Written by Mean Lean on Wednesday, 02 February 2011 15:12

What is it that they say when you turn around a goal deficit to go on and win the game? The stuff of champions. Well that is what 'they' would say if it was Manchester United.

The Gunners had an awful lot to overcome, especially when referee Lee Mason and his trusty assistant seemed to be doing their very best to make life as difficult as possible for the home side.

Everton came to the Emirates with the same game plan as they did last year. Pressing from the front, in a very organised and well rehearsed manner. They stopped our defenders from having time to start our attacks, if our defenders managed to find our central midfielders then the Everton midfield would be all over our midfielders in a flash.

We couldn't get our passing going because of this and it is something that the players will have to think about as our Champions League opponents, Barcelona are better than most at doing.

The inconsistency in Mason's refereeing was breathtaking. We were being punished for everything yet our opponents were getting away scot-free.

Everton struck first, Seamus Coleman floated a ball over to Louis Saha and my sense of worry that I feel during every attack from the opposition had subsided as he was obviously miles offside but Saha had continued via a deflected boot from Koscielny and his drilled left footed shot flew past Szczesny into the bottom corner of the net.

Cue outrage at the Emirates and in pretty much every Arsenal supporters home around the world. How the assistant referee did not clearly see that Louis Saha was offside is a mystery. He was in line with Saha when the ball was played and had a clear view.

When Mason went over to his assistant, I expected the goal to have been disallowed. I mean surely Mason making the decision to speak to his assistant meant that these two clowns would correct an awful mistake. No, the goal stood.

Nothing was quite coming off for the team, although we had finally started to play through them more as the game went on. Robin Van Persie was getting rather frustrated up front, his Dutch compatriot Heitinga was doing all he could to upset and antagonise our striker.

Cesc Fabregas had a few chances but he is still to find his shooting boots. He is dragging shots wide that found the bottom corner last season. He is snatching at chances that he slotted into corners last season. Cesc needs to find his goal scoring touch, especially in Samir Nasri's absence.

Tomas Rosicky who started the game on the left of the attack was nowhere near his best, I had been hoping that he could take his chance in the team but his lack of games showed. Andrey Arshavin replaced him with 25 minutes to play. Arshavin instantly gave us another attacking dimension. His first three touches of the ball were attempted defence splitting passes.

It only took Arshavin five minutes to stamp his authority on the game. Cesc scooped a pass over the top, Jack Rodwell could only head on to Arshavin  who nipped around the back to side foot past Howard for the equaliser.

The ascendency was now with the home side and there would only be one winner from that point.

Six minutes later Laurent Koscielny met Van Persie's corner and powered a header past Howard. Awful defending from the Everton side to leave Koscielny unmarked at the far post. It is Koscielny's third goal for Arsenal and his second in three games.

The team dug in and held on for a very important three points. Alex Song and Theo Walcott suffering knocks is the only downside to the game but hopefully they will not be out for very long.

It was vitally important to keep winning to keep up with those around us who also picked up three points.

Onwards and upwards.

Szczesny (7)

Sagna (7)

Koscielny (7)

Djourou (7)

Clichy (8)

Song (6.5)

Wilshere (6.5)

Cesc (7)

Walcott (6)

Van Persie (6.5)

Rosicky (5)

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Comments (7)

• 02-Feb-2011 15:28 | | Sagna's dreadlocks  - ??
  

  Sagna?!? 7?!?! What game were you watching? MOTM as usual....world's most underrated player!

• 02-Feb-2011 15:34 | | AdamsApple  - Masons Madness
  

  With the exception of the utterly ridiculous decision from the linesman, which Mason let stand for some unfathomable reason. They probably don't understand the offside rule, Sian Massey will set the straight no doubt. I thought Mason had a reasonable game, plenty of Everton players in the book in the first half resulting in much more space and freedom for the Gunners in the second half.

• 02-Feb-2011 15:38 | | Green Gunner
  

  Great game poor ref but 3points so whoop whoop get in there!!!! up the mighty GoOnErS!!!!!

