More of the same, please

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Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
08 Nov	12:45 PM	P	Manchester United (H)	2	1	Win

That was a fantastic game of football, and credit is also due to Manchester United for coming to the Emirates and playing football.

There were a few cynical fouls on their part, and again an Arsenal player has to be substituted due to injury, but the passion, technique and determination shown by the team was spot on, and part of that is down to the preparation done by the manager - thank you, Arsène.

It is a fantastic result, and one that will get our season back on track and hopefully we will maintain this momentum and carry on through to strengthen our position in the league.

Looking past the euphoria of beating the Premiership champions, we have to be honest with ourselves and admit that there were a few cracks in the defence that need to be worked on, one such mistake resulted in the Manchester United goal.

The defence deployed by Wenger share his mentality to play football - Wengerball - but there are times when you just need to clear the ball and not play pretty triangles and one-twos in the six-yard box.

The midfield also need to learn how to hold onto the ball and I felt that there was little protection offered to the back four. United's midfield waded into our half much too easily at times and we lacked that physical edge over their holding midfield players.

These are minor criticisms that we as fans are aware of, and hopefully Wenger will address these and in January make a purchase for a strong defensive midfield player who will enforce the defensive solidarity. Purchasing in January will allow the new player to have adapted in time for the next season.

Hats off to William Gallas as well for leading his team on the pitch. When he went around to each player as Manuel Almunia was receiving treatment, motivating and encouraging them, was what a captain needed to do.

What a great signing Samir Nasri is turning out to be - if this is what his first season is like, I can't wait for his second. Could he be the replacement for Marc Overmars and Robért Píres that we have been waiting for?

The referee was inept and how Arsenal ended up with more bookings is beyond me.

Come on Arsenal, let's keep it going. Well done.

User Comments

maeve quinn

Posted on 12 Nov, 2008 at 12:09 AM - Reply

love you robin van persie

David

Posted on 10 Nov, 2008 at 11:10 AM - Reply

Krisso, I have to admit that many of your points are true, except Adebayor, who is greedy, self-complacent, and lazy. Just by looking at how many offsides he got in a game and how he reacts when he scores an easy goal, and how he asked for taking a penalty shot at Blackburn says it all. Also, Gallas is a good player although he gets a bit emotional sometimes. He scores important tying or winning goals and runs for every ball. Unlike Toure, who works hard but doesn't have a football brain. I'd like to see more Galla-Djourou or Silvestre pairing. Stats tell that when Toure is starting, we lose or draw most of the games. Still Wenger has to buy a tall tough CB and a striker to partner with RVP. Bendtner was just a bit nervous and technically he is better than Ade.

zabulon

Posted on 10 Nov, 2008 at 06:58 AM - Reply

That true Almunnia has a problem of coming out every time he is not like Lehman, there are some balls the keeper has to come out and save them. This is not the case with Almunia if we look at the game against Barcelona in the final of the championsleague the two goals of Barcelona, it was him to blame coz instead of coming out he was still on the post. He has to change otherwise Fabianski will take his place.

Abdul

Posted on 10 Nov, 2008 at 06:35 AM - Reply

I have always held Howard Webb in high esteem, deeming him the best ref in EPL but I had so many questions over his decisions on the Sato game that I am left to wonder whether indeed he is a top class official or a covert Man U fan. I am just glad that his decisions did not influence the outcome of the game. COME ON GUNNERS!

kukun

Posted on 10 Nov, 2008 at 05:36 AM - Reply

krisso,do not provoke u.i`m one of fan for arsenal.u are same like other fan if u want say other player u not like is not class player.all player the choose by wenger is have something.something u can`t see but he can see.u must believe wenger.like keano said this man is the one will remembered 25,50 or 100 years.wenger is the man.song slow like snails??? is something in herself.bendtner is not wise striker but his spirit is good.almunia is not good like buffon but he is the best wenger have.wenger trust him after he show loyalty to club.10 games 2 mistakes is normal way to get through experience.if 20 game has 15 mistakes..yes he must at the bench.what would you like to say? gallas is world class defender? yes if pair to him is good and wise.gallas problem is his pair is not enough good and commanding.that why jose mourinho not upgrade his position at chelsea.JM see sumthing a lack of focus on gallas.no doubt he has a good spirit dan winning mentality.John terry also not tough if calvanho is not there.rio also seek weak defend if vidic not there.Defend is about commanding...tony adams,campbell...is very right commanding defender.they still got the best pair...tony with bould,keown...campbell also with keown.i dun think toure is good pair for gallas.

gooners88

Posted on 10 Nov, 2008 at 03:34 AM - Reply

Bendtner better than ade. Why? Because Ade don't have disciplne.. He like go to the left side even he the main forward. Bendtner? If he been asked to stay at the front he will be. If he been asked to support the striker, he will be. Ade? The offsides player. Maybe he got many goal, but i think all the goal can be done by any striker who got the ball nicely from the midfielder.

