Written by Mean Lean on Sunday, 02 January 2011 13:36

Wednesday's draw at Wigan all of a sudden looks somewhat more healthy now doesn't it? I have not had the time to talk much about the Wigan game but these runs of games around this busy Christmas schedule can almost be seen as a sequence of matches.

In my opinion Arsene Wenger was absolutely correct to make as many changes as he did on Wednesday. Eleven players would find it extremely difficult to play at the tempo they did against Chelsea, pressing all over the pitch for 90+ minutes and then travel to Wigan repeat the same 48 hours later. If those players didn't pick up injuries against Wigan then they almost certainly would have last night at Birmingham City.

Arsene Wenger has a degree in medical science and he has a team of sports medics who know how long a player needs to recover after a hard fought match at the top level.

Understandably that team lacked cohesion and fluency and we struggled to convert our passing into clear cut chances. Emmanuel Eboue only played at left back because Gael Clichy took a whack on his thigh against Kalou I believe and struggled to shake it off. Had Kieran Gibbs been fit then he would have played and perhaps prevented the non penalty early in the game.

As it was we did not manage to keep our 2-1 lead until the end but a draw away at any ground after resting so many tired legs is not an awful result. A Manchester United team with similar changes were destroyed 4-0 by West Ham in the Carling Cup and Chelsea would not even be able to put out a side with eight changes.

The high energy team that buzzed, snapped and sparkled against the Champions were back at St Andrews on a dodgy pitch. It has been a difficult ground for us in recent seasons, a place that has given Wenger and his troops a few too many bad memories. But as we did last Monday, we started quickly and aggressively.

The players did not allow Birmingham any time and space to attempt to play football. It was lacking at Wigan but with the players returning the high pressure pressing also returned.

Roger Johnson should have been dismissed for his horrific lunge into Cesc Fabregas early in the game. It was wrapped up in a 'I was going for the ball' disguise packaging. Johnson intentionally forced his foot through the ball to catch Cesc on his ankle and was very similar to the Martin Taylor lunge a few years ago.

Cesc Fabregas is very lucky to be walking around today and the brushing under the carpet by many pundits and journalists has left me fuming.

All the focus is on Lee Bowyer and his deliberate stamp on Bacary Sagna and he should rightly be punished for his act of violence but in my opinion Roger Johnson's follow through is far more dangerous and should be the talking point today. In a day where the pre match talk is often about which soft players are wearing snoods and gloves, sadly I do not see that happening anytime soon in this country.

Those two incidents were not the only two. Koscielny, Djourou and I think Walcott were victim to spiteful and painful assaults designed to cause harm.

It doesn't take a genius to guess what the Birmingham City manager said to his players before the game. The pitch was turned into a mess, turned up turf all over the pitch. Show these foreigners what English football is all about, get in their faces and leave your studs in.

We overcame all of that with hard work and excellent combination football.

Van Persie played for the foul but he was pulled back. If you don't want to concede then do not pull the player, that is not in the laws of the game as far as I am aware.

Van Persie's first of the season deflected off Lee Bowyer and past their helpless goalkeeper.

We dominated the game after the goal and carved open a Birmingham side who had only lost once at St Andrews all season. They had beaten Chelsea and drawn against Manchester United. It was in fact the same team that held the league leaders only a few days ago. Perhaps that is further proof that keeping the same intensity in a short space of time is very difficult.

My one complaint on the night is my usual complaint. I can accept our team being a little bit open at times due to our system but I can only accept it if we are clinical in front of goal.

We play high up the pitch, play in the opposition half, home or away and we have so many players that can create space for others but we are so wasteful, that side of our game reared its ugly head again.

Robin Van Persie was the main culprit but you have to put much of that down to lack of sharpness and games. The Van Persie of early last season would have scored a hat trick last night. Against sides like Manchester City, United and Barcelona we will have to sharpen up and bury our chances because they are likely to be less frequent.

Samir Nasri, Cesc Fabregas and Robin Van Persie are the offensive players that we need to keep fit and playing together. The understanding between them is just exceptional and this is with two of those players not yet at their brilliant best.

Some of the movement and awareness between Cesc and Nasri would have left Xavi and Iniesta applauding.

Samir Nasri's goal was exceptional. The one-two between Cesc and Nasri with such limited space was almost telepathic, Cesc's instant return to Nasri allowed the man on form to turn and fire a wonderful side footed finish into the corner of the net.

