I don't even know where to start today. Yesterday's game is a perfect illustration of yet another Murphy law, because everything, that could have wrong, went wrong. It pains me to have to write about a defeat in my 100th post. I hoped (and not without reason) that I'd have something much more enjoyable to write about. And now I sit in front of my PC and the horrifying images of our trip to Anfield is the only thing that springs to mind.
I will be completely honest with you: I haven't watched the entire game. My nervous system refused to take any more 17 minutes into the game and I switched the TV off. We were 3-0 down at that point.
Watching Arsenal play has become an integral part of my life over the course of the previous couple of years; this need turned into a downright necessity after I've started writing this blog. I could not fail my readers and come up short, because I know they look forward to reading what I've written.
Thus, there are only so many things, that can stop me on my way to a live broadcast of Arsenal's game. When I tell my fellow students I intend to skip a class to be back home in time for the game, most of them look at me as though I suddenly announced I'm going to be crowned king of Great Britain. Yet the ones who support a football team understand my passion. They share it.
Yesterday I skipped my German class. Though my future profession will be the one of a lawyer, I study in the uni which places a lot of emphasis on learning languages. Maybe even more than on law disciplines. Luckily (for me) I suffered a heavy nose bleeding during the previous class and was relieved of the necessity to go to my next by a doctor. So I got home on time for the game. I wish I didn't.
Arsene made only one change to the side that has beaten Crystal Palace, with Wilshere subbing Podolski. Oxlade-Chamberlain shifted to the right flank, Cazorla to the left, and Wilshere started alongside Arteta. Almost the same group of players, but what a stark contrast to our last game in terms of performance.
Liverpool scored immediately. Someone was fouled on our right flank, Gerrard crossed the ball, Toure got a touch to it and Skrtel slotted it home from close range. Replays showed both he and Toure were offside when the cross came in.
Liverpool piled the pressure and got another one in nine minutes. The ball was cleared for a corner, Gerrard crossed, Skrtel headed the ball, 2-0. As much as it was poor positioning from our defenders it was a brilliant header from the Liverpool man.
Suarez could have made it 3-0 from yet another corner, but his shot rattled the post.
We managed to conjure up a response, but Giroud's technique let him down when he should have scored. Mertesacker headed the ball wide from a corner shortly after that.
The third goal came on approximately 16th minute. Ozil lost the ball in the centre of the pitch (no foul), Suarez raced towards the goal and then passed the ball to Sterling for a tap-in. This was the moment I switched my TV off. Everything else I know from a live text coverage (on Arseblog).
The guy there was as downhearted as every Arsenal fan was. He was telling the world about badgers, fashion and his food preferences for what remained of the first half, because he couldn't stand describing the stuff happening on the pitch. And I don't blame him. The fact he persevered right until the end is worthy of a standing ovation from Arsenal fans.
We made a triple substitution at some point. Completely reasonable, in my opinion. Our best players came off and the ones who are a bit out of shape came on. This sub served a double purpose of resting key players, while giving the others a chance to find their form. The game was lost after 17 minutes, so what difference does this sub make?
Arsene took to press (as always) after the game and here's what he said on the result:
"What is important is that we respond to the result, especially that we respond with a different performance because our performance overall was poor today - on the concentration level and on the pace. Our defensive stability was very poor, we looked always vulnerable defensively. Congratulations to Liverpool, they were the better team today and we were very poor today. Only our fans were good for 90 minutes, that's all".
And on the first 20 minutes:
"We conceded two early goals on set pieces and then we are always in a position where you have to come out but we knew that you need to be better focused in that kind of level. Overall our performance was just not good enough. Maybe it's better if I don't talk too much, go home and respond well on Wednesday night because I include myself in that performance. It raises the questions that we have to answer on Wednesday night".
Well, what can I add? I've already said, that it's an extremely rare occurrence, when I miss a game. Turning it off is basically the same thing. There were only a handful of those over the years. Our heavy defeats to Milan and United spring to mind. I turned both games off at 3-0. Yestarday's game was among the worst ones I've seen in a long, long time.
And yet it was only one game, let's not forget that. Yes, Chelsea have won and now they are top, but City have not, thus we hold on to the second spot. Either way, there are only two points between the top three, so we're still in the race. However bad we played yesterday, it was only one game. There will be thirteen more, 39 points to fight for, so it's important to remember that. We still have Chelsea and City to play, so the fate of the title is in our hands.
Now we need a response. Our next fixture will be a home one, we'll get a bit of rest before it (more than United, anyway), so don't get your heads down. Yesterday's result looks like a freak occurrence to me, nothing more. We've seen the real Arsenal this season and this was not it.
