With Chelsea’s game this weekend postponed because of the weather, Arsenal had a great opportunity to move to within one point of the league leaders if they could beat Everton at the Emirates today.
Instead of getting the win and three points, it took a late deflected shot from substitute Tomas Rosicky for Arsenal to grab a point from the game. So was it a point gained or two points lost?
Arsene Wenger thinks it is a point gained saying:
“At the end of the day we dropped two points, but looking at the game we gained one point because we were closer to losing the game than to winning it. We got the point because we had the spirit and the desire, but we didn’t find our game today.”
Earlier this week I saw a quote from Wenger where he said basically that if most of the games are called off, then they should all be called off because when you play a team later in the season the circumstances of the game might have changed. A team that was involved in a relegation battle is safe or that a team that was struggling is now playing really well.
I thought that was an interesting quote because Everton is a team that had a bad start to the season because of injuries, but as recently, as players have gotten healthy, they have become much harder to beat.
They did not look like a team that is in the bottom half of the league today.
So here are two reasons why I look upon today’s draw as a point gained and not two points dropped. One is that Arsenal did not play well at all. Two deflected goals, but sometimes you need a little bit of luck to be successful.
Second, is that Everton will get better as the rest of the season progresses. I do not want to play them in April, sandwiched between Champions League and FA Cup games, when Wenger may be tempted to play an under-strength team because of all the games that Arsenal are playing. Who knows if Arsenal will get a point under those circumstances?
What do you think? Point gained or two points lost today?
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
With as many mistakes as Traore, Denilson, Ramsey & Diaby were having I suppose its more helpful to see it as one point gained. It is a little easier to see it that way with Manu also ending with a draw. Perhaps we will get Song back with all the craziness that is going down in Angola. He was sorely needed today.
On the technical performance today (especially in the first half) definitely a point gained. We were lucky not to go in 3 : 1 down at half time. Far & away the worst first half display I’ve seen at the Emirates this season.
In the second half we played much better & showed some of the desire that was completely lacking in the first half. Evertons second goal came against the run of play & praise should be given to the lads for keeping the pressure on right to the end against an Everton team which has got some quality players.
I’m pleased this game’s out of the way as Everton have been as badly hit
by injuries as us & with players like Arteta comming back they’re likely to get better.
point gained,opportunity lost.Its as simple as that
im delighted 4 the point today to b honest its not chrismast every week he had a horrible game and managed a point which if man u or chelsea did everyone will b saying how important that point will b at the end of the season. and i remember seeing it last year when tevez equalize in the injury time forgot against ho but i remember the MOTD commentator saying how important this point will b,so really i aint going to blame no one of ours on the other hand everton had their best game of the season so credit to them. SO I THINK THAT IT IS A POINT WON
how many goalkeeping mistakes and points that our so called #1 keeper have to make before arsene’ realises that we need a a better keeper to give our defence the confidence we need to push forward and onward, he is not a bad shot stopper but at times his postitioning and his awareness on crosses is all over the place, i think we need to bring in a world class goalkeeper although that will be difficult as most of the top teams have and will not sell to a major rival. i think it is time to bring in our # 2 keeper if we cannot find a replacement. we are so close to being that finished article, that with a little tweaking here and there we could do it! sol could come in and do a good job as his fitness has always been 100%, w’ll have to wait for song to get back as he is having a really good season and has made that postition his own. and even with bendnter coming back who i dont rate that highly, we need a forward badly as arshavin is not an out and out striker. it would be a shame to go this far when we know we could go much further.
How does Leon Osman one of the smaller players on the pitch manage to rise above useless ball watching Gallas and head the ball for a goal.Two defensive blunders by two defenders cost Arsenal all three points but the inept Sir Alex also dropped two points so not much to worry about as Trash United and Luckypool have no chance of winning the Premier League this season ,up the Gunners?
The biggest player on the pitch ,Fellaini played deep in defence for the Toffees instead of upfront ,costing Moyes three points ,it might come back to haunt Everton for being so negative .
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