Andrey Arshavin is on the pitch for his ability to turn games but in a game like that I would have rather have a Nasri performance, someone who didn’t make mistakes, kept it reasonably simple and keep us moving

Match Review – Arsenal 2 Everton 2 – Premier League

Having a break is usually seen as a positive for players, a chance to rest weary limbs, have a breather and feel physically fitter. This is the case for most, but doesn’t always apply for Arsenal. Wenger’s sides have been based on combination football which requires understanding, rhythm, confidence and momentum. Once those boxes are ticked Arsenal are devastating. The Arsenal purring machine can get halted and put back to the beginning, this is why I feel the international break often causes us problems. Our football following an international game is never quite the same.

A side like Everton play more percentage football so fine tuning is far less important. Hitting the ball into channels or areas can be played at any time, everyday of the week. One touch pass and movement requires much more.

Wenger changed the side against West Ham in the FA Cup to rest certain players. Andrey Arshavin, Samir Nasri, Abou Diaby, Armand Traore, Manuel Almunia and Denilson were all absent from the game at Upton Park, that is over half a team. Three days later the snow stopped the Gunners from taking to the field so the last time Arsene’s team played together was on the 30th December 2009 against Portsmouth.

We were never going to be able to jump into the game with the same fluidity and cohesion but I felt that being at home with good form in our locker, we would have had enough for Everton but the truth is the Toffees were the better team.

They pressed us better than I have seen from any side this year. Starting from Saha, he was the first line of defence and our back four hardly had time to breathe let alone look up and pick a pass.

Everytime the ball was played into the midfield you could feel the pressure the midfielders were under to hold off the opposition and find a free body. Countless times the ball was won back and Everton attacked us with purpose.

I am sure Gooners watching the game would have been filled with nerves when both Vermaelen and Gallas went down injured within the space of twenty minutes.

Everton deservedly opened the scoring, when Leon Osman met a Landon Donovan corner on his debut, Osman’s header flew in off Denilson and high past Almunia. I was hoping that an early goal for Everton would spark Arsenal back into life, but we couldn’t overcome Everton’s high energy game.

Denilson hadn’t been playing at his best but was lucky that his snap shot was deflected past the wrong footed Tim Howard. As they say, if you don’t buy a ticket, you don’t win the lottery. Frank Lampard has made a career of stuffing his pockets with tickets and I welcome any Arsenal player who is willing to pull the trigger from good positions.

Chances were scarce for both sides, Everton continuing to deny Arsenal any time and space. The amount of input Everton put into the game was very impressive and I thought they would tire as the game went on but it just didn’t happen.

Too many Arsenal players were below par. Man of the moment Aaron Ramsey could not stamp his authority on the match and found it very difficult to play his game at the pace of the game. He has the ability to create and score goals out of nothing but is still prone to misplacing too many passes which is very understandable for a player at his age at such a high level. Arsenal missed the dictating abilities of Cesc Fabregas. Samir Nasri was often our only midfielder who managed to consistently keep the ball moving to a red shirt. Diaby showed flashes of his excellent form but was also forced into mistakes.

Andrey Arshavin is on the pitch for his ability to turn games but in a game like that I would have rather have a Nasri performance, someone who didn’t make mistakes, kept it reasonably simple and keep us moving. The ball was not sticking to Arshavin and was a passenger for much of the game.

Tomas Rosicky came on for Ramsey to add some experience to the midfield, it was a very difficult game for him to come into and understandably he was off the pace. Arsenal cranked up the heat and created some half chances. Vermaelen had a shot from close range blocked, Eduardo and Arshavin missed a couple of crosses by a matter of inches.

Ten minutes before time, Everton were back ahead. Arsenal in search of a winner were over committed, a little like at the City of Manchester earlier in the season, Cahill played a wonderful defence splitting pass to Steven Pienaar who came from deep, with acres of space ahead of him the South African skipped through on goal and his finish was sublime, sheer class. Even in my depressed state, I muttered the words ‘great bloody finish’

I couldn’t see a way back from that, I thought the game was over. Everton had defended for their lives for eighty minutes how would we breach them at this stage.

The game could have been put to bed when Denilson who in possession of the ball collapsed holding his side, Everton broke forward at pace and substitute James Vaughan was denied by Almunia from close range. A great save, one that pretty much earned us a point in the end.

Merida replaced Denilson late on which will now give Arsene something to think about during the transfer window, depending on his length of absence.

During stoppage time I received a phone call from my uncle who lives in Holloway, Everton had won consecutive corners and I pretty much gave up hope of a comeback. We were chatting away and I mentioned our defeat at home to Everton.

Uncle: “Is it over?”
Mean Lean: “I think so, I am watching it on a stream so it is delayed but it is stoppage time”
Uncle: “Arsenal have just scored, I can hear the roar”
Mean Lean: “Are you sure”
Uncle: “Trust me”

It is a surreal feeling knowing that Arsenal are about to score when you are watching a stream.

Diaby drove towards the Everton box, resisted the opportunity to shoot, instead finding the better placed Rosicky who arrived late on the scene. His usual outside of the foot strike deflected over Howard into the net. Against all odds, the Gunners pulled out a goal out of the blue.

If we had another three extra minutes then we could well have found a winner, with seconds remaining we penned Everton right back but the egg timer had ran out.

Plenty of credit must go to Everton for a tireless performance, it certainly was a point gained rather than points lost as we were second best for much of the game, at least if the game was measured in commitment. It is a shame as we could have narrowed the gap whilst Chelsea were twiddling their thumbs as we were on Wednesday.

Luckily Manchester United were also held, away to inform Birmingham City, so it is as we were. Chelsea have a chance to gain some more ground.

Next up Bolton and the Gunners will have to sharpen up to get more than they did against Everton.