Hat trick hero

By Boris Mellor
August 22 2010

It was one of those football summer afternoon's you dream of, the perfect start to the season at home. It wasn't that sunny, but it was shirt sleeve weather, and warm enough for Arsenal fans to stay outside drinking long after the match had ended.

Before the match started we were treated to the theatre that Arsenal are so good at. The stands were renamed to a six cannon salute and banners unfurled. Even the Dutch, sorry Blackpool, supporters seemed to join in.

If 6-0 wasn't enough to raise the spirits, and perhaps it should have been 12, Arsenal's favourite son had won the match ball. He came on as soon as the match finished and made sure the ball boy had secured it for him; I hoped he tipped him well.

Walcott was probably man of the match, but Rosicky was the engine room, oh how he loved being at the centre of things, ten times more incisive than Nasri, he understands the role.

It was most enjoyable, and a great performance, but possibly against the worst opposition I have ever seen at Arsenal. True Everton got pulled apart a few times, but that was against players like Henry, Bergkamp, Pires and Vieira. After all the main job was done even before Fabregas and RvP came on.

Chamakh nearly wins the Kaba Diawara memorial prize

The goal that pleased me most was Chamakh's excellent header, especially as it was needed to boost his confidence. He had, somehow, managed to spurn a host of what, appeared to be nailed on chances. At last he was on the score sheet.  He nearly won the Kaba Diawara award for missed shots. Kaba had 15 games for Arsenal in the 98/99 season, he managed to hit every inch of the crossbar and posts, but never actually scored; Wenger sent him back to Bordeaux tout suite.

We've only got one Song

With all that had gone on it was rather surprising to find that Song was the main topic of conversation at one bench in the Bank of Friendship garden afterwards. A Blackpool fan was extolling his virtue, he felt I was being somewhat churlish when I said that Song was ok as CB against Blackpool but couldn't cut the mustard against a decent team.

Even the Gooners on the table felt I had gone too far, claiming that Song had proved himself last season at CB against top clubs.

Wenger - Why Song isn't a centre-back

It is worth remembering what Wenger had said about Song at CB after the Man City home game to explain  why he had not played him again at CB, ""He has the capacity to play there but we have seen against Barcelona and once or twice that he has not the reflexes yet." True he was saying that after Song had returned after an injury, but my feeling is that this was Wenger diplomatic speak. That Wenger now knew Song couldn't do centre back against the big boys.

On the 27 March Song played a decent game at CB away at Birmingham, so when Gallas went off injured in the first leg of the Barca matches, no one was surprised that Song took the position. Arsenal were already a goal down when Song moved to CB, that Arsenal only conceded another goal after he took it was more due to luck than anything Song did, he had a torrid time, although in fairness so did everyone else.

Song didn't appear at CB again after Barca for the rest of the season. My point is that Song is ok against pedestrian teams, but I wouldn't trust his reflexes against Man Utd or Chelsea. He is not a long term solution and we shouldn't fall for it. Wenger said he hasn't the reflexes yet, as if he was about to get them, but Song is a slow player, a very good player, but he has a sedate pace to him. Holding midfielder is his best position.

The defence was almost surplus against Blackpool, with Walcott and Arshavin on the wings, and Clichy and Sagna overlapping at will; down to ten men Blackpool couldn't get out of their half for long periods, and when they did they were offside.

It was great fun, but fans shouldn't jump to any operative conclusions at this stage. The bum of the month program has started well, but players will have to prove themselves against real contenders; and even some of the mid ranking bruisers such as Blackburn away next week could prove a far harder test.