Match Reaction: Arsenal 2-0 Middlesbrough
By Karl M. Tinsley
MY 3 STARS
Another day at home!
#1. FRANCESC FABREGAS: So nice to see Emperor Cesc hitting the back of the net again, gives his game a nice bump in confidence right before the big tilt this week with Man Utd.
In the first half he had a couple goregous through balls to pick out Arshavin and Walcott in stride.
The angled ball in traffic to spring Arshavin was a lovely touch and Cesc showed great hustle and determination to follow his pass, get in position and provide Arshavin with an option. The finish was clinically dispatched. In the second half he worked a lovely 1-2 with Eboue on the edge of the 18 yard box that led directly to a scoring opportunity for Walcott.
His goal was beautifully taken as he spied the charging Brad Jones calmly rounded the keeper got his head up and cooly slotted home…MONEY!. Didn’t like seeing him getting chopped down twice early…made me cringe…and wonder why he was being risked…but he got through unscathed and is feeling buoyant now.
#2. ANDRIY ARSHAVIN: Was a constant attacking menace on the pitch today as he did a fantastic job of finding open space on the pitch all match. Nicely timed run to give Cesc a target in the first half, he then pushed the ball aggressively while being smart to stay wide until the 18 yard box and leave channels for his teammates to run into. Liked how he showed great vision and patience as he drew the defenders to him at the edge of the box and cut it back to the driving Cesc…goal!.
Arshavin’s offensive talents are obvious and well documented by now…I am just as impressed with his committment to getting it done on both sides of the ball, getting stuck-in on the tackles and winning 50/50 balls…loving it!. Just needs to be careful not to fall too much in love with his shot and keep his teammates involved.
#3. EMMANUEL EBOUE: In first half he delivered some great surging runs that won FK’s and his dish to Walcott was spot on…unfortunately Walcott had wandered ever so slightly into an offside position. The second half featured a cute 1-2 with Cesc that sprang Eboue into the box where he showed great vision and generosity with his cut back ball to pick out Walcott who delivered a nice strike on net.
The long through ball to Cesc was inch perfect and let the Catalunyan to dance in 1-1 against the keeper and score. His defensive work was OK…just needs to be a little more alert with his man marking and positional awareness. But nothing dangerous came down his right flank all match. Hope Wenger can find away to get Eboue on the pitch at Old Trafford…we need his willingness to run at defenders, penetrate and dish the ball…plus his power and aggressiveness will be needed against Man Utd.
Honorable Mention
THEO WALCOTT: Did a great job getting open and marauding up and down the right flank. Seems to be using his pace much more wisely. Nice to see him getting back deep and defending with passion late in the 1st half and early in the 2nd half. Good one-timer strike on the cutback ball from Eboue…that’s better…make the keeper work. Really like to see him drop his shoulder and take it strong to the net and not settling for blindly squared balls and crosses. He can take Evra to the net if he wants…just needs to watch Aaron Lennon’s work and do the same thing at Old Trafford.
DENILSON: Nothing spectacular good or bad. But i thought he turned in a decent performance defensively that allowed Cesc to roam freely and push up and attack. I do like the fact that Denilson understands that Cesc is “the man” and makes sure to get him the ball at every opportunity and that Denilson keeps his game very simple so as to avoid costly turnovers.
Lemon(s)
NICKLAS BENDTNER: His first half was invisible…zero influence or contribution. Did a better job of getting himself into the match late in the 2nd half when he delivered 2 good hard strikes on net that forced the keeper to make quality stops. But overall it was another precious little performance by the Dane.
KIERAN GIBBS: I have him as a lemon because he continues to get caught way up the pitch again and again at one point he was caught deep in the Middlesborough 18 yard box early in a 0-0 match… if he does that against Man Utd and leaves Djourou or Silvestre exposed against Cristiano then we will be in serious trouble defending Man Utd on the counter-attack. He has gotten away with against Wigan and Middlesborough and to an extent against Liverpool…but Man Utd will be much more ruthless in exploiting it…mark my words. That has got to stop. Just play defence.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Cesc and Arshavin are an offensive juggernaut now!. Clinical display of pass and move football by those two.
