Category: Sports

Arsenal’s performance in dismantling Southampton 6-1 on Saturday was a delight for almost all watching, bar Southampton supporters of course. The way the Gunners played was exhibition stuff at times. Amongst an array of star Gunners performers it was Gervinho who most caught the eye. Aside from his two goals, the first a fine drilled finish the second a tap in, it was the Ivorian’s role in the side that was most intriguing.

Gervinho lined up as Arsenal’s central attacking spearhead, flanked by Lukas Podolski and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. However, in reality, Gervinho was anything but central and essentially performed as a “false nine” with the freedom to play and run wherever and whenever he felt the need to. The redeployment of Gervinho, who is most nominally known as a wide player paid immediate dividends as the Southampton defenders simply did not know where or when to track the Ivorian in what was easily the most convincing performance of his Arsenal career to date.

Southampton, however, are bottom of the table of the reason and it will be interesting to see how Gervinho does in the role against better defenders. The Southampton backline were too easily drawn out of their defensive positions to follow their opponent, not only a risky strategy due to the Ivorian’s pace and ability to spin in behind them, but also leaving space that the likes of Santi Cazorla and Podolski gleefully exploited.

What Gervinho’s new position confirms, however, is that false nines are well and truly in vogue. This very modern trend in football arguably began with Roma’s team under Luciano Spalletti, where Francesco Totti was deployed as the central striker but constantly dropped deep to orchestrate play as a classic “false nine”. Manchester United’s league and Champions League winning team in 2008 also contained the likes of Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez, both not natural strikers, as attacking spearheads. However, these were very much examples against the norm.

Since Lionel Messi’s remarkably successful switch from the right to becoming Barcelona’s central striker, the interest in the “false nine” has exploded. The sheer amount of goals Messi scores perhaps masks the fact that he rarely parks himself by the penalty box in the mould of a true striker. Rather, many of Messi’s goals are him coming onto the ball from a deeper position in a classic “false nine” role. Barcelona’s success has led to Spain operating a similar formation, with Cesc Fabregas performing the role in Euro 2012 due to the poor form of Fernando Torres and injury to David Villa.

So what does the “false nine” actually offer? Teams may not be lucky enough to call upon the likes of Messi or Fabregas to take up the position but Gervinho’s performance yesterday is a classic example of it’s benefits. Defenders, who are often used to simplicity in the form of a marking a (usually) static forward, suddenly do not have a direct opponent to mark and are faced with the decision of either leaving the forward to their own devices and possibly suffering the consequences, or choosing to follow the striker, thus potentially causing the problems that Southampton experienced at the Emirates yesterday. Fundamentally, it’s the unexpected nature of the “false nine” role that makes it a success

That is not to say the formation does not carry it’s faults. Gervinho may have impressed yesterday but there remained occasions where the Gunners literally had no presence up front to speak of. A few occasions saw Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain head to the byline and pull it back into a penalty area empty of Arsenal attackers. The number nine may be “false” but he should not forget that the onus remains on him to score the goals. Even at Barcelona, there have been occasions when Lionel Messi has been stifled by the opposition, who aware of his want to drop deep, flood the midfield with defence-minded players prepared to sit in the pockets of space that “false nines” such as Messi want to take up. Additionally, when the “false nine” lacks pace as Totti did for Roma, he becomes easier for the defenders to pick up. Thus for the system to find success, the pace of the likes of Gervinho and Messi is key.

Alan Tate insists the Swans’ unique character will ensure they will be raring to go when Everton visit the Liberty next week.

Michael Laudrup tasted defeat for the first time since taking over at the Liberty as the Swans went down 2-0 at Aston Villa.

Goals in each half were enough to earn Villa their first league win under new boss Paul Lambert, with David Moyes’s Everton up next for the Swans.

Matthew Lowton volleyed home after 16 minutes before debutant Christian Benteke took advantage of Ashley Williams’ mistake to slot home late on.

But Tate feels the Swans’ spirit will help them come through their first setback of the season in readiness for the home clash with the Toffees.

“There’ll always be ups and downs in this league,” he said. “We have got to bounce back now against a very good Everton team.

“To be fair, we have a good attitude and character within this squad, and we don’t go over the top when we win and we don’t hit rock bottom when we lose.

“We’ll just get back to training now and make sure we are fully prepared for a tough game with a very good Everton side.”

Tate made his first league start since he led the team out for the club’s first Premier League match last season at Manchester City.

With Chico Flores suspended and injuries ruling out Kyle Bartley and Garry Monk, Tate partnered Williams in the heart of defence.

