Ramsey, Nasri to pressure RVP’s free kick lean streak?
Still not much to report on other than boring internationals (though the end is in sight!), so it’s on with more featury goodness.
Today, Robin van Persie’s supposedly ‘amazing’ free kick ability is under the microscope.
We’ve seen him hit some absolute stormers – the ones against Wigan (05/06), Fulham (06/07) and Sunderland (07/08) immediately come to mind – but since the latter, it’s been a long, mean, painfully lean streak for the Dutchman.
For someone with such a brilliant free kick technique, his lack of goals in this department is almost as costly as it is perplexing.
I suppose it doesn’t help that he has never had any real competition for the direct-free kick slot since Thierry Henry left. Kolo Toure had power but no precision while Fabregas is the exact opposite, and remains an assist merchant rather than a direct threat at goal.
But as awful as the 08/09 season was at times, one particular player emerged as a definite contender for left sided DFKs – if only he could get a game.
The imminent return of Samir Nasri (he’s put the Upton Park game as a personal marker) sees us fill both a vital gap in our central midfield, and also heightens our options from set pieces.
The impish Frenchman hit a daisycutting free kick against Newcastle at the Emirates last term to settle the nerves, as Nasri went on to have a brilliant first two months for his new team.
If Fabregas is not going to go for direct free kicks (he’s always feinting that he will, before RVP jumps in ahead of him), then perhaps Nasri might throw his hat into the ring.
And then, along came the Welshman.
Aaron Ramsey scored a ‘neat’ free kick for Wales in the qualifiers last night to seal a 2-0 win over Liechtenstein, to back the young man’s reputation for awesome goals from distance.
Although he hasn’t done the Gerrard impression for Arsenal just yet, in a few years we may see more of Ramsey going for goal from distance, including from the set piece.
I still rate van Persie as the number one kick-taker, and each time he steps up, I whisper quietly to say “he’s overdue, by god, he’s due.”
The reverso-quasi-semi-jinx hasn’t worked just yet. But despite all the awesome goals we are scoring in open play, we could seriously use a streak of them from set pieces from Robin van Persie.
He really has come on in leaps and bounds in his centre forward position, and I am in no way slagging him off. But with the timely returns of Nasri and Fabianski to come, competition for places is exactly what this side will need throughout the season.
Two more days to go, lads!
_
Filed under: Arsenal, Blogging, English Premier League
Van-persie, Nasri and Roscky are good for free kick
I’ve been waiting for an article on this topic.
I too am rather frustrated at Robin’s recent success rate in direct freekicks. Success in direct freekicks is a powerful and effetive arsenal in any top side and can be the difference in winning trophies. Just ask Alex Ferguson and Christian Ronaldo!
Don’t forget Denilson, Rosicky and Cesc are all good from a set-piece too.
Yeah!! V need some1 who can score frpm direct F/K’s!!
m frustrated with RVP’s cross bar kicks!! sm1 should tell him dat it only matters if u hit d back of d net…
RAMBO’s F/K was classy last n8!! may b he shld take over d Direct FK responsibilities.. RVP z damn good @ indirect 1s though!!
not sure about Nasri……. Y not try Arshavin or Verminator??
I think you are probably missing the point guys.. The problem is not RVP’s set peices as from the right hand side where he can really whip them in at goal allah sunderland or wigan there is no one better as he has the strongest left foot…
It is free kicks from the left hand side we should be debating as Cesc is the man that steps up at the moment and as good a player as he is his direct FK’s are useless to say the least..Especially when we have the like of nasri, arshavin, ramsey, rosicky who could step up and hav a crack at goal.>Cesc needs to step aside..
It is not just direct attempts, we are quite poor at dead balls in general.If we can improve this area it could give us huge benefits as seen in the Everton game.
How about the Verminator? That geezer can strike the ball!
I believe the set pieces should be left to 3 players:
RvP: natrually; and because he can score from these positions (trust me I’ve seen it b4) and he’s got the best left footed “technique” on the ball on the Arsenal roster.
Nasri: has a strong right foot that can curl the ball quite nicely also. he also has the guts to go for either corner. he’s be my first pick for a right footer.
Rosicky: has the best technique on the ball for a spot kick. he has what Cesc lacks which is power on the ball. tomas is accurate with his shot and has a cannon. he can also curl the ball with little effort. he’d be my 3rd man diversion in the set piece organization.
RvP should not be left alone in taking the direct set-pieces. he needs some competition to make him better; which makes Arsenal better.
gooner4lyf
Van has to be the man when it comes to free kicks cause thats just the way it is. Beckham, ronaldo and the rest don’t score with every free kick but they still take them because they can score from set plays. Remember Roberto Carlos kept taking free kicks and he was just terrible at it even though he scored one good one but he put about a 1000 into the stands. Robin isn’t there yet in terms of misses (remember he hit the bar more times last season than any other player). Other options as well as Fabregas and Nasri for accurates free kicks are Rosicky who has scored some beauts from distance and Vermaelen has a very good left so he’s another.
GoonerGaz says we’re quite poor at set pieces but I disagree big time. Already we’ve seen Vermaelen and Gallas score a few headers this season and thats because in dead ball situations Fabregas, Arshavin and Van Persie can really put in some dangerous balls.
I whisper quietly to say “he’s overdue, by god, he’s due.”
The reverso-quasi-semi-jinx hasn’t worked just yet.
———
you’re jinxing him!! it’s your fault! quit it!
Maf, upon reflection, yes, I have been jinxing him. It’s entirely my fault. I promise not to do it against Birmingham – RVP to score a belter from 40 yards. You heard it here first.
And for the record, Im not complaining about our INdirect freekicks – they’ve been quite good, as we’ve seen against Everton and a few other matches. It’s the DIRECT ones I’m referring to, here.
they both (NASRI , VP) have same problem; always close but not goal, hit post and near misses. however nasri’s indirect free kicks are better. anyhow, compettion is welcomed.
[...] Robin van Persie’s mire from direct free kicks continued when a Birmingham player backpassed to Joe Hart who handballed in his own box. From a mere 8 yards out, van Persie lined up the free kick, but could only rifle it against the top of the crossbar. Yes, it’s actually quite difficult to score when the wall is so close to you and the box is overly crowded, but it just sums up the luck the Dutchman is having from set pieces. [...]