Barnet 0-2 Arsenal – 14/07/07 – (Friendly) 15 July, 2007
Posted by lasagnechef in Friendlies.trackback
It was quite strange going back to see Arsenal again. It’s only Barnet but I had been looking forward to this game for a little while just for the fact I would be back in the stands watching and supporting Arsenal again. It was quite a strong starting line-up: Almunia, Toure, Clichy, Flamini, Denilson Walcott, Adebayor and Van Persie all started and I thought we could be in for a thrashing, but after a few minutes of the game you could tell it was a typical pre-season friendly and this was actually the first game of football these players have played since May.
I was in the North Terrace and behind the goal were a group of fans singing so I thought I’d squeeze my way over there. At points they would sing some quite racist songs about Tottenham, I didn’t join in but to be honest with you I didn’t really mind the singing. I know it’s all a joke and they don’t actually mean the things they say but I can very much see how inappropriate the songs are. One Gooner turned round and said something about them singing these songs, which resulted in a big squaring up. Wasn’t nice but in the end they ignored each other.
It was great to see the boys back in action on the pitch, especially Robin Van Persie, it’s too early to talk of performances but you could definitely see that bad injury he got last year was not hindering his play whatsoever. Also he did make quite a few good shots, flicks, displays of skill and good through balls; 07/08 could be a very good season for Robin.
The first goal came after 18 minutes from a corner. Van Persie took it and it came in low to Walcott who played it into the danger area. Adebayor was there to stick the ball in the back of the net and it was 1-0 to the Arsenal. The goal was scored down the other end of the pitch in a crowed area so it was quite hard to see exactly what went on, and I haven’t seen a replay since. We’d got our first goal and that’s all that mattered.
Barnet came vary close to scoring a few minutes later. A loss in concentration in the Arsenal defence and the home striker was through on goal. The real slim shady Almunia did really well to come out and block the shot. A great save; it could’ve very easily been 1-1 at this point.
We should’ve scored again before half time, the closest effort was Van Persie’s header, which came off the underside of the bar and bounced out. Anyway half time came and we were 1-0 up. At the break we made 6 changes, Almunia, Gilbert, Clichy, Song, Randall and Van Persie all came off to be replaced by our new ‘keeper Fabianski, new 16-year-old defender Nordtveit, Traore, Gavin Hoyte, Gibbs and Barazite. A slightly weaker side now but we still had Toure, Walcott and Adebayor remaining from the first half.
We had a few more decent chances in the opening stages of the second half but nothing too dangerous for the Barnet goalie. However 10 minutes into the second 45 Denilson was tackled badly and was down on the floor for quite some time. Eventually he was stretchered off and it looked like he had suffered quite a bad injury. However later in the game it was announced that the injury was not serious and after the game he was seen walking to bus fine.
Adebayor missed a good chance to double the lead but not long after, half time substitution Nacer Barazite did just that with a brilliant goal in the 66th minute. He charged into the box but was getting pushed away from goal giving him a difficult angle to finish from, forcing him to cross. However he turned and powered a shot into the top corner of the net. It was unstoppable for the Barnet ‘keeper and that was 2-0 to Arsenal.
Just after that we made another round of substitutions: Toure, Walcott and Adebayor came off to be replaced by Paul Rogers, Merida and Rui Fonte. I don’t really remember the rest of the game to be honest. Not a lot happened really but I was distracted by the funniest thing in the crowd. That group of fans I said I was with sarcastically cheered the announcement that Paul Rogers had come on and for the remainder of the game we sang as many songs we could think of about the young defender. There was a bit of confusion as to who we were looking out for when we sang ‘Rogers give us a wave’, but he eventually did. It had me in hysterics.
The atmosphere was all ruined at the end when the two who were arguing about the racist songs got into a bit of handbags. In all it was a good day out, 2-0 the final score but really I just came to see the Arsenal boys back in action. Sorry about the poor quality of match report, it’s hard to do with these sort of games but there you go.
Just a quick mention of some individuals: Fabianski had a good debut with a clean sheet and made a few stops when needed. He seems a bit of a Lehmann character that doesn’t mind coming out of his box a bit to stop the ball. A few crazy moments but he’ll be pleased with the clean sheet. Walcott had a good game, his pace was way too much for the Barnet defence. Also he was getting quite involved in the game giving 100%. At one point he was tackled quite badly and went on a bit of a tackling rampage, which was quite amusing but was all in good spirit. Van Persie who I mentioned earlier had a good first half, a player who I’m very exited to see next season. Nacer Barazite will be please with his goal but I think we had quite a good 45 minutes, maybe one for the future.
