Well, of course the big news this weekend is that we beat Blackburn at Enwood on Saturday 2-1. I wouldn't say we beat them soundly, but I came away with a good feeling about where this team could go this season. There were mistakes, but there was growth also.
The biggest growth seen again was with Theo Walcott. The boy is infused with confidence. I was surprised a bit that he started against the Rovers. Not that he didn't have a great game against Blackpool, but 'Burn is tad more physical and Theo has been known to get injured. I thought the more muscular Eboue might get the nod with Theo coming off the bench after the opposition tired. But I was wrong (shocking, I know) and Walcott started. I'd say Eboue - barring injury to our wingers - is now competing only for right back. Theo got a perfect pass from RVP and buried it - breaking the net in the process. It's so nice to see him happy with himself. The second goal came from our Russian Magician who finished a tough shot after the shot from Cesc bounced off of Theo's bottom right to a crowd of Rovers and Andrey. He took the shot calmly, hopping over a Rover to finish it.
Blackburn played their game - sort of. They kicked a lot of long balls into the box trying to get the second kick into the goal. And I have to say, Almunia did pretty well against them. Overall, Manuel had a solid game. He commanded his area on the set pieces and even recovered after pushing a ball away and knocking his head against the goal post. I thought for sure there would be blood. I think playing against the idiot who played a very late tackle on him last season might have given him incentive (as well as wanting to prove something to Wenger). He got nose-to-nose with Diouf #1 which probably sent a message to Blackburn and our team. Don't take nothin' from nobody. Well done Almunia. This stance seemed contagious as Song also got into someone's face on the pitch (I can't remember who). The "boys" aren't taking crap from people this year. We have a bit of an attitude which is welcome. Back to our keeper, I'm not saying he should be our Number One. One game does not merit that, and I don't think we can win things with him. But credit to him for that performance on that day. As far as the keeper situation goes, supposedly Fulham are trying to get Given on loan so Schwar..owww...Mark can come to Arsenal. Sparky knows it's not great hanging onto a player who doesn't want to stay and so is trying to find a solution. There's only two shopping days left people!!
Sorry about the digression there. More about players' performances. Koz made a mistake which, despite a lot of criticism out there on the web, I'm sort of okay with. We all know it takes a new player, especially one from outside the Premier League, about six months to settle in. He's got a lot to learn but we have two things going for us. One is that there is competition for his place so I'm betting he's going to feel even more an urgency to improve. The second is that we have scoring power that can potentially make up for small mistakes. I say the error was small as it wasn't all his fault. Clichy didn't seem to know there was someone behind him and I think Sagna might have been out of position. Yes, herding Diouf #1 to the side would have been a better decision, but I think the kid's learning curve is going to be pretty quick.
And now for the biggest revelation of the match: Blackburn did not play dirty! They played long balls and long throw-ins (and isn't that Samba a beast?) but no bad tackles save one that was carded. Hmmm. Did Wenger's talk to the press about Stoke playing "rugby" against the Spuds' goalie make a difference to Sam or the referee? And speaking of Stoke...Tony Pulis goal when he woke up Sunday morning must have been to become Phil Brown II. Making a formal complaint to the FA about Wenger's comments regarding The Legbreaker's rugby performance against Gomes? I really didn't have a poor opinion of Pulis until now. Before this incident, I rather admired him for bringing Stoke up from Championship and making them a force to be reckoned with. No more. Phil II it is. See if his quote isn't just a tad contradictory:
"The club is desperately disappointed with the comments which Wenger has come out with, especially the comments about Shawcross," said Pulis. "We think they are out of order and you don't expect it from a person of Wenger's esteem.
"The club will deal with it in the right and proper manner."
"He's entitled to his opinion. We've fought two world wars to be a free country. We've all got different opinions and we must let people say what they say. Whether you agree with it or disagree with it, that's a different matter."
So it's okay to have free speech as long as one agrees with what the other person stated? We fought a war over here for free speech too, and it's a right that sometimes can be down right irritating as one has to put up with the yammerings of someone one considers a total idiot. Perhaps because of Wenger's position, Pulis thinks his remarks should be less pointed. On the contrary, he has influence, he knows it, and he used it. Plus, Wenger was right. Isn't that more important than ego? Phil II, when you get that much pull (and pain as most of Le Boss's experience with the press is), then you can point fingers. Just take the Leg Breaker and go back under your rock. Seriously.
Wow, I guess I had a bit of a rant in me today. Before I go, just one more thing. Apparently, some were insinuating that Cesc played half heartedly. Oh ye faint of heart. He' not match fit yet! He looked as if he was just getting into a rhythm hooking up with Chamakh and Arshavin when he was taken off. If he's still playing like that at the end of Septmeber, then we can panic. Otherwise, get off his back please. Wow, was that another rant?
That's all for now. No games for us until the 11th (which means fragile RVP can heal up as I'm sure the Dutch wouldn't even think to use him for international play). Have a good 'un Gooners.
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