Joe Mardon
Only Arsenal could score a 'winning' goal in the dying seconds of what should be the last of eight additional minutes, and yet still throw it all away. A lead is never enough to mean a win with this Arsenal, no matter the margin or the length of time remaining.
It was another let down of a home performance. The pattern is all to regular. Pass. Pass. Slow. Pass. Around the box, looking for that intricate pass leading to a beautiful goal. When that doesn't work, the change is eventually made. A strong, tall, physical forward is brought on, and Bendtner finds himself stuck out wide, trying to create the cross that he really ought to be in the middle trying to get on the end of. How often has that worked? What sort of home result do we have to endure before Arsene realises that the current formation isn't working there? Fruitless. Firing blanks. We can't score a goal against Blackburn. Sunderland. Van Persie finds himself isolated, there's nobody in the box and it's just all too easy to defend against. Four Four Two.
And yet for all that nothingness, the three points were there. Take them, and this morning’s papers become about how Arsenal battled on to the death to stay in the title race. Papering over the cracks, but f**k it, three points does that very well. But only Arsenal, when gaining such a lead, would find themselves stricken by the panic of losing it, rather than rising to the importance of keeping it. Bottle. See it out. When the ball is in or around our box, someone, anyone in red and white, take responsibility and just clear the ball. The passage of play which precedes the Suarez free kick (which leads to you know what) makes horrific viewing. There's four chances to clear the ball. Four. But we wobble. It's what we do. A simple clearance. Kick the ball as far and as high as you can. Shut your eyes and do it if you like, but do it all the same.
How is the cult of Eboue this morning? I've long grown tired of the adoration the overpaid cheerleader receives, simply by way of an apology for the over the top damnation that went beforehand. He was fantastic in the 2006 Champions League run at full back. He hasn't been since. I wasn't amongst the muggy boo boys, just as I haven't signed up to the cult, which, I assume, is now done?
The free kick hits the wall and spins away from the goal. Away. Don't touch the player, engage brain. Lee Dixon said that someone with the mentality of Nigel Winterburn would never have given that penalty away. At that point, he'd have known the attacker would go down given the slightest opportunity. He'd also realise that the referee wouldn't be too shy about giving one, having done so at the other end. Either neither thought crossed Eboue's mind, or they did and he still ended clumsily falling over an opposing player in the dying seconds of a vital game. I'm not sure what's worse. Perhaps he was already thinking of his personal lap of honour and a hug from Gunnersaurus.
It wasn't all his fault, and he hasn't been around for similarly discouraging results that have gone before. But it was f**kin stupid all the same. In the twelfth of eight additional minutes as well. How does that add up? And how convenient that there was literally a second left for Kuyt to take the penalty, but not one second more? It shouldn't have mattered. Defend properly and it wouldn't have. But we didn't and it does.
Leaving home games disappointed is nothing new, nor is the civil war that again broke out around the ground amongst disgruntled fans. I've lost count of the times I've walked away believing the league to be out of reach, written off. But then this forgiving and poor league sees an average United drop points, and before you know it you're walking back into the ground thinking 'we're back in it'. We never were. Mathematically? Yes. Still are. But I never liked f**king maths so I'm not going to start being mates with it now.
We don't have a chance because we aren't good enough to be crowned Champions. It would be an insult to the Invincible and double winning sides of the not too distant past if we were. Unless Newcastle can take points of Manchester United on Tuesday, and we then win at the Lane? Then we might have yet another chance.
To choke again.
***Follow more of my Arsenal based ramblings over on Twitter @TheArsenal_
