Sour times

Results

Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
06 Dec	3:00 PM	P	Wigan Athletic (H)	1	0	Win

Where else to start this morning but the rather rough treatment of Emmanuel Eboue yesterday afternoon? Some of you reading this blog will be aware that Emmanuel is far from being my favourite player, but no Arsenal player should be subjected to the kind of treatment that he was yesterday. There have been targets for the fans over the years, in my time Perry Groves and Pascal Cygan are two that spring to mind, but I don't ever remember a player being barracked to the extent that he had to be substituted. Well, not apart from Alex Song.

I think that the nature of this incident, whilst obviously to do with Eboue's reputation as a player who is... well, a bit of a cheat really, is also rooted in the frustration that Arsenal fans are feeling this season - the frustration of hearing about the money that was availale to Mr Wenger, but not spent in the summer and then reading articles like the "Eboue is a pass master" on Arsenal.com, the frustration of seeing a team that came within a game of lifting the league title struggle unneccessarily and the frustration of having to fork out around £50 to it in the Upper Tier for games like yesterday's. Which we did win of course.

The pricing at the stadium is something I keep coming back to, but it really is a shame that Arsenal haven't realised that whilst people might have been happy to pay £50 to watch Patrick Vieira, Robért Píres, Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, et. al, £50 to watch the current team is taking the piss just a little bit. Especially in today's financial climate. So when they charge £50 and up in the Upper Tier, they are also going to get certain types of fan, the type of fan perhaps who won't support the team when they need it, the type of fan who has come to be entertained, the type of fan, in fact, who will boo one of his "own" if he feels the player is not up to the job.

Sour times, indeed.

Amongst all of this, it might be easy to forget that Arsenal won the game yesterday and so recorded back to back wins in the Premiership for the first time since Kennedy was assassinated, or something like that. A very smartly taken goal by Emmanuel Adebayor was the difference in the end and whilst the woodwork came to Wigan's rescue twice, denying Ade and Denilson, Wigan had a very good shout for a penalty turned down, when Kolo got a bit busy.

As Steve Wilson said on his commentary, we certainly have seen those given. Manuel Almunia also made a good save from Melchiot. On the flip side of that, Bacary Sagna was unlucky not to score with a near post header reminiscent of the one he did score gainst Chelsea last season, whilst Robin van Persie might have had a couple of goals to go with his two last Sunday.

Another downer, aside from the Eboue incident, was a ridiculous challenge on Samir Nasri from Palacios. Nasri will be out for the next week at least now, and with Theo Walcott and Tomas Rosicky still on the table, our wide options are so limited that the aforementioned Eboue will surely have to start the upcoming games. Unless Arsène fancies seeing what Jack Wilshere is made of. But I can't see that happening just yet.

User Comments

Oli

Posted on 8 Dec, 2008 at 07:44 PM - Reply

I was at the game, in the Upper Tier, and I admit to shouting out my frustration with Eboue when he conspired to pass the ball to Wigan players four times in a row, and subsequently cheering when he got substituted. I have never booed any of our players in the past, but so inept was his performance, and indeed the majority of his performances this season, that I think we were entitled to show our anger. On a human level, you kind of feel sorry for him, but he is getting paid £40 grand every week, and so surely we should expect his performances to justify his salary, and indeed his place in the Arsenal team. At the end of the day, he is a staggeringly incompetent player, so if the supporters manage to influence team selection, and get him removed from the team, then this is our right, and the team will be so much the better. we shouldn't feel too sorry for him - I would happily get shouted at by 60,000 people, if I could pop 40 grand in my pocket, get in my fast car and drive speedily back to mansion afterwards

Terri

Posted on 8 Dec, 2008 at 06:37 PM - Reply

Whilst I agree Eboue is not a top class player, no player should get treatment like that from basically IGNORANT people.