There were no poor performances; it was just your average pre-season friendly. The next game is on Thursday against Genclerbirligi in our Austrian tour.
Thanks for reading.
Good Match report analysis by the way.
Fabianski
Sagna Toure Gallas Clichy
Helb Fabregas Gilberto Rosicky
Du Du Van Persie
My Carling Cup and FA Cup Squad
Lehmann
Eboue Senderos Djourou Flamini
Walcott Denilson Diaby Ljunberg
Bendtner Adebayor
My Subtitute and Youth Team
Almunia
Hoyte Connolly Nordtveit Traore
Van De Borg Merida Barazite Randall
Fonte Simpson
As for New Signing :
We already have bought
Nordtveit
Gilles Sunu
Fabianski
Sagna
Du Du
We have spend approx of 20million for all this player.
But I am looking forward to one more signing, once we get rid of reyes, which would be a left winger for the team.
Henri landsbury also came on yesterday and looked very accomplished in the middle of the park
Only 1 englishman in the first 22 and none in the first 11…!
Can’t we sell Gallas and import some stout defender in the Sol mould?
that was a great perfomance and I must say the new away kit is fantastic.
Is Rodrigo Palacio about to sign for Arsenal? Not sure if Arsenal are serious about this player.
http://highbury1913.blogspot.com/2007/07/is-rodrigo-palacio-about-to-sign-for.html
If Palacio were signed might that signal some intent from Wenger to enter into a new tactical era?
The board (and Wenger) have said in the past that they want the spectacle at the Grove to offer the most attacking and exciting football in the country (in order to justify the highest gate receipts).
With Van Persie, Adebayor, Eduardo, Palacio, Bendtner and Walcott al qualifying for striker status; and with Fabregas, Diaby, Denilson, Gilberto, Flamini, song, Hleb, ljunberg and Rosicky all playing central or preferring to cut inside, might our attacking lineup at the grove look more like this next season?>>>
…………………………….Lehmann………………………
Sagna…………..Toure……….Davies(maybe, hopefully)………Clichy
…………………………………Gilberto…………………………………….
……………………..Fabregas……………………………………………….
Van Persie……………………Adebayor………………Rosicky…………
………………………..Dudu or Palacio…………………………………….
So 4-2-4 or 4-1-1-3-1 depending on how you look at it. Then when necessary switching to the defensive:
……………………………..Lehmann…………………………
Sagna…………….Toure……………Davies……………….Clichy
Eboue………..Fabregas……….Gilberto……….Diaby……….Flamini
…………………………Adebayor/Dudu/Palacio/VP……………….
It was those Red Action muppets singing the racist songs. All they do is sing about Tottenham. They are a bunch of sad hypocrites that are hated by the majority of gooners who go to home & away matches.
Oi Jeff
your defensive squad has 14 players in it?
Oi 3rd Gen Goon
My defensive lineup has 11 players in it 4-5-1: with a choice of Adebayor OR Dudu OR Palacio OR Van Persie up front, depending on quality of opposition – whether you want someone like Adebayor to hold up the ball, or a lightning poacher to run onto Fab’s and Rosicky’s through-balls, something Walcott would be able to do as well if keeps improving;)
Jason Puncheon for Barnet was man of the match and i think we were given a tougth match, walcotte showed glimses of class in second half
Jeff,
Arsenal fans support Arsenal FC and its players, not just the English players.
By the way Mark Randall, Theo Walcott, Henry Lansbury, Gavin Hoyte, Paul Rodgers, Kieran Gibbs are all English players.
Like Arsene Wenger mentionned in numerous interviews (especially the French l’Equipe and TPS), building a new academy takes time. If you start at an earlier age than before (8-9 years), it takes 8-10 years before you can see the quality of your coaching emerging.
The current crop of 18-20 years old academy players (formed at the club) are not very good, however the next crop 16-18 are really exciting.
Walcott, Traore, Denilson, Merida, Van den Berg were brought in, but their initial formative years were spend away from Arsenal.
The first real crop of academy players will be regular first team players in 3-4 years, Henry Lansbury, Gavin Hoyte, Mark Randall.
The arrival of Sagna means that we can play 4-4-2 or 4-5-1 without having a narrow midfield. Eboue playing on the right of midfield and staying near the touch line to cross.
