Arsenal v. Celtic 3-1 26/Aug/09

Today the Gunners cruised past the Bhoys on a clear and windy night at the Grove with an aggregate score of 5-1. Certainly the two-nil score was a fair advantage and, with so much talk from the media, already attributing to the Londoners the previous clash in Parkhead as well as against Porstmouth to pure luck, it was Arsenal's possession, and the new tactical disposition that made the gap even wider.
Eduardo dived. There is no doubt about it. The problem with the incident, is not even the extent of the dive, since the Scottish team was pretty much disassembled when it happened but what actually surround it. We shall expect a fierce bombardment from the media throughout the week, if not the entire season.




[Photo: AS]



Hostilities began with both teams firing blanks at each other, with the most important one of Eduardo, who missed a deviation by Boruc just after the Polish saved a great effort by Bendtner. The Gunners saw the panorama more bright as they reached Boruc's goal easily. Even though the Bhoys were making considerable efforts to get their game on, minute by minute the hope was dissolving into thin air. The wild pace from the visitors began to wore as Eboue shot of the mark.
Then Eduardo unleashed hell. The Crozilian fooled the referee after clearly diving on what appeared to be one of the most bizarre cheatings in football. The mischievous act was easily detected in the repetitions and the controversial refereeing saw the visiting fans, as well as some pundits on tv, enrage. Obviously the kick was converted by the striker. The frenzy media that will follow after this incident will not take precedents in the history of refereeing.
With three strange goals in their backs, Mowbray's men tried to recuperate from the devastating blow. Fox wide freekick was a summary of the effort of the entire qualifier: massive energy and raw talent wasted by some pervading bad luck. A disallowed McDonald goal was all that came from the Scottish offence.




[Photo: Daily Mail]



McGeady worried Almunia when a soaring strike went past the post just right, in the very beginning of the second half. In the next minute a dazzling play resulted in a fluke by Eduardo. The match resulted in a come-and-go until Eboué stroke the final blow. After a beautiful play by Diaby and Bendtner, the Ivorian broke Danny Fox's cover and shot to far post. The match was resolved, only if Celtic could have scored four goals without conceiving.
With nearly a half an hour to go, Mowbray replaced McGeady. This kind of movements are not expected when ten minutes before, and throughout the knock-out phase, your best man created the best chances.
With twenty minutes remaining Wenger made a couple of substitutions; midgets Arshavin and Wilshere came in for Eduardo and Eboue respectively. It was the Russian international, who made his first appearance, a golden one. Denilson stole the ball and Ramsey set Arshavin, who turned and finished again into the far post.
The dominance was ousted by the home squad. Celtic, in all fairness tried to counter the tight grip at times but certainly it was the Bhoys effort which was completely shadowed by the advancing and overwhelming force of Arsenal. The consolation goal, mainly for the travelling fans' joy, was Donati, who perfectly volleyed a long ball in the final seconds of the match.

Arsenal v. Portsmouth 4-1 22/Aug/09

A positive difference in terms of goals for Wenger's men: ten goals scored, two received in two matches.
[Poto: Telegraph]



The Gunners kept with the high start today at the Grove, after vanishing Portsmouth four goals against one. The visitors looked as sharp as an elephant on ice-skates for long periods of the match. Whilst the Gunners tried to achieve the level of expectation of last week's Everton the resilience of their midifield soared above level with Abou Diaby scoring twice.
It was obvious that the luck was on Wenger's side and whilst the north Londoners dominance was apparent at times, so the fortuitous chances were evident. The home team were lucky enough to have not more than one goal since Gallas's tantrums and Almunia's defensive misattentions rose.

Kevin Palmer's veredict sums the Almunia situation very clear: "Portsmouth's sense of injustice covers up the reality that they were comprehensively outclassed by Arsenal. Wenger must ensure the old defensive lapses that hurt his side last season are not allowed to damage his hopes once again."

A massive week relies ahead; the "won" match against Celtic at home and then, another battle at Old Trafford next Saturday. The matches between Arsenal and United over the past two seasons have proved to be cardiac to say the least and this time it is up for the Gunners to prove their title credentials against the best team in England (so far!).







