Cesc Fabregas was denied time to control the ball and look up because Koeman knows that Cesc can kill you with his passing. Robin Van Persie is waiting for Cesc to get on the ball before he makes his short burst into space

AZ Alkmaar 1 Arsenal 1 – Champions League

If you had told me at the start of the season that an away draw to the Dutch champions after winning the first two group matches would have left me feeling somewhat disappointed then I would have known that the team would be in good shape.

Drawing the game itself isn’t a problem, even after the manner of the equaliser. The issue is that it doesn’t appear to be an isolated incident. We have conceded too many goals from high balls and crosses.

Wenger spoke after the game about the side losing focus but I find that difficult to believe. You do not lose focus at the end of a game facing a long punt forward that you know is coming in your penalty area. Losing focus is when a team is playing in front of you and one of your players fails to track a runner who gets an opportunity on your goal. Knowing you are about to deal with a long free kick forward is not losing focus.

Abou Diaby did not put a good enough challenge on Pellè as the substitute headed back across for Mendes da Silva to fire in a fantastic volley from close range.

Diaby did not attack the ball, didn’t lean into Pellè, didn’t put him off his header. The goal may not have existed if Vermaelen had challenged the opposition player. Vermaelen naturally wants to win the ball, he naturally wants to get ahead of his marker. Mendes found himself in the middle of Gallas and Vermaelen and had enough space to execute his finish.

This is not just a problem for Diaby, this seems to be the case for many Arsenal players. Funnily enough I do not include the smallest Arsenal player on the pitch last night. Andrey Arshavin is only 5ft 4 and has won headers against taller players, this is not because of super spring it is about desire and attitude.

Either the players have to install this desire into their systems or we will have to do what we can to prevent balls coming into our box because we will concede goals.

The game itself was different from what we have seen in the Premier League this season. A very tactical and tight game of not many clear cut chances from both teams. Ronald Koeman has a system against Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal that has worked on more than one occasion. While in charge at Ajax his team stopped us playing, limited our passing options, closed down the spaces. Against his PSV team that knocked us out it was more of the same.

Last night it was not a case of Arsenal not playing well, it was more a case of Arsenal not being allowed to play. Ronald Koeman was in the crowd when Cesc beat Blackburn 6-2 and he would have jotted down Cesc’s name more than once in his preparation notes.

Cesc Fabregas was denied time to control the ball and look up because Koeman knows that Cesc can kill you with his passing. Robin Van Persie is waiting for Cesc to get on the ball before he makes his short burst into space. Before Fabregas could get on the ball he had Alkmaar players doing a ‘Clichy’ on him, nicking the ball before it got that far. As soon as he got on the ball he was shut down and often tackled.

I haven’t seen Andrey Arshavin so involved in a game for so long. Especially a game where the opposition were dedicating most of their efforts in not letting us play our game. Arshavin is usually non existent for most of the game and then pops up with something important. Last night he had more touches of the ball than I can remember. I haven’t checked what the stats were on this but it certainly felt that way.

Arsenal were still by far the better side for the most part and were in control after we took the lead. Great play from Arshavin to win the ball and find Van Persie but the goal may as well be credited to Van Persie. A less mature Van Persie would have snatched at a shot from a tight angle which could have ended up over the bar. Even in his great form he knew the best route to goal would be Cesc who was at the back post, his pass was perfect and Cesc tapped into an empty net.

We were in total control until for some reason the team stopped playing. You can visibly see the team switching off the lights. Arshavin started trying to kill the game off on his own instead of passing to players in better positions. The team looked shaky at the back and had enough warnings.

Carlos Vela should have won a free kick and two penalties all in the same action but nothing was given.

The spine of the side was very good last night. Vermaelen was good at the back, Song who I thought was the best player on the pitch was once again immense in the center of midfield. We know how strong he is and his ability to win the ball back is fantastic but his control and passing has clicked into another gear. At this rate he will become the best defensive midfielder in Europe in time. Sooner rather than later.

Van Persie lead the line very well and was unlucky not to score himself when his first half effort was blocked on the goal line.

Arsenal will still qualify early and it is better that these defensive issues rear their ugly heads now and not later on in the season. Hopefully we can address our shortcomings and continue improving our strengths. Do not forget we were missing a host of first team International players. Denilson, Nasri, Djourou, Eduardo, Bendtner, Walcott, Rosicky all players who would have counted themselves as unlucky had they of been fit and left out of the team.

We are not perfect, we still have improvements to make in certain areas but currently the positives outweigh the negatives by some distance.

I was hoping to have the reserve game on at the same time as the Champions League game but it was not being shown so I missed the chance to watch Nasri make his return to action. He came back with an assist which is nice and hopefully Nasri and Fabianski can show what they can do in the Carling Cup against Liverpool next week.

An interesting Champions League night elsewhere around Europe. Liverpool going through the sort of form that would have the media and pundits rubbing their hands with glee had it have been Arsenal. Liverpool once again without Gerrard and Torres looking distinctly average. I found myself wondering what the Liverpool players have been up to when Rafa said in his post match interview that the likes of Gerrard, Torres and Johnson all out with groin injuries. Graham Souness speaking on the goals round up on Sky Sports, hit the nail on the head when he said that something is wrong when your team fall apart when only two players are missing. Especially after five years of building this team.

Souness made me chuckle when he claimed that Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina must be pulling his hair out over his sides defending. Maybe he had a full head of hair when he first joined Liverpool.

Barcelona were stunned at home to the Russians Rubin Kazan. The first Rubin goal was breathtaking. A sensational strike from distance arrowed into the top corner. I would love to see a full strength Arsenal at the Camp Nou. Who knows it may happen this season.