Written by Mean Lean on Tuesday, 14 December 2010 17:48

A familiar sense of deja vu for me as I write this, not only because of what took place last night but I had written my thoughts down just after the game and for some strange reason I forgot to save my ramblings before I shut my computer down. Strange I know, but that is what a lacklustre Arsenal performance can do to a person I guess.

I will replace the usual match review with a few thoughts instead, as I am sure you do not need a recap of the game last night.

Manchester United started quicker out of the traps and they took the game to us which I was pretty surprised about. Was it a conscious effort from Arsene Wenger to play deep in our half and stop Manchester United playing? Or did the home side force Arsenal back into areas that they did not want to be? I could not work it out in the early stages.

I have come to the conclusion that Wenger did not want to play into their hands, he did not want to get caught short at the back again as was often the case last season against Manchester United and Chelsea. Whatever the reason for us being pegged back so deep, it meant that whenever we had the ball in our half we could not build up possession because Anderson, Park, Fletcher and co were denying us passing options, stopping our players from having time and space on the ball. We had no outlet's, no pass to take the pressure off of our players.

Chamakh found himself in deep or wide positions and was often contributing to winning the ball so he did not have many chances to hold the ball and allow others to join him.

I found myself forever waiting for our team to push up the pitch and put the Manchester United team under pressure.

Last season we went to Old Trafford with that mindset, we dominated them in their half, scored a great goal. Arshavin should have received a penalty and Van Persie should have scored an early second half goal which would have pretty much wrapped up the points.

Why we didn't go to Old Trafford last night with the same intention I just do not know.

Manchester United were well organised, worked very hard and were determined but I do not believe that we could not have pulled them about much more if we took the game to them more aggressively.

This was pretty much the team that played against Aston Villa a few weeks ago and flew out of the traps, Rosicky, Arshavin and Nasri interchanging and rotating around the Villa penalty area and could have scored 4 or 5 first half goals. Granted, Manchester United are no Aston Villa but surely the strength of the team was evident.

Arsene has always spoken of the team playing to our own strengths and not worrying about the opposition and whilst that has it's own flaws, I like the fact that if we are faithful to that plan and we produce a top performance then we have a very good chance of winning.

We were simply never going to win that game last night playing in that way. Barcelona who are a more advanced team than we are yet are similar in approach would have found it tough going against a battling Manc midfield.

If we were going to restrict Manchester United then it may have been a better idea to have played Rosicky on the left to help Clichy against Nani whilst having Theo Walcott on the right, pushing Evra back the other way and giving Theo plenty of grass in front of him to run into.

With the personnel on the pitch we should have played our usual game and pushed our defensive line higher up the pitch and setting out our midfielders in their half as we do on a weekly basis.

Park's adjustment in the penalty area for his flicked header was fantastic, a battling hard worker who saves his goals for Arsenal had done it yet again. Szczesny at 6ft5 could not reach the looping header.

I thought the young Pole started shakily in between the sticks but grew as the game went on making some crucial saves. Today I am reading that Arsenal have now solved the goal keeping problem but was his performance last night better than Fabianski's this season against the likes of Manchester City and Wolves?

That being said Wojciech Szczesny has fantastic potential and has once again shown his quality. His distribution is yet to equal Fabianski but aerially his large frame gives him an advantage.

Gael Clichy has come under plenty of criticism but overall I thought he had a decent game. He won the ball from Nani from one on one's a number of times and it was his winning of the ball and stumble that allowed Nani's only chance which he selfishly blazed over the bar much to the annoyance from a animatedly frustrated Rooney unmarked in the middle.

Clichy could have snapped into Nani earlier for the goal but he knows that diving in on a player as quick footed as Nani could lead to either a penalty or being left totally exposed. Clichy managed to get a block on Nani's left foot cross but it wasn't enough.

Even without three of our best players in each position we should have produced more on the night. Both Van Persie and Cesc came on in the second half and looked way off the pace.

We need to get those players up to speed and quickly. Those are the players that we need in the tough games. Chamakh has been a fantastic signing, a great leader of the line. But he is not a match winner. When Nasri fired in a shot that Van der Sar parried, Chamakh should have buried the rebound but he delayed and Vidic intervened.

That was the nearest and one of the only chances we had during the whole 90 minutes. As an attacking outfit, that was nowhere good enough and we will have to improve if we want to win these big games.

Conclusion

We were very disappointing on the night at least from an attacking point of view but losing 1-0 away at Manchester United doesn't rule anyone out of the title race. In this strange season we can go top next weekend by beating Stoke if Chelsea do the business against Manchester United.

As I said, we are going to have to improve. We played well at Chelsea and lost, played bluntly at Manchester United and have still lost.

This situation will have to change at the Emirates, a ground that hasn't been the fortress of past seasons. All we can do from here on in, is keep going and hope the best of this season is to come.