Arsenal's game did not start until the 18th minute when, after a great team play, Diaby finished top corner. In all fairness, it was more of a Cesc-Eduardo goal than the Frenchman's but goals like that, prove the value and hierarchy of the team as a whole. If there was a doubt about Arsenal's level and commitment to the beautiful style of football, four minutes later Diaby again scored after yet another perfect counter-attack. The home side easily and without trouble outclassed Pompey.
It was clear, with thirty minutes on the clock, that there was practically no opposition on the pitch, and that the Gunners' dominance was completely based on the treatment of clinically well-executed plays. James began to appear as a key factor of Portsmouth's intentions. And the trace of that ambitions came late in the first half; Kaboul headed past Almunia to hold a narrow and dim hope of equalising for Portsmouth.
In the extended repetition, the play looked rather dubious; Almunia apparently being knocked before Gallas, who was also tackled by the scorer. It was in this same fashion that Wenger's men easily conceaded against Everton last week, a defensive distraction that should be completely avoided.




[Photo: Daily Mail]



The gret news was the introduction of Ramsey in the second half. Far from being happy for the Welshman (well deserved by the way!) it was on an injury suspicion on Cesc. Aside that, the Gunners dominance did not drop, instead another goal from a set piece was scored by with the famous Gallas style: with some part of the body except the head or the foot. The options for attack were, again, overwhelming the opposition. Ramsey proved to be influential while the massive force of the fit Diaby was key for winning the match.
To note, there was a lack of attacking options provided by Gibbs; he could not (or did not) went as much as to cross in the other end as in previous matches. All in all, Portsmouth flashes and glimpses were diminished by Arsenal's defence and in one occasion it was obvious that William Gallas should have been sent off.
To finish on a high, Ramsey scored his first Premier League goal. Van Persie set him and, with the calm of a veteran, the Welshman finished at the near post of James. Some substitutions were made, and the absence of Wilshere was strange for many of the supporters as well as the commentators. It may have to do with the next U-20 tournament next September. In any case, Portsmouth substituted their best man (Jesus, the world is coming to an end! Since when is David James the best man of a match!) due to an injury problem. To add more woe Bedntner could have raised the tally to five but that was for another day.

Two Yeats

THANKS AGAIN!



Again, I would like to thank each visitor that has had the time to stop by and check the blog. Whether a casual visit, an enemy, another Google arrival or a loyal reader I'd like to thank the time and patience for visiting our blog. Today Deviations (well 23 days ago actually) has accomplished two years since its creation back in 2007. Times have been tough for the blog since I have not the required time to update the page, as I'd like, due to school issues. Still, I will upload each and every game played by Arsenal this season, as well as some criticism regarding the 70th anniversary of the death of William Butler Yeats, some reviews of books, records, films and more.







A full preview of the World Cup as well as a full coverage of the tournament, and the draw in one week's time, will be reviewed promptly. I'd like to thank many readers and I hope that with a little feedback we can achieve a better site for all of you. To this day, Shinystat has counted 10,577 page views and 8,274 visits.
Again I have made some upgrades in the way I write, especially in the appearance of the site. Yet again THANK YOU for the support and keeping my dream; to write about the things I love.

Celtic v. Arsenal 0-2 18/Aug/09

[Photo: Daily Mail]



The Gunners made history in a lucky visit to Parkhead, facing Celtic in the first leg of the Qualification Round of the UEFA Champions League Groups Stage draw. Soccernet match report outlines the importance of tonight's match: "Only Barcelona and Dinamo Moscow, in the previous round, had beaten Celtic in the previous 36 European matches at Parkhead."
The next fixture, before hosting Celtic at the Emirates, is against Portsmouth. During the week so much was discussed regarding the atmosphere at Celtic Park and obviously the local fans did not disappoint. The pressure on the Gunners was even greater due to the fact that the underdogs, the Bhoys, would look to outstand the Gunners.

Mowbray's men looked sharp for the first minutes but it was the resilient English side that through possession and without it, managed to dominate the game in its entirety. While many attempts were made from the Scottish team, it was the sole effort of Ireland international Aiden McGeady who came close to any real threat to Almunia's goal. Next fixture at the Grove seems more of a 90-minute procedure, and while the prospect of the half-ticket to Europe's elite congregation is nearer, the lead is dangerous: two away goals could put Wenger's men in the sharp edge of the knife.





