Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal – 15/08/10 – (Premier League) 16 August, 2010
Posted by lasagnechef in Arsenal News.trackback
So we’re back underway with a new Premier League season and I guess at the end of the day I’m happy with a point. Anfield is always a tricky place to go, it’s one of the hardest opening fixtures I can remember us having and going into the match I probably would’ve taken the draw if it was offered to me.
A lot of the pre-match talk was on who we were actually going to play, with so many injuries already, a couple of players not quite match-fit yet and a goalkeeping dilemma that just wont go away it was anyones guess. Before the match Arsene said whoever he picked in goal would be his no.1 for the season, whether that meant we weren’t signing anyone or not I don’t know but I think a lot of us were worried he would stick Fabianski in nets for the season. In the end he did the right thing starting with Almunia but it was obvious we still need a signing there. With Mark Schwarzer handing in a transfer request and Shay Given set to do the same with Joe Hart being picked this weekend I think we will be close to signing one of the two before the transfer window closes.
The two new additions we have already made had eventful games yesterday. Koscielny and Chamakh can be reasonably happy with their debuts I think, the latter was named Arsenal.com man of the match which I guess was for his part in our goal or for the fact you couldn’t really pick a stand out player yesterday. Koscielny can be happy to for the simple fact he hasn’t got a broken leg. Joe Cole was rightfully sent off just before half time for a wild lunge on our new centre back. I accept that Cole was probably just trying to get a block on the ball but it was ridiculous challenge, especially in that area of the pitch and he was lucky not to have broken Laurent’s leg.
I felt that we made a good start to the season with those first 45 minutes; we had lots of the ball and looked threatening but just lacked that little bit extra in the final third. With Liverpool down to 10 men and some tasty options to come off the bench I fancied us for the second half. However that was all scrapped when Wilshere miscontrolled on the edge of our own box allowing Liverpool in and David N’Gog to make it 1-0 just seconds into the second half.
It galvanized the home side and for a long period we found it hard to break down the 10 men. Wenger finally made some changes bringing on Rosicky and Walcott for Eboue and Wilshere. Eboue looked upset to be taken off but we needed Theo on to threaten Liverpool and Arsene went for a straight swap on the right, as for Jack well his first league start for Arsenal wasn’t his greatest performance, he looked a bit out of his depth but it’s early days for him I’m sure he’ll do much better if selected next week.
I was praying for van Persie to come on and eventually he did with 10 minutes to go. Once all three of our subs had been made we really did look like scoring. Rosicky missed a great chance late on when his quick feet on the edge of the box made room for a shot that looked like it might’ve just been dipping under the bar but Reina made a great fingertip save. It was looking like we were heading for an undeserved opening day loss when in the 90th minute Chamakh rose for header beating Reina to it, the shot hit the post but rebounded back into the Spanish keeper and he embarrassingly fumbled it over the line. There was a few moments of uncertainty whether the referee might give a foul on Chamakh but he saw nothing wrong and the goal stood. What a relief! I know everyone’s said this already but it’s just perfect karma for his part in the Barcelona shirt ‘prank’ on Cesc Fabregas.
In the 5 minutes of injury time we pushed for a winner but I think the draw was a fair result in the end. Debut-boy Koscielny was sent off for a completely undeserved second yellow with a few minutes to go; the ball was kicked up into his arms and there was nothing he could do about it. I don’t know if we can appeal it but I certainly think we should, it was the definition of ball-to-hand. It leaves us very short at the back with a one-match suspension for Laurant, however I guess we can look on the bright side that he’s not out for months with a broken leg. Our only first team centre back is Vermaelen and unless Wenger makes that signing in the next few days we’re going to have to play Song or Nordveit there. Alex Song was on the bench yesterday so maybe he will be alright to start this Saturday, I would be confident with him at the back next week but it doesn’t get away from the fact that we’re desperate for at least one more defender, ideally two.
The match proved that Wenger still has lots of work to do in the transfer market and needs to get it done quickly. I believe Schwarzer could arrive imminently and I’m hoping a top class defender too. We’ve only played one match and we’re already in a crisis with the squad down to the bare bones! Same old Arsenal, we’ve missed you.
