Kevin Whitcher
Let’s make no bones about it, a draw is a fantastic result away to the defending champions. Along with the trips to Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge, Manchester City away is one of the fixtures that getting anything from is a bonus. And yet, there is a strange feeling of frustration because Arsenal could have actually won this game.
The main culprit was Gervinho, who returned to the serial misser of chances that we all know from last season. On one level, he is good enough to get into the positions to enjoy really promising chances. And yet, so often, there is no end product. Olivier Giroud was on the bench once again, and it would be a major surprise if he did not get the opportunity to break his duck in the League Cup game with Coventry on Wednesday evening. However, if he does not become an automatic first choice, the decision not to buy a more orthodox striker aside from Giroud may become one to regret, unless Gervinho develops a consistency in front of goal that has never looked likely.
Still, aside from that weakness, the Gunners matched their petrodollar-built hosts and more. They were hungrier in the tackle, and generally passed the ball around the Eastlands pitch more accurately, carving the opposition apart more than once. Yet the intensity of the clash meant that even Arteta and Cazorla played a few uncharacteristically bad passes. Some players who doubts have been expressed about proved their worth. Both Mertesacker and Ramsey had huge games and were key to Arsenal’s resistance. Koscielny came in for Vermaelen and performed creditably. Both full backs did their reputations no harm at all against difficult opponents.
City’s opener was a shocker though. Zonal marking has its critics, although it can work if players have enough aggression in them to defend their area and make life difficult. Lukas Podolski was poor in this regard and Vito Mannone was in no man’s land flapping at air like too many Arsenal keepers of late. There is work to be done here, although Mannone did recover to make two excellent saves over the course of the remainder of the match. But the cheap concession of an unnecessary goal undid all of the good work of the first half when the visitors ran the show, outnumbering City in central midfield.
As the heavens opened for the second half, one wondered what kind of response we’d see. It was a more even contest, but Arsenal clung on and created opportunities. Sadly, most of them fell to Gervinho, but the pressure told with a thumping strike after a corner clearance fell to Koscielny. City had their chances too, and I would say a draw was a fair result over the 90 minutes. However, that the Gunners could restrict Roberto Mancini’s men to one goal with a back four featuring two youngsters with a back up keeper between the sticks is a huge credit to them.
Nine points out of the first five matches is a fine return when you consider that three difficult away trips have been negotiated. The tough contests do not stop with Chelsea visiting next weekend, a different kind of test. One imagines they will be less open and that opportunities to finish might be more scarce. Aside from a first half free-kick, I am struggling to remember Joe Hart being really tested until Cazorla’s strike after over 80 minutes of the game had gone. At times, the words banjo and cow’s arse floated across my mind, and Gervinho was not the only culprit.
With Arsenal about to announce their annual figures, which will doubtless show a significant amount of money was available over the summer, this result was a timely one for Arsene Wenger and the board. Whether the decision not to spend some of that on further attacking depth will prove a costly one on the pitch, time will tell. But if we are relying on the Mekon-headed Ivorian to replace Robin van Persie, then I can already give you the answer.
Before I wrap up, a couple of extras I just need to squeeze in. Firstly, for those attending the League Cup game on Wednesday, if you buy the current issue of the Gooner (number 227), we will throw in a copy of issue 226 (the first this season, which was only on sale for one home game) free. So that’s two for the price of one, £2 buys you two different issues. This is while stocks last. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.
Next up, we don’t usually do this, but as a 15-year-old Gooner is cycling from Bristol to London for charity, then we’ll make an exception. Brodie Couzins aka Cockneygooner3 on Twitter is doing the ride for the Ben Kinsella trust and if you want to sponsor him, you can do so through justgiving here. Hopefully he’ll raise plenty of money for a worthy cause getting saddle sore.
The current issue of The Gooner went on sale recently v Southampton and can be bought online here. There is also an e-version of the issue available to read on your ipad/tablet/iphone/android. The app is free and you can download the first few pages of each issue as a taster before deciding whether or not to purchase the whole thing
