Whenever I think of an away game to Everton, my mind drifts to ‘that’ game from Oct 19 2002 when Arsenal’s 30 game unbeaten run was shattered by a 16 year old Wayne Rooney (who was earning a mere £80-a-week ) in the 90th minute. Things looked so good early on when Ljunberg put Arsenal 1-0 after 8 minutes. But despite Canadian Radzinski’s 22 minute equalizer, it did appear that Arsenal might get away with a point until that last minute marker. That defeat was the first dent in Arsenal giving up the title in the 2002/03 season. And two years later on Oct 24, 2004, Rooney would damage yet another Arsenal title challenge when he dove to earn a win for Man Utd in that kick-fest of a game.
Stats:
Since that away defeat in 2002, Arsenal have lost two more times to Goodison Park (both 1-0 defeats) in their last 4 visits. In the last 5 seasons, the only time Arsenal have won both their league fixtures over Everton was in the 2004/05 season when they won 4-1 away to Everton and thrashed them 7-0 at home. And even the young Guns got into the act that season winning their Carling Cup fixture 3-1 at home.
In the last 10 league meetings between the two, Arsenal have a slight edge with 5 wins, Everton have won 3 times and the remaining two games ending in ties. Historically, Arsenal have a much better gap with 82 wins compared to Everton’s 54 victories and 36 other league games ending in draws.
Everton have not made for an easy opponent (barring that 7-0 thrashing) in recent years. Games have been close and Arsenal have always had a fight on their hands. Their grinding 1-0 win at Everton in the double winning season of 2001/02 is an example of the kind of resolve needed to win at Goodison Park. That 1-0 game back on Feb 10, 2002 was decided by a looping goal from Wiltord but that game was played on a muddy pitch and was a match of few chances and certainly not pretty football.
Current Season:
Everton have a fine form at home with 6 wins, one draw and 2 losses (1-0 to Man Utd and 2-1 to Liverpool) scoring 21 goals (7 of those home goals came in a 7-1 win over Sunderland) and conceding just 7. Whereas, Everton’s away form is not that bad with 4 wins, 2 ties and 4 defeats scoring 13 goals and letting in 11 goals. Everton put up a fight away to both Chelsea (a 1-1 tie) and Man Utd. They were 2 minutes from escaping Old Trafford with a tie until a silly mistake gifted Man Utd a 2-1 win last week. Everton’s current top-scorer is Yakubu with Tim Cahill scoring 5 times. Mikel Arteta is credited with the most assists at 5.
Away from home, Arsenal have 4 wins, 4 draws and one loss with 13 goals scored and 8 conceded. Arsenal’s home form is much better with 9 wins and 1 tie with 23 goals and just 7 let in. Adebayor is still Arsenal’s top scorer with 10 goals and Fabregas has 6 goals. Cesc leads with the most assists at 9 and Hleb is second with 4 assists. Sagna is credited with 3 assists.
Tactics:
Some managers like to change things constantly and some like to stick to the same formation and line-up no matter what the opposition. Wenger appears to fall in the latter category. Whereas, Rafa liked to tinker line-ups and formations constantly. Jose was the extreme in making changes as early as 30 minutes if he didn’t like how things were going. Sometimes, the different gambles pay off and sometimes not.
One thing is certain — Everton will not provide any gifts to Arsenal on Sat and will make very difficult. So Arsenal have to be on top form. What tactics or players can help fight a defiant Everton? Have at it.
December 28th, 2007 at 10:04 am
“Some managers like to change things constantly and some like to stick to the same formation and line-up no matter what the opposition. Wenger appears to fall in the latter category”
Indeed. The whole thing is very simple actually: If both van Persie and Ade are fit, we will be playing 4-4-2 regardless of home or away, regardless of if the oppostions are Man U or Derby.
If one of them is missing, we would be playing 4-5-1 regardless of home or away, regardless of oppositions as well.
And when the day AW feels either Eduardo/Bendtner/Walcott is ready to lead the line up front partnering van Persie or Ade, we will be playing 4-4-2 regardless of home or away, regardless of oppositions.
That’s the way it is I believe. Apart from the less important competition like Carling Cup.
In short, we are playing the 4-5-1 more often lately not because of the opposition nor playing away, more down to the fact van Persie was absent. Arsenal under Wenger has rarely changed its tactic based on different oppositions. More down to the players available.
December 28th, 2007 at 11:01 am
Great news!!!
Gallas is fit and will play tomorrow and Eboue will be rested. So both of them are great news aren’t they? lol
As for the tactics or players, all I want is to see Wenger fields 4-4-2, regardless who plays, we are much better when we play with two upfront.
December 28th, 2007 at 11:49 am
I think Eboue being “rested” is clearly a pretense. Eboue does not need rest any more than anyone else who regularly starts on the team and in fact probably less because he is almost always taken out of the game in the second half. Eboue’s rest signals that Wenger is going to change the formation to a 4-4-2 from the inception of the game rather than at its conclusion. The only possible way this might not happen is if Wenger now starts Eduardo on the wing but I think he will start Bendtner instead as a true striker. This is the change in formation for which everyone on this site and other Arsenal fan sites clamored. I hope it works.
December 28th, 2007 at 1:27 pm
bendtner definitely deserves a starting place, and i hope he gets it 2moro. eboue should be rested till he reaches the ANC.
i also hope for walcott, eduardo, song and diarra on the bench.
anybody heard rumors about heinz muller coming in?? never heard of him….but he is 6ft 5in so that is good at least LOL
December 28th, 2007 at 1:27 pm
AW has always said that hasn’t he. “I don’t look at opposition managers and how they play because you might very well spend a lot of time trying to contain a player and then you find out he’s not playing”. So he tellshis team…look ur good enough to beat anyone and good enough to adapt to their tactics on field….so just remember to keep doing what you are good at and the result will come…obviously this doesn’t work all the time…no manager has ever got it perfect. I remember Mourinho bringing on all 3 subs at halftime against Newcastle when Kluivert scored a bullet header in the 4th minute…and ending up with 9 men on pitch and Glen Johnson in goal…crappy tactics and no doubt Chelsea fans would have moaned endlessly about how Mourinho lost it for them. So does that mean he is a bad tactician?No? Didnt think so either…
As for the preview Rooney on 80 pounds is very interesting and he scored a cracker as well..didnt he..old Seaman didnt have a chance…anyway I’m hoping we don’t drop points tomorrow but I guess it’s almost inevitable. Still addicted to Kool-Aid as I am..I’ll be hoping for a win as usual :). I won’t be surprised to see Ade come off the bench and give Bendtner and Eduardo a start tomorrow..either way Ade will also need a rest sometime..he’s no machine. The threat of Arteta, Cahill in CM and Yakubu upfront plus the aerial presence of Stubbs, Lescott, Hibbert and Yobo makes for a very tight game. Add to it a rainy north west late kickoff at Goodison Park and you’ll feel positively despondent.
