Wenger loses his cool and title grip

Arsène Wenger berated his players, berated the referee. As frantic as the game refusing to bend to his will, he paced his technical area, chased down footballs to restart play, then bent over, almost doubled, balling his fists and screaming across the Ashburton Grove turf. Seasoned observers remember seeing Wenger like this just once before. And he lost a title that day, too.

Episode II – The calm before the storm

When the team line-ups were announced, nobody was surprised that Arsene Wenger and Rafa Benitez made changes to their team. What was even more surprising was the introduction of a certain 20 year old French debutant, Damien Plessis. His position was to be in the middle of Liverpool’s midfield in a surprised 4-1-4-1 formation for the day. In maintaining some conformity, only Reina, Skrtel and Carragher were retained from the previous match to face Arsenal again.

For Arsenal though, Almunia, Toure, Gallas, Flamini and Fabregas were retained to give the Arsenal team some extra incentive. This was to break down a changed Liverpool team whose priority lies in the Champions League. This is to provide Arsenal with a fringe of a chance of maintaining their challenge for the EPL crown this season.

So it seems.

The match started slowly enough with both changed or rotated depending the view for sides that were probing each other. Not a threat to each other’s goal. Seemingly, the Liverpool’s Daniel Plessis appeared calm and composed when faced with Arsenal’s ‘experienced’ youngsters and gave an assured opening few minutes.

However, moving far away from dullness Peter Crouch crafted an opening in the 4th minute and immediately tested Almunia with a 40 yard shot which was well on target and had to be tipped over. The visitors were looking more assured and assertive including a Peter Crouch swift move away in a one-on-one with Manuel Almunia had the linesman not incorrectly flagged for offside.
In full confidence of playing like a member of the 1st eleven, Daniel Plessis was enjoying his debut at the Emirates. In one swift move of making possession in the centre circle, he played the ball into Peter Crouch who then saw the marauding Riise and played an amazing through ball which Riise did well to collect the ball just outside the penalty box but alas, Riise’s right foot shot posed no threat to Almunia.

Subsequently, Yossi Benayoun had a golden opportunity. He was played through on the right by the ever impressive Crouch and Benayoun in his moment of haste and indecision, played neither a shot nor a cross as it went harmlessly wide with Riise too far away at the other to retrieve the cross-shot.

At the Gunners end, there was intelligent inter-play between Fabregas, Eboue and Gilberto. The triple combination were doing well and were making inroads into the Liverpool end. In once of those moves, they created a half chance for Bentner just outside the penalty box but he scuffed the shot harmless straight into the greatful arms of Pepe Reina.

Just before half time, Reina pumped a long kick towards Crouch and beat Toure to the ball by playing a one two pass with Benayoun and at tandem together enabled Crouch pushing aside Willam Gallas who was watching him closely, to releas a powerful shot that just landed between Alumina and the post.

1-0 to Liverpool just before half time!

It was a well deserve lead as a ‘second string’ Liverpool side proved more than match for Arsenal’s seasoned youngsters. In tribute to Liverpool, it was really strange and odd to hear the traveling kop singing the Torres song when Crouch scored. This is especially so when Torres wasn’t even in the pitch!!

A tribute to Peter Crouch to being as the same class level as Fernando Torres, maybe?

In the 2nd half, Arsenal came back into the match via some neat set pieces and Toure almost equalized when the ball flew millimeters away from the post. Suddenly, the Liverpool defence looked vulnerable and a subsequent free-kick conceded by Pennant, Cesc Fabregas curled a brilliant ball right into the heart of the Liverpool defence and whilst Reina did not come out to meet the ball, Bendtner jumped highest to meet the ball and headed home to lift the home crowd at Emirates Stadium.

1-1 and game on and the momentum had swung to the home side of the Emirates though the crowd was not totally behind their team.

Not even a teeny bit.

Wenger sensed blood and duly sent in Adebayour into the fray to win the match and retain their rights to challenge Manchester United and Chelsea at the top. This was to the death for the EPL Crown this season as the Gunners were leading earlier in the season.

