By 1970’s Gooner
There’s a lot to be pleased about this 3 0 win against a Burnley side that their credit refused to play negative football.
The first to be pleased about is that we rediscovered our goal scoring again carrying on where we left after the win at West Brom.
We have now scored six goals in two games albeit against lower quality opposition, but who is complaining? In football, confidence and psychology are an integral part of a winning side as much as skill, football brains and strength.
The second is that the goals were put away by players who needed to score so as to get their confidence back again.
None more so than the returning Eduardo who put it away in Brazilian style with the outside of his boot on the volley! Vela too scored an exquisite chip over the advancing Jensen.
And the last of the goals came from a thunderous shot by Eboue after receiving Song’s backheel which put him through in the penalty area.
But the most important to be pleased about is the return of two of the four players that have been long term absentees: Eduardo and Walcott.
This signals that the squad is beginning to get together again and reaching full strength just when the final run in to the most important business part of the season is getting close.
With a fully fit Arshavin who showed again that he is an experienced forward full of trickery and nous as well as a fit Fabregas, Walcott, Eduardo and Rosicky this team could suddenly look formidable.
Fabiansky
Did not have much to do but he looked inept on a couple of crosses missing the ball completely. One such cross created havoc in the area and Burnley nearly scored. Other than this he looked assured and confident and I believe he will get a lot better the more games he plays. 5.5
Sagna
Can only fault him for his crosses really and for nothing else. A no nonsense reliable defender who rarely makes mistakes. 7
Gibbs
Started very tentatively and Burnley had some joy down his side of the pitch early in the game. However he got better and better as the game progressed and during the last 20 minutes when the game was won he showed enough confidence to go forward and use his undoubted dribbling skills. 7
Gallas
I am very impressed with his defending lately. He has put everything behind him and his defending has benefited no end. Still below the levels he achieved at Chelsea but if he carries on like this he may still get there. 8
Djourou
Well at least he did not make all those silly mistakes and fouls we witnessed at West Brom. He needs games to get his match fitness back to scratch and this was one. 6
Arshavin
He also needs games to get his physical fitness back and Wenger gave him the full 90 minutes. I was disappointed with his overall performance though as you would have expected him to play a lot better in this game. Nevertheless his touch and football nous was all there for everyone to see. 5
Eboue
What an improved performance this was from the much maligned Eboue and what a wonderfully taken goal. I can only recollect one wrong decision he made with his passing which was a very big improvement from him.
He had drive, tenacity and the will to always go forward with the ball. It’s his runs that make Arsenal play at a faster pace that I like. As I have said before we have lost that urgency to attack opponents with pace something which has been distinctly lacking this season. 9
Song
A much, much improved performance from Song also who had us all wondering why he doesn’t produce this sort of performance every week.
He tackled well, kept his position a little further back than Diaby but he also looked to pass the ball forward which was a major change from his recent performances from passing it sideways all the time.
A wonderful such forward pass was the exquisitely chipped ball for Eduardo to score his goal. 8
Diaby
Abu’s presence in the middle of the pitch did I think provide a far better balance than when Denilson and Song play there together.
This is because he not only adds strength, tenacity and aerial power there but because he is more forward minded than any of the other two. He has to start every game with either of Denilson or Song next to him. 7.5
Eduardo
He is the real fox in the box that we have been looking for all these years. He is the man that will score all kinds of goals.
From half chances, when the team is not playing that well and of course with Brazilian aplomb like the one today. 8
Vela
He is also a finisher and the goal he scored showed us how he can use his pace and skill to get past his defender and chip the ball over the advancing goalkeeper.
He has to improve his ball control however and stop looking for fouls when defenders get near him. I am sure he will as I rate him highly. 7
Theo looked a lot stronger with more muscle on him than before his injury. He looked to me more of a well developed man than the youngster he was.
Man of the Match: It’s between Song and Eboue but I would go for Eboue.
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24 comments:
you gave eboue 9, diaby 7.5 and arshavin 5?????
Arshavin is on a different level to all the others players at the moment, but he's still creating 2 or 3 chances every match for other players, that doesn't warrant a 5. Everytime he gets the ball it feels like something will happen, something we have lacked all season!
