Mexico v. New Zealand 2-0 3/Mar/10

David Villa scored the first as France were battered at home.
[Photo: Benoît Tessier/Reuters via Guardian]


It took over a year here at the blog to review the last International friendly, and this time, in the preview of the World Cup, we found ourselves merged in what some call a "dreadful interlull" but for me, a delightful paradise of eternal football bliss. And in what better fashion could we celebrate the final countdown to the summer's tournament with nearly one hundred days to go. Some credit has to be given to the extraordinary effort that Paco Villa has been putting in Televisa Deportes' site, especially with the fantastic Retro World Cup. One hundred fully-digitised original broadcasts of the best classic 100 World Cup matches of the history.



Crouch came from the bench to beat Egypt with a brace
[Photo: Telegraph]

In other news, our watch for Mexico's rivals is in hot pursue. France were royally annihilated by a powerful team of Spain. With goals from David Villa and Sergio Ramos, the head of Raymond Domenech hangs by a thread, even within months of the tournament's start. Though, their second kit is gorgeous.

Here at Deviations, I assume that by early May (middle June) I will have updated all the Arsenal matches. I am battling through with it, watching some delayed matches. I will not make a preview, rather you could find a useful or I will recommend some; instead I will make a quick survey and fully inform you on a daily basis of the gossip and etc. Each game will be properly reviewed since I have prepared for the last three years for this event. I find utterly hilarious that I finished high school exactly the day Germany played Costa Rica and that this time, I will finish my undergrad course four years after, in a similar fashion of football. And they say that football does not domain lives?



Hernández scores the first? of the night.
[Photo: Televisa Deportes]


The match began with some fresh faces in Mexico's squad: Monterrey striker De Nigris as well as the two Dos Santos brothers and Luis Michel, Guadalajara keeper. The Mexicans began the game with a set full of variants, mainly with Guardado and Giovani in each flank providing some speed and crosses. While the New Zelanders defended fiercely, there was an exact effort by the Mexican's to prove Americans and Paisanos what is the team up to.
Instead the "home" team attacked mainly through overlaps and crosses.
In one occasion, Jonathan Dos Santos managed to stroke the ball with a powerful volley that moved the framework of the crossbar. Within ten minutes to end the first half, the could not convert any chances created. That would have to wait until the next half.



Aguirre and Márquez finishing details.
[Photo: Saúl Molina via Récord]


And it was Hernández who headed a beautiful cross from Salcido that gave the lead to the Mexicans. The way the striker jumped and managed to stay up before striking the ball was superb. Not even five minutes from the first the second arrived: Arsenal's number 12 ran past two defenders and moved with easiness the third to pull a Zidane-esque effort and give Mexico the two goal lead.
After some substitutions were made the match entered into a strange zone were neither team made any proper judgement to pursue one or another goal. In that way the match ended with a devastated visitor against a merely brilliant Mexican team.

Stoke City v. Arsenal 1-3 27/Feb/10

Everybody in shock.
[Photo: Reuters via Telegraph]


To define today's match as "bitter-sweet" would be something of a gross understatement. Instead the Gunners' performance was set by the shadow and light as the Londoners came back from a one-goal deficit at the Britannia Stadium. If there is some hope and cheer after Chelsea's defeat against Man City at home it vanished into the darkest of nightmares as some horrid memories from Eduardo's nightmares came to light, when something of the sort happened to the young Welsh international Aaron Ramsey.
As the live images for supporters and neutrals arose after a violent shock between the Welshman and Shawcross, the awful fact that his right leg was broken sparked the most furious responses from players infield. Cesc Fábregas, main witness of the previous fatality on Eduardo moaned as another terrible image came to live again. Immediately after Bendtner and others requested immediate assistance.
As Shawcross left in tears the pitch, some players were gutted, but at the same time the away win meant much more than the three points at this stage -loosing one contending and promising youngster. Any prognosis made on the subject would be to early to tell since this kind of injuries tend to end careers.
In the context of the Carling Cup final, the Gunners confronted the Potters to earn another win in their solid contention for May glory. In a rather suffered fashion the Gunners took advantage of several mistakes and even when they faced a tough proof due to the fact that many of the injury-hit players were in the treatment table. The words of John Toshack, Wales gaffer, really sum up particularly well the situation of Shawcross: "The tackle by Ryan Shawcross was at best mistimed, at worst reckless and desperate."



