Deep down I think we all knew after Craig Bellamy had scored his 90th minute equaliser, that the referee would give United as long as it took to score again. And so it proved in the sixth minute of four minutes injury time. Probably just as well Owen scored then otherwise we could still be playing right up until Wednesday’s game with Fulham.
How often does a manager whose team are chasing the game in injury time feel confident enough to make a substitution, knowing that he’ll get extra time allowed for it? Only at Old Trafford.
The timekeepers can come up with justification for their extra extra time, with time for a goal celebration here and time for a substitution there, but it’s not normally applied in full. How long did Mr Atkinson allow for Owen’s celebration when City needed to score?
When it was introduced, the whole point of having the fourth official show the amount of added time was to remove the mystery of how long is left, and any resultant controversy about late goals. In this match it failed. It’s been suggested before that a separate official should be responsible for the time-keeping, as is the case in rugby. Apparently most referees back the idea. Timekeeping is an unnecessary distraction for the man in the middle. Displaying the remaining time on the video screens would add to the drama and remove the controversy.
Having got that off our chest, we can reflect on a game where Bellamy and Given were truly heroic. De Jong wasn’t far behind, but these performances and the three equalisers shouldn’t mask what was in many regards a disappointing performance. We started badly and in the second half reverted to the bad old days of being unable to retain possession.
There were questions to be asked about Mark Hughes’ second half tactics and substitutions. Whilst the gamble to play Tevez paid off in the first half, the Argentinian should surely have made way in the second when his lack of fitness was clearly apparent.
City were pinned back and desperately needed an outlet, but Tevez wasn’t able to provide it. Apparently he was about to come off when United scored their third. Hughes had left it to late. Petrov should have been brought on and Bellamy moved into the middle by the hour mark. Even after Bellamy’s second, it would have been worth taking off the Argentinian. His tired header conceded possession and led to the final goal.
David Pleat in The Guardian offers a good analysis of where we went wrong tactically in the second half. Moving Ireland to the left flank and leaving us under-manned in the middle isn’t something I’d like to see repeated when we’re under the cosh.
From the beginning we weren’t switched on and conceded territory even before the first goal. Richards had spent to long talking over the previous incident with Toure and was horribly out of position, unable to stop Evra. Even then it was unclear how Rooney’s footwork managed to account for both Toure and de Jong going to ground in an almost comic fashion.
The equaliser came out of the blue, when Foster failed to shepherd the ball back into his penalty area. Surely he would have known about Tevez’s harrying? Apparently not, and a nicely weighted pass from the Argentinian allowed Barry to do the honours. The former Villa man deserves credit for his finish as to often we’ve seen this kind of chance fluffed.
City took confidence from Foster’s gift and for the rest of the first half were able to give as good as they got. This culminated in Toure’s expert tackle of Rooney, surge forward and intelligent lay-off to Ireland. Stevie was aware of Tevez in a better position and the Argentinian only had Foster to beat. His big moment: he took a touch, and fired past the keeper… but not the post. Our chance to take the lead was gone. It would be unfair to say this miss cost us the match, given United’s domination of the second half.
Depressingly, United started the second half as they did the first, with a goal. Not for the last time, they easily worked a position to get in a cross from our right and Barry was outjumped by Fletcher for a simple header. Again it looked ominous, but again City struck back. Tevez laid the ball off to Bellamy who feinted to return it, before heading to the corner of the penalty area and unleashing a tremendous shot beyond Foster and into the top corner.
From then on it was one way traffic with City unable to retain possession and put together many meaningful moves. The central defence was having to deal with to many crosses and it was no surprise when Fletcher got a second. The blame this time could be attributed to Toure who didn’t get high enough to head clear.
Finally we had a substitution with Petrov making a belated appearance for the sacrificed de Jong. We started to show some improvement with Petrov flashing a ball across the face of the goal. A quicker reaction from Richards could have seen him steer it in. Our chance seemed to have gone, but Rio Ferdinand had other ideas. He gifted the ball to Petrov, who instantly released Bellamy. Ferdinand gave a futile chase, while Bellamy drove towards the six yard box, went past a diving Foster and just as it looked like he’d gone to far, turned the ball goalwards. Another brilliant strike from the Welsh captain.