I was curious why Wenger would risk Cesc today and not give him a rest. But the 2 goals should give him some jump in his legs going into Manchester mid-week.
Was mystified that Song didn’t get any minutes at all…don’t tell me that means Diaby and Denilson will be starting ahead of him against Man Utd??
Arrrrrrrrrrrgh!
Middlesborough were very slow to the ball all game and in the last 30 minutes they basically gave up.
I hope we didn’t get lulled into a false sense of confidence with our display today. Our passing, movement and physical play will all have to be MUCH more quicker and stronger if we are to handle Man Utd’s ball pressure.
The first 15-20 minutes will be a blitzkrieg…we need to be switched on and ready for it. If we can get through the opening 20 minutes unscathed…I feel very confident we can get a satisfactory result away at Old Trafford.
As Always…
GUNS IN GUNS OUT
Karlos
bendtner zero contribution in the first half?! he was the link man for a number of our chances, and even the goal!!
bendtner zero contribution in the first half?! he was the link man for a number of our chances, and even the goal!!
Song simply must play….also, I share your concern about Gibbs, but I dont share everybodys general concerns about the defence – the CL is the one competition where the entire team works hard defensively, all over the pitch. Arsenal are always tighter, compact and faster to close down in these European matches. A good general synopsis of the boro match I thought too…although I actually thought Gibbs was a lot better in this match, Im not sure if he should be in the lemons section! Im worried about his inexperience against man u but Im going to be optimistic, and say that if he is going to be a great player, then he will rise to the occasion. Also…Rafael wasnt fantastic defensively for them…is he playing on Wednesday?
Song simply must play….also, I share your concern about Gibbs, but I dont share everybodys general concerns about the defence – the CL is the one competition where the entire team works hard defensively, all over the pitch. Arsenal are always tighter, compact and faster to close down in these European matches. A good general synopsis of the boro match I thought too…although I actually thought Gibbs was a lot better in this match, Im not sure if he should be in the lemons section! Im worried about his inexperience against man u but Im going to be optimistic, and say that if he is going to be a great player, then he will rise to the occasion. Also…Rafael wasnt fantastic defensively for them…is he playing on Wednesday?
A…
It was a little blind flick to a heavily marked Cesc. Nicky was plain lucky the ball even found Cesc rather than being gobbled up and turned into a counter-attack by Middlesborough.
It was Cesc’s vision, awarness and passing skill that allowed him to get the ball out of traffic to Arshavin on the wing.
A…
It was a little blind flick to a heavily marked Cesc. Nicky was plain lucky the ball even found Cesc rather than being gobbled up and turned into a counter-attack by Middlesborough.
It was Cesc’s vision, awarness and passing skill that allowed him to get the ball out of traffic to Arshavin on the wing.
what karlos?! it was what bendtner does all the time, he’s got great vision and link up play in those sorts of locations, it was skill, not luck in the slightest! The most important contribution to that goal was the flick by bendtner, everything else was straight forward after that, the only creativity involved was the flick!
what karlos?! it was what bendtner does all the time, he’s got great vision and link up play in those sorts of locations, it was skill, not luck in the slightest! The most important contribution to that goal was the flick by bendtner, everything else was straight forward after that, the only creativity involved was the flick!
Karlos, good stuff fella!
I agree 100%, Song has to play this Wednesday!!!
Thanks for the match reaction..always a good read (not everyone will agree with you but thats part of the job)!
Keep up the good work mate! Cheers!
Karlos, good stuff fella!
I agree 100%, Song has to play this Wednesday!!!
Thanks for the match reaction..always a good read (not everyone will agree with you but thats part of the job)!
Keep up the good work mate! Cheers!
Gibbs is a midfielder turn defender by Wenger. For me, he will slowly but surely improve to be a good defender. In fact, he is now an England under 21 regular left back. It speaks volume how much Gibbs has improved. Give him a break guys, people learn and grow through mistakes. He is still young and teachable.
