Is it just me, or did Tottenham dominate the midfield in the air because Arsenal has a height problem when Viera is out of the linup? I was watching the game, and I felt that Tottenham did a great job of preventing Arsenal from developing a rythmn. They were in the way in the midfield, and Arsenal could not lob long balls over the Tottenham midfield because they were losing things in the air. All of a sudden the team was too short. Fast and good dribblers but too short. I wonder if Freddie is going to lose his starting spot. It was a great game though. Ziege's goal was a beaut. I sure wish Henri had put one of his opportunities into the net.
This would also be present in the corner kick dilemma. I know, here I go again. With 10 seconds left in the game we get a corner and potential game winner and I leave to get a drink. Why? Because we cant score on the corner. Height may be a factor, that and we cant serve a decent ball into the middle.
It looks pretty obvious to me that the team never practice corner kicks, free kicks etc. Teams that practice set pieces score from them, it showed that Sperz practice a bit from Sunday's game. My friend and I were lamenting the demise of the near post corner routine that was perfected under George Graham when we were watching the Valencia game last week. The corner is clipped in, Steve Bould with the flick on at the near post and the rest of them arriving at the back post to score (It was usually Ian Wright or Tony Adams). Everybody knew exactly what was going to happen, but no-one worked out a way to effectively combat it. I believe we have the near-post man, Sol Campbell is big and strong enough to do it. But who's going to throw themselves in at the back stick? Maybe Keown as I'm sure he's not worried about his looks too much and will put himself in where the boots are flying. Working out a few set-piece routines would be a big help to the team I think.
I had not noticed the CK problem, but now that I think about it, I think Arsenal has trouble with CKs and set pieces in general. Do Campbell and Keown even come forward on CKs? I will have to watch.
It was against Chelsea. If we practiced set-pieces he (and Keown) might get more, but currently we just toss the ball in and hope for the best. This results in a lot of balls played in that don't go anywhere near an Arsenal player.
The set piece near goal is not as big a problem as it has once been. Henry has struck a number of beautiful shots in goal, lately and it looks as if its something he has been practicing.
I'm talking about corner kicks and free-kicks in wide area where a direct shot isn't really on. We are not as productive as we could be. And it's about time Henry started practicing his free-kicks, I was wondering if we were going to be issued with flak jackets sitting in the stand behind the goal at one stage.
I realize your speaking of spot kicks 40+ yards out. I was bringing up the fact that we had no real threat or free kick specialist. The way the game has evolved Im starting to see players diving 25 yards out so they can line up the Becks or Veron or Ziege. Im not pointing fingers or anything. No one addressed the Ziege free kick on Sunday. I really cant blame Seaman for that as he was having trouble seeing and it came with such pace and swerve. It was a hell of a shot.
Sol did stick at least one CK into the onion bag last year. Another for England in the WC (I think). But has anyone else noticed that Gilberto is the one getting his head on the CKs this year? Surprised Pascal Cygan, nearly six inches taller than some players, hasn't been more of a presence on CKs.
Lots of good points here. First, while we may have been "out-heighted" in midfield, I'd rather have skilled passers and dribblers and not just hoof it downfield anyway. Next, I think TH can hit those close free kicks, and I've seen Wiltord and/or Pires put in decent corners. What I don't see are Arsenal players getting on the ends of them. I NEVER think we are going to score off a corner. In general, I'd like to see some more creative set pieces from us.
Too many corners and free kicks either; 1. hit the first defender. 2. miss everyone and go out for a goal kick over the other side from where the kick was taken. Both are indefensible for professional footballers. Even if we don't win the ball and win another corner or make the opposition clear it to one of our players it at least keeps the pressure on. And another point, why don't we leave Henry up at the half way line when we're defending corners and free-kicks? He'd worry a few defenders if he stayed up there I'm sure and might relieve some of the pressure earlier, rather than all our players trying to break from our own box. He's totally useless in our own area anyway.