Saturday Vision, March 5, 2011 4 English Premiership football Comment WILSHERE WAS Aldrine Nsubuga A CLASS APART! n this occasion, there was miership this season and one which last won a only one kid, Jack Wilshere. trophy 48 years ago in 1963, they are still wear- He was also, the only Arsenal ing pampers. And this is after recovering from player who knew a thing or a goal down to beat Barcelona - by far the best two about rising to the big team in Europe this season - at the Emirates in occasion and play football the first leg knock out stage of the Champions the way it should be at this League. Olevel. Not only was he the outstanding player Arsenal always crock up in in the Carling Cup final for Arsenal, he chose the big games when it mat- this as the fitting time to confirm himself as ters most. When silverware their outstanding player of the season. His style is at stake. Polish goalkeeper is reminiscent of Edu, the former Gunners left Wojciech Szczesny, defenders sided midfielder who complimented Gilberto Laurent Koscielny and Johan Silva’s presence and power with poise, guile and Djourou have played every elegance, in the all conquering squad of 2002- game in this season’s Carling 2004. Cup and having conceded just The 19 year-old Wilshere demonstrated two goals before the final, the On one calmness and composure which neither of his question of inexperience or a more senior teammates nor his coach Arsene lack of understanding didn’t such Wenger at the touchline had. When Barry Fer- arise. It was therefore supposed guson, Craig Gardner, Sebastian Larsson and to be a routine pick up after occasion Lee Bowyer compacted the midfield to deny goalie Ben Foster’s speculative Samir Nasri, Andriy Asharvin, Alexander Song long free kick dropped in the he almost and Robin Van Persie free room for operation, box deep in the 88th minute. Wilshere improvised. He was there to pick up Instead, both Koscielny and the pieces wherever Arsenal lost possession, Szczesny made hard work of it, leading to split the forcing passes through a needle’s eye when the most embarrassing goal Wenger has ever bodies were thrown all over, dancing his way witnessed his team concede from the touchline. woodwork through traffic like a ballet dancer and making The two were under no pressure from any op- devastating late surging runs in the box. posing player, only the pressure of a cup final. into two with With the exception of Arshavin, none of the Birmingham’s Carr (left), Wilshere of Arsenal I will take Wilshere on any day Arsenal players on the pitch had won a cup final On one such occasion he almost split the before, let alone a trophy of any kind. It’s why tics from which Birmingham benefited the two a sizzling woodwork into two with a sizzling shot from there was nothing to choose between them and goals, both high long balls into the box looking the edge of the box seconds before Arsenal Birmingham, whose only exception was goal- for the bean pole Nikola Zigic who delivered. shot from the finally found the equaliser. A courageous keeper Foster who was man of the match. Arsenal’s weakness with long balls is legend- acrobatic volley off Van Persie’s right boot (who ary for any top manager like Mcleish who won edge of the else?) after a clever deceptive run off the ball Mcleish unleashes Birmingham seven titles with Rangers in Scotland to miss that duped Roger Johnson and Ferguson. Ar- Birmingham were well aware of this, which is (another detail Wenger missed). Birmingham shavin’s part in this move was the only signature why they approached this game as though they also had enormous team spirit, the kind that box ...... he had on the game. As a team, the rest of their were playing a fellow struggler in the league. Arsenal could only bear first witness as Fergu- performance in this match is easily forgettable. Alex Mcleish used superlatives to describe his son, Carr, Johnson, Bowyer, Gardner, Foster and The last time Arsenal had played a Carling team’s achievement; “It was a titanic and heroic match winner Martins tore into them. Cup final was against the all mighty Chelsea performance from my boys” he said jubilantly The longer Arsenal remain trophyless, the in 2007 when they were destroyed by Didier before adding, “we had a game plan and we longer it will take them to win silverware. Drogba in a 2-1 defeat. It was the day kids took stuck to it and even though we had some luck, That is the experience they lack. The one that on men in a man’s game, the day Theo Walcott we deserved our luck.” Luck? There was nothing Wenger frequently confuses with the age factor. became a brand. They displayed so much naivety lucky about Foster’s world class performance in Arsenal’s problem is not about age, it is about then, which prompted Wenger to defend them goal. He had played finals before with Man- not knowing how to win trophies. Manchester by famously asserting ‘one day they’ll grow up.’ chester United and finished on the winning United continue to win because they have the Four years later, this time against Birmingham, side including last season. To him, this was just most relevant experience, a good habit called a team that is struggling for survival in the Pre- another final. It was well thought through tac- ‘winning titles’. Blame referee Martin Atkinson for Manchester United’s defeat

t the end of the day I’ll try to be unbiased. Chelsea off was fair, but I can see why so spotted Drogba was 6-7 yards off- I thought Man- was throughout 95 minutes the many of you say it is inconsistence side when he scored) United would chester United better team. The penalty which when the referee gives Vidic the have won the Premiership. Had at least deserved United conceded as I see it was red card but not Luiz. The 2-1 is, the referee done his job and sent a point out of the 50/50. The replay showed that based on chances and possession, a off Luiz and not given the penalty game! Yes Wayne Geoffrey Chris Smalling did move his foot fair result, but it could have easily it would be a different back page. Rooney should when Yury Zhirkov came through, been 1-2 or at least 1-1. Irrelevant now though. Ahave been punished during the Bukohore but throughout a game we see so Despite the obscene amounts of Of the game we can all recall last game but no manager in the many of these incidents that never money Chelsea have spent, they are games when bad referees have cost world comes out and admits their lead to anything. clearly some way behind United. us dear but what grinds my gears player doing wrong as it is likely to Luiz should have been sent of - Incidents and decisions change are managers and players moan- increase the chance of that player guson can’t come out and complain no question, and the tackle he gave games, we all have to accept that. ing about it. The fact of the matter getting a suspension! This is the about decisions going against him. Javier Hernandez was a bit ugly. I We take it when it benefits us; we is that until we get technology reason Arsenal manager Arsene David Luiz had a great game but can’t see why he needed to do it. have to accept it when it happens. involved in football, bad refereeing Wenger always says, from where I should have been off the pitch When you are late for a tackle you For United, it feels like those deci- will be part and parcel of the game. was sitting I didn’t see it. hence why Chelsea took him off as should try to back off, and not fol- sions cost them the big moments; Just because Rooney got away Carlo Ancelotti could see he was low through with the shoulder as take last season against Chelsea - if Geoffrey Bukohore is a former with it, doesn’t mean Sir Alex Fer- fortunate to still be on. Luiz did. Nemanja Vidic’s sending the referee had done his job (and Uganda international defender