FA Community Shield: Arsenal vs. Liverpool [R]

[BrianCappellieri]

Gilberto Silva puts Arsenal back in groove

Another day, another medal. Exactly six weeks after Gilberto Silva took his turn to lift the World Cup in Yokohama, the Brazilian midfielder picked up another, somewhat less auspicious winner's memento in Cardiff yesterday after scoring a debut goal which Arsenal's superiority merited in a scrappy, rain-swept Community Shield encounter against Liverpool...
The Independent (http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/arsenal/story.jsp?story=323606)

Gilberto's Community service

BBC Sport Online analyses Gilberto Silva's goal for Arsenal against Liverpool in the Community Shield
Gilberto Silva capped a fine performance on his debut for Arsenal by scoring the decisive goal against Liverpool in the Community Shield...
BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/low/football/2187174.stm)

Gerrard should have been sent off - Wenger

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard should have been sent off in their 1-0 Community Shield win on Sunday for what the Frenchman branded a reckless challenge on Patrick Vieira...
SoccerNet (http://www.soccernet.com/england/news/2002/0811/20020811shieldwenger.html)

HOULLIER NOT WORRIED BY COMMUNITY DEFEAT

Gerard Houllier remained unconcerned, despite seeing his Liverpool side outplayed by Arsenal in the Community Shield at Cardiff...
Sky Sports (http://msn.skysports.com/skysports/article/0,,3160-1060525,00.html)

SENEGAL STAR MUST STAY ON HIS FEET: BRUCE

Steve Bruce believes Liverpool new boy El Hadji Diouf must learn to stay on his feet if he is going to be a success in the Premiership...
Sky Sports (http://msn.skysports.com/skysports/article/0,,3160-1060523,00.html)

Houllier: We had too much respect for Gunners

Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier claimed his side showed Arsenal 'too much respect' in their 1-0 Community Shield defeat in Cardiff this afternoon...
SoccerNet (http://www.soccernet.com/england/news/2002/0811/20020811houllierquotes.html)

[BrianCappellieri]

Match Photos (http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/ph/foot/index3.html)

[zpjohnstone]

In short-

The 4-3-3 looked like three forwards waiting for someone to deliver them a goal.

Diouf tracked back for the ball more than Hesky or Owen. In fact, it almost looked as if Diouf was playing as a wide right attacking midfielder. Which I realize sounds silly.

Owen shanked a very good opportunity.

I think Xavier was a lot worse the Traore, personally. Was it at the about the 70 minuite mark that Arsenal figured out that they could just bring the ball up Xavier's side and he would deploy his "Matador" defense?

I kept waiting for Riise to do something.

Gerrard deserved the yellow. It was a scissor-tackle. Not that I don't think Viera didn't earn it later, as he stood over Diouf, yelling at him after he took him down in the box.

Don't stay up until 3 am drinking and such if you want to wake up at 9 am and be comfortable.

LFC just didn't have thier cutting edge, but I still feel like things will be just fine in a few more weeks.

I'm just glad this didn't count for League.

Oh yeah, I think the black and grey looked really sharp- I better be getting a long sleeved version, as well as an Auxerre home jersey for my b-day. I have certainly given my girlfriend enough hints.

[zpjohnstone]

OK, so that wasn't really short. My apologies.

[Matt Clark]

I think the new away kit sucks big ones. It's 'orrible. Ah well - each to their own.

I also thought Traore did well. He's been a revelation this pre-season. His possession was assured yesterday (including neat sidestep of Viera and Parlour in quick succession midway through the first half).

Riise had a poor game and Hamann is clearly carrying a knock, and in the week that we sold Stephen Wright the sight of Abel Xavier was just depressing, but there you go.

Midfield is still not producing enough for the forwards to work with. Same problem as last season. Let's see if the number 11 shirt that has yet to be assigned is filled before the close of the transfer window on August 31.

[YanksFC]

Originally posted by Matt Clark
I think the new away kit sucks big ones. It's 'orrible. Ah well - each to their own.

I also thought Traore did well. He's been a revelation this pre-season. His possession was assured yesterday (including neat sidestep of Viera and Parlour in quick succession midway through the first half).