Tate added: “I was pleased with my performance. It was a normal performance from me – pretty solid and nothing fancy. That’s what I’ve been like for the last few years, so I was happy with how I went.

“Ash was solid too, but he was unlucky with the mistake. He tried to keep us in possession by heading it back to Michel instead of nodding it back where they could win it.

“He didn’t get on it and the lad has gone on and got his goal. It’s unfortunate, and it’s happened to Ash in the last two games, but no-one is pointing any blame – that’s now the way this squad operates.

“Ash has been a rock for us since the first day he came in, and he’s been one of our most consistent performers.

“It won’t affect him because he knows his quality and he’ll be fine for the next game against Everton.”

Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert is backing his £7million summer signing, striker Christian Benteke, to have a “big, big career” after his goal-scoring debut in the 2-0 home win over Swansea.

Belgium international Benteke, who joined Villa from Genk on transfer deadline day, was introduced as a late substitute and quickly made his presence felt.

He unsettled the Swansea defence before pouncing on a mistake by Ashley Williams to add the second goal after the stunning opener from another newcomer in right-back Matthew Lowton.

It ensured a first Barclays Premier League win for Lambert since replacing Alex McLeish as Villa continued on from the promising performance in the 1-1 draw at Newcastle.

Lambert said: “What people have to remember is that Benteke is in a very good national side, with a lot of talented players, and he is holding his own in that team.

“He is only 21 and, if he keeps progressing, he will have a big, big career, that’s for sure.

“I thought he was unplayable, that last 20 minutes or so he came on, he deserved his goal, and could have had another one.”

Of equal satisfaction to Lambert, was the performance of Lowton who was plucked from League One.

Lambert said: “You’ve got to give the lad a lot of credit because he’s just come from Sheffield United.

“But since he’s been here, he hasn’t looked out of place one little bit.

“For someone who came from League One, he is doing not too bad!

“His goal was brilliant, a terrific strike, but I thought his general game against Swansea was brilliant.”

What is beyond dispute is the complete change in atmosphere inside Villa Park compared to the negative vibes surrounding the McLeish era.

Lambert was an animated touch-line figure, reminiscent of the person he still calls “gaffer” in his former Celtic boss Martin O’Neill.

But he insists any frustration was not directed at his team’s performance but at some of the harsh yellow cards branded by referee Lee Mason.

Lambert said: “When the crowd see a performance like that and people running around and putting a shift in, then it will lift them.

“The fans were great. They’ve had a lot of hurt. But, when you get this place going, it is a brilliant place.

“There is a long way to go. It will take time to get where we want but it’s a start.

“The young and experienced lads have been brilliant and, against a really good Swansea side, we were worthy of the win.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“My only frustration was with some of the yellow cards because I didn’t think some of them were justified.”

Swansea boss Michael Laudrup was not too downcast about his side’s first defeat of the season.

He said: “At this level, small details tip the balance between positive and negative.

“Their keeper (Brad Guzan) makes a great early save to deny a great strike from Nathan Dyer outside the box and five minutes later they score one of the goals of the day (from Lowton).

“Maybe in the first half we gave the ball away a little too easy but, when we played fast, we created some chances.

“We had three or four chances and then in the last 20 minutes we had to risk a little more, had to play with four or five very offensive players, and that gave them some space behind us.

“I always want to win, I hate to lose, but we know we will lose.

“It is important even in the games we are losing, that we will always be in the games and don’t give them away, that we are always competitive and that was the case at Villa.”

 

Fernando Torres has insisted that he is the man to replace the departed Didier Drogba as Chelsea’s senior forward.

is one of the best strikers

The Spaniard is the only established striker in Roberto Di Matteo’s squad following Drogba’s exit to Shanghai Shenhua after securing Champions League victory in his final game for the Blues.

Despite suffering a sluggish start to his career at Stamford Bridge, the former Liverpool man has enjoyed a revival of sorts with three goals to his name already this season.

“Didier is not here anymore, so there is more responsibility for me and I’m ready for the challenge,” the 28-year-old told the Daily Star Sunday.

“Now, I am looking for new personal targets, like getting as many goals as possible – hopefully more than in my best season at Liverpool.”

Several new players were brought in by Di Matteo during a busy summer in the transfer window following the club’s European triumph over Bayern Munich.

But Torres believes it is now time for the London-based club to focus on domestic matters once more.

“I think all the fans are excited about the Premier League again, after a couple of years of not winning the trophy,” he added.

“So the Premier League is a big target and maybe we can become the first team to win two Champions Leagues in a row.

“I think it’s a good time – especially for me – to give something back to the fans.”