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Match
Preview |
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| Result |
West Bromwich Albion |
0 - 2 |
Arsenal |
| Scorers |
None |
Robin Van Persie (66)
Edu (90) |
| Attendance |
27,351 |
| Teams |
5-4-1
1 - Russell Hoult (GK)
14 - Martin Albrechtsen
19 - Neil Clement
4 - Thomas Gaardsoe
5 - Darren Moore
3 - Paul Robinson
24 - Ronnie Wallwork
8 - Jonathan Greening
15 - Kieran Richardson
21 - Kevin Campbell
11 - Zoltan Gera |
4-4-2
(GK) Jens Lehmann - 1
Ashley Cole - 3
Bisan Lauren - 12
Philippe Senderos - 20
Kolo Toure - 28
Francesc Fabregas - 15
Robert Pires - 7
Gilberto Silva - 19
Patrick Vieira - 4
Jose Antonio Reyes - 9
Robin Van Persie - 11 |
| Substitutes |
29 - Tomasz Kuszczak (GK)
2 - Riccardo Scimeca
34 - Robert Earnshaw
9 - Geoff Horsfield
25 - Nwankwo Kanu |
(GK) Manuel Almunia
- 24
Sol Campbell - 23
Edu - 17
Jeremie Aliadiere - 30
Dennis Bergkamp - 10 |
| Substitutions |
N Kanu for Z Gera (80)
R Earnshaw for M Albrechtsen (80)
G Horsfield for K Campbell (80) |
D Bergkamp for F Fabregas
(74)
Edu for R van Persie (74) |
| Yellow Cards |
None |
None |
| Red Cards |
None |
None |
| Referee |
N Barry (Lincolnshire) |
When Edu scored an
undeserved second for the Gunners, it was probably the moment when
most Baggies finally gave up hope of avoiding relegation this season.
It was a solid, determined display from the home side that made
Arsenal look pretty ordinary for much of the game, but one that
also stunted their own attacking power to such an extent that they
rarely looked like scoring themselves.
Nonetheless, Albion certainly deserved a point out of the game,
but as has happened so many times this season, Albion did not get
what they deserved. It leaves the Baggies with a next to impossible
task in all likelihood needing a victory at Old Trafford to give
themselves a chance.
Robson opted for a defensive formation against Arsenal playing Campbell
as a lone striker. It may have been published as a 5-4-1 formation
with Big Dave coming in as the extra defender, but Albion played
with more of a 3-6-1 shape in attempt to crowd out the dangerous
Arsenal midfielders.
And for the most part it worked. Without Henry and Ljungberg, Arsenal
lacked the ability to launch the lightening quick breaks that they
are so famous for. Instead, they built their attacks in a much more
methodical manner and with six men strung across the middle of the
park, Albion were able to restrict the visitors to long range shots
for most of the game.
A key battle in the middle was between Ronnie Wallwork and Patrick
Vieira. Ronnie produced the performance of his career to keep the
mercurial Senegalese quiet, a constant thorn in his side biting
away with challenges giving him no time on the ball. Vieira did
much the same to Ronnie when he was on the ball, but was often a
little more clinical in the tackle giving away a series of free
kicks. Neale Barry was extremely lenient in not producing a yellow
card for the Arsenal captain - I wonder if he knew that Vieira was
one booking away from a two match suspension.
Ronnie's was not the only outstanding performance. The back three
were all excellent. Clement and Gaardsoe both read the game well,
were strong in the tackle and economical with the ball. Big Dave
was a rock. He produced a superb display that belied the minimal
amount of football he has played this season and was typified by
an outstanding challenge he made in the second half to dispossess
Reyes in the penalty area.
Robinson and Albrechtsen also both played well, managing to restrict
Arsenal's attacks down the flanks as well as supporting the Albion
attack. Greening looked sharp and eager on his return and Richardson
produced some excellent runs and passes.
It wasn't Gera's night, unfortunately, although it wasn't for the
want of trying. Nothing he attempted seemed to come off - flicks
and carefully threaded passes that on another day would have found
their mark seemed to always be intercepted by an Arsenal player.
The one true disappointment in the performance was Kevin Campbell
- he worked hard in the first half and held the ball up well on
many occasions. But after the break, he looked out of sorts and
really should have been replaced much, much earlier. As it was,
when he went down with an injury and received treatment, he opted
to get up and struggle on - he was obviously not able to continue
and walked off leaving Albion down to ten men. Arsenal were in possession,
a goal up, and simply kept the ball for about three minutes as Albion
had noone to pressure the defenders. It was a frustrating time as
Albion had to wait to make their substitution.
But Robson should've changed it much earlier. With Albion really
needing to win the game, he should've made substitutions as soon
as Arsenal had scored, if not earlier - ten minutes is never enough
time to change the course of a game.
Chances throughout the game were at a premium. It would've been
fitting had Wallwork managed to convert Albion's best opportunity
just before half time. He latched onto Richardson's ball into the
box but couldn't keep his effort down.
That was just after Hoult had made an excellent save to deny van
Persie.
After the break, Lauren and Gilberto managed to get something in
the way of goalbound efforts from Robinson and Clement, before the
visitors broke the deadlock.
Reyes managed to find a little bit of space on the edge of the area
and fed a ball into van Persie - the young Dutchman managed to turn
away from Clement before firing a well-placed shot into the corner
of the net.
Reyes should have made it two shortly afterwards when he was put
through and side-stepped Hoult - but he couldn't beat Clement who'd
managed to get back to cover the net.
Lehmann saved well from a long range shot from Richardson, but other
than that, the Arsenal defence looked comfortable.
Robson's late throw of the dice to put on three strikers was too
late, and Edu rubbed salt into the Baggies' wounds with a goal deep
into injury time.
2-0 was harsh on Albion - Arsenal never looked a class above the
Baggies and, indeed, didn't win a single corner in the entire game.
Having said that, the home side didn't do enough to warrant a goal
and you're always likely to concede against Arsenal.
If the Blackburn result placed the lid on Albion's Premiership coffin,
this one put started to put the nails in. It truly will be a miracle
to rank alongside a resurrection should they get out of this one.
Marks
Russell Hoult - 7 - Excellent save from van Persie - decent display
Martin Albrechtsen - 7 - A much improved performance.
Neil Clement - 7 - Another solid display.
Thomas Gaardsoe - 7 - Cool, calm and collected.
Darren Moore - 8 - Excellent.
Paul Robinson - 8 - Yet another excellent performance from Robbo.
Ronnie Wallwork - 10 - MOM. Outstanding display against one of the
best in the world.
Jonathan Greening - 7 - Good to have him back.
Kieran Richardson - 7 - Albion's most creative player once more.
Kevin Campbell - 5 - Another below par performance.
Zoltan Gera - 6 - Nothing worked for Zoltan.
Nwankwo Kanu - 7 - Best of the subs but was up against it.
Robert Earnshaw - 6 - Did OK.
Geoff Horsfield - 6 - Ditto
Bryan Robson - 6 - Again he left the subs too late, although I though
he started with the right team.
Jon Want, 4th May 2005.
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