Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle United |
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Date:
Sunday 23rd January 2005
Kick Off: 4.05pm BST
Venue: Highbury
Att: 38,137
Ref: Steve Dunn
Comp: Premiership |
| Match Preview
In Association With Toon
Ale |
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Gunned Down By
Dennis The Menace
By Wullie
It was very much a case of déjà vu at Highbury for Newcastle on Sunday
afternoon, as the same old problems came back to haunt them. For the
second time in a month, Arsenal took the points with a 1-0 win and
just like at St James', the scoreline was flattering. The only team
flattered this time though was us, as Arsenal gave us a footballing
lesson and, but for some uncharacteristically lacklustre finishing
from their star man and a phenomenal performance from our own, this
could have been a whole lot worse. Shay Given's performances haven't
been what we've come to expect from him over the past few years this
season, a few errors have cost us goals and his shot stopping has
often left much to be desired. Today though we saw the Given of old
as he was equal to just about everything the Gunners could throw at
him.
Unfortunately, that was the only thing that was reminiscent of recent
seasons, as Newcastle put in a thoroughly lacklustre performance all
over the park and never even looked like testing the error prone Almunia
in Arsenal's goal. We can only pray that he stays in their goal and
that Wenger doesn't see the performance of our inspired Irishman as
an excuse to get his cheque book out.
With pre match rumours flying round about the mystery exclusion of
Craig Bellamy and Celestine Babayaro lasting just two games before
booking his place on a crowded treatment table, we lined up in what
now seems to be Souness' favoured formation since the visit of Arsenal
to Gallowgate, the Mourinho-esque 4-5-1/4-3-3 with Robert in for Bellamy
and Bernard dragged out of his sulk to replace Babayaro.
It's all well and good trying to match the formation of the team with
a lead on the Premiership as unassailable as ours in 1996 (ahem!)
but until our playing staff can match the quality of Chelsea's, it
seems we are destined to come unstuck. Chelsea play Duff and Robben
wide, roles assigned here to Ameobi and Robert, who tried their best
to get at the full backs but as the game wore on, they saw less and
less of the ball as Arsenal set up camp in our half. This hardly came
as any surprise. While the creative Cole, the destructive Makelele
and the dominant Lampard fill Chelsea's three central midfield slots,
our three England internationals looked totally incapable of playing
a telling pass or putting a decent tackle in without going in studs
first and cynically taking out their opponent. Jenas and Bowyer could
both consider themselves lucky to still be on the field at full time,
although the same could easily be said of Patrick Vieira.
Arsenal set their stall out from the first minute, nearly going ahead
after 40 seconds, a Miss-kick from Flamini saving us from losing the
game straight from kick off. The opening goal didn't evade them for
too long though as a ball played through to Flamini in the 19th minute
found him in acres of space, Kieron Dyer having failed to track his
run. A flick of the Frenchman's right boot was brought down in one
touch by Bergkamp who slotted the ball into the bottom corner. After
the goal came Newcastle's only half decent spell with the 15 minutes
before half time producing some pressure on the Gunners, the high
point being Bernard supplying a good cross for Ameobi, who blazed
his free header over the bar.
As usual with the Toon, half time signaled the point at which our
players seem to lose all football ability and just let their opponents
do what they like. A fired up Taylor, already booked for a cynical
tug on Vieira, was brought off and replaced by Aaron Hughes, who had
his work cut out down our right side, as Arsenal tore through us time
and again throughout the second half, with Given thwarting Henry with
fantastic saves on no less than four occasions as well as a plunging
stop to his left to deny Pires from point black range. Even Shay needed
a little luck though, as only Henry's theatrics denied him a penalty
when the keeper clipped his heels.
In the midst of this barrage, things got even worse. Boumsong was
busy proving what an asset he will be to our defence, catching up
with Henry and getting the ball from him, despite Henry having a yard
head start and being through on goal. The offside flag denied him
the credit for a fantastic piece of defending. His running with the
ball and passing out of defence was better than any of our midfielders
managed and when he pulled up midway through the second half to be
replaced by Andy O'Brien, all hope was lost as we went back to punting
up field and surrendering possession in our half. Boumsong left the
field clutching his hamstring – looks like the lad will fit in well
round here after developing the most fashionable of injuries to be
seen with in Newcastle.
