End of That Streak

Tottenham and Arsenal. I don't want to talk about it.

Starting the New Year Right

Well, well it's a brand spanking New Year and Arsenal remain atop the EPL table after what appears to have been a comfortable 2-0 win over the Red Devil killers, West Ham.

Chelsea stays within range on a couple of gift-wrapped decisions from refs and their assistants.

Over at Old Trafford, something strange is going with Fergie. He defends the American squadrillionaire owner, Malcolm Glazer (Rafa Benitez, are you taking notes?), blasts the fans and players, warns the players to stop committing physical assaults on young ladies, and

Meanwhile, the fans shoot back at the Old Trafford police state. Oh my.

Avram Grant pines for Nick Anelka and Dimitar Berbatov. Oh, please let it be Anelka.

I saw a couple of brilliant games over the break. The Liverpool-Man. City game was a knuckle biter to the end, with Liverpool attacking in tsunami-like waves and Richard Dunne single-handedly, it seemed, keeping the Citizens level. Sheer brilliance in defending from that man.

Also, quite good was the Aston Villa-Tottenham match. The Villans were organized and forward-thinking in the first half. It was almost unjust that they only mustered a score from a central defender's header off a corner. They had created several good opportunities from patient build-ups, but all for nought.

In the 2nd half, Juande Ramos made a couple of changes to the Tottenham side, most importantly, bringing on leading scorer Keane. It was mand the ramparts for the Villans after that. The equalizer was no surprise. It was only a matter of time they notched a winner (and likely an insurance goal or two). And then, contrary to the run of play, Aston Villa got an 84th minute winner, off a corner, headed in by another tall central Defender (Laursson this time; Mellberg in the 1st). Why the Spuds had mighty midget O'Hara marking (and not very well, mind you) the much taller Laursson, I'll never know. Good stuff. Exciting football.

Being the new year, we can expect that we'll see the diminishing in the distance backsides of Messrs. Lehman (Der Lemon: we miss you already), Gilberto (a real class character; the anti-Lehman) and Diarra (we hardly knew ye, lad).

Over at the Arsenal website, the coach waxes...well, coachlike. BTW, on the replays, Eduardo's goal against West Ham was spectacularly good, all the more so, because he took it so calmly. The kid's coming on. 3 goals in 2 Premiership games.

Oh, and Adebayor's bagger against the Hammers. How did he make that? You know it's going to be a good year when you start it scoring like that.

Very Strange Victory

Talk about a score that belies the game. Arsenal's 4-1 victory over Everton suggests a dominance that did not exist. Everton fully outplayed a sluggish, nervous Arsenal side in the first half and deserved the 1-0 lead at half, and perhaps more. The pairing of Eduardo and Nick Bendtner gave no indication that they could create chances in the first half and the Everton midfield overwhelmed Arsenal's midline, preventing any decent service to the strikers.

However, 90 seconds into the 2nd half, Eduardo levelled the game on a play that I watched dumbfounded and bemused by its simplicity and ease. My first thought was that a whistle had sounded - there'd be no other reason for such half-hearted defense. But Eduardo took the ball very well and finished with a coolness that made it look like child's play. His second one was even nicer, playing the ball around the defender while in the box, shrugging Jagielski off with his hand and slotting near post with a sweet left foot.

Nick Bendnter did not distinguish himself in his first league start, earning a 78th minute ejection off a silly, silly challenge that earned his second yellow card. The first card was a rash decision be the ref, showing it for some backtalk. In addition, Nick's poor clearance off a corner led to Everton's first goal.

Nonetheless, Mikel Arteta was too glad to help out. After more defensive adventuring led to Adebayor's 11th goal of the season, the little Spaniard Not Named Cesc earned a straight red for an elbow to Cesc's face. With the man advantage eliminated Tomas came on to seal the deal with a nice shot through the hear of the Everton defense and suffice it to say, the team.

It all left Everton boss David Moyes to complain:

"It's incredible we've lost 4-1. We gave Arsenal a really tough game and I thought the better team lost.

I can't argue with that, but neither of us can argue with the scoreboard.

Poor play aside, with manchester United losing at West Ham, the Gunners pop back up at the top of the table, 2 points clear of the Red Devils.

