Arsenal versus Birmngham City
Last Saturday, Arsenal played against Birmingham City at Emirates Stadium in the EPL. Barely 3 minutes into the game, Birmingham’s Martin Taylor launched a heavy footed tackle that broke Arsenal’s Eduardo ankle and according to the papers, it also ended his season and appears to be a long while before he could resume training again.
It appears that the manager came to the defense of his player who was immediately given the red card, claiming that he was not a vicious player and it was unfortunate that the striker was too fast for him (!!). It is only logical that a manager need to display his loyalty to his player and vice versa. To say it wasn’t intentional would be untrue since most players these days go for the jugular veins, so to speak, in attempt to disable the players from his effective best. Sometimes it comes in the form of intimidation but also in the form of disablement.
I would think the relevant FA should impose a severe fine or punishment to deter bad tackles from occurring too often. Anything less is akin to a mere slap on the wrist that nobody remembers or feels pain enough to bother.
So comes the crucial part of the season where Arsenal and Manchester United will race to the finished line. The papers suggested that it might come to goal difference that will separate the champion from the runners up. For Arsenal they will need to stay focus and not be distracted by other factors around them. Manchester United has the maturity and muscle to do that, and needed to win all to retain their title. Arsenal is a young and talented team. I personally will feel sorry for them for their lack of experience and thus anxiety. But I look forward to Arsene Wenger’s ability to calm their nerves to maintain their slender lead.
