Mark ModiArsenal Draw 1-1 With Liverpool. I don't Know Whether To Be Happy Or Not
Link: marcmm03.blogspot.com
Arsenal start the new season with 1-1 draw with Liverpool. After readint many Gunner blog, I have a mixed feeling just like any gooners aroung the globe. Some are happy with the draw having been write off (yet again year after year) before the ball waas even kicked. Some are not happy because Liverpool just not good (not even Steven Gerrard) and 10 men for the rest of the second half and yet Arsenal failed to win. On the players performance, there are a lot of opinion. I'm not going to write about opinion I saw from the other blogs, I'm going to write my own and how I saw the game.I cannot say I'm happy in fact I'm not happy. No matter how people have write Arsenal off, I will never happy with less than 3 points. The performances against Liverpool are so average that I have to check whether i'm waching the right team playing. to say Arsenal are pressuring Liverpool, the fact that I see, Arsenal are not much better from them. Even with all the possession, and promissing move, almost have nothing to do. But how was the lads performance?
The World Cup French palyer just not that good. Sagna, Diaby and Clichy performance just not up to the expectation. Maybe they still got the Anelka boycott syndrom. Sagna look solid only because Liverpool hardly have any attacking start from the left. Agger just stay at the back and I don't even know if Liverpool have any player at the wide left. Clichy just getting bombarded time and time again by Kuyt, Johnson and Ngog and with Arshavin is no help at all Clichy really look struggling in this game. Diaby? I thaught he supposed to be a defensive midfielder? He just don't provide any cover to the centre back at all.
Arshavin. I don't know what to say about him. A 20 million genius or 20 million of waste? For 20 million, I hope to see 10 times better performance than that. His dribbling just bad and so his flick and passing. Apart from the cross that lead to the goal, his contribution just like almost zero. Eboue also didn't do much at the game. I cannot remember any good contribution from him. I think he is better come on as a sub rather than starting up.
Wilshere have a good game for a 18 year old for his full debut. But he still need to learn and his senior just didn't give him much help either. His mistake lead to a goal. Anyway good learning point for him. It will make him realise that he just cannot make any more mistake in games. Nasri didn't play very well at all. Despite all of his passing and involvement in the game, he rarely threat the Liverpool defences at all. His freekick just poor. After practising freekicks everyday, I expect him to at least make the goalkeeper work. Chakmakh doing quite well. He was well marked but his desire just help Reina make the mistake that leads to the goals. We haven't see that desire to attack crosses last season. A different dimension of play by Chakmakh.
Koscielny and Vermaelen look solid at the back. Vermaelen can be blame for the goal as he step up a bit let and play Ngog onside. Vermaelen almost score and winning a few header from the set piece. Koscielny have a good debut until he was red carded. Not even Torres can pass him in the game. Good no nonsense defender he is and what Arsenal have lack for a long times since the departure of Martin Keown. Almunia have a shaky game. Maybe to much things running to his mind. Overall he have a quite game.
The subs have been superb. Rosicky, Theo and Van Persie all doing well. Theo and Rosicky almost score and they even make Agger fall sick. But what make it interesting about them. Their shirt number. No. 7, 10 & 14. The number that have make Arsenal a force to be reckon when the like of Pires, Bergkamp and Henry wearing them. With additional of number 4 of Cesc, it seems there is a good sign. It have been a long time since those number have combined in attack (since the number 10 was last worn by Gallas).
But overall, I'm not happy with the draw. But I'm looking for positive result for the next game and the rest of the season. The last time no. 4, 7, 10 & 14 combined in the attack, Arsenal won the league undefeated. Hopefully this combination of numbers willbring Arsenal something to cheer for at the end of the season.
