Adebayor voted best player and Arsenal top team in the league

By 1970’s Gooner

Today’s game proved to me once again that Arsenal are not playing at their full potential. If they were the game would have been closed out at 2-0 as you would expect Manchester United to have done. They would not have allowed any team to get back at them from 2-0 down.

This along with a few other aspects of Arsenal’s play funnily enough give me a lot of hope of what is to further come from Arsenal in the run in to the title this year.

For as I have argued in one of my recent postings on the “six factors that will affect the outcome of the title” Manchester United are now playing at their maximum efficiency which leaves only room for either sustaining this level or failing to match it week in week out.

And sustaining it proved to be a very tall order for them indeed. Against an excellent Spurs side rejuvenated by Ramos and greatly improved by the addition of Hutton at right back. We were fortunate, I think, to have played our games against Spurs before their revival gathered pace!

Ronaldo was really well below par and when he doesn’t play well United more often than not falter. They were very lucky to get a draw in the end. But it does mean that a draw for us at Old Trafford may prove to be enough. Still there is a lot of water to go under the bridge….

What a performance by Adebayor. He gets very high marks for everything he did today. Heading, holding and bringing others players in. Scoring even! He gets a 9 for me. You can watch his goals on the video on the right hand side of this page.

For the last few days we have been running a poll as to who was the best Arsenal player for the month of January. You can read the analysis of the top four players in this article: Are these the top four players for Arsenal in January?

I voted Flamini top with Adebayor a close second. Of course the large majority of the votes (53%) went for Adebayor with Flamini second (21%) and Clichy third (16%). You can still vote of course at the right hand side of the page.

Eduardo was back to form for this game. He has really vastly improved in the last month holding the ball up, connecting well with his team mates and hell, even scoring!


What a stunning hook of a kick after he controlled Adebayor’s wonderful headed assist (from an offside position it has to be said). 8.5

Lehmann did what he had to do very well. He came out of his area fast and decisively. It is a blessing in disguise that he stayed on till the end of year. Can you imagine how unsafe we would have felt if it was Fabiansky playing today? 8

Clichy made un uncharacteristic error that led to their goal. Otherwise faultless again. He will learn from his mistake. 6

Sagna had a very good game. Pitty the midfielders were opting not to pass to him early on in the game as he was in acres of space calling for the ball all the time. When he finally got the ball we scored! 8

Gallas was again solid and strong guiding young Senderos all the way through the game. A very good captain. 8

Senderos is continuing to impress. Even his distribution improved today. 7

Flamini put in another box to box performance. Covered well in defencive positions and protected well in front of the back four. 8

Fabregas although improving is still playing below his best. He still is the maestro in the middle of the pitch though, dictating play and spraying the ball right left and centre. 7

Diaby is making less and less mistakes but he is still reluctant to release the ball at the right time or select the correct pass. 6.5

Hleb was slightly subdued but his overall play both in attack but also in tracking back and defending should not be overlooked at all. 6.5

Strangely enough Arsenal are proving more consistent than Manchester United.


Man of the Match: Emmanuel Adebayor

Game Statistics

Man City, Arsenal

1 , Goals, 3
2, Shots on Target, 4
3, Shots off Target, 6
1, Corners, 9
10, Fouls, 9
2, Offsides, 5
2, Yellow Cards, 0
73.2%, Passing Success, 87.6%
34, Tackles, 20
79.4%, Tackles Success, 70%
38.1%, Possession, 61.9%