Sunday, November 27, 2011

Reasonable But Disappointing

Arsenal 1 Fulham 1

So it turns out my bad feeling about this game wasn't misplaced. Although the result itself could have been worse had Vermaelen not been so determined to atone for his error because the rest of the team didn't look very threatening.

Up until the last 30 minutes we were slow and when the own goal was conceded it became apparent very quickly that we weren't going to win the game. In fact if the team was in this position earlier in the season, or even in the back end of the previous one, we would almost certainly have lost.

The Champions League hangover was a factor yesterday but with top spot secured with a game to spare in our group, the first team will have a weeks break in between our next three Premier League games before we enter the busy Christmas period.

So now the gap between us and Spurs has now extended to five points (they also have a game in hand) and while that's worth noting, I can't consider Tottenham a valid threat yet. Even if they are, fourth is more than achievable anyway with only three points separating us and Newcastle. While it's a disappointing result, the two points dropped are not irretrievable if we get back to winning ways against Wigan next weekend. On top of that, Liverpool face Man City today so by the end of the weekend we may have climbed a place in the table compared to our position before the weekend.

One of the final things I'd like to mention is to do with something I highlighted in yesterday's post. The reliance on Van Persie for goals caught up on us yesterday. Ramsey's profligacy in front of goal stood out again as he was teed up by Walcott in the first half. The winger dribbled down the right and broke into the penalty area before sliding the ball to the Welsh playmaker and he skied his attempt. It was awful to look at. Also worth noting was Walcott's performance yesterday. He was probably our best performer on the day and was unlucky to not have a greater return for his endeavour than the assist for the Verminator's equaliser.

Tuesday night we play Man City at home and while we know Wenger is going to rest nearly if not all of the team that played yesterday, it's hard to know what Man City will do. Mancini has a massive squad. He could play a team today with terrific individuals and then go out Tuesday, rest most of those who played Liverpool and pick a team of equal quality again. I suspect he won't do that though and will follow suit with Wenger to play a mix-and-match team of players on the fringes of the first 11 and youth prospects from Manchester City's academy. I really hope I'm right because I would fear for the inexperienced players that will line-out for Arsenal if I'm not and Mancini decides to field a powerful 11.

To go into detail (and this is all speculation) Mancini could go with this team today:

Hart
Richards - Lescott - Komany - Kolarov
De Jong - Barry - Toure
Silva - Balotelli - Milner

and then easily play this team on Tuesday:

Hart
Zabaleta - Kolo Toure - Savic - Clichy
Johnson - Hargreaves - Milner - Nasri
Dzeko - Aguero

More on that game though when it gets closer and we have a better idea of injuries.