Christmas Early. Arsenal 2 Liverpool 1 Match Review

Let them . . . die!!!

Winners win matches they have no business winning. How many times have we heard that? How many times have we said that about teams who aren’t our favourite? Well, on a day they clearly did not have their best stuff, Arsenal did something at Anfield they had not done since October 2003 – they won.

Forget what you will about Liverpool’s nosedive into the mid-table, but look at an Arsenal squad that is struggling to contend with the amount of injuries that are racking up. Look at an Arsenal side that does not have a true central attacker and that willing itself forward in spite of the pundits and naysayers.

This match was definitely a tale of two halves. In the first Arsenal had no business even being on the pitch. Liverpool in pure desperation mode were the better team. They closed down any Arsenal player with the ball and Mascherano was doing a yeomans job clogging up the midfield. Captain Cesc Fabregas the on field general was a non-factor – oh hell who we kidding the whole team was a non-factor. But for 40 minutes Arsenal still found themselves in a 0-0 draw.

That was until Steven Gerrard did a dancing pirroette and got the call some 20 or so yards outside the penalty box. On first play Almunia punches the ball to have it not cleared out effectively and have the ball wind at Dirk Kuyt’s feet. And even though he nearly whiffed – Kuyt was able to toe the ball past Almunia and a very active William Gallas. Upon further review it was clear Pool were offsides but that doesn’t excuse the poor clearing attempt by Almunia.

Going into half time you could forgive Arsenal fans if they were screaming collectively at their team, their keeper and their manager. Nothing was there. However, what can only be called an un-Arsene like moment, the Arsenal manager completely ripped into his squad telling them according to Cesc Fabregas “You don’t deserve to wear the Arsenal shirt.” To be honest he was right. There was no heart in the first half.  Whether it was a stronger effort by Liverpool putting our players off, Arsenal were not crisp nor were they decisive in their play. Arsene was right in his assessment.  Now, if Arsenal go on an extended run and do something this year we have to ask ourselves if that dressing down was a the coming of age moment for the squad.

If you came into watch the match in the second half you could be forgiven if you wondered how Arsenal were behind 1-0. They came out with more purpose. They were effectively holding the midfield and shutting down the Liverpool play. It was as if what ever was bugging Arsenal in the first half jumped over to Liverpool. Finally at the 50 minute mark – Arsenal got on the board.

The goal came not from the foot of an Arsenal player but on the foot of weak defending Glen Johnson. Leaving  Nasri alone in the box the Frenchman attempted a cross to Theo Walcott. Johnson clearly out of position had the ball come off his foot after a Carragher deflection. From their on in the home side were beaten. They clearly looked like a side lacking any confidence. Arsenal had all the play. They had the swerve that Liverpool had in the beginning.

And as if to remove any doubt 6 minutes later in what is becoming a common theme, Andrei Arshavin completely owned Glen Johnson. Receving the cross off of Theo Walcott’s head, the diminutive Russian made Liverpool pay for not attacking the ball. The marvel of the goal isn’t that he scored again at Anfield, it’s that he rocketed it past Reina while falling away from the ball. And if Wenger is to be believed, Arshavin has had pain in the scoring foot all week. The man is quickly becoming to Liverpool what Didier Drogba is to us – a royal pain in the Ass.

For the next 30 minutes Liverpool couldn’t muster a successful attack. They were muted out on every play or continually offsides. Whatever the reason, Arsenal turned it around and now it is Liverpool who have to spend the rest of the season fighting for the Champion’s League lives.

Given all that occured this weekend, Spurs losing, Chelsea drawing, United losing, City drawing (again), Arsenal fans knew that we were in prime position to do something. However, given recent experience the general feeling was we wouldn’t. At the start of this season we didn’t know what to make of this team. Not a lot changed form a squad that struggled for the first half and poured it on from the second half of the 08/09 season.

What is different then is that even with all the crap going on with the team, from injuries, diving inquiries, board room struggles, etc, this team is proving doubters wrong. Whether it amounts to something remains to be seen. All I know is I am going to enjoy the ride and see where it takes me.

Some things to discuss though:

Manuel Almunia.

I am not a manger. But I don’t think it takes one to see that Manuel Almunia is done. For whatever reason the Spaniard hasn’t had even medium stuff. He is too glued to his line, he punches the ball ineffectively, and does not really do a sound job of commanding his defense. If it were not for his defense Liverpool would’ve tested him and who knows what would have happened.

Arsene has to see this. He has to know. He pulled Lehmann for lesser crap. If he isn’t going to buy a goalie he has to at least give Fabianski a run out to press the “1st team keeper.” Manuel Almunia isn’t our best option at goal. I would be hard pressed to say he is Notts County’s best option in goal.

Steven Gerrard.

Is an absolute disgrace. Has his game deteriorated so much that he has to dive more times than a Chinese diver in the Olympics? Lets look at the pfoul that got Liverpool on the board. Denilson and Stevie G go for the ball together, Denilson, basically hips him out of the way, and Gerrard buckles over wincing in pain and holding his knee. Thats right holding his knee. If you look at it again nothing of Denilson’s body hits Gerrards knee. In fact all Denilson manages to do is hit Gerrard’s stomach with his ass.  For all the scouser cries that Webb called a horrible game – they miss the fact that Gerro absolutely was flopping more than a fish on a boat.

His antics are an absolute disgrace for such a storried franchise. I really feel the reason that Webb didn’t call the penalty on Gallas was because of Gerrard’s constant diving. It is the old case of the boy who cried wolf too many times. To add to his insult his constant attempt to try and referree the match by crying to Webb every time he went down. Sorry Gerro you’ve been found out.

So DAG what are you trying to say?

Have I ranted enough for you? Have I waived the banner of Arsene Wenger enough? Look, there are still issues the biggest of which is our goalie closely followed by the need for a striker. But two weeks ago everyone said Chelsea were about to run away with the league but as of today the table (which does not lie) puts us 6 points behind the leaders with a game in hand and firmly in the title race.

How we finish the title race depends largely on what we do in January. If we buy a quality striker who can compliment our attack I like our chances to continue to push United and Chelsea. And to conclude – it is NOT what you do against Chelsea or United that will dictate who wins the league. It is what you do against the likes of Burnley, Hull, and the rest of the table that will win you the championship. Just ask United (1W 3L 2D against the big 4 last season).

Player Ratings:

Almunia: 0 (just for you Nip – DAG)
Gallas: 7
Vermaelen: 8 (MOTM)
Traore: 6
Sagna: 6
Denilson: 6.5
Fabregas: 7
Song: 7.5
Nasri: 6
Walcott: 5.75
Arshavin: 7.75

Subs:
Diaby: 6
Silvestre: N/A
Ramsey: N/A
Next Up: Away at Burnley – Wednesday 19:45 BST