Arsenal squad is inconclusive. This is undoubtedly a much more talented and hardworking side than we’ve had for a few years, capable of playing scintillating football on good days whilst grinding out results on off days. Whilst I will not pay much attention to the Chelsea
Robin van Persie has now scored three in three since leaving us for them. With each passing game, the decision to allow him to leave for Old Trafford looks like an increasingly daft move on part of the Arsenal board/management. This may be well trodden ground but the point becomes pertinent once again in light of yesterday's result. When a guy scores 30 plus goals for you in a season, the absolute last thing you do is let him go to a potential rival – even if he expresses a desire to leave. It's easy to throw around terms like 'traitor' and 'judas' but when all was said and done, the ones who had the final say on the transfer was Arsenal Football Club who thought £24m was more valuable than keeping the best player in the team. As we have seen with the likes of Suarez and Rooney,
The boys are now 15 games unbeaten (winning 14) on the road since last season. Two years ago, the boss remarked that he didn't think that there was any difference as to whether a team is playing at home or away. A point I'm pretty sure he's contradicted more than once, including his suggestion just a fortnight ago about possibly having a pitch installed at Colney with longer grass to practice for said away games. Allowing for artistic licence, I'll ignore these latter comments. Regarding the idea about there being no distinction, this seems to be a philosophy the players have taken on board too. Given that this run includes wins over two of the sides widely considered to be among the best on the continent at the moment, this current Arsenal side might finally possess that
For the last few years, Arsene Wenger has been in the process of building a midfield to fit his own specifications and this season we are truly seeing the fruits of his labours as he seems to have emerged from his tool-shed with a pretty formidable unit. Baring one or two rare moments, the five players who started in the middle of the park completely overwhelmed Liverpool, barely allowing the scousers opportunities to create anything tangible and putting them on the back foot for much of the match. Goalscorers Ramsey and Cazorla, along with Özil and Rosicky weaved wonderful passing patterns that left the likes of Gerrard and Lucas chasing shadows. It was one of those occasions when all the planets seemed to align and the players were all on the same wavelength. As a result,
Arsenal fanbase almost exploded in apoplectic rage at the fact that during analysis of the Palace match on Match of the Day, Alan Hansen chose to highlight the circumstances leading up to Arteta’s sending off by comparing it to a goal conceded against Everton in 2010 – drawing the conclusion that Arsenal all too often leave themselves exposed to counter-attacks which prove to be our undoing. While his attempt to make the point was ham-fisted at best, I feel it was a point that was entirely valid – and so it proved with the first Chelsea goal as Cesar Azpilicueta somehow managed to bomb on and score from a passage of play that actually begun with Arsenal taking a corner kick! At the risk of coming across lazy and repetitive
statistics, but if none of this dominance with the ball translates into goals or at least clear cut chances, then you are neglecting what it is actually important and only doing half the job. This was highlighted by the fact that it was Palace who were actually far more proactive in trying to open the scoring on the few occasions they saw the ball. Our tepidness going forward seemed to galvanise them and as the half drew to a close, it was they who were in the
Arsenal’s spine, allowing Cesc Fabregas the freedom to develop and express himself higher up the pitch. If Cesc was the effulgent Sherlock Holmes, then Gilberto was Watson, the diligent assistant adding methodical hard work to Holmes’ eccentric brilliance. It may seem uninspiring but it was a selfless act that allowed the team to play without fear of being exposed. With that in mind, it is interesting that so many people lamented the sale of Alex Song, a player who quite often ignored his defensive responsibilities to bound forward and join the attack. Whilst this worked great in combination with van Persie in his final year, many forget how often it left us exposed. His bundles of energy and his tackling often masked his naivety in the defensive midfield role. Song
In terms of his situation at Real Madrid, Benzema's is certainly a sticky one. He's played 10 games in the League and has 4 goals and 4 assists to go with it, so what's the problem? Footballers are human beings and despite making his best start since joining Madrid, the fans have still got issues with him. Despite work rate and other false pretences cited, a familiar tale of no amount of talent will ever be equal to being Spanish. With even Mesut Ozil revealing after he left "In Madrid, only the Spanish are valued. In 3 years there, they never chanted my name. In Isco's first game, they chanted for him." With his own manager un willing to give him a public vote of confidence being quoted as saying "It's not a problem That the fans are booing him (Benzema) . Sometimes boos
If there is to be any down side to Rambo's incredible improved form this season, it's the ever so slight risk of OVER-confidence. Only a player playing as well as he is currently even attempts something so audacious. I suspect he will learn from this & we won't see him taking such risks again anytime soon.
Goals come in many different forms. On the day, we scored three more that would each be praised on their own merit but put next to the fantastic team effort that led to Jack Wilshere opening the scoring, they simply cannot compare. Starting on the edge of our own 18 yard box, Flamini set the ball rolling as he played the ball the Wilshere. The move then gradually progressed down the left hand side through Gibbs and Cazorla as Jack kept pace