Arshavin will play with Fabregas in April.
I’m looking forward to that.
Last night Arsenal played West Brom and beat them 3-1, as you would expect.
Wenger played 4-4-1-1 with Arshavin in the hole behind Bendtner.We saw flashes of the Russian’s two footed talents, but too few.
He dropped Van Persie. Gallas was out with an ankle injury .
Bendtner scored an early goal but West Brom equalised three minutes later when a Brunt free-kick went between Eboue and Soing in the Wall. Eboue moved. Eboue moved to his left as Brunt hit the free-kick. Why did he move? Can Arsenal.com tell us why Eboue moved? Eboue is a muppet, always will be. Song is a muppet. Djourou, out for seven games, often looks like he has the equipment to be a Premier League centreback. But he never will be. He’s far too soft, far too nice.
Kolo Toure stepped up twice. Once as he headed in Arshavin’s pinpoint free-kick from the left for 2-1. It wasn’t a well-timed header and it didn’t go where he wanted it to go. But it was a goal.
Then, shockingly, Toure released Bendtner with a long pass, the Dane knocked the ball forward with his thigh, and smashed it past Scott Carson, as any professional centre forward would. If you play football, and you accept money for playing football, you should be able you score that goal. But mark that Toure pass in your diary: March 3, 2009. Toure’s long game is appalling, always has been. For him to make a goal with a pass like that is historic.
Last season Adebayor scored six goals against Derby County, the worst team in Premier League history. That was rabbit-killing. Last night Bendtner scored twice and hit the post against West Brom, who will be relegated but are better than Derby. A lot better.
Three goals might be something to build on, even though West Brom are not as good as Cardiff or Burnley. Fourth place is out of Arsenal’s hands. Fourth place depends on Aston Villa, who play tonight.
Manchester City-Aston Villa could be a game with a lot of chances. Villa have won 10 of their 13 away games and lost three. City are without Craig Bellamy and Robinho. If Villa win they will be six points above Arsenal.
Loads of things I want to say. Loads and loads of important things I wanted to say this week. There is still time. It’s only Wednesday. I may be able to write something coherent tomorrow.
GOAL TIMES: Bendtner (4), Brunt (7), Touré (38), Bendtner (44).
WEST BROM (4-4-2): Carson; Zuiverloon, Méité, Donk, Robinson; Morrison (Menseguez, 72), Koren, Greening, Brunt (Teixeira, 72); Moore, Fortuné. Subs not used: Kiely (gk), Hoefkens, Cech, Kim, Valero.
ARSENAL(4-4-1-1): Almunia; Sagna, Touré (Diaby, 46), Djourou, Clichy; Eboué (Ramsey, 67), Song, Denilson, Nasri (Merida, 83); Arshavin, Bendtner. Subs not used: Fabianski (gk), Van Persie, Vela, Gibbs.
Referee: Steve Tanner (Somerset).