Szczesny (7.5)
Sagna (7)
Koscielny (7)
Squillaci (7)
Clichy (7)
Song (6)
Wilshere (7.5)
Rosicky (6)
Nasri (6)
Chamakh (6)
Arshavin (6)

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Comments (13)

• 14-Dec-2010 19:25 | | TrueGooner  - It's not easy being an Arsenal Fan
  

  I do not rate Squalliche at all. I have no clue what he brings to the table. It should have been Djourou at the back with Kos. Kos hustles and has a good positional sense on the player he's marking. Squalliche is always indecisive. It seems he doesn't know what he wants to do. And Clichy I don't know what to say. I mean if a player disgraced u the last time he played u, wouldn't u kick him a bit to make him know whose boss or even body him. Why keep backing up all day. I don't know what to say about the manager and his staff. I don't what's this nonesense about leaving the players to do what they feel like and not guiding them when they are losing it is about. He needs to change his attitude or approach. This is not barca and certainly not spain. We are not cut out to win anything period. Why this man always misplayed players in big games I don't know. He could have won the CL against barca, but he chose to use Ashly cole over the Flamini, one of the player that got him there. Something or somebody needs to start doing something over there. Do people need to stop going to the games for them to see or what. For those who say we go at our own players must not understand what it means to be a gunner. Do u know what we have to endure. It is one thing to have a sucky or average team that's losing, but to have a a talented group of individual who doesn't play to their potential and a coach who refuses to make the necessary changes is very fustrating. And to simply lose out on titles for this very reason and not because the opposition is that better than us is even bunkus. Take a look at this youtube clip and you will see what I am saying. It is not easy being an arsenal fan
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SorPhiHgSOI

• 14-Dec-2010 19:26 | | TrueGooner  - It's not easy being an arsenal fan
  

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SorPhiHgSOI

• 14-Dec-2010 21:17 | | richie  - still proud to be a Gooner
  

  Don't be too hard on yourselves Gooners. That was a hard fought win for the Manu'er, I like you ML was disappointed we didn't take it to them a bit more. They aren't a great team but they did something we don't do. They defended as a team.
  
  Tactically they were set up to counter our style of play. Before the game I thought that this game would be won and lost in midfield and so it proved. Their game plan was to stifle our quick passing game, which they did in two ways. 1st the pitch was handedly prepared to counter the passing game, and they kept a high line and packed the center. Not only that but they worked really hard to close us down quickly, and drew fouls often to break up the game.
  
  The goal was a wonder goal, in that if he tried a 1000 times Park would never be able to do it again! I think he just tried to get his head on it and direct it towards goal. The ricochet off Clichy's foot put a fast spin on the ball and I think it could have gone anywhere when park got the touch. To claim it as intentional means that Park is either the best head technician I've ever seen or he was lucky. I go with the later big time!
  
  Great save by Ronney from the spot for the penalty that never was! To sum up we came second best to an average Man'uer side at their home that was well drilled, played as a team and got a uniquely Man'uer lucky goal.
  
  That we failed to open them up and play in our style is as much about their successful tactic's, as our inability to turn up with a table topping performance, while being overly but naturally concerned with our defensive frailties. That as much as their tactics stopped us playing with the freedom to express ourselves as anything else.
  
  We could do with a result from Chelski~Manu'er but after so many losses its amazing we are still in with a shout at the title

• 14-Dec-2010 23:18 | | james  - it will come
  

  Look people and pundits keep banging on about our record against the top 2 teams. I ask how many of the last 11 games (sky stats) which against man u an chelsea have they had the spine of their team missing the answer = 0 how many times have have we been without RVP cesc an vermalen almost every match. TV6 is our rock, Cesc is our creativity and penetration, Van Persie our magic our finesse. Only when these players our fit an in top form can we be judged and when we will be back top top flight arsenal and not the 1st gear arsenal we have seen this year.
  
  This 4 me is the best arsenal 11
  
  Gk. chesny/fabianski
  Rb. Sagna
  Lb. Clichy/gibbs
  Lcb. Vermaelen
  Rcb. Koscielny/djourou
  Dm. Song/new signing
  Cm. Wilshere/ramsey
  Acm. Fabregas
  Lw. Nasri
  Tw. Walcott
  Cf. Van Persie
  
  Subs
  
  Arshavin
  Chamakh
  Denilson
  Rosicky
  Bendtner
  Squillaci

• 15-Dec-2010 01:52 | | Dubgun  - That's not 11
  

  that's not a first 11: that's 16. They'd never fit on the one pitch!!

• 15-Dec-2010 05:36 | | meaner  - na
  

  Song is 6? Wilshere is 7.5? because Wilshere is english?

• 15-Dec-2010 08:52 | | Prince  - Positives
  

  In all those games we have had our Spine out
  Vermallen
  Fabregas
  Van Persie
  
  Once they are fit and we have found our rhythm watch us flow.
  only hope it is not too late.
  Too many niggly injuries to key players.
  We have Diaby Ramsey Gibbs without fitness probs could have made such an impression on the team to push us on
  That has been our real misfortune, do not laugh but I also think Frimpong has been a bad miss.
  We keep going on about potential but real belief is we are going in the right direction. The players battled well (at UTD lets not forget) now we need the next step of imposing ourselves

• 15-Dec-2010 10:53 | | Kipmonster  - most gutless bunch of players to have represented
  

  Yet another insipid lily livered powder puff display in a big game by the most gutless bunch of players to have represented Arsenal FC in living memory.
  
