By 1970’s Gooner
Eduardo spoke after Croatia’s game against Romania where he capped a very good performance with the assist for Nico Kranjkar’s winner.
"What can I say. I am overjoyed that I came back. I am glad that the fans and you journalists could see that I had no fear”.
He did admit though that he was apprehensive before the game:
“Before the game I felt a little fear, excitement in the stomach, but I think that was good. I think this we will certainly help me when I play for Arsenal. I am extremely happy that my coach gave me the opportunity to play”.
“There is a lot of competition in the attack now. Petric and Olic are in great shape and this can only be positive” Eduardo said.
Provides an independent, analytical and mature approach to Arsenal's games and related issues.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Player analysis and ratings vs Spurs
By 1970’s Gooner
Almunia
Made only mistake which he tends to repeat in many games. His timing and positioning when he comes out for the crosses is suspect. Robbie Keane failed to score luckily enough.
Other than that Almunia was calmness personified. He collected from corners well and took the pressure off his beleagured defenders and crowned a very good performance with a last minute save when Modric was clean through. Just what our players were doing committing themselves to a corner kick the other end is beyond me! 8
Sagna
Kept to his duties well but did not venture forward much. When he did his crosses were not very good often hitting the defender. Yet it was defending that was needed and this he did well. 7
Clichy
I felt that he was not at his best in this game and also during the last few games. He looks tired and Lennon did go past him on some occasions. When Wenger made the switch and put Van Persie in the midfield on the left hand side leaving Bendtner alone up front the team regained its balance and Clichy had more needed support. 6
Gallas
A solid performance. Kept Pauvlichenko in check and was always well positioned to defend with strength and determination. 7
Toure
I felt that he was tentative in his heading especially in the first half. He tends to head the ball almost upwards rather than forward. This tends to put the rest of the defence under pressure because it is anybody’s ball when he does that. He did defend very well in the second half when we were under pressure. I am more in favour of Djourou starting games. 6
Song
One of his better games for Arsenal especially in the second half when he only had to defend and destroy. Broke up a lot of the Spurs attacks and did the job of two men really as his other half in the middle of the pitch was nowhere to be found. 8.5
Denilson
Probably had his worst game for Arsenal. Couldn’t tackle couldn’t pass the ball with any accuracy and couldn’t make any telling contribution at all. Why oh why does Wenger insist with him I will never know. 4
Narsi
Was lively in the first half but faded in the second. He did come in the middle and helped crowd the space up and at least he is not wasteful in possession. 5.5
Eboue
Brainless. He did have a good first 15 minutes running through and creating some dangerous situations but those two yellows were indefensible. 3
Adebayor
Useless. Lethargic. Uninterested. His injury is a blessing in disguise. 4
Robin Van Persie
Quality. The only player that played with determination, commitment and purpose. He also performed quite well when asked to fill in the middle areas of the pitch. 8
Bendtner
He needs to play with more concentration and use his head rather than let his enthusiasm take over. We were after all playing with 10 men. Yet he did combine well with Van Persie and nearly scored with a thunderous shot that Cuddicini parried away. Will Wenger trust him now that Adebayor is out? 6.5
Man of the Match: Song and Almunia are very close but I would give it to Song
Almunia
Made only mistake which he tends to repeat in many games. His timing and positioning when he comes out for the crosses is suspect. Robbie Keane failed to score luckily enough.
Other than that Almunia was calmness personified. He collected from corners well and took the pressure off his beleagured defenders and crowned a very good performance with a last minute save when Modric was clean through. Just what our players were doing committing themselves to a corner kick the other end is beyond me! 8
Sagna
Kept to his duties well but did not venture forward much. When he did his crosses were not very good often hitting the defender. Yet it was defending that was needed and this he did well. 7
Clichy
I felt that he was not at his best in this game and also during the last few games. He looks tired and Lennon did go past him on some occasions. When Wenger made the switch and put Van Persie in the midfield on the left hand side leaving Bendtner alone up front the team regained its balance and Clichy had more needed support. 6
Gallas
A solid performance. Kept Pauvlichenko in check and was always well positioned to defend with strength and determination. 7
Toure
I felt that he was tentative in his heading especially in the first half. He tends to head the ball almost upwards rather than forward. This tends to put the rest of the defence under pressure because it is anybody’s ball when he does that. He did defend very well in the second half when we were under pressure. I am more in favour of Djourou starting games. 6
Song
One of his better games for Arsenal especially in the second half when he only had to defend and destroy. Broke up a lot of the Spurs attacks and did the job of two men really as his other half in the middle of the pitch was nowhere to be found. 8.5
Denilson
Probably had his worst game for Arsenal. Couldn’t tackle couldn’t pass the ball with any accuracy and couldn’t make any telling contribution at all. Why oh why does Wenger insist with him I will never know. 4
Narsi
Was lively in the first half but faded in the second. He did come in the middle and helped crowd the space up and at least he is not wasteful in possession. 5.5
Eboue
Brainless. He did have a good first 15 minutes running through and creating some dangerous situations but those two yellows were indefensible. 3
Adebayor
Useless. Lethargic. Uninterested. His injury is a blessing in disguise. 4
Robin Van Persie
Quality. The only player that played with determination, commitment and purpose. He also performed quite well when asked to fill in the middle areas of the pitch. 8
Bendtner
He needs to play with more concentration and use his head rather than let his enthusiasm take over. We were after all playing with 10 men. Yet he did combine well with Van Persie and nearly scored with a thunderous shot that Cuddicini parried away. Will Wenger trust him now that Adebayor is out? 6.5
Man of the Match: Song and Almunia are very close but I would give it to Song
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Arshavin: I’ve learned the wrong language
By 1970’s Gooner
Andrey Arshavin has been taking private English language lessons in the last year in preparation for his eventual move to England.
