Birmingham 2 Arsenal 2
This had the rollercoaster feel of a Hollywood epic
Arsenal wore black armbands in memory of Omar Sagna, Bacary’s brother, who died at 29.
After three minutes Martin Taylor hit Eduardo in the middle of his left shin with great force. After seeing the Buust pictures [Coventry v Man u] these were just as bad.
For Alex McLeish [Ferguson’s protege] to say Taylor hit Eduardo’s ankle is an utter lie and a disgrace. Why was the captain Taylor so pumped up with aggression anyway?
The FA has an ideal opportunity here. Ban Taylor for the rest of the season. It will send out a clear strong message, to back up the directive about studs showing and raised challenges.
In his defence Martin Taylor is not known as a dirty player. And he has apologised. But these pictures [particularly number 4] surely mean the FA have to act or invite ridicule. Already some international readers say if it carries on, it will turn off foreign viewers, and the best players won’t come here.
It is like dangerous driving, overtaking on a white line, and causing an accident when the law says don’t. Lengthy bans and/or disqualification follow. A three game ban [the same as Aliadiere got for a tiny little face slap] for a potentially wrecked career will invite ridicule.
It would also edge the game in favour of attacking play; protect attacking players more; and help bring back the art of tackling, giving it far more value.
The Arsenal players [Fabregas holding his head; Hleb’s and Adebayor‘s hands in a prayer position] were clearly visibly affected for the rest of the half. Gary Lewin held his head in his hands at times during the first half.
Our thoughts are with Eduardo.
When the game began eight minutes later, Sagna provided drive down the right and Adebayor headed his cross wide.
Fabregas had a shot over the bar. Walcott shot straight at Maik Taylor. Clichy and Bendtner had shots. This had the feel of a training session.
On one of the few Birmingham attacks McFadden in a central position outside the area lost the ball. Gallas had control and Flamini put his body between McFadden and Gallas. As the Scot didn’t have control, how can a foul be given? Or was Flamini obstructing McFadden?
After what happened, Mike Dean would consciously or subconsciously try and even things up [as later incidents proved] – particularly with a loud and aggressive St Andrews crowd in his ears.
Nevertheless, Arsenal made mistakes. It was a small wall, with no Gallas or Senderos, nor with anyone on the line And Almunia’s starting position was too far to the left giving him too much to do to save McFadden’s curler into the top corner.
Arsenal continued to press and have chances. Hleb set up Adebayor. And Senderos and Bendtner had chances.
Fabregas sent an immaculate ball for Adebayor who could have tapped it to Taylor’s right, but opted to lob over, and wide.
There was a record nine minutes injury time. And Arsenal were lucky not to go in two down as lone striker McFadden clear on goal, wildly mishit, with Big Phil Senderos breathing down his neck.
It looked as if Arsene Wenger had settled the team down. At the start of the second Hleb’s shot was saved and Bendtner shot over.
Fabregas tried an audacious curler, but Taylor managed to do what Almunia didn’t. Palm it away from the top corner.
From a Fabregas corner Adebayor leapt very high, above Maik Taylor and Walcott in a half overhead move helped the ball into the net.
The 18 year old Englishman was growing from strength to strength, and soon after he set up Fabregas for a quick turn and shot which came off a post and into Taylor’s arms.
A long ball from Fabregas, saw Ridgewell miscontrol, and Walcott cut inside with speed towards the middle of the area, shift it once and fire low and hard past Taylor.
We’ve see that ability at Southampton, and with the England u-21s. But this is the first glimpse of what Theo Walcott could be, And the latent ability which drew comparisons with Michael Owen as a central striker.
“We’re going to win for Eduardo“, sang the Arsenal fans.
Walcott tried a half volley for his hat-trick but it went wide.
Zarate, who has a bit of the Messi about him, came on and dribbled spectacularly. Soon after he sent in a low, curling free kick, which Ridgewell should have scored from.
Then came a key moment [maybe of the season]. Clichy intercepted on the left and set Adebayor free on goal. He looked up briefly to see Bendtner bearing down and free on the right. An easy ball would have ended in a goal. But the Toganator opened up his foot like Henry, telegraphing, his intention. Taylor, who was having a good game, tipped it away.
Flamini had a snap shot and Bendtner had an effort wide soon after. But a threatening vibe prevailed.
Adeabyor had his shirt pulled in the Birmingham area – a clear, obvious penalty seen by Dean, but ignored.
In injury time Flamini, in the Arsenal area, sidefooted a cross wide to Clichy, who unexplicably looked to Almunia and ran away from the ball. Parnaby grabbed his chance in the area, but the Frenchman recovered and managed to clear the ball.
The linesman, who had a clear view kept his flag down. But Jasper Carrot lookalike Mike Dean, hell bent on evening things up, didn’t even deem to consult the linesman and pointed to the spot. McFadden hit it hard and high into the net.
Gallas in the opposite half, was booked for kicking the hoardings. The sort of passion needed. But more controlled in future William, please.
The silver lining on a bleak day and a grim week for Arsenal: this could be the turning point in Theo Walcott’s career.
Birmingham City: Maik Taylor, Martin Taylor, Stephen Kelly, David Murphy, Liam Ridgewell, Damien Johnson, James McFadden Sebastian Larsson (Mehdi Nafti 66) Fabrice Muamba, Olivier Kapo (Mauro Zarate 59) Mikael Forssell(Stuart Parnaby 15). Subs not used: Colin Doyle, Cameron Jerome.
Arsenal: Manuel Almunia, Philippe Senderos, Gael Clichy, William Gallas, Bacary Sagna, Cesc Fabregas, Mathieu Flamini, Alexander Hleb (Gilberto 90), Theo Walcott (Denilson 90), Eduardo (Nicklas Bendtner 9), Emmanuel Adebayor. Subs not used: Jens Lehmann, Justin Hoyte
Referee: Mike Dean