Blackburn 0-2 Arsenal – 13/01/07 – (Barclays Premiership) 14 January, 2007
Posted by lasagnechef in Premiership.trackback
I was very pleased with the 2-0 win at Ewood Park and the performance yesterday. We won comfortably with 10 men after a stupid sending off with 2 great goals. We started as expected with Van Persie partnering Henry up front and Baptista was on the bench with Adebayor. The game started normally but it became obvious that Blackburn were out to use the usual tactics and try and hurt us. They nearly scored in the 10th minute, Matt Derbyshire had an open header from a corner at the back post but he just steered it wide. It looked like he was going to score and if he’d got better contact on it we’d have been one down early on.
A few minutes later Robbie “I am an absolute cunt” Savage ploughed into Gilberto Silva with intent to hurt him. The Brazilian was knocked off the ball and on the ground and turned round to Savage flicking his boot out at his shin. It was a little tap but Savage hurled himself to the ground like a sniper had taken him out from the upper tier. Gilberto got sent off and Savage got a yellow for the initial challenge. It was a harsh sending off but I suppose he did intend to kick the player, which is a red card offence, we could appeal but it wouldn’t be worth it. He’ll get a 3 match ban now including games against Manchester United and Spurs. I wonder if Diaby is ready enough to step up into his place but I expect Wenger to play it safe with Flamini. Hopefully Baptista doesn’t play there, I think Arsene has realised now that he is actually a striker. So we now had to play the remaining 75 minutes or so with just 10 men.
In fact losing our influential midfielder made us better, we pulled together and got stuck in. I suppose we were angry with the decision and decided to take the punishment out on Blackburn. The referee was a knob about it though, he obviously made these decisions in the game to make a name for himself, get some TV coverage and read his name in the Sunday’s. So I’m not going to give him what he wanted by talking about him. Oh. If the ref was someone like Poll or something he’d of given them both yellows and been respected for seeing the challenge in it’s true light and letting the game flow on with 11 men on each side, he’s usually quite good at that sort of thing.
With 35 minutes gone Blackburn slipped up and Van Persie was through on goal, Lucas Neill brought down the Dutch striker and as the last man you’d think he’d have to be sent off? But no, the yellow card was shown and instead on having Van Persie one-on-one with Friedel or the Blackburn captain sent off we had a free kick about 40 yards out in not a very dangerous position. The referee was starting to show how shit he was but luckily we’ve got Thierry Henry and he turned this nothing free kick into a goal. Toure was making he was up into the box and Henry spotted him by the back post, he whipped an inch perfect ball in for Kolo to head. It hit the inside of the post and went in behind Friedel. I thought that Kolo had hit the woodwork and took a few seconds before I realised we’d scored, I went mad when we did though; I was worried that we were going to lose this game but now we were 1-0 up with 10 men and in a commanding position.
We went in at half time one goal up and you wouldn’t have been able to tell that we were a man down if you’d tuned in late. We were playing quite well but it was the same old story every game: we keep giving the ball away. I don’t know when Wenger is going to sort this out, I’d love to see a stat showing our misplaced passes and losing possession. Every game we do it and sometimes we are lucky the other team don’t score from it. It wasn’t quite so bad as other games but we were still giving it away far too much.
In the 67th minutes Fabregas played a great pass to Van Persie who found Henry outside the box on the left. He took a shot and tried to bend it into the opposite corner. There wasn’t enough curl on the ball and it just went passed the post but Thierry nearly carried on the record of scoring in all of his games after he’s returned from injury.
One minute later Lucas Neill made a good driving run into our box and whipped in a ball across the face of the goal looking for someone to touch it in. It fell to Derbyshire at the back post who again couldn’t quite divert the ball into the net and it ended up going just wide. He stuck out leg rather than going for the diving header and it looks like he made the wrong choice and missed out on the equalizer.
It wasn’t much longer after that we doubled our lead though, a breathtaking goal from none other than Thierry Henry in the 71st minute. It was classic counter attack Arsenal, we were defending a corner and won the ball out wide, Rosicky set Henry free and he could charge down the other end of the field. By the time he’s made it down the wing near the opposite box he had about 3 players around him but with Fabregas they managed to weave their way around them. Thierry played a one-two with Cesc and with the return pass Henry shot first time on the left side of the box with a beautiful bending shot which went exactly in the opposite top corner of the net. Friedel managed to get a hand to it but it was an unstoppable shot. Another Thierry Henry goal to remember and now he’s scored in every game since his return from injury.
4 minutes later Thierry nearly got his second. Henry was alone in the box and Rosicky spotted him playing a great ball in over to him. Henry took it down well on his chest but couldn’t quite shoot quick enough and he was tackled well to save us going 3-0 up. That was it though, 2-0 the final score and a performance we can be very pleased with. You can see the highlights here and it’s definitely worth watching even if it is just to see Henry’s goal.
The low point was Gilberto getting sent off and now missing the league leader’s trip to Ashburton Grove. We can cope without him though and we’re going to have to. However yesterday was all about Thierry Henry, setting up one and scoring one. I leave you with this beautiful image…he’s back.
Nice write-up, but keep losing the ball?? What team are you talking about?
In the first half we were doing it a lot, but weirdly when Gilberto came went off it got better. We probably weren’t that bad but I seem to pick up on every single time we give away the ball.
We only lost the ball when there was no trouble…our passing was great last night…finishing wasnt too sad either
It wasn’t as bad as it usually was and there were loads more examples of good passing than bad. I suppose I’m just picking up on the negatives, a 2-0 win at a place where we often lose with great football and I still moan about our passing, oh well.
