Arsenal 3 Shrewsbury Town 1: A big 'phew!' as Gunners avoid Carling Cup upset

TOM FOOT wonders how bad it really could have been for Arsenal after watching the Gunners beat Shrewsbury Town 3-1 in the Carling Cup.

THE programme notes tell me Charles Darwin was born in Shrewsbury Town. So to Wilfred Owen, the First World War solider turned poet who challenged the pointless pursuit of war.

 

Two fine figures of history to evoke Arsenal – a team in perpetual evolution and a board desperate to avoid conflict at all costs - ahead of the Carling Cup clash on Tuesday night.

 

For all that had gone before this was surely a home banker but it has got to the point when fans are beginning to look forward to fixtures with a sense of masochistic fascination.

 

What would have happened had League 2 Shrewsbury's Town beat Arsenal at the Emirates?

 

When lowly Shrewsbury took a shock lead, I imagined the turf parting around the semi-circle, sucking all the players, fans and manager into subterranean depths. Just for a few minutes, fans were contemplating, and perhaps ready to embrace, the Apocalypse. Stunned murmurs of disbelief followed Shrews striker Collins' bullet header on 16 minutes.

 

"Are you Wrexham in disguise?" – sang the away supporters –  and then – "you'll be sacked in the morning?"

 

Thankfully, this tie will not go down in the long term memory.

And it was, in hindsight, a good match with many, as Wenger says, positives and shows of mental strength.

 

Johan Djourou started as captain and the Switzerland defender was caught out for the opener. 

 

Shots flashed wide and Shrews' keeper Smith made some crucial clearances before the resistance was broken on 33 minutes. A Karl Jenkinson cross was flicked on to Kieran Gibbs and his snap reflex header squeezed in.

 

Alex Oxlade Chamberlain appears capable of living up to expectations. His pure strike from outside the box flashed under keeper as Arsenal took control of the second half. 

 

Suddenly, Chamakh was doing Zidane turns and Yossi Benayoun was sauntering about the midfield, dropping the shoulder and taking on defenders. The transfer window deadline day signing found himself with time near the penalty spot on 78 minutes. He calmly slotted into the corner. 

 

After the game, Wenger said: "I said before the game the lower divisions have improved. Always difficult to beat a football team no matter where they play. Yes – I was very calm and confident, panic doesn't help."

 

Stay calm, carry on.