Heavy touch and stretched for the ball...

Just one week ago Match of the Day neglected to mention Sunderland's Lorik Cana's two footed lunge on Eboue, which garnered a mere yellow card. And one must wonder what the description would have been had Eboue not been so lucky. It's become all to commonplace, these tackles, studs a foot off the ground, ball completely out of reach. It's only news when there's blood.

"Heavy touch and stretched for the ball..." seems to be the consensus about the actions of Ryan Shawcross. Strange how such a disparate group of media conglomerates could happen upon the exact same wording for such a complex passage of play. But I won't indulge myself in a any conspiracy theories. Suffice it to say, I don't blame the player. I blame the culture. And I don't understand why Wenger goes after Shawcross, when it's Shawcross' manager who is at fault. These players act under specific instructions, and its these instructions that allow for such disgusting mishaps to happen. Rest assured no one wanted anyone to get hurt... this seriously.

The last 20 minutes of the weekend's encounter were surely the most dramatic in recent memory. To experience the entire spectrum of human emotions in such a short period of time cannot be healthy, but surely that's why we enjoy football so much. But rather than make grand proclamations about Arsenal's title credentials or sweeping condemnations of this brand of "committed" football, I would just like to draw attention to something I don't think is getting enough coverage, the simple psychological brilliance of Wenger in bringing Eduardo on when he did. To bring on a casualty of a similar situation, so soon after this new incident had occurred, was certainly a risk. The supporters assembled at my pub, myself included, let out a collective groan at the sight of Eduardo readying himself to enter the fray.

How could Wenger even think to allow a player who had suffered such trauma, to enter the scene of such a similar horror? It seemed quite insensitive, comparable to redeploying a soldier suffering from PTSD to the same battle in which their trauma was first experienced. Callous, misguided, surely, for at that moment in time, who cared about football. Supporters and players alike couldnt seem to bring themselves to focus on the football. And when Nasri came off for Eduardo, it seemed a superfluous reshuffle. Afterall, I just wanted that whistle to blow, to go home.

But the story wasn't to end as it did in Birmingham. Within a moment of his introduction, Eduardo had worked his way through on goal. The goal wasn't to be, but it nonetheless reignited a spark in the Arsenal players. Even if only subconsciously, Eduardo reminded us all that there is way back. There is injustice and violence in football. It's not right, but you have to pick yourself up and work your way back. WIth Eduardo as a living testament to the power of perseverance, Arsenal pulled themselves up and avenged their fallen teammate in the best possible way. Not with violence, but with spirit. Eduardo would do well to offer some extra support to Ramsey now, but last night he did what no other player could do. He showed everyone it'll take a whole lot more to beat the Arsenal than merely kicking the shit out of them.

I take my hat off to Wenger for bringing Eduardo on and to Eduardo for being there to help his teammates get on with winning the game.

Name me a better captain.

Name me a squad with more backbone.

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