CESC FABREGAS, lifted to another level by the Real Madrid games, gave a masterclass of modern midfield play in the 2-1 win over Liverpool.
Fabregas released Henry for the first goal in 21 and outsmarted Xabi Alonso throughout.
In 75 he was fouled by Alonso and the referee Steve Bennet waved play on, incredibly, and Gerrard’s 30 yard piledriver was parried up for Luis Garcia to equalise with a header.
At 1-1 heads dropped briefly, and it really wasn’t a good time to have subs Pires and Bergkamp on the field, but Arsenal picked up again and when Fabregas pressed Gerrard, forcing him to turn, that’s when Stevie G made the fatal backpass that gave Henry his 24th goal of the season
Henry still had plenty to do to convert, as Reina was in his face immediately, but TH14 finished the game with deadly skill and power.
Thierry doesn’t celebrate his goals any more. He just gives the citizens his blessing.
Arsenal played very well, like the old days, and deserved the points. Satisfying week for Arsene Wenger, who has more big weeks coming up.
ADEBAYOR started badly. He was waiting for 25-yard passes to reach him rather than stepping towards the ball. His early miss from six yards was embarrassing. Henry cut the ball back from the right to give him an open goal, but Adebayor shot over the bar like a pub player. He is 22, chases lost causes, has a helluva lot to learn.
Ask me in March 2007 if Adebayor is a player.
I’m giving him a year to adjust.
EBOUE-TOURE is the best right back-centreback partnership in Europe.
Eboue has phenomenal drive and skill, keeps powering forward, will take a kick and give one, plays one-twos, storms into the box.
In December he was getting 23 minutes against Portsmouth when Arsenal were 4-0 up and now he’s one of their best players.He will score soon.
IT’S A GAME OF PARTNERSHIPS. Eboue-Toure is working, Hleb-Fabregas is working, and Fabregas-Henry is working
Freddie could not have been fit, Pires replaced him after 15 and Bergkamp came on for Adebayor in 66.
After 77, when Arsenal should have been 4-0 up, Xabi Alonso kicked Fabregas and got a yellow and in 81 he slipped and clattered into Flamini and was sent off.
However, ref Steve Bennett didn’t see it. He guessed it and sent Alonso off on the crowd reaction. Refs, like players, get found out by the cameras.
Neither Pires nor Bergkamp did anything Neither was physically committed to the cause and neither was propelled by the momentum flowing through the team. I’d have left Adebayor on.
LAST THREE GAMES, Henry has played like a captain. Against Liverpool he was – get this ! – putting himself in areas where he could get kicked. Yes, he was putting himself in areas where he could get kicked. Can you believe he was putting himself in areas where he could get kicked?
Maybe something clicked in his head. Maybe it’s just a blip. Or maybe it was the psychologist that Arsene denies using.
Henry looks committed. He looks as if he wants to play for Arsenal now – and next season. So why hasn’t he signed his contract? Does it contain a clause saying he has to turn up for away games? He’s said he wants to stay. Maybe it’s the agent. It’s often the agent in these situations. People say, “Oh, Thierry’s people wanna keep his options open.”
Why? His agent is Jerome Anderson. Ask Jerome Anderson why Thierry hasn’t signed yet. If tabloid hacks were doing their jobs they would find out from Jerome Anderson why Thierry hasn’t signed yet. Why don’t the BBC ask Jerome? Why doesn’t Sky Sports News ask him?
THE GOOD NEWS is that Arsene said Robin van Persie is “very, very close.”
Van Persie has been badly missed. A team with only one goalscorer is always vulnerable.
After their pitiful flop at Blackburn, Arsenal looked like a team that would get 61 points.
Now they look capable of 71.
Arsenal are, for sure, a lot better than Spurs, Bolton or Blackburn.
BUT THEY NEED ANOTHER GOALSCORER.No serious team can afford have only one goalscorer.
Hleb and Ljungberg don’t score, so Arsenal really, really need Robin for the next 11 games
SPURS LOST 2-1 at Chelsea in Saturday’s early game. First half was men and boys, but tedious football, often played at walking pace. Essien missed an open goal and almost missed a second but his mishit shot crept in after the zippy SWP crossed from the right, following sloppy play by Carrick, who gave the ball away.
Spurs were not good enough to play through Chelsea, and Mido was pitifully slow, but a Carrick free-kick was nicely nodded down by Dawson for Jenas to touch home the equaliser on 45.
During an injury break Robbie Keane went over to talk to Martin Jol on the touchline and Mourinho then got up and stood behind Jol, who didn’t know Mourinho was behind him in Jol’s technical area. It looked as if Mourinho was eavesdropping on what Jol was saying to Robbie Keane ! If so, that’s a trick I’ve never seen before.
When Drogba volleyed against the post in 89, I thought, “That’s it, I’ve lost both bets.”
But in 92 a boob by Spurs right back Stalteri lost the game. He miskicked feebly to Duff and Duff’s short pass found Gallas, who pretended to go outside and Stalteri bought it. Gallas cut inside and blasted a cannonball shot past Robinson, which meant that I won one bet and got my money back on the other. Thanks, Willy !
WAYNE ROONEY played his finest game for months as an inspired Man United had 26 goals attempts but could only beat Newcastle 2-0.
Rooney scored in 8 and 12 minutes. The first from a Craig Ramage back-pass, the second from a sneaky little ball by O’Shea which the bulldog genius collected and whipped into the far corner before Shay Given could blink.
Rooney played with relaxed authority in the first half hour, then started showboating.If he had kept his focus for longer he could have scored six.
Saha missed four good chances.Van Nistelrooy, sub again, came on but could not add to the 2-0.
So there you have it. Man United in top form. Wouldn’t they love to be playing Juventus in the quarter-finals ?