FT. Arsenal 4 - Stoke City 1.

In the annals of Arsenal lore, it's unlikely that yesterday's game will live in memory.  Unlike the first time we encountered the Potters, there was no surprise to be had.  This time we worked to minimize the effects of Rory Delap's well-known throws.  This time the attack was focused and the finishing precise -- because no one took the game for granted.  

In reality the game boiled down to the first 18 minutes.  That's when we established a 3-0 lead through a James Beattie own goal, a Robin Van Persie penalty and an Abou Diaby header.  Though Ricardo Fuller pulled Stoke back one via his own penalty shot, Van Persie re-established that three goal lead before the first half ended.  It has to be said that, through all the ups and downs of 2008-09, our Player of the Season has to be RVP (or as I like to call him "the whole f'ing show" after former...

Just wanted to post a few, brief thoughts on yesterday's debacle against Chelsea.

- We have major issues at the back.  No surprises there.  Are they the kind to be fixed with one new purchase OR do we need to invest in a new coach for the defenders?  Someone who can get them organized?

- Poor, poor Lukasz.  He's had one bad game after another in the last few weeks.  He has the talent to be a #1 keeper, but it's clear that the odd FA Cup/Carling Cup game just won't cut it.  Loan him out and give him the chance to learn how to organize and work with a backline week-in and week-out.

- Diaby out wide.  RVP alone up top.  Then Bendter on the wing?  What, we couldn't put Eboue in as a striker?

- Chin up, Kieran Gibbs.  There'll be better weeks than the one you just had.  But don't forget how this one felt.  Let it...

OK, so I finally got to digest the 3-1 drubbing we got against Manchester United...and am enjoying our 4-1 drubbing we're getting from Chelsea...

...great week we're having, huh?

So allow me then to surprise you with my first conclusion:

We were not as awful against Manchester United as we remember.

Go back and watch the tape, but remove the emotion of the moment.  Our lads started by attacking and pressuring United's goal.  There were crosses and shots on goals.  There was even a weird karoming ball that went off Vidic, off of Ferdinand and got past Van der Sar -- but wasn't on target.  

How different a game if that mental error had been the one to bring us the first goal?

Even after poor Kieran Gibbs' error, Arsenal kept pressing.  They kept looking for the chance to get back in.  Then Ronaldo...

Anyone remember that old George C Scott movie, "Hardcore"?  The one where he goes searching for his missing daughter and finds her starring in 8 MM porn?  There's a rather famous scene where he watches his little girl starring in a very descriptive scene.  As he struggles to watch his daughter getting railed in the most disgusting form available, he begins to utter "Turn it off...Turn it off..." before finally exploding "TURN IT OFF!"

That's kinda what watching that Champions League tape has been like for me.

So it's going to take me another day or so to get through it.

Meanwhile consider this: as horrible as we felt about losing our game, at least it was all down to us.  Chelsea have no one but the referee to their game to blame for what had to be the worst Champions League calls since last year at Emirates/Anfield.  Talk about heartwrenching loss.

There'll be more analysis tomorrow.  A fairer, clearer and more honest appraisal of today's game and of the two-leg tie with United.

For today though, drown your sorrows.

Just a short blog this night/morning.

We all know what's at stake tomorrow:

A trip to Rome.

A shot at major silverware -- our first since 2005 and the first trophy for many of these players.

A chance at exorcising the Demon of Paris.

An opening for gaining the one major trophy to this point denied to Arsene Wenger...and every club in London.

To do this, the lads must find a way around a 1-0 deficit to Manchester United.  Hardly the easiest of callings BUT not an impossible mountain.  The game's at Emirates.  The opponent is well-known.  And the pressure is entirely on United -- they are, after all, defending European champions and are playing for a possible quadruple.  They have a full squad and will be expected to win.

But as we all know, nothing is certain until the final...

Rather than give y'all a small novel to cover everything I haven't said, let's just go with some quick bites.  Think of them as Mini Sirloin Burgers of opinion:

- Arshavin: best 15 million pounds spent in January...and to think he could have gone to Spurs.  

- Cesc: great central midfielder.  He should stay there, Arsene. Have Nasri be the support Attacking Midfielder.

- Meanwhile, Diaby is best in the middle of the park -- not out on the wings.

- Anyone have any more reservations about Manuel Almunia after last Tuesday?  If it's not for his defenders being derelict there's a good chance United end the night without a goal.

- That said, the big summer purchase has to be a CB.  Preferably someone physical and vocal.  

- The game on Wednesday will be massive.  I can't wait!

You might find the title amusing, given the use of alliteration, but the sad fact is that it's only there to cheer me up. 

Everyone has been referring to the FA Cup as Arsenal's "best shot at silverware this season."  So how does it feel to have that shot eliminated?  

...:grumble:....

Ok, let's step back a bit:

Realistically, it was going to be a difficult time for the Gunners out on the Wembley pitch yesterday.  The back five is a patchwork of kids, veterans and players who've not played much at those spots in a while due to injury or being shifted around.  Their job was to face a Chelsea offense that had just earlier this week put 4 goals past Liverpool in 45 minutes.  Even if they were tired, it was from all the scoring they'd done!

So it's no surprise that Arsene went with two defensive...

I don't know about you, but after Theo Walcott broke free and put the ball past Diego Lopez, my first thought wasn't "Great!" or "We're through!"  It was "I need another one."  That's how concerned I was about Villareal pipping us for a key away goal with a back five that featured only 1 traditional starter (Kolo) and a former starter that had been moved forward (Eboue).

Thank goodness that, within 10 minutes, Adebayor and Van Persie put us ahead 3-0 for the night and 4-1 on aggregate.  The poor Yellow Submarine had no way to answer back and has to feel a bit miffed to keep drawing Arsenal in the last rounds of the Champions League.  I'd say they were unlucky to have lost Marcos Senna before this match, but forget that noise: we had as makeshift a back five as you can have in a damn Champions League quarterfinal game. If they couldn't take advantage of that, tough nuts to them!

And yet, for...

Just a short heads up to say that yes, I'm still around and that I've been enjoying Arsenal's performances of the last few weeks. Cesc and Ade have come back in fine form.  Andrei Arshavin is proving himself a great, if kinda loony, addition.  

That said, it's been tough watching the injuries in the back pile up.  No Gallas.  No Djourou.  No Clichy.  No Almunia.  That's a lot of talent and experience to lose ahead of a crucial stretch of games -- a Champions League 2nd leg at home against Villareal tomorrow, a FA Cup Semi-Final at Wembley against Chelsea on Saturday and then a Premier League clash against Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday. 

It all starts tomorrow.  Fingers crossed that the absences of Marcos Senna and Santi Cazorla help offset our own losses.

More tomorrow.  Promise.