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Arsenal: Why an Andy Carroll-Type Incident Will Not Happen at the Club

Matthew Snyder@schnides14X.com LogoAnalyst IIIApril 2, 2012

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - AUGUST 13:  Gervinho of Arsenal confronts Joey Barton of Newcastle shortly before being shown the red card by referee Peter Walton during the Barclays Premier League match between Newcastle United and Arsenal at St James' Park on August 13, 2011 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.  (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

It took only the span of several minutes for Andy Carroll to turn a bad performance into a media sensation this past weekend.

Storming off the pitch after his 80th minute substitution during Liverpool's tedious and eventually embarrassing 2-0 defeat at Newcastle United (Carroll's former club as recently as January, 2011), Carroll was seen removing his jersey and uttering audible curse words as he made his way down the tunnel to the locker room.

The tall hitman had been booked in the 10th minute for an obvious dive as he attempted to round Toon keeper Tim Krul, but his last "contribution" was the most glaring breach.

Whether or not that booking soured the rest of his game is pure conjecture. What is certain is that Carroll was nowhere near the dangerous threat who once convinced Liverpool to shell out £35 million for his services, and he was far from professional in his comportment.

Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish wasted little time in warning Carroll over his behavior, which is just the latest blemish to what has been a thoroughly frustrating campaign both on and off the pitch for the Reds.

I'm not one for sweeping adages, but I do feel that character is revealed when the going gets rough. And I think that Carroll's behavior on Saturday makes for a fascinating juxtaposition with the players from a certain north London club.

There were plenty of times when Arsenal could have lashed out in a manner similar to Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina's attempted headbutt against Newcastle, but instead they were able to check their temper.

Carroll leaves the pitch in frustration.
Carroll leaves the pitch in frustration.

There were plenty of times when players could have vented their frustration—Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's substitution against Manchester United in late January comes to mind instantaneously—but they didn't lash out.

To put it succinctly, they've learned.

After all, the Gunners' 2011-12 campaign started off in blatantly ignominious fashion back in August, when Gervinho was sent off for lashing out at the less-than-noble Joey Barton on the edge of the penalty area.

Then Alex Song had his crunching stamp on Barton transformed into a three-match domestic ban.

It was, as many like to say, not looking good.

Barton, now with QPR, may never rediscover an snippet of street cred with the way he was "floored" from that less-than-thunderous right hook from Gervinho, but the fact remained that the Ivorian should never have lashed out or let his emotions get the best of him.

Arsenal have had just two red cards since that first game of the season.

Emmanuel Frimpong was sent off against Liverpool (the first match after that trip to Newcastle), albeit after a questionable decision led to his first booking.

Then Carl Jenkinson got his matching orders at the end of that torrid month of August during the scathing 8-2 shellacking at Old Trafford.

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 26:  Carl Jenkinson of Arsenal in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on February 26, 2012 in London, England.  (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Clive Mason/Getty Images

Safe to say, August wasn't the Gunners' best month.

But the lesson that arises from those separate-yet-intertwined incidents is this: No matter how difficult Arsenal's season got—and by mid-September, it was teetering on the brink of full disaster—they pulled themselves back up and put an end to the temperamental fits.

It is a testament to the burgeoning character of the side, which has been a talking point of late, that they were able to learn from what happened in those three games and then build from it.

They have shown the sort of reaction that Jenkinson himself noted recently:

“(Manchester United) was a disappointing day for me and it took me a while to get over. It was my first taste of a tough result, but things like that make you stronger, and build you as a man and a character.”

There have been some incidents—Robin van Persie's tete-a-tete with Krul during the March 12 meeting with Newcastle (what is it with the Magpies?), but they have become fewer and farther between.

Perhaps it's the captain van Persie who is the perfect encapsulation of the hardening of principles. Once considered a loose cannon prone to rushes of blood to the head that resulted in disciplinary action, the Dutchman has visibly become a much calmer influence on the pitch.

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 28:  Andre Santos of Arsenal (11) celebrates with  Bacary Sagna as he scores their second goal during the UEFA Champions League Group F match between Arsenal and Olympiacos at the Emirates Stadium on September 28, 2011 in Londo
Clive Rose/Getty Images

The rest of the team has taken note.

There have been no flashes of red that induce a subsequent punishment. Perhaps that is what should be the most gratifying point from this recent run which has seen Arsenal win seven from their last eight Premier League fixtures.

In fact, the only real blemish of late has been Wenger's three-match touchline ban and €40,000 fine, doled out by UEFA.

The circumstances behind that affair are far murkier than the cut-and-dry visuals offered by Liverpool this past weekend, and Wenger has claimed that the decision was "not justified," and claimed that he will launch an appeal.

Choice words are far easier to digest than less-than-chivalrous acts on the pitch. And to their credit, Arsenal have remained free from those with almost unfailing consistency.

Is it due to the inclusion of more veterans within the side? Perhaps.

Van Persie (28), Mikel Arteta (30), Bacary Sagna (29), Thomas Vermalelen (26) and Andre Santos (29) are no fledglings. They've been through the ringer, and they're the wiser for having done so.

This current crop of Gunners appears to have taken on that example and made it their own. It's a good indication for the rest of the season, and a telling sign of things to come.

Now let's just hope Nicklas Bendtner doesn't come back and scupper this aura of good tidings.