Line-Up
Fabianski
Sagna koscielny Squillaci Gibbs (Sub: Eboue)
Song Denilson
Nasri Van Persie Arshavin (Sub: Walcott)
Chamakh (Sub: Bendtner)
Post Match Thoughts
Job done. Pehaps it wasn't our greatest performance and we made hard work of it against a lacklustre Partizan side but nevertheless we advance to the next round. Saying it wasn't our greatest performance is actually quite an understatement in reality. I cannot seem to remember a single shot we had on target in the first half with the exception of the penalty, but this game was all about getting the job done.
It was good see Van Persie on the scoresheet again, albeit only a penalty. You saw through his celebration how much that goal meant to him following a frustrating spell on the sidelines. I am not overly convinced though he can fulfill the role behind the main striker and therefore he will face a difficult challenege in dislodging Chamakh as the main striker. But healthy competition up front is something we have lacked, especially last season so it can only help the teams cause.
In the second half, (as the paragraph above sums up the events of the first half) it was much of the same. Frustration, little attacking creativity and no shots on target apart from a dangerous Van Persie Free kick. Enter Theo Walcott. Whenever Walcott is bought on, it does raise the atmosphere and spirit within the stadium. It also brings a sense of urgency amongst the players and suddenly we looked liked a team who actually wanted to win the game, with Walcott making some bursting runs forward. His effort was rewarded with a beautifal Henry-esq volley passed the keeper. His finishing has certainly improved this year, he just needs to work on that final ball!
The game was wrapped up with some fine Nasri footwork in a crowded area and good finish passed the helpless keeper, which is quickly becoming a 'typical Nasri goal'. Nasri is in great form at the moment and long may it continue.
See the ratings below based on my opinion. Feel free to disagree......
Player Ratings
Fabianksi - 6 - Had very little to do and was helpless with the goal that took a massive deflection
Sagna - 5 - Did not offer a great deal going forward. Clumsy challenege to get sent off.
Koscielny - 6.5 - Played well. Made some important challenges.
Squillaci - 6 - Unlucky with the goal, but his positioning prior to the sagna sending off was a bit suspect.
Gibbs - 5 - Had little time to make an impact before being subsituted.
Song - 6.5 - Made some important interceptions and tackles. Rather he concentrated on defending rather than joining the attacks though.
Denilson 5.5 - Lost the ball in some dangerous areas.
Nasri 7.5 - The spark of the team yet again. Worked hard and scored yet another goal. Would have preferred him in centre midfield in Cesc's absence to have more of an influence.
Van Persie 6.5 - Restricted in his new position. But always looks like he could do something. Neat touches, good penalty and unlucky not to score a free-kick.
Chamack 6 - Worked hard, but just wasn't his day.
Arshavin - 5 - Had a poor game. Lost count of how many misplaced passes he made and how many times he was tackled.
Subs:
Walcott - 7 - Livened up the game and scored the all-important goal.
Eboue - 6.5 - Made some good runs going forward
Bendtner - 5 - Little time to make an impact
Thursday 9 December 2010
Tuesday 23 November 2010
Our best squad since the 'invincibles....'
This season, and particularly after the somewhat heart-breaking and humiliating result to the hands of our fierce rivals, many fans have begun to question whether this team can compete for the championship and whether we have the right man to achieve this.
I was upset as anyone after the defeat on Saturday. I was at a supporters bar by the Emirates for the game and it is amazing how the amtosphere went from sheer passion amongst the fans, to cry's of how Wenger has 'ruined' our team as the game wore on.
I honestly think though this is the best squad we have had since the Invincibles. Since that era, you must remember we have moved into a new stadium and Wenger has had to rebuild a whole new team. Unfortunately it takes time....just look at Man City and their lack of success. And with the high cost of the stadium it means we have had to cut back on investment in the squad in previous years.
But now, I look around the squad and I see quality, potential and depth in all areas, something we have lacked in previous years. On Saturday, we bought Walcott, Van Persie and Rosicky off the bench with Wilshere still on it. That is hardly a bad bench is it?!
The quality we have in the squad includes the likes of Fabregas, Van Persie, Nasri and Arshavin that are being blended with Wilshere, Gibbs, and Walcott that are improving with every game. Furthermore you cannot forget our young Welsh prodigy in Aaron Ramsey who was sucessfully broking into the team before his horrific injury.
We all worried about our lack of a decent goal-keeper; but from having no viable goal keeper to having Fabianki churning out some match winning performances and then having scezney as our back up, this is another issue that at present does not concern me. Wenger has been right about so many things, why not this?
Our new additions in Squallaci, Koscielny and Chamackh have all been thrown straight into the deep end of one of the toughest league in the World. However they are still settling and adjusting and they still need time. Henry and Pires were not instant successes.
In previous years we would have lost away games to Wolves, Man City and Blackburn. This year we have won. We have add a new dimension to our game and can get gritty when we need to. These are great results and will be the difference in winning the Championship.
BUT we have had some awful results at home and this is something we need to address. But this is not down to lack of quality. Pehaps it was tactics, maybe it was complacency, but we didnt lose at home to West Brom, Newcastle and Tottenham due to lack of quality.
We have Van Persie, Ramsey, Vermalean, returning to full fitness in the future, Fabregas is still rediscovering his form and Fabianki's confidence is continuing to boom meaning we will just go strength to strength with this team Wenger has built.
We know we have a quality squad, and I genuinely believe if we keep positive in this team, it will deliver.
Thank you for reading
Langers
I was upset as anyone after the defeat on Saturday. I was at a supporters bar by the Emirates for the game and it is amazing how the amtosphere went from sheer passion amongst the fans, to cry's of how Wenger has 'ruined' our team as the game wore on.
I honestly think though this is the best squad we have had since the Invincibles. Since that era, you must remember we have moved into a new stadium and Wenger has had to rebuild a whole new team. Unfortunately it takes time....just look at Man City and their lack of success. And with the high cost of the stadium it means we have had to cut back on investment in the squad in previous years.
But now, I look around the squad and I see quality, potential and depth in all areas, something we have lacked in previous years. On Saturday, we bought Walcott, Van Persie and Rosicky off the bench with Wilshere still on it. That is hardly a bad bench is it?!
The quality we have in the squad includes the likes of Fabregas, Van Persie, Nasri and Arshavin that are being blended with Wilshere, Gibbs, and Walcott that are improving with every game. Furthermore you cannot forget our young Welsh prodigy in Aaron Ramsey who was sucessfully broking into the team before his horrific injury.
We all worried about our lack of a decent goal-keeper; but from having no viable goal keeper to having Fabianki churning out some match winning performances and then having scezney as our back up, this is another issue that at present does not concern me. Wenger has been right about so many things, why not this?
Our new additions in Squallaci, Koscielny and Chamackh have all been thrown straight into the deep end of one of the toughest league in the World. However they are still settling and adjusting and they still need time. Henry and Pires were not instant successes.
In previous years we would have lost away games to Wolves, Man City and Blackburn. This year we have won. We have add a new dimension to our game and can get gritty when we need to. These are great results and will be the difference in winning the Championship.
BUT we have had some awful results at home and this is something we need to address. But this is not down to lack of quality. Pehaps it was tactics, maybe it was complacency, but we didnt lose at home to West Brom, Newcastle and Tottenham due to lack of quality.
We have Van Persie, Ramsey, Vermalean, returning to full fitness in the future, Fabregas is still rediscovering his form and Fabianki's confidence is continuing to boom meaning we will just go strength to strength with this team Wenger has built.
We know we have a quality squad, and I genuinely believe if we keep positive in this team, it will deliver.
Thank you for reading
Langers
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