The duo combined again for the third. Cesc's slipped pass into Nasri who sneaked around the back door, then Nasri's awareness to know where Cesc was going to be was the result of two talented creative players who have been working together for years. The deflection off Johnson via Dann was the icing on the cake.

Karma clearly wanted to get in on the act following Bowyer's deflected opener.

For anyone who assumes that Cesc doesn't care and that his head is already in Barcelona should take a look at his celebration for the second goal.

The own goal was hugely underrated. Alex Song and Van Persie chased the Birmingham players in their own half to win the ball back and 15 passes later, Cesc had his shot deflected into the net. Some of the interplay was once again breathtaking.

The Laurent Koscielny and Johan Djourou partnership is looking very good. Unlike Squillaci and Koscielny the pair compliment each other very well. Djourou wins headers and is calm in possession whilst Koscielny remains one of the best defenders in Europe on the deck. They seem to have a good understanding. Lukasz Fabianski cannot be ignored either, yet another outstanding display from the Pole in goal.

His first half save from a Larsson free kick was fantastic. He punched well and controlled his penalty box all game. Whilst he struggles to shift his labelling of last season, he just continues to do his job, and do it well. Only a few weeks ago I read that his shots to save ratio was only second to Petr Cech.

Conclusion

On December 17th, I wrote a piece about how I would like our team to look against Barcelona. I explained that we needed to drop Arshavin and work harder as a team. We needed technique, hard work and belief.

The line up I chose was this.

A few weeks later against Chelsea we see a similar version that has scored 6 goals and conceded 1 in their last two games (Chelsea & Birmingham)
Wenger may well have found his strongest side minus Thomas Vermaelen perhaps. Although with the form and compatibility of Djourou and Koscielny I don't think that needs to be broken up anytime soon unless Vermaelen plays his way into the team via the training ground. He will need time to get up to speed, in the meantime our current two are doing a good job.

I think Wenger may have just found his strongest team and lets hope serious injury does not take that away from him. Is it so amazing that we have beaten Chelsea after so long and now beaten a Birmingham team convincingly, that have caused us problems at St Andrews in the last few years?

I don't think so. For the first time in a long while we are in a very healthy state. We usually have an injury list consisting of 5-10 first team squad players. This time we have two.

I have been ridiculed in the past for making excuses about our performances because of injuries and it is everyone's right to accept it or not but I struggle to accept that any team can fulfil their potential when they have their best players out of their match day squads. Cesc Fabregas, Robin Van Persie, Thomas Vermaelen, Bacary Sagna, Samir Nasri and Alex Song are our best players and now we almost have all of them available.

I expect Arsene's rotation to slowly calm down in the second half of the season, at least for the league and European matches. He has managed Robin Van Persie and Johan Djourou wonderfully well. Has kept them ticking over, hopefully to be ready for the home straight in the next few months.

7 points from 10 so far is fine thank you very much, now lets knock the money men off their perch on Wednesday. We can win this league, let's continue to work and prove it.

Birmingham City Ratings

Fabianski (8)
Sagna (7.5)
Koscielny (7.5)
Djourou (7.5)
Clichy (7.5)
Song (7.5)
Wilshere (7)
Cesc (8)
Walcott (6.5)
Van Persie (7)
Nasri (8)

Wigan Ratings

Fabianski (6.5)
Sagna (7)
Squillaci (5)
Koscielny (6)
Eboue (5)
Denilson (6)
Diaby (6.5)
Rosicky (6)
Bendtner (5.5)
Chamakh (5.5)
Arshavin (6)

Please note that ratings are only my interpretations of the game and that others will have differing opinions

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Comments (26)

• 02-Jan-2011 14:12 | | potter  - Re reviews
  

  Fair assessment but one thing surprises me , you say that Song has been one of our best players but in your team you replace him with the ineffective Denilson. Why ?

• 02-Jan-2011 14:18 | | MeanLean
  

  On current form I wouldn't, but my thinking was that Barcelona press so intensely and Denilson is a better passer under pressure than Song and loses the ball less. He changed the game totally at the Emirates last season and against Barcelona physical strength isn't a massive requirement.
  
  Having said this, Song's form would keep him in the team if I was selecting.