Gibbs is a midfielder turn defender by Wenger. For me, he will slowly but surely improve to be a good defender. In fact, he is now an England under 21 regular left back. It speaks volume how much Gibbs has improved. Give him a break guys, people learn and grow through mistakes. He is still young and teachable.
dave, the CL is one competition where the entire team works hard defensively all over the pitch?? How about the EPL, FA Cup and Carling Cup? you mean to say they don’t have to? Arsenal are always tigher,compact and faster to close down in these European games then how about other games?
dave, the CL is one competition where the entire team works hard defensively all over the pitch?? How about the EPL, FA Cup and Carling Cup? you mean to say they don’t have to? Arsenal are always tigher,compact and faster to close down in these European games then how about other games?
i agree with u karlos…song should play 100 percent on wednesday.he is a natural ball winner and should start ahead of denilso
i agree with u karlos…song should play 100 percent on wednesday.he is a natural ball winner and should start ahead of denilso
@ arsenekidz
i never said they dont have to – in case you hadnt noticed we have failed in the PL the CC and the FAC…. Arsenal play a much tighter game in the CL no doubt about it, the team is far more cautious in these ties. And rightly so, a tiny error will be punished in the CL. Im not saying we would win if we played tighter in the PL, Im just saying the CL is a different competition, and one in which our tactics and gameplan have worked this season.
@ arsenekidz
i never said they dont have to – in case you hadnt noticed we have failed in the PL the CC and the FAC…. Arsenal play a much tighter game in the CL no doubt about it, the team is far more cautious in these ties. And rightly so, a tiny error will be punished in the CL. Im not saying we would win if we played tighter in the PL, Im just saying the CL is a different competition, and one in which our tactics and gameplan have worked this season.
Loft024…
Thanks for the shout out.
Peace Man.
It’d be boring if we Gooners always agreed.
I prefer the drama of the Gooner camp anyday to the mass cirlce jerking that one finds with the Mancs and Scousers.
Loft024…
Thanks for the shout out.
Peace Man.
It’d be boring if we Gooners always agreed.
I prefer the drama of the Gooner camp anyday to the mass cirlce jerking that one finds with the Mancs and Scousers.
Kidz…
Just pointing out his penchant for getting caught up the pitch and that against Man Utd and Cristiano in particular…that will be punished severely.
I guarantee Man Utd have spotted it and their counter-attacks will be played down the left flank to Cristiano who will be lurking at the halfway line.
Not throwing Gibbs under the bus or slagging his talents…he just needs to curb his attacking instincts for these Man Utd matches and stay back.
Kidz…
Just pointing out his penchant for getting caught up the pitch and that against Man Utd and Cristiano in particular…that will be punished severely.
I guarantee Man Utd have spotted it and their counter-attacks will be played down the left flank to Cristiano who will be lurking at the halfway line.
Not throwing Gibbs under the bus or slagging his talents…he just needs to curb his attacking instincts for these Man Utd matches and stay back.
yees Arshavin did play good
hands up
representing NAMIBIA
yees Arshavin did play good
hands up
representing NAMIBIA
Do not be afraid…wenger knew what was he doing in this game…he did not played song simply to rest him more for man utd…because he needs him to prevent and mark man utd players…he played fabregas because boss said he needs games to be back on his top, so he played him for 60-70 minutes than he replaced him…he rested ade to… and that is it..so there is nothing to be woried about (belive me boss knows what he is doing)
Only pitty is that we cant play Arshavin…he would give us something more in this semi-finals.With him we would have a way better chances to be CL winners.
GUNNEEEEERS 4EVA
Do not be afraid…wenger knew what was he doing in this game…he did not played song simply to rest him more for man utd…because he needs him to prevent and mark man utd players…he played fabregas because boss said he needs games to be back on his top, so he played him for 60-70 minutes than he replaced him…he rested ade to… and that is it..so there is nothing to be woried about (belive me boss knows what he is doing)
Only pitty is that we cant play Arshavin…he would give us something more in this semi-finals.With him we would have a way better chances to be CL winners.
GUNNEEEEERS 4EVA