Swansea deserved to win the game and must be given an immense amount of credit for the way they played, however from an Arsenal perspective, the defeat was seriously avoidable again. The team seemed incapable of keeping the ball for a sustained period of time to build pressure on the hosts, with some individuals frustrating a lot of fans.
Injuries have taken their toll, but Arsenal should still have had enough quality to get three points. We all know that when fit, our best starting XI is capable of beating anyone, but the hallmark of a great team is being able to pick up points when key players are missing. It seemed that some of the players on the pitch were about as useful as some of those who were absent from injury.
Like at Fulham, we started the match really well. Robin van Persie, unsurprisingly, scored. I thought his initial touch was too heavy, but I shouldn’t have doubted the captain.
Having scored so early, we should have won the match comfortably. What is most frustrating about the last few weeks is that the team have been in the same situation on three occasions, and not won any of the games. Against Wolves, Fulham and Swansea, we got the early goal but allowed the opposition back into the match. If it happened once, you’d mark it down as careless, but the lesson would have been learnt and dealt with. However there is a clear issue that hasn’t been addressed properly. To throw away three leads, two of them leading to defeats, is beyond careless. We’ve been in a situation since August where any dropped points where going to be felt more than usual because of our start, so to be in winning positions and throw them away is infuriating.
Whilst we didn’t properly kick on after the goal, we were unfortunate to concede the penalty. Whether it’s not getting a penalty awarded to us, or conceding soft penalties, I’m fed up of important decisions going against us. I can understand why referee Michael Oliver gave the penalty, however he was in a brilliant position and should have seen that Ramsey didn’t trip Nathan Dyer or attempt to bring him down. Dyer turned in the box and if anything he catches Ramsey. It isn’t an excuse for the larger problems in the team, but it would be nice to have an important decision be right and go in our favour. Sunday against Manchester United would be a good start for that, although our recent win record with Mike Dean officiating is terrible.
Having been pegged back at 1-1, we still couldn’t control the game. Swansea deservedly took the lead as we overplayed the ball out of defence. We had the chance to spray the ball out wide and move away from our goal, however we went back to where Swansea were able to pressure us into losing the ball and giving them the space to score. Swansea had played their way out of similar position impressively, whether we were trying to prove that we could do it as well I don’t know, but it would have made sense at that moment to be able to read the situation and be more direct to get the ball away with the game so finely poised.
Bringing the game back to 2-2 proved that Swansea were just as vulnerable at the back as we were, the final pass just had to be right. So often it wasn’t, yet it only took a simple through ball from Djourou to put Walcott in on goal. The simplicity of both of our goals made the fact we couldn’t carve out other clear chances very frustrating. Walcott’s finish was excellent, but he did nothing for the rest of the game.
The way we conceded straight from the kick off was ludicrous. The players weren’t focussed and we were deservedly punished. Even when the ball was played through to Danny Graham, we shouldn’t have conceded. Koscielny had enough pace to force Graham wide, but Szczesny was in no man’s land, giving Graham the chance to find the far corner. Had Szczesny stayed in goal, Swansea probably wouldn’t have scored. I think Wojciech Szczesny is good enough to be our long term number one, however he’s shown his inexperience and naivety in the last two league games, and it’s cost us points. There are no other fit or competent goalkeepers to replace or advise Szczesny if he goes through a bad run of form, so he could become complacent about his place in the team. There’s a lot of pressure on him to show maturity, but his age is getting the better of him at some key points in games.
As much as we were slightly open in defence, I don’t think that was the biggest problem at the weekend. Laurent Koscielny had another superb game, both in terms of quality and effort. Per Mertesacker hadn’t trained all week after being unwell so deserves credit for starting at all, plus he did make some key interceptions and clearances. We need full backs. Ignasi Miquel looked like an inexperienced centre back playing out of position, however he couldn’t be faulted for effort. Hopefully Thomas Vermaelen will return next week, otherwise the decision to not sign a full back looks increasingly baffling. There aren’t many good left backs available on the market for loan, but surely signing one of them on for a short term fix would have been a better option than putting pressure on a young centre back to play out of position.
The biggest problem on Sunday was the midfield. Aaron Ramsey ran his socks into the ground, but is clearly in need of a break. It’s the first time he’s played regularly for such a long period of time in the Premier League, and its showing. He also seemed slightly confused as to where in midfield he was playing against Swansea. With Benayoun there, it wasn’t clear whether Ramsey was the man meant to be getting close to Robin van Persie. We missed Mikel Arteta so badly. He would have given us the control in midfield that would have enabled us to keep the ball better. He’d also have allowed Song to express himself more with the ball and possibly create some chances, something he’s improved on this season.
Going forward, as mentioned, Walcott didn’t have a good game. Robin van Persie barely had anything to feed off and Andrey Arshavin picked up a good assist, but otherwise slowed our attacks down and lost the ball too often. Gervinho has his critics, but he runs with the ball well and injects pace into our game.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain looked a lot livelier than Arshavin when he came on, making me think it’s really time to unleash the Ox. With Gervinho at the African Cup of Nations, Oxlade-Chamberlain is the closest like-for-like replacement we’ve got. We could start Henry on the left wing, but I think that would be a waste of his finishing ability.
There was a lot of anger flying around from some Arsenal fans after the match, particularly on twitter, and a lot of it was understandable, but it shouldn’t be directed at players who clearly gave 100%. Some of the tweets sent to Aaron Ramsey were needless and hideous, and Ramsey was one of the players who didn’t stop running all game. He’s not in great form, but is giving everything for Arsenal Football Club. As fans, we can’t ask for anymore from those wearing the shirt. We can ask for reinforcements to be brought in, but we can’t fault players individually if they’ve given everything they’ve got.
As for the fan who reportedly confronted Thierry Henry, we don’t need in-fighting with supporters and probably the best player to wear the cannon. Things weren’t good on Sunday, but we saw at the end of last season how negativity amongst fans will only bring the team down. The last days of last season weren’t enjoyable for anyone, so let’s all get behind the team against Manchester United. We’re in January, there’s still time to make the top four plus we’re still in the Champions League and the FA Cup. There is still time to address the problems and get players back from injury, we just need that sooner rather than later, or else our top four hopes will fade.
We’re in a position now where we go into the Manchester United match with no expectations. Anything that isn’t a defeat will probably be considered a bonus. The pressure is off, so the players need to show the sort of confidence that Swansea did against us. Hopefully we’ll see the much needed returns of Thomas Vermaelen and Mikel Arteta, and possibly someone other than Andrey Arshavin on the wing. We always have a chance with Robin van Persie up front.
Trying to look positively, on the same weekend in January 2007, we welcomed Manchester United to the Emirates. We won 2-1 with an injury time winner from Thierry Henry. Can the script writer pick up his pen?
Source: Sam Limbert, ESPN Soccernet on 17 Jan 12
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