• 02-Jan-2011 14:20 | | Hr  - Song for denlison
  

  He chose that team on the 17th December

• 02-Jan-2011 14:26 | | Vuja De
  

  Great victory and performance yesterday from the mighty Arsenal, despite the thuggish attempts by some Birmingham players to put our guys out of the game.
  
  However, I don't accept for one minute the narrative currently doing the rounds in the Arsenal blogosphere that Arsene has suddenly stumbled across his best team simply as a result of beating Chelsea & Birmingham since the 27th December 2010.
  
  Arsene will make use of the playing resources at his disposal as he sees fit, for any given game.
  
  I've no doubt, though, that Arsene's best team includes a midfield trio of Diaby, Song & Fabregas, and I expect them to be automatic selections for the team when they're all fit and available, which has rarely been the game so far this season.
  
  So whilst I'm glad - and somewhat surprised too - that Wilshere has been getting as many first team games as he has so far this season, I don't believe that he has somehow leap frogged Diaby for a starting place in the midfield.
  
  Diaby's intermittent absences through injury this season - along with that of Ramsey - needs to be factored into the equation when considering why it is that Wilshere has obtained so much game time so far this season.
  
  But the fact that we have talent of the calibre of Diaby, Ramsey & Wilshere all fighting for midfield places, along with Denilson, can only be good for Arsenal.

• 02-Jan-2011 14:31 | | Vuja De
  

  Amendment to my post above...should read: "which has rarely been the case so far this season".

• 02-Jan-2011 14:42 | | potter
  

  I agree about the passing stats comparison and if it were purely to negate Barca's attacking it would make sense. However Denilson adds very little going forward he slows us down and he doesn't look up and see runs being made ahead of him.If we are to win this tie we will have to take a decent lead back to the Camp Nou.

• 02-Jan-2011 14:53 | | potter
  

  For me both Diaby and Denilson have dropped down the pecking order and I knew that when they started together against Wigan chances were that things would go pear shaped.

• 02-Jan-2011 15:33 | | ctpa
  

  Wenger has a degree in economics.

• 02-Jan-2011 15:36 | | Crater Face
  

  For me the 1st choice CB pairing could well end up being Vermealen and Djourou, although Djourou and Koscienly is good enough for me.
  
  The team that beat the chavs and brum is the strongest one currently available, so it shouldnt be too much of a surprise that they managed to win games well and that the manager wanted to wrap em in cotton wool over this ridiculously hectic festive period.
  
  What is it with the Premier League and their desire to wreak havoc with players by forcing teams to play a huge amount of games over short spells? The fixtures are basically at the behest of Sky obviously.

• 02-Jan-2011 15:39 | | MeanLean
  

  He has both.

• 02-Jan-2011 16:36 | | Sobin the Indian gooner
  

  Wenger is right with his selection against wigan.I think we can win this league.we have to be with our team.come on gunners.IN ARSENE WE TRUST.

• 02-Jan-2011 16:57 | | beck  - birmingham post match thoughts
  

  the last season before 91/92 sky we played 4 games in 9 daysand won none of them
  it has nothing to do with sky
  xmas football is a tradition in this country
  i love it

• 02-Jan-2011 17:00 | | potter
  

  Those two dropped points would have had us in a much stronger position and equal top. He made too many changes 4 or 5 maybe but not 8.

• 02-Jan-2011 18:04 | | Chris  - erfrs
  

  Happy with the result and we were good defending yesterday but we were shaky at times , we need a defensive coach so we can defend set peices better, maybe George Graham? anyway yesterday's first XI would have been my choice for our starting XI but I would replace Djourou with Vermaelen, RVP with Chamakh and Fabianski with Szczesny. However this year we look like genuine title contenders with Wilshere and Song in the middle of the park keeping things tidy and protecting the defense this allows Nasri and co. to go and attack.

• 02-Jan-2011 18:25 | | MeanLean
  

  I think the shifting of Nasri and replacement of Arshavin has given the team a better balance, at least a stronger defensive balance.
  
  My point was more the fact that we have our best players fit and with our best players we can beat everyone. Currently, Wenger is almost able to select his best 11 players.
  
  As you know, I am a massive Diaby fan, I think his potential is huge. Not just potential but currently. As things stand Jack has played in all the big games so far. With that, I don't think Diaby will walk straight back into the side. Like Vermaelen and Ramsey they should play their way into the side once given the chance from the bench or rotated.
  
