Defensive Naivety Strikes Again
Good start but even Van Persie couldn't have guess the final outcome
I’m beginning to think that I curse the players. Since I’ve been effusively praising a certain player or a certain combination, there’s bound to be something that went wrong with them in the said match. The Diaby-Song combo did not work well tonight. Time and again, the midfield were made to look rather thin by West Ham. Scott Parker was basically running the show and winning every tackle there were to be made in the middle of the pitch.
The match was played at a frantic pace and Arsenal struggled to cope. Behrami and Collison huffed, puffed and hassled, everytime any Arsenal player had the ball. Diaby tried to do the same but was let down by his team mates who decided not to follow suit. It only works when the entire team chase and harried after each ball. If you do it alone, then it’s a bloody waste of energy.
We were 2 goals up at half time and looking good for the 3 points but ended sharing the spoils with Zola’s West Ham. Van Persie opened the scoring midway through the first half when Sagna put in his first meaningful cross of the season which Green flapped at and fell nicely for Robin to tapped it home. Then Gallas increased the lead with a well taken goal from a Van Persie corner. But from that point onwards it all went downhill.
The team must realise that being 2 goals up at half time does not necessary guarantee you the game. Premier League has shown that different teams come out on different halves. West Ham were very poor in the first but came out firing on all cylinders in the second. If we don’t get the third goal and they nick one in, then we know that we’ve got a fight on our hands. And that is exactly what transpired. Arsenal took their foot off the pedal and allowed West Ham to wrest control in the midfield. Zola’s gamble to bring on another attacker to support Cole proved a worthy bet.
First, Arsenal conceded a needless freekick just outside the box. Diamanti’s shot was saved by Mannone but fell into the path of Cole who gladly accepted the fortune to head in the empty net. This was another mistake by Mannone who is beginning to look shaky at best. Any keeper can tell you that unless you can catch the ball, you try to deflect it out of play. Mannone’s one-handed save was not a textbook one and he will agree once he takes a look at the replay. Then, Arsenal contrived to concede a penalty when there appeared to be in no danger. Cole with his back to the goal was already denied space to turn by both Song and Gallas but Song took a swipe at Cole’s legs and the referee was left with no option but to point to the spot. Diamanti’s shot was a very good one but I did not understand why Mannone got a yellow card when Diamanti was the one who pushed the keeper in the chest.
Van Persie had a another chance from Sagna’s second good cross of the season but saw his header from 5 yards out somehow saved by Green. Eduardo and Bendtner came in but it was all too late. Attacking wise, Arshavin again had a very poor again, shooting only from outside the box and when presented the chance to supply into the box, sent the ball into the touchline instead. Other than the 2 mentioned chances for Van Persie, he was virtually anonymous throughout the game. It’s not funny when out of these 3, Eboue was the one who actually played well. Defensively stout and earning a few freekicks as well, he was driving Ilunga backfoot the whole time he was on the pitch. Same case applied in the midfield as Diaby was the more outstanding performer compared to Fabregas and Song.
Probably the only player who can lay claim to any sort of credit coming out of this match is Gael Clichy. He was resolute in defense and showed strength when coming up even against Cole. That he was pegged in his own half most of the game showed how non-functional the midfield was today.
From not drawing any game, we’ve now drawn 2 in the last 2 games. Though they will not have a chance to redeem themselves immediately with Liverpool’s visit on Wednesday as Wenger is expected to put his faith in the reserves players for that match. Hopefully with a weeks training, these lapses in concentration and poor defensive errors will be ironed out during this time. We can’t afford to lose any more ground to the top.
