Arsenal secured their first win of the season with a 0-2 victory over Liverpool at Anfield. It wasn’t as dominant a performance as compared to that against Sunderland and Stoke but the goals came this time round.

 

Near-First Choice XII

We played our first 9 if you may term it that way. Besides Jenkinson and Manonne, every player we fielded were first choice selections. You may argue about the Ox but frankly between him, Walcott and Gervinho, I don’t really know who would stand out. We do have a major right wing issue. The Ox wasn’t effective today, Walcott has not been good against teams that have quick left backs and Gervinho isn’t natural on the right.

Even in the first win, it is clear that the gelling process is far from over

 

Even in the first win, it is clear that the gelling process is far from over. A glaring pass was mishit to no one at all to the left of the defense early in the game. Multiple forward passes are still going astray. I’m not saying things are bad but there’s plenty of room for improvement still.

 

A Better Performance Compared to Anfield 11/12

We played Liverpool at Anfield and beat them 1-2 last year. We did that in the middle of our purple patch of 7 back to back wins, yet we played so poorly that we were very much lucky to win it. Things were different this time. For the first 25 minutes or so we were pegged back not because Liverpool was being clinical upfront but because they were playing with width and we wanted to keep the center compact. Liverpool had plenty of the ball with no product. When it came to the final ball our packed center held its own. In a way, we played the way Sunderland and Stoke did against us. Same result, no goals.

Our first goal came against the run of play. The ever helpful Gerrard (2 assists for Thiery Henry) misplaced a pass in our third before a quick counter saw Poldolski hammer in his and Arsenal’s first goal of the season. The finishing was good and the build up was excellent. In a way, this was a set move you would expect being practiced over and over. Giroud drew defenders right. Poldi came in from the left leaving Cazorla with an easy assist and Poldi with space to take a good shot.

After the first goal, the game changed. Belief came back in and the rest is history. Liverpool mounted an attacking second half but the defense stood resolute. We were not as strong at the back as compared our first 2 games but we were playing a more skilled opponent at their home ground. There were about 2-3 heart stopping moments but Mannone staked his claim for a permanent spot adequately.

 

Defense

The defense is growing from strength to strength. I like how Arsenal are focusing on the fundamentals first and not throw every player up front the way we usually did last year.

Per is an important player for us mainly because he knows he cannot move up – basically because he is slow. He tried it once and Suarez turned him before diving and getting the big German a yellow. After that, you’ll observe that Per stood firmly at the back and made key interceptions and tackles. If we had Kos on, Kos would believe (mostly rightly) that he would be able to speed back and thus play a little higher. Per’s weakness is an asset for the team defensively.

Gibbs has been compensating for the lack of product on the right. He has been attacking well on the left but might have over did it this time. Poldi does make a very strong effort to cover defensively but the need to score pushed both of them far up into Liverpool’s third causing our left to be wide open. Not surprising that most of Liverpool’s attacks came that way.

Jenkinson started off shakily but improved with time. He had a horrendous clearance under no pressure but things soon improved. His next step is to link up with the right winger effectively. The problem is our right wing has a gaping hole. I believe Walcott will be reinstated after contract problems are settled. If his heart is set on going, I don’t even want to see him on the bench.

TV5 and Arteta had their usual solid games. Did their jobs well. Only worry is that TV5 may be injured.

To keep a clean sheet for 3 consecutive games from the get go is something Arsenal has not done in 88 years.

 

To keep a clean sheet for 3 consecutive games is something Arsenal has not done in 88 years. And this has been a change I’ve been waiting for. You build a team up from the back. The moment the defense starts playing with confidence, players in front of that will gain confidence of their own and it builds up. An attacking midfielder will play with a handbrake on offensively if he cannot trust the players behind him.

 

Attack

Don’t let the joy of scoring the first few goals and beating Liverpool at Anfield take away the fact that our attack is still not good enough. Our forward passes were poor in the first half. Cazorla was having trouble finding space. Ox was no where to be seen and only Poldi and Giroud were attempting to make runs. If Liverpool had netted first, we would have been in a mess.

If Liverpool had netted first, we would have been in a mess.

 

Goals bring confidence and that is what we saw today. Here’s hoping the team builds on this. Our following fixtures are tough and an international week can cause all sorts of trouble. This is a team that is learning to play slightly differently and I will patiently wait for that because for the first time we actually have a few basics right.

Poldi and Cazorla needs no special mention here. They did their jobs, they played well and were rewarded. Maybe 2-0 was harsh on Liverpool and 1-0 would have been a fair scoreline but the industry put in by these 2 deserves credit.

