Bolton v. Arsenal 2-3(23/Mar/08

"April is the cruelest month/breeding lilacs out of the dead land"


"April is set to be the toughest month of the Gunners' season", yes, both David Young and T.S. Eliot are right. Although Eliot's modernist approach of the world as a fatigated country are not the best describing this, a childish ans some may say a stupid analogy, these both sentences are true.
Arsene Wenger said on post-match reactions that these had been the greatest comeback since his arrival. This of course is not true. There have been even greater comebacks since his reigns are ober the North London Club. I remember some comebacks when Dennis Bergkamp arose from the bench to captain the team towards incredible victories. But since the current form of th e team is obvious that this comeback has been seen as a metaphor from Mr. Wenger. This metaphor is not just the comeback against Bolton but against the two teams that are up right now and winning the title. Showing th e attitude they showed Saturday obviously could make the Gunners champions but just in the matter of courage and morale. But in the pitch it was pretty obvious that the Gunners need the level required to beat the three big names in the EPL. Now the Arsenal, as previously mentioned, will face one of the most decisive weeks on the history of the club. Three games against the Merseyside and a trip to the north against title-runners United is completely determining in the season. Form my point of view the season is already over, with Utd as champion and maybe Arsenal grasping a honorable second place. The stake is in Europe, although for Mr. Wenger and David Yung the hopes are still high and running on the EPL title. I have said this many times, the current form of the Manchester team will not slow and viewing the current form of Arsenal, the Londoners will not reach even by surprise the level that Utd had throughout the season.
There were a couple of surprises in the Line up against Bolton which were the position of RB on Touré and the inclusion of Robin van Persie instead of Adebayor, as well as the absence of Eboué. And with that lineup the game started quite positively, in the build up the imprecision was with the away side. There was although a good supporting crowd that made the travel and could be heard, with their overwhelming chants. This imprecision domined all the game and the most worried player was Mathieu Flamini. The home side managed to scare at 9'. Th left side dissapeared completely. Clichy did three run-ups through the left and one in the middle, while with Tomás Rocicky in pitch he could made ten or even fifteen run ups into the line. In the other side Touré was struggling with the same although his physical presence was imposing against Clichy's. Both strikers had chances but went wide the goal. At 14' came the goal by the home team. The defense was totally distracted with Touré as main accomplice, and Almunia who could have done it better. Some minutes after the Bolton's goal, nobody covered the advances of the home team, with Clichy and Flamini overwhelmed with work. From all the perspectives the Arsenal was unworking. At 26' the game was really unclear and the team seemed tired. Collectively the Arsenal could not achieve many advances but with a personal effort it could be done. This was viewed by Touré whose series of shots at 29' were really close. In a wet pitch the usage of the ling shot can be decisive. Diaby's sent off was completely justified. I am totally aware that a challenge like that one could have been like Eduardo's. So if the team ia asking for respect and challenges like this one should be banned, the Londoners should start from their own lines. Diaby should be suspended. The two strikers were unproductive, although creating unclear chances that did not finished in shots or plays. Unclear is the best word for describing Arsenal in the first half. The second goal arrived from a deflection, and the unwilling defense. The bad functioning of the center back was one of the headaches for Mr. Wenger this match and in the previous weeks.
The same line of unclearness was in the first minute of the second half. The corners were a great dangers for the away team, although Cesc managed to deliver an impressive shot just wide, at 52'. Then, began the siege of Bolton that lasted five minutes. This period of time saw the worst of Arsenal's season; the inability to defend we¿l and solid, the inaccurate passing of the ball, the midfield imprecisions. Everything summed up to the worst scenario in the season. This five-minute torture could have extended the lead of the home side. The turning point of the match was when the substitutions ocurred. Mr. Wenger put everything at stake, knowing that the loss of three points could end the aspirations of silverware in May, Walcott for Senderos and Adebayor for Bendtner. The line up became a swaying 3-3-3 through 3-4-2. At 63' the light of hope shone when Gallas found himself in the box alone, with a tremendous mistake of Bolton's defense. A fatalistic approach could be that the only way the Arsenal could scored were on mistakes, which actually happened. The penalty kick awarded was clear and Robin van Persie's quality shone leveling the score and leaving the Arsenal with twenty minutes to search the lead. I have to say that I was destroyed by the 45' and at 70' all I wanted was the lead, and hope filled my heart. The subs were really the inflexion point, revitalized the team and injected fresh game. At 73' Bolton's defense was struggling against the willing Arsenal. Theo showed his quality and made excellent runs that could have ended in goal. The desperation began to take control of the Gunners when the long balls from Gallas were intercepted bu Bolton's keeper, a work in depth passes was the required thing. In the final minutes of the match the overwhelming away side kept the eleven man Bolton on its side of the pitch, bombarding the box with an amount unseen in previous visiting matches. It was a shocking ending with the away side struggling to take the lead and the defensing home side desperately clearing all chances. At 90' as in all previous matches since the move to the Grove, the late equalizer came, through Cesc with a clear deflection on a Bolton defender. Clichy made the run and Cesc pushed the ball almost fearfully. It is true that the luck is with the Arsenal team, and David Young would be enjoying the hope that still endure among some fans.
The other day I was watching Villareal against Atlético. I saw with particular detail the game of Robert Pires. It is still a pleasure to watch him play. His physical form is nearly the same as in Arsenal, although his style has slowened due to two things, his cruciate ligament injury and the Spanish game style, which is nearly the half the speed of English. It is overwhelming the fact that even after such a grave injury his confidence has not sank. At his age he is still the talented EURO winner that was so popular among Arsenal fans. The board did not wanted to renovate his contract and although his age was above the average in Arsenal, it is certain that at his level he could play two or three years more. He is one of the best players that have worn the shirt of the North Londoners. With his experience at this point of the championship, he could have been the balance and guidance the Gunners need right now.
A Gothic Literature symposium is being held in my faculty, and after a breve English class tomorrow we are allowed to go, but everybody has its priorities, and mine are with the North London club, so at 12:30 Mexican time I will be watching, as many of you, the immortal clash against the fierce Liverpool. It is a match to endure so you better be watching.