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Boredom and Dealing with Delap

By on February 25, 2010

For the life of me, I can’t remember such a boring February, news-wise. With so many weeks in between the legs of the Champions League knockout round and us being out of the FA Cup, there just doesn’t seem to be much going on, besides the matches. So much so, that I haven’t even bothered to write on anything but matches in the last two weeks.

In the news, there are the Dutch doctors proclaiming van Persie will be fit by the beginning of April, which seems utterly ridiculous considering these are the same doctors who thought he would be out for a maximum of six weeks following the injury. They seem to be far worse at calculating recovery time than our doctors.

We also have Bakary Sagna claiming it is our “destiny” to win the league this year. I wonder if Sagna owns a dictionary because, considering everything that’s happened up until now, I can’t recall a season in which it seemed less our destiny to win the league. I remember thinking we were destined to win the league back in February 2008. Of course, then one thing led to another and…

Waiting all week for a match with Stoke City has become a somewhat torturous experience. Waking up in the middle of the night in a puddle of sweat from nightmares in which, instead of arms, Rory Delap has a cannon coming out of his chest and launches his throw-ins with it. A few years ago I used to get unbelievably anxious when we would concede a corner because we had such trouble defending them. We still do but not nearly as much as back in the “Toure-Gallas era.”

However, anticipating the Delap throw-in is even worse. Perhaps a part of it is not only the threat of conceding a goal but the added threat of, once again, appearing utterly foolish when defending it. If you’re like me, you’re sick of hearing criticisms of Arsenal’s defending, especially in the air. I mean, it’s all fair criticism… I’m just sick of hearing it. And should we concede again from one of the Freak’s launches, it will mean another week of pundits and journalists spewing the tired “Arsenal can’t defend” drivel.

I fail to understand what it is about the throw-in that makes it even harder to defend than a corner. I mean, the ball isn’t in-swinging. I concede that the placement is better but surely those high throws give enough time for any keeper (except ours) to get out and up on it. For me, the keeper coming out is the best defense against that type of throw-in. But when your keepers are Almunia and Flubianski, that probably doesn’t apply.

Anyway, this is all conjecture, of course. We could very well never put the ball out of play in a position for Delap to light the fuse on his cannon, though that is unlikely. Should we concede a throw-in within 70 yards of our goal, the players will have to suck it up and the supporters, well… we’ll just have to pray.

18 Comments

  1. supamatt

    February 25, 2010 at 3:33 pm

    foul throw Delap – every time – watch his back foot – in the air every time.

    Reply

  2. lauritz

    February 25, 2010 at 3:39 pm

    hard not to concede a throw in, as stoke plays a us style of fotball, and steals yards all the way up in positioning to bombard our keeper…. just hope the ref gives added time for timewaisting, last game they spent 10 minutes of the game whiping the ball or waiting for Delap to run from right back to left wing to clean the ball and throw it.

    And, it would be nice with a ref that also would offer some protection, cause last couple of times at Britania there have been none!

    Reply

    • Comrade23

      February 25, 2010 at 4:36 pm

      Completely agree, the whole thing is cheat after cheat. They change hands on who will throw the ball twice before Delap even sees it, and by then theyre at least 10 yards closer to the goal. Delap spends a minute each time massaging the ball with his shirt before throwing the ball into the box on one leg. While it sounds a bit like whinging, I do wish Arsene would say something about it before the match so it’s on everyone’s mind, including the referee’s.

      Reply

      • ArsenalStation

        February 25, 2010 at 5:51 pm

        That is exactly my problem with it. Not only is the throw done illegally most of the time but even more galling is the fact that he steals 5-10 yds on every ball that goes into touch. If he’s gonna throw like that, make him throw it from where the ball went out. Not to mention the time-wasting, as well.

        Then I was reading someone saying that Stoke told the ballboys not to give the towel to opposing players. The whole thing is shady as hell.

        Reply

  3. jonathan

    February 25, 2010 at 7:22 pm

    I really like the picture to this post! it is hilarious!

    on to the content. even with his throw in cannon, i think arsenal are gonna come out on top 2-0. here is to hoping.

    Reply

    • ArsenalStation

      February 25, 2010 at 9:52 pm

      It’s from a celebration of 25 years of Arsenal’s involvement with the community, supporting local charities and the like. So they dressed up like it was the 1980s. You know Eboue was loving it!

      Reply

  4. Johnny

    February 25, 2010 at 9:59 pm

    Delap’s the man!

