The Pure Brutality of it.
Hey Tony - STFU.
Two years ago this week in a match against Birmingham City, Arsenal foward Eduardo Da Silva was violently tackled on the pitch and suffered an injury that at the time looked career ending. It was a watershed mark for the lub who at the time were leading the league and looked well on the way to winning the title. But they didn’t. The emotional toll associated with the injury wracked the young Arsenal side and they weren’t able to recover and wound up losing their hold on the league and eventually watched United claim their second title in a row.
Flash forward to this Saturday. Arsenal is locked in a pitched battle to stay in the race for the EPL title. Chelsea have lost a win at the Brittania – something that is hard to come by – places them 3 points off the lead and shows them to return to the consistency that saw them from deficits of 11 points behind and 9 points behind.
Again like the season two years ago, a promising Arsenal talent, this time Aaron Ramsey suffers a horrendus injury. This injury is double break of the tibia and fibula of his right leg. He has had successful surgery but the long-term prognosis is unknown. If they were clean breaks, there is a very realistic chance Ramsey could be playing again within 6-9 months. If there are associated muscle and ligament damage then it will likely be longer. All this is speculation of course. On the severe end – it could stop a promising career before it ever started.
Regardless it is the third such injury to an Arsenal player in the last 4 years. Prior to Ramsey and Eduardo – Diaby was taken down by Dan Smith and had his ankle broken. Immediately the press were a blare of the coincidence of the three similar injuries. That Arsenal were clearly a team with bad luck in the injury department.
But is that really the case and are the English press be lazy and protective of their national game? It’s very hard for me to think that these three injuries are a mere coincidence. Additionally, the fact that Arsenal has had two ankles and one leg broken does not equate to Arsenal being a “soft squad.” What this really all equates to is the fact that the English game for years has been about its physicality. It has never been nor is it now about the finesse like the rest of Europe. True, Italy and Spain play a physical game but not at the expense of swift possession and counter-attacking football. The kind of physicality found in the EPL is a trait only in the English game.
The fundamental problem is that while the physicality has remained the same, the overall game has picked up its pace. The two combined mean that the inkuries that could arise will most certainly be worse than if the game were slower – more controlled if you will – than days past. It is why in the states the NFL has imposed new rules to protect the Quarterback – the play is just as physical as in the good old days of the more brutal NFL – but now the players are bigger and stronger and the injuries that players in the NFL are more severe.
The pace of the English game has picked up. But the fans and a majority of managers still play with a “studs up” mentality. Add that to the fact that Arsenal has a reputation of getting off their game should you play them more physical. While in itself seems harmless it is when that physicality is amped up that injuries like Ramsey, Eduardo, and Diaby’s occur. Sure, the intent isn’t to maim a player but based on how the player is coached to play the game it could certainly lead to that.
Until the English game places rules in that insure that when injuries like this occur a player gets more than a 3 match ban – injuries like this continue to go on. And until refs don’t sit on their whistles and actually control a game – the matches will get out of hand. It is quite possible that the ferocity that both players went into the 50/50 wouldn’t have happened if the match ref had controlled some of “physicality” of the match. You have to think that both players played the 50/50 as they did because they mentaly knew that regardless of the outcome nothing would be called. It is mismangement of a match like this that will result in the ultimate tragedy one day.
But I am going to side with the consipiracy theorists here – until an injury of this nature happens to an English star – Rooney, Terry, Lampard or Gerrard – nothing will be done. The same old arguements will be bandied about – Arsenal are soft, foreign players can’t play a physical game – take your pick. Until one of England’s treasured sons go down the status quo will remain as it is – sadly.
Some final words – the British press (not all of them) are quick to point out that Ryan Shawcross is a good lad and in no way was intent on injuring Ramsey. They point to his crying walking off the pitch and being driven home by his mum and still in tears. His manager Tony Pulis rightly so jumped to his defence as did the press. But when you search for Ryan Shawcross you notice something comes up. 2 other incidents against two former Arsenal players.
Last season against Stoke, Emmanuel Adebyor going out ot play a ball that is going out, Shawcross goes in and while Adebayor is clearly out of play – hits the former Arsenal striker in the ankle. The resulting injury kept Adebayor out 3-4 weeks. In 2007 he broke the leg of another former Arsenal player Francis Jeffers. So either the English press are lazy, Tony Pulis is naive or they are just out to protect an English lad against a foreign run club. Frankly, if the FA want to show good faith and that they are serious about erradicating this kind of stuff – they would look at Shawcross’ history and have him sit no less than 10 games or to the end of the season. Considering Ramsey likely won’t play until next January or February at the earliest – it’s the least they can do.
Additonally, I would like to address those fans of other teams that are bitching about Wenger’s post-game statements. It is true sometimes the frenchman goes off half-cocked. My personal opinion is it is always to protect his lads. But in this case Wenger had every right to rail as he did. He knew how Stoke were going to approach this match. He knew the team would have to brace up for it. Hell, he knew the likelihood of a serious injury surely could happen in this match. But when an injury of this magnitude happens – he has every right to throw the kitchen sink at the opposing team, the lazy refs, and anyone else he deems worthy. I would expect no less of the manager.
In the end, the team won the match. It showed some real mettle. In watching the team’s reaction to the injury I was worried that the “eduardo” effect would sweep over the club. But within 5 minutes of the restart it did look like we had the best of the play. You could not blame the lads had they drawn or even lost after that. But they didn’t – they strapped on a pair, and went home with two additional goals and 3 points keeping themselves in the race. And while all that is moot point next to the injury – seasons are made from moments. Chelsea in 2005, United in 2006 had moments that defined their seasons and propelled them to the league titles. While it is early to see how the squad reacts – the first step was promising. Huddled together in a circle brought together by the clubs elder statesman, Sol Campbell, the team came together. Maybe for good.