Still it’s not gloom..I didnt think we were as poor as was made out to be. A 4-5-1 on either side caused the stalemate. Still ofcourse since we’re supposed to roll over every team we play and have a divine right to a trophy every season I guess we failed and are now doomed since Spurs are on a high and will finish above us after we lose to Sunderland at the Stadium of Light to a 93rd minute penalty. Over-reaction…you say?? .. Oh wait….
The 4-4-2 is not exactly a magic bullet nor is the 4-5-1. The only reason the 4-5-1 stopped working was because the midfield wasn’t scoring again. Its hardly rocket science and wasn’t some great prediction as people are making it out to be. I mean…yes good for you if you got it right though. The point Fred made about repetitive goals — quite a good point ; simple to repeat — simple to execute == more goals. But then again Arsenal have rarely ever played with a fox in the box..have they? No use clamoring for easy goals when you know its not going to happen.
Anyway here’s the side AW will put out:
Almuia
Sagna Toure Gallas Clichy
Hleb Flamini Cesc Mozart
Bendtner(Ade on after 60″) Eduardo
December 28th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
Forgot…I think we’ll draw though atleast .. 1-1….somehow though I feel since we’re being unanimously written off.. the guys might want to prove everyone wrong again…. and do something special…u never know…
December 28th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
If we start with 4-5-1, we’ve lost.
If we start with 4-4-2, we still might lose, because Everton are in good form and very strong at home - and Arsenal are struggling a little - but we have a better chance of getting something out of the game with 2 up front.
If we’re going to fail, let’s fail by giving it a real go, not playing 1 up front and waiting for Cahill to score from a set piece etc. I want Arsenal to fight for the title, no be passive and negative.
We are not Chelsea, and cannot play like Chelsea - so there’s no point trying. Adebayor is not Drogba and Flamini is not Essien and Fabregas is not Lampard (a goalhanger who scores 20 goals a season).
December 28th, 2007 at 7:54 pm
Villagegunner, I agree Eboue’s being dropped because Wenger wants to play a 4-4-2 but you never really know what else. I also agree with DannyT that we should play to win and not play like a bunch of pussies. I’d like to see us attack Everton. It doesn’t mean we’ll win but let’s, atleast, pose a real goal threat.
Everton are a team I thought in pre-season would be a top quality side. They’ve got some old heads but also have some good young players that ran James Beattie out of there as well. Arteta is fantastic but he’ll have to hide from our fullbacks. Hopefully we play to win like champions do.
December 28th, 2007 at 8:26 pm
Eboue is rested. Does that mean a start for Bendtner or Diaby? Makes it interesting.
I think that this is our most difficult game of the season. Unlike Liverpool, Utd or Chelsea, Everton will not feel obliged to attack. They have a good defecne (just like Portsmouth who made it two games at home in a row shutting us out) but they are more dangerous than Portsmouth. If we win this, predictions of a Premiership-winning season don’t look too bad. On the other hand, even if we lose, we are the only serious challengers to the champions at this stage.
December 28th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
Oh, by the way, tried to post a comment a couple of times recently but failed. Was it my computer and protection software or a problem with the site?+
December 29th, 2007 at 2:22 am
We’re going to beat Everton.
1-0 or 2-0.
Its all going to be alright.
Don’t worry, be happy.
December 29th, 2007 at 2:24 am
Everton are a good team on a very good run of form and have a good record at home against us. They will certainly fancy their chances, the way we have been playing recently.
For us to have any chance of winning this game, we will need Cesc and/or Hleb to really step up their game. And for our strikers to be sharp so that we can take our chances when they come, unlike at Pompey.
I think it will be a draw.
December 29th, 2007 at 6:30 am
I think even with Eboue rested Wenger will still play 4-5-1. This is an away game against formidable opposition. A midfield lineup of Hleb/Cesc/Flamini/Rosicky would appear to weak against a team of Everton’s caliber. They would really out muscle us. Not that Eboue is a power horse but a five man midfield can cope rather than a 4 man midfield of weaklings.
I predict
———————–Almunia————————-
Sagna——-Toure———-Gallas———Clichy
Hleb–Cesc–Flamini–Diaby/Diarra–Rosicky
———————–Adebayor————————-
December 29th, 2007 at 7:00 am
Stag??? Is that you???
December 29th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
2pts from our last 9 on the road. Arsenal will not be confident going into this - I think we’ll lose 2-1, maybe 3-1 if Gallas is out.
December 29th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Looks like Man U is winning against West Ham. Need to win this one to keep up with them. Hopefully we see a better performance than Wednesday.
December 29th, 2007 at 12:37 pm
This is certainly something. Ronaldo missed a penalty and the Hammers got a header from Ferdinand to equalize. Looking good, but still about 15 minutes to go.
December 29th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
West Ham are up 2-1.
December 29th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
Speaking of tough job for managers. Avram Grant has gotten the anger of the fans with his two sub so far. Ofcourse, taking Joe Cole wouldn’t have made the home fans happy, but they were not happy with Ballack going off.
And then there is Big Sam who was caught furiously shouting someting at Taylor. Taylor then questioned his manager to which Big Sam shouted something like ….Pizarro.
December 29th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
Wow, another former Arsenal player doing proud. Upson scoring against ManU.
Now, if Arsenal can flood the EPL with enough ex-players, then maybe they can all help in taking ManU down
December 29th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
ManU have lost. What a great chance for Arsenal. I hope we can at least draw.
December 29th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
Amazing. Upson the hero. Who would have thought that?
