Cloggy controversy! Arsenal 2, Newcastle United 1
Posted on March 17th, 2012 | 22 Comments |
Date: Mon 12th Mar 2012.
Kick-Off: 8pm.
Referee: Howard Webb.
Well, Arsenal came from behind once more to clinch victory for the fourth time in a row, which I have been informed is a Premiership record. Whilst the first half of the game wasn’t exactly dull, a minute or two of pure excitement (with two goals in the process) put the rest of it in the shade somewhat. The second half was generally an exciting affair, though not necessarily for the right reasons from a black and white perspective. Despite being pounded by the Gunners’ artilllery, they were not finishing their fairly numerous chances as they might, and with some sterling defensive work, the Magpies almost held on. Sadly it was not be though, with Geordie hearts broken right at the death.
This was my second visit to the Emirates. After resisting the temptation to purchase local specialist publication, “Up the Arse!” myself and my Arsenal supporting friend made our way past the stadium for our Geordie rendezvous in the adjoining away coach park. I have to admit that I was still mightily impressed by this fine edifice, even more so once we were inside. It was verging on “brass monkeys” weather, but at least the seats were very comfortable, not that we used them very much as virtually all the visiting Geordies were standing throughout the game, which made a refreshing change from the fluoro-nazis at St James’ Park.
Surprise selection from the Silver Supremo.
First surprise was that that Pardew would actually be starting with Ben Arfa, leaving his new hitman, Papiss Cissé, on the bench. This would normally tend to suggest that Ben Arfa would be a link between the midfield and Demba Ba up at the front with the also selected Gabriel Obertan on the right flank. However, in another diversion from the norm, it seemed that there was some kind of role reversal was taking place once play got underway, with Obertan himself linking with Ba.
Strategy outflanked.
Despite the rather surprising changes, Newcastle United’s strategy still looked fairly direct, with the Magpies’ still endeavouring to defend from the front with the likes of Gutierrez, Ba and Obertan attempting to nip Arsenal’s attacks in the bud, at the back. However, Arsenal merely urinated on Pardew’s chips by slipping ’round the side instead. Though the Gunners spotlight is undoubtedly on Robin “He scores when he wants” van Persie at the moment, with the Dutchman picking up a somewhat predictable “Player of the Month” award before the kick-off (and before his predictable goal), it was Walcott who was almost certainly the man of this match in this game. To say he dominated Davide Santon in the first half would be something of an understatement. This was not to say that it was all one sided though, especially with the Magpies actually scoring the first goal. We did have some success on the counter, and though Arsenal undoubtedly had the lion’s share of the chances, they could have made more of them on another day too.
Once again on a positive Magpie note, we were winning quite a few knockdowns, not least a rare Vermaelen mistake which eventually led to out only goal of the game. The “Verminator” kicked the ball stright at Tiote, with Ba picking up the ball from Mr.T, who left the ball for Obertan to roll out wide for Benny. Kieron Gibbs could perhaps have been tighter and better at stopping the mercurila Frenchman from jinking inside him and getting on to his favoured left foot. As we know though, he does do it rather well and this is not to detract unduly from what was another brilliant, and characteristic goal from the Gallic Garrincha, cutting in from the right with his usual ablomb and finishing things off with an accurate and powerful finish into a narrow gap. Some said that Arsenal goalkeeper, Wojciech Szczesny, should have done better because it was at his near post but I wouldn’t say that at all. From where I was sitting (and on replays), Ben Arfa’s shot could have caught any goalkeeper out, near post or not. Arsenal 0 – 1 Newcastle United.
Guti’s gallavanting, Williamson’s wobble.
Many blamed Williamson for what was to come exactly 53 seconds later after he slipped to the ground. Such things happen and he had a very creditable game overall. I would say that the makings of Arsenal’s extremly swift reply arguably came sooner, when a slightly below par Gutierrez seemed to fall asleep on the job in the afterglow of our goal. As I mentioned previously, Walcott was on fire in this game, and both Rosicky and Sagna behind him weren’t too shabby either. Our frisky little Argentinian colt just went on walkabout when he should have been attending to their considerable threat on the right hand side, especially so with Santon having what could be described as a bit of a mare. Some excellent combination play from the three Arsenal players mentioned above left both of our left sided players for dead, and it was this which allowed the in form Walcott to roll the ball very nicely to the flying Dutchman. He then turned a stumbling Williamson inside out to make an excellent low finish past past the stumbling Williamson and our own flying Dutchman, Tim Krul. Arsenal 1 – 1 Newcastle United.
