So Arsenal have gone back to top the Premier League once more following their 2-1 win against Aston Villa tonight, but they certainly made it a difficult task.
We cruised the first half, looking in total control with Villa unable to muster much other than a Fabian Delph effort that went agonisingly wide. Other than that, I can't recall Szczesny having anything else to do.
We looked good and created a couple of early half chances but Giroud, being Giroud, was unable to give us an early lead. Podolski was on the bench for this one, and remained an unused sub, but he should have come on in the second half with Giroud putting in yet another frustrating performance.
The Frenchman did score however in a blink-and-you'd-miss it scenario. Both goals came back to back of each other with our second goal coming only around 15 seconds of the restart. I was still celebrating the first in fact.
Nacho Monreal darted down the left following Mesut Ozil's fine through ball, and the left back's cross went behind Matt Lowton with Jack Wilshere arriving. His first touch was superb as he set himself up for the shot, with his effort a little scuffed as it rolled past a diving Brad Guzan.
Arsenal had been pressing Villa all game and credit to the hosts for once we got the ball back, we faced a well organised Villa defence. But just after the restart Giroud's pressing won the ball back and we darted forward. Wilshere turned provider this time with his pass to the striker who struck his shot into the ground as it blasted past Guzan, who had only just picked the ball out of his net.
Aston Villa looked a different side in the second half however and we looked a little concerning. Christian Benteke, who hadn't scored in nearly four months, was getting into some good positions and managed to pull one back for the hosts with 15 minutes remaining; only his sixth goal, and his third third against us, this season. Lowton produced a great cross behind our back line and Benteke dived in at the back post with a header to halve the deficit.
I thought we would let Villa back into it completely from then on in and we had to ride the storm a little. We held on however, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain coming on late in the second half to make his first appearance for us since the opening game of the season.
If I was Wenger however I'd be pretty disappointed with our second half performance. As has been a similar occurrence of late, Ozil hasn't been living up to his £42m price tag, and even Santi Cazorla was at fault for Villa's goal. I will be happy when Aaron Ramsey makes his return from injury, as Rosicky was forced off tonight, and Arteta wasn't named in Wenger's 18-man squad tonight, presumably with an injury.
Serge Gnabry looked lively again tonight and we take the three points that we knew we needed. We remain top of the table once again, and can look forward to our next home match against a lacklustre Fulham on Saturday.
Showing posts with label match report. Show all posts
Showing posts with label match report. Show all posts
Monday, 13 January 2014
Tuesday, 22 October 2013
Unhappy birthday: Arsenal 1-2 Borussia Dortmund
Arsenal succumbed to their first defeat in 13 matches as Borussia Dortmund proved to be no walk in the park on match-day three of the Champions League Group Stage.
I felt this could prove to be their toughest fixture yet but they grew in confidence and perhaps, on the night, should have ended up winning the game. Dortmund took the lead, somewhat annoyingly due to poor marking at the back, when Henrikh Mkhitaryan received the ball in space and drilled the ball past Szczesny.
They came with a game plan and succeeded in pressurising Arsenal well, allowing us to have very little time on the ball. Perhaps Arsenal wanted too much time; Ramsey was often found caught in possession which is annoying to watch for someone who is filled to brim with confidence.
Ozil was quiet in the first half and it took me some time to realise he was on the pitch. Arsenal were not up to the standards they have set themselves in recent weeks, while Dortmund were on top of everything.
Still Arsenal drew level thanks to Giroud minutes before half time. Sagna's cross was somewhat flapped by Roman Weidenfeller in Dortmund's goal, and Giroud smashed the loose ball into the goal. Fair play to the French striker for not giving up on the chance, and he got his reward.
Dortmund, for all their abilities in pressurising Arsenal and possession building, looked a little lacklustre when it came to the final ball or troubling the goal. Then again, Arsenal weren't creating too much in the way of clear-cut opportunities either and tiredness, as shown against Norwich, started to creep in.