Reading are on the wrong end of another goal thriller. Like their 7-4 loss to Portsmouth, they lost 6-4 to Spurs (of all teams).
Chelsea were really lucky to have gotten a win
December 29th, 2007 at 12:58 pm
and Boro have beaten Pompey at Fratton Park.
December 29th, 2007 at 1:00 pm
Kalou was offside for Chelsea’s winning goal.
December 29th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
Wenger has “rested” all the three players I have been saying need competition. It’s Eduardo, Bendtner and Diaby for Ade, Eboue and Rosicky. It’s Bendtner’s first league start.
December 29th, 2007 at 1:10 pm
Yet another away game start for Eduardo after Blackburn, Newcastle and Boro.
December 29th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
YES!!!
West Ham 2-1 Man U
This is a golden opportunity boys. What was a 1 pt. lead at the week’s start and a 1 pt. defecit at mid-week can be a 2-pt. lead at week’s end… Ahh, that’s the beauty of the Premiership, in all its glory.
December 29th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
LDE, you were right in that Eduardo and Bendtner get a start today.
December 29th, 2007 at 1:17 pm
we are playing without Adebayor and bendtner and dudu are starting. UNmph maybe the prof is reading the comments here
December 29th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
Almunia landed awkardly there and clutched his back right away.
Bendtner really going in with a wild challenge. That could have gone wrong.
December 29th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
Can’t tell if something was thrown at Kolo? He went down with no player around.
December 29th, 2007 at 1:37 pm
Fear realized. Cahill from a set-piece
December 29th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
Typical Everton game. Cahill has scored from a set piece and Arsenal are totally rattled giving away stupid and dangerous fouls.
December 29th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
Arsenal need to calm down. Bendtner got a silly yellow card. And a few tempers in midfield.
December 29th, 2007 at 1:50 pm
The ref got a good call and saw Arteta’s cheap dive.
December 29th, 2007 at 1:57 pm
Now it’s raining too. So much a repeat of our previous games there.
December 29th, 2007 at 1:58 pm
Yakubu tried to dive and get a penalty/send off like he did at Boro last year. Didn’t get it.
December 29th, 2007 at 1:59 pm
Another good ref call. Yakubu was looking for a penalty and the ref got that right as well.
December 29th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
The weather, the crowd and the pitch are not helping Arsenal. But there is no excuse for losing our cool. We need to calm down and fight back.
December 29th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
Well, 1-0 down and still not playing well looks like the formation and personnel change is not working just yet
December 29th, 2007 at 2:09 pm
I don’t know, I thought they started to look better near the end of the half. It gives me hope for the 2nd. Well, at any rate, with the rain, the bad pitch, and the Everton home crowd, I guess a draw would not be too bad, considering that Man U lost.
December 29th, 2007 at 2:12 pm
How many goals does Cahill have to score for us to start man marking him at set pieces. Guess who was the culprit? Kolo Toure. It was also him that kind of carelessly gave away the corner.
December 29th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
You have to laugh don’t you. Every time we’ve played Everton at Goodison for the last four years its been a fucking monsoon. And Cahill scores the obligatory set-piece with quite pathetic defending from Toure and co.
Everyone has played like a bunch of losers but on close inspection alot of our defensive problems originate from indecision between Toure and Sagna. Especially Sagna, who has been pretty shit for a while now. Liability defensively and poor going forward.
Arsenal must be the easiest team to get corners against in the league. Just a simple hoof down the channel and Toure will contrive to give away a corner in every way imaginable.
Wenger must be scrathing his head as to how Eduardo can look sharp in the Carling Cup and to be looking completely out of his depth in the league. The blame for this shambles lies with the players.
December 29th, 2007 at 2:14 pm
Here your 442…..
December 29th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
The game will slow down considerably in the second half and when it does possession will fall to Cesc and Hleb. And when that happens I am sure we can get at least a draw - which is fantastic given that Everton have real quality.
Most important thing is for the game to slow down.They were swarming us but they cant do that for 90 minutes.
December 29th, 2007 at 2:24 pm
Eduardo does it. Route 1 football. Man, what a finisher. Keep at it, Dudu.
December 29th, 2007 at 2:24 pm
Sagna is hardly a much better crosser than Clichy, considering how much stick we give Clichy.
December 29th, 2007 at 2:27 pm
Hahahah…Eduardo! First league goal…..Just leave him in the box….he should be nowhere else lol.
December 29th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
Eduardo is coooooooool, he mush have ice water in his veins
December 29th, 2007 at 2:35 pm
Eduardo has done it again!!! Just give him the ball near the box.
December 29th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
Wow, I just saw the goal, Sopcast must be on a delay.
December 29th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
Eduardo baby! As I said, just leave him in the box dont tell him to build up play.
December 29th, 2007 at 2:46 pm
Missed both goals but hey they are winning. Wonder if I should stop watching the game now and maybe Arsenal will score again.
December 29th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Ade ready to come on…
December 29th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
Eduardo is a real class finisher. Just waiting for the hat trick…
December 29th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
Andy Johnson is on as well. Will be a nervy final 20 min.
December 29th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
Bendtner is off for a silly foul.
December 29th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
and we are down to 10 men…
December 29th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
A red card for Bendtner. Noooo…
December 29th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Damn, Bendter is off!!!!
December 29th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
Might help to put Rosicky for Hleb to help the defense.
December 29th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
Sure enough, the commentators proudly trot out the stats for red cards under Wenger at #71. Seriously, when will they stop with this red card count?
December 29th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
we are undee the cosh now
December 29th, 2007 at 2:55 pm
Ade does it. See what competition for places can do to you. LDE, are you listening?
December 29th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
ADE YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
I was wrong. Everton did give us a gift
December 29th, 2007 at 2:58 pm
Hleb gave away a stupid free kick which could have been costly. Damn you, Hleb, haven’t you learned from last year’s CL experience? Good to see him replaced by Diarra.
December 29th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
Arteta is off with some help from Cesc. Good to see Everton rattled for a change.
December 29th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
wow this is getting ugly
December 29th, 2007 at 3:03 pm
Looks like Flamini just got his 5th yellow card of th season.
December 29th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
Rosicky for Cesc. Good decision. Don’t want another red card.
December 29th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
Rosicky does his usual scoring a late goal routine.
