Arsenal (0) 1 - 1 (1)Highbury. Sunday 29th November 1998. kick-off 3pmFA Carling PremiershipReports in so far: Rupe, PaulPreview
Arsenal (0) 1 - 1 (1)Highbury. Sunday 29th November 1998. kick-off 3pmFA Carling Premiership
Scorers: Anelka (89) Deane (5)
Arsenal:
Seaman
Dixon Bould (c) Keown Winterburn (Vivas)
Ljungberg (Boa Morte) Parlour Garde Overmars
Anelka Wreh (Caballero)
Boro went up very early thanks to some statuesque
defending. Gascoigne and Townsend worked the ball
wide to Gordon who was in acres of space on the left.
A failed offside trap no doubt. His cross was turned
in from point blank range by Deane.
Boro threatened a few more times. One scary moment in the first half saw a striker clear on Seaman but he messed it up and Dave came up with the ball. The closest shave for a second away goal was a Beck header late on, which went wide when it might have been easier to score. Apart from that Boro didn't get out that much, and when they did it was almost exclusively Keown that came across to snuff things out. It all meant that there wasn't as much opportunity to pump the ball up to Anelka et al on the break, and we didn't have the guile to break through. But we were the side that was attacking for almost the whole match, reflected in shot counts of something like 20 to 6. But too many of those 20 were speculative efforts by Parlour, Vivas, Garde. None of them your first choice. Overmars had a good run and shot, saved at the near post in the first half, and Ljungberg and Vivas both went close in the second. But like recent matches, we never looked likely to score, and I have to confess to having been rather surprised when Anelka rescued the point in the last minute. I will try to have more faith. Garde, who I thought had probably his best match for us playing in the centre with Parlour, chipped the ball into the box where Anelka has lost his marker and turned and shot (just!) under the bar. I don't want it to sound like this was anything like a good enough Arsenal performance, the number of times we gave the ball away softly was laughable. But hey, at least we scored at last. I celebrated the goal like it was a cup-winner. I guess, whatever Wenger thinks, it doesn't take so long for some of us to get used to sausages again! more here soon For regular readers of my column, you will know that I don't just report on the match itself, I try and take an alternative angle on the current events at the club. Let's take yesterday's match as a good example of the current situation at THOF. We were up against a physically strong 'Boro side in a rich vein of form - 7 matches unbeaten I think, boasting the top scorer in the Division (Ricard) - against a side short of, in alphabetical order.... Adams, Bergkamp, Hughes, Petit, Vieira, Winterburn (for an hour) ...and playing through a bad run of form, a period of desperate luck, a spell when the press corp are positively licking their lips at the prospect of seeing Wenger under fire from within. However, the most accurate barometer of the club's health is the way in which the supporters, the very group of people who should be backing the eleven on the pitch, are beginning to turn against the Club, Manager and Players, even when the performance on the day does not warrant unnecessary criticism. In my humble opinion, there was a massive difference between last Wednesday's performance and yesterday's showing. I was personally disappointed after the Lens defeat not only by the result, but more by the lack of commitment shown by some of the players on the night when the game was slipping away from us.Yesterday, each player gave 110% effort right through to the end. The quality was non-existent at times, admittedly, but the effort was there. It was that determination, and a bit of luck that gave Nic the chance to equalise. Arsenal Football Club is an institution that is based on self-belief, a willingness to carry on regardless and the ability to adopt a siege mentality - remember all those incidents in the past when the world and his brother were ganging up against us ? We beat them all - didn't we ? Arsenal is a truly unique club - it takes a special type of player to wear the red and white, a special type of Manager to run it - in Wenger we have that man - and most importantly, a very special type of supporter to follow it. I have to ask the question whether some of the current group of supporters can look in the mirror and ask whether they are 'true' supporters - backing their club to the hilt through thick and thin ? From what I have been witnessing at Highbury (and Wembley) recently, especially yesterday, I doubt whether some can. Some of the treatment dished out yesterday to certain players (eg Ljundberg) was an absolute disgrace. This is a crucial time of the season for us. The team need us to get behind them for the ninety minutes at home, regardless of who is on the pitch, especially with half the regulars out of action. I personally think that my Mum's dog has got a better left foot than Boa Morte, but while he is on the pitch I will encourage him regardless, even if it is through clenched teeth. We need to separate the stadium chat, player acquisitions, Wenger contract talks et al - to the pub (and Arseweb of course in my case !) after the match has ended. During those ninety minutes, as long as the players give 110% on the pitch, we as supporters, owe them at least 110% from the stands. We all know the squad needs some quality additions, and if we know I'm sure AW does. To answer the chap who wrote into the site last week following the Lens report to object to my comments on big signings, can I reiterate that I personally think that Arsenal should not break the bank for any old player, but should pay big money for the right player - eg Fowler. I cannot believe that £7m passed between Newcastle and Everton for Ferguson - a crazy amount of money but that is what the market is doing at the moment. As supporters we have a choice. We can either.... * Support the shadow side 100% over the next fortnight until clubs get knocked out of the European Cup competitions, which leads to the transfer market becoming active. We can then hopefully sign a couple of quality players, and pray that the injury situation improves....- or - * Slaughter the team at every opportunity every weekend, watch the confidence level go down even further, drop more points and watch our interest in the League fizzle out. It's our choice. They need our help. Let's give it to them. Keep the faith...... Other reports
copyright belongs to original author where credited. otherwise © Rupert Ward, ArseWeb MMV ArseWeb is NOT the official Arsenal site. The (excellent) official site is here |