Arsenal 1 Aston Villa 2
This was the post-Highbury equivalent of bonfires on the terraces in the sixties.
“Six per cent, yer ‘avin a laughâ€, rang out several times in the second half.
“The team will do a lap of appreciation at the end of the matchâ€, said the stadium announcer …to a chorus of boos.
The attendance figure 60,000 plus was flashed up… to boos. The empty seats making the Emirates look like the façade of a Swiss cheese. [Why don\’t they explain it is seats sold, not people attending.]
The team made its funereal way around the half to two thirds empty Emirates to some boos, some applause.
Very sad. And a very sad end to some Arsenal careers.
Jens Lehmann had the good grace to take his yellow jersey off and hand it to a fan.
Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri looked chirpy enough in their immaculate black and red track suits. Fabregas had a different demeanour from last year, when he looked emotionally involved and apologetic. This time he was brisk and business-like, as if he wanted to get it over.
Some news reports in the morning papers said it is good news that Pat Rice is staying. Pat Rice deserves respect. But it is poor journalism. Good news for who? Just report that Pat Rice is staying. A new Number 2 was some Gooners\’ hope, given that Stan Kroenke has sanctioned the Wenger-way.
On the Sky Sports Sunday Supplement all the journalists unanimously said Wenger wouldn\’t pay big money this Summer.
And one report in the Mail on Sunday said Wenger will be given £30m for his transfer kitty. What about some megbucks from Silent Stan? How much is he putting in for transfers?
Villa, still mathematically not safe, started well. Arsenal, without the twin creators, Fabregas and Nasri lacked creative ideas and penetration.
Playing a 4-5-1 at home gave Villa on 4-3-3 an advantage. Arsenal didn\’t get anywhere near the Villa goal in the first ten.
On 11, a simple lobbed ball from Walker, caught Squillaci, with Bent running in behind, playing him on. And good control and little lob over Szczesny, saw the Midlanders take the lead.
Soon after Young had the ball, Vermaelen slipped, Squillaci was in no-mans-land, and Bent ran beyond Sagna to notch his second.
Only 15 minutes gone and Arsenal\’s soft centre was oozing like Camembert.
Wilshere taking on the creative mantle sent a long ball into the path of Ramsey, who delayed too long, allowing Dunne to get back and put him off.
Another Wilshere long pass found Van Persie, who wriggled and fashioned a chance which came off the post.
Chamakh came on for Squillaci at half-time. And there was an improvement. But it was one of those games you couldn\’t see Arsenal scoring, despite their efforts.
The Moroccan scored what looked like a good goal from a Walcott cross, but was adjudged to have pushed Walker. Harsh.
Van Persie was set up well to shoot, but be opted to pass.
Bendtner for Arshavin (who was shockingly inaccurate and ineffective) made an improvement.
And it was the Dane\’s persistence with a minute to go that enabled van Persie to lift the ball past Friedel.
Too little, too late.
Third spot is in jeopardy. Fourth place represents no improvement on last year and the timing headache of the qualifying round.
Although Wenger said: “We are not fighting relegation,” by way of a defence, and a Champions League berth is guaranteed, it is the manner of the performance(s) which is upsetting.
How bad does it have to get, for major surgery, major changes?
Arsenal: Wojciech Szczesny, Bacary Sagna, Sebastien Squillaci (45), Thomas Vermaelen, Kieran Gibbs, Andrey Arshavin (62), Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere, Alex Song, Robin van Persie
Subs: Jens Lehmann, Ignasi Miquel, Emmanuel Eboue, Conor Henderson, Denilson, Marouane Chamakh (45), Nicklas Bendtner(62)
Aston Villa: Brad Friedel, Kyle Walker, James Collins, Richard Dunne, Luke Young, Stewart Downing, Fabian Delph (90), Nigel Reo-Coker, Stiliyan Petrov(80), Ashley Young, Darren Bent
Subs: Andy Marshall, Carlos Cuellar, Robert Pires, Marc Albrighton, Michael Bradley(80), Gabriel Agbonlahor