Kevin Whitcher
In May 2013 Laurent Koscielny popped up with a critical goal at Newcastle in the final match of the season, which secured fourth place and ultimately Champions League football for the club at the expense of Spurs. The centre back has a habit of converting critical goals, and we will know how important yesterday’s was at the end of the season.
The significance of winning this game though, could be seen in the body language of manager Arsene Wenger. His pacing of the touchline and animated remonstrations with the referee and fourth official brought to memory the 2014 FA Cup Semi Final against Wigan. He had reason to be anxious. Although way too early to write off a title challenge with any failure to take the three points, it remains a fact that it is difficult to make a case for the Gunners as champions elect if they cannot defeat relegation candidates at home.
In the end, it was a game when how the points were won was an irrelevance. But Arsenal took a long time to take the lead. Newcastle played with spirit and tenacity, belying their league position. Fabio Collocini’s performance was particularly notable, with the exception of the goal when Giroud beat him in the air. Few of Arsenal’s players really stood out. There was a lack of quality with a distinct inability to make the most of the opportunities they did carve out.
The conditions didn’t help. The kind of squally wet January afternoon that makes you want to jump in the bath and shed your damp clothes as soon as you get through the front door. Still, it didn’t seem to create too many mistakes in Newcastle’s defence. And the visitors, although much of the time seeming to settle for the draw, did break in numbers when given the chance and Petr Cech was called upon regularly and pulled off more than one top drawer save. Wenger said in the build-up to the Manchester City game, “There is no history of teams winning things without having a great goalkeeper. I’m now 30 years in the job and you learn over the years that the goalkeeper is the most underrated position in football – and maybe the most vital one for winning things.” Hmmmm…. Quite what happened between dropping Jens Lehmann in 2007 and the signing of Cech last summer is one that will have many a Gooner scratching their heads reading that quote.
I was surprised to see Mathieu Flamini come back into the side in place of Calum Chambers after the Bournemouth match. The Ox kept his place with Joel Campbell remaining on the bench. I thought it was particularly harsh to demote Gabriel back to the bench, but I am certain he will start in the FA Cup game next weekend. Overall, Newcastle, at least until Koscielny broke the deadlock, had the better of the chances. It was a game Arsenal were expected to win comfortably, although sometimes, those are precisely the ones they make the heaviest weather of.
Mesut Ozil did not have as good a match as he did last Monday evening, and as a consequence, the team looked devoid of inspiration. They may have been faced with a resolute defence, but it was hardly an outstanding one. Top of the table they might be, but with visits to Liverpool, Stoke, Everton, Spurs and the two Manchester clubs they will have to play better than this. Some late nerves might have been quelled had Aaron Ramsey decided not to go for glory and passed a simple square ball for a tap-in in the dying minutes.
There is an understandable fear that Arsenal might run out of steam. Certainly, at times Giroud looks flagged out and Ozil himself surely cannot go on forever. Fresh legs are required, and if these are not about to return from the treatment table, then the club really need to look at the transfer market as one fears what might happen without the injection of someone new and fresh into the side. The manager’s current options are pretty thin.
It was a game that will be quickly forgotten, although the manager’s changing into a hoodie with tracksuit bottoms and trainers for the second half put me in mind of a Scouse tearaway offering to look after your car. That image, at least, will stay with me.
Thanks to Ian Henry who texted me with the following:
“It’s that kind of rubbish that wins titles,” said the man next to me on 90 minutes.
We live in hope…
I am now on Twitter@KevinWhitcher01.
The new issue of The Gooner can be bought at the home match v Sunderland next Saturday. It includes a free 2016 pullout calendar. The theme, with next year marking the 10th anniversary of the stadium move, is “10 Years at the Grove” and features a notable match from the last decade for every month. The issue can also be bought online here.
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