    Reply

  5. Weedz

    February 25, 2010 at 10:24 pm

    I`m thinking that AW might just use Sol rather than William to counter Delap

    Reply

  6. Nick

    February 26, 2010 at 3:12 am

    The best way 2defend is 4the keeper 2come and collect the ball but what hapens if he doesnt get there?another area playerz need 2improve on keeping pressure on the referee and intimidating him so as to stop 4rm bad fouls and time wasting by wiping the bal and waiting 4shawcros and co 2make their way 4ward.its high time we give stoke a bolton to shut fullers mouth that we cant cope with rough play..we dont need a strong mid as they alwayz bypass that..songs work is 2ensure he wins that al important 2nd ball..sagna shud move in 4eboue as he is more disciplined with manu moving 4ward..the line up wil luk like ths..almunia,sagna,sol,verma,song,ramsey,cesc,rosicky/eboue,bendt/nasri.

    Reply

  7. peter

    February 26, 2010 at 3:51 am

    just shoot at de goal posts to kill any body who will temper to guard the ball pliz .
    defenders should not joke with any opponent at all.

    almania should be serious in between the goal posts like a cat and a rat in order to avoid these fake hand throw ins by the opponents to minimise time wasting done by the reffere,s favour for the opponents .
    wenger , learn to substitute too early enough to avoid time wasting.

    Reply

  8. India gOoner

    February 26, 2010 at 4:00 am

    if you saw the stoke city fa cup

    even given was having a lot of trouble with the delap long throws. and if you look closely his throws do curve.

    Reply

    • ArsenalStation

      February 26, 2010 at 11:58 am

      I did see that India gOoner. Afterwards he said, NO ONE had yet figured out how to defend against the throw-in.

      Reply

  9. Daxxjoker

    February 27, 2010 at 10:33 am

    City has won ! ! ! And I get the feeling our lads will somehow find the way to mess it up later today !
    Damn – how we need this win ! ! !
    We will have small number of chances,so it is important to take them !
    And also – we can not afford to concede stupid goals !
    Come on Fantastic 4 and co – catch your last train,damn it !

    Reply

    • ArsenalStation

      February 27, 2010 at 12:08 pm

      A unbelievable result at the Bridge… Let’s try to stay positive, Daxx… no matter how hard that may be. If we get a result today, it’s really on. Besides, we’re due for a win at the Brittania. Come on you Gunners!!!

      Reply

      • Daxxjoker

        February 27, 2010 at 4:05 pm

        We did it.But who can think of 3 points now ?! Fuck that !
        If titles will come with prices like rhis one Ramsey paid tonight – fuck trophies and football ! ! !
        When you have brainless people who will put their leg in there like that,not thinking of anything – it is better just screwing it all and keep your health.That’s what it’s all about !
        You don’t see morons like Taylor or Shawcross or anybody else going like that against Chelsea and Manchester,putting in tackles like they did against us !
        These smaller clubs – they are barking only at Arsenal !
        Wolves will come to Traford with the third team.Against Chelsea – they all clear the way to their own net,make it as simple as possible for Chelsea to score.
        But when it is Arsenal on the other side – these players are flying all around.
        Being at Emirates or at their home,doesn’t matter !
        They will run like hell,they will jump like Vince Carter,they will kick,push,pull,break legs – anything to prevent Arsenal from winning.Fuck them all ! ! !
        All our best thoughts are with Aaron and we all wish him the quickest of recoveries ! ! !
        Too bad he won’t be there to hold the trophie ! ! !
        Come on Gunners – win the title in spite of them ! ! !

        Reply

  10. jonathan

    February 27, 2010 at 7:17 pm

    Watching the tackle against Ramsey today really turned my stomach. I feel so bad for him right now. Just seeing how upset the rest of the team was after it happened really made my heart go out to all of them. We can just not catch a break when the injury fairy comes flying around us!

    It was really great to see how the team stuck together after the incident and kept up with the pace. The three points from todays match was well deserved. It should have been 5-1, with the two penalties that the ref DIDNT award us, and could have easily been 6 or 7-1 with the shot that Eboue and Fabregas took. I am proud of Arsenal and with chelski dropping points today…anything is possible. Keep The Faith!

    Reply

  11. Microraptor

    February 27, 2010 at 8:01 pm

    The boys became men tonight. Poor, poor Aaron Ramsey. Typical anti-Arsenal murder-ball committed English full blooded shit … but compare the team’s response to the Birmingham / Eduardo criminal incident…. I actually…. maybe.. really do think we are going to win this league.

    Reply

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    March 2, 2010 at 6:18 pm

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