Gallas and Toure Fail the Test

He stands at around six feet seven inches and looks like a slightly undernourished refugee from the ranks of the Harlem Globetrotters, rather than a top class international footballer. Unfortunately, he has little to offer in terms of the most crucial physical attributes for the successful pursuit of his chosen profession. He has no pretension to serious pace and there is so little indication of power in his physique that you fear he may keel over in a strong cross wind. For a spectacularly tall man he has good balance and a remarkable sureness of touch, but in the light of his deficiencies even these assets are unlikely to provoke much anxiety in an experienced centre back.

So how do we account for the fact that when Peter Crouch returned from a recent nose job to rejoin the ranks of a Liverpool team desperate for success against an Arsenal side that has more than once embarrassed them this season, he registered a spectacular hat trick and thoroughly tormented two of the best centre backs in the business?

You would have to ask Kolo Toure and William Gallas about that. As early as the third minute, Liverpool were allowed to engineer a flashing low cross from the right after a couple of outrageous back heels had disposed of two Arsenal defenders and Crouch beat the despairing Kolo Toure to the near post and powered the ball past Lehmann to give Liverpool the start they must have prayed for. The goal did not happen because Crouch is quicker than Toure. Or stronger. He isn’t. But he thought more quickly, moved as fast as he could and was utterly determined – and fortunately for him Toure, who has been outstanding for Arsenal this season, was caught cold.

Worse was to follow. Some 30 minutes later, Toure conceded a needless free kick which was quickly taken. Alonso found Aurelio on the left and while Arsenal watched, Crouch rose majestically and virtually unchallenged to direct a fine cross past the despairing Lehmann. From a defensive point of view it bordered upon apathy and Agger’s headed goal from Aurelio’s free kick in the 59th minute, preceded by a token challenge from Baptista, and the ease with which Crouch’s close control bamboozled both Toure and Gallas 21 minutes later to set up his hat trick, merely reinforced the point.

Of course, Arsenal’s defeat cannot be blamed upon Gallas and Toure alone, any more than Liverpool’s victory can be attributed solely to the brilliance of Crouch. But the Gunners two centre backs must shoulder much of the blame for their failure to cope with a player who should not be able to compete with them – physically, technically, psychologically or strategically.