  The only bright spot being Szczesny in goal who actually looks like a PROPER goalkeeper !! …………. Big physical presence, agile & confident. Does NOT look like an accident waiting to happen like the other 2 clowns.
  Of course we know what happens next as the ' head & shoulders ' best Keeper will be relegated to the bench once Flappianski is 100% fit……… CRASS STUPIDITY !!
  
  Szczesny's assured performance was remarkable considering the jittery shambles of a defence in front of him. United's chances were creations of feeble headers & clearances by our back four.
  2 hapless Centre Backs, Clichy who years ago looked like he would advance way past Ashley Cole as a left back but who instead has alarmingly deteriorated with his regular repetitive mistake of getting caught in possession in dangerous positions rather than clearing immediate danger. Many goals have been conceded as a result yet he persists playing in the same manner.
  Sagna was excellent in his 1st season but since has deteriorated into a very average player.
  
  The defence & goalkeeping positions at the club are what have & will continue to cost Arsenal major silverware. It has now gone way past the stage where Mr Wenger can be accused of being blinkered or stubborn. It is now simply NEGLIGENCE on his part that the same failings continue to dog the team.
  
  Stupid again was Fabregas's appearance on the pitch.
  Arsenal should do what United did with Rooney & send Fabregas away to a sunny warm location to recover 100% from the injury with an appropriate training program however long it takes. It is one area of the team where such a desperate player selection is unnecessary. We want & need a 100% fit & firing Fabregas & NOT a shadow player who will tweak the injury again & be outr again & on & on goes the repetitive saga.
  Mr Wenger has always had the image of man of high intelligence but his actions here are ridiculous as was his decision to field a weakened team in Donetsk. A strong team sent that would very likely have won the game would have ensured 1st place qualification & he could have played as weak teams as he pleased in the final 2 matches. Short sightedness will make further progress very difficult but then again as I no longer believe ' Winning Silverware ' is Mr Wenger's motivation then I guess it doesn't matter.
  Simply qualification for the latter stages & a Top 4 Premier League finish by evidence of attitude are the aims each season.
  
  Mr Wenger's desired legacy is not one he wants measured by the amount of major silverware won but a financial one whereby when he walks away it will be the legacy of a state of the art training ground & a virtually paid off new stadium.
  It leaves smiling hugely the shareholders at the club whose share values rise & rise as the genuine paying fan continues to assist funding this state of affairs paying far & away the highest prices whilst both the Club & the Manager take umbrage if such a fan dares to complain about the strategy.
  ' Pay Up & Shut Up ' is the motto of Arsenal Football Club since the move to the Emirates.
  
  
  It is laughable that the ' AKB ' bash in the ' blogosphere ' Arsenal fans who criticise the club &/or the manager.
  The vast majority of the ' AKB ' are ' fans ' who rarely if ever pay a penny to go & watch the team but forever are remote whilst condemning those who do.
  Even worse when a member of the ' AKB ' such as ' Lady Arse ' is effectively stealing from & defrauding the club with their unlicensed merchandising. ……… DISGUSTING !!
  
  Fear of the unknown in the future is NOT a good enough reason to put up with a manager who continues to fail to see the glaring weaknesses that prevent us from winning the major silverware that has been & this season more than ever is there for the taking.

• 15-Dec-2010 14:02 | | matlee  - deserved draw but not win
  

  good analysis of the game Mean Lean. losing that match really hurts after losing to Man utd so many times in recent seasons. in those games they have been lucky and given help from referees. (biased /sour grapes) ofcourse but the facts are there for all to see. Arsenal are not the only team that have to face that at Old Trafford. the ploblem lies with us and our inability to produce a performance to overcome the adversity while Utd have made the most of their fortune. not 1 of their players were booked while several of Arsenal's received a card and the penalty was the harshest you are likely see. taking the points off your rivals can be a big boost but it is not the deciding factor to win a Title. it is more important to be consistant against the rest of the teams in the table. this game was nothing more than a set back and for the 1st time in a while we didn't deserve to win the match although a draw would have been fair. i am pleased the Arsenal squad are fighting for 1st place and not 4th. until we bring silverware to the club we will have to listen to the likes of Evra. even if we had won it wouldn't have proved him wrong, only winning the Title will do that so lets hope we can silence him and the rest of the expert pundits at the end of the season.

• 15-Dec-2010 14:27 | | Man United Killa  - :-(
  

  I told you so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• 15-Dec-2010 15:51 | | MeanLean
  

  What, that it should be impossible to lose at Old Trafford?
  
  Its best to save those until the end of the season.

• 15-Dec-2010 16:01 | | MeanLean
  

  I do not care one little bit if our players are English or not. I think Wilshere was one of our better midfielders on the day and Song was not at his best. That simple.

• 15-Dec-2010 16:02 | | MeanLean
  

  Disagree with so much there

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