Written by Mean Lean
on
Wednesday, 29 September 2010 13:19
Six points out of six, another three goals in the bag and another step closer to qualifying for the group stages. I would say that wiped away the top layer off the weekends defeat.
In truth this was a very difficult game to sum up, we saw plenty of the best and worst of Arsenal during the course of the 90 minutes. The players would have been under plenty of scrutiny after the abject performance against West Brom. As expected Wenger made some changes to personnel. Kieran Gibbs came through a fitness test to start his first game of the season in the Champions League in place of Gael Clichy, while Fabianski, Djourou, Denilson, Wilshere and Rosicky replaced Almunia, Koscielny, Diaby, Nasri and Eboue.
The home support were right behind their team from the start, singing and bouncing around, way before the kick off. The home side inspired by the crowd started on the front foot, Denilson made a fantastic recovery challenge inside the penalty area and moments later Lukasz Fabianski raced off his line to smother a goalwards poke following a short back pass from Squillaci.
We were under early pressure from Partizan until we caught them cold on the break, a nice change to see Arsenal to be getting in the sucker punch instead of the opposition. Arshavin who I thought had a superb game cut in from the left after a slipped pass from Alex Song. The Russian playing in a more familiar part of the world,. played a ball into the feet of Wilshere who was breaking alongside him, Wilshere evaded a challenge in the box with a spectacular bit of skill, dragging the ball away from his man in a split second, then producing a back flick to Arshavin in a crowded penalty area who then drilled it past the goalkeeper.
A goal of the highest order, two supreme technicians playing football in such a small space at such a high speed. That is why they are difference makers, and game changers. Arshavin's 5th goal of the season and it is the reason why he is an automatic choice for Arsene. His work rate can often frustrate, his lack of involvement can leave you bewildered at times but in a matter of a few seconds he can go from the half way line to running away with his finger on his lips.
I read an Opta stat via Twitter that Arshavin has created the most amount of scoring opportunities in the whole Premier League so far, if he can stamp his authority on games more like he did last night then he will be a massive player for us this season.
That goal settled us down and we began to dominate the game, unfortunately our domination could not be converted into goals which is quite often the case. The speed of our passing and the movement was totally absent from the game at the weekend but we showed what we were about in a 20 minute spell.
Wilshere and Arshavin were reeking havoc on the Belgrade defence, One great move saw Wilshere and Arshavin combine and Arshavin could have gone for goal, instead trying to find Chamakh in the middle but the covering defender intercepted. It is unlike Arshavin to pass up an opportunity in having a goal himself, even when players are standing in better positions.
Moments later, Arshavin did have a shot on goal, following a Wilshere pass but the goalkeeper came out and blocked, a good stop and it would certainly not be his last.
A minute or so later, Tomas Rosicky made a classic Freddie Ljungberg run from right to left and was found by yet another through pass from Arshavin, Rosicky's left footed shot was stopped by the impressive keeper from close range.
Two minutes later Arshavin had another clear chance when he picked up Chamakh's scraps, his attempted lob over the keeper was cleared off the line by a recovering defender, the shot may have been heading past the post. In the space of 10 minutes Arsenal could have been four goals up but we couldn't find the net.
As the story goes, if you don't take your chances then you are not safe. A cross from the left struck the arm of Denilson in the penalty area and the referee blew his whistle for handball. My first impression was that Denilson leant into the flight of the ball. Sometimes you get away with it and sometimes you don't. Cleo took the penalty and cooly sent Fabianski the wrong way.
Like against Tottenham in the Carling cup, we had dominated the game, carved out chances and failed to take them. When you are missing the likes of Van Persie, Cesc and Walcott then this can happen. Those players missing know how to put chances away, we will not always get away with not taking our chances.
After the second half we continued to bang on the Partizan door, and just ten minutes into the second half we had the chance to go ahead for the second time. Andrey Arshavin was key once again, it was his through ball that found the galloping run of Chamakh who was tripped inside the box. The fourth penalty that Chamakh has won for Arsenal in his short Arsenal career.
Arshavin's penalty against Blackpool earlier in the season was clinical, placed into the side netting, giving the goalkeeper no chance. I thought he would do the same but in the other corner, instead he took up the Rosicky method of penalty taking and blasted it, his effort struck the goalkeeper's legs and away to safety.
It is not often that I agree with Paul Merson but I also hate the blasting of penalties as you loose control of where the shot is going, instead of relying on technique. Something that Arshavin clearly does not lack. It is no coincidence that Cesc, Arshavin and Nasri have all scored from placing it this season while Rosicky and Arshavin have missed blasted penalties.
Even though, the penalty was missed we still had the advantage as their defender was sent off for being the last man. Arsenal were already controlling the play and keeping possession when it was equal personnel, so life would almost certainly get very difficult for the home team.
Arshavin had another drive well saved before the inevitable goal came twenty minutes from time. Tomas Rosicky who has an excellent cross, bent in the ball from the right and Chamakh headed against the crossbar, the rebound came back to him and this time with no mistake headed into an empty net. 2-1 and in control.
Wenger made some changes, Nasri replaced the impressive Wilshere, Vela came on to save Chamakh's legs for Sunday.
Eight minutes from time the game was wrapped up, Nasri's inswinging corner met the head of center back Sebastien Squillaci to score his first for Arsenal. The center back has scored many goals in his career and is now the last of the new boys to open their accounts for their new club.
The fun and games wasn't over though, Kieran Gibbs had brought down a Partizan player inside his penalty area five minutes from the end and striker Cleo who dispatched the first half penalty, took charge once again. This time Fabianski flew across to his right to palm the spot kick around the post. The smile and then roar of happiness was great to see. I couldn't be happier for him.
Fabianski wasn't finished there as he denied Iliev's effort from point blank range in stoppage time. That save along with the penalty save made a big difference to the outcome of the game. Fabianski may not have been under huge pressure throughout the 90 minutes but when he was called upon, he did his job well.
It was a much improved performance from the weekend and it will give the players some confidence ahead of the big one on Sunday afternoon.
We didn't always look totally secure defensively at times but with the likes of Djourou and Gibbs coming in with not a great deal of football under their belts then it is understandable. We were in control for large periods of the game and that is good to see.
Andrey Arshavin was our most dangerous player in my opinion, he was bright and sharp. Created plenty of chances and could have scored a hat trick. Jack Wilshere once again showed that nothing phases him, he should have a very good chance of starting against Chelsea and that just shows how far he has come in the last year.
Let us hope lessons have been learnt, a good win should now encourage more hard work and not a time to take the foot off the pedal. Cesc could be back for Sunday. Time to kick start our season.
Fabianski (7.5)
Sagna (7)
Djourou (6.5)
Squillaci (7)
Gibbs (7)
Denilson (7)
Song (7)
Wilshere (7.5)
Rosicky (7)
Chamakh (7.5)
Arshavin (8)
Please note that ratings are only my interpretations of the game and that others will have differing opinion
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