Arsenal 2 - 1 Manchester United. WE ARE THE ARSENAL!!!

salaam all

Haven’t been able to do my match rating since the last 3 match since I did not watch them. I was very frustrated not being able to watch them, the north London derby in particular. But what to do, my parents are in town to send relatives go for Haji and I am the driver

Anyway, am so glad to be able to watch Arsenal match again last Saturday. What’s more is that it was against our rival, Manchester United. With all the noises from the media, you will be forgiven to think that we are not even the slightest considered as MU’s rival. F**k it, who cares what the media thinks. WE ARE THE ARSENAL!!! And we will play our own way to win matches.

Went to pasar malam to get my usual Saturday dinner menu which are bihun goreng rm2.50 with ayam goreng, a couple of kepak ayam madu (this is for my gf since she like it so much) and 2 pieces of pulut udang (may I say the best pulut udang in KL after 4 years of searching). Come back to my home at around 8.20. My housemate, Fung was already in front of the TV, while John Dykes was commenting on something just as I was opening. Then I heard it; “the news from the stadium is that Arsenal will be happy with a score draw” or something along that line came from John Dykes. *that is actually the news that John Dykes gather, not what he think IMO*. I snapped when I heard this. Below are the conversation between me and Fung as of that time.

…Sounds from TV saying that Arsenal will be happy with a score draw..
Me : b*t*h la, will be happy with a score draw?? Depa ingat kita sapa???
Fung : serius baq hang. Pala otak depa
Me : kita Arsenal la. we’ll never happy with a score draw. Kita mesti mau menang la!!!
Fung : betui. Haram betui depa ni
…the TV goes back to the studio, where the “pundits” that were Steve McMahon and Paul Massfield were present...
Me : ni mesti dok kata kita akan kalah la ni dua2 ni
Fung : tobat baq hang
Me : eleh, McMahon ni mesti dok tensen pasai 89 lagi ni. IT’S UP FOR GRABS la Macca!!!!
Fung : takpa, biaq depa tengok

After that, just as we were saying the pundits wrote us off. But then again, these are the same people that wrote us off even before the ball being kicked last season. How they were made to eat their words last season. And they are about to be made to eat their words again that night

Everybody knows what happened. A very entertaining football match which should not be a surprise really. Arsenal vs MU is always an entertaining match doesn’t matter where the game played. Even more so when MU think they can win because they will attack more. Remember the double we did over them during 2006/2007 season?

I will do my match rating this time around. Before that, I just want to state that how happy I am to see such a committed performance from the boys. That, is what we all want. Because if the boys are committed in every matches, we will win every matches.

Manny – I’m split between wanting to describe his action on the backpass issue as stupidity or nervousness. However, in the end we all must admit that top gk just won’t do that. I still think he’s good enough for us though. And how he came back from that incident and guard his goal is nothing short of incredible. Even get kicked by Carrick while guarding his goal. (6.5)

Bac – solid as ever. Nothing get passed him although that fact is helped by Park Ji Sung who drifted in too much IMO. (6)

Billy Gallas – give his all today, and it is enough to win us the match. Which make him still good enough to be our first choice CD. It’s all about the partnership. Even showed his leadership quality throughout the match. (6.5)

Mikael – same as the captain, solid. This does give us hope that our defensive fragility may be solved this season. (6)

Gael – 1 on 1, nobody get pass him. Not even the so called the Best Player in the world. What with our first choice left back that make them handle C.Ronaldo so well? (6)

Theo – not 1 of his better match. His decision making still pretty much lacking. But now, his presence alone is enough to help the team. And what a clever run made by him to help set up our 2nd goal. (4.5)

Denilson – good match from the young Brazilian. Seems to understand more and more by the match that he and Cesc can work well together, it just that 1 may need to sit a bit deep when the other going forward. And the giveaway of the freekicks in dangerous area need to go also. Other than that, he is in the correct path. (6)

Cesc – a solid game from our world class midfield general. He always going to make less pinpoint passes when he only have 2 runners in the form of Theo (not having a good match) and Samir (defensive duties does take his time from doing the forward running). If Ade is playing, you will see more from Cesc. Anyway, still solid match from him nonetheless. (6)

Samir – how excellent is this player? Finally, we manage to find replacement for Pires; both for his goals and his contribution in our playing style. Took his goals effectively, and fit in nicely with our style of play. Toy around with MU captain like the older Neville just a little child..haha..however this does remind me of the time Reyes excelling in our side. And then, the Nevilles literally kicked him out of the BPL. But, somehow I don’t see the same happening to Samir. Well played Samir, my MOTM for this macth. (7.5)

Abou – play the extra man in midfield role. He also supposed to support Nik in attack, but spent more time in the our part of the field due to the defensive duties performed. Played well enough to contribute to the win, but I do have the feeling that he should be contributing more to this match. More to come from him I predict, but it has to come fast as he is not what we can call young anymore in this Arsenal side. (5.5)

Nik – I thought it was a big ask to put him in our 4-5-1 formation which he never played before and ask him to perform. What’s more is that the match is against the current BPL and European champion. But he did well for me. Obviously not as well as Ade would do in that lone striker role but his performance was good enough for me, considering the situation. Not to mention he also looks visibly exhausted towards the end of the match, hence causing him to miss the 1 golden chance for him in the injury time. (5.5)

Subs

Alex Song – went on a crazy run right after he came in but after that settle down and bring the extra security needed in the middle of the field. (5.5)

King Kolo – I was a little bit disappointed by his performance in this match. Was hoping a little bit more from him both in term of defending and attacking. (4.5)

Lukasz – looks composed and confident, which very important for a gk. Nothing can be done about the goal though. Not just it’s a good striker from Rafael, his view was also blocked by 1 of the defender. (5)