Kevin Whitcher
Trivia question I was given after the match. When was the last time Arsenal scored two penalties in the same game? No idea of the answer, but feel free to enlighten me. It can’t have been that long ago, could it? Obviously we are not talking penalty shoot-outs.
Some were pessimistic about this game, but it is a hallmark of the team’s inconsistency that they will sometimes play to something like their potential and win matches they are expected to. I had them down for three points, West Brom’s own recent dip in form a factor there.
It was an Arsenal that drove at the opposition a lot more than we have seen of late. Taking the ball forward is what the fans like to see. Quite what provided this extra drive is an intangible factor. A rocket up the rear passage at some point between the Swansea debacle and 3pm yesterday? One would like to think so.
Sure there was still an element of waste, especially with Gervinho, who has Walcott tendencies in his ability to excite one moment and then run into trouble before he knows what to do with the ball. One imagines Lukas Podolski, reputedly carrying an injury for most of his Arsenal career to date, is being rested ahead of the African Cup of Nations when Gervinho will be away. Squad rotation is no bad thing if it does not cost points. West Brom were fortunately not good enough to take anything away from north London, even with a little encouragement from the Gunners once they went two goals up.
I have to admit to not feeling the tension about matches that I used to feel. Maybe I am getting older, or maybe what is at stake seems to matter less. Statements like those of Tom Fox during the week may have contributed towards this feeling. I used to be excited by the Champions League when I had a notion that Arsenal could win it. Now it is just a club revenue stream rather than something I have any illusions that they can win. My only real interest in the draw on Friday 20th is whether or not we get Malaga as I can see a sunshine break in the offing. The new commercial deals do not fill me with pride, and unfortunately, I do not believe the increased revenue will be spent wisely, if at all, going on purchases in recent seasons.
The second half of the match at least provided some good entertainment with the crowd enjoying the West Brom goal kicks, suddenly taking place at three times the pace and a moment of humour between Boaz Myhill and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain before one of them. There also seemed to be a little feistiness, with both Jack Wilshere and Olivier Giroud showing their willingness to get their handbags out if required. It would be nice to see this indication of giving a damn displayed by more of the team on a habitual basis.
It was a relatively tension-free afternoon once the home team went ahead, due to the paucity of West Brom’s play. This was certainly not the same side that beat Chelsea not so long ago in one of Roberto Di Matteo’s final matches. Santi Cazorla’s dive for the first penalty may cost in the long run, as with Arsenal players, once a piece of simulation has been highlighted, they rarely get future decisions. This policy does not extend to Manchester United because Alex Ferguson runs the FA’s refereeing selection committee.
Anyway, job done. Subsequent League fixtures against Reading, Wigan, West Ham, Newcastle and Southampton offer 15 points that in seasons not so long ago, one could imagine Arsenal taking the lot. The team have the players capable of winning all these matches and putting a run together. We watch and wait…
News on the West Ham game is that it will probably be rescheduled for the 27th if the tube strike situation is not resolved, possibly with an earlier kick off time. It has been pointed out that the 27th is in fact a working day, so who knows. I don’t think the police would want a London derby kicking off in the evening on a day most people will be off if they can help it.
The current issue of The Gooner will be on sale outside the away sections at the games v Bradford, Reading and Wigan. It can also be bought online here. There is also an e-version of the issue available to read on your ipad/tablet/iphone/android. The app is free and you can download the first few pages of each issue as a taster before deciding whether or not to purchase the whole thing.
