Chamakh’s little dink in between both Pienaar and Distin to Cesc was subtle and very cute, Cesc’s hit first time flew into the bottom corner away from Howard’s outstretched hand. Wenger always talks of intelligence, that move was made through intelligence. Positional intelligence from Denilson, awareness intelligence of Cesc and then Chamakh having the presence of mind to lift the ball back

Match Review – Everton 1 Arsenal 2 – Premier League

As Sunday’s go, yesterday must rank up there with some of the best in Arsenal footballing terms. Manchester United just about grabbed a draw at Villa park, whilst the all conquering Chelsea minus a few players crashed badly at home to Sunderland at fortress Stamford Bridge. If Chelsea are the team to beat then I am much less worried about our chances this season. Before the shocking, shambolic, showing at the hands of Sunderland, the Gunners faced an Everton side who had strung together a 7 game unbeaten run. Arsenal walked out onto the Goodison turf in their yellow poppied away kit.

Samir Nasri had returned in place of the impressive Tomas Rosicky and the rest of the team that battled through to grab a victory at Wolves remained. Sky Sports were back inform, taking a massive 1 minute and 38 seconds to tell the watching world that Arsenal were bottom of the fair play league. Thought they could have started a little quicker out of the blocks, but never mind.

The opening exchanges of the game was very much a case of both teams trying to impose themselves onto the game. I was impressed with the determination and commitment that we showed early on which is usually a very good indicator of how the game will progress. We wanted this game, we were prepared to roll up our sleeves and fight for the points.

Samir Nasri had a shot blocked by Distin and then Seamus Coleman broke down the right with Cesc struggling to keep pace, his cross was headered over from Cahill from a good position. Any Everton fan would have selected Cahill to be the target from that cross. He should have done better.

I wrote in the pre match talk that we had to fight for the right to play our game and that was pretty much the case. We soon began to dominate the ball after a pretty even opening. Arshavin had slammed a left footed shot wide of the far post following a Wilshere lay-off, he came close again shortly after by weaving through a few Everton players before blasting over the bar.

The deadlock was broken by the most unlikely of sources, if you had a lay bet on the game, then I hope you didn’t choose our gold platted number three. Arshavin touched the ball to Sagna who had been advancing forward slowly during our build up, he took one touch and smashed it high past Tim Howard at his near side to give Arsenal a deserved lead.

Cesc Fabregas may well be our creative hub, the attacking dictator amongst our talented team but I want to highlight the amount of defensive work he puts in. He may not have been at his brilliant best but he made tackle after tackle, filling into full back positions, chased back when we lost possession. His determination to win should be followed by every member of the squad who pull on the shirt.

Interesting change at half time, Jack Wilshere being replaced for Denilson, in truth I thought that change would have been made before the start of the game. Denilson has been very impressive this season and is very unlucky to find himself on the periphery of the first team. Steady, reliable and fantastic at contributing to our ball retention.

It was the Brazilian who started and played a big part in our second and ultimately the winning goal of the game. He won the ball at the half way line from the feet of Arteta, anticipating where the ball was going to break and then stepping in to pinch it from the feet of the Spaniard. He drove forward into the available space and played it into the feet of Cesc. Cesc’s flick to Chamakh went through the legs of Steven Pienaar. Chamakh’s little dink in between both Pienaar and Distin to Cesc was subtle and very cute, Cesc’s hit first time flew into the bottom corner away from Howard’s outstretched hand. Wenger always talks of intelligence, that move was made through intelligence. Positional intelligence from Denilson, awareness intelligence of Cesc and then Chamakh having the presence of mind to lift the ball back to Cesc as he knew a short pass along the floor would  have been blocked and that goal would not have happened.

Whilst many will have a go at our players for not shooting more, our players are masters of one touch football, masters of making a better chance from situations. We work at those situations in every training session. We work on breaking through defensive minded teams who crowd their penalty areas so these goals should not be a surprise and neither should they be taken for granted. Fantastic goal.

Moments later Squillaci took down Louis Saha who was heading towards Fabianski’s goal, Squillaci received a yellow card for his troubles. It was a difficult call as Saha’s touch away from Squillaci was actually heading towards Clichy and his own weaker right foot so it is very difficult to know if Saha would have been presented with a goal scoring opportunity. For once Howard Webb dealt us a kind hand and Squillaci stayed on the pitch.

