Written by Mean Lean
on
Thursday, 21 April 2011 20:06
The game last night between Tottenham and Arsenal at White Hart Lane had to be one of the best games of this season so far. It was thoroughly entertaining from start to finish yet that now means very little as the end result did not really help either side at the full time whistle.
We had as strong as side on the pitch as we have fielded all season. The only argument could be swapping Wilshere for Diaby. As it was the 19 year old who had looked jaded in recent weeks started amongst the substitutes while Alex Song partnered Diaby in the middle of midfield.
The first 45 minutes was fantastic. We haven't played fluidly for a number of weeks now. The last two free flowing performances that I can remember were against Barcelona at home and against Wolves also at the Emirates. We were close to our best in that first half. Cesc, Nasri, Van Persie and Diaby were all playing around Tottenham and our passing was quick and sharp. My complaint after the Liverpool game was that we did not have enough runners off the ball. It only took us before five minutes before Walcott was bending his run along the Tottenham back four. Cesc's slipped pass was perfect and Walcott's run and finish was typical of what he has been doing all season in that position. Clinical.
Shortly after Van der Vaart controlled a chipped pass and lashed a right footed shot past Szczesny into the near post. Questions could be asked of who was supposed to track his run from midfield.
Samir Nasri's goals have dried up since he returned from injury but his long range drive skidded past Gomes to put Arsenal back in front.
The game should have been wrapped up when Walcott pounced on a loose ball in the penalty box and stood up a cross to the back post for Van Persie to smash home the third on the second attempt.
As the first half was unfolding I thought that we gave Tottenham plenty of space between the lines to play. We were not very compact and at 3-1 perhaps it would have been a good time to tighten up, be more compact and hit Tottenham on the break.
Having said that I don't know if dropping off would have prevented Tom Hudderstone's left footed rasper from the edge of the penalty area. Either we concede goals due to defensive errors or the opposition score wonder goals.
Had the game stayed at 3-1 until half time then maybe we could have built on the lead in the second half and then held on for victory but at 3-2 Tottenham had the momentum for the second half. We tired as the game went on and the pendulum swung back in the home team's favour.
Szczesny who had a fine game overall badly judged a 50-50 with Aaron Lennon. Only Theo Walcott could have won a 50-50 with Lennon and I think everyone who was watching that move unfold saw it coming a mile off. A certain penalty.
Sky Sports showed that Van der Vaart had put all his previous penalties to the goalkeepers right and I just knew he was going to go the other way. My screaming and pointing to the other side of the goal did not help Szczesny for some unknown reason, maybe the fact that I was at home didn't help and the score was levelled at 3-3.
Van Persie scored a goal which was wrongfully disallowed for offside. Sky Sports decided not to show it from any other angle but from one that was inconclusive.
To be fair though, Tottenham had the momentum and looked the closer to scoring the winner. Once Arsene removed Nasri and Walcott I thought it would be very difficult to get the fourth goal, especially with Bendtner playing in a wide position and not influencing the game.
Conclusion
It was great to play our football again, even if it was only for 45 minutes. We have struggled to find fluency for some time so that is great but losing a two goal lead is a concern. Winning at Tottenham is not easy. They have lost only once at White Hart Lane this season. Manchester United were lucky to come away with a draw so the result itself isn't actually a bad one or at least it wouldn't be in other circumstances. Our recent draws at the Emirates has been the problem and we are trying to make those points up at grounds that we could be celebrating draws.
With the games fading away it looks as if we are asking for Manchester United and Chelsea for that matter who have nipped ahead of us on goal difference, to drive off the road and right off their vehicles. It is a big ask. A bridge too far me thinks.
On a side note I thought Sagna was fantastic and had Bale firmly tucked away in his pocket all night. Cesc looked closer to his best and controlled large parts of the game. Theo Walcott is continuing to show great end product with more goals and assists.
I want the players to take the positives of the first half and continue playing that way for the rest of the season. We can see where that takes us and then Wenger can assess our squad.
Szczesny (7.5)
Sagna (8)
Koscielny (7)
Djourou (6)
Clichy (6)
Song (6)
Diaby (7)
Cesc (8)
Walcott (8)
Van Persie (7.5)
Nasri (7.5)
Please note that ratings are only my interpretations of the game and that others will have differing opinions
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