Preamble
So a fascinating game we were subjected to last night and a showdown I would argue was a season-defining one in a domestic context, reminiscent of our 4-0 FA Cup win during the season of 07/08. Many people write off the magic of the cup but for me it provides the best games between domestic heavyweights especially in the latter parts of the competition due to the fact that whilst they might put out slightly weakened sides, the desire to avoid a draw at all costs and prevent further congestion to the fixture schedule leads to a win at all costs approach and less tactical frigidity.
As to the importance of FA Cup encounters, again it is very much underestimated by managers, fans and players alike. A good cup run can boost the confidence of players, provide momentum for the campaign on other fronts and as we saw yesterday it can break the spirit of your closest rivals in the League. Anyway without further ado, here are the 5 Things I Noticed…
1. Double Trouble
One couldn’t help but feel a little sympathy for the Arsenal full-backs in the first half having to come to terms with two rabid Brazilians foaming at the mouth, pumped full of testosterone and executing their best Dennis The Menace impressions. If the gaffer was in a particularly villainous state of mind he may have even been tempted to allow them to… wait for it… switch flanks now and again, bringing further chaos to the already fragile Arsenal backline.
[ad_pod id=’fox-mpu’ align=’right’]
Jokes aside it was a promising performance from the duo and highlights just what natural footballers the twins are, they can fit into a variety of positions and generally excel due to their good footwork, attacking purpose allied to their enthusiastic industry and martyristic commitment to the cause. They have a fair bit to learn but I’d rather see them on the pitch than the likes of Bebe & Obertan for whom it must’ve been a big blow to miss a game of this calibre and an even bigger one to find out they were missing it courtesy of two untested full backs featuring in their positions.
Whether Fabio in particular can excel in this role against superior defensive opposition than Arsenal and provide a genuine alternative to Park rests on quite a few issues. He has to work on his close control and be wary of over-running the ball and overcompensating in the tackle when he loses control of it, it’s a problem that has haunted his brother Rafael a tad and would be more of an issue in congested areas such as the final third. He also needs to work on his left foot, which can produce good deliveries but he seems reluctant to use it consistently which belies a lack of confidence in it. Finally as the wonderful return of Valencia highlighted, the ability to receive the ball on the flank with a full-back stuck tight to you and to have the ability to a) turn him and b) shield it despite the pressure upon are both vital assets which a wide player at United is expected to have, Fabio would be well-advised to improve on these facets of the game and model himself as a goal-scoring version of Park.
2. Rooney In The Deep
Hands up if you’ve been dying to see Rooney deployed in midfield as an experiment for years… well me too, I’ve been an unabashed supporter of letting him roam across the pitch and just doing what he does best, getting stuck in and stamping his authority on the game rather than being a peripheral figure who comes across more than just a little bit miffed at the lack of service from his less-talented colleagues.
Don’t get me wrong, during 09/10 he proved he can be extremely effective as a lone striker but it’s just not Rooney. There’s no enjoyment in watching him deployed in that manner. It’s one of the reasons why I enjoy watching Messi over Ronaldo, the former has the freedom to spray magic across the pitch whereas the latter is now just basically a goal machine with none of the flair he possessed in abundance during his youth. Cristiano is allowed to roam the pitch but only to exploit space from which he can shoot or score goals, not to create and creation is a hallmark of Rooney’s game and an attribute which is thoroughly entertaining to bear witness to.
Continue to the NEXT PAGE…
3. Super Super Chris, Super Chris Smalling
If they’re not chanting this at the Stretford End already, they better start doing so sharpish. Another imperious display from Baby Rio and is it sacrilegious to claim this lad could possibly go on to become even better than the guy he is meant to replace?
At the moment one must restrain themselves from uttering such bold claims but if he continues looking so comfortable against top opposition, then it may not be such a ridiculous claim especially considering his age and the years he has left at the top level. Yesterday he outpaced, outfought and out-read consistently throughout the game and whilst VDS was in stunning form (a bit of an understatement – ONE MORE YEAR PLEASE!) Smalling did more than his fair bit in preventing us from conceding.
4. On The Road To Nowhere
So where do Arsenal go from here. After having been knocked out in three cup competitions in the space of a few weeks. Answer is not very far to be perfectly frank, I didn’t think they would win anything this season despite the fact I believed them to be a better side than they have been in a few years due to development of Wilshere. There are clearly signs of progress but not nearly enough to leave behind the rest of the chasing pack over the next few years and if a different approach in terms of spending isn’t taken they will find themselves left behind. I also fear the psychological impact of this season could affect them beyond this season.
If I was Wenger I’d go back to my original blueprint, signing physically imposing, mentally strong players and turn them into footballers as he used to do in the late nineties, recently there is no penetration or genuine fantasy in their play. Players like Wilshere are the exception in a side devoid of fight, will to win and a knowledge of how to close out tough games.
A world class striker is a must, one who is physically superior to van Persie and could be a genuine talismanic figure. an aggressive central defensive midfielder is also a must as I don’t believe Song / Denilson can protect the likes of Wilshere & Fabregas adequately. Arshavin needs to go as his heart doesn’t look in it and more tricky, pacey wide players are needed, the likes of Walcott are too predictable and not genuine threats against well disciplined defensive sides, Barcelona is probably the only big side he can be effective against due to the vulnerability they possess on the counter. Defensively they need warriors at the back and I’m not convinced they have them, Koscielny excelled against Barca but for the vast majority of the season he has struggled although one must take into account it’s his debut season at Premiership Level.
[ad_pod id=’unruly’ align=’left’]
5. Opposition One2Watch: Jack Wilshere
The only player who didn’t seem fazed by last nights game, he even slide tackled Paul Scholes and was the only Arsenal player prepared to mix it with Rooney in the centre of the park. Instead of being inhibited by physical opponents he rises to the occasion and revels in it, a sign of a top player.
I’d love to capitalise on Arsenal going into decline over the next few years if Wenger refused to see the error of his ways and snap up Wilshere for big bucks, but I can’t see it happening. As it is I can envisage him becoming Arsenal & England’s Bryan Robson, a Captain Marvel type figure who can mix it, take the game by the scruff of the neck both in terms of industry and creativity but ultimately all in vain. He has that fearlessness going into tackles, a cultured left foot, vision and I think he’ll soon showcase an ability to be in the right place at the right time in terms of goalscoring and finding the much-needed killer pass, this will come with experience.
Conclusion:
A game which was the same but altogether all so different for a variety of reasons. United stuck to their customary counter-attacking blueprint against Arsenal but the personnel used to execute it and the manner in which they did so was so mind-blowing that one must give great credit to the Great Man for even having the audacity to dream it up let alone it actually succeeding.
Hernandez will feel depressed at letting his shot to goal ratio exceed a goal every shot, but his fast developing partnership with Rooney and it’s effectiveness against big teams is a source of excitement for all United fans, although Berbatov can’t be too pleased about it. O’Shea and Gibson did a good job in the centre even though they didn’t see much of the ball and Valencia’s return was a much needed tonic after the horrific injury that Nani received courtesy of Jamie Carragher.
Follow me @ www.twitter.com/redrae7_mufc or check out www.thebusbyway.com
[ffcvideo file=’mu_r_morisson’]