The Arsenal Column

Arsenal Analysis and Tactics. All views expressed are those of Pat Rice. (Disclaimer: they are actually not his words).

Posts tagged “Song”

Arsenal 2-1 Borussia Dortmund: Alex Song helps Arsenal to overcome Dortmund’s pressing

Of all the things riding on the match, Alex Song’s dignity in the dressing room was the least obvious. But his bet with Andre Santos proved to be the catalyst to produce one Arsenal’s all-time great assists and send Arsenal through to the knock-out stages. Picking the ball up slightly to the left of Borussia Dortmund’s half – [...]

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Eight points on Arsenal 2-1 Sunderland

Isn’t it nice to have normality for once? In a sense, this was a typical Arsenal home performance. They dominated the first quarter of the match and for all the world looked like their technical superiority will run wild before a chronic aberration before half-time contrived to throw open the game. The rest of the [...]

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Arsenal yearn for the drive of Alex Song

- Midfield rotation allows Song to get forward – Ramsey gets closer to van Persie in second-half – Win displays much needed improvements after stumbling start to season There were times in the last two seasons when watching Arsenal that Tony Adams thought, “Thank God for Alex Song.” Because for all of Arsenal’s enthusiasm going [...]

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Alex Song lays the platform for young Gunners to dominate

They say that all formations are neutral; it’s the application that decides their failures and success. And indeed, in Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Manchester United, the subtleties of the two systems played a key part in the outcome of the game. Arsenal started with their usual 4-2-3-1 shape but were handed a blow before  kick-off [...]

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Arsenal’s system finds no space for holding midfielders

Some plans fall into place as if part of a grand design. Others just happen by accident. For Arsène Wenger, there is something prophetic about the way the season has panned out thus far. Less clairvoyant is his prediction that Arsenal would meet FC Barcelona in the Champions League but he is being proved right [...]

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Alex Song typifies Arsenal spirit to help deliver their best performance yet

There was a satisfying moment in last night’s broadcast by Sky when the commentators belatedly realised the misunderstood genius of Arsène Wenger’s project. “Perhaps, that’s where Arsenal are ahead of their time,” mused co-commentator Paul Walsh when mulling over just how the mighty Blues have fallen. Indeed, Arsenal have matured – although it is accepted [...]

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