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A Lack of Desire to Head the Ball - no bounce
By Boris Mellor
November 2 2008
Arsenal's abject defeat at Stoke can be summed up by a Perry Groves quote during the game that there was a lack of desire to head the ball. Two goals from throw ins, both poorly defended by the team and keeper. There is no need to go too deeply into this, it is simple the team that scores the most goals wins. If you give away goals cheaply you will lose.

This was a poor display by Arsenal and Stoke deserved their win; however that does not excuse some of the brutality that the Potters dished out. Yet it was RvP who managed to earn a red card with a moment of breathtaking stupidity. His behaviour and this performance were reminiscent of the team of a few years ago. Is he working his ticket? I do wonder.

Gael Clichy, Arsenal

Broke his duck

This team has lost its way, unable to bounce back, it is weak in the head, and doesn't like heading, when it comes to defending it has the attention span of a goldfish. I apologise in advance to aquarium keepers, but I feel the need to carp.

It just got worse

With seven games to go in November, including Man U, Chelsea, and Villa the availability of a full squad is essential; unfortunately Adebayor, Walcott and Sagna were all injured and could be out for a long time. Wenger's teams are famous for their November slumps, so it could be a long November.

I just hope that Wenger can find some time to sort out the defence. Otherwise he will need to buy as soon as possible over Xmas. He has some important issues to solve, for example can Almunia get his confidence back?

Cultzeros2

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A Lack of Desire to Head the Ball - no bounce
Posted by: Arsenal Times (IP Logged)
Date: 02/11/2008 11:52

A Lack of Desire to Head the Ball - no bounce

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Re: A Lack of Desire to Head the Ball - no bounce
Posted by: mapleleafgooner (IP Logged)
Date: 02/11/2008 12:55

I wrote when I saw Arsenal's lineup against Stoke that not pairing Toure with someone like Djourou who knows how to attack a ball in the air will create problems for us against Stoke's setpieces and unfortunately, I was proven correct. I love Kolo for all he has done for Arsenal but he is not the best person to defend against high balls. This problem was there since 4-5 seaons ago when in a CL game against Bayern Munich, he made a mess of trying to clear a long punt and allowed Munich to score. And that problem is still there. So partnering him with someone like Djourou or better still Sendoros will have helped to minimise Arsenal's exposure to those type of balls from Delap.

So why did Wenger send Sendoros off and bring in Sylvestre????
Why does Wenger persists to play 2 short central defenders???? Maybe it might work in the Spanish or Italian league where the attacks are mostly via the ground rather than the air but for f*ck sake, this is the English league. Why is it so difficult to figure that out???!!!

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Re: A Lack of Desire to Head the Ball - no bounce
Posted by: Gooner_Mike (IP Logged)
Date: 02/11/2008 14:06

We need our very own terry, vidic or carragher, instead we have a pair of shambles that just dont seem to learn from their mistakes over 3 years, and imsure wenger is too stubborn to bring in that cb we need in january, infact im 99% sure he wont which makes me even sadder.

___________________________________________________________
"Fail to prepare, prepare to fail" (Wenger - take note)

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Re: A Lack of Desire to Head the Ball - no bounce
Posted by: Gooner_Mike (IP Logged)
Date: 02/11/2008 14:09

Actually to be fair if we had had a midfield that can actually close down the opponents and not let them into positions where they can shoot/cross and could help defend set pieces that would also help, or even strikers who could help out, sadly we havent got one decent headerer of the ball, apart from maybe silvestre who still isnt even that good, yet senderos and djorou, our 2 best set piece defenders, are out the picture, where is Wengers trust in his youth policy there.

___________________________________________________________
"Fail to prepare, prepare to fail" (Wenger - take note)

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Re: A Lack of Desire to Head the Ball - no bounce
Posted by: Padre Pio (IP Logged)
Date: 02/11/2008 14:14

Mind you the midfield werent needed to defend two throw ins, tall men like Ade should be involved

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Re: A Lack of Desire to Head the Ball - no bounce
Posted by: Marsberg (IP Logged)
Date: 02/11/2008 14:33

You had Ade and Diaby also your GK should command his six yard box.Looking back four years we had a giant team now snow white could lead us out.

Always Arsenal

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Re: A Lack of Desire to Head the Ball - no bounce
Posted by: eduardo (IP Logged)
Date: 02/11/2008 21:14

For me Almunia is not worth his place in goal if he can not come out and catch a ball on his six yard line. The stoke striker did not even jump to head in the goal and there was Almunia standing on his line. For God's sake the ball had travelled fourty yards so Almunia just aint good enough. His confiedence is shot, seems Jens was right about him all along

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Re: A Lack of Desire to Head the Ball - no bounce
Posted by: Gooner_Mike (IP Logged)
Date: 02/11/2008 21:24

Id still prefer Jens now in goal, he would let his backline know exactly what he wants them to do and he wouldnt let any mistakes past him, almunia is too soft, and has no command of his area, as eduardo said if you cant come out and catch/punch a ball in the 6 yard box what good is that?

___________________________________________________________
"Fail to prepare, prepare to fail" (Wenger - take note)

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Re: A Lack of Desire to Head the Ball - no bounce
Posted by: Padre Pio (IP Logged)
Date: 02/11/2008 22:06

Fabianski must be played against Ferna, time to get him ready. If Almunia cannot recover then so be it

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Re: A Lack of Desire to Head the Ball - no bounce
Posted by: Optimistic Gunner (IP Logged)
Date: 03/11/2008 01:54

I agree with the artical and everyting said for in response to the article.

I still understand as to why AW didn't play Djourou, our only over 6ft CB who can head the ball well, aginst Stoke, but instead played two small CBs (Toure and Silvestre) who can't head the ball well defensively.


http://i42.tinypic.com/28rejux.png

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Re: A Lack of Desire to Head the Ball - no bounce
Posted by: zombiez (IP Logged)
Date: 03/11/2008 02:03

Toure is so bad with high balls. The only defender who could possibly win high balls against stoke was not so tall Silvestre. If Almunia has got tall players in front of him who could win the high balls he wouldnt be blamed for the goal conceded.

-Wenger Genius-

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Re: A Lack of Desire to Head the Ball - no bounce
Posted by: GBalls2 (IP Logged)
Date: 03/11/2008 12:51

Never thought I'd say this but BRING BACK SENDEROS!!! Toure and him have a good understanding (somehow) and he may play equally as well with Gallas....

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Re: A Lack of Desire to Head the Ball - no bounce
Posted by: Padre Pio (IP Logged)
Date: 03/11/2008 18:01

Toure is 5' 10 and heads at a height of 4' p".

He ducked into that ball.

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