What a welcome result, and lets be honest, a wholly expected one, 2-0 win at home in the midst of the worst run this season where the team had had 3 losses on the trot domestically. Without the star striker Robin Van Persie, and the injury of Bendtner, two strikers were used before today, Eduardo and Vela. In those three games, both never looked like they knew what central striking was about, not able to make runs, not able to hold time and create space, they both played stinkers against Sunderland, Chelsea and Man City where the team scored a mighty 0 goals.
So, it seems Wenger has had his eureka moment, and tried the Russian dwarf Arshavin as the point man. Against giant defenders of Stoke, Arshavin who this week complained the team lacked anyone to hold the ball, walked the walk and showed Vela and Eduardo what can be done when you use your intelligence and try find solutions inside a game.
Whilst Vela and Eduardo kept doing the same things and had the same results, Arshavin would see what would work and keep doing it. The Stoke defenders sat deep and close to each other, so Arshavin dropped deep and looked for when they split their lines. He scored one goal with a combination with Fabregas, and had he had his shooting boots on, he would have scored another 2 certain goals.
Fabregas also found time to miss a penalty and let his head drop for the rest of the game. Ramsey made certain of the points with a late goal.
Still there are weaknesses, Sagna is still crossing to nobody, and the team always looks to attack, even when the opposition are regimented and showing no sign of breaking their ranks, so why attack and hope you get through? Be patient and draw the opposition out, especially if you have the goal, why press for more if the opposition are sitting deep and playing on the counter, let them come try get the ball, we have the players who can keep it, so they should keep it.
Player Ratings
Almunia 3: Suspect on crosses, sort it out.
Sagna 4: Crosses are useless, stop it please.
Gallas 5: Not much action, decent, although no need to keep charging up field.
Vermaelen 5: Same as Gallas on all fronts.
Traore 5: Decent attacking play, but needs work on defending, which is his primary duty.
Denilson 4: Not awful, but never helped in ball retention.
Fabregas 4: Many bad passes, although set up Arshavin.
Rosicky 2: Poor performance,looks tired, and is now injured for a month.
Nasri 5: So so, not able to do what he does best in finding killer passes.
Eboue 4: Not an attacker, shouldn't be playing there, no end product.
Arshavin 6: Showed the strikers how to play centrally, now show the same attitude in every game please, no time for sulking.
Trainer Rating
Wenger 5: Made the most of the players at his disposal, although why keep playing Eboue anywhere other than right back is a mistake, he has no end product. Also why use Rosicky who looked bad for the 45mins he played? Also he needs to be the voice of the team, tell them to retain the ball better and not over exert themselves, conservation of energy will be key, so many games are coming up and the players need as much energy as they can get.
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