A VIEW FROM WEST STAND LOWER

"All things are ready, if our minds be so"

26th January 2013

FA Cup 4th Round

Brighton and Hove Albion (1) 2
Barnes 33
Ulloa 62

Arsenal (1) 3
Giroud 16 and 56
Walcott 85

Attendance: 27,113 (an Amex record)

This was the much anticipated clash between the genuine Arsenal of the Premiership and the wannabe Gunners of the Championship. Although Arsenal edged the match it was to the Albion's great credit that several of their players would not have looked out of place in the Arsenal side - Liam Bridcutt foremost among them.

A packed North Stand for the Amex's record attendance

It was also to Albion's credit that Wenger was forced to bring on the big guns of Walcott and Wilshere to avoid the extra unwanted game of a replay. I feel sure he would have wished to have held them back for greater battles ahead in Europe. 

The fates conspired against the Albion somewhat with hamstring injuries forcing off Greer and Buckley which le,d to rearrangements in formations plus at times it appeared Arsenal had brought their own referee with them as he gave a  number of favourable decisions to players that he is familiar with and spent a lot of the game chatting to. How Santos remained out of the book for his comic combination of fouls on Buckley and play acting only Mr. Oliver knows. He was not so generous to Davd Lopez and Barnes who were both booked for their first fouls of the game. 

The Albion were at their best in the first half with Hammond, Bridcutt and Davd Lopez winning the midfield battle and Buckley, Calderon and David Lopez giving Santos a torrid time down Arsenal left. It was no surprise that both Albion goals came from this source.

Indeed the Albion could have been ahead before Arsenal opened their account. After a confident start, a Buckley centre was knocked in from close range by Ulloa only to be ruled out for offside. Shortly after Barnes could not get a proper connection on a Ulloa flick which allowed Szczesny to turn the ball away for a corner. 

The corner was easily dealt with and within moments the ball was in the back of the Albion net - the first piece of Premiership class from the Gunners. A pass from the otherwise very quiet Podolski found its way to the seemingly surrounded Giroud but with the minimum of back lift he thumped the ball beyond Ankergren from 20 yards.

Fears that Arsenal would now take control were quickly dispelled as the Albion fought back and an equaliser arrived in quite an unusual manner for the home team. A centre from David Lopez on the right was met in the box by Barnes who had managed to get in front of the Arsenal centre backs and goalkeeper to head the ball powerfully into the back of the net.

4,000 Arsenal fans biting their nails

So the first of 2 football cliches on the day had been found to be true. Ulloa was bought to play alongside Mackail-Smith and not replace him so Barnes must be the one earmarked to miss out - so he scores. 

The second half opened with Podolski hitting the bar with a free kick from 20 yards before Arsenal regained the lead. A Diaby pass found Giroud free in the penalty area and his strength shrugged off a challenge from El-Abd as hit the ball powerfully beyond Ankergren.

The second football cliche came to pass in the 62nd minute - expensive strikers score on their debut (unless you are Torres of course). Again a goal very untypical of the Seagulls. A pacy run down the wing from Barnes followed by a sumptuous low swinging centre which Ulloa stooped low to head in.

The replay the Albion and their enthusiastic supporters fully deserved was denied them in the 85th minute by a combination of a goalkeeping error and a deflected shot with an element of fortune.

Ankergren chose to punch away a Wilshere corner but could only find Walcott lurking in his "Sweden" position on the edge of the penalty area. His powerful shot took a big deflection off El-Abd and flew wide of Ankergen. Not for the first time this season the Albion became victims of a deflection.

CMS came on for the tiring Ulloa and a fine centre from LuaLua flew between him and Barnes when a mere touch might have sent the ball into the back of the net.

At end the Albion players must have had a feeling of joy over how well they had played and disappointed not have got the replay they deserved. 

Wenger in his lizard outfit

Ulloa grew into the game on debut and, although he has yet to face the more agricultural defending of the Championship, very much looked the part. His early contributions were adding much needed height when defending set pieces as twice he headed away corners. He held the ball up well, had the usual Latin touch with the ball at his feet and took his goal really well. When was the last time the Albion scored twice in a game from headers?

So are things ready for a push on the Championship play off places? Is Ulloa the missing piece in the jigsaw and will the Albion now be able to score that extra goal they always appear to need to put a game to bed?

Gus is clearly spoilt for choice in midfield and up front but at the back things look a little threadbare. If Greer is going to be out for some weeks with a hamstring injury and with Dunk otherwise occupied the Albion might be vulnerable to the Championship's lump it tendency.  Perhaps before Thursday defensive reinforcements will arrive.

And finally it would not surprise me if Ryan Harley does not have a wry smile on his face. There is no place for him in the Seagulls nest but yesterday he scored one of the goals in MK Dons' fantastic win at QPR and marches proudly into the 5th round.

Moment of the match: A cheeky back heel from Ulloa which completely wrong footed the Arsenal defence.

My personal alternative man of the match: El-Abd got the stadium award but given that his place is under threat my award goes to Ashley Barnes. He took his goal well and set up the second. He was Mr. Everywhere Man - upfront as a striker, helping out in defence and sprinting down the wing. So if Ulloa has been signed to play alongside CMS who misses out?