Arsenal snatched a late draw at Anfield courtesy of Pepe Reina's 90th minute goalkeeping howler and it was no more than the Gunners deserved after a solid but somewhat workman-like away performance.
Last-minute equalisers are always enjoyable but it was particularly satisfying to see Reina throw the ball in his own net. He has not endeared himself to Arsenal fans after ring-leading the now infamous incident where a Barcelona shirt was forced over Cesc Fabregas’s head at Spain’s World Cup homecoming and it really was a pleasure to watch his agony after the goal.
Arsenal had goalkeeping problems of their own though when, at the beginning of the half, they had gone behind to a similarly soft goal scored by David Ngog. It was the culmination of a catalogue of weak defending the like of which we saw too many times last season. Slack play that saw the Gunners concede possession on the edge of their own area. Thomas Vermaelen was then a little slow in trying to close Ngog down but most culpable was Manuel Almunia.
Despite the ferocity of the Liverpool striker’s shot, there is no way a top class keeper should be getting beaten at his near post from that angle. The Spaniard’s positioning was unbelievably poor and, though his error might not have been as glaring as Reina’s, the outcome was the same and on such mistakes matches at this level can turn.
And Ngog’s goal did turn the game. For most of the first half Arsenal had enjoyed the greater amount of possession and had looked the more capable team. What they lacked was the cutting edge in the final third to convert their superiority into an actual lead. (How many times have we seen that over the past few seasons?) When Wenger plays five in midfield, it really does rely on midfielders committing themselves forward to link up with the lone striker. Cesc Fabregas did this brilliantly last season and landed a haul of goals because of it. In his absence though, too many times in the first half Arsenal produced some good approach play but just didn’t get enough numbers forward to meet the final pass.
When Joe Cole was dismissed for a reckless challenge on Laurent Koscielny on the stroke of half-time, it presented the Gunners with the opportunity of dominating further and finding that opening goal after the break. However, Ngog’s strike early in the second half gave the home team the edge and allowed the ten men of Liverpool to sit back and defend their lead. They almost pulled off an opening day victory until Reina was beaten to the ball by Marouane Chamakh whose header rebounded off the post only be turned in by the Liverpool keeper.
The game ended with Koscielny receiving a red card for a second bookable offence. Adjudged to have deliberately handled the ball, it seemed a harsh decision but it didn’t diminish what had been a creditable Premier League debut. He anticipated situations well and showed strength and speed. His lack of build concerned a few people seeing him for the first time in pre-season games but, today, he handled the physicality without any problems. More importantly, he and Vermaelen look like they have begun to forge a partnership that can be built on. It is a shame he now faces a suspension but maybe this will sharpen Arsene Wenger’s search for the additional cover that is so desperately needed in the centre of defence.
As for Arsenal’s other Premier League debutant, Marouane Chamakh had a fairly muted game - until the final minute. He is definitely more of a target man and does give the Gunners a physical presence in the front-line. It may take him a while to adjust to the pace of English football but, at this early stage, it was encouraging to see him showing the right spirit in the 90th minute when getting behind the Liverpool defence to create the havoc that led to the goal. In the coming weeks, should the formation switch to 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1, it going to be really interesting to see how he links up with Robin Van Persie.
It is impossible to properly judge the team on the strength on just one game. It takes half a dozen matches for everyone to really pick up the pace and find their full rhythm. Add to that the fact that Cesc Fabregas was missing and Robin Van Persie only appeared for the final fifteen minutes and we are still a way off seeing this Arsenal team at full strength. Furthermore, the round of international games that took place during the midweek hardly formed the ideal preparation for this game for both sides.
All that said, the areas that need the manager’s attention were there for all to see. The goalkeeping situation needs to be sorted out before the transfer window closes and more defensive reinforcements are desperately needed. Almunia's display failed to inspire confidence all afternoon and the idea that Fabianski is his only likely replacement at the moment is depressing and not a little scary. Neither have shown anything in pre-season to change the view that a new first-choice goalkeeper is definitely required.
Today’s performance might have lacked the pizzazz of last season’s barnstorming 6-1 victory on Merseyside in the opener at Everton twelve months ago. However, a draw away at Liverpool is a steady start and it also gets a tricky fixture out of the way early in the season. There was plenty to be contented about regarding both the result and the performance - but also plenty of aspects that need improvement and work.
Source: David Young, ESPN Soccernet on 16 Aug 10
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