Shearer wouldn’t be surprised if Arsenal score off a set piece….bet Amazon think they are getting value for money :-) Sporting have some very neat and tidy players
I’m watching the other game. We’ve been linked with Pedro Goncalves, what’s he been like?
Him and Trincao were good first half, I switched a couple of minutes into 2nd half when it was clear BottleJobs were gonna carry on playing for corners / free kicks :-)
Not long back and it was one of those games where if you don't take your chances you always run the risk of being punished. Arteta set up to play the first half in their own half and bore the pants off everybody. It worked. Second half they decided to try entering the Sporting half which livened up the game but not by much.
Three Sporting players really caught my attention tonight, two defenders and a striker; Maxi Araújo at left back is a full on physical warrior, hard as nails but with tonnes of skill, the sort of player you expect from Uruguay had a great contest with Madueke who despite wearing his Speedos, was the only Arsenal player looking to attack. The local daily sports paper gave him MOTM:
'Man of the Match: Maxi Araújo (7)
Another great performance from the Uruguayan who, after his starring role against Bodo/Glimt, proved that he always connects the Lions to the Champions League. He started by receiving a trivela pass from Diomande, received it perfectly and unleashed a missile that only didn't result in a goal because Raya touched the ball with the tip of his glove and then it hit the post with a bang that must have been heard throughout Lisbon. Ahead of him, for much of the time, was a high-powered motorcycle, as is Noni Madueke. He lost some, won others, but giving up is a verb that doesn't enter the vocabulary of the number 20. Sporting's directors don't want to sell his contract, but at this rate it will be a very difficult task to keep him, even more so in a World Cup year...'
Another was Gonçalo Inaçio, the left sided centre half. He'd fit in well at Villa as he's pretty much a mix of Torres and Mings, cultured footballer who takes no prisoners. Very easy on the eye and controls the defence.
Finally, Luis Suarez is a proper striker, fast, hard working, intelligent, skillful and has already scored 30 goals this season. He's the reason Sporting haven't missed Viktor Gyökeres. The non-biting Suarez is on another level, only downside is he's already 28 and would cost a few bob.
Pedro Gonçalves and Trincão both failed to get a grip in midfield tonight. I don't think either would be suited to the speed of the PL despite being talented technical players. Oh and I'm still happy we never signed Geny, he'd have been another expensive right winger who fails to deliver enough. Speed isn't everything. A poor man's Diaby. Still no thanks.
Gold Spotters Badge for ADVILLAFAN for highlighting Arsenal's MOTM..the referee. When Arsenal weren't throwing themselves on the floor they were kicking lumps out of the opposition. He managed to ignore it all.