Horror, fear, anger.
[Photo: Reuters via Daily Mail]


The fact that this has happened "in five years I've seem three of them" as Cesc claims, really proves nothing. What it seems more close to an argument on that train of thought is the game developed by Arsenal is antithetical against the likes of Stoke, to say the least.
In the internet atmosphere many made dangerous assertions; probably the best were, naturally by David Young and Phillipe Auclaire in an special appearance in the Arsecast.
One thing to mention was the display that Cesc Fábregas gave to the match. He captained the Gunners' sinking boat, from the abyss to the final end with composure worth of world class player. That he remains as an Arsenal player must be vital for the development of the club in years to come.



Stoke players showing some respect.
[Photo: Lindsey Parnaby/Epa via Guardian]


Just as in the previous matches, the obvious psychological burden of Rory Delap's throw in took another victim. This time the dismal defending by the Gunners costed them the lead as early as the 8th minute. Puigh found himself completely unmarked as he headed past Almunia. The horrific scenery was enhanced by a dominion of Stoke throughout the following twenty minutes: if the Londoners slowly recovered their breath, the Potters were ready enough to challenge back.
The lack of product from the visitors was mere rubbish; that changed in the 31st minute when Cesc lobed to Bendtner, who, with ease and calm, headed to Sorensen's far post. Reaching the final third of the first part, the Gunners seemed to have a complete control of the situation at Britannia: 68% of possession reaching the end, was a real encouraging prospect for the Londoners to face the next minutes.



Clichy's dismay and Bendtner's reaction.
[Photo: Daily Mail]


The incessant work of the visitors came thoroughly in the second half. Four minutes on the clock and Aaron Ramsey went down after an alleged penalty. The attempts and the poor performance by the home team was meant for the Gunners for the taking, but in the 66th minute, the previously commented event on Aaron occurred after a strong challenge with Shawcross. After several minutes, the Welshman was taken to the nearest hospital for an emergency procedure.
Rosicky substituted the injured, and the Gunners' momentum came to an end. Afterwards the main question was how the Gunners could overcame such a burden. What happened two years ago in St. Andrews was a remainder of the powerful shock that such an injury made. Instead, and after two substitutions, the Londoners completed their journey to justify and give Aaron the deserve, when Bendtner found Puigh's hand in the way of a pass.
Already in injury time, the Gunners got the precious kick from the spot. The demoralised team went on for the charge and Cesc beat Sorensen. The end of the hideous match was finished when Vermaelen just pushed the ball from point blank after Cesc shot. After crossing some words with Pulis, the Spaniard Gunner lead the way as a true captain to win a game to put the visitors a step closer on Chelsea, but mainly, for Aaron Ramsey.

Arsenal v. Sunderland 2-0 20/Feb/10

Nicklas Bendtner scores after a magnificent pass from Eboue.
[Photo: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images via Guardian]


In yet another rollercoaster ride for the title, the Gunners are again back for the thirtieth time on the title race as they beat the Black cats by a two goal difference. After the troublesome defeat at Porto and the slip of Man Utd at the hands of Everton, the path to title seems scratchy but more amicable. After the epic amount of games lost by Bruce's men, again the southern team did not disappoint with its current mediocre form at the Grove earlier this Saturday.
When the storm is yet to calm over the two unpredictable and childish errors of the Polish international, the match came handy for the Londoners. Games against Stoke, Burnley and Tottenham, pile up in the near future and the prospect of getting the maximum point from them is rather important.



