Written by Lindsay Melrose Wednesday, 02 February 2011 18:15

GunnerTalk Blog

By Lindsay Sheehan

Hands up who is enjoying this constant drama? Well I certainly am. I haven’t enjoyed a season so much for years, and yet it’s been such a trial. Each and every match seems to rigorously test my heart’s health and push my blood pressure reading up a notch.  Last night it was the Toffees.  After a run of cup matches, the Prem’s restart and the mental transfer window trolley dash swelled the crowd visibly and along with it, the tension.  Everton’s quality away record despite their low league position meant they are well over-due some results. They have played with spirit, heart and little bits of naughty in many matches and yet come away with nothing. Were we going to be the team against which their season turns?

I’ve bet you’ve all argued Louis Saha’s goal inside out a million times already. It’s offside. Fack Dave’s touch – it’s offside. Saha is active at all times including when the ball is played to him before Dave’s attempt to clear. That makes him facking offside and let any cnut try and tell me otherwise. But then what would I know? I am just a mere woman. Insert smug smile here. How badly has it backfired on the Sky Sexists when the males officials were so bad the crowd were baying for a woman Lino? Mason walked off at half time to the sound of 60,000 seriously pissed Gooners berating him in unison so loudly we could have been heard from space. I know I moan often about the home support but we were united in venom yesterday so much so that when the replay went up on the big screen it went off big time, even in club level. Cor we do love an injustice don’t we? Nothing is guaranteed to get the Arsenal faithful off their seats like unfairness.  Despite the controversy we beat the referee 2-1 so nuh! I don’t think I have ever witnessed such an inept performance by a set of officials in my life. I know we say that every week but this time it’s true.  Honest.

For 60 minutes Everton’s midfield bossed the game without creating much. Jack had been carded, Song got injured and Cesc left his shooting boots next to RVP’s in the dressing room. I though Jack struggled yesterday against the hair mountain of Fellani. That 19 year old boy is all heart and he has been so instrumental this season he can have an off day – he’s in credit. TR7 looked as if he hasn’t played much - hopefully only because he hasn’t. Cesc had one of his quieter games and by this I mean on the pitch. Apparently he was quite busy in the tunnel at half time depending on who you believe (more of this later.) RVP’s tricks and vision were fabulous but he couldn’t score, his best chance a strong free kick which Howard saved.

A nod to ‘Clichy Moments’ is deserved.  Without wanting to tempt fate he is looking a player reborn.  Calm on the ball, dangerous going forward he tried and tried to kick start us yesterday whilst having his hands full in defence at times. There was no silly ball playing in dangerous positions and he unleashed a cracking on-target shot which was blocked beautifully by Everton.  I don’t care what the reason is (we can debate the Gibbs factor) the last 3 months he has been consistent, reliable, hard working and competent and for me still our number one choice for left back.

Shall we also touch upon our wee Russian? He maybe dinky but his shoulders have had to be broad to carry the weight of the recent disapproval heaped upon him by us Gooners. We wanted him to work harder, he has, we implored him to track back, he did, we demanded he tackles and he responded. 2 assists in the last match and finally yesterday a bloody goal!! Welcome back Andre. Keep proving that form is temporary while class is permanent.

Kossa also needs a mention for this weeks’ gold star competition.  At the Bridge earlier this season he missed an absolute sitter for us to go 1 nil up and we’ve all questioned his decision making ability. There are definite signs that he’s improving as he adapts to life in the EPL. He wins aerial balls, tackles well and him and JD are looking a good (second choice) team.  I still think he is vulnerable for being turned but Kossa or Dave (choose your preferred nickname) is starting to look like an Arsenal player. I think it’s well previous for the TA comparisons I read after his last goal but if he is even half the player Tone was we’ll all be ecstatically happy bunnies.  Plus twice in 2 games we’ve scored from corners. Yep you read that right. Genuine set piece goals. Wow.

So on a night without Song, Nasri, Vermaelen, and RVP goals it was finally the B’s performances that helped us over the line.  Hopefully we are starting to see the results of their cup game time in the team, and if we are going to do this shit boys, make no mistake we are gonna need every single one of them fit and on form.

Finally, there is lots of Sky/TalkShite fuelled indignation today about the behaviour of El Capitan. Let me tell you this for nothing, I do not care how gobby the team gets. I don’t care how lemon the fans are (despite Mike Parry telling me this morning via the radio that we should all be ashamed of ourselves.) How long have we heard the “Arsenal have a soft underbelly” diatribe or the “They don’t like it up em“tactical debate? So now you get in our faces and we sir will get right back in yours. You make a bad call, you’re gonna hear about it. You kick us; maybe we’ll kick you back. Vieira, Petit, Keown, Winterburn and Adams would be proud. Arsenal’s success has long been linked to us being…… well a little bit dirty. Bring it back I say! Obviously, not Ryan Shawcross stylie, but the time of Arsenal dancing like pretty fairies has got be over. These boys must now be men and act like it.  If we are to win at Wembley against the Brum, let alone the Prem, steel and grit are the order for the day. Also isn’t it great to see Fab fired up? Passionate about Arsenal? Wanting to inspire and win? I absolutely love it.

There is still a really loooooooooooooooooooooong way to go but each week there seems to be more and more positives – least of all another 3 points in the bag. Keep em coming lads, keep em coming and that poxy word belief is gonna raise its head again. 

Newcastle away Saturday and its tricky, tricky tricky. Till then.