I agree absolutely about Arshavin, he creates space by the shape he takes as the ball comes into him. I really havn't seen anyone like him. Absolute class.
Fabregas for one thing does almost the same thing, Arshavin is faster than Fabregas with more of an eye for goal, though that might simply be from playing upfront more throughout his career while Fabregas has always played deeper, when Fabregas gets forward he plays similarly, but its that ability to turn away from the tackle and move the ball upfield with either a fantastic pass or a close controlled run on the ball that makes them so damn good.
Without wanting to play the Eboue card again, he did that also about 5-6 times and started great counter attacks, also the turn he put on Caldwell that Caldwell finally(after about 5 similar fouls) got the card for was sublime and would have put the team through on goal afterwards.
I agree with drunkenmaster, it wasn't a clearcut dive as Andy Townsend stated
rolleyes
Imagine what Eduardo has gone through injury wise over the last 18 months, and you can't blame him, not so much for diving but pre-empting the challenge.
Its also that tackle from Caldwell on Eboue that highlights how players think , Caldwell didn't mean to hurt Eboue but Eboue got spun, fell ackwardly with his leg bent under himself. You can get hurt with a fairly simple tackle by falling ackwardly, sometimes you want to fall in a more controlled manor to avoid injury. There IS contact, its minimal though, but the second he felt it I can understand that he wanted to not feel the full follow through and get out of the tackle unscathed. Its very rare theres any contact in those situations without follow through, the keeper got his distance/slide perfect to block any shot but not take the player fully.
It was a dive, but I can understand why, and to date with quite a lot of games and a history before Arsenal theres no signs he's a cheat in any way at all. Giving someone the benefit of the doubt for their first and only dive you've seen them commit, especially as you can understand his injury worries is all I'm saying.
If he keeps diving to win us penaltys, i'll buy a Arsenal shirt with Gerrard writen on it and send it too him and hope he doesn't play for us again. Till then, give him the benefit of the doubt.