Emmanuel Eboue, man of the match.
[Photo: Daily Mail]


The manager included Aaron Ramsey, Mikaël Silvestre, Emmanuel Eboué and Theo Walcott from the beginning. Aside from the speculation that this could bring, the Gunners did not show anything interesting during the following twenty minutes. Shots from Cesc, Nasri and Ramsey opened an early possibility for the Gunners. With Nasri creating havoc down the left side, there was no real intention for the visitors to pursue anything but a draw, if lucky.
This was emphasised when at the 27th minute, the big Dane broke the deadlock after an astonishing run down the right parcel by the Ivorian Eboué. From then on the Londoners enjoyed little but no resistance to find Gordon's goal. The Welshman provided that balance the team lacked in the absence of the striker; some stability and control to Song and Cesc, leaving the Spaniard free to charge forward when needed.
The match went on with plenty much to offer to the home team, as the Black Cats ventured to resume their attacking spree with two attempts on Almunia's goal. This unnecessary defensive frailties were kept down thanks to the lack of a real striking talent in the Sunderland ranks.



Cesc scores the second from the spot.
[Photo: Getty Images via Daily Mail]


While the Gunners had a rather astounding dominance on both flanks -Walcott and Nasri's- there were plenty of chances for earning another goal. One of them was a free kick delivered by Thomas Vermaelen which went directly to the Carson's hands. The fierce menace that the home team posed was reassured as Walcott, Cesc and Nasri made strikes.
Reaching an hour of game-time the Gunners were complacent enough to award some possession. This lead to an increasing effort of delivery which ended in Bent's blunder. Sunderland were poor in their finish since twice they had the time to equalise. Before the substitutions of Nasri and Walcott, the Londoners created several chances on target.
Although the power of the Arsenal attack was greatly diminished when the substitutions were made, charges by Emmanuel Eboué (now in a suitable right winger role) were the main threat throughout the rest of the evening, and particularly in the final minutes. In that span, Cesc found himself at the edge of the box and Campbell stumbled in an effort to regain the ball. Even when the tackle was not really harsh the referee awarded the Spaniard a penalty, who converted from the spot to finalise the contest.

Porto v. Arsenal 2-1 17/Feb/10

Shambolic, dreadful -to say the least- the Pole scoring in his own net.
[Photo: Guardian live matchcast]


In a a night full of contrasts and controversy the Gunners lost thanks to one of those appalling appearances of the so-called replacement of Manuel Almunia. Lukazs Fabianski attacked the first with the fear and inexperience of an eight year-old child from an amateur league in Arkansas. Certainly with this type of blunders there is not much to expect from both goalkeepers. As a matter of fact, the young Polish did not atone his first mistake and committed yet another, in an act of extreme inconsistency and unfocus, when after some trouble with Campbell, Martin Hansson awarded the home team a legitimate indirect freekick which derived into the second.

Still the fact -as said in many sites and even by visitors Manger- that the Gunners had previously taken benefit from these situations in the past does not sum up the whole issue. This is just an extension of the status of the defensive apparatus: a lack of leadership overcomes insecurity despite the strong performances of one of Arsenal's best players throughout the season.

The following game is at least three weeks from time. Wenger and the team should feel relieved enough when securing a precious away-goal: another one at the Grove without conceading an the fairy tale should miserably end for the Portuguese side.



Campbell did not enjoy a good return to European elite football.
[Photo: Mirror football]


The hectic and diabolic start of the game saw the Portuguese team enjoying several variants before taking the lead: Falcao ran past Campbell, just when Hulk strike went just wide and Mikael strikes to save from Vermaelen not even in the 4th minute. Cesc nearly scored in a counter from Nasri but then the dreadful episode began at the 11th minute when Varela edged out Clichy down the left and the unexperienced Fabianski flapped it in to give within the first minutes the lead.
Arsenal appeared not to be entirely given up, since Porto's attack had diminished. In the 19th minute the visitors held a corner which after some bizarre defending, Campbell headed; the Gunners were back on track. Helton made some vital savings when Rosicky went past three defenders and later shot with fierce effort. With thirty minutes already played it was evident that the match was dominated by the English team despite the defensive mistakes.
The prowess of Vermaelen and Campbell gave composure to the visitors' defence. This was proven again by Nicklas Bendtner whose header, in the 37th minute, was fingersaved by Helton. At the end of the first half Porto was no longer a threat.