GunnerSG

Posted on 10 Nov, 2008 at 01:02 AM - Reply

This is just the result that could get our season really on track. There could not have been a bigger motivation.

kakibola

Posted on 10 Nov, 2008 at 12:48 AM - Reply

as i see it...bendtner is a total waste..
he cant see or even think how to seek a chance to score a goal...man..if only AW cud sort this thing out soonest..i'll be a happy fan..!!

David

Posted on 9 Nov, 2008 at 07:08 PM - Reply

We could've scored 4-5 goals!!! But we had Bendtner up front so we only got 2 no help from Bendtner.. We need a clinical finisher.. the like of Torres.. Great result though!!!! keep it going!!!

Aliaq8 *ADAMS*

Posted on 9 Nov, 2008 at 03:59 PM - Reply

FANTASTIC GAME ... 6 min added time (my mind just kept saying TOTT*****) .. :p

GREAT RESULT

Goonerbeall

Posted on 9 Nov, 2008 at 03:52 PM - Reply

Arsenal was brilliant yesterday. Bringing tears of mirth into me eyes. Reminding me the time we had many opponents on the run. It was a time when we had names like Pires, Henry, Vieira and Bergkamp in the team. The time when we walked in any stadium in this land and opponents trembled upon seeing us not relishing the chance to bully us. Please tell Wenger that a guy at Marselle called Caan or something like that is being targeted by Everton for £9m. He is a Vieira with white skin and complete psycho. With him in the tean noone will ever try to mess up with us. If you dont beieve me- Go to Youtube.

Krisso

Posted on 9 Nov, 2008 at 02:57 PM - Reply

I still don't understand how arsenal mania has managed to turn fans against Gallas, who is clearly a world class defender who fights for every ball, seems the most hurt when we are losing and has scored crucial goals for us when we are down.
I also don't understand how arsenal mania have managed to convince fans that Bendtner and song are good players. People have been ridiculous enough to even say that Bendtner is better than Adebayor. I don't know what this guy is doing at arsenal. And song is as slow as a snail. Almunia whom you also like praising is not a world class keeper. He would not come out for the ball that Fabianski came out for towards the end of the united game. He can't even come out for Delaps throws that are moving slower than a free kick. Lehman would have those for breakfast. The players that you constantly attack here...Gallas, Denilson and Adebayor are among our best. The players you praise...bendtner, almunia and song are not arsenal class. I'm sorry. The most ridiculous thing however is this attack on Arsene Wenger.
Shut up you fans and get behind the team.

Amir

Posted on 9 Nov, 2008 at 02:11 PM - Reply

Nasri and Fabregas were sublime. I'd like to see us replace Bentdner with a striker that knows how to hit the target though.

de-juan

Posted on 9 Nov, 2008 at 01:40 PM - Reply

Wonderful performance by a team that is finding its feet again. The ref was biased IMHO but we played a game that we can be proud of.

Complacency should be out of the side now and this should be the start of a re-building phase in keeping up with the pace setters until January. Therafter the boss would do well to reinforce his defence and midfield for the second half.

maya

Posted on 9 Nov, 2008 at 01:09 PM - Reply

When i see Arsenal playing that way, i just couldn't help myself but think our 3 lose and draw we had is just a bad joke. Keep up Arsenal!

Regarding the Nasri incident, the recap show that from Webb position, there's no way he saw Vidic pulling Nasri's shirt because the ref looking is behind Vidic.

Haris Kurbardovic(Macedonia)

Posted on 9 Nov, 2008 at 12:42 PM - Reply

That is what I expect from Arsenal.We played very well and I`m very proud.But we did the same mistake again , we had 3 exellent counter-attacks and if we scored a goal it would be 3:0 and then we could of relax.We have 100% chance and we miss it , and then 6 minutes hell for us.It was VERY GOOD PREFORMANS but we need tp play all 90 minutes.GOOD JUB AND CONTINUE LIKE THAT

t

Posted on 9 Nov, 2008 at 09:12 AM - Reply

That was a fantastic game. Arsenal has quality, spirit and something like that. All players should be sharp, strong and be confidence the can score. Arsenal missed a plenty chances, because some of tge players hadn't enough confidence.
On defence players should take thier positions quickly and tackle that ball, and attack for more goals. If our players can improve their confidence they can score a stunning goals ....

rishabh

Posted on 9 Nov, 2008 at 05:39 AM - Reply

brilliant game! hats off to nasri. why i rate him highly is the fact that unlike hleb, nasri takes his chances. 5 goals already this season. brilliant from diaby. he was a major factor in all aspects of the game. gallas had a good game too. for the first time i actually saw the captain like characteristics come out strong. he made berbas life hell. bendtner could have done better and i am sure he will.
GUN VILLA DOWN!! GO GUNNERS!!!!!

