Andrey Arshavin has the movement of an experienced center forward, ghosting into spaces just before the ball is about to be played. His movement was causing Stoke City many problems as he drifted all across the front line

Match Review – Arsenal 2 Stoke City 0 – Premier League

Anything other than victory against Stoke City at home would have been horrendous for the team following two important domestic defeats in the league. Arsenal dusted away November and produced a typical home performance. Controlling the possession and picking off the opposition.

Eduardo was unavailable due to an injury that he picked up, apparently for not stretching properly. Wenger’s tone almost sounded a little annoyed about the situation.

The obvious replacement would have been Carlos Vela to play as the center forward but instead Wenger plumped for Andrey Arshavin. It certainly was an interesting choice, especially with the inclusion of all our attacking midfielders. Tomas Rosicky, Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas would be able to find the runs of Arshavin.

I wondered how he would do in that position and his overall performance has left me wanting more. I first thought about his striking instincts early in pre season against Barnet. I looked back to what I wrote about his goal.

Andrey Arshavin has the movement of an experienced center forward, ghosting into spaces just before the ball is about to be played. His movement was causing Stoke City many problems as he drifted all across the front line, pulling into wide areas and playing in his team mates. He was involved in pretty much everything we did going forward.

His touch was poor when slipped through from Cesc early on, all he needed was a good first touch and then a side footed finish past Sørensen left hand, instead he overran the pass into the goalkeeper.

The first penalty was awarded to Arsenal since the Eduardo diving saga on 26th August 2009, we should have had more penalties than I can count on both hands but finally a referee has pointed to the spot. Arshavin was fouled outside the area but stayed on his feet and progressed inside the box, Rory Delap then missed the ball and chopped Arshavin down. Apparently Wenger already decided before the game that Cesc would take a spot kick if one would ever materialise.

I had a bad feeling about Cesc taking it, something about his body language didn’t sit right with me. He almost looked unsure about taking it. His actual penalty wasn’t that bad it was just at a savable height and the keeper guessed the correct way.

Arshavin sliced an effort well wide before latching onto another Cesc pass, with a defender on his back he shielded the ball, neatly dug the ball from out of his feet and pulled off a lightening quick stabbed shot which arrowed into the corner of the net. A great piece of finishing from Arshavin, no back lift, no hesitation, just class.

Cesc was unlucky not to have made amends for his penalty miss when his goal bound effort was hit against Emmanuel Eboue on the goal line. Eboue couldn’t have done anything about it unless he knows where the flight of the ball is going before it is struck.

Only Arsenal can get so close to scoring on so many occasions and not actually score. It is quite incredible.

I have been waiting to see the fab four since the beginning of the season and it was joy to watch at times. Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri, Andrey Arshavin and Tomas Rosicky all have an incredible football brain and can play in the tightest of spaces. Samir Nasri had a splendid game in central midfield, I could be wrong but I think it is the first time that he has started a Premier League game in that position this season and he was very effective both offensively and defensively.

Carlos Vela appeared for the start of the second half for Tomas Rosicky and I was praying that it was only because he played 90 minutes a few days earlier at Manchester City, I now know differently. Wenger stating after the game that he could be out for a month. It is quite astonishing how many injuries we pick up every season with this squad. There is nothing negative about of squad depth, especially in an attacking sense but there is definitely something wrong with the amount of injuries we pick up in the same positions.

Much was made about the height difference before the game, Stoke City are a big powerful side who would have been working on ways on upsetting Arsenal from set pieces but all the credit must go to the Arsenal defence who won practically every corner, throw in, and free kick. Vermaelen was superb in the air along with his partner in crime Gallas.

I was also very impressed with the work rate from the offensive players in closing down Stoke and not allowing them to breathe in possession. Eboue, Nasri and Denilson three who really stood out and gave their absolute all. There is no reason why this midfield should suffer in January when Alex Song makes a disappearing act.

Another player who deserves a mention is young Armand Traore who is improving every time he plays. I was impressed with his defensive display against Stoke. It is amazing to think that he is our third choice at present. I am sure that if he was first choice he would develop into a player who could add something to the team rather than look out of place.

Much of our attacking play went through Arshavin and we continued to slice through Stoke without adding the finishing touch. I am sure much of this is down to our confidence at the moment, had we played Stoke with the same set of players before the last international break then we would have scored 4 or 5. Arshavin is not currently at his best and has almost been a passenger for much of this season, even so he has still showed his quality at important stages in games. What I like about Arshavin in the center forward position is the speed and direct running that he brings us on the counter attack, we haven’t really had that from a center forward this season.

Aaron Ramsey replaced Emmanuel Eboue who picked up a knock and the youngster poured forward, looking to make things happen, looking to get shots in on goal. He certainly does not look like the type of character to hide. He scored his second goal of the season by playing a pass into Arshavin which was poked back to him by the Stoke City defender and Ramsey ran towards the edge of the penalty area and hit an outside of the foot shot into the corner of the net.

It was no less than the team deserved, they may have missed more than they would have liked but at least the chances were being created, we have stopped creating chances over the last few games and we need to continue to get into goal scoring positions.

The undefeatable Chelsea lost their third away game of the season to a rejuvenated Manchester City at Eastlands. Should Arsenal win the game in hand against Bolton then the lead is cut to five points. From being totally out of the race last week to being right back in the race the following week just shows how premature some have been to write off any challenge in November.

Next up in the league we face Liverpool at Anfield, a victory could really kick start our season.