Written by Mean Lean
on
Saturday, 10 September 2011 23:10
1-0.
A score line that many Arsenal fans will be familiar with. Especially those Gooners who lived and breathed the late George Graham days. While we had to endure the anxiety mainly in the second half I will gladly open my arms to a much needed three points.
Before kick off I wondered how many new presents we were allowed to open at once and as expected, the two red and white wrapped gifts came in the form of Mikel Arteta and Per Mertesacker. I have a theory that Arteta spent his spare time at London Colny whilst registered to Everton FC over the last few years, such was the ease of which he blended into the Arsenal team. His quality was obvious with every touch of the ball. I was interested to see which position he would take up on the field and to my surprise he started the game as the creative midfielder, although he interchanged with Aaron Ramsey at many times.
The team started pretty well and passed well, barely a minute had passed before Ramsey fired wide after being freed by the skipping Arteta. Ramsey was in the inside right position, the Walcott position. He should have composed himself and struck low across the keeper but instead sliced it wide. Arteta's run and through ball was very reminiscent of another player that we used to have on our books. Cannot think who.
Swansea could have scored with their first chance of the game and they should have scored. Unlike Ramsey, wayward finishing was not the issue. The issue was a goalkeeper who is playing right at the very top of his game. Wojciech Szczesny made an amazing point blank save low into the corner after a header from Swansea striker Danny Graham.
I couldn't quite understand why the ball hadn't crossed the line and I was even more amazed when I had watched the replay. It would almost be criminal if the Arsenal team did not provide the defensive foundation that Szczesny deserves right now. He has come back after last season a much more commanding and determined keeper.
Per Mertesacker made one amazing block on Sinclair as the wide man was about to shoot. He looked pretty composed in possession but as Wenger said post match, he will need time to adjust to the frantic pace of the Premier League.
Swansea were starting to frustrate us and our football on the whole was just not quick enough or imaginative enough on the whole to break them down until a slice of luck fell into our lap. The Swansea goalkeeper had rolled the ball out to his defender who was facing the wrong way, the ball hit the back of his heal and Arshavin pounced, curling the ball into the net with his weaker left foot from a very difficult angle.
Typical Arshavin, has the rare ability to consistently be the very best or very worst player on the pitch at anytime. A fine piece of opportunism from the mercurial Russian.
Early in the second half both teams exchanged woodwork kissing. Sinclair curling a free kick onto the crossbar and then Robin van Persie opened his woodwork account for the new season after cutting inside on his right and bending a shot wide of the keeper and unfortunately onto the post.
Yossi Benayoun came on for the tiring Andrey Arshavin as Arsene looked to defensively help his full backs out a little more with extra protection. Benayoun showed some neat touches and looks a real addition to the squad.
As the time ticked away and chances were not being created for the home team, Swansea started to go for broke and throw everything they had at us. At 1-0 with chances spurned it is difficult to ignore the possibility of the team throwing it all away in the dying minutes.
That was so nearly the case when Szczesny showed that he is still human when he came to meet a cross and failed to get there. Graham spun and shot towards an unguarded goal but he couldn't keep over the ball and the ball flew high over the bar.
Lady luck has shown mercy on us today given the nature of our goal and then a last minute chance missed for the opposition that would have nestled into the net during the second half of last season.
Arsene Wenger is right when he says, confidence goes quickly and is slow to build up. The team are refinding their feet and has to do so with new personnel as well as missing first team players. This Arsenal team are still stuck in first gear, there is plenty of internal scope to improve upon and that will come. The most important thing right now was to get points on the board and we got that, we also have a clean sheet to pin to the wall. Alex Song and Gervinho will add defensive and offensive quality to the team.
I still felt that captain Robin van Persie looks a little too isolated at times. Arteta did link up with him in the first half but as the game wore on, we started to drop off him. Gervinho will be important for Robin. He is a player who likes to take on his man and exchange one-two's. He will make diagonal runs across van Persie which will allow van Persie to exploit other areas.
Although very premature, I am looking forward to Arteta and Wilshere swapping positions and playing keep ball. With Alex Song behind them, it has the making of a very strong midfield.
Next up is possibly the toughest task in our Champions League group, Borussia Dortmund away. From now until Tuesday, the new players will have some time together to work on partnerships and understandings in training. Arsene also has the chance to reshuffle his squad a little.
Not the bright attacking and entertaining victory that we may well be seeing from other clubs right now but it is a start. We have started quickly many times over these last six years or so, like the 6-0 victory against Blackpool last season. We know how that ended.
If we can build momentum and get better as the season progresses instead of falling off from a massive height then we may well have a better end result. Plenty more gelling has to happen so I will gladly take these three points and expect improvement. thank you very much.
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