Delima Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 Kevin Keegan said, "I've got seven-and-a-half good players here and some maybes and could-bes". Which seven-and-a-half? For me: Owen N'Zogbia, Jonas Enrique, Collocini, Beye Given, Harper(half) What do you think? The Guardian Van Persie double seals winning display The Who's The Kids Are Alright twinkled over the PA system as Arsenal came out to play. Arsène Wenger must sometimes think the rest of the world does not believe him. After all, this was a week that started with his team chastised - rightly - for a rotten-tomato performance. Then he had to speak out against the jeers aimed at his main goalscorer, and all the while the fans have been panicking about whether or not he will sign an experienced midfielder before the window is locked until January. For 90 minutes, the best part of 60,000 disciples forgot about their worries and their strife, and believed. There were some hearty boos towards the end, but they were directed exclusively at Joey Barton, who made his first appearance on a football pitch since he was released from prison. Kevin Keegan made an impassioned defence of his unloved player afterwards - he felt compelled to tick off Samir Nasri, who put in a retribution tackle on Barton which raised the temperature in the away dugout. Typical Barton. Two minutes on the pitch and he managed to spice up an afternoon that had previously been devoid of too much tension. Until then it was a simple story of Arsenal enjoying themselves immensely against a Newcastle team who accepted they were second-best without too much resistance. Mike Ashley summed up the feeling of most in the visiting section midway through the second half when he downed a pint and shook his head in disbelief. They were well below the standard that earned them a point at Old Trafford on the opening weekend of the season. As Keegan pointed out, even the best teams have key players and Arsenal had Cesc Fábregas here, while Manchester United missed their kingpin Cristiano Ronaldo. To Arsenal's relief, it was not just Fábregas who was back. Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie, who had played like shadows in the first two games of the season, both rediscovered their mojo. Van Persie scored twice and caught the eye. Adebayor worked tirelessly and unselfishly, and the quality of his performance won over the section of the crowd who had been on his back. Supported by a midfield who functioned beautifully, this was easy-on-the-eye Arsenal. Cocksure and brimming with invention, they would have conjured a more substantial scoreline had Shay Given not given a shot-stopping masterclass in the Newcastle goal. The only downside for Arsenal was Van Persie hobbling off the pitch just as he had worked the crowd into a state resembling a mass love-in. 'He went for an X-ray to check on his ankle. Hopefully nothing is broken,' said Wenger. What Van Persie dearly needs is a run of matches to gain the kind of sharpness that two injury-ravaged seasons have destroyed. An 18th-minute penalty served up the perfect opportunity for him to find his range, after Charles N'Zogbia handled Adebayor's cross. Van Persie's penalty kick was immaculate. It fizzed past Given and landed, unsaveably, inside the side netting. Keegan's team were on the rack. And yet Newcastle should have equalised in the 37th minute. When Jonás Gutiérrez cantered down the right flank, Arsenal's centre-backs were befuddled by the cross, which fell to Michael Owen. Unfortunately for the England forward, Shola Ameobi ambled into his way to deflect a goalbound shot. His frustration was plain. With Fabio Capello in the stands, the most prolific striker available to England was otherwise starved of service. Capello watched two Africans combine crisply to scythe Newcastle apart for Arsenal's second. Emmanuel Eboué linked with Adebayor and crowned one of his better displays with a sharp backheel for Van Persie to belt the ball past Given. Newcastle threatened only briefly after the break when Nicky Butt steered a header against the crossbar and Danny Guthrie shot from distance. Arsenal struck back and Newcastle's rearguard were shredded by the nimble combination play of Adebayor, Nasri and Denilson, who tapped in his first ever Premier League goal. It was a goal of the style Wenger cherishes. He rose to applaud like a proud father. Van Persie earned a standing ovation with a strike of ridiculous audacity - from no more than a step or two inside the byline. But that was to be his final action, before disappearing with one of those dreaded knocks. 'It was a complete performance,' enthused Wenger afterwards. Keegan was left analysing how much room there is for improvement. 'I've got seven-and-a-half good players here and some maybes and could-bes,' he assessed. Ever the optimist, he is hoping to sign three more players before tomorrow night. THE FANS' PLAYER RATINGS AND VERDICTS Ben Lover, Observer reader You could not get a greater contrast to last week against Fulham. Right from the start the players were really up for it; there was the urgency missing from the game at Craven Cottage. We were dominant throughout, the vast majority of the game was played in the Newcastle half. It was great to have Fábregas back, Van Persie was a constant threat and looks to be getting back to his sharpest, while Clichy was superb. Gallas was criticised after last week but had no problems against a Newcastle attack that put him under no pressure at all. Even Adebayor was not booed - he put in the effort, ran around alot and people are starting to get behind him again. I'm sure it will all be soon forgetten. The fans' player