Again apologies for missing the City game this time but I just never got around to drafting something up. Overall I think we showed some resilience and picked up what could be a vital point come the end of the season especially with Everton breathing down our necks.
I'm not going to lie going into the game I didn't expect much from us in fact I expected the worse and after 18 minutes, I expected it even more. The match started lively and actually would have been a good game for a neutral to watch, both teams were attacking but when Silva broke with City the deadlock was soon broken. The tricky Spaniard looked to shoot but instead squared it to Dzeko who hit the near post but much like at Old Trafford the rebound fell to Silva who put it away. Lucky? Maybe, but when your charging to the title you need luck and Silva had the instinct to follow it in.
The half went on in a tit-for-tat kind of way with both sides creating the odd chance. Mathieu Flamini put the ball in the City net but it was rightly ruled out for offside. The half drew to a close but there was some optimism around the Emirates for the second half and for good reason, the second half started and Arsenal immediately looked better.
There was more urgency and more drive to Arsenals game as they began to pull the City defence across the field. Then 7 minutes in, we struck. Displaying the patient play on the edge of the box that we so often do, found Podolski on the left hand side of the box. The German looked up and curled the ball towards an onrushing Flamini who guided it past Hart. It was a big goal and you could really see what it meant to the Frenchman who as proved to be a phenomenal piece of business from Wenger.
The rest of the game was all Arsenal and moment later we probably should have been 2-0 up. Some clever interplay with Cazorla found Podolski again but this time inside the box on the left with Hart to beat. I thought almost certainly he would fizz it across the face of the goal and into the far corner, but instead he tried to put it between Harts legs but the England keeper got the lucky with the ball brushing off his heel and wide.
That was really the best chance we fashioned for the rest of the game but credit to Wenger, I expected him to throw on some more defensive players as the game progressed but he went for it bringing on Alex OC and Sanogo but it just wasn't to be. After a bad week a big point against Man City was much needed ahead of our final game of the dreaded run we've had to endure.
The game next weekend is without a doubt the biggest of the season. We sit 4 points ahead of Everton who have a game in hand. Assuming they win that, there's a point in it meaning that we have to go to Goodison and get a result. A draw isn't ideal but a loss is catastrophic. If we lose it's out of our hands and we rely on other teams at this silly stage of the season to save us.
I'd just like to take a moment to remember that 13 years ago today, Arsenal lost David "Rocky" Rocastle to non-hodgkins lymphoma at the age of just 33. For those who saw him play, many will never forget his unusual combination of flair and power. For those who didn't he lives on through the stories passed down from fan to fan. RIP Rocky.
I don't really know where to start this following the humiliation of the weekend. The result was one of the most painful I've endured as a fan, worse than the 8-2 at OT, worse than the 6-1 at the same ground. It's been a season where we've competed and where there's been a sense of progress at last, but have we really made that much progress when we lose 6-0, 5-1 and 6-3 away to our closest rivals? The fact that there appears to be this mental block in the big games is a huge concern, especially leading into the FA Cup semi-final. Ultimately the lack of desire and mental preparation rests with the manager.
This was followed by heart-break on Tuesday night when after going 1-0 down at home to Swansea, we showed that fight and determination that everyone has spoken about this season to score 2 goals in 2 minutes via Podolski and Giroud. Then moments from time an unfortunate deflection and block hit Flamini in the shins and ended up in our own net. It pretty much sums up this week and we are now looking very precarious in 4th.
Everton are 6 points behind us, with a game in hand and we have to visit Goodison Park this season. Assuming we lose to City this weekend which based on recent results is pretty much a given, they're 3 behind with a game in hand and we have to play them in 2 weeks. That will be a 6 pointer if ever there was one. It is so typically Arsenal to have been in the title race not 2 weeks ago and now we're looking over our shoulder worrying about our position in the top 4.
There was one shining light on Tuesday however and that was the fact that Kim Kallstrom made his debut and actually looked like a fairly solid player. Everyone and their wife ripped him upon arrival but if he's going to contribute to the team in the end then nobody will be complaining.
Well I'll be back on Friday with some team news and the build up to a game that quite frankly I really don't want to think about at the moment. Try to enjoy the rest of the week. COYG!
Well I can't say I'm surprised that we're out of the Champions League. We had it all to do and when that ugly German Schweinsteiger scored in the 54th minute the tie was all but over. Podolski scored a quite superb goal moments later to make the scoreline respectable on the night but it was just too much. Ah well onward and upwards as they say.
