Happy New Year

Here, at Deviations, we wish all a very happy New Year and the best luck for you, your families and the team you support. Good luck, the rest of the season will be provided shortly,
Cheers.

Cristiano Ronaldo's Freekick update

Since the last time I described the Portuguese's particular free-kick style there has been much more to draw upon. Statistically speaking, this blog obtains a third part of its visits via Google, leaving to another third of that same third to Cristiano's matters. So I decided to update this particularly popular entry due to the fact that more input has arrived. This video is relatively new (23 December) so ignore the spam and enjoy:





The UEFA Training Ground is an amusing site in which one can actually see keepie-uppie expert Paul 'Woody' Wood making some concise explanations on different tricks made by world class players. Among them is our dear trick of the day, the so-called "Ronnie Rocket". There is no actual link to embed the video but I can give you this one - which will serve more than enough for our didactic purposes - (if the link is broken you can easily find it under the title at Training Ground then UEFA Champions League Skills, the Ronaldo Rocket).

One of the new aspects that Wood takes into consideration is the aspect of the valve. Being the hardest part of any ball, the little sealed hole must be stricken with much more force than a 'normal' freekick. The knee, as well as the heel must have a "short backlift" apart from the great recoil that the force of the strike can have. However, within my experience trying the kick in many attempts, it must be highlighted that not just accuracy is important but beyond that strength. We take for granted that whoever is shooting has already some experience in freekicks or at least, with basic knowledge of football practice.

Another new addition is the fact that the striker must face where he intends to put the ball, since the particular effect the kick has i not due to any type of swerve, but thanks to the air and the material of the football. Following inspections made me believe that there could be some type of injury in the standing knee but it all remains doubtless. The only question that beyond Wood explanations and my own practice on the subject I can actually make is the one of the moment of striking: it has to be sudden but with the contact enough to make the ball move in its own way.

At the end it appears that Tina Wulf masters the technique. Again the two major points in this close look are the technique of the hit through the laces and the lightness of the ball, along with the current of air streams and external factors that make the ball move unpredictably.

Arsenal v. Birmingham 3-1 18/Oct/09

[Photo: Phil Cole/Getty Images through Guardian]


After what appeared to be another endless, yet interesting, international break the Gunners took some kind of revenge in the form a win against the Blues. The confident win was earned by another scintillating, yet awkward display by Wenger's man. Arsenal's schedule seems to reach another one trademark congested records when the Londoners visit Alkmaar and West Ham following Liverpool in the Carling Cup context to finally receive in home soil Tottenham Hotspur in the north London derby.
If a swift succession of wins are to be assured by Wenger's men, the response against rivals and alike would be of a nominal threat since many pundits (and 'pundits') wrote off Arsenal well before any football would roll. The precision of this machinery need to be adjusted to perform alike in every match if they were enough for contending for a title. Perseverance and talent is the key, in this long season that lies ahead.




[Photo: The Sun]



Despite Arsenal's solid start, the panorama was not bright enough as Walcott limped after a fair, but aggressive challenge by Ridgwell. The Gunners created at least five clear chances, just before the seventeenth minute when they doubled their lead, firstly taken through Robin van Persie. The Dutchman deftly controlled the ball to dribble past Carr and finish far post. In a matter of two minutes the passing went from dominance to sharp-shooting as Diaby found a lone cross from Rosicky. The expected result was coming rather rapid for the home side.
Without having the time nor the opportunity to recover, Andrey Arshavin replaced Theo Walcott reaching the 33th minute mark. The worst-case scenario appeared handy for the visitors as Lee Bowyer took advantage of the poor defending of Arsenal, and especially, Mannone's rookieness. Twenty minutes before, this picture would have not been dreamt by the far more adventurous of Birmingham's supporters. After the gap was closed the Gunners assured themselves of seeking another goal that could extend the advantage.




[Photo: News of the World]



If the second half started divided enough, Arshavin had a chance wasted wide left to the bar, as well as Cesc, who nearly scored due to a mistake by Hart. Fabregas appeared to return into his masterful ways in which all the game seemed to surround him. In this streak of chances Seb Larsson returned the ball to the U-21 keeper and the Blues took the punishment with an indirect freekick; a violent deliver by van Persie hit the bar afterwards.
Whilst some great runs by Eboue provided van Persie with several one-to-one chances, there was no added value to the scoresheet. With fifteen minutes to end the Gunners weaved more attempts through their midfield Spanish star. Where the Londoners had at least three clear chances, the visitors provided likewise, making a good show for neutrals.
In one of those corners, Cesc hurried his pace to deliver Arshavin in a three-versus-three situation, which the Russian finished without a flaw. With five minutes on, there was not much to do by the visitors: Jack Wilshere came in to play some valuable four minutes of injury time.

