Well, after what has been a tough old week on the sleep front, we are through the first week of the season. Unconvincingly, but on the bright side, there is some promise.
Arsenal vs Palace
First up was Palace at home, we were a team that looked a long way from its best in terms of match fitness and sharpness, giving debuts to three new players, playing against a Crystal Palace side that may not have had Pulis on the sideline but he was very much part of their mindset. Hard-working, highly disciplined and well organised: difficult enough to cope with on your best day, so when you’re not playing as well as you can it becomes even more of a test. In the end we came through it, but it wasn’t easy by any stretch of the imagination. They were quite content to sit deep and let us have the ball, and to be frank we didn’t do an awful lot with it.
Was it harsh on Palace? Who cares? As hard as they worked they were also time-wasting from about 15 minutes into the game, which I understand, but it doesn’t leave me with any sympathy for them at all.
Result: 2-1 win. ArsenalNZ MOTM: Chambers, outstanding debut for the young lad with barely a foot wrong.
Besiktas vs Arsenal
The lads secured a hard fought 0-0 against Besiktas in the first leg of their Champions League double-header in a scrappy game that peaked early and ended with a red card for Aaron Ramsey. Wenger’s men created few chances over the course of 90 minutes but will at least be proud of a clean sheet that stands them in good stead ahead of next week’s return game. On the face of it, a 0-0 draw isn’t that bad, but obviously an away goal would have been nice. It almost came late on when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain hit the inside of the post, but as it stands only the Turkish side can take advantage of the away goals rule now and that is a bit dangerous from our point of view.
From Le Frog “It was a difficult match played at a high pace. Besiktas played with 100 per cent pace and did fought for every single ball. We needed a great level of concentration. We are still a bit short physically with some situations, but overall it was a game played for 90 minutes at great pace.”
Overall it could have been better, could have been worse, but we do need to try and find something to get us going. This day next week we’ve got a game which will decide our European future for the season. The way we’re playing right now you can’t help but be a little bit nervous,
Everton vs Arsenal
Physically it looked like some players are not ready, Mertesacker and Ozil both looked jaded. Wilshere really needs to pounce on these kinds of golden opportunities instead of letting down. He’s quality, no doubt about that but he needs to find something special in his game. Again due to the absence of a strong player we were not closing anyone down. We made it too easy for them to score the first goal. I don’t know what’s in Wenger’s mind but we can’t rely on Arteta, he is old and he is SHIT!. Conceding early goals has become a trend in crucial games, Wenger really needs to sort this out. Apart from it we all know how difficult it is at Goodison and we were convincing enough in the last 10 minutes to salvage a draw but there’s still some significant room for improvement on the squad. Time for a proper DM.
Wenger seems happy with the result… I’m pissed off we let such an easy first goal and by the sounds of it Giroud has gone and done his ankle in.
Next up is the return leg vs Besiktas, a win is a must.
Off for a round of golf! Laters
miketheg00ner