Arsenal 1-0 Man City – 25/08/07 – (Premier League) 26 August, 2007
Posted by lasagnechef in Premiership.trackback
So that’s two home wins in two and I call that a great start to the season. We very nearly went unbeaten at home last season and we’ll need to do something like that again to put the pressure on United, Chelsea and Liverpool. Hopefully this time with a few more wins and a few less draws.
It was pretty much the team I expected except Rosicky started ahead of Walcott and an injury before the game to Senderos meant a first appearance of the season for Gilberto who started at centre back. Adebayor was also making his first start of the season alongside Van Persie.
I’ve heard that Phil’s injury is not serious. But if he’s going to miss some game then we’re in serious injury trouble already. Also Sagna picked up an injury yesterday but it seems that’s not too bad either. However it is getting really worrying and I think if Wenger doesn’t make another signing then he’s really running a risk. The Djourou loan was not good for us but I’ve heard that Johann wanted first team football and forced the move to Birmingham.
The first half we were playing really well and had by far the more possession and attacks, the thing we were really lacking were shots to test the ‘keeper. The visitors went closest early on when a Toure error near the halfway line let a City player through. Clichy did well to try and get back but in the end the shot was poor and Almunia wasn’t troubled.
Manchester City’s shooting was consistently bad to be honest. They had a few shots in the first 45 but I don’t remember Almunia having to make a save.
10 minutes before half time we came inches away from opening the scoring. A ball was played along in front of the goal and Van Persie slid in at the far post but couldn’t quite reach it. It was a good first half of football, very enjoyable but I think it’s summed up best by the arsenal.com match report: “creating much, converting nothing”
The second half was a different story though. Man City came out the better side and we didn’t really look organised at all. Adebayor had a chance early on but it was all City for a long period after that. Almunia had to make a decent save to deny the visitors the lead. We just started to get back into the game though and our attacks were awarded with a penalty when Hleb was brought down in the area.
Hleb was getting round the left side of City’s defence and cutting in well but despite the screams of shoot he decided to try and make a difficult pass into the middle every time. It was very frustrating but at least he’d got a penalty from this attack. Despite Gilberto being back Van Persie placed the ball down for the spot kick. It was a poorly taken penalty, along the floor and slightly off centre, if you’re going to put it down the middle you’ve got to get a little bit of height on it. Schmeichel saved with his legs and it was still bloody 0-0.
The young ‘keeper was getting taunted with “Ian Wright Wright Wright” chants but I don’t really think that bothered him, he was having another great game and made two great saves from Van Persie and Fabregas before the goal went in with 10 minutes to go; Cesc got himself into a similar position on the right wing as Hleb was doing but this time instead of trying a stupid pass Cesc did shoot, and did score. He hit it high into the top of the net, sort of similar to RVP’s goal in the Emirates Cup.
Eduardo could’ve made it two late on but I don’t think he realised how little time you get in the English league. Also Schmeichel came up for a late corner at the end that Almunia caught, he could’ve thrown it out and we could’ve scored on the counter but he put it out for a throw because Flamini was down injured.
Anyway, we won 1-0, that’s three points. Performance overall wasn’t great but that doesn’t matter. A few players didn’t look very fit or on form but I’m really not bothered because we won. We face Sparta on Wednesday now, a vital game. more on that to come. Thanks for reading.
It’s always like this after internationals. All teams are not at their best. We played poorly, City were worse in front of goal, it would have been another story had they been more clinical. I don’t think the Kasper kid is the answer to their goalkeeping problems, he flapped at crosses and was not very convincig on his line. City should find another keeper. Dunn and Richards just didn’t allow us time to shoot.
Arsenal are a bit of a second team to me, being a city fan. Im glad it was you lot who took our record away. Agree, kasper is not the long term answer, but, he is well protected. I dont think arsenal will have many problems this season, seems to me to be a confidence thing and yesterday will have boosted that severely. Good luck for the next couple of years then we will be up there hopefully, then the sentiments will have to be lost.
i still feel that penalty deserved a retake as schemeichel was out a couple of feet .. but anyways, it was a poorly taken penalty .. full points to fabregas though .. he persisted and got the goal he deserved … a good win after all .. it was good to see adebayor after a while ..
btw. .. . m gonna put up the highlights for ppl to watch .. just check my blog in a few minutes …
Rumours going around that Urby Emanuelson from Ajax could be on his way to arsenal. Good thing is he can play as a left winger.
