Eagles Calling - Arsenal 18th October 1997

A page of analysis by Simon Gleave and Pier-Luigi, covering players performance and team tactics.
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Crystal Palace v Arsenal
18th October 1997
Premier League

Team :	Miller, Edworthy, Gordon, Roberts, Hreidarrson, Linighan, Lombardo, Warhurst, Fullarton, Rodger, Shipperley.
Subs :	Ormsaw, Zohar, Ndah(Warhurst 69'), Dyer, Bonetti(Lombardo 86')
Booked :	Linighan 29', Hreidarrson 59'

Match Reports & action photos. The Player's Lounge
Post Match Interviews

The boys are growing up
Only one month ago, in the aftermath of the Chelsea game, the comments of the Palace management pointed out that there was still a huge chasm in class, organisation and experience between the top Premiership clubs and the smaller ones. Even the label "men vs boys" was attached to the game. Indeed, having watched the match it was very hard not to agree.

But the Arsenal game has shown that the boys have grown up. And in very good health. In spite of the fact that yesterday's starting eleven had an average age of 26 years (25 with the exclusion of Linighan) and that 6 out of 11 players didn't have any Premiership experience at all before the start of the current campaign.

On saturday, we had the confirmation that some of the previous lessons have been thoroughly learned by the team:

the number of childish defensive mistakes has dramatically reduced

a better approach to the game has been developed: gritty, determined and tough.

the flanks have been used in a more effective way (both defensively and offensively).

We did not create a lot, it is true. But, come on, we were playing Arsenal, not Southend !! And we even made them look like the old boring George Graham's Arsenal !!

A good defence starts in midfield
Crystal Palace played with the usual 5-3-2 system in a clearly pre-planned attempt to face Arsenal on the physical side and not on the skill and technique side. And the plan worked to perfection, mainly thanks to:

the virtually perfect performance of the defence: the marking from set pieces was much better than in the last few games, Roberts' leadership in marshalling the defence was superb (with the exception of one odd mistake) and the game played by Hreidarsson was a defensive masterpiece;
the tackling and the pressing of the midfield players was magnificent. The Arsenal central midfielders (Vieira, Petit and then Platt) had no time to think and to breath and consequently the Gunners couldn't boss the midfield and feed the front line as they usually do.

In particular, I think that Simon Rodger had a terrific performance: his anticipation, his determination and his passing being first class.
The Selhurst "Terrier" is back.

Coppell and the press
The Arsenal game recorded the Premiership debut of Ivano Bonetti on the pitch and a lot of talks in the stands with regard to the Freedman, Muscat and Smith transfer negotiations.

This leads me to a couple of statements released by Steve Coppell to the press in the last few weeks.

Two weeks ago, after the Italian selection vs Palace XI friendly game, Coppell stated "The best player on the pitch was probably Ivano Bonetti, and at 33 he still has a lot to offer. I know a lot of clubs will be interested in him as he is a talented player, but it is unlikely that we will be following up our interest."
Indeed, after less than fifteen days the player dons a red'n'blue shirt !!!
Last week, speaking about the forthcoming transfer of Muscat to Wolverhampton, the same Coppell said "At the moment we have got a surplus of right-backs and Kevin Muscat wants first-team football."
Sure, but if Coppell is really adamant about the surplus of right-backs, then why is he moving for Jamie Smith??

Is Coppell so clever that he tends to keep the real truth for himself or does he run out of ideas when talking to the press ?

Pier's Match Stats

Pier-Luigi Giganti

KEVIN MILLER
Always well positioned and therefore never really had a shot to save. Strong on crosses and corners and distribution adequate.

MARC EDWORTHY
Moving to right back, Edworthy had a very good game although it would have been interesting to see him pushing further forward on occasion but this really wasn't the game for it. Defensively an excellent game and Arsenal created practically nothing down his flank because of it.

DEAN GORDON
One of the players of the match with his superb attacking play and excellent shackling of Ray Parlour who looks to have improved immensely since Wenger arrived at Arsenal. Will surely catch the eye of bigger clubs with performances like this.

ANDY LINIGHAN
Probably his best game of the season too as he worked in tandem with Hreidarsson to stop the Arsenal front two. Mainly required for tackling duties but excelled for the first time this term. Wright and Bergkamp were so frustrated by the Palace defence that both were booked. Sadly, Linighan let himself down by being the only Palace player to enter the ref's notebook but this was his only mistake of the day.

HERMAN HREIDARSSON
Outstanding work to render Dennis Bergkamp ineffective for the whole match. There have been reports of foul play on Hreidarsson's part but in the main, I felt he was fair. Didn't let Bergkamp dribble or attack him on a single occasion and for me, he was the main reason that Arsenal were restricted to a handful of chances. Getting better with every match.

ANDY ROBERTS
His best match of the season so far - a first half interception of a ball that would have put Bergkamp clean through stands out but his understanding with Hreidarsson and Linighan throughout the match was outstanding. He passed the ball well out of defence and his defensive positioning was superb.

SIMON RODGER and JAMIE FULLARTON
Rodger and Fullarton worked together in this match, spoiling the Arsenal midfield attacks and then getting the ball forward quickly. Both were excellent all afternoon. Fullarton also had our best shot of the match - a striker from just outside the area which was deflected just wide.

ATTILIO LOMBARDO
A very good first half but he became less influential in the second. Still shows amazing pace which we don't really harness and was able to stand up to a physical Arsenal side who at times, seemed to be out to intimidate him. We still need a little more from him though.

PAUL WARHURST
The one real disappointment of the afternoon. Contributed very little to the game but as I've mentioned, there wasn't much in the way of attacking play so perhaps this wasn't all his fault.

NEIL SHIPPERLEY
Not really a game for the strikers as the ball tended to be stuck in midfield for most of the afternoon. However, Shipperley showed an outstanding first touch and with support, we might have profited from his runs. His best game for Palace this season too.

Subs

GEORGE NDAH
Looked pacy but didn't really appear to be up to it at this level.

IVANO BONETTI
Not on long enough to judge.

There were many candidates for man of the match but HERMAN HREIDARSSON's outstanding defending against the current 'best player in the World' wins him his first Eagles Calling man of the match award.

Simon Gleave

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