We will get better « Untold Arsenal: Arsenal News. Supporting the Lord Wenger; coach of the decade
By Walter Broeckx
I’m not going to say I liked the game or the result against Liverpool. But I’m not prepared to go over the top and do what some others will do.
In an article a few weeks ago I told we would suffer if Fabregas would leave and we are suffering. Losing the best midfielder in the world would be a big loss for any team. Now people can say Wenger should have bought someone to replace him. But how can you replace the best midfielder in the world? It will always be a big responsibility for any player who would have to do this.
The player that would come will always be compared to him and this is something we should not do. There will be no new Cesc unless he comes back one day. And the price to buy a replacement for Cesc in a market where we have to compete against City and Chelsea is very difficult. Names are circulating but we will just have to wait and see what will happen.
And let us not forget we have a player in our squad who can become on e of the best players in England and maybe the world. But Jack Wilshere is a different player then Cesc was and then we got the little problem that he has been injured a few weeks. But that with Jack wilshere back in the team our creativity will become better is something I’m very sure of. So hoping for Jack to be fit in the next days.
The team we played today was not our strongest possible team. When you start in the EPL with 2 players to make their first start in the EPL this is already something that not happens every day. And when you have to bring on another player who has never played in the EPL it gets even weirder. And then to bring on a 4th player who also has never started a game in the EPL. Well I think this is something that never happened before in our history. Did it ever happen in the era of the EPL?
At the start of the game we had the following players not available because of injury and suspension: Gibbs, Traore, Djourou, Rosicky, Diaby, Wilshere, Song and Gervinho. 8 players if I can still count. Not saying all 8 of them are first choice in every game but I think at least 4 would be first choice if fit. And I haven’t included Diaby in those 4.
The injury to Koscielny was another big blow and we then saw Miquel making his debut in the EPL. I thought he didn’t do too bad. In fact I think he did what could be expected from a young man making his first appearance in a team that has already been hit hard by injuries. And he was very unlucky with the first Liverpool goal. His attempted clearance hit Ramsey and then flew in the goal. Bad luck Ignasi but I think you will get stronger from this.
Just look at Jenkinson the other player to make his EPL debut in the starting 11. He made a terrible own goal at Cologne but he is doing a good job as a second choice right back. At the end of the game he also was a bit injured but I think it was only some cramps.
And then our other new boy at the start of his first EPL game for Arsenal. I think Frimpong has a great future ahead of him. I must say I was amazed, or no better said not that amazed in fact, when he got his first yellow card. I have never seen a ref give a yellow card for this. A player thinks the ball has gone out for his team to take the throw. The Liverpool player obviously didn’t want to give the ball as it was a Liverpool throw.
Those things happen in a game and like I said there is no need to give a yellow card for this. Nothing really happened. Nobody threw away the ball. A few words were said but there was no need for the ref to do what he did. Certainly if you are a clever ref and you know (as you should know as a ref when you prepare for the game) that you have a player(s) on the field who are making their debut. Then you can call them over and say: look at the linesman next time before you clam the ball and calm down a bit. But no the ref didn’t act like that but chose to hand out cards. I noticed later in the game that when some Liverpool players protested a decision against him with waving hands and arms he kept the cards in his pocket.
About the second yellow card one can only say that he came late and it was a deserved yellow card. From then on we began to collapse. And this should be read as a great compliment for Frimpong. This means that he was essential in our game. I was very impressed overall by his performance and when he had to go the balance in the team got lost. Lansbury is a different type of player and he had to play in a role that didn’t suit him. But then again one cannot blame him for this.
I know we didn’t play great. I know we are still looking for a new balance in the team after Cesc has gone. So when then you have to play with many players out and then lose even the players who have been performing rather good it was a bridge too far.
We can only hope that our injured players are fit again soon. And that from now on our players keep themselves under control a bit more. Even when the refs are clearly out there to screw you. We just should try to avoid that they can do what they are doing. I know this is very difficult at times and certainly when you are still young and inexperienced. But it will not help us in any way to get bookings and red cards when we are already down to the bone.
So I can understand many fans being disappointed after the game. I was also disappointed. But we played a team that had spend a lot of money. They were almost complete. We missed a lot of players. So when they come back we will only get better and stronger. Surely the bad luck cannot with injuries cannot continue for ever….