View From The Sphere

Our season starts now!

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Ok, having reflected on yesterday’s result, which was an upset in the sports betting market, and cooling my jets per say, I thought I would share my thoughts on our team’s performance.

Needless to say, we conceded two very stupid goals – both which could’ve have been prevented.

The first goal was down to poor marking and a lapse of concentration and positioning from Laurent Koscielny. Fernando Torres was tugging at the Frenchman’s shirt when the ball came flying, but Kos was all over the place from the get-go in this set-piece and a quick turn away from the ball to look where Torres was completely wrong footed the defender, leaving the Spaniard free to tap in the opener. Perhaps Vito Mannone could have come out and claimed the ball, but I believe Kos should have done better in general.

Having gone a goal down, we responded well. We didn’t play our best stuff but we did merit a goal and we got it just before half-time through Gervinho. It’s just a shame the half was coming to an end, because we had Chelsea on the ropes after scoring.

Second half didn’t produce many chances for both sides. Lukas Podolski’s header aimed at Petr Cech’s far post was probably the pick of the lot, with the Chelsea goalkeeper tipping it wide. Olivier Giroud’s deflected effort just dropped wide of the goal – leaving me standing like an idiot in front of my TV, as I thought it was in.

All was going well until Chelsea were rewarded another free-kick around 35-yards from Mannone’s goal. It didn’t look like a position where they were going to score from but they did, thanks to yet another lapse of concentration from Koscielny. Juan Mata simply swung in a low angled ball towards goal which didn’t meet anyone apart from Koscieln’y leg. The Frenchman lost his bearings yet again and guided the ball past Mannone. At this point I thought it just wasn’t going to be our day and I was proved right.

We could’ve kept our unbeaten run going but for Giroud’s last minute miss. The French striker was put through on a one-on-one with Cech, rounded the keeper but only managed to hit the side netting – this certainly didn’t help his ‘flop’ cause in any shape of form.

To be fair, it wasn’t a great game, and it wasn’t a great performance from our boys. It probably deserved to be a draw but it wasn’t. Lady Luck was clearly shining on Chelsea yesterday and we need to avoid such displays if we are to be considered ‘serious’ title contenders.

But what annoyed me – besides the result and performance of course – was the omission of Per Mertesacker.

The Big lanky German has been our best defender by a clear mile so far this season, yet Wenger decided to put him on the bench, why?

Now I am a firm believer of if you play well, you should keep your place in the side, no matter who you are keeping out of it. I’m not saying we would’ve won the game if he was on the field, nor am I saying Koscielny has lost it anyway, but I’m pretty sure we wouldn’t have conceded those goals, especially the first one. Big mistake from Wenger, and I think, deep down, he knows it.

The only positives that came out of this game was the performance of Carl Jenkinson, and Aaron Ramsey looks like he is rediscovering himself after a poor season last year.

Jenkinson is really making a claim for the right-back position, while Ramsey is showing desire and commitment when others aren’t.

It’s going to be interesting to see how we bounce back from this defeat, as it wasn’t a game we exactly deserved to win.

Our season truly starts now.

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11 comments

  • Zakk says:

    Gotta disagree with the Ramsay comment – was erratic yesterday particularly when switched centrally (certainly seemed that way from the North Bank). But Keiran Gibbs and Carl did a fantastic job look different players to last season.

  • Silenstan says:

    Dear god you thought Ramsey a positive!!! One slow pace, wayward passes ( at one point even the commentator said he was going thru hell ) he was rubbish

  • Demola abdulahi,nigeria says:

    Watching with present mind and not last season’s,i think its unfair 2 criticis Ramsey coz he was far wiling in dat game than cazorla IMO,i truly hope d season wil start 4 gud now and we go on a gud run.

  • PaulB says:

    Every year we hear this sort of clap trap, our season starts now, no it started on the 18th August, we are simply not good enough to challenge for trophies when out manager and board are driven by profit and profit alone, we will continue to buy bargain basement players, the fact that Hull sent our keeper back and said thanks but no thanks, but he’s good enough for us, with Wenger’s crap tactics, dropping the BFG was stupid, but you can’t explain to the moron but he hasn’t listened for eight seasons now, he lives in the past with a lot of the AKB mob. Face the fact we are no longer a trophy challenging club, we are a club hell bent on sitting on 137 million with ho desire to compete for trophies

    • What accounts are you reading as the recently announced financial results for 2011 with revenue falling from £380 million to £256 million and profit before tax declining from £56 million to £15 million.

    • keeming says:

      its a bit like Liverpool and the “we’ve turned the corner” in their 11 match winless run under Houllier. Our CL league spot fight starts now! will be closer to the truth. We look good for 4th, dont panic guys.

  • Naveed says:

    Mate, What are you talking about Ramsey, the guy has no clue and passes the ball to opposition more than he does to his own players. Bit Mat was missed but with TV definately playing as a captain we dont have much choice there. TV doesnt really deserve a place either in my opinion. Diaby typical, whole world knew he will get injured only Arsene didnt see it coming and we got done there. Lets hope Frimpong and Wilshire will ease the pressure. THEO for me needs to be upfront. Arsene says he has to wait, God and Arsene know only wait for what. Gervinhio on the left and Podoloski on the right with Theo in the middle. They can switch as move progresses. I will be more confident of Theo scoring when chance comes up than Giroud right now.

  • Ola says:

    Dz said manone is 2 heavy 2 lift him self nd i dont know hw long we re going 2 wait 4 dz giroud b4 coming gud,i tot y dont we try walcot instead of dz giroud,and koscielny always get intimidated in big matches,rememba last season 2nd leg against liverpool

    • Arsenal1Again says:

      Who is Dz and how does he know about Mannone’s weight? Never seen Koscielny intimidated in any match, he’s actually the opposite and often puts people like Kevin Davies in his back pocket. Giroud won’t come good until he gets a decent run of games under his belt. 6 league matches and a league cup game is far from a decent run of games and those he played in were not all 90 mins. You just sound like an impatient glory hunting know nothing. Maybe you get all your opinion’s from this Dz, eh? Henry and Bergkamp took longer than this to score and they played 90 mins of every game. Actually Giroud has scored before they did.

  • jay says:

    Mert isn’t de quickest but rids de game brilliantly maybe kosc just showed y he isn’t in the startx1 due 2 inconsistency

  • Tom says:

    I’m not too concerned about loosing the game, even though it always hurts more to loose at home. What really worries me is the amount of chances we created after Chelsey scored the second goal. Any side can loose at home , Man u did too, but if you want to talk about contending for a title , you have to show more determination and gritt. More than anything this Arsenal side lacks is leadersip on and off the pitch. Inexperienced goal keepers and defenders don’t make for a resolute or reliable teammates. There is no verbal communication , no one is shouting out directions , moving players around etc.. Wenger only seems to get involved when he gets in the ear of the fourth referee or to show his disappointment from a missed opportunity. From a tactical stand point , if and after you make your changes there is no noticeable result in how your side performed , then either the players you brought on aren’t good enough to influence the game or your tactical changes weren’t worth the spit. I would love to be wrong and would gladly eat humble pie but this Arsenal side is closer to fighting it out with Tottenham for the fourth spot than with Manchester clubs and Chelsey for the title.

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