Arsenal 5 Aston Villa 0
In the glorious Highbury Spring sunshine, we saw the continuing rapid emergence of a new team – the average age 24.
It seems like ‘mother Highbury’ is giving birth [the pangs starting in Madrid] – ready to deliver her offspring into a new home 500 yards away.
Winter blues and worries seem long gone.
Before the start, the Highbury crowd clapped in memory of a famous Arsenal player who developed from youth to maturity in David Rocastle – one of the few flair players in George Graham’s teams, but also a muscular midfield warrior. [David died five years ago and the David Rocastle Trust which helps in the fight against cancer, is Arsenal’s preferred charity].
During the game, another Arsenal youth product who more than made the grade – David O’Leary – got some recognition from the Highbury crowd, which was great to see. He was a fantastic servant – spanning 20 years. The Clock End sang: “we want O’Leary back.”
Villa are one of the few English clubs to have won The European Cup, an honour some say could be coming Arsenal’s way.
But Villa were pedestrian here. Games between Villa and Arsenal are usually close and high scoring of late – with a few 3-2s. But the Villa performance could not be excused away by Mellberg, Baros and Milner being absent.
I sat with a Villa fan – who once was in an international coaching post – and he gave some fascinating objective insights into Arsenal and subjective ones about Villa.
He said the thing about Arsenal is that the players don’t look overtly athletic – but they are, and they all have pace. That was the one main thing Villa lacked. They were one paced. They didn’t move into space fast enough, or mark tightly enough. There was a lack of leadership, and captaincy.
He also said it is hard to see how Campbell and Cole can get back into this Arsenal side.
The home defence did have the odd lapse today – which could have been punished by a top class striker on top of his game. But it was encouraging to see Lehmann berating Eboue for being out of position – even though Arsenal were 4-0 up at the time; and similarly Toure shouting at Diaby regarding his position one time.
Diaby, however was my Man of the Match – and that is scary, because it emphasises the depth of talent and the youth available to Arsene Wenger. Far from the young maestro Fabregas’s departure (off on 16 after an accidental on purpose stamp from McCann) damaging Arsenal’s chances, if anything they played better with Diaby in there.
His decision making was superb all afternoon. At times his tackling was Vieiraesque (in his prime). And he capped it off with a great forward run and finish, for his first Highbury goal.
Adebayor and Henry are increasingly linking up well. Adebayor is also learning tricks off Henry, passing to himself in space and chasing it down the wing – on one occasion. Being overtly critical at times he should have passed rather than shooting, and his accuracy could be better, but that can be coached and he gives Arsenal something they haven’t had since John Hartson.
Adebayor’s pace is a surpising factor for a big ‘target’ man. And one time in the second half, Henry crossed for Adebayor’s head, an unthinkable move for several seasons.
Senderos set the mood with a long diagonal ball [one of several from the back four] to Reyes who shifted it Henry in space. He elected to pass to Pires who slipped, with the ball passing behind him. Ghostly echoes of that penalty.
Reyes fired a free kick straight into wall.
But Villa held their own in the first 15. Bouma passed to Phillips – with Eboue caught forward – but his shot was saved.
Pires and Reyes switched wings.
Diaby’s scrapping gave Henry a shot which was saved by Sorensen.
Moore knocked on a goal kick and Phillips should have done better with a shot over. Arsenal still looked vulnerable at the back, at times.
But in the next attack, Eboue swept a long diagonal ball from right to left – Sorensen clawed it away from Henry, but the Frenchman looped it goalwards and goalbound. Hughes knocked it from under the crossbar but Adebayor following up heads it home with some help from Hughes.
Adebayor went on a run on the wing and passed to Henry who shot over.
Reyes then sent a ball over the top of the Villa defence. Henry killed the pace in one movement with his right and lobbed it in over Sorensen the next.
Adebayor, emphasising the emergent team spirit, scrapped for the ball and found Henry who set it up for Eboue who should have cut it back to the unmarked Adebayor but fired into the side netting.
Angel came on for Phillips at half-time – and the Villa attack improved.
But another long diagonal ball from Eboue, found Adebayor back-heeling the dropping ball with fantastic skill and Henry fired a dipping shot into the top right corner. World class football.
Adebayor, then got the bug, running and shooting when Gilberto had run into space unmarked.
Eboue sliced across Barry – who had to go off injured.
O’Leary made a necessary switch half way through with Agbonlahor and Cahill on for Barry and de la Cruz, who had been caught out of position several times with players cutting in.
McCann, who wasn’t too careful where his landed his foot on Fabregas, checked Eboue and the Ivorian sustained a leg injury.
Pires passed to Reyes – and his rising shot went over.
Diaby disposessed Hendrie and passed to Henry who crossed to Adebayor who got across Cahill and headed goalwards.
Sorensen leapt to keep it out.
Eboue was beaten by a bouncing ball on the right and Moore had just Lehmann to beat but the German was alert and pushed it past the post.
Van Persie came on for Henry on 68. The captain went off to a standing ovation – and from the Villa fans too.
Eboue went off soon after. Djourou came on at right back.
Angel passed to Hendrie who shot just over.
Pires on the run sent a ball through the Villa defence catching van Persie’s run. The Dutchman beat Sorensen near the line, dragged it back from right foot to left and fired it in with Sorensen sprawling.
Toure then went on a mazy dribble with a vicious dipping low shot at the end. Sorensen punched it out.
Pires then set up Adebayor who ran and passed inside to Diaby, who with just Sorensen to beat fired in his first goal for Arsenal high into the net.
Villa pressed for a goal of their own. Hendrie had a dangerous shot, set up by Angel. And the impressive Davis crossed low – and Toure guided it over his own bar.
Moore had another chance – but Lehmann clawed it away.
Arsenal replied with a couple of Flamini shots at the end.
Arsene Wenger said: “The Team is improving,” making reference to the Blackburn result after the Real match. “Every game is vital. We score goals and don’t concede and that is a good basis to improve. The Championship is very important and the results of opponents have gone our way today. Mathematically it is in our hands.”
David O’ Leary said: “Arsenal were outstanding. We could be looking at the a team who could be champions of Europe. They have hit form at the right time. We had a few chances. It was a great learning process – not a nice experience -but we’ll learn from it.
Adebayor said: “We defend together; score together; enjoy together.” Not a bad motto for the emergent team.
Arsenal:Lehmann, Eboue (Djourou 67), Toure, Senderos, Fabregas (Diaby 16), Flamini, Gilberto, Pires, Reyes, Henry (Van Persie 64) Adebayor. Subs not used: Almunia, Hleb
Aston Villa: Sorensen, Bouma, Hughes, Ridgewell, de la Cruz (Cahill 53), Davis, McCann, Barry (Agbonlahor 53) Hendrie, Phillips (Angel 46), Moore. Subs not used:Taylor, Gardner
Goals:Adebayor 18, Henry 25, 46, Van Persie 72, Diaby 81