So, as I’ve written, Arsenal were dominating on both flanks, though especially the right one. On a more negative note (for them) they were squandering some of their fairly numerous chances, and they could have been more effective on another day. Despite what the Arsenal crowd were singing, and also his prolific goal tally this season, van Persie doesn’t always score quite when he wants to. Of course, one should also give some credit to the Magpies’ central defensive pairing of Captian Colo and Mike Williamson too, who were two of our better players on the night overall. Once Santon was (rightly) pulled off by Pardew, the much maligned James Perch and Danny Simpson put in decent, if not spectacular shifts in their respective full back roles. This isn’t to say that Arsenal didn’t keep the pressure up even more in the second half after the substitution, and at some stages we were being battered like a Whitby cod to be frank.
Arsenal were running our poor defenders even more ragged after the break, but were still having difficulties making their dominance count. Tomas Rosicky tested Krul with a glancing header, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain coming about as close as he could get with a dipping volley moments after that. Half way through the half, Rosicky had what was the miss of the game, a real sitter which he completely miscued after a great Walcott cut back. There were more too. However Arsenal’s frustration wasn’t all down to a certain lack of killer instinct. It was also a tribute to the Magpies’ defence that it took until the last few seconds for the Gooners to finally get their winning goal. Both Coloccini and Williamson made some crucial inteceptions, with Williamson making some important headed clearences. Simpson cleared yet another one off the line too. They were so close, but alas, it wasn’t to be.
With not a little disgruntlement amongst the Toon travellers at the five minutes of extra time awarded by Howard Webb, Newcastle were actually on the attack when Simpson broke down with an injury in the Arsenal half and the Gooners countered. With Toon a man down, and the rest pretty knackered from what must have been a particularly tiring game, Alex Song and Walcott broke at some pace, with Vermaelen making a scorching run from his own area towards the Newcastle end. Song passed diagonally to Walcott, with Walcott crossing into the area with Van Persie trying to pick it up at first, but it ended as a flick on for Vermaelen who by now was in an excellent position at the back post, except for a looming Krul. However, unfortunately for us, the “Verminator” is a very attacking kind of defender who can finish like a forward, which he did with some aplomb, Krul-ly slotting the ball past our flying Dutchman.
Dutch handbags.
The game wasn’t quite over just yet, there was still time for some cloggy controversy between Arsenal and Newcastle’s Dutch compatriots, a resumption of some handbags which took place earlier in the game. It transpired that Van Persie seemed to think that his fellow Dutch international had been timewasting and trying to break Arsenal’s attacking flow throughout the the game, and decided to make himself look a little foolish by carrying on like a spoiled bairn. Why a Captain should want to do this just after the game had just been all but sealed for Arsenal with only a few seconds to go was beyond me. This rapidly spread to the other members of each team as these affairs often do, bringing the game to a rather undignified close, well, almost. As I mentioned, there were a few more seconds of play resulting in a free kick which Krul hopefully punted up the pitch towards the Arsenal area. However, Howard Webb blew his whistle when the ball was still in flight, and that was that. Time for a curry!
Teams, stats etc…
Score: Arsenal 2 – 1 Newcastle United
Goals: Hatem Ben Arfa (14), (Robin van Persie (15), Thomas Vermaelen (90+4).
Yellow cards: Cheick Tiote (63), Laurent Koscielny (77), Jonas Gutierrez (86), Robin van Persie (90+7).
Red cards: None.
Possession: Arsenal 60.5%, Newcastle United 39.5%
Shots on target: Arsenal 8, Newcastle United 2.
Shots off target: Arsenal 8, Newcastle United 0.
Teams.
Arsenal (4-3-3): Wojciech Szczęsny (G), Baccary Sagna, Lautrnt Koscielny, Thomas Vermaelen, Kieron Gibbs, Alex Song, Tomáš Rosický (Aaron Ramsey 76), Mikel Arteta, Theo Walcott, Robin van Persie, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Gervinho 68).
Subs: Łukasz Fabiański (G), Andre Santos, Aaron Ramsey, Johan Djourou, Gervinho, Marouane Chamakh, Yossi Benayoun.
Newcastle United (4-4-2): Tim Krul (G), Danny Simpson, Mike Williamson, Fabricio Coloccini (C), Davide Santon (James Perch HT), Hatem Ben Arfa, Cheick Tiote (Danny Guthrie 81), Yohan Cabaye, Jonas Gutierrez, Gabriel Obertan (Shola Ameobi 61), Demba Ba.
Subs: Rob Elliot (G), Danny Guthrie, Papiss Cisse, James Perch, Danny Gosling, Shola Ameobi, Haris Vuckic.
Arsenal v Newcastle United full match video, extended highlights, post-match interviews…
Post match fallout – Krul v Van Persie rumble simmers.
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Marcelo Bielsa, the madman of modern football.
http://footballspeak.com/post/2012/02/01/Marcelo-Bielsa-An-Enigma.aspx