Arsenal 1-1 Birmingham (Arsenal hit a brick Wallcot)

Arsenal 1-1 Birmingham (Arsenal hit a brick Wallcot)

Postby Reverend Gooner » Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:43 pm

This has been a “tit for tat” battle between Arsenal and Man Utd for the lead in the last few weeks and this was a weekend where things went a bit “tits up” for Arsenal as they failed to record 3 points at home to the premier league newboys. It was not a total disaster as Arsenal did not lose and they did not look like losing at any point in the game but with the amount of play they had in the first half they should have been out of sight by the time Birmingham got their lucky goal.

This was the first league game without world class defender Kolo Toure and the Swiss defender Phillipe Senderos took his place after a good performance against Tottenham days earlier. Robin Van Persie suffered yet another setback with a mystery virus and it may now be dawning on Arsenal fans that Van Persie will only be an afterthought in the context of Arsenals 2007/08 first team and that his replacement Eduardo is the new permanent fixture. Although with Dudu’s goal scoring form recently that is a great consolation.

In other news Hleb switched to the left with Walcott taking up the right wing position. Birmingham had a much healthier squad to pick from and went into the game after a recent good performance against Man Utd in which they narrowly lost 1-0.

Arsenal started in determined form and you could see they want to start matches this season like they did between 2002-2004, by having them won by 35 minutes. In the second minute Eduardo could have increased his goal tally after a cross by man of the match Gael Clichy but failed to add the deadly connection we associate with his left foot.

Gallas then had a free header from a set piece but the man who has netted some important goals for Arsenal this year headed straight to keeper Maik Taylor. Adebayor was set free minutes later after a mistake by Schmitz but the Birmingham defender did what all good defenders do when they make a mistake and rectify it. This time he put in a great recovering tackle to thwart Adebayors run to goal.

Arsenal should have easily be a goal or two up by now but the finishing touch was not there and they were almost punished for it when Cameron Jerome’s shot, after getting behind the gunners’ back line, was brilliantly saved by wannabee England goalkeeper Manuel Almunia.

That was a warning sign for the Gunners and on 21 minutes they reacted well by scoring a borderline penalty and finally took the lead. Eduardo was brought down in the area after good passing work and the referee pointed to the spot. The replay showed that both the ball and the man was taken although it was from behind and we have seen them given 1000 times
From the spot Adebayor slotted it past the diving Taylor who guessed the right way but could not reach the ball which seemed to be laser guided for the corner.

Arsenal pushed on from here and dominated the rest of the half, Hleb and Clichy were phenomenal in their craft and the Birmingham defence were pushed further and further back. It was classic Arsenal and another goal seemed certain, the oiled machine was in full flow and the Brummy resistance looked overwhelmed and ready to crack. However the goal did not come.

Although not all the blame could be put on him, the biggest disappointment of the half was Theo Walcott. He was clearly all over the place, whenever he made a run he was tackled, any trick he tried failed to come off, his awareness was substandard and his passing was woeful. That may sound like an unfair analysis but it was pretty much straight to the point, he ruined many slick moves and promising plays, much to the frustration of Arsenal fans.

The half time whistle went with Arsenal leading and playing really well (except Walcott) so the fans were happy although a 1-0 lead was not reflective of the play and could come back to haunt the gunners which it eventually did.

In fact the gunners got the kick in the teeth the situation demanded just minutes into the second half. A corner was awarded to Birmingham and the resulting header by O’Conner was deflected in by Fabregas. It was almost too inevitable and Birmingham’s players were delighted with their fortune and prepared to regroup and defend their point.

It was another crappy goal that Arsenal had conceded and it is difficult to decide which side of the coin to view the situation. On one side by conceding mainly rubbish goals it means that the defence is so good that they barely concede a good goal which is a positive but on the other hand these constant defensive errors and dodgy goals mean they are shooting themselves in the foot and could be doing better. Either way Arsenal need to look at all the dodgy goals they have been conceding recently.

Arsenal continued to press forward with the intent they showed in the first half and the commentators said that they may have equalised too soon and set forth an Arsenal onslaught but the Birmingham defence was reborn and turned into a colossus of a unit to break down. Arsenal had their complementary goal attempts after the opposition scored from an Adebayor shot and a Senderos headed chance but neither hit the back of the net.

If Arsenals failure to score more goals in the first half was their own fault this half it was down to Birmingham’s fabulous defending. Kapo especially was brilliant and closed down the Arsenal attackers nearly every time. Arsenals

After a torrid time Theo Walcott was substituted on 65 minutes for Nicklas Bendtner who makes his first league appearance after his shameful sending off against Everton. Eduardo switched to the left wing and for the first time this season put in a very accomplished performance from this unnatural position making dangerous probing runs and keeping the ball with good skill.

The rest of the half was an Arsenal unit attacking competently in the way only they know how and the tough Birmingham defence cutting out the plays each time at the key moment. It must be mentioned that despite not creating many chances Arsenal were playing really well, especially with Hleb now on the right, it was the case of Birmingham defending with such calm, composed efficiency which prevented another goal going in.

The best chances for Arsenal came at the end after Fabregas played Bendtner through into the box but his shot went wide of the far post. It was by no means a clear goal scoring chance but he should have done better, especially as he needs to make up for getting sent off in his previous game.

A Flamini shot was saved by Taylor as time was coming to the close and the golden chance came at the death when Hleb flashed a danger cross across the box and Gallas looked set the turn it home but he just missed the connection that would have made him a last minute hero yet again.

The whistle went and Arsenal had lost top spot to Man Utd who routed managerless Newcastle 6-0. It was an unfortunate result but full credit to Birmingham who earnt their point with a composed second half performance. Arsenal can be pleased that they did not drop points playing badly and that the lead was only lost on goal difference so it is all to play for.

This has to be one of the most exciting seasons ever and Arsenal are slam bang in the middle of it. Man Utd lost points the other week, Arsenal lost points on this weekend and both teams will drop points in the future, not to mention Chelsea who are keeping pace with the two front runners. Who will win? Who knows, but one thing is certain, the main winner is the premier league, stating its claim as the most exciting league in the world.

Enjoy the rest of the season everyone, it is going to be a corker!
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Re: Arsenal 1-1 Birmingham (Arsenal hit a brick Wallcot)

Postby rvtheace » Tue Jan 22, 2008 9:42 am

A throwback to our many-chances-few-goals season last year. Good thing we're still right up there, I'm sure we have what it takes to do it!
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Re: Arsenal 1-1 Birmingham (Arsenal hit a brick Wallcot)

Postby Cheese » Tue Jan 22, 2008 10:41 am

Great report Rev!

A dissapointment dropping points at home however our home form reads played 12 won 10 drawn 2 lost 0. i think thats good enough considering we have played Utd, Chelsea and Spurs at home already.

it going to be a tough run in but we good enough to do it.
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