feeny

Posted on 9 Nov, 2008 at 03:45 AM - Reply

this is the biggest result in the past few years...proves that with commitment and belief that this squad can win things. if they can beat the premier and champions league winners with a half fit squad it shows waht they should be capable of week in week out...i suppose that what makes it soo annoying c'n them lose to sh*t like stoke.happiest iv been in a long long time thou :oD

kwickfit11

Posted on 9 Nov, 2008 at 03:26 AM - Reply

Latest be realistic we don’t have championship form. wenger believes scientifically but reality is different matter. Do we have enough experience squad to cope with the league? No, Do we have enough quality to cope week in week out? No, and finally do we have determination and still to cope in the league? No.

b.c

Posted on 9 Nov, 2008 at 12:38 AM - Reply

wat did i tell u all believe in this arsenal squad and they will preform now we still have chance of winning the title 2-1 c'mon arsenal win the league and keep the faith alive!!!!

danny

Posted on 9 Nov, 2008 at 12:32 AM - Reply

Lets not get carried away people....yes,it was a good performance from the team,and we possibly could have scored 4 or 5 goals.But then again we are always capable of doing that(stoke game excepted)...however,on the down side ,so could 've man u,mainly due to our defensive errors,and on another day(if rooney and Ronaldo had their shooting boots on)then it cud easily have been 4-2 to man u.We still need a proper central defender,and as many others have also pointed out ,a strong defensive midfielder.A world class goalkeeper wouldnt go amiss either,give us those 3 players,and I believe Arsenal could win everything and anything.As an attacking unit we are second to non.

maori gooner

Posted on 8 Nov, 2008 at 11:31 PM - Reply

You blokes are being unduly harsh on the referee. The penalty shout on Nasri was impossible for the ref to see from the angle he was. What do you want, for him to be everywhere on the pitch?? Even theo can't be everywhere and he's twice as quick as Mr Webb. I agree, it was a penalty infringement, but one that Vidic got away with cos he did it extremely smartly. All those critics maybe get off your butt and pick up a whistle at your local club and you will see its a lot more difficult then you realise!

Sege Bee

Posted on 8 Nov, 2008 at 10:46 PM - Reply

Great job to the whole team..Nasri MOTM.I wonder what happened to bendtner ..he's a great player though.shldve had a brace.
Gallas...(this looked like a cameo performance)LoL!!!!! o.k but seriously if he and the back 4 play like this every week.WE WILL WIN the TITLE.
All in all great match but please let's be careful not to drown in the excitement of beating Man U.there is still a lot of work to be done.

Tom the Super Gunner

Posted on 8 Nov, 2008 at 09:58 PM - Reply

Why don't you realise that we beat the european and english champions with a weakened side in a crucial match, and be positive no.20! Come on, concentrate on the positives! We won!

john quinn

Posted on 8 Nov, 2008 at 09:58 PM - Reply

so happy so very very happy... winning today ...actually makes me feel so good ..and at peace with the world....lets all get a good nights sleep...after what we have all been through in the past 12 days ..we need it..thank you Arsene .... my wife says thank you also!!!!

gunner4life

Posted on 8 Nov, 2008 at 09:20 PM - Reply

seriously now, bentner is arguably the worst forward in the premier league, he is absolutely shocking! he needs to go, he is slow, no skill, no vision and no arsenal flair!

guy mensah

Posted on 8 Nov, 2008 at 08:08 PM - Reply

what a tosser of a ref giving us more yellows than them how is that possible. Imagine if nasri going down had been rooney at old trafford, there'd only be one outcome. Good job we won. Thanks nazzy boy.

Jiji

Posted on 8 Nov, 2008 at 06:45 PM - Reply

Come On Arsenal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.. Let's move in 5th Gear!!!!!!!!!

David

Posted on 8 Nov, 2008 at 05:36 PM - Reply

The ref is a disgrace, and this again arouse the need for video technology. If Webb thought it was not a penalty then he should have booked Nasri for diving. We could have easily lost the game also as Bendtner and Walcott were so inefficient and wasteful. Wenger should at least buy one striker, one DM and one CB. He finally listened to us not to play Toure, who is really useless and is a football idiot.

GS

Posted on 8 Nov, 2008 at 05:21 PM - Reply

I see Pires' shadow in Nasri!!!!

Once A Gunner Always A Gunner

Posted on 8 Nov, 2008 at 05:01 PM - Reply

Come on Arsenal, the season isn't over yet. Beating Man-United proves we're still good enough and come May lets hope that we can look back at this season and be proud of our Arsenal.

