Super Nick

By Boris Mellor
March 22 2009

Three weeks ago almost to the hour the plucky little billionaires, Villa, were three minutes away from going 8 points ahead of Arsenal. Ten days ago Roma were four penalties away, after Eduardo missed, of going through to the last eight. Five days ago Hull with 73 minutes to go were heading to the semi-final.

 Now Arsenal are effectively 4 points ahead of Villa, if goal difference is taken into account, and in a semi and a quarter final.

Lame Ducks

A week ago the Guardian's David Lacey was mocking Arsenal as Lame Ducks in Europe compared to Chelsea and Manchester United. According to him it was Roma who should have gone through. Why? The CL is played over two matches, and I believe Arsenal were the better team over two legs. Anyway it's not Strictly Come Dancing; the important thing is that by winning on penalties the Roma effect is turning ugly ducklings into Swans.

I wonder what Lacey will make of the Lame Duck Trophy at Old Trafford, after the break, when the two serial losers turn up with key players suspended. Yes I am sure Man U will bounce back but just imagine the lectures Arsenal would get if the team received two red cards.  

Since Roma Wenger's proclaimed resilience of the Gunners is becoming more and more observable. True he put out a weak team against Hull, but once he corrected that the team demonstrated it had the nerve to put things right. On losing a goal lead on Tyneside things were soon corrected.

Bad day at Northern Rock

No not for Arsenal, but the bar codes; isn't it a waste of tax payers money that Newcastle are funded by Northern Rock? Arsenal were known as the Bank of England Club, but they were not actually sponsored by it. They are very poor value for the money, but mustn't grumble the three points are very useful.

Arsenal were not at their best for the first half, Newcastle really went for it and probably shaded it. Both sides wasted chances, but the Magpies had the better ones. They had two soft penalty claims, but spurned the one they were awarded. Almunia did well to dive the right way, but Martins shot was weak.

Second half dominance

The second half was a different game with Arsenal dominating, on 57 minutes Arshavin sent in a great ball from a free kick, and Bendtner's back header was superb. Arsenal fans didn't have time to finish celebrating before the Magpies equalised. Not great defending by Gallas, also a bit unfortunate, but Martins gratefully accepted Gallas's gift, and for once didn't miss. I have to admit I groaned, and even feared Newcastle would have their tails up.

However; Arsenal were not deterred and on 63 minutes Diaby was sent on a run by RvP. Diaby went straight through a very flat and wide apart back four and lashed the ball into the top of the net. Arsenal now went on a duck shoot (A lot of water fowl in this article. Editor) and it could have been big numbers, but RvP wasn't that sharp.

Although the Dutchman hasn't found his shooting boots he certainly has found his assisting ones. After 3 minutes he sent Nasri away who carefully put the ball in at the near post. Where does Phil Brown get the idea that Arsenal does not like playing in the North? Most of the Gunner's worst results have been in London, and at home.

There were a lot of good performances, RvP with two assists got MOM, but Bendtner and Arshavin did a lot of good things too.

Time on Our Side

Not all teams will be as easy as Newcastle; give away cheap goals against Villarreal and it will be far harder to pull one back. Clearly the team needs strengthening, hopefully time is on our side, that Fabregas, Walcott, and Eduardo will be ready for first team duty by the time the important matches take place. There is a two week International break now, which is hardly welcome, but if it allows time for injured players to recover it could prove to be useful.

Morons?

Arsenal are now in a quarter final, a semi final, and back in fourth place. Of course we were all hoping for much more, however we are only six points behind Chelsea, and still to play them. The squad did need more strengthening than it got, but no player can be purchased before the end of the season.

So what is the point of ringing up 606 to complain that Eduardo is injury prone? Injury prone? You would be injury prone if Tiny Taylor smashed your leg to bits. Eduardo has made a miracle recovery and scored three great goals. No player comes back after a year without having teething problems. Only in Roy of the Rovers do they go on to score ten hat tricks in a row without missing a game.

On a more sensible plane, a treatise on why draws are not a lot of use may make a reasonable case, but I bet Villa wished they had three draws instead of 3 defeats in a row. If they had drawn the last three games they would still be on equal points with Arsenal; and I am sure that losing 5-0 is no good for confidence at all. Of course you need to win, but drawing is still better than losing. I remember Ferguson saying that Arsenal's unbeaten season was not special because they drew 12 games. Imagine if Arsenal had drawn the five games lost so far instead of losing them, they would be one point behind Chelsea.

Funny old Game - Perfect Weekend

There is no guarantee that Arsenal will win anything, but into April the Gunners still have an interest in three major competitions. That's three more than 95% of the Premiership, ask Phil Brown. A few weeks ago it didn't look that good, but the resilience has finally paid off. Meanwhile a lot of the opposition is looking a little shaky, let's stop the negativity and get behind the team.

For Gunners it has been a perfect weekend, not so for Manchester United, Villa or Chelsea. I don't believe winning the league is on, the team needs to concentrate on consolidating fourth place and trying to capture third. There is a long way to go and a lot to play for.

Lame Ducks, Morons. Time on Our Side Funny ol Game

Discussion started by Arsenal Times , 22/03/2009 19:01

Arsenal Times
22/03/2009 19:01

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009:03:25:19:05:30 by Padre Pio.

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AJ The Gunner
22/03/2009 19:27

spot on. Its amazing were we are now considering our lamentations barely weeks ago. with players returning from injury it looks like light at the end of a long dark tunnel.

villa must be feeling the heat now.its never really how you start but how you end.

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Padre Pio
22/03/2009 19:37

It was said that Villa would implode, but I never thougt we could cout on it.
we also have to go to Liverpool and Man U

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Bwana Wenger
23/03/2009 03:56

And how is that a problem?

Warning: Supporting Arsenal is not for the faint at heart... It requires hard balls...

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Padre Pio
23/03/2009 07:07

We will need a strong side to beat them thats all. We beat them before (Chavs and Man U) with a strong side.

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Merlion96
23/03/2009 08:08

Fortune changes at an instant...

2-minutes against S*CUMS - that is beginning of slump for Arsenal.

3-minutes against Stoke City - that is season defining for Villa.

Yes, good & bad news for internaitonal week.

Bad news - let's hope LAdy Luck is with us again and for ocne our players return unscathed.

Good news :
Wenger got plenty of time to think of correct tactical formation and work it out with those injured players now going into full physical training - Fabregas, Adebayor, Walcott & Rosicky.

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Bring back stepanovs!
23/03/2009 11:50

for once we seem to be coming good at the end of a season instead of nosediving!things are looking good (Sm127)

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ArsenalForever
23/03/2009 14:18

villa have some pretty easy ties after the manutd game so we cant be celebrating just yet

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