ratings Almunia 7; Sagna 7, Touré 8, Gallas 7, Clichy 9; Eboué 8 (Walcott 7), Fabregas 8, Denilson 7 (Song 7), Nasri 8; Van Persie 9 (Vela 8), Adebayor 8 Steve Cole, NUFC-London.com It just highlighted the gulf in class that exists in the Premier League. We were barely in it at all and hardly had a shot on target. With our record at Arsenal I didn't go with any great expectations but it easily could have been four or five. Shay Given made two or three good saves and could not be faulted for the goals, and I thought the penalty was a bit harsh, but the rest were just outclassed. Mike Ashley was sat just along from me and plenty of people wanted to 'debate' the decision to sell Milner with him but were hustled away. It was not a popular move - as was bringing on Joey Barton right at the end. I hoped never to see him in a Newcastle shirt again. We should have paid him off, no matterwhat it cost. The fans' player ratings Given 8; Beye 6 (Edgar n/a), Taylor 7, Coloccini 6, Enrique 5 (Bassong 5); Gutierrez 7 (Barton n/a), Butt 5, Guthrie 6, N'Zogbia 6; Ameobi 4, Owen 6 To take part in the Verdict, email [email protected] Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sicko2ndbest Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 Given Colo Beye Jonas Owen Martins Viduka Harper - half Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flip Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 Given, Harper(half) Beye Coloccini Taylor ***** Jonas ***** ***** N'zogbia Owen must be those, considering he can't be happy with Butt, said in when he signed Guthrie he would be on the bench. Enrique he never plays, and Ameobi is complete sh*t* Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crumpy Gunt Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 Perhaps little Micky is the half. Or maybe Sholas body is classed as half as his brain is obviously missing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gggg Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 Owen - half Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unbelievable Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 I would have thought Martins would be in there, with Viduka counting as half a good player maybe.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JH Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 Given Beye Colocinni Taylor ---------- Jonas ---------- Guthrie (1/2) Zoggy Owen ---------- Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sicko2ndbest Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 Good players do well against good teams Takes Zoggy out of the equation Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest optimistic nit Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 enrique, guthrie or taylor will be the half, my guess is enrique, from how he treats him, he hasn't lost faith in him but is reluctant to start him. Given Guthrie Martins Owen Zog Jonas Bassong maybe, i would not say viduka, because he hasn't played yet and i have a feeling he's only talking about players who have played. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnypd Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 Given, Martins, Owen, Jonas, Coloccini, Beye would be 6 of them i imagine, not sure who the other one is but Viduka might be the half as he's only ever fit half of the time, or it might be Guthrie as he's still developing so can't be totally relied on yet Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colocho Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 Given Beye Colocinni Taylor ---------- Jonas ---------- Guthrie (1/2) Zoggy Owen ---------- Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmonkey Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 Good players do well against good teams Takes Zoggy out of the equation Takes practically everyone out of the equation bar Given and Gutierrez based on the last two games. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 He was talking about fitness wasn't he? I doubt he meant he only had 7.5 good players and the rest he thinks are shit! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shearergol Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 He was talking about fitness wasn't he? I doubt he meant he only had 7.5 good players and the rest he thinks are shit! I doubt he thinks he's got 7.5 good players in the squad tbh Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 He was talking about fitness wasn't he? I doubt he meant he only had 7.5 good players and the rest he thinks are shit! I doubt he thinks he's got 7.5 good players in the squad tbh Aye, but even so he wouldn't announce it on TV. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 I was typing out a list of players and I realized there is no way in hell he's being specific. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winn Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 I agree if he means what some people think martins owen gutierrez barton coloccini beye Given These are the only 7 players I think that are good enough for top 4. And if we are serious about coming into top 4 we need... Malouda/Left winger plus another centre mid Left back and centre back. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilko Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 Malouda Basically a lazy Milner. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troll Posted August 31, 2008 Share Posted August 31, 2008 Keegan's obviously not talking about ability. He's the last person who'd come out and call most of his squad shit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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