In the French newspaper, it was indicated that Dudu was likely to be deployed on the left. I do not know if it is some deduction from the journalists or some leaked information from Arsenal.
Also Flamini was hoping to go to Juventus when Deschamps was their manager, but the only team who came for him this season was Birmingham. Flamini and his agent have been less than impressed by the quality of the team inquiring about his availibility.
My team would be:
——————-Lehman—————-
Eboue—— Toure—— Gallas———Clichy
———-Gilberto——-Fabregas———–
V.Persie——————————Rosicky
———–Dudu———-Adebayor———
Sub: Sagna, Walcott, Hleb, Fabianski, Diaby
Denilson, Bendtner, Almunia, Hoyte, Djourou, Senderos, Would challenge the bench.
We should play 4-4-2 in every game, home and away. 4-5-1 just does not work for a sweet footballing team without the pace of Henry. Even before last season opposition in most games was just not giving the Gunners the room to exploit his pace. But we can still pass the ball forward better than any other team in the EPL.
With 2 up front the chances are more likely to be converted.
Valentin – I support all the players at Arsenal FC and I disgaree with the xenophobes who say that English players are more loyal. One need only contrast Cole with Fabregas. I think having a cosmopolitan team is a great thing indeed.
However, with the purchase of Sagna we know that will effectively decrease Hoyte’s chances of regular first team action.
As for Lansbury, Rodgers, Randall et al. we’ll have to wait and see. I think Wenger is more tolerant of big egos than people suggest, but I think the problem with English players at English clubs is that they are less patient than their foreign couterparts who are delighted to be given an opportunity, whereas English players (at Arsenal) in recent years have begun to feel some sense of entitlement by virtue of their nationality. When it doesn’t happen for them Arsene is quick to sell them on.
Having such a diverse mixture of players is good, but I wish we had more English players who were good enough for the first team now, if only to prepare to satisfy future European regulations regarding native player quotas.
Cesc embodies Arsenal as much as Gerrard embodies Liverpool. but I’m sure even he would acknowledge that it’s desirable to have some native players in your first 20 at any club!
reyes sent back to arsenal.”Despite the global warming England is still not warm enough for him.” That one made me laugh. Good ol’ Arsene still knows how to crack a good joke. I actually really want reyes to remain with us, maybe we could build him an indoor village thats above 30 degrees celcius all year round
So what are these racist songs.
We hate Tottenham
My old man
One man went to? (I never sang this one. agree very sick)
All these songs were sung on the old North Bank. When real fans used to go to games & did not expect us just to turn up & turn other teams over. Boo their own players for drawing with WBA. Spurs fans use the y word. Spurs hate us more than we hate them.
Just watch an old re-run of the 81 & 82 cup finals. All their fans could do was sing nasty anti Arsenal songs (which were repeated to me over & over again at school the next day).
I’m not & never was a hooligan. But when stood in the north bank I was passionate & I swore but so did the rest of the north bank.
When the players came out of the tunnel every player had his own song. If the away fans started chanting then they were soon shouted down. Normally sarcastically with cat calls & whistles. If any away fan dared bring a flag. Then that was met with chants of who’s the wanker with flag. Near the end of the game if Arsenal were winning then we’d sing bye bye teams name second chorus was fuck teams name. Yes I did fuck off early. Only if we were comfortable or there no way back for us. Thats because of the tubes nothing else.
If the away team had any slapheads playing for them then they were greeted with the chant whats it like to have no fuckin hair.
If their striker missed a sitter then that was greeted by you could’nt score in a brothel chants. Arsenal fans have lost their backbone because real fans have been priced out or like me can’t get hold of a ticket for love nor money.
I was an Arsenal regular both home & away between 84-92. I stopped going cause of Thatcher(poll tax, high interest rates,all seater stadiums) I can honestly say that I never saw any trouble at any Arsenal games. In fact nine times out of ten you’d be drinking with Chelsea, West Ham fans or who ever was playing at home that day. (normally at the hole in wall pub just outside waterloo station on the way home).
It really fucks me off to hear other fans chant sit down you peadophile & for those cunts from Chelsea to march around our pitch like they fuckin own it. THIS IS THE ARSENAL HOW FUCKIN DARE THEY.
Having said all that.Arsenal fans have always been fickle. I would say that even in the 80′s we had the most intelligent (still have fans) but sadly we don’t seem to be passionate anymore. Rather than get behind the team when we need to. The fans at the grove show their frustration at every move that breaks down or every chance we miss. And that sadly gets through to the players. If Arsenal go a goal down then you expect them to bounce back 2 down the players & fans heads drop. It never used to be like that.