December 29th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
didn’t see the 4th goal, sopcast is dying…
December 29th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
Well, Eduardo is man of the match for me
December 29th, 2007 at 3:12 pm
We have done it!!!
Was it the 4-4-2? Don’t know. But I know for sure that it was cool finishing. How ironic that the day I questioned our over reliance on RvP, Eduardo stepped up. Have we finally found our fox in the box?
Did anyone see how Ade was pumped up when he came on? Certainly, it had to do with the fact that he was fresh. But I am sure it also had to do with Eduardo scoring two. When there is competition for your place, you try harder. That’s how it is everywhere.
December 29th, 2007 at 3:14 pm
The score line might flatter us but it does our goal difference no harm. Still behind ManU.
December 29th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
Our best formation gotta be 4-4-1. 100% record this season!!!
Eduardo’s finish, COOL as ice!
Adebayor’s third goal….. a type of goal Henry would never score. A reward of our hardworking striker.
December 29th, 2007 at 3:20 pm
I’ve never seen a team play so badly and win 4-1. Arsenal were no better than they were at Middlesbrough, and 4-4-2 made no difference. Absurd result, but very grateful nonetheless. Just goes to show, there’s a lot more to football than tactics alone.
By the way, the officiating was hideous. Arteta should never have been sent off, great acting by Fabregas. Bendtner should have got a straight red, not a yellow - terrible tackle. Eduardo handballed both before goals and got away with both. Neville did the most ridiculous dive ever, which the referee said was a dive but never booked him. I think there was a few more as well.
Anyway, as I told you - Man Utd will drop points and Arsenal are top of the league and have just got rid of a whole bunch of nasty away games. Great stuff. Let’s hope the kids can make another leap in the second half of the season, first half was men against boys, in fact the whole match was.
December 29th, 2007 at 3:21 pm
Excellent. Two points at the top to round the year off!!!! Year couldnt have ended better.
Too bad bendtner has rolled back some of his gains with regards to first team chances. I dont think Wenger was happy with him at all. Happily he will just miss one game.
But I think in general he is a better partner for Eduardo than Adebayor because he can make good headed flicks. And we all know Eduardo lives off flicks. LOL: Anyway, I guess an Ade-Eduardo is good enough for against West Ham.
We have also made up good ground with regards to goal difference! Awesome!!!
December 29th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
Great match for an Arsenal fan
My goodness..Eduardo is cool on the finish….in fact whenever he has scored both in in the blackburn game as well as today…i have to convince myself that it is a goal…he makes the finish look so easy that it doesn’t even look like a goal
ANd i think somebody said something about the commentators…dunno what these guys have against Arsenal ..comments like “They are used to playing with 10 men ..and 71st and counting”..felt like watching the match on mute after that.
But on top of the league with the holiday fixture list almost near a close
..feels great 
December 29th, 2007 at 3:40 pm
One thing’s for certain, Eduardo is a cold-hearted assassin in front of goal. He’s the new Wright, make no mistake about it.
December 29th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
A game of two halves. First half was indeed awful. I think we didn’t manage a single shot on goal. The link between the front two and midfield was cut off. Like the Boro game, our midfield got overrun again. And this time around we got Cesc.
Second half we got a lucky break early, Eduardo’s first goal changed the pattern of the game. Still, we didn’t really create much clear cut chances.
We need Cesc to pick up his form. The quicker the better.
December 29th, 2007 at 3:44 pm
How sweet is that.
Cocky ManU got stuffed, their big talk doesn’t look so clever now. Couldn’t hold their lead for long could they?
We end the year 1st….sweet.
Dudu breaks his EPL duck with an ice cool double….sweet. That is what we needed, goals that our play didn’t particularly deserve but that we desparately needed. Has this guy got ice in his veins or what? Shame he couldn’t get the hat trick.
Bendtner showed good touches and intelligence (not for the cards) but we saw again that playing up front in the EPL is a hard physical job. Those who have criticised Ade doing the job by himself should have another look - he came on and looked more physically able.
What a confidence booster for the team. You could see what it meant at the end to the players. Another coming of age game for them. Even during the game there was an edge, like the team knew this was a critical game with a lot riding on it.
I like Moyes, but frankly I get tired of these teams who set out to play all over our players. Justify it how you like but it’s plain boorish, so beating them 4-1 after giving the a goal start is paricularly sweet.
December 29th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
The second half was awful as well. Everton controlled the game from start to finish, although Arsenal defended quite well - at least Toure and Gallas did.
Arsenal had 4 chances in the whole match and scored the lot. The first two probably should have been disallowed, the third was suicide, the fourth - well it was all over by then.
Completely unconvincing - but delighted with this hilarious comeback.
December 29th, 2007 at 3:50 pm
the 4-4-2 was OK. they just havent played it in the league for quite a while so they needed to get used to it and the fewer men in midfield. and ofcourse it wasnt helped by the fact that fabregas and hleb are still very much off form.
with two strikers at least their CBs are occupied and you can then search for mistakes from them.
December 29th, 2007 at 3:54 pm
But their CBs weren’t occupied. Bendtner did fuck all.
Anyway, I applaud the logic behind changing to 4-4-2.
December 29th, 2007 at 4:03 pm
No point over-analysing the game, we aren’t playing with a good level of fluency. Our passing game is off. Our final balls are really bad by our standards. Bendtner and Dudu still look light weight although Dudu’s goals show what he is about.
BUT. It’s all about points. Our game will tune up again. We just need to keep accumulating points even during this spell. That’s why this result is particualrly sweet. How often have we played teams off the park in the last 2 seasons but come away with a draw or loss?
This team is showing the ability to win no matter what. That is real progress.
December 29th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
Nope Danny…first was not handball…watch it again…its just below the shoulder socket…second yep…handball…glad he got a yellow after trying it again…when you’ve got so much ability why do you want to cheat? I dont get it at all. Ade made a big difference when he came on.
Bendtner = Straight red
Arteta = Not malicious. Yellow …not straight red. Big team favouring again?? I’m sick of it..really
December 29th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
well, he did give the flick for eduardo’s second. and all our goals bar the last were from CB errors. we played poor granted, but the fact is if the CBs have to watch 2 running forwards they are more likely to make mistakes than watching just one.
anyway, the main problem with our play today was that fabregas and hleb could not get a foothold on the game. that is all.
if the two had got on the ascendancy, they would have slowed the game and we would have prevailed classily….ironically we probably would have scored fewer goals if they did. lol.