• 02-Feb-2011 15:53 | | dkgooner
  

  I see Kevin McPratt on the Grauniad has revised his original opinion that "according to the modern interpretation of the rules, the goal was onside".
  Laughable. I guess the unanimity between Wenger and Moyes, that it was offside and the officials got it wrong, must have had an effect. I must say I really enjoyed the, albeit predictable, blog comments about, "if only the assistant referee had been a woman." But my enjoyment was only possible because the courage and persistence of the whole team earned them a victory. I would still be frothing at the mouth if we'd dropped points because of these two plonkers. They should be rested or demoted a division or two for a few weeks.
  But McPratt has left in his write-up his opinion that it was Rodwell who set Arshavin up for the equaliser. What total crap! It was yet another exquisite pass from Cesc, that Rodwell could only get the faintest of touches to, that produced the equaliser. To give Rodwell the credit for that is a travesty.
  I'm enjoying Koscielny's goals immensely. Have you noticed how centre backs generally go up for corners and push defenders around and announce their arrival? Not for our Kos. He goes up there quietly so no-one even notices his presence and gets a free header. Huddersfield didn't pick him up, nor did Everton. There was another corner earlier when Djourou got a flick-on and Kos arrived unannounced but just too late at the back post. This partnership between Djourou and Koscielny is really developing into something, despite TV commentators being unable to notice it. The ones on my stream last night (Fox Soccer Channel) were wittering on about how susceptible Arsenal are at set pieces when it's history as far as these two are concerned. Yes, we let one in against Huddersfield, but Djourou wasn't out there and Diaby's effort to prevent it was pathetic.
  But Diaby looked good when he came on yesterday. We didn't miss Song at all. And AA looks like he's finding his form which is great news.
  We will need him the next few weeks.
  As for signings, wouldn't mind Fellaini joining us in the summer.

• 02-Feb-2011 16:03 | | dkgooner  - Our Jack
  

  I think the Everton team had done their homework on Wilshire and his short fuse. His booking for a fairly gentle, but late, tackle on Arteta was a bit harsh I thought, but the tackle looked like a retaliation for Arteta bundling Jack over shortly before. Someone needs to have a word with him or he's going to get targetted more and more. It certainly wasn't his best game recently. Let's hope he gets back on track on Saturday.
  Great news that Carroll won't be playing. Also that Chelsea seem back on track and have got Torres before their two games against Man U.
  Yesterday's performance was below par in comparison with recent games - not the same fluidity at all. Back to our best again at St James' Park.

• 02-Feb-2011 16:44 | | AFC
  

  I badly worry about our increasing injury list.
  First Nasri,Yesterday Song n Walcott.
  I dunno wat to say our best squad is going down bcoz of these irritating injuries.
  I hope all of them get well soon before the Barca match
  UP THE GUNNERS!!!

• 04-Feb-2011 14:35 | | goonerbegood  - OUR ANFIEL ARSHAVIN ,COMING TO A CINEMA NEAR YOU.
  

  Our Anfield Arshavin is comingto a cinema near you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  
  I CAN SMELL IT IN THE AIR.ys he is coming to his formal best ,
  i think this time,his heart is settled and he can help us achieve our objectives.
  
  Like i wrote severally ,he is a very important part of our squad and we will need his presence and authority.HE LOOKS FITTER and IT HAS HELPED HIS AWARENESS WHICH IS GREAT FOR THE TEAM.
  
  I believe in this team cos the way it is mapped out ,we must continue to be ruthless and but yet intelligently.
  
  If ABOU DIABY PLAYS FOR INJURED SONG,i would like him to show us why we are having faith in him ,to replace veira fully.he might say he is not veira but in our eyes he is our new veira,he needs to cement his place on the team and proof to us all that he is capable of holding on to the number 2 shirt.
  
  I love him to bits ,in fact i love the team to bits.i want them to show the world why we are the MIGHTY ARSENAL FC.
  
  We are beginning to show our title credetials which is fantastic but we now need to take it to a whole new dimension.
  
  Kos has set himself free at last in it is showing in his ability to score goals,clichy has improved seriously and fabregas is bad ass lieutanant taking his troppers to the battle,I WILL SAY WE TAKE IT TO EM.
  
  we can achieve, ruthlessly but yet intellingently.

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