Arsenality chats to 'When the Seagulls...' PART I



Top Arsenal blogger, Dave of www.Arsenality.com, has been awesome enough to talk to his fellow, yet enemy of a cockney about Sundays 3-1 defeat to us; looking at what went wrong for the Gooners; what is wrong with in general; the situation over in the England camp...and United's horrible little owners...










When the Seagulls Follow the Trawler: So quite simply, what went wrong last Sunday? From seemingly improving on last May’s non-show when you came to Old Trafford at the start of the season, to this…?






Dave: A few things went wrong. Clichy's just come back from injury, and didn't look anything like his usual self - he's usually very nippy and tidy in the challenge, but he hasn't yet regained fitness and just couldn't cope with Nani's pace. We were certainly missing a big (ie. taller than a pint glass) striker, although had Arshavin made the right decisions in the first half we would almost certainly have gone a goal up, and it might have been a different story. 
We missed Robin van Persie dearly, and he is someone who has a good history against United. With Vidic out of the picture, he would have impressed. He's a great finisher and an intelligent target man, and on his day he can bring out the best in both Fabregas and Arshavin.
However, there's no doubting a few things went right for United. Fabregas was marked out of the game for long periods - which takes some doing - and Rooney was clinical as ever. Although the move for the second goal was helped along by some poor positioning on our part, his run up the pitch was pretty bloody impressive and he took his finish expertly. Also, going back to
Clichy, Ferguson clearly targetted him down your right wing to great effect.







WtSFtT: You mentioned Van Persie: but it doesn’t really appear that you’ve missed him up until now – as you’re still sitting comfortably in the race-for-the-title places – yet the only 2 ‘big’ games you’ve played without him, against us and Chelsea back in November, you’ve struggled to score. Why do you think a player like him is so vital to you in those bigger games? And do you really think he has been the difference when you’ve struggled against the likes of United and Chelsea? Or is it more underlying than that?






Dave: Robin seemed to have put the fitness problems behind him and had become a massive player for us during the year or so before that injury. He is the right kind of striker for our system - aside from being one of our thousands of creative playmaking forwards, he is deceptively strong and can deal with tough centre-backs, and can play with his back to goal far more effectively than Adebarndoor ever could. Plus, he's got a true striker's eye for goal and, unlike many of our attacking players, isn't afraid to smash them in from distance.




I think his absence made a considerable difference against Chelsea and United. Without him we lacked variety going forward, and at times it seemed like we had three short playmakers up front, supported by a short midfield playmaker, with no one able to finish a move. Height is an obvious problem without him and Bendtner, and although Arshavin and Eduardo can cope up front against teams like Bolton and Hull, they're up against far more intelligent centre-backs when we play the top teams and they haven't got any 6 foot 6 orcs to nutmeg or sprint around.








WtSFtT: You claimed in your post-match report that for our opener ‘Clichy was so awful that it seems he has now given Nani the impression that he's a good winger’. Is either player really that bad? Sure Nani’s generally had a poor time at United, but you surely can’t deny that skill was class?


Dave: Clichy isn't a bad player, far from it - he's actually been one of my favourites over the last few years. But he has been disappointing since he came back from injury, and I couldn't bear watching him endure such a torrid time against Ashley Young and Nani last week when I know what he's capable of. I expect him to return to form soon, because he has been a great player for us and his Mr. Reliable tag was well deserved before he started picking up injuries again. 




Nani hasn't had the best time at United, and while there's no doubting he's capable of the odd moment of brilliance - ie. embarrassing us with that seal dribble a couple of years ago - at 23 he should have shown more consistency by now. Ferguson's United have a history of world-class wingers around which the team's attacking style is often structured, ie. Giggs, Beckham and Ronaldo, and I'm not sure he's of that standard. He has potential, but he's still a tad lightweight and has a way to go before he can compete in the Premiership week in, week out. It was a nice piece of skill when he set up the first, and he deftly exploited our defensive shortcomings on that flank - however, I expected better from Clichy, Nasri and Denilson.












WtSFtT: How do you feel about the remainder of the season now? What are you realistic, achievable goals?



Dave: I'm still optimistic. Chelsea blew a big chance last night, and it just goes to show that there's no predicting how this season will turn out. All of the big teams are dropping points like they're out of fashion, and I agree with Wenger when he says the highest points tally this season will be unusually low.




Fixtures against the non-elite, physical teams used to be our undoing, but it seems as though we've finally reversed the trend and have started taking these opportunities. As we have the easiest of the three run-ins on paper, I can see us at the very least making up any lost ground at the end of the season. It will be tough, but the title isn't out of our reach.
Our only other possible target now is the Champions League - a massive challenge, but we have shown promising signs in recent years. Some might think it's an unrealistic goal, but our style has become well suited to European matches and we've avoided the biggest teams in the draw for the second round.










WtSFtT: You're right about Chelsea missing their opportunity. I completely agree that the weekends result now doesn't appear so bad for you, and if you can get some points against them on Sunday, then it'll be completely open again. So on that note, who do you reckon will win the league?



Dave: Before the season started, me and some mates put together a prediction pool, and my money was on Chelsea first, Arsenal second, and United third. I can't remember who I picked for fourth, but it wasn't Liverpool - I've done pretty well so far!


But I think I underestimated how United would bounce back from losing Ronaldo, and they may well prove me wrong. I also thought Giggs and Scholes would finally start to fade this season and maybe the likes of Anderson and Valencia would secure their places in the team, but those two just keep on going, and Giggs still has that incredible control and vision.


Although we have had a good season so far and have perhaps surprised a few people, the injuries could hold us back yet again. Robin van Persie was a terrible blow, and losing Gibbs and Djourou for the season could hurt us later if Clichy or one of the centre-backs picks up an injury.


I think we've still got a good chance, but out of our two rivals I will have to be a pain and pick Chelsea. Drogba and Anelka are absolutely deadly, and although their defence isn't quite up to its usual standards at the moment, Chelsea are generally no-nonsense at the back and I expect them to concede the least goals this season. They've developed a real balance between attack and defence, and are a highly efficient team.


Also I think Chelsea's squad depth will be too much for us and United - they've got a real selection of quality centre-backs and centre-midfielders, two of the best strikers in the world, and (finally) some handy wingers who can vary their style of play. They have strength and athleticism all over the pitch, and they've finally gelled after a few years of mixing and matching. 


I would prefer United to win any honours over Chelsea - it's much healthier for the game when an organic team with loyal, one-club men like Giggs and a real football ideology triumphs over a billionaire's plaything. But I think Chelsea are looking very strong this season. So reluctantly, I'll have to go for Chelsea.





Read Part II Tomorrow...

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