First, i want to apologize for not posting after the Norwich game. I was celebrating my birthday so there was a lot of heavy drinking involved and i just didn't find time to write. I am a little pissed that i missed a chance to post after a win and now i have to do it, after a disappointing draw for us.
I think Wenger made a big mistake by not making more than the 2 changes he made to the team after the Champions League game on Wednesday. It was obvious that we were tired and we lacked sharpness. There should have been at least 4 or 5 fresh bodies to start the game and it's not like we don't have the quality on the bench. Guys like Benayoun, Frimpong, Oxlade-Chamberlain (even though he wasn't even on the bench), Rosicky. We should have given starts to those guys and if things were not working out, then make the 3 changes and put the guys from Wednesday for 30 min.
The first half i thought Fulham pressed us way better than we pressed them (what's new there) and we still had some great chances. Ramsey, who had a bad game (mainly because he missed so many passes and chances, not because a lack of effort), had a decent chance in the 7th minute and almost scored. Then in the 24th min, Wallcot had a great run down the right put the ball right at Ramsey's feet and he hit it in the fucking sky. I thought that was one of our best chances for the half. The rest of the half we didn't create much and Fulham actually had a great chance towards the end but Szczesny bailed us out. At the end of the first half the possession of the ball was 54% to 46% in favor of Fulham. Just another proof that they controlled the game.
Second half was a bit better. Van Persie started to wake up and had some chances. He was unlucky not to score when a Fulham defender cleared it off the line. We still did not look great though, we were lacking the urgency to create something and score. So when Fulham scored on us i thought there was no way we can score 2 goals back. I guess their goal woke us up because, we found some energy in our passing and went forward. Vermaelen is the man! That guy was very unlucky to score the own goal but didn't let it affect him and scored a great goal to equalize for us. I thought right around the time we scored and the 5,6 min after, we could have won the game. Fulham for some stupid reason panicked, and stopped pressing us whatsoever. We couldn't take advantage and score again, but considering the way we played throughout the game i think a draw is a fair result. I definitely wish we would have won because we need all the points we can get for the race for 4th place, but we didn't play well enough to do it.
I thought our defense was ok. More than once we allowed Fulham to pass the ball around instead of pressing them hard, but they didn't have too many chances to score. Mertesacker didn't make any mistakes today which is good for his confidence. Vermaelen was great as usual. The own goal was very unlucky situation, other than that he was tough and never allowed guys to receive the ball without putting them under a lot of pressure. Scored a great goal too. Santos did ok as well, he likes to go forward so much that i don't know if i should rate his runs on the wing or his defensive performance. Djourou did well. I am always nervous when people take him one vs one because he can be very clumsy at times, but today he did very well. Had a great block in the 5th min. Almost scored from a corner kick (I still can't believe Schwarzer saved that).
Arshavin was fucking awefull!!! Considering he hasn't been playing often lately, he should have taken this chance and try to prove himself, instead he showed very little effort throughout the game. Just jogging around; not chasing the ball after he loses it; didn't do much offensively either. The lack of effort is what drives me nuts the most. Ramsey had a shitty game but never stopped running, fighting and trying to create something. Arshavin was just hoping something good will happen with very little effort on his part. Arteta was too busy asking for fouls for half of the game. He didn't play bad but he didn't play great either. Song had a decent game but you could tell he wasn't fresh. Wallcott was on and off throughout the game but he was probably one of our best players. Set up Ramsey nicely in the first half. Crossed the ball very well for Vermaelen's goal. So even though he wasn't amazing he played a very solid game. Van Persie was a bit off in the first half, and then missed some chances you expect him to do better with but he definitely played better in the second half and could have scored if it wasn't for Baird who blocked his shot of the goal line. Gervinho defintely gave us a spark of the bench. He created some chances and had one himself but didn't shoot well enough. Diaby didn't impress me much but he hasn't played for a while. Chamakh didn't play long enough, for me to have an opinion about his performance.