80s Gooner I totally agree with you.
By the way the songs were about jewish people and about the nazis.
As I have said on other Arsenal blogs, as a Brentford supporter with NO expectations I believe Arsenal fans suffer from glass half empty syndrome. Wenger has overachieved in his time at Arsenal competing and beating Utd was a phenomenal acheivement. He is rebuilding with one hand tied behind his back. I wish he would put his talent to use bringing through more English talent but it’s not his fault there aren’t enough talented English kids.
If Arsenal make top four this year and have a run in a cup it’s a result compare his spending with Utd down to Villa. Get behind your team and stop fucking moaning.
There are more Arsenal blogs than any other team, you are obviously intelligent people, get some perspective and look at whats good about your team.
http://daverossfootball.wordpress.com/
Can i just say that Reyes has been sent back to Arsenal… No deal was worked out…
My team:
Lehman
Eboue Toure Gallas Clichy
Gilberto
Cesc Hleb
Van Persie Da Silva Rosicky
The Cannon is a great blog. I love the match reports for games like this pre-season game and for reserve games; it’s hard to find much coverage of these games and this blog has come through lots of times. Thanks.
433,
You especially enjoy my contribution though, dont you ass wipe
Rodrigo Palicio rumours abound everywhere. This move surprises me a bit but I think Arsene knows we need one more striker. its typical in a way cos everyone thought it would be Martins. Instead its a Boca Juniors centre forward! 15 million apparently with medical possibly on Tuesday. Mental
Rumours from a Boca blog, taken up by the sun as an exclusive. No confirmation on us even being interested never mind agreeing a fee. But then again thats the way Eduardo signed, kinda!
yeah exactly, hopefully some more clarity tomorrow. As always the club wont confirm until he has actually signed so no chance of hearing anything from the arsenal end
Wenger said on saturday he doesnt feel he needs another signing yet
he also said Freddie wasnt going yet , but if he does he will surely make another signing…….
lasagnechef,
But then wenger said on sunday his balls where itching uncontrollably.
if this palacio rumour is true then i’m worrying because from what i’ve seen of him he doesnt give us anything we havent got already…i thought the whole point was to get something we dont already have i.e power and fight (obafemi martins) wenger will be putting many of our promising strikers in the shade i.e bendtner and walcott if palacio does arrive. I hope n hope n hope it is just a rumour. Especially for 15 million..the man plays in the brazilian league, 25 years old and is behind messi tevez and crespo in the pecking order. I will be highly surprised and extremely dissapointed not to mention worried if we see this dude at the emirates stadium next season.
I have not seen much of this Palacio during the Copa cup, which is a bit of a concern if we are going to sign him. I know Wenger normally buys players that we have heard little about, but at 25 years old you would like to think he is holding down a regular international spot.
With Vela due back in January and reports that we have not yet sold Reyes (or been able to agree a price) we face the prospect of going into the new season more top heavy than Dolly Parton. On another note, has anyone heard if we have def signed Yago Fernandez and Giles Sunu yet, they were both meant to be done deals but I have not seen anything concrete yet.
Palacio, what a crock of chit. Fucking press
80′s Gooner your bang on, to be honest I do shout and scream my head off at times but I am one of a few at our new ground. I cant stand sitting anywhere in the upper tear, I dont see why somebody would pay to go football and sit and watch it in silence?It doesn’t make sense, thats why we have Match Of The Day. I think some of us need to get off our ar$es, stop having a go at somebody swearing or actually getting passionately involved in what they f*cking love. If you want all that go and sit in the family stand (especially if you have kids) or in the upper teir.
For some of us it means more, it aint just on a saturday its work, its 7 days a week, that one day a week is a release.
Lets start showing a bit of pride and respect for what we are, some of ya seemed to be embarrassed and making some noice, I aint saying some of us are better supporters but weve all heard of the 12th man,i cant take it when another club comes with 3000 and takes the mikey at our ground with 60,000 it should happen. WHERE THE FU*K ARE WE!
cAN yOu HeAr Me,
Sorry mate, what was that?
What Im saying bog head is that instead of having a moan when things dont go away at our new ground and instead of sitting in silence for 90 minutes. We need to support our team throughout.
Great blog, really informative piece on Barnet, if your watching a game why not stay in one of the many Barnet hotels.