Arsenal had Robin van Persie to thank as they beat Sunderland 2-1 at the Grove today. The captain spoke before the game about how he’d show his commitment on the pitch and his two goal salvo ensured Arsenal took the points.
The Gunners couldn’t have started the game any better, scoring their fastest ever Premier League goal after just 27 seconds. Tomas Rosicky put Gervinho down the left, he played a pass to van Persie who let the ball roll across him before rifling it home with his wonderfully effective chocolate leg.
He could have made it 2-0 not long afterwards when a beautiful turn and chip, again with the right foot, beat the keeper but hit the post and rolled across the line. The Dutchman showed how up for it he was with another attempt which flew not far wide.
Arsenal were well on top in the first 25 minutes but such is our Jekyll and Hyde nature at the moment it was no surprise to see Sunderland come back into it. Arteta was penalised for a handball outside the area and former Gunner Seb Larsson, renowned for his set-pieces, fired home a brilliant free kick into the top corner to make it 1-1.
Confidence seemed to ebb away and Sunderland should have gone ahead not long afterwards. Arsenal were at sixes and sevens and when a cross found Cattermole unmarked at the back post, just 3 yards from the line, I feared the worst. Somehow though, Szczesny spread himself to make a save as good as any other you’ll see this season. A few minutes later Colback fired a volley over as Arsenal staggered to half-time.
In the second half Arsenal dominated possession without really creating too much. A series of free kicks in dangerous positions were squandered, while Jenkinson and Rosicky tried hard to provide some forward momentum. Andrei Arshavin was brought on and almost scored after dribbling through the defence before toe-poking wide.
As time ran down it looked as if more points might be dropped but when Wes Brown gave away a free kick on the right hand side of the Sunderland area, up stepped van Persie. Anything Larsson could do, RVP could do better, he curled it over the wall, into the top corner and that was enough to give the Gunners the points.
Nervy? Yes. Unconvincing? Probably. But a win is a win is a win and the when we needed somebody to step up and show the way, Robin van Persie was the man.
When was the last time we scored from a free kick directly without deflection?
All Hail RVP!!!
maybe fabregas goal against villa in 3-0 win…..
We were the better team and deserved the win, lots of positives rosicky, koscielny, jenkinson, song, Arshavin, actually enjoyed a game of football again.
Relegation six pointer out of the way!!! 😀 Big 3 points, I felt Rosicky and Jenkinson did quite well despite one or two nervy moments (they’re arsenal players after all-it’s in their DNA). After all the skepticism about jenkinson and the frustration with Rosicky it was good to see some positivity in their play and a nice cameo from Arshavin who calmed things down! Oh Arsenal how you torment us all with this inconsistency….! COYG!!!!!
3 points great performance not convincing at times. No matter what it costs rvp has to be given what he wants.without him it would be scary, at times we looked great but for large parts devoid of ideas and invention. If anyone player is irreplaceable then right now in this team it’s rvp. The fans are leaving in the their droves you can see that with the ever increasing gaps at the grove if they let him go then it’s back to the the 80’s. Do it now give us some good news and let’s get the club back on… Read more »
Cmon Newcastle !!!!!
Well played young Jenkinson. Plenty to learn and develop of course but job down and critics silenced at least for a while. Was impressed too with Arteta although he faded a tad. Good showing form Rosicknote too.
When will I ever watch my Arsenal play without my heart in my mouth? Its a precious three points anyway. I feel Rosicky and Song are MOTM – They both were fantastic and Arsene Wenger did not seize to amaze me by making the kinda sub he did: Why did he pull of Rosicky and not Wallcott? Walcott is crap, for now….And where the hell is Chamberlain? I seriously hope we can put together a couple of wins to get back on track. Wonderful three points…going clubbing tonight to celebrate the win…we don’t see it too often hun Gunners for… Read more »
waiting for “BY THE NUMBERS” post
See how important 3points can be,from 15th to 10th on the EPL table.All thanks to the lads,hopefully the team can blend faster and shame all the haters..kudo’s to RVP and Song.Oh Sczny,what a save that was..time to Stole Pulis and shaw
Song MOTM? Not sure i agree with that, many a misplaced pass today I thought, far from his best. Really pleased with Jenkinson though good show, looked composed and crossing some decent balls with his right and left boot. Atmosphere at the ground too quiet today, few people seemed interested.
I thought all did alright today, Song was iffy Walcott was awol a few times but even then when he did get the ball he looked good. Three points will certainly do.
And just one other thing. I know we played the legend of World of Warcraft at rightback but who the fuck said Sunderland could field a Jedi???
