Canaries signal danger for Arsenal

Norwich are a club whose profile matches that of their geographically peripheral location. In my lifetime they've always been in the background but just when you start to forget them or take them for granted you can guarantee they'll send a reminder. So it was at Arsenal this weekend when the Canaries poor recent form suggested they would be suitably supplicant and allow the Gunners to secure third spot. Two minutes into the game Yossi Benayoun's exquisite opening goal was the ideal opening to this fait accompli, instead it was the prelude to a storming Norwich performance which was well worth a point and could even have secured all three by half time.

How times change. The last Norwich away game I attended came at the end of the 1997/98 season when they were the last team to visit Elm Park, comfortably beating Tommy Burns' woeful Reading outfit already doomed to relegation and a few days later to defeat against Maidenhead United in the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup Final. After the Elm Park game I ended up in a pub in Reading town centre where I watched Arsenal secure the first leg of their double with a legendary win over Everton at Highbury, capped by an iconic goal by Tony Adams. The confident pose that Adams struck after scoring that goal left Arsenal's performance this weekend looking pale in comparison.

A goal up, the Gunners seemed to lose all defensive shape and discipline as Norwich tore into them, Wes Hoolahan scoring courtesy of a Wojciech Szczesny slip, and Grant Holt giving the City the lead when his deflected shot looped over the hapless Pole in the goal. Once again this prompted more memories, this time of a visit to Dagenham at the end of the 2009 season when Holt led the line for Shrewsbury, not exactly looking like a striker cut out for the Premier League.

The second half offered little respite for Arsenal as they struggled to stay in the game but slowly captain Robin Van Persie inspired a comeback and eventually the Gunners attacking strength provided the Dutchman with the chances to restore Arsenal's lead with ten minutes left. All this pointed to Arsenal seeing out the game, relieved at recovering the three points but yet again chaos reigned in the red ranks in the face of renewed Norwich attacking purpose, this time Steve Morison, who I last saw facing the Magpies for Bishops Stortford, applying a deft finish to equalise once more. Cue one last Arsenal push for the win but they were unable to emulate Maidenhead's 4-3 victory of the previous Saturday. Perhaps Van Persie should have been given an opportunity for a hat trick from the penalty shot, but there was an element of justice in the referee's decision to wave play on, with a missed offside in the build up to the incident, and Norwich also having a good penalty shout turned down in the first half.

So the game ended in frustration for Arsenal meaning few stayed for the end of season lap of honour. This was a shame for regardless of the team's shortcomings it presented an opportunity to salute Pat Rice, on duty in a home game for the final time before stepping down as Arsene Wenger's assistant. For an Arsenal fan of my vintage Rice represents a virtually ever present symbol at the club. He was part of the first line up I ever learnt by heart which I can still recite to this day, his surname providing a nice rhyming couplet: Jennings, Rice, Nelson, Price...

He was the only Arsenal captain to lift a trophy in a sixteen year period which seems a world away from the Graham/Wenger years which have given rise to a feeling of virtual entitlement amongst Arsenal supporters and subsequent angst about a failure to deliver in recent seasons, hence the annoying hyperbolic spectacle of the battle for third spot which goes on thanks to the refusal of any of the contenders to take the readily available points on offer.

Still a good game to close the season on, a useful reminder that the older I get the more complex the connections between the games I watch become (e.g. I last saw Paul Lambert managing Wycombe in pre season friendly at York Road a few years back, whilst Sian Massey was a more recent visitor, refereeing a game at Maidenhead in March), and therefore the deeper the impression that football is a more unified game than might appear at first glance.

Running on empty

Typically rambunctious London derby at Arsenal yesterday. No quarter asked or given, but very little in the way of chances so a goalless draw was just about a fair reflection of the game although as with Wednesday night, Peter Cech had to thank his woodwork on more than one occasion. 

It was difficult to fathom Chelsea's objective for the day. It was only natural that they fielded a much changed team from the Barcelona game, but surprising John Terry played. I would have thought nothing will stop him playing in the Nou Camp which will require a herculean effort given it it will be his fourth high profile game in ten days. Similarly Chelsea's tactic of defending deep and trying to hit Arsenal on the counter attack looked likely to work throughout the game given the Gunners' defensive frailties, yet failed to force a save from Wojciech Szczesny. Given that three points were required by the Blues I thought they would have shown a bit more adventure.