If anyone is to deserve a 9, I think that person should be alex song, for his overall performance including 2 assists from 3 goals. He delivered very good overhead passes today. There was this particular one he sent to vela which shld also have been a goal. Welldone guy!
A 7 for diaby??? Gosh! thatz very delusive!!! He doesnt deserve it. I wonder what it is with diaby playing in english competitions. He does faaaaaaaar better in the champions league (AC milan, fenerbache, roma, liverpool,etc)
Arshavin's first time pass to Vela made all the difference and created the first goal which was crucial to get burnley out of their shell..he deserves more than 5 and for a player who is not fit, he showed much more responsibility with the ball when he had it, Eduardo is class and Adebayor has to take a leaf out of his book
M8, UR ON CRACK!!! HOW CAN U GIVE ARSHAVIN A 5? HE MIGHT ASWELL NOT HAVE BEEN ON THE PITCH THE.
DID ACTUALLY WATCH THE GAME!!
U GAVE GALLAS A 8. I THOUGHT HE LOOKED RUSTY AND HE MADE A FEW MISTAKES!!
DJOUROU A 6?!
WHAT MAKES ME LAUGH IS U GIVE EBOUE A 9!! A 9? MATE U GIVE SOME1 WHO SCORES AN HAT-TRICK A 9, NOT SOME1 WHO SCORES ONE GOAL!!
U THEN GIVE SONG A 8!! COME ON PLS. NEVER GIVE RATING TO A GAME, IF U DONT KNOW WOT UR TALKING ABOUT!!
SONG WAS CLEARLY MOTD TODAY! EBOUE WAS IS TYPICAL AVERAGE SELF!
Arshavins corners were a dire, all directly to Jensen's hands, mostly so that Jensen didn't even have to leave the line.. Andrey was anonymous for periods, but his potential is evident.. No matter his skills and general class, he wasn't superb today.
Mike you clearly just dont like Eboue. Typical average self. Give the man a break. I am assuming you would be one of the people booing him?
shame really that your like that!
"SONG WAS CLEARLY MOTD TODAY! EBOUE WAS IS TYPICAL AVERAGE SELF!"
What? Song was "Match of the day"? Well done mate. I bet will be pleased with that.
MOTM "Man of the match" isnt just earned from scoring goals you numpty. Learn something about football before you put up posts.
Arshavin a 5? HAAA! The only thing you could fault about his game were his corners! Nearly everything creative came through him! If he didn't save that ball from going over the line then we would have never seen that incredible goal by Eduardo! He also did well in tracking back! I agree with most of your ratings...but Arshavin a 5 and disappointing?? CRAZY!
Agree with jbeckford and the rest. Song was definitely MOTM and Arshavin, even unfit and drifting in and out of games looks a class above the rest. His vision and passing is amazing.
Wow! You give Arshavin a lousy 5, while the completely ineffectual Diaby gets a stonkin 7.5????
What game were you watchin there fella?
Arshavin was very good today, his forward play, runs and inch perfect passes, not to mention tracking back and tackling, whereas Diaby had an extremely quiet game, and was probably the worst performer on the day, although i hope he's just saving himself for Roma.
with regards to the midfielders passing the ball sideways, it could be that they were playing to instructions from the coaching team to give the ball to the creative players who as we know play on the wings
whoever that should not stop them from taking initiative.
Yeah sorry mate but have to agree with the commentors.
Diaby at best was a 4 in my opinion; completely useless. Made one good tackle just outside our box the entire match but otherwise constantly gave the ball away by either holding possession far too long and getting tackled or passing the ball away. Wath from the 60th to 67th minute; Burnleys only decent possession in which Diaby kept gifting them the ball back like a fool.
Song was MOTM because he was more or less a one man central midfield with no help from Diabolical Diaby. He was great in helping the defence and had two superb assists.
Arshavin was nowhere near as bad as a 5 though and Eboue was nowhere more than a 7.5 MAX.
arshavin deserves more than a 5.....
come on!
Those ratings are complete bollocks! I think I have finally figured out the problem with Eboue... he wants to do too much, he is supposed to be playing right wing but rarely stays there, playing centre of the park more often than not and I think only playing passes if he thinks he will get the ball back!! He is a good back up to Sangna but thats it!!
Song sure did look better today, as did Eboue, but for me they are nothing more than reserve players.