Giroud is going to be a touchy topic. Fans are divided after he missed a great chance again. Giroud looks to be under huge pressure. I won’t judge still until he has sufficient time. Our 2 goals scored were part of his work. He has been excellent in his positioning and off the ball play. He consistently dragged defenders out of position and opened gaps for the team. But a striker is measured by the goals and assists he provides and Giroud will need sharper shooting boots or be termed Chamakh MKII rather unjustly. Being a striker is like that. It’s harsh and he has to keep it together and deliver.

That said our crossing was absolutely terrible. Gibbs can’t cross to save his life. Ox didn’t actually get to the by line. In fact our best crosser is Sagna while Walcott comes a distant second. Walcott and Gervinho like to spray ground passes. Giroud will need better service.

The worry is that Giroud is not the type of striker we can play with. He is a traditional #9 and we are terrible at supplying those in that role. RVP was not an out and out striker. He dropped back a lot and was good with ground passes. Crosses were bad for him and we were bad at crossing. Giroud and in some extension Chamakh thrives on good crosses. The quality of our crosses would destroy these players.

 

Special Mentions

Vito Mannone kept 2/2 clean sheets and actually had to do things today. He made one blunder but did well in other situations. His flying saves were nice to watch and did put up a good performance. WS1 will have trouble forcing his way back if he continues playing well.

Bould has been the biggest signing we’ve had in 7 years. 7 years of stupidity in sending everyone up front only to lose to a counter.

 

Of course, the only reason why Vito seems to be doing better than seasons past is because the team is actually bothered with defending. I’d like to watch Bould during training sessions. Bould has been the biggest signing we’ve had in 7 years. 7 years of stupidity in sending everyone up front only to lose to a counter.

It would be criminal not to mention Diaby. Last season, in the short minutes that Diaby was brought on (and then stretched off injured), he made a big difference against Liverpool and this season the same has occured again. I won’t be rash in comparing him to Vieira. He needs to earn that right to be compared to a legend. He had a great great game. His ball holding and passing was excellent. Physically strong and commanding. Let’s see him producing this day in and day out without getting back to the treatment table.

I would like to mention some Liverpool players as well. Everyone hates Suarez, he is easy to hate beacuse he dives, possibly resorts to racism and whines. But he remains as Liverpool’s most potent forward. I dare say, if he was playing for us, he would fit in with his smart runs, tricky feet and preference for ground passes. I don’t like him as a person but he is a fine forward, albeit with terrible PR. Every time he had the ball, you felt something would happen.

Gerrard is a player I respect deeply. Similar to Beckham. He may not have been effective today. In fact, I could not locate him partly due to the crappy stream I was watching the game on. But he is Mr. Liverpool and you don’t usually see players with such loyalty. In the tenure he has been a Liverpool captain, Arsenal have swapped the armbands around 4-5 players. Loyalty is hard to find and I respect the manner Gerrard has led Liverpool and England.

 

Conclusion

This win is a relief but it would be stupid to say we are ready. There is a lot more that needs to be done. Players must consistently work their legs off. The quality of defending and concentration must not fall off. This new-found discipline must be kept and I hope Bould drills that in everyday.

There is a big worry about the depth of the team. It is true we have 2 or more in every position but they are not close in quality to the first XI. Ramsey, Walcott, Gervinho, etc are not names you hope to change the game when you’re down. Wilshere and by some extension, Santos are only names you can rely on from the second string.

There’s more work to be done. The direction is right this time.

 

This team has potential but potential is nothing if it is not realized. There’s more work to be done. The direction is right this time.

 

Ratings

GK	V. Mannone	7	Safe hands in the second half. Excellent stops, one blunder.
RB	C. Jenkinson	6.5	Grew stronger as the game proceeded. Not effective when going forward.
CB	P. Mertesacker	7	Rock solid. Learnt from an early mistake. Perfect reading of the game.
CB	T. Vermaelen	7	Put his body on the line literally. Did his job well.
LB	K. Gibbs	6.5	Understandably over extended his attacking play. But needs to learn he is first a defender.
CM	M. Arteta	8	Yet another professional job done defensively. He has been a revelation in the holding role.
CM	A. Diaby	9	Exceptional play. Man of the Match.
AM	S. Cazorla	8	Finally made that final pass. Good interplay. Deserved his goal.
RF	A. Chamberlain	6	Plenty of effort, no product.
CF	O. Giroud	6.5	Smart runs that created space for goals. But missed a good chance.
LF	Podolski	8	Effort finally paid off. Seems to be orchestrating a relationship with Cazorla.
SUB	A. Ramsey	6	Did nothing of note but worked hard.
SUB	A. Santos	–	Came on too late to do anything of note.
SUB	A. Ramsey	–	Came on too late to do anything of note.