Five positives from the Sunderland game

By 1970’s Gooner

It was just as well that RVP got fouled by the slow ex Man Utd defender Wes Brown. And of course just as well that RVP finally took a free kick after three others went woefully unexploited.

I say just as well because we did not look like really scoring even if we had the domination and possession in the second half.

We do not have the creativeness in the midfield to generate chances and penetration. And Arteta is disappointing me so far. He is only restricting himself to just keeping possession and passing sideways most of the time.

It was only Rosicky who tried to go forward and he looked a little bit like his old best. And this is the one of the positives (apart from the win) that came out of the Sunderland game. At last Rosicky can be relied upon to produce a quality display especially now that we have midfielders out with injury (Wilshere, Ramsey, Diaby).

RVP’s display was of course one of his best. He looks in hot form and if the rest of the players can supply him with the right balls then he could finish top scorer in the League.

The third positive was one man’s display that always goes unnoticed.

Song was immense yesterday. He bossed the midfield with no Sunderland player able to compete with him. I do however believe that Arsenal have to play with two defensive midfielders as when Song does venture forward there is no one left behind to mind the shop.

The fourth positive is that monster called Zceszny.

He makes a world class save nearly every game. He kept us in the game yesterday and I think he may turn out to be as much a gem unearthed by Wenger as say Fabregas, Anelka and Henry were or Wilshere will be.

The last positive is that the team has shown that it can produce exhilarating one touch football just like in previous versions produced by Arsene Wenger. After scoring the quickest Arsenal goal in PL history the players produced a high quality display that not many teams could live with.

And this augurs well for the future….

Arsenal: Getting to know you and two defensive midfielders

By 1970’s Gooner

I will only concentrate on two important factors after the Spurs defeat.

Firstly Wenger should have taken measures to protect a shaky defence until Vermaelen comes back. It is criminal that he subjects whoever plays in central defence and the poor goalkeeper to such undue pressure.

If it wasn’t for some fantastic saves (at least four) by Zceszny the score could have been another 8 in my opinion.

What do I mean by protection?

Play with two defensive midfielders Mr Wenger, play it tight, give some defensive cover to your two central defenders who on this occasion never played together.

In any case even if it were Koscienly and Mertesacker that played yesterday they are still learning to play next to each other.

Which brings me to the second point,

Arsenal are in preseason while the rest are in full flow, both in terms of fitness but more importantly in terms of playing as a unit.

And Arsenal are certainly not playing as a unit. They are still trying to get to know each other.

That is why I expect that Arsenal will kick into gear in the second half of the season.

And who knows fourth place may become achievable.

But maybe this is wishful thinking….