December 29th, 2007 at 4:10 pm
OFFTOPIC: Another death on the park. Its getting scary.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=494438&cc=5739
December 29th, 2007 at 4:11 pm
Diaby was pretty awful too. In fact the whole midfield was complete pants. The first 3 goals were all long ball punts. If we played the same game next week we could just as easy lose 4-1.
December 29th, 2007 at 4:11 pm
@ LDE 87: you are right the first was def. not an handball, the second and the one he was carded for were but they werent intentional in my view. he didnt cheat.
yeah, bendtner was supposed to be straight red.
as for arteta…..most refs wont have red-carded him, cos that happens in a lot of games unpunished, but by the letter of the law, it was a red card.
i think the fact there was some altercation some minutes before that incident was what doomed arteta - cos the ref thought it was more than it really was.
whatever i dont feel sorry for em. we have had bad luck too.
December 29th, 2007 at 4:13 pm
Yeah, the 4-4-2 didn’t really change the flow of our game. As I suspected already, the cow has already bolted in terms of our players hitting the wall.
However the changing to 4-4-2 was the reason we won that game. As I said yesterday, Everton have become used to us trying to play around them for the last two years, and I thought Eduardo could kill them by taking up central positions. That’s the last thing teams like Everton expect from us. Granted, in the first half that never looked like materialising but in the second we saw what can happen when we have a system that dilutes our pussy-footing and lets us simplify the game. Still, both goals could have conceivably been disallowed for handball and Adebayor’s goal was a joke.
Moyes was 100 % right. The better team lost. Arsenal were resilient but our offensive game has been shot to pieces.
December 29th, 2007 at 4:14 pm
@ danny, you just said the entire midfield was pants………..and that was true. so why not just bypass them all together? as long as it does not become a long term plan there is nothing wrong with it.
December 29th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
I agree, I’m not complaining, just saying what happened. Arsenal were total shit but won 4-1, that was the match. I’m very happy about it - but the team needs to find its form sooner rather than later if it seriously wants to challenge for the title.
December 29th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
@Mazza: Look at it again…it wasn’t handball..it was teh armpit..if at all there’s such a thing..its the part between where the shoulder connects with the arm…
@nip#64 and everywhere :): I agree..competition is great and Ade looked great and charged up. I never disagreed on that..did I? I just said , its hard to keep high quality players happy on the bench. For eg. Now what happens when RVP comes back fit n raring to go? Do we bench Eduardo after that performance? Its hard on the guy — yes they are professionals. But its hard to understand why you’ve been dropped after you’ve performed in a big game at a tough Goodison Park.
December 29th, 2007 at 4:20 pm
i have a strong feeling we will play MUCH better in the next game. fabregas and hleb should be OK in the familiar emirates and with hopefully ok weather.
the only reason everton outplayed us was cos they out-worked us not out-skilled us.
besides how many times have we played against comical defenders and keepers and made them look like bloody heroes……today was the opposite.
December 29th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
Interesting game…thrilled about the result.
We were outplayed in the middle of the park in the first half and I wonder if AW just told the boys to bypass the midfield altogether with the long ball, which obviously worked…..no wonder AW calls Eduardo “his secret weapon”……well the secret is out. Once the second goal went in, everton lost the plot and we actually defended well against the kind of situation that has been historically our downfall.
Bendtner had an awful day: this is not a prophetic statement as it was there for all to see. His ball control, passing, positioning, and mental attitude were awful; and that tackle, not that far behind from Carvalho’s on Gabbie. It deserved a straight red.
I agree that the officiating was horrific and inconsistent. It seems to be in the water as Chelski’s second goal had two active players offside but it was given anyway.
Just as last week, the adage of “if you miss a penalty, you lose the game” still stands…..I am glad this time it was Ronaldo.
I don’t think West Ham can get anything out of the game on New Year’s, but we’ll see….
December 29th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
first goal by eduardo def wasnt hand ball.
we played a bit better in the second half and towards the end of the first, but our midfield was still over-run and looked lightweight as compared to everton’s.
but its the result that counts, and boy does this one count. we’ve been at the receiving end of so many of these types of losses, not in margin but in theme, boss the game opposition has 2 chances and scores whilst we miss 15! cska moscow comes to mind, so its good to win that way for a change.
a few negative thoughts (just to balance things out) -
but yeah we could play like this next week and lose.
toure is great at the last ditch stuff and giving it your all but he is rather daft for a defender, giving away needless corners and penalties (aliadiere, berbatov). commitment and pace arent everything, you need a bit of guile and common sense too.
we must be the worst crossers in the league, clichy and sagna (who seemed to be good when he arrived). I’ve played enough football to know that things like crossing you can just practice and get, so why dont we?
great to end the year on top though, step back and think, how many of us so this in august? ..its great to be a gooner
December 29th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
I don’t think you can intentionally replicate today’s performance - too much luck, and Everton committed suicide really.
The fact is that when a Wenger team is on fire, nobody can stop it no matter what - but when it’s not on fire, it’s pretty easy to negate. Tactics don’t really come into it that much, if Arsenal play well they win, when they don’t they lose - usually. It’s not like Chelsea the last few years, who played shitty football constantly but kept winning because nobody could ever get through them.
A good example is the Champions League, where Wenger has no tactics. He just sends the team out and crosses his fingers, if they play well then they’ll win, if they don’t they’re out. Whereas other teams implement tactics and can sway the result in their favour when not at their best. Teams like Liverpool.
December 29th, 2007 at 4:32 pm
A rating for what its worth:
Almunia: Not at fault for the goal. Did nothing otherwise.
Clichy: His pace is such an asset that it makes up for other shortcomings he might have. Decent game though. Everton play a fairly similar central system to ours hence he was not tested much.
Sagna: Not as solid in the last few games. Decent enough but not as good. People are cutting inside more often these days.
Toure: Cracking cracking performance. Bailed out the team quite a bit. Was not panicky at all..though he might have gotten into that needless brawl.
