You sometimes wonder how Arsenal don’t score more goals, and last night was one of those events.
I think the first half possession stats said something like Arsenal 70% – Tottenham 30%. A similar statistic was measured when Barcelona came to the Emirates last season and gave us a footballing lesson in 45 minutes of scintillating football that I will never forget. It was a similar sort of dominance.
After 15 minutes youngster Henri Lansbury slotted home his first Arsenal goal, it rounded off a fantastic move and Jack Wilshere provided a lovely ball to create the opportunity in the first place – the next generation alright. The only thing is there are here and, to be quite honest, look ready now.
It must have been a sweet moment for Henri – a Gooner as a kid and Arsenal’s longest serving player.
Triangle after triangle, movement, one-two’s, flicks and through-balls. It was beautiful football. Can they all play like this? Every single Arsenal player? It is quite unbelievable.
The only down side is that the lead was not added too. There were scant opportunities in all honesty and that is testament to the fight of Tottenham, who, to their credit gave a pretty good account of themselves. It should have been 2-0 when Wilshere played a through-ball Cesc would have been proud of to Kieran Gibbs who rounded the keeper and was adjudged offside before he could slide the ball into an empty net… he was onside.
In the second half Spurs really got a foothold in the game, they grabbed an equaliser when Robbie Keane, who was a yard offside, tried to slide the ball into the near post, Fabianski should have made the save but the shot went right through him – an example of why Szczesny seems pretty frustrated with his situation at the moment despite his age.
Chamakh and Arshavin also entered the fray, there was a greater incisiveness about the side once they came on and once Tottenham were exhausted they picked them apart with ease and forced mistakes in the first half of stoppage time. Samir Nasri was felled in the area – Harry Redknapp can claim it was a dive all he wants but there was definite contact there – and, in a change in the script from the weekend Nasri stood up as captain and smashed the ball down the middle.
A few minutes later Chamakh was fouled, another penalty, same taker, same result, 3-1.
After that Arsenal hammered in the final nail, Arshavin was put through and he finished nicely to wrap it all up, a pretty comprehensive victory.
Jack Wilshere – along with pretty much every player out there, was immense. He was so difficult for Spurs to pick up, his darting runs pulling players out of position and making him impossible to track. Spurs took turns in fouling him, rotational fouling, time after time he was clattered and he just brushes it off. At 18 it is remarkable maturity. In his post match interview Arsene said that he is “much ahead” of where he expected him to be this season.
Its a big statement to make but I think we are seeing the birth and blooming of a massive, massive footballing star at this club. Both for England and Arsenal. It is well within his capabilities to be one of he all time greats at this football club – he is with the right manager, the right club and he seems to have a decent head on his shoulders too.
It was only the 3d round of the Carling Cup but its a sweet victory all the same, the biggest win for us at White Heart Lane in 30 years and it means if the draw is good in the next round, we can see some more of the next generation.
There may be some very bad injury news to follow with Nasri’s hamstring trouble and the news of a probable break to Kieran Gibbs foot… that news will be along shortly.
Right now though, lets enjoy the win.
Til next time.
From thegoonblog.com
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