Wigan 0 – 1 Arsenal (Arteta 60)
Match Report | Highlights | Arsene’s reaction
Mikel Arteta has scored some incredibly important goals for Arsenal…
Last season there was the dramatic winner against Man City, and in this campaign alone he’s proved the difference against QPR, West Brom and Wigan, collecting an invaluable nine points along the way. It’s a record that cements his status as the true leader of this Arsenal team. Thomas Vermaelen may wear the armband, but when it comes to taking responsibility on the pitch, there is no-one more commanding than Arteta.
Bacary Sagna showed his class, again…
Midway through the first half there was a little moment when Sagna, stuck on the touchline and under pressure from two Wigan players, played a left-footed curling pass between the two onrushing players, across the field, and in to the path of Thomas Vermaelen. That is impressive enough. What I haven’t mentioned yet is that as he did this, Sagna was falling over. It was an incredible show of balance, strength, athleticism and technique. And, critically, something I’m not sure Carl Jenkinson will ever be able to do. Bacary Sagna is one of the best right-backs in the world. It’s essential the club do everything they can to keep him.
Oxlade-Chamberlain should be starting regularly now…
He was our most dangerous attacking threat against Wigan, but a better reason to be playing him is that he represents a huge part of the future of this club. The other options on that right flank do not represent long-term options: Gervinho is a player whose talent seems to be on the wane; Theo Walcott still looks destined to walk away on a Bosman; and Aaron Ramsey will surely settle as a central midfielder rather than auxiliary wide-man. The Ox needs game-time to improve, and now he’s showing signs of a return to form, there’s no reason not to give it to him.
Wojciech Szczesny made a couple of crucial saves…
…that suggest he is returning to his best. It’s clear that being dropped by Poland during EURO 2012 affected his confidence, and the injuries he was carrying in the first half of the year also undermined him. Now, after a prolonged rest, he looks a better and more mature ‘keeper. His save from Arouna Kone was the difference between this being one point and three.
The table is outrageously tight…
Yesterday’s results mean that we are now level on 30 points with Everton, Tottenham, and West Brom. Chelsea sit just one point behind, but have two games in hand. Despite their impressive form this season, I still expect the Baggies to fall away, meaning the Champions League spots will go to two from the remaining foursome.
The fact we sit in third certainly puts a shinier perspective on things. Three league wins in a row gives us some semblance of momentum, and our remaining fixture of the year (Newcastle at home) looks eminently winnable. The New Year will enable us to draw a line under an uncomfortable 2012, and also hopefully under our tentative transfer policy. If Arsene’s New Year’s Resolution is to loosen the purse strings, it could make for a brighter, shinier 2013.
Damn it!
Huntelaar signs new contract.
Theo will struggle as a striker because a modern day strikers game has to based on more than pace.
Look at Owen, Defoe and Bent. All with considerable pace in their prime but generally blow hot and cold.
Theo will succeed as a striker because he is a sensible lad with a good head on his shoulders and will shun the trappings of fame to lead a good, sensible life with his fiancee and a couple of basset-terriers, shooting and hunting in the winter and playing polo in the summer, say what!
Reading aside all our recent league goals have come from penalties .. we still need a top striker who can score regularil, has good movement and can create space for the midfield
You realise that none of the players that are touted on this blog have made it on the guardian’s top 100 players in the world?
Is that a reflection on the football knowledge on this blog, or a reflection on the football judgement of English sports journalists?
tend to agrre with an article alan shearer wrote as it seems the prem standard has dropped quite a lot as you can now see the german teams seem to be well advanced and tend to make the prem opponents look very normal and think both arsenal and manchester will go out the next round as the overall standard of the league has really dropped .the way arsenal have played and can still be near the top should tell us the prem is not what it was by some distance and there seems to be an awful lot of money being paid to some very average footballers ,that said this is definately the poorest arsenal side I have ever seen
that said this is definately the poorest arsenal side I have ever seen
if you are 10 years old i can understand that comment and i apologise for mocking you all the previous times i visited this amazing blog of amazing arsenal fans.
merry xmas little one
drunken cunt I am only nine years old but I do enjoy your debate , stay around maybe we can chat somemore , you being of a similar age but obviously with much more knoweledge than myself
I have a full stocking.
And my dad is an amazing fan…
Just because he’s never been to a game in his life means nothing. Going to watch football matches is overrated.
And just because we live 9,000 miles away and have zero affinity to the club – it doesn’t mean we can’t say “Arsene Knows Best”.
This is the best squad of players that we’ve ever had….Arsene and my dad say so.
Sir Arsene is the professor – he has another 5 year plan – this time he’s going to nurture a nucleus of young British talent.
Just give him 5 years and you’ll all be singing his praises
Happy New year peasants.