Was Saturday a normal Premiership day? Well it seems unusual results are normal these days, but there will not be a stranger result than Newcastle 4 Arsenal 4.
Realistically it was all over after 26 minutes at 3-0 up. At 4-0 it should be take the stars off, put on 3 reserves and relax. Until a moment of madness.
The atmosphere was incredible. When Arsenal went to pieces, the crowd and the players picked up on it. They knew it was possible.
I saw an incredible game some years ago when Oxford came back from 3-0 down to win 4-3. The crowd knew it would be happen and willed it. It was the same Saturday.
But, the question is why did the players let it happen?
Arsenal can pass for fun. They move, pass, move all day and make fools of the opposition most weeks. With one player down, and not even the most influential, the normal response is to take off a striker, and play with a normal midfield and defense. So what happened?
Well they panicked. What they needed at 4-2 with only 9 minutes left was a captain. Someone who could call a mental time out, and generate some calm. Now we play keep ball for 3 minutes, enough for the crowd to realise we are Arsenal. Enough for them to think we can do this all day. Enough to get Newcastle breathing hard and doubting.
Hoe many games do you see peeter out to nothing for 15 minutes because no one believes it can be differnet? 3 minutes of hold the ball would have been enough. Tony Adams would have done it. Rio Ferdinand would have done it. I would have done it. But Arsenal do not have a calm leader who can control the team.
They desperately need one, and will not win the league without one.
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