Thus came the change in Arsenal's momentum as Santi Cazorla came on to replace Wilshere in the second half, and his impact suggested Arsenal would grab a deserved goal and victory. The Spaniard nearly scored himself, with only the upright denying him with a fierce shot from outside the area. But for all their new-found attacking flair, they were caught by a counter-attack sucker-punch inside the final ten minutes. Gündoğan, whose final ball had been poor all game, saw his deep cross volleyed powerfully by Robert Lewandowsi past his Polish counter-part Szczesny in Arsenal's goal.
In what was a very German affair with all of Dortmund's own, plus Ozil and Mertesacker for us, Wenger, who celebrated his 64th birthday today, brought on young Serge Gnabry late on but he had little time to show us his potential. Bendtner also came on as a late substitute as Arsenal hoped to get players forward and find that second goal.
It didn't come however as Arsenal will now feel a little more pressure on them. Napoli secured a 2-1 win against Marseille which now sees Dortmund, Arsenal and the Italian side all on six points in Group F at the half-way stage.
So Wenger would have wished for a better birthday present tonight, but he now begins life as a 64-year-old with thoughts of Crystal Palace, who are up next to face The Gunners on Saturday (26/10 12:45pm k/o BST).
I felt this could prove to be their toughest fixture yet but they grew in confidence and perhaps, on the night, should have ended up winning the game. Dortmund took the lead, somewhat annoyingly due to poor marking at the back, when Henrikh Mkhitaryan received the ball in space and drilled the ball past Szczesny.
They came with a game plan and succeeded in pressurising Arsenal well, allowing us to have very little time on the ball. Perhaps Arsenal wanted too much time; Ramsey was often found caught in possession which is annoying to watch for someone who is filled to brim with confidence.
Ozil was quiet in the first half and it took me some time to realise he was on the pitch. Arsenal were not up to the standards they have set themselves in recent weeks, while Dortmund were on top of everything.
Still Arsenal drew level thanks to Giroud minutes before half time. Sagna's cross was somewhat flapped by Roman Weidenfeller in Dortmund's goal, and Giroud smashed the loose ball into the goal. Fair play to the French striker for not giving up on the chance, and he got his reward.
Dortmund, for all their abilities in pressurising Arsenal and possession building, looked a little lacklustre when it came to the final ball or troubling the goal. Then again, Arsenal weren't creating too much in the way of clear-cut opportunities either and tiredness, as shown against Norwich, started to creep in.
Thus came the change in Arsenal's momentum as Santi Cazorla came on to replace Wilshere in the second half, and his impact suggested Arsenal would grab a deserved goal and victory. The Spaniard nearly scored himself, with only the upright denying him with a fierce shot from outside the area. But for all their new-found attacking flair, they were caught by a counter-attack sucker-punch inside the final ten minutes. Gündoğan, whose final ball had been poor all game, saw his deep cross volleyed powerfully by Robert Lewandowsi past his Polish counter-part Szczesny in Arsenal's goal.
In what was a very German affair with all of Dortmund's own, plus Ozil and Mertesacker for us, Wenger, who celebrated his 64th birthday today, brought on young Serge Gnabry late on but he had little time to show us his potential. Bendtner also came on as a late substitute as Arsenal hoped to get players forward and find that second goal.
It didn't come however as Arsenal will now feel a little more pressure on them. Napoli secured a 2-1 win against Marseille which now sees Dortmund, Arsenal and the Italian side all on six points in Group F at the half-way stage.
So Wenger would have wished for a better birthday present tonight, but he now begins life as a 64-year-old with thoughts of Crystal Palace, who are up next to face The Gunners on Saturday (26/10 12:45pm k/o BST).
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| Girooooud |
Wednesday, 18 September 2013
Marseille 1 - 2 Arsenal
Arsenal finally did enough to see off Marseille in their opening Champions League encounter last night thanks to two second half goals by Theo Walcott and Aaron Ramsey.
Walcott smashed in a rocket of a shot to open his scoring account for the season, before Ramsey drove through the Marseille half before unleashing a deflected shot past Mandanda, to continue his fine form. In the 90th minute he was then deemed to have caught Andre Ayew in the box (though replays showed he got the ball with Ayew making the most of minimal 'contact') whose brother Jordan scored from the spot.
The home side's goal came too late however as Arsenal ran out winners in this tie, marking their tenth successive away win; a run which dates back to Arsenal's 2-0 win on March 13 against Bayern Munich, and is a new club record.