Arsenal v. Blackburn 6-2 4/Oct/09

[Photo: Tony Marshall/Empics Sport through Guardian]



After a midweek of celebrations - beginning with the decent win against Olympiakos at the Grove, the opening event of the Highbury square and the 13th year of reign of Arsenal's greatest manager - Cesc Fábregas oozed genius in each and every ball he touched from the game into pure world class geniality. Outclassing in every department the Rovers torrid style, the Arsenal midfielder created havoc in such a manner that, as in his best days, managed to produce four goals a cracker finish.
Outpassing each and every other manager in the history of the club, Wenger has gone through ups and downs, glories and downfalls as well as periods of mediocrity and of the highest sublime in football's history. Daunting statistics offered a secure win on the paper as the Gunners strolled, with certain difficulties, Allardyce's men.
After Arsenal found the pace the international break comes unhandy for Wenger. Many players will either return with injuries or fatigues after what promises to be a deadly and difficult journey to the World Cup for some. Afterwards it is time for the Gunners to visit in the third game of the group stage Holland's current champions, AZ Alkmaar, to receive later Birmingham.




[Photo: Mirror Football]



With the distinguished visit of Arsenal legend Thierry Henry and AZ coach Ronald Koeman as well as a fully booked Emirates, the match started in a not so-glamorous hype with Nzonzi heading past Mannone in the 4th minute. There was not much to do for the young Italian as the visitors grabbed the early lead. Arsenal scrapped three clear chances, especially Cesc who headed just to be palmed away by Robinson.
Patience was rewarded and in the seventeenth minute Vermaelen, Arsenal's top scorer, shot a powerful drive just at the end of the box. The equaliser came in such precious time, but Wenger's men tried to keep pursuing the second. Unfortunately Dunn found the net first, after striking between Gallas legs. Capello watched in the stands how the Gunners were down for the second and last time in the game.
Immediately after the lead Robin van Persie equalised again, just after Cesc released him. A powerful shot across the ex-Spurs keeper and four goals in 35 minutes. The impressive run of goals of the Dutchman was enhanced with Arshavin's goal, giving Arsenal their first lead of the match. Rosicky, the other force behind midfield creation, was delivering passes at will.




[Photo: PA through Telegraph]



At the current goal rate, the Gunners were hoping to mimic the savage party of the 07/08 campaign. Robinson made a save at point blank from a van Persie shot. Immediately afterwards a beautiful volley by Cesc came. After some loose control outside Rover's box, Cesc retained it with the chest and put it top-corner. His demonstration of love and the applause of the 60-000 seater were a mere greeting for the vast talent he delivered.
After the substitution of Rosicky, a couple of wide shots came, all wide. While in the beginning of the second half there was an alleged penalty against Dunn, Blackburn did not have any argument against what was coming after. Cesc created another counter attack, which through Arshavin, and laid by Cesc, saw Theo score in his return. Next substitute Bendtner, at 89th, finished the match, which could have gone three or four more goals on Arsenal's sheet.

Arsenal v. Olympiakos 2-0 29/Sep/09

Nikopolidis, the man of the match.
[Photo: Getty Images through UEFA]



Arsenal took another step in a rather peculiar manner in their first European group stage home game this season against the Greek team Olympiakos. Even without notable absences such as Bendtner, Denilson and Almunia, the Gunners offered yet another late display to reach the six points mark, leading group. The match, was dull at times, with the Londoners cornering the Greeks as early as the first minutes. This match served its purpose: a good step forward previous to the match of clients Blackburn next Sunday in the same venue.




[Photo: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images through Guardian]



Hostilities began at the Grove in a pure offensive manner: Arsenal had three blocked chances before the 10th minute mark and the tincture of the game was already seen at the 13th; Arsenal dominating with an overwhelming power against a greekish Greek team ('greekish' meaning their display in the EURO 2004). Nikopolidis denied Arshavin in the 13th, woodwork from Cesc at 15th and as Ricardo Ortiz stated "It was a miracle that the match [was] goal-less".
Reaching the 25th minute, and with already four corners for Arsenal, there was that awkward familiar sense to the Gooners that at any time around the sixtieth minute span could easily have scored twice or thrice but still, they managed to avoid it in such a nonsensical way that even the most neutral of viewers could have felt threatened by the waste of chances.
Cesc, with two on target, was returning to his old magnificence midfield-maestro ways. Although the Greek side showed some signs of life, each and everyone of the attempts that came towards Mannone's goal was repelled by the resilience of Clichy and Vermaelen. Just before halftime whistle chances by Rosicky, van Persie and Cesc were all out. 13 shots, seven on target, as well as 7 corners and 50% of possession were the outcome of the first period.




[Photo: Mirror Football]



Unlike the beginning of the first half, Olympiakos showed some attempts which obviously decreased. Mannone's reflexes were proven again and he responded. After a little booking incident which requires no further examination, the Gunners began again the siege, which seemed now more troubled as Zico's men appeared tired.
Due to the fact that all the gaps were closed by the Greek defence a replacement was needed. Eduardo came in, in the 66th, for Rosicky. After the substitution the Gunners began the siege of the last twenty minutes as it was rather obvious that the lead will come in any minute of the following. Just before the European season debut for Vela, three clear chances were palmed away by the brilliant Nikopolidis.
As desperation grew among Arsenal fans the late lead arrived in the 78th minute. Finally the first goal came on the left wing as Fabregas coupled with Eduardo, who found van Persie in the centre. Arshavin summed up very well with Cesc and Ramsey to give Arsenal the second of the night. It was an apparent offside but the lacklustre performance of the Greek defence went down as Nikopolidis stretch was effortless. The final attempts of Olympiakos on Mannone's goal were futile: again Arsenal atoned their mistakes of their lack of finishing to win a fairly decent clash.