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Match
Preview |
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| Result |
Arsenal |
1 - 1 |
West Bromwich Albion |
| Scorers |
Robert Pires (54) |
Robert Earnshaw (79) |
| Attendance |
38,109 |
| Teams |
4-4-2
1 - Jens Lehmann (GK)
3 - Ashley Cole
18 - Pascal Cygan
12 - Bisan Lauren
28 - Kolo Toure
15 - Francesc Fabregas
8 - Fredrik Ljungberg
7 - Robert Pires
4 - Patrick Vieira
10 - Dennis Bergkamp
14 - Thierry Henry |
4-4-1-1
(GK) Russell Hoult - 1
Neil Clement - 19
Cosmin Contra - 16
Darren Moore - 5
Darren Purse - 6
Riccardo Scimeca - 2
Jonathan Greening - 8
Andy Johnson - 10
Artim Sakiri - 20
Zoltan Gera - 11
Nwankwo Kanu - 25 |
| Substitutes |
24 - Manuel Almunia (GK)
31 - Justin Hoyte
20 - Philippe Senderos
9 - Jose Antonio Reyes
11 - Robin Van Persie |
(GK) Tomasz Kuszczak
- 29
Thomas Gaardsoe - 4
Bernt Haas - 22
Robert Earnshaw - 34
Geoff Horsfield - 9 |
| Substitutions |
J Reyes for F Fabregas (81)
R van Persie for D Bergkamp (88) |
G Horsfield for N Kanu
(75)
R Earnshaw for C Contra (75)
T Gaardsoe for A Sakiri (84)
|
| Yellow Cards |
None |
Zoltan Gera (83) |
| Red Cards |
None |
None |
| Referee |
H Webb (Rotherham) |
It's ironic that Albion's
best result of the season leaves them in their lowest position of
the season, but if we play with the same drive, passion, intelligence
and ability that was shown at Highbury, we won't be in the bottom
three for long. We may get beat by Manchester United on Saturday
and drop to the bottom of the table, but that should not be a cause
for concern, I believe that Bryan Robson is getting this team playing
somewhere close to the level they should be. We all knew that this
squad was the best we've seen at the Hawthorns for more than twenty
years, the new manager is in the process of showing the rest of
the Premiership that fact.
Robson selected a radical 4-4-1-1 formation playing Gera just behind
the lone striker, Kanu. The Nigerian was a doubt all week with a
groin injury, but as a lone striker, he was always going to be preferred
above Earnshaw, with perhaps Horsfield second choice. The biggest
shock was a first appearance of the season for Artim Sakiri. The
rest of the starting line-up was unchanged.
I, for one, expected Arsene Wenger to rest a few players with one
eye on the Champions League trip to PSV, but he obviously felt that
he couldn't afford to drop any more points and it was a full strength
Arsenal line-up, although some Gooners may have chosen Reyes above
Bergkamp or Pires - oh, to have such decisions to make!!
Understandably, Albion's attacking ambitions were limited and their
gameplan was to frustrate the Arsenal attack by packing the midfield.
Greening and Johnson worked tirelessly in the centre of the park
giving Vieira and Fabregas no time to settle, and they were ably
assisted by Contra and Sakiri on the flanks. Inevitably, the ability
in the Arsenal midfield, joined by Bergkamp and Henry dropping deep,
and Lauren and Cole surging forward, broke through the midfield
on occasion and put pressure on the back four. But Clement, Moore
and Scimeca all produced excellent displays but, more often than
not, it was the outstanding Darren Purse that broke up attack after
attack with well-timed interceptions and tackles.
Arsenal managed to get into good positions, but there was normally
a defender about to make that block or challenge, or Hoult in position
as the last resort. The home side were clearly on top, but Albion
were reasonably comfortable, and perhaps had the best chance of
the first half. Clement whipped in a cross that was inches from
connecting with a late run from Andy Johnson and Gera came in on
the far post and couldn't quite divert it goalwards, finding the
side-netting with his shot.
In the entire first half, Arsenal managed to test Hoult just three
times, with the best coming from a Thierry Henry free kick just
before the interval. Hoult's other fine stop came from a Cygan header
that was deflected just six yards out. All in all, It was an encouraging
first forty-five.
Arsenal stepped up another gear after the break and had a great
chance early on when Henry beat Scimeca down the Arsenal left and
his cut back found Pires. But Andy Cole got in the way of the Frenchman's
shot and Bergkamp could only slice the rebound wide.
But then, disaster.
Albion sportingly put the ball out for an Arsenal player to receive
treatment. Rather than giving the ball back to Hoult, Bergkamp opted
to put Albion under pressure with a defensive throw-in. Albion were
forced to clear up field and Lehmann returned the ball long. Pires
picked it up from Purse's defensive header and, with the Albion
defense backing off, he approached the box before curling in a shot
to Hoult's left hand corner. It should've been comfortable for the
Albion stopper, but in an attempt to catch the ball, he let it slip
through his hands and into the net to give Arsenal the lead.
We sat back and waited for the onslaught - it never came. Arsenal
had a couple of chances and should've doubled their lead when Cygan
had a free header at the far post, but Albion did not lie down and
die.
As Arsenal looked to be settling for the single goal, Robson made
his move and swapped Kanu and Contra for Earnshaw and Horsfield.
Gera moved to the right wing with Earnshaw and Horsfield up front
as Albion reverted to 4-4-2. Suddenly, Arsenal had something to
worry about in defense and they failed to wake up to it in time.
It was fitting that Albion's two best players were involved in the
build up to the equaliser, although Purse had overhit his high ball
to Greening. Nevertheless, the former Man Utd player got there and
produced a fine bit of skill to bring the ball down. Cole had given
it up and was caught out of position giving Greening the time to
play in a fine cross. Horsfield drew Cygan to the near post and,
as the ball went behind him, Earnshaw ghosted in between Toure and
Lauren to fire the ball home with his first touch of the game.
Wenger responded by bringing on Reyes for Fabregas, but Albion looked
comfortable for the remainder of the game and held on for a well-deserved
point.
This should be the result that kick-starts Albion's season, giving
the players a much-needed confidence boost, as they have proved
that they are good enough to feel at home at this level. Next week's
match against Manchester United will no longer be viewed with trepidation,
but with anticipation of another good performance and the possibility
that Sir Alex Ferguson's 1,001st game in charge of the Red Devils
may end in defeat.
Marks
Russell Hoult - 5 - Dreadful error although he made a couple of
good saves in the first half.
Neil Clement - 7 - A solid display from Clem.
Cosmin Contra - 7 - Another encouraging showing from Contra.
Darren Moore - 8 - Excellent solid performance.
Darren Purse - 9 - MOM. Outstanding display after the disappointing
showing last week.
Riccardo Scimeca - 7 - Much improved performance from Riccy.
Jonathan Greening - 9 - Overshadowed Vieira and produced a wonderful
touch to set up the goal.
Andy Johnson - 8 - Yet another encouraging display.
Artim Sakiri - 7 - In from the cold and worth his place.
Zoltan Gera - 7 - Decent display in the hole behind Kanu.
Nwankwo Kanu - 6 - A quiet game but he had little service.
Robert Earnshaw - 7 - Immediate impact.
Geoff Horsfield - 6 - Did OK.
Thomas Gaardsoe - 6 - Did Ok in an unusual midfield role.
Bryan Robson - 9 - Excellent tactical set-up, made the substitution
at exactly the right time. Another surprising but effective team
selection.
Jon Want, 22nd November 2004.
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