Arsenal can withstand the pain and see hope, victory shatters anxiety under pressure. "No complaints, no trauma, no controversy, no shame, what's important is that this long-awaited three points came at the right time." After defeating Stoke City, the Guardian's Arsenal fan Amy Lawrence commented with some melancholy. As a beautiful writer for one of Britain's major newspapers, Lawrence was appropriately assigned to personally attend the Emirates Stadium match last Saturday. Who else but their own fans could better portray Arsenal's current state of mind?
"The potters" had previously defeated Tottenham in London, drove away the Gunners from Britannia last season, possess the Premier League's toughest thrower Rory Delap, along with Setien and Huth, who are all dangerous from set pieces, thus forcing Almunia to stumble multiple times during the game, and Vermalen jumped "as frequently as a rabbit." However, the 2-0 scoreline shows that although Arsenal is young, it is not declining.
Missing the penalty, anxiety under immense pressure
However, the team did not immediately stabilize upon stepping onto the pitch. In the 20th minute, Arshavin maneuvered past Diouf inside the box and was tripped by Delap, resulting in a penalty! Following September's Eduardo dive scandal, Clattenburg became the first referee to benefit Arsenal in a controversial penalty situation, but unfortunately, Fabregas missed this "gift." His shot towards the top right corner was both flat and slow, allowing Sorensen to easily deflect it.
Arsenal knew how to grow stronger through battles. Last season's Champions League away at Rome's Olympic Stadium, with the same mindset, they eliminated the Italian team via penalties, where Eboue and Sagna both scored, courage compensating for the lack of technique. But over the past half month, the Gunners were struggling in the mud, suffering three consecutive losses in the Premier League and League Cup, conceding 7 goals without scoring any. The team's last league goal was on the 7th day of last month, a month later, the World Cup 32 teams have even booked their accommodations in South Africa. With the absence of last season's top two penalty takers Van Persie and Adebayor, captain Fabregas took responsibility, the long-missed goal sense pressing heavily on his shoulders, making the 12-yard distance seem like an eternity.
Under immense pressure, Arshavin earlier lost the inspiration for a one-on-one chance. Eboue stood on the goal line, blocking Fabregas' powerful shot towards the goal, just like when Bentner blocked his teammate's goal two seasons ago while standing next to Reina. This was Fabregas' 250th appearance for Arsenal, turning what could have been a light-hearted milestone into a heavy one.
"Before the international break, we did well, then we were hit hard, players were anxious and disappointed, I won't deny it," Wenger analyzed the team's mentality before the match. After the game, he couldn't help but feel alarmed, "At that moment (when Fabregas missed the penalty), I thought, this wouldn't be another unlucky day, would it?"
Czar breaks the drought, injuries force a turning point
Arsenal hopes to turn danger into safety, but the opponent cannot afford to give generously. Between Sunderland and Chelsea's "fences," Eduardo lost his form, even putting himself on the injury bench, "Eduardo's thigh old injury flared up, forcing him to stop training," Wenger revealed just before the game.
Ironically, this became a turning point. Just at the start, Fabregas sent a through ball down the middle, Arshavin broke into the box alone and pushed the ball forward, but Sorensen made a timely charge. Two minutes later, Arshavin crossed left-footed from the right rib, Nasri's close-range shot was blocked again. It seemed like the goal was just around the corner. After winning the penalty, he decided to solve the problem himself: At the 26th minute, Arshavin broke into the box, calmly shooting far post among a crowd of "potters," the player's calmness and footwork reminiscent of Ronaldo breaking through Turkey's defense in the 2002 World Cup. This was also the Czar's first goal in a month.
Wenger was dissatisfied with consecutive blanks, after trying Eduardo and Bellerin, he decided to push Arshavin to the center. Arshavin felt the responsibility, "If I were an Arsenal fan, I would (on the day against Chelsea) leave early, since Robin has been absent, scoring has become a big issue. I bear some responsibility because Arsene spent a lot of money to buy me, though I'm not Henry, I am one of the few older players, I should lead the young ones like Robin, William, and Cesc."
The Czar in the center, thus naturally followed. Wenger pushed Eboue and Rosicky to the wings in this game, broadening the offensive width, letting Nasri stay on the left side of midfield, suitable for the Frenchman's diagonal movement. But having Arshavin as the lone striker was undoubtedly the biggest variable. He became a low but unbending fortress, linking almost all of Arsenal's threatening attacks in this game. Before halftime, his pass helped Fabregas shoot close range, in the second half, whether inside or outside the box, he forced Sorensen to dive desperately, if not for Faye's sliding interception, the ball would not have hit the crossbar.
Farewell to heaviness, the momentum can come again
"Arshavin absolutely shone." Post-game, Stoke City coach Pulis said. "Rosicky, Nasri, Fabregas, and Eboue can all penetrate into the frontcourt, at which point a player like Arshavin needs to make runs." Wenger did not confirm whether he would continue to let Arshavin play as a center-forward, but promised to "try again" for away games.
In Arsene Wenger's 500th Premier League game as coach, Arshavin and victory were equally important, but not the only focus. Post-game, the cameras collectively captured the handshake between Wenger and Pulis. Hughes criticized Wenger for lacking grace after losing in the League Cup, refusing to shake hands with the winners. This was a new chapter in their feud. Fabregas once criticized Hughes (who coached Barcelona's style) for "not showing that you've played there," and apologized for it. Hughes was very excited last Wednesday at Manchester Stadium, dancing in front of Arsenal's technical area, drawing complaints from the professor, and the fiery spark (Hughes) refused to let go of the details, Roy Keane didn't quite approve, "Coaches are all under pressure, Sparky is a tough guy, but Wenger is at least not hypocritical."
Arsenal needed victories, as well as lessons learned from defeats. At the 79th minute, substitute Ramsey combined with teammates in the middle and broke into the box edge to score, sealing the 2-0 victory. Amidst a full complement of injuries, Welsh youngster Ramsey, who has already scored twice in the Premier League this season, has become a tactical piece for the team. Last week's League Cup saw the young Gunners unable to match the billionaire squad Manchester City, with Ramsey constrained in midfield, cutting off further advancement opportunities. This week's Champions League is the last stage left for them this season.
Wenger doesn't need handshakes. "I'm not an angel. If there's nothing worse than shaking hands, then the world isn't too bad." He holds hope for the quick return of Gallas, Eboue, and Traore, and revealed that Walcott, Eduardo, Diaby, and Bendtner might all return within this month.
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