This whole thing is really quite a thorny issue. It’s never nice to boo someone and, I have to say, I felt so sorry for Eboue watching him trudge off to the chorus cheers that greeted his substitution. He looked on the verge of tears.
That said, he does himself absolutely no favours. Cristiano Ronaldo gets away with being an obnoxious little **** because he’s an amazing player, however even amongst United fans he’s far from being a fans’ favourite. In fact, just the other day a friend was telling me that he and his son – both United fans – had ‘gone off’ Ronaldo.
If even the great Ronaldo can’t command the unquestioned adulation of the crowd, what hope for poor old Eboue? If Ronaldo, suddenly, unbelievably, started playing consistently poorly – as poorly as Eboue – it wouldn’t be long before the United faithful told him exactly what they thought of his diving, whinging and overall petulance.
For the record, I actually don’t think Eboue is that bad a player. He’s quick, he’s strong, he’s got decent control and I’ve often been surprised (in a good way) by his dribbling abilities. Lest we forget, it was only a few seasons ago that he was being talked about as the best right back in the country. I distinctly remember that he was an absolute must for every fantasy football team.
In my opinion he is still capable of performing well as a right wing-back, and should be used as such, but for what it’s worth, I don’t think he’ll be around for much longer. He has not really got the ability or the temperament to turn the situation around for himself. He’ll be looking for an exit in January.
Clearly, though, the booing was much bigger than Eboue. It was about a crowd venting its frustration about having to pay top dollar week in, week out, to see a team consistently underperform, against ‘inferior’ opposition, and fail to address the situation by not dipping into the reputedly rather healthy war chest to buy some desperately needed reinforcements.
It was about a manager who, though a genius, is, like so many others, a flawed example of his craft. Wenger has become so mentally and emotionally invested in his project that he now fails to see what seems obvious to those looking in. The wood for the trees, you might say.
Friday 12 December 2008
Tuesday 2 December 2008
Captain Fabulous may herald turn in fortunes
I was supposed to have written something for Arsenal-Land last Monday, but a combination of extra college work, excessive play and my second job – moonlighting as a body double for David Beckham – forced me to admit defeat.
What I failed to consider at the time was the huge difference in tone delaying my regular contribution would have. After an away day at the once impregnable Stamford Bridge, I was preparing myself to inject yet more gloom into the bloated carcass of despair that has hovered menacingly above the Emirates in recent weeks.
What I got, in case I’d forgotten, was the perfect illustration of a why a week is such a long time in football. A vital, if unconvincing, victory to book a place in the knockout stages of the Champion’s League, and an unbelievable turnaround from a goal down to beat Chelsea, has gone some way to relieving the disheartening prospect of being out of the title race before Christmas.
There can be no question that Arsenal benefitted from some contentious refereeing decisions (it makes a change!) but the players also deserve immense credit. After the previous week’s humiliating capitulation against Man City, you would have been hard pressed to find a single person – Arsenal fan or otherwise – who thought a second half comeback against Chelsea was a realistic possibility.
What was amazing – dodgy linesman aside – was that once Arsenal got the equaliser, they suddenly looked like a team reborn. Certainly they looked the more likely winners.
Van Persie’s second came only three minutes after his first and thereafter priority shifted to defence and keeping the Premier League’s leading scorers at bay for the remaining half-hour.
Such a situation usually brings out the worst in us, but, bizarrely, the nervy, error strewn panic that tends to characterise an Arsenal rearguard performance never materialised. This may have had something to do with Chelsea’s strange but welcome loss of confidence, but there are also signs that the ascension of Fabregas to Club captain is having a galvanising effect.
We must not get ahead of ourselves – we have only seen two games and false dawns have been a feature of this season – but there are some causes for optimism. Not least has been the response of the deposed William Gallas and the partnership he looks capable of forming with the hitherto underappreciated Johan Djourou. I was also impressed with the midfield bite injected by Alex Song.
Another encouraging sign was the way Van Persie took his goals and the scenes of jubilation that followed. It suggests there is still plenty of confidence, belief and desire within the camp. What they must do now is build on this result starting at Burnley on Tuesday night and continuing at home against Wigan next weekend. Following this win up with a defeat as they did after the Man United victory would be terminal.
A few good results, however, should not blind us to the very real problems Arsenal still have. I believe the manager would be committing a grave error if he again declines the option to buy in January. There is enough to build on at Arsenal, but build he must.
What I failed to consider at the time was the huge difference in tone delaying my regular contribution would have. After an away day at the once impregnable Stamford Bridge, I was preparing myself to inject yet more gloom into the bloated carcass of despair that has hovered menacingly above the Emirates in recent weeks.
What I got, in case I’d forgotten, was the perfect illustration of a why a week is such a long time in football. A vital, if unconvincing, victory to book a place in the knockout stages of the Champion’s League, and an unbelievable turnaround from a goal down to beat Chelsea, has gone some way to relieving the disheartening prospect of being out of the title race before Christmas.
There can be no question that Arsenal benefitted from some contentious refereeing decisions (it makes a change!) but the players also deserve immense credit. After the previous week’s humiliating capitulation against Man City, you would have been hard pressed to find a single person – Arsenal fan or otherwise – who thought a second half comeback against Chelsea was a realistic possibility.
What was amazing – dodgy linesman aside – was that once Arsenal got the equaliser, they suddenly looked like a team reborn. Certainly they looked the more likely winners.
Van Persie’s second came only three minutes after his first and thereafter priority shifted to defence and keeping the Premier League’s leading scorers at bay for the remaining half-hour.
Such a situation usually brings out the worst in us, but, bizarrely, the nervy, error strewn panic that tends to characterise an Arsenal rearguard performance never materialised. This may have had something to do with Chelsea’s strange but welcome loss of confidence, but there are also signs that the ascension of Fabregas to Club captain is having a galvanising effect.
We must not get ahead of ourselves – we have only seen two games and false dawns have been a feature of this season – but there are some causes for optimism. Not least has been the response of the deposed William Gallas and the partnership he looks capable of forming with the hitherto underappreciated Johan Djourou. I was also impressed with the midfield bite injected by Alex Song.
Another encouraging sign was the way Van Persie took his goals and the scenes of jubilation that followed. It suggests there is still plenty of confidence, belief and desire within the camp. What they must do now is build on this result starting at Burnley on Tuesday night and continuing at home against Wigan next weekend. Following this win up with a defeat as they did after the Man United victory would be terminal.
A few good results, however, should not blind us to the very real problems Arsenal still have. I believe the manager would be committing a grave error if he again declines the option to buy in January. There is enough to build on at Arsenal, but build he must.
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