Based on our recent performances, the result today was pretty logical.
For a first time in a while, i didn't have high expectations for us
before a home game against a team from the middle of the table. We just
haven't played well, many weeks in a row now.
At least Wenger finally realized that Santos should not be playing and that Theo Walcott should be starting. So, now, we don't have those gaps at the left back position but unfortunately we keep making stupid mistakes at other areas of our defense. I watched the Schalke game during the week and even at 2-0 up i didn't feel that we will win the game because our pressing on the ball was non existent. Schalke just passed the ball around, we gave them time and space and hoped that they won't score. Today we did a bit better at pressing but it was mostly at our own half of the pitch (i will still take that over no press at all). The goals we gave away though were very bad. You CAN NOT put Sagna on Berbatov in a corner kick situation. How is he supposed to guard him when he is 5'9 and Berbatov is 6'2? The second goal, they made a good run on the right and Berbatov gave a good pass but we had 3 or 4 defenders in our penalty area and no one looked back to see where Kacaniklic was! And the penalty Arteta gave away was bad as well. Take away those stupid mistakes and maybe we have a shot at winning this game today.
Sagna was solid on the right, gave some good crosses as well. Mertesacker did decent but nothing more. Koscielny had a good game, especially in the second half when his sliding tackle prevented Berbatov from scoring. Vermaelen was obviously better than the Man U game, i don't think he enjoys playing at left back as much as central defense, but he will have to suck it up until Gibbs comes back. Mannone had an ok game, i thought he could have done better for Fulham's second goal.
Offensively we didn't have a great performance despite the three goals today. In the first half we were slow and we had a hard time creating chances. We scored from a set piece and then after Riise's mistake in the back allowed us to score a second. Other than that, we didn't have any real chances to score. Second half we were a bit better, we moved the ball faster and were more direct, consequently we created more chances but not enough to win the game. Arteta should try to forget this game as soon as possible. He made a bad mistake for the penalty he gave away and then he missed ours (in reality, maybe justice was served because that should not have been a penalty for us). He was also a bit hesitant for most of the game especially after he gave away the penalty for Fulham. Cazorla is still not playing at the level people expect him to play. He woke up a bit in the second half but overall he didn't have much influence on the game at all, which is very disappointing. I thought Coquelin held his own today and was a bit surprised when Wenger subbed him so early unless he was injured. Good old Ramsey that replaced him was absolutely useless. As soon as he got on the field, he gave away a ball in the middle of the pitch and Fulham had a great chance at a counter. He also got booked 5 min after and then kept giving away fouls and pushing his luck for a second yellow. Offensively he was also a waste of a time.
Podolski scored a nice goal but other than that he is still lost on the left flank and doesn't get much service. I wasn't surprised when he complained in the middle of the week that he wants to play a striker role because he has to defend too much on the wing. I don't think he should be the striker but i do feel Wenger has to allow him more freedom on the left wing, now that the meatball Santos doesn't play. Walcott and Giroud were our best players today. Theo had 2 assists and was lively and threatening for most of the game and especially in the second half. I hope he didn't injure himself at the end because he is one of the few guys that are playing well for us right now. Giroud is starting to feel more comfortable up front and his goals are very encouraging. He has a strong physical presence that we haven't had in a while at our striker position. Let's hope he keeps improving and keeps scoring.
So what does the future hold for us? We need to stop making mistakes in the back, start creating more on offense, and Wenger needs to know the correct starting 11 for every game. I do think that right now, we are just not good enough either for a top 4 spot, or even progressing in the Champions League. But with hard work maybe things will improve. What i do know is that we need to beat Tottenham next week or Wenger will face tough times at the office.
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