For Arsenal's part they carried on from Monday night, energetically powering forward but unable to break down a solid defensive unit enough to create an unmissable chance save the first half efforts from Robin Van Persie and Laurent Koscielny which hit the post and bar respectively. There appeared to be a bit of mental fatigue in the red ranks, Aaron Ramsey lacked match sharpness being regularly caught in possession whilst Van Persie looks to be running on empty exposing the lack of a suitable deputy to take the pressure of scoring off him.

By the evening it was clear that a rare draw for Arsenal had maintained their position as favourites for third place and surely they will get the two wins required to secure it from their final three games, all against teams with nothing to play for.

Arsenal foil Krul intentions

According to the programme Newcastle were (Woolwich) Arsenal's first ever opponents on joining the Football League in 1893. Monday night's fixture certainly gave the impression that the intervening years had provided the opportunity for much enmity. Newcastle had got much of the good luck in famous clashes such as the ball over the line goal in the 1932 Cup Final, a win over an Arsenal team effectively reduced to ten men due to an early injury in the 1952 showpiece at Wembley, up to last year's surrendering of a 4 goal lead courtesy of a couple of dubious decisions.

On the face of it both teams had everything to play for. A win for Arsenal would secure fourth spot and leave them breathing down the neck of Spurs in third whilst Newcastle needed the points to get them back in the race for Champions League qualification. The first half promised much with strong running from Obertan and Ben Arfa providing a strong threat from United which ultimately gave them the lead. This was swiftly clawed back by Van Persie's instant equaliser and the game remained in the balance until half time.

A clue to the second half though was the way Martin Krul slowed the game down at every opportunity, a pattern which spread through the Geordie ranks after the break as they defended deep and tried to hang on for a draw. Aside from an enthralling midfield tussle between Rosicky and Tiote, Arsenal dominated the second half and should have secured the points long before the 90 minutes were up. Several chances were passed up whilst Krul pulled out a great save to tip a Vermaelen header over the bar at the death.

As the fifth and final minute of stoppage time approach, with Newcastle in possession deep in the Arsenal half, all looked lost but the Gunners turned the ball over and raced into a counter attack, Vermaelen running the length of the pitch to score the winner.

What followed were bemusing scenes which called to mind the amazing France v Kuwait game in the 1982 World Cup. 

All that seemed necessary was for Newcastle to kick off but with Krul haring up the pitch after countryman Van Persie most of the players were gathered in the centre circle as Howard Webb struggled to regain control. Van Persie received a yellow card after he gestured to the crowd to make some noise, as did Krul for completely losing it. This almost doubled the amount of stoppage time and meant  I was still queuing outside the tube station at 10.45 pm. 

Still it was worth it for the last minute win, with Arsenal looking unstoppable at the moment. Another break of over a week should be time enough to prepare for Everton away with some more players to return from injury to provide cover for the home game a few days later. Newcastle meanwhile look well worth a top ten finish but lack the ambition to step up to the holy grail of the top four.

Lone Ranger

It was left to Robin Van Persie to again secure Arsenal three points with the much maligned Andrey Arshavin playing Tonto to the Dutchman's lone ranger by setting up the only goal of the game.

It was a contest that on the face of it had much in common with that played four days earlier here against Wolves but whereas in that game it was a superb goalkeeping performance that stopped a comfortable Arsenal win, on this occasion it was the Gunners' profligacy in front of goal that prevented a greater margin of victory.

The game opened with the opposition looking solidly set to do all they could to earn a goalless draw with a backline so deep they might as well have stayed in West London. This allowed the Dutchman sitting next to me to get on with sorting out his emails on his iPad, with Szczesny the only goalkeeper being called into action. Thus I was given time to ponder similar New Year clashes, with a mid 80s fixture between the two clubs when Ian Allinson was the unlikely star in a 3-1 win not looking favourite for a repeat. Instead it was a goalless draw at Elm Park when Huddersfield manager Neil Warnock celebrated as if he'd won promotion by holding the mighty Reading that seemed most likely to play out in front of me.

As the half drew on though Arsenal created a number of chances and should have converted at least one before half time, being unfortunate on a couple of occasions when Joey Barton cleared off the line and Matthew Connolly handled the ball without penalty in the box. Barton of course had earlier introduced himself by upending Mikel Arteta, going onto try and ensure he wasn't alone in the referee's book by rolling around on the turf whenever he was challenged.

