Well, the FA cup is done and dusted (and I might argue that the premier league is as well). Let's look at the best game from the weekend.
Arsenal - Norwich City
What a game to watch. Benayoun scores in less than 90 seconds, but Arsenal could not capitalize on that excellent start. Norwich started to control possession and scored two well-worked goals. One would expect a mid-table, newly promoted side to sit back and play for a 2-1 against the mighty Arsenal. However, for 30 mins, Norwich City continued to attack and created multiple chances. Similarly, Arsenal actually played on the counter and created chances via Gervinho and RVP. The game moved rapidly from end to end. In what proved to be one of the talking points, Aaron Ramsey was very lucky to not get a second yellow card and get himself sent off. But, in typical Arsene We(hi)nger form, the manager focused his ire on the 'tackle' that lead to Sagna's leg break.
http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/shocker-bacary-sagna-is-ruled-out-of-euro-2012-after-breaking-his-leg-arsenal-norwich/
I encourage you to check out that link and explain to me how Wenger could make the assertion that Bradley Johnson intended to hurt Sagna. In fact, I would argue that, if anything, he trips over a poor attempted clearance from Sagna. But, of course, the blogospheres lit up with Arsenal fans discussing how this is another example of premier league players targeting Arsenal.
Back to the game - Gervinho was having a good game and was a constant threat down the right, however, Norwich City were throwing bodies in line to block shots from distance. Cue the brilliance of Alex Song. The ball came out to the Ivorian star, and as he has done so often this season, Song plays the ball over the defense. Inch-perfect. Perfectly volleyed by RVP. Goal.
At this point, Arsenal were completely dominant and they looked like taking the lead. Despite some herculean defending by the City players, a deflection off Anthony Pilkington, fell at the feet of RVP, and the premier league's leading scorer tucked it away to give Arsenal a 3-2 lead. With only about 10 minutes to go, one might have been forgiven to believe that that was game over.
Of course not. A ball over the defense by the excellent Howson, found Morison pushing down the right hand side. Seeing that he had no support, Morison struck a powerful and low strike across the face of goal. It might be easy to criticize the Arsenal goalkeeper for letting it in, but I cannot see how Szczesny could have anticipated that strike. Either way, the game was now at 3-3 and ripe for some late drama.
That did arrive. RVP missed a couple of sitters and despite Wenger's whinging, the penalty shoutout was correctly not given. Moreover, it is a mute point as Gervinho was clearly offside and CLEARLY involved in the play (contrary to public opinion, whether or not he touches the ball is not the deciding factor). Arsenal continued to attack and despite an improvised backflick by Song and a good strike by Gibbs, Arsenal could not win the game
Man of the Match - Alex Song - what a player.
For reviews of the FA cup final, the premier league race, etc., please listen to our second podcast.
Thank you for reading!
Arsenal - Norwich City
What a game to watch. Benayoun scores in less than 90 seconds, but Arsenal could not capitalize on that excellent start. Norwich started to control possession and scored two well-worked goals. One would expect a mid-table, newly promoted side to sit back and play for a 2-1 against the mighty Arsenal. However, for 30 mins, Norwich City continued to attack and created multiple chances. Similarly, Arsenal actually played on the counter and created chances via Gervinho and RVP. The game moved rapidly from end to end. In what proved to be one of the talking points, Aaron Ramsey was very lucky to not get a second yellow card and get himself sent off. But, in typical Arsene We(hi)nger form, the manager focused his ire on the 'tackle' that lead to Sagna's leg break.
http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/shocker-bacary-sagna-is-ruled-out-of-euro-2012-after-breaking-his-leg-arsenal-norwich/
I encourage you to check out that link and explain to me how Wenger could make the assertion that Bradley Johnson intended to hurt Sagna. In fact, I would argue that, if anything, he trips over a poor attempted clearance from Sagna. But, of course, the blogospheres lit up with Arsenal fans discussing how this is another example of premier league players targeting Arsenal.
Back to the game - Gervinho was having a good game and was a constant threat down the right, however, Norwich City were throwing bodies in line to block shots from distance. Cue the brilliance of Alex Song. The ball came out to the Ivorian star, and as he has done so often this season, Song plays the ball over the defense. Inch-perfect. Perfectly volleyed by RVP. Goal.
At this point, Arsenal were completely dominant and they looked like taking the lead. Despite some herculean defending by the City players, a deflection off Anthony Pilkington, fell at the feet of RVP, and the premier league's leading scorer tucked it away to give Arsenal a 3-2 lead. With only about 10 minutes to go, one might have been forgiven to believe that that was game over.
Of course not. A ball over the defense by the excellent Howson, found Morison pushing down the right hand side. Seeing that he had no support, Morison struck a powerful and low strike across the face of goal. It might be easy to criticize the Arsenal goalkeeper for letting it in, but I cannot see how Szczesny could have anticipated that strike. Either way, the game was now at 3-3 and ripe for some late drama.
That did arrive. RVP missed a couple of sitters and despite Wenger's whinging, the penalty shoutout was correctly not given. Moreover, it is a mute point as Gervinho was clearly offside and CLEARLY involved in the play (contrary to public opinion, whether or not he touches the ball is not the deciding factor). Arsenal continued to attack and despite an improvised backflick by Song and a good strike by Gibbs, Arsenal could not win the game
Man of the Match - Alex Song - what a player.
For reviews of the FA cup final, the premier league race, etc., please listen to our second podcast.
Thank you for reading!
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