An Emirates rematch will take place on February 16th due to the tie that today the Gunners sustained against Cardiff City at Ninian Park. In the welcome to modern football for Aarom Ramsey the Bluebirds ensured the recap in a tough and congestionated travel to London. In other results Man Utd edged Spurs in a nother dismal appearance of Giovani dos Santos. The Gunners were relentless for times, and miserable in others. Even though the result is tricky any team who could have got the lead would certainly deserved the match. Cardiff proved to be a worthy challenger with all the fuss going around last year's FA against Portsmouth.
Before any formal comments on the match I would like to digress on the beautiful ground that Ninian Park is. It reminded me of the good old Highbury. But in the match by the first fifteen minutes Cardiff had arrived four times, all equally dangerous, through Burke, McCormack and Bothroyd twice, respectively. As the minutes went by and possession changed opportunities by both sides were continuosly leaping forward and backwards. Ramsey seemed quite nervous and although he received many flak from the stands and pundits for this match, I think he made a good appearance considering his state. The game swooped for the Gunners and by the 35' Arsenal choked Cardiff and it had at least 75% of possession and all Cardiff in their box. With this tempo the match ended in a high pitch radical speed with both teams going for the lead.
And for the sake of the good game another thundering half was delivered by Arsenal, this time with a full push to get the lead; two shots by van Persie secured this. Unfortunately enough Ramsey went off, earning applauses as well as boos from the stands. The Gunners went tempestively to the front and Cardfif took advantage of this position with several counterattacks. With the introduction of Adebayor in the 66' the attack of the Gunners acquired depth, something that Bendtner did not seem to do. While minutes piled up, reaching the final ten, the Gunners relentlessly pursued the lead with a 90% possesion in the last five. By the finals seconds a rematch seemed likely but fortunately enough for the visiting squad McCormack failed to put the ball in the back of hte net when a freeekick was conceded in the 89'
Arshavin's tale has really taking its toll on me. It is as uncertain as the global economy status; bids rejected by a monstruosly rich Russian club on a late talented (and at times overrated) player. Although Gunners transfer sagas had all been full of rocks and cliffs, with certain players I got the feeling that they will eventually be landing their boots at the Grove, such as Samir's case. Just to wait is what appears to be desperating but patience is the friends of transfers.
Dissapoiting was the result fo Burnley, as well as Osasuna, got their deserved heads-up when facing heroically a stronger opposition. Certainly the Carling Cup is a tournament to respect, but for the Spurs. If that is the only silverware the North Londoners can get, let them have it!
What will appear to be the next "Capital Punsihment V" could take place in the Fifth Round of the Cup due to the draw that took place today; Arsenal/Cardiff City v. Burnley/West Brom.
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