With Aaron Ramsey pulling the strings Arsenal continued to dominate after the break but Theo Walcott lack of match fitness was reflected by the way he spurned the best chance of the game one on one with Cerny. QPR  were beginning to look like they might get something out of the game before shooting themselves in the foot when a misplaced pass from Shaun Wright-Phillips found Arshavin who fed Van Persie to score.

Aside from Gervinho missing a sitter it was a nervy finish from Arsenal with QPR raising the tension every time they attacked but the scoreline remained the same at the final whistle leaving Arsenal fans to scurry off down the Holloway Road to their New Year's Eve celebrations in the knowledge that at the halfway stage of the league season the Gunners had completed their comeback from a disastrous start to end 2011 in the top four.

The journey home was enlightened by a programme article about former Arsenal player Dave Bowen who holds two club records more noteworthy than the irrelevant one Van Persie broke with his goal. Firstly Bowen, along with Jack Kelsey, was the first Arsenal player to play in the World Cup Finals when he represented Wales in the 1958 tournament in Sweden. Secondly Bowen is the only Arsenal player to have a stand named after him, at Northampton's ground, the club he took from Fourth to First Division as manager in the 1960s.

Yossi reunites the sunshine band

The far from Christmassy sound of KC and the Sunshine band rang round Villa Park at the final whistle hailing the late goal from Yossi Benayoun which gave Arsenal a hard fought win which had looked unlikely til the latter stages when the Gunners extra desire drove them on to victory.

The 2-1 win neatly reversed the scoreline from my first and hitherto only trip to Villa Park way back in April 1983 when despite going into half time ahead, Arsenal succumbed to a rampant Manchester United en route to winning their first trophy under Ron Atkinson. That day I had sat in what was then called the Witton Lane Stand next to two kindly old ladies who spent the afternoon eating sweets and cooing every time Norman Whiteside touched the ball. Last night I was sat in the same part of the ground which had been rebuilt as the Doug Ellis stand in a seat with a view so restricted it merited a £1 discount! Handily placed at the end of the row in front of a gangway the only obstacle to seeing the night's entertainment was fortunately just the odd passing steward.

I'd travelled up to Birmingham the scenic way from London Marylebone, taking advantage of a superb £5 one way offer on that bizarre British paradox the privatised nationalised railway. Privatised by the British government but owned by the nationalised German railway who proved the efficacy of their operation with a smooth journey on a full train, accommodating everyone in roomy, clean carriages by dispensing with first class.

Alighting at Birmingham's most attractive terminus, Moor Street, I met up with a Villa supporting friend who was to be my guide to pre match hospitality. After negotiating the bustling crowds around New Street we headed up to Aston and after one false start settled down in the faded glory of the Swan & Mitre, an impressive facade clothing a dingy old fashioned boozer which had clearly seen better days. Still it provided a quiet corner to catch up, the only noise being the clink of dominoes at an adjacent table. As the football crowd started to filter in we moved onto the New Adventurers a virtual Aston Villa theme pub, £1 giving you access through their claret and blue portal. Full of fans steeling themselves for the match, talk centred on the prospects for play which were generally downbeat following the weekend's surrender to Liverpool, the mood only lifted by a badge seller touting "McLeish out" pins.

The short walk to the ground felt subdued and notably short on expectation, not uncommon at this time of the year when football takes second place to festive preparations. The kick off shook the cobwebs off though, the first half seeing Aston Villa the better team only denied an early lead by a splendid save by the Pole in the goal from Gabriel Agbonlahor. With injuries and suspensions hitting Arsenal hard it was not surprising that they lacked the fluidity of Sunday's draining defeat at Middle Eastlands but a steely resolve was characterised by the way they hung on in the opening stages then grabbed their chance with both hands when it came.

A quicksilver dash into the penalty area by Theo Walcott induced Ciaran Clark to throw out a grabbing arm in panic giving the referee no choice but to point to the spot, a really soft penalty both in terms of the threat that caused it and the foul that led to it. With Robin Van Persie eager to break the much talked about, if statistically meaningless, record for goals scored in calendar year, the kick was a formality. The goal changed little in term of the pattern of play though, Arsenal's awfully inappropriate away kit reflecting an uncharacteristically workmanlike first half performance.