[Photo: Guardian]



Whilst Celtic begun with a very active and energetic display, the visitors restored the possession. It was not until the 19th minute that the game moved on quickly enough. Vermaelen saved the day by clearing a ball in what appeared to be a goal-scoring opportunity chance led by McGeady.
And it was the Irish winger who put into troubles Arsenal's defence throughout the final fifteen minutes. It was a tough and difficult match that needed a mistake to break the deadlock.
With five minutes to half time, the Gunners made themselves way into Boruc's goal. Although the possession they had during the last minutes, Mowbray's men managed to challenge their opposite: Maloney set Brown who took a weak shot into Almunia's. As the first half ended with a share hold of possession and practically zero chances for each side, the stalemate was about to be broken in the following minutes when a deflection of a Cesc shot bounced Gallas, who "scored" two minutes from break. Whether it was Gallas who "backed" it, or Cesc goal remains as a doubt to me.





[Photo: Daily Mail]



The threat level continued for Mowbray's men as the Gunners produced a fair amount of chances in the first ten minutes of the second half. Whereas there was not much to offer from Mowbray's ammunition stockpile, the Bhoys attacked throughly, mainly with the efforts of McGeady. Apparently two substitutions were the solution for the home side.
The only way that the Scottish team was heading towards Almunia's goal was through counterattacks. In the 65th minute they had already produced at least five runs, mainly relying in the speed of McGeady again. Exactly in the height of Celtic's momentum, the 70th minute, the key apparition of Diaby settled things a bit more. Two minutes later, Gary Caldwell stuck the ball in his own net, after a cross from Clichy.
Even though the attacks from Celtic were continuous, their attempts diluted against a better defence. This time, as the match wore off, it was the day of the Gunners and the advantage of two away-goals seem conclusive. It could be argued that the luck was on the English side, but with matches of this importance, and the decisive performance by Arsenal, everything counts for and against.

Henry's antics

[Photo: OFF/AFP/Getty Images through Guardian]


My opinions on Henry are varied, dissimilar and different. Probably this time the will sway to the realms of the negative, if they were not even at the top of that category already. Trying to justify what he did is an offence to football. But it is of the utmost importance to see the event calmly, due to the fact that we can reach judgements of the likes of Sarkozy, or the absolute frenzy of the media around the globe. I think Henry, as an Arsenal legend, is untouchable, but some of his tantrums especially in his last year at North London, were different from what an actual legend will behave, something that differs my opinion from the common Goonners (which may or may not be fair). When one player thinks he is above the club, then the position of the player himself is no longer of a team, but of a centred self.


Twitter, for example, became an immediate source for all kinds of responses


Whether some say that it is disproportioned the aspect of this has takes, other ignore it thoroughly and even treat it as a normal happening in the world of football. I agree that these action can take epic proportions, different from what they actually "are". It was obvious that a complain was coming from the FAI.



[Photo: Daily Mail]


The responses from both sides of the canal were immediate, usually giving the Irish some credit. Accounts from L'equipe, Le Monde and Le Figaro. Obviously I had to take Irish sites into consideration, since my French is completely inexistent.
In Mexico, a blog in Record, portrayed a wide variety of handball goals. In blogs the most avid response, which particularly blame media as usual, was Arseblog's.


Obviously, the FIFA has remained silent and in their match report does not even mention a chronology as it is used to happen at all competitions in all levels. The Spanish site did not have any report or review whereas the English one had a discreet and brief reports of the actions.




[Photo: Sky Sports through Telegraph]



The replay, requested by the Irish FA, is unlikely to happen. If that was to happen, it will open a half-way open Pandora box - that has been ajar through the course of football history. As well as dives, technology and referees will be discussed and the whole bunch of idiocy with it.
Whether the FIFA takes actions or not, this generation of French players will be regarded as nothing but a failure, resorting into cheats to qualify to the World Cup. Certainly even the most critical of the French has reached a conclusion which is not favourable at all for their current side.


I think, whether Robbie Keane is involved in this or not, still the actions of Henry are not justifiable by any means, and that makes the thing more impressive. That the undertakings of France's no. 14 are more f*cked up than the ones outside the match- ie. press, declarations etc. is no secret to any of us.
In the end, we should not crucify Henry, but the hideous referee and the decisions of Mr Platini will all be on the same plate. The fact that this situation could have happened to Anelka would have made a world of difference for Arsenal fans, let alone the Irish.