Theo Walcott started where he left off against Barcelona and tormented the Wolves defenders. He looks like a man full of confidence and the run of games without injury appears to have done the trick. Luckily his contribution grew from his first touch which was to kick the ball straight out of play

Match Review – Arsenal 1 Wolves 0 – Premier League

Ok enough is just about enough of this now. I have a future to think about, it is important that I look after my health. If Arsenal keep leaving games so late then I am afraid that I may just keel over one of these days.

With Chelsea stealing the points at Old Trafford earlier in the day the league has opened up again. Had Manchester United of beaten Chelsea then they would have been in a very strong position but Chelsea have on paper the more difficult run and we all sit with our fingers well and truly crossed.

Obviously victory against a Wolves side in decent form would have been a necessity. Arsene Wenger rang in the changes. Tired legs and ping pong eyes from watching yellow shirts needed resting before anymore bodies were declared unusable.

Theo Walcott started after his game changing impact on Wednesday. Tomas Rosicky took over the Cesc mantel in the middle of midfield. Emmanuel Eboue started on the left which I felt was an unusual move. Sol started with Vermaelen, perhaps to warm him up for the Camp Nou. Silvestre came in for Gael Clichy who was due a much needed rest. Eduardo also came in for Bendtner.

With seven changes from midweek the team was always going to look a little disjointed especially with many of the players not playing regular football, not only that but many partnerships have been broken up with plenty of new combinations.

Theo Walcott started where he left off against Barcelona and tormented the Wolves defenders. He looks like a man full of confidence and the run of games without injury appears to have done the trick. Luckily his contribution grew from his first touch which was to kick the ball straight out of play after accidentally nudging the ball with his left foot before attempting to cross.

Theo played a big part in our first real chance, weaving in and out before bursting into the box and cutting back to Eduardo who side footed at the goalkeeper.

Eduardo was presented with probably the best chance of the game after great work between Walcott and Rosicky, the Czech had cut the ball back to Eduardo who was standing ahead of the penalty spot, Eduardo took a touch and then rushed his right footed shot which bobbled horribly wide. One player you would not expect to panic in that position is Eduardo da Silva. It would be easy to say that Eduardo is finished, he will never be the same player again but lets not forget that his last start for Arsenal was against Aston Villa at Villa Park on the 27th January 2010. He has had a sprinkling of 5-15 minute cameos since then but you do not gain your best form like that especially after a catalogue of niggling injuries. Clearly Eduardo is not looking like the same player pre leg break but I am sure with a pre season under his belt and a run in the side then he will show everyone the player he really is.

All of the play came down our right side which meant that Theo Walcott was pretty much involved in everything that we created. Theo played in Sagna who hit his shot at Marcus Hahnemann. A real chance for the right back to put himself in a great position to win the bet with Gael Clichy and Johan Djourou. A sporting bet that the trio had, to end up with the most goals. It looks like only one goal will do it this year.

I was a little perplexed at our first substitution of the game. Nicklas Bendtner came on which was a good move but I didn’t understand why Emmanuel Eboue was the one to be replaced. It was still goalless and we needed to put them under more pressure defensively. I thought the better option would have been to revert Eboue back to right back and sacrifice Bacary Sagna.

Karl Henry was sent off for high challenge on Tomas Rosicky. It was too late in my book. He should have been sent off in the first half for pushing his studs into Theo Walcott after the ball had gone. Unsurprisingly this has been ignored by the usual broadcasters. The man clearly identified Theo as a danger man and was willing to do anything he could to stop him. It is acts like that which make me furious.

The evidence was there to be seen as Rosicky hobbled away with blood on his leg. Karl Henry eff’d and blinded as he walked off the pitch. Probably amazed at how so many other have been unpunished for going through the back of an Arsenal players leg without punishment.

Rosicky dusted himself down and was the next player to test the Wolves goal. Walcott’s slip and cross accidentally found its way to Rosicky who burst into the box, his snap shot was well parried away by the American keeper.

Samir Nasri came on for Alex Song and instantly added another dimension to our play. Without the likes of Cesc, Arshavin and Nasri our play became very unArsenal like. We lacked invention around our box and the one-two’s between the forwards and midfielders just did not happen. We were crossing the ball into the box from the start until the end and that was food and drink to the Wolves defenders who probably defend those situations during every training session.

Crossing the ball into the box can be a very good additional option for a team like Arsenal but when players do not make runs into the box then it becomes a waste. Too many times during the game Sagna or Walcott would toss the ball into the box for one attacking player against three or four Wolves players. I kept screaming out ‘Stop crossing! pass it inside’

Perhaps next season those crosses can be much more useful with the potential signing of Marouane Chamakh along with Nicklas Bendtner and the returning Robin Van Persie.

With the time ticking away and cross after cross being cleared away I started to feel a little resigned to defeat, it hasn’t happened too much this season as we have proved time and again that we can score late but without the invention and creativity I feared the worst. With seconds remaining Sagna had three targets in the box, one of those was Nicklas Bendtner who headed wide of the impressive Hahnemann.

All my nerves and anxiety came out in one loud roar which had frightened my two year old son into tears but I am sure he will understand in time. Another late show from Nicklas Bendtner and the three points has catapulted us back into the race after our slip last week.

Manchester United losing, players being rested and three more points on the board. It has been a better weekend than the last. All we need now is a great midweek.

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