A brilliant brace from Youngster Alex Oxlade Chamberlain secured the 3 points for Arsenal as we moved back to the top pending Monday's result between Chelsea and Mancity. It was the customary 2nd half show we have all become accustomed to lately, it has become usual to see opponents start off inspired at the Emirates looking to frustrate us into errors, they keep it tight in midfield and press us high up the pitch when we have possession in attempt to knock us off our rhythm. I'm sure our lads have come to expect this now and just respond by staying disciplined, nonetheless it still leaves the fans nervous every time..especially at half time, mostly because they know how every point dropped this season can be so crucial in this tight title race. I have mentioned in previous posts that we need to get more incisive in 1st-halves but if we aren't at our free flowing best due to the opponents tactics/game, sometimes you have to hold your hands up in resignation.
Tony Pulis is probably the least likeable manager in the Division (assuming you are not a palace fan). From his Stokecity days iv always found him a rather unpleasant character, its a combination of the way he talks,his style of play, his defending of Ryan Shawcross after he nearly ended Ramsey's career years ago and of course his silly hat. He was in his usual elements pre-game saying he would exploit weaknesses in arsenals Left-side (probably implying Nacho Monreal's area). Monreal may have been unconvincing in his last game at Southampton, but in this one he was quite good. Not in anyway awed by the Physical approach of Jerome,Puncheon et al. And it was Nacho that almost put us ahead in the 5th min running behind the defence to connect with a great ball over the top from Ozil. His effort was saved by Speroni in the palace goal. The goal keeper found himself busy not long after, when Mesut Ozil's free-kick was met by Koscielny's head, he had to scramble left of his goal to keep the ball from creeping in. The half ended with both teams unable to find a goal albeit with Arsenal the more under pressure to find a breakthrough in the 2nd half.
One of the reasons i believe our rival fans, haters, or pundits who think they know it all are wrong to write us off in this title race is that when it comes to this arsenal team, goals can come from any where. I know we could do with a better striker than Giroud, but its instructive to remember that thus far we have 14 different goal scorers this season. This i'm sure is one of the things that rankles opponents before they play us. Just who will it be this time? they must be asking when preparing tactics. Oxlade chamberlain was one i must confess i didn't have much hope in lately. I never could pin point what he genuinely brings to the table. Don't get me wrong, he always had ability but my concern revolved around his slow development since he joined 2011. However, it was that ability he possesses, that led to Arsenal's 2nd goal. Collecting the ball, from Rosicky he executed a sharp back heel to Giroud who held it up well and laid it off back to him. The striker bared down on goal and unleashed a low shot that the keeper fumbled in to the net. 2-0 game over!
Liverpool away at Anfield will be the next fixture for us and even though we will go into that game confident to win, i would like the lads to ignore the panic carrot being toed by the media over our coming engagements. Yes United and Bayern Munich are formidable but we are the Arsenal. We are not push overs and hence should never see ourselves as such. Whatever those fixtures will bring our way, its crucial we keep our belief high and spirits up. The haters are waiting to laugh and get their knives out if the games ahead don't pan out well, so now is the time to rally together as we have always done and show the stuff we are made of. We have worked extremely hard to get to where we are and we deserve it.
Tony Pulis is probably the least likeable manager in the Division (assuming you are not a palace fan). From his Stokecity days iv always found him a rather unpleasant character, its a combination of the way he talks,his style of play, his defending of Ryan Shawcross after he nearly ended Ramsey's career years ago and of course his silly hat. He was in his usual elements pre-game saying he would exploit weaknesses in arsenals Left-side (probably implying Nacho Monreal's area). Monreal may have been unconvincing in his last game at Southampton, but in this one he was quite good. Not in anyway awed by the Physical approach of Jerome,Puncheon et al. And it was Nacho that almost put us ahead in the 5th min running behind the defence to connect with a great ball over the top from Ozil. His effort was saved by Speroni in the palace goal. The goal keeper found himself busy not long after, when Mesut Ozil's free-kick was met by Koscielny's head, he had to scramble left of his goal to keep the ball from creeping in. The half ended with both teams unable to find a goal albeit with Arsenal the more under pressure to find a breakthrough in the 2nd half.
One of the reasons i believe our rival fans, haters, or pundits who think they know it all are wrong to write us off in this title race is that when it comes to this arsenal team, goals can come from any where. I know we could do with a better striker than Giroud, but its instructive to remember that thus far we have 14 different goal scorers this season. This i'm sure is one of the things that rankles opponents before they play us. Just who will it be this time? they must be asking when preparing tactics. Oxlade chamberlain was one i must confess i didn't have much hope in lately. I never could pin point what he genuinely brings to the table. Don't get me wrong, he always had ability but my concern revolved around his slow development since he joined 2011. However, it was that ability he possesses, that led to Arsenal's 2nd goal. Collecting the ball, from Rosicky he executed a sharp back heel to Giroud who held it up well and laid it off back to him. The striker bared down on goal and unleashed a low shot that the keeper fumbled in to the net. 2-0 game over!
Liverpool away at Anfield will be the next fixture for us and even though we will go into that game confident to win, i would like the lads to ignore the panic carrot being toed by the media over our coming engagements. Yes United and Bayern Munich are formidable but we are the Arsenal. We are not push overs and hence should never see ourselves as such. Whatever those fixtures will bring our way, its crucial we keep our belief high and spirits up. The haters are waiting to laugh and get their knives out if the games ahead don't pan out well, so now is the time to rally together as we have always done and show the stuff we are made of. We have worked extremely hard to get to where we are and we deserve it.
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