He was quick with the ball at his feet and even showed great awareness in getting away in a congested midfield not helped by the fact that Allardayce took off a striker and a winger to put on two more central midfielders in the form of Emre and Butt. Diarra was a monster and I am fully confident he will be an able player in the middle of the park for us at any time when called upon.

Another recent purchase making his debut was goalkeeper Lucasz Fabianski. The Pole wasn't really called upon too much but he made a great save from a Martins header early on and caught almost every cross put into the box by Bolton, I mean Newcastle.

Another eye catching performance was from young Frenchman Armand Traore. The fullback was fully aware at the back while also being a willing runner further up the pitch. He showed great trickery time and again getting up to the byline and was the architect in our first goal, providing a perfect cross onto the head of Bendtner who would have struggled to miss from 6 yards even if he tried.

We had a centre back partnership of Phil Senderos and Alex Song. Prior to the game many were already writing off our chances with a pairing like this. Song, who looked very dodgy in this position in pre-season and Senderos, who many say is an accident waiting to happen were never given a prayer. There were already comments in the press and in our own fan base saying that we were going to get slaughtered and that we wouldn't be able to keep the scoreline down. Arsène Wenger even acknowledged the fact that many hadn't forgiven Song for the horror show against Fulham last season and pleaded with the fans to give him a chance as the he said than believed he had all the capabilities needed to succeed at the back.

He was right again and we kept yet another clean sheet. Senderos and Song handled everything that was thrown at them and for the time being at least, I think some people will be putting their knives away. Hoyte also played well, made some nice challenges and linked up well. On a side not it was encouraging to see how much the victory meant to him, being a Gooner. At the final whistle he came over to the other side of the pitch, away from all the other players, and was clenching his fists and pounding his chest for a good two minutes as if he had won the World Cup.

Denilson was, as usual efficient when in possession, never losing the ball and managed to get himself on the score sheet as well. Eboue, back in the team after injury problems played right wing today and despite flashes of pace and skill he looked a bit rusty. The front two pairing of Eduardo and Bendtner looked good and their link up play looked impressive, and despite only the latter scoring late on it does seem like a promising partnership. The only downside of the game was Walcott's performance.

While he did show great pace at time, most notably at half just before half time when he broke the offside trap he always seemed to chose the wrong decision. This time he ran the ball wide for a cutback when he really should have went through on goal taken the chance himself. I guess he needs more time to improve, and the only way this is going to happen is by playing first team matches, which itself will be hard to come by judging by the way some of our supposed wide players a doing in the wings.

From the first whistle we took control of the game. Surprisingly though it was Newcastle who carved out the first meaningful attack. Enrique produced a curling cross from their left and Obafemi Martins somehow managed to out-jump Senderos to the ball. The header was firm and well placed but Fabianski produced a stunning save low to his left to palm the ball away. It was a let off but to be fair we did take the warning and managed to close them down quicker from wide positions thereafter preventing most of their crosses even reaching our box. Whatever did get past our fullbacks were dealt with by the centre-halves or caught by the Polish shot stopper.

It didn't take much longer for our first chance of the game. Traore showed great pace to get down his flank and delivered a bending cross in between their 'keeper and defence and Bendtner was there first to the ball. He header was misdirected but the signs were now improving and it proved to be a sign of things to come.

Midway through the first half Eboue found some space in the box and his looping cross was somehow met at the far post by Eduardo but the Croatian could only hit the side netting from a very acute angle. We also had a penalty appeal waved away for handball as the referee apparently didn't see it when 60,000 people in the stadium did.

Newcastle did manage to create one more chance before the end of the first half. A long ball found Martins goal sided of Senderos but luckily for us the Nigerian rashly skied his shot while under pressure from the Swiss international.

After the scare Arsenal piled on the pressure and were almost camped in the visitors half. Eduardo was put through on goal but Shay Given was first to the ball and managed to clear. Then the Irishman showed great reflexes to palm away a long range drive from Eboue before Walcott blazed a shot over the bar from outside the box after good play from Bendtner and Eduardo.

The referee called for half time and by they way things were going I think Newcastle were the happier side going into the break. They created a couple of clear cut chances and really limited us to possession around the box without giving away too much. At this point I think old Walrus face thought everything was going to plan.

Little did he know, after a little team talk from Wenger, the Arsenal would come out of the blocks flying. It was chance after chance after chance from us with no reply. Given produced fine saves from Walcott and Eboue (twice). The Ivorian was really up for it in the second half and after sending a centre-half the wrong way he advanced through on goal with on the 'keeper to beat. Just as he let fly a defender managed to produce a superb recovery block to put the ball out for a corner. Eduardo was then first to the corner and his goalbound header was hacked of the line by Charles N'Zogbia. We could easily have been 3 or 4 goals up at this point and despite all these missed chances we still managed to keep our heads up and play the game the way it should be. Allardyce knew we had the upper hand and tried to counter this by taking off Milner and Ameobi for Emre and Nicky Butt.

Arsenal smelt fear and responded by pouring forward in search of a late winner. Walcott's left wing cross was deflected goalbound but Given fisted the ball over for yet another corner kick. Bendtner and Denilson both skewed shots wide from range and the Dane had a close range shot blocked. It was all one way traffic and it only seemed a matter of time. On 78 minutes Eduardo and Bendtner combined well before the Croat scuffed his attempt at a volley wide. Time was ticking for the young gunners and without taking advantage of their numerous chances so far it looked like extra time could well be a real possibility unless we scored soon.

It took less than 4 minutes later as Bendtner was on hand to head home yet another delightful cross from the wing by Traore. Chants of "1-0 to the Arsenal" and "You're not signing anymore" filled the stadium, and were directed at Newcastle's previously vocal fans. Sensing blood we went all out for the killer second but on a quick counter we could easily have been pegged back by United's first real chance of the half. Martins showed great pace and rounded the Fabianski but his goalbound effort lacked pace and Senderos was there to clear the ball.

It was to be Newcastle's last chance of the game but as is the norm this season we don't stop going for goal until the last minute and after some good work on the left by Diaby, a late substitution for Eboue, Denilson blasted an effort from the corner of the area straight into the top corner giving the 'keeper no chance. With almost all the away fans already gone and even while some of our own heading for the exit we could even have scored another with seconds left. After being put through by Bendtner, Diaby went for goal inside the box, but had he returned the favour to Bendtner we could have scored a third.

But other than Bendtner who was understandably a bit miffed, who cares. We won and that's all that matters. But all in all it was a great night out for me and the lads and it is one more game added to our fixture list. Not that I'm complaining mind you.

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LB

Posted on 30 Sep, 2007 at 11:42 PM - Reply

Just heard fat Sam on ESPN suggest that the reputation his Bolton team had as being poring cane from managers of big teams who are jealous of him.

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