I think Wenger made a big mistake by not making more than the 2 changes he made to the team after the Champions League game on Wednesday. It was obvious that we were tired and we lacked sharpness. There should have been at least 4 or 5 fresh bodies to start the game and it's not like we don't have the quality on the bench. Guys like Benayoun, Frimpong, Oxlade-Chamberlain (even though he wasn't even on the bench), Rosicky. We should have given starts to those guys and if things were not working out, then make the 3 changes and put the guys from Wednesday for 30 min.
The first half i thought Fulham pressed us way better than we pressed them (what's new there) and we still had some great chances. Ramsey, who had a bad game (mainly because he missed so many passes and chances, not because a lack of effort), had a decent chance in the 7th minute and almost scored. Then in the 24th min, Wallcot had a great run down the right put the ball right at Ramsey's feet and he hit it in the fucking sky. I thought that was one of our best chances for the half. The rest of the half we didn't create much and Fulham actually had a great chance towards the end but Szczesny bailed us out. At the end of the first half the possession of the ball was 54% to 46% in favor of Fulham. Just another proof that they controlled the game.
Second half was a bit better. Van Persie started to wake up and had some chances. He was unlucky not to score when a Fulham defender cleared it off the line. We still did not look great though, we were lacking the urgency to create something and score. So when Fulham scored on us i thought there was no way we can score 2 goals back. I guess their goal woke us up because, we found some energy in our passing and went forward. Vermaelen is the man! That guy was very unlucky to score the own goal but didn't let it affect him and scored a great goal to equalize for us. I thought right around the time we scored and the 5,6 min after, we could have won the game. Fulham for some stupid reason panicked, and stopped pressing us whatsoever. We couldn't take advantage and score again, but considering the way we played throughout the game i think a draw is a fair result. I definitely wish we would have won because we need all the points we can get for the race for 4th place, but we didn't play well enough to do it.
I thought our defense was ok. More than once we allowed Fulham to pass the ball around instead of pressing them hard, but they didn't have too many chances to score. Mertesacker didn't make any mistakes today which is good for his confidence. Vermaelen was great as usual. The own goal was very unlucky situation, other than that he was tough and never allowed guys to receive the ball without putting them under a lot of pressure. Scored a great goal too. Santos did ok as well, he likes to go forward so much that i don't know if i should rate his runs on the wing or his defensive performance. Djourou did well. I am always nervous when people take him one vs one because he can be very clumsy at times, but today he did very well. Had a great block in the 5th min. Almost scored from a corner kick (I still can't believe Schwarzer saved that).
Arshavin was fucking awefull!!! Considering he hasn't been playing often lately, he should have taken this chance and try to prove himself, instead he showed very little effort throughout the game. Just jogging around; not chasing the ball after he loses it; didn't do much offensively either. The lack of effort is what drives me nuts the most. Ramsey had a shitty game but never stopped running, fighting and trying to create something. Arshavin was just hoping something good will happen with very little effort on his part. Arteta was too busy asking for fouls for half of the game. He didn't play bad but he didn't play great either. Song had a decent game but you could tell he wasn't fresh. Wallcott was on and off throughout the game but he was probably one of our best players. Set up Ramsey nicely in the first half. Crossed the ball very well for Vermaelen's goal. So even though he wasn't amazing he played a very solid game. Van Persie was a bit off in the first half, and then missed some chances you expect him to do better with but he definitely played better in the second half and could have scored if it wasn't for Baird who blocked his shot of the goal line. Gervinho defintely gave us a spark of the bench. He created some chances and had one himself but didn't shoot well enough. Diaby didn't impress me much but he hasn't played for a while. Chamakh didn't play long enough, for me to have an opinion about his performance.
So tough result for us today but let's hope we get some fresh legs ready the Carling Cup and get a good result vs City. C'mon you Gunners!
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