Going wide gets Arsenal goals: Match Report and Playa Ratings
Arsenal 5 Shaktar Donetsk 1
From Goodplaya at the Emirates
IN A NUTSHELL…
We enjoyed less of the ball and fewer opportunities in the first half than against Birmingham on Saturday but crucially we took them. Once we were into our stride we were reminded what a joy it is to watch Arsenal. Eduardo’s cameo was very touching.
OUR STARTING 11…
Was fine but going forward we looked a little one paced. Nasri, Cesc, Rosicky and Wilshere all offer their own threats but still slightly similar threats. Certainly, we were neither breaking at great pace nor running with the ball at great pace.
THE OPENER…
Was yet another reminder of how important it is to have a decent keeper. We should never have got it, but credit to Eboue and Song for being alert.
PEOPLE WILL SAY…
That for the second we got lucky that Song’s cross deflected straight to Nasri, but hey, crosses can do just that. That’s the good thing about them. Once it came to Nasri, he took it a bit like his opener against Man United a couple of years ago – except on this occasion he had a lot, lot more to do.
THE PENALTY…
Was by my reckoning at least the 8th we have had this season in just 12 games. I haven’t seen a replay so can’t really comment.
THE FOURTH WAS NOTABLE…
For the fact that after 11 and a half games in the holding midfield position, within four minutes of being pushed into the more advanced role, Jack Wilshere was off the mark for the season. It was absolutely beautifully taken and to have an 18 year old who can look so at home in both positions is quite something.
THE FIFTH WAS NOTABLE…
For being the one and only goal of our five to come from a central position. Delightfully chipped through by Nasri, Chamakh looked so obviously offside from where we were sitting that you could only assume someone on the far side was playing him on. They were.
THAT THOSE FIRST FOUR…
Goals all came from us either crossing the ball or running the channels spoke volumes to me. We’re a fantastically athletic team and yet we spend so much of our time going through the middle. I can’t help feeling this makes it easier for the less athletic opponents we face.
THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE…
Can be a funny atmopshere really. At times it was very, very quiet last night, which I suppose is not altogether surprising when you realise that our first two performances of the group stage meant that arguably there was less at stake than in a normal league game.
WE’VE WELCOMED BACK…
A few old boys of late. Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry and Robert Pires have all returned as virtual Freemen of the Borough of Islington in recent years. Last night it was the turn of Eduardo. He never enjoyed anything like their success at the club but nonetheless received a huge ovation from a crowd who knew the win was in the bag.
We loved Eduardo, still do. We loved him for his goals, his silky skills and his obvious humility.
And we loved him because he brought out and brings out the tribal in us as Gooners. He brings out the idea of it being us against the world at times. Only at Arsenal can we imagine a guy who was nearly booted out the game for good ending up the victim of a legal witch hunt that had never applied to anyone but him beforehand and has never applied since. For weeks, his image peppered TV bulletins and newspaper pages as the first guy ever to be banned for diving.
Amazing to think that in the year since that incident, not a single other player has been charged with that offence. Shameful, shameful, shameful UEFA.
THE OTHER POINT ABOUT EDUARDO…
Is that Arsene Wenger doesn’t sell 27 year-olds without a good reason and despite the brilliant way he took his goal last night, the cretins who see his kind of injury as just one of those things need reminding that it didn’t end the day he made his return in the red and white. Ultimately, it cost him his job at Arsenal and while he continues to enjoy a living that most people could only dream of, it is still well worth noting.
PLAYER RATINGS…
Fabianski (8) made a good save at an important time and really you can’t ask for a lot more than that. He has now enjoyed a few normal games, long may it continue. Eboue (7) was dangerous going forward and largely untroubled at the back, Clichy (7.5) got better as the game went on and was his old self late on. Old self in terms of tackling and pressing not in terms of the perfectly delivered cross that was very welcome indeed.
Squillaci (7) looks fine but not necessarily outstanding at anything, which is no big criticism. Djourou (7.5) looked stronger and more confident, which you’d expect as he gets games under his belt.
Song (7) was fine although I don’t really like seeing him further forward than Wilshere. That said, he scored one and crossed for the second. Cesc (6.5) was almost reassuringly rusty. By that I mean you didn’t feel he was ever about to injure himself again in the way he perhaps can when returning in dramatic fashion.
Wilshere (7.5) was very impressive again. I know I spoke a lot earlier this week about what was just one incident, but I do think it was worth noting because the guy has so much to his game that he really doesn’t need to rely on that kind of thing. Plus the fact that Birmingham needed to be exposed as the hypocrites they are. But back to last ngiht and what was so impressive was how natural he looked in both positions.
Rosicky (7) was industrious enough and certainly better than of late and Nasri (7.5) made telling impacts, despite some periods where he was very quiet. Chamakh (7) did his thing and scored again. You can’t really argue with it.
Substitute Denilson (7) is at the right level on the subs bench. I say that not nastily in any way. I just think that is what his performances are worthy of and that Wilshere is rightfully ahead of him. Theo (6.5) looked rusty but like Cesc it was all about him simply being out there in the first place.
And that brings us to Arshavin. I can’t tell whether it is being lazy that is making him look fat, being fat that is making him look lazy or (more likely) whether he is both. Frankly, it is absurd. He is an outstanding, outstanding footballer who should be leading this team forward, not puffing around on the sidelines.
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I complain about our supporters with the best of people, but that was quite moving, especially due to the circumstances that saw him leave.
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