Arsenal v. Liverpool 1-1 2/Apr/08

TRIPLE MERSEY FEATURE: PART ONE
In this special occasion I will deliver what I have called the TRIPLE FEATURE against the Northern club. Since three games are being played against the same club it will be kind of dull to repeat comments so I will comment on the three games as one saga; the Mersey saga.
Wednesday match saw the Gunners waste an impressive amount of opportunities to sink the Liverpudlians, thus leaving it all at the match at Anfield. Although this match was the most expected of the four, there was not that much build-up previously, and leaving me with not much choice of a direct review. The Mersey derby was won calmly by the Gerrard side and Arsenal impressively came back from a 2-0 score with ten men.
The Arsenal line-up was quite strange featuring Kolo Touré on the right back role as many games in his carer. The fact that Emmanuel Eboué was not in the starting XI made me think about what I wrote of Disappearing in the pitch. Is Eboué made to be a right midfielder or his position at right back is the best? For the time the right back position is occupied by the impressive Sagna, so if he wants to get to the first team regularly, or to receive hails from the crowd he would better work on his fitness and above all level, which has and a lot. Liverpool's line-up was fearful, with the releasing of Gerrard as main attractive. The most powerful weapon is the in-form Fernando "El Niño" Torres. His impressive performances have earned him the respect of the people and 21 league goals so far.
Liverpool went over the board and energetically launched a serious of attacks mainly on dynamic pressure.
The game was even, with both sides struggling to get the lead at 9'. There was of course the extra-especial attention on "Niño" by both Clichy and Flamini, who was completely overwhelmed with work throughout the match. The Arsenal had a tough and solid defending, the lack was on Cesc creativity. The game was really even in the first third of the first half, although some Arsenal plays outstandingly. Manu Eboué was very participative and Flamini rose above his usual high-quality performances. Robin van Persie wasted two clear chances round the 20', which were practically open. His hunger for fantasy plays is present and is very rewarded by critical spectators like me but there are ways and games. The lead came at 23' through a short corner play by Cesc and vna Persie, which Adebayor headed almost without marking. The cross was perfect. The quality of van Persie is undeniable but he better put the quality working in order to make stand outs. Then, immediately after Adebayor's header, the leveler came through rushing play by Skipper Gerrard. He rampaged through the box side among three defenders and intelligently crossed it to find mediocre Kuyt who just pushed it with the help of sliding Clichy. It was a crazy play and I doubted of Gerrard capacity in one on one, but it has cleared the doubts. About Kuyt mediocre and untalented style I will not discuss further; Marco van Basten said it all. The game became unclear for the home side, with Cesc still struggling to make a play at 30'. The game needed desperately a deep push by a player. In the final stages of the first half Cesc involved more and more although the final whistle was not a veru good sign for him.
Another question to be made is that Javier Mascherano really important? Is he unique? I particularly think he is a great player but currently many other players at his position can perform far better, cleaner and neater thatn him. His aggressive style resembles Gattuso but in some plays he seems disloyal. Hargreaves or Makelele, Flamini or Viera are physycall defensive midfielders but the extent of its job is not just aggressive, as Mascherano. I find his hailings quite unpleasant and distractive.
The second half saw young Theo Walcott replace Dutch striker, and a slow start. Almunia had a save at 48', and tension was already building in the home side. Liverpool locked in the back while Arsenal shots came more and more allusive on an extended lead. Walcott entered in the left side. He did a lot of harm through the cut on the middle, making a shot that passed just a couple of inches from woodwork. Theo has been greatly criticized on this blog. I have criticized him because I feel that a player with a lot of talent should not hide or diminish. But he is showing his talent and if he keeps it he could get to higher standards. The moment of scoring was evident but the home side could not grasp a good chance, although Arsenal overwhelmed the box. The revolutionized the speed of the match and became the axis of the game. The overpressured Liverpool on their own side was a perfect scenario to a counter leaded by Gerrard and finished by Torres. Cesc was improving by the minutes and inspired the whole team. It seems that he is the real captain; he has resolved in certain several games, showing authority and continuity all the season. He has been inspiring the crowd becoming a very popular player, rather than the grumpy Gallas. At 69' the Arsenal was touching in the box, evanescent. Kuyt committed a penalty that has raised thousands of complains and evn bribery scandals. It was a real challenge, and the ref was two meters away. That play could have been the turning point on the series. When Bendtner entered the pitch the Arsenal was completely forwarded, with Cec shot gone wide at 69'. Bendtner curious deflection, which was not offside, was hilarious and dreadful at the same time. Gerrard was dismal, and the figure of distance covered are amazing:
-10,345m by Flamini
-10,118m by Cesc
The final twenty minutes were a complete soliloquy by the London team. Torres struggled in the final minutes until the substitution. The North London team was dismal in the definition of the game and could pay the prize of not being that ambitious. The first part of the Mersey saga has finished, waiting for the second one tomorrow.