Let's try and do this chronologically, Wolves first. The game wasn't great if we're honest but at risk of being unpopular, I don't care. I don't mind if in more than a few games this year, especially away from home at places like Molineux, Brittania Stadium or the Reebok Stadium, we turned up and played ugly football in aid of getting the three points. It has often been said that Arsene Wenger has put style in front of results, I think we are slowly seeing Arsene admit we can always win playing pretty football and is now adding a well needed bit of grit to the squad.
At Arsenal we have for years complained that we do not have a goalkeeper that can earn us the points that VDS earns Utd or Cech earns for Chelsea but Fabianski has stepped up when he's been given the chance and is slowly starting to fill that description. He made a mistake that cost us points against Newcastle and Fabianski of old would have put his head down and we would have seen a string of mistakes follow but our new improved Fabianski took it on the chin, trained hard and be certain there was no mistakes to regret in his next game. Well played good sir!!
Fabregas was rightly booked for a bad challenge on Ward and later he went on to apologise to him which was excepted by both the player and his manager. The challenge was jumped on by the press and our captain was publicly criticised by everyone. However, Henry challenged Arshavin with studs showing above the ball which could easily have broken AA23's ankle and was at least as bad if not worse than Fabregas' challenge yet only a handful of the press actually acknowledged its existence let alone criticised it (yes MOTD, I'm looking at you as you even failed to show it in the highlights at all), yet another example of the anti-Arsenal prejudice this counties press seems to have.
Another thing that came out this week is that Arsenal are officially the dirtiest team in the Premier League. In the fair play tables points are given for fouls conceded, bookings and red cards. I don't know how those points are awarded but obviously a red card gives a big old chunk of points which is why, with four red cards already, we top that table. This obviously was pounced on by the press calling it ironic that Wenger complains so much while his own team are the dirtiest players in the country. Now as much as I enjoy stats, I wish these people would do their research, Arsene Wenger has been publicly attacking bad, reckless potentially career ending tackles and teams that set out to be over physical and given the chance will go through the player to get the ball. If we look at Arsenal's reds this year Koscielny has half of them and the first at Liverpool was unlucky to say the least and his latest was for denying a clear goal scoring opportunity (apparently) by pulling the player back, not exactly violent in either case. Alex Song's red card was for two silly yellows so again not reckless. I can't defend Jack Wilshere's red so won't try to. My point is that black and white stats don't always tell the full story and I just wish the professional press would take account for that sometimes.
More recently, just as it seems that the Arsenal camp has become a happy one one of our players has decided to talk to foreign press in the hope it never reaches us in England. Nik Bendtner abandoned his normally shy, retiring, humble personality and has gone on record saying that if he doesn't become Arsenal's first choice striker then he will look to play the game somewhere else. He said:
“I’m very disappointed that I haven’t played more. I feel I’ve done the right things in the rehab and that I’m in the form of my life. I feel that I’m better than before the injury where I after all was in the line up every time and close to fulfilling my potential.He did however try to stop fans turning on him by stating:
When I’m 100 per cent fit I can’t accept sitting on the bench. I’m 100 per cent good enough for the starting XI in Arsenal. I have the qualities and I’ve been sitting enough on the bench in my career.
I’ll soon be 23 and at this point in my career it’s important to play regularly game after game in order to continue my development. I’ve been patient for a long time but I’m not anymore. I’ve shown that I’m fit – both in training and the games I’ve played.”
"I hope I can be here for a long time yet. For me, Arsenal, right now, are a dream club."Normally I don't pay much attention to quotes like these unless I see the players saying the words myself however, Arsene Wenger has felt the need to respond to this one. He said:
"He works hard, he has been out for a long time. I must say I have been very pleased with his attitude and spirit. He has to continue to work and when he is completely match fit he will play.Now from my point of view, NB52 is lucky to be at our club and as talented as he his, he is still our third choice striker behind RVP and our goal hero from Wednesday Chamakh. I hope he's patient enough to stay but Nik, listen hard, you can be replaced so please don't let your ego ruin what you have at this club.
"I must say his attitude has been extremely committed and I can understand [his frustration] because he has put a lot of effort in. Now he has to be a little bit patient.
“When you try to convince a player that he has to be patient, then you waste your time. That’s what you’ve got to do, but you ask a player if he is fit after two training sessions and he says ‘yes’. That’s it, that’s normal. I was the same.”
Anyway, we look forward now to Everton tomorrow now and with Man Utd and Man City dropping points today it provides a great chance to gain some ground and finish the weekend in second place.
I'll finish with a big well done to Vito Mannone who played his first game for Hull on yesterday and after a shaky start turned it into a very solid and confident debut keeping a clean sheet in the process.
Till next time Gooners,
Goonerfish
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