Written by Mean Lean on Monday, 13 February 2012 11:27
I've come bursting into the party celebrating but most have already left apart from a few with black bin bags throwing away rubbish that had been left behind. Laying new carpet and home improvements is very much to blame, as I am sure you have read much about the game, I will only highlight a few things about a great victory at the stadium of light.
Firstly I would like to have a little moan about the so called pitch that the players played on. This is supposed to be a massive business with millions getting turned over at clubs in the Premier League. Two footed tackles have been clamped down on due to the safety of the players on the pitch and rightly so. If that is the case then why is it still acceptable in 2012 to play on a pitch that I could come across at Sunday league level?
Whether it be wear and tear or a tactical ploy to stop our passing game, it is just not right that a game watched by so many around the world does not have the very basics from the start.
Per Mertesacker's season could well be over and the likelihood is that it was due to the state of the pitch. There is no way of saying for certain but an injury like that on a surface in that shape just seems a little more than coincidence.
The ball was rolled to Mertesacker with all the time in the world to turn and pass it back to Szczesny but he crumpled in a heap and James went McLean through on goal. He was absolutely correct in playing on, his finish was Gareth Bale-esque, across the keeper into the far corner from a tight angle.
After that a collection of players and situations that have been doubted or criticised all worked out in our favour. Firstly Aaron Ramsey. Arsene brought him on to replace Mertesacker and push back Alex Song to center back. An astute move. When I saw that Per needed to go off, I was wondering who would play left back once Vermaelen came inside, I totally missed the substitution.
Ramsey has been heavily criticised of late from a section of supporters. in fact some of the criticism of the player has been shameful, leading to some without much of a brain cell sending 'our youngster' abuse via twitter. Forget the fact that he gives everything in every game without fail, he has come through a serious injury and is still only 21 years of age. He is an outstanding talent who will be vital to us in years to come.
He has been so close on a number of occasions this season, finding himself in great goal scoring positions but either having his shots tipped round the post, blazing over the bar or hitting the keeper. This time his right footed daisy cutter hit off both posts and into the back of the net, continuing his recent impression of the grim goal reaper.
I hope that goal can spark a run of goals for the Welsh captain as he really should be hitting double figures for us with the amount of chances or shots he manages at goal, that will happen.
Previous to that Arsene Wenger brought on Thierry Henry for Oxlade-Chamberlain. Gooners are still wondering why it is Chamberlain that is being removed and not someone like Theo Walcott who was not at his best in the North East. It is nothing to do with footballing ability or indeed impact on the game like at Manchester United. Chamberlain is being protected, Arsene doesn't want him to play 90 minutes yet, he wants to protect his physical growth, wants to avoid strains, tweaks and muscle problems.
Jack Wilshere's injury has burnt Arsene and he is stepping away from this fire.
At 1-1 we were pushing to win the game whilst the likes of Frazier Campbell was often found in the full back position. It only showed the intentions of the two teams.
Andrey Arshavin came on for the closing minutes for Theo Walcott. A player who has been heavily criticised of late. He gave one inch perfect cross for van Persie who could only head straight at Mignolet. But it was Arshavin's last cross that will stick in the memory. Sunderland had two players on our wide player, like they had all game. It was the reason why Walcott, Chamberlain and van Persie failed to contribute positively to the game. Those defensive players would have expected Arshavin to have moved the ball again to make space for a cross but instead of moving the ball, he simply changed his body shape, dug his foot into the awful Sunderland turf and placed the ball into that indefensible area in between the goalkeeper and defender.
Most of the credit will go to Thierry Henry for scoring in his last Premier League game and yes he is a legend and the script was written for him once more. Henry was doubted that he could make any real contribution to our season. Some didn't want his legacy damaged, as if that would at all be possible. TH14 will have been a legend regardless but TH12 has only increased that further.
But let's get one thing right, 80% of that goal was all about Andrey Arshavin. It was harder to miss than to score and that was due to the quality of the cross.
Another criticism of the manager is his reluctance to change his system but when Henry came on, Arsene moved Tomas Rosicky to the left and pushed Thierry Henry alongside Robin van Persie. Had Gervinho or Arshavin had been on the pitch instead of Rosicky then we would not have seen that happen as Arsene likes to get the balance right by having a wide midfielder out wide rather than a wide forward.
Mertesacker's injury now means that for the first time in a long while, we are likely to see two natural full backs for the first time at Milan, we will also get the chance to see Vermaelen and Koscielny together. It is a big ask for Gibbs who hasn't played for some time to get straight in at such a high level against such a difficult opponent. He will need plenty of protection from Vermaelen and the wide attacker whoever that will be.
Going back to the Sunderland game, it was their first defeat under Martin O'Neill, it was the type of victory that had it of been Manchester United then it would have been the victory of champions. A flamboyant victory against Blackburn last week would have done us the world of good while this victory would have given us even more.
Above Chelsea in the table into fourth, Gibbs back, Santos in training. Diaby not far away either.
Keep kicking on Gooners.
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