Sam

Posted on 8 Nov, 2008 at 04:38 PM - Reply

I am soooo happy. But we still need a defensive midfielder.

Andimazlan

Posted on 8 Nov, 2008 at 04:20 PM - Reply

Totally agreed. Next game will be with Aston Villa. Go and don't look back. Keep the momentum guys. Come on Arsenal.

Yakubu Musa, Kano, Nigeria

Posted on 8 Nov, 2008 at 04:13 PM - Reply

Yes, Nasri had a wonderful game. The refree was obviously biased. 451 is working for us. Nothwithstanding we still lack a serious presence in the middle.

Nirmit

Posted on 8 Nov, 2008 at 04:05 PM - Reply

Arsenal were awesome today... GO GUNNERS

gooner4eva

Posted on 8 Nov, 2008 at 03:57 PM - Reply

Hats off for an apt entry.Those last 6 minutes seemed like for ever.Great game.I'm euphoric,but as you rightly said there are lessons to take away from this game.Let's keep it goonerish.

Ameya

Posted on 8 Nov, 2008 at 03:55 PM - Reply

I loved it!!!!!!!! just 3 hrs back they were the zero team n suddenly critics call them the hero. ........ wats wrong wid d neutrals ........ they played beautifull football n in d end u get a new star in the premier league....... SAMIR NASRIIIIII..

Jean Themmy

Posted on 8 Nov, 2008 at 03:54 PM - Reply

This is fantastic but still Arsenal has a long way to go. Please do your best and avoid any defeat at home and away as well.
About buying more players I have said and will say it again. There is a need of one serious, finisher, killer, committed and strong striker. Mid field need another man who is mature indeed to hold the ball and pass it at aright time to the right person. Defence also need one serious defender who can protect the goal and be defence minded not running every where like Galas. We need a person who can strongly defend and be feared by all teams. But let's not forget Goal keeper! Our man makes more mistakes although is trying. Come on Wenger buy before everyone will cry or curse you. Sometime compromise helps, humility builds better business and relationship. Arsenal keep up we are behind you. Yes you can win the trophy.

pooner

Posted on 8 Nov, 2008 at 03:49 PM - Reply

I had predicted us losing this game and when i saw that Wenger had picked two half-fit centre backs I thought it was already all over. BUT we played so well! Gallas had a fantastic game for a change and I thought Denilson, who I do not rate one bit, played very well, as did Silvestre. It is right what you said about the need for a ball-winning midfield enforcer but today I thought that Cesc, Denilson and Diaby (even Nasri and Walcott) did really well at winning the ball in the centre of the park. An off day for young Bendtner though...

Overall, an impressive display I reckon. If we play like that each week we'll win something or at least stay in contention.

... and yes Howard Webb's performance was complete toss today.

Gooner For Life

Posted on 8 Nov, 2008 at 03:43 PM - Reply

YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FINALY!!!!!!!!!! Keep it up boys!

wandecai

Posted on 8 Nov, 2008 at 03:42 PM - Reply

Arsenal is great!

Sonny

Posted on 8 Nov, 2008 at 03:37 PM - Reply

We could've scored 4-5 goals!!! Our counter attack was a bit blunt with RvP and Ade out!! Also Cesc is soooooo out of form!! He couldn't get a single ball through on counter attacks!!! Anyways.. main thing is we won! Oh and I didn't like what Howard Webb did today!!! He looked biased!!

East london gooner

Posted on 8 Nov, 2008 at 03:30 PM - Reply

Les av it, what a proformance. this should kick start the 2008/09 season for arsenal. COME ON ARSENAL

stonroy

Posted on 8 Nov, 2008 at 03:29 PM - Reply

We were lucky! Simple as that. Beautiful second goal, but our midfield was weak, Bendtner is not right for tis club, he doesn't have it and what happened to our famous counter attack? It's just not fast enough yet. We were very lucky they couldn't shoot today..

ajay

Posted on 8 Nov, 2008 at 03:27 PM - Reply

Who do you want to buy? Where would you play him?

If we avoid playing 4 4 2, we dont need to buy anyone.

Besides, Do we have money??? What wsa left was used up in salaries!!! There is no decent money to buy unless you get guys like Usmanov in.

Chrissie Greeno

Posted on 8 Nov, 2008 at 03:23 PM - Reply

Great performances all around except by the ref who was way out of his depth. It was a pathetic effort by the official but this has to be expected these days.

Asian Gunners

Posted on 8 Nov, 2008 at 03:22 PM - Reply

tonight...i can sleep in peace...wonderful wonderful weekend..thankyou thankyou Nasri!

Rahul

Posted on 8 Nov, 2008 at 03:20 PM - Reply

fantastic game!!!!!!
It was nerve biting from the word 'go'.
Loved the result man!!!!!!!!!!!!

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