He has managed to master the language at a fairly adequate level as we have witnessed during his interviews with Sky Television and Arsenal TV. You can watch one of his interviews above.
What he didn’t bargain for however was that all his efforts have gone to waste as to his great amazement hardly anyone speaks English at the Arsenal training ground!
In fact it is French he should have studied not English as he admitted during an interview he gave to a Russian TV station «News»:
“I sat in the (Arsenal) locker room, but there was continuous French, so it generally is a very big problem. But, I hope the language barrier is quickly overcome”!
He should have known better of course as there are only a few British players at any one time on the training ground or in the dressing room. The vast majority of the important players are indeed French or French speakers.
His English of course will help him outside the training ground as he settles down to life in England with his wife and two children.
Andrey Arshavin has been taking private English language lessons in the last year in preparation for his eventual move to England.
He has managed to master the language at a fairly adequate level as we have witnessed during his interviews with Sky Television and Arsenal TV. You can watch one of his interviews above.
What he didn’t bargain for however was that all his efforts have gone to waste as to his great amazement hardly anyone speaks English at the Arsenal training ground!
In fact it is French he should have studied not English as he admitted during an interview he gave to a Russian TV station «News»:
“I sat in the (Arsenal) locker room, but there was continuous French, so it generally is a very big problem. But, I hope the language barrier is quickly overcome”!
He should have known better of course as there are only a few British players at any one time on the training ground or in the dressing room. The vast majority of the important players are indeed French or French speakers.
His English of course will help him outside the training ground as he settles down to life in England with his wife and two children.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
This is what Wenger saw in Arshavin
By 1970’s Gooner
Andrei Arshavin is a typical Wenger player. He is very, very quick, athletic and most of all possesses high technique and ball skills.
He reminds me of Alexander Hleb but without the timidness in front of goal and with a more direct style.
He is a player who hugs the touchline and his pace, devilry and work rate are almost unplayable.
More over he plays with his brain. His through passes, bisecting the opposing defence and playing his on coming forward through as you will see in the above video are exquisite and in true Wengerish style.
Andrei is 27 years old and captain of Russia. He has scored 15 goals for his country in 41 appearances. If he can do that for Arsenal from a wide midfield position he will be a far more effective player than Alexander Hleb!
Andrei Arshavin is a typical Wenger player. He is very, very quick, athletic and most of all possesses high technique and ball skills.
He reminds me of Alexander Hleb but without the timidness in front of goal and with a more direct style.
He is a player who hugs the touchline and his pace, devilry and work rate are almost unplayable.
More over he plays with his brain. His through passes, bisecting the opposing defence and playing his on coming forward through as you will see in the above video are exquisite and in true Wengerish style.
Andrei is 27 years old and captain of Russia. He has scored 15 goals for his country in 41 appearances. If he can do that for Arsenal from a wide midfield position he will be a far more effective player than Alexander Hleb!
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Arshavin misses Arsenal medical due to London traffic jam
By 1970’s Gooner
Arshavin is in London and doing well.
There has been a lull of information coming out of either camp with the on going saga of Arshavin’s transfer to Arsenal. Some journalists have even questioned whether Arshavin has actually made his way to London to undergo his medical and sign the transfer papers.
Arshavin was not on the plane with the rest of his Zenit teammates when they returned from their winter tour of the Arab Emirates. He took a different route but with the same destination: The Emirates in London…
At the arrivals hall at Heathrow airport he was met with the Arsenal representatives but once they boarded the Arsenal mini bus they were stuck in the traffic jam around the airport and elsewhere in London, so the Russian press is reporting.
This meant that they were a number of hours late for their various appointments inclusive of the rigorous and lengthy medical check up that all football players have to go through.
But the good news is that everything is expected to be completed in time by tomorrow Monday 2nd of February when the transfer window closes.
Arshavin is in London and doing well.
There has been a lull of information coming out of either camp with the on going saga of Arshavin’s transfer to Arsenal. Some journalists have even questioned whether Arshavin has actually made his way to London to undergo his medical and sign the transfer papers.
Arshavin was not on the plane with the rest of his Zenit teammates when they returned from their winter tour of the Arab Emirates. He took a different route but with the same destination: The Emirates in London…
At the arrivals hall at Heathrow airport he was met with the Arsenal representatives but once they boarded the Arsenal mini bus they were stuck in the traffic jam around the airport and elsewhere in London, so the Russian press is reporting.
This meant that they were a number of hours late for their various appointments inclusive of the rigorous and lengthy medical check up that all football players have to go through.
But the good news is that everything is expected to be completed in time by tomorrow Monday 2nd of February when the transfer window closes.