Evening readers!
Well it's been a mixed week to say the least wouldn't you agree? And guess what? It ain't over yet. It began miserably as Newcastle stunned us at the Emirates and it left us heading into Wednesday nights game needing a win. A lot of other bloggers said they would have settled for a draw if every single player gave their all. Not good enough for me, we've thrown away enough points for my liking and to show the characteristics of title contenders, which we haven't done at times, you need to go to places like Wolves and be able to grind out results. There was a nervous feeling amongst the majority of Arsenal fans coming into this game and understandably so because we've not been consistant enough so far.
There weren't too many surprises in the starting eleven. Nasri was rested as expected after the slight knock he picked up at the weekend. He was replaced by the ever reliable Tomas Rosicky. Theo Walcott dropped back to the bench and was replaced by Arshavin, it seems both will battle it out all season long for that position on the wing. Finally Djourou came in for the suspended Koscielny. There was more than enough quality on show to beat Wolves convincingly but we said the same heading into the West Brom and Newcastle games. Effort was required for sure.
Our problem lately has been getting off to good starts. Well we couldn't have asked for a better start for this one as Alex Song's pin point cross was met with Chamakh's head and the Wolves keeper had no chance. 1-0 after 39 seconds, brilliant start. Another thing we have struggled to do recently is kick on from good starts, this time we so nearly did too only for Arshavin's shot to be well saved by the keeper. We looked really up for this one as more attempts from Cesc and Arshavin again told the home side we meant business.
As we tend to do though, we left Wolves back into the game. They got a foothold and nearly equalised when a Kevin Doyle header flicked inches over the bar, you could argue that Fabianski had it covered. As the half came to a close they piled on the pressure but credit to our defence, there wasn't much going through them.
Wolves nearly began the 2nd half as we did the 1st with a goal only for an incredible tackle from Sagna to deny Stephen Hunt a tap in. It was an early sign that we would have to be on our toes for the entire 45 minutes ahead. We should have struck an early blow though as Rosicky intercepted a poor clearance and fed Cesc only for him to uncharacteristaclly blast the ball wide with the goal gaping. Wolves hit back again, Doyle found the target this time but was denied by a superb Fabianski save. The ball was heading for the top corner only for the Pole to tap it over with an out-stretched hand. Ffrom the resulting corner Rosicky was forced to clear a tame effort off the line. We were very much under the cache at this stage.
Even when you have this Arsenal team on the back foot, they are always a threat and we showed that a lot last night. Arshavin again weaving his way down the wing before cutting inside and firing a shot against Hahnemann's left hand post. It should have been 2-0 moments later as Djourou's shot was flicked off the line by Karl Henry. With chances for both sides you felt this game could go either way. I thought it would be a repeat of Sunderland and had the nails eaten off my fingers which remained crossed. A few minutes from the end Cesc was lucky to not have been sent off as he could Stephen Ward with his stoods in the follow through after an attempt to block the ball. He escaped with a yellow. Then Fabianski had to pull off another world class save as Berra blasted the ball through a sea of bodies but the Pole got down on time as he looked to cap off his best night in an Arsenal shirt with a clean sheet and more importantly three points. That was secured when his throw out set up a counter attack, the ball fell to Cesc who set Chamakh away and the big man notched home his second of the game.
It definately wasn't as easy as we might have liked but we have shown that when the effort is put in we are capable of doing great things. The trouble is being consistant with it, you can't play good in one game, slack in another and expect to challenge for the league. It dosen't work like that, you are punished for every mistake you make in this league so consistancy and hard work is the key to survival. My player ratings are as follows:
Fabianski: 9 - Best game to date, he is growing with confidence and its a joy to see.
Sagna: 7 - Solid game, keep it up Bacary!
Squillaci: 7 - Consistant player, I've grown on him.
Djourou: 7 - Improving all the time, still areas he needs to work on though.
Clichy: 7 - Wasn't troubled down the right wing thank God.
Song: 7 - Assisted the first goal, I'm loving his new attack minded game.
Wilshere: 7 - Worked hard, good lad.
Fabregas: 7 - Mixed evening, better than Sunday but still not at his best. Could have been sent off before assisting last goal.
Rosicky: 8 - Worked his arse off up and down the pitch. Definately an example to the younger players.
Arshavin: 8 - Very bright, realises now Walcott is hot on his heels and it seems to bring out the best in him.
Chamakh: 8 - Scored two vital goals, this guy is proving to be some signing. Well done Arsene!
Subs:
Denilson: 6 - Came on to see out the game, booked too.
Bendtner: 6 - No time to make an impact.
Nasri: 6 - Likewise.
Back to the Cesc issue for a moment and yes I have to use the word issue because that is what the fickle media and Alan Hansen decide to make of it. Okay we admit it, he went over the top and both Arsene and Cesc apologised to Mick McCarthy about it and he accepted. Close the case? Nah they'll bitch about that on until next week and you know what the funny thing is? Karl Henry made a tackle on Arshavin that was just as bad, studs up on the shin, potential leg breaker but it dosen't even get a mention amongst the media or Match of the Day. No surprise there anti-Arsenal bastards, it was the same when Robinson took out Diaby. Alan Hansen then basically contradicts himself by saying there was nothing wrong with a two footed Michael Essien challenge in one of the other games yet he makes out Cesc's tackle to be some sort of brutal assault. Give me a break.
Anyway, to some good news now and hot prospect Wojciech Szczesny has signed a new long term deal. His previous contract was due to expire in the summer and the thought of losing him on a free to some other big club was quite scary at the time but thank God its all over and done with now and he can look forward to a bright future with the club. Interestingly enough, Arsene has come out today and challenged Manuel Almunia to win back his number one shirt. His injury has meant he has fallen well down the pecking order leaving some fans thinking he had played his last game for the club but clearly this is not the case. I've a feeling we'll be seeing his face for a while yet.
Also this week Arsene has quashed reports we could loan out Aaron Ramsey so he could regain his sharpness. Instead the boss wants him to work his way back to fitness here which isn't a bad idea really because he will be treated with teh right precaution here whereas at another club they really couldn't give a fuck about him. I'm hoping he will be back as soon as possible and continue where he left off trying to cement a place in midfield.
On the injury front we're not looking too bad. There was the bad news on Monday that Thomas Vermaelen had suffered a set-back in his recovery from an achilles problem and the boss says he can't put a time scale on the injury anymore. Van Persie was on the bench again Wednesday night and is set to play for the Dutch in their upcoming friendly, hopefully he comes out unscathed and the only thing it does is improve his sharpness.
Well I think I've gone through just about everything. We've got Everton on Sunday, hopefully there will be a preview tomorrow fingers crossed. Till then Gooners, thanks for reading.
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