Written by Mean Lean on Saturday, 10 December 2011 18:38

Well that was tough, it was the usual scrappy match against Everton. I had a feeling pre match that it would be a tight game as is often the case when David Moyes brings his well organised, workman like troops and today was no different.

What was surprising was the amount of chances we carved out in the first half, what wasn't a surprise was that we missed them. Barely 15 minutes had gone on the clock before Theo Walcott was scampering down the right after some great work from Arteta, Walcott's low cross, often perfect this season fell in between Ramsey and Gervinho and none of them could quite manage to reach it to tap into an empty net.

Aaron Ramsey wonderfully worked a chance for himself after Song had slipped the Welshman into the box, he turned Tim Howard and curled the ball over the unguarded net on his weaker left foot.

Ramsey is getting himself into great positions but is either not being found or not taking his chances. Once he finds his range I think he contribution to the goal difference column will be invaluable.

Gervinho also should have scored a minute later but fired at the feet of Tim Howard. A few more half chances were created before the half came to an end but we just could not get the ball over the line.

While the old saying is true that it is more of a worry when you do not create the chances, it is still a slight concern when we do not make the most of what we do make. Luckily for us we are more stable, defend better as a team so it is not as easy to punish us for being generous in front of goal.

In the second half, Everton had slammed the door shut on Tim Howard's goal and chances were far more limited as opposed to the open invite that we were given in the first half.

Robin van Persie was not having a good game, he was uncharacteristically losing possession and he was not able to influence the game as he usually does. Well that was the case until 70 minutes when Song who had played a number of over hit passes in the final third, played a perfectly floated pass to van Persie who spun off his man and volleyed first time past Howard and in off the post. A world class strike from a world class striker.

It was a game that needed something a little special in the final third and Robin provided just that, even if not playing at his best. That is what he gives us and we need that from other members of the squad. When not on song, still able to pick out that rabbit from the hat.

I thought Koscielny was outstanding playing back in his usual center back position. His desire to win the ball in the air is underrated. He is known for his ability to win the ball on the ground but I was hugely impressed with the amount of balls he won against the likes of Fellaini. Thomas Vermaelen adapted well to left back although isn't as much of an influence going forward as Santos.

Everton put in more late balls into the box in an attempt to salvage something from the game but the defence held firm. There were plenty of decent performances from our guys. Mertesacker was calm and distributed the ball very well. Arteta was his usual hardworking self. Gervinho and Walcott probed all afternoon and worked very hard for the team.

Everton managed only one effort on target over the full 90 minutes which just proves how well we defended from front to back.

All in all a very good three points and we are now in the top four, well at least until tomorrow when Chelsea take on Manchester City at Stamford Bridge. If the fundamentals of the team remain and the organisation and graft is in place from now until the end of the season then this team is capable of anything.

Long may it continue.

Man of the match: Laurent Koscielny

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Comments (6)

• 10-Dec-2011 19:09 | | raygunner
  

  Chesea play city on monday nt tomorow

• 10-Dec-2011 19:16 | | Anonymous
  

  up gunners

• 10-Dec-2011 19:42 | | MeanLean
  

  Now obviously I knew that but I was testing you, or something.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Thanks for the correction

• 10-Dec-2011 20:03 | | richie
  

  Wasn't expecting such a rapid fixture review so posted my comments on the pre match. As you say we created enough chances but we seem to have a perennial problem right across the team being clinical. This was never gonna be an easy game, like you I was uneasy before the game and after an hour that anxiety had risen sharply. The worry was that enough chances had excaped from minute 15 to 45 that we would live to regret missing so many, and so it proved 2nd half with Everton shutting up shop.
  It took a special pass to create the chance and even more of a special finish to produce the goal. Could any of our other strikers have come up with that volley? Very very doubtful, therefore the magic of a master technician earned us the 3 points, but as Thierry Henry said after the unvieling of his statute "I would've been nothing without my teamates" therefore lets not forget Alex (We've only got one) Songs contribution to a magnificient winning goal.

• 11-Dec-2011 01:47 | | Gino92  - Saved by RVP again!
  

  What a goal that was! The fact that he made it look so easy is unbelievable. Most of the time, when you try to do something like that in a game at full pace, you completely misjudge and miss the ball altogether and end up making a fool of yourself or worse, injured. Robin being in a sublime form, that was just another day in the office for him although to be fair, he was poor by his own standards, up until that point. I really hope he stays injury-free for the whole season and let's see how many goals and assists he ends up with. Too bad he never got a chance to play a full season with Fabregas. Speaking of which, how come his hamstring is no longer bothering him now that he is with Barcelona? Hummm... He is scoring plenty of goals too (a few of them being headers). Best of luck to him.
  
  Onto our very own Gervinho, I wonder what goes through his mind when he is right in front of goal trying to score. He seems to be lacking in confidence, can't quite decide what to do, and panicks. He needs to spend extra hours on the training pitch with RVP and TH14. Once he gets that confidence and swagger in front of goal, he will become the most feared attacker in the EPL and quite deadly. I noticed that defenders tend to backtrack and look terrified when he is constantly running at them throughout the game at full speed on either flank.
  As for Ramsey, he will become very important to us in the second half of the season once he Learns to shoot on target and to pass the much quicklier.
  
  Cannot wait for Wilshere, Sagna, and Santos to return. Really missed watching Santos' neat little Brazilian footwork and great passing skills.
  
  Overall, we deserved all 3 points and the whole team deserve a round of applause for not faltering when chance after chance was being squandered. I am glad we've replaced Chelsea in the top 4 but I still hope that Chelsea
  takes some points away from Man City on Monday. I am confident that we can and will definitely beat City away next weekend.
  
  Congratulations to Thierry Henry for his bronze statute. He truly deserved it. I hope Dennis Bergkamp and Arsene Wenger get one too in the near future.
  Go Gunners!!!

• 12-Dec-2011 17:45 | | richie
  

  G92, Re Cesc not having a hamstring problem and scoring. La Liga is played at a much slower pace, I know Barca's players cover an enormous amount of ground but not at speed. Hamstrings tend to be a problem when sprinting hard. Its the pace of play that causes injury I believe, and Cesc must feel like he's got all the time in the world, time to compose himself compared to the prem, all the time to score. I think its the constant relentles speed of play that after a while causes injuries. Just IMHO of course, although in another life I was a fitness coach.

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