That's it for today. I wish I had better news to tell you about, but I don't get to choose, unfortunately. I'll be back later, as soon as something new pops up.
Until then
I will be completely honest with you: I haven't watched the entire game. My nervous system refused to take any more 17 minutes into the game and I switched the TV off. We were 3-0 down at that point.
Watching Arsenal play has become an integral part of my life over the course of the previous couple of years; this need turned into a downright necessity after I've started writing this blog. I could not fail my readers and come up short, because I know they look forward to reading what I've written.
Thus, there are only so many things, that can stop me on my way to a live broadcast of Arsenal's game. When I tell my fellow students I intend to skip a class to be back home in time for the game, most of them look at me as though I suddenly announced I'm going to be crowned king of Great Britain. Yet the ones who support a football team understand my passion. They share it.
Yesterday I skipped my German class. Though my future profession will be the one of a lawyer, I study in the uni which places a lot of emphasis on learning languages. Maybe even more than on law disciplines. Luckily (for me) I suffered a heavy nose bleeding during the previous class and was relieved of the necessity to go to my next by a doctor. So I got home on time for the game. I wish I didn't.
Arsene made only one change to the side that has beaten Crystal Palace, with Wilshere subbing Podolski. Oxlade-Chamberlain shifted to the right flank, Cazorla to the left, and Wilshere started alongside Arteta. Almost the same group of players, but what a stark contrast to our last game in terms of performance.
Liverpool scored immediately. Someone was fouled on our right flank, Gerrard crossed the ball, Toure got a touch to it and Skrtel slotted it home from close range. Replays showed both he and Toure were offside when the cross came in.
Liverpool piled the pressure and got another one in nine minutes. The ball was cleared for a corner, Gerrard crossed, Skrtel headed the ball, 2-0. As much as it was poor positioning from our defenders it was a brilliant header from the Liverpool man.
Suarez could have made it 3-0 from yet another corner, but his shot rattled the post.
We managed to conjure up a response, but Giroud's technique let him down when he should have scored. Mertesacker headed the ball wide from a corner shortly after that.
The third goal came on approximately 16th minute. Ozil lost the ball in the centre of the pitch (no foul), Suarez raced towards the goal and then passed the ball to Sterling for a tap-in. This was the moment I switched my TV off. Everything else I know from a live text coverage (on Arseblog).
The guy there was as downhearted as every Arsenal fan was. He was telling the world about badgers, fashion and his food preferences for what remained of the first half, because he couldn't stand describing the stuff happening on the pitch. And I don't blame him. The fact he persevered right until the end is worthy of a standing ovation from Arsenal fans.
We made a triple substitution at some point. Completely reasonable, in my opinion. Our best players came off and the ones who are a bit out of shape came on. This sub served a double purpose of resting key players, while giving the others a chance to find their form. The game was lost after 17 minutes, so what difference does this sub make?
Arsene took to press (as always) after the game and here's what he said on the result:
"What is important is that we respond to the result, especially that we respond with a different performance because our performance overall was poor today - on the concentration level and on the pace. Our defensive stability was very poor, we looked always vulnerable defensively. Congratulations to Liverpool, they were the better team today and we were very poor today. Only our fans were good for 90 minutes, that's all".
And on the first 20 minutes:
"We conceded two early goals on set pieces and then we are always in a position where you have to come out but we knew that you need to be better focused in that kind of level. Overall our performance was just not good enough. Maybe it's better if I don't talk too much, go home and respond well on Wednesday night because I include myself in that performance. It raises the questions that we have to answer on Wednesday night".
Well, what can I add? I've already said, that it's an extremely rare occurrence, when I miss a game. Turning it off is basically the same thing. There were only a handful of those over the years. Our heavy defeats to Milan and United spring to mind. I turned both games off at 3-0. Yestarday's game was among the worst ones I've seen in a long, long time.
And yet it was only one game, let's not forget that. Yes, Chelsea have won and now they are top, but City have not, thus we hold on to the second spot. Either way, there are only two points between the top three, so we're still in the race. However bad we played yesterday, it was only one game. There will be thirteen more, 39 points to fight for, so it's important to remember that. We still have Chelsea and City to play, so the fate of the title is in our hands.
Now we need a response. Our next fixture will be a home one, we'll get a bit of rest before it (more than United, anyway), so don't get your heads down. Yesterday's result looks like a freak occurrence to me, nothing more. We've seen the real Arsenal this season and this was not it.
That's it for today. I wish I had better news to tell you about, but I don't get to choose, unfortunately. I'll be back later, as soon as something new pops up.
Until then