True Grit

from the factory floor

BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE

Ashburton Grove

Referee:  Mike Dean

Arsenal 1-1 Fulham 26 November 2011

Vermaelen [OG-65, 82]

For a few matches now there has been a common theme, that we were able to dig out a result when a month or so ago that possibility would have been very much called into question.  After quite the exertion in midweek to land the top spot in our Champions League group, a drop-off in energy and performance did not pose much of a surprise.

That drop-off wasn’t matched at the Football Factory. Our minion of NY Gooners turned back the clock with some true grouchy old man style ranting, a necessary evil due both to the scrappy affair unfolding and the need to establish a good view of the match on the odd array of screens on the main level. In a way it seems fitting that so many tourists are subject to the coarse vulgarities on offer. This is New York City after all.

The first half was remarkable largely for the number of chances that fell to Ramsey, who simply couldn’t convert. Charrdwood texted about his wastefulness while Ed’s view was that if he scores one he’ll score several. The Welshman does have a knack for the late run into the box that really should profit from the attentions defenders will give to our front three and I am reminded of a few seasons back when Cesc was having similar difficulty scoring goals.

In Rambo’s defense, he missed a year of football, and that he put himself about and got into such great positions is a testament not only to his ability but also to his determination to return to the form he was in before his injury. Also to his credit, it seems fatigue, not niggling injury, is the cause of his lack of sharpness. Put that into contrast with Diaby, who several years on has not achieved the consistency of appearances or performances that Ramsey has after a badly broken leg.

The other standout showing in the first half came from Theo Walcott. I believe the Tuesday Club and the Fans’ Forum on the official site both noted his transformation this week. Simply put, Theo has become a man this season. There was one run in particular, when he carried the ball 60 yards, skinned 3 defenders along the way, then unselfishly dumped the ball to Ramsey for one of those spurned chances. Despite the perfect lay-off I really wanted him to shoot that ball. Instead the chance came to nothing, well except waking up this dozy kid in the stand.  As TJ pointed out, it costs us about 1500 bucks to get to the Grove, child. Wake up.

More scrappiness followed the break and the game was dragging a bit to be honest. We were in agreement that Arshavin looked gassed and was getting sloppier and sloppier. It is hard on the Russian at the moment. He can’t get a sniff because of Gervinho’s great start to the season, but I felt it was a good move to get him involved. Too bad he didn’t seem to feel the same way.

After an hour it looked like we were running out of ideas, and the consensus amongst us at the bar was that a change was due. I felt Rosicky and Gervinho were the solution, for Arshavin and Ramsey. Apparently Wenger was of similar mind, but inevitably Fulham’s mini-spell of pressure resulted in the all too common defensive cock-up and a goal for the visitors.

I understand there is an initiative to improve the hospitality at the Grove, but I do draw the line at scoring for the opponent. Arteta did his tumbly thingy at the slightest contact in a very unwise area of the pitch, Murphy chipped it towards Riise [tracked impressively by Theo I might add], the Norwegian’s chest control was a bit heavy, and Vermaelen tackled the ball weakly past Szczesny into the bottom corner. Other than a great save on Dembele in the first half, picking the ball out of the net was all Wojciech had to do in the game really. Cue the NY Toon giving it the biggun in the way only a band of barcodes led by a Geordie ‘lady’ can. Really, really annoyingly. At least it had the effect of waking us up at the bar. We only sing when we’re losing?

We were half right on the subs, Gervinho arrived for Ramsey, but it was Diaby who came on for Mertesacker. It was a good move---we instantly had more movement up front, and some more height, soon to be further augmented by the arrival of Chamakh for Arshavin. Diaby had a classic dribble to nowhere, but otherwise did well. Gervinho instantly livened up our movement and after some sustained pressure we got our equalizer. It was another fine cross from Walcott, who didn’t hit a poor one all day. Who should arrive to bean it home but Vermaelen, who started the move with a towering header at midfield that ended up at Theo’s feet via his BFF RVP.

It is a rather charming aspect of the Football Factory that we played out the final ten minutes in a singing battle with Newcastle supporters. It looked as though we might rescue all the points but as Tin Lid correctly pointed out, this game looked like another one in which we would just run out of runway. We had other chances. A powerful header from Djourou for Schwarzer to add to his saves against the Arsenal reel [along with an excellent stop from Ramsey in the early going], and a shot from Van Persie after some trademark jinking in the area, which deflected wide when it went through Baird’s legs. There were shades of last week at Norwich and the 2 goalkeeper ploy. It was unlucky and for once the skipper had one of those days when all of his hard work didn’t come off.

It really is comforting to know that this result didn’t produce the gnashing of teeth that it might have, even if it halted a welcomed winning streak in the league. We remain unbeaten in all competitions over the last 10 matches, and have proven to be a team with true grit [an appropriate account of our resilience as well as our wayward shooting on the day]. This was certainly a loss a month or so ago. Instead the anxiety lasted only a few moments after Fulham’s goal. Throughout it felt like a match we really weren’t going to lose, even if it often looked like we probably wouldn’t win either.

On a final note, that lack of worry meant we were able to spend a good chunk of the match and the pow-wow afterwards discussing TJ’s excellent Football Factory podcast. Give it a listen. It’s a fantastic advertisement for the culture of the game available at Legends.


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