Kevin Whitcher
Arsenal’s preference for walking the ball into the net can, at times, frustrate the home crowd. Thank goodness football is a game of two halves because the Gunners were certainly not very good in the first one of the match with Fulham. In fact, in spite of the visiting team’s prioritizing defence over attack, they somehow managed to fashion the best chances before the interval. I was astonished when Mathieu Flamini escaped a yellow card for the most cynical of fouls to nip a Fulham counter attack in the bud, but referee Lee Probert evidently did not want to book anyone. A bit of me wondered if he had left his yellow card in the dressing room. There is not much more to say about the first 45 minutes apart from that, so I shall chip in with some off the pitch observations.
The Young Guns section was relatively modest in size for the game. I have seen it extended far more on occasion. For those that do not know about it, it offers Junior Gunners between the ages of 12 and 16 the chance to buy tickets for a tenner behind the Clock End goal for weekend grade B & C matches. It’s a fine initiative, although one that was proposed to the club by an AST member. However, I am uncertain it has been publicized widely enough, as it is often not full. I can’t imagine kids are buying tickets and not turning up for games.
Elsewhere in the crowd, well specifically the directors box, I spotted a certain Enos Stanley Kroenke. There is a perception that Kroenke never attends Arsenal matches, which is a little bit of an exaggeration. The truth is he has watched the team at least three times this season, but it has gone beyond the stage where his attendance garners any publicity. I can only assume there was a board meeting on Thursday or Friday. There is speculation that Arsène Wenger has signed a contract extension but that it has not been announced yet. Or maybe the board meeting discussed player investment in the current window. Who knows?
The atmosphere in the stadium generally felt a little flat, which probably did not help the team in terms of exerting pressure. Strange, in that there was plenty at stake here, but that’s football nowadays.
Anyway, back to the match itself and the second half, which was much more like it from Arsenal. Fulham were eventually worn down and that the goals were partly down to a little more space allowed to make return passes. When Koscielny put the rebound from Sagna’s shot back to the keeper when he had the rest of the goal gaping, you just wondered if it was going to be one of those days. Fortunately, Cazorla eventually broke the deadlock when the tikka-takka finally paid off. A second goal from the same player followed shortly and we were in comfort zone territory. Lukas Podolski entered the fray for Serge Gnabry (who has not seemed as effective in the last two matches) and had an immediate effect with his tendency to actually test the opposition keeper. He hit the post with a shot from outside the box. I would imagine that he will get a start against Coventry, but going forward, there may be an argument to start him ahead of Gnabry if the younger German does not recapture the promise of his previous first team appearances.
The Gunners post-interval pressure up to the point of the first goal and Fulham’s subsequent opening up of the game made for a far better spectacle. Ultimately, entertainment was not the priority though and the critical three points were secured. My view is that if Arsenal are to win the title this season, they will have to do it leading from the front. If they fall behind Manchester City or Chelsea, I think it may be difficult to overtake them. It is starting to look like the days of these two teams dropping unexpected points may be less frequent. City’s home record speaks for itself and Chelsea appear to have rediscovered their knack of getting results under Mourinho. However, I was informed by email last night that Arsenal have only conceded one goal in their previous nine home league matches. And, aside from the occasional aberration (such as that at Eastlands) there is no doubt that defensively, the team is a different proposition since the spring of 2013. And, for all of Manchester City’s attacking prowess, if Arsenal do not concede, they will generally score at least one in 90 minutes. 16 1-0s in the next 16 league games will be enough to guarantee the title.
It is looking as if the matches against the sides around them in the table in February and March will be the ones that determine whether the defence will be good enough to actually win the title. Since the pre-Christmas lapse, the team have answered every question that has been put in front of them. Winning bread and butter home matches has, in the past, been something the team have failed to do when the pressure is on. It is encouraging to see this is not happening so much now. Teams are being broken down, even if at times, the wait to do so can feel a little tortuous. In the end though, attacking pressure has usually told.
One imagines a fairly weakened side will take the field on Friday against Coventry in the FA Cup, and the visit to Southampton the following midweek will be a far more difficult proposition, but one that realistically, Arsenal will have to win. A signing in the meantime would be a statement of intent, and perhaps a necessity if the team are to negotiate the challenges that lie ahead. As is stands, every time Giroud requires treatment, the tension in the crowd is palpable. Names are being bandied about, but it’s all meaningless until we get a photo of a new arrival with the shirt. We watch and wait.
The new issue of The Gooner will be on sale outside the stadium at the forthcoming home matches v Coventry and Crystal Palace can be bought online here.
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