One Year

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU


First and foremost, Thank you. Whether you are a casual visitor, a Google arrival, a loyal friend, a dear reader or an enemy I want to thank each person who has contributed to the creation of this space. Today "Deviations" has accomplished one year of birth. Accordign to Shynistat it had been 2,884 page views and 2,252 visits since the creation of this blog exactly one year ago. Among the relevant things presented in this site are the Arsenal drop in the last half season the EURO coronation of Spain and several reviews of my literature readings

I know it can be painful and annoying to the reader sometimes, when the blog is not uptdated but I have tried my best and currently I am posting each and every game of Arsenal's new season. I promise to bring more literature posts and military also. I promise also to post more frequently to keep you updated.

I would like to thank especially to George, Rodrigo, my brother and my dad who are amog many readers.

I also would like to ask the audience to contribute with comments; feed back is necessary and I would gladly receive them even if its positive or negative.

Once again THANK YOU fot the support and for keeping my dream; to write about the things I love.

Arsenal v. Hull City 1-2 27/Sep/08

Tigers made history today at the Grove, inspired and undervaluated, Hull came from behind score-sheet to record the second home defeat for the Gunners and beat nearly one hundred years of no-winning against the North Londoners. The Gunners were permissive to the utmost level of perdition, while the defensive aparatus simply did not work. With this defeat, the Londoners gave the lead to Chelsea at the top of the league. Reports from press conference by Mr. Wenger blames defense, at last. The truth is that William Gallas again in his old costume, made the difference, but for the Tigers!





First half saw the Arsenal had most of its chances through midfield. The Hull wreckage at 20' was evident, with the Arsenal having at least 10 crosses with a goal disallowed. Arsenal's leitmotiv was present again this time when the main question was the minute of the arrival of goal. This game style became predicive at 27' with the overlappings and crosses being the only approach to goal. Robin van Persie did not work as the 'link' as in previous matches but rather as a lost striker. The Tigers regained position by the minute and by 35' it was obvious that the game was leveled in both quality and quantity. Although Nasri couls have made the difference it was the Hull defenders who proved their resilence. The first half ended with the Gunners showing themselves as a joke.





If the first half saw the suffering of the Arsenal the next forty five minutes were a unnecessary suffering. Even though the lead for the Arsenal came at 50', with an own goal by McShane on a deflected Cesc shot, the home side could not made difference even with possession. Robin van Persie's play inbox at 55' showed some glimpses of will but the tatter was just beginning. At 62' Geovani stunned everyone with a tremendous strike that defeated Almunia in a ridiculous way. An incredible volley, a shot outside box gave Hull the push they needed to complete their transition to an attacking visiting side. Four minutes after a mistake by Gallas (no, him? Really?) gave Cousin a perfect chance to head the ball past Almunia's mark. Hull was winning the match at 70'. It is evident that throughout the season we will encounter performances such as this one. The lack of talent and professionalism of Gallas was shown with the control of a long ball in four touches. Yes, four touches. Something that for Cruyff would seem a impossible happened. Wenger desperation reached orbital dimensions with the substitution of Walcott for Vela. A shot but Cesc was saved as well as the enormous ammount of crosses in the remaining minutes of the match. As the time kept its way the missery for the London side came evident with the final whistle.

Arsenal v. Sheffield 6-0 23/Sep/08

The young Guns overwhelmed and destroyed in the most relentless way, as expected, the most ancient club in the history of England. Particularly fellow countryman Carlos Vela scored a hat-trick, raising different opinions among each side of the Atlantic. The Arsenal youngsters faced nearly no opposition and among the best were the mentioned Mexican, the "Robosaur," and Ramsey. Next round promises even more actions from the reserves and U-17 squads, in a move imitated by several top-flight teams inland and abroad.





Ramsey appropiated the ball in the first thirty minutes. With more possession in him rather than talent there were several orchestrating abilities that overpass Cesc's. Certainly his eagerness for the ball control is more noticeable than in Cesc's. Crosses from Randall in set up pieces and Ramsey's control were the average dominion of the London side. Nearly no attacks from the flanks came in the first half but the flamboyant Wilshere deployed an extremely excellent amount of ductibility against defenders. Two shots by Djorou and a fine shot by Wilshere, who took it a bit longer, were the Arsenal arrivals as far as the 29'. The first of the six goals came from Bendtner. Merida set Vela who made space for the Dane who finished right in the far corner. Certainly Vela managed to get the mark off from "Robosaur" who shot with the posts already in his mind. The defense had no real troubles and Fabianski had the luck to watch his team mates enjoying the game at the other end of the pitch. The two-nil came from the "Manipulator" Ramsey who did a brilliant pass to an on-side Bendtner who finished it neatly. Again Vela opened the field into the right side towards Ramsey who, after dribbling inbox passed Bednter to give him his second score of the match. The final minute gave the London side the third goal through Vela who finished classy in the far post.