Storyline: Arsenal continues to play poorly in December. Cesc, in particular, is playing for a sustained period below his potential. Will Arsenal regain top form and when? And given that they're still toppers despite a sluggish December, can anyone stop them, if they do get the jalopy back into gear?

Gunners Slip at Fratton Park

Arsenal's tepid run of form continued yeseterday at Fratton Park, costing the Gunners 2 points and a slippage in the table, falling to 2nd place 1 point behind Manchester United. Arsenal had a couple of really good opportunities to win the game - the best being 2 shots by Tomas Rosicky - but couldn't find the killer's touch, leaving a 0-0 scoreline.

As they have in past weeks, the Gunners looked about 80% in form, missing the last killer pass, and the scorer's touch. Cesc Fabregas continues to miss a few passes here and there and otherwise look slightly off-kilter. Emanuel Adebayor looked tired and uncreative. Same to be said for Eboue on the right side.

When pressed in to service, Manuel Almunia was on the spot and ready. On the one occasion when he failed to stem the attack, when benjani got past him, an incredible run from Gael Clichy saved the day.

The boss tried to play down the table drop:

"I prefer to be in front, but with one point difference that is not that big a deal.

"We have only lost one game so you will have problems to convince me that we are in a crisis."

As I told my wife when she asked me if the game was important, there are no unimportant games left. The bigger question, though, is when will Arsenal regain its early season form. It had better be soon.

North London Derby Spells Victory!!

I wake up, get my coffee and get the Gamecast on and its 0-0 at Emirates with a first half that, according to the announcers was dull as dishwater. Then, Boom. Adebayor scores. Spurs turn rabid and start attacking in waves, while the Arsenal defence naps or some such thing. Berbatov scores. Keane hits the post. Almunia saves a penalty. Bendtner comes on in the 75th and scores before he can even break a sweat. That's a first league goal for the big Dane. Every time this kid gets on the field he makes me like him even more. A sweet 2-1 victory over the Spuds. More match reporting here.

Now, that's a header!

The only downside of the game is that apparently Arsenal did not play in very good form, if you believe the matchcasters. That would make a period of a couple of weeks that Arsenal has been off the trot. It's good news that they're continuing to win (mostly, there was the loss at Middlesbrough) while limping a bit. However, the league will not continue to tolerate a table-topper that's not playing top form.

North London Derby And AC Milan

Arsenal have drawn cup holders (like my minivan has) AC Milan for the round of 16 in the Champions League. They're a dangerous side but I'd rather face them than Inter right now, as AC Milan is sinking in the Serie A and they didn't look too inspired against Celtic the other night.

The Gaffer believes the draw is a good challenge for his young side and one they're well capable of winning.

Meanwhile RVP dreams of bagging a goal and a win against North London Derby rivals Tottenham tomorrow. Sounds good to me. Unfortunately, Uncle Rupert has not seen fit to televise this one, so I'll be tracking the match through the gamecast.

MidWeek Gunner Musings

The kiddos displayed grit and some skill in turning back Blackburn Tuesday to win 3-2 in overtime. Eduardo dealt the brace and scored a cracker of a goal in OT to secure the victory after the boys squandered a 2-0 first half lead.

The win puts the youngsters through to the semis where they face neighbors Tottenham in a home and away series.

Speaking of the Spurts, they visit Emirates Saturday in the second North London Derby of the year; the first, being a 3-1 smash and grab win for the Gunners at Pale Hart Lane. A win would see Arsenal remain tops of the table.

While the thrilling horse race between Arsenal and Manchester United has captivate football fans, out-of-favor Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann is understandably focused on more important matters: himself.

Sayeth Der Lemon:

Lehmann said he did not like having to watch someone playing "who does not have my class."

"It's
very frustrating. When I see the performances on the field, I get angry
and I have to clench my fist in my pocket," Lehmann was quoted as
saying.

Frustrating? Now he should understand how Arsenal fans have been feeling about him. He refuses to learn the one basic lesson about team sports, it's about the team. Calling out your teammates in a classless way like this is not a stout argument for playing time. Instead its a cry for a bus ticket out of town.