A tame shot straight at Almunia from Bowyer and an off target header
from Shearer in the last minute were all that Newcastle had to show
for the second half, although until then you could have been excused
for forgetting Shearer was playing as he put in a non existent performance,
the type he would have been slated for, were he not Alan Shearer.
The final whistle brought no respite from the onslaught. As soon as
Arsenal stopped blitzing us, the media started. Interviews with both
Souness and Bellamy told wildly differing sides of a story about his
exclusion from the squad and the media has been given yet another
chance to turn SJP into a pantomime, even if it is yet unclear who
exactly the villain is.
One thing is clear though. Something needs to be done about the situation
at SJP. Both on and off the field we look a total shambles with no
team spirit or unity, we can't score goals, we can't stop goals and
I don't have a clue what the answer is. We can only hope someone does.
More...
Toon Player Ratings Vs Arsenal
My Day Out At Highbury
| Arsenal |
Newcastle
United |
Match
Facts & Stats
Half-Time: 1-0
Full-Time: 1-0
Yellow Cards: 5
Red Cards: 0
Goalscorers: Bergkamp (19)
Yellow Cards: Reyes (45), Vieira (73)
Red Cards: 0
Substitutions: 1
Fabregas (Reyes 89)
Injuries: N/A
Goalscorers:
Yellow Cards: Taylor (16), Bowyer (44), Jenas (90)
Red Cards: 0
Substitutions: 3
Hughes (Taylor 45), N'Zogbia (Robert 56), O'Brien (Boumsong
67)
Injuries: Boumsong - hamstring |
| Almunia |
Given |
| Lauren |
Taylor |
| Toure |
Boumsong |
| Campbell |
Bramble |
| Cole |
Bernard |
| Pires |
Dyer |
| Vieria |
Jenas |
| Flamini |
Bowyer |
| Reyes |
Robert |
| Henry |
Shearer |
| Bergkamp |
Ameobi |
| Substitutes
Bench |
| Lehmann |
Harper |
| Cygan |
Hughes |
| Eboue |
O'Brien |
|
Fabregas |
N'Zogbia |
| Van Persie |
Kluivert |
| Possession, Shots, Corners,
Fouls & Saves |
| Arsenal |
The
Game |
Newcastle |
| 74% |
Possession |
26% |
| 8 |
Shots
(on target) |
1 |
| 5 |
Shots (off target) |
3 |
| 11 |
Corners |
1 |
| 17 |
Fouls |
19 |
| 1 |
Saves |
6 |
An unhappy 19th birthday for Taylor. Arsenal have completed the double
over us this season. First defeat of 2005. Dyer made his 150th Premiership
appearance for the Toon.
| How The Goals Were
Scored |
Arsenal Goal 19 Minutes: Dennis Bergkamp
Flamini chested down a long pass before turning and clipping a ball
in between Boumsong and Taylor for Bergkamp to nip in front and slot
home. Taylor was slightly at fault for the goal but the movement and
touch of Bergkamp was just too good.
| Match Reaction From
Graeme Souness |
Souness said:
"We came up against an excellent Arsenal side that was upset at being
beaten by Bolton last week.
"Our goalkeeper made two or three great saves. But while it was
1-0, we felt we still had a chance.
"We knew sooner or later we'd get that chance but when it came we
didn't take it. But I have no complaints about the result really.
"Arsenal are still very much in the hunt. It would be foolish to write
them off.
"I don't believe Chelsea have written Manchester United or Arsenal
out of the title race. Until it is mathematically impossible you can't
do that."
| Match Reaction
From Arsene Wenger |
Wenger said:
"We take the position of Chelsea as a challenge. Let us go as far
as we can.
"They are in a very strong position, I don't deny that but we
want to go as far as we can and give them a real challenge.
"We have a great spirit in the camp and good unity. When you are on
a run with a spirit like that, you never know. You cannot say to your
players that Chelsea are 10 points ahead now and the championship
is over.
"Our challenge is to come back to the level where we have been. This
win today was a good inspiration to give us that belief that we can
do it again.
"At the moment it looks unlikely but the only thing I can do, like
my players, is not to look too much at Chelsea." |
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