Two-goal Eduardo finishes like Robbie Fowler, Jimmy Greaves
Sheffield United 0 Arsenal 3
Saturday's Carling Cup quarter-final draw will be more interesting than this one-sided game.
Arsenal could get Spurs, Chelsea or Blackburn.
They are unbeaten in their last 24 games and riding high .
While Chelsea had to come from behind twice to beat Leicester 4-3 last night, and Spurs had dodgy moments against Blackpool before winning 2-0, Arsenal's boys completely outclassed Sheffield United's men at Bramall Lane. Bryan Robson's side were demoralised also-rans in the Arsenal show, so it was all pretty tedious.
So what did this Carling Cup tie tell us, if anything ?
Well, it confirmed that Eduardo is Arsenal's best finisher. He took a crossfield pass from Bendtner after 7 minutes and rifled a rising left foot shot inside the near post. A finish of deadly precision and power.1-0 to the Arsenal !
The "contest" was embarrassing and after 50 minutes the Sheffield United defence was beaten by a simple ball from left back Kieran Gibbs to Eduardo, who was onside and took one touch and scored very sweetly. Again, a deadly accurate strike, placed perfectly by a master goalscorer, the Brazilian who plays for Croatia. He's like Robbie Fowler in his prime, or Jimmy Greaves.
I had hoped that Fabregas-Hleb-Eduardo would be a very productive trio by now.
But since Eduardo has not adjusted to the pace of the Premeriship, he is not in the team and nobody knows when he will be.
Ironically, the tempo Arsenal played at last season, which was more leisurely without Flamini, would have suited Eduardo better than the way they play now.
As Arsenal dominated I wondered whether there would soon be a game where they had 73% possession. They had 63% against Liverpool at Anfield last week and 66% has been known. I also wondered when I would see Theo Walcott play well.
In 69, Denilson made it 3-0 with a shot that deflected off Hughes's hip and looped up over the keeper.
On Eduardo, Arsene said, "When I sign a player I don't judge him at all in the first six months. Never. I give him six months to adapt and don't put any pressure on him because I know what it takes.
"You have to settle and get the right level. You start to look at him really in January and February.
"He started very well - like many people who come here - but after a little bit of a dip, an injury, a problem with his ankle. Now he looks to me like he is starting to settle and come back."
Not much else to say, really. Gilberto played in midfield after the manager has denied there had been a bust-up between them because he was asked to play centreback. Justin Hoyte played centreback with Song last night.
Keeper Fabianski was very good when called on, holding high balls under the bar and looking as if he could be the real deal. When he was beaten, Gilberto kicked the ball off the line. Positionally, Gilberto is very good, as we have seen for the last four years.
Amazingly, Fabianski was captain last night.
Arsene said, “I didn’t give the captaincy to Gilberto at the start of the season, so I didn’t want to give it to him tonight and then take it away again. There is no problem between us.”
SHEFFIELD UNITED (4-4-2): Bennett; Bromby, Lucketti, Morgan, Armstrong; Carney, Montgomery, Tonge (Gillespie, 74), S Quinn (Webber, 62); Stead (A Quinn, 62), Sharp. Subs not used: Kilgallon, Gerrard (gk).
ARSENAL (4-3-3): Fabianski; Diarra, Song, Justin Hoyte, Gibbs; Denilson, Gilberto, Diaby (Merida, 88); Walcott (Lansbury, 83), Bendtner, Eduardo (Barazite, 85). Subs not used: Mannone (gk), Gavin Hoyte.
So there you have it. Quite a good week so far. And I went to a wonderful gig on Tuesday night.
Nov 1, 2007