Second half brought us the three remaining goals and the same unworried London side against the poor and meek United side. The team showed even more flexibility and freedom to sway between sides of the pitch. If the team could nor enter left, quickly it turned right or trhough the middle. Carlos Vela provoded us a jewel of agoal at 50'. He finished over the keeper in a subtle way. The brilliantness of his definition resided in the choice of the keeper rather than the peek of the ball. Vela knew that from the angle he was entering the box there was no other posibility of scoring a goal than that but the keeper hesitated and the goal was in the back of the net. The fifth came at 58' with a good Wilshere shot off the box. Kenny had a lot of participation in this goal but the last bounce helped him. At 63' Bendtner missed his hat-trick opportunity with a through pass by Merida. I found even more quick and elaborated the style of the youngsters than the one used by the first team. Maybe it is due of the desperation of the young mind but Ramsey, for example, is very quick and if he cannot find an accurate pass immedaitely searches for the other player. At 70' Landsbury, Simpson and Cocquelin replaced Song, Bendtner and Merida respectively. The final punch came from a Ramsey pass that completed the hattrick from my fellow countryman. The game went on in the final stages of the match until the final whistle put the Gunners on the next round of the Carling Cup.

Bolton v. Arsenal 1-3 20/Sep/08

A "perfect" performance today at the wanderers ground gave Arsenal the lead of the league. Ninety seconds were enough for the London side to secure a comfortable victory against an oportunous home side. This time the neglected efforts of the Wanderes were not as effective as the previous physiscall challenges and dirty tactics developed by Allardyce. It appears that Bolton can not struggle as far as a UEFA contending site. Still the remainder of last season's miraculous comeback had the traveling Gooners concerned with the always tough visit at Reebook Stadium.





The First half went on with the pressure of a determinate Bolton that managed to scare Almunia twice through Nolan. The difficulty of gaining possession by the defense and the overwhelming superiority of the home side gave them the lead at 15' through Kevin Davies. The Englishman got ahead of , yes Gallas again, and headed to the near post. The main problem of the Gunners was actually the absence of a "true midfield." Cesc was too forward while Denilson and Song too backwards. Near the 25' mark the visiting side turned the game favouring possession and above all, chances. Song and Adebayor prove the woodwork while Bendtner was near the equalizer that came at 26' through one of his brilliant passes. Although Eboué appeared to be offside the point was that the ball was not for him. 65'' later the lead by Arsenal came through Bendtner who capitalized a good reception by Manu followed by a nice cross of Denilson. The match went on until Davies criminally fouled Clichy nearing the half whistle.





Djorou entered for the injured Gaël and the most relevant happening was the third failed pass by Cesc at 48'. Although the superiority of Arsenal was clear, the ammount of uncertainty by the defense was clearly shown. Several attemtps by Davies at goal reminded Almunia to organize his wretched defensive block. In the other side Bedntner and Eboue clicked like Pires and Cole in the old days at Highbury. The physical prowness of Bolton was shown in the remaining parts of the match. The famous swaying formation 4-4-2 to 4-3-3 kept his rigidness allowing Theo more freedom that that with the English team. Ramsey entered at 85' fro Eboue nearly when reching the final whistle. The third goal came through a thunderous run by Theo which was set up by Manu and finished beautifully by Denilson.

Remaining uncertainty is on the Sheffield match which will prove one of Arsenal's most young sides ever.

Dynamo Kiev v. Arsenal 1-1 17/Sep/08

It was as if a foreteller was at the press conference in the Rovers house last Saturday, and not Mr. Wenger, when stated that a draw will not be sufferingas we did today at Kiev. And indeed the forecast was that of a late draw, but a late draw anyway. Either it was the difficult first away trip in any European draw or the current form of his team, but Mr. Wenger seem to see the future in all the ways possible, even when scouting.





When the match promised rather more actioned football, the nervous away Arsenal and the undecisive Ukranian side fought each for possession (yes for possession) in the first quarter-hour of first half. Nevertheless Ade had a clear shot in the 15' and the game went relentlessly dull until 30' without any interesting to comment. Spanish referee Medina Cantalejo was invisible, as any good referee has to do, yet up to this half. Rather than keeping ball, distributing it and basing game on possession the relaxed Arsenal faced a nervous home side. Cesc was being ignored rather than nullified. And so forth the first half went calmly with a glooming visiting side hoping to weave some possesion or touching rather than an overwhelming presence in the area without any response from Kiev side.





As near as the 50' the London side proved its inneficiency to pass the third quarter of the pitch. The reluctance was by far more present in the home side, but it was supposed that the visiting one should do the effort to score rather than make futile attempts towards possession. The media threw an impressive amount of flak against Medina Cantalejo, the spanish referee, who reluctantly conceaded different fouls that in some cases should have or should have not been given. Thus the game turned harder by the minute, with Kiev Captain Nesmachnyi punishing Walcott in his weakest point (and for rapid players) the heel. The late lead came, after a robbery by Median Cantalejo, with the conversion by Bangoura in the penalty spot. If the match turn from favorable to despicable, this moment was the turning point in the performance of the Spaniard. First, the man in the cross was offside and it did not appear a penalty at first sight.
The Londoners appeared quite relaxed, following the early statement of the visiting manager, and carried on through the futile attemtps through Cesc's long balls and corners. The last fifteen minutes became a complete continuous rampage by the London side with the usual counters by the Ukranian team. Finally the late equalizar was on the hands, or in the head, of William Gallas. Yes William Gallas. At 88' a melee in the 6-yard protagonized mainly by Bendtner gave the Arsenal the strange deal of one point and a safe return to London.