Jack Rodwell the second half substitute was presented with a great chance to pull one back after Pienaar cut the ball back to him but his finish was high and not very handsome. Nasri flew down the pitch on the hour, from a quick counter attack, he left Jagielka for dead but could not beat Tim Howard. Arsene has always said that Nasri is very quick and needs to show it more often. It is also the reason why he likes to play Nasri from a wide position. Chamakh could and perhaps should have wrapped up the points seconds later when Cesc crossed low to Chamakh inside the six yard box but his stretching touch helped the ball over the bar from close range.

Alex Song saved Clichy’s bacon a few minutes later in a truly frantic period when Pienaar escaped from Clichy and crossed for Saha but Song slipping back into the center of defence threw his body on the line.

Lukasz Fabianski had an inspired last ten minutes of the game when called upon. First flying across to deny substitute Jermaine Beckford, and then to parry Saha’s curling effort wide of his post.

He wasn’t able to keep his sheets clean though as Cahill poached from close range to make it a nervy ending to the game. A free kick could have been given before Cahill scored as Saha practically climbed on Alex Song’s back before nodding down to Cahill.

Tomas Rosicky had replaced Arshavin just before the 70th minute and I thought his defensive work was absolutely spot on in the final stages. He made a number of clearances, tracked the speedy Coleman a few times and kept the ball when he had it.

The players held out and the final whistle was a massive relief. A massive three points.

Conclusion

Arsenal now have the best away form in the Premier League, victory at Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City and Everton almost wipes out the poor home defeats we have suffered, if we can get back to our usual form at home and maintain strong away performances then we are in with a good shout.

As it was against Wolves in midweek, we produced another strong, battling display. Our football is not quite at its razor sharp best but it is improving. We looked more creative in the final third and I put that down to the core of the players not changing. The Newcastle, Wolves and now Everton games are making our engine purr again. Unfortunately we are soon to be disrupted by the International break in midweek, I just hope it doesn’t put us back to the beginning come Saturday against our wannabe neighbours.

Our defence displays of late have been much improved. Johan Djourou was once again fantastic and much credit must go to him for shaking off his early wobbles. He has missed a lot of football in the last few years so gaining match fitness and sharpness was always going to take a little bit of time. He appears to have forged a very good partnership alongside the experience head of Sebastien Squillaci who has taken to English football like a duck to water. Djourou once again looked calm and reassuring with the ball at his feet, he won very important headers and is now looking the part. Soon we will no longer have a defensive pecking order, Wenger will be able to scribble down four names on pieces of paper and randomly pick out two of them for his match day team such is the quality.

You just have to look towards the west to see what happens when their first two center backs are out injured, arguably our first two are out, at least in terms of transfer fee’s and our current incumbents are doing fantastically well. Laurent Koscielny is currently my favourite Arsenal defender but after our last two defensive displays, should he walk back into the side? I don’t think he should. Djourou should be allowed to continue on nothing but merit.

Cesc was booked for being accidentally fouled by Sylvan Distin. Would that have happened before midweek? Who knows.

Regular readers will know that I have not bought the Chelsea hype that was going around at the start of the season, they have had a kind start to the season regarding fixtures and they have beaten what is in front of them but all you have to do is take a peak at their bench last night. Even with Almunia, Diaby, Vermaelen, Ramsey and Bendtner sidelined through injury we had a bench containing

Wojciech Szczesny,
Kieran Gibbs,
Emmanuel Eboue,
Denilson,
Tomas Rosicky,
Theo Walcott,
Robin Van Persie.

That is five full internationals with another four out injured. We are very strong and we look as if we are getting stronger defensively. Like I said at the start of the season, we have the best squad in the league and the only team that can stop us finishing top is Arsenal FC.

Fabianski (7.5)
Sagna (7.5)
Squillaci (7.5)
Djourou (8)
Clichy (7)
Song (7)
Wilshere (7)
Cesc (7.5)
Nasri (7.5)
Chamakh (7)
Arshavin (7)

Please note that ratings are only my interpretations of the game and that others will have differing opinions