It was a match that summed up Arsenal’s season in 90 minutes. Terrific for the first 25 minutes without creating a chance then two horrible defensive errors gifted Spurs two goals.
In the second half, Arsenal get one back and then spend the last 20 minutes pressing for an equalizer that never came.
Some quick thoughts on the game:
- Let’s start with the two Spurs goals. Just criminal defending on the goals. For the first one, who can Mertesacker and Vermaelen let Bale run unmarked through the heart of the defense? And for the second, why did Monreal track Lennon until he got into the box and then leave him? Schoolboy defending.
- Similar to the Gunners, it is Spur’s speed that frightens teams. And when you have a slow back four, playing a high line is suicidal. I understand the idea, in that with a high back line, it means the game is decided in the midfield. And for the first 20 minutes it worked, as the Arsenal forwards and midfielders pressed high up the field and harassed Spurs into turnovers. It was a very Barcelona type of game plan. The problem is that when that pressing by the forwards and midfielders stop, then the other team have time to pick out the runners over the top and that is what happened today.
- Giroud continues to get himself into nice positions, but he still has not adjusted to the pace of the Premier League. He is better than Wenger’s other failed strikers from France like Gervinho and Chamakh but he is not world class (like RVP was). Arsenal need to spend the money on a world class striker this summer. Giroud, or Walcott for that matter, are not the answers.
- I wrote elsewhere recently that I thought that based on the remaining fixtures that Arsenal would grab fourth place ahead of Chelsea. Mainly due to the number of games that Chelsea could potentially play as they are still in the FA Cup and Europa League. Five points is a lot to pull back with 10 games to go, but I don’t think it is out of reach yet. Do you?
What did you think about today’s performance?
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
wenger keeps making the same mistake and expecting a different resul,a positive result at that.i av neva met a stubborn irrational man as wenger.EPL is the fastest league in the world and you play fringe back four and still expect them to deliver? I truly think wenger shld reconsider his position as manager ans give this role to someone who can put versatility and confidence into our game,he has lost his touch!
I was prepared to call Giroud average but useless would be a better description. From a man who brought us Henry, how the hell do we end up with Vela Gervinho Chamack Giroud ? Just 4 failures that come to my mind without thinking. And Monreal ??? Totally average. Don’t get me started on the poor defenders AW has brought to the club. Can he be trusted to spend a large portion of the 120 mill available ? This current squad is fighting well above its weight, be prepared to avoid any Spurs fans for the next 12 months.
I say it again … Wenger won trophies when he inherited George Graham’s endlessly drilled tight (and hard) back 4 … who knew how to defend as a unit. Since they all packed in (plus Keown and Campbell) Wenger has won nothing. Nor will he. It’s not rocket science. Steve Bould is in a very difficult position. He knows how to defend FFS but he has to be like poor old Pat Rice …. a YES MAN.
i agree aw has never won any thing with his own team.
he did it on the back of the hard work gg did on the
training gound.
Aw and d board are notn but disgrace 2 d arsenal family,check out these players,bendtner,denilson,squilaci,chamakh,djorou,gervinho,arshavn,fabianski,giroud,diaby,clusters of waste products,can any of these players play 4 a winning team,yet they wear our jersey.shame on wenger
We all agree on one thing here….our defense stinks…Jenkinson had a good game today but was taken off the pitch early,Ramsey took his place as a right back ,he didnt do too bad there but hos crossing and the chance he missed was terrible. I do not understand why Podolski is not being played as a centre forward ahead of Giroud…or why just not play them together, the ox should have started on the left today and Cazorla should have played in his usual spot, why change players about when you have such an important game Mr Wenger? it makes no sense!! I also strongly agree with the fact that Giroud is not a world class striker, yes, he might get into good positions and etc…but if he is not scoring that means no win!!! in football you win by scoring goals,Mertesacker scored and Ramsey should have buried that ball when he got the chance, instead he kicked it really softly. I hope and i mean “i really hope” that Wenger realizes that there are too many players that are just not good enough for the team, i do not need to mention those players as we all know who they are. We still beat spurs at home earlier on the season but i thought we could have done it today too, we were too soft !
one more thing i forgot to write down, Rosicky is class! why doesnt he starts more games, hos vision and passing skills were amazing today!
a w, you are taking things so light with this big and respactable team that you have already gathered what a shame.