  Against Chelsea and then Birmingham our team played superbly offensively and defensively and I don't think that should be broken up.

• 02-Jan-2011 23:07 | | arthur3sheds
  

  I cannot see the merits of Denilson over Song at all although I thought Denilson has looked sharp each time I have seen him this season, we need a MF who can defend purposefully and is not afraid to play a risky ball in order to try and unlock the opposition defence. Song has both of these qulaities that Denilson appears to lack.
  
  I think Denilson ball retention has a lot to do with his lack of ambition in the factr he sticks to safe passes unlike Song who is less afraisd to lose the ball in an attempt to make a real difference.

• 03-Jan-2011 00:05 | | MeanLean
  

  Man United killer and CH Gooner, where are you guys? I thought you would be basking in Arsenal glory after victory?

• 03-Jan-2011 00:20 | | Reggaeo  - Every one is quick to drop Chamak for R VP
  

  Think again. Chamak is much harder working. More durable,better in the air,and has delivered for us all season. RVP is the main offender we complain about when Arsenal dilly dally in front of goal how can a forward be a reluctant shooter. The freekick is the first he has scored since 2007 and he takes most of our kicks! This is the first RVP has scored this season and he was no good in the WC.
  I think RVP is no suited for a frontline striker he is too weak and not particuarly good in the air kills off attacks by not being direct enough.

• 03-Jan-2011 01:12 | | richie
  

  George "the Judus" Graham? As a defensive coach for this team?
  Surely not! I mean I could understand you asking for a defensive coach Keown for example one of the best man markers the prem has ever seen! But GG?
  
  That GG was a big part of our past history goes without saying, but the opperative word is past. Even our famed back 4 or 5 wouldn't be the force they were. Not since the rules changed. With the passive active - fase's of offside defenders these days have to be quick.
  
  There wouldn't be anymore constant stepping forward with 4 arms held high. That like GG is ancient history. Besides lets not forget AW coached a defense he built for for an undefeated season. That often slips peoples minds for some very strange reason. Especially those who claim Arsene's teams can't defend.

• 03-Jan-2011 01:27 | | richie  - The bounce off's
  

  No ML
  MUK & GHG only ever show up like bad pennies. GHG peeped out when we suffered the Wigan set back. I'll expect them if any set back arrives, but if we go on a nice little run they won't grace us with their presence. Neither does positives well. They both make good points to bounce off though.

• 03-Jan-2011 01:45 | | richie  - defensive mids
  

  My thoughts are that the Song-Wiltshire partnership is what has given our defense more protection. Wilts is tenacious! Song covers ground like a sheet. Together they are a great DM pairing. Along side the dropping of Shava naturally.

• 03-Jan-2011 07:51 | | meaner  - Denilson??????
  

  You replace Song with Denilson? I will stop reading this blog.

• 03-Jan-2011 08:15 | | Aman
  

  Anyways isnt sagna suspended for the game..

• 03-Jan-2011 08:19 | | Aman
  

  I really dont know about this but right now Djourou and Kosc seem to be superb as written Djourou is great in the air, and Kosc is a superb defender on the Deck. Has ever Squalchi and Djourou partnership been tried.

• 03-Jan-2011 08:50 | | sapman
  

  like wenger has said long tme ago...his biggest challenge is to keep all these players HERE for years to come.
  
  if his squad can do such things at 23 years of average....just wait when they hit their prime....
  
  humble pies will be shot at peoples faces with bazookas .

• 04-Jan-2011 12:49 | | Maria
  

  Must say I agree with Denilson in against Barca it was only after he came on that we started keeping ahold of the ball. Song and Diaby were giving away like it was candy. I would keep JD in though he has been by far our best defender this season, and let's not forget Vermealen was at fault for the two Ibra goals.
  
  Back to the last two games against Wigan Clichy was injured, JD and RVP are coming bk from injury and theres no way they can play twice in 48hrs Cesc was suspended and Song and Nasri needed a break bring our most consistent performers and all!
  
  Against the thugs and the spitting red faced Scot I was nearly in tears when the again awesome away fans started singing Eduardos name! Talk about emotional, just like Cesc's celebration.
  
  FYI just how amazing is Nasri at the moment he literally passed that ball into the net, similar to some of Eduardos goals in that respect.

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