90 minutes was up, but we know the rest, with some panicky defending culminating in Tevez conceding possession, and Giggs picking out an unmarked Owen to score. Questions can be asked of Toure and Richards as to who was supposed to be picking up the striker.
Mark Hughes:
“In the end we feel really frustrated and, if it is not a too strong word, robbed because the ref has played seven minutes.
“Craig Bellamy has finished on the losing side. He has scored two goals that will probably never be bettered in his career. To be on a losing side is very difficult for him and the team to take.”
Gareth Barry:
“It always hurts to lose to a last-minute goal, especially after we looked like we would get a well-deserved point. Not many teams are going to come here and score three. We’ve made another statement by doing that.
“We deserve a lot of credit for that but at the same time we have to look at ourselves because we conceded four goals at the other end. We have to have a look at that, it’s obviously something we have to improve on.”
Joleon Lescott:
“There are no excuses. We are pros and we have to look at ourselves collectively and as individuals and realise that it just wasn’t good enough.
“We look at each other and we’ve made mistakes. We started the season with four clean sheets and now we’ve conceded goals. We have to correct that.”
City could take pride in coming back three times and only losing to a goal in the 96th minute, but there are also important lessons to be learned:
- Despite the clean sheets in the first three League matches the defending still needs to be tighter.
- Substitutions need to be made to head off danger, not left till after something has happened.
- The team-play of United when they attack is something we need to emulate. They always have players available. We were only dangerous on the break.
- The ability to mount sustained pressure until the opposition cracks. This has been a hallmark of Fergie’s success, and previously that of the great Liverpool sides. We can only do this once our team-play improves.
The upcoming Premier League games against West Ham and Villa will both be tough tests where we can see how well the lessons of this match have been learnt.
External reports:
BBC
The Guardian
The Independent
The Mail
Official site
The Times
The Telegraph
90 minutes was up, but we know the rest with some panicky defending culminating in Tevez conceding possession, and Giggs picking out an unmarked Owen to score. Questions can be asked of Toure and Richards as to who was supposed to be picking up the striker.
City could take pride in coming back three times and only losing to a goal in the 96th minute, but there are also important lessons to be learned:
Despite the clean sheets in the first three League matches the defending still needs to be tighter.
Substitutions need to be made to head off danger, not left till after something has happened.
The teamplay of United when they attack is something we need to emulate. They always have players available. We were only dangerous on the break.
The ability to mount sustained pressure until the opposition cracks. This has been a hallmark of Fergie’s success, and previously that of great Liverpool sides. We can only do this once our teamplay improves.
The upcoming Premier League games against West Ham and Villa will both be tough tests where we can see how well the lessons of this match have been learnt.
Maybe I’m being a little optimistic, but it could be time for the media and everyone else to move on from Adebayor as we have the small matter of a trip to Old Trafford this weekend. What should have seen us venturing over to Stretford with the strongest comparable squad to our rivals since the 70’s, has been undermined by the lack of available strikers.
We are of course brimful of confidence following our 100% start to the season, but so were Spurs when they took on United last week.
The absence of Adebayor along with Robinho and Santa Cruz appears to have left Hughes considering at rushing Tevez back. This could be unwise for several reasons:
- Tevez isn’t suited to playing as a lone striker (lacking either height or pace), therefore doing a straight swap of Tevez for Adebayor is likely to make little impression on Vidic and Ferdinand.
- Bellamy has successfully played as a lone striker in the past, utilising his pace, movement and energy to stretch a defence.
- Moving Bellamy to centre-forward and introducing Petrov on the wing may weaken us defensively, but will give us an extra attacking threat. Petrov looks to be bursting for first team action and his long raking passes could be a crucial weapon in releasing Bellamy on the break.
- A half fit Tevez would struggle in a normal Premier League fixture. United are hardly likely to go easy on him in this one.
- Last season, Hughes brought back players from injury to quickly (eg. Richards, Benjani and Kompany) and it was counter-productive. We don’t want to see Tevez aggravate the injury and be out for longer.
