Mixed feelings about the result today. I am very pleased with the clean sheet we got at a place where we always have trouble keeping one. At the same time we needed to win today. We are playing Liverpool away next week and you know it will be hard to get points there as well.
The positives today were our defense and the limited amount of chances we gave Stoke to score. For a second week in a row, we looked solid defensively, and with one exception at the end of the game, City almost had not chances to score. Vermaelen and Mertesacker had a very good game. Won a lot of high balls, and didn't allow Crouch and co to bully them in the air. I am pleased that Mertesacker has been looking solid so far in the season. My only wish for him is to get a bit tougher during contact. For a guy his size there were more than 2 or 3 times today where he went down quite easily holding his head like someone punched him in the face. He has to get tougher! I thought Jenkinson had a better game than last week's. He made less mistakes in his passes and didn't look as nervous and rushed to get rid of the ball. I also like his toughness when taking on people. Gibbs did well as well, had a slight scare when Pennant went down asking for a penalty but there was limited contact.
In midfield and attack similarly to last week, we weren't very effective. A lot of passing but not a lot of clear chances. I was a bit disappointed by Cazorla. He looked bright and lively in the first half and as the match progressed, he went away. His passing wasn't as creative today and he seemed confused as to what is the best way to unlock Stoke's defense. I am still expecting big things from him, today just wasn't his best day. Diaby was solid throughout. Did a lot of work defensively and helping out with the high balls; and was working hard up the pitch as well. I thought Arteta was our best player. In the first half he was playing deep and was doing a lot of hard work to cover for the front midfielders. And in the second half as Cazorla was less active, Arteta was pushing forward and trying to create something. He had a great chance in the 72min where he hesitated how exactly to shoot the ball and ended up hitting it in the stands. I would have loved to see him hit that ball hard and straight and see what happens. Regardless, he was the guy who didn't stop running for 90+ mins.
On the other hand Gervinho was absolutely awful today. His only strength is his runs on the flanks even though he never passes the ball well at the end of them, today he didn't even have that. He was pretty much invisible (not in a good way) the whole match. The one time he had a good chance in the 37th min, he did the move he ALWAYS does: run with the ball towards the goal kick line and fuck up the cross. It's the second week of the season and i can already predict where he is going with the ball EVERY single time! Not to mention he has chances to do a good pass early in his runs but he always wants to keep running with the fucking ball. He had an even better chance in the 50th min but his shot was way wide. I thought Podolski was better than the Sunderland game. At times his timing with the other guys is a bit off but he will get there. He is very feisty at times and i like that! The guy is a competitor and wants to win. And i guarantee you that when he gets on the same page with Cazorla and co, this guy will score goals and give assists. He is also quite fast and not afraid to take on people. Giroud had a good game overall. He worked hard most of it and was helpful in the air. I give props to Wenger for putting him in, i am pretty sure he wanted to start him because of his size. The one thing that annoyed me though, is that i caught him more than 4,5 times walking around and whining to the officials instead of helping his teammates to press on the ball. Hopefully in the future he will focus more on that, than complaining to the refs. He had a great effort towards the end of the game and almost scored a spectacular goal but he could have also crossed the ball to Ramsey.
The Professor was fucking late with his substitutions just like in the past. I thought he got rid of that habit last season when he was making them earlier, but today he waited until the 70th min to make any. Gervinho should have been subbed at the latest in the 60th min and Walcott should have been in. When he did came in, Theo looked lively and dangerous but didn't have much time for anything. Same with Oxlade, who looked a bit too eager to make an impact instead of keeping a cool head. Ramsey almost cost us a goal with his sloppiness again! I talk about this every blog post, that he is too casual with the ball when he comes in, and Stoke almost scored on us at the end of the game when he lost the ball in midfield and Walters (i believe) was through on goal! Aaron did have a few good runs up front and a decent shot wide and i will give him credit for those but that's about it.
To some it up, so far this season we look great defensively for a change but we are not creating enough offensively. And i don't care if RVP was still with us, we didn't create almost anything that was a 100% goal scoring chance. A lot of pressure and possession, huge amount of corners but no end product. We have to be sharper and quicker when attacking and at first glance of goal, we have to shoot the fucking ball! We need a win next week, C'mon You Gunners!
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