TFG
The momentum which carried this team has come to a shuddering halt. Everybody, it seems, was delighted – with the exception of the bemused Arsenal contingent – after we threw away a four goal lead at Newcastle. Sky have goals to play on loop; Phil Dowd has the elation of his infamy and Joey Barton can have claimed to have got his side out of jail. When you consider the irony of Barton being involved in a concerted effort to avoid jail, you can appreciate the extent of the madness which unfolded at St. James’ Park.
To gauge the context of this match, one has to remember the Huddersfield and Everton games. After much ado about nothing from their near neighbours during the F A Cup third round ties, The Terriers could have felt justifiably disappointed to be eliminated by the poorer team on the day. During that game, two key moments highlighted refereeing inconsistency. There can be few complaints about Sebastien Squillaci’s dismissal before half time; but equally it is amazing that Mark Clattenburg allowed Jamie McCombe to remain on the pitch, after upending Nicklas Bendtner for the decisive penalty kick.
Following defeat, David Moyes appeared incensed by Cesc’s remonstrations with the referee. The home crowd were quick to summarise the real villain of the piece – “1 – 0 to the referee” serving as both accusation and match report for the first half. In the end, justice was done – and unlike Huddersfield, Everton could have no basis for indignation.
Undeniably, Newcastle United should have been beaten, having conceded twice before many fans would have taken their seats. To their credit, even at 4 – 0, the majority of Newcastle supporters continued to voice encouragement for their side. It must be hard enough to muster song at that point, without the extra burden of their side being managed by a man whose only qualification for replacing Chris Hughton is his friendship with Mike Ashley. For different reasons, I very much doubt that either featured on Arsene Wenger’s Christmas card list.
Dowd set the scene for the second half by allowing Barton’s crude challenge on Arshavin to go without caution, just before the interval. As so often happens, with no deterrent offered, Newcastle United set about “getting stuck in” at the beginning of the second half. Losing Djourou, replaced by the hapless Squillaci, was the first key indicator that there may be trouble ahead. (It seems that “hapless” will soon replace Sebastien as the preferred prefix). The challenge which prompted Abou Diaby’s moronic retaliation merited at least a yellow for Barton. The dismissal turned the game – and presented Dowd the platform from which to claim the man of the match award for The Toon.
The first penalty would have been given at Old Trafford, if in United’s favour. Immediately after the spot kick, Wojciech Szczesny was thrown to the ground by Kevin Nolan, protesting at perceived time wasting. What differentiation Dowd made between that assault and Diaby’s is beyond my simple comprehension. He then proceeded to disallow a goal for Leon Best, when Rosicky had clearly played him onside. Best forced himself on to the score sheet, before Dowd’s pièce de résistance.
The second penalty award was astonishing – if you have seen the highlights, you will have spotted the fourth official’s attempts to distance himself from his colleague, as Arsene Wenger expressed his disgust. That Match of the Day’s “finest” concurred with Wenger needs no further elaboration. The equally errant assistant, Mr. Massey maintained equilibrium in disallowing Robin van Persie’s deft chip at the death. Had the officials performed with any level of competence, Arsenal would have prevailed by the odd goal in nine. As it is, this game will now be talked about in the same breath as the capitulations against Spurs at home (twice), Wigan (twice), Liverpool (twice) and worse still, Ipswich (away), Shakhtar Donetsk (away) and Partizan Belgrade (away). There are other embarrassments which I could add, but would rather forget.
The Manchester United “Invincibles” faltered in the late kick off. Whilst I still think that they will win the title, I had no doubt that they would lose at least once in doing so. Moreover, there was a suspicion that it would be against a team less fancied to shatter the dreams of The Cockney Reds and large sections of the media. Although the defeat serves to underline the enormity of the achievement in 2004; I wonder how Ferguson’s men will react to this setback. Wenger allowed his charges to sulk for an age; whatever the arguments following Mr. Riley’s officiating during that 2 – 0 reverse at Old Trafford. I do not anticipate a similar reaction by United and therein lies possibly the most telling difference between the mentalities of the two camps.
So what can the squad learn from Saturday that we do not already know? Jack Wilshere will probably find out that his public exasperation will prove both fruitless and expensive – the FA will use the outburst in much the same way that David Moyes focussed on Cesc’s musings. We know that some of the second string have neither the quality nor brains to adequately cover for their more accomplished counterparts. We also know that, rather than admonish the idiocy of their surrender, that Wenger will soothe egos and tell them that they are the best. Those credentials have been belied yet again. I am afraid that Barcelona will ridicule this misrepresentation in the next few weeks.
With that in mind, I think that the absences of Song, Nasri and Vermaelen against Barcelona can only exacerbate the potential for humiliation; rather than simply account for it. My main focus for the immediate future, despite United losing, is the opportunity to win silverware on 27 February.
Football can be cruel: Newcastle United helped to reaffirm that. It can also be horribly ironic. Obafemi Martins went through a period when he was constantly linked with Arsenal. Now, he has the chance to show us what we might have missed. Birmingham City have form when it comes to dishing out the rough stuff and are more than happy to take advantage of the kind of generosity which Phil Dowd offered Joey Barton and Kevin Nolan. It is crucial that we have the best possible eleven available for that game. It is equally important that each player retains a focus and professionalism.
I have every expectation that Alex McLeish will send his team out with a reminder of how The Netherlands dealt with Spain in the last World Cup Final. Although ultimately unsuccessful, we know that there is unlikely to be the same criticism levelled as was heaped on the Dutch, if Birmingham employ those “tactics”. Mike Dean is well known to Arsenal fans. A simple Google search – “Mike Dean Arsenal” – is sufficient to conjure numerous memories of injustices of which he has certainly been the catalyst. That Arsenal are often the authors of their own misfortune cannot be denied. However, if any positive is to be gained from the experience at St. James’ Park, I hope that it manifests itself at Wembley.
Just as karma dictated that Louis Saha should have a perfectly valid goal chalked off against Blackpool – again, owing to substandard officiating – so we can use this recent horror as inspiration for success. Facing adversity and learning from it; enduring the pain with stoic determination, is the preserve of winners and the formula which should end our wait for a pot on the sideboard. Graft and grit – if we can match Birmingham City for these qualities, we can expose them for what they are in terms of collective football acumen. Applied over the remainder of the season, we can also ensure Champions League football for next season, which I think is entirely achievable.
Beyond that, anything else would be a fantastic bonus – and one which recent history would suggest is as unlikely as recovery from a four goal deficit. Of course, if we finish the season as champions, I would be more than delighted to be proven wrong. After all, I thought that we wouldn’t beat Spurs in the third round of The Carling Cup – pessimist or realist? I live in hope that I will be shown to be a fool. It wouldn’t be the first time, nor will it be the last. Sadly, the same can also be said for the refereeing fraternity and their paymasters at the FA.
