Arsenal v. Portsmouth 1-0 28/Dec/08

Today Arsenal grasped a home victory thanks to the ineptitude of David "Calamity" James. Not by William Gallas header but by the ineptitude of England's goalie. Although the resistance that Portsmouth offered in the first forty five minutes was to respect, the home side earned three points after three consecutive draws. Cesc's injury has taken all the dogs out and the team is comandless and lacks depth, possession and control, attribute in which the philosophy that Arsenal exercises, are corenerstones. It was the time for Tony Adams first visit to Emirates, and he was well received by the crowd.





First Half saw the inclussions of Nasri, several offsides by Nicklas Bendtner and an impressive failure of an inbox shot by Adebayor. Even though with Arsenal possession in the first fifteen minutes the match went quite passive and the visiting side showed no real attemtps towards goal. Arsenal were reluctant to counter and the only movements included the attacking positions were the ones made by the talented ex-Marseille playmaker. I know that this type of resumes that I make are more wide and at least over thirty lines long but in this cases there is rather nothing to commnet since the "big actions" took place in the following forty five minutes.


Second half was not so either impressive nor attractive. The interesting thing in the fifteen minute pause was the distribution graphics, that showed a 64% of attacks by the Arsenal held throguh the middle. This ofcourse has to do with Nasri's repositioning. There, in the middle, is where he is dangerous. As early as the 47' the stupidity of James's exits in set-pieces set the destiny for the Pompey sidethey were expecting a move for Arsenal, who seemed reluctant also to make one. Silvestres' defensive confussions and the uneffective counters by Portsmouth were not efficient enough to make a different progress in the match.






Nasri's incurssions were the only way out of Arsenal, in some times he was marked by four opposites. Incredibly Adebayor failed for the third time of the night in a rampage in the small box, after a bad exit from James. Gustavo Mendoza, the hatred Mexican commentator, seemed to have an orgasm when Carlos Vela entered. The young and fresh Mexican had a couple of chances, merely all crosses. In the time when the Arsenal was beginning to exasperate the lead came. It was a lead that was as comical as David James himself. In one of his unique attacks he rampaged to the ball while Gallas headed. It was a lucky header due to Gallas' closing and the fact that his eyes were closed all the time. To me, David James got Arsenal three points, while they deserved one. Gallas was just an expectator in the header, not even a "real scorer."
The final moments of hte match were spent between injuries, changes and Arsenal waiting. Not a single move by Adams' side was made. Pity for him, he deserved the point.


Finally Phil Ball departed. In his last column he made a retrospective of the past eight years. Despite the departure I still have several footy readings, amongst them Cruyff's, Medio Tiempo books, Forastieri columns anf my favorite Uli Hesse-Lichteberger.


You know, dear reader, that I do not like to make reviews in the end of the year, but in the end of the season and in particluar cases, such as Awards. Anyway I would like to wish a happy new year to each person that visited the blog throughout the year, our first year. Happy New Year from Deviations, and that all your wishes come true, I will continue with my duty even when it is delayed.