It’s like watching Brazil this year
The beautiful game doesn’t get much more entertaining than an encounter involving the genius of Kaka, Ronaldhino, Robinho & co (not to mention a Peruvian side punching well above its weight).
There’s a sassy insouciance about the Brazilians’ artistry that seems to have echoes of a kickabout in a favella. Up until recent times, it would’ve been taking the mickey to have suggested anything of the sort, but as they casually slid the ball around between one another, teasing the home team after having taken the lead, I have to tell you that the Samba stars’ footie reminded me of the Arsenal’s impudent ball-retention against Reading last week.
By South American standards, Gilberto might be more artisan than artist. Nevertheless, I don’t think you’ll find many Gooners who would’ve ever believed that the Brazilian would spend the first few months of the season warming the bench, left out in favour of Mathieu Flamini. The mundane Frenchman has reinvented himself as our most influential player to date.
It’s strange because while we continue to earn rave reviews, with Reading striker Dave Kitson claiming we’re “the best footballing team on the planet” and with various pundits naming Alex Hleb as their player of the season so far, I’m sure most Gooners at Reading last week will agree that Arsenal looked a far from our best.
This isn’t a criticism, as I don’t want to sound like a spoilt brat, moaning when it’s an absolute privilege to be watching such awesome entertainment. However if we can blow teams like Reading away, without ever really having shifted out of first gear, I simply cannot wait for the wonders we have to behold when we really begin stringing performances together.
Truth be told, after the adrenaline rush of playing on the previous week’s glamorous stage, before a worldwide audience of a billion, it’s perhaps not surprising that some were struggling for similar motivation, amidst the banality of a brass-monkey night in Reading.
Against a Reading side that sat-back and allowed us all the possession we wanted in two-thirds of the pitch, our attitude was perhaps not so important.
Yet there are several equally unglamorous outings in the weeks ahead, where we might not get away with giving anything less than 100% against opponents who concede no quarter. The consensus of Gooner opinion seems to be that if we can tough it out, during an extremely tricky December, so long as we are still there, or thereabouts when Van Persie returns to fitness, we should be in with a shout.
However, to preserve our prospects, it’s going to be a matter of maintaining the same relentless pace that Man Utd will set. Studying Utd’s far too friendly-looking fixture list between now and the end of January, their outing to Anfield is just about the only match where their challenge might face a bit of an examination.
In the meantime, Alex Hleb might have become the media’s flavour of the month and he’s certainly made everyone sit up and take notice, while he’s weaved a mellifluous magic with his mazy ball skills. But I’ve yet to find anyone who thinks Hleb’s suited to playing in his recent support role to Ade, our sole striker.
For my money, pace, or more precisely, acceleration, is a vital ingredient in this position, for a player to be able to burst through and join the attack before the opposing midfield can react. Sadly Alex lacks sufficient speed and invariably we end up outnumbered by the time he arrives anywhere near goal. What’s more, with Adebayor still struggling to find his touch, we are a little too dependent for my liking, on the contribution from midfield.
I can appreciate Arsène’s trepidation in trusting the limited experience of Bendtner, Eduardo and Walcott but at some point he has to show faith and surely Wigan on Saturday must be a case in point. I won’t be alone in my disappointment if we line-up at home against the struggling Lactics with a single lone striker.
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