Riise had a poor game and Hamann is clearly carrying a knock, and in the week that we sold Stephen Wright the sight of Abel Xavier was just depressing, but there you go.

Midfield is still not producing enough for the forwards to work with. Same problem as last season. Let's see if the number 11 shirt that has yet to be assigned is filled before the close of the transfer window on August 31.

I like the new away kit. Oh well, to each his own.

Agree on Traore. SuperElf's posts show that everyone sees different things during matches. In fact, aside from Traore, who acquitted himself well, the rest of the back four looked sloooooooooww. I don't know whether that has to do with match fitness or what. It just seemed like Bergkamp, Henry, and Wiltord were ripping Hyypia and Co. to pieces.

I also agree on the midfield. Same problem indeed.

I think that Diouf's finishing needs to improve.

I would have liked to have seen Cheyrou come on earlier to see if he could have injected some life into the attack.

[usa1950]

Originally posted by YanksFC


I like the new away kit. Oh well, to each his own.



No surprise... I've seen the way you dress. Lots of shimmering gray shorts in the wardrobe. :D

I think it's the worst away kit since the orange/yellow number with the black liverbirds all over it, circa 1994 or so?

[YanksFC]

Originally posted by usa1950


No surprise... I've seen the way you dress. Lots of shimmering gray shorts in the wardrobe. :D

I think it's the worst away kit since the orange/yellow number with the black liverbirds all over it, circa 1994 or so?

Actually, I have no shimmering gray shorts, but I do have a shimmering gray shirt. ;)

Don't you have one of those orange 1994 kits?

[Theo]

thanks for the match reports and analysis, everyone. couldn't crawl out of bed at 8:30 to get over to the local pub to catch the match (i know, lazy, lazy)

does everyone think that we will stay with the 4-3-3? i'm not under the impression that having Diouf and Heskey on the field at the same time will necessarily work.

will Cheyrou get a chance to play a bigger role once the season kicks off? or will he be a sub from the get-go?

i'm really worried about Xavier. even having not seen the match at all, i can just imagine Arsenal finally coming to the conclusion that they might as well just attack down his side every time (anyone remember the Tottenham match at the end of last season? what a nightmare).

[SuperElf]

Originally posted by Theo
does everyone think that we will stay with the 4-3-3? i'm not under the impression that having Diouf and Heskey on the field at the same time will necessarily work.


I place odds at 20:1, for the same reason you mention. I think Diouf and Keskey play in a squad rotation system, with two-thirds of the time going to Diouf.

Originally posted by Theo
i'm really worried about Xavier. even having not seen the match at all, i can just imagine Arsenal finally coming to the conclusion that they might as well just attack down his side every time (anyone remember the Tottenham match at the end of last season? what a nightmare).

Actually, that's exactly what happened. Why not just stuff Riise back home with Hyypia, Henchoz, and Traore?

[SuperElf]

Originally posted by YanksFC

Agree on Traore. SuperElf's posts show that everyone sees different things during matches. In fact, aside from Traore, who acquitted himself well, the rest of the back four looked sloooooooooww. I don't know whether that has to do with match fitness or what. It just seemed like Bergkamp, Henry, and Wiltord were ripping Hyypia and Co. to pieces.



Actually, after a day or two to reflect on it, I think perhaps I was more frustrated at the defense as a whole, but since Traore just happened to be in the screen more often than any of the others, I took it out on him. Also, it was the first game I had watched with him, and I tend to treat newcomers with a critical eye. I wish I had thought to put a tape in at 8AM Sunday morning, but oh well . . .

After reading the comments about Xavier, and remembering his quality of play last year, I'd be far more willing to give Traore more time in the starting back four.

[liverbird]

I've had time to think about the game and to re-watch the tape and I must say the way this game turned out is just the same as our ties with the Arse last year. They can not completely break us down with their forwards --- Sami and Henchoz are not swift but they and Jerzy can contain Henry and Wiltord but .... Arse continually beats who ever we've got at right back and scores by breaking a man out of the midfield to score. Silva this time. Lundberg in all three matches last year. Get Markus back to complete game fitness and this will improve.

I also agree with those of you who note that we still haven't shown the ability to make goals for our forwards from the midfield. Stevie came closest but
Didi can't and Riise didn't on this day. Perhaps Cheyrou.