Thank heavens! Lord Denis is back to Arsenal reincarnated as RvP. I was already celebrating that Berkam-esque chip! 3 point welcome inspite of the “unconvincing win” sh*t the Media Vultures will be spewing out. And Oh! What a save from SZCZ!! Perhaps the best I’ve seen in a long while. I’m off to get me a beer!
Three Points… No negative appraisal from me… except Job Done. Stoke next weekend. Carl Leroy Smart is growing up. Be kind to each other.
Yeeehaaaa, Robin Van Persie is more than welcome to my future offspring. I more than like that man.
Benayoun looks good, this squad can make it to 4th, looking around neither pool nor Sp*rs nor indeed circus FC are conclusivley better than us. If we get there, it’ll be thanks to that man, Jacky recouvering well, Ramsey getting form and Verm being one hell of a good shouter.
Anyways, Next week the orc cunts.
We need more than just RVP banging in the goals, on another day with out RVP we wouldn’t have got the 3 points we did today. We need another goal scorer give theo a go up front or get some one else in who will grab 15-20 prem goals, we lack a ‘hernandez’ type player
True, much as i am grateful for his goals. I’ve thought it might be better to put him back in a fluid 442 with RvP dropping deep to provide a three man midfeild in a Rooney style role. A mix between our current formation, which was designed for Fabregas, and Wengers former favoured style. A 442 with Walcott and maybe Cambell partering RvP would give us options behind, if Diaby ever gets fit, and with Arteta, Benayoun, Wilsheire, Ox, Myachi Frim Coq and Song we’ll have fantasic options behind mixing creativity and a bit of the brawn required in the… Read more »
Campbell doesn’t have a work permit. Unless you mean get Big Gay Sol back, and stick him up as a target man..?
We should have bought Parker not cos he’s any good I don’t think he is but he could shoot a baby in the face point blank with a howitzer and the baby would have started it, sycophantic boring reporters!
Some good stuff, some not so good stuff and some sublime stuff – RVP and that SZCZsational save among them.
Best off all it’s three points. Get in!
And what did we learn today? Simple: if you want to win anything then you need quality. In a sea of dross – on both sides – RvP was a beacon of class. Two beautifully taken goals won a game that, as is usual these days, we laboured to win. On this page I’m reading high praise of certain players. Sorry, but I don’t see it. We had 25 good minutes then reverted back to our nervous, unsure selves. Then a stupid handball by Arteta led to that brilliant free-kick by Larsson. And Jenkinson was average: he almost cost us… Read more »
Our shaky defence, nervy wins and Fatgooner’s low comment rating, the things that are inevitable in this day and age! 🙂 There are some overly positive people on here and then there’s Fatgooner. The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle but it’s good to see people expressing their opinions without having to resort name calling. I keep picturing a playground see-saw with a bunch of gooner optimists on one end and Fatgooner on the other all alone and grumpy. But he’s a gooner like all of us so it’s good to have him on here with his pragmatic views!… Read more »
The Arse are lacking that penetration up front, as said earlier VP needs a quality striker to play alongside.
Arteta, what was he thinking in giving away that free kick. Jumping for the ball, not looking and leaving his arm in the air.
Wished the players would backtrack more and support the defence when they lose possession. But the back four are looking more solid.
Good confidence booster for Wednesday.
Song in fact did not have a good game, well at least by his standards. He has a class that shows even on his bad days like today, such as the ability to retain the ball or make the basic passes, what he lacked today which he normally doesn’t is to find the key pass to open up the game, I also remember a situation when shooting was his best option but instead he just gave a weak pass. Rosicky was amazing today, runs, turns, passes, he was a breath of fresh air compared to the midfield of the Spurs… Read more »
Rosicky was brillian-obviously, there’s a lot left in that tank than many will love to admit;he was many miles better than Arteta today. Song was awesome…again. He has an habit of sneaking behind players then suddenly corners them and snatch the ball off them. SCZC is a cheat-or who else could have saved that 2-yard header; WHO else?! Walcott needs to put in more efforts. Gervinho was frustrating. Santos did well. Is our little Russian back? Looks like it! RvP is an artist. Period!
walcott needs a kick up the arse, give the ox a chance… theo’s so hit and miss, never know what your going to get
overall a good preformance, I was on cloud nine for the first 20 minutes, but thought it might not last. In the end I was pretty frustrated, Jenkinsen had a lot of crosses to nowhere and in general linking midfield to attack is lacking. then the awful defending under pressure. After RVPs equalizer it looked like we would concede staight away. A bunch of freekicks wasted and Arteta is developing a habit of cenceding free kicks on the edge of our area. On the positives, a goal from a free kick -wow! Santos looked assured. Arshavin looked interested and more… Read more »
I thought we deserved to win.
