Written by Omomo14 on Wednesday, 14 September 2011 13:20

The dust has settled a bit after our deadline day dealings and since then we have played 2 games, a premier league and a Champions League game. We might not have been convincing in those games but the positives have definitely out weighed the negatives.

Our season started properly against Swansea last Saturday and we came out with a win and 3 pts which in turn carried us from 17th in the log to 11th. That's a huge step up and one which we will only continue to improve upon as time goes on.

Before the Swansea game a lot of us were all dreaming of an emphatic win which I wouldn't fault if you consider we were playing at home against a newly promoted side that came up through the play offs but what we failed to remember is we were coming back from the drubbing we received at the hands of Man U plus we were missing out on key players and 2 new players that came into the starting line up that have only had 3 days to train with the rest of the team.

A win was only what I asked for, didn't care if it was by a low margin which eventually was the case. We started pretty well from the start and should have scored if Ramsey had taken his chance. Theo had his shot at goal cleared off the line, RVP struck the post after a beautiful foot work and Chamakh had a clear header saved by Vorm, Swansea's Goal keeper. That's 4 goals missed which on a very good day should have been translated to goals. Swansea missed a couple of chances too but still we should have ran out comfortable winners had all the chances from both sides been converted.

The Dortmund game was the tricky one, we were going away to Germany to a stadium that houses seventy-five thousand supporters who are very loud. We went into the game with no Vermaelen, Jack, Ramsey, Diaby and Rosicky.

Our back five was pretty much solid with Szczesny in goal, the duo of Mertesacker and Koscielny and full backs of Sagna and Gibbs. All were very impressive with Szczesny, Sagna and Koscielny churning out star performances.

Our midfield on the night was our problem. Song didn't exactly start well but he grew into the game and shone in the 2nd half. He was a monster in our midfield and broke up play with aplomb. Arteta on the other hand was shaky which is understandable being that he was playing his 1st champions league match. Benayoun went missing for large parts of the game in an attacking sense but pulled his weight defending. We started with a Midfield of 3 that hasn't played together before hence the misplacement of passes.

Dortmund pressed us high up on the pitch which led to our indecision at times on ball. They played a lot like Barcelona without ball which we should be emulating.

Gervinho returned into the side after missing the Swansea game to form an attacking trio with RVP and Theo. Those three at times were ineffective because of our below par midfield in terms of moving the ball out of defence through the midfield into the attacking third. The goal we scored was from the mistake of a Dortmund player which we capitalised from and punished them in devastating effect.

Gervinho decision making isn't all that... Like @wengerboy1 said on twitter he is an instinctive player. He has got the pace and skills to wriggle his way out of tight situations but at times during the game he ran into block of bodies when the right thing to do was to pass and take up the next available gap.

A point away from home in the Champions league is definitely a good outcome. Before the game if you had asked me what I wanted then I would have been rooting for a point knowing we were up against the German champions at their frightening stadium. Still I am a bit frustrated with the result knowing we were 2mins plus added time away from getting all 3 points.

The positives from the game is that we look very assured while defending. The forward players did their bit and covered for our full backs which made it difficult for Dortmund to break down. We looked confident defending set pieces which is also a good sign. Our attacking play can also improve as the likes of Arteta, Benayoun continue to integrate with the rest of the team. We also have the returning Wilshere who would add fight and drive into the side.

We play Blackburn away on Saturday which is a tough ground to go to but still we should be winning games like this and 3 points should be what we gun for. I'm glad we would see the return from suspension of Gervinho and Song and also the return of Ramsey and hopefully Rosicky from injury. This can only give Wenger selection headache which is a good sign that we are well covered and have the much talked about depth.

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Comments (15)

• 14-Sep-2011 14:06 | | angelic beardy
  

  I agree missed the first 15 mins of the match but what i did see was a resolute team battling to get something from the game and i can't ask for more than that. As long as the players try their hardest then i will not complain and moan.

• 14-Sep-2011 14:13 | | dkgooner  - Only one way
  

  After an 8-2 drubbing, there is only one way and that is up (hopefully). Still think we're looking a bit fragile in spells and we rode our luck a little last night. Dortmund are a good side though so a draw at their place is not to be sniffed at.
  But with time, the defensive solidity will come and the understanding in midfield too. Still think we're going to hard pressed to make it into the top four and win silverware.
  Way to go.

• 14-Sep-2011 14:16 | | gaya
  

  i felt the problem Gervinho had was when he went on his runs no one was close to him for a pass and also the opposition swarmed on him

• 14-Sep-2011 14:34 | | UpTheArse
  

  Gutted to draw the game in the last minute, swear that happens to us a lot,prob too much, but all in all we should be pleased with that result. That Dortmund team is class and would do well against any team in Europe. Agree that the midfield weren't great, looked disjointed but as it's the first time they have all played together what do we expect?! Can't wait for Wilshere to be back, he can add that extra bit of class to an already decent midfield!