Villa regrouped at half time and deservedly equalised with the goal of the game when Marc Albrighton capitalised on Arsenal defensive hesitancy to run clear and score. This turned out to be an ultimately abstract 20,000th goal scored  at the top level of English football since 1992, unless you buy into the hubristic insistence that Rupert Murdoch invented the game.

Attacking substitutions by Arsene Wenger were reflected by a growing intensity from Arsenal going forward as they forced a succession of corners which ultimately brought about the late winner when Van Persie inswinging kick was met by the head of Benayoun three minutes from time. The inevitable eruption of joy in the Arsenal end really rattled the Villa players Alan Hutton taking his leave early for a couple of needless misdemeanours.

The final whistle soon arrived to the backing of Jingle Bells, the euphoria sending me bouncing back to Witton station and home through the night sustained by a splendid Thai Yellow curry from Wok Your Way which meant I was still talking football with the black cab driver in the small hours.

Nostalgia for an age yet to come

Nostalgia fest yesterday. With a ticket to the New Order reunion concert in the obscure location of Stepney and a friend travelling down from Scotland to see it I opted for the safe bet of tickets to Arsenal's 125th birthday and an easy day in London.

The day hopefully set the seal on the Arsenalisation of the new ground which has now become a cross between a museum and a football theme park. Putting the dates of trophy wins around the stadium was the first stage in removing posterity from the current squad as the achievements of their predecessors lurked ever larger in the new environment. The dates also hang like something of an albatross round the club's neck, a constant reminder of the growing time since the last trophy. I really don't like the burgeoning trend of football statuary, and feel that people should be only commemorated in this way once they have shuffled off their mortal coil.

Certainly the fact that I was off to see arch modernists New Order concentrated the mind on  the future and led me to ponder what the Gunners great visionary Herbert Chapman would have thought. Although a listed building now the old Highbury ground was state of the art when it was built and the worry is that the futuristic nature of the new ground may be strangled by the past.

The game itself long looked like it would be overshadowed by the pre match celebrations, the nadir of which was MC Tom Watt's babbling inability to turn his stream of consciousness into a question for the legends he introduced before kick off, most of whom would have been at the game anyway in a PR/media role. At least "Good Old Arsenal" replaced "The Wonder of You" as the warm up music and the embarrassing call and response of the team line ups was dropped. Unfortunately I guess the club is contractually obliged to play the indie rock dirge of the Premier League anthem.

Still it was good that Everton with their pleasingly simplistic all blue kit and unbroken top division status (only beaten by Arsenal), were the opposition particularly as despite their lowly position manager Davie Moyes set out to win the game. Early on the unusual Arsenal defence with centre backs filling the wide roles looked as though it might be undone by the powerful wing play of the likes of Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman. This focus on attack forced the blue defence up the pitch and Arsenal had ample opportunity to exploit the high line only for Gervinho (again) and Theo Walcott to be especially profligate when through on goal.

As the game wore on Everton's confidence was symbolised by the way Marouane Fellaini played progressively further up the pitch but the game was won with a moment of quality to reflect the historic occasion. Alex Song's delightful pass found Robin Van Persie to fire home and take everyone's breath away with a strike which was executed when the Dutchman was fully airborne, a move that was ripe to end in farce perfectly carried out with a volley that rocketed into the back of the net. As usual any hope that Arsenal would quietly see out the win were in vain as Everton went for broke, but there was to be no match for Van Persie's coup de grace so Arsenal completed their comeback from their early season turmoil with a win that lifted them into the top four.

If Van Persie stays fit maybe this season will see the Emirates see silverware for the first time, the quality is evidently there to achieve it.

Boring Boring City

Frustrating night at the Emirates which began with a slow running Piccadilly line which caused me to miss the first two minutes as Robin Van Persie missed the first of a host of Arsenal chances three of which hit the woodwork. Add in a good penalty shout and you have a fair summary of game in which the Gunners did everything but score. This was in the face of obdurate defence from Manchester City who despite the opportunity to go top with a win, opted for an eight man unit to stifle Arsenal and secure the draw. The inevitable result was stalemate and the question if this is what 350 million gets you, how much more will City have to spend to find some attacking ambition.