Praise for Arsenal strike duo, concern for defence

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Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
30 Sep	7:45 PM	CL	Fc Porto (H)	4	0	Win

Strike duo Robin van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor have earned praise from manager Arsène Wenger after braces from each of them helped earn a 4-0 win over former European champions Porto.

There was also praise for Englishman Theo Walcott, who was heavily involved in the goals.

Wenger said: "Theo was dangerous again and he makes big progress and a big improvement. It was the response I wanted. It is half of the response of the week, the other half comes on Saturday [against Sunderland].

"I took him off because I was cautious but he could have stayed on, he's not injured."

However, there were still concerns for the Arsenal defence, who at times looked vulnerable and lost at sea when encountered with a pacy counter-attack from the Portugese.

Wenger added: "Before Saturday we only conceded two goals and they were from corners in the League. On Saturday we conceded two goals too. I must say one of them was another corner but the other one was a goal that we have all scored but only once in our lives. We conceded a goal that you cannot do a lot about.

"I think away from home we have found a good balance defensively like at Blackburn and Bolton. At home we are not completely reassuring yet.

"I believe that the first time they caught us tonight was on the break from one of our corners. We were caught on the break, but that is maybe the only real time when we were lucky.

"The second time was on the corner when Clichy saved on the line. Those were the two times when they were dangerous tonight. Overall we were much more disciplined and focused on corners. The fight in the air was there.

User Comments

ShifuArsenal

Posted on 3 Oct, 2008 at 02:27 PM - Reply

I agree, I don't think players size is an issue. Spain comfortably beat Germany the tallest team during Euro2008. Arsenal is similar in stature to Spain. Both teams have players with great ball control although Arsenal play at a quicker tempo. Arsenal needs a holding midfielder with pace, stamina and good positioning on the pitch to sit and protect the defence. Denilson is good player but lacks these qualities.
Walcott had a very good game this time around and again should have scored but needs to be more consistent with his passing and choice of passes. You could see from the game neither Ade or Van Persie trust Walcott with his crossing.
Arsenal must show commitment from the start against Sunderland if they are to avoid another defeat.

Bresshi

Posted on 2 Oct, 2008 at 12:52 PM - Reply

I do not think the problem is that fabregas needs a closer helper at all. I mean he in general plays his role to far up the pich, causing a to long gap back to the defenders. The way Arsenal plays their football now they need to get more contact in the centre roles all over the pich, Ive seen them in training and this is how they really want to play. It is too easy to blame the centre backs every time arsenal concede a goal, It is more complexed problem than that, especially in games like the Hull game.

elninio

Posted on 1 Oct, 2008 at 08:21 PM - Reply

We won.... thats good news. BUT... has anyone seen a team as poor as Porto were last night? I haven't... not even Shefield Utd were that bad and we put 6 past them. Still... Sunderland on Saturday is the real bounce back game for me.

Towolawi Hammad

Posted on 1 Oct, 2008 at 05:53 PM - Reply

The boys did a great job, but I am concerned about the midfield, we need an experienced player to support Fantastic Fabregas so that the job would not be a hectic one for the young lad. and about the defence i think he made a mistake for allowing Senderos to live because the defence made us loose the match against Hull. Great work by Almunia. I would want my message to be given to The Prof to read Please

rex

Posted on 1 Oct, 2008 at 04:12 PM - Reply

arsene wenger shuld go buy a standing no 4 player for the benefit of the team and our health too because our hearts and emotions are tied up to arsenal already so he should please help us the fans pls sir help us, the first hull goal was scored because the no 4 player was not effective enough on that game....thanks

frank oraka

Posted on 1 Oct, 2008 at 01:54 PM - Reply

... that was a five star performance from a teaam that i believe in. keep it up.

goonergerry

Posted on 1 Oct, 2008 at 12:40 PM - Reply

Too much is being made of defensive weakness as the cause of the Hull defeat- we all know the weakness is there- Defending at set pieces is a coaching issue- not one of player size- remember Frank McLintock?
Have we not got the players to score 3 goals at home against Hull? The front 3 did not function at all either as a unit or individually. Adebayor's strength has little impact against Hull's defence which has been honed against similar style players- ( in the champions League it is a major asset). A far better option would have been to start Bendtner,with Vela up front with Van Persie behind.

Gunner 4 life

Posted on 1 Oct, 2008 at 11:56 AM - Reply

Great performance, but i still cant believe the chances we missed, we shouldve barried Porto and scored 7,8 or 9 goals last night! We should learn from last season that goals are importanat in th CL! Theo was great but he missed a sitter. I was suprised by Ade and Van Persie's combination, it actually worked! Our perfomance in the first half was worrying, but thank goodness we recovered! Im a happy Gooner, 4 now!

Norfolk Gooner

Posted on 1 Oct, 2008 at 11:43 AM - Reply

We still look vulnerable in defence and sometimes lack the clinical finsihsing. The number of times the ball was passed in the box last night was incredible but we often couldn't finish it. If anythink 4 nil flattered us although we might actually have scored 6 or 7. I worry about the lack of experience. Maybe the Hull experience will steel their nerves a little more for the future - lets hope so.

Grand Daddy

Posted on 1 Oct, 2008 at 11:34 AM - Reply

Theo, Van Persie and Ade still wasted plenty. European sides don't defend so tight and dogged like the English sides. Lets see us thrash a English side and then invite praise once again.

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