Gilberto cloud has a Silva lining
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Gilberto cloud has a Silva lining
Richard Jolly
Blackburn Rovers 0 - 2 Arsenal
'The Invisible Wall' is one of the great sporting monikers. Gilberto Silva's
nickname reflects well on his native Brazil; if he had been English, he would
have probably been called Silva-y, or something similarly unimaginative. For
much of his first four years at Arsenal, it was true, but he has become far
more conspicuous this season. He was, of course, particularly visible in
scoring eight goals.
There was a reason why the sent-off Gilberto was not
conspicuous for the last 77 minutes at Ewood Park. He goes by the name of
Robbie Savage, and he has considerable previous. Indeed, the list of Savage's
victims is longer than his flowing locks.
Now the cornerstone of the Arsenal midfield can be added to that list. As
Savage harried Gilberto, the Arsenal vice-captain was fouled, eventually
going to ground. As he went to rise, he received an apparent knee in the back
from Savage, prompting him to swing a boot in the Welshman's direction.
Just as predictably as the rain in Blackburn, Savage went to ground,
purporting himself to be hurt in a fit of histrionics.
For all Savage's posturing, it is hard to imagine a genuine hard man, a Roy
Keane, a Graeme Souness or even a Mark Hughes, devoting such attention to
getting others dismissed; all would have felt it demeaning to collapse so
easily.
But when is violent conduct not violent? Contact appeared so inconsequential
that it would challenge every dictionary definition of violent. Rob Styles,
applying the letter of the law without an ounce of common sense, dismissed
Gilberto.
'The referee applied the law to the letter,' said a resigned Arsene Wenger.
'He can defend his case. Gilberto said he over-reacted but I felt if he sent
Gilberto off, he should have sent Savage off also. That's what I thought for
a moment he would do.'
Hughes' view was: 'Initially I thought he'd lashed out with his arm. But he
kicked Robbie and you can't do that. No, I didn't think he was provoked.'
Hughes has spent much of the season asserting that Blackburn have had a raw
deal from referees. But he undermines his argument with statements such as
that. He is, of course, far from alone in applying double standards.
Others who were equally guilty lurked in the stands. Those in the home
support who sang 'same old Arsenal, always cheating' displayed a remarkable
level of hypocrisy; where does affinity with your club descend into the
realms of stupidity?
Justice of sorts was done by Arsenal's victory, but not for Gilberto. A
three-match ban will rule him out of Manchester United's visit to the
Emirates Stadium next Sunday. It would be pleasing, if unlikely, if that
suspension was transferred to Savage. Instead Wenger, after the precedent set
by the FA with Charlton's Osei Sankofa, is unlikely to appeal in case the
Brazilian's enforced absence is extended.
His response to going down to 10 men was instructive. It was logical to
assume that Mathieu Flamini would be introduced at the expense of a more
attack-minded player. Instead Tomas Rosicky shifted into the centre of
midfield and it was almost another hour before Flamini arrived.
In that time, against an industrious Blackburn quartet in midfield, three
supposedly lightweight Arsenal imports prospered.
'When Gilberto was sent off, the three midfielders were tremendous,' Wenger
explained. 'Rosicky was immense, [Alexander] Hleb and [Cesc] Fabregas as
well.'
They took the lead in what, until recently, would have been uncharacteristic
style. But set pieces have proved profitable this season. Normally it has
been Gilberto on the end of them. This time it was Kolo Toure, meeting a
Thierry Henry free kick with a fine header.
Then, when Blackburn threatened an equaliser, came a glorious second goal.
Henry exchanged passed with Fabregas - the latter playing the return ball
with typical perceptiveness - and the Frenchman bent a wonderful shot past
Brad Friedel.
'It was a sensational goal,' added Wenger. 'It's real class with the timing
of the pass and the run. It definitely killed the game in the heads of the
supporters of Blackburn.
In their search for greater incision, Rovers had brought on Tugay, whose
initial station on the bench suggested a rather more attritional approach. He
supplied their finest pass of the match but the Turk, a talented technician
himself, planted his studs into Fabregas' foot. Wenger, proving his myopia is
not limited to his own team's misdemeanours, did not see it, but there was a
suggestion that Tugay would have been a more deserving recipient of the red
card.
Instead, he got a yellow, and Blackburn have more than any other Premiership
side. There is much to admire about Blackburn, not least a commitment to good
football and the wonderful left foot of Morten Gamst Pedersen, but they find
ways of obscuring the good. And for that, much of the blame lies at the feet
of Robbie Savage.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Cesc Fabregas - The two goalscorers both have valid claims
and the excellent Pedersen was Blackburn's best player, the young Spaniard's
was a performance of great maturity, capped with a fine pass for Arsenal's
second goal.
MOAN OF THE MATCH: See Savage, Robbie.
BLACKBURN VERDICT: After four consecutive victories, their winning run has
been ended. Blackburn at least know that their relegation fears have been
abated. For Hughes, the consolation is that they don't face Arsenal again
this season.
ARSENAL VERDICT: 'We had a great combination between strength, commitment and
real class,' said a delighted Wenger. It was interesting, too, to hear a
revolutionary manager quote old-fashioned football logic as to the difference
between his side this year and last, particularly away from home.
'We work hard together defensively from up front and everyone takes more
responsibility,' he added.
我蠻喜歡看ESPN的soccernet的
因為大陸的文章大多是轉譯來自英系媒體的文章
soccernet的東西反而比較不會看到一些比較重複的內容
這篇文章就寫的蠻不錯的
裡面有一句話特別傳神:
"if he had been English, he would have probably been called Silva-y,
or something similarly unimaginative."
哈哈~~太好笑了!! XDD
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