Gallas: Decent enough I guess.If you analyze carefully and unbiasedly he has probably made mistakes as well which have cost us at times. His experience and never say die spirit injection into the team though has worked wonders..he can be forgiven I guess
Cesc: Horrible. Showed a gritty defensive side but going forward he was awful. He’s also developing this dirty overacting habit. Not yet cheating — but its very close.
Hleb: Anonymous.Totally anonymous. Send both of them to Bermuda for a vacation
Diaby: Leggy, flicky n a bit of a physical presence but really Everton ran over us first half even with him in there.Average.
Flamini:In your face all the time. Never stopped running as usual. Infact he looked more the playmaker today than Cesc.
Bendtner: You can see the raw talent and also that he’s not yet ready to start games regularly. Rash dirty challenge and at sleep for the goal(maybe harsh) but overall great intelligence dropping deep and linking play. Seems to have a good understanding going with Eduardo.
Eduardo: Did nothing really. 2 chances = 2 goals. Could’ve had a third. Iceman. Hope he never handles a ball again. Talented. Secret Weapon? AW Knows.
December 29th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
You know what, you guys don’t deserve to be Arsenal fans. You second guess when we win pretty, you second guess when we win ugly, you second guess when we tie, and you second guess when we lose. Screw you all. They pulled it out of the hat. They didn’t give up. They showed heart and courage. They won a game they had no business winning. You all except Stag predicted a loss and it’s hilarious reading you all falling over yourselves to explain how Arsenal won. As I said last week, Wenger has forgotten more about football than any of you will ever know. You don’t have the right, knowledge, intellectual firepower to begin criticizing him. At least have the decency to admit you were wrong.
December 29th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
@mazza, luckily even “joke” goals count. we would be vilifying our defenders/keeper if they had done that. you cant do crap like that on the football field and claim to be the better team.
jagielka also got “owned” by eduardo…twice!
and the first wasnt handball and the second wasnt intentional, it was ball to hand and not the other way around. either ways these kind of things only even out (any one remember a disallowed goal for henry at moscow, last year i think?)
December 29th, 2007 at 4:39 pm
@village gunner: gotta agree with you a bit man, sadly it often seems on this site people are hoping more for their predictions to come true than for arsenal to win.
…being an armchair expert is part of being a fan
as for the opinions, thats our rite as fans
December 29th, 2007 at 4:42 pm
also think almunia was decent, he held onto a couple of skimmers that on the wet surface mite have been a bit tricky
December 29th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
Stag predicted a win because Stag is an idiot. The result does not detract from the fact that Stag is an idiot. He had no basis from which to predict and win and gave no sound reasons for it.
I was wrong about the result, but I wasn’t wrong about the performance - it was garbage. The fact is, Arsenal were very poor, nothing like their best, but I’m also very happy my prediction was wrong and grateful for the three points. As a supporter it’s always a bonus to win a game that you’ve been totally outplayed in - but more performances like that will only result in a string of bad results in the long run.
By the way villagegunner, I haven’t read a single post criticising Wenger regarding this performance. It’s not his fault Arsenal are playing crap and I agree with his starting formation.
December 29th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
No, we don’t second guess anything VillageGunner. We tell it as it is. What do you want us to do? Watch ninety minutes of football and then come on here rewrite history?
As you said, we won a game we had no business winning and we’re all absolutely delighted with that, but it doesn’t mean we can’t call a spade a spade.
December 29th, 2007 at 4:51 pm
@danny: why are u getting so personal with stag, that was rather uncalled for? :O
i agree the midfield was over-run especially in the first half, and i would even go as far as saying it was “garbage” but the defence stood firm and the strikers scored goals. dont think either of that part of arsenals performance was “garbage”.
also think wenger did well with the “tactics” today. good subs as well, especially ade for edu was important.
December 29th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
@indian_gooner: just called a spade a spade.
Actually Adebayor was actually coming on for Bendtner, then Wenger had to change it to Eduardo because Bendtner got sent off.
December 29th, 2007 at 4:58 pm
You don’t know squat, Mazza. You predicted Arsenal would lose this game. You were wrong. Own it. You analyze every game as if you could do a better job than Wenger. You write after every game including this one that you predicted correctly some aspect of it, if not the result. Why are you not managing at least in the Conference if you are so smart. As for your comment that “we’re all absolutely delighted” with the result. You could have fooled me. All I can tell from your posts is that you care much more about justifying your stupid predictions than whether the team won or lost.
As for you, DannyT, I generally respect what you write and agree with what you say. The performance was not garbage; Everton outplayed us in the first half. We outplayed them in the second half, it may not have been pretty but we converted our chances and took advantage of the opportunities afforded us. They began losing their cool. From my perspective, this was a big-time win by a team that had every business folding today under horrid conditions (crappy field and steady downpour). It did not. Don’t get swayed by Mazza and the other soccer geniuses on this site. You are a real Gooner and this was a win of a type that we typically did not get in the past. We showed heart and balls. Celebrate it.
December 29th, 2007 at 5:02 pm
I wonder how long Eduardo will get away with doing that near post finish when he’s one on one with the keeper. He feints then puts it in the left corner. Brilliant.
Soon keepers must realise what he’s gonna do though. Interesting to see how Eduardo adapts to a keeper who refuses to commit.
December 29th, 2007 at 5:08 pm
I am not swayed by anyone and have disagreed plenty with the likes of Mazza in the past. The fact is, Arsenal were outplayed in both halves - but just because you are outplayed doesn’t mean you cannot win. Usually you don’t, but sometimes you can get lucky, and Arsenal did.
Everton’s horrendous defending and a blind referee made all the difference at the end of the day. I very much doubt Wenger said to his players at half time, “whack long balls up to Eduardo and see what happens”, do you? It’s really not the Arsenal way and never has been.
I’m not denying there weren’t some positive aspects from the game, like Eduardo’s finishing and decent defending from Toure and Gallas. But the fact is, if we put that sort of performance in the next 10 away games, we’ll be lucky to get 1 point from any of them. In over 25 years of watching Arsenal I have never seen us play so badly and win 4-1. In my book, that’s a fact, but not a criticism.
