What a limp dick of a game that was. The first half was as inept as any fixture I've watched this season. Two good sides shuffling around at zero pace, happily giving the ball away at will. Whatever side decided to up the stakes first in the second period was alwasy going to win it, and so it proved. Arsenal gambled first.
I didn't think Arsenal did a lot to deserve it, but they were better. Twice as many shots as us, and the balls to take the game slightly by the scruff got them a win. The goal could and should have been avoided. Degen's positioning was brutal. I could be polite and put it down to just coming on, being a bit awry etc etc, but I won't - it was shit positional sense. Kuyt had the back post covered, it was his job to fill the space behind Agger. Carragher wouldn't have made the same error. Fuck knows what Degen was thinking.
Aside from Degen, we were ordinary. A few decent performances by Skrtel, Mascherano and Gerrard, were overshadowed by some really poor efforts by others - namely Kuyt and Maxi. Both of whom looked like they were running with concrete in their boots. Similarly Arsenal had as many shite performers - Arshavin, Rosicky, Diaby until the goal - were all largely anonymous. One thing this game showed me was the distant gap between the top 2 and everyone else.
We missed Torres. Badly. No kudos for that startling bit of insight I know, but he'd have made a mighty difference. Several times (especially in the first half actually) there were gaps in Arsenal's flat-as-fuck back four, and either the final through ball was delayed or not played - maybe the midfielder in possession was being cautionary in possession, but it probably had more to do with them not fancying N'gog's chances or his lack of run into space. The same players don't think twice when Torres is in such circumstances. Similarly Johnson would have helped. We overloaded Clichy in the first half (Gerrard in particular spending a lot of time there), but didn't have the pace or guile to break through the weak left-back. I haven't bothered reading any other viewpoints yet, but I bet people are wailing about 'pace'. Who in Arsenal's front 5 or 6 has pace? No one. United's? Valencia, even he's not all that. Chelsea? I'm out. It's not about having fucking lighting players. Speed of tempo, ball movement and thought opens teams up. There's a reason why Babel and Walcott sit on the bench most weeks.
A decent cameo from Babel, but the opportunity was there for him. He'll always be better when he comes on as a sub in games with zero risk. With space to move into, against tired opposition, and no defensive requirements rom him, he can be dangerous. It's when Walcott looks most dangerous too, for good reason. Babel almost made the difference too, and will no doubt get more chances to play in the coming weeks off the back of it.
Two things irked more than anything though; Riera's a much better option on the left. I like Maxi, he's decent in possession, and provides a lot to the team. I think he'll get better as the season progresses, and he gets more and more gametime with those around him, but far far too often he cuts inside and narrows everything right down. Riera's not John Barnes, but his ability to stretch things, and the possibility of him going one-on-one against Eboue could have made a difference. Maxi played into their hands too often, and when things are that tight, it takes a miracle few touches to prise open an opportunity. Even Arsenal's mediocre back six can snuff that out.
More worrying was how Gerrard felt the need to drop so deep to get us moving for an equaliser. It's that he feels he has to do that which should cause most concern. How many games did we win late last year? I don't remember him dropping beside Mascherano then to get the tempo raised. We miss Alonso so much in times like this it hurts. Sure Gerrard is good enough to ping balls around and dictate things, but is that where we really want him when we're chasing a goal, on the halfway line playing passes?
I know additions in the forward department are a huge priority this Summer, but if Rafa doesn't think Aquilani's going to step up, then I'd be in the market for a top quality midfielder. We can't rely on Gerrard to play in every role.
That was a ordinary Arsenal effort tonight, and the game was there for the taking. We let it go.
I didn't think Arsenal did a lot to deserve it, but they were better. Twice as many shots as us, and the balls to take the game slightly by the scruff got them a win. The goal could and should have been avoided. Degen's positioning was brutal. I could be polite and put it down to just coming on, being a bit awry etc etc, but I won't - it was shit positional sense. Kuyt had the back post covered, it was his job to fill the space behind Agger. Carragher wouldn't have made the same error. Fuck knows what Degen was thinking.
Aside from Degen, we were ordinary. A few decent performances by Skrtel, Mascherano and Gerrard, were overshadowed by some really poor efforts by others - namely Kuyt and Maxi. Both of whom looked like they were running with concrete in their boots. Similarly Arsenal had as many shite performers - Arshavin, Rosicky, Diaby until the goal - were all largely anonymous. One thing this game showed me was the distant gap between the top 2 and everyone else.
We missed Torres. Badly. No kudos for that startling bit of insight I know, but he'd have made a mighty difference. Several times (especially in the first half actually) there were gaps in Arsenal's flat-as-fuck back four, and either the final through ball was delayed or not played - maybe the midfielder in possession was being cautionary in possession, but it probably had more to do with them not fancying N'gog's chances or his lack of run into space. The same players don't think twice when Torres is in such circumstances. Similarly Johnson would have helped. We overloaded Clichy in the first half (Gerrard in particular spending a lot of time there), but didn't have the pace or guile to break through the weak left-back. I haven't bothered reading any other viewpoints yet, but I bet people are wailing about 'pace'. Who in Arsenal's front 5 or 6 has pace? No one. United's? Valencia, even he's not all that. Chelsea? I'm out. It's not about having fucking lighting players. Speed of tempo, ball movement and thought opens teams up. There's a reason why Babel and Walcott sit on the bench most weeks.
A decent cameo from Babel, but the opportunity was there for him. He'll always be better when he comes on as a sub in games with zero risk. With space to move into, against tired opposition, and no defensive requirements rom him, he can be dangerous. It's when Walcott looks most dangerous too, for good reason. Babel almost made the difference too, and will no doubt get more chances to play in the coming weeks off the back of it.
Two things irked more than anything though; Riera's a much better option on the left. I like Maxi, he's decent in possession, and provides a lot to the team. I think he'll get better as the season progresses, and he gets more and more gametime with those around him, but far far too often he cuts inside and narrows everything right down. Riera's not John Barnes, but his ability to stretch things, and the possibility of him going one-on-one against Eboue could have made a difference. Maxi played into their hands too often, and when things are that tight, it takes a miracle few touches to prise open an opportunity. Even Arsenal's mediocre back six can snuff that out.
More worrying was how Gerrard felt the need to drop so deep to get us moving for an equaliser. It's that he feels he has to do that which should cause most concern. How many games did we win late last year? I don't remember him dropping beside Mascherano then to get the tempo raised. We miss Alonso so much in times like this it hurts. Sure Gerrard is good enough to ping balls around and dictate things, but is that where we really want him when we're chasing a goal, on the halfway line playing passes?
I know additions in the forward department are a huge priority this Summer, but if Rafa doesn't think Aquilani's going to step up, then I'd be in the market for a top quality midfielder. We can't rely on Gerrard to play in every role.
That was a ordinary Arsenal effort tonight, and the game was there for the taking. We let it go.