If Tevez is deemed fit enough, a substitutes role should be as much as we can expect of him. There has been talk of introducing Zabaleta to the midfield. While this would give us additional strength tackling in the middle, the team would be left unbalanced. Would Ireland or Barry play on the left side of midfield? Ireland has been put there before and was clearly out of position. Barry lacks the pace to go on the flank, either as full-back or winger. In addition, the absence of his calm head and excellent distribution from the middle would leave us resembling the team that lost so limply in last seasons fixture.
With the rise of City, Manchester derbies are no longer just a local matter. The fixture is now resonating across the whole footballing globe, as illustrated by the number of column inches given to the build-up alone. Players on both sides have been queuing up to give their opinions.
Listening to all their positivity and collective confidence is becoming overwhelming and made me wonder what it would be like to hear someone say, “I fancy us to get trounced. Don’t think we’ve got a chance in this one.” Sadly that’s probably a criminal offence in this age of mediaspeak and sports psychology.
Given our lack of strikers, we should be looking to keep it tight and put our faith in the defensive qualities of the newly acquired Toure and Lescott, with de Jong and Barry providing cover in front. Barry’s measured passing will be crucial in helping us retain possession, and instigate attacks on the break.
Possible line-up: Given, Richards, Bridge, Toure, Lescott, Barry, de Jong, Ireland, Wright-Phillips, Petrov, Bellamy
Prediction: 2-1 to City
Given – A few decent saves and little chance with the goals that ended his run of clean sheets. 7
Richards – Another improved performance. Used his strength well against Diaby. Deserves to be credited with the opening goal. Showed Wright-Phillips how it’s done in the second half, beating a defender and teeing up Bellamy for the vital second. 8
Toure – Arguably the best defender on show. Kolo retained his composure in the face of Arsenal’s movement, and showed his captaincy credentials by repeatedly directing those around him. 8
Lescott – Presumably he found this a better experience than the 6-1 mauling by Arsenal at Goodison a few weeks ago. Misjudged a tackle on Van Persie that led to their first goal, but produced some fine blocks and tackles throughout. Joleon is settling in nicely. 7
Bridge – Increasingly reliable defensively, while his forward runs provided a valuable outlet. Best moment came after a Given save; the ball came to Van Persie who tried to lose Bridge with a pirouette, but a sharp readjustment enabled the England man to make a crucial block. 7
De Jong – Lived up to his billing with trademark tackles. Several times the Dutchman demonstrated his particular skill in making the tackle and giving the ball to a fellow City player in the same movement. I’m not sure how he does it, but I love it. 8
Barry – His usual excellent self in the first half, instigating attacks as well as holding back the Arsenal midfield. Possibly his England exertions caught up with him in the second period as Fabregas and Rosicky started to find a way through. 6
Wright-Phillips – A game of two halves. In the first nothing seemed to come off despite his continued efforts to run at the Arsenal defence. In the second he quickly followed a howler of a miss with an assist and a goal, deftly lifting the ball over the onrushing Almunia. 6
Ireland – Never able to influence the game as much as he would have liked. The low point was the indecision that prevented him shooting or passing following a burst through the Arsenal rearguard. Funnily enough the tactical rearrangement following his substitution provided the spark for the match winning burst of goals. 5
Adebayor – Where to begin? The highlight was the dribble that culminated in a nutmeg of Gallas and teed up Wright-Phillips. Kinkladze at his best. The low point was catching Van Persie. Barton at his worst? He may be missing for a few games, but when he returns I can see a lot more of the good stuff coming our way. 7
Bellamy – He played 90 minutes in Russia midweek, but you’d never have guessed. The tireless Welshman seemed to grow stronger as the game wore on. Made up for a poor cross from an excellent position in the first half with the crucial second goal. The moment that typified him was the tackle on Clichy, charge up the pitch and pass to Wright-Phillips for the fourth goal. 8
Subs:
Petrov – Great to see him get on the pitch and he didn’t disappoint. He showed some fine touches and his attacking presence helped turn the tide long enough for us to win the match. 6
Man of the match: Bellamy
Blue Days
12 September 2009
Arsenal /
Goals: Richards/Aluminia 20, Bellamy 74, Adebayor 80, Wright-Phillips 84 for City. Van Persie 62, Rosicky 88 for Arsenal.