December 29th, 2007 at 5:11 pm
@Mazza, I think when you’re one on one with a keeper the striker always has the advantage and there’s not much a keeper can do really as long as the striker is composed. And few are as composed in front of goal as Eduardo is. His decision-making is lightning quick and very instinctual. That’s what separates great strikers from good strikers, the boy has a very bright future.
December 29th, 2007 at 5:11 pm
“You write after every game including this one that you predicted correctly some aspect of it, if not the result.”
That’s because I generally do VillageGunner. I called out the crap we served up in the second half against Villa and predicted a drop in form and results. Guess what? We did proceed to play like shit for the whole month of December and have been extremely fortunate to have picked up points we have in every game bar Chelsea and Portsmouth.
Your the one that knows feck all about football and indulges in cliche’ revisionism which a ten year old could muster up.
December 29th, 2007 at 5:12 pm
This game was all about Eduardo. The midfield and Bendtner did jack all game. We were really poor today for the whole 90 minutes really just like last week however the difference today is we had one clinical striker on the pitch. I really dont remember any other chances we created outside of the goals. That says is all. I am happy about the result but we really need to do something different and pick up our game in order to win the game. This result certainly helps.
December 29th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
Ok; we’ve all staked out our respective positions. Clearly, we disagree. II believe we’re all genuine Arsenal fans (notwithstanding what I wrote in post #109 which was admittedly over the top) and that regardless of our views on today’s match, we hope that Arsenal draws strength and inspiration from this turn of events (the win and the unexpected ManU loss) that sustains it for the remainder of the season. May they make us proud!!
December 29th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
Yes, sometimes a bit of luck like today can turn a fragile psychology. Let’s hope so. We have easier games coming up, no doubt - so hopefully the performances will gradually start to improve until we’re playing great football again.
I don’t care what anyone says, the team is still young and inexperienced, and has a lot of improvement in them. Whether it’s enough to win the title, we’ll have to wait and see. I am very happy with the season so far, there’s no reason not to be.
December 29th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
The biggest thing the 4-4-2 gave us was it allowed us to keep our point of attack in a central position. If Bendtner dropped deep then Eduardo was still there and vice-versa. With Ade as a lone striker who moves all over, there’s no point of attack for our offense. Even when Henry started in the 4-5-1 he drifted like Bergy was still in the middle and it was ineffective. Arsenal lost a lot of points. It wasn’t until after he was injured and watched Reyes play the lone striker stay central and be much more effective that he began to realize how important that is. You’ve got to have a point of attack.
It was an absolute pleasure to watch Eduardo receive the ball and, before he even shot, to KNOW that he was going to score. This guy could be as good as Crespo, maybe better. DannyT said it tonight and I said it after the Blackburn game that Eduardo’s a cold-blooded assassin. It’s nice to have one of those on your team. You could see the relief on his face after breaking his BPL duck. Congrats to him.
No one has mentioned Rosicky’s goal but I rather enjoyed it. I’ve scored quite a few goals that same way. You look far post and the keeper slides. Then one of his dumbass defenders blocks his view and you spank it near post. By the time the keeper sees the ball, it’s half way there and before he can react, it’s in the net. Sweet action.
A few of you were kind of harsh on Kolo for the corner that led to the Everton goal. When you’re playing at that level and moving that fast, things happen really quickly. As for the goal, I personally don’t like defending a corner with everyone in the area. I believe if you can’t defend a corner with ten people, you can’t defend with eleven. Arsenal have been so crap at it that Wenger’s gone to that extreme. But if you’re going to do that then there should be a player on each post. There should be a righty on the left post and a lefty on the right post. That way they can clear with their stronger foot. I know you guys are sick of me talking tactics but I just love everything about this game. I’ll just leave it alone.
December 29th, 2007 at 5:28 pm
I almost predicted a 3-2 scoreline this morning but I don’t like to predict when I don’t have a clue who’s playing. I’m just happy we played to win.
It’s kind of hard to say that Everton deserved to win. I don’t remember Almunia making a lot of saves and I don’t remember them creating that many good chances.
December 29th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
It’s strange with this team. In terms of pure technique this is possibly the best Arsenal side Wenger has produced. The team of 2004 just didn’t have playmakers of the ilk of Hleb, Rosicky, and Fabregas. However, in nearly every away game I watch- and some home games- I’m never comfortable for one minute. An impending goal just seems round the corner or the players never instill me with confidence. However with the 2004 team, although less technically proficient, I had much more confidence in the side and always felt we were in control of the majority of our games, home and away.
It’s probably just because these players haven’t won anything yet. When they do they might stick out their chests a bit more.
December 29th, 2007 at 5:34 pm
Absolutely delighted. Thought this would be our toughest away game and they played well and controlled the game. However, our boys didn’t give up, kept playing until the end, raised the game when down to ten men and took our chances. When we are not producing flowing football, it is vitally important that the mentality is right and that the players keep trying and running and chasing even if things are not going for them. That is why we have come through a very difficult December still on top of the league.
Nobody is ever completely right or completely wrong. There is something in what Danny and Mazza are saying about poor performances getting undeserved results. But on the other side of that argument is the realisation that Championship-winning teams tend to win games they shouldn’t. Eking out results when not playing well has been a problem for us before this season. We should be delighted that when we go through a period of playing bad football, we stay on top of the League. Mazza can say that we have been extremely fortunate to have picked up points we have in every games bar Chelsea and Portsmouth. Danny can say Arsenal were garbage. Others can equally argue that hard work makes good luck.
Finally, as always Wenger knows. A month or two ago he was predicting that we would see a different Eduardo in the second half of the season. What happens? First match of the second half of the season and he scores two goals!!!
December 29th, 2007 at 5:37 pm
In retrospect, and with the game won, maybe I was bit harsh to Toure. He did have a very solid second half after all. However it just seems as if Arsenal give away corners so easily in games. It galls me even more because we are so ropey on set-pieces as well and the fact that Toure has the agility and pace to deal with these situations with more composure.
Good point about central focal point of our attack. Having someone right stay central always gives you an outball at any point of the game. Especially refreshing when it’s someone like Eduardo who can control a ball and stick it away.
December 29th, 2007 at 5:40 pm
What a great win! Top of the league! Top of the league! Top of the league!
Oh how sweet it is to be a Gooner!
PS. Nice WANK by Ronaldo!!!!