After the first mistake nobody thought he would have another.
[Photo: AP via Daily Mail]


Arsenal began dominating the final third and at any time a goal could have arrived. Instead in the 52th the idiocy of Fabianski paired with Campbell's and a quick reaction from Falcao gifted Porto another goal. The problem with this situation was not the legitimacy of it -which was completely justified- but the fact that Hanson missed a clear penalty on the other end. The immediate result of it was the Portuguese goal.These inexcusable mistakes showed that similar share of contrasts that appeared in the last season.
With twenty minutes to play, the Gunners introduced Walcott with the hope of delivering some speed on the right flank. Although it proved a bit useful there was nearly no real striking capability. With ten minutes to go, Wenger was so desperate that brought Carlos Vela in. Again, the effort was futile. With the lack of "nominal" strikers each attempt singled out the necessity for one in the next transfer window.

Arsenal v. Liverpool 1-0 10/Feb/09

Diaby heads in the lonesome? goal of the evening.
[Photo: Getty Images via Soccernet]


In a swift movement of luck the gods of football made a strange gesture to Wenger and his team as the magical combination of Chelsea losing and Man Utd drawing brought the gap to 6 points adrift. In a match that seemed pointless at certain periods, Abou Diaby headed one in to put the Gunners in advance with the minimum difference. Whether Cesc's "clear hand-ball" after the Gerrard freekick was original, is to be discussed since the ball goes to the hand exactly when the Spaniard's arm reached its highest point.
Almunia made one of his torrid performances which, in another day such as last week's match, could have ruined the day. Strangely enough, the Gunners are yet not to be out of the title race as immediate rivals took no advantage of their previous failures. With three long months to battle for the first place, the Londoners need to get the maximum of points if they are to battle well through the last day of the season. In other fronts, the Portuguese champions are the nearest stop the following Wednesday at Stadio do Dragao. We have seen the Londoners suffer too much in these kind of games in which a single mistake could throw everything over the board.



Cesc at the wall, in an unusual freekick
[Photo: Getty Images via Soccernet]


Despite the Arsenal large imposed dominion, there was no actual threat on target until 24th. Both teams were naïve and without any interest in charging the lead. The jinxed Gunners were a little too precautious as the clock reached the 30th minute. again, Wenger's furious comments form the bench reanimated a bit the team but the atmosphere outside the playing pitch was more akin to the game that what the players in it actually played. The standoff seemed to break with Nasri's first incursion on the right; the Liverpudlians managed to build some ineffective counterattacks.
Bendtner hit wide in the 26th in the first open chance. After that attempt, the flow of the match began to occur for the Londoners as the clock reached half and hour played. Maxi had a close range deflected shot, but no penalty was awarded. The match began to move as both teams found several flaws regarding marking. Samir Nasri left off the pitch injured, while the Czech replaced him with ten minutes to go. Even when the Gunner's attempts were fair to put the Liverpudlians to the sword nothing was really conclusive as two minutes were added to the injury time.



The home team, ecstatic by the Frenchamn's header.
[Photo: Empics via Soccernet]


The first attempt from the Gunners, where they already had some dominion came from the Russian midget, who shot wide the side-netting within two minutes of the second period. Two sitters came from both teams in the 53rd minute, both from late decisions: the first, N'Gog failed to shoot as Gallas saved; the other Rosicky's touch betrayed him on an open chance against Reina. As the game was growing in emotion, the home team augmented their chances, reaching the 64th minute when Bendtner got booked after some blatant diving. As the minutes passed both the manager and the crowd were getting a little more than anxious over the stalemate. Rosicky's shot went just over the bar seconds after. The Russian playmaker was replaced by Theo Walcott, as the manager showed a more aggressive attitude.
And it was in the 72nd minute when substitute Rosicky "provided" a magnificent cross for Diaby to head one in. Immediately the Gunners went on for the second but found a resilient effort from Insúa above all. As the Liverpool defence advanced their lines, the whole team left wide gaps that Walcott and Rosicky exploited, nonetheless there was no effective attempt to go past Reina. Minutes from the end, there was some controversy regarding the alleged hand-ball by captain Fábregas: to me, it was a clear penalty as he raised his hand in a clear attempt to block the kick. The problem is not the hand, but the fuss that it created as Media waged a kind of mini-war on the Spaniard's attitude.