I was very impressed with the shift Gibbs put in. I also like seeing Diaby play, there is just something about the boy!
Fab - 6 for completely missing that cross.
sagna- 7 solid as always, needs to do better with those crosses.
gallas-6.5 dodgy at times but still solid.
djourou- 6.5-made some good tackles but gave away the ball & some silly free kicks
gibbs - 7 he was pretty good defending and going forward, its good to see someone push clichy.
eboue - 8- he runs at people and score a good goal today but could have done more.
diaby- he started well but gave the ball away in the 2nd half, im not sure he will ever really dominate in england but he is genius in europe.
SONG-MOTM, he was good protecting the back four & had two assist, best game he's had for arsenal.
arshavin - 6.5 -he had some good runs and passes but he wasted lots of corners, refused to make some runs and was a lil selfish at one point.
Eduardo- what a player, what a goal, 8. i wonder how many goals he will have if given a full season?
vela- 7.5 beautiful goal, i personally think his goal was more difficult but i expect dudu to get all the credit.
RVP11..6, how did he miss the walcott cross is why we're in 5th place.
walcott, 7 - made good runs and looks to pick up where he left, bring him on in 65min in roma and he will kill them
Diaby and Djorou was not at their best, Eboue was good trying to go forward but scared as always when it comes to put his foot in......no, much safer to let the others do that.
Song was great.
DUke of Arsenal.
Play football then Arsenal will punished you. But what the Gunners need right is consistency. You can play good one match but when it comes to the main match you falter. Rating doesn't mean anything just bloat your arse. But the results that stands out and make you the best of the rest.
The commenters are being a bit harsh on Diaby I feel but he didn't deserve a higher rating than Arshavin. I thought they both played to about the same level (Diaby was probably slightly better in the first half and vice-versa in the second).
I think you're being really harsh on Arshavin though. He's clearly not fit yet but he made some great chances (two for Walcott in the second half and one for Eboue in the first half spring to mind) despite that. His corners were poor and he drifted out of the game but still deserves recognition for his great efforts and brilliant eye for a pass.
See how we can play when Denilson is not in the team.Song was breaking up everything, and moving forward. Diaby was making very good runs. Even Eboue was playing well. Well done you 3 players. Please keep Denilson on the bench Please. He is the one player that is keeping us back. Not ready for regular first team duties.
Eboue is a bit overrated...
while Arshavin still not fit into the team
Eboue 9! ok....Arshavin 5....umm. I dont know what game you were watching, but im sure it was a different one to everyone else. Song MOTM - however I still think Denilson has some quality and Song will continue to struggle against better opposition. Arshavin, still unfit and still looked like providing more than the headless Chicken (Eboue). Overall a good performance against a decent side and it also shows how inportant it is to have some finishers playing....If we had stuck away some early chances in previous games, we may have crusied them like this, instead of struggling to 0-0.
My opnion only:-
Fabs..6
Sags..7
Galls.6
DJ....7
Gibbs.7.5
Song..8
Ebbs..8
Arsh..7
Dudu..8
Vela..7.5
Diaby.6.5
Walcott..6
VP.......5.5
Rams.....6
That will do for me.
Song great soccer u played. For once i believe out of 15 passes u only passed 1 sideways! That's great and shows that you really want to win the game. keep doing that. You are already a very accurate passer so forward moving passes are going to take us places. Once i a while of-course you might just have to pass sideways but looking for the twin strikers at all times will put immense pressure on the opposing defenders and they'll crack under great pressure. As for Eduardo, we've waited so long for that from you. Welcome back. RVP on the other hand seems to have become a specialist at missing very good chances. With his level of experience his composure has greatly dropped in the 18yrd box and missing obvious chances has become a norm for him. He ought to style up!!!
come on man, what kind of analysist are you? you give a 5 to players that are very poor. who get booked, and cost goals. arshavin has gone 3months without games to 4 in a matter of weeks.
u cant give him a 5! that is significantly lower then the rest. he was the reason for both vela and eduardo's goal, if he didnt stop the ball crossing the line he eduardo would not have got the ball! anyone else like adebayor would of left that.
i used to respect ur views and come on ur site, but now i think i will read the views of people who know what they are talking about. ur ratings were a disgrace. shame on u fella.
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