Well it wasn't pretty

[Lanesra]

Well, a win's a win, 2.1 to the champions, I suppose every game will be like this from here on in, I don't know what will give in first, my heart , or the patience of the steward who stands near my seat.

After moaning about Cygan all week he had a better game today, still think he was at fault for Rooneys goal..you can't back off people like him,..but his goal did him the world of good.

Campbell and Viera were the rocks of todays performance, Pires and Henry looked jaded, A win on tuesday will take us over the brow of the hill, then.... with the walking wounded recovering, hopefully we should have what it takes to see it through.

As we left the ground today I said to my mates. it's a sign of the times that if we loose on tuesday, and *only* win the league we'll be dissapointed. :)

COME ON YOU GUNNERS

[Martin Daoust]

No it wasn't easy, but something very important happened today-Patrick Vieira became the captain in fact as well as title. If today wasn't a Captain's game and his winner wasn't a Captain's goal then I've yet to witness them. Tony Adams surely is smiling right now. His decision to call Paddy forward to raise the FA Cup with him never looked smarter. I will go further-did that look like a man as rumor after rumor insists does not want to stay at and play for Arsenal? I have NEVER seen such emotion and real passion from Vieira especially in encouraging the supporters and responding to him. Maybe I missed something but his reaction afetr scoring was totally new to me. I see our Captain now and for years to come and he IS Patrick Vieira. When he and Henry and Pires put pen to paper to commit their future along with Sol the foundation of our team is set for the next 5 years. And with back to back Championships a likelihood(sorry doom and gloomers) and back to back doubles very much a possibilty that is very exciting to contemplate. I am very relieved today but far more excited about our future starting on Tuesday...

[martymarts]

Let's keep the war out of it, but, what has happen to Gallic Bob? This is the worst run of form I've seen him have since he joined the club!

[Lanesra]

Originally posted by martymarts
Let's keep the war out of it, but, what has happen to Gallic Bob? This is the worst run of form I've seen him have since he joined the club!

I still don't think he's fully recovered from his injury,after his initial return to form, I think he's run out of steam.

[OPArsenal]

Paddy did outstanding. Adams knew what he was doing when he called him up. Very nice, Arsenal, very nice indeed. Keep it up.

Vive le AFC!

OPArsenal

PS- Why is there such a huge break between the Villa and ManUre matches? j/c

[Lanesra]

Originally posted by OPArsenal
Paddy did outstanding. Adams knew what he was doing when he called him up. Very nice, Arsenal, very nice indeed. Keep it up.

Vive le AFC!

OPArsenal

PS- Why is there such a huge break between the Villa and ManUre matches? j/c

Internationals I think.

[dwinkler]

I think it's pretty harsh to pin Rooney's goal on Cygan. It was a perfect shot from a guy who's capable of scoring great goals. If anything, I thought Taylor was woefully out of position, hugging his near-side post.

As far as how we won it, I couldn't care less if we won all our remaining games 1-0 with the goal coming from a freak deflection off a defender's butt.

[martymarts]

Dwinkler's right Taylor was not well positioned for Rooney's shot. I think the last couple of games have answered my own question about why Taylor didn't get the nod over Seaman after the Man City game. Experience!

I thought he set himself too early on Carew's first goal for Valencia and he looked very anxious on all set pieces on Sunday. When the camera shot was behind the goal he often looked off balance, you could see him constantly shifting his weight. Hopefully a run in the side will help settle him, but, I wonder if is going to turn out liked another Richard Wright; mistake prone and no bottle for the big games?

[martymarts]

PS. Gio was totally out of position when Rooney scored!

[michaec]

I think that Cygan was at fault for Rooney's goal. Firstly he backed off into his own area which meant that then making a tackle was dangerous. Secondly, the ball went right through him. If he's standing between the ball and the far post, you'd expect Taylor to cover the near one. Overall, his performance was poor, I dread what an on form Chelsea front line will do to him tomorrow. Apart from that, the rest of the team dug in well and showed a bit of character after the last two poor results. Campbell and Vieira had immense games, but they'll need to do it all over again at the Bridge.

[martymarts]

Michaec - you need to watch the goal again. It was on at the beginning of the Fox Sports news report last night.

GvB is casually tracking back, from a sorte up field, when the ball is played past him, to Rooney wide on the left. Gio doesn't speed up, doesn't show any concern for the fact that he's out of position, leaving it to Cygan to check Rooney's run. If Cygan commits there's no one behind him and Rooney might simple play the ball inside, potentially leaving Campbell(Kevin) et al a free shot on goal. You can't completely blame Cygan for the choice he made.

I think the goal demonstrates a more important weakness in GvB's game than in Cygans'. He is either still not fit from injury or, more likely, he just doesn't have enough in his tanks to be a true wingback. Too often, in the Everton game, no one was making an overlap down the left; GvB just doesn't make up field runs as often as Ashley Cole. This means less space and options for Henry. When he does go forward he's slow to track back and Rooney's goal was by no means the only time Gio was caught out of position. Everton aren't exactly known as lightning speed counter attackers!

[michaec]

I'll go for that a bit, maybe Gio was partly to blame. However as you say, Gio isn't a wing back, full back or any other kind of back. He's a central midfielder being asked to do a job because of the injuries we currently have in the squad. Cygan however is a central defender by trade and should know how to defend properly. And seeing as it is his regular position he should be helping out Gio, talking to him and making sure he's not out of position.