Tomorrow is the game that all die hard fans and away scheme members look for when the fixtures are released. A game that can quite literally change a season. The North London derby is our match, our chance to get one over on our nearest neighbours. But more than that a win tomorrow could kick us on into the final few stages of the season. If we win tomorrow we'll be 9 points clear of 5th placed Tottenham incidentally with a game in hand, meaning if all goes well when the fixtures level out we could have a 12 point lead over 5th. Not completely sewn up but so close.
Along with that we're entering our dreaded run where we play Spurs, Chelsea, Swansea (due to cup success), City and Everton between now and April 6th. In these games every win is vital and every point dropped could be the difference. I'd like to say this is a good time to play Tottenham in their current run but in a derby they'll be right up for it to turn it around. They have problems at the back and a few other players who could miss out, but we're hardly at full strength with the news revealed that Ramsey has suffered yet another set back and Ozil is out for up to 6 weeks.
In terms of our team Oxlade-Chamberlain is in contention with starting and with the way he's played recently I really think it's a no brainer. He adds pace and drive to the team which tomorrow could do some serious damage. Cazorla should start and then in the middle we have decisions. I think le boss will go with Rosicky due to experience and he does like a goal against Tottenham. That said he could change things around to include Podolski who I'm sure has a big role to play yet this season. Gibbs is however a doubt which means we could play Monreal there. Kallstrom is fit but I doubt this is an apt time for his debut.
This is a huge game as not only is it a derby but it has connotations for the league too as I mentioned up there. A big performance today and we'll be as prepared as we can for a difficult run. A loss and we'll be hammered in the media and questions will be asked. Let's hope for the former. COYG!
Apologies it's been so long I've had a hectic few weeks. Arsenal marched onwards to Wembley yesterday as they overcame Everton 4-1 in a scoreline that was probably a touch flattering.
Both teams started quickly and it was an even first few moments, but 7 minutes in Cazorla found space with a men to his left and his right. He went left with a perfect pass to Mesut Ozil who neatly placed it in the far corner providing the team and himself with a much needed boost. He was a standout performer yesterday.
From then on Arsenal bossed the game until the 30th minute when Ross Barkley broke and he was tracked by the already booked Flamini who made the decision with his experience not to lunge in, that resulted in a cross that Mirallas hashed up but it fell to Lukaku all of a yard out who made it 1-1. From then on it was an even and end to end game with both sides pressurising and looking dangerous.
Early in the second half an unfortunate slip from Vermaelen let Lukaku surge down the wing, he pulled it back to Barkley who should have scored but place it over. That was the moment when Everton's cup tie was dead and buried. Moments later Arsenal were in the lead, the Ox powered into the box and slipped past Barry on the Barry on the by-line who then tripped Alex and Arsenal had a penalty. There was nothing more in the challenge than a trip, it was dangerous or malicious but it was a stone wall penalty.
Then in a bizarre series of events, Arteta stepped up and placed it perfectly in the corner but Clattenberg called him back as Giroud encroached and was subsequently booked which is probably the only time I've ever seen that happen. Arteta with nerves of steel stepped up again, went the other way along with the keeper but it was powerfully placed high and out of reach. Fantastic play from the Spaniard.
Everton never really threatened after that and Arsenal drove forward with the fresh legs of Rosicky who again showed just how valuable a player he really is despite his age. After a lovely overlap he played Sagna in who held the ball fantastically on the by line and slid the ball through the eye of a needle perfect for Giroud who turned it in. It looked simple but it was by no means an easy chance.
There was to be one more goal and a more typical Arsenal goal you couldn't wish to see. A rapid counter attack that again involved Rosicky along with Cazorla. Ozil was picked out and just entered the box when he showed his class squaring the ball to the unmarked Giroud who passed it in for his second and a well rounded Arsenal performance. People talk about teams being ruthless and showing no mercy and it's a quality I feel we have lacked in previous seasons but this was a demonstration of just that.
There were some real stand out performances yesterday mainly from Alex OC, Cazorla and Ozil. It was such an important game for our record signing after weeks of what at times have been harsh criticism, but he looked fresh and recharged yesterday and it showed in his quality performance. Coming to the end of his second season, the more and more Santi Cazorla looks like an absolute steal for the £15m paid for him. A fan favourite, ambidextrous and just an all round world class player he's been a fantastic addition for the team.
Well the semi-final draw will be made today and no-doubt we'll draw Man City the way this cup draw has happened but we'd end up playing them eventually anyway so who knows. Either way a day at Wembley is much needed and deserved I think, now we have a tricky game against the European Champions on Tuesday and I'll be back tomorrow with news and a preview, until then have a great day.