I do feel that Arsene Wenger MUST spend some money this season. We need a bit of experience to play along side Cesc and a REALLY good and consistent striker like Thierry.
We lost far too many good players at once and now we really do need to get some back in the team.
We have far too many injuries. Sometimes I wonder if the player are pampered too much and should be back playing alot quicker.
GET YOUR CHEQUE BOOK OUT ARSENAL. AFTER ALL YOU ARE GETTING PLENTY IN SO TRY SPENDING SOME

Jonny

Posted on 8 Dec, 2008 at 02:35 PM - Reply

Eboue got abuse because everything he did was rubbish (lost the ball, never tracked back, couldn't make a 5yd pass etc). Fans were shouting at him to show some passion, some desire, something that makes him eligable to wear that shirt. He was actually cheered when he was subbed off, firstly because he was appalling all game, but also because for most fans this was another Spurs waiting to happen.
People can blame the fans but I've seen just about every game this year and the players are clearly nervous and scared going into the last 5 mins of games. Forget Eboue, look at why fans are anxious, and you'll see it's the team as a whole.

Easy Tiger

Posted on 8 Dec, 2008 at 02:10 PM - Reply

I think Palacious should have been sent off for that tackle on Nasri.

If our kids are so good (and I think that they are) then why aren't they the ones being given a chance when our first-choices get injured? Instead Arsene insists on filling gaps by playing players out of position. Surey Wilshire, or Merida, or Gibbs could have done a better job on the left wing (having said that I don't know who was on the bench) than poor Eboue, converted right back that he is...

Sigun

Posted on 8 Dec, 2008 at 12:01 PM - Reply

I agree with all you said. Except £50 for the upper Tier is quite good for arsenal now. I saw £92 once for one seat. Shameful

David

Posted on 8 Dec, 2008 at 10:59 AM - Reply

Our main burden is Toure, who can't win headers and can't defend one on one. He had cost us many games by conceding penalties like that. I think he is better suited as a sub. However I can't agree with No.2 that RVP is not a good striker. Have you, No. 2, seen Adebayor scored any goal like the ones RVP put in at Chelski? And how many chances Ade had to squander before scoring one goal? But I admit that RVP is sometimes a bit reckless indeed. He has to improve his discipline as well.

dslacker

Posted on 8 Dec, 2008 at 10:36 AM - Reply

Dam shame the treatment of Eboue, had a couple of nice touches in that move with cesc. The guy hasnt played for ages and got rattled easy. Good player and we have missed him more than people realise. I would much rather see eboue on the right than Diaby on the left.

Spiller

Posted on 8 Dec, 2008 at 09:01 AM - Reply

Kennedy's been assassinated???

gunner from pakistan

Posted on 8 Dec, 2008 at 08:54 AM - Reply

why do OUR players get tackled that easily! no fair! They're scared of us. walcott had been subject to fouls as well. he's lost his patience. Last season, edaurdo's injury cost us the title. This is a conspiracy against us! :@

GunnerMalta

Posted on 8 Dec, 2008 at 08:49 AM - Reply

The injuries seem to be knocking the door again, especially at this important time coming around, were you must proove your steel.Last year we had eduardo in and van pierse out and when the accident happened , van pierse was not fully fit to replace.Basically he did not have match practice.Arsenal suffered at the end. We need between 2 to 3 players in my opinion, depending on rosisky's state.I hope we dont repeat the error of last year. GunnerMalta

Alfi

Posted on 8 Dec, 2008 at 07:50 AM - Reply

Hopefully the striker with the killing instinct are back in January. Eduardo can be the solution.

Cruyff

Posted on 8 Dec, 2008 at 07:03 AM - Reply

We all miss T.Henry, but I will take v.Persie ANY DAY over Adebayor.

Dattijo Aliyu

Posted on 7 Dec, 2008 at 09:57 PM - Reply

I always said i will prefer eboue to be a cover for sagna. arsene should understand that he has to go for tested players during the transfer window in january, he should please use wilshear and simpson often. I still have my reservations on our strikers especially van persie, a striker that will loose four glaring chances in a match is not an ideal striker.

Edgar

Posted on 7 Dec, 2008 at 09:47 PM - Reply

Damn Injuries!!!!!!!!!!!

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