Written by George Sezer Sunday, 07 November 2010 18:01

GunnerTalk Blog

By George Sezer

I normally try to analyse the games based on the important incidents as well as the tactics and the performances of the teams and the players. Well, there was not much to write about the incidents of this game apart from the well documented shortcoming of the goalkeeping position at Arsenal.

Yes, we didn’t play well as a team and looked subdued, yes our captain marvel had one of his worst games for us and the rest of the team didn’t bail him out whereas he’s saved their arses on many occasions with match winning performances, but we still would have got a point out of a game we hardly deserved to win if it wasn’t for the mistake by Fabianski. Although Newcastle played well, they hadn’t created much, but the same could be said about us.

Wilshere was back after a 3 match ban and Arshavin was dropped to the bench for Walcott, no more than what he deserved given his recent performances.  It made our bench look as strong as I can remember in recent years with Van Persie back after his long injury lay off. Still with all the big names on the pitch and warming the bench we could not beat an average Newcastle side.

That brings out the question of why we always struggle against teams with big forwards.  The answer is easy; we have neither a dominating centre back nor a top class keeper who takes charge of his area. If we win anything with handicap like those it will be an as big achievement as the invincible team.

The only decent Arsenal attack of the first half worth mentioning was Nasri’s shot on goal which was saved brilliantly by their reserve goalkeeper. The tale of 2 goalkeepers; one lets in a cheap goal, the other saves an almost certain one. Change the keepers around and we would have won this game. Undeservedly maybe, but that is what title winning teams do time and time again.

Even the introduction of RVP and Arshavin in the early stages of second half didn’t change the course of the game, on the contrary it seemed to disturb whatever rhythm the team had.

My analysis of the team:  Fabianski;  very poor, fullbacks; both poor, Centre backs; ok but Koscielny got sent off for a clumsy challenge towards the end – his second red card of the season which is a worry, Midfield; only young Wilshere was good, Forwards; Nasri was ok but Chamakh and Walcott (apart from hitting the bar with a vicious shot  just after the break) was poor and the manager; poor for not addressing the goalkeeping problem in the summer.

Not much else to write about really.