And if that isn’t actually a George Graham quote, it certainly ought to be! A good evening’s work, even if it wasn’t wonderful football. Arsenal looked distinctly jaded and got a little bit lucky with the result.
But they say you make your own luck and our persistence paid off with a late winner. The fresh legs and experience of Rosicky and Benayoun helped. Even Arshavin managed to inject a bit of urgency for a change. Several starters looked a jaded – Ramsey and Gervinho. Frimpong showed his inexperience here and there. But then experienced is what he is and he’ll learn more control as he plays more. Someone who seems way past learning any control is Alan Hutton who managed to get two yellows in the space of ninety seconds. Both pretty pointless incidents too.
Arsenal were slightly lucky with the first penalty, quite a few like that wouldn’t be given, but unlucky not to get a second. Bizarrely, Van Persie even got a card for diving.
Our man of the match poll came down to a choice between Benayoun and Koscielny with the latter getting the most votes.
The other results last night were mxed for Arsenal. Manchester City and United march on, opening up a gap at the top. But the two seems below us lost ground. Newcastle are on the slide after a load of key injuries. Even with Coloccini back they lost again. Wigan battled hard to keep Liverpool out, so we have a points and goal difference gap below us again.
If there was anything ugly about football last night it was the sight of the Liverpool team all parading in Suarez t-shirts before that game. Team solidarity is one thing, but this is a much, much bigger issue and it seems that Kenny Dalglish so doesn’t get it. Liverpool Football Club should be feeling deeply embarrassed, not defiant.
It’s an extension of the ‘not that kind of player’ attitude we get after a leg-breaking tackle. The point is this – you may think that your player is niave, stupid or inept rather than evil, but recklessly violent play and racially abusive language should be stopped. And that’s all there is to it.
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