Notes on the North London Derby

photo by Svadilfari	via PhotoRee

I had to do something while watching Arsenal jump out to a two goal lead at the Lane on Wednesday, so I just started typing.  Herewith, my notes:

• It's nice to see the FA rewarding competency in handing the reins to Martin Atkinson for both the Spurs - Arsenal game, as well as the FA Cup final. After all, it's not like he's made any high profile mistakes this season. And when the beady-eyed Englishman somehow managed to miss Abou Diaby's bone-crunching tackle on my man-crush, Luka Modric, it only further solidified my opinion that he's incompetent or corrupt.  So take that FA.

• Apparently Uncle 'arry forgot to tell his boys to play defense in his pre-match instructions, as they gave away acres of space to the Gooners on their way to conceding a couple of goals in the opening 12 minutes, and three in the first half.

• The more I watch the game tonight, the more I think the PFA awards are a total freaking joke. Samir Nasri up for player of the year?  If he wants to win he should score more than once every 15 games, which was the length of his drought before he finally figured out how to put it past the 'keeper tonight. And although Rafael Van der Vaart also scored in the game, his productivity has declined steeply since he first entered the League. How many goals does he have since January?  I'm unsure as to the exact total, but I'm certain the answer is in the vicinity of not many.

• And PFA player of the year?  C'mon down, Gareth Bale, and bask in the collective adulation that's coming your way for one assist this season. That's one, as in 1 -- and as a winger, you would think assists would be one of his main responsibilities. And was that Young Player of the Year Jack Wilshere riding pine for the first half of this most important game? You don't think there's a chance the London-biased media influenced the awards' outcome, do you?

Questions for Cesc, Pep and Arsene

photo by CarbonNYC	via PhotoRee

So now that we're all done with the most-hyped game of the year, farlieonfootie has a few questions that we're attempting to answer:

Did the Arsenal - Barcelona Champions League game live up to the hype? 
I'd say so. And more. It was a great game, the kind that turns neophytes into fans for life.

Did you call the 2-1 Arsenal victory?
No, I thought it would be a 2-2 draw.  I haven't bought into the "best squad ever" hype for Barcelona yet.  And if you doubt my prediction, look it up here.


What did you base your prediction on?
Gut feeling, as well as the knowledge that Barca has never won on the road under Guardiola in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Does Arsenal spray paint it's pitch, or is it always that unnaturally verdant? 
Maybe the colors on my television were off, but man, that pitch is bright. Glowing may be a more apt description.

What kind of idiot wears a scarf that's half Arsenal and half Barcelona? 
Apparently the kind of idiot that populated the Emirates last evening.


Did Lionel Messi actually miss a shot last night with the goal wide open? 
He sure did, and I didn't know that was possible.  He may need to go back to the shop for a re-boot.

When It's Time To Change

  The Heart of the Arsenal Central Defense 
photo by Daniel Paixão Fontes	via PhotoRee

I suffered through Wigan playing Arsenal the other night; it wasn't exactly the most exciting game to watch from a neutral's perspective, although I did enjoy the ending. [Ed. Note: can I count myself as a neutral if I was actively rooting against Arsenal?  In fact, is there really such a thing as a neutral?  I look at neutrals the same way I view "Undecideds" in politics. Either you care, or you don't; and if you don't care, why are you watching?]

The Wigan side was composed of four players and seven interchangeable avatars: Charles N'Zogbia, Tom Cleverly, Hugo Rodallega, Ben Watson (who stood out mainly for his bright red hair and penalty kick) and seven "Who's that?" guys.  Give them credit, though -- they played their hearts out and obtained a result against an Arsenal side that should have been flying sky high after their recent victory over arch-rival Chelsea.

Regarding the Arsenal side they tied, though, one must address the elephant in the room:


If Mick McCarthy, Ian Holloway and others face the FA's music for squad rotation, surely Arsene Wenger must be nervously staring a fine in the face after replacing eight of the men who began Monday night's game against Chelsea?  Le Professor must have suffered calendar confusion, and mistakenly assumed that Wednesday night's EPL match was an early round League Cup encounter, to make as many changes as he did.