It also marks Arsenal's sixth successive win on the trot this season as the Gunners haven't lost a game since the opening day of the campaign against Aston Villa.
The Gunners enjoyed periods of control, particularly in the opening twenty minutes, but the hosts looked a little threatening on the attack but their shots were limited and from range, with Arsenal's defence showing significant improvements have been made in this area. Szczesny had little to do but looked assured when needing to make a save.
There was one gasp in the second half however when the keeper and Mertesacker appeared to lack communication, with the tall German looping the ball over the Polishman as he left his line. Fortunately Gibbs read it and headed the ball off the line before a Marseille player could attack.
Walcott had had previous chances and following his recent form, continued to prove his lack of finishing in front of goal, though he smashed in his only goal of the game here. Perhaps he had some anger behind the strike, and quite rightly so for someone who claims to want to be a striker but needs chance after chance to get one goal. However Wenger now believes the Englishman will find his eye for goal and fans will certainly hope so too with Giroud our only other injury-free, recognised forward.
Ramsey was pulling the strings yet again in midfield and being involved in all of Arsenal's movement up and down the pitch. Is there any stopping the Welshman who now has six goals in seven appearances so far this season?
Arsenal will welcome last year's Champions League runner's up Borussia Dortmund, who lost 2-0 away to Napoli last night, to the Emirates in the next European encounter, but despite conceding yet another penalty late on this time around, will be pleased to have their Champions League campaign up and running with three points from the first game.
Arsenal continue to be growing in confidence and this bodes well as attentions now turn back to the Premier League. Dogged Stoke are the visitors to London on Sunday (22/09 - k/o 13:30pm GMT) and may be the next side to feel the wrath of Ramsey and co.
Goals scored:
Walcott (65')
Ramsey (84')
Walcott smashed in a rocket of a shot to open his scoring account for the season, before Ramsey drove through the Marseille half before unleashing a deflected shot past Mandanda, to continue his fine form. In the 90th minute he was then deemed to have caught Andre Ayew in the box (though replays showed he got the ball with Ayew making the most of minimal 'contact') whose brother Jordan scored from the spot.
The home side's goal came too late however as Arsenal ran out winners in this tie, marking their tenth successive away win; a run which dates back to Arsenal's 2-0 win on March 13 against Bayern Munich, and is a new club record.
It also marks Arsenal's sixth successive win on the trot this season as the Gunners haven't lost a game since the opening day of the campaign against Aston Villa.
The Gunners enjoyed periods of control, particularly in the opening twenty minutes, but the hosts looked a little threatening on the attack but their shots were limited and from range, with Arsenal's defence showing significant improvements have been made in this area. Szczesny had little to do but looked assured when needing to make a save.
There was one gasp in the second half however when the keeper and Mertesacker appeared to lack communication, with the tall German looping the ball over the Polishman as he left his line. Fortunately Gibbs read it and headed the ball off the line before a Marseille player could attack.
Walcott had had previous chances and following his recent form, continued to prove his lack of finishing in front of goal, though he smashed in his only goal of the game here. Perhaps he had some anger behind the strike, and quite rightly so for someone who claims to want to be a striker but needs chance after chance to get one goal. However Wenger now believes the Englishman will find his eye for goal and fans will certainly hope so too with Giroud our only other injury-free, recognised forward.
Ramsey was pulling the strings yet again in midfield and being involved in all of Arsenal's movement up and down the pitch. Is there any stopping the Welshman who now has six goals in seven appearances so far this season?
Arsenal will welcome last year's Champions League runner's up Borussia Dortmund, who lost 2-0 away to Napoli last night, to the Emirates in the next European encounter, but despite conceding yet another penalty late on this time around, will be pleased to have their Champions League campaign up and running with three points from the first game.
Arsenal continue to be growing in confidence and this bodes well as attentions now turn back to the Premier League. Dogged Stoke are the visitors to London on Sunday (22/09 - k/o 13:30pm GMT) and may be the next side to feel the wrath of Ramsey and co.
Goals scored:
Walcott (65')
Ramsey (84')
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| Can anyone stop him? Ramsey drives in Arsenal's second at the Stade Velodrome |
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