• 14-Sep-2011 19:20 | | IndiGooner  - Fair Result
  

  To me it was a fair result. I would have liked Arsenal to get 3 points but I like many things. I am no pundit but I absolutely agree with the positives mentioned but there were lots of things missing from Arsenal game. We had almost given a goal, on opening 10 minutes when our defence tried to play offside trap (Centre Backs played really well after the first offside trap). Gibbs was not defending for most of the time especially in the first half. Yossi, Arteta played average understandably so (had good work rate but poor creatively). Gerivino and Theo were lost in most of the match. Players who stood out for me was Spidy(WS13), RVP, Song, Unsung hero(Sagna), Kons and Per..We would have been destroyed without them. I am amused and worried at the same time that we did not play the pressing game. I far as I remember Arsenal theory has been the player with ball is the one in trouble and other should be available to help him out, but there were none yesterday. To me we lost the match in the midfield. There were absolutely no players ready to hold the ball. I clearly remember no one was ready to accept the ball when Sagna was on the touchline for throw in and got booked for time wasting. This game was a pale reminder of Barca vs Arsenal to me. But I will give benefit of doubt to Arsenal for players are new need time to gel. We will hold against likes of Stoke/Bolton/Spuds etc, even if we lose to like of ManC and Manure, We will have players like JackWilshre/Rambo/AoC coming back. I also hope Kagwa and Gotze do not play well and we get them in January or this summer.

• 15-Sep-2011 08:00 | | TheArmroyVlog  - YouTube
  

  Hi fellow gooners! I run a new Arsenal Vlog on youtube, if you would like to have a watch that would be great... Us Arsenal fans need to stick together!
  
  http://www.youtube.com/user/TheArmoryVlog

• 16-Sep-2011 00:53 | | Man United Killer  - Really?
  

  An unimpressive win against Swansea and a lucky draw at Dortmund and that at is the way up?Really? How did I miss that when I was in the stands on both times..I would wait for the next 5 matches to start running my mouth.

• 16-Sep-2011 01:45 | | zangi asenali  - uuurgh!
  

  Man united killer, you are so negative, so glass half empty, so pessimistic....!!!!

• 16-Sep-2011 03:29 | | Man United Killer  - True colors
  

  That is just my opinion.Just like you have yours my friend.All I am saying is that I am not convinced.I am not 'the glass half empty' type.I am more of a 'grass root solution' person.A realist!
  Let me ask you a question Zangi, do you expect us the win a trophy this season.if so-which?

• 16-Sep-2011 09:17 | | pika
  

  haha dont take muk seriously he is only a troll

• 16-Sep-2011 09:19 | | pika
  

  lol yes muk ..because arsenal was always winnign trophies every year prior to wenger ..
  
  i guess that why you have such high demands

• 16-Sep-2011 11:27 | | Man United Killer  - me a troll? I wish!
  

  Pika, I wish I was a troll like you say then I would know my efforts are being not going unnoticed.I do not think there is nothing good about our club-there a couple of good things I think though that it's not as good as you'd like to think it is.A shot of reality might help you-you know?

• 16-Sep-2011 11:52 | | pika
  

  a shot of reality you say huh ?
  
  ok how is this one
  
  arsenal was never a rich club and was never a big club
  
  arsenal lost a european final from a 60 meter lob in the 94th minute and the players in that squad were not wenger;s, the same team ended the season 12th......
  
  prior to wenger arsenal went nearly four decades with nothing to show for it other than a doube
  
  so since you want a shot of reality....what makes you think you can have such high aspirations like winning the league every year or at least a trophy since never in your whole history as a club where you ever a big club with a big name ?
  
  if you want a shot of reality then you should at least recognise that throught wenge;rs tenor the club has never dropped below 4th whether almunia and eboue are playing or vieira and henry...does that not show consistency ? does that not show a sustained level of sitting in the high places? when did arsenal ever have that prior to wenger ?

• 16-Sep-2011 15:55 | | Man United Killer  - Pika's response
  

  Arsenal did not pay a manager 6 million pounds prior to Wenger.Arsenal did not collect a bunch of overpaid youngsters prior to Wenger.the list can go on from this perspective too.I am not saying Wenger has not done well.But living on past glories is not the mark of a champion.I have been here since the 70s.I have seen worse days but football is dynamic so I wont accept a stagnant or a retrogressing Arsenal for that matter.Afterall, the prices of tickets and the cost of supporting the team you love have steadily increased with football dynamics years.Tell me which player was paid 130,000 pounds in the 80's or in the 90's for that matter.If you really think this squad will make fourth,you are seriously kidding my friend.Unless we do something about your hunger,our players' quality and/or our style of play.
  Of course,there are things to be excited about-like Szczesny,like Wilshere,like additon of Per and Mikel but to act like that is the solutioin of our problems is IMO unrealistic.Equally there is a lot to be worried about..like our tippy tappy which ends up in toothlessness in the final third.It seems we have become just content with having possession and nothing to show for it. We are ineffieicient in the final third.Why should a player like Gibbs be a starter.Why should Djourou have a starting berth on our team?How long will it take to realise that Gibbs will never be the second A. Cole? Or Djourou the world class player that Wenger wants to believe he is? I complanied about denilson many times and in the end he left.The reality is what it is. The deadwood will all leave with time.It might not be tomorrowor the day after but nothing lasts forever.Putting the burden of a title challenge on the shoulders of young players like Ramsey and Wilshere will get us no where.Our full backs make two decent crosses in a month-if we are lucky.I will say this-Evidently, from that delightful pass Theo gave RVP in the Dortmund game,it is patently clear that our strength as a technical team does not lie in crosses but in dangerous through balls and runners.This is the true Arsenal.I was extremely delighted-not by the goal itself but by Theos pass that led to the goal.And that is what Cesc was doing for us.Why cant we focus more on that-God knows our movement off the ball is superb.But why push Walcott to the wing only for him to run out of space (he is clearly not a winger) when he can be making the runs onto through balls.
  The quality of our first team is not he worst-but it can be way better..but our style of play is killing us big time.I dont expect you to agree with me but these are my thoughts.,

• 16-Sep-2011 16:47 | | Andy Mack
  

  How can this not be 'up' from an 8-2 drubbing?

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