Fenerbahçe 2-5 Arsenal

By: travis | October 22nd, 2008

Well how about that for another great performance. As previously mentioned, I was unable to watch or see any part of the game thanks to a day trip down to D.C. Coming back to see a 5-2 result, on the road, you couldn’t ask for anything better really. Goals poured in from all over the place – Theo, Adebayor, Diaby, Song, and even Ramsey, who gets his first in all competitions.

From what I’ve gathered from highlights and recaps, it was a game as dominant as the scoreline indicates – although there are still major concerns at the back. The centreback partnership of Alex Song and Mikael Silvestre was up to no good, and required a number of saves from Manuel Almunia on a number of occasions. Other thoughts:

+No idea what the Fenerbahçe backline was doing on a number of those goals; although credit for the usual incisive passing must go to the usual suspects: Fabregas, Nasri, etc.

+A leaky backline is a major concern. If Arsenal gears up for a game every week like this and expects to score five goals, then it’s no problem. But until Gallas and Toure are fit, each match is a heart attack waiting to happen – no lead is safe.

+Great finishing from the Welch 17 year old. Ramsey’s goal from outside the box goes to show what kind of talent Arsene can bring in. Although it was no secret that Ramsey was wanted by a number of big teams.

To win away from home, on the biggest stage in Europe, with a squad with the average age of 23 years old, is no small feat. Whether this team can find a consistent form – remember that a comprehensive defeat of Porto preceded the Hull City affair – will determine what can happen to this Arsenal squad. I feel like a broken record, spewing out the usual “there’s talent here, but they’ve young” stuff, but it will remain constant over all competitions for Arsenal in the 2008-2009 season.

As for the CL, 7 points from three games is solid ground to be on, and with two home games left, it’s ok to feel safe about advancing beyond the group stages. The big question remains, how will these youngsters fare in the league? That’s the debate I raised after the weekend, and I don’t know if I’ll be convinced – I think it’s a seeing-is-believing sort of thing I’m going for. There’s no doubt that the talent abounds in this organization; but it’s going to be the BIG games, the games against Chelsea, Liverpool, and Man United that will determine if these kids will seriously threaten for major trophies. I believe they CAN, but will they? Leave your thoughts below. And apologies for sounding like a broken record.

Highlights here from 101greatgoals.