Prior to the game, Emmanuel Adebayor said he never really understood why the Arsenal fans booed him. Well, I think it’s safe to say they’ll have a few reasons after the dust has settled on this match.
City lined up as predicted with De Jong coming in alongside Barry to bolster the defensive midfield and Adebayor played as a lone striker. Despite the sense in this approach, initially it didn’t appear to be working very well as Arsenal dominated possession and City struggled to do anything meaningful with the ball.
Then City scored. Sagna blocked Bellamy and Barry floated over the resulting free-kick. Richards won a header and the ball looped over towards the opposite post. A scrambling Almunia may have touched the ball onto the post before it rebounded back off him and into the net.
It was the third game in succession that we’ve scored from a set piece. Surely this is some kind of record in the modern era.
The goal lifted City and for the remainder of the first half we were breaking up Arsenal’s passing more easily. Wright-Phillips and Bellamy provided vital endeavour on the flanks, but lacked the finesse of Robinho in providing an end product. Ireland suffered similarly when failing to shoot or pass after a surge into the Arsenal area. There was the fear that this failure to make the most of a good spell could come back to haunt us.
Arsenal dominated the start of the second half without creating much, so Wenger brought on Rosicky. It made a big difference as possession was turned into openings. Van Persie duly scored and went off on what wasn’t to be the last provocative goal celebration of the afternoon.
At this point Arsenal were looking the more likely winners, but when Ireland went off (seemingly with a knock), Hughes made the bold decision to introduce Petrov. Given the pressure we were under he may have been tempted to bring on Zabaleta and shore up the midfield.
To make room for Petrov on the left, Bellamy moved up alongside Adebayor and immediately found himself in the penalty area to score the crucial second goal. It was a huge goal that released the pervading fear that the game was running away from us.
City were now overloading Arsenal on the left and Adebayor went on the kind of run not seen since the heyday of Kinkladze, setting up Wright-Phillips for a tap in which he duly missed.
Thankfully, the England winger made up for it shortly afterwards with an excellent cross for Adebayor to score his goal, and set off on a hilarious streak down the pitch to celebrate in front of the Arsenal fans. They were not impressed. Watching FA Chief Executive and Arsenal fan, Ian Watmore was also not impressed.
Even after that City were not done. Bellamy showed fabulous commitment in dispossessing Clichy, before charging upfield. As he approached the penalty area, he played a perfect through ball to Wright-Phillips, who took a touch before lifting the ball over the onrushing Almunia. The composure of the finish was something I’d love to see more of from Shaun. Sometimes he needs to have greater belief in his finishing and show more control. He has the ability.
Three goals down, Arsenal were done for, but it says everything for their quality, that it never fully felt that way. Rosicky added a second and Van Persie hit the post before Mark Clattenburg finally blew for full-time.
Mark Hughes:
“It was a big test against a side used to playing with high expectations and that is used to winning. I sensed as the guys arrived at lunchtime that there was a real sense of anticipation. It was about getting the job done and that it what we did. Both sides contributed to a high quality match.”
Micah Richards:
“That attacking part of the game is something that I am trying to work on. People say that I am strong defensively but that I am perhaps not so strong in the other direction. I am still only young and I think I am starting to deliver in that department and feel my game is developing all the time.”
The result for City was huge, vindicating Hughes and making a statement that we can challenge the ‘top four’. Whether this is fully the case remains to be seen. Arsenal have Arshavin and Walcott to add to the team we saw today, which looked very good at times. After we beat them last season, they went on a twenty match unbeaten run, and I can see them beating most teams again this season. Last season we beat them by 3 goals and finished 10th. This season we won by 2 goals, but will undoubtedly finish higher. Just how high remains thrillingly unclear.
External reports:
BBC
The Guardian
The Independent
Official site
The Telegraph
The Times
Video:
All goals
The inimitable Phil Thompson describes the goals for Sky
Adebayor to Chariots of Fire
Blue Days
12 September 2009
Arsenal /