Written by Mean Lean
on
Monday, 16 January 2012 12:23
The pattern of failing to take advantage of our rival slip ups continues after another second half where we failed to kick on and take the points from a winning position.
The pre match rumours of Mikel Arteta failing to make the squad due to injury was unfortunately correct. Typically rumours on Twitter turn out to be absolute nonsense, why can't those rumours of Mario Gotze travelling to London for a medical be the one that turns out true instead of yet another first team player being unavailable for selection.
With Wilshere, Diaby and now Coquelin all out also, Arsene had to draft in Yossi Benayoun to play in a midfield trio that had never started together before.
We had made a great start just moments after me bemoaning the fact that we rarely punish teams with our first chance of the game. Andrey Arshavin had drifted into a central position and had taken Alex Song's first time pass into his feet, he spotted the diagonal run from van Persie and slotted a perfectly weighted pass into van Persie's stride, I still don't know why Robin didn't take it earlier but he stalled and then slotted it away with the old chocolate swinger.
Credit must go to Swansea, they are a very likeable side who work hard as a team, closed us down from the first minute and tried to stop us from playing but when they got hold of the ball they were intelligent enough and technically good enough to keep it.
We cannot buy a penalty these days. Whether that be trips, hand balls or shoves. Referee's have tended to wave away our appeals so it was no surprise that Nathan Dyer's accidental stamp on Aaron Ramsey saw the referee award a penalty to Swansea City. Let us call it bad luck shall we? It is ridiculous the way it has gone over the last few months.
If these calls are supposed to mathematically even themselves up after time as we are continuously told then I expect phantom penalties to be awarded to us in all of our big games at the Emirates. Yeah right.
Szczesny couldn't get near Sinclair's penalty and the score was levelled up.
We really should have taken the lead again and I am very surprised that not much has been made of van Persie's second clear cut chance. Benayoun's reverse pass may not have been into his stride but van Persie had a clear run at Vorm and my first impression was that he should have dummied the onrushing defender and slotted with his left but instead he opted for the right again and Vorm made the simple stop as RVP fired his shot straight at him.
In a game of possession we missed the dictating play of Mikel Arteta. Swansea had Leon Britton doing that exact role for them and he used the ball very well. Aaron Ramsey and Yossi Benayoun both swapping positions could not keep the ball as well as Arteta could have done.
I can only assume that Rosicky was left on the bench due to recent illness. Surely he would have been better placed to have replaced Arteta and helped Arsenal keep the ball.
Aaron Ramsey returned back to Wales for the second time in an Arsenal shirt. Once against his former club Cardiff and now against rivals Swansea and on both occasions he was below his best. It could have been so different if his shot from a tight angle went in, instead of being hooked off the line.
Swansea took the lead when Ramsey was dispossessed in midfield and the ball was played across to Nathan Dyer to flash a high shot past Szczesny.
Thierry Henry and Tomas Rosicky were introduced for Andrey Arshavin and Yossi Benayoun just after the hour and it wasn't long after the changes that we grabbed the equaliser. Johan Djourou who had a difficult first half had improved in the second, it was his driving run and splitting pass that saw Walcott go one on one with Vorm, his chipped finish was perfect,
With a fresh Henry on the pitch and the invention of Tomas Rosicky I really thought we would go on and win the game. We had the momentum and the spark to take over the game. Astonishingly we conceded seconds later. So many bad decisions were made from Miquel pushing too far up the pitch and nobody covering for him as was the case for much of the game. Koscielny who was one of our better performers expected Szczesny to get to the ball first, Szczesny came out into no mans land and gave Graham the chance to finish and it all started with Thierry Henry giving away a loose pass from the left. A real poor goal to give away.
A team who all know their roles and the roles of their team mates do not make mistakes like those. Djourou is not a right back, Miquel is not a left back, Ramsey and Benayoun are unbalanced in midfield and Vermaelen and Koscielny is our strongest central defensive partnership. We currently have too many players out right now and that is contributing to our results.
A team of players unavailable is arguably stronger than the team that was defeated yesterday afternoon in Wales.
Fabianski
Jenkinson Sagna Vermaelen Santos
Coquelin
Arteta Wilshere
Gervinho Chamakh Diaby
It may well be seen as excuse making but we simply cannot reproduce our best form without many key players. At least five, perhaps even six of those players missing are automatic starters, that is more than half a team. The absentees of key players has also meant that Arsene is not able to rotate the squad as much as he would like and we are perhaps seeing that in players like Aaron Ramsey.
While I would like to see another go to player brought into the club, a player that has something special and can unlock doors as well as being on van Persie's wave length, I feel that the key for getting into the top four is to get our injured players back on the pitch and not pick up anymore injuries. That is easier said than done when it comes to Arsenal.
In the end three mistakes cost us the game. The referee awarding a phantom penalty, Arshavin under playing a pass and Ramsey subsequently losing possession and the mess that was the Swansea third a minute after we had equalised.
I would say that had two of our unavailable players been in the starting line up then we could have won this game but credit must go to Swansea City for their commitment, style and attitude. They should be an example to many clubs in this country and I really hope that others try and copy what Swansea have done. It would be great if we can form some sort of relationship with the club and perhaps send some of our youngsters on loan to get more game time at a club who have a similar style of play to ourselves.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was brought on in the closing stages to try and make a difference and I thought he looked very bright, hopefully this will be the start of a bright 2012 for him but it needs to be a bright 2012 for many more. This is such an important season for the squad and the future of many of the players could be dependant of securing the Champions League spots
Dropping six points from winning positions in the last two league games has been harmful but there is time yet, but our form has to change we have to find the form that catapulted us up the table. We have a week to rest legs and hopefully get Arteta and Vermaelen back in the squad, possibly even Bacary Sagna which would be a huge boost even if not 100% at his best.
There cannot be any feeling sorry for ourselves, the players need to pull their socks up and fight because if we don't then we might soon find those above us drifting out of sight.
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