A guy says he´s just seen Dejan Stankovic given a tour of the Emirates but I don´t think It´s true. He´s bllody old, 28 !
Nice write up Chef.
Djourou needs to play (OK, he’s out injured at the moment but that could have happened at Arsenal too). He has Toure, Gallas, and Senderos ahead of him in the centre back pecking order, and half a dozen players ahead of him for the role of defensive midfielder which he covets. The loan move makes sense for him. He will be a better player when he returns in January.
Aparently an Ajax winger is on trial with Arsenal, hope he´s very good and gets signed !
Got to congratulate you Arsenal Guys, found you a friendly good natured bunch before and after the match.Understand your football as well which makes a change from the bufoons we are stuck with in Stretford.
Enjoyed the trip, enjoyed the crack, your stadium is almost as good as ours but you cant have everything !
We did not expect a win either it was just a jolly but we had you twitching in the last few minutes, just wait till we have a full 11.
Thanks again, found you as a fan base civilised and deserving respect.
[...] Arsenal 1-0 Man City – 25/08/07 – (Premier League) [image] So that’s two home wins in two and I call that a great start to the season. We very nearly went unbeaten […] [...]
I could not understand why so many of you are criticising Wenger on his decision to loan out Djourou. It is so clear and simple that he is giving the lad a chance to play so that he will be ready when Toure goes to Africa in January. He will come back a better and with more experience, especially under Bruce.
[...] The Cannon Manchester City’s shooting was consistently bad to be honest. They had a few shots in the first 45 but I don’t remember Almunia having to make a save. The second half was a different story though. Man City came out the better side and we didn’t really look organised at all. [...]
I seriously love that some of the most popular blogs on wordpress are EPL blogs……thats awesome!
http://www.drunkenpanda.com
Do you know where I can reach Spanish Fry and his blog? I’ve lost him, please help.
I’m optimistic after the Man City game. Almunia looked way better than Lehmann, and the goal from Cesc was great. Now as players like Rosicky, Eduardo and Adebayor start coming into form, we should start seeing some thrashings.
Ade will never come into form that’s the way plays all the time, missing chances upon chances. Seems like he shoots with his eyes closed. He will miss tons before he scores one. He has to perform though this year ‘cos this is his third season and he’s not delivered more than 17 goals for us. Some of us are getting frustrated with his constant misses.
lay off ade. no, he’s never going to be a prolific scorer, but he does a ton of work that our team needs. he’s holds the ball up way better than van persie. and he really torments defenders.
true, he was a little off last game, but he’s been out for awhile. frankly, I’d rather have him on our team than on an opposing team.
Adebayor needs to do the good stuff that he does, as outlined by sanfrangoon, but he also needs to chip more goals, as suggested by Howard. He’s got to be good for 10 league goals, and he has to be setting up Rosicky and Van Persie on a regular basis. He’s a very useful player when he’s in form.
Howard, perhaps Ade has taken on Baptista’s mantle from last season? LOL
On a serious note, i do feel that our attack is a bit thin. Other than RVP there isn’t really a striker we have who has proved himself as a good regular scorer of goals. I’m hoping that once Eduardo has adjusted to the pace of the Premiership, he’ll fix that.
Adebator is shit, yes he tries, but he is still shit. He has to have the weakest shot I have ever seen on a striker and as for people saying he holds the ball up well, sorry but I have to strongly disagree. Shearer held the ball up well, Viduka holds the ball up well, but when the ball hits Adebayor in the chest it dosnt drop at his feet, it pings off him and he has to run 10 or 15 yards to get it back. He has been in this country now for over a full season and has not improved one bit. I can live with players who maybe are not as gifted as others, but they have to give 100% and Adebayor dosnt (in my opinion) Why is it that every time he gives the ball away he smiles? what the fuck is there to smile about? I know he scored against Man U last season – anyone care to count the number of chances he missed?
I think that our front 2 should be Van Persie and Eduardo – Bendtner to get 20 – 25 minutes a game and Walcott to play up front more often.
[...] Lehmann had been dropped for our next game against Man City, Almunia got the start and we ran out 1-0 winners. That was the beginning of the end for Jens [...]