Arsenal v. Newcastle 3-0 26/Jan/08

Another 'Soliloquy' type of match against Newcastle United at the Grove saw the Gunners qualifying the next round of the FA Cup to face arch-rivals Man Utd.
The Tyneside showed a pragmatic start against the overwhelming power of the Gunners who found in Manu Adebayor the center of the team, as Cesc in previous season. Cesc level has diminished a little with the incursion of Mathieu Flamini. Flamini is more offensive than Gilberto and the fine equilibrium that the Spaniard and Brazilian had has been replaced by a different equilibrium, with both moving upwards, mainly in a tandem sort of play. The Absence of Ivorian Touré has left the space for push ups in the hands of the young Frenchman. The early change showed the direction of the game. Sub Edoardo came out of the bench to replace Tomás Rosicky in what appeared to be a muscular problem. From this moment the dynamic of the match was was purely offensive. The sudden attacks began by Cesc were like waves. Something that is representative of Arsenal since the days of the Great Herbert Chapman but interrupted by the Boring Arsenal of the 80's and early 90's. The generation of chances and ideas was almost unstoppable. The game was balanced, a 50-50 stake, although Arsenal dominion was manifested in many challenges, it seemed that the Tyneside could have reached the goal before Arsenal.
The goal came right in the early stages of the second half when the rebound of an Edoardo shot hit the post just to end in Adebayor's control and in the back of the net. From that moment Newcastle lowed the guard and even with some fine saves by Shay Given they could not end the miserable suffering attenuated by the worthless substitutions. Steven Taylor really did a great effort in covering the swaying strikers. For me himself and Given are the only ones that can be saved from the critics in this new team built up by Keegan.
Jens Lehmann proved again, with a very few occasions, that he is fit again and capable of recovering his place towards the EURO 2008. Diaby was another player that has been stablished in recent months with first team activity very often. Senderos at least showed more improvement than previous games. That offside trap, a reminiscence of Tony Adams style, has been used massively in every game this season. Senderos recovered the 'tradition'. This trap is a very difficult one, I have already mentioned its inconvenients in previous posts.
There have been a lot of rumors going on last week about the young starlet Theo Walcott. I have criticized him several times and Jon Carter in his soccernet.com article has given a good, full perspective on this talented but reluctant player. A 'little scare' is what a manager in México will do; a salary cut, exclusion from the first team by a couple of weeks or even taken him to the reserves or youth team. This is not the most orthodox of styles, but in many times works as a reminder that he has to push it even harder.
The second goal was a special one. While the tremendous technique involved in the creation, it was evident that two team mates were in better position than him to score. His attributes are clear and his proved effectiveness is never denied, but Edoardo and Flamini were following the action and a clear pass to Edoardo would have been the better option, not counting the finishing form the Togolese. This kind of situation make furious to other players specially striker. When you are in a better position to score that other striker, and the partner simply tries to get the ball in the back of th e net (whether it does it or not) makes some kind of resentment. So no wonder why a resentment has rise between Nicklas Bendtner and Manu Adebayor. Intestinal struggles between strikers can lead to two opposite things. The growth of the offensive in a natural, competitive and healthy environment or the hostile and aggressive search for the goal. Int he first example wonderful partnerships have figured like Bergkamp-Henry, Cruyff-Neeskens and Klose-Podolski. But in the other hand the struggles were brought up by D'Alessandro-Milito, Borgetti-Blanco and the latest which we are referring. I hope the Togolese is not making himself of another Thierry Henry; with an egocentric attitude towards the other players, he has to be remembered that he is part of the team, he can make a difference but here are another ten men behind him. One player that has disappointed me is Michael Owen. The Golden Ball at twenty two seemed to be England's next hope but everything fell apart when his infructuous move to Madrid and his ACL and PCL injury kept him sidelined from action almost a year. He has lost the speed, technique and even the strength to play. It is a shame that these type of players with a terrific future are misplaced, mismanaged, and mis transfered.
A very good tactical movement made by Arsene was the liberation of Cesc. He had been doing it the last season, but in a lower pace. It seems that the switch is completed an Arsene wants to make him more offensive in every way and by any means. Thus putting two midfielders such as Gilberto and Flamini. We will see the development of this movement in close.
The final minutes were a pure soliloquy of the London side, adding it an own goal by Nicky Butt, which added more suffering to the traveler from the Toon. This goal (as I always like to resume) was a cameo of the game; the good effort and attitude but overwhelmed by the talented home team. Arsenal faces Newcastle again in the context of the fourth round of the FA Cup. We'll see what Mr. Keegan could got from feedback, and see if he can apply it to his style.
A terrible, and inevitable fight, draw on FA fifth round saw the London side face arch-rivals United, as quoted above. This match should be the one that catalyzes the struggle for the EPL. We know from previous encounters what Ferguson will bring to the table. Not so with Mr. Wenger. A Match not to miss, stating that the fight for title should be on even in that date.
Another international gossip that circles around every sports analyst in the world is the squad named by Fabio Capello to face Switzerland on February the 6th. I have made my own list in what I will consider hi s choices; We will see how many players out o f twenty three can I score. Here is:

-Scott Carson
-Robert Green
-Joe Hart
-Steven Taylor
-Phill Neville
-Micah Richards
-Joleon Lescott
-Mathew Upson
-Rio Ferdinand
-James Milner
-Michael Carrick
-Owen Hargreaves
-David Beckham
-Steven Gerrard
-Jermaine Jenas
-Joe Cole
-David Bentley
-Luke Young
-Theo Walcott
-Aaron Lennon
-Andrew Johnson
-Gabriel Agbonlahor
-Peter Crouch