Weekend
The first signs of summer on Saturday as the tempteratures hit a heady 21 degrees C in Alton, though in my house it nearly reached boiling point as I sat glued to the TV watching the last North London derby to take place at Highbury.
Arsenal were slow from the blocks as Spurs domintated the first half, Lennon, on the right hand side of the Spurs gave Flamini probably his most testing time since the young frenchman was called in as emergency cover at left back. The boys never really got into their stride and were lucky to head in at half time on level terms after Michael Carrick's excellent run ended in him rounding Lehmann only to find the side netting, a lucky escape for the Gunners.
The second half started similarly with Spurs pressing forward looking for the lead, a quick break from another Spurs chance led to Arsenal's first real effort of the game as Gilberto's superb throughball found an on-sideVan Persie, who's only mistake was to allow the ball to run across his body and onto his left foot, Robinson raced from his goal to narrow the angle and Van Persie managed to toe poke the ball lifting over the sprawling keeper but wide of the post.
Mr Wenger obviously had one eye on Tuesday's Champions League Semi- Final second leg, as he left Eboue, Fabregas and Henry on the bench, Eboue entering the fray around ten minutes in the second half to replace Senderos who landed awkwardly, and who is now unlikely to be fit for the Villareal game.
Fabregas and Henry replaced Van Persie and Abou Diaby, and then what could be the killer blow for Arsenal's 4th place ambitions. Eboue cleverly saw the danger and advanced from right back to clear only to stumble in to Gilberto, both men went down and the ball broke in the Spurs midfield, Gilberto clambered unsteadily to his feet bu Manu Eboue stayed down, Referee Bennett trotted over but did not stop play. The ball was knocked wise to Carrick who seem to hesitate as if considering putting the ball out of play, but instead played a superb pass down the line to Davids, occupying the now empty right back channel, who controlled before squaring for Keane to open the scoring.
It is difficult to know who was right or wrong, and although Steve Bennett did not stop play, you have to wonder that if Spurs opponents on that day had not been Arsenal, the ball would have been put out of play to allow Eboue to receive treatment.
Mr Wenger and Martin Jol seemed to have a slight disagreement on the touchlines and I see today that Jol has suggested his suprise that Wenger approached him angrily seeing as Jol suggests he is so big and strong. Which made me laugh to be honest, can you imagien Mr Wenger trying to punch anyone LOL, who knows tho, he could have mastered some ancient Martial Art whislt in Japan.
Anyway back to the game, Spurs seem to sit back a little after the goal, possibly in a little embarrassment due to the nature of the goal, who knows, but back came Arsenal, David's who had cynically hacked Pires down on the first half, picking up a booking, was at it again disrupting the Arsenal breaks with trips and blocks, one noteable block on Eboue halted another lightening quick breakaway, and David's was extraordinarily fortunate to get away with just a free kick being given against him.
Steve Bennett on the whole had a good game, he allowed it to flow where he could and a lesser referee could and would have given a hell of a lot more free kicks. The equaliser when it came was again a little contraversial, Adebayor turned Staltieri up the touch line and looked unlikely to reach the ball before it ran off for a thrown in but a beautifully aimed ankle tap through the Spurs defender off balance and Adebayor collected the ball and set off toward the goal. His throughball to Henry came early and probably suprised Dawson, Henry had timed his run perfectly and was ahead of Antony Gardner, one touch to control and and an exquisite poke with the outside of his right foot past Robinson and into the far corner sent Highbury into raptures.
David's finally committed one foul too many and was sent off, and Arsenal pressed and pressed for an unlikely winner that never came. A draw was a fair result, roll on Tuesday evening and Villareal.
Arsenal were slow from the blocks as Spurs domintated the first half, Lennon, on the right hand side of the Spurs gave Flamini probably his most testing time since the young frenchman was called in as emergency cover at left back. The boys never really got into their stride and were lucky to head in at half time on level terms after Michael Carrick's excellent run ended in him rounding Lehmann only to find the side netting, a lucky escape for the Gunners.
The second half started similarly with Spurs pressing forward looking for the lead, a quick break from another Spurs chance led to Arsenal's first real effort of the game as Gilberto's superb throughball found an on-sideVan Persie, who's only mistake was to allow the ball to run across his body and onto his left foot, Robinson raced from his goal to narrow the angle and Van Persie managed to toe poke the ball lifting over the sprawling keeper but wide of the post.
Mr Wenger obviously had one eye on Tuesday's Champions League Semi- Final second leg, as he left Eboue, Fabregas and Henry on the bench, Eboue entering the fray around ten minutes in the second half to replace Senderos who landed awkwardly, and who is now unlikely to be fit for the Villareal game.
Fabregas and Henry replaced Van Persie and Abou Diaby, and then what could be the killer blow for Arsenal's 4th place ambitions. Eboue cleverly saw the danger and advanced from right back to clear only to stumble in to Gilberto, both men went down and the ball broke in the Spurs midfield, Gilberto clambered unsteadily to his feet bu Manu Eboue stayed down, Referee Bennett trotted over but did not stop play. The ball was knocked wise to Carrick who seem to hesitate as if considering putting the ball out of play, but instead played a superb pass down the line to Davids, occupying the now empty right back channel, who controlled before squaring for Keane to open the scoring.
It is difficult to know who was right or wrong, and although Steve Bennett did not stop play, you have to wonder that if Spurs opponents on that day had not been Arsenal, the ball would have been put out of play to allow Eboue to receive treatment.
Mr Wenger and Martin Jol seemed to have a slight disagreement on the touchlines and I see today that Jol has suggested his suprise that Wenger approached him angrily seeing as Jol suggests he is so big and strong. Which made me laugh to be honest, can you imagien Mr Wenger trying to punch anyone LOL, who knows tho, he could have mastered some ancient Martial Art whislt in Japan.
Anyway back to the game, Spurs seem to sit back a little after the goal, possibly in a little embarrassment due to the nature of the goal, who knows, but back came Arsenal, David's who had cynically hacked Pires down on the first half, picking up a booking, was at it again disrupting the Arsenal breaks with trips and blocks, one noteable block on Eboue halted another lightening quick breakaway, and David's was extraordinarily fortunate to get away with just a free kick being given against him.
Steve Bennett on the whole had a good game, he allowed it to flow where he could and a lesser referee could and would have given a hell of a lot more free kicks. The equaliser when it came was again a little contraversial, Adebayor turned Staltieri up the touch line and looked unlikely to reach the ball before it ran off for a thrown in but a beautifully aimed ankle tap through the Spurs defender off balance and Adebayor collected the ball and set off toward the goal. His throughball to Henry came early and probably suprised Dawson, Henry had timed his run perfectly and was ahead of Antony Gardner, one touch to control and and an exquisite poke with the outside of his right foot past Robinson and into the far corner sent Highbury into raptures.
David's finally committed one foul too many and was sent off, and Arsenal pressed and pressed for an unlikely winner that never came. A draw was a fair result, roll on Tuesday evening and Villareal.
posted by Matt at 8:33 AM
1 Comments:
Very best site. Keep working. Will return in the near future.
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