Today’s game saw Arsene’s Gunners coming up against David Moyes’s merseysiders who were on a seven game unbeaten run. Earlier on in the season they had come from two goals behind against Manchester United to clinch a draw. The side of Arsenal that we see now is an all round team effort with pressure on the ball and the team defending as a unit. The Gunners away form has been superior to that at The Emirates, I saw much to be proud of at the Molineux, where a hostile crowd was matched by the likes of Karl Henry and Steven Hunt. Fabianski was sublime and his save in the last two minutes shows that he has responded well to his mistake against the Geordies.
The first half display was the best that I have seen this season. There was concentration and desire with a resolve not to concede. The initial exchanges saw the Gunners settle into a steady passing game as Everton pressed and wasted some good chances, not least a header from Cahill after Coleman’s counter attack leaving Fabregas for dead down the right channel. The final cross was perfectly weighted to the far post but the Aussie directed the chance wide of Fabianski’s post. Arsenal’s Samir Nasri came closest after a nice combination saw his shot deflected by Distin, Arshavin had a long range effort go wide. The game was not dirty but Kamakaze tackling by Heitinga saw the game’s first yellow card as he went through Jack wilshere after earlier having kicked Song on the ground.
Defensively, there appears to be a good partnership developing between Johan Djourou and Squillaci. Clichy was under pressure upon several occasions but was equal to the task, helped in no small measure by Arshavin greater work rate defensively. Chamakh has also added to the new focused defensive attitude of Arsenal. It does not look pretty but who cares? It get’s the job done. Everton were confined to chasing shadows as Arsenal’s possession percentage climbed to near 60 in the final third of the first half.
The goal when it came arrived as result of more cohesive possession and following a throw in, Samir Nasri’s probing run into the central area allowed him to unleash a shot that was only parried low at his far post by Tim Howard. Arshavin pounced on the rebound and displaying a wonderful piece of technical skill, he turned inside Baines and this gave him the time to square the ball to Sagna who drove his shot high into the roof of the net past the despairing dive of Howard at his near post. The rest of the half saw Everton launch an aerial assault on Arsenal’s goal in an effort to target Fabianski, but a combination of luck and resolve kept the Toffees out.
Everton 0 Arsenal 1 Sagna 36’
The second half saw an early substitution by Arsene Wenger with Denilson on for Jack Wilshere. This was to counter the aggression of Areteta and Pienaar in midfield. The removal of Heitinga from the fray for Jack Rodwell ensured that Everton would not be reduced to ten men. Arsenal continued from where they left off with good possession, and to be honest we never looked troubled, yet the failure of Everton to take the chances created did flatter our performance to a degree. But this game is all about confidence and Arsenal were growing in this regard as the minutes went on.
Arsenal’s endeavour made the difference. This time it was Arsenal who had the run of the ball and the luck. Denilson looked more composed and Song managed to break up the play effectively regaining possession for the Gunners. Everton needed an early reply in the second half, but instead Arsenal drew blood again. The move started with a counter from Denilson in midfield who intelligently ran into the space vacated by Arteta who appeared to be man marking Fabregas. The ball was laid off to Cesc who managed to nutmeg Pienaar and get the ball through to Chamakh who despite having the attention of three Everton defenders passed the ball back to his Captain who managed to take the shot across Tim Howard on the half volley.
Everton 0 Arsenal 2 Fabregas 48’
Squillaci survived a scare shortly afterwards as he took down Saha. He appeared to be the last man, but happily Howard Webb interpreted it as only a yellow card offence as the Everton striker was running away from the direct route to goal. Everton squandered the resulting free kick. Fabregas was later booked rather unfairly as he tried to block a clearance. The theatrics of Distin clearly influenced the referee, as Fabregas was in fact trodden on by the frenchman. Arsenal intelligently ran down the clock with sustained periods of unanswered possession. Sometimes as many as 35 passes were made. Everton had only a shot from close range over the bar from Jack Rodwell in reply.
Arsenal brought on Rosicky for Arshavin as Everton increased the pressure when they finally had a spell of possession. But their route to goal was blocked by great saves from Fabianski and and blocks by Song. With time running out David Moyes delivered his final reposte by bringing on Yakubu for Arteta and Jermaine Beckford for Phil Neville. The 4-3-3 formation by Everton proved no more successful and again they resorted to pointless long high balls that Djourou and Squillaci gratefully accepted. Cahill played deeper in midfield which took away the aerial threat. Samir Nasri was always threatening and this meant that the Everton back four could not push up the pitch, for fear of a counter.
Again Arsenal played with solid focus and very rarely gave the ball away. The most uncharacteristic but welcome aspect of the style adopted by this Arsenal team was to ensure that in high pressure moments, the ball was simply booted away in the far spaces behind the Everton back four. Everton tried everything to make a break through but were denied by good saves by Fabianski, However their efforts were finally rewarded in the 89th minute after a corner from Baines was floated to the far post. Saha climbed unfairly on the shoulders of Song and headed the ball down to a grateful Cahill who scored with a right footed stab from four yards out.
Everton 1 Arsenal 2 Cahill 89’
Arsenal weathered an uncomfortable four minutes, Arsene Wenger brought on Eboue for Marouane Chamakh. The frenetic attempts from Everton were in vain, as Arsenal hung on for a deserved victory. This is the side of Arsenal that many Gooners will want to see more often. Despite the adrenaline of the baying Goodison crowd, Arsenal players threw themselves into blocks, wasted time and held up the ball. We now lie second behind Chelsea who at the time of writing this blog appeared to be cruising to an uncomfortable 3-nil home defeat by Steve Bruce’s Sunderland. Fabianski was my man of the match with a very good performance from Song who very nearly clinched that honour. But the difference was down to excellent shot stopping by our current number one.
Final score: Everton 1 Arsenal 2
Teams: Everton: Howard Baines Coleman Distin Neville Heitinga Arteta Cahill Saha Pienaar Subs used Rodwell, Yakubu and Beckford.
Arsenal: Fabianksi Sagna Djourou Squillaci Clichy Fabregas Wilshere Song Nasri Arshavin Chamakh Subs used Denilson, Rosicky and Eboue.
It will be interesting to see how the media refer to Arsenal from now on. Before Manchester United were the expected competition, and now we are two points behind the top spot and one point ahead of Man United. I still feel that the media bias against us will see grudging acknowledgement of our resurgence. Listen for comments like, “We still expect Man United to make a strong challenge in the final third of the season and be the real threat to Chelsea” I dislike this attitude from the anti-Arsenal brigade, but it is results that count. If we could go on a winning run of say seven games, then We will be number one with a real chance of winning the Premier League. The most important thing is that this Arsenal team is now learning how to grind out results and put setbacks behind them. It isn
’t the prettiest of Arsenal styles to witness, but if it does the job, will you be complaining?
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