Alex Song bossed the early exchanges of the game, he looked head and shoulders above every player on the pitch. His ability to hold off the opposition and find his team mates in little gaps is exceptional

Match Review – Arsenal 1 Liverpool 0 – Premier League

One nil to the Arsenal came from a different era, a totally different one that has evolved at Arsenal in 2010. I sang it many times as a school boy from the terraces at Highbury. These days that score line is quite rare. Keeping clean sheets hasn’t been our forte and scoring goals hasn’t been a problem for us.

After conceding three to United and then a further two to Chelsea, a clean sheet against Liverpool would have given the players a huge boost.

Liverpool clearly came to the Emirates with a defensive mindset which is fair enough considering the joy that our recent opposition have had. The usual how to play Arsenal template must be passed around by opposition managers. The scousers denied us space and time and got men behind the ball, it seemed like the Arsenal players were fully aware of the dangers of the counter attack as Song did not venture as far forward as he often does and the full backs were much more conservative in their approach.

It felt like a proper match, a game of cat and mouse, a game of patience.

I was very intrigued about the selection. Wenger gave the impression that Nicklas Bendtner was not yet ready for starting football matches but the powerful Dane started in the middle of Nasri and Arshavin. I said in the match preview that Eboue would not take the place of Sagna whilst our defence was leaking goals, well what do I know?

Alex Song bossed the early exchanges of the game, he looked head and shoulders above every player on the pitch. His ability to hold off the opposition and find his team mates in little gaps is exceptional. I admire Song for the way he rose above such negativity and skepticism to develop into the player he is today. Song should be the example to fans who are quick to write off a player who is yet to complete his development as a footballer.

Abou Diaby grew into the game and started to dominate along with Alex Song. Our captain Cesc Fabregas was the only one in our midfield not to reach his best levels as he struggled to find his passing range in the early stages. Liverpool set out to stop him having time on the ball which contributed to his passing. Lucas and Mascherano closing down the Spaniard whenever the ball was played into him.

It is something that Cesc will already be used to and will have to continue to get used to as he remains the main attacking force in this Arsenal side.

Liverpool were content to keep it very tight and not offer much as an offensive force.

Nicklas Bendtner made a decent first start since his injury. It was nice to have a forward who can win the ball in the air from Manuel Almunia’s goal kicks.

He had one chance in the first half after a nudge through from Arshavin but he blazed over the bar. Bendtner needs to compose himself before finishing. He has had a habit of lashing at the ball when a more calm and cultured finish could have been the better option.

He will get that with games and confidence of scoring.

I must admit, I did not see the Nasri injury but he looked very shaken up by the head injury. It was disappointing to see him go off because I am not normally a fan of Rosicky playing from the right. Nasri is more likely to have a go at his full back and try and run past him whereas Rosicky is better at doing so from the left.

Rosicky didn’t start very well, misplacing passes that he usually does with his eyes closed but he was to grow into the game and make a massive impact.

We passed the ball too slowly in the first 45 and found it difficult to pull Liverpool out of position, the ball was moved much quicker in the second half as usual with our side.

Liverpool created their best chance on the counter when Steven Gerrard sent David N’Gog clear on 53 minutes. Fantastic defending from Vermaelen and Gallas snuffed out the danger. Vermaelen pulling out from making a tackle from the wrong side as he saw his defensive partner closing in on his countryman. Gallas made the most perfect of last ditch tackles that you are likely to see this season.

Gallas was in exceptional form throughout the game, hardly putting a foot wrong. The only slight error was when he headed over the Liverpool goal early in the first half, although the ball in was slightly too high. Apart from that, he was solid in front of Almunia’s goal.

Arsenal should have capitalised a minute later when Rosicky was played through in the left channel but his second touch allowed Reina to come and collect the ball. Sometimes there is too much indecision from our players when in goal scoring positions just like Nasri against Chelsea on Sunday, when in a great position to strike.

It was great to see an improvement in Gael Clichy’s game, we even got to see his trademark interception and counter attack. He certainly looked sharper than he has done since his comeback. Hopefully he can continue to progress until the end of the season.

Arshavin who had improved in the second half was finding runners with his passes which he wasn’t doing in the first half. He was replaced after picking up a hamstring strain. He has played many games in recent weeks and has been dealing with pain on his right foot so the rest may do him so good, I just hope it is not for too long. Theo Walcott was the player to take his place and put plenty of hard work into the game. His touch is still not there yet but if he can continue his commitment and dedication then it will come in time.

The deadlock was broken with about 18 minutes to go. The impressive Abou Diaby started the move breaking from his own half. Bendtner exchanged passes with Rosicky and the shaggy haired Czech crossed the perfect ball to Diaby to continued his run into the penalty area. His header was well controlled and Reina could get nowhere near it.

It just shows the difference when you have players from wide areas who have that extra quality. If Cesc, Rosicky or Arshavin were in the same positions as Sagna and Clichy more often then we would score more goals of this nature.

Ryan Babel had come on as a substitute after the Arsenal goal and almost provided a moment of magic that Liverpool had been missing. His touch passed Gallas was superb and he unleashed a 30 yard rocket heading towards Almunia’s top corner but the stretching finger tips of our keeping flicked the ball onto the crossbar.

As the finger is often pointed at our goalkeeper this season I think praise would only be fair. He has made more mistakes than we or indeed he would have wanted but he has also saved us at crucial times this season. Everton at home springs to mind when we could have been 3-1 down with minutes remaining, instead we drew the game 2-2.

Arsenal being Arsenal had to make life rather nervy at the end when Liverpool were awarded a non existent freekick outside of our penalty area. Gerrards strike was fired towards our goal but for the intervention of Cesc Fabregas’ hand. Sky had all decided that it was a penalty even though it looked outside of the penalty area to me. Either way, it was a strange thing for Cesc to do. It meant very little in the end as nothing was given and three points headed back to North London.

Mean while at Goodison Park Louis Saha’s Everton had beaten Michael Ballack’s predictable Chelsea side 2-1, Everton even had room to miss a penalty.

At Villa Park, Aston Villa had managed to take four points away from Manchester United this season after a 1-1 draw. Nani was sent off for a two footed lunge on a Villa player.

Predictablly Sky are backtracking and talking of a three horse race after ruling us out of the race once again. One would assume that they would have learnt lessons by now. Six points to make up from thirty six available points is not as far fetched as some would believe. While some are fretting about defeats to our rivals, I would happily accept that, if we can win against the sides in the lower half of the table and give us a chance of winning the title with a few games left.

Next up, Sunderland at home.