Written by Mean Lean
on
Monday, 25 October 2010 13:01
Now that is what I am talking about, we have been labelled as weak and not good enough to win in big games but this squad have proved that they have more than enough steel and quality to win big games. Manchester City suffocated and deservedly beat Chelsea at the Eastlands so they were always going to be tough proposition.
Arsenal's chances were dealt a big blow before the kick off when Abou Diaby was struck down by the injury curse during the warm up, Denilson combed through his afro and joined the midfield alongside Cesc Fabregas and Alex Song in the Frenchmans place.
It was Manchester City who started quickest out of the blocks and could have scored in the first minute of the game as Carlos Tevez drove past Djourou on the right and his low cross was steered goalwards by the heal of David Silva, from close range Silva's touch should have been enough to give the home side the advantage but for the great reflexes of the reformed Lukasz Fabianski.
Cesc Fabregas was at his defence splitting best once again, Andrey Arshavin was caught unfairly by an offside flag after a pass from Cesc but it only took our captain two minutes to repeat the trick, sending Chamakh clear in the right hand channel. Chamakh touched the ball past the sliding Boyata who crashed into him. Referee Mark Clattenburg could only pull out one card and Boyata received his marching orders. For some reason I felt sympathy for the young City player but the advantage given to Arsenal soon made me snap out of it.
The sending off appeared to add some extra spice to the contest, tough tackles started to go in from all angles which Clattenburg was all to keen to punish Arsenal players for. Denilson and Cesc quickly went into the book just before de Jong clattered into Cesc without receiving a yellow.
As expected de Jong, Barry and co took turns to get into Cesc as quickly as possible and if that meant illegally then they were going to do it. He took a number of rough tackles in the first half hour of the game but he kept getting up for more.
Silva and Tevez combined around the box and the latter had a poked shot easily saved by Fabianski. Johan Djourou should have put Arsenal one up when he got too much connection on a cross and headed over the bar. What is it with Arsenal defenders in big games getting too much power in good positions.
Samir Nasri made the breakthrough half way through the first half. Nasri received a pass from Sagna and drifted inside towards the edge of the penalty area, he played a give and go with the largely anonymous Arshavin. Barry failed to track Nasri who took a touch and fired high past the advancing Hart.
Big goal from Nasri who is continuing to shine this season. Arsenal's new top goal scorer is now consistently hurting the opposition. The stocky dribbler has added the much needed cutting edge to his game. His development had begun in pre season and shows no signs of slowing down. Andrey Arshavin was having another quiet game but once again supplied the killer pass to unlock the door, Arshavin and Nasri had combined much in the same way against West Brom at the Emirates.
Johan Djourou was having a very tough afternoon and was having problems dealing with players running off the side of him, especially Micah Richards. Richards had a great chance to level up the scores after he cut inside Djourou and curled a left footed shot wide of Fabianski's post.
Five minutes before the break we had a chance to put one hand firmly on the three points when Kompany clumsily brought down Cesc Fabregas inside the penalty area. The captain who fired in an unstoppable penalty in midweek could not repeat the trick. Hart flew across to his left and made a good stop on a penalty that wasn't quite in the corner.
I was fearing that it was one of those game changing saves, one that we could possibly regret if we didn't score that second goal.
In the second half Tevez who had picked up a groin problem was replaced by Emmanuel Adebayor. Wayne Bridge had also come on for Yaya Toure who also limped off with an injury,
For once the boot was firmly on the other foot.
Fabianski had started the second half just as he did the first. David Silva was the man to be denied yet again when his left foot drive was superbly pushed behind for a corner kick.
There is a reason why Arsene Wenger and the coaching staff have had faith in our Polish stopper. There is a reason why after mistake after mistake he has been kept in the first team squad. There is a reason why Lukasz has statistically the best goalkeeping reflexes at the club. He has suffered from a lack of confidence and a lack of a run of games and that has been the most difficult hurdle to overcome. He seems to have overcome both of those problems now. He is playing games and looks full of self belief.