Think we will keep the kids and Gilbo against the scum, as manure have no midweek game! If Gilbo is suspended for manure and 2nd spursh game he should start…
———-Almunia
Eboue Djourou Senderos Traore (Gallas if back)
Theo Gilberto Song Denilson
—–Aliardiere Baptista
Everybody purrs on Henry’s goal, but during the rest of the game, he lost an incredible number of balls: mistimed pass, blind pass that could not reach their target.
I believe that Arsene Wenger had the same opinion, as he decided to replace him with Adebayor. Adebayor is much better at holding the ball on his own. Henry is better going forward.
If Gilberto deserved a red card, then Savage too. One yellow for the initial tackle, a second yellow for the attempt to knee Gilberto in the face, and a third one for dissent (pretenting to be seriously injured, before being told by one of his own team mate to get up and stop pretenting).
Tugay was a very lucky boy, as his attack was nowehere near the ball and knee high. Moreover he stepped on both ankle.
Another referee who show his incompetence.
“Traore (Gallas if back)”
Haha! Gallas will always be ‘2 weeks away’. For ever and ever.
Valentin,
Go find someone to lend you a quarter so you can buy a clue.
Henry had a blinder of a game, creating 2 goals and coming close on 2 others. If you actually understood the game, you would realize that strikers and attacking midfielders are going to go for passes that must be inch perfect, because if they set a man free, it can lead to a goal. And goals win games. If Henry had missed Toure by a few feet on his free kick, would you have called it a blind pass or a pass that could not reach his target? Have you ever actually tried kicking a ball 40 yards to someone’s head?
Henry is playing like his old self, and his old self is simply the best striker in the world. Seriously, mate, get a clue.
Lasagne Chef, sad but true!
yeah valentin… I for once agree with the Sky Sports commentators in saying a great player can look all out of the game but produce a moment of magic to literally win the game for the team. Also i dont think Wenger took Henry off because of a bad performace… more like resting him for the upcoming fixtures and to give Ade a run out. Plus he was out of the game mainly because we were soaking up so much pressure kinda like the Liverpool games…
Oh and yes totally agree with the chef.. we give balls away too easily and regularly. Yes Tugay’s challenge on Fab was disgusting.. he’s a decent fella in my opinion but after last night…
Oh, and Chef: Cook something nice up for the Yids prior to our cup-tie with them!!
http://www.soccerblog.com/2007/01/video_thierry_henry_opera_at_a.htm
have a listen to this: should cheer some of you whingers up
I’ve just been looking at photos and stuff from Paris and now I am sad
Started to watch the highlights, I could only manage up to Sol’s goal. Why am I doing this to myself? Absolute torture. First time I’ve watched any of the game since. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to.
I was in Paris for the Final, and I really beleive if Lehman had not fouled and got sent off: we would have won that game…even from 1-0 down. He shouldnt have played cashley either! little cun*
Look forward…we could make it to Athens, and make amends
Yep, i agree to all of that. I didnt get a match ticket though, did you?
Henry still only working his way back to full fitness. By February I would expect him to be operating close to capacity. Right now, he ain’t there and that’s understandable given the past 6 months but the signs are pretty damn good. His control isn’t yet 100% and that miss was a shocker (happens to the best, i.e. him) but to still supply 3 assists and 3 goals in 3 games… Larsson me arse. We owe him one from Paris as well. Except this time he probably won’t be playing against a tired 10 man team in lashing rain – though we did OK that way on Saturday.
Another excellent game for the defence. Senderos looking as good as he was before his difficult second season sydrome – Eboue critics take note… Though Hoyte is playing very well also, along with Clichy. More than ready for United.
I only watched the Barca goals once since the final. Never again. Always stop watching after Sol’s goal. 23rd of May. No if’s or maybe’s. We’ll be there. We’ll win.
Booked the flights then have we John?
It would be something special if we could win this year, I’d want it more than anything.
Look what I made to cheer me up
http://thecannon.wordpress.com/files/2007/01/111.jpg
Nice!
We’re gonna book flights soner rather than later – not waiting to win a semi! Tempt fate and all but the journey to Paris was a fucking nightmare last year. Shouldn’t be as bad this time as less people will make it to Athens.
Arsenal are playing excellent Champions League football right now. In the last three games, there have been 14 shots on target and 11 goals. 2 of those misses were a penalty and the freak Henry miss on Saturday. The defence is soaking up pressure and the attack is finally being clinical. If we can keep the squad fully fit then I genuinely believe we can get at least one trophy. Champions League is the obvious preference. Carling Cup comes a surprise 2nd (the kids beat the yids?! what a chant! and then chelsea too… brilliant!)… but sure i’ll always take an FA cup…
When fab went down after that Tugay fuck stamped on him, my heart was in my mouth. He, at all of 19, may just be our most important player now.
True that about Fabregas, we can’t afford an injury to him. ALthough with Diaby’s return we will have decent cover (I don’t think a Gilberto-Flamini partneriship is at all god enough)
nice image chef!!!!!!!!!…WTF was Sly Stallone doing at rubbishson park????…Cant he just fucking be a gooner??????
Chef: Yes I did get a ticket for Paris on the 2nd ballot. I was trying to upload a pic from the game(it might appear).
Also one more point for us with sour grapes about the final. Henry missed an open goal just before they scored our first. If you look at the stats Henry very rarely scores cutting in from the right flank, and suprise surprise: he was cutting in from the right.
nb: should be: Henry missed an open goal just before they scored their first
we rule
david u git arsenal rule
blackburn 8 is a cunt