The introduction of Adebayour changed the complexion of the game and the home side had regained the momentum. The Liverpool defence were now working overtime alongside with the midfielders equally working hard to close down the Arsenal onslaught. There were some shouts for penalty from the Arsenal fans when Fabregas went down in the penalty box seemingly a repeat of the earlier game ala Episode I when Lucas Leiva was the culprit this time for shirt-pulling. At this point, furor would be an understatement, as Arsene Wenger was the more animated of the two managers. Whether it was agitation or annoyance, Wenger was disappointed that his team had not created more to put Liverpool to the sword.

Rafale Benitez made changes too to counter Arsenal’s rising dominance in the 2nd half by bringing in Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres and Andriy Voronin whilst Wenger brought it Alexander Hleb and Gael Clichy to add more penetration from the wings.

With Arsenal pushing up in pursuit of the winning goal to sustain their EPL chance, Liverpool counter-attacked. Liverpool found several gaps and created some half chances which was not taken, most notably, when Voronin, playing between the lines and managed to round Manuel Almunia only to drag it a little too wide. Pity, that he did not have a left shooting foot as the ball spun harmlessly and slowly out for a goal kick!

What a waste!

In the closing minutes of the game in injury time, a beautifully cross from the right found Hleb with acres of space with Finnan drifting centre. Unfortunately, for Arsenal faithful, Hleb miscontrolled the ball slightly and Finnan was able to recover and the danger was curtailed and with that final chance, the match ended and with that the end of Arsenal’s challenge in the EPL this season

Mathematically, it is still possible, but it would require the capitulation of both Chelsea and Manchester United. It is a remote possibility for this is football.

All in all, an assured debut outing for a 20 year old Damien Plessis whose dandy long legs and playing style looked similar to our adopted German Scouser Dietmar Hammann, Nothing fancy, just calm and basic passing and closing down opposition play. A potential gem in the rough waiting to be cut.

It is of no wonder why, Momo Sissoko was permitted to leave in the January 2008 transfer window!

Now, with both series ending in draws, we move on to the crucial final of the trilogy at Anfield – The Return of the Champions League King?

All Liverpool FC fans and football romantics must be praying and hoping it to come true. For a night playing in Europe, Liverpool FC endears itself to the legends of European club football.

Man of the match: Damien Plessis

Far from all of Rafa Benítez's numerous Liverpool recruits have succeeded, but the French midfielder's debut bodes well. Tall and mobile, if occasionally wild in the tackle, Plessis positioned both ball and body accurately. 'To play as well as he did in this stadium means we're going in the right direction,' said Benítez.

___________________________________________________
Goals:
Crouch (42') , Bendtner (54')

Arsenal:
(4-1-4-1)
Manuel Almunia, Emmanuel Eboue, William Gallas, Justin Hoyte (Emmanuel Adebayor), Kolo Toure, Armand Traore (Gael Clichy), Cesc Fabregas, Mathieu Flamini (Alex Hleb), Gilberto Silva, Nicklas Bendtner, Theo Walcott

Liverpool :
(4-5-1)
Jose Manuel Reina, Alvaro Arbeloa, Jamie Carragher, Steve Finnan, Martin Skrtel, Yossi Benayoun (Andriy Voronin), Lucas Leiva, Jermaine Pennant (Steven Gerrard), Plessis, John Arne Riise, Peter Crouch (Fernando Torres)

Referee:
Dowd, P

Venue:
Emirates Stadium

Attendance:
60,111

Man of the match:
Damien Plessis ( Liverpool )

Corners:
Arsenal - 5
Liverpool - 3

Goal Attempts:
Arsenal - 8
Liverpool - 11

On Target:
Arsenal - 6
Liverpool - 4

Booked:
Arsenal: - Eboue ( '67 )
Liverpool: - Riise ( '30 ) , Pennant ( '54 )