No change makes the difference leave Eboue alone
Happy days
By Boris Mellor
October 1 2008
This Arsenal team is infuriating, and the crowd took a while to forgive them their transgressions. However, Wenger the great redeemer had forgiven his prodigal sons already; having frothed and foamed he put his rod away. The fan behind me knew no such forgiveness, and kept on muttering he could not believe Wenger, why hadn't he dropped more players?
Wenger had only whipped them with whips, he would have whipped them with scorpions.I had some sympathy, and if it had been up to me I would have dropped RvP, which show how little I know. Nevertheless, after 30 minutes the said fan had also forgiven all and was happily joining in the songs of praise on the North Bank Hymn sheet.
The only player rotated was Eboue; he was no more to blame than any other player for Saturday's fiasco, probably less than Gallas, or even more. However it made sense to put Nasri back into the team, the guy is quality.
Arsenal started slowly and carefully as they should in a match of this importance, there are no prizes for the gung ho in this competition. Nonetheless, it was Porto that exposed the defensive frailties of the Gunners more than the other way round in the first 20 minutes. Fortunately, Clichy was there to cover up for the weaknesses of the centre pairing, and his goal line clearance was the turning point of the match.
I dread to think what would have happened if Porto had scored first, but thanks to Gael I do not have to. From then on it was all Arsenal. From then on Arsenal proceeded to walk the ball into the net. I love it when they do that. Adebayor's assist to RvP was superb, as was Robin's finish.
Fabregas was at his most productive, although he still needs his shooting boots back, but that will come. For this match he did not fall back so deep, but that was because the whole team pushed up and kept up the tempo.
Ade's header was slightly lucky, but the fan behind me kept on that he should have headed directly at goal, wrong, he did the right thing and got a break. After that it was a stroll. It could have been seven with Theo, Ade and Nasri all missing sitters, but who cares it was great stuff, and Saturday's blues finally lifted as the crowd sang are you Tottenham in disguise. This was Wengerball at its best, and fragile defending is the obverse side of the same Arsene coin.
Double standards.
Have you noticed that when a Theo shot misses the target we all chant Theooo Theoooo, quite right too, it encourages him, but when Ade misses we all groan. I suppose the reason is that Ade scores more.
As for the Eboue boo boys why don't they ease off, they all clap Gallas, who fecked up big time on Saturday. Yes, I prefer Nasri, but Wenger needed to rest him, so how does it help the team to boo Eboue as he comes on. How do they think the rest of the team feel about it? Do they think they are grateful, that their confidence rises?
Wenger is the one who picks Eboue, not Eboue, so why don't they boo Wenger, how about a chant of "you don't know what you are doing". I think fans with this kind of attitude don't deserve a team that wins anything. In fact, Eboue is improving, yes his shooting is wayward, but then he is not the only midfielder we have that can't score.It is a pity to taint such an excellent victory with such gratuitous nastiness.
Theodore roosevelt - In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.
i think the emirates is the new prawn sandwich brigade
And Eboue is an important squad member when we need defensive skills to defend a narrow lead and to breakup opponents who started to have their tails up and having a go at Arsenal.
EBoue is as vital as Nasri and the correct substituting timing by Wenger that will be vital for thsi marathon race to title.
What worries me is that he will be driven out. he is not my first choice but he is a very useful squad player.
He is also a fun character
No matter what he always gives 100% thats what i love about him.
Eboue came on when we were 4-0 up. Nasri came off after having a fantastic game, he's fit, healthy and ready for saturday now. Eboue is an experienced arsenal player who is fast, fit and pretty strong.
This is a squad game and him coming on means we have some experience on the bench and an able deputy for a lot of positions.
I've been critical in the past of Eboue as a first team regular but i feel that is fair. As a squad member he is decent and as good as other teams' squad players e.g. O'shea, babel, kalou (names off the top of my head).
If Eboue coming on and playing decent games which are in the bag keeps our players fresh for the next game I'm happy. Who wouldn't be?
Meither do I as there is stil a nagging doubt in me that his f**king agent will start bragging in January that CITEH ahd approached him and prepared to pay Arsenal 40m and him 150,000 pw.
Resulting in him jumping the ship immediately "to help CITEH to qualify for CL Cup".
Somewhat, I dictated Adebyaor's body language indicating he is not giving his all like 2006/07 season.
I've not booed him this season and wont do so either but I dont respect him like I did before. Seems cocky and arrogant to me and as you say he's definitely not like he was during the 06/07 season when he only scored 15 or so but worked so hard and ran around for ages.
I wouldnt be surprised either if we get some rubbish from him during the transfer window.
The problem in the team is then systemic, rather than about individual ability. So teams that can take advantage of the holes at the back will beat us, and those that can’t will be destroyed by the brilliance of the team going forward
I haven’t the faintest idea whether Song is the answer, or whether Denilson will grow into the role.
At centre half Johan was excellent against West Brom but he and Gallas were still exposed by the lack of protection in front of them. On present form, and it’s a tight call, Kolo might need to be the player rested. He is a player and a man I greatly admire, and when he came into the team he all but reinvented the role of the centre half, but he has not been the same player either since a) Gallas arrived, or b) the ACN, depending on your point of view
But the point is, as Stuart Pearce said last night, that these difficulties should be seen in the context of the Wenger project. It’s a project I support with all my heart, and I think that Wenger is the best thing that as happened to my football club, and I was a supporter for 25 years before he rocked up
Like I say, it’s a high wire act, the way Wenger wants football played and his methods of coaching and recruitment. The historical importance of what he has done won’t be fully appreciated for another 25 years probably. He ain’t gonna change. If we fail (as most teams do if you judge it solely in trophies won) then it will be with glory
Problem is, if you judge this team against what he has already achieved he can’t win unless we win the CL - and that’s a cup competition after all
There are enough villans at other clubs that Arsenal fans can direct their hate at if they need someone to pick on, without picking on one of our own. Time for these boo boys to grow up and realise the harm they are doing to the club, team and players they purport to support