Thanks for reading.
Didn’t mention that Arshavin was crap today, never bacjtrack and leave Clichy exposed. But one non-performing player on the day not our problem. The big issue is with AW saying:
AW: “I believe (Manuel) Almunia had a good game today.”
A GK spinning around like a headless chicken flapping 3 times after thin air never reaching a crossed or passed ball – that is a good game ???
Arsene, please don’t f**k up our season again, for the entire football world it is obvious that we nee a GK (topdraw) and 2 CB’s (recognized ones). We don’t need Aluminium, we need steel in the back.
Send Alu and Flappy to the Championship.
Enjoy the positives from the match mate…………try, u might enjoy the game more!
new season,same shit!
Sagna was sayin a week or so ago that we need to cut out the mistakes at the back
What a fucking joke! flapper almunia will cost us any chance of the league before the end of september, its not his inability to defend a near post but the fact that his confidence is shot. I cannot believe Wenger cant see it, its glaringly obvious to most Arsenal fans as well as EVERY pundit and journo that knows anything about football. We will win fuck all with almunia, eboue,diaby, bendtner, song and denilson. Nothing stood out from that match yesterday and that was with every flare player we posses bar fab on the pitch, and we played against 10 men for the second half. We are already another centre half down and we have only played 1 game! Giving Wenger another contract is shortsighted in the extreme.
….. and as for chambolikh… free transfer, say no more!
WENGER, BUY SOME QUALITY!!!
fuck you
Andrei Arshavin once smashed four past Pepe Reina at Anfield. On Sunday he was running through custard, a pudding of a player unrecognisable from the eel that electrified during that unforgettable eight-goal draw. Arsenal were the better, more composed side when the contest was even. With a man advantage for the whole of the second half, they surrendered the initiative. The loss of Joe Cole galvanised Liverpool, who are supposed to be the club in crisis.
Wenger was a butter-fingered fumble from explaining away a three-point deficit to Chelsea on the opening weekend. Until Reina’s mistake in the final minute the Liverpool goalkeeper had been stretched only by Rosicky. Wenger joked that he would know when it was time to go. He won’t. They never do. Ask Fabio Capello.
Wenger is in the minds of most untouchable. I have proclaimed his genius many times. But batteries run out of juice. It is only one game. One would ordinarily resist the rush to judge. His problem is the zero in his account since 2005. Arsenal scored six on the opening day on Merseyside a year ago and came up short. Here they almost started in reverse.
anything MUST be done to stop all the rich c*nts buying up all the tickets! We need a better home support, why are we only well supported away ffs!! Because the people who go to home games are pricks who like to ponder on the game, probably complain a lot and dont make any noise! We need an atmosphere ffs!! And the worst thing is these ppl wont just say ” oh i guess it would be better for the team so i’ll give up the ticket for a true fan” Its infuriating, if u just see the carling cup atmosphere its better then home games against most teams.
Why do fans only show up for big games. We have to turn out in numbers and raise the volume against the likes of wigan and balckburn at home.. What do u guys think could be done about this problem??!!
bob mcnabs cat i have encountered a lot of sad pricks in my lifetime on arsenal blogs, you are amongst the worst. You are letting the team down, the fans down, everyone down, you should just do eeveryone a favor and go under a rock or fuck off to another team. You aren’t wanted here.
Chamakh is quality, he helps with the first goal, and scored against milan, played only 4 games in total (3 of which were pre-season and you already have a name for him. Bloody hell have a bit of patience will you, u fake fan..you arent wanted here or anywhere piss off
Zap
you really are a fucking moron who season after season taks bollocks about what arsenal are going to win!
“chamakh is quality”, you turd!
Ive followed the gunners since 1970 not the ten years youve been in shorts! Ive seen some dross at Arsenal and most of it has been over the last 3 years, please tell me which players we have got that would walk into any top team in europe?
your just another spotty yoof who has been sucked in by the bullshit wenger and the board spin season after season. As long as Arsenal keep laying the golden egg of champs league football you will be happy…………prick!