Accidents waiting to happen

Results

Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
08 Feb	1:30 PM	P	Tottenham Hotspur (A)	0	0	Draw

Too much alcohol and not enough sleep. So I resisted the temptation to post my thoughts on the North London derby when I arrived back from Leeds via Angel's Lord Wolsey pub yesterday evening. Had I written something, it would probably have been slightly hysterical. Instead, I come here today slightly calmer, but still feeling that yesterday we saw definitive proof of why Emmanuel Eboue, despite the Arsenal PR offensive and despite the protestations from the manager, will never have it in him to be an Arsenal player worth the shirt on his back, why he is an accident waiting to happen.

I know I can go overboard on him, I know that he isn't the only Arsenal player in the past, or even recent past, who has had disciplinary issues, but his sending off yesterday in the most pressurised of environments was not a sending off as a result of a poorly timed tackle, it was a result of blind stupidity and petulance. There can not be an Arsenal supporter watching the game who did not see it coming after he had talked his way into a first booking, I wonder if the players felt the same.

I wonder, too, what the manager made of it all. Was it part of a hysterical overreaction to his disallowed "goal"? Whatever it was, I hope that it was the last time we witness this individual in an Arsenal shirt. Listening to the two guys chatting behind me, one observed that he would only get a one game ban as the dismissal was for two yellows, the other asked if we could appeal to get the suspension raised to ten games. Can anyone think of another player within the squad we would like to see treated so? No, of course you can't.

Although his early bath and the enforced substitution of Emmanuel Adebayor limited the boss' options to try and turn the game later on, the nine men left to battle on in his absence performed admirably and, for me, restored a bit of local pride after the ludicrous 4-4 draw last year, though I don't expect to see a DVD of this game any time soon. The defence, particularly William Gallas and Bacary Sagna, coped very well, whilst Manuel Almunia was like a rock behind them. Alex Song put in quite the performance and should have capped it with a late goal. I thought Samir Nasri showed a willingness to accept the ball and take responsibility, whilst Robin van Persie worked hard with the pinball wizard up top.

Harry Redknapp can say Tottenham dominated, but even with their numerical advantage, I can only recall a couple of occasions where Almunia was made to work - his save from Modric at the end of a frantic ten minutes sealing a point for Arsenal that, bottom line, was probably not good enough in terms of the season, but I'm sure we'd have all taken it as Eboue made his long walk in the first half.

Next up is Cardiff in a week's time. I'm hopeful that not only Andrey Arshavin, but Eduardo too, get through enough training to start that game. It would be quite the lift for us supporters, the players and the manager too.

User Comments

James

Posted on 11 Feb, 2009 at 12:54 PM - Reply

You know too much about the game than to understand the game itself.
No doubt, if you have the choice to keep your mnumber two waste instead of Ebue you will keep the former.
If you analyse the game properly, you will see that the refree was wrong.

Chris Omoraro

Posted on 11 Feb, 2009 at 04:22 AM - Reply

Eboue was quite stupid and deserved what he got. He was not the captain and should know better. He's been in the English game for so long. He had know business talking with the ref but to concentrate on his game. However, we could still have won. Eboue's goal was perfect to me and should have stood.

TheSKAGooner

Posted on 10 Feb, 2009 at 08:57 PM - Reply

Unfortunately, Shava is ruled out of the Cardiff match. Since he didn't play in the first round against them, he's ineligible for the replay. The earliest we'll see him is against West Ham.

skwirrel90

Posted on 10 Feb, 2009 at 05:44 PM - Reply

can someone please fill me in? why is it that arshavin is ineligable for the 2nd leg against cardiff, but defoe was allowed to play the carling cup 2nd leg against burnley 2 weeks ago when he was still pompey player on the night of the first leg? im flabergasted, gazzumped and just a little bit cofused.

TH 14

Posted on 10 Feb, 2009 at 04:12 PM - Reply

I dont think Arshavin and Eduardo can play that game because they didint play the home, or at least Arshavin wasn't an Arsenal Player then.

I totally agree about wut u said about Eboue, He was a splendid defender who when moved to a attackin position sucked big time.

hopefully we would wake up and get us a chance in the fa and champions league! well hopefully win it so we can garantuee a ticket next year in the bloody League.

I really do think that Arsenal Would rule the rest of the season whenever the injured lads are back.!

with love from Saudi arabia !

Eliot

Posted on 10 Feb, 2009 at 01:54 PM - Reply

Unfortunately, regardless of fitness, Arshavin is ineligible to play against Cardiff City in the F.A. Cup 4th round replay because he was signed after the original tie.

He will, however, be eligible for the fifth round should we beat Cardiff City.

Ab5

Posted on 10 Feb, 2009 at 01:38 PM - Reply

Arshavin isnt avaliable for the match against Cardiff as he didnt play in the last game against them.

melbourne gonar

Posted on 10 Feb, 2009 at 01:11 PM - Reply

Arsharvin is inelligible for the cardiff game since he was registered after the first match

sulazu

Posted on 10 Feb, 2009 at 12:55 PM - Reply

Agreed with you on Eboue being an accident waiting to happen. I hope Wenger listens to the words of reason & reconsider his unnecessary smoldering of a player in Eboue's calibre. You may not be aware of the fact that Arshavin will not make his debut against Cardiff as we are told because he isn't an Arsenal player before the 1st encounter. I pray all our players including Eduardo come back from the international break fit for the FA tie against Cardiff.

