Arsenal 2 – 2 Liverpool: Another day, another destiny…
86 comments January 31st, 2013
Arsenal 2 – 2 Liverpool
Match Report | Highlights | Arsene’s reaction
It strikes me that there are three topics of discussion today. Â The positives of last night’s game, the negatives, and the impending transfer deadline. Â I’ve decided to hit those one at a time.
THE POSITIVES
The fight-back
Perhaps because this side are becoming so accustomed to falling behind, their heads never really dropped, even at 2-0 down. Â We clawed our way back in to the game with one of those flurries of goals we seem to have been producing of late – this time it was two in two minutes. Â Our goalscoring potential seems to be far greater right now, and that’s down in no small part to the improved form of…
Olivier Giroud
It’s now 5 goals in 3 games for the Frenchman. Â His second half display included some of his most convincing moments in an Arsenal shirt. Â His goal was the sort of header that is becoming his trademark, while his lay-off assist for Theo was absolutely gorgeous.
Theo Walcott
Even Theo’s biggest doubters must be coming round now. Â His volley was a fantastic finish and gave him his 18th goal of the season. Â To put that in perspective, that’s more goals than Freddie Ljungberg scored in any season of his fondly-remembered seasons with Arsenal. Â It is a massive contribution.
THE NEGATIVES
The defending
Disastrous. Â Woeful. Â Apocalyptic. Â Really, really bad.
Perhaps in years to come we’ll look back upon allowing Jordan Henderson to waltz through our back-line and score as the nadir of our defensive troubles. Jordan Henderson can barely play football, or indeed waltz, and yet we made him look like Lionel Messi.
Kieran Gibbs’ injury
Gibbs is now out for the dreaded “three weeks”. Â With Arsenal players, three weeks tends to become three months very quickly indeed.
It’s a big blow because Gibbs has undoubtedly been one of our best players in recent weeks. Â It’s also a blow because it means we have to turn to Andre Santos, who is badly lacking both form and fitness. Â That said, I’m not comfortable with the level of abuse Santos is receiving. Â He might not be very good, but it wasn’t Andre who bought the player and continues to pick him. Â It was Arsene. Â Which brings me nicely on to…
The substitutions
Arsene Wenger knew after he saw Will Buckley give him the runaround at Brighton that Santos was a liability. Â So why bring him on? Â He could easily have introduced Laurent Koscielny and shifted Thomas Vermaelen to centre-back, giving the defence a far more solid look.
My other gripe is with the fact that no other substitution was made. Â Arsenal needed a win, really, and yet we had no player to whom Arsene felt we could turn to make the difference. Â Which brings me nicely on to…
DEADLINE DAY
Even with the injury to Gibbs, I’m not expecting much activity at Arsenal. Â It’s increasingly clear we had hoped to make a big push for David Villa, but Barcelona had no interest in selling.
If anyone does come in, it’ll be the hurried signing of a defender, most likely on loan. Â However, I wouldn’t bet on it. Â I’ve got plenty to say about our potential inactivity, but I’ll hold it for tomorrow.
Finally, for anyone who missed it yesterday, you can watch my take on today’s events below. Thanks for all the kind comments about the video; I’m glad you enjoyed it.
