Arsenal
Powder Puff Attack Couldn't Win Without Diaby
Rambo rampant
By Boris Mellor
January 3 2010
The moment I saw the line up for the game my heart sank, a front three of Wilshere, Eduardo and Vela. I text a few friends, "this front three will never score". One text's back "have faith", but faith is for religion not football tactics. A similar line up, except Wacott for Eduardo, had failed to score in Greece, and also at Man City in the Carling Cup (Merida in place of Eduardo).
It was a game of four quarters, and for three of them Arsenal made no impact. Yes Arsenal got into the box a few times, but all of the front three lose the ball, misdirect it, or on a few occasions unleash a weak shot. I really could not see where the goal would come from.
It's not a matter of picking on individuals, or even one individual, the lineup was unbalanced, too many lightweights cannot create a critical mass.
On 45 minutes West Ham were 1-0 up, and on resumption of the second half confidence was coursing through their veins, they sensed they were fighting a toothless dragon. It's a good job Fabianski had a good game or it could have been more than a goal down.
Wenger did something he rarely does, he got his subs to warm up on the hour, on 65 Wilshere and Merida came off, Diaby and Nasri came on.
Wenger has chosen well from his depleted resources, he has also removed the weakest links. Dynamic Diaby drove the team forward a whirlwind of action, in turn he inspired Vela and Ramsey. The Welshman became more central to play, Nasri was also getting into shooting positions, it seemed it would be only a matter of time before the Gunners equalised. The only question was could the Hammers hold on?
The late show
On 78 minutes the answer was given, Song passed to Vela, who got the ball to Ramsey in the box, the shot was sublime, across the face of goal, and well past Green the Hammer's keeper. Ramsey ran to the Arsenal crowd who hugged him in delight. A new Arsenal favourite, along with Song, is developing.
Midget rises above Giant.
On 83 minutes the Hammers interest in the cup was ended. Once again it was a Vela assist, his cross into the box from the left saw Eduardo rise above and in front of Upson and loop a curling header into the top corner of the net beyond Green, two - one and the Hammers were out.
Arsenal didn't try and shut the game down, and carried on looking for a third goal until the end. Perhaps some players thought that goal difference counted. There again as they had only turned up for the last quarter they had plenty of energy left.
The difference between the first three quarters and the final quarter was quite simply Diaby. His tempo made it impossible for West Ham to clear their lines; defenders no longer had plenty of time to block Arsenal attackers.
Ramsey was official man of the match, fair enough his goal got the Gunners back into the game, but it was Diaby that turned the game around.
The reward? An away tie at Stoke and laugh like a drain Pulis, hopefully he will be given cause to moan like one as well.
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Stumbleupon03/01/2010 22:35
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:01:05:20:00:59 by Padre Pio.
Credit where credit's due.
did you even watch the game, Diaby totally upped the tempo of our game, he dominated the midfield and so put the hammers on the back foot Its like one of thsoe movies where the body is on the carpet, you report it the police turn up and the body has gone. They then think you are mad
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
At thsi rate of improvement, it is "bye-bye Vieira" and "hello Diaby" at World Cup 2010.
Aaron Ramsey and Eduardo scored the goals in the final 12 minutes but the excellent Abou Diaby and Samir Nasri provided the class and needed width from the bench to avoid another cup shock.
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
Diaby 7.0
Played really well when he came on, using his strength to dominate in midfield and making incisive runs forward.
Nasri 6.0
Not as impressive as Diaby, but it was important that Nasri at least hold the ball and keep moves flowing, which he did.
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
I suppose you are correct now?
How about I quote myself?
"Diaby was very good, much better than Merida. But Nasri changed the game more, simple as that."
Yey, now im right.
As to who had the greater impact, it's all subjective conjecture, but both added something unique that had been missing up till then. It's fair to say that maybe one would not have turned the game so dramatically but the introduction of both provided us with exactly what we were missing prior to their introduction.
Theodore roosevelt - In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.
comment
"I think you will find that Diaby really didn't contribute that much, and he did not wheel Eduardo and Vela along as they assisted/scored the winner." is the same as the Mirrors quote: Quote Daily Mirror:
"Aaron Ramsey and Eduardo scored the goals in the final 12 minutes but the excellent Abou Diaby and Samir Nasri provided the class and needed width from the bench to avoid another cup shock."
then you either have a dyslexia problem and I can arrange help, or you are barking mad in which case I can't.
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
You just need to calm down with the over exaggerated claims that he somehow flipped a game around which was clearly going our way with ot without the two subs.
It was more of an indication of how poor Wilshere and Merida were, rather than how good those two are.
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
Tom scores again.
I thought Eduardo was having a poor game myself.......
then he scored that header. But I still thought his link play was letting him down badly. And that he should just be left upfront, to finish moves. Not get/keep them going.
Quote:Tom14
Thank's for accepting defeat.
Tom scores again.
You obnoxious arrogant c*nt of a hermaphrodite.
Can't you understand ad hominem fallacy in your argument?
Quote:Philly the kid
then he scored that header. But I still thought his link play was letting him down badly. And that he should just be left upfront, to finish moves. Not get/keep them going.
Eduardo is exactly like Arshavin durign Aston Villa match before the appearance of Fabregas.
Misplaced passes, unable to link-up with team-mates.
Teh difference is that Eduardo worked his socks off during first half, chasing every balls and closing down on his oppenent.
Like Arshavin, he can be ineffective 85 minutes, but that effective 5 minutes will win us the game.
Off to rape some Swiss Cheese.
Quote:Goofle
Moved onto italics now Merl. They also have bold and underline, ill show you some more tomorrow.
Off to rape some Swiss Cheese.
Tom using multi-nicks and multi-ISP?....
A little tip here never use Bold or Underline together.
Bold should only be used for headings, and underline almost never. Indeed with the facility of Bold now vailable underline is passe unless to indicate a hypertext link. Indeed the appearence of underline on a web page may confuse the reader.
I thought the excellent use of latin and the correct use of italics continues the proud tradition of the Times.
"When we had to suffer the team is a lion because they suffer together." 4 July 2020 at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Arteta on his team's first away victory at a club above them in the Premiership since September 2015 at Leicester.
Imagine, when Nasri is completely match-fit, plus with an ENgine to match.
Does NAsri reminds you previously of that Welsh internaitonal - Brian Flynn - Nottingham Forest or Leeds player or some other team?
Look like Welsh is the Flavor of the Month..
I wonder..with this new crop of Welsh youngsters, perhaps, Wales can make it into World CUp 2014???
Arsenal French palyers at the World CUp?
- Gallas
- Sagna
- CLichy????
- Nasri
- Diaby
If Traore keeps CLichy out of the team.....
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