Arsenal v. Newcastle Utd 3-0 29/Jan/08

I really have not heard a lot about copycats in football. Maybe from players (an analogy in fact); Zidane-Nasri, Muller-Klose, Fachetti-Zambrotta, Cesc-Guardiola, etc. But from games is not that usual and I do not remember a true game that completely resembles another, in score, starting eleven, and even gameplay. Thus The Barclays EPL game for Tuesday's was a 'FA Cup Replay' to me. 3-0, the score, and overwhelming superiority and an away side that literally took its hands out of the game. In this replay the feedback that was supposed to be used by Mr. Keegan did not exist. He did not even modified in any extent his team, something that is called: 'lack of variants' and 'lack of talent'. Anyway, Arsenal managed to shred the team, again, by a minimum effort obtaining the lead for at least twelve hours, concerning the Man Utd game against Portsmouth (which eventually they won 2-0, with an astonishing goal by Cristiano, which I will explain later in this post).
Mr. Wenger managed to find the right Rotation. This term which was employed by years in the Total Football by Rinus Michels, has become dissolved and diminished with Frank Rikjaard as the main man 'recovering it' . Media is always hailing his work. And Rotation involve resting, recovery and re-engament through absorption. It is not as José Mourinho style, putting bench players in the starting and recycle them, and again doing it backwards. It is a very difficult and special method that worked for the Netherlands long before that it can be applied by Major teams. It involves a special fitness program and above all good players. Diaby, whose place in both National side and Club, are at the edge of the thin rope made his appearance again, like cemented player. He is not being used as a 'replacement of Patrick Vieria'. He is used in a different position with a changed profile to exploit one of his great characteristics which is the control of the ball. Certainly the people at the Grove did not like the way he was rolling in the turf after been hit in the ankle, which was an immediate analepsys to his fracture and ligament damaged that nearly ended his career.
As the game developed it turned a little harsh, and even to the extent of throwing some cards. The game seemed to the point of no-returning which is the one that the viewer gets distracted by everything that is happening outside the game (i.e. Nike publicity, advertisement of Fly Emirates etc) and even the commentators were in the mood of making a little contest; Which player in both teams was the elder in the institution? I answered Shay Given and Cesc Fábregas, but I forgot Harper, the keeper of the away side, and youth Justin Hoyte. Until the arrival of the goal the game had taken the boring attitude, but after that Mr. Wenger created at interesting changes, that would kept anyone stuck in on the tv. Manu Adebayor has been the revelation this season and his swaying attitude towards the rest of the field is very rewarded by team mates, crowd and manager. His goal was work of the three players that have shone this season. The elongation of the pass by Cesc to Flamini, in a strange switch of positions, ended in a beautiful cross with a good header by the number 25. The tandem of Cesc-Flamini can be found briefly in the last post . I understand now the fact that Falmini and Cesc have not raised or diminished as I said previously, is a matter of complementation in different situations and when one covers the other gives and vice versa.
The Newcastle Utd were demolished and miserable, with the replacements nearly worthless and an agonic free kick by Nicky Butt, which was fairly executed but the luck was not with the Magpies. The awwy side did start the second half in the right way but did not manage to keep the pace. The discreet appearance of Edoardo and the perfect performance of Gaël Clichy were visible, in a team that shines by itself. Arsenal seemed satisfied until the arrival of the controversial Dane forward. Nicklas "Dinosaur" Bendtner appeared to give the Arsenal an even more clear access to the goal. His contribution to the goal of Cesc was infinitely a gesture of pure technique. lowing a ball from a 70 meter cross is a difficult task and more with a mark. He was definitely in offside, although by a very thin margin of error. The second goal was a piece of art, and a reward to Mathieu's great effort throughout the season. The astonishing volley was widen and widen so that Shay Given could just be the best spectator. He has tried all the season this shots and the Tuesday's night volley was the culmination of the hard practice. He sure has to be in the plans of Domenech to the next European Championship (one which I will be commenting on this blog). The 2nd change released Cesc and has referred in previous post worked as a link between the midfield and attacking. The great amount of tactical changes is a difference this season and I hope this will keep going.