Turning point.
And for the Yids too, heheh:)
Cut it calling them Yids. Call them cunts if you want but shite arse stereotyping like this does no one any favours and shines a poor light on the Arse.
Furthermore, *that’s what Sp*** like to call each other* – they actually like being called that name…
So, is that a term of address you really want to use? Or would you prefer, as I do, the term “poxy scabby cunts”?
I’m so happy with the win. Gutted RVP missed goal of the season.
And I’m dying for a win without any bullshit and nerves and the monster of shameful defeat after going up waiting in the shadows. Just one dominating game is all I ask…
Jenkinson impressed a lot when i thought less….He is my MOTM!
Contrary to popular opinion, jenkinson has done quite well this season.
That was great fun to watch. We were the better team by a mile. Rosicky had a great game. Lots of dynamic passing and good running and some lovely pirouettes on the ball! Jenkinson grew into the game well. RVP showed his class. Actually, I don’t think anyone played badly really. We were collectively a bit scary at times but hell, it happens. The is another team playing and no team is infallible. Glad we beat Sunderland. They’ve been quite annoying in recent seasons. Let’s hope we keep this up.
How could we forget the double pirourette? We’ve got our very own Billy Elliott in the midfield… Lol!
thank god we have RVP. we must not him leave. even if he did i wouldnt hate him but wish the club would do everything they can to keep him.
Sorry for use of the ‘Y’ word slang, earlier, just forgot myself.
It’s a term I really shouldn’t use.
Jenkinson – well played son.
Santos was good.
Nice to see glimpses of the arshavin of old.
I’m happier with the world now, we won, the spuds fucked up. Normality.
Robin weren’t bad either…
…anyhow the win is a huge relief, thank God.
3 points!!& Tomas played well!& Andrei looked like a footballer again!&RvP did what RvP does!
Now,if only Walcott could pull his head from his bottom & Song would STOP fouling the opposition needlessly i’d be a contented gooner!!
Anyone know when the last time someone scored from a corner for Arsenal?
Could anyone else understand what the **** the away fans were singing? The only thing I caught was Tottenham. I guess anywhere outside of the north east is just ‘other’ for those mouth-breathers.. Poor confused doleys.
Did someone say we’re top-half?!? COYG!
Over the moon that Rosicky is back and with avengeance. Has been one of my favourite players for years for his attitude and for the skill he has. A truly non-assuming guy who for me made all the difference today.
Yes Robin’s goals ultimately got us the three points but Rosicky in the middle was just what the doctor ordered. Long may it continue.
Have I said I fucking love this club?
We need to get healthy. I think without Fab we should be playing with two strikers. 4-1-3-2 is the formation I would like to see.
I’m just glad we won. Keep believing!
Great to see Andrey Arshavin play like he can when he came on. Maybe he’s turned a corner in his head – I certainly hope so, because he showed that he can be genuinely magical. I just wish his dribbling run into the box had gotten the goal it deserved. (And not forgetting RvP’s ‘Dennis’ moment, if ever a chip/lob deserved a goal…) Without overlooking our nervousness (understandable – the stakes are very high, and this IS Arsenal Football Club after all, not some mid table fodder) , I think there is some real magic in our team. I would… Read more »
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Bloody hell, how nervy was that 5 mins of injury time?! Well done you Gooners, hopefully a sign of things to come. I know it’s already been said but Rosicky played out of his skin yesterday. He was creative, determined and inspirational at times. Didn’t know he still had it in him, great to see. Mert was solid and composed I thought. Jenkinson a real spark going forward and Arteta did a great job for the most part. We can take massive confidence from this, call it a shaky win over poor opposition if you like, but it’s games like… Read more »
Also, did people see SZCZ’s reaction on MOTD after RVP’s free kick? Legendary!!
PPS (sorry, I’ll stop milking it in a mo)…
We’re only 4 points off Liverpool in 5th place.
If we can keep injuries to a minimum you have to think that with the inevitable return of wilshere and vermaelen, our squad starts to look darn good. If they can build on this and can we dream for a striker? I’d have Theo in front of VP personally we could be a real threat again.
Great to see Arsenal win. Just a question. Did anyone notice that Gervinho was pulled back by the keeper when he tried to get the ball after it hit the post from that sublime RVP chip (who btw must hold the record for hitting the post most number of times in the EPL!)? It seemed so on TV.
I was wondering why no one appealed for a penalty?