December 29th, 2007 at 5:44 pm
The fact is that on the day, we got out played in midfield and Wenger recognized that and had the boys play the long ball in the second half which gave us two goals….
Is that being a poor tactician?
Though I agree that he can be better at tatics, as we have discussed ad nauseum.
December 29th, 2007 at 5:51 pm
You’re making an assumption that Wenger deliberately told the team to play it long to Eduardo? This seems highly questionable. Why would any team be asked to hit long balls to a player who is 5ft 9? Everton have no history this season of weakness in that area of defence there and Eduardo has no history of being adept at that type of game, quite the reverse. Even if Adebayor was playing Wenger would tell the team to keep it on the floor for the most part.
I think the players played it long because they were desperate - end of story.
December 29th, 2007 at 6:29 pm
Van Persie out for another month with another knee injury.
December 29th, 2007 at 6:38 pm
The RVP knock is bad news!! The last few weeks where RVP has been out supposedly with a slight muscle strain and Walcott has been out with the flu have been somewhat suspicious. I wonder how Van Persie incurred this new knee injury when he was supposed to be out injured with the muscle strain. Something does not smell right but I may just be paranoid. The Daily Mail conjenctures that this means Arsenal will seek to buy another striker during the transfer window and also says Wenger will hold firm on Diarra and not let him go. I hope AW does freshen up the squad but staying consistent with my prior rants, I will say I believe he knows better than me.
December 29th, 2007 at 6:49 pm
Yeah, Biggun. What you’re calling a fact hasn’t been confirmed as such and quite frankly sounds nothing like a Wenger tactic.
What is fact is the tactics he used kept Everton from creating that many good chances. Because they didn’t create much, they didn’t score much and that kept us in the game.
As far as all this “Arteta deserved a yellow card” biz, as long as I’ve known in football an elbow to the face is considered violent action. Violent action is a red card offense, not a yellow. Personally, I didn’t think there was much in it but as soon as he blew the whistle, it had to be a sending off.
December 29th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
What a satisfying day at the office……a big away win despite being off-form and ManU choking on their arrogance. I can’t stop smiling
Bugger, we need RvP, he adds a dynamic element to our forward play. If he is out for another month that is some loss. Maybe Dudu will kick on after these 2 goals.
So good to see Wenger come out and put some perspective on the moaners in the team like Diarra - telling them they aren’t at kindergarten - LOL.
December 29th, 2007 at 7:26 pm
That’s what makes this Man U loss so sweet. Going into the game Carrick was itching to play at his old club, and Fergie was going on and on about how Tevez would not get the reception he deserved from the Upton Park faithful… well guess what Fergie, you can choke on it, because you lost, and your golden boy (who is a foreign player, btw) missed from the spot. And to top it all off, Fergie can’t complain about the ref for once since it Man U were awarded a penalty.
December 29th, 2007 at 8:27 pm
RE: Mazza’s “Van Persie out for another month with another knee injury.”
Where’d you get that? Soccernet has this report:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=494286&cc=5901http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=494286&cc=5901
“Next month” is two days away.
December 29th, 2007 at 8:43 pm
Hockalees:
You should check this out regarding RVP’s injury setback:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/sport/football.html?in_article_id=505151&in_page_id=1779
December 29th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
DannyT, Joshua,
I am not suggesting that it is a fact; just that it was pretty blatant from a team who almost never plays that way…….true that it is completely out of our character to play that way, but the thing that stood out for me is that we seemed to keep wanting to completely bypass the midfield. This is the midfield that takes every team to task……it’s just strange.
I am by no means saying that Wenger ACTUALLY did that…….but just maybe….
December 29th, 2007 at 9:07 pm
the very good outcome of this match is that from now on the team will TRUST eduardo and now his teammates will play a game that would suit him better - trying to play him thru as often as possible - not necessarily with a long ball.
also this should convince wenger not to ever play him on the wings again.
ps: rosicky has a penchant for scoring late added-on goals LOL.
December 29th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
“ps: rosicky has a penchant for scoring late added-on goals LOL.”
…..was thinking exactly the same thing. A bit like the flamster who does the opposite by scoring the critical 1st goal in tricky games.
December 29th, 2007 at 11:33 pm
“ps: rosicky has a penchant for scoring late added-on goals LOL.”
You many want to add inconsequential to that.
3rd goal vs Pompey
2nd goal vs Bolton
2nd goal vs Wigan
consolation goal vs Boro
4th goal vs Everton
Apart from Pompey and maybe maybe Bolton, none of his goals affected the result. I think the jury is still out.
December 29th, 2007 at 11:44 pm
I’ll make the bold statement that we won because of the 4-4-2. Without that Eduardo wouldn’t be on the pitch and without him there no chance in hell we were winning this game. Okay, I might have exaggerated a bit, you but get the drift.
Fresh legs also helped as Eduardo and Bendtner were running a lot more than a tired Ade did in previous. Ade also look fresh when came on and got himself a goal on a ball he wouldn’t have been going for if he was on from the start. Rosicky too was full of energy coming on late.
Our performance was garbage? Were we worse than Boro? No way.
It’s funny. We played badly at Pompey and people were asking that Pompey be given credit for not allowing us to play. Y’day, we didn’t play very well bu restricted Everton to very few chances and nobody is giving us any credit. Tell me again, why Everton “deserved” to win? Did they create 4 or more goal scoring chances? I don’t think so.
Yes, their midfield over ran us for most part of the game. But we did that to a lot teams last season. And I know we kept saying in those games that we deserved to win, but I believe a team deserves to win not when they have better possession or domination of the midfield, but when they actually create more chances. Basically, how many times did you work the opposition keeper (as I used to say last season)?
I was quite pissed with Toure on their goal. He was close to Cahill when the corner is taken. The ball comes into the danger area and Toure just lets him go. Is that because we do zonal marking?
I sympathize with Bendtner. He deserved to be sent off, but he was like the kid who so desperately wanted to impress the boss. He will learn. I don’t know how long RvP is injured, but I just wrote y’day on the other article that Wenger should start planning for life with RvP as he is so injury prone (worse than Rosicky now). If Eduardo is the solution (and based on y’day’s performance, why not?), then play him in more games. You don’t settle into the league by sitting on the bench.