Ryan

Posted on 10 Feb, 2009 at 11:07 AM - Reply

Arshavin can't play due to him not being an arsenal player when Cardiff V Arsenal was first played

Goonerama

Posted on 10 Feb, 2009 at 10:28 AM - Reply

Great Article, Though I was informed that Arshavin wasn`t eligible for the Cardiff game due to not playing in the previous round?

Suds

Posted on 10 Feb, 2009 at 10:19 AM - Reply

Arshavin can't play v Cardiff as he wasn't registered before the original tie took place and this is a replay of said tie.......however, the sooner Russia's answer to Lionel Messi gets in to our team the better. One; he is utterly brilliant and people will soon realise we have signed a genuine 'special talent'....two; he will keep Ebooooue out. Remember what Beckham got from the nation after a similar flick at a Falklands loser? Well, nobody can tell me that Eboue doesn't deserve derision from our fans over this incident. On this occasion, it is thoroughly deserved. My warped mind thinks AW is keeping him in the public eye as an Arsenal player to keep his value up until we flog him in the summer. Here's hoping!!

Brice

Posted on 10 Feb, 2009 at 09:39 AM - Reply

Good article mate....Arshavin will not be eligible to play Cardiff as he did not play the first leg though! We ll see him after that.

ArsenalQ8T

Posted on 10 Feb, 2009 at 07:18 AM - Reply

Arshavin cant play in the FA Cup replay because he wasnt on the original roster during the first draw. Apparently the rule is if you were not part of the team during the first match you would not be eligable to play in any replay but witll be available vs Burnley should we go through to the 5th round.

Mseiya

Posted on 10 Feb, 2009 at 04:14 AM - Reply

I thought Arshavin is not elligible to play against Cardiff coz he wasn't an Arsenal player during the earlier match with them??

Homer

Posted on 10 Feb, 2009 at 04:02 AM - Reply

Andrey Arshavin is NOT qualified to play the the 2nd leg match agains`t Cadriff as, he wasn`t an Arsenal Player when the 1st Leg match happened.

Jalil

Posted on 10 Feb, 2009 at 03:37 AM - Reply

Arshavin could not play against cardiff because in the first tie he is not an arsenal player yet. Hmm.. I haven't heard of these rule before. Can't wait to see him on the pitch.

imka

Posted on 10 Feb, 2009 at 01:17 AM - Reply

Great article, you've exactly sumed up my thoughts. But i've heard that Arshavin can't be on the line up vs Cardiff because he was not there on the first game, is this wrong ?

Oli

Posted on 9 Feb, 2009 at 10:52 PM - Reply

Totally agree about Eboue. The guy is a joke and an embarassment to the club. Worth pointing out though that as much as I would like to see him play nest week, Arshavin can't play in the game against Cardiff as he was not an Arsenal player at the time of the first game against them in Cardiff. He will be eligible for the next FA cup round if we get through

delboy

Posted on 9 Feb, 2009 at 09:31 PM - Reply

I cant understand how wenger looked at the 'disallowed goal' 3 times yet has'nt seen eboue's petulance once. Stop defending him, he should never play for the arsenal again. Bravo to the the 10 legends. Held on brillantly. They were there for the taking if it was'nt for that clown. Agree with you about song, great game as d.m. I hope a of sign of things to come. By the way arshavin cant play v cardiff, signed after the draw. Shame!!

Andreas

Posted on 9 Feb, 2009 at 08:29 PM - Reply

Good article mate! Hopefully the game yesterday was the last we will see of Eboue, so fed up with him its not funny.
Shame Ade got injured but to be honest he hasnt made an impact in ages so hopefully Eduardo will get the chance instead of Bendtner.
I thought Arshavin couldnt play against Cardiff next week since he didnt play in the first game??

Liibaan

Posted on 9 Feb, 2009 at 07:10 PM - Reply

The EA Cup game is Cardiff and we need Arshavin to be inthe Squad we can not win without Fabregas So Arshavin Is the repalcement Of Him, so Denilson needs more Experiance And Eduardo Must Play that game He is Olso replacement Of Aderbayor

Louis

Posted on 9 Feb, 2009 at 06:32 PM - Reply

I quite agree. He is a liability but with limited options at the moment i don't think wenger had a choice with arshavin not match fit. Unfortunately Arshavin can't against play against Cardiff I heard because players signed in the transfer window cant play in cup replays. hell be eligible for burnley though if we get through.

matty

Posted on 9 Feb, 2009 at 05:46 PM - Reply

Asharvin is ineligible for the cardif game as we signed him after the date of the initial tie. but i hope to see eduardo there.

Mick

Posted on 9 Feb, 2009 at 05:21 PM - Reply

Arshavin can't play in the cup game as he was not an Arsenal player for the original game.

Sam

Posted on 9 Feb, 2009 at 05:02 PM - Reply

Arshavin can not play because he was not at Arsenal when the first game took place. But I hope Eduardo plays though, and FABREGAS AND WALCOTT please return before Roma.And missing Adebayor IS NOT a blessing in disguise. The last two matches without him in league were Man City 3-0 Arsenal and Arsenal 0-2 Villa

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