Two big games and two big performances against Chelsea and Manchester City away from home. This is not to say that he will not make any future mistakes. We know that this is not possible, Van der Sar showed last week that every keeper makes mistakes, it will be down to how quickly he can put that error behind him but at this stage we are witnessing a first class keeper. Many supporters were calling for a player who could win points for the team and judging by that performance you could say that Fabianski more than played his part. Well done son, keep it up.
On 66 minutes, the game was won. Arshavin had played a lofted cross to the edge of the area for Nasri to touch back to Cesc outside the penalty area, His threaded pass to Chamakh was blocked and the loose ball fell to the feet of Alex Song to poke high past the diving Hart into the top of the net. Alex Song's second goal in two games. The instructions from Wenger to have Song rotating with his other midfielders has been criticised recently but his numbers in recent weeks has been impressive. He has clocked up three goals and a number of assists already this season. Denilson filled in for Song seamlessly yesterday which allowed the latter to join the attack more often.
I love the ease of how Denilson receives and gives the ball to other players. What I hadn't noticed previously was the use of both feet both long and short passes. Not many players have the confidence and ability to pick out a player on the other end of the pitch with their weaker foot. As ever he played a very efficient and no nonsense job for the team.
With the two goal gap achieved, Tomas Rosicky replaced Andrey Arshavin to add a bit of steel and ball possession to the left. Cesc skipped through three men before feeding Chamakh who blasted high and not very handsome. What was very handsome was Chamakh's all round display yet again, leading the line, He may not find himself on the end of ten chances per game but his work for the team from the first game until the last in every minute of the game has been incredible. He has the attitude that every Arsenal player should look to emulate. If other players had his commitment then winning trophies would almost be a given.
Bendtner had replaced the tireless worker with five minutes to go, Walcott came on for Cesc who may not have been at his very best but was still a massive reason as to why we dominated the game and found the spaces to take advantage.
With two minutes remaining on the clock, Bendtner added the icing on the cake. Nasri once again involved kept the ball on the far side, cut inside his man and slotted a pass through to Bendtner to run through on goal, he had Walcott free to his right but ignored him and placed past Hart into the far corner of the net. A wonderful team display and a much needed three points. Hopefully this can wipe away some of the dent caused from the West Brom shambles but more importantly it can give the team the confidence and belief that we can win big games.
Conclusion
Not many teams will go to the City of Manchester and come away with three points, three goals and a clean sheet. The ten men would have made a difference to the direction of the game but it still be difficult to cut through a defensive minded team. Fabianski, Sagna, Nasri, Denilson, Song and Chamakh were all very good. Johan Djourou who is still on his way back to his best was a bit short on the day but his best form will come in time. Arshavin was typical Arshavin. Left Clichy exposed for much of the game apart from one great piece of defending. He lost the ball with either a sloppy pass or holding the ball for too long yet he managed to play a big part in Nasri's opener and he contributed to Song's goal by switching the play with a perfect pass.
While the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea also picked up three points this weekend, we have won a massive fixture, a fixture that Chelsea dropped three points at and a place where Manchester United could also drop points at so this could be a very positive result.
It will be all change in the Carling Cup against Newcastle United. Emmanuel Eboue, Nicklas Bendtner, Tomas Rosicky, Kieran Gibbs, Theo Walcott and perhaps Laurent Koscielny should all start in a strong team. Our squad is looking full of strength and our players are looking sharp.
Roll on Wednesday.
Fabianski (8)
Sagna (8)
Squillaci (7)
Djourou (6)
Clichy (7.5)
Denilson (7.5)
Song (8)
Cesc (7.5)
Nasri (8.5)
Chamakh (7.5)
Arshavin (6.5)
Please note that ratings are only my interpretations of the game and that others will have differing opinions
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